the Pit do go Have mercy upon me Psal 15.1 O God after thy great goodness according to the multitude of thy merccies blot out mine offences v. 12. O restore unto me the comfort of thy salvation and stablish me with thy free Spirit IT cannot be describ'd how great her grief and disquiet was when she reflected upon her weaknesses and the little care she conceiv'd she had taken in the performance of her Duty to God and in this doleful condition she cry'd out Lord God of health Psal 88.1 2 3. Old Transl the hope and stay Thou art alone to me I call and cry throughout the day And all the night to thee O let my Prayer soon ascend Vnto thy sight on high Incline thine ear O Lord attend And bearken to my cry For why with wo my heart is fill'd And does in trouble dwell My life and breath almost does yield And draweth nigh to Hell. O Lord Jer. 14.7 though my sins witness against me yet do thou pardon and put away mine iniquities for thy Great Names sake which I invoke For thy wrath endures but a moment Psal 30.5 and in thy favour is life Behold my troubles Lord How they with baste advance Psal 70.1 Patr. O do not stay but come as fast To my deliverance Like Psal 42.1 as the Hart pants after the Water brooks so longs my Soul after thee v. 2. O God! My Soul is athirst for God yea even for the Living God When shall I come and appear before God Look dawn to me and be the same Psal 119. v. 132. Woodford As thou art us'd to be to them who love thy Name 'T is for thy favour that I sue Psal 119.57 Woodf And hastning of that promise which thy Word makes due ALL the night long she was rehearsing the most pathetical Verses of the Psalms and in the morning being Munday a Roman Catholick being come to see her about nine of the Clock and expressing his grief upon the score of her sickness she answer'd his Civility and withal gave him an account of her Faith and the Hope that was in her assuring him she was resolv'd to die in that Religion which she was brought up in and always had profess'd Some few days after this a Divine by name Monsieur Boursault being come to visit her discoursed her a little while and then pray'd with her she instancing to him after his Prayer was ended what part of it had most affected her This whole day as the foregoing she pass'd in continual sighs and tears often crying out Oh! how much weakness and infirmity O my God am I sensible of Oh! how unworthy am I to appear before thee If thou O Lord mark my transgressions I shall not be able to abide it But O my God I beseech thee speak peace unto me and say to my Soul I am thy Salvation Incline thine ear to hear my voice Psal 119.149 Old Transl And pity on me take As thou wast wont so help me Lord Lest life should me forsake Since my sins do abound Rom. 5.20 O Lord so make thy Grace much more abound towards me Psal 69.16 Hear me O Lord for thy loving kindness is good turn unto me according to the multitude of thy mercies v. 17. And hide not thy face from thy servant for I am in trouble O haste thee and hear me Draw nigh unto my Soul v. 18. and save it for thy mercies sake WITH these she rehearsed also several admirable Sentences she had learn'd out of a Book intitul'd Comforts against the Terrours of Death which being slipt out of our mind are not mentioned here SHE having been from the Sunday-morning in continual frights and disquiets occasion'd by the sense of her sins and her apprehension of God's Judgments found her Spirit calmed and her mind much compos'd about seven of the Clock in the Evening when she felt the Comforts of the Holy Ghost and was fill'd with that unspeakable Joy and Glory which God diffuses in their hearts who are struck with a lively sorrow for having offended him NOW at the time of these happy Inspirations it was that she hearing them who were about her talk of giving her something to refresh her body said to them All that is done to me is to no purpose for from my God I have receiv'd the onely Remedy my Soul so much long'd for Psal 118.5 I called upon the Lord in my trouble and the Lord heard me at large I feel my God is on my side v. 6. therefore I will fear no evil v. 16. For the right hand of the Lord is exalted the right hand of the Lord brings mighty things to pass Psal 116.2 The Lord has inclined his ear unto me therefore will I call upon him as long as I breath v. 3. The snares of death compassed me about and the pains of Hell gat hold of me v. 4. I found trouble and heaviness but I will call upon the the Name of the Lord O Lord I beseech thee deliver my Soul. Gracious is the Lord v. 5. and righteous yea our God is merciful v. 6. The Lord preserves the simple I was in misery and he helped me v. 7. Turn again then unto thy rest O my soul for the Lord has dealt bountifully with thee HERE she making a stop