CHEARE. 437 This excellent person, after suffering the most cruel usage, and enduring numerous inhumanities from merciless jailers, for more than three years, was continued a pri- soner under military guard upon the foregoing island. On the Lord's day preceding his death, he addressed a chris- tian lady, then all the family, in the following manner : " A h ! sister," said he, " the Lord gave you a heart to own and profess him, his name, and ways early, when they were ways every where spoken against; and you have held up, and out, the profession thereot in a flourishing day, and now are concerned in, and with the same, in this hour of temptation, at which I beseech you be not affrighted or offended. You know how it fared with our Lord and Master, whom the religious, as well as the profane world, persecuted and expelled their coasts. The servant is not above his master. It is true, you have had the name of agen- tlewoman, and of being descended of great parentage, and raised to great thingson a worldly account : but keep these all under foot as you ought; and let that still be the song, Worthy is the Lamb to receive power and riches, wisdom and strength, honour and glory, andblessing. Oh ! give up all to him, as Araunah of old, as a king to a king, so let the offeringbe given up cheerfully, and resignedly, entirely to him. " I bless God, I have learned something of this in con- versing with you, of your readiness and freeness heretofore and now to lay out for the Lord. Though I now go the way of all flesh ; yet you know in all your hearts, and in all your souls, that we have none of us cause to be sorry or repent for what we have laid out for the Lord. And you, for your part, have heretofore entertained saints, yea; it may be angels, unawares. The Lord reward you for it ; and the God, under whose wings you trust, be your great reward. But, oh ! take heed your good be not evil spoken of; and that your table become not a trap, nor what was provided for good, turn to your hurt. I desire the Lord Jesus may teach you to look carefully about you, that you lose not the things you have wrought, but receive a full reward. I remember it is said of Abel, that though dead, he yet speaketh ; and have thought that word, in a bad sense ' looked at use and many others; who, while living, have been but dead speakers : but I am now hastening to another kind of death, where, after worms have consumed this flesh and bones, I may be brought forth as a living, ,111.5.11.41,
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