up ejaculations to God,
to deliver her from deceiving herself. To instance in one, "Great and
mighty God," said she, "let my faith be a true faith; that I may not be
a foolish virgin, having a lamp, but no oil."
18. Her father bade her be of good cheer, because she was going to a
better Father; at which she fell into a great agony, and said, "But how
do I know that? I am a poor sinner, who wants assurance; O for
assurance!"
This was her great, earnest, and constant request to all who came to
her, to beg assurance for her; and she would look with so much eagerness
upon them, as if she desired nothing in the world so much as that they
would pity her, and help her with their prayers. Never was a poor
creature more earnest for any thing than she was for assurance and the
light of God's countenance. O the piteous moan that she would make! O
the agony that her soul was in!
19. The Lord's day before that on which she died, a kinsman of hers came
to see her, and asked her whether she knew him? She answered, "Yes, I
know you, and I desire you would learn to know Christ. You are young,
but you know not how soon you may die! and, O, to die without Christ is
a fearful thing! O, redeem time! O, time, time, precious time!" Being
requested by him not to spend herself, she said, "She would fain do all
the good she could while she lived;" upon which account she desired that
a sermon might be preached at her funeral, concerning the preciousness
of time.
20. Some ministers who came to see her earnestly entreated the Lord to
give her some token for good, that she might die in full triumph: notes
of the same nature were sent to several churches.
21. After she had long waited for an answer to their prayers, she said,
"Well, I will venture my soul upon Christ."
22. Considering the pains and agonies that she was in, her patience was
next to a wonder: "Lord," said she, "Lord, give me patience, that I may
not dishonour thee!"
23. On Thursday, after long waiting, great fears, and many prayers, when
all her friends thought she had been past speaking, to the astonishment
of her friends, she broke forth thus, with a very audible voice, and
cheerful countenance: "Lord, thou hast promised that whosoever come unto
thee thou wilt in no wise cast them out: Lord, I come unto thee, and
surely thou wilt in no wise cast me out; O, so precious! O, so glorious
is Jesus! I have thee! Blessed and glorious is Jesus; he is precious, he
is precious
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