thy blessed pleasure and good will vpon me And after this she fell into a short slumber and awaking said as the spouse said vnto Christ in the Canticles Oh come kisse me with the kisse of thy mouth Cant. 1.1 for thy loue is better then wine Oh how sweete the kisses of my Sauiour bee Then one said vnto her William Fox alluding to that place of S. Iohn Reuel 3.8 and praying that the Lord would anoint her with the eye-salue of his grace that shee might see and behold his glorie To whom she answered Mine eyes are opened mine eyes are opened though for a while they were closed vp and shut yet now I thanke my God mine eyes are opened and I doe feele and see the euerliuing mercies of my Christ saying then further as it is in the 27. Psalme Thou saidst seeke my face my heart answered to thee O Lord I will seek thy face Psal 27.8.9 O hide not therfore thy face from me nor cast thy seruant away in displeasure thou hast been my succour leaue me not nor forsake me O God of my saluation And being willed to commit her soule into the hands of Christ she said O Lord Iesus thou hast redeemed me William Brettergh Psal 31.5 William Woodward Matth. 11.25 pleade thou my cause for into thy hands alone doe I commit my spirit O thou God of truth And then feeling more ioy to abound one praising God with her for his mercies shewed toward her shee further said I giue thee thanks O father Lord of heauen earth because thou hast hid these things from the wise and men of vnderstanding and hast opened them vnto me thy poore handmaid which am but dust and ashes O how merciful and maruellous gratious art thou vnto me yea Lord I feele thy mercy William Fox I am assured of thy loue so certaine am I therof as thou art the God of truth euen so sure do I know my selfe to be thine O Lord my God Psal 139.10 and this my soule knoweth right wel and this my soule knoweth right wel which spéech of her assurance she oftē repeated Presently after this William Brettergh Iob 19.25.26.27 sitting vp in her chaire she sung the fourth Psalme and then being laid downe againe in her bed shee confidently spake these words I am sure that my redeemer liueth and that I shall see him at the last day whom I shall see and mine eye shal behold and though after my skin wormes destroy this bodie yet shall I see God in my flesh with these eyes and none other Master William Harrison William Brettergh William Fox Iohn Brettergh William Woodward Then came in to see her toward euening Master William Harrison the Preacher praising God for her continuance in that her ioyfull and most happie course and perswading her to an helie perseuerance in the same she thanked him and desired him to reioyce in Christ with her and to praise God for his mercies to her and said Oh Master Harrison my soule hath been compassed about with terrors of death feare within feare without the sorrowes of hell were vpon me knots and knorres were vpon my soule which twice or thrice she repeated and a roring wildernes of woe was within me but blessed blessed blessed be the Lord my God who hath not left me comfortlesse but like a good shepheard Psal 23.2.3 hath hee brought mee into a place of rest euen no the sweete running waters of life that flow out of the sanctuarie of God and hee hath led me into the greene pastures where I am fed and exceedingly comforted yea he hath restored my soule and lead me into the plaine and easie paths of righteousnes The way that now I goe in is a sweet and easie way strowed with flowers and as a fine sandie way Psal 147.14 yea it is more easie and soft then the sand for I goe and tread vpon wheate euen vpon the finest flower of wheat Oh blessed be the Lord Oh blessed be the Lord that hath thus comforted mee and hath brought mee now to a place more sweete vnto me then the Garden of Eden Oh the ioy the ioy the delightsome ioy that I feele Oh how wonderfull how wonderfull how wonderfull is this ioy O praise the Lord for his mercies and for this ioy which my soule feeleth full well praise his name for euermore And these praises of God she sounded foorth William Brettergh William Woodward like Dauids harmonie being indued with Dauids spirit to the praise of the eternall and mercifull God continuing al night in such like prayers and praises to God except some smal time that shée was silent and quiet Master Harrison prayed twice with her that euening as also in the morning being Whitsunday After he had prayed once with her going then toward his publike charge she sent for him to pray once more with her before hee went which hee did to the ioy and gladnesse of heart both of her and al that were present and so he tooke leaue of her and departed Another faithfull man or two