A Great part of this [...]pter is ta­ken up in declaring who should have benefit by the City of Refuge; and who might not expect [...]dvan­tage thereby. There are two sorts of Man­ [...]ayers, (1) One may kill his Neighbour accidentally, though he had no design of hurt to him-nor any displeasure against him. The City of R [...]fuge was for such. (2.) A Man may in hatred or in passion kill another, and then the City of Refuge could not secure or save him from the hand of Justice; To [Page 2] intimate which is the scope of the Words which have been now read: wherein we have two things: 1. A Criminal. 2. The Punishment to be inflicted on such a Cri­minal.

1. A Criminal He is a Murderer: there are three Particulars mentioned, which if they concur the person is guilty of Murder: 1. If he smites another man, h. e. if he does so, not accidentally but designedly. 2. If the Instrument which he smites him with be of Iron, that makes the Murder to be the more evident. In the verses following it is added, That if he smite him mortally with a Stone, or with Wood, he shall be accounted a Mur­derer. The Jewish Writers tell us, ^(a) That if a Man were slain, there was diligent en­quiry made [...]ncerning the Instrument, where­by he was killed. If it was with a Stone, or with Wood, they examined whether the Stone or Wood were of that bigness as that the dead man might probably receive his deaths Wound thereby: But (they say) if it were with an Instrument of Iron; no enquiry was made as to the greatness of it, because the least nail of Iron might easily kill. And it is to be presumed, that a man will not strike ano­ther with an Instrument of Iron, except Blood [Page 3] and Murder be in his Heart. 3. If the Wound prove mortal, then the striker is guil­ty of Murder. Though a Man should smite another, and that with an Instrument of iron, if death does not follow, he is not guilty of that high degree of Murder which the Text speaks of; but if he smite his Neigh­bour so that he die, then he is a Murderer.

2. Here is the punishment to be inflicted on such a Criminal. The Murderer shall surely be put to death. Only Gods Order was to be observed. The Murderer was to be put to death in a judiciary way. Amongst [...]he Jews, the avenger of blood was to be the Execu [...], as the nineteenth verse in this Chapter shews, where it is said, that the avenger of blood him­self shall slay the Murderer. The Hebrew Word for the Avenger of Blood is GOEL, which is sometimes transla [...]d a Red [...]mer. The Word properly signifies one that is near a kin. The next kinsman had right to Re­deem, he also was to be the Avenger of blood. Only before Execution could be done, the Magistrate was to pass a Judgment. The Man-slayer was sent from the City of Refuge whither he fled, unto the place where the Fact was done, there to have his Trial. If the Magistrates of that place found him not Guilty, he was returned to the City of Re­fuge [Page 4] there to be in safety till the death of the High Priest, and then to be set at liberty: But if he was found guilty of Murder, he was to be put to death publickly by the hand of Justice.

The Doctrine then before us, or suited to the present Occasion is, That Murder is a Sin so great and hainous as that whoever shall be found Guilty of it, must be put to Death by the hand of Publick Justice.

The Explication and Confirmation of this Doctrine may be set before us in three Propositions.

Propos. I. Murder, is wh [...]n a Man does voluntarily and unjustly take away the life of another person.

So that there are three things implied in Murder:

1. The Object slain must be one of man-kind. To take away the life of another Creature is n [...] Murder. T [...]e eighth Commandment [Page 5] saith, Ye shall not Kill. The Hebrew words are LO TIRTZACH, i. e. Thou shalt not Murder. It was vain opinion of the Ma­n [...]bees ▪ when Austin confutes, That the Life of no Creature might be taken away, because the Commandment of God saith, Thou shalt not kill. God has given express leave to all the Sons of Noah, i. e. to Mankind, that they should take away the Lives of other Creatures, as they should see cause; only Man being a more Divine Creature, his Life is to be Sacred. It may not be medled with, except in cases where the Great and Soveraign God, who has an absolute Power of Life and Death, has appointed.

2. Capital Murder is wilful. There is a difference between Murder, and Casual Ho­micide, or Accidental Man slaughter. If a Man shoots an Arrow, or throws a Stone, or the like, not thinking that any one will be hurt thereby; in case it should happen to kill a man, it is not Murder. If that he did it ignorantly, unawares, and no way sought the [...]arm of the slain Man, he is not to be punished as a Murderer: This we see in the Context. ver. 15, 23, 24, 25. The City of Refuge was for such an one; Deut. 19.4, 5. And this is the case of the Slaver, [Page 6] which shall flee thither, that he may live: who­soever killeth his Neighbour ignorantly, wh [...] [...]e hated not in time pa [...]; as when a man goes into the Wood with his Neighbour to be [...] wood, and his hand fetcheth a stroke with the Ax, to [...] down the Trre, and the head slippeth [...] the [...], and lighteth upon his Neighbour that he [...], be shall f [...]ee unto one of those Cities and [...]. Not but that a man may be guilty of Murdering his Neighbour: tho' he did not [...]tend to kill him; namely, if he did smite [...]m in anger, or intend to harm him, as the expression is in the Twenty Third Verse of [...] Chapter. And it is here expressy decla­r [...], not only that he who shall lye in wait, or [...] for an opportunity to destroy his [...]hbour, or that did formerly hate him, [...] be judged a Murderer, but if he smite [...] that he dye, verse 21. i.e. in [...] [...]ile wa [...]; though he had no quarrel [...] before, if h [...] fall out with him, and [...] passion smite him a mortal blow, he [...] murdered his Neighbour, and is guilty [...] [...]eath. This is presumptuous Murder, [...] heart was in it, nor can it be said to [...]one ignorantly. There is another clear [...]pture, which pro [...]eth, that if persons [...]ll out, and in the strife one shall strike the [...]her a deadly blow Life shall go for Life, [...]ee Exod. 21.14, 21, 22.

