And now hereby do I know that it was the Spirit of God and of truth that did work at this time because it did lay mee low and flat before him that is holy and made me see my own insufficiency and his great al sufficiency which did much humble mee and broak and melted mee exceedingly then was this promise given in That they that waiton the Lord shall renew their strength they shall mount up with wings as Eagles they shall run and not be weary and they shall walk and not faint And my heart was very much drawn out to wait upon God in a way of believing both for my self and people of God having that word as it were whispered in my ear If thou canst believe all things are possible Another time I was considering that though I had been a Professor many years yet I though indeed I was but a babe in Christ then that word came upon mee Out of the mouthes of babes and sucklings thou hast ordâ—ined praise And indeed I can incourage the most simple and weak to wait on the Lord for his grace is sufficient At this time I was taught by the spirit that prayer was another thing then some take it to be it is of a divine nature and they onely whom God helpeth can pray for it is not words that is alwayes needfull for a soul may pray and utter no words and have sweet communion with God by faith yet words sometimes affect the heart and I have sometimes found the voyce cannot be kept in the heart may be so filled Therefore I blame none but desire to be tender of all for God accepts what himself gives outward performances is as the shell without the kernel if the spirit act not but what of his own spirit is in any duty that God doth accept And we read of the poor woman in the Gospel who met with some discouragements yet by the power of faith being inabled to hold on oh how greatly he commended her faith and answered her desire though her words were but few onely Lord help mee c. And Hannahs prayer was heard who did but move her lips And although she was a woman of a sorrowful spirit before yet she went away believing and also rejoycing that God had heard her prayer So the desires of them that fear him shall be answered and he will hear their cry Daniel before he made his supplication was answered the groaning of the spirit before the Lord is a loud cry the prayer of faith doth save the sick The Lord is a very present help in the time of need They that trust in him shall not be disappointed Nay he takes pleasure in them that fear him and that hopes in his mercy Therefore let them that call on the name of the Lord depart from iniquity Further my heart being carried out long to wait for and expect ther teachings of the spirit more fully to be given mee and therefore if any thing comes in further it is not of nor from my self but the Spirit of Gods working in and upon a poor weak creature who though I be very unfit to publish any thing of this nature to the world yet according to my measure I would with that poor woman do what I can with willingness and cheerfulness for God loves a cheerful heart in his work and the Apostle saith if there be first a willing mind it is accepted according to that a man hath and not according to that he hath not Yet I am much incouraged to believe that this work is of the Lord for I have found the flesh exceeding opposet thereunto and when I have neglected it God hath withdrawn himself from mee and when I set to it in good earnest then God returns and let mee injoy sweet communion with himself And the more the Lord appeared at the first comings in of these things upon my soul the more his love broake my heart that I was wonderfully affected to behold the freeness of his grace to such a one And verily the more watchful I was against sin and unto duty the more of his divine presence was affoarded which is so gloriously sweet to injoy that the more I had the more still I would have and still longed for not onely in the day but in the night also hearkening what God spake and in the night his vvay to my soul hath been to come in vvith many svveet seasonable and povverful instructions stirring me up to pray teaching me hovv to pray and vvhat to pray for encreasing my faith and considence to believe for that I have praied for both for my self and others and also stirring mee up to praysing him and I find that giving my self vvholy to the disposing of God in prayer is a very good thing also this fear hath been upon mee sometimes that I should offer unto God that vvhich cost mee nothing that is to lay on t the choisest and most of the day about the vvorld and then bring the sleepy head to God for a sacrifice I minding the spirituallity of true prayer and my unfitness for it I have found the councel of our Lord Jesus Christ very useful vvhere he saith VVatch and pray Math. 26 41. And the Apostle saith VVatch unto prayer Pet. 1 4 7. yet I have found often when I have been to pray unto God my heart have been very dead and I could not get it into so spiritual a forme as I would yet durst not neglect the dayly waiting upon God in that duty but even then made it my work to petition the Lord to compose my spirit and quicken me by his grace and holy Spirit that I might not offer the blind the halt and lame in sacrifice unto God And indeed then God hath so come in upon my spirit that I haâ—â— had more communion with him self yea more then at some other time when I have been apt to think my self more fit At other times when I have not found God coming in to help mee I have gone a way and waited his time for unless God enlarge our hearts it is not good for us to en large in words for God is in heaven and thou on the earth therefore let thy words befew thy words mark that and bodily exercise prositeth nothing my son give mee thy heart saith God Eccles 5 2. The poor man that said God be merciful unto mee a Sinner went a way more accepted or rather Justified then the Pharise in the time before the coming of Christ in the flesh if Gods people could not bring a lamb fo ra sacriffice if they brought but two pigeons or a little flower if it were brought to the Priest it was accepted so if we come to him that Justifies the ungodly and hath promised to do all our works in us and for us beholding his alsufficiency and submit to him and be content with that he will give us as well in spirit uals as in temperals the Lord will accept of
