The captive taken from the strong : or, A true relation of the gratious release of Mistress Deborah Huish from under the power of the tempter ..

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T H F

CAPTIVE

Taken from, the
STRONG:

O R,

A true Relation of the gratious releafe of
Mittritfe Deborah Huljh (by the Arm of the
Almighty ) from under the Power of the
Tempter, by whole firy Conflicts fhe had been
forely vexed for about fourteen years; as it
was Faithfully written from her own mouth >

B Y

WILLIAM A L L E 1ST y

Late Adjutant-General in Ireland.

He brought me up alfo out of an horrible Pit 3 out
of the miry Clay > and fet my feet upon a Rocl^,
and efiabllfhed my goings* And he hath put a
new So^g In my mouth ; even pralfe unto, our
God : Many jhall fee lt> and fear , andfball trust
In the Lord. Pfal. 40. 2, 3.

/ mil never forget thy precepts 5 for with them
thou, hast quickened me, Pfal. 1 19. 9 3.

London y Printed for Llvevod Chapman, at the
Crown in Popes-head- Alley. 1653.

•-•■

TotheChriftian

READER-

READER 3

T7/e# /;<*/? fe^ 4 true Narra-
tive of the various and won-
derful dealings of the Lord
with this his poor Hand~maid y now
made rich in Faith 5 ( through grace)
after fourteen years exercife D undrr
great horrour^ and foul- difmaying d -
(ireffe > as it was take n\rom her own
'mouthy at fever al times ) by my fetf^
fince the Lord by his grace in Urged
her hearty caufmg her thus to fpeak to
bispraife.

The matter herein contained needs
not Epijtks of commendation y at leajt
from one fo weak and unworthy as my
felfi who to my grief and fhame may
fayy have not yet attained to the le a ji
part of this rich portion the Lord hash
blef id her foul with. And indeed^ the
whole is an Epifle that may kefeen
A 2 and

To the Reader.

and read by all difcerning*Chriftian$>
to have been, written on \)er heart 3 by
the Sprit of the living God $ which I
hope will more commend it to every
graciowfoul) then an) thingfrom man
can do : though when I call to mind
the deep diftrejjes of foul I have known
her in^ for fome years yafsd^ with the
gratiom deliverance the Lord hath
now wrought for her> agreeable to that
pray' d for in Pfal. 12^.4. O Turn
again our captivity 3 O Lord , as
the ftrcams in the fouth; and fulfil-
ling that pretiom promife in the 5 .
and rf.verfes of that Pfal. They that
fow in tears, (hall reap in joy, &c.
I may truely fay , / am in my own
thoughts {as to the gratiom fur prizing
nature of this fpecial mercy ) even as
one that dreams.

Reader , be not offended at the
homely dreffe this comes forth in 3 ei-
ther as to often repetitions of the fame
things ■> with little variation 3 the want
ef Orator)' ? eloquer.ee ^ or what el fe the
wifedomcj this world calls ornament :

this

To the Reader.

this being intended chiefly for the ufe
ofthofe that little mind fuch things 5
it was judged^iis own natural fimple
Attire would be ft become it. Be fides y
this gratiow foul , fmce her refcue out
of Satans power ^ hath been under very
frequent and renewed aff.aults from
himy who hath fet upon her often with
the fame temptation-^ and the Lord
hath taught her to ufe the fame Wea-
pon§hegave her at the fir jl, with great:
fuccejfej to oppofe him at thofe fever al
times $ which were thought nee efjary
tabe fet down accordingly .{as appears
more particularly in the infuing Nar-
rative) That fo the Devil's reft-
leffe malice to difturbe and de-
ftroy^ andche Lord's continued
faithfulneffe to fuccour and deli-
ver might the better , be obferveA:
But if it be fubftance thou feekefl
(and that will fatisfie) I dare be
bold tofay-y thou wilt here find it ^ yea
rich treafure (though in a poor earthen
Veffel^ (which will render the
praife of this prerious mercy more
A 3 pn>

To the Reader.

properly due to Godyunto whom
alone it belongs. ) She was 3 when
fhe declared thefe things, much in that
frame of Spirit, mentioned in I Cor,
2. 3. In weakneffe, in fear, and in
much trembling. And her fpeech
( though plain and mean ) thou mlt
jindinfome meafure, anfwering that
in the fourth verfe of that fecond
Chapteryu/£a in the demonftrati-
on of the Spirit, and of Power.

And of whom I may further fay 5
fhe delights not te make a fair fhew in
theflejb 3 hut rather to be found glo-
rying oftely in thecrofs of Chrift
Jefus, by which the world is cru^-
cified unto her, and (lie much Cru-
cified unto the world

The ends of P Mining this Nar-
rative (next to giving the glory of
this mercy to the Lord,, to whom
alone it is due) are^frft, to warn
finncrs ( efpecial/y fuch as make a
mock at fin , as in Prov. 14. 9 . ) to
take heed, how they make light of that
which the Lord can ( and frequently

To the Reader.

doth)makefo weighty 3when he binds
it on the confeience of the finncr
( as in the induing Narrative more at
large appears 5 which I defire fuch
way with fear and trembling read;,
andconfider well.)

If God did fo deal with this
green Tree 3 what then may be ex-
pected he will do to the drie ones?
that fojfpofiible^fuch might be flopped
in their Carreer in wayesof fin and
Ruine ,and caused to return by this
poor fouls fad experience, who having
indeed known the terrours of the
Lord 5 doth declare them, to that
end that fhe may perfwade men.
ButfeconcHy^ and more efpecially, that
poor, drooptngjdifeonfolate, dif-
eouraged fouls, who are 3 or may
be ready to faint under the weight
of their Iniquities , and juft dif-
pleafure of the Lord discovered
againftthemj who by reason there-
of may be ready to fay, as in Lament,
3 .18. That their ftrength and hope
is perifhed from the Lord : and as
A 4 in-

To the Reidcr,

in Ifai. 49. 14. That the Lord
hath forfa ken them) might here-
by be fuccored, fupported, and in-
couraged , to look towards the Lord,
*W the ftrength and length of
thofe everlafting Amies , menti-
oned in Dcut. 33.27. wbicb^may
he underneath 1 when not decerned,
as in this poor fouls cafe; they were en-
comparing and upholding ( though
not comforting ) her, when fhe ex*
peftednothingbut the ft retching them
out to her eternal ruine. Inher four-
teen years danger em Voyage through
juch a tewpeftuow troubled Sea, when
all that time (as it were) neither Sun,
Moon, nor Stars appeared, and her
foul with continual Billows going over
it, was forely aflMed,tofTed with
tempeft., and not comforted -, yet
he ( whofe way is in the waters,
and his iootftcps in the great
deeps., was then with her, aun Ifai.
43- 2- Q when thou pafleft tho-
lovv the waters , I will be. with
«fefe 3 Cfc. Checkihg the proud

f A waves

To the Reader.

Waves , and as isfaid^ Job 3 8:.u.8.
Hitherto {halt thou come , but no
further 5 and here fhall thy proud
waves be ftaid : ) and his thoughts
towards her , even all this time , as
injer.29.11. Thoughts of peace,
and not of evil, &c . and douMeflc
fhall alfo in due time appear to be the
fame , towards all his poor toffed
troubled ones ( who for the pre-
fent may walk in darkneffe, and
fee no light , as in Ifai. 50. 10. )
and jet (he that hath promised to bring
the blind by a way that they
knownot3asinlia.42.16.) is lea-
ding them in the return , in that path
mentioned, Jer. 3 1.9. They {hall
come with weeping,and with Tup-
plications will I lead them, &c.
And Jure ly fuch fhall have eaufe in
the end ( with this late redeemed
captive, and other pretiow ones ) to
admire the Riches of God's infinite
grace j and fay as in Rom. 11.33.
G the depth of the Riches , both
of the wifedom and knowledge of

<5od,

To tht Reader.

God! how unfearchable are his
judgements , and his wayes paft
finding out ! And in the meantime
may hereby be helped to put J ome check
to their own troubled th oughts yat leafl
fo far as not to make them (as is too u-
fualyhe Rule and meafure of thofe in-
finite transcendent thoughts andwayes
of God towards them.

And truely the bringing forth of
fuch a glorious work as this, out of
fuch a barren Womb of apprehended
impoffibilities (when even Faith ,
hopes, and hearty of the ftrong-
eft failed concerning it ) I cannot
hut think was given in at fuch a fea-
fony to raife our Faith and hope in
the Lord, by hoking upon this fi-
gnal mercy > as a pledge and f otter n of
what Godwittyeldo^not onelyfor poor
difconfohte fouls in like conditi-
ons ^but alfo for the recovery and
raifing his publicke works , fofar
gbrie back in thefe Nations^ in this fad
declining day , as coufeth many of
lions friends to fpeak fadly and

doubt*

To the Reader.

doubtfully of them, as they of Chrift)
Luke 34. 20,21322, 2$.vvhowere
fad in the fenfe of his being taken
from them (as in V. 17.) and to be
mourning as Mary, in John 20 . 1 3 .
Andfome of them are ready to faint
with crying^ Lordjoow long I and,
Help Lord, as/inPfal.i2%i.wb/"fe
their Energies irifult-> as in Lament.
2.16. Saying, Certainly, this is
the day that we looked for , 'And
as in Pfa. 3 5. 2o,2i.are devifing de-
ceitful matters againft them rngt
are quiet in the Land t, and yet
are Wbjed to fiy, as in Jef. foi 7.
The^ offend not, &c. Tea fofne of
Zions pretended lovers raifed and
lifted up (it's to be feared too highly)
by her^ are dealing unkindly with her')
and that under highefi pretences of
real affection to the name and caufe of
God) and inter eft of his people (as in
Ifai. 66. 5. Saying, Let the Lord
be glorified, &c. all fo much invoU
vedinour late publicke tranfa&i-
ons , but now almoji all given up in-
to

To the Reader.

to the hands of thofe that hate, re-
proach, and fcorn them $ which is
afadcaufe of lamentation $ andO,
that it may lie with due fenfe upon the
hearts of all Zions mourners Jo [pre ad
before the Lord as a lamentation j
and more efpecial/y the caufes of it ,
(fome of which are. mention d ( as I
judge) Lament. 1. 8, 9. Jerufalem
hath grievoufly finn'd, &c .) That
fo we may he led thereby to the cure
(which! fear we much want) as tbty
ofold,]er.8. 6. They fpake not 2l-
rightV no man repented him of
his wickednefs, faying. What
have I done ! Ah I the Lord ha$h yet
a work to do on Mount Zion , before
the rod can will be removed, as in Ifo,
10. 12. Wherefore it fhall come to
paffe0 that when the Lord hath
performed his whole work upon
Mount Zion, and on Jerufalem,
&c>: And were that done, judgement
would foon return to Righteoufnefje ,
and all the upright in heart Jfauld fol-
low it.

But

To the Reader,

But alluding to the A£ts 26. 8. t
would yet fay. Why fhould it be
thought a thing; incredible that
God fhould raiie the dead ? confi-
dering what he hath done in this late
captives cafe ; and what U Prophe-
sied and promt fed be will do more pub-
licize!] in the mo ft needful feafon,lhi.
5.9 .from the firft to the iixteenth,
much our cafe ( as thou male ft read
at leaf ure)and 'jet his cure reacheth it,
indention din v.17. compare alfolfa.
5 t. 3 . where he hath promifed to
comfort Zion with all her wafte
places, &c.andinv. 22, 23. Thus
faith thy Lord, the Lord and thy
God,that pleadeth the caufe of his
people j Behold, I have taken out
of thine hand the cup of trem-
bling, even the dregs of the cup of
myfury,thou (halt no moredrink
it again, but I will put it into the
hand of them that atHicl thee,e-rY.
And many other preiiom words' of the
like import, which I fhall not mention
here , being well confide red, doth af-

fcrd

To the Reader.

W» Qnthie vally of Achor) a door of
nope.

But that 1 may not let tin thee from
this Featl of fat things , the fort of which
is loft ( according to Chrifts old Method)
John a. i o. Ifhatthafte to a clofejn the
words of the Tfalmift, Pfal. 107.43.
Whofo is wife, and will obferve thefe
things, even they (hall under ftand the
loving kindnefle of the Lord : Which
that my foul with thine may be taught to
doy and improve accordingly ; 1 beg thy
earnest fupplications for me at the throne
of grace , who am the moft unworthy to
m<*kj mention of the name of the Lord) {or
any concerns of his ) yet defireto be found
in this evil day, bearing my part with his
poor Mourners ; having much caufe,
under the fence of my own , and fight of V
ther abominations abounding in this day,
calling to that duty : Tet cannot but
rejoyce in this great deliverance wrought
for this poor foul ; hoping and longing for
the remaining deliverances , purchased
for (and prornifed to) whole Zion:
which the Lord haftenin his tirne:even
fo, sAMETi.

W. ALLEN.

Sand in Drum the fecond day
ofihefirft Monetk3i6$7.

To-

To every true Mourner over his orvny
and Zion#* fins avdferro* specially
to fuch in the Churches of (thrift in
Ireland, to wh$m the foul-finhjngfor*
tows oftMiftriffe Deborah Haifa,
the Subjett of the enfuingtreatife, was
well known: John Vernon, their Bra*
ther in Chrift, and Companion in Hea-
vinejfe, for Zioos fake jwifheth grace
forftrength in weaknejfey to waitftitt, in
weeping^andfupplication until the times
ofrefrejhment fhallceme from the pre*
fence of the Lord^ Amen, Even fa
came LordJefw%eeme quicty, Amen.

BEio vcd,y oa have herewith brought
onto you an Olive-branch, fhew-
Ing forth the floods abatement , and
the reft and fafety of the foul that is
entered into the Ark of God; the
ranfome of a poor Prifoner out of the
Pit indeed, in which there was no wa*
tcr : which will be, I know, the more
welcome to fome of you (I hope only
to the praife and glory of God on high)
becaufe you Co long wepc before his
Heavenly Throne , and made your
humble Amplication to him almoft un-
to fainting for her , who was bound
of Satan fo many years : yet that the

height

height and depth, length and breadth
of the love of God in Chrift Jefus oar
Lord, ™igat be the more admired of
all, and magnified herein ; And this
Monument of mercy may remain in
the Churches, throughout all ages, to-
wards the fupport of fuch as fit in dark-
neffe, and tee no light : lam willing,
(though moft unworthy) to addemy
mite towards the compleating this ac-
count of the grace of God , extended
to my poor (latediftfeffed) Sifter Mi-
ftriffe Deborah Hm(h ; who is now
made rich in Faith, through grace ,and
the wife Virgin-fubje& of this enfuing
Relation: to the truth of which, as de-
livered by her with much fear and joy,
with trembling received, and faithful-
ly written from her lips , by my dear
Brother AlUny I can do no leffe then
bear my teftimony, that (to thofe who
judge us faithful) it may out of the
mouth of two or three witneffes be
eflabliftied.

Yet becaufe many may be i"ubjcc>,
with Thomas^ called Dydtmiu^ to que -
ftion what their eyes fee not , and
their fingers feel not; Thefefhali ad-
vertife any who do efteem foul-con-
cernments of the grc-ueft confequence,

and

and dcnre to be informed more per-
fectly in fbme part of the truth hereof,
for the help of their own fouls, or (as
natnrai members of the body of Chritt)
to adminitier fomc affiftance unto their
fiftcr, the fubje& of this enfuing trea-
tifc, towards her continued walking
uprightly and humbly with her God ;
That (he is the third Daughter of
James Htafh Efquire of Sidbttry, in the
County ©f Devon ; To whom God Al-
mighty tofavc, hath already granted
an hopeful place in his houfc, to the
joy of the faithful Churches in Cbrift
Jefus, who have more diligently then
fomc in our dayes , weighed the truth
of their high and heavenly calling, in
the Balance of the fan£tuary,and inqui»
red into their foveraigne love toChrift,
and futable converfation to the word
of God,before they gave the right hand
of Feilowfhip unco them : One of t he
three now is not,bur having witneffed
uato death a good confeflion before
many witneffes (and running beft at
la(?,evenin theic word dayes ofde-
ciining,wherein Snn-fhine and world-
ly ProfefTors are fo puzzled , and put
to their (Lifts > how to get with cre-
dit agsin into their wider place, out
a of

of the faithful Churches) is fallen a-
fleep in Jefus , whom God will bring
with him at his coming, and her works
fliall follow her. In her ftcad hath
God feafonably raifed this her Sifter
to fupply the breach made in the via-
ble body of Chrift, and in the Spirit of
maoy faithful members, who (having
forcly lamented their too little im-
provement of hcr,and fomc other dear
Friends , lately taken from the evil to
ccmc ( of whom this world , yea the
Churches ( or many araonglt them )
yet in too much Fellowfhip with the
world , I fear, were not worthy) will
learn wiiedome (I truft) to know their
day , for treafuring the Gold granted
us , though through Earthen VYflels ;
and better improve the fmall remnant
ofGodsElecl:, amaogf* the great bo-
dies of out ward Ifraely who remain yet
amongft them.