[Page 7]But then Thirdly, In Murder the Life of a Man is taken away unjustly. In some ca­ses it is lawful to take away the Life of ano­ther. Yea, matters may be so circumstan­ced, as it would be a great sin not to do it: There are Three Cases, wherein the Life of a Man may be taken away, and yet no Sin, no Murder commit [...]ed.

1. [...] ca [...] of a Just War. There is a great di [...] between Blood-shed in War, and [...] [...]me of Peace. Joah was guilty of Murder, because he Shed the Bl [...]od of War in Peace, 1 Kings 2.5. Had he Killed Abner and Amasa in the War-Time, befo [...]e David had made Peace with them, he had not been guilty of Murder; but because he shed Blood after a Peace was concluded, he was a Mur­derer. Sometimes in War, they that take a­way Lives do an Acceptable Service to God. Abigail told David, that God would certainly bless him, because he fought the Battles of the Lord, 1 Sam. 25.28. And we know that A­braham was blessed, after he returned from the Slaughter of the Kings, with whom he had a just War, Heb. 7.2. In these Cases the not shedding of Blood m [...]y possibly expose to a Curse. Jer. 48.10. Cursed be he that does the work of the Lord deceitfully, and cur­sed [Page 8] [...] [...]e that keeps back his Sword from Blood.

2. They that are in Civil Authority, may and ought to take away the Lives of Men, that shall commit Crimes, by the Law of God worthy of Death. The Apostle therefore saith con­cerning the Magistrate: He is the Minister of God to thee for good: But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the Sword in vain; for he is the Minister of God: a Re­venger, to execute Wra [...]h upon him that does E­vil. Rom. 13.4. Private Revenge is evil, but publick Revenge on those that violate the Laws of God, is good. The Magistrate is Gods Vice gerent. As none can give Life but God, so none may take it away, but God or such as he has appointed. It is thei [...] work to see that the Lives of Men be taken from them, when God has said, That they shall surely be put to Death. Hence David speaks, as in Psal. 101.8. I will ea [...]ly destroy all the Wicked of the Land, that I may cut off all the Wicked Doers from the City of the Lord. God had put the Sword into his ha [...] for that end; that so he might clear the L [...]nd of wicked Malefactors, who were wor [...]hy of Death, and he was resolved to see Justice done. But private persons are not to arrogate to them­selves that which is the Magistrates proper [Page 9] work. Men must have lawful Authority for what they do, else in taking away Life, they be [...]ame guilty of Murder. Suppose a person to have committed never such Capi­tal Crimes, if a private person, or one that has no Legal Authority, shall take away his Life, he is guilty of Murder.

Except 3. In case of a mans own just de­fence. So a private person may take away the Life of another: The light of Nature teacheth men self preservation. If a Mur­derer assault him he may kill rather than be killed. We cannot say that Abner was guilty of Murder when he slew Asuhal in his own defence.^(b) If a man be con­trary to Justice, invaded or set upon by ano­ther in an hostile manner, and there be no other way for him to preserve his own Life, but by killing the Assailant: The Law of Nature, and of all Nations acquit him from the guilt of Murder. But he that has shed Blood causeless, or that has Avenge [...] himself is a Murderer. 1 Sam. 25.31.