they gave her that which was prepar'd for her and some of the Company telling her she should endeavour to take some rest she answer'd That the Rest and Peace she felt in her Soul was her sole joy and happiness And when it was farther said to her that she ought to take courage there being yet hopes of Recovery Ah! reply'd she tell me no more of living here on Earth again now all my thoughts are fix'd upon Heaven Neither does death affright me at all Rom. 6.23 for though I know it is the wages of sin I know also that the Gift of God is Eternal Life Onely pray to God for me that he would be pleas'd to strengthen me more and more against the fears which the sense of my sins may raise in me to the end I may be enabled to fight the good fight 2 Tim 4.7 and so obtain the Crown of Life UPON which one saying to her that the fears occasioned from sin ought to be much less in her than any body else she having always liv'd a most pious retired life she made this answer How do you know I would not have loved the World if I had been brought up as other people of my Quality are Am not I more happy now that my Saviour will take me from it Let us therefore pray him that be would so dispose my Heart that I may go to him with a full assurance of his Mercy O Lord this is the needful time help me my God hast thee to my relief THEN another saying to her But Madam suppose God would
spare you to us Here she reply'd without giving the party leave to go on Mat. 26.39 Phil. 1.23 Not my will O Lord but thy will be done Nevertheless it is far better for me to depart and be with my Saviour But O my God Thy will be done on Earth as it is in heaven And so proceeded to the end of the Lord's Prayer and afterwards rehearsed also the Apostles Creed Which having done she sate up in her Bed and looking on her Hands Gen. 3.19 Job 19.25 said This poor Body must return to its Dust. But I know that my Redeemer lives and that he shall stand at the latter day v. 26. And though after my skin Worms destroy this Body yet in my flesh shall I see God. 1 Cor. 15.53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption and this mortal immortality v. 59. And then shall Death be swallowed up in Victory v. 55. O Death where is thy Victory Where is that Sting wherewith with thou wouldst piece me My Saviour has broken it After which she making a little pause did seem to fall asleep but presently turning her self towards the Lady her Mother with a chearful countenance said to her Dear Mother give me up to God again who thus long has lent me to you Whereupon the Lady her Mother lifting up her Eyes to Heaven with sighs and tears cry'd out O Heavenly Father into thy hands I commend both my self and this poor Child thou hast given me Make us I beseech thee partakers of thy holiness that we may be so of thy Happiness also THEN the Patient answer'd I know whom I have believed 2 Tim. 1.12 and am perswaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed to him against that day And looking on the Lady her Mother with a tender look she said to her upon occasion of a Dream she had Dear Mother give me to drink again of your Consolations Whereto the Lady her Mother answer'd It is the Lord shall do that for you my Child Aye replied she yet have I received some by your means also Then the Lady her Mother went on and said Isal 12.13 With joy shall you draw water out of the Wells of Salvation To which the Patient answer'd Tea verily I am drinking already of those Waters springing up into eternal life and my Cup does overflow Lord break this Vessel of Earth that the Treasure may appear which thou bast laid up in it Take unto thee again the Breath wherewith thou bast animated this my poor Body THE next night after she dream'd that she saw two Lamps fasten'd to Heaven which gave a most glorious Light and that at last one of them was caught up and hid in Heaven Which Dream she having told the Lady her Mother the next Morning she said to her My dear Child thou Virgin of Israel Mystical Bride go to meet thy Bridegroom with thy Lamp full of that Oyl thy Saviour has given thee Then the Patient cry'd out Father Luk. 23.46 into thy hands I comment my Spirit Yea I am now going to the Wedding of the Lamb who has married me to himself in his tender mercies and I shall sit down at his Table with Abraham Isaac and Jacob in the Kingdom of Heaven At which Conversation the Chaplain being present was going to conclude it with these words Well done Mat. 25.23 good and faithful Servant enter thou into the joy of thy Lord. But the Patient interrupting him cry'd out Oh! this Joy of the Lord is my joy adding That Mercy rejoyced against Judgement Jam. 2.13 in her behalf After this the Lady her Mother and one of her own Sisters who remain'd alone with her heard her