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Exceeding Riches of Sarah Wight
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Genre
Religious Biography
Date
1647
Full Title
The exceeding Riches of grace advanced By the Spirit of Grace, in an Empty Nothing Creature, viz. Mris Sarah Wight, Lately hopeles and restles, her soule dwelling as far from Peace or hopes of Mercy, as ever was any. Now hopefull, and joyfull in the Lord, that hath caused light to shine out of darknes; that in and by this Earthen Vessell, holds forth his Own eternall love, and the Glorious Grace of his dear Son, 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 & night:) and might neither presume, nor despair and murmure against God, as shee hath done
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Wing J687
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I. TOuching her Earthly Parentage. This Mris
Sarah Wight, was daughter to Mr. Thomas
Wight, sometimes of the Auditors Office, and of the
Exchequers Office: Her earthly dwelling is now with
her faithfull Mother Mris Mary Wight, widow, in
Lawrence Pountney-Lane, by Caning-street in LONDON:
Whose Father was Mr Edward Purcel Esquire,
of Ansloo neer Shrewbury: and whose former Husband
was Mr. Edward Vaughan Esquire, the Kings
Receiver, and Surveyer for Northampton-shire, and
for Rutland-shire: by whom shee had her sonne
Mr. Jonathan 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 Tempter is a Lyon for his strength? Behold the
Lyon of the Tribe of Judah, Christ the mighty
God: who can and will deliver thee out of his paw.
A fountain laid open for sinne, 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. This 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 Brother, and God to her
dwelling in her, and shee in him: Let
him and her that glorieth, not glory
in the flesh, but in the Lord 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, Mris 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 9
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 their 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 Aprill 6.
yeeres 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,
shee 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.
In the last four yeeres, 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 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
her self. The chiefe cause of such weaknes since
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 Joh. 10.28, 29. This
stop'd her sinfull act, but the comfort stayed not.
Many precious Ministers came to comfort her:
In London these, Mr Thomas Goodwin, Mr Barker,
Mr Lockyar, Mr Palmer their Minister in Lawrence
Pountney, Mr Sprigge, Mr John Simpson, and others.
And these came to her in or neer Shrewsbury,
Mr Hildershame of Felton, Mr Paget Father of Dr
Paget now of London Mr Wright of Wellington,
Mr Smith, Mr Fisher, Mr Blake, Mr Morgan Floyd,
Mr 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, Mr John Browne, of Shrewsbury a
faithfull and loving man and by one whom he
brought with him, viz. Mr Daniel Floyd: but it was
soon ecclipsed againe; and shee remained in grievous
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.
And since her much prayed- and hoped-for-deliverance,
amongst many that have visited her,
were these Ministers; Mr Palmer, Mr Sprigge, and
Mr Simpson beforesaid, Mr Peters, Mr Charnock of
London, Mr Atherley of the Charterhouse with his
wife, Mr Hide of Wighton in Yorkshire, and the
Relator. Also the Lady Willoughby, the Lady Renula,
and the Lady Clotworthy, the Lady Vermuiden,
with her daughters Mris Sarah, and Mris Katharine,
Sir Ric: Philips, and his Lady, dau: to Dr Oxenbridg,
Sir Richard Saltonstall, with his Lady, Dr Coxe, Dr
Debote, Dr Worsley, Dr Paget, Physicians; Mris Palmer,
wife to Mr Palmer. Also Mris Fines, wife to my
Lord Says eldest Son, and Mris Harrison, wife to the
Chamberlain of London, Mris Sarah Jones, wife to Mr
Tho. Jones Esquire of Tower-hill, Col. Langhams
wife, daughter to the Lady Roberts; Mr and Mris
Liggon, Capt. Price, and his wife, Mris Wilson at
Nags-head; Mris Lane, Mr P. Barbon, and his wife;
Mris Owen, and Mris Hannah Allen, Bookseller, Mris
Manning of Tower-street, Mris Elizabeth Waldo,
sister to Mr John Pocock; Mr Ellis and Mris Ellis, Mris
Hawkins, Mris Flood, and Mris Thare, all neer London-stone;
his wife, Mris Barney of Norfolk and of their neerer
neighbours, Mr Lewes Merchant, Mris Thurrel,
Mris Grace Philips, MrisDupper, Mris Aires, &c. Besides
her Brother Mr Jonathan Vaughan, of Alsoules
in Oxford, & her uncle Mr James Wight of Southa:
and his wife, and other two Ants, Mris Anne and
Mris Mary Wight. Many moe might be named, who
have seen her of late, and have been much affected
in hearing of the Lords wonderfull workings, in,
and towards her: But these are sufficient to witnesse
what they have seen, or heard, and beleeve:
many of them being persons of note, and of much
esteem in London amongst them that fear the Lord.