Propos. II. Murder is an exceeding great Sin. It is an expression in the Scriptures, he is as if he slew a man, Isa. 66.3. Implying, [Page 10] that to slay a man is a thing most horrid and hateful; it is indeed [...]h [...] greatest Sin against the Second Table of the Moral Law, and is therefore set in the first place, amongst negative Precepts therein. God forbids the greatest Sin in [...] [...]rst place: It is a Crying Sin. The Lo [...]d said to Cain, The voice of thy Brothers [...] cryeth to me from the ground, Gen. 4.10. In the or [...]ginal, the word is in the Plural N [...]m [...]er, the voice of thy Brothers Bloods. Every drop of Abels Blood had as it were a voice, a tongue in it, crying for Ven­geance against his Brother, that had Murde­red him. But that this is a grievous Sin is manifest: 1. In that it is a most unnatural thing. Creatures of the same kind are not wont to destroy one another. Naturalists observe concerning Wolves, that though they be crue [...] creatures, they will never kill one another; therefore if men do so, they are worse th [...]n Wolves and Tygers; so that Murder is an unnatural and a monstrous wicked [...]ss. 2. The Vengeance which is wont to follow this Sin, proveth that it is an horrid and hainous Transgression. There is a peculiar Vengeance that does pursue this Sin at the heels of it. The Gentiles had the notion of this fixed in their minds: Hence those Barbari­ans could say, No doubt this Man is a Murde­rer, [Page 11] wh [...] tho' he escaped the Seas, yet venge [...] suffere [...]h [...] to live, Act. 28.4. The Heathen^(†) Esteemed [...] (which is the Word there used for Vengeance) as a D [...]i [...] that would not suffer great Sinners, and in special Mur­derers to go unpunished. Temporal V [...]n­geance pursueth this sin. Hence they that have been guilty of it seldom live long in quiet. Bloody and deceitful men shall not li [...] out half their dayes, Psal. 55.23. Either they are [...] off by the Sword of Civil Justice, or if their Murders happen to be undiscovered, a secret Curse of God follows them: often­times they are themselves Murdered, as both Divine and Humane Records do abundantly declare: Nay, though men should truly Re­pent of this sin, and are then through the merit of Christ saved from everlasting pun­ishment, yet not from temporal Judgment. I cannot tell whither ever any Man that was found guilty of this sin did escape temporal Judgment at last. When David had caused Uriah to be Murdered, he did repent of it most deeply and unfeignedly, yet God pun­ished him severely as to outward Judgments; he saw but few comfortable days after that, the Sword never departed from his House. [Page 12] I have read of a Man that (c) fought a Duel & Murdered his Adversary, who afterwards was very penitent, and for several years an emi­n [...]nt [...]nstance of exemplary pity; but at last [...] was smitten by the immediate hand of God, so as that Blood gushed out of all the passages of his Body, and he died suddenly. The Relator notes upon it, that though God forgave him as to Eternal, yet not as to Tem­poral Vengeance. But especially Spiritual Vengeance follows this Sin: The Murderers Soul is filled with hellish horror of heart; so that he is as it were Damned above ground, and in Hell whilst he is yet alive. The A­venger of Blood pursueth his Soul; Murderers have confessed, that as soon as ever they had committed the Bloody Fact, they felt the Flames of Hell-fire in their Consciences, and this we see in Cain. Therefore after he had murdered his B [...]other, he cried and roared out, that his [...]in was greater than could be for [...]iven [...], his punishment greater than could be endured. And some think that the mark which the Lord set upon Cain, was a ghostly, guilty Countenance, that he had Hell and Horror in his Countenance as well as in his Conscience. And without Repentance, [...] ­ [...]e [...]lasting Vengeance will follow that Sin. It is said, No Murderer has Eternal Life, 1 [Page 13] John 3.15. that is, without true Repentance: And if he has not Eternal Life, then I am sure he has Eternal Death and Damnation. If the Murderer were only to have the Life of his Body taken from him, tho in a pain­ful, shameful and accursed way, that were a light matter; but there is an eternal [...]; a weight of everlasting vengeance, h [...]ier than Mountains of Lead, that shall press his immortal Soul to death, world without end, Murder then is a fearful Sin.

Propos. 3. The Murderer is to be put to death by the hand of Publick Justice. And this con­firms the former Proposition concerning the greatness of this Sin: Men may not pardon or remit the punishment of that Sin. Among the Jews there was no City of Refuge for a wicked or wilful Man slayer; and it is said in the one and thirtieth verse of this Chapter, You shall take no satisfaction for the Life of a Murderer, which is guilty of death, but he shall surely be put to Death. This Sin shall not be satisfied for, with any other punishment, but the death of the Murderer: There are some Crimes, that other punishment less then death may be accepted of as a Compensation for the wrong done; either some mulct or Fine in their Estates, or some other corporal punishment [Page 14] less than death, but in case of Murder, no Fine or Imprisonment, or Banishment or Corporal Punishment less than death can be accepted: Y [...]u shall take no satisfaction for the Life of a Murderer. And indeed equity re­quires this; by the Law of Retaliation, it is m [...] that men should be done unto, as they have done to others; and that as Limb [...]ould go for Limb, so Life for Life. But besides that, there are two Reasons mentioned in the Scripture, why the Mur­derer must be put to death.

Reas. I. That so the Land where the Mur­der is committed, may be purged from the guilt of Blood. For Murder is such a Crime as does pollute the very Land where it is done; not only the person that has shed blood is polluted thereby, but the whole Land lieth under pollution until such time as Justice is done upon the Murderer; thus in the thirty third verse of this Chapter; this is given as the reason why no satis­faction might be taken for the Life of a Murderer, so shall ye not pollute the Land wherein you are; for blood it defileth the Land, and the Land cannot be cleansed of the blood that is shed, therein but by the blood of him that [...] it. One Murder unpunished ma [...] [Page 15] b [...]ing guilt and a Curse upon the whole land▪ that all the Inhabitants of that Land shall suffer for it; so that mercy to a Murderer is cruelty to a people. Therefore is it said concerning the Murderer, Thin: Eye shall [...]e pity him, but thou shalt put away the giult [...]n­ [...]cent Blood from Israel, that it may go well with thee. If the Murderer be not punished, it may go ill with the whole, all may fare the worse for it; if the sin be not duly punished there is a partaking in the guilt of it.

