intollerable burthen Rom. 7.24 O then remember that sweet Invitation of thy Saviour Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest Matth. 11.28 Apply to thy soul the Soveraign Blood of Christ which cleanseth from all Sin 1 Joh. 1.7 which pacifieth the Conscience and purgeth it from dead works Heb. 9.14 which speaks better things than the Blood of Abel Heb. 12.24 Cast the burthen of thy sins thy guilt thy punishment on Christ on whom God made to meet the Iniquities of us all and by whose Stripes we are healed Isa 53.5 6. His soul was sad and sorrowful to the death that thy soul might rejoyce the Spirit of the Lord God was upon him and he was sent by God to bind up the broaken-hearted to give them that mourn in Sion Beauty for Ashes the oyle of Joy for Mourning and the garment of Praise for the spirit of heaviness Isa 61.1 2 3. Thirdly Doth the Lord hide his Face from thee so that thou beholdest not the light of His Countenance as formerly Think with thyself notwithstanding that God's Love is Unchangable and Everlasting He changeth not as Man doth Mal. 3.6 Though he seem to hide his Face and forsake thee for a small moment yet with Everlasting kindness will I embrace thee saith the Lord thy Redeemer Isa 54.7 8. He retaineth not his Anger for ever He will turn again He will have Compassion upon us Micah 7.18 19. If thou prayest to God in Faith He will be favourable to thee and thou shalt see his Face with joy Job 33.26 Who is among you that feareth the Lord that walketh in darkness and hath no light let him trust in the Name of the Lord and stay upon his God Isa 50.10 Though the tender Mother go sometimes where the Child doth not see her yet still her Bowels are towards the Child God when he seems to with-draw from his people yet still his Love and Compassion are towards them Christ upon the Cross cryed out My God my God why hast thou forsaken me that we might not be forsaken of God Fourthly Doest thou yet apprehend some tokens of God's wrath and displeasure which fills thy heart with fear and amazement Remember that Christ our Sponsor and Surety hath born the whole VVrath of God the whole Curse of the Law for all those that come to him and believe on him He hath Redeemed us from the Curse of the Law being made a Curse for us Gal. 3.13 He it was that trode the Wine-press of the fierceness of the Wrath of God and there was none to help him Isa 63.5 6. Rev. 19.15 By this Jesus we are delivered from the wrath to come 1 Thes 1.10 The Lord is merciful and gracious He will not always Chide neither will he keep his Anger for ever As a Father pittyeth his Children so the Lord pittyeth them that fear Him for he knoweth our frame He remembreth that we are but dust Psal 103.8 9 13 14. He will not contend for ever neither will He be always Wrath lest the Spirit should fail before him He will restore Comforts to him that Mourns and will Create the fruit of the lips Peace Peace Isaiah 57.16 19. Fifthly Doth Satanical Injections and violent Temptations to the most horrid Evils and Blasphemies haunt and hurry thee day and night Consider poor soul that they are thy Tryals not thy Sins if thou dost not yield thereunto but abhor and resist them thou art like the modest Virgin that 's forcibly Ravished by a wicked Man without her consent 'T is his Sin not hers though a great Affliction to her Oh flye to the Throne of Grace and Mercy for help and succor in this time of Need rest thy self on God's free promise and word of Grace He is Faithful and will not suffer you to be Tempted above that you are able but will with the Temptation also make a way to escape that ye may be able to bear it 1 Cor. 10.13 The Lord is Faithful who shall stablish you and keep you from Evil 2 Thes 3.3 The Lord shall preserve thee from all Evil He shall preserve thy soul Psal 121.7 Thou shalt be kept by the power of God through Faith to Salvation 1 Pet. 1.5 Let thy soul take Sanctuary in the free Promise of Grace Sixthly Doth the fear of Death and Eternity cause sad thoughts of heart in thee O learn to look at Death in the comfortable Glass of the Gospel of Christ and not in the dreadful glass of the Law Death to a Believer is swallowed up in Victory the Sting of this Serpent is taken away by Christ O Death saith he I will be thy Death O Grave I will be thy Victory Christ hath conquer'd Death perfum'd the Grave and opened a way for poor Sinners to Everlasting Glory The Sting of Death is Sin and the Strength of Sin is the Law But Thanks be to God which giveth us the Victory through our Lord Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 15.56 57. Forasmuch as the Children are Partakers of Flesh and Blood Christ Himself took