Gods Truth also stood betwixt him and eternal happiness and told him that I spake it with reverence that the Holy God must be a Lyar or else he dying in the guilt of these sins must be certainly and eternally damned I asked him what do you think how will you escape the damnation of hell and the great wrath that is come You have heard what God saith what do you say what course will you take and what means will you use that you may not according to God's threatning be cast amongst Devils into Eternal devouring flames to this at present he made no reply but did often shake his head and lifted up his eyes towards Heaven Next I endeavoured to bring him to a sight and sense of the corruption of his nature and of the sinfulness of his heart and told him all those sins were in his heart before they were actually committed and turned him to the saying of Christ in the 15th of Matthew ver 19. For out of the heart proceedeth evil thoughts Murders Adulteries Fornications Thefts False-witnesses Blasphemies and told him that in his repentance for those sins he must not only lay to heart and be grieved for the outward acts but lament and bewail the inward principle of corruption whereby he was so strongly inclined to such horrid abominations according to the example of David after his sins of Adultery and Murther in his confession did follow them up to the rise and original from whence they did spring Psal 15. 5. Behold I was shapen in iniquity and in sin did my Mother conceive me By this time I perceived some workings of heart within him and that he was in some measure sensible of his lost estate and by his deportment and carriage to be cast down not knowing what to do I was unwilling to leave him without some grounds of hope that it may be he might be saved that there was a possibility that he might obtain pardoning mercy and be delivered from that great damnation that was due to him for his great transgressions I began to open to him the readiness of Christ the fulness and sufficiency of Christ to save the greatest sinners and that God I hoped in mercy to his soul had sent me one of his Embassadors to offer him a pardon and Eternal life if he were but willing to accept of Christ upon the terms of the Gospel for his Lord and Saviour and did encourage and assure him upon repentance and faith in Christ there was mercy yet for him though a Murderer from these Scriptures Isa 1. 18. Come now and let us reason together saith the Lord though your sins be as scarlet they shall be as white as snow and though they be as red as crimson they shall be as wool As I opened to him the great mercy of God in Christ toward Sinners dyed in grain that were sinners of a scarlet colour that had committed heinous transgressions he brake forth into tears and wept plentifully at the tydings of mercy and possibility that such a one as he might be saved Besides I turned him to some Scripture-promises that God would certainly forgive his sins and save his Soul if he could repent and get Faith in Christ Such as Prov. 28. 13. He that confesseth and forsaketh his sin shall find mercy and Isa 55. 7. Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts and let him return unto the Lord and he will have mercy upon him and to our God for he will abundantly pardon This Scripture he diligently heeded and turned it down in his Bible and these two Scriptures the night before he suffered amongst others he alledged as the grounds of his hopes of mercy I also gave him some Scripture instances of great Sinners that had obtained mercy turned him to the example of Manasseh 2 Chron. 33. to that of Mary Magdalen Luke 7. 37 38. to that of the Jews Acts 2. 37 38. that were guilty of the blood of Christ that had murdered the Son of God a greater murther than which could not be committed and yet upon Repentance and Faith many of them were pardoned and saved To that of Paul 1 Tim. 1. 13 14 15 16. shewed him how God had set up Paul as a pattern of Free-grace towards great sinners for the encouragement of such that though guilty of great sins afterwards should believe To all these he hearkned very carefully and took notice of the places of Scripture for his meditation after I left him And last of all I endeavoured to set before him Jesus Christ as the only Remedy and Saviour for his Soul and shewed him the insufficiency of all his Duties Prayers and Tears to get off the guilt of the least sin that if he could shed a thousand tears of blood for any one vain thought it would be no better than puddle water to justifie or to save him Much discourse I had with him at this time besides what is here inserted and several other times when I went to visit him in Newgate which I willingly omit because this book should not swell to too great a bulk After all I went to prayer with him in which Duty he was much dissolved into tears he seemed to me and his faithful Friend that was most with him above all others to be very earnest in Prayer and with weeping eyes to beg for pardon and for Converting Grace and Christ to be his Saviour which was much insisted on in the prayer that was made for him After which advising him to consider of what I had said for that time I took my leave of him The next time after this Discourse that Mr. Baker came to him he Enquired how it was with him he said what T. D. had said did very much startle him that he knew not what to reply and cryed out very much of the heinousness of his sins that he should commit that horrid Sin of Murder and knew not what to do for that left a deep impression upon his heart that God must be a Lyar or else he in that condition of impenitency must be damned yet he laid hold upon that promise that was unfolded to him That if a sinner turned from his wicked ways God would abundantly pardon And afterwards read on the verse that followed Isa 55. 8. For my thoughts are not your thoughts neither are your ways my ways saith the Lord. Upon which considering said Men cry out for death and vengeance no mercy to be had from men but Gods thoughts to a repenting sinner were life for he delighteth not in the death of a sinner About four or five days after this he was puzled about his performing of Duties and resting only upon Christ for Salvation for he was tempted if he performed duties to rest upon them or to let them alone and leave them off if he must rest only upon Christ At which time H. B. coming to him enquired how it was with him now and how he hoped
