tempted that he might partake in our sufferings Ought not Christ to suffer and to enter into Glory a 25 It was Christs way to glory And are not you slow of heare to beleeve that you must suffer many things and then enter into glory When they knew Christ then he vanished out of their sight that they might more desire after him and they went speedily to Jerusalem and told of him h 31 And when Christ came againe to them they were afraid c 37. and thought it was not he but a delusion Luk. 24. So when Christ comes to your soule then you will feare it is not Christ it is but a delusion It was the Disciples condition before you those that did lye in the bosome of Christ continually Woman These are great works for some S. Who doth Christ worke upon but on stony hearts His word is a fire and a hammer to breake and to melt it and he will give them one heart b Jer. 32.40 to feare him and they shall not depart from him forever Jer. 23. 29. Woman I have no good at all S. What if you had all excellencies of wisdome and gifts and deedes What were all this without the loving kindnesse of God And God delights in shewing mercy and loving kindnesse Mic. 7.18 Woman God hath forsaken me Sa. Ier. 51. 5. Israel hath not been forsaken nor Judah of his God And what was Judah treacherous Judah back sliding idolatrous and what not see Ier. 3 They playd the harlot with many and feared not Gods judgements commited adultery and turn'd to God feinedly Yet Judah is not forsaken of his God he is his God and not forsaken though he said He was forsaken and his wound incurable yet he was not forsaken And Judah shall be saved for all that in the Lord his God For his own Names sake he hath taken away their sinnes forever and will remember them no more He will remember his own free love this is his own worke and this he delights in He lov'd us and wash'd us in his blood that 's she fountaine where the Saints wash their Robes Jer. 2. 13. My people have committed two evills my people and two evills they forsake me the fountaine the fountaine of our righteousnesse and washing from sin and they dig Cisternes of their own their ownrighteousnes they would look on and so doe you which will hold no water it s a broken Cisterne This was as Adams fig. leaves would cover but part of him not cover all his nakednesse a skanty skirt that will not cover all silthines But the cloathing that God made will cover all His fountaine of living water is sufficient and though they digd their Cisterns yet he sets open this fountaine for them Say not as they said My wound is incureable and refused to be comforted No Phisitian can heale such as are incurable and that refuse healing but God hath balme of Gilead and hath healing there and he powres in wine and oyle and heals them that said their wound was incurable and refused to be healed Ier. 15. 18. Because its the outcasts of Israel the poore outcast soule that the Lord gathereth together and that he healeth Psal. 147.2 3. What think you of such a soule as refuseth to be comforted Woman My heart quarrels against God Sa. Who is any otherwise by nature But what will a father doe to his freward child that quarrels against the father As a father pittyeth his child that 's distempered so the Lord pitieth such The Lord is more abundaut in love and kindnesse to such soules as Israel was that were murmurers backsliders that cald not on him but were weary of him as Ephraim that fed on lies unaccustomed to the yoake yet Gods bowels were turned within him for Ephraim a Ier. 31. 18. 20. And he would not destroy him For I am God and not man b Hos. 11 8 9 Man in his naturall condition is cruel to them that wrong him and cannot forgive and be kinde to such but he is God and not man S. Being weake and spent for a farewell would have the woman to remember Ier. 46. two last Feare not thou my servant Iacob Iacob sind and feared but he saith Feare not thou my servant Iacob Behold I will save them from a far off thou art a far off yet behold I le save thee thou art in captivitie in bondage I le deliver thee Returne thou shalt returne `and none shall make thee afraid He saith not no man shall make thee afraid but none neither man nor sin nor Satan Feare not for I am with thee Did he think so No Yet then God was with him I le make a full end of all the Nations their enemies so hee 'l make an end of all thine enemies thy sins and corruptions and Satan but I will not make a full end of thee but I will correct thee in measure God will measure out what affliction and in what manner and for how long as for ten dayes and it shall not exceed but he will make thee able to beare it O Earth Earth heare the Word * Ier. 22. 29. Man is a lamp of Earth and cannot heare more then earth till he cause to heare May 19. There came to visit her the Lady Renula with M ris Fines wife to L. Say's eldest son and M ris Brie M r Sprig also and the Relator c. One spake of her weaknes shee said My times are in his hands and my fresh springs are in him for refreshing weary soules and replenishing empty sorrowfull soules Lady You could not have hoped for such times formerly S. No no more then the stones in the streets I said many times there 's no hopes for me it was impossible there should But these things that were impossible with me and with men they were possible with God I found them so Iu. 18.27 Lady How did your refreshings come in was it by way of discourse or in prayer or how was it A. By vision of God as he pleased to come in filling me with admiration of the free love of God to so vile a sinner to M r. Sp. shee after said He reveal'd to me Iesus Christ crucified for my sinnes I saw it and then I mournd over him that bare them away into a land of forgetfulnesse Lady Whether have you lost the memory of your former terrors in your present joyes A. God hath brought me from the power of darknesse into the kingdome of his deare Son and I should not be so sensible of his mercy in this if I should not remember the darknes I was in therefore I doe not desire to forget it Lady Now you have the inward teachings of the Spirit whether doe you lesse esteeme the written word A. The word is the letter of the Spirit and types out him therefore not to be the lesse esteemed Lady If the Lord shou'd recover you whether doe you think you should frequent the
that beleeve by stretching out his hand to heale soules and bodies and that Signes and wonders may be done in his Name As the Disciples prayed Act. 4. 29. as he hath promised Iob. 7. 38 39. Mark 16. 17. Act. 2. 38. That the Earth which now is so full of smoake and a Isa. 60.2 3-19 20. darknesse may be fil'd b Isa. 11. 9. Habak 2. 14. with the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the Sea That envy c Isa. 11. 13 14. may depart d Isa. 60. 12. 14. Rev. 3. 9. all enemies being subdued and wars e Isa. 2. 3 4. Mic. 4. 2 3. Psal. 46. 8 9. ceasing edifying-edifying-love edifying-f Eph. 4. 13. 16. 1 Cor. 8. 1. 1 Tim. 1. 4. may so abound among all Saints that all may g Iob. 13. 34 35 Mal. 3. 16 17 18. know who are Christs Disciples by the love they have one towards another The God of Heaven letting up his kingdome that fifth Monarchy that shall stand for ever Dan. 2 35-44 The assured hopes of which joyfull a Isa. 35. 1-10 Isa. 12. 1 2 3. with Isa. 11. 9. 10. Isa. 21 23. Isa. 25. 1-6 7 8 9. Isa. 26. 1 2 3. time in the midst of present b Luk. 21. 9. 25-28 Abac. 3. 17 18. Mat. 24. 29-32 feares c Mic. 7. 6 8 9. 18. 19. Rom. 8. 17 18. 21 oppositions dissentings of brethren d Zeph. 3. 9. Isa. 11. 9. 14. e Luk. 12. 45. Mat. 24. 49. Mat. 18. 30 31 32. some beating their fellow servants and thoughts f Luk. 12. 53. with vers 36.45 Mic. 7.1.6 with 8. 10-17-20 Luk. 21. 16-28 Mat. 4. 1. 6. of persecutions g Isa. 24. 1 4-14 16 20-22 23. Isa. 25. 1-9 Psal. 46. 8 9. 11 1 2. desolations that houre of Temptation h Rev. 3. 10. Isa. 26. 19. Pc 12. 1. Rev. 11. 7. 13. that shortly cometh upon all the world have greatly rejoyced and exceedingly gladded as still they doe the heart of Your endeared Brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdome and patience of Iesus Christ HENRIE JESSE aliàs HENRIE JACIE TO HIS RESCPECTED FRIEND AND CHRISTIAN SISTER M ris MARIE WIGHT widdow in Lawrence Pountney in London HOnoured Sister I salute you in our Lord Iesus To this Relation following touching your beloued Daughter the most whereof your selfe and a good part whereof your Sonne by a speciall Prouidence of God bringing him from Oxford hither at that time of love haue been both Eye and Ear-witnesses as you haue the neerest interest of any so it cannot but be acceptable to you to retain such a Monument of the Exceeding Riches of GODS GRACE manifested to her and uttered by her that untill April 6. for foure yeares together had been so deeply afflicted in Spirit tossed with Tempest and not comforted Whereby both your selfe and all your Christian friends in London Daintrie in and about Shrewsbury and elsewhere that haue known your Sisters sad condition and haue prayed and mourned for her now that God hath restored comforts to her and to her mourners Isa. 57 18. they may the more be stird up to praise and magnifie the Name of the God of Pardone the God that heareth Prayer And if the Lord please to moove in the reading hereof it may administer some door of hope to some other poore soules that are in as sad a condition in as wofull and dolefull a plight as your Daughter lately was in and had so continued especially since shee was about eleven or twelve yeares of age till now of late that shee is towards sixteen as you more fully know I doe acknowledge the LORDS goodnesse and blesse his holy