it were that the life of grace might be prolonged but this we found that the continuance of her life was a continued Sermon and did preach forth the wonderful power and love of Jesus Christ as if she had learnt a new and holy Art of living poor souls to God or as if Faith were to come by seeing Gracious Childe who for her age might be a Learner and yet is made so learned a Teacher who so sweetly takes Christ for her text truth for her Doctrine and Holiness for her Vse Surely 't was he who at 12 years old was found in the Temple sitting amongst the Doctors hearing of them and asking of them Questions 't was he I say who hath ranked this Twelve years-old Childe amongst the Doctors of our Israel 'T was he that made her Sermons she onely did but preach them For her Speech bewrayed she had been with Jesus Oh what gracious words she uttered nothing but honey dropt from her mouth and that such honey as tasted much of the spirituall Canaan And indeed Christian none can speak so heavenlily none so healingly none so sweetly none so feelingly as those that have much of God speaking in them The Sentences she uttered are in this Book recorded And now canst thou read and not wonder wonder and not desire to read And yet the manner of her speaking added Emphasis to the things she spake Her eyes were fixed as if she saw Christ her countenance cheerfull as if she imbraced Christ her lips smiling as if she kissed Christ yea her armes sometimes sweetly clasping as if with Simeon she had got an arm-ful of Christ What think you meant her soul whilest her body used such an action Oh what happinesse for a poor soul to lose it selfe in the All-fulnesse of Christ truly these things made us all cry out What manner of Childe shall this be But oh see the wonderfull workings of our God He has let her come down into this lower room againe God seemed to take her out of the crowd into his Chambers up above where he sweetly whispered his minde unto her and now he hath sent her back again that she may live over her own Sermons And yet so was God taken with her company that he would not let her come down again till his Children had petitioned again again for her And then the more to endear his mercy to us he sends her down in the Armes of Prayer So that now we finde this truth in our own experiences That a Christian reacheth highest when he is on his knees I might speak much more of her but I had rather commend grace theâ— gracious persons Oh let this I beseech thee with the other soul-helps Christ affordeth thee prevail with thee to be good in good earnest it 's not leaves or bloomes that Christ looks for now but fruit I confesse indeed the Winter of Religion seems to be past wherein both bloomes and fruit Profession and Practice was nipped and suppressed and now is the Spring wherein most men are fair in bloom which gives me hopes that the Lord is bringing about a time when holy lips and holy lives heavenly Communication and heavenly Conversation shall meet together so that flourishing Professours will prove fruitful Practicers Oh! be not thou one who shalt keep off such hoped-for times as these think how thou wilt answer all Gods costs about thee And if thou be he that must be called in to give an account for every word thou speakest ô then what account wilt thou give for every word that God speaks to thee Thou that hast such heavenly Doctrine ô take heed of earthly Use heart-warning exhortations and heart-cooling conversations are fearfull and incongruous sights I confesse if I did not in some measure know the Unteachablenesse of a corrupt heart I should conclude that Non-profiting by such wonders as these is the greatest wonder of all Well Christian thou hast a Providence here thrown into thy lap ô improve it and be not befooled with fleshly wisdome but ô minde thy work drive on thy souls trade And if thou hast an Interest in God know thus much that this Childe hath an interest in thee when therefore thou â—oest to improve thy interest at the Throne forget not Her nor Him who is Finningley Jan. 25. 1652. Joyfull in this and all other thy Soul-helps John Firth To the READER Grace here Glory hereafter THe voice of Providence Christian friend for such I suppose thee and unprejudiced I wish thee is never to be neglected especially when it is understood according to the Analogie of faith Indeed providentiall administrations are not to be forced as it seemes to me over-bold if not an impious act to judge alwayes according to the outward face of dispensations to make providences point out what we effect as * he judged of the Scriptures even to speak our prejudiced and partiall thoughts â— Psal 107 43. so it is over-Atheist-like to let the righteous God be every day in the City and yet none to read any thing The Workes of the Lord are great sought out of all them that have pleasure therein Whoso is wise will observe these things and he shall understand the loving kindnesse of the Lord. There are a sort of men in these last and worst of dayes that will believe nothing but what themselves behold and sleight all Thomas-like that themselves have not a finger in To get these above life of sense is not in my capacity though it may be in my aime I do acknowledge my obscure testimony far below such atchievments The sword of the Lord and Gideon undertake them Yet why may not a broken pitcher give some light and that sudden light disperse the Amalekites though I can finde nothing in my selfe my witness is in heaven why I should be in publick for bene vixit qui bene latuit yet I dare not resist that voice that calls me to bear witness to Gods workings who hath so signally owned his now despised Ministry and sleighted Ordinances speaking withall peace to a tossed and afflicted family That never misled spirit that shall peruse the ensuing wonders may any more despise or drooping poor soul that shall hear how God remembred such an one in her low estate and heard the prayers of such nothing creatures may any more despair The Subject of the ensuing wonder is Mrs. Martha Hatfeild a branch of a Family of good Note in the West of Yorkeshire as to externals having wherein they might glory But which is their glory their great prerogative is not here not in this World that they are bene nati is an emptie bubble in respect of being bene renati this is their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 their priviledge that they are sons and daughters of God This Family as God useth to deal with them he loveth the wise God was pleased to keep in a low and dark condition without were fightings within were
snail and if he get hold he will not be got out unless Christ pull him off Let us labour to follow the Commandements and Rules of our heavenly Father Oh that we could but observe and follow them we should never have our hearts tied to this world of abomination and sin as we have Come all you that are thirsty and drink of the water of life freely and you shall never thirst again saith the Lord. Let us labour to repent of all our sins before the day of death for after death there is no repentance As life leaveth us so judgement findeth us Let us labour to have our hearts tied to that Beloved One if we could but have our hearts tied unto him we should never run astray like lost sheep as we do Twice she rejoyced and laughed very high and then she said My Christ my Christ shineth before me oh have we not cause to rejoyce in him that shineth so gloriously before us in white robes Oh trust in him Oh trust in him Oh that glorious sight the Son of my sweet Father Oh let us labour to get faith and let us never be without faith that we may rejoyce in him for ever and ever Lord pull back Satan that subtile Serpent and chain him up Lord and let him get no power over my poor soul he always maliceth and troublerh and perplexeth the childe of God but he can get no power over me I do believe he cannot I trust in thee I trust in thee for thou hast promised that thou wilt help me in time of trouble and in time of extremity thou dost but suffer him to look in to look in to make me stick closer unto thee and to deter me from this vain wicked transitory world and from his assaults Lord wash us and cleanse us in the bloud of thy onely begotten Son that we may become pure Virgins of thine Lord help us to examine our hearts and look into them and search them to the bottom and seek to the bottom to see if there be no dross left in them neither dross nor sin remain in them Let us not think too well of our selves for when a man thinketh he is in the highest condition then he is in the lowest and when a poor doubting Christian thinketh he is in the lowest condition he is in the highest Lord humble our proud haughty ignorant and rebellious hearts that are not worthy to taste of the least mercy of thine ô let us be thankful for the least mercy that the Lord hath poured down upon us and you shall see that he will poure down greater Then she laughed very much and clasped her arms several times and said Oh let us hunger and thirst after that holy One let us never be affrighted with Satans temptations Though your sins be as Scarlet they shall be as white as wooll and though they be like Crimson they shall be like Snow if you consent and obey you shall eat the good things of the Land but if you be stubborn and rebellious you shall be devoured with the sword for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it October the 8th Lord pull back Satan that lurking roaring lion that goeth about to destroy my poor soul he watcheth and waiteth for every opportunity to get in but he cannot My Christ will tread him under foot that he can get no power of my poor soul There be many that say Lo here is Christ and lo there is Christ but there is no more crucified Christs but one alone Oh let us rejoyce Oh let us sing and rejoyce for the snare is broken and we are escaped as a bird from the fowler We are poor dry bones Lord breath a Spirit of life into us that we may become lively Saints of thine for if thou breathest not the Spirit of life upon us we are but like dry bones that moscer away Lord pardon and forgive us all our sins whether they be sins of Omission or Commission or sins of ignorance or sins of knowledge or sins of weakness or sins of wilfulness or what sort of sins soever they be Lord wash us cleanse us in the bloud of thy Beloved One thy Son Jesus Christ there is not one day that goeth over our heads but we sin every day more and more We poor nothing creatures that are not worthy to taste of the least mercy of thine if thou hadst not been a merciful and a pittiful God we had been all howling in hell-fire before this day but thou shewedst pitty and compassion upon us or else we had all been sunk into that endless pit but thou gavest us thy Beloved Son to redeem us out of that endless pit of torment Let us draw comfort from Jesus Christ even as the Bee sucks honey from the flower if the Bee finde sweetnesse in one flower she will not flie away to another even so if we could finde sweetnesse from Jesus Christ we should not flie away from him as we do but we must labour for it before we can get it for how should the Bee get honey from the flower unlesse it labour and suck for it so how should we get sweetnesse and comfort from Jesus Christ unlesse we labour for it The Birds of the air have nests and the Foxes have holes but the Son of man hath not where to put his head October 9. Take heed you lie not one to another for the Lord saith They are my children such as will not lie Take heed you despise not Gods Ordinances nor his Instruments that he hath sent to preach his Word God will but let you go on with your own delusions for a time but there vvill come a day of Judgement to try vvhether you be right or false he is the Judge of all Judges he is a true Judge that vvill try vvhether you be right or false These stony hearts of ours Lord renevv them vvith the knovvledge and righteousnesse of Christ thy onely begotten Son in whom thou art well pleased Lord quicken these thorny dead ignorant and carnall hearts of ours that are so set upon the vvorld vvherein there is nothing but vanity and vexation of spirit for what is a man better if he have all the world and have not Christ for he is alwayes hungring after more for how can a round thing fill a three cornered so this world cannot fill our hearts nor give us satisfaction why should we be so in love with this world when we depart we cannot take it with us we must leave it behinde us we must change either for a better life or a worse either for a life of torment or a life of joy Let us labour to forsake sin and live unto righteousnesse that we may have our conversation built upon the Lord substantially if it be built on soft ground it will fall but if it be built upon that substantiall rock it
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
