commit my Spirit Lord Jesus receive my Soul Had I known beforehand this lot would have fallen on me to write these lines I think I should have been more concerned in the visits I made to him to observe things more exactly and set down passages material as they occurred which must now be passed over in silence But Reader come and see come and read with an honest mind and purpose that little which is here presented before thee touching this Monument of Divine Judgment and Mercy and the Lord help thee in truth upon the whole to say This sight hath done my heart good Thus prays he who desires thy prayers and is Thy Friend and Souls well wisher John Lucas Octob. 22d 1696. The exceeding abundant Grace of God displayed in the Conversion of William Gymer a penitent Malefactor THE Grace and good will of God lays hold on the chief of Sinners The Elect obtain it the rest are hardened One is taken the other left Luke 23.39 40. One of the Thieves on the Cross rails on Christ the heart of the other Relents He acknowledgeth the Righteousness of God in his sufferings and accepts of the punishment of his iniquity and also reproves his Fellow-Malefactor for his hard speeches which as an ungodly sinner he spake against the Lord Jesus and the want of the fear of the God tho' under the same Condemnation This Grace exerted it self in turning the heart of this great Offender ver 42. and made a gracious and wonderful change in him renewing a right Spirit in him He now at last unfeignedly and sincerely believeth in Jesus Christ He calleth him Lord and owneth his Divine Nature who as Man was suffering pain and shame and the curse on the Cross for our sake He looks upon him as the Eternal Son of God and heir of that Kingdom of Glory which he believed his Lord was going to He prays to be remembred by him when he came into his Kingdom and accounted his remembrance of him was sufficient to make him a happy man q. d. Remember me O Lord Ps 106.4 5. with the favour that thou bearest unto thy people O visit me with thy Salvation that I may see thee good of thy chosen that I may rejoyce in the gladness of thy Nation that I may glory with thine Inheritance Lesus who turned as it were a deaf ear to the Blasphemies of his Enemies to the derision of the Rulers and Souldiers mocking graciously inclines to hearken to this poor Malefactor's request ver 43. and gives him this Answer Verily I say unto thee this day shalt thou be with me in Paradice q. d. Seeing thou hast owned and confessed me in my suffering-state blessed art thou Flesh and blood hath not revealed this unto thee but my Father who is in Heaven Fear not thy Soul shall go from hence with me to the City of the living God the Heavenly Jerusalem and to an innumerable Company of Angels and to the Spirits of Just men made perfect and dwell with me in my Kingdom for ever 1. 'T is certain then that the Soul of Man is immortal It dyeth not with the body but passeth into another world and there abideth either in a state of misery or a state of blessedness until the Resurrection-day when all shall be awakned and come forth some to everlasting Life and some to Shame and everlasting Contempt 2. And 't is of no less certainty that a Penitent Malefactor's Soul may go from a Prison or a Gallows to Paradice or Heaven as well as the Soul of any other person that repenteth The Mercy of God in the Salvation of any is exceeding rich and free the merit of our Lord and Saviour is alsufficient and of large extent and the offer of Grace is made to all Isa 55.1 Rev. 22.17 John 6.37 Rev. 1.5.6 Every one that thirsteth is invited to come to the waters Whosoever will let him take of the water of life freely And him that cometh Christ will in no wise cast out O the height and depth the breadth and length of the love of God in Christ Jesus who loved us and washed us from our Sins in his own blood unto him be glory and dominion for ever Amen An eminent instance and Monument of Divine Grace it pleased God to set up among us lately in Norwich Castle concerning which take this relation following which for substance according to what I have seen and heard I set down as true One William Gymer Sept. 4th 1696. who lately was Executed on the Castle-Hill for Robbery and Murder lived formerly with one Mr. Bucknam a Tanner of Hadsco in the County of Norfolk but afterwards being married he dwelt with his Father-in-law at Alby not far from Hadsco * Abrve two miles In one of his Papers which he left he tells us that the course of his life was led in great ignorance that about 7 years ago he almost doubted whether there were a God or no but afterwards walking abroad by looking on the Herbs of the Field he was convinced of his Atheism and