A Murderer Punished AND PARDONED OR 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. By us who were often with him in the time of his Imprisonment in Newgate and at his Execution Robert Franklin Thomas Vincent Thomas Doolitel James Janeway Hugh Baker To which is annexed a Sermon Preached at his Funeral The Twelfth Edition with the Addition of the leud life and shameful death of Hannah Blay who was condemned and executed for being guilty of the bloody murther committed by Thomas Savage With other new Additions London Printed for P. P. in the Year 1679. To the READER IN the following Narrative you have a Relation of the bloody murther committed by T. Savage with an account of the wonderful mercies of God to his poor soul after the committing so bloody a sin To which is added a short relation of the carriage and Behaviour of that vile Strumpet Hannah Blay during the time of her being in Newgate to her Execution which though it hath nothing in it worthy to be related yet she being an instrumental cause of that bloody resolution was thought fit to be inserted that she may remain as an example of shame to all leud women and a severe example of Gods justice upon such cruel monsters who are not contented with endangering the soul of such ignorant young men that have not the fear of God before their eyes with their abominable Whoredomes and Adulteries but as it were to make sure of destroying both body and soul together by adding to their former sins the guilt of shedding innocent blood And as you have a wonderful instance of Gods free-grace to the soul of T. S. so the foulness of his fact the danger of damning his soul and the twice shameful execution which he suffred may be a means to preserve all young men and Apprentices from being guilty of the like fact And as a help to you herein you are advised to be very careful what company you keep That you addict not your selves to drinking or gaming or company-keeping which is the ruin of many young men who by getting a habit of keeping company or other Vices are to often drawn to purloin from their masters to maintain them in their extravagancies by which means they do not only run the hazard of exposing their bodies to publique-shame if they be discovered to the great grief and even heart breaking of their friends when they hear of their ill courses but the wrath of God and eternal damnation of their poor souls as you may see in the Narrative of T. S. who first began with Company-keeping from Company-keeping to Whoring from Whoring to Thieving and murther And lastly be careful to spend the Lords-day and all thy other spare time in the service of God as reading Praying hearing the Word preached which may be a means to preserve thee from the guilt of sins of this nature and other sins likewise if thou apply thy self seriously to this work But whiles I am advising of others I my self commit an error in exceeding my â—onds being confined to a Page I rest A real well-wisher to the eternal happiness of your immortal soul BLood doth cry aloud the blood of man when violently shed by cruel hands for private revenge or covetousness or the satisfaction of some such base lust doth cry as far from Earth to Heaven for vengeance And however some horrible murder may be secretly plotted and as secretly effected yet seldom are they long unpunished even in this world for besides that sometimes the guilty accusing consciences of such Persons who have committed this heinous crime do so inwardly lash and torment them that they can find no rest until they have made discovery of the Fact with their own mouth there is the all-seeing eye of sin revenging God which doth find them and a strange hand of his Providence which doth often Follow them and entangle them in their steps when they are flying and seeking some hiding-place which doth as it were bind them before they are in chains and deliver them before they are aware into the hands of Justice to be punished But there is another blood which doth send forth a louder cry namely the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ which was shed for the sins of men which speaketh better things than the blood of Abel crying for mercy and forgiveness This blood hath such prevalency and vertue that when it is applyed by Faith unto the most notorious Malefactor guilty of blood as well as other wickedness it doth out-cry and drown the voice of blood and every other sin and washeth the most impure Soul dyed in sin unto a scarlet and crimson hue This blood we hope was sprinkled upon the Conscience of this Murtherer who had a little before embrued his hands in the blood of his Fellow-servant for having given such evidence of his sincere repentance and true faith unto several of us Ministers and other Christians that were with him before and at his Execution we hope though he were justly punished with the first death by the hand of man for his crime that through infinite free Grace and Christs blood he hath escaped the second death and wrath of God in Hell The narrative may give the same satisfaction to others which the Publishers hereof have received which is as followeth 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 2 or 3 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 always 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 commeth 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 entered 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 screaking 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 straight-way 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 Green-wich 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 percieving 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 Mistress of the house could not be satisfied but sent for him back and told him Sweetheart I fear you came not by this money honestly Yes indeed Mistress saith he I did for I am carrying of it down to Gravesend to my Master a Wine Cooper VVe live upon London-bridge and if you please to send any one to my Mistress I will leave my money with you So there were some people going to London and he writ a Note to send to his Mistress and he left the Money with the woman of the House and went his way wandring toward VVoolliedge 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 Mistress of the House forthwith concluded that sureit was the same Youth that was at her house and that 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 a pot of beer and was laid down with his head on the Table and fallen 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 Gaol 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 little sensible of what he had done Are you said he the person that committed the murther upon the maid at Ratcliff He said Yes O what think you of your condition What do you think will become of your precious Sou you have by this Sin not only brought your body to the Grave but your Soul to hell without Gods infinite mercy Were you not troubled for the Fact when you did it Not for the present Sir said he but soon after I was when I began to think with my self what I had done The next time he asked him whether he were sorry for the Fact He said wringing his hands and striking his breast with tears in his eyes Yes Sir for it cuts me to the heart to think that I should take away the life of a poor innocent Creature and that is not all but for any thing I know I have sent her soul to Hell O how can I think to appear before God's barr when she shall stand before me and say Lord this wretch took away my life and gave me not the least space that I might turn to thee he gave me no warning at all Lord. O then what will become of me Soon after the imprisonment of this Thomas Savage in New gate Upon the desire of one of his Friends Mr. R. F. and T. V. went to him in the prison and had liberty with much readiness from the Keepers to discourse with him They asked him if he were the person that had murthered the maid He answered that he was they did then open to him the heinous nature of that sin endeavouring to set it home upon his Conscience telling him of the express Law of God Thou shalt not Kill and the express threatnings That whosoever sheddeth mans blood by man shall his blood be shed They spake to him of the Law of the Land and the punishment of Death which
