and People considered in their capacity of conflicting with many deaths and dangers wherein they need and depend upon him for aid and influence as their Head 1 Cor. 12.27 Colos 1.18 24. Eph. 1.23 The Body of Christ may also be applied to signifie sometimes the whole Oeconomy or administrations of the concerns of Christ in the World for the peculiar good of his Church especially with respect to the Institutions of the Gospel according as the Legal Institutions Ordinances and Administrations of Moses are called the body of Moses Jude vers 9. compared with Zech. 3.2 where the contest was about the restitution of the Ordinances of the Lord according to the Mosaical Institution after the captivity I say as the administrations of the Law are called the body of Moses about which Satan had a contest then so may by just analogy the Institutions of the Gospel be called the body of Christ against which Satan hath not only many conflicts with them that are anointed and honoured to be a Royal Priesthood but in the infinite Wisdom of God and for the bringing about and perfecting of his designs with greater glory he hath designed manifest deaths and burials thereunto that his Resurrection-Power may be the more fully manifested Hos 6.12 Isa 26.19 Rev. 11 9 10 11. Unto this his Body mystically and figuratively considered there being such promises of a Resurrection there is also a spiritual embalming to be performed to it compleat to the capacities of the Lords dear Children all essayes and offers hereunto in such â—argeness of heart and preventing forwardness as was found in this Handmaid have a very singular resentment and acceptance with the Lord as shall hereafter be shewed the which I hope may be treated of and applied to our case without stretching the Metaphor beyond the bounds of Scripture allowance or digressing from the Spirits intendment concerning us in this place The words thus opened afford us this Observation Doct. That the Lord highly prizeth all vigorous attempts of his weakest Children to preserve a sweet savour on the concerns of Jesus Christ when they are exposed to death and burial All Nations where the Gospel comes must expresly take notice for a pattern to all that shall believe what a value and estemation Christ had of and an apology for a censured act of a glorious soul laid out early and nobly upon what concerned him when under a sentence of death and burial by the wise appointment of God though to be executed by the hands of wicked men so that if it might not be preserved from rage and scorn yet should from stench and an evil savour as much as lay in her till its hoped-for Resurrection should set it above either what she could do for it or the enemies against it may we therefore in our capacities learn that lesson Go and do likewise Luke 10.37 In handling this Point I shall not confine my self to any other method than will offer it self in considering this lively instance and pattern to Believers in the Text what was the peculiar excellency of her act indiscernable to good men that were standers by and wherein the acceptableness lay and thence by way of proportion where the cogent reason and influence of it lyes respecting us at this day First Then we may consider the inward springs and motives of her action that lay hid from ordinary observation upon which her spirit was raised and her endeavours extended to this degree mentioned in the Text. Secondly We may consider the effect of these lively and ennobling principles manifesting its self in the dimentions of her activity or how it was said of her She did what she could Thirdly The business or affair it self about which she was conversant a very thankless office in the thoughts of those that were lookers on though they were the Disciples of Christ and men honourable in many other respects above her Fourthly The estimation and acceptance that it finds with Christ notwithstanding the hard measure and severe censures at the hands of men I shall only speak of all these in her so as is immediately applicable to our own case as we go along First As for the first of these namely The hidden principles and springs of motion that were open to the Eyes of Christ with whom she had to do though mistaken and miss-judged by those spectators Not to enlarge in that variety as the matter will bear there are these two that offer themselves by Christs discovery to our view and learning as being needful indeed to all generous and noble actions that are wrought 1. There lay at the bottom of her act a lively faith strong and operative in this very matter not only in receiving the discoveries of the death and burial of her Lord whereunto the Disciples were so generally unacquainted but also the assurance of his speedy Resurrection not only in the hints that himself had given of it but also from the testimony that the Spirit had long since born Psa 16.10 that he should not see corruption