comparison of Christ What are we better when we are in our pomp in this world when we do nothing but pine in our souls and our souls to be cast into hell where there will be howling for ever and ever Lord pardon our proud worldly hearts for we are alwayes hungring after this sinful world where there is nothing but that which will lead us into hell Oh let us not hunger after this world but hunger after Christ O what a loving Father have we that when a poor soul is thrown down as low as hell and is in great afflictions then he sends Jesus Christ and takes pitty of that poor soul and lifts it up to heaven Christ will look upon a poor soul with the eyes of compassion then that poor soul is happy and he will carry it to heaven where it shall rejoyce with God his holy Angels Tet us hunger for Jesus Christ and when we have him let us hold him fast and let us stick close to him and he wil stick close to us he will be our keeper and Saviour both of bodies and souls Good is thy Word and to be esteemed drive it into our hearts and not onely into our heads but into our hearts that it may work a thorow work in us Come let us flie up to heaven as a bird in the air if we could get up as high as heaven we should be happy Joy joy joy everlasting joy Come let us sing praises unto our God with mirth and joy for we shall sing with our Father and his holy Angels for ever and ever Lord vanquish Satan that roaring lion and tread him under foot that he may not overcome our souls by his evil wayes watching every opportunity June the 7th This night came one of those commonly called Quakers and all that came to her did judge that then she knew none neither could she heare or did ever minde what was said to her or in her company and this man and her Uncle Capt. Hatfield being in discourse she uttered the words following at that time which are very observeable viz. Take heed take heed that you sowe not Tares lest you reap Tares Every Tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewen down and cast into the fire Lord give us faith in Christ for without faith and knowledge we cannot come unto Christ Come let us flie unto the Throne of grace as a bird doth into the aire Lord give us zealous hearts for Jesus Christ for there is help in him but there is no help upon the earth Lord resist Satan that roaring Lion that goes about seeking whom be may devoure let us cleave to Jesus Christ when Satan draws neere and he will deliver us from that roaring lion June the 8th Lord quicken our dead and ignorant hearts which are stubborn and rebellious but before we be quickened we must lie at the feet of Jesus Christ for without we be quickened we are like an ignorant man that travels up and down and knows not whither Lord humble these proud hearts of ours and take that burthen from us for Christ saith Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavie laden and I will give you rest If we be dead-hearted we must lie down at the feet of Jesus Christ till he be pleased to quicken us Take heed of despising God and his Ordinances for if we despise them God will despise us Set your affections on things above and not on things below for your life is hid with Christ in God Labour for Jesus Christ and he will cast out that spirituall enemy that would cast you out Trust in Jesus Christ for he is a trusty God to trust in Let us put on the whole Armour of God O let us labour for Jesus Christ and he will be our Shepherd and we shall be his Sheep he will lock us up in his cabinet and keepe us from sin and Satan Lord strengthen our unbelieving hearts Let us labour to be strong in faith and we shall be strong in Jesus Christ Let us labour to be rich in Jesus Christ though we be poor in the world I have obtained Jesus Christ When you have obtained Jesus Christ you have obtained a jewell of all jewels Let us be partakers of the Word of God and we shall be partakers of Jesus Christ if we do not know the Word of God nor be partakers of it we shall never know Jesus Christ When we are but weak in body and are true Christians we shall be strong in Jesus Christ If we be weak in body our body loseth by it but our souls gain by it Let us labour to get true possession of Jesus Christ and then Satan that roaring lion can get no possession of us Lord give us the life of grace to spring up in our hearts that we may be drawn to thee Iune the 9th Lord give us the light of heaven that vve may be holy as thou art holy If once grace be but kindled in our hearts then happy shall vve be and blessed Let us trust in Jesus Christ and he vvill conquer our spirituall enemy and purifie our double hearts Let us be thankfull and ever thankfull for all his mercies lest he turn his blessings into curses and poure dovvn his vvrath upon us Lord give us true repenting hearts for our sins lest vve run headlong to hell for vvant of repentance Come my Disciples take up your cross and follow me and I vvill be your God joy joy joy Learn the lesson of faith or you shall never knovv Christ but Lord let us learn this lesson of faith that vve thy unvvorthy servants may be delivered both from our bodily and spiritual enemies We are poor dry creatures but Lord breath thy Spirit into us that vve may be Saints in Heaven Good Lord enrich our souls that we may enrich the Kingdome of Heaven Come my people enter into my Tabernacle and you shall rest in joyes for ever We must labour to have hearts for Jesuâ— Christ or we shall never attain to him we must labour for him he is not easily gained but we must take pains and seek him Let us put off the rags of sin and put on the robes of righteousness Let us struggle for Jesus Christ and labour for him lay hold of him and when we have obtained him let him not slip from us Let us give God the glory of all things and he will poure down all things upon us that are good for us Lord pardon our sins and give us hearts to beg pardon of thee for them Lord give us thankful hearts to acknowledge thy goodness and to be thankful for every little mercy Lord fit and prepare our unprepared hearts that we may be prepared at the sound of the trumpet Let us labour to be married to Jesus Christ and
there is 〈◊〉 stumbling-block before their eyes Oh how happy a thing it is and joyfull for to see when a poor Christian is imbraced in those two armes of love that beloved One that beloved One those whom he hath chosen he will take them for his own for ever he will lock them in his Cabinet from all sin and sorrow and from the Devils assaults In the day when I make up my jewels they shall be mine saith the Lord. She concluded with much rejoycing but exprest no words September 26 I am the true Vine and my Father is the Husbandman every branch that bringeth not forth good fruit in me shall be hewen down and cast into the fire Those that I do not chastise they are not sonnes but bastards saith the Lord. Lord pull back Satan that roaring lion which would devour my poor soul but he cannot but he cannot my God will not suffer him Obey the Commmandments of God and do not dishonour him but honour him and do not abuse his Titles Words or Works labour to make a right use of them it is them that we must be overthrown or accepted by Take heed you live not in a known sin for if you live in a known sin it is a double sin and if in a double sin God will double his Judgements God will denounce against you the greatest Judgement amongst the Catalogue if you dishonour God he will make you smart for it Take heed of Satan that cunning Serpent beware of him beware of him for he is alwayes drawing and flattering us unto him and when he hath got us unto him hell-fire will be our end Let us labour to forsake sin and cleave unto Jesus Christ and let him be our safeguard if you give way to little sins it will bring on greater sins For which things sake the wrath of God commeth upon the children of disobedience if you give way to little sins it will bring on greater sins and then the greater will be your Judgement Lord sanctifie it unto us that it may take an impression in our hearts and work it in us that it may take a deep impression in our hearts Let us labour to be partakers with that thy beloved One that suffered death upon the Crosse to save us from hell-torments had not he suffered death upon the Crosse for our sins we had been howling in hell this day have we not cause to love him have we not cause to love him that suffered death upon the Crosse that cruell death by the Jews if we should suffer never so much we could never suffer so much for him as he did for us Oh have we not cause to love him let us lay down our lives for his sake that laid down his life for us What miserable creatures are we so that our souls be but saved we never think of Christs sufferings for us we alwayes forget that but we must remember it at the day of Judgement the Lord will call us to an account for all these things In the day when I make up my jewels they shall be mine saith the Lord Jehovah September 27. Lord as thou hast fed our bodies with tempor all food so feed our souls with spirituall food Lord work thy Word with faith in our hearts unlesse it be written with thy Spirit it is but a dead letter In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and all things were made by him Beware of Satan that Serpent that goeth about and stands in corners to watch to vanquish my soul but he cannot but he cannot touch it he cannot enter in labour to have the foundation of life that he may not touch it which foundation is an everlasting