Folly and was heartily sorry for his former ignorance upon this Conviction he endeavoured as he writes to seek after God and did heartily beg of God to enable him by his Spirit and so he did continue as he saith in an humble frame till about a year and half before he committed those great Crimes which brought him to destruction for then he gave himself up to the Sin of Lying and so ran on in that way at times his Conscience accusing him he was grieved and troubled yet he still continued in his course of Lying to blind the world i. e. to keep others in ignorance of some other Sins he was guilty of so I understand by his writing He was convinced of the wickedness of his way and daily prayed to God to forgive him those sins and all other But the day before saith he I committed these crimes i. e. Robbery and Murder I was boasting in my self and thought my self in as happy a condition as any man in my Station and it was not in my thoughts to do any such wickedness half an hour before I did it In the year 1695 in or near the time of Harvest on a Lord's day after morning he went to his M. Bucknam's house with an intent to borrow 40 shillings of one of the Servants concerning which he had spoken to him some time before But all being gone to Church excepting the maid servant he told her the Swine were got out of the yard hereupon the maid fearing lest they should get into the standing Corn she soon ran out and having a knife in her hand which she had been making use of she stuck it on the side of her bosom and hastily went into the Corn-close near the House Gymer being now left alone Satan put it into his heart to rob his Master and his evil heart suggested to him what need he borrow money when he
stroke of death but that he might be sure to die he confest himself guilty three times upon his Inditement and Arraignment at the Bar. There could be no positive evidence produced against him but by his own Confession he saved the Judge and Jury the trouble of a Tryal I askt him afterwards whether he were satisfied in his so doing and his answer was very well He writ to his Wife that his sins had so troubled his conscience that if every limb of his Body had a several soul or life he would willingly yield up all to make restitution for the sorrow and shame he had brought her unto But all being not able to do it he desired of God so to sanctifie the affliction that it might be a blessed Instrument to purge her from the vain conceits of the pleasures of this life I know saith he our blessed Saviour liveth who suffered and died for us and that he hath great compassion towards those who would gladly follow him tho' it be through sufferings He desires above all things that he and all his Friends might be made like to him in meekness and patience and entirely resign themselves to God's holy Will and Pleasure whatever their condition be He gave diligence to make his Calling and Election sure Obser 7 and the Lord crowned it with a good hope through Grace He made it his business sometimes by night as well as by day to make his peace with God and his labour was not in vain He sought the Lord and he heard him He asked and receive Psalm 51.14 15. the remission of his sins and his joy in the Lord upon it was his strength God did deliver him from blood-guiltiness and his Tongue did sing aloud of his Righteousness The Lord did in blotting out his great Transgressions open his Mouth and his Lips shewed forth his praise He attained in a little time to a higher degree of true Christianity and in the Kingdom of God which consists in Righteousness and Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost than many Professors of long standing as they have gone to work could ever reach or attain unto He longed for his dying day and to go to Christ tho' it were by the Gallows He told me that way of dying did not dismay or terrifie him He rather wisht it as the desert of his heinous Crimes than feared it He lived a sweet and comfortable Life especially towards his latter end When I enquired how 't was with him his usual answer was I find comfort in seeking God and would often say Never better And so I understand he said in the Morning before his Execution Never better He gave glory to God in taking shame to himself and his ingenuous Confession was no disgrace to him turned to good account and his great advantage He left the world and laid aside the thoughts of Life some Months before he died and in so doing he found God and thereupon lived a contented and comfortable Life Comenius tell us The Brethren of Bohemia placed the beginning middle and end of Religion not in disputing but in doing i. e in true Conversion to God and solid Faith in Christ This was the way he walked in He was like a little Child considerate for nothing but simplicity not coveting any thing but the favour of God making it his business to serve the Lord in Spirit and Truth to look up to Heaven to renounce trust in Earth and take heed of nothing so much as of oftending God or Man by neglecting any duty And being taken up with these things he had learned to be content in a Prison He placed his Religion in the love of God and studying his love and goodness and in his praises He was more solicitous about his duty to God than about his dealings with him as knowing he would do all things well and he so lived as one devoted to his service He seemed to understand wherein the height of a Christian Life and the greatest part of his duty consisted viz in love to Christ and delight in him and thankful and cheerful obedience to his Will God call'd him to a thankful acceptance of Christ that made satisfaction for his sins and enabled him to proceed in a sweet compliance with the Will of the Redeemer he believed in One while I feared as I told him his resting on prayer and duties instead of trusting in Christ the only Foundation he must build upon But as I found he was thro' Grace disposed not only to hear but also to follow the directions that were given to him so I see reason to hope he hearkened to his caution and counsel as he did in other particulars which I observed In one of my Visits I askt him whether he could sing and would joyn with us in singing a Psalm He consented to the motion and did accordingly and afterwards seemed much to delight in that heavenly exercise to the last singing heartily as unto the Lord. He determined before-hand that on the morning before he came forth to suffer he would read the 12th chapter of Isaiah and so he did and read also the 40th chapter of the same Prophet and also Psal 46. and sang part of the 33d Psalm and after his withdrawing a while to pray with his fellow-suffer he came forth again and put on his dying-clothes and took his leave of the Prisoners cheerfully shaking them by the hand In the Grand-Jury Chamber earnest prayers were poured out for him and the other that suffered with him who would not confess he was accessory to the murder of the Child he was condemned for God stirred up the heart of divers Ministers to go to him to instruct and exhort him and to be fervent in Spirit while they prayed for him And I have grounds to hope God heard their cries He was much concerned for the Souls of others Obser 8 He did often read to and pray with the Prisoners He told a Friend the hardness of his fellow-sufferers heart had made him shed many tears He often was alone spending his time in reading thinking and praying and at times prayed with the Prisoners that would joyn with him Having obtained Grace he was willing to communicate it in the best manner he could He writ a Letter to the Father of the Maid he murdered wherein he confest whatever Charge he loaded him with it was still far less than his grievous Crime and yet he tells him there was no proportion between his Crime and the Infinite Mercy of God But what comfort is in this saith he if I have no share in it I am told there is mercy with God for me and that one way to it lies by your Door To you therefore I come in meekness of spirit beseeching you for God's sake to forgive your share and so to forgive as to become an earnest Suitor for my pardon from God Had every Limb of my Body a several living Soul I should willingly yield all up as a
put your whole Trust and Confidence in him who hath promised all them that so do never to leave them nor forsake them Which God Almighty grant he never may for the sake of his dear Son Christ Jesus our only Saviour and Redeemer into whose hands I commit you all bidding You and all the World adieu VVhich may be added to those he spake on the Ladder mentioned in the Epistle At last he concludeth his life with these words as may be seen in one of his Papers I resign up my Spirit most chearfully into the hands of God hoping to find mercy with him through Christ I know no other name under Heaven whereby I may be saved but his alone who was dead and is alive again and liveth for evermore And therefore I am confident of his most precious promises which I believe to be faithful and true as he is for pardon and immortal Life Therefore I beseech him to accept of my most hearty thanks for his great mercy shewn unto me hoping he will receive me into the Company of Spirits of Just Men made perfect to give him thanks for ever And as I desire to find mercy with him so I forgive all mine Enemies beseeching God to forgive them and to bless and comfort all my Friends that at last we may live