comparison of Christ What are we better when we are in our pomp in this world when we do nothing but pine in our souls and our souls to be cast into hell where there will be howling for ever and ever Lord pardon our proud worldly hearts for we are alwayes hungring after this sinful world where there is nothing but that which will lead us into hell Oh let us not hunger after this world but hunger after Christ O what a loving Father have we that when a poor soul is thrown down as low as hell and is in great afflictions then he sends Jesus Christ and takes pitty of that poor soul and lifts it up to heaven Christ will look upon a poor soul with the eyes of compassion then that poor soul is happy and he will carry it to heaven where it shall rejoyce with God his holy Angels Tet us hunger for Jesus Christ and when we have him let us hold him fast and let us stick close to him and he wil stick close to us he will be our keeper and Saviour both of bodies and souls Good is thy Word and to be esteemed drive it into our hearts and not onely into our heads but into our hearts that it may work a thorow work in us Come let us flie up to heaven as a bird in the air if we could get up as high as heaven we should be happy Joy joy joy everlasting joy Come let us sing praises unto our God with mirth and joy for we shall sing with our Father and his holy Angels for ever and ever Lord vanquish Satan that roaring lion and tread him under foot that he may not overcome our souls by his evil wayes watching every opportunity June the 7th This night came one of those commonly called Quakers and all that came to her did judge that then she knew none neither could she heare or did ever minde what was said to her or in her company and this man and her Uncle Capt. Hatfield being in discourse she uttered the words following at that time which are very observeable viz. Take heed take heed that you sowe not Tares lest you reap Tares Every Tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewen down and cast into the fire Lord give us faith in Christ for without faith and knowledge we cannot come unto Christ Come let us flie unto the Throne of grace as a bird doth into the aire Lord give us zealous hearts for Jesus Christ for there is help in him but there is no help upon the earth Lord resist Satan that roaring Lion that goes about seeking whom be may devoure let us cleave to Jesus Christ when Satan draws neere and he will deliver us from that roaring lion June the 8th Lord quicken our dead and ignorant hearts which are stubborn and rebellious but before we be quickened we must lie at the feet of Jesus Christ for without we be quickened we are like an ignorant man that travels up and down and knows not whither Lord humble these proud hearts of ours and take that burthen from us for Christ saith Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavie laden and I will give you rest If we be dead-hearted we must lie down at the feet of Jesus Christ till he be pleased to quicken us Take heed of despising God and his Ordinances for if we despise them God will despise us Set your affections on things above and not on things below for your life is hid with Christ in God Labour for Jesus Christ and he will cast out that spirituall enemy that would cast you out Trust in Jesus Christ for he is a trusty God to trust in Let us put on the whole Armour of God O let us labour for Jesus Christ and he will be our Shepherd and we shall be his Sheep he will lock us up in his cabinet and keepe us from sin and Satan Lord strengthen our unbelieving hearts Let us labour to be strong in faith and we shall be strong in Jesus Christ Let us labour to be rich in Jesus Christ though we be poor in the world I have obtained Jesus Christ When you have obtained Jesus Christ you have obtained a jewell of all jewels Let us be partakers of the Word of God and we shall be partakers of Jesus Christ if we do not know the Word of God nor be partakers of it we shall never know Jesus Christ When we are but weak in body and are true Christians we shall be strong in Jesus Christ If we be weak in body our body loseth by it but our souls gain by it Let us labour to get true possession of Jesus Christ and then Satan that roaring lion can get no possession of us Lord give us the life of grace to spring up in our hearts that we may be drawn to thee Iune the 9th Lord give us the light of heaven that vve may be holy as thou art holy If once grace be but kindled in our hearts then happy shall vve be and blessed Let us trust in Jesus Christ and he vvill conquer our spirituall enemy and purifie our double hearts Let us be thankfull and ever thankfull for all his mercies lest he turn his blessings into curses and poure dovvn his vvrath upon us Lord give us true repenting hearts for our sins lest vve run headlong to hell for vvant of repentance Come my Disciples take up your cross and follow me and I vvill be your God joy joy joy Learn the lesson of faith or you shall never knovv Christ but Lord let us learn this lesson of faith that vve thy unvvorthy servants may be delivered both from our bodily and spiritual enemies We are poor dry creatures but Lord breath thy Spirit into us that vve may be Saints in Heaven Good Lord enrich our souls that we