to abate hate Tit. 3.2 2. No provocation can be given to thee but by Gods permission for the tryal and exercise of thy Graces and Vertues Therefore David said Let Shimei Curse 3. Avoid all kindling or blowing up the flame of passion in thy own breast put and keep at a distance all that combustable stuffe that would take fire Be not a Companion of the Gamester the Drunkard or the froward in Spirit 4. Consider that anger resteth in the bosome of Fools So much fury so much folly Eccles 7.11 2. When it causeth envie to rise in my breast against my Neighbour Herein the Devil was a Murderer for that he envied our first Parents happiness the melioriety of their estate he being fallen himself And Cain being of that Seed he envies Abel because accepted of God before him Now this springeth from the want of true Love and from overmuch Self-love for love envies not 1 Cor. 13.4 And he that hateth his Brother for that good which is in him for which he should love him is a Murderer 1 John 3.5 Now Satan takes the advantage to kindle the Fire and Fewel and make it bouse over and break forth in action either against others or our selves in Revenge and injuring our neighbour in desires or purposes of Revenge as Esau said in his heart The daies of mourning for my Father are at hand then will I slay my Brother Jacob for the Blessing not considering whose propriety it is to Revenge Wrong Rom. 12.19 And hence proceeds actual Murders against our Neighbour or our selves sometimes secret by giving or taking poyson or giving way to Temptations of thaâ— kinde Sometimes open by laying violent hands upon our selves or others 1. Upon our selves A Sin so hainous in the sight of God that he Commands if a Beast slay a Man the Beast was to be stoned to death although he had neither Law nor Reason to restrain him how much more Man whom God hath endowed with a Reasonable Soul and bounded with a Righteous Law Exod. 21.28 Now this is so much the more evil by how much the nearer and stronger the bonds are by which God and Nature binds us to preservation whether the Bonds of Consanguinity or Affinity but most Monstrous and Unnatural of all is to lay violent hands upon our selves to whom I am bound by all Bonds to love and preserve Therefore for one to rend in sunder his own Soul and Body is very dreadful breaking all Bonds of God and Nature and for ought man can judge plunging themselves into Hell without Remedy there being no space betwixt Sin and Death for Repentance and certainly no Murtherer hath Eternal Life in him 1 John 3.15 Now what is the cause Find out that and you have half the cure 1. No one layeth violent hands upon themselves but pride is the root of it discontented with Gods wise providential disposal when persons chuse and resolve not to be at all because they may not be what they would be themselves not submitting themselves to what God will have them to be 2. Unbelief and impatiency want of faith in God to keep him in a quiet waiting upon the wise Governour of all things to work a good issue for us out of troubles 2. None lay violent hands upon others but for want of retaining the knowledge and awe of the all-seeing and sin-revenging God in their hearts as you may read at large Rom. 1.28 31. Now to prevent both 1. Beg earnestly of God to write his Law in thy heart and to put his fear in thee and keep thee in a meek and quiet frame of spirit 2. If at any time differences do arise that may by Satan or thy own heart be blown up to passionate revenge do these few things 1. If two constructions can be made of a word or gesture or action be sure to make the best It is a note of a wicked person to invent evil if he may construe it unto good 2. Be as ready to forgive as you would be forgiven your self either of God or man 3. Seek yea pursue peace until you overtake it 1 Pet. 3.8 9 11. If it be possible as much as lieth in you live peaceably with all men avenge not your selves but rather give place unto wrath Rom. 12.18 19. 4. Carefully maintain a noble spirit of sympathy with any when under temptation or oppression Could we obey that blessed rule to do as we would be done unto Gal. 6.1 2. it would abate anger prevent revenge and murder which is to the matter of fact Now we shall proceed to give you the relation with the aggravating circumstances which accompanied this hainous and we think almost unparalleld murder The person which committed this murder was one Mary Cook the wife of T. C. living since the late dreadful fire in Cloth-fair near Smithfield in London who was about the age of 37 years and had been married to her said Husband near 12 years by whom she had eight children and by the relation of many creditable persons who have known her of a child have given this character of her That she was of a very civil and sober life and conversation living in the neighbourhood very inoffensively but also that she was of a very melancholy temper which is the Anvil that the Devil delights to forge upon for now Satan makes use of all advantages against her to increase her melancholy blowing up in her mind great discontent with her present condition so that as her affection unto it decreased so her affliction in it increased insomuch that common business became a burden and fears