in the grave his early witness whereunto we have John 2.19 speaking of the Temple of his body vers 20. he saith Destroy this Temple and in three dayes I will raise it up again Till he was risen from the dead this was not understood or at least not regarded and remembred vers 22. by the Disciples only such and so great apprehensive and active was the Faith of this good Woman that she receives the Doctrine of the Death and Burial and quick Resurrection from the Grave of her dear Lord and accordingly put her self to this great Cost to signifie her complyance with the Promise that he should be buried but not subjected to that corruption and putrefaction that attends that state and condition of all others We reade of the same Mary Joh. 11.2 in conjunction with her Sister Martha that when they were concerned in the burial of their Brother Lazarus though there was no want but rather a superabundance of love to him living and dying Christ loved him Joh. 11.35 36. The Disciples loved him for they could be content to go and die with him vers 16. His Sisters loved him to some excess vers 31. and yet because they had no expectation of his Resurrection till the general Resurrection vers 24. they yielded him up to corruption Joh. 17.13 14. so that when he had been dead four dayes they concluded by this time he stinketh vers 39. plainly shewing that having not any faith or fore-sight of his return to life again so speedily they were at no cost to embalm or perfume him against the stench of the Grave but touching him whom God would raise up from the Grave not to see corruption wherein he transcended David who wrote that Psalm who having served his generation by the Will of God fell asleep was laid to his Fathers and saw corruption Acts 13.34 to the 37. Acts 2.24 to the 32. So true and strong was her Faith
Words in Season From that late Worthy Sufferer and Servant of the Lord Jesus an able Minister of the New-Testament according to that Character 2 Cor. 6.4 5 c. Mr. Abraham Cheare VIZ. I. Faith's Conquest over the Tortures and Tenders of an Hour of Temptation on Heb. 11.35 II. The Embalming of a Dead Cause on Mark 14.8 III. Remarkable Discourses on his Dying-Bed with Copies and Extracts of Letters on several occasions Useful for those whose Hearts are engaged to serve the Will of God in this Generation London Printed for Nathan Brookes in Bartholomew-Close 1668. The Publisher to the READER I Doubt not but the following Discourses carry so much evidence of Truth and Holiness as will sufficiently commend them to the Hearts and Consciences of the upright as proceeding from one who believed and therefore spake delivered what he received as a Scribe instructed unto the Kingdom of Heaven the Fear of the Lord being evidently his treasure wherein he walked all the day long and by which he was enabled to bear those hard things which a constant Spirit in keeping the Commandments of God and Faith of Jesus holding fast the Word and Works of God drew upon him bringing him into fellowship with tryals and sufferings upon the Wayes Truths Interest and People of the Lord in this Generation It may highly concern the living to lay to heart the removal of Prophets and holy Ones true mourners that sought to stand in the Gap to turn away wrath that it might not come to the utmost I am sure it hath a sad aspect when even a Professing but too much complying People stand as on the other side or at a distance from those who earnestly contend for the Faith holding fast what they have received and are far from right laying to heart That through the hatred of the world righteous men perish and merciful men are taken away I doubt not but there remains a remnant whose minds by such providences are deeply impressed well-nigh to over-whelming further than help is given and the hand stretched forth to lead to the Rock that is higher than we when in all parts and corners the beauty and glory is cutting off as a fading-flower and how hard is it to speak and do as becometh under such astonishing stroaks and with him Ezek. 24.18 to hold on doing as the Lord Commands I am perswaded that sigh often goes up Ezek. 11.13 with Amos 7.5 O Lord cease I beseech thee by whom shall Jacob arise for he is small The reviving and desired issues of that work falling under great distrusts even with those that are the Friends thereof when if I may allude to it Luke 24.19 c those who are as Prophets mighty in deed and word before God and all the People Instruments polished to carry it on to an expected end are cut off and laying aside daily so hard is it for us to understand that thus it ought to be that so the excellency of the power may be acknowledged to be of God and not of men that all may see his Work is perfect his Word is tryed with whom is no restraint for he sendeth by whom he will the residue of the Spirit being with him who will in due time raise up and furnish Instruments for every