A legacy for saints;: being several experiences of the dealings of God with Anna Trapnel, in, and after her conversion, (written some years since with her own hand) and new coming to the sight of some friends, they have judged them worthy of publike view; together with some letters of a latter date, sent to the congregation with whom she walks in the fellowship of the Gospel, and to some other friends.

HItherto you have had an account of the Pro∣ceedings of God with her, from the beginning of his Works in her, in various dispensations of Free-Grace, through Light and Darkness, Liberty and Bondage; wherein the deep and more discerning Generation of Christians may discover the beginnings and growing up of the child Jesus in her, unto greater measures of Wisdom and Power then are common to most Saints: and withall, some hints from God of the plea∣sure of his will, to magnifie the Wonders and Powers of his Spirit by her, in some notable and transcending way; where God begins to break down the Walls of flesh in a Creature, in such a rending way, upon those ruines he raiseth up a foun∣dation of Heaven and of Glory to be admired; In the deeps do men behold the wonders of the Lord; and be lays the foundation of his Chambers in the depths. Here followeth a Relation how the Glory of God appeared in her, in a time of sore sickness, when to all appearance she was nigh unto death shewing the precious and Powerfull faith that wrought in her, and the mighty witness of God to the truth of her faith in a Glorious Effect of his Power demonstrated upon her in a visible way; whereby god would seem as by a vi∣sible Sign to manifest that the Invisible God dwells in her, and would put to silence the Ignorance, Pride, and Rage of flesh against the Presence and Power of God in her: And whereby she seems to be set forth of God as an Example to all

them that believe of a Faith and Power with God that is to be attained, beyond what most have yet received the enjoyment of; The Mysterie of Faith with Power in the heights and depths of it, being yet very little understood, and less enjoyed by the Lords dearest Children; For whose sake this is come forth at length after some years Concealment, and the rather in such a day as this: wherein the Saints are called to put on again the Faith once delivered: whereby they overcame all things both within and without, and all things became subject unto them: The account hereof follows as it was de∣livered to us in her own Words and Writings.

IT being the desire of all the Saints, and of all that wish well to Sion to hear of the experiences each of other, that they have in the pourings out of the Spi∣rit, which God hath said he will pour out in the lat∣ter days upon all flesh; his Sons and his Daughters shall Prophesie, many promises we have in the like nature; And faith Christ, those that believe as the Scripture hath said, out of their belly shall flow Rivers of living Waters; this spake he of the Spirit which should be given after his Ascention to the Father; therefore the Saints are to expect it, and the more the Spirit ap∣pears, the greater will be the rage of Antichrist; but the greater their Tribulations are, the nearer will be their time of deliverance; and Christ encourages Saints to list up their heads, for their Re∣demption draweth nigh; And Christ tells believers it is not only given them to believe, but to suffer; and the Apostle bids us not think it strange concerning fiery Tryals: for such things we must meet withall before we enter into Glory, even that glory promi∣sed the Saints in this life. Now Saints, the dropings and glimmer∣ings of the Spirit begin to appear, the day begins to dawn, the day-star shall appear in its brightness, so that it shall be said to the Saints, arise and shine, for your light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon you; then shall the Saints be of one mind, and one heart, and shall not need to teach one another; Saying, know the Lord, for they shall all be taught of God, from the least to the greatest, and then shall light break forth as at noon day; Surely, then believers shall be more frequent in calling to each other, to tell what God hath done for their souls, as I the most unworthy servant of the Lord Jesus, am engaged to declare what God hath lately done for me, putting forth his Power, both for the remov∣ing of the distemper from soul and body, which now I shall re∣late to the praise and glory of Free-Grace; And I doubt not but

that it will be to the joy of all the Saints, for unto them I call to magnifie the Lord with me, and that we may exalt his name toge∣ther; for it should be the delight of Saints to set up God, and not self, because what they are or have is all by Grace, so that the Psalmist saith, Not unto us, but unto thy name be the praise; this O friends! this makes me to abhor my self in dust and ashes, be∣cause I have seen the Lord more then in an ordinary manner; So that I cannot but speak the things which I have seen and heard from the holy Spirit, and this may be sufficient to draw out your attentions, and serious considerations to that experience I am about to speak through the strength of the Spirit which bears wit∣ness to what I speak to be truth, which Spirit shall lead into all truth. Saints, let me tell you, or the Spirit making use of me to tell you, that though a Cloud and Darkness may for a time cover your Spirits after you are Called, and Justified, and Sanctified by the holy Spirit in believing, for the Tryal of your faith which is much more precious then Gold or Silver, for certainly when God seems to be at a distance from the soul in respect of Communion, so that God seems to be afar off, and yet the soul made one Spirit with the Lord Jesus; And this was my condition, that though I could own God as my Father, and had the Spirit of Adoption, whereby I could cry Abba, Father, and faith given to believe the pardon of all my sins past, present, and to come, even then my Spirits were ready to crack in the apprehension of my self the greatest of sinners, though brought up in the most strictest ways of God, according to that light, even from my Cradle, never given to any licentious ways, as I could say much to this purpose, when I came to look on God as a consuming fire.

