because I have not been above two moneths so violently troubled May 31. Being Munday came to her the Lady Willoughbie of Parham with D r Coxe Physician and M rs Cox M r and M rs Adderley of the Charter-house c. Having heard of her great comforts Dr. Cox put severall Questions to her Which with her Answers were to this effect 1. D r Cox Some say of your Comfort that it is but a Delusion some say it is not Q. How do you know t is no Delusion S. Ans. You cannot know what my comforts are except you knew what my terrors were But I beleeve the Lord did not keep me in them and carry me through them and deliver me from them not foon one but from all my fears and give mee comfort to delude me with his comfort For nothing could satisfie in those Terrors but Christ therefore it is apparent that it is Christ because nothing else could do it to free me from one of my terrors much lesse to free me from all Could any thing keep me from such great temptations but the power of God then shee told of some of her Temptations Q. How know you it was the power of God Ans. Because it was the bare arme of God that brought salvation to me Isa. 59.16 nothing else could and nothing els did it I went about seeking rest and could sind none till he gave me rest Q. How know you this working in you is the Spirit of God A. Where the Spirit of God is there is libertie he d 1 Cor. 3 17. sets the soul at liberty that was in bondage for I was in bondage The other is a Spirit of Error this is the Spirit of Truth the other is the Spirit of darknes this is the Spirit of light This is the Spirit of Truth and not of Error because he leads the soul into all Truth e Ioh. 1 13. and he set me at liberty that I am no under the Law but under Grace f Rom. 6.14 2. Q. How or in what sense are you not under the Law S. Ans. Because the Spirit of life in Christ Iesus hath made me free from the law of sin and of death For what the Law could not doe being weak c. Rom. 8. 2. 3. It was weak to pardon my sinne and to carry it into the land of forgetfulnes therefore God sending his Son condemns sin and saves the sinner even me the chiefest of sinners 3. Q. Whether have you SIN in you A. Yes a thorn in the flesh as Paul had to humble me but not to condemne me 2 Cor. 12. 7. Q. Whether doe you think that others judge of your condition now that it is but in hypocrisie A. They that saw or knew me in my Terrors when I could not be ruled might well know that nothing but the Peace of God which passeth all understanding could so rule me which was as Ephraim an untamed heifer Phil. 4.7 Ier. 31.18 she spake this very low 4. Q. Why do you speak no louder are you weaker with your joyes then you were with your Terrors Ans. I had more cause in my Terrors when I abus'd my body but I never felt it till now I beat my head oft against the wall and took my flesh in my teeth and the more and ofter I did it the lesse I felt it And when I had an opportunity against my life and did not take it then I beat my self for it most of all because it took not effect Or if I spake any thing that was offensive to any with me or did that I should not when it was brought to mind afterward then I abused my body for it most of all And that I did so then is the cause why I lie here now For now that he hath brought me to my self now I feel it He did not onely bring my soul to hell and brought it back again but my body to the grave that he might raise it up again if he see it good 1 Sam. 2.6,7 5. Qu. Why do you not eat Why do they now get things for you that you may rise again Ans. I do eat But its meat to eat that the world knows not off but those that taste of it His words were a Jer. 15. 16. found and I did eat them His words are the joy and rejoycing of my heart his words of mercy and love and joy in the holy Ghost which sill an empty soul indeed as I was which is meat indeed both to soul and body at the present Qu. Whether do you not refuse the creatures our of temptation An. No for I would eat if I could my stomach was then sild with terror that I could not eat now with joy If I could I would take the Creatures but for the present I cannot But if he see it best for his glory and my good I wait for a power from him for this as well as for the rest that he hath done for me for I know that all power is in his hand and all my times are in his hand therfore I desire to wait on him Q. Whether could you endure to be mock'd and skoff'd and jeered at in the world if some should say This is she that was mad or that counterfeited could you endure it Ans. It s no more then my Lord and Master was before me They said he was mad and had a Devil and the Souldiers mock'd him Let me undergo the uttermost I do but follow his a 1 Pet. 2. 22. steps And if I will be one of Christs I must do so b Luke 14. 26. He suffered it but for such a one as I though he was the Son of God yet he made himself of no reputation c Phil. 2. 7,8 And what was it for but to die for me the the chiefest of sinners that I might live to have life from him that I might live to him d 2 Cor 5. 14 15. 7. Q. Whether could you be content with Christ alone now and take no comfort in any thing in the world but be satisfied with him alone Ans. Yes very well for he is a satisfying Christ for having him I have enough I have all things Therefore I desire not to look after pleasures in the world for I have enough in him e Phil. 4.11 12. For he is full of satisfaction and I have tasted of that fulness Grace for Gr..ce. f Io. 1.16 8. Q. Whether do you love God now more then ever you did before Ans. I know not that ever I lov'd him at all before For I had no love at all g Tit. 3.3 neither to the Creator nor to the creature for all were enemies All the sight of God I had then was that he was an enemy I saw no excellency nor beauty h Isa. 53.2 nor comliness in him to be desired at all It must be one that hath attained to great love that can love a deformed creature God is
they beleeved not and what great need they have of Christ and till then they never rightly beleeve I have found it hath been so with me No sin is like the sin of unbeliefe The enemy is the Grand enemy of the soul that sin is the Grand sin of the soul. Though it be the great sin of all and the damning sin That yet Iesus Christ should not onely bid such a one beleeve but give it to beleeve it is to be admired 2. Quest. Whether many are not worse by hearing the Gospel of Grace in Christ to the ungodly and chiefest of sinners S. Ans. Many are worse and many are better The y 1 Pet. 1. 25. Word by the Gospel is to be preached to the world of sinners that is the Word which became flesh z Joh. 1. 14. That Christ came not to be ministred unto but to minister and to give his life a ransom for many a Mar. 10 45. He is not to be ministred unto by workes of our righteousnesse or our preparing our selves first for him or any worthinesse in our selves but to minister that is to supply our wants first the Spirit and therewith righteousnesse peace and joy which make an empty soule full indeed and to give his life not so sell it to them that haue money but to give it to them that have none his life no lesse price a ransome for us bondslaves that were in bondage to Satan sin and corruption for many for a numberles number that none can number so they are indeed if all be gathered together though but a few in comparison of the rest for many are called but few are chosen b Mar. 20. 16. It s there for many here for few Many are called by the word to Beleeve and to Repent all where the Gospel comes but few are called out of their sinfull state Iune 10.47 It being now above 75. dayes since she did eat at all and full 65. dayes since shee did sip or drink two dayes together her drink being onely fair water for about twenty dayes and since that some small beer and both these onely at once still in two three or four dayes of late in four or five dayes once and then no more till about so long after shee having never been able to stirre out of bed since April 6. being 65. dayes through her great weaknesse especially in her head by her so beating it against walls in her Terror and now shee being very weak unlikely to live unlesse shee took somewhat except he who so miraculously had upheld her so long should hold out the same great power and goodnes still unto her shee not having taken so much as a sip of any thing at all for four or five dayes last nor so much as moistened her mouth or lips in all that time and had enjoyed very little rest for a week together or more The Relator perceiving it now as from time to time formerly spake to her about eating or drinking somewhat S. Ans. I am not hungry nor thirsty Rela I have sometime neglected my body till I saw I must not wrong the Temple of the Holy Ghost c 1 Cor. 3. 17. and then I durst not but eat though I had no mind to it because t is an ordinary means of preserving life and health S. Ans. I cannot do it I do not abstain out of wilfulnesse for I would if I could nor have I any command or temptation in my spirit against it as if I should not but it is because I cannot When I have tried I am the worse by it I cannot digest it and the smell of it hurts me The Relator durst not then further urge her and being ready to depart Shee entreated his visiting some of the despairing soules that had been with her and to pray for them and for her selfe that shee might quietly submit to the will of God to live or dye for she found not such contentednesse to live as she desired but rather longing to be dissolved to be with Christ which was best of al for her Phil. 1. 23. So lie left her more drooping weak and pensive then at any time shee now to the eye of man drawing neer to death as he apprehended and was much affected with it spake of it to some ☞ But yet remembring some expressions of Faith that she had uttered before touching the raising up of her body as well as her soule pag. 33. 35. he had hopes the Lord would yet raise up her body to the praise of his Name and the refreshing of others that are despairing disconsolate soules And now behold and see the LORDS doing for it is marvailous and worthy to be remembred That day and untill about ten of the Clock at night all that week before-going especially on since Tuesday beforesaid she had these words following her and still as it were spoken to her again again viz. With long life will I satisfie him Ps. 91. 16. At first she took it to be meant of Eternall life in glory and rejoyced in it But when it was opened to her to be also of long life here Shee thought that would not satisfie her and therefore she would not regard it being so desirous to be absent from the body and to be present with Jesus Christ. 2 Cor. 5.8 a little glimpse of him that shee felt was so sweet shee so desired the full fruition of him that shee was not so contented to live as was meet and as now having a sight of it shee desired prayer for her that shee might be and that she might quietly lie down at the feet of God to do with her as he would that shee might not be so weary of the condition the Lord allotted to her About ten at night this came in as if it had been whispered to her soule from God Thou hast not wearied me with thy sacrifices but thou hast wearied me with thy sins Yet I even I am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine owne Names sake a Isa. 43.22.25 and will remember them no more for ever no not for ever Thou art mine my b Cant. 7. 10. desire is towards thee I will c Hos. 14. 4. heal thy backslidings I love thee freely I forgive all thy sins for my Names sake as though they had never been committed Come and see how I have loved thee How I have ever loved thee Behold and admire this love of mine Fathom this sea of my love if thee canst which drownes the multitude of thy sins and see how I have ever loved thee from eternity with an endlesse boundlesse and everlasting d Jer. 31 3 love the number of thy sins and multitude of thy transgressions against me shall never be able to seperate the e Ro. 8 35-39 union that I have made between thee me This manifestation exceedingly melted her heart and the more abased her soule before him And shee said Lord
