The Marrow of Ecclesiastical History Part 2, Book 2 · Biography 8
C. BRETTERG
The life of Mrs. Katherine Bretterg, who dyed, Anno Christi, 1601.
KAtherine Bretterg was born in Cheshire, the Daughter of Master Iohn Bruen, of Bruen-Stapleford,: Her education before her marriage, was such, as became the profession of the Gospel, in godliness, and purity of life, and religion: She was studious of the holy Scriptures from a child, Scriptures studied.and by reading thereof gained such knowledg, that she was able to make good use of them as occasion was offered: She used the things of this world moderately, and soberly, not affecting the vain Modesty. Her Character.pleasures and fashions that others too much delight in: She used not to gad abroad with wandering Dina, but rather with Hanah, she delighted to tread upon the dust of the Sanctuary, and to walk in the ways of Sion, &c. The Sabbath day Sabbaths sanctified.was always dear and welcome to her, and though many times she went far for it, yet she would not be without the Ministery of the Word: And her heart was so tender, and full of compassion, that oftentimes she was perceived to hear Sermons, A soft heart.read, pray, and meditate, with tears: She made conscience of all, even of the least sin, and such as many accounted no sins: She never used to swear an oath, great or small: Neither at any time brake forth into unseemly speeches, lying in jeast, immodest words, &c. She used not the Name, or Titles of God at any time without great reverence: Her private discourses were always well seasoned, and proceeded from such a sanctified heart, that they ministred grace to the hearers: Her daily exercise was to converse with God, in reading, praying, singing, and meditating: All her delight was in the Saints, and in those that were most excellent: The Lords Precepts were precious to her, for from her childhood she feared God, and walked before him with an upright heart: She was not like many women, that are unable to render a reason of the Faith, and Hope that is in them, but grew in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus: When she was about twenty years old, by her Parents consent, she was married to Master William Bretterg of Bretterghold Her marriage.in Lancashire, neer Leverpool, who was a young Gentleman, that imbraced Religion sincerely, and suffered much for it at the hands of Papists: This gratious couple lived two years together in such mutual joy, and comfort, as well beseemed the children of God: In which time she had one daughter by him: Their Habitation was in the midst of ignorant, and brutish Papists, Popish malice.who were always doing some wrong, and injury to them, yet her knowledge, patience, mildness, and constancy for the Truth, much edified, and built up her husband in his most holy faith, and incouraged him with more patience to bear all the wrongs, and indignities that were daily offered to him: He had his horses and cattle divers times killed in the night in his grounds by such malicious Papists as hated him for his Religion sake, which exceedingly conduced to his loss, and hinderance, being most of the stock that he had; Her patience.yet did she not onelyonly bear this great affliction with admirable patience, but even rejoyced, and praised God, submitting to his holy, and wise Providence: She would often say, It is good that such things should be, but wo be to them that do them: It is good in God, thereby to chasten his children, and prevent some sin that he saw us like to fall into: Its good in respect of Gods Church, that the weak may be confirmed in the Truth, and that Popery may be disgraced, when the world shall see such wickedness flow from it: Its good in God, that so the wicked may be without excuse in the day of Judgement, when their conscience tels them, that though God suffers them to do such villany, for some just cause known to himself, yet they commit it only of malice, and revenge: And in the middest of such vexatious practises, she would often say: The mercies of God are infinite, who doth not only by his Word, but by his Justice also make us fit for his Kingdom: Little do our enemies know what good by these things they do unto us, and what ruin they bring to their own Kingdom, while they thus set forth the wickedness thereof: She used often to pray, That God would forgive them, who had thus wronged them, and send them repentance for it: She used to call upon her Husband to do the like, and to Her proneness to forgive.bless them that cursed him; and lest her Husband should fail in this duty, she daily prayed to God to sanctifie her Husbands thoughts, and direct his heart aright, onelyonly to seek Gods glory, without seeking revenge, or satisfying his own affections: So carefull she was to prevent sin, both in her self, and others: Her