foundation it will stand it will never fail Let us labour for Christ for the stronger we are in Christ the weaker we are in this world the stronger we are in this world the weaker we are in Christ Let us labour to build our conversation upon the three-corner stones which is the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost Trust in the Lord Trust in the Lord Jehovah for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength Lord satisfie our unsatisfied hearts for if a man have all the world he hath not enough but he hankers and hungers and thirsts more after the things of the world but when we have Christ Oh what can we desire more what would we have more Oh! what can a Christians heart desire more then that beloved One that Christ Jesus labour to have your foundation built upon that Holy one that Holy One. September 29. Take heed you lie not one to another seeing you have put off the old man with his deeds and have put on the new man which is renewed in knowledge after the Image of him that created him Be wise in all your doings and be ye present be ye present before the eyes of the Lord ô fear the Lord ô fear the Lord though you fear not men See that you serve the Lord above with trembling and with fear see that with reverence you rejoyce in him in like manner ô let us fear the Lord that we may live in his fear and die in his favour Oh that we had hearts to observe the Commandments of God if we had but hearts to observe his Commandments we should never ruu upon our own souls destruction as we do Labour to spend your time well in this world of abomination and sin for it is but for a little moment and labour to repent before the day of death for after the day of death there is no repentance lest you run headlong into hell to your own destruction for ever and ever Beware of Satan that Serpent and give not vvay to his assaults but despise them and flie back from them Let us labour for Christ let us hunger thirst after him for one glimpse of Christ is better then a 1000 worlds for one glimpse of Christ will ravish a poor Christians heart for when a Christian is drooping and thinking that God hath forsaken him then God out of his favour sheweth him one glimpse and then goeth back again sheweth him but by glimpses and glimpses to make him stick closer unto him even as a star that lightens and darkens and lightens and darkens to make the light shine brighter She spake no more until the sixth of October Come my people enter into my Tabernacle Having spoken these words she fell into an exraordinary fit of laughing and tittering heartily six or seven several times as she used to do in her best health when she was over-joyed with any thing and soon after fell into a mourning and as it were wept in her brest and then she spake the words following Beware of Satan that Serpent lest he reign in your hearts for if he touch you he will creep in and in like a
be whole and she arose and was healed Oh vvhy should not vve be contented for his Arme is not shortened nor his Povver diminished therefore vvhy should noâ— vve be contented In this vvorld whilest we are in affliction we think it is miserable and grievous buâ— hereafter it will be sweetened while we aâ— in affliction we think it is miserable and grievous but the Lord will sweeten it with thâ— cup of mercy the Patient must taste of 〈◊〉 bitter potion before his stomack be cleared Oh let us labour to fear the Lord that we may live in his fear and die in his favour for as we do so we must look to be done by October the 20th Children obey your parents in all things knowing that it is well pleasing unto the Lord. Oh let us labour to have our wills melted into the will of that everliving and glorious God The secrets of God are hid from man and his wayes past finding out but the Lord will reveal them to his children in some part when his time appointed is come Lord humble these proud hearts of ours and endue us with the gift of Humiliation Oh let us labour to return thanks unto the Lord for all his mercies that he hath poured down upon us for the way of begetting more is to return thanks unto the Lord to give reverence unto him we reverence our earthly fathers our natural fathers Oh why should not we much more reverence our Heavenly Father Oh let us labour to forsake this world and all things that are therein for there is nothing that is desirable Oh let us labour to stick close unto that Holy One for when all things in the world fail he will never fail he will stick close to us when all things in this world decay and moscer away he will be an everlasting rock Lord open our blinde eyes that we may see clearly the weaknesse of our selves and the strength of Christ Oh let us labour to lead our lives and conversations well in this life for as we do so we must look to be done by if we sowe unto the flesh we shall reap corruption but if we sowe unto the Spirit we shall reap life everlasting October the 21th Let us labour to repent of all our sinnes which we have lived in formerly which lieth unrepented of for after the day of death there is no repentance as life leaveth us so Judgement findes us October the 22th Oh let us cast our care upon the Lord for he will care for us he hath promised to be a father to the fatherlesse and a husband to the widow Lord pull back Satan that lurking roaring lion that goeth about to devour my poor soul but he cannot my Christ will tread him under foot that he can get no power over my poor soul Lord graft thy Word into our heads and not onely into our heads but into our hearts also We are poor Earth-wormes Lord breath into us the breath of life that we may become lively Saints of thine that we may become lively Saints of thine and that we may sing Hallelujahs with thee in the highest Heavens Take heed you lie not one to another for if you go in that way the Devill will take that occasion to pour in more corruption Lord mollifie these hard hearts of ours with thy graces that are so hardened with sin and corruption October the 24th Lord open the eyes of the blinde that â—ey may see clearly the purity that is in Christ and the corruption that is in themâ—ves they see and perceive not they hear â—nd understand not Lord enrich our souls with thy graces that â—e may be instruments to enrich the Kingâ—ome of Heaven Lord pull back Satan that lurking roarâ—g lion that goeth about to destroy my poor â—ul but he cannot my Christ will give him â—o power he will not let him touch it He â—oth what he can to get victory but he canâ—ot my Christ will not let him The Devil â—aliceth the children of God he is alwayes â—usiest about them and flattering them he 〈◊〉 alwayes thinking to make them fear him â—nd flattering them and thinking to overâ—ome them but those whom God hath â—hosen he will take them for his own the â—oor doubting Christian the Devil is always â—utting feares and doubts into them but when he thinks they are in the lowest conâ—â—ition they are in the highest and when a man thinketh he is in the highest condition he is in the lowest when a poor doubting Christian thinketh he falls he stands aâ— when a man thinketh he stands he falls Lord take away these hearts of stone aâ— renew us with hearts of flesh Lord humble these proud hearts of ourâ— that we may not be swallowed up with thâ— vanities of this world we are apt to 〈◊〉 drawn to the vanities of this world and 〈◊〉 flie back from Christ Oh what disobedieâ— children are we that follow not the commands of so loving a Father that which 〈◊〉 biddeth us to do that we do not and thâ— which he biddeth us not do that we do Oh let us labour for faith for he that 〈◊〉 faithfull untill death he shall enjoy the crowneâ— life October the 25th Come my people enter into thy chamber shâ— the door upon thee hide thy selfe for a little mâ—ment untill the indignation of the Lord be overpast He that doth not the will of my Father which is in heaven he is not worthy of me saith thâ— Lord. Take heed you sowe not good seed upon thorny ground lest the thorns spring up and choak it My Christ hath pulled back Satan that lurking roaring lion which goeth about to devour my poor soul he maliceth my poor soul and thinks to get the victory but he cannot Oh let us labour to be partakers with that Beloved one that immaculate lamb of God that spotlesse lambe that laid down his life to take away the sins of the whole world Oh let us labour for faith that rich grace of our God Lord pour it down upon us that is that rich grace of eternity that is the grace by which we must either live or die without we have that grace we shall never come to God we shall never come to Christ Oh let us labour for faith ô let us labour for faith no faith no Christ no Christ no salvation Lord as thou hast fed out bodies with temporall food so feed our souls with spirituall food that we may be able Instruments to enrich the Kingdome of Heaven Lord endue our spirits with the gift of Humiliation for the Spirit of God is a humble Spirit a meek Spirit a holy Spirit a full Spirit it acts powerfully and breaths where it listeth Trust in the Lord Jehovah for in the Lord Jehovah is our everlasting strength Come my people let us reason together though your sins be as scarlet they shall be as wool though
