I would have thee Courteous Reader to ponder in thy heart to vvit the gift of singing spiritual Songs and Hymnes whih she prâ—sents thee with some instances of in her Book here and there occasionally touching which Administration I am willing for thy â—dification to say 1. That singing of Psalmes Hymnes and Spiritual Songs bâ—ing an Ordinance of Gods vvorship ought to be performed by a gift and the assistance of the Spirit as well as prayer 1. Cor. 14 12 15. What is it then I vvill pray vvith the Spirit c. I vvilising vvith the Spirit c. Now as to take a book and râ—ad a prayer out of it or to say a prayer without the Book is not to pray in the Spirit so to read a Psalme in a Book and sing it or to sing the same Psalme without the Book is not to sing in the Spirit If the singing of Psalmes be a part of Gods worship as doubtless it is then it ought to be performed by assistance of the spirit for the true worshippers ought to worship God in spirit and truth John 4 23 24. 2. That Christians ought to sing Spiritual Songs and Hymnes as well as Psalmes unto the Lord And that with grace in their hearts Col. 3 16. for the melody which the Lord loveth iâ— in the heart rather then in the voyce Eph. 5 19. 3. They who performe this part of Gods worship whether they speak unto themselves in private or unto others more publickly ought to have the word of Christ to dwell richly in them yea and to be filled with the Spirit as the Apostle testifieth Ephes 5 vers 17 18 19 20 and Coloss 3 vers 16. I have known some other Godly and gracious Christians besides this grave and holy Matron who have this gift of Singing and I my self have some experience of this kinde of Anoynting of the Spirit of praise which will I hope ere long be powred forth upon the sons and daughters of Zion And then they will praise Jehovah singing to the Lord a new Song and his praise in the Congregation of Saints as is prophesied Psal 149 1 2 5. and Isai 51 11. and 52 1 8. c. The holy Spirit can dictate the Matter yea and words of praise and singing as well as the matter and words of prayer And why may not the Lord assist a poor gracious humble soul to sing in the Spirit as well as to pray in the Spirit seeing there nothing too hard for God to do It was by many and is still by some denyed that there is any such thing as a Spiritual gift of prayer save onely that vvhich is acquired And yet the gracious experience of many Godly persons doth testify that there is such a gift of the Spirit called a spirit of supplication which is powred forth upon the Lords people And although many nay most Godly Christians do not believe there is any such Spiritual gift of â—â—nging as I have here intimated yet some few poor gracious humble soules have good Experience that there is sometimes a measure of the holy Spirit powred upon them where by they are so filled with the Spirit that they break forth into singing Pray therefore that thou mayest sing and praise the Lord when the Redeemed of the Lord shall return and come with singing to Zion Isa 51 11. And the Children of Zion be joyful in their King Psal 149 1. Unto whom be glory and dominion for ever AMEN So prayeth he who waiteth for his Kingdome and Coming HANSERD KNOLLYS ERRATA PAg. 1. Line 8 9. read forbearance line 16. r. sinned l. 19. r. petty Pag. 3. line 1. r. I was stirred line 3. 4. r. to me towards Heaven Pag. 4. l. 7. r. stumblest Pag. 6. l. 1. r. heed Pag. 7. l. 6. r. Christening Pag. 8. l. 25. 26. r. unbelief Pag. 9. l. 12. read renewings These and some other litteral mistakes the Reader is desired to mend in the perusal of this Book Christian Womans experiences of the glorious working of Gods free Grace I Had once hard thoughts of the people of God yet being on a time perswaded to go to hear them I went though not out of love to them but to vvatch vvhat I could observe and being then over perswaded against them and the Ministers Text that then preacht was Rom. 2 4 5 6. or Dispisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbeacance and long suffering not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee unto repentance but after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up to thy self wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous Judgment of God who will render to every man according to his deeds Verily at this opportunity the dread of God did much smite upon my heart that I had so long sinnend against his patience and goodnesz He had this passage that the sword of the Lord hung as in a twine threed to cut of all pitty swearers and I having been one that durst not swear great oathes but small ones I was addicted to I thought it met with my particular condition Then had I little acquaintance with any that feared the Lord unless it were one family and they were much afraid of me for a season because I had been so vain Then was I cast upon the Lord alone who did much support mee by his grace blessed be his name yet the very first night after he began to work upon my heart I fell under this temptation that I should not eat any more but rather die and then I should cease from sinning against the Lords goodness I then cast away my prayer-book for it did not reach my necessities and I cried unto the Lord alone to teach mee to pray Then did I endeavour to keep close to the best teaching ministery I could find I was very ignorant yet did search the Scriptures diligently but found them very dark to mee I dayly saw a more clear discovery of my sinful nature and then began to be sorely perplexed with feavs that I could not be a child of God because I knew not how to get victory over my sin and though I used all meanes I could yet my corruptions would sometimes break forth which made mee often times ready to dispare and to cast of all But one day amongst the rest the Lord made mee resolve though he kild mee yet I would trust in him he made mee also desire of him that if he would not save mee yet that he would not let mee go back again into sin for the sence of Gods goodness was much upon my heart Then in several Sermons God was pleased to speak peace to my poor soul yet after through the violence of temptations I often questioned my condition sometimes I was tempted to murder my self sometimes to starve my self yet the Lord upheld mee for I could not make my case known to any but God for the space of two years all which season I was wonderfully kept by
