Mr. Colman's Sermon to the Pirates, July 10. 1726.
It is a fearful thing to fall into the Hands of the Living GOD. A SERMON Preached to some miserable PIRATES July 10. 1726. On the Lord's Day, before their Execution.
By Benjamin Colman, Pastor of a Church in Boston.
To which is added some Account of said Pirates.
And all the People shall hear and fear, and do no more so presumptuously.
BOSTON, N. E. Printed for John Phillip and Thomas Hancock, and Sold at their Shops. 1726.
The Hands of the Living GOD.
It is a fearful thing to fall into the Hands of the Living GOD.
HOW awful and awak'ning are these Words! Eno' to strike the heart of the hardiest Sinner with the utmost fear! As the hand-writing on the wall over against Belshazzar changed his countenance, loosed the joynts of his loins, and his knees smote one against another.
THE words come in the close of an excellent Warning against wilful & presumptuous disobedience to the Gospel, & apostacy from it. The Apostle warns the presumptuous & apostate Sinner of the righteous and terrible Vengeance of God: For we know him that hath said, Vengeance bebelongeth unto Me, I will recompence saith the Lord: And again, The Lord shall judge his people: It is a fearful thing to fall into the Hands of the Living God.
[Page 2]SEE here what GOD is: He is the Living GOD: That is his glorious and fearful Name. And see what the tremendous Punishment of Sin is; it is to fall into the hands of the Living God.
I need not seek for any Doctrine out of the words of the Text: No words of mine can be like awful, instructive and awakning.
THE Text may be opened and confirmed in the following Enquiries. 1. What is meant by this Title, the living God? 2. What by the Hands of the living God? 2. What it is to fall into the hands of the living God? 4. In what respects it is so fearful a thing to fall into his hands?
1. WHAT is the Import and meaning of this Title, the living God?
IT is the glorious and proper Name of the true God, and many times given him in his Word. Jer. 10.10. The Lord is the true God, he is the living God. Mat. 16.16. Thou art Christ, the son of the living God. Now
1. THE living God means the Eternal God. The Lord, the Everlasting God. He is the living One who ever was, is and will be, without beginning or end. Jer. 10.10. The living God and the Everlasting King. Psal. 90.2. From Everlasting to Everlasting Thou art God.
[Page 3]2. THE living God speaks his Self existence. Eternal existence necessarily implies this. John 5.26. The Father hath life in himself. "God's life is his own: It is originated in Himself ‖, and not derived from another". He is life essential and original.
3. THE living God speaks a life always the same. The immutability and unchangeableness of God is plainly contained in this Title. Dan. 6.26. The living God, and stedfast for ever.
GOD's Name is — I am that I am. This is to live, and to be the living One. I am the Lord, I change not. He who is the same yesterday, to day and for ever, with whom is no variableness nor shadow of turning, He it is that liveth.
4. THE living God means the Fountain of life to all Creatures. Psal 36.9. For with thee is the fountain of life. Angels are living Beings, and Man is a living Soul, but God gives the Being and Life both to the one and other; upholds them in life, and preserves the Spirits. In Him they live and move and have their being; for they are his Offspring. He giveth unto all life and breath and all things.
ONLY the Eternal Son, the Only begotten, hath life in himself, even as the Father hath life in himself. He therefore is no creature: He is the true God and eternal life. Life natural and spiritual are of him and from him together with the Father. He is the Everlasting [Page 4] Father and the living God. John 1.4. In him was life, and the life was the light of men.
5. THE living God is in opposition to false Gods, Idols & Images, which are dead things. The Stocks and the graven Images which stupid men have called Gods, were lifeless things; and the Heroes whom the Nations have ignorantly deified and worshipp'd were dying or dead men. The molten Image is falshood, because there is no breath in it. The portion of Jacob is not like it; He is Jehovah, Him that liveth. Life and death are just in that contradiction the one to the other that the true God is to all false ones. Act. 14.15. We preach to you that you should turn from these vanities to the living God. 1 Thes. 1 9. Ye turned to God from Idols, to serve the living and true GOD.
THE reproach of Idols and of Idolaters is that the living seek to the dead. Isai. 8.19. And it should be hateful to a living Soul to worship the deaf, the blind & the dumb. 2 Sam. 5.8. The hated of David's soul. He means the Idol, the Palladium, of the Jebusites, in which they fottishly trusted.
6. THE living God may mean the activity of the life of God beyond that of all Creatures. God is the most active life. His infinite wisdom, power and goodness in everlasting activity, this is life. In Him is life, and the life is the light of all worlds, of all creatures in them that have life.
HOW many vast Worlds, and millions of millions [Page 5] of living spirits, and moving creatures that have life, has the living God produced, and continually preserves? The life of Angels and Men, beasts and all cattle, creeping things and flying fowl, and whatsoever passeth thro' the paths of the Sea, is communicated from him daily, and upheld by him. What an Active life is this? which worketh hitherto, & yet works incessantly, in the most perfect ease, thro' all worlds, thro' all time!
THIS Agency and activity is plainly intimated in my text, which speaks of the hands of of the living God, and of falling into them. The Hand is for working, and for striking if need be; for expedite and lively working, and for terrible striking. In both respects it intimates a life the most active imaginable.