Reas. II. Because Man is made in the image of God. This Reason is mentioned Gen. 9.6. Whosoever sheddeth mans b [...]ood, by man▪ [...].c. by some man in Authority, proceeding in an orderly way of Judicature, as the Hebrew Expositors do rightly interpret the words, shall his blood be shed, for in the image of God made be him. Hence there is sacrili­gious guilt in this sin; Amongst the Romans ^(d) if a man did but strike his Servant near the place where one of their Empe­rors lay, he was to die for it, because that was looked upon as an affront put upon his Imperial Majesty; so he that shall kill a man that is made after the image of God, [...] [Page 16] a Contempt upon the Divine Majesty, there [...]s Treason against God contained in the bloo­dy bowels of this Sin. Upon this account it is indeed a greater sin to kill a good man that [...]as the Image of God renewed in him, then [...] [...]ill a wicked man. Nevertheless, that [...] [...]s a Capital Crime; for all men have something ^(e) of Gods Image remaining in them, not only in that every man has an immortal Soul, and is in that respect more like the Immortal God than any other Creature in the world, and in that men have a domi­nion over the Creatures, which is one part of Gods image; on that account does the [...]p [...]stle say, That Man is the Image and Glo­ry of God, 1 Cor. 11.7. But also, in that the Law is written in the hearts of men by na­ [...]ure; ^(f) though God has executed spiritu­al death upon mankind for Adams Apostacy, after a dreadful manner, yet he has modera­ted that punishment; hence men in a natu­ral estate, yet close with some Practical Prin­ciples of Piety and Righteousness, as that God ought to be wor [...]hipped, that men should do as they would be done by, and the like; and m [...]ny natural men, yet have an Image of ver­tue, [Page 17] they have something like Grace; a shadow of it, they hate flagitious Crimes, and approve of a morally honest Conversati­on; these things shew that there are some remainders of the Image of God in men: Therefore he that shall murder such a Crea­ture is worthy of death.

But thus for the Doctrinal handling of the Truth before us: I proceed to make some Application.

1. By way of Information.

2. For Exhortation.

Infor. 1. This Doctrine justifieth the Au­thority here, in respect of the Sentence of death which has been passed on the Murderer, who is this day to be executed.

There is a man standing before the Lord, and amongst his people this day, who has done just as my Text expresseth, He has smitten his Neighbour, and that with an In­strument of Iron too, with a cruel Spit made of Iron; the thing proved by several Witnesses, [Page 18] and the man that was hurt dyed by that wound; therefore he that has smitten him is a Murderer, and must surely be put to death; though for a long time he denied it, nevertheless since his Condemnation he has acknowledged it, and yesterday he confessed to me, that he had in his rage murdered the man, whose death and blood has been laid to his charge; he told me that the other gave him some [...]ll language whereby he was provoked, and that h [...] said to him, if he came within the door, he would run the Spit into his bowels, and he was as wicked as he said he would be, so that he is guilty of Murder. Therefore none ought to blame those in Au­thority for causing the Murderer to be put to death; conscience to God, and to the people under their charge, and to their own Souls also, has necessitated them to do what they have done in this matter. Let every one re­member that Scripture, Prov. 28.17. A man that doth violence to the blood of any person, shall flee to the Pit, let no man stay him; if he has shed blood, to the Pit let him go, and flie thi­ther, let all convenient speed be used in the execution of Justice, that so the Land may be cleared from blood, and let no man in Authority stay him, let no private person So­licit for him. But let us be thankful to God, [Page 19] that we are under such Magistrates, as will do Justice, and Execute Judgment, and pu­nish Sin according as the Word of God re­quireth that it should be done.

Inf. 2. Hence those things which have a ten­dency to, and a degree of Murder in them, must needs be [...] e.g. Ra [...] sinful anger is an e­vil thing, Murder begins there. It was said of those Brethren in iniquity, Simeon and Le­vi, That Instruments of Cruelty were in their Habitations, for in their anger th [...] slew a man, Cursed be their [...]rath, for it was cruel, Gen. 49.5, 6. And our Lord Jesus Christ in his Exposition of the sixth Commandment, sheweth that rash anger is a degree of Mur­der, Matth. 5.21, 22. You have heard that it was said by them of old time, Ye shall not kill, and whosoever shall kill, shall be in danger of the Judgment, but I say unto you, that whosoever is an­gry with his Brother without a cause, shall be in dan­ger of the Judgment There is Mans Judg­ment-seat, and Gods Judgment seat: murder makes a man be in danger of the former; sinful anger exposeth him to the latter; not that all anger is sinful, there is an anger that is good, when a man is an­gry in Gods Cause, moved with zeal and indignation, because God is dishonoured; [Page 20] that's very good; and a man may some­times be angry in his own Cause too and yet not sin. Be angry and sin not, but when men are angry without a just cause, that's evil. When they are angry more than they have cause for, that they are all on a Flame for a meer trifle, when (as one well ex­presseth it)^(g) Man shall suffer the Beacon of his Soul to be set all on fire at the land­ing of every small Boat, thats a foolish and evil thing, or when men shall be angry lon­ger than they ought to be; an implacable Spi­rit is a vile Murderous Spirit: Anger rests in the bosome of Fools; sinful anger is poy­son, which as soon as ever a man has taken it into his mouth, he should spit it out again. And when anger shall break out into Cur­ses and wicked imprecations; thats wicked Anger. This Condemned man that stands here, confesseth that he was wont in his pas­sion to Curse all near him. He murdered many a man with his bloody tongue, before he was left of God to murther any with his hand. His mouth was full of Cursing and [...]itterness before he shed blood; and when men in their rage imprecate and curse themselves, it is a very evil thing; there are some that will say, They wish they may be hanged, if such a thing [Page 21] be so, and many times the Righteous Judg­ment of God brings that very evil upon them.