The naming of them, the Relator desires may not
be offensive to any of them, seeing 'tis done for the
more assuring this great and memorable worke of
Gods mercy, to some that like Thomas will not
beleeve it, unlesse at least they may speak with
some, that have been present with her.
About a moneth before her great deliverance, Satan
having but a short time so to torment her, her
stormes and tempests were greatest of all. Shee was
grievously hurried with Temptations; so terrified,
shee could not rest at all, for many dayes and
nights together. Whilst shee was able to goe abroad,
her Mother would have her goe with her
to heare Sermons, on the Lords dayes, and on the
Lecture-days there. One Lecture-day shee was gone
forth before her Mother; who missing her, went
forth, and suddenly went, and sent towards
Thames to seek her: where shee had been, to have
cast her selfe in, but was stayd from it by the
power and goodnesse of God: and being found,
shee had a command on her spirit to goe to heare
that Sermon, and her Mother coming to her, shee
readily yeelded to goe with her Mother to the
Lecture there. Where was proved, what favour
God will shew towards the stock of the Jewes,
that he will graff multitudes of them into their own
Olive, pardoning their sinnes against Christ, restoring
them to great dignity, &c. He that preached
went in to Mris Wights house there after the
Sermon, and spake with her daughter, asking her,
if the Lord spake any peace to her thereby. Shee
answered, shee would not for all the world, but shee had
heard that Sermon. Being asked, why so? Shee said,
That God will shew mercy to the Jewes; and they are
the basest people on earth; that so hate the Name of
Christians, and much more Christ himselfe: and
yet that God will call them; This supported her a
little at that present; but it stayed not with her,
and shee was againe under horrid Temptations,
to beleeve there was no God, and no Devill: no Heaven,
and no Hell, but what shee felt within her.
One day being strongly carried on in that temptation,
that there was no other Hell, but here in the
Conscience, As that famous Mris Honywood had said
and done with a Venice Glasse, who said shee was
threw it from her to break it; and yet it
brak not; so did shee with a little white drinking
cup, and earthen cup; shee said, As sure as this
cup shall breake, there is no other Hell: and therewith
shee threw the cup with violence, against the far
side of the chamber; and though it light against
the wood, it brak not. Her mother took it up, and
said, Loe here child, it is not broke. Shee got it againe,
and suddenly said and did it so againe, and again,
and once against the edge of the door: thus shee
struggled, and did foure or five times, and yet it
brake not; but at the fift time a little nip brake
out. And now since the Lord hath created peace
to her, shee hath desired to drinke still out of that
her white cup: till their Water-bearer unawares
cast it downe, and then it brake all to pieces.
In her despairing fits, shee severall times would
turne to the places in Job, and in Jeremy, where
they cursed the day of their birth; and shee said to
this effect; Job cursed the day wherein he was borne,
and said, Wherefore hast thou brought me forth of the
womb? Oh, that I had given up the ghost, and no eye
had seen me. Shee turning to the places, Job 3.3.
Job 10.18. And Jer. 20. 14. to the end Jeremie
cursed the man that brought tidings of his birth, with
bitter curses, because his mothers womb was not his
grave, and said; Wherefore came I out of the wombe,
to see toile and sorrow, that my dayes should be consumed
with shame? But shee said, Have not I much more
condition: but I am curs'd, and must be a fire-brand
of Hell for ever.
These and many other desperate expressions,
shee frequently used, especially in the last moneth
of her sorrowes. When they encreased daily, so
that her soule was exceedingly troubled, and shee
was, as it were all shattered to pieces. And shee
was so weary of her life, and of her selfe, and of
every thing, shee was never at such a passe, in such
extremitie, in all her life before.
Her tender and good Mother, attending on her
continually day and night, to prevent her mischieving
her selfe; being still upheld with great
hopes, that the Lord in his good time, would
come in to her with his consolations, yea, shee was
verily perswaded so. as was also her Brother in
Oxford, And this made her sore taske the more
easie; which els had been intolerable. Yet when
this extremitie had continued long, so that for
many dayes and nights together, her mother had
taken no rest. At last shee was even wearied out
with continuall watchings, and to the end her selfe
might enjoy some rest, to prevent harme to her
selfe, shee had spoke to a friend, desiring that her
daughter might be for a little season with her;
which her friend was very willing unto, and her
daughter was desirous to goe with her, that her
Mother might enjoy rest. But the Lord prevented
both in his goodnesse. For when her friend was
trembling, and such extremity of sorrow
and trouble and weaknes, that shee was not able
to goe with her. A forerunner of her deliverance.
Then her Mother procured a maid that feared
God, to help to look to her, who came that same
day of her so trembling, being Tuesday Aprill 6.
When the maid beforesaid came to her, shee found
her weeping most bitterly, & wringing her hands
grievously, saying, I am a Reprobate, a Castaway, I
never had a good thought in all my life. I have been under
sinne ever since I can remember, when I was but a
childe, &c.
