A SERMON, Delivered at LITCHFIELD, On the 2d Day of November, A. D. 1768. On the Day of the Execution of JOHN JACOBS, An Indian Native, Pursuant to Sentence of Death passed upon him by the Hon. Superior Court, For the Murder of JAMES CHOCK [...]ER. Preached upon the Desire of the [...] published at the request of some o [...] [...] Hearers.
By TIMOTHY PITKIN, A. M. Pastor of the first Church in Farmington.
HARTFORD: Printed by Green & Watson, near the Great Bridge.
WE are convened upon a solemn occasion, to behold a poor prisoner, under sentence of death, to unite in ardent supplications for his soul, and to give our last counsel and advice to hi [...], and then to be spectators of his execution. [...] while there is a fixed approbation in our [...], that justice takes place, our hearts may [...] affected with tender compassion, for the [...] us and immortal soul of the poor condemned [...]inal—when I behold the dying prison [...], and [...] around upon this numerous and solemn as [...]mbly, and look up with a believing view of the [...]eat GOD, the supreme Lord, and lawgiver; [...]ese words seem a proper ground of the present [...]iscourse, And if he s [...]ite him with an instrument of [...]ron, so that he die, he is a murderer; the murderer [...]all su [...]ely be put to death. This is a statute of [...]eaven, a law made by the great GOD: it was [...] divine pleasure, to provide cities of refuge, for t [...]e man-slayer, where there was no premeditated [Page 4] nor present malice in the case, but killed his neighbour at unawares; and those cities were for the security of such, from the revenger of blood, as well as typical of CHRIST, the only refuge for souls; but for wilful murder there was no city of refuge provided, but the murderer must die.
The doctrine to be noted is this, viz.
It is the statute of Heaven, it is the law of the great God, tha [...] a murderer shall be put to death.
I. My purpose is, to prove the doctrine.
II. Then consider, that GOD is the rightful Lord, Lawgiver, and supreme Governor of all worlds.
III. Then view the reasonableness and rectitude, holiness and goodness of GOD's laws, and moral government.
And then apply the whole, agreable to the day, and solemn occasion.
I. I am to prove, that it is the statute of [...]aven, the law of GOD, that a murderer shall [...] put to death. Gen. ix. 6. Whoso sheddeth [...] blood, by man shall his blood be shed; for in the [...] of GOD made he man. This is a law which GO [...] made, and gave to Noah, the father of the [...] world, to be published and binding upon [...] mankind. This doctrine is clearly manifested [...] the law which was revived, and, with solem [...] pomp, published at Mount Sinai, when GO [...] spake all these words, saying, and this divine precept, Exod. xx. 13. is one of the ten commandments, which GOD spake, Thou shalt not kill. By this, all murder is absolutely forbidden. Afterwards, we find in a variety of places, GO [...] [Page 5] makes it a law unalterable, that murder shall be punished with death—tho' these laws were pen [...] and judicial, and made and given unto Israel, of GOD, as their king, and political head, yet they were founded upon this orig [...]al statute, Thou shalt not kill: yea, and founded upon the law of nature, for antecedent to all human compact, and forming into society, every man has a natural right to his own life, and no one has any right to take it away; and therefore, whosoever doth take away the life of another, forfeits his own; there be many laws which declare that murder shall be punished with death, Exod. xxi. 12. He that smiteth a man so that he die, shall surely be put to death. So in our text and context, he that smiteth with an instrument of iron, by throwing a stone, or with a weapon of wood, or by smiting with his hand, any one, so that he die, such a man is a murderer; he shall surely be put to death, This divine command was maintained by the wise king Solomon, Prov. xxviii. 17. A man that doth violence to the blood of any person, shall flee to the pit, let no man stay him. Therefore by the divine law, a murderer must be put to death.
II. I am to consider, that GOD is the rightful Lord, Lawgiver, and supreme governor of all worlds. For where we find a law, and penalty annexed, it supposes authority, and right of government. Now, we are to view GOD's absolute authority to enact laws, and s [...]t supreme king forever.
1. JEHOVAH is by nature GOD, an absolutely perfect being, the creator and proprietor of the [Page 6] [...]niverse, and is therefore the absolute Lord of all, and the government of all things devolves upon [...], for the kingdom is the Lord's, and he governs among the nations; and it is his absolute right, as GOD, to take his seat at the head of the universe, and conduct all affairs in his own worlds; and the divine government doth extend universally; it reaches to the highest heavens; and divine controul to the lowest hell: thro' all the natural, and all the moral world; and it is a matter of joy, that the LORD GOD reigneth.
2. Consider GOD is infinitely equal to the province of universal government; the divine perfections are infinite, and GOD's character absolutely perfect; the infinite knowledge and wisdom of GOD, can form the most perfect plan of government; and infinite holiness, justice, and goodness, holding the reins: every affair is conducted in the best, wisest, and most perfect manner: so there is an infinite propriety that GOD should reign, and be king for ever; from the consideration of the divine qualifications, and that all worlds, and created beings, should be his absolute property.
