IT ſeems, there has in all Ages been ſuch a Way. And the Way is in Ours as much trodden as ever. Yea, we have newly ſeen a formidable Exhibition of the Way, and of the End which the Way will bring unto. But there are things to be Marked in the Way. There are many Remarkables in the Way. It may be a thing of Good Conſequence, yea, tis a thing of the Laſt Importance, for us to take notice of them. We will this day Mark the Way that Wicked Men have trodden. And indeed; this will be one proof that we do not take the Way. To Mark the way which Wicked Men do take, is a Step which Wicked Men do not uſe to take. Tis a Step that would have a Tendency to bring them and keep them out of that way This made Eliphaz afraid that Job had fail'd in this point. He Feared, That Job had been tainted with this Impiety, To Forget that the Moſt High God, whoſe Throne is in the Heavens did mark the Ways of Men, or take any cogniſance of what they did in the world. This produced a Fear in him, That Job did not Mark the Ways of Wicked Men. For this Forgetfulneſs is one art and Cauſe of their wicked Ways

But the DOCTRINE which I have now before me is this.

If we Mark the Ways of 〈◊〉 men, which is indeed, an old Way, we ſhall find in it ſome things that are truly Remarkable.

It ſeems orderly & requiſite for u • , in the firſt place to Satisfy a more General Enquiry; The Subject which our Diſcouſe is anon more Particularly to inſiſt upon, is firſt in a more General way to be Enquired after. What it the way of Wicked Men? I anſwer, you may be ſure Tis a way of Wickedneſs; Tis a Wicked Way. Tis the Way that is not good. We read, Pſal 1 • 9. 24. See if there be any wicked Way in me. We read, Prov 8. 13. I hate the Evil way. We read, Pſal. 1. 6. The way of the ungodly ſhall periſh. This is the Way trodden by wicked Men. But you have not yet a Sufficient Anſwer. The Queſtion, what is the Way which Wicked Men have trodden? Will not be anſwered without ſome Account of the more Diſtinguiſhing Steps, which they take in their Way. Kn • w then. The Way of Wicked Men, lies both in Wicked Opinions & in Wicked Practices. There are thoſe Opinions, which are called, 2 Pet. 3. 17. The Error of the Wicked. Falſe Opinions; Thoſe Wrong Thoughts, which will hinder men from the Acknowledgments of God, which He has made neceſſary for us. There are thoſe Practices, which are called, 2 Pet 2. 2 Pernicious Ways. Vile Practices. The Ungodlineſs & worldly Luſts, which are inconſiſtent with a Godly, & Sober, & Righteous Life in the World. Yet more particularly. The Way of Wicked Men, is to Forget God, and the End for which God creates them and preſerves them; the Errand which God ſends them to appear among Mankind upon. Their Way is to feel no Want of, to ſee no worth in an admirable Saviour; to feel no Diſtreſs about an Intereſt in Him; to be careleſs whether they be ever Saved from their Sins, or no. Their Way is, to Propound an Happineſs in the Enjoyment of this World, and be very Earneſt, Vehement, Violent in Seeking after worldly poſſeſſions: Regardleſs of any Higher Portion. Their Way is, t • make Light of Sin; to Entertain Temptations to Sin with Eaſy Compliances; and to have but a ſhort and ſmall Regrett for it, when they have Sinned. I will give you a true Survey and Report of the Road; The Way which Wicked Men have trodden, is thus deſcribed; Eph. 2 2. 3. Ye walked according to the courſe of this World, according to the prince of the power of the Air, in the L • ſts of the Fleſh, fulfilling the Deſires of the Fleſh and of the Mind. Finally, There is no need of my Travelling a great way from my Text, that I may point out unto you, the Way that Wicked Men have trodden. Lo • k back no more than Two Verſes, and you will ſee; Their Way is this: Thou ſay •• t, How doth God know! Tis to be inſenſible, that they have the Eye of God upon them in their Way. Tis to be unmindful, that God is acquainted with all their Ways; knows every Word uttered by their Tongues; knows their very Thoughts afar off Tis to act, as not Expecting that God will ever call them to any Account of what they have done in their Lives. This is their Way And, My Friend, If this be thy Way, then thou art in the Way that Wicked Men have trodden. Wo to thee, Thou art one of them. Of every one who makes this his Way, I muſt faithfully tell you, in ſuch Terms as thoſe; Job 34 8 He goeth in company with the workers of Iniquity, he walketh with wicked men.

We are now ready to proceed upon our more Special Enquiries. And theſe will be no more than Two.

I. What is there to be Marked in the Way that Wicked Men have trodden; or, what ſhall we find Remarkable in the Way of wicked Men! Many Remarks are to be made upon it. I will Single out a few, that will be as Uſeful, as they are Obvious.