But I shall forbear to set forth the dealings of God with me before and after Conversion, and in Conversion; which my Con∣version was four years ago, wanting about a Quarter of a year, and for a year I may say I lived in the Regions of Heaven, being always rejoycing and praysing God, but since that many Clouds of Darkness hath passed over my Spirits; But to speak of the late deal∣ings of God with me about half a year before my sickness, my Spi∣rits groaned after the pourings forth of the Spirit, that so there might be a greater perfection break forth in my words, thoughts and actions: The Word perfect did much seize upon my spirits, but the more I sought for it, the further off (it went; to my ap∣prehension)

God was at a distance from me, yet in the greatest darkness I had the light of Union, but my soul breathed after Communion with my God, that though when I was among the Saints, Enlargements were given in; Yet when I was separated from them, and thinking to have Communion with God alone, my mouth hath been stopped, and my spirits in a Prison, not able to speak to God, because God spake not to me; For the Creature cannot speak till God speaks, but I still thirsted, and my soul panted, as the Hart after the water brooks; And the nearer the time of light grew, the thicker I apprehended the Cloud; But praised be my Father that hath wrought a deliverance in me, for me, a stregthening of the Inward man, in decaying of the Outward (I cannot but say a) sickness, but it was no more then a bodily weak∣ness, and though a great weakness, and extream pain took hold of my body, all pain and distemper was removed from my spirits in a moment.

The beginning of my distemper of body was about the seven∣teenth of June 1646. And from that time it waxed more and more upon me, but I strove against it as long as I could, and went abroad till the latter end of the forenamed moneth; about the twenty eighth day I took my Chamber, the feverish distemper growing still stronger; and the beginning of July, which is so called, on the first day of that moneth, which was the fourth day of the week in the morning, I had thoughts to go forth, thinking the Feaver had been wearing away, but on a suddain that morning a great extre∣mity of pain seized on my body, that as soon as I was out of my bed, I was fain to lye down again, and it was in much pains, and great heaviness of spirit, and a rending of heart, so that I watered my Couch with my tears, and I lay very heavy in spirit all that day, and much pained in body, and by that time night came, my strength of body was quite taken from me, so that I could not help my self, but friends were fain to help me into bed, and assoon as I was laid, I felt the knot unknit, and the heaviness of my spirits removed, and darkness expelled, and Sathan fled, and corruptions mortified, and all distempers of spirit disbanded, that now instead of a Chaos of Confusion, a Fabrick of Glory was set before me; And my spirit was so drawn forth in a view of God, so much glory was presented before me, such Visions of the Eternal God, that tongue is not able to express; the Raptures were so great, that I

was not sensible of a body, whether in the body or out of the body God knows; But these discoveries were as coals of fire within me, which could not be kept in, and these pourings forth of love had in them such a heat that it melted my frozen spirits, which caused my eyes to drop tears, that though in the morning my spi∣rits were rended, at evening the Son of Righteousness arose with healing in his wings, and uttering his Voice, telling me he was my beloved that would not leave me, and thus renewing of my for∣mer Evidences I had from Scripture, when the power of God en∣abled me to believe for my free Justification in the Lord Jesus, and also giving in immediately from himself in Scripture Language, as thus: I am thy father that hath pardoned thy iniquity for my own names sake, and I will never remember thy sins against thee any more, for I thy God change not, but rest in my love, and rejoyce over thee with joy and singing, as it is written; And thus the Lord told me that though I had been as an untamed Heifer, like Ephraim in my thoughts and words; yet his bowels of love were not straitned towards me, but he looked on me as one of his be∣loved ones in the Lord Jesus.

This speech from God came with a mighty lustre beyond what I am able to express, and that Scripture mixed with it, Hos. 14, I have healed thy back-slidings, and loved thee freely, and I lay not this weakness on thy body to upbraid thee, because thou hast lived so long in the flesh, and walked so little in the spirit, but this weakness on thy body, is, that the power of thy God may be made manifest; And I saith the Lord wil teach and instruct thee, and in∣form, and reform thee by this my visitation which is in my love to thee; and the Lord was pleased to tell me the reason why my re∣proofs took so little effect on the Saints, that it was because I did not tell them of their faults in a way of love, and in the meekness of my Saviour, and he sweetly informed me, and told me for the future how I should speak to the Saints, and God ••lrried me out all the time of my sickness to speak suitable unto persons, accord∣ing to each conditions.

And thus God came in the first night, the flood of Divine excel∣lency shined down mightily, that some Saints standing by me could not but conclude that certainly I was going out of the body, think∣ing that ere long I should be in enjoyment of what I saw expresly flow from the Spirit, which to them it appeared so glorious, that

they were amazed that stood by me, and that night I still conti∣nued speaking, or rather the spirit in me.

And the next day I was desirous to be out of the body, I longed to be dissolved, and while I continued pleading with God to be out of the body, entreating to go hence, that so I might be swallowed up in glory, lest continuing in the body, I should act in the flesh, and so dishonour my loving father; and in the midst of this and many other requests to God, this Scriprure was presented, Hosea 6.2. which voice was from God, my thoughts not being on it, nor none speaking of it but God alone; it came thus, after two daies I will revive thee, and the third day I will raise thee up, and thou shalt live in my sight, and with a full per∣swasion that I should recover; but I said Lord, this Scripture holds out my resurrection, or the restoring of the Jews, I was an∣swered it was to manifest my recovery; but this departed from me, and the glory of God shined exceeding bright, and through the sweet odour of the savour of the spirit, which Scripture com∣pares to ointment, which mightily drew out my love to my Savi∣our and to the Saints, debasing and loathing my self, and my love was drawn out to the greatest persecutors of our times, I could have lain under their feet to have done them good; and many Scriptures were presented, and a three-fold interpretation given on them; Scriptures never appeared so sweet to me as they did then, and as many as the spirit brings to my remembrance, I shall relate.