This heavinesse was greatest, this night was
darkest of all, when the day, the joyfull time of
her deliverance was neer at hand. And like as at
the beginning of her grievous despairing, about
foure yeeres agoe, upon those two sinnes beforesaid,
a great trembling fell upon her at the beginning
of her deep despaire and trouble: so now, at
the ending there of, the like trembling fell upon
her, such as shee never had at any other time.
And now, thus trembling exceedingly, and weeping,
and wringing her hands, shee said to this effect:
My earthly Tabernacle is broken all to pieces;
and what will the Lord doe with me? If I should hang
on Gibbets, if I should be cut in pieces, if I should dye
the cruellest death that ever any did, I have deserv'd it,
I would still justifie God, aye if he cast me to hell.
Thus the Lord caused Job, to humble himselfe, and
Her hands and her feet were clunched, so as shee
could not stand. Shee was tempted to blaspheme
God and dye. And when shee was urged to speak,
her tongue was smitten. Afterward shee being laid
down, shee said to her Mother, Ile lye still, and heare
what God will say to me: He will speak Peace, Peace.
If God will speak a word of Peace at the last moment,
I should be contented. Then shee desired them that
none might trouble her, but that shee might lie in
peace. And shee lay still, as in a sleep, or as in a
trance rather, from that tuesday night, Aprill 6.
till the last day of that week cald Saturday at
night; except when shee cald for a little water to
drink, and drunk two or three cups of water. No
other sustenance shee took all that time. And this
was the time of love, when the exceeding riches of
Grace was advanced.
Sarah Wight, was daughter to Mr. Thomas
Wight, sometimes of the Auditors Office, and of the
Exchequers Office: Her earthly dwelling is now with
her faithfull Mother Mris Mary Wight, widow, in
Lawrence Pountney-Lane, by Caning-street in LONDON:
Whose Father was Mr Edward Purcel Esquire,
of Ansloo neer Shrewbury: and whose former Husband
was Mr. Edward Vaughan Esquire, the Kings
Receiver, and Surveyer for Northampton-shire, and
for Rutland-shire: by whom shee had her sonne
Mr. Jonathan 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 Tempter is a Lyon for his strength? Behold the
Lyon of the Tribe of Judah, Christ the mighty
God: who can and will deliver thee out of his paw.
A fountain laid open for sinne, 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. This 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 Brother, and God to her
B3
1
Father, and her dwelling place: Hedwelling in her, and shee in him: Let
him and her that glorieth, not glory
in the flesh, but in the Lord 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, Mris 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 9
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 their 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 Aprill 6.
2
1647. it being about 4. yeares. Shee is not sixteenyeeres 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,
shee 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.
In the last four yeeres, 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 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
B4
3
out her braines, wretchedly bruising, and woundingher self. The chiefe cause of such weaknes since
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 Joh. 10.28, 29. This
stop'd her sinfull act, but the comfort stayed not.
Many precious Ministers came to comfort her:
In London these, Mr Thomas Goodwin, Mr Barker,
Mr Lockyar, Mr Palmer their Minister in Lawrence
Pountney, Mr Sprigge, Mr John Simpson, and others.
And these came to her in or neer Shrewsbury,
Mr Hildershame of Felton, Mr Paget Father of Dr
Paget now of London Mr Wright of Wellington,
Mr Smith, Mr Fisher, Mr Blake, Mr Morgan Floyd,
Mr 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, Mr John Browne, of Shrewsbury a
faithfull and loving man and by one whom he
brought with him, viz. Mr Daniel Floyd: but it was
soon ecclipsed againe; and shee remained in grievous
4
horrour day and night; concluding shee wasa 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.
