cursed into the Lake that burns for ever What a grief is it to me to think that I shall see any of my friends that I knew upon Earth turned into that Lake that burns for ever O that word for ever Remember that for ever I speak these words to you but they are nothing except God speak to you too O pray pray pray that God would give you grace and then she prayed O Lord finish thy work upon their Souls It will be my comfort to see you in glory but it will be your everlasting happiness 30. Her Grandmother told her she spent her self too much she said I care not for that if I could do any Soul good O with what vehemency did she speak as if her heart were in every word she spoke 31. She was full of Divine Sentences and almost all her discourse from the first to the last in the time of her sickness was about her Soul Christs sweetness and the Souls of others in a word like a continued Sermon 32. Upon Friday after she had had such lively discoveries of Gods love she was exceeding desirous to die and cryed out Come Lord Jesus come quickly conduct me to thy Tabernacle I am a poor creature without thee but Lord Jesus my soul longs to be with thee O when shall it be Why not now dear Jesus Come Lord Jesus come quickly but why do I speak thus Thy time dear Lord is the best O give me patience 33. Upon Saturday she spoke very little being very drowsie yet now and then she dropt these words How long sweet Jesus finish thy work sweet Jesus come away sweet dear Lord Jesus come quickly sweet Lord help come away now now dear Jesus come quickly Good Lord give patience to me to wait thy appointed time Lord Jesus help me help me help me Thus at several times when out of her sleep for she was asleep the greatest part of the day 34. Upon the Lords Day she scarce spoke any thing but much desired that Bills of Thanksgiving might be sent to those who had formerly been praying for her that they might help her to praise God for that full assurance that he had given her of his love and seemed to be much swallowed up with the thoughts of Gods free love to her Soul She oft commended her spirit into the Lords hands and the last words which she was heard to speak were these Lord help Lord Jesus help Dear Jesus Blessed Jesus And thus upon the Lords Day between Nine and Ten of the Clock in the Forenoon she slept sweetly in Jesus and began an everlasting Sabbath February 19. 1670. EXAMPLE II. Of a Child that was admirably affected with the things of God when he was between two and three years Old with a brief account of his Life and Death 1. A Certain little Child whose Mother had dedicated him to the Lord in the womb when he could not speak plain would be crying after God and was greatly desirous to be taught good things 2. He could not endure to be put to Bed without family duty but would put his Parents upon duty and would with much devotion kneel down and with great patience and delight continue till duty was at an end without the least expression of being weary and he seemed never so well pleased as when he was engaged in duty 3. He could not be satisfied with Family-duty but he would be oft upon his knees by himself in one corner or other 4. He was much delighted in hearing the word of God either read or preached 5. He loved to go to School that he might learn something of God and would observe and take great notice of what he had read and come home and speak of it with much affection and he would rejoyce in his book and say to his Mother O Mother I have had a sweet lesson to day will you please to give me leave to fetch my book that you may hear it 6. As he grew up he was more and more affected with the things of another world so that if we had not received our information from one that is of undoubted fidelity it would seem incredible 7. He quickly learned to read the Scriptures and would with great Reverence Tenderness and groans read till tears and sobs were ready to hinder him 8. When he was at secret prayer he would weep bitterly 9. He was wont often times to complain of the naughtiness of his heart and seemed to be more grieved for the Corruption of his Nature than for any actual sin 10. He had a vast Understanding in the things of God even next to a wonder for one of his age 11. He was much troubled for the wandrings of his thoughts in duty and that he could not keep his heart alway fixed upon God and the work he was about and his affections constantly raised 12. He kept a watch over his heart and observed the workings of his Soul and would complain that the were so vain and foolish and so little busied about spirituas things 13. As he grew up he grew daily in knowledg and experience and his carriage was so heavenly and his discourse so excellent and experimental that it made those which heard it even astonished 14. He was exceeding importunate with God in duty and would plead with God at a strange rate and use such arguments in prayer that one would think it were impossible should ever enter into the heart of a Child he would beg and expostulate and weep so that sometimes it could not be kept from the ears of Neighbours so that one of the next house was forced to cry out the prayers and tears of that Child in the next house will sink me to Hell because by it he did condemn his neglect of prayer and his slight performance of it 15. He was very fearful of wicked company and would oft beg of God to keep him from it and that he might never be pleased in them that took delight in displeasing of God And when he was at any time in the hearing of their wicked words taking the Lords Name in vain or swearing or any filthy word it would even make him tremble and ready to go home and weep 16. He abhorred lying with his Soul 17. When he had committed any fault he was easily convinced of it and would get in some corner and secret place and with tears beg pardon of God and strength against such a sin He had a friend that oft watched him and listned at his Chamber-door from whom I received this Narrative 18. When he had been asked whether he would commit such a sin again he would never promise absolutely because he said his heart was naught but he would weep and say he hoped by the grace of God he should not 19. When he was left at home alone upon the Sabbath days he would be sure not to spend any part of the day in Idleness and Play but be busied in praying Reading in