would certainly be inflicted upon him that he had but a few VVeeks more to live and then he would be Tryed and Condemned and Executed but they told him that the punishment of the temporal Death was but small in comparison with the punishment of eternal Death in Hell which he had deserved and was exposed unto They told him that so long as Death should make a separation between his Soul and body that his Soul must immediately appear before the dreadful Tribunal of the Sin revenging God and there receive its final doom and be irreversibly sentenced to depart from the presence of the Lord into everlasting fire if he were found under the guilt of this or any other sin They asked him if he knew what Hell was telling him what a fearful thing it would be for him to fall into the hands of the living God how intolerable the immediate expressions of Gods Wrath would be upon his Soul what horror and anguish he would there be filled withal and how he would be bound up in Chains of darkness until the Judgment of the great day and then told him of the glorious appearance of the Lord Jesus Christ to Judgment that soul and body should be then joyned together and condemned together and punished together with such exquisite torments as never entred into the heart of man to concieve declaring the extremity and the Eternity of the torments of hell which were the just demerit of his sins Then they asked him whether he had any hopes of escaping this dreadful punishment of hell He answered that he had they enquired into the grounds of his hopes He told them that he repented of his fault and hoped God would have mercy on his soul They asked him whether he thought his Repentance could procure for him a Pardon He knew no other way They told him that God was just and his justice must be satisfied and there was no way for him to do it but by undergoing the Eternal torments of Hell and did he know no way of satisfying God's justice besides and pacifying his anger that was kindled against him No he knew not any and yet did he hope to be saved He answered yes They enquired whether ever he had experience of a gracious change wrought in him Herein he could give no account and yet hoped to be saved They told him his hopes were unfound having no good foundation and he would find himself disappointed that it was not his repentance his tears and prayers though he ought to use them as means that would save him if he fixed the Anchor of his hope upon them That if he hoped to be saved in the condition which for the present he was in he would certainly be damned that he must cast away all those groundless hopes he had conceived and endeavour to despair in himself that being pricked and pained at heart through the apprehensions of the wrath of God ready to fall upon him and seeing no possibility of flying and escapeing if he looked onely to himself he might cry out VVhat shall I do to be saved and enquire after a Saviour and then they spake to him of the Lord Jesus Christ and the way of salvation by him which before he was sottishly ignorant of as if he had been brought up in a Country of Infidels and not of Christians The words spoken to him by these two Ministers seemed to take little impression upon him whilst they were present yet after they were gon the Lord did begin to work and he did acknowledge to Mr. B. that two had been with him he knew not their names whose words were like arrows shot into his heart and he did wish he had those words in writing especially one expression of T. V. That he would not be in his condition for ten thousand Worlds did affect and affright him that he said it made his hair stand an end An account of a Discourse betwixt T. D. and T. S. about fourteen dayes after he was Prisoner in Newgate VVHen I came to him and saw him in Irons I said were these Fetters for the sake of the Gospel they would be far more precious than chains of Gold but see here the cursed Fruits of sin thou that shouldst all thy life-time have been a faithful servant of God hast neglected no time to serve the Devil I asked him how old he was He said sixteen years old I told him he was a young man but an old sinner then I began to set my self to bring him to a sense of his sins and of his miserable and lost estate and asked him Whether he belived there was a God He answered Yes and dost thou believe that this God is true He said Yes and taking up the Bible I asked him Dost thou believe that this is the Word of God He answered Yes then I told him according to this word he was a damned wretch and God had past a sentence of death upon him and told him plainly that he should not enter into the Kingdom of God but be a Companion of Devils in a Lake of brimstone to all Eternity meaning without Repentance conversion and Faith in Christ Then I turned him to several Scriptures and told him This was the word by which he must be judged at the barr of God and be damned or saved according as then he should be found to be converted or unconverted The Scriptures were as followeth 1 Cor. 6. 9. Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdom of God be not deceived neither Fornicators nor Idolaters nor Adulterers nor effeminate nor abusers of themselves with mankind Verse 10. Nor Thieves nor Covetous nor Drunkards nor Revilers nor Extortioners shall inherit the Kingdom of God Another Scripture I read to him was Gal. 5. 19. Now the works of the flesh are manifest which are these Adultery Fornication Vncleanness Lasciviousness v. 20. Idolatry Witchcraft Hatred Variance Emulations Wrath Strife Seditions Heresies v. 21. Envyings Murders Drunkenness Revellings and such like of the which I tell you before as I have also told you in time past that they which do such things shall not inherit the Kingdom of God The next Scripture to the same purpose was Rev. 21. 8. But the fearful and unbelieving and the abominable and murderers and whoremongers and sorcerers and idolaters and all lyars shall have there part in the Lake which burneth with fire and brimstone which is the second death I told him these were the words of the holy true and infallible God this was the sentence which God had passed upon him as the desert of those abominable sins which he was guilty of for these Scriptures pointed at several of the sins which he confessed he had lived in and had committed as drunkenness lying uncleanness and murther I cryed you confess your self guilty of these sins and that God threatneth you with Eternal death with everlasting torments and exclusion from his presence and Kingdom not only Gods Justice but