This bli ffed workmanfhip in C brill
Jeru? , v»Ms through his good provi-
dence (as her Sifter) from a Child in-
firu&ed in the hblv Scriptures,by their
■traciy vercucus Mo;her : which edu-
caiion the Lord SaoSified , to make
her very ferious in her infancy , re-
ftrai&ing her from cemmon foclifh sr d

vain

vain communication. She was at a-
bcuc iburceen years old , fird fendbly
tflaulccd by ihc tempter , and that fu-
rioufly> as vou will perceive by the Se-
quel : And from thenceforward you
have her own Relation, to which I
frnll refer the ferious Reader : but muft
remind many of the poor mourning
Saints in Ireland , what they have of-
ten heard rrom her; which may per-
haps prove helpful to them, and other
dejected fouls , according to my ear-
ned wifh> to whofe ufeherred and
,{helter (through rich grace , after a
fourteen years fad ftormy Voyage, and
bewildered wandering) is now Dedi-
cated, For I judge her deep carting
down, and powerful railing up, was
not onely for her fake , and private
life?; but as a Pillar (houid be erected
for common caution againft unbelief,
and every (in which cod her fo dear ,
and for encouragement out of fuch dif-
mildeep?,to look vet unio God's ho-
ly Temple,andtoflec for hope and re-
fuge alwayes, onely to ouronedrong-
hold. And whofo is wife , and willob*
ferve thefe things ; even they (b -Render ■-
flared the lov'trg hindneffe of the Lord*
Pfal. iqj. 4 j. Let us rem-: tube r then
a 2- what

what a meeting in , of almoft all the
complaints of the deferred, darkened,
aod difconfoiate ones on Scripture re-
cord, have rcfted on her poor foul, to
the fore affliftingalfo of fome of yours,
before the Throne of God , who did
defer , but not deny , to anfwer your
poor Prayers on her behalf: but at laft
hath heard, after you have heard her
bemoaning herfelf, as Hcman the £*»
rahite, Pfalm 88.6. Thou haft layed me
/« the hweft Tit 9 in darkneffe j m the
deep ; thy wrath lieth hard upon me ; And
then haft afflttted me with all thy Waves :
I am afflitted and ready to die frcm my
youth up) while I fuffer thy terrours I am
dfjf ratted^, verfe i ?.witb Job 7.354. So
am I made to peffeffe months of Vanity)
and weary fome nights are appointed to me:
when I lie down^ I fay^WhenjhaU I arife >
and the night be gone f I am full of t offings
to and fro , unto the dawning of the day^
mourning withcut the Sun.. &C. Chapter
30. 28. wiih He z,ckiah) reckoning till
morning, that as a Lion fa would he breaks
all my bones , from day even till night wilt
thou make an end of me* If*i» 38. I 3,
And he hath bcthfpsken to me^ and him-
felf hath dor. e it : i (hall go (oft ly all my
jars in the biturneffe of my foul : Yea,

w u h

with 'David ftie might have faid , I my
tellaUm) b nes Pfal. 2 2.1 7. and ag in,
my heart is [mitten and withered tdbe
grajftjfo that I forget to eat my bread : by
reason of the voice of my groaning^ my
bones cleave to my *k&*' A n d Pia . I o 2 ,
4, 5. and again, When f kept ftlexce, my
bones waxed old , through my roaring all
the day long ', for day and night thy hand
was heavy upon me : ?n* moifiure z>> turn-
ed into the drought of 'Summer . PfVi, 3 2 .
2,4.and with the Church, Lsm. 3. 1 8.
My ftrength and my hope is perifhed from
the Lord: nay, with the defperate hath
(he not laid , in the hearing of many ,
There is no hope? Ter.i 8.1 2. And wuh
Cain 3 (JUy pu*i(hment is greater then 1
can bear : Or^my Iniquity it greater then
that it may be forgiven. I havefinn'd
unpardonably ; you fin in praying for
me : I am undone and rejected; I
know the very time when it was fcaled
to me ; I know it , I am furc I am
damned for ever, &c. Oh! how have
we been terrified together in our af-
fe.nblings on her behalf,who have feen
her forrow, and difability to fpeak,un-
lefle fometimes in fuch like Language
againfthcr foul, and our feeking her
Salvation;who was as a very fearful fpc-
a 1 £tec!c,

claclc pining away (even like to in
Anatomy ) before us : and bow many
ofu5yikethe Friends of J^cameax
firft ro mourn , and comfort her ; buc
fainted* left off, relinquifhcd her, con-
cluding hopeieflely ! how hath a whole
Church flagged in their Faith herein,
( who refolved to fall and pray for her
until deliverance) fainted and left eff,
yea drop'd away as weary,or aQvrned ?
how have fame holy wemen (skilfull
in mourning) affimblcd? what private
indeavours by ferns obtaining her to
their hcufes,have been £{Tayed?bur all
as water fpilt upon the groi3nd,in their
e(\eemes:Yes,to the glory of the grace
of God alone herein, (who then loves
to approve himfeif mo(? favorable to
his cfcofen,wbcn they are moftfriend-
lefs,helplefs,deftitute^& moillland in
need of fuccour frcmhim,) let me adde
further this obfervation toy-curs, that
a fpe cial Friend , whofe affe^ion led
him further, and longer at a certainty
then mine, or any I obferved to weep
for her , and to reprove others for fain-
ting , and neglects of her bf fore him,
yet lately wrote frem Ireland to me
his defpahingr alfo concerning her ; at
the very interim God our God, who

corn-

comforteth thofe that arc aft down,
was iurely fuccoring her, and incoura-
ging his poor mourning fainting fol-
lowers, whofe Spirits were willing,
though the Flefli was weak, as he will
further do in chcirfighc , unto publick
admiration , for thofe who in this evil
time (hall go forth weeping bearing
pretious feed,according to his promife,
■ Pfal. 126.5, 6. and their Prayers in
the fourth verfe:Yea,when there h but
little Faith in the Earth ; foralas,how
have we, even we thai were nearefi re-
lated alfo , left off our hope for this
poor foul ? Yea, how have I, to my
fhamc, that had the charge of her/ail-
ed moft herein ! I muftfay indced,to
my abatement, the weights and fear of
her untimely end* the cares of keeping
her from any Inftrument to accomplifh
it 5 and the dread of divers kinds that
fo long encompafled me concerning
her,with the trouble we had to get her
eat her bread,and to gaining her under
hearing the word of God ( which is
more neceflary) with the difcouraging
influence ©f living under the dayly
droppings of thofc many difmal predi-
ctions (he uttered of her iuddain and
certain ruine & deftru&ion, after more
a 4 then

then three years care of the kind a-
forefaid, and fo many attempts and
faintings : Alas , I aimed now at no
more in my own mind, then to get her
fare again delivered into her dear Pa-
rents hands, that my face might not be
covered wiih flume, according to my
fear of her nntimely end , at luch di-
ftance from them: which being accom-
plished by the good hand of God, ( in
our fafe Voyage through his fpecial
grace , who led us and our little ones
through his ftornty deep , and after
fome hazzards landed us in fafety ;
which I wifli we may not let flip) alas,
(he almoft fell out of my memory, and
was fcldom in my Prayer; the Lord
grant me the mercy ofhereameft Ap-
plications ; for which Jobs Friends
were made humbly to apply to him
through like frailty towards him in
his forrcw, as I have reafon to impute
to my felf towards her herein.

Tbus hath the Lord our God ftain*
ed the pride of all glory, as he fhall
yet more publickely do unto his praife;
and give grace to the humble, that
they who glory, might onely glory in
him , as the great end of his works of
wonder3 his great Salvations , and the

ope*

operations of the Almighty in the
Earth ; that the faint,who relie on the
Lord, may be revived ; that youths,
and every confident one may fainr,
and be humbled before him. Where-
fore Bcloved,I beg the bell cffe&s in
every heart,ofthisunfpeakable mercy*
and to the glory of God in the higheft,
which I truft is the onely end, why my
poor Brother and Companion in
mourning for our own fins, and fhort-
neffe* and for yonrs alfo , which have
the greateft hacd in hiding good
thing?, yea the expected publicke Sal-
vations alio from us , have agreed by
the Advice of divers, who are alfo in
the duft for Zion} in this dark declining
day, to recommend this token of good
from God our Father and yours , unto
you, towards the fupport of your fink-
ing fouls, in his clcudy, gloomy home,
with our poor Epitile?,full of aflfe&ion
to ycur prctious fouls , affixed to this
gratious earncft of releafing, drooping,
dying Captives ; who (hall draw nigh
to, and alone depend on God : And
thefe I trail (hall come to every hand,
with fome cffeS of our earneft Prayer,
that the Lord God (Almighty to fave)
would accompany ir, and greatly blefs

this

this grain of Muftard feed , to mike it
grow and multiply unto the Faith and
refrefhment of many , the abafemene
of ali , and the glorious exaltation of
our King, who fitceth at the right hand
of the Father for us , and fends the
Comforter to fuccourhis feeble ones*
in earned of his care of thofc who caft
their care upon him , whoonely hath
the healing Medicines, and will furely
( right foon ) therewith vifit fach in
every Nation \ When all the froud^ (how
high lbcver) and the) whoftilldo wicked-
ly3 (hall be m ft utile before him* Mai. 4.
1,2. 2 Sam. 22.28. Oh that this prt-
tious anfwer to your fupplications (in
the beft feafoa) might be now impro-
ved, as a prop to uphold your hands,
with the Rod of God therein , in this
doubtful day , that Amalek, tmy nor
prevail : Oh ! wreftle fervently in the
unfpeakable priviledgc of Faich ; and
(with Chrift inycurArmes) prefent
your wcepings,and fpread your fuppli-
cations before the Father in other di-
ftrefled cafes ftill before you , by this
incouragement ; yea, let us improve
it to publicke as well as private bene-
fit ; for furely patterns of mercy ftaould
be fo made ufe of, sGr.i.io, And

call

call for Faith in the path of them , as
the mofi natural improvement, i Tim.
l.io". Heb. i 3. 5. is well as to dread
thcexpe&ation or a contrary portion,
in the contrary paih. ^Pfiil. 125. 5,
And as theDechra: nn of Judgement^,
withthe cauleaffigncd, or the way in-
to them, warneth ali,and fpeaks inccu-
ragement to nene 5 fb the rmnifelhti-
od of ^race, and the path thereof, is an
incoura^ement to all in the fame path,
and Spirit ; which was eminently ieen
of old, in God's fpeciai prefenccwith
Jfrael) ir> driving back Jordan by his
mighty Power for their prelent deli-
verance (and their adverfaries defini-
tion ) for which they cre&ed Pillars
of praife, to encowage the future Faith
and hope of faithful ones that fhculd
follow God fully , «s his Servant Jo-
(hua did : Yec could not I frae/ then
have the leaii ground to expe£t the dri-
ving back of Jordan again, or remo-
ving other difficukies,to have incoura-
o^S their retreat, or furthered any hu-
mane defign,to which they were fome-
times fubjeS through unbelief : Nei-
ther in our dayes have any perfons
ground to fnpncfe (much lefle to con-
clude ) that the Lords eminent pre-
tence

fence in the high places of the field ,
fell, Naasfy and o:her parts with his
people, while they faithfully followed
him,can now yeeld any in:ouragemenc
to expeS the like prefence of God ,
while they are turning back , and de-
clining from him.

N-verthelc{le>new appearances of
the like glorious prefence with the
trucly humble followers of the Lord,
( as the matter fhould require ) might
again be fafely expe&ed rrom the Ma-
jeiiy on high ; who by the former no
doubi manifeiied his right-hand Pow-
er, for the ftrc^thentng of the Faith
and hope of all upright followers of
him, according to *Pfal 33. 8,9, 10,
1 1 . and T[d> 3 6. 6} 7, 8, 9. and kMic%
6.*$.

And the very end of the Lords de-
ferring to relieve Learns , whom he
loved until he was dead , and laid in
the Grave,and fo no vifible hopes lefc
unto his Difciples touching his pre-
fent refurrection , wm to the intent they
might believe, Joh, 1 1. 1 5. not that
he railed him onely 5 which every fen-
fual beholder would believe: but that
in future diftrcflfes , in their greateft
depths, they might depend on him by

thac

that proof of his Power to fave to the
uttermeft.

And no doubt 7/r^/ofold^of whom
its faid 9 They foen forgot his workj 5
was fo raviftvd whh the red Sea won-
dcr^thatthey ever retained theTheory
thcreofyand could ail of them relate ic
to any that flaouid ask them , either in
matter or manner concerning it : bo:
their not retaining the Teaching fence
thereof for ufe, in point of thankful-
neffe for paft deliverances , and of
Faith in their future ftraits, in the way
of following God; left them tothofe
fears, through which they fell ftiort of
obeying God, and entring Canaan.
Now therefore, thou poor finking de-
fpairingfoul , whofitteft in darkneffe,
and feed no light • Learn thou aflured-
ly, this pattern of mercy and long fuf-
fering is to manifelt to thee , that the
Lord's thoughts are higher tbenthinei
that fothy foul may be encouraged,
under the fentence of death, by reafon
of fin 3 through believing , to have life
and hops in him : If thcu fayeft,Is any
forrow like my forrow ? Yea , is any
fin like my fin ? and trucly confidereft
the forrow of this fcul , and molt de-
fpcrate fin of a ferret Dcvilxfh mind,

in

in this cafe related, with her confident
expiation of Hell thereupon, en the
©rse hand \ and the gracious pity and
acceptance fae found from Chrift , he-
ing embraced by him asinoptn Arms,
fofoon astruely periwaded humbly to
come unto him, on the other hand : I
hope it will filence fuch luggeftiom di-
ftrefling thee , and (eal to thy comfort
the truch of that promifc , that is io
richly confirmed to her, John 6. 3 7.
Now if any accepted through grace*
fhould abate in their Faith, becaufc
their prefent Fcaft feems not io foil,
nor their entertainment fo fenfibly
free, as that whereat this foul now fits
fo fully refrefh'd; Itruft, if (in their
wcakneffe) fupporting grace be furely
afforded, and they fousd waiting in
their Fathers houfe and affaires, that
word fhall fuffice to balance them
from fainting and fretting at fuch grace
to other?, recorded, Lufy 1 5. 3 1, 32.
And thtt her years of ibrrow (hall be
by fuch can/idertdi according to Pfgo.
I $.UWake m g'.alyaccrrdiKg to the dales
wherein thou haft *jflttted m. And
oh ! that this mio'm warn all of ever/
fin, and negle£fc,which being bound on
her foul > hive been found (o long and

io

to heavy a load : but how fhall I utter
the evil and bitter effe&s thereof,
better then by asking the lerious foul,
what debating, defiling , and enfUving
mifery himfelf hath experienced, *s the
effect of but eating the forbidden fruic
at firh\and that by another ? Yea, wnh
defi^nto be made more Spiritual [ nei-
ther have good mens good meanings
excufed the lealt tranfgreffion or er-
ror : This treatife will tell you alfo
what thole poor fouls lofe , who ne-
glect , or are flighty in family-endea-
vours',in the word and Prayer ; in both
which (he found more benefit (through
grace ) then in more able publick Ad-
ministrations, under which fome can
icarcely profit, through their horrid ne-
glect herein ; and will have poor kind-
red, Children, and Servants , one day
complain of their lols, by living under
the fhadow of fuch, few of whom will
(hine as Stars in the Firmament , ac-
cording to the prcmife, Dm. 1 2. 3 . if
they perfiu in the neglect thereof, and
forget that exhortation, Eph. 6. 4,

That I may not make an end cf ihcfe
poor hints, towards the improving
this mercy , without remembring the
Mourners in Dublin, of another (elc£

one

one I truft ) whofc fecret fas, ftanding
in the ligh: of God's countenance,
humbly waited for his Salvation, (o
many folcmne dayes among them ,
poffcdiag Months and years offorrow,
and they of tears for her poor foul,
who alas is not now found in the way
of the true converts path, Pfal. n6t
17, 1 8, \g. Andwillfurely^sjk^,
have her fears renewed , for building
ftiort of Bethel , when new troubles
(hall incompafle her , and the Courts
( (hort of the Lord's ) prove unable to
comfort: Ob that this effetfual expe-
rience of breaking the bands of Sa-
tan for another (who was with iefle
hope and cxpeclation fo oft joyned
with her in your intcrccflions) may re-
new your ttrcngth in fupplication for
her ; whofe iceming wcanedneffe
from the world , and the weights of
/iich vain Company as now befet her,
fomctxmes admin iftred hopes, that fhe
would never be aftumed to chufe *(fli-
dion with the people of God , nor be
otherwayes then as Hefter in the
Court of the mifs- informed and enra-
ged againft them. Oh 1 that by fer-
vent wreftlings (he mtght be raifed a-
gain from every falfe reft ; and as being

plucked

plucked by the Arm of the Almighty,
as a fire-brand out of the fire, might be
laved from all vain pomp , infe&ing
Company, and cuilomes ; the fury of
the higheft of men, and from (moot her
temptations more near unco her, pro-
mising her liberty in negle&s ; and fo
beguiling her of her choifctt good , as
the Tempter beguiled Eve : yea, work-
ing I fear with the ftumbling-Blockof
the falls of i'ome, (found in the waves
of God) improved to the wmoft in this
evil day, to prejudice fouls with thcm;
fo that many indeed arc now offended
in Chriti, and I much long that a Sovc-
rain love to his holy wayes,might pre*
fcrve her from that evil : According to
Tfal. 119.11,165. Yca,let the kind-
neflc of Gideon be remembered , to
oblige us herein ; who unweariedly
withunparalcU'd uprigbtneffe, (hew*
ed forth his labour of love to the Lord,
and to us in the Lord unto death, re-
ining much in the perfwafion > that his
dearelt relation (and Children left be-
hind him amongft us) would never
more be befet with the unexpected
fnares of that fort now encompaflmg ;
but be in the conftant fpecial care of
r hemoft faithful of the Saint * i delight-
b ing

fog herrelf with David , in thofe that
eacelin vcirtucl

Me thinks this mercy improved a •
rikihc ( without diverfion) may be ex-
tended alfo , to Admini"er reviving to
the poor 'Prisoners tor rightecufnefle
fake (who (onely in a way of righteouf-
neffe) fhall humbly waif for the Salva-
tion of Gcd) notwithstanding the pub*
licks reproach caft upon them, by men
of corrupt minds : For behold , the
hand of the Lord • who led Jofcph
through "mprifohnicnc, flmder*, and
many difficulties , and thereby fitted
him for further fpscial pubiick relief
snd benefit; (though his Brethren
meant not fo, 6V». 5 o. 20 ) is not vet
frr-rtened \ but here (hewed glorioufly
in the ranfomeof this femetitnes poor
hope! fle Prifoner,thar diftr-ffed ones
Jtthy have hope io him • Who caufetb
light to arife out of dark*tjje ; leading
hi Prliofl'e*rK fftftbinnis ict time and
feaffen ; who will fav fhortly to his
Gapnvcs , Shew jour fefoes, according
ro 'far. 4.9*9. Ana1 tureiy this may
hefj^to Ui.conr laifotile whole Zw* of
God r-thdugh (he be ready to fay, CMj
God h*:h for gift to w»?.O.h that therefore
thai travel ip«fcb ef Ifa.66m6yy ;8.&c

were:

Were now begun by all that have their
hearts heavy leaden , with their own
(and othen) Iniquities * and thai iuch
might never hold their peace, nor give
the Lord reft : but in the iircngth of
Jacob, by weeping and fupplication ,
wrcrtle with the Mighty one of Jaech^
till he return in pitty unto Zhn , to
their own fouls, and to all the diftrel-
fed who wait upon him ; and to the.
flopping the mouth of all Iniquity in
the Nations ( lb lately refcued by his
hand) even till the dry bones live, and
the heart of thofe that weep now,
greatly rejoyce , and flourish like an
herb ; and the hand of the Lord be
known towards his Servants , and his
indignation towards his Enemies; yea,
to that effect in J fat. 66. 1 2. For thus
faith the Lord, Behold, I will extend
peace to her as a River,&c. and ]ert 3 o«
2 1 And their Nobles ftiall be of them-
felves,&c. That the glory of it Lord
may be redeemed in the Land,

Let uiftillwaic on the Arm of the
Lord, whocaufed e^bafitertu to be
reftlefs in the ni°ht,tillhc had read the
records of the Chronicles of the good
fervice of ^Mordtcai, to the changing
his heart from his wicked decree , and
b 2 turn*

turning it againft bis treaeherom Flat*
terers} and who hive taught us to re-
member his hand upon the haughty of
old, and to plead it in future didrcfle,
as in /fat. 51.9. Awakf) awake: put on
ftrcngth , Oh Arm of the Lord I awaie,
at in the antient dayes^ &C, For hereby
hath he gratioufly given us a frefh proof
of his Power, to performc whatever
may make to our relief and comfort in
every condition, whether we be in-
compared with publicke , or private
dittreffes : wherefore I have fomewhat
enlarged upon this opportunity of
Printing on this occafion, which otber-
wayes \ love not, thus varioufly to im-
prove this inftancc (though feme men
mayefteem them unneceflary divcrfi-
ons) for the begetting of Faith in God
by this Example of dread , and incou-
ragemem ; which can onely inableto
meet him acceptably in humiliation ,
and before the decree be gone forth,as
againft ShiUe of old > and Judahy who
perilhcd wiibthe figncs of God's pre-
fence in their hand, through their not
obferving aright, to San&ifie his name,
who had made chemfoihong andiuc*
a ffeful againft their Adverfaries. And
feeing the Lord alone car. heal our fick-

c<uY,

neffe, and our wound, and the breach
upon us, which is wide as the Sea ; let
every (rue Mourner humbly approach
before him,on the behalf of our felves,
and whole Zim> the Prophets, Rulers,
Judges, Laws, Cuftomcs oft hefe Nati-
ons^ on the behalf of the affli&ed,de-
ferted, unbelieving,divided,and there-
by liable to be destroyed people ; and
to turn the heart of thole that are en-
raged , and ready to do evil , becauie
it is in the Power of their hands to do
it : for now all men almoft fee our (kk-
neffe, and our wound, how foolifh ma-
ny Phyfitians and our falfc refuges have
proved.