Name for his gracious dispensation towards me that by means of Mris Sarah Jones then of Lambeth he brought me to sympathize with you when about ten or eleven yeeres agoe your soule was as it had been for some yeares together in sad despair and that soon after he refreshed me with the refreshings that he gave in to your soule And that hereby the most wise God made such way for acquainting me so fully also first with your beloved Daughter Sarah her sorrowfull and then with her so joyfull estate and that gave me so many opportunities of being frequently with her that I also with your selfe might be a witnesse of both and might be an instrument of Publishing to the world THE EXCEEDING RICHES OF HIS GRACE EXALTED towards her and by her to many sad despairing soules and to others So as I hope the Lord will make it instrumentall for the great refreshing of many poor sinfull sorrowfull weary soules that thus may be partakers of the same When some shall heare that when your Daughter was struck both Deafe and Blind and so could neither heare the Word nor read it that then should be the time of love And when they shall read such unfoldings of Gospel Mysteries by a childe newly comforted before shee could heare any Creature speak to her pag. 16. such descantings on severall choice Scriptures discovering the Gospels pith and marrow that was folded up therein so amplifying them by illustrations and making such application some will be ready to reject all as incredible some will gaze on you or say Blessed is the womb that bare such a childe insteed of exalting God alone Then have you need to remember what answer Jesus Christ gave to such an expression Luk. 11. 27 28. and what he said Rejoyce not in this but rather rejoyce that your Name is written in Heaven When some shall reade how her eyes and eares were opened first for a time when was greatest need and shut againe for a season and how when in humane reason shee was unlike to live two dayes more that then and not till then the Lord should raise her up by Faith to EÀTE and ARISE and then to WALK pag. 133-138-141 they will wonder And some will come or send to you to your son and to your daughter to enquire about it as some came to Hezekijah to enquire of that wonder that was occasioned by him 2 Chron. 32. 24-31 The lifting up of his heart thereupon and his not rendring according to the benefit done unto him which you heard sweetly opened and applied on the day of Thankesgiving for your daughters restoring pag. 144. and his humbling himselfe for that lifting up of his heart are all writ for our instruction and benefit as also Herods taking Glory to himselfe Act. 12.22 23. and Christs warning against this Joh. 5.44 All this shewing what we are subject unto and what cause there is to look up to Jesus Christ our strength our all in all that he would not leave us to our selves but make us like himselfe humble Phil. 2 3-9 and like his Apostles that rent their garments when they were admired and led such out to the alone exalting of the God of Heaven himselfe in his Son Act. 14. 14. Act. 3. 12 13. Who shortly
in Lawrence Pountney lately of Black Fryers M r Cradock Minister in Nicholas lane M r Barker Minister at Garlick-hill M r Brag from about Bristol M r Isaac Knight late of Holland Captain Harrison The Lady Mayerne and M ris Iane Done her sister Lady Hartop with M ris Fant her sister now M ris Stock and M r Ric-Wollaston M ris Rolls wife to Judge Rolls M ris Mary Leeb Hanna Trapnel Dinah the Blackmore and those that are named pag. 8. 9 10. and many others The Reason of naming many is there rendred viz. that some more incredulous might the sooner beleeve and reap benefit and not reject the mysteries of God against themselves to their hurt Luk. 7.30 Which may plead excuse for naming them Ioh. 4. 39. For the saying of the Woman many of the Samaritans beleeved on Iesus Joh. 12. 11. Joh. 11. 45. By reason of Lazarus being so raised up many beleeved on Iesus Act. 9. 42. By making knows his raising up of Dorcas many beleeved on the Lord. If some yet say How is it possible that one so young and never understanding to purpose till now should be able so to speak T is answered This is the Lords work and it is marvellous in our eyes who out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hath ordained strength perfected praise Mat. 21. 16. And hath promised to his to powre out of his Spirit in the last dayes upon them and upon their children their sons and daughters Act. 2. 17. 33. 38 39. Our Lord Jesus promised to his Disciples that his Holy Spirit should bring to their remembrance what he had said to them Joh. 14. 26. This good Spirit brought to her remembrance now when it was most usefull what shee had read and heard formerly and opened her heart to understand them and opened her mouth to utter them in an humble melting manner as he had opened to her even when her bodily eyes and ears were held which since April 19. are both of them opened H. I. M r Saltmarsh his Letter For my dear and honored Friend and Cosen M H. JACIE Dear Cosen I Salute you in the Lord. I did much rejoyce in those breathings of the Spirit of God which I found in your little Book OF THE RICHES OF GRACE ADVANCED c. Surely the Lord is teaching his people and fulfilling his promises They shall be all taught of God Joh. 6. 45. And thus his New Covenant with his people shall be more and more revealed and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day Isa. 2.11 When I meet with such precious manifestations of the Lord me thinkes I taste those waters of life those rivers of living water which shall show out of the bellies of those who beleeve in Christ Joh. 7. 38. There is not a streame of this water but it proceeds from the Throne of Grace Rev. 22. 1. Zach. 14.8,9 though it flow in the vallies in the poore low and humble Christians I finde in this Spirituall Treatise of yours two things very experiment all the one is her Legall and the other her more Gospel condition In the first shee is in bondage in blackness and darkness and tempest in much distresse and shadow of death her life drawing nigh unto hell and afflicted with all his waues Psal. 88.3.7 In her Gospel state I find God shewing wonders to the dead making the dead to rise and praise him shewing his loving kindnesse in the grave and his faithfulness in destruction and making known his glory in the dark and his righteousnesse in the land of forgetfulnesse Psal. 88.10 11 12. And truely the voice of joy and gladnesse is in the tabernacles of the righteous Psal. 118. 15. I finde that when God reveales himselfe in Christ in his grace and love the Spirit of the Christian is sweetly raised and cheered and the love of the Lord is as wine even as the spiced wine I make no question but the Lord will fill this soule with more discoveries then this of the Riches of grace this truth being that first discovery of God in love Dear Cosen you do well thus to watch the appearances of God in his and to publish them to the Saints I am yours in the Lord JOHN SALTMARSH The CONTENTS or TABLE of the Book Of this Hand-maid her education Parents and dwelling pag. 4 5 6. Her Deep afflictions 1. In Spirit pag. 6. to 15. 10. 42 43. 59 60. 67. 70. 78. 109. 112. 127. 2. In body pag. 7. end 22. 31. end 55. 78. 115. 128. Her soules deliverance pag. 15. 35. 40. 54. 59. 67. 86. 89. Her sight and hearing given at greatest need pag. 24 25. 29. 34. 43 end The Lord refreshing her unable to eat or drink for many dayes pag. 15. 18. 20 21. 55. 57. 91. 116. 131. Her brother hoped for it pag. 5. and saw pag. 30. The Lords power excellent by this earthly vessell being in trances opening his Gospel-treasure pag. 15. to 33. 54.86 Whilst shee was blind and deafe 34. Which after her hearing was restored shee remembred not at all Of like expressions after it pag. 35. to 43. 51. c. CONFERENCES with some troubled about SIN with a Maid with M ris A. 44 45. to 48. with one 61. to 64. with another 65. another 72. with another 76. another 81. with another 99 another 105. with another 122. Other Conferences about her eating 57 58 about her condition now 85. future 89. About Ordinances 87. 118. About Differences among Saints 88. 39. Powring out the Spirit 90. New Covenant all free 91. The Law 92. 94. 115 Duties 93. 118. Endeavours 64. 94. Of Generall Redemption Free-will Falling away 95 96 97. Punishment for sin 98. Why weak after comfort 115. 128. Of enduring Christs reproach 117. Content with Christ alone 117. 22. Not loving God not before 117. Not proud by visiters 119. Of the Trinity 120. Justification and Sanctification by Christ 121. Items against receiving or telling false reports 125. Praises in Zion 119. Against stubbornnes or murmuring 24 30. Against lying and wronging Conscience pag. 7. 153-155 To be trained up in holy Scriptures pag. 6 3â— 42. 59 60. Against unmercifulnes 103 104. The Lord raiseth her body being neerest death 132. by Faith 135. to arise and eat 138. walk 141. A Thankesgiving day Order 144. Summe and USES of all 151. Cautions about OATHS 155. A TABLE of many of the choise places of holy SCRIPTURE that in this Book are cited opened illustrated or applyed Where * is here added the Translation is neerer the Hebrew or Greek Page GEn. 22. 14. Iehovah jireh God will see 156. d ve 18. Gen. 26 4. All Nations-blessed 97 a 124. q Gen. 41.14 Iosephs garments changed 101. t Exod. 19. 4. Bare you on Eagles wings 149. a Ex. 34.6 Gracious mercifull long-suffering 53.105 e Levit. 16.21 Scape-Goat bears sin to Wildernes 67. k Num. 11.11 Manna-colour as Bdellium 38. o Num. 21. 9. Looking to brazen Serpent heal'd 81. m Deut. 29. 29.
