Consolation in Life and Death, Title page 2 – Account
THE LIFE OF Mrs. Ellen Aſty, THE Late Wife of Mr. Aſty of Stratford in Suffolk, Deceaſed.
Revel. 14.13.
Bleſſed are the Dead that dye in the Lord.
Printed by J. R. 1681.
THE LIFE OF Mrs. Ellen Aſty, THE Wife of Mr. Aſty, late Miniſter of the Goſpel in Eſſex.
IT is exceedingly pleaſant unto many, to be beholding the Pictures of their deareſt Friends, when their perſons are removed out of their ſight, and laid in the ſilent duſt, and it hath been found more than a little profitable unto ſurviving Friends, to be reading over the lives of the moſt eminent Saints departed, as hereby being dead, they yet ſpeak, and become ſtill as living patterns for their imitation. It is ſaid, The memory of the juſt is Bleſſed. Prov. 10.7. And it may be ſaid of this pious Matron, as of Demetrius. 3 Joh. 1.12. She hath a good report of all men, and of the truth it ſelf. As to her Birth and Education, much might be ſpoken. She was the Daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bently, her Father an eminent Godly Miniſter, her Mother a very Gracious, Holy Gentlewoman, who lived at Plumſted in Norfolk, who brought her up in the Nurture and Admonition of the Lord. She remembred her Creator in the days of her youth, and choſe him to be hers betimes. The Lord was pleaſed to begin a work of Grace ſo early upon her heart, and ripen it ſo faſt, that whilſt ſhe was young, and Nature not grown to its perfection, ſhe was a well grown Chriſtian in gracious experiences, excelling many who ſet out for Jeſus Chriſt long before her: that ſhe became a pattern of piety to others: yea, the whole Family where ſhe lived, before ſhe entred into a married eſtate, and many out of it, (even ſuch as occaſionally came into it) were much the better for her, and Bleſſed God that they had acquaintance with her, valuing her Grace and Judgment in the deep matters of the Goſpel. She was the wife of Mr. Aſty, a laborious Miniſter of the Goſpel, whom God made much uſe of in the Converſion of many ſinners, and building up others in Grace and Holineſs, who were already brought home to Jeſus Chriſt. When ſhe was firſt married, ſeveral Gentlewomen ſent their Daughters to be with her, that they might live under her inſtructions, and the Lord made her very uſeful to them.
She was eminent for her deportment, and carriage in all Relations: ſome who had intimate acquaintance with her, do teſtify, that ſhe was dutiful to her Parents, an obedient and loving Wife to her Husband, a tender hearted Mother to her Children, (one ſaid) never did any bear the Souls of her Children, and Childrens Children, more upon their hearts than ſhe did; never was any more concerned for their Souls, nor did more Travel in Birth, than ſhe, till ſhe could ſee that in Chriſt they were born again; never any more concerned for the Souls of thoſe committed to her charge (though but ſervants,) than ſhe was.
Some Miniſters, and others who knew her Converſation, teſtifie of her gracious carriage and behaviour, in her various conditions, in the courſe of her Life, as followeth.
She was very knowing in the things of Jeſus Chriſt, and her knowledge was experimental, growing, humbling, and practical, a well grounded Profeſſor, and an honour and glory to her Profeſſion.
She had a ſound Judgment, a well enlightned underſtanding, in the myſtery of godlineſs.
She had the Scriptures (the Fountain of ſaving knowledge) in very high eſtimation, and daily to the laſt, diligently ſearched into them, not one day paſſed but ſhe read, or had read to her, ſome portions of them, which ſhe made matter of meditation, and when her weakneſſes were ſo great, and her eyes ſo fail'd in the latter part of her life, that ſhe could not read her ſelf, ſhe called one to read to her, weighed all her actions by the Scriptures as her Rule, conſidered her warrant, call and command from God, for all ſhe did, and acted in all, in obedience thereunto.
She would often be telling others, how in their way they might ſerve the Lord, though the work of their place was never ſo mean and low, if they did conſider the precepts and rules, which God had given referring to ſuch a Relation, place, employ, or condition wherein they ſtood, and acted in obedience to his will therein.
She outwent moſt Chriſtians in her ſtrictneſs on the Lords day, the whole time was ſpent in publick and private exerciſes, and would allow nothing that was ſecular and aliene to Religion to be done in her Family, that was not of indiſpenſible neceſſity on that day, and always had a more than ordinary preparation in her houſe the day before, that thoſe in her family might have no temptation in that reſpect, to violate any part of the ſacred time of that day.