arose in her as to wants that in fine she fancied death less bitter than life and now the Devil having thus far prevailed is not wanting to put her upon such temptations as might speed her ruin 1. Then the Devil stirs her up to revenge and this as she hath related since did give her a kind of secret content and this temptation prevailed much with her for being asked that morning she committed the fact what might be the reason of it one answer was That she had been a fortnight sick and weak and no one took care what she wanted thus through temptation she prefers revenge before temporal safety and eternal peace 2. The Devil prevailed with her to keep his secrets and counsel for she discovered her affliction to â—one that might pray with or foâ— her or could give suitable counsel to her and help to bear her burden by which means she struggling in her own strength until at last she concluded there was no hope of amendment of her condition or ease to her troubled mind but by death 3. Temptation by which the Devil prevailed upon her was to grow mindless of hearing Gods holy Word preached or read the Scriptures or to perform publick or private prayers this had prevailed so high that the morning she gave that fatal blow she confest for months together she had not been at Church to
what is the matter you so hastily knock with your feet dolefully replied she had given the child its break-fast No sooner had she spake but he beheld with an afflicted spirit his Babe lye bleeding on the ground at which amazement broke out into such lamentations as occasioned both Lodgers and Neighbours to approach the Chyrurgion being mentioned to be sent for to which she replyed you may save that labour for I am sure I have kill'd it Now the doleful report of this dreadful act did soon spread it self upon which both neighbours and strangers press in amongst others some of the relaters of this bitter story providentially going that way was invited up stairs where they found the bleeding Babe but newly dead the Father wringing his hands and shedding multitude of tears like a man so amazed as half distracted God forbid but we should give him his due his behaviour to appearance did express that with a lamentable resentment he received this sad news The Mother when she had done this act was exceeding stupid though much was said to her and prayers performed with her and such Scriptures laid before her of the dreadfulness of the sin and punishment due for iâ— both in this life and without repentance in the life to come yet she could not sheâ— one tear and being demanded why she haâ— done this and spoken to to behold her deaâ— Babe how it lay murdered upon the grounâ— before her eyes being murdered by thosâ— hands she then appeared not relenting aâ— all but said it was done because she waâ— weary of her life her Relations slighting heâ— and lest that child being most in her affection should come to want when she was gone she killed it first knowing that way would also bring her to her desired end This witâ— many other passages not here so convenienâ— to mention because of the survivors of the like nature was also uttered But now appears Constables and other Parish Officers who caused her narrowly to be searched foâ— fear of knife or any cord being found abouâ— her lest she might therewith take the like advantage to destroy her self the next opportunity her garters being then given up buâ— nothing else of danger found about her being told it was feared she would also kill her self answers no she should not do so and being demanded whether she was sorry for whaâ— she had done replies she could wish she had not done it but now it was too late then being demanded whether she was willing to be prayed for said yes for she could not pray for her self so being desired to go down to her knees and hold up her eyes and hands readily did but could neither weep nor sigh at that time when her hour was come to be carried before the Justice she did without any appearing remorse either in carriage or countenance make ready her self took her rings from her fingers caused a pair of silver clasps to be cut from her Scarf gave her Husband the several keys of Trunks Chests or Boxes telling him which particular key was for such and such a use in so unconcerned a manner to all appearance as if going only to take some long journey which verily in charity leads us to believe she was so overwhelmed with melancholy as one bereft of sences being now carried before Sir William Turner and being demanded whether she had kill'd her child replyed yes then being asked why replyed she was discontented and thought her Husband and Relations did not love her being again demanded why she thought so assigned no cause but that she did believe so upon this her bloody knife and both her bloody hands was exposed to view and her full examination taken in which she layes the actual guilt wholly upon her self clearing all others as to fact and privacy thereunto and indeed with such dejection of countenance and temper of carriage did demean her self that she became the pity of all or most spectators After the Justice had told her of the greatness of the crime and what from men she must expect as punishment for the same with