A NARRATIVE OF THE Extraordinary Penitence OF Rob. Maynard, Who was CONDEMNED For the Murder of John Stockton, Late Victualler in Grub-street. And Executed at TYBURN May the 4th. TOGETHER with the SEVERAL CONFERENCES Held with him in Newgate: As also a Copy of the Papers which he left to be Published after his DEATH.  
By Joseph Stevens Lecturer of Cripplegate on Sunday Mornings.  Quem poenitet pecasse, penè est innocens. 
London, Printed for John Dunton at the Raven in Jewen-Street 1696.— Price 6 d.   

An Account of the Penitential Behaviour of ROBERT MAYNARD, etc.  
RObert Maynard, (a Stranger to me) Condemned the last Sessions but one, and Executed the 4th of this present Instant, as being concerned in the Barbarous Murder in Grub-street; was very Importunate with his near Relations, to engage my Assistance in the Preparation of his Soul for another World. Upon whose Request I Complied, and, as often a● I had Opportunity, I Visited him. He seemed to be filled with Sorrow for his Many, and Crying Sins, Expressing, That his Load was very Ponderous, and Insupportable; not only Disturbed at the Thoughts of his Shameful End, but extremely Terrified upon a View of his most Vicious Life, which was the Occasion of his Approaching Unhappy Exit. When first I was admitted to him; he Asked me, Whether there was any Hope of Salvation for such a Vile Wretch as he? for, Replies he, As my sins are great, so they are attended with the Highest Aggravations, as being committed against my Conscience, which often interposed, and would have diverted me from many , and Sinful Perpetrations; but I, foolish, giddy Wretch, unwilling to be subject to this Monitor, betook myself to excessive Drinking, Lose Company, and such like, to drown its Cries, and Screeches, and to render myself Unmindful of its Items. With what Face therefore dare I look up towards Heaven, and Ask Pardon of that God, whose Vicegerent I have so proudly disobeyed, and offered so much contempt unto? How can I beg for an Interest in Christ, who have all my Life-time raked in his Wounds, Crucified him daily afresh, and put him to an open shame? And here he fell into a Strong Agony— My Business with him being to prepare him for his Approaching Death, I thought myself obliged to Answer him to this effect. That Sinners, who have lived all along in Open Defiance to Heaven, and brought themselves to an Untimely End by their Lewd Courses, cannot, (if sensible of their own Unworthiness,) with much Confidence look up to that offended Majesty, and hope for Pardon, because it is to be presumed, that Repentance, hurried by a dread of a Shameful Death, and a Fearful Expectation of Hell, is generally so hasty, and inconsiderate, that it consists more in Words, and a few Tears, than in an absolute Coversion of the Heart, Will, and Affections. But then I urged, that the Fear of Hell usually is the first thing which awakens Vicious Men, and brings them to a Serious Thoughtfulness; and though such was the supposed Motive of his Return, yet I cautioned him against Despair; adding, That though his Conversion be late, and the time short that he had to effect it in, yet, if it be sincere, out of Love to God, and hatred to Sin, as this is the Scriptural Notion of Repentance; so this is the best means to prevail with God to be reconciled, and to Pardon his Iniquities, Transgressions and Sins. Upon which, he burst out, By the help of God I will spend the time I have to live in a strict search, and examination of my Heart, I will not take things upon Trust, I may easily be deceived in the Matters of my Soul; for the Devil is very ready to suggest, that I have Wept enough. I have Read, said he, that the Devil goes up and down, like a Roaring Lion, seeking whom he may devour; he has Seduced, Tempted, and Betrayed me, and has now brought me into these Unhappy Circumstances; but, I hope, through Divine Assistance, I shall be enabled to prevent him from tumbling me into Hell. O Lord, help me now in my great Extremity, give me not over to the will of the Common Enemy; vouchsafe me a Portion of thy Grace, and I will endeavour to improve it to thy Glory, and my Souls good. I humbly confess that I do not deserve it, because I too sadly remember that I have all my Life-time turned it into wantonness; but thou art a God whose Nature is to show Mercy, and to pass by sins Hearty Repent of: Here his Agony ceased; and being in a fit frame of Spirit for Prayer, He Asked me to join with him in that Duty, which I did readily; and, while he was engaged in it, he seemed very Devout and Earnest, as if by his Importunity he would have Wrested Mercy out of the Hands of God. The Duty being over, he thanked God for that blessed opportunity. I than took my leave of him for that time, giving him directions how he should order his Conversation till my next Visit.  