meekness, humility, and unspotted cariage was such, as that she forced some that were adversaries to her religion, yet to speak well of her: She had a good report of all that knew her, for her holy and sincere life: She was very pitifull, and bountifull to the poor, neglecting no opportunity of doing good where Charity.she could: She constantly kept her times of Piety.Praying, Reading, and Meditating: She would by no means be absent from family duties: She used private duties, not onelyonly in her Closet, but abroad in her Garden, Orchard, &c. She tasked her self to the reading of Eight Chapters a day at least, out of the sacred Scriptures, and such time as she saw idly, or evilly spent, she used to call, The time of tentation: Idleness dangerous.She spent much time also in reading good Books, judicious Expositors, and the Book of Martyrs, and was many times so affected in reading of the torments which Christians were put to, &c. that she would weep very bitterly for the same: She was Zeal.so zealous for Gods glory, and loved the truth so intirely, that she would often argue against Popery, but never open her mouth to plead for Baal. Sin was so hatefull to her, that she would grieve for it, both in her self and others: Once, as she was riding to Church with her Husband, he was angry with his man, whereupon she said to him; Alas Husband, I fear your heart is not right towards God, that can be thus angry for a trifle: and weeping, she further, you must pray against your passions, and always be sure your anger be for God; else how dare you appear this day before his Minister, and offer up your prayers in the publike Congregation before God? And another time a Tenant of her Husbands being behind Mercy.with his rent, she desired him to bear with him a quarter of a year longer; and then when he brought it, with tears she said to her Husband; I fear you do not do well to take it of him, though it be your right, for I doubt he is not well able to pay it, and then you oppress the poor: She was so blamless in her whole course, that the common enemies of Religion, the Papists, had nothing to say against her: and amongst all the godly that knew her, she was highly prized for her modest, holy, and humble carriage: Thus she continued Her sickness.with her Husband about two years, and then it pleased God that she fell sick of a Feaver, which was so violent, that it made her sometimes to talk idlie, and by Satans subtilty, that watches his opportunity, she began to fall into an heavie conflict Tentation.of Spirit: First she began to find some little infirmity, and weakness of Faith more then ordinary, but through Gods mercy, she soon overcame it: But shortly after Satan assaulted her in a more violent manner, but after a day or two God delivered her, sending her peace, and comfort of conscience, which encreased more & more in her, to her death: In the beginning of her conflict, the severity of Gods justice, & the greatness of her sins came into her mind, which much afflicted her, wherof she often complained: then she accused her self of pride, that she had delighted in her self, and her beauty too much: then she thought that she had no faith, but was an hypocrite, and one that had not imbraced Religion so sincerely, nor glorifyed God so carefully, especially with her tongue, nor loved him so fervently as she should have done: Sometimes she would cast her Bible from her, and say, It was indeed the Book of Life, but she had read the same unprofitably, and therefore feared it was become to her the Book of Death: Sometimes she complained that her sins had made her a prey to Satan, a spectacle to the World, a disgrace to Religion, and a shame to her Husband, Kindred, and all true Christians, and then she would weep bitterly: Sometimes she was troubled for the originall corruption of her nature, the sins of her Parents; Yea, and of our First Parents, as if it had made her unworthy of God, &c. Sometimes she accused her self of impatience; bewailed her want of feeling Gods Spirit: doubted of her Election, &c. She wished that she had never been born, or that she had been made any other Creature, rather then a woman: oft-times she cryed out, Wo, wo, wo, a weak, a wofull, a wretched, a forsaken woman, &c. with tears continually trickling from her eyes: She complained of grievous thirst, such as all the water in the Sea could not quench, and yet refused, or drank very little: Sweat burst out upon her exceedingly; at other times her body burned extreamly: Sometimes she was very dull in prayer, and once, as she should have said, Lead us not into tentation, she stopped, saying, I may not pray, I may not pray, being thus interrupted by Satan: Yet her friends left her not, till she could both pray, and make confession of her Faith, with speciall application to her self.
