A True ACCOUNT of the BEHAVIOUR, CONFESSION, AND Last Dying SPEECHES Of the Criminals that were Executed at TYBURN,

On Wednesday the 20th of September, 1693 .

THere were fifteen Criminals condemned to dye this present Session, viz. nine Men and six Women.

On the Lords day in the forenoon, the Ordinary preach'd on Ecclesiastes 8. Ver. 11. Because Sentence against an evil work, is not speedily executed. therefore the hearts of the Children of men are set in them to do wickedly.

There were several observations raised from the beginning of the Verse, which I omit. From the latter, were stated three general heads. 1st. The difference 'twixt Sinners who are more easily recovered to Repentance, and such whose hearts are fully or desperately set in them to do wickedly.

2. The Ingredients into a desperate state in sinning.

3. The Causes of this.

4. The Cure, or Remedy. The Conclusion was directed to the condemned; but I forbear to recite it, because this short paper will not permit it.

In the Afternoon the Ordinary preach'd on the 40 Verse of the fifth Chapter of St. Johns Gospel, viz. Ye will not come to me, that you may have eternal Life.

The General Heads enlarg'd upon were these:

First, Men generally pretend an inability to come to Christ, yet the grand sin of unbelief, is justly charg'd on the obstinacy of Sinners Hearts. This was demonstrated in several instances, that men do not what they can, may, and ought in order to the implanting of Saving Faith.

Secondly, Most Persons lay many impediments in their own way, which obstruct their coming to Christ. These were discovered, and directions given how to avoid or remove them.

Thirdly, How the moral, preventing, exciting workings of Gods Spirit in tendency to saving Faith, are stopt in Hypocrites, by priding in a Self-righteousness, and not submitting to the absolute terms of universal self-denial.

Fourthly, How far men may advance toward Christ, in doing many excellent things, and suffering many severities in external forms of Religion, and yet never be prevailed upon to close with Christ, on his equitable and indispensable terms in order to eternal life.

Fifthly, Several objections which men pretend, as discouragements in coming to Christ, were refuted.

Sixthly, Hypocrites reprobate themselves from the state of Salvation, because those seeming contradictions, which carnal reason objects against believing in Christ, are the very Arguments which ought to ground and encourage our Faith in him.

Seventhly, How Christ in the day of Judgment, will stop the mouths of Hypocrites, if they dare plead, that they were desirous to believe and repent, but could not, because these Graces were not purchased for them.

Eighthly, The Character of a true Believer, in coming to Christ for eternal Life.

Ninthly, The excellency of Faiths operations in the soul, and the Blessedness which it states Believers in.

The Conclusion to the Condemned.

You have heard that spiritual and eternal Life, with all the degrees of it, are centred and secured abundantly in Christ. Yet, what a wretched contumacious Laziness hath possest your hearts. You have not put forth the least moral endeavours in the lowest degrees of coming toward Christ, instead of cherishing the sollicitations of Gods Spirit, and the convictions of Conscience, in order to the implanting of Saving Faith, you have despised and opposed the great Salvation of the Gospel; herein you have judged your selves unworthy of Eternal Life.

You have forfeited your Natural Lives by your Crimes against the Laws, as if these were a trifle, in comparison of the momentary pleasures of Sinning. How have you pursued a sinful course, as if you were covetuous of treasuring up divine wrath against your selves. How have you sunk your selves into the depths of Spiritual Death, by Rebellion against the Lord of Life and Glory!

Yet with what tender pity doth Christ invite you to come to him, that you may not dye in the contempt of the free offers of Grace and Salvation! Will ye continue Self-cruel, in rejecting eternal life, tho attainable on the most equitable terms of Selfdenial and universal obedience to Gods sacred laws.

What Spiritual Frenzy is this, that when you can no longer gratifie your lusts, yet it is to be feared that you rather chuse to cleave to these in dying, than to come to Christ, that he may quicken you by his renewing Grace.

God cannot be any loser if you perish by your own sloth and obstinacy. He this day sets Life and Death before you, will you chuse to perish, rather than come to Christ for Pardon, Sanctification, and a blessed Eternity?

O monstrous Ingratitude to Him, and affected Cruelty to your own souls! If you had rather be condemned for ever, by envying Christ to become your Saviour, than quit the vassalage of Sin and Satan!

This be sure of, that where Christ doth not set up the Throne of his Government in the Heart, he will never expiate the guilt and defilement of Sin on the Altar of his meritorious Atonement. There cannot be any safety in a state of Impenitency. Hasten therefore your coming to Christ, as your City of Refuge; present him with bleeding contrite hearts, so will he heal the corruption of your Nature, and love you freely to Eternal Life.

After the Lords day I visited the Condemned, and inquired what impressions the Sermons and Prayers had made on their hearts? They generally reply'd, That they were made sensible of their evil Lives, and hoped that they repented. Hereupon I advised them not to rely on a late slight sorrow for sin, as if this were a satisfaction to God, and could atone for the excesses of a vicious life. I added other cautions and exhortations, dismissing them with Prayer. On Wednesday, being Fast day, I excited all the Prisoners in the Gaol to Repentance and Amendment of their Lives. And afterwards, because I have observ'd many dolorous Complaints of Criminals against themselves, to vanish away, upon the hope of a Reprieve. I exhorted them to beg of God that he would carry on their Convictions to a thorough Conversion. Then I stated the difference of true Sving Faith and Repentance, from that which is false. I did some time after require an acconnt from them severally, in what preparation they were for Death and a blessed Eternity.

I shall proceed to give that Account which I received from them.

I. William Newbolt< no role > and Edward Butler< no role > , both Condemned for High Treason, in Composing and Printing Declarations, in the defence of the late King James; in which they attempted to un