A bout two or three days after, I went again; and when he was brought to me, he uttered words to this effect, Blessed be God that ever I came into this Prison; I might have been now running on headlong into Hell, treasuring up for myself wrath against the day of Wrath. I find so much comfort in my present Circumstances, that, me thinks, I had rather Dye than Live; for though God has justly permitted my sins to betray me into this misery, yet I perceive he delights not in the Death, the Eternal Death of Sinners; though he suffers my Body to be Punished, yet I have hope, he will save my Soul for the sake of his Son Jesus Christ. Here I interrupted him with this Query, What Testimony he could give of the sincerity of his Repentance? And upon what ground his hope of Heaven was founded? He Answered me thus, as near as I can remember, My Heart is affected with a deep sorrow for my Sins, the thoughts of them fill me with indignation against myself; I am very odious in my own Eyes, it grieves me that I should offend that God, who gave me Life, and Breath, and all things. Time was, and very lately too, that nothing so much delighted me, as the being Drunk, keeping Company with lewd Women, Swearing and doing mischief unto others; but now I abhor and condemn myself, and wish I could recall my misspent time— I Answered him that these were good Instances of Godly-sorrow, but withal hinting to him, that this Repentance might be Superficial, and not of much depth; for that the Heart being deceitful, it might Cozen him in his judgement, and insinuate the belief into him that he was a Devout Publican, when only a vainglorious Pharisee.— He replied, I hope my watchfulness over my Heart, will prevent my being deceived by it: And this is my hope, that whereas I never once considered of my miserable state, but run on Jollily in Sin, so now I am afflicted and sore troubled upon a Reflection, and though God has made use of this method to awaken me, yet I hope it is as an earnest of future mercy.— The Night drawing on, I ended my Conference with him in Prayer.  
The next time I Visited him, was in the Evening before the designed Execution Day, after the last Sessions but one; and going into the Condemned Hole, I found him, with the rest appointed to Dye, very devout in Prayer; one of his Expressions I very well remember, O Lord, I beseech thee, let not the good Counsels of thy Minister be thrown away upon me, but incline me to be a strict doer, as well as an attentive hearer. When he had gotten up from off his Knees, spoke to this effect. O, Sir, This is the best exercise that ever I was engaged in, this is better than a great Estate, than Honours, and the most ravishing Pleasures of this World. If I had kept to this Duty, God's Blessings would have a tended me, and I had been an happy Man: But thanks be to God that he accepts of my late Addresses. I asked him how it was with him? I find (said he) that God is good and Gracious, and delights not in the Afflictions of his Servants; my grief is mingled with inward Joy, such as the World cannot give; nothing delights me so much as the thoughts of God, these spirit, and bear me up under the shame and reproach I must undergo. He asked me, What were my Sentiments of him? I Answered, That if his Expressions did proceed from a broken and contrite Heart, I did believe he was in a state of Grace, and way of Mercy. Upon this we proceeded to Prayer, and while upon his Knees, was, to outward appearance in great Raptures and Ecstasies. After this I gave him further Directions for the management of that little time he had to live, and so left him.  
The next Morning, being Execution-Day, about seven a Clock, I went to take my final leave of him, concluding, and he not knowing to the contrary, but that he was to Die that Day. Sir (said he) the happy time is come, this day I hope to be grasped in the Embraces of my dear Redeemer; now shall I be wafted over into a blessed Eternity, where I shall never weep, nor sorrow more, where no sin, no temptation shall interrupt my Rapturous Enjoyments. When first I came into this Frison my Conscience was so enraged, that I could not rest night nor day; my sleep was disturbed with abundance of ill-aboding Dreams, and was perpetually haunted by my injured Conscience; for God says, there is no Peace to the wicked, and I am sure, I have found it to be true; though sin be pleasant to the Flesh, yet it is very bitter to the Soul, but thanks be to God, that has given me his Grace to Repent of the Sins of my whole Life, and has reduced me to such a blessed Frame and temper of Spirit. Then he asked me how and in what sense he should understand that saying of our Saviour, Come unto me, all ye that travel, and are heavy laden, and I will give rest unto your Souls. I told him, that Christ addresses himself to penitent Sinners, who are vexed and grieved at their sins, entirely desire to forsake them, and to be admitted into his Communion and Fellowship; and in order hereunto, come unto him by Faith and Repentance; and they who thus return; he will comfort them with peace of Mind here, and Crown their Souls with Glory hereafter; whereupon he replied, I hope then my condition is good; for my Conscience, which was so turbulent, and out-rageous, is calm and peaceable, and am filled with a Joyful hope of a blessed Eternity. Then he desired me to go to Prayer with him, which I did; and at length took my final leave of him. Execution being over, I was informed that he did not Die with the rest of the Prisoners, but respited, as was supposed, by the Keepers of the Prison, till the Sessions following.  
