A26870:244
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.
§. 7. And this History may teach us, that though God usually begin (as is said) our conversion in fears and penitent sorrows, it is holy and heavenly joy which it tendeth to, as more desirable; and we should chiefly seek, and should labour to moderate ⟨p. 98⟩fear and sorrow, and not think we can never have enough. It is too common an error with honest souls, to think that a hard heart lieth most in want of sorrow and tears, when as it lieth most in want of a tractable compliance, and yielding to the commands and will of God, and in an iron neck, and obstinate disobedience to God; and to think that a new and tender heart is principally a heart that can weep and mourn, when it is chiefly a heart that easily receiveth all the impressions of Gods commands, and promises, and threats, and easily yieldeth to his known will.
§. 8. And this may greatly warn us to fear and avoid self-willedness: I mean a will of our own that runs before the will of God, and is too much set on any thing which God hath not promised, and knows not how to bear a frustration or denial, but saith as Rachel, Give it me, or I die. We must learn to follow, and not to lead, and to say, The will of the Lord be done; not mine Lord, but thine; and in every estate to be content. There is no rest but in Gods will.
§. 9. Yet this tells us, that God dealeth better with his weak servants than they deserve, and turneth that oft times to their good, which they deserved should have been their greatest suffering.