the mercy of God But behold here the God of truth whose grace is sufficient to support under and deliver effectually from such soul-sinking considerations making Satan appear to be what indeed he is a Lier And seasonably succouring this dejected despairing soul who for a long time had the sentence of death in her self and was far from expecting that blessed issue that is fince brought forth in her soul by the mighty Power and naked Arm of the Lord who hath hereby helped her to see what little reason she had or hath to trust in her self and the sure ground he hath now given her to stay on him as the living God who raiseth the dead so that she is now made able yea willing to acknowledge His great gooddesse that hath delivered her from so great a death 2 Cor. 1.9 10. and doth deliver and is still helped to hope and trust that he will yet deliver and strengthen her Faith to quench all the flâ—y darts of the Devil Behold yet further the exceeding Riches of God's grace not a little illustrated by setting free this Prisoner sometimes even past hope in her own and some others apprehensions She that was for a long season sadly concluding with the distressed Church in Lament 3.18 That her strength and hope was perish'd from the Lord Is now saying with Saul in Acts 9.6 Lord what wilt thou have me to do And with the Psalmist thankfully inquiring What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits towards me And in some measure inabled to resolve with him To take the Cup of Salvation and to call upon the name of the Lord as Psal 116.12 13 14. And she that was lately in her own esteem not so good as a Dog yea to use her own words worse then any Devil is now By the Father of mercies and God of all consolations made meet to be partaker of the inheritance of the Saints in light The sad sentences she had oft past upon her self in the sense of her sins being now gratiously reversed by her Heavenly Father who hath set her feet in a large place so that now if sin Satan her own corruptions or any other spiritual Adversary comes to lay any thing to her Clarge she may be ready the Lord assisting to produce her pardon and able to say from blessed experience as in Rom. 8.33 34. It is God that justifâ—eth who is he that condemneth that it is Christ that died yea rather that is risen again who is even at the right hand of God who also maketh intercession for us And I hope this eminent instance of his grace abounding above the abounding of sin added to other Examples of this kind recorded in his holy word will help to support and succour some poor souls under the like discouragement to hope in his mercy who waits to be gratious and surely he hath gratious ends in affording this and such like deliverances which greatly concernes all persons to labour to understand and improve aright First then let sinners of all sorts both in Zion and out of it from the insuing narrative take notice of the sad ensnaring and soul-destroying nature of sin and the wages of it which this poor soul as she feared had certainly found to be eternal death had not the God of grace whose loving kindnesse is better then life caused her to hear the joyful sound of the voice of the Son of God that her soul might live John 5.25 Secondly from the consideration of the mercy she hath obtained let poor sinners be incited and incouraged to come unto God through Christ for mercy who knows how to multiply pardon to the worst of sinners as in Isai 55.7 with Nehe. 9 17. Especially let such as are inquiring the way to Zion with their faces thitherward Though with trembling hands hearts and all that are planted in the house of the Lord be incouraged to wait upon God who will in no wise cast out those that come unto him Let the first of these labour to look to the Lord that they may be enlightened (a) Psalm 34.5 And let the other be confirm'd in the experience they have had of his great goodnesse that so God may have all the glory from both as a Fruit of this special favour afforded to this his hand-maid in so signal a return of many Prayers for which proportionable praises should wait for and be duly rendered unto our God in Zion who is a present help in the needful time of trouble I shall not adde but to intreat thee to read and consider well before thou censurest or seeme to despise the ensuing subject as the day of small things but labour rather to weigh the worth of this mercy in the Balance of the Sanctuary That so thou mayest understand the end and use of it and be help'd to improve it aright to the praise of the Author of every good and perfect gift and the profit of thine own soul that so thou mayest be able to say with the Prophet of old Micha 7.18 Who is a God like unto thee that pardoneth Iniquity and passeth by the transgressions of the remnant of his heritage that retaineth not his anger for ever because he delightin mercy And from thence be incouraged to wait upon him for the fulfilling that faithful word Isai 40.29 30 31. He giveth power to the faint and to them that have no might he increaseth strength c. Compared with Psal 27.14 Wait on the Lord and be of good courage and he shall strengthen thine heart wait I say on the LORD ROB. DOYLY To all both small and great that have either tasted of the rich grace of God or desire to be made partakers thereof through Jesus Christ our Lord. Men and Brethren THough we were very much strangers both to