Death, Transcript 2 – Dying words
This Relation ſhe makes agreeable to the former.
Says ſhe, When I came firſt into Priſon, I was altogether careleſs, unaffected and unconcerned about my condition. Mr. Rogers came to viſit me, and in diſcourſe with me, did ſo open and lay out my condition before me, in the terrible circumſtances and aggrevations of it, that I was ſmitten in my heart, and filled with terrible thoughts about it. He told me alſ… I muſt ſeek to God to doe all for me …hat I needed to have done. That I could not mend my heart no more than make it, &c. The trouble of my mind continued upon me, and All the Si…s of my Life came to my Remembrance: I fell into great horrours, and was in great diſtreſs & perplexity about my condition: I ſaw my ſelf in a very miſerable State by reaſon of Sin, and the J…ſtice of God. I had very great and ſore Conflicts in my Spirit, and many great Temptations. But it pleaſed God after ſome time to come in with much Comfort into my Soul, by many precious Promiſes, as that in Ezek. 18.32. I have no pleaſure in the Death of him that Dyeth, ſaith the Lord God, wherefore Turn your ſelves and live ye; and others that have been already mentioned. The Peace and Comfort of my mind, (ſaid ſhe) is great and continued: When I think of my Sins they diſappear, and fly from me, I many times have endeavoured to terri…y my ſelf with the thoughts of Death, and my Execution, it ſeems rather a matter of comfort than terror to me. At times my ſpirit has been ſomewhat damped, but my comfort and peace return. Mr. Wiſe further quae…ied with her about the ſenſe ſhe had of Indwelling ſin: And by her anſwers ſhe did diſcover a conſiderable knowledge of the Myſtery in Chriſtianity; that though ſhe was well confirmed (by the …eams of Divine Favour) of the c…mpleatneſs of her Juſtification, yet did diſcern that her Sanctification was incompleat from the ſenſe of heart Evils, Darkneſs, Wandrings, under ſacred means, and vain imaginations, &c.
To make ſome Tryal of the Firmneſs and manner of her Faith, 'Twas queried,
Whether ſhe found it hard to believe?
Anſw. Yes, But yet ſhe deſired to roul her ſelf upon the Mercy of God, for He had ſaid, Come unto me all ye that are w…ary and heavy l…d…n, and I will give you Rest.
Hereupon, the Miniſter gives her his charitable Opini…n of her good Eſtate, of which he had a peculiar eſteem from the Account ſhe had given him, that the ſpecial inſtrumental cauſe of her Awakening and Comfort, was an Ambaſſador of Jeſus Chriſt. So having Recommended her condition to the God of all Grace and Conſolation by Prayer, repaired to the Publick Lecture.
After Lecture, the High Sheriff prepares a Cart to carry her from the G…al, to the place of Execution: But ſhe earneſtly deſiring of him the liberty to walk on Foot; it was granted to her, and two or three of the Neighbouring M…niſters did her the Favour to Walk with her, who did by turns endeavour to fill up the time with ſuch Divine Paſſages of diſcourſe as might beſt ſuit her condition; mixing with words of Conſolation, ſomething of Terrour and Caution. Her Behaviour was very grave and Chriſtian from firſt to laſt. She retained an invincible Courage, and yet manifeſted nothing that had the leaſt Tincture of a vain glorious Confidence. One of the Miniſters thus gloſſed on her preſent circumſtances for Terrification.