most fervently pray to God and rehearse several Sentences of the 6.51 and 143. Psalms which she deliver'd either in Prose or Verse sometimes according to the Old and at other times according to the New Translation And thus applying her self to God with a Zeal beyond expression all her thoughts were now so rais'd that she felt such ravishing Joys as no Tongue can utter How happy am I repeated she often How surpassing is my Joy How can I express it It 's so great that is exceeds all comparison What thanks have I to return to my good God! You my dear Friends speaking to her Mother and Sister help me to ascribe the Glory due to his Name and to set forth his worthy Praise THE Lady her Mother seeing her in this happy condition call'd those in again who were gone out of the Room that they might be Witnesses of this her Joy and Consolation as they had been of her Sorrows She was at this time sitting up in her Bed with her hands joyned together and her Eyes lifted towards Heaven her looks being very lively and chearful and her countenance brisk though modest For the the space of six hours she spoke with a loud voice and did express much in few words using terms very emphatical to represent sometimes her Happiness and sometimes the Joy she was filled with interlacing her discourse with several Sentences both of the Old and New Testament which she utter'd so fast and fluently that it was impossible to remember them all and mixing her inspir'd thoughts with those written Dictates of the Holy Ghost sometimes made her address to our Lord for the Redemption he had vouchsafed to her and then again humbled her self before him At another time she congratulated her own happy state and lastly she return'd a thousand times her hearty thanks to God for the accúmulated favours she had receiv'd at his hand BESIDES She paraphrased several Chapters of the Holy Scripture as the 5th 8th and 12th of the Epistle of St. Paul to the Romans and the 17th of St. John's Gospel applying them to her self much after this manner My God there is now no condemnation to them that are in CHRIST JESUS I have therefore nothing to fear for I do with all my heart lay hold of his merits who is the Redeemer of the World. I am made free from the Law of Sin and Death which does no more at all affright me and I feel the Spirit of Eternal Life communicated to me by my Saviour Yea O my God I know I am one of thy Children since this thy Spirit so powerfully comforts me Arise my Soul and to th' Aimighty King Psal 104.35 Woodf Sprightly and chearful Hallelujabs sing Oh! how great is my happiness Rom. 8.15 who have not received the Spirit of Bondage but the Spirit of Adoption whereby I can call Him Father who is the Great God and Master of the World. Thou Holy Ghost shalt always bear witness to my Spirit that I am the Child of God and. Co-heir with Christ. Rom. 11.33 O the depth of the riches both of the Wisdom and Knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his Judgments and his ways past finding out v. 36. For of him and through
THE Triumphs of Grace OR THE Last Words AND Edifying Death OF THE LADY Margaret de la Musse A Noble French LADY Who Died in May 1681. Aged but Sixteen Years Englished by P. L. LONDON Printed for John Lawrence at the Angel in the Poultrey over against the Compter 1687. Imprimatur Hen. Maurice Rmo Dom. Christ P. D. Wilhelmo Archiep. Cant. Ã Sacris Feb. 1. 1686. TO The most Pious AND Virtuous Gentlewoman MADAM ANN HEWER Madam ASI was casting in my Mind to present you with something in token of my high Esteem for your Virtue I happily met with these LAST HOURS of a young French Lady in which I found so many things rare and admirable useful and edifying divinely transporting and inflaming that I concluded it a Gift most agreeable and comporting with your Pious and Devout Inclinations and therefore was soon determin'd in my thoughts to Dedicate this Translation to you as judging it setting aside my own Faults most worthy of your Acceptance For what can be imagined more strange and wonderful than to see so tender an Age so weak a Sex so delicate an Education not onely combating the most formidable of all things that King of Terrours but triumphing over and trampling on him What move Edifying than to behold the Power of Grace so gloriously inthron'd amidst the Infirmities of Nature rais'd to their highest pitch and making them all serve as foils to its Divine Lustre What more transporting than to hear a Soul wounded with Divine Love send forth its flaming Desires to the Glorious and All-Beautiful Object of them Or what can be thought more engaging and inciting to Virtue than to see not onely the peaceful but joyful Latter End thereof and what great Triumphs Exultations attend it even in the most difficult and