the Bible and getting of his Catechism 20. When other Children were playing he would many a time and oft be praying 21. One day a certain person was discoursing with him about the Nature Offices and Excellency of Christ and that he alone can satisfie for our sins and merit everlasting life for us and about other of the great Mysteries of Redemption he seemed savingly to understand them and was greatly delighted with the discourse 22. One speaking concerning the Resurrection of the Body he did acknowledg it but that the same weak body that was buried in the Church-yard should be raised again he thought very strange but with Admiration yielded that nothing was impossible to God and that very day he was taken sick unto death 23. A Friend of his asked him whether he were willing to dye when he was first taken sick he answered no because he was afraid of his state as to another world Why Child said the other thou didst pray for a new Heart for an humble and a sincere Heart and I have heard thee didst thou not pray with all thy heart I hope I did said he 24. Not long after the same person asked him again whether he were willing to die He answered now I am willing for I shall go to Christ 25. One asked him what should become of his Sister if he should die and leave her He answered the will of the Lord must be done 26. He still grew weaker and weaker but carried it with a great deal of sweetness and patience waiting for his change and at last did chearfully commit his Spirit unto the Lord and calling upon the Name of the Lord and saying Lord Jesus Lord Jesus In whose bosome he sweetly slept dying as I remember when he was about five or six years old EXAMPLE III. Of a little Girl that was wrought upon when she was between four and five years old with some account of her holy life and triumphant death 1. MAry A. When she was between four and five years old was greatly affected in hearing the word of God and became very solicitous about her Soul and everlasting condition weeping bitterly to think what would become of her in another World asking strange questions concerning God and Christ and her own soul so that this little Mary before she was full five years old seemed to mind the one thing needful and to choose the better part and sat at the feet of Christ many a time and oft with tears 2. She was wont to be much in secret duty and many times come off from her knees with tears 3. She would chuse such times and places for secret duty as might render her less observed by others and did endeavour what possibly she could to conceal what she was doing when she was engaged in secret duty 4. She was greatly afraid of hypocrisie and of doing any thing to be seen of men and to get commendation and praise and when she hath heard one of her Brothers saying that he had been by himself at prayer she rebuked him sharply and told him how little such prayers were like to profit him and that was little to his praise to pray like a hypocrite and to be glad that any should know what he had been doing 5. Her Mother being full of sorrow after the death of her Husband this Child came to her Mother and askt her why she wept so exceedingly her Mother answered she had cause enough to weep because her Father was dead No dear Mother said the Child you have no cause to weep so much for God is a good God still to you 6. She was a dear lover of faithful Ministers One time after she had been hearing of Mr. Whitaker she said I love that name dearly for the sweet words that he speaks concerning Christ 7. Her Book was her delight and what she did read she loved to make her own and cared not for passing over what she learned without extraordinary observations and understanding and many times she was so strangely affected in reading of the Scriptures that she would burst out into tears and would hardly be pacified so greatly was she taken with Christs sufferings the zeal of Gods Servant the danger of a natural state 8. She would complain oftentimes of the corruption of her nature of the hardness of her heart that she could repent no more thorowly and be no more humble and grieved for her sins against a good God and when she did thus complain it was with abundance of tears 9. She was greatly concerned for the souls of others and grieved to think of the miserable condition that they were in upon this account when she could handsomly she would be putting in some pretty sweet word for Christ but above all she would do what she could to draw the hearts of her brethren and sisters after Christ and there was no small hopes that her example and good counsel did prevail with some of them when they were very young to get into corners to pray to ask very gracious questions about the things of God 10. She was very conscientious in keeping the