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Literary
May 3, 1837
Morning Star
Limerick, York County, Maine
What is this article about?
A moral narrative depicting the deathbed torment of a sinner, regretting unrepented sins, slighted mercy, and the end of grace. Includes a soliloquy by the wretched Altamont, crying out for more time amid remorse and dread of hell.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
DEATH OF THE SINNER.
"O what pale views, what starting prospects conspire to augment their sorrows. They look backward and behold a most melancholy scene. Sins unrepented of, and mercy slighted, and the day of grace ending.—They roll around their affrighted eyes on attending friends. Have they accomplices in debauchery; it sharpens their anguish to consider this further aggravation of their guilt, that they have not sinned alone but drawn others into a snare. If religious acquaintances, it strikes a fresh gash into their hearts, to think of never seeing them any more, but only at an unapproachable distance, separated by an impassable gulf.
Thus they lie groaning out the poor remains of life—their minds bathed in sweat: their hearts struggling with convulsive throes; pains insupportable throbbing through every pulse; and innumerable darts of agony transfixing their consciences. "O time! time!" cried out the wretched Altamont, "is it fit that thou strike thy murderer to the heart! How art thou fled forever? A month, O for a single week? I ask not for years, though an age were too little for the much I have to do. Remorse for the past throws my thoughts on the future. Worse dread of the future strikes it back on the past. I turn and find no ray. And is there another hell. Oh thou blasphemed yet indulgent Lord God! hell itself will be a refuge if it hides me from thy frown."
"O what pale views, what starting prospects conspire to augment their sorrows. They look backward and behold a most melancholy scene. Sins unrepented of, and mercy slighted, and the day of grace ending.—They roll around their affrighted eyes on attending friends. Have they accomplices in debauchery; it sharpens their anguish to consider this further aggravation of their guilt, that they have not sinned alone but drawn others into a snare. If religious acquaintances, it strikes a fresh gash into their hearts, to think of never seeing them any more, but only at an unapproachable distance, separated by an impassable gulf.
Thus they lie groaning out the poor remains of life—their minds bathed in sweat: their hearts struggling with convulsive throes; pains insupportable throbbing through every pulse; and innumerable darts of agony transfixing their consciences. "O time! time!" cried out the wretched Altamont, "is it fit that thou strike thy murderer to the heart! How art thou fled forever? A month, O for a single week? I ask not for years, though an age were too little for the much I have to do. Remorse for the past throws my thoughts on the future. Worse dread of the future strikes it back on the past. I turn and find no ray. And is there another hell. Oh thou blasphemed yet indulgent Lord God! hell itself will be a refuge if it hides me from thy frown."
What sub-type of article is it?
Prose Fiction
Soliloquy
What themes does it cover?
Death Mortality
Moral Virtue
Religious
What keywords are associated?
Deathbed
Sinner
Remorse
Hell
Mercy
Grace
Altamont
Literary Details
Title
Death Of The Sinner.
Subject
Deathbed Remorse Of A Sinner
Form / Style
Narrative Prose With Dramatic Soliloquy
Key Lines
"O Time! Time!" Cried Out The Wretched Altamont, "Is It Fit That Thou Strike Thy Murderer To The Heart! How Art Thou Fled Forever? A Month, O For A Single Week? I Ask Not For Years, Though An Age Were Too Little For The Much I Have To Do. Remorse For The Past Throws My Thoughts On The Future. Worse Dread Of The Future Strikes It Back On The Past. I Turn And Find No Ray. And Is There Another Hell. Oh Thou Blasphemed Yet Indulgent Lord God! Hell Itself Will Be A Refuge If It Hides Me From Thy Frown."