Kingdom of God John 3.3 and Mat. 18.3 Except ye be converted and become as little children ye shall not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven And become as little children that is we must be kind and loving one to another and tender hearted and we should be humble and lowly in heart have mean and low thoughts of our selves and forget injuries and pass by wrong done to us by others we should forgive our enemies as we hope for forgiveness from God Now we should examine our own hearts Psal 4.4 Commune with your own heart upon your bed 1 Cor. 11.28 Whether ever there hath been a real change wrought upon your souls or no If the bent of your souls be after sin and the pleasing of your flesh more than for the pleasing of God If your hearts be set upon carnal things to gratifie self and to fulfil the lust of your flesh and to love this world more than to love God then your case is very sad but if your great care be to please God and to eschew evil to avoid sin and to save your souls then you are the people of God Do you study so to walk as to approve your hearts to God is your great comfort in God is he your portion and treasure and if your greatest comfort be in the enjoyment of God then you are his peculiar people It is not the forsaking of some sins that doth make the change in the heart There are many that do forsake some sins such as may disgrace them before men but they love all sin in their hearts why they are as wicked as any neither is the forsaking of sin in time of affliction onely the changing of the heart but the hating of all sin the least sin the most secret sin the striving against it and the forsaking of it is a sign that there is a change wrought in the Soul We should consider the great love of the Great Almighty God towards us poor miserable sinners that when we were in a lost condition and could no way help our selves then he sent his beloved Son into the world to deliver us from our sins and to give unto us eternal life John 3.16 and we should consider the great love of the Lord Jesus Christ towards us He came down from Heaven from the Glory of his Father and took upon him the nature of man he satisfied Gods Justice in his suffering for our sins he suffered a most shameful painful and cursed death even the death of the cross for sinners all that should believe in his name O now that people would but lay hold on the Lord Jesus Christ for life and for salvation He is the onely way the truth and the life Joh. 14.6 They that have an interest in the Lord Jesus Christ shall have eternal life And then as for all such if they are sure of nothing here in this world yet they are richer than if they had all this world to their command without him What shall it profit any man if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul Mat. 16.26 O it is the great desire of my Soul that people would but turn from their sins and give up themselves unto the Lord Jesus Christ and receive him by faith into their Souls there was never one Soul that came unto him and stedfastly believed on him that ever he cast away but they have all eternal life it doth grieve his heart when sinners will not come unto him that they may have life John 5.40 We may see how he was greived because of the people of Jerusalem that they had out-lived the day of their visitation Luk. 19.41 42. And when he was come near he beheld the City and wept over it saying If thou hadst known even thou at least in this thy day the things that belong unto thy peace but now they are hid from thine eyes We should take care that our hearts be not hardned through the deceitfulness of Sin Heb. 3.13 We should pray to God that he would keep us from a seared conscience and from a hardened heart and that he would make us truly sensible of our sins that we may be humbled and that our hearts may be broken for sin that we may have a godly sorrow upon our hearts such as worketh repentance unto salvation never to be repented of 2 Cor. 7.10 It doth greatly concern us to know whether we are of the number of those that shall be saved We know not how soon we shall dye and depart out of this world and if we dye without an interest in the Lord Jesus Christ it will be miserable with us to all eternity we have all of us precious and immortal souls within our bodies which must be either saved or damned must go either to Heaven and be glorified with God to all eternity or go to Hell and be tormented with Devils to all eternity There is none can express the delight and comfort that the Saints in Heaven do enjoy they shall have everlasting rest and peace Isa 57.2 and continual joy in the Lord Mat. 25.21 They shall have a kingdom Luk. 12.32 and a Crown of life which the Lord hath promised to them that love him Jam. 1.12 None here can tell their blessed state as it is written Eye hath not seen nor ear heard neitherr have entred into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that love him 1 Cor. 2.9 They shall be glorified with God and Christ to all eternity And then on the other way there is none of us that doth know nor can conceive what it is to be damned O what a dreadful thing damnation is it is to be banished for ever from the presence of the glorious God and to be tormented with Devils to all eternity 2 Thes 1.9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power It is eternal banishment and separation from God Christ Angels Saints Heaven This is the punishment of loss and the worst of Hell Mat. 25.41 Then shall he say unto them on the left hand depart from me ye cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels O terrible terrible to be doom'd and sentenc'd to lie under the wrath and hatred of the insinitely great and dreadful God for ever and ever so long as God shall live whose being is to eternity so long as there is a Devil to torment or to be tormented shall their plagues last O that people would consider now while they are here in this world and prepare for death To one of these two places their souls must for ever be O that the thoughts of Heaven and the Torments of Hell would cause people to consider and prepare that they might come safe to this Heaven and escape this Hell Oh it doth greatly grieve me when I do seriously think of it of the great number of those which shall be damned and
