"^-■^ 
 
 ; THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY, | 
 
 I Princeton, N. J. 
 
 BR 1725 .S32 W50 1845 
 Williams, John Bickerton, 
 
 1792-1855. 
 Memoirs of the life and 
 
/f 
 
MEMOIRS 
 
 OP 
 
 THE LIFE AND CHARACTER 
 
 OF 
 
 MRS. SARAH "sAVAGE, 
 
 ELDEST DAUGHTER Ot THE REV. PHILIP HENRY A. M. 
 
 BY SIR J. B. WILLIAMS L.L.D. F.S.A. 
 
 WITH A RECOMMENDATORY PREFACE, 
 
 BY 
 
 THE REV. WILLIAM JAY, OF BATH. 
 
 TO WHICH ARE ADDED, 
 
 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE AND CHARACTER 
 
 OF 
 
 BIRS. ANNE HULTON & MRS. ELEANOR RADFORD, 
 
 Daughtera of the Rev. Philip Henr)-, A. M. 
 BY THEIR BROTHER, MATTHEW HENRY, V.D.M. 
 
 PHILADELPHIA : 
 
 PRESBYTERIAN BOARD OF PUBLICATION. 
 
 1845. 
 
Sterentvpod by 
 
 S. DOUGLAS WYETH, 
 
 No. 7 Pear St. Philadelphia. 
 
ADVERTISEMENT. 
 
 In the following Memoir* nothing has been intro- 
 duced but what is authentic. — Mrs. Savage left 
 in her own hand-writing, a Diary of many vol- 
 umes, commencing with the year 1686, and con- 
 tinued, with few intervals, to her death. Thence, 
 chiefly, the narrative has been compiled. All the 
 extracts, unless otherwise mentioned, are given 
 from those volumes. 
 
 The great number of her papers, generally of 
 superior excellence, rendered selection diflacult. 
 It has been my aim, however, to avoid tedious- 
 ness, and to introduce only fair examples illustra- 
 tive of each particular into which her character 
 has been divided. In doing this, as well as in the 
 general plan, I have followed Mr. Orton, in his 
 useful life of Dr. Doddridge. 
 
 * The only account of Mrs. Savage, and that a very brief 
 one, which, it is beheved, has ever been written, may be seen 
 in the Christian Obser\er, vol. iv. p. 3i7— and Burder's Memoirs 
 of Pious Women, vol. iii. p. 83. 
 
 ill 
 
IV ADVERTISEMENT. 
 
 Of the Appendix little need be said. It is 
 rather bulimy, but, I hope, neither prolix nor irre- 
 levant. The articles arc from manuscripts never 
 before published ; and a reference, as to authen- 
 ticity, is made, in each, for the reader's satisfac- 
 tion. 
 
 To the descendants of Mrs. Savage, and also 
 to Mrs. Ireland, of Wem, I embrace this opportu- 
 nity of renewing my acknowledgments ; as well 
 for their repeated kindness in furnishing informa- 
 tion concerning their revered ancestor, as for the 
 liberal use of many manuscripts which enrich this 
 compilation. 
 
 Nor can I omit to mention Mrs. Savage's grand- 
 daughter, the late Mrs. Brett, of West-Bromwich, 
 in Staffordshire — my venerable and lamented 
 friend — as having contributed essentially to the 
 present volume. 
 
 The undertaking was commenced not only 
 under the auspices of Mrs. Brett, but of various 
 esteemed friends, both among the clergy and laity ; 
 and has been prosecuted, at intervals, in those 
 moments which a laborious profession furnishes 
 for relaxation. My object has not been to gratify 
 a blind partiality, to extol human nature, or to 
 satisfy captious criticism ; but, by illustrating the 
 blessedness of religion, to encourage early piety, 
 to edify aged christians ; and, in short, to ani- 
 
ADVERTISEMENT. V 
 
 mate and confirm all who love the " truth as it is 
 in Jesus." Female virtue is repeatedly exhibited 
 by inspired wisdom, for the imitation and guidance 
 of succeeding generations. 
 
 Now, see the Saint immortal ; her I mean 
 
 Who hvcd a3 such ; whose heart, full bent on heaven, 
 
 Leaned all that way, her bias to the stars. 
 
 Observe the awful portrait, and admire ; 
 
 Nor stop at wonder : imitate, and live. 
 
 J. B. WILLIAMS. 
 
 Swan Hill, Shrewsbury, 
 February I2th, 1818. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 Pfx-eface by the Rev. William Jay - ix 
 
 Memoirs of Mrs. Sarah Savage - 27 
 
 Memoirs of Mrs. Anne Hulton - 241 
 
 Memoirs of Mrs. Eleanor Radford - 315 
 Appendix i. Death of the mother of 
 
 Mrs. Savage - - - - 331 
 
 Appendix ii. A Sermon, by the Rev. 
 