the Auditors Office and of the Exchequers Office Son to old M r Wight of Daintry Her earthly dwelling is now with her faithful Mother M ris Mary Wight widdow in Lawrence Pountney Lane by Caning-street in LONDON Whose Father was M r Edward Purcel Esquire of Ansloo neer Shrewsbury and whose former Husband was M r Edward Vaughan Esquire the Kings Receiver and Surveyer for Northampton-shire and for Rutland-shire by whom shee had her Sonne M r Ionathan Vaughan now of Alsoules in Oxford Who not long since writ thence a Consolatory Letter to this his sorrowfull Sister SARAH therein saying thus Doest thou despaire because thy Temper is a Lyon for his strength Behold the Lyon of the Tribe of Iudah Christ the mighty God who can and will deliver thee out of his paw A fountain laid open for sin and for uncleannesse I verily beleeve that although for the present you lie among the pots of no use yet thy God will make thee a Vessell of Honour an instrument fit for thy Masters use whereby he will square sinners to his own glory c. Thin in his Letter is now fulfilled and fulfilling Shee that was born of flesh and bloud borne in sinne and that was by Nature a childe of wrath is now borne from above borne of God having given to her Faith and Love and hath Jesus Christ to her a Mat. 12. 50. Rom. 8. 17. Brother and God to her b 1 Joh. 3. 2. Father and her c Psal. 90. 1. dwelling place He d 1 Jo. 4.12.16 dwelling in her and shee in him Let him and her that glorieth not glory in the flesh but in the Lord e 1 Co. 1.29.31 Jer. 9. 23. alone II. Touching her Education In the time of her Mothers deep afflictions of Spirit and sore Temptations shee was well trained up in the Scriptures by her godly faithfull Grand-mother M ris Wight of Daintree And when the Lords time of Love was that he vouchsafed to manifest his Grace in Christ to her Mothers soule then the Lord brought her home to her shee being then about nine yeares old Shee gave her selfe much to read and study the Scriptures Which though shee then understood not aright yet the Lord by his Holy Spirit brought to her remembrance and opened to her since her restoring what formerly shee had read for great comfort and soul-refreshing to her selfe and to many others as hereafter followeth Which is a great encouragement to all that feare God to train up ther children in the holy Scriptures as 2 Tim. 3. 15. Chap. 1.5 Prov. 22. 6. Deut. 6. 6 7. Gen. 18. 19. III. Touching her afflictions From her childhood she was of a tender heart and oft afflicted in Spirit Her Temptations were not so great till shee was about twelve yeares old since which they have continued with more violence till April 6. 1647. it being about foure yeares Shee is not sixteen yeares old as her Mother saith till September following The beginning of her more violent Temptations was thus Her superiour bid her doe a small thing judging it meet and lawfull Shee did it doubtingly fearing it was unlawfull and as shee did it a great Trembling in her hands and body fell upon her being condemned in her selfe About a moneth after returning home having been abroad she had lost her hood and knew shee had lost it Her Mother asked her for her hood Shee suddenly answered My Grand-mother hath it Her heart condemned her instantly and trembled againe exceedingly And these were the first chiefe occasions of her deep despaire And upon this shee had cast into her Conscience that shee was both a thiefe and a lyar and was terrified ever since that shee was shut out of Heaven and must be damn'd damn'd damn'd In the last four yeares shee was oft in such extremities shee could beleeve nothing but Hell and Wrath to be her Portion and other times that there was no heaven nor no hell but in our Conscience and that shee was damn'd already being an unbeleever and therefore if shee could but dispatch this life of hers there was an end of her sorrows A subtle deceit of the old Serpent Hence shee oft attempted wickedly to destroy her selfe as by drowning strangling stabbing seeking to beat out her eyes and braines wretchedly bruising and wounding her selfe The chiefe cause of such weaknesse since Many particulars whereof follow in her own Relations But the Lord who is her life and loved her then in her bloud he wonderfully prevented her destruction many wayes Sometimes by one or other at that instant sometimes staying her in the acting when no creature was by Sometimes by bringing to her minde some choice Scripture as this No weapon form'd against thee shall prosper Isa. 54.17 or this None shall take them out of my hand or out of my Fathers hand Ioh. 10.28 29. This stop'd her sinfull act but the comfort stayed not Many precious Ministers came to comfort her In London these M r Thomas Goodwin M r Barker M r Lockyar M r Palmer lately their Minister in Lawrence Pountney M r Sprigge M r Iohn Simpson and others And these came to her in or neer Shrewsbury M r Hildersham of Felton M r Paget Father of D r Paget now of London M r Wright of Wellington M r Smith M r Fisher M r Blake M r Morgan Floyd M r Moston All these and many moe godly Ministers and precious Christians being acquainted with her sad condition endeavoured to comfort her and shee gladly would have received comfort but it was then hid from her Some glimpse shee had especially by meanes of her kinsman M r Iohn Browne of Shrewbury a faithfull and loving man and by one whom he brought with him viz. M r Daniel Floyd but it was soon ecclipsed againe and shee remained in grievous horror day and night concluding shee was a Cast-away a Reprobate walking daily in the midst of fire and brimstone as one in Hell already Till the Lord who had loved her with an everlasting love and in loving kindnesse prevented her ruine at last restored comforts to her and to those that had prayed and mourned for her Isa. 57. 18. And since that her much prayed-and hoped-for deliverance amongst many that have visited her were these Ministers M r Palmer M r Sprigge and M r Simpson beforesaid M r Peters M r Charnock of London M r Atherley of the Charterhouse with his wife M r Hide of Wighton in Yorkshire and the Relator Also the Lady Willoughby of Parham the Lady Renula and the Lady Clotworthy her sister the Lady Vermuiden with her daughters M ris Sarah and M ris Katharine Sir Ric Philips and his Lady daugh to D r Oxenbridge Sir Rich Saltonstall with his Lady Capt. Price with his wife D r Coxe D r Debote D r Worsley D r Paget Physicians Also M ris Fines wife to my Lord Says eldest Sonne and M ris Harrison wife to the Chamberlain of London Col. Langhams wife
doe what the Lord will The Cup that my Father gives me to drinke shall I not drink it Whether to live or to dye Her eyes still being weak and closed shee asked whether it was night or no it was answered her it was night Shee said There will be a day when there will be no night but the Lord and the Lamb shall be the light and walk in the midst of it a Rev. 21. 23. 25. 3. The Lord hath delivered me from my enemy from the roaring of the Lyon that roared over me b 1 Pet. 5.8 the Lord hath triumphed over him And speaking of this to her mother shee said Doe you not say t is well mother And praise the Lord He is able to save to the uttermost all that come to the Father by him c Heb. 7.25 You may trust me now Mother and not be afraid of me meaning of hurting her self with knife or water as formerly shee oft had attempted for if no body look to me the Lord will keep me And the good Samaritan that heal'd my soule d Luk. 10.33 will heale my body too ☜ To Hannah Guy that looked to her and watched with her shee said The Lord will reward all your labour of love So shee lay down and spake no more till the next day at night April 20. at night there being divers neighbours and loving friends come together to see her M ris Collet M ris Caron M ris Dupper the Relator and divers others about twelve or moe which greatly desired to heare her speak being greatly refreshed with what they had heard of her expressions the Lord having been praised in her behalfe both in that Parish and in Ab-Church their neighbour-Parish and els-where where prayers had been put up in her behalfe shee now lying still and had not spoken two dayes together since April 6. These desiring if the will of God were so that they might heare her selfe speak shee lying with a linnen cloth over her eyes which were very weak the maid told her M r Iessey was there he being in the company neer to her she then began to speak to him and said O magnifie the Lord with me for he hath delivered me from all my feares not from one but from all my feares a Psal. 34.4 This shee spake as all that follows with a low voice in a humble modest melting manner her teares sometimes stopping her speech He and the rest listned and were greatly affected in hearing her It cannot affect so much in hearing it at second hand as if you had heard her selfe with such brokennes of heart uttering it Shee proceeded on thus which presently was writ down He hath regarded the low estate * Luk. 1.48 the base b Luk. 1.48 estate of his hand-maid I rejoyce in him I mourn over him whom I have pierced c Zach. 12. 