`Secondly,wewillconsiderthepeculiarwickednessofParricide,andespeciallytheMurderofaWife.Whatdeed,intruth,ismoreheinousthanthatamanshouldslaytheParentofhisownChildren,theWifehehadoncelovedandchoseoutofalltheworldtobeaCompanionofhisDays;theWifewholonghadsharedhisgoodFortuneandhisill,whohadbroughthimwithPainandAnguishseveralTokensandBadgesofAffection,theOliveBranchesroundabouthisTable?ToembrewthehandsinsuchbloodisdoubleMurder,asitmurdersnotonlythePersonslain,butkillstheHappinessoftheorphanedChildren,deprivingthemofBread,andforcingthemuponwickedWaysofgettingaMaintenance,whichoftenterminateinNewgateandanignominiousdeath.
`Bloodthirstymen,wehavesaid,shallnotliveouthalftheirDays.AndthinknotthatRepentanceavailstheMurderer.``HellandDamnationareneverfull\'\'Prov.xxvii.20,andthemeanestSinnershallfindaplaceintheLakewhichburnsuntoEternitywithFireandBrimstone.Alas!yourPunishmentshallnotfinishwiththeNoose.Your``endistobeburned\'\'Heb.vi.8,tobeburned,fortheBloodthatisshedcriesaloudforVengeance.\'
Atthesewords,asPureneywouldrelatewithasmileofrecollectedtriumph,MatthiasBrinsdenscreamedaloud,andashiverranthroughtheidleaudiencewhichcametoNewgateonaBlackSunday,astoabull-baiting.Truly,thethrongofthoughtlessspectatorshinderedthepropersolaceoftheOrdinary\'sministrations,andmanyarespectablemurderercomplainedoftheintrudingmob.ButtheOrdinary,otherwiseminded,lovednothingsowellasapackedhouse,andthoughhewouldinvitethecriminaltohisprivatecloset,andcomforthissolitudewithpiousejaculations,hewouldneithershieldhimfromcuriosity,nortranquillisehispathtotheunquenchablefire.
Notonlydidheexerciseinthepulpitapoignantandvisibleinfluence.Heboastedtheconfidenceofmanyheroes.HisgreenoldagecherishednomorefamousmemorythanthefriendshipofJonathanWild.HehadknowntheGreatManathiszenith;hehadwrestledwithhiminthehourofdiscomfiture;hehadpreachedforhisbenefitthatfamoussermononthetext:`HideThyFacefrommysins,andblotoutallmyIniquities\';hehadwitnessedthehero\'sawfulprogressfromNewgatetoTyburn;hehadseenhimshiveratthenubbing-cheat;hehadcomposedforhimalastdyingspeech,whichdidnotshamethekingofthief-takers,andwhosesalebroughtacomfortableprofittothewidow.Jonathan,onhisside,hadshowntheOrdinarynotalittlecondescension.Ithadbeenhiswhim,ontheeveofhismarriage,topresentMr.Pureneywithapairofwhitegloves,whichweretreasuredasapricelessrelicformanyayear.Andwhenhepaidhislast,forcedvisittoNewgate,hegavetheChaplain,forapledgeofhisesteem,thatfamoussilverstaff,whichhecarried,asabadgeofauthorityfromtheGovernment,thebettertokeepthepeopleinawe,andfavourtheenterprisesofhisrogues.
Onlyonecloudshadowedthisoldandequalfriendship.JonathanhadentertainedtheOrdinarywithdiscoursesofamiliar,theyhadcrackedsomanyabottletogether,thatwhentheirrevocablesentencewaspassed,whenhewhohadnevershownmercy,expectednone,theGreatManfoundtheexhortationsoftheilliterateChaplaininsufficientforhishighpurpose.`AssoonasIcameintothecondemnedHole,\'thushewrote,`Ibegantothinkofmakingapreparationformysoul;andthebettertobringmystubbornhearttorepentance,Idesiredtheadviceofamanoflearning,amanofsoundjudgmentindivinity,andthereforeapplicationbeingmadetotheReverendMr.Nicholson,heveryChristian-likegavemehisassistance.\'Alas!PoorPureney!Helackedsubtlety,andhewasinstantlybaffled,whentheGreatManbadehimexpoundthetext:`Cursediseveryonethathangethonatree.\'Theshiftiestexcusewouldhavebroughtsolacetoabreakingheartandconvictiontoacasuistbrain.YetforoncetheOrdinarywasataloss,andWild,findinghiminsufficientforhispurpose,turnedadeafeartohisministrations.Thushewasrudelyawakenedfromthedreamofmanysleeplessnights.Hislargeheartalmostbrokeattheneglect.