Let us therefore now ceafe not tm-
\yhomB*bjh»)£gypt>A(bi4r\ Horfcs,
Armies fenced Cities, &c. But ajfo
from tbofe other fair ftSews in the flefh,
to which feme fearful Friends would
compel us to conform, which have too
oft deceived us: Neither let as humour
the lafts of men and muLtitudcs,Bor be
found in the indirect path of fretting
proud wrath, envying and grudging
one tgaintt another; oorinrafh inga-
ging,fubmitting to traditions, tempo-
rizing, &c. But in deep humiliation,
and brokenncflc of foul , let us be as
b 3 Doves

Doves of the Valley , every one -.mourning
-over his iniquities, which Is the moft hopeful

path of r\ freihmont from his pr. fence , who
hath hereby mewed us his right hand ; which
will certainly relieve, and" that right foon.
thofe that truely (owe in teares ; for according
to his faiphful word, Vfil. \z6. ^6. He thxt
goeth forth einiweep.-th , bearing prcUo'ts feed,
fhall doitbtkjfi return again with refoycing ,
"bringing bisjhexves with him: When the B!of-
foine of pride {hall wither , and the bands of
mockers will be nude ftrong : Let my foul and
yours be imbarked with thofe th.it weep this
day before the Lord, chufing affliction with his
people , rather then with thofe who rcjoyce
now, and are not fenfible of the afflictions of fo-
feph •, but make merry with die nakednclle of
Noah : and that the Counfel given us ior fup-
port , in Ifai. i((.io,m. may be accompa-
nied with the refidue of the Spirit tor our gui-
dance and fcccour , as being given us to be a
word of gratious Counfel for fuch a day as
this : And that though Satan be feen yet fur-
ther to fall j as lightening from Heaven ; We
may chiefly rejoyce,in that our names are writ-
ten in the Book of Life. And now to be {till
freely admitted with this precious foul,to that
Feaft that fadcth not for evermore; is the
humble and earned deiire (on the behalf of
himfdf, and all Saints) of

fh: uworthirst of thofe tvl § yet
fl.zndhy faith, throng]) the ih~
holding grace ofGoi,

JOHN VERNON.

to

TO THE

READER.

READER ,
TTHoti haft here prefentcd to thy view , and
feriousconiid .ration; an eminent pattern
of Go ii faithfulneile , in fulfilling that good
word, /Matth. i : . 10 A bruifed reed jball be not
byea}?, and J moatyng F.'iixfhill be not qn.nch, till
be fend fortb Judgcm.m unto Victory. Which
may help toconfirmc thee in that great truth,
that there is nothing too hard for him. Gc'fi. i3.
i^. compared with Job .<\z.i. Who can, and
will work when he pleafeth, and non-: lriall let
it, Efri. jj . 1 1 . Neither the height of Satan's
malice, nor the depth of finners mifery,can
hinder t e free Communication of his lr.ercy
to fuch as look for Salvation from h an, (to
which all are freely invited) E/lil 45. ti*

i.ni dlt'ioLigh I judge, t.vo fuch refthnqnSts
as are annex d* to this treatife, fume' en: to ia -
tisfie fuch as know them, of the truth of what
they afleit : Yet I having been ( by the provi-
dence of God) for fome years paft, an eye and
eir-witnefs in the Family. to the fa i and deplo-
rable condition of this cor foul , no.v inrich-
ed from above, (who is the fur>je& 1 f the infu -
ling Narrative ) 1 have thought meet to adde
my mite , and thereby fignlfie my confent to
the truth of what is contained in the two fore-
going Epiftles , concerning the late diftrefTe.*
ftate of that Daughter of ^bra'iamjtiow loo^
led by the loving kindneffe of the Lord. She
hath been indeed for a long ieafon in the depth
tf mifery (as to her inward man) being bound
in afrlichon, andiron, by the Tempter, who
b a was

To the Reader.
was fuftered to afl'ault, and buffet her poor foul
even to defpair of all help or hope -> and ma-
king her often to conclude , that her fins were
greater then could be forgiven : but that God,
who is rich in mercy , hath appeared gratioufly
(in his own time) to hear,and anf.ver the Pray-
ers of his people in her behalf, in relieving her
poor foul, and making her to fee, and acknow-
ledge to his praife, that the former fuggeftions
concerning nim (and her fouls irrecoverable
efhte) was from the Fatherof lies ; whofe work
itis, tointice and tempt fouls unto fin , and
then wound them in the fence of it, endeavou-
ring by all means to perfwade fuch j that they
have out-finn5dthe mercy ot God.

But behold here the God of truth , whofe
grace is fufficient to fupport under, and deliver
effectually from fuch foul-finking confiderati-
ons, making Satan appear to be ( what indeed
he is ) a Lier. And fcafombly fdecouring tttis
dejected defpairing foul, who for a long time
had the feme nee of death in her felf , and was
far from expecting that bleflcd iflue that is
finct bi ougb- fortn in her foul (by the mighty
Power, and naked Arm of the Lord ) whonath
hereby helped her to fee what little reafon the
had, or hath, to truft inhei fclf ; andthefuie
ground he hath now given her , to ftay on rum
as the living God ,• who raifeth i he dead j fo
that me is now made able ( vm -willing ) to ac-
knowledge , His great goodnc (]} that hath deli-

i Cor, i .9, tiered herfmmfo great a death, and dcih deliver;

io. ani is fall helped to hope and truft that he will yet

dclivc', a>id ftnnrthen. her Tahk, t§ q'tertch 'all the
firy dirts of the Devil.

Behold yet further the exceeding Ri«hes

c(

to the 'J^jadcr.
.-I: God's grace not a little illufhatcd by let
ting free this Prifoner , fometimes even paft
hope inher own (andfome others) apprchen-
{ions : She that was for a long feafon fadly con-
cluding with the diftrerTcd Church,in Lament.
3. 18." That her ftrcn&tti and hope was ferifb'd
from the Lord , Is now faying with Saul,m Acls
$.6. Lord) what wilt thou have me to do ? And
withthc rptlmijl thankfully inquiring, what
phi!l 1 reader uMo the Lord for all his benefits to-
wards me ? And in fome meafure inabled to
relolve with him , To ta^e the Cup of Salvation,
and to call upon the name of the Lord, as Pfal.i 1 6.
i:, 13, 14. And ili:', that was lately ( in her
own cfteem ) not fo good as a Dog i yea (to
ufe her own words J worfc then any Devil, is
now, ( By the Father of mercies , ajid God of all
cnnfolaiions) made meet to be partaker of the inhe-
ritance of the Saints in light : The fad fentences
{he had oft paft upon her felf ( in the fcnfe®f
her (ins) being now gratioully reveifed by her
Heavenly Father, who hath fet her feet in a
large place : fothat now, if fin, Satan,her own
; or r upturns, or any other fpiritual Adverfary,
comes to lay any thing to her Clarge , (he
may be ready (the Lord afTiiKng) to produce
her pardon ; and able to fay from blefled expe-
rience, as in Tyom. 8 . 33,34. It is God that ju-
(lificth 5 who is he that condemntth ? that it it
Chrifithat dicd,yw rather that is rifena%a'in,wh*
is even at the fPfhc band of God, who alfo ma\eth
intcrcefflonforiis

And I hope this eminent inftancc of his
grace abounding above the abounding of (in,
( added to other Examples of this kind recorded
in his holy word) will help to fupport and fuc-

cour

To the Reader.

cour fome poor fouls under the. like difcou-
ragement to hope in his mercy, v\ho waits
to be gratious j and furely he hath gracious
ends in affording this (and fuch like ) delive-
rances , which greatly concernes all per fens to
labour to underftand, and improve bright.

Firft then,lct finners of all forcs(both :n Zlo'i
and out of it ) from the infuing narrate -, take
nonce of the fad, enfmring, and foul-deft-, oy-
ing nature of fin, and the wages of it, which this
poor foul ( as the feared) hid certainly found
to be eternal death , had not th: Go < ef 'grace,
(wbofe loving tyndneffi isbtUer then I if e ) can-
fed her to hear thz }oyfnl fovid of fe v.rce
of the Son. of Cod} mat her foul might Uv , Jo m
J. 2?. ■

Secondly , from the confideration of the

mercy (he hath obtained , let poor finners be

incited and incouraged , to come unto God

through ChriP: for mercy , who knows ho v to

r>udt)y\y pardon to the woril of finners, as in lf.il.

$ f. 7 .with Nche.$ 1 7 . lEfpccially let fuch as are

inquiring the way to Z'10,4, with their faces thi-

thzrw axi,Thovgh with trembling hands & heart ^

and all that are planted in the houfe of the

Lord,be incouraged to wait uponGod,who will

in no wife c aft out thofe that come unto him.

Let the firft of thefe labour to loo\ to the Lord,

fa) Tfalm that they m ty be enhghened,:(a) And let the other

34. y. be coniirm'd , in the experience they have

had of his great goodnelVe , that fo God may

have all the glory from both , as a Fruit of this

fpecial favour afforded to this his hand-maid,

in fo fignal a return of many Prayers j for

which proportionable praifes mould wait for,

(arid be duly rendered unto ) our God in Z101,

/

To the Reader,

who is a pref.nt help in the needful time c£
tiouble. 1 ihallnot add:, but to intrcatthee to
read, and confider well, before thou cenfureft,
(or fecmc to defpife) the enfuing fub jecl , as
the day of fmall things^ but labour rather, to
weigh the worth of this mercy in the Balance of
the Sinttimy;

Tha; fo thou mayefi: underhand die end and
ufe of it, andbeh^lp'd to improve it aright,
to the praifj of the Author of every good and
perfect giftjand th-' profit of thine own iouljthat
I'd thou rnaysit be able to fay with the Prophet
of old, Mlcba 7 . i R . v/ho is a God U\e unto thee,
that par dondh Iniquity , and pajfetb by the tranf-
greifions of the remnant of bis heritage ! that rc~
tameth not Ins anger for ever, becaufe he d. light-
in mercy: And from thence be incouraged to
waif upon him for the fulfilling that faithful
word, Ifai.\o. s 9, * 0,3 1 . He giveth power to the
faint , and tit them that have no might, he increa-
feth ftrcngth, &c. Compared with Pfa'. z 7 ta.
v.'ait on the Lord, and be of good courage , and he
frail (Ircngtkat thins huart : re ait, 1 fay , on the

lord;

rob. doyly.

To

To all, bothfrmll and great, that
have either carted of the rich grace
of God , or dzfce to be rmde par-
takers thereof, through Jefas Chiilt
our Lord,

Men, and Brethren,

T He ugh we were very much (Ird*-
?-rs , both to the perfon and flats
of thus gratiom hand-matd of the Lord
( the fubjett of this enfuing treat ife , du-
ring the t$me oj her fore bondage , and
c-spttvrfy of Spirit j and fa had no [hare
wiih'thofe that in a foiemn manner (.##-
[pre fly on her account) fym-pathiz,ed>fighed)
and groaned to (fod in her' behalf: Vet ha-
vwg now through grace ( we trufi , we
may fay) to the advantage of our fonts,
heard out of her own mouthy inthemidfi
of the Congregation to which we belong >
{to wt^the Church ofChrift at Daiwood
in Dor/et ) the wondcrlul deliverance
which God hath wrought fr her poor foul:
We cannot, but in a fecial manner re Joyce
with her, and bleffe the Moll High for his
m(pe-<kable mercy.

That this worl^ii of the L rd,and feul-
ivor \ indeed ; it fpeakj for it felj to all the
wife in heart. That the Relation is very
faithfully made j We do hereby tejtify, ha-
ving

ving (as we (aid befire) heard en t of her
own mouth the fubftance of the whole ;
who then {in point of circumftar.ee) would,
have been more particular and farge^ had
not time, and the earneft follicitoaion of a
near Relation of her? (whom Cod had ft fed
in fome good meafure, as anlr.ftrument of
her enlargement) concurred to previ r,t her*
7 wo or three of our ob(ervatiot)s. while
jhe related this Unto us ^ ws cannot but
mind the Reader of.

1 . That having lay en fo long ( at the
Narrative mentioneth} under fuch terror
of foul; And having now newly received
her enlargement , jhe was fo fiSed with
admiration at the exceeding Riches of the
grace of God in her deliverance > as that
it many times ft opt her Spirit , for a con ft*
derable feafon ; audfhe could in all ap pea-
raxes ) have dwelt long between fentenco
and fentenccjn afecret, inward ft lent lif*
ling up of her fotilto Cod in thanks- giving.

2. We obferved very much faithfu/nefs
and tender neffe of foul in btr faithfulmffei
in thatfhe dwelt a* long upon, andjp#fy as
largely to , the darkeft phages of her
blafpheming God, and maligning his people
(though doubt lejfe the r emen.br ing of fuch
things was with grief of foul to her) as in
freaking to the hi^heft mawftftattons of

the

the grace ofCjod^ in her prefent enjoyments
cf her fou I , expr 'effing her felf to the fame
effett with the dpofttejkom. 5. lo.Where
fin abounded , grace did much more
abound*

Tenderneffe , In that with very much
circumjpellwn (he endeavoured to keep
even to a ttttle^both to the matter and Me-
thod ofGd s dealing with her : -And if at
any time (he {or any elfe^ who knr* her in
herafflitted eft are y and endeavoured to
help her mtmory^ fiptfhe would pre fently
correU both her felf and xhem% and ft ate
the mn er aright , and in its place, before
(he would let ft pajfe.

3. That her rejoycing was mixed with
much holy fear and trembling; ftillefieem-
ing her [elf 04 a poorVPorm before the Migh-
ty God of ffrael , though exalted to m*ny
glorious Priviledges thrcugh his rich
grace.

We might ft e*\{ further, what we ob-
ferved of the crafty wiles o* Satan*, in the
manner of his worj^no with her poor foul ;
firft training her on from fin to fin , and
fram degree to degree 9 fitS forefialling
her with aperfwafiov that (he was already
loth in the fin > find in the degree whidh
he wo'- Id train her inyo : And when by •
tha t flight he had got her further en> then

per* ■

per [wading hcf) that {he had out finned
all grace ; fo endeavouring to defir.y aft
hope* And indeed this is our common
obfervation §f the working of Satan, {to
wit) Thattopeffons that are tn a wret-
chedftate^attd ir.fenfble thereof \ he leffs-
-neth finyandwideneth grace^that they may
run the more greedily . » their evil wayes;
m?\ing out to them, as if the gate of
grace , opening to life^wtre w.de enough
for allperfms to paffe in at , with all their
fins. But to tb fe per [cm that are brought
to the fight of thetr fins f and 'heir wret-
chedneffe thereby , he widenethfin , and
narrow eth grace * maki, g out u them, as
though their fins ( though not figatrft the
Holy Ghofl) are greater then can beforgi*
ven : in both which^ he it a grtevom de~
ceiver,

Alfo wc might here more largely fh. w the %ea-
der, what fabt'e flights Satan ttfed with this ' er-
vam of the Lord , to h'md'ir her obedience to the
Cmmandm.nts of 'Chris! , and particularly to that
ofBaptifin? j prefemlng it as a poor low thm^dtc.
But as to that,wejhall in this place onely give thee
not cc , that whenfliz was in th? hlghcsf revthti-
o;«, arid had the moil f "eating Tcjiimoncs oftb»
grace of Cod to her foul , She was then led fortk
most aptl'ionately to own the Lod fefm in that
dejp'ift'd 0 dln.an.ee and abpo'&.mcn' of his 5 as
m ty m fe'th mr-e at I irgc hi the fflarr i*'ivt it felfi
[unable to that wordgiira. id Paul/for his great

rcvela-*

revelations of grace, A&. 12. i,<. where It was
f aid unto him by the Spirit, And now why iarrieU
thou? arifc , a fid be B.wt'r\cd , and waft away
thy fins, calling on the nami of the Lord.