may enrich the Kingdome of Heaven Come my people enter into my Tabernacle and you shall rest in joyes for ever We must labour to have hearts for Jesuâ— Christ or we shall never attain to him we must labour for him he is not easily gained but we must take pains and seek him Let us put off the rags of sin and put on the robes of righteousness Let us struggle for Jesus Christ and labour for him lay hold of him and when we have obtained him let him not slip from us Let us give God the glory of all things and he will poure down all things upon us that are good for us Lord pardon our sins and give us hearts to beg pardon of thee for them Lord give us thankful hearts to acknowledge thy goodness and to be thankful for every little mercy Lord fit and prepare our unprepared hearts that we may be prepared at the sound of the trumpet Let us labour to be married to Jesus Christ and
lambe of God be pleased to open to us the door of faith November the 1. Lord purifie these drossy hearts of ours that we may become pure Virgins of thine and leave them without dross or sin remaining in them Lord restrain those that go about to interrupt those instruments which thou hast sent to preach out thy holy Word in thy Congregations it is requisite that offences should come but wo be to them by whom they come Oh let us labour to gain the Kingdome of Heaven and struggle and strive for it for it is not gained with a little ado but Heaven is won by violence and the violent take it by force Lord enrich these poor fainting souls of ours with thy graces that we may become able instruments to inherit the Kingdome of Heaven November the 3. Lord endue us with thy rich graces as faith which is the richest grace of all but our hearts are so stony that we cannot apprehend them aright to make a right use of them but make them of a fit temper that we may have our wills melted into that Will of that everlasting everliving and glorious Lord our God that we may lie at the feet of that immaculate lamb of thine untill those two arms of Love be pleased to take us up into the throne of Heaven Put on the whole armour of God that we may be able to stand against all the wiles of the Devill Oh labour to take notice of that everliving and glorious Lord our good God and of all his mercies that he hath been pleased to pour down upon us for if we take notice of him he will take notice of us both of all our needs and necessities and necessary things both temporall and spirituall for if we sit loose from him he will sit loose from us November the 4th Oh let us labour to repent of all our sins which we have lived in formerly and call to minde what the Lord hath done for us in distresse When we were in the hands of our enemies he hath preserved us from the hands of our enemies for if we were as we should be we should be thankfull every hour of a day but God knoweth we are far short Good Lord refine us even as silver and gold is refined and make us without spot or blemish even as thy spotlesse lamb and cloath us with the righteousnes of him November the 5th He that knoweth the will of his Father that is in heaven and doth it not shall be beaten with many stripes Lord renew these stony hearts of ours and give us hearts of flesh Lord open our blinde eyes that we may see clâ—erly the errour of sin and the purity that is in Christ and the corruption that is in our selves We poor miserable and wretched creatures Lord pardon and forgive us all our sins that we have committed against thee and wash them away in the blood of that thy beloved One and leave us without spot or stain remaining in us November the 6th The Works of God are wonderfull and his wayes past finding out Servants obey the will and command of your Masters which are upon the earth knowing that you have a Master in heaven Oh let us call upon the Lord in the time of extremity and calamity and he hath promised to give ear unto us November the 8th Call upon me in the day of trouble aâ—d I will hear you and you shall glorifie me Oh Lord endue us with thy graces that we may be fit to come to the School of Christ to learn the lesson of faith Oh let us labour for that beloved One for if we have him we have all if we want him we want all he will stand unto us when all will fall down all things are but drosse and dung in comparison of him Oh labour to repent of all your sins but you must first lay the ground-work of faith and then truly repent and return home unto the Lord. Oh let us cry aloud unto the Lord in the time of necessity and he hath promised to give ear unto us Cast your care upon the Lord for he careth for you in the time of extremity and calamity when all helpers in the world fail he will be your greatest help of all he must do it or none Oh let us labour to fear the Lord that we may live in his fear and die in his favour Come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy-laden and I will give you rest Oh what a sweet promise is this if we had but hearts to apprehend it aright but our hearts are so stony and so full of corruption that it can take no effect but Lord mollifie them November the 9th Oh let us call to minde what the Lord hath done for us and not be like the natural man that looketh his face in a glasse and presently forgetteth what manner of