There is a Printed Relation concerning^(b) a person of Quality that was hanged for a Crime laid to his charge; and when he came to die, he confessed that he had been much addicted to that sinful Recreation of Card­playing; and that many times when the Game went otherwise than he wished for, he should in his Passion, wish that he might be hanged if it were so, and once he wished he might be hanged if ever he played again; and therefore (said he) God is just in bringing me to such a death as that. And when an­ger shall break out into blows, quarrelling and fighting between Neighbours that ought to live in peace, there is great evil in it. This miserable Creature before us, acknowledgeth that it was so with him. In his mad passions he cared not whom he did strike or hurt. It is not good for them that have lawful power to strike others, to do it in passion. It is not good for Parents to strike their Children, or Masters their Servants, or School masters [Page 22] their Scholars in heat of anger, lest they be­come guilty of breaking the sixth Command­ment. A moral Heathen, when his Ser­vant had committed a fault that greatly in­censed him, said to him, If I were not angry with thee I would strike thee; but I will stay till my passion is over before I punish thee. Again, a spirit of Revenge is an evil thing: it is Mur­der in Gods sigh [...], 1 Joh. 3.15. He that hates his Broth [...]r, is a Murderer. Hatred never rests but in the destruction of the thing hated. To say no more here; Cruelty is a degree of Murder and a great Evil. And most of all for men to be cruel to those that stand in nearest relation to [...]em (as this Malefactor owns that he has [...]een) whom they ought to love dearly; is an high degree of inhu­manity No man that acted like a man, ever hated his own flesh. To be cruel, though to a Serv [...]nt or Slave, is a very sinful thing. Nay Cruelty though to a Beast argueth a murde­rous, bloody disposition. The Scripture saith that a good man is merciful to his Beast. They then that make themselves sport with putting dumb creatures to misery, do very sinfully. Yet that has been practised here of later years in the open Streets, especially on one day of the Year^(†) To do it at such a time is va­nity [Page 23] and Heathenish Superstition; besides to make sport with exercising cruelty on dumb Creatures, which had never been miserable had not the sins of men made them so; it is a wicked thing, and ought not to be amongst those that call themselves Christians.

Inf. 3. If Murder be such a crime as has been shewed, it is then a [...]rrowful thing that so many of the Child [...]n of m [...]n should be found guilty of this evil.

There a [...]e some p [...]aces of the World where Murder is a commo [...] Sin. The dark corners of the Earth are full of the habitations of cruelty. And there are m [...]ny in the World that call themselves Christians, who never­theless delight in shedding innocent Blood. Persecutors are Murderers. Bloody Papists are in the Scripture charged with Murder on this account: It is said of them, they repented not of their Murders, Rev. 9.21. namely of their Murdering the Saints of God for their Religion, for the truths sake; and because they would not comply with their Superstiti­ons and Idolatries. That Mother of Harlots the Church of Rom [...] she has made her self drunk with blood; many millions of Saints have been murdered by her. Persec [...]ts are Cains Children. O how many are there go­ing [Page 24] up and down the World with Cain's bloo­dy Club in their hands to this day! It was Luther's sayings, Cain will kill Abel to the end of the World. But besides this, that which the Civil Laws of Nations make to be Mur­der is frequent in some places. A late Histo­rian reports, that in the Kingdom of France, ^(*) within [...] space of ten years, there were known [...] no less than six thousand Mur­ders committed. And in Popish Countries, they have Sanctuaries for Murderers.^(k) A [...]an that has been guilty of a wi [...]ful Murder, [...]f [...]he does but run into a Church (as they call [...]) or into a Monastery, he is protected in those bloody places of Refuge. Their Wri­ters plead for this. And though no convic­ted Murderer did ever escape the stroke of Justice in this Land (which is matter of re­joycing) yet it is a very sad thing, that any in such a place as this should be found guilty of such a Crime. That men should do so wic­kedly in a Land of uprightness: but so it has been. Divers have been Executed for this sin formerly, and one that is to be put to death for it this day. And there have been several Murders committed amongst us, the Authors of which are not as yet known. Some that have been so monstrously Wicked and Unna­tural [Page 25] as to embrew their hands in the Blood of their own Children: who they are God know­eth, and will find a time to judge them; and one day we and all the World shall know who they are. Besides these, several others have been under vehement suspicion, and tryed for their lives, on the account of this Sin. We have all cause to Pray for New-England, as the Lords People of old were directed for to do, in case of an uncertain Murder, Deut. 21.7, 8. They shall Answer and say, our hands have not shed this Blood, neither have our eyes s [...]n it; Be merciful O Lord to thy People Israel, whom thou hast Redeemed, and lay not innocent Blood unto the people of Israels charge; and the blood shall be forgiven them. Be merciful O Lord, to thy People in New England, and lay not innocent Blood to their charge.

USE II. For Exhortation:

There is a double Exhortation before us:

1. Hence men should beware that they do not become guilty of this Sin. It is in Man's corrupt nature. Nothing is more natural th [...] a spirit of Revenge, as we see in little Chil­dren, which discovers that the Children of Men bring murderous Natures into the World with them. Hence the Apostle declaring, [Page 26] what men by nature are, saith, That their Feet are swift to shed blood, Rom. 3.15. because he [...]e is a marvelous propensity in mans Na­ [...]ure unto this sin. Should not the Lord either [...]y special or common Grace restrain them, how m [...]y would soon become guilty of Mur­der it self? Yea, and those too that do not [...]elieve any such thing concerning themselves. When the Prophet Elisha told Hazael what a [...]rodigious Murderer he would be, what (said [...]e) Am I a Dog, that thou shouldest have such [...]houghts of me? But in a little time he app­eared to be as curst a Blood-hound as ever [...]he Prophet had said to him. O then beware of this sin. And therefore take heed of gi­ [...]ing way to wicked passions. Lesser sins make way for greater. And especially take [...]eed of great Sins: For many a Man by be­ [...]ng guilty of other great sins, has provoked [...]he Holy God to leave him unto this Sin too. The poor condemned Malefactor who stands [...]ere in the sight of this Congregation, does [...]cknowledg, that he has by living in other [...]ns provoked God to leave him unto this, which he must now dy for, & warns others e­ [...]pecially Young men to take heed of those [...]ins as they love their lives or souls. I know [...]ot but that it may be for edification, and [...]nd to Gods Glory, if I should read in this [Page 27] great Assembly; what I received in Writing from this dying and distressed Creature. It is this which followeth;

