of men but was she not a secret and hidden Reliever of Gods distressed ones Did she not refresh the bowels of many with her hid treasures Will you all learn to write after this Copy Of Midus it is Fabled That whatever he torched he tâ—rned into Golâ— 't is most sure That whatever the Hand of Charity toucheth it turneth it into Gold be it but a Cup of cold water nay Mat. 10.42 into Heaven it self cold water having not fuel to heat it cold water which costs not the charge of fire to warm it Salvian saith that Christ is Mendicorum maximus the greatest Beggar in the world as one that shareth in all his Saints necessities Heb. 6.10 and will never forget the charitable person the merciful person Cicero could say That to be rich is not to possess much but to use much And Seneca could rebuke them that so studied to increase their wealth that they forgot to use it I have read of one Euagrius a rich man that lying upon his Death-bed being importuned by Synesius a pious Bishop to give somthing to charitable uses he yielded at last to give three hundred Pounds but first took Bond of the Bishop that is should be repayed him in another world before he had been one day dead He is said to have appeared to the Bishop delivering in the Bond cancelled as thereby acknowledging what was promised was made good according to that promise Matth. 19.29 And every one that hath forsaken houses c. Fourthly imitate her in keeping off from the sins and pollutions of the day wherein you live was she not one of Gods mourning ones for the abominations of the time Ezek. 9.4 6. Jer. 9.1 2. 2 Pet. 2.7 8 Psal 119.53.136.158 did not mens abomination in worship and practice vex grieve and wound her poor soul was it not her great work to live by no Rule to walk by no Rule to worship God by no Rule but by that which she dared to die by and to stand by in the great day of our Lord Jesus she knew John 4.23 24. Phil 3.3 2. that worshipping of God in spirit and in truth was the great worship the only worship that God stood upon she did not she durst not worship God according to the Customes of the World or the Traditions of the Elders or the Examples of great men she knew that that Worship that is not according to the Word is 1. Worshipping of devils and not God Those that depart from the true Worship of God and set upon false worship forbidden by God do not serve God by it but the devil Reâ— 9.2 2 Chron. 11.15 Amos 5.25 26. 1 Cor. 10.20 1 Tim. 4.1 Ezek. 8.3 what boasting soever they make as you may evidently see by comparing the Scriptures in the Margent together She knew 2. That that worship that is not according to the Word is an Image of Idolatry which of all sins is most provoking to a holy jealous God The Devil saith Synesius is as glad to be worshipped in an Idol as he was by Israel in a Calf Exod. 32 4. there being nothing that provokes God to destroy poor sinners more then this The learned Jews have a saying That no punishment ever happened to them in which there was not an ounce of the golden Calf grounding it on Exod. 32.34 Nevertheless I will remember to visit this sin upon them The Egyptians worshipped a pide Bull and whereas some thought it strange that when one died they should have another of the same colour Austin thinks that the devil to keep them in idolatry might do with their Cowes as Jacob did with the Ewes present to them when they conceived the likeness of such a Bull. Certainly Satan will use all the Art he can to keep poor sinners in ways of false worship it being the most compendious way that can be to engage God to destroy them She knew 3. That that worship that is not according to the Word hath destroyed the most flourishing Churches and Nations witness the Church and Nation of the Jews See Hos 8.5 6.7 Rev. 9.20 Ezek. 10.2 2 Chron. 7.20 the seven Churches of Asia and the whole Eastern parts of the Empire She knew 4. That that worship that is not according to the Word is a cursed worship It is the observation of one well skill'd in the Jewish Learning that there is only one verse in the Prophecy of the Prophet Jeremy which is written in the Chaldee tongue all the rest being in Hebrew and that is Jer. 10.11 So shalt thou say Cursed be the gods who made neither Heaven nor Earth Weems Christ Synag and this so done by the Holy Ghost on purpose that the Jews when they were in captivity and solicited by the Chaldeans to worship false gods might be able to answer them in their own language Cursed be your gods we will not worship them for they made neither Heaven nor Earth That God that made Heaven and Earth is only to be worshipped according to his own Word for he will own no worship but what he will accept of no worship but that he will bless no worship but that nor he will reward no worship but that Your glorified Mother kept close to instituted worship when she had health and strength in this it will be your wisdom to write after her â—air Copy But Fifthly imitate her in justifying of the Lord