to be saved He answered by Repentance and Faith and I could easily tell you to satisfie you that I do repent and do believe but truly so to do as I ought I find it the hardest thing in the World I do believe and I do not I cannot tell how to believe that Christ dyed for sinners so as to throw my self wholly and fully upon him and to think my Tears and Prayers will do me no good But here Reader we must take notice of the unwearied diligence of the Devil in using all means from time to time to undo ruine and wound the Soul of this poor Malefactor who would not forbear to solicit him to sin after he was cast into Prison for former iniquities he had committed for we cannot but judge that the Devil was loth to loose such a prey as his immortal Soul when he had brought him to the very Mouth and Gates of Hell to have him snatched out of his hands by the free-grace of God the Devil did work the more because he knew his time to tempt him was but short to blemish and eclipse the gracious work of God upon his heart and cloud the glory of Gods mercy in saving such a sinner He was by some former acquaintance visiting of him who shewed their love to a death deserving sinner no other way then by calling for drink and desiring him to drink with them overcome therewith and after some former convictions of sin and his lost estate did twice relapse into the sin of Drunkenness whereby he caused many to fear that all this while he had no more than some common workings of the Spirit and put us to stand that we knew not what would be the issue of these things but yet not daring to omit endeavours if possible as instrumenents under God to save his soul we did after this visit him again and again and set forth unto him the greatness of his sin that he should sin yet more against the Lord and in his affliction and chains to provoke the Lord to greater wrath against his Soul with many words to that purpose After which his soul was wounded his heart was pierced he knew not what to do he asked May Mercy be had for a back-sliding sinner To which were given him some Scriptures where God called to back-sliding sinners to return and invited them to repent and promised Mercy to them if they did even after they had done as wickedly as they could and this was much enlarged upon before him from Jer. 3. ver 1 to 15. verse But God that had begun to awaken and to rowse his Conscience that he might set him up as a pattern of free-grace would not let the Devil go thus away with his Soul but brought him to a deep sense of his falling into sin that he much lamented with many tears the sadness of his state the misery of his soul saying What will become of my Soul my Immortal Soul I cannot think what will become of my soul I deserve Hell ten thousand times over and have I now but one grain of sand left in the glass to work for Eternity shall I neglect God any longer O I have neglected God too long already striking his hand upon his Breast and wringing his hands and shaking his head and weeping abundantly said Lord what shall I do O God what shall I do Lord what will become of me if God had dealt justly with me I had now been in Hell I had been dashed into Hell when I murthered that poor innocent Creature I wonder that I am not now in Hell that such a wretch as I am not in Hell God hath been pleased to manifest more mercy to me in sparing of me and affording me so long time for Repentance but I have neglected time and relapsed into drunkenness and vain talking time after time I thought this place meaning the Hole in Newgate Hell upon Earth and did account it a Heaven to be among other Prisoners but now God hath tryed me whether sin will be bitter and displeasing to me or not I have this day being the Lords day been among the Prisoners and they asked me to play at Cards but instead of complying with them I reproved them and told them for my part I had profaned Sabbaths enough already I have but a little time to work for my Soul and I ought not to neglect time now that they likewise he told them if they rightly considered had something else to do and striking his hand upon his breast with much earnestness he cryed out with tears Now now I find that God hath been at work upon my Soul he hath I am sure been at work for now I see so much evil and taste such bitterness in sin that I am not so much troubled that I am to dye nor so much troubled that I am in danger of Hell as to think I should so dishonour God that I should so offend so gracious and merciful a God and spurn against all his Mercies Oh my Soul my Immortal Soul I know not what will become of it to all Eternity it is the grief of my very Soul that I have neglected time as I have done now I see so much need of a Christ and so much preciousness and excellency in Christ that if the greatest King in the world should come and throw his Crown at my foot and tell me I should enjoy it and all the glory of it for millions of years and should have my Liberty presently and should say but it must be without Christ I would sooner chose to dye this moment nay to be racked to pieces by ten thousand deaths or burn ten years together so I may have a Christ I speak freely from my heart so far as I know my heart and now I find it is not only the Devil 's tempting me hath brought me to this but this cursed wretched devilish heart of mine within It is within me so that it was in me before it was committed by me I deserved Hell ten thousand times over before I committed this horrid sin well now I am resolved I will pray as much as I can and weep and wrestle with God as if I were to have Heaven for it but when I have done all I will deny all for my Prayers and Tears cannot save me and I will fully and wholly throw my self at the feet of Christ and if I am damned I will be damned there And more he spake to this purpose in Mr. Baker's hearing About three days after Mr. Baker coming to him asked him how it was with him He told him that the Devil was very busie with him and did solicit him grievously with his Temptations perswading him to have thoughts of escaping These things said he hindred my minding of God one part of the day the other part of the day the Devil fills me with drowsiness that I can neither pray nor read nor perform any duty nor mind any one that prays with
me Sometimes he tempts me to delay telling me that it is time enough for me to think of Repentance when I am Condemned and that God is a merciful God and sometimes he tempted me to Despair telling me that it was impossible that so monstrous a sinner as I had been should be saved But blessed be God that he made me to think that these were but the Devils Temptations although I have been sadly hurried with them for some days but that which did most fill me with terror was the frequent fears of the Devil 's appearing personally to me which did so exceedingly trouble me in Prayer so that I could say nothing when I kneeled down but was fain to set the Candle down before me and durst not look one way nor other for fear I should see him and my thoughts have been so vain many times when you have been reading to me that I have scarce heard a word of what you said A Discourse betwixt H. B. and T. S. Prisoner in Newgate after some Friends went away dissatisfied fearing he had not a sense of his sin c. H. B. asking him how it was with him He replied It is the grief of my Soul that I should be no more affected I think I have the most rocky stony heart in the world if ever there was an heart of Iron I have one it is not fit to be called an heart To have others come and pray with me and instruct me and see how they are affected with my condition and yet I not at all affected with my own condition Oh it is the grief of my soul to see it so and yet as soon as Ministers and good people are gone and I walk about and consider oh it melts me and breaketh my heart in pieces to think I can mourn for sin and grieve for sin no more when Gods people are with me because it causeth them to think that I am not sensible of my sin though blessed be God I am in some measure sensible of the evil of my sins and it is the grief of my soul to think how I have dishonoured God and abused his Mercy and spurned against his Mercy and Patience After this they both spent some time in Prayer and H. B. asked him how it was with him now He said I find so much sweetness in prayer although I cannot find God loveth me that to think I am not Cursing and swearing as