Me God hath from great plagues at hand In greater Mercy taken Friends do not grieve then that by me this wretched worlds forsaken Here to be left might mercie be But greater Mercy taken In dust I sleep now freed from tears But shortly shall awaken And shall be when my Christ appears In greater Mercy taken Ye might have one day wept to see Me sigh as one forsaken But now Triumph that Christ hath me To Greater Mercy taken Margaret Trenick Anagram Mark retreating The blessed subject of this mournful verse Transcends my skill her praises to reherse The lively grace which in her youth did shine Reflects convictions on this Soul of mine How short of her I am in patient waiting And how unskil'd aright to make retreating This age of deep revolt from truths profest Made sad impressions on her heaven-born brest Such as bespoke her griev'd in heart to see Gods name blasphem'd by seeming Saints to be This broke her sleep and mixt with tears her eating To mark the madness of this times retreating It s true she talkt not much made little noise Her closet-Friend she chose should hear her voice But her whole walk with God and man bewray'd Heart full to matter Though not much she said For hers and others Souls her heart was beating To mark the steps and issues of retreating She chose to walk a mournful softly pace Weeping while waiting for her Father's face Sharp sickness seal'd home love but seaz'd her life Once a choice Virgin Then a faithful Wife Both life and death this Anagram repeating Behold the uprights end but mark retreating Margaret Trenick Anagram King rare matter A Dialogue betwixt a Querist and her Answer Querist Dear heart while living Grace did much appear In thy slow speaking who wert quick to hear But more when death did thy crackt piâ—cher break Thy lamp shines brightest thou dead dost speak In this I acquiesce yet fain would know Why wert so mute why too good speech so slow Answer The Tempter on my Temper might prevail Some needful teaching sometimes to conceal Pretending ease yet brought no solid rest The fire increasing in my panting brest Which rais'd rebukes convictions griefs so high As found no vent but through a weeping eye Quest Was 't all and only thy temptations then Thou wert so mute among the Sons of men So scarcely sociable so retir'd As made converse with thee not much desir'd Thy lips allow'd thy heart so little vent That few could fathom what thy musing meant Ans Nay sometimes reasoning of a higher kind Did that way Byass my poor pausing mind I view'd and wept on a 〈◊〉 age That talkt 〈…〉 a staâ—ely stage But so reproacht it by unworthy walking As made me dread their fellowship in talking Quest But why among the Sâ—â—nts thy dear delight Wert so reserved if not silent quite Their gracioâ—â— speeches drop as generous wine yet might have been more spic'd warm'd by thine 'T is wisdoms way these waters deep to draw By frequent speakings yet with holy awe Ans Besides the Tâ—mpter's wiles I oft bethought How â—gnorant I was what need be taught How â—ittle I could speak to others gain How I had spoke already much in vain Then begg'd a bridle on my lips might be Lest I should speak what was not wrought in me Querist It 's true their talk involves both guilt and dangers Who boast of grace whereto they are but strangers But all who rightly knew thy Soul could say Ther 's precious treasure though a straightned way Nay when death seiz'd thee and thy strength was spent What glorious matter prest to have a vent Ans I must confess though forth I could not bring My heart conceiv'd rare matter for the King But my conceits were shatter'd short and bare Of such high matter heavenly-Royal rare I could not speak what I was apprehending Until my clouds my streights sighs were ending Margaret Trenick Anagram Make not Grace retire IF this Saint's name inverted thus affords Such choice variety of teaching words What would her nature her new nature yield Had we traversed that sweet-smelling field But since with gravity it was inclos'd Not seeking entrance most its profit los'd Such bosome friends as did that key acquire Found deeply graven Make not grace retire Above the rest her yoak-fellow is left To wail with bitterness as one bereft Of a choice Jewel whose rare vertues lay In Bosome-strengthnings through Christs hated-way Her heavenly arguments in secret dropt His fainting soul hath oft with Courage propt When he ran hazards still did her desire Keep conscience tender Make not grace retire Consult not wife and children would she say Though we beg with you in the Kings-high-way Beâ—ray not any truth what'ere 't would get you Desert no station where the Lord hath set you Great sufferings rather choose then little on A little spark may dreadful flames begin Set soveraign pleasure in dominion higher Though nature startle Make not grace retire Such words of wisdom dropt in gracious cools Speak louder than the cry that reigns with fools When husband slept the pantings of her breast In frequent travail held her eyes from rest For clearer sealings of her father's love For Sion's showrs and shinings from above She durst not grieve the spirit quench his fire Not make the least true grace of his retire At last she best appear'd on fiery tests When bonds her Husband Death her self arrests When stript of strength being forc't her