Favour of GOD, which is better than Life itself. Then I dismiss'd him and the whole Congregation for that time.

In my private Discourses with, and Examinations of him, he gave me the Account that follows.

He said, he was 41 Years of age, born of good Parents in Old Soho , then within the Parish of St. Martin in the Fields , now in that of St. Ann Westminster : That his Father, some time a Soldier in Tangier, being unfortunately blown-up in the demolition of that Place, about the Year 1683, and his Mother left in poor Circumstances, not able to give him much Education, nor indeed himself very willing to take it, I found him so ignorant that he could neither read, nor give any Account of his Faith, and of the Hope that was in him: And that which render'd his sad Condition so much the more deplorable, was his taking no care to improve his Time as it became him, and indeed was not only his great Duty, but everlasting Interest to do; for instead of attending on the Word of GOD and Prayer, he often gave up himself to drinking Genere and other strong Liquors, to such an excessive degree as render'd him Unfit for the Exercise of any part of Religion, seeming then to be altogether insensible of his present Misery, and unapprehensive of what his future State was like to prove, if his Vicious Inclinations were not alter'd before it was too late.

When he was fitter to be spoke to, i. e. when sober, as he sometimes (tho' very rarely) appear'd to be, I endeavour'd, by the Divine Grace, to work on him a true Sense and just Abhorrence of his Sins; and the Instructions and Admonitions which I gave him, both in publick and private, did seemingly make him a little more considerate and serious; so that I observ'd, from his shedding of Tears, that his Heart was full either of Grief or Fear, or both; but what it was, or which of those Passions had the prevalence, I could not well discern in him, who indeed lamented his wicked Life and woful Condition in general terms, but did not in the least discover any particular Thing wherein he had most heinously been defective, nor any Sorrow for his having (as he had) offended GOD, and injur'd his Neighbour; neither did he give any Intimation of what he expected in another State: But all he said was, That he knew he must die. Upon which I told him, That as he was convinc'd of this Truth, and would very soon know it better by Experience, so I hoped he desir'd (as I earnestly advis'd him) to make due Preparation for that Death which he look'd for, that he might not be lost for ever: That he would duly weigh and ponder (now in time) the Things of Eternity, Things that belong'd to his Eternal Peace, before they were hid from his Eyes; adding, That if he did not repent now, he might never have an Opportunity to do it to any purpose hereafter; and if that were his dismal Case, he must perish everlastingly, - &c. With such and the like Admonitions I try'd how to awaken his dull and drowzy Soul, and mollifie his stupid and obdurate Heart; but he seem'd to be unmov'd, saying only, That if he had many Sins, they were such as