unto eternal life and for whatever in his wisdome might most conduce to that end but whether the saveing or destroying this present life might most conduce to that end or might most tend to his praise that was a secret reserved in his own breast and not so revealed that we might know till we fee it in the issue and then our faith strenthens to believe that best and most tending to that end which he doth He only knows how in what manner and by what means to deliver the godly in and out of temptation and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgement to be punished And â—s infinite merâ— that such sinners and back sliders may yet in turning to him tâ—at smiteth them and approâ—ching to him by Jesus Christ through that new and living way opened by his blood be reputed as godly accepted as true worshippers and be washed in the blood of the Lamb and have their names changed in Heaven and be counted much to partake of the inheritance with the Saints in light behold what manner of love is this that we such sinners that have justly deserved to be called by other names here should have our sins forgiven in Heaven and be called by a new name there Even sons of God heires with Christ of the inhereritance of ilfe let this at all times satisfie and that he also knoweth how to deliver even to deliver us from all our transgressions and out of all our temptations whether by life or death leave that to him and make not hast to kindle sparks or to appoint him his way which way he must shew us that mercy he hath given us encouragement by his blood to hope for unto eternal life This or what else was said of this nature she replyed that indeed is enough to satisfie and did quiet her heart and this life she valued not in comparison of it but she might tell me of something that gave her some encouragement to hope for this life also but she thought I would not approve it nor was she without fears of her own mistake in the application of it and it was this that scripture was much brought to her mind and did follow her I shall not dye but â—ive and declare the works of the Lord. Psal 118.17 I told her that was primely spoken of Christ as the whole Psalm as applyed by our Saviour and the Apostles shew and of him 1. As personally considered and yet he dyed once but could not be holden of death nor hindered by it from declaring the works of the Lord he it is that liveth and was dead and behold he is alive for evermore Nor did he dye in death or fail of his undertaking and work but therein and thereby declared the workes of the Lord the Father glorified his Name in his sufferings and glorified it again in raising him and giving him glory c. 2. As mystically considered in his body the Church who though chastened sore yet are not so given over to death but that a seed of them is preserved to call upon him and declare all his wonderful works and his word that he hath put in his mouth and in the mouth of his seed which shall not depart and in a subordinate and secondary fence it might be spoken of David yet he did dye and was buried and his Sepulchure saith the Apostle is with us to this day But he was not cut off untimely but preserved to the service to which he was called and fit in his generation and to finish his course with joy He was yet a little longer spared to declare the works of the Lord. And I would not question but this scripture might be brought to her mind by the spirit of the Lord to comfort and encourage her soul with this that he that was chastened sore and dyed yet was not given over to death but was raised and ever liveth to make intercession for her and to declare the works of the Lord that she made her self very much uncapable of declaring to Gods praise and to declare his works in her and in delivering from blood guiltiness that she also might declare there while that she had breath here and this gives ground of encouragement that she should not dye in dying but in such wise live because he lives as that the works of the Lord might further be declared in and by her and he know how to magnifie his name in and by her death as well as by her life nor did this give any ground to hope for this life When I went another time to see her she told me she expected I would have writ something for her to read and consider for her helpfulnesse in the understanding that Scripture aforesaid that she might understand where her mistake was I answered I did not think it had so much impression on her spirit I mean her mistaken application of it and truly I did not the less but the more fear her death by the hand of Justice in that she was so ready to catch at any thing and to compass herself with sparks as even to apply that to her self which was spoken of the Son of God to gather hopes of this present life from and not more bowed to accept of the punishment of her iniquity in any thing God should order as to this life for the hopes sake set before her and spoke something further to the opening it again then I must let it go and I thank God it doth not much trouble me to part with it for nothing of my hope as to eternal life goes with it that which hath quickned me to that nourisheth that is the resurrection of Christ from the dead who was delivered for my offences the Name of the Lord as declared in him that name of God and truth in Jesus hath made me free given me boldness and confidence by the faith of him to such purpose she spake but I confess said she I had a desire if God see it good that this life might be spared partly for my dear childrens sake and cheifly I think that I might live to know more of that worthy name that I might honour it as I have given occasion of great blemish and reproach to it but God knows my unfitness my heart is deceitful oh let it suffice me if his name may be magnified whether by my life or death After the Sessions was appointed and she had notice of it I went to see her and she told me how on the first news of it her strength departed from her a suddain astonishment and trembling befel her and she thought of appearing before so many in such a case was terrible to her but she soon recovered some strength to hope in the mercy of God that had turned her heart and feet to his teâ—monies and to that rock of which she had been unmindful that he would stand by her and perfect what concerned her so as might be best for
