Milk which when she had it she said I cannot relish any thing But said she I will wait upon the Lord to see what he will provide for me Then her Sister standing by she said Sister Betty and Sister Ann be sure your first Work be in the morning to seek the Lord by Prayer and likewise in the evening and give thanks for your Food for you cannot pray too often to the Lord and though you cannot speak such words as others have yet the Lord will accept â—f the heart for you do not know how soon your speech may be taken away as mine was She desired her Mother thus Do not let 〈◊〉 much company be here late at night lest it â—hould hinder them from seeking the Lord in duty 〈…〉 She said further When I was first ill and went about the House I was not under trouble for my sins at all neither am I now troubled with satans temptations for the Lord hath trampled him under his feet She said also When I can hear or understand I will tell some body that they may come and read by me for I love to hear the Word of God read to me for then she could not hear Another time She spake to the maid to call her Mother saying I have something to say to her and when her Mother came she said If my speech be taken away and should be a great while so that then I may have no Doctor Apothecary or Chirurgion come at me and that I may not have any more Physick given to me and be sure to take notice of my words for they look more at the Physick than at the Power of God and if you suffer them to give me any more things the Lord will be angry with you and will bring a greater affliction upon you in some of my other Sisters I know the Lord can open the passage of my Throat in a moment and cause me to take food or he may let me lie a great while in this condition As for washing my mouth with water I find no more but only to wash the phlegm But I am fâ—d with the bread of Life that I shall never hunger and do drink of the water of Life that I shall never thirst more I know not whether I shall live or die but if I die and if you will have a Sermon I desire this may be the Text the place I do not know but the words may be comfortable to you That David when his Child was sick he cloathed himself in Sackcloth and wept but when his Child was dead he washed and ate Bread For you have wept much while I have been sick and if I die you have cause to rejoyce She said My soul also was so full of comfort that I would have spoken much more But her speech being almost gone she said If it please the Lord that I might have my hearing and my speech which would be a great miracle I should speak much more Novemb. 10. On the Lords day she said as follows When her Mother had syring'd several things into her mouth as first water which she not relishing then water and vinegar then vinegar and Sugar then milk and none did relish with her she said Here is but little comfort in these my comfort is in the Lord There is comfort indeed Though we may seek comfort here and the glory of this World yet what is all that all will be nothing when we come to lie upon a Death â—ed then we would fain have the love of God and cannot get it I am full of comfort and joy Though the Lord is pleased to let me lie under many pains yet he knoweth what is best for his Children he hath enabled me and will enable me to bear them and though he should lay a hundred times more upon me yet will I wait upon him for he is my stay and the hope of my Salvation My pains are nothing to the pains of Hell where they will never be at an end And Christ he suffered a great deal more for me then all this is he was bruised buffeted and spit upon and they platted a Crown of Thorns and put upon his Head and gave him Vinegar to drink But I have several things to take though I cannot relish them And they came out against Christ with Swords and Staves and Christ did not open his mouth against them but rebukes Peter for cutting the High Priests Servants ear and bid him put up his Sword into the Scabbard and said Shall not I drink of the Cup that my Father hath prepared for me though my pains are very great yet I am so full of joy and comfort I was very full of comfort before but I am fuller of joy this hour than I have been yet It is better to live Lazarus's life and to die Lazarus's death than to live Dives his life he had his delicates and afterwards would have been glad to have had Lazarus dip his finger in water and cool his tongue Though the Lord give Satan power over my Body yet he hath promised he shall not hurt my Soul The Devil could not go into the herd of Swine till Christ had given him leave And though he stood at my left hand and said I am in filthy rags yet the Lord stands at my right hand and saith I am but a fire-brand newly plucked out of the fire and he will put on me his Robes of Righteousness The last night I could not stir my Head Hand nor Foot but by and by the Lord did help me to move my Head a little and at length my Body O what a good God have I that can cast down and raise up in a moment but here is only looking at the Physician as many when they have been sick and well again they say Such a Physician and such a Physician hath cured them they neglect