X. The excellency of Faith in Christ, both in respect of its high acceptation with God, its prevalency with Him, together with the Beneficialness and comfortableness of it to our selves.

Lastly, The Application of the whole Discourse to the condemned Criminals.

1st. John Culverwell< no role > , of the Parish of St. Sepulchres , Condemned for stealing one black Mare, value 6 l. 2s. 6d from Mr. John Howard< no role > on the 29th. day of October last past. He is Aged 17 Years, or thereabouts, Born at Huntspill in Somersetshire . His Employment formerly was Husbandry : But (as he said) work not coming in, to his desire, he came to London , and there put himself an Apprentice to one Mr. Simmonds, a Lighter Man in Brooks-street near Queen-Hith , after whose decease, he was turned over to Richard Brooks< no role > of the same Employment. He left the Service of his last Master, out of a giddy Humour and forwardness of Spirit; afterward being in want, he went into the Country to visit his Mother, who relieved him with Money. Upon this, he returned to London , but fell into bad Acquaintance, so having spent the Money aforesaid he adventured to steal the Mare, and Sold it to an Horse-Courser, after which he was seized on by the owner of the Mare. He doth not deny the Fact, but told the Ordinary, that he must not expect any longer Account from him, of his fitness to dye, because he was an ignorant person in the matters of Religion. The Ordinary replyed, that ignorance was no Excuse, either for his sins, or for want of being duly sensible of them. Persons who have no mind to know their duty, are usually as unwilling to perform it. Yea, many hate the Light, Because their Deeds are Evil, and themselves loth to come under any Conviction of their wicked Courses. To this he answered, that he had led an ill Life, that the did on the Week Day, sometimes drink in excess, and was Guilty of Cursing, but not much used to it yet; he now prays that God would pardon his many sins in his great Mercy. I found him ignorant, who Christ was, and what his undertaking is, to work out Mans Redemption; also, what true Faith and Repentance are; therefore I took time to instruct him, and to make him sensible of his Misery, without an interest in Christ and unrules, he be made a new Creature in him. He said if he might escape Death at this time he hoped that he should Reform his Life, and not Commit any Crime, to bring himself into Prison again. This is all the Account which I could get from him.

2dly. James Deale< no role > alias Reynolds< no role > , was Condemned for breaking the House of Thomas Harrison Esq< no role > ; on the 28th. of October last past, He is Aged 17 Years, was Born in St. Andrews Parish in Holbourn : He was put forth an Apprentice to a Butcher , who, (as himself said) was too severe to him, so he left his Service. I told him that his Duty was, to have continued with him, and to have express?d all good Behaviour, notwithstanding his Masters Morose Disposition, and that the forsaking his Service, had exposed him to Idleness, which is the Devils Pillow, on which, he suggests all his Temptations, till he prevail with persons wanting Employment, to join themselves to bad Company. He could not deny this in his own Case, for he said that he had been in Newgate formerly, for the space of 14 Weeks. After his Releasement thence, he went to his Friends who look?d angerly upon him; so being in want, he Committed this Crime, for Which he is Condemned. He Confess?d he did not keep the Sabbath, which drew on the Guilt of many more sins, and did not deny but he had been unchast. He gave some tollerable Account of his Christian Belief, yet profess?d that he was sorry that he had not lived up to his Knowledge. He was not willing to discourse more concerning his preparation for Death, and the Hopes of a Blessed State after it, because he told me that he had a Reprieve: I replyed that this ought to make him more penitent and willing to be instructed, how to improve so great a Mercy. Upon this he desired my Prayers, that God would make him express his Thankfulness, in taking warning by his present escaping death, to amend his Life, and nothing more.

Jonathan Parsons< no role > , Condemned for four Burglarys, is Aged 40 Years. He was Born of credible Parents as he said. He was put Apprentice to a Broad-Weaver , and set up that Trade upon his own Account, which he followed for many Years, and said that he lived comfortably upon it, so that he payed sometimes 30 l. sometimes 40 l. per the Week to Journeymen and others helpful in his Employment; that at last, Gods Providence frowned on him, and he susteined many losses in Trading, and grew deep in Debt. His Relations he said were persons of Estate, yet deserted him in Adversity. After he obtained his Liberty, his Creditors being compassionate toward him, he wanted Employment, and despairing of a Subsistence to his Mind, he fell into bad Company, and by degrees took a course of stealing; for which, he received lately a Mark of Infamy in his Hand.

He Confess'd that the Lord is Righteous, in permitting him to fall now into the Snares of Death, because he took no warning by a more Gentle Punishment. I found him every day improving in his Preparation for death, and bewailing with Tears the vileness of his Corrupt Nature, as breaking forth into so many Repeated Crimes, that he says, if such a sinner as he be saved, it will be a Miracle of Mercy from God. It much troubles him that his Return to him is so late, and that be hath presumed upon so much Divine Patience extended to him. Yet he said that the Lord is not Limited in his time, and manner of working Grace in the Heart. Therefore he is not out of Hope that he will yet accept him in Christ upon Free Grace, framing him to Re