Though God do take away the comfort of this world yet he will give us comfort in another world Gracious is God and pittiful to poor souls when they shall call to him for help and saith Lord I am helpless of my self my help is upon thee and I trust in thee then he gives him help comfort by faith in Jesus Christ Who would but trust in such a God that give us Christ that we may joy and rejoyce Oh how good a God have we that doth rebuke the Tempter and will not let him have us though he strive to catch us he would make our going to Heaven uncomfortable and pull away our souls but God will not suffer him for those that God hath chosen they shall receive comfort How gracious is God in all his wayes and worthy to be esteemed of if we do not esteem of him he will not esteem of us he is angry with his people it is but for a while but with those that he is ever angry he will say Go ye cursed into hell-fire and what a pittiful case is that God will stretch out his hand to a poor soul and say Come poor soul come thou hast been long in affliction but I will lay thee up in Heaven there thou shalt be happy and rejoyce for ever Our Father gives us his Son Jesus Christ to save our souls or we had been burning in hell-fire before this time but our God is gracious to us Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire Lord open our eyes that we may see Jesus Christ coming into our souls with white robes we cannot see him with our mortal eyes but Lord make us to see him with ouâ— spiritual eyes this would be the joyfullesâ— sight that ever we did see in all our lives What disobedient children are we that do not go when our Father comands us to go If you be risen with Christ seek those thingâ— which are above where Christ himself sits at the right hand of God Let us have our eyes lift up to Heaven that we may see Jesus Christ sitting at the right hand of God and let us be thankful for all his mercies for if we be unmindful of him he will be unmindful of us Lord our hearts are empty fill them with thy Spirit and take away the corruption that is within us Why are our hearts set upon the World there is nothing but pride and corruption in the World and we poor sinful creatures are subject to run head-long into the World Lord wean our hearts from the World Good Lord give us grace and the eye of Faith that we may see Jesus Christ coming though afar off and that we may come nigh and stick close to him Lord give us faith that we may trust thee and believe in thee and make us true believers in the Lord Jesus Christ for we have nothing of our selves but corruption to trust on and that will flie from us How good God is and merciful to all his â—hildren in delivering them from all the â—emptations of their spiritual enemy which â—aily seeketh to destroy them Oh come my people into my Tabernace â—nd I will take you up into my throne and â—here you shall rejoyce with me and my Angels for ever and ever Labour for Jesus Christ and when you have obtained him embrace him and he will embrace you cleave fast to him and he will cleave fast to you Acknowledge Jesus Christ who is our Saviour and when all things in the World fail he will not fail he will stick close to you and not forsake you Let us be thankful for all mercies though they be but little ones for when we are thankful for little ones he will poure more upon us and if we be not thankful for the least mercy he will poure down great curses upon us Look into the actions of God and the more you look into his works the more power of God you shall finde in them all that he doth he doth it for the good of his poor Children and those that fear him May the 27th Lord purge our bodies and purifie ouâ— corrupt hearts that thy Word may work thorow work in us cast back cast back thaâ— tempting roaring lion that goes about seeking whom he may devour What disobedient children are we for that which God commandeth we will not do but that which he forbiddeth that we do and run on headlong to our own destruction If the Spirit of God once work in our hearts then we shall be happy and shall sound out the praise and glory of our God for he is wonderfull in our eyes Lord open thou our mouth and let our lips shew forth thy praise our God make speed to save us ô teach us to know Jesus Christ for how will that ravish our poor soules to know our Saviour and then we shall draw nigher to heaven and rejoyce with our Father Come my people come enter into my Tabernacle and I will have mercy upon you Help help Lord for Christs sake that I may obtain that happy place for there is comfort without discomfort and joy without sorrow May the 28th What disobedient children are we for doâ—g those things which we ought not to do â—nd in leaving undone those things which â—e ought to have done Come my people enter into my Tabernaâ—le and I will gather you under my wings as a â—en gathereth her chickens and I will assure you of your salvation and you shall rejoyce with my holy Angels for ever and ever Let us labour to get faith in Jesus Christ who will gather us from our enemies when a poor soul thinks he is cast down into hell then Christ comes and raiseth it up then that soul will rejoyce with Christ and he will keep it from falling into that deep pit he will not let it fall again who would but trust in such a God as this that will give his children hearts to believe and fear him Labour to get Jesus Christ for we cannot get him without pains if we mean to be one with him O how ought we to take pains and labour to know and acknowledge Jesus we must struggle and strive for him or else we can never obtain him May the 29th How good is our God that takes pity upon a poor afflicted soul for when a poor soul is going to hell and seeth no help but in Jesus Christ then it cries Help help help Lord and then Jesus Christ delivereth that poor soul out of hell Labour for Jesus Christ and seek for him he is not gained easily we must seek for him and take pains for him or we shall never obtain him unlesse we take pains we shall never sinde him Lord give us hearts that we may seek after Jesus Christ and that we may relie upon him by faith that we may be made true believers in thy Word Lord open thou our mouths that our lips may shew forth thy
praise Lord pour out thy Spirit upon our souls and it will make us draw nigher and nigher unto thee Many are they Lord that cannot obtain Jesus Christ it is because they do not take pains but let us arise and be doing for without pains we can get nothing we must take pains and struggle for Jesus Christ else we can never obtain him Lord fill our hearts with Jesus Christ for they are empty fill them full of Jesus Christ that we may be able to live by faith upon him Lord fill our hearts with the knowledge of Jesus Christ for our hearts are empty and with the righteousnesse of Jesus Christ Lord enrich our souls that we may enrich the Kingdome of God Let us be thankfull to God for all his mercies and blessings which he is pleased to bestow upon us for the more thankfull we are the more will he poure down his mercies and blessings upon us How gracious is our God that doth all things in wisdome and mercy to his poor servants he doth nothing to them but that which is for their good in mercy and in righteousnesse O Lord give us true faith in the righteousnesse of Jesus Christ that we may relie upon him for our Salvation What a sweet thing it is to enjoy Jesus Christ happy is that soul that doth enjoy such a gift from our Father If we should be thankfull all our dayes we can never be thankful enough for he suffered the death upon the crosse for our sins Lord pardon and forgive us all our sins and wash them away in the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ and then shall we be purified and become pure Christians Let us give praise unto our God for all his mercies and blessings that he hath bestowed upon us let us alwayes be praising our God and be thankfull and ever thankfull May the 30th Lord humble our hearts and open our eyes that we be not led away with Satan and run headlong to our destruction We have enemies too many to draw us back from Jesus Christ but there are very few that will draw us to Jesus Christ Lord take our souls into thy protection and keeping for when they are with thee they are safe Let us sing praise to our God for his mercy endureth for ever Lord take away our unbelief and fasten us to Jesus Christ that we may become new Christians Lord wash away all our sins in the blood of thy Son Jesus and purifie our affections that vve may become pure Virgins in Jesus Christ Come let us drink of the water of life and then we shall never thirst again Oh hovv happy are they that can but obtain Jesus Christ for if vve be never so poor in this vvorld if vve can but obtain Jesus Christ vve shall have riches enough for then vve shall be rich in glory May 31. The Lord give us faith for without faith we cannot get Jesus Christ The Lord give us knowledge for without knowledge we cannot attain faith and without faith we cannot attain to salvation If we can attain to the height of faith we shall attain to the height of Jesus Christ and if we attain to the height of Jesus Christ we shall attain to the height of glory Lord humble us under our burthen of sin That when Christ who is our life shall appear we may also appear with him in glory Come my people Call upen me in time of trouble and I will heare you and answer you Oh wash us and cleanse us that neither spot nor stain be upon us wash us clean in the bloud of Christ that we may become new Virgins pure Virgins Let us bless God and be thankful for all those mercies that he is pleased to poure down upon us let us be thankful yea very thankful for the more we thank him the more will he poure down his mercies upon us June 