And since her much prayed- and hoped-for-deliverance,
amongst many that have visited her,
were these Ministers; Mr Palmer, Mr Sprigge, and
Mr Simpson beforesaid, Mr Peters, Mr Charnock of
London, Mr Atherley of the Charterhouse with his
wife, Mr Hide of Wighton in Yorkshire, and the
Relator. Also the Lady Willoughby, the Lady Renula,
and the Lady Clotworthy, the Lady Vermuiden,
with her daughters Mris Sarah, and Mris Katharine,
Sir Ric: Philips, and his Lady, dau: to Dr Oxenbridg,
Sir Richard Saltonstall, with his Lady, Dr Coxe, Dr
Debote, Dr Worsley, Dr Paget, Physicians; Mris Palmer,
wife to Mr Palmer. Also Mris Fines, wife to my
Lord Says eldest Son, and Mris Harrison, wife to the
Chamberlain of London, Mris Sarah Jones, wife to Mr
Tho. Jones Esquire of Tower-hill, Col. Langhams
wife, daughter to the Lady Roberts; Mr and Mris
Liggon, Capt. Price, and his wife, Mris Wilson at
Nags-head; Mris Lane, Mr P. Barbon, and his wife;
Mris Owen, and Mris Hannah Allen, Bookseller, Mris
Manning of Tower-street, Mris Elizabeth Waldo,
sister to Mr John Pocock; Mr Ellis and Mris Ellis, Mris
Hawkins, Mris Flood, and Mris Thare, all neer London-stone;
5
and her cousins Mr Brigs Taylor andhis wife, Mris Barney of Norfolk and of their neerer
neighbours, Mr Lewes Merchant, Mris Thurrel,
Mris Grace Philips, MrisDupper, Mris Aires, &c. Besides
her Brother Mr Jonathan Vaughan, of Alsoules
in Oxford, & her uncle Mr James Wight of Southa:
and his wife, and other two Ants, Mris Anne and
Mris Mary Wight. Many moe might be named, who
have seen her of late, and have been much affected
in hearing of the Lords wonderfull workings, in,
and towards her: But these are sufficient to witnesse
what they have seen, or heard, and beleeve:
many of them being persons of note, and of much
esteem in London amongst them that fear the Lord.
The naming of them, the Relator desires may not
be offensive to any of them, seeing 'tis done for the
more assuring this great and memorable worke of
Gods mercy, to some that like Thomas will not
beleeve it, unlesse at least they may speak with
some, that have been present with her.
About a moneth before her great deliverance, Satan
having but a short time so to torment her, her
stormes and tempests were greatest of all. Shee was
grievously hurried with Temptations; so terrified,
shee could not rest at all, for many dayes and
nights together. Whilst shee was able to goe abroad,
her Mother would have her goe with her
to heare Sermons, on the Lords dayes, and on the
Lecture-days there. One Lecture-day shee was gone
forth before her Mother; who missing her, went
6
to the Assembly, and not finding her there, cameforth, and suddenly went, and sent towards
Thames to seek her: where shee had been, to have
cast her selfe in, but was stayd from it by the
power and goodnesse of God: and being found,
shee had a command on her spirit to goe to heare
that Sermon, and her Mother coming to her, shee
readily yeelded to goe with her Mother to the
Lecture there. Where was proved, what favour
God will shew towards the stock of the Jewes,
that he will graff multitudes of them into their own
Olive, pardoning their sinnes against Christ, restoring
them to great dignity, &c. He that preached
went in to Mris Wights house there after the
Sermon, and spake with her daughter, asking her,
if the Lord spake any peace to her thereby. Shee
answered, shee would not for all the world, but shee had
heard that Sermon. Being asked, why so? Shee said,
That God will shew mercy to the Jewes; and they are
the basest people on earth; that so hate the Name of
Christians, and much more Christ himselfe: and
yet that God will call them; This supported her a
little at that present; but it stayed not with her,
and shee was againe under horrid Temptations,
to beleeve there was no God, and no Devill: no Heaven,
and no Hell, but what shee felt within her.
One day being strongly carried on in that temptation,
that there was no other Hell, but here in the
Conscience, As that famous Mris Honywood had said
and done with a Venice Glasse, who said shee was
7
as sure to be damn'd, as that was to break; and therewiththrew it from her to break it; and yet it
brak not; so did shee with a little white drinking
cup, and earthen cup; shee said, As sure as this
cup shall breake, there is no other Hell: and therewith
shee threw the cup with violence, against the far
side of the chamber; and though it light against
the wood, it brak not. Her mother took it up, and
said, Loe here child, it is not broke. Shee got it againe,
and suddenly said and did it so againe, and again,
and once against the edge of the door: thus shee
struggled, and did foure or five times, and yet it
brake not; but at the fift time a little nip brake
out. And now since the Lord hath created peace
to her, shee hath desired to drinke still out of that
her white cup: till their Water-bearer unawares
cast it downe, and then it brake all to pieces.
In her despairing fits, shee severall times would
turne to the places in Job, and in Jeremy, where
they cursed the day of their birth; and shee said to
this effect; Job cursed the day wherein he was borne,
and said, Wherefore hast thou brought me forth of the
womb? Oh, that I had given up the ghost, and no eye
had seen me. Shee turning to the places, Job 3.3.
Job 10.18. And Jer. 20. 14. to the end Jeremie
cursed the man that brought tidings of his birth, with
bitter curses, because his mothers womb was not his
grave, and said; Wherefore came I out of the wombe,
to see toile and sorrow, that my dayes should be consumed
with shame? But shee said, Have not I much more
8
cause to say so, then they had? for they were in a blessedcondition: but I am curs'd, and must be a fire-brand
of Hell for ever.
