AbrahalñsPurchaf , or, &c. 241 felves,that we may Mike our peace withGod,and lookfor death everymoment; be- caufe we know not how foon wemay be arret}ed She was indeed a woman ofgreat truft andfaith in God : and one whofe mouth was full of his praife, (till admiring and recounting the wondrousgrace ofGod tò her m all the course ofher life, in fparingher, in givingher comfort in her coat- fcience, concerning the pardon and forgivenefs of ber fins, and providing for her worldly helps, which fit e thought never to attain to : and in manyotherparticulars, She didopen thegrace ofGod according to herbe(t underftanding, foil giving the praife to his holy Name : andno doubt,ifthe Itroke upon her had not been fo fatal; and as deadly as now it was, we fhould have had the like fruit moreabundantly.at this time. Howbeit the was not as one altogether deflitute,but thecalled for,and craved the prayers ofGods people, that theywould lift up their hearts and hands; and voyces to theLord to look upon her,and releafe her ofher mifery and trouble, either by life or death,for thewas content either way. She had fotne touches alto ofDivine Scripture asoccafion offered themfelves. As when the light was brought in, the defired to have the light of Góds countenance to thine upon her. And when her eye firings werebroke,. that thetears did diftil down, the defired theLord God to put her tears into his bottle, and many fuck Luminations there were that camefrom her. Her (urcharged fpirits were fo taken andftrucken, as a manmight perceiveat the firft, there was no waybut one; her Pelf drawing her felfwithin, as though that in the outwardman there wereno room for the foul to dwell there, or to have a fit and opportunehabitation. I mull needs advertife you of on: thing, that this cuflofue of praifing and com- mending of the dead is very full ofdanger, becaufe a manmaybe a lyer, and a flat- terer before he be aware, when he never intended it. But truly ( for ought that I could difcern ) this Sifter ofours was one that was very well deferving, of a quiet and moderate (pirit, infenfive and careful to governber houfeand children, andno way exorbitant, for any thing that I can hear. It istrue that all are not ofoneModel, as the bodies ofmen and women are not ofone height andcolour, fo the fouls and fpirits arenot all ofone elevationneither : but we efteem the childrenofGod according to that they have received, andnotac- cording to that that they havenot received, as the Apoftle (peaks. I fay therefore, according to thegrace the had received ; I verily believe the was faithful and true to it, that/he receivednot thegraceofGod in vain ; (he fought by allmeans to nourifh and cherifh it fromonedegree to another, andto proceed fromgrace tograce. And therefore I conclude in the judgementof Charity, that we have very fironghopes, and great probabilities of her happy tranflation. She wasa Daughter ofSarah, as Saint Peter fpeaks of Women, that hewould have them demeanthemfelves, as Daughters ofSarah : and fuch a one the was in her habit andattirç,in the manner ofher fsfé, and fociety, and company: andthere- fore I doubt not lent the inheritethwith Sarah theplace of bleffed maniions, that the Lord hash made infinite fpecions, and wide, and capable forall bleffed fouls that put their trufkin him. Now, this let us make ufeof to ourown fouls. In that the had not that large; nefs oftime the fuppofed to havehad, but was furprifed fo foon and vehemently,as thecóutdnot difpofeofherfelfin that manner,as weknow by experience thewould havedone:it(houldbe aleffon tous to beready for God,tobe acquaintedwithGod. We have had two Cortisoneafteranother, onea man, another a woman, both taken fuddenly in refpei5l ofthe time,though theyhad thoughtto havemadean over- ture ofthemfelves to theworld,and thought to havemade all things fairand eafie, by, theeonfeffion and exprefúon oftheir faith to the world, buttheywerenotfuffered todo it. So,all prefume tohave time to make the worldknow that they be humble and penitent, and tomake their confeon ; butmany put itoff till it be too late. Let us not beput offwith vainprefumptions, theLordgivetb,asdtheLordta&et, we know not hovv foon. Wevvete bornvve knownot when, vve (hall dieweknóvv not vvhen. TheLordprepare usall forit. Li . GODS
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