stand idle any time in the least measure though it were but a very little time She would not she said for a great deal spend so much time in dressing as many do knowing how to spend her time if she had more And saying I like this fashion well either in her apparrell or dressing that soonest could be put on and take up least time often charging her maid to get all things ready against she came to be dressed saying she could hardly afford her self time to be dressed yea in the winter evenings would she be long in her closet She was a diligent reader of the Scripture privately by her self every day She kept many dayes of fasts secretly by her self upon many occasions and for her children And those dayes would she set apart for the said fasts upon which there were some great shews or sights to be seen in the City as twice she did upon a Lord Mayors day the occasion of her fasts falling out on those times of the year making choice of those dayes rather then others because of the vanity of the seasons and prophannesse in the City by surfeiting and drunkennesse more then at other times And how full of heaven would she come out of her fasts How heavenly would she pray in the family those nights How fervently how broken hearted in confessions How heavenlized was she in so much that the next day she hath wished she could live without eating or sleeping to spend that time upon the immediate service of God such enjoyments of him did she find therein III. As she was much in holy duties publick and private so she was exceeding carefull to perform every duty in its season that one should not justle out another her private performances should not hinder her publick attendances and her publick service should not infringe her private and very diligent she was in not omitting the least duty God did give her that spirituall art of redeeming and improving time above thousands of Christians Her publick performances though many did not abate her one minute of her private IV. As she was carefull in performing all those duties that concerned her self so also those concerning her family resolving with Joshua that she and hers would serve the Lord. As soon as her children came to any understanding she made them learn the Catechismes first Mr. Wilsons and Mr. Bal's Catechismes and from the year 1653. the Assemblies lesser Catechisme and God did so blesse her endeavours that when her children were very young yet could they soon give her an account of their whole Catechisme without book and as soon as any of them could read she caused them diligently to read and would exercise their memories by calling them to an account of what they could remember of that they had read in the Bible or other good Books and of what they had heard when they had been at Church and it was wonderful to hear what a large account they would give of what they remembred Surely God did much blesse her prayers for them else I know not how possibly they could do so She would make all children pray privately by themselves before they went to bed and in the mornings when they did rise Also she would instruct in repetitions of what they could remember what had bin preach'd telling them oft they must give account to God of their time and what they had read and heard exhorting them to walk in the waies of God when she should not be by seting before them the good to be found in Gods service and the miseries that would fall on them if they walked not in his waies She would not keep any servant that was prophanely wicked saying she would not have such if they would give her their service she would have no servant of an erroneous opinion I have heard her severall times say she would rather have those that were prophane then such because there is little hope of convincing the erroneous but more hope to convince the prophane she was very willing her servants should go to Lectures and to the fasts at the end of the morning exercises which were once a moneth she would afford them time and encourage them to go to them and if she had a servant that could not read she would cause her children to teach such and her self also would do it as she could spare time to encourage them and buy books for them V. I shall give an account of the method of her duties and every dayes work First in the morning as she did rise before she was off her bed she made her children give her an account at her beds side of their Catechismes in course one one morning and another another when they were so large in their accounts as she could hear but one a time when she was off her bed she went to her closet for some time then afterward she had refreshed her self with something she would perform family duties with the family when she had no Chaplaine in reading something of the Word and prayer Then she would use some little exercise she could find best for her health which should not be long and so to her closet again reading the Scripture by herself and spending the rest of the forenoon unlesse some great occasions called her off till about eleven a clock when she came out and while she was making up her own bed which she did every day except the Lords days for her exercise she would cause her children to read the Scriptures one one morning and another another and as they read she would ask them what they understood by such a place instructing them as they read if a place where some judgements were denounced against sin or a sinner she would say see what cause you have not to sin and what you must look for if you do so exhorting them from every such place By that time she had done and was dressed it was well nigh dinner time in the winter time she loved not to come out of her chamber before dinner was at table because the forenoons were so short unlesse some businesse more then ordinary had called her away In summer time sometimes she would walk a little before dinner in Lincolns-Inne-fields and twenty to one if she had not found an object of charity to scatter her benevolence upon before she came in again after dinner after some little space to her closet again where she was sometimes longer and sometimes shorter as her occasions would permit if that afternoon she went to a Lecture or to visit friends she would be sure to go into her closet before she went out of doors and when she came home to her closet again for some time then when she was undressed and in her night garments that was the time of her meditation when she would walk sometimes an hour or untill it drew neer to suppertime and so to her closet againe till supper was ready after supper she would walk again till