10. It was not Judas or Souldiers so much as I that pierced him I thought I was the bad Theef but he hath said to me as to the good Theef d Luk. 23.43 Thou shalt be with me in Paradise The earthly Paradise was a Type of the Heavenly Paradise That was fading and lost but this endures for ever O praise the Lord with me for he hath heard mee and looked on me the vilest of sinners the worst the chiefest of sinners On me that was rebellious disobedient unthankfull unholy a murmurer as much as ever the children of Israel in the wildernesse the teares oft trickling down and she stopping through her weeping and their murmuring kept them out of Canaan e 1 Cor. 10.10 but though I have so murmured he hath saved me I was at the very pits brink at the very brink of hell and the Lord fetch'd me out And is not he worthy of praise The Lamb is worthy to open the Book For none in Heaven nor earth neither men nor Angels could open these brazen gates this iron door this hard heart of mine but he putting her hand to her own breast When I confest my sin he forgave me the punishment I could never confesse my sin til now that he made known his mercy to me though I sought it diligently to confesse it Being asked when was this that see confest her sin Shee said Now since I saw his mercy And now he hath made knowne to me his mercy Nothing but the sense of his mercy could ever bring me to confesse my sin f Luk. 15.18 indeed I would faine have got comfort by mine own workings my own doings or from a Creature and I spake to men but I never could get comfort by the creature but the Lord himselfe did it I could not love him till he made known his love to me g 1 Joh. 4.19 to me the chiefest of sinners If all the sins in all the world were in one party I thought it was all nothing to mine I could not finde any in all the Scriptures that obtain'd mercy that was in my case Yes he hath shew'd mercy to me the chiefest of sinners h 1 Tim. 1.15 O that he should come from the bosome of the Father to dye for sinners for me the chiefest of sinners If all the men in the world should have told me that Christ dyed for me that my sins were pardon'd I could not have beleev'd them But now if all the men in the world Angels Devils should tell me they are not forgiven I would not beleeve them What pains did I take in going to men to have them speak comfort to me they could not doe it But Christ did it in a moment They that know his Name will trust in him they cannot but trust in him i Psal. 9.10 If the world knew him they could not but love him He is the chiefest of ten thousands k Can. 5.10 He is more to be desired in his lowest estate then millions of worlds if millions of worlds were all in one Behold O daughter of Jerusalem Thy King comes meek that he might teach his people meeknesse He came on an Asses Colt not on a horse finely trim'd to an untam'd heiser unaccustom'd to the yoke to me that was ungodly unprepared to Ephraim that was as a wild Asses colt Surely after I was turned I repented l Jer. 31. 18 19. I could not turne to him nor love him till he shew'd his love to me and turn'd me Praise the Lord with me that hath shew'd mercy on one in so desperate a case as I was in I could set nothing before me but curse and hell and wrath night and day O that others may be are what God hath done for such a one Ps. 66.16 I would none may DESPAIR of Gods mercy that hath done thus for me If any did know what it is to murmure against God and against a Parent as I have done and felt what I have felt they would never doe it A like warning is pag. 24. The Relator having heard shee now
both Sermons these came to see her M r and M ris Liggon the Relator M ris Dawson a Ministers widow M ris Berny of Norfolk and many others amongst which was a Gentlewoman in sad despair that hearing of her came to have speech with her and had The Relator writ then what was said after he came thither The Conference followeth Gentlewoman The Devill Rules in me M ris Sarah Christ will fetch you from him he will dispossesse him and possesse himselfe Gentle I am under sin M ris Sarah Shall sin separate from the love of Christ God hides himselfe from the house of Jacob though dear to him Shee speaking low one asked the Gentlewoman if shee did heare M ris Sarah O that you might heare a Joh. 5. 25. Eph. 4. 20 21. Christ speak to you Gentle I cannot beleeve I am justified for such are sanctified and so am not I. M ris Sarah You speak of sanctifying It s against the scope of the Scripture to put sanctifying before justifying You should beleeve that God justifieth the ungodly b Ro. 4.5 that 's for you to beleeve now and thence would arise your sanctification And that you cannot come to him except he draw you c Jo. 6.44 10.29 That all power is in his hand He is greater then all and none can pull you out of his hands Devils nor Angels nor sin can keep from him when he will draw you Gentlew. None knows my condition how desperate it is M ris Sarah The heart is deceitfull above all things and desperately wicked who can know it d Jer. 17. 9. He that hath Balme of e Jer. 8. 22. he and he alone can heale it None can wound the soule but himselfe and none can heale it but himselfe I found that everlasting armes were under me and kept me though I knew it not He taught Ephraim to goe though he wist it not f Hos. 11. 3. Gentlew. I am rebellious against him M ris Sarah He ascended and gaue gifts to men even to the rebellious g Ps. 68.18 The great gift he gives them is himselfe and from that great gift are all other gifts as all the streames are from the fountaine If thou knewest that gift of God thou wouldst aske it and he would give it h Joh. 4. 10. Shee had a vaile before her heart but he took it away and he gave her to aske shee could not aske till then I found that no other sin separates from Christ but unbeliefe and did he come to finde faith in earth in earthen hearts i Luk. 18. 8. there 's nothing but death and unbeliefe and envy and rebellion and all manner of evill till Christ came and he gaue faith to me he found it not Qu In what manner was his giving faith to you M ris Sarah At first I saw cleerly Christ crucified for my sins It was neither Judas nor Pilate nor Herod nor any other so much as my sins That he was the skape-goat that bare them all away into the Wildernesse of forgetfulnesse never to be remembred any more k Levit. 16.21 I cannot tell my misery how great it was and I cannot tell the mercy that a full Christ came to such an empty creature to such a one as I that was as Ephraim an untamed heiser unaccustomed to the yoke Then his Name was proclam'd to me that he was a Saviour to save sinners mercifull gracious long-suffering abounding in goodnesse and abounding in truth to fulfill all that mercy and goodnesse and he is the way to the Father Ah! that he should love such a one and marry such a one that was a murmurer disobedient unholy Such a one God was pleasd to make an object of mercy There 's an end of my misery though I thought there was no end of it but there 's no end of his mercy my misery was the misery of a creature but his mercy is the mercy of a God and there 's no end of it I was brought as low at the lowest hell The gates were open to receive me that then mercy should come to shut them that Christ came to fetch me out He is good and doth good not to them that are good but he makes good nor to fill them that are full but to fill them that are empty I le leave in them an afflicted and poore people and they shall trust in the Name of the Lord they that are afflicted and poore it s they shall trust in his name l Zeph. 3. 12. And what 's his Name but forgiving iniquity transgression and sin I made thee rest from thy hard bondage wherein thou wast made to serve hard bondage and made to serve this hard bondage m Isa. 14. 3. Yet God delivered when none els could In the first verse the LORD will have mercy on Jacob and will yet choose Israel I had no will nor no desire to him nothing but perversnesse and wretchednesse as in Israel I might speak and speak a long time dayes and weekes and moneths and not able to tell all my misery The Lord loved me and he chastend me as he saith to Laodicea As many as I love I rebuke and chasten n Rev. 3. 19. Gentlew. All afflictions are for good to them that love God but they bring me no good at all M ris Sarah I warrant you David could not say His afflictions were good for him when he said They are gone over my head my heart failes mee o Psal. 40. 12. But it was afterwards that he said It is good for me to be afflicted The Prodigall whilst he was in his sin and misery could not say it was best for him But how did his Father friends rejoyce afterwards p Luk. 15.32 I desire all the Saints might rejoyce as much for me as they did for him Christ came to seek and to save that that was lost I found it so I read God is good to them that are of a pure heart and I was troubled at it for mine was not pure q Psal. 73. 1. That heart is pure that he makes pure he finds it not pure but he makes it pure When I read I read the promises over and over but I could remember nothing of them but if I reade but a tittle of the judgements that remained with me I could remember the verse where they are At last the promises terrified me most of all because they were for others but not for me None could burst these brazen gates but Christ alone I was worse then a Beast Beasts praise God in their kinde But I dishonoured him But all this hindred not his love to me Would you love God first or would you have him love you first Gentlew. I doe not love him M ris Sarah We are by nature far from loving him wee are enemies to him God reconciles enemies q Rom. 5. 8-10 It s wee were enemies to God `not God an