These and many other desperate expressions,
shee frequently used, especially in the last moneth
of her sorrowes. When they encreased daily, so
that her soule was exceedingly troubled, and shee
was, as it were all shattered to pieces. And shee
was so weary of her life, and of her selfe, and of
every thing, shee was never at such a passe, in such
extremitie, in all her life before.
Her tender and good Mother, attending on her
continually day and night, to prevent her mischieving
her selfe; being still upheld with great
hopes, that the Lord in his good time, would
come in to her with his consolations, yea, shee was
verily perswaded so. as was also her Brother in
Oxford, And this made her sore taske the more
easie; which els had been intolerable. Yet when
this extremitie had continued long, so that for
many dayes and nights together, her mother had
taken no rest. At last shee was even wearied out
with continuall watchings, and to the end her selfe
might enjoy some rest, to prevent harme to her
selfe, shee had spoke to a friend, desiring that her
daughter might be for a little season with her;
which her friend was very willing unto, and her
daughter was desirous to goe with her, that her
Mother might enjoy rest. But the Lord prevented
both in his goodnesse. For when her friend was
9
come, her daughter was taken with such an exceedingtrembling, and such extremity of sorrow
and trouble and weaknes, that shee was not able
to goe with her. A forerunner of her deliverance.
Then her Mother procured a maid that feared
God, to help to look to her, who came that same
day of her so trembling, being Tuesday Aprill 6.
When the maid beforesaid came to her, shee found
her weeping most bitterly, & wringing her hands
grievously, saying, I am a Reprobate, a Castaway, I
never had a good thought in all my life. I have been under
sinne ever since I can remember, when I was but a
childe, &c.
This heavinesse was greatest, this night was
darkest of all, when the day, the joyfull time of
her deliverance was neer at hand. And like as at
the beginning of her grievous despairing, about
foure yeeres agoe, upon those two sinnes beforesaid,
a great trembling fell upon her at the beginning
of her deep despaire and trouble: so now, at
the ending there of, the like trembling fell upon
her, such as shee never had at any other time.
And now, thus trembling exceedingly, and weeping,
and wringing her hands, shee said to this effect:
My earthly Tabernacle is broken all to pieces;
and what will the Lord doe with me? If I should hang
on Gibbets, if I should be cut in pieces, if I should dye
the cruellest death that ever any did, I have deserv'd it,
I would still justifie God, aye if he cast me to hell.
Thus the Lord caused Job, to humble himselfe, and
10
justifie the Lord, when his restoring was at hand.Her hands and her feet were clunched, so as shee
could not stand. Shee was tempted to blaspheme
God and dye. And when shee was urged to speak,
her tongue was smitten. Afterward shee being laid
down, shee said to her Mother, Ile lye still, and heare
what God will say to me: He will speak Peace, Peace.
If God will speak a word of Peace at the last moment,
I should be contented. Then shee desired them that
none might trouble her, but that shee might lie in
peace. And shee lay still, as in a sleep, or as in a
trance rather, from that tuesday night, Aprill 6.
till the last day of that week cald Saturday at
night; except when shee cald for a little water to
drink, and drunk two or three cups of water. No
other sustenance shee took all that time. And this
was the time of love, when the exceeding riches of
Grace was advanced.
April 20. at night, there being divers neighbours
and loving friends come together to see her,
Mris Collet, Mris Caron, Mris Dupper, the Relator, and
divers others, about twelve or moe, which greatly
desired to heare her speake, being much taken and
greatly refreshed with what they had heard of her,
thanksgivings having been made 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, Mr Jessey was there; he being
in the company, neer to her, shee then began to
speak to him, and said; O magnifie the Lord with
me, for he hath delivered mee from all my feares: not
from one, but from all my feares. This shee spake, as
all that follows, with a low voyce, 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. Proceeding on thus, which presently
the base estate of his hand-maid. I rejoyce in him. I
mourn over him, whom I have pierced. 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 mee as to the
good Theef, 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 shee stopping, through her
weeping, and their murmuring kept them out of Canaan,
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, till now, that
he made knowne his mercy to me, though I sought it diligently
to confesse it. Being asked when was this that
shee confest her sin? Shee said, Now since I saw his
mercy. And now he hath made known to me his mercy.
Nothing but the sense of his mercy, could ever bring me
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: 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. Yet he
hath shew'd mercy to me, the chiefest of sinners. 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, and
Angels and Devils, should tell me they are not forgiven,
I would not beleeve them.
What paines did I take in going to men, to have
them speak comfort to mee, and 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.
If the world knew him, they could not but love him.
He is the chiefest of ten thousands. 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
heifer, unaccustom'd to the yoke; to me, that was
ungodly, unprepared to Ephraim, that was as a
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 heare what God hath done for
such a one: I would none may despaire 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.