feares but God who comforteth such as are cast down comforted them in this Infant-preacher much of whose discourse was an earnest pressing unto faith When her sorrowing parents and astonished friends were as it were at their wits end in relation to her sad condition even then she wished them frequently to roll upon upon God who would bring them to their desired haven to their expected end Oh let us labour for faith said she for He thâ—t is faithfull unto death shall receive the crown of life And in relation to their affliction she said Satan is always malicing perplexing the Children of God to make their journey uncomfortable thinking that if he get not victory then he shall never get victory but my Christ hath vanquished Satan This handmaid of the Lord Reader to give thee a taste of her was piously principled even from her Cradle the Spirit blossoming in her in the very Spring of her age Even while she spelled words and syllables she spel'd out Christ for if she met with a free promise or some good sentence holding out Gods love to man she would say Mother this is a sweet place and usually read it over again Yet though she thus grew in the inward her outward man was weakened and decayed till the twelfth year of her age the year of these wonderfull transactions betwixt God and her spirit as if that year Christ would again honour now in this member of his to confute such as would be thought some-body in these days as once in his own person he silenced those Doctors of the Jewish Synagogue In this eleventh year viz. Aprill 1652. her bodily disease increased so did her love to heavenly things also for even those toyes which that age delights in she desired not so much as â—o hear named by her sisters setting her thoughts upon and inuring her tongue to speak of those things above where shortly she expected to arrive At last the disease over-mastered her strength seized upon the Organes of her senses so that she could neither speak see nor hear to the apprehenâ—ion of any about her she could not move â—ut as she was born by others and much of this time her teeth was so closed that she was not capable of receiving food onely some liquid matter they dropped in at a broken tooth and this very little she putting it out so fast as it was given her thus lay she diverse moneths even untill December an object of sorrow to her parents and of astonishment to all others capable onely of their pity not of their help but a mirrour of the mighty power of God proving by this argument that Man liveth not by bread alone it is not the arm of flesh that is to be confided in but he that knoweth our infirmities is onely able both to help and heal them During this continued Paroxysme she had very frequently sometimes every day certain grand extasies whereby after that her body had been racked on the wheel of convulsion it became as stiffe and expanse as that bodie which is seized on by death and coldnesse In which extasies God did to astonishment appear For now flowed those streames of living waters those precious divine sentences contained in the ensuing pages which thou tasting with the Organes of the same Spirit they were delivered thou canst but admire Look on the person a childe going on twelve years and canst but confesse that out of the mouth of a babe and suckling God hath perfected praise Look at the condition wherein she uttered these in a deep â—ance and dost not see it fulfilled that the tongue of the dumbe shall sing Look at the things she spake are they not deep things of God is there heresie or errour intermingled Couldst thou discern the manner of her expressions the vivacity of spirit how the words drop from a touched experienced self-concerned heart thou wouldst say as the Queen of Sheba said of Solomon The halfe was not told thee Look at the suitablenesse of the things spoken and thou 'st confesse they came not by the will of man but this holy one of God spake as she was moved borne supported and carried out by the holy Spirit Concerning this last cirâ—umstance when some rashly affirmed that â—e was acted by Satan they judging accorâ—â—ng to carnall reason at the next extasie which was the onely time of her speaking â—he uttered thus I am not in the hands of â—atan but in the hands of my God when â—ome pretenders to Revelations as these â—mes are full of such visited her at that veâ—y time she was carried out to say Take â—eed you sowe not tares for if you sowe tares you shall reap tares and afterwards fully witnessed gainst them thus Take heeâ— you deâ—ise not Gods Ordinances nor his Instruments that he hath sent to preach his Word God will let you go on with your delusions for a time but there will come a day of Judgement to try whether you be right or false and again Lord restrain those that go about to interrupt those Instruments which thou hast sent to preach out thy holy Word in thy Congregations it is requisite that offences should come but wo to them by whom they come November the ninth being purposed â—or a day of seeking God by fasting and prayer the night before she encouraged them that were about her with that of the Psalmist Call upon me in the day of trouble I will deliver thee and thou shalt glorifie me And the night after the work was done she admonished them thus Oh let us call to minde what the Lord hath done for us and not be like the natural man that looketh his face in a Glasse anâ— presently forgetteth what manner of man he was Thus God by this his handmaid opposed profane scoffers cautioned misled creatures and bare witnesse to the excellencie and necessity of the now sleighted Ordinances and Ministery Reader here thou mayest a while behold as it were a conflict in her godly parents betwixt joy and grief their teares issued not all from the same Fountain the one eye was swolne with drops of gladnesse the other of sorrow while they beheld the deep trials of God upon them their lips quivered rottennesse entred into their bones they trembled in themselves but when again they beheld how God laid their tossed and afflicted with fair colours checkered his work paved his steps with black and white marble then again they are comforted As that Popish Bishop when not able to determine whether Solomon were a childe of wrath or love caused his Effigies to be drawn half in heaven half in hell so they judge their affairs â—o resemble that Cloud which ushered the â—sraelites to the land of Promise it had a â—ark side as well as a bright Thus God â—olds them till the time came that he would command deliverances for them then
Let us labour to have our conversation built upon the Lord stedfastly let us labour to have our foundation of life built upon that substantiall rock stedfastly for if it be built upon sandy ground it vvill fall but if it be built upon that stedfast rock it vvill stand for ever and ever Lord pull back Satan that Serpent thaâ— goeth about to devour my poor soul but he cannot he cannot he cannot enter in my Christ will give him no power Let us labour to forsake sin and live unto righteousnesse and truly repent of our former sins which we have sinned which we have committed formerly let us truly repent of them Oh let us cry aloud unto the Lord in the time of extremity and calamity and he hath promised that he will give ear unto us October the 16th Oh let us trust in the Lord for he is a trusty one he is to be trusted let us cast both our bodies and souls into the hands of that everliving and glorious God for he hath bid us to cast our care upon him and he will care for us If we should trust a carnall man that hath no care of his salvation but of the trash of this world he is so greedy of it and hungers and thirsts after it that he thinks that that will make him but the neerer we are to the trash of this world the farther are we off of God if we could but hunger and thirst after the riches of Christ vve should not hunger after the riches of this vvorld as vve do Oh that vve had but hearts to conceive the riches of Christ from the riches of this vvorld for vve think that the riches of this vvorld vvill be the making of us but alas alas they vvill be the undoing of us The wisdome of man is foolishnesse but the wisdome of God is righteousnesse October the 17th Lord Lord vvash us and cleanse us in the purity of thy onely begotten Son in vvhom thon art vvell pleased that vve may become pure Virgins of thine for vvithout vve be in some part holy as thou art holy and in some part perfect as thou art perfect vve can never enter into the Kingdome of God into the Kingdome of Heaven Resist the Devill and he will flie back from you he vvill go avvay murmuring and repining at you take heed he enter not into your hearts for if he do he vvill leave corruption behinde him even as the snail leaveth slime behinde it so he leaveth the corruption of sin behinde him The corruption of the Devil vvill shevv it selfe and the holy righteousnesse of God vvill shevv it selfe but there is a great deal of difference for where the corruptiou of Satan remainerh there is nothing but lasciviousnesse blasphemy lying threatening and keeping of evill company but where the purity of Christ remaineth there is upright dealing righteousnesse and true holinesse Lord fill us with thy Spirit Lord endue us with the Spirit of Christ for where the Spirit of Christ remaineth there can no corruption enter in Oh let us labour for the riches of Christ for if a poor man that is never so poor hath but the riches of Christ he is accepted of God for with the Lord there is no respect of persons October the 18th Trust in the Lord Jehovah for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength Let us labour for faith the greater faith the greater joy faith is the beginning of wisdome it is the first thing that doth belong to a Christian Oh if we could but get faith it would carry us above all it would carry us from the lowest earth to the highest heaven Oh let us labour for Christ that holy One by whom we live move and have our being Lord sanctifie our unsanctified hearts and keep us from dissembling for if we dissemble with man we shall not dissemble with God there are many false hearts in this world but God knowes them God knowes their comming in and their going out though hypocrisie be hid from man it cannot be hid from God God knows our thoughts words works actions The heart of man is deceitfull but God can finde it out God knows every work we do every word we speak every thought we think and we must answer for them one day the Lord will call us to an account at the day of judgement he is a righteous Judge he will judge righteously if we deal not uprightly with man we shall not deal uprightly with God Lord soften these stony ignorant hard and carnall hearts of ours Lord mollifie them with thy graces with all thy gracious gifts as faith that we may be fit to enter into the Kingdome of Heaven Oh let us be patient untill the appointed time of the Lord he waits on us but we cannot be contented to wait upon him we could be contented to be all our lives without afflictions but if we should not know affliction we should not know comfort We should be so taken and blown up with comfort that we should not know our selves if we should not have discomfort mixt with comfort we should value it so much that we should value the creature more then the Creator October 19. about 4 a clock in the afternoon Let us labour to be followers of that Beloved One he that doth not the will of my Father vvhich is in Heaven he is not vvorthy of the Lord. Oh let us put off the rags of sin and put on the robes of righteousnesse that we may be fit to enter into the Kingdome of Heaven Again the same day about eight of clock she spake and she did keep to that hour untill November 21. Narrow is the way that leadeth unto life and few there be that finde it but wide is the way that leadeth to destruction and many there be that go therein Oh let us labour for Christ that Love that Dove that undefiled One he is the Door-keeper he will lead us from the gates of hell unto everlasting life Lord pull dovvn those that have a minde to pull down thee and raise up those that have a desire to raise up thee Lord give us patience to vvait upon thy time appointed vve vvould be all our lives vvithout affliction but it is for our good not for our hurt but for our good thou doest not chastise us for our hurt but for our good for the Lord hath said they are not my children but bastards whom I do not chastise not Oh vvhy should not vve vvait upon him that vvaiteth alvvayes upon us vvhy should not vve be patient but vve are so naughty and full of corrupt nature that vve cannot be contented to vvait upon him till our Glass be run he vvaiteth and vvatcheth over us every hour and minute vuhen the time appointed cometh he can raise any of us up even as he did the Maid vvhen he said Arise and
be whole and she arose and was healed Oh vvhy should not vve be contented for his Arme is not shortened nor his Povver diminished therefore vvhy should noâ— vve be contented In this vvorld whilest we are in affliction we think it is miserable and grievous buâ— hereafter it will be sweetened while we aâ— in affliction we think it is miserable and grievous but the Lord will sweeten it with thâ— cup of mercy the Patient must taste of 〈◊〉 bitter potion before his stomack be cleared Oh let us labour to fear the Lord that we may live in his fear and die in his favour for as we do so we must look to be done by October the 20th Children obey your parents in all things knowing that it is well pleasing unto the Lord. Oh let us labour to have our wills melted into the will of that everliving and glorious God The secrets of God are hid from man and his wayes past finding out but the Lord will reveal them to his children in some part when his time appointed is come Lord humble these proud hearts of ours and endue us with the gift of Humiliation Oh let us labour to return thanks unto the Lord for all his mercies that he hath poured down upon us for the way of begetting more is to return thanks unto the Lord to give reverence unto him we reverence our earthly fathers our natural fathers Oh why should not we much more reverence our Heavenly Father Oh let us labour to forsake this world and all things that are therein for there is nothing that is desirable Oh let us labour to stick close unto that Holy One for when all things in the world fail he will never fail he will stick close to us when all things in this world decay and moscer away he will be an everlasting rock Lord open our blinde eyes that we may see clearly the weaknesse of our selves and the strength of Christ Oh let us labour to lead our lives and conversations well in this life for as we do so we must look to be done by if we sowe unto the flesh we shall reap corruption but if we sowe unto the Spirit we shall reap life everlasting October the 21th Let us labour to repent of all our sinnes which we have lived in formerly which lieth unrepented of for after the day of death there is no repentance as life leaveth us so Judgement findes us October the 22th Oh let us cast our care upon the Lord for he will care for us he hath promised to be a father to the fatherlesse and a husband to the widow Lord pull back Satan that lurking roaring lion that goeth about to devour my poor soul but he cannot my Christ will tread him under foot that he can get no power over my poor soul Lord graft thy Word into our heads and not onely into our heads but into our hearts also We are poor Earth-wormes Lord breath into us the breath of life that we may become lively Saints of thine that we may become lively Saints of thine and that we may sing Hallelujahs with thee in the highest Heavens Take heed you lie not one to another for if you go in that way the Devill will take that occasion to pour in more corruption Lord mollifie these hard hearts of ours with thy graces that are so hardened with sin and corruption October the 24th Lord open the eyes of the blinde that â—ey may see clearly the purity that is in Christ and the corruption that is in themâ—ves they see and perceive not they hear â—nd understand not Lord enrich our souls with thy graces that â—e may be instruments to enrich the Kingâ—ome of Heaven Lord pull back Satan that lurking roarâ—g lion that goeth about to destroy my poor â—ul but he cannot my Christ will give him â—o power he will not let him touch it He â—oth what he can to get victory but he canâ—ot my Christ will not let him The Devil â—aliceth the children of God he is alwayes â—usiest about them and flattering them he 〈◊〉 alwayes thinking to make them fear him â—nd flattering them and thinking to overâ—ome them but those whom God hath â—hosen he will take them for his own the â—oor doubting Christian the Devil is always â—utting feares and doubts into them but when he thinks they are in the lowest conâ—â—ition they are in the highest and when a man thinketh he is in the highest condition he is in the lowest when a poor doubting Christian thinketh he falls he stands aâ— when a man thinketh he stands he falls Lord take away these hearts of stone aâ— renew us with hearts of flesh Lord humble these proud hearts of ourâ— that we may not be swallowed up with thâ— vanities of this world we are apt to 〈◊〉 drawn to the vanities of this world and 〈◊〉 flie back from Christ Oh what disobedieâ— children are we that follow not the commands of so loving a Father that which 〈◊〉 biddeth us to do that we do not and thâ— which he biddeth us not do that we do Oh let us labour for faith for he that 〈◊〉 faithfull untill death he shall enjoy the crowneâ— life October the 25th Come my people enter into thy chamber shâ— the door upon thee hide thy selfe for a little mâ—ment untill the indignation of the Lord be overpast He that doth not the will of my Father which is in heaven he is not worthy of me saith thâ— Lord. Take heed you sowe not good seed upon thorny ground lest the thorns spring up and choak it My Christ hath pulled back Satan that lurking roaring lion which goeth about to devour my poor soul he maliceth my poor soul and thinks to get the victory but he cannot Oh let us labour to be partakers with that Beloved one that immaculate lamb of God that spotlesse lambe that laid down his life to take away the sins of the whole world Oh let us labour for faith that rich grace of our God Lord pour it down upon us that is that rich grace of eternity that is the grace by which we must either live or die without we have that grace we shall never come to God we shall never come to Christ Oh let us labour for faith ô let us labour for faith no faith no Christ no Christ no salvation Lord as thou hast fed out bodies with temporall food so feed our souls with spirituall food that we may be able Instruments to enrich the Kingdome of Heaven Lord endue our spirits with the gift of Humiliation for the Spirit of God is a humble Spirit a meek Spirit a holy Spirit a full Spirit it acts powerfully and breaths where it listeth Trust in the Lord Jehovah for in the Lord Jehovah is our everlasting strength Come my people let us reason together though your sins be as scarlet they shall be as wool though