under the sharpest bitterest and most afflictive Providences and â—ispensations how often have I heard her to justifie the Lord Joll 13.26 even whilst he has been a writing bitter things against her when Gall and Wormwood hath been put into her Cup hath she not said with Ezra Ezra 9.13 Neh 9.33 God hath punished us less then our iniquities deserve and with Nehemiah Howbeit thou art just in all that is brought upon us for thou hast done right but we have done wickedly and with ob Job 1.21 The Lord gives and the Lord takes and blessed be the Name of the Lord. And with Daniel Dan. 9.14 The Lord our God is righteous in all his works which he doth You know what afflictive Providences she has been under both in respect of her person and in the loss of her husband and in those variety of weaknesses that attended her body and in the great losses that some of you have met with in this world Besides several other exercises yet how has she commonly been taken up in blessing of God and in justifying of God and also in admiring the goodnesse of God that it has been no worse with her and here I am satisfied she would not have exchanged her gains by afflictions for all the gains of this world Stars shine brightest in the darkest night Torches are better for the beating Grapes come not to the proof till they come to the Press Spices smell sweetest when pounded Young Trees root the faster for shaking Vines are the better for bleeding
wilt keep him in perfect Peace The Hebrew runs 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Shalom Shalom Peace Peace whose mind is stayed on thee because he trusteth in thee Never did the espoused Maid long more for the Marriage-day nor the Apprentice for his freedom nor the Captive for his Ransom nor the condemned man for his Pardon nor the Traveller for his Inne nor the Marriner for his Haven nor the sick man for his health nor the wounded man for his cure nor the hungry man for his bread Phil 1.23 nor the naked for clothes then she did long to die and to be with Christ which for her was best of all How often were those words in her mouth Rev. 22.20 Come Lord Jesus come quickly The face of none is so comely to the Saints eye the voice of none so lovely to his ears the taste of none so pleasant in his mouth as Jesus Christ The Name of Jesus hath a thousand treasures of joy and comfort in it saith Chrysostome and is therefore used by Paul five hundred times as some have reckoned The Name of a Saviour saith one is Honey in the Mouth Musick in the Ear Bernard and a Jubilee in the heart And how often was that blessed word in her mouth Remember O Lord I beseech thee how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart Isa 38.3 and have done that which is good in thy sight a serious sense of her uprightness in the main of her walking with God did yield her more then a little sweetness and comfort when she was upon her bed of Pain one of the last speeches of a dying upright Christian was this Satan may as well plâ—ck God out of Heaven John 10.28 29 30. 2 Tim. 2.12 as plâ—ck my soul out of â—his keeping She knew him in whom she had believed and was perswaded that he was able to keep that which she had committed to him against that day A child that hath any precious Jewel given him cannot better secure it then by putting it into his fathers hands to keep so neither can we better provide for our souls safety then by committing them to God Keep that which I have committed that is eithâ—r my precious soul which I have committed to his care and custody to bring it forth glorious at that day of his appearing or my eternal life happiness and crown of glory which I have as it were deposited w th him by faith and hope and thus it was with her The Apostle saith he committed to Gods Custody a Pawn or Pledge but about this Pawn or Pledge Interpreters differ One saith It is his soul Another saith It is himâ—elf And a third saith It is his works And a fourth saith It is his sâ—fferings And a fifth saith It is his salvation In short he committâ—d to God his soul himself his doings his sufferings to be rewarded with life and salvation and so did she who is now at rest in the Lord. Lord saith Austin I will die that I may enjoy thee I w ll not live but I will die I desire to die that I may see Christ and refuse to live that I may live with Christ The broken Rings Contracts and Espousals contents not the true Lover but he longs for the Marriage-day and so did she who has now exchang'd a sick bed for a Royal Throne and the company of poor Mortals for the Presence of God Christ Angels and the spirits of just men made perfect It was well said of one So far as we tremble at death so far we want love its sad when the Contâ—act is made between Christ and a Christian to see a Christian afraid of the making up of the Marriage But your deceased Relation was no such Christian I know nothing in this world that her heart was so much set upon as the compleating of the Marriage between