 Matthew Henry ... 333 
 
 Appendix hi. Death of the Rev. Mat- 
 thew Henry - - . . 355 
 
 vu 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 In November last, going to Shrewsbury to 
 preach for the Swan Hill Sunday School, I 
 called upon my amiable and worthy friend, 
 the Editor of the following sheets. He 
 shewed me a number of manuscript vol- 
 umes, filled with the diary and remarks of 
 Mrs. Savage ; and intimated some design of 
 publishing a selection from them. I was so 
 impressed and delighted after hearing vari- 
 ous extracts indiscriminately taken, that I 
 applauded the wish, and endeavoured to 
 accelerate the accomplishment of it. Hav- 
 ing, therefore, rendered myself in some mea- 
 sure responsible for the publication by my 
 opinion and advice, I the more readily com- 
 ply with his desire in writing a few words 
 by way of introduction. 
 
 The relationship of this good woman will 
 deservedly bespeak some peculiar attention 
 
X PREFACE. 
 
 to the following pages: for who, without 
 sentiments of love and veneration, can think 
 of Philip Henry, her father, and of Mat- 
 thew Henry, her brother? 
 
 The daughter and sister was worthy of her 
 excellent kindred. She possessed much of 
 tlieir piety, and no inconsiderable share of 
 their talent. She had their familiar acquain- 
 tance with the Scripture; their prompt re- 
 membrance of its significant phrases ; and 
 their easy and pertinent accommodation of 
 them to events. She had the same devout- 
 ness of remark; the same sprightliness of 
 observation ; the same degree of quaintness 
 — just sufficient to awaken notice, and aid 
 recollection, but not enough entirely to offend 
 good taste. 
 
 She was " a gracious woman, and she re- 
 tains honour." By the providence of Ilim 
 who has said, " Them that honour me I will 
 honour," after serving her generation accord- 
 ing to the will of God, and falling asleep, 
 her memory, at the distance of more than a 
 century, is blessed ; and her works, written 
 in the closet, praise her in the gate. 
 
 The species of writing, in which she so 
 largely indulged, Avas far more common in 
 her days than it is in ours. It has been 
 
PREFACE. XI 
 
 abused, and rendered ridiculous by its mi- 
 nuteness and too frequent publication : yet 
 properly conducted, it would prove eminent- 
 ly conducive to usefulness. It would pro- 
 mote communion with Providence, and bring 
 a man within the reach of the promise, 
 "Whoso is wise, and will observe these 
 things, even they shall understand the loving- 
 kindness of the Lord." It would secure the 
 habit of retirement, and the practice of self- 
 inspection. It would enable the writer, in 
 review, to compare himself with himself, and 
 awaken humiliation and repentance, when 
 instead of growing in grace, and in the 
 knowledge of his Lord and Saviour, he found 
 that he was standing still, or had left his first 
 love. — And though we have not the formality 
 of the thing in the Scripture, we have many 
 indications of the principle : as in the names 
 which Joseph and Moses imposed upon their 
 children ; in the stone which Samuel reared 
 and called Ebenezer ; in the pot of INIanna, 
 and Aaron's rod that budded, laid up in the 
 ark ; in the command, " Thou shall remember 
 all the way which the Lord thy God led thee 
 these forty years in the wilderness;" in the 
 reproof, " Of the rock that begat thee thou 
 art unmindful, and hast ■ forgotten the God 
 
XU PREFACE. 
 
 that formed thee ;" in the resokition, " Bless 
 tlie Lord, my soul, and forget not all his 
 benefits." 
 
 Some Diaries were written, either for the 
 express purpose of meeting the public eye, 
 or in the apprehended probability of it. 
 When this is known to be the case, we can- 
 not peruse them with the same degree of 
 pleasure and freedom, as when they seem 
 written for their own sake, and betray no 
 wish to produce eflect. Nothing was further 
 from the mind of Mrs. Savage, than the pub- 
 lic exhibition of what she wrote. It was solely 
 inscribed for her own use and edification. 
 Her views in it she has thus recorded. " It 
 is in my thoughts to do something in the na- 
 ture of a Diary, being encouraged by the ad- 
 vantage others have gained thereby, and the 
 hope that I might be furthered by it in a 
 godly life, and be more watchful over the 
 frame of my heart, when it must be kept on 
 record. I would approve myself to God, 
 who alone knows the sincerity of my heart. 
 To liim I have made known my request 
 herein, and I heartily beg that what I shall 
 at any time put down may be the workings 
 of my heart, and that in nothing I may bear 
 witness against myself." In this temper of 
 
PREFACE. XIU 
 
 mind the whole seems to have been penned : 
 and nothing can be more pleasmg or edifying 
 than the perusal of such unstudied, undis- 
 guised representations of her conscience and 
 her character. 
 
 The inspection shews us, that a dissent 
 from the National Church may be founded in 
 conviction, as well as education ; and does 
 not necessarily imply a fastidious, or a fac- 
 tious disposition; that it does not render its 
 subject bUnd to what is good or excellent in 
 the doctrine and liturgy of the establishment, 
 or prevent prayer for its success, or rejoicing 
 in its welfare. It shews us too, how little it 
 encourages disaffection to civil obedience, or 
 forbids "rendering to Cocsar the things that 
 are Caesar's." Could the diaries of Mrs. 
 Savage's times be explored, what a contrast 
 would be found between the sentiments such 
 worthies confessed before God in their most 
 sacred moments, and those charged upon 
 them by their calumniating adversaries. 
 Take the following extract from the journal 
 of her honoured father, when deprived of his 
 living for conscience sake : 
 
 "1663, May 29th. A thanksgiving day 
 for the king's return ; a mercy in itself, for 
 2 
 
XIV PREFACE. 
 
 whicli the Lord be praised, though I, and 
 many more, suffer by it." 
 