affrighting Circumstances of the Last Scene of Life In a word MADAM you may see here the miraculous and powerful effects of the RELIGION you profess and the GRACE you entertain and have chosen for your Portion and Ornament how nothing can stand against it how every thing must turn to its advantage and how all that oppose it serve onely to adorn it with never-fading Trophies of Glory I question not MADAM but your reading of this Book will start many more useful and delightful hints than are here mentioned which may afford you Advice and Comfort in this your Pilgrimage through the Valley of the shadow of Death to the Land of Bliss and Glory But I detain you too long from the Banquet within where according to Sampson's Riddle you 'll find the Eater giving Meat and the strong one sweetness So commending you to that Grace whose Triumphs are here so signally exemplifi'd I remain with all due Respect MADAM Your most Obedient Humble Servant P. L. THE Preface IT is so rare a thing to see Persons of Quality in the flower of their Age wholly disengag'd and set loose from the World and Vanities thereof and it is of so great import to publish such Edifying Examples as these that we may suppose the best of all sorts will think themselves oblig'd by our communicating to them the Last Words of the Lady Margaret de la Musse it being impossible to read them without being powerfully affected therewith For indeed we find in this little Piece so many Objects of Wonder as we are at a stand where to fix it most We have here a Lady presented to us who at the Age of Sixteen years when others onely begin to enter upon the Stage of the World and to relish the vain Pleasures of it earnestly desires to leave it and not minding ought save those Felicities which never end affronts Death and all its terrifying Concomitants with so much Constancy Bravery and Foy as if she were full of Days and had liv'd to that utmost most term of Life which uses to make Death welcome who at those years when others have scarce attain'd some slight Tinctures and Impressions of Piety and are only acquainted with the first Rudiments of Christianity speaks so solidly and worthily of the Mysteries of Salvation the Grounds of her Hope that one would think she had spent an Age in the reading and meditation of those Sacred Records To be brief we see a young Virgin who being dearly belov'd of all her Relations and Friends might be thought to have strong ties to the Earth where she was about to leave them and yet speaks of nothing but Heaven the Salvation her SAVIOUR purchas'd for her Who every moment darts her flaming desires to the All-Glorious and Lovely Cause of them and who amidst the extream Agonies Pangs she suffers permits not the least murmur against Divine Providence to ' scape her lips but meekly submitting to the will of her Creator triumphs by Faith over all the Weaknesses and Oppositions of Nature Finally we see a Mother who though she were most sensibly afflicted to find her self at the point of parting with Her she most tenderly lov'd yet has Courage enough to comfort her Daughter in her last Conflicts and is not at all asham'd to learn to die well of Her whom she had taught to live so It 's like there will not be found so exact a Connexion in all that this Illustrious Expirer delivers as some critical ears may require but besides that it is not strange to find the Discourses of Dying Persons broken and interrupted and that it was not well possible to retain all she spoke I dare affirm that the Reader will meet with so many surprizing and affecting Passages in these Papers that he will give little heed to their connexion or exactness of stile In a word the onely aim in publishing This is to expose to view the miraculous Effects of Grace when it works on the Heart and seizes it for its own making the very Mouths of Children the Trumpets of its Praise GOD of his infinite Mercy grant to us all That we may die the Death of the Righteous and that our latter End may be like theirs Advertisement THE Translator desireâ— the Reader to take notice That where thiâ— Young Lady repeats the Psalms in Verse which also as it is usual for French Protestants to do she frequently sang he has made use of such English Translations as best express the sence of the French Metre THE Last Words AND Edifying Death OF THE LADY Margaret de la Musse THE Lady Margaret de la Musse whose Last Words are here recorded was of one of the Noblest Families in the Province of Britany she being the Daughter of Caesar Lord Marquess de la Musse and the Lady Vrsulina de Champagne de la Suse his Consort who together with their Illustrious Ancestors have held so considerable a Rank in the Kingdom that the onely naming of them may suffice to convince the World of it But it is not for that alone they deserve the Esteem of all men as being far more eminent for their great Piety and exemplary Virtue than
