THE NARRATIVE, Wherein is related how this Child was visited, and the manner of her Disease, when she did utter those Heaven born Truths herewith published.

THis Child who hath been the subject
of such wonders of Providence,
is the daughter of Master
Anthony and Mistris Faith Hatfield
of Leighton in the West-Riding of Yorkshire;
her name is Martha Hatfield: she
was compleat twelve years old the 27 day of
September, in the year of our Lord 1652.
She hath been from her birth a childe of
wonders, being so litle when she was brought

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out of her mothers wombe; that it was
thought she would speedily have returned to
the common wombe, where all living must
ere long be laid up. But God who quickneth
the dead, who is the preserver of man, continued
her life, and she grew up very hopefully,
as a plant of Gods own planting, yet
some years before this visitation, she was observed
to be of a sad spirit, oft retiring into
corners, and weeping for a long time, and
could not then render any reason thereof;
but it evidently appeared afterward, that she
was much afflicted with the spleen-winde,
which encreased notwithstanding the use
of means to greater extremity.
But before I proceed, I must desire the
Reader not to expect an exact Relation of
her Disease in physical terms of art; because
it pleased the all-wise Disposer of all occurrences
so to order the spirit of the childe, and
his own dealings towards her, as you may
see anon that no means could be used towards
her recovery, and so no Physicians did
stay with her to observe the symptomes of
her disease; so that it's but conjectural what it
was; it's thought the rigid convulsions, or
rather that it was a complicated disease of
many of those distempers which affect the
brain; but I shall give it you in our Countrey
Dialect, as those that were usually with
her did apprehend it.
I shall observe this Method:
1 I shall speak of her disease.
2 Relate her speeches.
3 The manner of her recovery.

1 Her Disease.

The Spleen-winde after sometime did
grow to that extremity, that she could not
digest her meat, but vomited up all that she
took, which yet was but a small quantity for
a long time; after which she was taken all
of one side, beginning at her neck, which
caused her to hold her head awry; and from
thence it went into her arm, and took away
the use of it for many dayes, and when her
arm was better, it fell into her leg on the
same side, and continued there until she fell
quite down, which was after this manner.
She had extraordinary fits of violent vomiting,
and after that Convulsions, which occasioned
extream torments, especially in the
night, and so she continued sometimes better,
sometimes worse for many dayes, sorely
troubled with a stopping, &c.
In which time she had the use of her understanding,
and could speak, and with many
sweet words was able to exhort her parents
to trust in God. Saying; If we had but

