Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	father_n	life_n	way_n	6,604	5	5.4332	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A76311	A True relation, of the life & death of Sarah Beckwith, daughter of Marmaduke and Elizabeth Beckwith, of Audbrough near Massham in York-shire; who in about the twentieth year of her age departed this life, the 24th. day of the 9th. month, 1691.	Beckwith, Hannah.; Beckwith, Marmaduke.; Beckwith, Elizabeth.	1692 (1692)	Wing B1655A; ESTC R170490	17,903	40

the like unless they came to feel the workings of truth in their own hearts for said she all such outward appearances will stand in no stead without the love of God be inwardly felt and enjoyed for said she it is an easie thing to come to Meetings and some are ready to think that doing so and behaveing themselves soberly before this or the other person is sufficient But said she the Lord sees at all times and he will have no such mockery but said she I bless God I have not been guilty of seeming what I was not But O how did her love run forth to those who were faithfull saying they were near and dear to her and much desired the company of such as feared the Lord and loved the Truth and walked therein She wonderfully praised the love and mercies of the Lord to her saying it is not for my deserts for I had nothing to ingage the Lord with but it is his free love to me She often desired the Lord to give her a little ease that she might have a more full enjoyment of him and indeed she was so much born up over her weakness that at many times she felt little or no pain that we could diserne but with a mi●d●● and cheareful countinance would say I am well every way but for want of breath and the Lord can raise me up if he see it good forme and if not I am content I do believe which way so ever it be it will be for my good And she speaking of the way of truth said it was a straight and narrow way and not to be kept in without a daily watch and said it is this days bread and not that which was fed of yesterday that will satisfie for there are many by paths but as Job saith said she There is a path which no fool knoweth which the ●olterous eye hath not seen the Lyons whelp hath not troden it nor the fierce Lyon passed by it But said she although a strait way yet it is a pleasant path and delightsome Oh said the here is peace in abundance it is so sweet I could delight always to enjoy it and to live therein the Gold of Opher is not worthy to be compared to it And thus continued she in a sweet frame of Spirit her mind being wholy taken up with heavenly thoughts saying Lord give me fully to drink of the well of water that is within the Gate for thou hast ravish'd my heart and I am overcome with thy love Oh I long I long O Lord open thou the windows of heaven and power in of thy blessings into my soul untill there be not room enough to receive that I may bless and praise thy name and that I may ever swim in the Ocion and streams of thy love and living praise to the Lord with mellodious sounds aboundantly sprung from her She did also often advise those that were with her to keep out of passion saying Oh have a care of passion it hinders the prosperity of the work of God and there is no extream in the Truth ah it is of a meek and an heavenly quality That afternoon before she dyed she desired the Lord to spare her another half day if it was his will that she might enjoy him and that she might praise him and said I have known Christ to be my leader and my teacher shall be no more removed into a corner for mine eyes have seen my teacher and mine eares hath heard a voice saving this is the way walk in it she after desired the Lord to give her an easie passage and that night she desired that none but Friends might sit up with her her love being abundantly large to them And some of us going to bed haveing wanted our rest she tenderly took her leave of us and said if she were worse some should call and takeing me by the hand said dear Sister thou hast been near and dear to me and carefull of me the Lord requite thee and be near to thee when thou comes to lye on thy dying bed and so near the Morning her distemper growing upon her she said I am as sensiable as any of you and I am well content to dye saying I have no doubt of my Salvation forever I am going to dear Robert Lodge with many more sweet expressions which could not well be remembred nor perfectly heard her voice being very low she was very sensiable to the last so far as we could observe and spoke to within a very little time wherein she drew her last breath saying Lord take me away Lord take me away and presently after she quietly and comfortably passed away out of this world to live for ever in the World which hath no end She was a dear Sister to me a faithfull comfortable companion and help in the Lord and hard it was to me freely to part with her if it had been the Lords will that we might a little longer have enjoy'd each other in the body to have been each others help and cause of joy but being so fully satisfied that the love and blessings of the Lord was upon her I was more willing to give her up to him who gives and takes away and can do no less but bless and praised 〈◊〉 his holy name and return all glory and honour to him who is everlastingly worthy blessed for ever and for evermore And it is the