Further on the Lords day after, (so indeed it was to me a Lords day) in the fore-noon as I lay in the strength of the fever, burning very much within, but without like a clod, and my stomack be∣ing shut up, not able to take the creatures, nor to hear them spo∣ken of, my stomack was so weak, that all that fortnight I lay and took nothing but small beer, & a little juice of cherries, or conserve of currants, I took a little sometimes for cooling of me, I did so burn in my throat and stomack; I remained thus like a dead car∣case in respect of bodily strength, but filled with the spirit; and as I lay on the said Lords day, this Scripture came in with a very great strength in the middest of Divine contemplation; it was spoken this second time, after two daies I will revive thee, then I was drawn forth to ask of God his mind to his hand-maid from that

Scripture, and my request was thus answered; one day with me, saith the Lord, is as a thousand, and a thousand as one day; but then I said, Lord, reveal the meaning of two daies, and it was pre∣sently given in, the two da••es are two weeks, after two weeks, I will recover thee; a perswasion came in with great confidence in believing, that at that season God unloosed the bands of my spi∣rit, he would unloose the weakness of my body; though con∣trary to reason it was even that night two weeks, that my soul was set at liberty that my body should be healed; and God spake thus to me, did I not tell thee I would work a wonder in Israel? and did I not say unto thee, if thou wouldst believe, thou shalt see the glory of thy God? these Scripture languages were spoken to me in the spirit, encouraging me to believe, though the body should grow weaker, as it did afterward, and after the second appearing of God, I desired rather to be out of the body then in it, and when I breathed forth to God how I should live in the body, it was answered me, to the glory of thy God, is not my grace sufficient for thee? and art thou afraid to live in the body for fear of the strength of corruptions? Sin shall not have dominion over thee, for thou art not under the Law, but under Grace, and through the strength of thy Saviour, thou shalt be able to conquer all thy enemies, and get the victory over the greatest Giant-corruption and tempta∣tion; therefore be not faithless, but believing, it is for my glory thy recovery; then I said, Lord, do with me what thou wilt; if thou beest glorified in it, whatsoever thy servant suffers, it mat∣ters not; when the Lord told me of that glory he would have in my recovery, my spirit was satisfied in urging it to God any more to take me out of the body. Now I looked for a fur∣ther unfolding of God in this thing, now I knew it should be fur∣ther sealed to me, but I knew not the time when God would seal it to me; so that when my friends desired me to settle things con∣cerning outward affairs, nothing but death being expected and feared by them, and to my own sence and feeling, and yet belie∣ved otherwise; and I desired my friends to wait a while, for I told them I believed a recovery, and •• told them upon what grounds, but I bid them be silent, for if God had a purpose to take me hence, he would reveal it to me; but I told them, surely I should be raised here by a mighty power, for I knew it must be a great power to raise up one so dead in the body, that could not rise out

of my bed all that fortnight, but as five lifted me out one night; and I was so extream earthy, even as lead, that they had much ado to lift me into bed again, and I slept not, but talked night and day, the pourings forth of the spirit was such, when I did slum∣ber, and that was but little, but then I felt my pain and weak∣ness very much; now the greatest extremity did not affright me, though sometimes my bones hath been shaken in my flesh, my joints unloosed, and sometimes great pains, as if my bones had been pulled asunder: such torture hath seized upon me, and sick fits; that the parties which watched by me hath bowed me double, to keep breath in me, when I have been cold, and my breath cold within me, and to sence a breathing out my last breath, so that my friend that watched with me, desired to call other friends, but I intreated her to wait; much ado I had to speak, yet at that instant God told me my breath should be given me, and the vitals of my spirits restored that were sinking, the Lord gave me faith to be∣lieve, and I found at that time the power of the most high.

And the next day about the same hour I had an extream fit of shaking, to the amazement of those that stood by, and I desired a friend to raise me up in the bed, and as she held me, she askt me why I shook so; I told her the earthly Tabernacle must be shaken, and God would lay it lower before he restored it, that so his power may be made manifest, which he spake of at the beginning of my weakness; and this extremity came on me after the second perswasion given me by my God from that Scripture spoken of which came to me on the first day of the week.

