I should Conform Therefore tell me whether thou wilt go with me freely or thou wilt have â—â— to Conform and so I may abide with you She then replied with Tears in her eyes No â—â— Father though they should do with you as thâ—â— did with Mr. I would not have you to Conform As she grew in Years she ripened apace â—â— Knowledg and Experience and was much â—â— her Duty both to God and Man But to her deâ— Parents especially she was a lump of Love anâ— Duty signifying duty by her affable Disposition and humble Deportment and Carriage denying her self in any thing that might have the leaâ—â— shew of dislike to them How much she desired to be in her Duty to â—er God clearly appeared in this in that she â—as unsatisfied to live without the enjoyment of â—ny of God's Ordinances or Gospel-priviledges â—nd earnestly sollicitous to give up her self to God â—nd to his Church in obedience to God's Command by a professed subjection to all Gospel-appintments in God's own way and according â— Scripture-Rule and Order For upon a certain â—me she waited an opportunity and told her â—ather she could not but give him an account â—hat God had graciously done for her Soul and â—en began and held forth at large according to â—e Grace of God bestowed upon her and given â—â— her as will by her Experiences more fully appear After much Heavenly Discourse with her about that she had held forth her Father propounded several Questions to her some of which were â—undamental Points in Divinity and he found â—er so apt and ready in her Replies and Answers â—hat he was much satisfied That in what she bake she was guided by Judgment In the close of the Discourse she desired her â—ather to acquaint the Officers of the Church that according to that Scripture 2 Cor. 8.5 They gave themselves up first to God and then a us by the Will of God For she said She was â—ally convinced that a Christian ought not to live â—â— the neglect of the enjoyment af any Gospel-Ordinance or Priviledg when they might enjoy them and in order thereunto according to the forecited Scripture there ought to be a more solems giving up of our selves to walk in Gospel Order before we can rightfully partake of all Gospel Priviledges And she then further said She should be ready according to that Scripture Psal 66.26 Hearken unto me all you that fear the Lord and I 'le tell you what he hath done for my Soul 〈◊〉 give a reason of the Hope that was in her and Satisfaction so far as she was able when called to itâ— Which Practice and orderly Scriptural proceeding of hers may be both a seasonable Reproof to several Professors of this present Age who securely remain like Sheep scattered upon thâ—â— Mountains living in the continued neglect â—â— Gospel-Fellow-ship and Ordinances thereby exposing themselves to be as a Prey for ravening Wolves and to be taken in the Snares of subtle seducing Foxes As also a good Pattern for thâ— Imiation of others who are looking after thâ— Lord and asking the way to Zion with their faces thitherward As to her Carriage and engaging Disposition tâ—â— those with whom she was acquainted they beâ—â— know themselves But this was well known that if her Father could have answered the many Invitations that many dear Friends gave her to their Families he might have enjoyed her but seldom at home As to her Duty and reverend Respect that she gave to her Parents both at home and abroad â—t was such and so much that gave them sometimes occasion to fear that some might censure â—hem as being ambitious of such Respect which made them caution her to that purpose But when they did it she would reply No my Father what I do is but my Duty I cannot help â—t if others will misconstrue it As to her Usefulness in Sacred things her â—ractice in reading the Scriptures and the Labours of Holy Men was such as it was very rare â—o name that Scripture that she could not have turned unto and what else she read was much â—er own for she would at any time have discoursed the material Points of what she read specially in Mr. Brooks his Apples of Gold Mr. Love's Different Degrees of Grace and Mr. Shepherds Sincere Convert and Sound Belever comparing these together and then her own condition with them all She was also well-grounded in the Assemblies catechisme which she learned when she was yet â—ry young Once a Week when the Family had been catechised she would come to be examined herself desiring still to be more and more informed â—â— the knowledg of those great Fundamental â—ints Nay such was the eagerness of her deâ—â—e to get Knowledg and Understanding in the great matters of Godliness that her Father hath said Many a night after all the Family have been gone to Bed would she have kept him up propounding many Questions and raising many Objections and Doubts insomuch that he hath said he may speak it to his loss and shame hâ—â— hath been weary to sit so late to have answereâ— her yet for all that she would not willingly part with him but would say Father As some harder Questions these are not hard enoughâ— All which clearly discovers and manifests oâ— what great use she was to her Father in putting him to the daily exercise of those measures of Gift and Graces that God had bestowed upon him As to her Practice in Religious Duties She was a constant Observer of Set-times for her private Devotion and Retirements with God anâ— a great Lover of praising God in Singing â—â— Psalms not only in Family-Duty but also by her-self alone Her Parents say and some in thâ— Family besides know That after she hath been laid down in Bed she would have rais'd a Psalm She was much upon the 81 Psalm beginning aâ— the 14 vers and Psal 84.13 Thine arm is strong and full of power c. and Psal 31.19 20 21 and 125. 2d Translation She was also a constant Attender upon the Word preached it is known to many that Day nor Night however thâ— Weather blew it seemed not hard or tedious â—â— her when she knew of an opportunity of hearâ—â— the Word and it s no great Wonder she havnig such great encouragement thereunto through â—he Lord's abundant blessing her Endeavours with so great an increase both of Gifts and Graces In point of Memory from the fifteenth year â—f her Age to the last Sermon that ever she â—eard she would ordinarily have repeated them â—x tempore Her Father hath taken a Sermon â—om her Mouth a Week after it was preached â—nd penn'd it So zealous was she in the Service of her God â—hat she was observed after she came Home from â—earing the Word preached she forthwith went â—id fell down before the Lord and watered it with Tears and then assoon as the Family was â—â— order she came and repeated A Friend â—â—tely declared since her Decease with
are but a weak man and I am persuaded that another Winter will set my Mother hard to it And as for you my Grand mother it will not be long till you will be with me Therefore make ready and settle your Concerments in the world assoon as you can that you may not be toyled in the world and then table your selves with Mr. Nicholson Then she calling to mind that Mr. Nicholson was sent for asked If he was come But he being gone upon a Visit of the like nature three Messengers were sent for him before he came which made her think the time exceeding long for his coming and often prayed and desired others to pray that she might live to see his face his precious face that had been so Instrumental for the good of her Soul Then she cried again This Death is hard to abide Pray pray that my Passage may be easy Then she called to their man Andrew saying Where is that Promise I even I will blot one thine iniquities for my Names sake and will not remember thy Sins Then he turned to the place Isa 43.25 And many a time did she go over these words I even I am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for my names sake and will not remember thy Sins Then pausing a little said Here will I rest for I have nothing else to rely upon but Christ in a Promise As for all my best Duties that ever I performed in all my life I quit them all as Physicians of no value and do freely cast my self at the feet of Christ And if I perish I 'le perish there This was unspeakable satisfaction to her Father that now those Sermons that sometimes with difficulty she had heard and those Duties she had performed and which had cost her many a Tear should now be all disowned by her as to Justification when she was going to look grim Death in the Face And this her father affirms of his own knowledg she was of such a broken frame of Spirit that seldom or never did she come from her private Retirements but with red Eyes and watery Cheeks And sometime upon particular occasion he hath joyned with her in Prayer when she would have poured out her Soul in such a melting frame of Spirit Heavenly language and powerful Arguments as would have caused him to have groaned in his Spirit and blessed the Lord for those eminent Endowments of Gifts and Graces he had endued her withal Presently she cries again Oh my Father this Death is hard to abide Pray pray that my Passage may be easie Then suddenly with much ardency of Spirit with Hands and Eyes lift up to Heaven said Lord Jesus put forth thine Arm and take me by the Hand and say Come up hither Then she enquiring again for Mr. Nicholson she was told he was not come She prayed again That if the Lord will she might live to see him Then beholding her Father she said How comes it that my Father is without a Cap Then she called for one and sat up and opened it with her own hands and then put it upon his Head who said It was the last that ever his dear would put him on Then she desired to be remembred to all her natural Relations leaving a word of Exhorto them all namely That they should come off from the world and make sure of Christ Then she desired to be remembred to all Christian Friends and named some of them saying Oh the Society of the Saints the Society of the Saints Were I to live again I would more highly value the Society of the Saints the least of Saints Then she asked her Father What day it was He told her Friday Then she said It will not be long till I shall be in Eternity of Felicity and I shall be interred upon the Lords day Then she asked If she might give them out her Grave-dress Which being referred to her liberty she called for her Desk and sat up and opened it with her own hand and laid aside her Shift and the rest of her Cloaths that she would carry with her to her Grave being all plain She desired her Aunt to put her Fore-headcloath low upon her Brow Then perceiving that this enflamed her Fatherwith Sorrow with the rest of her Relations she said Father Whether shall the Saints know one another in Heaven Who then gave her that satisfaction he could on the Affirmative and further called to mind that Mr. Bolton in his Joys of Heaven doth positively affirm the same by many Arguments as first That all Knowledg is desirable but to know one another in Heaven is most desireable 1 Corin 13.12 But then shall I know even as I am known Secondly The Disciples in the Transfiguration knew Moses and Elias whom they never saw before Ergo we shall know one another in Heaven with many more Arguments to that purpose which were so satisfactory to her that â—he blessed the Lord for that knowledg especially that she should know her dear Father again in Heaven She further enquired Whether the Sins of Saints should come into the Judgment of Discussion at the great Day of the Lord She then remembring Mr. Brooks in his Apples of Gold did speak fully to it and desired it might be read to her which accordingly was done And when she heard it she then blessed the Lord saying whom he loves once he loves to the end A Friend coming in and asking her how she did she said She was taking flight into another world Pray pray that my Passage may be easu Then said Come Lord Jesus take me to thy self hold me fast in thine Arms and let me not go Then she enquired again for Mr. Nicholson who presently came and after Salutation he fell down before the Lord to beg Mercy for her Soul After Prayer was done she desired that the Room might be spared that she might have a little private Converse with him He spent about half an hour with her which as he after told was mostly about some Doubts she had about the strength of her Corruptions and want of Assurance In the close of their Discourse she was still of that mind that she would die He told her others were fitter to judg in that Case than she And asked her how she knew it She then said She felt that that he did not feel So in the close of the Day she fell into a hoâ— Feaver and was violently in it for a season Dâ—ring which time the Tempter waited his opportunity knowing well he had but a little time tâ— do his work in so that through his Temptations and the violency of the Feaver for a smaâ—â— time she was under a damp Then in the close of the Evening the Doctoâ— came again who gave her some things that presently did loosen her Flegm and not looâ— after she fell upon a sweet sleep as the Doctoâ— and Mr. Wilkinson and others that sat with her said it was about two Hours she
you 〈◊〉 be glad that she is now in a full peaceable yâ—â— gloâ—â—ous condition and state in Heaven Yâ—â— have great cause of rejoycing sith her joy 〈◊〉 begun which shall never end Now the Loâ—â— hath betrothed her to himself in Righteousneâ—â— and that for ever Hos 2.19 I cannot remeâ—ber that you were ever absolutely against her Marriage no nor that you were against it at all provided that she got a good Husband She hath now gotten a good Match indeed the Marriage betwixt Christ and her Soul is compleated and consummated 2 Cor. 11.2 Rev. 19.7 8. Let us be glad and rejoice in him sith she is now married to Christ and will you not rejoice at least a little with your Daughter on â—her Wedding-day She hath sown in Tears and now is reaping in Joy Psal 126.6 And let this also a little prevail with you God gave you your Daughter but during pleasure He might have taken her away the very first day he gave her and have done you no wrong We are Tenants at Will God may when his pleasure is put us out of Possession and therefore we should learn with Job to submit our selves and bless his Name when he giveth or when he taketh away You shall shortly go to her she shall not return to you It 's but a little while and you shall for ever have her company Wherefore comfort your self with these words 1 Thes 4.13 14-17 18. This is all that I can further do to recommend your Case to your Lord who hath engraven you upon the Palms of his Hands If I were able to do more you may believe me that I gladly would Now the God of all Grace confirm and stablish your heart in Truth and Peace till the glorious Liberty of the Sons of God be obtained and I pray that God may be to your Soul the God of all Consolation I pray remember my Love to your Wife and to all our Christian Friends with you My Wife hath her Love remembred to you and begs your Prayers Blacklough Aug. 27. 