A26870:63
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 3: The workings of her soul in and after this Sickness.
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.
§. 2. When God had recovered her, her Mother ⟨p. 10⟩invited those that fasted and prayed for her, to keep a Day of Thanksgiving for her Deliverance. I asked her what she would have us give thanks for particularly? And in the morning as we began, she (that was recovered) gave us in this following Paper.
MY life hath been a life of very great mercies, and these have aggravated my sin in overlooking them. Some of those which God hath most affected my heart with, I shall here mention; but alas! with a heart very insensible of the greatness of them. 1. My Mothers restoration first I thank God did for; and next, for many Mercies of mine own. Four times before this, I have been delivered from great danger of death. And now I desire to acknowledge his mercy in delivering me from this death threatening disease, and that in answer to prayers I am here now in competent health to speak of the goodness of the Lord. 2. I desire to acknowledge it a mercy that God afflict me; and though I cannot with the Psalmist say, but now I keep thy statutes; I can say, before I was afflicted I went astray. And how many great sins God hath prevented by this affliction, I cannot tell; but am sure that God hath dealt very graciously with me; and I have had many comforts in my sufferings, which God hath not given to many of his beloved ones. 3. I desire to acknowledge Gods great mercy to me in bringing me to this Town, under so useful means of Grace; and that at such a time when I was even ready to engage in a course of sin and vanity, ⟨p. 11⟩beyond what I had formerly lived in. This mercy is much greatened by the time; for had the Lord brought me hither in Infancy, and removed me at riper years, the mercy would not have been so great. And if I had gone longer on in a course of hardening sins, it had been less than now it is. 4. I desire to acknowledge it a great mercy that I want no outward thing, but am enabled to be helpful unto others, and have all the temporal mercies that I can well desire, for my encouragement in the ways of God. 5. I desire to acknowledge it a great mercy that God hath given me an interest in the hearts and prayers of so many of his faithful servants in this place. 6. I desire to acknowledge it a great mercy, that God hath made me the child of godly Parents, and a child of many prayers. 7. I desire to acknowledge it a great mercy, which I can never be thankful enough for, that God hath given me a heart in any measure willing to acknowledge his mercies, and be thankful for them; and that notwithstanding all that sin and Satan hath done to hinder it, he hath made me desirous this day to give up my self and all that I have, to him; taking him only for my God and chief felicity.