servent desire of my heart that we who are left behind may so live to God and walk in the ever blessed Truth which she testified to to her latter end that we may be made partakers of that rest peace and joy Which undoubtedly she is already entered into Hannah Beckwith Written the 11. of the 10th Month 169● A Few words in Testimony concerning the Life and Death of Sarah Beckwith Daughter of Marmaduke and Elizabeth Beckwith c. Who Departed this Life the 24th 9th Month 1691. SHe was of my familiar acquaintance from a Child for I lived divers years during her Child-hood in her fathers house she was born of beliveing parents and under their eye and care educated in the way and profession of truth which God Almighty in blessing doth regard and I am well satisfied that in her own soul she was a real lover of truth from a Child for she was diligent in comeing to Meetings and when there very retir'd in her mind not making a shew above what she realy was but even as Mary did hid up things in her heart on the Eight day of the above said Month she wa● visited with the Sickness she dyed of in the time whereof she severall times sent for me and the first t●me I went she said to me Grace I am glad to see thee thou hast been often near to me in remembrance and love being in a sweet and tender frame of spirit began to devulge her secrets to me signifying that for about three quarters of a year last she had sought the Lord

the day ●nd in the young and tender years of a rem●ant for a little season to give us the bread of adversity and the water of affliction and exercise us in the strait and narrow way wherein he ●●eads us even through many tryals and great ●ribulations yet did he in his due time give us ●he songs of deliverance and put high pra●ses ●n our mouthes and we could often say in secret ●his wayes was wayes of pleasantness and his paths paths of peace yea he gave us mirth for mourning beauty for ashes and the Oyle of joy and gladness for the spirit of heaviness But I would not be tedious nor too long vary from my testimony touching this young woman of whom I was speaking for I can truely say she was dear to me all along and in her exercise I Sympothysed with her and also in ●her care and travell for the sake of others she saw the narrowness of truths way and often said it was a strait and narrow way and that too few walked therein but said she there are many paths that leads to distruction and too many treads therein she desired us that were to remai● in the body after she was gone to her rest to advise Friends to keep to the innocent truth to grow up therein And I not knowing how soon I may be dissolved I have a little inlarge● beyond what I at the first did think upon and have as my duty to God made some little mention of my own travells and something of wha● by true experience I have learned both of the difficulties and pleasures in truth's way if happly it might be an Incouragment to the honest hearted and a caution to the outminded Much I could write which is before meat this time but I shall forbear to add much more at this time and rest your Friend with my love to you all my dear Friend where this may come with fervent desires for you that you may all have an eye to the right door where enterance into life is and keep in the foot-steps of the flocks his companions to the Word of whose grace I doe recommend you that in your hearts to which you will do well if you take heed for if obeyed it will teach you and lead you into all truth and will be unto you as a cloud by day and as a pillar of fire by night and if you move in the motion of it it will be your safe conduct through your pilgrimage and the time of your sojorning here and will rightly order your 〈…〉 steps in the truth and gird you up in your graduall groath therein from strength to strength and from one degree of grace unto another as dear Children of your heavenly father delighting in all things that ma●y honour him and serveing him in true fear you will die in his favour as this Innocent damsell did who was a faithfull witness for truth in her day and for righteousness and bore a liveing testimony for the Lord on her dying bed And it is the earnest desire of my heart that the Lord may preserve me and all that truely loves and fear him both young and old to the end of our days in a sensible feeling of the continuance of his love and life unto us and in a true Injoyment of his living presence amongst us and that in his true love we may be dayly concern'd for the prosperity of his truth and the good of our own souls as this Innocent Lamb and handmaid of the Lord our welbeloved was for whom we cannot sorrow as those without hope being well satisfied of her salvation and do believe she is now entered into everlasting rest And peace where no temptation can reach her nor disturbance of the enemy can disquiet her but in the presence of her beloved to sing praises for ever for very often was it her desire and she often said Oh that I had breath to praise the Lord and he is praise worthy saith my soul O that his own work● may praise him in Young and Old to whom all praises doth belong and freely is ascribed now henceforth and for ever Katherine Winn. THe foregoing Relation and the Testimonys born concerning our Daughter Sarah Beckwith to the truth thereof or can testifie haveing been an eye