"Talk not of Gifts, Bequests, and Wills; The Almighty alone can penetrate into the recesses of the heart, but there are crimes, in the eye of man, not to be obliterated, of which Murder is one. Though all but irrevocable exclusion from Heaven appears to be included in these words: "And ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him ;" yet murderers, with many, have their wounds easily cicatrized. Some even proceed, upon the most equivocal evidences of natural remorse, (such as necessarily arises from the retrospect of unprosperous wickedness,) to importune murderers to receive the Eucharist. If they refuse, through any lingering feeling of incongruity, it is deemed a mark of impenitence, and if they comply, from the light in which they are often taught to view the ceremony, they regard it as the indubitable pledge of their reconciliation to God, and ultimate felicity! The pardon of all crimes is certainly within the pale of the Gospel Promises, if associated with genuine repentance, through that blood" which cleanseth from all sin," but are not the feelings of sobriety, and sound theology, often outraged, when Murderers appear to lose all pungency of suffering for their tremendous crimes, and, through the folly, or cruel insincerity of their instructors, adopt the language of assurance, and die in a state little short of exultation! It is not uttered in the spirit of harshness, when I remark, (without restricting the infinite mercy of God, to the vilest of the truly penitent) that the well-being of Society depends on the profoundest conviction, that, if there be attainable remission for a Murderer, he still passes to the very verge of the Unpardonable Sin: for a man, prospectively, to deem it possible to commit murder without endangering, in the highest conceivable degree, his eternal happiness, is subversive of the very basis of morality. If this reasoning be correct, the individuals, on whose judgment rests the estimate of "fitness for the Sacrament," will seriously consider whether they do not exceed the bounds of charity, and substantially violate decorum, in so universally extending the Eucharist to Murderers, whilst, at the same time, they so promptly allay their salutary fears, and, exert their most laborious efforts to inspire them with all the loftiest hopes of the christian! "My wealth, I never will divide! "The whole I'll in my coffin hide! 75 No considerate person can doubt for a moment but that a most injurious effect is produced on the minds of a large multitude, when they assemble to behold a Murderer paying the penalty of the highest of human crimes, and yet see in him nothing but overflowing joy ; without compunction or any one quality accordant with his condition. Drowning as he is, he catches at the first straw, and being told that "Faith is every thing" and the certain passport to Heaven, he is ready enough to utter "I believe !" and to say "I repent," which means, it is to be feared, I repent of consequences, but not antecedently of Sin, or irrespectively of Murder.* As the wretched culprit is alternately singing psalms, and protesting his confidence of the divine pardon, the spectators (while gazing at the man who would have murdered, perhaps, the best of them for a sovereign, if there were a chance of escape,) are liable to be operated upon by false impressions, and to have their Horror at the sight of an assassin almost transformed into Pity. If a murderer's own mind were not too callous for such impressions, even if he entertained, on scriptural grounds, a humble hope of pardon, the sincerity, of such conviction would prompt him to keep it to himself, and not to boast of his assurance, which he must be aware would tend to contaminate the spirits of all around him. He must know that they ought to view him with unmixed abhorrence. Whatever moderates that feeling, is incalculably pernicious. If the most cold-blooded ruffian and murderer of modern times, had not been criminally tampered with by his spiritual instructors, could he have received the Sacrament, and have expressed his confidence of soon sitting down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of Heaven! *This observation is illustrated by an example that occurred when the late Mr. Ford was Ordinary of Newgate. A man had been cast for death, when Mr. F. gave him several suitable religious books, which he read with avidity, and professed himself to be greatly edified. Upon his sentence, however, being commuted for transportation, he brought all the books again to Mr. Ford, and significantly said to him, "You know, Sir, as my life is spared, I have no occasion for these books now!" "Since Elwes' dead there's no one living "Who knows the value of a shilling! Corder; who was a To refer to a still more recent instance, murderer, under circumstances of almost unprecedented aggravation! yet such were the false hopes which had been forced upon him by his well-meaning, but unwise instructors, that, in the strength of his Faith, he appears completely to have overlooked his Guilt! Incredible as it might appear, with the composure of an expiring saint, he addressed the following letter to his wife, the evening before he was hanged; not in penitently acknowledging, before God and man, the enormity of his transgressions; not in bewailing the fate of the unfortunate young creature, whom, without preparation, and in the moment of unsuspecting confidence, (from cool premeditation,) he had inhumanly butchered, but, in uttering strains of triumph at his proximity to a Better World! · declaring, as the fatal morning approached, that, “in two hours he should be in Heaven,” — whilst, at the very moment, a lie was in his right hand! How easy, under some circumstances, is the acquisition of spurious faith! He proceeds. "This is certainly a most severe "affliction for you: let us look over a short space of time, and we “shall all be no more. Hoping we shall obtain that happy state, "where there shall be no more sorrows-no more pain—and where "all tears shall be wiped away, for ever, from our eyes. Let us "remember our afflictions come from a good and gracious God. “Who diligently seek him—yes, my dearest wife, he has assured us, by his prophet Ezekiel—when the wicked man turneth away " from his wickedness, and doeth that which is lawful and right, " he shall save his soul alive. Oh, what encouragement for us to press forward for the prize with resolution—a crown of glory, incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away. 46 66 "Your affectionate husband, W. C." There is no hazard in affirming, that the mind which does not rise in instant, and instinctive hostility, at the reading of the above letter, has lost its purest, and most discriminating feelings. From these considerations, it becomes a question, whether the Episcopacy, as an effectual bar to such delusions, ought not to exclude from the Sacrament, (utterly and indiscriminately) all Murderers. Whilst it is thus, unhesitatingly administered to the most horrible of assassins, infidels will sneer, and, (from its injurious effects, both on the Criminal and the Public,) the discreetly pious will mourn. "Were he alive-(it is my whim) 80 85 "No! neighbour, no! I'll hold it fast! "There's not a soul, not even you, "That I would give a penny to." 90 "I scorn your pence! Now full behold me! "In that said Corn you lately sold me ; "You served me in a dexterous way, "By stuffing half the sack with Hay! "But let that pass, since Scrape-all never Again will play me trick so clever. 66 66 Now, father, mark the words I tell, "And fancy it your funeral knell! "Strive how you will, your 95 wealth to save, 100 "You cannot hold it in the grave ! Although, Old Gripe, it rend your heart, "Your god and you, at length must part!" Said Scrape-all, sorrowful and slow, "Well then! come twenty years, or so, "And I will think on this affair, 105 Cried Blunt, "No moment lose! you now "Your head with age, and palsy, bow!"I guess, when Jack, your wealth has got, "He soon will spend it all! a sot! 110 "And ere you've closed your eyes a year, “ Behind a prison grate appear!" He says "Though scarce your eye endures him, "One little word, 'I give,' secures him." "O, spare me, friend! that subject frets me; "The thoughts of Jack, in fever sets me : My spend-thrift nephew, here, I swear, "Shall never be rich Scrape-all's heir!" "Then make your Will! or, 'twill be so! "He'll have it all, when you are low." "What, make my Will, just past my prime, ""Twould be to die before my time!" 'Nay," Blunt replied, " be well content ! "You will not die, nor Jack lament "The sooner for this instrument : "And I would more in candour say 120 "Do good, friend Scrape-all, while you may ! "Or else, when dead, your wealth bestow; 66 (You will not see the money go! ~) 'Erect, and you will gain renown, "A school, within your native town; "Then build a hospital, that fame May long perpetuate your name; "Thus, when has ceased your mortal reign, "For Cried Scrape-all, "Never, whilst I live, "Will I a mite to any give! 130 135 |