Mrs. James, by the advice of her friends, was induced to present a petition twice to the king, setting forth her husband's innocence, and entreating his majesty to grant a pardon. But in both instances she was repulsed with scoffs and ridicule. At the scaffold, on the day of his execution, he addressed the people in a very sensible and affectionate manner. Having finished the address, and kneeling down, he thanked God for covenant mercies, and for conscious innocence. He then prayed for all, both his friends and his enemies, for the executioner, for the people of God, for the spectators, for his church, and his family, and lastly, for himself, that he might enjoy a sense of the divine presence and support in this his hour of trial, and entrance into glory. When he had finished, the executioner, who was much affected, said, "The Lord receive your soul;" to which Mr. James replied, "I thank you." A friend then observed to him, "This is a happy day for you;" he replied, "I thank God it is." He then thanked the sheriff for his courtesy, and bade farewell to his friends; then saying, "Father, into thy hands I commit my spirit," was launched into eternity. But the rage of the bigoted tyrant did not end here. His heart was taken from his body and burned, his body itself quartered, and the mutilated parts affixed to the gates of the city, and his head set up in Whitechapel, on a pole opposite to the alley in which his meeting-house stood. At the time when the present record of this church commences, 1673, William Sellers exercised the pastoral function. The church was then in a flourishing condition; the members being quite numerous, and strict discipline maintained. Mr. Sellers was probably the author of a work on the Sabbath, in review of Dr. Owen, which appeared in 1671. His ministry is supposed to have continued until 1678. He was succeeded by Mr. Toursby, who was a man of considerable controversial talent, which he exercised in defence of the Sabbath. He prepared a work for the press upon that subject, but it is believed that it has long been out of print. His ministry ceased in 1710. About this time two persons named Slater preached occasionally, though it does not appear that they were ever ordained. Mr. Savage, in 1711, accepted the pastoral office. His colleague, the venerable John Maulden, had long been the pastor of a Baptist Church in Goodman's Fields, which he left on account of his having embraced Sabbatarian principles. After the decease of these worthy men, the pastoral office was vacant for some time, during which the preaching brethren officiated in the ministry in a manner prescribed at the business meetings of the church. In 1720, Dr. Joseph Stennett was invited to accept the pastoral care of this church. He was then presiding over a Baptist Church in Exeter, and after considerable delay declined the call.