Ordinances in hearing the word as formerly you did A. God will dispose me to that that shall be for his glory and my good But I look on Ordinances as tokens of Gods love to his people and representations of Christ that should neither be idolized nor slighted but they should be us'd and God lov'd above them To M r. Sp. shee said As the spouse in the Canticles sets out her beloved by similitudes of him so are Ordinances similitudes of him by which he sets out himselfe to us for our good If Iesus Christ himselfe should preach to the soule every day and give not out of himselfe the Ordinance would be empty to it But he comes in to his people in Ordinances and there he fils the empty soule with good things Lady Whether doe you not desire to live to declare the great mercy that God hath express'd to you A. I desire nothing but his will which doth order all things to his own glory and his Creatures good Lady whether have you thoughts of the Church of God and of the condition it is in in the parts that you know A. I wish with Paul if it were possible that all Israel might be sau'd M ris Bri. Doe you not wish that all differences were compos'd and made up among the Saints Answ. Yes Lady What meanes doe you thinke would be most effectuall to compose them A. The beholding a reconciled God seen by all God was in Christ reconciling the world to himselfe There is need of such a dayes-man as Christ to reconcile the world to God Suitable to what Mr. St. Marshall gathered from Isa. 57. 19. I create the fruit of the lips peace peace viz. 1. That the peace and the healing of Gods people is Gods own worke a worke of his creating power 2. Though it be so yet the speciall way whereby he effects it is the preaching of the Gospell of peace Her face being covered as daily It us'd to be since April 6 one spake of the great weaknes of her eyes Ans. Christ hath done a great miracle upon me he hath made the blind to see and the deafe to heare and the damb to speake he hath done it upon many and he hath done all upon one poore wretch Formerly her selfe was slow of speech that now hath such freedome speaking as with a new tongue M r Sp. Doe you think to have it alwayes day with you Ans. I know there may be clouds that the soule cannot so apprehend the light of Gods countenance at David said Restore to me the joy of thy salvation a Ps. 51. 12. and why hidest thou thy face from me But Christ the Sun of righteousnesse will arise againe b Mat. 42. He will break through all these things My times and my refreshings are in Gods hands c Ps. 31 15. to refresh the weary soule which he will doe freely M r Sp. I would be glad to heare which way the Lord came in to refresh you Ans. It was revealed to me that Christ was crucified for me even for me the chiefest of sinners I never had a glimpse of Christ before and then I admired him I saw it plainly My greatest sin was unbeliefe and I saw I was in unbeliefe and that the wrath of God abode upon me I was damned already And not for any thing in me but when unworthinesse was in me for his own worthinesse even for his own Names sake that he forgave all my sinnes His Name is Mercifull Gracious long suffering c Exo. 34 67 M r Sp. What counsell would you give to one in that condition of darknes A. To wait on God that hids himselfe Isa 8. 17. My temptations were the saddest of any to beleeve there was no God nor Heaven nor Hell but what I felt my soul remain'd in terror continually M r Sp. You knew the Scripturs before that comfort you now wherein then is your comfort What 's the difference A. The Letter did but kill it could not comfort but God hath refreshed me in his love God was the same to me in his love formerly that he is now But in his fulnes of time he manifested that which was before I doe not beleeve that he hated me before and loved me after but all my affliction was in his love and very faithfulnes The glory of God doth as much appeare in supporting a soule under terror as in delivering it out of terror It s said in Isai. 24. 16. Glorifie God in the fires Though the soule sees it not then yet when the Lord brings it out then he sees that God did glorifie himselfe in the afffliction Question What doe you think of the POWRINGS out of his spirit in the last dayes S. Ans. Then and since being put together The Name of Christ is powred forth by the spirit on his people and will be still and thereby we love him when he hath shewed that love to us and drawne us Question wee have some drops of his spirit now but are the powrings out now Act. 2.17.31 38. S. Ans. There are many that love him now and why doe they love him its not said because of some Drops but because thy name is Oyntment powred out Therefore it is that any soule loves him Cant. 1. 3. Quest. But doe you not think there will be a time when God will powre out more of his Spirit upon his sonnes and daughters then now is usuall S. Ans. Though his love is powred out into the hearts of his people by the spirit now or els we could not love him yet this is personall to a few but I doe verily beleeve it will be more generall to many and in a greater measure This is but a tast now of what shall be M r. Spr. Doe you take no food S. Ans. Yes I feed on Iesus Christ he is my daily food he feeds me with himselfe and hee is full of satisfaction Ioh. 6. 35. 51. 55. M. Spr. But I speake of bodily food Doe you think it s no temptation on you to forbeare bodily food S. Ans. No. I would eate if I could but I connot If I try it makes me worse His word is my meat and delight In my trouble I oft could not eat he fed me with bitternes and worme wood I sed on terror that was my meat and now the Lord makes answerable to it his feeding me now with promises this marrow and fatnes a Psal. 63. 5. he refresheth me continually with his love which is better then b Cant. 1. 2. wine May 21. One asked her Doe you sleep A. These three nights I slept not till three of the clocke but I lye still I stir not but am content and that 's better Quest. How is that better S. Ans. Content is better then abundance is it not And Christ is never idle he is alwayes doing somewhat in the soule One speaking of hopes of her life S. Ans. To be willing to live is the hardest lesson to
The exceeding Riches of GRACE ADVANCED By the Spirit of Grace in an Empty Nothing Creature viz. M ris SARAH WIGHT Lately hopeles and restles her soule dwelling far from Peace or hopes thereof Now hopefull and joyfull in the LORD that hath caused LIGHT to shine out of DARKNES that in and by this Earthen Vessel holds forth his Own eternall Love and the Glorious Grace of Iesus Christ to the CHIEFEST of SINNERS Who desired that others might hear and know what the LORD had done for her soul that was so terrified day and night and might neither PRESUME nor DESPAIR and murmure against God as shee hath done Published for the Refreshing of poor souls by an Eye and Ear-witnes of a good part thereof HENRY JESSE a servant of IESUS CHRIST The second Edition corrected and Proofs added LONDON Printed by Matthew Simmons for Henry Overton and Hannah Allen and are to be sold at their Shops in Popes-head Alley 1647. TO HIS CHRISTIAN FRIENDS Beloved in the LORD in London Cambridge Yorkshire Suffolk Essex and elswhere The Exceeding Riches of Grace be advanced My Beloved MY Spirit rejoyceth in the Lord who hath put such an opportunitie as this into my hand of Publishing to you and to others and hereby of Advancing The Exceeding Riches of the Grace of God in such a Pattern thereof as here followeth The Daughter of a gracious Matrone of mine acquaintance in the Parish where I weekly Preach in London who was in as hopeles and desperate a condition in her selfe as ever was any Now often admiring and uttering to others especially to afflicted despairing mournfull soules that resort now to her the unsearchable Treasures of Grace to the ungodly and chiefest of lost undone sinners The main Causes urging me to Publish it to you and the Contents thereof are in the Books beginning The severall Vses are in the End You know that the works of Iehovah are great honorable wonderfull and glorious and are greatly to be magnified sought out of all them that have pleasure therein He makes them to be remembered Ps. 111. 