 We perceive in these pages, that evangeli- 
 cal principles do not lead to licentiousness, 
 but are friendly to every duty we owe to 
 God, our fellow-creatures, and ourselves. 
 Where do we here see any traces of that 
 bold familiarity with the Supreme Being, of 
 that contempt of others which cries. Stand by, 
 I am holier than thou ; of that relaxation of 
 vigilance, that carelessness of conduct, that 
 presumptuousness of hope, which in the 
 minds and languages of many, seem for ever 
 identified with the doctrines of grace ? 
 
 We may see here somewhat of the nature 
 and value of christian experience. We are 
 accustomed to speak of doctrine, experience, 
 and practice, but though these are in a mea- 
 sure different, they are not separable ; they re- 
 semble the colours in the rainbow ; you can 
 distinguish them, but you cannot limit ; they 
 imperceptibly melt into each other. Chris- 
 tian experience results from enlightened 
 views of divine things, which is no other 
 than doctrinal belief; and it issues in the 
 conversation and life, which is nothing less 
 than practical godliness. Yea, these operate 
 mutually, as cause and effect, for as our per- 
 
PREFACE. XV 
 
 ccptions influence our feelings, and these our 
 conduct; so practice increases our feelings, 
 and these aid our judgment ; for the exempli- 
 fication of our religious views iu our disposi- 
 tions and actions, renders them more clear and 
 more powerful. Hence the meaning of the 
 term : for experience signifies knowledge de- 
 rived from trial, in contradistinction to con- 
 jecture and theory. A christian does not at 
 first adopt religious sentiments, or engage in 
 religious exercises, with a view to make ex- 
 periments ; yet a reception of the former, and 
 an attention to the latter have this effect. 
 They put these things into a state of trial : 
 and a new kind of evidence is obtained by 
 the individual. He that believeth hath the 
 witness in himself; and though it may not be 
 convincing to others, it is very satisfactory to 
 his own heart, aiid he is neither to be ridi- 
 culed, or argued out of it. Hence says our 
 Lord, " Ye shall know the truth, and the truth 
 shall make you free." Hence men are invi- 
 ted to " taste and see that the Lord is good." 
 Hence christians are represented as having 
 "tasted that the Lord is gracious." Hence 
 David says, " Because thou hast been my 
 help, therefore under the shadow of thy wings 
 will I rejoice:" and Paul exults, "I know 
 
XVI PREFACE. 
 
 whom I have believed, and am persuaded 
 that he is able to keep that which I have 
 committed to him against that day." 
 
 I here look into Mrs. Savage's heart, and 
 I see this satisfaction, yet not excluding 
 many anxious and painful feelings : and the 
 Christian is portrayed in the Scripture, by 
 his fear, as well as by his confidence : by his 
 weeping, as well as rejoicing. A stone re- 
 mains the same all the year ; but what 
 changes does the living tree feel, and what 
 different aspects does it exhibit in the four 
 seasons? I see in this subject of divine 
 grace no vain, no proud pretensions ; she 
 no where says, " I have made my heart clean, 
 I am pure from my sin ;" " I have already 
 attained, I am already perfect :" but in every 
 page she cries, " This one thing I do ; forget- 
 ting the things that are behind, and reaching 
 forth unto those that are before, I press 
 towards the mark for the prize of my high 
 calling of God in Christ Jesus." Amidst all 
 her complaints of the want of more conform- 
 ity and devotedness to God, we still see hor, 
 differing from others, a new creature, God's 
 workmanship : and we see reason why Chris- 
 tians, under all their acknowledged imperfec- 
 tions, are called "righteous," and "godly," 
 
PREFACE. XVU 
 
 and " holy," and " spiritual :" for we see the 
 complete state to which she aspired, power- 
 fully at work in its principles ; already com- 
 menced in its preparations ; already ensured 
 in its earnests ; already enjoyed in its fore- 
 tastes. We see " the path of the just, which 
 is as the shining light, that shineth more and 
 more unto the perfect day." 
 
 The experience of Mrs. Savage shows us 
 that religion is not always begun abruptly, or 
 in a manner bordering on prodigy. It is often 
 derived, under the divine agency, from pious 
 education, family worship, parental instruc- 
 tion, holy example. Mr. Baxter goes so far 
 as to say, that if these were discharged as they 
 ought to be, even the preaching of the word 
 would not be the most common means of 
 conversion. It is certain that many of the 
 most eminent and useful ministers among the 
 Puritans and Non-conformists were not con- 
 verted from a course of profligacy, but were 
 trained up in the nurture and admonition of 
 the Lord ; from children knew the holy 
 Scriptures : and the change in them was as 
 gradual in its progress, as it was proved to 
 be real and divine in its effects. 
 
