A35578:256
The excellent woman a sermon preached at the funeral of Mrs. Elizabeth Scott ...…
The excellent woman a sermon preached at the funeral of Mrs. Elizabeth Scott ... on the 16 of Decemb. 1658 / by Tho. Case ...
A35578:256
The excellent woman a sermon preached at the funeral of Mrs. Elizabeth Scott ... on the 16 of Decemb. 1658 / by Tho. Case ...
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.
About the middle of April, 1645. there was the second rising in Kent, and I was grievously perplexed, thinking my husband, jewels, goods, and all I had, and my life, should have then by the risers been taken from me, and I was in exceeding fear, and dishonoured God by over much weeping and sorrowing before others, but that night I heard the Risers were suppressed, then I had much joy, and resolved through Gods strength that my heart should be weaned from the world, which before, I looked for much help from, ⟨p. 14⟩but I found none; I saw it was empty: then resolved I also to leave resting upon it, and to spend my life, and strength, and means of grace, to the uttermost advantage of Gods glory, and my souls eternal good; and never to sin away any opportunity of doing good, and service for his glory: Thus did I see, that this great straight, and dark Providence of the Lord wrought abundantly for my good. Two days after, I did in private by my self keep a day of fast, and had some grief for my own sin and others, and had some comfort in Gods acceptance, though I was much wanting in the performance of the same. After my fast day, there was a public day of thanksgiving for that mercy of subduing the Risers, my spirit was much sadded, that my heart was no more in frame suitable to the said day, that I did no ⟨p. 15⟩more rejoice in God in it. Afterward I had sweet assurance of Gods eternal love, and saw much vanity and emptiness in all earthly things, and desired to order my conversation aright. Again I kept another private day of fast by my self, and though much distempered yet had some hopes of acceptance. I kept another day of private fast by my self, to seek to God for more grace, to honour him, and that God would do also the same in my husband that he might honour God.
ABout the middle of April, 1645. there was the second rising in Kent, and I was grievously perplexed, thinking my husband, jewels, goods, and all I had, and my life, should have then by the risers been taken from me, and I was in exceeding fear, and dishonoured God by over much weeping and sorrowing before others, but that night I heard the Risers were suppressed, then I had much joy, and resolved through Gods strength that my heart should be weaned from the world, which before, I lookt for much help from, ⟨p. 14⟩but I found none; I saw it was empty: then resolved I also to leave resting upon it, and to spend my life, and strength, and meanes of grace, to the uttermost advantage of Gods glory, and my souls eternall good; and never to sin away any opportunity of doing good, and service for his glory: Thus did I see, that this great straight, and dark Providence of the Lord wrought abundantly for my good. Two days after, I did in private by my self keep a day of fast, and had some grief for my own sin and others, and had some comfort in Gods acceptance, though I was much wanting in the performance of the same. After my fast day, there was a publick day of thanksgiving for that mercy of subduing the Risers, my spirit was much sadded, that my heart was no more in frame suitable to the said day, that I did no ⟨p. 15⟩more rejoyce in God in it. Afterward I had sweet assurance of Gods eternall love, and saw much vanity and emptinesse in all earthly things, and desired to order my conversation aright. Again I kept another private day of fast by my self, and though much distempered yet had some hopes of acceptance. I kept another day of private fast by my self, to seek to God for more grace, to honour him, and that God would do also the same in my husband that he might honour God.
