who confesseth and forsaketh his Sins shall find Mercy, but whosoever doth otherwise shall not; he peremptorily refus'd to comply, and said, Do not insist upon this, for it is what I will not do. He own'd indeed that he knock'd the Man down; but he said he struck him first with an Iron Rod he had in his Hand. He deny'd that he took the Coat, and reflected on some of the Witnesses, alledging that they knew nothing of the matter, but he freely forgave them. When nothing more could be got from him, I exhorted him to prepare for Death, desired him to pray for Faith in Jesus Christ, and a sincere Repentance towards God; he said, that what I press'd upon him was his only business, and he hop'd to do it well. He complain'd of the ignominious Death he was to suffer, otherwise, he said, that he was no ways afraid to die; I told him, that he need not be offended at it, for if he died a true Penitent, and in the Faith of Jesus, he suffer'd in the same manner (although not for the like cause) as our Lord Jesus did for our Sins. He wou'd neither deny nor confess any intentions of robbing the Man in Stepney Fields , or if he intended to follow such a wicked course of Life, as that of Robbery. He would not acknowledge himself guilty of any heinous Sins, but that sometimes he had been guilty of Drinking too much, and not rightly observing the Lord's Day; for (said he) the Gardiners commonly gather and make ready their Herbs and Fruits on Sunday for Sale against Monday. He seem'd to be very obstinate and obdurate, yet he fell out into a flood of Tears on a sudden, which I wish'd might rather proceed from a true sorrow and grief for his Sins, than from the fears and apprehensions of Death. He said, that he was of the Communion of the Church of England, that he died in Peace with all the World, freely forgiving every Man who had offended him, as one condition, upon which he hop'd Forgiveness from Almighty God.

The Evening before they died, I asked Mr. Austin again, if he had knock'd down the Man with an intention of robbing him? After I had represented to him the evil of Dissimulation, and how unprofitable it was, especially for a Man in his Circumstances, and that he could not die with Peace in his own Mind, nor in the Peace of the Church, of which he own'd himself an unworthy Member, unless he freely confess'd his Sin, and gave glory to God; he then ingenuously confess'd that he went to the Fields with intention of Robbing, that he took the Club out of his own House, it having been one of the Instruments used by his Wife, in her Business, who is a Silk-Throwster. He said that he was in a very good way of living, having been married with a dutiful, industrious Woman; but that for sometime past he had been discontented, and in some manner distracted in Mind. I exhorted him to compose himself, and think seriously upon another World, &c. He said, his Sins had not been so great as those of many others; he beg'd Pardon of all the World for the offence he had given, and hop'd to be sav'd thro' the Merits of Jesus Christ. He seem'd much concern'd for the disgrace his ignominious Death should prove to his nearest Relations, who were People of an honest Character and Respect; otherwise he hop'd, that (by the Grace of God) he should die better prepar'd, than if his Death had been natural. He appear'd to be concern'd, broken hearted, and truly penitent for all the heinous Sins of his Life, especially the outragious Crime for which he Suffer'd. He alledg'd, that his beating and robbing the Man was his first and last attempt of that nature; and declar'd that he died in Peace with all Mankind.

John Foster< no role > was found Guilty by the Jury, for breaking and robbing the House of Captain Tolson in the Night-time, of fine Linnen, and other Goods, to a considerable value.

John Foster< no role > (37 Years of Age) was born near to London , of honest Parents, who gave him Education suitable to his Station, and put him to Sea , which was the Employment he chose to follow. He behav'd himself always very decently at Worship in Chappel; appear'd to be devout and penitent. When I call'd upon him to confer a little in private, he wept and shed Tears very bitterly; I desir'd him to settle his Mind, and compose himself, and to rely upon the Mercy of God in Jesus Christ; he acknowledg'd the Mercy of God to be Infinite, but was afraid that his Sins were so great, that he should never obtain Mercy and Pardon, adding, that he knew no Sin but what he had committed (except Murder.) I ask'd him, if he had been guilty of unnatural Sins? He answer'd, No. I instanc'd to him in Manasseh the wicked King of Judah; in the Apostle Paul, who had been a Blasphemer and a Persecuter; yea in those who had crucify'd the Lord of Life and Glory; all which, although they, with thousands of others, had been most notorious Offenders, yet upon their sincere repentance they obtain'd Mercy; and if he (as they did) would earnestly implore the divine Grace and Mercy, he might be assur'd of being accepted, since Mercy is God's darling Attribute, he having declar'd himself to be a God merciful and gracious, &c. with these and such like Considerations he seem'd to be satisfy'd. He confess'd that he was one of those