A26870:159
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.
She was not willing to entice any into the way of the Ministry, as a common Trade to live by in the world; and would have had two or three Reading, Writing, and Catechising-Schools set up instead of one Grammar-School: And she would not have Parents make Scholars of bad children, nor send them to the Universities, lest when they had a little wordy Learning they should make themselves Ministers, ⟨p. 63⟩whether their Parents would or not; and so a swarm of such as had been a few years at the University, should think a Benefice their due, and take the charge of the souls of many, that never knew the worth of one, nor how it must be qualified and guided.
§. 21. Her expectations of liberality to the poor from others were too high, and her displeasure too great towards them that denied her; whereupon when she saw a worthy person in debt, or Prison, or great want, she would promise to gather them such a Sum, and sometimes she was put to pay most of it her self: But a Fortnight or Month before she died, she promised to get 20. l. towards the relief of one of known name and worth, and could get but 8. l. and somewhat over of it, and paid all the rest her self.
§. 22. Her judgment was, that we ought to give more or less to every one that asketh, if we have it; and that Neighbourhood, and notice, and asking, next to known indigence, and great worth, are the marks by which to know to whom God would have us give. I thought, that besides these, we must exercise prudence in discerning the degrees of need and worth. But she practised as she thought, and specially to them in Prison for debt; and blamed me if I denied any one.