A True Account of the Behaviour, Confession, and Last Dying SPEECHES, of the Criminals that were Executed at Tyburn, on Friday the 12th of July, 1695 .

THe Ordinary on the Lord's Day preacht to the Condemned Criminals from the 21st. and 22d. Verses of the 11th Chapter of St. Luke's Gospel, on these words, When the strong man armed keeps or defends his Palace, the things which he possesses are in Peace. But when a stronger than he comes upon him, and overcomes him, he takes from him all his Armour in which he trusted, and devides the Spoils.

I shall Treat on these words, under several General Heads; First, How Sinners contribute, in strengthning Satan's Tyranny over them.

1. He makes them Confident that Abstinence from some particular Sin disgusted, as procuring the smart of Punishment, or the blasting of their Credit, is the real Mortification of that Lust at the very Root of it.

2. He forms in them an impatient Rage at the proper means of dispossessing him; because these cross the Pride of their Carnal Wisdom, cut short their fleshly Liberty, superstitious Zeal, and addictedness to Formality in Religion.

3. He strengthens in them groundless Prejudices against the way of Holiness and Self-denial. It is a Pardon which the Hypocrite aims at, not a clean Heart, nor a strict Life.

4. They gratify Satan, and strengthen their Bondage, as concerning the Pride of their Hearts, in seeking Justification by a Self-righteousness. To cure this refin'd Mystery of Iniquity, the Sovereignty of God's free Grace, and the All-sufficiency of Christ's Righteousness, must be submitted unto, and rely'd upon, by the sincere Resignation of the Heart to the Discretion of Christ, to deal with the Self-abased Sinner, on Christ's own terms of Salvation.

5. Sinners draw up Pleadings for the Extenuation of their Lusts. They plead for delay in the Execution of them, yet this Repreive tends to a greater familiarity with Sin, and a seared Obduration of their Conscience.

6. Sinners plead that it is Folly and Pride, not to accommodate themselves to the Corrupt Customs of other Men, when Sin grows Epidemical and in Fashion. Thus, they have neither Will, Strength, nor Courage to cast off Satan's Yoke. He binds this upon them, as his contented Slaves, so that he fears not any mutiny to free themselves from his Tyranny. This is the Language of Satan's Sophistry, Will ye give a stab to all Mirth, by entertaining any Effeminate purpose of Repentance? Will ye break away from the Worlds soft Embraces, and prove Changlings in the profest Mysteries of Iniquity, to take up the Severities of a mortified Conversation? If there be any day of Account for all your Excesses in sinning; yet, you have time enough before you, wherein to be pensive, thereby to expiate the Guilt and Defilement of all your Sins. Satan will permit himself to be defied by Sinners, protesting against his gross works of Darkness, so he may be Deified as the Head of the Carnal State, to rule more unsuspected in the Heart. He will not oppose a Reverent Opinion of Christ, so that it never ripen into a resolute closing with him, upon the terms of Self-denial and universal Obedience to the Scepter of his Righteousness. He will for a time relax the severity of his imposed Tasks, but they must give some pledge not to quit his Service totally.

How deplorable is the misery of Sinners, who go securely to Hell, under the delusions of a false Peace? This is a pleasing Phrensy, and hardly to be cured. When Sinners make a sport of the Devil's Druggery, it is the surest pledge of their Eternal Ruin. Then only is Satan dispossest, when the Pride of Carnal Wisdom, the stubbornness of the depraved Will, and the Exorbitancy of wild Affections in sinning are mortified by the Power of Chist's Death, and the lovely Beauty of a Crucified Jesus.

How doth Christ bind Satan and unbind the Sinner, he takes off all Prejudices against Himself and the ways of Righteousness. He Convinces the Sinner of the Equity and Excellency of his Government. The Eternal Word of the Father, being made Flesh, overcame the Devil by a word in the Flesh. No sooner, said Christ, to the unclean Spirit, Come forth, but he presently resign'd up his Possession. Satan was more surely and shamefully conquer'd, while he less suspected, but despised the Omnipotency of his Antagonist, vail'd under the Infirmity of Humane Nature. Christ came upon Satan to bind and overcome Him, when he presum'd that he had obtain'd an Empire over the greatest part of Mankind, who were his Tame Slaves, yet Projectors of prodigious Wickedness. By the sufferings of Christ's Flesh on the Cross, He adjudg'd Satan to be smitten to death, when the Malice of this inveterate Serpent, most shot out it self at length. It is therefore great Ingratitude, Rebellion and Self-cruelty, not to surrender the Heart at Christ's summons.

