IT is sad to consider, that no Fatal Exam­ples of the JUSTICE of GOD and Man can deter some sort of People from Rushing on them to their Destruction: Not only, to the certain Destruction of their Bo­dies, as being cut off from the Society of Men, but to the great and eminent Hazard of their Pretious and Immortal Souls, which are more Valuable than a Thousand Worlds; Our Blessed Saviour tell us, There's nothing can be given in Exchange for a Soul, when lost. Then how cautious ought we to be, by all ways of Virtue and Religion, to secure so Inestimable a Jewel: And since the Time that is here given us to spend well, is the Talent we are to Im­prove to make us everlastingly Happy; or, by not Improveing it Miserable for ever, we ought to be Circumspect about it.

This may suffice for Admonition and Cantion; but now we come nearer to the Purpose,

EDMUND ALLEN, was well Edu­cated and of good Parentage; but gave him­self over, when he came to Years to such Company, as made him for the future forget himself, in pursuing those Virtuous Ways he was brought up to. Before he had Settled himself well in the World, he fell into the Company of Lewd-Women; yet, being at last weary of such a proffligate Course of Life; or else wanting Mony to Support it, he bethought himself of Marriage, and in­deed in this he had the good Fortune to get the Good-Will of one that brought him a con­siderable Portion, (some say about Fifteen-Hundred Pounds present, and more upon the Death of Relations.) A while they lived to­gether quietly; but some Lewd-Women finding an Oppurtunity to draw him off and set him against her; his (as we may truly term it) Dissembled Love turned into Ha­tred; he used her very grievously, and be­cause he thought this ill Usage not A [...]fliction enough to a Tender-Heart, having spent most of the Mony he had with her, and willing to live still in Splendour, he reported himself a Widower, and going to a Young-Gentlewo­man one Frances Artis, he so insinuated him­self into her Favour, that she had a good li­king of him, without the Consent of her Friends, and rashly gave herself away, with a considerable Fortune; so that it is agreed on he had 3000l. by his Wives and his Rela­tions: But the matter being discovered he was Prosecuted at Suffolk Assizes for Poligamy or Marrying a second Wife, the former being A­live; where he escap'd by his Clergy; but this was no Warning to this to be deplored Sin­ner, for, being desirous to proceed further in the State of Matrimony, he beat the said Fran­ces Allen, as now we must call her frequently, in a most miserable Manner, sometimes with a Bull's -Pizzle, at other times with a Horse-Whip; and one time, by this cursed means, making her Miscarry, he would not suffer those Women that offered their Neighbourly Assistance to come near her in her doleful Condition. But her Heart not breaking with such violent Usage, as, it is thought, he ex­pected it would; he considered of other more destructive Ways, for, comeing home from some Lewd Women, (where it is supposed this poor Innocent Creatures Destruction was Plotted) he seemed more Kind than usual, which the good Natured Woman taking to [Page] be real, and that, as he told her, he had Re­pented him of his former Follies and Extra­vagancies, and intended to turn a good Hus­band; she seemed Over-joyed at the supposed Reformation; but alass, it proved Fatal to her, for treating her with some Rasberry-Gelly, or Cakes, he treacherously mixed Poison, suppo­sed to be Sublimated Mercury, in them; which soon after put her into a violent Heat, and flying to her Brain, caused Dis-rest and Un­easiness, of which she mightily complaining, he pretending to be very Officrous, immedi­ately fetched a Dose of Opium, which finish­ed the wicked design of her Death; though, being taxed, he said it was only Poppy-Water he gave her. This, with many other Circum­stances relating to the Murther of his Wife, be­ing proved against him at the Old-Baily, and he making but a slender Defence for himself was found Guilty of wilful Murther; and on the 6th. Instant received Sentence of Death.

Being return'd to Newgate, he grew very Melancholy: His Thoughts were taken up with Sadness, and a deep Reflection on his former mis-spent Life. As soon as he was in the Prison he Retired himself as much as the Conveniency would permit; some of his Friends came to him, advising him, To betake himself to a serious Repentance; to humble him­self before God, for his many Sins; and to Im­plore Pardon and Forgiveness for them; not to bear himself up with hopes of Life in this World, seeing it was uncertain, but to use the Time al­lowed him in a sincere Repentance, to wash off the Stains that polluted his Soul. These, and the like Perswasions, touched his Conscience with Remorse, and drew Tears from his Eyes, so that he desired them to, Pray for him, That God in his infinite Mercy would consider him, a Poor, Sinful Creature, whose many Sins had provoked him, in Justice, to bring him to this perril of Death, Shame, and Disgrace; Pray­ing by himself, and desiring to be prayed for, which was accordingly perform'd: The Ministers that vifited him, desiring him to have in his Mind the Words of the Prophet David, viz. From Blood Guiltiness Deliver me O God! He Confessed his Sins were very great and grieveous, Imploring God, in this his great Extremity, not to lay them to his Charge, but to take away his stony Heart, and give him a Heart of Flesh, that he might be touched with a sense of his Rebellion a­gainst him, in breaking his Commandments, and sining against that Grace that was once given him, to lead him into the way of all Truth and upright Walking in this his Pil­grimage on Earth. On the Two Sabbath Days that happened during his Respite he behaved himself with extraordinary Devotion, being very attentive to the Expressions of the Pro­mises of God, in Mercies offered by God to poor Repenting Sinners. Yet, notwithstanding this, at some times flattered himself with Hopes of Life; especially when he found he was Re­prieved for Seven Days.

As for Richard Butler, who went with him, in Order to his Execution, he, to outward Appearance, seem'd not in the least Penitent, having, I suppose, some Hopes of a Reprieve, or Pardon: But from Newgate to Knibbs's Pound (being near that Place where he re­ceived a Reprieve) he all along bore a Chear­ful Countenance; speaking freely to all the Spectators, and often bitterly inveighing the Person, who swore against him, &c.

But, to return to Mr. Allen: On Friday, the 19th. Instant, he was conveyed privately in a Coach to Tyburn; where there was a great deal of Assiduity used, as to his Eternal Con­cerns; not only by the Reverend Ordinary; but also, by another most Reverend Divine: After he was Tyed up in the Cart, he great­ly bewailed his former mispent Life; desi­ring others to be warned, by his unhappy end: He Prayed, and was Prayed with; and according to all outward Appearance, mad [...] a very Penitent End; tho' he had lived a Wicked Life; so the Cart being drawn away, his Soul was committed to the Hands of his Merciful Creator and Redeemer: Whose ways with Mankind are Unsearchable; and whose Mercies towards Penitent Sinners are Unlimited.