It was I think, a Week, or thereabouts, b●●ore I went to Visit him; and the r●ther, because it was generally reported, that he behaved himself very unseemly in the Prison, Cursing and S●earing, and living after a lose and debauched rate; that he had broken his letters, and attempted the breaking G●al. I inquired of Mr. Tokefield the ●lark, and of some others belonging thereto, of this matter, who told me, Tha● they never had a Prisoner who carred himself better; and that he was often heard to Pray, and Sing Psalms. But it unhappily falling out, that a Criminal, who had broken out of one or two Goals, being confined in the Condemned Hole with him, who was a very Reprobate, tempted him to Saw off his Shackles, which he did; and told him, That he could procure his Rescue; but being discovered, he was Chained down close to a Ring, fastened in the Dungeon for such a purpose: He told me, It was a very great grief to him to be confined wi●h such a lewd Person, for he often interrupted him in his Devotion, and did all he could to be troublesome and vexatious.  
And here he took occasion to give me a large Account of the Murder, and Robbery committed in Grub-street, for the which he was Condemned to die; (though I had before many Discourses with him about it,) it will not be amiss to Insert HIS RELATION.  
‛ Being, said he, redued to Poverty, not for want of Work, but through my own Extravagancies, I sought all opportunities to gratify my craving Appetite, and joined myself with such Company which best suited my Wicked Intentions. At length Mr. Stockton, the Person Murdered, was the Man we pitched upon to Rob and Rifle; and one Evening, I, together with one Mercer, and one Bevin, went to this Stockton's House to Drink, and he and the rest of us were very Merry, but impatiently waiting for such a time of Night as would be most proper for our Intended Robbery. I take it upon my Death, that I had no Murder in my Heart, nor had I any such Bloody Design, nor did the rest of my Accomplices mention any such thing, before, nor after we came in. Between the Hours of Twelve and One (I think that was his Expression) we gave a Signal to each other that it was high time to begin our work. Accordingly I laid hold of Mr. Stockton, pulling him by the Neck-cloth, and Conjuring him to be quiet, or otherwise it would be the worse for him One of the other two Seized him, while I Bound his Kinswoman, and the other went up the Stairs to Plunder; but presently came down, and Swore, he could find none of the Money so much talked of: Instantly I went up, and brought down the Money, and, to my great surprise, found the Poor Man dead: I asked who Murdered him? One of them Replied, I did, the Old Dog would not be quiet, and therefore I Knocked him o'th' Head. I said, I had rather lost all we came for, than this should have happened.  
‛ When we were coming out, Mercer (I think he said so) would have gone back again, and killed the Woman; for than says he, we shall have no body to Witness against us: but I restrained him from that Bloody Action, and so we went to my House, and there Shared the Money amongst us, and sent the Plate away to be Melted down.  
‛ And this, said he, is the great Burden that has Oppressed and Wounded my Conscience. For though, says he, I did not actually Commit the Murder, yet I was in their Company that perpetrated it, and therefore hold myself equally Guilty with them; and am not only justly Condemned to Die a Temporal Death, but, without Infinite Mercy, must Die Eternally.  
‛ That which most troubles me, is, that I should be Instrumental of sending a Man into another World, without any Intimation of his Sudden Death, or giving him Time to Beg God's Pardon, and Mercy.  
‛ I am not so Rigidly dealt with, though the Law has Condemned me, yet it gives me time to Repent of this, and all other my Sins; and the Lord grant I may Improve the Time so Mercifully allowed me.  
Here I Suited my Discourse to his Ingenuous Confession; and Laboured to make him yet more and more sensible of this Horrid Fact; and indeed, in his general Deportment, I saw visible Characters of Sorrow and Penitency. I Visited him several times after this.  
But that which I shall further take notice of, is, That on Monday Morning, the 4th of this Instant (the Day appointed for Execution by the Sheriffs, tho' the Keepers of the Prison knew nothing of it certainly) between the Hours of Six and Seven, I went into the Prison, and desired to speak with this Robert Maynard, who was brought out to me.  
