in this sense that when they were in affliction they besought the Lord God and humbled themselves greatly before the God of their Fathers For this great Offendor could often say He could never be humbled enough Upon the 13 of August when he was arraigned at the Sessions in the Old-Baily he pleaded Guilty to the Indictments with very much shame confusion of face and sorrow of heart And on Friday the 15 of August he demeaned himself very humbly before the Bench heartily submitting to the Sentence of death that then passed upon him saying He had destroyed the Image of the Eternal GOD alluding as I verily believe to those words in Gen. 6. 9. For in the Image of God c. After his Sentence he was conveyed back to prison penitently acknowledging that he had neglected the good Word of God and therefore was the longer kept off through ignorance of the Gospel from closing with Christ Jesus But after a few dayes discourse with several Ministers and others who opened the Scriptures to him he began to understand through the Grace of God the Word of Grace And though he had many good Books brought to him by divers visiting Friends yet he chiefly looked into the holy Scriptures themselves and found very much advantage light and peace by these following passages out of the Old Testament viz. 2 Sam. 12. 9. Where Nathan spake sharply to David for despising the Commandment of the Lord to do evil in the sight of the Lord in killing Uriah the Hittite with the Sword vers 13. David said to Nathan I have sinned against the Lord and Nathan said to David The Lord also hath put away thy sin From hence he understood the readiness of God to forgive confessing repenting sinners though they are guilty of innocent blood Job 33. 27 28 He the Lord looketh upon men Oh that men would look after the Lord and if AN T say I have sinned and perverted that which was right and it profited me not he that is the Lord will deliver his Soul from going into the pit and his life shall see the light Isa. 45. 18 19. I said not unto the seed of Jacob Seek ye me in vain Isa. 55. 7. Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts and let him return to the Lord and he will ABUNDANTLY pardon The word abundantly he used to pronounce with an emphasis for he saw his eyes being now anointed with spiritual Eye salve that he had multiplied sins exceedingly and that he stood in absolute need of the Lords abundant multiplied pardons whereof he had good hope through this good word of Isaiah Ezek. 18. 23. Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die saith the Lord God and not that he should return from his wayes and live 30. Repent and turn your selves from all your transgressions So iniquity shall not be your ruine 31. Cast away from you all your transgressions whereby ye have transgressed and make you a new heart and a new spirit for why will you die O house of Israel 32. For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dyeth wherefore turn your selves and live ye Ezek. 33. 11. Say unto them As I live saith the Lord here the poor Prisoner would note to his comfort that a repenting sinner had not onely the Word and Promise of God for forgiveness but the Oath of God to give such a sinner the greater assurance of pardon I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked but that the wicked turn from his wayes and live Turn ye turn ye see the importunity of God with poor sinners for the good of their souls from your evil wayes For why will ye die O house of Israel Micah 7. 18. was a place pleasant to his Soul Who is a God like unto thee that pardoneth iniquity and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage He retaineth not his anger for ever because he delighteth in mercy Vers. 19. He will turn again as one doth when his anger is gone he will have compassion upon us he will subdue our iniquities and thou wilt cast ALL their sins into the depth of the Sea Now I shall give you a short List of some New-Testament Texts whereby the Lord conveyed Counsel and Consolation to this doubting staggering poor Wretch Mat. 18. 11. For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost Joh. 3. 14 15 16. And as Moses lifted up the Serpent in the Wilderness even so must the Son of man be lifted up that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have eternal life for God SO loved the WORLD that whosoever this word whosoever he spake with joy believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life Now saith Nathaniel Butler I am one to whom this word speaketh and therefore God gave the Lord Jesus Christ for my Soul I believe in him and therefore I trust to live eternally through him according to the gracious terms of the Gospel John 6. 37. And him that cometh to me I will in no wise here he would repeat and reiterate these words in NO WISE CAST OUT in NO WISE in NO WISE cast out 1 Tim. 1. 15. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners of whom I am chief 1 Tim. 2. 