 JNIany, I fear, are tempted to think suspi- 
 ciously, or lowermgly of the acquisition of re- 
 
XVlll PREFACE. 
 
 ligion in this humble and unostentatious 
 mode : and deem it far preferable, that a man 
 should have been led from the depths of 
 Satan into the way everlasting ; have felt a 
 sudden violence ; and, after enduring in- 
 sufferable terror and anguish, be elevated 
 into confidence and rapture. We are not to 
 limit the Holy One of Israel ; yet ought we 
 to be careful, not to draw universal conclu- 
 sions from particular cases, or convert ex- 
 ceptions into general rules. It is one of the 
 golden sentences of Mr. Henry, her brother, 
 " God is sometimes found of them that seek 
 him not, but he is always found of them that 
 seek him." It is a mercy if God calls us by 
 his grace in any way ; but where the cer- 
 tainty of the change is so extremely obvious, 
 the subject is too prone to rest convinced of 
 the fact, instead of praying, " Create in me a 
 clean heart, God, and renew a right spirit 
 within me." From the apparent magnitude 
 of the change, he is too prone to feel, as if it 
 had finished a work, which it only began. 
 From the superior notice and wonder it ex- 
 cites, the more temptation is there to spiritual 
 vanity and pride. Tlie suddenness of the il- 
 lumination frequently dazzles while it en- 
 lightens ; and the man is likely to feel and 
 
PREFACE. XIX 
 
 retain a partial attachment to some one reli- 
 gious doctrine, according to the first direction 
 his mind takes under such a novel and pow- 
 erful impression : and for want of those rela- 
 tive views, which should accompany and 
 qualify and direct his fervour, his zeal is sel- 
 dom according to knowledge. Often too, 
 coarseness and freedom of manners result 
 from former viciousncss of which the individ- 
 uals themselves are not aware, but which 
 expose them in their social, especially female, 
 intercourse. I never knew a professor of re- 
 ligion, or a preacher of the word, who fell by 
 certain temptations, but had been, previously 
 to his connection with the Christian world, 
 the victim of vice. JMoral and virtuous habits 
 produce delicacy and impose restraint. For- 
 mer scenes of guilt will often revive in the 
 imagination ; and though they are not enter- 
 tained there, yet by passing through the mind, 
 they defile it and distress it. I have heard 
 more than one pious character confess the 
 pain and injury he has suffered from this 
 quarter, even in his public and retired devo- 
 tions, and who would have given the world to 
 be free from the shocks he received from the 
 hauntings of the ghosts of his old iniquities. 
 To which we may add, that though morality 
 
XX PREFACE. 
 
 is not religion, yet it is a social benefit ; but 
 the man called from the dregs of profanencss, 
 has to look back upon the injury he has done 
 to others, and to mourn over ellects which he 
 cannot repair. He has led astray many whom 
 he may never be able to reclaim ; and seeing 
 those running the downward road, whom he 
 led into it and encouraged by his vices, influ- 
 ence, and example, how often, as he advances 
 towards Heaven, which he is almost ashamed 
 to enter, must he sigh and pray, " Deliver me 
 from blood-guiltiness, God of my salvation." 
 These reflections are not designed to exclude 
 any from hope, however deeply they have 
 transgressed ; or to withhold esteem and con- 
 fidence from those who have obtained mercy ; 
 but to remove a mistake by no means uncom- 
 mon ; and to induce those who have been 
 preserved from vice, to be peculiarly thank- 
 ful, that they were moral before they were 
 converted ; and to bless God for those early 
 advantages which led them into connected 
 and consistent views of religion ; and that 
 their characters were formed after models of 
 excellency, placed constantly in sight, and en- 
 deared by all the claims of nature. They are 
 designed also to call upon parents, not to leave 
 their children to a kind of religious chance ; 
 
PREFACE. XXI 
 
 or to suppose that divine grace is a thing per- 
 fectly independent of rational and pious 
 means, instead of being connected with them, 
 and conveyed by them, and in them. Let the 
 command and the promise be ever in their 
 mind : " Train up a child in the way that he 
 should go, and when he is old he will not 
 depart from it." Not that means are ever 
 sufficient of themselves without the divine 
 blessing (and therefore there is as much need 
 of prayer as of exertion) ; but when God has 
 appointed the means, and engaged to bless 
 them, our hope is well-founded ; and in the 
 proper use of them we may expect success 
 with as much certainty, as in nature, the 
 sower expects to reap. 
 
 Finally. I have no wish to hinder the 
 humbling sense of inferiority, which persons 
 acquainted with themselves will feel in read- 
 ing these papers. There are certainly de- 
 grees of religious excellency. Even the good 
 ground brought forth in the varied propor- 
 tions of thirty, sixty, and an hundred, fold. 
 What a difference do we see between Abra- 
 ham and Lot, with regard to lowliness of 
 mind, self-denial, and a spirit of. conciUation. 
 What a difference between the Centurion, who 
 took our Saviour at his word ; and Thomas, 
 
XXll PREFACE. 
 
 who required every kind of sensible evidence. 
 And Cln'istians are in honour to prefer one 
 another. Yet it should be remembered that 
 what is written in such diaries as this, is the 
 fruit of retirement and reflection, and the 
 summary of the best feelings called forth in 
 the presence of God. And whatever modern 
 Christians think of themselves, 1 love not for 
 others to view them as a race, very inferior to 
 those who lived in an earlier period. "We 
 know who has said, " Say not thou. What is 
 the cause that the former days were better 
 than these ? for thou dost not inquire wisely 
 concerning this." 
 