O Eſther, How can your heart abide! Dont you here behold terrible diſplayes of Juſtice: you are ſurrounded with Armed men, which ſignifies that God and man has determined to rid the World of you; and you are thus beſet, that you may no ways eſcape The terrible place and Engines of Deſtruction, are but a little before us, where you muſt in a few Minutes Expire; and there lyes your Coffin ▪ that muſt receive your periſhing Body: How can you bear the ſight of all theſe things? She turns about, and looking him in the face with a very ſmiling countenance, ſayes, I know I am going to the Lord Jeſus Chriſt. The manner, the Chriſtian Bravery, the Chearfulneſs, and ſuddenneſs, with the profound matter of her Reply was ſuprizing and aſtoniſhing; Yet not to clip or over load the Wings of her Soaring Faith; they told her, that God did put much honour upon, and ſignalize his Grace to her, in that ſhe had been the Subject of Prayers generally through the Neighbourhood. And now in that Chriſtian and Civil Attendance that was given her in her laſt Journey; and from the intere… ſhe had obtained in the hearts of … Sacred Order of men, intruſted with the Keys of the Kingdom. So that they might in a humble confidence and hope, pronounce an Abſolution, though not from the Temporal Puniſhment, yet from the Condemning Guilt of all her great Abominations; (upon a preſumption of her gracious ſtate) founded on thoſe words, Mat 16.19 Whatſoever thou ſhalt looſe on Earth, ſhall be looſed in Heaven. The Diſcourſe ſeem'd very delightful to her, making ſuitable, though ſhort Replies to all.
Having walked above a mile, ſhe …em'd a little to flag and faulter in her pace; which together with a ſudden p…neſs of countenance occaſioned, one of the Miniſters obſerving it, to ask her, How ſhe did now? whether ſhe felt any alteration? To which ſhe replyed, t…s; ſome ſudden qualm of faintneſs and fear came upon me, but it is over, and I am very well; ſo preſſes forward again with her uſual vigour. Being come in ſight of the Gallows, was askt, whether her heart did not now fail … She anſwers, No, but the nearer … approach, the more I feel my ſtrength and joy to increaſe. When come to the Foot of the Ladder, ſhe ſeem'd no ways altered by any diſtreſs invading from the terrible Spectacles then in view. Mr. Sheriff having ſettled his Guard, and Read the Death Warrant, asked, what ſhe did deſire further before Execution? She turning to the Miniſters, deſires one of them to … with her. Prayer being ended. Mr. Sheriff bids her go up the Ladder, ſhe readily obeys; But firſt with very affecting Geſtures, takes her leave of the Miniſters, giving them many thanks for all their kindneſs to her; and this ſhe does with a mixture of Tears, and a ſhow of moderated ſorrow, and ſo without ſto… or trembling went up the Ladder; and turning her ſelf about, made the following Diſcourſe to the People, and Prayer to God.
The laſt Dying Words and Prayer of Eſther Rodgers, upon the Ladder, juſt before her Execution, taken in Short-hand by ſome there preſent, July 31. 1701.
HEre I am come to Dy a Shame…ed Death, and I juſtly deſerve it's Young, People take Warning, O … all take Warning by me; I beg of al… …o have a Care. Be Obedient to your Parents and Maſters; Run not out a Nights, eſpecially on Sabbath Nights, Re…rain bad Company for the Lords Sake. Here me poor Souls, Keep Gods Sabbaths, mind the Word of God, and let good People be your Company, Mind it for the Lords Sake: Do it if you love your Lives: for Gods Sake mind your own Souls. O Run not abroad with wicked Company, or on Sabbath day Nights, and ſo forget what you have heard. Improve time, you do …t know what Comfort is to be had and found in Gods Ways; If you do not love God, he will not love you; If you go on in Sin, you will provoke God. O let me beg of you all to hear me! for the Lords Sake Remember me! O let every one Remember me! Let me beg of all Young Ones, be not Diſobedient, go not with bad Company, O my dear Friends.— Take Warning by me. Here I come to Dy, and if God be not Merciful to my Soul, I ſhall be undone to all Eternity. — If I do not turn by Repentance. I Bleſs God, I have found more Comfort in Priſon, than ever before. O Turn to God now. O how hard it is to Repent… ▪ If you go on in Sin, God may give you up to a hard Heart▪ Oh! Turn whilſt the Day of Grace laſts.