In August, 1647. a little after my husband died, my heart was exceedingly out of frame, but a Sabbath day at night the Lord came sweetly to me, in persuading me to trust in him from what he had done; So I had sweet assurance of his Eternal love through Christ at prayer, and the pardon of all my sins, and gave my ⟨p. 16⟩self to him to do with me what he would, and so the temptation and those thoughts went away, and I had sweet peace. Afterward we kept a fast in the family, to humble our selves for the breach in the death of my husband, and then I had great desires to honour God in my place, and gave up my self to God and had peace, and afterward sweet assurance that I was his. This Sacrament at Hawkherst I was not prepared as I ought to have been, the day before I lost my frame of grace exceedingly, by my unsensibleness of Ireland's misery, and being merry when I should have sorrowed, and on the Lords day morning before I went to the Sacrament, I had a grievous temptation, as if I might live without ordinances, and as if there were no necessity of them; O this deadened my heart to the duty, yet my faith fought ⟨p. 17⟩with it, and brought me to the Lords supper, where I received Christ, and gave my self to him, and found sweet comfort and strength from Christ in his Ordinance; and I do resolve in Christs strength, to walk holily and closely with God all my days to his honour, and to cleave close to Christ in all his Ordinances, whilst I can enjoy them. Being reproved by one, my heart did greatly rise, and I found I was not willing to submit to Gods will and ways in all things, but I had a great combat, and was resolved to submit to God in all, and saw more of my heart and the world then ever, and I had sweet influence from God and shinings of his face in prayer. The next Lords day after I had received the Sacrament, I went to the Sacrament again, my Lord having by a providence provided another feast for me, knowing my ⟨p. 18⟩necessities; and I did sit under Christs shadow, and did receive his body and blood by faith. Another Sacrament at evening I had very sweet fruits and effects of Christ in me. Another Sacrament afterward I was much failing and wanting in doing my duty and acting my grace, but God gave me Christ in free grace, and I desire to live by faith upon him, to him and his glory, giving my self to the Lord to be his, and not mine own;
and desire to live on Christ as my portion and strength.
In January, 1650. Mrs. Scot began another, of the sweet experiences (writes she) my God hath given me of his faithful performances of his Word and Promise to me. In January 1650. The Lord sweetly told me in the Ministry of his Word, out of the fourth Chapter of the Ephesians, the eighth Verse, how Christ had ⟨p. 19⟩led captivity captive in me, and for me in some measure; the same day, an occasion there was that caused my corruptions much to arise, but my God according to his Word did lead that captivity captive, and at night God gave me sweet comings in of himself into my sold, and sweet assurance, and some experience of the true & real work of Grace in me, & how God made the risings of sin the ruin of sin in me by Christ. The Lord gave me very sweet experience of his power in preserving me, when two in my family had the small pox, and three the measles, according to his word in Psal. 91.7. It shall not come nigh thee. O never distrust thy God more. After this, God did show me in some measure the cursed vileness of my nature, and suffered that bitter root of blasphemy to rise up in my heart, and God did this to punish ⟨p. 20⟩me, for my vain and sinful thoughts, but Jesus Christ made my faith to fight against it, but it was very sad and bitter to me, and after I was buffeted, God made me see the vileness of sin, and sinful thoughts, and made me in his strength resolve against all sin, and to hate it, and to walk closely with my God, and choose rather to offend all the world, then commit the least sin, and to lose all, and suffer all miseries, rather then commit the least sin; For God can make ones own heart and conscience a hell to one, and ones bed and all ones comforts bitter as death. And I desire to prize mercy, and close walkings with God, to lie down and rise up with him, and to pity others; This precious experience and lesson God taught me by that affliction, as by many other, and drave sin and vain thoughts from ⟨p. 21⟩me in some measure, making Christ sweet, and fulfilling his Word, in Rom. 6.14. and Rom. 8.28. My God doth give me sweet experience of the growth of grace in my soul, and all from the virtue of Christs blood.
Before this Sacrament, my preparations were not so great as they should have been, but my God did drive me from resting on any thing in my self, and brought me to him without money and without price, and gave me sweet assurance of the truth of the work of grace on my heart; I love him because he loved me first, and with his loving kindness did he draw me. This Sabbath when I went to the Sacrament, I saw my preparation small and my thoughts not so sweet as they should, but my heart desiring the Lord to order my thoughts aright, and act my graces in singing part of the 23 Psalm, before ⟨p. 22⟩morning Sermon, God sweetly melted me in some measure with some tears of love, and after did as it were sweetly take me by the hand, set me down at his table, and comfortably intimated it was my portion, and so I sat under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet unto my taste, and God did act my faith to take Christ, and pardon, sanctification, mortification in his blood, and sealed deliverance from temptations by his body broken and blood shed, and all the fruits thereof; some effects I had afterward, and the Word was sweet, and I came home rejoicing and resolving to live and die, to and for and with God, giving my self for ever to him, to live and move all in him and by him, to rest upon his word, and promise, and expect to live by him according to it; I desire to have such a day again to receive ⟨p. 23⟩Christ, I was many ways failing, all is free grace, God doth all that is good in me, for I am a hell by nature, but I have found most precious virtue in the blood of Jesus Christ, that it hath in some measure meekened my spirit and overcome wicked thoughts in me. Next Sacrament I was failing in my preparation and acting of my graces, and was troubled I had no more light of Gods countenance, and my corrupt nature was apt to rise: but God kept it down, and afterward taught me these lessons by it.