husband left her Of all three sons her father had bereft her When friends stood trembling grace such beams did dart As rais'd with triumph fil'd with joy her heart These first fruits of the Kingdom set her higher Than that the tempter should make grace retire Sweet Soul She now a glorious rest obtains From all her outward pangs her inward paines Relation dues she long'd so to perform As griev'd to leave him in this dismal storm They cease to bind her These cares ended are To be with Jesus she finds better fare To such rare patterns might my soul aspire Not grieving Christ Not making grace retire An Epitaph GIve heed Spectators In this grave 's invol'd A costly Cabinet to be dissolv'd With wondrous wisdom richly rarely wrought And by great exercises aptly brought To lodge subserve and openly to tender An heavenly Jewel this age rich to render But it s new workmanship in worth did rise it To such vast value this world could not prize it They'd foils indeed to shade it wisely set And on its outside some distempers met On which the world did with contempt insist Till their enriching maket-time they mist So little knows this crooked generation Their things for Peace or dayes of Visitation Like them of old cry Barrabas set free Dispatch the Heir the vineyard ours shall be But the great owner marks not jealous eyes This age's aptitude to slight despise And scorn his renders of the richest gem Crown-Jewels nay the royal diadem And vext
asked the cause she said I am not like this good Mary I know not that one thing needful Thus tender was her heart at that Age. In February 1659. The Night after General Monck had sent his Leter to the Parliament to put an end to their sitting by such a time Bonefires being made the night following all over London and some before her Fathers door When some went down to see them this Child would not But going to the Window and looking out hearing such roaring and rantings in the burning of Rumps and drinking of Healths there she came back and the tears running down her cheeks she said thus Here is a deal of wicked joy they know not but they may be dead before the morning methinks I see our sins fly up to Heaven as fast as the sparks fly upward This that next follows was written about October 28. 1661. It being 24 days now that she had taken nothing but Water with a little Sugar till Tuesday last and ever since that she will not take it with Sugar but water only without crying out her speech being of late taken away from her and that by forcing it into her by a Syringe she having an impostume in her stomach as it appeared afterwards not taking Food at all for divers dayes What next follows was written by her father on Friday night Octob. 4. 1661. She sent for me to speak with me and when I came I asked her what she would have with me She answered I have but a short time to live I pray you be loving to my poor Mother Afterwards he speaking of loving her she said I pray manifest your love to my poor Mother Her Mother asked her if she were willing to die She answered Aye very willing for then I shall sin no more for I know that Christs Blood hath made satisfaction for my sins â— asked her if I should go down She answered I have done with you now you may if you please Next night Octob. the 5th her Mother going softly to the Chamber-door she heard her speaking alone and she listned and heard her say this Come Lord Jesus come quickly receive they poor Creature out of all my pains On the Lords Day Octob. 6. She said thus here is nâ—thing here but sin I am willing to die but either to live or to die which she Lord pleaseth his Will be done and so it will whether I will or no. On Tuesday at night Octob. 8. Seeing her Mother weeping she said Mother do not weep for me but leave me to the Lord and let him do with me what he pleaseth And then Clasping her Arms about her Mothers Neck her Mother said Thou embracest me but I trust thou art going to the embracings of the Lord Jesus She answered Mother I know it that when I go from hence I shall go into health and happiness or else I should not undergo all my pains with so much patience she having been in very great pain having an Imposthume in her stomack One day when Nurse came to see her young Sister Sarah her Sister Ann being with her she said to her Sister Go see Nurse Her Sister said she was loath to leave her alone She answered I am not alone for the Lord is with me as it is in John I am not alone for the Father is with me She feeling a sore pain in her side her Mother said she would apply something to it She answered No the Lord Jesus hath undergone a great deal more for mâ— More Expressions of Mary Warren She having been very ill and speechless for some dayes her Father had desired Mr. John Simpson and Mr. Palmer late of Glocestershire and Mr. Jessey to come to his House and pray for his sick and much pained Daughter On Friday Novemb. 8. 1661. these met then and sought the Lord earnestly on her behalf her father having first declared to them his Daughters afflicted Condition and the more to affect them therewith he there read to them what he had formerly written of her gracious Expressions those before recited from Octob. 4. 