Sabbath spending the whole time either in reading or praying or learning her Catechism or teaching her Brethren and Sisters One time when she was left at home upon the Lords day she got some other little children together with her brothers and sisters and instead of playing as other naughty children use to do she told them that that was the Lords day and that they ought to remember that day to keep it holy and then she told them how it was to be spent in religious exercises all the day long except so much as was to be taken up in the works of necessity and mercy then she prayed with them her self and among other things begged that the Lord would give grace and wisdom to them little Children that they might know how to serve him as one of the little ones in the company with her told afterwards 11. She was a Child of a strange tenderness and Compassion to all full of Bowels and Pity whom she could not help she would be ready to weep over especially if she saw her Mother at any time troubled she would quickly make her sorrows her own and weep for her and with her 12. When her Mother had been somewhat solicitous about any worldly thing she would if she could possible put her off from her care one way or other One time she told her O Mother grace is better than that meaning something her Mother wanted I had rather have grace and the love of Christ than any thing in the world 13. This Child was often musing and busied in the thoughts of her everlasting Work witness that strange question O what are they doing which are already in Heaven And she seemed to be hugely desirous to be among them that were praising loving delighting in God and serving of him without sin Her language was so strange about spiritual matters that she made
die She answered Yes if God would pardon her sins Being asked how her sins should be pardoned She answered through the blood of Christ 14. She said she did believe in Christ and desired and longed to be with him and did with a great deal of chearfulness give up her soul There were very many observable passages in the Life and Death of this Child but the hurry and grief that her friends were in buryed them The Fifth Example of the pious Life and joyful Death of a Child which dyed when he was about twelve years old 1632. 1. CHarles Bridgman had no sooner learned to speak but he betook himself to prayer 2. He was very prone to learn the things of God 3. He would be sometimes teaching them their duty that waited upon him 4. He learned by heart many good things before he was well fit to go to School and when he was set to School he carried it so that all that observed him either did or might admire him O the sweet nature the good disposition the sincere Religion which was in this Child 5. When he was at School what was it that he desired to learn but Christ and him crucified 6. So religious and savoury were his words his actions so upright his devotion so hearty his fear of God so great that many were ready to say as they did of John What manner of Child shall this be 7. He would be much in reading the holy Scriptures 8. He was desirous of more spiritual knowledg and would be oft asking very serious and admirable questions 9. He would not stir out of doors before he had poured out his Soul to the Lord. 11. When he eat any thing he would be sure to lift up his heart unto the Lord for a blessing upon it and when he had moderately refreshed himself by eating he would not forget to acknowledg Gods goodness in feeding of him 12. He would not lye down in his bed till he had been upon his knees and when sometimes he had forgotten his duty he would quickly get out of his bed and kneeling down upon his bare knees covered with no Garment but his Linings ask God forgiveness for that sin 13. He would rebuke his Brethren if they were at any time too hasty at their meals and did eat without asking a blessing his check was usually this dare you do thus God be merciful unto us this bit of bread might choak us 14. His sentences were wise and weighty and well might become some ancient Christian 15. His sickness was a lingring disease against which to comfort him one tells him of possessions that must fall to his portion and what are they said he I had rather have the Kingdom of Heaven than a thousand such inheritances 16. When he was sick he seemed much taken up with Heaven and asked very serious questions about the nature of his soul 17. After he was pretty well satisfied about that he enquired how his soul might be saved the answer being made by the applying of Christs merits by faith he was pleased with the answer and was ready to give any one that should desire it an account of his hope 18. Being asked whether he had rather live or dye he answered I desire to dye that I may go to my Saviour 19. His pains encreasing upon him one asked him whether he would rather still endure those pains or forsake Christ Alas said he I know not what to say being but a Child for these pains may stagger a strong man But I will strive to endure the best that I can Upon this he called to mind that Martyr Thomas Bilney who being in prison the night before his burning put his finger into the candle to know how he could endure the fire O said the Child had I lived then I would have run through the fire to have gone to Christ 20. His sickness lasted long and at least three dayes before his death he prophesied his departure and not only that he must dye but the very day On the Lords day said he look to me neither was this a word of course which you may guess by his often repetition every day