A26870:104
A breviate of the life of Margaret, the daughter of Francis Charlton ... and…
A breviate of the life of Margaret, the daughter of Francis Charlton ... and wife of Richard Baxter ... : there is also published the character of her mother, truly described in her published funeral sermon, reprinted at her daughters request, called, The last work of a believer, his passing-prayer recommending his departing spirit to Christ, to be received by him.
London: printed for B. Simmons, 1681
Chapter 4: Some parcels of Counsel for her deliverance from this distressed Case, which I find res…
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
As Ministers must do it by preaching, all must do it by conference and example. And is your dejected sadness the performance of this?
§. 6. When she desired to be prayed for, she wrote down this Answer which I find now in her Papers.
It's well if you know what prayer to put up, or what to desire; I'll pray for you according to the best of my judgment; and I'll tell you for what, that you may know what to pray for for your self: First, I'll pray that your thoughts may be turned to the magnifying of Gods love; and you may remember that he is as good as he is great; and that you may be more sensible of his mercy, than of your own unworthiness. 2. I'll pray that you may have so lively an apprehension of your everlasting felicity, as may make you long to be with Christ. ⟨p. 41⟩3. That you may have more self-denial, and that humility which makes you little in your own eyes. 4. That you may be much less tender, and liable to commotion, and disquiet of mind, and less sensible of unkindnesses, and of bodily dangers, yea, and of sin it self, while the sense of it hinders the sense of mercy. A meek, and a quiet, and patient spirit is of great price in the sight of God. I will pray that you may be delivered from too much inward passion, of fear, grief, or discontent. 5. I will pray, that no creature may seem greater, better, or more regardable, or necessary to you than it is; and that you would look on all as walking shadows, vanity and liars (that is, untrusty), further than you can see God in them, or they lead you up to him; that they may never be over-loved, over-feared, over-trusted, or their thoughts too much regarded. 6. Above all, I'll pray that you may be less self-willed, and not to be too passionately or unmovably set upon the fulfilling of all your will; but may have a will that is compliant with the Will of God, and can change as he would have it; and will follow him, and not run before him; and can endure to be crossed, and denied by God and man, without discomposedness, and impatient trouble of mind. 7. I shall pray, that seeming wisdom may not entangle you, either in the concealment of any thing which greatly needeth your friends advice, or in the hiding of your talents by unprofitable silence, as to all good discourse, upon the emnity which you have to hypocrisy; and that you will not live in sins of omission, for sear of seeming better than you