there is 〈◊〉 stumbling-block before their eyes Oh how happy a thing it is and joyfull for to see when a poor Christian is imbraced in those two armes of love that beloved One that beloved One those whom he hath chosen he will take them for his own for ever he will lock them in his Cabinet from all sin and sorrow and from the Devils assaults In the day when I make up my jewels they shall be mine saith the Lord. She concluded with much rejoycing but exprest no words September 26 I am the true Vine and my Father is the Husbandman every branch that bringeth not forth good fruit in me shall be hewen down and cast into the fire Those that I do not chastise they are not sonnes but bastards saith the Lord. Lord pull back Satan that roaring lion which would devour my poor soul but he cannot but he cannot my God will not suffer him Obey the Commmandments of God and do not dishonour him but honour him and do not abuse his Titles Words or Works labour to make a right use of them it is them that we must be overthrown or accepted by Take heed you live not in a known sin for if you live in a known sin it is a double sin and if in a double sin God will double his Judgements God will denounce against you the greatest Judgement amongst the Catalogue if you dishonour God he will make you smart for it Take heed of Satan that cunning Serpent beware of him beware of him for he is alwayes drawing and flattering us unto him and when he hath got us unto him hell-fire will be our end Let us labour to forsake sin and cleave unto Jesus Christ and let him be our safeguard if you give way to little sins it will bring on greater sins For which things sake the wrath of God commeth upon the children of disobedience if you give way to little sins it will bring on greater sins and then the greater will be your Judgement Lord sanctifie it unto us that it may take an impression in our hearts and work it in us that it may take a deep impression in our hearts Let us labour to be partakers with that thy beloved One that suffered death upon the Crosse to save us from hell-torments had not he suffered death upon the Crosse for our sins we had been howling in hell this day have we not cause to love him have we not cause to love him that suffered death upon the Crosse that cruell death by the Jews if we should suffer never so much we could never suffer so much for him as he did for us Oh have we not cause to love him let us lay down our lives for his sake that laid down his life for us What miserable creatures are we so that our souls be but saved we never think of Christs sufferings for us we alwayes forget that but we must remember it at the day of Judgement the Lord will call us to an account for all these things In the day when I make up my jewels they shall be mine saith the Lord Jehovah September 27. Lord as thou hast fed our bodies with tempor all food so feed our souls with spirituall food Lord work thy Word with faith in our hearts unlesse it be written with thy Spirit it is but a dead letter In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and all things were made by him Beware of Satan that Serpent that goeth about and stands in corners to watch to vanquish my soul but he cannot but he cannot touch it he cannot enter in labour to have the foundation of life that he may not touch it which foundation is an everlasting foundation it will stand it will never fail Let us labour for Christ for the stronger we are in Christ the weaker we are in this world the stronger we are in this world the weaker we are in Christ Let us labour to build our conversation upon the three-corner stones which is the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost Trust in the Lord Trust in the Lord Jehovah for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength Lord satisfie our unsatisfied hearts for if a man have all the world he hath not enough but he hankers and hungers and thirsts more after the things of the world but when we have Christ Oh what can we desire more what would we have more Oh! what can a Christians heart desire more then that beloved One that Christ Jesus labour to have your foundation built upon that Holy one that Holy One. September 29. Take heed you lie not one to another seeing you have put off the old man with his deeds and have put on the new man which is renewed in knowledge after the Image of him that created him Be wise in all your doings and be ye present be ye present before the eyes of the Lord ô fear the Lord ô fear the Lord though you fear not men See that you serve the Lord above with trembling and with fear see that with reverence you rejoyce in him in like manner ô let us fear the Lord that we may live in his fear and die in his favour Oh that we had hearts to observe the Commandments of God if we had but hearts to observe his Commandments we should never ruu upon our own souls destruction as we do Labour to spend your time well in this world of abomination and sin for it is but for a little moment and labour to repent before the day of death for after the day of death there is no repentance lest you run headlong into hell to your own destruction for ever and ever Beware of Satan that Serpent and give not vvay to his assaults but despise them and flie back from them Let us labour for Christ let us hunger thirst after him for one glimpse of Christ is better then a 1000 worlds for one glimpse of Christ will ravish a poor Christians heart for when a Christian is drooping and thinking that God hath forsaken him then God out of his favour sheweth him one glimpse and then goeth back again sheweth him but by glimpses and glimpses to make him stick closer unto him even as a star that lightens and darkens and lightens and darkens to make the light shine brighter She spake no more until the sixth of October Come my people enter into my Tabernacle Having spoken these words she fell into an exraordinary fit of laughing and tittering heartily six or seven several times as she used to do in her best health when she was over-joyed with any thing and soon after fell into a mourning and as it were wept in her brest and then she spake the words following Beware of Satan that Serpent lest he reign in your hearts for if he touch you he will creep in and in like a
Though God do take away the comfort of this world yet he will give us comfort in another world Gracious is God and pittiful to poor souls when they shall call to him for help and saith Lord I am helpless of my self my help is upon thee and I trust in thee then he gives him help comfort by faith in Jesus Christ Who would but trust in such a God that give us Christ that we may joy and rejoyce Oh how good a God have we that doth rebuke the Tempter and will not let him have us though he strive to catch us he would make our going to Heaven uncomfortable and pull away our souls but God will not suffer him for those that God hath chosen they shall receive comfort How gracious is God in all his wayes and worthy to be esteemed of if we do not esteem of him he will not esteem of us he is angry with his people it is but for a while but with those that he is ever angry he will say Go ye cursed into hell-fire and what a pittiful case is that God will stretch out his hand to a poor soul and say Come poor soul come thou hast been long in affliction but I will lay thee up in Heaven there thou shalt be happy and rejoyce for ever Our Father gives us his Son Jesus Christ to save our souls or we had been burning in hell-fire before this time but our God is gracious to us Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire Lord open our eyes that we may see Jesus Christ coming into our souls with white robes we cannot see him with our mortal eyes but Lord make us to see him with ouâ— spiritual eyes this would be the joyfullesâ— sight that ever we did see in all our lives What disobedient children are we that do not go