1672. Your unworthy Brother J. H. The Copies of two Letters written to Mr. Rich. Wilson that tender and sorrowful Father which lately buried his dear and hopeful Daughter Dear Friend I Was informed of the sad tidings of the Death of your Daughter and yesterday yours of â—ugust 10. came to my hand and the Relation 〈◊〉 the manner of her Death did somewhat allay â—â—e sorrow and since the Lord hath dealt bounâ—fully with her in giving her Grace and Gloâ—y you may sing I confess if you respect your â—ss it is so great that you may mourn and â—efuse to be comforted because she is not But â—nsider she was a Loan lent of the Lord. All 〈◊〉 Comforts are but lent Comforts and we are not to repine when God calls for them again but â—â—tiently to submit to Gods holy Will Seing it 〈◊〉 the Lord who hath done it who hath absoâ—â—ute Soveraignty over all his Creatures We â—â—st be dumb and say nothing and as Aaron â—â—ld our peace She is taken away in the flowâ—â— of her Age but God knew it the best time to â—op her and haply she is taken away from â—e Evil to come She is entered into peace â—ou may account your self more happy that once you did enjoy her than now miserable that she is so suddenly removed for she is not lost but gone before us We shall go to her she will not return to us The Lord hath delivered her from Sin and Sorrow and you froâ—â— Fear and Care concerning her How happy would you have esteemed youâ— self if she had been match'd to one who haâ— all desired Accommodations and to a Person who had been endowed with all possible Aâ—â— complishments both Sacred and Civil youâ— eyes seeing it Thus it hath been done to beâ— whom the King of Heaven had a delight to â—â—nour He hath betrothed her to Himself for eveâ— and this day of her Espousals may be the Day 〈◊〉 the gladness of your Heart For this hath in the bowels of it many glorrous Mercies God hath done it and that is enough to satisfie any Souâ—â— and he hath done it for ever His heart is so 〈◊〉 it that there shall never be any breach of 〈◊〉 Conjugal Love and Communion Yâ—â— have heard of the Patience of Job and haâ—â— seen the end of the Lord that the Lord is veâ—â— pittiful and of tender mercy and happily 〈◊〉 end of the Lord in this is for to draw you heart Heaven-ward Where not only youâ— Child but your best and chrefest Love is Be now more frequent in Heavenly Visiâ— and have your Conversation in Heaven aâ—â— where your Treasure is there let your Heart also Mourn not that you go Childless but rejoice that you do not go Christless Neither â—â—y I am bereft of the comfort of my life when â—â—e God of all comforts is yours David at â—â—glag comforted himself in the Lord his God â—o and do likewise for God is All-sufficient to apply all our wants and the Earth is never so â—â—id of Comfort but there is Comfort enough â—â—the God of Heaven in whom Wives Children â—nd every good thing are lodged You could not be assured though you say â—our Daughter never grieved you in all her â—â—me that you should alway have comfort in â—â—er But in the Lord Jehovah there is constant â—â—msort and constant joy Psal 37.4 You â—now the Comforts of the world are but cisterns and may fail Therefore wipe away all Tears and go to the Fountain God whose Favour is â—â—ter than Life and better than all in this life â—â—n whose Light we shall see light However sorrow not like them that have no â—ope The Egyptians bewailed Jacob Seventy Daies Joseph his son mourned but seven Daies Which teacheth Christians to keep a mean in Mourning we may sorrow but it must be with sobriety and in measure When David's Child was dead he arose from the Earth and went into the House of the Lord and worshipped And Job when his Children were dead he blessed the Name of the Lord. And indeed the People of God turn all their Afflictions and Crosses into Prayers and Praises Grace makes every condition work Glory to God as God makes every condition work together for good to them that love him And if we bless God in our Afflictions then our Afflictions are Blessings to us Unto the Righteous saith David there arise Light in Darkness Comfort in Troubles and Deliverances out of all Distresses are the fruit of Gods Grace therefore wait on God in the way of his Judgments and you shall yâ—â— find that he is good and can do you goodâ— Though others dye yet God lives and eveâ— lives to do good When therefore you look oâ— the right hand and see your Dearly-Beloveâ— gone then cry to the Lord and say Thou 〈◊〉 my Refuge and my Portion in the land of the â—â—ving And ever remember that of the Apostâ—â— Christ is all and in all
Aug. 23. 1672. I am Sir Yours The other Letter is as followeth Dear Friend I Am very sensible of your great Loss yet did 〈◊〉 hope that you had been comforted over our Dead But by your last I find that the â—ound bleeds afresh I shall desire the Father 〈◊〉 Mercies and the God of all Consolations to Apport your Spirit to make you to hear of Joy and Gladness and restore comfort to you and 〈◊〉 your Mourners But Sir Though Affection commands yet â—e Word of Faith forbids excessive Mourning â—e pray that God's Will may be done and we â—â—ght to be quiet and to praise God when it is â—â—ne knowing that God doth every thing in â—â—fection of Wisdome and this present sad â—â—pensation God only wise sees best for you â—â—d doubtless it shall work for your good In â—our Afflictions Christ is afflicted and though â—â—n feel the burden heavy yet He bears the â—â—aviest end of the Cross and hath bid you to â—â—sider Him that endured the Cross lest â—ou be weary and faint in your mind Haply â—ur Heart was too much let out to that your â—â—lovâ—d and God would not have his Childrens â—ections set on things below himself Though â—thers fail and are gone yet Jesus Christ is the 〈◊〉 yesterday to day and for ever The Lords hand is not shortned that it cannot help and comfort Though the C stern be empty yet thâ— Fountain is full O go and take of that fully heap Jesus Christ and rejoyce in the God 〈◊〉 your Salvation and rise up from your dead lest your over-grieving displease God World Sorrow causeth death and therefore turn you into the right channel and sorrow after a god sort Knowing that as Sufferings abound shall Consolations abound much more in aâ—â— through Jesus Christ and since you have soâ—â— in Tears expect a performance of that Promiâ— That you shall reap in joy God told Abrahas Gen. 15.1 That he was his Shield and â— exceeding great Reward And Abraham said v. 2. Lord God what wilt thou give me sein go Childless A good man observes on thâ— place The weakness of Gods Children even Dear ones and Chief ones if things answer â—â— their Desires they are a little impatient aâ— think less of many Mercies that both they haâ— and are promised after to have because thâ— want some one thing that they would glad have and enjoy So was Abraham for want oâ— Child as if he should have said What is thou promisest seing this is wanting I have Issue This is a great corruption in us and must beware for if God were not merciful was the way to rob us of all to think light any for the want of some Blessing God of stones raise up Children and out of the Lions dead carkass give honey and I hope he will sanctifie and sweeten his rod that you shall say It was good that I was afflicted and find that of very faithfulness He hath caused you to be troubled As you feel the Cross of Christ so see the ranity of the Creature and the All-sufficiency of thy Creator God blessed for ever and happy you shall experimentally find that Christ â—â— all in all and cry out with that Martyr None â—â— Christ None but Christ Light is sown for the righteous and Joy for the upright in heart A wet Seed-time may have a good Harvest The Husbandman waits for the precious fruit of the â—arth So do you for the fruit and benefit of this Affliction It is good that a man should both â—ope and quietly wait for the Salvation of the Lord. The Lord waits that he may be graâ—â—ous to you and will be exalted that he may have Mercy on you Blessed are all they that wait â—â— him Isai 30.18 The Lord fill you with all Joy and Peace in elieving and with all the Graces and Comforts of his Holy Spirit I am Sir Your very affectionate Friend Sept. 14. 1672. A Letter written to Mr. Rich. Wilson of Crosfield after the Death of his deart and onely Daughter upon the receipt of a Letter of Complaint from him for long Absence after promise of Presence My very Dear and Beloved Son in the Faith through our well-beloved Saviour Grace Mercy and Peace be to thee from God our Father and from Christ Jesus our Lord. THe receipt of yours upon the 20th instand hath occasioned this return I will readily acknowledge my too long yet necessitated absence in Body from you but I can really say and certainly assure you that I have been present in Spirit with you sorrowing for you and sympathising with you in your present Suffering And though I have not had one opportunity given for speaking with you at your earthly house yet several opportunities granted for speaking for you at our heavenly Habitation Silent it true I have also been as to speaking by Peâ—â— and Paper to you yet not mute as to Prayer and Intercessions to God for you on your be half That you may wisely weight seriouslâ— consider and spiritually improve the preseâ—â— perplexing Providence in so sad a stroke for your Souls profit that you may partake of more of the Holiness of God and that you may drink deeper and more refreshing and Soul-satisfying draughts of Comfort in the Fountain than you did ever before in the Stream which is now dried up And whereas you hint that you apprehended I had serious purposes of giving you a Visit at such a Season you hit the nail o' th â—ead you mist not the mark neither were you â—istaken in your apprehensions but very right a your Judgment For what I purposed and then promised which was with a condition I did really intend to perform at the time appointed but the Lord by intervening Providenâ—â—s prevented I may therefore say as the Apostle Paul in the like case about his Promise to come to the Church of Corinth 2 Cor. 1.17 When I was thus minded did I use lightness â—â— did I mind those things that I minded according to the flesh as men do that rashly promise any thing and change their purpose at every turning of an hand that with me should be Yea and Nay that I should say and unsay and be diverse and inconstant to my self and words No but my words towards you were not yea and nay and for all possible endeavours to answer your expectations at the time prefixed they were not wanting but other more publick and weighty employments called louder for my then attendance on them and private concerns must give place to publick and particular to general I doubt not but your desires of my personal presence have been very ardent and earnest and my endeavours assure your self to satisfie and fulfil your desires have been every way suitably answerable and correspondent thereunto yet the Lord hitherto by his Providence hath hindered our meeting and communien what his mind and design herein is whether because of your too much depending upon instruments at present or of your too much shghting
Graves yet he ownâ— them as much as if they were flourâ—shing in Stately Palaces neither can Death break the union between her and Christ this outlive Death Though Death triumph over the natural union of Soul and Body it can never break thâ— mystical union betwixt Christ and a Saint thâ— union betwixt Christ and her Body remains inâ—violable by vertue of which union it shall bâ—raised up again and united to her Soul and then she shall be ever with the Lord. Fifthly Consider that if God should have continued her with you for a long season in that pain and languishing condition which he could and might justly Whether you would not have had greater cause to sorrow and to be trouble with her presence in such pain than now you have for her absence in her freedome from it These things seriously considered and laid 〈◊〉 heart I should think might keep you from to much sorrow and trouble for your loss 3. As to Third viz. Your Sins which yâ—â— may possibly judg to have had an hand in this prâ—â—sent sad stroke to this I would say as follows First If this Afflictive Providence be for your gain and advantage that survive and remaiâ— alive and for hers that is deceased then yoâ— have no great cause to be troubled any further â—â—an as it may make the present Dispensation an advantage to you Now that it will be for her bod and great advantage you have no cause in â—e least to scruple or at all to suspect or question her Soul is in Paradise in Abraham's boâ—â—me and for her Body God hath rock't it â—leep and laid it in a bed where it shall rest and sleep till it awake to eternal Life Isa 57.2 and it will also be for your advantage for hereby you will be brought to search out and 〈◊〉 see those sins which lay latent and you saw 〈◊〉 before and to be sensible of them so as to have recourse to Christ for Remission and will not this be your gain Besides it will be as a â—ean to help you to avoid running upon the â—â—e rocks for the future so that hereby sins past â—ill be pardoned and for the future falling â—â—to them prevented which will be exceeding â—â—od for you and great advantage to you Secondly Consider that God threatned to lay very heavy stroke upon Eli and his Posterity or ever and actually executed the threatning and that for his Sin 1 Sam. 3.13 and yet see â—ow patiently he takes it and quietly submits 〈◊〉 his Will It 's the Lord saith he let him do that seems him good 1 Sam. 3.18 Do you laâ—our to be of the same frame quiet your self unâ—er the present sad Dispensation and freely â—bmit to his Will and that you may be moved â—ereunto let these things following be as inducements First Death is appointed for all It 's appointed once for all to die Heb. 9.27 We were all born to die it 's inevitable none can avoiâ— it none escapes it and therfore folly for a man to grieve for it or at it Secondly The time when every one shall diâ— is appointed All the days of my appointed tim will I wait saith Job ch 14.14 The bounds are seâ— over which none can pass v. 5. And is there nâ—â— an appoinâ—ed time to man upon earth Job 7.1 Thirdly The Saints have quieted themselve under sad Providences and quietly submitted because 't was the Lord that was the Author and Orderer of them Thus Aaron when his sorâ—â— were devoured by fire from Heaven held hâ—â— peace Levit. 10.3 Eli 1 Sam. 3.18 Hâ— zekiah 2 Kin. 20.19 when his Sons were take away laies Good is the word of the Lord. Thuâ— David 2 Sam. 15.25 26. and in Psal 39.9 was dumb because thou didst it And Christ him self Mat. 26.39 Not my will but thy Will â—â—done So should you endeavour to say and doâ— sith God hath not only appointed Death and the time thereof but laies on the stroke himself whatever be the meritorious cause or means by which is is done Fourthly It 's your Duty to quiet your selâ— and freely to submit to his Will For First 1. The Will of God is a Soveraign Will Hâ— hath absolute and unaccountable Dominion over his creatures as the Potter hath power over his â—lay I may say here as the Apostle in another case Who art thou that repliest against God Roman 9 20 21. It 's an uncreature-like temper to maintain reluctancy against the will of God 2. His Will is a most righteous Will the Lord never wills or doth any thing wherein he swerves from the rule of Righteousness or wrongs the creature in the least Job 34.23 Jer. 12.1 Righteous art thou O Lord. Non-subjection therefore to the Will of God must needs be an â—â—nrighteous thing 3. Gods Will is an Holy Will He wills nothing but in greatest Holiness neither doth He do any thing wherein he swerves from the rule of Holiness He is holy in all his works Psal 145.17 Habbak 1.13 14. 4. It 's a Will in conjunction with greatest Wisdome proceeding in all things according to wisest Counsels doing all things in truest order manner season and beauty In wisdome he made all things Prov. 3.19 20. He orders all things according to the counsel of his will Ephes 1.11 and makes every thing beautiful in its time Eccles 3.11 And though we do not know now yet we shall afterwards the beauty of all his Providences therefore 't is perverse folly to repine at his Will 5. To the Saints it is a gracious Will whatever the outside of any Providence may be Mercy is the inside to them Mercy is the Soul what ever the Body of it may be All his waies 〈◊〉 mercy to his Psal 25.10 All Providences woâ—â— together for good to those that love him Rom. 8 2â— Even those afflictive Dispensations towards his Children that proceed from Gods Fatherly diâ—â— pleasure and from Sin as the procuring cause the rise and principle is Love and the desigâ—â— and end their good Due chastisement given tâ— a Child by his Father is an argument that 〈◊〉 loves him a Father loves his Child when he corrects him yea when the correction proceed from fatherly displeasure for a Father neveâ— corrects his Child hut when he is displeased with him As a man so God may be much displease with and much love the same person at the same time And as it is your Duty to quiet your heart and freely to submit to his Will so also its youâ— Duty to bless God though the providential Dâ—spensation be sad There are many cogent Arguâ—ments to move you to it 1. You came naked into the world without a Daughter or any thing else and naked you shall return again this was one Argument that moved Job to bless God Job 1.21 22. 2. It s the Lord that hath taken away therefore bless the Lord as Job did Job 1.21 3. God's Will is done and fulfilled and youâ— Prayers are answered You prayed that
