SEVERAL Living Testimonies Given forth by divers Friends TO THE Faithful Labours and Travels Of that Faithful and Constant Servant of the LORD Robert Lodge Who was a true Minister of the Gospel of Christ a Valient Sufferer for the Testimony of a good Conscience one that held out to the end and is saved ALSO Two General Epistles written by himself long since to the Believers in Christ And are now Printed for their Edification and Refreshment The Name of the Righteous shall be had in Everlasting Remembrance c. Printed for T. Sowle And Sold at the Crooked Billet in Hâ—llâ—â—â—â—-Loâ—e Shâ—â—â—ditch 1691. The Testimony of Peter Hardcastle concerning the Life and Death of Robert Lodge THis our Friend and Brother a Servant of the Lord Jesus Christ Robert Lodge I was acquainted with before we were gathered to be a Meeting to sit down in silence to wait upon God in his Light for he then lived near me with one related to me and we had much discourse about Religious matters and he saw the Errors of the Priests more clearly than I did and was serviceable to me at that time But after this it pleased the Lord to send his faithful Servants amongst us to Preach the everlasting Gospel and they directed our minds to the Light of it in our Consciences and many were convinced of the way to eternal Life and Salvation and thus were we gathered to be a Meeting to sit in the silence of Flesh waiting upon God in his Light And in process of time we being gathered in the Name of the Lord Jesus he made his Power known in our Meeting in an admirable manner to the renting of the Vail and breaking down the partition Wall and raising our Souls from Death unto Life which caused great Joy and Comfort in us and amongst us And by the Power and Spirit of Life after a little time our deceased Brother Robert Lodge was moved to go into Ireland to bear Testimony with other Brethren of the everlasting Truth and way of Truth and Salvation and having done his Service there at that time he returned again into England and travelled in many parts of it and went into Ireland again and travelled in both Nations to visit the Gatherings of the Lord's People and to stir up their pure minds by way of remembrance of the manifold Mercies and Favours and Loving-kindnesses of God which he hath made known unto his People in this our day after the long Night of Apostacy And the Prophecy of Daniel is fulfilled in this our Age where he saith Many shall run to and fro and Knowledge shall be increased and he saith also They that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the Firmament and they that turn many to Righteousness as the Stars for ever and ever Dan. 12. And he was Instrumental in the hand of God to turn many to Jesus Christ God's Righteousness the sure Foundation and Rock of Ages which yields living Water unto the Soul and so his Testimony reached to the Witness of God in the Consciences of many and I have been many times sweetly refreshed under his Testimony and Ministry Oh the sweet Union and Society and Fellowship we have had together in the Gospel it breaks my Heart and tenders my Spirit at this time when I am writing these Lines I loved him before we were gathered and much more since because of his Sincerity and Truth in his inward parts for he kept his first Love and Habitation in the Truth And he was Instrumental also for building up in the holy Faith that the Spirit of Opposition and Separation might not get advantage to draw us from the Spirit and Power of our Lord Jesus Christ he was committed to several Prisons in this Nation and in Wakefield-Prison he wrote an Epistle to Friends and when he suffered Imprisonment or otherwise for the Testimony of the Truth he was kept in patience and rested in the will of God So he having kept the Faith and Patience of our Lord Jesus and dying in the Lord is at Rest his Body is in the Grave but his Spirit is with the Lord Jesus and with the Spirits of just and holy Men and Women who have served the Lord in their day according to his Will revealed unto them by his holy Spirit Praises Honour and Glory to the Lord God and the Lamb for evermore So I having known him so long a time and some of his Tryals and Exercises and faithfulness to God and his Truth I could not well but give this short Testimony concerning him Peter Hardcastle senior Thomas Whitton his Testimony concerning the Life and Death of Robert Lodge THat the Memory of the Just may be had in Remembrance and the Travel of the Righteous in future Ages not forgotten this Testimony I have to bear for our dear Friend Robert Lodge who is now gone whose Exercises and Travels are at an end and I doubt not but that he is at rest with the Lord He was a man whom I knew above this thirty Years even from his Youth who received the Truth in his tender Years in a large measure and the Lord hath made him a very serviceable Instrument in his hand for gathering many to the Way of Life out of the ways of the World and that in his young Years both in this Nation and also in Ireland as many can testifie and not only so but the Lord hath as I may truly say made him a Son of Consolation amongst his People to the watering and refreshing of many weary Souls his Travels in Spirit I knew being one of the same Meeting even for the hindmost of the Flock and his sympathizing with those that travelled for the same I also knew him in