I Asked him how Affairs stood between God and his Soul? He told me, He hoped his Condition was Hopeful; only, says he, I am troubled with abundance of vain, wand'ring Thoughts, which very much interrupt me when I am Praying.  
To this, I answered, That this is a common Calamity, and no Christian is freed from it, but more or less is unhappily disturbed by wand'ring thoughts; I urged, that God would not impute these unto him, if he did not nourish, and entertain them with delight and complacency, but upon the first knowledge of them, laboured to cast them out of his Mind; that Men are accountable for Evil Thoughts, when they are Entertained with Desire, and harboured as Incentives to Sin.  
He Answered, I have, and yet do strenuously endeavour to eject them, as Perverters of God's Worship, and Enemies to the Preparation of my Soul for his Embraces.  
In the Interim, the Great Bell in the Neighbouring Steeple began to Tole; he listens, and in a Great Agony cries out, What we die to day? I did not know it before; this is my Passing-Bell; it would have much troubled me to have heard it, and had left the Work of my Soul unwrought; but blessed be my good God, who has assisted me by his Grace and Blessed Spirit: I am not afraid to Die, nor nor doth the Noise of that Bell cast me down, but rather urges me to be still working on till my last period.  
Come, says he, once more to Prayers, it is a blessed thing to approach God in Prayer, and I am never better than when I am upon my knees.  
When the Solemnity was over, He asked me to go with him to the Place of Execution, and I did.  
He told me, that he had left SOME PAPERS, which he desired me to Print, for the Good of all those who survived him; and would not be easy, before I had made him a Promise, that I would Print them; I have therefore affixed them, as his Own Copy, which I have by me; making no Deviations from his Sense, only Correcting some Passages, which, through Distraction of his Thoughts, and other Inconveniences which attended him, might be indigestedly Penned.   

THE PAPERS Left by Robert Maynard, Which he desired might be Published after his Death.  
I Considering that being now summoned to a speedy appearance before the impartial and most dreadful tribunal of the just and Righteous Judge of all the Earth, there to answer for those many and heinous sins visible in my vicious and ill lead Life: I hold myself obliged to enter into a narrow search, and a very close Inspection of my heart, and all my ways; indeed are great and many, so great that they justly bring my body to shame and ruin, and my Soul, (if God have not mercy upon it) to endless misery.  
These general Considerations have almost distracted my thoughts; yet I cannot find any rest, till I have made a more diligent search, a more distinct and particular discovery of all that wickedness that has been damned up in my heart. My sins have now found me out, and God's Justice has overtaken and arrested me. So that now being to be made a spectacle of shame to the world, I leave these as a warning behind me, that all who hear, or read them may fear to do wickedly.  
Let the consideration of my unhappy condition, add weight to my words.  
Dying men surely will not dissemble, and put the World off with shams and lies; I will speak the Truth to God's Glory and my own shame.  
I confess then that the Hand of Heaven has been exceeding Bountiful to me; he has given me all things richly to enjoy. I had no reason to murmur, as if my Portion had been sparing, either in Spiritual or Temporal things.  
For, First, I came of very Honest and Godly Parents, who took great care to bring up their Children to know their Duty toward God and Men. But I, the worst of all (after my good Father and Mother had instilled what Goodness they could into me) would not thankfully receive the Grace of God tendered to me, to Cultivate and Rectify my Rude Nature, nor be subject to their wholesome instructions, but followed the Notions of my corrupt Heart, seldom served God, but often doing the Devil's drudgery, sometimes diverting myself by excessive Drinking, sometimes Gaming, and other Immoral Exercises, till I became a Monster in Sin, and an Hero in Iniquity. Now Nature which blushed at a Sin, and at first made modest Refusals, is become impudent, and bore faced, and sticks not at the Vilest Perpetration. Now Conscience, which was tender and sensible, is, by my repeated imprudences, become Callous, and past ceiling.  
Little did I think of afterolaps, that there was so much bitterness in the seemingly delicious Draughts of Sin; I was not ware of these furious eruptions, and violent Thunderings of an injured mind.  
But this was my course of Life, while a single Man.  
