A True ACCOUNT of the BEHAVIOUR, CONFSSION, AND Last Dying SPEECHES Of the Criminals that were Executed at TYBURN, On Friday the 27th of January, 1692/1693

ON Thursday the 19th of January , Ten Criminals received the Sentence of Death. On Friday and Saturday the Ordinary visited them, and endeavoured to make them sensible of their several Crimes. After several Exhortations and Prayer, they were dismiss'd, with importuning them to prepare for the Duties of the ensuing Lord's Day.

In the Forenoon was a Sermon preach'd on this Text, viz. Luk. 15. 7. I say unto you likewise, that there is more Joy in Heaven over one Sinner who repents, than over Ninety nine Just Persons who need no Repentance.

The several Parts of the Text were Explicated.

First, Who are meant by Sinners; viz. Such who are publickly notorious before Men; in whom a publick Recantation is requisite.

Secondly, By Just Persons, are meant, Secret Sinners, known only to God and their own Consciences. These need not such eminent Degrees of Repentance as the former. For there are none so just, as to be altogether without Sin; nor is any Sin so little, and inconsiderable, as to need no Repentance.

Thirdly, By Joy in Heaven, is meant, How pleasing it will be to God, and the blessed Society there, to observe Repentance in notorious Sinners. Yea, They rejoyce more in the Conversion of such, than over Ninety nine such just Persons who need no such Degrees of Repentance. The Reason is, because the Repentance of gross, prodigious Sinners sets an holy Example before others, to encourage their Hope in Divine Mercy, and to invite them to a sincere Conversion.

Then was opened the Nature of true Repentance, in six gradual Parts. First, Conviction of Sin, which finds out the Disease. Secondly, Confession to God and Men, of the Injuries against both. This seeks the Remedy. Thirdly, Contrition, which evinces and demonstrates the Sincerity of both the former. Fourthly, Faith in applying of the Medicine. Fifthly, Reformation, which advances the Cure. Sixthly, Charity, which compleats and perfects it.

In the Afternoon was a Sermon preach'd on 2 Pet. 1. 10. Wherefore, the rather, Brethren, give diligence to make your Calling and Election sure; for if you do these things, ye shall never fall.

The Conclusion of which Discourse was thus directed to the Condemned.

And now a few Words to you condemned Persons. How ought you especially to give all Diligence to make your Calling and Election sure, to secure an Interest in Eternal Life and Glory! You who have a great and difficult Work of Conversion to undertake, and go through with, and but a little, a very little Time and Season to effect it in. How ought your late Return unto God to quicken so much the more your Pace in holy Performances! You have the whole Course of an evil Life to unravel, to repent of, and reform: You have wicked Habits and Customs of Sinning to be sorry for, to get your Minds alienated from, to break off, and in full Purpose of Heart to relinquish, before you can have any well-grounded Hopes of Mercy and Forgiveness at God Almighty's Hands. And can you think this Change of your habitually corrupt and wicked Dispositions of Soul an easie Task, a soon accomplish'd Labour? Deceive not your selves: A sincere, thorough Conversion, a Godly Sorrow for Sin, such as worketh Repentance unto Life, never to be repented of, is much more than a few Sighs and Tears, and Implorations of Divine Mercy. It imports, besides this, all the Pangs and Agonies of a Second Birth, of a Renewed, Regenerated Nature. It implies a Broken and a Contrite Heart; an Heart pierced thorough with a sorrowful Sense of its vile Disingenuity and Ingratitude, in having grieved and offended that infinitely good God, who from time to time waited to be gracious unto the persevering Sinner; and strove by his Goodness, to lead him to Repentance. In short, Repentance implies as great Dislike, and Hatred, and fix'd Resolution against Sin, as ever was formerly the Affection and Settlement of our Hearts upon it.

Repent you then truly and earnestly of your Sins: Have a lively and stedfast Faith in the Merits of Christ Jesus: Be free and ingenuous in the Confession of your Impieties: Humbly and importunately beg Pardon of them from God Almighty: Resolve unfeignedly to lead a new Life, could your Lives be continued unto you: Do what you can to undo the sinful Miscarriages of your past Conversation, by opposite Acts of Piety and Goodness: Be more sollicitous for the procuring your Pardon seal'd in Heaven, than for your Temporal Acquitment on Earth: Spend all your remaining Hours to the best Purposes: Spend them all in Self-Examination, in holy Reading, Meditation and Prayer: Let no Company, no former Acquaintance, hinder and divert you from your Preparations for a Blessed Eternity: Repent you, not only of Personal Sins, but also of other Men's; which you have been accessory unto, through an evil Example: Make all imaginable Reparation and Restitution of Goods unjustly taken from their Right Owners: Ask Forgiveness of those you have injur'd and offended, and die in Charity: Forgive from the very Bottom of your Hearts, as you expect Forgiveness from your Divine Judge and Sentencer: Become Paterns of sincere Conversion, in making a penitent and holy End, as formerly you have been Examples of wicked and profligate Living: Warn others from those evil Courses which have brought you to this deserved Punishment: Cast your selves wholly upon God's Mercies, and his Son's Merits, for Salvation: So shall you die the Death of the Righteous, and your Latter End shall be like his.

I proceed to give an Account of the Behaviour and Confession of the Condemned Criminals.

I. James Whitney< no role > This name instance is in set 2336. , Condemned for Robbing on the Highways. He said, That he was born in Hertfordshire ; aged upward of 30 Years: His Employment was, to buy and kill Cattle to sell in the Markets . He declared that he had sinned against clear Light, and the strong Convictions of his own Conscience; which aggravated his sinful Course of Life. He confessed that he had been guilty of many Robberies, yet that he never killed any Person; and that he did refrain from wounding any Man, left he should die of his Wounds: And much lamented the wounding of a Person at his Apprehension. He was very willing to receive good Instruction, and to joyn in Prayer for the producing in him a fit Preparation for his Death. He came to the Chapel twice on the Lord's Day, and there behaved himself with great Devotion and Contrition, standing up with Attention throughout the whole Services of the Day: Taking publick Shame to himself for all the great Misrriages of his Life, shedding many Tears.