in Lawrence Pountney lately of Black Fryers M r Cradock Minister in Nicholas lane M r Barker Minister at Garlick-hill M r Brag from about Bristol M r Isaac Knight late of Holland Captain Harrison The Lady Mayerne and M ris Iane Done her sister Lady Hartop with M ris Fant her sister now M ris Stock and M r Ric-Wollaston M ris Rolls wife to Judge Rolls M ris Mary Leeb Hanna Trapnel Dinah the Blackmore and those that are named pag. 8. 9 10. and many others The Reason of naming many is there rendred viz. that some more incredulous might the sooner beleeve and reap benefit and not reject the mysteries of God against themselves to their hurt Luk. 7.30 Which may plead excuse for naming them Ioh. 4. 39. For the saying of the Woman many of the Samaritans beleeved on Iesus Joh. 12. 11. Joh. 11. 45. By reason of Lazarus being so raised up many beleeved on Iesus Act. 9. 42. By making knows his raising up of Dorcas many beleeved on the Lord. If some yet say How is it possible that one so young and never understanding to purpose till now should be able so to speak T is answered This is the Lords work and it is marvellous in our eyes who out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hath ordained strength perfected praise Mat. 21. 16. And hath promised to his to powre out of his Spirit in the last dayes upon them and upon their children their sons and daughters Act. 2. 17. 33. 38 39. Our Lord Jesus promised to his Disciples that his Holy Spirit should bring to their remembrance what he had said to them Joh. 14. 26. This good Spirit brought to her remembrance now when it was most usefull what shee had read and heard formerly and opened her heart to understand them and opened her mouth to utter them in an humble melting manner as he had opened to her even when her bodily eyes and ears were held which since April 19. are both of them opened H. I. M r Saltmarsh his Letter For my dear and honored Friend and Cosen M H. JACIE Dear Cosen I Salute you in the Lord. I did much rejoyce in those breathings of the Spirit of God which I found in your little Book OF THE RICHES OF GRACE ADVANCED c. Surely the Lord is teaching his people and fulfilling his promises They shall be all taught of God Joh. 6. 45. And thus his New Covenant with his people shall be more and more revealed and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day Isa. 2.11 When I meet with such precious manifestations of the Lord me thinkes I taste those waters of life those rivers of living water which shall show out of the bellies of those who beleeve in Christ Joh. 7. 38. There is not a streame of this water but it proceeds from the Throne of Grace Rev. 22. 1. Zach. 14.8,9 though it flow in the vallies in the poore low and humble Christians I finde in this Spirituall Treatise of yours two things very experiment all the one is her Legall and the other her more Gospel condition In the first shee is in bondage in blackness and darkness and tempest in much distresse and shadow of death her life drawing nigh unto hell and afflicted with all his waues Psal. 88.3.7 In her Gospel state I find God shewing wonders to the dead making the dead to rise and praise him shewing his loving kindnesse in the grave and his faithfulness in destruction and making known his glory in the dark and his righteousnesse in the land of forgetfulnesse Psal. 88.10 11 12. And truely the voice of joy and gladnesse is in the tabernacles of the righteous Psal. 118. 15. I finde that when God reveales himselfe in Christ in his grace and love the Spirit of the Christian is sweetly raised and cheered and the love of the Lord is as wine even as the spiced wine I make no question but the Lord will fill this soule with more discoveries then this of the Riches of grace this truth being that first discovery of God in love Dear Cosen you do well thus to watch the appearances of God in his and to publish them to the Saints I am yours in the Lord JOHN SALTMARSH The CONTENTS or TABLE of the Book Of this Hand-maid her education Parents and dwelling pag. 4 5 6. Her Deep afflictions 1. In Spirit pag. 6. to 15. 10. 42 43. 59 60. 67. 70. 78. 109. 112. 127. 2. In body pag. 7. end 22. 31. end 55. 78. 115. 128. Her soules deliverance pag. 15. 35. 40. 54. 59. 67. 86. 89. Her sight and hearing given at greatest need pag. 24 25. 29. 34. 43 end The Lord refreshing her unable to eat or drink for many dayes pag. 15. 18. 20 21. 55. 57. 91. 116. 131. Her brother hoped for it pag. 5. and saw pag. 30. The Lords power excellent by this earthly vessell being in trances opening his Gospel-treasure pag. 15. to 33. 54.86 Whilst shee was blind and deafe 34. Which after her hearing was restored shee remembred not at all Of like expressions after it pag. 35. to 43. 51. c. CONFERENCES with some troubled about SIN with a Maid with M ris A. 44 45. to 48. with one 61. to 64. with another 65. another 72. with another 76. another 81. with another 99 another 105. with another 122. Other Conferences about her eating 57 58 about her condition now 85. future 89. About Ordinances 87. 118. About Differences among Saints 88. 39. Powring out the Spirit 90. New Covenant all free 91. The Law 92. 94. 115 Duties 93. 118. Endeavours 64. 94. Of Generall Redemption Free-will Falling away 95 96 97. Punishment for sin 98. Why weak after comfort 115. 128. Of enduring Christs reproach 117. Content with Christ alone 117. 22. Not loving God not before 117. Not proud by visiters 119. Of the Trinity 120. Justification and Sanctification by Christ 121. Items against receiving or telling false reports 125. Praises in Zion 119. Against stubbornnes or murmuring 24 30. Against lying and wronging Conscience pag. 7. 153-155 To be trained up in holy Scriptures pag. 6 3â— 42. 59 60. Against unmercifulnes 103 104. The Lord raiseth her body being neerest death 132. by Faith 135. to arise and eat 138. walk 141. A Thankesgiving day Order 144. Summe and USES of all 151. Cautions about OATHS 155. A TABLE of many of the choise places of holy SCRIPTURE that in this Book are cited opened illustrated or applyed Where * is here added the Translation is neerer the Hebrew or Greek Page GEn. 22. 14. Iehovah jireh God will see 156. d ve 18. Gen. 26 4. All Nations-blessed 97 a 124. q Gen. 41.14 Iosephs garments changed 101. t Exod. 19. 4. Bare you on Eagles wings 149. a Ex. 34.6 Gracious mercifull long-suffering 53.105 e Levit. 16.21 Scape-Goat bears sin to Wildernes 67. k Num. 11.11 Manna-colour as Bdellium 38. o Num. 21. 9. Looking to brazen Serpent heal'd 81. m Deut. 29. 29.
shall 67. l Zacha. 1.8.10 A vision of horses sign Angels 149. b Zac. 12.10 See Christ whom they pier 36. c 54. k. 75. q Zach. 13. 1. Fountain Christ open for sin 17. h Mal. 3. 17. Be mine-when I make up my Iewels 19. g MATTH 1 1-6 House of David is of Iudah* 17. Mat. 3.17 Mat. 17. 5. In him I am well 95. i 150. Mat. 4. 1. Christ was led into Wildernes to be 80. i Mat. 4.4 Man lives not by bread-but by word 58. p Mat. 8. end Mark 5.15 Legion cast 47. b 102.126 Mat. 9.13 I came not to call the righteous 94. g 112. w Mat. 10.42 He that gives a cup of water rew 21. b Mat. 11.28 Come to me yee that are weary and. 72. b Mat. 20. 16. Few are chosen yet many how 131. b * Mat. 21.5 read On an Asse * even on a. * 31.19.38 Mat. 25.6 At midnight cald to goe to Christ. 112. Mat. 26.41 The spirit is willing but flesh weak 62. k Mat. 26.72 Mar. 14.71 Christ dyed for 18. d 46 f 112. Mat. 27.5 Iudas did undo himself or dissolved 129. * MARK 1.30 Anon they tell Iesus-she ministred 136. Mar. 4.28 Corn grows up first the blade then 100. n Mar. 5. 15. Legion 47. b 126. v. 34. Thy faith 100. o V. 41. Talitha cumi Damsel-arose walked and 137. Mar. 10.45 Christ came-to minister give 131.136 Ver. 49. Be of good comfort arise he cals thee 136. Mar. 14.71 see Mat. 26.72 Mar. 16.7 Go 18. e 112. y Mar. 16. 9. Mary Magdalen had seven Devils 46. q V. 17. Beleevers in his name shall cast out Devils 145. * Luk. 1.48 The base estate of his handmaid 54. i 36. b V. 53. Christ fils the hungry with good 18. b V. 79. Christ is light-in darknesse 107. p Luk. 2.7.12 Christ was laid in a manger 16. a 18. a Luk. 3.5 Every mountain shall be laid 28. m 52. b 53. c Luk. 4.18 Christ is sent to open the blind 62. b 104. Luk. 5.20.25 Man thy sins are forgiven thee 136. Luk. 7.14 Young man I say to thee arise 136. Luk. 8. 54. Maid arise and her spirit came and 136. Luk. 10.20 Rejoyce not in this but-that your 145. V. 33. Christ is the good Samaritan that 34. d 40. a Luk. 11.22 Christ the stronger dispossesseth Sat. 19. d V. 31. Queen of Sheba came from far to heare 126. f Luk. 18. 10. 14. Poor publican is justified rather 17. c Ver. 8. Shall be finde faith on the earth 66. i Luk. 9. 6. Christ came not to destroy but save 61. d Luk. 15 14-32 Prodigals father rejoyced over 68. c Luk. 15. 16. Houses our own righteousness satisfi 86. Luk. 18. 27. What 's impossible with men-with 77. y Luk. 19.10 Son of man came to seek save that 48. a Luk. 22. 32. Peter sinned yet was saved 18. d Luk. 24.25.37 Slow to beleeve-count it a delusion 82. V. 26. Christ must first suffer then be glorified 18. p V. 46 47. Repentance to be preacht in Christs 105. JOHN 1. 1. 14. The Word the Son was flesh 121 h V. 16. Of his fulnesse have we all received 117. f Joh. 3.14 Christ heald the stung by Satan 81. n 122. o Joh. 4.10 If thou knewest Christ aske and have 20. f Joh. 5 2-5 Man waiting at Bethesday Christ. 95. c Ver. 8. Iesus said unto him arise-and walk 141.95 o Ver. 40. You will not beleeve and so have life 18. f Ver. 44. How can you beleeve-that seek not-God 119. n Joh. 6.37 All that the Father giveth me shall 120. d Ver. 44. None can come to me except the father 120. c Ver. 51.55 Christs flesh is meat for the. 57. n 90. 124. p Joh. 8.36 The Son makes men free indeed 104. f 111. u Joh. 14. 6. Christ is the way to the Father 95. h Ver. 16. The Spirit is sent in Christs Name 121. k Joh. 16 8-13 Convince- shew-th 114. e 121. n 140. Joh. 19.30 All is finished by Christs death 124. Ver. 24. From his side issued water and. 53. 122. p Acts 2.17.33.38 Spirit powred out 90.140.158 Acts 3. 6. In the Name of Iesus 137. 141. Acts 4. 7. The Name of Iesus is his power 137. Acts 3.25 All kindreds-blessed in Christ. 97. Acts 3.26 Acts 5.31 Christ gives 92. 96. 75. r 80 g Acts 4.29 Grant-that wonders may be done 140. Acts 7.51 Yee have alwayes resisted the Spirit 97. Acts 8. 