What we Jball further [ay in this matter, fhall be
onely to figmfie, that upon the whole (foe definng to
give up her f elf 10 the Lord, to wali^ in all ha Com-
mandments bUmeleffe'y , add to have fellowjhip
and communion with \us people , in tbeexerctfe of
all the GojjJel-Priv'dedgvs itfkuied by Chnsl their '
}\ing and Read , for his Body the Church ; and
particularly with this Congregation, to watch (and
be watched over by them) She was with univeyj.u
fat is faction accepted, and accordingly Bapti-^dy
and received. Matty fierce Affaults hath the E<hmy
of her peace mide against her, face the chain of her
bondage was broken : but againft a(l,thc Lordhate
rriade very gracious provifion through the vjord ;
bnnnnghome ( through im Power of his Sprat)
many fullpromifes U berfoxl, and zllabiijhing h. r
through them.

To the God of Peacejvho (through his own R } rh
andfi-ee love, after many years honour of foul ) U
become her Peace ; do we define to commit all his
chofenVtffels to honour, for hk calling in his fea-
fon unto, and for his e(lahlijh'ng and growth ofthofe
that are called in the truth, as it is injefus: which
$efus we dtfvre to own as our Isjng _, cur Crown,
and hope of glory -, and to whofe appearing ivith
that glorious Kingdom, we difire to be dayly bt
prepared : That at bis coming we may have the
ha'iour U be of that bleffed -number that flj.ill wai*
Vponhim with Hallelujahs , fmging forth praife,
gUry and honour to the Father and to the Lamb, for
iuer and ever , Amen.

Your Friends and Brethren in the
hope of the Gofyel ,

Hcn.?ajfm. J$.Qwen. jw. Hill. i6<>8.

The Captive taken from the prong, or
a true Relation of the gl'&iow Re-
leaf e of Mtfrifs DEBORAH
HUISH 3 ( by the Ame of the
Almighty ) jrom under the power
cf the Tempter? hy whcfe firyCon-
fltfts [he had been forely vexed for
about fourteen yea/ $$a$ it was faith*
fully written from her own Mouthy

Bout fourteen years a-
go I was cad into
deepifefpair , by rea.
Ton of blafphernous
thoughts ca(i into my
mind, when I was ap-
plying my felf to the reading the word
of the Lord; which thoughts were
defpifing , flighting , and contemning
God, his word, works, and wayess
with which being frequently aflanhed,
I came t© gather ConcluRrns , that
B God

The Captive taken

God had part an irrecoverable decree
agaiatt me for my final condemnation-
and though \ had relu&ancy in my
heart againft fuch thoughts, yet many
times I did give my confeot to them ,
and approved of them ; and from
thence came to have great horrour
feize upon me , for many dayes and
nights after. Caufing me to conclude
thefe to be but the forc-runaers of
that great definition from the Lord ,
which I judged was prepared for tne :
and fuch thoughts as thefe at firft were
( continually almoft ) born in with
great weight upon my foul: about
which time my Sifter Anne Vernon
(then Hfs.jh) obferving mydeje&ed
frame, defired to knew the caufe; I
told her then that God had rcje&cd
me for my blaTphemous thoughts I
had conceived againtr him, worfe then
any Devil ; but my Siller indeatorcd
to perfwade me , thefe thoughts were
Eot mine , but the Devil's : this gave
me fome refpit for a little time, but I
wasfuddenly aflauked again, and have
continued under fuch aflauks everfince,
more or lefs5till the time hereafter fpe-
cificd 5 when the Lord of his free Mer-

from the ftror.g.

cy began to make way for my efcape.

I do alio remember that I had not
onely defpifing, flighting thoughts of
God, but alfo of his people, calling
them in my thoughts (though not with
my lips)lyars.

But when I did think I confented
to fuch thoughts, then honour would
fcize upon me, even to overwhelme
me: and in this condition I remained
till my going into IreUni^ which was
about J##* 1654.

After my coming there, the Lord vi-
fitcd me with the Small-pox . and in
that time of ficknefle I th©ught I had
feme refrethment from the Lord , by
confulting his word » but was fudden-
ly after affaulted with more and worfe
blafphemous thoughts then ever be-
fore, and then did verily believe I was
poflcflcd with the Devil, and did think
I talked with him > and heard him fay,
that God loved t© torment and bring
mifery upon hh Creatures • which
thoughts were fopreflingupon me,that
1 was ready to wifti the deftru&ion of
the Almighty ; and did to my think-
ing hate him ; crying out (in the hear-
ing ef many ) I am undone to Ecernt-
B 2 ty

The Cap live taken

ty ; and foremaincth till lately : And
to dreadful were thefe'laft mentioned)
thoughts to my foul , that from that
time I concluded,! had committed the
(in againi* ihe holy Ghoft , which be-
fore I did onely think I had, but now
was confirmed in it, and began to
think I had really trampled under fooc
the blood of Jefus Chrift , and had
done defpice to the Spirit of grace;and
thence concluded that nothing now re-
mained, but a fearful looking for of
vengeance,tbat(hould devour the Ad-
verfary:and this put me into unexprel-
fibie torments night and day, thinking
the Devil would come and fetch me
away , and I believed I was certain of
it : and when any went to pray for me,
I thought that h aliened my deftru&i-
on , and therefore I hated them for it,
and had in my mind many fad withes
as to thofe that prayed for me , count-
ing Hell my portion, and that I (hould
by fuch means be fooncr cut off, and
that they fin'd in praying : 1 having
iin'd agaiaft the holy Ghoft, thought
thty ought to hate me, but not pray
for me s I did aifo think I alwayes
heard a fearful found in my ear?, cfyc-

cially

from the firo/ig. 5

cially when it was windy or rainy
weather, and then thcu^LK I fhould be
caft into Hell prefently : which made
an tinexpreflable torment of mine to
think of ic;and yet under all the means
ufed to feck God for me, I found no
benefir.

But at Dublin , when dayes were
fet apart , to fcek God for me, I
dreaded thofe dayes , above all o-
ther, thinking verily that God was
ingaged in honour , to come out
againft me in fierce indignaiion , as
alfo againft fuch as fought him on m/
behalf : and I did many times think
the Lord in a way of judgement would
turn me into tome filthy hateful Mon-
fter or other , as a Memorial of his juft
difpleafure againft me; and all the time
that prayers were put up for me(which
was very frequent in Dublin , as alfo
difcourfes very often with me) I could
not perceive that any ever took the
leaft hold on my heart, but (nil I had
that Scripture oft on my thoughts:
(a) By terrible things inrighteou\neJfe wilt (*) vfd.
thou anfwer them : which I undcrftood <*>. *.
to be feme anfwer in a way of judge-
ment as to ok:I had alfo that Scripture
B 3 much

12

£ The Captive taken

(h) Matth. much on my heart ; (b) He that fins a-
3 l>lz'gainftthe holy Ghofty [hall never be for-
given in this world nor in thai which is
to come.

And as to reading the Scriptures ,
my heart was much averfc to it ; oneiy
fometimes out of companion to others
I did read , and fometimes did mind
them what the cafting off the Scrip-
tures had coil me, who is now rcjc&ed
for even wifliing them to take heed of
the like: but it was very feldorae that I
did tbis,and long ere I could bring my
heart to it.

I do alfo remember when I lived at
flantarfc in Ire/and , and ufed to go to
Dublin fometimes, to hear tke word ;
I have often thought , when I went, J
fliould be defiroyed ere I came back
again ; and when I did hear , I ftrove
a4i I could to forget what I heard , or
read, having my expectations of Hell fo
heightened by ail fuch means , thtt I
could not endure it ; & would have gi-
ven any thing I might never have gone
to have heard, os prayed more, it did
fo incrcafe the torments of my foul.
And when I came intothe place where
T tiled to hear , 1 8.11 expected to hear

fosse

from the ftrongf
fomefadden voice from Heaven , de-
claring my dettruSion ; and did think
many times that the wiad aroie juft as
I came to that place to hear* and did
believe the Lord mult needs appear in
judgement a^ainlt me for coming , and
fitting as one of his people among
them, whom I in my heart hated: and
would long that the dudes might be
ended, that I might be free from thole
feares that were upon me while there.
I do alio remember that almofte-
very thing did afright me;either a clou-
dy day,the Sun or Moon Eclipfed , or
the Suns rifing red in a morning, or
the wind blowing high : All thefe I
thought were figaes of my deftru&ion,
that I did believe the Lord would ex-
ecute upon me for my hatred againft
him and his wayes. And indeed fuch
an inveterate hate I had againfthim,
that I judged , I loathed and abhorred
the doing good to any, faying in my
felf , that the Lord would damn and
deftroy me ; and why fhould I do any
good ? I alfe wifhed many times,I had
never been born , or had never had
eyes to fee, or ears to hear, or elfe had
bscn made the moft contemptible
B 4 Cre4-

The Captive taken

Creature in the world , becaufe When
they die there is an end of them ; bar,
when I die , my mifery then begins.
Ialfo wifhed,Imight never heir any
one fpcak more from the Scriptures to
me, for I reckoned all that had fpoken
to me, either in ficknerTe or in health,
would be witneffes againft me 5 and fo
aggravate my fin and mifery , becaufe
I had fuch warnings>and had not Dark-
ened to them, but to the Devil ; and
efpecially Mr. PAtientf. Minifter of the
word in Dublin , coming to me in the
time of my fickneflc , and fpeaking of
the great danger of an impenitent ftate
if the Lord (hould cut the thrid of life,
that fuch perfons would drop imme-
diately into Hell, the which he endea*
voured to demonftrate to me, that I
thought he would be the principal
witnefte againft me , of all that had
fpokewith me: fo that I now fawmy
felf without bope,and the mercy of the
Lord utterly taken from me, not as it
was from &i#/,but far wcrfc ; I having
finned again'* far greater light , and
more warning?, and after fuch tafts and
enli^htnings to fall away, it was im-
poflible to renew me again unto re-
pent a see..

from the fi/ong.

pentancc, but concluded I fhould fud-
dainly be destroyed, and that without
remedy.

This being my cafe> I remember,af-
ter my ficknefs in Dublin aforemention-
ed, what fretful hateful thoughts I had
of God,faying in my tnind,I wil do this
or that in deipigbt of God, and I cculd
not think other wife ; and fuch a hate-
ful bent of fpirit I had againft the Lord,
that I was oft ready to fay in my hem,
I will curfe C^od and die ; and at lift
through the Mrength of temptation I
was fo far prevailed upon, as I did
in my thoughts curfe God and all I
could think of' that belonged to him„
and then concluded my felf damned
indeed , and that I was fare of it: and
then faid to my felf , I am now lure I
have committed the fin agaiaft the ho-
ly Ghoft, which is unpardonable, and
fhould now to Eternity be tormented
with the Devil and his Angels:snd this
forely ^ffli&ed and overwhelmed me,
in fo much that I wis once tempted to
caftmy felf down cut of a window to
kill my felf, onely the dread of Hell I
thought deterred me from it : I didal-
fo ftwc to put horrour out ef my mind

all

io The Cdp'ive iaktn

all I could,by enjoying outward com-
forts, but alas thefe were all irnbitcer-
cd to me, when I faw the eod of fucb
comforts : I did alfo fometimes endea-
vour to divert thefe thoughts by bufi-
neflTe I fct my felf about ; but being
fometimes hot at work, I flaould have
the heat of Hett-fire thereby brought
to my mind , and the tcrribknefle of
that rcprefentcd to me. But the grea-
ter! eafe I had in thefe dift rafting ter-
rours, was byfettingmy feifupon bdi-
nefle, but found my ielf fo continually
harrafed with thoughts of Hell, that
my heart grew hard, and ftupid, fo thac
though I knew that was my portion,
yet I was unfenfible of it , unlefle at
fometimes* when horrour would vio-
lently break in upon me, efpeciallyat
ftsch times as I was forced to go to
hear* when I ftiil zxpc£tcd God to
witnefle againft me by fome fore judge-
ment from Heaven^ which (upon eve-
ry dark and ftormy day cfpecially ) I
expe&cd,asddidoft times judge I faw
flafhes of fire come upon my face, jaut-
ting me in mind of chat horrible pit of
darkneffe I (hould one day fall into 2
And many times when I went to bed^l

haye

from the ftr&ng. 1 1

have been afraid t© fleep, left I fhould
be caft iDio Hell ere I waked again : to
prevent which,! have oft refolvcd nor
to fleep , onely fometimes through a
ftupid fenfleffe frame I (hould lye
down and fleep , not thinking of my
danger : but when I waked,I wonder-
ed I was not in Hell; yet could not be
thankful for it, but Itiil thought I
{hould be there ihortly ; and though
I lived never fo long , yet to be
there at laft would fwallow up all this
time, as if it had not been 5 and all the
comforts 1 now enjoyed , would but
aggravate my forrow and mifery then,
when I (hall be deprived of all, and
fuffer for what I now enjoy: upon
which accounts all my comforts were
bitter tQ me 5 and when I tailed any
thing,I dill thought what I (hould tall
ere long in Hell,which made me hard-
ly able to eat my meat , for I (hould
thus rcafon : Why fhould I cat and
drink,when I am in dayly expectation
of being caft into Hell ? and then was
that Scripture brought to m\od/c)The (C) Efa.
wicked are like the troubled Sea that 17.10*11*
cannot reft , whtfe waters caft up mire
and dirt \ there is no peace to the wicked >•

And

12 The Captive taken

And mauy times when I have been tr
work,faddain flafhes of Hell have been
as it were darted into my foul ; ib that
I have run one of the room where I
was, and would have run out of the
Lords prefence alfo, if I could : but a-
las , my foul had no refuge to flyeto
from him , nor can I remember that I
Jiad a heart fo much as to leek for mer-
cy ,onely in fome great di ireffes fome-
tiaics 1 think Ihaveufcd the words,
Lord Have Mercy Upon
M e > but without any hope or expe-
ctation of obtaining what I prayed
for ; but concluded God would not
faveme, unkfle he would deny him-
felf , and his word : and though an
Angel from Heaven fhould have told
me of mcrcy,I could not have believed
it, being fo confident of the contrary ;
and therefore I would tell thofe that
endeavoured to fatten counfel & com-
fort upon merit was but a caftingPearls
before Swine,and holy things to Dogs,
which God forbids. And when fevc-
ral good women in Dublin did meet,to
feek the Lord on my behalf; I thought
fometimes ( efpscially once in Miftrifs
Patients houfc ) I fmell'd Brimftone

burning

from We (Irong. 13

buming,and expe&ed nothing but oV
ftru&ion ; in the fence of which I did
tremble exceedingly, out of that deep
honour that was co my foul : but ftill
I got no fenfiblcgood in any of thefe
meetings: and when I have feen the
mift afcend fometirttcs,that minded me
of that Scripture where 'tis Uid9(d)Tke (<*) Rcv-
fmoak^ of their torment afcendeth up for l*-11,
ever : And I have ofr,as I have judged,
feen UWickaels meeting-hcu'e in Dh*
bltn, where we met to hear, full of
fmoak: all which I judged fsaled and
confirmed my deftru&ion.

I do alio remember when my dear
Sifter Men died at Dublin in Ireland^
I had little or no fence of that with o-
ther like heavy flroaks of the Lord a*
bout that timc,upon divers other prc-
tious oaes ; but did believe they were
taken away for my fake, becauic they
prayed f©r me , and that I was onely
left to fill up the meafure of my Ini-
quity, and therefore the Lord flopped
mtuy of their mouths by death, that
they mi°ht not pray any more for me,
but that I might be left to heap up
wrath, and aggravate my mifery.

I do likewife rerntmber one morn-

V

14 JTfe C/ipliti taken

ing particularly at Dnblin^ when (I be-
ing in bedsaod called co rife)*I did be-
lieve verily I (aw grievous fiafhes of
lightning flie in my face, which put me
intfrange horrottr : And alfo another
morning feeing the Sun rife in a mifty
frofly morning very red5 I had that

. Scripture come into my mind , (e) of
/ Jj oil tfie gHni ys>mg tHYneil into blood, before
the great and notable d*y of the Lord ;
which F believed was then near,to my
deftru&ion.

Another time being at a Chriftiaa
Friends (Miftrifs Roe's houfc in Dublin)
in the ni >ht feafon I heard a voice ( as
I judged) over my head • a great voice,
to which I hearkened, and was there-
by put into great horrour , thinking it
to be the Devil, come to fetch mca-
way ; and at laft through anguifh of
foul was pat into great trembling and
fweat • by reafon of which, I fpake to
Miftrifs Roe , who told me it was the
people that lay over my head, that tal-
ked : But I did not believe her , bat
ftill thought it was the Devil; aiid to-
wards morning I heard a ratling of
Chains (as I thought) which I judged
to be the Devils having to fetch me a-

way.

from the firong. • 1 5

way,witb great rcjoycingthat they had
got me; then I asked Mirtrii's Ret
what that noife was 5 who told me, ic
was onely people opening Shop-win-
dows : butthatfatisficdnotme, but
I remained ftill in an inexpreffiblc
horrour.

I likewife remember the caufeof
my going to lie at Miftrifs Roe'syv&s t©
get out of the room I lay in at my Bro-
thersjwhere I was fenfibic I had fo fin-
ned by wicked thoughts againft God>as
aforefeid ; from whofe preiencc alfo,as
well as from that room , I would if I
could have fled , it was fo dreadful to
me : Bat alas ! my fears were not at ail
abated,but bxxeafedby going thither;
it being the houfe where the Church
mcr, and where was frequent fpeaking
and prayiug. At which I ftill thought
the Lord would come out , and wit-
aefle againft me , making me an exam-
ple of his juftice its the fight of all his
people ; whofe often fpeaking to me,
and praying for ms , I did believe,
would aggravate ray cor.demr.ation
greatly : And when any of them fptkfe
of the premies to me, it was a gnat
terrour to my feu1, to fee them c&(\ fuch

Peails

1 6 The Captive taken

Pearls before Swine, to whom they
did not belong • by all which thing?,
fpoken to me, I was kept in a more
certain looking for a fearful firy indig-
nation from the Lord, to deftroy me ;
and my heart was the more enraged
with an invetente hatred ( as I judg-
ed) againrt God and his people, by all
the means ufed about me.

And after ail thefe things coming to
Watcrford with my Brother Vetnom Fa*
mily, and remaining there, I had not
the like terrour as before ; but was
ftupid, and more fcncelefle, being (as
I judged ) given up to a feared confei-
ence and heart, yet many times forely
terrified with the like thoughts as a-
ferefaid: But was exceeding gladfome-
times , that I was forgotten in Prayer
as I thought , and then did believe, it
was revealed to them that prayed ; fo
that they, knowing what I was,prayed
not for me ? for I had a great dread on
my heart ftill, about being prayed for,
judging it haftened my deftru&ion,and
that I fhould by that means be made
a fearful example of vengeance,to fhew
toothers what I wis; and thus it con-
tinued all the time I was at vWerford .

no

from the flroxg. 1 7

no words fpoken to me,or to the Lord
for me,doing mc any good as I could
perceive ; fo that I (till concluded
God could not lie, nor repent, there-
fore I tauft be damned ; and that it
was but in vain to attempt the con-
trary.