She was very exact as to her words, and diſcourſes on that day, not opening her Lips to ſpeak any thing that wasnot ſuitable and agreeable to the holineſs of that day, and it was a great burthen and affliction to her Spirit, which ſhe could not bear, but mourned under, to hear others give their tongues a liberty to ſpeak any thing unſuitable and heterogeneal to the day, ſhe did highly prize all the ordinances of Jeſus Chriſt, they were ſweeter to her than the hony, or the hony Comb; more deſirable than her appointed food, never ſo much in her element as when waiting upon the Lord, either in publick or private opportunities, and to the laſt would venture through all difficulties, and bear up under great weakneſſes, in duties of Chriſtian Communion, and could not live without them; her love to them and delight in them, was as ſtrong and freſh in her old age, as in the day of her Eſpouſals, when ſhe firſt ſet out, and began to taſt that the Lord was gracious. It is not to be ſpoken how ſhe hazarded her weak body to hear Sermons, to attend upon the Lord in all opportunities enjoyable. …t was generally obſerved in Stratford, that …he was ſick indeed, if ſhe was not at the word; either on the Lords day, or at Church meetings on the week day. Nothing but a very afflictive hand of God kept her at home. It was her daily ſtudy how to glorifie God in every condition, and under every diſpenſation, that was either proſperous or adverſe, that was principally her ſtudy, how and in what way God might be moſt honoured, and his name advanced by her.
She had a heart for Ʋniverſal Obedience, walking as Elizabeth in all the Commandments and Ordinances of the Lord, blameleſs. She evidenced that ſhe was a friend to Jeſus Chriſt by doing whatever he commandded her, and through that friendſhip between Chriſt and her, ſhe found ſhe could do nothing ſo well as the will of Chriſt, and found that obedience eaſie; loved Jeſus Chriſt with a ſuperlative love, and ſerved him not with half an a heart, but ſincerely with the whole heart, yea delighted in ſerving of him, ſhe had a Law within, ſuitable to the Law without, which rendred it natural to her, to act graciouſly; Jeſus Chriſt was her Life, his Grace and Image were implanted in her Soul, that from a Spirit of love to him, even in old age, when weak and ſickly, ſhe acted for Chriſt yea above her ſtrength, he was in her ſo much by his Spirit, that ſhe thought nothing too much to do for him and his. She was full of good projects and deſigns for Jeſus Chriſt, loved to viſit the ſick and afflicted, and thoſe who walked in darkneſs, as to their ſpiritual conditions, loved to acquaint themſelves with her; who by a great treaſure of experiences, was able to afford Counſell, and comfort to them. A Chriſtian able to ſpeak a word in ſeaſon, to the relief of any ſoul under ſpiritual burdens and preſſures; And as ready to impart what Jeſus Chriſt had Communicated unto her, and the Lord Communicated the more to her, becauſe ſhe was ſo free to Communicate to others, laying up her experiences as for her own good, ſo for others, that they might be comforted with the ſame comforts, that ſhe was comforted with-all. Her diſcourſe never tended to ſelf applauſe or commendation, neither was it burthenſome, frothy or unſuitable, but always ſavoury Chriſtian and profitable, commanding the ears of all about her; In her Family ſhe was frequently taking opportunities in the day time and evening, and when ever ſhe thought it ſeaſonable, to be ſpeaking of the things of God of the excellency of Jeſus Chriſt; of the way of Life by him; opening the miſerable condition of a ſoul out of Jeſus Chriſt, ſetting forth the evil of ſin, the immortality of the Soul, the ſufferings and eternity of the puniſhment of Hell, to her Children, Servants, and thoſe that lived with her, and was daily dropping in and working upon them, to make them ſerious and conſiderate, and as God had given her a choice gift that way, ſo he made a great uſe thereof; her counſels, warnings, threatnings, invitations, and holy inſtructions were made ſingularly advantagious and uſeful, to the convincing, quickning and edifying thoſe committed to her charge, ſo as they had cauſe for ever to bleſs God for the gracious words which proceeded out of her mouth.
She was always taking of opportunities, to be calling upon thoſe in a natural eſtate, to mind the great concerns of their Souls, and to be exciting, provoking, encouraging and ſtrengthning thoſe, whoſe face was Zion ward, her words were as choice Silver, ſeaſoned with Grace, moſtly Scriptural.