On the third day of the week, the Lord sent me Mr. Green∣hil, Minister of Gods word, who assoon as I beheld, I could not but say, behold the man of God, such joy was in my spirits, which I could not but utter forth; when I saw the Saints I was mightily filled with rejoycing, and after I had declared those Revelations given into my spirit to this Minister of God, and other Saints that were then by, and the Spirit came with such a mighty gale upon me, that though I desired to be slow to speak, and swift to hear, yet then I could not; & when they desired me to tel them of the distemper of my body, when I have but spoke a lit∣tle of that, I have been tyred so, that I told them, to speak of my body, was but lost time; but if they would hear of Divine things;

I was free from them, I moved in the right sphear, and was in my center; it was my delight to tell of the unfoldings of God, for as I told them it was my desire to spend, and to be spent for the Lord Jesus; and when they desired me to take to creatures, I an∣swered them I would, but I could not; they wished me to take the advice of the Physician, I told them I had not faith to make use of him, and whatever is not of faith is sin; and besides, I told them, I could not get down any thing my stomack was so weak and closed up, many arguments they brought to me, but God gave in answers to all of them; but after thus speaking, they were about to go away, and not to praise and pray with me, but there was such an earnestness stirred up within me to entreat prayer; that I never desired any with that eagerness and fervency of spirit to pray as I did Mr. Greenhil, though he told me he would, but that it would weaken my Tabernacle, and he said the waters many times arise so high, that they wash down the banks, yet I could not let him go, till he had joyned in praises with me, and prayer for me; and to me it appeared such a prayer of faith, that I never heard him pray so, and when the Spirit breathed in him for my re∣covery, he said Lord strengthen thine hand-maids perswasion; no sooner were these words gone forth, which I am sure was from the Spirit, and it was the purpose of God at that time to seal to that which was before spoken; therefore God so stirred me up, so to desire prayer, because that was the time of Gods intentions to give me a farther testimony; and as the words before mentioned came forth, it was stampt upon my spirits in much glory and ma∣jesty in these words; it is finished, be it according unto thy faith; then I was confident without staggering, that I should recover, though I saw no probability in body, for that continued still weaker and like earth, even the Sent of a dead carcase: but God carried me up abundantly in believing, that after this I said: Friends, now I dare not question any more, because it is the voice of my God, that hath spoken it, and no delusion; therefore I said I am not afraid to tell the whole world, if I could see them, that God would raise me up at the time, that though the stript me of my strength of body, he would restore it to me again, even at that night as I said before, God making it out to me by Scripture, and after sealing it to me.

But to tell you how I was that night after Mr. Greenhil was gone; about the ninth hour, that night an extream pain seized on me, and my throat was very sore and a swelling in my mouth, which even stopt my breath, and Satan violently seized on me, tempting me strongly, that my breath that night might be stopt, and I might have a quincy in my throat, and death take me away suddenly, and then what will become of thy faith? No sooner came this attempt, though very strongly, yet stronger was he that was within me, then he that is of the world, and God gave me a word to say to Satan immediatly, which was this; avoid Satan, God is true, and thou art a lyer, it is the voice of my God, I have heard, and I know it is true, and ere morning my throat and mouth was healed; then I saw the love and power of God in that, but the Fever continued very much burning, & my body outward∣ly like a clod of earth cold, and yet in great sweats, that I have been as in a reaking bath, when I have done speaking, that I have been removed from one side of the bed to the other, yet nothing troubled me, neither cold nor heat, and it was a time of extream heat to others, they could not tell how to endure it, it was so faint a time, yet I complained of nothing, the carryings up of God were such, that when company was restrained from me through the tender love of my friends, yet I could not but utter my voice, such a mighty spirit of prayer was poured on me, in my weakness, that when none were with me, I could not keep silence what the Spirit spake in me, as David saies, so may I, that when I thought to be si∣lent I could not, my spirits rejoyced exceedingly to be speaking of what I saw and heard; and as I often said, O Saints, that you did but feel, see and tast with me, what unutterable joy would you have! I could wish you all as I am except my weakness, and if I could speak to you as it was spoken to me (I told them) it would appear far more glorious: but it come from men at second hand, which is as water running through the channel but it came to me as water out of a fountain, that is, from one it came not so swiftly into me; now it came so fast from me, to the astonishment of friends, that one so weak, not able to sit up in my bed, a quarter of an hour, but in great pain, though they put pillows to keep me up, and this was after God had sealed to his own word that I should recover, for then I could have waited if it had been never

so long, and in never such great torture, as I told the Saints now, I could lye upon a Rock till the time of deliverance come; had God set a longer time I could have been content, it was such de∣light to me to wait after the Sealing, For still when the tempter would tell me, when I laid my eyes together, I should be struck dead, and when I said I should recover, the Devil told me I should not, but death should deprive me of my confidence; yet no at∣tempts startled me, or weakned my faith in the least measure, for God was still at hand to deliver; Many times Sathan strove to shatter my confidence, but as my Saviour prayed for me when he was here upon the earth in praying for all that should believe, so he was ready to rescue me upon all occasions, both night and day, praised be his holy name, which told me he would not fail my ex∣pectations, but according as he had given me faith to believe, it should be to me; and still my Saviour encouraged me to believe, and I should see his glory.

And the day after Mr. Greenhill was gone, Mr. Simpson came, he was with me the fourth day after I kept my bed, and I told him how greatly God had appeared to me, for which I desire to praise the great God; and after this Trumpeter in Israel (for I could not but give him that title so soon as I saw him come into the Chamber) and assoon as he had praised and was gone, I was troubled that he did not more question me, and bring arguments against me, for trial, I know true gold is made more manifest by the touchstone, and it is more purified in the Furnace, and appears from dross.