her and tend most to his praise I endeavoured then and in my several visits before the Sessions to open and apply that gracious instruction encouragement and warning in Isa 50.10.11 Both shewing who is the Lords servant there spoken off whose voice is to be obeyed in all things and why called Gods servant what his voice is and why called the voice of the Lords servant and how to be obeyed in all things in all it saith or testifieth instructeth reproveth requireth and how therein God is truly feared and worshipped by us and likewise that such true fearers and worshippers of God may sometime walk in darkness and have no light and in what fence that is to be understood and lastly that when so yet they are not left wholly comfortless or as Orphans but bave the name of the Lord to trust in their God to stay upon to lean and depend on and wait for though they know not what to pray for as they ought in such cases not knowing what manner of deliverance may be best for them and tend most to his praise nor see any way of escape looking on the right hand or on the left or which way deliverance should come yet he that knows how to deliver doth also make intercession with God according to his will and hath the tongue of the learned and so knows how to speak a word in due season to him that is weary and is made perfect and infinitely fitted to all his work and office through sufferings this the rest this the refreshing But when we will be in such dayes of darkness kindling a fire and compassing our selves about with sparks we must expect this at the hands of the Lord to lye down in sorrow from them She much rejoyced in the word of the Lord which as she found she did eat and it was to her the joy and rejoycing of her heart yet was she not without some unsettlement and confusion or discomposure upon her spirit between fears and hopes as to this life being encouraged by many to hope for the saving of it and seek't to pervert the hope and perswasion given her in the mercy of God through Christ to an expectation and looking for it in saving her from this judgement and on the other hand by all the instruction and encouragement she met withal from the Name of the Lord and his grace in Christ led to rest and rejoyce in that which gave her hope in Death and therein willingly to resign and give up the hopes and desires of this life and to leave the matter to him quietly as accounting the hope of eternal life which God had given her in Christs infinite mercy and enough to sati-fie The Sessions being past and she condemned to death being found Guilty by the Jury upon little or no certain evidence of her guilt of the fact of which they found her guilty yet without any frowardness or prejudice I could perceive against the instruments she did acquaint herself with the Lord in it and accepted it as from his hand as a righteous and gracious punishment of her iniquity and was much more setled and composed in her spirits than before and so more fit to hear and receive the encouragements and instructions of his name as I found at my first visit of her immediately on her return from the Sessions when she had received her sentence When first I applyed my self to some reminding and further opening of the name of the Lord and particularly of that great instruction and encouragement in it that through and by the means of his death by which peace and atonement is made for sin and he impowered to forgive sins on earth he hath power to save from wrath to redeem from all iniquity to restore and bring back from all their wandrings to God to receive and make accepted on their turning to him in his gracious drawings even such as have sold themselves for their iniquities and for their transgressions are put away from sucâ— nighness fellowship mercy and good things as otherwise they might have enjoyed here and to this purpose be is Annoynted and consecrated for evermore having on his Ascention on high received gifts in the man not only for men as they are sinners in themselves and from their first natural root but from the rebellions also though rebellion be as the sin of witchcraft in which men make a new and personal compliance and confederacy with Satan as if the compliance made with him in their first natural root were not enough and sell themselves for their iniquities as if their being carnal and sold to their hand under sin through the disobedience of one were not sufficient they sin after the similitude of Adams transgression yet though they have so done to him belongs mercy forgive ness even for towards them see Dar 9.8.9 with Isa 50.1.3 There is help in him for such as have destroyed themselves Hos 13.9 'T is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners even such sinners as are lawless and disobedient sinners that will not be reformed or reclaimed by the law of grace but prophanely go on hideing and holding fast and allowing themselves in their sins and are murtherers of Fathers murtherers of Mothers Man-slayers Whore-mongers Adulters Abusers of themselves with mankind and if there be any thing contrary to sound Doctrine they are lawless and disobedient in going on in the trade and way of their own iniquities till the laws of God and men say hold on them yet such Christ came into the world to save and not for such only but for blasphemers of the Name of Christ and Persecutors of the Châ—rch of God which are mentioned by the Apostle there as his sins and greater then the former as to matter of fect and as in the sight of God yet such Christ Jesus Came into the world to save not to save them in their sins but from them And God hath exalted him a Prince ' and a Saviour for to give repentance and forgiveness of sins to such He is the propitiation now with God for sins of that nature that might have been prevented and might have been kept from by the Grace of God and that not only for those to whom he hath given an understanding to know him that is true and that are in him but also for the world for them who yet lye under the power of the wicked one that judgement may not be speedily executed but a door of mercy and life may be held open while yet he is by any means calling them that in turning their sins which yet are detain'd in heaven against them while they continue in them may be bloted out c through this man therefore is preached to you the forgiveness of your sins for he came because of that truth to forgive such sins as men cannot righteouslly forgive as in that Jer 3.1 c And can have