when our Father comands us to go If you be risen with Christ seek those thingâ— which are above where Christ himself sits at the right hand of God Let us have our eyes lift up to Heaven that we may see Jesus Christ sitting at the right hand of God and let us be thankful for all his mercies for if we be unmindful of him he will be unmindful of us Lord our hearts are empty fill them with thy Spirit and take away the corruption that is within us Why are our hearts set upon the World there is nothing but pride and corruption in the World and we poor sinful creatures are subject to run head-long into the World Lord wean our hearts from the World Good Lord give us grace and the eye of Faith that we may see Jesus Christ coming though afar off and that we may come nigh and stick close to him Lord give us faith that we may trust thee and believe in thee and make us true believers in the Lord Jesus Christ for we have nothing of our selves but corruption to trust on and that will flie from us How good God is and merciful to all his â—hildren in delivering them from all the â—emptations of their spiritual enemy which â—aily seeketh to destroy them Oh come my people into my Tabernace â—nd I will take you up into my throne and â—here you shall rejoyce with me and my Angels for ever and ever Labour for Jesus Christ and when you have obtained him embrace him and he will embrace you cleave fast to him and he will cleave fast to you Acknowledge Jesus Christ who is our Saviour and when all things in the World fail he will not fail he will stick close to you and not forsake you Let us be thankful for all mercies though they be but little ones for when we are thankful for little ones he will poure more upon us and if we be not thankful for the least mercy he will poure down great curses upon us Look into the actions of God and the more you look into his works the more power of God you shall finde in them all that he doth he doth it for the good of his poor Children and those that fear him May the 27th Lord purge our bodies and purifie ouâ— corrupt hearts that thy Word may work thorow work in us cast back cast back thaâ— tempting roaring lion that goes about seeking whom he may devour What disobedient children are we for that which God commandeth we will not do but that which he forbiddeth that we do and run on headlong to our own destruction If the Spirit of God once work in our hearts then we shall be happy and shall sound out the praise and glory of our God for he is wonderfull in our eyes Lord open thou our mouth and let our lips shew forth thy praise our God make speed to save us ô teach us to know Jesus Christ for how will that ravish our poor soules to know our Saviour and then we shall draw nigher to heaven and rejoyce with our Father Come my people come enter into my Tabernacle and I will have mercy upon you Help help Lord for Christs sake that I may obtain that happy place for there is comfort without discomfort and joy without sorrow May the 28th What disobedient children are we for doâ—g those things which we ought not to do â—nd in leaving undone those things which â—e ought to have done Come my people enter into my Tabernaâ—le and I will gather you under my wings as a â—en gathereth her chickens and I will assure you of your salvation and you shall rejoyce with my holy Angels for ever and ever Let us labour to get faith in Jesus Christ who will gather us from our enemies when a poor soul thinks he is cast down into hell then Christ comes and raiseth it up then that soul will rejoyce with Christ and he will keep it from falling into that deep pit he will not let it fall again who would but trust in such a God as this that will give his children hearts to believe and fear him Labour to get Jesus Christ for we cannot get him without pains if we mean to be one with him O how ought we to take pains and labour to know and acknowledge Jesus we must struggle and strive for him or else we can never obtain him May the 29th How good is our God that takes pity upon a poor afflicted soul for when a poor soul is going to hell and seeth no help but in Jesus Christ then it cries Help help help Lord and then Jesus Christ delivereth that poor soul out of hell Labour for Jesus Christ and seek for him he is not gained easily we must seek for him and take pains for him or we shall never obtain him unlesse we take pains we shall never sinde him Lord give us hearts that we may seek after Jesus Christ and that we may relie upon him by faith that we may be made true believers in thy Word Lord open thou our mouths that our lips may shew forth thy
be excluded that Gods Name might not be obseured God did all in this businesse and therefore it 's fit that he alone should be exalted Oh let 's give him that little all we have let 's strive to exalt him he may be higher in our hearts though not in himselfâ— and the rather because these Providencies have fruitfully administred varieties of advantages for the raising up of our spirits in the exaltation of Gods glorious Name May not the parents of this childe say with â—onderment God raised up one out of Davids House 2 Sam. 12. 11. who attempted to deprive him of his earthly Kingdome but God hath raised one out of our Family who may be instrumentall to further our enjoyment of an heavenly Kingdom They I know desire that others would help them in endeavouring to render according to the mercies received and how should they or others improve such dispensations but by labouring to act faith at a higher rate then we have done Faith hath two legs whereby it comes to Christ and it 's called a comming to Christ John 6. 35. submission and closing in such mixâ— providences as these where God checkers his dispensations working Checker-work there will be much use of a submitting frame of heart to submit our selves children and all to the Will of the Father of our spirits Heb. 12. 9. and we should improve this Providence in raising up this Childe by faith for the raising up of the Church from under all her Convulsions and prevailing diseases many other wayes we should improve such Works of God but I have already exceeded the bounds of an Epistle I shall onely urge you and my selfe to suck that sweet brest of the promise Psalm 50. 15. you have prayed God hath delivered and now he expects to be glorified and he promises you shall glorifie me Can then our unbelief our dead sluggish fickle unconstant and forgetfull heart hinder it if God say thou shalt who hath resisted his Will Oh then lie at the pool of this promise untill your unbelieving unthankfull hearts be healed Lie at this beautifull gate untill you receive an almes and a word Come that shall raise up your Spirits that you may walk and leap and praise the Lord. Let me entreat you to review this Childes Speeches but especially to eye God in all his providentiall actings towards her untill your hearts be raised to exalt the glorious Lord in all those Attributes which shine forth in this Scene of his Actings Eye them for the strengthening of your faith to trust God in all your straits to submit to God when he is pleased to presse you down with the left hand of afflictions whilest he writes a fairer copie of his Law in your hearts with the right hand of his holy Spirits powerfulâ— visitations eye them that you may learn to love Jesus Christ with more sincerity and to use the world more cautelously lest it use nay ride you as others with great cruelty eye them that so you may learn to sanctifie God in your hearts who hath diseases and cures at his command who gives the opening of the mouth and causes the tongue of the dumb to sing and the tongue of the stammerers to speak plainly and confirmes the feeble knees all which and more he hath done for this Childe eye them also that your hearts may be brought in love with and confirmed in your love to the precious and yet ô sad despised Ordinances and Institutions of Jesus Christ the King of his Church which God hath opened a Childs mouth to plead for And if you may gather such sweet fruits as these from off the Branches of these providentiall actings of our wise God I shall sit under the Tree rejoycing that God hath made me Instrumentall to call you forth to so good an employment and subjoyn my selfe Your's Through Grace James Fisher Sheffeild January 20. 