The Virgin Saint OR A Brief NARRATIVE of the Holy Life and Christian Death of Mary VVilson With some memorable Passages and occasional Speeches a little before her Death added thereunto To which is also adjoyned A SERMON Preached at her Funeral By Mr. GEO. NICHOLSON Together with Several Consolatory Letters written by divers Ministers to her Mournful Father Mr. RICHARD WILSON of Crosfield in Cumberland London Printed for Jonathan Robinson at the Golden-Lion in Pauls Church-yard 1673. Jer. 2.2 Go and cry in the Ears of Jerusalem saying Thus sayth the Lord I remember thee the Kindness of thy Youth the Love of thine Espousals Prov. 31.30 Favour is deceitful and Beauty is vain but a Woman that fears the Lord She shall be praised Luke 2.19 But Mary kept all these Sayings and pondered them in her Heart Luke 10.42 And Mary hath chosen that good Part which shall not be taken away from Her To the Christian Readers especially to the Members of two Congregated Churches in Leathward Cumberland Assembling for Publick Worship in their Licensed Places respectively in Kirkoswold and Hesket Parishes by his Majesties most gracious Permission Authority and Protection Grace Mercy and Peace in Jesus Christ Most Dear Christians THe woful and tremendous misery of all Mankind by Nature since the Fall of Adam is in nothing more manifest than in their wilful Incredulity and affected Ignorance thereof joyned with astupendous Self-conceitedness of possessing or pursuing a sufficient Happiness even in all their self chosen Courses which they severally steer accounting no counsel command nor restraint Divine or Humane more cross to their imaginary Felicity than what is most contrary to their own conceits and wills And so strongly is it rivited into all natural apprehensions that if they might but have their own way and compass their own designs they should then be do as well as they desire Not knowing that the way of man is not in himself Jer. 10.23 it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps But their own way is their folly Psa 49.13 though their Posterity approve their Sayings Yea all are gone out of the way both of duty and felicity and there is none that understandeth Psal 14. there is none that seeketh after God in whom only is all Happiness And this is the common case of all the world in their natural condition as the Apostle infers and proves Rom. 3 9-19 And though all are not of equal Ignorance or Impiety but some by Nature Art and Industry are of clearer Intellects and more sublimated Capacities to know discourse discuss and determine matters of weighty importance as well Ecclesiastical and Spiritual as Natural and Civil as also by the superaddition of common Influences of the Holy Spirit in the use and improvement of Divine Ordinances are induced to walk commendably not only civilly and morally but also religiously far above the rank of the vulgar rude and dissolute multitude yea many real Saints too Yet through defect of effectual Calling out of Spiritual Darkness into Gods marvellous Light will be found short of the least of Gods little ones that believe in his Name and really in the rank of ignorant and ungodly ones Yea and many that are no less conceited of others Ignorance than of their own insuperable wisdome and knowledg as must be supposed So as any Cadency of insinuation to the contrary is resented a disparagement Jo. 9.40 Lu. 11.45 to be replied to with an Are we blind also and Thus saying thou reproachest us also Being consident that themselves are guides of the blind Rom. 2.18 19 20. lights of them that are in darkness instructers of the foolish teachers of babes having a form of knowledg and of the truth both of the Law and Gospel but wanting the powerful knowledg of the truth through want of a saving change of estate abide in the midst of all their knowledg †Joh. 3.19 destitute of all saving knowledg And unless the arm of the Lord be revealed Isa 53.1 8.11 as well as his truth declared and himself speak unto them with a strong hand as well as his Servants cry unto them with a loud voice they will not believe our report they will not be instructed Furthermore There are not a few as may be justly feared even in the Churchell of God who have been convinced as wes as exhorted Act. 2.40 to save themselves from this untoward Generation have also professed their Conversion before and to good satisfaction of many witnesses 2 Pet. 2.18 20. to have clean escaped from them that live in Error and from the pollutions of the world through the knowledg of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ And have solemnly avouched the Lord for their God and his holy service for the constant duty of their lives Deut. 26.17 are therefore rightly received into the Communion of Saints and duly participate in all their Priviledges who yet are more willing to be reputed holy than indeed to be so in all manner of Conversation as they are called and commanded 1 Pet. 1.15 16. 1 Jo. 2.15 whose apparent love of the world and things of the world bespeaks a defect of the love of the Father no less than their common careless neglect of secret converse with him which their own hearts were they not either too blind or too partial could not but accuse them of But shall I say Heb. 6.9 Brethren That I am perswaded better things of you and things that accompany Salvation though I thus speak Yea I must say with the same Author Phil. 1.7 It is meet for me to think thus of you all because I have you in my heart Inasmuch as both in my frequent Bonds and in the defence and confirmation of the Gospel against other manifold molestations â—e are partakers of †〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vocat Paulus illam suam captivitatem gratiam c. Piscator in loc Gratiam vocat quasi singulare a liquod beneficium vincula sua Beza in loc my Grace Neither write I these things to shame you but as my dearly beloved in Christ I warn you that I may awaken you to a serious and diligent search and trial of your Spiritual estates That you rest not in any Profession Performances or Priviledges whereunto ye have attained but as forgetting these things which are behind and reaching forth unto those things which are before you press towards the mark for the price of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus And Beloved ye are my witnesses and God also what the design of my Ministrie among you hath been Not to seek my worldly gain nor yours but you yea I have willingly neglected and greatly exhausted mine own Temporals to serve you in Spirituals that I might beget you 2 Cor. 12.14 11.2 and engage you to God espouse you to one husband and present you as chaste Virgins to Christ from whom I
have been earnest with you and with whom I have been earnest for you that the match may be really made up between you which being effected my labour is recompensed my Errand is accomplished my Desire is satisfied my Joy is fulfilled And now that I have this unexpected opportunity of making publick some hints only of some of the choice desires of my Soul to you and to the Lord for you Know ye therefore that they are such as these First That none of you all who are taught and do believe and profess the absolute necessity of Regeneration in order to eternal Salvation rest satisfied in your Spiritual conditions Mat. 18.3 2 Cor. 13.5 Gal. 6.15 Rom. 8.9 10. without some hopeful evidences that you are born again and truly converted that ye are in the Faith new creatures in Christ Jesus And that Christ is in you and abideth in you And that you have the Spirit of Christ Oh! rest not in uncertainties about your Spiritual and Eternal Felicities as you would not about your Temporal but give all diligence to make your Calling and Election sure 2 Pet. 1.10 Secondly Look that you make good the ground you have got through Grace against the World the Flesh and the Devil by a dayly progress in both the parts of Sanctification viz. Mortification and Vivification And beware that you be not again entangled and overcome 2 Pet. 2.20 and so your last end be worse than your beginning Luk. 9.62 Having put your hand to the Plough look not back much less be ye of them that draw back unto perdition But be ye of them that believe Heb. 10.39 to the saving of the Soul And need I bid you beware of Popery Rev. 13.3 Iniquitas sed mistica pietatis fidelitatis nomine palliata 1 Cor. 10.12 which is the most Catholick Apostacy the Mystery of Iniquity yet palliated with the name only of Piety Antiquity Universality c. yea I say Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall as too many have done It 's operative and strong though but a Delusion and a Lie yea it is the Energy 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2 Thess 2.9 11. or strong working of Satan through the just judgment of God with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish because they received not the love of the truth that they might be saved Popish Seducers are subtile Artists that have †〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the sleight of me * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 cunning crafâ—iness and †〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Eph. 4.14 2 Pet. 2.19 the method of Errour or Deâ—usion The Ignorant and Sensual are in greatest jeopardie they promise others liberty whilst themselves are the servants of corruption The prime piece of their Worship is palpable Idolatry the whole complex of their common Devotion is Will. worship Superstition and Formality One would think that no serious Professors of Christianity were in any peril of Popery yet Quakers are an Artificial â—roduct of it though they know it not Love God the Gespel and your Souls better than the World and your Bellies Phil. 3.18 19. and you are out of the danger of it Thirdly Phil. 1.10 See to it that ye be sincere Converts sincere Saints that your Faith Love Repentance Obedience c. be sincere For if you be sincere you shall persevere But Hypocrifie will end in Apostasie What is sound is strong and invincible what is sound is special and not common Grace Though common Grace may make a great show cast a great blaze yet like the Comet it consumes of it self till it be extinguished 1 Joh. 3.9 Mat. 13.31 32. True Grace is the Seed of God and though it be little and weak yet its nature is to grow in stature and strength or though it may decay yet it cannot die For its the life of God a Well of living water springing up unto Eternal Life But let its Counterfeit †i. e. comon grace which resembles it so much in all things make you the ofâ—ner and exacter in the use of the Touchstone Fourthly Let your Communion with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ be frequent and full Omit no opportunities nor means thereof Redeem time from your worldly affairs for converse with your God in the Duties of his more solemn Service Knowing that the Holiness Comfort and Happiness of your lives consists in such communion Use and improve the means for the end Read hear pray confer and meditate much And be loth to leave any duty till you attain some sensible enjoyment of his Grace and Love And till your hearts be warmed your graces excited your Affections engaged and your Souls even make you like the Chariots of Aminadab Cant. 6.12 And prize and treasure up your experiences of this kind Neh. 8.10 Retain a lively sense of Divine impressions upon your spirits And let the joy of the Lord be your strength Zech. 10.12 to walk up and down in his Name And lament your loss when you came off from your Duties without success Take heed of Formality in them Fifthly And you that are heads of Families Take heed to your Families over which the Holy Ghost even in your private Capacities hath also made you Overseers That you should watch for their Souls as they that must give account that ye may do it with joy and not with grief Deal particularly and closely with them about the estates of their Souls Labour to convince them of their exceeding sinfulness and misery by Nature And that they are under the Law and so under the wrath and curse of God while they continue therein That they are utterly blind lame deaf Isa 35.5 6 dumb and dead spiritually and under the power of Satan immediatly That their natural Light is spiritual Darkness their sweet is bitter their good is evil Their Moral Civil and Religious works are all Sins in Gods sight Prom. 8.8 for being in the flesh they cannot please God in any thing but displease him altogether though they please themselves and others never so much That they are liable to all Judgments Temporal and to Death and Damnation Eternal every moment Yet all this notwithstanding They are to be persuaded That the Lord Jesus Christ the eternal Son of God is become an All-sufficient Saviour of all men even the worst of Sinners That he hath purchased Salvation for them offers Salvation to them and is willing to enter into a Covenant of Salvation with them if they will but accept him and be ruled by him according to the terms of the Gospel That he hath redeemed them and will justifie them freely Pardon them fully Sanctifie them throughly Adopt them graciously Keep them powerfully and save them gloriously That he hath confirmed his Covenant of Salvation with his Oath and with the Seals of his Blood Spirit and Sacraments That he hath ever been mindful of it