serious and compassionate advice to the blood of Jesus Christ for remedy did thus conclude and the God of heaven have mercy on your soul After which her examination was read to her which she owned as her act and deed being asked whether she could write her name answered no then sign it with your mark said the Justice which she did by making a cross instead of her name the application of which gave thoughts to some standers by that sure providence guided that bloody hand to sign her temporal death wâ—th a cross that her eternal life might as assuredly be saved by the Cross then was she conveyed to Newgate but going along suddenly turned back and looking at her Relation used these words with a doleful countenance O if you had been more careful to look after me you might have hindred me from doing this the application we commend to whom soever concerned and thought it very meet to be inserted that such a word from a dying woman might not die with her Then being told by one afflicted for her that now you are going to Prison and from thence must be conveyed to the Judgement-seat of men and there receive Sentence of death and from thence be sent to the Judgement-seat of God what think you of it I pray for your souls sake consider it there is now but a little step between you and eternity to which she replyed O I wish I had not done this but I am willing to die only afraid of my soul well replyed the parâ—y there is vertue enough in Christ's blood to wash your scarlet sins white I saith she but I cannot yet repent my heart is so hard if you cannot repent do what you can in order â—o repentance be lifting up your heart your eyes and your hands continually to God for you say you believe there is a God and if you can but speak few words imploy them â—hat way to beg him to give you repentance â—nd to soften your hard heart remember the poor Publican who smote upon his â—reast saying Lord be merciful to me a sinner Will you do what you can Yes I will You say you wish you had not done this Murdeâ— and that is one step to repentance thereforâ— labour to groan more after this and to thaâ— end shall I put up Bills this day as your desire that Gods people may pray for you Yes very willingly I desire that c. Now did she arrive at the Prison and so with hâ— Mittimus was delivered into the hands oâ— the Keeper who with great expressions 〈◊〉 pity received his Prisoner and desired Goâ— would have mercy on her soul Of her behaviour in the time of her Imprisonment and other Passages very useful for every Christian that desires to be kept from being guilty of the like Fact SHe no sooner cometh to Newgate but the noise of this cruel Murder spreads
abroad and several reports went as to her self and what should be the causes of that barbarous Act. 1. That the Devil appeared in a personal shape unto her and told her she must either destroy her self or her Child 2. That the day before she went to see one of her other Children at Nurse and would have sent the Nurse forth that so she might have killed that Babe 3. That she was under trouble of mind about Religion with many other things Which for satisfaction to our selves and others and clearing the truth of Gospel-profession as being inconsistant for any true work of the Spirit of God in the conviction of a sinner to leave the soul having begun in the Spirit to end in the flesh Some of those Ministers which went to visit her in the Prison made more than ordinary diligent search into these things And as to the first report she said there was no appearance unto her but the violent Temptation of the Devil and her own wretched and sinfull heart giving way to the Temptation And as to the second she confest she went to see her Child at Nurse upon the Saturday before but it never entered into her heart to conceive a thought of doing that Child any hurt And as to the third her answer was That there was nothing of any Religious Concernment in it but it was that great Discontent which she had conceived in her mind grounded upon her apprehension of exceeding unkindnesses of her Relations unto her although she had never been undutiful unto them but very sparing she was in accusing any but her self And it is not the design of this Narrative to accuse them only to desire they may cal to mind and lay to heart and repent of their neglect of duty towards her wherein they shall any of them be conscious unto themselves of remisness and that all others who shall reade this sad Relation may take warning thereby so to discharge their relative duties that they may not expose their Relations unto Temptations and so when a separation cometh either violent or natural they have cause to mourn all their dayes for their own and their other mens sins But as to her self the sense of her great sin and guilt lay with such weight upon her conscience that Satan used his utmost endeavour to drive her into despair of ever obtaining mercy it being his usual method to present God all mercy to allure men to commit sin and afterwards to present God altogether severity to drive the sinner into despair of God's mercy in the pardon of their sin A great wound lay upon her with respect unto her dear Babe whom she had so inhumanly destroyed Whether her Fact might not