part of the same that through Death he might destroy him that had the Power of Death that is the Devil and deliver them who through fear of Death were all their Life-time subject to Bondage Heb. 2.14 15. Here five or six special Helps and Directions when ye are troubled and perplexed with sad Thoughts and much Darkness upon your Spirits DIRECTION I. Call to Remembrance what hath formerly pass'd betwixt God and your Soul what Love-tokens ye have received from him though you be now under a Cloud As when the Title of your Land is questioned you search old Records and Evidences so ye should do in this Case Thus David when his Soul had before refused to be Comforted and his Spirit was in a manner overwhelmed yet now he would consider the Dayes of Old the Years of Antient Times and call to Remembrance his Songs in the Night c. Psal 77.2 3 5 6. And Job when the Wrath of God seemed to be kindled against him and God counted him as one of his Enemies and his Reines were consumed within him yet still saith he Job 19.11 27 28. The Root of the Matter is found in me He acknowledged that he had the Root of true Faith in him and knew that his Redeemer liveth Though the Exercise of his Faith was at present suspended as to the comfortable Effects of it yet he had an evidence of his good Estate from his former Experience As in the Winter-Season though the Plant seems to wither yet the root of it still remaines in the Earth and when the Spring comes and the Sun shines upon it with a powerful Influence it will appear DIRECTION II. Plead and expostulate Humbly with thy God when he seems to hide his Face from thee make use of Arguments in thy Prayers taken from the Infinitness of God's Mercy and the Greatness of thy Misery Thy Saviour in His great Soul-Agony and
The Day before he dyed he called for the holy Bible with these very words Come O come Death approacheth let us gather some Flowers to comfort in this Hour And turning with his own Hands to the Eight Chapter of the Epistle to the Romans he gave me the Book saith Mr. Leigh who relates these Passages in a printed Book and bade me Read At the end of every Verse he made a Selah or Pause and gave the Sense in such sort and feeling as we perceived was much to his own Comfort but more to our Joy and Wonder Having thus continued his Meditation and Exposition for the space of two Hours or more on the suddain he said O stay your reading What Brightness is this I see Have ye light up any Candles To which it was Answered No It is the Sun-Shine For it was about five a Clock in a clear Summer's-Evening Sun-shine saith he nay my Saviour's Shine Now farewell World welcome Heaven The Day Starr from on high hath visited mine Heart O speak it when I am gone and Preach it at my Funeral That God dealeth familiarly with Man I feel his Mercy I see his Majesty whether in the Body or out of the Body I cannot tell God He knoweth But I see Things that are unutterable And raising himself as Jacob did upon his Staff he shut up his blessed Life with these blessed words O What a happy Change shall I make from Night to Day from Darkness to Light from Death to Life from Sorrow to Solace from a factious World to a Heavenly Being O my dear Bretheren Sisters and Friends it pittieth me to leave you behind yet Remember my Death when I am gone And what I now feel I hope you shall find ere you dye That God doth and will deal familiarly with Men. And now thou fiery Chariot that came down to fetch up Eliah carry me to my happy Hold And all ye blessed Angels who attended the Soul of Lazarus to bring it up to Heaven bear me O bear me into the Bosom of my best Beloved Amen Amen Come Lord Jesus come quickly And so he fell asleep O therefore Enrich thy Soul with those Hevenly Treasures and fill thy Heart with those blessed Truths and Divine Mysteries that are contained in the Scriptures as the Saints whom I have mentioned and many thousands more have done in their great Straits and Temptations Acknowledge the Goodness of God and magnifie the Riches of his Grace towards poor Sinners Many and wonderful O Lord my God are Thy Thoughts to us-ward they are more than can be numbered Psal 40.5 And again How pretious are thy Thoughts unto me O God How great is the Sum of them Psal 139.17 Now that thou may'st have a right and spiritual understanding of the Holy Scriptures whilst thou readest them for the benefit and comfort of thy sad disconsolate soul First Beg Wisdom of the only VVise God who gives liberally and upbraideth not Jam. 1.5 that by God's VVisdom thou mayest know God's Mind and discern the true sence and meaning of the Scriptures by the Assistance of the Divine Spirit which Indited the same