came presentlie in that morning and diuers others well affected M. Edward Aspinwall William Fox William Brettergh Iohn Brettergh William Woodward Mistris Maud Brettergh Mistris Scholastica Fox Elizabeth Challoner and diuers moe Psal 30.10.11.12 who were with her at the time of her death and often prayed with her that forenoone shée still abounding in spiritual comforts and consolations somtimes as one awaking out of sleepe shée would say the Lord was her keeper and deliuerer Againe one saying vnto her the Lord blesse you Yea saith shée and the Lord Iesus blesse vs all And so seeming to sleepe a little while and awaking againe she said Lord I trust in thee haue mercy vpon me giue me strēgth to praise thee defend and preserue me in the houre of tentation and lay no more vpon me then thou wilt inable me to beare Afterwards being asked if she would haue thē ioyne in praier together again with her O yes said she for Christs sake I desire it saying thus to her selfe Heare O Lord and haue mercie vpon me Lord bee thou my helper Thou hast loosed my sacke and girded me with gladnesse therfore will I praise thee O Lord my God I will giue thankes to thee for euermore With that all that were present did ioyne in prayer with her and in conclusion vsing the Lords prayer which she said with them to thine is the kingdome her strength then being gone her tongue failed her and so shee lay silent for a while euery one iudging her then to bee neere death her strength and speech failing her yet after a while lifting vp her eyes with a sweete countenance and still voyce said Esa 40.2 Psal 73.25.26 My warrefare is accomplished and my iniquities are pardoned Lord whom haue I in heauen but thee and I haue none in earth but thee my flesh faileth and my heart also but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for euer He that preserueth Iacob and defendeth his Israel hee is my God and will guide me vnto death guide me O Lord my God and suffer me not to faint but keepe my soule in safetie And with that she presently fell asleepe in the Lord passing away in peace without any motion of bodie at all and so yeelded vp the Ghost a sweete Sabbaths sacrifice about foure of the clocke in the afternoone of Whitsunday being the last of May 1601. This was the death of that vertuous Gentlewoman happilie dying in the Lord and reaping the benefit of a holie profession Wherein wee cannot but acknowledge and reuerence the mercie of God who in our greatest infirmity makes his grace to shine most cléerely A sure testimonie of the truth of our profession seruing to incourage vs therein and to moue vs to a godlie life It must néedes bee a diuine Religion and a true comming from God that thus can fill the heart and mouth of a weake woman at the time of death with such admirable comfort And a wretched conceite and meere Antichristian is that religion which so hateth and persecuteth this faith which is thus able to leade the true-hearted professors thereof with such vnspeakeable peace vnto their graues Her Funerall was accomplished at Childwall Church on Wednesday following being the third of Iune And now for conclusion seeing this blessed Gentlewoman is taken from among vs and receiued into the holy habitations of the heauenly Ierusalem there to remaine in ioy glorie and blessednes for euermore let vs lament for our lesse but reioice for her gaine and let vs pray that in heart we could as willingly wish to be with her as she is now vnwilling to be with vs. Solomon saith The memorie of the iust shall be blessed but the name of the wicked shall rot Prou. 10.7 FINIS
THE CHRISTIAN LIFE AND DEATH OF MISTRIS KATHERIN BRETTERGH late wife of Master VVilliam Brettergh of Bretterghoult in the Countie of Lancaster Gentleman who departed this world the last of May. With the manner of a bitter conflict she had with Satan and blessed conquest by Christ before her death 〈…〉 glorie of God and comfort of all beholders MICHA 7.8 Reioyce not against me O mine enemie though I fall I shall rise againe And when I sit in darkenesse the Lord shall be a light vnto me PSALM 37.37 〈◊〉 the vpright man and behold the iust for the end of that 〈…〉 â—â—ace AT LONDON Imprinted by Felix Kyngston and are to be sold by Thomas Pauier 1612. The holy life and Christian death of Mistris Katherin Brettergh THis Gentlewoman was borne in Cheshire the daughter of Iohn Bruen of Bruenstapleford Esquire well descended and of an ancient house Her education before her mariage was such as became the profession of the Gospell in godlines and puritie of life and religion and wel beséemed the house where she was brought vp The Scriptures shee knew from a child Stapleford and by reading