service and if at this time men think that by cutting off and wearing out Saints and faithful Ones their nest is set on high they shall be delivered from the power of evil none remaining to cry out of their violence and spoyl to detect the unrighteousness of their wayes and doings the very stone shall cry out of the Wall and the beam out of the Timber shall witness against them I humbly pray and wish that the cast-out scattered peeled people in whose heart is the Fear of the Lord under all amusing dispensations may yet increase in the Faith that stands in the Power of God and is of the operation of his Spirit in the exercise thereof which judgeth not after appearances they may understand all these deaths passing over persons and things but needful and preparatory for the Glory that is to follow when their filth and defilements by the Spirit of Judgment and by the Spirit of Burning shall be put away the slow progress of which work with the discovery made of so great a defection from professed Light and Principles ought greatly to be laid to heart how many by reason thereof turn from the Truth and are confirmed in Athiesm even by the deceitful working of those who in the failure of outward advantages and exposal to necessities bonds and death set themselves at such a distance from the works of God our eyes have seen the begining of fulfilling Prophesies Threatnings and Promises to the last dayes as if either there was no Holiness or Righteousness in them or that they were unacquainted with the inward Life and Spirit of them so deeply hath corruption the spirit of the world mingled it self with those who not long since in greatest seeming Light and Zeal professed to seek after a better state of things Even looking for and hastning to the new Heavens and new Earth wherein dwells Righteousness but the Works of God being forgotten no wonder his Word is so little believed or his counsel waited for It was a worthy Expostulation but a few years since before some then in the exercise of Authority of one who I fear hath out-lived the force of it which though large hoping it may be of use I take leave here to transcribe If you will be able to steer your Course a-right if you would take one streight step have in a readiness an acquaintance with the work of God what it is that he aims at by which you may be guided in all your undertakings Suppose now a man or men should come and ask of you What God hath done in these Nations What he hath wrought and effected What is brought forth Have you an answer in readiness Certainly God hath done so much as that he expects you should be able to give an account of it take heed that every one of you be not ready to speak the disquietments of your own Spirits and so cast contempt on the Work of God something else is required of you I have sometimes in darkness and under temptations my self begun to think that what hath been is the thing that is and there is no new thing under the Sun as it hath been among the Heathen of old so it hath been amongst us or as it was with Israel 1 King 16.21 22. Then were the people of Israel divided into two parts half of the people followed Tibni the son of Ginath to make him King and half followed Omri but the people that followed Omri prevailed against the people that followed Tibni the son of Ginath so Tibni died and Omri reigned That a common thing and frequent in the World had befaln us wherein God had no hand but that of common Providence in dashing
most forward zealous Ring-leader of the Company Why he after he had drawn his Sword and shed blood forsook his Master and by and by denied him once and again and the third time nay cursed and swore that he never knew him What became of the rest of his Disciples in that tryal Why after that they had promised That though they should die with him they would never deny him Mat. 26.39 No sooner was he beset but they all forsook and fled and scattered every one to his own and left him alone John 16.32 These sore provocations of scorn and blasphemy falling in together with the dark administration it self of Christ's Death might well occasion this out-cry as Jacob said to his Sons Gen. 34.30 You have troubled me and made me to stink amongst the Inhabitants of the Land amongst the Canaanites and Perizzites O◠as the Israelites to Moses though by them ill applyed Exod. 5.21 You have made our savour to be abhorred in the eyes of Pharaoh and in the eyes of his Servants to put a Sword into their hands to slay us Such falls of Professors as they draw on themselves wounds that stink and are corrupted Psa 38.3 5 7. So do they cause the whole way of truth to be evil spoken of 2 Pet. 2.2 this is a lamentation Now against this putrifaction it much concerns the Saints to lay out themselves to do what they can shewing all good fidelity for the adorning and perfuming the Gospel of God in all things Titus 2.10 Having a conversation transcendantly