I alfo do remember when we came
t© Sea, to come for England, we were
inaftorm : but I was in a fencelefle,
ftupid condition, little minding my
danger all the time.

And after my Brother and Sifter
Vernon landed at LMilford, and the
reft of our Family with my felf and
Brother Allen were come to Sea again,
to go for Utfinhead, in a night and a
day we had a very gracious paffagc
given us , bringing us iafc into the Bay
of UWinhead 1 And when there coming
from the Ship-fide , being all in the
Boat, we had alfo an eminent delive-
rance ; the Boat being in grsat dan-
ger to be turn'd over by a Rope that
was catched about the top of the Boats
Maft, juft as we put off from the Ship,
which,haditnot been fuddenly loo *d,
had puil'd the Boat over, pnd buried
us in the Sea 1 1 was yet undsr all thefc
C mercies

1 8 The Captive taken

mercies with t fenfeleffe frame of Spi-
rit ; onely I had feme few thoughts
of the infinite power of God in op-
holding all thing?, and believed I was
preferved for the fake of them I came
with in the Ship : But coming into the
Town of LMmhe4dtttid finding a hand
of visitation in that place, I concluded
that was for my fake, and that I was
now come i»to the mouth of deftru-
&ion ; yet I was fomething grieved
to fee the prophanenefTe of the place
and houfe where we were , which was
as to fin worfe then Ireland , whence
we came ; and then I thought of the
terrible Judgements of God , againft
Cm9 andfinners, that lived under fuch
rich means of °race , as they here in
England did. But leaving Minhead,
and coming towards my Fathers houfe
in Devon (hire* I did not now doubt,
(though I had fpoken confidently be-
fore,that the Lord would never let me
fee Sn&land) nor my Friends at home )
but the Lord would bring us iafc thi-
nner; yet remember cot any thankfull
fenfe I had of the mercy received : but
was thinking mott parr of the way as I
came home, what a grief I (hould be to

my

from the firot g. 19

my Friends and relations again * yet
fomciimcs a little fenfe Teemed to be
on my heart ,of the mercies aforefaid,as
I remember,and I did fpeak of them to
fome in the Family after I came home :
But fbon after, I was in a dead ilnpid
pofture as before , perceiving no good
tome, either by fpeakings or prayer ,
though ufed by fome Friends then in
the Family frequently; nor could I,nor
durft I pray ; believing my Prayer was
abominable : and therefore when my
Sifter Vernons hour of Child-bearing
drew near, I could not feek God f r
her, but was unfenfiSle of her danger
approaching : and after her delivery I
was then in greater terror then before,
thinking then that God would bring
fvvift dcftru&ion upon me , as upon a
Woman in travel , and I fhsuld not
efcape.

Now as to the Lords manner of work-
ing on my heart of late : It
here followetb.

ON the tenth day of the eleventh ^ ^^3
Moneth 1657. hearing a Ser-
mon upon Col, 3.3. (/) about per-
C * fons

2© The Captive taken

Tons in a natural eftatc, being dead, ic
was of an afrightning confideration to
me, co chink chat Death and Hell was
their Portion, and chat Worms (as in
the ditcoarfe was mentioned ) {hquld
feed on fuch , Even that Worm of con-
fcience that (hould gnaw continually 5
withal confidering(as was then hinted)
how loathfomc a dead Creature is,fit
onely to be fed on by all other de-
-vourtrs : which I Taw. alfo to \>z my
date, and faw my loathfomneffe in all
my Anions, as alio that without Faith
it is impoflible to plcafe God $ which
was iet home upon my heart ., and alfo
that I was a fubje&-o£ his wrath ,
which did abide upon me, &fo (hould
do to Eternity* Yet all this did not put
me upon the uie of any means to get
out iji my condicion,in which I (till re-
maie'd , defpiiricg of any way for my
efcap^,

A er thh,'on the four and tw^n-
ti day of the eleventh Monet h , I
heard again frcm another Tub j eft,
(%) Tfal. (£) Pfalm* 50. 23. about Gods falva-
$0.13. dons being_ .(hewed to thofe that or-
der their conventions aright : Ihad
frcm this difcour'e msny feirs on my

heart,

from the flrong. 2 1

heart, efpecially from that oft repeated
Scripture, (h) Salvation is far from the (h) rfat.
wicked , keemfe they keep not thy Law .- 1 19- 15 5'-
Which was very terrible to me 5 and
considering how abominable I was in
God's fight,by cafting bis Laws behind
my back ; that Scripture was much on
my heart, (i)fVbat hi ft then to do to take (\) pfai.
my Words into thy month Jeeing thon hat eft 50. i*«
to be Reformed*. Which made me believe
he would deal with me,as is mention-
ed in verf 22. of that Pfalm , even
tear me in pieces^ and nonejhottld deliver '•
And becaufe I had reje&cd him as I
had done , I (hould fuddenly be dew
ftroyed , and that without remedy :
And heariag that paffage mentioned
out of Hannah's Song, (/) The Enemies ,.
of the Lord ft) all be broken to pieces • out % lo
of Heaven will he thunder tfpon them :
And I being (as I judged) one of hisr
Enemies, it did forely terrify me.

After this, on the fix and twentieth
day of the eleventh Moneth, in the
night lcafon^my foul was much took up
with thoughts about my fad eftate ;
and I was hrought to conclude I was
a Subject of the Lords difpleafure,and
(hould lie under the weight of his
C 3 wnth

2 2 The Captive taken

wrath to Eternity : And this forely
terrified me , to think what a fid thing
it was to be caft out of Gods fight ,and
that for ever, and tormented with the
Devil and his Angels,and this for ever,
without any hopes of releafc, or dram
of comfort. This I thought to be a pit
indeed , in which was no water , not
the 1c aft refreshment ; but unfupport-
able miferics , and that to Eternity ;
and it feemed flrangeto me that 1 was
out of Hell fo long, considering what I
had been, and done againft the Lord 5
and alfo confidering his infinite power,
who could in a moment caft me there,
who had fo provoked him as I had
done,

I came then to fuppofe this with my
fclf; were I now in Hell, and had but
a poffibility of efcape , what means
would I ufe to efcape that horrible Pit?
I alfo considered again , being once
there, there was was no Redemption
for even & coBfoiering what great dan-
ger I was in dayly, of being caft there,
were the thrid of my lifecut , which
might fuddenly be , and fo I drop into
Heli,paft recovery.

I being not yet there, and believing

no.

from the [trong. 23

no Redemption from thence, when
thcrcjl came then to think,if yet there
were toy poflibility of ufing means for
my efcape , I would try : for if I lie
Hill, 1 Chill certainly perifli ; and if I
attempt the ufe of means , and rniffe
obtaining what I feek for> I can but pe*
riihr and many very great tinners have
efcaped through mercy ; therefore I
would try ( and the Lord encouraged
me from thofe words of Eflher, (m) / (mj E/iyt
will go in n the King; if Iperifh^ ! ptrtfh : 4- * *•
As alfotherefolntion of the Lepers,
(») In the Siege of ^ Samaria) to ufe fnj 1 zing.
the means, though without hope of 2'*-
fuccefle. I being in fuch a deplorable
condition, was preft to up and be
doing, feeing the danger of lying fiill ;
at laft I came to refolve to go hear at
a Meeting in Sydburyi but I could not
pray for a blefline, believing my Pray-
er was abominable to the Lord; and
I had alfo (after ! had refolved) much
ado to go , considering I was but sn
Hypocrite 9 and fuch a one fhouldnot
fiand before God ; alfo confidering
what my thoughts agaitfft God were*
and had been : I went with great fears
on my hearc , thinking ( as formerly )
C 4 the

24 The Captive taken

the Lord would meet me in a way of
rebukc,wune(Tmo againft me: but then
I thought alfo I could but perifti ; and
I bad had fuch thoughts of the Lords
witnefling againrt me formerly, which
I had been miftakenin, and fo might
be in thefe ; and ftill urged this to my
heart , To abide in a way of unrighte-
cufneffe is nothing but death : onely
in a way of righteoufncfle is life « fo
that I had great fears each way, of go«
ing or flaying : But confidcring my
nights refolution,I fear'd if I went not
I fhould be found a Mocker of Gcd ;
and fo I went : but when I came there,
my fears were renewed again , as to
the Lords witneffing againft me : but
I drove againft them , by calling to
mind former miftakes of this kind, and
endeavoured to hear attentively ; and
after a while the Lord abated my fears
aforefaid , and afterwards almeft clean
removed them': The Subje& fpoken of
at that time was (loth ; which having
been fo much my fouls difeafe, I was
very forely reproved by it, efpecially
afterward, when I ferioufly Meditated
upon it : but yet I refolved to wait in
the ufe of means , blefling God ( as I

W«

from the prong.

was able ) for what I heard this day ;
but yet remained in a very hclpleffc
condition, having little or no hope of
deliverance. This night afterwards,
at prayers in the Family , I had my
heart arTc&ed with fome expreflions
ufed in Prayer about the drcadfulnefle
of Chrifts appearing to his Adverfa-
ries,for their rejecting hirn ia his ten-
ders to them.

On the feven and twentieth day ac
night , I had many fears on my heart,
in fo much that I was afraid to ftay in
any room; and would, if I could, have
fled from theprefence of God, it was
fo terrible to me. And about twelve of
the Clock at night I came into my Si-
tter Vernons Chamber ; but horrour fo
feized on me in all places , as I was
forced once this night to go and cry to
the Lord for mercy : but whiift I was
in my Sifters Chamber, I heard one
walking in another room near, which
made me afraid to go back again , be-
lieving it was the DcviL ; but after un-
demanding it to be one of the Maids
that was up, I returned again then into
the Chamber Ibmcwhat freed fromaiy
fears; and went ro bed ; but having got

cold

2 6 The Captive taken

cold with being up , I found my felf
noBch diftempered , both in my body
and head.

And kept my Bed the next day till
night : Then I got up for refrefhmenc
for a while, but remember not any re-
markable paflage farther this night ;
but had many fad grieving thoughts for
my rejecting Chrift, which were often
on my heart this day ; and alfo I had a
little view of the excellency of Chrift,
and fpaketo forae in the Family of it
in thefe words, His Fruit u better then
Life ; which I thought aggravated my
Iniquity in rejecting him , befides
whom there is not another that can
fave ; and that I fhould reject him, it
forely iffli&edme i But I hadfome-
times that day thefe words, He waits to
be gratiom • which fomewhat incoura-
ged , and revived me to wait : And it
grieved me exceedingly for my reje-
cting him, his. word and counfel ,who
fhalL be the defire of Nations • yea that
Tree of Life, whofe Leaves are for the
healing of ^{ations^ with whom is Riches
and, Honour - yea dure ab\e Riches and
Righteoufneffe : All thefe representati-
ons of Chrift to mejhci^ruened my fin,

and

from the firtmg. 2 j

and grief for my rejecting hitn : And
even broke nay hem in the fence of it
moiipart of this day.

On the eight and twentieth dayfol-
lowingj I heard again in the Family
from the 28. Chapter of the Proverbs ;
the firft Vcrfc of which Chapter took
hold on me, as fuch a one as there is
Mentioned , fleeing from the Lord as
from my purfuer, which f have many
a time done : but in that difcourfe ic
was (hewn, that defpair is the High-
way to Hell ; which much dwell'd
with mt in the night feafon:and a-
wakening in the night , and hearing
the wind blow hard.it forely terrifyed
me ; being the voice (as I thought) of
God my terrible judge, considering
him as a confumiog fire againrt all Im-
penitent Rejectors of him , of which
number I was one j and looking on
him as a God of infinite pew enable to
caft me into Hell in a moment : and I
remaining a Subje&of bis wrath, in a
ftate of unbelief , it made me fear ex*
ctedingly : bnt withal confidering, that
fl ill to remain in this condition 9 no-
thing but detf toftion could be expe-
cted 5 as alro that there was no flying

from

28 The Captive taken

from his prefence , before whom all
places, perfons , and things are open
and bare , and from whom nothing
can be hid • Hell and deftru&ion be-
ing open, and known to him, how
much more the hearts of the Sons of
Men ? I hence concluded my condi-
tion to be exceeding lad • and then
confidering what a Rebel I had been,
fetting at ncught his counfels , and ca-
tting his Laws behind my back ^ yea
defpifing, hating, and contemning him,
it made me afraid to go to him : But
feeing no way to go from him, and my
fclf in this defperate condition, I muft
needs be ruin'd by him , if I came not
unto him. He at iaft led me to this re-
folution of flying to him,begging mer-
cy at his hands, for the fake of Chrift,
as one who faw my fclf in the High-
way to Hell • and knowicg that his
right hand would esiily find out all his
Adverfarics that had hated and oppo-
fed him.

So that there would be no escaping,
but by flying to Chrift > there being
NO Of HER N A ME UNDER
BEAVER GIVEN FOR SAL-
VAT ION , UKTO POOR

SIN-

from the flrong. 29

SINNERS, BUT THIS ONELY.
And fo out of this great depth I was
inabled to look towards his holy Tem-
ple, crying to him for mercy 5 without
which! faw I was updone for ever ;
fo I continued crying to him, and thri-
ving with my own foul , to hope that
the Lord would for thrifts fake (hew
mercy to me , becaufe he had (hewed
mercy to very vile finnersj though I
knew nenefo vile as I, being the-chief
of tinners* having long defpifed and re-
jected that rmrcy that then I fought 3
yet feeing what a.woefull condition I
(hould for ever be in without it3I cry e<J
to him for ic $ and ihcnhad fomt Me-
ditations given in, of the way of God's
ftiewisg mercy , con(idering hovv he
had 'found out a way tor mercy, sod
truth.ro meet together i.i Chrift-,- for
the Salvation cf poor fiz ners , yea rhe
chief of finners : and the Lord brought
at that time fctn s to my >

memlnnce, that 1 had heard about
'the City 61 refuge,f^oyjded in the dme
of the Law ; which was then minded
typed cu~ Chrift, as th : City qf refiigc
prepared ot God for poor pu :\ r„.d din-
ners to Hie usto from thu wrath that

all

jo The Captive taken

ill would be elfe concluded under to
Eternity : And the Lord alio was gra-
tioufly pleafed to enable me , to have
recowfe to Chrift, as the onely refuge
lefc for my poor foul j begging hard
for me,rcy upon his accouat,and the ac-
count ©f what he had done and differ-
ed for fuch poor tinners as 1 was;
and I was heipr alio to confider the
large extent of his mercy tothevileft
of Tinners ; and fuddenly after, I was
gratioufly hcipt to hope in his mercy,
and fupported and incotiraged from
f pj John that good word ( then brought with
3.7. power upon my foul) (p) He that co-

tneth to mcjvfillin no wife cafi */#;Which
did greatly fupport me in good hopes
of mercy from him ; and after that,t his
(q) uch. 7. other good word was brought in with
* 5 • great power upon my hearc,^) Where-

fore he is ahle+to fave to the uttermofij all
that come unto God by him^ feeing he ever
lives to m^intercejfion for them*

This alfo added much to the ground
of my hope in his mercy,that though I
had been fuch a Rebel,and great tranf-
greflbr,*s I had beenjyet h; having faid
he would in no wife caft out any that
came to him, & was able to fave to the

utter-

from the flrong. 3 I

jtntcrmoft ; ic much upheld and com-
forted my foul in looking towards him.
Another Scripture brought ia at the
fame time to my heart? was, (r) / am (t)Efal^
(jol , and befides me there is no Savior ; 1 1 3 1 3 .
/ wilt nor ^ and none frail let it % whence
I was inabled to believe that he was a«
ble to do all things by the word of his
power, and to break through all oppo-
sitions that ftand in his way . that he
was able to break down every iirong
hold , and fubj:& every high thought
to his obedience. I then had Medi-
tations of the heights , and depths j
lengths , and bredths3 of that infinite
mercy that was in Je us Cnriihand the
Lord by fuch Mediations on his ho-
ly word, did greatly incourege, Oreng<=
then^ and raifc up m t poor, weak, un-
worthy foul , very often (and power-
fully) repeating thefe Scriptures , laft
mentioned, over and over to my poor
foul : and now was my foul greatly re-
frefhad in hopes of his mercy to me ;
but a little after,the fame night , / was UijL$f%
forely a(f united again, to call in que/Hon all ,/!?'?"
ttoe hopes I hai 0} mere) from the Lord ; received.
in the fenfe of which, I was made to
cry , yea roar out in bitter diftrefs to

the

32 The Captive taken

thcLord,ftriving not to let go my hold*
but to call to miod what he had be-
fore fpoken ; Namely , That thofefhat *
come to htm 9 he will in no wife cafi out ;
together with the reft cf the Scrip-
tures before mentioned , given in at
firft for my incouragemect : and the
Lord again,in this fore confliS,brought
in all thofe Scriptures afrefti upon my
hearrvand fo relieved me gratioufly at
this time alfo.
H<Y feemd But yet the tempter continued his
Ajjault. a{rauits . tempting me yet to cafi off
my confidence in the Lord , as alfo to bla-
fpheme God : But the Lord upheld me,
by putting and keeping under his
. cverlatting Armes • By which I was
ftayed upon him , crafting in him ,
and was not left to the will of mine
Enemy : but was inabled ftill to hope
in his mercy,and hang upon that word.
of his promife 9 He that cometh to me% I
wiUinno wife cafi out: & then the Lord
wa^kafed eminently to proclaim his
mmz un O my foul : The Lord? the Lord
God j pardoning iniquity ', tranjgreffio'n^and
Ji#. And thus I was inabled (through
his infinite mercy, and by his Almighty
Power) to iky my fclf upon him , by

ho-

from the ftrong. 33

hoping ftill in his mercy, for ever blef-
fed, be his name. And the fame Scrip-
tures were kept on my heart all the
firft day of the week following, with
great life and power, fuccouring me a-
gainft Satans temptations , that this
day alfo I was aflaalted with , fomc-
times to caft away my confidence as a-
forefaid , from thoughts of what I had
been, and done againtt Chrift : but the
Lord inabled me to witbftand that
temptation alfo by his good word, in
which he had caufed me to trurt:
namely,H* that comes to me,f will in no
wife caft ouvks alfo that he •would, wor^
and none jhould let : So that I went to
God (through Chrift)defiring he would
inable my foul to follow hard after
him : begging in order thereto,that he
would uphold me , caufing my foul to
experience the truth of his word, that
it doth and (hall indure for ever: that
I might be able from experience to
witnefs to ir, as fo enduring* by his ne-
ver failing* nor forfalzing me. But that
I might know him at a God that keefs
Covenant and mercy for ever with hupeo~
pie : which laft word? were this day
made fwect to my Meditation,

D Alfo

34 The Captive taken

Alfo this day hearing in the Family
from Pfalm6$. 8. CM/ foul followeth
hard after thee , thy right hank upholds
we ; I was able to fay, I had experien^
ced right hand upholding: : and my (oui
was now taught to beg earneftly for a
heart inabled to follow hard after him,
that hath fo upheld,that I might follow
him refoluteiy, patiently, expc&ingly,
and conftantly»as was then minded in
that Sermon . I alfo begged I might
b% kept low in my own eyes, under t he
receipt of mercy, looking on the Lord
Jefus , assise Spring and Fountain of
all in me, and to me, owning the free-
neffe of his grace to me.

