Page:Adventures of the extravagant wit, or, The English swindler.pdf/13

( 13 ) Finding this perſon to have no other deſign, but merely for my ſoul's ſake, I diſſected the actions of my whole life, not omitting any thing that might be accounted ſinful. He was amazed to hear ſuch notorious roguery in one man, and to young; wherefore, before he applied any cordial, he adminiſtred his corroſives, and ſo thoroughly ſcarced every corner of my heart, that there was nothing hid from him. In the firſt place, he made me ſenſible of the wickedneſs of my life, and that every, nay, the leaſt evil action, deſerved the loſs of eternal happineſs, and inſtead thereof, torments everlaſting and intolerable. It will take too much time to give an account of every thing this pious man alledged for my information, contrition, and conſolation: ſo effectually and powerfully he delivered his divine meſſage, that the obdurateneſs of my heart was able to hold out no longer, but meiting into tears, was willing to have its flintineſs broken by the hammer of Sacred Writ. Finding me in ſo good a temper, he left me to God and myſelf, for the perfecting of that work he had ſo hopefully and ſucceſsfully begun.

From the time of my condemnation till Monday morning I ſlept not, neither did I eat or drink: then did I hear my paſſing bell (having the day before heard my funeral ſermon) every ſtroke me- thought carried my ſoul one degree higher, being confident I made my peace above. Whilſt I was in the depth of meditation, and my foul breathing out this ſhort ejaculation:

Is there no hope now of relief,

In this extremity;

Mercy ere now hath ſav'd a thief

And may do as much for meː

Behold a friend came to me (that never viſited me during my impriſonment) but now in the time of