5 6. For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men the Man Christ Jesus who gave himself a ransom for all to be testified in due time In hearing reading and conferring upon these and many more Scriptures he would often say to me and others These are good Scriptures brave Scriptures are they not brave Scriptures He would make very diligent and frequent search into his Soul concerning the sincerity of his Sorrow and would not easily believe that his Repentance was true or that he had right to the precious Promises of the Gospel But by much speaking to him by many good people that he would apply Christ and also by seeking unto God for a spirit of Faith for him he did begin to act a faith of recumbency and adherence being as he often said perswaded the Lord Jesus Christ was able to save to the uttermost and willing to save such as come unto God by him yet he could not come up to that full assurance of hope and confidence as he desired and we also desired heartily on his behalf Yet for some certain dayes before his suffering death it pleased the God of all Comfort to give him Joy and Consolation and sometimes strong consolation insomuch that he would at times express very great inward gladness which all that knew his former mournings were glad to see and glorified God for giving him the Joy of his Salvation for he was so satisfied concerning the favour and mercy of God towards him in Jesus Christ that he rather now desired Death then feared it as seeing death through Jesus Christ without
a Sting He was executed in Cheapside against Milk-street end and died penitently See more at large in the Books of Nathaniel Butler and William Rogers Here followeth a True Relation of the Wicked Life and Shameful-happy Death of Thomas Savage Imprisoned Justly condemned and Twice Executed at Ratcliff for his Bloody Fact in Killing his Fellow-servant on Wednesday Octob. 28. 1668. THomas Savage born in the Parish of Giles in the Fields he was put out Apprentice to Mr. Collins Vintner at the Ship-Tavern in Ratcliff where he lived about the space of one year and three quarters in which time he manifested himself to all that knew him to be a meer Monster in sin in all that time he never once knew what it was to hear one whole Sermon but used to go in at one door and out at the other and accounted them fools that could spare so much time from sin as two or three hours on a Lords day to spend in the Lords service He spent the Sabbath commonly at the Ale-house or rather at a base house with that vile Strumpet Hannah Blay which was the cause of his ruine he was by a young man now gone to Sea first enticed to go drink there and after that he went alone and now and then used to bring her a Bottle or two of Wine which satisfied not her wicked desires but she told him if he would frequent her house he must bring money with him he told her often he could bring none but his Masters and he never wronged his Master of two-pence in his Life still she enticed him to take it privately He replyed he could not do it because the Maid was alwayes at home with him Hang her Jade saith this impudent Slut knock her brains out and I will receive the money this she many times said and that day that he committed the murther he was with her in the morning and she made him drunk with burnt Brandy and he wanted one Groat to pay of his reckoning she then again perswaded him to knock the Maid on the Head and she would receive the Money he going home between twelve and one of the clock his Master standing at the Street-door did not dare to go in that way but climbed over a back door and cometh into the Room where his Fellow-servants were at dinner O saith the Maid to him Sirrah you have been now at this Bawdy-House you will never leave till you are undone by them He was much vexed at her and while he was at Dinner the Devil entred so strong into him that nothing would satisfie him but he must kill her and no other way but with the Hammer to which end when his Master was gone with all the rest of his Family to Church leaving only the Maid and this Boy at home he goeth into the Bar fetcheth the Hammer and taketh the Bellows in his hand and sitteth down by the fire and there knocketh the bellows with the Hammer the Maid saith to him Sure the boy is mad Sirrah what do you make this noise for He said nothing but went from the Chair and lay along in the Kitchin Window and knocked with the Hammer there and on a sudden threw the Hammer with such force at the maid that hitting her on the head she fell down presently screeching out then he taketh up the Hammer three times and did not dare to strike her any more at last the Devil was so great with him that he taketh the Hammer and striketh her many blows with all the force he could and even rejoyced that he had got the victory over her which done he immediately taketh the Hammer and with it strikes at the Cupboard-Door in his masters Chamber which being but slit Deal presently flew open and thence he taketh out a Bag of Money and putting it upon his arm under his Cloak he went out at a back-door straightway to this base house again when he came thither the Slut would fain have seen what he had under his Cloak and knowing what he had done would very fain have had the Money he gave her half a Crown and away he went without any remorse for what he had done Going over a Stile he sat down to rest himself and then began to think with himself Lord what