What the VVoman said of Jacob's-Well may be truly affiâ—med of the Scriptures Thou hast nothing to draw with and the VVell is deep John 4.11 Scripture mysteries are profound and our Capacities but shallow desire the Lord therefore to anoynt thine eyes with Eye-salve that thou mayest see and to open thine Understanding that thou may'st rightly and spiritually understand the Scriptures Rev. 3.18 Psal 119.18 Luk. 24.45 Luther professed that he got more Understanding by Prayer than by all his Study besides Secondly Labour for a truly gracious Spirit which being once attain'd thou wilt be able to penetrate into the inward Marrow and mystery of the Holy Scriptures He will best comprehend the true sence of Scripture in his head that hath it written and impress'd upon his heart Thou wilt never as one truly observes understand Paul's meaning unless thou art endued with Paul's spirit The Secret of God is with them that fear him and he will shew them his Covenant Psal 25.12 14. And Christ in the Gospel will manifest himself to them that Love him and such shall know the mind of the Lord Joh. 14.21 22 23. Thirdly Come to the reading and perusing of the Scriptures with an humble self-denying frame of heart and be not puffed up with a vain Conceit of thine own knowledge and attainments He that thinks he knowes any thing knowes nothing yet as he ought to know 1 Cor. 8.2 Empty Vessels are most receptive and so are self-emptied Christians It 's a great help to Knowledg not to be ignorant of our Ignorance * Deo meo gratias ago quod Ignorantiam meam non ignoro The fruitful showers quickly glide away from the lofty Hills But they stay and smoke in the Low-Valleys God who resists the Proud gives Grace and Spiritual Knowledge to the humble With the Lowly is true Wisdom Prov. 11.2 And the Meek and Humble he will teach his Way Psal 25.9 Math. 11.25 Fourthly Observe and eye Christ and Salvation by him as the very Scope Marrow and Substance of the whole Scriptures What are the Scriptures but as it were the Spiritual swadling-Cloaths of the Holy Child Jesus He is the Truth and Substance of all the Types and Shaddows He is the Matter and Quintescence of the Covenant of Grace under all the Administrations thereof The Center of all the Promises In whom they are yea and Amen 2 Cor. 1.20 The Thing signifyed sealed and exhibited in all the Sacraments of the Old and New-Testament The holy Scripture What is it else but Christ's Light whereby we come to know him Christ's Voyce whereby we hear and follow Him and Christ's Cords of Love whereby we are drawn into sweet Union and Fellowship with Him But to Conclude Suppose thou should'st have Breach upon Breach and still remain a sad pensive Soul all thy Dayes here in this Life without any Spiritual Comfort or Inlargment after all thy Wrestlings and Endeavours it may be for twenty thirty or forty Years yet What is this to Eternity What if it were for a hundred Years so thou com'st to Heaven at last and escap'st those Everlasting Torments which are prepared for the Wicked Ye shall weep and lament saith Christ to his Disciples Joh. 16.20 but the World shall rejoyce Yea but your Sorrow shall be turn'd into Joy and the World 's Rejoycing into Sorrow and Lamentation Blessed are they that mourn for they shall be Comforted Math. 5.4 The Lord supports his People by the secret powerful Influence of his Grace whil'st they walk in darkness and want the Light of Spiritual Consolation And here let us consider these four things 1. God doth never totally desert his Saints The Lord will not forsake his People for his great Name 's sake 1 Sam. 12.22 He hath said I will never leave thee nor forsake thee Heb. 13.5 The Words are Emphatical Here
Lord heare my Cry LONDON Printed for Ben Harris I.D. sc OF THE Causes and Cure OF SAD Disconsolate Thoughts IN CHRISTIANS BY One of their Sympathizing Fellow-Members W. Traughton LONDON Printed for Benjamin Harris and are to be sold at his Shop at the Stationers-Armes in Sweetings-Rents in Corn-hill near the Royal Exchange 1677. EPISTLE To a Pensive Disconsolate SOVL My dear Friend HAving taken these Notes on a subject of great concern which may be much more inlarged I did consider with my self that they might be very seasonable and suitable to your case and condition for you have been an afflicted soul for a long time often complaining to God and Man of the darkness of your spirit and the sad and dismal thoughts wherewith you have been haunted and exceedingly disquieted as if no Mans condition were so sad and dark and disconsolate as yours But yet there is no Temptation as you may assure your self which hath seized on you but other Christians have had experience