2 3 4. Especially his works of * Psal. 145. 9. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 tender-Mercies which are over and * Psal. 145. 9. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 upon all his works How desireable is it to one and to the friends of one that is in great extremity of misery bodily or spirituall to hear of another that was just in the same condition that now is cured How much longed for is a safe Harbour to a weather-beaten Ship tossed with Tempests Isa. 54. 11. How refreshful is rest and ease to a tempted hurried wearied soule Iob 7 2-4 How joyfull and beautifull is the a Rom. 10. 15. glad tydings of the Gospel of Peace of riches of Grace of the perfect b 2 Cor. 5. 21. righteousnesse of Christ for the c 1 Tim. 1 13-15 chiefe of sinners d Eph. 2.15.16.3 enemies murmurers ungodly ones to souls wearied out in looking on themselves and their sins and desperate wickednesse of their own hearts and that gladly would mend all and patch up a righteousnesse in themselves or partly there Rom. 10.3 that would first finde a thorough change in them such a dying of sin and holy walking before they think they may beleeve that Christ dyed for such as they Rom. 5. 7 8. 10. or justifies such ungodly f Rom. 4.5 ones How mighty through g 2 Cor. 10. 4 God may it be to support poor soules that are perswaded they are reprobates h Lam. 3 8-17-22.40 that are assured of it upon certain grounds as they judge and that they are damn'd i Io. 3.17.22 and in Hell already that never any in their case was or can be saved k 1 Cor. 6 9-11 that the sins of Manasses of David of Peter of Paul of Mary Magdalen yea and of Cain Iudas and Pilate are all lesse then their sins blasphemies and if all they might be saved yet themselves should surely be damn'd for such to hear of one that but lately was in the very same condition now sounding forth and wondring at the Exceeding Riches of Grace to her the chiefest of sinners Psal. 35.10 to hear her selfe telling such despairing soules You cannot be more desperate or more certain of hell and wrath then I lately was and comforting them by the same consolations wherewith her own soul is now comforted in the Lord. 2 Cor. 1.4 This all this you have here held forth in this Pattern of Gods patience and abundant goodness towards this his unworthy Handmaid whose low base estate he hath regarded He causing LIGHT to shine out of DARKNES 2 Cor. 4.6 The writing transcribing and often perusing hereof hath been and is sweet and precious to me I must confesse I with your reading it may be so and much more to your soules As you reade Consider Admire the LORD in his surpassing Grace to ungodly ones Mic. 7.18 Do not so commend the party that is but an Earthen vessel born in sin a Psal. 51.5 as you b Eph. 2 1-3 are but still all along exalt and commend the LORD who alone is to be exalted Isa. 2.11 1 Cor. 1.29 30 31. Who puts his treasure into an Earthen vessel of purpose that the excellency of the power may be of God and not of flesh 2 Cor. 4. 7. Be the more vile in your own eyes when you see God is pacified towards you for all that you have done Ezek. 16. 63. And from beleeving his love to your soules in love study what you should render to him in Christs Name Psal. 116.12 Col. 3.17 Praise the Lord for leaving such Patterns of his Riches of Grace as that of M ris Drake Revived and that of Gods gracious thoughts towards great sinners by D r Homes in a late Book so called so especially this And Pray for her if the Lord shall restore her body which as yet is weak to eat at all or to drink but very little of faire water or small Beere and that onely at once in two or three or foure dayes and by her daily spending that small strength shee hath by often uttering forth the treasures of Grace and by oft speaking to comfort despairing soules seven or moe whereof have resorted to her that shee may walke humbly rendring againe in her measure according to the benefit done unto her Since the former was fitted for the Presse shee then not being likely to live unlesse the Lord should work a Miracle He raised her wonderfully by faith in his Sonne without any meanes when shee could use none and that by two degrees First to EATE and to ARISE Iun. 11. 1647. Then on Midsummer day to WALK as both follow neer the end of the Book Pag. 133. to 143. And Pray for despairing soules here now being many of them and for the more exalting of Jesus Christ in the powring out of his Spirit upon his sonnes and daughters
will bring down every high thing and he alone will be exalted in the Earth When great voices shall say THE KINGDOMES OF THIS WORLD ARE BECOME OUR LORDS AND HIS CHRISTS AND HE SHALL REIGNE TO THE AGES OF AGES Rev. 11. 13-15 Even so Come Lord Jesus Amen The joy hereof frequently refresheth with the refreshings of God London †Postscript Moonths according to Holy Scriptures begin at New Moons Phasis or first appearing time Num. 10. 10 Num. 28. 11. Greek Psal. 81. 3. Heb. cal'd Moonths from Moons Thus in this yeare 1648. the first Moonth Nisan Ester 3.7 begins March 14. vulgar 2 d Moonth Ziu 1 King 6. 1. begins April 13 th 3 d Moonth Sivan Ester 8. 2. began May 12. c. The rest with their significations c. being published in the Scripture-Almanack the Relator thinking to make use of with the Vulgar Kalendar in the ensuing Relation was led as yet to forbear it till thereby people be furthered to understand the Scripture Language therein least he might seem to many Readers a Barbarian 1 Cor. 14. 9. 11. 2 d Moonth Ziu 2 d day Vulg. April 27. Revised AEthanim 3. Vulg. Septemb. 21. 1647. Your fellow-servant and Brother having holding the witnes of Iesus HENRIE JESSE aliàs HENRIE JACIE MAy 24. 1647. M ris SARAH WIGHT being then still very weak in body and keeping bed since April 6. said thus to the Relator I would others might heare how graciously the Lord hath dealt with me the chiefest of sinners that none might DESPAIR and murmure as I have done Though I murmured as they in the Wildernes as much as those that sell yet he hath brought me into the land of Canaan and hath brought Legion to her right mind and set her at his feet I was strongly perswaded that what I did eat or drink it was as the unworthy eating the Sacrament I stil did cat and drink my own damnation every thing I did or saw was terror to me So it remained and might have remain'd for ever had not his loving kindnes prevented me and drawn me to himselfe O that all creatures reasonable and unreasonable might praise the Name of the Lord ‑ And I would others might heare of this that none might PRESUME For if they knew the terrors that I have felt the terrors of Hell for sinning against light against God and against a Parent for murmuring lying revolting judging I had committed that impardonable sin if they knew what it is to have God hide his face and be as an enemy they would not presume To the Christian Reader GRACE and PEACE MAny of these precious Pearles these hidden Mysteries of the Treasury of the glorious Gospel being gathered and stored up together by the Relator as they were brought to light day by day before the 27 th of April last Divers Christian friends that had been partakers thereof judged it unmeet they should be hid and hoarded up for a few to enjoy in private much desiring they might be published both for better supply to themselves and to many others whom the Lord might please to support refresh and enrich thereby When no more was gathered then what might be contained in two sheets or three The Earthly Vessell of conveyance being then most likely to return to earth within a few dayes Hence was the more cause of willingnesse to yeild to this desire and to prefix the Letter foregoing for the better confirmation hereof writ April 27. 1647. After that day shee remaining as weak as before and unable to eat at all for eleven weeks together or to drink but onely once in two or three or once in foure or five dayes and still drinking lesse and lesse then that before Pag. 55 56. and her drink being onely faire water till April 19. and sometimes small beer afterwards never strong beer Thus was this put to the Presse and in the mean while one day after another was occasion of enlarging it by Conferences c. and of her still drawing neerer death in outward appearance till Iune 11. And before Iune 11. and Iune 25. 1647. which were the dayes of the Lords wonderfull raising up her body by Faith as is shewed pag. 135. a good part thereof was printed Yet seeing the more goodnesse the Lord magnified towards her the chiefest of sinners the more his love therein melts and abaseth her as Pag. 119. 125. 134. the LORD so abase her still Its hoped the LORD will keep her soule in that humble frame whereby the publishing hereof which may be for great refreshing to many sad troubled disconsolate soules and to others who through God may reap abundant fruit hereby may be no hurt to her nor any cause at all of repenting to the Relator or others but of rejoycing and thankesgiving to many which is the longing desire and humble request of Him that longeth to be made more conformable to the death of Christ London scrip stil. 4. Mon. 23. day Vulg. Iuly 16. 