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faith, it would carry us thorough all the troubles
of this world.
Then about April the sixth, 1652, we
perceived such a change in her, that we
thought she would die presently, and she fell
into a fit of extream pain in her side, which
took away her breath, and her senses for 16
houres; and she was stricken all over stiff, in
which time she lay as if dead hopelesse of
life in the judgements of those who beheld
her. Yet about the third houre she was enabled
with great alacrity to express the joyes
of Heaven, and sweetly prayed for herself
and all her relations, as she conceived their
necessities required.
First, for her father thy serva~t, the head of this
family, Lord, give him faith in Jesus Christ
to lay hold upon thee, and give him patience
to be contented with thy will; and for our
mother who hath been so long weak, Lord,
restore her, and make her a comfort to us all,
and teach her to submit to thy will; and for
my Grand-mother that old stock,
that thou hast made such a comfort
to us, good Lord, we thank thee for her,
and if I live, I desire to be thankful for her.
And for our brother who is to be disposed of,
good Lord, direct the heart of thy servant
our father to dispose of him as may be most
for thy glory, and for the good of his soul
and body.
Good Lord, bless our sister who hath taken
so great pains with my mother and me;
and our other little brother, Lord, make him
thine, and guide him in all his wayes in his
young yeers, that his soul may be precious in
thy sight; and my other sister the Lord
give her grace. And that other little sister,
good Lord, take away that infirmity from her
eye, if it be thy will. And for that sister whom
thou hast disposed of in marriage, the Lord
bless that family, and give them more and
more of thy Spirit to guide them in thy
wayes; and, Lord, give him a Spirit of prayer,
but let us not make haste, for thy time is the
best. And for that little branch, Lord, as it
grows in days & years, grant that it may grow
in grace, and walk in thy way. And for that
godly sweet servant of thine that prayed
so heartily for me the last night the Lord
bless him; and, Lord, bless thy servant, who is
gone to use means for her health, and bless
the means, for without thy blessing nothing
can profit; and, Lord, if it be for thy glory
bring them together, and if not, make them
contented to yield to thy will. Good Lord,
bless all our Family, and make them thine
and teach all our friends to walk in thy
wayes.
When she began this prayer, all about her
were so amazed with the suddenness of it,
that they could not for the joy and astonishment
wherewith their spirits were filled observe
each passage so exactly as is desired
they had done, so that many of her expressions
are lost; but these things set down are
as neer as they that were present could recall
to their thoughts related and written
down in her own very words.
After this prayer her head fell, and she
was as in a trance, and as she past into it she
said, The Lord be with you all, I am now going
to Heaven, where I hope one day you
will come to me. And when she was come
forth of that trance, in which they thought
she would have died, she was exceedingly
rapt up with joy which perhaps was the
Heaven she spake of, that she was going to
laughing, and spreading her arms, and clasping
them close to her, that they could not
be opened; but presently she opened them,
and exprest herself in these words.
I have found my Christ, ô, I have found my
Christ, how sweet is he to me!
After this fit of joy, she fell into a sore
conflict with Satan, and opening her arms
which were clasped with hugging her sweet
Christ unto her, she struck so vehemently as
if she had more then ordinary strength, and
exprest her self in these words.
Away, away, away Satan, with a stern
countenance which was a great change in her
face, which was so amiable before in her rejoycing
of it and so she continued for some
time, and then the Lord was pleased to give
her comfort again.
And then she laughed, and rejoyced much
more then before, and spread her arms, and
clasped them close again, and said; O, my
Christ is come again, my Christ is come again;
he shall vanquish Satan, and cast him behinde
me.
Then she fell again into another conflict,
with striking as before, but never spake in a
conflict; but the conflict being over, she spake,
and laught, and behaved her self in the like
manner as before.
O, now my sweet Christ is come again, he is
come again, and hath destroyed my spirituall enemy,
who would have destroyed my soul. O labour
for Christ, and that the Name of Christ may be
written upon all your hearts with letters of
gold.
Thus one time with comforts, and at other
times with conflicts, she continued the greatest
part of one night which they that were
present thought, was about the several times
that night, but they were all so astonished
both with the matter and manner, that they
could not certainly relate how many of those
conflicts and comfortable fits she had; neither
indeed as they acknowledge are they
able to relate the manner thereof, as it was
made known unto them.
After this about 17 dayes, she lay stiff and
never spake all that time, and it pleased the
Lord so to order her disease, that she came to
her self twice a day: viz. at twelve a clock at
noon-day, and six at night, and then she did
understand herself, but could not speak, and
to these times she kept constantly for about
17 dayes, and then she would make signes to
wash her mouth with small beer or water,
they not knowing what she would have, but
she could manifest dislike of what was offered;
if it was not that which she desired; she
took no food all this time, but onely washt
her mouth as was said twice a day.
About this time coming to her self, she
fell into great extremity of vomiting for two
dayes, and that which she vomited was like
gall or soot, and bloud, and by times continued
in that extremity for seven or eight
dayes, and was carried about in the arms of
one or other, or sate on their knees having
little rest, save some short Dormes; she spake
much and uttered many sweet expressions.
Many times being desired to take some
food, she answered; I would take food if
God would give me leave, but I cannot, I
cannot; and when they would do any thing
about her if it might be to give her some
ease, she would say, Alas, here's no ease
here, O that you will not suffer a poor creature
to have some ease! there's no comfort
to be had here, but there's ease in Heaven.
At another time, she said, O Lord, some
ease for a poor distressed creature; Lord, for
thy Son Christ his sake.
Again, Where's my father and my mother,
that they may pray for me? I had a father
and a mother, and brethren and sisters.
Again, she was much troubled, and said,
What a naughty, naughty Lass was I, to be
so impatient? but now I have more pain, and
the Lord hath given me more patience; now
I can say with David, It is good for me that I
have been afflicted. Good? It is good indeed, for
my father hath got good, and my mother
hath got good, and I have got good, and
God hath got glory. I would not have been
without this affliction for any thing; this is
a good affliction indeed.