BUT I come to the Second Enquiry,
II. WHAT are the Hands of the living GOD?
TO be sure nothing like mens hands, and much less the lifeless carved hands of an Image. God has no hands nor bodily parts, is not flesh and blood as we are; but He is an Infinite Essence, the Immense Spirit, filling heaven and earth. When he shewed his Glory to the Elders of Israel, they saw no similitude. And when he gave his Commandments from Sinai, the second of them was— Thou shalt not make unto thee any likeness of any thing that is in Heaven above, or [Page 6] on the earth beneath. But in condescention to our weakness, and to help us in our ideas and conceptions of God in his works of Providence and Grace, He has pleas'd to speak to us of his eyes and hands and feet; to let us know that he ever sees us and concerns himself for us, in ways both of mercy & of judgment, as it seems good to his wisdom and holiness. And accordingly by the hands of the living God we must understand,
1. His eternal Power, his "lively power and strength, together with his active Providence and universal agency, upholding and governing all his Creatures in all their motions & actions. In his hands are the deep places of the earth, the strength of the hills is his also: He holdeth the waters in the hollow of his hand, and in it is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind. The same Almighty hand that form'd and fashion'd us, also holdeth our soul in life▪ It is the good hand of the Lord our God upon us, and out of it proceedeth all the evil that befalls us. Job 2.10. Shall we receive good at the hand of the Lord? and shall we not receive evil?
THERE is in the governing and all disposing Providence of God his protecting hand which is safe and comfortable *; his supplying hand which is full and open, munificent and liberal: And there is also his "correcting hand which is necessary, good and beneficial; and his wrathful hand which is fearful, dreadful and terrible.
[Page 7]2. BY the hands of the living God is meant in my text his Justice, power and wrath, which are against all them that provoke him His wrathful anger takes hold of them, Psalm 69.24. You read of these hands, Deut. 32.40, 41. I lift up my hand to heaven and swear, I live for ever! (O see there the fearful hand of the living God! the hand of him that lives for ever, lift up in swearing by Himself) if I whet my glittering sword, and my hand take hold of judgment, I will render vengeance to my enemies, and reward, them hate me. These are the Hands that smite and wound, and tear and rend to pieces whatever stands in the way of his Holiness. God's wrath in temporal Judgments is his fearful hand: 1 Sam. 5.6. The hand of the Lord was against them of Ashdod, and he smote them with emerods and destroyed them. But how much more is there the fearful hand of God in spiritual and eternal judgments?
3. BY the hands of the living God we may understand "his own immediate punishing ‖, as the spiritual and eternal punishment of the wicked is. In temporal and outward punishments God often uses the Hands of men; and these must be light and small in comparison of his own wrath immediately impressed and inflicted upon a poor Soul. Our Context points us to this immediate revenging hand of God, — For we know him that saith, Vengeance is [Page 8] mine, I will recompence, saith the Lord: It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. The immediate, infinite and eternal Vengeance of God is the thing here spoken of; the vials of his wrath in the next life, not the few scalding drops of it in this only. And O the hand, the power and force of this vindictive wrath! This future and everlasting misery of apostate and impenitent sinners "comes from God's own hand. "When he punishes by Creatures (as One has it) the Instrument abates something of the force of the blow, but the weight of his own hand is infinite Misery. This they shall have of God's hand, to ly down in sorrows for ever; endless and insupportable. Their destruction shall come from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power. 2 Thess. 1.9.
BUT this for the meaning of God's hand in the Text.
III. WHAT is it to fall into the hands of the living God?
IT cannot mean or suppose that we are ever out of his hand. No, we are always in it; both Saints and Sinners are so. All his Saints are in his hand, the hand of his Mercy, power and grace; and all his enemies are in the strong hand of his Justice. Whither can we go from his Spirit? and whither can we flee from [Page 9] his presence? If we take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there shall his hand lead us, and his right hand shall hold us.
THERE is indeed a falling into the hands of Divine wisdom and goodness, grace and mercy; a casting our selves into them, and God's taking us into them. 1 Sam. 24.14. Let us fall now into the hand of the Lord, for his mercies are great. We must look to the helping and saving hand of God, and say, Hold thou me up and I shall be safe! Into thy hand I commit my Spirit!
BUT sinners fall into the hand of Divine justice, when it lays hold of them to punish them for their iniquities; when it falls upon them as it were to slay them. When God judges sinners in his righteous and terrible Providence, or when his wrath falls upon their Consciences, or when Death arrests them to carry them in their impenitence to the Judgment seat of Christ, and to the place of everlasting torments; then, then do they fall into hand of the living God. When God says to evil angels, or to death, or to the tormentors after death, as David did to the young man, Go fall upon this Amalekite; And he smote him that he died. It is as when one falls into the hand of a powerful Enemy; or rather as when a Criminal falls into the hand of Justice, and it is arrested, arraigned, convicted, condemned to die and executed. All impenitent sinners are [Page 10] always in the hand of God's Justice, under his wrath and curse, under the Sentence of eternal death. And not seldom they fall into the hand of his Judgments here in this life, both as to soul and body. But it is especially at Death and in the day of Judgment, that they fall into the hand of the living God. Then it is laid upon them, lays hold of them, holds them fast, and falls upon them. This is the Second death.