When I was about Eighteen or Nineteen Years Old, I began to think of Marriage, and at length got me a Wife, descended from Honest Parents, who was well inclined, and frequently importuned me to be so too; often soliciting me to go to Church, and spend the Lord's Day in his Service, but I was altogether deaf to her Pious Counsels, and followed my own heady Humour, and finding by my Extravigant Courses, that my Substance wasted, and I began to be in penury and want, I betook myself to the last shift, which usually lose Livers do, namely, To List myself for a Soldier; I was not long in that employ, but I began to think of getting a Discharge, which I did; but when returned Home, I could not settle to any business, whereby to get an honest livelihood; but alienating my Affections from my Wife, (perfidious wretch that I was!) I soon contracted with another Woman, who, in a little time, discovered my Villainy, and with too much reason feared her Life would be miserable with me; for that if I could violate my Sacred Vows in Matrimony, it was her just suspicion I should prove false to her, and so I did; for I took no care to provide for her, nor for the Issue of her Body, but run into daily Extravagancies.  
All therefore that I can do, by way of Reparation for the Injuries I have done to these miserable Women is, hearty to beg their Pardon, to beseech God to bless and keep them from such base and inhuman usage for the future.  
You that know not the depths of Satan, and make light of some sins, especially the to too fashionable sin of uncleanness; beware in time, as you love your Souls. Delude not yourselves with these vain Thoughts and Arguments, I will only commit such and such a sin, and stop at such a state in wickedness, and proceed no further. By these Decoys I have plunged my Soul into this great Thraldom. Therefore do not thus provoke God as I have done. For when once Men arrive to such a height of imprudence, as to cast off all awful Apprehensions of God, they are readily prepared to commit all manner of Wickedness, and insensibly plunge themselves into manifold Mischiefs. Let my down-fall then scare you into a Reverential fear of God; or otherwise; if my Fate be not yours, yet hell will be your after-reward, from which, I hope the good God, for Christ Jesus sake will deliver me.  
As I am a Monument of shame, an object of Scorn, and redicule of Mankind, so I am the subject of my own sorrows, I weep, lament, and bewail the Fruits of my Folly; but let none so rejoice at my misery, as to forget themselves, and run into mischiefs forbidden. Believe it, a wounded Conscience in this Life, is an insupportable Burden, but will prove a never Dying Worm in the World to Come, it will be gnawing and gripping to eternal Ages. If you were but sensible of the bitter Agonies and strong Convulsions which have seized and overwhelmed me, as the just effects of a vicious Life, you would be afraid of sin, and dread every incentive to it. Pray credit my experience; to be summoned before an earthly Judge, to be arraigned and Tried for Life, to be pronounced by the Virdict of the Jury, guilty of Death, to be Tied up, and sentence passed accordingly; these are affrighting, and amasing considerations, which cease the Spirits, and put the Powers into confusion; but I am able to give you assurance, that these are by vast degrees inferior to that Consternation which arrests my trembling and guilty Soul, at the consideration of its sudden appearance before the Judgement Seat of Christ, upon whom I entirely depend, and hope will show Mercy upon me, as he has promised he will upon all Penitent and Believing Sinners.  
That therefore you may avoid the Shame, Reproach, and Ignominy, which I endure; be prevailed with to Keep Holy the Sabbath Day, which I too much Neglected, and which was an Inlet to all the Sins I am guilty of. Let not one Sin get the Ascendant over you, for one attracts another, a second, a third, and so on, even to an infinite number.  
When once a Man gives way to the insinuations, and fair pretences of any one Vice, he is insensibly wrought upon by another, and at length becomes subservient to those sins he had the least thoughts of, and most aversion from. I shall instance in myself.  
When first I entered upon a Sinful Course, I thought no wrong to any one, I was only injurious to myself, pestering my Body with Diseases by excessive Drinking, wasting my Substance by immoderate Gaming; but being reduced to Poverty thereby, I was tempted to supply my Extravigances by Pilfering and Stealing from others, and, at length, to be instrumental in the Murdering of a Man, for which I now stand justly Condemned to Die.  
Though I did not actually Murder him, nor knew nothing of his Death, till I came down Stairs from Rifling; yet I hold myself equally Guilty with those who did.  
And I beseech God to Pardon this presumptuous, inhuman Act, Deliver me from Bloodguiltiness, and accept of my late Repentance for all the Sins committed in my Life. Amen.  
May the 1st. 1695. My most Affectionate, but unhappy and sorrowful Wife.  
