THe Ordinary first undertook this ser­vice, to the Community, of publish­ing the Account of the Behaviour and Confessions of the Condemned Crimi­nals in Newgate, that no persons might be imposed upon by others, who presumed to Print false Reports concerning them.

Now, whereas some of late have ex­pected that an Account should be given of Confessions to be made at Tyburn. This the Ordinary hath endeavoured to bring the dying Malefactors unto, but they are somwhat Averse to it there, because they cannot be well heard, by reason of the Noise of the People, besides the Conster­nation which is upon them, being ready to be Executed, makes them say little, but only thus. Take warning, not to come to this Fatal Place, to which we are brought, by the neglect of our Duty to God and Man; and usually desire only, that the Ordinary would pray with them, and that they may do the like for themselves.

This Account therefore he now gives, that on Friday which was the next Day, after the Sentence of Death passed upon the aforesaid Criminals, he visited them, and after he had prayed with them, ear­nestly exhorted them, that they would beg of God to make them sensible of their several Crimes, that they would look back on the whole course of their Life; in as­much, as the just God never leaves Sin­ners destitute of his preventing Grace, till they first harden their own Hearts, indul­ging themselves in some secret Sins, there­by strength'ning vicious inclinations, to a considerable degree of Atheism, because they are not some time discovered and brought to shame.

He told them, that they ought, having given Notorious Scandals, to make their penitential acknowledgments as publick for the warning of others, by their Exam­ple of suffering Justice, to avoid the same Crimes.

And that tho' they had quench'd the motions of God's Holy Spirit, and resisted the Convictions of their Conscience for­merly; yet now by this Fatal Stroke drawn upon themselves.

He loudly calls them to Repentance, that so they may escape the Wrath which is to come.

Upon this, they began to be awakened from their Security in an Evil State, and to lament their former flagitious Courses, which Relenting, the Ordinary Encoura­ged, yet advised them not to rely on any slight sorrow for Sin, as if this were any satisfaction to God, for all the Exorbitan­ces of their Conversations.

Here he stated the differences betwixt True and False Repentance, and the Na­ture of True Faith in coming to God for Reconciliation by Christ, to which, they were very attentive.

On Saturday I visited them again, and told them that I expected a further Ac­count from them of their fitness to Dye, than what I had already received.

I enquired what Frame and Disposition of Heart they were in at present: Whither they retained those good impressions which were upon them the day before. The re­plyed, That they did.

Then asking them what Hope they had, that God was reconciled to them in Christ, they replyed, That they Prayed and did what they could, to obtain the Pardon of their Sins, and that they might be saved. I assured them, that if they were willing to be happy on God's Terms, viz. If they de­sired sincerely to be Holy as much as to be Happy, then Christ's sanctifying Spirit would become their Comforter.

Then I Exhorted them to prepare for the Duties of the Lords Day; because it was likely to be the last Sabbath they would spend upon Earth.

After this, they were desirous that I would pray with them again, which I did, and they promised me, that they would take pains with their own hearts in my Absence, to fit themselves for a future hap­py State. I told them, that they ought to assist one another to the utmost, in Or­der thereunto; considering how by their bad Counsel and Example, they had mis­led others into sinful Practices, and so dis­mist them.

On the Lords Day, the Ordinary Preach­ed on this Text, the 26 Chap. of St. Mat­thew, the 40 Verse: Watch and Pray, that ye enter not into Temptation.

These Words were Christ's Advice to his Disciples, when he found them heavy a sleep, in the midst of his Agonies, in the Night, immediately foregoing his being Apprehended to be Crucified. He Ala­rumed them from their Security, by en­joyning them to Watch and Pray, as being most forcible in Conjunction. If we Pray not, we disarm our selves, Satan gets an advantage of our sloath: If we Watch not in Praying, and after it, to maintain a spi­ritual Frame; we make our Prayer fruit­less and ineffectual; Prayer keeps us watch­ing, and this makes Prayer available.

1st. We have need to Watch in Praying, and to Pray in Watching, because Temp­tations alway await us in our Christian Station.

2ly. It is very dangerous through care­lesness of our Duty, to expose our selves to the least approach of a Temptation, (lest ye enter.

3ly. Such who Watch and Pray with a due frame of heart, shall ordinarily be kept out of Temptation, or not left in it to themselves. If they enter into it, they shall not fall under the Power of it Total­ly and Finally.

4ly. Pray, lest (ye) my Disciples, Enter into Temptation: Observe, the best of Men cannot promise themselves to be free, and exempt from Satans Stratagems or As­saults. These are the Tryals of Sincerity, the Exercise and strengthening of real Grace. The Christians Alarum against Security; otherwise, we should be good by Necessity, rather than Choice: If we did not strive for Victory against Sin, Sa­tan, and the World.

5ly. Christians must Watch and Pray, especially against such Temptations, which most beset their present State and Condi­tion of Life, or at the approach of Death.