1 1652. Lord pardon and forgive us all our sins and give us hearts earnestly to beg pardon for them if thou hadst not been a merciful Father we had all been burning in hell-fire we had all been burning and howling in hell-fire before this but thou hast given thy So Jesus Christ to die for our sins for his sake we beg pardon for them Lord give us thankful hearts we have cause to be thankful if we had a thousand hearts we could never be thankful enough to thee for all thy mercies that thou hast bestowed and showred down upon us Lord give us thy Word and ground it in our hearts Lord give us thy Spirit into our hearts for without thy Spirit the Word iâ— but a dead letter I will be your God and ye shall be my people Lord give us faith in Jesus Christ for without faith in him we can never acknowledge Jesus Christ to be our alone Saviour and Redeemer She spake not again until June the fourth Oh my God I give unto thee my soule my body and my heart and all hoping that I now am going unto that happy place which I have desired so long June the 5th If a poor man which hath not a bit of bread nor a broom to sweep his house withall yet if he have but Christ he is richer then that man which hath all the riches of this World Who would but trust in such a God that will save and defend us from all evil Who would but trust in such a Christ that will defend us from Satan and all our enemies both bodily and spirituall Who would but trust in such a Christ that will preserve us as he did Jonah three dayes and three nights in the Whales belly Lord humble humble our stony hearts that they be not puft up with pride and vanity How often would I have gathered you together as a Hen gathereth her Chickens under her wings and ye would not but were stubborn and rebellious June the 6th Oh Jerusalem Jerusalem how often would I have gathered you together as a Hen gathereth her Chickens and you would not Let not your hearts be drawn after the vanities of this world nor after the steps of Satan which goeth lurking lurking watching and waiting like a Serpent but follow Christs steps for if Satan get you he will fling you into hell-fire Long is the way to heaven and much a-do we have to get thither but short is the way that leadeth to hell What disobedient children are we that will not follow Gods commands that which is evil he forbids us and that we do and that which is good he commands us and that we we do not Lord wean our hearts from this world let us not be led by sin nor Satan let not Satan get any power over our souls if he get power over our souls he will cast them into the bottom of hell for ever and ever This world is nothing but fading comforts nothing but drosse losse and dung in
be excluded that Gods Name might not be obseured God did all in this businesse and therefore it 's fit that he alone should be exalted Oh let 's give him that little all we have let 's strive to exalt him he may be higher in our hearts though not in himselfâ— and the rather because these Providencies have fruitfully administred varieties of advantages for the raising up of our spirits in the exaltation of Gods glorious Name May not the parents of this childe say with â—onderment God raised up one out of Davids House 2 Sam. 12. 11. who attempted to deprive him of his earthly Kingdome but God hath raised one out of our Family who may be instrumentall to further our enjoyment of an heavenly Kingdom They I know desire that others would help them in endeavouring to render according to the mercies received and how should they or others improve such dispensations but by labouring to act faith at a higher rate then we have done Faith hath two legs whereby it comes to Christ and it 's called a comming to Christ John 6. 35. submission and closing in such mixâ— providences as these where God checkers his dispensations working Checker-work there will be much use of a submitting frame of heart to submit our selves children and all to the Will of the Father of our spirits Heb. 12. 9. and we should improve this Providence in raising up this Childe by faith for the raising up of the Church from under all her Convulsions and prevailing diseases many other wayes we should improve such Works of God but I have already exceeded the bounds of an Epistle I shall onely urge you and my selfe to suck that sweet brest of the promise Psalm 50. 15. you have prayed God hath delivered and now he expects to be glorified and he promises you shall glorifie me Can then our unbelief our dead sluggish fickle unconstant and forgetfull heart hinder it if God say thou shalt who hath resisted his Will Oh then lie at the pool of this promise untill your unbelieving unthankfull hearts be healed Lie at this beautifull gate untill you receive an almes and a word Come that shall raise up your Spirits that you may walk and leap and praise the Lord. Let me entreat you to review this Childes Speeches but especially to eye God in all his providentiall actings towards her untill your hearts be raised to exalt the glorious Lord in all those Attributes which shine forth in this Scene of his Actings Eye them for the strengthening of your faith to trust God in all your straits to submit to God when he is pleased to presse you down with the left hand of afflictions whilest he writes a fairer copie of his Law in your hearts with the right hand of his holy Spirits powerfulâ— visitations eye them that you may learn to love Jesus Christ with more sincerity and to use the world more cautelously lest it use nay ride you as others with great cruelty eye them that so you may learn to sanctifie God in your hearts who hath diseases and cures at his command who gives the opening of the mouth and causes the tongue of the dumb to sing and the tongue of the stammerers to speak plainly and confirmes the feeble knees all which and more he hath done for this Childe eye them also that your hearts may be brought in love with and confirmed in your love to the precious and yet ô sad despised Ordinances and Institutions of Jesus Christ the King of his Church which God hath opened a Childs mouth to plead for And if you may gather such sweet fruits as these from off the Branches of these providentiall actings of our wise God I shall sit under the Tree rejoycing that God hath made me Instrumentall to call you forth to so good an employment and subjoyn my selfe Your's Through Grace James Fisher Sheffeild January 20. 1652 3. To the godly consciencious READER IT is thy priviledge for soul-advantage that thou livest amongst Sermons and it is a choice mercy in the Saints Count-book that now when so many bid Preaching depart and Ordinances depart and Duties depart yet still the Lord is not wanting to appear in some kinde or other owning his appointments Yea thou mayst observe Jesus Christ to be so desirous of thy Company that he leaves no means unattempted to win thy soul to God for the deare love of Jesus Christ seems to flow and break over the banks of ordinary means that so it may encompass thy heart and fetch thee wholly into the Father Now surely Christian thou wilt confess that it 's a barren soul indeed whom the over-flowings of Christs love will not make fruitful Believe it Gods unwonted layings out of Love are not answered with stinted and wonted layings out of obedience Great cost and little incomes is unprofitable trading When the Lord helpâ— us to receipts we had need beg hard that hâ— would help us with returns for questionlesâ— God expects those should be Commemoration-dayes whereon his Saints have their exceedings of Love 't is certain Christians when Jesus Christ steps out of his high-road he has some special businesse then with Sinners Now thou to whom this Book shall come the Lord thou seest hath stepped aside to speak with thee take heed how thou refusest to heare the voice that speaks from Heaven Christ sees that Word-preaching will not serve and therefore he sends thee both Word and Work-preaching and all that he may make thee Eternally blessed Oh do thou not still go about to frustrate Christs endeavours in his work of winning thy poore soul 't may be thou hast long stopped thine Eares to his Words but what wilt thou stop thine Eyes to his Works too Oh look to this young Divine to this Child-Preacher or rather to the Lord in this Childe-Preacher and if thou canst not spell Christs meaning by his words yet put together Words and Works and thou shalt soon see what they make if thou canst not know Christ by his ordinary appearings yet oh learn to know him by his Extraordinary for truly it is a brutish thing to bury Christ in his own works Look Christian Here thou mayest see a 〈◊〉 burning and yet not consumed yea a â—â—sh burning and yet blossoming Natural 〈◊〉 preserved when natural means of preserâ—â—tion were denied but indeed a few loaves â—â—ll feed five thousand when Christ has the â—â—oking of them God can make a little of 〈◊〉 crâ—eature go farre when he makes it up â—â—th a great deal of Christ for we see though 〈◊〉 Commons were shorter then Daniels yet 〈◊〉 finde her very well-liking think thereâ—ore at what Ordinary or rather Extraordinary â—ath she dieted surely she had food we â—new not off Well might she live who fed so â—lenteously on life it self and certainly that â—ife of hers was a happy life which dwelt so â—eer the life of happiness We did not know â—hy the life of nature should be continued except