IV. WHY is it so fearful a thing to fall into the hand of the living God? I answer, 1. Because the power and wrath of God is infinite and insupportable. 2. Because it is eternal and everlasting.
1. BECAUSE the power and wrath of God is infinite, intolerable, and insupportable. Psa. 90.11. Who knoweth the power of thine anger? even according to thy fear so is thy wrath. It is infinitely beyond all that we can fear or apprehend. Psalm 76.7. Thou, even Thou art to be feared, and who may stand in thy sight when once thou art angry? Nahum 1.5, 6. The mountains quake at Him, and the hills melt, and the earth is burnt up at his presence; yea the world and all that dwell therein: Who can stand before his indignation? and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger? his fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by him. Say now if it be not a fearful thing to fall into [Page 11] the wrathful hand of this Infinite power! The wrath of an earthly King is as the roaring of a lion; but to what can we compare the wrath of the Infinite God? How terrible was the wrath of the King, which the three Worthies among the Children of Israel feared not, tho' it raged against them? Dan. 3.19. Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego; therefore he spake and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heat; And he commanded the most mighty men that were in his army to bind and cast them into the burning fiery furnace. This is but a little image of the fierceness of the wrath of God, which will cast sinners into the pit that burneth with fire and brimstone.
2. THE wrath and vengeance of the living God is Eternal and Everlasting; and this it is that renders it so fearful a thing to fall into his hand. The living God lives for ever to punish. He can and will inflict wrath for ever and ever. He lives to uphold the Soul under everlasting Sufferings.
IT is true that he could annihilate the Soul, and bring it to nothing: But he has made it immortal, made it for immortality, and it cannot die, it shall live for ever, tho' in insupportable torments.
GOD is unchangeable Truth, and inflexible Holiness. He has sworn and will not repent. [Page 12] He lives for ever and his hand takes hold of Judgment. — Yea his life and being is the most active imaginable, both as to punishing and rewarding. The living God is not like indolent Idols. He has hands and uses them. And all his power and anger is in everlasting activity against the wicked. Psalm 7.12. He will what his sword, he hath bent his bow and made it ready; he hath also prepared for him the instruments of death. Psalm 11.6. Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest; this shall be the portion of their cup. — But the terribleness of this active vengeance is, that it is Eternal; the vengeance of everlasting fire. Jude ver. 7.
THE living God inflicts eternal death on those whom he damns. The eternal damnation of the wicked proceeds from eternal life in Him. The Sentence therefore runs thus; Mat. 25.41. Depart from Me ye cursed into everlasting fire. The living God passes this Sentence, and he lives for ever to see it executing, through all the ages of Eternity. 2 Thess. 1.9. Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power.
THE damned after the Day of Judgment will be as much in the wrathful hands of the living God as they were before. The hand that casts them into hell will hold them down therein. Hell is naked before him and destruction hath no covering. Once in those living hands [Page 13] and there for ever. O eternal horror! how fearful a thing to think of!
THIS destruction from the Almighty should be indeed a terror to us. It is revealed to us for this end, in so many fearful and terrifying descriptions. Mark 3.29. In danger of Eternal damnation. O what a danger, what a hazard is that? what a fearful condition for a poor Soul to be in? Mat. 3.5. He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire. The chaff is such dry stuff that though it yield a vehement and fierce flame, yet it is presently over and out. But though sinners are no better than chaff, and the fire in their Consciences will be a most vehement flame, yet it will never abate and much less go out, but rage on for ever & ever. There's oil eno' in guilt, such as it is, to feed the flames for ever. Mark 9.44. Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. Here is misery in extremity, both in respect of the degree and of the duration thereof. It is without intermission, diminution or end. O the fearfulness of this state of misery! Well might our Lord say, Luke 12.5. I will forewarn you whom you shall fear; fear him who after he has killed hath power to cast into hell; yea I say unto [Page 14] you fear him. The death of the Body is soon over, yea though it were to be burnt to death; the flames soon suffocate it or bring it to ashes: But the Soul can ly in flaming torments for ever and ever, and yet exist and subsist: And the bodies of wicked souls will be raised in such power and incorruption, as to endure the everlasting burnings of hell without a second dissolution. Revel. 14.10, 11. The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy Angels and in the presence of the Lamb: And the smoke of their torment ascendeth for ever and ever. See also Chap. 20. the six last verses.
THUS fearful a thing it is to fall into the hand of the living God, which is infinite power and everlasting wrath. Isai. 33.14. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?
THE USE is, Let Sinners fear: fear the living God, fear his power, fear his anger; fear to fall into his hand, and under his wraths As Elihu speaks, Job 36.17, 18. Justice and judgment take hold on thee; because there is wrath beware lest he take thee away with his stroke.
FEAR and repent: fear and flee from the wrath to come: fear and cry earnestly to God that thou perish not▪ fear and make haste to [Page 15] the City of refuge for thy poor Soul, to lay hold on the Hope set before thee; JESUS who delivereth from the wrath to come. Fearing and trembling go to Christ, believing in him as able and willing to save thee. Get under his saving wings, put thy self into his merciful hands; lay hold on his righteousness and strength, thy only security. As Noah moved with fear prepared an Ark for the saving of his house; so Christ is the Ark of Salvation for perishing Souls from the flood of Divine wrath.