I James Morgan, being Condemned to die, must needs own to the glory of God, that he is Righteous, and that I have by my Sins provoked him to destroy me before my time. I have been a great sinner, guilty of Sabbath-breaking, of Lying, and of Vncleanness; but there are especially two Sins: whereby I have offended the Great God; one is, that Sin of Drunkenness, which has caused me to commit many other Sins; for when in drink, I have been often guilty of Cursing and Swearing, and quarel­ling, and striking others. But the Sin which lieth most heavy upon my Conscience, is, that I have despised the Word of God, and many a time refused to hear it prea­ched. For these things, I believe God has left me to that which has brought me to a shameful and miserable Death. I do therefore beseech [...]nd warn all persons, young men especially, to take heed of these Sins, [Page 28] lest they provoke the Lord to do to them as he has justly done by me. And for the far­ther peace of my own Conscience, I think my self obliged to add this unto my fore­going Confession, That I own the Sentence which the Honoured Court has passed upon me, to be exceeding just, in as much as though I had no former grudge and malice against the man whom I have Killed, yet my passion at the time of the fact was so out­ragious, as that it hurried me on to the do­ing of that which makes me justly now proceeded against as a Murderer.

Thus does this miserable man confess: but how many are there in the Congregation, that this may strike terror and trembling in­to their Souls.

O Lord, how many are there in this great Assembly, who have lived and do live in those very Sins, for which this man confesseth that God has been provoked to destroy him! Let Sinners hear and take warning this day; this man now that the Terrors of God have awakened his distressed Soul bitterly com­plaints [Page 29] of two Sins especially; one is that of Drunkenness. And indeed, Drunkenness has been a bloody Sin; it has been the cause of many a Murder. The man here who is now flying to the Pit, confesseth that in his drink, he was wont to curse and swear, and to quar­rel, and strike those near him; and he ac­knowledged to me, that he had made himself grievously drunk the day before he was left of God to commit the Murder which he now must dye for; yea, and that he hid that v [...] night been drinking to excess, and that [...]e was not clear of drink at the time when he did the bloody Fact? And does not the Scrip­ture say, Who has We, Who has Sorrow, Who has Contentions! who has Babling? who has Wounds without Cause! They that tarry long at the Wine—Prov. 23.29, 30. Wicked men when they are in drink, will fall to quarrel­ling; words will bring on blows, and those blows will cause wounds, and those wounds may perhaps prove mortal. And then what Wo and Sorrow followeth: Oh how many have by means of this Sin, been guilty of In­terpretative Murder! They have caused others to die by making them drunk; There has been an horrible thing done in this place; some wicked persons (who they are God knows) have given or sold Strong Liquors on [Page 30] the Indians, and made them drunk also, and several of them have dyed in that condition; let such know, that the Lord will iudg them; yea, he will judg them as men that have shed blood shall be judged; they must answer for the blood of Souls and Bodies too. Most wick [...] and miserable Creatures they are, that [...]o gain a few pence, will bring upon themselves the guilt of the blood of Souls and of Bodies too. And this bloody sin of drunken­ness has been the cause of many a self Mur­der; how many have made themselves the woful Martyrs of Bacchus thereby: by Drun­kenness and intemperance, they have brought their Bodies to the Grave, and their Souls to Hell before their time. It is an unhappy thing that of la [...]er years, a kind of Strong ^* Drink has been common amongst us, which the poorer sort of people, both in Town and Country, can make themselves drink with, at cheap and easy rates. They that are poor and wicked too (Ah most miserable Crea­tures!) can for a peny or two pence make themselves drunk: I wish to the Lord, some Remedy might be thought of, for the preven­tion of this evil. It is a very sad thing, that [Page 31] so many Bodies and Souls should be eternally ruined, and no help for it. How few are there, that if once they be addicted to this vice, do ever truly repent of it, or turn from it. There was a man, who hearing that his Son took evil courses, and that he followed such a vice, well (said he) I hope he'll leave that; and that he was given to another vice, I hope (said he) he'll leave that too; but it was told him his Son was given to Drunken­ness also: Nay, then (said he) I have no hope of him. I will not say (as he did) there is no hope that ever a Drunkard should repent, but I say, there have been but few such instances in the world. How rarely have any of you known a man that has been addicted to this Body destroying, and Soul-murdering iniqui­ty, that has truly repented of it, or turned from it again. O then, let men that have any love for their Lives or Souls, beware of this bloody Sin.