22. Simon Magus must pray to God 95. r Acts 9.34 AEneas Christ makes thee whole 137. Acts 10.9 Peter going to pray had a vision 95. d Acts 11. 28. Agabus foretold a great dearth 140. Acts 17.30 God commands all to repent 82. Acts 20.35 Iesus said it is more blessed to give 91. d Acts 22.10 Arise goe to Damascus so to Christ 135. Acts 25. 15 16. To have accusers face to face 127. m Acts 26. Paul of straitest sect of our religion 127. * Ver. 16. Stand iepon thy feet to minister 135. ROM 1. 19 20. Creation clearly shews a God 45. a Rom. 5.8.10 God reconciled us who were enemi 69. q Rom. 5.20 Where sin abounded grace is exalted 145. n Rom. 6.14 Not under the Law but under 114. l Rom. 6.17 You-served sin but now-obeyed 74. h Rom. 7.24 25. O wretch-I thank God through 120. b Rom. 8. 3. What the law could not doe 113.115 Ver. 10 11. Spirit that raised Iesus dwells 121. m Ver. 17 If suffer with him-glorified together 18. p Rom. 8.28 All things work together for good 68. Ver. 35-39 What shall separate neither 122. p 134. Rom. 9.16 It s neither in him that willeth 61. f Ver. 25. He cals them his people that were not 72. z Rom. 11.23 He will graff them in because he is 73. d Ver. 34. Who hath been his Counsellor 61. e Rom. 15 4. What was written is for our instr 104. i Rom. 16.20 God will tread Satan 50. c 73. g 149. c 1 COR. 1.29.31 That no flesh should glory 109. g Ch. 2.11 Things of God none knows but-Spirit 124. Ch. 6.3 Saints shall judge the world and Ang. 145. 1 Cor. 6.17 He that joynd to the Lord is one 120. e 1 Cor. 10.4 The Rock Christ followed 46. e 76. t Ver. 10. Murmurers were destroyed yet I saved 36. e Ch. 12. 8.31 Covet earnestly the Spirits gifts 140. 1 Cor. 13.1,2 If I had all gifts yet wanting 83. c 2 Cor. 1. 5. Consolations-be comforted us 50. a 2 Cor. 12.9 His strength appeares in weaknesse Ver. 11. Though I am nothing Christ is all 16 18.g Gal. 1. 15. When God manifested his Sonne 94. f Gal. 2. 20. I am crucified with Christ. 53. g 55. l * Gal. 3. 24 25. How the Law was School-ma 93. * Gal. 4. 1 2. Law was a tutour 93. * Gal. 3. 13. Christ redeemed from curse 94. e Gal. 5. 6. Faith worketh by love 94. c Ephes. 1. 3 4. We were chosen in Christ bef creat 97. Ver. 6,7 Riches of
glory and grace 150. Ephes. 2. 1-5-12 dead in sins-far off 112. a 105. h Ver. 10. Wee are his workmanship 103. a Ver. 14. Christ is our peace 72. c Ephes. 3.16 Strong with might in inner man 142 Ephes. 3. 21. Glory to the age of ages 159. Ephes. 4.2.8 Labour for that which is good 109. k Ephes. 5. 14. Arise-Christ shall give thee light 74. k Ephes. 5.18 Be not drunk-but filled with-Spirit 50. Ephes. 6. 10. 12. Wrestle in Christs power Phil. 2.7,8 Christ made himselfe of no reputa 117. c Phil. 2.13 Works will and deed in pleasure 64. r 122. e Phil. 3. 8. Excellency of Iesus Christ. 16. b Phil. 4.7 Peace of God-rules the heart 115. Ver. 11. I have learned to be content 117. e 41. e 2 Thes 1. 10. To be admired in his Saints 103. b 1 Tim. 1 13-15 Save chiefest of sinners 18. c 79.103 c 1 Tim. 4. 10. Saveth all men specially 97. 2 Tim. 1.9 Grace before world was 97. 2 Tim. 2.13 He cannot deny himselfe 123. Titus 2.11 Grace teacheth to deny ungodlines 94. d Titus 3. 3. Living in malice hatefull 117. Heb. 2.6 Opens Ps. 8.15.6 to be of Christ. 42. a Ver. 14. Christ took our nature 121. i Heb. 6. 18. That flie to Christ for refuge 100. q Heb. 8 1-10 New covenant opened 123. n Heb. 10. 14. He hath perfected for ever 18. n Heb. 11.6 Beleeve that God is-then come 95. g Heb. 12.2 Christ the Author and finisher of 79. e Heb. 12.7 Whom he loves he chastens 99. l Heb. 13.8 Christ yesterday to day and 48. r 163. o James 2. 11. Doe not kill opened 38. 1 Pet. 1.25 Word by Gospel preached opened 131. y 1 Pet. 2. 9. Turne from darknesse to light 111. q 1 Pet. 5. 8. Satan goes about 35. b 149. 2 Pet. 1. 19. Till the day-star arise in the heart 53. c 2 Pet. 3. 1. Stirre up-by remembrance 94. b 1 Joh. 3. 2. Wee shall see him as he is 63. n 1 Joh. 4.16.19 He loved first so we love him 118. k 1 Joh. 5. 6. 8. By water and bloud 53. h 122. q Ver. 7. Three heare witnesse in Heaven 120. l 1 Joh. 5.10 Vnbeleever makes God a lyar 20. e 126. k Rev. 2. 17. Eate of hidden Manna 39. n Rev. 3. 19. Whom I love I chasten 98. l 99. l Rev. 4. 8. Holy three or nine times repeated 20. o Rev. 21. 23. 25. Lambe is lasting light 35. a c. THE EXCEEDING RICHES OF GRACE ADVANCED THE Relator hereof being one who desires to feare the Name of the LORD having been an eye and ear-witnesse both of the sad sufferings and longed-for deliverance of this handmaid M ris SARAH WIGHT and upon his enquiring at the first and best hand having many of her precious Evangelicall expressions as the first fruits thereof viz. from pag. 16 to 35 testified to him by such as are well approved off for godlinesse and faithfulnesse who were also eye and ear-witnesses with himselfe of the rest here recorded And he observing and noting down presently from time to time since this happy change such * Glad-tidings uttered of the Righteousnesse of God of his Faithfulnesse and Salvation of his * benigne Kindnesse and Truth he could not but Publish it to the World for the exalting of this glorious Name of of God and for the refreshing of poor hungry empty sinfull burden'd drooping desparing soules that judge none to be so base and hopelesse as themselves and for the building up of others in their holy faith he would not might not durst not keep it to himselfe alone and so conceale it hide it or withhold it from others as he would not for all the world have the Lord withhold or hide or * close up his bowels of mercies from his own soule as the Psalmist argueth * Psal. 40. 9 10 11. Hebrew For the better satisfying of some that would hardly give credit to the wonderfull things herein related It was judged meet there should be laid down 1. First somewhat touching this Handmaid her parentage and dwelling place 2. Touching her Education pag. 5. 3. Touching her Afflictions in Spirit especially since shee wronged her Conscience at her being about twelve yeares old till April 6. 1647. shee being in September following 16. yeares old And of godly Ministers and others that knew her soule in adversity and sought to comfort her and of such as have seen her and spake with her since the LORD hath comforted her Pag. 6.8 9. 4. Touching the Lords delivering her April 6. 1647. when no creature could help shee being then struck deafe blind and lame and terrified beyond measure this extremity was the Lords opportunity pag. 14 15. Then 1. of her so continuing deafe and blind from April 6 till April 19. many dayes together except part of April 15. wherein shee had satisfaction to her troubled Spirit that her Mother had pardon'd her murmurings against her And part of April 17 to see and heare her Brother as Pag. 25. 29. 2. Of her being acted both then and often after to admire utter forth and magnifie the exceeding Riches of Gods Grace to sinners to her the chiefe of sinners Her speeches of Grace which follow were all in her Bed being in the time of her bodies great weaknesse caused partly through her former deep sense of Gods wrath consuming and pining away And by seeking to beat out her eyes and Braines and since this happie change her stomack being exceeding weak not eating at all till June 11 and drinking so little as is noted her voice thus being very low and oft whispering it could be heard by none but that were very neer her uttered in an humble melting manner stop'd sometimes with tears of sighs her eyes being alwayes covered because of that weaknesse and by spending her selfe in speaking to distressed soules and to others 3. Of her Conferences then and since with many despairing soules whose Names and dwelling places are so born by the Relator in tender respect to themselves and their friends least some not experienced in Temptations might the more reproach them or the Name of God for what these uttered in distresse or through Temptation But their Expressions and the Answers to them are recorded as neer as could be being then writ down for help to themselves hereafter and to others in like condition if the Lord will Hoping this will not offend them 2. Conferences with others about the Church-Ordinances the Spirits powring forth about the New Covenant the Law Works Mans Endeavours Punishment for sinne Redemption c. 4. Of the Lords power in sustaining her above 75 dayes by a little water taken once in three or four or five dayes and very little besides And then raising her by FAITH All these are here set down though the latter are set downe occasionally and not all in this same order I. TOuching her Earthly Parentage This M ris Sarah Wight was daughter to M r Thomas Wight sometimes of
ceased speaking and then remained without speaking or drinking without sight or hearing these being again taken from her from that 15. til the 17 th of April On the same 15. day shee asked if her Brother or the maid would goe to M r Simpson to desire him to come to her When he came shee had done speaking and seemed to be in a trance and would not speak again till her time came On the same 15 th day before shee ceased shee further said I thought I was the bad theef but now I see I am as the good theef I was really crucified with Christ a Gal. 2.20 though I was not in the appearance of any bodily eye but as I was in the loyns of Adam when he sinned b Rom. 5.12 Heb. 7.9 16. I was the nailes in his hands and in his feet and the speare in his side c Isa. 53. 5. The maid desired her to eat something shee answered I cannot I am full Again shee said How old am I Her Mother saith she shall be sixteen yeer old in September next 1647. Shee went on in her speech thus Thirteen fourteen fifteen sixteen so long I have been a filthy sinner Now I have been foure dayes in the grave with Lazarus d Joh. 11.39 shee having been four yeers in deep despaire and now I am risen e Col. 3. 1. to live with Iesus Christ for ever in glory He led Captivitie Captive and received gifts for men even for the Rebellions f Psal. 68. 18. He came to the poore Publican that could but speak one word not to the proud Pharisee that us'd many words g Luk. 18. 13. Iesus Christ said The Cup that my heavenly Father gives me to drink shall I not drink it h Joh. 18. 11. He drank the dregs the very dregs and he had no sin and shall the Saints think much to sip of the Cup when he drank of it before us The yoke of Christ is easie and his burden is light but the yoke of sin is heavy and wrath is heavy i Mat. 11. 28. The yoke of Christ is easie because Christ helps them to hear it himselfe and that makes it easie The Saints shew'd have no sufferings if it were not for their good k Rom. 8. 28. 31. els they should have no sufferings at all Christ comes leaping over the mountaines and skipping over the hils There 's nothing in the soule but mountains of sin and hils m Luk. 3. 5. of corruption he doth not come running nor walking but leaping and skipping to a poor n Hos. 2. 14. bewildred soule not to a garden ready trim'd he trims it for himselfe to abide in for ever for ever If wee confesse our sinnes hee 's faithfull and just to forgive us o 1 Joh. 1. 