The Paper of Advice which Edward Kirk, left with the Ordinary in Prison.
WHereas, the All-searching Eye of God with whom Darkness is Light, and by whom the most Hidden and Secret Things are made Manifest, has made a just Discovery of my Transcendent Wickedness; I think it equally my Duty to God and Man, to second it with a Penitent Confession, that so the dear Interest which the Meritorious Death and Passion of Christ hath purchased for the Sins of frail Man-kind may be applicable to my self: For such is the Misery and weight of Sin I lie under, that unless the Miraculous Grace and Mercy of my Creator interpose, is sufficient to press me down to the neathermost Hell. Upon this Consideration, I esteem it my Duty to Publish to the World the occasion which had the influence on my Punishment, or what is the Meritorious cause of my Fatal and untimely End. The occasion was so slender, that it rather aggravates my cruel Crime, than mittigates it. My Wife for whose Murder I duly suffer was of that Temper, that she was indefatigably officious to hunt me from Place to Place; but whether out of Love or Necessity she did it, is a difficulty to Discern, and therefore I proclaim her Innocent; and dare impute nothing to my Excuse, my Passion being above my Principle; and that Grace of God which should lead Men to a true and sincere Repentance, for want of a true management of it, was taken away from me, and I left, like the Jews, in my own Willfulness and Stubbornness, to act whatever my Spiritual Enemy the Devil could impose upon my Inclination: and indeed the influence of my Wickedness is such, that if I had the Greatest affluence of Sublunary Enjoyments, it inbitters the most hopeful passages of my Life; and nothing can be Sweet and Cordial to me but the precious Blood of Christ, which was shed for the Sins of the Penitent; such likewise is the present Punishment of the Murder; that through the sense of it, I am Involved into a Deluge of Melancholy, sometimes preventing my address to God for assurance of Pardon: yet according to that Gracious Light which it pleaseth God to intrust me with, I continually lie under the contest of Sin and Satan, and heartily beg for that Supernal Regeneration, which is a turning from Darkness to Light, and from the power of Satan, to the Kingdom of God. Now, because the world is more Govern'd by Example than Precept, I am highly and zealously concerned to propose the reflection of my Condition to all those who are miserably biased to a Dissolute and un-Christian Life; that from my doleful End, they may be cautioned to discard all such Ways as may be Effectual to draw them on to Perdition, and living without God in the World.
Nor can I forbear to express my Inclination, which was always equal to the Natural State of all Men: yet such was my Misfortune, that I added the Whip and Spur to make it Strong and Vigorous, and was as inquisitive to know Lewd Company as ready to Imbrace whatsoever was adapted to Irregularity, the Sin of breaking the Sabbath I cannot pass by, and was continually Guilty of: upon which Holy Day I committed the Heinous Sin of Murder; while Pride, Lust and Luxury, had the sole Dominion over me, and was frequently more acceptable than any thing of Piety and Godliness: Thus my Soul being surfeited with all mannor of Sin, I am brought to condign Punishment. Take timely care therefore [Page 3]all Young Men, how you are drawn in by the Bewitching Lust and Love of Women: for tho my Relations were Responsable, and gave me a Good and Pious Education, yet the Grace of God which is infinitly eligible before the whole World, was wanting in me, and justly left me to the Guilt of Murder. Let no Man therefore trust in uncertain Riches, nor bolster himself up with the sufficiency of his Friends, in order to any hopes of Security from suffering the just Punishment of an evil Life; for there is a just God that made and Governs the World, who will not only in this World, but in that which is to come, Shower down Hail, Fire, and Brimstone on those who tread under Foot the Son of God, and put him to open Shame. If this Confession and Advice have efficacy to reclaim any, it only gains the end for which I design'd it, and to God above be Glory. Amen.
Two Prayers which Edward Kirk, desired might be Printed with his Advice to Youth.
O Lord God, Good and Gracious, Everlasting and Blessed God; I must confess I have been a great Sinner, and without thy Pardon am utterly Ʋndon for Ever: and therefore I pray thee Lord, that thou wouldest be pleased to wash away all my Sins from my Heart, and give me a new Spirit within, so that I may truly serve thee in Holiness and Righteousness, those few Minutes that I have to live in this World: that when my Soul and Body parts, my Soul may ascend up into Heaven, to God on High: so that he that shed his Precious Blood for Sinners (if it be his Blessed Will) may make my Peace with God. Of all my Sins that I have Committed, there is none so sad and Horrible as the Sin of Murder is: therefore I Beseech thee O Lord, to blot out that loud crying Sin from before thy Presence, so that it may not rise up in Judgment against me, when I come before thy Tribunal-Seat on High.
Oh! that men would consider this in time, that Sin will one Day change their Countenance; however it cometh in a flattering form, pretending nothing but Friendship but in the end, will leave a Sting behind it, even a guilty Conscience, Terror of Mind, and anguish of Spirit; wherefore let us flye from Sin, as from the biting of a Serpent, that we be not stung to Death; knowing that the ways of Sin, is Death.
O Lord most Holy, Good and Gracious, Everlasting and Blessed Lord God, how Glorious art thou Lord thou art a great and a Merciful God; and thou hast done more for me a thousand times than I have deserved; I confess I have been a great Sinner; [Page 4]I have done those things which I should not have done, and I have left undone those things which I should have done. Lord help me, and strengthen my Faith every Minute more and more, those few Minutes that I have to live in this World, that when I am departed hence, through the merits of Jesus Christ, I may ascend into a Heavenly Kingdom, Amen.