A sermon occasioned by the execution of a man found guilty of murder preached…

The Printer to the Reader.

The general Usefulness & Acceptableness of this Book, together with the speedy sale of the 1st Impression, as also some honest gain to my self & good to others, has inclined me to renew the Impression of it. But to render it the more complete, I have (yet not without hazarding the displeasure of a worthy Friend, the Reverend Person who laboured for the best good of the Prisoner in his last hours) procured (utterly against his knowledge, I entreat him that it may be with his pardon) by an innocent Wile, the true Copy of the Discourse which passed between himself & the Malefactor from the Goal to the place of Execution; judging it would contain things for the profit of the living: The last words of dying men being wont to leave no small Impressions on the hearts of the surviving Spectators; many having bin captivated & convinced, & at last converted (with the blessing of Heaven thereupon) by a Speech from an illiterate Malefactor at the Gallows, who have broken the sharp shining Swords of an Eloquent Divine, and laughed at the Shaking of his threatening Spear: and it being upon experience found that the Publication of the Prison-discourses between some other Malefactors & their friends has proved edifying to the surviving. By a harmless Stratagem I have, as is said, got into my hands a Transcript of the Sum & Substance of what was spoken: (drawn up, for ought I know, for the Author's own use, or the satisfaction of some of his private friends, who I know have asked him to do it) it is as follows.

THe general Usefulness & Acceptableness of this Book, together with the speedy sale of the 1st Impression, as also some honest gain to my self & good to others, has enclin'd me to renew the Impression of it. But to render it the more compleat, I have (yet not without hazarding the displeasure of a worthy Friend, the Reverend Person who labour'd for the best good of the Prisoner in his last hours) procured (utterly against his knowledg, I entreat him that it may be with his pardon) by an innocent Wile, the true Copy of the Discourse which pass'd between himself & the Malefactor from the Goal to the place of Execution; judgeing it would contain things for the profit of the living: The last words of dying men being wont to leave no small Impressions on the hearts of the surviving Spectators; many having bin captivated & convinced, & at last converted (with the blessing of Heaven thereupon) by a Speech from an illiterate Malefactor at the Gallows, who have broken the sharp shining Swords of an Eloquent Divine, and laughed at the Shaking of his threatning Spear: and it being upon experience found that the Publication of the Prison-discourses between some other Malefactors & their friends has prov'd edifying to the surviving. By a harmless Stratagem I have, as is said, got into my hands a Transcript of the Summ & Substance of what was spoken: (drawn up, for ought I know, for the Author's own use, or ye satisfaction of some of his private friends, who I know have ask'd him to do it) it is as follows.