9. One confession and two things to that Faithfull and just Hee 'l give water of life to them that thirst p Rev. 22. 17. Not onely water but water of life He hides himselfe that wee may seek the more earnestly after him q Hos. 5. last and that he may reveale himselfe more fully I that was an enemy am made an heire with Christ to live in glory for ever for ever Christ is my Brother my elder Brother r Mar. 3. 35. How sweet are the Teachings of the Spirit to my soule Sweeter then the Teachings of men and Angels They may speak much to the eare and that 's well but they could not say to my soule Thy sinnes are pardon'd and Christ Iesus loves thee These and moe heavenly expressions shee uttered in a humble gracious manner that same 15 th day The relating of them thus brokenly cannot so affect the heart as to have heard her selfe so tender-heartedly speak them For this half hour or more of her now speaking the Lord restored her hearing wherein shee both saw and heard her Mother as two days following shee saw and heard her Brother also whom shee longed to see and heare and was satisfied And having thus spoken what shee desired then to say she ceased and rested And then both her sight and her hearing were againe taken from her Shee abiding as asleep but it seems slept little but in that resting time much enjoying communion with Jesus Christ her souls rest So was shee silent from that morning April 15. till the morning of the 17 th day The night following April 16. shee was very sick labouring for breath as if shee would have dyed April 17. being the last day in the week in the morning shee asked for water A little being given her to drinke shee said Give mee it freely Christ hath given me Faith freely and love freely and joy in himselfe And having drunk again shee proceeded thus Wee love him because he loved us first a 1 Joh. 4. 19. Wee rejoyce in him because he rejoyced in us first Wee desire him because he desired us first I could not beleeve that I should be saved but now if men and Devils stood there before my eyes and should tell me I should not be saved I would not beleeve them I see him that 's invisible and look on him whom I have pierced and I mourne over him Doe not you love him if you see him as I see him you would admire him A sight of him would satisfie Nations A sparkle of him is more glorious then the world b Phil. 3. 8. Mat. 17. 2. This day shee asked againe for M r Simpson for M r Iessey Shee answered her selfe thus I cannot heare and why doe I aske a Question After this shee remembring her Mother had told her that her Brother was come shee spake of her Ioseph for so shee called him and now shee was desirous to see him And said Mine eyes have seen my heavenly Ioseph and why shall I not see my earthly Ioseph The Lord hath opened my spirituall eyes and why should I not beleeve that he will open my bodily eyes And shee called for water to wash her eyes and having washed her eyes her brother being present by her shee saw him and took him by the hand and puld him and told him of the greatnesse of the love of Christ saying Why came he from the bosome of the Father but to die for sinners the chiefe of sinners and that makes the Grace great Shee then told him what condition shee had been in thus in a sweet humble manner I was at the very brink of Hell and Iesus Christ puld me out And how can I but love him He came for the disobedient and unholy and unthankfull and for murmurers as I have been a Mat. 9. 13. If any one see and feel what I have seen and felt they would take heed of murmuring against God and a Parent You never murmured so much against God and against my Mother as I have done Ah ah ah sighing and weeping as shee spake But I speake the rather said shee that none
be neer in himselfe and is not this to be admir'd He first finds the soule and then the Spouse saith Shee had found him whom her soule loveth He destroys selfe righteous selfe and all selfe that he alone might have the glory He leaves nothing for the Creature to boast in It s his Wisedome that he alone might have the Glory Turne thou me and I shall be turned Heale me and I shall be healed Convert me and I shall be converted So many soule hath found by experience One told her It s said a Ezek. 18. 31 32. Turne yee why will yee dye O house of Israel Shee answered It s Christ that comes with a power in the Word and turnes them And the Church knew her own unsufficiency to returne and therefore shee saith Turne me and I shall be turned b Jer. 31. 18. Behold he comes leaping over the mountaines and skipping over the hills He makes rough places plaine and raiseth up valleyes c Luk. 3. 3. It s easie for him to pardon mountainous sins multitudes of sins as one sin He came to me and pardon'd me though my sins were as the stars in Heaven for multitude He hath delivered me from the hard bondage wherein I was made to serve He appear'd to me in the dark and thick Cloud a thick Cloud indeed One beam of the Sun of righteousnesse dispeld it in a moment What a sinfull creature was I I never read of any that was in so desperate a condition as I And he hath delivered me from all my feares not from one or two but from all my feares Therefore I desire high and low rich and poore to magnifie the Lord and to praise his Name in my behalfe that he hath looked on the low and base estate of his handmaid His works praise him his Saints blesse him Ps. 145. 10. Especially the work of the New Creation in the soule I could beleeve nothing before but that there was no Hell but in this life I had no rest no rest in hearing nor reading and then he made me rest on himselfe d Mat. 11.28 And though I was weary and faint He was neither weary nor faint His wrath is but for a moment but of his goodnes and mercy there is no end He layes the foundation and he builds up It s I the Lord doe all He bare me and carried me and did at last deliver me This Rock followed me though I was not aware of him The Sun of righteousnesse arose with healing under his wings and the day-star arose in my heart e 2 Pet. 1. 19. It was a dark heart till he arose and then he made it light Christ suffered for me He needed not to suffer and be tempted but to succour such as mee that was tempted f Heb. 2. 18. I never had rest till I saw my selfe crucified with Christ g Gal. 2.20 and that my sins pierced him and there came out of his side a fountaine of bloud for the guilt of sin and not onely so but a fountaine of water to wash away the filth of sin to wash away all my filth There 's enough in him not onely to justifie but also to sanctifie h Joh. 5. 6. The life that I now live is by the faith of the Son of God who hath loved me and given himselfe for me though before I was an unbeleever and unholy and unthankfull and a murmurer and every way sinfull yet now hath he lov'd me and washed me And it not be to be prized and admir'd of all his Saints And his Name to be had in everlasting remembrance He proclaim'd his Name to be Mercifull and Gracious abundant in Goodnes and in Truth and that to sinners to the chiefe of sinners May 4. 1647. The same day at evening when some came to see her M r Iessey and M ris Palmer wife of the late Minister there in Lawrence Pountney who with M r Palmer had known her soule in affliction One telling her M ris Palmer was glad to heare of Gods goodnesse to her M ris Sarah said I desire that M r Palmer and you and all Gods people may praise and magnifie the Lord for his goodnes in looking down on the i* Lu. 1.48 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so Mat. 23.12 base estate of his handmaid M ris Palmer said After what manner did your comforts come in to you M ris Sarah My earthly tongue cannot expresse what I felt it s beyond expression I was in such extremitie that either deliverance must come or I must perish I was able so bold no longer Then I fell into a Trance This was April 6. at night I lay in visions And in that time the Spirit of God was powr'd in upon mee And then Iesus Christ was presented to me as crucified for my sins I saw it and my selfe crucified with him and when I saw a glimpse of his love then I mourned bitterly for my sins and never truely sorrowed for sin till then I never mourn'd for sin as sin before But then I mourn'd bitterly k Zach. 12.10 And now praise the Lord with me and let us magnifie his Name together M ris Palmer Are you nod desirous to enjoy your inheritance M ris Sarah Yes But Christ hath taught mee by what I enjoy to submit to his will My terrors so long were nothing to one moment of mercies All the miseries I endured though they were very great were nothing to one glimpse of his mercy M ris Palmer How are your thoughts acted what are they acted upon M ris Sarah A living active Christ in a dead passive creature makes it act to God l Gal. 2. 20. For a farewell shee said Rejoyce in the Lord with me Mention was made before that from the 27 th of March to the 21. of April in those 24. dayes shee had not eaten at all and her drink had been onely two or three or four little cups of fair water once in two or three or in four dayes together Some having spoken of this others have counted it a forgery or pretence By such injections the Enemy would obscure and darken the Works of the Great God of Heaven But many Godly Ministers and Gracious Saints that know M ris Wight and the Maid and this Daughter of Abraham have ground to judge they truely feare the Lord and that they dare not lye but abhorre lying Now the Relator by conference with them hath it from their own mouths that from the time of her ceasing to be in Trances and to be deaf and blind which was April 19. to the day of the writing of this part of the Relation being May 5. shee hath not taken so much sustenance as shee did take in that time from March 27. to April 19. And from May 5. till Iune 11. being the longest day in the yeare lesse then that from April 19. The power of God appearing therein wonderfully to the beholders in upholding
