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dreadful bad; that he could have no hope if it were not for Jesus Christ; but that he thought there was infinite safety in him.'

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I asked him, whether he was sensible of this truth respecting Christ, and whether he had reason to think he could trust his guilty soul on him. He answered, O, yes, there is no other way; where else can I hope? I want no other hope: "the blood of Christ cleanseth from all sin." O, that I may be right.' I then prayed with him, and after prayer took an affectionate leave of him. At parting, he assured me that his mind remained in the same state. I then retired a few steps from him, leaving him to the exercise of his own thoughts. He laid his head on his coffin for some time, then kneeled down by it, and prayed softly. But it now being within fifteen minutes of the time fixed for his execution, he was ordered to stand upon his coffin. He obeyed at once. Being now tied up, and waiting the last minute, he addressed the people in a few words: 'Look at me, a sight enough to melt a heart of stone; I am going to die for my wickedness: but the death I am to die, is nothing compared with the death of Jesus Christ on the cross, for they pierced his hands and his side with a spear. O take warning by me. If you were my own brethren, near to me as my own soul, I could only tell you to beware of stealing, swearing, drinking,' &c.

He asked how long he had to live; and being told, he addressed himself in solemn prayer to God. Among other expressions I recollect the following: Lord, have mercy on me, the worst of sinners. I can only stand at a distance, and say, God be merciful to me a sinner. Lord, it is

better to trust in thee, than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in thee, than to put confidence in princes. If I perish, Lord Jesus, I will perish at thy feet; but the blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth from all sin.' There were many other expressions which he used in this his last address to God, that appeared to me really suitable to his case. He again asked how long he had to live, and was answered five minutes. He desired to know when the time was out; and looking wishfully at the sun, he said, "That sun is almost down; but before it sets, I shall be in eternity, where I never was;' and pulling the cap over his eyes again, he cried out, Lord Jesus, into thy hands I commend my spirit.' As he finished this sentence, he was turned off, and died with great ease.

I have only now to add, that both before and since the execution of the unhappy youth, I made inquiry respecting his latter conduct; and have been informed more than once, by the family who daily observed him, that they never saw so great an alteration for the better in the temper and conduct of any man, in so short a time, as in this youth. And as far as he had opportunity, he discovered a readiness to forgive, and to do a kindness for his worst enemy. Thus he said he could cheerfully and heartily forgive the person, who, he declared, had sworn falsely against him on his trial, relative to his first entering the house of Mr. Bicker. Nor did he only forgive him, but when any of the neighbours sent him victuals, he said, I cannot eat it; carry it to A-, he wants it. This was an evidence of a Christian temper. Upon the whole, I cannot but think that he died a Penitent Thief.

Thus I have, at the warm solicitations of some of my friends, given an account of the exercise of mind of the late LEVI AMES. They who, with the author, think that he died in faith, will admire this display of divine grace; and carefully ascribe all the glory to God; knowing, that it is God who worketh in us to will and to do of his own good pleasure.

It is probable the author may have subjected himself to some unkind reflections, for taking so much notice of a once profligate youth, who made his exit on a gallows; but as an evangelist has mentioned one penitent thief, he expects your indulgence in the preceding narrative of another. The most that can be said, perhaps, in this matter is, that the author has made a charitable mistake; this surely will be no great crime: besides, charity will cover the multitude of faults.

SERMON

XI.*

HOPE THE ANCHOR OF THE SOUL..

HEBREW S, vi. 17-20.

Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath that by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the vail; whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest forever, after the order of Melchisedec.

IN a former discourse from these words, I particularly considered the 18th verse, and endeavoured to shew, that the purpose and promise of God are a source of strong consolation to such as have fled for refuge to lay hold on the hope set before them. We shall now consider the two last verses, "which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the vail; whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest forever, after the order of Melchisedec." The language is figurative, and if followed, will lead us to observe,

I. That the believer in this world is like a vessel at sea, driven by every storm.

* Never before printed. Delivered November 13, 1791.

II. Hope is his anchor, by which he is preserved from shipwreck, being sure and stedfast, and entering into that within the vail, whither the forerunner is for him entered, even Jesus, made an high priest forever after the order of Melchisedec.

I. The Christian in this world is like a vessel on a boisterous sea, exposed to many storms. This remark is founded on Paul's representing hope as an anchor. The mariner cannot do without the anchor, nor the Christian without his hope. Let us trace the similitude in the following instances.

1. The prudent mariner, when about to sail, prepares for storms, because he cannot expect to have fair weather always.

So should it be with Christians. In such a world as this, they should expect and be prepared for the worst. "In the world," said Christ to his disciples, "ye shall have tribulation." But it is the too common fault of young Christians, especially, to think their mountain stands strong, and that they shall never be moved; and though they who have gone before them warn them of their danger, they will not prepare for it: hence are they often overtaken in an unguarded mo̟ment; and thus Satan gets an advantage of them.

2. The mariner sails with a serene sky and a leading breeze; his prospects flatter him: but scarcely has he cleared the land, before the clouds gather, the wind heads him, and it becomes tem. pestuous; so sudden the change.

So it is with Christians. Happy in a sense of the divine favour, and swallowed up in God, one minute, the next attacked by their common

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