asking till the day came indeed what is Sunday come At last the lookt-for day came on and no sooner had the Sun beautified that morning with its light but he falls into a trance his eyes were fixed his face cheerful his lips smiling his hands and face clasped in a Bow as if he would have received some blessed Angel that were at hand to receive his soul but he comes to himself and tells them how he saw the sweetest body that ever eyes beheld who bid him be of good cheer for he must presently go with him 21. One that stood near him as now suspecting the time of his dissolution nigh bid him say Lord into thy hands I commend my spirit which is thy due for why thou hast redeemed it O Lord my God most true 22. The last words which he spake were exactly these Pray pray pray nay yet pray and the more Prayers the better all prospers God is the best Physitians into his hands I commend my spirit O Lord Jesus receive my soul Now close mine eyes Forgive me Father Mother Brother Sister all the World Now I am well my pain is almost gone my joy is at hand Lord have mercy on me O Lord receive my Soul unto thee And thus he yielded his Spirit up unto the Lord when he was about twelve years old This Narrative was taken out of Mr. Ambrose his Life's Lease The sixth Example of a poor Child that was awakened when she was about five years old 1. A Certain very poor Child that had a very bad Father but it was to be hoped a very good Mother was by the Providence of God brought to the sight of a godly friend of mine who upon the first sight of the Child had a great pity for him and took an affection to him and had a mind to bring him up for Christ 2. At the first he did with great sweetness and kindness allure the Child by which means it was not long before he got a deep interest in the heart of the Child and he began to obey him with more readiness than Children usually do their Parents 3. By this a Door was opened for a farther work and he had agreater advantage to instill spiritual Principles into the soul of the Child which he was not wanting in as the Lord gave opportunity and the Child was capable of 4. It was not long before the Lord was pleased to strike in with the spiritual Exhortations of this good man so that the Child was brought to a liking of the things of God 5. He quickly learnt a great part of the Assemblies Catechism by heart and that before he could read his Primmer within Book and he took a great delight in learning his Catechism 6. He was not only able to give a very good account of his Catechism
in vain in the Lord he still experiences that the Lord doth carry on his own work mightily upon the heart of the Child he is still more and more broken under a sense of his undone state by nature he is oft in tears and bemoaning his lost and miserable condition When his Master did speak of the things of God he listened earnestly and took in with much greediness and affection what he was taught Seldom was there any discourse about Soul-matters in his hearing but he heard it as if it were for his life and would weep greatly 5. He would after his Master had been speaking to him or others of the things of God go to him and question with him about them and beg of him to instruct and teach him further and to tell him those things again that he might remember and understand them better 6. Thus he continued seeking after the knowledg of God and Christ and practising holy duties till the sickness came into the house with which the child was smitten at his first sickning the poor child vvas greatly amazed and afraid and though his pains were great and the distemper very tedious yet the sense of his sin and the thoughts of the miserable condition that he feared his soul vvas still in made his trouble ten times greater he was in grievous agonies of spirit and his former sins stared him in the face and made him tremble the poison of Gods Arrows did even drink up his spirits the sense of sin and wrath was so great that he could not tell what in the world to do the weight of Gods displeasure and the thoughts of lying under it to all eternity did even break him to pieces and he did cry out very bitterly what should he do he was a miserable sinner and he feared that he should go to Hell his sins had been so great and so many that there was no hopes for him He was not by far so much concerned for his life as for his Soul what would become of that for ever Now the plague upon his body seemed nothing to that which was in his soul 7. But in this great distress the Lord was pleased to send one to take care for his Soul who urged to him the great and precious promises which were made to one in his condition telling him that there was enough in Christ for the chiefest of sinners and that he came to seek and save such a lost creature as he was But this poor Child found it a very difficult thing for him to believe that there was any mercy for such a dreadful sinner as he had been 8. He was made to cry out of himself not only for his swearing and lying and other outwardly notorious sins but he was in great horrour for the sin of his Nature for the vileness of his heart and original corruption under it he was in so great anguish that the trouble of his spirit made him in a great measure to forget the pains of his body 9. He did very particularly confess and bewail his sins with tears and some sins so secret that none in the world could charge him with 10. He would condemn himself or sin as deserving to have no mercy though that there was not a greater sinner in all London than himself and he abhorred