Firſt. We may Mark this in the Way that Wicked Men have trodden; Tis an old Way. It is a juſt obſervation, which a famous & an accute Scotch Expoſitor has upon my Text; That Sin is a very Old Trade in the World. We read, Joh. 8. 44 It was from the Beginning. Sin was committed in the very Beginning of the World. The World had not been begun long before the Way of Sin was taken up. Tis true, the Way of Sin is not ſo old, as the Way of Truth Our Excellent Caryl has well Expreſſed it; Tho' man quickly went out of the Way, ſurely, his Firſt ſtep was not out of the Way. He went Right before he went Wrong; he ſtood before he fell. But then, the way of Sin is very old. In the Sinful ways of men, to ſeek after a Felicity in things under the Sun, here tis that it has been ſaid, There is no New Thing under the Sun. Tis no New Thing for men to Sin againſt God. And tho' men are Inventers of Evil Things, yet there is rarely any ſort of Sin committed in our days, but what was committed in the Days of old. Indeed, we read, Jer. 6. 16 Ask for the old pathes, where is the Good way, and walk therein. There is a Good old Way. And it is the oldeſt Way. The Greateſt Antiquity is to be pleaded for that Way. But then, there is an • ll way, that is alſo an old Way. The Way o • Sin, is a very beaten Way It was trodden, as here we find in the Old World, and long before the Flood. It was that Way, that the Flood ruſhed in upon the world. One gives this Paraphraſe on my Text. Haſt thou marked the Way of the old World? An Old Way; Very near, very near, as old as the World. The very firſt man, that was born into the World, proved a wicked man. Of Wicked men in our Days, We read, Jud. 11. They have gone in the way of Cain. The Nature of Man was betimes depraved with corruption. Ah, Mankind, How Early didſt thou riſe, & corrupt all thy Doings? Men have naturally taken the way of Sin, ever ſince our Firſt Fall from God. And, how Quickly did we fall! Man in Honour, How few Nights didſt thou continue ſo? The Way of Sin is more than five Thouſand and ſeven Hundred Years old. It is no Apology • or an Evil thing; Tis no more than what others have done before me. The via trita, is not always via tuta. It may be an old Way, and yet not a ſafe Way. It may be an old Way, and yet be the Way that Wicked men have trodden. Sinners, what undeſireable Company, will you find there, if by Wandring from the way of underſtanding, you go down to the Congregation of the Dead. You are going in the Old Way, & the Sinners who trod that way in old Time, will be your Companions, in the End of the way. You will have your Souls gathered with Cain, and the Monſters of the old World; with the Sodomites, & with Achithophel, and with Judas, and with the Wretches that a Great while ago, walked in that way of Sin that you have choſen. Oh! poor Comfort, in having ſuch Fellow-Sufferers!

Secondly. We may Mark this, in the Way that wicked men have trodden; Tis an Hard Way; a way full of Trouble. We read, Prov. 13 15. The way of Tranſgreſſors is hard. Tho' it be a Broad Way, yet it is a Rough One. A Very Troubleſome way. The way lies all thro' the Valley of Achor What we render, A way of wickedneſs, is in the Hebrew Original, A way of Grief Tis a Grievous Way. A Wicked man, His way is always Grievous. Of them that walk in this way, We read. Rom. 3. 17. The way of peace they have not known. In the way of Piety, there is a Glorious Peace to be Enjoy'd. Great peace have they that Love that Way; and if they were always in it, there would be nothing to offend them: nothing but what they might be 〈…〉 from it. There is a Peace belonging to them, who walk according to the Rule that lays out the way of God, & of Holineſs 〈…〉 of Mind, in a Faith of the 〈…〉 & Faithfulneſs, & in an Aſſurance of the Di • ine Favour; A Calm within, whatever St • rm there may be abroad. But, alas, There 〈◊〉 Peace, ſaith my God unto the wicked. You may Mark this, Wicked men find their L • ſts perpetually Enſlaving of them; their 〈◊〉 throwing them into perpetual Diſ • rders; their 〈◊〉 by the Juſtice of God, made their 〈◊〉 & ſo there are many Sorrow • to the wicked. And you may Mark this, Wicked men carry about alſo a Guilty Conſcience with them▪ a Conſcience that keeps them in a continu •• Une • ſineſs; a Conſcience continually Scourging of them, & roaring in their Ears, The Great God will one day dreadfully Puniſh thee for theſe Miſcarriages. Oh! Tis a Sad thing to walk in the way that wicked men have trodden. Mark it, Sirs; Tis a Walk in the Valley of the ſhadow of Death!

Thirdly. We may Mark this in the way that wicked men have trodden, They are at more Pains in their way to Damn themſelves, than G • dly men are, in a better way to Save themſelves. Wicked men take a great deal of Pains in their way; they find it a Laboriotes Way. The very term for wickedneſs, in the Greek Language of the New Teſtament, implies, 〈◊〉 in it. A Labour to haſten on a 〈…〉 With leſs Labour has many a 〈◊〉 , laid h • ld on Eternal Life. Of a wicked 〈◊〉 we read, Pſal. 7 14 Behold, he 〈…〉 iniquity. Ah, Silly Soul; With leſs Travail, & leſs Anguiſh, many an one has been 〈◊〉 again, & had the Image of a Glorious 〈…〉 in him. Indeed, • here is no getting to Heaven with u • a taking of Pains for i • . We are to Strive, that we may Enter the 〈◊〉 a • e; It requires Agonies to be an Over 〈◊〉 & make •• re of Heaven. But you may 〈◊〉 this: That many a Sinner is at more Pains, to plunge himſelf into the loweſt Hell, than many a Saint is to ſecure a ſhare in the Good Things of the Heavenly Places. He runs down to the •• mbers of Death, more eagerly, than any Chriſtian runs in the Race which ends in the Heavenly Manſions. A wicked man does more to Pleaſe the Fleſh, & the World, & the Devil, than a godly man does to Pleaſe God He ſerves the Deſtroyer with more Induſtry, than one who yet finds Acceptance with Him, uſes in ſerving the only Saviour. He is more Induſtrious to get himſelf put off with a Portion in this Life, than one who yet attains unto it, is to attain unto a better and laſting Subſtance in Heaven. He will waſte his Estate, he will ruine his Health, he will venture his Life, & all that he may be the ſooner & the deeper drowned in an horrible Perdition. Many an one, who never did ſo much for it, yet arrives unto the Salvation of the Soul Of wicked men, we read, Jer. 9 5 They weary themſelves to commit iniquity. You may Mark this; Many an one with a Patient continuance in well doing, arrives leſs-tired unto the Glory of Heaven, than a wicked man arrives to a Lodging in the place of Dragons, which he has been all his Days working for. Oh! the Fully, Oh! the Madneſs, of wicked men! When they are in the Place of Torments, with what corroding Indignation will they look back upon it!