us onely believing we must flee unto the hornes of the Althar And I have found when I have neglected prayer my heart hath been very dead and full of unbelief And again I have found it no comfort to rest upon duties for that is a dangerous evil to set up such an Idol in the heart but here in lay my comfort when I by faith could have communion vvith God and coming near to him could cast my burthen upon him and go avvay quiet in my mind that Christ vvould do all for mee and vvhen I vvas vvilling God shtould do vvhat he pleased vvith mee and my vvill vvas brought to his vvill then have I had the mercy I have asked and more also many times I have found retired places and vvatchings the best opportunities and greatest advantages unto prayer Also I have had many temptations against prayer but the best vvay to overcome them is to mind the command of Jesus Christ vvhich is that vve should vvatch unto prayer and pray alvvayes keep close to the duty in the strength of Christ and loose not the motions of the Spirit neither grieve the Spirit by sin but vvatch against all appearances of evil for I hahave found that the neglect of vvatchfulness against sin and being overcome by it doth greatly deaden the heart to duty keep your eyes upon the promises by faith look up unto Christ in prayer and let all take heed of setting up prayer or any other duty above or in the roome of Jesus Christ Iâ— God assist you to pray for a mercy though he give it not in presently yet hold on if your asking be according to his will and your end the glory of God and ye find enlargment from the Spirit of life you may be sure he will be answer you in that thing or else in some thing better for you in his ovvn season My self sought the Lord 20 years for one thing before I had an ansvver but at last being at prayer after I had done God gave mee in a most gracious ansvver and set dovvn the very time of deliverance and did accordingly accomplish it at the very time to him be the praise And many other things I have sought the Lord for and he hath been pleased to grant my desire especially vvhen he hath made me earnest and importunate and have assisted me to hold on and given me a spirit of faith to believe for the thing prayed for Another time I sought the Lord for a relation of mine who was thought to be near unto death and this vvas given in call upon mee in the day of trouble I vvil hâ—ar and deliver and thou shalt glorify mee and â—rom that time that person amended and life vvas continued Also I knew another young person that was by the word preached convinced of her sinsul state and set upon the performance of some duties but not being acquainted with the wiles and temptations of Satan afterward some deadness ceasing upon her spirit began to neglect her duty but one in the family perceiving of it advised her to present her self before the Lord and although she found her self dead yet to pray that she might pray whose conucel shee took and shee continuing diligent the Lord came in by the mighty witness of his spirit fully satisfying her soul in a very short time Further oh let all that fear God be encouraged to continue in and not neglect family duties for I have found by good experience many wrought upon by instructions and prayer when their lot have been cast into those families where reading praying and Catechising and such duties have been faithfully performed ô many young ones have been brought home to God by his blessing upon this meanes And amongst many more I remember one who was very strongly assalted with many temptariones to keep her from coming to and clossing with Jesus Christ and this tâ—mptation was most upon her that she was too young and it would be time enough afterward why should she expose her self to scorne and reproach by being called a Puritan and so become a luaghing stock to others but the Lord was pleased to overcome her and bring her to himself X Another also who set her self against them in the family that wished her soules good and used all meanes to gâ—t out of that family to which end also she raised some lyes which very evil the Lord set upon her heart and then she came to be convinced of her sad sinful state and was also brought home to God through his rich grace in Jesus Christ And another who by this meanes vvas vvrought upon that vvas a young maid a Ministers Daughter and had been vvell instructed and educated from a child vvhereby she vvas informed of the evils of scandalous sins and avoided them and vvas also very constant in the performance of duties and indeed so vvalked as none could see ought a mise in her conversation yet notvvithstanding the poor heart vvas ignorant of her self and of Jesus Christ but she being under a family Catechising and instruction vvas by the mighty povver of the eternal Spirits vvorking convinced of original sin and then she savv that for all her formality she vvas a sinner and had need of a Saviour and so vvas brought