Before this Sacrament, my preparations were not so great as they should have been, but my God did drive me from resting on any thing in my self, and brought me to him without money and without price, and gave me sweet assurance of the truth of the work of grace on my heart; I love him because he loved me first, and with his loving kindnesse did he draw me. This Sabbath when I went to the Sacrament, I saw my preparation small and my thoughts not so sweet as they should, but my heart desiring the Lord to order my thoughts aright, and act my graces in singing part of the 23 Psalm, before
1. That sin was not so bitter to me, nor so bitterly bewailed by me, as it ought; the more bitter sin is, the sweeter is Christ.
2. That God would have me prize Ordinances to enjoy Christ, but not to rest upon them.
3. That I should live by faith ⟨p. 24⟩and not by sense, yea though there be no sense.
3. That I should live by faith ⟨p. 24⟩and not by sence, yea though there be no sence.
4. That Gods loving countenance is better then life, and that God would have me depending, and contented with whatsoever he will give: O that I could learn and practise these lessons, which were precious fruits of the Ordinances. This Sacrament I was failing in my meditation, examination, and excitation, and my dead heart much hindered me in the service of the living God, but the Lord brought me to his table with some assurance it was my portion, and I sat under his shadow, and he acted my graces, I desire to magnify free grace, and to expect strength from him to do it according to the Covenant sealed in his blood. This Sacrament I had some sweet actings of faith above sense, and assurance that God was my father ⟨p. 25⟩and his power and wisdom would order all things for my good. This Sacrament, though I did not mourn for my sins that did slay my Saviour, nor act sacramental repentance as I ought, yet by faith I received Jesus Christ, and came home with some comfort, and had some softness of heart. I had sweet expe•ience of my Gods answering my prayer in the very thing I desired. This Sacrament, though I did not receive so much of Christ as I desired, yet I had some sweet effects of his blood, in resolving in his strength not to give way to unbelief nor sin and desiring to come again to his Ordinance.
4. That Gods loving countenance is better then life, and that God would have me depending, and contented with whatsoever he will give: O that I could learn and practise these lessons, which were precious fruits of the Ordinances. This Sacrament I was failing in my meditation, examination, and excitation, and my dead heart much hindred me in the service of the living God, but the Lord brought me to his table with some assurance it was my portion, and I sat under his shadow, and he acted my graces, I desire to magnifie free grace, and to expect strength from him to do it according to the Covenant sealed in his bloud. This Sacrament I had some sweet actings of faith above sence, and assurance that God was my father ⟨p. 25⟩and his power and wisdom would order all things for my good. This Sacrament, though I did not mourn for my sins that did slay my Saviour, nor act sacramentall repentance as I ought, yet by faith I received Jesus Christ, and came home with some comfort, and had some softnesse of heart. I had sweet expeience of my Gods answering my prayer in the very thing I desired. This Sacrament, though I did not receive so much of Christ as I desired, yet I had some sweet effects of his blood, in resolving in his strength not to give way to unbelief nor sin and desiring to come again to his Ordinance.
This day I was at a fast, and God came sweetly in and melted my heart, and made his promise good, that they that wait on him shall renew their strength, God sweetly answered my […] ⟨p. 26⟩mercy for one of my children. This day I did receive Jesus Christ in the Sacrament, and came home rejoicing, and assured my sins were pardoned, and that Christ could as well be pulled out of heaven, as I pulled from Christ. I renewed my Covenant, I gave my self to my God for his service for ever. This Sacrament I did receive Jesus Christ, and sweet influence from him, and I desire to honour him in all things for ever, in my soul, body, estate, will, affections and all; I, and all I have are his, and to be at his ruling in all things at all times; These are fruits of Christs blood, I desire to bear about the world with me, the dying of the Lord Jesus, and to be crucified to the world by his cross, and to do and suffer for him, and endeavour the good of others souls, and I found my inward man much strengthened ⟨p. 27⟩and sin weakened. This Sacrament God gave me some resolutions, but I had not much comfort. This Sacrament, I had sweet assurance that my sins should be destroyed. I kept a fast day by my self, to seek help from God, in the great strait I was in; for no power but his could help me out and deliver me: The Lord did graciously assist me, and afterward I kept a fast in private with others about it, my heart was out of fra•e and very heavy, and perplexed, but God came in and melted, and made the duty very sweet; and at night, a sweet, quiet, and believing waiting frame came upon my spirit; God answered my prayer sweetly and particularly. That text in 1 Cor. 10.13. the Lord made good to me. I resolved to keep a fast by my self and humble my soul before the Lord, and pour out my complaint before him, and ⟨p. 28⟩seek strength from him; God sweetly encouraging me with many Scriptures, and melted my heart, oft pouring it into his bosom, and drew me out of my self into Jesus Christ. Again I kept a fast by my self to seek the Lord, and humble my self for my failings, and God did sweetly melt my heart, and helped me to pray, and made it a comfortable day, and I desire to hope and wait for a gracious answer, and God did answer me very graciously.
