June 17 1686. Dear Sir THis Letter should have reached you before this time and had done so but for some intervening Occurrences I was surprized with the report of your Deceased Consort of whose so speedy Removal hence there was to you and me when last together so little Intimation or Presage But Flesh is Grass though Souls be precious and invaluable and God knows what he does and why he is no ways obliged to let us know what is in the Womb of his Providence till the Birth be produced we live to die and die that we may better know what it is to live and then best know what it is to be when gone to God I hope you know how to comport with Providence and to be silent and submissive and satisfied in the great Arbiter of all things Infinite Wisdom hath contrived Dispensations into the exactest Order and he who worketh all things after the Counsel of his own Will called her home at the right time Did you and I see the beautiful Systems of providential Dispensations we should both sind and yield that longer had been too long for her that is gone to live and sooner had been too soon to die What occurs in 2 Cor. 7. 29 31. equally concerns both you and me though as yet under different Dispensations You must be as if you had not lost a Wife and I as if I had no Wife Time is short and Life and relative Comforts are transient and fluid Things therefore your Sorrows must be moderate for your Loss and my Joys must be as if they were not seeing we and ours are to follow and part and pass away in our Courses All the Occurrences of our little Time even boldly challenge from us the Spirit and Posture of preparedness to resign our All to God Methinks we are dying whilst we live parting while and when we seem to meet and Providence rings Changes all the while that we are passing to our Graves No one 's too good to die too needful to us to be taken from us or too much endeared or tied to us to be divorced from us But O! what wonderful Things has Christianity laid in to attemper us to the Divine Will to compose us under and to better us by even the sharpest Dispensations that can betide us here There are Ties not to be loosed Relations that know not what it is to die Treasures not to be impaired Regions above so well inhabited so richly stored so wisely ordered so freely promised so well insured to us and such care taken about our fitness for them and seasonable and effectual translation thither under all accents of Solemnity and Triumph as that we greatly shame and wrong Religion and our selves if we prove sullen oâ— despondent When God takes from us our dearest Relations here below all are satisfied or should be so but all look not through and beyond the Grave one glance of Things beyond the Vail though stollen or got by Faith will easily counsel a Christian that under his greatest Pressures and Sequestrations here 't is through himself and his great Fault if his Joys do not surmount and swallow up his Griefs But Worthy Cousin I much forget my self I hope for charitable Constructions of these bold Essays Sympathy and Gratitude and a Concern for you make me transgress the Bounds of Modesty Had but my Head and Heart the Happiness of being botter furnished my Pen might then afford you more profitable and delightful Entertainment but though I am neither Eloquent nor Witty yet Dear Sir believe me to be heartily Yours in Christ's Bonds M. S. A Copy of a Letter from my Brother H. June 5 1686. Dear Brother I Am truly afflicted with your Assliction do beg God would make up that great Breaâ—h by clearing up your Union with himself which is indissolvable Your comfortable Consort is laid up from the Evils we may be reserved for and is freed from Sin the Lord stay your Heart and bring you into a true Subjection to his Will I have long desired to see you together but hitherto have been letted and am now so that I cannot perform what is in my Heart to have done Therefore do hope you will excuse me who am Dear Brother Your sympathizing affectionate Brother I. H. My Wife gives her affectionate Service to you A Copy of a Letter from Madam L. Ever Honoured Sir I Cannot possibly write my trouble for the Death of your Dear Lady and my most intirely Beloved Friend it 's a cutting Stroak indeed yet must be quietly born coming from the Hand that always acts wisely and graciously for holy Purposes and Ends. Certainly the great God afflicts not for his own Pleasure but our Advantage either to expel Sin destructive to the Soul or encrease Graces the Life Health and Prosperity of a Soul And Dear Sir I question not your endeavour to know the Errand and to pursue the Ends of this sudden and sad Dispensation the Lord sanctify it to us all that as we have certainly lost one way we may gain Benefit another way and learn to place our Happiness in him that will never leave nor forsake his there true Contentment and Felicity is to be found and no where else I am yet as you left me but every Hour in expectation of a time of Trial. I beg your Prayers for Submission Faith and Courage to go through that Work that my Heavenly Father shall put me to may I but have his Presence and Assistance and then I can pass sweetly through the Shades of Death I am wonderfully satisfied in the comfortable Death of my Dear Friend and shall prize whatever dropt from her Mouth c. Well since it has pleased the Lord to remove from me a Dear Wife and Bosom-Friend and Companion the desire of my Soul is to consider the Errand of such a Dispensation to hear the Voice of this Rod and know who hath appointed it It may be this Stroke may be upon these or some of these Grounds 1. It may be I was too fond of that