home to close with Jesus Christ This also I have found that a constant close secking of God hath been crowned with his presence for I my self was with some others desired to pray to the Lord for councel and direction for them but they would not tell mee in what it was that they sought direction yet notwithstanding I did not know the thing I set my self to seek God for them and he was pleased to shew me what it was this was Anno 1657. and I did pray God to let mee know his mind in that particular and the Lord put it upon my heart to go and read and the place of Scripture handed to mee was quite against their work at that time which they had upon their heart to do then I sought the Lord again and the second answer was go in and â—ead then I looked up to the Lord as I did before and said Lord shew me where I shall read and that Scripture also was flat against their work and just so I had a third answer also And the next day as I was at my work my heart and meditations were above and my secret desire still to God for the further teachings of his good Spirit and these following lines with much more came in as a further answer from the Lord As for the work of Babylon It is a mighty work and strong But yet my power shall it compleat For my wisdom it mighty great They must sit still behold my power VVhich worketh for them hour by hour And novv my dear Christian friends into vvhose hands this my poor mite shall come I desire you take notice of that great love and vvonderful grace of God vvhich he hath been pleased to manifest
the Scripture before prayer many times quickeneth the heart to Christ And to meditate on Gods mercies to our soules and bodyes and what great things Christ hath suffered to purchase these mercies for us is a great help to stir up to that heavenly duty of praising and thankfulness which is a maine duty I would stir up my self and others unto because our hearts are apt to be very backward unto it and secondly because it is a duty to be done at all times In all things give thankes yea in afflictions For God hath promised all shall worke together for good to them that love God Thirdly to be filled with the Spirit of praises makes the soul to live in heaven while it is on earth verily we had need be stirred up to this duty for he that offers praise glorifies God Psal 50. last verse And Iesus Christ complaines against the neglect of it in that place where the ten Leppers were clensed and but one did returne thankes saith Christ was there not ten cleused but where are the nine O! athankful frame doth compose the heart to great contentedness in every condition it is of a divine nature it stirres up the graces of God in the soul as love and faith with hope in God and charity to others Therefore pray for the Spirit of God to put the heart into a praising frame for there 's need of the exercise of much heavenly wisdome in the performance of this duty for â—t is a spiritual work Another experience I have had that it is our duty and very profitable to watch against all evil thoughs these ften grieve the holy Spirit of God as of old he complained how long shall vain thoughts lodg within you and God looking upon man beholding what was in his heart and seeing his thoughts to be evil onely and continually and it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth and it grieved him at the heart and God said I will distroy man whom I have created from the facre of the earth Gen. 5 6. And then down comes the flood of Gods displeasure upon the old world not for sinful actions only but thoughts also Therefore keep your hearts with all diligence Prov. 4 23. For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh And in the multitude of words is sin I would desire all to take heed of idle words and mind well what ye speak when and how avoid all needless speeches and put far away all vain foolish jesting an evil which my self was some times very prone too and as too many do harm by I endeavored to make my self and others merry but alas 't is sinful mirth and it will bring sadness here or els which is worse end in sorrow hereafter thus was I convinced of this evâ—l being upon a joyrney meeting one that was a stranger to mee thinking to make him and my self laugh spoake jestingly to him but he presently fella swearing and cursing and railing which when I heard wounded me to the heart that I by my folly should provoke the poor man so to sin against God my mirth soon turned into mourning And while I mourned before the Lord over this my great evil which had produced such a sad effect God was pleased to set this upon my heart Cannot I make thee more merry with heavenly and spiritual joy then thou canst make thy self with such foolish vain and sinful mirth And the Lord hath since filled mee with that sweet refreshing joy that is a thousand times better to mee then all sinful mirth Further in reference to words I would commend unto yow some Scripture rules Iam. 1 26. compared with Math. 12 27. from whence we may observe that when any person doth utter words that be vain earthly or froward it doth plainly manifest that there is an earthly vain and froward heart whiâ—h is an abomination to the Lord Prov. 11 20. and in Iam. 1 19. The Apostle doth perswade Christians to be swift to hear but slow to speak and slow to wrath And Jesus doth exhort his followers that their yea should be yea and their nay nay saying that what soever is more is evil And Iams 1 21. bids us lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness that is to say what ever is more then needful in words apparel and diet yea and in all things and what ever profession any