ed, in a great measure, to the material world: in a word, when Jesus will be all in all.

What a glorious prospect is this! let us then often think of these words of our Lord, Behold I come quickly, blessed is he that mindeth the sayings of this prophecy. Let us join the spirit and the bride, who say "Come:" O'let him that heareth say, "Come." and let him that is athirst come, for he that testifieth these things says, surely I come quickly. Amen: even so, come, Lord Jesus.

London, Nov. 29, 1755.

JF

THE

PENITENT THIEF:

OR, A

NARRATIVE

OF TWO WOMEN, FEARING GOD, WHO VISITED IN PRISON A HIGHWAYMAN, EXECUTED AT STAFFORD,

APRIL 3, 773;

WITH A

LETTER TO A CONDEMNED MALEFACTOR,

AND

A PENITENTIAL OFFICE:

FOR EITHER

A TRUE CHURCHMAN, OR A DYING CRIMINAL,

EXTRACTED

FROM THE SCRIPTURES AND THE ESTABLISHED LITURGY.

This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation, That Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show forth all long-suffering, for a pattern to them who should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting. 1 Tim. i. 15, 16.

THE

PENITENT THIEF.

Ir justice and truth are debts that we owe to all men, without excepting a dead malefactor; when we publish his crimes it is certainly wrong to swell the black catalogue, by rashly charging him with the commission of the unpardonable sin. An honest man has no right to rob a penitent thief of the honour of dying better than he lived, which is the only alleviation of infamy that his deplorable case can possibly admit of.

A letter which I wrote to the unfortunate young man, who is the subject of the following narrative; and which some hasty publishers of dying speeches have printed without my leave, having given a kind of sanction to a groundless report, that he died "quite unconcerned,' as a stupid hardened reprobate, I think it my duty to clear him from the charge of final impenitency, a sin far more destructive than those crimes for which he justly suffered. Nor do I see why even a dead thief should be wronged, especially when doing him justice may profitably entertain, and savingly edify the living.

John Wilkes was born at Darlaston, about three miles from Wolverhampton in Staffordshire. His father dying when he was a child, his mother bound him apprentice to a Collier, who unfortunately delighted in cock fighting; a barbarous sport at which wicked men too frequently train up idle boys in all manner of mischief; eagerly teaching them by their bad example the destructive art of betting, lying, cheating, squandering, cursing, swearing, cruelty, hating work, getting drunk, breeding quarrels, making riots, fighting as fiercely as the poor animals which they excite to tear each other in pieces.

At such a school and under such an instructor was John Wilkes brought up. When he had acquired some skill in this savage sport, which soon became his occupation, his master was suddenly called to give an account of himself and of his charge. A quantity of coals fell upon him in the pit, and he was killed on the spot. Thus was his young apprentice left to walk alone in the broad way that leads to destruction. Alone, did I say? Alas! how could he walk without company, in a road where herds of filthy swine incessantly follow droves of sly foxes, or of ravenous wolves? In a road where brutish slaves of sensual pleasures, perpetually tread upon the heels of crafty cheats, or of cruel extortiouers ?

It was not long then, before the fatherless and masterless youth linked himself with a set of wild boys, whose feet were as swift as his own, to shed blood of harmless animals in cruel sport: And some of them having already made a greater proficiency in wickedness than himself, greatly hastened his ruin, together with the following circumstance. He had an uncommon success in laying wagers. Many took notice that for a considerable time all the cocks for which he interest

ed himself came off conquerors. The Scripture says, that The prosperity of fools' shall destroy them. This proverb was truly verified in him. By his successful betting he got money; and the more he got, the more averse he grew to work, the more eager to pursue his gainful sport, and the better able to defray the expense of his night revels.

To be short, his mistress unable to manage him, released him for a trifling sum of money; and being obliged to provide for himself, he began to steal fowls, that he might have the pleasure of fighting those that would fight, and eating those that would not. Two or three years ago he was committed to Stafford jail, and soon after publicly whipt for that offence.

When punishment does not mend a wicked man, it infallibly hardens him. This was evident in John Wilkes, who seemed bent upon shewing, that the wicked shall not live out half his days. Having got into a strong habit of idleness, sporting, and revelling, to support himself in his unhappy way of life, he was obliged to take larger strides in daring wickedness. Therefore from breaking into hen-roosts, with some of his companions he proceeded to break into and robbed the dwelling-honse of a widow at Darlaston, and going upon the highway he robbed a man of his watch and some money.

For

These robberies soon alarmed the neighbourhood, he was immediately suspected, and hunted up and down as a mischievous beast. some days he escaped the hands of justice, but having run the length of his chain, and being already pursued by the terrors of death, and arrested by a guilty conscience, he was at last taken, and re-committed to Stafford jail. He took his trial at last assizes, and, being found guilty of the above-mentioned robberies, received sentence of death with another young man, who in malicious sport had set fire to some barns, and a stack of hay.

Some days after his condemnation his eldest sister, who is my servant, received the following note, which one of the prisoners had wrote for him. "This informs you of my being a convict under sentence of death. I beg you will endeavour to prevail on Mr. Fletcher to grant me his interest for a reprieve, by getting me recommended to his Majesty's mercy. And I tenderly beg you will come over and see me here in a few days, who am your poor unfortunate brother, JOHN WILKES."

Stafford-Jail, March 17, 1773.

Having frequently observed, that so long as condemned malefactors let their minds run upon a reprieve, they never apply to divine mercy with an earnestness proportionable to the shortness of their time, and the greatness of their danger; I thought it my duty to cut off his worldly hopes as soon as possible. This I did in a letter which I sent him by the return of the post. The directions contained in that hasty performance being of a general nature, and such as may suit the case of other condemned malefactors, I insert them here with a few additional sentences.

John Wilkes, Your sister desiring me to make application to some person in power, to get you reprieved for transportation, I take this first opportunity of informing you, that I was once concerned in saving a young man from the gallows, because he was condemned for his first offence, which was robbing his master of some