the helping on the Work of the Lord and when that Life and Power of God rose in him in a Meeting to the opening his Mouth the Lord hath made his Words as the Balm of Gillead to the broken hearted Much might be said of his Service in and for the Truth in his day and toward the closure thereof he laboured with and for the young Friends that they may come up in the Footsteps of those who are gone before and at Rest with the Lord with many and frequent Supplications to the Lord for them that they might walk as becomes the Truth in their Generation The time of his Sickness was short but about three or four days and about three or four days a little ill before I going to see him asked him how he did and how it was with him he gave me account of his Distemper and Infirmness and did question his recovery of the same But saith he the Lord knows my Heart and that I have served him and it hath been of more account to me the gaining of one Soul than all my Labours and Travels So I have great cause to believe he was in a good sence of the Recompence of his Reward so leaving him very weak that night and
I going again next day with my Sister to see him finding him near to Death and being beside him in great brokenness of Heart to part with such a near Friend he as one sympathizing with us said We shall meet again in Eternity Then a little time after his Mouth was opened and in great power and tenderness with heavenly Expressions and Praises to the Lord and after some time again I went to him and told him I was come to take my leave of him but thought see him next day then he named me by my Name and said It is well with me and I have no disturbance in my mind He spake these words as a man at ease from whom the Lord had taken Sin away which is the sting of Death this being about the third hour in the Afternoon and he departed this Life that Night it being the 15th of the 7th Month 1690. And though his Body be gone to the Earth yet the Memorial of his Life and Spirit lives with us as it is written For the Righteous shall be had in everlasting Remembrance and pretious in the sight of the Lord is the Death of his Saints for they rest from their Labours and their Works follow them and they live in that Life which is hid with Christ in God And indeed a Lamentation might be taken up for the loss of such an Instrument in the Hand of the Lord who had laboured and gathered many by that powerful Word of Truth which the Lord put into his heart unto God and also to the refreshing watering and consolating of the Heritage of the Lord in that meek lowly Spirit of Life and Love which very frequently did run through him and reached the Life in others for which I cannot but praise the Lord for the many Visitations of his Love in our Meetings but this bears up our Spirits that as the Lord hath begun so great a work in our day for his Truth and Name sake he will carry it on to his own praise and will not leave himself without a witness upon the Earth that from Age to Age and one Generation after another his own Works may praise him who is God and changes not to whom be everlasting Praise for evermore He was buried at Low-Ellington at the Burying-Place for the People of God the 17th of the 7th Month 1690. And was accompanied with many Friends of divers parts and Neighbours also being one well-beloved of the Neighbourhood and there was a living and serviceable Testimnoy foâ— God born that day by our Friend George Myers to the great satisfaction and refreshment of Friends and to the Convincing of others T. W. The Testimony of Miles Oddy concerning Robert Lodge AS concerning my dear Friend and Brother Robert Lodge I have had knowledge of him ever â—â—nce that day it pleased the Lord God in his Mercy and Favour to visit us and make his Power known and manifest himself both to him and me and many others in these parts and though he was very young even a Boy yet the Lord did wonderfully appear unto him in his great Love and God's eternal Power did mightily seize upon him and operate in him so that he was constrained thereby to open his Mouth and make mention of God's Eternal Power even when we were but a few and God's witness was much reached in several present with us blessed and praised be the Name of God for evermore The mighty Power of God did work wonderfully at that very time in the Hearts of those whom the Lord had touched and also made to believe but especially in the Heart of our dear Brother above-mentioned and thereby in the Lord 's due time was he fitted imboldened and raised up and made an Instrument in God's hand and a true and faithful Minister of Jesus Christ and sent forth by him to preach the everlasting Gospel into some parts of this Nation of England and in a short time into the Nation of Ireland where he met with many great Tryals and Exercises yet the Lord did mightily preserve him and attend him with his blessed presence What shall I say or write concerning this our dear Brother in the Lord Jesus Christ whom the Lord hath been now pleased to take away from us surely the loss is very great unto many of God's People but unto him great gain When I consider of the blessed and heavenly Opportunities and wonderful Appearances of God in by and through him many a time amongst God's People when met together my Heart is truly broken and tendred even as at this present time and this is my belief