Efpecially confidering what a Rebel
I had been againft him , and bow juft-
ly he might have caft me off for ever,
• had it not pleared him to advance rich-
es of grace to me , a poor vile undone
Creature, who defires his name alone
may have all the glory ; and fince he
hath iliewed this mercy to me, my
fouls great fears are, left Iftiould fa-
crifice tomyfelf : But I defire I may
for ever be kept in the fence of my
own urtworthineffc of rhelcaft mercy
from him,upon any other account then

the

from the firohg. 35

the* good pleafure of his own will .,
matfe known in and by Chrift, to poor
finnsrs. Tei'this- night I was ajfaulted Her third
agdin with ■ many 'A/afpbemotu thoughts AjJ'ault.
darted into my foul , againft God y by the
tempter 1 caufyng fears fwdfatmings feme*
times: Yet I ft rove againft them, crying
to the Lord for help, to refiti the De?
vil, defiring he would aifo work fuch a
holy fear in my heart, as I might never
m©re dishonour him , who had To gra?
tioufly helpt me out of fuch depths, to
look towards him , and to hop? in his
imrcy, who was pleafed this night a-
gain very gratioufly to fapport me
with the fame promifes _*t firft given
in , and now again afrefh , as it were
repeated, and confirrri?d further to my
foul. And by thefehe nowalfo upheld
me againft departing from him • & after
great ftrivirig and ftrugling to keep my
hold on the promUes, I bad alfo a pre-
vious view of the love of God given in-
to my fool, though the frHeft of (inners,
which did greatly refresh me, enabling
me (more faHy ) to believe in him : and
this Scriptare(x)was much fet upon my ^ . a Co..
heart, Thmhe hath madehimto be fin for j, XIl
Hfjwho knew m fivjtkat we might be made
D 2 ths

2 6 The Captive taken

the Righeoufnejfe of God in him : As alfa
that, (*) He u wade unto m of (jed%
fVifdome* Righteoufnejfe , San&ificAttoH,
and Redemption : So that I wis inabled
now to fee my felf juftified , and ac-
quit in the fight of God , through
Cbrift,fromall my iniquity,which wis
now bid , tnd covered ; and God in
Chrift well plcafed with me , upon the
account of his right eoufneffe onely ;
fo that I was ( being thus refreshed )
inabled to admire his grace to fuch a
poor worthlefle Creature as I was; and
I had my foul then much enlarged in
defircs after him, that I might be kept
in time to come , from difhonouring
him by unbeiief,or any other way^ho
bad been fo gratieus, ycirich in mercy
to one fo unworthy ; yea even unto
me, who had been fuch a bitter Enemy
unto him. Oh , this did much com-
mend his love to my foul , caufingme
th? more to admire it,by refie&ing up-
on what I had been , and what 1 had
done againlt him.

On the fecondday of the week I
Was aifo carried on for the mo3 part,in
a holv Admiration of his kindnefle to
me : Dtfiring , I might ft ill be inabled

to

from the flrong. 37

to depend en him , and his grace ma-
nifefted through Chrit Jcfus to me ;
and might be inabled Will to prefs hard
after him, from the taanifeftation of
his love through Chrift to my foul : as
alfothat I might be inabled to give
glory to God by believing ; and that I
might never more by an evil heart of
unbelief, depart, or fly from the Lord,
or dishonour him by hcarkning to the
voice of the tempter ; but might hear
and know his voice , and follow him*
and no more the voice of (.'rangers,
but onely him, who had been fo abun-
dantly gratious to fuch an unworthy
Great ure,who never defcrved the leaft
dram of his grace or mercy , but the
greateft of his Wrath and fury to be
poured out upon me : And that fuch a
fence of my undone condition, and his
right-hand-help extended to me in it,
might teach me for ever to afcribe grace
& glery to his name?& that only; ic alfo
was now my fouls Rcqaeft that I might
be inbled to return thanks in truth
to him by my unfeigned obedience to
all his command s,alfo by fcarching af-
ter the more clear knowledge of his
will, in any thing wherein I might yec
D 3 be

38 The Captive taker*

be dark , or ignorant ; defiriag that I
might neither defpife, ncgle&, or con-
temn any of his Commands, though
reckoned (mail or contemptible in the
eye of the world : but that, what ever
his mind is, I (hould do ; I might be
inablcdto honour him therein , freely
and fincerely, though never fo weakly,
and might never willingly neglect any
Command of his : but might with full
pufpofe of heart cleave to him, and his
waye?, no more finfully to depart from
them,whatever I may be cxpofed to, &
that the truth and integrity of my heart
might even appear to the glory of God,
in my being found a follower efthofeywho
through faith and patience inherit the
promrfes.

The fecond day of the week at night,
I had a more large view of the Lords
love, and more refreshings then I had
before. And I was now inablcd to fee
that all forts of good was laid up for
meinChrill , both for foul and body,

(cl J-from that Scripture, (*#) For itpleafed
the Father that in him fhetild all fulmffe
dwell : And this fulnciTe I law was laid
up in him for all believers : and I was
made t© fee that all that good contain-
ed

from the flrong. 3 a

cd in any of the promifes, it was in him
and by him given out to believers*
through the promifes ; and that ic
ftiould be enjoyed by believers in him3
with unfpeakable fafety and certain-
ty, he never failing any that truft in
him: for he hath faid, None that trufi
in him (ball be deflate , nor (hould any be
able topluck^them out of hid handy nor oHt
of his fathers hand , who is greater then
he. Thefc with many other pretious
promifes did then flow in abundantly
to my foul , carrying me out of my felf
by faith to him, fothatl wasinablcd
torciignup my felf, and commit the
keeping of my foul, and all that 1 have,
and am,to him whom I had found thus
faithful* ( and aifo able) to keep what
was committed to him , and to prefenc
me before his Father, without fpot,and
blamcieffe,at that great day of his ap-
pearing: And I was now made willing
to be at his difpofe, and to be govern-
ed by him ; defiring that he onely
might have Dominion in my foul; and
1 be inabled by him to follow him
whkherfoevcr he goes, and into what
condition foe ver he would carry me*
according to that Character given of
D 4 his

40 Tl)e Captive taken

(vi) Rev. his redeemed ones, (w) Thefe are they

i4«4« which follow the Lamb, whither foever he

goeth : Which Scripture was at that

time born in, with great weight on my

foul, making me earneftly beg, That I

might be inabled to deny my felf,and

take up his CrofTc , and follow him ;

depending on him for whatever I

might ftand in need of, being inabled

(throngh grace) to believe, that all the

promifes are in him yet, and Amen :

Yea the good of every of them laid up

in him, more fully then in them. And

afterwards I was inabled to refign up

my felf to him , as before exprefled •

and then did the promifes plentifully

flow into my foul.

(*) Jfa.tf. As firft, That I fhould (#) be faved

1 7 • with an everlafting Salvation^ and fhould

not be afhamed world without end 5 and

that nonefhould be able to plucky An) be-

lievcr out of Chnft's hand : So that I

(y) ifa 45. was inabled to fay, (y ) In him have I

M> * 5- righeoufnejfe > andfirength : And in him

(ball all the Seed of ifrael be juftified, and

(%) Tjalm '(hallg/ory:hnd that promife alfo,(*)//*

8 4j 1 1. wjji be a Sun 1 and afield 5 yea grace and

glory will he give , and no good thing will

he withhold^ &c. And I was inabled to

believe >

from the firong. 41

bdkve j That I jhonld be kept by\the
mighty *Power ofGod, through Faith un-
to^alvation. Thcfc, with many more
precious promifes, with the comforts
of them, in 1 far larger meaiure then I
can now relate , were given in to me.
I had alfo particular promifes for gui-
dance and leading given in to my foul :
as that, (*) If any man wiHdo my wiUy he (1) John 7.
fh all know of the Dottrine , whether it be *7»
of Cody or not : And (£) 1 will guide them (h) Pfalm
with mine eye\ and (c) Then [hall ye know, \ *■ Jj
if Joh follow on to know the Lord : And y *' '
that alfo(<i) / lead in the way ofrighte- (d)7r»v,
eufnejfe in the mid ft of the paths ofjudg- 8. zo.
menu

And I had many prcmifes alio, as to
provifion, as (e) 7 htyjhallbe abundant- (e) Vfalm
ly fatisfied with the fatneffs of thy houje ; $6- 8*
and fh^H drink, of the Rivers of thy plea-
fures: And alfo that (/") In this tjttoun* (i) ifm.if*
tain will the Lord n:ake a Featt of fat ti-
thing* ; a Feaft of Wine on the lees well
refined. And I was inabled now tobc-
Wcxc^My life was hid with Chrijl in God :
and that becattfe he lived*. Ifhotdd live al-
fo ; and that he was come, that we might
have life , and might have tt more abun-
dantly, as alfo that he ever Uveth to make

intr'

42 The Captive taken

in'ercejfionfor us : and that he was come
into the world , that wbofoever believes in
him , [hould not abide in darknefje : and
that he would be a Sun as well as a (hie Id ;
yea he would givegrace^ and glory sand no
good thing will he withhold^ &C. And in
contemplation on thefe promifes, and
the grace contained in them,& the dun*
blentffe of them, {.which I was allured
(hould not fail in one tictlc to be made
good ) 1 was kept up the third day
of the week , in a holy Admiration of
my foul j enjoying fweet refrefhment
for the moft parr, from the confiderati*
on of the infinite goodneffeof God,fet
off, and exceedingly heightened to
my foul, by the consideration of that
abounding evil in me, to whom all this
rich mercy had been (hewed : And in
this frame for the moft pirt, both the
fourth day of the week, and the night
alfo, and iikewife on the fifth day of the
week,k was much the fame with me.
But on the fifth day at night again,
He? fourth1^ Enemy ajfaulted, and confii&ed
Mjjmli very fore with me , To wake me lool^ on
from S.uan. all the grace received , as a poor and low
thing : And I wss alio tempted to//-
thy and blasphemous thoughts againft God:

Thi*

from the ftrong. 43

This was before I went to lie down to
cake my reft; which ftoim caufedme
to fly to my refuge, the Lord Jefus,for
help in this needful rime : Saying unto
him in my foul, Becaufc thou haft been
my refuge, therefore order the fhadow
of thy Wings will I put my truft. I
then alfo pleaded the Lord's good
word, in which he had caufed me to
hope :Nimely, That thofethat came un-
to him, he would in no wife cafi out • and
that he had [aid > he would never leave,
norforfake meaner would turn awaj from
me, or let my foul depart from him : All
which I pleaded with him ; earncftly
begging from him ftrengtb , to refift
the Enemies temptations, that I might
nor dishonour the Lord by bearkning
or contenting to any of bis temptati-
on's or fuggeftions. I % alfo pleaded
with him his good word , of treading
down Satan under foot fhortly • and
his making good that word, that the
Gates of Hell (hall not prevail againfi his
Saints : This being his word which
he hath faid fticuld endure for ever, in
which.my foul hath truftcd : Yet dill
theie A ff units were continued , to caufe Ajfaults
me to caft effmy hope : but the Lord continued.

fuc-

44 The Cap:rje taken

fucccurcd and upheld me , tod at iafi
through mercy vanquished my Ene-
mies for me;alfo giving me fuch a wreft-
ling frame of Spirir,during the confli&3
that I could not let him go, till he had
blefs'd me, by making good the word
I pleaded with him , in many rcfpe&s
to my poor foul.

Forever bleffed be his Name , for
fuch Riches of grace as he came in to
my foul with. In this confli& aifo,
making me wknetTe co the truth of his
word , that he is indeed a God that
keeps covenant and mercy, and that
for everf with fuch as fear him. And
after I had been thus confli&ing, I was
enabled to read in his word comfort-
ably , without molcftation any more
this night ; and had my heart much
refrefh'djin beholding the Lord's faith-
fulneffe to me in my hour of tryal;
which made my feul more firmly reft
upon him,&tru3 in him,fceing he had
not ftffired his faithfalnefie tofail,nor
altered the thing gone out of his
mouth, nof removed , nor took away
his loving kindneffe from me. And (a
I lay down co reft , having been thus
ccninemly refrefh'd, and fupported by

the

from the [IrQ'ng. 45

the Lord : I had alfo my fleep made
fwcct to me ; and when I awoke in the
night feafon3 it was with this Scripture,
( g ) He will reft in his love , he wiH re- (%) Zcpk,
Joyce over thee withfinging : As alfo this 317.
Scriptnre , He will never leave tbee> nor
for fake thee : Then alfo had I a weft pre*
tiomviewofthe eternal love of God to my
foul , letting me fee the reafon, why I
was not (long fince) confumed ; which
was, becaufe he had made An ever lading
Covenant on my behalf in fort ft Jcfus my
Lord, in all things well ordered and fure%
And that he was ever mindful of his Cove-
nant, Oh1, this was fweer,and this(cven
this ) was the reafon I was not caft off
in my rebellions 5 becaufe he hath loved
me with an everlafting love pheref ore with
loving kixdnejfe hath he drawn me , and
that for hu own name [ake he deferr*d his
anger : that he cm me not ojfy nor did he
retain his *nger forever , be* mfc mercy
f leafed him,& he delighted to begratious.
The coming in of ihcie did evenfatis-
fie my fcul , as with Marrow, in the
thoughts of his infinite , Sternal^ un-
changeable love : Which I faw indeed
was the reafon of my not being con-
fumed } becaufe he is God t andchangeth

not:

4 6 The Captive taken

not .arid in his protection, tnd infinite
love, and mercy , my foul did now t&
Joyce, feeing its fafety ander the (ha-
dow of his Wings , believing I fliould
forever be kepi: by him, and be -would
Uphold 'me with the right hand of his
righteoufneffe , and would never fail, nor
forfat*e we ; but wouldreft in hie love.

The fixth day I was kept ap much
in the fen fe of love , peace, and joy af-
forded nae the night before from God
my gratious Father ; my foul ftill truft-
ing in his word, with which he had rc-
frefhed andfupported me: And ftill I
was inabied to believe, to my great
comfort, That his wordfhould endure for
ever: from which word? laft mention-
ed/ I have been inabied to plead with
Godwin my confli&s,after this manner.

Lord , thou haft promised , that they
that some to thee, thou wilt in m wife c aft
oat ; and if fo>, thmvanfl thou not turn
away from doing thy people good\ but wilt
according to thy' good word, fpr inkle them
with clean wtter^ and from all their idols
and Iniquities thou wilt cleanfe them\ye*
thou wilt take away the ft ovy heart r and
give them hearts ofFlefh , with thy Laws
writen tn them > and thy fear put fo into

their

from the ftrong. 4 7

their inward parts, as t hey fh all not depart
from thee : this Lord is thy word, in which
thou haficaufed my foul u truft. ^ Thus
have I been inabled to plead his new
Covenant-mercy to my fculs fupport,
and upholding in ftraits ; blcfled be
his name.

This night I had a good nights reft,
and was much refre(h'd>on the feventh
day in the morning , with thoughts
much enlarged upon iht great good laid
up by the Lord , f$r them that fear him :
and had many promifes presented a-
frefli to my foul, for future encourage-
ment ; fo that I was inabled (through
his grace) to admire his infinite love in
jefus Chrifti and to have my foul fully
fatisfied in that oncly , and to teftifie
my fatisfa&ioo therein,by defiring and
endeavouring for ever to be» to the
praife of his rich grace made known to
me , by being dedicated wholly to his
fervice 5 Whofe workmanship I am , being
created in Chrifi Jefe& to good works 5 to
the end we fkould wallow them : Giving
glory and honour to Chrift > Who alone
is worthy to receive it from m, having re*
deemed us out of all kindreds and tongues,
&c* and having wa[h*d us in his own

Blood,

4 3 The Captive taken

Blooded made us Kings and Triefts un-
to Gid the Fathers avd we [hall Reign
for evermore. I ilfo confidcrcd it was
for chis end, that he gave himfclf to re-
deem us , that we mi<:ht be a peculiar
people to himfclf , zealous of good
works : And to this end I defired, My
foul might have Fellowship with him in his
death, fufferixgs, and refurreciion^being
made conformable to him in his death ^and
ratfed up, and brought forth by the power
oj his Spirit) in the Fellowship of his re fur '
rettton.

But this feventh day at night I was
again ajfaulted with blafphemout thought /,
and tempted to flighty and lew thoughts
af all his grace and love made known to
me: And was feized with much fear (as
I am uiually in all thefe confii&s ) left
Ifhould be overcome, and difhonour
God by hearkning, & conferring to the
fuggeftions of his and my Enemy s But
the Lord this night alio was not want-
ing to me, but did uphold me in wait-
ingnpon him ; inabling me to feek to
him & reft upon him,his word in which
he had caufed my foul to truft. And
in this way he came in to mesmanifeft-
inghimfelt exceeding grations to my

relief,

from the flrong. v q.p

relief, and helped me to vanquifhehofe
temptations 5 giving me ftrcngth againft
thcttb and inabling me to ipeak to bis
praife , what he had done for my foul,
to the end it might be recorded : yec
when I came this. night to fpeak of
thefc things , that To they might be re-
corded, I was much afraid I fhould noc
be able f being much firaitcned , and
fhut up : but the Lord opened my
heart , and my msuth fpake (through
his affithnce) to his praife.