1652 3. To the godly consciencious READER IT is thy priviledge for soul-advantage that thou livest amongst Sermons and it is a choice mercy in the Saints Count-book that now when so many bid Preaching depart and Ordinances depart and Duties depart yet still the Lord is not wanting to appear in some kinde or other owning his appointments Yea thou mayst observe Jesus Christ to be so desirous of thy Company that he leaves no means unattempted to win thy soul to God for the deare love of Jesus Christ seems to flow and break over the banks of ordinary means that so it may encompass thy heart and fetch thee wholly into the Father Now surely Christian thou wilt confess that it 's a barren soul indeed whom the over-flowings of Christs love will not make fruitful Believe it Gods unwonted layings out of Love are not answered with stinted and wonted layings out of obedience Great cost and little incomes is unprofitable trading When the Lord helpâ— us to receipts we had need beg hard that hâ— would help us with returns for questionlesâ— God expects those should be Commemoration-dayes whereon his Saints have their exceedings of Love 't is certain Christians when Jesus Christ steps out of his high-road he has some special businesse then with Sinners Now thou to whom this Book shall come the Lord thou seest hath stepped aside to speak with thee take heed how thou refusest to heare the voice that speaks from Heaven Christ sees that Word-preaching will not serve and therefore he sends thee both Word and Work-preaching and all that he may make thee Eternally blessed Oh do thou not still go about to frustrate Christs endeavours in his work of winning thy poore soul 't may be thou hast long stopped thine Eares to his Words but what wilt thou stop thine Eyes to his Works too Oh look to this young Divine to this Child-Preacher or rather to the Lord in this Childe-Preacher and if thou canst not spell Christs meaning by his words yet put together Words and Works and thou shalt soon see what they make if thou canst not know Christ by his ordinary appearings yet oh learn to know him by his Extraordinary for truly it is a brutish thing to bury Christ in his own works Look Christian Here thou mayest see a 〈◊〉 burning and yet not consumed yea a â—â—sh burning and yet blossoming Natural 〈◊〉 preserved when natural means of preserâ—â—tion were denied but indeed a few loaves â—â—ll feed five thousand when Christ has the â—â—oking of them God can make a little of 〈◊〉 crâ—eature go farre when he makes it up â—â—th a great deal of Christ for we see though 〈◊〉 Commons were shorter then Daniels yet 〈◊〉 finde her very well-liking think thereâ—ore at what Ordinary or rather Extraordinary â—ath she dieted surely she had food we â—new not off Well might she live who fed so â—lenteously on life it self and certainly that â—ife of hers was a happy life which dwelt so â—eer the life of happiness We did not know â—hy the life of nature should be continued except
of him as may be most 〈◊〉 thy glory and for the good of his soul â—d body Good Lord bless our sister who hath taâ—n so great pains with my mother and me â—d our other little brother Lord make him â—ine and guide him in all his wayes in his â—ung-yeers that his soul may be precious in â—y sight and my other sister the Lord â—ve her grace And that other little sister â—ood Lord take away that infirmity from her â—ye if it be thy will And for that sister whom â—hou hast disposed of in marriage the Lord â—less that family and give them more and more of thy Spirit to guide them in thy wayes and Lord give him a Spirit of prayer â—ut let us not make haste for thy time is the best And for that little branch Lord as it grows in days years grant that it may grow in grace and walk in thy way And for that godly sweet servant of thine * that prayed so heartily for me the last night the Lord bless him and Lord bless thy servant who is gone to use means for her health and bless the means for without thy bessing nothing can profit and Lord if it be for thy glory bring them together and if not make them contented to yield to thy will Good Lord bless all our Family and make them thine and teach all our friends to walk in thy wayes When she began this prayer all about her were so amazed with the suddenness of it that they could not for the joy and astonishment wherewith their spirits were filled observe each passage so exactly as is desired they had done so that many of her expressions are lost but these things set down are as neer as they that were present could recall to their thoughts related and written down in her own very words After this prayer her head fell and she was as in a trance and as she past into it she said The Lord be with you all I am now going to Heaven where I hope one day you will come to me And when she was come forth of that trance in which they thought she would have died she was exceedingly rapt up with joy which perhaps was the Heaven she spake of that she was going to laughing and spreading her arms and clasping them close to her that they could not be opened but presently she opened them and exprest herself in these words I have found my Christ ô I have found my Christ how sweet is he to me After this fit of joy she fell into a sore conflict with Satan and opening her arms which were clasped with hugging her sweet Christ unto her she struck so vehemently as 〈◊〉 she had more then ordinary strength and â—prest her self in these words Away away away Satan with a stern â—untenance which was a great change in her â—â—ce which was so amiable before in her reâ—oycing of it and so she continued for some â—â—me and then the Lord was pleased to give â—er comfort again And then she laughed and rejoyced much more then before and spread her arms and â—lasped them close again and said O my Christ is come again my Christ is come again 〈◊〉 shall vanquish Satan and cast him behinde me Then she fell again into another conflict with striking as before but never spake in a conflict but the conflict being over she spake and laught and behaved her self in the like manner as before O now my sweet Christ is come again he is come again and hath destroyed my spirituall enemy who would have destroyed my soul O labour for Christ and that the Name of Christ may be written upon all your hearts with letters of gold Thus one time with comforts and at other times with conflicts she continued the greatest part of one night which they that were present thought was about the several times that night but they were all so astonisheâ— both with the matter and manner that the could not certainly relate how many of thoâ— conflicts and comfortable fits she had neâ—â—ther indeed as they acknowledge are theâ— able to relate the manner thereof as it waâ— made known unto them After this about 17 dayes she lay stiff and never spake all that time and it pleased thâ— Lord so to order her disease that she came to her self twice a day viz. at twelve a clock aâ— noon-day and six at night and then she did understand herself but could not speak and to these times she kept constantly for about 17 dayes and then she would make signes to wash her mouth with small beer or water they not knowing what she would have but she could manifest dislike of what was offered if it was not that which she desired she took no food all this time but onely washt her mouth as was said twice a day About this time coming to herself she fell into great extremity of vomiting for two