looking up to the Lord. It is true the Lord doth appoint the means to make use of but nothing will do us good except he give a blessing to it O that we had Faith as that Woman had that had spent all upon Physicians and did her no good then came and touched the Hem of Christs Garment and when Christ felt vertue go out of him he asked his Disciples Who touched him then she trembled but Christ said Rise up Daughter thy Faith hath made thee whole Of the Expressions of an hopeful Child the daughter of Mr. Edward Scarfield that was but eleven years of Age in March 1661. Gathered from a Letter written by one fearing God that lived in the house with the Child IN August last this Child was sick of a Feaver in which time she said to her Father who is a holy humble precious man I am afraid I am not prepared to die and fell under much trouble of Spirit being sensible not only of actual sins but of her lost estate without Christ in unbelief as Ephes 2. 12. John 16. 8 9. and she wept
bitterly crying out thus My sins are greater than I can bear I doubt God will not forgive them telling her Father I am in unbelief and I cannot believe Yet she was drawn out to pray many times in those words of Psal 25. For thy names sake O Lord pardon my sin for it is great Thus she lay oft mourning for sin and said I had rather have Christ than health She would repeat many promises of Gods Mercy and Grace but said she could not believe When she had been complaining that she was not prepared her Father opening the Bible his eyes first fixed upon these words in Psal 10. 17. Lord thou wilt prepare the heart thou wilt cause thine ear to hear and he bid her take notice of the Lords providence therein ordering the opening of the Book and his eyes to pitch on these words The next day when she was mourning for sin he opening it again his eyes fixed on those words in Maâ—th 5. Blessed are they that mourn for they shall be comforted He bid her observe that Providence of also But as yet her time was not come and she still mourned under her unbelief The next day being then the 24th of the 6th month 1661. he praying that morning with his godly Family as his usual way hath been for many years to pray with them and read the Scriptures or Catâ—chise them daily morning and evening Behold and see what gracious incouragement the Lord gave him in his Service as he was praying to this effect That we might not look for any thing in us to rest in or trust unto for our Justitfication to stand righteous before God but only in Jesus Christ alone who died for our sins at Jerusalem and rose again for our Justification Whilst he was praying to that effect the Lord raised her Soul up to believe as she told her Father when Prayer was ended Now I believe in Christ and I am not afraid of Death After this she said I had rather die than sin against God Since that time she hath continued quiet in mind as one that hath peace with God As for this young Child I have been comforted in seeing her and hearing her answer some Questions propounded to her five years ago Her Father saith that since she was five years old he remembred not that either a Lie or an Oath hath ever come out of her mouth neither would she have wronged any to the value of a Pin. Henry Jessey Here ends the first part Here follows now some of the Fruits of Mr. Abraham Chear's spare hours improvement whilst a Prisoner Made and directed to some he was nearly related to and dearly affected Remember now thy Creator in the dayes of thy Youth 1. SWeet Children Wisdom you invites to hearken to her Voice She offers to you rare delights Most worthy of your choice Eternal blessings in his wayes You shall be sure to find Oh! therefore in your youthful dayes your great Creator mind 2. The joy that other pleasure brings with vanities abound â—ay when in straits they take them wings vexations they are found Your very Vitals thus decayes and torments leave behind Oh! therefore in your youthful days your Great Creator mind 3. They may affect depraved sense while they subject your Reason They say to conscience get you hence and fear it for a season But though a kind of sottish ease you hereby seem to find I beg you in your youthfull dayes your Great Creator mind 4. The dreadful danger heed I pray of such strange wayes at length When you have sin'd your time away and wasted all your strength Be sure in chains of darkness these your hands and seet will bind Oh! therefore in your youthful days your Great Creator mind 5. Observe how poor mortal men their precious seasons spend To satisfie those lusts but then must perish in the end This saving Counsel would you please upon your heart to bind Oh! in your early yourthful dayes your Great Creator mind 6. Upon a World vain toylsome foul a journey now you enter The welfare of your living Soul you dangerously adventure If as the isâ—ue of your wayes yoâ—ve happiness design'd Oh! in your early youthful dayes your Great Creator mind 7. Friends parents all who you affect observe your budding spring Your prosperous Summer they expect a fruitful Crop will bring A witness in this age to raise to Grace of every kind Oh! then in these your youthful