LET Sinners realize the Great GOD in his eternal Being, Power, Providence and Judgment; Justice and Holiness. Let them ever remember their own Immortality, the eternal existence of their precious Souls. And let them never forget the fearful and amazing threatnings of an everlasting punishment for all workers of iniquity. And then let them stand in awe and not sin; but commune with their own heart and be still; seriously considering with themselves,
1. WHAT a fearful state and condition, a state of sin is: a state of nature which is a state of wrath, and a state of multiplied and aggravated guilts which shall receive greater damnation.
2. THAT the state of Gospel sinners, and of some sinners under the Gospel, is more fearful than that of others.
AND to such my text speaks, who have known the living God, his word and judgment; [Page 16] how worthy of death they are beyond others, by reason of unbelief presumptuous sins and impenitence. Read the Context from the 26. verse. For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins; But a fearful looking for of judgment and of fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries: He that despised Moses law died without mercy under two or three witnesses; Of how much sorer punishment suppose ye shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant wherewith he was sanctified an unholy thing, and hath done despite to the Spirit of Grace? For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth to me, I will recompence saith the Lord: And again, the Lord shall judge his people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
YOU that have heard the voice of the living God, as it were out of the midst of the fire; Deut. 5.26. How ought you to quake and tremble at the thought of falling into his revenging hands? You must defy the living God, if you do not fear him, in the declarations & threatnings of his written word. And are you this Goliah of hell, to face the terrors of the living God with words of defiance in your mouth? Ah! how easily will you fall before the least instrument of death in the hand of his Providence and Judgment! how easily will his Curse sink into your forehead and triumph over the monster of iniquity!
[Page 17]YOU that have been [...]ending the Name of the living God in horrid Oaths, cursings and imprecations; Swearing vainly and falsly and ludicrously by it; in your passions, or in your sports and jests; how fearful should it be to you to think of falling into the hands of the living God? who has said (and made it one of his ten Words, the ten Commandments) Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his Name in vain.
YOU that have liv'd upon rapine and robberies, the spoil of your innocent and righteous Neighbours; how fearful should it be to you to think of falling into the hands of the living God? who has said — that he hates the robberies of the wicked, and that the unrighteous & thieves shall not enter into the Kingdom of God.
YOU that have pass'd your lives in drunkenness and intemperance, in unchastity and uncleanness, in lasciviousness, lusts and exess of wine, in revellings and riots; how should you fear to fall into the hand of the living God? who is of purer eyes than to behold iniquity, and hates all the workers of it, and has said — Be not deceived, neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor thieves, nor coveteous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners shall inherit the Kingdom of God.
ONCE more, You that are Murderers, & have the stain of your Brothers blood upon your guilty souls and hands; who like Cain have been [Page 18] of that wicked one (the devil) that murderer from the beginning, and have slain your Brethren because their deeds were righteous, and you knew they would not join with you in your impieties; — how can you dare to think of falling into the hands of the living God? who has said — The murderer shall surely be put to death: A man that doeth violence to the blood of any person, shall flee to the pit, let no man stay him. And again, Revel. 21.8. Murderers shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone.
GOD is the Author and giver of Life. Death is an odious thing in his eyes. Therefore it is made the punishment of Sin. The living God cannot be more affronted and provoked than by that contempt and wrong which living souls and spirits do by sin pour on their own life, and therein on his Image and Authority. For he is the Lord of Life, and the Father of Spirits. They are both his Subjects and his Offspring. As a King he can't bear the destruction of his Subjects, and as a Father he can't bear the murder of his children· Apply all this to mens shedding innocent blood, and infer the righteous vengeance of God on them that shed it.
THUS there are some sinners whose flagrant crimes make it a more fearful thing for them to fall into the hands of the living God.— But
3. MOST of all fearful is a state of Security in sin, and hardness of heart. The sins before [Page 19] named do strangely harden mens hearts, but the fearless sinner is never secure, is least of all secure; is most in danger of God's terrible wrath; and that because he is the living God, and sees his fearlessness and is incensed by it. The secure fool says in his heart — "The living God is not present, nor sees nor knows, nor will bring me into judgment". When at the same time the foolish sinner is within the dreadful hand of that God, whom he is denying and daring by his Security. He therefore is above all men in danger of Gods taking him presently and tearing him to pieces. The terrors of God should now fall upon him, and fearfulness and horror should overwhelm him; a dreadful sound should be in his ears of the destroyer coming on him: Trouble and anguish shall make him afraid, they shall prevail upon him as a king ready to the battel: For he stretcheth out his hands against God, he strengthneth himself against the Almighty; he runneth upon him, even upon his neck, upon the thick bosses of his buckler. But if he sleep on still in his security, yet
4. HOW fearful will the hands of the living God be in the hour of death and in the day of judgment? When the king of terrors advances with his mortal dart in his hand, and pointed at thy guilty heart; then fear and the pit and the snare will together present themselves before thee. Thy heart will be then sore pained within thee, and the horrors of death will fall upon thee; then fear will come as desolation, [Page 20] and destruction as a whirlwind; distress and anguish will come upon thee: Then terrors will pursue thy fluttering soul as the wind, and thy welfare will pass away as a cloud, and thy soul shall be poured out upon thee: Then comes the fearful looking for of judgment, and of fiery indignation to devour thee.— But the horrors of that dreadful day can by no means be conceived of or represented. A little image or shadow of it you have, Rev. 6.12—17. And the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood, and the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, and the heaven departed as a scrowl, and every mountain and island were moved out of their places; And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bond man, and every free man hid themselves in the dens, and in the rocks of the mountains; and said to the mountains and rocks, fall on us and hide us from the face of Him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come, and who shall be able to stand?