Creature-comfort the Lord took from me for though by my wicked Deportments such Fondness could not always be observed yet I had an entire love for her and could seldom bear any absence from her 2. It may be I did not improve such a Mercy as I ought whilst I had it did not enough give God the Glory of a Mercy he had given me so much Comfort in 3. It may be I have been too insensible of the Miseries of Sin and therefore the Lord has brought this Misery upon me that being afflicted my self I might better know and learn how to comfort others in their Straits and sympathize with them in their Afflictions 4. Lesser Troubles as that the last Summer and others have not it may be done that Work upon me God intended them for and therefore the Lord sees cause to add this great Affliction of stripping me of the best Creature-Comfort I ever enjoyed 5. My
stand At th' Bar of Prisoners holding up his Hand Methinks I see and doleful Sight it is Judas betraying Jesus with a Kiss I hear them mock and jear the glorious King Instead of Scepter they a Reed him bring They spit on 's Face and 's blessed Head adorns With nothing but a pricking Crown of Thorns The Souldiers wag their Heads and on him rail'd And forc'd him bear the Cross to which he 's nail'd They pierc'd his Sides with Spears and at him wink And gave him Vinegar and Gall to drink I see the Virgins following with their Cries With Countenances sad and bleared Eyes I see my Lord look towards them and say Weep not for me but for your selves I pray I hear them quickly making this Reply How can we chuse but weep when thou must die Our Hearts are full and must have some Relief They either now must burst or melt with Grief O wicked Tyrants cursed bloody Jews Knew you but who it is that you thus use You would weep too and could no longer grudg To shed some Tears for him who now you judg Meditations in Verse upon John 6. 36. All that the Father giveth me shall come to me and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out GOod News indeed from Christ I hear That all the Father has given Vnto my Blessed Lord shall come And never miss of Heaven Then come O Soul and coming know Thou hast no cause to doubt For he that cannot lie hath said He will not cast thee out Object 1. Ah says the Soul I 'm cloy'd with Sin Can such an one as I Take any saving step to Christ No surely I must die By Adam's Fall I lost my Strength Ability and Power And how can I move after Christ Who'm sinning every Hour Answer Well yet take Courage thou mayst come The Master calls Arise They that but come he never will Cast off in any wise Object 2. Tell me says Soul but how I may Know when I come aright Resolve me this and then through Grace I 'le come with all my Might Answer Well Sinner see thy self then lost And wretchedly undone Till Heart and Mind be both inclin'd To rest on Christ alone Does now thy Heart work after Christ Is Sin thy burthen Soul Then come away for now thou mayst Vpon thy Saviour roul Object 3. Ah says the Sinner though I find A willingness to come To Jesus Christ as being lost Yet all my Work 's not done My End I fear cannot be good Self in this choice I cherish I take a Christ to give me Life As knowing else I perish Answer Well Sinner yet though this be all Thy present End and Aim In taking Christ thou welcome art For he has said the same The Argument that Christ does use Encouragement to give To Sinners to come in to him Is that they turn and live Yea he upbraids the Jews though they Were now with him at Strife Ye will not come to me says he That I may give you Life Come then for Life though that be all At present in thine Eye Thou dost believe that Christ can save And therefore to him fly Object 4. Ah! but I find says one poor Soul My Pace to Christ so slow That I can hardly sometimes tell Whether I come or no. Answer Well we 'll admit that this poor Soul Be verily thy Case Yet canst thou say Lord draw me on And I shall mend my Pace Thy Frame in Duties thou find'st sad Thy Pulse beats very slow Yet if but beating after Christ Take Courage Soul and go Come on to Christ bewail thy Sloth If he but see thee weeping For those faint Steps thou tak'st to him He 'll welcome thee though creeping Object 5. Ah! says another coming Soul Here 's this does sorely out I come so late to Mercy 's Gate I fear the Door is shut Answer Well coming Sinner come away Though thou but come at last To Christ thou' rt welcome if thou dost Come now more quick and fast He that came in at th' eleventh Hour Though idle all the Day Being sent to work with other Men At Night had equal pay The Thief that hung upon the Cross Did late for Mercy cry Shew Mercy Lord to me a Wretch And that before I die Welcome says Christ I 've heard thy Prayer And happy thou shalt be I 'm going up to Paradise And thou shalt be with me He stood it out to th' very last Yet Mercy did obtain O then delaying Souls to Christ You cannot come in vain Object 6. Well says another I am fall'n Since I began to come To Jesus Christ and therefore fear For such there is no room Answer Why truly Falls poor Soul are sad They wound the Conscience sore And cause the Enemies of God Reproachfully to roar Yet know O Soul thou arguest wrong For want of Scripture-Light Thus to conclude because of Falls Thy coming was not right If David and King Solomon And Peter that bright Star Had argued thus against themselves They'd mist the Matter far Thou' rt coming unto God poor Soul And may expect it well The Devil will do what he can To trip thee down to Hell The World the Flesh the Devil all Will now against thee roar Then wonder not at single Falls But that thou gets no