and eare witness of the exercises she passed through and of the Dealings of the Lord with her in his great mercy and kindness upon her dying bed and how the Lord raised her up by his Mighty power to declare thereof To the great refreshment and satisfaction of all abo●● her at that time The understanding she was endued with and the Mouth and Wisdome God gave her therewith to testifie for him and h●● blessed truth was admired of us and gave us cause often to s●y Who would not but fear the Lord who gives wisdome to the simple and a good understanding to those that fear his powerfull name Who casts down the mighty from of their seats and exaltes those that are of a low degree Blessed be his holy name for evermore And touching her death we are well satisfied that she dyed well in peace with God and is at rest with him And though our loss be great in parting with her yet Greater is her gain in the world which hath ●o end And although it is not our desire to have our Child any way set forth but as it may stand with the praise of God and that the honour of that Truth she testifyed to and had her Conversation in Nor to have our Names made mention off therein further then to witness to the Testimonies borne concerning her and that the Lord may be glorifyed thereby Yet in the fervent desiers that the good Councell and advice given by her both to Young and Old made mention of herein May be cordially closed with we are concerned in this wise in the name of the Lord to advise all to give all diligence to make their Calling and Election sure That they may be prepared and ready to meet the Lord when ever he shall call as undoubtedly this Innocent Lamb was who had run well in the time of her pilgramage here and fought the good fight of faith to the finishing of her course to her joy and to the obtaining the Crown and the Inheritance which hath no end We could not be wholly silent but in our Duty to God and in honour to truth she received and lived in make Mention of and bear Record to Gods wounderfull appearance in his love and tender mercy to his people In this our age and day witnessed by this his Servant and Handmaide Who hath so marvellously appeared in her and shewed himselfe in so Large a measure to her and given her the knowledge of the riches of the world to come and in such zeal and fervency of spirit to declare thereof to others That all may be encouraged to seek the Lord right early while he may be found and call upon him while he is near and not neglect the day of their visitation Nor spend their pre●ious time about things which are below ●hile the one thing needfull is not ●ade Choice of But in the Way that God hath cast up for his people we may ●ll walk in And in the race set before ●s we may so run as that we may obtain ●nd enjoy that heavenly inheritance which is laid up for all those that love ●he Lord Jesus Christ and his heavenly ●ppearance that God alone may have ●raise who is everlastingly worthy blessed ●or ever and for evermore Marmaduke Beckwith Elizabeth Beckwith

and bring her into favour with him again where was the centure of her soul and the safe dwelling place And in the year 1691. being near 21. years old she was again visited with a distemper of sickness very like to remove her out of this world as it grew upon her her Zeal for the Lord encreased manifested largely by the many sweet heavenly expressions that proceeded from her some of which put 〈◊〉 upon Record by her dear Sister● I heard she desired to see me and I went to visit her and stayed with her Four days she being unwilling that I should leave her whilest she lived here in which time she opened her minde to me and gave me account of the Lords dealings with her and of his tender Mercyes to her of which I was right glad and comforted therewith Her love was wonderfully drawn forth to Friends often makeing mention of dear Robert Lodge and others who are in the body whom she greatly desired to see and many weighty truths proceeded from her and an Heavenly concerne was upon her for the good of all friends in generall bemoaning the states of those who had received the truth in the begining in the fresh love of it and were grown careless having lost their first love and taken liberty to act things contrary to truth and those are evill examples said she to those that are young And others there are who have a more outward appearance and reckons themselves esteemed of yet if they live not in the truth and in the injoyment of the love of God it makes no matter the esteem of others will stand them in no stead And she said there was mans righteousness and the righteousness of God but mans righteousness must be rent oft and man covered with the righteousness of Christ Jesus who saith I wisdom leads in the way of righteousness and in the midst of the path of Judgment teaching those that loves me to inherit the substance and she desired that none might in the sight of good things sit down short of the possession thereof she greatly desired that ancient Friends might remember the visitation of the love of God unto their soules in the dayes of their Youth and answer the end of their visitation and take heed that they feel his love to them as in the begining And said she some comes amongst Friends and profess Truth yet walke not answereable there unto but mindes the decking of