II. Wherein we are to submit and he obedient to the Powers establish'd over us; and that is, not only,

1. In Things which GOD has plainly commanded: But,

2. In Things which GOD has not positively forbidden.

III. The Reasons laid down by St. Paul in the Text for this our Subjection and Obedience, viz.

1st, For Wrath, i. e. Not meerly for fear of the Punishment which the Magistrate may inflict upon the Offender: But chiefly,

2dly, For Conscience-sake; which implies, That tho' the Magistrate should lay-by his Sword; tho' he should suspend or remit the Punishment; yet, out of a sense of their indispensable Duty and religious Obligation, upon the Account of the Divine Command, Men ought to be subject and obedient to their Superiours; for to offend herein is a Sin against GOD Himself.

Having enlarg'd upon these Heads and Particulars, I exhorted both the Prisoners, and other Persons there present,

" To praise our Great and Good GOD for that, of His infinite Mercy " both to this Church and Nation (which we ought ever to be most thankful for) He has, by a special Providence, safely plac'd and stedfastly establish'd HIS MAJESTY upon the Throne of His Royal Ancestors; by " which we may have hope to see all the mischievous Designs and Practices " of those wicked People, brought to nought, who have an evil Will at our " Sion. And here we should fervently pray Him, the uncontroulable " MONARCH of Heaven and Earth, That He will please, more and " more, to protect, defend, and prosper our Just, Wise, Gracious, and " Religious Protestant KING GEORGE: That His Sacred Person, His " Royal Son, and all His Illustrious Family may always be preserv'd and " bless'd with the most exquisite Blessings both in Time and to Eternity: " That all HIS MAJESTY's Subjects may sincerely be Loyal and Obedient to Him, and (under His Happy Government) lead quiet and peaceable Lives in all Godliness and Honesty: And finally, That there may never be wanting a Prince descended from Him to sit upon the British " Throne so long as the Sun and Moon shall endure. And let all that Fear " GOD and Honour the KING, say AMEN.

After I had spoke to the whole Congregation in general, I then concluded all my publick, as well as I did my private Discourses, with proper Exhortations in particular to the condemn'd Persons, whom I endeavour'd to perswade to a speedy Return to GOD, praying that they might obtain Grace, by which their hard Hearts might be mollify'd and melted into true Repentance and Amendment of Life, to the blessed Comfort of their Souls both here and hereafter.

When I had them under private Examination by themselves, they did (each of them) give me the following Account of their past Life and present Disposition.