they be like crimson they shall be as white as snow if you consent and obey you shall eat the good things of the land but if you be stubborn and rebellious you shall be de voured with the sword for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it October the 26th Come all you that are thirsty and drink freely of the spring-well-water of life and you shall never thirst again Oh let us labour to have our hearts tied to that immaculate Lamb that we do not run away like a lost sheep into this world as we do wherein there is nothing but vanity and vexation of spirit My Christ hath vanquished Satan that lurking roaring lion that labours to eclipse my comfort but he cannot but he cannot he can get no power he maliceth the good of my poor soul but he is never the neerer for that as much as he seeks to discomfort me so much the more there is one above that comforts me The Works of God are wonderfull and his wayes past finding out the wisdome of man is foolishnesse but the wisdome of God is righteousnesse Lord humble these proud hearts of ours that they be not blown up with the vanities of this world for we are apt to become back-sliders from that which is good and to be followers of that which is evill Come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy-laden and I will give you rest saith the Lord. In the day when I make up my jewels they shall be mine saith the Lord of Hoasts October the 27th As many as I love I rebuke and chasten be zealous therefore and repent Oh let us call upon the Lord in time of trouble and he hath promised that he will hear us ô let us charge the Lord with his promises for he loveth to be charged with his promises of his children and he will give more attentive ear unto them ô let us wrestle with him as Jacob did when he said I will not let thee go until thou blesse me he would not have a deniall of God First he prepareth our hearts that they may be capable of faith then he worketh faith in them October the 28th Ask and you shall have seek and you shall finde knock and the door of Righteousnesse shall be opened unto you They that do the Will of my Father they are my Mother Sister and Brother saith our Saviour Christ We poor drie bones that moscer away for want of one drop of the dew of righteousnesse we moscer away we are so deeply drowned in sin in the corruption of sin that we cannot of our selves attain to the power to enjoy that sweet enjoyment of Eternity Lord pull back Satan that lurking roaring lion that goeth about to eclipse the spirituall comfort of my poor soul but he cannot but he cannot my Christ hath made a wall and he cannot enter the wall he cannot cast it down Oh let us labour for Christ that Love that Dove thatVndefiled One that Holy One by whom we live move and have our being he is All in All perfect without imperfection Oh let us labour for the sweet enjoyment of Eternity where there is comfort without discomfort joy without sorrow and where all tears are wiped away from our eyes and botled up Oh let us labour to attain to that eternall weight of glory where there is nothing but joy and rejoycing mirth and melodie and singing Hallelujahs with the Lord in the highest Heavens Children obey your parents in all things knowing that it is well-pleasing unto the Lord for the wrath of God commeth upon the children of disobedience October the 29th No man can come to Christ except the Father draw him Lord endue us with those rich graces of thine as faith which is the richest of all we are so benummed with sin lukewarme and key-cold that we cannot apprehend them to make a right use of them Oh let us labour for Christ for when Christ who is our life shall appear then shall we also appear with him in glory We poor miserable and wretched creatures that have sinned against thee every day more and more if thou hadst not bin a pitifull and mercifull God we had before this been sunk into the endlesse pit of torment but thou hast shewed pity and compassion upon us in giving us thy onely begotten Son to redeem us from that endlesse pit of torment Mâ—rtifie therefore your members which are upon the earth as fornication adultery blasphemy and covetousnesse which is Idolatry My Christ hath cast down Satan that lurking roaring lion that thinks to get the upper hand over my poor soul but I hope nay I am sure that there is one above that will defend me from him he hath promised that he will tread him under foot The godly have their torments here but the wicked shall have their torments for ever hereafter Take heed of Satan for he is very subtle for there is more danger when he commeth in white like an Angel of light then when he commeth in black like a Blackmoore Oh let us labour for Christ that Holy One for he will never suffer the righteous to be forsaken nor their seed to beg their bread October the 30th There be many that say Lo hereis Christ and lo there is Christ but there is no more crucified Christs then one alone Lord pardon and forgive us all our sins which we have sinned against thee of what sort soever they be Lord wash us and cleanse us in the blood of thy onely begotten One ô what disobedient children are we that are so rebellious against thee Good Lord pardon us that we should be so disobedient to so loving a Father that hath alwayes an eye over us and watcheth over us every day and night and continually that which thou biddest us to do that we do not and that which thou biddest us not to do that we do but alas alas the greater is our Judgement October the 31th Cast your care upon the Lord for he careth for you and let not your care be upon the world it will be never the better for you but a great deal worse for What are we better if we gain the whole world and lose our own souls and be cast into hell for ever Oh let us labour to be partakers of the immaculate Lambe ô what a sweet thing it is to be partakers of that immaculate Lamb Oh! it would ravish a poor Christians soul ô let us labour for him if we lose him we lose all Lord humble these proud and ignoranâ— hearts of ours that they be not puff't up and blowne up with the pride of this world for God knoweth there is many of them but Lord teach them to know themselves that they may live to please thee and not to live in thy displeasure Oh let us knock at the door of Righteousnesse untill Christ Jesus that immaculate
lambe of God be pleased to open to us the door of faith November the 1. Lord purifie these drossy hearts of ours that we may become pure Virgins of thine and leave them without dross or sin remaining in them Lord restrain those that go about to interrupt those instruments which thou hast sent to preach out thy holy Word in thy Congregations it is requisite that offences should come but wo be to them by whom they come Oh let us labour to gain the Kingdome of Heaven and struggle and strive for it for it is not gained with a little ado but Heaven is won by violence and the violent take it by force Lord enrich these poor fainting souls of ours with thy graces that we may become able instruments to inherit the Kingdome of Heaven November the 3. Lord endue us with thy rich graces as faith which is the richest grace of all but our hearts are so stony that we cannot apprehend them aright to make a right use of them but make them of a fit temper that we may have our wills melted into that Will of that everlasting everliving and glorious Lord our God that we may lie at the feet of that immaculate lamb of thine untill those two arms of Love be pleased to take us up into the throne of Heaven Put on the whole armour of God that we may be able to stand against all the wiles of the Devill Oh labour to take notice of that everliving and glorious Lord our good God and of all his mercies that he hath been pleased to pour down upon us for if we take notice of him he will take notice of us both of all our needs and necessities and necessary things both temporall and spirituall for if we sit loose from him he will sit loose from us November the 4th Oh let us labour to repent of all our sins which we have lived in formerly and call to minde what the Lord hath done for us in distresse When we were in the hands of our enemies he hath preserved us from the hands of our enemies for if we were as we should be we should be thankfull every hour of a day but God knoweth we are far short Good Lord refine us even as silver and gold is refined and make us without spot or blemish even as thy spotlesse lamb and cloath us with the righteousnes of him November the 5th He that knoweth the will of his Father that is in heaven and doth it not shall be beaten with many stripes Lord renew these stony hearts of ours and give us hearts of flesh Lord open our blinde eyes that we may see clâ—erly the errour of sin and the purity that is in Christ and the corruption that is in our selves We poor miserable and wretched creatures Lord pardon and forgive us all our sins that we have committed against thee and wash them away in the blood of that thy beloved One and leave us without spot or stain remaining in us November the 6th The Works of God are wonderfull and his wayes past finding out Servants obey the will and command of your Masters which are upon the earth knowing that you have a Master in heaven Oh let us call upon the Lord in the time of extremity and calamity and he hath promised to give ear unto us November the 8th Call upon me in the day of trouble aâ—d I will hear you and you shall glorifie me Oh Lord endue us with thy graces that we may be fit to come to the School of Christ to learn the lesson of faith Oh let us labour for that beloved One for if we have him we have all if we want him we want all he will stand unto us when all will fall down all things are but drosse and dung in comparison of him Oh labour to repent of all your sins but you must first lay the ground-work of faith and then truly repent and return home unto the Lord. Oh let us cry aloud unto the Lord in the time of necessity and he hath promised to give ear unto us Cast your care upon the Lord for he careth for you in the time of extremity and calamity when all helpers in the world fail he will be your greatest help of all he must do it or none Oh let us labour to fear the Lord that we may live in his fear and die in his favour Come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy-laden and I will give you rest Oh what a sweet promise is this if we had but hearts to apprehend it aright but our hearts are so stony and so full of corruption that it can take no effect but Lord mollifie them November the 9th Oh let us call to minde what the Lord hath done for us and not be like the natural man that looketh his face in a glasse and presently forgetteth what manner of man he was Oh let us labour and take pains for that well-beloved One and labour to sâ—ick close unto him for if we lose him we lose all and if we gain him we gain all Oh let us labour to set our affections on the things that are above and not on the world wherein there is nothing but vanity and vexation of spirit Oh let us labour to wait and be patient untill his appointed time for his time is the best time My Christ hath vanquished Satan that luâ—king roaring lion that goeth about to devour my poor soul but I hope he hath nothing to do with me I hope my God will own me for his own he is alwayes malicing and perplexing the children of God to make their journey uncomfortable and thinketh that if he get not victory then he shall never get victory Come all ye that are a thirst and drink freely of the Spring-well-water of life and you shall never thirst again Lord Lord endue us with thy graces that we may become lively branches in thy Vineyard prune it dresse it and water it and look to it that nothing hurt it nor harme it Oh let us labour for faith for they that are faithfull until death shall receive a Crowne of life Lord satisfie these unsatisfied hearts of ours for if a man have all the world he thinketh that he hath not enough but when he hath Christ then he is fully satisfied Ah what can a Christian heart desire more then a crucified Christ then a naked Christ what can a Christian heart desire more he is the jewell of all jewels he is the upright One Labour to deal faithfully in all things for as you do so you must look to be done by if you sowe to the flesh you shall reap corruption but if you sowe to the Spirit you shall reap life everlasting Lord endue us with thy graces and set them aright upon our hearts but they are so benummed luke-warm and key-cold that we cannot apprehend them to make a right use of them but