dayes and that which she vomited was like gall or soot and bloud and by times continued in that extremity for seven or eight dayes and was carried about in the arms of one or other or sate on their knees having little rest save some short Dormes she spake â—uch and uttered many sweet expressions Many times being desired to take some â—od she answered I would take food if God would give me leave but I cannot I â—annot and when they would do any thing â—bout her if it might be to give her some â—ase she would say Alas here 's no ease â—ere O that you will not suffer a poor creaâ—ure to have some ease there 's no comfort â—o be had here but there 's ease in Heaven At another time she said O Lord some â—ase for a poor distressed creature Lord for â—hy Son Christ his sake Again Where 's my father and my mother that they may pray for me I had a father and a mother and brethren and sisters Again she was much troubled and said What a naughty naughty Lass was I to be so impatient but now I have more pain and the Lord hath given me more patience now I can say with David It is good for me that I have been afflicted Good It is good indeed for my father hath got good and my mother hath got good and I have got good and God hath got glory I would not have been without this affliction for any thing this is a good affliction indeed Her sister Hannah speaking to her Must these little pretty hands go into the grave and rot in the dust I said she what should they do else poor sinful corrupt flesh Her father asking her Childe art not hungry thou hast eaten nothing of a long time She said I hunger for nothing but Christ I am very hungry after him I would very fainâ— have him Then he asked her if she would drink she said I am very thirsty for Christ They were speaking to her of a Physician but she said My comfort is in Christ
sometimes more audible alwayes with that vigour vivacity and earnestness of spirit that it did much affect the hearts of them who heard her and sometimes she was so weake that her chaps only moved but no words could be heard further it was observed that she did alwayes speak very good sense and when she mistooke she would go over with the matter again and make it good sensebefore she left off 4 Observe that when her times of speaking came there was one who wrote her words all helping to remember the very words as she uttered them and after they were written down in the space between her speakings they were read over and every one desired to manifest their assent if they judged the words to be truly related and there were usually many present many strangers comming daily to hear her when her speaking times were known and I do believe and know and many will witnesse that there was great care taken that her own words might be set down 5 From this time untill a little before the Lord was pleased to restore her it was thought that she neither did see or hear or know any body and that she never minded what was said to her nor answered to any thing that was spoken to her 6 These wonderfull providentiall allurances some have sinisterously interpreted surmizing nay some speaking that she was bewitched possessed c. and that Satan did speak in her and that it was not her voice but a voice in her to whom God shall give an answer from Heaven in his late dealings and gracious dispensations towards her It was the judgement of a very judicious Physician who was sometimes with her that her disease was natural her speech supernatural It 's true we read in the Scriptures of God that Satan can transform himself into an Angel of light and hath spoken sometimes divine matters and quoted Scriptures but corruptly often Satan herein as Lavater observes imitates Gamesters who suffer young heires to win to make them more eager of the game and so engages them till they have wonne all Satan will comply with the tempers and dispositions of such as he sees strongly enclined to gracious actings rowing with the tide of their inclinations but he notes also out of Ambrose and Chrysostome that he doth this bâ—t to insinuate into them and to draw them by these artifices by these delightful baits to swallow the hook of evil suggestions and temptations but this childe never spake of her temptations or uttered any of Satans language in those her times of speaking but all her speeches were sweet and gracious much of Christ and Faith and against Satan and against many Errours of the present times both in judgement and practice but nothing that might tend to promote Satans Kingdome and I cannot think that Satan would have bin a mid-wife to help to the birth so many masculine sentences and high-born truths as this childe hath uttered such Divisions would much tend to the destruction of his Kingdom he would have mingled some of his dross amongst this pure gold if he had prevailed so far as to gain any interest in and power over this childe 7 In this long time of her silence viz. seventeen dayes her friends began to be much perplexed fearing God had left her and many Prayers were sent up that he would please to open her mouth again and upon the nineteenth of May God having much stirr'd up her mothers heart to seek that mercy from him she comming into the room where the childe lay could scarcely take her seat there before the Childe began to speak and the first words which she uttered and that with much vivacity of spirit were these viz. I was in darkness but now I am in light Which vvords her dear mother vvith others vvho had mourned under the vvant of that mercy did take as a most seasonable ansvver to their Prayers and satisfaction to the doubts vvhich pressed their spirits and they vvere much revived vvith the appearances of God in this svveet change in the childe vvho proceeded on to utter those precious sayings vvhich novv I shall set dovvn in the order as they vvere spoken and taken from her mouth Here followeth the Childes Speeches Which I shall set dovvn and place over against them such Scriptures as her vvords seem to relate to though I cannot think that she ever had in her thoughts or ever read many of those Scripture-phrases vvhich she uttered but God did specially help and guide her in her expressions to the praise of his glorious grace in a poor vveak unlikely instrument vvhich may justifie our practice in publishing these things vve not daring to put such a light under a bushel and if you consider that these things vvere spoken by a childe not yet tvvelve years of age and that vvhen she vvas under such prevailing distempers vvhich took avvay her senses and knovvledge of any friend and her speech at all other times but vvhilest she uttered these things I hope it vvill render the meanest of her speeches no contemptible things The Childes Speeches May the 19th 1652. I Was in darkness but now I am in light Labour for Christ Christ is crept in again claspe him in your arms hold him fast â—ovv you have obtained Christ hold him fast Avvay vvith that roaring lion chain him up my God chain him up Christ is come again hovv svveet my Christ is hovv good my God hath been to me to give me Jesus Christ when you get Jesus Christ hold him fast do not let him go My God hath spoken a word of comfort Seek and ye shall finde ask and ye shall have knock and it shall be opened unto you he bids me knock and he will open How sweet is Jesus Christ sweeter then gold and money if you have him hold him fast now we have him we will not let him go how sweet my God is Oh how sweet my God is May the 20th Oh what a God have we that hath given Jesus Christ to die for us My God hath cast me down with his left hand he upholdeth me with his right hand but he will raise me up with both My Christ is heavier then all this world weigh all the world and Christ and he will weigh all down Oh what a glorious God have I to give me his Christ to save my soul who would but trust him oh trust in him when all things in the World fail he will not fail he will stick fast to you trust him oh trust in him Pluck Satan away pluck him away my God let him not touch me let him not enter into my soul My Christ is come again ô how sweet my Christ is Oh how sweet he is those that feel the sweetness of Christ they will trust in him Strait is the way to heaven but my Christ is gone before me and hath opened the gates he hath laid up treasures for me in Heaven My
