book if any man shall adde unto these things God shall adde unto him the plagues that are written in this book and if any man shall take away from the words of the Book of this Prophesy God shall take away his part out of the Book of life and out of the holy Citty and from the things which are written in this book well still I was put upon it to continue seeking the Kingdom of God and the righteousness thereof and the promise that all other tâ—ingt should be added unto mee Then did I with some others seek the Lord by fasting and prayer for councel what we should do and wheter we should go to injoy communion with the Lord in the way of his pure worship and the Lord was pleased in love to answer my desirs in a wonderful manner for being then intangled with a house of which my Husband had a lease for some years and upon that account was unwilling to remove not knowing how to dispose of that house But yet the Lord was pleased in a short time to make him willing that I should remove if I could get of that lease and some goods I had which the Lord soon holp mee in by sending one unexpectedly the very next day after my Husband declared his willigness for my removal upon those conditions who took of the lease of the house of our hands with those goods and so I was made free So forth with I removed to a place where I did injoy the heating of a good man preach and had the sweet benefit of some private meetings which was much refreshing unto mee but yet two things I was very earnest with God for 1. One that I might be filled with the clear witness and full assurance of the eternal Spirit 2. And the other that I might injoy more full and close communion vvith God in all his blessed ordinances in both vvhich God vvas pleased to ansvver mee in some measure as to the first he did let mee see that I had sinned against him in that I again questioned that assurance vvhich before he had given mee in and then he brought vvith most vvonderful renevving povver those Scripturs vvhich many years before at several times under several ordinances vvere set vvith much povver and evidence upon my heart But first God vvas pleased to shevv mee that it vvas onely unbeief that had caused mee at the appearance of temptation and corruption to question his love and doubt about his kindness and so to conclude against my self But the Lord did shevv me that all this doubting vvas from my evil heart of unbelief the sence of vvhich one morning especially God did set upon my spirit to the breaking of my heart so that for three dayes together I vvas greatly afflicted in my spirit and continued crying unto God as one that could not be anij longer contented vvithout the Light of his countenance vvith a renevving seal of his Love long sought vvith sighes prayers and tears and in the third day morning he did send the comforther the Spirit vvhich vvith invvard light life and povver set upon my heart these follovving Scriptures 1 John 3 2. Now are wee the sons of God and it doth not yet appear what wee shall be But rather rejoyce because your names are written in heaven Luke 10 vers 20. And who soever will let him come and take of the watters of life freely Revel 22. 17. And my grace is sufficient for thee 2 Cor. 12 9. Oh! I cannot utter the joy that then was in my heart by the mighty operation of the spirit And then after that this word came upon my spirit and grieve not the holy Spirit whereby thou art sealed unto the day of redemption and then God did answer mee that there was sufficiency in his grace in Christ to pardon all my sins past present and to come Then as to my other desire which was aftet more communion with God in his ordinances After waiting the Lord was pleased to set it upon my heart to believe that my habitation should be removed and that I should injoy my desire by the time called Easter and so it was accordingly and I through mercy after I had gotten the renewigs of the seal and clear witness of the Spirit lived for about a quarter of a year as it were in Heaven upon earth but then began a cloud again to araise and I was under the buffetings of some sore temptations God with drawing in a great measure though not the witness of the Spirit yet the com forts of his Spirit which before I did injoy and I conceive this might be the cause of it which I wish all others may take heed of for it cost mee deare under that sweâ—t soul refreshing communion I had with our heavenly Father I gave way to some doubtings and questionnings whither there was not a delusion in the thing I then injoyed This temptation lasted some six dayes and I had no peace day nor night when I was awake to think that I should grieve so good a God and cause him to depart from mee And Satan not changing his weapons made mee think that there was something in mee that I did not so fully resist him for when our dear Lord Jesus was tempted he by his powerful resistance made him to change them So I lay mourning before the Lord but could not set to praying for the violence of this temptation Then mysleep dâ—puted and I grew sick then God gave mee to mind that Abrahams wâ—râ— lay before mee when he went to offer sacrifice he was to