in the mean time fix my eye and heart upon those promises Acts 15. 17. Hoseae 1. 11. and particularly that which I think excludes not the Gentiles Great shall be the Day of Jezreel Amen Even so Come Lord Jesus FINIS POSTSCRIPT To the Reader THe truth of the Particulars related in the preceding Narrative will be avouched by many person of worth both for Honesty and Piety whereof if any doubt they may enquirâ— at Leighton in Yorkshire or in sever aâ— other Townes neer adjoyning and be fully satisfied in all particulars Many Names by way of Testimoniallâ— might have been produced but this Reference is thought sufficient We hope Reader those that are engâ—â—ged in this Work dare not commit suâ—â— impiety as to gull the World with a pieâ—â— of Forgery April 18th 1653. Imprimatur Joseph Caryl 1 Cor. 1. 27 28. Psal 8. 2. * In idem caput though not in euâ—dem gradum Hosea 7. 9. Mal. 2. 15. Deut. 23. 12 13 14 1 King 11. 12. Ezra 9. 13 14. Psal 75. 1. Cor. 7. 31 Ezek. 29. 21. Isai 32. 4. Isai 35. 3. Luke 2. 46. Luke 1. 66 Scriptura â—asus cereus plumâ—ea â—esâ—iae aedificationis â—egula Pighiuâ— ex Exam. Chem. in â—ecrel 1. Concil Trident. â—ess 4. Zâ—ph 3. 5 Psal 111. 2 John 20. 25. Life of â—he hand â—sai 57. 10. g Psal 136 23. h John 1. 12. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. i Heb. 12. 6 k 2 Cor. 7. 5 6. l Psal 107. 30. m In extasie of Novemb 9. Revel 2. f In the â—ame extasie g 2 Cor. 4. 16. h Luk 22. 42 46. i Luke 4. 4. k Jer. 17. 5. g Psal 8. 2. a Jer. 35. 5. 6. b 1 Cor. 2. 10. c 1 Kings 10. 7. d 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2 Pet. 1. ult e Job 4. 8. f In extasie Octob. 9 g In extasie Nov. 1. Luke 17. 1 h In extasie Nov. 8. Psal 50. 15 a In extasie of Novemb. 9. b Jam. 1. 24 c Hab. 3. 16 d Isai 34. 11. e Petruâ— Teâ—orius Archbishop 〈◊〉 Toledo f Exod. 14 20. g Psal 44. 4. h Zach. 4. 6 i Zach. 12. 10. k Psal 65. 1. b Decemb. 8 the first time she spake out of an extasie 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 April 6 1652. Her Prayer Her Vncle â—ap Hatfield Note Conflict Comfort Conflict Comfort Vntill April 23 April 23 Note Ball of Faith Burroughs Treatises c. May 1. Vntill May 19 May 19. 1652. De spectâ—is lâ—muribus Ephes 5. 8 1 Pet 5. 18 Matth. 7. 7 Cantic 3. 4 Psal 63. 8. 1 John 5. 18. 1 Pet. 2. 34 Matth. 7. 14. John 6. 37. Eccles 1. 12. Psal 9. 10. Revel 21. 4. 2 Chron. 15. 2. Psal 125. 1. John 17. 24. Isai 40. 11 â—eb 13. 5. Actâ— 11. 28. Revel 3. 19. Matth. 23. 37. Matth. 11. 28. John 7. 37. Phil. 3. 8. Ephes 3. 17. Psal 50. 15 Deut. 10. 20. Isai 26. 4. Heb. 13. 5 John 14. 2 3. Gal. 2. 10. Matth. 16. 24. 1 Sam. 2. 30. Matth. 11. 28. 1 Pet. 5. 8. Col. 3 â— Psal 47. 6. Psal 103. 2. Matth. 16. 24. Heb. 8. 10. John 7. 37. Colos 3. 4. Ezek. 36. 26. Isai 53. 6 Jer. 24. 7. John 14. 22 23. 17. 26. 1 John 5. 18. Job 19. 26. Matth. 7. 7 Matth. 7. 13 14. Pro. 41. 〈◊〉 Isai 27. 18 19. Nehem. 9. 33. Psal 121. 3 4. Mal. 2 2. Phil. 3. 8. Heb. 13. 5. Col. 3. 1. Psal 149. 1 6. vers Heb. 11. 13 14 16. Psal 103. 1 2. Phil. 2. 8. John 7. â— Ezek. 36. 26 27. Isai 54. 7 8 Matth. 7. 19. Psal 51. 15. John 6. 27. 1 Sam. 2. 30. Psal 50. 23. 1 Thes 5. 18. Rom. 1. 22. 23. John 6. 44. Psal 119. 117. Psal 136. 2. 2 Cor. 5. 17. Ephes 3. 8. Ephes â— 8. Rom. 10. 17. Ephes 1. 18 19. Matth. 23. 12. Psal 50. 15. 1 John 1. 7 Ephes 5. 27. 2 Chron. 20. 22 23 24. Jet 31. 33. Titus 1 1. Col. 2 2. Ephes 3. 8. Col. 2. 3. Luke 1. 74. Jonah 1. 17. Matth. 23. 37. Matth. 7. 1â— 14. Phil. 3. 8. Mar. 8. 36. Matth. 6. 19. Veâ—se 33. John 6 44. Joh. 12. 32 1 Thess 2. 13. Isai 40. 31 Psal 16. 11 Psal 9â— â— Matth. 16. 27. Rom. 16. 20. Matth. 13. 25. Gal. 6. 7 8. Matth 7. 19. Heb. 4. 16. John 5. 40. Joh. 12. 35. Matth. 11. 28. Joh. 10. 10. Luke 10. 16. Col. 3. 1. Ephes 6. 11. 1 Pet. 2. ult Mar. 9. 24. 2 Tim. 2. 1. 2 Cor. 6. 10. Revel 2. 9. 1 Pet. 2. 7. Matth. 23. 46. John 5. 39. 46 47. 2 Cor. 4. 16 17. Luke 11. 22. John 4. 14. Joh. 17. 17. 1 Pet. 1. 16 1 Pet. 5. 9. Acts 15. 9. Mal. 2. 2. Jer. 31. 18. Luke 13. 3 Revel 21. 7 Heb. 11. 27 Ephes 6. 16. Ezek. 17. 4 5. James 2. 5. Psal 24. 3 4 with 15. Prov. 2. 3 4 5. Ephes 4. 23. Rom. 13. 14. Cantic 3. 4 Luke 11. 1 â— Thes 5. 18. 1 Cor. 15. 52. with 58 Revel 19. 7 8 9. Psal 73. 26. John 6. 35. 2 Pet. 1. 1. Psal 27. 14 Ephes 6. 11. John 1. 16. Psal 4. 6 7 Phil. 1. 29. Ephes 2. 8. 1 John 2. 15. John 5. 44 Psal 79. 9. Psal 51. 7. Psal 78. 7. Deut. 32. 18. Isai 9. 6. Matth. 23. 12. Deut. 32. 18. with 19 Psal 78. 42 with 59. Psal 124. 7 Rom. 3. 26. Heb. 10. 22 Ephes 3. 17 18 19. Lam. 3. 22. 1 Sam. 2. 30 ult Psal 2. 13. meeter 2 Pet. 1. 1. Acts 5. 3. Heb. 10. 22. Neh. 8. 10. Luke 1 46 47 with 48. Hose 10. 12. Luke 17. 10. John 15. 13. James 4. 4. 1 Cor. 15. 45. Col. 3. 11. Isai 26. 19. Rom. 8. 2. Mal. 3. 3. Isai 66. 11 Lam. 3. 40. Jer. 17. 9. Psal 139. 23 24. Ephes 4. 2â— Isai 29 18 Matth. 6. 22. Zach. 3. 2. Heb. 11. 6. Psal 143. 11. Matth. 25. 33 c. 1 Thes 4. 17. Acts 2. 37. Job 14 14. 1 Cor. 15. 51 52 53. Psal 116. 1 Chron. 15. 2. John 8. 48. John 10. 28 29. Psal 34. 7. 2 Chron. 15. 2. Heb. 13. 5. Psal 28. 4 5. Isai 5. 12 13. Psal 27. 14 Psal 31. 15. Isai 40. 3. Psal 51. 7. Luke 11. 21. 1 John 16. Phil. 3. 9. to 12. Ezek. 36. 26. Psal 78. 60. Jor. 5. 24 25. Isai 1. 12 10 15. Isai 29. 24. 32. 4. 2 Cor. 3 6. Isa 27. 8 9 Deut. 32. 29. 1 Cor. 15. 17 19. with 58. Micah 6. 9. Heb. 12. 10 11. Job 5. 19. Psal 119. 71. Rom. 15. 13. Ephes 3. 17. Isai 26. 4. Phil. 3. 8. Col. 3. 2 3. Heb. 13. 8. 1 Pet. 5. 10 Matth. 7. 24. Heb. 4. 16. Dan. 12. 3. Revel 12. 10. Luke 10. 18. Luke 11. 21. Zach. 12. 10. Luke 1. 74 1 Thes 1. 10. 2 Pet. 3. 18 Heb. 11. 26 2 Pet. 2. 5. Heb. 13. 9. Coâ— 2. 7. 1 Pet. 5. 8 9. with 1 John 5. 4. Ephes 6 12.
he put them on a way to attain this â—nd not by might nor by power not wisâ—ome of men nor outward meanes of Physick but that grace might be advanced â—o send for the Elders of the Church and â—et them pray over the afflicted which was done in the spirit of grace and supplication and after twice wrestling with God in fasting and prayer he was pleased to be intreated And as gloriously admirable was Gods hand in raising her up as in casting her down for in the close of the second dayes work that God might manifest himselfe to be a God hearing prayer and that creatures in their lowest condition might never more despond he shewed some glimmerings of his gracious favour and within a few dayes gave to her understanding senses speech the use of her legs and since a daily income of health and strength and which is better then life suffered not these high actings of his Spirit to be an occasion of puffing her up but kept her in a gracious humble depend inâ— frame of spirit for being inform'd whaâ— she had said she replied thus in her childisâ— speech Have I me cannot tell I can 〈◊〉 nothing of my self it was not me it was thâ— Spirit of God in me I am nothing but poor earth-worm and me hath nothing buâ— what my God giveth me for me is nothinâ— but dust and ashes Again some two 〈◊〉 three dayes before God gave her the use 〈◊〉 her legs her father desiring to neglect nâ— lawfull meanes wished one to signifie hiâ— pleasure to her that he had thoughts oâ— procuring a Physicians advice concerning her whereto she sweetly answered she would be disposed by her parents will buâ— her desire was to wait Gods end she could wish no Physician might partake of any glory with God for he alone had done the cure he alone deserved the praise Thus Reader hast thou a true Narrative of that which seems marvellous in our eyes the Lord remove from thy heart all selfe and prejudice make thee willing to give God the glory of his own workings slubber not over this passage of divine Providence with carelesse or profane thoughts eye God learn to live by faith and despise not Ordinances which God hath from heaven in this occasion borne witnesse to I have purposely avoided all frothie flourishes of the tongue lest the truth should be suspected for I would win thy heart not thy senses not words but things take wise men of whose number if thou would'st be thought one judge soberly and the end is obteined By The unworthiest yet a faithfull Wel-wisher to thy precicious Soul Wa. Barnard Church-Sandal January 28. 1652. THE NARRATIVE Wherein is related how this Child was visited and the manner of her Disease when she did utter those Heaven born Truths herewith published THis Child who hath been the subject of such wonders of Providence is the daughter of Master Anthony and Mistris Faith Hatfield of Leighton in the West-Riding of York-shire her name is Martha Hatfield she was compleat twelve years old the 27 day of September in the year of our Lord 1652. She hath been from her birth a childe of wonders being so litle when she was brought out of her mothers wombe that it waâ— thought she would speedily have returned 〈◊〉 the common wombe where all living muâ— ere long be laid up But God who quicknetâ— the dead who is the preserver of man contâ—tinued her life and she grew up very hopeâ—fully as a plant of Gods own planting yeâ— some years before this visitation she was observed to be of a sad spirit oft retiring into corners and weeping for a long time and could not then render any reason thereof but it evidently appeared afterward that she was much afflicted with the spleen-winde which encreased notwithstanding the use of means to greater extremity But before I proceed I must desire the Reader not to expect an exact Relation of her Disease in physical terms of art because it pleased the all-wise Disposer of all occurrences so to order the spirit of the childe and his own dealings towards her as you may see anon that no means could be used towards her recovery and so no Physicians did stay with her to observe the symptomes of her disease so that it 's but conjectural what it was it 's thought the rigid convulsions or rather that it was a complicated disease of many of those distempers which affect the brain but I shall give it you in our Countrey Dialect as those that were usually with â—er did apprehend it I shall observe this Method 1 I shall speak of her disease 2 Relate her speeches 3 The manner of her recovery 1 Her Disease The Spleen-winde after some time did â—row to that extremity that she could not â—igest her meat but vomited up all that she â—ook which yet was but a small quantity for 〈◊〉 long time after which she was taken all of one side beginning at her neck which â—aused her to hold her head awry and from â—hence it went into her arm and took away â—he use of it for many dayes and when her â—arm was better it fell into her leg on the same side and continued there until she fell quite down which was after this manner She had extraordinary fits of violent vomiting and after that Convulsions which occasioned extream torments especially in the night and so she continued sometimes better sometimes worse for many dayes sorely troubled with a stopping c. In which time she had the use of her understanding and could speak and with many sweet words was able to exhort her parents to trust in God Saying If we had but faith it would carry us thorough all the troâ—bles of this world Then about April the sixth 1652 〈◊〉 perceived such a change in her that 〈◊〉 thought she would die presently and she 〈◊〉 into a fit of extream pain in her side whicâ— took away her breath and her senses for 〈◊〉 houres and she was stricken all over stiff 〈◊〉 which time she lay as if dead hopelesse 〈◊〉 life in the judgements of those who beheâ—â— her Yet about the third houre she was enabled with great alacrity to express the joyâ— of Heaven and sweetly prayed for herselâ— and all her relations as she conceived theiâ— necessities required First for her father thy servaÌ„t the head of thâ— family Lord give him faith in Jesus Christ to lay hold upon thee and give him patiencâ— to be contented with thy will and for ouâ— mother who hath been so long weak Lord restore her and make her a comfort to us all and teach her to submit to thy will and for my Grand-mother that old stock that old stock that thou hast made such a comfort to us good Lord we thank thee for her and if I live I desire to be thankful for her And for our brother who is to be disposed of good Lord direct the heart of thy servant our father to dispose
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
eyes but with our spiritual eyes we shall Oh what a good God have we that never slumbers nor sleepeth but watcheth over his poor servants Come my Disciples take up your crosse and follow me and you shall be saved I will be your God and you shall be my people O Lord I desire to wait till my glass be run for I long to be in Heaven with thy holy Angels rejoycing Those that hunger and thirst after Jesus Christ let them come and drink of the water of life and they shall thirst no more and when Christ their life shall appear then they shal appear with him also in glory Come unto me in time of trouble and I will save and deliver you Come my people enter in at the gates of Heaven and I will guide you in it My soul O Lord watcheth and watcheth till the glass be run to be in Heaven rejoycing with the holy Angels for ever Labour for Jesus Christ what are we without Christ we are but as a lump of clay or lead full of corruption and without the Spirit of God Oh Good Lord work a thorough work in us that we may be like thy holy Angels in Heaven Now my Christ is come again oh that I could hold him fast and not let him slip from me Oh Lord give us thankful hearts to thee who hast given us Jesus Christ thy dear Son to take our sins upon him all our sufferings are nothing in comparison of Jesus Christs sufferings he suffered the death upon the Cross for us Lord take away these stony hearts of ours and give us new hearts and take away these thorns out of our hearts and give us thankful hearts that we may be ever thankful unto thee for all thy good gifts that thou hast bestowed upon us May the 24th Lord give us Jesus Christ for without Christ we are nothing but like lost sheep that are gone astray Take heed that the temptations of Satan overcome you not lest he cast you into hell Not into our eares Oh Lord but come into our hearts and take away these stony hearts of ours and give us new hearts How good is thy Word O God! how good is thy Word ground it not in our heads O Lord but in our hearts Pull back Satan that roaring lion which goeth about seeking whom he can devoure and to cast him into hell oh follow not his wayes nor steps for in them there is nothing but blasphemy and lying but follow Christs steps and there will be rejoycing for ever Before that Christ take you up into Heaven he will give you full assurance of himself and lock you up in his cabinet and keep you from that hunting roaring lion If he conquer me he will cast me into hel-fire but my Christ will not suffer him to touch me my Christ is stronger then he he will not let him prevail against me My body is but wormes meat in the grave but what care I for my body so that my soul be in Heaven with my God and his Angels Seek for Christ and you shall finde him hunt for him and he will be found of you Strait is the gate that leadeth to Heaven and few there be that finde it but wide is the way that leadeth to destruction and many there be which go therein The afflictions of the body are nothing but the soul is a rare jewel when both body and soul are afflicted then there is cause of sorrow but pray to God that he may support your souls O take my soul into thy protection for if both body and soul should be gone then all is gone but when they are in thy hands then they are safe then there is no cause of sorrow but of rejoycing and singing Aalleluiah for