him and to him are all things to whom be glory for e-ever Amen Lord Jesu added she thou said'st in that Prayer thou didst put up fir thine Apostles Joh. 17.20 Neither pray I for these alone but for them also which shall believe on me through their words I have believed on thee through their words Thou didst therefore O Lord even then pray for thy poor Hand-maid Lord thou didst say v. 24. Father I will that they also whom thou bast given me be with me where I am O grant I beseech thee that where thou art I may be also to the end I may behold thy Glory to all Eternity Then hearing some of the Company say that she spake well It is not I answered she that speak but the Holy Ghost that speaks in me to whom he has given the Tongue of the Learned O Hearken to me therefore and I will tell you what he has done for my Soul. O joyn with me in returning him thanks for his unspeakable Gift 2 Cor. 9.15 IN the mean time she frequently clapt her hands and shouted for joy often repeating these words O the greatness of my Happiness How can I express the content of my Soul That blessed Comforter has overcome for me and is sent to cohabit with me He I say is come to me who is the Fountain of Life and in whose Light alone we can see light How many wonderful favours have I receiv'd from my good God! Psal 116.10 What shall I render unto him for all the Benefits that he has done to me Gen. 32.10 who am not worthy of the least of all the mercies and of all the truth which he has shewn to his Servant and wherewith he has fill'd my Soul. Wherefore with joy and gladness my mouth shall praise his Holy Name O Lord how much inriched am I with those excellent gifts of thy Grace Thou hast wiped away all tears from my eyes Rev. 7.17 2.17 Thou bast given me the white Stone and in that Stone a new Name which no man knows saving he that has it I shall be fatisfied with the fatness of thy House Psal 36.8 and thou shalt make me drink of the River of thy Pleasures Psal 23. The Lord is my Shepherd therefore can I lack nothing He shall make me lie down in green Pastures and lead me forth beside the still Waters He shall convert my Soul and lead me in the paths of Righteousness for his Name 's sake Yea though I walk through the Valbey of the shadow of Death I will fear no evil for thou art with me thy Rod and thy Staff comforts me Thou preparest a Table before me thou hast anointed my heard with Oyl and my cup runs over Surely loving kindness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the House of the Lord for ever WHAT am I O Lord my Saviour What am I that thou shouldst vouchsafe to make my heart thy habitation I bless thee I adore thee I glorifie thee I give thanks to thee for thy great mercy O Lord my God and heavenly Father And you my dear Friends speaking to them that stood by help me to return the thanks and praise due unto his Name Which having said she cry'd aloud Luk. 1.46 My Soul does magnifie the Lord and my Spirit has rejoyced in God my Saviour for he has regarded the lowliness of his Hand-maid How great is the goodness of God towards me who has taken pity of me O how exceeding charitable and loving is my Saviour who has extended this his great love towards me even when I was an Enemy to him yea he did knock at the door of my heart and enter in even at that time when I would have shut it against him and spake peace to my Soul. O the Abyss of Mercy and Love that He very God and man should suffer a shameful Death upon the Cross to redeem both my Body and Soul from eternal Damnation O my God my heavenly Saviour I see as it were Rivers of Bloud running out of those Wounds in thy Blessed Hands Feet and Side which are as so many Rivers of Grace that have made me whiter than Snow I therefore from a true heart love adore and embrace thee beseeching thee O thou Sun of Righteousness to shine in my Soul inlighten it with the knowledge purifie it with the fear and inflame it with the love of Thee make it partaker of thy Holiness and happiness and when it has put off this weak and frail Body grant that at the last day it may re-assume it in a glorified state and both of them reign with thee for ever and ever Amen AS she was in those Transports of Mind looking up stedfastly to Heaven a Gentleman of the Neighbourhood then present said to the Lady her Mother That he thought her Daughter might very well say with Holy Stephen Behold Act. 7.56 I see the Heavens open'd and the Son of Man standing on the right hand of God. Which the Patient hearing cry'd out Yea indeed I behold him and like St. Paul am placed in the view of things that are unspeakable And you my dear Friends how is it