I had mercy or no. I felt my selfe soule and body in fire brimstone already If all the fire and brimstone in London all the pitch tarre should all be in one fire and I walking in the midst of that fire this was my condition I beheld my selfe in hell locally my terrour was so great And I thought there was no other Hell but that which I felt and therefore I sought to make away my selfe and many wayes attempted it But God bath made me see my sin therein and he ashamed and mine iniquity and be confounded Yet then I could wait no longer and I said if God will not save me let him condemne me and it terrified me after that I had said so But were Gods thoughts as my thoughts were his thoughts ill towards me because I thought so Nay Gods thoughts were not my thoughts b Isa. 55. 8. God could withold possession and temptation if he would but he sees it s for his glory and for the good of his that you might love him the more and that his glory might the more be seen in his delivering of you It s Christs work to dispossesse where the strong man armed keeps the house He doth not dispossesse the soule that was not possessed but the soule that was possessed possest with sin and Satan and corruption that such should be brought from the captivity of Satan to the glorious liberty of the sons of God And then shall you see that this was good for you all things are for good to them that love God I say not that you can love God but he will give you a heart to love him c De. 30.6 Woman I have no experience that ever he shewd that mercy on me Sa. Hee 'l shew mercy that he may be feared d Ps. 130.4 Hee 'l shew mercy to sinners are not you a sinner and ungodly Woman But not to me I cannot beleeve it S. You cannot beleeve it I could not beleeve that he died for me Paul saith I was a blasphemer a persecutor injurious yet I obtained mercy to be a patterne to others 1 Tim. 1. Had you seen my condition that I was in as I saw it you would believ be may as soon shew mercy on you as shew mercy to me and sooner too by far Woman I was and am still of a perverse spirit S. He sees you are so and he heales such None can heale but Christ he is the Physician that heales che chiefest sinners freely Put al sins into one unbeliefe is the greatest and Christ died for that sin and t is Christs gift to give faith to one that hath no saith to a heart ful of nothing but of sin and corruption and unbelief till Christ give it to beleeve e Heb. 12. 2. Woman I would beleeve but I cannot S. Say as the man said I beleeve Lord help my unbeliefe f Mar. 9.24 there was faith and unbeliefe mingled Christ comes to give repentance and remission of sinnes g Act. 5. 31. and faith to beleeve it If you have Satan in you Christ came to destroy the works of Satan and it s a work onely for him to doe it Woman I am in continuall horror S. If he speak peace who then can trouble He will speak peace to his people then * So shee spake it and so the Hebrew is future Ps. 85.8 they shall not returne to folly and what 's that folly but to distrust Gods mercy and have hard thoughts of God as if his anger wrath should be for ever Ps. 77.8.10 Woman Nothing will work on my heart S. No not till Christ work And if he work who shall let him His Counsell shall stand h Ps. 33.11 The woman being wished to forbeare because the other was so weak and spent She would have the woman remember this That Christ was carried into a wildernes to be tempted So he brings a soule into a wildernesse of Temptation and then will he succour them that are tempted He saith I le allure her and bring her into the wildernes and then speak peace to her Ho. 2.14 That 's Gods time to doe it then he saith to them I wil betroth thee to me for ever I le betroth thee to me It s the wildered soule the desolate soule that he wil betroth to him Though you are now in the wildernes ne'r so sore stung of fiery Scorpions yet there 's a brazen Serpent for you even you to look upon and be heal'd or for such a one in your condition never so sore stung Is holden up not for them that are not stung but for them that are sore stung Io. 3 14. May 16. Shee still being very weak in bed was another Conference shee seeking to comfort one in deep despaire that came to her The woman being asked how it was with her Woman I have slipt my time shee had formerly told her more of her sad condition by sin S. Was it Gods time to have done it then Who could hinder him Thou hast not cald on me O Iacob thou hast been weary of me O Israel thou hast wearied me with thine iniquities But was their time past Nay the very next verse is I even I am he that blots out thy transgressions for mine own sake not for thy sake be thou ashamed but for mine own sake Isa. 43 end And in Jer 5. 11 12. The house of Israel and of Judah have belied the Lord and said it is not he neither shall evill come upon us Yet Iudah shall be saved and Christ shall be the Lord thier righteousnesse Iere. 23. 6. For four yeere together have I been in as sad a condition as you can be in and at least it grow sadder and sadder still till I came even at the brink of Hell and Hell gates were wide open sin and destruction set them open then came Christ with his armes wide open for me and pul'd me thence Object Ther 's no mercy to one in my condition S. I did not then apprehend there was any mercy for me I never met with any so carried on as I was I reason'd with God Why he would make me to damn me And why he made the Devill Of late I thought if I made away my selfe there was an end of my misery and that there was no God no Heaven and no Hell but what I had already This last was ever since a moneth or six weeks before Christmas as they call it I could not beleeve the Scripture nor any thing I had judged my selfe for these evills I see nothing is too hard for God that yet saves me Jer. 33. 17. Then is no sin greater then unbeliefe Yet Christ ayed for this also Did not Christ say to his own Disciples O fooles and slow of heart to beleve They were slow to beleeve and yet Christ dyed for them and was not slow to give them faith to beleeve Whatever we suffer in Temptation Christ suffered being
to him Heb. 11. 6â— Quest. What judge you about GENERALL REDEMPTION and the consequence thereof FREE-WILL FALLING AWAY c. Seing you hold out to all that come troubled to you that Christ hath redeemed them and that it onely wants manifestation to themselves Answer The Gospel is to be held out to all the world to the chiefest of sinners And this is Gospel That Christ was sent of God to them to turne them all from their sins a Act. 3 26. Act. 17. 38. 46 Act. 5. 31. Lu. 24. 46. 47. and to justifie and Pardon them and to give b Luk. 10. 5. Act. 10. 36. peace to them that are a far off and that God is not c 2 Pe. 3. 9. Ezek. 33. 11. Luk. 13. 34. willing that any should perish but that all should repent and live Gods willingnes to d 2 Cor. 5. 18. reconcile the world to himself it to be held out to all And those that I thus speake to are afflicted and affliction is the portion of those that he loves And he had loved such and Christ had redeemed them whilst they were in the furnace of affliction though they knew it not it only wanted the manifestation to them and when this fulnesse of time is to draw them it is not because God then began to love them but he loved them with an everlasting love therefore it is that in tender mercy he draws any souls Jer. 31. 3 There is his free choice and his mighty power in drawing such as were dead in sins which no power of man could doe none can come to Christ except the Father draw him e Jo. 6. 44. 63. And having loved his own he loves them to the end f Joh. 13. 1. and none can pull them out of his Fathers hand Who shall separate us from this loves g Ro. 8. end neither men nor sinne nor Satan Another added as follows 1. Iesus Christ saith Preach the Gospel to every creature say Peace be to this House Thus the Disciples did to the worst Peter Act. 3. 26. Paul 1 Cor. 15. 1. 3 4. with 1 Cor. 6. 9-11 Chap. 2. 2. Hereby they received the Spirit Gal. 3.5 2 Pet. 1.4 Which alone convinceth effectually of sin righteousnesse and judgement Iob 16. 8. and melts the hard heart Zach. 12. 10. Isa. 53. 5. Gods choice was not used to be preached to all but for the comfort of them that knew they beleeved Eph. 1. 3 4. 2 Tim. 1. 9. In preaching of the Gospel light motion and power goes out to all which men resist and such are destroyed not because they could not beleeve but because they resist and will not obey and so die Act. 7. 51. Luk. 13. 34. Ezek. 33. 11. Hos. 13. 9. 2. All the Redemption or freedome that all have from temporall and from hellish torments at present and all the good to heart body or state that they enjoy all is by the redemption of Jesus Christ who saveth all both men and beasts especially them that beleeve thus 1 Tim. 4. 10. Psal. 36. 6. 3. The time must be when every promise of God must be fulfilled Ioh. 10. 35. Mat. 5.17 18. And therefore the time cometh when in the seed of Abraham that is in Jesus Christ all the a Gen. 22. 18 Gen. 18. 18. Nations b Act. 3. 25. kindreds c Gen. 28. 14. families d Psal. 67. 5. people of the earth even to the e Vers. 6. ends or utmost corners thereof shall be blessed When the stone in Daniel that smites the feet of the mighty image shall become a f Dan. 2. 34 35. 45. MOVNTAIN and fill the whole earth g Dan. 7. 27. Then the kingdome and dominion and greatnesse of the kingdome under the whole Heaven shall be given to the Saints of the most High whose kingdome is for ever or for an age and all Dominions of Rulers h Psal. 72 11-17 all Kings and i Psal. 100. 1-4 people shall serve and obey him This was never yet fulfilled and therefore we may rejoyce that as God is true as this shall be performed H. G. Whether doth the Lord at any time PUNISH or chasten his people FOR SIN S. Ans. He saith For this cause some are sick and weak among you k 1 Cor. 11. 30. But I cannot call it a * Amos 3. 3. Hebr. is visit upon you not punish So Ier. 46.28 and elsewhere punishment for sin to his people for Christ hath paid their debt already and bare their sinne into land of forgetfulnesse Thou forgavest the punishment of my sinne If the punishment for the least sin were taken away it would presse them down to Hell and then what would their greatest sin doe But Christ hath satisfied to take away the punishment But yet he hath fatherly chastisements for them For whom he loves he chastens What sonne is he whom the Father chastens not l Revel 3. 19. Heb. 12. 7. He chastens them to love and they see it and that makes them sorry for sin as sin or els they would never be sorry for sin as sin but that they see his love It s his love that he will correct them and then he deales with them as with one of his own It is in love what ever he doth to his in all afflictions though the soule may not see it till afterwards For All things are for good to his people May 26. 1647. There came to her a wife that being past her reckoning thought her Pangs of Travell were come upon her but as shee said those being as nothing to the pangs and terrors her soule was in having been with M ris Sarah before shee came now running to her bewailing that in this her extremity shee had no God to goe unto M ris Sarah's eyes that had been so very ill by her cruell beating them and by oft bruising her head against walls in her terrors to have beat out her braines being now somewhat better beheld the sadded woman coming in and had presently cast in a word to speak to her which was this Iudah shall be saved and Jerusalem shall dwell safely m Je. 23.6 and who were more sinfull then they Yet God hath made a promise to them If you were as bad as you are as bad by nature yet look upon that promise which was cast upon me as you came in That you even you shall be saved and dwell safely under the shadow and protection of the Almighty which is a safe shelter indeed from what stormes soever they be Those sins that are crimson-sins and of a scarlet dye yet God hath pardon'd doubtles he hath lov'd you freely and pardon'd you not for any thing in you but for his Name sake You say you are weary of your sins and you desire nothing but Christ Therefore the promise is to you Woman mourning said as the Relator then wrote it I am in unbeliefe S. Ans. It s rather