LET sinners therefore fear the living God, and consider
1. HOW soon, how suddenly they may fall into his hands. This night their souls may be required, and in hell they may lift up their eyes in torments. When they ly down to sleep, their eyes may be closed in eternal death. Psalm 58.9. He shall take them away as in a whirlwind, both living and in his wrath.
[Page 21]2. YOU can never, never get out of those living hands, when you are once fallen into them. No: while God lives he will hold you fast (in everlasting chains) and none shall pluck you out of his righteous hands. Take therefore the gracious warning and advice of Christ, Matth. 5.25, 26. Agree with thine Adversary quickly, while thou art in the way with him, lest at any time the Adversary deliver thee to the Judge, and the Judge deliver thee to the Officer, and thou be cast into prison; Verily, I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid, the uttermost farthing.
AND thus, as I could, I have opened and applied this awful and awakning Subject. May the living God (of his infinite mercies) set it home upon all our hearts; and give us grace (every one) to be applying it to the case and state of our own souls. More especially I hope that You the poor Prisoners under the sentence of death for your crimes, have been very seriously applying the very terrible things that you have heard, for your own awakning and humiliation; by the will and grace and power of our God upon your souls. O that it may be so! and that this last Sabbath you have to live, and this last time you have to hear in a publick Assembly, might be a time of God's love, and a day of his power on your Souls. — O may the fear and dread of God's excellent Majesty, and amazing wrath, now fall on you! And [Page 22] the Spirit of God, whom you have so often and greatly quenched, come down like fire upon your hearts and consciences, and make his word as a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces.
O you greatly need this, and a far more awakning discourse that might bring divine light with flame and burning into your hardned and insensible Souls. For you have been sadly hardning your own hearts by profaneness and blasphemies, by drunkenness and sottishness; by your piracies, robberies and murders; and by your laughing at the very thunders of God. How did you harden your hearts, or how were they hardned, against the cries and supplications of your poor distressed brother (your Master and Commander) in the sad hour when he beso't you only to spare his life, and not to send him down quick into hell, without a minutes time wherein to repent and to cry to God for mercy. Ah, how much more gracious and merciful has God and man been to you than you were to him! Witness all the prayers that have been poured out over you and for you, by the Ministers and People of God in publick, in private and in secret; and witness the solemn Calls and compassionate Invitations you have had to repent and seek the tender mercies of God thro' Jesus Christ. — O you are verily guilty concerning your Brother, in that you saw the anguish of his soul when he beso't you, and you would not hear. But you see Brethren the compassion [Page 23] and anguishes of our souls for you, that you may repent and be saved. And the Lord deliver you from hardness of heart, now you are fallen into his dreadful hands, and are going within two days to appear before the living God, even before his judgment seat, the bar of his Justice, to stand for an Eternal life or death. O that you might find mercy of the Lord in that day, and that the Second and Eternal death might have no power over you.
GOD's hand it is that hath delivered you up to die. The hand of man, the hand of justice, could have no power at all over you, had not the hand of God given you into it. And now that you are falling into the invisible hand of the Eternal God, in the day of your Execution, will you not yet fear and repent and give glory to him? Fear him who after the destruction of the body, can cast the soul down into hell, into everlasting burnings, where the worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched; and who will most certainly do so unless you repent, and cry to Christ, with the faith of the repenting thief, Lord remember me from thy heavenly Kingdom.
AND if you look up to him that was pierced, in the anguish and bitterness of your souls, and with a repenting faith, he will look down upon you in the prison and on the gibbet, and remember you in his tender pity and infinite compassion.
O beg of him therefore that of his free grace he would now strike you with such fears [Page 24] and terrors as are necessary to your sincere repentance and sound conversion. Beg of him to put his fear within you, to cause his dread to fall upon you, to show you your sins in the infinite guilt and demerit of them, and hell the punishment of sin in all its flames and horrors: But at the same time to discover to you his own glory, ability and readiness to save unto the uttermost, even such as you are: For such have some others been, and yet they have obtained mercy; they have been washed, justified and sanctified thro' the Name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God; that in them Christ Jesus might exhibit unto you patterns of what sovereign and boundless Grace can do.
IT is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation, that Jesus Christ came into the world to save the chief of sinners. He says even to such, Look unto me and be ye saved! Come to me, and I will not cast you out. Let the fear of divine wrath drive you to him who delivereth from the wrath to come.