others are but be confessing my sin my very tears trickle down my Cheeks for joy sometimes I find my heart so dead and dull in duty that I know not what to say in Prayer at other times I find my heart so full and so much affected in Duty that I could wish I might never rise off my knees The night before the Sessions H. B. coming to him asked him if it was not terrible to him to think of appearing before the Barr of men he answered methinks when I consider seriously of it what a light poor thing mans Barr is in comparison of Gods Barr yet mans Barr is enough to daunt one to hear them say Take him Gaoler tye him up but to appear before Gods Barr who knoweth all the sins that ever I committed he saw all my secret sins and for God to say Take him Gaoler take him Devil shut him up in the Dungeon of Hell Oh! that is enough I believe to make the stoutest heart in the World to tremble for there is no recalling that sentence and I believe there are many go out of this Prison as I saw formerly three that went to be hanged and they were almost drunk and did sing all the way they went but oh their note was soon changed when they came to stand before Gods Barr. The morning before he went to the Sessions H. B. and the Prisoner spent some time in prayer the Prisoner in his prayer did earnestly beg of God that he would keep him from those temptations he might be exposed unto by bad company After this he was taken down to the Sessions house but was not called because the Jury of Middlesex did not sit that day At night H. B. came to him again and asking how it was with him he answered he found it no easie thing to be a true Christian I thought before I came to Prison that reading a Chapter now and then and saying the Lords Prayer and the Creed at night when I went to bed would have saved me though many times I was asleep before I had half done but now I find it no such easie thing to get to Heaven nay I find it the hardest thing in the World for my Prayers and Tears and Duties if I could fall upon my knees and never rise off from them while I live they would not save me for all this is but my duty but I now know there is merit enough in the blood of Christ to save me and he did earnestly beg of God in Prayer that God would wash his Soul in the blood of Christ and blot out all his sins out of the book of his remembrance and turn them behind his back though I as earnestly beg they might be all spread before my face that I might have a more humble and throughly broken heart for them Lord one drop of that blood is enough to wash away all my sins And so after some conference H. B. left him for that night who heard from one that was with him that night that he spent that time most in Prayer and Reading The second morning in the time of the Sessions Mr. Baker that was a careful friend for the good of his Soul went to the Sessions House where he found him well and in good Frame and continued with him for the space of two or three hours that morning after which time Mr. Baker was from him to hear the Tryal of the Person that was arraigned and afterward executed for the Fire upon the house burnt down in Mincing-Lane for the space of half an hour or thereabout in which time in company of other Prisoners he was much distempered with something that he had drank amongst them which did take from him his understanding that he was not his own man we judge that though this did cast a blemish upon the profession that he had made after he came to Newgate it was not a voluntary act but some surprisal or design of the other upon him partly because the quantity was far less than what at other times he could drink without any disturbance to his head A Friend also heard Hannah the Strumpet that enticed him to his former wickedness say Others have made you drunk to day but I will make you drunk to morrow But afterwards he was afraid to drink in their company but rather denied to take what was necessary for his refreshment The Prisoners were much against his accusing of that Harlot and did much perswade him to take something to chear his Spirits and when T. D. was
whereby I got acquaintance with bad company and so we went to the Ale-house from the Ale-house to the bawdy house there I was perswaded to rob my Master as also to murther this poor innocent creature for which I am come to this shameful end I was drawn aside I say by ill company pray take heed of that for it will not only bring your bodies to the grave but your soul to hell have a care of neglecting the Sabbaths it is that which hath not only brought my body to the grave but my soul in danger of eternal torments And try the ways of God for the Lord be praised I have found so much of excellency and sweetness in Gods ways that I bless God that ever I came into a Prison And now though I am leaving this world I know I shall go to a better place for I have repented from my soul for all my sins not because I am to dye for them but to see that I should do that whereby I should deserve Hell ten thousand times over and so dishonour God Now the Lord have mercy on my Soul The Prayer of THOMAS SAVAGE at the place of Execution O Most merciful and for ever blessed Lord God I beseech thee look down upon my poor immortal soul which now is taking its flight into another world which now is ready to appear before thy barr Lord I beseech thee prepare me for it and receive my soul into the Arms of thy mercy and though my body die and I come to die this shameful death yet let my soul live with thee for ever Lord pardon all the horrid sins that I have committed the Sabbath breaking Lying Swearing Cursing Vncleanness and all the rest of my sins that ever I have committed Lord give me a new heart and give me faith that I may lay hold and throw my self fully and wholly upon thee enable me O Lord give me saving repentance that I may come to thy Bar and thence be recieved into glory let me not be a prey to Devils to all eternity let not my soul perish though my body die let my soul live Lord let me not be shut out from thy presence and let not all the Prayers and Tears and Counsels and instructions that have been made and shed on my behalf be in vain pity my poor soul Lord my immortal soul Lord it would be just with thee to cast me into everlasting burning I have been a great sinner but Christ is a great Saviour O Lord thou hast pardoned great sinners and thou canst do it Lord and Lord wilt thou not do it Lord let me not be a fire-brand in Hell and a prey to Devils to all eternity let me not then be shut up with Devils and damned souls when my soul takes its flight into another World Lord I have repented for what I have done from the bottom of my heart I have repented and Lord if thou wouldst damn me thou wouldst be just but how infinitely more would it be for the glory of thy free grace to save such a sinner as I am good Lord pour down thy Spirit upon my soul O tell me that I have an interest in Christs blood good Father good Lord before I go hence Lord I am willing I am willing to leave this world I can prize thee above all there is nothing I can prize like to thee wilt thou not recieve my soul recieve it into thy arms and say Come thou blessed of my Father good Father for Jesus Christs sake pity my poor soul for pities sake Lord it is not my Prayers or Tears will save my soul but if ever I am saved it must be through free-grace and the blood of Christ and if there be not enough in that Blood Lord I am