praise Lord pour out thy Spirit upon our souls and it will make us draw nigher and nigher unto thee Many are they Lord that cannot obtain Jesus Christ it is because they do not take pains but let us arise and be doing for without pains we can get nothing we must take pains and struggle for Jesus Christ else we can never obtain him Lord fill our hearts with Jesus Christ for they are empty fill them full of Jesus Christ that we may be able to live by faith upon him Lord fill our hearts with the knowledge of Jesus Christ for our hearts are empty and with the righteousnesse of Jesus Christ Lord enrich our souls that we may enrich the Kingdome of God Let us be thankfull to God for all his mercies and blessings which he is pleased to bestow upon us for the more thankfull we are the more will he poure down his mercies and blessings upon us How gracious is our God that doth all things in wisdome and mercy to his poor servants he doth nothing to them but that which is for their good in mercy and in righteousnesse O Lord give us true faith in the righteousnesse of Jesus Christ that we may relie upon him for our Salvation What a sweet thing it is to enjoy Jesus Christ happy is that soul that doth enjoy such a gift from our Father If we should be thankfull all our dayes we can never be thankful enough for he suffered the death upon the crosse for our sins Lord pardon and forgive us all our sins and wash them away in the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ and then shall we be purified and become pure Christians Let us give praise unto our God for all his mercies and blessings that he hath bestowed upon us let us alwayes be praising our God and be thankfull and ever thankfull May the 30th Lord humble our hearts and open our eyes that we be not led away with Satan and run headlong to our destruction We have enemies too many to draw us back from Jesus Christ but there are very few that will draw us to Jesus Christ Lord take our souls into thy protection and keeping for when they are with thee they are safe Let us sing praise to our God for his mercy endureth for ever Lord take away our unbelief and fasten us to Jesus Christ that we may become new Christians Lord wash away all our sins in the blood of thy Son Jesus and purifie our affections that vve may become pure Virgins in Jesus Christ Come let us drink of the water of life and then we shall never thirst again Oh hovv happy are they that can but obtain Jesus Christ for if vve be never so poor in this vvorld if vve can but obtain Jesus Christ vve shall have riches enough for then vve shall be rich in glory May 31. The Lord give us faith for without faith we cannot get Jesus Christ The Lord give us knowledge for without knowledge we cannot attain faith and without faith we cannot attain to salvation If we can attain to the height of faith we shall attain to the height of Jesus Christ and if we attain to the height of Jesus Christ we shall attain to the height of glory Lord humble us under our burthen of sin That when Christ who is our life shall appear we may also appear with him in glory Come my people Call upen me in time of trouble and I will heare you and answer you Oh wash us and cleanse us that neither spot nor stain be upon us wash us clean in the bloud of Christ that we may become new Virgins pure Virgins Let us bless God and be thankful for all those mercies that he is pleased to poure down upon us let us be thankful yea very thankful for the more we thank him the more will he poure down his mercies upon us June 1 1652. Lord pardon and forgive us all our sins and give us hearts earnestly to beg pardon for them if thou hadst not been a merciful Father we had all been burning in hell-fire we had all been burning and howling in hell-fire before this but thou hast given thy So Jesus Christ to die for our sins for his sake we beg pardon for them Lord give us thankful hearts we have cause to be thankful if we had a thousand hearts we could never be thankful enough to thee for all thy mercies that thou hast bestowed and showred down upon us Lord give us thy Word and ground it in our hearts Lord give us thy Spirit into our hearts for without thy Spirit the Word iâ— but a dead letter I will be your God and ye shall be my people Lord give us faith in Jesus Christ for without faith in him we can never acknowledge Jesus Christ to be our alone Saviour and Redeemer She spake not again until June the fourth Oh my God I give unto thee my soule my body and my heart and all hoping that I now am going unto that happy place which I have desired so long June the 5th If a poor man which hath not a bit of bread nor a broom to sweep his house withall yet if he have but Christ he is richer then that man which hath all the riches of this World Who would but trust in such a God that will save and defend us from all evil Who would but trust in such a Christ that will defend us from Satan and all our enemies both bodily and spirituall Who would but trust in such a Christ that will preserve us as he did Jonah three dayes and three nights in the Whales belly Lord humble humble our stony hearts that they be not puft up with pride and vanity How often would I have gathered you together as a Hen gathereth her Chickens under her wings and ye would not but were stubborn and rebellious June the 6th Oh Jerusalem Jerusalem how often would I have gathered you together as a Hen gathereth her Chickens and you would not Let not your hearts be drawn after the vanities of this world nor after the steps of Satan which goeth lurking lurking watching and waiting like a Serpent but follow Christs steps for if Satan get you he will fling you into hell-fire Long is the way to heaven and much a-do we have to get thither but short is the way that leadeth to hell What disobedient children are we that will not follow Gods commands that which is evil he forbids us and that we do and that which is good he commands us and that we we do not Lord wean our hearts from this world let us not be led by sin nor Satan let not Satan get any power over our souls if he get power over our souls he will cast them into the bottom of hell for ever and ever This world is nothing but fading comforts nothing but drosse losse and dung in
that they be not led aâ—ay by sin and Satan and he will give them 〈◊〉 light eye Lord fill our hearts with the fulnesse of â—esus Christ that we do not sink into the â—ottomlesse pit Come and knock at the gate of righteousnesse and wait till Jesus Christ come and open the gates Lord pull back that roaring lion that serpent that goeth about seeking to devour our poor souls God will but suffer him to step in that we may stick closer to Jesus Christ Lord rebuke that roaring lion and chain him up that he may have no power over our poor souls Lord prepare our unprepared hearts 〈◊〉 â—gainst thou call Oh God prepare our hearts 〈◊〉 may come before thee with thankfâ—◠〈…〉 for every mercy that thou hast 〈…〉 on us Lord give us faith for without faith we cannot come to thee June the 14th Good Lord enrich our poor souls that we may enrich the Kingdome of Heaven We have but drie and ignorant hearts Lord quicken them that we may sit at the right hand of God with Jesus Christ rejoycing with him for ever Iune the 15th Good Lord what shall we do to inherit the Kingdome of Heaven Iune the 18th The Lord be with you for I am going to change and after shall never change I pray you pray that my soul may be precious