the person and state of this gratious hand-maid of the Lord the subject of this ensuing treatise during the time of her sore bondage and captivity of Spirit and so had no share with those that in a solemn manner expresly on her account sympathized sighed and groaned to God in her behalf Yet having now through grace we trust we may say to the advantage of our souls heard out of her own mouth in the midst of the Congregation to which we belong to wit the Church of Christ at Dalwood in Dorset the wonderful deliverance which God hath wrought fâ—r her poor soul We cannot but in a special manner rejoyce with her and blesse the Most High for his unspeakable mercy That this work is of the Lord and soul-work indeed it speaks for it self to all the wise in heart That the Relation is very faithfully made We do hereby testify having as we said before heard out of her own mouth the substance of the whole who then in point of circumstance would have been more particular and large had not time and the earnest sollicitation of a near Relation of hers whom God had used in some good measure
11.15 not that he raised him onely which every sensual beholder would believe but that in future distresses in their greatest depths they might depend on him by that proof of his Power to save to the uttermost And no doubt Israel of old of whom it s said They soon forgot his works was so ravish'd with the red Sea wonder that they ever retained the Theory thereof and could all of them relate it to any that should ask them either in matter or manner concerning it but their not retaining the Teaching sence thereof for use in point of thankfulnesse for past deliverances and of Faith in their future straits in the way of following God left them to those fears through which they fell short of obeying God and entring Canaan Now therefore thou poor sinking despairing soul who sittest in darknesse and seest no light Learn thou assuredly this pattern of mercy and long suffering is to manifest to thee that the Lord's thoughts are higher then thine that so thy soul may be encouraged under the sentence of death by reason of sin through believing to have life and hope in him If thou sayest Is any sorrow like my sorrow Yea is any sin like my sin and truely considerest the sorrow of this soul and most desperate sin of a secret Devilish mind in this case related with her confident expectation of Hell thereupon on the one hand and the gratious pity and acceptance she found from Christ being embraced by him as in open Arms so soon as truely perswaded humbly to come unto him on the other hand I hope it will silence such suggestions distressing thee and seal to thy comfort the truth of that promise that is so richly confirmed to her John 6.37 Now if any accepted through grace should abate in their Faith because their present Feast seems not so full nor their entertainment so sensibly free as that whereat this soul now sits so fully refresh'd I trust if in their weaknesse supporting grace be surely afforded and they found waiting in their Fathers house and affaires that word shall suffice to balance them from fainting and fretting at such grace to others recorded Luke 15.31 32. And that her years of sorrow shall be by such considered according to Ps 90.15 Make us glad according to the dayes wherein thou hast afflicted us And oh that this might warn all of every sin and neglect which being bound on her soul have been found so long and so heavy a load but how shall I utter the evil and bitter effects thereof better then by asking the serious soul what debasing defiling and enslaving misery himself hath experienced as the effect of but eating the forbidden fruit at first and that by another Yea with design to be made more Spiritual neither have good mens good meanings excused the least transgression or error This treatise will tell you also what those poor souls lose who neglect or are slighty in family-endeavours in the word and Prayer in both which she found more benefit through grace then in more able publick Administrations under which some can scarcely profit through their horrid neglect herein and will have poor kindred Children and Servants one day complain of their loss by living under the shadow of such few of whom will shine as Stars in the Firmament according to the promise Dan. 12.3 if they persist in the neglect thereof and forget that exhortation Eph. 6.4 That I may not make an end of these poor hints towards the improving this mercy without remembring the Mourners in Dublin of another elect one I trust whose secret sins standing in the light of God's countenance humbly waited for his Salvation so many solemne dayes among them possessing Months and years of sorrow and they of tears for her poor soul who alas is not now found in the way of the true converts path Psal 116.17 18 19. And will surely as Jacob have her fears renewed for building short of Bethel when new troubles shall incompasse her and the Courts short of the Lord's prove unable to comfort Oh that this effectual experience of breaking the bands of Satan for another who was with lesse hope and expectation so oft joyned with her in your intercessions may renew your strength in supplication for her whose seeming weanednesse from the world and the weights of such vain Company as now beset her sometimes administred hopes that she would never be ashamed to chuse affliction with the