1661. there being present also Mr. Greensmith and his Wife also that grave Matron Mris. Adkins a Ministers Widow with divers other Christian friends That Relation the more affecting their hearts to pray for her After these and another Minister had prayed for her and were gone in hopes the Lord would some way return a gracious Answer though they could see nothing at their departure It pleased the Lord the Evening following to open her Mouth that had been speechless for many dayes then she spake to the Maid to call her Mother and when she came she said thus Pray you Mother take off these Plaisters for I would not have them I would have no Doctors or Apothecaries for God shall be my Physician and he will heal me If I could have spoken before these Playsters were a laying on I would not have had them laid on If my Speech should be taken away again do not trouble me with any more things for the Lord hath fed me with the Food of Righteousness and Gladness Sometimes when you laid Victuals upon a Trencher I snatcht it away I would not destroy Gods good Creatures when I am in my fits If any thing lye on the Cloth before me take it away Though you take water to wash my mouth there is none goeth down for I have no nourishment by any thing but God no more than by this Rag taking one in her hand I do not value the things of this World no more than dirt Her Mother had told one that she thought her Daughter had assaults of Satan she once looked very gashly And now her Daughter said thus Once I think I looked gashfully and turned my head on one side and on the other Satan stood upon my left side and God was upon my right side and opened the gates of Heaven for me and he told me Satan should not hurt me though he sought to devour me like a roaring Lion Something being burning that gave her offence she said I perceive you burn something but do not trouble me for I cannot smell I am very sore from the crown of my head to the sole of my foot but I am so full of Comfort and joy that I do feel but little of my pain I do not know whether I shall live or die but whether I live or die it will be well for me I am not in trouble for my sins God is satisfied with his Son Jesus Christ for he hath washt them away with his Blood Another time when she had been speechless and began to speak she said I have been so full of joy and gladness when I was silent I am not able to express it When her Mother syringed her Mouth with water she said she could not relish it but desired to try a Syringe of Beer which when she had she said it relished worse than the Water then she desired a Syringe of
to see in this provoking world His precious treasure basely kick't and hurl'd Determines Earth's not worthie to contain His Royal retinue his Princely train Or these rich treasures which they gladly bring And freely offer to endear their King In wrath he seems to speak my Saints retire To your strong Tower from my approaching Ire Come draw off from the gap desert the breach Let me and them alone To pray to preach Reprove or witness in the gate 's a crime Prudent keep silence 't is an evil time In Deps and caves a remnant I will hide In Prison holes some precious ones shall bide Some from their homes and land dispell'd shall be To bear a witness and stand ground for me But from your usefulness to this vile age More then to shew their sin disclose their rage And aggravate their Judgment I discharge you Yet in due season I le again enlarge you Nay strange not If I gather from your sight Some gems of honour stones of great delight I break and hide my Cabinet in dust Transfer my jewels where's no moth nor rust With just mens souls in light to set them down A constellation in a splendid Crown Till Christ appear his Jewels to collect To raise his dead to change his quick elect Their spirits souls and bodies to translate In blessed likeness to his raised state The King of glory swiftly thus dispos'd Of our choice Margaret not yet disclos'd In her inriching worthiness to all Till Come up hither was her blessed Call Ah wretched age must we in it remain Which sins away such Jewels to their gain But our loss irreparable unless The quickening Spirit from on high possess The Remnant that is left but scattered lie About the graves as bones exceeding dry Lord hast that blessing which thy truth contains Of its descending as the latter rains To usher in the glory of thy day Thy Kingdom come Sweet Jesus hast away In Memory of that Example of the grace and power of God Caleb Vernon who departed this life the 29. day of the 9th Month 1665. being aged twelve years and six months Caleb Vernon Anagram Bore unclean New clean Robe Through Adam's nature I unclean was bore Through grace betimes Christ's new clean Rebe I wore BY nature in my first estate A wretched babe was I In open field deserving hate In bloud and filth did lie And in that state I did delight As in my sport and play And therein would with all my might Have wallowed night and day And though from gross enormities I might by men be clear'd Yet to my maker's searching eyes Defil'd I all appear'd Though nature with a pregnant wit And comeliness adorn me And education adds to it To teach restrain reform me What prov'd it but deceiving paint On which defiling sin It did not kill but lay restraint Where outrage would begin A pleasant picture to the eye I hereby might appear By which to close-Idolatry Some might be drawn I fear But God that faithful he might