bitter to him; And Oh! (says he) that God would but lend a merciful Ear to my sad Moans, and grant me the pardon of all my Sins! He said he flung himself upon God's infinite Mercies, and though he sometimes despair'd of ever finding Favour with God, because his Transgressions were so great, and of such heinous a Nature; yet at other times he felt some refreshing hopes of being delivered from the heavy Load of his Sins, through the Merits of Christ; saying that he was grieved at his very Heart, that he had ever offended his heavenly Father, and hoped that this grief that he felt, and his abhorrence of his past Life, and earnest desires of returning to God with true purposes of Amendment, would find acceptance, and prevent his falling under the Eternal Wrath of God. Thus he appeared to have a just sense of his Spiritual Miseries, and most bitterly lamented the sad Condition which Sin had brought him into. Not that he carr'd for this Life, or was afraid of losing it; for he was not (as he said) unwilling to lay it down, being he had forfeited it to Justice: But his fear, yea the great terrour that was now upon him (and returned ever and anon, notwithstanding his hopes in Christ's Merits) was this, that if God would not accept of his late and forced Repentance; O what should become of him! And hereupon he advised all other Sinners, now to leave off their Evil Courses, before it be too late, that they may avoid the Miseries that otherwise will certainly ensue. Besides the Crime for which he was Condemn'd, (which was Felony and Burglary) he ingenuously confessed he was Guilty of another Robbery by him before committed; but said he had not long followed this Trade, neither did he know above two or three Persons ingaged in this Course, whom he earnestly pray'd to desist from it, and to lead a better Life. He added, that he heartily wished he could make full amends and satisfaction to whomsoever he had any ways wrong'd or injur'd. He humbly begg'd their Pardon, and prayed to God for them. He declared he dy'd in Charity with all the World.

When he was carried to the Tree, he behaved himself both on the way, and there, as a dying Man ought to do, and as one that was truly sensible of his Condition; shewing a great Dejection and Sorrow for his Crimes, and earnestly imploring God's Pardon for them, and for all and every thing wherein he had done amiss. He again with Grief confessed, that he had committed the greatest lewdness and folly, and all manner of Sins; Murther only excepted. For he had many and many ways dishonour'd God, and his holy Religion; had been disobedient to his Parents, and often trespassed against his Neighbour; that he had refused to receive Correction, and would not take warning by former Chastisements, and be reclaimed from his Evil ways. So that he acknowledg'd, that unless God was infinitely merciful to him, he was undone and damn'd to all Eternity; and that if he were punished as he deserv'd, there was no Mercy for him to hope for. Yet he trusted in the Merits of his Saviour, and hoped that all his heinous Sins would be washed away in that most precious Blood which was shed for penitent Sinners. And herein he now expressed a greater and more uninterrupted Confidence than before: Greater indeed (I fear) thn other Offenders may justly have, who will not take Warning by this fresh Judgment of God upon bold and rash Sinners; which Judgment they have now set before their Eyes, for the awakening of them from Sin unto Righteousness. He wish'd that all Transgressors would timely repent, and so prevent their own Ruin in this World, and eternal Punishment in the next. He desired all good People to pray for him, that God would be merciful to his poor Soul; and admonished all about him, and all others, far and near, especially Young-men, that they would take due Warning by his Fall, and carefully avoid the grievous Sins of Drunkenness and Debauchery, going after strange Women, Cursing, Swearing, Sabbath-breaking, and the like; all which himself (to his unspeakable trouble) had been Guilty of, and which had now deservedly brought him (a young Man that he was) to this his sad and shameful (and withal frightful) Untimely End. He joyn'd with me in Prayer, and that (in all outward appearance) with great affection and Devotion: And as he had before declared to me, that he would dye in the Protestant Religion, into which he was Baptiz'd; so having now repeated the Apostles Creed he said, that was his Faith; and he hop'd for that Forgivness of Sins, and Life Everlasting, which he professed to believe. He sung after me a penitential Psalm: And when this was done, I did again pray with him and for him. Then I gave him my Blessing, and heartily recommended him to the boundless Mercy of our God. After this I left him to his own private Devotions (for which he had time allowed him) and just before the Cart drew away, and he was turn'd off, he mightily called upon God for Mercy, in these and the like Ejaculations. Lord have Marcy upon me a great Sinner! Lord forgive all my Sins! Lord take pity of my poor Soul! I am undone, undone, without thy Mercy! Lord open thy Gate unto me! I come, Lord, I come, I come. Oh! let me enter in. Lord Jesus, receive my Spirit!

Robert Johnson< no role > having unhappily fallen into bad Company, that had brought him into the Commission of an heinous-Fact; received also Sentence of Death with John Shears< no role > . But in regard that it was his first Offence, and he was drawn into it against his Will, he has obtained his Majesty's most gracious Reprieve. He seems to be a poor innocent Person, and shews great Signs of Repentance: God grant that it may be sincere, and that both he, and all other Sinners, may resolve upon a new Life, and have Grace to shun the Paths of Wickedness, that tend to Shame and Destruction; and walk in the ways of God's Commandments, which will afford them present Comfort, and bring them at last into unspeakable Pleasures, and Life for evermore.

This is all the Account, which can be given of this Sessions, by

Paul Lorrain< no role > , Ordinary .

WHereas a certain Book, now lately publish'd, (said to be Printed for E. Hawkins near Fleet-bridge) under the Title of A Sermon preach'd last Sunday by the Ordinary of Newgate before Capt. Kidd and other Prisoners there; These are to give notice, that the said pretended Sermon is a Sham-Paper, having little or nothing on it (besides the Text) of what was there deliver'd in the Pulpit.

ADVERTISEMENTS.

ADvice to the Sceptick, (and Comfort to the Christian.) With a Request that he look not on it as Visionary. Of the Immortality of the Soul, and the Life to come; the Existence of the One, and the certainty of the Other; Is here Asserted, Vindicated, and Prov'd, in opposition to Atheistical Principles. Sold by G. H. next the Golden-Still in Church-street, near St. Anns Church, where they may be had in Quires, and by Benj. Barker< no role > , at the White-Hart in Westminster-Hall , and A. Baldwin, at the Oxford-Arms in Warwick-lane.

Robert Whitledge< no role > , Bookbinder , at the Bible in Creed-lane , within Ludgate , Sells all manner of Bibles, Common-Prayers. and other Books, very well Bound, and Cheap.

LONDON: Printed for E. Mallet at the Hat and and Hawk in Bride-lane. 1701.