⟨avoided⟩ not only the ſeverity of the ſentence, but alſo ⟨had⟩ much ſavour and countenance, by complying with ⟨the⟩ courſes of the times. But I durſt not redeem my ⟨life⟩ with the loſs of my integrity; God knoweth, I durſt not; and that ſince I was a prisoner, he hath ſo holden me by the hand, that he never ſuffered me to ⟨bring⟩ it in debate in my inward thoughts, much leſs to propone or hearken to any overture of that kind. I did judge it better to ſuffer, than to ſin: and therefore, I am come hither to lay down my life this day, ⟨and⟩ I bleſs God, I die not as a fool; not that I have ⟨any⟩ thing therein to glory in myſelf: I acknowledge ⟨that⟩ I am a ſinner, yea, one of the greateſt and vileſt ⟨that⟩ have owned a profeſſion of religion, and one of the moſt unworthy that have preached the goſpel. My corruptions have been ſtrong and many, and have made me a ſinner in all things, yea, even in following my duty; and therefore, righteouſneſs have I none of my own, all is vile. But I do believe, that Jeſus Chriſt came into the world to ſave ſinners, whereof I am ⟨chief⟩: through faith in his righteouſneſs and blood have I obtained mercy; and through him, and in him alone, have I the hope of a bleſſed conqueſt and victory over ſin and Satan, and hell and death, and that I ſhall attain unto the reſurrection of the juſt, and be made partaker of eternal life. I know in whom I have believed, and that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him againſt that day. I have preached ſalvation through his name, and as I have preached, ſo do I believe, and do commend the riches of his free grace and faith in his name unto you all, as the only way whereby ye can be ſaved.
And, as I bleſs the Lord, that I die not as a fool; ſo alſo, that I die not for evil-doing. Not a few of you may haply judge that I ſuffer as a thief, or as a murderer, or as an evil-doer, or as a buſy-body in other men’s masters. It was the lot of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt himſelf, and hath been of many of his precious ſervants, and people, to ſuffer by the world as evil-doers; and as my ſoul feareth not at it, but deſireth