thereof and God who is Faithful will with the Temptation also make a way to escape that you may be able to bear it 1 Cor. 10.13 Blessed be God you have a tender and gratious High Priest that undertakes for you in that he himself hath suffered being tempted he is able to succour them that are tempted Heb. 2.18 We have not saith the Apostle a High Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our Infirmities but was in all points tempted like as we are yet without Sin let us therefore come boldly unto the Throne of Grace that we may obtain Mercy and find Grace to help in time of need Heb. 4.15 16. He it is that gathers the weak Lambs with his Arm and carryes them in his Bosom and gently leads those that are with Young Isa 40.11 He will not break the bruised Reed nor quench the smoaking Flax but will send forth Judgment unto Victory Math 12.20 This Merciful and Compassionate Jesus never rejected any that came to him and will he cast you off if you come to Him with the burthen of your Sins Sorrows Temptations Melancholick distempers No he will not he hath promised he will not Joh. 6.37 There 's an Emphasis in the Original two Negatives He will not in any wise by any means cast ye out The doubled Negatives serve to make the Assertion so much the stronger and to raise our Faith above all doubts and fears O then poor Soul be not discouraged draw not back from â—he living God through an evil heart of unbelief Give not way to groundless Jealousies and carnal Reasonings but believe and you shall see the Glory of God in giving you speedily a gracious Issue out of all your Temptations and a comfortable deliverance from the sad disconsolate perplexing thoughts of your own heart which indeed is your greatest Enemy for the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked who can know it Jer. 17.9 Read over these Notes seriously and beg of God earnestly to give you Grace to improve the seasonable directions therein mentioned and to teach you effectually by his Spirit for who Teacheth like him Job 36.22 When he giveth Quietness who then can cause Trouble And when he hideth his Face who then can behold Him Whether it be done against a Nation or against a Man only Job 34.29 If ye think the publishing of these Notes may tend to the Edification and comfort of some other tempted afflicted souls who are in the like condition with your self it is left to your Freedom to get them published otherwise you may make a private use of them for your self and near Relations as God shall direct and enable you to whose Gracious Protection I commend you and yours THE CAUSES CURE OF SAD Disconsolate Thoughts c. Text Psal 94.19 In the Multitude of my Thoughts within me thy Comforts delight my Soul SOme Intérpreters understand this Text of that Heavenly Delight which David found in Holy Meditation a Work wherein he was much exercised and whereof Spiritual Joy and Delight is a Natural and Moral Effect But if we look more narrowly into the Context we shall see that the Prophet speaks not of Holy Thoughts and Meditation but of Sad disquieting and perplexing Thoughts which did arise in his Heart against which he found the Consolations of God to be the most effectual Remedy Observ That Saints should watch against sad melancholly unbeleiving disconsolate Thoughts and Cogitations Hence it is even from their Unbeleif that they are so apt to make sad and dismal Conclusions touching their Spiritual Estate My Soul refused to be Comforted saith David Psal 77.2 3 7 8 9. I remembred God and was troubled I complained and my Spirit was over-whelmed Will the Lord cast off for ever c So Heman that Godly wise Man saith Psal 88.4 5. I am counted with them that go down into the Pit I am as a Man that hath no Strength free among the Dead like the Slain that lye in the Grave whom Thou remembrest no more c. I will here describe 1. What these sad disconsolate Thoughts are 2. The Causes of them 3. The Remedies of them 4. Give you some Helps and Directions against them Quaery What do you mean by sad disconsolate Thoughts Answ Such Thoughts I mean as the Saints themselves are exercised with in reference to their Spiritual Condition oft-times they have sad uncomfortable Reflexions heavy Burthens on their Souls great Pressures of Spirit Why haft thou set me as a mark against thee saith Job cap. 7. v. 20. so that I am a Burthen to my self Quae. What are the Causes of these sad thoughts Answ They are caused both by natural distempers of Body and by spiritual distempers or Soul pressures First Partly by bodily distempers especially by Melancholly which is a black cloudy muddy distemper that darkens the Intellectuals depraves the Fancy