it were that the life of grace might be prolonged but this we found that the continuance of her life was a continued Sermon and did preach forth the wonderful power and love of Jesus Christ as if she had learnt a new and holy Art of living poor souls to God or as if Faith were to come by seeing Gracious Childe who for her age might be a Learner and yet is made so learned a Teacher who so sweetly takes Christ for her text truth for her Doctrine and Holiness for her Vse Surely 't was he who at 12 years old was found in the Temple sitting amongst the Doctors hearing of them and asking of them Questions 't was he I say who hath ranked this Twelve years-old Childe amongst the Doctors of our Israel 'T was he that made her Sermons she onely did but preach them For her Speech bewrayed she had been with Jesus Oh what gracious words she uttered nothing but honey dropt from her mouth and that such honey as tasted much of the spirituall Canaan And indeed Christian none can speak so heavenlily none so healingly none so sweetly none so feelingly as those that have much of God speaking in them The Sentences she uttered are in this Book recorded And now canst thou read and not wonder wonder and not desire to read And yet the manner of her speaking added Emphasis to the things she spake Her eyes were fixed as if she saw Christ her countenance cheerfull as if she imbraced Christ her lips smiling as if she kissed Christ yea her armes sometimes sweetly clasping as if with Simeon she had got an arm-ful of Christ What think you meant her soul whilest her body used such an action Oh what happinesse for a poor soul to lose it selfe in the All-fulnesse of Christ truly these things made us all cry out What manner of Childe shall this be But oh see the wonderfull workings of our God He has let her come down into this lower room againe God seemed to take her out of the crowd into his Chambers up above where he sweetly whispered his minde unto her and now he hath sent her back again that she may live over her own Sermons And yet so was God taken with her company that he would not let her come down again till his Children had petitioned again again for her And then the more to endear his mercy to us he sends her down in the Armes of Prayer So that now we finde this truth in our own experiences That a Christian reacheth highest when he is on his knees I might speak much more of her but I had rather commend grace theâ— gracious persons Oh let this I beseech thee with the other soul-helps Christ affordeth thee prevail with thee to be good in good earnest it 's not leaves or bloomes that Christ looks for now but fruit I confesse indeed the Winter of Religion seems to be past wherein both bloomes and fruit Profession and Practice was nipped and suppressed and now is the Spring wherein most men are fair in bloom which gives me hopes that the Lord is bringing about a time when holy lips and holy lives heavenly Communication and heavenly Conversation shall meet together so that flourishing Professours will prove fruitful Practicers Oh! be not thou one who shalt keep off such hoped-for times as these think how thou wilt answer all Gods costs about thee And if thou be he that must be called in to give an account for every word thou speakest ô then what account wilt thou give for every word that God speaks to thee Thou that hast such heavenly Doctrine ô take heed of earthly Use heart-warning exhortations and heart-cooling conversations are fearfull and incongruous sights I confesse if I did not in some measure know the Unteachablenesse of a corrupt heart I should conclude that Non-profiting by such wonders as these is the greatest wonder of all Well Christian thou hast a Providence here thrown into thy lap ô improve it and be not befooled with fleshly wisdome but ô minde thy work drive on thy souls trade And if thou hast an Interest in God know thus much that this Childe hath an interest in thee when therefore thou â—oest to improve thy interest at the Throne forget not Her nor Him who is Finningley Jan. 25. 1652. Joyfull in this and all other thy Soul-helps John Firth To the READER Grace here Glory hereafter THe voice of Providence Christian friend for such I suppose thee and unprejudiced I wish thee is never to be neglected especially when it is understood according to the Analogie of faith Indeed providentiall administrations are not to be forced as it seemes to me over-bold if not an impious act to judge alwayes according to the outward face of dispensations to make providences point out what we effect as * he judged of the Scriptures even to speak our prejudiced and partiall thoughts â— Psal 107 43. so it is over-Atheist-like to let the righteous God be every day in the City and yet none to read any thing The Workes of the Lord are great sought out of all them that have pleasure therein Whoso is wise will observe these things and he shall understand the loving kindnesse of the Lord. There are a sort of men in these last and worst of dayes that will believe nothing but what themselves behold and sleight all Thomas-like that themselves have not a finger in To get these above life of sense is not in my capacity though it may be in my aime I do acknowledge my obscure testimony far below such atchievments The sword of the Lord and Gideon undertake them Yet why may not a broken pitcher give some light and that sudden light disperse the Amalekites though I can finde nothing in my selfe my witness is in heaven why I should be in publick for bene vixit qui bene latuit yet I dare not resist that voice that calls me to bear witness to Gods workings who hath so signally owned his now despised Ministry and sleighted Ordinances speaking withall peace to a tossed and afflicted family That never misled spirit that shall peruse the ensuing wonders may any more despise or drooping poor soul that shall hear how God remembred such an one in her low estate and heard the prayers of such nothing creatures may any more despair The Subject of the ensuing wonder is Mrs. Martha Hatfeild a branch of a Family of good Note in the West of Yorkeshire as to externals having wherein they might glory But which is their glory their great prerogative is not here not in this World that they are bene nati is an emptie bubble in respect of being bene renati this is their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 their priviledge that they are sons and daughters of God This Family as God useth to deal with them he loveth the wise God was pleased to keep in a low and dark condition without were fightings within were
that they be not led aâ—ay by sin and Satan and he will give them 〈◊〉 light eye Lord fill our hearts with the fulnesse of â—esus Christ that we do not sink into the â—ottomlesse pit Come and knock at the gate of righteousnesse and wait till Jesus Christ come and open the gates Lord pull back that roaring lion that serpent that goeth about seeking to devour our poor souls God will but suffer him to step in that we may stick closer to Jesus Christ Lord rebuke that roaring lion and chain him up that he may have no power over our poor souls Lord prepare our unprepared hearts 〈◊〉 â—gainst thou call Oh God prepare our hearts 〈◊〉 may come before thee with thankfâ—◠〈…〉 for every mercy that thou hast 〈…〉 on us Lord give us faith for without faith we cannot come to thee June the 14th Good Lord enrich our poor souls that we may enrich the Kingdome of Heaven We have but drie and ignorant hearts Lord quicken them that we may sit at the right hand of God with Jesus Christ rejoycing with him for ever Iune the 15th Good Lord what shall we do to inherit the Kingdome of Heaven Iune the 18th The Lord be with you for I am going to change and after shall never change I pray you pray that my soul may be precious in the sight of God God is going now to finish his work My God hath laid up treasures for me in heâ—â—n Iune the 19th 〈…〉 I see the fine sights of Heaven 〈…〉 â—mbracing me in his armes and 〈…〉 the light of Heaven Then she spake no more till June 21th The Lord of Heaven be with you all though we part here I hope we must meet in Heaâ—en my Christ is shewing me the way to Heaven Pray pray pray for some help from God and pray that your prayers may be accepted of God These valedictory expressions of hers I conceive might arise from that change which now should be in the manner of her disease for now she had no more the liberty of speech given to her untill the 29th day of Iuly and then Iuly the 29th About eight of the clock at night as that was the ordinary time that she began at and so continued some two hours with intervals to speak she being in a stiffe fit spake these words with a smiling countenance My Christ is come again I have obtained Christ I have my desire I have now a crucified Christ Then she spake not again untill August 11th about 10 of the clock at night Now my Father hath given me Jesus Christ again I hope to save my soul Now I have obteined Christ again a crâ—cified Christ Let us put off the rags of sin and put oâ— the robes of righteousnesse August the 15 about 7 of the clock she lying in the same posture spake as followeth My Saviour is come again that suffereâ— death upon the Crosse to save my soul I was in darknesse but now I am in light My Christ hath vanquished Satan thaâ— goeth about to destroy my soul Then she spake not again untill August the 17. When she had the extreamest convulsionâ— fit that ever she was drawn with her face turned behinde her and one eye looking up and the other shut and in that fit she spake as followeth I will be with my God and my God will be with me I