N01484:200
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.
AND the Judicial Executions of Providence in this Life do really speak the same thing. Providence hangs up one Criminal in Chains for Warning and Terror unto others. As of old the Reason of the Severities and Executions of the Law was this; Deut. 13. 11. And all Israel shall hear and fear and do no more wickedly. The Tragic End of one may thus prevent the Transgression and Perishing of many others. The Terror of the Punishment strikes many with Horror at the Thought of the Fact. Smite the Scorner, and the Simple will beware.
AND the Juditial Executions of Providence in this Life do really speak the same thing. Providence hangs up one Criminal in Chains for Warning and Terror unto others. As of old the Reason of the Severities and Executions of the Law was this; Deut. 13. 11. And all Israel shall hear and fear and do no more wickedly. The Tragic End of one may thus prevent the Transgression and Perishing of many others. The Terror of the Punishment strikes many with Horror at the Tho't of the Fact. Smite the Scorner, and the Simple will beware.
IT may be a Mercy to the Body to cut off a Gangrene Member; and so to the Community to stone an Achan. The Public Justice may be Inexorable to a private Criminal, because the public Compassions to the whole Community prevails. It is Expedient that one Man should die, and that the whole▪ Nation perish not. The Sinner ⟨p. 27⟩may bring it to that sad pass as to himself, that the Divine Justice may fix on his Eternal Ruin and cut him off in his Sin; and yet the Wise and Gracious GOD may Mercifully order and turn it to the saving many other Souls from Death.
IT may be a Mercy to the Body to cut off a Gangreen Member; and so to the Community to stone an Achan. The Public Justice may be Inexorable to a private Criminal, because the public Compassions to the whole Community prevails. It is Expedient that one Man should die, and that the whole Nation perish not. The Sinner