more The Child i' th Gospel you shall find To Christ no sooner coming But th' Devil threw him down and tore For to prevent his running The Lord upholdeth his that fall So much he does them prize That though by sinful slips they fall Through Grace he 'll makethem rise Well falling Sinner haste to Christ Thou never needs to doubt But he that helps thee up when down Will never cast thee out Object 7. But I am dead the Sinner says What Comfort can you give Answer The Dead shall hear my Voice says God And they that hear shall live Object 8. But I 'm a Captive bound in Chains And fettered by Sin Answer Yet this Word Shall come unto Christ Will quickly fetch thee in Object 9. I 'm blind and cannot see my way Through th' Darkness of my Mind And how can such come unto Christ The way he cannot find Answer Thy Blindness Soul cannot obstruct If thou thy Blindness see I 'le lead says God in Paths untrod To bring such Souls to me I will make Darkness Light to them And crooked Things most streight And this benighted Souls shall find If they upon me wait Object 10. Ah but my Case is still far worse I have not sinn'd alone But others by Example I The way to Sin have shown They that turn many Souls I find To Righteousness shall shine As Stars above for ever more But this Case is not mine Answer Well here 's yet Comfort in those Days Says he that cannot lie Iniquity shall sought for be But none shall it espy Object 11. Well but methinks I hear a Soul Bemoaning thus and cry It 's Faith I
Ollercarr We travell'd from one place to another not staying long in any till we came into Leicester-shire And the Lord preserved me in all my Wandrings blessed be his most holy Name and gave me much Favour in the eyes of those I visited and had with all most hearty Welcome and free Entertainment Many remarkable Passages and great Providences I experienc'd as I came from Place to Place mention'd particularly in my Diary and therefore less needful here only this Upon the 18th of July 1685 I find my Experience noted in the said Diary That notwithstanding my Enemies Threatnings and my Fears my Dear God had wonderfully preserv'd me so that through Mercy no Evil has hitherto befaln me O that I could take Encouragement from my Father's Goodness to live more the Life of Faith and to depend more upon God! upon that God that has brought me out of many Troubles and kept me from many Dangers he has delivered does deliver can deliver and I trust will yet deliver me O that in the mean time present afflictive Dispensations may be to his Glory to my Soul's Advantage and my Relations Benefit Upon the 5th of July I came to Mr. S. where for better safety I went by the name of there I had most friendly Entertainment found him exceeding good chearful Company himself as those also who were several of that Neighbourhood that came to see me Here I had very comfortable and Soul-refreshing Society and Safety while I staid And upon the 21st of July 1685 upon the advice of very worthy and good Friends such as Mr. S. Brother S. c. besides my own Inclinations to surrender my self to the D. of N. I came away in the Evening from Mr. S. and therefore could reach no further than Duffeild that Night We got not thither till 11 a Clock and therefore concluded it best to stay at a little Ale-house at the hither End of the Town that Godfrey Batty knew though I did not And here I observ'd a great Providence the Watch-men of that Town just stood at the Door where we lighted being I have cause to believe at that time in an especial manner directed to look strictly for me as I understand all the Watch-men for many Miles round about my House were directed to do These Watch-men demanded my Name but Godfrey very prudently by telling them his prevented their further Inquiry there we lighted and the Watch-men presently came in who I entertain'd with Ale and Tobacco and left Godfrey with them whilst I in my Clothes and Boots went to lie down upon a Bed in the next Room being both Sleepy and Weary but now being under a slavish Fear and a disquieted Mind lest I should be taken before I had surrendred for which the good Lord forgive me though I did get 3 or 4 hours Rest yet not one wink of Sleep In the Morning early the Constable came who knocking at the Window where I lay I verily thought I had been surprized but it appeared it was only to see whether the Watch-men duly observed their Office the Landlord ask'd Godfrey my Name which he refused then to tell him but promised he would the next time he saw him which as the Lord ordered it did satisfy though he told him he could stop and secure me if he would By 6 a Clock on Wednesday Morning I got to my House at Ollercarr and though in the way I met with and saw several People who I believe most if not all knew me yet through the Lord's Restraints none to hurt me By 9 a Clock that Morning after I had stay'd about 2 Hours with my Dear Wife whom I had not seen of long before and was her self under some Trouble and having Warrants out against her as was said was a little before forc'd to keep from home I went to Mr. T. at Wallen-wells who being abroad came not Home till 8 a Clock that Night I acquainted him with my Design of surrendring my self to the Duke of Newcastle and desired his Company with me I perceived him timorous and something shy he told me he would not do it till he had obtained first the Duke's leave to that purpose upon which by a Letter on purpose he acquaints the Duke with my desire to surrender my self to him To which the Duke made this Return on Thursday Morning he gave him many Complements and Thanks for his Letter but told him that as for