person may make if they bridle not their tonge they deceive themselves and their Religion is vain hath God through his free grace passed his distinguishing love upon a little Remnant doubtless 't is their duty then to distinguish themselves from others in their words habit and in their whole conversation so to walke as becometh the Gospel Phil. 1 27. Surely if persons were awakened by the voice of God that speaks lowd in the present afflictions they would so doe 't now is not a time for any of Gods Children to continue their superfluities when many do want necessaries Let me intreat such to read and mind what is written in Rom. 12 1 2. And 1 Pet. 2 11. If we could but be moderate in the use of all things what good Stewards should we be of the manifold blessings of God which he hath betrusted us with and we must give an account of in the day of the Lord. Prosperity hath made many to glory in the flesh and exalt themselves in which vain glory some still do continue although the great Eternal God hath and doth testify from heaven against it but if it be not repented of and departed from God wil turn it into shame Hosea 4 7. As they were increased so they sinned against me therefore will I change their glory into shame it s now a trying time and all persons by their conversations will discover what they are and were ever the deeds and workes of the flesh appear and are alowed 't is evident there is not the Spirit of God in them And they who have not the Spirit of Christ are none of his And 't is not a talking of but walking in the Spirit will help against the fulfilling the lusts of the flesh and manifest who are the true Children of God Oh! that persons were wise to consider their latter end then surely they would not neglect the knowledg of those things that belong to their peace but chuse that better part that shall never be taken from them Which would make them happy for ever Oh! that all would be persuaded to commune with their own hearts and consider their own wayes And to mind the dreadful Judgments of God and his vials of wrath that shall be powred out against sin and sinners surely they would see it is high time to departe from pride vain glory coveteousness oppression hypocrisy mallice and all sin For verily God is visiting for these things and for persons still to continue therein may it not be feared and justly exspected that God should increase his Judgments and punish
A CHRISTIAN WOMANS Experiences of the glorious working of Gods free grace Published for the Edification of others by KATHERINE SUTTON Luk. 24 24. And they found it even so as the VVomen had said AT ROTTERDAM Printed by HENRY GODDAEUS Printer in the Newstreet Anno 1663. COURTEOUS READER WHEN our Lord and Saviour JESUS CHRIST had fed many with a few Loves he commanded his Disciples to gather up the Fragments that nothing he lost Iohn 6. 12. And when God was pleased to poure out of his Spirit upon some of his faithful Servants in our Generation he had also some of his Handmaides who gathered up the Crumes of that spiritual Bread which the Lord blessed and distributed among his Disciples Of which Number this holy Marron was one Now there are three Arguments where by it may appear that God would not have these Fragments which she hath gathered into her Basket to be lost viz. First Because God made them by his Blâ—ssing food to her soul in the gathering and receiving them into her own heart and also to the soules of several young Virgins in her family unto whom the Lord made some of these Crumes the bead of eternal Life Secondly Because when she had lost the manuscript where in these and many other of her Experiences were written in a sea storme wherein she suffâ—â—ed Shipwrack yet God who preserved her life did also preserve these â—xperiences in her heart where it seemeth they were written not with ink but by his holy Spirit Thirdly Because she beiâ—g presled in Spirit to Communicate them more publikely the Spirit of the Lord did bring them agâ—in to her remembrance and she hath been made willing to publish them as her Testimony and witness of the free grace and fresh Anoyntings of the Lords Spirit whom he hath promised to poure forth upon his servants and Handmaides in the last dayes Ioel 2 28 29 31 32. Now for as much as this little Book is presented to thee CHRISTIAN READER as a Basket full of Fragments be not offended with the broakenness of any matter which thou mayest meet with in the Reading thereof considering that God who hath made them a blessing to others may bless them unto thee Thou mayest take notice of three Things in this little Book which I judge woâ—thy of every Christians observation to wit first Her extraordinary Teachings of God by his holy Spirit and Word when she could not enjoy the ordinary means of his own appointments This godly Woman after God hath begun the good work of grace in her soul would not loose any opportunity she could get either in publicke or private for her pâ—ecious soâ—l but would often break thorrow some difficulties and endure some hard hips to enjoy such opportunities and this she did at that time when many professors sleighted and neglected Ogrâ—evous Sin yea contemned the Ministry of the word Now obsâ—rve That aâ— she followed the Lord and waited upon him in the use of the means of Grace when she could enjoy it so the Lord was pleased of the exceeding Riches of his free Grace not onely to so her soul good by his pâ—esence and power therein But also when she could nâ—t â—njoy the 〈◊〉 memeâ— of grace the Lord waited to be graciouâ— unto her soul and followed her with the 〈◊〉 teachings of his holy Spirit and word as