drive away the fowles Gen. 15. this work the Lord directed mee to do by laying hold upon Jesus Christ who had prayed for mee though I could not now pray for my self Jo. 15 v. 17 19. And so soon as my heart was brought to believe this I was presently delivered and in all this temptation the Lord hid not his face from mee blessed be his name And then as the Lord carried mee over the Sea where I did injoy further and fuller communion with himself in his ordinances he gave mee another occasion for the exercise of saith and Patience For whilst I was upon that voyage the vessel that I was in was pursued with enemies and troubled with contrary winds so that we were in great straits But God gave me to believe that he that delivered Paul out of his straits would also deliver us out of ours and so it was blessed be his name and so very safely was I carried unto that place that the Lord called mee unto But presently after I was there arrived the Lord was pleased to exercise mee with several afflictions First by taking away a child by death and then by laying upon my self such a distemper that my joynts and sinnews were by fits bound up that I could not stirre them nor take any rest while it lasted my pain was so great no Doctor could do mee any good though several physitians
A CHRISTIAN WOMANS Experiences of the glorious working of Gods free grace Published for the Edification of others by KATHERINE SUTTON Luk. 24 24. And they found it even so as the VVomen had said AT ROTTERDAM Printed by HENRY GODDAEUS Printer in the Newstreet Anno 1663. COURTEOUS READER WHEN our Lord and Saviour JESUS CHRIST had fed many with a few Loves he commanded his Disciples to gather up the Fragments that nothing he lost Iohn 6. 12. And when God was pleased to poure out of his Spirit upon some of his faithful Servants in our Generation he had also some of his Handmaides who gathered up the Crumes of that spiritual Bread which the Lord blessed and distributed among his Disciples Of which Number this holy Marron was one Now there are three Arguments where by it may appear that God would not have these Fragments which she hath gathered into her Basket to be lost viz. First Because God made them by his Blâ—ssing food to her soul in the gathering and receiving them into her own heart and also to the soules of several young Virgins in her family unto whom the Lord made some of these Crumes the bead of eternal Life Secondly Because when she had lost the manuscript where in these and many other of her Experiences were written in a sea storme wherein she suffâ—â—ed Shipwrack yet God who preserved her life did also preserve these â—xperiences in her heart where it seemeth they were written not with ink but by his holy Spirit Thirdly Because she beiâ—g presled in Spirit to Communicate them more publikely the Spirit of the Lord did bring them agâ—in to her remembrance and she hath been made willing to publish them as her Testimony and witness of the free grace and fresh Anoyntings of the Lords Spirit whom he hath promised to poure forth upon his servants and Handmaides in the last dayes Ioel 2 28 29 31 32. Now for as much as this little Book is presented to thee CHRISTIAN READER as a Basket full of Fragments be not offended with the broakenness of any matter which thou mayest meet with in the Reading thereof considering that God who hath made them a blessing to others may bless them unto thee Thou mayest take notice of three Things in this little Book which I judge woâ—thy of every Christians observation to wit first Her extraordinary Teachings of God by his holy Spirit and Word when she could not enjoy the ordinary means of his own appointments This godly Woman after God hath begun the good work of grace in her soul would not loose any opportunity she could get either in publicke or private for her pâ—ecious soâ—l but would often break thorrow some difficulties and endure some hard hips to enjoy such opportunities and this she did at that time when many professors sleighted and neglected Ogrâ—evous Sin yea contemned the Ministry of the word Now obsâ—rve That aâ— she followed the Lord and waited upon him in the use of the means of Grace when she could enjoy it so the Lord was pleased of the exceeding Riches of his free Grace not onely to so her soul good by his pâ—esence and power therein But also when she could nâ—t â—njoy the 〈◊〉 memeâ— of grace the Lord waited to be graciouâ— unto her soul and followed her with the 〈◊〉 teachings of his holy Spirit and word as she hath witnessed in many particulars in this her Book And if thy experience COURTEOUS READER cannot seal unto the Testimony that she gives of those Spiritual Teachings Yet do not stâ—mble at them do not judge her for she hath received an Unction from the holy One and is taught of God In the Reading of her Book thou wilt meet with some suddain and unexspected Transition from one thing to another and thou mayest think it to be some what abruptly yet Censure not too rashly but rather consider that even this also may yea doth hold some proportion unto the course of Heaven and Heavenly communications The Husbandman will not wonder to see showers and shinings