A26870:124
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
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.
§. 4. But that even this was not from a covetous mind, is evident by these instances. 1. Though her ⟨p. 48⟩Portion (which was 2000 l. besides that given up aforesaid) was (by ill debtors) 200 l. lost in her Mothers time, and 200 l. after, before her Marriage; and all she had reduced to almost 1650 l. yet she never grudged at any thing that the poverty of Debtors deprived her of.
2. She had before been acquainted with the Lord Chancellor's offering me a Bishopric; and though it might have taken off the censure of those Relations that thought she debased her self in marrying me, and also might have seemed desirable to her for the Wealth as well as the Honour; she was so far from desiring my accepting it, that I am persuaded had I done it, it would have alienated her much from me in point of esteem and love. Not that she had any opinion against Episcopacy then (that ever I could perceive) but that she abhorred a worldly mercenary mind in a Minister of Christ, and was a sharp Censurer of all that for gain, or honour, or worldly ends, would stretch their consciences to any thing that they thought God forbade. And I am assured (though towards her end she wished she had been abler to relieve the needy, and do more good; yet) she lived a far more contented life in our mean condition, even when she stooped to receive from others that had been strangers to her, than she would have done had I been a Bishop, and she had had many thousand pounds more at her dispose; yea I am persuaded the would not easily have endured it.
2. She had before been acquainted with the Lord Chancellor's offering me a Bishoprick; and though it might have taken off the censure of those Relations that thought she debased her self in marrying me, and also might have seemed desirable to her for the Wealth as well as the Honour; she was so far from desiring my accepting it, that I am persuaded had I done it, it would have alienated her much from me in point of esteem and love. Not that she had any opinion against Episcopacy then (that ever I could perceive) but that she abhorred a worldly mercenary mind in a Minister of Christ, and was a sharp Censurer of all that for gain, or honour, or worldly ends, would stretch their consciences to any thing that they thought God forbad. And I am assured (though towards her end she wisht she had been abler to relieve the needy, and do more good; yet) she lived a far more contented life in our mean condition, even when she stoopt to receive from others that had been strangers to her, than she would have done had I been a Bishop, and she had had many thousand pounds more at her dispose; yea I am persuaded the would not easily have endured it.