she hath witnessed in many particulars in this her Book And if thy experience COURTEOUS READER cannot seal unto the Testimony that she gives of those Spiritual Teachings Yet do not stâ—mble at them do not judge her for she hath received an Unction from the holy One and is taught of God In the Reading of her Book thou wilt meet with some suddain and unexspected Transition from one thing to another and thou mayest think it to be some what abruptly yet Censure not too rashly but rather consider that even this also may yea doth hold some proportion unto the course of Heaven and Heavenly communications The Husbandman will not wonder to see showers and shinings bright and dark Clouds succeed each other knowing that the Rain which comes from Heaven hath its seasons and its measure too Will the Marriner marvel to see the seas swell and rage in a great storme or admire the stilâ—ness and smoothness of the deep watters in a great calme Or will any who liv supon the sea coast think the frequent Ebbing flowing of the tyde a strange thing Neither will any experienced Christian marvel at the suddain Ebbing and flowing of joyes and sorrowes in the hearts of Saints The operations and Administrations of the Spirit are various 1. Cor. 12 4 5 6 7. Some times the Spirit is poured out upon the soules of Believers as floods upon the dry ground And those spiritual showers and shinings do make a spring of Grace in the wilderness of their hearts Where of the Lord hath spoaken by his Prophets Isa 51 3. and 44 3 4. and 32 15 16 17. Ier. 31 v. 12. But at other time the glory of the Saints comforts joyes and light is so clouded and eclipsed that they are under great desertions Isa 54 vers 7 8 11. Yea and may for some time walk in dakness and have no light Isa 50 10. Secondly Another thing I judge worthy the Readers observation in this Book is this Christian womans Experience of the presence and power of God accompanying her consciencious endeavours to do good unto the souls of others both in her own family especially and also in some other families where she so journed some time I mention not this for her praise who desires that God alone may have all the Glory of whatsoever he hath done for her or by her she needs no Epistâ—es of Commendation from men But seeing her Experiences are made so publicke my hearts desire is that Parents and Governours of families would follow her Example therein Endeavouring as she did the Conversion and sanctification of them whom God had committed to their charge by Instructions councel and reproose which she administred with so much love wisdome zeal and tenter heartâ—dness that they proved by Gods blessing an effectual means of the conversion of many some of whom are yet living witnesses of the truth hereof and also of many other her Experiences related in this her Book She was not onely a Governesse but as it were a Prophetess in her family for she prayed constantly with her children and Maidens she also read the holy Scriptures daily unto them and so spake from them that many of them who heard her in her family duties believed and turned to the Lord. She opened her mouth with wisdome and in her tongue was the Law of kindness a Solomon spake of the virtuous woman Pro. 31 26 27 28 29. She did so Chatechise the young children and instruct the elder maidens that they all learned to know and many of them to do their duty to God and man Thirdly there is yet one thing more which
the pit And lowest place of Hell Admire admire my love to thee VVhich took thee from so low And set thee in high places free VVhere thou my love might'st know VVing thou aloft and cast thy self Into mine Arms of love Look up look up and thou shalt see My glory is above Let not the wicked know thy joy But let my servants hear VVhat I have done for thee my love Since thou to mee drew'st near My servants walk in clouds and bogg's They do not see my light The day draws near and will appear That I will shine most bright I will appear in my glory and be a perfect light Admire admire the thing that I will do All nations shall it hear and know VVhat I am doing now I will a habitation be To them that fear my name They shall lie down in safty and Give glory to the same All they that in high places sit And takes their honours low Shall be made tremble quake and pine VVhen they my Iustice know Come hide come hide come hide with me Come hide thee in the Rock Come draw thy Comforts high from mee I my treasures unlock Also it was agreed upon by some of the Lords people with whom I was then present that we should appoint and keep a day of solemn seeking the Lord by fasting and prayer that wee might know what was the duty Gods poor Children ought to be found in at that time but after this was agreed upon and the day appointed I was before the time came removed about 30 miles from them and so that thing went out of my minde but God by his Spirit set me upon the same work by five in the morning the same day and about the middle of the day God brought to my remembrance that agreement so we were at the same work at the same time though far distant one from another and indeed the Lord was graciously present pouring out much of the spirit of prayer and supplication after which earnest seeking of God was this following prophesye given in unto mee Shall light appear and darkness done away Shall Sommers green be cloathed all in gray Shall a bright morning set in shadowees dark Oh! England Englandâ— take heed thou dost not smart And after this prophesy was set upon my heart that notable promise 2 Chro. 7 14. Iâ— my people which are called by my name turn from their wicked wayes