Christ and her soul My eye is upon that text Isa 57.1 The righteous perisheth and no man layeth it to heart and 〈…〉 men are taken away none considering that the righteous are taken away from the evil to come I have read of one Philo a Jew and of another that when they came to any City or Town and heard of the death of any godly man though never so poor they would both of them mourn exceedingly because of the great loss that place had by the death of that godly man and because it was a warning-Piece from God of evil approaching but ah how many famous godly Ministers and how many châ—iâ—e Christians hath the Lord of Hosts taken away from us and yet who lays it to heart There is no greater Prognostick of an approaching storm thâ—n Gods calling home so many Worthies of whom this world was not worthy as he has lately done Now O that God would beautifie all your souls with all these 12 Jewels with which your Mother waâ— adorned in life and 〈◊〉 Sir you having signified to me that it was your Mothers minde and your desires that her following Experiences should be printed I did think it might be somewhat seasonable to put you all in minde of such things as I had among many others observed and which should be all your ambition to imitate as you would give up your accounts at last with joy and be happy with her for ever in that other world Considering that these Experiences may fall into other hands besides your own I thought it meet to let such Readers know that these were taâ—en from her by one of you when she was in a very weakly condition and had little more strength then to speak and they are but some of those that lay most warm upon her heart at that time God began to work upon her in the Morning of her days and had there been a Collection of all her most close inward spiritual Experiences they would have been greatly multiplied beyond what is now presented to the Readers eye but that was a Task too hard for her under those variety of weaknesses that she was every â—ay contending with The Experienees â—f old disciples commonly rise high but the Ingenious Reader may easily discern by the twelve Iewels with which she was adorned that she was a woman both of choice and great Experiences Aâ—stin observes on Psal 16.2 Come and hear all ye that fear God and I will deâ—lare what he hath done for my soul He doth not call them saith he to acquaint them with speculations how wide the Earth is and how far the Heavens are streteh'd out or what the number of the stars are or what is the course of the Sun But come and I will tell you the wonders of his grace the faithfulness of his promises and the riches of his mercy to my soul Now all Ministers and Christians that had any inward acquainâ—ance with her soul-concernments they do very well know that she was most taken up with the wonders of Gods free rich and sovereign grace and with
the sweetness the fulness the freeness the riches and the faiâ—hfulness of his Promises and with the riches of his mercy in Christ to her soul To draw to a close it is observable that even the holy Apostles in their Canonical Epistles have spent some good part of their holy lines in the ample Commendations of those eminent Saints to to whom they wrote as Paul in hâ— to Philemon and John in that of 〈◊〉 to an Honourable Lady and thâ— other to a meaner person viz. Gaiâ—â— and that they went not behind thâ— door as we say to whisper but 〈◊〉 on the House-top did proclaim tâ—â— Religious and pious practices of thoâ— more choice Christians to the â—miâ—atiâ—on of others And further when consider that which the Apostle speaketh of Demetrius a rare and noâ— ordinary Testimony 3 Ep. of John 12. Demetriâ—s haâ—â— a good report of all men and of tâ—â— Truth it self and we also bear Record and we know that our Record 〈◊〉 true And yet further when I consider what is Recorded of Hezekiaâ— Thus did Hezekiah throughout all Jâ—dah 1 Chro. 31.20 21. and wrought what was good anâ— right and true before his God Anâ— in every work that he began in thâ— service of the House of God anâ— in the Law and Commandments hâ— did it with all his heart and proâ—â—pered And when I consider whâ—â— high commendations the Apostle bâ—stows upon the Churches of Maâ—â—donia 2 Cor. 8.1 to the eleven verse And upon the Church of Thesâ—alonia 1 Thessal 1.1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9. And also 2 Thessal 1. â— 4 5 And when I consider that â—t was the Holy Ghost who writ â—â—eâ—â—adâ—â— Epitaph 2 Chron. 