But to tell you of the second coming of this Embassador of Christ, now I beheld the Spirit of God moving in him to speak in a soul-searching manner, though he told me I might be deluded, and also telling me that many had been deluded, and he therefore Exhorted me to have a care that I believed upon good grounds, and told me I might make use of the means, and partake of the creatures, and to look up to God to give me sleep, many Exhor∣tations and Examinations he used to me, which I much rejoyced in, for my faith was the more confirmed; and while I was upon the Tryal, God came in with a mighty strength, telling me that I was not deluded, but he would raise me without means by his mighty power, as he did Lazarus out of the grave; at my first sickening I did use the means, I took things, but they did me no good, I was

the more tortured, and felt my self the worse, because God came not in the means, it took no Effect, God had a further work to shew to his people. And the Lord bid me tell these things in Gath, and publish them in Ashkelon; fear not saith God to tell it to the greatest Monarch of the world if thou beest called to it, For I thy God am with thee; And I, saith the Lord, will strengthen thee in all difficulties that thou shalt meet withall.

But now I shall tell you Saints, how God presented himself to me in many similitudes, which I never heard mentioned before by any, they were brought immediately from God and Scripture, presented that I never took notice of before, and God sweetly in∣terpreted them to my spirit; God first filled me with contempla∣tion about the Trinity, which was sweeter then the hony and the honycomb to my spiritual pallat; it came in such a Majesty to me, that I am not able to set it forth, it swallowed up my spirits; But in desiring to declare it to the Saints, this similitude of a Tree was set before me; God the root, his Son Christ the Tree, the Spirit the Sap, and as the Root, and Tree, and Sap are but one in a natural sence, for the Sap and Tree looked on in the Root, there is but one substance which lies hid till such time as it puts forth it self in a Tree, and then the Tree appears; but it is covered with a Bark or Rinde, and the Sap is discovered running from the Root, through the Tree into the Branches, which Sap is not so discovered as when the bark is peeled off the Tree: yet then it cannot be discerned in the nature of it; So the Father Son and Spirit are one in that glo∣rious essential incomprehensible Being, making themselves forth in thee, 3 Joh. 5.7. God lies hid in the Root, man is not capable to know what he is, no more then man is capable to know what sweetness is in the Root of a Tree while it lies hid, till it appear in the Tree and Sap; so when this one God appears in the Tree, the Lord Jesus, then his sweetness begins to break forth, and is made forth more by the Sap, the Spirit; But I desired the Lord to shew me this similitude by Scripture, in which he opened the Trinity by way of Root, Tree, and Sap; God is said to be love, and he that dwelleth in God dwelleth in love; So that from this, God ap∣peared as the Root of mans happiness, being infolded in the first person in Trinity from Eternity; by this Root, which the Scripture calls love, the first glorious person in Trinity appearing in the se∣cond person the Tree; But how is he called a Tree in Scripture?

It was presently presented before me, that he was that Tree spoken of in Paradise, that Tree of life, Gen. 2. But how may the spirit be called sap from Scripture? Thus it is called a holy anoynting, it is compared to Oyle, To the Oyntment Psal. 133.2. which was upon Arons head, and ran down upon his beard, and so to the skirts of his garment; And from the word Oyl or Oyntment, so the third glo∣rious person in Trinity is likened unto sap, and thus it appeared to me that as the sap runs from the Root through the Tree into the branches, so the Spirit, the holy Oyle runs from out of the Root, which is the Father through the Tree, which is the Son, into the Branches; For so the Saints are called in Scripture Branches of the Vine Christ Jesus, and as the Sap drops into the branches and twigs of a Tree, which causes them to live and appear green, and the efficacy of this Sap produces fruit, it is very Vertual, it descends of its vertue into the leavs, which else would wither; as for in∣stance in the fall of the leaf, when the Sap returns into the Root, the leaves wither and fail; And as there is a Vertual Union of the Root, Tree, and Sap, and Branches, and Fruit, and Leaves; so there is a glorious Union and Congruity, that the Saints have in the holy Trinity, their life is in the Root, and it appears in the Tree, and manifested by the Sap to the Branches, the Elect appear dead till the Spirit which is the sap quickneth them, and no fruit is brought forth, though they may have a profession, yet it is but as dead leaves which falls and crumbles to dust; So that from the spirit slows sweet waters, it produces sound fruit, it makes also pro∣fessors green and lively; and as when the bark is pilled of the Tree, the Sap is more discerned: so when the humanity of Christ is taken from the Saints view, then the spirit was more discerned. Therefore says Christ, it is expedient that I go away, that so you may have a fuller sight of the Spirit. He that believes (as the Scrip∣ture hath said,) Out of his belly shall flow rivers of living waters, this spake he of the spirit which those should receive that believed, that was not yet given, because Christ was not yet glorified; this Scrip∣ture appeared, very glorious to me, and I set the efficacy of it on my spirits, and God told me that the time was not yet far off ere he would pour out his Spirit upon his Children, and take away that skin of formality that hath lain so long upon their sights, and that drowsiness or sleepiness of spirit that hath seized upon them, and baptize them with the holy Spirit, which should break forth as fire

among them, so that they shall be filled with the Song of the Lamb, and they shall behold their King of Salem, which is King of peace riding on his white horse of Triumph, Conquering and to Con∣quer; The Saints shall overcome by the Lamb, by the word of his testimony; Thus mightily God came into my spirits, which was exceeding sweet to me, which caused me to Exhort the Saints to study the Trinity more, of which one thought is more worth then ten thousand words.