Mr. Disney he might secure him and expected that he came along with him Upon this startling Answer I began to think I had taken a wrong Method in this Surrender and did expect nothing less from the Duke's Letter than being sent to Nottingham Goal That Day about 4 a Clock we went to Welbeck when I feared to find him the more severe upon me because of the Corporation-men of Nottingham who I understood dined with him that Day But here I again experienced the Goodness of the Lord who had so wonderfully moderated his Spirit that I found him very calm and kind I acquainted him that I understanding he had sent his Warrant out against me some time since I was now come to wait upon him to know his Pleasure He replied he never sent out any Warrant against me nor had he any thing to charge me with only a great Rumour there was of a Character-Paper directed to me which the Aldermen of Nottingham had sent to King and Council that therefore it was convenient I should be forth-coming till he had acquainted the King and the Lord Lieutenant of Derbyshire with my Surrender and did not doubt but in a Week's time he should receive Orders for my Liberty In the mean time he wish'd me to make choice of any Friend in the County to be withal I named my Uncle Lee which he readily approved of sent his Servant and Letter with me And thither we came on Friday Morning about 10 a Clock there I had kind Reception and friendly Entertainment as also my Wife and 2 Servants with me Here again the Devil set his Agents a-work to raise slanderous and lying Reports of me by some it was reported that the Aldermen of Nottingham were drawing up a Paper against me to send to London others that I was run away privately from my Uncle Lee some that I was a Prisoner at Newark others reported me hanged in the West at the same time the Lady Lisle was executed others said that John Oliver of Lincoln was just going to London to swear Treason against me and some others but I might easily prevent and stop him by laying an Action I had upon him and so imprison him But this Counsel I utterly disliked and bless God none of these things did much move me A Passage in my Diary giving this Reason for it I can heartily trust the Lord who has all along been my Helper I can with Comfort enough set a single God against all mine Enemies Whilst I was at my Uncle Lee's which was between
Riper-years of lost Time in Youth will prove sad and cost dear and be assured that Time 's lost that 's spent either in Eating Drinking Sleeping Visiting or Sportings more than Necessity requires 13. If the Lord should again make thee Head of a Family and bless thee with Children as well as Servants take care of their Souls train them up for God and let thy House be a Nursery for Heaven take an account every Week of their Proficiency in Spirituals and always esteem of those Children and Servants most that love fear and serve God best Travel in Birth to see Christ formed in thine and know that if any go from thy House to Hell through thy neglect their Souls will be required at thy Hands 14. Make Religion thy Business and always account the serving of God and the saving thy Soul to be the greatest Work thou art sent into the World about and continued in the World for give not Christ the World's leavings much rather let the World have his 15. Get right and well-grounded Evidences for Heaven O lay not a Sandy Foundation for the Building that 's to stand to Eternity 〈…〉 some Evidences for Heaven thou'lt find in the first part of this Treatise others in Rogers's Evidences for Heaven Examine thy State often and impartially and never be satisfied till the Interest betwixt Christ and thy Soul be compleated and cleared up 16. Sit loose from the World and seek not great things for thy self here My Circumstances in the World be such that I cannot leave thee much more than what was setled upon Marriage but all I could I have and a little with the Lord's Blessing is better than the great Revenues of many Wicked Make sure of an Estate in Heaven live much upon Invisibles choose Christ for a Portion and thou art made for ever 17. Be content with thy Condition here whatever 't is and expect Sufferings A Christian's Life here is militant If thou continue to keep thy Face Heavenwards which I trust thou wilt then may the Devil the World and the Flesh be frequently sallying out against thee But O pray that thy Faith fail not and that God's Grace may be sufficient for thee 18. Labour to persevere in the good Ways of God maintain thine Integrity and hold out unto the end whatever it cost thee Be a Follower of those who through Faith and Patience inherit the Promises or Things promised All thy Bitters here will serve to make Heaven more sweet to thee and being Faithful unto Death Christ will give thee a Crown of Life 19. Get off from thine own Bottom place no Confidence in the Flesh look off from thine own Righteousness thine own Duties thine own Services when thou doest the best in point of Justification and depend and rest only on Christ upon whose account alone thou canst be accepted and saved It 's Christ's Righteousness alone imputed to thee for Justification and imparted to thee for thy Sanctification that can or will bestead thee 20. Be rich in good Works and go about doing Good hold on thy Charitable way of doing Good to Bodies but especially befriend poor Souls Be always as kind as thy Circumstances will allow to those worthy good Ministers of the Gospel thou and I were always beholden to and I am perswaded shall be blessing God for as Instruments in his Hand of our Good to Eternity 21. Allow thy self in no Sin for the least Sin