Thus, tho the Lord bring every Sessions his Judgment to Light, yet the Prophane know no Shame. Tho he give them a space for Repentance, yet they make their Repenting time an occasion perversely to abuse the Long-suffering of God; stifling not only the convictions of an awakned Conscience, but violating all Vows and resolutions of Reformation, if they obtain sparing Mercy.

To convince them of so great a presumption, the Minister, in the Forenoon of the Lords Day, Preach?d on this Text, the 2d. of the Revelation of St. John and the 21 ver viz. I gave her a space to Repent in, yet she Repented not. On which Words many Arguments were used, to excite the Condemned Criminals, to improve their short time in this Life, in order to a Blessed Eternity; otherwise they would Aggravate and bind on the guilt of all their Sins, by an inexcusable Presumption

In the Afternoon of the Lords-day there was another sermon Preach?d on the 14th ver. of the 5th Chap. to the Ephestans, viz. Awake thou that Sleepest, and arise from the Dead, and Christ shall give thee Light. The Prisoners seemed more Affected with their sinful State than they did in the Forenoon, and some of them were very desirous that they might be Visited on the Monday, so they were. After Prayer for them, by an earnest Exhorration they were desired to give Glory to God, and satisfaction to those whom they had Wronged, by a free and full Acknowledgment thereof; and that without Confession of their Crimes, and those sinful Courses which led them to them, they could not be accounted real Penitentiaries.

Some were very much desired to unburthen their Consciences as aforesaid; yet could not be prevailed with to declare what Employment they followed, before they betook themselves to an Idle course, or were drawn away by bad Counsel: Yet they were Obstinate and would not give any ingenuous Account of themselves; so that their seeming Relenting on the Lordsday, was in a manner quite Vanished, to the great discouragement of future Ministereal Endeavours, to prepare them for an happy departure out of this Life.

Yet the Minister appointed (who had a tender consideration of the worth of their Souls, and that it is his Duty to instruct with Meekness, even those who oppose themselves,) was not tired out by their present Pevishnesses; but renewed his earnest Prayer and Exhortations, that the Lord would turn them from Darkness to Lights; and that by the powerful convictions of his Spirit, they might be brought to Repentance, and so escape that Wrath which will otherwise be ever pouring out on all obstinate Sinners.

They were Visited again, (tho with small hope to prevail with them) because they generally had hopes of a Reprieval: And altho there was no ground for it besides their own fond love of Natural Life, and the slavish fear of Death, yet they usually delay to make any Acknowledgment of the Crime they are condemned for, but utterly to stand out in a denial of it, till the day of their Execution appears; and then they say, Horrour over whelms them, because they have dallied with God, and they are not in a fit temper or preparation for Death.

The Ordinary desires that this may be observed by all such who defer their Repentance, till they are upon the very precipice of Desparation, then they be Lock?d up in a state of total Unbelief and obduration of Heart.

Many Arguments were urg?d upon them, that they would fly from the Wrath to come, by delaying no longer; to consider their Ways, and turn to the Lord while there is any hope of Divine Mercy, and a striving with them by the Spirit of Christ, to overcome their stubbornness with his Goodness. Upon this they were more Awakned in the general, and confess?d they had been great Sinners,; but very sparing to declare in what particulars. He who was condemned for Murder, declared that his passion was raised to a great degree of Fury. He denied not the fact of Killing the Person, yet he somwhat extenuated the Crime, saying he had no prepensate Malice in it.

He was exhorted to deal clearly in the Cafe, as he would answer the truth of his Repentance, before the searcher of every Heart; And being told how great a Soulhardning Sin Murder is, he replied, that he hoped the Lord would make him so sensible of all his Vicious course of Life, that he should be wash?d clean from the Guilt and defilement thereof, through the Infinite Mercy of God, and the Meritori