November the 21th.

Trust the Lord, for he is a trusty one, he
is to be trusted; he hath promised, that those
that trust in him shall stand as Mount Zion, that
shall never be removed, but abideth for ever.
Oh let us wait and be patient untill the
appointed time of the Lord, for his time is
the best time: For he that shall come, will come
and will not tarry.
Take heed that you you sowe not good seed
on thorny ground, lest the thorns spring up
and choke it.
Lord, humble these proud hearts of ours
lest we be blown up with this world, and the
vanities thereof; if we could but feel one
dram of the sweetnesse of Christ, we should
not give way to the vanities of the world as
we do; but while we are in the flesh, we
are apt to follow the lusts of the flesh; if
we could be so sensible of the sweetnesse of
Christ, and apprehend it aright, we should
be taken up so with Christ, and with the
sweetnesse of him, that we should not be
so carried away with the vanities of the
world, but we should give up our selves to
Christ, and make him our Habitation.

The same night about 12 a clock.

She had great extremity of pain, and, as
conceived, would gladly have spoken, making
signes that her heart was in Heaven,
as was thought by those who were present
with her for she pulled at her brest severall
times, and held up her hand as high
as she could reach, looking up with her
eyes; and then, after a short space, she spake,
and said,
Me is not in the hand of mine enemy, but
in the hand of my loving Father; he is an
ever-living, ever-loving and glorious Lord
God, he is a wise God, and he will not give
his children one lash more than he sees good
for them.
After this she spake no more until the
eighth day of December, which was the day
after the Lord had graciously given her
the use of her Senses and of her Understanding.
To close up this second part of the Narrative,
I shall adde this, that some of these
Speeches she uttered, though but few of
them will need such Apologie in weaknesse,
as a childe under such strange distempers, as
did somwhat confuse and perturbe her intellectuals;

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but other things she uttered thorow
the strength of the Spirits assistance extraordinarily
guiding her tongue to utter
such things, as now she cannot tell that ever
she did speak them. There be some things
oft repeated; yet because either they are uttered
with some variety, and were things that
it seems her heart was much carried forth to
mention; therefore I have set them down,
and hope they will not be tedious, but may
raise up further thoughts of them, when you
read them over again, and compare them
with the Scripture in the Margin; and if
you knew the state of the family, and the
condition of some that came occasionally
to hear her, you would say, there was a Divine
hand that guided her tongue, and that
God was with her mouth, adapting her
speeches to their necessities.
And I suppose her heart was more affected
with some truths before this ill fit, and of
those things she makes the most frequent
mention: But whilest I am Apologizing for
her Repetitions, some may tax me for Omissions:
some have said, that she prophesied,
and no such passages are here related; to
which I answer, there is no ground for such
a report: there is one passage related in one
of her Speeches, October the 19th. in the end
of page 107, and beginning of page 108.
about, Raising of the Maid; unlesse they
fancie this to be a Prophetick foretelling of
her Recovery, I know not any thing uttered
by her, nor could upon enquiry hear of any
thing that might give ground for such a report;
but the truth is, such Reporters I
hear do some of them expect to have the
gift of Miracles, and it may be of prophesying,
and seemed to be much taken with
Gods dispensations to this Childe, hoping it
would have conduced something to the promoting
of their cause, but are disappointed;
for God hath opened the mouth of a dumb
childe to confute their follies. It may be
they prophesied that she would prophesie,
and so have proved themselves to be false
prophets.
My hearts desire and prayer to God shall
be, that these Speeches may take as deep impression
upon the hearts of the Readers, as
they did upon her body, who was the Speaker:
God was pleased to hold her upon the
rack for so many weeks, nay moneths, in
which she endured grievous torturings; and
yet to enable her to speak such things, surely
so extraordinary a Teacher requires more
then ordinary attention. When Jonah, who
had bin so close a student in the Whales belly