consulted what to do for mee But concluded there was no help but I must dye But when I heard that I said there is yet help in God and it was set upon me to believe that if I could but touch the hemm of the garment of Jesus Christ that is believingly go to him I should be healed being also put in minde of that promise that whosoever forsake any thing for his sake and the Gospels Mat. 19 29. should receive an hundredfold then I cryed Lord give me to be healed of this distemper by thee seing thou art pleased to deny help by man And one day our Pastor called in to visit me as he was going to the meeting whom I did desire to pray for me and to stirre up the bretheren to joyn with him and I much incouraged him that they should pray in faith believing for what they asked telling him that by faith and prayer he would assuredly heal me and verily according unto my faith it was done unto me for ever blessed be God for J. Christ for as they were praying in his name the distemper departed Next the Lord was pleased to lay his afflicting hand upon another of my children then did I much desire that all afflictions might be sanctified rather then removed and that by all I might be made more conformable unto Jesus Christ was I helped then to read and mind thad place in Job Job 34 32. That which I see not teach thou mee if I have done iniquâ—â—y I will do no more Then our Pastor coming again to visit me I asked him how we should know the mind of God in these many afflictions he answered mee that a man having an orchard or vineyard walkes therein and among all the trees he makes choyce it may be of some one tree whose standing is more pleasant and conveniâ—nt then others and that tree he chops hacks and makes an Arbour to sit in for his delight and said hee if God wil do so by you will you not there with be content Oh! yes said I if that be the good will of my heavenly father and blessed be God I did find it so for though I have sowed in tears I have reaped in joy and have found the times of greatest outward trouble and affliction have been the onely times of greatest inward and spiritual joy and soul consolation verily I cannot express with tongue nor pen the large experience I have had upon this account And this I have found that when a poor soul is faithful and single hearted for God walking up to the light id hath received this is the very way to injoy the presence of God and his blessing upon him in what state and condition so ever he is in for this I can declare from mine own experience that lose is the way to gain troublet is the way to peace sorrow is the way to joy and death is the way to life he that looseth his life for my sake saith Jesus Christ the same shall find it through the valey of tears lieth the way to the mountain of joy for whilst I set my self in good earnest to seek the Lord for instruction into the truth as it is in Jesus I met with many difficulties but yet out prayer hearing God was pleased to come in by degrees having through his grace given me faith in his son who was exalted as a Prince and a SÃ viour to give me repentance made mee also willing to be baptised for the remission of sins Now that which made me willing to obey the Lord in this Ordinance was the Command of Jesus Christ in Mat. 28 19. and Act. 10 48. and the example of Christ and the practise of the Apostles and pâ—imitive Saints together with the promise of the gift of the Holy Ghost anexed thereunto Acts 2 38. And indeed this truth a last was so set upon my heart by the Lord that though many difficulties lay in the way yet the Lord carried me through them all and after I had obeyed the Lord therein in very faithsulness I must declare that I did injoy the incomes of God in a more plentisul manner then before But Satan for some time laboured to hinder mee in obeying the Lord in this piece of service with this temptation that by this meanes a death in all likelyhood and in an eye of reason would fall upon my livelyhood but God made it a furtherance to mee and to others also so that many of us were at that time after waiting on God by fasting and prayer baptized together And after that the Lord was pleased to bless mee in my imployment that following year with more then ordinary success by which the Devil was proved a lyar But afterward I had some fears that my imployment might be a suare unto mâ—e as the world is to many and that I should bee too earthly in it for this Scripture did follow mee very much which I desire to give good heed unto Oh! Earth Earth hear the word of the Lord. And often in prayer I did cry unto God saying speak Lord for thy servant desires to hear and was very desirous to know what the Lord would have me to understand by this word and when I had considered I found some thing in my imployment sinsul and a hinderance unto my spiritual injoyments to convince mee of which the Lord waâ— pleased to with hold his blessing upon that imployment which before I had found therein to the convincing and converting of some to himself so finding something in it contrary to his will I was constreined to leave it of and after much seeking of the Lord for councel these Scriptures were much with mee Math. 7 7. Ask and it shall be given you seek and ye shall find knockâ— and it shall be opened unto you If ye then being evil know how to give good guifts unto your children how much more shall your father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him Math. 7 11. And on my servants and on my hand maidens will I pour out of my spirit and they shall prophesy Acts 2 18. These promises did dwell with mee for a long season so that I was much stirred up to pray to the Lord that he would please to accomplish them upon mee and pour out of his blessed Spirit upon mee And after long seeking espâ—cially one day being very earnest and importunate with the Lord after which I went out to walk and on a sudden I was indued with the gift of singing in such a way and manner as I had not been acquainted with before and immediately this following song came in as fast as I could sing as followeth it was in the year 1655. in the Moneth of February Come home come home thy work is done My glory thou shalt see Let all the meek ones of the earth Come home along with thee Cast of the world it is too base And low for thee to dwell I have redeem'd thee from