willing to be Damned Lord look down upon my poor soul and though I have been such a sinner thou art able to pardon me and wash me apply one drop of thy blood to my soul Lord my immortal soul that is more worth then Ten Thousand Worlds It is true Lord I confess I have taken a great deal of pleasure in sin I have run on in sin and could not invent where to go on thy day and was wont to study into what place and into what company I might go upon the Sabbath day forgive me Lord wash me receive me into thy arms O Lord Oh for one glimp of mercy Lord if thou wilt please to reveal thy self to me I shall tell it to all that behold me It is a mercy Lord that I am not in Hell and that thou showest me the bitterness of sin before I come into Hell it is a mercy Lord that I have had the Prayers converse and instructions of so many of thy Ministers and People Lord recieve my soul one smile Lord one word of comfort for Jesus sake Oh let me not go out of this world let not my soul perish though I killed a poor innocent Creature Lord deal not with me as I dealt with her but pity me pity me for Jesus Christ sake Amen One asked him in the cart Well now Thomas how is it with your soul What sense have you of God's love He answered Sir I thank God through infinite mercy I find God loves me and that now I can chearfully go After his Cap was over his Eyes he used these Expressions Lord Jesus recieve my Spirit Lord one smile Good Lord one word of comfort for Christs sake though death make a separation between my soul and body let nothing separate between thee and my soul to all eternity Good Lord hear me Good Father hear me O Lord Jesus receive my soul VVhilst he did thus pathetically express himself to the people especially to God in prayer there was a great moving upon the affections of those who stood by and many tears were drawn from their eyes by his melting speeches All this was the more remarkable in this young man being under sixteen years of age when he was first apprehended After he was turned off the Cart he strugled for a while heaving up his body which a Young man his friend perceiving to put him quickly out of his pain struck him with all his might on the breast several times together then no motion was perceived in him and hanging some considerable time after that and as to all outward appearance dead insomuch as one said to another friend of his namely Mr. B. Now he is in Eternity and the people beginning to move away the Sheriff commanded him to be cut down and being receiv'd in the arms of some of his friends he was conveyed by them into a house not far distant from the place of Execution where being laid upon a Table unto the astonishment of the beholders he began to stir and breath and rattle in his throat and it was evident his life was whole in him from the Table he was carried to a bed in the same House where he breathed more strongly and opened his
their age Or if you please That it highly concerns young men to flee youthful lusts It 's no cowardise to flee from sin In the prosecution of this Doctrine I shall shew 1. What are the common sins of young people 2. What it is to flee from Youthful lusts 3. Why they should flee from Youthful Lusts 4. I shall apply it I shall name some of those sins which young ones are subject to First Young people are very apt to be disobedient to their Parents or Masters O how great a rarity is it to see young people as ready to obey as their Parents are to command Most children are children of Belial that is without a yoak Let Parents command advise nay intreat all 's to little purpose How ready are they to break the bond which God and Nature lay upon them to dutifulness Though the Command of God be plain enough though his Threatnings are terrible and though this sin seldom goes unpunished in this life yet Children take little or no notice of them One would think that one Scripture should scare them Prov. 30. 17. The eye that mocketh at his Father and despiseth to obey his Mother the Ravens of the Valley shall pick it out and the young Eagles shall eat it What is the English of that why they shall come to an untimely end Have not the sad complaints of many at Tiburn sufficiently demonstrated this to be true Have not many cryed out with a Halter about their neck Children if you value your lives and souls take heed of disobeying your Parents That was the sin which brought me to this untimely and shameful end 2. Another youthful sin is Lying Poor Children quickly learn this Lesson of their Father the Devil It is not without good reason that the Psalmist Psal 58. 3. gives such a Character of wicked Children which went astray from the womb telling lyes and the older they grow the more skil'd they be in this devilish art it 's likely they are ignorant that it is a sin that cuts the bonds of all society it may be they are told how dear Ananias and Sapphira paid for one lye Act. 5. 3. nay though the word of truth tell them more than once That Lyars must dwell with their Father the Devil in that black Prison Hell though they hear of a Lake of Fire and Brimstone that burns for ever Rev. 2. 18. and that such as they are must be cast into it yet for all this they 'l venture still 3. Sabbath-breaking is another youthful sin O how little do most of the young people of this City mind the sanctifying of the Sabbath Doth not the multitude of Apprentices and Children that wander up and down Moorefields on the Lord's Day speak this to be too true they dare not make bold with their Masters time on the Week-days but as for God's Day That they spend as if God had set apart one day in the week for young People to sleep drink and play in they dare as well eat a piece of their fingers almost as to do that on another day which they do then and the truth of it is they look upon the displeasure of a dying man as terrible but the Anger of a holy God they make light of O little do they think what precious time that is their Souls are naked and they then may have Cloathing they are starving and they may then have Food the Market is then open Provisions for Eternity may then be had But O prodigious Madness the hearts of most young ones speak in this language As for Christ Heaven and Soul let them go we have better things to think on more weighty matters to mind And it is true indeed O young man what is the company of vain wretches like thy self the wanton embraces of a whorish woman the turning off thy Cups and Damnation more needful than the hearing of Sermons than Praying and reading and Salvation Sure you should not alwaies be of that mind O little do you imagine how dear you shall pay for all the pleasures you have on the Sabbath out of Gods House This this was THE SIN which lay like a load upon the Soul of this poor Young man The profaning of the Sabbath that was the bane of him This carried him out of Gods way into the Devils quarters O how bitterly did he bemoan himself for this sin as the cause of all the rest Of said he when I should have been begging the life of my soul I was plotting the death of my soul and body too Did none of you stand by the Cart when he wept so bitterly and cryed to the Lord to forgive this great and dreadful sin Did none of you hear how earnestly he begged of you to have a care of that sin as you loved your lives and souls O wretch said he that I was I studied how I might spend the Lords day in the devils woâ—â— I thought I could never dishonour God enough and