3. Therefore GOD the rightful lawgiver, hath an infinite authority to enact laws, and govern in his moral kingdom; for if GOD most-high, has a right of government, then, he has an infinite authority to enact laws; for to suppose a right of government, and not authority to make laws, nor demand obedience, nor annex a penalty, is to cut all the sinews of government; but as all moral created beings, are GOD's workmanship,
[Page 9] [...] suffering? to vindicate the character of GOD▪ [...] magnify the divine law, and make it honorable, [...] bring in an everlasting righteousness, and pave [...] honorable way, thro' the atonement, for the [...]ard [...]n, and salvation of poor miserable and hell-deserving sinners. These express the infinite va [...]ue and excellence of the divine law, that it was [...]ell [...]ade, and its demands perfectly reasonable, [...]nd [...]enalty just. I have thought indeed, had I [...] a spectator of the destruction of the old [...]orld by the deluge—of the overthrow of Sodom [...] the storm of fire and brimstone—had I stood [...]ith trembling Israel, at the foot of Mount Sinai, [...]nd heard the law given by GOD—could I have [...] my ear at the door of hell; and heard the [...] o [...] the damned, and then have retired to the [...], and heard the groans of the dying Imma [...]uel, to magnify the divine law—I say, would not [...]he agonies and sorrows of the expiring Saviour, have been more expressive of the holiness, the good [...] the purity and justice of the law, and th [...] [...] lawgiver, than the cry of suffe [...]ing Sodom, [...] thunders of Sinai, or groans of the damned.
4. GOD's moral government, is equitable, [...]utiful and wi [...]e; for GOD governs agreable to [...] own most wise and just law. It is certain GOD [...] how to govern, and as certain that the [...] of all the earth will do right. And tho' [...]arkness is round about him, yet justice and judgment are the habitation of his throne. What GOD doth, [...] know not now, but will be known hereafter, [...] the glorious plan of moral government shall [...] [...]pened to view, and all moral beings know [Page 10] thro' heaven, earth and hell, that all GOD's [...] are perfect, and that every thing has been c [...] ducted, in the most wise, equitable, and perf [...] manner.
IMPROVEMENT.
1. Infer that a revolt from GOD's governne [...] and a violation of his law, is the most unreaso [...]ab [...] & renders creatures exceeding criminal; GOD [...] infinitely worthy of our highest esteem and [...], and every thing there is in GOD's law [...] government, not only to demand, but to [...] our obedience; and all the guilt of rebellion [...] at our door. GOD's perfections are unchangeab [...] the same, his law the same.
2. It is Perfectly just in God, to cast off all sinn [...] as such, and punish them in hell, with an ev [...] lasting punishment; for sin is exceeding sinful, [...] it is against GOD, and a violation of the law which is clothed with infinite authority, and deserves eternal punishment.
3. Therefore the plan of salvation is [...] upon grace, and if GOD is pleased to save▪ of the fallen race of man, it is of his free, and [...] reign grace.
4. Hence learn, the absolute necessit [...] [...] importance of an atonement. We stand [...] able with awful guilt as transg [...]ssors of [...] holy law. To plead not guilty we canno [...] [...] plead abatement of the law, we cannot—to [...] atonement for our sins, we are absolutely unab [...] tho' we should offer thousands of rams, or ten thousands of rivers of oil, all would be insufficient; [...] Christ Jesus has made atonement. GOD now [Page 11] be just, and justify him which believeth in Jesus, for [...]e hath [...]gnified the law, & made it honorable. There is no way for sinners, but to repair to Christ; to Christ we must go, or to hell.
My discourse now [...]urns to the poor prisoner, under sentence of death.
JOHN JACOBS, It was your request, that this last advice, should by me be given to you, and therefore by help of divine grace, I shall speak to you, with great plainess, and O! that I may address you, with that warmth and faithfulness, which your present case calls for, this being the last sermon you will ever hear.
When I see you a poor criminal, under sentence of death, when I view your aggravated crimes, and you standing upon the edge of time, and just launching into an unalterable and eternal state; O! prisoner, what shall I say to you! O! my hearers, what words shall your preacher choose!
Prisoner, attend! The great GOD hath made a law, that he that sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed And in our text, if one smite another with an instrument of iron, so that he die, he is a murderer, the murderer shall surely be put to death. GOD had an infinite authority to make this law, and annex this penalty; and, JOHN, this is your case; you smote one of your fellow creatures in malice and rage, with an instrument of iron, so that he died; therefore you are a murderer, and you stand chargeable with guilt of blood; 'tis just that you be put to death, for by the statute of heaven, by the law of GOD, you ought to die.
P [...]soner, attend! You deserve to suffer the eternal [Page 12] pains of hell, it is just in God to send you to the hopeless regions of the damned; you was a sinner born, have been a prayerless, and malicious creature, therefore GOD, against whom you have sinned, and whose laws you have violated, may justly damn you. As you have ferved Satan and your own lusts, you deserve to reap the wages of sin, and to be a sharer in torments with the devil, that old murderer, with whom you have symbolized. GOD is clear when he judgeth, and his throne guiltless, and his character glorious, tho' the smoke of your torment should ascend for ever and ever.