24.16 They buried him â—n the City of â—avid among the Kings â—ecause he had done good in Israel â—â—oth towarâ—s God and towards his hoâ—se It is said also of â—osiah in â—his Commendations by the same Spirit Like unto him there was no King 2 King 23.25 Moses and Mordâ—â—aâ— Sarah Deboâ—rah Esther Eâ—â— abeth and others after their deaths have had their due praises When I consider of these things I am very well satisfied in what I have said concerning this deceased Sister and friend I do no ways doubt but that we may vâ—ry safely say good of such when dead whose ordinary course and practice it was to do good while they lived but in this censorious Age No sooner is dâ—st cast upon some Christians head but there are those that will do what they can to throw dirt in their faces Aâ—gustine doth very fitly compare these to Dives his dogâ— they lay licking and sucking Lazarus his sores but his sounder parts they never medled with To trample upon the Reputation and stain the glory of them that die in the Lord argues such Persons to be a kin to Fleas who bite most when men are asleep It was one of Solons Laws that none should dare to speak evil of the dead And Plutarch tells us that that was highly commended and duly observed But is it so now This I am sure that it well becomes Christians not to dare to speak evil if they could of those who for the main have lived holily and died graciously as this deceased friend hath done Let this satisfie us that she is above the Praises and envies of men 'T is the good the profit the advantage of all your souls and theirs into whose hands this little Piece may fall that has drawn me out to write so large an Epistle If I had had only the dead in my eye a few lines should have serv'd the turn I doubt not but that you will kindly accept of my endeavours to be serviceable to your immortal souls and who can tell what fruit may grow upon this Tree I shall improve all the interest I have in Heaven that both the Epistle and your glorified Mothers Experiences may be blest to the furtherance of the internal and eternal welfare of all your souls The good-will of him that dwelt in the Bush rest upon you and yours So I Rest Honoured friends Your Souls Servant THO BROOKS A TRUE RELATION OF Some of the EXPERIENCES of Mrs. SUSANNA BELL taken from her own Mouth by a near Relation of hers a little before her death Left as a LEGACY to her Mourning Children IT pleased the Lord to order it so that in my young days I was cast into a Family that feared the Lord. And going to hear Mr. White preaching from those words Prov. 15.15 But he that is of a merry heart hath a continual Feast From thâ—se words he did shew how happy a thing a good conscience was and what a sad thing it was with Judas to have a bad conscience and what a blessed thing it was to have a good conscience From that of Hezekiah Isa 38.3 And he said Remember now O Lord I beseech thee how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart and have done that which iâ— good in thy sight This Sermon God made useful to me and after this it pleased the Lord to order it so that I changed my condition and the Lord provided for me a good Husband one that feared him And some troubles being here many of the people of God went for New England and among them my Husband desired to go but I and my friends were very a verse unto it I having one childe and being big with another thought it to be very difficult to cross the Seas with two small children some of my Neighbors advising me to the contrary living so well as I did But I told them that what the Lord would have me to do that I would willingly do and then it pleased the Lord to bring that Scripture to my mind Eph. 5.22 Wives submit your selves unto your own Husbands as unto the Lord. And then my heart was brought off to a quiet submission But after this I being well delivered and the Child well It pleased the Lord soon after to take my Child to himself Now upon this so far as it pleased the Lord to help a poor wretch I begged earnestly of him to know why he took away my Child and it was given in to me that it was because I would not go to New England Upon this the Lord took away all fears from my â—pirit and then I told my Husband I was willing to go with him For the Lord had made my way clear to me against any that should oppose And then my husband went presently upon the work to fit to go And the Lord was plâ—ased to carry us as upon Eagles wings according to that Deut. 32 10 11. We were eight weeks in our passage and saw nothing but the Heavens and Waters I knew that the Lord was a great God upon the shore But when I was upon the Sea I did then see more of his glorious power then ever I had done before according to that of the Psalmist Psal 107.23 24. And when the Lord was pleased