the small company in comparison of them that shall be saved Mat. 7.13 14. I am a poor weak Creature and it hath pleased the great God to cause distempers and weakness and sickness to light on my body These two years and †This was written at least a year and half before she died and she sickly two years and a quarter before she wrote it quarter I never having a days health in this time but very much distemper and infirmity on my body Many times I have thought that the Lord had sent the Messenger of Death to take me at that time out of this present life but by his good hand my life is lengthened unto this present hour Beside all this I have had great trouble and perplexity in Spirit and mind which none but God doth know of which I could never have stood under had not the Lord wonderfully supported me and born me up under it by his mighty hand Now I desire not so much the restoring of my body for I do think I shall never have the enjoyment of health more in this world tho it is not impossible with God But if it were the Lords Will that I should have health again I do hope by his help and assistance to improve it to his praise and glory Tho I have a sinful and corrupt heart within me yet the Lord is mighty to save and help and succor those that trust that put their trust in him Now the Will of the Lord must be done and I desire that the Lord would lay no more on me than he would enable me to bear with patience and that he would comfort me under his afflicting hand and that all sin and guilt cleaving to me may be fully expiated and discharged through the blood of Christ and that the Lord would give me assurance of his love through Jesus Christ tho I am a sinful creature That I may have true and saving faith to lay hold on the Lord Jesus Christ for Salvation that I may never fall away from him If the Lord should leave me to my self then I shall perish eternally but I trust in the Lord and hope that he will pour down his rich and precious mercies on me for Jesus Christs sake that my soul may be truly and perfectly sanctified by his holy Spirit and that I may never be lead aside by the devices of Satan and the corruption of my heart and the deceitfulness of this world but that my soul may be stablished in righteousness and confirmed in the end that I may be blameless in the day of the Lord Jesus Christ that I may have a sure interest in the Lord Jesus then I shall be happy to all eternity O my desire is that however the Lord be pleased to deal with my body that it may go well with my Soul to eternity and that I may have the enjoyment of God through Christ for there is nothing else can give real comfort to any Soul I hope that the Lord hath begun a good work in me and that he will make it perfect in the end and that he will sanctifie his dealings towards me that it may be for his glory and my eternal comfort and I desire that my will may be throughly resigned up into the will of God either for life or death and that I may have much of Gods presence with me and may always have good thoughts of him and of his dealings towards me in all that he doth or shall lay upon me and that I may improve all his mercies for his glory and my eternal comfort and that when he is pleased to put an end to this temporal life that my Soul may be fitted for Spiritual and eternal life in Jesus Christ O now that people would seriously think what shall become of their Souls considering how great the multitude is that go in the broad way that leadeth to destruction and how few there be that enter in at the strait gate that leadeth unto life as Mat. 7.13 14. We have but a little time to live here in this world and that is of very great concernment that we should make a good improvement of it eternity doth depend upon it as we live here so it will be with us to eternity we are now brought upon the Stage of this world here to act our parts for a whole eternity if we make not a wise choice now we are undone for ever What our present choice is such must our everlasting condition be Luk. 10.42 Luk. 16.25 Now is your time to repent of your sins and to make peace with God it cannot be done after death now is the time that Christ is offered unto you and if you will not receive him now you shall never have any part in him hereafter now is the day of Salvation 2 Cor. 6.2 Now is the time you may be accepted of by God and therefore do not stop the mouth of Conscience for if you do it will be the greatest Witness against you hereafter then it will tare and lash you and be a continual torment For their worm shall not die neither shall their fire be quenched Isa 66.24 If you now refuse the calls of God your conscience will continually accuse you hereafter therefore have a care do not refuse to hearken to Gods call for it you refuse now you shall never have any calls nor invitations from God hereafter Have you any business any