the most honourable work and service They are the Workmanship of God created in Christ Jesus Eph. 2.10 They bear the Image of Christ are made partakers of Gods Holiness Heb. 12.11 And of the divine Nature 2 Pet. 1.4 they have holy and gracious Practices imitators of God as dear Children Now can there be to the Sons of Men a greater honour than to hold semblance with the Majesty of God Glorious is that Image of God wherein they were created whereto they are renewed into which they are transformed from glory to glory 2. Cor. 3.18 Which also Saints manifest by their actings of Grace and â—â—acious holy Practices Godliness is God-likeâ—â—ss and Holiness is the Saints honour 1 Thess â— 4 Humility and lowliness of mind decks â—â—d adorns the Saints 1 Pet. 5.5 That the â—race of God how vilified soever amongst men â—et it makes Saints glorious in the sight of God â—oliness and Grace makes persons the most conâ—derable and weighty Hast thou considered my â—rvant Job it makes them heavy ponderous â—nd weighty and to have substance in them â—nd therefore worthy to be reverenced esteemed â—nd honoured all others are light in the Balance and therefore to be contemned vilified â—nd slighted but chaff lighter than vanity â—sal 1.4 and 62.4 Pro. 10.20 the word in â—â—e Hebrew for honour and glory comes from a â—ot which signifies heavy or ponderous because â—hat which we honour and respect we look upon â—â— as a thing that hath weight and substance in it â—he Apostle calls that most glorious state of the â—aints in Heaven a weight of Glory 2 Cor. 4.17 Honour is a mans weight in the esteem of others Sin makes wicked men light and then lightest of all when they make light of Sin But Holiness addes honour and weight to the persons of â—he Saints Holiness towards God makes venetable amongst Men. Hitherto then turn the â—tream of your ambition to grow honourable by â—oly and gracious practices Be ambitious to live holily as Paul was That you may be honourable in the eyes of God and accepted of him 2 Corinth 5.4 The old World would build them a Tower to get them a name and to win them fame amongst men Gen. 11.4 The ambition oâ— Worldlings is to call their Houses by their own Names to perpetuate their Memories Psal 49.11 to erect Monuments of costliest Fabrick to perpecuate their remembrance For this end and use men use to set up the most lasting materials Pillars of Marble and Pyramids of Stone But these or any other things besides Grace and Holiness as Riches Dignity Power Credit Learning Wisdome c. which men hope to be remembred by and become famous in the world are but as Ashes mean and of no consistence Job 13.12 Though men lay them by and esteem them as Monuments to Posterity oâ— as Memorials to preserve their Names to all Genâ—rations yet they are ordinarily scattered likâ— ashes in the air or spilt like water upon thâ— ground which cannot be gathered up and sâ— will all that whatever it is which vain me frame or fancy to themselves to make them memorable and renowned amongst posterity or succeeding Ages But Grace is the only Glory anâ— gracious and holy acâ—ings the best Monument â—â— perpetuate our memoâ—y There is more glory in the least Grace than in all earthly glory the least degree of Grace is more glorious than all the glorious Advancements that the world can afford us Holiness and Grace is the beauty of Men and Angels yea of God himself it makes Saints beautiful and honourable in themselves in the eyes of God and in the eyes of all good Men while living when dead and after death yea for ever The Righteous shall be had in everlasting remembrance Psal 112.6 Because the Saints are precious in Gods sight therefore they are honourable Isa 43.4 honourable both in the sight of God and all good men God's eyes and heart are upon them The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous saith David they have respect to all Gods Commandments Psal 119.6 and God hath respect to them in all their Concernments Exod. 2. ult They honour him and he honours them 1 Sam. 2.30 For any service done for him he will honour them John 12.26 what ever they do well shall be sure to receive a fair testimony from God They need not blow a Trumpet in their own praise when they have done well as the Pharisees did For what they have done well the Lord himself for their honour will report to all the world as he did Job's holy carriage in doing and suffering both in the whole course of his life and in that particular passage of the loss of his Cattle and Children Job â— 21 22. They that carry themselves well either iâ— Suffering or working for God shall have glory honour and peace from God Rom. 2.10 And when they do any new or further service for God God will add some further honour anâ— respect to them as he did to Job when he haâ— done a piece of new service Job 2.3 He hold fast his integrity He was described before in thâ— first Chap. as an holy man now he is described a a tried man as an approved Souldier Job obtains this honour in the Combate with Satan a glorious addition to his character As Job's graces increased so did God's testimony increase concerning him God will not conceal any of the graces nor the improvements of the grace of his people Nay if they speak but a good word for God they shall hear of it again God takes it and pens it down Malac. 3.19 As it is usual with Kings for great Service done them especially in Wars and Battels to make additions to their Titles of Honour to give some new Mottoes or put some new Devices in the Coat-Armour of those who serve them So the Lord doth to his Saints Thus Jacob in prevailing by Prayers and Supplications the Ammunition and Armes of the Saints with the Angel is called Israel a prevailer with God God honours the Saints while living he call them his Friends Abraham the Friend of God John 15.14 15. What a great honour was it to Noah that God himself when they were all got into the Ark would shut the door Gen. 7.16 He honours them and prizes them in their Death their Death is precious Psal 116.15 He honours them when Dead It was an honour to Moses that the Lord buried him Deut. 34.6 Though its true there was another reason why the place of his Burial was kept secret lest they should superstitiously adore him and worship him yet 't was a real respect and honour that he buried him The Lord puts white Garments of Glory upon them that they may walk with him in them Revel 3.4 Yea He puts a weighty Crown of Glory upon their Heads 2 Cor. 4.17 A Crown of Glory that fades not away And as they are honourable in the sight of God so in the eyes of his Saints the Citizen of Zion
is described amongst other Qualifications by this also that He is a man that honours them that fear the Lord Psal 15.4 They honour them while living and when dead by an honourable Interment and after Death by honourable Thoughts of them by honourable Speech in the mention of them and by the Imitation of their Vertues and Graces and thus the memory of the just is blessed Prov. 10.7 When persons in After-ages shall remember them and the things memorable in them they shall bless them and highly esteem them they shall not be so much as mentioned or spokeâ— without praise or benediction This is Honour to their Memories The end therefore of the following Narrative of the holy Life of Mary Wilson next to the Glory of God the Edification of the Church iâ— general the use and benefit of that Body where of she was a Member and the profit and comfort of her Parents and other near and deaâ— Relations surviving is the advancement of heâ— Memory and an encouragement for others imitation who often follow Patterns more thaâ— Precepts And to present as exemplary thâ—â— the Piety and Holiness of her that is deceased for that end When persons that dye are persons of known worth and usefulness 't is not fit that their Graces should die with them and that Vertue should be defrauded of its publique honour And because God honours them that honour him the Church has been alwaies careful to preserve and embalm their Memories And so is that Promise made good and the Will of God served therein whose mind it is That the Memory of the Jusâ— should be blessed Prov. 10.7 and kept from rotting whereas the Name of the wicked roâ—â— together with their Carcases And if the Authors of the ensuing Narrative with its adjuncts had only designed in the Publication thereof to continue the Memory and Christian Example of that precious Saint and â—ervant of Christ whose Death gave occasion to â—hem nothing had been done unworthy a Chriâ—tian aim Praise and Publick honour being a Debt that is owed to the righteous a debt saith Nazianzen in one of his Funeral Orations that of all debts is most just And as the antient Church was wont to preserve the Memory of the Saints â—â— those famous Dyptichs So might they seek â—â— continue the Memory of her Graces in this â—ublick Record that though being dead she â—ight yet speak She really deserves both glory raise and honour Glory that she be accounted vertuous and gracious Praise an honorable â—ention of her for her vertues and Honour viz. a â—estification of the former good opinion by some â—utward signs as Commendation erecting of â—tatues or Pillars c. It 's said of Abâ—lom that in his life-time he had taken and reared â—p for himself a Pillar and called it after his own â—ame because he had no son to keep his name in â—emembrance 2 Sam. 18.18 Yet that Remembrance of his as Job saith proved like ashes The â—ollowing Narrative will be a far better Monument to preserve the Memory of her Name and â—he name of her Parents It hath ever been the custome of the Church â—â— God to write the story of the Lives of eminent and well-deserving persons and it's pity thâ— such Memorials should be lost and condemnâ— to an obscure privacy both for their own usefulness and for her sake that was the occasion â—â— them Certainly God 's Worthies deserve soâ—â— publique Monument to continue their Memoâ—â— and Example for the imitation of the Good anâ— the reproof of the Bad. The Apostle tells uâ—â— That dead Saints may yet speak Hebr. 11.4 thâ—â— is Preach by their Example But then theâ— must be some to continue the memory of thâ—â— example or else how should it speak ought oâ—â— instruction to future Ages Therefore the Apostle observes of Abel in thâ—â— forenamed place 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He obtained witness that he was righteous which may be referred to the publick witness and testimony of the written Word where his usual titâ—â— and stile is righteous Abel Matt. 23.35 And â—â— had said before of all the Patriarchs v. 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 They obtained a good report to wit â—â— the Church by the Scriptures Now since thâ— Canon of Faith was closed up there is no reason that the Memory of the Saints should be lost anâ— therefore God hath in every Age stirr'd up some that can handle the pen of the Writer by some publick Record to consign their Example to the use of the Church though 't is true it 's confesseâ— that many have been forgotten who were otherâ—wise famous in their generations for want of â—are in this kind Besides the Lord hath not only given us his Word for a Rule but he hath given us Examples also as a Rule to walk by he hath given us his own Example to imitate Ephes 5.1 1 Pet. 1.15 16. And his Sons Example 1 John 2.6 Heb. 12.2 3. 1 Pet. 2.21 Mat. 11.24 Learn of me But besides these leading unerring Examples the Examples of the Saints are to be commended to our Imitation both in Doing and Suffering Whatsoever was written aforetime was written for our Learning Rom. 15.4 And Examples are written we are bidden To go forth by the footsteps of the Flock Cant. 1.8 Why hath the Holy Ghost set the Pens of so many on work to write the Lives of the Saints Why hath he kept a Record of them in his own Book but for Instruction and Direction of his People in after-time The Lord hath not registred one act of the Saints but it is useful for us The acts of the Saints are full of Practical Divinity and their sufferings and troubles are full of Pathetical Divinity as the Exhortation of St. James doth more than intimate Jam. 5.10 Hence those antient Saints and Believers in Hebr. 12.1 are called a cloud of Witnesses because there is a directive and leading vertue in them As there was a Cloud that went before the Children of Israel in the Day to lead them So this cloud of witnessâ— leads us up and down the wilderness of our Sorrows and in the dark night of our Sufferings That the gracious pious and holy actings â—â— the fornamed deceased Saint may be an addition to this Cloud for your direction and conduct â—â— in part the design of the following Narrative with the Additionals Read it and imitate Live as she in the Fear of God and Faith â—â— Christ and you shall dye as she in his favour and everlastingly partake of that Felicity which she is now possessing in Heaven A brief Narrative of the holy and pious Life and patient peaceful and Christian Death of MARY WILSON MAry Wilson was born at Crosfield in the Parish of Kirkoswold in Cumberland the nineteenth Day of November in the Year of our Lord One Thousand Six Hundred Fifty and Two Her Fathers name is Richard Wilson a person of exemplary Piety and of singular Sincerity and Integrity and a very useful Instrument
Tears â—â— what great use she had been to her and some Neighbour-women about her that were zealously â—fected she would somtimes meet with them â—nd repeat to them the Sermon she had last heard â—nd then read to them some part of those Books â—hich had been so useful to her and then disbursed them over till she would have drawn â—ears from their eyes Nay further It now seems clear to her Paâ—â—nts and others that the Lord did reveal some â—ecial Secrets to her in particular It was very â—pparent she had strong impressions of her death â—â— considerable time before it came for instance about a Quarter of a Year before she died shâ— being alone with her Father having no Discourse tending that way upon the sudden she said My Father if I dye I would have you take my Aunt Mabal home and make her your Childâ— Her Father then replied That she knew he loved her Aunt well But why did she say so He hoped that God would continue her to be his Child But as her Father apprehended shâ— seemed as though she feared that the Saying had some impression upon him and so turn'd it off that she only spake it in case it should be so At another time A young Kinswoman being come to live in the Family at several times she would take her into the Parlour and shew heâ— how to order and dress the Room when she was not there as she said and would several timeâ— have given her charge to have a special care oâ— her dear Father and would shew her how to order his Linnen both at home and when heâ— went abroad To all which and much more the Maid would reply Why do you speak so and so you will see to all these things your self â—â— Her Reply was Well But do you so when I am not here And the Day before she died She named the very Day upon which she should be interred As to her usefulness in civil things For her Sempstry She was well-grounded in all the grounds of it so that what piece of Work soever she had seen it was not tedious to her to take it in as her many pretty Works left behind her do amply testifie So for her House-wifery her Gravity in that point bespoke her to be almost double her Age. Seldom hath one of her Age been known to have such a frugal Forecast and quick Insight into the managing of Domestical Affairs both with Neatness and Frugality She would not see any empty place in her Fathers House but she would have that furnished according to her Fathers ability So that her Hospitality and Frugality might be seen at once She hath been often heard to say She would not eat her Morsels alone meaning when she had something more than ordinary Provision And would also have desired her Mother To do good to all especially to the houshold of Faith In a word such was her Industry in Houshold-affairs that the burden and care of the Family was almost quite taken of her Mother which now makes the burden the greater in the want of her As to her Father put all her Accomplishments together she