himself as the vilest creature he knew 11. He did not only pray much with strong cries and tears himself but he begged he prayers of Christians for him 12. He would ask Christians whether they thought there were any hopes for him and would beg of them to deal plainly with him for he was greatly afraid of being deceived 13. Being informed how willing and ready the Lord Christ was to accept of poor sinners upon their repentance and turning and being counselled to venture himself upon Christ for mercy and salvation he said he would fain cast himself upon Christ but he could not but wonder how Christ should be willing to dye for such a vile wretch as he was and he found it one of the hardest things in the world to believe 14. But at last it pleased the Lord to give him some small hopes that there might be mercy for him for he had been the chiefest of sinners and he was made to lay a little hold upon such promises as that Come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest But O how did this poor boy admire and bless God for the least hopes How highly did he advance free and rich grace that should pity and pardon him and at last he was so full of praise and admiring of God so that to speak in the words of a precious man that was an eye and ear-witness to the praise and glory of God be it spoken the house at that day for all the sickness in it was a little lower Heaven so full of joy and praise 15 The Child grew exceedingly in knowledg experiences patience humility and self-abhorrency and he thought he could never speak bad enough of himself the Name that he would call himself by was a Toad 16. And though he prayed before yet now the Lord poured out upon him the Spirit of prayer in an extraordinary manner for one of his age so that now he prayed more frequently more earnesily more spiritually than ever O how eagerly would he beg to be washed in the Blood of Jesus and that the King of Kings and Lord of Lords that was over Heaven and Earth and Sea would pardon and forgive him all his sins and receive his Soul into his Kingdom and what he spoke it was with so much life and fervour of Spirit as that it filled the hearers with astonishment and joy 17. He had no small sense of the use and excellency of Christ and such longings and breathings of his Soul after him that when mention hath been made of Christ he hath been ready almost to leap out of his bed for joy 18. When he was told that if he should recover he must not live as he list but he must give up himself to Christ and to be his Child and Servant to bear his Yoke and be obedient unto his Laws and live a holy life and take his Cross and suffer mocking and reproach it may be persecution for his Name sake Now Child said one to him are you willing to have Christ upon such terms He signified his willingness by the earnestness of his looks and words and the casting up of his eyes to Heaven saying yes with all my Soul the Lord helping me I will do this 19. Yet he had many doubts and fears and was ever and anon harping upon that that though he were willing yet Christ he feared was not willing to accept him because of the greatness of his sin yet his hopes were greater than his fears 20. The Wednesday before he died the Child lay as it were in a trance for about half an hour in which time he thought he saw a
to her to speak to any 17. One time when she fell into a fit she cried out O I am going I am going But what shall I do to be saved O what shall I do to be saved Sweet Lord Jesus I will lye at thy feet and if I perish it shall be at the Fountain of thy mercy 18. She was much afraid of presumption and dreaded a mistake in the matters of her Soul and would be often putting up ejaculations to God to deliver her from deceiving her self To instance in one Great and mighty God give me faith and true faith Lord that I may not be a foolish Virgin having a Lamp and no Oyl 19. She would many times be laying hold upon the Promises and plead them in prayer That in Mat. 11.28 29. was much in her Tongue and no small relief to her spirit How many times would she cry out Lord hast thou not said Come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest 20. Another time her Father bid her be of good cheer because she was going to a better Father at which she fell into a great passion and said but how do I know that I am a poor sinner that wants assurance O for assurance It was still her Note O for assurance This was her great earnest and constant request to all that came to her to beg assurance for her and poor heart she would look with so much eagerness upon them as if she desired nothing in the world so much as that they would pity her and help her with their prayers never was poor creature more earnest for any thing than she was for an assurance and the Light of Gods Countenance O the piteous moan that she would make O the agonies that her Soul was in 21. Her Mother asks her if God should spare her life how she would live truly Mother said she we have such base hearts that I can't tell we are apt to promise great things when we are sick but when we are recovered we are as ready to forget our selves and to turn again unto folly but I hope I should be more careful of my time and my soul than I have been 22. She was full of natural affection to her Parents and very careful least her Mother should be tired out with much watching Her Mother said how shall I bear parting with thee when I have scarce dryed my eyes for thy Brother She answered The God of love support and comfort you it is but a little while and we shall meet in