Memorials of early piety. Occurring in the holy life & joyful death of Mrs.…

These were her Meditations by way of Preparation for a Day of Public Thanksgiving. We shall only further insert what is found among the Memorials of her walking with God, relating to a Day of Secret Prayer, between God and her own Soul. An Exercise of Piety, in which she was (as has been said) very frequent. The last of them was September 16. 1710. This being ⟨p. 27⟩(saith her Diary) the Day that I use to spend some time of it in Self-Examination; and in probability tis (if not the last) one of the last such Days that I shall have before I remove to House keeping, where it may be I shan't have that Leisure Time, nor that Opportunity of a Convenient Private Place, that now I have. I would feign spend as much of this Day as my Bodily Infirmities will permit, in Self-Examination, (though my Health won't suffer me to Fast) Humiliation, Repentance and Prayer. I have Experienced Gracious Answers of Prayer. When I was about to Marry, I set a Day apart in a special manner to seek unto my God, for a Blessing on that Affair. My God did Graciously Answer my Prayers then. Now I am to remove from this Habitation, I would seek unto God that He would order every Circumstance of that Affair in much mercy; that He would Pardon the Sins I have been Guilty of here; and that He will give me Grace to Glorify Him in all Places, ⟨p. 28⟩and in all Relations, and that He will give all that wisdom I shall want to guide all my affairs with discretion, and that He will also, if it be His holy Will, preserve my Life and Health. I am (I think) above five Months gone with Child, which has occasioned my being much indisposed at times. I would in a very special manner this day prepare for my Lying-in, and would therefore prepare for Death. I am of a very fearful disposition naturally, and am much afraid of Death, and therefore afraid what will be the issue of my being with Child; but I desire to commit my whole self, Soul and Body, and all the concerns thereof unto my God, and my Lord Jesus Christ; and particularly that affair of my Travail and Lying-in. My God has prevented my fears sometimes. I desire to trust in him that He will do so concerning this also. The Lord grant that I may be assured that my Sins are pardoned, and grant that I may through Christ obtain the victory over Death, & over my fears of Death. ⟨p. 29⟩And let the blessing of God be on me while I am with Child.