The Power of Godliness, Treatise · Part 3 · Chapter 9
CAAP. IX. Of watching over one another, and divers other great advantages that wee gain for the increaſe of holineſſe, from the acquaintance with Gods people.
ANother great advantage from our Communion with Gods people, is, from our ſerious and ſolemn engagement, to watch one over another, and faithfully to reprove whatſoever wee ſee amiſs, and whoſoever will not onelyonly patiently, but thankfully receive reproof, is doubtleſſe farre from being an eminent Chriſtian, and thoſe that make this Covenant, are not onelyonly to tell one another, what they ſee evident to bee amiſs, but they are alſo to tell them of their fears and jealouſies, and of the reports, yea, even of ſlanders that are ſpoken of them, for a Saint may get a great deal of good from ſlander, for generally wee do ſomething, that gives ſome occaſion to the ſlanderer to miſreport us, for if they report that one is a drunkard, and a glutton, though we may be far from deſerving thoſe calumnies, yet it gives us juſt occaſion to examine our ſelves, whether wee do not take ſomewhat too much liberty in the uſe of the creature, and many times wee ſhould go ſo far, if ſlanders were not raiſed, that wee ſhould deſerve them.
Another great advantage from this our Communion with the Saints, is our being acquainted with all their ſpiritual experiences, the waies & means that God uſeth with them, what places of Scripture do moſt affect them, either by way of Conſolation, or provoking and ſtirring them up to a more ſtrickt and circumſpect walking, and to a high prizing of, and longing after heaven and Chriſt, which places will either ſtir us up, and work the ſame frame of heart in us, or elſe they will much humble us, when wee conſider, the ſtrange frame of our own hearts, that thoſe places that makes others like the charets of Aminadab ſhould not move us, and thoſe places that enflame others ſhould not thaw us.
Another rare advantage that wee have with Gods people is, from thoſe high diſcoveries that God makes of himſelf to them upon their beds of languiſhing a little before they depart hence, and bee no more ſeen, and becauſe I will not tranſgreſs my own thoughts in this particular, being confident that relations of the great diſcoveries that God doth make to his people wil much affect the Chriſtian reader, therefore I ſhall relate ſome few of the eminenteſt I know. A very precious Chriſtian acquaintance being ſick unto death, as thoſe that were about have thought; I coming to her, ſhe ſaid, Sir, I have examined my own heart, but am not willing to truſt it, but deſire the ſeal of your Miniſtery, and that you would try and examine, if there bee any way of wickedneſſe in me: I put her to her choice, whether ſhee would diſcover her own condition, or put mee to finde it out by queſtions, ſhee choſe the former; and ſaid O ſir, God hath handled mee on his knees from my Cradle to my grave; for I hope this night, the nuptials between my Saviour and my ſoul ſhall bee conſummate; I askt her if ſhee could remember the time of her converſion; ſhee told mee that ſhee alwaies lived blameleſſe ſince ſhe could remember; But about twenty years ago, I was at a Sermon, and the point that was ſpoke to was, that every done ought to examine what it was that they had that they durſt own at the day of judgement; I went home and examined my graces, I found them weak, and bid them ſtand by, I durſt not own them at the day of judgement: I examined my duties, and found them ſinfull, and when I found nothing in my ſelf, I went out of my ſelf, unto that rock that is higher than I, and there I have been to this day. Her pronunciation as well as her expreſſions being full of joy, and earneſtneſſe, I askt her whether none of her ſinnes lay upon her conſcience, and whether ſhee uſed to have ſuch joyes; ſhee anſwered, that God had hid all her ſinnes from her for the preſent, and that ſhe formerly uſed rather to have calmneſs, than joy, but now there was a beam of light and joy came into her ſoul, but how ſhee knew not, and ſpeaking much of her deſires to bee diſſolved, I askt her why ſhee deſires to dye, ſhee anſwered that ſhee might bee rid of ſinne, and free from temptation, and have an eternity to praiſe her God in. A Neighbour of hers comming in to ſee her, who was a carnal man, ſhe left her diſcourſe with others and applyed her ſelf to him, and with abundance of intention of ſpirit and voice, ſhee ſaid, O Sir, ſee that you get Chriſt, and the time that you ſpend in your Garden (for hee much delighted in his Garden) ſpend on your knees, for Ile tell you, I would not looſe the joys of my dying hour, for ten thouſand worlds, ſome about her wiſht her not to ſpeak ſo loud, for ſhee would ſpend her ſelf; not ſpeak for my God, ſaid ſhee? I will ſpeak for my God as long as I am able to ſpeak, and when I can ſpeak no more, I will hold my tongue: and it was ſo by Gods good providence, that ſhee reſting pretty well that night, the next day ſhee beganne to recover, whereupon ſhee fell a trembling every joynt, and ſhee being askt why ſhee trembled, and what became of her joyes, ſhee anſwered, that …er joyes was as great as ever, but ſhee trembled to think that ſhee ſhould live to diſhonour that God that gave them: when ſhee was well recovered, I askt her what were become of her joys? ſhee anſwered mee, that ever ſince ſhee knew God, ſhee had the faith of adherence, and I hope that God would have mercy on mee; but I never thought it almoſt poſſible that God would ever ſhine upon ſuch a dung-hill as I am, but now I can ſay that God hath ſtampt upon my ſoul that I am his, and he is mine.