of him he was a man well-beloved of God and also of his People every where that had a true knowledge of him and the great Power of God did mightily attend him and his presence comfort him and many sweet and pretious Testimonies have sounded through him to the comforting refreshing of God's People in their Assemblies He was convinc'd of God's heavenly Way and pretious Truth thirty Years since and upward and hath born a faithful and living Testimony for God ever since not only in Words but in Life and Conversation and also in Sufferings both in this Nation and in the Nation of Ireland he was a man not subject to Passion that ever I did see but meek and gentle and of a healing Spirit Given forth the 18th Day of the 8th Month 1690. By Miles Oddy senior The Testimony of Thomas Hardcastle senior concernning Robert Lodge IN the tenderness and brokenness of Heart and in the remembrance of the goodness of the Lord am I made willing to give forth this Testimony concerning my dear Friend and Brother Robert Lodge In his young Years we travelled many Miles together and great was his Care at that day in much love to bring me to the knowledge of the Truth sparing no Labour nor Pains in much patience and good-will his endeavour hath been among us and the Power and Presence of God hath mightily appeared in and through him many a time and in Innocency his labour hath been and great have been his Exercises and Abuses that he received from unreasonable men but the Lord did uphold him and carry him on in his blessed Work and many heavenly Testimonies hath the Lord enabled him to bear and our Hearts many times have been comforted together and filled with Praises to his holy Name And this dear Servant of the Lord he was lowly in Mind tender in Spirit lovely in Behaviour his Ministry very precious and truly the Gifts and Graces the Lord bestowed on him were very large and in the same hath he finished and laid down and is gone to Everlasting Rest with the Lord forever and evermore This short Testimony is given forth in the love of God by him who is a Lover of Truth and Righteousness Thomas Hardcastle senior Katherine Winn's Testimony concerning Robert Lodge THe Memory of the Just and Travels of the Righteous are worthy to be kept in
Works may praise him to whom all Praises doth belong and is freely ascribed from my Soul now henceforth and for ever Katherine Winn. The Testimony of Christopher Blackburne concerning my dear Friend Robert Lodge who departed this Life the 16th Day of the 7th Month 1690. Dear friends I could not with clearness be silent in this matter because I found it as a Duty incumbent upon me being one of the same Meeting to write a little amongst my Brethren concerning this faithful Champion of the Lord whom he hath taken to himself and is at Rest with him who is over all God blessed forever I being but young in years have not been so long acquainted with him as many have been but what I know I shall write He was a man that ever had a tender regard over me and other young Friends and I can truly say his Counsel and Advice to me when I was a Child was reaching and I hope will never be raced out of my remembrance and as I grew up I loved him as my Father he was of a lovely Countenance and an undaunted Spirit his Service was much in the Ministry he had a quiek discerning in a Meeting Oh how hath he laboured for the good of a Meeting and if at any time a Vail hath been over or that any seemed to be unconcerned Oh how he would have been weighted and laboured to with-draw the Vail and raise the Life at such a time and on the contrary when the Life was up in a Meeting and that he saw Friends in a Heavenly Order Oh it was Marrow to his Bones his very Countenance was comfortable to the Meeting and his Travel especially in che latter part of his days was much for the settling the Meeting in a divine Order and his Prayer for us that were young was frequent in this manner Heavenly God ingraft thy heavenly Truth in the Hearts of our Children that they may stand up to bear Witness for thee when it shall please thee to take us hence Now I come to his Sickness and Death which was on this manner Upon that 4th day at Evening I went to see him as was my usual manner when in that Town not knowing that he was Sick so asked him how he did he said He had a very bad Night the Night before but was something better He also told me how it was with him and said That many had dyed of the like Distemper but whether I dye or not the Will of the Lord be done So I went over Night to see him and he grew weaker and weaker yet he was able to go till the First Day and after the Meeting that day he got up by help for then he was taken with a strong Feaver which grew extreamly upon him and as he was getting up he said Blessed be God I have Heavenly Peace So after a while I going away took my leave of him for I had a sence of his Death and he said to me He was freely given up to the Will of God So the next day I went again but was not present when he did declare but I understood it was powerful as at other times so in the Evening I went but he was in a sweet Sleep and so continued till about the first or second Hour the next Morning and so departed this Life in a Heavenly frame arid is at Rest with God whom he served to the utmost of his Power I can truly say he was a man worthy of Everlasting Remembrance and