falling on his knees, begged him for Jesus Christ’s sake to restore one of them, as the maintenance of his family was depending on his horses.
The thief having returned home became from that day dull and melancholy, unable to rest at home or pursue his depredations abroad, for which he could assign no cause but this, that the words which the poor man had uttered concerning Jesus Christ, (which, by the way, he was so ignorant as not to understand,) laid like a heavy weight upon his spirit. Desiring therefore his sons to shift for themselves, and secretly refraining from attempting to escape or hide himself, he was apprehended by the ministers of justice, imprisoned in Edinburgh, tried, and condemned to die.
Being visited by the Rev. Mr. Blyth and a Mr. Cunningham, who had formerly known him, he was exhorted to consider his miserable and dangerous condition as a dying sinner, and to fly for refuge to Jesus Christ. Hearing that name he suddenly cried out, “Oh what word is that for it has been my death? That is the word that has lain upon my heart ever since the poor man mentioned it, so that I had no power to escape.” The minister took occasion to preach to him Jesus as the only and all-sufficient Saviour. But will he, said the relenting thief, will he ever look upon me, will he ever shew mercy to me, who would not for his sake shew mercy to that poor man, in giving him back his horse.
After further instructions a real and most gracious change appeared in him, of which he discovered the most convincing evidence: he attained to a happy assurance of his interest in Christ, and on the scaffold, where he suffered, spoke so wonderfully of the Lord’s dealings with him, as left a conviction on the spectators, and forced