you don't see the same with me This Mercy which is not vouchsafed to every one God will shew you one day Then stirring up her self she said Psal 103.1 Praise the Lord O my Soul and all that is within me praise his Holy Name v. 2. Praise the Lord o my Soul and forget not all his Benefits Psal 34.1 Yea I will alway give thanks unto the Lord his praise shall ever be in my mouth v. 3. O praise the Lord with me and let us magnifie his Name together Let the whole World O God Psal 145.21 Woodf sing praise to thee And like mine may their Songs eternal be Oh how much in love am I with my Saviour for that he has heard my Prayer and inclined his Ear to me Therefore I will call upon him as long as I live Luk. 2.14 Glory be to God on high and on Earth peace good will towards men Lord v. 29. now lettest thou thy Servant depart in peace according to thy Word For mine eyes have seen thy Salvation v. 36. AFTER she had rehearsed these and several other places of Scripture with which she often mixt these words Oh! how great is my Happiness how surpassing my Joy she did sit up in her Bed and with an admirable gracefulness spake to the Standers-by in this manner O taste and see Psal 34.8 Patr. as I have done And then confess you must That God is good and thy are blest That in his Goodness trust Come to me with attention hear v. 11. Sand. I will instruct you in his fear O come and hear all ye that fear God Psal 66.16 and I will declare what he has done for my Soul. v. 17. I cry'd unto him
day she answer'd in the words of the Psalmist On God's Almighty Word will I depend Psal 56.4 Woodf On God I 'll trust who certain help will send Come let us sing unto the Lord Psal 95.1 And all his deeds with thankfulness record Vnto our God come let us sing And to his Courts with shouts our presents bring He is our God to Him our Verse we 'll raise And he who heard our Prayers shall now attend our praise AT the same time she also rehearsed the greatest part of the LXII Psalm and often repeated these words Psal 62.1 Truly my soul waits upon God from him comes my salvation adding Where indeed rests this salvation of mine but in him whose presence is the fulness of joy Psal 34.5 They looked unto him and were lighten'd and their faces were not asham'd AFTER which she fell into a little slumber and then putting her hand out of her Bed said O Blessed be the living Lord Most worthy of all praise Psal 18.45 Old Transl That is my Rock and saving health Praised be He always And to that added several other Verses of the same Psalm and also of the XXXV and other Psalms picking out such places as were most pathetical and pertinent to her condition and more particularly insisted upon those that express'd a true and thorough repentance thereby to move God to be more favourable to her Every word of these Divine Hymns was a Sacred Balm for her which she apply'd to her Wounds with such success that she presently found her grief give way to the virtue of it And what is more to be wondred at is that the violence of her pains had not almost alter'd her at all but she look'd as fair as ever Her Eyes were brisk and lively her Countenance gay and her Speech strong yet did she not think her self to be in this condition when observing them who were about her to look upon her with mournful Aspects she said to them I suppose I fright you Pray reach me a Glass that I may see how I look Which being brought her and she having view'd her self in it said God be thanked yet I look very chearful And then in a kind of contempt striking the Glass with her hand bad them have it away THE Lady her Mother desiring nothing more than an opportunity to give this dear Daughter of hers some Token of her Tenderness and let her see that she was very far from affrighting her as she suppos'd did offer to kiss her But the Patient withdrawing her self and seeming to be as much scandalized at it as if her Mother had been going to commit Idolatry said to her Ah Mother what d' ye do Sure you forget your self And turning to the other side of the Bed where the Chaplain stood said to him Is this not a cruel thing I am got loose from the World and my Mother would tye me to it again A little while after this she also perceiv'd that her Sister the Lady De Ponthue with whom she had ever liv'd in perfect love and union look'd upon her with a very compassionate look but without being in the least mov'd or concern'd at it And now finding none of those kind and tender motions which her great love to her Sister had formerly inspir'd her with she said to her Pray dear Sister forbear you are no more to me now than another ABOUT seven a clock in the Evening the doors of her Chamber being set open she said to Monsieur de la Colombrie ' Sir that is the place pointing with her hand to the