Glory I hope She being very weak could speak but little therefore her Mother said Child if thou hast any comfort lift up thy hand which she did 23. The Lords day before that in which she died a Kinsman of hers came to see her and asking of her whether she knew him she answered yes I know you and I desire you would learn to know Christ you are young but you know not how soon you may die and O to die without a Christ it is a fearful thing O redeem Time O Time Time Time precious Time Being requested by him not to spend her self she said she would fain do all the good she could while she lived and when she was dead too if possible upon which account she desired that a Sermon might be Preached at the Funeral concerning the preciousness of Time O that young ones would now remember their Creatour 24. Some Ministers that came to her did with earnestness beg that the Lord would please to give her some token for good that she might go off triumphing and Bills of the same Nature were sent to several Churches 25. After she had long waited for an answer of their prayers she said Well I will venture my soul upon Christ 26. She carried it with wonderful patience and yet would often pray that the Lord would give her more patience which the Lord answered to astonishment for considering the pains and agonies that she was in her patience was next to a wonder Lord Lord give me patience said she that I may not dishonour thee 27. Upon Thursday after long waiting great fears and many Prayers when all her Friends thought she had been past speaking to the astonishment of her Friends she broke forth thus with a very audible voice and chearful Countenance Lord thou hast promised that whosoever comes unto thee thou wilt in no wise east out Lord I come unto thee and surely thou wilt in no wise cast me out O so sweet O so glorious is Jesus O I have the sweet and glorious Jesus he is sweet he is sweet he is sweet O the admirable love of God in sending Christ O free grace to a poor lost Creature And thus she ran on repeating many of these things a hundred times over but her Friends were so astonished to see her in this Divine Rapture and to hear such gracious words and her prayers and desires satisfied that they could not write a quarter of what she spoke 28. When her soul was thus ravished with the love of Christ and her tongue so highly engaged in the magnifying of God her Father Brethren and Sisters with other of the Family were called to whom she spake particularly as her strength would give leave She gave her Bible as a Legacy to one of her Brothers and desired him to use that well for her sake and added to him and the rest O make use of time to get a Christ for your Souls spend no time in running up and down in playing O get a Christ for your Souls while you are young remember now your Creator before you come to a sick-bed put not off this great work till then for then you will find it a hard work indeed I know by experience the Devil will tell you it is time enough and ye are young what need you to be in such haste You will have time enough when you are old But there stands one meaning her Grand-mother that stayes behind and I that am but young am going before her O therefore make your Calling and Election sure while you are in health But I am afraid this will be but one nights trouble to your thoughts but remmember these are the words of a dying Sister O if you knew how good Christ were O if you had but one taste of his sweetness you would rather go to him a thousand times than stay in this wicked world I would not for ten thousand and ten thousand worlds part with my interest in Christ O how happy am I that am going to everlasting Joyes I would not go back again for twenty thousand worlds And will not you strive to get an interest in Christ 26. After this looking upon one of her Fathers Servants she said What shall I do What shall I do at that great day when Christ shall say to me Come thou Blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdom prepared for thee and shall say to the wicked Go thou
and peace and to give an expected end But what shall I say my life shall not continue long I feel much weakness O Lord look upon me graciously have pitie upon my weak distressed heart I am oppressed undertake for me that I may stand fast and overcome 41. She was very frequent in spiritual ejaculations and it was no small comfort to her that the Lord Christ did pray for her and promise to send his spirit to comfort her It 's said said she I will pray the Father and he shall give you another comforter O let not him leave me O Lord continue with me till my battel and work be finished 42. She had very low and undervaluing thoughts of her self and her own reighteousness what meant she else to cry out in such language as that None but Christ without thee I can do nothing Christ is the true vine O let me be a branch of that vine What poor worms are we O dear Father how lame and halting do we go in the wayes of God and Salvation We know but in part but when that which is perfect is come then that which is imperfct shall be done away O that I had attained to that now But what are we of our selves not only weakness and nothingness but wickedness For all the thoughts and imaginations of mans heart are only evil and that continually we are by nature children of wrath and are conceived and born in sin and unrighteousness Oh! Oh! this wretched and vile thing Sin but thanks be to God who hath redeemed me fromit 43. She comforted her self and her Father in that great Scripture Rom. 8.15 16 17. Ye have