in the sight of God God is going now to finish his work My God hath laid up treasures for me in heâ—â—n Iune the 19th 〈…〉 I see the fine sights of Heaven 〈…〉 â—mbracing me in his armes and 〈…〉 the light of Heaven Then she spake no more till June 21th The Lord of Heaven be with you all though we part here I hope we must meet in Heaâ—en my Christ is shewing me the way to Heaven Pray pray pray for some help from God and pray that your prayers may be accepted of God These valedictory expressions of hers I conceive might arise from that change which now should be in the manner of her disease for now she had no more the liberty of speech given to her untill the 29th day of Iuly and then Iuly the 29th About eight of the clock at night as that was the ordinary time that she began at and so continued some two hours with intervals to speak she being in a stiffe fit spake these words with a smiling countenance My Christ is come again I have obtained Christ I have my desire I have now a crucified Christ Then she spake not again untill August 11th about 10 of the clock at night Now my Father hath given me Jesus Christ again I hope to save my soul Now I have obteined Christ again a crâ—cified Christ Let us put off the rags of sin and put oâ— the robes of righteousnesse August the 15 about 7 of the clock she lying in the same posture spake as followeth My Saviour is come again that suffereâ— death upon the Crosse to save my soul I was in darknesse but now I am in light My Christ hath vanquished Satan thaâ— goeth about to destroy my soul Then she spake not again untill August the 17. When she had the extreamest convulsionâ— fit that ever she was drawn with her face turned behinde her and one eye looking up and the other shut and in that fit she spake as followeth I will be with my God and my God will be with me I hope my soul is precious in the fight of my God I am not in the hands of the Devil but in the hands of my God Which words much refreshed the spirits of her friends who stood weeping by her to see her so sadly handled then she proceeded My Gods Angels have pitched their Tents about me and will carry my soul into heaven I will never forsake my God and my God will never forsake me Take heed of slighting Gods mercies for if we slight his mercies he will slight us if we slight his mercies he will pour his wrath upon us August 20. Call upon me in the time of trouble and I will relieve you Ask and ye shall have knock and it shall be opened unto you Ask and you shall have life everlasting Put on the whole armour of God that ye may be able to stand against the Devil and all his Angels Let us wait upon the Lord untill his time appointed and he will ease us for our time is of the Lord we cannot have it when we would but when the Lord pleaseth August 23 at 8 a clock at night Call upon me in the time of trouble and I will hear and deliver thee and thou shalt glorifie me Lord humble our haughty and proud hearts that they be not led away with this world for we are apt to follow the steps of Satan rather then the steps of God First he prepareth our hearts that they may be capable of faith and then he worketh faith in them Lord purge our rusty hearts that they may be clean that we may become pure Virgins of thine for if thou do not purge them they will be like rusty iron that lieth long My Christ will tread Satan under foot which goeth about like à roaring lion hunting to destroy my poor soul but he can go no further then my God giveth him leave he hath a malice unto my poor soul Those that belong to God Satan is alwayes in perplexing and troubling them but God doth but let him step in to make them stick closer unto God if Satan get but one step in and get in his head he will strive to get in his whole body the least opporrunity he can get he will seek it and will not lose it Let us cast off the rags of sin and put on the robes of righteousnesse and then we shall obtain Jesus Christ Let us suck sweetnesse from Jesus Christ even as the Bee sucketh honey from the flower August the 30th Let us draw comfort from Jesus Christ â—s the childe milk from the mothers brest â—he harder we draw the more we shall get Take heed you slight not Gods mercies for if you slight his mercies it is just with God to slight you August 31. at 10 a clock in the morning Lord cast out our stony hearts and make them new that we may be new creatures Lord purge the drosse out of our hearts and purifie them Let us stand at the gate of righteousnesse and wait untill Jesus Christ see time to open the door of faith Lord rebuke that crooked Serpent that would destroy my poor soul but my Father will not suffer him he hath a malice to my poor soul but God will but let him step in and get a look in but it is to make me stick closer to Jesus Christ Let us fear the Lord that we may live in his fear and die in his favour Let us take heed that we slight not Gods mercies lest he turn his back off us if we do not fear him and
serve him he vvill fliâ— avvay from us and then vvhen vve comâ— unto him again vvhen he calleth us not hâ— vvill say unto us Go ye cursed into hell-fire foâ— ever and vvil not accept of us but cast us oâ— September the 1. Many there be that cannot attain to thâ— height of Gods Word but if they labouâ— for it he will give it them The Word of God is but a dead letter without his Spirit be with it September 2. at 4 a clock in the afternoon The snare is broken and I am escaped even as a bird from the foul-catcher God will not make the Cup so bitter but he will mix it with comfort he will mix it with sugar he will mix it with comfort as well as with discomfort September 3. Prepare against the Grave open and the Trumpet sound that we may be in hopes to obtein a joyfull resurrection September the 4th Let us labour to believe in God and trust â—n him for he afflicts us to make us stick closer unto him he whips us with one rod if that will not do he takes a second and if that will not do he takes a third and if that will not do he takes the fourth that he might bring our hearts home to him and that we might say It is good for us that we have been afflicted Prepare prepare against the mouth of the Grave open and the Trumpet sound that we may be in hopes to obtein a joyfull resurrection September the 5. at 2 a clock in the afternoon Let us labour for faith the greatest faith the greatest joy Let us labour to believe in Jesus Christ no faith no Christ no faith no Christ Let us labour to trust in Jesus Christ all things are fading and transitory in respect of Christ All things are but dross and dung in comparison of Christ Set your affections on things above and not on things of the earth for we are dead and our lives are hid with Christ in God Let us labour to trust in Jesus Christ if alâ— things in the world fail he will never fail Lord establish establish our hearts upon thee and let us pray for faith and grace and all other good things and make us thankfull to thee for ever and ever Lord give us faith to build upon thee Lord give us faith to build upon thee for without faith we can do nothing no faith no Christ no Christ no Salvation Let us flie let us flie unto the throne of Grace as the bird doth into the air hoping that we shall shine before the face of the Lord as a star in the firmament Lord cast down Satan that Serpent and tread him under foot that seeks to devour my soul but he cannot he hath a malice to my poor soul but chain him up Lord for he is always troubling and perplexing the Servants of God but those that he hath overcome he lets them alone untill he cast them into hell where they shall lie howling for ever and ever where there is no end Lord establish our hearts upon thee and give us grace to pray for faith and all other good gifts and make us truly thankfull to thee as a Christian ought to be September 6. at 4 a clock in the afternoon Lord purge our hearts that are stubborn