man he was Oh let us labour and take pains for that well-beloved One and labour to sâ—ick close unto him for if we lose him we lose all and if we gain him we gain all Oh let us labour to set our affections on the things that are above and not on the world wherein there is nothing but vanity and vexation of spirit Oh let us labour to wait and be patient untill his appointed time for his time is the best time My Christ hath vanquished Satan that luâ—king roaring lion that goeth about to devour my poor soul but I hope he hath nothing to do with me I hope my God will own me for his own he is alwayes malicing and perplexing the children of God to make their journey uncomfortable and thinketh that if he get not victory then he shall never get victory Come all ye that are a thirst and drink freely of the Spring-well-water of life and you shall never thirst again Lord Lord endue us with thy graces that we may become lively branches in thy Vineyard prune it dresse it and water it and look to it that nothing hurt it nor harme it Oh let us labour for faith for they that are faithfull until death shall receive a Crowne of life Lord satisfie these unsatisfied hearts of ours for if a man have all the world he thinketh that he hath not enough but when he hath Christ then he is fully satisfied Ah what can a Christian heart desire more then a crucified Christ then a naked Christ what can a Christian heart desire more he is the jewell of all jewels he is the upright One Labour to deal faithfully in all things for as you do so you must look to be done by if you sowe to the flesh you shall reap corruption but if you sowe to the Spirit you shall reap life everlasting Lord endue us with thy graces and set them aright upon our hearts but they are so benummed luke-warm and key-cold that we cannot apprehend them to make a right use of them but
of him as may be most 〈◊〉 thy glory and for the good of his soul â—d body Good Lord bless our sister who hath taâ—n so great pains with my mother and me â—d our other little brother Lord make him â—ine and guide him in all his wayes in his â—ung-yeers that his soul may be precious in â—y sight and my other sister the Lord â—ve her grace And that other little sister â—ood Lord take away that infirmity from her â—ye if it be thy will And for that sister whom â—hou hast disposed of in marriage the Lord â—less that family and give them more and more of thy Spirit to guide them in thy wayes and Lord give him a Spirit of prayer â—ut let us not make haste for thy time is the best And for that little branch Lord as it grows in days years grant that it may grow in grace and walk in thy way And for that godly sweet servant of thine * that prayed so heartily for me the last night the Lord bless him and Lord bless thy servant who is gone to use means for her health and bless the means for without thy bessing nothing can profit and Lord if it be for thy glory bring them together and if not make them contented to yield to thy will Good Lord bless all our Family and make them thine and teach all our friends to walk in thy wayes When she began this prayer all about her were so amazed with the suddenness of it that they could not for the joy and astonishment wherewith their spirits were filled observe each passage so exactly as is desired they had done so that many of her expressions are lost but these things set down are as neer as they that were present could recall to their thoughts related and written down in her own very words After this prayer her head fell and she was as in a trance and as she past into it she said The Lord be with you all I am now going to Heaven where I hope one day you will come to me And when she was come forth of that trance in which they thought she would have died she was exceedingly rapt up with joy which perhaps was the Heaven she spake of that she was going to laughing and spreading her arms and clasping them close to her that they could not be opened but presently she opened them and exprest herself in these words I have found my Christ ô I have found my Christ how sweet is he to me After this fit of joy she fell into a sore conflict with Satan and opening her arms which were clasped with hugging her sweet Christ unto her she struck so vehemently as 〈◊〉 she had more then ordinary strength and â—prest her self in these words Away away away Satan with a stern â—untenance which was a great change in her â—â—ce which was so amiable before in her reâ—oycing of it and so she continued for some â—â—me and then the Lord was pleased to give â—er comfort again And then she laughed and rejoyced much more then before and spread her arms and â—lasped them close again and said O my Christ is come again my Christ is come again 〈◊〉 shall vanquish Satan and cast him behinde me Then she fell again into another conflict with striking as before but never spake in a conflict but the conflict being over she spake and laught and behaved her self in the like manner as before O now my sweet Christ is come again he is come again and hath destroyed my spirituall enemy who would have destroyed my soul O labour for Christ and that the Name of Christ may be written upon all your hearts with letters of gold Thus one time with comforts and at other times with