ADDRESS

DELIVERED AT

*The Execution*

OF

JAMES GARRARD AND JAMES PERRY.

THE following Address was delivered in the Chapel of the Goal at Chelmsford, by the Rev. S. BENNETT, who officiated for the first time, on Friday, July 28, 1815, immediately before the Execution of James Garrard and James Perry, convicted at the late Assizes of a Robbery on the High Road near Romford, Essex.

MY BRETHREN,

There are certainly some of you whose DUTY it is to witness the melancholy scene before us; but, I fear, there are others who are not called upon by any duty they may have to perform, but, on the other hand, are induced to give their attendance from mere motives of idle curiosity. To such persons, then, I must particularly address myself.

You have come, my friends, to behold a sorrowful scene—two of your fellow-creatures about to enter another world, and to appear before the great Judge of all!—Their awful situation speaks most feelingly to every reasonable man. It admonishes the young man to remember his Creator in the days of his youth—the aged sinner to turn from the error of his ways—and the best-intentioned man, as well as the most unwary, to bear constantly in mind the Apostle Paul's advice, “Let him that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall.”

May their example strike deep into our hearts; and may we learn, that, if we are not always watchful to restrain our passions and desires within their proper bounds, one unguarded moment may destroy the peace of our families, the hopes of a well-spent, honest, and industrious life, and bring us to an untimely and disgraceful end.

As I have had frequent conversations with our unfortunate brethren, during my daily visits to them; and having already, this morning, spent some time in devotion with them, and in earnestly exhorting them to be resigned to the will of DIVINE PROVIDENCE; I shall not wound their minds, now oppressed with grief, by again adverting to their past life. I trust, and I have good reason to suppose, they are true penitents; that they are about to die in charity with all men; that their hopes (and, I trust, not in vain) are fixed upon the mercy of the SAVIOUR.

But, without distressing their feelings, I am sure I may say, that (were I to put the question

to them) they would tell me that the *beginning* of their sad misfortunes was, first of all, a NEGLECT of Divine Worship on the LORD'S-DAY, and their frequenting too often Public-houses.

Should there, then, be any present who may keephouses of that description, I would say to them,—Look at these unfortunate men, and make a solemn resolution that you will never, from this day, allow persons to remain within your doors an unreasonable time, at late hours in the night, and more especially so on the Lord's-Day: for if you do, I must not hesitate to declare, that you are, in a great measure, the cause of many crimes that lisgrace society.

When persons assemble in Public-houses on the Lord's-Day, or at late hours of the night, if ever they themselves are not badly disposed, they are very likely to meet with those who are ever ready to lead them astray; and, perhaps, one unfortunate moment, when the senses are intoxicated, may be the forerunner of some crime that may bring them to an ignominious death. May this be a salutary caution!

My Friends—Our brethren have now nearly done with this world—they have taken a farewell of their beloved friends, their families, and of all that was dear to them on earth; and are about to tread the gloomy paths of the valley of the shadow of death. Let us pray GOD, that it may be with SUBMISSION, PATIENCE, and RESIGNATION to the DIVINE WILL.

May they look beyond this earthly scene, to that heavenly kingdom where affliction shall not be known, and the sorrowful sighing of the prisoners be heard no more; but where, if they resign themselves into the hands of the All-merciful REDEEMER, their penitence and contrition will be accepted, their sins forgiven and done away, and where they will enjoy happiness for evermore. Amen.

Ellerton and Henderson, Printers,
Johnson's Court, London.