Impenitent sinners warned of their misery and summoned to judgment delivered in two sermons, the former on the Sabbath, Nov. 6, the other on the lecture following, Nov. 10, 1698, occasioned by the amazing instance of a miserable creature who stood condemned for murdering her infant begotten in whoredom : to which are subjoyned the solemn words spoken to her on those opportunities, published for the warning of others / by Samuel Willard.

TO THE READER.

Reader;

IF ever there was a time when God so∣lemnly calls his Servants to Cry aloud and not to spare, but shew his People their transgressions, it is now, when Iniquity so abounds and love waxeth so cold. And as the Philosopher once said, that Evil manners occasion the making of good Laws; So the hor∣••••d wickedness of some notorious sinners, gives occasion for the Preaching of Sermons more peculiarly serviceable for the rowsing and a∣wakning of secure ones, and loudly calling them to Repentance; when God toucheth the hearts of his Ministers, with a feeling sense of the ••anger of, and tender compassion towards

those that are going without regard in the path of destruction. That which gave birth to the ensuing SERMONS, was the prodigious example of a forlorn young Crea∣ture, that had defiled her self with Whoredoms, and been the unhappy mother of two illegi∣timate children successively, and became the barbarous Murderer of the latter of them; for which Crime, she there stood under a sentence of Death, upon due Conviction, and that before she had seen full Nineteen years in the World: and for the which she hath been since righteously executed. My Soul was the more deeply affected with her condition, partly, because she belonged to my Flock, and had received the Seal of the Covenant from my hands, and was under my Charge; in which I could not but feel an heart thrilling rebuke in the Holy Providence of God: Partly because of the most amazing, and scarce paralel'd induration of heart, and tremendous Wickedness which she discovered in and under her Imprisonment, to the deep consternation of all serious ones that were acquainted there∣withall. Which will, I hope, plead sufficiently for the suitableness of the Subjects treated of, and the severity of the Words used in the prosecution of them. But she is now gone, and hath given up her account to the Judge of all. Yet her example remains, and stands for the

Warning of others. And doubtless God ex∣pects that the living should lay it to heart, and learn lessons of Caution thereby. I have there∣fore endeavoured, according to the Grace given me, to Level these Discourses for the Admonition of others, least they also provoke a Sin hating God, to give them up to be more astonishing Mo∣numents of his righteous severity. And there are, I fear, more abominations as great as these, which have not yet seen the light; and may her example, and these warnings drawn forth by it, drive such to a timely Repentance, and ma∣king of their peace with God. Let young Ones more especially learn by her, To Remem∣ber their Creator early, and beware of such sins as were leading to the bringing of her to a fearful end; in particular let all Children, and such as are under the Command of Parents and Family Government, beware of disobedi∣ence to their Parents, and those that have the Authority over them; let them be warned to ••ake heed to themselves of being linked in ••ain company, and take the wise mans counsel, Prov. 1. 10. My Son, if Sinners entice thee consent thou not. Let them beware of prophaning Gods Holy Sabbaths: of unnecessary absenting them∣selves from the Worship of God in his House, or neglecting of any opportunities of attending on his Holy Ordinances; and let them be advised to keep their feet when they come to the

House of God, and not suffer their hearts to wander into the corners of the earth, when they should be learning what God the Lord hath to say unto them. Let them be warned against the neglect of Secret Prayer, and Medi∣tation, and be afraid of living content in an Unregenerate State, trifling away a day of grace, and putting off calls, and counsels, and the strivings of the Spirit of God with them, as things that may be thought of soon enough, when they have taken their full of their mad mirth, and glutted themselves with sensual pleasures; all of which Sins that poor Crea∣ture acknowledged her self to have been emi∣nently guilty of: lest, if you be not ad∣monished by her example, an Holy God should be provoked to leave you up to your own hearts lusts. Be sure therefore to read in her a con∣firmation of that truth, that for these things the Wrath of God cometh on the children of Disobedi∣ence. Let Parents be rouzed up by this to take more care, and use more prudence in main∣taining that Authority over their Children, which God hath vested them withal, and be∣ware of an over fond indulgence, in giving them an unrestrained liberty: let it awaken them to lay themselves out with more industry, and con∣stancy, in training them up in the nurture and admo∣nition of the Lord; in instructing them about the great things of their Souls and Eternity; let it

make them more affectionate and importunate in praying with them, and for them; and put them upon the mor•• watchful care over themselves in their whole conversation, that they set no evil ex∣amples before them, but write them a copy in their lives of all the counsels & admonitions which they offer to them: fearing lest, if they by their neg∣lect bring guilt on themselves, their children should be forsaken of God, and prove an heaviness to their Parents, as this foolish Child did. May all that Fear God, and peculiarly his Ministers, whom the Lord Jesus Christ hath given a special charge un∣to, to feed his Lambs, be excited hereby to more anxious solicitude, and industrious endeavours for the Souls of all whom they are concerned withal, and more especially for the Rising Generation, that they may not become a stubborn and a rebel∣lious Generation, a Generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit is not stedfast with God: And may the following ••••••••ons be made any way serviceable to th〈…〉〈…〉 ends and purposes, God shall have the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to whose gracious Blessing I Commend 〈…〉〈…〉th my most hearty Prayers, Who am,

〈◊〉〈◊〉 than the Least of all Saints. Samuel Willard.