 There may be the same degree of religious 
 principle, while yet it is put forth in different 
 ways. Even the constitutional temper will 
 have some influence, as we see in the case of 
 JMartha and Mary, There was the same re- 
 gard to our Saviour in each, but Martha was 
 cumbered about much serving, while Mary 
 sat at his feet to hear his words ; and when 
 after the death of the brother, he was coming 
 into Bethany, Martha went out to meet him, 
 but Mary sat still in the house. Nor should 
 we forget, that the providence of God often 
 diversifies the direction of religious principle. 
 At one time it peculiarly calls forth the pas- 
 
PREFACE. XXlll 
 
 sivc, at another, the active, graces of the 
 Christian : at one season it requires more of 
 the private exercises of godhness, at another 
 more of its pubhc efforts : winter leads the 
 sap down into the roots, while summer calls 
 it up into the branches, and displays it in the 
 blossoms and the fruit. 
 
 We readily acknowledge, that with regard 
 to the more private and retired influence of 
 religion, they who lived in the days of Mrs. 
 Savage were superior to the generality of 
 modern Christians : but we make no scruple 
 to sa^--, many modern Christians are far supe- 
 rior to them in public spirit and active exer- 
 tions. If the river spreads wide, or flows in 
 various fertilizing currents, it cannot be ex- 
 pected to roll so deep. How little working 
 comparatively, do we find even in the feelii^s 
 of many of these worthies towards the cause 
 of God at large ! Their own souls, their fa- 
 milies, their particular churches, these drew 
 forth their concern, but too much restricted 
 it too. The present day exhibits a very 
 different scene : and from a thousand pubUc 
 assemblies, convened for the very purpose, 
 and evincing their sincerity and fervency by 
 their efforts and sacrifices, we hear the ex- 
 clamation, " Let the whole earth be filled 
 
XXIV PREFACE. 
 
 with his glory." There is indeed a danger 
 that keeping other men's vineyards we should 
 not be attentive to our own ; and that our 
 zeal should expend itself so much abroad, as 
 to be extinguished before it reaches home. 
 On the other hand it is true (though liable to 
 perversion and abuse), that if we mind God's 
 alTairs he will mind ours; and that, while 
 doing his work, he that watereth, shall be 
 watered also. In the unprofitableness of 
 those ministers, the ban-enncss of those 
 churches, and the deadness of those profes- 
 sors, who from their selfishness, or sloth, or 
 any doctrinal restraint, come not up to the 
 help of the Lord, may be found at this hour 
 illustrations of the truth of David's words : 
 " Pray for the peace of Jerusalem ; they shall 
 prosper that love thee." 
 
 Had many Christians now living been co- 
 temporaries with ]\Irs. Savage, they would 
 have devoted that time and attention to reli- 
 gion in its retreats, which seemed not so 
 much called for abroad. And had many who 
 hved in her days been born in om's, they 
 would have sprung forth at the call of those 
 institutions which we have witnessed ; and, 
 following the direction of Heaven, have fallen 
 in with a state of things which demands the 
 
TREFACE. XXV 
 
 Utmost co-operation and activity ; and which 
 not only allows, but demands that every 
 subject of divine grace should be also its 
 instrument and its agent : and when by 
 teaching poor children and adults to read and 
 write, by dispensing Tracts, by aiding Bible 
 and Missionary Societies, and by endeavour- 
 ing to evangelize our own dark villages, 
 Christians, as well as preachers, shall be 
 named the " priests of the Lord ; and men 
 shall call them the ministers of our God :" 
 when the promise made to the church shall 
 be fulfilled, "They that be of thee shall 
 build the old waste places ; thou shalt raise 
 up the foundation of many generations ; and 
 thou shalt be called the repairer of the breach, 
 the restorer of paths to dwell in." 
 
 This is the glory of our day : and let not 
 Christians be comparatively undervalued be- 
 cause they obey the obvious will of Provi- 
 dence and are workers together with God. 
 The period so long prayed for is arrived ; and 
 wc are required to rise, even from our devo- 
 tions, and serve. We could employ the 
 hours in songs of praise ; but the voice cries, 
 " Work while it is called to-day :" and you 
 shall soon rest from your labours, and join 
 those who dwell in his house above, and are 
 
XXVI PREFACE. 
 
 Still praising him. Christians are now re- 
 quired not to sit still and record their feelings, 
 but to endeavour to communicate them. They 
 must not abide by the stuff. The field calls 
 them. The harvest is come, and it is harvest 
 weather; and the ears, ungathered in, will 
 soon fall and perish. " Say ye not, There are 
 yet four months, and then cometh harvest ? 
 behold, I say unto you, lift up your eyes, 
 and look on the fields ; for they are white 
 already to harvest, and he that reapeth re- 
 ceiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life 
 eternal : that both he that soweth and he that 
 reapeth may rejoice together." 
 
 WJVI. JAY. 
 
 Bath, May 2, 1818. 
 
■.^■ 
 
 MEMOIRS 
 
 OP 
 
 MES. SAEAPI SAVAGE. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 Her Birth, Barhj Piety, and Marriage. 
 