1647. to dye to himselfe and to live to God and to walk in and be led by the Spirit H. J. A Postscript to the Reader For better satisfying some that would know many particulars distinctly or els they will not beleeve what wonders are here mentioned Here is added touching this hand-maids Parents Her Father was M r Thomas Wight pag. 5. son to M r Wight of Daintree and Brother to M r Nat. Wight Preacher in Tewksbury Her Mother M ris Mary Wight above seven yeeres agoe was also in deep terror and distraction of Spirit then living neer London-stone till the Lords good time of refreshing came The Maid that tended on her hereafter mentioned known to M r Cradock of Wales is well known to many of his London acquaintance Her name is Hannah Guy daughter to M r Eli-Iabu Guy late of Ireland of Trayleigh in Munster Province whose Father went thither to avoyd the Ceremonies here urged The Testimony of these two the Mother and this Maid of her drinking so little not eating at all for so long from March 27. till Iune 11. pag. 55. c. both these being of approved faithfulnesse may be sufficient 2 Cor. 13. 1. Of the expressions from pag. 35. to the end of the Book the Relator was with them an eare-witnes generally A great part of nine leaves was taken by him from the Relation of them or one of them being writ as they spake Verbatim viz. from pag. 16. to pag. 35. Some of the Repetitions therein especially of two Names being taken with the rest so passed to the Presse with the rest which now the Relator likes not wishing they had been forborne Thou art entreated therefore to excuse it and what other failings are or appeare to be Remembring In many things wee all * Greek slip Jam. 3. 2. Gal. 6. 1 2. Amongst others that have been with this Handmaid were these of esteeme amongst many that feare the Lord in London viz. M r Prime of Cambridge now Minister
and Arise and beleeved she should Walk also The two former shee did that instant Iune 11. The third was reserv'd to try her and others till the Lord should see fittest About the same time of Iune beforesaid the Relator heard of one H. T. that then had great enjoyments of God and could not take in a crumme or sip of the creatures for full six dayes together yet being in bodily health It being beleeved by many good people the Relator desired to speak with the party who is of approved godlines and did and was certified thereby of the truth thereof viz. from Iun. 9. the end till the beginning of Iun. 16. 1647. And that both in that time and before the Lord had given in severall discoveries of things to come Some particulars whereof were then related viz. Iun. 19. It seemed strange to him Yet he durst not then reject it being related in a tender modest manner exalting God therein Since this he hath recalled 1. That it s no where said in Scripture that Prophecy or Miracles or Knowledge are ceased 2. That M r Fox in the Book of Martyrs cites many Miracles wrought and Prophecies uttered both in the first hundred of yeeres after the Apostles and in the second third fourth fifth and so on to his time The like do Eusebius Socrates and other Ecclesiasticall approved Authors unto their times M r Fox cites Prophecies of late times revealed to Iohn Hus to Martin Luther yea and to himselfe Besides other experiences he hath known of 3. He hath weighed severall Scriptures that seem to hold out such things as Iob. 16. 8. 13. I will send the Comforter and he shall convince of sin of righteousnesse c. And he will shew you things to come and Act. 11. 28. Act. 21. 11. 9. Agabus and Philips daughters prophecied Act. 2. 13. 16 17. 33. 38 39. with Iob. 7.38 1 Cor. 12.8 10. 28. 31. 1 Cor. 14.1 c. Hence he feared to judge or speak ill of what he knew not and had no experience of in himselfe But rather judged he should try the Spirits whether they are of God because false Prophets are in the world 1 Joh. 4. 1. Rev. 2. 2. And should admire the Lord in his grace to worthles wormes and should pray for the accomplishment of the aforesaid Scriptures as the Disciples prayed thus Now Lord behold their threatnings and grant to thy servants that with all boldnes they may speak thy word the meanes thereof followeth by stretching forth thy hand to heal and that signes and wonders may be done by the Name or power of thy holy childe Iesus Act. 4. 29 30. Luk. 17. 5 6. To return M ris Sarah Wight arose from bed and sate up daily from Iune 11. till the 25. being Midsommer quarter day Yet shee remained weak Her Mother and her selfe before Iun. 25 desired that such as had sought the Lord for her might solemnly Praise the Lord with her for so answering prayer for her soule and body It was concluded to be Iun. 26. When behold the Lord gives in the third mercy before beleeved and hoped for the very day foregoing it that their mouths might be the more fild with the High Praises of God for this addition viz. that by Faith shee was strengthened as before to eat and to Arise so now to WALK And thus it was as her selfe related it the same day viz. Iun. 25. 1647. The night before it shee was very ill till about two in the morning Then was it hinted into her spirit that formerly the Lord had promised to her that shee should Arise and Walk and eat And as he had performed two of them in causing her to ARISE and to EAT so now he was to fulfill the Other in causing her to WALK Then severall Scriptures were brought in to her with life and power amongst others these Act. 3. 6. Peter said to the Criple In the Name of Iesus Christ of Nazareth arise and walk and immediately he received strength and stood and walked and praised God Another was Iob. 5. 8. Iesus said to the man at the Pool Rise and walk and immediately the man was made whole and walked Another was Dan. 10. 17-19 When Daniel was weak one from God touched him and said O man greatly beloved feare not Peace be unto thee Be strong yea be strong He was weak in Spirit and in body and here it is twice said Be strong and now he was strengthened in body as well as in spirit and he said Let my Lord speak for thou hast strengthened me Another place was Cantic 2. 10 11. Rise up my love my faire one and come away For the winter is past With this Paraphrase The winter of afflictions and temptations is past and the summer of joy and consolation is come and the Sunne of righteousnesse is risen which makes it a summer indeed The last place hinted in was Ephes. 3. 16. That he would grant according to the riches of his Glory to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man This said shee in relating it in the morning was spoke to me and I did beleeve it was so absolutely And as Daniel was strengthened immediately So was I strengthened immediately and was vile and would be more vile in mine own eyes that the Lord alone may be exalted Thus shee told her Mother and another Christian friend and said shee had received strength Having declared this with joy in the Lord in the morning Iun. 25 being Midsummer day 1647. then shee her selfe opened her head and scombed it which shee durst not suffer to be done the day before no nor for about twenty-four weeks before because it was so exceeding weak and ill through her so beating it in her former terror that shee feared it would not hold well together if it were opened and of late shee had not bodily strength to do it till that morning And now having dressed it shee neither fainted nor got cold thereby but desiring her Mother with the Maid to call on the Lord who is worthy to be praised shee got up immediately and stood on her feet and WALKED Praising the Lord. Shee not having walked nor had so much bodily strength in fourscore dayes before namely not since that sixt of Aprill beforesaid Thus the Lord the more fitted her for rendring Praise to his Name the day following And hereby he gave in to her friends greater encouragement and the more occasion of High Praises to our God Iun. 26. the day appointed thereto being come there met together M r Barker Minister in Garlick hill London and the Relator M r Sprig M r Brag and M r Isaac Knight lately of Holland with many other Christian friends to magnifie the Lord with them It was a sweet and joyfull day to many there assembled Much of God was seen therein The Party walked down from an upper to a middle-roome the place prepared for the dutie shee being veiled the Lord having made her