ever Trust in God walk in Gods way the more you walk in Gods way the more he will give you kis assurance Get into Jesus Christ for in him there is joy and comfort and no cause of discomfort If we could but get one touch of the sweetness of Jesus Christ it would ravish our hearts so that we would strive to get nigher and nigher unto him Oh what a good God have we who would not trust in such a God let us but eye God and he will eye us and the more we look unto God the more will his power be exalted in us What if a man have not onely part but the whole World yet he can never be satisfied and a poor soul that onely hath a desire after Christ cannot be contented but when a poor soul hath gained all Christ then it is satisfied A poor soul will be alwayes hungring hungring hungring and thirsting till he have gotten all Christ then he will be satisfied and say he hath enough How loving and gracious is our God that doth all things in wisdome and mercy and for our good in pitty and compassion Oh how happy a thing it is and joyful for â—o see when a poor soul is going to Heaven and Christ sayes Come poor soul come â—ome and I will lock thee up in my Cabinet and keep thee from sin and Satan He is an everlasting God stick close to him and he will stick close to you As many as I love I rebuke and chasten be zealous therefore and repent When we are in affliction Christ is all in all but some in their afflictions are apt to say that God hath forgotten them but whom God loveth he correcteth and afflictions are but to make us stick closer to God that it may be for our good and comfort Let us sing praise to our God and be thankful let us not turn back from him and he will not turn back from us Whom God loveth he correcteth in mercy Correction is good for poor souls it maketh them stick closer to Christ and that they may know him the more both for his own glory and their own good every way As the Father calleth his childe when he hath done amiss and asks why he doth so and gives him correction so God he gives his children correction but it is for their good and comfort God scourgeth and whippeth his children but he will not give them one whip nor one lash more then is for their good Just is God in all his dealings he neither slumbreth nor sleepeth but is diligent and carefull in watching over his poor children Let us give him praise for all his mercies lest he turn his blessings into cursings Labour for Jesus Christ stick close to Jesus Christ and he will stick close to you he will never forsake you till you have him you can never be satisfied Labonr to follow things according to Jesus Christ for if we gain Christ we gain all When all helps fail Christ will never fail you he will never forsake you Let us labour to get into Jesus Christ that we may be like the Angels in Heaven and let us bend our mindes to
Jesus Christ for his mercies are greater to us then we can desire May the 25. Come poor soul come poor soul see how God stretcheth forth his hand to an afflicted soul thou hast been afflicted but now I will take thee up into Heaven God will take a poor afflicted soul into Herven Good is thy Word O Lord to be esteemed â—ot onely in our heads but in our hearts take â—way these stony hearts O Lord that thy Word may work a thorough work in us Oh take my soul O Lord into thy protection and lock it up in thy cabinet for I am assured Lord that I shall be in happiness with thee and thy holy Angels in Heaven Labour to get faith in Jesus Christ and it will keep you out of the deep pit Trust in Jesus Christ and be mindful of his wayes and he will be mindful of you He waketh and neither slumbereth nor sleepeth who would but follow his steps and not Satans Lord open thou our hearts and our eyes that we run not headlong into that bottomless pit of hell and destruction Come my Disciple and take up thy cross and walk and thou shalt be saved Pray for fixed hearts and souls in Jesus Christ that they be not cast into hell-fire God give us fixed and zealous hearts for Jesus Christ and fixed for Heaven The Lord will not turn back from us if we do not turn back from him he will carry us up to Heaven where there is no change but joy and rejoycing for evermore Trust in Jesus Christ and he vvill rebuke your spiritual enemy Satan is the greatesâ—â— enemy to your souls if he get them he vviâ—â— cast them into hell-fire Come my people into my Tabernacle and I will embrace you with my arms and there shall be cause of joy and rejoycing with God and his holy Angels for ever If you can but rise with Christ and seeâ— those things that are above he will take you up into Heaven and lock you up in his Cabinet if you can but rise with him there will be cause of joy and rejoycing for ever with my God and his holy Angels for ever If we can but rise so high as Heaven there will be cause of joy and comfort and no cause of discomfort if we be but raised so high as to seek those things that are above then we are happy Come let us sing a new Sang let the praises of God be alwayes in our mouthes and let them never depart out of our mouthes Come and let us reioyce and be glad with our heavenly Father where there is cause of comfort and no cause of discomfort Let us labour to draw nigh home for we are not at home whilest we are here let us therefore hunger and thirst after better places we are but as pilgrims and strangers here but we must labour to wait with patience till our glass be run We are but as Travellers that travel to and fro let us labour to come to an abiding place where there is no change then there is comfort then we come to that place that our souls thirst after What a gracious Father have we let us be thankful unto him for our manifold mercies and blessings what cause have we to give him praise for them let us never be unmindful of giving him praise and he wil never be unmindful of us What a Christ have we that doth all things in wisdome Oh what he hath done for us we can never suffer so much for him as he hath for us he suffered the death upon the cross for us Good is thy Word O God and to be esteemed of us let us not be ignorant of it let us have a token of thankfulness in our hearts let us acknowledge it that we may give God the glory of it again teach us the way that we may acknowledge and be thankful Come my people do not thirst but come and drink of the waters of life freely and you shall never thirst again I suppose she meant do not rest in your thirsting but come and drink Come my people follow me into that pleasant place of Heaven and there you shall have joy everlastingly Put thy Spirit into our hearts and take away these stony hearts that we may become new Christians Come my people enter in at the gate Strait is the gate but I will lead you and open the gate of that comfortable place the gate of Heaven Oh trust in God and labour to be true believers and he will free you from sin and Satan that roaring lion that seeks whom he may devour put your trust in the Lord and then you will have cause of joy and rejoying for ever Oh God thou art merciful unto thy children and the more we hunger and thirst after thee the more merciful art thou Lord we thank thee for thy mercies that thou hast bestowed upon us God is gracious in all his wayes and actions Let us trust still in God if we do but trust in God we shall never faint although I be in a suffering condition here I shall be in a comfortable condition hereafter How sweet is Christ in his dealings and â—ispensations he will not let Satan that cunâ—ing roaring Lion do me any hurt Oh ground faith in our hearts O Lord â—pon thy Son Jesus Christ oh ground our â—earts aright upon him and he will provide for us and take us up into his Kingdome where there is no cause of mourning but all â—oy and comfort for ever We are but as pilgrims here and stay a time till our glass be run and then Jesus Christ will be our protector and guider where we shall rejoyce for ever I will keep your souls in my protection I will rebuke Satan that roaring lion for your sakes Note that oftentimes she would have uttered words but could not and then her lips would move so that I conceive some of her speeches were spoken in relation to something that she had in her minde and could not utter and so in the last speech which is set down and this may help the Reader to understand some other of her Speeches May the 26th Seek the things which are above where Christ sits at the right hand of God our Father if we can but rise so high there we should have cause of comfort and none of discomfort for ever and ever Happy shall we be when we are raised so high as to sit at the right hand of God our Father God my Father hath chained up Satan that roaring lion that he cannot enter into my soul God doth sometimes suffer Satan to afflict us that we may be drawn neerer to him God lets us lie in afflictions that we may get good by them and himself glory Let us praise God for all his mercies and he will showre them down upon us the more The more we seek to give God glory for all his mercies the more will God seek to poure down good upon us
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
comparison of Christ What are we better when we are in our pomp in this world when we do nothing but pine in our souls and our souls to be cast into hell where there will be howling for ever and ever Lord pardon our proud worldly hearts for we are alwayes hungring after this sinful world where there is nothing but that which will lead us into hell Oh let us not hunger after this world but hunger after Christ O what a loving Father have we that when a poor soul is thrown down as low as hell and is in great afflictions then he sends Jesus Christ and takes pitty of that poor soul and lifts it up to heaven Christ will look upon a poor soul with the eyes of compassion then that poor soul is happy and he will carry it to heaven where it shall rejoyce with God his holy Angels Tet us hunger for Jesus Christ and when we have him let us hold him fast and let us stick close to him and he wil stick close to us he will be our keeper and Saviour both of bodies and souls Good is thy Word and to be esteemed drive it into our hearts and not onely into our heads but into our hearts that it may work a thorow work in us Come let us flie up to heaven as a bird in the air if we could get up as high as heaven we should be happy Joy joy joy everlasting joy Come let us sing praises unto our God with mirth and joy for we shall sing with our Father and his holy Angels for ever and ever Lord vanquish Satan that roaring lion and tread him under foot that he may not overcome our souls by his evil wayes watching every opportunity June the 7th This night came one of those commonly called Quakers and all that came to her did judge that then she knew none neither could she heare or did ever minde what was said to her or in her company and this man and her Uncle Capt. Hatfield being in discourse she uttered the words following at that time which are very observeable viz. Take heed take heed that you sowe not Tares lest you reap Tares Every Tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewen down and cast into the fire Lord give us faith in Christ for without faith and knowledge we cannot come unto Christ Come let us flie unto the Throne of grace as a bird doth into the aire Lord give us zealous hearts for Jesus Christ for there is help in him but there is no help upon the earth Lord resist Satan that roaring Lion that goes about seeking whom be may devoure let us cleave to Jesus Christ when Satan draws neere and he will deliver us from that roaring lion June the 8th Lord quicken our dead and ignorant hearts which are stubborn and rebellious but before we be quickened we must lie at the feet of Jesus Christ for without we be quickened we are like an ignorant man that travels up and down and knows not whither Lord humble these proud hearts of ours and take that burthen from us for Christ saith Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavie laden and I will give you rest If we be dead-hearted we must lie down at the feet of Jesus Christ till he be pleased to quicken us Take heed of despising God and his Ordinances for if we despise them God will despise us Set your affections on things above and not on things below for your life is hid with Christ in God Labour for Jesus Christ and he will cast out that spirituall enemy that would cast you out Trust in Jesus Christ for he is a trusty God to trust in Let us put on the whole Armour of God O let us labour for Jesus Christ and he will be our Shepherd and we shall be his Sheep he will lock us up in his cabinet and keepe us from sin and Satan Lord strengthen our unbelieving hearts Let us labour to be strong in faith and we shall be strong in Jesus Christ Let us labour to be rich in Jesus Christ though we be poor in the world I have obtained Jesus Christ When you have obtained Jesus Christ you have obtained a jewell of all jewels Let us be partakers of the Word of God and we shall be partakers of Jesus Christ if we do not know the Word of God nor be partakers of it we shall never know Jesus Christ When we are but weak in body and are true Christians we shall be strong in Jesus Christ If we be weak in body our body loseth by it but our souls gain by it Let us labour to get true possession of Jesus Christ and then Satan that roaring lion can get no possession of us Lord give us the life of grace to spring up in our hearts that we may be drawn to thee Iune the 9th Lord give us the light of heaven that vve may be holy as thou art holy If once grace be but kindled in our hearts then happy shall vve be and blessed Let us trust in Jesus Christ and he vvill conquer our spirituall enemy and purifie our double hearts Let us be thankfull and ever thankfull for all his mercies lest he turn his blessings into curses and poure dovvn his vvrath upon us Lord give us true repenting hearts for our sins lest vve run headlong to hell for vvant of repentance Come my Disciples take up your cross and follow me and I vvill be your God joy joy joy Learn the lesson of faith or you shall never knovv Christ but Lord let us learn this lesson of faith that vve thy unvvorthy servants may be delivered both from our bodily and spiritual enemies We are poor dry creatures but Lord breath thy Spirit into us that vve may be Saints in Heaven Good Lord enrich our souls that we may enrich the Kingdome of Heaven Come my people enter into my Tabernacle and you shall rest in joyes for ever We must labour to have hearts for Jesuâ— Christ or we shall never attain to him we must labour for him he is not easily gained but we must take pains and seek him Let us put off the rags of sin and put on the robes of righteousness Let us struggle for Jesus Christ and labour for him lay hold of him and when we have obtained him let him not slip from us Let us give God the glory of all things and he will poure down all things upon us that are good for us Lord pardon our sins and give us hearts to beg pardon of thee for them Lord give us thankful hearts to acknowledge thy goodness and to be thankful for every little mercy Lord fit and prepare our unprepared hearts that we may be prepared at the sound of the trumpet Let us labour to be married to Jesus Christ and
