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him, and in them who hope in his mercy; and that hope in the mercy of God was as truly honouring that perfection of his nature, as fearing him was doing honour to his majesty, justice, and holiness: he said, I don't despair. I do hope in the mercy of God; and will do so to my last breath.

I asked him whether he had any family. He said, Yes! His wife was dead, with whom he had lived happily, but that he had a girl of five years old, and added in a very pathetic tone of voice, lifting up his hands, "O my dear inno"cent babe! I have brought infamy and shame 66 upon thee." I then observed, that he had reason to be very humble before God for his crimes in that view; as bringing distress on his worthy relations, his brother, child, and mother-in-law: and I further observed to him, that vice was like the plague, by which a man not only dies himself but scatters death all around him.

He told me, what is very remarkable, that he was naturally a man of great courage; but that, after he had began to rob on the highway, guilt had made an arrant coward of him; for he was terrified at the least alarm, and so intimidated by any appearance of danger, that he always put his accomplice (Plunket) on any hazardous attempt; not daring to engage in it himself.

I proposed to some of his friends, who were present, that they should unite with me in offering up a solemn prayer to God for him, in which they all most willingly joined, the poor prisoner devoutly kneeling, and all of us standing around him. There, after expressing our thankfulness to God for that deep contrition and good hope he had graciously given him, I commended his soul to the mercy of God, praying that Christ Jesus, who came to seek and save lost and undone sinners, would receive his departing spirit. I hope our prayers were heard. There was not a dry

eye among us, and truly he, who could be unaffected at such a scene, must be hard indeed.

In the evening, for the last time, as he earnestly begged to see me, I went to him with one of his friends, and, after some conversation suitable to his unhappy situation, I once more in prayer recommended his soul to the mercy of God, through our Lord Jesus Christ.

The time was now come when we must take our last farewell of him. He said "This was "the bitterness of death." He eagerly embraced us both; dropt suddenly down on his knees, and in accents, the sound of which will never be out of my ears, he prayed to God to bless us both for ever; to prosper us and our families in all our undertakings; and eternally to reward us for all the compassion and love we had shewn to such a-poor unworthy creature as he said he was.

I am informed he spent the whole night in prayer and devotion. At getting into the cart he said, "O my God, I have forsaken thee; but "yet I will trust in thee."-All the accounts I received of his behaviour in his passage to the place of execution, and at it, concur in testifying, that he went through the whole awful scene with a manly firmness, joined with all the appearances of true devotion. I would charitably hope he has found that mercy with God, which he so earnestly sought through a Redeemer. But what to think concerning him is left to every one's own reflections.

So far Dr. Allen's narrative.-It was reported by a gentleman, who saw him executed, that just before the cart, in which he stood, was drawn from under him, as it was a very fine day, and the sun shone bright, he looked all around him with great composure, and then said: "Must I. 66 never more behold this beauteous sun?

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"thou then, O sun of righteousness,* shine on "my departing soul.”

This unhappy man shewed great signs of penitence; but none can presume to form a judgment of his salvation ;-or whether his repentance was genuine, or not. That must be left to the great day when the secrets of all men's hearts shall be revealed.-Archbishop Tillotson has observed,+ that "it is difficult for any man to be assured of "the truth and reality of his repentance, when "there is no sufficient opportunity to make a trial of the sincerity of it.'

There is, I think, no doubt of the sincerity of this condemned malefactor at the time Dr. Allen attended but the question is "What would his 66 temper and conduct have been had his life been. "spared for a number of years?"-He might have been a true penitent, and (through the merits of Christ,) have been accepted as such: but, as he did not live to "bring forth fruits meet for "repentance," (which the Gospel requires) it is beyond the knowledge of man to determine his future state.

Every Minister, who attends a condemned malefactor, would do well to exhort him to make not only a general confession of sins, but particularly of that, for which he had been condemned; and should endeavour to convince him, that no worldly considerations ought to hinder him from discovering any combinations in wickedness, or any evil practices designed against others, that by his intelligence such mischievous attempts might as much as possible, be pre

He alluded to these words, "The sun of righteous66 ness shall arise with healing in his wings." Mal. iv. 2. See the latter end of the Archbishop's Sermon on Heb. iii. 13.

vented.-He should be instructed likewise what satisfaction (so far as in his power) he ought to make to those, whom he may have offended or injured.

SECTION IX.

HELPS FOR CONVERSATION WITH ONE LATELY RECOVERED FROM SICKNESS.

Helps for conversing with one on a recovery from sickness as owing to the providence of "God.

You cannot but be sensible, that all the vari

ous events of this lower world are under the direction, and controul of God.

There is nothing certain here below; and consequently you must live in a daily dependance. on the providence of God, and be prepared for every event.

By him your body was made and preserved : the disorders of it likewise are to be ascribed to him:-sometimes they are the immediate operation of his hand, and for wise purposes. Sometimes (and more generally) we bring diseases on ourselves by folly, sloth, intemperance, or other vices. These however are to be traced up to an overruling providence, as they are the consequences of that necessary connection, which God has established between vice, and misery. But from whatever causes diseases proceed, when they are removed, it is the Lord's doing.

The hand of God is to be acknowledged in

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directing you to proper means;* and blessing these means.

To be the only infallible physician is what God claims as his prerogative, who superintends all means; and works with or without them, as seemeth good in his sight.+

The wisest and best of men have ascribed such events to God.

This shews the reasonableness of St. James's advice, “Is any afflicted, let him pray.”—If we pray daily and earnestly to God, and carefully observe the wise disposals of his providence, we shall find a great support under the afflictions of life; and shall rejoice with trembling in our greatest prosperity.

Helps for conversing with one on a recovery from sickness, as owing to the mercy of God.

The recovery of good men here, is a mercy to them; and the recovery of the wicked (as they would have no well-grounded hope of happiness hereafter) is undoubtedly the same.

This recovery gives good men an opportunity of making further improvements in holiness; and the remembrance of such a mercy received ought to excite them to it.

It should dispose you to gratitude and praise, and create in you, (as it has a tendency to do) the love of prayer, so as to abound in the exercises of it; and to make you more diligent, constant, and serious in your attendance on public ordinances.

You have time to perform further services for God; and it may reasonably be supposed, that you will be animated to it, shaking off your former sloth. You have further opportunities of serving your generation; especially your family;

* See Eccles. xxxviii. 4. † Deut. xxxii. 39.

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