THE CHAPEL OF NEWGATE PRISON, ON SUNDAY, Dec. 8, 1776. AT THE REQUEST OF WILLIAM DAVIES WHO (WITH SEVEN OTHER CONVICTS) WAS EXECUTED AT TYBURN THE WEDNESDAY FOLLOWING FOR FORGERY. PUBLISHED FOR THE SOLE BENEFIT OF HIS WIDOW AND FOUR HELPLESS ORPHANS. By HENRY FOSTER, A. M. 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. I TIM. i. 16. LONDON: Printed and Sold by H. TRAPP, No. 1, Paternofter-Row; Sold alfo by T. VALLANCE, No. 120, Cheapfide; J. MATHEWS, Strand; and W. WATTS, near Moorfields. M.DCC.LXXVI. KF 3877 HARVARD A$ ADVERTISEMENT. S all the profit arifing from the Sale of this fermon is for the relief of Mrs. DAVIES and her FOUR YOUNG ORPHANS, it is hoped the trade will not be offended that they cannot have it for less than Six-pence. The bookfellers, whofe names are prefixed, have agreed to pay the fame for all they fell. ACTS IX. II. And the Lord faid unto him, Arife, and go into the Street which is called Straight; and enquire in the boufe of Judas, for one Saul of Tarfus: for bebold, be prayeth. M Y defign in coming hither this morning, is, to publifh the gofpel of peace, in hopes that it may be ufeful to my fellow-finhers here affembled, that fuch of us, in a particular manner, as may have forfeited our lives to the laws of our country, may be enabled to meet death, and the Judge of quick and dead, with peace and comfort: and that thofe, who fhall go forth from this wretched place to liberty and their friends, may fpend the remnant of their days as good members of civil fociety, and followers of them, who through faith and patience inherit the promifes. I cannot tell how to effect this laudable purpose better, than by setting before you the rich and free grace of Chrift, difplayed in the converfion and falvation of a finner fo totally unworthy of it, as was the blafpheming, perfecuting Saul, fpoken of in the text. The experimental knowledge of this grace, will remove guilt from confciences polluted with the most aggravated crimes and be more efA fectual fectual to restrain the corruptions of man's heart, and influence his conduct, than all the laws of go vernment. Saul was a Jew by birth-his education was under Gamaliel and his zeal for the religion of his fathers increased with his years. Jefus had been rejected by, and condemned, and crucified at the inftigation of the fanhedrim. But yet his followers multiplied.. This filled Saul with perfecuting zeal and madnefs. Though young, he had given his voice for the execution of Stephen, and kept the clothes of thofe that ftoned him. Many of the difciples he had compelled to blafpheme. This perfecution at Jerufalem difperfed, and, in difperfing, increased the difciples of Jefus Chrift. Damafcus,, which was about a hundred and fixty miles north-east of Jerufalem, had received the word. The report of this reached the ears of Saul, and inflammed anew his refentment. Breathing out threatnings and flaughter against the dif ciples of the Lord, he went to the high-prieft, who had authority over the fynagogues, and defired letters to Damafcus, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them, bound to Jerufalem. Thus impowered by the high-priéft, and eager after his Trey, he journeyed, till he came near to Damascus : and fuddenly What? Does he execute his pofe? No, nothing lefs: but fuddenly as much unexpected, as the coming of Chrift will be at the laft day, to the ungodly asleep in their fins*. Suddenly as little defired as the unclean spirit was that entered into, that tore and bruifed, the young man, whom our Lord healed -Suddenly there fhined round about him a light from heaven. And * Mark xiii. 36. Luke ix. 39. &... pur he, he, together with those who attended him, as his poffe, to execute his malicious purpofes againft the difciplés, fell to the earth; and Saul only fo heard a voice as to understand it, which faid unto him, "Saul, Saul, why perfecuteft thou me ?" As if he had faid; Thefe my followers have done thee no harm; and their fufferings are mine, they being: members of my body.. And he said, Who art thou, Lord, that chargeft me with perfecuting thee? whereas I am only putting an end to a fert of impoftors, followers of the Nazarene, out of zeal to the Lord God of Ifrael, and the law of Mofes. And the Lord faid, I am Jefus the Nazarene [Inous o Nagapatos, chap. xxii. 8.] whom thou perfecuteft: It is hard for thee to kick against the pricks;> that is, thy attempts to hurt me. in my followers, if perfifted in, will wound and ruin thyfelf, as the ox, by kicking against the goad, injures none but himself. And he, trembling and astonished at: his fatal mistake in believing Jefus, whom he now faw the Lord of glory, to have been ac-: curfed of God as a deceiver, faid, "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" I am willing to be or do whatsoever thou fhalt please. And the Lord faid unto him, Arife, go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. And the men which journeyed with him, to execute his pleasure, in bringing the difciples bound to Jerufalem, ftood fpeechlefs, hearing a voice, though not fo as to distinguish what was fpoken, but feeing no man 1. And Saul arofe from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, having been shut with the glare of the light, he faw no man, fcales having covered his eyes but they led him by the hand and brought him into Damafcus. And he was three days without fight, and neither did eat nor drink. So ↑ AЯs xxvi, 14. Acts xxii. 9. A 2 deeply |