concern of greater importance to you than the concern of your souls and eternity If you are to appear before some earthly Judg especially if it be about a matter that concerns your life O how thoughtful are you to have all things ready and in order in reference thereunto and should not you be as thoughtful and as careful to make all ready and to set all right in order to your appearing before the Judg of all the earth and that about a matter which concerns the life of your souls about a matter of eternal life or death Well what shall I say Will you set about this great business this great concern Or is it all one with you whether you live or die are saved or damned to all eternity Oh that people would consider how near they are to eternity How near we are to our everlasting habitation You are all going down amain the stream of time into the great ocean and you will shortly come thither There is not a step you step nor a breath you draw nor a word you speak nor a moment of time you live but hath an influence upon eternity Oh now that unconverted sinners would set about this great work to prepare for their souls and eternity before they go hence and be no more in this world Sinners will you set about this great business Your work is wholly yet to do tho it may be your day far spent your glass is almost run your sun near setting and all your work to do Oh 't is high time for
you to awake out of your sleep unless you mean to sleep the sleep of eternal death These golden sands running will quickly be gone a short race will soon be run O what a nothing is our life as one may say a span a dream a wind a shadow a vapour a post swifter than a post Job 7.6 You are all going to your long and last home to the house of eternity Every man goeth to his long home Eccles 12.5 How doth he go He goeth swiftly always in motion night and day sleeping and waking labouring or loitering this post hastens time and tide stays not Man doth not discern or perceive how his precious time doth fly from him And we know not how soon all our precious time will be gone from us we know not how soon our souls shall be separated from our bodies We know not how soon we shall pass into eternity And Oh that people would consider which of the two eternities they are going towards Oh that they would deeply and seriously consider that there is one place for the sheep and another for the goats one place for the righteous and another for the ungodly one place for believers and another for unbelievers An eternal night or eternal day eternal pains or eternal pleasure eternal happiness or eternal misery eternal life or eternal death eternal Heaven or eternal Hell Oh that my dear Brethren and Sisters would truly and sincerely seek after the welfare of their precious and immortal Souls now while it is time My dear Brethren and Sisters I have many times had great fears and cares about your precious Souls as you are nearest related to me so you are nearest to my heart I could desire that all men would turn from their sins and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and close with him that so they may have life and salvation by him but my greatest desire is for you my hearts desire and prayer to God for you is that you might be saved My dear Brothers and Sisters great is the misery of an unregenerate estate without regeneration repentance conversion and holiness none can be saved and see God as in John 3.3 5. and Luk. 13.3 5. Except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish And Heb. 12.14 Without holiness there is none shall see the Lord and a carnale state is an estate of death Rom. 8.6 And if ye live after the flesh ye shall die ver 13. And the Apostle saith love not the world neither the things that are in the world for if any man love the world the love of the Father is not in him 1 John 2.15 Know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God Whoseever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God Jam. 4.4 Now if any man be in Christ he is a new creature old things are past away behold all things are become new 2 Cor. 15.17 and as many as are led by the Spirit of God they are the Sons of God Rom. 8.14 Oh that you would consider and meditate upon these and such like Texts of Scripture and try your selves thereby how it is with you Mr. Joseph Alleins book of conversion might prove a great help with the Lords assistance and blessing and there are many other good books that might prove a help to you herein which the Lord direct you unto and that you may read and consider and lay it to heart and that you would search narrowly into your own hearts and the Lord of Heaven grant that his heavenly and spiritual blessing may rest upon you all I have many times desired the Lord for you that he would cause you to see the great evil of sin and to close savingly with Christ and receive him upon his own terms and that you may be regenerated and born again that you may be truly converted unto God that you may receive forgiveness of sins and that your souls may be truly sanctified that you may all be redeemed by the Blood of Christ and may be justified by faith in him and that the Lord would sanctifie his dealings towards you that it may be for his glory and your good and that you may live to the praise and glory of God and be comforted in him to all eternity Oh now that you would give up your selves to God resign up your selves in Covenant to him through Jesus Christ for ever to be his to walk in his wayes to be guided by his laws to be ruled and directed by him at all times that you might never