Chappel in which were the tombs of her Ancestors where this my Body is very suddenly to be laid up till the Day of the Resurrection of the Just Upon which he taking occasion of asking her whether she had any Commands to lay upon him No Sir reply'd she my thoughts are no more emply'd about things here below now my Soul is rais'd up to Heaven already and if she still animates this Body it is but to give continual praise to my God. And thus persisting to turn all her discourse to the concerns of Salvation she went on and said I have overcome all the fears of sin I shall also conquer all my pains though they be never so great Yea I shall be more than Conqueror through JESVS CHRIST who has strengthen'd me O how worthy is this Combat of my Courage WITH these and the like Expressions she either took out of the Scripture or receiv'd more immediately from the Holy Ghost she was entertaining her self and the Company and would frequently say I shall be shelter'd from the wrath of God and often repeated these Ejaculations O my God I will ever love thee I will ever bless thee And thou my Soul be of good chear Not my will Lord but thine be done Come Lord JESV yea come quickly THESE were the words she us'd in her Complaints and with which she appeas'd her grief But for hasty and murmuring words there fell not one from her mouth And as some body was once speaking to her of the temptations of the Devil and his great Warrings against the Faithful at all times especially when they were at the point of death she cry'd out Tush I fear him not 2 King. 6.16 They that he with me are more than they that be against me Joh. 14.30 The Prince of this World has nothing in me The Prince of Darkness cannot prevail against me Rom. 5.1 For being justifi'd by Faith I have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ And there is no condemnation to them which are in Him. AS it drew towards Mid-night she fell into a little slumber and her Friends that were continually with her were glad of this opportunity they had to take a little repose also for as they had watch'd suffer'd and pray'd so they were willing likewise to take some rest with her The Lady her Mother who had laid her self down upon the side of her Bed heard her about an hour before day-light often repeat these words ' Mercy Lord Mercy Come LORD JESV come quickly And she observ'd that her Daughter's cries did not express any grief now but a great deal of joy which she took notice of to others It was now Friday-morning when the Lady her Mother seeing her enjoy a greater tranquillity than she had since the preceding Wednesday at night and that she look'd very chearfully said to her Dear Child the Lord will suddenly put an end to our troubles Wait for thy God with patience Whereupon this young Virgin raising her self in her Bed and with a serene pleasant countenance looking upon my Lady said to her Dear Mother I shall not die Death is but a passage to a more constant happy Life Joh. 11.4 This my sickness is not unto death but for the glory of God. Luk. 15.6 Come and rejoyce with me JESVS CHRIST has found me who was a lost Sheep me who
was the lost Piece v. 9. Then a little while after this she with a loud voice cry'd out as one coming out of a deep Meditation Luk. 23.31 For if these things be done in the green tree what shall be done in the dry WHICH having said she now spoke no more to any body onely she once cried out O how much sorrow and joy how much grief and comfort do meet together in me and then lay down and fell into a slumber In which she had not long continu'd but the Pangs of Death came upon her she had vehement risings at her Stomach her Countenance was fallen sweat proceed from her Body in abundance the Ratling in her Throat increased and her Eyes grew dim and were distorted And being in this condition one of her Acquaintance by name Madam Herault touch'd her arm thinking she was a departing But she recover'd of this Fit and these Agonies being somewhat over her Eyes reassumed the same briskness and liveliness as before she rubbing them with both her hands to disperse the Clouds that had begun already to cover them Her Countenance also was restored to its former gaity and chearfulness and she was heard to make a Melody in singing the 84th Psalm How beauteous is the place where thou Patr. Thy presence Lord dost grant O how long t' approach thy Courts Impatient of restraint And so on THIS was a great surprize to many of them that were there and yet that was not all For after she had took a little breath and slumber'd as before a very little while she stirr'd up her self anew and began to sing the LXXXXII Psalm O what a pleasant task it is Patr. To praise the Lord above Morning and Evening to proclaim His faithfulness and love THUS far