thereof gained such knowledge that shée was able readilie to apply them when occasion was offered as we may see at 〈…〉 that so fitly and effectually that shée 〈…〉 dailie meditation For the things 〈…〉 â—â—â—â—erate and sober and by her Christian 〈…〉 â—ath she â—â—ght teach many Gentlewomen how vaine the pleasures and fashions of this world are and how farre vnable to bring that peace to a distressed heart that the embracing of true Religion can She vsed not to gad abroad with wandring Dinah Genes 34.1 1. Sam. 1.9.12 to dancing gréenes markets or publike assemblies but rather with Hannah did chuse to tread vpon the dust of the Sanctuarie and walke in the waâ—â—â— of Sion yea with Dauid Psalm 84.10 rather to bee a doore-keeper in the house of God then to haue societie with the wicked or to dwell in the tents and tabernaâ—â—â—s of the vngodly The Sabbath day was alwaies deere and â—â—â—come to her what time shee would not be without the word preached though many times she went farre for it Her delight was still to consecrate it glorious to the Lord. And as it is said of Iosiah 2. King 22.19 his heart melted when he heard the law so may it be said of her her heart was so tender and full of compassion that oftentimes shee was seene to heare Sermons reade pray and meditate with teares She made conscience of all sinne yea of the least sin such as worldlings count no sinne she neuer vsed to swearedath great nor small nor yet to abuse her tongue with vaine or vnseemely speeches no not so much as a iest-lie or immodest word neither durst she name the name of God or take his titles in her mouth without great reuerence In priuate speech where shee might speake with profit shée did it so well that her speeches might haue been deliuered by a stronger vessell then her selfe her words being so well seasoned and proceeding from such a sanctified heart did alwaies minister grace to the hearers To reade Psalm 16.3 to pray to sing to meditate was her daily exercise and her chiefest delight was in the holy society of the Saints vpon earth which I say not for any cause but onely to shew the fountaine from whence her godlie end flowed and that the world may sée some there bée which chuse rather to bée ioyned with the people of God Heb. 11.25 then to enioy the pleasures of sinne for a season and these I doubt not haue chosen the better part Finally the precepts of the Lord were pretious vnto her for from her childhood shée feared God and 〈…〉 knowledge and sanctification did ioyne in 〈…〉 â—â—fects whereof did appeare in her life and was séene at he◠〈…〉 to the glorie of God and comfort of all beholders She was not like the simple Popish women of our daies which are euer learning 2. Tim. 3.6.7 and neuer able to come to the knowledge of the truth but rather like the noble men and women of Berea which receiued the word of God with readinesse Act. 17.11.12 and were able to discerne of Pauls and Silas preaching But why doe I speake of Popish women whose vnderstandings are darker then the darknes of Egypt Let vs come and examine many other which séeme to detest Poperie and aske them a reason of their faith they can tell you a tale of their ruffes 〈◊〉 their pride and their vanities but for Religion it is the least thing they regard or séeke to know which I speake not so much to solace my selte in the sins and simplicitie of others as earnestly desiring al Gentlewomen that either knew this holy Saint of God or hereafter shall heare of her in stead of your glasses at home wherein you pricke and prune and pin your selues to looke into this glasse before your eyes that so her life and death may bée an example for you to fol ow. When shée was about twentie yéeres old by the consent of herselfe and her friends she was married to a young Lancashire Gentleman Master William Brettergh of Bretterghoult néere Liuerpole one that likewise embraced Religion sincerelie and for the same indured many grieuances at the hands of Papists Two yéeres and more she liued after shée was married and had issue onelie one Daughter during which time Anna Brettergh this couple liued together in such mutuall ioy and comfort as well beséemed the children of God which make profession of his truth And although this Gentlewoman came from the habitations of Abraham to dwell in Sodome amidst the tents of Kedar Psal 120.5 that is to say among inhumane bands of brutish Papists induring many temporall grieuances from them yet her knowledge patience mild inclination and constancie for the truth was such as that her husband was further builded vp in Religion by her meanes and his face daily more and more hardened against the diuell and all 〈◊〉 plaguie agents the Popish Recusants