depart from him Oh that you would truly prepare for death and eternity Make a true preparation for death and then you will be in a well set way to live for till people are prepared for death they are not well fit to live Oh now you should give up your selves to God by prayer pray heartily to God that he would come in with converting and sanctifying Grace into your souls Draw nigh to God and he will draw nigh to you Jam. 4.8 The Lord is very near to them that call upon him intruth and will never leave nor forsake such as put their trust in him He that neglects prayer is an unsanctified sinner they that neglect prayer cannot expect the blessing of God on either soul or body All they that are the adopted children of God they have the spirit of prayer in them whosoever is born of God can in some measure express himself to God and cry unto him for pardon of sin for grace for peace of conscience with earnestness and confidence in God Rom. 8.15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear but ye have received the spirit of adoption whereby we cry Abba Father Now this spirit of bondage and fear it is the Spirit of God there is a spirit of bondage once in all they that are the true people of God working fear in them and afterwards it doth become a spirit of adoption unto them First the Spirit of God doth convince people of their sins it shews them the evil of sin and so brings them in fear and bondage about their sins and afterwards the Spirit of God doth comfort their Souls people must be convinced before they be converted they must be sensible of their sins and pricked to the heart before they will ask what they must do to be saved Act. 2.37 And then afterwards the Spirit of God doth come in with comfort to their souls then the Spirit of God causeth them to cry Abba Father that is to make their request to God as to a Father Prayer is a duty that doth lie upon all people and God doth accept weak prayers from his children if they be sincere There are many Hypocrites that can make better prayers that can express themselves in prayer better than many of Gods chosen ones but God doth reject them because they are not sincere Prov. 15.8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the
pain full seven weeks The first day whereof in the Morning she delivered this following Speech The foregoing night had been very trouble some with her she having had little o no rest very much sickness whereupon she had a desire to see her Parents faces once more together they being called came forthwith into her Chamber her Brothers and Sisters after a little while came in likewise Her Father asked her how she did She answered I have had this Night many sweats and colds and have been very weak and in much pain but yet it hath been a very good night with me for therein I have had many comfortable refreshing thoughts Her Father replyed that in Heaven there are no sweats or colds no sickness or weakness Whereupon she began to speak at first very sparingly with long stops and pauses through weakness of body and stoppage of breath but after a little while she spake wonderfully quick and fast faster than ordinarily when in health Thus she began When Shimei cursed Dovid some that were nigh would have gone and taken off his life but David replied let him curse the Lord hath bid him David was a great and noble person and Shimei was a wicked man and should David so noble a Person take it so patiently as to say let him curse And I am a little piece of dust not so much as this pointing at her singers end yea not so much as this holding up the utmost corner of a linnen cloth yea I am nothing nothing nothing to thee Lord and shall the Lord from himself thus visit me and shall not I bear it patiently that have deserved infinitely infinitely infinitely more Let the Lord do to me and with me what pleaseth him Here a little stop afterward thus My Dear Parents you must not suffer your inferior part meaning the Flesh corruption and Carnal Affections as afterward she expressed her self you must not suffer your inferior part to rise up and prevail over the higher and spiritual part You must not murmur or repine whatsoever befals me Know that there is nothing comes to pass by Fortune or Chance Gods will cannot be altered or changed in the least His Will is Holy Just and Good and howsoever it be with me it is according to the Good Will of God Then she called for some cordial and her Father stept a little out of her presence When he was come again she thus spake Have you been with the Father There hath been and there is one with the Father meaning Jesus Christ our Intercessor as afterward she expressed her self for me and tho I am filthy dust yet the Goodness of the Father hath followed me all the days of my life and it is the Lords mercy that you and I and all others are not consumed I see that his compassions fail not The Lord doth not grieve or afflict the Children of men willingly and tho he afflict yet he will not cast off and the Lord is breathing in more breath to make me ready a living Soul for himself I have lived twenty years as I take it from your selves but I have been a sinful piece of dust yet there is enough in him to make me white again I am in a weak house but I wait for a house in Heaven whose Builder and Maker is God I desire my dear Parents and dear Sisters that my words may be in sincerity and may take deep root in you through the Spirit of God Then she took a little Liquor after which she proceeded thus I desire that the words I speak may be with a sanctified Spirit and pure conscience I