handmaid for divers yeeres and was no small occasion of trouble to the said superior afterwards 2. Branch The like Caution it may be also to all Inferiours to wives to children to servants flock and subjects against fearing man that shall dye more then the living God and obeying man rather then God by doing speaking or acting of any thing to please men that the word or conscience shew to be displeasing to God Lest for your so doing your terrors and punishment may be as great or greater then those of this hand-maid for the like offence Yea lest God tear you in pieces and there be none to deliver you Psal. 50.22 and lest both you and your Commander repent when it is too late I heard of a Maid in Suffolk whose Parents feared she should grow too pure and precise and on a Lords day evening the Mother bid her do some work which she judging unlawfull or at least doubting of entreated to be spared in it but her Father threatning to beat her she did it and the next morning she kept her bed and so did shee many weeks together upon it being terrified in Conscience for her preferring man before God being unfit for work it repented her Parents and her self too too late I never could hear that she got any comfort Also a young Gentleman being a scholar of whose deep despairing of ever being saved and of his strong perswasion that he should be damned Master Case Master Whitakers Master Chr. Love and the Relator with many other Preachers and Christians had notice and sad observation His Father a Gentleman in the Countrey brought him up to London to procure some to speak to him and to pray for him having him present with them This Christian duty was solemnly performed by those before-named and by others in several solemn daies of Fasting and Prayer The beginning and chief first moving cause of those so sad perswasions was because of the Oaths and Subscriptions imposed by the Governours in the Vniversity which he submitted to with the multitude that stuck not at them though he had his Conscience warning him yet thus doubtingly or against his Conscience he yeilded to the Ordinances of his Superiours But his thus doing brought great sorrow on his own soul and on his Parents and friends that sympathized with him Amongst others the Relator could more sympathize herein then many others in regard himselfe had been much afflicted in Spirit for his Vniversity Oaths and Subscriptions and yet had found though his sin abounded therein it being done with a staggering or worse with a relucting Conscience yet the n Rom. 5. 20. Grace of God had the more abounded and been magnified towards him in manifesting that he had forgiven so soul and hainous sins After all meanes used with this young Gentleman many severall daies he returned home more wounded and terrified because so many had taken so much pains with him and he was no whit better and therefore far the worse in his account as he shew'd after his returne home in many sad Letters in black lines to the Relator and because he could write no other language but the language of hell as he said he therefore would cease to weary him with it And so he ceased writing And although since that time the Lord hath given him hopes of his love in pardoning his sins and transgressions yet these sad examples and many moe of like nature that might be produced may suffice for a Warning to Heads and Governours in Vniversities and Corporations and to all Magistrates Officers Masters Husbands and Parents all Superiours whatsoever to beware of laying on heavie burdens by o Seeing OATHS should be given and taken onely in such cases and in such ritae and forme as is warranted by the word of God viz. in truth righteousness and judgement Ier. 4 2. Revel 10. 5 6 Oaths Subscriptions or Commands on any persons whose Consciences when they are distressed they are never able to relieve or release from Hellish continual fears and torments Psal. 50. 22. Matth. 27.3 4. To be an end ef all strife Hebrewes 6. 16. Because of Oaths so frequent not warranted this land mourneth Ier. 23. 10 Oh that Reformamation were herein as in all things else And for all Persons to keep the heart and Conscience above a Prov. 4.23 Hebrew Luk. 12.4 5 Act. 5.29 Luk. 14.26 27. 2 Tim. 4 12 13. Heb. 10.26 27. all keeping Fearing God above all Fiftly Learn hence to fly Censuring the most vile and desperate of all sinners Say not they and Reprobates though they are damn'd already in their own perswasion as this Party was So was M ris Honywood M ris Drake c. and yet obtained mercie Sixtly Be not weary therefore of using all good means for help to such as are hopeless and desparate as these parties were The Lord may come in the last hour He is not weary nor b Isa. 40.28 faint in seeking your good daily However your c 1 Cor. 15. 58. labour of love is accepted of the Lord. Seventhly Limit not the Holy One of Israel any outward means whatsoever seeing he gave the Party Faith and glorious joy in himself when she was struck deaf and blind that till that deafness was as one in hell already But rather believe the Proverb Jehovah ijreh Iehovah will be seen in the Mount d Gen. 22. 14. Eightly Exalt the Lord the Creator e Isa. 2. 11. Psal 8.1.2 Act. 3. 12. alone and not the Creature Say not What a one is shee But What a f Mic. â— 18 God is he in all reading and speaking of her or to her For the Lord is jealous of his glory and will not g Isa. 42.8 give it to an image of him Ninthly Behold here what 's the most effectuall means of humbling the heart and melting it and of furthering faith and love and what 's the greatest support and comfort in the greatest troubles and burdens about sin namely the discovery of the abundant h Eph. 2.4 Rom. 4.5 Grace of God in justifying the ungodly in giving his own Son to reconcile i Ro. 5. 6. 10 Isa. 53.5 enemies and the love k Eph. 3.19 Eph. 5.25 Ezek. 16.6 â—2 of Christ whilst we were in our sins and had nothing in us that is lovely that yet he so loved us as that he gave himself for us Tenthly and lastly Let all such as read or heare these wonderfull dealings of the Lord herein Consider how it is with their own soules First If the Lord hath sealed thee by his Spirit to the day of Redemption in the Spirit magnifie God and feed on him and on his Sons love daily in the Gospel promises and priviledges And the more thou hast received be the more humble l 1 Cor. 4.7 and thankfull to God and serviceable to him in m Is. 116.12 the Power of his Son and the more pittifull and tender to others n Tit. 3.2 â— considering thy self o Gal. 6.1 Secondly If thou hast no experience of such kinde of speakings of the Spirit to thee or of such maner or measure of Faith as here is mentioned both of which the Relator wanting waits for 1. Do not decry or cry down what thou knowest not a. Envy not others 3. Be not dejected because more is given to others then to thee But blesse the Lord in his various dispensations that best knoweth what kinde and measure is meetest for all Mat. 25.15 Eph. 4.7 16.4 Pray for more pourings out of his Spirit upon his sons and daughters as he hath promised to do in the last dayes Act. 2. 17. 33.38 39 John 7.38 39. Thirdly If thou art of a sorrowfull spirit by reason of sin fearing because it is so and so with thee that there never was an effectuall work upon thy heart finding such a power of sinne and corruption such dulnes coldnes hardnes of heart lazines filthines pride self-ishnes or the like basenesse Doth not thou so much backward in toiling to make out the former worke and still questioning about it and how bad thou hast been and art since as forward at that abundant GRACE herein magnified and ADVANCED to them that yet are a far off without God ungodly enemies to him to unfitted unprepared ones to the CHIEFEST OF SINNERS Fourthly If thou hast desires after full enjoyment of Jesus Christ and some hopes that he is thine but no assurance of it Blesse the Lord and be thankful to him that hath done so much for thee that did more desire sin and vanity But rest not in such desires but seek and presse hard for assurance And lastly If thou hast long sought and waited for assurance that Christ is thine and yet hast not attain'd it 1. Beware of murmuring and quarrelling against God and by this Example seeing how grieve to her son her murmuring hath been 2. Despair not because she obtain'd mercy that was so deep in that sin 3. Wait humbly and patiently on the Lord that hides himself that thou maist still seek and the more prize his mercy when at last he shal manifest it to thy soule For therefore will the LORD wait that hee may be gracious to you and therefore will hee bee exalted that hee may have mercy upon you For the LORD is a God of judgement BLESSED are all they that wait for him Isa. 30.18 A power to wait is also from him that bids you wait and promiseth that they that murmured shall learn doctrine Isa. 29.24 And to put his law in our heart Heb. 8.10 Namely to enable us to what hee commands us THE GOD OF ALL GRACE perfect the good work he hath begun in thee Phil. 1.6 To him be all glory by Christ Jesus * Greek to the age of ages Eph. 3.21 AMEN From July 7. till the end of Septemb. 1647. she remained at High-gate hoping then to returne to LONDON having eaten no bread nor flesh at all since March last and but very little of any other sustenance through the weaknesse of her stomach and yet looks as well as formerly At the writing hereof in this second Edition September 27 1647. H. J. FINIS