LET me therefore tell you for your comfort and present direction, There are the merciful and saving Hands of the living God, the saving hands of an Ever-living Saviour at the right hand of God; and into these blessed hands shall every humbled, broken, contrite, trembling, believing soul be taken at death. O how blessed and joyful to you, if you may be then taken into these glorious hands! What a [Page 25] turn is this to my text! for as it is a fearful thing to fall into the wrathful hands of the living God, so it is a joyful thing to fall into the merciful hands of a sin pardoning God. But then this turn and change of my text supposes a turn and change in your Souls, your state toward God. Of his mercy he saves souls thro' the washing of regeneration. He will take away the heart of stone and give you a soft and broken contrite Spirit, and so prepare you for his mercy. And if he do this, the high and lofty One that inhabiteth Eternity, will come down into your hearts, even in the dungeon, (for the Lord despiseth not his prisoners) to revive the heart of the humble, and the spirit of the contrite one. Then he'll hold you up in the hands of grace, now, at death, and thro' a blessed Eternity. The Eternal God is the only refuge of living souls, and underneath a repenting sinner are the Everlasting arms.
INTO these saving hands of grace, we would bring You, into them we would commit you; our poor dying Brethren; lately the common Enemies of Mankind; but now our Brethren in Christ Jesus, if with repenting souls you make your flight to him. The prayer of all the Lord's people is for you, that his almighty arm may be stretched out to convert you, and his gracious arms receive you for ever. O let the Merits and Mercies of our Lord Jesus Christ soften and melt you. You are in the hand of Sovereign, Infinite Holiness and [Page 26] Grace. May he who was made a Curse for us, by suffering the accursed death, the Just for the unjust, redeem your poor souls from the Eternal curse
THE Lord enable you to give glory to him and warning to men, when you come to die. To this end you told me, you chose to come into the publick Assembly, rather than to be preached to in private, at this time. May the Lord make his word saving to you and us▪
AND may He sanctify the awful Spectacle and solemn Occasion to us all, and particularly to the Men of the Sea; that all of them may hear and fear, and never fall into the like wicked ways, and come to the like disastrous and miserable End.
YOURS is the danger, more especially, (my Friends and Neighbours, who do business on the great waters) yours is the danger of falling into and by the hands of such wicked and barbarous men: Thank God for all your preservations, pray daily to him your great Preserver.
YOURS is the danger of joyning with such wicked and bloody men when taken by them. The Lord by his grace keep you in that dreadful case. To die is more eligible. And it is marvellous to some of us to hear, how many threatnings and hazards of instant death many of you have pass'd thro', and yet gallantly (I wish I could say, graciously) refused. To God be all the glory of such Virtue, such constancy [Page 27] and courage, such piety and the fear of God. No, Brethren, be not afraid to die; but afraid to sin. How many have hereby saved themselves from the Gallows here, if not from Hell hereafter?
YOURS, our Seafaring friends, is the danger of turning robbers and murderers; and so of a life of horror and terror here, and of wailing and anguish for ever; because of those vices and lusts that reign among and over the men of the Sea; Namely, profaness, cursing and bitterness, swearing and blasphemy, drunkenness and revellings, contempt of religion and profanation of the Lord's Day, whoredom and uncleanness. These quench conscience and the convictions of God's Spirit, stupify and harden mens hearts; take away all fear of God and sense of sin; or regard to men, their estates or lives. And so while you sail on the waters, (beholding the wonders of God in the deep, but never thinking of him, always defying and blaspheming him) you drown your Souls in destruction and perdition; turning robbers and murderers till neither the Land or Waters can bear you any longer.
I know that there are virtuous & worthy Persons that follow the Sea, as good as those that stay ashore; and that there are as bad ashore as any that are on the Sea. I only wish that the wicked might be no more on either Element; and that the numbers of pious and religious [Page 28] people may increase greatly on the Sea and on the dry Land; for both are God's. But I hold my self call'd at this time to warn our seafaring friends, as my beloved Brethren, of their peculiar temptations and hazard. And I hope they will take the warning kindly, against those sins of the Sea which betray Mariners insensibly into the robberies of the wicked which destroy them.
APPENDIX.
THE miserable Persons to whom, and at whose desire the forgoing Sermon was preached, were Samuel Cole and Henry Greenvill. There was also present with them George Condick.
THE Captain of the Pirates, William Fly, refused to come into publick. I mov'd the others for his sake, to let me preach to them in private: But they said, It was the last Sabbath they had to live, and they earnestly desired to be in an Assembly of Worshippers, that they might have the Prayers of many together over them, and that others might take the more warning by them.
THE Story of these wretched men is short and tragical. They sail'd from Jamaica on board a Snoe, John Green Commander, bound to Guinea. They had not been long at Sea before they conspired to seize the Captain and Mate, and then go a pirating. On the 27th of May 1726. they put in execution their wicked design, in a most cruel and barbarous manner. About one a clock in the morning, William Fly [Page 30] then Boatswain of the Snoe Elizabeth, after he had been some time forward with several of the Sailors, came aft with Alexander Mitchel and others, and said to Morrice Cunden (Gunner of the Ship) then at helm, ‘D—n you, you dog, if you stir hand or foot, or speak a word, I'll blow your brains out.’ And immediately thereupon he went into the Cabbin where Captain Green was in bed, and Alexander Mitchel follow'd him; and while they were there Morrice Cunden heard the Captain cry out, What's the matter? But they soon hawl'd him upon deck, and were about to throw him into the Sea; when the poor man begg'd of them to spare his life, saying, ‘For God's sake Boatswain don't throw me over board, for if you do I shall go to hell.’ But though in the anguish and amazement of his soul he thus pleaded with them, that they would not send him down quick into hell, for that he was not fit to die; yet his plea made no impression at all upon their hardned hearts. Fly bid him say after him these words, ‘Lord have mercy upon my soul;’ and away they hurried the poor surpris'd and astonish'd man overboard. It is affirmed that he caught hold of a rope and held for his life, which when one of the wretches saw he cut off his hand with an ax; and so he dropt into Eternity.