Prisoner, attend! Your sins are greatly aggravated, you have been bro't up in a christian land, capable of reading the word of GOD, and the greater advantages you have been under, your sins in their aggravation arise in proportion: you was able to read the statute of heaven against murder, you knew that it was contrary to the law of GOD, for you to kill your fellow creature, and in taking away his life, you assumed, daringly assumed GOD's prerogative, who is the [...]ole LORD, and disposer of life; therefore heaven daring, and GOD provoking is your crime, and calls aloud for divine vengeance to descend upon your guilty head: keen will be the torments, and dreadful indeed, will be the damnation of them which perish, who have been favoured with the glorious gospel!
And, poor criminal! if you are yet impenitent, and a graceless, and umbel [...]eving, Christ less sinner, you are under condemnation, and the wrath of GOD, abides on you, and you now hang over a [Page 13] [...]laming hell! and as with your natural life, nothing remains but execution, dying in such a state of impenitence and unbelief, you will descend to woe and hopeless misery! look all around, how doth vengeance pursue, the wrath of GOD hang over your guilty head! the curses of the law pointing at you, and the sword of justice ready to be bathed in the blood of your soul.
But, poor prisoner! There is one door of hope, and only one, and that is Christ: for it is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Je [...]s came into the world to save sinners, even the chief. 1. Tim. i. 15. The blood of Christ cleanseth from all sin. 1 John, i. 7. Great sinners have found mercy, the crucifiers of Christ, (some of them at least) were washed in that blood which they shed, and the dying thief obtained mercy in some of his last, yea, in his dying moments: but those repented of their sins, and by faith repaired to Jesus, the only Saviour; for without repentance, there is no remission of sin, and without faith in Christ, there is no justification, nor salvation.
Therefore you must be sensible of your sin, feel your▪guilt, and see your ruined, perishing and undone estate, and helpless condition; and as you by nature are totally corrupt and depraved, so you stand in absolute need of a new heart, and a foundation to be laid in you, by the operation of the holy spirit, for true views, and holy exercises you must see, and have a sense of GOD, of the excellence of his law, and government, and of your vileness and odiousness, by reason of your sin, and see the justice of GOD, in casting you [Page 14] off for ever, and feel yourself righteously condemned. You must feel your need of a saviour, and under a sense of the gloriousness, and all-sufficiency of Christ, the compleatness of his atonement, and with heart approbation of the glorious way of salvation, and under a deep sense of your unworthiness, guilt and vileness, with full consent of heart, come into this way of salvation by Christ, receive him a Saviour to save from sin, and the punishment of sin, and trust all the affairs of thy soul in his all-saving hands, & with a bleeding heart for sin, and hatred of it, give up yourself to GOD in Christ, unreservedly, and for ever. O! now repent, and believe on the LORD Jesus Christ! you stand in the greatest need of an interest in Christ! for, Mark xvi. 16. He that believeth not shall be damned. And our LORD saith, John viii. 24. If ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.
But the fountain of Christ's blood is open, your sin in it's nature is not unpardonable, unless you fix it by final unbelief; but you cannot be saved, unless you are truly penitent, and believe on the name of the LORD Jesus Christ. The matter is bro't to a point, you must accept of Christ, or go to hell. I therefore, in the name of the LORD, warn you to repent, and to go to th [...] threshold of mercy; own your guilt, and just condemnation, plead for the life of your precious soul, that GOD would glorify his grace, in your pardon and salvation, and that Jesus would save a poor perishing and hell-deserving sinner.
And now, poor condemned criminal! Your
[Page 17] [...]tis your business, and your priviledge, to go to GOD. Therefore, pour out your hearts to GOD, and put up your united supplications for this man's soul, that GOD would give him repentance, and wash him in the blood of the Redeemer, that joy may be in heaven, over this poor penitent sinner.
And all the children of GOD in this assembly, in the poor criminal's name, I ask yo [...], ardent prayers: you have an interest in the court of [...] ven: plead GOD's free grace, for this poor dying man.
All in this assembly, which are graceless, and umbel [...]eving sinners, you no doubt feel your compassions move, when you behold this prisoner; but pray attend to your own case: He that believeth not is condemned already. You are under the condemning sentence of GOD's law: and thus living, and thus dying, you will be bro't forth to a more awful execution, and divine vengeance sink your guilty souls to the prison of hopeless misery.
Finally, this day and occasion, may naturally [...]ead our views forward to the great day of judgment; when, upon the sounding of the last trump [...]here shall be an asse [...]bled world at GOD's bar: [...]ark to the solemn [...]ound! arise ye dead, and come [...]o judgment! gloriou [...] and joyful day to faints, to [...]ehold the Judge upon his throne, but terrible to [...]nners! who will call upon the rocks and mountains [Page 18] to cover them: when final sentence will be passed upon impenitent sinners, and they be bro't out, the helpless prisoners of justice; and with more than dying groans, descend to an eternal hell, while the righteous shall shine as the sun in the kingdom of their father, and praises be sung in heavenly glory forever and ever,
AMEN and AMEN.