then will I hear from heaven and forgive their sin and will heat their Land Next morning about four of the clock being in my bed I had this laid before mee that God would affict that nation with great afflictions but I not knowing what God would try the Nation with did desire this of the Lord that I might chuse with David rather to fall into the hands of God then into the hands of merciless men it was much upon my heart at that time that the Lord would turn a fruitful land into barreness for the wickedness of them that dwell therein Then the Lord was pleased to lay upon mee a sore affliction which I finding my self very unable to bear did as it were repent mee that I in any measure had chosen my condition and did not rather wholy submit to the will of God but the Lord did mee good by it and his strength was made persect in my weakness Then was it much set upon my heart to consider what then were the sins of the nation for which there was cause of great humiliation and indeed the consideration of these following evils was much set upon my heart 1. That great sloathfulness deadness and unfruitfulness under the means of grace which we injoyed for which the Lord threatened of old Isa 5 vers 5 6. To lay his vineyard wast to plucke up the hedge and breake downe the wall there of 2. That great abounding sin of unbelief notwithstanding the large experiences we had of Gods power for us and love to us And this I saw did cause persons to seek themselves and the world Unbelief cut them and us short of that rest that many yea the most of us promised to our selves As this unbelief of old cut Israel short of rest Heb. 3 10 11. 3. That Idolatry which mee thought I saw abounding in the nation in a threefold sence 1. First in respect of false wayes of worship contrary to the rule of the Gospel and primitive exemple 2. Secondly in respect also of resting upon duty and so not resting upon Iesus Christ that Rock of ages this also was one of poor Israels evils crying out the Temple of Lord c. Ier. 7 4. 3. In respect of coveteousness this in Scripture is called Idolatry also Oh! that too too earnest desire that was in some after the Foulish vanities of this present evil world and in others after the vain profits of the world and in others also after the vain glory and preferment thereof these things were much upon my heart and this was that for which God was angry of old with his people and smote them and hid his face from them Isa 57 17. 4. Fourthly That pride that I saw abounding in the lives of many I fear was in the hearts of others Which appeared in their slighting the Councel of Gods Spirit and their persifting to go on in seeking and setting up self nothwithstanding the hand of God against them These sins being very much set upon my heart with a deep consideration of many Scriptures some of them was very great and sore threatnings and other some were most sweet and precious promises to such as repent and departe from all iniquity one of which I remember was that very remarkeable place 2 Chron. 7 14. Then I looked upon it as my duty to make this known that people might be warned to depart from sin that so they might not partake of the great wrath and sore displeasure of God which I much feared was coming Then soon after I had an oppertunity to declare this to some that then were in high places and in the very entring I had this added which I also declared Didst thou not hear a voyce from on high Deny your selves take up the crosse or verily you shall die And this was approved on by some and received as a very sluitable and seasonable word but pour soules for not hearkening unto councel in departing from sin they were soon brought down and laid low yet there is mercy with the Lord that he may be feared and he will manifest his love to all them that truely repent and we may all make a good use of this experience therefore let others harms become our warnings Also about the year 1658. to the best of my remembrance for having lost my book in which I had set them down in order I now wait onely upon the Lord and as he by his Spirit helps mee so I give an account of these things It was given in with aboundance of power upon my spirit these few
in giving in such sweet returus of prayer let him alone have the praise and be ye all incouraged and stirred up to pray continually and be very watchful that if at any time God do move you to do any thing do it with all your might according to the assistanco the Lord gives you for I have found it a great grieving of the spirit to put it of with delayes through carnal reasonings of the flesh which indeed vvould have hindreed mee in offering of these few experiences to the view of the vvorld but vvhen God vvas pleased to give me a heart to it and I set upon it vvith a resolution in his strength to go through it not with standing all opposition Oh! then was the Lord pleased to come in again and fill my soul with peace and joy unspeakable and full of glory which was to my great refreshment I being then in a strange Land Holand seperated from Country kindred and fathers house yea there and then did our good God according to what I had wont to have give into my spirit heavenly Allelujas both night and day with many sweet Instructions from him self when it was with us as it were a time of famine of the word our Teathers being removed into corners and thrown into prisons in the Year 1662. O! how was I then stirred up by the teachings of that good Spirit often to praising and often to very earnest prayer as for my self so for his poorasslicted persecuted people and then also I found my heart much enlarged to love and to do good and lay out my self for sa ints of all perswasions yea and all others also as I had opportunity And upon this ground because my dear Redeemer the Lord Jesus hath set mee a pattern to do good to all and what talent soever we do recieve we must lay it out to his praise if it be but one and it shall be increased this I have had experience of be not backward to improve thy talent because another may have more then thou that springs from a root of pride and negligence is the way to loose what thou hast but look up to God for a blessing upon the right use of what thou hast received and if he seeth it good that thou mayest better honnor him with more he will give in thee in his own way and time for then shall ye know if ye follow on to know the Lord. Hose 6. 