Here were described the Properties of such out of whose Hearts Satan is ejected, and in whom Christ reigns by the Spirit of Santification. They will justify Christ's ways of Righteousness, and promote the Exercise of those Virtues which adorn the Profession of Christianity. They will not be discontented, that their design in any unlawful way is blasted, by falling under the restraint of the severest Affliction. They cancil and make void their Indentures of Service to Satan and set their Seal of Approbation, to fulfil the Laws of Holiness. The sincerity of your Repentance and hatred of Sin, is declared by seeking the utter Extirpation of every Lust, tho' the power and love of it be subdued. They so destroy the works of the Devil, that they grow up to a considerable strength of Consistency and Activity in a Course of Holiness.

The Conclusion was thus directed to the Condemned.

How unable are you, from a confirm'd Custom in sinning, to break out of the snare of Impenitency, and a stupid Lethargy in Conscience? It is impossible, by a slight crazy Repentance, to abandon all the deliberate Artifices and presumptuous Accomplishments of Sinning. Do not stout it out any longer against all the offers of Peace by Christ, least He storm you into utter Ruin by his severest Indignation. Throw down rather the Weapons of your Unrighteousness, your Pride and Carnal Confidence, that tho' you stand out against Christ's Summons till death, yet you may make easie Terms to obtain your Pardon and Reconciliation with God. Such trifling with the offers of Peace and Salvation by Christ, may gradually so harden your Hearts, that you may resolve to dye fighting against God, as under the despair of Mercy; prosecute your Warfare against Sin and Satan with a deadly Enmity, not to be appeased. Continue in a right posture of Soul, to conquer Satan. Set God before you, as your Invincible Guardian. Keep the World under your feet in a resolute Contempt of it. Let Grace be active within you, and the prospect of Glory be alway in your Eye; Then you shall break thorough all Temptations to Sinning, with an undaunted Faith. Be thankful for the least degree of conquest and persue it, as a pledge of future Triumph, in a total abolishing the Works of Sin and Satan. For your Encouragement herein, Christ will force Satan to leave behind him the Remarks of shameful Triumph over him. He shall not recover his Usurpation, but with the utmost Consternation shall despair of Re-possessing the Hearts of Christ's Converted Loyal Subjects.

They shall grow Impregnable by the Power of Christ, who will strengthen their Graces by constant Conflicts with the Prince of Darkness, and the remainers of a depraved Nature, till they lodge the Ensigns of their compleat Victory, in the Celestial Sanctuary of the God of Glory.

I proceed to give an Account of the Behavior, and Confessions of the Condemned Criminals.

1. John Moore< no role > , condemned for High Treason, in forging and stamping one Piece of false Gold, in the likeness of a Guinea, and one other piece of Counterfeit Silver, in the likeness of a Shilling. He is 45 years of Age; he said that he was born of Honest Parents: That his Father at the time of his Death left 500 l. to bring him up; But the whole Sum was lost by placing it in the hands of such who fail'd and run-out their own Estate. Then he was forc'd to serve a Farrier eight Years, whose Wife dealt in a Tripe-Trade, which he more regarded to get an insight into than in the Employment which his Master follow'd. After eight Years Service he assisted his Mistress in the Tripe-Trade , but some Person undermining him in the Employment, expos'd him to shift for himself, in some other way. He said that he was put to streights for a Livelihood, being Married, so that to support himself and his Wife, he cry'd Faggots Five for Six-pence, by which he got Twelve Shillings every Week. By his Industry, with his Wife's help, he laid up Mony; for he lived frugally, having been accustomed so to do from his Youth; for he never spent Two-pence till Eighteen years of Age, in any Ale-house. After some Mony gotten by his Industry, he purchased an Horse and Cart, and sold Faggots very plentifully; Then he purchased an House, in which he dwelt, part of which, he rented out to one whose name was Chapman, who, he said, accused him of the Crime of Clipping and Coining. Being about making an appeal to