Fourthly. There is this to be Marked in the way that wicked men have trodden; Men are Deceived all the way; it is a very Deceitful way We read, Prov. 11. 18. The wicked worketh a deceitful work. A wicked man is drawn into his way, with many Promiſes which the Tempters make unto him. The Promiſes deceive him; his Temptations have impoſed upon him; he meets with Diſappointments of all his Expectations. He Promiſed unto himſelf, ſuch Satisfactions as he never meets withal. He is Promiſed, that he ſhall find Contentment in his way; but his way never, never brings him to it. It is Promiſed unto him, That when he has acquired ſuch & ſuch Good Things, they will Stay with him; His mountain ſhall be ſtrong. Lo, Theſe things make to themſelves wings, & flee away, and leave him deſtitute; leave him diſtracted. It is Promiſed unto him, that he ſhall have a Long time yet in his way; Goods laid up for many Years. Lo, This Night thy Soul is required of thee! When a man takes the way of Sin, it may be ſaid of him, as Iſa. 44. 20. A deceived Heart hath turned him aſide.

And you may Mark this one Deceit more, than which there is hardly any more frequent, in the Way of a wicked man, He is deceived about the Nature, & the Period of his Way. He is not apprehenſive, what he is a doing, & where he is a going. He apprehends no other, but that he may take this Way, & yet not miſs of Everlaſting Bleſſedneſs. It is as we read, Prov. 14. 12. A way that ſeems right to a man, but the end the way of death. Poor Sinner; Thou art a Self-deceiver! The man dreams, that he is in the way to the City of God; and that a Merciful God, will eaſily forgive all the Falſe ſteps he has taken in his way, upon his bare ſaying, Lord, Have Mercy upon me! The Dream is anon found, a moſt fearful Deluſion, The Chains of Darkneſs anon laid upon him, Undeceive him. O dreadful Way of being Undeceived! Oh! how dreadful, to be ſo late Undeceived!

Fifthly. There is this to be Marked in the way that wicked men have trodden; The Way grows more Dirty; Men grow worſe & worſe, the longer they go on in the way. We read, 2 Tim 3. 13. Wicked men will • ay worſe and worſe. Men rarely keep at a Stand in the way of Sin. Tis a way, wherein the Sinner Knows not where he ſhall ſ • op As men in a right way grow ſtronger & ſtronger in it; They find the Way of the Lord Strength unto them; the Longer they are in it, the Stronger they grew; they gain the more Strength to do, what is to be done in the Way. Thus, in a Bad Way, the Inclinations and Reſolutions of Wickedneſs, theſe grow Stronger & Stronger. Sin gains the more Strength, by being perſiſted in. We read, Heb. 3 13 To Day,—l • ſt hardened through the Deceitfulneſs of Sin. You ought with a trembling Soul, to Mark this thing; The Longer any one does continue in Sin, they grow the more Hardened in it; The Hearts which to Day were Hard enough, grow Harder by to Morrow. They are daily Provoking the Holy One, to withdraw His Grace from them. He is Provoked every day, as the Pſalmiſt Expreſſes it. On the Withdraw of that Grace, Oh! the Hold that Satan takes of them! Oh! the Work that Satan makes with them! At firſt the Heart of the Sinner will Smite him, for a leſſer Tranſgreſſion. He Conquers, he Smothers, he keeps under, he gets over, the Relu •• ancies of a 〈◊〉 Heart He goes on to greater & greater Degrees of Impiety At length, he Marks at Fear, and like an Horſe ruſhing into the Battel, he ruſhes upon the Groſſeſt Abominations. Riot, Rev • ls, Debauches grow familiar with him. Horrid 〈◊〉 & the Language or Fiends, proclame his 〈…〉 Hell B • wdy, & Filthy Songs, enough to infect the very Air, they are uttered in, are the fineſt of his Vocal Muſic. Diſhoneſt Gaming becomes no little part of his Buſineſs. He is well acquainted with the 〈◊〉 of the Harlot. It is not long before his Impiety improves into Malignity. He forſakes he abhors, the Churches of God. And thoſe whom he takes to be Uſeful Servants of God, he derides them, he Slanders them, he •• bels them. His Throat is an open Sepulchre for them; when he ſpeaks of them, he ſhows how glad he would be to have them in their Sepulchre. They are now almoſt Ripened for a Terrible Deſtruction from God. Their Iniquity is almoſt full The Vengeance of God now quickly ſeiſes on them. O You that are in the Way of wicked men; Little do you foreſee, what Wickedneſs you will be left unto.