not received the Spirit of bondage again to fear but ye have received the spirit of adoption by which ye cry Abba father It is the spirit that witneseth with our spirits that we are the children of God and if Children then are we heirs heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ. You see thence father that I shall be a fellow heir with Christ who hath said In my fathers house are many mansions if it were not so I would have told you I go to prepare a place for you and if I go to prepare a place for you I will come again and take you to my self that where I am there ye may be also O Lord take me to thy self Behold dear Mother he hath prepared a place and dwelling for me 44. Yea my dear child said her mother he shall strengthen you with his holy Spirit untill he hath fitted and prepared you fully for that place which he hath prepared for you 45. Yea Mother it is said in the 84. Psalm How lovely are thy Tabernacles O Lord of Hosts my soul doth thirst and longeth for the Courts of the Lord One day in thy Courts is better than a thousand yea I had rather be a Door keeper in the house of God than dwell in the tents of the wicked Read that Psalm dear Mother therewith we may comfort one another As for me I am more and more spent and draw near my last hour 46. Then she desired to be pray'd with and begged that the Lord would give her an easie passage 47. After this she turned to her mother and with much affection she said Ah my dear and loving Mother that which cometh from the heart doth ordinarily go to the heart once more come and kiss me before I leave you 48. She was not a little concerned about the souls of the rest of her relations and did particularly charge it upon her father to do what he could possibly to bring them up in the ways of God O let my sister be trained up in the Scriptures and Catechising as I have been 49. I formerly wept for my Sister thinking that she should die before me and now she weepeth for me and then she kissed her weeping Sister Also she took her young little Sister in her arms a Child of six months old and she kissed it with much affection as if her very bowels had moved within her and spoke with many heart-breaking words both to her Parents and the children 50. Her Father spake to one that was by to take the poor little Child away from her from the hazard of that fiery distemper and bid his daughter to give her from her for he had already too much to bear Well Father said she did not God preserve the three Children in the fiery furnace and did not you teach me that Scripture When thou passest thorow the Fire thou shalt not be burnt neither shall the flame kindle upon thee 51. She had a very strong Faith in the doctrine of the Resurrection and did greatly solace her Soul with excellent Scriptures which do speak the happy state of Believers as soon as their Souls are separated from their Bodies and what she quoted out of the Scripture she did excellently and suitably apply to her own use incomparably above the common reach of her sex and age That in 1. Cor. 15.42 was a great support to her The body is sown in corruption but it shall be raised incorruptible it is sown in dishonour it shall be raised in glory it is sown in weakness but it shall be raised in power And then she sweetly applies it and takes in this cordial Behold thus it is and thus it shall be with my poor mortal flesh Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord because they rest from their labours and their works do follow them The righteous perish and no man layeth it to heart and the upright are taken away and no man regardeth it that they are taken away from the evil to come they shall enter into peace they shall rest in their beds every one who walked in their uprightness Behold now Father I shall rest and sleep in that Bedchamber 52. Then she quoted Job 19.25 26 27. I know that my Redeemer liveth and that he shall stand at the latter end upon the earth and though after my skin worms destroy this body yet in my flesh shall I see God whom I shall see for my self and my eyes shall behold and net another though my reins be consumed within me Behold now Father this very skin which you see and this very flesh which you see shall be raised up again and these very eyes which now are so dim shall on that day see and behold my dear and precious Redeemer albeit the worms eat up my flesh yet with these eyes shall I behold God even I my self and not another for me 53. Then she quoted Joh. 5.28 Marvel not at this for the hour is coming in which all that are in their graves shall hear his voice and come forth those who have done good unto the Resurrection of Life See Father I shall rise in that day and then I shall behold my Redeemer then shall he say Come ye blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdom prepared for you before the beginning of the world 54. Behold now I live