loved and allowed is certainly damning When God has at any time convinced thee of a Sin and Conscience has flown in thy Face and thou art full of Terrour go to God down upon thy Knees and beg pardoning Grace and Mercy leave him not till thou hast obtained that Blessing and always have a care of Relapses for though we find a David and Lot and others of the dear Servants of God recorded in Scripture guilty of some great Miscarriages yet we find them sorely broken for those Things and humbled and not repeating and relapsing again into them 22. Prepare for Eternity get and keep Oil in thy Lamp that it be not to buy when thy Lamp should be found burning put on thy Wedding-Garments and be prepared c. 23. Mourn not for me excessively I am gone but thy God and my God stays with thee and I trust will guide thee by his Counsel till he conduct thee to his Glory I am dead but God lives thou hast no Husband on Earth what then If thy Maker be but thy Husband thou hast cause enough to rejoice What though they that have seen me shall in this World see me no more This is my Comfort let it be thine he does see me that has seen though my weak yet my sincere Yernings and Groanings after him he sees me that will never say I know you not being a God that will not forget Covenant he sees me who has seen my Soul in Travel and those Pangs of Desite after him that no others have O'couldst thou but hear what I confidently hope through the Morits and Mediation of my dear Redeemer I shall before thou â—â—est this Paper my God in the Riches of his Mercy saying to this effect Yonder 's poor such a one come to my Gate let him in he chose me for a Portion whilst on Earth and gave himself according to his weak Measures up to me I will in no wise cast him off Surely this would abate thy Sorrows surely then thou wouldst not wish me so Ill as to be on Earth again well live in the Faith of this and walk comfortably with thy God God has made thee indeed whilst on Earth to me the greatest outward blessing that ever I enjoyed O let me not want thy Company in Heaven And now my Dearest on Earth I commit thee to the keeping and Mercy of the Great Jehovah I resign thee to that God who is thy Maker and thy Husband serve him and thy Generation according to his Will here that thou mayest sleep in Jesus and be found in him Gervase Disney POST-SCRIPT OR A Continuation of the most Remarkable Passages of my LIFE since the other the last of June 1686. SINCE my last particular View of my Diary design'd in the Treatise of my Life I find my up's and down's and that I am but a poor vile and weak Creature unable of my self to answer by a holy and humble Carriage the Lord 's great Goodness to me in late signal Deliverances out of Trouble and that upon better Terms than I could expect I was now no sooner at ease and rest thrô the Lord's Mercy and at liberty than I grew secure and begun to be too regardless of Soul-Concerns I too little remembred and considered Promises made when under Affliction and neglected too much to pay those Vows My Circumstances when in Trouble were a Snare to me in some Particulars In my Diary the 19th of September 1685 I find my self blessing God for his Protection and Care of me in my Journey and
Sister from Glory would you or any of us have a Heart to invite her from so blissful a State Does not the Spirit of God by several Passages of Scripture seem to say to us as Judas said in another case What needs all this waste Tears are a good Ingredient for Prayer and Repentance let 's not be too prodigal of them in other cases Humanity does allow of some Sorrow but Divinity forbids much Dear Mother refuse not to be comforted receive the Comforts and refuse no longer the Creatures God affords you for the refreshing and supporting Nature Let David I pray be your Pattern in this case he pray'd for his Child while living he fasted he wept For says he who can tell whether God will be gracious to me and the Child may live this I doubt not but you did But when the Will of God was signified in the Death of his Child 2 Sam. 12. 22 23. Now he is dead says he wherefore should I fast can I bring him back again I shall go to him but he shall not return to me O that you could do likewise The Child being dead he wipes his Eyes falls to his Refreshments and submits to God Let not the want of one Mercy we all priz'd deprive us of the Comfort of the many Mercies we do enjoy 12. If we consider who we have lost methinks our Sorrow should be abated One who gave most excellent Demonstrations of a good Heart and a good Condition one I trust ripe for God and fitter for Heaven than Earth one panting for Glory long before she died and had set all in order for Eternity before she was sick she long'd to be dissolv'd that she might be with Christ Methinks I still hear her Ah says she how long O Lord how long when wilt thou come And to By-standers says she I 'm jealous you are conspiring to keep me longer out of Heaven And ah what a Sight did I see in my dear Sister when upon the very wing for Heaven and just ready to take her flight Ah! the heavenly Language she uttered while she did speak which was almost to the last and then when she could not speak the Movings of her Lips the Pantings of her Heart the Liftings of her Eyes and indeed every Motion of her Body spoke her to have strong Workings of Heart after God and to be upon the very Confines of Glory What cause of Mourning now it's our Loss but her Gain She had before a good Husband but now O now the Match between Christ and her Soul is compleated Me-thoughts she held my Father Disney's Hand so fast to the last as if she long'd to take