"The Relator having heard shee now had not eaten
any thing at all for twenty-foure dayes or
more, and drunk nothing in all this time since
April 6. but onely faire water, neither that, but
two or three little cups together, once in two or
three dayes." He desired her, if shee could, to eat,
to preserve life: for when the Lord saith, Thou
shalt not kill: he implies the Affirmative, Thou shalt
use all good meanes to preserve life. And though he,
and all those present, being so affected, even to admiration,
in hearing a child so speak, yet he wished
her to forbear speaking too much; because it spent
her, shee being so very weak. Shee said; In rest and
returning shall I be saved, in quietnesse and confidence
shall be my strength. I have Manna to eat of, he feeds
me with hidden Manna. It was pleasant to the eye:
but they felt no sweetnesse, by looking on it, but by tasting
of it. When shee ceased her speaking, having
accordingly, those beforesaid being present.
Another time, when one gave her a Poesie, shee
looking on it, and smelling its sweetnes, commended
the workmanship of God in the severall flowers:
saying to this effect; The flowers are all fragrant,
and some more fragrant then others, they have different
colours, and different smels: and all come out of the
earth. So are the Saints, they all are in Christ, and in
him they all are sweet and savoury: but are of different
strength, and judgement. The strong should bear with
the weak, and not despise them.
April 25. being the Lords day, when many Christians
were come to see her, amongst others, Mr and
Mris Liggon, Mr A. Mris Jones, Mris Aires, Mris Gr. Philips,
and others.
In like humble manner, her face being covered,
and lying still, as shee had kept her bed, being very
weak, since April 6. with a low voice, as speaking
to her selfe, shee said: How sweet is it to my
thoughts, that an infinite God, should be a Rock and a
Refuge to a finite Creature! a sure Rock and hiding
place, from all stormes and tempests whatsoever.
When the man was wounded by theeves, and lay by
the way; the Priest and the Levite passed by: they passed
by and helped not: The creature comfort failes: and
then the good Samaritan helps. Christ saves, when
none els will or can: and when there's nothing in the
Creature to move him. The wounded man did not first
the more honour to him that cures him. He set him on
his own Beast, leaves him not to himselfe, to goe where
he will: but brought him in, and gave two pence for
him. I beleeve that holds out Faith and Love. None
cared for him, refuge fail'd, then Christ helps, and takes
care for him.
One speaking to her of her former condition,
how far shee was then from hope ever to obtaine
mercy, shee said; If all the world should be saved, then
it may be, I should be one; but els no hopes for me. That
Peter, Mary Magdalen, David, Manasses were saved;
it was nothing to me: no, if Judas should be saved,
yet should not I. All their sin, and Pauls in Persecuting,
and the Theef on the Crosse, and Judas, and
all I could read of, or heare of, if all their sins were all
put together in one; yet all were not so bad as I. Yet I
obtained mercy, that thought my time of mercy was
past, and that I was damn'd already through unbeliefe.
I said many a time, There's no hope in thy end:
and I thought I saw it. I may say, it was good for me
to be afflicted, I prize his mercies the more. All terrors
could not humble me; but the sight of his mercy did.
I could never be kindly humbled till then. It was not
mine own fitting, or mine own humbling, but Christs
fitting, and Christs humbling; when he lookes upon
such a one; that humbles. He comes with his power on
the soule, and causeth the soule to beleeve.
My tongue was not able to tell the misery I was in
before continually: and now my tongue is not able to tell
enough expresse his Name. I would faine have been
dissolved, to be with him. It was a hard thing for me
to be content to live here still: but its easie for him to
teach, to be willing to live or dye: and he hath taught
mee.
I was so desperate, I cared not what became of mee:
oft was I at very brink of death and hell: even at the
very gates, and they were open for me; and then Christ
shut them, and fetch'd me out: at Daniel that was in
the Lyons den, but it was his mercy that stop'd the
mouth of the roaring Lyon, and delivered me.
The hundreth and seventh Psalme; O that men
would therefore praise the Lord for his goodness,
and declare the wonders that he doth for the children
of men. I would that Psalm were often read
over. The goodnesse of God is unsearchable. How great
is the excellency of his Majesty; that yet he would look
upon such a one as I! I was full of Terror the week before
I kept my bed: I rested not day nor night. I thought
no death was bad enough for me. If all kinds of deaths
were put together in one, it was too good for me. I walked
continually as in fire and brimstone, for rebelling
and murmuring against God, and against a Parent.
When he hides his face, who is able to bear it?
and when he gives quietnes, who then can trouble?
Job 34.29. I can testifie the truth of both
these. He hath spoke the word to me, Thy sins are forgiven
thee; I even I am he that blotteth out thy
transgressions for mine owne sake. Jesus Christ is
say with admiration, What is man, that thou art so
mindfull of him? or the son of man, that thou so
regardest him! thou madest him lower then Angels.