that time that I should have served God most in I did most for Satanâ— in them then I play'd my mad pranks I went into the Church indeed sometimes but I may speak it with shame and deep sorrow now I never heard one whole Sermon all the while I was with my Master and indeed I laugh'd at those that spent the Sabbath in â—â—aring of Sermons and praying and looked upon them as the verâ—â—â—t fools in the world I was glad when the Sabbath came that I might have time to run to my vile comrades I rejoyced that I could then go to satisfie my cursed lusts with whorish women O! tell young men from me That the breaking of the Sabbath is a costly dangerous sin Sirs the substance of this Sermon I received from his mouth and will you not believe a dying man Do you think he did but jest 'T was on the Sabbath day he went to a Whore 't was on the Sabbath he robbed his Master and 't was on the Sabbath that he killed the Maid But because this sin is Epidemical I leave a short story with you and desire you to think of it and then if you like what follows break the Sabbath still The story is this A dear friend of mine was preaching about the sanctifying of the Sabbath and had occasion to make mention of that man that by the special command of God was stoned to death for gathering sticks upon the Sabbath-day Whereupon one of the Congregation stood up and laughed and made all the hast he could out of the Church and went to gathering of sticks though he had no need of them but when the people came from the Sermon they found this man stark dead with the bundle of Sticks in his arms lying in the Church-Porch And yet for all this there stands a young man in that corner that makes nothing of idling away the Sabbath and there sits another that minds not the Lord's Day except it be to get into wicked company and take
are resolved come on what will venture you will But hold sinner I prithee let 's reason the case a little do not act like a fool and a mad-man Were you ever in Newgate Do you know what a prison is Are Fetters such desireable things Hath the Devil done you so much kindness as that you must venture your liberty for his sake Come tell me sinner What good did the Devil ever do for thee willingly Is it worth thy while to do and fuffer so much for one that never intended any good to any in the world Consider a little young man is it nothing to come gingling in your chains before an Earthly Judge Is the sight of the Bench nothing Is it nothing to have your villany laid open before the world How do you think you shall look when evidences comes in clear and the Jury shall cast you What brave it out still But what will you say when the Judge shall pass sentence upon you to be carried from thence to the Prison and from that to the place of Execution Is it nothing to have Ten Thousand Spectators of your shameful end But methinks I hear some of that hellish rout laughing and saying It is but a swing or two and then all 's over their misery 's at an end But hold there sinner then thy misery will begin for thou shalt appear immediately before the bar of God and there receive another sentence ten thousand times more dreadful than the former VVhat do you make nothing of that dreadful word Depart thou cursed and then immediately the Devil takes your soul He waits for his prey and thou must be reserved in chains of darkness in unspeakable and unavoidable torments to the judgment of the great day and then thy cursed body and soul shall meet O what a dreadful greeting will that be when both body and soul shall be cast into everlasting flames VVell young man now what do you say Is it best venturing still But it may be thou beginst to think what a strange censorious man is this Such Preaching is enough to make one out of their wits what is there no such thing as Repentance a grace a God one may be saved for all your railing VVhat do you think of T. Savage Did not he repent I hope you will not say that he is in Hell No indeed for I verily believe that he is a Saint in glory but how do you know whether God will give you repentance I must tell you he is a singular instance such a one as we shall scarce hear of in an age and I remember that he that is oft reproved and hardens his heart shall suddenly be destroyed and that without remedy But though I speak thus brethren I hope better things of many here and things that do accompany salvation I am perswaded here are some young ones that had as lief venture their lives as indulge themselves in the fore-mentioned youthful lusts I think I have ground to say what I do brethren I beseech you make not my boasting void neither let me be ashamed of my confidence I am perswaded I say again that some of you now hate what sometimes you did delight in and though it may be in the days of your darkness you lived in your sins yet now fear to fall into them as much as you fear Hell Courage my brethren go on bravely and the Lord be with you you are the hopes and joy of old Christians they bless God from their heart to see such flowers in Gods Garden hold but out be strong and quit you like men and heaven shall be yours as sure as if you were already there 4. Vse I shall here speak something by way of advice to the Masters of Families and Parents it lies much in your power to set a stop to that mighty torrent of wickednesse that doth almost overflow this City Remember sirs what a dreadful sin the sin of Murder is what then do you think of those that murder souls that starves souls How do you think God will take it at your hand that you should be so careful that your work be done and never mind his at all is it nothing to you that one that dwells under your your roof must dwell with everlasting burnings Are you so barbarous as to be indifferent whether your Servants and Children are damned or saved What can you answer when those of your own house shall stand before the great God and say Lord if it had not been for my Master I had never sinned against thee at that rate which I did he never told me any thing of the danger of sin he would be sure to call me up betimes to look after his business if I neglected that I should quickly hear of it but as for the Lords day praying or reading or any thing that concerned God or my soul I never was so much as reproved for the neglecting of them O! if I had been but told of such a dreadful place as this is and what sin would end in sure I should never have ventured as I did Sirs I beseech you think how you shall answer such an accusation at the day of judgment as sure as you live you will then be speechless Parents me thinks you have something within you to put you upon your duty what have you no love at at all to the fruit of your bodies is it no great matter whether your children sink or swim would you be contented to see them in a house that is in a flame and do nothing to get them out would you have your children fire-brands of hell for ever will you do nothing to rescue them from that devouring Lion who would tear them in pieces can you bear to hear them cry out against you and ready to fly in your faces doth it never trouble you to think what a greeting you shall have in another world when they shall curse the day that ever they saw you when they shall say I may thank you for this dreadful misery you never catechis'd me nor told me one word of this place of torment you never corrected me for my sin if you had it may be I should not have lain under this intolerable anguish What do you say sirs to these things Methinks they call for your serious consideration really if these be not weighty matters I know not what be Let me ask you in meekness whether it be not a piece of the most barbarous cruelty in the world to let your children and servants run to hell without doing what in you lies to stop them But I hope by this time some of you are a little convinced of the dreadfulness of the loss of a soul and are loth to have the guilt of the blood of souls to lie upon you for ever and therefore begin to ask What shall you do that you and yours may be saved and your Servants and Children might escape the Snares of Satan and flee youthful