be That deadly snare to break And that right early unto me He grace and peace might speak With tenderness on these intents He strips me of my vaile My costly coverings all he rents My countenance makes pale My comliness to rot he turns My witty words to groans My moisture up with drought he burns Discloseth all my bones And in a day of publick Ire Me these rebukes did meet When Pestilence as burning fire flew thousands at his feet I who to blossom did begin with such fair paint before Now as the early fruit of sin This Character I wore Despised Idol broke to earth A Potsheard no way fit To take up fire out of the hearth Or water from the pit But though neer corruptible dust This curious Frame was brought By gracious pleasure stay it must Till nobler work were wrought Till deep convictions of my sin Till Jesus form'd in me Till as my portion I begin The Lord 's dear Christ to see Till all my sins were done away Till terrours made me cease Till heart and mind could sweetly stay In thought surpassing peace Nay till in an accepted day My homage I could bring And in his instituted way Devote me to the King Till Christ put on his works allow'd His dying marks imbrac'd His cause confest his works avow'd His sufferings boldly fac'd His promise for a portion took Saints for companions chose And on him plac'd a fixed look For future free dispose Since then in an unusual way Rich Grace hath thus array'd me And in my young yet dying day With glory overlay'd me What properly should I desire But now dissolv'd to be And in this Marriage-white Attire My Bride-groom's face to see In Kedar who would not bemoan If there he must reside Oh wretched man Who would not groan In sinful flesh to bide who 'ld lodge in such a nasty shade As torturing tottering stands That hath a palace ready made Not with polluted hands Where sin temptation suffering strife shall fully be destroyed All-Dying swallow'd up of life and God at full injoy'd What ailes my Parents then to weep my friends to be dismay'd Relations such ado to keep to see a Child unray'd It s filthy garments lay'd in dust he lay'd repose to take Untill the morning when he must with New clean Robes awake May this a witness be to truth in this back sliding day A Christal mirrour unto youth How to amend its way Amen Verses affixed to the wall of the Prison at the Guild-hall in Plymouth where A. C. was detained a month and thence sent to the Island the 27th Sept. 1665. NIgh four years since sent out from hence To Exon Goal was I but special grace in three months space wrought out my liberty Till Bartholomew in sixy two that freedom did remain Then without Bail to Exon Gail I hurried was again Where having layn as do the slain 'mong dead men wholly free Full three years space my native place By leave I come to see And thought not then I here again a months restraint should find Since to my Den cast out from men I 'm during life design'd But since my lines the Lord assigns In such a lot to be I kiss the rod confess my God deals faithfully with me My charged crime in his due time He fully will decide And until then forgiving men In peace with him I bide On the beginning of his recovering from a great sickness on the Island of Plimouth To his truly Sacred Majesty the High and Mighty Potentate King of kings and Lord of lords Prince of Life and peace Heir of all things and Head over all to the Church The humble prostrature and thankfull acknowledgment of a poor Prisoner of hope whose life upon all accompts hath been marvellously preserved and delivered with a great Salvation from the pit of Corruption MOst glorious Soveraign to thy feet is brought The trembling of spring of a contrite thought By a poor Captive who attempts to
work was done Had we an Hiram skil'd to work in brass Jacin and â—oaz might be rear'd for Glass Faith True he was sick and sleeps whom Jesus lov'd But they who sleep so shall do well at length They rest from labours are from sin remov'd Weep not he 's gone but to renew his strength We face to face shall see him for alas We saw but darkly through that factur'd Glass Sense Must I be stript then of my choice attire To offer Isaac is an heavy tryal Must I be season'd thus with salt and fire How hard a lesson is this self-denial My nailes remov'd its weight is fail'n alas Cups flaggons great and small all break as Glass Faith Take heed of murmuring when God comes down To bind up Jewels that on earth he finds To raise and six them in a glorious Crown He calls for chearful gifts from willing-minds When he would have a laver made of brass Mark how each daughter offer'd up her glass Sense These are hard saying deep to deep doth call My flesh begins to fail my heart to sink T is hard to feed on vinegar and gall To eat of ashes and with tears to drink From me if it were possible let pass Such deadly draughts mixt in a breaking Glass Faith Cease Rachel's weeping hope is in thine end Thy Children to their border God will bring He 'l plead thy cause thy right he will defend Then Kedars-dwellers and the rocks shall sâ—ag Thy countenance that black and scorched was Shall shine in brightness like transparent Glass An Anagram and Elegy on his dear deceased friend John Vernon who having served his Generation by the will of God fell asleep the twenty ninth day of the third Month vulg called