she was the Joy of his Heart he hath been heard to say That if he should have published but the one half of the many Circumstances of her exceeding great Usefulness to him both in Sacred and Civil things with her winning and engaging Disposition to him many Sheets of Paper would not contain them For when they have been under any frowning Providence she could have out-faith't him at any turn And when she had observed any occasion of trouble upon her Father then she would mind him of what the Lord had formerly done for him backing it with some suitable Scripture and as to her extraordinary Love to him and tenderness over him it appeared very many waies Her ordinary way of making mention of her Father's name in the Family was Where is my joy or Where is my jewel And her Father being tender and sometime exercised under a threatning Distemper many would have said That it made her look liker Death than her Father She would sometimes have said She should never endure to see her Father die And after his Fits had been over and he pretty well again yet for many Nights after she would rise of her own accord and come down in the dark Night to see how her Father was So that she might well say of him and he retort it back again in the words of good old Jacob concerning Benjamin My life is lapt up in the Lass And as she was a careful and constant Performer of her Duty both to God and Man walking in all the Commandments of God and serving the Lord in Holiness and Righteousness thereby becoming an useful Instrument while she lived in health in her place and station so she manifested much Piety towards God quiet and chearful submission to his Will and much Charity towards Man much Patience Christian Prudence Courage and Hope whilst under her Death-bed Distemper as will appear more at large by her Occasional Speeches at that time and at last She died in Peace with much Assurance of God's Love resigning up her Soul to God and falling asleep in the Lord the Third Day of August 1672 being Nineteen Years of Age and Three Months The EXPERIENCES of Mrs Mary Wilson as they were taken from her own mouth in the fifteenth year of her Age which was in the year of our Lord 1667. AT that time when my Father was at London which was in the Year aforesaid it was the good pleasure of God to draw out my Affections to the Lord and after the means of Grace So that I often thought it long after one opportunity of Grace passed till another came to be enjoyed And at that time when I had any thoughts about the present Troubles that we were under meaning the Troubles about her Father's Estate which theâ— depended upon a Trial in the High Court of Chancery I then thought that I could freely submit to the good pleasure of the Lord whatever he had a mind to do in it And I had then very longing Desires to read some good Books whereupon I was happily cast upon Mr. Brooks his Book entituled Apples of Gold c. By the reading of which especially some Motives to stir up young oneâ— to fear the Lord the Lord was pleased to make them of Use for the good of my Soul As First The Consideration that Christ died for us betimes and why should not we live to him betimes O give not Christ cause to say that I died for you betimes why should not you have lived to me betimes c. Who but Souls much left of God and blinded by Satan can hear the Lord Jesus say I laid down a Ransom for some betimes c. I satisfied Divine Justice betimes I pacified my Fathers wrath betimes Who can hear Christ reckon up all what he hath done for Souls and not fall in
Love and League with Christ and for ever to be united to Christ and for ever be one with Christ And I thought the reading of these and other Motives did more and more engage my heart to Christ And then I considered That though I had made Conscience before of committing the least Sin that I knew to be a Sin yet I had not given up my self to the Lord in that serious manner that I ought to have done for I was too vain as I now see both in my Thoughts Words and Actions and went on securely and did not at all question my Estate and Condition nor did I see any thing of the evil of mine own heart till the Lord was pleased to discover it to me And when I did endeavour to set my self to any Duty or to have my Meditations upon any thing that was good then I found the starting up of Sin in my Heart and a woful Aversness and Backwardness in my heart to any thing that was good And though I was sensible of something that was my Duty to do which as I thought I would have willingly done yet when I came to it it seemed burdensome to me Afterwards I read Mr. Shepheards Sincere Convert by which the Lord was pleased to let me see from whence all that backwardness in my heart did spring the cause of which was that Original Sin that I brought into the world with me And then it was the grief of my heart that I could not be humbled for that Sin as I ought to be And it did the more grieve me in that I had known it before by Questions that my Father had asked me about it and yet it did but swim in my brain I did not think that it was mine own Case in particular nor did I apply it to mine own Heart wherefore I did mourn because I could not mourn enough for and under such an oppressing evil as this was to me Whereupon the Lord gave me in these supporting Scriptures Isai 53.7 Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts and let him return unto the Lord and he will have mercy upon him and to our God for he will abundantly pardon Mat. 11.28 Come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy laden and I will give you Rest Then I thought these were very sweet Scriptures but I had something to object against my self that they did not belong unto me because I felt not the weight and burden of Sin in that degree and measure as I ought Though I was sensible of Sin lying upon me yet I thought Sin as Sin was not so real a burthen to me as it ought to have been And therefore I concluded that I had no Right to such Promises but put them often away from me till it pleased the Lord to set home that other Scripture upon my heart Mat. 12.20 A bruised reed shall he not break and smoaking slax shall he not quench till he send forth judgment unto Victory And providentially reciting Mr. Love's Different Degrees of Grace I found that same place opened sweetly which told me to my encouragement That though there was much smoak of Infirmity yet if there was but the least breathings of Grace the Lord would not quench it but breath upon it and increase it And that he would not despise the Day of small things And by these things I was much encouraged and refreshed After that hearing Mr. Nicholson upon Math. 7.21 Not every one that saith unto me Lord Lord shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven From which was observed That it is not a bare naked and â—mpty Profession of Religion though never so â—ealously maintained that is sufficient to save any â—an In his Discourse upon this point he came â— shew how easie a thing it was to mistake about a â—od Profession and a bad one First From the nearness of their resemblance â—â—ch to other The lamps of the five foolish Virgins were like to the lamps of the five wise Virgins Secondly By comparing our selves at present â—â—th what we had been before a man may be â—â—other Creature and yet not a new Creature Thirdly We may mistake by comparing our â—â—ves with others that are worse in appearance â—â—an our selves Fourthly By some superficial Touches and â—â—ward Flashes of Conscience a man may proâ—â—â— from Conviction as well as from Conversion By the hearing of this I was again discouraged â—â—d brought again to fear that all this time I â—â—d but been under some superficial Touches upon â—â— Affections and I thought my Profession was â—â— good or at least I might be mistaken about 〈◊〉 because it was an easie thing to mistake it But â—â—erwards he came to distinguish betwixt a good â—â—fession and a bad and shewed First That a true Profession of Religion it â—aies respects Christ as the Fountain and â—â—der of it Secondly It leads to Christ as the mark and end of it Thirdly It ariseth from such a principle â—â— Grace within as puts down the Creature in it own eyes but lifts up Christ and his Grace Fourthly It is alwaies attended with an high valuation of Christ Fifthly It maketh much of Christ in the worâ— of times Christ's Cross is as really dear as hâ—â— Crown But on the other hand A false Profession of Christ springs from self directs â—â— self exalts self and doth but make a stalking horse of Christ at best These things through the Blessing of God tenâ—â— much to my Satisfaction and Comfort for by thâ—â— marks I thought I could truly say That 〈◊〉 sired to go to Christ as my Fountain and Feedâ—â— and could do no further than I had Christ to be 〈◊〉 fountain feeder And I thought I could truly sâ— that I desired the end of my life might be the Glâ—â— of Christ But after this through my Corruption Weaknesses these things did slide out of my miâ—â— Then Fears began to arise again That all â—â— not right with me finding especially the aversâ—â— of my heart to the performance of every Duty 〈◊〉 the wonted evils that were in my heart remainâ—â— And many Fears possessed my Soul that all 〈◊〉 depart from me again and it proved so Tâ—â— Scripture being often upon my Spirit If thou 〈◊〉 gâ—ard Iniquity in thine heart the Lord will not â—â—ear thy Prayer Whereupon I concluded that â—here was nothing but Iniquity in my heart and so 〈◊〉 would give over Praying And I did give it â—ver for many Days except at some single times â—nd then I found not the Presence of God as â—eretofore and so found it to be but liveless Duty â—â—at I performed And thus continuing for some â—â—me in the neglect of Duty and my Heart growing vain and light yet not considering from â—hence I was fallen all this while But after a while I began to consider that I â—â—d suffered woful decays in my Affections and â—â— thought I would endeavour to get my heart into â—â— better frame against another
Therefore we must necessarily understand it 〈◊〉 his Coming to the particular Day of Judgment to judg every Person when he dieth At least it cannot but be included herein The words offer two Points of Doctrine fairly to our Consideration Doct. 1. That it is the great concern of all Men that would be saved to make ready against the coming of Christ Doct. 2. That the uncertain time of Christ's certain coming should make all men to prepare and get ready for his coming The first Doctrine is that which we shall mainly insist upon as suiting the present sad occasion and the condition of all our Souls For the prosecution whereof three things shall be done First I shall shew you what it is to make ready against the coming of Christ or wherein this readiness doth consist Secondly Why it is the great concern of all that would be saved to make ready for the coming of Christ Thirdly Make Application of the Point First What it is to be ready against the coming of Christ or Wherein this Readiness doth consist I know that men generally think â—t no great business to get ready for Christ's â—oming Some think it is easily done And others think it is already done And a Third think that it matters not whether it be done or not for Mercy will save them whether they be ready or not But let all these consider That there is a Twofold Readiness that all must be found in that look for Salvation First There is a Fundamental Readiness Secondly There is an Actual Readiness First There is a Fundamental Readiness and this is also twofold First Negative Secondly Positive First There is a Negative-Fundamental Readiness and this lieth in putting off concerning the former conversation the old man which is corrupt according to the deceitful Lusts Ephes 4.22 The Scripture phraseth it several waies as To deny all ungodliness and worldly Lusts Tit. 2.12 former part To put away the evil of your doings To cease to do evil Isa 1.16 17. To lay aside every weight and that Sin which doth so easily beset us Heb. 12.1 To pluck out the right Eye and cast it from us to cut off the right hand and cast it from us Mat. 5.29 30. And many more such Phrases are to be found scattered up and down the Scriptures But these may suffice to teach us thus much That all that must be done before any man can be fundamentally prepared to meet the Lord Jesus I know there are many men in the world that make Gods Mercy the only pillow to bolstâ—â— themselves up in their wickedness that think they shall have peace though they add Drunkenness to Thirst that is Though they make provision for the flesh to fulfil it in the Lusts of it But let such know That if ever they be saved they must look to this Negative-fundamental Readiness that is Cast away all their Iniquities for bear to walk in the forbidden path of Sin for the Scripture assureth us That such as walk in crooked paths shall be led forth with the Workers of Iniquity that is They shall be â—ed to the place of Execution with such ungodly Sinners Psal 125.5 Secondly There is a Positive-fundamental Readiness which lyeth in being born again Joh. 3.3 Verily verily I say unto thee Except a man be born again be cannot see the Kingdom of God The Scripture also phraseth this several waies as To put on the new man which of to God is created in Righteousness and true Hosiness Ephes 4.24 To be renewed in the Spirit of our mind Ephes 4.23 To be born of the Water and of the Spirit Joh. 3.5 To be begotten again 1 Pet. 1.3 Jam. 1.18 To be â—onverted Math. 18.3 To repent Luk. 13.3 â— Act. 2.38 and 3.19 To believe in the Lord Jesus Act. 16.31 To be a new Creature 2 Cor. â— 17 To learn to do well Isa 1.17 To rash and make clean Isa 1.16 To make you a â—ew heart and a new spirit Ezek. 18.31 To â—â—ve godly righteously and soberly in this present â—vil world Tit. 2.12 And several other waies his Positive-fundamental Readiness is expressed in the Scriptures But I have given you these to let you see that all this you must be and do before you can be said to be ready to meet the Lord Jesus What ever the mad doting world dreameth of yet must men be brought to see That if ever they inherit Eternal Life they must go thorow this Regeneration-work They must become new Creatures and all old things must be done away and all things must become new Look to this all you that talk of Heaven and say you are marching up through the wilderness of this World to the eternal good Land of Canaan If you be deceived herein you are undone eternally Secondly There is an Actual Readiness that all must endeavour after that expect Salvation and this consisteth in these Seven Particulars First This Actual Readiness lyeth in the exercise of that Grace that is already wrought iâ— the heart of any man and this supposeth a fundamental or habitual Readiness of which we have but now spoken If once the Habit 〈◊〉 Grace be infused and seated in the Soul there must be the acting of it which is the drawing oâ— it forth into exercise If a man hath Faith hâ—â— must live by Faith if he hath the root of Holiness within him it must blossom and bud There is no Actual fitness for meeting of the Lord Jesus where there is no exerting and putting forth of the acts of Grace Luk. 12.35 Let â—our loins be girded about and your lights burning and ye your selves like unto men that wait for their Lord v. 36. where it is implied That â—hose Souls are not in a fit posture for Christ's â—oming that have not their loins girded and their lights burning that is That are not actually applying themselves to the exercise of Grace or trimming their lamps as the Phrase is Mat. 25.6 7. Believe it Christian Thou art â—ot actually ready to meet the Lord Jesus if thou â—rt not living by Faith and labouring to keep live the breathings of the Holy Ghost in thy â—oul The Apostle Peter sheweth us what Posture men should be in that are looking for salvation by Jesus Christ they should be actually bent to the acting of Grace 1 Pet. 1.13 â—herefore gird up the loins of your mind be sober and hope to the end for the Grace that is to be â—rought unto you at the Revelation of Jesus â—hrist Secondly This Actual Readiness lies in makâ—ng new Additions of Grace to that Grace that â— already received To be coming forward in â—oliness and increasing with the increase of God To sit down with the Grace that thou â—ast already received is to remain under great â—efects and gross Neglects which is nothing â—se but plain and down-right actual Unpreparedness to meet the Lord Jesus The Scriptures tell us of Additions of Grace to be made to out Grace not only additions of Grace