Church-papists 〈…〉 all Protestants which swarmed together 〈…〉 parts It 〈◊〉 vnknowne to Lancashire what horses and cattell of her husbands were killed vpon his grounds in the night most barbarouslie at two seuerall times by Seminarie Priests no question and Recusants that lurked thereabouts And what a losse and hindrance it was vnto him being all the stocke hée had on his grounds to any purpose This fell out not long after shée was married to him yet this was so farre from dismaying her or working such passions in her as are common to her sex that she rather reioyced then sorrowed turning it into matter of praising God and submitting her selfe to his good prouidence n = * Iohn Wrightinton Esquire Richard Orme Raph Heaton c. and many moe Oft she would haue said It is good that such things be but woe be to them that doe them It is good in
was this First M. William Brettergh M. William Fox M. Edward Aspinwall M. Iohn Brettergh Mistris Maud Brettergh Mistris Scholastica Fox William Woodward Elizabeth Challoner the seueritie of Gods iustice and the greatnes of her sins began to come into her mind which much afflicted her and shée would often speake of it Then she accused her selfe of pride that shée had delighted too much in her selfe and her beautie Afterwards she thought shee had no faith but was full of hypocrisie and had not imbraced Religion so earnestlie nor glorified God so worthilie especially with her tongue which oft shée repeated nor loued him so sincerely as shée ought to haue done Sometime she would cast her Bible from her and say It was indeed the booke of life but she had read the same vnprofitablie and therefore feared it was become to her the booke of death Sometimes she would say her sinnes had made her a pray to Satan a spectacle to the world a disgrace to religion and a shame to her husband kinred and all true Christians and here shee would weepe bitterly Sometime the originall corruption wherein she was borne troubled her and the sinnes of her parents and the common parents of all the eaters of the forbidden fruit as if that had made her vnworthie of God and were then laid to her charge Many times shee accused her selfe of impatience be wailing the want of feeling Gods spirit and making doubt of her election and such like infirmities She wished that she had neuer béen borne or that she had been made any other creature rather then a woman She cried out oftentimes Woe woe woe c. a weake a wofull a wretched a forsaken woman and such like pitifull complaints against her selfe with teares continually trickling from her eies Shée complained of grieuous thirst such as all the water in the sea could not quench and yet when drinke was giuen her sometimes refused it sometimes tooke a very little of it sweate burst out vpon her excéedingly and sometimes her body borned extreamely So it seemed the sorrowes of death hemmed her in and the griefes of hell laid hold vpon her Sometimes 〈◊〉 very 〈…〉 prayer and once when she should haue said Deade vs not into tentation she made a stop saying I may not pray I may not pray being interrupted as she said by Satan and so shewed much discomfort howbeit she was not left till she could both pray ane make confession of her faith with speciall application to her selfe Besides these fierie darts of Satan shee was once or twice troubled with vaine speeches as of her child the killing of her husbands cattell that she thought she saw a fire by her c. But euery one saw that these things proceeded of weakenesse emptinesse of her head and want of sleepe which her disease would not affoord her These fits though they were for the time grieuous to her selfe and discomfortable to her friends yet were they neither long nor continual but in the very middest of them would she oftentimes giue testimonie of her faith striuing and fighting against her tentations Many times when the standers by iudged her afflictions at the sharpest would she call vpon God lifting vp her eies and hands to heauen and desire him to giue her strength against her tentations Many times with a chearefull countenance she would defire those that were by not to faint nor giue her ouer but constantly to pray and helpe her against the tempter Once in the middest of her tentation being demanded by Master William Foxe William Fox whether she did beleeue the promises of God or no and whether she could pray she answered O that I could I would willingly Marke 9.24 but he will not let me Lord I beleeue helpe my vnbeliefe which she pronounced with a still low voice And when he replied that if she had a desire to pray and beleeue shée did pray and beleeue and that so effectuallie that hell gates should not