The Sermons that ſhe heard on the Lords day, or Week day, were much the Subject matter of her diſcourſe.
The Light of Goſpel Grace and Truth did ſo ſhine in her, as that her preſence laid a reſtraint upon Sinners, it was a curb unto vain Perſons, if they came into the Room where ſhe was preſent.
She was exact, and much in private Duties every day, and yet ſo prudent in the ſingling out of the time, as that the place in the Family wherein ſhe ſtood, never miſſed her. She had at all times a due reſpect to the duties of both Tables; and both in her Life and Diſcourſes, ſhewed how inſeparable they were, commending to all perſons with whom ſhe had to do, the neceſſary and indiſpenſible obſervation of both: She looked upon time as a precious thing that was not to run waſte, and was diligent in the improvement of the Sands of every hour, ſo as there was no part of her Life from Morning unto Evening, that was an empty ſpace; but was laid out either in doing, or recieving good. Like the Summer ſhe brought forth every thing in its ſeaſon, wiſely forecaſting, and timeing whatſoever ſhe had the ordering of.
She ſtudied to excel in faithfulneſs and uprigh neſs in all ſhe undertook, like Nathaniel ſhe was without allowed guile, had the Teſtimony of her Conſcience, that in ſimplicity, and Godly ſincerity, ſhe had her Converſation in the World; very zealous for the truth of Jeſus Chriſt, following the Lamb whitherſoever he went.
She had a very publick Spirit, minding the good of others where ſhe lived; much taken up about the welfare of the Nation, and was deeply concerned for the intereſt of Chriſt all the world over, daily bore Zion, and the work that God was doing in the world upon her heart, and laid out her ſelf much in Prayer for thoſe things.
She had a large heart for Jeſus Chriſt, and for all that were his, though of differing perſwaſions, always putting the beſt conſtruction upon every thing but ſin, was no way cenſorious, or ready harſhly to judge others, but did moſt fairly couſtrue their actions and carriaages, ſpeaking modeſtly, and moderately of them, Goſpel Charity ruling her Spirit in all, wonderful affable, and courteous, ſo as the Grace and ſweetneſs in her words and carriage, did win upon all that ſhe converſed with, that they loved her, and ſaid that ſhe was made up of love.
She by Grace was enabled to Regulate her affections; had a choice poiſe continually upon her Spirit, that ſhe ſeldom or never roiled or was diſturbed, but walked in an even and compoſed frame, though none more ſympathizing, loving tender and affectionate than ſhe, yet were her affections always in order, and under command, free from exceſſive and diſturbing paſſions, that do often put the ſtrings of the Spirits of moſt men and women out of tune; and ſo render them unfit for what they are called too, in the place wherein the Lord hath ſet them.
She had a freſh remembrance of the means, and methods of the Lords dealing with her in bringing her Soul unto him, and of her many experiences ſhe had of his grace and love towards her.
She lived much in Communion with God, there was an unſpeakable intercourſe between God and her Soul every day. She would do nothing till ſhe had ſpread it before the Lord, and knew his mind, and in things not only ſmall but weighty; She had ſuch intimations from the Lord of his will, and his ſecret was ſo with her, as ſhe before hand knew the mind of God, becauſe God had told hereby his Spirit, for ſhe gave not over till he had ſignified by his …pirit upon her Spirit, what was his pleaſure, what he would do, or what he would have done, and God did marvelouſly herein condeſcend to her, not once, but frequently, or from time to time; ſhe was far from Euthuſiaſme, but had ſuch intimacy with the Lord, that ſhe went daily to him for ſome word, ſome manifeſtation of himſelf to bear up her Spirit that day, and he gave in either a word of promiſe, or let out ſomething of his attributes to her, diſcovered of his Wiſdom, Power, Faithfulneſs, Allſufficiency, Unchangableneſs, and the like, wherewith her inward man was fed and ſtrengthned, and when her Family concerns were more, ſhe aroſe the earlier, and though attended with the greateſt weakneſs, yet always began the day with God, and would not omit the ſeaſons for private Communion with the Lord, neither indeed could ſhe live without them, they being the life of her Spirit.