have I done and he would have given ten thousand worlds he could have recalled the blow After this he was in so much horrour that he went not one step but he thought every one he met came to take him He got that Night to Greenwich and lay there telling the people of the house that he was to go down to Gravesend that night he rose and walked about and knew not what to do Conscience so flew in his face The Mistress of the house perceiving the Lad to have Money and not sealed up said I wish this Lad came by this Money honestly The next morning he going away towards Woolliedge the Mistriss of the house could not be satisfied but sent for him back and told him Sweet heart I fear you came not by this Money honestly Yes indeed Mistris saith he I did for I am carrying of it down to Gravesend to my Master a Wine-Cooper We live upon London-bridge and if you please to send any one to my Mistris I will leave my Money with you So there were some people going to London and he writ a Note to send to his Mistris and he left the Money with the woman of the House and went his way wandring toward Woolliedge and there was in the Ship-yard about which time news came to Greenwich of the Murther that was committed at Ratcliff by a Youth upon his Fellow-servant and that a Bag of Money was taken away the Mistris of the House forthwith concluded that sure it was the same Youth that was at her house and that was the Money whereupon she sent men out presently to seek him who found him in an Ale-house where he had called for one pot of Beer and was laid down with his head on the Table and faln asleep One of the men calling him by his name Tom saith he Did you not live at Ratcliff He said Yes And did you not murther your fellow-servant He confessed it And you took so much Money from your Master he acknowledged all then said they You must go along with us He said Yes with all my heart So they went forthwith to Greenwich to the house where he lay that night where when he came he met his Master with some Friends and when his Master spake to him of it he was not much affected at first but after a little while burst out into many tears thence he was conveyed to the Justice at Ratcliff where he fully confessed the Fact again and by him was committed close Prisoner in the Goal of Newgate where Mr. H. B. who after some acquaintance with him had this preceeding Narrative from his own Mouth came to see and speak with him and he seemed but
and painfully since my coming to Ipswich 3. Anno 1619. A Miller in Bromeswell coming home drunk from Woodbridge as he often did would needs go and Swim in the Mill-pond his Wife and Servants knowing he could not Swim disswaded him once by intreaty got him out of the Water but in he would needs go again and there was Drowned I was at the House to inquire of this and found it to be true 4. In Barnwell near to Cambridge one at the Sign of the Plough a lusty young man with two of his Neighbours and one Woman in their company agreed to drink a Barrel of strong Beer they drank up the Vessel three of them died within twenty four hours the fourth hardly escaped after great Sickness This I have under a Justice of Peace his Hand near dwelling besides the common fame 5. A Butcher in Hastingfield hearing the Minister inveigh against Drunkenness being at his Cups in the Ale-house fell a jesting and scoffing at the Minister and his Sermons and as he was drinking the Drink or something in the Cup quackled him stuck so in his Throat that he could get it neither up nor down but strangled him presently 6. At Tillingham in Dengy Hundred in Essex three young men meeting to drink Strong-waters fell by degrees to half pints One fell dead in the Room and the other prevented by Company coming in escaped not without much sickness 7. At Bungey in Norfolk three coming out of an Ale-house in a very dark Evening swore they thought it was not darker in Hell it self One of them fell off the Bridge into the water and was drowned the second fell off his Horse the third sleeping on the Ground by the Rivers-side was frozen to death This have I often heard but have no certain ground for the Truth of it 8. A Bayliff of Hadly upon the Lords-day being drunk at Melford would needs get upon his Mare to ride through the Street affirming as the Report goes That his Mare would carry him to the Devil His Mare casts him off and broke his Neck instantly Reported by sundry sufficient Witnesses 9. Company drinking in an Ale-house at Harwich in the Night over against one Master Russels and by him out of his Window once or twice willed to depart at length he came down and took one of them and made as if he would carry him to Prison who drawing his Knife fled from him and was three dayes after taken out of the Sea with the Knife in his hand Related to me by Master Russel himself Maior of the Town 10. At Tenby in Pembrokeshire a Drunkard being exceeding drunk broke himself all to pieces off an high and steep Rock in a most fearful manner and yet the occasion and circumstances of his fall were so ridiculous as I think not fit to relate lest in so serious a Judgment I should move Laughter to the Reader 11. A Glasier in Chancery-Lane in London noted formerly