N01484:125
A sorrowful spectacle. In two sermons, occasioned by a just sentence of death, on…
A sorrowful spectacle. In two sermons, occasioned by a just sentence of death, on a miserable woman, for the murder of a spurious offspring. : The one declaring, the evil of an heart hardened, under and against all means of good. : The other describing, the fearful case of such as in a suffering time, and much more such as in a dying hour, are found without the fear of God. : With some remarkable things, relating to the criminal; proper for all to be informed of. / By Cotton Mather, D.D. and F.R.S. ; [One line from Acts]
Boston: printed by T. Fleet & T. Crump for Samuel Gerrish, 1715
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
My Hearers, We are every one of us all, under a Condemnation of Death. Know you not? Alas, you are obliged every Day to see the Execution of it; It is appointed unto Men once to Dye. The irreversible Sentence is gone out from the Mouth of God; So Death has passed upon all Men, for that all have Sinned.
What? My Friend, Under this Condemnation, and not Fear God! O our Dying People,—And I Address every one of you all, under that Appellation; O our Dying People, Why will you Dye, and not get the Fear of God into your Souls before you Dye?
First. There are None of you, but for ought you know, may Dye very Speedily, yea, may Dye very Suddenly. Unto the Youngest and unto the Strongest of you all, and unto them that are most ready to put far away the Evil Day, it may be said, as in Prov. XXVII. 1. Boast not of To- Morrow, for thou knowest not what a ⟨p. 75⟩Day may bring forth. Children, It highly Concerns every one of you, to Retire this very Evening, and Commune with your own Hearts; and ask, Have I yet attained unto the fear of God?—Ask, Is my Soul yet Renewed with the fear of God? And send up your Cries from the Dust unto the Lord; Even those Cries; Psal. LXXXVI. 11. Lord, engage my Heart to fear thy Name. You are not sure that you have one Week more to Live. 'Tis Time to lay hold on a Mercy, for the ensuring whereof you are not sure of having any more Time allowed unto you.
First. There are None of you, but for ought you know, may Dye very Speedily, yea, may Dye very Suddenly. Unto the Youngest and unto the Strongest of you all, and unto them that are most ready to put far away the Evil Day, it may be said, as in