that is better then all the marriages in the world it is an everlasting marriage he is the richest above all he is an everâ—â—sting portion he that feeds bodies with naâ—ural food will also feed the souls of all those â—â—at believe and put their trust in him with â—piritual food June the 10th Knock at the gates of righteousness and Christ will open the door of faith Trust in Jesus Christ and he will comfort you with that word Come poor souls Put on the whole armour of God that ye may be able to fight against the Devil and Hell Lord fill our hearts with the fulness of Jesus Christ that no corruption remain in Lord satisfie our hearts for without thee we cannot be satisfied Lord give us faith in Jesus Christ that we may rest believing in him for our hearts are full of unbelief Lord take our hearts off from this worldly trash for this world is nothing else but trash Lord humble these proud hearts that we may cleave and stick more close to Jesus Christ Lord take these base and ignorant hearts of ours cleanse and purge them Let us not be forgetful of Gods mercies lest he be forgetful of God O how good my God is that hath giveâ— me Jesus Christ Lord fill me full of Iesuâ— Christ that I may dwell with him Lord pardon and forgive us all our sinâ— and wash them away in the bloud of Iesuâ— Christ Lord purifie our hearts as the honey iâ— purified from the dross Lord give us faith to believe in Iesuâ— Christ for without faith we can never attain to Iesus Christ Let us lie at the feet of Iesus Christ that we may be raised to the height of glory Let us be thankful for every good mercy for if we be not thankfâ—l God will hide his face from us Lord keep back that roaring lion and tread him under foot he did lay his snare for me but thou hast broken it and I am escaped as the bird from the fowler Call upon me in the time of trouble and I will hear you and deliver you from all dangers in this world and that which is to come Let us labour to attain to the height of righteousness that we may attain to the height of faith for if we do not attain to the height of righteousness we can never attain to the height of faith and if we do not attain to the height of faith we shall never attain to the height of Iesus Christ Trust in Iesus Christ and he will conquer that enemy that would conquer your poore souls but God hath conquered him in me Come poore people let us rejoyce together Come let us sing a new song for all his mercies that he is pleased to bestow upon us How great is the mercy of God to us in keeping of us from sinking down into that bottomless pit Let us take heed of displeasing God lest God displease us and be angry with us Iune the 11th Call upon me in time of trouble and I will hear and deliver you So then all they that put their trust in God and call upon him shall be happy and blest Cast dovvn that roaring lion that goeth about to conquer my poor soul if I do but put my trust in Jesus Christ he will conquer him Lord give us righteousnesse for without righteousnesse we cannot get faith and without faith we cannot get Christ Lord give us true repenting hearts for all our sins for without true repenting hearts we can never get assurance of our salvation Lord ravish our hearts with the joy of Heaven that we may labour and take pains for Jesus Christ for without pains he will never be found Joy joy joy everlasting joy Lord humble our self-willed hearts that we may be thankfnll for all thy mercies which thou hast been pleased to bestow upon us Thou hast been a loving and a mercifull Father but we havâ— been stubborn and rebellious children if thou hadst not been a gracious Father we had all been burning in hell-fire before this Come let us sowe the seed of faith that we may reap gladnesse When we are in affliction we must cry to Jesus Christ for help and he will help us June the 12th Let us trust in Jesus Christ and labour for faith struggle and strive for it then our Father will give us his dear Son Jesus Christ We can never do so much for Jesus Christ as he hath done for us he hath laid down his life to save us Joy joy joy everlasting joy Gods World and this world are not both alike those that are of this world they love the world and such if they do not suffer in this world they must suffer in another world hell-torments in brimstone and fire for ever and ever We pray thee good God look upon thy poor unworthy people and deliver us from all dangers Lord quicken us in thy Son Iesus Christ till we come to that joyfull place where there is no change Lord fill our hearts with the fulnesse of Iesus Christ that we may dwell with thee and thy holy Angels for ever Lord keep our hearts close unto thee and pull us forth of the snare of Satan that roaring lion and make us to escape as the bird escapes out of the net of the fowler What a good God and mercifull Father have we if he had not been mercifull to us we had been all burning in hell before this Lord ripen us for the sooner we are ripe the sooner shall we have assurance of Jesus Christ Lord satisfie our unsatisfied hearts iâ— we had all this world we should never be satisfied but if we had Jesus Christ we should be satisfied We are here like poor captives withouâ— grace in our hearts Without thy Spirit Lord we are but as drie creatures drie bones moscer'd away without thou breath the spirit of life into us Lord purge our unclean hearts that we may be purified in Jesus Christ Good Lord look down upon thy unworthy servants and give us thankfull hearts for all those mercies that thou hast bestowed upon us lest all our mercies be turned into curses June the 13th Come let us suck sweetnesse from Jesus Christ as the Bee sucks sweetnesse out of the flower Come let us call upon the Lord in time of trouble and what afflictions soever we are in he will hear us and deliver us Come let us search these false hearts of ours there is deceit in every corner of them but we must desire of God to help us to search them lest our searching prove all in vain Let us labour to get the truth of Iesus â—hrist if we can but get the truth of Iesus â—hrist it will ravish our hearts first he â—epares our hearts for the work of faith â—en he works faith in them Those that God hath chosen he will pluck â—ut the blinde eye
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
could utter any words at last she exprest her self as followeth Take heed you do not despise Gods Ordinances and his Word which he spake out of his own mouth for if you despise Gods Ordinances and his Word God will despise you and cast you of his left hand and say Go you cursed into hell-fire prepared for you Let us labour to be followers of Jesus Christ and defie the fiery darts of the Devill Let us labour to build our conversation upon the Lord. Take heed of the Devill for he is alwayes â—erplexing and terrifying the servants of God but take heed for it is more dangerâ—us when he commeth in white then when â—e commeth in black for he will but flatter â—ou and make you believe that he will save â—ou shevv you fine things but take heed â—e vvill but flatter you and deceive you that â—e may cast you into hell September the 23th This night and the other nights follovving till the 19 of October she spake constantly about 8 a clock at night Lord build up our hearts upon the High corner-stones vvhich high-corner stones are the Father Son and Holy Ghost Lord pardon all our sins vvhether they â—e Scarlet-sins or Crimson-sins or sins of a double die or sins of ignorance or sins of vvilfulnesse Lord pardon them and vvash them avvay in the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ It is our sins that is the cause of the sufferings of that thy Beloved One thy Son Jesus Christ No man can come to Christ except the Father draw him Let us struggle and strive to have our conversation in Heaven and let us press forward to have our conversation there for without we have our conversation in heaven there will be howling and torment in hell-fire for ever and ever but in Heaven there will be life everlasting Prepare prepare against the day of death for when the day of death commeth then after commeth the day of Judgement and then cometh death to the wicked and life to the righteous Take heed that Satan that roaring lion do not reign in your hearts for it is more dangerous when he cometh in white like an Angel of light then when he cometh in black like a Blackmoore Lord purge and purifie our drossy ignorant and corrupt hearts that we may be followers of thee and wash us and cleanse us in the blood of thy beloved One thy Son Christ Jesus Take heed that Satan get not power over your souls for if he get in his head he will strive to get in his whole body Then she laughed and closed her Arms and said Joy joy joy everlasting joy September the 24th Lord take away these stony thorny and corruptible hearts and purge them purifie and refine them even as silver and gold is refined Let the Word of God be written in your hearts in letters of gold Take heed you sowe not good seed on thorny ground for the thornes will spring up and choke it My Christ will tread Satan under foot he hath promised to do it and he will fulfill his promise he will do it he will not fail he is to be trusted One glimpse of Christ is worth all the world Lord pull back Satan that roaring lion that goeth about to devour my poor soul but he cannot but he cannot touch it Lord establish our hearts upon thee and set them stedfast upon thee and fix them upon thee and change our hearts and make them new vessels Lord wash us and cleanse us in the blood of thy beloved One and make us without spot and blemish even as thy spotlesse lamb My Christ hath vanquished Satan that lurking roaring lion which goeth about to destroy my poor soul but he cannot enter in my Christ is stronger then he he is an help to my soul in the time of trouble in the time of extremity When a poor soul is going a journey to heaven then Satan is alwayes in troubling him for he thinketh if he cannot get power then he can never get power then he is busiest he sheweth his strength he putteth out all his strength Abstain abstain from all vices in this world that are so strong in us as drunkennesse lasciviousnesse blasphemy and drawing into evill company and all other vices lying and thieving for if we anger God it will be just with God to pour his wrath down upon us September 25. Oh Jerusalem Jerusalem how often would I have gathered thee together as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings but thou wouldst not Thy destruction is of thy self Let us wean our hearts from this world for if it once get into us it is hard to get out again we toil and moil for our bodies but which of us taketh that pains for our souls we are sooner fill'd with the trash of this world then with our God we are apt to seek into this world but which of us looks into our hearts and examines our hearts whether they be for God or not and whether we follow the commands of God if we do not follow his commands he will not hear us The heart of man is false and hollow a hollow-hearted man will shine on the out-side but he is rotten within he sheweth it so to this world but God knoweth the heart of man Seeing we have put off the old man with his deeds let us put on the new man which is renewed with knowledge Take heed you put not new wine into old bottles lest the bottles break and scatter the wine Let us labour to lay hold upon Christ and stick close to him and follow his Commandments aud not be like the man that looks his face in a glasse and presently forgetteth what manner of man he was Let us labour for Christ and get faith the greater faith the greater joy Faith is a gift to win Christ by Christ will not be won without faith Many there be that will not believe there is a God but it is the littlenesse of their faith the weaknesse of faith they are fools and do not understand that think so for the fool hath said in his heart There is no God There are many that say they have Christ and they are Christ but there is no more Christs but one Many there be that say that they have Christ and they Christ but they do but make a shew to the world and flatter the world when God knowes they know not what Christ is They make a shew to the world and say Christ iâ— within them and Christ is within them when alas they do not know what he is 〈◊〉 they flatter the world and they think to flatter God too but alas alas the day of judgment the day of judgement alas alas they are blinde and cannot see there is a misâ— before their eyes they run but they cannot tell whither they stumble
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