a token you have some Faith though you see it not The Corn that is sown in the Ground is first hid then the n Mar. 4. 28. blade and growth appeares You are wounded it s not you that wound your selfe but he saith I wound and I heale Therefore he saith to one o Mar. 5. 34. Goe in Peace thy faith hath made thee whole Thou beleevest I can heale thee This faith in me hath made thee whole So for you though yet you see it not you beleeve Christ can heale you Desire he would but speak the word and manifest it to your soule Another asked her Doe you think Christ is willing you should beleeve Woman Yea But there are Mountaines in the way S. Behold he comes leaping over the p Cant. 2. 8. Mountain of Opposition that are in the way Woman If the world knew the worth of the glimpse of faith they would prize it who cannot beleeve Quest. What is faith S. A beleeving Christ is a sure and strong Rock and refuge to fly too q Heb. 6.18 Had it not befor him you had been swallowed up Would you rest on our own righteousnesse on any thing in you Woman I am much looking at that to feele something in me S. That 's but filthy rags r Isa. 64.6 and he will take them away and cloath you with change of raiment s Eze. 16 10.-14 as Josephs t Gen. 41.14 rags were taken away and he was cloath'd with better raiment Woman When I was troubled about my condition about ten years agoe one day as I mused a voice said plainly to me Marie thou shalt dye and live againe and thou shalt glorifie God greatly Thy ways are not my ways nor thy thoughts my thoughts This fild me with joy unspeakable and I said Yea Lord let it be as thou wilt I was perswaded it was an Answer from God Then I could not but send for my friends that they might heare what God had done for me and I told them of this Then I presumed that I had faith and I looked that God would doe great things for me that he had thus spoken to me and done so much for me I was carried on thus for a time But after this I was led to sin againe and I fear'd I should sinne and I said Lord shall I sin againe it went to my heart The voice answered me Though thou doe thy sins are buried in the bottome of the Sea They are bound in a bundle and cast into the depth of the Sea I was not led to sin by this But I forgate Gods goodnes and I fell into sin by little and little and now I have been a backslider S. Here are backslidings He saith I have seen his wayes and I le heale him and restore comforts to him I le heale their backslidings I le love them freely mind that What joy is it to a Shepherd when he finds a lost sheep more joy then over all the rest You are the lost sheep he will joy over you u Hos. 14. â— Woman Legions of sins are before me S. Legions of Devils were within me not before me but within me Yet he hath cloathed me and câ—â— out Legion Mat. 8. end Who came Christ for Was it for the righteous w Mat. 9. 13. You are an alien without God without Covenant of promise Woman I am confident that 's my case S. God drawes such souls Christ dyed to reconcile such soules the Spirit ties both ends together he tied them and Christ together uniting them to Christ. So did he with those Ephesians They were dead in sinne and trespasses strangers from God without God far off twaine but these had he made neer Such does God draw and makes up the breaches See the condition they were in Eph. 2. 12. and Hosea the first and second Chapters He said They are not my people and then it shall be said now they are the children of the living God Hos. 1. 12. Before not people as now not onely people but children before they were dead people now they are living children the living God gives them new life They have life from God that they may live to God In Ephes. 2. a Eph. 2. 1. 5-8 10. You that were dead hath he quickned and by Grace yee are saved through Faith not of works least any should boast We would boast if we did any thing in it He works Faith and he builds up still he builds higher and higher till his work be finished We are his workmanship Woman My condition is very dangerous and hopeles S. How is it Woman I have an evill heart of unbeliefe in departing from God S. Have you departed from him then you had him How have you departed from him if you never had him Woman I never had him S. What if now you shall have him and you be a childe not onely a servant but a childe an heir of God Woman I should admire it S. He will shew mercy to be admired He will come and be admired in his Saints that beleeve b 2 Thess. 1.10 He raiseth up a bondslave to be with him in glory It is a faithfull saying though the soule doubt of it and its worthy of all acceptation though the soul would not accept it That Jesus Christ came to save the chiefest of sinners c 1 Tim. 1. 15. The Lord will deliver you of two Burthens the burthen of sin and your other burthen also Your extremity is Gods opportunitie In him Judah shall be saved Woman In my prosperity a poor woman came to me that had her son in slavery and she beg'd of me to give her somewhat towards her son's release But I thought all was little enough for my selfe my sister gave her somewhat but I would give her nothing the woman wept And now I think on my d An Item to all wisely to coÌ„sider the poores cry Prov. 21. 13. Psal. 41. 1-3 unmercifulnes when now my soule is in slavery my self his slavery is nothing to mine S. Christ came to deliver them that are captives and bond-slaves e Luk. 4. 18. not them that are at liberty The Son makes free f Joh. 8. 36. not them that were free but them that were in bondage Woman I am without hope of mercy and my heart failes and gives up all S. Some refused g Psal. 77.2 to be comforted and would not be heal'd yet he heales them He looks after the Out-casts h Ps. 147.2 that none look after Woman That 's my case S. Yet there was mercy for them and why is this written but for our instruction and comfort i Rom. 15. 5. that we might have hope Woman Not one word will abide with mee that 's spoken S. The time was not yet come For in the appointed time it will surely speak and not lie it will speak truth and peace lasting peace abundant mercy and love Wait therefore for that
time The Name of God is to be Preached and Proclaim'd that he is gracious to graceles ones and mercifull to miserable ones and long-suffering and abundant in goodnesse and truth e Exod. 34. 6. to them that have abundance of sin and he would that repentance and remission of sins should be published in his Name f Luk. 24. 47. When he gives you a glimpse of his love you are apt to bely the Lord as Judah did and to say it is not he unlesse it comes with a full perswasion to you yet this hindred not the Lords coming in and healing them Though not a person but the Land was fild with sin against the Holy One of Israel yet Israel hath not been forsaken g Jer. 51. 5. He said I am forsaken and not onely forsaken but forgotten Zion said so and Israel said so yet he is not forsaken For a farewell she said Go and Beleeve the Lord Jesus makes you whole and so Go in peace beleeving its Christ must make you whole and none els May 28. A maid in deep despair came to her The Relator being present writ then also After other expressions the Maid said as followeth Maid It hath been sad with me since it was said to me Repentance is hid from thine eyes and wo unto them when they depart from the living God S. Ans. The Lord saith I le put my feare in their hearts that they shall not depart from me h Je. 32.40 Maid But I have departed from him therefore I am none of his people S. There saith he where it was said i Hos. 1. 12. They are not my people there it shall be said they are the children of God Maid I am without God an enemy to him S. Well let it be so you are without God in the world a stranger an enemy yet such hath he reconciled by the death of his Son k Ephes. 2. 12. all the want is you cannot see it so Maid I am far off from him S. He gives peace peace to them that are far off Maid I had a great deal of light and I departed from it S. So did Judah they departed from the living God and went to dead Idol Gods yet he would marry them Maid I have done so S. So did they before you and yet he married them Maid But I have rejected him S. You can doe nothing els but reject him but your greatest rejecting is to reject * Thus leading her to the root sin that looked at branches more so did shee often a promise from God when he holds one out to you then you say it is not to me Thus I find as you doe in rejecting promises and that was my greatest sin Maid Your sin was not like mine S. No sin was like mine as I judged Mine was against such light that I judged I had sin'd against the Holy Ghost Maid That word terrifies me that was said to me Repentance is hid from thine eyes S. That word when I read it I was ready to teare it out of my book There were three other Scriptures that were terrible to me He that beleeves not is condemned already l John 3. 18. was one Another was He that beleeveth not the Son the wrath of God abides on him m v. 36. A third was He that made them will not have mercy on them n Is. 27. 11. no mercy none at all But above all this Repentance o Hos. 13. 14. is hid from mine eyes Maid Was it so with you and then said The Discoveries of Christ and promises are more terrible to me then the curses of the Law S. Sometimes it was so with me salvation was turnd into condemnation to me promises that were never so sweet were terrible to me Maid When he would have healed me I resisted and would not S. Who hath resisted his will Here is Gods mercy to you that by his Spirit he hath convinced you of sin when you might have gone without any sight of it Maid I have not the light of it S. You see you are in darkenesse Christ came to be light to them that are in darkness p Lu. 1.79 Christ would not unbottome you of your selfe but to bottome you on himselfe q Hos. 2.7.14 Hos. 14.3 Maid He that overcometh to him will he give to sit on his Throne r Re. 3.21 and to eat of the hidden Manna s Re. 2.17 One may goe farre and not overcome He that endures to the end shall be saved t Mat. 24.13 but I fear I shal not S. He saith u 2 chr 20.15 feare not nor be dismayed for the battel is not yours but the Lords you lye down in your shame but he is your strength your al in al. Maid Better never to have known the Truth and holy Command then having known it to depart w 2 Pet. 2. 21. as I have departed S. All the Scriptures you bring are to bring you off from your sandy foundation you would build on something you would finde in your selfe and feed on husks your prodigals portion x Lu. 15.16 Christ is unbottoming you of your own righteousnesse y Phil. 3.7 and of all evill to make known himself his righteousnes to you and to set you on that Rock that is higher then you Maid Not one glimmering light of him have I. S. Ans. Had you these eight yeers enjoyed such light and comforts as you would have had you would have rested in them But God would not have you rest short of himselfe z Isa. 55. 1 2 3. 8. Maid I have sin'd against all the meanes and light he hath given me S. You will the more prize his mercy and the more love him when you shall see his love to you notwithstanding all this a Mic. 7. 18. 1 Tim. 1. 13-17 Maid Iudas after his sin he repented I have not so much as he had S. He had a naturall Repentance you wait for Repentance from Christ b Act. 5. 31. who is sent to give Repentance to them that have no Repentance Maid I have sin'd with Iudas But he saith Returne And I have not returned S. Doth he expect they should returne in their own strength No. But he turns them and they are turned c Je. 31.18 Judah was given over to reproach and to treachery and whoredome and to all manner of sin Their sinnes were such as could not be numbred They would none of God but were weary of him d Isa. 43.24 yet he would not forsake them e Jer. 51.5 but would have mercy on them and would love them freely and would forgive them and blot out their sins for his own sake f 25. that they might not boast of their own righteousnes g 1 Co. 1.29 but glory in the Lord onely Maid I go on in sin and what hope for such S. Ephraim feeds on wind and the house of Israel