ouercome her according to that of the Apostle God accepteth it according to that a man hath 2. Cor. 8.12 not according to that a man hath not she was much comforted thereby Once after a great conflict with Satan she said Satan reaso not with me William Brettergh I am but a weake woman if thou haue any thing to say say it to my Christ he is my aduocate my strength and my redeemer and he shall pleade for me Sometimes when she was afflicted with the accusation of her sins and want of féeling Gods mercy shee would with many a pitifull sob and much wéeping pray to the Lord Iesus Christ to help and comfort her Iohn Brettergh a poore wofull distressed woman Edward Aspinwall and request others to pray for hâ—â— And when she was moued to make confession of her faith she would do it oftentimes saying the Apostles Creed and concluding the same with words of application to her selfe I beléeue the remission of my sins the resurrection of my body and eternall life to me Amen And hauing done she would pray God to confirme her in that faith euer concluding with the Lords Prayer as deuoutly and reuerontly as any that were present A Christian friend who by his daily attendance on her discharged the duty of a faithfull Christian William Woodward standing by told her that no tentation had befallen her but that which appertained to the child of God and that God is faithfull and true and had promised to giue an issue with the tentation whereat she expressed great comfort Master Edward Aspinwal a faithful professor of the truth and a true Israelite was much with her in the time of her sicknes and ministred much heauenly instruction vnto her and comforted her at all times with apt places of Scripture méeting with her tentations and so put the sword of the spirit into her hand He propounded to her the most plentifull comforts of God vnto his Church in the 40.41.42 and 43. Chapters of Isaiah vttered in such spéeches and phrases Esa 40.1.2.28.29.30.31 as might most fitlie answere her discomforts Also he directed her to consider the Passion and Práyer of our Sauiour Christ for all his Esa 41.8.9.10.13.14.17.18 Isa 42.1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8.13.14 15.16 Esa 43.1.2.5.25 Matth. 11.28 Iohn 17. Matth. 26. Luk. 22.23 But specially did he often inculcate that swéete inuitation of our Sauiour Come vnto me all you that trauell and be heauie laden I will ease you But the difficultie she had sometimes to apply these generals vnto her own soule in particular made the case more ful of anguish to her self and feareful and lamentable to the standers by Albeit she acknowledged Gods Maiesty mercy faithfulnesse and truth yet still complained she of her owne weaknes and vnworthines and could hardly appropriate each thing to her selfe To help her some what herein for properly otherwise it is the peculiar work of the holy spirit of God to perswade the hart and soule of her
O praise the Lord for his mercies for hee hath brought me out of darkenes Esa 27.1 Psalm 103.1.2.3.4 and the shadow of death hee hath deliuered my soule from the snare of the hunter and hath taken me out of the den of Lions euen from the iawes of Leuiathan that piercing and crooked serpent and hath set me in a place of rest and sweete refreshing Oh praise the Lord O my soule all that is within me praise his holy name my soule praise thou the Lord and forget not all his benefits which forgiueth all thine iniquities and healeth all thine infirmities which hath redeemed thy life from the graue and crowneth thee with mercie and compassion This she often repeated And then againe remembring the 21. and 22. verses of the 17. of Iohn shee said O my sweete Sauiour shall I be one with thee as thou art one with thy Father And wilt thou glorifie mee with that glorie which thou haddest with the father before the world was And dost thou so loue mee which am but dust and ashes to make me partaker of glorie with Christ What am I poore wretch that thou art so mindfull of me Psal 144.3 Psal 8.4 Oh how wonderfull how wonderfull how wonderfull is thy loue Oh thy loue is vnspeakeable that hast dealt so gratiouslie with me Oh I feele thy mercies and oh that my tongue and heart were able to sound forth thy praises as I ought and as I willingly would doe Oh that you all would helpe me to praise the holie one of Israel the God of all consolations And thus for the space of fiue houres together at the least shée continued praising and lauding the Lord with such a gladsome and heauenly countenance testifying such inward ioy from a comfortable feeling of the mercies of God in her soule and vsing such swéete sentences and sugred phrases of perfect and holy eloquence as the truth