him with her yet by degrees let go as if she had said God has more work for you here and I can freely let my Hold go of best Creature-Comforts as longing to be in my heavenly Father's Embraces I doubt not but to her to live was Christ and to die Gain therefore well might she leave that to be preach'd on at her Funeral and as her last Legacy to surviving Friends Weep not for me but weep for your selves and for your Children The greatest Reason for such Weeping present times seem to prognostick My dear Mother labour for a Christian Carriage under such a Cross God's Rod has a Voice as well as his Word and it 's our great Concernment to hear it and him that has appointed it Let us say Righteous O Lord art thou and in very Faithfulness thou hast afflicted us Let 's not entertain hard Thoughts of God but with Aaron hold our Peace for God has done it Dear Mother you know well that spiritual Comforts are the best Comforts Is not Christ better than ten Daughters than ten Sisters than ten Children Is not his Loving-Kindness better than Life Is there not more in a God than ever was or can be in a Creature We have no reason to sorrow as those without hope She whom we dearly lov'd is gone to her dearly Beloved she 's reaping the Fruits and Benefits of her Labours in the Lord and is blessed For blessed are the Dead that die in the Lord c. Like another Mary she chose the better Part which will never be taken from her She is it 's true taken away in the flower of her Age and when we most expected Satisfaction in such a Relation but God knew it the best time to gather such a Flower Mr. Baxter well observes Such have run long enough who have reach'd the Prize have sail'd long enough who are safely harbour'd and liv'd long enough who are ready to die We have more cause to rejoice that once we did enjoy such a Wife such a Child such a Sister such a Niece such a Friend to give up at God's Call than now to murmur that she is so suddenly remov'd she is I doubt not happy God has preferr'd her to Mansions of Glory before us let us prepare to follow God has call'd home another of your Children but you are not Childless O take heed by Repining Carriage of provoking God to farther Strokes but if God should write you Childless you are not yet bereft of Comfort while the God of all Comfort is yours If God will not let any part of your Happiness lie in Children then let it wholly lie in himself The Love and Delight we plac'd in such a Friend may now be placed to greater Advantage upon Jesus Christ That the Stream of our Affection to him may be so much the stronger as there are fewer Channels for it to divide into is the earnest Prayyer of Your Obedient Son G. D. A Letter to Sister W. upon her Husband's Death Dear Sister MY Wife being indispos'd by a Cold cannot write but you may be assured we are both hearty Sympathizers with you in your sad and solitary Condition The Breach the Lord has been pleas'd to make upon you indeed is great and such as none can express but those that experience it but God having made it who alone can make it up I hope you will endeavour to be satisfied and not to mourn as one without Hope If the Lord will not have any part of your Happiness to lie in a Husband then let it wholly and intirely lie in himself labour to bring your Heart and Mind to a sweet Submission to the Pleasure of your Father And though a Bosom-Friend be not yet God is who is the same yesterday to day and for ever Relations may and must die but God lives who is stiled The Father of the Fatherless and a Husband to the Widow I question not but you can suck much Sweetness from the many gracious Promises made for the Encouragement of such as you The poor Interest I have at the Throne of Grace was improv'd for him and shall be for you That 's best for us that God does and this being God's Doing you must kiss his Rod in Silence and give Glory to the Hand that rules it c. A Letter
wherein is Rending and Tearing Work with more of himself and the Influences of his Blessed Spirit O Brother it's one of the bravest Sights in the World to see a Christian in the Exercise of Grace sutable to the Dispensation to see him acting Faith Patience Humility Submission Resignation and Divine Joy in a time of pressing Affliction This will recommend Religion to the World and convince the Men of it there 's more in it than meer Talk Heartily glad we should be if you would come for a while to London to divert your self here among good Men I hope it might be for your Advantage and do conclude it highly necessary for you a while to leave Kirkstead we all send our hearty Remembrances to you and yours the Lord fit us all for our great and last Change and in the midst of our private Losses let us remember the Affliction of Sion So prays Your sympathizing Brother and Servant G. Disney POEMS The Damneds Doom or some Meditations in Verse upon the last great Sentence at the Day of Judgment made by me Jan. 1685 upon Mr. Dunton's Paraphrase of Mat. 25. 