That precious Saint Mris. Drake, of whoſe life and death there is a little Book, worth the peruſing, out of which I ſhall only give you an account of her carriage, and the wonderful raptures that God gave her a little before her death: She was a woman of great temptations and deſertions for the ſpace of ten years, yet notwithſtanding the endeavours and labours of thoſe four eminent ſervants of God, B. Uſher, Doct. Preſton, Mr. Hooker, and Mr. Dod: but at laſt growing ſickly, & being free from her deſertions, ſhe became inceſſant in her diſcourſes of heaven, and of the things of God night & day, ſo that ſhe took little reſt, but ſpent her time and ſtrength in duties and conference, ſhee knew her end approached neer, though others lookt upon her diſtemper rather as an indiſpoſition of body, than a fit of ſickneſſe, but ſhe being confident ſhe ſhould dye, and thereupon went to her Fathers houſe, where ſhee alwaies deſired to end her daies, and Mr. Dod comming to her, ſpending much time in prayer, conference, and expounding the Scripture, ſhee carried her ſelf with ſuch unſatiable deſires of more, and ſuch inflamed diſcourſes of the things of God, that they were all fill'd with admiration. The Lords day before her death, ſhee call'd all her children together, and with many admonitions and zealous inſtructions, and heavenly diſcourſes, ſhee ſpent much time that day with them. The Tueſday following Mr. Dod came, and ſpent ſome time in heavenly diſcourſes, and then went to prayer, and ſuddenly as prayer was done, ſhee broke forth in a wonderful manner, in theſe expreſſions. Oh, Oh, Oh, what's this, what's this, what's this? I am undone, undone, undone, I cannot endure it; O, O, O, let mee bee gone, let mee bee gone, O, I muſt bee gone, I cannot tarry, I cannot tarry; O what ſhall I do? what ſhall I do? O Father, O Mother, O husband, kiſs mee, kiſs mee, and let mee bee gone, come all, farewell all, let mee take you by the hand, and bee gone: Lo, lo, the Angels are come, they wait and ſtay for mee; O dear Mother! why hold you mee? I muſt be gone, O, hee is come, hee is come, hee is come: Now, you have it, you have it, you have it, why hold you me? Iet me be gone, my work is done: O call, call, call, where is my crown: fetch me my crown, bring, bring, bring me my white robes, quickly, quickly, quickly, why runne you not? the Angells ſtay, now you have it, you have it, you have it, (meaning that now wee had the iſſue and fruits of all our prayers) O, it overcomes, overcomes, overcomes mee; I am undone, undone, undone, what ſhall I do? what ſhall I do? what ſhall I do? O you will not let mee be gone, with innumerable, ſuch ſwift expreſſions as could not be remembred, ſhee in that ſhort time of halfe a quarter of an hour, ſpeaking more than one can treatibly ſpeak in an hour, with an extraordinary ſwiftneſſe (no ordinary action of this life) when with all ſhee heaved up ſtill all the time with fixed eyes, towards the houſe top, as though ſhee had ſeen ſome viſion, and would have flown away from them all. During which time (as wee cannot blame them) The poſture of all the ſpectators was (except her Husband, who went weeping, and wringing his hands up and down the chamber) ſilence, wonder, and admiration; They in all their life time having never ſeen or heard of the like: which put Mr. Dod, her Husband, and all of them to a nonplus (as being beyond all experience) but if the Reader will have patience, this good creature ſhall her ſelf expound this rare riddle, yea, and Comment upon it.