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Colledge, came to preach to the Ninevites
the strangenesse of the Relation concerning
the Preacher, might make his Sermons take
more with them, Shall not they rise in Judgement
against the men of this Generation? some
it may be with Pharaohs South-sayers will
acknowledge the finger of God is in this, when
his whole hand is visible: but if men sleight
such dispensations, no wonder: for if they
hear not Moses and the Prophets, neither will
they be perswaded, though one rose from the dead.
God indulged to the Israelites its thought
to enjoyne them Ceremonies of his devising,
to prevent their use of, or hankering after
such as were of mans devising; God seems
to indulge to the weaknesse of some in such
extraordinary actings of his Providence in
this Instance, and a few others which might
be mentioned; but if the Father of the Family
take all this care, and yet men are not
contented with his established Institutions,
but they are finding out new Inventions; God
will certainly correct this wantonizing humour:
It argues, our stomacks are foul and
crazy, when we must have new dishes every
meal, and cannot feed upon the standing
dishes of Gods Ordinances: the King of
Saints will not be thus affronted, but level
and discharge the Ordnance of his power
against those that disclaim the Ordinances
of his Grace. But I hope, through the pourings
out of the Spirit many shall be so wise
as to observe these things, and to profit by
ordinary and extraordinary dispensations;
and surely, They shall understand the loving
kindenesse of the Lord.

The third Part of the NARRATIVE; Containing The wonderfull Recovery of this Childe of Wonders.