May 1667. For Christ was hunted griev'd disgrac'd With Christ is In New Honour plac'd I. COme Sions Mourners men of holy skill For lamentation in the ashes lie Come skilful mourning women weep your fill Take up a wayling help to raise the cry Till from our eyes like Rivers tears run down Though in new honour we have lost our Crown II. Iniquities do more and more abound They that were filthy will be filthy still Heaven-daring sins without controle are found With wickedness now doth the Ephah fill Saints fill your bottle with repenting tears Then in new honour quickly God appears III. A fixed series of rebukes of late Like Wave on wave discovers dirt and mire In persons Families in Church and State No stone in Sion but is tried by fire All old creation things with trembling mixt Nought stanâ—s but what is in new honour fixt IV. ' Mongst other warnings of a dreadful day Approaching on the remnant that are left The Righteous fail the best men caught away Of sense and feeling seem the rest bereft How swift the ruines of this old world haste Whilst in new honour Saints so swift are plac'd V. Amid these troops of fiery Chariots prest The Royal Off-spring home to bring with speed My heart is pain'd to undergo the test Of parting with this Israelite indeed Yet when I think how many are debasing I durst not grudge him in new honour placing VI. But who in such a stormy wind can part With such a Father such a Friend indeed And not cry out in bitterness of heart A double share I of thy Spirit need Though carnal Israel Israels-troubler calls thee Yet in new honour Israels-God install thee VII Poor England little thinks doth less bewail Its Chariots and best horsmen troop away When witnesses and loud reprovers fail Our grand tormentors are dispatch'd say they In open streets expos'd to scorn such lie Ere in new honour they be rais'd on high VIII What though dear Soul thy worth hath not appear'd But black among the pot-sherds thou hast lien Thy Visage mar'd thy beauty been besmear'd By mingling Sions dust with tears of thine That dust is wash'd those tears are wip'd away Since in new honour thou art call'd to stay IX Earth was not worthy of thee could not bear thee Profane and loose Professors far'd alike Thy words and walks did make them fret or fear thee ' Gainst those defilements thou wert bent to strike In base compliances thou dread'st to bow Wert then in shame art in new honour now X. Ah what a troop of weepers I descry Of Windows Fatherless Sick Prisoners sad Poor Exiles desolate condemn'd to die Shewing how they by thee were chear'd and clad Our loss weep they will scare repaired be Till in new honour we meet Christ with thee XI Among the Flock of Slaughter clad with dust Through simpathy in Spirit oft am I But with Job's Comforters sit mute I must Since grief amounts to such extremity His indignation having sin'd let 's bear Till in new honour he our breach repair XII A trembling remnant ' mongst the rest I spy Of mourners mark'd and seal'd in front and hands Whom Carnal Brethren casting out do cry Where 's now your God our mount unshaken stands But to their shame he will appear at last When in new honour are markt mourners plac't XIII For his blest chastned Houshold left with God The pregnant Widow and her hopeful Seed Friends Servants Sojourners that feel this Rod My flesh doth tremble and my heart doth bleed Through right to Christ yet raised from the dead Ye in new honour have a better head XIV Among these mourners should I strive to sing Like Vinegar on nitre it would seem If to their sorrows I more weight should ring A woful Comforter they'I me esteem Hast to thy mountain Soul with mourning wings Till in new honour light from darkness springs XV. But ah poor sinners When will ye be wise They 'r gone who did disturb your carnal peace But sins abiding stones shall cry and rise Rather then Gods contest with you shall cease With flames his controversie he 'l renew If in new honour ye no right pursue XVI His Prophets he no longer now imploies His slighted scorn'd Ambassadours withdraws But with heav'n-shaking earth affrighting noise As if seven thunders spake he pleads his cause Stout sinners gird your loyns decision's nigh Saints to your Fortress in new honour fly XVII Bacâ—sliding England once professing high Now turning Egipt-ward in spight of wrath Thy Oaths base crouchings deep apostacie To sins and vengeance flood-gates opened hath Turn turn at Gods reproof break off thy sin Else ne're expect nue honour stepping in XVIII Yet hope 's in Israel still though flesh hath none A shelter from the storm have Saints provided When desolate expos'd left most alone They by Gods Eye and Counsel shall be guided When desolations at their height begin Such earth-quakes usher their nue honours in XIX Then mourning trembling Sionists attend Though heart and hand grow faint lift up your head The Achâ—n-search the breach and gap defend 'Twixt porch and Altar stand 'twixt quick dead Peace may be made perhaps a pardon had And plowed Sion in new honour clad XX. Nay though this age must needs be swept away That Noah's Daniel's Job's find no regard Decrees be seal'd and men have lost their day Yet shall your faithful work have full reward Th' Assiâ—ians floods your peace shall not annoy Ye in nue Honour shall your God enjoy A. C. FINIS