bright and dark Clouds succeed each other knowing that the Rain which comes from Heaven hath its seasons and its measure too Will the Marriner marvel to see the seas swell and rage in a great storme or admire the stilâ—ness and smoothness of the deep watters in a great calme Or will any who liv supon the sea coast think the frequent Ebbing flowing of the tyde a strange thing Neither will any experienced Christian marvel at the suddain Ebbing and flowing of joyes and sorrowes in the hearts of Saints The operations and Administrations of the Spirit are various 1. Cor. 12 4 5 6 7. Some times the Spirit is poured out upon the soules of Believers as floods upon the dry ground And those spiritual showers and shinings do make a spring of Grace in the wilderness of their hearts Where of the Lord hath spoaken by his Prophets Isa 51 3. and 44 3 4. and 32 15 16 17. Ier. 31 v. 12. But at other time the glory of the Saints comforts joyes and light is so clouded and eclipsed that they are under great desertions Isa 54 vers 7 8 11. Yea and may for some time walk in dakness and have no light Isa 50 10. Secondly Another thing I judge worthy the Readers observation in this Book is this Christian womans Experience of the presence and power of God accompanying her consciencious endeavours to do good unto the souls of others both in her own family especially and also in some other families where she so journed some time I mention not this for her praise who desires that God alone may have all the Glory of whatsoever he hath done for her or by her she needs no Epistâ—es of Commendation from men But seeing her Experiences are made so publicke my hearts desire is that Parents and Governours of families would follow her Example therein Endeavouring as she did the Conversion and sanctification of them whom God had committed to their charge by Instructions councel and reproose which she administred with so much love wisdome zeal and tenter heartâ—dness that they proved by Gods blessing an effectual means of the conversion of many some of whom are yet living witnesses of the truth hereof and also of many other her Experiences related in this her Book She was not onely a Governesse but as it were a Prophetess in her family for she prayed constantly with her children and Maidens she also read the holy Scriptures daily unto them and so spake from them that many of them who heard her in her family duties believed and turned to the Lord. She opened her mouth with wisdome and in her tongue was the Law of kindness a Solomon spake of the virtuous woman Pro. 31 26 27 28 29. She did so Chatechise the young children and instruct the elder maidens that they all learned to know and many of them to do their duty to God and man Thirdly there is yet one thing more which
the pit And lowest place of Hell Admire admire my love to thee VVhich took thee from so low And set thee in high places free VVhere thou my love might'st know VVing thou aloft and cast thy self Into mine Arms of love Look up look up and thou shalt see My glory is above Let not the wicked know thy joy But let my servants hear VVhat I have done for thee my love Since thou to mee drew'st near My servants walk in clouds and bogg's They do not see my light The day draws near and will appear That I will shine most bright I will appear in my glory and be a perfect light Admire admire the thing that I will do All nations shall it hear and know VVhat I am doing now I will a habitation be To them that fear my name They shall lie down in safty and Give glory to the same All they that in high places sit And takes their honours low Shall be made tremble quake and pine VVhen they my Iustice know Come hide come hide come hide with me Come hide thee in the Rock Come draw thy Comforts high from mee I my treasures unlock Also it was agreed upon by some of the Lords people with whom I was then present that we should appoint and keep a day of solemn seeking the Lord by fasting and prayer that wee might know what was the duty Gods poor Children ought to be found in at that time but after this was agreed upon and the day appointed I was before the time came removed about 30 miles from them and so that thing went out of my minde but God by his Spirit set me upon the same work by five in the morning the same day and about the middle of the day God brought to my remembrance that agreement so we were at the same work at the same time though far distant one from another and indeed the Lord was graciously present pouring out much of the spirit of prayer and supplication after which earnest seeking of God was this following prophesye given in unto mee Shall light appear and darkness done away Shall Sommers green be cloathed all in gray Shall a bright morning set in shadowees dark Oh! England Englandâ— take heed thou dost not smart And after this prophesy was set upon my heart that notable promise 2 Chro. 7 14. Iâ— my people which are called by my name turn from their wicked wayes then will I hear from heaven and forgive their sin and will heat their Land Next morning about four of the clock being in my bed I had this laid before mee that God would affict that