Sixthly. There is this to be Marked in the Way that wicked men have trodden; Men often begin to Repent of the Way, & yet they hold on their way. In the way of Wickedneſs, there often occurs, this wretched Conduct, Pſal. 78. 34, 36. They returned and enquired Early after God;—But they lied unto Him. A Gracious God often Checks the Sinner in his way; A Flaming Sward gives a Check to him, in his way that is perverſe before God Perhaps, the Candle of the Lord within him, gives unuſual Blazes and Scorches: Compels him to be bitterly ſenſible of his Condition. He falls it may be into ſome unuſual Miſcarriage, & his wounded Soul falls a bleeding upon it. Some Uncommon Diſpenſation of God, it may be, awakens him to Conſider his Ways, dwakening things fall out, upon him, or before him. Now, he begins to wiſh, O! That I might lead a better Life! He Bewails his former Follies. He Cries out of them as Curſed Follies. He Reſolves that he will no more abandon himſelf to ſuch Follies. He makes his Vows to God, & ſays, I will no more Tranſgreſs! He begins a Reformation; begins a Courſe of Religious Duties. His beſt Friends hoped, Surely we ſhall now ſee a Glorious Converſion to God! But what comes of all this? All wears off in a little while. His Vows do ſignify no more than the Green Wyths, or the New Cords upon Sampſon. It may be ſaid, as in 2 Pet 2. 22 The Dog is turned to hi • own Vomit again; & the Sow that was waſhed unto her wallowing in the • ire. The Good Motions, the Good Purpoſes, in the Soul of the Unhappy Man, They are all Vaniſhed! His Vices 〈◊〉 Head again He quickly becomes as V • cious as he was before. Yea The Evil Spirit returns with Seven worſe than what was before. O Caſe that calls for bleeding Lamentations! Mark this; The Way of wicked men, has now and then ſome Interruptions in it: There are ſome feeble 〈◊〉 towards Repentance in it. But ſtill, after all, they go on ſtill in their Treſpaſſes.

Seventhly. In the Way that wicked men have trodden, there is this Thing that calls for a Mark upon it, When men in their Way grow Wicked Overmuch, oftentimes they Quickly Periſh from their Way. We read, Eccl 7. 17. Be 〈◊〉 ever much wicked; why ſhouldeſt thou die before thy time? Some there are that are wicked Overmuch: They are ſo far gone in Wickedneſs, that they have Out-ſinned the Day of Divine Patience. The Long-ſuffering God will now bear no longer with them. The wicked ones bid intolerable D • fiances to Heaven in their Blaſphemies Monſtrous Undutifulneſs to their Superiors is expreſſed by them. They Mark the Miniſters and Meſſengers of God, with outragious Inſolenci •• . They grow ſo dangerous to Humane Society, that there is no Enduring of them They fall to hatching ſuch Miſchief, that the Children of God are compelled to Complain unto their Father of them. The Wretches are now probably near the End of their Way. There is a direful Symptom of wicked and wretched Ones, haſtening to their End; in Prov 29. 1. He that being often Reproved, hardeneth his Neck, ſhall ſuddenly be deſtroyed and without Remedy. Oh! That ſome Ungodly Ones would lay to Heart, theſe Thunders of God!

Eighthly. In the Way that wicked men have trodden, there is this Thing that calls for a Mark upon it, God by Wonderful Ways does bring out, the moſt Secret Wickedneſs in their Way. In the Way of wicked men, there are many things done, for which they flatter themſelves with an Eternal Secrecy; for, as we read, Eph. 5 17. They are things that are done of them in Secret But the Crimes of wicked Ones are not Concealed from God; Can any hide himſelf in Secret Places, that I ſhall not ſee him, ſaith the Lord? Let never ſuch Arts of Concealment be uſed for the Covering of their Crimes, I, even I, Know them; and am a Witneſs of them, ſaith the Lord And the Glorious God has aſtoniſhing Ways to bring out the Secret Wickedneſs in which wicked Men do indulge themſelves. God fulfils that word upon them, Numb 32. 33. Be ſure your Sin ſhall find you out. He makes the Accomplices of Wicked ones, to bring out one another. God leaves Wicked Ones to freſh Villanies, which bring out all their former ones. God ſo Terrifies them, as to make them bring out themſelves; their own Tongues to fall upon themſelves. Odd Circumſtances fall out, that no one could have thought of; and theſe bring them out. Yea, A Bird of the Air ſhall carry the Voice & that which has wings will tell the matter: the Spirits of the Inviſi • le World will be Concerned in it. Oh! Let the Sinners in Zion be afraid, and let the Hypocrites thereof be ſurpriſed with Fearfulneſs, that what they have done, will not always be kept Secret Repent Seriouſly, Repent Sincerely; That is the only way for the Covering of Iniquity.

Ninthly. In the Way that wicked men have trodden, there is vet One thing more to be Marked; That is, The End of the Way. Tis a Way that will be terribly Puniſhed in the End; It will be Bitterneſs in the Latter End. We are called upon, Pſal. 37. 37. Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright, for the End of that man is peace. But we are now to be thus called upon. Mark the Wicked man, & behold the Evil one, & his Evil Way; for the End of his Way, is to ly down in deſperate & eternal Sorrow. Sinners, You are warned of God; Prov 13 21 Evil purſueth Sinners. The Warning that God has given you, is, The wicked ſhall not go Unpuniſhed. Nay, There is a ſtrange Puniſhment reſerved for the Workers of Iniquity. O Mark the Way, which the Righteous God has • aken with wicked men, and Mark the Deſtruction which their Way does bring upon them.

Wicked men have been Puniſhed in all Ages. They were ſo when their Foundation was Overthrown with a Flood. They ſhall be ſo, when God ſhall make this World of theirs, & for them, a Fiery Oven, in the Day of His Anger. In every Generation a multitude of Wicked ones, are moſt Remarkably Puniſhed by God. Yea, their Puniſhments are ſuch as carry in them Remarkable Signatures of a Judgment from God. At Laſt, it comes to that; Mat. 25 46 The Wicked ſhall go away into everlaſting Puniſhment O amazing Puniſhment! O tremendous Puniſhment! Mark this, O all you that Forget God. You will find it a fearful Thing to dy the Second Death; to fall into the Hands of the Living God.