people of God nor be otherwayes then as Hester in the Court of the miss-informed and enraged against them Oh! that by fervent wrestlings she might be raised again from every false rest and as being plucked by the Arm of the Almighty as a fire-brand out of the fire might be saved from all vain pomp infecting Company and customes the fury of the highest of men and from smoother temptations more near unto her promising her liberty in neglects and so beguiling her of her choisest good as the Tempter beguiled Eve yea working I fear with the stumbling-Block of the falls of some found in the wayes of God improved to the utmost in this evil day to prejudice souls with them so that many indeed are now offended in Christ and I much long that a Soverain love to his holy wayes might preserve her from that evil According to Psal 119.11 165. Yea let the kindnesse of Gideon be remembered to oblige us herein who unweariedly with unparalell'd uprightnesse shewed forth his labour of love to the Lord and to us in the Lord unto death resting much in the perswasion that his dearest relation and Children left behind him amongst us would never more be beset with the unexpected snares of that sort now encompassing but be in the constant special care of the most faithful of the Saints delighting herself with David in those that excel in vertue Me thinks this mercy improved aright without diversion may be extended also to Administer reviving to the poor Prisoners for righteousnesse sake who onely in a way of righteousnesse shall humbly wait for the Salvation of God notwithstanding the publicke reproach cast upon them by men of corrupt minds For behold the hand of the Lord who led Joseph through Imprisonment slanders and many difficulties and thereby fitted him for further special publick relief and benefit though his Brethren meant not so Gen. 50.20 is not yet shortened but here shewed gloriously in the ransome of this sometimes poor hopelesse Prisoner that distressed ones may have hope in him Who causeth light to arise out of darknesse leading his Prisoners forth in his set time and season who will say shortly to his Captives Shew your selves according to Isai 49.9 And surely this may help to succour also the whole Zion of God though she be ready to say My God hath forgotten me Oh that therefore that travel spoken of Isa 66.6 7 8. c. were now begun by all that have their hearts heavy loaden with their own and others Iniquities and that
had done I should suddenly be destroyed and that without remedy And hearing that passage mentioned out of Hannah's Song (l) 1 Sam. 2.10 The Enemies of the Lord shall be broken to pieces out of Heaven will he thunder upon them And I being as I judged one of his Enemies it did sorely terrify me After this on the six and twentieth day of the eleventh Moneth in the night season my soul was much took up with thoughts about my sad estate and I was brought to conclude I was a Subject of the Lords displeasure and should lie under the weight of his wrath to Eternity And this sorely terrified me to think what a sad thing it was to be cast out of Gods sight and that for ever and tormented with the Devil and his Angels and this for ever without any hopes of release or dram of comfort This I thought to be a pit indeed in which was no water not the least refreshment but unsupportable miseries and that to Eternity and it seemed strange to me that I was out of Hell so long considering what I had been and done against the Lord and also considering his infinite power who could in a moment cast me there who had so provoked him as I had done I came then to suppose this with my self were I now in Hell and had but a possibility of escape what means would I use to escape that horrible Pit I also considered again being once there there was was no Redemption for ever considering what great danger I was in dayly of being cast there were the thrid of my life cut which might suddenly be and so I drop into Hell past recovery I being not yet there and believing no Redemption from thence when there I came then to think if yet there were any possibility of using means for my escape I would try for if I lie still I shall certainly perish and if I attempt the use of means and misse obtaining what I seek for I can but perish and many very great sinners have escaped through mercy therefore I would try and the Lord encouraged me from those words of Esther (m) Esth 4.16 I will go in to the King if I perish I perish As also the resolution of the Lepers (n) 2 King 2.4 In the Siege of Samaria to use the means though without hope of successe I being in such a deplorable condition was prest to up and be doing seeing the danger of lying still at last I came to resolve to go hear at a Meeting in Sydbury but I could not pray for a blessing believing my Prayer was abominable to the Lord and I had also after I had resolved much ado to go considering I was but an Hypocrite and such a one should not stand before God also considering what my thoughts against God were and had been I went with great fears on my heart thinking as formerly the Lord would meet me in a way of rebuke witnessing against me but then I thought also I could but perish and I had had such thoughts of the Lords witnessing against me formerly which I had been mistaken in and so might be in these and still urged this to my heart To abide in a way of unrighteousnesse is