saddens the Spirit of a Christian and renders his Condition and Life uncomfortable to him 't is Satan's Chariot wherein he Tryumphantly rides his Anvil on which he continually beats the Element or Bath in which he Bathes himself Though a Man have Grace and Spiritual experience and acquaintance with God yet if he be of a melancholly temper and constitution he cannot act chearfully as a Christian should do buâ— is like a VVaggon or Coach whose wheels are out of order so that the Passenger cannot comfortably perform his Journey Secondly There are spiritual Causes of these sad dark uncomfortable thoughts and they are six First Those remaining Principles of darkness carnal Reason Slavish fear and unbelief which are in the hearts of God's own People who are but in part Regenerated here in this Life Satan who is a Spirit of darkness and delights most in spiritual wickedness Eph. 6.12 works upon and corresponds with these remainders of unbelief and carnal Reason in the Saints as being most suitable to him who improves his long experience skill and power to draw out and heighten these
Distress prayed often and earnestly Luk. 22.44 Is any among you Afflicted saith the Apostle Jam. 5.13 let him Pray This Direction may be drawn out and improved in five Particulars 1. Suppose thy Case be as sad as Jobs was Cap. 10. v. 15 16 17. thou art full of Distraction and Confusion the Lord hunts thee as a fierce Lyon and increaseth his Indignation upon thee contending still with thee as if he were thy greatest Enemy Yet now fall down and Prostrate thy self humbly at his Feet as a poor silly helpless Lamb and if thou must needs dye and perish yet dye at His Feet mourning and bleeding out thy-Heart in Sighs and Tears Take heed of a fretting murmuring Spirit which is exceeding offensive to God Be still and quiet not a word put thy Mouth in the Dust It is good that a Man should hope and quietly wait on God Lam. 3.26 29. I will bear the Indignation of the Lord because I have sinned against Him saith the Church Mic. 7.9 Kiss the Rod as a submissive Child and acknowledge that it is of the Lord's Mercy that thou art not consumed 2. When God seems to pursue thee hard and to bend his Bow and shoot his Arrows against thee desire him humbly to Remember the Thoughts of Love and Peace which he had to poor Sinners from Eternity These Thoughts he delights in they are more than can be numbered Psal 40.5 and what Are they restrained in Him Hath God forgotten to be Gratious Hath He for ever shut up his tender Mercies Surely He hath not Psal 77.9 Put him in mind of that infinite All-sufficient Righteousness and Merit which is in Christ whereof Himself hath no need no nor the Blessed Angels that never sinned But it is reserved for poor sinful Men and Women such as thou art If thou sayest Thou art unworthy yea but He loves freely Hos 14.4 If the greatness of thy Sins be objected against thee tell him That there is plenteous Redemption for thee in and with Christ Psal 130.7 Art thou ungodly and wicked in thy self the Scripture saith That he Justifies the ungodly Rom. 4.5 and that Christ received Gifts for Sinners yea for the Rebellious that the Lord God might dwell with them Psal 68.18 Art thou no better than a Dogg Yea but the Doggs they eat the Crumbs that fall from their Master's Table Christ hath reserved some Crumbs of Mercy and Comfort for thee Math. 15.27 3. If he still pursue thee in his Anger and set thee as a Mark to shoot at so that thou art a Burthen to thy self Job 7.20 Ask him humbly with Tears in thy Eyes What he aimes at Is it to have the Victory over thee that he might be justifyed in his Sayings and might over-come when he is Judged Rom. 3.4 Tell him freely Thou wilt yeild to him as a poor Captive and stand out with him in nothing and that he shall need no other Judge or Jury to condemn thee but thy self Thou art very willing to justifie him in all things and to sentence and condemn thy self only beseech him to consider what Victory what Honour it will be to so Great and Infinite a God as He is to pursue a little dry Stubble to break a poor Leaf that is bruis'd already and crumbles under his Fingers if he do but touch it Job 13.25 Say to Him Thou art Impar Congressus Thou art far from being an equal Match to Him and He is so Noble so Generous as not to set Himself against a Worm against a poor weak Leaf that yeilds and falls under His hand having said That He will not contend for ever lest the Spirit should utterly fail before him Isa 57.19 4. If it should be hinted to thee as if God would glorify Himself in thy Eternal Destruction and Condemnation tell him 'T is true he may But yet before he thrust his Sword in thee