IT is now too late to wish I had been so ingenuous and governable as to have listened to your affectionate and Pious Counsels, which you often and readily tendered, out of no other design, but to be my own friend, and to make me Live in favour with God and Man. I cannot but call to mind how often thou hast followed me with weeping Eyes, and a sorrowful Heart, Praying, beseeching, and entreating me to forsake my lose and idle Company, to leave that abominable sin of Cursing and Swearing, to serve God, and follow an honest employment, and how indecently and inhumanly I behaved myself towards thee for so doing. It cuts me to the Heart that I should abuse my best Friend, and cast all thy Exhortations behind me, which were expressed with so much candour, love and condescension for these my absurd and unchristian deal towards thee; God Almighty, who is a most Just and Righteous Being, has permitted me to be plunged into my present unhappy circumstances, and given me to understand, that I have obstinately withstood my own Good, and refused many fair opportunities of being a happy Man: But, dear Wife, being convinced of thy entire affections towards me, I am big with hope that you will Pardon my former Insolences and perversnesses; for though I have foolishly sunk into degeneracy, yet I am persuaded thou hast not lost thy wont Tenderness of Spirit, which indeed may be justly hardened against me, because I have endeavoured always to make thee unsuitable returns; and if still thou hast any yearning Bowels after me, I cannot but conclude thou art one of the best Wives in Nature. I could wish I were in a condition to make thee satisfaction for those many days of Grief, those broken sleeps, those sighs, sobs, and heart-akings, I have been the sole cause of. Methinks I hear thy sweet Expressions mingled with Love and fear. Methinks I see thee dull and drooping at the rerefractoriness of thy Husband, lamenting and almost distracted, because of his inflexible Humour. Was there ever such a wretch in Nature as I! Accept therefore of these Lines from thy sorrowful and distressed Husband, accept them as the Characters of his Repentance for all the wrong he has done to thee; and read them o'er and o'er, not to indispose, but to comfort thee with the hope that I am in a way of being Saved; for though God has made use of this severe means to rouse and awaken my Conscience, yet it is, I hope, out of a merciful design to make me happy in the World to come. Be not dismayed at my shameful fall; but entirely cast thyself upon God, who will defend and comfort thee, and turn this temporal Affliction, to thy Spiritual and Eternal Good. Remember to avoid those sins, which thou discoverest me most prone unto, and all others which thy own Nature may be prompted and inclined to. Never omit thy Duty either public or private; consult the Glory of God in all thy Actions, be humble, modest, meek, and condescending, and an example of Holiness to thy Sex. Let the good of thy Child be thy daily care, nourish and cherish it, and the more, because it is Fatherless; and as it grows up, instil good Principles into it, learn it to know its Creator, and the Duty and Homage it owes him. Correct it when necessity requires, encourage it to be good, and never be backward in well-doing.  
I beseech thee, dry up thy Tears, and don't contract Distempers by immoderate sorrow. I am but going before, though after an ignominious and shameful manner, and e'er long thou must die too, and then I hope we shall both meet in Heaven. Our parting is dreadful; our adieus are uncooth and formidable, but fate has so ordered it, and we must rest contented, though not without some Reluctancy, which is incident to flesh and Blood, and now the more provoked, on account of this unhappy occasion.  
Dear Heart, I must think of stopping my Pen, for this is only the Instrument of thy Sorrow, and the sad remembrancer of former Transactions, and brings afresh to thy mind the many instances of thy slighted and abused Love; and this will be, to renew thy grief, which is burden enough already, and to represent the sense of my ill-spent Life. I beseech God to pour upon you the Riches of his Goodness, to give you all things both for Soul and Body; that you may live in his Faith and fear, and make up that lost time, occasioned by my vexatious and troublesome carriage towards thee. This is all I think fit to communicate to thee, and it is expressed with an affectionate Heart. I shall end with that saying of St. Paul, I pray God grant you, according to the riches of his Glory, to be strengthened with his might by his Spirit, in the Inner-man, that Christ may dwell in your Heart by Faith, that you being rooted and grounded in Love, may be able to comprehend with all Saints, what is the height, breadth, length and depth, and to know the love of Christ, which passes knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.  
I Rest thy Affectionate, but distressed Husband, Robert Maynard.  
Sinners remember the Expressions of a Dying Man, let them sink deep, and be perpetual warnings to you. Here ends the Confession of Robert Maynard.  