themselves outwardly more then the innocency of Truth inwardly and this will not serve them or do them any good and others may get plain apparrel and come to Meetings and appear what they are not the Lord said she remove such Mockerys She often desired Friends to love the truth and to take heed of loving any thing above the truth and she often desired Friends to take heed of passion for that hinders the work of the Lord and to take heed of contention and and strife envy and wrath for said she that never works the righteousness of God but agravates and stirs up a wrong mind But in a meek quiet and gentle spirit speake one unto another and so you will overcome evill even with the good Much good councel and wholesome advice was given by her but little is remembred in comparison considering how much did proceed from her and said she Oh they are happy that feareth the Lord and obeyeth him and lives in his truth and she often expressed the pretiousness of the love of God And often said how sweet it is there is no thing to be compared with it nor had in esteem in comparison of it I could delight always to feel and to live in the Enjoyment of it And when she spake of Heavenly things it was with great reverance and comely deportement For though she was a Maid of a notable Beauty and comely countenance yet much did she differ and far exceed when the Lord did open in her and brake forth through her yea she was lovely indeed and appeared as a Bride arrayed in royal Robes ready to meet her Husband and Bridegroom of her soul And the night before her departure She called to her dear Sisters and tenderly saluted them and gave sweet counsell and wholesome advice to them and took her leave of them worthy to be well observed and followed by them and all her Fathers family and even by all that heard her or may hear thereof and of her happy and comfortable end and peaceable departure out of the World Even all both Young and Old especially Young people for whom she was greatly concerned often pittying them saying they were lyable to many temptations often desireing their preservation in the Truth often repeating these words in the truth and not above it but under its government ordered by it and on this wise was she exercised in the power of the eternal God wherein she sweetly finished her course and undoubtedly is at rest with the Lord where her joy is full and will continue to her world without end And it is upon me in the Name of the Lord to advise all where these testimonys and records may come that are young in years to take heed that you fleight not the day of your visitation nor squander away your precious time in vain pleasure and delights of this world not knowing how short your time may be in it and how soon the thread of your life may be cut Oh that you would be prevailed with and stirred up in your mindes and encouraged to seek the Lord whilst he may be found and call upon him whilst he is near and take that good advice left upon record to Remember your Creator in the dayes of your youth and bear Christs Yoke in your tender years and the Chastisments of the Lord and his righteouss Judgments love which allways are mixed with mercy and Sion is redeemed through judgment and her converts through righteousness and five not the Cross of Christ Jesus but take it up daily and let it crucifie all your vaine desires and youthfull lusts of the flesh an● let no uncomely or untruth like attire come upon you no wild or wanton behaviour or fool● talking or jesting which are not convenie●● appear in you but let your gravity and moderation appear unto all and let your words be few and savoury such as may minister grace 〈◊〉 the hearer and do not think your professi●● truth or being Children of believeing Parent● will serve you or Intitle you to the Kingdo● of God for in sin you are born who are in the transgression and by nature the Children 〈◊〉 wrath as well as others and Esau the first b●● obtained not the Blessing nor can Ishmael it heir with Isaack Sarahs Son nor can what the Almighty hath done for you Fathers or others in the work of Regeneration and Redemptio● give you a right to their Spiritual inheritance though you have a subtill enemy perhaps w●● seek to perswade you that you have good

Parents and your education is in the Truth and you need not be so circumspect you are b●● young and that there is time enough for you● trouble your selves or your minds with thing of Divine nature and that there are many may live well and dye well and yet short of you● profe●sion but believe him not he is a lye from the beginning be not deceived God w● not be mocked such as you sowe such will yo● reape for there is need for you to feell Chri●● Jesus for your selves in your own bosom working redemption for you and clensing aw●● your sin for it is said Though Israell be many as ●e Sands on the Sea shore yet it is but a remnant ●hereof that shall be saved and though many were ●alled yet are they but few that are chosen And ●ou are sure to dye and you know not whether ●ooner or later and it is also upon Record As ●he Tree falleth so it lyeth As Death leaves Judgment findes and no unclean thing can enter the Kingdom and if the righteous scarvely be saved where shall the ungodly and sinners appear And therefore dear hearts endeavour and that right early to work out your salvation with