honest among the Gentiles that whereas they speak evil of them as evil-doers they may by their good works which they shall behold glorifie God c. 1 Pet. 2.12 Phil. 2.15 16 Mat. 5.15 16. Titus 2.8 Rom. 14.16 3dly There is an uncouth savour apt to arise from the very dispensation it self though we should consider it unclothed and freed from the former nasty circumstances Mortality in any respect is unpleasant dissolution is not desireable The Saints that desire to depart do not desire to be unclothed as such Phil. 1.23 2 Cor. 5.4 Every such death is a sowing in some dishonour weakness the corruption also 1 Cor. 15.42 43. This is a startling to Nature Sence and Reason In the Concerns of Christ whereof we speak there is no such death besides it but some thing suffers loss it s unclothed of some seeming beauty although in the issue it be to make for a more real and substantial glory every sentence of death hath some resemblance to the King of Terrors Job 18.14 This contracts paleness upon the faces of Friends themselves Jer. 30.6 7. swooning fainting fits are apt to seize them who with Joseph weep over and kiss such corps Gen. 50.1 2. Imbalmings are needful to resist such sadnings so Prov. 27.9 Oyntment and Perfume rejoyce the heart so doth the sweetness of a man's Friend by hearty counsel Christs Sepulchre was a Grave though hewen out of a Rock and imbalming was requisite though never man lay there before Joh. 14.39 c. especially seeing weeping Visiters desired access not only unto but into the Sepulchre Mark 16.5 Joh. 20.6 8. The Grave or Cave of Lazarus fetched groans and tears from Christ himself because he loved him though he was come to raise him Joh. 11.33 35 38. The aptness of the choicest Saints to faint swoon and quail at the Grave of that Interest whose Resurrection yet they frequently expect calls for cordial confections liberally prepared for such funerals Secondly Proceed we to the Second branch under this general Head and that is To take knowledge what is the Nature of this composition of Imbalm that is proper to withstand the said ill-savour in the several respects of it about which also consider we 1. First Some general Properties or Qualities that are principally to be heeded in this Preparation 2. Secondly The special Ingredients that must concur to make up the Composition of it The former of these I shall propound under the Observation and Improvement of two or three words in her case in the text which may direct our care in this business 1. That which we bring to the Lord on the present intendment must bear proportion to hers in this quality Hers was and so must ours be very Pure Oyntment The word Spiknard the margent reads Pure-nard some think it should be translated Vpright and Perfect Nard They taking the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to be derived from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and so signifie faithful proper pure and unmixed Nard it being liable to be adulterated vitiated and corrupted By due proportion whereunto all endeavours of ours must have this principally heeded that simplicity integrity and true sincerity do truly qualifie whatever of this kind be attempted which directs us as wel that al the ingredients be unfeigned and answerable to the pure standard without hypocrisie as also that there be nothing admitted which is of a forreign allay which will prove of a corrupting nature to all the rest We read that in the Levitical administration there was both an holy Oyntment and an holy Perfume for the special use of the Tabernacle to be compounded by special direction according to the Art of the Apothecary Exod. 30.23 24 25 34 35 36. The Spices Dose Confection and Application of it must be strictly ordered by the standard of the Sanctuary under penalty of death on the least corruption or deviation The which pointing unto Gospel-things I might shew particularly requires all manner of care that what we bring before the Lord for a sweet savour do fully answer the pattern for simplicity and godly sincerity a little evil else will spoyl much good Dead Flyes saith the Wiseman Eccles 10.1 cause the Oyntment of the Apothecary to send forth a stinking savour so doth a little Folly him that is in repute for Wisdom and Honour They have need of clean hands and a pure heart that doth approach with such intendments What manner of persons ought they to be in all holy Conversation and Godliness If they lose their savour wherewith shall they be sweetned 2dly What we bring on this design must bear proportion to hers in this Her Spicknard was very precious Which expression signifieth as well the inward vertue and excellency of it as the rich price cost and value of it It might said the Disciples have been sold and such things seldom yield what they cost for three hundred pence which likely was the Roman penny by computation about seven pence half-penny of ours that amounts to about 9 l. 7 s. 6 d. sterlin So great a value to be expended at one dash on Christ by a Woman that seems to have been not one of the richest neither being so highly commended and propounded as an exemplary instance to us shews that what we bring of this kind must be in the sight of God of great price as a gracious frame of Spirit in his children is said to be even that hidden man