yet not I but Christ liveth in me and the life that I now live in the flesh is by the faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me I am saved and that not of my self it is the gift of God not of works that no man should boast 55. My dear Parents now we must shortly part my speech faileth me pray the Lord for a quiet close to my combat 56. Her Parents replied Ah our dear child how sad is that to us that we must part She answered I go to heaven and there we shall find one another again I go to Jesus Christ 57. The she comforted her self to think of her seeing her precious brother and sister again in glory I go to my brother Jacob who did so much cry and call upon God to the last moment of his breath And to my little sister who was but three years old when she died who when we asked her whether she would die answered yes if it be the Lords will I will go to my little Brother if it be the Lords will or I will stay with my mother if it be the Lords will But I know that I shall die and go to heaven and to God O see how so small a babe had so much given it to behave it self every way and in all things so submissively to the will of God as if it had no will of its own but if it be the will of God if it please God nothing for her but what was the will and pleasure of God And therefore dear Father and Mother give the Lord thanks for this his free and rich grace and then I shall the more gladly be gone Be gracious then O Lord unto me also be gracious to me Wash me thorowly from my unrighteousness and cleanse me from my sin 58. After this her spirit was refreshed with the sense of the pardon of her Sins which made her to cry out Behold God hath washed away my sins O how do I long to die The Apostle said In this body we earnestly sight and groan longing for our house which is in heaven that we may be clothed therewith Now I also lie here sighing and longing for that dwelling which is above In the last Sermon which I heard or ever shall hear I heard this in the New Church which is matter of great comfort unto me 59. Then she repeated several notable Scriptures which were quoted in that Sermon afterward she desired to be pray'd with and put petitions into their mouths viz that all her sins might be forgiven that she might have more abundant faith and the assurance of it and the comfort of that assurance and the continuation and strength of that comfort according as her necessity should require Afterwards she prayed her self and continued a pretty space 60. When Prayer was ended she called to her father and mother and demanded of them whether she had at any time angred or grieved them or done any thing that did not become her and begged of them to forgive her 61. They answered her that if all children had carried themselves so to their Parents as she had done there would be less grief and sorrow on all hands than there is and if any such thing hath escaped thee we would forgive it with all our hearts you have done as became a good Child 62. Her heart being quieted with her peace with God and her Parents she began to dispose of her Books particularly she intreated her Mother to keep Mr. De Wit 's Catechise Lectures as long as she lived for her sake and let my little Sister have my other Book as my remembrance 63. Then she said she felt her breast exceedingly pained by which she knew that her end was very nigh Her father spake to her as he was able telling her the Lord would be her strength in the hour of her necessity 64. Yea said she The Lord is my Shepherd although I pass through the valley of the shadow of death I will not fear for thou art with me thy rod and thy staff they comfort me and it is said the sufferings of this present life are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us Shall I not suffer and indure seeing my glorious Redeemer was pleased to suffer so much for me O how was he mocked and crowned with thorns that he might purchase a Crown of righteousness for us And that is the crown of which Paul spoke when he said I have fought the good fight I have finished my course I have kept the faith henceforth is laid up for me a crown of righteousness which the Lord the righteous Judge shall give unto me in that day and not only to me but to all who love his apprearing 65. Ye are bought with a price therefore Glorifie God with your souls and bodies which are his Must I not then exalt and bless him while I have a being who hath bought me ye bought me with his blood Surely he hath born our griefs and took our infirmities and we esteemed him smitten and stricken of God But he was wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our sin the chastisement of our peace was upon him and by his stripes are we healed and the Lord laid upon him the iniquity of us all Behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world That Lamb is Jesus Christ who hath satisfied for my sins So saith Paul Ye are washed ye are sanctified ye are justified in the name of our Lord Jesus and through the spirit of our God 66. My end is now very near now I shall put on white raiment and be clothed before the Lamb that spotless Lamb and with his spotless righteousness Now are the angels making ready to carry my soul before the throne of God These are they who are come out of great tribulation who have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 67. She spoke this with a dying voice but full of spirit and of the power of faith 68. Her lively assurance she further uttred in the words of the Apostle We know that if this earthly house if our tabernacle be dissolv'd we have one which is built of God which is eternal in the heavens for in this we sigh for our house which is in heaven that we may be clothed therewith 69. There Father you see that my body is this Tabernacle which now shall be broken down my Soul shall now part from it and shall be taken up into the heavenly Paradise into that heavenly Jerusalem There shall I dwell and go no more out but sit and sing Holy holy holy is the Lord God of hosts the Lord of Sabbaths Her last words were these O Lord God into thy hands I commit my spirit O Lord be gratious be merciful to me a poor sinner And here she fell asleep 70. She died the first of September 1664. Betwixt seven and eight in