N01484:61
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.
The worst of Plagues; What it is, and How to shun it. BOSTON: 29 d.… › APPLICATION.
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.
APPLICATION.
I. Most certainly, it very much behoves us, to Examine ourselves, Whether we are not Hard-hearted and Self-hardened Sinners before the Lord. Some there are, who have a Lovely softness of Heart. It may be said of them, as in 2 Chron. XXXIV. 27. Thine Heart has been Tender. Shall I ⟨p. 31⟩find out these Heirs of Blessedness? They are those who have a yielding Soul; a Soul ready to yield unto the Demands of GOD; They say, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? Yea, or to bear? They are afraid of All Sin; troubled at All Sin. The Sins that seem Little to others, are Grievous to them; A vain Word Grieves them; A base Thought Grieves them. To say no more; They perceive the hardness of their own Hearts; They bewail it▪ They bemoan it; It makes them cry out, O wretched one that I am! To these Tender-hearted ones there belong the great Consolations of God! Comfort ye, Comfort ye, this my People, saith the Lord. But then there are some, upon whom a Sinful hardness of Heart is very Conspicuous, very Notorious, very Distinguishing. Of these my Context shall direct us to make some Discovery. The Verse before my Text, is, a notable Passage. He that covereth his Sins shall not Prosper; but whoso confesseth and forsakes them, shall have Mercy: And now▪ ⟨p. 32⟩it follows, He that hardeneth his Heart shall fall into Mischief. Be it now known unto you. If you will retain your Sins, and not confess them, not forsake them, upon those Calls unto Repentance, which you are Entertained withal, you are the Sinners that harden their Hearts. But Oh! what Mischiefs do you lye open to? Concerning the Hearers of our Blessed Saviour, we read;