together in everlasting life From the whole of this Narrative and Discourse we may learn 1. To despair of none tho' never so ignorant and ungodly but while the sinner is on this side the Grave let us use the means of Divine appointment It is the good pleasure of the Almighty here and there to cull out from among the Children of men the chief of sinners Sometimes he lays hold upon the most unlikely and draws them by his Spirit to his Son Sometimes he calleth the deformed and most despicable and hath a time of love for them Sometimes he rectifies by his Grace such as are of as crooked a Nature as is in Nature to be found and renewes in them a right Spirit Sometimes he who sweareth by himself that he hath no pleasure in the death of the wicked but rather that he return from his evil ways and live turneth the heart of a Swearer a Lyar a Thief and Murderer to mind his Salvation in good earnest O the unfathomable depth of goodness and mercy of the most High and Holy One of Israel I have more than once or twice read of such as have cryed out in the sense of Superabounding Grace Let none despair of the worst of sinners for our sake 2. Let not any dare to presume in a course of sin because God is gracious His mercy is over all but his special and saving mercy is bounded with his truth and granted only to the truly penitent If thou be a self-willd wretch and resolved to persist in the way of sinners I pray ask leave first of the Great Lawgiver before thou go any further Ah! but with what face darest thou beg such a liberty But if thou wilt go on without his leave then go out of his sight Jer. 23.24 where he cannot see thee but whither canst thou flee from his presence Can any man hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him saith the Lord. Do not I fill Heaven and Earth saith the Lord. He threatens presumptuous ones that fear not his glorious and fearful Name to make their Plagues wonderful * Deut. 28.58 59. chap. 29.19 20 c. But if out of his unspeakable compassion he plucks here and there one as fire-brands out of the fire yet he usually makes such know by sad and bitter experience the evil of their ways and doings and what 't is not to fear this glorious and fearful Name The Lord thy God he will wound the hairy scalp of those that go on in their wickedness and tho he healeth some whom he seeth walking in destructive ways yet ordinarily he lays the foundation of the cure in trouble and anguish of spirit and deep distress of mind 3. Let us bless the Lord with our Soul who leadeth captivity captive and makes a Thief and Murderer happy in turning to him and sets him up as a monument of his stupendous Grace that we may behold and wonder Our Converts are so few and rare among those that walk at liberty that it cannot but be lookt upon as a singular Example of rich and special grace when we can find but one among those that are bound in Fetters truly converted Fishers of men that have not the liberty to cast their Net in the broad Waters or if they have find little success are glad to see what they can get in the narrow Straights And if they can get but one Soul they count the gain more worth abundantly than all their toil and labour Some heretofore have ransackt Prisons to rake out such wretches as they found willing to swear against their own Consciences to ruine others But it 's more refreshing to a Servant of Christ to find out one that will speak the Truth in his heart and from his heart tho' it be against his own life One that confest and gave glory to God one that prayed much and obtained great Faith greater than is found among many of a long standing in the profession of the true Religion and loved much because much was forgiven and his consolations thereupon were not small That wicked one at first prevailed with him but the good Spirit at last overcame the Devil Greater is he saith the Holy Apostle that is in you than he that is in the World 1 Joh. 4.4 The blessed Spirit inclined and enabled him to repent of his Evil Works and Wickedness but Satan could not make him repent of his ceasing to do evil he was not able by force or fraud to make him repent of his Repentance or of the forsaking of his sins or of his doing works meet for Repentance Converting Grace is the Sinners rescue and deliverance from the God of this World and Christ's subduing his iniquities Henceforth 1. The sincere Convert is one blessed of the Lord with all spiritual blessings He is one of the number of the Father's peculiar ones one among Christ's Brethren and Friends one in whom his Holy Spirit abideth He is one that hath the mark of God's Election upon him and the seed of everlasting Love in him that will never die nor leave him till it spring up to Eternal Life A sincere Convert was once a Prodigal that had wasted all and brought himself to a starving condition but now he is come to himself and returned to his Father humbly confessing his Folly and Wickedness and is made welcom He was as one wounded and lying in the High Way in his blood and Filth but now he is healed cleansed and revived Should you see a Christian among the Turks used like a Horse or a Dog would not such a sight make your bowels yearn towards him Why a poor