These fits, though grievous to her self, and discomfortable to her friends, yet they were neither long, nor continuall, but in the middest of them she would give good evidences of her faith, striving and fighting against her tentations, and by Her faith.Prayer, begging strength of God against them: Oft she would with a cheerfull countenance intreat her friends not to faint, nor to give her over, but constantly to pray, and to help her against the Tempter: One of them once demanding, whether she believed the promises? and whether she could pray? she answered: O that I could, I would willingly, but he wil not let me: Lord, I believe, help my unbelief▪ And when he told her that her desires, and endeavours were accepted for performance in Christ; she was much comforted at it: Once after a great conflict with Satan, she said, Satan, reason not with me, I am but a weak woman, if thou hast any thing to say, say it to my Christ; he is my Advocate, my Strength, and my Redeemer, and he shall plead for me: Sometimes being afflicted with the sight of her sins, and want of comfort, with many a pitifull sob, and much weeping, she would say: Pray to the Lord Jesus Christ to help, and comfort me, a poor, wofull, distressed woman: A godly Christian friend took much pains with her, minding her of Gods mercies, Christs merits, the many gracious promises contained in the Word, &c. which through Gods blessing greatly refreshed her, and gave her occasion many times to call upon God, for encrease of grace, and deliverance from those grievous tentations, wherein the Lord shortly after answered her desires, so that she began to feel her self in a very good measure delivered from her former fears, and afflictions: but the day before her death, she was wholly released, and filled Joy unspeakable.with abundance of inward consolations: and from the beginning that her comforts appeared, she would very cheerfully joyn with the company in Prayer, and singing of Psalms: One day her Brother, holy Master John Bruen, coming to visit her; he said, Sister be not dismaid at your troubles, remember what the Apostle saith, That judgement must begin at the House of God, to whom she answered, True it is, and if it begin at us, and the righteous shall scarcely be saved, where shall the sinners and ungodly appear? During this time she often prayed, and would rehearse many comfortable Texts of Scripture, especially the eighth to the Romans, closing up all with Prayer, and most comfortable application thereof to her self, with much joy: When food was brought her, she would pray God, not onelyonly to Sanctifie those creatures for her bodily sustinance, but also to fill her soul with the waters of life, often repeating, To him that thirsteth will I give of the Waters of Life freely.
Once she took her Bible in her hand, and joyfully kissing of it, she said, O Lord, it is good for me to be afflicted, that I may learn thy Statutes: The Law of thy mouth is better to me then thousands of Gold and Silver: At another time, calling her Husband to her, she said, O Husband, beware of Popery, keep your self holy before the Lord, yield not to the abominations of the wicked, lest they rejoyce, and so you dishonor God, and destroy your own soul: Let my little child be brought up in the true fear of God, &c. So shall I meet her in Heaven, whom I must now leave behind me on Earth: She often repeated, We have not received the spirit of Bondage to fear again, but the spirit of Adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father, which last words she often doubled over: She often also repeated,
I wil give thanks unto the Lord,
And praises to him sing;Psal. 13. ult.
Because he hath heard my request,
And granted my wishing.
The day before her death the Lord discovered himself more plentifully to her, from which time, to her death, she was freed from Satans tentations: She laid aside all thoughts of the world, husband, child, or any thing else: She lay with a cheerful countenance, as one ravished in her spirit: Her tongue overflowed with the praises of God: Her husband reading some portions of Scripture to her: When he came to that John 17. 4. I have finished the work that thou gavest me to do, and now glorifie me: She desired him to pause, and then said: Blessed be thy Name, O blessed Saviour: Perfect the work, I humbly beseech thee that thou hast begun in me: When he read vers. 9. I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me, for they are thine: She said, O Lord Jesus, Dost thou pray for me! O blessed, and sweet Saviour, How wonderful! How wonderful! How wonderful are thy Mercies! Read on: The blessedest reading that ever I heard, the comfort whereof doth sweeten my soul: When he read vers. 22. The glory that thou gavest me, I have given them, that they may be one, as we are one: With marvellous joy she said: I confess before the Lord his loving kindness, and his wonderful works before the sons of men, for he hath satisfied my soul, & filled my hungry soul with goodness: When he read v. 24. Father, I will that they which thou hast given me, be with me, even where I am, that they may behold my glory, &c. Stay, said she, let me meditate on the goodness of the Lord, For this is the sweetest saying that ever came to my soul: For now I perceive, and feel, that the countenance of Christ my Redeemer is turned towards me, and the bright-shining beams of his mercy are spread over me: O happy am I that ever I was born to see this blessed day: Praise, praise, O praise the Lord for his mercies, &c. O my sweet Saviour, shall I be one with thee, as thou art one with the Father? Wilt thou glorifie me with that glory which thou hadst with the Father before the world was? And dost thou so love me, dust and ashes, to make me partaker of glory with Christ? What am I poor wretch, that thou art so mindful of me? O how wonderful! how wonderful! how wonderful is thy Love: O thy Love is unspeakable: O I feel thy mercies, And O that my tongue, & heart were able to sound forth thy praises as I ought, and willingly would: O help me to praise the God of all consolations: And thus she continued for five hours space, praising the Lord with a cheerful and heavenly countenance, testifying such inward joy, from a comfortable feeling of Gods mercies in her soul, using such sweet sentences and sugared phrases of Divine eloquence, as was most admirable: Some part whereof was thus: O my Lord God, Blessed be thy Name for evermore, thou hast shewed me the path of life: Thou didest, O Lord, for a little season hide thy face from me, But with everlasting mercy thou hast had compassion on me, &c. thou art come with fulness of joy, and abundance of consolations, &c. Help me, O help me to praise the Lord: Then she sang with as sweet a voyce as ever she did in her life the third Psalm, concluding thus:
The Lord, the God of Israel,
Be blest for evermore:
Let all the people say Amen:
Praise ye the Lord therefore.
