Blood for blood, or, Justice executed for innocent blood-shed being a true narrative of that late horrid murder committed by Mary Cook upon her own and only beloved child, with several remarkable passages preceding the fact, as also what was most worthy observation during her imprisonment, and at her execution / faithfully communicated for publique satisfaction by N. Partridge and J. Sharp ; with a sermon on the same occasion ; with other spectaters and visiters whilst in prison and at her execution.

To the READER.

Courteous Reader,

HEre is at length now exposed to publique view this brief, but true Narrative (of that ever to be ab∣horred cruelty of M. C. in murder∣ing her innocent Babe) which we humbly sub∣mit to thy favourable censure and charitable interpretation.

Two reasons especially have drawn it forth,

First, to fulfil the will of the poor creature which was executed, who had an earnest de∣sire at the place and time of her execution, to have given glory to God, by confessing her sins, accepting her punishment, and giving warning to all the numerous spectators of the evil of sin, and the danger of eternal wrath; but natural strength failing her, wished some of us in the

Cart with her, to have manifested the same then; but the noise of the multitude was such, that it could not be done conveniently; some days passed after before any thoughts were stir¦red up in us to publish any thing of this nature, during which time some of us could have little rest, apprehending some neglect might be im∣puted unto us, in a business, which for ought we knew might be for general good.

As we would not cover over with gilt or paint, rotten Wood or Copper, neither would we bury under dirt the least grain of pure Gold; therefore we have not taken upon us to pass any judgement upon the dying state of M. C. but leave it unto him who sees and looketh into the hidden man of the heart, and weigheth both sins and repentance in the balance of the San∣ctuary; and to the judicious Reader, who we hope will measure what is spoken by her, and of her, by the rule of Christian charity, and as we apprehended in her whilst living, great fear, and yet greater hopes; so we leave her now dead, looping that her application to the blood of Christ was sincere (as discovered more at large in the following Narrative) the which blood speaks better things than the blood of Abel; his preci∣ous blood crying to God for mercy, may out-cry the loud cry of the innocent blood, shed by her for vengeance.

The second reason was, That this (through the blessing of God) might be a word in sea∣son, both to Professors and prophane persons, in this day of Satans violent temptations; to Pro∣fessors, because we find by daily and sad expe∣rience, the Devil setting upon those richly la∣den with choice treasures, with furious as∣saults; to them therefore speak we (or rather the Lord) look well to your foundation; secure your principles, live in the daily exercise of those rooting graces, humility, self-denial, and repentance, and then grow up in the nutri∣tive graces, faith, hope and love, and to crown all, let integrity and uprightness preserve thee, and so persevere unto the end, the Lord helping thee to set up his watch tower in thy heart, continually natural reason and common providence may prompt thee, to secure and watch thy outward estate, but grace alone in∣structs thee how to keep thy heart, were thy heart danger-free, from enmity without, and treachery within; thou hadst then a Plea for the abatement of thy souls intention herein: but whilst a danger of surprize by both remit no diligence, shew me that man or woman whom the impudence of sin and Satan doth not some∣times charge and assault; but if such a one can∣not be found, be convinced of thy need of the

Divine breast-plate, which will not only put temptations back, but force the tempter to surcease his assaults; or if so impudent, not∣withstanding, will yet enable thee to shake them of (as St. Paul did the Viper from his hand) unburt.

And to the prophane, that they by reading this sad relation, as the consequences of sin, [and the awakening Sermon thereunto annex∣ed] may come to know themselves, and their un∣safe condition, whilst in their unregenerate state, and the Spirit of God working with it, they may be thereby provoked to consider their ways, and amend them, before the day come wherein sinners shall cry out, Who among us shall dwell with devouring fire? Who shall abide with everlasting burnings? For the day of the Lord will burn as an Oven, and sinners shall be as stubble: Oh! therefore it is to warn them to flee from the wrath to come, and in the bowels of our Lord Jesus, to beseech thee to look their faces in the glass of Gods Law, and to continue therein, and be a doer of the work.

And now Reader, because the cry of blood reacheth unto the Heavens, and calleth for a narrow search and inquiry from thence, that

justice may take place, and vengeance from God may be executed, to answer the nature of the crime committed, the sin of blood being of that deep dy in the eyes of God, that he hath left in his written Word no City of refuge to flie unto for the outward part of the offender, though sought, if possible, with tears of blood; yet is his Law unalterable, Who so sheddeth mans blood, by man shall his blood be shed, Gen. 9.6. Weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth will not here prevail, nor can create a door of hope; witness the case of poor Butler and Savage, who wrung their hands for sorrow, smote upon their breasts, and with thousands of bitter sighs cryed, Oh, that I had not done this wicked Act; what to murder my inno- friend? It makes me so far from desiring life or refuge here, that I am not meet nor worthy to tread any longer upon Gods earth, nor yet to live in the society of men, or to be seen above ground, or die a natural death up∣on my body, but must call for justice, justice, justice, and that in a violent way it may be executed upon me, to send me as speedily as is possible from off the earth I have so defil'd, by so dreadful a sin as this my Murder was: And no marvel but the offendor, if touched with a thorough sence of this dreadful crime,

must and will thus cry out for speedy and pub∣lick justice to be done upon him in the sight of the Sun, while the Law of God is so far from giving respect in this case to the Judges of the earth, that he will punish not only parti∣cular persons, but Families, yea Cities and Kingdoms too, where justice for this bloody crime is omitted or remitted; and when the Magistrate hath done his Office, so dreadful in Gods eye is this foul Crime, that after sen∣tence and execution hath removed the Offendor from the society of men, except deep sorrow and unfeigned repentance, bitter sighs, lamen∣table cryes, and above all, the blood of a Sa∣viour doth mediate to the appeasing wrath, the same Offendor must be given up into the hands of Devils, to be tormented with fire and brimstone; whereas St. Mark saith, their worm shall never dye, and their fire shall ne∣ver be quenched.

Therefore Reader, if Murder speaks thus loud with God and man, no doubt but City and Country will ring of it; and Oh, that the cry of this, even of this (that a Mother should so forget her tender Babe, as not only to neglect it, but the worst of evils to murder it; yea, to bath as it were her hands in her childs blood:

We again pray and say, Oh, that it might, if possible, reach to the ends, not only of England, but the earth, to beget a reverence to God, a dread to sin, and a continual praying and watching over our hearts and lives, and to be∣speak warning to all, that none henceforward upon themselves, their child or neighbour, shall entertain a thought to do this abomina∣ble thing that God so hates.

In a word, there is nothing in the world, the flesh, or the devil can suggest (how taking soever with thy sensual affections, or however backed with arguments of pleasure, or pro∣fit, or secrecy) but this Narrative and Ser∣mon, may teach thee to retort upon the sug∣gester, How can I do this wickedness and sin against God, or hearken to this lying vanity, and forsake my own mercy: Oh, that when you find your hearts at any time, sordid a cogitare, a vain sinful thought arise, or lust conceive in thee, thou wouldst dash it in pieces against the spiritual rock Christ, and oppose entice∣ments unto the secretest evils, with that 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, that the eye of God sees thy most retired thoughts and actions whilst yet unhatched, and in the shell, are open and ma∣nifest

to him; fearing that the porch is too large already, to conclude, in order to the spi∣ritual and eternal advantage of your soul, we leave this short warning, and small expedient in your hands; and if it may further that end, we have our aim, and let God have the sole praise.