But the other evil which this undone man, does especially cry out of, and which now that he seeth his Soul going into Eternity, he saith, lieth most heavy upon his Conscience, is his despising the Word of God. I do not won­der to hear him speak so, for I have known several Condemned Persons, who have made the same out-cry. O nothing terrifieth our Con­sciences, [Page 32] like the thought of this, that we have neglected the means of Grace! And what think you of Sinners in Hell, who are wayling for this with tears of Blood for ever and ever; whose doleful and bitter cry, is, O the Ser­mons which we once heard, or might have heard but would not: Ten Thousand Worlds would we give for an opportunity, to hear one of those Ser­mons again with any hope of finding mercy with God! O you that have lived under the Gos­pel, but despised it, think of this. Verily I say unto you, all the sins in the world will not Damn like this: Suppose a man to have been guilty of Adultery, or Murder, or the most horrid Transgressions against the Law of God, these will not Damn his Soul like that of despising the Word of God. For this is the Condemnation that light is come into the world, and men love darkness rather than light. And how shall we escape, if we neglect so great Salvation: They that shall [...] [...]ound guilty of neglecting the great Salvation offered in the Gospel, cannot escape the Wrath of God to the utmost of it. And this is true, not only concerning such as have lived under the constant preaching of the Gospel, and yet remain, and live and dye in a natural un­converted estate; but of them also, that might hear the Word of God, but will not; [Page 33] concerning such Christ saith, it shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah at the day of Judgment, than for them, Mat. 10.15. This dying man, now that his Conscience is awa­kened, saith, it is a terror to him to think, I might have heard the Word of God Preached many a time, but refused it; he neglected to hear Sermons, not only on Lecture-dayes, but on Lords-days too; when he was a Ser­vant, he was wont (as himself saith) on the Sabbath days, to go out into the Fields, and there to profane the Lords day, at the very time when he might, and ought to have been hearing the Word of God; and since he had a Family, his custom was to keep at home, when others were attending the Publick Worship of God; and he told me, that he did foolishly please himself, and think he had a sufficient reason to stay at home, because he had not Cloaths good enough to appe [...]r pub­lickly in; when as the mony that he mis­spent in drink, would have procured him cloathing. Let others then by his example, be warned against this evil, lest they pro­voke God, and feel sorrow for it, as he has done. I doubt there are very many in this great Town guilty of his Sin in this particu­lar, perhaps some that are Professors of Reli­gion, which is dreadful to think on. I hear [Page 34] some say, that there are many hundreds, nay, some thousands in this place, that seldome hear a Sermon Preached, from one end of the year to the other; if that be so, it is ve­ry lamentable. What is like to become of the Souls of such profane persons? If they that are in place of Power (be they Superior, or inferior Officers) can possibly redress this evil, they will certainly do a Service accepta­ble to God, and to the Lord Jesus Christ.

But I proceed to the second Exhortation.

If Murder be such a Crime as has been de­clared, then, let whoever has been guilty of [...]'s sin, be humbled for it, and repent of it. As for Interpretative Murder, many are guilty of that. O how many that have by debauchery and intemperance, shortned the lives of them­selves or others; let such repent, and turn from their sins unto God. But I hope there is none in this vast Assembly, that has been guilty of that Murder which is by the Law of God, and of the Land a Capital Crime, excepting one man, and one such person where is here present, unto whom I shall now particularly apply my self. Do you then hear, that your Soul may live: This is the last Ser­mon that [...]ver you shall hear. Time was when [Page 35] you might have heard S [...]rmons, but would not; and now you shall not hear them, tho' you would. For, as God [...]id to him, This night thy Soul shall be required of thee; So I say to you in his Name, This night thy Soul shall be taken from thee: This might your Soul shall be either in Heaven or in Hell for ever. You. are appointed to die th [...]s day, and after death, cometh the Judgment; as soon as your Body is dead, your immortal Soul shall appear before the Great God and Judge of all, and a Sentence of Everlasting Life, or Everlasting Death shall be passed upon you. Are you willing when those Chains, which a [...]e about you, shall be taken off, that your immortal Soul should be hanged in Everlasting Chains? Are you willing that when your Body is re­moved from the Prison, your Soul should go to the Spirits that are in Prison? You have complained that you have been in a Dunge­on, and had little light there; but are you willing to go where you shall never see light? Are you willing that when your Body is deliv­ered from this Dungeon, your Soul should go into that Dungeon, where is blackness of darkness for ever? If not, I charge you in the Name of God to hear and obey his Word: Yea, that Word which you have many a time despised: I have spoken so often to you in [Page 36] p [...]vate, since your being Apprehended, that I [...] all not need to say much now, only a few words.

1. Consider what a Sinner you have been: T [...]e sin which you are to die for, is as red as S [...]arlet; and many other sins has your wick­e [...] life been filled with. You have been a S [...]ranger to me, I never saw you, I never [...]ard of you, until you had committed the Murder, for which you must die this day; but I hear by others, that have known you, h [...]w wicked you have been; and you have your self confessed to the world, that you have b [...]en guilty of Drunkenness, guilty of Cursing and Swearing, guilty of Sabbath-breaking, g [...]ilty of Lying, guilty of secret Uncleanness; as Solomon said to Shimei, Thou knowest the wickedness which thine own heart is privy unto; [...] I say to you. And that which aggravates y [...]ur guiltiness not a little, is, that since you [...]ve been in Prison, you have done wicked. [...]y [...] you have made your self drunk several [...]es since your Imprisonment; yea, and y [...]u have been guilty of Lying since your C [...]ndemnation: It was said to a Dying man D [...] not thou fear God, seeing thou art under Con­ [...]nation. O what a sinner have you been! fo [...] since you have been under Condemnati­o [...], you have not feared God. And how [Page 37] have you sinned against the Gospel? What Unbelief? What Impenitency have you been guilty of?