us onely believing we must flee unto the hornes of the Althar And I have found when I have neglected prayer my heart hath been very dead and full of unbelief And again I have found it no comfort to rest upon duties for that is a dangerous evil to set up such an Idol in the heart but here in lay my comfort when I by faith could have communion vvith God and coming near to him could cast my burthen upon him and go avvay quiet in my mind that Christ vvould do all for mee and vvhen I vvas vvilling God shtould do vvhat he pleased vvith mee and my vvill vvas brought to his vvill then have I had the mercy I have asked and more also many times I have found retired places and vvatchings the best opportunities and greatest advantages unto prayer Also I have had many temptations against prayer but the best vvay to overcome them is to mind the command of Jesus Christ vvhich is that vve should vvatch unto prayer and pray alvvayes keep close to the duty in the strength of Christ and loose not the motions of the Spirit neither grieve the Spirit by sin but vvatch against all appearances of evil for I hahave found that the neglect of vvatchfulness against sin and being overcome by it doth greatly deaden the heart to duty keep your eyes upon the promises by faith look up unto Christ in prayer and let all take heed of setting up prayer or any other duty above or in the roome of Jesus Christ Iâ— God assist you to pray for a mercy though he give it not in presently yet hold on if your asking be according to his will and your end the glory of God and ye find enlargment from the Spirit of life you may be sure he will be answer you in that thing or else in some thing better for you in his ovvn season My self sought the Lord 20 years for one thing before I had an ansvver but at last being at prayer after I had done God gave mee in a most gracious ansvver and set dovvn the very time of deliverance and did accordingly accomplish it at the very time to him be the praise And many other things I have sought the Lord for and he hath been pleased to grant my desire especially vvhen he hath made me earnest and importunate and have assisted me to hold on and given me a spirit of faith to believe for the thing prayed for Another time I sought the Lord for a relation of mine who was thought to be near unto death and this vvas given in call upon mee in the day of trouble I vvil hâ—ar and deliver and thou shalt glorify mee and â—rom that time that person amended and life vvas continued Also I knew another young person that was by the word preached convinced of her sinsul state and set upon the performance of some duties but not being acquainted with the wiles and temptations of Satan afterward some deadness ceasing upon her spirit began to neglect her duty but one in the family perceiving of it advised her to present her self before the Lord and although she found her self dead yet to pray that she might pray whose conucel shee took and shee continuing diligent the Lord came in by the mighty witness of his spirit fully satisfying her soul in a very short time Further oh let all that fear God be encouraged to continue in and not neglect family duties for I have found by good experience many wrought upon by instructions and prayer when their lot have been cast into those families where reading praying and Catechising and such duties have been faithfully performed ô many young ones have been brought home to God by his blessing upon this meanes And amongst many more I remember one who was very strongly assalted with many temptariones to keep her from coming to and clossing with Jesus Christ and this tâ—mptation was most upon her that she was too young and it would be time enough afterward why should she expose her self to scorne and reproach by being called a Puritan and so become a luaghing stock to others but the Lord was pleased to overcome her and bring her to himself X Another also who set her self against them in the family that wished her soules good and used all meanes to gâ—t out of that family to which end also she raised some lyes which very evil the Lord set upon her heart and then she came to be convinced of her sad sinful state and was also brought home to God through his rich grace in Jesus Christ And another who by this meanes vvas vvrought upon that vvas a young maid a Ministers Daughter and had been vvell instructed and educated from a child vvhereby she vvas informed of the evils of scandalous sins and avoided them and vvas also very constant in the performance of duties and indeed so vvalked as none could see ought a mise in her conversation yet notvvithstanding the poor heart vvas ignorant of her self and of Jesus Christ but she being under a family Catechising and instruction vvas by the mighty povver of the eternal Spirits vvorking convinced of original sin and then she savv that for all her formality she vvas a sinner and had need of a Saviour and so vvas brought home to close with Jesus Christ This also I have found that a constant close secking of God hath been crowned with his presence for I my self was with some others desired to pray to the Lord for councel and direction for them but they would not tell mee in what it was that they sought direction yet notwithstanding I did not know the thing I set my self to seek God for them and he was pleased to shew me what it was this was Anno 1657. and I did pray God to let mee know his mind in that particular and the Lord put it upon my heart to go and read and the place of Scripture handed to mee was quite against their work at that time which they had upon their heart to do then I sought the Lord again and the second answer was go in and â—ead then I looked up to the Lord as I did before and said Lord shew me where I shall read and that Scripture also was flat against their work and just so I had a third answer also And the next day as I was at my work my heart and meditations were above and my secret desire still to God for the further teachings of his good Spirit and these following lines with much more came in as a further answer from the Lord As for the work of Babylon It is a mighty work and strong But yet my power shall it compleat For my wisdom it mighty great They must sit still behold my power VVhich worketh for them hour by hour And novv my dear Christian friends into vvhose hands this my poor mite shall come I desire you take notice of that great love and vvonderful grace of God vvhich he hath been pleased to manifest