 Sarah, the eldest daughter of the Rev. Phihp 
 Henry and Katherine his wife,* was born 
 August 7th, 1GG4, at Broad Oak, in Fhntshire. 
 Of her eminently pious parents nothing need 
 be here said ; their praise has long been in the 
 churches. 
 
 It is not surprising that, at this distance of 
 time, but little can be stated as to the early 
 period of her life. The discovery of an un- 
 usual degree of amiableness, connected with 
 mental energy, secured particular attention to 
 her education. 
 
 * Appendix I. 
 27 
 
28 MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 
 
 She was taught to read by the Rer. Wil- 
 liam Turner, who, prior to his admission into 
 the University, resided at Broad Oak for in- 
 struction. Her learned father, by the aid of 
 a grammar which he compiled for the pur- 
 pose, in English, instructed her, when only six 
 or seven years old, in the Hebrew tongue, and 
 she went so far in it as to be able readily to 
 read and construe a Hebrew Psalm. 
 
 She also, while young, wrote outlines of the 
 sermons she heard preached ; and her diary 
 frequently mentions the comfort and edifica- 
 tion she experienced in reviewing them. This 
 custom was continued to old age, and many 
 volumes are still extant, no less proofs of her 
 industry and neatness, than valuable speci- 
 mens of ministerial skill and fidelity. She 
 preserved in writing, likewise, her honoured 
 parent's stated expositions in the family, and 
 used them, through life, in her private perusal 
 of the Scriptures. 
 
 Through the divine blessing, promised to a 
 religious education, the means used for her 
 spiritual welfare were not in vain, for her 
 parents witnessed, in the years too often sin- 
 fully employed, a devotedncss to God, which 
 could not fail to promote their veneration and 
 love to the great Author of saving mercy. 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 29 
 
 Noticing, when seventy years of age, the 
 period alluded to, she thus expressed herself; 
 " I was conceived in sin, and brought forth in 
 iniquity ; yet a kind providence took care of 
 me, and preserved me safe through the perils 
 of infancy. My great Creator and benefactor 
 endued me with understanding, reason, a ca- 
 pacity to learn, but infinite goodness gave me 
 early advantages by religious parents, such as, 
 I am ready to think, the wdiolc world can 
 hardly produce the like. I was betimes taught 
 my catechism, and other things proper for my 
 age. I had excellent examples. Religion was 
 set before me in the clearest and best light. 
 Secured, by privacy, from so much as seeing 
 the corruptions the world abounds with, for 
 the first twenty years of my life, I do not re- 
 member to have heard an oath, or to have 
 seen a person drunk. But still, this was but 
 ^negative religion ; the free grace of God, in 
 infinite mercy, took early hold of me, and 
 brought me to feel something of the powers 
 of the world to come." 
 
 It is well known how careful Mr. Henry 
 was to give serious youth an early introduc- 
 tion to the Lord's supper. We, therefore, 
 find Mrs. Savage, in her sixteenth year, a guest 
 at the sacred table, and the time was " a time 
 3* 
 
so MEMOIRS OF MKS. SAVAGE. 
 
 of love." Several years afterwards, the re- 
 collection was pleasant. " 1697 (Sabbath,) 
 May 23, she writes, I cannot but remember 
 that upon this day, now seventeen years ago, 
 I first gave up my name to God in the sacra- 
 ment of the Lord's supper. There, through 
 his goodness, I found great sweetness. I trust 
 the knot was then tied, and the bargain made 
 which will prove an everlasting covenant, 
 never to be broken, Amen," 
 
 Henceforth her papers record increased 
 anxiety that, by departing from iniquity, she 
 might adorn the gospel. She was far from 
 being satisfied with even a devotional attend- 
 ance at " the feast," she aimed to manifest the 
 reality of her faith by zeal for " good works," 
 and so, " with well doing, put to silence the 
 ignorance of foolish men." 
 
 How much soever practical godliness may, 
 by some soaring religionists, be decried as too 
 earthly to attract their notice, or as too legal 
 to interrupt their piety, the humble Christian 
 will not object to meet, in this connexion, with 
 the substance of one of Philip Henry's sermons 
 on the important subject. It is introduced 
 from Mrs. Savage's copy ; and as it, very 
 probably, was her frequent companion in the 
 closet, it may on that account, appear the 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 31 
 
 more interesting. The text is, Psalm 1. 23. 
 " Whoso oflbreth praise glorifieth me : and to 
 him that ordereth his conversation aright, will 
 I shew the salvation of God." 
 
 "There is a question. Psalm cxvi. 12. 
 *' What shall I render to the Lord for all his 
 benefits I" These words are an answer to it. 
 Two things you must render — praise — a well 
 ordered conversation. 
 
 1. Praise. Be inwardly thankful in heart. 
 Be outwardly thankful i\ word. This is our 
 rent, to be paid daily, according as our re- 
 ceivings are. He that doth this is said to glo- 
 rify God, that is, 
 
 Pleases him. " Glorifies me." Does the thing 
 that I delight in. The prayer of the upright 
 is his delight. But he hath more delight in 
 their thanksgiving than in their prayers, be- 
 cause therein they do not seek themselves, but 
 ,W'holly his glory. 
 