II. And now, methinks, there ſhould be another Enquiry; In what Manner, To what Purpoſe, are we to Mark the Way that Wicked Men have trodden? How are we to Obſerve what is to be Mark'd in the Way of wicked men? But I may now ſurely leave it unto You, my Hearers, to anſwer this Enquiry You are not at a Loſs how to anſwer it.

Firſt; Have you Marked the way that wicked men have trodden? Certainly you will Shun that Way The Bias of your Souls, Oh, how can it now be any other than th • ſe 〈◊〉 Pſal. 119 128 I hate every falſe way The Choice & the Voice of your Souls will now be that; O m • dear Saviour, Do thou reſcue me from every Wicked 〈◊〉 from all the 〈◊〉 of the Deſtroyer S • ew me 〈◊〉 Way, Teach me thy Pathe • ; O my Good 〈◊〉 Reduce my Soul, & Conduct me in the 〈◊〉 of Righteouſneſs for thy Names ſake.

Secondly; Have you 〈◊〉 the Way that Wicked men have trodden? Certainly You will do what you can, to 〈…〉 from that way. Ah, how can you bear to ſee your Friends, going on in a Way, that will carry them down unto the Dead? Think on that Word Jam. 5 20 He that Converts a Sinner from the 〈◊〉 of his way, ſhall ſave a Soul from Death. Eſpecially, Your Children,—to them you • we this Compaſſion. No greater Joy, than 〈◊〉 ſee them Walking in the Truth No greater Vexation, or Abaſement, than to ſee them take another Way Oh! Teach them Oh! Charge them! Oh! Cry to God for them! Do all you can to Reclaim them, and Preſerve them from every Evil Way Lay the ſtrongeſt 〈◊〉 upon them, to Keep the way of the Lord.

Laſtly; I have one thing more to move, Tis this; My Friends, Mark Your Own Way. Mark the way which you are Your ſelves treading of. You are ſo adviſed: Prov. 4. 26. Ponder the Path of thy Feet. Oh! Bring your ſelves under a ſtrict Examination Put this Queſtion to your ſelves, What is the Way that I am in? Am I in the Old way that Wicked men have trodden? Or, Am I in the Way of Good men? Unqueſtionably Happy, Happy might be the Fruits of this Queſtion well thought upon!

¶ But that which at this time I principally aim at, is; To Confirm the Obſervations that has been offered, and Quicken the Diſpoſitions that have been adviſed, with ſome Solemn Remarks upon as tremendous a Spectacle, as ever our ſorrowful Eyes have look'd upon. The Way that Wicked Men have trodden, has newly terminated in a Tragical Execution of Death, on ſuch a Number of Criminals, as our ſorrowful Eyes have never before ſeen together, with hands clapped at them, hiſſed out of their Place. The Glorious GOD Expects, that we do the beſt we can, to make this a Profitable & a Serviceable Spectacle; and that our Foolhardy Sinners, Knowing the Terror of the Lord, may be Diſſwaded from going on ſtill in the • Treſpaſſes it • as a thing once imagined concerning ſome ſurviving Impenitents, If One went unto them from the Dead, they will Repent. O Impenitents, that in the Way which Wicked men have trodden are haſtening down unto the Dead, there are now to Come unto you Twenty Six in a Crue together from the Dead, who with an Hoarſe but Loud Voice, terribly call upon you, to Repent of your Sins & not Perſiſt in ſuch Crimes as have brought them to what they are now come unto. If you will not hear the Warnings of your Faithful Paſtors, hear the Roarings of Twenty Six terrible Preachers, that in a Ghaſtly Apparition, are now from the Dead, calling upon you to Turn & Live unto GOD.

It was the Hand of the Glorious GOD, which brought theſe Criminals, to Dy in a Place, where His Faithful Servants took uncommon Pains, for their Inſtruction & Converſion; And it may be, [Who can tell?] there were ſome • lect of GOD among them, who may have their Salvation in this aſtoniſhing way accompliſhed But how much will it add unto the Diſplays of Sovereign & Myſterious Grace, if You that have had their Dying Words & Groans & Pains before you, may find the Means of Your Salvation in them!

Oh! Take a due Notice of what you have ſeen in the Way which theſe Wicked men have trodden, & in the fearful End which their Way has brought them to! and let it not be ſaid of you, Go tell this People, you ſee indeed, but perceive no • , & very little Regard what you ſee.

Have you not particularly Marked This in the Way of the Wicked men; That the Way of Piracy & Robbery, & of the Outrage us Wickedneſs whereto the Pirates and Robbers abandon themſelves is a ſay which the Holy GOD appears as a Swift Witneſs againſt; a Way wherein the Sinners bring a Swift Deſtruction upon themſelves; a ſay wherein the Car • es in the Flying Roll gone forth againſt them, do very Swiftly overtake them? How many Thouſands of the Sea-Minſters, who have been the T • rror of them that 〈◊〉 the Sea, have been Swiftly Cut off. & Strangely Exterminated, and what a Strange • uniſhment has been haſtened on the Workers of Iniquity? They that would not behold the way of the Vineyards, nor take to any way of Honeſty & Induſtry, for Living aſhore, have gone to make their Depredations on the Waters; But how has their Portion been Curſed in the Earth; and what a Remarkable Curſe of GOD, has been upon them? On this Remark will you not Conceive the utmoſt Horror of running into the Pathes of the Deſtroyers Oh! Rather Dy, than go With, or do Like ſuch Wicked men. My Son, If ſuch Sinners Entice thee, Conſent thou not unto them. No, Rather Dy than do it! But then, Look upon all the Ways of Unlawful Gain, which are trodden by Wicked Men, as the Ways that have Deſtruction & Miſery in them. Abhor the Ways; Avoid • he Ways: Be terrified by that word, which you have now again ſeen ſo Amazingly Verified; Jer 17 11. He that getteth Riches and not by Right ſhall leave them in the midſt of his Days, and at his End ſhall be a Fool. Hear, Hear the Cry from the horrible Scaffold unto you. Oh! Let not the Luſt of the Eye poiſon & pervert you! Oh! Let not the inſatiable Thirſt of Riches draw you into indirect Methods of coming at them! Oh! Liſt not your ſelves among them who will be Rich, but madly drown themſelves in Perdition, by their Attempts to be ſo! Look for a Confounding Blast from GOD, upon all Unlawful Enterprizes.

