Dominion of its Lusts, by his Kingly Power, otherwise a meerly pardoned Sinner, would be instated only in the half Salvation of the Gospel.

Here were stated those mistakes whereby Men presume their sins are pardoned, when they stand in full force against them.

Also signs of being truly pardoned, with its genuine Consequents and Effects. The clearest Evidence of the Remission of sins, is the grateful improvement of it, in Conformity to God's Laws, which is only the true State of Blessedness.

After this Information and Prayer, the Ordinary required an account how they had spent their Lives, and what Remarks of true Repentance they could produce.

I. Mary Sharp< no role > , Condemned for Clipping the Currant Mony of this Nation. She said, that she is a Taylorys Wife , and that she help'd him to work at his Trade; but utterly denied the Crime: I told her, that the Clippings were found in her Pocket, and how hainous a Sin it is to diminish the King's Coin, much more to deface the Image of God in a reasonable Soul. She replied, That she had not lived so strickly as she ought, for which God might justly suffer her to fall under the Sentence of Death; but that she never Clipt in her own Person, nor knew any such, otherwise she would discover them. She confest that she had been overcom with violent Passions, which caused her to utter ungodly Speeches, of which she heartily repents. Also for the Omission of her Duty to God, and the neglect of making Provision for her Soul's Happiness. She wept much, pray'd for her self fervently in my hearing, and I hope she was truly penitent.

II. Anne Butcher< no role > , Condemned for a Robbery: She was reprieved upon her being with Child, some Months since, and now ordered to suffer Death. The Respite from which produced no signs of Repentance. For, tho she denied not the Crime, yet her Heart was obdurate, so that she cared not to receive any Instruction in order to fit her for Death.

III. Elizabeth Hancock< no role > , Condemned for stealing twenty Pounds in Mony from her Master, after she was suspected for taking away a Silver Spoon. Her Husband died , as she says, six Years since; after that she lived in several Services , and never till now, did any dishonest Action. She confest, with much Grief, that she had not pray'd to God to keep her from the Wickedness of her own Heart, and therefore was overcome with this Crime: But resolved, if she might be spared, that she would amend her Life.

IV. John Johns< no role > , Condemned for Robbery on the High-way, was very obstinate, and would not give any Account of his former Life, neither shewed any signs of Remorse.

V. Humphrey Malice< no role > , Condemned for robbing on the High-way, Aged 25 Years. He was a Gardiner , but neglecting that Employment, he grew very poor, whereupon Edward Booth< no role > drew him into this Crime, for which he repents. He confest that he had slighted the observation of the Sabbath, which led him to be guilty of excessive Drinking, Swearing, and other Sins, for which he expressed Sorrow. But Edward Booth< no role > , his Companion in the Robbery, and whom he accused to his Face, to have draw him to it, was very obstinate, and regarded not a due Preparation for his Death.

VI. John Davis< no role > , Condemned for Burglary, being 18 years of Age. He denied not the Fact: He was Apprentice to a Victualer , his Master died, and then he joined with bad Company, which brought him to Robbing, Drukenness, Swearing and frequent prophaning the Sabbath. He wept much; I told him, that Tears were not a sign of true Repentance, if they proceeded meerly from Horror of Conscience; and that he had exposed himself to shame, rather than for grieving God's holy Spirit, who could only comfort him in Distress. He much lamented that he had aggravated his Crime, because he took not warning, being burnt in the hand sometime since. I hope he was penitent.

VII. Francis Bluck< no role > , Condemned for stealing a Gelding. He says that he was a Poulterer in Brook-street , that he had several times stoln Cocks and Hens to sell them in the Market. That he had been tempted three times before his Imprisonment, to poison himself, out of Horror in his Conscience for his wicked Life. He confest that he had been guilty of Uncleanness, Swearing, Drukenness, and Sabbath-breaking, but now he repents. He said, that since his Condemnation, he dream'd that an Evil Spirit came to him, and would have haled him out of his Bed: But upon praying that God would preserve him, he grew more quiet in his Mind. He wept and said, that he could not bring his Heart to be willing to forgive his Accuser. I told him, that if he persisted in his Rancor, he did not repent in Sincerity, nor could he be in any fit disposition for God's pardoning Mercy. Upon this he said, that he did forgive him, and that he was more composed in his Mind upon hopes of God's Mercy in Christ.

I Visited the Condemned every day, yet observed little Remorse in them till Thursday, when much time was spent with them to fit them for their Death. Then they grew more sensible of their sinful State, and wept, being undeceived of some hopes they fancied of a Repreive, because of the King's safe return.

I could not bring John Johns< no role > to any Confession of his Crime, nor a Discovery of any who Robbed a Goldsmith lately, to the value of 500 pounds; yet he acknowledged that he saw some of the Goods sold, but would not Discover where or to whom. I reproved him for abusing his Wife, who came in kindness to see him, for he violently took from her two Ear-rings and gave them to his Whore, which he deny'd not. I must leave him, Booth, and Adderton to the ultimate Judgment of God upon their Souls State.

This is all the Account I can give of this Session.

Samuel Smith< no role > , Ordinary.

Dated this 22d of October, 1691 .

On Friday the 23d Instant, John Johns< no role > , John Davis< no role > , Anne Butcher< no role > , and Mary Sharp< no role > , were all convey'd to Tyburn , the latter of which was drawn on a Sledge, where being brought, she was exhorted by the Ordinary to make an Ingenuous and Free Confession of the Fact for which she was Condemned; to which she answered, That she never Clipt any Coyn whatsoever; but she said, That Richard Whiting< no role > and his Wife, who were her Lodgers, were undoubtedly Guilty of Diminishing the King's Coyn, for that she had reason to suspect them, Major Whiting himself (as she call'd him) being fled for it. She prayed fervently for the Pardon of all her former sins, not denying but that she had been a great sinner, &c but would not own the Fact. After which, the Ordinary prayed with her, and then she was ty'd to the Stake, and her Body committed to the Flames

The other Three being ty'd up, were Admonished to call upon God for Pardoning Mercy, of which Pious Counsel and most seasonable Excitements, John Johns< no role > and Anne Butcher< no role > took but little notice, especially Butcher, she utterly declining all Advice, &c. But truly John Davis< no role > , the Youth, was extreamly Penitent, confessing that he had been a great sinner, though Young; and desired that all Young Men and Boys would be warned by his untimely End, &c. After which they sang a Psalm, and then were turned off.

London , Printed for Langley Curtiss< no role > at Sir Edmondbury Godfry's Head near Fleet-Bridge . 1691.