6ly. Tho' the Lord over-rules Tempta­tions to a good Issue in the Godly, yet they are not to expose themselves by secu­rity, in any expectation of that good which comes by Accident. Temporal Victories are got by Fighting, but Spiritual by fly­ing the occasion of sinning. God is not bound to Aid us in those Temptations, which we thrust our selves upon.

After these Observations raised from the Text, the Ordinary proceeded to shew wherein the Nature of true watchfulness consists; and in what Respects, Prayer in Conjunction, contributes to the declining or defeatment of Temptations. Then he described some Symptoms in persons lyable to enter upon the Borders of Temptations, and some means in the use of which, they might be avoided, or the effect and pre­valencys of them, much broken and abated.

Also he gave some Directions, how to get out of the Snare of Satans Temptation, when taken therein.

And assigned some Considerations whereby the several Temptations of Dis­couragement or Presumption in the ap­proaches of Death, may be over-come.

Lastly, he Addressed himself to the con­demned [Page 3]Criminals, by a practical improve­ment of the precedent Discourse to their particular distressed Estate.

In the Afternoon, a Sermon was Preach­ed on the 95th. Psalm, and the 8th. Verse To day if you will hear his Voice, harden not your Hearts. From which, were deduced these general Considerations.

1st. By what various kind of Voices doth the Lord call upon, and invite Sinners unto Repentance?

2dly. In what Respects, are we said to hear and obey these Voices.

3dly. That by not attending to them, the Heart becomes gradually hardened, by the de­ceits of Sin and Satan.

4thly. That to prevent such obduration of Heart, and provocation of God by it: It is the Duty of all Persons, to day without delay, to comply with, and improve the distinct voices and Calls of God unto Repentance and amend­ment of Life. These Generals were treated of very pathetically, and the Auditory much affected therewith.

On Monday the Ordinary Repaired to the Condemned Criminals, and inquired of them what Divine impressions were made upon their hearts by the Prayers and Ser­mons on the Lords Day; and took a far­ther Account of their fitness for their ap­proaching Death; and they readily com­plyed with his desires.

John Toy, about 19 or 20 Years of Age, said that he was bred a Seaman, was the fourth Mate in an East-India Ship, had 50 s. per Month Wages; might have li­ved well on the Sea Employment, and in­tended for a Voyage in a Ship now ready to put to Sea: But for two Months past he fell into bad Company, which miss-led him into some Extravegancies, as Drink­ing, and other miss-spending of his time. He denyed not the Fact for which he is Condemned. Idleness he said, brought on the neglect of his Duty to God, where­by, he took to this unlawful Course of taking money by Violence: But he says it is the first Fact of this Nature that he Committed. He affirmed, that it is no little trouble to him, that he hath sinned against clear Light, and the frequent Con­victions of his Conscience, which now Recurr to mind, and do aggravate the sins of his miss-spent Life. But he hopes if he may obtain his Majesty's Pardon, that he shall lead a New Life, in serving God and the King Faithfully.

I told him and the other Criminals, how deceitful the heart of man is; this hath too often been sadly experienced in some, who after they have been Reprieved and set at Liberty, have abused God and the King's mercy, by the greater aggravation of their sins, having been Cut off in a short time by publick Justice, for Committing fresh and greater Crimes. I admonished them therefore, to distrust their own hearts, for as much as sincere Repentance is not so easie a work after sin hath been strengthened by custome, and that it re­quires some considerable time to manifest the sound Fruits and effects thereof. But some Criminals after they are spared, for­get the Vows made to God in their distress, and their good Resolutions of Reformati­on vanish, when their fears of Death are blown over.

Upon this, they did say, that they did pray to God, that they might be sincere in their sorrow for their sin, and that his Grace hitherto, had lead them to Repen­tance.

Secondly, John Steers, was Condemn­ed for breaking up the house of Edward Wiseman, on the 4th. of March last, and Apprehended in the Prosecutors house. He said that he was Born in Middlesex, at Shad­well, that he is Nineteen Years of Age. the Employment he was bred up to, was to be a Seaman; that he had served his Majesty formerly in the War against the Dutch, that afterwards he was entertain­ed as a Soldier at Tangier; that since the Demolishing the Forts there, he came over into England, and wishes that he had not followed an Idle Course of Life: This brought him to Poverty, and was the temptation of joyning himself to bad Com­pany, and to contract acquaintance with some Leud Women. He exprest himself to be penitent for all his other sins, which he said were many and great. It grieved him that he had not observed the Lords Day, that he had neglected to Pray, that God would daily keep him from Tempta­tions of sinning against him. But he ho­ped that he would give him Faith and Re­pentance, to fit him for another World,

That he doth not dispair of Gods mer­cy, but endeavour what he can to make peace with him, through Christ, that death might not be terrible unto him.

