and bring her into favour with him again where was the centure of her soul and the safe dwelling place And in the year 1691. being near 21. years old she was again visited with a distemper of sickness very like to remove her out of this world as it grew upon her her Zeal for the Lord encreased manifested largely by the many sweet heavenly expressions that proceeded from her some of which put 〈◊〉 upon Record by her dear Sisterâ— I heard she desired to see me and I went to visit her and stayed with her Four days she being unwilling that I should leave her whilest she lived here in which time she opened her minde to me and gave me account of the Lords dealings with her and of his tender Mercyes to her of which I was right glad and comforted therewith Her love was wonderfully drawn forth to Friends often makeing mention of dear Robert Lodge and others who are in the body whom she greatly desired to see and many weighty truths proceeded from her and an Heavenly concerne was upon her for the good of all friends in generall bemoaning the states of those who had received the truth in the begining in the fresh love of it and were grown careless having lost their first love and taken liberty to act things contrary to truth and those are evill examples said she to those that are young And others there are who have a more outward appearance and reckons themselves esteemed of yet if they live not in the truth and in the injoyment of the love of God it makes no matter the esteem of others will stand them in no stead And she said there was mans righteousness and the righteousness of God but mans righteousness must be rent oft and man covered with the righteousness of Christ Jesus who saith I wisdom leads in the way of righteousness and in the midst of the path of Judgment teaching those that loves me to inherit the substance and she desired that none might in the sight of good things sit down short of the possession thereof she greatly desired that ancient Friends might remember the visitation of the love of God unto their soules in the dayes of their Youth and answer the end of their visitation and take heed that they feel his love to them as in the begining And said she some comes amongst Friends and profess Truth yet walke not answereable there unto but mindes the decking of themselves outwardly more then the innocency of Truth inwardly and this will not serve them or do them any good and others may get plain apparrel and come to Meetings and appear what they are not the Lord said she remove such Mockerys She often desired Friends to love the truth and to take heed of loving any thing above the truth and she often desired Friends to take heed of passion for that hinders the work of the Lord and to take heed of contention and and strife envy and wrath for said she that never works the righteousness of God but agravates and stirs up a wrong mind But in a meek quiet and gentle spirit speake one unto another and so you will overcome evill even with the good Much good councel and wholesome advice was given by her but little is remembred in comparison considering how much did proceed from her and said she Oh they are happy that feareth the Lord and obeyeth him and lives in his truth and she often expressed the pretiousness of the love of God And often said how sweet it is there is no thing to be compared with it nor had in esteem in comparison of it I could delight always to feel and to live in the Enjoyment of it And when she spake of Heavenly things it was with great reverance and comely deportement For though she was a Maid of a notable Beauty and comely countenance yet much did she differ and far exceed when the Lord did open in her and brake forth through her yea she was lovely indeed and appeared as a Bride arrayed in royal Robes ready to meet her Husband and Bridegroom of her soul And the night before her departure She called to her dear Sisters and tenderly saluted them and gave sweet counsell and wholesome advice to them and took her leave of them worthy to be well observed and followed by them and all her Fathers family and even by all that heard her or may hear thereof and of her happy and comfortable end and peaceable departure out of the World Even all both Young and Old especially Young people for whom she was greatly concerned often pittying them saying they were lyable to many temptations often desireing their preservation in the Truth often repeating these words in the truth and not above it but under its government ordered by it and on this wise was she exercised in the power of the eternal God wherein she sweetly finished her course and undoubtedly is at rest with the Lord where her joy is full and will continue to her world without end And it is upon me in the Name of the Lord to advise all where these testimonys and records may come that are young in years to take heed that you fleight not the day of your visitation nor squander away your precious time in vain pleasure and delights of this world not knowing how short your time may be in it and how soon the thread of your life may be cut Oh that you would be prevailed with and stirred up in your mindes and encouraged to seek the Lord whilst he may be found and call upon him whilst he is near and take that good advice left upon record to Remember your Creator in the dayes of your youth and bear Christs