The excellent woman a sermon preached at the funeral of Mrs. Elizabeth Scott ...…

II. As she was careful not to omit any public opportunity, so also as careful of private duties, she would be sure not to lose her closet time, where she was frequent and long, even when others were at their rest; I lying in the Chamber over her, have often heard her up at one of the clock in the night or rather morning. The Church hath a great loss of her prayers, many a petition did she put up in her closet, and floods of tea•• did she pour forth, insomuch that her eyes have been sore for some days together (which otherwise were very well) when any calamity hath been upon the Church of God, o• the Lord dishonoured by any nearly related to her, her tears have been so many that I have behold furrows on her cheeks, and so likewise upon fasting days, she was so conscientious in keeping her closet-time, ⟨p. 108⟩that all her ordinary business did stay till she had done; and when any of her family have gone to her closet door, and told her some would speak with her, or came to visit her; If the business were petty, or only visitors, let them have been who they would, she would stay out her time, knowing the Lady her Mother was below to entertain them; but if the business were of great importance, then she would come; But, to be sure make haste to her closet again. O the sweetness she found in her closet communions! that she would spend so much time there in the forenoons, as that scarce she had time to dress her self; often saying, her dressing time was the worst time of all her time; often bidding her maid make haste, saying, why are you so long, I hate to spend so much time in dressing for this is lost ⟨p. 109⟩time; and whilst her maid was dressing her, she would be making up Letters, or winding up her watch, or some employment or other, not enduring to stand idle any time in the least measure, though it were but a very little time; She would not (she said) for a great deal spend so much time in dressing as many do, knowing how to spend her time if she had more▪ And saying, I like this fashion well either in her apparel or dressing, that soonest could be put on, and take up least time; often charging her maid, to get all things ready against she came to be dressed, saying she could hardly afford her self time to be dressed; yea in the winter evenings would she be long in her closet. She was a diligent reader of the Scripture privately by her self every day.