â—d rebellious against thee Lord purifie our hearts as the honey from â—e drosse Again the same day at 6 a clock My Christ is come again and he will neâ—er forsake me I will stick close to him and â—e will never flie back from me Let us stick close unto the Lord and trust 〈◊〉 him and he will save us from all dangers 〈◊〉 this world for with him in the World to â—ome there is no danger September the 7th Lord grant that as we grow in dayes and years we may grow in grace and holiness September the 8th This day a Physician came to visit her being sent for by her parents they desiring to use what means could be procured for her and it pleased God whilest the Physician was there with her to shut up her mouth her teeth being set in her head so as theâ— could not open them her upper teeth werâ— drawn somewhat over her nether teeth anâ— so they continued save onely that the workings of the Convulsions opened them sometimes drew her tongue out of her mouth I say so they continued until the seventh 〈◊〉 December following all which time she liveâ— with the least quantity of food that could be for they put milk into her lips and how anâ— should go into her stomack we know not except some of it passed at each side of heâ— mouth where one tooth was wanting and yet in this time she grew very fat and heâ— flesh very firm and solid and she did look very fair and fresh Whereas you might rather apprehend that she was a lean dried and withered Anatomy and yet we conceiv'd she did take down something though before the setting of her teeth we could not perceive that she took any thing down but spurted it out presently onely by the effects we gathered that she did receive some nourishment because she had the benefit of nature but her stools were such as all that behold them admire they are round of the quantity of a Nutmeg very hard and like a piece of earth rolled in lime and they have no smell Yet in this condition when her teeth were thus set she spake in her stiff fits for several dayes as followeth September the 8th When Christ who is our life shall appear then shall we appear with him in glory Let us labour for Christ if a poor man have but Christ and have nothing else he is richer then the richest man in the world Christ hath pulled back Satan that roaring lurking lion that would destroy my poor soul but my Christ is stronger then he and will not let him Let us strive for Christ happy happy happy happy are they that have Christ Lord help us to build up a new building of thy grace build them upon our hearts and establish our hearts upon thee She intermitted speaking till September 20. and then she said Lord lay a new ground-work in our hearts of faith and make it stedfast if thou graft it it will take root My God hath vanquished Satan that hath such a malice to my poor soul he would get in he cannot he cannot my God doth buâ— suffer him to step in to make me stick close unto him and deter me from this devilliâ—â— wicked world Lord wean our hearts from the trash 〈◊〉 this world and give us Christ to be our portion and he will be an everlasting portion Lord Lord work a new ground-work iâ— our hearts for if thou work it it will stand and if thou work it not it will fall to thâ— ground September the 22th Her lips did move long before she
Lord make them of a fit temper Oh let us labour for Christ that love that Dove that undefiled one that laid dowâ— his life to pardon the sinnes of all the elect November the 10th Lord forgive and pardon all our sinnes whether they be sins originall or actuall sins of weaknesse or wilfulnesse sins of omission or commission sins of ignorance or of knowledge scarlet sins or crimson sins or sins of a double diet or what sort of sins soever they be Lord wash them and cleanse us in the blood of thy beloved Son Jesus Christ in whom alone thou art well pleased Oh let us labour for Christ that habitation in whom we live move and have our being Ask and you shall have knock and it shall be opened to you and the door that leadeth to everlasting life shall be opened unto you Faith hope and charity the greatest of these three is charity Charity is love and the love of Christ faith is a gift given of Christ and hope is a hoping to enjoy Christ Now Lord of thy merciful promise let thy poor doubting Christian feel some dram of assurance to this poor soul let a poor sinner feel one dram of the assurance of thy love to his poor doubting soul Oh let us suck sweetnes from Jesus Christ as the childe sucks milk from the mothers brest the harder we draw the more we shall get the childe wrangles and wrangles till the mother give it the pap in the mouth and then it 's quiet and satisfied so and there she staied a good space going oft over with the word so before she could get any more words at last she said so a poor soul seeks and knows not what it wants and wrangles and wrangles till it get Christ all the world will not satisfie it but and then she lifted up her selfe and strook with her hand upon her thighs with much fervour of spirit when it gets Christ then it is satisfied and then using the same actions again said when it gets Christ then it 's abundantly satisfied all the world will not satisfie him but Christ will give him full satisfaction November the 11th Be ye holy even as Christ is holy Be yâ— holy as I am holy saith the Lord. Trust in the Lord trust in the Lord trust the Lord with all that you have for he hath promised that he will provide for them that trust in him and keep you from evil Lord renew us with that rich grace of faith 〈◊〉 will carry us above it will carry us from the lowest earth to the highest heaven we are not in the lowest earth here we are but in the middle earth but faith will carry us from the lowest earth to the highest heaven Lord teach us to walk in thy paths and teach us the way that leadeth to everlasting life November the 12th No man can come to Christ unlesse the Father â—raw him Take heed you lie not one to another for if â—ou give way to that sin the Devil will take â—hat occasion to poure in more corruption Oh let us labour for Christ that holy One want him and want all and have him and have all November the 14th Take heed you lie not one to another for the Lord saith They are my children such as will not lie and I will be their Saviour Trust the Lord trust in the Lord for he â—s a trusty one he is to be trusted trust the Lord with your selfe and all yours and he will watch over you for good and keep you from evil for he hath promised that those that trust in him shall be as Mount Zion which shall never be moved November the 15th He that knoweth the will of his Father which is in heaven and doth it not shall be beaten with many stripes Oh let us not be forgetfull of those meâ—cies which the Lord hath been pleased â— pour down upon us but be thankfull fâ— them and prize them highly for if we haâ— a thousand hearts and a thousand hearts wâ— could never be sufficiently thankfull thâ— mercies of God are to be esteemed and highly esteemed of there is many a poor Christian many a poor creature which woulâ— be glad to have those mercies which we daily and hourly enjoy they are so common that we do not esteem of them but alas alas the greater is our Judgement November the 16th Lord humble these proud hearts of ours lest we betake our selves to this vain world and so run headlong into hell to our own souls destruction Let us labour and take pains for that immaculate Lamb of God for he will never see the righteous forsaken nor their seed begging bread Oh let us labour for Christ that holy One for when Christ who is our life shall appear then shall we appear with him in glory Lord open our blinde eyes that we may see clearly the purity that is in Christ and â—â—e corruption that is in our selves November the 19th Lord purge and purifie these drossy hearts â—f ours and refine them even as silver and â—old is refined that