nothing but death onely in a way of righteousnesse is life so that I had great fears each way of going or staying But considering my nights resolution I fear'd if I went not I should be found a Mocker of God and so I went but when I came there my fears were renewed again as to the Lords witnessing against me but I strove against them by calling to mind former mistakes of this kind and endeavoured to hear attentively and after a while the Lord abated my fears aforesaid and afterwards almost clean removed them The Subject spoken of at that time was sloth which having been so much my souls disease I was very sorely reproved by it especially afterward when I seriously Meditated upon it but yet I resolved to wait in the use of means blessing God as I was able for what I heard this day but yet remained in a very helplesse condition having little or no hope of deliverance This night afterwards at prayers in the Family I had my heart affected with some expressions used in Prayer about the dreadfulnesse of Christs appearing to his Adversaries for their rejecting him in his tenders to them On the seven and twentieth day at night I had many fears on my heart in so much that I was afraid to stay in any room and would if I could have fled from the presence of God it was so terrible to me And about twelve of the Clock at night I came into my Sister Vernons Chamber but horrour so seized on me in all places as I was forced once this night to go and cry to the Lord for mercy but whilst I was in my Sisters Chamber I heard one walking in another room near which made me afraid to go back again believing it was the Devil but after understanding it to be one of the Maids that was up I return'd again then into the Chamber somewhat freed from my fears and went to bed but having got cold with being up I found my self much distempered both in my body and head And kept my Bed the next day till night Then I got up for refreshment for a while but remember not any remarkable passage farther this night but had many sad grieving thoughts for my rejecting Christ which were often on my heart this day and also I had a little view of the excellency of Christ and spake to some in the Family of it in these words His Fruit is better then Life which I thought aggravated my Iniquity in rejecting him besides whom there is not another that can save and that I should reject him it sorely afflicted me But I had sometimes that day these words He waits to be gratious which somewhat incouraged and revived me to wait And it grieved me exceedingly for my rejecting him his word and counsel who shall be the desire of Nations yea that Tree of Life whose Leaves are for the healing of Nations with whom is Riches and Honour yea dureable Riches and Righteousnesse All these representations of Christ to me heightened my sin and grief for my rejecting him And even broke my heart in the sence of it most part of this day On the eight and twentieth day following I heard again in the Family from the 28. Chapter of the Proverbs the first Verse of which Chapter took hold on me as such a one as there is mentioned fleeing from the Lord as from my pursuer which I have many a time done but in that discourse it was shewn that despair is the High-way to Hell which much dwell'd with me in the night season and awakening in the night and hearing the wind blow hard it sorely terrifyed me being the voice as I thought of God my terrible Judge considering him as a consuming fire
his mercy I was after these conversings with the Lord and sweet Communion with him led to consider what all this calls for at my hand and was caused to desire to testifie my love to Jesus Christ in wayes of obedience to all his Commands who had so plentifully manifested his love to my soul and at last was led to some Meditations about Baptism looking upon it as a duty incumbent upon all believers whereby they did evidence their love to Christ in obedience to his Commands But withal I had some fears on my heart about my being carried on in that duty which I see to be so contemn'd and despised but did judge these were but the tempters suggestions and therefore did earnestly desire of the Lord that he would inable me to evidence my sincerity to him by following him in his most despised paths and that I might not dare to neglect any duty he calls for at my hands then also was I brought to mind that Scripture b Phil. 1.29 To you it 's given not onely to believe but also to suffer for his sake And that he onely could give this gift which was a great honour to be conferr'd upon his poor Saints to be counted worthy to suffer for his name and I begg'd It might ever be so accounted by me that Scripture also I had on my mind c Matth. 