Yoke in your tender years and the Chastisments of the Lord and his righteouss Judgments love which allways are mixed with mercy and Sion is redeemed through judgment and her converts through righteousness and five not the Cross of Christ Jesus but take it up daily and let it crucifie all your vaine desires and youthfull lusts of the flesh anâ— let no uncomely or untruth like attire come upon you no wild or wanton behaviour or foolâ— talking or jesting which are not convenieâ—â— appear in you but let your gravity and moderation appear unto all and let your words be few and savoury such as may minister grace 〈◊〉 the hearer and do not think your professiâ—â— truth or being Children of believeing Parentâ— will serve you or Intitle you to the Kingdoâ— of God for in sin you are born who are in the transgression and by nature the Children 〈◊〉 wrath as well as others and Esau the first bâ—â— obtained not the Blessing nor can Ishmael it heir with Isaack Sarahs Son nor can what the Almighty hath done for you Fathers or others in the work of Regeneration and Redemptioâ— give you a right to their Spiritual inheritance though you have a subtill enemy perhaps wâ—â— seek to perswade you that you have good
A TRUE RELATION OF THE LIFE DEATH OF Sarah Beckwith Daughter of Marmaduke and Elizabeth Beckwith of Audbrough near Massham in York-shire Who in about the Twentieth Year of her Age departed this Life the 24th day of the 9th Month 1691. Witnessing the fulfilling of God 's ancient promise that in the latter Days he would power forth his Spirit upon his Servants and Hand-maids â—nd out of the Mouth of Babes and Sucklings he would shew forth his praise â—lessed are the Dead that dyes in the Lord yea saith the Spirit for they rest from their labours and their works follow them Rev. 14.13 Printed in the Year 1692. The Relation of HANNAH BECKWITH Touching the exercise of her dear Sâ—â—â—â— before and in the time of her sickness And thâ—â—ord delivered by her a little before her Death 〈◊〉 as could be well remembred With a Teâ—â—â—â—ony concerning her I Being very often with my ever dear and wellbeloved Sistâ—â— iâ— thâ—â—â—me of her sickness and being truly sensiable of the wonderfull dealings of the Lord with her and of his unspeakable Love to her in her great exercise to her great comfort I called to mind yea it came fresh into my remembrance what a tender frame of spirit she had been off even from her Child-hood which I saw the Lord had not forgot but had that regard unto it as to reward the same into her bosom manyfold and I cannot forbear in the first place in short to make mention thereof in order to what I have to say â—oncerning her exercise in the time of her sickness before the Tabernacle was laid down She was endued with an understanding from her child-hood and in the years of her Youth beyond the most of her equals of her age Sober and Grave in her deportment nor adicted â—o light and needless words nor such communication as corrupts good manners but most appeared amongst us her Sisters and the rest of the Family as one who had set a watch before her Spirit that she might not offend the Lord nor be of evill example amongst Us sâ—â— was pittifull and therein courtious and kind to all that stood in need she was tenderly obedient to her Parents and affectionate kind to us her Sisters and in the latter years of her Age she was given much to a retiredness and though carefull in the things of this World yet as one that used the world as not using it And as oâ—â— sincerely devoted to serve the Lord and the Kingdom which hath no end and the righteousness thereof Not doubting but as the Lorâ— saw meet other thinâ—â— would be added she wâ—â— observed often in the evening when her worâ— was much over to walk into the Fields and aâ— her return often appeared to have had a tendeâ— exercise upon her spirit in brokenness and wheâ— her sickness and weakness of body begun to groâ— upon her and her exercise before the Lord as to another world did inlarge in her she got little rest or sleep for many nights together yet heâ— understanding was kept cleer and her memory sound which she often said was a great mercy to her and praised God for it And on the 19th day of the 9th Month 1691 She being sorly troubled with shortness of breatâ— we did not expect according to outward appearance she should have lived over that nighâ— and she also told us she questioned whether 〈◊〉 might live till morning or no But in pleasâ— the Lord to give her some ease and she being in Bed desired us to raise her up and so we having done so she began to speak of the dealings of the Lord with her and of the many temptations that the wicked one laboured to ensnare withall of which she said she had been sensible She desired us that were young in yeares to prize our time not knowing how few days we had to live for said she I did not think my time had been so near an end Said again many were the temptations of the enemy and more especially â—o Youth by presenting length of days and perswading them that it s soon enough for them to trouble themselves with such a concerne â—or said she so would he have perswaded me and many wayes was I so tempted by him which caused my exercise to be such as I was nearly brought to dispaire And then said she I sought the Lord night and day when no Eye saw no Eares heard but the Lord alone