great joy and composure and after earnestly praying to God for the people and that he would graciously receive her soul which she freely and cheerfully committed to him she yeilded her body to the Executioner to whom she said alas poor man come do thy office shall I go higher or lower which caused some that stood by to change their minds for they had said a while before that she lengthned out her discourse to spin out time because she was loath to come at it but now observing this free proffer of her self to the Executioner without any hastening her they on the other hand admired to see her so willing to dye when the rope was fitted to her neck she again protested her great peace and joy in the view of the blessedness she was going to and it was thought by many the body scarce retained the soul or life after it was turned off for she was not seen to struggle nor scarce if at all move in any part as they said that was neer blessed be God for his mercy in giving such a proof of the truth and faithfulness of that saying that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners Her Speech SInners come hither you to me I call That you may warned be by this my fall Which for your sakes the just Lord ordered To appear so publickly admonished That you thereby might be and so prevent Your suffering such like or worse punishment For such like punishments or worse will be Thiâ—â— lot that won't henceforth be warnâ—d by me Had I been warn'd before by others I Had not come hither in this wise to dye But since his mercies I therein dâ—d slight And turned not to him so as I might In justice he permitted such a fall Mercy to shâ—w to me and to you all Take heed of sins deceits the wayès thereto Take heed how you do venture on to go For Sin more sub ile then a Serpent is Happy the souls that its inchantments mâ—ss I thought my self once strong enough to stand Against its charms and that I had command So of my self that I from it could keep Me safe but since alas for grief to weep It â—ft hath bronght me so it will do you If you by me will not he warned now The vitious courses which I see possest The minds of many I did once detest I loathed to think to wrong the marriage bed Or walk in such bad wayes as thereto led But oh alas while some smooth company Pretendiâ—g love and friendship cheerfuly I entertain'd and sorted with no harm Thinking in them their fair pretence did charme My foolish heart into so plâ—asing sleep That under shows of love lust gan to â—reep Slily into my breast to laugh and play And jest and sport with them while I gave way Such was sins first in windings and the wayes That sinners used heapes of woes to raise Upon my person while some snares did lay To catch me and their mates did me betray Who being nought themselves did seek that I Might be so too as if my company In badness would their badness mittigate Or their litentiousness extenuate And I alas too ready was to close With sins and their sweet charms till I did loose Of vertue all the savour then I feltâ— The pangs of hell within me but I dealt Deceitfuly and hid my sins and grew From worse to worse which now I saâ—ly rue Woe worth such false acquaintance whâ— pretences Of love and friendship gave to my offences The spring rise oh then be warn'd by me And shun all foolish wanton company All merry junkettings and gossipings For much iniquity from such things springs Who walkes with wise men wisdome shall attain But a companion unto persons vaine For such vile sinners who their faults confess And heartily therein do seek redress Had I not mercy now therein obâ—ain'd Oh how my soul had stain'd been my heart pain'd With fears of after woe sinners behold Take heed of sin never therewith be bold For it will-misery to you procure Either while here or that that will indure Eternally be warned then by my fall Let me Rose Warne a warning be to all And yet an instance of such mercy toâ— As may perswade you whatsoere you do Not to despair of mercy but submit To bear Gods chastisement and turning yet To hope and seek for pardon of him who His only son sent that he might undoe The devils works of sin and death for all Who gave his life and unto all doth call To look to him and saved be since this A faithful saying worth acceptance is That he into the world did come that he Might Saviour of the cheifest sinners be And such hath saved yea since God dâ—th swear That of the truth of what he saith no fear Might us possesse that he hath no deâ— light In death of wicked men but that the right They rather turne to and their sins forsake That of life in his love they may partake To sin is bad but to despair is worse For that 's the certain way to death and curse Who sins not shanâ— be tempted to despair Therefore of sin and its deceits beware But having sinn'd repent for God will give Mercy to those that turne and they shall live Through Jesus Christ our Lord so farewell all And see ye warned bee by this my fall Qui ante non cavet post â—olâ—bit Who so doth not of sin beware before His doleful state shall afterward deplore Et qui ante dolet post gaudebit Who penitently here their sins bewaile Hereafter shall have joys that nere shall faile Upon R. W. She that was lost we hope is found Shee that was dead doth live again She that in lust and sin was drown'd We hope with Christ doth now remain Oh pretious blood that washt her so Free grace that did her so redress That by the ladder she might go To endless and eternal bliss Lord send us to that fountain too And throughly wash our souls therein Without which all that we can do Cannot deliver us from sin And keep us from such sins and shame As blurd and shortn'd here her daies That we may glorifie thy name And go to heaven by better wayes Rofe Warne EPIGRAM Rose Warne thy name was oh that thou hadst been Rose Warned thou such mischeifs hadst not seen But being not Rose Warned by thy fall Thou art Rose Warne a warning unto all SHe left by her speech and demeanour a very great admiration of it and affectedness with it in the auditory which was very great and numerous from the Town and Country though the fewer from the Country because it was not the market day who generally so far as they heard her at least returned with abundance of compunction and seriousness upon their spirits glorifying God for and in her diverse saying they never saw any executed that dyed in that manner and with that cheerfulness and hope in God and with such