conflicts she continued the greatest part of one night which they that were present thought was about the several times that night but they were all so astonisheâ— both with the matter and manner that the could not certainly relate how many of thoâ— conflicts and comfortable fits she had neâ—â—ther indeed as they acknowledge are theâ— able to relate the manner thereof as it waâ— made known unto them After this about 17 dayes she lay stiff and never spake all that time and it pleased thâ— Lord so to order her disease that she came to her self twice a day viz. at twelve a clock aâ— noon-day and six at night and then she did understand herself but could not speak and to these times she kept constantly for about 17 dayes and then she would make signes to wash her mouth with small beer or water they not knowing what she would have but she could manifest dislike of what was offered if it was not that which she desired she took no food all this time but onely washt her mouth as was said twice a day About this time coming to herself she fell into great extremity of vomiting for two dayes and that which she vomited was like gall or soot and bloud and by times continued in that extremity for seven or eight dayes and was carried about in the arms of one or other or sate on their knees having little rest save some short Dormes she spake â—uch and uttered many sweet expressions Many times being desired to take some â—od she answered I would take food if God would give me leave but I cannot I â—annot and when they would do any thing â—bout her if it might be to give her some â—ase she would say Alas here 's no ease â—ere O that you will not suffer a poor creaâ—ure to have some ease there 's no comfort â—o be had here but there 's ease in Heaven At another time she said O Lord some â—ase for a poor distressed creature Lord for â—hy Son Christ his sake Again Where 's my father and my mother that they may pray for me I had a father and a mother and brethren and sisters Again she was much troubled and said What a naughty naughty Lass was I to be so impatient but now I have more pain and the Lord hath given me more patience now I can say with David It is good for me that I have been afflicted Good It is good indeed for my father hath got good and my mother hath got good and I have got good and God hath got glory I would not have been without this affliction for any thing this is a good affliction indeed Her sister Hannah speaking to her Must these little pretty hands go into the grave and rot in the dust I said she what should they do else poor sinful corrupt flesh Her father asking her Childe art not hungry thou hast eaten nothing of a long time She said I hunger for nothing but Christ I am very hungry after him I would very fainâ— have him Then he asked her if she would drink she said I am very thirsty for Christ They were speaking to her of a Physician but she said My comfort is in Christ
Let us labour to have our conversation built upon the Lord stedfastly let us labour to have our foundation of life built upon that substantiall rock stedfastly for if it be built upon sandy ground it vvill fall but if it be built upon that stedfast rock it vvill stand for ever and ever Lord pull back Satan that Serpent thaâ— goeth about to devour my poor soul but he cannot he cannot he cannot enter in my Christ will give him no power Let us labour to forsake sin and live unto righteousnesse and truly repent of our former sins which we have sinned which we have committed formerly let us truly repent of them Oh let us cry aloud unto the Lord in the time of extremity and calamity and he hath promised that he will give ear unto us October the 16th Oh let us trust in the Lord for he is a trusty one he is to be trusted let us cast both our bodies and souls into the hands of that everliving and glorious God for he hath bid us to cast our care upon him and he will care for us If we should trust a carnall man that hath no care of his salvation but of the trash of this world he is so greedy of it and hungers and thirsts after it that he thinks that that will make him but the neerer we are to the trash of this world the farther are we off of God if we could but hunger and thirst after the riches of Christ vve should not hunger after the riches of this vvorld as vve do Oh that vve had but hearts to conceive the riches of Christ from the riches of this vvorld for vve think that the riches of this vvorld vvill be the making of us but alas alas they vvill be the undoing of us The wisdome of man is foolishnesse but the wisdome of God is righteousnesse October the 17th Lord Lord vvash us and cleanse us in the purity of thy onely begotten Son in vvhom thon art vvell pleased that vve may become pure Virgins of thine for vvithout vve be in some part holy as thou art holy and in some part perfect as thou art perfect vve can never enter into the Kingdome of God into the Kingdome of Heaven Resist the Devill and he will flie back from you he vvill go avvay murmuring and repining at you take heed he enter not into your hearts for if he do he vvill leave corruption behinde him even as the snail leaveth slime behinde it so he leaveth the corruption of sin behinde him The corruption of the Devil vvill shevv it selfe and the