hope my soul is precious in the fight of my God I am not in the hands of the Devil but in the hands of my God Which words much refreshed the spirits of her friends who stood weeping by her to see her so sadly handled then she proceeded My Gods Angels have pitched their Tents about me and will carry my soul into heaven I will never forsake my God and my God will never forsake me Take heed of slighting Gods mercies for if we slight his mercies he will slight us if we slight his mercies he will pour his wrath upon us August 20. Call upon me in the time of trouble and I will relieve you Ask and ye shall have knock and it shall be opened unto you Ask and you shall have life everlasting Put on the whole armour of God that ye may be able to stand against the Devil and all his Angels Let us wait upon the Lord untill his time appointed and he will ease us for our time is of the Lord we cannot have it when we would but when the Lord pleaseth August 23 at 8 a clock at night Call upon me in the time of trouble and I will hear and deliver thee and thou shalt glorifie me Lord humble our haughty and proud hearts that they be not led away with this world for we are apt to follow the steps of Satan rather then the steps of God First he prepareth our hearts that they may be capable of faith and then he worketh faith in them Lord purge our rusty hearts that they may be clean that we may become pure Virgins of thine for if thou do not purge them they will be like rusty iron that lieth long My Christ will tread Satan under foot which goeth about like à roaring lion hunting to destroy my poor soul but he can go no further then my God giveth him leave he hath a malice unto my poor soul Those that belong to God Satan is alwayes in perplexing and troubling them but God doth but let him step in to make them stick closer unto God if Satan get but one step in and get in his head he will strive to get in his whole body the least opporrunity he can get he will seek it and will not lose it Let us cast off the rags of sin and put on the robes of righteousnesse and then we shall obtain Jesus Christ Let us suck sweetnesse from Jesus Christ even as the Bee sucketh honey from the flower August the 30th Let us draw comfort from Jesus Christ â—s the childe milk from the mothers brest â—he harder we draw the more we shall get Take heed you slight not Gods mercies for if you slight his mercies it is just with God to slight you August 31. at 10 a clock in the morning Lord cast out our stony hearts and make them new that we may be new creatures Lord purge the drosse out of our hearts and purifie them Let us stand at the gate of righteousnesse and wait untill Jesus Christ see time to open the door of faith Lord rebuke that crooked Serpent that would destroy my poor soul but my Father will not suffer him he hath a malice to my poor soul but God will but let him step in and get a look in but it is to make me stick closer to Jesus Christ Let us fear the Lord that we may live in his fear and die in his favour Let us take heed that we slight not Gods mercies lest he turn his back off us if we do not fear him and
they be like crimson they shall be as white as snow if you consent and obey you shall eat the good things of the land but if you be stubborn and rebellious you shall be de voured with the sword for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it October the 26th Come all you that are thirsty and drink freely of the spring-well-water of life and you shall never thirst again Oh let us labour to have our hearts tied to that immaculate Lamb that we do not run away like a lost sheep into this world as we do wherein there is nothing but vanity and vexation of spirit My Christ hath vanquished Satan that lurking roaring lion that labours to eclipse my comfort but he cannot but he cannot he can get no power he maliceth the good of my poor soul but he is never the neerer for that as much as he seeks to discomfort me so much the more there is one above that comforts me The Works of God are wonderfull and his wayes past finding out the wisdome of man is foolishnesse but the wisdome of God is righteousnesse Lord humble these proud hearts of ours that they be not blown up with the vanities of this world for we are apt to become back-sliders from that which is good and to be followers of that which is evill Come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy-laden and I will give you rest saith the Lord. In the day when I make up my jewels they shall be mine saith the Lord of Hoasts October the 27th As many as I love I rebuke and chasten be zealous therefore and repent Oh let us call upon the Lord in time of trouble and he hath promised that he will hear us ô let us charge the Lord with his promises for he loveth to be charged with his promises of his children and he will give more attentive ear unto them ô let us wrestle with him as Jacob did when he said I will not let thee go until thou blesse me he would not have a deniall of God First he prepareth our hearts that they may be capable of faith then he worketh faith in them October the 28th Ask and you shall have seek and you shall finde knock and the door of Righteousnesse shall be opened unto you They that do the Will of my Father they are my Mother Sister and Brother saith our Saviour Christ We poor drie bones that moscer away for want of one drop of the dew of righteousnesse we moscer away we are so deeply drowned in sin in the corruption of sin that we cannot of our selves attain to the power to enjoy that sweet enjoyment of Eternity Lord pull back Satan that lurking roaring lion that goeth about to eclipse the spirituall comfort of my poor soul but he cannot but he cannot my Christ hath made a wall and he cannot enter the wall he cannot cast it down Oh let us labour for Christ that Love that Dove thatVndefiled One that Holy One by whom we live move and have our being he is All in All perfect without imperfection Oh let us labour for the sweet enjoyment of Eternity where there is comfort without discomfort joy without sorrow and where all tears are wiped away from our eyes and botled up Oh let us labour to attain to that eternall weight of glory where there is nothing but joy and rejoycing mirth and melodie and singing Hallelujahs with the Lord in the highest Heavens Children obey your parents in all things knowing that it is well-pleasing unto the Lord for the wrath of God commeth upon the children of disobedience October the 29th No man can come to Christ except the Father draw him Lord endue us with those rich graces of thine as faith which is the richest of all we are so benummed with sin lukewarme and key-cold that we cannot apprehend them to make a right use of them Oh let us labour for Christ for when Christ who is our life shall appear then shall we also appear with him in glory We poor miserable and wretched creatures that have sinned against thee every day more and more if thou hadst not bin a pitifull and mercifull God we had before this been sunk into the endlesse pit of torment but thou hast shewed pity and compassion upon us in giving us thy onely begotten Son to redeem us from that endlesse pit of torment Mâ—rtifie therefore your members which are upon the earth as fornication adultery blasphemy and covetousnesse which is Idolatry My Christ hath cast down Satan that lurking roaring lion that thinks to get the upper hand over my poor soul but I hope nay I am sure that there is one above that will defend me from him he hath promised that he will tread him under foot The godly have their torments here but the wicked shall have their torments for ever hereafter Take heed of Satan for he is very subtle for there is more danger when he commeth in white like an Angel of light then when he commeth in black like a Blackmoore Oh let us labour for Christ that Holy One for he will never suffer the righteous to be forsaken nor their seed to beg their bread October the 30th There be many that say Lo hereis Christ and lo there is Christ but there is no more crucified Christs then one alone Lord pardon and forgive us all our sins which we have sinned against thee of what sort soever they be Lord wash us and cleanse us in the blood of thy onely begotten One ô what disobedient children are we that are so rebellious against thee Good Lord pardon us that we should be so disobedient to so loving a Father that hath alwayes an eye over us and watcheth over us every day and night and continually that which thou biddest us to do that we do not and that which thou biddest us not to do that we do but alas alas the greater is our Judgement October the 31th Cast your care upon the Lord for he careth for you and let not your care be upon the world it will be never the better for you but a great deal worse for What are we better if we gain the whole world and lose our own souls and be cast into hell for ever Oh let us labour to be partakers of the immaculate Lambe ô what a sweet thing it is to be partakers of that immaculate Lamb Oh! it would ravish a poor Christians soul ô let us labour for him if we lose him we lose all Lord humble these proud and ignoranâ— hearts of ours that they be not puff't up and blowne up with the pride of this world for God knoweth there is many of them but Lord teach them to know themselves that they may live to please thee and not to live in thy displeasure Oh let us knock at the door of Righteousnesse untill Christ Jesus that immaculate