the servants had supped and then called them in to family duties together with singing of a Psalm after the same were ended and she discoursed sometime with the Lady her Mother she would go to her chamber where she would walk for some time and so to her closet where then she spent much time so long as at the soonest it would be one of the clock before she went to bed oftentimes would she be up till one of the clock in the morning and manytimes the Belman would cry in the streets two a clock in the morning and she no more then a bed and not a sleep asking her maid if that were the Belman I verily believe there was no shop keeper more diligent in keeping his shop then she her closet O what a trade did she drive for heaven she was one that made Religion her businesse indeed Upon the Lords dayes she would be up somewhat earlier then on other dayes though later up on the Saturday nights and if in London in the summertime she would go to the morning Sermons at seven of the clock if the weather were good and then to the rest She was full of heaven in all her discourses on the Lords dayes she was one as in Isa 58.13 that did turn away her foot from the Sabbath from doing her pleasure on Gods holy day and called the sabbath a delight the holy of the Lord honourable honouring him not doing her own waies not finding her own pleasure nor speaking her own words all her discourse at table dinner and supper and every where those dayes should be heavenly and speaking of what was taught those dayes not a word would come from her unsuitable to the day I verily believe if one had been set to watch her all those days long he should not have trapp'd her in one word unsuitable to the day if any thing had displeased her she would not have been displeased on those dayes On Lords-dayes-nights when she was come from Church and undressing her self her children gave her an account of what they had heard at Church and what such had read as stay'd at home and could not go and those of her children she could not hear then she would call to account while the servants were at supper and afterward the family to duty and repeated amongst them what she had written at Church those dayes This last year she caused her eldest daughter Mrs. Frances Scot to repeat in the family being able also to write After repetition a Psalm they sung and then she her self prayed in which duty as she was heavenly so longer then other nights the Lord did not onely give her the grace and spirit of prayer but also a great gift in prayer And as she was one of great gifts and parts so very humble her parts did no way puff her up or cause her to go out of her sphere in the least one of her Chaplaines did much urge her in the Country where she commonly had one in her house to hear her pray but at no hand would she do it this by the way After duty done in the family she went againe to her chamber and so to her closet would be there somewhat longer then other nights and take her bed-time the monday mornings indeed it would be morning before she went to bed Her usuall Lecture dayes at London every week were Tuesday's at Clements Wednesdays Mr. Jenkins at Black-Friars in the forenoon and if she could have time in the afternoon Mr. Calamy's at Aldermanbury before Mr. Jenkins Lecture was at Black-Friars she was constantly at Aldermanbury Thursdayes at Dunstones in Fleetstreet to hear Mr. Manton or at Mr. Case's Lecture at Martines in the fields and Saturdayes at Gregories in the afternoons besides the morning exercises when they were neer VI. As she did lay out her self and time in the service of God so also the greatest part of her estate laying up little here her layings out were more then her layings up she was heaping up her treasures in heaven where neither moth nor rust consume nor thief break through and steal how did she scatter her benevolence every day and so as her left hand knew not what her right hand did Much money did she cast into the poors bason at Fasts and at those fasts once a moneth at the morning exercise the keeping of which she omitted not though many times not well at other private fasts she gave very much there was seldome a week in the winter time but she was called to a private fast for particular persons in some great affliction many weeks she hath bin known to have been twice a week at those extraordinary dutys to the performance of which she would be sure to make all ordinary businesses and visits of friends give place some weeks it hath bin known she hath bin at 3 fasts a week at which fasts she gave the more knowing it would be given to the godly poor and being winter time and the harder with them which scatterings would arise to no small summe in a year if they could be known how much they were Sometimes it hath bin observed and sometimes could not at the least it hath been observed to have bin 2 shillings a time at the more private fasts she would give more In her going to those fasts if she thought the farness of the way would weaken her strength which she kept for the dutys she would send for a Coach at nights if fair she would often come home on foot both for her healths sake and to give the more to the poor saying many might think she went on foot out of covetousnesse but they would be much mistaken and when she came home from those fasts what shift would she make to steal up to her chamber by the door of the room where such as came to visit were that she might not be detained from her closet duty 's But to return to her charity every day how did she scatter her bounty among the poor not to such as made a trade of begging though they used never so moving expressions knowing they were prophane and would take no other course of life from such she would receive many a hard word when they saw her give to others and not to them and her servant hath been fain to defend her sometimes from their affronting her by not giving her way enough to passe Now as she walked London streets she would carefully observe if she could see any poor old people whom she would call to her or command her servant to go and call them to her and would ask them if they were very poor and if they were carefull to serve God and did go to Church and what hopes they had to be saved to which they would answer as they were able and some would say I blesse God Mistresse I am not so poor but the Lord doth provide for me that I am not driven to beg nor extreamly want to whom she