onely she went tuning it to the Treble of Claudin with all the Ornaments and Graces that could be And then falling again into the like slumber she remain'd in it as long as the first time after which she tun'd the LXXX Psalm whereof she sang these following Verses onely Thou Shepherd of thy ISRAEL Sandys That Flock-like leadest Joseph's Race Who 'twixt the Cherubims dost dwell O hear shew thy inlightning Face Exalt thy saving power before Manasseh Ephraim Benjamin O from Captivity restore And let thy beams upon us shine Great God of Battel wilt thou still Be angry and our Prayers despise Bread steep'd in tears our stomachs fill We drink the Rivers of our Eyes Our scoffing Neighbours fall at strife Among themselves to share our Right Great God restore the dead to life And comfort by thy quickning Light. AFTERWARDS being seized the fourth time with the Pangs of Death she so remain'd for the space of four hours and then being come to her self again she sang this Stanza Into thy hands Lord I commit My Spirit which is thy due Psal 31.5 Old Transl For why thou hast redeemed it O Lord my God most true THE Lady her Mother hearing her sing with so much strength said to her My dear Child since I have by God's Grace put the first word into thy mouth wherewith thou hast prais'd Him let me put in the last also I shall ever hear thee speak in this World And so she rehearsed these Verses God who my kind Preserver is I will for ever bless Psal 34.1 Patrick My tongue and lips shall be employ'd His Goodness to confess Which the Patient sang with a strong voice her Eyes being open and her looks smiling all the while Then her agonizing fit coming again upon her and the Lady her Mother not being able to see her expire bad her farewel with a most wonderful strength of mind Adieu said she dear Daughter 2 Sam. 12.23 adieu I shall go to thee but thou shalt not return to me We shall see one another again in that Blessed Day of the Resurrection of the Just And thereupon she withdrew and went and lay down upon her own Bed till her dying Daughter had given up her Soul into the hands of her Heavenly Father But above three hours after this the Chaplain Monsieur De Malnoe being desirous to see whether she had any sense left in her took her by the hand shook her arm and called to her to clinch his hand if she heard still and with that prickt her with a Straw but she gave no sign of life But as he was going out of the room her Body was re-animated on a sudden and sitting up again in her Bed she sang the second time Into thy hands Lord I commit My Spirit which is thy due For thy thou hast redeemed it O Lord my God most true THEN he drew near again and laying his Ear to her mouth heard her say to God Luk. 2.29 Lord now lettest thou shy servant depart in peace according to thy Word v. 30. For mine eyes have seen thy Salvation Which having utter'd she without stirring in the least breath'd forth three Sighs and so gave up the Ghost there being seen at the same time both in her Countenance and Eyes which remain'd half open a signal impression of Joy that shew'd her Soul had a taste of the Celestial Bliss even before the Bonds wherewith it was ty'd to the Body were wholly dissolv'd THE END Here follows the PRAYER Taken out of Mons Drelincourt's COMFORTS Against the Terrours of Death Which is mention'd in the 55th Page of this Book O GOD of all Flesh and Father of our Spirits I know that any Death of thy Beloved Ones is precious in thy sight and that whatsoever mine may be thou wilt take care of my Salvation I weighing every thing in the Balance of the Sanctuary do find it very little imports me whether my Life be taken away by a Disease or forc'd from me by Violence provided my Soul enter into thy Glory and be made Partaker of those unutterable Felicities that are with thee To me it must be all one whether my Lamp go out of it self or be blown out by any contrary wind so it be but kindled again at the Beams of the Sun of Righteousness and shine in the highest Heavens for evermore Whatsoever Death I die I shall be happy provided I die in the Lord and enter into that Eternal Rest from all my Labours O Lord thou knowest all thy works from everlasting Thou with one glance discoverest the deepest Abyss and seest to the very bottom of Eternity As thou hast precisely appointed the Hour of Death so hast thou been pleas'd also to determine the manner of it O Great and Living God! it is my Duty wholly to acquiesce in thy Adorable Providence and absolutely submit my self to thy wise Decrees But O my God my Heavenly Father if thou wilt vouchsafe me who am but dust and ashes the liberty of speaking to thee and permit thy Child to pour his / her heart 's desire into thy Fatherly Bosom I do with all the powers of my Soul humbly beseech