desire Him with Reverence and Submission to consider That he first sheathed it in the Blood of His Son and what profit will there be in thy Blood and Destruction If Satisfaction to Divine Justice be his end and designe He may have that in and from the Propitiatory-Sacrifice and Death of Christ and so be no loser And as for thy Salvation it will be more for his Glory than thy Condemnation If he require more Ojbedience of thee Alas this is not the way to perform it when thy poor Soul is distracted with his Terrors and thou art as a Man that hath no Strength numbred amongst the Dead as Heman speaks Psal 88.4 5 15. The more Spiritual Peace and Joy and Soul hath the more Service and Obedience it will be able to perform to God who loves a chearful Giver The Joy of the Lord is the Strength of the Soul Nehem. 8.10 If it be suggested to thee That if thou hadst more Assurance Joy and Inlargement thou wouldst abuse it and grow wanton Tell God humbly That he may also prevent that if He please by the Power of His Grace and by writing the Law of Love in thy Heart by his Spirit which will constraine thee to love Him and to live to Him 2 Cor. 5.14 And Love is as strong as Death Many Waters cannot quench it neither can the Floods drown it Cant. 8.6 7. And though thou hast a froward and stubborn Heart which thou canst not chuse but sadly complain of yet so had he whom the Prophet speaks of Isa 57.17 18. God hid his Face from him was wrath and smote him and he went on frowardly in the way of his Heart Yet for all this saith the Lord I have seen his wayes and will heal him and restore Comforts to him 5. If thy Temptation be so great and thy Condition so sad as if there were no other Remedy but God and thou must part yet labour notwithstanding to have good thoughts of God and to bless Him for those glorious Attributes and excellencies of Mercy Truth Wisdom Holiness that are in him Bless Him for his mercy and goodness to others and for enabling them to serve him with chearfulness and success Bless him for the good things which thou hast formerly received from Him and if thou hast done or suffered any thing for God in thy time wish with all thy soul it had been a thousand times more And confess thy self unworthy lesser than the least of those Mercies he hath bestowed on thee and that thou art infinitly ingaged to Him for what is past if He should cast thee off for time to come and never smile upon thee again Desire Him only that He would preserve and maintain in thee good and honourable thoughts of His Majesty that thou maist not in the least derogate from His Honour or Blaspheme his Holy Name however he is pleased to deal with thee as to Spiritual Peace and Comfort And who knows but whilst thou art thus bemoaning thy self as Ephraim did though the Lord at present seem to look Stern and to speak Angerly to thee yet
I shewed it and he attended further than I read I not knowing what followed But it followed Him that is weak in the Faith receive ye Rom. 14.1 which he applyed to himself and opened unto me But by this Admonition he was Confirmed and without all turbulent delay was conjoyned in a good Pleasure and purpose most congruous to his Manners wherein he long ago excelled me Thereupon we go in to my Mother tell her She rejoyceth We declare how it was done She exults and Tryumphs and blesseth Thee who art able to do above All that we are to ask or think Because she saw that thou hadst granted her far more concerning me than she was wont with her miserable and lamentable Groans to ask of Thee Thus far Augustine Who would not now delight to read and understand the Divine Scriptures whereby Augustine and Alipius were thus Converted and Comforted Mr. Fox in his Acts and Monuments tells us That Mr. Bilney the blessed Martyr having been long under great Doubts and Fears in his Soul whil'st he adhered to the Popish Doctrines at length opening the New-Testament he light on that Text 1 Tim. 1.15 This is a faithful Saying and worthy of all acceptation That Christ Jesus came into the World to save Sinners of whom I am chief which God so blessed to him that thereby his doubts and Fears were dispell'd and he received much spiritual Peace and Comfort in the Assurance of the love of God from this free promise of Grace Bishop Latimer that Godly Martyr standing at the Stake ready to shed his blood for the Truth lifting up his Eyes to Heaven with an amiable and chearful Countenance comforted himself with that Scripture Faithful is God who will not suffer us to be tempted above what we are able 1 Cor. 10.13 Alice Benden Martyr being kept in Prison nine weeks with Bread and Water and Sequestered from her Companions was in great heaviness and Soul distress till on a Night as she was in her sorrowful Supplications rehearsing those words Why art thou cast down O my Soul c. And again The Right Hand of the most High can change all this she received much comfort Mr. Midgeley Minister at Ratchdale in Yorkshire oppressed with melancholly thoughts and temptations to Self-murther and going down to the Water-side to Drown himself having the New-Testament in his Pocket it came into his thoughts before he flung himself in to read a little in his Testament and opening the same he happily cast his Eye upon that precious word of Grace Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you Rest Matth. 