breaking of our loines Ezek. 21.6 One choice Jewel among the rest God has of late gathered to his Cabinet namely pious precious Mistresse Scott Concerning whom because you desired my concurrent Testimony as being one so well known to me having been a member of my Congregation for divers years together till she came to be under your charge I have this to say She was a Gentlewoman of a choice spirit of a marvelous sweet temper and disposition of an amiable winning carriage and of a truly pious and Religious conversation She was one that made Religion her businesse her 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not her 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 She made it her constant course vigorously to drive a Trade for heaven and to be pressing towards the mark even the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus She was not like those that Austin speaks of qui utuntur Deo ut fruantur mundo But she made use of the world but as a foot-stool to raise up her soul to the enjoyment of God as her portion for ever She was not weary of Gods service like those hypocrites that said what a wearinesse is it Mal. 1.13 but duty was her delight and sin her greatest burden The world did not make her weary of duty but duty made her weary of the world Her constant frequenting of Ordi ances wherein she was both eminent and exemplary her closest retirements wherein she saw often a glimpse of that glory which she now enjoys in the bosom of Jesus Christ made her long earnestly to be at her fathers house and to breath out her Cupio desolvi Oh that I might be with him whom my soul loveth In brief she made haste to heaven lived much in a little time holding forth the Word of life by a holy and undaunted profession holding fast the Word of Truth by a constant and undaunted Resolution and so finished her course with joy Therefore I conceive that this Text which you sweetly opened at her Funeral was rightly and suitably applied to her Many daughters have done virtuously c. This Testimony I have given not for her sake that is dead but for the sake of those that are living The dead praise not the Lord saith David Psal 115.17 Look as the dead return no praises to the living God so neither do they regard any praises from living men Our commendations cannot help them our discōmendations cannot hurt them as our prayers cannot reach them so neither can our praises profit them But happy surely are they that can tread in the Steps of those blessed Saints that have gone before us whose faith follow saith the Apostle considering the end of their conversation Heb. 13.7 If we do as they did we shall speed as they sped The Lord of his infinite mercy help us to serve our generation faithfully as this eminent godly Gentlewoman did that we may do every days duty with Christian chearfulnesse and bear every days burden with Christian patience and in the midst of all changes straites and stormes hold out with Christian perseverance that in the end of our dayes we may receive the end of our hopes even the salvation of our souls It is and shall be the hearty prayer of Your affectionate loving Friend and Brother in the Lords Work JA. NALTON Mrs. SCOTS own writings which she hath left under her own hand A Little before her death she began to write in a book her experiences of Gods goodness to her and intended to have filled it up but she was taken away before she had done many leaves of it onely she had written before divers things in some papers In the Book she beginneth and proceedeth thus SOme notes to keep speciall things in my remembrance that I may be quickned to answer Gods ends in all his gracious dealings to me to whom all his ways have been mercy and truth and I desire my ways towards him may be constrained obedience from faith and love wrought by his spirit in my heart in all things How God did effectually call me at first to himself I was born a child of wrath and an heir of hell and in my youth was very vile and vain Yet I did duties in a formal way and was very confident God did love me and of my good estate Between sixteen and seventeen I was married and about nineteen year old as I was riding it being hunting time I fell down and put my leg out of joynt which was a great misery to me but in that affliction God did work on me with some convictions and resolutions if I were well again to walk in Gods wayes afterward inquiring his Providence brought Mr. Byfields Book to me the Marrow of Divinity and in reading of it God did convince me of my abundant abominable sins I made a catalogue of them I could remember and was in much trouble for them under the spirit of bondage I think some moneths but I have forgotten how long but God made sinne very bitter to me and broke my heart for my sinne and from my sinne and I know God broke my heart because his love did it many a tear of Love did I shed in the bosom of my God When the spirit of Adoption was come to me then how did I mourn for sinning against the Lord and dishonouring of his dear Name But when I was in the pangs of the Spirit of bondage and new birth I had great troubles of Conscience and grievous pangs and after that dreadfull basphemous thoughts and fain would I have run away from God looked upon his wayes as grievous and had hard thoughts of him but yet the Lord would not let me go but carried me through that I had no power to leave seeking of him and did unhook me and brought me to keep Fasts by my self and to humble my soul before him and shewed me how vile I was in a great measure and made me confesse my sinnes with shame and sorrow Then after this he made me close with Jesus Christ in a promise and gave me full assurance that all my sins were pardoned by the bloud of Jesus Christ fully and I gave up my self in Covenant to him and by his sweet influence and shining of his face and comforts of his spirit and grace he hath made me hate the most sweet and secret sin and my hatred of all sin appears because I desire the death of it and desire to be freed from the enjoyment of the sweetest pleasure of the most secret sin that I may enjoy communion with my God whose love is farre better than life and I desire so to esteem it God hath brought me to Christ and hath made me put on his righteousnesse and hath given me to Christ and given Christ to me and I know it certainly that God did choose me from all eternity because he hath made me to give up my self to Jesus Christ for these ends that Jesus Christ gave himself for me That by believing