we may become pure â—irgins of thine Oh let us labour and take pains to inherit â—he Kingdome of Heaven where there is â—othing but mirth and melody joy and reâ—oycing joy without sorrow comfort without discomfort where all tears are wiped away and botled up November the 20th Oh let us labour for Christ that holy One he is all in all perfect without imperfection have him and have all want him and want all all things are but drosse and dung in comparison of him Oh let us labour to have the Name of Christ set aright upon our hearts that it might make a deep impression that it might take effect to work effectually Oh let us labour to have our conversation built upon that substantiall rock stedfastly for if it be built upon sandy ground it will fall but if it be built upon that substantia rock it will stand for ever November the 21th Trust the Lord for he is a trusty one hâ— is to be trusted he hath promised that thoâ— that trust in him shall stand as Mount Zion thâ— shall never be removed but abideth for ever Oh let us wait and be patient untill the appointed time of the Lord for his time is the best time For he that shall come will come and will not tarry Take heed that yon sowe not good seed on thorny ground lest the thorns spring up and choke it Lord humble these proud hearts of ours lest we be blown up with this world and the vanities thereof if we could but feel one dram of the sweetnesse of Christ we should not give way to the vanities of the world as we do but while we are in the flesh we are apt to follow the lusts of the flesh if we could be so sensible of the sweetnesse of Christ and apprehend it aright we should be taken up so with Christ and with the sweetnesse
wonders in that Family and we agreed to keep the 28th day of December as a day of Thanks-giving for what God had done but the Lord knowing our dulnesse and weaknes before the day came did cast in further mercies that so we might be quickened to make his praise more glorious as you will see in the subsequent Relation which I received from Mr. Hatfield whose fidelity and consciencious walking is well knowne in the Countrey and therefore his Testimony the more worthy credence The ninth of December the Childe lying in a Trundle-bed at her Mothers bed-feet her Mother when she awaked asked her what a night she had she replied a very good night I praise God I never awaked till now which was about seven a clock Her Mother said Mattee God hath done great and wonderfull things for thee in manifesting so much of his power upon thee and to us in thee the Lord set these things aright upon our hearts Then Mattee replied with a sigh Oh when the Lord is pleased 〈◊〉 do great things for us he expects and looks for great things from us even as the Husbandman that sowes a great deal of seed he looks for a great crop if he have a great seed-time he looks to reap a great Harvest So the Lord when he is pleased to do great things for his people he expects great things from them Then her Mother spake again to her saying The Lord hath set thy condition upon the hearts of his people and thou art a Childe of prayer by which I hope the Lord will have much glory for there have been many dayes set apart to seek the Lord on thy behalfe Then she said Oh is not that a great mercy those dayes were dayes of love to my poor soul We do not discern mercies to be mercies we are so full of corruption and sin because the strong man armed had taken possession in our hearts but there is a stronger then he that will dispossesse him Her Mother said there are many Ministers who have wrestled with God for thee both in publique and in private She said I would be glad to see them that I may give them thanks for their pains and love to my soul Her Mother further said We are comfortably incouraged to depend upon the Lord in the duty of prayer for we have had apparent and immediate Answers from Him Oh said she that is a sweet mercy The seed of Jacob shall not seek the face of God in vain That morning she very freely and cheerfully expressed her selfe in any thing which concerned her spirituall condition and she was so free and her spirit was so enlarged to speak that her Mother disswaded her from speaking so much for fear of spending her little stock of spirits she being but weak Oh no no said she my spirits can never be spent with speaking of my God if any would feed me with speaking of my God I could live upon it The same day being the ninth of December her Uncle Hatfeild a Captain in the Army a godly man came to her and did ask her if she knew him She said Me have forgotten you but I hope God will give me my memory in due time that I may know you then he asked her how she did she said Me is pretty well I praise God but within an hour and a halfe after he came to her again and did ask her if she did know him and after a little time earnestly viewing of him her eyes being yet weak she said Oh my Uncle John my good Uncle my dear Uncle John then said he You have been a long time afflicted but I hope you have found the love of God towards you in this Affliction for those whom he doth love he doth chastize She said I hope so They are bastards and not sons whom the Lord correcteth not Then he asked her If she had not a dimnesse before her eyes Yes said she but I hope that if God please to lend me life he will give me the comforts of life to make my life comfortable and that he will raise me up and give me my senses by little and little then said he You have spoken much of God and have been an Instrument of much good to people that came to hear you She replied My soul will rejoyce in that it was not me it was the Spirit of God in me I am but a poor Earth-worm and can do nothing of my self Then he said You have spoken very much there be two Books written of what you did speak Is there so said she I wish they may look at a good end He did ask her whether she did remember what she had said No said she I have forgot but I hope God will give me my memory that I may tell to others what God hath done to my soul I pray Uncle pray to God for my Memory Being asked severall questions of such things as she had uttered in her stiffe fits she answered to the same sense and in most of the same words It was asked her whether faith or repentance was the first work in conversion she said You must first lay the ground-work of faith and then repent and turn home to the Lord you are not at home here you are but pilgrims and strangers It was asked her what was the Corner-stone in the spiritual building of the Church she said Christ but the stone is three-cornered the Father Son and Holy Ghost It was asked her what was faith hope and charity She said Faith is a gift of God to believe in Christ hope is a hoping to enjoy Christ and charity is the love of Christ It was asked how we may do to get the door of faith opened She said Walk in the paths of Righteousnesse Here by the way you may note that the Spirit of God did sometimes help her to speak things that yet she did not fully understand she had in one or two of her stiffe fits uttered these words Knock at the gate of Righteousnesse and God shall open unto you the door of Faith in reference to that speech this Question was asked her but God had not at that time revealed it to her I believe more of the marrow of the Gospel could scarcely have been uttered in so few words It 's the great question with poor souls they say If we could believe then we might have any thing but how shall we get faith here many puzzle themselves as if God had put them to shift for themselves as a poor man works and gets money and that will buy him all things no though we must ordinarily get faith in Hearing c. yet not by our Hearing the Answer is here Stand and knock at the gate of Righteousnes that Righteousnes which justifies us when we believe doth purchase faith for us that we may believe Pardon this digression It was asked