lambe of God be pleased to open to us the door of faith November the 1. Lord purifie these drossy hearts of ours that we may become pure Virgins of thine and leave them without dross or sin remaining in them Lord restrain those that go about to interrupt those instruments which thou hast sent to preach out thy holy Word in thy Congregations it is requisite that offences should come but wo be to them by whom they come Oh let us labour to gain the Kingdome of Heaven and struggle and strive for it for it is not gained with a little ado but Heaven is won by violence and the violent take it by force Lord enrich these poor fainting souls of ours with thy graces that we may become able instruments to inherit the Kingdome of Heaven November the 3. Lord endue us with thy rich graces as faith which is the richest grace of all but our hearts are so stony that we cannot apprehend them aright to make a right use of them but make them of a fit temper that we may have our wills melted into that Will of that everlasting everliving and glorious Lord our God that we may lie at the feet of that immaculate lamb of thine untill those two arms of Love be pleased to take us up into the throne of Heaven Put on the whole armour of God that we may be able to stand against all the wiles of the Devill Oh labour to take notice of that everliving and glorious Lord our good God and of all his mercies that he hath been pleased to pour down upon us for if we take notice of him he will take notice of us both of all our needs and necessities and necessary things both temporall and spirituall for if we sit loose from him he will sit loose from us November the 4th Oh let us labour to repent of all our sins which we have lived in formerly and call to minde what the Lord hath done for us in distresse When we were in the hands of our enemies he hath preserved us from the hands of our enemies for if we were as we should be we should be thankfull every hour of a day but God knoweth we are far short Good Lord refine us even as silver and gold is refined and make us without spot or blemish even as thy spotlesse lamb and cloath us with the righteousnes of him November the 5th He that knoweth the will of his Father that is in heaven and doth it not shall be beaten with many stripes Lord renew these stony hearts of ours and give us hearts of flesh Lord open our blinde eyes that we may see clâ—erly the errour of sin and the purity that is in Christ and the corruption that is in our selves We poor miserable and wretched creatures Lord pardon and forgive us all our sins that we have committed against thee and wash them away in the blood of that thy beloved One and leave us without spot or stain remaining in us November the 6th The Works of God are wonderfull and his wayes past finding out Servants obey the will and command of your Masters which are upon the earth knowing that you have a Master in heaven Oh let us call upon the Lord in the time of extremity and calamity and he hath promised to give ear unto us November the 8th Call upon me in the day of trouble aâ—d I will hear you and you shall glorifie me Oh Lord endue us with thy graces that we may be fit to come to the School of Christ to learn the lesson of faith Oh let us labour for that beloved One for if we have him we have all if we want him we want all he will stand unto us when all will fall down all things are but drosse and dung in comparison of him Oh labour to repent of all your sins but you must first lay the ground-work of faith and then truly repent and return home unto the Lord. Oh let us cry aloud unto the Lord in the time of necessity and he hath promised to give ear unto us Cast your care upon the Lord for he careth for you in the time of extremity and calamity when all helpers in the world fail he will be your greatest help of all he must do it or none Oh let us labour to fear the Lord that we may live in his fear and die in his favour Come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy-laden and I will give you rest Oh what a sweet promise is this if we had but hearts to apprehend it aright but our hearts are so stony and so full of corruption that it can take no effect but Lord mollifie them November the 9th Oh let us call to minde what the Lord hath done for us and not be like the natural man that looketh his face in a glasse and presently forgetteth what manner of man he was Oh let us labour and take pains for that well-beloved One and labour to sâ—ick close unto him for if we lose him we lose all and if we gain him we gain all Oh let us labour to set our affections on the things that are above and not on the world wherein there is nothing but vanity and vexation of spirit Oh let us labour to wait and be patient untill his appointed time for his time is the best time My Christ hath vanquished Satan that luâ—king roaring lion that goeth about to devour my poor soul but I hope he hath nothing to do with me I hope my God will own me for his own he is alwayes malicing and perplexing the children of God to make their journey uncomfortable and thinketh that if he get not victory then he shall never get victory Come all ye that are a thirst and drink freely of the Spring-well-water of life and you shall never thirst again Lord Lord endue us with thy graces that we may become lively branches in thy Vineyard prune it dresse it and water it and look to it that nothing hurt it nor harme it Oh let us labour for faith for they that are faithfull until death shall receive a Crowne of life Lord satisfie these unsatisfied hearts of ours for if a man have all the world he thinketh that he hath not enough but when he hath Christ then he is fully satisfied Ah what can a Christian heart desire more then a crucified Christ then a naked Christ what can a Christian heart desire more he is the jewell of all jewels he is the upright One Labour to deal faithfully in all things for as you do so you must look to be done by if you sowe to the flesh you shall reap corruption but if you sowe to the Spirit you shall reap life everlasting Lord endue us with thy graces and set them aright upon our hearts but they are so benummed luke-warm and key-cold that we cannot apprehend them to make a right use of them but
did serve to awaken them to a more solemn way of seeking his face and it was judged that it was his purpose to have his providential dispensations in relation to this childe more publickly taken notice of that so they might not be hid in a corner but many might behold his glorious goings and bear witnesse thereof unto the world when he should finish his work upon her therefore her Parents did write and speak to severall Ministers of his Word two of which have prefixed Epistles to this Narrative and a Day was fixed to be set apart for Humiliation of which many precious servants of God had notice which was the ninth day of November In which Day the Company being met at Mr. Hatfeilds house and the work entered on but the childe was observed by such as did attend her to be somevvhat unquiet the reason vvhereof they knevv not onely a thought came in that if she were brought into the Room vvhere the Company vvas assembled that then she might possibly be quieter vvherefore her Maid brought her in her armes vvhere she continued quietly all the time vve vvere at the duty not once interrupting us and the eye did serve to affect the heart and to helpe them to vvrastle vvith God more affectionately this passage is the more vvonderful because so farre as could be rationally judged she did neither hear or see or knovv any body and so vve knovv not hovv she should understand that there vvas such a vvork in hand unlesse the Lord should hint it to her as he did many of her Speeches if not all and indeed some of her Speeches the night before and night after the Duty vvas concluded do import such a thing See her Speeches November the eighth vvhere she quotes that Psal 50. 15. and suitably to that she added after Oh let us cry aloud unto the Lord in the time of necessity and he hath promised to give ear to us vvhich vvord did strongly call upon us to cry mightily unto the Lord there are many other passages that night vvhich I refer the Reader to and vve took them as messages sent from Heaven to quicken our hearts in the duty there vvas one passage that night viz. her fourth speech about repentance and faith vvhereby she did direct us hovv to order our Humiliations as desiring they might be Evangelicall not legall the fruits of faith not of slavish feares she vvould have us look on Christ and then mourn believe and then repent and vvhen the duty vvas concluded November the ninth at her usuall time she uttered severall passages vvherein vve might observe God exceedingly ordering of her vvords as the first speech that night and the fourth and the seventh and especially the ninth vvhich was an admirable caution given in to us Novv to return that vvhich vvas in relation to the childe set upon our hearts particularly to ask of God vvas this that he vvould please to quiet her spirit ease her of her pain so that the eares of her dear relations might not be filled vvith such dolefull cries nor their hearts vvith those fears and amazements vvhereby they vvere much unfitted to act Faith or do any duty to God or man extram sadnesse and faintings oppressing and overvvhelming their spirits and in this the Lord vvas pleased graciously to ansvver the desires of his poor Servants through the Intercession of the Lord Jesus Christ vvhich vve had notice of at our next meeting and did desire to