the Lord and humble my self for my failings and God did sweetly melt my heart and helped me to pray and made it a comfortable day and I desire to hope and wait for a gracious answer and God did answer me very graciously I kept another fast by my self to seek the Lord to mortifie my corruptions that I might not dishonour him but be acted by him and his grace to his glory and to order all for me aright according to his will the Lord sweetly assisted me and I desire to wait for an answer and blessed be his name he hath sweetly answered my prayer by many remarkable providences which I desire to improve to his glory God did visite me with a fever and had shaken his rod at me before but I took not warning as I should for God is so gracious that he delights not in afflicting the chilren of men if they return Gods chastizing me was very full of tender gentlenesse I felt little or no pain but kept my bed from munday till saturday and God chained up Satan that he did not at all tempt me but I lay with abundance of peace and assurance of Gods love and God made my bed for me and raised me up again in much faithfulnesse and shewed me why he had contended with me and I acknowledged Gods dealings exceeding just mercifull and faithfull The sinne that God did especially afflict me for at this time as he did convince me was my great sinning about the Ordinances God will be sanctified in them that draw nigh to him and I had been very formal in duties cold in them neglected to go to Ordinances did not prepare my self before I went as I should coming sometimes late distracted at holy duties and was unprofitable under them not so mourned when I heard Gods name blasphemed glad when Sabbaths were done and vain thoughts then also guilty of much Sabbath prophanation in coming to the Lords day with a cōmon worldly frame of heart and having such a cōmon worldly frame of heart on the said dayes Being too long in bed on the Lords dayes mornings and not doing duties as Sabbath dutys and not walking answerable to the Sabbath Ordinances I enjoyed So that it was high time for God to come now The experiences that I have got by this are that God is very patient and good and faithful he will not leave me unpunished altogether neither will he fail or forsake me in it therefore I resolve in his strength to love him fear him and his goodnesse serve him walk closely with him be zealous for him give up my self my all to be laid out for his glory and in his service and to sanctifie him in all my drawings near to him to serve him alone in his strength and the power and spirit of Christ enabling me for if he leave me to my self I shall sinne more then ever these are some of the fruits I desire should come forth from this rod. I kept a Fast by my self to humble my soul before God and renew my repentance and seek help and direction from him and my God made it a sweet day unto me I kept another fast by my self for the same mercies that I did the other before and the Lord did much assist and help me to mourn for sinne and to pray for Zions peace and of the land I kept another fast by my self to humble my soul for mine own sins and the sins of others and to seek for direction in the straight I was in and the Lord did help me and after much and long seeking to God the Lord did answer me The fourteenth of December 1655. God did vouchsafe unto me a very great deliverance wherein I saw abundance of his power wisdom and goodnesse in it to me which were wonderfully discovered in the way of it to the Glory of God and honour of the Gospel even to the acknowledging it elsewhere to be the very hand of God An answer of prayer I was fully freed and cleared I desire this great experience should be food for faith and that I called on God for it was the faithfulnesse of God in performing that promise that he would keep in his way and he kept me in my calling which was his way and so I had protection from him and he found out a way for me and I desire to improve my freedome for his glory and walk more spiritually and closely all my dayes with God then ever I have done The experiences I got by this were 1. That it is the duty and safety of a Christian to walk and keep in the way of God had I been out of Gods way I had been gone 2. That there is no difficulty too hard for God but his wisdom can find out a way and his power can bring it to passe and his faithfulnesse will do it 3. That it is the duty of Christians to wait Gods leisure and time which is the best and fittest time 4. It is their duty also never to trust to their own heart but in God and expect direction protection and guidance from him and I resolve in Gods strength alwaies to be and continue in his way and to believe no difficulty too hard for him but his wisdom can find out a way and when we cannot his power can bring it to passe and his faithfulnesse will do it and I will never trust mine own heart more but wait on God trust in him and expect all from him and hang upon him by faith and prayer I kept another fast by my self my God did help me in some measure I desire to lay all my sacrifices on Christ that precious altar that I may be accepted and answered I kept another fast by my self for one of my children God carried me through the duty with some sweet meltings and incomes I desire to wait on him for an answer and to live my prayers and still to trust in him and do duties in faith and obedience I kept another fast by my self about my children desiring to do all in Christs strength and to expect all upon his account and God did give me very precious answers I kept another fast by my self to be humbled for my own and others sins as my childrens my Fathers house and Sir Walters and the sins of the times and to seek blessings and sanctifications of Gods dispensations and directions from the Lord and desire to wait I kept another fast by my self for my children and other things God did humble me in some measure and assist me And God did wonderfully and speedily answer O blesse the God that heareth prayers and follow God for further mercie I kept another fast by self about one of my children and God gave me some sweet assistance in the duty and acceptance in Christ This Sacrament I received Christ and had sweet fruits from him This Sacrament God did help me to go against some difficulties and my special errand to Christ was to deliver me