A sorrowful spectacle. In two sermons, occasioned by a just sentence of death, on…

Name: A sorrowful spectacle. In two sermons, occasioned by a just sentence of death, on…
Author: Cotton Mather

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]

Cotton Mather 1663–1728Boston: printed by T. Fleet & T. Crump for Samuel Gerrish, 1715

[2], vii, [1], 3-92, [2], 47, [1] p. ; 14 cm. (12mo) · 24k words · Evans 1764

Title page typeset from the transcription.

The Grand Concern, of Suffering and of Dying People. BOSTON, 9 d. I…: The Grand Concern, of Suffering and of Dying People. BOSTON, 9 d. IV m. 1715.

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.

[ Earlier:137–152 of 239

:137p. 83

I wish, Oh! I wish, the Testimonies of a thorough Repentance in her, were more Conspicuous. But I would make the best Use I can, of what Little has been obtained.

:138p. 83

This Woman in her better Frames, has very Voluntarily over and over again, testified her Desire, to do what Good may be done, by an Instrument, that she has put into my Hands; Signed with her own, before several Witnesses, after every Clause thereof had been distinctly Considered with her. An Instrument which▪ I shall now Read unto you.—

:139p. 83–85

A Miserable Death is hastened upon me, for my Sins against the Almighty God. I own the Justice of the Almighty in what is come upon me; and I own also the Justice of the Government […] Executing the Sentence of […] which cuts me off. I have […] to be amazed at the Mercy […] ⟨p. 84⟩Lord, in providing a Saviour for so great and vile a Sinner. I fly to Him, that my Sins may be all pardoned for the sake of His Blood, and that I may be delivered particularly from the Bloodguiltiness wherewith I am justly Chargeable; and also that He would give me a New Heart, and make all my Sins Bitter and Loathsome to me. I am sensible, That without a true Repentance, I must Perish under the dreadful Wrath of God: And woe to me, if I Dye in my Sins. But I am informed, That in Repenting of my Sins, I shall do well to warn other Sinners against such things as have been the undoing of my Soul. I do therefore declare, That I believe God has been greatly Offended at me, for the Sins of an Unbridled Tongue; whereof Swearing and Cursing is to be particularly reckoned; and for my Profanations of His Holy Sabbaths. But the Sin which above many lies ⟨p. 85⟩heavy on my Mind, is my Disobedience and Rebellion against my Parents; A Sin against which I would have all to be warned, that would not come to an untimely End. I also Bewail before the Lord, and His People, the Sins of Unchastity, which have led me on to the Ruin that is now come upon me. Little do poor Creatures consider, when they are once got into the Unclean ways of Unchastity, what they shall come to. Being forsaken of God, I attempted in Murderous Ways, to Destroy my Unborn Infant. God saw my Wickedness, and would not let me succeed in those Attempts; but […] me to such a Neglect of my Newborn Infant, as has made it a just thing that I should now Dye for the Murder of it. God e Merciful to me a Sinner: and make my Warnings Profitable to other Sinners.

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