MAny dayes had been set apart in the
Family to seek the face and favour of
God, on the behalfe of this afflicted Childe;
which Duties her parents, as Obed-Edom the
Ark were forward to entertain as at other
times, so now in this their afflicted condition.
They have had much experience that
God was a God hearing prayer; and therefore
would not be beaten off from these now
alas, too much neglected meanes, from
which they had sucked much sweetnesse, having
found God sometimes marvellously
helping of them, till they were strong in the
power of his might, but alwayes helping them
with a little help, and bearing up their spirits
under the trials, though they did not obtain
a full enlargement: and when one told the
father of this childe, that the room was not
able to bear so many as came to seek God in
those duties: he replied, The more, the better,
so that those who come, can pray and
believe.
But yet the Lord in wisdome seemed to us
to be as one astonished, as a mighty man that
cannot save, the Childes distempers of body
growing more violent, she having most terrible
crying fits, by reason of her extream
pain, which crying fits continued till she vomited
blood, and then she was quiet which
were very grievous and afflictive to the spirits
of all that heard her; and the whole Family
so continually under sadnesse, and their
sleep so broken, that you might have seen
Every one with their hands upon their loines, as a
woman in travell, and all faces turned into palenesse.
Which dealings of the Lord with that
family did serve to awaken them to a more
solemn way of seeking his face, and it was
judged, that it was his purpose to have his
providential dispensations in relation to this
childe more publickly taken notice of, that
so they might not be hid in a corner, but many
might behold his glorious goings, and
bear witnesse thereof unto the world, when
he should finish his work upon her: therefore
her Parents did write and speak to severall
Ministers of his Word, two of which
have prefixed Epistles to this Narrative and
a Day was fixed to be set apart for Humiliation,
of which many precious servants of
God had notice, which was the ninth day of
November: In which Day the Company
being met at Mr. Hatfeilds house, and the
work entered on, but the childe was observed
by such as did attend her to be somewhat
unquiet; the reason whereof they
knew not, onely a thought came in, that if
she were brought into the Room where the
Company was assembled, that then she
might possibly be quieter; wherefore her
Maid brought her in her armes, where she
continued quietly all the time we were at
the duty, not once interrupting us, and the
eye did serve to affect the heart, and to helpe
them to wrastle with God more affectionately;
this passage is the more wonderful;
because so farre as could be rationally judged
she did neither hear or see or know any
body; and so we know not how she should
understand that there was such a work in
hand, unlesse the Lord should hint it to her,
as he did many of her Speeches, if not all
and indeed, some of her Speeches the night
before and night after the Duty was concluded,
do import such a thing. See her
Speeches November the eighth, where she
quotes that Psal. 50. 15. and suitably to that
she added after: Oh let us cry aloud unto the
Lord in the time of necessity, and he hath
promised to give ear to us; which word
did strongly call upon us to cry mightily unto
the Lord: there are many other passages
that night, which I refer the Reader to, and
we took them as messages sent from Heaven
to quicken our hearts in the duty; there was
one passage that night, viz. her fourth speech
about repentance and faith; whereby she
did direct us how to order our Humiliations
as desiring they might be Evangelicall, not
legall; the fruits of faith, not of slavish
feares: she would have us look on Christ,
and then mourn; believe, and then repent;
and when the duty was concluded November
the ninth, at her usuall time she uttered
severall passages, wherein we might observe
God exceedingly ordering of her words, as
the first speech that night, and the fourth,
and the seventh, and especially the ninth,
which was an admirable caution given in to
us.
Now to return, that which was in relation
to the childe set upon our hearts particularly
to ask of God, was this, that he
would please to quiet her spirit, ease her of
her pain, so that the eares of her dear relations
might not be filled with such dolefull
cries, nor their hearts with those fears and
amazements, whereby they were much unfitted
to act Faith, or do any duty to God
of man; extream sadnesse and faintings oppressing
and overwhelming their spirits; and
in this the Lord was pleased graciously to
answer the desires of his poor Servants
through the Intercession of the Lord Jesus
Christ, which we had notice of at our next
meeting, and did desire to improve it, taking
it as a pledge that God would do more
for us, and own us in our Attendances upon
him in his own way.
At the end of that day of Humiliation a
Motion was made, that we might continue
once a moneth at least to seek God untill
he should be pleased to come with healing
under his wings. Those that were engaged
in that work living at a great distance
from one another, we could not well meet
oftener then once a moneth, and with that
resolution we parted, waiting to see what
the Lord would do for his Servants in that
Family, whose condition God did very much
assist those who were engaged in that Duty
to bear upon their hearts continually, with
much tendernesse. The time appointed for
the next day of Humiliation was, as I remember;
the 9 day of December next ensuing.
But the Lord ordered things so, that the
childe grew exceeding weak, not being able
to speak from the 21 of November, any more,
as was before noted, so that her friends did
think that God was comming to finish his
work, and her time of warfare here in the
body.
Wherefore her father dispatcht messages to
the Ministers and Christians to meet & keep
a day of Humiliation, on Thursday, the second
of December, a week sooner then we thought
of and accordingly we met on that day, and
found her very weak, so that she was not
brought into the room, where we performed
the Duties of the day: That which amongst
other things, as particularly relating
to her was desired of God, was, that God
would manifest his power in enabling her to
speak again, that so, whilest she lived, she
might be usefull and instrumentall for his
glory; her Speeches having bin very powerful
upon the hearts of many we hope, to the
conversion, at least, conviction of some,
and the edification of most that heard
them: God was also very earnestly intreated
with many arguments which his Spirit suggested
to raise her up, that he, perfecting his
work, might have perfect praises; and his
work might be cleared to the conviction of
slanderous tongues, and the further comfort
and satisfaction of the hearts of his people;
the day being finished, we departed to
our Homes, desiring to submit, and wait the
Lords leasure, and if she lived to continue
seeking of him. But, behold, God was better
to us then we could think, and when we
had scarce faith to believe what he had in
some measure set our hearts a work to ask
upon the ninth of December, the Day which
formerly, as I noted, we had agreed together
to have sought God for her, but did perform
the duty a week sooner: I say, upon that
day we had as a reall Testimony of her
Fathers thankfulnesse to God, and reall respects
to us the joyfull news of her marvellous
Recovery transmitted to us, which take
as followeth,

Mr. Hatfield his faithfull Relation of the Lords Work, in recovering Mrs. Martha Hatfield his daughter out of her great Afflictions, which was by him sent unto the Ministers, who had sought God for her upon the second of December, 1652.