The feventh day at night I went to
bed late ; and when I awaked in the
morning 5 the Lord made my Medita-
tions of him to be fweet to me, caufing
me much ftill to rejoyce in the love of
God my Saviour. My firft Meditation
being of his infinite love and wii'dom,
in finding out a way for recovering and
reconciling poor^ left , fallen man to him'
felf; and fuck away wherein mercy and
truth might meet together , righteoufneffe
and peace might k:jfe each other. And
this Scripture was much on my heart,
(g) If we confejfc our fins, he is faithful % i Job. i.
and juft to forgive m our fins. And ?•
that was fweer,to fee it was not onely
mercy, but faithfulncffe, and juflice, to
E for-

jo The Captive taken

forgive fins unto poor penitent tinners
for the fake or Chrift , The Mediator
between God and man, in whom God
fawhimfclf and Juflice fully fatisfled ;
and the poor believer might fee him-
felf folly acquitted, as it he had not fin-
ned: And all this I law as the Fruit of
Chrifts death and refurrc&ion, he ha.
\ing in our ft cad fully difcharged our
debts, which we elfc could never have
fati*fied ; by whom onely we receive
the Atonemeju. I had alfo a far more
pretious and inlarged difcovery of
thefe things , then I am now able to
mention, with many choice Scriptures
brought to my mind , as to this head :
(h) vfalm Namely,(£) Thon haft afcended on high:
08.18. Thott haft led captivity captive : Thou
haft received gifts for men,yea for the re-
bellions alfo ,f hat the Lord God might dwell
among them: and that by Chrift all hand'
writings that were againft *#, were taken
out o\ the way^and nailed to his Crofstwho
hath fpoiled principalities and Powers^
triumphing over them openly : And that
by him thefting of deaths andftrength of
the Law were taken away : According to
CO * c<>r- his good word : it) Oh 'Deaths will be
'£ Wyky death: O Grave,! will be thy deftrtt-

ftien.

from the flrohg. c i

tiionl The fling of death is fin ; And
theftrength of fir. is (he Law: But thanks
he to God y who giveth us the Victory
through our Lord efas thrift. Oh!
thefe -criprures were FOOD AHp
STRENGTH to my foul : At this
lime alio that Scripture wis given in,
ik' csfftefthe kJndvejfe and love of Cod ^ i Yitm
ourSavionr towards man appeared % not 3,4.
by works of righteoufnejfs^ which we have
done : but according to his mercy he fa*
ved US) by the wafting o^regeneration^nd
renewing of the holy Ghofty which he (hed
on us abundantly through fefus Chrift our
Saviour: So that I faw our Sanftificati-
on was the Fruit of his purchase for us,
and Free-gift to us • it toeing one greas
end in his laying down his life, that
he mi»ht redeem & purine to himfelf a
peculiar people^zealous of good works.
I had many Medications alio, (/) about n , r .
the Lords psfling by us , when wc lay 16. 6>&c.
polluted in our blood, and cart out to
the loathing of our perfons, in the dzy
we were born, that then he fliould fay
to us, Live; and that this fhould be
the time of love, arid fpreading his
skirt over us : as alfo to confide^ that ^m . Gin ±
the promiie of Chrift , (m) {Jnd I will% u
E 2 put

<r 2 The Captive taken

put enmity between thee and the woman9
and between thy feed and her feed : It
frail bruife thy heady and thou (halt bruife
his heel) was given to fallen man, in
that nick of time of the grcateft mife-
ry , which he had brought on himfelf
and pofterity.

I had then aifo many Meditations

of God's power,by which he is able to

\eep Hi through faith unto Salvation ;

with many prcmifes given in to that

(n; Pfalm purpofe, as, that (») none thattruft in

34- zl- him fh all be defolate : As alfo that was

(&) ifai. ma^e ^wect to mY ^GUi: W namely, H/ j

53- i*> 17. place of defence fhall be the munition of

Rockj ' bread (hall be given him, and hit

Waters (hall be fure ; and thine eyes (hall

fee the King inr his Beauty^ and behold

the Land that is vtry far off* Thefe

were MEAT TO ME INDEED

at that time , Thus to corfider the

fafety of believers as founded upen tbe

Rock of age?.

And alio that Scripture, (/>} Lord
(p) if a}, thou wilt or&zin peace for ta^for thou al\o
-6 Ix- haft wrought all our workj in us : and
(q)Frov. Tikewilethat,^) the Lord will not fujfer
1 0.3 ♦ the foul of the righteow to famt(h >• but he

cafts away the fubftance o( the wicked :

And

from the flrong. 5 3

And (r) the way of the Lord is flrength* &ov. 10.
to the upright ; but deftruftionfhallbe to19,
the workers of Iniquity : And char,
(s) Teace I leave with yon » my peace /s John 1 4.
give unte you > rot 04 the world giveth ?*
give I unto you : Let not your heart be
troubled , neither let it be afraid : And
(t) because I lively oufhall live alfo: And.c John 14.
(u) he fh all deliver thee infix trouble s^yea\ r 3.
injeven, there fhallno evil touch thee.knd u 3°b f «***
(w) their fouls fk all be 4U a watered (far-^ ija\% 5g.
den} that God hath biefed : And fx) I then.
Lord do keep it ; / will water it every mo- Y *M.*7.
me nty lefi any hurt it : I will keep it night ? '
and day. With thcfe promiies was my
foul rcfrefh'd greatly this nighc; and
from hence was I led to medicate on
the great care, love, and tender pity of
the Lord, towards his poor peoptain
miking fo many pretious promises for
fupport and fuccour for his poor Saints:
which made me even (with Aftonifh-
nunc ) admire his grace herein : and
then was that good word brought in
fweetly refrefhin^me, (7) When thel '/'Mi*
poor and needy feek^ water ^ and there is 7*
none > and their tongue faileth for thirft,
I the Lord will hear them ; / the God of
Jfrael will not for fake them. I then cal-
E 3 led

5 4 Tty. Captive taken

led to mind hew largely cay foul had
cxperienc'dthe truth of thatword,that
even when I was ready to fail and fink,
&my foul eveo fcorcht up with the heat
of the wrath of the Lord) without any re-
frefhment, yea without a heart to feek
it ; he made good this to me : For ever
blejfsd br his name , and the Riches of his
grace, made h^mwn in Chrift to my foul.

And now did the Lord bring my
foul to this VPe&ofconfolationy and made
me drinks abundantly of the River of his
pleafures fir earning out in thefe prcmifes ?
and gave me Fruit indeed from the
Tree of Life • feeding me from that
(%) ifai. Word alfc (V) / wtUmakeaneverlafling
5 ?♦ 3 • Covenant with you , even the fare mtrcies
of David : Which I faw were Jure in-
deed^, s laid up in Chrift for believer?.
Even in him whom G*d hath exalted m a
Prince and a Saviour \to give repentance
H%i9 {frael^ for remiffion of fms:who I im-
felfwoi tempted^ that he might be able to
fuccour thefe that are temped » Whom
God huh railed fom ihe dead , that
our lie and hope mi^ht he in hitu,wbo
bav called poor and weary fowls to
comedo Hm for reft; and hath made
Has amongft other* largely experience

the

from the flrong. c 5

the truth of that word , in cauGng my
foul to find reft enely in him^ktt a long
and fore travail, and weary fomc jour-
ney. Yet again, this firft day of the
week I was affaulted in hearing the
word Preached , with many filthy fugge- KJff
fttons caft in , tocaufeme to undervalue from Satan.
the grace of God made known : And this
was both forenoon , and afternoon :
but yet \ wu grarionfly helpt to ftrive
againft them; and to cry out to the
Lord for help and affittance,to rcfift the
wicked one- begging,Tbe Lord would
not luffer me to difhenour his holy
name, by confentiog to the temptors
fuggeftions : and then I cali'd to mind
that word, wherein he had caufed me
to truft : Namely, {a) That he would (&) tab.
never leave me, nor for fake me : but i$- ?•
would put his fear fo in my heart, as I
jhould not depart from him ; neither fhould
I he Gates of Hell prevail againft me: And
thus by flying to him as my Sanctuary,
I was inablcd to refit* , and overcome
my Enemies , who elfe had been too
hard for me,

I had alfo this day .while I was hear- Herfe-
ing, fomefad considerations about fat- y^oAf-
ling away, after grace received \ which ^tm
E 4 made

<j£ The Captive taken

made my foul to tremble in the
thoughts of it,to think how dishonour-
able that would be to the name of
God:but I had Tome hopes in his word,
which fupported and ftrenghthened
me againit thefe fears : Namely, That
(he Lord would fyep me bj hit Power
through faith unto Salvation ; and
would alfo according to his Covenant
fut his fear in my hearty that I Should not
(at letfi utter l))depart from htm: but yet
had miny fears, that if hefhould but
edipfe his love to my foul, that rnight
. alfo be to the difhonour of his name ,
and an occafion of Rumbling to others;
wHich alo made my foul full of fears
in the thoughts of it. But this fomc-
what tfay'd me, that he, who hath be-
gun a good wotkjwillfinifh it,and will
be careful of his own glory , which in
my fouls upholding is fo much con-
cerned.
she is help- * was a^cer tne^e convertings with the
ed to co>ifi- Lord,and fweet Communion with hitn,
der T»hni jcc| toconfider what all this calls for

tl°dfor all to tefline my love to Jefus Chriif , in
bit mery waves cf obedience to all his Com-
mand?, who had fo plentifully manife-

fted

from the ftrong. 5 7

fted his love to my foul : and at laft
was led to Tome Meditations about
Baptifm , looking upon it as a duty in-
cumbent upon all believers , whereby
they did evidence their love to Chrift,
in obedience to his Commands. But
withal, I had fome fears on my heart,
abouc my being carried on in that du-
ty? which I fee to be fo contemn'd and
defpifed ; but did judge? rhefe were but
the tempters fuggciiions • and there-
fore did earneftly defire of the Lord,
that he would in able me to evidence
my (incerity to him , by following him
in his mod defpifed paths ; and that I
might not dare to neglect any duty he
calls for at my hands : then alio was I
brought to mind thac Scripture, (fi) To b nil. 1.
yon ifs given not onely to believe , but *l- * 9-
foto faffer for his fak? : And that he
onely could give this gift, which was a
great honour to be conferr'd upon his
poor Saints, to be counted worthy to
furfer for his name ; and I begg'd, It
might ever be fo accounted bv me :
that Scripture alfo I had on my mind,
(jp) He that loveth Father or ^Mother c &iattb,
more then me , is not worthy of me : As IO- 37-
like wife (d) JSTo man that hath left houfe \ Ma™°*

or 9'

58 The Captive taken

or Brethren^ or Sifiers> or Father^ or Mo-
thers Wife^or Children. or Land s for my
fake> **d th? Cjofpels^ but he fhalt receive
an hundred fold now in this time^houfes^
and Brethren^ andSifiersj and Mother $%
and Children) and Lands jtviih fetjecmion^
and in the world to comejifc Eternal*

Now by a hundred fold in this life,
! un dcrftood to be in peace of confer-
ence, that would be more then all the
comforts I could forfakefor it • Befides
in the world to come life everlafting :
And thtt Scripture alfo i had, (<?) For
our Light afflittions , which are but for a
^momentydo work for ns a far mare exceed'
ing and Eternal weight of glory whileft we
look not at the things which are feen , but
at thofe things that are not feen: for the
things that are feen, are temporal j but
thofe that are notfeen^ are Eternal : i alfo
vnmdcd. Kjiiofes his eying the recom-
penee cf tew£rd,made him defpife the
r!? * urc* of Pharaoh's Court; and like-
wife what rhe Saints mentioned,
(/) bad pnehued by eying the glory fee
before them and looking to that
City that Lid f etwdations , whofe builder
4ndv% ' "-' ' Ged>; And upon thefc and
fucn iikc cocfiderations my foul was

in-

from the firong. 59

incouraged to follow Chrift 5 rcfolving
in his rtrcngth, I would do fo in every
of his Commands > he fhould make
known to me to be my duiy to walk
in ; although by fo doing I were a re-
proach and fcorn ; mindiog "David's
words, (g) I am a wonder unto men: hut ^ *p{alm
thou art myfirong refuge. And t hence 71.7.
I reafoned, iffeod were my refuge I
did not care , though I were a wonder
unto men,'tn purfuit of my duty : & up-
on fome further conlid era t ions, I few
Baptiime more clear to be my duty ;
I bung commanded, (&) To follow thofe (h) Hcb.6.
who through Fiiith and pattevce inherit ?*•
the promtfes : And this patti of Bsptifm
I find Chrift and all his Diicipies
waik'din^nd therefore is tbw I judg-
ed I wa3 to follow ; being commanded
to be a follower of them : I alio con-
fidered, (i) Then they that gladly recei- (I) ^L&s %.
vedthe word were Baptized, &C. 1 like- 4*-
wife cor-fidered Chriits Commiffion,
(£) Go teach all Nations, Baptizing them, (V) Matth.
&C. Teaching them to objerve all things a$.i 9 ••
that I (fommmd you \ Of which I find
Biptim^tobc 00c : this Hill cleared
itupiomy foul further a* a duty; I
alfo confidered ihat the L»ws of a King

were

6o The Captive taken

were to be obeyed by ill his Subje&s ;
and this I judged one of the Laws of
Chrift, and therefore to be obeyed by
all his Subje&s : I alio weighed feveral
other Scriptures about the nature, ufe,
and ends of Baptifme , particularly
] Ram.e. 00 which did manifeft to me, that Ba«
4,.). ptifmc was a duty inpyncd to all be-

lievers -they thereby manifesting their
conformity to Chrift in his death , in
order to their being raifed up by him
again,and brought forth in the Fellow-
Ctiip of his Refurre&ion unto newncflc
of life; all which I found much in-
couraging and ingaging my heart to
that duty.

This night alfo my deep was made
very fweet to me, through the Lord's
goodneffe : I waked often , and flept
a^ain , and ftill found Tweet refrefh-
ings in my foul, feeing my felf very fafe
under the prote&ion ©f Chrift: I then
endeavoured to fUep again , minding
what had Seen told me , that I ought
i to have cotapaffion on my body ; and
my fleeowas comfortable tome '.Eve-
ry uair. I aw iked , having thefe words
m zip.% . given (m) to me, He will reft in his love t
mud 4 And thefe* (») lamGody Uhangejaou

AflA

from the firong. 61

and I will never leave thee , nor for fake
thee : So that I was fwcetly competed,
and inablcd to rejoyce,under the pro-
te#ion of Chriir, having thofc words
aifo brought to my mind, (o) 7 he Lord f [
hath (hewed me his marvelous loving kind- , , # zt
neffein a ftrong City> and hath laid he/p '
upon ene that u mighty : And that Scri-
pture, (p) Trufl in the Lord for ever, for p ifaiif.
in the Lord Jehovah is everlafting 3-
Jfrength; in which my foul rejoyccS
greatly ; as alfo in that word, (q) He<\ //"«4o.
fh a 11 gather the Lambs in his Arms , and 1 1 ■
carry them in his boforr.e^ and gently lead
thofe that are with yeng: From which the
Lord gave me faith in my foul, that he
was able to keep me,foas none fhould
be able to pluclc me out of his hand ;
fothat I was made to re Joyce in that
unlpetkable fafety that I had under his
Protection. Another prctious pro-
mife tome was, (r) A bruifed Reed
(hall he not breaks nor fmoaktng Flax fhall r "M-*z '
he not quench , till he bring forth judge- 3
ment to viciory : He (hall not fail , nor be
difcouraged till he have fet judgement in
the Earthy and the Jfesfhall wait for his
Law: And hence I considered, that he
was my Counfcllcr as well as my Pro-

teSor :

6z The Caput e taken

teftor; and what a wonderful Coun
feller he is ! which I confidcred at large
(s) jfai. 9. from (j) Hxto us a Child is bom, and un*
*• torn a Son is given \ the Government (hail

he upon his {boulders: and his nameftoallbe
calk d the wonderful Counfelter> the ever *
laftmg Father, the Trincc of peaces And of
hit Government and Kingdom there ft all
be no end : As like wife thofe words
(t) ^5. came to my mind, (t) A Trofhet [haH
f*§ the Lord your God r nfe up unto ym , of

your Brethren*, like un 0 me him jhallyou
hear in all things that hefhalljpe*k • then
was my heart iifred up , blefJlng the
Lord for that plentious redemption,
which he had let me fee inChrift , sc-
(u) 7>fdlm cording to that word, (#)bkffinghim
i©3. with whom there is fuch plentiful re-
demption, to redeem Ifrael frcmall
his iniquities, who Crowneth us with
loving kindnefle, &c. and who bath
bleft'duswith all Spiritual bleffiftgs in
Chrift ; having raifedu?, and made us
fit together in Heavenly pUces in
Chritt , that in the ages to ceme he
might (hew, what is the exceeding
Riches of his srace, in his kindneflfe to-
wards as in Chnft .who hath delivered
us from the Kingdom of darknefle>and

bath

from the ftrong. 63

hath tranflited us into the Kingdom of
his dear Son.