for Profession fell to a common course of drinking whereof being oft by his Wife and many Christian friends admonished yet presuming much of Gods mercy to himself continued therein till upon a time having surcharged his Stomach with drink he fell a vomiting broke a Vein lay two dayes in extream pain of Body and distress of Mind till in the end recovering a little comfort he died Both these Examples related to me by a Gentleman of worth upon his own knowledge 12. Four sundry Instances of Drunkards wallowing and tumbling in their drink slain by Carts I forbear to mention because such examples are so common and ordinary 13. A Yeoman's Son in Northampton-shire who being drunk at Wellingborough on a Market-day would needs ride his Horse in a bravery over the plowed-lands fell from his Horse and brake his Neck Reported to me by a Kinsman of his own 14. A Knight notoriously given to Drunkenness carrying sometime Payls of drink into the open Field to make people drunk withall being upon a time drinking with Company a Woman comes in delivering him a Ring with this Posie Drink and die saying to him This is for you which he took and wore and within a week after came to his end by drinking Reported by sundry and justified by a Minister dwelling within a Mile of the place 15. Two Examples have I known of Children that murthered their own Mothers in drink and one notorious Drunkard that attempted to kill his Father of which being hindred he fired his Barn and was afterward executed one of these formerly in Print One Drunk Vomiting broke a Vein after 2 days great pain Dyed 4. being Drunk were Slain by Carts One Drunk Rideing over plowed lands fell and broke his neck a Child that murthered his Mother he being Drunk 17. In Dengy Hundred near Mauldon about the beginning of his Majesties Reign there fell out an extraordinary Judgment upon five or six that plotted a solemn drinking at one of their Houses laid in Beer for the once drunk Healths in a strange manner and died thereof within a few weeks some sooner and some later witnessed to me by one that was with one of them on his death-bed to demand a Debt and often spoken of by Mr. Heydon late Preacher of Mauldon in the hearing of many The particular circumstances were exceeding remarkable but having not sufficient proof for the particulars I will not report them 18. One of Aylesham in Norfolk a notorious Drunkard was drowned in a shallow Brook of Water with his Horse by him 19. Whilest this was at the Press a man eighty five years old or thereabout in Suffolk overtaken with Wine though never in all his Life before as he himself said a little before his fall seeming to bewail his present condition and others that knew him so say of him yet going down a pair of stairs against the perswasion of a woman sitting by him in his Chamber fell and was so dangerously hurt as he died soon after not being able to speak from the time of his fall to his death The Names of the Parties thus punished I forbear for the Kindreds sake yet living If conscionable Ministers of all places of the Land would give notice of such Judgments as come within the compass of their certain knowledge it might be a great means to suppress this Sin which reigns every where to the scandal of our Nation and high displeasure of Almighty God These may suffice for a taste of Gods Judgments Easie were it to abound in sundry particular Casualties and fearful Examples of this nature Drunkard that which hath befallen any one of these may befall thee if thou wilt dally with this Cockatrice whatever leagues thou makest with Death and dispensations thou givest thy self from the like Some of these were Young some were rich some thought themselves as wise as thou none of them ever looked for such ignominious ends more than thou whoever thou art if thou hatest such ends God give thee Grace to decline such courses If thou beest
to be a Derider of God and Men. It hath been usual with Drunkards in former as well as these dayes to sing Songs of the People of God Psal. 69. 12. I am the Song of Drunkards Now this mocking the Ministers and People of God is a grievous Sin it brings down wrath without Remedy 2 Chron. 36. 16. They mocked the Messengers of God and despised his words and misused his Prophets untill the wrath of the Lord arose against his People till there was no Remedy Mockers bring upon themselves mighty and unavoidable Judgments Isa. 28. 24. Now therefore be ye not Mockers lest your bands be made stronger Forty two little Children were torn in pieces by two she-Bears for mocking a Prophet and calling him Bald-head 2 Kin. 2. 23 24. And if God was so offended with little Children for this sin of Mocking a Prophet that he sent two Bears which tore in pieces forty two Children how offensive is it to the Lord to hear those that are come to mans Estate knowing and understanding men mock and scoff at his Servants Though no Judgment come upon them in this World for their Sin yet without Repentance a worse thing will come unto them they shall be rent and torn that is they shall be tormented in the other World for ever by the Devil who is a roaring Lyon a far more dreadful Enemy than the Bears that tore the little Children in pieces 5. Drunkards are usually Swearers and some of them will Swear dreadful Oaths such as would make a man tremble to hear them And Swearing profane Swearing is an abominable Sin and brings a man in danger of Hell Fire Jam. 5. 