who heard my call and caused a cry to run through me that he had good will for me and the Lord after gave me some comfortable assurance of my salvation But the enemy hath been very busie saith she and hath surely huried me since I begun with this illness She said it was hard to live in this World and not sin against the Lord and said also if it might be well with her it were better for her to dye then to live And with great â—erveney of Spirit she besought the Lord to spare her saying Lord add one other day to me that I may seek thee and that I maâ— feel thee and O Lord give me full assurance of my salvation before I depart hence Many times saying O Lord let not my distempouâ— overcome my sence till I come to a full Injoyment of thee and O Lord I pray thee let not my desires cease till thou answer the desires oâ— my heart and let nothing quench my thirst but thy love And so she continued in suplication to the Lord for a considerable time And the Lord was pleased to answer her desires to the glading of her heart and causeing her Cup to overflow So that living praises and Heavenly melodious sounds run through her to the God of her salvation and so she continued in a sweeâ— and heavenly frame many times saying O thaâ— I had breath to praise the Lord O that I haâ— breath to praise his Name and at many timeâ— she gave good and tender advice to Us her Sisters desireing us to love and fear the Lord above all and to keep in the Truth saying O press after it to feel the working of it in your own hearts And when you are in it keep in it and under the government of it and heed not to deck your selves but be meet and low saying None ought to pride themselves in any Induements neither in Beauty not in any oâ—her thing because it was not theirâ— but the Lords who gave it them and can takâ— it away when he pleaseth saying what is all now to me tenderly advising us not to let any thing in this World steal away our mindes She also spake of the state of many and said there are many that were grown careless and was gotten into liberty and such were ill examples to those that were coming up and said there are many that comes to Meetings and professes the Truth that knows but little what Truth is and said also it did not consist only in comeing to Meetings and wearing plain apparell and
the like unless they came to feel the workings of truth in their own hearts for said she all such outward appearances will stand in no stead without the love of God be inwardly felt and enjoyed for said she it is an easie thing to come to Meetings and some are ready to think that doing so and behaveing themselves soberly before this or the other person is sufficient But said she the Lord sees at all times and he will have no such mockery but said she I bless God I have not been guilty of seeming what I was not But O how did her love run forth to those who were faithfull saying they were near and dear to her and much desired the company of such as feared the Lord and loved the Truth and walked therein She wonderfully praised the love and mercies of the Lord to her saying it is not for my deserts for I had nothing to ingage the Lord with but it is his free love to me She often desired the Lord to give her a little ease that she might have a more full enjoyment of him and indeed she was so much born up over her weakness that at many times she felt little or no pain that we could diserne but with a miâ—dâ—â— and cheareful countinance would say I am well every way but for want of breath and the Lord can raise me up if he see it good forme and if not I am content I do believe which way so ever it be it will be for my good And she speaking of the way of truth said it was a straight and narrow way and not to be kept in without a daily watch and said it is this days bread and not that which was fed of yesterday that will satisfie for there are many by paths but as Job saith said she There is a path which no fool knoweth which the â—olterous eye hath not seen the Lyons whelp hath not troden it nor the fierce Lyon passed by it But said she although a strait way yet it is a pleasant path and delightsome Oh said the here is peace in abundance it is so sweet I could delight always to enjoy it and to live therein the Gold of Opher is not worthy to be compared to it And thus continued she in a sweet frame of Spirit her mind being wholy taken up with heavenly thoughts saying Lord give me fully to drink of the well of water that is within the Gate for thou hast ravish'd my heart and I am overcome with thy love Oh I long I long O Lord open thou the windows of heaven and power in of thy blessings into my soul untill there be not room enough to receive that I may bless and praise thy name and that I may ever swim in the Ocion and streams of thy love and living praise to the Lord with mellodious sounds aboundantly sprung from her She did also often advise those that were with her to keep out of passion saying Oh have a care of passion it hinders the prosperity of the work of God and there is no extream in the Truth ah it is of a meek and an heavenly quality That afternoon before she dyed she desired the Lord to spare her another half day if it was his will that she might enjoy him and that she might praise him and said I have known Christ to be my leader and my teacher shall be no more removed into a corner for