one of the Worthies of God's Israel So seeing it was the pleasure of the great God to take him from us it is the desire of my heart that I with the rest of God's People may be kept and preserved in God's heavenly Truth as this man was so shall we meet again in God's Kingdom where we shall receive the full of what we enjoy the Earnest of here So seeing it hath been the pleasure of God who is the Orderer of all things and hath the Souls and Bodies of all Men at his dispose to take this dear Friend from us we have reason to be content knowing that our Loss is his Gain our Sorrow his Joy I cannot but return him the Praise who is God over all blessed for ever and evermore Amen Christopher Blackburne The Testimony of Rebecca Blackburne concerning Robert Lodge who departed this Life the 16th Day of the 7th Month 1690. HE was a dear and loving Friend towards me and his desire was much for the prosperity of Truth it was great joy to him to hear that the Truth prospered especially in those that were young and that they might bear their Testimonies for the Lord after the decease of the Elders One time after the Meeting he looking towards a young Girle turned him about and said The Lord bless you all Children which caused me to say within my self Whither is he going Now seeing the Lord hath taken him from us he is able to preserve those that are left behind and will do as we put our trust in him So to him that orders all things according to his pleasure do I return all the Honour and Glory both now henceforth and for evermore Amen Rebecca Blackburne The Testimony of Ann Blackburne concerning Robert Lodge THis dear Friend I knew him from a Child and was acquainted with him from his Youth He was of a quick apprehension and had much discourse with one Anthony Procter and Other Priests in the days of Oliver Cromwell but they were always put to the worst by him He was of a Valient Spirit from his Youth upward and it was great gladness of heart to me to see him in a Meeting it was also great Sorrow to me to part with so near a Friend but seeing it was the pleasure of God to take him from us iâ—â— my belief he is at rest with him who is God blessed for evermore Ann Blackburne The Testimony of Alice Clarke concerning Robert Lodge THis is my Testimony for my dear Friend Robert Lodge of Massam lately deceased he was an Instrument in the hand of the Lord and the Lord by him wrought upon the Hearts of many to turn them out of the broad way of destruction into the narrow way that leads to Life and Salvation and good cause have I amongst many more to praise the Lord that ever I was acquainted with him I being of the Meeting that he was of was many a time sweetly refreshed and comforted which I hope shall never be forgotten of me â—or raced out of my remembranceâ— and though he be gone from us yet his Spirit is with us in our Meetings as we come to the Spirits of just men made perfect he had a heavenly Gift and had good skill to use it so that he got love of most that knew him He was taken away of a short Sickness and what he spake relating to Truth in the time thereof was much to the satisfaction of all that loved him for he
remembrance and left upon Record to future Ages in which I am concerned according to my little measure in a short Testimony for our dear Friend and well-beloved Brother Robert Ledge who is now deceased and his Travels at an end but many are in being who have reaped the benefâ—â—… thereof his lot fell to be in our parâ—… in the time of my Convincemenâ— and I being a Woman of a deject Mind he was the first that evâ—â—… reached me with Words of Comforâ— which were so printed in my hearâ— and ingraven in my mind that it nâ—ver yet was raced out but often wâ—… a strengthening to me through mâ—… Exercises and a confirmation of the love of God to my Soul It was afterwards my happiness to be of the same Meeting where many were the Spiritual Comforts I received by him he proclaimed Liberty to the Captives and spoke comfortable words to the Mourners in Sion his Words were as healing Medicines as Gillead's Balm to many wounded and weary Souls and that which he planted was frequently watered by him O the watering Seasons we have had that Fountain whicâ— frequently opened in him that Rivers and Streams thereof that were conveyed by him to many a thirsty travelling Soul did fill our Hearts with unutterable Joy and unexpressable Gladness which causeth a Lamentation to be taken up by us for want of such a be-dewing Instrument and loving Nursing-Father he was a Son of Consolation a planter indeed and also a waterer of the Lord's Plantation and frequently accompanied with the living presence and power of our heavenly God which gives the increase He was a sympathizer with innocent Friends in Joy and in Sorrow he could mourn with those that mourned and rejoyce with those that rejoyced yet his care was over the weak and hindermost of the Flock and we are bowed in Spirit For want of him for his presence could greatly have been desired by us and needful for us but he is dissolved and I believe is now with Christ which for him is far better and it is our hope which bears up our Spirits that the Lord will raise up Instruments to carry on his own Work to his own praises and he giveth and he taketh blessed be his Name for ever The time of his Sickness being short at which time I had been weak and