ONE would think , that after so many Instances of Divine Justice against Malefactors , Men would at last , begin to be so Wise , as to beware of such Courses that naturally tend to such deplorable Ends. But , Alass ! notwithstanding all the Exemplary Punishments which we see daily inflicted upon Criminals , too many … n on in their Wicked courses , and never stop , till the Justice of God lays hold upon them , and they by this means , Ruine themselves , at least as to this Life , ( if not likewise as to that which is to come , since , as Divines say , Late Repentance is seldom true . ) Would Men but seriously reflect upon the sad Consequences of evil Courses before they enter upon them , it cannot be supposed they would so easily give themselves over to them , but we too often find , that by Men's heedless running upon one Sin , that makes way for another , and that again for a third ; and so they go on , till at last they make themselves an Example of Justice , as we have many times before observed , and now of late at the Execution of the following Prisoners . But I shall proceed to give you an Account of their Confessions and last Words .

John Thompson , who was Condemned for Breaking open the House of Edward Mullins , and Stealing thence a Silver Salt , three Silver Spoons and 40 l. in Money , with other Goods , Confessed that he had been a Lewd liver and had been guilty of many Crimes , and particularly , that he committed that Murther upon Dorothy Stanton , the Wife of Philip St●●ton , otherwise called Lump's ) in Fig-lane , on the 2 d. of March , 1685. For whith and all his other Crimes , he seemed very Penitent , and asked Forgiveness of the said Philip her Husband , who was present at the Execution . He was frequently heard to repeat these Words , Whither shall I go in a few Minutes ? He likewise said , that it was not the bare apprehension of Death , or of losing this World , that Troubled him , but that he was amazed at the thoughts of appearing before the Tremendous Tribunal of God , having lived so profligate a Villain .

Richard Crook alias Hide , and John Atkins alias Lush , Condemned as Brethren in Iniquity , for Breaking open the House of William Hollyer , and Stealing thence two Pieces of Scarlet Cloath , both notorious Offenders , but now very Penitent . Among other things , Hide Confessed , that he Robbed my Lord Preston in Soho-Square , with a great many other Thefts and Villanies , having continued that course of Life for above these Nine or Ten Years ; for though he was but a Stripling being not above 17 Years , yet he had been no Novice in Villany . He sadly regretted his being drawn away by bad Company , but above all , he lamented his Prophaning the Sabbath day , as a Sin which provoked God to withdraw his Grace from him , which laid him Naked to all the Assaults of the Devil , so that no Sin seemed so horrid but he could without any check of Conscience commit it .

Thomas Birch , Sentenced for Killing two Boys of Clerkenwell Parish , viz. Edward Bunny and Samuel Wilson , on the 4th . of April . He was likewise very Penitent , and declared that Drunkenness had brought him to his untimely end ; for he said , had he not been in Drink , he might have escaped that horrid Sin of Murther he committed on those Innocent Boys ; and that never till then he had been Accused of the least Misdemeanor : And therefore he advised all People to beware of that Sin , which frequently has such sad Effects attending it , it being a Sin that drowns Reason , and makes a Man more Salvage than the most rapacious Beasts , and exposes him to all manner of Sins .

Richard Stanley and Robert Wright , Condemned for Robbing of John Clarke on the High-way , and taking from him a Mare , one Guirea 16 s. in Money , a Saddle , and other Goods , were no less Penitent than the former , making ample Confession of their wicked course of Life , begging Pardon of God for all those they had Injur'd , and freely Forgiving their Prosecutors . But they utterly denied the Robbery charged on them in Hartford-shire .

In Sum , they Died all with as great sense of their Sin as most Prisoners that have been Executed these many years , shewing a great deal of fervency in their Prayers to God Almighty , earnestly requiring the Prayers of all that were present , and begging Forgiveness of all whom they had offended .

Four of them , viz. John Atkins alias Lush , Richard Stanley , Robert Wright and Thomas Birch , Died in the Communion of the Church of England ; and the two others , viz. John Thompson and Richard Crook alias Hide Died in the Roman , and had two Priests attending them . The four former joined in Prayer with a Minister of the Church of England , and afterward Sung a part of a Psalm , while the other two performed their last Devotion with their Priests after their way . After which , they continued about half an hour bewailing their miserable condition , asking God Forgiveness of their Sins , and shewing all the signs of true Penitence . And we hope that God of his infinite Mercy has been Gracious to their Souls .