dayes your Greatâ— Creator mind 8. Young Isaack's who lift up their eyes and meditate in Fields Young Jacob's who the Blessing prize this age but seldome yeelds Few Samuel's leaving their playes to Temple Work resign'd Few do as these in youthful dayes their Great Creator mind 9. How precious Obodiah's bâ— that feared God in youth How seldome Timothy's we see â—erst in the Word of Truth Few Babes and Sucklings publish praise th' Avengers Rage to bind Oh! then in these your youthful dayes your Great Creator mind 10. Few tender-hearted youths as was Josiah Judah's King Hoâ—annah in the high'st alas how seldom Children Sing Youth 's rarely ask for Zion's wayes they 'd rather pleasure find But oh in these your youthful dayes your Great Creator mind 11. What Children Pulse and Water chuse continually to eat Rather then Conscience should accuse for tasting Royal Meat Would you not bow a King to please though tortures were behind Oh! then in these your youthful dayes your Great Creator mind 12. Those worthy Mirrors of thier Age obtain'd a precious Name Their living Patern should engage your souls to do the same And though in this strait narrow way you few Companions find The rather in your youthful day your Great Creator mind 13. How worthy Christ is could you learn to claim your Flower and Prime And how well pleasing 't is discern to dedicate your time You pleasantly would make essayes to get your Souls enclin'd And gladly in your youthful dayes your Great Creator mind 14. This Garland wreath'd of youthful flowers to Jesus you would bring This Morn made up of Golden Hours you would present the King You 'd humbly bow without delayes Grace in his sight to find And gladly now and all your dayes your Great Creator mind More of Mr. Chear's Verses Written to a young Virgin Anno 1663. Sweet Child When I bethink what need there is of care For precious souls to save themselves from snare That Satan as a subtil Fouler layes To take and keep them captive all their dayes In youthfâ—l folly and in sensual rest To keep them off from being truly blest What strange devices he hath to expel Their thoughts of Judgment Death of Heaven or Hell And minding what engagâ—ments on me lie To you and others Christ to testifie This Song I thought you now and then might sing If God would follow it to mind to bring Your state by Nature and the Gospel Path To set you free from everlasting Wrath. If morn by morn you in this Glass
These Sentences these Lines Each Word and Letter to me are better Than Pearls and Golden Mines 'T is Heaven it self transcrib'd And Glory lively pen'd God's truth no doubt was copied out When he this Gift did send It 's Truth brought forth to light God did hereby intend Man's word should fall Heaven Earth and all But this should never end Dear Soul admiring stand At that blest hand and Quill That did produce for sinners use Th' eternal Sovereign Will Astonished admire The Author too and when Thou canst not raise sufficient praise With wondring say Amen To my Cousin John H. SWeet John I send you here A Song by heart to learn Not it to say as Parrots may But wisely to discern Oh! lay it deep to heart And mind it well I pray God grant you Grace to grow apace In virtue day by day As yet a Child you be And childish Toyes do please you But you 'l complain they all are vain When ever Grace shall seize you Nay When Convictions come In Gospel-Power and Truth You 'l surely cry Ah wretch am I Thus to have spent my youth Childhood and Youth were spent In things not to be nam'd Alas whaâ— praise was in those dayes Whereof I 'm now asham'd Dear John then lay to heart This needful timely hint Before the day of which you 'l say What pleasure have I in 't Begin to mind the Lord Who form'd you out of dust And did you raise to shew his praise Him love and fear you must In things that are of earth Spend not your youthful strength Its joyes and cares are all but snares To mischief you at length Where Christ in glory sits Place there your prime delight Let things above have all your love Your time care mind and might John Christ's fore-runner mind From whom you have your name Though from his birth liv'd mean on earth A shining Light became He chose a Desart life Fed hard was coorse attir'd He left the sport of Herod's Court Though he was there admir'd Sin he reprov'd in all And kept true witness clear He never sought himself in ought That Christ might more appear Another John you find The lov'd Disciple nam'd Who lean'd for rest on Jesus Breast With Gospel-love inflam'd To every Truth of Christ A witness bold he bear Though an Exile in Patmos-Isle Choice Visions he had there A Pattern if they be To you in word and deed Jehovah's eye will make supply To whatsoe're you need To my Cousin Sam. B. DEar Cousin Sam my pretty Lam this Song to you I send Whatever play aside you lay learn this from end to end With God begin take heed of sin know Jesus out of hand Betimes you must flee youthful lust Its first assaults withstand Spend not your dayes in wanton playes Though naughty boyes intice They first begin with little sin but end in deadly vice If naughty Boyes allure with Toyes to sin or lies