Unconverted Wretch hath worse usage from the Devil and ought we not then to pity him greatly and pray for him heartily But if afterwards we find this sinner set at liberty among his Friends and kindly used we may well say to such a one O Friend the World is well amended with you Blessed be the Lord who hath dealt thus wondrously with you 2. A sincere Convert whatever his condition be in the World in what Degree or Quality soever he stands among Men is a blessing Converted Souls are the Glory and Treasure of the Church the Riches of the World the Substance of any Land or Nation Isa 6.13 As good Corn in the Field is the Husband-Mans Substance and not the gay Weeds These are the Pillars of the Earth or as the Stones under Ground which support the stately structure which those parts which seem more glorious do not 3. God is greatly to be praised for the conversion of any poor Soul Act. 11.18 The Thessalonians being turned from Idols to the Service of the Living and True God the Apostle tells them We give thanks to God always for you all 1 Thes 1.2 and that he and other Saints were bound so to do 2 Thes 1.3 God be thanked saith he to the Romans that ye were the servants of sin but not now but have obeyed from the heart that form of sound Doctrine whereto ye were delivered Rom. 6.17 He glorified the Holy One for turning the ungodly from their iniquities and the Churches glorified God in his Conversion Gal. c. 1. ver 22 23 24. One Sinner that repenteth refresheth the heart of Saints on Earth and causeth joy in the presence of the Angels in Heaven Luke 15.10 Thus under many infirmities it hath pleased the Almighty to put me upon improving that little spare time he hath given me from other Employment in setting down a few things of many concerning this poor Malefactor In which Discourse tho' some Circumstances be omitted and others not so exactly related as some might expect yet for the substance I dare say the truth is here delivered I heartily desired this might have been done by a better hand but seeing none would engage in this service I the least of all and most unworthy of any of Christ's Servants have ventured to cast my mite such as it is into the Treasury The good Lord accept it in his Son and make it useful to some poor Soul for his Name sake Octob. 23. 1696. FINIS A Catalogue of Books Printed for and are to be sold by Edward Giles Bookseller in Norwich near the Market-place SEveral Discourses concerning Actual Providence A Word in Season Defensive Armour against four of Satans most Fiery Darts Sermons upon the whole first and second Chapters of the Canticles Thirteen Sermons upon several Useful Subjects The Happiness of Brethren dwelling together in Unity All published by John Collings D. D. of Norwich The Way of the Spirit in bringing Souls to Christ The Glory of Christ set forth with the Necessity of Faith in several Sermons both by Mr. Tho. Allen late Pastor of a Church of Christ at Norwich Enoch's Walk with God and Christ a Christian's Gain By Mr. Timothy Armitage late Pastor of a Church of Christ at Norwich A Discourse of the Preciousness of Christ and of the Preciousness of Faith Precious Promises the Portion of Overcomers Sermons on five several Useful Subjects All by Mr. John Lougher Minister in Norfolk The Saints Ebenezer By Mr. Francis English late Minister in Norwich Directions to Spell English right The History of the Protestant Reformation as it was begun by Luther The Dead Saints Speaking being a Sermon Preached upon the Death of Mr. Newcomb of Dedham in Essex The English Presbyterian The Miracles of Christ The Ordinary Matter of Prayer drawn into Questions and Answers Two Treatises the first of Rejoycing in the Lord Jesus in all Cases and Conditions The second Of a Christian's Hope in Heaven and Freedom from Condemnation by Christ Both by Mr. Robert Asty late Minister of Jesus Christ in Norwich Obedience to Magistrates recommended in a Sermon Preached Sept. 9. 1683. By Jonathan Clapham Rector of VVramplingham in Norfolk Two Discourses one of Spiritual Blessings the other that God hath an high account of the least Grace in the Saints By Mr. John Cromwell late Pastor of a Church of Christ in Norwich Infant