And Oh! How much is this one Thing to be desired?—That whereas one Generation passeth away, and another cometh on, that which cometh on, may not be on the saddest Accounts another Generation, but that what there was of Heaven in those Handmaids of the Lord may Abide for ever among us. There has been a Set of Aged ⟨p. 41⟩and Pious Women taken from us, whereof we cannot but be desirous, that they who survive and succeed may Do like unto them. We read of some, Jud. II.17. They turned quickly out of the way which their Fathers walked in; Those obeyed the Commandments of the Lord; but these did NOT SO. But, O Children, let there not be cause to say, You turn quickly out of the way which your Mothers walked in; These walked with God; but you do NOT SO. I must say to you, That in multitudes of Instances, to have that Proverb actually made Good, As is the Mother, so is the Daughter, would be the way for us to have, Glory dwelling in our Land. It may be said of our departed Mothers, That they did Abound in Supplications Night and Day; and often set apart whole Days for Prayer with Fasting in secret Places before the ⟨p. 42⟩1Lord. 2God forbid, that it should be your Character, to lead Prayerless Lives, and rarely go alone to Pour out your Souls unto the Lord, and cast your Burdens on Him. It may be said of your departed Mothers, That they were Solicitous above all Things, to make their Calling and Election sure, and get their Evidences for Heaven cleared up. ‖God forbid, That it should ⟨p. 43⟩be your Character, To go on from Year to Year in a Neglect of the great Salvation, and unconcerned whether you are so Justified by Faith, as to be at Peace with God. It may be said of your departed Mothers, That they had a distressing Solicitude upon their Minds for the Conversion of their Children unto God, & their Preservation in the Right ways of the Lord. *God forbid, That it should be your Character, To leave your Children Uncultivated ⟨p. 44⟩with the best Endowments, and be able to bear their going on still in their Trespasses. In a Word; Your Mothers are your Monitors, and will not be your Gomforters, No, but your grievous Accusers, if you do not walk after the manner of the Old Time, and as the Holy Women, who trusted in God, and adorned themselves with such Things as are of great Price in the Sight of God.
And Oh! How much is this one Thing to be desired?—That whereas one Generation passeth away, and another cometh on, that which cometh on, may not be on the saddest Accounts another Generation, but that what there was of Heaven in those Handmaids of the Lord may Abide for ever among us. There has been a Set of Aged ⟨p. 41⟩and Pious Women taken from us, whereof we cannot but be desirous, that they who survive and succeed may Do like unto them. We read of some, Jud. II.17. They turned quickly out of the way which their Fathers walked in; Those obey'd the Commandments of the Lord; but these did NOT SO. But, O Children, let there not be cause to say, You turn quickly out of the way which your Mothers walked in; These walked with God; but you do NOT SO. I must say to you, That in multitudes of Instances, to have that Proverb actually made Good, As is the Mother, so is the Daughter, would be the way for us to have, Glory dwelling in our Land. It may be said of our departed Mothers, That they did Abound in Supplications Night and Day; and often set apart whole Days for Prayer with Fasting in secret Places before the ⟨p. 42⟩1Lord. 2God forbid, that it should be your Character, to lead Prayerless Lives, and rarely go alone to Pour out your Souls unto the Lord, and cast your Burdens on Him. It may be said of your departed Mothers, That they were Sollicitous above all Things, to make their Calling and Election sure, and get their Evidences for Heaven cleared up. ‖God forbid, That it should ⟨p. 43⟩be your Character, To go on from Year to Year in a Neglect of the great Salvation, and unconcerned whether you are so Justified by Faith, as to be at Peace with God. It may be said of your departed Mothers, That they had a distressing Sollicitude upon their Minds for the Conversion of their Children unto God, & their Preservation in the Right ways of the Lord. *God forbid, That it should be your Character, To leave your Children Uncultivated ⟨p. 44⟩with the best Endowments, and be able to bear their going on still in their Trespasses. In a Word; Your Mothers are your Monitors, and will not be your Gomforters, No, but your grievous Accusers, if you do not walk after the manner of the Old Time, and as the Holy Women, who trusted in God, and adorned themselves with such Things as are of great Price in the Sight of God.
- 1I have obtained a fair Absolution, for it, if I allow my Page to be illustrated with Two or Three Passages, from the Private Papers of a Departed Mother, here crowded into the Margin.I have obtained a fair Absolution, for it, if I allow my Page to be illustrated with Two or Three Passages, from the Private Papers of a Departed Mother, here crouded into the Margin.
- 2† She Writes thus: While I was a Child, I loved the Ways of God; I took great Delight in secret Communion with God in Prayer. From the Example of Daniel, I did not live one Day without Prayer to God Three times a Day. But as I grew Older, Temptations and Afflictions came upon me, that I found, there was no living quietly, without more Acquaintance with my Redeemer. I then pray'd Six times a Day. She Writes thus:, I kept a Fast lately, and found such Communion with God, and Answer of Prayer, that I long'd for such another Opportunity. Therefore I came again into the Presence of God for Grace and Mercy. They that will Fast with God, shall Feast with Him too!† She Writes thus: While I was a Child, I loved the Ways of God; I took great Delight in secret Communion with God in Prayer. From the Exemple of Daniel, I did not live one Day without Prayer to God Three times a Day. But as I grew Older, Temptations and Afflictions came upon me, that I found, there was no living quietly, without more Acquaintance with my Redeemer. I then pray'd Six times a Day. She Writes thus:, I kept a Fast lately, and found such Communion with God, and Answer of Prayer, that I long'd for such another Opportunity. Therefore I came again into the Presence of God for Grace and Mercy. They that will Fast with God, shall Feast with Him too!
- ‖She Writes thus: I was afraid after all I must Perish: But God caused me to give no Rest to my Eyes, nor Slumber to my Eyelids, till I had great Assurance of His Love, and of Eternal Happiness when this frail Life should be ended.
- *She Writes thus: I kept a Day of Fasting and Prayer, That God would bestow special Grace upon all the Family; and that He would keep all our poor Children, that not one of them should be Guilty of any Scandalous Sins, nor live in any Secret Sins. Oh! Lord, Let not one of my Children Perish; no, Not one, Not one of them! Lord, Let not me be Guilty of the Blood of any one of their Souls. I know, I take much, and it is well if not too much Care of their Bodies; But, Lord, I pray, that I may take much more Care of their Neverdying Souls. Oh! That I may Discharge a good Conscience on that Account! Of her Children, she Writes thus further; I was often afraid in having many Children, lest I should have one more than Jesus Christ would accept of: But now I desire to believe for them all.
