A True ACCOUNT of the BEHAVIOUR, CONFESSION, AND Last Dying SPEECHES Of the Criminals that were Executed at TYBURN, On Monday the 23d of October, 1693 .

ON the Lords day in the forenoon, a Sermon was preacht from the 6th Verse of the 5th Chapter of St. Paul to the Ephesians, viz. Let no men deceive you with vain words, for because of these things, the Wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience. The whole discourse was suited to the condemned Criminals for caution, not to deceive themselves with false principles of reliance on Gods mercy, and a Death-bed Repentance, which is seldom sincere. The Nature of Sin demeriting Gods wrath was stated in its aggravations, and directions given how to avoid it.

In the Afternoon a Sermon was preacht on the 21st Verse of the 1st Chapter of St. Pauls Epistle to the Colossians, from these words, And you who were sometimes alienated, and Enemies in your minds by wicked works, yet, Now hath he reconciled.

Herein is set forth mans deplorable and desperate estate by his wilful Apostacy from God, the Fountain of Holiness and Blessedness. He is not only alienated and set at a distance from him, as having utterly lost all Friendship and Communion with him, but also is degenerated into a state of enmity against him.

The chief faculty of mans soul corrupted by sin, is the Mind as filled with groundless, yet strong prejudices, against Gods holy nature: Hence it is always plotting of Rebellion against him. The strong holds whereon sinners fortify their enmity are Carnal Reasonings, in inventing subtile excuses to palliate and defend their malignity. Sinners put on the whole Armor of the Devil, that they may be able to stand against the encounters of the divine Law, and the checks of their own Conscience. Yea, they grow more abounding in provocation because God is gracious and merciful.

Some are close subtile enemies, keeping secret correspondency with their Lust. Others are open profest enemies, who send defiance to Heaven; this is an ancient and inveterate enmity, as early as mans Apostacy, immediately after his Creation. It is persisted in by contumacions Resolutions, to carry the venom of malignity into the other world, unless the heart be mollified and chang'd by converting Grace.

What are the Causes of this Enmity.

1st. Low and slight apprehensions of Gods lovely and infinite Excellencies, joyn'd with a proud conceit of the creatures Self-sufficiency. 2dly. The creature attempts to make its Will of Sensuality, a law to it self, and the guide of its conversation. 3dly. Sinners encourage themselves in rebelling against their Creator, upon presumptuous hopes of escaping Gods Justice, wherein having deceived themselves, they entertain despairing thoughts, as if God were inexorable. These harden the heart against submitting to him. 4thly. Under judgments they veil their enmity, whereby it becomes more deeply rooted. 5thly. Evangelical Unbelief contemn the Willingness of God, to be reconcil'd in Christ; hence Sinners strengthen their enmity. Thus they dash themselves against the Rock of Salvation, and form out their own Shame, tho they cannot in the least disturb the Lords essential felicity.

EXHORTATION.

O stand no longer out in your enmity against God, as if it were in braveries of Spirit; consider that no man was ever so stout-hearted, as to stand before the Tribunal of God in the guilt of the least sin, unappal'd. Will ye spend upon the stock of Gods long-suffering, and take no thought of making peace with him? wilt thou dve in thine impudency and impenitency? Take heed also of presuming that thy peace is made with God, when thou didst never yet subscribe sincerely to any single leading Article of Reconciliation. Inquire whither thou didst throw down thy rebellious arms out of duty, before thou wert forc'd upon it? Didst thou submit to Gods mercy at discretion, that he should use thee, and rule thee as himself pleases? Dost thou chuse rather to dye by the hand of divine Justice, than to continue fighting against Meecy in hopes of impunity? Again, is thy desire of rceonciliation to get a discharge from going to Hell, rather than to have the love and strength of sin subdu'd, without which, there cannot be any suitableness to God, nor any friendship with him? A silent Conscience which upbraids not for sin, is not true peace with God, but rather a treacherous fore-runner of greater revolting from him. Do not think that a civil life, is the change of thine enmity with God. There may be a cessation of open hostility, and yet no true lasting Reconciliation ratify'd, and mutually exchang'd. If thou repinest at the strictness of any divine Law, or upon the advancement of thy worldly interest, canst soon retake a casheir'd lust into thy bosom, thy peace with God is only a dissembled friendship. Abstinence from sinning for a season without a gracious abhorrence, will reingratiate a Lust with greater strength of familiarity and a more close adherence.

The Conclusion was thus directed to the Condemned.

Consider that divine wrath is the certain portion of Gods enemies. This is too hot a climate for any who have a sense of sin, or love to their own peace and safey, to dwell in for a moment. The Avenger of Sin is at your back; therefore quicken your flight to Christ, as your City of Refuge: Let the fear of the divine wrath abate the esteem and rellish of all sensual pleasures. Stir up Shame, Sorrow and Indignation against your selves, for standing out against the offers of life and salvation by Christ. Neither presume by your Prayers, Tears, or any Severities of external Mortification only, to salve up all your defiances of God. There is no standing out against the Lords fiery indignation, nor any atonement of it, but only by Christs satisfaction and intercession. Fly to him therefore, as Joah to the Horns of the Altar; but then the Lord expects, that you shou'd demonstrate the loyalty of your life in universal obedience to his sacred Laws. God delights in mercy, and therefore waits your coming in, so accept the equitable and advantageous terms of peace. Think that you hear Christ pleading thus; Will you persist in your cruelty to your own Souls to crueifie me afresh, by indulging of your Lusts. Is Grace, which is so amiable for its freeness, the more despised because it is free? I have purchased more than a bare pardon for your Treason; lay down your enmity, so shall the Image of God be restored to you. Take God the Father, Son, and Holy Spiis, to be your only Lord, to rule and sanctifie you, equally as to save you. Sign and ratifie cheerfully the Articles of Faith, Love, and obedient Selfdeal. Yield to the Spirit of Christ in forming these qualifications, in order to reconciliation. Would you haye God reconciled to you, in pardoning mercy, be you as willing to be at peace with him, by the conformity of renewing Grace. Accept of the punishment of your Iniquities, and beg the sanctified improvement of them. When you are reconciled to a good opinion of Gods fatherly corrections, to prevent, or cure sin in you, this will recommend you to God, as fit objects of his love and delight Christ will present such who live up to the duties of a reconciled state, as the favourites of his Father, under the sharpest agonies of death; so that the very justice of God shall acquit them, against all the challenges of the Law; yea, Christ will in the dreadnl conflagration of the world, fill their hearts with joy unspeakable, and full of glory, as admitted to reign with him, in heavenly mansions o Blessedness to Eternity.

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

1. Thomas Percival< no role > , condemned for Clipping the current Coyn of this Nation, but Reprieved by her Majesty's Clemency. When he was first committed, he desired me to come to his Chamber, and that I would pray with him. Which I did se