41. Depart from me ye Cursed into everlasting Fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels Dunton's Heavenly Past-time pag. 96. HEark heark the Trumpet sounds the Court is met Christ as Chief Justice on the Bench is set Adorn'd with glorious Robes and rich Attire Not now abas'd on Earth advanced higher Guarded by Saints and Angels such as they Must all attend the Service of this Day He who when Prisoner here was forc'd to stand And at a Mortal's Bar hold up his Hand Was mock'd at spit upon reproach'd and bled Must now be Judg alone of Quick and Dead Thô here debased yet now Heaven rings With Hallelujahs to this King of Kings Jesus Call forth the Prisoners then they must appear To answer for themselves thô Crimes are clear Hear what they 'l say thô all they say alas Can never â—inder th' Sentence that must pass Sinners appear come forth your Graves arise You all are summon'd to the grand Assize You called are into the great Court-Royal And may not stay you must attend your Trial Make way for wretched Prisoners there make room They 'r going to receive their final Doom But now methinks I see those trembling Souls Gazing about to find some hiding Holes Calling to Rocks to hide them but in vain For such late Calls and Cries can nought obtain Their Hearts were hardned in a Day of Grace When God did sweetly call and give them space For to repent and now those rocky Stones Has no regard at all unto their Groans The Mountains will not fall to hide them from The Wrath of him that sitteth on the Throne O what a Sight I see the wretched State Of Fools bewailing Folly when too late From Hell and Graves they come but must not stay They are to pass Accounts and so away Now Soul and Body meets and must remain By Righteous Sentence in eternal Paâ—â— They Partners were in Sin whilst here below And must together groan in endless Wâ— The Graves do open and the Prisoners rise And now methinks I hear the dolâ—ful Cries Of those poor Sinners who on Earth took Pains To make their Souls as black and full of Stains As any could be grudging always when They were out-stripâ— in Sin by any Men Methinks I hear their Pleas and see them quaking And all the little Shifts they would be making And all because they would appear at th' Bar Of God a little better than they are The griping Vsurer now looks about To find some better Hands than his Hands 〈◊〉 Which he do's well remember heretofore Did often by Extortion wrong the Poor The Wanton dare not own his wanton Eye I must says he have better or I die Mine oft unâ—hastly upon Women gaz'd And for laseivious Looks I stand amaz'd The Lawyer would reject his gâ—lded Tongue By which be Thousands in the World did wrong He knows that he being fee'd or brib'd ne're stood To make a good Cause bad a bad Cause good The Gallant dare not own his strutting Feet Which often â—rudg'd thrâ— thick and thin to meet A dirty Whore or hectoring drunken Friend To help him vainly precious Time to spend My Feet were swift in running to do Evil I must have other Feet or go to th' Devil The Politician dares not own his Head Another he would fain have in its Stead What that contriv'd he always was pursuing And finds his wicked Brain was his undoing Some they would part with Fingers and would have E'ne any Fingers out of any 's Grave So they may miss their own which was too beâ—â— To sign Decrees against the Innocent Thieves they would part with Hands and Liars Tongues The Instruments of many grievous Wrongs Long-winded Sinners they would part with Lungs The Hypocrite too has a mind to part With his to change it for a better Heart Ill-minded Sinners now would change their Mind For any others of a better Kind And others other things would swap if then They might hereby but pass for better Men Kings would disown their Crowns and Grandure too And now appear in Rags if that woâ—ld do But O! prodigious Madness herein's shown Eâ—r every one must keep what was his own And wicked Men must see their monstrouâ— Folly Who would not whilst on Earth be strict and holy Well! are the Prisoners come then let them hear They must my Wrath and Fury ever bear Sentence Depart 〈◊〉 sed Wretches ne're return Into a Fire that must always burn Prepared for the Devil and a Crew Of wicked Wretches just like such as you Prisoner Ah dreadful Word Depart and that from thee Must needs be th' upshot of all Misery Lord let me stay but here the Sinner â—ries My clamorous Conscience and my blubbring Eyes May Tormoâ—â— be enough dear God abate Some pity shew me for my â—retch'd Estate Is such I cannot bear let Sentence be A little bated by a Sight of thee Judg. Nay Sinner â—noâ— my Presence heretofore Thou did'st noâ— like thô offer'd o're and o're Thou would not entertain me in thy Heart And now my Sentence Sinner â—â— Depart An offered Christ and Pardon thou didst slight And what can follow on 't but dismal Night Prisoner And must I now depart and undergo This dreadful heaâ—y Doom yet let me know That thoâ—â—ilâ— bless me Lord and then I caâ— Refresh my Soul with this where â—'re I am I 'm loth to go but if I must I crave That I before may Heaven's Blessing have Jesus Sinner be gone nay more I must thee tell My Curse shall go along with thee to Hell My Blessing thou despis'd for many Years And canst not have it now thô sought with Tears Thou must for ever fry and flame and rot Depart then Sinner for I know thee not Prisoner And must I be accurs'd and never see Thy blessed Face again then Lord let me Find out for an