Go on, & Mark the Dying Lamentations of the Wicked Men, at the End of the Way which they have trodden.

Among the dolorous Ejulations of the Dying Pirates, how often do you hear them Confeſſing; My Grieving & Leaving & Scorning of my Parents, has been that which has brought the dreadful Vengeance of GOD upon me! Shall this Confeſſion make no Impreſſion on You, O Wicked and woful Children, who break the Hearts of your Parents, with your Ungodly Courſes? You cannot but know, that it Kills your Diſtreſſed Parents, & makes their Hearts even to ſtoop with Heavineſs, to ſee that you are Irreclameable from your Enormities, and that none of their Commands or Counſels, will prevail with you, to Reform your Diſorderly Living. O Murderers of your Parents, Can you think, that you ſhall Eſcape Unpuniſhed? Will you not hearken to the Voice of our Parents; The LORD will do ſomething worſe than Slay you, for this Diſobedience! Tis a Sign, that GOD has a Terrible Thing to do upon you. Wretches, Leave off your Impieties, & be no longer an Heavineſs unto your Parents; Or GOD will do a Terrible Thing upon you: Something which the Ears of them that hear of it ſhall tingle at!

How many of the Dying Pirates do you hear Crying out, My Prophanation of the LordsDay, was the Inlet of all the Wickedneſs that has brought me to this Evil Day! Having Marked this in the Way of the Wicked men, Oh! Reſolve to ſpend the Sabbath well, & fill it with the Exerciſes of agreeable Devotion. Deſpiſe not this Reſt of GOD, left the Holy GOD for ever ſhut you out of His Reſt; Shut you up, where there is no Reſt, but the Smoke of their Torment aſcends for ever and ever.

How many of the Dying Pirates have you ſeen Mourning at the Laſt, becauſe of their giving themſelves up to the Vice, about which you are forewarned of GOD, At the laſt it will bite like a Serpent & ſting like an Adder? Their Exceſſive Cups have been worſe than Rats-ba • e in their Bowels, when GOD has come at length to put His Cup of Trembling into their Hands. Having Marked this in the Way of the wicked men, Will you not have done with the Intoxicating Bottel? and the Pot wherein your Death will be met withal? What will you bring all ſorts of Woes upon your ſelves, & go Staggering on to Ruine, with a Shameful ſpewing upon all your Glory?

How many of the Dying Pirates have you ſeen wringing their Impure, Filthy, Unchaſt Hands at their Death, & with an unutterable Dolour declaring that they found the Stings, which the Abominations of Unchastity left upon their Souls, to be More Bitter than Death? Having Marked this in the Way of the Wicked men, will you make your Hearts like Ovens, that ſhall have Irregular Deſires ever Burning in them, till GOD make your Souls like a Fiery Oven, by the Scorchesof His Anger there? Will you Proſtitute your Bodies to deteſtable Actions, till GOD cauſe your Carcaſes to come under a ſpeedy Putrefaction? Shall the Spirits which entred the Swine of Old, hurry you down into the Deep? Why will you take the Coals in your Boſom, and anon have that Epitaph upon you; They died in Youth, becauſe their Life was among the Unclean!

When the Pirates have been going to draw their laſt breath, with what Remorſe have they look'd back on the Oathes which they had in their Impious Breath belch'd out, with a Contempt & Challenge of their Maker? When their Mouth has been going to be ſtopp'd, with what Remorſe have they thought, how full their Mouth has been of Curſing? Have not their Laſt Speeches moſt ſadly Bewailed the Vile Speeches, with which they have diſcovered Souls full of Rottenneſs? Has it not began Hell above ground unto them, & cauſed them to gnaw their Tongues for Pain, to think. What their Tongues when Fired of Hell, have ſhot up againſt the Heavens? In their Imploring the Mercies of the Great GOD, how has it Confounded them; To Think, How hid • ouſly have I Offended & Blaſphemed the GOD whom I now make my Cries unto! When they have apprehended themſelves juſt falling into the Hands of Devils, how has it Confounded them to think, Theſe Tormentors are they, whoſe Language I have been uſed unto? Having Marked this in the Way of the Wicked men, Will you not now Keep your Tongues from Evil? Verily, If you deſire Life, & love many Days, that you may ſee Good, you will do ſo!

Have you not heard the Dying Pirates, pouring out their Complaints of the Evil Company which had Entangled them, & Crying out, This Evil Company has brought me, to what I once little thought of ever coming to? Having Marked this in the way of the Wicked men, Will you not Forſake the Fooliſh & Live? Are you willing to have your Souls gathered with ſuch Sinners, as you n • w aſſociate withal? Oh! Depart from the Tents of the Wicked men, leſt you Periſh in all their Sins! Continue not the Com • anions of Fools, if you would not be Deſtory'd among them.