It was a brave spirit in Araunah when there was a â—ebate betwixt David and him about the price of â—he Sacrifice that was to be offered up for a sweet â—avour in an infectious nasty season As a King gave he to the King 2 Sam. 24.23 'T was hard to discern by their spirits if external badges had not â—een there to distinguish them which of them had most of the spirit of a King in him Such largeâ—ess of heart is exceeding proper and honourable â—n the case before us A little laid out in the power of this Principle will be highly enhansed in the value of it It was a notable Instance and evidence that Rispah though but the Concubine of Saul retained some tincture of a Royal mind that when the seven men of the off-spring of Saul were executed at the instance of the Gibeonites with that reproachful and cursed death yet she from her noble disposition and generous respect to that Royal off-spring doth what she could to keep them from those corrupting casualties that are apt to attend carkasses exposed as they were in the open air to be a prey to the Birds by day and the Beasts by night her sack-cloth was accepted as a noble pavillion spoken well of at Court till a more noble Funeral was provided for them 2 Sam. 21.9 to 14. Christians if you are as you profess made Kings and Priests to God a Royal Priesthood then you have another a nobler spirit than have others it concerneth and becometh you to stir up and improve on things that are most excellent It 's not for Kings Oh Believers It 's not for Kings and Princes to do less than the noblest things To open their mouth for the dumb in the Cause of all such as on this account are appointed to destruction Open thy mouth judge righteously and plead the cause of the poor and needy 5thly Know for your encouragement That though Christ expecteth you should do what you can to imbalm his Interest yet the soveraign vertue of that which indeed doth and must preserve it from rotting and stinking depends upon the Lord 's own provision and preparation Though your good will be accepted and your work shall be rewarded yet it 's freedom from corruption flowes from the absolute dominion he hath over the Grave where he lieth and the purpose and ingagement that he hath made known in the New Covenant to give it a Resurrection It 's no small encouragement therefore to know and be insured that we are workers together with Christ in this design which must needs be succeeded with a good issue and therefore it 's good adventuring thereupon 6thly Lastly Resolve upon this That if you live not long enough to see its Resurrection yet you will be laid in the same Grave with it where it dieth you will die and there you will be buried The Spices then prepared and laid in to imbalm it will also perfume you The last Testimony of Friendliness the old Prophet could shew to the young Prophet 1 Kings 13.28 29 30 31. was to take up his dead caâ—kass though a Lion had slain him and stood by lay him in his own Sepulchre and give this charge When I am dead then bury me in the Sepulchre wherein the man of God is buried lay my bones besides his bones Joseph laies the body of Christ in his own new Tomb Mat. 27.60 Abraham and Sarah Isaac and Rebeka Jacob and Leah and Joseph also covet to be laid together Gen. 49. 29 31. A Cave in Canaan where they must be laid in the Faith of Promises which is more desireable than the chiefest Royal Sepulchres in Canaan Gen. 23.6 chap. 49.29 chap. 50.25 26. It was nobly resolved in Ittai the Gittite 2 Sam. 15.21 Surely in what place my Lord the King shall be whether in death or life there also will thy Servant be Such blessed Resolutions raised on true Principles Rev. 12.11 Acts 15.26 chap. 20.24 chap. 21.13 have their acceptation now and shall not miss of an early Resurrection in due time 2 Kings 13.21 Dan. 11.13 Isa 26.19 FINIS The gracious Author of the fore-going Treatises after full Three years Suffering under very hard circumstances enduring many inhumanities from merciless Goalers in Excester-Goal was continued Prisoner under Military Guards in the Isle of Plymouth where a violent Sickness in a few dayes seized upon him in which a Friend admitted to a constant Converse judged these following Passages worthy his Observation which may fitly be here inserted as a Discovery of the Grace granted in his various Changes and Abiding with him until by the Will of God having finished his Work he fell asleep A Friend giving him some Emulsion to drink he drank and said All passages are clear between Stomach and Belly Head and