It may reasonably be presumed, that if men are not void of Natural Modesty, and bidden adieu to all seriousness, these lines will affect them, and Spirit them with resolution against the sins which were the ruin and entire overthrow of this poor Creature; who was willing to expose his indigested Papers, to public view, that they might timely prevent wicked men from falling into endless misery; and certainly if such Pathetic Arguings of a Dying Man, be not powerful and influential; it is much to be feared, that men are hardened against reproof, and impregnable to good advice. Dying men, who are seized with a quick and piercing sense of their sins, speak with most feeling, and least affectation. They tell us plainly, that sin is pleasant but for a very little time, that it puts Conscience into strong Convulsions, and Creates a very Hell within a Man's self; that it hardens him against serious Exhortations, makes him forget God and his Soul; and without infinite Mercy will crush him into the Regions below, where do dwell Devils and Damned Fiends. Who can be better judges of this than they who experience the woeful effects of sin? And who more obdurate than they who securely live in sin, notwithstanding such affectionate warnings? I shall therefore make use of this opportunity.  
First, To persuade Parents that they take care to bring up their Children in the fear of God; that they instil the Principles of the Christian Religion into their Children betimes, while they are tender and flexible, and subjective to the Admonishments of their Friends. It is a sad consideration that Fathers and Mothers are so generally negligent of this most Christian Duty; and suffer their Children to grow up with no better an Education than corrupt Nature gives them. How often do we hear little Creatures, whose tongues are scarce strong enough to pronounce their Mother Language, take God's Name in vain? Tho they are not sensible of the evil of such Profane Expressions, yet their Parents should Correct them, and they by a constant observation of their severity, would soon learn to avoid the taking of God's Name into their Mouths, at every turn, though not out of a sense of their duty to God; yet out of fear of Punishment, Train up a Child, says the Wise Man, in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not departed from it; that is, initiate, or instruct him; First, according to his Capacity: Or rather, Secondly, in that course and manner of Life which thou wouldst have him to choose and follow, or as some render it, in the beginning of his way, i. e. in his tender years, as soon as he is capable of Instruction; and when grown to Maturity, he will not easily deviate from his early Institution; the impressions made in Childish years will remain; not but that he may fall off, and become a Reprobate; but for the most part, a timely and Pious Education, produces a future Religious Deportment. And to encourage Parents to this duty of well Educating their Children, let them consider, that this is an immediate way to procure God's Blessings upon their Families; to make their Children, when grown up, to do good in their Generation; to be serviceable and useful to them when Aged, or reduced to Poverty: But above all, this Christian care will be matter of great comfort when they come to Die.  
2. Let Masters also be watchful over their Servants, pressing them by their Religious Examples to an holy Life. Master's are as answerable to God for their Servants, as Parents are for their Children. And this considered, they should keep them in a Religious awe, learn them to be sober and modest, Exhort them to whatsoever things are Just, Honest and of good Report. Call upon them to join in Family-Devotion, to frequent the Church; restrain them from the loser sort, oblige them to be meek and Courteous. Were Masters of Families thus Conscientious, Servants would be more Faithful in their Posts; it is thus expressed in the Whole Duty of Man, pag. 314. ‛ Masters are to Admonish and Reprove their Servants in case of faults, and that not only in faults against them, wherein few masters are backward; but also, and more especially in faults against God, whereas every master ought to be more troubled than at those which tend only to his own loss, or inconvenience; the dishonour of God, and the hazard of the meanest man's Soul, being infinitely more worthy our disquiet, than any thing of the other kind can be. And therefore when masters are presently on fire for any little negligence or fault of a Servant towards themselves, and yet can without trouble see them run into the greatest sins against God, 'tis a sign they consider their own concernments too much, and God's Glory, and their Servants Souls too little. Such Masters forget that they must one day give an Account how they have governed their Families.  
Religion was never at a lower Ebb than now, which speaks that Men were never more insensible of their miserable State. But Methinks this should be a Paradox, since our City abounds with Learned and able Divines, who are daily ringing Men in the Ears with the danger of sin, and the necessity of a speedy and timely Conversion. But such is the absurd folly of men, they are, as it were, glutted with Divinity, and think they are too much importuned to be happy. But can cautions in matters Spiritual be too often Published? Does not the Souls of Men call for Admonitions and Persuasions, and the utmost diligence that can be used, to prepare them for the Embraces of the Father of Spirits? Is any thing of that worth, as the Soul? For this Christ did Sweat and Groan, and Bleed and Die.  