to Grace â— mean of one Grace unto another but of degrees of Grace to the same Grace that is already received The former is plain from 2 Pet. 1.5 6 7 8. Add to your Faith vertue c. The latter is as plain from those Scriptures that enjoin the increase of particular Graces upon us 2 Pet. 3.18 But grow in Grace and in the Knowledg of our Lord Jesus Christ Jude v. 20. But ye Beloved Building up your selves in your most holy Faith 1 Thes 4.10 We beseech yeâ— Brethren that ye increase more and more that is in love Jam. 1.4 But let patience have he perfect work that ye may be perfect and entire wanting nothing And many more such instances might be given Now till this be done thou art not actually ready to meet the Lord Jesus There is a certain measure of Grace assigned and the period of time fixed for every Saint to come up to it in Ephes 4.13 and tâ—â— this be done we are not compleatly ready Thirdly Actual Readiness consisteth in this To have your Evidences clear for Heaven Tâ— be able to prove to your own Souls that you are in a state of Grace Till you be come up tâ— this length you are not so ready as you should be The Apostle enjoineth Saints To give â—â— diligence to make their Calling and Election sunâ— 2 Pet. 1.10 that is sure to themselves And when you have done this then are you ready for the Bridegroom 's coming When you can say with Paul and the other Apostles 2 Corinth 5.1 We know that if our earthly house of this Tabernacle were dissolved we have a building of God an house not made with hands eternal in the Heavens then are you actually ready and prepared for the Coming of the Lord. O then try your own selves your states and conditions to see whether Christ be in you or not Never think that you can be ready in any good measure till you understand something of this Can a man be ready to meet Christ that knoweth not whether he belongeth to Heaven or Hell to Salvation or Destruction Alas Such an one is yet short of that degree of readiness that should be attained in order to Christ's coming Fourthly There is also this in Actual Readiness to meet the Lord Jesus viz. A compleating of the work that God hath given us to do Every man hath his Generation-work set him of God to do and finish and till this be done no man is ready for the coming of the Lord. It is said of David Act. 13.46 That after he had served his Generation he fell asleep When a man hath done all his Generation-work he is then fit for Death and ready for Christ St. Paul foreseeing his Death hath these Expressions 2 Tim. 4.6 7. I am now ready to be offered and the time of my Departure is at hand I have fought a good fight I have finished my course I have kept the Faith Mark Paul saith he is ready to be offered as our Translation hath it though I know the Greek word may be translated otherwise But how proves St. Paul that he is ready Why For saith he I have finished my course c. As if he had said I have done all my Generation-work and therefore I am ready O Souls then and not till then are you ready to meet the Lord Jesus till you have done all the work which God hath given you to do in the world Most men God knoweth spend their time for very Vanity not considering that they have their task to do yet they think when they have lived as long as they can then there is no more but dying and entring into Glory Poor mistaken Soul Thou hast thy Generation-work to mind and also to compleat And if thou hast not set about it and brought it to its period thou art far from the Kingdom of God and consequently very unfit to die and unready to meet the Lord Jesus Be not deceived There is much to do before thou canst be ready for Christ Try then what thou hast done this way Hast thou wrought out thine own Salvation with fear and trembling Phil. 2.12 Hast thou filled up thy time with Duty Hast thou done all the work of thy Place Condition and Relation If not thou art not yet ready enough to meet the Lord Jesus Fifthly This Actual Readiness lies also in this viz. To have the Affections in subjection and under command and as it were brought under ones feet That when the Lord Jesus cometh with a Summons for the Souls appearance then the Soul to have so much power over it self as to say Arise let me go hence So that there needeth no more but Christ's Call and the Soul is ready to set forward and to take sits march to meet him this now is actual Readiness It is said of Abraham that when he was called to go into a place that he should afterwards receive for an Inheritance he obeyed Heb. 11.8 So when Christ giveth the Soul a Call to go from hence for the Soul then to have its Affections so subdued and so under command as forthwith to obey the Lord's Call this â—s Readiness indeed It is also said That the Witnesses upon a voice crying from Heaven to them Come up hither ascended to Heaven in a Cloud Rev. 11.12 So when Christ's voice from Heaven biddeth the Soul come up hither and the Soul upon the call ascendeth to Heaven this is Readiness in multis gradibus in many legrees to meet the Lord Jesus We read that when the Lord shall give the poor Jews a Call to return that they shall be so ready in their Affections to make answer to their Call as that they shall forthwith make this Reply Behold we come unto thee for thou art the Lord our God Jer. 3.22 So when Christ saith Return ye Children of Men and we answer Behold we come unto thee then are we in a proportionable measure prepared to meet the Lord Jesus The Centurion told Christ That his Servants were so under his Authority that if he bid one of them go he goeth and if another come he cometh and if he bid the third do this he doth it Mat. 8.9 So if our Affections like the Centurion's Servants be so under Christ's and our Authority that if they be bid go they gp or come they come or do this they do it This is to be fitted for the coming of Christ Bâ—â— on the other hand now If the Affections be â—â— unruly unsubdued and masterful as that theâ— will not bend to the Call of Christ when eveâ— he summoneth any of us to appear before Hâ—â— we are not yet ready to meet the Lord Jesus Many Souls I know will pretend that if thâ—â— be to be ready then they are already prepared for they are as they pretend willing to depaâ—â— from hence when ever the Lord shall call theâ— But alas How far are such mistaken for let bâ— Christ Call for their Souls
Abraham That when he went to sacrifice up his Son Isaac to God he left his Young men with the Ass behind him Gen. 22.5 to when a man sacrificeth up his life to God for him then to leave all at the foot of the hill this â—â— a suitable frame of spirit for a dying hour It â—â— said of those Worthies in Heb. 11.15 That â—hey were not mindful of the Countrey from whence they came out They did not like Israel in the Wilderness think of Egypt or look â—ack like Lot's wife towards Sodom but they hung loose from the world and only fixed and fastened their Affections upon Heaven How did several of our famous English Martyrs in Q. Maries daies hang loose from their dearest comforts and Relations That when they were set before them sometimes for a Temptation or Aggravation of their sorrows and torments could easily overlook them and go on in their Suffering down to the Valley and Shadow of Death with the greatest chearfulness imaginable O blessed frame when a man is so dead to his Life Relations and all other worldly enjoyments as that he is not captivated in his Affections with it but hath in a holy manner so forgot it as that he is got above it here is a person indeed of a suitable frame of Spirit for a Dying hour How many are there that have the world set in their heart as the expression is Eccles 3.11 That have the very Essigies or Scheme of the world drawn upon their hearts as Calice was upon the heart of Q. Mary as she her self expressed it Alas such are like to have as sorrowful a parting with and from it as we may imagine the rich Fool had from his Goods laid up for many years in that night when his Soul was required of him Luke 12.19 20. Poor men These are far from this suitable frame of spirit for a Dying hour Fourthly When a man hath a rellish of Heaven upon his Spirit a taste and fore-taste of the fruit of the Vine that is drunk in that eternal Canaan this is a suitable frame of Spirit for a Dying hour A man is never fitter for Dying â—hen when his heart is in Heaven and his spirit â—lipt in the honey of Canaan When the grapes of Eshcol and Pomegranats and Figs of Canaan are tasted and leave such a tang upon the spirit behind them as sharpen the appetite and scent the Soul with the sweet odours and perfumes of Heaven here is a glorious frame of Spirit for a Dying hour When good Simeon that had waited for the Consolation of Israel had got Christ in his Arms He tasted so sweet to the spiritual Palate of the good man as that he is forward for dying Now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace according to thy word for mine tyes have seen thy Salvation Luk. 2.28 29 30. Heaven dropt into the spirit of a man and the scent thereof retained puts a man into a right and suitable frame of heart for a dying Hour All the Pains Aches Troubles and Tortures that attend such cannot unframe them while Heaven and their Souls are thus incorporated together Nihil crus sentit in nervo cum animus â—est in coelo Tertul. And thus much shall serve for the opening of the first Particular viz. Wherein this Readiness to meet the Lord Jesus doth consist Secondly Now it followeth next in order to shew you Why it is the great Concern of all that would be saved to make ready for the Coming of the Lord Jesus GROUNDS First Because of the great hazard that all men run into that make not ready for the coming of Christ Let me explain this a little to you and that in Two Particulars First In reference to the wicked The hazard they run in not preparing and making ready for Christ's coming is most dreadful and dangerous They do inevitably expose their Soul to everlasting Ruine and Destruction It hath been shown you already that there is a Fundamental Readiness which positively lyeth in Regeneration and if the work of Regeneration pass not upon you before the coming of the Lord Jesus you are undone to all Eternity What is more plain from the infallible Scriptures than that unless a man be born again he cannot seâ— the Kingdom of God Doth not the Scripture tell you That no unclean thing shall enter into that Holy City of Heaven nor any thing whatsoever that worketh Abomination or maketh a Lie Rev. 21. last And what then will become of such Now see what the Scripture saith in this particular Except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish Luk. 13.3 5. Now consider his all ye that forget God lest he tear you in â—ieces and there be none to deliver And you Hypocrites Though you have cleaner faces than he profaner sort in the world yet your hearts â—â—e as black as theirs and the hazard you run is â—â—ost dreadful Read at your leasure Mat. 25. â— 8 10 11 12. Were not the Five foolish Virgins shut out of the Bridegrooms Chamber â—h consider it seriously Is it nothing to venture â—our Souls and to expose them to so great a â—azard as you certainly do while you neglect regarding this Fundamental Readiness Secondly In reference to the Godly themselves â—â—en they expose themselves to hazard for want of Actual Preparation Though their Souls be â—â—fe in the main through their habitual Readiness so that they cannot finally miscarry yet â—ere are hazards they run through their Defectiveness in actual Readiness I will shew you in Four Particulars 1. They make their passage through this vally of Bacha exceeding difficult and dark their salvation at last is a surprizal to them And their fears at present cannot but be great upon them especially upon occasions when Eternity â—â— before them and they see themselves before â—e very face of it It cannot be otherwise but â—ose Souls that have had no due regard to actual Preparation for the coming of Christ unless they have lost all sense of their Souls and Eternity to come must have doleful Fears and inward pinching Perplexities especially when Death stareth them in the face When a man hath been lamentably off from the exercise of Grace and putting on the Wedding-garment and making out his title to everlasting life â—â— his conscience be awakened he must needs walth sorrowfully thorow the Valley of the shadow â—â— Death This is apparent from the Five was Virgins they were not actually ready when thâ—â— Bridegroom came upon them and then in what an hurry were they Mat. 25.7 then all thâ—â— Virgins arose and trimmed their lamps Theâ— arose with a fright like men that are suddenâ— alarmed out of their sleep at Midnight Nâ— question they were startled to purpose through the greatness of those fears that were upon then and were surprized with their Salvation And is it nothing to you O Saints to run this hazard or to bring upon your selves all this trouble and perplexity Assuredly you will be â—â— danger of