after I was admitted a Babe in Christ among them Afterwards being to hear Mr. Cotton on 1 Pet. 2.2 As new-born Babes desire the sincere milk of the Word that you may grow thereby And from thence he shewed that if it were a living Babe it would cry out for nourishment and that that soul that did once really taste of Christ was never satisfied but would still be crying out for more and more of Christ when such a soul came to any Ordinance as Hearing Prayer the Lords Supper and did get nothing of Christ they were all as lost Ordinances to it It so fell out that the next Lords day was the day of sitting down at the Lords Table And the Lord did put it into my thoughts that if we received nothing but a piece of bread and a sip of wine it would be but a poor empty thing and so the Lord did help me to beg that if what he had been pleased to speak to my soul before were a true manifâ—station of himself that he would be pleased to speak again unto my soul For a threefold cord is not easily broken Eccles 4.12 Being at the Ordinance the bread and wine coming about I was thus sighing unto the Lord what shall I have nothing but a bit of bread and a sip of wine this day And the Lord was pleased to bring that Scripture to my minde John 6.55 For my flesh is meat indeed and my blood is drink indeed And so the Lord was pleased to give something more of himself to my poor soul at that time After this a sad Providence attended one of my Neighbors I was full of fears that her condition might be mine But the Lord brought that Scripture to my mind Jer. 29.11 For I know the thoughts that I think towards you saith the Lord thoughts of Peace and not of evil to give you an expected end And thereby the Lâ—rd stayd my heart in trusting upon himself and giving me a safe delivery And being up again I went to hear Mr. Cotton and he was shewing what Assurancâ— was and how happy that soul was that coulâ— say as Job did Job 19 25. And with David Psal â—â—9 For ever Lord thy Word is setled in the Heavens and so the Lord was pâ—â—ased to shew me what a mercy I had that had Assurance Then I went to speak to Mr. Cotton to ask him what he thought of thâ— work of God upon my poor soul And 〈◊〉 â—old me that he was satisfied that it was 〈◊〉 real work of God And he did councel me to walk humbly and thankfully and to take heed of grieving that Spirit of God by which I was sealed up to the day of Redemption and to walk humbly towards those that God had not revealed so much of himself to as he had to me And then the Lord was pleased by his Providence to call my Husband to come for England and he did tell me that he should so order business that I should have less of the world to trouble me I was glad to hear it from him and desired him to go And then the Lord was pleased to help me to consider whether I had not got a better Husband and the Lord did quiet my heart in himself my soul being espoused to him 2 Cor. 11.2 After he was gone from me we did hear of a War broke forth in England and friends told me my Husband would be in danger of his life if taken I told thâ—m the best I knew and the worst I knew and that if God should take my Husband out of the world I should have a Husband in Heaven which was best of all And Mr. John Elliott did visit me in his 〈◊〉 fence and asked me how the Lord did bâ—â— up my heart in my Husbands absence And I did tell him that the Lord was as well able to bring him to me in safety as he did to carry him out And he answered me I believe the Lord will say unto thee as he did to the Canaanitish woman Matth. 15.28 Be it unto thee according to thy saith And the Lord was pleased to keep me and all that I had and to preserve him and to bring him home in safety unto me And then in stead of having less of the world which I desired the Lord did cast in more of it After this my Husband told me That he must go again to England and I was very unwilling to it but he told me if he did not the Name of God would suffer To prevent which I consented and it pleased God to bring him home in safety to me And in a few years after he brought me over to England and God shewed much of his goodness to me At my coming ashore he brought that Scripture to my Remembrance Deut. 33. 26 27. There is none like unto thee O God of Jeshurun who rideth upon the Heaven in thy Help and in his Excellency on the Sky the Eternal God is thy Refuge and underneath are the everlasting armes After it had pleased God to bring me back to my Native Countrey I was much troubled that there was no better observation of the Lords day it being our Practice in New-England to begin it at Sunne-set the Evening before as it is Recorded in Genesis That the Evening and the Morning was the first day and that Scripture was brought to my Memory Prov. 14.10 The heart knows its own bitternesse but no man intermeddles with its joy Many trials the Lord hath been pleased to exercise me with but in the midst of all God hath made that Word sweet to my soul Isa 54.10 For the Mountains shall depart and the Hills be removed but my kindness shall not depart from thee neither shall the Covenant of my Peace be removed saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee It pleased the Lord after a year or two to exercise me with much weakness but then he made that Word sweet unto me Isa 50.8 He is near that justifies me who will coâ—tend with me And that word Job 15.11 Are the consolations of God small unto thee After these things when I was in a very great strait upon the apprehension of some publick dangers that seem'd to threaten us the Lord was pleased to bring to my mind that Scripture Zach. 9.12 Turn to your strong Holds you Prisoners of Hope And since in the midst of my many bodily infirmities God hath made that word sweet to my soul Psal 116.7 Return unto thy rest O my soul for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee And that word Psal 23.4 Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil for thou art wâ—th me thy rod and thy staffe they comfort me I still remain as a prisonâ—r of hope waiting for a fruition of that happiness which the Lord Jesus Christ hath prepared for me For I know he that hath the Son hath life 1 Iohn 5.12 And if the Son make us free then are we