LOVE it self i Io. 4.16 yet he is pleased to look on such a deformed creature as I none more then I. Therefore he shews t is great love indeed that he loved me withall Therefore I love him with the same love that he loved me k 1â— first I was a childe of wrath dead in trespasses and sins a stranger from the Covenant of promise without God without hope far off from God indeed I was an enemy to God Yet he was pleased to reconcile enemies therefore its free love to love such a one to quicken such a one to bring such a one neer that was so far off It was love indeed that made me love him It was this that made me to see a beauty and excellency in him which made me love him above ten thousand worlds if all the glory of them were in one and given to me I see more to besired in him in the least glimpse of him then in them all Therefore I look on him above them all When I saw him as an enemy to mee I could not love him But now I see him a reconciled God in Iesus Christ to such an enemy as I even I the chiefest of sinners Which constraines me to love him 2 Cor. 5. 14. 9. Q. Whether do you PRAY Ans. I do pray but t is that the Lord would give submission to his will As long as I am in the body I have cause to pray I cannot forget to pray for troubled soules that come hither to me But for my selfe my chiefest work is now to PRAISE the Lord for what he hath done to my soul. For Praises wait for God in Zion And for what waits it but for Zions deliverance from her hand bondage Zion was a Wildernesse desolate forsaken forgotten of God for the present in her owne apprehension And when God is pleased in fulnes of time to manifest himself and to shew his love to Zion freely and to marry her to himself such a one as I was and to establish Zion on a sure foundation that is upon himself that though the mountains and hills depart yet his loving kindnesse shall not depart then PRAISES wait for God in Zion for Zion then hath answer of her prayers Ps. 65 .1 10. Q. Whether finde you a tickling of pride or hypocrisie when so many people and some great ones come to see you Do you not ask who were the Great people when they are gone and take pride in it A like Question and her Answer to it was before Another time when a Noble Lady sate on the bed by her and she was not moved at it one whispered to her that this was a great Lady She answered Its no more to me then if it were such a one naming a meaner woman troubled in Spirit that oft came to her And now to this Question she answered No it s far from me For if I were in a Wildernesse where none came to me I should take as much glory there as in such abundance comming to me in this place n Ioh. 5.44 For the Saints of God will give thanks for me in general though they know me not in particular And unless it were some that I knew before I know not any that come and I look not upon them unlesse it be on some troubled people that come for I enquire after these but I enquire after none els 11. Q. How know you those that come hither that they are truly troubled for sin For many will make as though they were so but are not Ans. None knows the secrets of God but himselfe And those to whom he reveals his secrets to by their own experience they may guess at it who is and who is not a 1 Cor. 2.16 One that is indeed burthen'd for sin it s not an easy burden for them to ly under they would be out in it if they could These are weary of their sin and anything else can content them but a glimps of the love of God in the face of Iesus Christ b Rom. 7.24.25 So far I guess then to be really troubled for sin 12. Q. How put you a difference in the Trinity between the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost Ans. These three do all agree in one and they differ not in working a New Creation in the soul. They are three in manifesting their workings For None can come to the Son except the Father who gave them to him draw them There 's the Fathers worke is give and draw them c Ioh. 6. 44. For these the Son lays down his life and receives them All that thou hast given me shall come unto me d 37. I have kept them and lost none It s the work of the Spirit to unite the soul and Christ together to make of twain one c 1 Cor. â— 17. Thus their three works are manifested to the soule Yet these three agree f 1 Iohn 5.7 Complut Plant. in one Iune 3. The Relator asked her further about this Mystery of Three in one S. Ans. The Father Son and Spirit are in Vnion These three agree in one and so ther 's no disagreeing or differences therein But there are various dispensations to the creatures capacity so there are three First the Father that in his love sent the Son g Ioh. 3 16. Rom. 5. 8.10 to reconcile sinners to himself Secondly the Son the Word h Ioh. 1.1 who was sent that took our Nature to redeem us from all iniquity and to bring us to the Father i 14. Heb. 2 14. Thirdly the holy Spirit who was sent by the Father in Christs name k Ioh. 14. 16. 26. to manifest this love of the Father and of the Son to the Creature which the Creature could not know but by the Spirit of God l 1. Cor. 2.9.10 Tit. 3.5 Ioh 3. 3. 5. who quickens them that were dead in sin m Rom. 8.10.11 and he teacheth and leads the soul into all truth n Ioh. 16.13 15. 13. Q. May 31. was Whether is any thing revealed to you how it shall go with the Church of God Ans. I know and verily beleeve it shall go o Isa. 3.10 well with those that fear the Lord. Q. How mean you in spirituall or in outward things Ans. Specially in spirituall I mean and so far as it is for their good in outward things God will dispose of them 14. Q. She having said that her sanctification as well as her justification did proceed from Christ M r Adderley asked her how the proved it Ans. I beleeve that out of the side of Christ did issue both blood and water p Ioh. 19.34 Blood to take away the guilt of my sin and water to wash away the filth of my sin q 1 Ioh. 5.6 8. So that from my Lord Iesus Christ doth issue both my justification and my sanctification He r 1 Cor. 1.30 is made to me Wisdom Righteousnes
ruling power of Satan and utter darknes to his everlasting light k Act. 16.18 to turn a Prodigall to himself even me that was a bad or rather worse yet he hath turned me It was his work to turn me therefore he deserves the praise of his own work To cloath Legion in his right mind l Mat. 5.15 set him at his feet yea in his bosom It was his love indeed to such a one as I. This I say that Christ may have the Praise of his own work and none els because he does it alone This was what shee said at that time to those from Westminster and many mo being there is the room and her voice through her weaknes being very low whether some heard her speak but put of the words beforesaid or some that her speech was related unto God knoweth but some did distract from and wrested her Expressions and then raised an ill report If the receiver be as bad as the Thiefe one had need bee wary lest hee receive prohibited goods Some other false reports some have made and others have spread already but this may be an Item to all to take heed what they hear and of whom and to warn all that are professed Christians not to come short of Aristide a professed Heathen who us'd to lend but one eare to a party present that inform'd him against one absent and to lay his hand on his other ear signifying to the reporter that hee would reserve one ear for the party absent and not judge the case till he heard the other also Shall not Aristides and heathen Foestus rise in judgement against many in our generation and condemne them When we see how Foestus also would not passe judgement against Paul being absent though he had information against him not by one or two but by many and those also being of his own * Act. 26. 5 6 7. 22. sect and Religion in the main and of special note and strictnes among them yet being desired by them he refused it saying It is not the manner of of the Romanes to deliver any man to n A good name is better then great riches Pro. 22. 1. Pro. 25. 18. Therefore it is worse to rob or wrong one in this then in the other dy so to judge him before that he which is accused have the accusers face to face and have licence to answer for himselfe concerning the crims laid against him m Act. 25 15 16. Iune 3. 1647. She told the Relator how the Lord prevented her ruine about Feb. last viz. That one night she watched till her Mother was asleep and then stole out softly from her taking the key of the buttery doore which shee opened went in and locked it to her taking the key with her so to make surer her dispatch without lett and there being a window to the House-tiles she crept out to do like Iudas so cast her self down to dissolve her selfe and in the dark she saw there a fire and Satan as a roaring Lyon in it yet still being perswades through his delusion there was no other hell but that she felt in her conscience she went within a quarter of a yard of the edge being ready to leap down when none should see or hear her and nor was no creature to hinder then was this spoken to her distinctly Thou shalt not fall down and burst asunder as Judas did and so dishonour God that make thee Vpon this the sight vanished as if it never has been and she fell not down being thus kept from it and sate down by the chimney there and after a while beat her head against it till it sweld abundantly and the more she dashed it then and at other times the lesse she felt it Her tender Mother awaking missed her and sought about and cause one to breake open that buttery door and cry out and there found her Daughter who has not power then to leape downe from her but when her Mother would have her come in at the windovv she tumbled down her head falling on the bricks which with other such hurts before and after she oft so beating her head was one occasion of her head and eyes so great weaknesse of late After that desparate attempt she had secretly got a knife and hidde it to dispatch her selfe withall and then was she glad and not so troubled so that her Mother hoped shee was now better And on a Munday morning shee desired of her Mother to heare the Lecture at night by M r Carter at Fish-street-hill and first entreated shee might goe see a neighbour which her Mother granted hoping she now might trust her to goe That neighbour not being within it was cast in her mind to go to Lambeth-Marsh which shee had also purposed in the morning there to dispatch her selfe and therefore had shee taken the knife with her Over the bridge shee thus went and quickly came to Lambeth-Marsh There shee went towards the Trees and saw them dry without leaves or fruit and