Heart and that and Heaven blessed be God A Friend then asking him if he had any thing to say to them in the Family with him in case the Lord should call him from them He replied I desire the blessing of the God of Heaven may be upon you and a full Reward from him be ministred to you for all the labour of Love you have shewed to me for the Lords sake and I beseech you continue stedfast in the Faith and Testimony to Christ and his Concerns who is as worthy as ever notwithstanding all the reproach cast on him and them and I desire earnestly you will take heed of being offended at Him his Word Works or Wayes but be careful to be found in his paths as ever you hope to have help to stand before him with peace and comfort at his appearing He further said Christ had a poor Remnant yet left that he was perswaded should be helped to stand and no more to be afraid of the worst that men can do than he through Grace was now afraid of what Death could do to him And said Though I may be rolled into my dust yet there is a promised approaching Glory that God will most certainly bring forth out of all these great deeps with which we are now encompast though saies he it may be you also may not live to see it but to die in the Faith of it will be enough and the Lord grant you may not stagger and that no cloud may be upon your Testimony to God nor unless clouds be good for you upon your Interest in him And as to the Church at Plymouth he said He had oft since his Sickness on his bed begg'd of God that the Lord the God of the spirits of all flesh would set a man over that Church a man whom he should chuse to go in and out before them to feed them that so the Lords poor flock be not utterly scattered by those that carry or keep them Captive Numb 27. he referred to And further said to a Friend then present I desire you if God by his Providence or otherwise shall hereafter speak any such thing to you though but in a whisper you would
his praise while I have my being so that thus 't is with me now Christ is lovely to me in all the afflictions I have met with in all I have seen and suffered wherefore rejoyce with me O my Friends let us rejoyce and bless the Name of the Lord together that hath dealt well with me and do not I beseech you disgrace the throne of his Glory because of me or this fleshly state that must be taken from you Murmur not I pray ye that yet you see not Saviours come up upon Mount Zion The reserve of Spirit is with him and the Lord hath many Children to bring in besides those that are brought that shall be brought in by vertue of fresh Anointing so as they shall be known to be Children of his that he hath blest And as I desire you would not weep for me so not inordinately for your selves neither adhere to Christ and fear none of those things ye shall suffer I have no deep insight into deep Mysteries but this I Believe God is a-rising to do some great thing in the World for Sion's sake and though it be hard for us to lose our Chariots and Horsemen some by Apostacy some by Death some by Scattering yet when the Gathering time shall be it will be no grief nor sorrow of heart to behold the way of Gods working in all these things when we shall say he hath done all things well There are many signs upon us that prognostick great things near at the doors though I dare not say I know much distinctly as to Times Means and Methods only be assured not one jot or title of all God hath spoke shall fail though our interpretations of them may fail If any ask how it stood with me as to these things at this season tell them If I die I die in as full Assurance that God will give reviving to his poor despised Cause and Interest as I do believe the Resurrection of this Body and that I know both the one and the other are founded on such a Word as shall stand as Mountains of Brass And advise them also to take heed how they wait on mens Indulgence so much talked of but let their Faith stand in the Wisdom Power and Faithfulness of God and their Prayers be directed more that way endeavouring to make Religion their business yet if any shall lean to such a deceitful Bow be not you dismayed or discouraged at it but hold on your way that shall be strength to you And now Oh now could I send Epistles to all the Churches in these things I would but that work I think is over be ye therefore as the Epistle of that to them And now my dear Brother and Sisters I desire to bless God for you and for your great tenderness to me but herein as to particulars my mouth is stopt I hope you will continue love to my poor Sister you see what a poor Creature she is yet I hope one that will find Mercy in the day of Christ And dear Sister A. L. remember me to all Saints in Plymouth and tell them I have no greater joy than to hear that they are of those Children that are walking in the Truth as to hear of any of them walking loose to Christ and loose to the Profession of him is my Souls