improve it taking it as a pledge that God vvould do more for us and ovvn us in our Attendances upon him in his ovvn vvay At the end of that day of Humiliation a Motion vvas made that vve might continue once a moneth at least to seek God untill he should be pleased to come vvith healing under his wings Those that vvere engaged in that vvork living at a great distance from one another vve could not vvell meet oftener then once a moneth and vvith that resolution we parted waiting to see what the Lord would do for his Servants in that Family whose condition God did very much assist those who were engaged in that Duty to bear upon their hearts continually with much tendernesse The time appointed for the next day of Humiliation was as I remember the 9 day of December next ensuing But the Lord ordered things so that the childe grew exceeding weak not being able to speak from the 21 of November any more as was before noted so that her friends did think that God was comming to finish his work and her time of warfare here in the body Wherefore her father dispatcht messages to the Ministers and Christians to meet keep a day of Humiliation on Thursday the second of December a week sooner then we thought of and accordingly we met on that day and found her very weak so that she was not brought into the room where we performed the Duties of the day That which amongst other things as particularly relating to her was desired of God was that God would manifest his power in enabling her to speak again that so whilest she lived she might be usefull and instrumentall for his glory her Speeches having bin very powerful upon the hearrs of many we hope to the conversion at least conviction of some and the edification of most that heard them God was also very earnestly intreated with many arguments which his Spirit suggested to raise her up that he perfecting his work might have perfect praises and his work might be cleared to the conviction of slanderous tongues and the further comfort and satisfaction of the hearts of his people the day being finished we departed to our Homes desiring to submit and wait the Lords leasure and if she lived to continue seeking of him But behold God was better to us then we could think and when we had scarce faith to believe what he had in some measure set our hearts a work to ask upon the ninth of December the Day which formerly as I noted we had agreed together to have sought God for her but did perform the duty a week sooner I say upon that day we had as a reall Testimony of her Fathers thankfulnesse to God and reall respects to us the joyfull news of her marvellous Recovery transmitted to us which take as followeth Mr. Hatfield his faithfull Relation of the Lords Work in recovering Mrs. Martha Hatfield his daughter out of her great Afflictions which was by him sent unto the Ministers who had sought God for her upon the second of December 1652. MOre works of wonder from Heaven which may teach us and all that hear of it to depend upon the Lord in the Duty of Prayer and Fasting Since the second of December in which day many sweet Petitions were put up to the Lordon the behalf of this childe we have perceived some Symptomes that God was restoring her understanding as upon the fifth and sixth dayes of December she would have given notice and
wonders in that Family and we agreed to keep the 28th day of December as a day of Thanks-giving for what God had done but the Lord knowing our dulnesse and weaknes before the day came did cast in further mercies that so we might be quickened to make his praise more glorious as you will see in the subsequent Relation which I received from Mr. Hatfield whose fidelity and consciencious walking is well knowne in the Countrey and therefore his Testimony the more worthy credence The ninth of December the Childe lying in a Trundle-bed at her Mothers bed-feet her Mother when she awaked asked her what a night she had she replied a very good night I praise God I never awaked till now which was about seven a clock Her Mother said Mattee God hath done great and wonderfull things for thee in manifesting so much of his power upon thee and to us in thee the Lord set these things aright upon our hearts Then Mattee replied with a sigh Oh when the Lord is pleased 〈◊〉 do great things for us he expects and looks for great things from us even as the Husbandman that sowes a great deal of seed he looks for a great crop if he have a great seed-time he looks to reap a great Harvest So the Lord when he is pleased to do great things for his people he expects great things from them Then her Mother spake again to her saying The Lord hath set thy condition upon the hearts of his people and thou art a Childe of prayer by which I hope the Lord will have much glory for there have been many dayes set apart to seek the Lord on thy behalfe Then she said Oh is not that a great mercy those dayes were dayes of love to my poor soul We do not discern mercies to be mercies we are so full of corruption and sin because the strong man armed had taken possession in our hearts but there is a stronger then he that will dispossesse him Her Mother said there are many Ministers who have wrestled with God for thee both in publique and in private She said I would be glad to see them that I may give them thanks for their pains and love to my soul Her Mother further said We are comfortably incouraged to depend upon the Lord in the duty of prayer for we have had apparent and immediate Answers from Him Oh said she that is a sweet mercy The seed of Jacob shall not seek the face of God in vain That morning she very freely and cheerfully expressed her selfe in any thing which concerned her spirituall condition and she was so free and her spirit was so enlarged to speak that her Mother disswaded her from speaking so much for fear of spending her little stock of spirits she being but weak Oh no no said she my spirits can never be spent with speaking of my God if any would feed me with speaking of my God I could live upon it The same day being the ninth of December her Uncle Hatfeild a Captain in the Army a godly man came to her and did ask her if she knew him She said Me have forgotten you but I hope God will give me my memory in due time that I may know you then he asked her how she did she said Me is pretty well I praise God but within an hour and a halfe after he came to her again and did ask her if she did know him and after a little time earnestly viewing of him her eyes being yet weak she said Oh my Uncle John my good Uncle my dear Uncle John then said he You have been a long time afflicted but I hope you have found the love of God towards you in this Affliction for those whom he doth love he doth chastize She said I hope so They are bastards and not sons whom the Lord correcteth not Then he asked her If she had not a dimnesse before her eyes Yes said she but I hope that if God please to lend me life he will give me the comforts of life to make my life comfortable and that he will raise me up and give me my senses by little and little then said he You have spoken much of God and have been an Instrument of much good to people that came to hear you She replied My soul will rejoyce in that it was not me it was the Spirit of God in me I am but a poor Earth-worm and can do nothing of my self Then he said You have spoken very much there be two Books written of what you did speak Is there so said she I wish they may look at a good end He did ask her whether she did remember what she had said No said she I have forgot but I hope God will give me my memory that I may tell to others what God hath done to my soul I pray Uncle pray to God for my Memory Being asked severall questions of such things as she had uttered in her stiffe fits she answered to the same sense and in most of the same words It was asked her whether faith or repentance was the first work in conversion she said You must first lay the ground-work of faith and then repent and turn home to the Lord you are not at home here you are but pilgrims and strangers It was asked her what was the Corner-stone in the spiritual building of the Church she said Christ but the stone is three-cornered the Father Son and Holy Ghost It was asked her what was faith hope and charity She said Faith is a gift of God to believe in Christ hope is a hoping to enjoy Christ and charity is the love of Christ It was asked how we may do to get the door of faith opened She said Walk in the paths of Righteousnesse Here by the way you may note that the Spirit of God did sometimes help her to speak things that yet she did not fully understand she had in one or two of her stiffe fits uttered these words Knock at the gate of Righteousnesse and God shall open unto you the door of Faith in reference to that speech this Question was asked her but God had not at that time revealed it to her I believe more of the marrow of the Gospel could scarcely have been uttered in so few words It 's the great question with poor souls they say If we could believe then we might have any thing but how shall we get faith here many puzzle themselves as if God had put them to shift for themselves as a poor man works and gets money and that will buy him all things no though we must ordinarily get faith in Hearing c. yet not by our Hearing the Answer is here Stand and knock at the gate of Righteousnes that Righteousnes which justifies us when we believe doth purchase faith for us that we may believe Pardon this digression It was asked