thought so was her soule as they She sate down by a ditch and studied whether she should drown her selfe in Thanies or there and concluded there because there it was more private that none might hinder her Then shee thought as shee had often thought on the like sad occasion shee must like Iudas first repent then * Mat. 27. undo her selfe as if that would serve Whilst shee was about this two that seem'd to be Ministers saw her sitting there alone came to her and asked her how shee did for now they saw her weeping and why shee sate there Shee had no power to conceale it but said I am not well I am as sad a Creature as any on earth I see my condemnation and nothing els I cannot be well till I have taken away my life Min. Whither were you going S. Ans. I had thoughts of hearing M r Carter in Fish-street-Hill Min. This is not a place for such a one to sit in and by Gods help we will bring you thither So thither they brought her But as shee went It was put in her minde to goe thence that night to the Dog-house shee had heared of in Moorfields there to offer her selfe to the Dogs to eate her up that her Mother might never heare of her more But at the Sermon her Mother seeking her espied her and shee againe hid her selfe beyond others but her Mother againe found her and had her home This was but about a Moneth before April 6. beforesaid of her deliverance Iune 8. being Tuesday the Lecture-day there where M r Ed Richardson of Yorkshire the Relators friend was desired to preach upon occasion of two Passages in his Sermon two Questions were put to her Her answers were suitable to his resolutions Qu. 1. Whether persons that rightly beleeve in Christ doe not first feel their great need of him S. Ans. The Gospel is the Ministery of the Spirit He convinceth of sin because
handmaid for divers yeeres and was no small occasion of trouble to the said superior afterwards 2. Branch The like Caution it may be also to all Inferiours to wives to children to servants flock and subjects against fearing man that shall dye more then the living God and obeying man rather then God by doing speaking or acting of any thing to please men that the word or conscience shew to be displeasing to God Lest for your so doing your terrors and punishment may be as great or greater then those of this hand-maid for the like offence Yea lest God tear you in pieces and there be none to deliver you Psal. 50.22 and lest both you and your Commander repent when it is too late I heard of a Maid in Suffolk whose Parents feared she should grow too pure and precise and on a Lords day evening the Mother bid her do some work which she judging unlawfull or at least doubting of entreated to be spared in it but her Father threatning to beat her she did it and the next morning she kept her bed and so did shee many weeks together upon it being terrified in Conscience for her preferring man before God being unfit for work it repented her Parents and her self too too late I never could hear that she got any comfort Also a young Gentleman being a scholar of whose deep despairing of ever being saved and of his strong perswasion that he should be damned Master Case Master Whitakers Master Chr. Love and the Relator with many other Preachers and Christians had notice and sad observation His Father a Gentleman in the Countrey brought him up to London to procure some to speak to him and to pray for him having him present with them This Christian duty was solemnly performed by those before-named and by others in several solemn daies of Fasting and Prayer The beginning and chief first moving cause of those so sad perswasions was because of the Oaths and Subscriptions imposed by the Governours in the Vniversity which he submitted to with the multitude that stuck not at them though he had his Conscience warning him yet thus doubtingly or against his Conscience he yeilded to the Ordinances of his Superiours But his thus doing brought great sorrow on his own soul and on his Parents and friends that sympathized with him Amongst others the Relator could more sympathize herein then many others in regard himselfe had been much afflicted in Spirit for his Vniversity Oaths and Subscriptions and yet had found though his sin abounded therein it being done with a staggering or worse with a relucting Conscience yet the n Rom. 5. 20. Grace of God had the more abounded and been magnified towards him in manifesting that he had forgiven so soul and hainous sins After all meanes used with this young Gentleman many severall daies he returned home more wounded and terrified because so many had taken so much pains with him and he was no whit better and therefore far the worse in his account as he shew'd after his returne home in many sad Letters in black lines to the Relator and because he could write no other language but the language of hell as he said he therefore would cease to weary him with it And so he ceased writing And although since that time the Lord hath given him hopes of his love in pardoning his sins and transgressions yet these sad examples and many moe of like nature that might be produced may suffice for a Warning to Heads and Governours in Vniversities and Corporations and to all Magistrates Officers Masters Husbands and Parents all Superiours whatsoever to beware of laying on heavie burdens by o Seeing OATHS should be given and taken onely in such cases and in such ritae and forme as is warranted by the word of God viz. in truth righteousness and judgement Ier. 4 2. Revel 10. 5 6 Oaths Subscriptions or Commands on any persons whose Consciences when they are distressed they are never able to relieve or release from Hellish continual fears and torments Psal. 50. 22. Matth. 27.3 4. To be an end ef all strife Hebrewes 6. 16. Because of Oaths so frequent not warranted this land mourneth Ier. 23. 10 Oh that Reformamation were herein as in all things else And for all Persons to keep the heart and Conscience above a Prov. 4.23 Hebrew Luk. 12.4 5 Act. 5.29 Luk. 14.26 27. 2 Tim. 4 12 13. Heb. 10.26 27. all keeping Fearing God above all Fiftly Learn hence to fly Censuring the most vile and desperate of all sinners Say not they and Reprobates though they are damn'd already in their own perswasion as this Party was So was M ris Honywood M ris Drake c. and yet obtained mercie Sixtly Be not weary therefore of using all good means for help to such as are hopeless and desparate as these parties were The Lord may come in the last hour He is not weary nor b Isa. 40.28 faint in seeking your good daily However your c 1 Cor. 15. 58. labour of love is accepted of the Lord. Seventhly Limit not the Holy One of Israel any outward means whatsoever seeing he gave the Party Faith and glorious joy in himself when she was struck deaf and blind that till that deafness was as one in hell already But rather believe the Proverb Jehovah ijreh Iehovah will be seen in the Mount d Gen. 22. 14. Eightly Exalt the Lord the Creator e Isa. 2. 11. Psal 8.1.2 Act. 3. 12. alone and not the Creature Say not What a one is shee But What a f Mic. â— 18 God is he in all reading and speaking of her or to her For the Lord is jealous of his glory and will not g Isa. 42.8 give it to an image of him Ninthly Behold here what 's the most effectuall means of humbling the heart and melting it and of furthering faith and love and what 's the greatest support and comfort in the greatest troubles and burdens about sin namely the discovery of the abundant h Eph. 2.4 Rom. 4.5 Grace of God in justifying the ungodly in giving his own Son to reconcile i Ro. 5. 6. 10 Isa. 53.5 enemies and the love k Eph. 3.19 Eph. 5.25 Ezek. 16.6 â—2 of Christ whilst we were in our sins and had nothing in us that is lovely that yet he so loved us as that he gave himself for us Tenthly and lastly Let all such as read or heare these wonderfull dealings of the Lord herein Consider how it is with their own soules First If the Lord hath sealed thee by his Spirit to the day of Redemption in the Spirit magnifie God and feed on him and on his Sons love daily in the Gospel promises and priviledges And the more thou hast received be the more humble l 1 Cor. 4.7 and thankfull to God and serviceable to him in m Is. 116.12 the Power of his Son and the more pittifull and tender to others n Tit. 3.2 â— considering thy self o Gal. 6.1 Secondly If thou hast no experience of such kinde of speakings of the Spirit to thee or of such maner or measure of Faith as here is mentioned both of which the Relator wanting waits for 1. Do not decry or cry down what thou knowest not a. Envy not others 3. Be not dejected because more is given to others then to thee But blesse the Lord in his various dispensations that best knoweth what kinde and measure is meetest for all Mat. 25.15 Eph. 4.7 16.4 Pray for more pourings out of his Spirit upon his sons and daughters as he hath promised to do in the last dayes Act. 2. 17. 33.38 39 John 7.38 39. Thirdly If thou art of a sorrowfull spirit by reason of sin fearing because it is so and so with thee that there never was an effectuall work upon thy heart finding such a power of sinne and corruption such dulnes coldnes hardnes of heart lazines filthines pride self-ishnes or the like basenesse Doth not thou so much backward in toiling to make out the former worke and still questioning about it and how bad thou hast been and art since as forward at that abundant GRACE herein magnified and ADVANCED to them that yet are a far off without God ungodly enemies to him to unfitted unprepared ones to the CHIEFEST OF SINNERS Fourthly If thou hast desires after full enjoyment of Jesus Christ and some hopes that he is thine but no assurance of it Blesse the Lord and be thankful to him that hath done so much for thee that did more desire sin and vanity But rest not in such desires but seek and presse hard for assurance And lastly If thou hast long sought and waited for assurance that Christ is thine and yet hast not attain'd it 1. Beware of murmuring and quarrelling against God and by this Example seeing how grieve to her son her murmuring hath been 2. Despair not because she obtain'd mercy that was so deep in that sin 3. Wait humbly and patiently on the Lord that hides himself that thou maist still seek and the more prize his mercy when at last he shal manifest it to thy soule For therefore will the LORD wait that hee may be gracious to you and therefore will hee bee exalted that hee may have mercy upon you For the LORD is a God of judgement BLESSED are all they that wait for him Isa. 30.18 A power to wait is also from him that bids you wait and promiseth that they that murmured shall learn doctrine Isa. 29.24 And to put his law in our heart Heb. 8.10 Namely to enable us to what hee commands us THE GOD OF ALL GRACE perfect the good work he hath begun in thee Phil. 1.6 To him be all glory by Christ Jesus * Greek to the age of ages Eph. 3.21 AMEN From July 7. till the end of Septemb. 1647. she remained at High-gate hoping then to returne to LONDON having eaten no bread nor flesh at all since March last and but very little of any other sustenance through the weaknesse of her stomach and yet looks as well as formerly At the writing hereof in this second Edition September 27 1647. H. J. FINIS