 Glorifies me, that is, gets me a good name 
 among men. 
 
 2. Besides this ; another duty is to look to 
 our conversation. Those that have received 
 mercy from God should be very careful about 
 their conversation. 
 
 You have all reason to feel weight from 
 
32 MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 
 
 God's benefits ; are you willing to know what 
 you shall render 1 
 
 Doctrine. Though thanks giving be very 
 good, yet thanks living is a great deal better. 
 
 What is to be done that ours may be a 
 well-ordered conversation ? Two things are 
 of great concernment. 
 
 1. Our conversion. Are we new crea- 
 tures? born again? Are we passed from 
 death unto life? Without this there is no 
 salvation. Matt, xviii. 3. I pray see to this. 
 Let there be a principle. Matt. xii. 33. 
 
 2. Our conversation. This must be or- 
 dered aright. What is that ? I answer, living 
 and walking by rule, as soldiers are set rank 
 and file in their march. " These things hast 
 thou done, and I kept silence ; thou thoughtest 
 that I was altogether such an one as thyself; 
 but I will reprove thee, and set them in order 
 before thine eyes." Psalm L 21. There is a 
 time coming when God will set our disorders 
 in order. There are omissions and commis- 
 sions, sins of ignorance and sins of presump- 
 tion. He that orders his conversation aright 
 now, need not be afraid of the day of judg- 
 ment. A sad sight it will be when God shall 
 set all the sins of a wicked man before him. 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 33 
 
 I shall give some rules for the ordering of 
 the conversation aright. 
 
 1. Begin and end every day with God. 
 He is the Alpha and Omega, Make him so. 
 When you awake, let your first thoughts be 
 of God, not of the world, or vanity. Lift up 
 your thoughts in thankfulness for the rest of 
 the night, for the health of the morning. Will 
 you remember this? 
 
 When you arc up, you must make a more 
 solemn bushiess of it. God expects to find 
 you somewhere alone, every morning. " In 
 the morning will I direct my prayer unto 
 thee." Afterwards, in the family. In a well- 
 ordered conversation, the man dares not go 
 about worldly business till he and his family 
 have been together to worship God. In the 
 evening, worship God in your families also. 
 Pray alone. Close the day with God. Let 
 prayer be the key of the morning, and the 
 bolt of the night. And, see to the manner of 
 it, that it be done after a due order. " I will 
 wash mine hands in innocency ; so will I com- 
 pass thine altar, O Lord." 
 
 2. Set the Lord always before you. He is 
 always before you. His eye is always upon 
 us. But do you set him before you? "Mine 
 eye is ever towards the Lord." " Behold, as 
 
34 MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 
 
 the eyes of servants look unto the hand of 
 their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden 
 unto the hand of her mistress ; so our eyes 
 wait upon the Lord our God." Do all in 
 the name of the Lord Jesus to the glory of 
 God. 
 
 3. Be good husbands of time, especially 
 of opportunity time. Time is precious. Ask 
 dying people. Ask damned people. An inch 
 of time is worth a wedge of gold. I believe 
 wherever God gives grace to a man, from 
 that time he will value time at another rate 
 than before. Especially value opportunities. 
 These are the cream of time, whether of doing 
 or getting good. Improve them. " Whatso- 
 ever thy hand findeth to do, do it." Eccles. 
 ix. 10. Time may last, and opportunity be 
 gone ; " Go to the ant, thou sluggard." This 
 present day is a price. I pray improve it. 
 Think what shall I do for God, or for my soul, 
 this day. 
 
 4. Be diligent in your callings. Each of 
 us ought to have a calling. We are not to 
 stand idle in the market-place of this world. 
 The first Adam, heir apparent of the world, 
 had a calling, so had the second Adam. For 
 thirty years together our Lord worked with 
 his supposed father in the trade of a carpen- 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 35 
 
 ter, " Be diligent to know the state of ihy 
 flocks." Whatsoever your calling is, therein 
 abide with God. Let it be never so mean, if 
 honest, and followed diligently, with an eye 
 to God, he accepts us. Take heed of inordi- 
 nateness. Those are too busy who cannot 
 find time from their calling to attend the 
 service of God. Be industrious in the fear 
 of God. 
 
 5. Look well to the duties of your particu- 
 lar relations. It is a certain truth, that you 
 are really what you are relatively, as hus- 
 bands and wives, parents and children, bro- 
 thers and sisters, masters and servants, and 
 fellow-servants. A well-ordered conversation 
 discharges the duties of each of these rela- 
 tions M'ith all might in the fear of God. " I 
 and my house will serve the Lord," not only 
 in immediate acts of worship, but in all family 
 relations and duties. The second and third 
 chapters of St. Peter's first Epistle are to di- 
 rect in the several relations. All is com- 
 prised in one word, love. Walk in love, and 
 dwell in love. There is no walking, no 
 dwelling like this. They that dwell in love 
 dwell in God, and shall be with him forever. 
 A whole Psalm, the cxxxiii. ; a whole chap- 
 ter, 1 Cor. xiii. ; a whole book of Scripture, 
 
36 MEMOIRS OP MUS. SAVAGE. 
 
 the first Epistle of John, all written to com- 
 mend brotherly love. 
 