3. It is also promised that they who be planted in the house of the Lord like a watered Gardin shall they grow and florish and bring forth fruit in their old age Psa 92 12 13. Further o let all the beloved of the Lord take a specialcare of every Gospel ordinance and commandment of our Lord to hold forth what light you have received for there is non of the ordinances of the Gospel to be slighted for they hold out unto us those choyce priviledges that vvere purchased for us vvith the precious blood of Jesus Christ I have found great peace and injoyed much of Gods presence in vvaiting upon him in the vvay of his appointments and I have found the Lord not leaving but teaching of mee vvhen I out of conscience have forborn vvhere they vvere not tobe injoyed according to the rule of the Gospel and expose my self to any suffring to injoy them in the purity of them and indeed God doth take special notice of them vvho they be and vvhere they dvvell Revel 2 13. that in sore persecuting and suffering times hold fast his truths and do not deny his name Mal. 3 16 and hath promised that they vvho keep the vvord of his patience shall be keept in the hour of temptation And vvhen he hath humbled us he vvill shevv us the pattern of his house the goings out and the comings in thereof and the fashions Lawes and ordinances thereof that we may do them Ezek. 43 11. And the time doth hasten that God will turn to the people a pure Language And all shall know the Lord from the least to the greatest And he will lead the blinde in a way that they know not he will make darkness become light and crooked things streight and bitter things sweet and hard things easy and this he will do and not forsake us Further let none be discouraged to do their duty though never so weak yet if thou beest acted by the Spirit of God weak meanes often times becomes effectual to accomplish great things for by experience also I know when some persons have been praying together that one being senceable of the state of the other and mourning over their sin before the Lord God have made use of those very mournings and breathings to convince the other of their sinful state with the danger of it and thereby have been caused to turn from sin unto the Lord whose eyes were never opened before One Maid who by this meanes was convinced and said nothing at present but after prayer retiring herself to her Bible with a purpose to see what word of comfort she could find there and it pleased God to hand to her that place Rom. 8 13. For if ye live after the flesh ye shall die but if ye through the Spirit do mortisy the deeds of the body ye shall live which word God did make very powerful and effectual to help forward his work upon her soul All these speak forth the freeness of Gods rich grace therefore who ever readeth and under standeth what is in this free workings of God good Spirit let him alone have all the praise and glory and the Lord inclined my heart every day more and more to praise him for his unchangeable love in Jesus Christ therefore let them that read this give God praise for this undeserved mercy and let me have a share in your prayers that I may be filled with a spirit of praise for none have more cause then I to speak well of his great and holy name and that I may honour God that little time that I have to live upon the earth and that in all changes For if God sees affliction to be good for mee I desire not to dispise his chastizements for I have found more strength in a great affliction then in a little one and my soul hath been filled with joy out of measure Therefore if we be brought to this take joyfully the spoiling of our goods knowing we have a better inheritance and the giving up all to the will of God who gave all to us we shall have all given to us with advantage oh the fulness of him that filleth all in all but I am nothing and can do nothing no longer then he doth assist therefore praise him for ever more And since I was taken of from my incumbrances in the world and had more time to spend in the wayes and work of God waiting on him for more of himself the Lord according to his promise hath revealed himself more abundantly and I have