but little recovered I had word if ever I thought to see him I might venture to go the next day I went with my Brother to visit him and found him very weak he looking up and saw me full of Sorrow with a pleasant Countenance yet in much brokenness cheerfully said What Woman we must meet again we must meet again in Eternity And sitting by him he gave me an account of his Distemper and of the exercise of his mind and the dealings of the Lord with him and said The Lord knoweth I never was Commissionated by him to go any way or to do any thing but I have willingly answered him and the Lord who hath been my Rock and Refuge my Shield and Buckler and a Sanctuary to me hath been with me all along to this very day With many such Expressions and in much brokenness and tenderness of Spirit he rendred Thanksgiving unto the Lord and being weak he seemingly fell asleep and I retiredly sat by him and that Life wherein we had often reached one another did spring venly Expressions and pure Praises to the Lord for his many Deliverances and great Preservations and the continuance of his living presence and the opening of the Fountain of his Life and Love unto us to this very day and time with heavenly Supplications unto the Lord for the continuance of his Loving-kindness and tender Mercies to his whole Heritage every where his Exercise continued for a considerable season as if he had been in a Meeting with much brokenness of Heart and tenderness of Spirit as a man filled with heavenly and divine matter which very much broke my Heart with his Son Nathan then by him which I hope will never be forgotten by me And after this he weakened very fast it being about the third hour of the day he did speak little more to me yet signifying his gladness of my recovery and also of my company and that all was well with him and falling into a Slumber and Rest more sweet and comfortable as we thought than his usual Sleep had been to him at other times in much quiet and great meekness he departed this Life about the first hour that Night And though he be dead his Works live to praise the Lord and great was the Work of his Day in turning many from Darkness to Light and from the power of Satan to the living God he bore the burthen in heat of the day and was a true Traveller for Sion's sake his Life was comfortable his latter end happy he lived the Life of the Righteous and his latter end was like his And it is the fervent desire of my Heart the Lord will be pleased in love to his whole Flock and for his own Honour and great Name sake to raise up serviceable Instruments in his Work such work-men as need not be ashamed of their work but can rightly divide the Word of Truth such Labourers in his Vineyard as may gather many Sheaves into his Barn and Lambs into his Fold as this our deceased Brother did in the days of his Youth and in his tender years he thought not his Life dear to venture both by Sea and Land in this Nation and elsewhere and was instrumental in the Lord's hand to pluck many as Lambs out of the Wolves mouth and Brands out of the Fire which are as Monuments of the Lordâ—s mercy this day to praise him And as his Body decayed and strength failed great was his Travel and many his Supplications to the Lord on the behalf of young Friends that they might rise in their Day and Age to serve and honour him in their Generation O the Travels with the sweet flowing streams of Love reached to us by him can never be forgotten O the melodious sound that heavenly Harmony the eccho of Life which often sounded through him made the Morning-Stars to sing and the Saints to shout for joy O what can I say of him I am not able to express or utter the excellency of the Work of this the Lord 's worthy but hopes it will be done by others better accomplished for such a Work than I but in the discharge of what hath lain upon me according to my little measure in this short Testimony to leave to Posterity and for the encouragement of a future Age to keep in the Line of Life and walk in the Path of the Just where heavenly Felicity is to be attained and enjoyed and Spiritual Pleasures lived in which the Almighty in his unchangeable Love hath been pleased to continue from Age to Age and by a mighty hand reached from one Generation to another that in every Age his own
largely signified the love of God to his Soul at that time He was in his Day a true Traveller in the Lord's Service and doubtless he hath received his Reward and though he be taken from us I doubt not but the Lord will raise many faithful Witnesses to bear a Testimony to his Name that he may have Honour to whom all Honour is due Alice Clarke A Testimony concerning our dear Friend and Brother in the Lord Robert Lodge WHo was a Yorkshire man and dyed in the Lord in the Year 1690. when he had fulfilled his Ministry and finished his Testimony who was often under great Persecution Sufferings and Spoiling of Goods which through the assistance in the Lord's Power he went through them all joyfully and many times had great Exercise with Backsliders Apostates and Prophane He was a man that laboured and travelled and had a great Care upon him for the Peace of the Church of Christ and his Government of Peace the encrease of which there is no end he travelled up and down in many places in England freely preaching the Everlasting Gospel of our Lord and Saviour and did turn