AT the same time some others of this bloody crew surpris'd the Mate of the Ship, Thomas [Page 31] Jenkins. And Thomas Streaton (the Carpenter of the Ship) deposed that he heard Samuel Cole say to Jenkins, ‘Come out of your Cabbin, you dog!’ and presently he was hawl'd out, and told ‘that he should go overboard after his Captain.’ When he was in the Sea he was heard calling earnestly to the Doctor to hand him a rope. But the Doctor was by this time himself putting into Irons.
THUS bloodily these inhumane Creatures began their Piracy, but Vengeance follow'd them and suffer'd them not to live.
William Fly, the chief and worst (we may suppose) of these barbarous rogues, took on him the Command, and named the Snoe the Fames Revenge. They were well stored with Powder, and Rum and Provisions, but wanted a better Vessel; and in quest of this it is likely they bent their course first to Carolina and from thence to New England. On the third of June they took a Sloop at Anchor off North-Carolina, on board of which was Mr. William Atkinson a Passenger; who was afterwards the happy Instrument in the hand of God for their destruction. They very much needed one so well skill'd as Atkinson was both as a Mariner and Pilot, and Fly treated him well on that account, but kept a strict eye upon him, forbidding him to have any conversation [Page 32] with the forc'd men; and lest he should he had a hammock given him in the Cabbin.
THEY commanded him to carry them to Martha's Vineyard in order to wood and water there, and in hopes to meet with some Sloop sitting for their purpose ‖: But he resolved to run the venture of carrying them past the Vineyard, and run them up into or near the Bay before they were aware of it. When they perceiv'd it they began to look upon him with an evil eye, & spake of throwing him overboard. But as Fly was uttering his rage at him the next morning on this account, and telling him what death he should die if any thing ill befell them thro' his conduct, a Schooner came in sight which put an end to Fly's rage, for the joy of a good Prize. They found it a Schooner of Marblehead, George Girdler Master.
Mr. Atkinson had some time before this meditated the seizing on Fly and Company, and found means secretly to communicate his mind to some on board, whom he thought he might trust; particularly to Samuel Walker, and Thomas Streaton; and Walker had spoken of it to James Benbrook; who all consented if a fair opportunity should offer.
[Page 33]IT was very necessary to his design to ingratiate himself, as far as he honestly and with a good conscience could, with Fly and his Pirates. Yet in doing this he ran a risque both of his innocence and his life: Of his Innocence, for with a furious man thou shalt not go, lest thou learn his ways and get a snare to thy soul; And of his Life, for as some of the Pirates, the Captain especially, began to think friendly of him and to hearken to his Advice; (they all depending on him to navigate the Ship) so if a Ship of War had taken them it is to be feared that he had in vain pleaded his innocence and good intentions. But the good God who preserv'd, has also pleaded his innocence. And we ought to praise his virtue, conduct and courage, and give God the glory of it.
Fly had no sooner taken the Schooner of Marblehead, but they discovered another at a distance from them. Whereupon he put three men on board the Schooner, and purposed to bear down on the new Sail with both his Vessels. But Mr. Atkinson with a ready thought advised him to put six men into the Schooner and send her down on the fishing Vessels, being her self one of their company but a day before, and so there would be no likelyhood of their flying from her: but (said he) if the Snoe and the Schooner now bear down together they'll take you for what you are, and make away [Page 34] from you. Fly came into his advice and put three men more into the Schooner, and parted with her, standing a course wide from her.
NOW Atkinson's thoughts were hard at work how to draw Fly away from his Arms on the quarter-deck. For there he kept alone, nor would suffer Atkinson to step up, so much as to set down the Bowl of punch after he had drank to him. And probably a Message which he receiv'd from a chief Pirate on board the Schooner, by the boat, ‘To have a special care of his Friend,’ did increase his jealousie; tho' he seem'd only to laugh at it.
WITHIN a little while Atkinson spied a Sail a head to the Leward, and informed Fly of it. And presently after he pretended to discover two or three more sail, and told him he would have a fleet of prizes. But Fly with his glass could see but one. Why said Atkinson, If you were but here, Sir, with your glass, a-head, you would easily see them all. On a sudden Fly forgat his caution, and comes off the quarter-deck, where his arms lay, and sets him down a-head to spy the Sails spoken of. Then Atkinson gave the sign to his friends, and Walker follow'd by Benbrook came up, pretending at first to direct the Captain to look a point or two on such a side, while Atkinson (a spare and slender man) pass'd aft toward the Arms, and in the instant [Page 35] that Walker laid hold of Fly he took the firearms, and returned pointing the gun to the Pirate's breast, and telling him ‘He was a dead man if he did not immediately submit himself his prisoner.’ The wicked Fly earnestly begg'd for his life, and now found that mercy which he had so barbarously denied to his innocent Captain.