Jesus Christ took our nature,
to take part of our sufferings; and that
we should follow him in sufferings, and
not think strange. Wee have not a High
Priest, that cannot be touched with a feeling of our infirmities,
but he was made like to us, that he might
sympathize with us, Heb. 2. 17, 18. & Heb. 4. 15.
Blesse the Lord, O my soule! Which forgiveth all thine
iniquitie; and healeth all thine infirmity. In my misery
my flesh and my bones pined, and consumed away,
and I was neer to death. the Lords chearing the
heart doth good like a medicine: I now recover
strength. I read the Scriptures from a childe: but I
understood not what I read till now, that I had the
Teaching of the Spirit.
He is worth the waiting for him. There is a blessing
pronounced to such, Blessed are all that wait for him.
I did not wait patiently for him. I was weary, and
could wait no longer. But he is not weary: He faileth
not. He lets the Creature goe his way for a time, for his
own good, to humble him more, and shew his mercy the
more. He hath him in a chaine, and the enemy in a
chaine. So he hath the soule, to dispose of it. My times
are in thy hands: that he might magnifie mercy indeed,
and free love indeed. No soule ever was as I have
been: I am sure of it. If all the sins of all sinners that
of me. And yet tis his goodnesse that such a one as I,
should obtaine mercy. I wish all may take heed of
censuring the vildest creatures that
are, seeing the Lord hath done thus
for me the vildest Creature: but pitty
them with teares of bloud.
and loving friends come together to see her,
Mris Collet, Mris Caron, Mris Dupper, the Relator, and
divers others, about twelve or moe, which greatly
desired to heare her speake, being much taken and
greatly refreshed with what they had heard of her,
thanksgivings having been made 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, Mr Jessey was there; he being
in the company, neer to her, shee then began to
speak to him, and said; O magnifie the Lord with
me, for he hath delivered mee from all my feares: not
from one, but from all my feares. This shee spake, as
all that follows, with a low voyce, 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. Proceeding on thus, which presently
D2
11
was writ down: He hath regarded the low estate,the base estate of his hand-maid. I rejoyce in him. I
mourn over him, whom I have pierced. 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 mee as to the
good Theef, 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 shee stopping, through her
weeping, and their murmuring kept them out of Canaan,
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, till now, that
he made knowne his mercy to me, though I sought it diligently
to confesse it. Being asked when was this that
shee confest her sin? Shee said, Now since I saw his
mercy. And now he hath made known to me his mercy.
Nothing but the sense of his mercy, could ever bring me
12
to confesse my sin with meltings. I would faine havegot 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: 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. Yet he
hath shew'd mercy to me, the chiefest of sinners. 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, and
Angels and Devils, should tell me they are not forgiven,
I would not beleeve them.
What paines did I take in going to men, to have
them speak comfort to mee, and 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.
If the world knew him, they could not but love him.
He is the chiefest of ten thousands. 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
heifer, unaccustom'd to the yoke; to me, that was
ungodly, unprepared to Ephraim, that was as a
D3
13
wild Asses colt. Surely, after I was turn'd, I repented.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 heare what God hath done for
such a one: I would none may despaire 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.
"The Relator having heard shee now had not eaten
any thing at all for twenty-foure dayes or
more, and drunk nothing in all this time since
April 6. but onely faire water, neither that, but
two or three little cups together, once in two or
three dayes." He desired her, if shee could, to eat,
to preserve life: for when the Lord saith, Thou
shalt not kill: he implies the Affirmative, Thou shalt
use all good meanes to preserve life. And though he,
and all those present, being so affected, even to admiration,
in hearing a child so speak, yet he wished
her to forbear speaking too much; because it spent
her, shee being so very weak. Shee said; In rest and
returning shall I be saved, in quietnesse and confidence
shall be my strength. I have Manna to eat of, he feeds
me with hidden Manna. It was pleasant to the eye:
but they felt no sweetnesse, by looking on it, but by tasting
of it. When shee ceased her speaking, having
14
desired he would praise the Lord with her, he performedaccordingly, those beforesaid being present.
Another time, when one gave her a Poesie, shee
looking on it, and smelling its sweetnes, commended
the workmanship of God in the severall flowers:
saying to this effect; The flowers are all fragrant,
and some more fragrant then others, they have different
colours, and different smels: and all come out of the
earth. So are the Saints, they all are in Christ, and in
him they all are sweet and savoury: but are of different
strength, and judgement. The strong should bear with
the weak, and not despise them.
April 25. being the Lords day, when many Christians
were come to see her, amongst others, Mr and
Mris Liggon, Mr A. Mris Jones, Mris Aires, Mris Gr. Philips,
and others.
In like humble manner, her face being covered,
and lying still, as shee had kept her bed, being very
weak, since April 6. with a low voice, as speaking
to her selfe, shee said: How sweet is it to my
thoughts, that an infinite God, should be a Rock and a
Refuge to a finite Creature! a sure Rock and hiding
place, from all stormes and tempests whatsoever.