10.37 He that loveth Father or Mother more then me is not worthy of me As likewise d Mar. 10.29 No man that hath left house or Brethren or Sisters or Father or Mother or Wife or Children or Lands for my sake and the Gospels but he shall receive an hundred fold now in this time houses and Brethren and Sisters and Mothers and Children and Lands with persecution and in the world to come life Eternal Now by a hundred fold in this life I understood to be in peace of conscience that would be more then all the comforts I could forsake for it Besides in the world to come life everlasting And that Scripture also I had (e) 2 Cor. 4.17 18. For our Light afflictions which are but for a moment do work for us a far more exceeding and Eternal weight of glory whilest we look not at the things which are seen but at those things that are not seen for the things that are seen are temporal but those that are not seen are Eternal I also minded Moses his eying the recompence of reward made him despise the pleasures of Pharaoh's Court and likewise what the Saints mentioned (f) Heb. 11. had endured by eying the glory set before them and looking to that City that had foundations whose builder and maker is God And upon these and such like considerations my soul was incouraged to follow Christ resolving in his strength I would do so in every of his Commands he should make known to me to be my duty to walk in although by so doing I were a reproach and scorn minding David's words (g) Psalm 71.7 I am a wonder unto men but thou art my strong refuge And thence I reasoned if God were my refuge I did not care though I were a wonder unto men in pursuit of my duty upon some further considerations I saw Baptisme more clear to be my duty I being commanded (h) Heb. 6.12 To follow those who through Faith and patience inherit the promises And this path of Baptism I find Christ and all his Disciples walk'd in and therefore in this I judged I was to follow being commanded to be a follower of them I also considered (i) Acts 2.41 Then they that gladly received the word were Baptized c. I likewise considered Christs Commission (k) Matth. 28.19 Go teach all Nations Baptizing them c. Teaching them to observe all things that I Command you Of which I find Baptisme to be one this still cleared it up to my soul further as a duty I also considered that the Laws of a King were to be obeyed by all his Subjects and this I judged one of the Laws of Christ and therefore to be obeyed by all his Subjects I also weighed several other Scriptures about the nature use and ends of Baptisme particularly (l) Rom. 6.4 5. which did manifest to me that Baptisme was a duty injoyned to all believers they thereby manifesting their conformity to Christ in his death in order to their being raised up by him again and brought forth in the Fellowship of his Resurrection unto newnesse of life all which I found much incouraging and ingaging my heart to that duty This night also my sleep was made very sweet to me through the Lord's goodnesse I waked often and slept again and still found sweet refreshings in my soul seeing my self very safe under the protection of Christ I then endeavoured to sleep again minding what had been told me that I ought to have compassion on my body and my sleep was comfortable to me Every time I awaked having these words given m Zep. 3.17 to me He will rest in his love And these n Mal. 3.6 I am God I change not and I will never leave thee nor forsake thee So that I was sweetly composed and inabled to rejoyce under the protection of Christ having those words also brought to my mind o Psalm 31.21 The Lord hath shewed me his marvelous loving kindnesse in a strong City and hath laid help upon one that is mighty And that Scripture p Isai 26.3 Trust in the Lord for ever for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength in which my soul rejoyced greatly as also in that word q Isai 40.11 He shall gather the Lambs in his Arms and carry them in his bosome and gently lead those that are with yong From which the Lord gave me faith in my soul that he was able to keep me so as none should be able to pluck me out of his hand so that I was made to rejoyce in that unspeakable safety that I had under his Protection Another pretious promise to me was r Isai 42.3 4. A bruised Reed shall he not break nor smoaking Flax shall he not quench till he bring forth judgement to victory He shall not fail nor be discouraged till he have set judgement in the Earth and the Isles shall wait for his Law And hence I considered that he was my Counseller as well as my Protector and what a wonderful Counseller he is which I considered at large from (s) Isai 9.6 Unto us a Child is born and unto us a Son is given the Government shall be upon his shoulders and his name shall be called the wonderful Counseller the everlasting Father the Prince of peace and of his Government and Kingdom there shall be no end As likewise those words came to my mind (t) Acts 3.22 A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your Brethren like unto me him shall you hear in all things
as an abominable evil in me and desired the Lord to look with an eye of Pardon and compassion upon me and not to suffer me to hearken to the Devil's suggestions to dishonour him but make me esteem highly of all his Commands desiring he would according to his promise put his fear into my heart that I might not depart from him and that seeing he is able to save to the utmost and had promised so to do as also to tread down Satan under foot and to work and none should let All which he having given me experience of his making them good to my soul formerly I now begg'd he would further strengthen my Faith concerning them as also in that good word of his in keeping me by his Almighty Power through Faith unto Salvation And now did I find the Lords gratious answer to my poor souls desire in many of these things as first in upholding and keeping me against the Tempters suggestion as I had desired that I was not overcome by them though when I awaked this night the Tempter met me again with his Assaults