have lived in the world and have been so * Tho she thus speak of her self yet she was a very lowly and humble maid high I would not be contented with this and that but did still look higher but that was vanity Now I see it is better to live in the Courts of the Lord than in the Tents of wickedness tho it were ten thousand years Now I desire you my dear Parents and Sisters I do not know how long I shall live neither doth any man know his time but if you live to see such a time that this my weak Tabernacle lie before you you would not be moved at it but say good is the will of the Lord in all his doings I am sorry that I should bestow so much of the breath that the Lord hath given me in vain words but there is enough in Jesus Christ to make it up again I rejoice to see you my dear Parents and Sisters but I should rejoice more to see you in our Fathers house If we do well here it will be well with us in our Fathers house and howsoever it be with me now I hope it will be well with me when this Tabernable is dissolved I have desired sometimes to live in some Town or City but the Lord in his Providence hindred it and it was to fit me for his heavenly City I am sorry for nothing that ever I have done but what hath not been agreeing to the good will of God Concerning my being next to God who was the first Author and chief Giver thereof I received it from you my Parents and I do return hearty thanks to God and also to you and as for my being so for my maintenance I give thanks to God and to you unfeigned thanks I am sorry for the dishonour the great great great dishonour I have done against the Great God and next for the dishonour to you My Sisters I desire you to mind the things of the eternal Spirit if you neglect now while here you will lose it for ever and if you do not find your selves striving against sin now you will not find the benefit hereafter Here a little pause afterward thus This Night hath been a painful one but yet a sweet night to me the sweetest that ever I have enjoyed I have had many sweet inward refreshings in it I have sometime thought to speak of spiritual things but could not the flesh hath hindred but now I will keep the flesh under I have heard my Saviour say you must not think what you shall speak and now I find it so He Christ is my Saviour You were talking last night of Mr. * A Godly Ministor who departed this life a little before this i me Whiddon and I think as I believed that he was a good man I have some time grieved and stranged at it that God takes away such †He being as to his age in the best of his time men but then I thought as men gather their fruit and as you that have but a little do by your †It being the time of Gathering in such fruit apples you gather them in for store and use hereafter and you take some delight therein and you may do so so the Father when he hath made his servants ripe then he gathers them to himself for store for eternity and he
Lord but the prayer of the upright is his delight We must pray with fervency and with reverence and confidence with fervency that is with the earnest defires of our hearts crying Abba Father with reverence that is we must reverence and honour God in our hearts Mal. 1.6 and Psal 89.7 And with considence that is we must trust wholly in God through Christ Heb. 10.22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith Mar. 11.24 We must desire the Lord that he would enable and help and assist us to pray aright and acceptably unto him Rom. 8.26 The Spirit helpeth our infirmities for we cannot pray as we ought It is against the light of nature against reason for people to neglect to pray unto the God that made them and that giveth them all their good things If you cannot well pray of your selves the Lord will help you to do it if you be earnest and willing if you be sensible of your sins you will not want words in confession if you be sensible of your wants you will not lack expressions to make them known The Scriptures will furnish you with expressions and matter if you read and study and mind them if you can groan and cry for Christ and Grace the Lord will hear and help you We have all great need to pray to God for pardon of our sins for we are often defiled with sin and we have often need to pray to God for the pardon and purging away of our sins and for the sanctifying of our Souls and it is a great priviledge that we have a God and Father to pray unto and that will hear us when we call upon him Now we should lay aside every weight and the sin which doth so easily beset us Heb. 12.1 Sin will quickly beset us if we have not a special care to resist and strive against it And we must resolve upon sufferings for Christ if called thereunto He that endureth to the end the same shall be saved Mat. 24.13 All that will live godly in Christ Jesus must suffer persecution and tho affliction be heavy yet it will work a far more exceeding and eternal weight of Glory 2 Cor. 4.17 Rev. 3.21 Joh. 16.33 Rom. 8.17 18. If we suffer with him we shall be glorified with him And we must persevere and hold out in the ways of God unto our lives end we must be stedfast and unmoveable and ever abounding in the work of the Lord knowing that our labour is not in vain in the Lord. I would have enlarged more but am prevented for want of * It being on a single sheet thick and close written on both sides space My dear Brothers and Sisters I commend you to God and to the word of his Grace which is able to convert and build you up and give you an inheritance among them that are sanctified Now the God of peace