This fit of ſudden, extream, raviſhing, unſupportable joy, (beyond the ſtrength of mortality to retain, or bee long capable of) being over, and ſhe laid again who formerly had ſtriven to have got away from them all: all being in an amazed aſtoniſhed ſilence, ſhee her ſelf beganne thus: why are you ſilent? where is Mr. Dod? who being neer unto her, ſate by her bed ſide, unto whom ſhee thus directed her ſpeech, Sir, what did you think of me lately in this ſtrange poſture I have been in? did not you imagine me to have been mad all the time? Mr. Dod replyed, no, but that it was very ſtrange unto them all, having never heard or ſeen the like, ſo (ſaid ſhee) ſurely it was very ſtrange, but will you know how it ſurprized mee; as this morning, ere you came to prayer, I being alone, prayed to God, that hee would not abſent himſelf for ever: but that once before my death, hee would reveal Chriſt unto mee, give mee ſome ſenſe, and feeling of his love, and open the brazen gates of this hard heart of mine that the King of glory may enter in; after which as you had prayed, this ſudden out-crying fit of unſupportable joy, and feeling, ſurprized mee with ſuch violence, ruſhing in upon mee, as I could not contain my ſelf, but make this ſudden outcry amongſt you all: but I muſt confeſs unto you I know not, neither do I remember what I ſaid, but now I beſeech you to make this uſe hereof hereafter unto all in my caſe.
After mee never deſpair of any, how deſperately miſerable ſoever their caſe be, which at the worſt cannot exceed mine, but uſe and apply the means unto them, and they will prevail at length; I was like a peice of knotty timber, who have endured ſo many the more knocks with ſtrong wedges, ſo much ado there was to work me. But now I thank God, who hath heard my prayer, and revealed Chriſt unto me, and now I care not for all this world, the fountain of all my miſery hath been, that I ſought for that in the Law, which I ſhould have found in the Goſpel, and for that in my ſelf, which was only to be found in Chriſt. A wrong way I confeſſe, which hath occaſioned unto me ſo much ſorrow, but now all is well, O pray, pray, pray, O give thanks, for now you have it, you have it, you have it. This ſo ſolide and ſtrange ſpeech, ſo heavenly, rationall, gave a great deal of contentment unto all preſent. Mr. Dod according unto her deſire, frameing himſelf unto a Prayer altogether of thankſgiving, admiring Gods infinite work in her, and for her, beſeeching a happy cloſe of this great work begunne: for matter of Petition now ſhee cared not for, lying like a Conqueror with an extraordinary cheerful aſpect, full of rapt joy, as now ſhee had been poſſeſſor of all things, having no need of any thing: now that Chriſt was hers, all things being hers alſo; The remainder of the day being ſpent in over-joyed ſpeeches, with exhortation to thankſgiving, ſtill telling us you have it, you have it, you have it, and taking our hands in hers, and heaving them up and down many times together, very thankfull to us all, as ſhee wiſhed us to bee thankfull unto God for her.
The ſame Tueſday again, about four of the Clock in the afternoon, the Chamber being full of her Friends, joyful to ſee her ſo fraught with joy, after ſo many ſorrowful daies. Suddenly ſhee fell out again in a ſtrange manner, in ſuch another rapt fit of joy, beyond all expreſſion, uttering juſt about the ſame things as formerly, in the ſame manner as in the morning, enduring about the ſame time: and ſo ceaſed, and was quiet again as formerly, ſhee thereupon called Mr. Dod, wondering at the ſtrangeneſſe of the thing, told him, that her joy and ſenſe thereof, was ſo overcoming, and ſtrong, as ſhee could not for her life contain her ſelf from burſting forth thus again, for as ſhee ſaid, her frail fleſh was overcome therewith, and ſo ſhee entreated him again to give thanks, hee did ſo, ſpending the remainder of that day in heavenly diſcourſes of another world, hoping that ſhee ſhould that Night have ſtept ſoundly, having now watched, and been without ſleep above a week together; but it ſeems as the lame man, Act. 3.8. having received his feet, for joy did nothing but walk, and leap, and praiſe God; ſo ſhee having been as it were in another world, revived with uncouth new joy, could not take any reſt or ſleep, but rejoyced alwaies and talked of the ſame, and ſo that Night having divers Friends to watch and ſit by her, ſhe ſpent the ſame in good diſcourſe, and ſinging of Pſalms.