11.28 29. Whereupon this poor tempted Soul was much revived and broke forth into these words Say'st thou so then I will not down my self 'T is well observed by a Godly Writer that we had better want Meat Drink the light of the Sun Aire Earth and all the Elements yea Life it self than that one sweet Sentence of our Saviour Come unto me c. Mrs. Katherine Brettergh who was wont to task her self to the reading at least eight Chapters of Scripture every day in her Sickness before her Death * Vid. Mr. Will. Leigh's Souls-Solace against sorrow she fell into great distress and anguish of Spirit sometimes she would cast her Bible from her and say it was indeed the Book of Life but she had read the same unprofitably and therefore feared it was become to her the Book of Death Sometimes she would say her sins had made her a prey to Satan a spectacle to the World a disgrace to Religion and a shame to her Husband Kindred and all true Christians And here she would weep most bitterly she wished she had never been Born or that she had been any other Creature rather than a Woman She would often cry out Woe Woe Woe c. a weak a woful a wretched a forsaken Woman and utter such like pittiful Complaints against her self with Tears continually trickling down her Cheeks But at last before her death she was raised up to unspeakable joys and comforts by applying Scripture-promises Oh said she my soul hath been compassed about with terrors of Death fear within and fear without the sorrows of Hell were upon me and a roaring Wilderness of Woe was within me which she repeated again and again But Blessed Blessed Blessed be the Lord my God who hath not left me Comfortless One time she took her Bible in her hand and looking up towards Heaven she said O Lord it is good for me that I have been Afflicted that I might learn thy Statutes the Word of the Lord is better to me than thousands of Gold and Silver She desired her Husband to read some part of Scripture to her he read that excellent Chapter John 17. and as he read v. 9. she interrupted him saying O Lord Jesus dost thou indeed pray for me O Blessed and Sweet Saviour how wonderful how wonderful how wonderful are thy Mercies When he came to v. 24. Father I will that they whom thou hast given me c. Stay said she and let me meditate on the goodness of the Lord for now I perceive and feel the Countenance of Christ my Redeemer is turned towards me and the bright shining Beams of his Mercy are spread over me Oh happy am I that ever I was Born to see this Blessed day Praise praise Oh praise the Lord for his Mercies for He hath brought me out of darkness and the shadow of death O my sweet Saviour shall I be one with thee as thou art one with thy Father and wilt thou Glorifie me with that Glory which thou had'st with the Father before the World was And dost thou so love me that am but Dust and Ashes as to make me partaker of Glory with Christ What am I poor Wretch that thou art so mindful of me Oh how wonderful how wonderful how wonderful is thy Love To a Christian Friend that came to see her wondering at her joys she said O the joys the joys the joys that I feel in my soul they be wonderful they be wonderful they be wonderful Thus she was ravished in Spirit and tryumphed in the praises of God At last with a sweet Countenance and still Voyce she said My Warfare is accomplished and mine Iniquities are pardoned Lord whom have I in Heaven but thee And I have none on Earth but thee My Flesh faileth and my Heart also but God is the strength of mine Heart and my Portion for ever He that preserveth Jacob and defendeth his Israel he is my God and will guide me unto Death Guide me O Lord my God and suffer me not to faint but keep my soul in safety and with that she presently fell asleep in the Lord. Mr. John Holland an eminent Saint and Preacher of the Gospel did wonderfully raise and comfort himself with the holy Scriptures even in the Valley of the Shaddow of Death his Heart was replenished with Heavenly Thoughts and Delights