holy righteousnesse of God vvill shevv it selfe but there is a great deal of difference for where the corruptiou of Satan remainerh there is nothing but lasciviousnesse blasphemy lying threatening and keeping of evill company but where the purity of Christ remaineth there is upright dealing righteousnesse and true holinesse Lord fill us with thy Spirit Lord endue us with the Spirit of Christ for where the Spirit of Christ remaineth there can no corruption enter in Oh let us labour for the riches of Christ for if a poor man that is never so poor hath but the riches of Christ he is accepted of God for with the Lord there is no respect of persons October the 18th Trust in the Lord Jehovah for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength Let us labour for faith the greater faith the greater joy faith is the beginning of wisdome it is the first thing that doth belong to a Christian Oh if we could but get faith it would carry us above all it would carry us from the lowest earth to the highest heaven Oh let us labour for Christ that holy One by whom we live move and have our being Lord sanctifie our unsanctified hearts and keep us from dissembling for if we dissemble with man we shall not dissemble with God there are many false hearts in this world but God knowes them God knowes their comming in and their going out though hypocrisie be hid from man it cannot be hid from God God knows our thoughts words works actions The heart of man is deceitfull but God can finde it out God knows every work we do every word we speak every thought we think and we must answer for them one day the Lord will call us to an account at the day of judgement he is a righteous Judge he will judge righteously if we deal not uprightly with man we shall not deal uprightly with God Lord soften these stony ignorant hard and carnall hearts of ours Lord mollifie them with thy graces with all thy gracious gifts as faith that we may be fit to enter into the Kingdome of Heaven Oh let us be patient untill the appointed time of the Lord he waits on us but we cannot be contented to wait upon him we could be contented to be all our lives without afflictions but if we should not know affliction we should not know comfort We should be so taken and blown up with comfort that we should not know our selves if we should not have discomfort mixt with comfort we should value it so much that we should value the creature more then the Creator October 19. about 4 a clock in the afternoon Let us labour to be followers of that Beloved One he that doth not the will of my Father vvhich is in Heaven he is not vvorthy of the Lord. Oh let us put off the rags of sin and put on the robes of righteousnesse that we may be fit to enter into the Kingdome of Heaven Again the same day about eight of clock she spake and she did keep to that hour untill November 21. Narrow is the way that leadeth unto life and few there be that finde it but wide is the way that leadeth to destruction and many there be that go therein Oh let us labour for Christ that Love that Dove that undefiled One he is the Door-keeper he will lead us from the gates of hell unto everlasting life Lord pull dovvn those that have a minde to pull down thee and raise up those that have a desire to raise up thee Lord give us patience to vvait upon thy time appointed vve vvould be all our lives vvithout affliction but it is for our good not for our hurt but for our good thou doest not chastise us for our hurt but for our good for the Lord hath said they are not my children but bastards whom I do not chastise not Oh vvhy should not vve vvait upon him that vvaiteth alvvayes upon us vvhy should not vve be patient but vve are so naughty and full of corrupt nature that vve cannot be contented to vvait upon him till our Glass be run he vvaiteth and vvatcheth over us every hour and minute vuhen the time appointed cometh he can raise any of us up even as he did the Maid vvhen he said Arise and
so continued his good hand upon her and she encreased in strength daily so that upon the 28th of December the time appointed for the Thanks-giving when we met there she was able to come forth into the Hall to meet and welcome us and we did behold a Miracle it was wonderfull in our eyes so that our hearts did rejoyce with a kinde of trembling at the glory of the Lord which appeared in that Object and it did the more affect because it was more then many if not most of us heard of before we came into the house so that we see God had put still more matter of praise into our mouths when we came together to the duty she came and joyned with us most part of the day but the place where we met being very full of people she towards the close of the day grew somewhat faint and weary and so withdrew but was well presently and much affected was her heart with 〈◊〉 goodnesse of the Lord in the morning before we engaged our selves in the duty of that day she desired that we might sing a Psalme or two which she had made choice of viz. the 103 Psalme or the 118 Psalm which of them the Ministers pleased and in the close of the day the Assembly were desired to praise God in the words of David written in the 118th Psalme and some of the verses of that Psalme which did best suit with the occasion of the day were cull'd out as the six first verses and the 13th verse to the end of the 18th also the 21 and 23 24. and the two last verses In that day as we desired to exalt the Lord in our hearts who had so signally fulfilled divers promises and that in particular Psal 118. vers 15. which had been often urged formerly so were her Parents very solicitous lest they should not render unto the Lord according to his marvellous appearances for them and to them therefore was that promise urged Psal. 50. 