nation with great afflictions but I not knowing what God would try the Nation with did desire this of the Lord that I might chuse with David rather to fall into the hands of God then into the hands of merciless men it was much upon my heart at that time that the Lord would turn a fruitful land into barreness for the wickedness of them that dwell therein Then the Lord was pleased to lay upon mee a sore affliction which I finding my self very unable to bear did as it were repent mee that I in any measure had chosen my condition and did not rather wholy submit to the will of God but the Lord did mee good by it and his strength was made persect in my weakness Then was it much set upon my heart to consider what then were the sins of the nation for which there was cause of great humiliation and indeed the consideration of these following evils was much set upon my heart 1. That great sloathfulness deadness and unfruitfulness under the means of grace which we injoyed for which the Lord threatened of old Isa 5 vers 5 6. To lay his vineyard wast to plucke up the hedge and breake downe the wall there of 2. That great abounding sin of unbelief notwithstanding the large experiences we had of Gods power for us and love to us And this I saw did cause persons to seek themselves and the world Unbelief cut them and us short of that rest that many yea the most of us promised to our selves As this unbelief of old cut Israel short of rest Heb. 3 10 11. 3. That Idolatry which mee thought I saw abounding in the nation in a threefold sence 1. First in respect of false wayes of worship contrary to the rule of the Gospel and primitive exemple 2. Secondly in respect also of resting upon duty and so not resting upon Iesus Christ that Rock of ages this also was one of poor Israels evils crying out the Temple of Lord c. Ier. 7 4. 3. In respect of coveteousness this in Scripture is called Idolatry also Oh! that too too earnest desire that was in some after the Foulish vanities of this present evil world and in others after the vain profits of the world and in others also after the vain glory and preferment thereof these things were much upon my heart and this was that for which God was angry of old with his people and smote them and hid his face from them Isa 57 17. 4. Fourthly That pride that I saw abounding in the lives of many I fear was in the hearts of others Which appeared in their slighting the Councel of Gods Spirit and their persifting to go on in seeking and setting up self nothwithstanding the hand of God against them These sins being very much set upon my heart with a deep consideration of many Scriptures some of them was very great and sore threatnings and other some were most sweet and precious promises to such as repent and departe from all iniquity one of which I remember was that very remarkeable place 2 Chron. 7 14. Then I looked upon it as my duty to make this known that people might be warned to depart from sin that so they might not partake of the great wrath and sore displeasure of God which I much feared was coming Then soon after I had an oppertunity to declare this to some that then were in high places and in the very entring I had this added which I also declared Didst thou not hear a voyce from on high Deny your selves take up the crosse or verily you shall die And this was approved on by some and received as a very sluitable and seasonable word but pour soules for not hearkening unto councel in departing from sin they were soon brought down and laid low yet there is mercy with the Lord that he may be feared and he will manifest his love to all them that truely repent and we may all make a good use of this experience therefore let others harms become our warnings Also about the year 1658. to the best of my remembrance for having lost my book in which I had set them down in order I now wait onely upon the Lord and as he by his Spirit helps mee so I give an account of these things It was given in with aboundance of power upon my spirit these few
words following Awake therefore to righteousness This was again brought to mind in January 1662. The Lord is near at hand And will afflict now very sore By sea and like by land And this seemes to agree with and is a further addition to what wa's given mee in before in the Year 1657. which is as followeth There is a time approaching near at hand That men shall be in fear by sea and land There is a time there will be alteration And this same time doth hasten to this nation Let now my children hearken to my will And they shall see I will be with them still These with many more such things came upon my spitit and then after seeking the Lord he was pleased to shew mee by degrees what was the work of the day for I am a stranger and a Pilgrim therefore I seek sor a Kingdom whose Buylder and Maker is God I desire not to set up the Idol of covetâ—ousness but to have it to be my meat and drink to do the will of my Father which is in heaven and 't is my onely desire to deny my self and to honor him seeking to know the present work of the day some Scriptures with many waity considerations were set upon my heart Hezekiahs prayers and tears