many to it being a man much indued with the Gifts of God and being an Elder and Pillar in the Church of Christ he travelled with me up and down in Ireland jeopardied his Life among the Priests and Papists there in the Year 1669 where there were many large and pretious Meetings of the Lord's People and the Lord's Presence and Power was among us and them And when we had finished our Testimony there we came over into England and in it he travelled up and down visiting the Churches of Christ and turned many to the Lord and he dyed in the Lord in Yorkshire and is blessed and entred into his Rest and is ceased from his Labours and his Works follow him And much more might be writ of his faithful Labour in the Lord who was well known in the Church of Christ who preacht in his good Life and Conversation as well as in his Doctrine and was much beloved and he will be missed in the Church of Christ but the Lord can raise up more faithful Labourers in his Gospel to stand in his place Amen The 13th of the 9th Month 1690. G. F. An Epistle To FRIENDS Written from Chambrussel in the County of Armagh in Ireland the 24th of the 4th Month 1660. MY dearly beloved Friends with whom I have Unity in the unchangeable Love and Life in the Lord Jesus in whom we receive pure and living Consolation whereby the Seed is refreshed which breaths and thirsts after the Fountain of Love and Mercy which tenderly falls down upon the upright in Heart as Dew to the tender Herb whereby that which hath been in the want comes to be satisfied and filled with the living Vertue which comes from the presence of the Lord and in this my dearly beloved Friends I salute you in the Fountain of Love Life and endless Joy which is shed abroad in my heart which streams forth it self through me whereby the Seed is refreshed and in this feel me as you are felt in the measure of the unchangeable Life of God in which I rejoyce feeling you in that which is everlasting in which my Unity stands with you who are of a broken and contrite Heart who are kept in a feeling of the dreadful presence of God And therefore wait all Friends to feel the Power which raises the Seed immortal to which the Promise of Blessing is due which Seed the Lord is satisfying with the breakings forth of his Love in all them who in patience are kept waiting to feel the opperation of God's living Power for by the Power of God comes the Seed to be brought out of the weary Land which the Lord abundantly waters in all the Faithful who in faithfulness are kept near unto the Seed such come to receive of the loving-kindness of God and to pertake of his sweet Mercies which daily are felt to the glory of the Lord for ever Therefore my dearly beloved Friends wait in the Light the Power to feel that you may be kept safe in the Arms of the Lord's love that you may be shadowed over with the Power of the Most High God which is our strength and daily support wherein we feel the Spirit of the Lord lifting up a Standard against all the Enemies of the Seed So dear Hearts be stayed in the Light continually to feel the dreadful Power of God accompanying you unto which all your Enemies must become subject whose Power and Presence is felt wherein our Souls rejoyce who hath enlarged our hearts and filled us with the heavenly joy for in him we have Peace and Comfort therefore be not cast down at the sight of Affliction but all be watchful and deligent to feel the pure workings of the Spirit of Life whereby a change may be wrought in your Hearts and you raised above the Grave by the quickening Power of the Almighty God for in this is Comfort and Refreshment felt and Peace and pure Love which many Waters cannot quench and in this all wait to be knit up and united that the one Fountain of Love and Mercy may be every particulars satisfaction and reward So rest your Friend in the Truth Robert Lodge Let this be sent to Hardcastle-Garth and so to Masham A Salutation of Love from the Opening of the Springs of eternal Life unto the Flock of God in Bonds or elsewhere scattered upon the Earth but are one in the endless Life of God Greeting DEar Friends whom the Lord hath visited with the Day spring from on high and unto whom the Lord hath made known his Power and the Arm of his strength for your deliverance from the deep captivity that your Souls lay in in times past when there was none to help you nor to comfort you when you spent your days in mourning for want of the presence of the Lord and in that day did the Lord hear your groans and the sighs of your Spirits and he appeared for your comfort when you were comfortless and in that day the Lord made known his Judgments in you for the purging of the Dross out of you that way might be made in you for the sweet dispencing forth of his Mercies And since the Lord prepared you for himself by the work of his own Spirit how hath he let forth himself unto you to the making of your Hearts glad and to the overcoming your Souls with the strength of his love that hath made you to say in secret who is like to the Lord or what is to be compared with his love and when your hearts were thus disposed of by him for whom you had waited what was all the worlds glory to you for this was more to you than all whose hearts were opened in the sence of the want of him And now seeing the Lord hath done such great things for you it is the pleasure of your God to try