to tell Then tell them plain you tempt in vain such wayes go down to Hell God's holy Eye our faults do spy and will to Judgment call us We must fear God more than the Rod or ought that can befall us How oft have I been like to die yea Death is alwayes near Chuse whom you will to follow still I Christ must love and fear Fathers best Boy and Mothers joy I then shall surely be And that that 's best of all the rest God will provide for me To my Cousin W. L. DEar Child although my Father's Will in Prison me hath bound Through uprightness and patience still my comforts here are found The presence of a gracious God doth this a Pallace make It makes the bitter of the Rod be sweet for Jesus sake But Oh! when guilt brings any here in Fetters to be bound Because of God they had no fear but were in evil found To such it is a dreadful place here guilt to judgment binds them Where if they don't repent apace Death Wrath and Vengeance finds them Of you dear Child with carefulness my heart hath many a thought Least you through youthful wantonness to greater sins be brought And so by adding sin to sin you wast your time and strength And when your judgment doth begin in vain you mourn at length I charge you then in any sort your great Creator mind Spend not your youthful dayes in sport that cannot be regain'd Avoid those rude and wicked Boyes that make a mock of sin Love not their playes and sinful Toyes to fear the Lord begin Keep close to School read Scriptures oft in private learn to pray Your Gospel-grounds keep still in thought Your Parents both obey Your Brethren love and teach them good a Christian learn to be Then God will give you clothes and food and you 'l be dear to me To my Kinsman A. L. MY pretty Child remember well you must your wayes amend For wicked Children go to Hell that way their courses tend But heark to me if you to be the Child of God desire The broad and open road must flee which multitudes admire Sâ—rive every day to mend you way learn Christ while you are young Take constant heed to every deed heart feet hands and tongue You may be quickly sick and die and put into the Grave From whence to judgment you must fly and righteous Sentence have Learn then to fear while you live here with Christ your time imploy Labour to live and die as one that leaves the World with joy My strength in cries I shall imploy that God will bless your youth I can have nothing like this joy My Children walk in truth To my youngest Kinsman R. L. MY little Cousin if you 'l be your Uncles dearest Boy You must take heed of every deed that would your Soul destroy You must not curse nor fight nor steal nor spend your time in games Nor make a lie what e're you aile nor call ungodly names With wicked Children do not play for such to Hell will go The Devils Children sin all day but you must not do so Begin I pray to learn that way that doth to Heaven tend O learn a little day by day which leadeth to that end For God and good men love such Boyes and will them good things give Father and Mother will rejoyce and I in comfort live Another to a Child insisting on Psal 119. 9. SInce I am naturally bent to take delight in Songs A Friend from Prison one hath sent that to my Soul belongs Which when I sing he doth intreat I would not mind my play But frequently with weight repeat How may I cleanse my way It is the use of such as I to Dance and Play and sing Or else to lie and rail and cry for will in every thing Why should our wantonness be crost or pleasures night and day We fear no danger to be loft what need we cleanse our way Should we our jovial play-mates shun when we return from Schools Should we not fight and
Exon. the 27th year of his age John e Edwards Anagram Inward He do's or He Do's Inward WHen Satan shuts up Saints in ward his might Is bent to quench at least obscure their light To quel their spirits to distract their mind That they no heart no hand for work should find But here 's a Conquerer in spight of foes His fathers business though in Ward He Does He Does much inward work he writes Prays Preâ—ches The saints and sinners through his grate he reaches Nay still he speaks It don't that work obstruct Though from his prison he to reign be pluckt This voids that argument we must comply Or if in bonds must cease our Ministry John e Edwards Anagram He 'd draw Sion He 'd Sion ward From Hell's black region yea through Sinai's shade New covenant conduct plain his passage made From threatned strokes which wisely he foresaw And from sins hastening them He 'd Sion draw He 'd draw souls Sion ward with dexterous art Inform their Judgments then attract their heart His worth and Sions lyes not much obscur'd Well though he liv'd contemn'd and dy'd immur'd When Jesus comes he 'l in his Lot remain He slept to wake he died to live again Johannes Edwardus Anagram Heav'nd Sion-wards THis serious Sionist his race pursues whilst young men languish still his strength renews Through Bacahs vale he plyes from strength to strength To appear in Sion is his scope at length With Princely staves He slighting carnal tools Digs pits on earth Heaven daily fils his pools In this his progress through the Kings-high-way