grief Oh! tell them that as ever they hope to see my face with joy at the great Day that what they have seen and heard from me a poor worm that hath been according to the mind of the Lord they would do and the God of Peace shall be with them And now Friends as a * Sir H.V. good man once said so I say as to what you may have further to say to me or ask of me While the Oyl runs bring your Vessels His Sister asked what he had to say to her Family He answers They had been a kind poor Family the Lord make them his Family and dear Sister look over a weak Husband and Family and difficulties that may occur as to them and you You and I have been Witnesses to the Faithfulness of Christ how he hath provided for us in former dayes and I challenge you if you can to say to the contrary he hath not failed us thus far Then he said I am weak and faint A Friend by said to him The Lord the Creator to the ends of the Earth fainteth not but gives power to the faint and to those that have no might renews strength He answers Yes he doth so and will also roul away the reproach of his People in due time for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it Oh this part this part of the reproaches of Christ this now almost eight years reproach What Glory is there in it to those that are helpt to bear up under it Then speaking to his Sister A. said Dear Sister Bear up bear up blessed be God for strength to you thus far bear up still I beseech you accept all in good part and pass by all weaknesses you and your Husband had Relations each of you dear to you both and also I trust to Christ I desire not complementally but really to be remembred to them all and desire they may be all gathered up to Christ to meet him at his appearing And I desire for you all that you may be strengthned to all the pleasure of God that is yet to come to pass concerning you and that you may come out of these great Tribulations as Sheep from the washing and though you may see me possibly go away from you in the fiery tryal yet it may be you may be admitted to that Mercy of being bid come out and shew your selves yet that is but little considering the snares that may yet attend such a state But Oh! how much clearer is my way to come out thus than by men Then speaking to the Maid he said I desire God may have the praise of what he hath wrought in and for you and wherever you are cast I desire you may walk as a chaste Virgin And to the Nurse he said I know not how you may think your self concerned in such discourse as this since these may seem strange things to you yet give me leave to say they are some of the true sayings of God how strange soever they may seem yea they are also needful things for you to be acquainted with Oh press after them with all earnestness Then a Friend present speaking after this manner Ah! Brother What is the meaning of these Dispensations of the Lord in snatching away his choicest Saints from amongst us and leaving the poorest and weakest to be Concerned for him in such a day making them ready in sorrow and sadness of heart to say By whom shall Jacob arise since he is so small To which he replied How small soever Jacob was yet Jacob's God was not small He is a great King and a God above all Godds and as was minded but now he
to keep you in perfect peace Now to him that after you have suffered a while is of all power to keep you from falling and to present you faultless before the presence of his Glory with exceeding joy to the only wise God our Saviour be Glory and Majesty Dominion and Power now and ever Amen 7th 3d month 60. Upon the death of some whom he honoured to two of his Acquaintance then fellow-Prisoners The Lord send you help from his Sanctuary and strengthen you out of Sion Greatly Beloved I Salute you both as is meet in the Lord. These two last Posts I have not written any Letter to you partly for that I have been out of Town some little journies but principally having been much under the surprize that those were Job 2. ult The voice indeed is loud and as if seven Thunders had at once uttered their voices the terribleness of it makes many shrink as Eliah into his den When Oh when shall we hear the still soft Voice and as men of understanding see his Name We may well cry out he hath shewn us hard things and given us to drink the Wine of astonishment which falls the heavier in that such who have obtained favour to lay nearest to heart the concernments of Sion and to be therein aided with greatest boldness and sweetest intimacy near to the heart of Christ and have had their Affections enflamed most with what they have sought and seemed to themselves and others to have been of those bosom intimates that know all that their Friend doth and have hereupon spoken openly and without clouds or reservations their confidence of things that have appeared in the issue to be mistakes how some of them bear it I do not well know but sure I am the hand