Finally, Have not the Dying Malefactors, left the World Earneſtly Commending a Godly Life and preſſing the practice of a Religion that ſhould have ſomething more than meer Morality in it. Earneſtly Commending a Serious, Daily, conſtant Worſhip of God, & the Religion of the cl • ſet? Yea, Earneſtly Commending of Early PIETY, and Exhorting Young People betimes to Return unto GOD? You muſt needs have Marked this. But, Oh, what Effect ſhall the Remark have upon you! Children, Will you not Begin Immediately to Live Religiouſly; & will you not from this time ſay unto GOD, Thou art my GOD & Saviour, and the Guide of my Youth? Oh, Take not up, firſt with a Lifeleſs Religion, and then the Irreligious Life which That will bring you to. And whereas, it has been Marked concerning ſome of thoſe who have lately Periſhed, That they had ſat under the Means of Grace; but having refuſed the O •• ers of a SAVIOUR often & often made unto them, a Righteous GOD left them in the Hands of the Deſtroyer; ſo they were given up to Confirmed & Increaſing Wickedneſs, in which they have Periſhed Wonderfully Oh! Preſently, Come into the Ways of Wiſdom, and Work about your Salvation with a Fear and Trembling, leſt this prove alſo your Condition. Mind the Story, leſt you make the Story! And • et Heaven ſee this Iſſue of what you have ſeen; Surely, I have ſeen the Young Wanderers bemoaning themſelves; and ſa • ing, Alas, How much have I hitherto been 〈◊〉 a Bullock unaccuſtomed 〈◊〉 the Yoke. O my SAVIOUR, Turn thou me, and I ſhall be turned, For Thou art the Lord my GOD. LORD, I Repent, I Repent: 〈◊〉 aſhamed, Yes, I am Even confounded, 〈…〉 thoſe things which have been the 〈◊〉 of my Yo • th. And I hope to be delivered from them. When it is come to this, it will follow, Theſe are pleaſant Children; I will Surely have Mercy on them, Saith the Lord.

A Number of men, gathered, by the wonderful Providence of God from ſeveral Parts of the Britiſh World; From England, from Wales, from Scotland, from Ireland, from the • ſle of Ma • , from the Maſſachuſetts, (in New-England,) from Rhode-Iſland, from Connecticut, from New-York, from Penſi • vania, from 〈◊〉 form Barbadoes, Taken. By a Man of War, on June, 10th were brought into this Harbour, on June 11th. Thirty of them brought into Priſon June 1 • th (Seven more on July 11th.) One of theſe Dyed, ( 〈◊〉 on July 5th,) all the Reſt were Tryed on July 11 & 12. Eight were Cleared, TwentyEight were Found Guilty of Piracy and were Condemned to Dy; Two of there were Reprieved. Twenty ſix were Executed, This day.

While they were in Priſon, moſt of them ſeemed willing to be Adviſed, about the Affairs of their Souls. They are Adviſed to Endeavour to be ſo Affected with their Sinfulneſs and Miſery, as to Feel their Abſolute Neceſſity of an Intereſt in the Lord Jeſus Chriſt; & to ſtrive to be ſo Satisfyed about the Alſufficiency of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt & His Readineſs & Willingneſs to Receive into His Favour the Chief of Sinners; that they might be Perſwaded to commit their Souls unto His Care; And to cry Mightily unto the God of all Grace, that for the ſake of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, He would, by His Holy Spirit, make them willing to Receive Chriſt for their Saviour, as He is offered in the Goſpel And they were told, that if they did believe in the Glorious Redeemer unto the Saving of their Souls & the pardon of all their Sins; They would Love Chriſt much, & would ſhew their Love to Chriſt by ſhewing their concernment for the Salvation of the Souls of their Fellow Sinners, and would Earneſtly Deſire, that others might be brought unto Chriſt, For Salvation▪ And they would be willing to warn other Sinners to Keep clear from thoſe Paths of Deſtruction, that had brought them ſo far into Ruine. Accordingly they did, Several of them, give Solemn Warnings to others▪ and ſome Deſired, that their Awful Warnings might be Publiſhed unto the World, for the Glory of God. Some of their Affecting Admonitions may be mentioned: One, with his own Hand Wrote the Following Expreſſions.

Another had theſe following things written from his Mouth,

Another of theſe Criminals, gave theſe following Admonitions for the Benefit of Survivors:

On the Day before they were Executed, Letters were Wrote for divers of them, to ſome or other of their Relations, in which they deſired ſuch Paſſages as here follow, might be inſerted:

ONE of them in a Letter to his Brother, ſays, I earneſtly intreat you, Dear Brother, to bring up your Children in the Fear of Almighty GOD: And having deſired him to write to his Wife, & Children, having four of them, he adds, I pray God to be a Husband to my dear Wife, and a Father to my dear Children; & that ſhe may bring them up in the Fear of GOD; and that ſhe & they together may be for ever happy in Heaven, I adviſe your Children (Dear Brother) & Charge, my own dear Children, • ot to go aſtray from God or lead a wicked Life, at many have done, & I my ſelf.

Another in a Letter to his Brother ſays, I intreat you & all other Young People, to avoid all bad Courſes, eſpecially neglecting Prayer to God, Prophane Swearing & Curſing, Hard-Drinking, & Sabbath-Breaking. I 〈◊〉 not without Hopes, that after all I ſhall enter into a happy State at Death for the ſake of Chriſt. Don't you however delay from Time to Time, to turn to God and get fit to Dye.