mine eyes have seen my teacher and mine eares hath heard a voice saving this is the way walk in it she after desired the Lord to give her an easie passage and that night she desired that none but Friends might sit up with her her love being abundantly large to them And some of us going to bed haveing wanted our rest she tenderly took her leave of us and said if she were worse some should call and takeing me by the hand said dear Sister thou hast been near and dear to me and carefull of me the Lord requite thee and be near to thee when thou comes to lye on thy dying bed and so near the Morning her distemper growing upon her she said I am as sensiable as any of you and I am well content to dye saying I have no doubt of my Salvation forever I am going to dear Robert Lodge with many more sweet expressions which could not well be remembred nor perfectly heard her voice being very low she was very sensiable to the last so far as we could observe and spoke to within a very little time wherein she drew her last breath saying Lord take me away Lord take me away and presently after she quietly and comfortably passed away out of this world to live for ever in the World which hath no end She was a dear Sister to me a faithfull comfortable companion and help in the Lord and hard it was to me freely to part with her if it had been the Lords will that we might a little longer have enjoy'd each other in the body to have been each others help and cause of joy but being so fully satisfied that the love and blessings of the Lord was upon her I was more willing to give her up to him who gives and takes away and can do no less but bless and praised 〈◊〉 his holy name and return all glory and honour to him who is everlastingly worthy blessed for ever and for evermore And it is the servent desire of my heart that we who are left behind may so live to God and walk in the ever blessed Truth which she testified to to her latter end that we may be made partakers of that rest peace and joy Which undoubtedly she is already entered into Hannah Beckwith Written the 11. of the 10th Month 169â— A Few words in Testimony concerning the Life and Death of Sarah Beckwith Daughter of Marmaduke and Elizabeth Beckwith c. Who Departed this Life the 24th 9th Month 1691. SHe was of my familiar acquaintance from a Child for I lived divers years during her Child-hood in her fathers house she was born of beliveing parents and under their eye and care educated in the way and profession of truth which God Almighty in blessing doth regard and I am well satisfied that in her own soul she was a real lover of truth from a Child for she was diligent in comeing to Meetings and when there very retir'd in her mind not making a shew above what she realy was but even as Mary did hid up things in her heart on the Eight day of the above said Month she waâ— visited with the Sickness she dyed of in the time whereof she severall times sent for me and the first tâ—me I went she said to me Grace I am glad to see thee thou hast been often near to me in remembrance and love being in a sweet and tender frame of spirit began to devulge her secrets to me signifying that for about three quarters of a year last she had sought the Lord
with her heart both night and day and perticularized divers times and places wherein the Lord had very comfortably broken in upon her and filled her heart with his love that deeply ingaged her to praise his Name and I being sent for the night hefore she dyed she said Lord give me breath to praise thy Name withall And severall Friends being about her she said Lord comfort us together this Night and blessed be his Name he graciously answered the desires of her soul and made us partakers of his unspeakable kindness together to the overcoming of us the remembrance of which visitation hath been often refreshing to me even as marrow to my bones For the Lord broke in upon her and a stream from the living fountain Issued forth unto her and comfortably we were made partakers with her of the water of Life and the liveing food which nourisheth the soul up in God to eternal life And many were the wholsome expressions of advice which she gave to us all And then turned her a side to me and said you give me no councel whereunto I answered dear Sarah thou wants not a Counceller we are willing to hear and receive councel from thee She answered and said it is written your eyes shall see you Teacher and your eares shall hear a voice saying this is the way walke in it And she further added it is a pleasant way and after divers other comfortable expressions which came from her she signifying to us that she had full assurance of the salvation of her soul Her three Sisters being before her she advised them to seek the Lord while he was to be found and said he was found of them that sought him and I am well satisfyed she spake what she knew and bare testimony what she witnessed Blessed be the Lord for ever who gave her the knowledge of himself in the face of Jesus Christ and out of the mouth of a Babe did she shew his praise even him whom the World knows not nor can they praise his Name and such was the sweet and heavenly frame that she was that night exercised in That I was made to say in my soul better is the day of Death to those who dye in the Lord and layeth down their heads in peace with him then the day of their