Consider 2. What misery you have brought upon yourself, on your body, that must die an accursed death; you must hang between Heaven and Earth, as it were forsaken of both, and unworthy to be in either; and what misery have you brought upon your poor Children, you have brought an everlasting reproach upon them. How great will their shame be, when it shall be said to them, that their Father was hanged, not for his good­ness, as many in the world have been, but for his wickedness: Not as a Martyr, but as a Malefactor, truly so? But that which is ten thousand thousand times worse then all this, is, that you have (without Repentance) brought undoing misery upon your poor, yet precious Soul: Not only death on your Body, but a second death, on your never dying Soul: It is said in the Scripture, that Murderers shall have their part in the Lake, which burns with fire and Brimstone, which is the Second Death: Rev. 21.8. O tremble at that! I remember a man that was Condemned and Executed in this place some years ago, that had been a Souldier, and as stout a spirited man as most in the world, who when he came to die, [Page 38] thus expressed himself to a Minister, that treated with him about his Soul, I (said he) never knew what fear meant, tho' I have been amongst Dr [...]wn Swords, and before the Canons mouth; I feared not death; but now you tell me of a Second Death, it makes my Soul to shake within me. That's a death, the thought whereof may make the Soul of the stonest Sinner in the world to tremble; for that's a death which is eternal: The things which are seen are temp [...]ral, but the things which are not seen are eternal. The death of the body, that's seen, and it is soon over; but what becomes of the Soul when a sinner dieth, they that stand by him do not see, but if he die impe­nitent, the death which is not seen takes hold on him, and it is eternal: The God against whom he has sinned, liveth for ever to pun­ish him. And a fearful thing it is, to fall in­to the hands of the everliving God: O run not into the mouth of the Second Death; in­to the wide mouth of the fiery Pit, which has devoured millions of millions of immor­tal Souls; and know you for certain, that if you die impenitent, your Damnation will be no ordinary one; for you have not only transgressed against the Law of God, with an high hand, but sinned against the Gospel too. The Sermons which you have heard formerly, [Page 39] o [...] might have done, will be as so many wit­nesses against you, before the Judgment seat of Christ: the three Sermons which have been Preached to you in Publick, since your Condemnation; the pains which has been taken with you in private, by one or other of the Lords Servants; all these will aggra­vate your Condemnation, when you shall be Judged again before all the world, at the last day if you die impenitent.

Consider 3. There is yet a possibility that you [...] Soul may be saved; notwithstanding all that has been spoken to you, do not despair; re­pent but do not despair. I would not have you say as Cain did, My sin is greater than can be forgiven: The Lord is a merciful God; though men cannot forgive you, God can; and he will do it, if you unseignedly repent, and believe on the Lord Jesus. There is in­finite merit in the death of Christ; if your bloody Soul be washed in his blood, it shall be made whiter than the Snow: That sin which you must now dye for, God has forgi­ven to others: upon their true Repentance: Manasseb filled the streets of Jerusalem with innocent blood, but when he humbled him­self, and besought the Lord for mercy, God was entreated of him. O [...]herefore repent, and then tho your Body [...] die, your Soul shall live, and not die.

[Page 40]I have but two words more to say to you, and then I shall [...]ake my leave of you for e [...]er.

1. Be sure that you be sincere in your Repen­tance. Many times men under fears, will seem very penitent, when as they do but fla­ [...] God with their mouths, and lie unto him with their Tongues: Thus it was with Pha­roah, and with many a Sinner, whose hard heart was never broken nor changed; we see often, that Sinners on sick-beds, when they behold Death and Eternity before their eyes, will confess their sins, and promise Reforma­tion; but if the Lord spare and restore them, they are the same that they were before▪ And we have known instances among our selves, of men that when they have been Captives, and in Turkish slavery, they have pretended to a sense of those sins which pro­voked the Most High to bring that misery upon the [...], and have written seemingly pi­ [...]s and penitent Letters to their friends, but now God has delivered them, they are as vain as profane, as ungodly as ever in their lives before; nay, some of them worse: for the truth is, if men be not humbled and con­verted by such signal dispensations, many [...]mes they are judicially and everlastingly hardned. They never leave sinning until [Page 41] they have sinned themselves into Hell, pa [...] all hopes of mercy, or of recovery. To come nearer to you, I have known some, more than one, or two, or three, that have been Condemned to die, and whilst they remain­ed under that Sentence, they seemed very pe­nitent, but they were pardoned (for they had not been guilty of Murder as you have) and since that, have been as wicked as ever. O then look to your self, that you do not dis­semble with God and man, and your own Soul too. And let not the fear of punishment only, but the sense of mercy break your heart.

2. In this way of sincere Repe [...]tance, be take your self to the City of Refuge; go to Christ for life. The wilful Manslayer had (as you heard but now) no benefit by the City of Refuge; so shall impenitent Sinners have no Salvation by Christ; but they that have a re­al sight of their sins, and flie from the Aven­ger of Blood, unto Christ for Life, he is rea­dy to succour them. Poor man! has the si [...] ­ty Serpent bitten and stung thy Soul; then look unto the Brazen Serpent, look unto the Lord Jesus, that you may live and not die for ever. Build your hopes of Salvation on Christ and his Righteousness alone: [Page 42] Do not think you shall be saved, only be­cause Good Men have prayed for you, or for the Confession of your sins, which you have now made; or for the sake of any thing but Christ. And I pray the Son of God to have Compassion on you.