but I was helpt to strive against them crying to the Lord for help to stand strength to overcome and he did help and succour me against them and incouraged me to believe his word and to call to mind the depths of distresses he had by his out-stretched Arm and infinite love and pitty raised my soul out of and he minded me how he had supported me when I was ready to sink under the weight of my Iniquities and wrath due to them yet he then upheld me and delivered me and had said he would not forsake me These considerations did support and enable me still to trust in him that had wrought so wonderfully and appeared so eminently for my poor soul as he had done and I was now inabled to believe that good word (x) Isai 49.10 They shall not hunger nor thirst neither shall the heat of the Sun smite them for he that hath mercy on them shall lead them even by the springs of Waters shall he guide them As also that (y) John 7.38 He that believeth on me the Scripture hath said out of his belly shall flow Rivers of living waters These with many more promises were now given in fully answering to all my wants and removing my fears I was also inabled to judge him faithful that had promised and so to look upon his promises as so many love-tokens from him in the way of his free grace to my soul through Christ my Redeemer and seeing Baptism now upon all the considerations aforesaid my duty to which again was added afresh this Scripture (z) Rom. 6.4 5. Therefore we are buried with him by Baptism into death c. And my soul laid under the Power of the truth in it that as I did expect advantage by the Lord Christ his death and Resurrection to my poor soul so I ought by my visible obedience to this his Command to declare my putting him on and my being planted in the likenesse of his death being buried with him by Baptism into death and also my being raised with and by him and the Power of his Resurrection unto newnesse of life and my resolving in his strength to walk accordingly all which ends Baptism according to this Scripture I judged lively held forth I was upon the whole inabled to come to resolve through grace to yield obedience thereunto as unto a Command of Christ my Lord expecting his assistance and blessing therein According to his word (a) John 14.21 He that hath my Commandments and keepeth them he it is that loveth me and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father and I will love him and will manifest my self unto him As also that word (b) Isai 64.5 Thou meetest him that rejoyceth and worketh Righteousness those that remember thee in thy wayes In the Faith of which promises and fear of the name of the Lord I intend through his gratious assistance to yeeld obedience accordingly in that and all his Commandments the love of Christ being of a constraining nature to my soul by which I have been caused to consider what he hath done for me in perfecting the work of my Redemption and also to think how little I am called to do or suffer for him who hath done so much for my sake (c) Isai 53.5 He being wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our Iniquities the chastisements of our peace being on him by whose stripes we are healed (d) Philip. 2.7 Who being in the Forme of God thought it no robbery to be equal with God yet made he himself of no Reputation but humbled himself and became obedient to death even to the death of the Crosse for our sakes These considerations are of a Constraining nature to my soul to obey him in all things I also considered what I should have undergone to Eternity had it not been for what he hath done and suffered to deliver me from wrath to come I also thought how little all the suffering of this world are to those I should have under-gone had not he Redeemed me from those Eternal miseries which indeed makes all the afflictions of this present life seem little and light to me when I seriously think of them According to that (e) Rom. 8.18 For I reckon the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us and that (f) 2 Cor. 4.17 18. our light affliction that is but for a moment worketh for us a far more exceeding and Eternal weight of glory while we look not at the things which are seen but at the things which are not seen for the things which are seen are temporal but the things which are not seen are Eternal and that (g) 2 Cor. 5.14 the love of Christ constrains us because we thus judge that if Christ died for all then were all dead that they which live should not live unto themselves but unto him which died for them and rose again And that (h) 1 Cor. 6.20 for you are bought with a price therefore glorify God both in your souls and bodies which are his and ought to be offered up as a living sacrifice (i) Rom. 12.1 Holy and acceptable unto him which is but our reasonable service according to the will of him who hath of his own will begotten us unto a lively Faith in Christ Jesus unto whom be glory in the Churches by Christ Jesus thorowout all Ages World without end AMEN FINIS An abstract of the principal parts of the fore-going Narrative which the Reader will find to be in substance as followeth though by reason of the mixture and variety of the matter it cannot be so distinctly composed as otherwise it might be I. A Particular Relation of her distressed estate and condition for fourteen years time wherein she was exercised with various temptations concluding