thereof if it could haue been taken were admirable continuing so many houres together some part whereof was this Oh my Lord oh my God blessed bee thy name for euermore which hast shewed me the path of life Esa 54.8 Thou didst O Lord hide thy face from me for a little season but with euerlasting mercie thou hast had compassion on me And now blessed Lord thy comfortable presence is come yea Lord thou hast had respect vnto thy handmaid and art come with fulnes of ioy and abundance of consolations O blessed be thy name O Lord my God Then shée repeated part of the 16. Psalme saying The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance wherefore my heart is glad Psal 16.59.11 and my tongue reioyceth Thou wilt shew me the path of life In thy presence is fulnes of ioy and at thy right hand there are pleasures for euermore Oh that I could therefore praise the Lord as hee is worthie to be praised I will sing to the Lord I will sing to the praise of the God of Israel come come saith she and helpe me Iudges 5.3 O helpe me to praise the Lord. And with that she began to sing the third Psalme and continued to the end of the Psalme as perfectly and with as sweete a voice as euer she had before in her health and concluded with the 49. verse of the 106. Psalme The Lord the God of Israel be blest for euermore Let all the people say Amen praise ye the Lord therefore And after this she said O praise the Lord for hee hath filled me with ioy and gladnes of heart and brought me from the gates of hell and of death repeating that of the 16. Psalme Psal 16.6 My line is fallen vnto me in a pleasant place yea I haue a faire heritage for the Lord is the portion of mine inheritance The place where I now am is sweete and pleasant Oh how pleasant is the sweete perfume of the place where I lie Exod. 30.23 It is sweeter then Aarons composed perfume of principall spices how comfortable is the sweetnes I feele Reuel 8.4 It is like that odour that proceeds from the golden censor that delights my soule The taste is precious doe you not feele it Oh so sweete it is yea sweeter then myrrhe the hony or the hony combe Let me therefore sing againe and againe vnto my Lord and my God Then she did sing the nineteenth Psalme beginning at the seuenth verse How perfect is the law of God c. and so on to the end of the same And after that spirituall reioycing in singing of Psalmes she then prayed vnto God faithfully and praised the Lord againe ioyfully And being still full of these and such like heauenly consolacions she did sing againe most hearthly vnto the praise of God the 136. Psalme Praise yee the Lord for hee is good for his mercie endureth for euer c. In which Psalme for his mercie endureth for euer is 26. times repeated A Christian friend comming in at the same time Master William Fox which was about sixe of the clocke in the euening maruelling to see her exceeding ioyes and heauenly harmonie wherein she continued with such words and phrases that were so spirituall prayed for the continuance of the same vnto the end William Brettâ—â—gh William Fox William Woodward whereupon shee then hurst out relating further of her ioyes saying Oh the ioyes the ioyes the ioyes that I feele in my soule oh they be wonderfull they bee wonderfull they bee wonderfull And after that shee prayed for increase of faith and that God would strengthen her against tentations with continuall crauing of cemission of sins euer meditating of heauenly matters as by her sudden and often breaking out into heauenly speeches and praises did appeare for the same euening she lying still and silent for a while William Fox one prayed her to remember the Lord Iesus and that shee would in her heart pray for constancie in her ioyfull course whereupon shee answered with a delightsome and cheerefull countenance and comfortable voyce Psal 27.1.3 Oh said she so I doe for the Lord is my light and my saluation whom then shall I feare Though an host pitch against me yet my heart shall not bee afraid for the Lord hath said Deut. 4.31 I will not leaue thee nor forsake thee Indeed I should vtterly haue fainted Psal 27.13 Psal 108.1 but that I beleeued to see the goodnesse of the Lord in the land of the liuing And now my heart is readie my heart is readie and prepared yea it panteth after thee O God as the Hart brayeth after the riuers of water Psal 42.1.2 so panteth my soule after thee O God my soule thirsteth for God euen for the liuing God When Lord William Brettergh when shall I come and appeare before thy presence c. Saying then further Lord sith it hath pleased thee to prepare my heart whether to life or death thy will bee done dispose of me to thine owne glorie I am thine Lord work