Thirdly, Peter Lary, Condemned for stealing a silver Tankard, value 5 l. of the [Page 4]goods of Thomas Earl. This Lary having been an Old Offender, tho' young in Years, about Fourteen, changed his Name to Wright, but con­fess'd to the Ordinary, that his True Name is La­ry, that his Father is an Irish Man, but travelling into Flanders, set up there a Victualling House, and that himself was Born there; but his Father meeting with disapointments in his Trade, came into England, and is now a Soldier. The Youth acknowledged that he kept bad Company, had been a great Swearer and a Lyer, denys not that he stole the Tankard. The Ordinary found him very ignorant in Religious Concernments, and therefore took more pains in instructing him. He says he is sorry for all his sins, and that if he may be Transported, he would not do any ill thing for all the World.

Fourthly, John Crofts, of the Parish of Stepney, was Condemned for breaking up the House of John Wells, and stealing thence one silver Porin­ger, with other Goods; he was taken in the Pro­secutors House, and had been an Old Offender.

He told the Ordinary that he is one and twenty years of Age, that he was Born in the County of Norfolk, and served out his Apprenticeship with a Broad Silk-Weaver, but his Friends not being able to set him up in his Trade, he fell into bad Company: That he had been Guilty of Breaking the Sabbath, and neglecting to improve the oppor­tunities which God gave him for to amend his life. That he did not pray that he might shake off his bad Acquaintance, tho' sometimes he resolved so to do. That by sinning against the frequent Convictions of his Censcience, by degrees, it be­came so senseless, that he adventured to Commit most sort of sins, without any check or restraint; but he hopes that this sad Sentence of Death, which God and Man hath righteously inflicted up­on him, hath been a means to awaken his Consci­ence, that hereupon, he hath endeavoured to call to mind his great sins, and to beg of God, that he would give him true Repentance for them. That he hopes he shall make his peace with him, through the Merits of Christ, and then he shall not be afraid to dye.

5ly. Eliz. Churchill, of the Parish of St. Peter, Condemned for stealing three pieces of Guinea Gold, March the 12th. last, from John Russel, which she denyed not at her Tryal: She is 35 years of Age, was Born at Newcastle upon Tyne: Her first husband lived in Wapping near the Chap­pel, he was Mate to a Master of a Ship; and she lived with him a 11 Years: Afterwards she mar­ried to a Gold Wyre-drawer, who lived in Moor­fields, by whom, she had several Children, two of which died of the Small-pox, and a third as he was playing, fell into the Town ditch and was drowned: She Confess'd, that the sudden loss of these Children; presently the one after the other, grieved her almost to distraction; but she did not improve that afflicting providence of God, as as she ought, to bring her to a sincere repentance for all her sins:

Also she had a good Father, who gave her Re­ligious Education, but she forsook the ways of God, for a Year and an half, before this sad dist­ress came on her, to be Condemned: She said that poverty upon her present husband (who is now a Souldier) was the occasion of falling into this crime: that she is now convinced of the many sins of her life; yet she is at times doubt­ful of the truth of her faith and repentance, be­cause she now finds, that by reason of great guilt contracted, it is very hard truly to rely on Christ for salvation: The Ordinary incouraged her to believe, because God's grace is all-suffici­ent to support her under those dark dismal appre­hensions which she hath of her spiritual estate; and upon further inquiry, he hopes she is truly penitent.

Sixthly. Rebekah Rose; Condemned with John Steers for Burglary and Felony; She was Born in Middlesex, is now 24 Years of age; she sayes that she is very much troubled, that she went against the council of her nearest Relations, in marrying one Biggs, who was very lately Executed at Tyburn; and fears, that God blasted her for such disobedience to her Parents; that she had good Education, but led an ill life, which ag­gravates her sins.

That she married three Weeks before last Chri­stmas, to one Rose, a person of very ill note; that she kept a Victualing house in East-smithfield, till she committed this Fact, and that her heart failed her in the doing of it, which makes her sin the greater. She confess'd that she had been an ill liver, but Poverty drove her to commit this Crime for which she is Condemned. She says that she desires to become a true Penitent, and re­solves by Gods Grace to amend her Life, if she may be spared from the Execution of the Sen­tence passed upon her.

The Two Women before mentioned are Re­prieved, upon their being quick with Child. The Ordinary Exhorted them, that they would not pervert this Respite from Death, to an occasion of greater Security and Impenitence, but redeem precious time to the best advantage of their Souls.

This is all the Account which the Ordinary can give of the Criminals, Condemned this Sessions.

About 10 of the Clock this Mornin, Peter Lary, was put into a Cart at Newgate, and conveyed to the place of Exe­cution, where the Ordinary prayed with him, and he Ex­horted the Spectators to take Warning by him; after which the Ordinary sung part of a Psalm, and so concluded with a Prayer, after which he was turned off.

This may be Printed, R.L.S. April the 21st. 1686.