free indeed John 8.36 And blessed is that people that knows the joyful found they shall walk O Lord in the light of thy countenance I finde the Lord â—esus very free in the tenders of his love to poor sinners And that love hath in a great measure been manifestâ—d to my poor soul After this it pleased the Lord to visit one of my Daughters with a great sickness upon which my heart was drawn out to sâ—ek the Lord on her behalf then that Scripture was brought to my mind Iohn 11.21 Then said Martha unto Jesus Lord if thou hadst been here my Brother had not died But I know that now whatever thou wilt ask of God God will give it to thee Jesus saith unto her thy Brother shall rise again Martha saith unto him I know that he shall rise again at the last day Jesus saith unto her I am the Resurrection and the Life and he that believes in me shall never die And it pleased the Lord to give me her life as an Answer of Prayer It pleased the Lord after this to visit this Land with the Pestilence a severe stroak of his that swept away many thousands and under that sad Providence of his the Lord did help me to rely alone upon himself from that Scripture Psal 91.7 A thousand shall fall at thy side and ten thousand at thy rght hand but it shall not come nigh thee And according to my saith it pleased the Lord to preserve both my self and all my Relations from that sad stroke though some of them were often in the midst of danger blessed be his Name The next year after rhe Lord did again for our sins visit us and that by a dreadful fire which reduced to ashes many thousand houses and yet his love was then manifested to me in the preservation of my habitation when many better than my self were burnt out Therefore unto my God shall I who am less then the least of all his mercies render that praise which is due unto his Name Since that whilst I was upon a languishing bed and Death even knocking at the door it pleased the Lord once again to alarme me in that weak condition by a dreadful fire which brake out very near us and at that time it pleased my good God to support and strengthen my spirit with that Scripture Isa 43.2 When thou passest through the waters I will be with thee and through the Rivers they shall not overflow thee when thou walkest through the fire thou shalt not be burnt neither shall the flame kindle upon thee And that Scripture Isa 54.5 For thy Maker is thy Husband the Lord of Hosts is his Name and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel the God of the whole Earth shall he be called And this second time also the Lord was gratiously pleased to preserve me and my House from that amazing stroke which did so much threaten us And O that all these new and old Experiences might be high obligations upon me and mine to holiness and fruitfulness all our days Whilst I remained in New-England there hapned a great Earthquake which did shake all in the house and my son being by me asked me what it was I told him our Neighbours were all amazed at it and knew not but that the world might then be at an end and did run up and down very much affrighted at it but I sate still and did think with my self what a Christ was worth to my poor soul at that time And then God made these Scriptures sweet refreshings supporting and quieting my soul Psal 18.46 The Lord liveth and blessed be my Rock and let the God of my Salvation be exalted Heb. 11.13 These all died in faith not having received the Promises but having seen them afar off and were perswadâ—d of them and embraced them and confessed they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth Rev. 7.9 After this I beheld and lo a great multitude which no man could number of all Nations and Kindred and People and Tongues stood before the Throne and before the Lamb cloathed with white Robes and Palmes in their hands ver 14. And he said to me these are they which came out of great tribulation and have washed their Robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. FINIS Bridges Remains being Eight Sermons viz 1 Of Mans Blessednesse c. By Mr. Bridges Preacher of the Word of God at Yarmouth A Discourse of Christs Coming By Theophilus Cale The Nature and Principles of Love as the End of the Commandment declar'd in some of the last Sermons of Mr. Joseph Caryl with an Epistle of Dr. Owen D.D. All to be sold by John Hancock Sen. and Jun. at the Three Bibles in Cornhill