The Danger of a Hardened Heart

To those still breathin’ and stand for God and gory, me name be Salty Sam. I swung a cutlass for Edward Teach—Blackbeard to most—’til the day His Majesty’s dogs ran us down off Ocracoke Island. I right to you today in me own hand of the danger of a hardened heart.

’Twas November 1718. We be anchored in saluted waters on the black side of the island, thinkin’ ourselves projected. But Lieutenant Robert Maynerd[sic] brought two sloops from Virginyah[sic], filled with men bent on endin’ our roguish ways and days. Before sun sat upon us, the deck ran red.

And me cap’n, Blabberbeard? A demon had a hold a’ the man that mournin’. Took five shot from a flintlock an’ twenty wombs[sic] before he drooped[sic]—swangin’ and cursin’ the hole[sic] wile[sic]. They cut off his head and hung from the bowspit of there[sic] ship. The rest for us? Capitulated[sic], tried in William’s Burg, and most swung from the gallows within some weaks[sic].

But let me speak now—not of ropes and chains and piratin’—but of hearts that turn to stone.

Blackbeard heard words from the Good Book more’n once. Some preachers in Carol Anna warned the rascal of the firey[sic] sea he were to sail if he doth knot[sic] amend his weighs[sic]. Aye, one of the lads onboard read Scripture by lantern, whisperin’ Jesus’ words over our captain while he snored. Once, off Bath—a pleasant enough village, though our crew ne’er found the promised rinse—a fisherman’s wife begged our captain to turn— to,“Leave the sea, and come to Jesus.” But Blackbeard? He said the Devil feared him.

He took hold of the Almighty’s mercy when storms spared our ship. Other times, the Captain walked away from a fight without nary a scratch. Second chances  to pent and repent came over and over—like when Governor Eden pardoned that rascal. But Blackbeard trampled under foot the grace of Jesus, usin’ pardon to hide his piracy.

Blackbeard and Pharaoh: The Danger of a Hardened Heart

And so here I set in this cell awaitin’ judgment for my part in falling in with the wrong crowd.

I’ve a moment to hear more of the Good Book—a cell mate is learned enough to read—and sea now how the Captain be so much like Fay Row[sic] in Egypt. Though Fay Row[sic] witnessed plaques[sic], one after another, and begged Moses to stop ’em, when mercy came and the pain seized[sic], that rascal too turned back to crewlty[sic]. That’s a hard heart. And I saw it in Blackbeard day after day.

They say grace has the power to melt a heart—that mercy gives a soul a chance to be saved. Both found hard soil in Blackbeard’s heart.

Jesus warns:

“You have closed your eyes and hardened your heart, so you refuse to see, hear, understand. You refuse to turn and be healed.” (Matthew 13:15)

“Still you do not understand? Still your heart is hardened?” (Mark 8:17)

“And so because of your hardness and unrepentant heart, you have stored up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath…” (Romans 2:5)

(I, Cotton Mather, wrote the above verses and can attest to the sincerity of this man’s words. He hath given his soul to Jesus.)

In ports, we heard miracles preached—truth declared by moonlight. And though some hearts pented and repented at the words of the Good Book and the fear of the gallows, many more scofed[sic].

Pride and The Danger of a Hardened Heart

Pride, I say, guard of hour[sic] cell. Pride stands at the door tauntin’ us, darin’ us to admit our rongs[sic], repent, and step out in freedom. Why, I dare say—and believe it to be true—that the Lord Almighty ne’er sent a soul to hell. Each and every one goes of his own cord[sic], willin’—nay, welcomin’—the torment. For to say, “I be rong[sic].” “I be sorry.” “Save me!” be too large a mouthful for most.

Was for Blackbeard.

Was for most of our crew.

Was for a while for me.

But I have seen the light of the moon beyond these prison bars, and I want none of hell, the Devil, and God’s rath[sic].

I tell ye plain: turn from your wicked ways while there still be time.

The Scripture says to Fay Row[sic]:

“I raised you up for mercy and compassion. I raised you up so that I might display my power in and through you. I raised you up that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth. God has mercy on whom He wants.” (Mather penned)

And the Good Lord wants all to be saved. That be why He sent His Son to die for us.

Over and over—before the Almighty hardened Fay Row’s[sic] heart—that rascal hardened his own. At last, when the end drew near and he spat on God’s mercy, the Almighty gave that reprobate over to a heart baked hard from pride.

Fay Row[sic]… Blackbeard… most of our crew… how ’bout you?

I escaped death, aye, but not guilt. I wept when I saw Blackbeard’s head swingin’—not for the loss of a captain, but for a soul too proud to cry out, “Save me Jesus!”

When the day of truth comes knockin’, open up. Don’t say, “Tomorrow.” Don’t wage’r[sic] you’ll change after one more plunder, one more drink, one more dallidance[sic] with the Devil. Today, if you hear God Almighty speaking, open your heart. (Hebrews 3:15)

Simply say, “I be sorry. I confess the wrongs I’ve done. Save me, Lord Jesus.”

Signed,

Salty Sam

Former crew of the Queen Anne’s Revenge

Freed not by pardon—but by grace

What Jesus Say About A Hard Heart

Matthew 13:15, Mark 8:17, John 12:40, Mark 3:5, Matthew 19:8, Luke 24:25

What Scripture (also Jesus) Says About A Hard Heart

Romans 2:5, Hebrews 3:8, Hebrews 3:15, Hebrews 4:7, Exodus 7:13, Exodus 8:15, Exodus 9:12, Exodus 10:1, Deuteronomy 2:30, Psalm 95:8, Proverbs 28:14, Isaiah 6:10, Ezekiel 3:7, Zechariah 7:12