She lived in an eminent exerciſe of many graces of the Spirit. She was well inſtructed in the myſtery of the life of Faith, lived in a daily dependance upon God for all, in her greateſt fulneſs ſhe lived not upon the creature but upon God, and recieved all from him in the way of Faith and Prayer, in every ſtrait ſhe had recourſe to the Al-ſufficiency of God, and would often ſay, the creature runs into emptineſs, and the ſtreams they dried up, but the Fountain was ever full and flowing, and in all loſſes and changes bleſſed her ſelf in God her portion, who was a faithful Covenant, keeping God for ever; ſhe went to the Wiſdom of God to be directed, and waited there for Counſel every day, her faith advanced into aſſurance of the love of God which ſhe enjoyed moſt part of her days, and thence iſſued ſpiritual and unmixed comforts: as ſhe walked circumſpectly being careful not to provoke the Lord, ſo he witneſſed his love to her, and filled her Soul with ſtrong Conſolation, that ſhe had a Heaven out of it's place, even hereupon Earth, ſhe was in the Banquetting houſe of Jeſus Chriſt, in his Wine Cellar, where his Banner over her was Love. In a Letter of her own ſhe ſaid; I have not only heard that God is good, but I have had many experiences of his Love and Faithfulneſs to me in all my ſtreights, and Widdow-hood condition: I may ſay the Life of Faith is the ſweeteſt Life in the World, as it is a Life that bringeth much glory to God, ſo much comfort to our ſelves.
How full of Love ſhe was to Jeſus Chriſt is already manifeſted in her carefulneſs to keep his Commandments, and alſo in her love to the Members of Chriſt, both that and alſo her Humility, and ſelf-denyal appeared in that, in her higheſt actings and beſt frame ſhe diſowned her ſelf, and leaned only upon Jeſus Chriſt, truſted only in him, gloried in nothing but in Chriſt, in the Croſs of Chriſt, in the Righteouſneſs of Chriſt, in the Love of Chriſt: not in what ſhe did for Chriſt, though ſhe did much, and delighted in ſo doing, but ſhe gloried in the Grace of Chriſt that did much for her, he and his Righteouſneſs were all her life and comfort, ſhe had an eye upon the Incenſe, the merits and interceſſion of Jeſus Chriſt in all her approaches to God, being aſhamed of the mixture of ſin, thoſe weakneſſes and imperfections that were in her beſt performances; notwithſtanding all her ſtrictneſs and exactneſs, ſhe lay as low before the Lord in the ſenſe of her own vileneſs, emptineſs, nothingneſs, as if there were nothing in her.
She was much in exalting of Jeſus Chriſt, his merits and grace, admiring what he had done for ſinners, touching their reconciliation to God, the remiſſion of ſin, their ſtanding and priviledges in grace here, and the glory that is to be revealed, relying on the freeneſs and fulneſs of his grace alone, as if ſhe had done or were able to do nothing, ſhe did ſet the Crown on his head in all, always ſaw that in her ſelf which kept her low and humble before the Lord, and nothing in her own eyes.
She excelled in, and was a pattern of Patience under all her troubles, her afflictions were many and long, often at the very mouth of the Grave, in the latter part of her time ſeldom enjoyed a well day, yet never murmured; thought her afflictions ſmall, bore them with a chearful Spirit; was always ſubmiſſive to the will of God, always thought and ſpoke well of God, and juſtified him in all her Tryals.
She was wonderfully melted into the will of God, and lived always out of her own will reſigned up to God, to be diſpoſed of as he pleaſed, and was greatly ſatisfied in what he choſe for her, ſhe hath ſaid, the will of God is ſweet to her in every condition, and under much bodily weakneſs, if the Lord would have her live to be ſick ſhe was content, yet latter ward was moſtly tryed in the Fire of affliction, when her Husband laid down his living upon the accompt of Non-conformity in ſtead of repining, ſhe ſaid ſhe was glad they had ſuch a houſe, and accommodations to leave for Chriſt, and with all freeneſs and readineſs reſigned up all to him. She was ſorely tryed in the loſs of her deareſt Relations and choiceſt comforts in this World, but ſhe was prepared to be any thing that God would have her be, and that with all alacrity and cheerfulneſs of Spirit.
She had a lively hope of future mercy; of the life to come: ſhee ſaid ſhe ſcarce knew how to live out of Heaven, from Jeſus Chriſt always groaning in the body, to be delivered from the body of ſin and death, and to be with Jeſus. As ſhe ſet out at firſt, ſo ſhe continued in the vigorous and conſtant exerciſe of all grace, not looſing the life, nor abating or impairing the ſtrength thereof in old age, under the decays of nature, but in the 73 of her age, ſhe ſlept or dyed in Jeſus, and her Soul was gathered to the Spirits of juſt men made perfect.
FINIS.