A26870:74
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.
§. 6. Yet she continued under great fears, that she had not saving Grace, because she had not that degree of holy affection which she desired: And before in her sickness, her fears increased her disease and danger. I will here, for the use of others in the like case, recite some scraps of a Letter of counsel, as I find them transcribed by her self.
I Advise you to set more effectually to the means of your necessary consolation; your strange silent keeping your case to your self (from your mother, and all your friends), is an exceeding injury to your peace. Is it God, or Satan that hindereth you from opening your sore, and make you think that concealment is your wisdom? If it be pride that forbids it, how dare you obey such a commander? Many of our sores are half healed when ⟨p. 23⟩well opened: if Prudence foresee some forbidding inconvenience, you have prudent friends, and two prudent persons may see more than one. But because you will not tell us, I will disjunctively tell it you. 1. Your trouble of soul is either some affliction. 2. Or some sin. 3. Or the doubt of your sincerity and true grace. I. If it be affliction, dare you so indulge impatience, as to conclude against your future comforts, while you have Gods love and title to salvation? Dare you say that these are of so small weight, that a cross like yours will weigh them down? and that you will not rejoice in all the promises of life eternal, till your Cross be removed? II. If it be sin, it is either past or present: if past, why do you not repent, and thankfully accept your pardon? If present, it is inward corruption, or outward transgression. Which ever it be, if you love it, why do you grieve for it, and groan under it? If you grieve for it, why are you not willing to leave it, and be holy? If you are willing to leave it, and would fain have Gods grace in the use of his means, to make you holy, this is the true nature of Repentance: And why then are you not thankful for grace received, for Pardon, Adoption, and your part in Christ, more than you are troubled for remaining sin? Should none rejoice that have sin to trouble them, and keep them in a daily watch and war? Read