And further I shall tell you Saints, in other Scriptures how God did present himsef, as concerning Jacobs ladder, as it is written, In his sleep he saw a Vision, a Ladder set upon the earth, the top of it reached to heaven, and he beheld the Angels of God Ascending, and Descending on it, and behold the Lord stood above it; and this My∣sterie was held forth in it, the Ladder signifies Christ a Saviour, the top reaching to heaven, and from those words the Lord stood a∣bove it, and it reached to the earth, in that the humane nature of Christ was presented, the Divine nature assumeing to it self flesh, and whereas it is said, the Angels of God Ascended and Descend∣ed on it, in that was held forth the sweet recourse the Saints have in Jesus Christ, in his Death, in his Resurrection and Ascention to glory. This appeared very sweet to me, but I cannot set forth things so fully as they came in, and God in the night set before me Samp∣sons Riddle of the Lyon and the hony, out of the eater came forth meat, and out of the strong came sweetness; By Lyon is meant Christ, who is called in Scripture, the Lyon of the Tribe of Juda, and by Honey is meant that sweetness that lies wrapt up in Jesus Christ, considered as a Lyon yet full of sweetness; And as it is said, out of the eater come forth meat, Christ is that eater which eats up the spirits, as David said, the Zeal of thine house hath eaten me up, and the word might set out that vertue which comes from the Lord Jesus, which is the bread of life, in which we have life for ever, and out of the strong came sweetness, that is, out of the Lyon of the Tribe of Juda flows all our sweetness and raptures of joy, and as Sampson told them, Except they had plowed with his Heyfer, they could not have found out his Riddle; So the great God spake to me in the whisperings of his Spirit; and said; in believing in my son Christ, which is typed out by an Heyfer, and Plowing may signifie believ∣ing, that in believing in thy Saviour thou shalt understand my se∣crets; God I may say spoke to me as a man speaks to his friend,

but in a far more transcendent manner; and Ionathan spoken of in the 1 Sam. 14. it came thus to me, that though he was so faint, that he climbed on his hands and feet, and his eyes were dim with faintness, and no sooner had he taken of the hony that dropt out of the rock, but his eyes were enlightned; so as soon as there is a di∣stilling from that rock Christ upon the spirits, then it tastes such sweetness which strengthens the fainting spirits, and this was that which made me say; oh come Saints, taste and see! did you but know what I feel you would admire with me: oh how strong am I in the Lord, and in the power of his might!

When I have closed my eyes, thinking to sleep, they have on a sudden been forced open, and upon the Sun shining in the room, this was declared to me; seest thou how the Sun shines in beams and streams accompanied with shadows? and I said, Lord, why doth it not shine as in the body of it, why doth it not shine so on the Earth, as in the Firmament? It was answered me, should it shine on the Earth, as it is in the Firmament, it would suddenly burn up all things on the earth, no fruits of the earth, nor any crea∣ture could live or breathe, and therefore that it might be for the com∣fort of the fruits of the earth, and of all creatures, it was spread forth in the beams and streams of it; so the Lord said to me, should I thy God dwell in thee, as I am in my essentiall glory, thou couldst not breathe in the body, but immediatly thou wouldst dye in the bo∣dy, it could not bear such a weight of glory: therefore I shine on thee on beams and streams of glory, which produces those effects spoken of in Scripture; I was filled with joy: now I knew not wherefore God spake this to me, till a while after: I was going to speak of it, and this voice came to me, This was brought to thee for the rectifying of thy Judgement: the erring spirit shall come to un∣derstand, Isa. 29. last: now I considered how I had erred, in that I had held forth before I sickned, that God dwelt essentially in his Saints, when I considered in Scripture, where it is said, God in us, and likewise when I viewed Gal. 5. which holds out the fruits and operations of the spirit, I was at a loss in my spirits concerning this, nor could not make it out, nor be convinced by any, till God satisfied me; and so in many other things none could give me light, till the light of lights came, and then my spirit was full of praises.

Another time when I laid my self to sleep, something as it were

pulled me by the shoulder, with this voice, it is better for thee to wake, I will shew thee thy Saviour in the Mount; then was set be∣fore me Jesus taking up Peter and Iohn into the Mount, and his transfiguration before them, which to me shined forth very glorious, that I said as the disciples said, Lord it is good to be here; and that of Moses and Elias appearing, in that was presented to me the glory of the Law of Moses, and from Elias was discovered the glory of the Prophets, and both these glories meeting in the glory of Jesus Christ; Oh how this did enamour the spirits of the Disciples, and herein they manifested the strength of their delight in saying, And let us build here three Tabernacles, one for thee, one for Moses, and one for Elias, it was with them as it is with a man that delights and affects a place, he desires to take up his abode there, so the Dis∣ciples would fain have been continually beholding that glory, but while he yet spake, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased, hear you him; The soul wrapt up in the glorious discovery of the brightness of God, would fain be always in that condition, but that God seeth it good to draw a cloud to oversha∣dow them; a cloud, but not a thick black one, but a bright one: which noted thus much, That let the greatest discovery of glory which caused the face to shine be withdrawn, (God doth not leave his without glory, though in a cloud) yet there appears brightness and a sweet voice, telling the Saints that they shall hear and see that invisible glory sounded forth in the Son, by that word hear ye him; now we see him as in a glass, but we shall see him as he is, when we shall be lifted up for ever above all clouds.