will stand for ever October 10. Lord renew us vvith thy grace that vve may be fit to come to the School of Christ to learn the lesson of faith Lord cast out the old man that he may not take root that vve may become nevv livers and vvhen that old man is cast out labour to dravv neerer and neerer unto Christ Take heed you live not in a known sin for if you live in a known sin and wallow in sins even as a sow doth wallow in the mire it is dangerous Lord Lord that which I know not teach thou me and I will learn Let us search the secrets of our hearts lest there be any weeds scattered amongst them Wait and be patient whatsoever the Lord pleaseth to lay upon you as patient Job in all his afflictions he was patient When one came and told him that all his Children vvent to feast at their elder Brothers house and the house fell upon them he said It is the will of the Lord why should not I be contented The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away blessed be the Name of the Lord and his wife came to him and bade him curse God and die then he said Oh thou foolish woman shall we receive good at the hands of God and shall we not receive evill then there came another to him and told him that his goods were all gone and devoured yet Job was of the same minde that he was before and said The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away blessed be the Name of the Lord and Job was patient in all his afflictions and was confirmed that his soul was precious in the sight of the Lord. Lord cast down Satan that Serpent and chain him up that he may get no power over my poor soul Lord humble these proud hearts of ours that are so blowne up with the pride and vanities of this world if we did but look into and examine our hearts we should not please the flesh so as we do but whil'st we are in the flesh we are apt to follow the lusts of the flesh Oh let us labour for that Holy One that Holy One that Jewel that precious Jewel that Jewel of our Heavenly Father that Jewel of all Jewels Oh what can a Christian heart desite more then a Christ then a crucified Christ Oh if we can but gain Christ we have all we have all Oh that we had but hearts to conceive the preciousnesse the sweetnesse and holinesse of that Beloved that Christ Oh that we could but have Christ set upon our hearts aright Oh let us glorifie him in all things all honour and glory be given to him to whom it belongeth October the 11th Lord pull back that subtile Serpent he is so subtile that he is alwayes seeking in corners to devour my poor soul but he cannot my Christ is stronger then he and when he seeth that he cannot get power over the childe of God then he goeth away murmuring and repining Faith hope and charity and the chiefest of these is charity charity is love is love in Christ faith is a gift of Christ and hope is hope to gain Christ Oh let us pray for faith and all other good graces that are necessary for us and let us pray earnestly unto Christ that he may pray for us in Heaven and if he pray for us we shall be sure to be heard Let us cast our care upon the Lord in all caâ—amities for he hath bid us cast our care upon him and he will care for us October the 12th Come all you that are a thirst and drink freely of the Spring-well-water of life and you shall never thirst again My Christ hath pull'd back Satan that lurking roaring lion that goeth about to destroy my poor soul but if God bid him be gone he must be gone my God will pull him off me I hope if you watch not to him as well as he watcheth to you he will flatter and deceive you as he wou'd have done our Saviour Christ if he had had that power but he had not that power when he set him upon the Pinnacle of the Temple and shewed him all the Kingdomes of the World and the glory thereof and said All this will I give thee if thou wilt fall down and worship me if we do not look unto his corners he will get and command power over us as he thought to have done over our Saviour Christ when he said unto him If thou be the Son of God cause these stones to be made bread Lord open the eyes of the blinde that they may see clearly into the errours of sin Depend upon the Lord in all your extremities and calamities and when his appointed time is come he will release you Cast your selves into those armes of love and he will be your Saviour October the 14th She rejoyced very much and then had an exceeding great and long conflict and then she rejoyced again and said My Christ hath vanquished Satan that lurking roaring lion that goeth about to devour my poor soul but he cannot but he cannot come neer it My Christ is stronger then he My God doth but let him step in to make me relie more upon him Lord humble these proud ignorant and carnall hearts of ours that we be not led away with this world and the vanities in it and let us not taste of them for if we taste of them they will enter into us more and more if we could but taste of the sweetnesse of Christ we shall be tied unto him more and more and flie back from the world and desire him more and more Then she had another great rejoycing fit and stretched out her armes and said Let us stick close to that Holy One and he will stick close to us but if we sit loose from him he will sit loose from us Take heed of living in a known sin for if you live in a known sin it is dangerous for if you live in a sin you know you are guilty of it is dangerous ô look back unto your selves and labour truly to repent lest your sins be hardened and God turn his back of you for if they once be hardened it is hard to get them off again Take heed you live not in knovvn sins as drunkennesse lasciviousnesse blasphemy and keeping of evill company and all other vices labour to repent of them and say Lord that which I know not teach thou me and if I have done iniquity I will do so no more October the 15th Let us hunger and thirst after that Holy One and not follovv the vanities of this vvorld as we do the vanities of this world of abomination and sin Let us labour to forsake sin and this vvorld and all things that are therein and stick close unto Jesus Christ that Holy One and not be like the svvine that regard acorns more then pearls
of him that we should not be so carried away with the vanities of the world but we should give up our selves to â—hrist and make him our Habitation The same night about 12 a clock She had great extremity of pain and as conceived would gladly have spoken maâ—ing signes that her heart was in Heaven as was thought by those who were present with her for she pulled at her brest seveâ—all times and held up her hand as high as she could reach looking up with her â—yes and then after a short space she spake and said Me is not in the hand of mine enemy but â—n the hand of my loving Father he is an ever-living ever-loving and glorious Lord God he is a wise God and he will not give his children one lash more then he sees good for them After this she spake no more until the eighth day of December which was the day after the Lord had graciously given her the use of her Senses and of her Understanding To close up this second part of the Narrative I shall adde this that some of these Speeches she uttered though but few of them will need such Apologie in weaknesse as a childe under such strange distempers as did somwhat confuse and perturbe her intellectuals but other things she uttered thorow the strength of the Spirits assistance extraordinarily guiding her tongue to utter such things as now she cannot tell that ever she did speak them There be some things oft repeated yet because either they are uttered with some variety and were things that it seems her heart was much carried forth to mention therefore I have set them down and hope they will not be tedious but may raise up further thoughts of them when you read them over again and compare them with the Scriptures in the Margin and if you knew the state of the family and the condition of some that came occasionally to hear her you would say there was a Divine hand that guided her tongue and that God was with her mouth adapting her speeches to their necessities And I suppose her heart was more affected with some truths before this ill fit and of those things she makes the most frequent mention But whilest I am Apologizing â—or her Repetitions some may tax me for Omissions some have said that she prophesied and no such passages are here related to which I answer there is no ground for such a report there is one passage related in one of her Speeches October the 19th in the end of page 107 and beginning of page 108. about Raising of the Maid unlesse they fancie this to be a Prophetick foretelling of her Recovery I know not any thing uttered by her nor could upon enquiry hear of any thing that might give ground for such a report but the truth is such Reporters I hear do some of them expect to have the gift of Miracles and it may be of prophesying and seemed to be much taken with Gods dispensations to this Childe hoping it would have conduced something to the promoting of their cause but are disappointed for God hath opened the mouth of a dumb childe to confute their follies It may be they prophesied that she would prophesie and so have proved themselves to be false prophets My hearts desire and prayer to God shall be that these Speeches may take as deep impression upon the hearts of the Readers as they did upon her body who was the Speaker God was pleased to hold her upon the rack for so many weeks nay moneths in which she endured grievous torturings and yet to enable her to speak such things surely so extraordinary a Teacher requires more then ordinary attention When Jonah who had bin so close a student in the Whales belly Colledge came to preach to the Ninevitesâ— the strangenesse of the Relation concerning the Preacher might make his Sermons take more with them Shall not they rise in Judgement against the men of this Generation some it may be with Pharaohs South-sayers will acknowledge the finger of God is in this when his whole hand is visible but if men sleight such dispensations no wonder for if they hear not Moses and the Prophets neither will they be perswaded though one rose from the dead God indulged to the Israelites its thought to enjoyne them Ceremonies of his devising to prevent their use of or hankering after such as were of mans devising God seems to indulge to the weaknesse of some in such extraordinary actings of his Providence in this Instance and a few others which might be mentioned but if the Father of the Family take all this care and yet men are not contented with his established Institutions but they are finding out new Inventions God will certainly correct this wantonizing humour It argues our stomacks are foul and crazy when we must have new dishes every meal and cannot â—eed upon the standing dishes of Gods Ordinances the King of Saints will nor be thus affronted but level and discharge the Ordnance of his power against those that disclaim the Ordinances of his Grace But I hope through the pourings out of the Spirit many shall be so wise as to observe these things and to profit by ordinary and extraordinary dispensations and surely They shall understand the loving kindenesse of the Lord. The third Part of the NARRATIVE Containing The wonderfull Recovery of this Childe of Wonders MAny dayes had been set apart in the Family to seek the face and favour of God on the behalfe of this afflicted Childe which Duties her parents as Obed-Edom the Ark were forward to entertain as at other times so now in this their afflicted condition They have had much experience that God was a God hearing prayer and therefore would not be beaten off from these now alas too much neglected meanes from which they had sucked much sweetnesse having found God sometimes marvellously helping of them till they were strong in the power of his might but alwayes helping them with a little help and bearing up their spirits under the trials though they did not obtain a full enlargement and when one told the father of this childe that the room was not able to bear so many as came to seek God in those duties he replied The more the better so that those who come can pray and believe But yet the Lord in wisdome seemed to us to be as one astonished as a mighty man that cannot save the Childes distempers of body growing more violent she having most terrible crying fits by reason of her extream pain which crying fits continued till she vomited blood and then she was quiet which were very grievous and afflictive to the spirits of all that heard her and the whole Family so continually under sadnesse and their sleep so broken that you might have seen Every one with their hands upon their loines as a woman in travell and all faces turned into palenesse Which dealings of the Lord with that family
did serve to awaken them to a more solemn way of seeking his face and it was judged that it was his purpose to have his providential dispensations in relation to this childe more publickly taken notice of that so they might not be hid in a corner but many might behold his glorious goings and bear witnesse thereof unto the world when he should finish his work upon her therefore her Parents did write and speak to severall Ministers of his Word two of which have prefixed Epistles to this Narrative and a Day was fixed to be set apart for Humiliation of which many precious servants of God had notice which was the ninth day of November In which Day the Company being met at Mr. Hatfeilds house and the work entered on but the childe was observed by such as did attend her to be somevvhat unquiet the reason vvhereof they knevv not onely a thought came in that if she were brought into the Room vvhere the Company vvas assembled that then she might possibly be quieter vvherefore her Maid brought her in her armes vvhere she continued quietly all the time vve vvere at the duty not once interrupting us and the eye did serve to affect the heart and to helpe them to vvrastle vvith God more affectionately this passage is the more vvonderful because so farre as could be rationally judged she did neither hear or see or knovv any body and so vve knovv not hovv she should understand that there vvas such a vvork in hand unlesse the Lord should hint it to her as he did many of her Speeches if not all and indeed some of her Speeches the night before and night after the Duty vvas concluded do import such a thing See her Speeches November the eighth vvhere she quotes that Psal 50. 15. and suitably to that she added after Oh let us cry aloud unto the Lord in the time of necessity and he hath promised to give ear to us vvhich vvord did strongly call upon us to cry mightily unto the Lord there are many other passages that night vvhich I refer the Reader to and vve took them as messages sent from Heaven to quicken our hearts in the duty there vvas one passage that night viz. her fourth speech about repentance and faith vvhereby she did direct us hovv to order our Humiliations as desiring they might be Evangelicall not legall the fruits of faith not of slavish feares she vvould have us look on Christ and then mourn believe and then repent and vvhen the duty vvas concluded November the ninth at her usuall time she uttered severall passages vvherein vve might observe God exceedingly ordering of her vvords as the first speech that night and the fourth and the seventh and especially the ninth vvhich was an admirable caution given in to us Novv to return that vvhich vvas in relation to the childe set upon our hearts particularly to ask of God vvas this that he vvould please to quiet her spirit ease her of her pain so that the eares of her dear relations might not be filled vvith such dolefull cries nor their hearts vvith those fears and amazements vvhereby they vvere much unfitted to act Faith or do any duty to God or man extram sadnesse and faintings oppressing and overvvhelming their spirits and in this the Lord vvas pleased graciously to ansvver the desires of his poor Servants through the Intercession of the Lord Jesus Christ vvhich vve had notice of at our next meeting and did desire to improve it taking it as a pledge that God vvould do more for us and ovvn us in our Attendances upon him in his ovvn vvay At the end of that day of Humiliation a Motion vvas made that vve might continue once a moneth at least to seek God untill he should be pleased to come vvith healing under his wings Those that vvere engaged in that vvork living at a great distance from one another vve could not vvell meet oftener then once a moneth and vvith that resolution we parted waiting to see what the Lord would do for his Servants in that Family whose condition God did very much assist those who were engaged in that Duty to bear upon their hearts continually with much tendernesse The time appointed for the next day of Humiliation was as I remember the 9 day of December next ensuing But the Lord ordered things so that the childe grew exceeding weak not being able to speak from the 21 of November any more as was before noted so that her friends did think that God was comming to finish his work and her time of warfare here in the body Wherefore her father dispatcht messages to the Ministers and Christians to meet keep a day of Humiliation on Thursday the second of December a week sooner then we thought of and accordingly we met on that day and found her very weak so that she was not brought into the room where we performed the Duties of the day That which amongst other things as particularly relating to her was desired of God was that God would manifest his power in enabling her to speak again that so whilest she lived she might be usefull and instrumentall for his glory her Speeches having bin very powerful upon the hearrs of many we hope to the conversion at least conviction of some and the edification of most that heard them God was also very earnestly intreated with many arguments which his Spirit suggested to raise her up that he perfecting his work might have perfect praises and his work might be cleared to the conviction of slanderous tongues and the further comfort and satisfaction of the hearts of his people the day being finished we departed to our Homes desiring to submit and wait the Lords leasure and if she lived to continue seeking of him But behold God was better to us then we could think and when we had scarce faith to believe what he had in some measure set our hearts a work to ask upon the ninth of December the Day which formerly as I noted we had agreed together to have sought God for her but did perform the duty a week sooner I say upon that day we had as a reall Testimony of her Fathers thankfulnesse to God and reall respects to us the joyfull news of her marvellous Recovery transmitted to us which take as followeth Mr. Hatfield his faithfull Relation of the Lords Work in recovering Mrs. Martha Hatfield his daughter out of her great Afflictions which was by him sent unto the Ministers who had sought God for her upon the second of December 1652. MOre works of wonder from Heaven which may teach us and all that hear of it to depend upon the Lord in the Duty of Prayer and Fasting Since the second of December in which day many sweet Petitions were put up to the Lordon the behalf of this childe we have perceived some Symptomes that God was restoring her understanding as upon the fifth and sixth dayes of December she would have given notice and