seaven times more Leit 26 21 24. They who departe not from sin God will departe from them and hovv sad that is let soules consider read Hosea 9 11 12 14. Therefore who ever vvould not be eternally seperated from God let them in time seperate from all sin And let poor soules take speciall heed they live not in any knovvn evil nor neglect any knovvn duty but put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh to fulfil the lusts thereof for if ye live after the flesh ye shall dye But if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body ye shall live Rom. 8 13. let me propound but this on question and I vvish all young and old Rich and poor to mind it vvhether or no it is not better to separate from sin then that sin should seperate thee from God for ever Oh! vvhat need is there that all vvho love God and their ovvn soules should hate abhorre and depart from all sin because 't is that vvhich God doth so hate as he vvill punish it vvhere ever he finds it Yea if a David a Man after Gods ovvn heart do commit any sin he must be reproved for it and God vvill so frovvne as it may cost many sigths prayers and tears before God restore unto him the joy of his salvation and though secretly committed yet God vvill punish openly that others may hear and fear 2 Sam. 12 12. Oh! hovv have I found by sad experience that pride is a breeding sin and spiritual pride is indeed the very vvorst vvhen persons come to have a little knovvledg of the things of God and have set a fevv steeps in his vvayes Many be too prone then to be puffed up vvith self conceite and to judg all others to be in errors vvho are not just of their perswasion and so to judge censure and condemne them for Heretikes and to persecute them at least vvith the tonge but though sometimes Paul did thus he acknovvledgeth it vvas from a Pharisaical spirit which vve had all need to take heed of and judg not and ye shall not be judged Alas our heavenly Father have many children but there be babes and some stronge men they are not all of an age nor cannot all see alike not acte alike let all the beloved of God cease smiâ—ing and manifest true love one another And vvhat ever their perswasion be all vvho are humble and holy and do faithfully vvalke up to the light they have received let them be beloved for the Fathers sake Oh! that vve may be filled vvith that grace of true Charity for that is a special antidote against all pride malice and any evil thoughts and evil speakings and prejudice and offences one against another 1 Cor. 13 1 4. c. There vve may read at large of the excellency of true charity Oh! the more any one is filled vvith the good Spi it of God the more shall they be enabled against all the vvorks and fruits of the flesh therefore I vvould counsel persons vvhen they avvake vvait for the teachings of the Spirit and for the accomplishment of that promise made to the last dayes And vvhat the Spirit teacheth do ye commit to the Spirits keeping and they vvhith vvhom it is the day of Gods povver are made vvilling both to hear the Spirits voyce and obey it And I vvould have all to endeavor diligently for the injoyment of the Spirit and hearken every one that hath an ear vvhat it speaks for the teachings thereof are very glorious it makes a soul live as it vvere in heaven vvhile on earth Surely vvhen Daniels faith vvas made strong by the injoyment of this blessed Spirit of God so as nothing could hinder him from the vvorship of God Oh! vvhat svveet communion did he injoy vvith God and although throvvn into the lions den yet there vvonderfully and comfortably preserved I have found this that vve are too ready to dispise or slight the Spirit of God vvhen it appears in something beyond us or out of our reach but let us take heed of this evil also This good Spirit of God is that vvhich vvill enable us to chuse to suffer rather then to sin and in all our suffering it vvill vvonderfully assist and uphold us and carry through the forest firy tryals and if vve be throvvn into sufferings for Christ sake be sure he vvil make one vvith us to uphold us in the furnis and vve need not study hovv vve shall be delivered from our ennemies for God vvill deal vvith them as he did vvith Daniel and the three Children for he will recompence the wickedness of the wicked upon their ovvn heads therefore fear not but stand still and vvait and yovv shall see the salvation of God And I do not think that these things be given in to me from the Lord for my ovvne sake only but for your benefit to vvhom it may come and I hope I am so far from having high thoughts of my self that the more I see of God and injoy from God so much the more cause I have to be humble and if others find theirhearts as bad as I have found mine they vvill see cause enough to use all means vvith them and vvhen allis done it must be faith in Jesus Christ must remove this mountain faith vvill carry us out of ourselves unto Christ and cause us to rest on him to do all our vvorkes for us and in us do ye cherish a holy fear against sin and an holy bouldness to come to God and a holy confidence in him for vvhat we come for and let not the fear of man hinder from any duty God calls thee unto to conclude I only commend unto you that vvord in Micha 6 8. So shal I leave this to the blessing of the Lord and the consideration of the vvise COURTEOUS READER IF these my Experiences sute not with thy condition yet let it have a patient view of thee and pass by what is of the flesh Own what is of the spirit and Iudg not what thou shalt meet with of the truth because thou art not yet acquainted in that way for the secrets of God are sometime with pore weak ones that sears him and what is come to pass I hope you will believe If it was not out of obedience to God it should not have com'd to your vew neither would I have put my name to it if I could have avoided it for fear of the rash Iudgment of some Least it should be thought I did it out of pride or to own a prophetical spirit which I know not But I own a Prophetical voice of Christ which if he pleases to speak he can make mee to hear yea to believe this I have Experience of And if these Crumes which I have gathered from my bountiful Lords table you cannâ—t find it savory to you leave it to the hungry broaken hearted Christians to whâ—â— ever crumbe of mercy is sweet when