At another season when I have shut my eyes, immediatly they have been unclosed, and my Saviour presenting his speech to me that he said to his Disciples, when he was to depart from them, and that was this; Verily verily, I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of this Vine, till I drink it new in my Fathers Kingdom; This came in, in such a my∣sterie, that I was not able to understand it, but it was discovered a little, thus, That the spirit was held out in an embleme of wine when as Christ was upon the earth, but it shall after his Ascention break forth in a new, and far more glorious manner, like new wine, more sweet and perspicuous, so that it was made forth to me to be meant the pourings forth of the Spirit. Now I shall tell you Saints, of more

illustrations and interpretations given in from the sight of hearbs and flowers, as that of the sweet Bryar, why sweet and yet thorny, we see the most sweetest enjoyment that this world can present to the creature, hath a thorn accompanying it, and likewise Christ is a very sweet fragrant smell to his friends, but to his enemies a thorn; and concerning flowers this was given in, the variety of smells pro∣ceeding from them, and the variety of colours, in which was held forth the variety of beauties, and sweetness flowing from my Savi∣our; one thing I minded in the marigold, it being brought before my eyes, I saw pleasures and honours, and the greatest preferments here guilded outsides, but black in the middle; so I saw the Lord Je∣sus glory to the Saints: but black to the wicked, even as the mary∣gold appears like gold, in the middle black; and so likewise con∣cerning spice. A few nutmegs being presented from a friend to me thus much was hinted forth, mercy and love coming from the friend of friends, not single but double mercies, and this was present∣ed also from the hardness of it being stony, so Christ is the corner stone, and as the nutmeg is barky without, and gives but little smell till it be grated, and then the smell is very fragrant, and the oylness of it appears: so Christ when he is grated upon the spirits, that is, when he is made known unto the soul by the spirit. Oh what sweet fragrant smell comes into every faculty of the soul! And the spirit that holy oyl or unction drops down upon the whole man, even as there is a discovery of the oyl in the nutmeg, when it is grated. Truly Saints, did you but feel in the reading of this that sweet odour that I found in my spirits, you could not but praise with me. And when I saw the fruits of the earth, many instructions were given in, as in the sight of Cherries I saw the blood of my Saviour, and such fruits which was firm in the outside, & yet hollow, and a stone in the middle of them, so all things here below are hollow, though they appear firm.

Isa. 40. Last, the erring spirit shall come to understand, and the murmuring spirit shall learn doctrine. The Lord made this Scripture very sweet to me, and I was incouraged to comfort drooping Saints, to cast their souls upon Jesus Christ, who calls to the weary and heavy laden to come to him, that is to believe in him whom the father hath sent. And I also was filled with such a spirit of boldness, as it is writ∣ten, the righteous are as bold as a Lion, so that whereas I am of a fearful spirit by nature, yet God then carryed me forth to speak

abundantly to all that came to me, whether they were of high or low degree. And such relentings of spirit was in me towards backsli∣ders, that I desired to weep tears of blood, if it had been possible to have gained them. Oh friends, how did I thirst after the wel••are of every one! that they that told me, they lived in the spirit, I told ••hem how sweet a thing walking in the spirit w••s, which will teach to intreat when we are reviled, and to be of a lamblike spirit when enemies reproach, that so we might imitate that lamb which took away sin; and sure had not the spirit of God gone along with exhortations, they would not have took so much effect upon many spirits. I think hardly any came but they went away affected, both young and old; such was the love of God thus to break forth, which had I the tongue of Angels, I could not express. I desire it may shine forth in all my actions, for truly the work of God is marvellous in my eyes; and that Scripture of Christ telling his Disciples, that they should set upon twelve thrones, Judging the twelve Tribes of Israel, by that word twelve thrones, was much set forth to me, the great dignity of the Saints. The Lord acquaint us more with the Spirit in the letter, then shall we be able to under∣stand every truth, and the erring spirit shall come to understand, and the murmuring spirit shall learn doctrine; as God much perswa∣ded me that that spirit of formality, which hath lain so long upon the Saints, should be taken off, and the Lord gave me faith to believe for the Saints, and me thinks I see them groaning after the pourings forth of the spirit, and surely the time shall not be long ere the Lord will satisfie the groaning soul, and answer the expectations of the Saints, for as in God are hid treasures of wisdom and knowledge, so every treasure shall be opened to the Saints in the appointed time, therefore the Saints shall wait for it.

Many times God appeared in visions of glory to me, as I lay wrapt up in the spirit, I beheld a glorious star shining exceeding bright, and the bright morning star the Lord Jesus was much pre∣sented into my thoughts, and concerning Fzekiels vision, he saw by the River Chebar, it is said he saw visions of God, which word be∣ing brought immediatly from God to me, it was very sweet; this was given into me, that when Saints are in affliction, in respect of their outward man, though they be in great straits; yet nothing can deprive them of the breakings forth of their God, nay, then when

