About the beginning of her last sickness, she sent for me to her, whom (though the meanest of many that resorted unto her) in regard of some bond of alliance she desired to be, and made account she might be boldest withal; and before some few of her familiar friends, made a worthy and pithy confession and profession of her Faith, too long to relate; laid open the grounds and notes of her assurance fetched forth of Gods word, of Gods love unto her, and of her own unto God; requesting either to be better informed, if in ought she were mistaken, or to have further confirmed by pregnant proofs out of Gods book, what she rightly apprehended. And this was the work that by her good will she then desired to be continually taken up with; forgetting her pains and weakness when she was about it, and neglecting her natural rest to attend it. So that she might well say to God with David, sOh how love I thy law? it is my continual meditation. And with Job, tI have preferred the words of thy mouth, not only before my most desired food, but ⟨image 7⟩before my most needful and natural rest. Yea so eager was she upon these things, that I was enforced oft to persuade her to forbear, considering her great weakness, and to intermit the intention of her meditation, by giving some way to rest and repose. And here I cannot pass by one speech used by her upon such an occasion, which the rather I relate, to provoke others by her example not to neglect the means of mercy and grace that God vouchsafeth them now, while they may follow them. After long discourse to and fro, perceiving, as I thought, her eyes to wax heavy, and her spirits fainty, and well knowing what need she had of some refreshing, I advised her to compose her self unto rest, which her long want of it required, and her eyes seemed to incline unto, that it was best to take it while she might, lest she should after, want it when she would. Her answer was that this was her best rest, & that which she found best refreshing & sweetest repose in; and that, said she, which you say of the one, may I much better say of the other: if to give way to rest I forbear those means of comfort that God by your presence now affordeth me, I may hereafter want them when I would, and shall need them.
About the beginning of her last sicknes, she sent for me to her, whom (though the meanest of many that resorted vnto her) in regard of some bond of alliance she desired to be, and made account shee might be boldest withall; and before some few of her familiar frends, made a worthy and pithy confession and profession of her Faith, too long to relate; laid open the grounds and notes of her assurance fetched forth of Gods word, of Gods loue vnto her, and of her owne vnto God; requesting either to be better informed, if in ought she were mistaken, or to haue further confirmed by pregnant proofes out of Gods booke, what she rightly apprehended. And this was the worke that by her good will shee then desired to be continually taken vp with; forgetting her paines and weaknes when she was about it, and neglecting her naturall rest to attend it. So that she might well say to God with Dauid, sOh how loue I thy law? it is my continuall meditation. And with Iob, tI haue preferred the words of thy mouth, not onely before my most desired foode, but ⟨image 7⟩before my most needfull and naturall rest. Yea so eager was she vpon these things, that I was enforced oft to perswade her to forbeare, considering her great weaknes, and to intermit the intention of her meditation, by giuing some way to rest and repose. And here I cannot passe by one speech vsed by her vpou such an occasion, which the rather I relate, to prouoke others by her example not to neglect the meanes of mercy and grace that God vouchsafeth them now, while they may follow them. After long discourse to and fro, perceiuing, as I thought, her eyes to wax heauy, and her spirits fainty, and well knowing what need she had of some refreshing, I aduised her to compose her self vnto rest, which her long want of it required, and her eyes seemed to incline vnto, that it was best to take it while she might, lest she should after, want it when she would. Her answer was that this was her best rest, & that which she found best refreshing & sweetest repose in; and that, said she, which you say of the one, may I much better say of the other: if to giue way to rest I forbeare those meanes of comfort that God by your presence now affordeth me, I may hereafter want them when I would, and shall neede them.
- sPsal. 119 97.
- tJob. 23. 12.