hinder the Child's Salvation Much care and pains was taken so to speak as might not in the least extenuate the sence of her guilt and yet to open a door of hope unto her that the eternal state of the Child might be safe notwithstanding her great wickedness through the riches of God's grace which sheweth mercy unto whom he will shew mercy that 18th of Ezekiel ver 24 being read unto her But still she sadly bewailed the horridness of her sin wishing often Oh that she had had more Grace for if it were to do again she would submit to a thousand deaths rather than to commit that sin And her sore trouble now was that her heart was so obdurate that she could not mourn as she should and desired to do and begged that all good people would pray for her And being asked What she desired us to pray unto God for for her her answer was that God would give her a broken and penitent heart She also sadly lamented her distraction by reason of her evil company in the Room with her that hindred both her meditations and addresses to God O it is sad dwelling in the Tents of Kedar and a sore evil to leave our great work to do until the last not knowing what hindrance we may meet with It is inconvenient to cast up our Accounts in a crowd and hurry of business Ever and anon she would sadly bewail her want of the light of God's countenance and it was not to be wondred at that she was so much in the dark having committed such a gross sin against the light of Nature Iniquity separates betwixt us and our God and causeth him to hide his face that it is rarely if ever they recover it though he may in mercy pardon the sin yet he may justly cause the sinner to go mourning and with broken bones to the grave The Sessions now came on and upon the 21th of February she was arraigned and endicted at the Old-Baily and cast for her life Upon the Petition of her Husband she had a weeks time granted her to prepare for her death and being sentenced on Wednesday the second of March to die in Smithfield over against Clothfair-Gate where she formerly lived when she committed that horrid Murder During this time much pains was taken with her continually by skilful and faithful Physicians for her Souls recovery out of the snare of the Devil who had carried her captive at his will and several Books of Mr. Baxters and other Books suitable to her present condition were brought her to reade which she seemed diligently to improve her time in together with the holy Scriptures March 1. being the day before her Execution one Mris. R. H. had an earnest desire to see her and to watch with her that night and through God's mercy it was of great use unto her for her comfort who had now but a little time to live That day being asked If a pardon for life or a pardon for her sin were equally presented to choose one which would she choose she answered If her heart did not deceive her it would be the pardon of her sin O her sin her sin her blood-guiltiness lay with weight upon her but still she cryed out she could not find her heart in that broken and believing frame which she desired it should be in On the same day great pains were taken with her to help her understanding and apprehension both as to the nature of true Repentance and saving Faith to which she with more than former freedom answered That as to Repentance opened unto her she hoped God had given her a sight of her sin and a desire to be truly humbled for it it was her wound she was no more wounded and that she did desire to forsake sin with abhorrence and to loath her self for her sin to lay her mouth in the dust and yet to look up unto the Lord Jesus if so be she might find mercy And as to her Faith she said God had convinced her that her own righteousness was but unrighteousness even as a filthy menstruous cloth and therefore desired out of the sence of her own nothingness and utter emptiness to go out of her self and to rely upon Jesus Christ alone for Righteousness and
Salvation Then several Scriptures were read unto her and pressed with earnestness upon her amongst many others that in Mark 5.25 and forward concerning that Woman which had a bloody issue who said in her self If I may but touch the hem of his garment I shall be whole Much was spoken unto her from this wherewith she was observed to be very much affected tears trickling down more than usually and with earnestness said O that I could believe That evening before she suffered her Husband 's long absence from her gave her occasion to suppose that endeavours were using for a Reprieve or a Pardon for her at which she did rather express dislike than to be well pleased saying she had rather choose to die than to continue in that place with that wicked company it being a Hell upon Earth if any such were and that she was not at all concerned about a Pardon from Man could she but obtain a Pardon from Christ it was that she most desired nevertheless for her better preparation for death she could have wished a little longer time but she was willing to die if that could not be obtained That night she took a little rest for the supporting of nature but it was judged she slept not above half an hour but some time was spent by her self her Husband and Mris. R.H. in prayer and reading she her self taking