fear and trembling strive to make your Calling and Ellection sure that when your Earthly Tabernacle is desolved you may have a building with God an house not made with hands eternall in the heavens keep on your spiritual progress in the straight way of selfe denyall I well remember that in my young years before I came amongst Friends I was one that was not adicted to many evils as some were but in a Zeal for righteouness beyond many of my equals I read much and thereby gained a great knowledge of the Scripture litterally and therefore thought my self more secure and safer then others and was puffed up therewith gloryed therein but when it pleased the almighty to open the eye of my understanding I saw it was nothing but Egypts glory and my own righteousness which was but as filthy raggs and menstrous cloathes and my knowledge to be consumed and I to become a fool that might be wise then I waxed weary of Egyp● glory and refused to be a Child to Pharoah'● Daughter chusing rather to suffer affliction● with the People of God then to enjoy the pleasure of sin for a season and all things beca●● to me as dross and dung in comparison of 〈◊〉 excellency of the glory that was opened in t●● veiw of my mind But when I turned my bac● of Egypt and sett my face Sion ward and travelling thither Oh the many weary stepps 〈◊〉 trode and the many solitary teares I shed a●● the many sighs and groans I uttered for wanto● full assurance of my salvation Oh the man● buffetting of the enemy my soul met with th● Combets I under went and the many Baits an● snares that were laid for me and the ma●● temptations that did attend me many wayes made me sometimes in sorrow say shall not surely one day fall by the hand of t●● enemy for Satan desired to have me an● to winnow me as wheat but the voice of my Saviour said in me I have prayed for thee that thy faith faile not and the Lord give me a little comfort yea a little hope though it was but as a lightning that shined in a dark place And the Lord helped me with a little help in a a needfull time and appeared in my soul though but as a warfairing man that turned in for a night and made not his aboad in me yet this was my e●●●●ragement and the com●●t of a little r●mnant that travelled with me ●●rough the ex●rcise the Lord brought us into ●●ilst he was known as refiners fire and as the ●llers ●ope washing away the filth of the daugh●●s of Sion refineing their dross and takeing ●●ay their Tinn that they might be as pure ●●d seaven times tryed in the fire to come forth ●●re and clean And therefore Dear hearts resign freely into ●●e hands of the liveing God and bear his in●●gnation because you have sinned against him ●●d say with that good man of old though thou ●ll me yet will I trust in thee and despise not the ●●stiseing of the Lord And faint not when you ●●e rebuked of him and submitt willingly to ●●e stroake of his hand that he way square you ●●en as hewen stones Ellect and pretious fit 〈◊〉 lye in his Building and that by your faith●●llness and obediance you may become as ●●llers in his House and take heed of the spirit 〈◊〉 this World and do not intermix with it for you do it will draw you from your spiri●●all travel and give you liberty to take delight 〈◊〉 the vain pleasures therein and let loose your ●esires after the honour and riches thereof But ●onsider the lot of him that coveted the wedge 〈◊〉 Goldand the Babilonish Garment and de●●re you above all a portion of the Spirit of the ●ord for some may covet Riches and honnor and may attain to it yet it is an uncertain gai● and if injoyed is attended with trouble an● discontent and on a suddain fade away an● come to an end but set your affections on heavenly things and with the wise Merchant ma●● dig for the pearl that is of great price and pa●● with all for the purchase of it so will you ha●● heavenly treasure in your earthly vessells wher● the M●th corrupteth not nor the Thief break●● thro●gh to steal and that is certain and fades 〈◊〉 away and in the injoyment of it is the tru● comfort and great delight though I am not against an honest care and right endeavours fo●● needfull things relateing to this life but do encourage it for in my youth I had my share 〈◊〉 the outward concerns of this world and I sough● the Lord with tears to help me with counse●● and assistance in the Managment thereof ye● with supplications was I powerd forth befor● him in that Concern and the Lord assisted me● to my often refreshment yet a voice I hear● within me saying first and principally seek th● kingdom of heaven and the righteousness thereof and other things shall be added unto th●● then I saw that the earthly things were to b● kept in their place and the heavenly things hav● the first and supreame place in me and livei●● praises to his Name for ever who never said t● the house of ●acob seek my face in vain for he 〈◊〉 found of them that seek him for as I sought hi● I found him whom my soul loved And as I ask● in his Name I received his imbraces and ●●e soliceing streames of his love and as I knock●● in the pure faith it was opened to me to ●now in measure the misteries of his heavenly ●ingdom and to partake of Spiritual pleasure ●●d Heavenly felicity beyond what ever I ●●ought upon or could have expected and of ●●e earthly things I had no want and though 〈◊〉 pleased the Lord in the morning of