15. Thou shalt glorifie me which as was declared to them is not onely demonstrative of their duty but operative to enable them to perform their duty and so we parted with our hearts full of joy and desires that we might be strengthened by the power of the Lords might to walk worthy of these glorious ownings of his poor worthlesse creatures Since this day of Thanks-giving the Lord hath in much mercy increased her strength every day she did not then go so strongly as since she hath done one observable passage there was she was sitting in a Chair and both she and the Chair fell and she hurt her leg but not long after she was observed to go with more strength and nimblenesse then before and God made that fall a means of her rising up to more strength and not onely are her outward parts through the goodnesse of God strengthened but her understanding memory and ripenesse of apprehension are much enlarged beyond what they vvere before her sicknesse which we vvere much afraid had been utterly and altogether destroyed in this sad visitation and as a further addition to make the mercy yet more compleat the Lord hath been pleased to work a great change in the frame and temper of her disposition which formerly by reason of the prevalencie of the Spleen vvhich she is novv vvholly freed from as from all other infirmities vvhich she had formerly vvas much inclined to sadnesse and fretfulnesse but novv she is of a vvondrous meek quiet and sedate temper and vvalks on vvith much cheerfulnesse and evennesse of spirit so that vve may discover much of God in her carriages she is also very diligent in reading and prayer and such other employments as her Mother sees fit to exercise her in so that she may be a pattern for many vvho far exceed her in years and God doth keep her in a wonderful humble frame she is not lifted up vvith her Receptions but desirous to vvalk up to her Mercies she hath not much ravishing joys but God hath made good that promise to her He hath brought her health and cure and hath revealed to her abundance both of peace and truth It hath pleased God since these passages of his Providence again to try that Family in removing from them that precious Gentlewoman Mrs. Fr. Westby Mother to Mrs. Hatfeild and Grandmother to this Childe an ancient Disciple of Christ vvho had gained a great addition to her stock of Graces and comforts by this Childes Afflictions and Restauration She vvas full of the joy of the Lord in the beholding of these vvonderfull vvorkings of God in that Family and is novv translated to Heaven where she is praising God for those many other Mercies in a higher strain then our untuned spirits can reach unto and when God had brought that affliction upon the Family this Childe perceiving her dear Mother to be much dejected vvith that dispensation did much labour to comfort her and amongst other passages this vvas one With tears she spake to her Mother thus Good Mother labour to submit to the Will of God ô labour to submit if vve do not submit vvillingly God can make us to submit I shall shut up the Narrative vvith this passage of this Childes dear Father in the Close of his Relation vvhich he sent to me viz. The povver of the Lord be made knovvn in all his Works vvith thankfulnesse to his glory for ever To which I will adde my AMEN The Conclusion of the NARRATIVE THat Caution which this sweet Childe hinted as was before noted that we should look to a good end in publishing her speeches took such Impression on my spirit that though I was strongly urged to it I durst not venter upon the presenting of these things to Publique view before I had first examined my ends in that undertaking and could through the free grace of God I hope in sone measure approve my Heart to him in that enterprize And since I have undertaken it I am sorry that I could not dispatch it sooner whilest the impressions were fresh upon the spirits of her Friends but my many diversions and interruptions in that populous place where God hath east my lot must be my Apology and I hope the publishing of these things now may serve through the supply of the Spirit of Christ to revive those thoughts and resolutions which I hope wil never be wholly oblitterated That which I shall onely adde is the ends and uses which I conceive our wise God might have and which we and others should make of such wonderfull works of his and I shall refer them to two Heads they are such as concern Either 1 Particularly that Family Or 2 Generally the Nation 1 Particularly that Family and there 1 God did foresee what his intentions were as to that Family in taking to himselfe that precious Gentlewoman Mrs Westby the Grandmother of this Childe she was one of the most affectionate Mothers that I have been acquainted with she had