her Bible read the fourth chapter of Matthew and wept much in the reading of it saying The Lord Jesus was tempted but he was God-man and the Evil-one found nothing in him and so could not prevail against him but I a vile wretch Temptation no sooner came and assaulted me but I was overcome by it a wicked woman that I am to give way to that roaring Lion Then reading Isa 44.22 I have blotted out as a cloud thy transgressions and as a thick cloud thy sins return unto me for I have redeemed thee brake out again with tears saying Oh! what grace is this What my sins what a Redeemer to such a great sinner as I have been Then turning further unto Isa 54.7 8. I will have mercy upon thee saith thy Redeemer See saith she here is Redeemer again Her Husband a little before morning asked her how it was with her she answered Not so well as to boast nor so bad as to be altogether dejected When morning came she dressed her self that she might be in readiness when called but seemed a little impatient to lose so much time in dressing her body when she had so little to improve for her soul which lay at stake Several both Ministers and other Christian friends waiting to go up unto her when she was ready one of them desiring to know how it was with her this morning she answered that she was now entring upon the borders of Eternity but Oh what should she do she wanted the light of God's countenance Whereupon both awakening and comforting words were spoken unto her and then a little time was spent in prayer to God that he would please graciously to direct us so to speak unto her as might advance his Glory and effectually administer comfort unto her Soul In prayer she was seen to melt very much And having ended that duty as God did direct the words of God were spoken unto her and she was desired to speak what was upon her heart for our comfort who had been labouring for the Lord with her But she being silent for a little space but observed to have some conflict in her soul by the tears which fell and sighs which broke forth It was again propounded unto her Whether she found not a secret perswasion that God was able to pardon her great and manifold sins but also very great fears whether he were willing yea or no Whereupon she broke forth into a fuller passion of tears saying O Sir you speak the very thoughts of my heart God hath convinced me of the Alsufficiency of his Grace that though my sins be as Scarlet as Crimson he can make them white as Snow as Woel but O to know whether he will or no that lieth as my great fear Wherupon endeavours were used to encourage her to hope in God's mercy who had testified his unwillingness that any sould should perish and that he took no pleasure in the death of sinners but rather desired their return that they might live Also the Lord Jesus graciously invited sinners yea the greatest of sinners under the heaviest load and burden of their guilt and filth being weary of their load to come to him that they might be saved and find rest and had promised that who ever came unto him though at last if in truth he would not cast them out and that he had sent his Ministers to beseech sinners to be reconciled unto God and that we came in his Name and Authority to deliver that his Message unto her Therefore the Question was put unto her Whether she was willing to accept of mercy from Christ and to take Him upon his own terms Unto which she answered with a seemingly altered countenance as to chearfulness Yea she was willing and desired with her whole soul to be sanctified throughout by Jesus Christ and washed in his Blood as ever she desired to be justified by his Righteousness or saved by his Death Then it was judged expedient to leave her a little retired that she might improve a few minutes in secret betwixt God and her own soul desiring all the company to withdraw saving her Husband and Mris R.H. And after a little space of time she desired we would come up again and apprehending her in a pretty good frame willing to resign up her self now unto the Lord what time the Officers could spare for now the time drew near was spent in fervent prayers and tears unto God with and for her In the close being desired to tell us what returns God had graciously given to all our endeavours with her she said that the Lord had brought her to that resolution that although she might not sensibly lie in his bosom yet she would penitently lie and die at his feet and if she perished she would perish there When she came to the place of Execution she seemed to have a mixture of fear and hope in her wringing one by the hand said O what shall become of me now if my heart have deceived me hitherto Some words being spoken unto her she encouraged her self again in the freeness of God's grace and the fulness of mercy that was in Christ for poor penitent sinners After earnest Prayers put up unto God for her and seasonable Counsels given her by Mr. Ordinary and some others she went upon the Ladder having before expressed an earnest desire to have spoken to the people but wanting strength she entreated us to declare to the Spectators and to all the World That she desired to justifie the Lord in all his righteous proceedings against her and that she died justly for her great