which were accepted of God when his heart was broaken A broaken and a comrite heart is acceptable in the sight of God and he will dwelâ— with such Isa 57 15. rend your hearts and not your garments and turn to the Lord indeed when much of the sorm of Godliness appears but the power is waming then it is a time to mourn and in some it hath been so in all ages theresore Gods Prophet was bâ—d cry aloud and spare not Isa 58 1. VVhen sinlies hiden in the heart nothing is accepted Isai 58 2. Yet yoe seek mee early and desire to know my wayes as a nation that did righteousness read and mind the whole Cnap Isa 15 16. Cease to do evil saith the Lord and learn to doe well c. But unto the wicked God saith what hast thou to do to declare my statutes or that thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth seenig thou hatest to be refâ—rmed then it came upon my heart that the duty of the present time was for the people of God to be very much in these following things The work of the day 1. First to be watchful that the caâ—es of this world and the deceitfulness of riches make us not to forget the coming of Christ and the glory that shall then be revealed 2. Secondly be moderate in all things the Lord is at hand be patient and act much faith be much in prayer do good lay up treasures in heaven these be all very weighty things 3. Be much in humiliation seek not great things for your selves in a day when God is pulling down God pronounceth a 〈◊〉 to them that are at case in Sion that put far away the evil day and cause the seat of violence to come near A mos 6. vers 3 4 5 6. that lie upon beds of Ivory and stretch themselves upon their couches and eat the lambs out of the flock and the calves out of the midst of the stall and so fill themselves in seasting delighting in Musick and drinking wine in bowles but are not grieved for the afflictions of Joseph And the same evil the Prophet Isaiah complaines of also in the 22 of Isa vers 5 9 12 13 14. In that day the Lord God of Hâ—asts called to weeping and mourning and to baldness and girding with sackâ—loath and behold joy and 〈◊〉 slâ—ying oxâ—n and killing of sheep c. In what day was this you may sâ—e in the 5 and 9 verses it was a day of trouble and â—teading down and peâ—plexity But see how the Lord takes notice of this their contrary â—â—â—riage in the 14 verse he chargeth it upon them as such an iniquity as he tells them shall not be purged from them till they dye verse the 14. It is said when the Judgments of God are abroad in the earth the inhabitants thereof shall learn righteousness But it is threatened they shall have no peace who go on in the wayes of sin and wickedness but all that would have peace must come from sin unto Jesus Christ and walk in the way of peace by this way we hide in the rock and enter into the secret chambers where God had promised to keep us till his indignation be over past Then benig troubled in my spirit the Lord was pleased to give in these following promises as special comforts against those great and publique calamities which were coming I even I am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake and will not remember thy sins Isai 34 25. I also will leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people and they shall trust in the name of the Lord. Zeph. 3 12. And they shall be mine saith the Lord in the day that I make up my Iewels and I will spare them as a man spareth his own son that serveth him Malachy 3 17. And the Lord shall guide thee continually and satisfy thy soul in drought and make fat they bones and thou shall be like a wattered garden and like springs of watter whose watters faile not Isa 58 11. And Moses said unto the people Fear ye not stand still and see the salvation of the Lord which he will shew to you to day for the Egyptians whom you have seen to day you shall see them again no more â—or ever Exod. 14 13. The name of the Lord is a strong Tower the Righteous run into it and is safe Prov. 18 10. They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strentgh they shall mount up with wings as Eagles they shall run and not be weary and they shall walke and not faint Isa 40 31. Also the Lord set it upon my heart how the people of God ought to caâ—ry it in such a day of calamity namely that they ought to have upon their hearts a deep sence of sin which is the cause of sorrow as Lots righteous soul was grieved with the unclean conversation of the wicked therefore God took care of him and he was preserved when others were destroyed with the firy storme of Gods Also God is pleased to set a mark upon the fore-heads of them that mourn for the abomination of the times Also it was given me in to believe that God would be a wall of fire about his people with this promise That all things shall work together for good to them that love God who are the called according to his purpose Rom. 8 28. And the Lord said All things were made for himself and nothing shall be destroyed vvithout mee And God appeared unto Abraham saying I am God alsufficient c. Gen. 17 1. Let my word be a light to thy feet and a Lanthorn to thy pathes for I will keep them in perfect peace whose