Then she said, O praise the Lord, for he hath filled me with joy and gladness of heart: My line is faln unto me in a pleasant place: I have a goodly Heritage: for the Lord is the portion of mine Inheritance: O how pleasant is the sweet perfume of the place where I lie: It is sweeter then Aarons composed Perfume of principal Spices: How comfortable is the sweetness I feel: It is like that Odour that proceeds from the golden Censor, that delights my soul: The taste is pretious, Do you not feel it? Sweeter it is then myrrh, the hony, or the hony Comb: Then she sang Psal. 19. vers. 7. &c. Then she prayed to, and praised God again: Then she sang Psal. 136. A Christian friend seeing her exceeding joys, prayed for the continuance of them to the end: Whereupon she said, O the joys! the joys! the joys that I feel in my soul! O they be wonderful! they be wonderful! they be wonderful! After a while she fell into a short slumber, and then awaking, she said, O come kiss me with the kisses of thy mouth, for thy love is better then wine: O how sweet the kisses of my Saviour be? Mine eyes are opened (blessed be God) I do feel, and see the everliving mercies of my Christ, &c. O how merciful, and marvellous gratious art thou unto me? I feel thy mercy, I am assured of thy love, and so certain am I thereof, as thou art the God of Truth: Even so sure do I know my self to be thine, O Lord my God, and this my soul knoweth right well, and this my soul knoweth right well: Then she sang the fourth Psalm: And afterwards said, I am sure that my Redeemer liveth, and that I shall see him at the last day, &c. Then a Godly Minister coming to her, Mr. William Harrison.she said to him: My soul hath been compassed about with terrors of death, &c. A roaring wilderness of wo was within me: But blessed, blessed, blessed be the Lord my God, who hath not left me comfortless; but like a good Shepheard, hath brought me into a place of rest, even to the sweet running waters of life, &c. O blessed, blessed be the Lord, that hath thus comforted me, and hath brought me to a place sweeter then the Garden of Eden: O the joy! the joy! the delightsom joy that I feel! O how wonderful! how wonderful! how wonderful is this joy! O praise the Lord for his mercy, and for this joy that my soul feeleth full well: And thus she continued, divers praying with her at sundry times: And immediatly before one began his prayer, she said to her self: Hear, O Lord, and have mercy upon me: Lord be thou my helper, thou hast loosed my sack, and girded me with gladness: Therefore will I praise thee, O Lord my God, I will give thanks to thee for evermore: On the Sabbath Evening herst rength and speech beginning to fail her, she said, My Warfare is accomplished, and mine iniquities are pardoned: Lord, Whom have I in heaven but thee? and I have none on earth but thee: My flesh faileth, and my heart also, but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever: He that preserveth Jacob, and defendeth his Israel, he is my God, and will guide me unto death, &c. And with that she presently fell asleep in the Lord, passing a way in peace, without any motion of body at all, May, ult. Anno Christi 1601. And of her Age 22.
Collected out of her Life, and Death, Printed with two excellent Sermons, preached at her Funeral by two Eminent and godly Divines.