A Third in a Letter to his 〈◊〉 ſays, I earneſtly deſire you to bring up your Children in the Fear of God, that they mayn't go aſtray from Him as I have done: I pray God that my Dear Fr • ther (meaning his Siſter's Husband) who goes to Sea, may be Preſerved from falling into the Hands of the Pirates; and that if he does fall into their Hands, he may have Grace, to overcome all their Temptations to be one of their Number, be they never ſo great. I muſt thank my ſelf for it, that I am brought to this untimely diſmal End. I beg that it may be a Warning to all Young People to keep themſelves from all Bad Courſes eſpecially from Sabbath-Breaking, Drinking to Exceſs, and Blaſpheming the Name of God. And I beſeech all that are Servants, to keep with, and be faithful to their Maſters; for if I had been Dutiful to mine, 'tis likely, I had not been brought to the untimely End, which 〈◊〉 am now come to.

A Letter of another to his Father has theſe Paſſages in it: Pleaſe to remember my Love to my Brother & Sisters, and let my Brother know, that I earneſtly deſire, he will bring up hi • Children in the Fear of God. And I would have my Uncles & Aunts Warn their Children, againſt all Sin, eſpecially the Sin of Sabbath-Breaking, leſt it bring them to Ruin as it has done me.

Another in a Letter to his Mother, Addreſſes her thus: The News of my being under a Sentence of Death, I believe is very ſinking & dreadful to you. I pray that God will ſupport you under your Sorrows & ſanctify them to you. I hope I ſhall receive from GOD the Pardon of all my Sins, for the ſake of His dear SON and the only SAVIOUR of Sinners. I pray GOD to help me to believe in Chriſt, Repent of all my Sins & fit for Death. I am ſorry to think, that I was ſo circumſtanced while among the Pirates, as to want the Opportunities which I had before, of Benefitting my Soul, & fitting for Eternity. And in a Letter to his Brother, He thus beſpeaks him, I earneſtly beſeech you to ſeek the Lord for your ſelf & yours, while He may be found. Don't regl • ct to bring your Children up in the Fear of God. I hope you will as far as you can, & may, keep them from going to Sea. Let them take Warning by me not to go aſtray from God while Young. Let my Death ſtir you up to make your Peace with God, & fit for your own Death without Delay. I hope you will take the beſt Care you can, of our Aged Mother while ſhe is Living, and at her Death.

Fitz-Gerrald put this Paper into the ſame Hands, on the Day of his Execution.

Another Deſired, That Maſters would not be Harſh & Severe to their Servants, & that Servants would be Dutiful to their Maſters, and Diligent in their Buſineſs. Another Deſired, That Parents, would be Careful, To bring up their Children well, & that Children would not Grieve, nor Sinfully leave their Parents. Divers of them lamented their Diſobedience to their Parents, & their Prophanation of the Name, Day and Word of God & their ungodly company Keeping; & warned Young People, To Keep clear from thoſe Crimes. The moſt of them could Acknowledge, That they had Lived ſome Part of their Time, under the Means of Grace: And they did not Accept the Offers of Chriſt, And God left them to Leave Him, and get Abroad into the wild World, and then they Quickly got into the High Road to Wickedneſs and Miſery, and were guilty of Grievous and Various Violations of all the Holy Commandments of God, They Ran as far as they could from God, and ſtrove as far as they could, To Keep all Thoughts of God out of their Minds: They caſt off Fear & Reſtrained Prayer before God: They Blaſphemed His Name and Prophaned His Day; ſo that ſome of them ſcarce new when it was the LordsDay, (while they were one the Seas:) They Ran away, ſome of them, from their Parents. They gave up themſelves, To Drunkenneſs, Uncleanneſs, Diſhoneſty, Evil Speaking and Covetouſneſs. And the moſt ſeemed to have no Thought of Returning from their wicked Courſes.

Thus Far had they gone from God! But when they were brought into Priſon, They Quickly ſeemed Thankful to God, for His Mercy in bringing them thither. And they ſet and kept up ſomething of Daily Religion, for the moſt Part, among them and ſeemed Serious and Reverent, while Reading and Hearing their Prayers, and the Holy Scriptures, & the moſt Awakening Books of Piety, and Singing Pſalms; And were Thankful for the counſels that were offered, and very Deſirous of the continuance of all Advantages, that could be Afforded, as long as they could be continued. And wiſhed that they had ſpent their Paſt and Loſt Time, as they had ſpent ſome of their laſt Days, And wiſhed for more Time, and Feared that they ſhould not have Enough Time, To ſecure the welfare of their Souls. But ſeemed willing, to ſubmit into the Divine Will, Trying to Hope in the Mercy of God, & Reſign their Souls into the Merciful Hands of the Almighty Saviour. So it was with ſeveral of them, tho' all of them did not ſeem always alike Affected and Concerned. Never was there a more Doleful Sight, in all this Land, than while they were ſtanding on the Stage, waiting for the ſtopping of their Breath, and the Flying of their Souls into the Eternal World; And Oh! How Awful the Noiſe of their Dying Moans! But they are Gone! Where be they? That None of their Surviving Friends may be overwhelmed with Irregular and Immoderate Grief, and that no Others may be Hardened in their Impenitence, Why may it not, on this Occaſion be conſidered, That Though True Repentance be Never Too Late, If it be True & Rea • Repentance, Yet Late Repentance i • ſo ſeldom True, and commonly to be Suſpected, Unleſs there be Remarkable Evidences of the Sincerity of it. But if they Sincerely Repented of all their Sins, Believing in the Lord JESUS CHRIST, with all their Hearts, At the laſt, They are Now Bleſſed.

But if all People, and Eſpecially Young People, in this Land, are not, by th • ſe Tremendous Diſpenſations of God, Excited unto 〈◊〉 Endeavours, To make Haſte and make Sure, about Giving themſelves unto the REDEEMER of Souls, and Striving to Live as Recom • s them that are given to the LORD GOD; What Dreadful Things may be ſpeedily Expected?