1â— But above all things my Brethren Swear not neither by Heaven neither by the Earth neither by any other Oath but let your Yea be Yea and your Nay be Nay lest you fall into Condemnation 6. Drunkards are oftentimes Persecutors and Smiters of their Fellow Servants Mat. 24. 48 49. If that Evil Servant shall say in his Heart My Lord delayeth his coming and shall begin to smite his Fellow-Servants and to eat and drink with the drunken They are such which eat and drink with the drunken that smite their Fellow-servants and smiting and persecuting the Servants of Christ is a hainous Sin he takes it as ill when his Servants are persecuted as if he himself was persecuted Act. 9. 4. Saul Saul why persecutest thou me Saul did not persecute Christ in his own person for he was in Heaven sitting at his Fathers right hand but he persecuted Christs Servants and Christ was as much offended at the persecuting of his Members as if he himself had been persecuted 7. Drunkenness casts men into a deep Sleep and maketh them dreadfully secure under those Judgments that hang over their Heads Prov. 23. 34. Yea thou shalt be as one that lyeth down in the midst of the Sea or as he that lyeth on the top of the Mast. Solomon speaking of such that tarry long at the Wine sets out their danger by one that lyeth on the Top of the Mast in the midst of the Sea who is in danger every moment of falling into the Sea and to be drowned yet fears nothing whilest he is asleep Such is the case of Drunkards they are in danger of falling into Hell every day and yet they fear nothing till God awakens their Consciences and shews them their Sin and Misery When the Prophet calls Awake ye Drunkards Joel 2. 5. it implies they are in a deep Sleep and that it is no easie matter to awake them 8. Sometimes Drunkards commit Murder in their Drunkenness and quarrel with and kill their best Friends It is reported of Alexander that when he was drunk he killed his beloved Friend Clytus yea there is no Sin so horrid but a Drunken man may fall into it if he hath an occasion and Temptation to commit it Arg. 5. Drunkenness is such an abominable Sin that it brings down National Judgments whole Nations are punished for this Sin of Drunkenness the Earth is weary of bearing Drunkards and often spueth out its inhabitants we read of the Canaanites that their Land spued them out for their defiling it and the Israelites are warned not to defile their Land lest they also be spued out Lev. 18. 28. That the Land spue not you out also when ye defile it as it spued out the Nations that were before you And when the Israelites did defile their Land by Drunkenness and others Sins they were a burthen to the Land it was weary with bearing them it spued them out and they were carryed captive into a strange Land Isa. 5. 11 13. Woe to them that rise up early to follow strong drink and continue until night till Wine enslame them Therefore my People are gone into captivity The Lord threatned to send mighty Adversaries against Ephraim for their Pride and Drunkenness which should come upon them as furiously as a tempest of Hail and a destroying Storm and as a mighty flood of Water that should overflow all places and bear down all before it Isa. 28. 1 2. Woe to the Crown of Pride the Drunkards of Ephraim So that Drunkards are the Plague of a Nation that bring down Gods Judgements on themselves and the place where they live And when an overflowing Scourge comes on a Nation usually Drunkards have the speediest and deepest share in the Judgments of God Amos 6. 1 3 6 7. Wo to them that are at ease in Zion That put far away the evil day That drink in Bowls Therefore now shall they go Captive with the first that go Captive When the King of Assyria invaded the Land of Israel the Drunkards were trod under feet like mire in the streets Isa. 28. 2 3. Behold the Lord hath a mighty and strong one The Crown of Pride the Drunkards of Ephraim shall be trod under feet Arg. 6. Drunkards oft-times dye in the Act of Sin Drunkenness appears to be a great Sin because oft-times it is punished with sudden Death and sometimes Drunkards are cut off in the very Act of Sin they are very frequently cut off suddenly and unexpectedly Nah. 1. 10. While they are Drunken as Drunkards they shall be devoured as stubble fully dry Stubble that is fully dry is devoured in a moment Luk. 12. 45 46. If that Servant shall begin to eat and to drink and to be drunken the Lord of that Servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him and at an hour when he is not aware and will cut him asunder and appoint him his portion with unbelievers We see here the Woful Condition of Drunkards both in their Death and after their Death their Death is oftentimes sudden and unexpected they have not a day not an hours warning Rev. 21. 8. Elah a King in Israel was cut off in the very Act of Sin while he was drinking himself drunk in his Stewards house 1 Kings 16. 9 10. As Christ said to deterr us from looking