IN the midst of this struggle the Pirate Greenvil put up his head from between decks: for there as Providence order'd it He and Condick were at this instant; and as for the pirate Cole he had been in Irons for two days before, by Fly's order, for some mutiny he had made. This it was that render'd the subduing them so easy to Atkinson and his three Companions: for now Streaton had fallen in, and guarded one place, while Atkinson did the other, keeping the Pirates down. The Action was so surprising to the other Forc'd Men, that for a time they stood astonied and like Men amazed, not capable of acting for their own deliverance; altho' vehemently call'd upon and threatned by Atkinson. But in a little time they came to themselves and joyfully fell in with their Deliverers.
WHEN Fly found himself chain'd down and effectually secur'd, he fell at times into the most desperate ragings, cursing himself and her that bare him, and the Day wherein he was born; [Page 36] cursing the very heavens & in effect the God that judged him; Cursing all rovers that should ever give quarter again to an Englishman; and wishing all the devils of hell would come and fly away with the Ship: The same Blasphemer now in his furious despair, or worse than he ever was before in his jollity and pride; when he wou'd sometimes even dare to ridicule the noise of Gods Thunder, as it rattled over him, Saying, ‘That they were playing bowls in the Air,’ &c. and as the Lightnings sometimes flash'd upon them, he would say — ‘Who fires now? Stand by,’ &c. — So he dar'd the dreadful Vengeance, which persu'd him swift as the Lightnings and suddenly struck him.
BUT Capt. Atkinson and his brave Mates are much to be prais'd, that they dealt so mercifully with these bloody Men; and neither blew their brains out (their own phrase) nor threw them overboard. Blessed be God that kept them that day from shedding blood, and from avenging themselves with their own hands. It was much better to reserve the Murderers to the Judgment of the Law, in the proper course of it. Hereby the guilty Miserables had a space granted them for repentance, and were bro't under the happy means of it; Means happy we hope to two of them, namely Greenvil and Cole.
Capt Atkinson and Company now made the best of their way for the Port of Boston. The [Page 37] Pirate Schooner made after them till night parted, when they altered their course and lost her. On the 29 of June they arriv'd at Boston, and Surrender'd themselves, their Prisoners and the Snoe into the hands of the Government. On Monday the fourth of July a Special Court of Admiralty was held at the Court house in Boston, where Mr. Atkinson and Eleven more pass'd their Trial and were acquitted: Fly, Cole, Greenvil and Condick were found guilty, and Sentenc'd to die.
Fly at his trial, as well as before and after it, behav'd boldly and impenitently. Cole and Greenvil more modestly, humbly, penitently; like Men greatly concern'd for their Souls, and distressed for their Sins. And this continu'd to the day and hour of their death. As for George Condick he appear'd ignorant, stupid and insensible; was acquitted by the Court of the Murder, and was afterward repriev'd at the place of Execution.
ON Tuesday, July 12. their Execution came on, and Fly briskly and in a way of bravery jumpt up into the Cart, with a nose gay in his hand, bowing with much unconcern to the Spectators as he pass'd along, and at the Gallows he behaved still obstinately and boldly till his face was covered for death; but Greenvill and Cole behaved piously and penitently in a judgment of charity. — Fly was the [Page 38] greatest Instance of obduracy that has yet been seen among all the Malefactors who have suffer'd in these parts.
THE Reverend Ministers of the Town visited them often, discours'd them seriously and affectionately, prayed with them frequently and fervently, and preached to 'em both in private and in publick.
Samuel Cole in the morning before his Execution delivered a Paper, wherein he confess'd and bewail'd ‘his giving himself in his youth to the sin of drinking; and that while a boy he learn'd and addicted himself unto the too common sin of Swearing and blaspheming the great and fearful Name of God: Also his early defrauding his Master by stealing Liquors for wicked men, who entic'd and encourag'd him to do it: Also that when he arriv'd to Manhood he consulted nothing but sinful pleasures, drinking, whoring, dancing, &c. He desired all Sea-faring men to take warning by his shameful and ignominious death; which he was now come to by listning to the wicked words and actions of horrible men. He confess'd himself to be justly condemned, and gave abundance of thanks for the assistance of many good Ministers, their kind Exhortations and good Doctrine to him; He ask'd their continued prayers, and the prayers of all good people, [Page 39] for his poor soul to the last hour of his life; and express'd his hope, thro' the blood of his dear Redeemer Jesus Christ his Lord, of entring into the Kingdom of heaven.’
THIS paper he earnestly desired might be published to the world. The other Prisoners said little, but warn'd all Masters and Commanders against severity and barbarity to their Men, which (they said) they were persuaded is the reason of so many turning Pirates.
AFTER the Execution, the three dead Bodies were carried to a small Island, about two leagues from the Town; where the body of Fly is hung up in Irons, as a Spectacle for warning to others; and the two other bodies were buried there.