All the time ſhee had been ill, ſhee could not of all the Pſalms endure to joyn in ſinging of the thirtieth Pſalm, but that night of her ſelf ſhe called for it, with this expreſſion, come, now turn to the thirtieth Pſalm (by the Relator alwaies urged upon her to belong to her) but I durſt never appropriate or apply the ſame unto my ſelf until now, and ſo that Tueſday night ſung the ſame cheerfully, as was ſaid, ſhee paſſing this night over alſo without an inclination to reſt or ſleep. On the Wedneſday morning, her indulgent mother, that worthy ſoul Mris. Tottle did riſe betimes, and came to viſit her, when finding her in a ſtrange and unuſual attire, for that morning (now apprehending death at hand) ſhee had cauſed her ſelf too bee dreſſed from top to toe all in white, concealing her conceit therein untill her Mother came, who ſeeing her thus ſtrangely dreſſed, ſpake lovingly to her in her accuſtomed phraſe, how now Daughter, what is the matter with thee? mee thinks thou lookeſt like a bride, ſo I am Mother, ſaid ſhee, a Bride now trimmed for Chriſt the Bridegroom, and now Mother, I have my laſt ſuite to make unto you (for I am a woman of another world) when I am dead, I pray you dreſs mee juſt thus as you ſee mee now, and ſo let mee be laid in my grave, for, for this cauſe, I cauſed my ſelf to bee dreſſed thus this morning, that you might ſee how I would bee laid in the grave, whereupon her Mother burſting forth into weeping, ſhee comforted her all ſhee could, ſaying, mother, mee thinks you ſhould rather rejoyce to ſee mee ſo neer home, after that I have ſo long a time been ſtorm beaten, and ſea-ſick, not now to grudge that I am arrived ſo neer the Haven: And ſo prayed her to ſuffer her willingly to depart home in peace, whereupon her Mother for that time (being a matchleſſe tender mother) parted with many tears. Soon after this, came Mr. Dod, and Doct. Preſton to her, to whom ſhee with a great deal of joy, told the ſame diſcourſe as formerly ſhee had done unto her mother, that thus as ſhee was then dreſſed, ſhee deſired to bee laid in the grave; after their departure, having prayed with her, and given thanks (for no other part of prayer ſhee now affected, as being heir of all things, not having need of any thing) ſhee ſent for divers of the houſe ſeverally, unto whom ſhee gave ſeaſonable and ſuitable exhortations, fitting unto their places, taking her leave of them all, wherein ſhee was ſo punctual, that with her good will ſhee would have had every ſervant of the houſe to have come ſeverally unto her, but that her mother fearing that which afterwards came to paſs, ſome weakneſſe to enſue ſo much watching, ſpeaking and toyling inceſſantly of her ſpirits, durſt not expoſe her to the hazzard of ſo inſupportable a toyle; being now very much ſpent, this Wedneſday after dinner, ſhee called to void her Chamber of every body, and ſent for her Father to ſpeak with, School, and take leave of him; whom ſhee dealt with, and ſchooled (having him all alone for above an hour together, to whom when ſhee had ſpake her mind, and taken her leave of him, ſhee diſmiſſed him. At his deſcending from her, ſhee called to ſpeak with the Relat…r, whom having made to ſit down by her, ſhee firſt gave him many ſolemn thankes for his care and pains taken with her: and then ſhe ſaid ſhee had a ſuite unto him, who replyed, that any ſuite of hers if in his power, was granted ere known, yet this ſerved not the turn, but ſhee would have his hand to forgive her, which being done, ſhee prayed him to forgive her; who wondering at the ſtrangeneſs of this needleſs ſuite, told her, that he had rather cauſe to ask forgiveneſs of her, having much failed both in duty & love to her. O no, ſaid ſhe, you muſt forgive mee, that you for ſo many years together, have ſhewed mee ſo much love, and been a means of my everlaſting comfort and happineſs, that yet I have been ſo unkind unto you, for I have not loved you, by the hundred part in that meaſure as I ought to have done; according to that love you have ſhewed to mee, but will you know the cauſe, I could love no body as I ſhould, ſo long as I was not aſſured of Gods love to mee (for that onelyonly ſets our love on fire, to run ſtrongly the right way) I could until then, neither love you nor any body elſe, during ſo much diſtraction and diverſion, as I ſhould have done, and now that my love is thus kindled, this is my ſorrow (my time being ſhort) that now I can no otherwiſe expreſs my ſelf, then by this poor acknowledgement, In a time I am ſo unfit, and diſabled to perform my deſires; but I well hope, that what I cannot do, that God that ſet you on work for my good and my other friends, will perform, when I am gone: and ſo for that time with abundance of love and thanks, ſhee diſmiſſed the relator.