MOre works of wonder from Heaven,
which may teach us, and all that hear
of it, to depend upon the Lord in the
Duty of Prayer and Fasting. Since the second
of December in which day many sweet
Petitions were put up to the Lord on the behalf
of this childe we have perceived some
Symptomes, that God was restoring her
understanding, as upon the fifth and sixth
dayes of December, she would have given
notice, and signes of that which she had not
given signes of before, since about Mid-April,
and upon the seventh of December betwixt
five and six a clock at night, it pleased
God to open her teeth, being shut since the
eighth day of September, as I noted before
she yawned, and triall was made, and we
found her mouth opened, and then she took
food without spilling; after an hours space
she knew her youngest sister, being about
4 years of age, who used to lie by her, and be
very fond of her, and would be oftentimes
kissing of her; and soon after she knew her
Mother, and rejoyced to see her with laughing
and stroaking of her face, and clasping
her armes about her neck; and then her Father
came, and asked her, if she knew him,
and after a while for her eyes were yet
somewhat dim she did the like to him, holding
up her hands together, as if she would
desire him to pray for her, & she did the like
to her Mother. And we plainly discovered
that God had restored at that instant the
senses of Hearing, Seeing, Smelling and
Handling, for when we called her by her
name, she had an expression, whereby we
perceived she heard us, as also that she saw
us, and there was a pair of sweet Gloves, and
we bad her smell at them, and she put them
to her Nose several times; and she had at
that time much use of her hands, which she
had not before. And her Mother came to
her again, & said, What hath the Lord done
for thee? art thou not willing to give God
all that he hath given thee, thy Life, Understanding,
and all thy Senses, and Heart, and
all? and she manifested her selfe by signes,
that she was cheerfully willing so to do, by

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holding up her hands, and lifting up her eyes
with smiling, and plucking at her heart diverse
times, and then lifted up her hand as
high as she could reach, as though she would
give God her heart, and all; and about nine
a clock she knew her sister Hannah, and her
Grand-Mother, the Wife of Mr. George
Westby, a Gentleman well known in the
North and South, a very godly Gentlewoman
and she did express the same by laughing
and stroking their faces, and closing of
her hands to her Grandmother, as if she desired
her to pray for her.
Then she went to bed, and God gave her
reasonable good rest and sleep; that next
morning, being the eighth of December, she
had four or five sick fits, her body, face and
lips being very much swelled; but when she
was better, the swelling did fall again at an
instant, and then alwayes she held up her
hands and eyes, seeming to praise God, and
all the afternoon she played with some odde
toys, and Spice, which Neighbours had
brought her, which she had in a little Basket
untill betwixt five and six a clock at night,
and then she fell into a stiffe fit, yet without
any appearance of the Convulsions before,
as it had been formerly with her and then
she spake, as she used to do in a stiffe fit, and
said,
Oh let us wait and be patient until the appointed
time of our wise God; for his time is
the best time, And he that shall come, will come,
and will not tarry; and the just shall live by
faith; but if any draw back, my soul shall take
no pleasure in them.
Let us labour for Christ, that Holy One, by
whom we live, move, and have our being, he is
all in all; Oh trust in him, and believe in
him for al things, trust in him, fear him, and
love him, for he hath promised, All things
shall turn to the good of them that love him and
delight in him.
Oh let us labour for faith, for He that is
faithfull unto the death, shall receive a crown of
life.