I kept another fast by my self, to seek the Lord to mortify my corruptions, that I might not dishonour him, but be acted by him and his grace, to his glory, and to order all for me aright according to his will; the Lord sweetly assisted me, and I desire to wait for an answer, and blessed be his name, he hath sweetly answered my prayer by many remarkable providences which I desire ⟨p. 29⟩to improve to his glory. God did visit me with a fever, and had shaken his rod at me before, but I took not warning as I should, for God is so gracious, that he delights not in afflicting the children of men, if they return. Gods chastising me was very full of tender gentleness, I felt little or no pain, but kept my bed from monday till saturday, and God chained up Satan that he did not at all tempt me, but I lay with abundance of peace and assurance of Gods love, and God made my bed for me, and raised me up again in much faithfulness, and showed me why he had contended with me, and I acknowledged Gods dealings exceeding just, merciful, and faithful. The sin that God did especially afflict me for at this time, as he did convince me, was, my great sinning about the Ordinances, God will be sanctified in ⟨p. 30⟩them that draw nigh to him, and I had been very formal in duties, & cold in them, neglected to go to Ordinances, did not prepare my self before I went as I should; coming sometimes late, distracted at holy duties, and was unprofitable under them, not so mourned when I heard Gods name blasphemed, glad when Sabbaths were done, and vain thoughts then also, guilty of much Sabbath profanation, in coming to the Lords day with a common worldly frame of heart, and having such a common worldly frame of heart on the said days; Being too long in bed on the Lords days mornings, and not doing duties as Sabbath duties, and not walking answerable to the Sabbath Ordinances I enjoyed. So that it was high time for God to come now.
I kept another fast by my self, to seek the Lord to mortifie my corruptions, that I might not dishonour him, but be acted by him and his grace, to his glory, and to order all for me aright according to his will; the Lord sweetly assisted me, and I desire to wait for an answer, and blessed be his name, he hath sweetly answered my prayer by many remarkable providences which I desire ⟨p. 29⟩
The experiences that I have got by this are, that God is very patient, and good, ⟨p. 31⟩and faithful, he will not leave me unpunished altogether, neither will he fail or forsake me in it, therefore I resolve in his strength to love him, fear him, and his goodness, serve him, walk closely with him, be zealous for him, give up my self & my all to be laid out for his glory, and in his service, and to sanctify him in all my drawings near to him, to serve him alone, in his strength, and the power and spirit of Christ enabling me, for if he leave me, to my self, I shall sin more then ever; these are some of the fruits I desire should come forth from this rod. I kept a Fast by my self to humble my soul before God, and renew my repentance, and seek help and direction from him, and my God made it a sweet day unto me. I kept another fast by my self for the same mercies that I did the other before, and the Lord did ⟨p. 32⟩much assist and help me to mourn for sin, and to pray for Zions peace, and of the land. I kept another fast by my self to humble my soul for mine own sins, and the sins of others, and to seek for direction in the straight I was in, and the Lord did help me, and after much and long seeking to God, the Lord did answer me.