Sirs, consider, that to lose the Soul, is to lose all and no redeeming it, after the fatal Sentence is passed upon it. Consider what a terrible thing it will be to be doomed to eternal Misery, to be shut up with Devils and damned Fiends in the unhappy Residenses of endless Torments. Who can dwell with everlasting burn? Who can endure to be Racked, and Stung, and Gripped for ever, without Redemption? Be therefore persuaded to forsake your Sins, whilst you have strength to commit them; do not procrastinate, and shift off your Repentance to hereafter, lest before that time come, you be unexpectedly Arrested, stripped into naked Spirits, and set a shore upon the other invisible World. It is strange that men must be Courted to be Happy! They are industrious enough to get Temporal Riches, eager of Worldly Honour, or any thing which may render their Lives Comfortable, Easy, and Desirable; and yet very backward in laying up Treasure in Heaven: This is a Work so unsuitable with the humour of the Age, so vastly different from those acquisitions which the greatest part of the World study for and seek after, that it is looked upon a very stupid, melancholy, lifeless employment. Time enough, say they, to think of another Life, when we have nothing else to do; when our senses decay, and cannot relish outward Delights, when our Bodies are bound down to a state of inactivity by the Violence of Killing Diseases; when the Physician gives over Prescribing, and there is no apparent hopes of Recovery. But what a pernicious suggestion is this; who can assure himself of Grace to Repent at such a time? For besides the Prevalency of vicious Habits, which are great obstructions to Repentance, it is but just with God to deny his Grace at the last gasp to those who have obstinately refused the merciful repeated tenders of it all their life time. With all the manifest imprudense of Delays, is it reasonable to suppose that God will accept of our lame, imperfect Services, a faint, Lord have mercy upon me, a few extorted Prayers, and hasty resolutions, after Satan has quaffed our Youthful Blood, and has employed us in his drudgery in our Health and Strength?  
You therefore that put the evil day afar off, and reckon upon Repentance when you come to Die; consider, that though God has revealed to men that they shall certainly Die once, yet he has not acquainted them at what time; it may be sooner or later; nor yet after what manner, it may be a Lethargy may seize thee, and so all thy Powers and descerning Faculties stupefied, and thou insensible of thy departure. Or it may be a violent Fever may affect thy Brain, and thou not name the name of God, but in Oaths and Curses, and thus leave the World. So that, since the time of our Departure hence is uncertain, since the manner and circumstances of our Exit, is kept as a secret from us, it is the greatest folly in the world to put off the business of our Souls to hereafter. The time present is that alone we can properly call our own, to morrow, next week, or month, are uncertainties; before this, we may be stripped, and sent into the other World. Work therefore whilst it is called day, for the night comes wherein no man can work.  
I hope this short application may have its designed effect upon all that read it, to the Glory of God, the well-governing of their Lives, and the Eternal Comfort of their Souls.  
FINIS.   

BOOKS in the Press, and designed for it. Printed for John Dunton.  
☞ THE Design for Recording the most Remarkable Providences of Judgement and Mercy, etc. Which have happened in this Age, (by the Reverend Mr. Turner) having been much approved of, as appears by the well Attested Relations which have been sent to him from many parts of the three Kingdoms, (none of which have yet been Printed. The said work will be Published with all possible Expedition. Proposals, and Specimens' giving a full Account of this History, are to be had of the Undertaker John Dunton, at the Raven in Jewen-street, and of most Bocksellers in London and the Country.  
The Poetical Works of the Ingenious PINDARIC LADY  
The general History of the Quakers, from their first Original, down to this present time. Written in Latin by the Learned Crows, and done into English by an able hand.  
☞ THE Third and Fourth Volumes of the FRENCH BOOK of MARTYRS (for which no more Subscriptions will be taken in) will be Published with her late Majesty's ROYAL PRIVILEGE, are Preparing for the Press; but being much larger than the two former Volumes (for these Two Last Complete the Work and contain the MARTTRDOMS of all the French Protestants, from the beginning of the Reign of LEWIS XIV. down to this time) 'twill be a considerable time before they can possibly be ready for publication; but as soon as they are notice thereof will be given in the Gazette by the Undertaker John Dunton, at the Raven in Jewen-street.  
☞ If any Minister's Widow, or other person, have any Library, or parcel of books to dispose of, if they will send a Catalogue of them, or notice where they are, to John Dunton, at the Raven in Jewen-street, they shall have ready money for them, to the full of what ●hey are worth.