I had alfo fome pretious Meditati-
ons upon that great deliverance I had
by Jefus Chrift, from the dominion of
fin, Satan, and that greateft bondage of
all,to be in a natural condition ; and
that Chrift had purchafed perfect li-
berty and freedom: fo that I was now
made free indeed , and made a parta-
ker of the inheritance of the Saints in
light. Yet after all this, I was again Her eighth
forcly affaulted, and tempted, to have 4P*fc
low undervaluing thou°bts of the
grace of God , as if it were but a poor
low thing; as alfo to blafpheme againft
God : but the Lord did gratioufly make
me to cry to him for his affilhrce , to
caufe my foul to rcfi'* the Devil , and
loath and abominate his filthy fugge-
ftions , that fo I might not didicnour
him by hearkning or confenting there-
to,feeing he had promKed , He would
never leave wf, nor for fake me : That he
would now make good his word , in
which he had caufed me to truft • and
by thefe (and many other prcmifes) he
inabled me to plead with him , who
had faid , Ke would fave to the ut-

moft)

^4 The Captive taken

«w/£,and would tread down Satan under
foot jhortly ; and that the Gates of Hell
(hot* Id ntt prevail againfi me : All which
I pleaded carneftly with hisn , that he
would ftiil caufc me to experience the
truth of this his word, in which he had
made my foul to hope : and at length
(through his rich grace) I was inabled
to fay to his praife,That he was indeed
t God that did never leave nor for-
fake them that trufted in him ■ but did
keep Covenant and mercy for every in
that he had vanquifhed the Devil, and
caufed me to relie on himfelf , by gi-
ving me Faith in that pretious promifc,
That he would not breakjhe bruifed reed)
till he had brought forth Judgement unto
Vittory: So that in the fenie of his ne-
ver failing nor forfaking me „ my foul
was made now greatly to re Joyce.
Further The fecond day at evening ? I had
Alfaults many fir y darts , and filthy fulge § ions of
fom Satan. sataxf cafl into me : Which were excee-
ding terrible unto me , and were born
inwithiuch violence, as though the
Devil ft/rove with all his might to caufe
metocan g# my hopes that I had in
God ; urging me to blafphewe God, and
to think meanly and lowly o] the grace of

God 5

from the firong. 6^

God ; Which caufed in mc great fears :
but the Lord of his grace did not fo
leave me, as tofuffermetocartoffmy
confidence : But great wai my fears,
left I fhould be lcrt to dishonour him
by unbelief, after I had profefs'd fuch
hope in him ; and thereby alfofhould
wound the peace of my own foul. I
alfo confidered, that if I fhould conti-
nue in this condition,my life would be
a burden to me , and I fhould have
caufe to repent of the ProfefTton I had
made of my hope in God ; thinking
what a great difhonour this would be
tohisNameandGofpel, and caufe of
(tumbling to them who had heard me
profeffe my hope, caufing them to dif-
honour him alfo.

But the Lord did help me(through his
grace) to flie to him as my flrong re-
fuge,with fecrct breathings in my foul,
that be would not deliver mc up to the
will of my Enemies: but he would now
remember his good word, in which he
had caufed me ro hope , that thofe that
came to him^ he would in no wife cafi out ,
butfave to the utmofl^ treading down Sw
tan under the feet of fuch : And I begg'd
that he would open and inlarge rriy
F ftra/t

66 The Captive taken

ftrak heart> that my tnomh might fpcak
of his goodncflc, to the prail'eofhis
name. And the Lord did caufe my
foul again to experience his faithful-
ne{Te,ihat he is a God that kctps Co-
venant and mercy for ever ; and he did
gmioufly caufc the Devil to flie , and
gave great inlargement to my foul,con-
fidcring how greatly it was firaitened;
' and made me able to fpeak to his

pratfe ; and did { by his good Spirit )
bring thefe things to my remembrance,
which I was not able to think of be-
fore, and was again inabled to believe
( through his g^ace ) that he is a god
that will keep truth for ever , and that no
foul^that trafts inhimifhoftld be de folate :
So that my ibul was now made to fay,
(w) Pfalm M B/eJfed is the man that hath the God
1 46. 5. of Jacob Jor his help 1 whofe hope is in the
Lord his G&d^ which made the Heavens>
the Sarthy the Seas^and all that is in them3
and who keepeth truth for ever with them
that fear him. Bkffed be his name.
I have been (iocs pondering further the
duty efBapiifmesforefaio% and had at
feme times much clcarneffe in it as a
rimy 2 yet doubts and queftions have
been call imo my miad about it ; and

thus

\rom the firor.g, 6"]

thus I remained,dcbanng it in my own
thoughts , and confulting Scriptures a-
bout ic, until the twentieth day of this
eleventh Moncth at night ; ac which
time I was fee upon with terrible faggtf-
ftions about the lownclTe andmean-
ioefie of it, being much tempted to de-
fpifc and flight it ; which, when I had
confidered, caufed great fears and fain-
ting in me , left I (hould in my hearc
confenr to thofe fuggeftions,and there-
by hinder my obedience to the Lord,
as aforefaid i And 1 was enabled to
lift up my foul to the Lord for help at
this time, againft thefe ftsggefticm and
temptations, that I might refit* them .
and the Lord inabled me now to con«
fider,that no Command of Chrift was
tobe accounted low,erfmall Conside-
ring alfo I owed all fervice and obedi.
ence to the Lord , both as I was his
Creature , but mare efpecullv a? I
Was redeemed by him fo marveileufly
as I have been, and with fo great a
price as the Blood of Jefu*. I alfo
thought, what a fad condition Jtdam
brought all his Pofierity into , by dis-
obedience at firft, in but eating an Ap-
ple, which was forbidden ; as alfo
F i what

63 The Captive taken

what a poor Creature man was ; and
how unfit, unworthy, and unbecoming
it was for him, to be difputing with
his Creator ; whomight do with all of
us, as the Poiter with his Clay, make
or marre us at his pleafure ; and whac
a proud prefumptuous Creature I was,
to lifter fuch a thing to enter into my
thought?, that any of his Commands
fhould be difpuccd, or thought by me
to be low, or contemptible , which I
looked on as an abominable evil in
me ; and defired the Lord to look
with an eye of Pardon and companion
upon me; and not to foffer me to
hearken to the Devil's fuc>gefiions , to
dishonour him , but make me efteetn
highly of all his Commands ; defiring
he would (according to his promife )
put hi> fear into my heart, that I might
not: depart from him ; and that feeing
he is able to fave to the utmeft . and had
prcmifed (o to do, as alfo to tread down
Satan under foot, and towork^i and none
fhould Ut : All which he having given
me experience of his making them good
to my foul formerly , 1 now begg'd he
would further ftrengthen my Faith
cencercirg them , as alfo in that good

word.

from the firotig. gp

Word of his f in keeping me by his jfl-
mighty Power through Faith unto Salva-
tion : And now did I find the Lords /
gracious anfwer to my poor fouls de-
fire5 in many of thefe things t as &r%
in upholding and keeping me againft
the Tempters fuggcftion, as I had
defired , that I was not overcome by
them ; though when I awaked this
night, the Tempter met me again with
.his Affaulcs : but I was helpt to tf rive
againft them , crying to the Lord for
help to fland, & tirength to overcome -
and he did help and foccour me a-
gainft them, and incouraged me to be-
lieve bis word , and to all to mind
the depths of dftlreffcs he had by his
oM-flrnched tArm^ and infinite love
and piny raifed my foul out of: and he
minded me,how he had /upported me,
when I was ready to fink under the
weight of my Iniquities, and wrath
due to them; yet he then upheld me,
and delivered me, and had faid he
would not forfake me.

Thefc confederations did fupport and

enable me fiill to truft in him,tha: had

wrought fo wonderfully,and appeared

(o eminently for my poor foul , as he

F 3 had

7o The Captive taken

had done; and I was now inablcd to
believe that good word, (#) Theyjh*H
not hanger nor thtrft , neither (hall the
heat of the Sunfmite them: for he that hath
mercy on them (hall lead them , even by
the firings of Waters fh all he guide them:
As alfathac, {y)Hethatbelieveth onmey
the Scripture hath f aid , out of hid belly
jhallflow Rivers of living waters : Thefe
(whh many more promifes) were now
given in, fully anlwering to all my
wants, and removing my fears : I was
alfo inahled to judge htm faithful that
had promifed , and fo to look upon his
promifes as iomany love-tokens from
him, in the way of his free grace to my
foul,thrcugh Chrift my Redccmcnand
feeing Baptifm now (upon all the con-
federations aforefaid)my duty, to which
again was added afrcfh this Scripture,
(*») Therefore we are buried with him by
Baptifm into deathjkc*hnd my foul laid
under the Power of the truth in it, that
as I did expect advantage by the Lord
Chri t bis death and Refurre&ion to
my poor foul 3 fo I ought by my vifible
obedience to this his Command, to
declare my putting him on , and my
being planted in the HkenefTe of his

death,

from the ftrvhg. 71

death , being buried with him by Ba-
ptifm into death • and alio my being
raifed withandby him,and the Power
of his Refnrre^ion , unto newneffe of
life • and my refolving (in his ftrength)
to walk accordingly : all which ends
Baptifm, (according to this Scripture)
I judged lively held forth 5 I was upon
the whole inabled to come to refoive,
(through grace) to yield obedience
thereunto , as unto a Command of
Chrirt my Lord^expe&ing his affirtance
and bleffing therein : According to his 00 John,
Word, (a) He that hath my Command* * 4- " •
mentS) and keepeth themt he it is that to*
veth me ; and he that loveth metyaU be lo-
ved of my Father ; and I will love him,
and wtS manifefl my [elf nnto him : As /j,) j^
alfo that word , (b) Thou meetefi him 64. 5.
that rejojeethand worketh Righteoufne[s%
th»Je that remember thee in thy wayes.
In the Faith of which promifes , and
fear of the name of the Lord, I intend
(through his gratious afliftance) to
yeeld obedience accordingly in that
and all his Commandments ; the love
of Chrift being of a containing nature
to my foul , by which I have been cau-
fed to confidcr what he hath done for
F 4 me,

72 The Captive taken

rne, in pcrfe&ing the work of my Re-
demption, and alio to think how little
I am called to do or fuffcr for him ,
(c)ifai. who hath done fo much for my fake,
53 . 5« (c) He being wounded for our tranfgref-
jionsy and brmfed for our Iniquities , the
(d) Philip, ch aJl i fements of our peace being on him9
by whoje ftripes we are healed: (d) Who
being in the Forme of God, thought it no
robbery to be equal with God , yet made
he himfelfof no Reputation , but humbled
him f elf ^ and became obedient to death)
even to the death of the Croffe for our
fakes: Thefe considerations are of a
Conftraining nature to my foul , to
obey him in all things.

I alio confidered what I (houid have
undergone to Eternity, had it not
been for what he hath done and fuffcr >
ed, to deliver me from wrath to come;
I alfo thought how little all the fuffer-
ing of this world are to thofe I fhouid
have under-gone, had not he Redeem-
ed me from tbo'e Eternal miferics,
which indeed makes all the affli&ions
of this prefent life iecm little and
(e) Rom. light co mc* when I ferioufly think of
8; i,3. them : According to tbat,(<f) For Irec-
kjntbe fujferings of this prefent timearenot

from the flroxg. n^

•worthy to be compared with the glory that ( f ) i cor.
[hall be revealed in us; and chat? ( /) our 4- 1 7 > 1 8.
light fifflt&iott that is bttt for a moment,
workgthfor us ajar more exceeding, And
Eternal weight of glory, while we looknot
at the things which are feen, but at the
things which are not feen : for the thtngs
-which are feen are temporal , but the
things which are not feen are Eternal • (g) z Cor.
and that,(£) the love ofChrift cenftrains f • x4«
us, becaufe we thm judge , tkaiifChriSt
died for ad, then were all dead, that they
which livefhould not tee unto themselves,
but unto him which died for them, and (h) i Qm\
rofe again : And that, (h) for you are 6. zo.
bought with a priceaherejore glorify Cjed,
both in your fouls and bodies, which are his;
and ought to be offered up as a living fa- (i) Rom.
crificey (/') Holy and acceptable unto him, 1 2 • l •
which is but our reasonable fervice , ac-
cording to the will of him who hath of his
own wiU begotten us unto a lively Faith
in Christ Jefus, unto whom be glory in the
Churches ( by Christ fefus ) thorowout
all Ages , World without end, tAMENf*

FINIS.

,„_ m "J r

An

An abftradfc of the prin-
cipal parts of the fore- go»

ing Narrative/vvhich the Rea-
der will find to be in fubftance
as followeth ^ though by rea-
fon of the mixture and variety
of the matter 3 it cannot be fo
diftin&ly compofed> as other-
wife it might be.

I. A Particular Relation of her
JTjL dijirejfed eft ate and conditi-
on 3 for fourteen years time 3 wherein
ff;e was exercised with various tempt a-
tionSy concluding berfelf guilty of the
unpardonable fin 5 and Co a fubjeft of
the wrath of God$ Whch ihe day-
ly expected to be poured down
upon her5and was hopeleffe of any
deliverance^ notwithftanding the
frequent means ufed by many for
her relief, both by fervent Prayers
for her y and Faithful endeavours
by Chriftian advice and counfel
to her j fromP^. i. to Fag. 19.
1 1. A Particular dif cover] of the

Lords.

Lords manner of working on her heart
by his word and Spirit 3 convincing
her ofher finfulfiate> and helping her
tG look unto thrift alone for Salvati-
on ^ notwithstanding many fears mix-
ed with her hopes : From Pag. 19. to
Pag. 31.

1 1 1. A df cover) of fever al Af-
f auks from the Tempter , andgratiou-s
f up plies offtrength from the Lord s by
which fhe was helped to refift them ,
and to fiie unto him for refuge : From
Pag, 2, i.toPag.^o,

I V. Several pretiom promifes ,
and feafonable words 3 brought in
p:wer fully to her foul 3 for her fupport
and fuccour under fever al A /faults :
From Pag. 40. to Pag. $6.

V. She is helped to confiderwhat
fhe foall render unto the Lord for all
his benefits and f pecial deliverances
he hath wrought for her^ and is helped
to refolve in his fxrength 3 to give up
herfelfas a living and acceptable fa-
crifice unto his fervice : From P#g.
56. to the ■end.

vf TAKLE,

Containing [enteral Texts

of Scripture ihat were varioufly ap-
plied 3 according to her fi ate and
condition 5 as the Reader may
percehe^y comparing them
with thefeverdl places
to which this Talk
direHs.
I.
Scriptures made ufe of to increafe
terror in her diftreffed eftatc.

HEb.lo. 27, 29. Pag. 4

Pfalm6%.%. Pag.f

Matth. 12. 31. Tag. 6

Heb. 6. 4, 5, 6. fag. 8

If**. 57.20,21. Pag. 11

Matth. 1 5. 26. Pag. 1 2

Rev, 14. 11.) Pag. 13

Joel 2.7,1. Tag^i ^

I I.

Scriptures made ufeof to convince

her of her finful and fad eftate.

01. 3.3. Pag 19

Pfalmfo.lJ. Pag. 20

Tfalm

TABLE.

cPfalmH9 155. ?*ff*2l

Tfai'm 50. 16. Pag. idem.

1 SrfW. 2. IC. Prfg. /*fc*W*

I I I.

Scriptures made ufe of to incou-

rage her to wait upon the Lord

in the ufe of means , to truft

in him, and to follow

him fully.

HEfter^i6. P*£**3

2 Kings 7. 4. Tag. Idem.

Jobn6.:7. Pag. go

Heb.-J 25. Pag. Idem.

7/*/. 43.1?. Pag 31

Pfalm6i.8. 'Pag. 34

2 Or. 5.21. ^35
I Cor. 1.30. ^£.36
Col. 1. 1 9. Tag-l*
£#*/. 14*4. ^1-4°

I V.

Several choice promifes, and pre-
tious words brought powerful-
ly to her foul, for her fup-
pcrt & engaging to duty.

P/*/wS4.II. Pag. Idem.

John 7. 1 7. /><*£. 41

TABLE.

Pf*tm&.9. Pag.ldem.

■^•'J- Pag. Idem.

/W. 8. 20. Tag, Idem.

Pj*tmi6.$t Pag. Idem.

Jfi>'-25-6- Pag. Idem.

Zepf.S'lJ* P*g-45

Heb.llti. Pag. Idem.

*J'»»*'9- P*g-49.

Pfaim62.i$< p^# j0
1 Or. 1 5.55,5^,57. Pag. Idem.

THm 3.4,5. Pag. 51

Ez,ekieli6.6. Pag. Idem.

rate 34.22. /v. 52

/M 33. l<5, 17. Tag.ldem.

Ifai. 26. 12. Pag. Idem.

Prov. 10. 30. flfc.Afew.

£w. IO. 29. p^j.

|^ni4, 27. Pag.ldem.

Mm 1 4. 1 9. Pag.ldem.
Job 5. 1 p. ^
/>;. 58.11. r

//"• 27- 3- C " ^' 7 '*'

I fat. 41. 17, ^

/jpWi 5 5^3. <?*£. 54

Malach. 3. 6. p^. £0

Pfalm 11. 11. Pfatm6t

Ifai. 2 6. 3. p4£ 7^w.

//4/.40. 11. pr^ /^.

T A B JL E.

lf*i. 42. 3,4.

Pag* Idem.

tfai. 9. 6.

Pag. 62

Atts 3. 22.

Pag. Idem.

Tfalm 103* 3.

Pag. idem.

//*£. IJ-J.

P*&15

&w*. 1 2. 1.

<P*g.qi

I Cor. <5.2 o#

Pag, Idem*

v .

Scriptures convincing and confir-

ming her in

the

duty

of Bap-

tifin3and

even

con

ftrai-

ning her thereunto.

TTEk 6. 12.
Jil. Jets 2.41

•

Pag. Idem,

Mattb.zZ. \g.

Tag. Idem.

Rom. 6.4,5.

<T>ag. 60

John 14. 21.

Pag.yi

Ifai.64 5.

Pag. Idem.

^'•53.5.

Pag.72

Pto.2.7,8.

Pag. Idem.

V I.

Scriptures fupporting her in the
thoughts of fufrcrings.

PHil 1.29. Fag. 57

Mattb. 10.37. Pag. Idem.

Markt 1 o. 29. Pag. Idem.

2 Cor*

H

T A B L E.
2 Cor. 4. 17,18. Pag. 58

Heb. 1 1 . Pag, idem.

Pfalmji*j. P*£*%9

VII. * '

Scriptures by which me was relieved againft:

her fears, under feveral Aflaults: And had

her hopes of frefh fupplies from the

Lordincreafed.

££.13.5- ^.5?

£00*. 1 6. 20. «P^. 6 5

John <5. 9 7. -P*£«3°

.£/<?£♦ 7.2?. P*g. 7^w.

Pfa/m 1 46. y. P*g. 6 6

/fat. 49. 10. Pd£. 7©

J<?/w 7.38. Prf£. Idem.

The Reader is defircd to take notice , that
fome of the Texts in this Table are not
mentioned in the Margent ; onely the words
cxpreffed in the Page, which being but fhort,
may foon be difcerned.

~~e~rr a t~a. ~~~

READER ,
QEveral Faults having efcpedtbe Preffe ; 1 have
pointed out the Chief, which thou art defired te
ta\e notice of, viz.

hi thefirft Epiftle, Page 1 1 . Line 9. read Ifai. %<$.
in the Boo\, p.z.Li.for irrecoverable re.incvo-
cable.p^./.i.r.rcmaincd.p.f./. V'.rnade it. and
l.4..re.mmd.p 7 .l.iueMztvcd.p.zi .Margent/e.
i Kings 7.4. pag. 30. Margemyread John 6.3 7*

VI

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