that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus that Great Shepherd of the Sheep through the Blood of the everlasting Covenant make you perfect in every good work to do his will working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight through Jesus Christ to whom be Glory for ever and ever Amen Heb. 13.20 21. I desire that what I have here written may tend to the Glory of God and your souls good and comfort Your Affectionate Sister Damaris Pearse 1678. Some of her expressions in her last Sickness Some of the pious expressions of Damaris Pearse occasionally uttered after she was confined to her bed many of them spoken when she was in so very great pain that it was difficult for her to speak intelligibly with some observations on them and concerning her worth minding FOR some few days after she kept her bed she would often breathe out O spare me a little before I go hence and be no more The two first days she had two or three extreme sharp †Paroxisms fits or agonies so sharp that the like were never seen by any then present She had some sence of their approach for immediately before they came she would have all in the room to pray to God for her that that bitter crp might pass and so again and again every time after the first †Paroxisme fit was past she said This is not the last I shall have more but none so bad as that that is past and so it was and these †Paroxisms fits on her continued just so long as there was then * It may be Satan the grand enemie of prayer was permitted then more than at other times to have some agency therein to make disturbance and to shorten that exercise and to disswade and discourage from the like afterwards praying for her And in regard she used one phrase every time she would have others pray for her which was that that bitter cup might pass one that stood by asked her what she meant thereby she replied The Cup of Gods Wrath which in that agony she apprehended and felt in her Soul And a few days after she again declared that it was not to be expressed what therein she suffered that she felt the very wrath of God but even therein the Lord said she upheld me and since hath given me a Prospest and a view of the Glory of Heaven And some time after she kept her bed speaking of the many experiences that she had had sometimes how sad it had been with her when under apprehension of Gods displeasure for sin but within a short while after God did refresh and comfort her even with unspeakeable joy but never so much at any one time as since confined to her bed She would often advise those that visited her and those that watcht by her in their health to mind their latter end and to prapare for it and eternity which they were as she said hastning and nigh unto and sent such messages to some others that had enquired for her whom she had not seen a long time as by a near †M. C. Relation to those at her home go said she tell all the wicked ones in your house that they prepared for a long eternity often repeating it and chargingher so to do The like she charged another * I. P. neighbour then present to tell a near †V. T. P. Relation and his Family And the same charge she gave a †M. W. third to tell another †V. I. W. Relation and his family yea she charged all almost that came into her presence to mind eternity and to keep good consciences and to consider how time was hastning away making improvement of every thing she saw or heard and desired others to do the like and all to stir up to prepare for eternity She would be speaking either some sentence of Scripture or some other good words that were very suitable to such as were present or suitable to what was mentioned occasionally in her hearing urging to do
received it but mostly for himself his Christ and Grace to her At other times thanking her Parents acknowledging that next to God she derived her Being from them she thanked them also for her Maintenance she thanked those that Watched with and attended her And once when a Reverend Minister visited her whom she often heard and from whom she sometimes received the Lord's Supper when able to go though at this time very weak and much faultered in her speech yet when she saw him she stir'd up her self with much difficulty and forcing her self to speak said I heartily heartily heartily thank you and I thank God for you for all the good I have received by your means With many other good words she spake to him She was restless in desiring the Prayers of godly Ministers and People And if at any time she felt the least abatement of her pain she would forthwith say to those present ' Go praise God for this Her Holy Care for the Spiritual and Soul-good Of her Holy Care both of Relations and others she much evidenced Partly in her speech on her bed of which before and in her Written Paper she had delivered to her Brothers and Sisters with a charge given by her and taking a promise from them they joyntly receiving it of making improvement thereof to the Glory of God and the good of their own Souls And partly in her suitable distribution of some choice Books that she had with the same charge given to and promise taken from those that were present and some Books she gave to others at a remote distance whom she will'd might have the like charge when the Books were delivered them And said she tell such an one naming one that I thought she had had more care of her Soul before of late when she and I were some days and nights in one house together but then I observed that which since hath made me afraid of her and have shed many tears in seeking God for her The like she said she had