so continued his good hand upon her and she encreased in strength daily so that upon the 28th of December the time appointed for the Thanks-giving when we met there she was able to come forth into the Hall to meet and welcome us and we did behold a Miracle it was wonderfull in our eyes so that our hearts did rejoyce with a kinde of trembling at the glory of the Lord which appeared in that Object and it did the more affect because it was more then many if not most of us heard of before we came into the house so that we see God had put still more matter of praise into our mouths when we came together to the duty she came and joyned with us most part of the day but the place where we met being very full of people she towards the close of the day grew somewhat faint and weary and so withdrew but was well presently and much affected was her heart with 〈◊〉 goodnesse of the Lord in the morning before we engaged our selves in the duty of that day she desired that we might sing a Psalme or two which she had made choice of viz. the 103 Psalme or the 118 Psalm which of them the Ministers pleased and in the close of the day the Assembly were desired to praise God in the words of David written in the 118th Psalme and some of the verses of that Psalme which did best suit with the occasion of the day were cull'd out as the six first verses and the 13th verse to the end of the 18th also the 21 and 23 24. and the two last verses In that day as we desired to exalt the Lord in our hearts who had so signally fulfilled divers promises and that in particular Psal 118. vers 15. which had been often urged formerly so were her Parents very solicitous lest they should not render unto the Lord according to his marvellous appearances for them and to them therefore was that promise urged Psal. 50. 15. Thou shalt glorifie me which as was declared to them is not onely demonstrative of their duty but operative to enable them to perform their duty and so we parted with our hearts full of joy and desires that we might be strengthened by the power of the Lords might to walk worthy of these glorious ownings of his poor worthlesse creatures Since this day of Thanks-giving the Lord hath in much mercy increased her strength every day she did not then go so strongly as since she hath done one observable passage there was she was sitting in a Chair and both she and the Chair fell and she hurt her leg but not long after she was observed to go with more strength and nimblenesse then before and God made that fall a means of her rising up to more strength and not onely are her outward parts through the goodnesse of God strengthened but her understanding memory and ripenesse of apprehension are much enlarged beyond what they vvere before her sicknesse which we vvere much afraid had been utterly and altogether destroyed in this sad visitation and as a further addition to make the mercy yet more compleat the Lord hath been pleased to work a great change in the frame and temper of her disposition which formerly by reason of the prevalencie of the Spleen vvhich she is novv vvholly freed from as from all other infirmities vvhich she had formerly vvas much inclined to sadnesse and fretfulnesse but novv she is of a vvondrous meek quiet and sedate temper and vvalks on vvith much cheerfulnesse and evennesse of spirit so that vve may discover much of God in her carriages she is also very diligent in reading and prayer and such other employments as her Mother sees fit to exercise her in so that she may be a pattern for many vvho far exceed her in years and God doth keep her in a wonderful humble frame she is not lifted up vvith her Receptions but desirous to vvalk up to her Mercies she hath not much ravishing joys but God hath made good that promise to her He hath brought her health and cure and hath revealed to her abundance both of peace and truth It hath pleased God since these passages of his Providence again to try that Family in removing from them that precious Gentlewoman Mrs. Fr. Westby Mother to Mrs. Hatfeild and Grandmother to this Childe an ancient Disciple of Christ vvho had gained a great addition to her stock of Graces and comforts by this Childes Afflictions and Restauration She vvas full of the joy of the Lord in the beholding of these vvonderfull vvorkings of God in that Family and is novv translated to Heaven where she is praising God for those many other Mercies in a higher strain then our untuned spirits can reach unto and when God had brought that affliction upon the Family this Childe perceiving her dear Mother to be much dejected vvith that dispensation did much labour to comfort her and amongst other passages this vvas one With tears she spake to her Mother thus Good Mother labour to submit to the Will of God ô labour to submit if vve do not submit vvillingly God can make us to submit I shall shut up the Narrative vvith this passage of this Childes dear Father in the Close of his Relation vvhich he sent to me viz. The povver of the Lord be made knovvn in all his Works vvith thankfulnesse to his glory for ever To which I will adde my AMEN The Conclusion of the NARRATIVE THat Caution which this sweet Childe hinted as was before noted that we should look to a good end in publishing her speeches took such Impression on my spirit that though I was strongly urged to it I durst not venter upon the presenting of these things to Publique view before I had first examined my ends in that undertaking and could through the free grace of God I hope in sone measure approve my Heart to him in that enterprize And since I have undertaken it I am sorry that I could not dispatch it sooner whilest the impressions were fresh upon the spirits of her Friends but my many diversions and interruptions in that populous place where God hath east my lot must be my Apology and I hope the publishing of these things now may serve through the supply of the Spirit of Christ to revive those thoughts and resolutions which I hope wil never be wholly oblitterated That which I shall onely adde is the ends and uses which I conceive our wise God might have and which we and others should make of such wonderfull works of his and I shall refer them to two Heads they are such as concern Either 1 Particularly that Family Or 2 Generally the Nation 1 Particularly that Family and there 1 God did foresee what his intentions were as to that Family in taking to himselfe that precious Gentlewoman Mrs Westby the Grandmother of this Childe she was one of the most affectionate Mothers that I have been acquainted with she had
signes of that which she had not given signes of before since about Mid-April and upon the seventh of December betwixt five and six a clock at night it pleased God to open her teeth being shut since the eighth day of September as I noted before she yawned and triall was made and we found her mouth opened and then she took food without spilling after an hours space she knew her youngest sister being about 4 years of age who used to lie by her and be very fond of her and would be oftentimes kissing of her and soon after she knew her Mother and rejoyced to see her with laughing and stroaking of her face and clasping her armes about her neck and then her Father came and asked her if she knew him and after a while for her eyes were yet somewhat dim she did the like to him holding up her hands together as if she would desire him to pray for her she did the like to her Mother And we plainly discovered that God had restored at that instant the senses of Hearing Seeing Smelling and Handling for when we called her by her name she had an expression whereby we perceived she heard us as also that she saw us and there was a pair of sweet Gloves and we bad her smell at them and she put them to her Nose several times and she had at that time much use of her hands which she had not before And her Mother came to her again said What hath the Lord done for thee art thou not willing to give God all that he hath given thee thy Life Understanding and all thy Senses and Heart and all and she manifested her selfe by signes that she was cheerfully willing so to do by holding up her hands and lifting up her eyes with smiling and plucking at her heart diverse times and then lifted up her hand as high as she could reach as though she would give God her heart and all and about nine a clock she knew her sister Hannah and her Grand-Mother the Wife of Mr. George Westby a Gentleman well known in the North and South a very godly Gentlewoman and she did express the same by laughing and stroking their faces and closing of her hands to her Grandmother as if she desired her to pray for her Then she went to bed and God gave her reasonable good rest and sleep that next morning being the eighth of Decembor she had four or five sick fits her body face and lips being very much swelled but when she was better the swelling did fall again at an instant and then alwayes she held up her hands and eyes seeming to praise God and all the afternoon she played with some odde toys and Spice which Neighbours had brought her which she had in a little Basket untill betwixt five and six a clock at night and then she fell into a stiffe fit yet without any appearance of the Convulsions before as it had been formerly with her and then she spake as she used to do in a stiffe fit and said Oh let us wait and be patient until the appointed time of our wise God for his time is the best time And he that shall come will come and will not tarry and the just shall live by faith but if any draw back my soul shall take no pleasure in them Let us labour for Christ that Holy One by whom we live move and have our being he is all in all Oh trust in him and believe in him for all things trust in him fear him and love him for he hath promised All things shall turn to the good of them that love him and delight in him Oh let us labour for faith for He that is faithfull unto the death shall receive a crown of life She spake all these sentences with much fervencie lifting up her hands and shaking her head she continued in this stiffe fit about a quarter of an houre and then she came to her selfe and her mother being set upon the bed by her she laughed and rejoyced and said Mother ah Mother how do you Ah my dear Childe said her Mother how doest thou she answered Me is pretty well I praise my God Oh Mother love God love him ô get faith get faith her Mother said So I have need It is observable though I did not so note it before that one of the last things she spake of before God took away her understanding and senses was to stir up her Mother to get Faith that would carry her above all difficulties and now she begins with pressing that counsell again which her Mother desires to make speciall use of and the Lord help her to do so Her Mother further said to her Ah Childe thou hast been a Preacher of righteousnesse and taught us the way to heaven The Childe answered Have I Have I me cannot tell I can do nothing of my self it was not me it was the Spirit of God in me I am nothing but a poor Earth-worme and me hath nothing in me but what my God giveth me for me is nothing but dust and ashes and she spake all this evening after and answered any Question that was put to her very sensibly and was carried to bed and hath had a very quiet nights sleep she said this morning being the ninth of December she never awaked till that time which was about seven a clock The Lord be praised for his marvellous Works for they are wonderfull in our eyes Thus I have given you a true Relation of things since our meeting before God in her behalfe whereby it is very apparent that the Lord hath heard and answered the petitions of his people and that the Sun of righteousnesse is risen with healing under his wings The glory of the Lord be advanced with much thankfulnesse for all and of all and more especially of you who sent out the Dove that returned at the last with the Olive-Branch in her mouth The Copy of this Relation I received the ninth of December when the Officers and Members of the Church of Christ in Sheffield were met at a private Conference and I read over this Relation to them which caused many tears of joy and their hearts were mightily ravished with the appearances of God in this Businesse and as they had prayed for her so did they then return praise to him Upon the 15 day of December I did go to visit her at which time did visit her the Lady Lambert as also Colonel Bright and his Lady who were much affected with the wonderfull Workes of God which were so evident upon that Childe When I came thither I met with the Ministers with whom I had joyned in seeking to God for her though I little thought of meeting them there at that time but so God mercifully ordered it that we might agree upon a day to call the Company together who had joyned in seeking Gods face then to exalt his glorious Name who had wrought such