When the man was wounded by theeves, and lay by
the way; the Priest and the Levite passed by: they passed
by and helped not: The creature comfort failes: and
then the good Samaritan helps. Christ saves, when
none els will or can: and when there's nothing in the
Creature to move him. The wounded man did not first
D4
15
desire the Samaritans help. The deeper the wound is,the more honour to him that cures him. He set him on
his own Beast, leaves him not to himselfe, to goe where
he will: but brought him in, and gave two pence for
him. I beleeve that holds out Faith and Love. None
cared for him, refuge fail'd, then Christ helps, and takes
care for him.
One speaking to her of her former condition,
how far shee was then from hope ever to obtaine
mercy, shee said; If all the world should be saved, then
it may be, I should be one; but els no hopes for me. That
Peter, Mary Magdalen, David, Manasses were saved;
it was nothing to me: no, if Judas should be saved,
yet should not I. All their sin, and Pauls in Persecuting,
and the Theef on the Crosse, and Judas, and
all I could read of, or heare of, if all their sins were all
put together in one; yet all were not so bad as I. Yet I
obtained mercy, that thought my time of mercy was
past, and that I was damn'd already through unbeliefe.
I said many a time, There's no hope in thy end:
and I thought I saw it. I may say, it was good for me
to be afflicted, I prize his mercies the more. All terrors
could not humble me; but the sight of his mercy did.
I could never be kindly humbled till then. It was not
mine own fitting, or mine own humbling, but Christs
fitting, and Christs humbling; when he lookes upon
such a one; that humbles. He comes with his power on
the soule, and causeth the soule to beleeve.
My tongue was not able to tell the misery I was in
before continually: and now my tongue is not able to tell
16
what love and mercy hath been shewed to me, I can neverenough expresse his Name. I would faine have been
dissolved, to be with him. It was a hard thing for me
to be content to live here still: but its easie for him to
teach, to be willing to live or dye: and he hath taught
mee.
I was so desperate, I cared not what became of mee:
oft was I at very brink of death and hell: even at the
very gates, and they were open for me; and then Christ
shut them, and fetch'd me out: at Daniel that was in
the Lyons den, but it was his mercy that stop'd the
mouth of the roaring Lyon, and delivered me.
The hundreth and seventh Psalme; O that men
would therefore praise the Lord for his goodness,
and declare the wonders that he doth for the children
of men. I would that Psalm were often read
over. The goodnesse of God is unsearchable. How great
is the excellency of his Majesty; that yet he would look
upon such a one as I! I was full of Terror the week before
I kept my bed: I rested not day nor night. I thought
no death was bad enough for me. If all kinds of deaths
were put together in one, it was too good for me. I walked
continually as in fire and brimstone, for rebelling
and murmuring against God, and against a Parent.
When he hides his face, who is able to bear it?
and when he gives quietnes, who then can trouble?
Job 34.29. I can testifie the truth of both
these. He hath spoke the word to me, Thy sins are forgiven
thee; I even I am he that blotteth out thy
transgressions for mine owne sake. Jesus Christ is
17
unchangeable, therefore I was not consumed. Wee maysay with admiration, What is man, that thou art so
mindfull of him? or the son of man, that thou so
regardest him! thou madest him lower then Angels.
Jesus Christ took our nature,
to take part of our sufferings; and that
we should follow him in sufferings, and
not think strange. Wee have not a High
Priest, that cannot be touched with a feeling of our infirmities,
but he was made like to us, that he might
sympathize with us, Heb. 2. 17, 18. & Heb. 4. 15.
Blesse the Lord, O my soule! Which forgiveth all thine
iniquitie; and healeth all thine infirmity. In my misery
my flesh and my bones pined, and consumed away,
and I was neer to death. the Lords chearing the
heart doth good like a medicine: I now recover
strength. I read the Scriptures from a childe: but I
understood not what I read till now, that I had the
Teaching of the Spirit.
He is worth the waiting for him. There is a blessing
pronounced to such, Blessed are all that wait for him.
I did not wait patiently for him. I was weary, and
could wait no longer. But he is not weary: He faileth
not. He lets the Creature goe his way for a time, for his
own good, to humble him more, and shew his mercy the
more. He hath him in a chaine, and the enemy in a
chaine. So he hath the soule, to dispose of it. My times
are in thy hands: that he might magnifie mercy indeed,
and free love indeed. No soule ever was as I have
been: I am sure of it. If all the sins of all sinners that
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I read of, or heard talk of, were in one, it were all shortof me. And yet tis his goodnesse that such a one as I,
should obtaine mercy. I wish all may take heed of
censuring the vildest creatures that
are, seeing the Lord hath done thus
for me the vildest Creature: but pitty
them with teares of bloud.