done for one of her Brothers with hopes that God would hear her prayers for him And partly in her constant minding others to prepare for Death and Eternity as hath somewhat been hinted before and likewise several other instances thereof might be given Two days before she died she charged one of her near * M. W. Relation and one of her Sisters that was present to be witness and to mind her of it though very badly able to speak That Christ came to Redeem sinners and to seek and save that which was lost Will you remember it and believe it and cost your self upon him for Salvation many other good words worth observing were spoken by her For some days before she died she would often say I had wont to say since on my bed O spare me a little before I go hence c. but now I desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ And O when shall I appear before God and yet not because of my pain but I long to know more of the affairs of the Kingdom of Heaven for I know very little thereof while here At another time Thus O what an astonishing admiration will it be at first when I come to Heaven to be in the immediate presence of God and Christ and of such an innumerable company of Blessed Angels and Glorified Saints Once she spake somewhat long what her Perswasion was concerning the Non-conforming Ministers which I shall here omit For more than Six weeks after she first kept her bed she took nothing within her Lips but now and then a spoonful of Sack which gave her occasion thus to speak Here I take a little Wine to do me good but wo to them that drink up whole Bowls thereof and that follow strong drink until night till Wine inflame them She would often be speaking of God's Presence with her and admiring God's goodness in providing for her saying I see God and his goodness every day present in this Room yea within these Curtains I see his holy Angels here present round about me for my good they are Ministring Spirits for me and are always present for God taketh care for me and sends them to be helpful to me in bringing every drop of Liquor I receive and in helping me to receive it and in every breath I draw O the goodness of the great God in coming down to help such a poor worm as I am On a time when she had often repeated a Verse of Scripture one that was present asked whether she did intend and desire that it should be Preached upon after her Death No said she it matters not to me whether there be any Preaching upon that occasion or not but my desire is that it may be Preach'd home here pointing towards her heart on mine and your hearts After my departure said she then say No sighs nor groans from her do come But Everlasting Joys are in the room Another time thus Coffin this Corpse and lay 't in Grave A Glorious Rising it shall have She would often say some one or part of one of Barton's Hymns but mostly Hymn the 49th against love of the World and the 69th concerning Redeeming of Time both of the first Cent. Some Verse of a Psalm or Hymn or Scripture-sentence she would say when able to speak About the middle of the time of her keeping Bed having a little ease one present was hoping she might Recover again and that shortly she should see her up again in that Chair pointing to one in the Room O no she replyed I am pressing on towards the Mark c. and that would be a drawing back and I would rather go on to be with Christ than go back if it were to enjoy thousands of Gold and Silver therefore do not you tell me of that which will draw back now I am so earnestly pressing on Once seeing one whom she dearly affected pensive and sorrowful said she Those that depart from Iniquity shall undergo many Reproaches it being the very case of the Person to whom it was spoken Towards the latter end of her Sickness she would often breathe forth Saying Come Lord Jesus come quickly and O how I long to be with thee that I may know how it is there And in her last Night and but a little while before she Departed when her Speech was almost gone it was very little and low and could hardly be understood she said O Lord God King of Heaven and Earth how dearly do I love thee I love thee I love thee I love thee often repeating it those that watched think it was more than twenty times She gave a Solemn farewel to her Parents Brothers Sisters and Friends and Acquaintance and to those that Watched and to several others that visited her These were some and but some of the Gracious Speeches uttered by her after she kept her Bed And though there hath been this Collection thereof before mentioned yet they are
right hand there are pleasures for evermore Under this are comprehended those great and glorious things that make up and compleat the positive happiness of the Saints 1. As to their Souls 2. As to their Bodies 3. As to their Company 1. As to their Souls Their understanding being inlarged and widened shall have a right knowledg of all things a clear sight and vision of God Now we know but in part saith the Apostle 1 Cor. 13.12 but then shall we know even as also we are known The will shall be perfected with an absolute indefective holiness with an exact conformity to the Will of God and perfect Freedom from all servitude of Sin The affections shall be set right by an unalterable regularity there shall be a constant cleaving to God a constant loving him without satiety or weariness The Soul shall enjoy a full imediate uninterrupted Communion with God and fruition of him While we are here we are absent from the Lord 2 Cor. 5.6 Here our comforts are in and through Ordinances but there God will be all in all immediately 