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.

To the Church sometimes meeting at AL-HOLLOWS.

Dear Friends,

IT hath pleased the Lord to cast me at a distance from you, and your precious meetings, and sweet, lovely, spirituall, desirable enjoyments, which is more prized by me then my life or liberty, the which is now in Jeopardy; but I am through Di∣vine strength, not onely willing to be bound, but to dye upon so honourable an account, as I here suffer for, which is onely the ex∣pressing the Lords bounty, and rich grace to sinners; my heart overflowing therewith, I cannot hold; my compassion and dear affections worketh forth towards Christs flock so strongly, that the Anti-christian Clergy hearing the sound, were not able to bear it; and therefore, because they saw so many adhere to the extraordinary things discovered by and through a weak instru∣ment, it was grievous to them, and they would not admit of any discourse with me, but cryed out to the Magistrate to lay bonds upon me; saying, we must not have the people so deluded, cal∣ling me witch, deluder, Imposter, and other vilde terms they cast on me; and farther, said I stirred and provoked the p••ople to Re∣bellion against powers, though I never spake as touching them since I came into the Country any great matter, so as to be questi∣oned by any: but a Clergy man, one Mr. Powel, a great Teacher in these parts, hath taken his oath against me, that he heard me repeat that vision spoken of in the book, which he never did; I never changed a word with him, but he coming into a friends house where many pretious souls were met, which desired me to give an account of Gods dealings with me from a child, which I did; and I never found such a broken, self-abasing, self-denying frame of spirit in me, as then; and though this man pretended

much mildness towards me, yet he hath discovered much falshood and rage; and because I, when brought before the Rulers, said I was not guilty according to the form of the bill, as it was laid together against me, he said I denyed my Christ and the Spirit; But I have sent you the bill for to pass your judgement of my an∣swer, whether I should not have denyed Christ if I had acknow∣ledged guilty to all therein, which I must have done, had I said guilty, then they granted me a Travers to the next Sessions, which is 13. weeks hence, and Captain Langdon, my faithful friend I came down with he, and Major Bauden, they were bound for my appearance, 150 l. a piece, and 1200 l. these dear friends, they were of the late Parliament, which the Priests had no good will unto, and their hatred is, because their standing quivers, and their fat benefices are almost at an end; sure I am they are Christs greatest enemies, that hath been and now is: Therefore that you may be answered as touching Christs Reign, beg that to be tumbled down, that as rotten rafters stand in the way; I am very sure the Lord will cut his work short in righteousness and by all interruptions is making way for his Dyadem of beauty to appear, he will set his King up as chief Protector, let men and devils do what they can. Therefore my dear friends, be not of a doubtful mind, stand fast, hold your confidence and Resolution concerning those particu∣lars you first engaged in, at the setting that blessed meeting up, wherein the Lords presence hath been eminently seen, and their spawn is discovered therby, which we thought had been free from sting; and because we own that second days meeting, in joyning with your pounds a few mites, therefore we are watched by pro∣fessors, as if we were treacherous to the State, but here are a com∣pany of close walking Saints, to what they know, and they would be more informed concerning generation-work; but warning is, to speak no more in that name; and many of the souldiers for coming to the place where I am, are warned to their colours, and an En∣sign under Captain Fox, which is Governour of Pendennis-castle, who coming to visit my friend where I am, this Ensign Randal inviting me to his house, as he did the other friends, Fox hearing of it, put him out of his place; this man hath an excellent humble spirit, and of a very good report; I give you to understand these several pushings of the horn, that so you may not onely have life

in your wrestlings, but might have it more abundantly, striving together in prayer for the day of the Lord; Man, the devil, and Anti-christ hath their day now; the Lord make you all sensible of the blaspeming of the Lords coming and raign, truly it often makes me tremble to hear and see Christ derided and scoffed at by men that are great Rabbies, professors indeed, but of the largest kind, such as dare lye, and revile those that are not of their opi∣nion: my beloved brothers and sisters, I am bound always to bless God for you, and your tender care and dear love to me doth much work up my affections for you, and draweth out my whole heart to serve you any way: And I knowing the workings of your desires after my welfare, the which to understand will be well pleasing to you, therefore I need not crave acceptance; The Lord whom I serve hath from a child kept me, and still doth keep me as a Rememberer of him in his wayes, as well as rejoycing and working righteousness, and he meets me in all these according to his promise; praise free grace for me: I intreat prayer and prai∣ses abundantly to him whose spirit and eye guided and counselled me hither, and is still my safety; you would admire divine love with and for me, if you knew the lettings down of all might that hath been in me, and on my behalf, the which is too large to give you an account of by writing; but in this little ••ast given to you I know it will satisfie for the present. I found the benefit of your prayers this time twelve moneth, I being in Satans sore en∣thraldom, which was as a Lion and a Bear to me; I shall never forget your labour of love for me then, and seeing you were pre∣vaile••s then, which was manifest, even this moneth deliverance was wrought for you unworthy sister; but I will bless God for the worthiness of a Christ crucified for me, who manifested him∣self as a safety and Saviour to the utmost; now the Lord tryeth my faith by suffering the uncircumcised Philistime to war against me, and this storm calls forth prayer afresh for me, though this is but a small encounter to the other, because my stroke, I cryed out, was heavier then my groaning, and I could not find nor see God any where, nor in any thing as a God of love; but now mercy and goodness follows me day and night, and blessed be his name, he is an open treasure-house, and much treasure he conveyeth; pray that I may walk worthy of his Kingdom and glory. Truly my

dear brothers & sisters, the joy of the Lord is my strength, he thinketh nothing too dear nor too much for those that are sealed to the day of Redemption; we are beholding to Christ, who becomes all in all; I see every day much leanness, barrenness and unfruitfulness in me, that is, in my flesh there is still strugling, and fighting, and warring, but through faith in Christ I am an overcomer, and I am not foyled; but the more I see of brightness, the more I am filled with self abhorrency, and loathing my own ways & thoughts. Dear friends, I intreat an ex∣hortation and advice from you, it will much add to my joy: I hope I need not use any motive to stir up and draw out your love towards me, for I having found it ready to serve me upon the greatest occa∣sion, I will not doubt of it now, though I am so remote; I know many waters cannot quench love, and therefore before I take leave of you for this time, I shall desire that you, with my own soul, may be more in the practice of love, provoknig one another unto that love and unity which is a perfect bond, and fulfiller of the Law, it beareth and forbeareth, it envieth not, it takes up no evil reports against any of the flock, it judgeth not rashly, it seeketh not her own, it surely praiseth for another members enjoyment, as for its own. Seeing all members make but one body, let the same mind be in us, which dwelt in Christ Jesus: this is the earnest desire of her which prayeth for you without ceasing, and salutes the whole Church, and rests

Your unworthy Sister in the fellowship of the Gospel, ANNA TRAPNEL.

From Tregasow at Captain Langdons, near Trurow, this 15. of the 2. moneth, 1654.

Notes

• Concerning the Cows and Oxen.
• And they have bound me to the good Behaviour.