birth and very near her departure out of this World she said I am going to dear Robert Lodge and you must follow and rest with us that loves the Lord and his heavenly appearance and she growing very weak in body yet strong in the Lord being filled with love and spirituall blessings yet her Voice low and some few of her last words could not be understood quietly like a Lamb without spot she departed this Life the day and year above written And the 29th of the same Month as I was sitting in our own house at my employment an unspeakable weight fell upon my spirit and remained with me a considerable time which occasioned a cry to run through me Lord what is the matter and immediatly these words run through my life Although Sarah Beckwith be dead yet her Memoriall shall live and be serviceable to this generation and to generations that are yet to come And so to the God of all our mercies who filled the soule of this Innocent tender stripling Abrahams Daughter with his heavenly appearances and devine blessings be everlasting praise and glory for ever Grace Bins COncerning my dear Companion Sarah Beckwith this testimony I have to bear I having had the knowledge of her for many years and being much with her in the time of her sickness and also present when she departed this life and being an eye and eare witness of the love and great goodness of the Lord liveingly testified of to us from her own mouth upon her dying bed according to the dispensation of the grace of god given me I am bold to say that she dye not as fool dyeth that fear not the Lord for her heart was set to serve and fear him and it was her earnest desire and advice to those that were Young in years to prise their time and to seek the way of the Lord for she gave testimony of it to be a pleasant way And said she was come to witness it so to be and my desire is that we that are yet in this Tabernacle may from a grounded experience be brought to testify the same and this is my beleife concerning her that she is entered into everlasting rest Oh the heavenly expressions Which came from her in the time of her sickness and the weakness she was under which I hope never will be forgotten by us but remaine within us in our rememberance She begged of the Lord that he would add to her time in this World untill she had a full assurance of her salvation which he did graciously answer for she signified to us that she did not doubt of it and she desired the Lord with much fervency of Spirit that he would give her breath to praise his Name And the Lord heard and answered from his Holy place for he did not only give her breath but a Mouth also to praise him Oh! the Heavenly power that she was filled with and carried on in that devine and sweet refreshing frame of spirit that it was of unspeakable comfort and refreshment to the standers by and great satisfaction to those she was outwardly related to and near and dear unto them every way she was from a Child Zealously affected with the truth and the society of Gods faithfull people and her heart was Inclined after â—he best things and she with Mary Chose the better part which shall never be taken from her and the Lord filled her with his power and opened her mouth in Wisdome to speak of the Mâ—stry of the knowledge of the devine and best things to the tendering of our hearts and to our refreshment â—he being my Intimate companion haveing had much society witâ— her I have known her often bowed down with many more for the loss of dear Robert Lodge being a neaâ— Neighbour to her and often in Company with him I have seen her broken into tears in Remembrance of him And when she lay upon her dying bed she much desired the Company of friends but more especially those that were come to witness in a larger measure the dealings of the Lord with them both in judgment and mercy it waâ— great satisfaction and comfort to her to have those with her she breathed to the Lord for our sakes that were young in years that we might be preserved in the righteous path of holyness I was truely glad that it was my lot to be with her and I do prise it as a mercy to me Which I desire while I live I may not forget but answer the kindness of God to me therein as that which may do me good I am fully satisfied that she hath laid down her head in peace with God and is gone
to her desired Haven of rest for ever where there is joy that hath no end And my hearts desire is that we that are young in years may prise oâ—â— time in this World â—â—d may be preserved â—om the evill thereof That we may fear the Lord while we live and so run our race that at the closure of our days we may lay down our heads in peace when time in this world unto us shall be no more Katherine Savill I Hearing that my dearly beloved Freind Sarah Beckwith My familiar and of great acquaintance we being both of one and the same Meeting became greatly exercised with sickness It was much upon me to go visit to her though one of the least of the flock of God I looked on my self to be yet I haveing certain knowledge and sence upon my spirit that Innocent Lamb though as but a Child in years had an unspeakable love to the truth and breathings in her soul for the prosperity of it I could not be satisfied till I gave up my self to go In the love of God which I felt abounding in me towards her And when I came near the place I can truely say that