2 Cor. 15.28 2. As to their Bodies There shall be glory upon them they shall be made like the glorious body of Christ Phil. 3.21 What that is was in some glimpse of it seen in Christs transfiguration Matt. 17.2 His face did shine as the sun and his raiment was white as the light that was a little glimpse and specimen of the future visible glory of Christ and the Saints shall be like him they shall shine forth as the Sun Matt. 13.43 Their Bodies shall be indued with new and glorious qualities as incorruption immortality strength and power activity nimbleness Their Bodies shall be spiritual not that the Body shall be turned into a Spirit but the Body shall then live as Spirits and Angels do without Meat Drink Sleep and such like bodily Supports and shall be perfectly conformable and obedient and subservient to the Operations of the Spirit the ready Instrument of the Soul 3. As to their Company They shall be blessed oh the blessed Company that is in the new Jerusalem God Christ Angels Saints And that which Crowns all the Saints shall have the perpetual injoyment of all this blessedness secured to them without any fear of losing it or being deprived of it The Saints shall never put of their glorious Robes after they have once put them on their State is a sure eternal State of actual delights Upon these accounts the people of God do long and pant after the immediate fruition and presence of God in Heaven Vse Let us consider our selves by this property Have we desires after God thus Truly it is to be feared that abundance that do live under the preaching of the Word from whence are held forth such glorious things to be conveyed by God in the immediate fruition of him do not believe or at least do not desire the same but they are well contented with their Portion here on Earth like that Cardinal of Burbon who professed that he would not give his part in Paris for his part in paradise There are they that are of this mind they would think themselves well a paid if there were no other Heaven nor no change of their estates that they have here in this world But I beseech you see to it that you be of another temper and disposition that ye are panting after God in Heaven To this purpose practice these counsels 1. Endeavour after a settled and well-grounded assurance that you have an interest in Gods special love and favour and that you are of the number of those that shall one day be admitted into the immediate presence of God that you may be able to say with the Apostle 2 Cor. 5.1 We know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved we have a building of God an house not made with hands eternal in the heavens Labour after this pray much for this It is our Saviours own direction Joh. 16.24 Ask that your joy may be full O sweet consideration that it is the Mind and Will of Christ that we should seek for full joy and peace in believing And take this for an evidence that you shall be admitted to the immediate presence of God if you seek and and enjoy Communion with God in his Ordinances if you do behold him in the beauties of holiness through these glasses I say this is a pledg a beginning and so an evidence of that full Communion you shall have with him in Heaven and of your seeing him there face to face Are your Sabbath-days days of Communion with God that is a sweet evidence that you shall keep an everlasting Sabbath with him in glory but if strangers to God and profane-hearted on Sabbaths you cannot be for Heaven 2. Be in an actual preparation of your selves for it Spouses and Brides that wish and look for their beloved prepare for their coming to them and prepare for their going to them so do you prepare your selves for the enjoyment of God in Heaven To this purpose observe these Rules 1. Labour after the mortifying and subduing of sin especially your most beloved sin Your own iniquity as David calls it Psal 18.23 While that prevails that darkens the sincerity and efficacy of grace in the Soul breaks the peace thereof grieves the holy Spirit therefore remember what the Apostle saith 1 Joh. 3.3 He that hath this hope of seeing God purifieth himself as he is pure Hence when the Apostle would raise up people to an heavenly frame he calls on them to mortifie their special corruption Col. 3.1 5. We find these joyned together denying ungodliness and worldly lusts and looking for that blessed hope and glorious appearing of the great God our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ Tit. 2.13 14. 2. Be loosned from the World for while staked down and fixed here you are unfit and unready to remove to Heaven It is he that is a stranger and pilgrim on the Earth and that dwells in Tents here ready on a short warning to pluck up stakes and be gone that is a faithful seeker of that better country and a traveller toward it Heb. 11.9 10 13 14. You cannot have two homes nor two rests nor two portions if you take up your home and rest in the World you are not prepared nor principled for Heaven nor fit to go thither Be loosning and drawing off your hearts every day from the World expect not either a perpetual nor yet a long abode here Be sensible of the vanity and emptiness of things here be often thinking of and expecting and waiting for your removal from hence into another World 3. Be finishing of your work and to that end continually doing your present work with all your might do what God hath appointed and called you to is there any work that lies upon your hand that conscience tells you should be done without delay as to get your selves setled in the assurance of Gods love