The experiences that I have got by this are, that God is very patient, and good, ⟨p. 31⟩and faithful, he will not leave me unpunished altogether, neither will he fail or forsake me in it, therefore I resolve in his strength to love him, fear him, and his goodnesse, serve him, walk closely with him, be zealous for him, give up my self & my all to be laid out for his glory, and in his service, and to sanctifie him in all my drawings near to him, to serve him alone, in his strength, and the power and spirit of Christ enabling me, for if he leave me, to my self, I shall sinne more then ever; these are some of the fruits I desire should come forth from this rod. I kept a Fast by my self to humble my soul before God, and renew my repentance, and seek help and direction from him, and my God made it a sweet day unto me. I kept another fast by my self for the same mercies that I did the other before, and the Lord did ⟨p. 32⟩
In January, 1650. Mrs. Scot began another, of the sweet experiences (writes she) my God hath given me of his faithfull performances of his Word and Promise to me. In January 1650. The Lord sweetly told me in the Ministery of his Word, out of the fourth Chapter of the Ephesians, the eighth Verse, how Christ had ⟨p. 19⟩led captivity captive in me, and for me in some measure; the same day, an occasion there was that caused my corruptions much to arise, but my God according to his Word did lead that captivity captive, and at night God gave me sweet comings in of himself into my sould, and sweet assurance, and some experience of the true & real work of Grace in me, & how God made the risings of sinne the ruine of sin in me by Christ. The Lord gave me very sweet experience of his power in preserving me, when two in my family had the small pox, and three the measels, according to his word in Psal. 91.7. It shall not come nigh thee. O never distrust thy God more. After this, God did shew me in some measure the cursed vileness of my nature, and suffered that bitter root of blasphemy to rise up in my heart, and God did this to punish ⟨p. 20⟩me, for my vain and sinfull thoughts, but Jesus Christ made my faith to fight against it, but it was very sad and bitter to me, and after I was buffeted, God made me see the vilenesse of sinne, and sinful thoughts, and made me in his strength resolve against all sin, and to hate it, and to walk colsely with my God, and chuse rather to offend all the world, then commit the least sinne, and to lose all, and suffer all miseries, rather then commit the least sin; For God can make ones own heart and conscience a hell to one, and ones bed and all ones comforts bitter as death. And I desire to prize mercy, and close walkings with God, to lie down and rise up with him, and to pitty others; This precious experience and lesson God taught me by that affliction, as by many other, and drave sin and vain thoughts from ⟨p. 21⟩me in some measure, making Christ sweet, and fulfilling his Word, in Rom. 6.14. and Rom. 8.28. My God doth give me sweet experience of the growth of grace in my soul, and all from the virtue of Christs blood.
This day I was at a fast, and God came sweetly in and melted my heart, and made his promise good, that they that wait on him shall renew their strength, God sweetly answered my 〈…〉 ⟨p. 26⟩mercy for one of my children. This day I did receive Jesus Christ in the Sacrament, and came home rejoycing, and assured my sinnes were pardoned, and that Christ could as well be pulled out of heaven, as I pulled from Christ. I renewed my Covenant, I gave my self to my God for his service for ever. This Sacrament I did receive Jesus Christ, and sweet influence from him, and I desire to honour him in all things for ever, in my soul, body, estate, will, affections and all; I, and all I have are his, and to be at his ruling in all things at all times; These are fruits of Christs bloud, I desire to bear about the world with me, the dying of the Lord Jesus, and to be crucified to the world by his crosse, and to do and suffer for him, and endeavour the good of others souls, and I found my inward man much strengthened ⟨p. 27⟩and sin weakned. This Sacrament God gave me some resolutions, but I had not much comfort. This Sacrament, I had sweet assurance that my sins should be destroyed. I kept a fast day by my self, to seek help from God, in the great strait I was in; for no power but his could help me out and deliver me: The Lord did graciously assist me, and afterward I kept a fast in private with others about it, my heart was out of fra•e and very he•vy, and perplexed, but God came in and melted, and made the duty very sweet; and at night, a sweet, quiet, and believing waiting frame came upon my spirit; God answered my prayer sweetly and particularly. That text in 1 Cor. 10.13. the Lord made good to me. I resolved to keep a fast by my self and humble my soul before the Lord, and poure out my complaint before him, and ⟨p. 28⟩seek strength from him; God sweetly encouraging me with many Scriptures, and melted my heart, oft pouring it into his bosome, and drew me out of my self into Jesus Christ. Again I kept a fast by my self to seek the Lord, and humble my self for my failings, and God did sweetly melt my heart, and helped me to pray, and made it a comfortable day, and I desire to hope and wait for a gracious answer, and God did answer me very graciously.