that come under the lash of this Point First There is the Carnal Professour thaâ— justly falleth under Conviction who deceiveth himself with his fair pretences and meer shaâ—â— dows he looketh like one that is making ready for Christ and yet really and in good earneâ—â— he never endeavoureth to get his Soul furnisheâ— with those Preparations that would fit him sâ—â— Christ This poor man like the five fooliâ—â— Virgins hath his lamp but he hath no oyâ—â— it His heart is graceless and yet he goes oâ—â— till he see himself deceived when it is too lateâ— My Friends believe it for a truth It is not whâ—â—â— you appear to be by your Profession but whaâ—â— you really and actually are by powerful impressions within you and spiritual actions done bâ—â— you that will make you to be ready for tâ—â— Coming of the Lord Christ Do you think thaâ— the Lord Jesus will look upon your outward Profession to be all the Preparation he required when he shall come and call for your Souls Be not mistaken Whatever you think or judg in this Case the Lord Christ will be of another mind yea and will disown such to be ready for him Mark his own words Math. 7.21 22. Not every one that saith unto me Lord Lord â—hall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven But he â—hat doth the Will of my Father which is in Heaven Many will say in that day Lord Lord have we not prophesied in thy Name and 〈◊〉 thy Name cast out Devils and in thy Name one many marvellous works But maâ—k what answer he returneth them And then will I proâ—ss unto them I never knew you Depare from â—eye that work iniquity Secondly There is the earthly Miser whose â—art is eaten out and devoured with the ca es â— the world This silly Muckworm cometh â—â—der the whip Alas This covetous Wretch â—â—ndeth at the widest distance from Preparaâ—â—n for the coming of Christ It is true he is â—â—king himself ready but what is it for onâ—â—for his Incomes from the world There is no â—â—n of greater Contrivance Care and Action â—â—n this wretch but all is spent and laid out â—ut his earthly Concerns His Thoughts â—ections Head Heart and Hand are all â—aged but still about his carnal Contemements Though he sometimes talk of Heaven and the Coming of Christ yet is he not at leisure to think leriously of either He cannot spare time from the world to prepare for Heaven and Christ See his Emblem or Portraicture to the life in the Parable of the Rich man recorded in Luk 12.16 17 18. where we have hiâ— Thoughtfulness Care Contrivance and Activeness set forth about his earthly Profits And tâ— speak the truth A worldly man looketh upon the world and his concerns in it to be 〈◊〉 greatest concerns As for Heaven and going to it he is willing to run the hazard this shall not trouble either his head or heart at presenâ— But if he must think of Heaven and the comâ— of Christ he will defer that till he hath do with all his concerns in the world and that when he cometh to die then he will cry 〈◊〉 mercy and ask forgiveness and this is all 〈◊〉 Readiness in his judgment that will be requisite to be minded Adde to these your Jovial Sirs that spâ—â—â— their days in mirth and in a moment go doâ—â— to the Grave That live as if their lives were be sacrificed to their lusts Poor men Tâ—â—â— put far from them the evil Day and all thouâ—â— of the coming of Christ Amos 6.3 4 5 6. 〈◊〉 men in the world are more unready for a dâ—â— hour than these And God many times coâ—â—â— upon these on a sudden and sweepeth them to the Grave in the midst of their Jollity read and tremble at those words of Christ Luk. 12.20 But God said unto him Thou fool this night shall thy Soul be required of thee If you mark it was that very night after the poor Miser had been pleasing himself with the thoughts of what stores of Wealth and Pleasure he had laid up for his Soul against the time to come v. 19. I will say to my soul Soul thou hast much goods laid up for many years eat drink and be merry But this poor Fool is cut off in the midst of his pleasing thoughts before the morning The like you have in Belshazzar who in the midst of his Cups is fairly presented with the Finger of Death to cut him off Dan. 5.1 2 3 4 5 6. Thirdly There is the Secure Sinner that is fast asleep upon his Pillow of ease who is not â—t all awakened either by the Threatnings of the Word or other Providential Alarms that â—â—e hath He hath many Spectacles of Mortaâ—ity before his eyes yet is he not at all startled â—â—r awakened by any of these to consider his ways these also are far from this Readiness to meet the Lord Jesus Poor secure Sinners what will you do in the Day when the Lord shall â—ome forth against you Do you think that then â—e shall be able to sit quiet and remain secure 〈◊〉 trow not When God shall arise and comâ—â—â—pon you he will awaken you to purpâ—â—â— When there was a cry made at Midnight 〈◊〉 hold the Bridegroom cometh the slumbering Virgins could sleep no longer They had been secure and sleepy under Ordinances and Prâ—â—dences before but when Christ cometh upon them they rouse up to purpose Matth. 25 â—â— will it be done to you There is not the secâ—â—â— rest Soul among you but when the Lord Chriâ—â— alarms you shall rise up with trembling yoâ—â— will be made to quake for fear at his appearance O then to prevent this awake your selves bâ—â—â— times and get ready that Christ may not coâ—â—â— upon you at unawares Fourthly The Presumptuous Sinner fallen under Reproof by this Doctrine who hardened himself in his Wickedness and sinneth with aâ— high hand and yet concludeth he shall haâ—â— peace though he walketh after the Imaginations of his own evil heart to adde Drunkenneâ—â— to Thirst But what saith the Scripture about this sort of men The Text is terrible Deut. 29â— 19 20. The Lord will not spare that man but bâ—â— anger and jealousie shall smoak against him 〈◊〉 then be not so foolishly mad as to hope for Mercy at the coming of Christ whilst ye go on aâ— so round a rate in Sin Though ye have made 〈◊〉 Covenant with Death and with Hell are at agreement yet because ye have made lies your refugâ—â— and hid your selves under falshood your Covenant with Death shall be disannulled and your agreement with Hell shall not stand The Hail shâ—â— sweep away your refuge of lies and the waters shall overflow your hiding place and when the overflowing scourge shall pass thorow then shall â—e be troden down by it Isa 28.15 16 17 18. Fifthly To add no more There is the languishing Professour that falleth under the rebuke of this Doctrine who though his condition be safe because of his
habitual Readiness the grace of Regeneration being found within him yet may he sadly smart for his Relapses before â—e give up the Ghost Hast thou not heard before what hazards even the Godly do run for want of actual Preparation Is it a small thing in thine account to be under the Trounâ—ings of Satan the hidings of God's Face the â—remblings of Conscience and the terrors of Death Remember therefore from whence thou â—â—rt fallen and repent and do the first works or â—â—se the Lord Christ will come unto thee quickly â—nd remove thee out of thy place except thou reâ—ent Be watchful and strengthen the things â—hat are ready to die which yet remain for thy works are not found perfect before God Rememâ—er therefore how thou hast received and heard â—nd hold fast and repent If therefore thou shalt â—ot watch the Lord Christ will come on thee as Thief and thou shalt not know what hour he will â—ome upon thee Rev. 2.5 and 3.2 3. Use 2. Secondly Is it the great concernment â—f all that look to be saved to make ready against the coming of Christ Then it is thâ— greatest Folly imaginable to neglect making ready for Christ's Coming That man lies aâ—â— waies under the imputation of extreme Folly that neglecteth his principal Concerns Is 〈◊〉 not an arrant Fool that will not mind his moâ—â— necessary Concernments wherein his very lâ—â—â— and welfare is wrapt up Quae te dementia cepit That you may see the extreme folly and maâ—ness of men herein I will shew you it a litâ—â—â— more particularly and that very briefly First That man that neglecteth making reâ—dy for Christ's coming he hath no regard 〈◊〉 or care of his great Soul His Carelessness about making due Preparation to meet the Lâ—â—â— Jesus doth plainly speak forth thus much That whether his Soul sink or swim be saâ—â— or damned he mattereth it not He willâ—â—â— so much as trouble either his Head or Heart about it And is not this the greatest pieceâ—â— Folly that can be What man more madâ—â— foolish than he that setteth his Soul aside 〈◊〉 forgetteth or else careth not to do any thâ—â— about it that may tend to save it Our 〈◊〉 Jesus telleth us That the Soul of man is beâ—â—â—â— than the whole world for so much his woâ—â—â— do sound Math. 16.26 What is a man profâ—â—â— â—f he gain the whole world and lose his own Soul â—r what shall he give in exchange for his soul Now is that man any other than a simple Fool that neglecteth his Soul which the whole world cannot equalize the worth of or repair the loss of if he could enjoy it all to himself Secondly That man that neglecteth Preparation for the Coming of Christ he doth but treasure up wrath unto himself against the day of Wrath and Revelation of the righteous Judgement of God And is not he a Fool that provideth Instruments of Cruelty for himself And thus doth every one though they think it not that neglecteth to make ready for Christ's appearance I speak to such as never mind the work of Repentance but go on in a course of Sin these of all others are the greatest Fools in that they do all the while store up plagues for themselves Rom. 2.4 5 6. Thirdly The Folly of him that mindeth not making ready for the coming of Christ appeares in this That he doth but harden himself against â—he coming of Christ And is he not a grand Fool think ye that thus setteth himself against Christ Whoever hardened himself against God and prospered I do not think that every one that mindeth not to make himself ready to meet â—he Lord Jesus doth intentionally and resolredly harden himself against Christ for these â—re only that Atheistical and debanched Crew that are void of all Fear and Conscience that bid open defiance against Heaven Psal 73 9â— But my Friends after you have heard it to be your Duty to make ready against that time when you shall be called to appear before Christ iâ— you then neglect to do it it will be interpreted of Christ to be a hardening your selves against him Because you know it to be your Duty and yet will not do it And what a Madman 〈◊〉 he that will put himself into such a posture aâ— will bespeak him to be hardening himself against Christ Can their hearts endure or their hands be strong in the day that God shall deal with them Ezek. 22.14 Will ye provoke the Lord to jealousie are ye stronger than he Remember it was Israels overthrow in the Wilderness that they hardened themselves against God this made their Carkases fall there so that they never came to Canaan Psal 95.8 9 10 11. Heb. 3.8 9 10 11. I shall leave but that one place further with you and then consider of it Revel 6.14 15 16 17. And the Heaven departed at a Scroll when it is rolled together and every Mountain and Island were moved out of their places And the Kings of the earth and the great Men and the Rich men and the Chief Captains and the Mighty men and every Bondman and every Freeman hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the Mountains And said to the mountains and Rocks Fall on us and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the Throne and from the wrath of the Lamb For the great day of his wrath is come and who shall be able to stand You see that Christ will make the stoutest of men to tremble that harden themselves against him Fourthly Their folly appeareth by this who neglect to prepare and make ready for Christ Jesus his Coming in that so doing they undervalue Heaven And is he not to be reckoned a prosane Fool that makes no reckoning of Heaven The poor Indians folly was seen in this That they were so willing to part with their Gold for some pieces of Brass or for other Toys and Trifles that were of no great value Now that man that taketh no care to make himself ready to come before the Lord Jesus his neglect doth plainly declare That Heaven beareth to price with him For there is no man that â—ometh within the sound of the Gospel â—ut he heareth That without Repentance no salvation and that without Holiness no man shall see the Lord. Now after the declaration â—â— all this in the ears of such a person If he shall sive in the neglect of looking after Repentance â—r the work of Holiness he doth evidently maâ—ifest That Heaven signifieth not much to him for he that will not carefully look after the heans and also use them that relate to such an â—nd his very neglecting of the means doth bespeak him to have no great regard to the end especially when he knoweth that it is not possible in an ordinary way to come to enjoy such an end without making use of such means And will not this prove a man to be a Fool Remember that Esau is called a profane person or as the
word may be rendered a profane Fool for despising his Birth-right which showed his undervaluing of Heaven and preferring the earth before it Heb. 12.16 with Gen. 25.34 Use 3. Thirdly Is it the grand Concernment of all that would be saved to make ready for Christ's coming Then let it serve for Exhortation to press you all seriously and earnestly to make your selves ready Entertain the Lord Christ's advice in the Text Be ye therefore ready also I shall enforce the Duty upon you with two or three Considerations because I must hasten Considerations First Consider that your sasety lyeth in making ready for Christ I would think That there is not a person among you this day but would give something to know that his Soul is safe and shall be secured against all future hazards of miscarrying eternally Why my Friends I can tell you how you may have them secure enough Do but you get and make sure of that â—undamental-Readiness you were told of and abour still after Actual Preparation and your Souls will be safe and past the peril of miscarrying eternally Though you may dash sometimes against some Rocks before you get over â—â—e troublesome Sea of this world yet shall not â—he Vessel of your Soul be split upon any of these â—ocks but shall come safely in into the Harbour 〈◊〉 Heaven Secondly Consider that Christ may come upon 〈◊〉 at unawares The time of his coming may â—ove a surprizal to you O then get ready my â—riends There is none of you that knoweth â—ow soon you may have a call to go from hence â—hich of your Funerals may be the next neither 〈◊〉 nor I know But this I know That few 〈◊〉 us thought that we should have seen this â—ournful day on such a sudden Was it not a â—â—prizal to the most Though not to the party â—â—eceased for she had strong impressions of â—â—eath when others had no fear of it at all â—atch therefore for ye neither know the day nor 〈◊〉 hour wherein the Son of man cometh Mat. â— 13 Thirdly Consider what comfort it will be to 〈◊〉 in a Dying hour to know that you are ready though Death is and will be the King of Terâ—â—urs to others yet it will be a welcome Mesâ—ger to you Then shall ye be able to reckon up for one of your Priviledges yea your last Priviledg in this world according to that of the Apostle 1 Cor. 3.22 Death is yours Fourthly Consider how readily ye shall be entertained and received of Christ if you do but get ready for him There shall no stop be made but forthwith ye shall enter into Glory Mat. 25.10 And they that were ready went in with him unto the Marriage So soon as Lazarus was dead his Soul was carried into Abraham's bosome Luk. 16.22 Do but you mind to make you ready the Lord Christ will quickly pass the Sentence for your entrance into his Eternal Kingdome The Fourth Use Fourthly Is it the great Concern of all that would be saved to prepare for the Coming of Christ Then this Use may serve for Consolation to all such as have in some good measure been fitting themselves for the appearance of Christ and are still making it their business to be compleating their Readiness for his Coming It speaketh Comfort to such in two or three Particulars First Take this for your Comfort at present That you shall certainly sit down with Christ in Glory The Marriage-Supper is prepared for you and you shall be Guests at the Bridegrooms Table All the attendance that can be expected you shall have Christ himself will gird himself and come forth and serve you Luk. 12.37 Blessed are those Servants whom the Lord when he cometh shall find watching Verily I say unto you that he shall gird himself and make them to sit down to meat and will come forth and serve them And what an honourable attendance is this for the Master of the house â—o wait on his Servants Secondly It speaks this comfort to them That when ever Christ cometh it shall not be a surprisal to them If you continue your preparation for Christ his Coming and do not fall asleep or grow secure again Christ will not come on you unawares you shall then speak of Christ's Coming eternally to save you as the Church peaketh of the Lord 's coming eternally to save â—er Isa 25.9 And it shall be said in that day Lo his is our God we have waited for him and he â—ill save us This is the Lord we have waited or him we will be glad and rejoice in his Salvation They are only the sleepy and slumbering Virgins that are surprized with his Coming such â—s are making ready for him and expecting him â—hall not be taken at unawares Though they â—now not the time of his Coming yet because â—hey are looking and waiting for his Coming â—hey shall not be surprized when ever he cometh â—urely I come quickly saith Christ Amen â—ith the prepared Soul Even so come Lord Iesus Rev. 22.20 Thirdly There is this further comfort also in it That such prepared Souls shall ordinarily have some comfortable foretasts of glory to come Such shall eat of the Grapes of Eshcol while they are in the way to Heaven before they come into the Land of Canaan it self I do not say that it is alwaies thus with prepared Souls a for some possibly that have diligently endeavoured to prepared themselves for the Coming oâ— Christ may yet notwithstanding feel nothing buâ— bitterness in their spirits in their way to glory aâ— the case seemeth to have been with precious Heman Psal 88. throughout And the 15 versâ— thereof tells us That this was his case from hiâ— youth up I am afflicted and ready to die from my youth up while I suffer thy terrors I am distracted The Hebrew word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is translated from my youth up signifieth Childhood and cometh from a root that signifieth to shake-out 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as if he had said I am afflicted an ready to die from my very shaking out of the Womb Nay possibly such Souls may some times go away in a Cloud without the leaâ— taste of that Glory which immediatly after Death they do fully possess and enjoy But yeâ— ordinarily they do more generally taste 〈◊〉 those pleasures that are at Gods right hand forevermore while they are in their way to Heaven They depart in peace as the Phrase â—â— Luke 2.29 that is They die with satisfaction and comfort nay with joy and gladness Revel 19.7 Let us be glad ond rejoice and give honour to him for the Marriage of the Lamb is come and his wife hath made her self ready And the reason is Because they have the Testimony of their Consciences according to that of Paul 2 Cor. 1.12 For our rejoycing is this the testimony of our Conscience that in simplicity and godly sincerity not with fleshly wisdome but by â—he grace of God we have had our conversation â—â— the world
Self-murtherer The Sorrow of the World when men sorrow immoderately for thâ— Ioss of some temporal good thing worketh death 2 Cor. 7.10 5. If you sorrow-inordinatly you will adde Sin to Affliction as Jonah diâ— when his Gourd came up and flourished for 〈◊〉 time and withered away again he vext anâ— was angry and thought he did well in it Sâ— your gourd sprang up and flourished both natâ—â—rally and spiritually for many years and noâ— God hath withered her and you sorrow anâ— mourn and that I fear immoderatly and 〈◊〉 may be you think you do well in it O bewaâ—â— of this for its an adding Sin to Affliction Noâ— if your Sorrow hath been immoderate and yoâ— cannot yet contain or well help it and yoâ— would prevent it for the future First Avoâ—â— all those things that may any wise maintain 〈◊〉 increase it or that may heighten your sorrowâ— They had several Customs in former times 〈◊〉 going to the Grave John 11.31 and Minstreâ—lize for increase of sorrow Mat. 9.23 which Christ intimates dislike of and to provoke theâ—selves to weeping and lamentation But you should avoid such things and looking on the cloaths or works of the Deceased your Astâ—ctions in this case need not the Spur but the Bridle rather Secondly Turn the stream 〈◊〉 your Sorrow another way change the Objeâ—â— sorrow for Sin and Iniquity as men when the bleed immoderately at Nose or at a Wound they use to open a Vein in another place that they may stop the former so do you open a vein of Sorrow for Sin Thirdly Let Sin be as Death to you let Sin lie with a greater weight upon you and then your affliction will be â—ighter and sorrow less for as old Mr. Greenham said to his Son Mr. Dod when he came to complain of his great Affliction through outward wants Son Son Where Affliction lies heavy Sin lies light and so it is on the contrary Secondly Take heed of adding Sin to Affliction be not worse for the affliction let not Affliction draw forth corruption adde not Discontent to Disasters impâ—tience murmuring muttering and repining to the present Affliction this would be a charging of God and a charging of him foolishly take heed of this That it may be said of you as of Job when he was deprived of his Children In all this he sinned not nor charged God foolishly Thirdly Take heed of all harsh thoughts of the Lord and his works which may any way lessen your love to him your esteem of him or trust in him would you have worse thoughts of the Physician because Physick is distasterul Isai 40.27 Fourthly Take heed of tumultuous disputing the waies and works of God and of questioning the worthiness of his proceedings The Sai as are apt through infirmity to run into this aâ— Job and the Psalmist though this be verâ— sinful and unwarrantable 5thly Take heed of letting such a Providence pass without a due search into the mind of God in it but labour to find out and to lay holâ— on the good that such a Providence is fraughâ— with and for which it s sent Labour to finâ—â— first what sin especially it is sent to correct anâ— consider your heart and ways hereupon There are but two things that I can think of that might have an hand in depriving you of such 〈◊〉 dear and precious Relation First Your over-loving her that which wâ—â— love inordinately is usually the mark at which God aimes his arrow the readiest way to loâ—â— any comfort is to over-love it and I am afraiâ— you fail'd this way The reason of my fear iâ— because you over-mourn for her loss That which is over-loved in the enjoyment will be over-sorrowed for in the loss of it It 's the Saying of Reverend Divine that if the Parties were strangers That he knew not if they did immoderately sorrow for the loss of any wordly comfort that he might charitably conclude that the hearts were set upon it and that they did to much rejoice in it O seriously consider of â—â— and be humbled under it if it were so and 〈◊〉 to Christ for Pardon and though it were 〈◊〉 yet be not discouraged for though it be a grâ—â— deal of smart to you yet it may prove a great deal of ease to you to be wounded in that which you have over-affected God in much mercy to â—ose he loves takes that from them which they â—â—e too much that so they might love him the â—ore to whom all their love and more if they â—ad it is but due Mat. 22.37 Secondly Pitching upon and too great expectations of Release and Ease only in one particular way from some incumbrance and burthen which you were formerly cautioned against lest you should be crossed in it Thirdly Labour to find what Graces and what Duties it is sent to quicken hereby it will â—â—come a path of Mercy Peace and Comfort â—o you and you will be able to say That it â—ath been good for you that you have been afflicted I have been long in writing and longer in coming to give you a Visit but I intend now the Lord willing to be at Aulston-moore on the 4th of the Ninth Month where I should be glad to see you and to accompany you to your habitation to stay some days with you to impart some Spiritual gift and comfort to you In the interim I beg your Prayers for me That I may finish my course with Joy and the Ministration which I have received of the Lord Jesus to testifie the Gospel of the Grace of God Now the good Will of Him that dwelt in the Bush be with you and make up your loss anâ— sweeten your cross and the God of Peace that brought again from the Dead our Lord Jesus that great Shepherd of the Sheep through thâ— Blood of the everlasting Covenant make you perfect in all good works to do his Will working in you that which is well-pleasing in hiâ— sight through Jesus Christ Heb. 13.20 21 to whom be praise for ever and ever Amen which is the wish and hearty Prayer of him From Welden the 25. of the 8th Month 1672. Who is and will ever be ready to be a server of your Faith and an helper of your joy J. D. For his very dear Friend Mr. Rich. Wilson aâ— his House at Crosfield in Kirkouswould these My Dear Brother YOurs I received about two or three daies agoâ— by the Contents of which I find your Spirit heavily pressed under the weight of that Affliction which your Father hath been pleased to lay upon you It 〈◊〉 I confess an heavy Providence which you have met with for without doubt iâ— is so as you write That your life of Comfort and Hope as to your outward condition here wâ—â— wrapt up in the Life of your hopeful Child But my Brother it is for us to be silent and mute under the most pinching Providences and that not from a stupid frame but because we should know that our Father
doth all and He knows what He doth He is wise in heart and all things done by Him to any of his shall work for good c. We are Childish Creatures and when we are out of our Fits of Passionate Affection we can see as much It is our Folly and Selfishness to set more by our own transient Comfort than our Childrens superlative Exaltation I have been sometimes taken with a passage that I have somewhere met with Namely this Would a Father grieve to have his Daughter married to a King or rather taken into a Kings bosome dearly and entirely loving her This is the Case as to your precious and only Child She is now in the arms of the Prince of Glory in his embraces who hath loved her and washed her from her Sins in his own Blood O Dear Brother Let not your heart say The Lord hath dealt bitterly with me How can I be comforted wherewith will ye comfort me The Child is not and whither shall I go I would say two things to you my Brother they coming now before me First God your Father hath done you no wrong Secondly He hath done your Daughter no hurt Now why should you be then so cast down by means of this Snatching Dispensation 1. Your Father I say hath done you no wrong He hath taken but his own His own 1. By his own Creation 2. His own by your Donation 3. His own by Purchase and Redemption 4. By her own free Self-resignation It is somewhat strange that God cannot take his own but He must trouble us Object 1. But I thought the Lord would have lent me this mercy longer Resol But First you had not a word for that Secondly You had this mercy longer than some of your companions had the like Further Thirdly The Lord made this mercy yield more to you for the time you had it than others have had in many more years of enjoying the same mercy for kind O the revenues of Comfort from her she bore by handfuls which you your self do acknowledg Object 2. But I am an unspeakable loser O her great usefulness to me every way I perceive this pincheth you Res And 1. What is here but Selfishness But again 2. You are not an unspeakable loser for so long as interest holds above our losses are all inconsiderable not to be accounted of But 3. Suppose you were an unspeakable loser yet she I dare say you do believe it is an unspeakable gainer As for her great usefullness every way I would only say this to that Her usefulness to you was from Influence from above She was but a Bucket a Pitcher and it may be she kept you from the Fountain too much and this the Lord saw precious Children may be Idols Come my Brother your Father hath done you no wrong He hath taken but his own his own out at nurse with you for a time during his good pleasure and you have been well paid with comfort in her whilst you did enjoy her Secondly And hath your Father hurt your Daughter Is this to hurt her 1. To put her to Bed 2. To put off all her filthy Garments from her 3. To gratifie her in her own longing desire 4. To enshrine her in Glory Well My Brother what shall I write to you Come consider what you have to take comfort in in this Providence Pore not on the black-side of it only as we are apt to do Is this cloud all dark Methinks here are great lightnings for you I say for you 1. Your Daughter knew the Lord before she died she lived before she died 2. Your Daughter so I collect from yours died in the day-time there was no Cloud or Night of Darkness with her when she died 3. Your Daughter died but not suddenly not by a violent stroke the Lord took her she fell asleep 4. Further Your Daughter as I perceive left a Persume a sweet Perfume behind her Thus here is Honey for you in this Carcass O take thereof in your hands and go on eating and blessing God But what stand I upon these matters Questionless these my Consolations are anticipated by fuller measures from others And then besides what will stick till God fasten But however it is our Duty to visit the afflicted and thus only at present am I capacitated to visit you in your Affliction Now my beloved Brother what you request of me for you I hope shall be minded by me we shall remember you and beg that you may be supported of the Lord And be you confident That your Father will support you He knoweth his Peoples Souls in Adversities Now the Lord be with you and let your poor unworthy Brother be remembred by you and all the Saints with you O pray for me that I may work the works of God while it is called to day And blessed be the Lord for this day of Liberty Let me be remembred to your Wife to Brother Nicholson to the whole Church The 25th instant the Church here will be together to set apart our Brother E. who remembers him to you condoling with you to Office-place We should be glad to hear of your affairs from time to time that so accordingly we might have you upon our hearts before the Lord. Brother I have blotted much Paper you see in pouring out my self to you O that something from me might refresh you The Lord hath sometimes chosen to do much by foolish and weak things It is much to be a comforter I will conclude though somewhat abruptly with that known and pretious Scripture 1 Thes 4.13 14. Octob. 18. 1762. From your Fellow-feeling Brother G. L. Anagr. MARY VVILSON Your nam ' liv's DEar little Soul now shrin'd above in Glory Though thee we may not see we 'le view thy Story T' is true it is but short yet sweet and we Will chear our selves with this that 's left of thee When as Elijah hence in whirlwind flew He cast a mantle so hast thou done too We 'le take it up there 's in it some relief By it we may in part wade through our grief For thy removal you are gone we know But Your nam ' liv's and shall with Saints below G. L. Another per eundem MARY VVILSON In warm Soyl. WHat ripe so soon marvail we not Fruit ripes fast in a Garden plot In warm Soyl there good trees will bear Assoon as planted the first year This little tender precious tree Dropt mellow-fruit as you may see Here 's but a little loads she bore But gathering vessel held no more What here you find collected by A sobbing Heart a weeping Eye A Father mourning for his loss To him th'heaviest outward cross Take notice of use to your good Such fruit from young ones is choice food When old trees fruitless grow God then Will raise fruit-bearing Childeren You that in warm soyl are O mind What this warm Soul hath left behind Good Families and Churches are The warmest Soyls i' th world by far G. L. FINIS