is very sorely turned upon the little ones that believe in Christ great is their astonishment like that Isa 51.17 to the end I have often thought of them Acts 21.4 Who said to Paul by the Spirit that he should not go up to Jerusalem How like the language of our spirits heightned by fervent affection and attended with providential bringing to remembrance of sutable Scriptures and all this on a soul enjoying clear access to the Lord is to the voice of the spirit in truth as he fulfils that Promise He shall take of mine and shew it unto you and shall shew you things to come And if it may please the Father after he hath graciously allayed the storminess of these perplexing waves that at present doubtless discompose for any thing to lead his holy ones into a more perfect discerning of things which in this kind do differ and in mean time instruct to think more soberly of themselves and judge more tenderly of others I shall yet hope this sharp dispensation may bring out meat and sweetness that we thought not of As for the poor Martyrs themselves when I review what was of late said of their particular perswasions and how when their departure was hid from them they enjoyed such un-interrupted joyful communion with the Lord I cannot but admire the wisdom and goodness of the Father that took that course with them to anoint them for their burial but alas they had no burial But much more grace to admiration appears to me in it that when their perswasions and expectations from the Lord in that point gave way to his determinations yet that at that very time the Tempter should be bound up who doubtless desired to have them that he might have winnowed them as Wheat and would have made a great market of the least discouragement upon them over the whole Antichristian World Oh! how unsearchable are his wayes and his works past finding out The deadly Treacle that you speak of will doubtless swiftly become a Cup of trembling to this wretched generation and entayl the guilt of all down along from Abel c. A very strange efficacy that it hath to cry and to prevail at length though it tarry long first That Abels was not answered and expiated in the Flood that destroyed the World of the ungodly nor that of Zacharias if it was his who said The Lord look upon it and require it 2 Chron. 24.22 But they both must cry against that generation that put to death the Lord of Life and neither of these cryes expire at the ruines of them and their devastation to this day but shall be found as fresh in out-cry against that great City where also our Lord is crucified Rev. 18.24 And though it 's hard to discern yet great is the pravalency of those cryes of Saints that night and day follow the Lord herein though he not only tarry long but even seem to be angry with the Prayers of his People that word hath sweetly stayed me in this hour of temptation Thou tellest my wandrings put my tears in thy bottle are they not written in a Book by thee If their wanderings staggerings be tenderly numbered and their tears bottled and their grouns booked and all this by thee a Book of remembrance before the Lord We need not be so sollicitous what becomes of them though they are above out of our sight doubtless when it comes to much Incense in the Angels hand the Censor will be cast into the Earth Rev. 8.3 4 5. Rests Yours in tears 24. 8. month 60. Unto one who had acquainted him with the departing of some from their holy Professions The early visits of the bright and morning Star be a light in your dark place till the day dawn and the shadows flee away Beloved in and of the Lord SInce my last I have received yours wherein you were pleased to remember and send such a rich Token to your poor Friend whom you are pleased to describe by that merry title of your Father who blesseth God for grace and support ministred by tracking the footsteps of the Father of Spirits in those paths of peace and pleasantness wherein he pleaseth to lead you and others of his suffering ones so contrary to the methods and expectation of men whose breath are in their nostrils Job 22.29 Psal 41.8 12 13. unto which I account it no diversion that he is pleased as your last intimates to keep you in an humble sense of the shortness of self-sufficiency for bearing you up against the hour of temptation the very fear whereof hath already cast down so many stars from their excellency on whom this inscription is manifestly engraven as a caution to us though a by-word to scorners Lo this is the man that made not God his confidence Over whom as I have little ground to glory 1 Cor. 10.12 Rom. 11.18 20. so neither is there just occasion to be greatly offended Isa 2.22 2 Tim. 4.16 17 18. Joh. 6.66 67. chap. 16.13 32. Although I find it somewhat difficult to draw the memorial of their slips into a gracious perpetual remembrance without some mixtures either of wrath or doubting I confess it makes me many times tremble to think