the free and opened springs of life did abundantly flow forth upon me and when I came into the room where she was I found her very Weake as to the outward yet strong In the Lord as to the Inner man and in an heavenly frame of spirit to my great refreshment I saw it was the great desire of her heart to have friends to Truth in company with her and in the time of my being there she was so raised up by the power of the Lord to bear testimony to the truth in the authority and life thereof that we that were with her did believe that sometimes she felt no sickness oâ— paâ—n upon her and as I with other Friends was standing by her at the bed side the power of the Lord Sprung up in her and she opened heâ— mouth and said O prise the truth O prise the truth long for it O long for it and when you have received it hold it fast let it not go And she desired friends especially those that were young to prise their time and to keep in their minds to God and value truth above all and the eternall divine power that did accompany her when she delivered those words did so tender and break my heart that I went out of the room a little to ease my spirit and when I came in again I found her in the same frame of spirit mentioning our dear deceased Friend Robert Lodge and in the like heavenly exercise she continued in a sound understanding so farr as we could apprehend even unto the very last moment of her time in this world and I am fully satisfied that to â—imself God almighty hath taken her soul to live and abide wiâ—h him world without end and I fully believe that through Gods help that Remembrance of her and the sweet expressions deâ—â—vered by her in the power of the Lord will remain with me for my advantage in the Lord while I have a day to live that glory may be g ven to the great God who is worthy for ever and for evermore Alice Edge Katherine Winns Testimony concerning Sarah Beckwith With a few words of advice to young Friends THe dealings of the Lord are Worthy to be kept in remembrance and his tender mercies and loving kindness to his servants and hand-maids in this our day and age to be left upon record to future ages In which I am concerned according to my measure In this my testimony touching a young Maid Sarah Beckwith I being an eye and eare witness with severall others of the exercises she was under and of the testimony she bore through the marvellous and and heavenly power of the Lord upon her dying bed oh the sweet expressions that came from her and the heavenly acknowledgements of the great love of God unto her which was great comfort and sweet refreshment to those that were about her liveing praises to our God for ever who is thus pleased to condescend to the weak capacitys of his handmaids and graciously 〈◊〉 appear out of the mouths of babes and sucklings to perfect his praise I cannot well go by the giveing a little hint of her behaviour from her Child-hood so far as it comes within the compass of my knowledge for I knew her well the having been tabled with me she was a Child of a sound and solid witt yet very quick active and nimble about the year 1680 she being near Eleaven years of age I was taken prisoner for the truth and she removed to her fathers house but shortly after she desired to see me and to stay some time with me though she thought I had been keept in a dark hole without light yet that did not discourage her accordingly she came to me of which I was exceeding glad and truely comforted for there was no woman in the Goal but me and she became as my fellow prisoner and companion I took great notice and could not but admire that our close confinement did not trouble her and often since have had it in my mind considering her activity that she should so willingly leave her companions yea her fathers house where satisfaction as to the outward every way might have been fully offered and given her and to take her self to such a solitary way of liveing with me in that Goal which she did with chearfulness during the time of her fathers pleasure and hath often said since that she thought she could willingly have lived with us all her days and after it pleased the Lord to visit her with very great weakness through all wich he wounderfully preserved her memory though her afliction was great and in his own good time wounderfully raised her up again contrary to the expectation of most and as she grew in strength she grew in the inward knowledge of the dealings of the Lord with her as to her inner man and in inward feeling of his tender mercys to her loveing kindness which constrained her sometimes in secret and alone to sound forth liveing praises to him when she thought no eye saw her nor eare heard her but the Lord she was very deligent in comeing to meetings and very watchful I was she in the time thereof I knew not that ever I saw a droosy or a carelesse mind appear in her and if at any time in any thing she had exceeded the solide truth it was her Heavenly Fathers pleasure to follow her with gentle chastise ment in token of his love to her for it is certain that whom he loves he chastens and this brought a true fear upon her and sorrow appeared in her for offending the Lord though she thought that none had perceived it yet it was clearly observed by her Mother and in bowedness of spirit she continued before the Lord till is was his pleasure to remitt