highest Round of all This Jacob's Ladder brings Is Glorificat'on and advance To God the King of Kings Christ's laying down his Life for Man And God's accepting it His saving any doom'd to die Who now in Heaven sit What can this be but special Grace Renounce we then all Merit And give we Praise to God always To Father Son and Spirit The Alphabet in Verse by G. D. for Copies August 29 1687. A. AFflictive Crosses may be well endur'd By pious Souls who have a Christ secur'd B. Boast not of time hereafter don't delay To get prepared for a dying Day C. Content's the Sweet of all where 's greatest Store If that be had with little what needs more D. Delight in good shun Vice redeem your time Serve God whilst you are young and in your prime E. Espouse the Cause of Christ and stand your ground Beware you be not an Apostate found F. Faint Wishes Heavenward can never shew A Love to Christ O Soul that 's fixt and true G. Give all that ask you something if you can But double Kindness to a poor good Man H. High Breeding sweet Deportment lovely Face Will ne're avail that Soul that 's void of Grace I. Intemperance in what we drink or eat Will prove the sowrest Sauce to sweetest Meat K. Kind Carriage wins on all hereby you may Reclaim a wandring Sinner gone astray L. Let Worldlings take the World do you with Paul Account a Single Christ as more than all M. Modest Behaviour with a Temper kind Does really express a gallant Mind N. Nothing we here possess will lasting prove The only solid Joys are those above O. Observe and learn what 's good in all you see But let the real Saint your Pattern be P. Pleasures that sinful are not long do last The Sting remains when all the Pleasure 's past Q. Quit now your selves like Christians stand your ground The Faithful unto Death are only crown'd R. Repining under Crosses we endure Will never lighten those but more procure S. Such who with Esau do their Birth-rights sell Will too late see the Folly on 't in Hell T. Time swiftly steals away and being gone Can never be recall'd by any one U. Vnruly Passions when they have their swing Instead of giving Ease more Sorrow bring W. Whatever haps be Patient and you 'd see It is thô bad in 't self yet good for thee X. Xerxes with Sorrow views his mighty Host As knowing they would soon be dead and lost Y. Young ones serve God whilst young you 'l make thereby Your Death-Bed very easy when you die Z. Zeal in a good Cause this must needs befriend But luke-warm Tempers have a doleful end A Hymn by G. D. on John 14. 27. the Text Mr. Perriot preach'd on August 87. Peace I leave with you my Peace I give unto you not as the World giveth give I unto you Let not your Heart be troubled neither let it be afraid IN love to you Disciples dear Whom I'm about to leave A Legacy of Peace I give My Peace I you bequeath Not as the World gives give I you It 's inward Peace I say The which the World can neither give Nor ever take away Let not your Heart be troubled then My Peace shall be your aid Set this against your Troubles here You need not be afraid An Hymn upon Mr. S's Text Doctrine and Reasons Coloss 3. 1. If ye be risen with Christ c. Octob. 19 1689. LET Earthly Men seek Earthly things And glut themselves like Swine Vpon the empty Husks below Of Riches Corn and Wine But Lord for me being taught of thee It 's better I must have The Things Above I chiefly love And those O Lord I crave Such Treasures they will lasting prove Can only satisfy When Earthly Things soon take their Wings Will wither fade and die These may be had and kept when got Which Worldlings cannot say For what they heap together here May soon be snatch'd away We have thy leave nay thy Command To fix our Heart and Love Not upon Trifles here Below But upon Things Above Those are the best worth seeking for Deserve our greatest pains Will here procure the sweetest Peace Hereafter lasting Gains Seeking aright we shall not miss Of finding but obtain And having found we need not fear Our losing them again Lord being risen then with Christ Help us to seek and love With all our Hearts our Soul and Strength The Things which are Above Another upon the same Text and two more Verses adjoining And 1 Cor. 15. 20 21 22. CHRIST now is risen from the Dead His Bands could him not keep And is to be acknowledged First-Fruits of them that sleep For as by one Man Death did reign In Adam all did die By Christ the Resurrection came And Immortality If risen then with Christ you be Seek ye the Things Above And do not though entic'd thereto The Worldlings Portion love For ye are dead to Worldliness With Christ your Saviour-dear Your Life is hid and you shall shine When once he doth appear An Hymn upon Mr. S's Text Isa 55. 7. Let the Wicked forsake his way c. O Let the Wicked leave his Lusts The way that Sinners take And let the Man unrighteous Vnrighteous Thoughts forsake Let him return unto the Lord And he will Mercy shew To God who will abundantly His pard'ning Grace renew Meditations upon Mr. S's Text Joh. 2. 6. He that saith he abideth in him c. HE that on Scripture-grounds can say In Christ he doth abide He also ought himself to walk As did this Blessed Guide For Scriptures they were given forth That to us they might â—e A Rule whereby our Sate to try And our Conditionsee Then true Religion iâ— its Power That Man has â—rely mist Who thinks in bâ—â— Profession It only does câ—nsist That crying out Lord Lord at last Will save his Soul from Hell Without the doing of God's Will And labouring to do well Then 't is not painted Guile will do Nor Shows that do appear But Truth in Heart and inward part Will render one sincere The true Believer then is safe And may on Scripture-ground Most certainly on Christ rely In Christ he being found Behold the Man in Christ therefore New Creature he is made All Things in such an one is new And old Things are decay'd Let Times be ne râ—so black and dark Let Things go aâ— they will The Man in Christ is truly safe And may take Comfort still Meditations on the 6th Doctrine about Justification 'T IS Faith in Christ that sastifies The Sinner in God's sign Labour to shew and let Men knoâ— By Works our Faith is right Lord grant we may who speak and say We know the Lord most High Endeavour by Religious Lives Our Words to justify Doct. 7. Of Conformity to the Example of Christ ALL those who this Profession make Obliged are hereby To walk as Christ did whilst on Earth In all Sobriety To follow his Example