Thus having in ſome ample manner, diſpoſed of all the buſineſs ſhee ſeemed to have in this world; the remainder of this afternoon, ſhee lay in her former joyful poſture, rejoyceing to ſpeak of the beſt things unto every one neer unto her, yet without any reſt or ſleep, or inclination that way.
When Mr. Dod, and Doctor Preſton, came to viſit her, ſhee ſtill entreating to give thanks, no other diſcourſe ſhee had, as wanting nothing: ſo continuing all this day, untill the evening late, that there was a great change, as in part ſhall be ſhewed; for leaſt ſhe ſhould be lifted up through her former revelation, joys and rapture, ſo ſhort, which endured not ſurpaſſing her ſtrength, ſhe had a weakening cooler to keep her down low: for, lo, lo, the Scene now changes again, the curtain waves, and toſſes, a little with an uncouth winde, party coloured, no firm impreſſions appeared. She who lately was in a glorious tryumph flying away forcibly from us all, as it were with Eagles wings mounting upwards, is now ſuddenly ſurprized with an extream fainting and weakneſſe of ſpirits, being for ten daies and nights overwearied, watched and toy led out, ſo as now ſhee bewrayed ſome weakneſſe in her expreſſions, not being as formerly ſo lively and ſubſtantiall, which continued the Thurſday and Fryday after, never having any reſt or ſleep all the time, which diſtemper made them ſend poſt to London for two Phyſitians, hoping by their advice to have made her reſt, but all in vain, no phyſick could cure her, but heavenly Phyſick, therefore on the Saturday, Mr. Dod, and Doctor Preſton, and Mr. Hooper kept a private faſt for her, the iſſue whereof was, in that forenoon ſhee fell aſſeep, reſted ſoundly ſome five or ſix hours together, and then waked in a very mild and gentle temper. Then ſhee called unto her Couzen Herreis (a good gentlewoman alwaies exceeding careful of her) Sarah, tell mee, did not I lately, in ſome ſpeeches forget my ſelf? whereunto her anſwer was, truly Couzen, ſo you did, but wee imputed the ſame, to your many daies and night watchings, and overwearying of your ſpirits, unable ſo long to hold out; ſo it was, ſaid ſhee, my ſpirits were ſpent and gone, which cauſed that weakneſſe; then ſhee remembring all that paſſed, her ſtrange raptures (but nothing which then ſhe had ſaid in them) retaining her former grounds, comfort, and cheerfulneſſe (as in ſo much weakneſs could bee expreſſed) called for Mr. Dod, and Doct. Preſton, with the reſt of her friends, cauſing them to give thanks with her and for her, venting her ſelf unto them thus, That her time was now at hand, prayed them not to leave her, and being very weak, ſpake then her minde unto her Father, Mother, and Husband, in a ſort taking leave of them, ſent for her Children and bleſſed them, now imagining to have done all her work: and ſo from thence fell into a ſilent rapture of joyfull ſinging of Hymnes, and verſes of Pſalms, not greatly caring to ſpeak unto any body ſave now and then unto Mr. Dod, when hee moved an occaſion, and ſo ſhee lay this Saturday night, and the next Sunday, only when Mr. Dod came, deſiring ſtill to give thanks, all which time ſhee grew weaker and weaker, having by this time no audible, but a hollow low voice, ſearce to bee underſtood.
The Munday after in the morning, when ſhee fell a ſleep, being come, Mr. Dod with the reſt comming unto her, ſhee when ſhee ſaw them all about her, rejoyced and ſmiled, taking them all by the hand with a cheerfull countenance, beckned to Mr. Dod to give thanks, and bent her ſelf what ſhee could with lifted up hands to joyn, ſpeaking ſoftly to her ſelf in her hymning way: and ſo whilſt they were at Prayer, ſuddenly her hands falling, and her lips going, ſhe ſunk down in the bed, and departed, leaving all her friends mourning about her.