Selected quad for the lemma: duty_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
duty_n	christian_n	good_a	great_a	1,170	5	2.4228	3	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A93438	Advice for the prevention of theft being a short account of the confession and discovery which was made by a condemned prisoner, who was executed the 25th of May, 1687, to William Smythies, curate of St. Giles Cripplegate.	Smythies, William, d. 1715.	1687 (1687)	Wing S4364; ESTC R42973	2,607	4

ADVICE for the Prevention of Theft Being a short Account of the Confession and Discovery Which was made by a Condemned Prisoner Who was Executed the 25th of May 1687. TO VVilliam Smythies Curate of St. Giles Cripplegate I Have been often desir'd to visit the Condemn'd Prisoners and have heard some passages which I could have wisht had been publisht for the prevention of Mischief to many Persons and Families but was unwilling to be the Pen-man of them well knowing what Censures many Men lye under for doing those things which were designed for the Good of others I have therefore visited some Persons both in the City and some adjacent places who have been accused by Condemned Malefactors as most destructive Abetters and Entertainers of them and other Robbers And I have some reason to hope it was with good Success I was under a Special Obligation to attend upon a young Man who was Executed yesterday in the Prime and Strength of his years And being satisfied that what he said was True and that it proceeded from a great Sense which he had of his deplorable Condition I am willing to adventure the publication of some Discoveries he made to me which tend to the reforming of some Mens Lives and the securing of other Mens Goods and Properties It was his earnest Desire at the time of his Execution That all Young Men especially should take Warning by him that they avoid the Company of those who lay wait to ensnare them That in order to it they should take care they mispend not the Lord's day and especially that they entertain not wicked Company by which they become the Servants of the Devil when they should be serving GOD in His publick Worship which is the common in-let of all wickedness and one of the first Steps towards that dismal End which he brought to himself I do not know that ever I observ'd any Repentance in a Condemn'd Malefactor who did not bitterly lament his Neglect of his Duty to God on that Day Those young Persons who make the Lord's day a day of Idleness little think what Advantage they give the Tempter by degrees to make that and all other to be days of Wickedness He acknowledged that there is no Pleasure but in a Sober and Religious Life and that the ways of Wickedness do not only tend to the Destruction of Soul and Body but are the occasions of such Fears and Perplexities as out-weigh all the Profit of Ungodliness And that is not all but they bring most intolerably-wounding Grief and Sorrow to tender Parents which was a great aggravation of his Trouble and occasion'd his earnest Request that all good Christians would pray to God to comfort his Religious Father and Mother who had it all respects discharged their Duties of Love towards him And I am sure there is great need of such Prayers These Considerations had prevailed with him to avoid all ill Company for the space of a Moneth or more before he was taken and if he had escaped this Sentence it is very probable that he would have changed the Course of his Actions Early Piety is the best Security against all Evils Young Men may chuse the Fear of God and his easie and pleasant Yoke but if they break loose and begin an Ungodly Life they can not tell to what Degree of Wickedness they shall encrease when they shall come off from it or at what time the Judgment of God will overtake them But my design is not now to enlarge upon those Arguments which hardned Minds can resist though they come from Dying Men when in the Bitterness of their Souls And therefore shall proceed to that which may alarm House-keepers to beware of Thieves whose numbers are so great that another Condemn'd Malefactor told me it is impossible they can ever be supprest And that there is an incredible number of Boys and Girles that are train'd up by those that are skilful in that Mystery of wickedness I think he said there were some Hundreds This young Man told me of some Houses which have been lately robb'd by Day-Thieves who have all sorts and sizes of Pick-Locks by which they can unlock any Door Trunk or Cabiner and lock them again with such expedition that the Person injured shall conclude that it must be done by Servants or other Inhabitants with them and not by those that come only as Guests to their Houses I was likewise inform'd by another that they do not value any Lock that is made in England and therefore advised me to fasten my Doors with Barrs or Bolts This Person call'd to mind some Houses which were robb'd by his wicked Acquaintance of which I make particular mention for fear that Innocent Persons have been accus'd of which I knew and was concern'd in one very remarkable instance There was one Imprison'd for One Hundred Pounds which a Condemn'd Malefactor told me he had stolen One of them is a Victualling-House in Aldersgate-street at the going into Falcon-yard Another is a Victualling-House within Aldgate into which there is a Passage through a long Entry near Northumberland-Alley A Third is a Cook 's House near the Arch at the passage out of Lincolns-Inn-Fields towards Drury-Lane He likewise inform'd me of three Houses which a Man and Woman intend to robb and have made some attempt but were prevented by going at a time when there was Company in other Rooms One is the Red Bull in Shoe-Lane Another is the Chequer without Aldgate on the Butchers-side of the Street The third is a Cook without Bishops-gate near the Katherine-Wheel directly opposite to a yard where there was a Robbery not long since committed I hope that this publication may prevent it He likewise told me that there was a Thief brought into Newgate on Saturday last who was taken at the Sign of King James in or near Spittle-Fields and that if the Mistris of the House hath lost so much Money as she pretended she may find it by emptying her Vault I may likewise give a Caution to the Gentry who live in Lincolns-Inn-Fields to which the Thieves have a great resort It hath been usual with them to go in at Seven or Eight of the Clock in the Evening and to go up the Stairs where they take what they find and carry it away without being discovered If they happen to meet any person they ask for a Lodger or Servant by Name and when they are told that there is none such they beg pardon and say that they mistook the House It is almost unimaginable that there should be so many bold Attempts pass undiscoveted as he mention'd that he knew of though he could not exactly remember the Houses I hope it will be granted that I have publisht this for a General as well as a Particular Good. And that those who keep Houses of Entertainment will either be cautious of their Guests or commit their Money and most valuable Goods to the Custody of a private House-keeper It is it seems usual for Thieves to desire privacy for the dispatch of a Writing or some other urgent business and whilst one looks to the Stairs the other make haste into other parts of the House especially into those Rooms that are on the same Floor That this publication may answer the End for which it was made is the desire of Eripplegate May the 26th 1687. W. Smythies Licensed May the 26. 1687. Ro. L' Estrange London Printed by T. M●lbourn in Jese●-street 1687.