lusts are you in good earnest friends and will you promise as in the presence of God that you will do what you can possibly to discharge your duty and to follow those directions that I shall give you In hopes that some are resolved by the help of God to do what in them lies for the keeping all under their charge from everlasting burnings I shall advise you 1. Be good your selves and labour to be paterns of Holiness and to shew your Children and Servants by your conversation that you your selves believe that there is a God an immortal soul heaven hell and eternity let your language be savoury and speak you to be one that hath been with Jesus Let your actions be regulated by the Word and endeavour to let them know that you are not in jest when you speak of God and their Souls Psal 10. 1 2. 2. I charge you as in the presence of God as you will answer the neglect of it at the bar of that great Judge take an exact account of your Servants how they spend their time what company they keep what they do upon the Sabbath and if you would make any thing of Religion be as careful that the Sabbath be spent in Gods service as the week-days in yours I could tell you of a Servant that was wont many a time and oft to complain of his Master and say If my Master had ever examined me the Text on the Lords day or called me to account where I had been or what I had heard I am perswaded I should never have come to so sad an end as I am now like to do 3. Instruct them oft in the matters that concern their eternal welfare Sirs tell them I beseech you with all the earnestness that you can for your lives of the danger of sin give them wholesome advice tell them of the necessity of Conversion allow them a little time to pray and read and let them know that you take notice of any thing that is good in them 4. Pray for them cry to the Lord mightily and say O that Ishmael may live in thy sight Lord hast thou not a blessing O my Father for me and mine O pitty dear Lord my children and my Servants and let all under my roof be of the Houshould of Faith and of the Family of the Lord Jesus And now once more I beg you to be in earnest 't will be the trueâ—t evidence of the truth of your Grace to be faithful in this work 'T will be your joy upon a Death-bed 't will be your Crown in another world Vse 5. One word by way of advice to you young people brethren you saw yesterday what it was to fall into youthfull lusts and to day you have hâ—â—rd something of the danger of these things Methinks by this time you should be in a rage 〈…〉 methinks you should all say Well now I will never â—pâ—â—â— the Sabbath day as I have done I 'le never come near the company of vile women this I hope shall be a warning unto me as long as I live Are you in sober sadness of this mind Oh that the Lord would keep this always upon your hearts O that you now may not get out into the cold world and shake of the sense of these things But do I not see some weeping eyes and aking hearts and what dost thou say poor soul O Sir I am the man you mean but is it possible for me to escape Hell I have lived in almost all these sins for many a year what shall I do I shall answer this honest request and the God of Love and Power set it home 1. Labour to be acquainted with the Principles of Religion be much in reading of the Scriptures search and you will find never a word there to encourage sin but all against it they will make you wise to salvation consult the word and you will escape the wrath to come which shall surely fall upon all those that live and dye in their sins Psal 119. 9. 2. Labour to understand wherein your happiness lies it lies not in Riches Pleasures and Honours but in the Favour of God Psal 4. 6. Seek first the Kingdom of Heaven and the righteousness thereof set your affections on things that are above and not on things below 3. To be sure keep the Sabbath strictly and attend upon a powerful Ministery Then is the time to buy provisions to live upon for ever 4. Keep good Company Get out of wicked mens society Mark those that walk soberly and that mind their souls and make much of them and beg an interest in their prayers and take their advice If you once grow weary of good company I shall have but little hopes of you and it 's a sign God means good to poor souls when they are very desirous to be in with them that are dear to God A warm Christian-companion O Sirs you cannot value him too highly 2 Cor. 15. 33. 1 Pet. 4. 4 Heb. 6. 12. 5. Take heed of sinning against Conscience Let Davids Prayer be yours Psal 19. 13. Keep back thy servant from presumptious sins let them not have dominion over me 6. Take heed of putting of Repentance remember now your Creator now is the acceptable time O if you value your lives make haste and delay not an hour but go and fall upon on your knees and beg of God to give you Repentance unto life Give God no rest day nor night till he have changed your heart and made you to see your need of a Christ and to give up your self to Christ O cry out this night A Christ dear Lord a Christ for my poor Soul or I am lost for ever Eclesc 12. 2. Psal 119. 62. 7. Be much in consideration Commune now and then with your heart and think seriously whither you are going and ask your soul what a condition it is in and what it hath to bear up against the fear of death and what provisions are made for Eternity look into your purse what money hast thou that will go currant in another world spend much time in thinking I askt this poor boy how he spent his time in prison he answered In praying reading and consideration 8. Neglect not prayer ask and you shall have seek and you shall find knock and it shall be opened unto you be frequent and serious in this duty forget not secret prayer and look after your Prayers and be not content except you here of them again 9. Be diligent in your Callings be not slothful in your worldly business idleness is the devil's shop Rom. 11. 12. 10. Hold out to the end remember what they shall have that conquer resolve for Christ and Heaven upon any terms Well Sirs now my work is done have I been beating the air What shall become of these two Sermons yesterday you heard one out of the Cart and from the Gibbet and to day from the pulpit and what are you resolved to do what shall the tears prayers and entreaties of that dying young man be so soon forgotten if they are can the commands of the living God be so easily contemned Is there nothing in all that I have been speaking what are you still of the same mind that you were or are you not I say again I must leave you and a thousand to one whether I shall ever see you or speak to you more once more I charge you as you love your own Soul as as you fear the wrath of God and the flames of Hell Flee youthful lusts FINIS