the creature is at a low ebb in the outward man, the Lord is pleased to visit the creature with a full Sea of glory, and saith to the Saints, be you open ye everlasting gates, that the King of glory may enter in. Oh how sweet this Scripture was spoken in the spirit to me! I can but hint things forth, and speak partly of what I found; Saints, I que∣stion not but in your own experiences, what hath been declared, will be more cleared to you by the spirit, though I am able to declare them but stammeringly, yet these things came pla••nly into my spirits, and with a mighty fulness, that I could evidently say, these are the ap∣pearances of an infinite God, and no delusion, praised be the most high; my mouth was full of praises, and begged of all that came nigh me to praise, that had the spirit of praises; and still I was entreating the Saints to speak sweetly and gently to all persons, that they might appear to be the sheep of the great shepheard Christ; I told them how it b••came Saints to be of a meek spirit, and I was not ashamed to confess that I was by nature of a contentious perverse spirit, which I now loathed; and every proud thought was an abomination to me, and I told the Saints they were to look up for strength, to walk as people of another Nation, that it might be said, they are the people of the living God, who have the mark of God in all their actions. Now friends, I shall tell you once concerning my raising from weak∣ness to strength, from pain to ease, and that both to the amazement of my self, and those that were present with me; but oh that I might never forget to praise the Lord, not only in word, but in my holy con∣versation! in all these discoveries that have been related, my body still grew weaker and weaker, and the Sent of dead souls turned out of the grave was still in my nostrils, and my body like unto a clod of earth, and pain working up to my heart; the day before my recovery, one Captain Harris prayed by me, and in that prayer I was mightily strengthened in believing, and could not but say, Lord, why may not I be raised now? And answer was suddenly darte•• into my spirit, I the Lord can raise thee now, but thou shalt be raised at that time that thy God hath given thee to believe; Oh how sweet was this answer in my Spirits, that though I had a desire then to arise, and I strove to list up my self, yet I could not, for the Lord told me his time was not yet, and untill the day of deliverance came, I was not onely weak and sick in body, but my spirits were very dead, not activity or liveliness in them all the forenoon, but in the afternoon this Scripture was handed by my father to me; why is

thy soul troubled? why is thy spirit sad within thee? Believe in God, believe also in me, John. 14.1. in this I was mightily refresht, and my spirits quickned, and faith much strengthened; not that un∣belief did seize upon me at any time, after God had sealed these things upon my spirit, though Satan told me that at that instant I believed I should recover, my breath should be taken out of my body; now it did not fear me, God still perswading me that his power should be made manifest, but I still grew to the earth, my body waxt very cold, and in clamy sweats, that those that had been present with persons when their breath departed from them, they could not imi∣tate, or liken me to any other but a dying person; to my own feeling and sence my hands were dead, and the rest of my body very liveless, my breath to my own sence was even departing from me, this was about six or seven a clock that night: then I was raised, and suddenly God poured a mighty spirit of prayer upon me, that I felt my breath which was taking leave of my body, heated, and I pleaded with God in believing, for the accomplishment of his promise, and Abra∣ham was set before me, his faith strong, though he saw no sacrifice, he believed God would raise an Isaac out of the ashes; so God carried my spirits up contrary unto sence, and when the spirit of pray∣er was off me, then god instructed me what to say to the Saints that stood by quivering and fearing, not being able to see this accom∣plished by the eye of faith, it being very contrary unto sence, and when the spirit making use of me had done incouraging the Saints, telling them they should surely see the work of the Lord; and after thus speaking, I fell in a trance, in which I saw the glory of my Sa∣viour exceedingly, but I cannot speak what I saw; and this lasted about a quarter of an hour, and when it began to wear away, this voice was given into my Spirits, I say arise, walk and praise me; set forth my glory; this came with a mighty strength, that I felt strength given into my limbs that were deadest, first revived, and a song of Hallelujah sounded into my spirits, saying, now sing praise unto the great God, and to the Lamb that sits upon the throne, and great joy came into my spirits from the holy Spirit; and no sooner did God say arise, walk, but I was lifted up by the power of the most high God from my bed, and I called for my clothes, all pain was ceased, the Fever left me, and I put on my clothes, and as soon as I came out of my bed, death pangs seized extraordinarily upon me,

my heart strings were ready to crack, and I was even sinking, a swim∣ing in my head being very great also, and my spirit suddenly was drawn forth to say, Lord, wilt thou now nullifie the work? and shall thy hand maid now be deserted? and the Lord answered me, am not I thy strength? and I found strength immediatly, and could walk about the room without fainting, or any body to help me, and my stomack was opened that I could let down broth, which before I could not; and I continued up till midnight, praising God with the Saints; and after I was laid in my bed, I could not shut my eyes to sleep all that night, to think that on such a sudden so great an altera∣tion should be made, that I could lye down free from all pain and distemper that I felt before, and so I grew still, every day more strength was given in to me; on the fourth day at night, thus God ap∣peared, and on the first day of the week after, which is called the Sabbath day, I went abroad to the praise and glory of my father, which hath ever since continued my health, and I minded thus much in Gods raising of me, he doubled his power in recovering me once and again, when I began to faint, and also the week following God told me I should have my perfect strength, which week was the third day, instanced in Hosea 6.

And thus Saints, having an incouragement from the Spirit of Truth, to set before your view some of the experiences God hath gi∣ven into me, through his own free love, but a creature-capacity cannot contain all the incomings of God I had while I lay in my sickness; but being very much importuned by some friends, I have fulfilled their desires, through the assistance of God, in setting forth as much as was brought to my remembrance, I being a weak worthless crea∣ture, a babe in Christ, which makes his power the more manifest.

And now Saints, I intreat your prayers continually for me.