He meets with heaven heaven meets him day by day Till of a suddain midst his travelling night An Heavenly Chariot caught him out of sight Ah wretched I how Earth my course retards Lord let me be as he Heav'n'd Sion-wards Upon the Grave-stone of Anastis Mayow and her Child laid in the same Grave in Dartmouth Anastis Mayow Anagram Aim at Sions way Till Jesus comes this bed the dust contains Of a sweet Sionist discharg'd from pains Whose aim at Sions way was took aright That path she travel'd with increasing might That race she finish'd in her youthfulday Though dead she speaketh Aim at Sions way On her young Child dying shortly after SPectators Heed death's quick pursuit But now the Tree and now the fruit Yet his attempts are all but vain For Tree and Fruit shall spring again On Mr. Fowler of Lime and his Wife William Fowler Anagram Worm will fail WHat 's man at best a worm Can worms avail About eternal things A worm will fail Mortals be warn'd by me reclaim your trust From man a worm reducible to dust Martha Fowler Anagram The formal War TWixt flesh and spirit once in me the formal war was raised Now grace hath got the victory the Blessed God be praised The triumphs of the Crowning day with Jesus are not far Let nothing Saints your faith dismay nor dread the formal War In memory of that servant of Christ Ed. Cock of Plym Who rested from his labours the 23d of the 5th Month 1666. Edward Cock Anagram A dewed Rock IF Rizoah's offer from her Princely mind Such Royal favour did with David find When she with tears and tenderness had spread A sable sackcloth to conceal the dead Nay clad with this attire the mournful Rock Where hung the Off-spring of Saul's Royal stock From Birds and Beasts them day and night to keep Till from above the cloudes on them did weep Nay till their bones the Kings command did gather And lay in state and honor with their father Till Harvest's end till three years famine cease Till God was pacifi'd the Land at Peace Why may not I at least allowed be This Paper Canopie to spread on thee Dear Heaven-born Royally descended Cock Not to obscure thee nor thy dewed Rock Thou art secured in a better way From teeth or claws of birds or beasts of prey From strife of tongues and from the foot of pride Thy Fathers Royal secret tent doth hide As for the Rock whereon thou end'st thy dayes It s none of Gilboa's the Dew bewrayes Thy roots were watered though to stones they clung And all night long dew on thy branches hung Thy sleece with drops was filled from on high When round about the parched ground was dry Yet still as Jacobs â—ountain dropt on thee At second hand they â—ound should dewed be From thence thy first and latter rain did drop Which fill'd thy ears and so inrich'd thy crop Thy ear-ripe harvest God's command did shew Thou shouldst be blessed with mount Zions dew On â—his high Rock where thou wert made to ride Honey and butter flow'd on every side This strong munition did thy peace secure Thy bread was given thee and thy water sure Thy sepulcher thou in this Rock didst hew Yet still remain'st as dew of herbs thy dew Thy flesh abides in hope though 't dwell in dust With Christ's dead Body rise and sing it must It 's but a little while untill the King Shall make the dwellers of this Rock to sing A friendly attempt to call to remembrance the precious Saviour of that gracious Soul Mrs. Margaret Trenick late wife of Mr. Thomas Trenick of Plymouth who departed this life the 30th day of the second â—lmth vul January Anno 1665 being the 27th year of her age Psal 12. 1. Margaret Trenick Anagram Art creating meeker My slumbring Muse hath me invited A song with sighs in hand to take But with such work not much delighted She shrunk and slunk escapes to make Great indisposedness appears In mind and Members to this thing Yea â—hrongs of doubtings clouds and fears Discouraging excuses bring But under great ingagements I 'le go seek her For thy sweet sake who art creating meeker But Oh How treat of Christ can I Or of his Grace-begetting write Creating is a Theam too high Unless th' Anointing all indite Besides it is a sight so â—are To see Creating-grace display The Everlasting Arm made Bare Who will believe in it one day Becomes me best to own my self a seeker Can this thing be Thou art creating meeker But when I fix my serious thought Upon the task I 'm undertaking A lively instance forth is brought Of a meek soul yet meeker making A Lamb-like temper at the first In nature beautifi'd her morn But 't was not Adam form'd of dust Whose meekness could her Soul adorn Till Christ in meekness comes himself to seek her And speaks with power Thou are creating meeker This new-Creation progress found From strength to strengh by meekning grace By oppositions gaining ground Till she had finished her race Through soul distresses doubts delays Which others meekness oft times tire She meekly walkt to Christs high Praise Her meekness by these steps got higher Nay when grim death to ruine all did seek her This truth was seal'd Th' art yet creating meeker Margaret Trenick Anagram Greater Mercie tak'n While earth's foundations cannot stand while powers of heaven are shaken