 6. Be careful what company you keep. 
 Psalm i. 1. Acts ii. 40. Be not delighted in 
 that company that you would not be with for- 
 ever. " I am a companion of all them that 
 fear thee." 
 
 7. Set a watch over the door of thy lips. 
 Psalm cxU. 2. By our words we shall be 
 justified, by our words condemned. Some 
 say, " Our lips are our own." Do not say so. 
 Do not think so. The sound of the vessel 
 discovers the emptiness of it. Those that are 
 bound for Canaan must not speak the language 
 of Ashdod. Be the first to begin good dis- 
 course, never the first to let it fall. 
 
 8. Acknowledge God in all thy ways. 
 Knock at his door. Beg of him guidance 
 and direction, success and a blessing. Ask 
 at his mouth, " Lord, what wilt thou have me 
 to do?" Own him in your successes. In 
 your disappointments acknowledge him. Tlie 
 Lord is pleased to disappoint me in this. 
 
 9. Remember the Sabbath day to keep it 
 holy. I fear God hath a controversy with 
 our nation about this. Our fights and our 
 fires discover this so plainly, that he that runs 
 may read. London fire began on the Sabbath 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE- 37 
 
 day. So did divers others. You will find 
 that, according as you keep the Sabbath, your 
 worldly affairs succeed well or not ; " Will a 
 man rob God ?" 
 
 10. Die daily. Let no day pass without 
 some serious thoughts or words about death 
 and the grave. This will help to make you 
 serious. It was Paul's practice, " I die daily.'* 
 Do something every day to make your dying 
 day comfortable. 
 
 11. Honour the Lord with thy substance; 
 that is, dishonour him with no part of it, and 
 pay him his rent out of it, in charity to the 
 poor. They are God's receivers, and are al- 
 ways with us. 
 
 12. Make Christ your all in all. Make 
 Christ your strength, to assist you in duty. 
 Make him your righteousness, for nothing 
 we do is, or can be, acceptable to God. 
 None but Christ, none but Christ. I live 
 tipon him. I live by him. I live through 
 him. 
 
 INIrs. Savage, a few years after her public 
 profession of religion, commenced that par- 
 ticular scries of writing, to which I am in- 
 debted for the most interesting parts of her 
 biography. "August, 1686, I have had it," 
 she remarks, " in my thoughts to do some- 
 4 
 
88 MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 
 
 thing in the nature of a Diary, being encou- 
 raged by the advantages others have gained 
 thereby, and the hope that I might be fur- 
 thered by it in a godly hfe, and be more 
 watchful over the frame of my heart when it 
 must be kept on record. I would ai)prove 
 myself to God, who alone knows the sin- 
 cerity of my heart. To him I have made my 
 request known herein, and I heartily beg 
 that what I shall at any time put down may 
 be the true workings of my heart, and that 
 I may in nothing bear false witness against 
 myself." 
 
 The following year, March 28, 1687, she 
 was married to Mr. John Savage, a respect- 
 able farmer and land agent, residing at Wren- 
 bury -Wood, near Nantwich, in Cheshire. Her 
 notice of the annual return of that day evinces 
 much gratitude for the providential kindness 
 which she experienced in the important 
 change. She was not unequally yoked. Mr. 
 Savage appears to have been a pious, active, 
 and useful man. It was his custom, in addi- 
 tion to family and closet duties, to pray with 
 his wife morning and evening, and it pleased 
 God to continue them together on earth forty- 
 two years. 
 
 Mr. Henry, conformably to the pious cus- 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 39 
 
 torn of the times, addressed a sermon to Mr. 
 and Mrs. Savage on their marriage. The 
 text was Genesis ii. 22. "And brought her 
 unto the man."* 
 
 "Weddings are Hkely," he observed" to be 
 comfortable, when God brings the married 
 couple to each other. All who come together, 
 do so by his common providence. A sparrow 
 doth not fall to the ground without him. But 
 there is a special providence to be owned, 
 when people marry in the Lord. That a mar- 
 riage may be in the Lord, it is necessary that 
 the proceeding be according to rule. In res- 
 pect of parties, they must not be too near in 
 relation, nor too far off in age, quality, and 
 profession. The more suitableness, the more 
 likely is it that they were brought together by 
 God. Solomon missed it in marrying strange 
 wives, and it was his ruin. Sons of God 
 should not match with the daughters of men. 
 Be not unequally yoked. There should be free 
 consent of both parties, and parents also. Pa- 
 rents are not to infringe children's right, by 
 forcing them, nor children theirs, by dispo- 
 posing of themselves. It should be managed 
 
 * Dear father preached at family prayer that night, from that 
 ecripture in Genesis,'and brought her to the man.' Mrs. Savage. 
 Diar)-, Orig. MS. 
 
40 MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 
 
 as an ordinance of God, sanctified by the word 
 of God and prayer. 
 
 " What God brings, he will bless to us, and 
 what he blesses, must needs be comfortable. 
 When God blows upon any thing, it never 
 prospers. Psalm cxxvii. 1."* 
 
 A sermon preached by his son, Matthew 
 Henry, on a similar occasion, is given in the 
 Appendix.t 
 
 A pious solicitude honourably to discharge 
 the duties of her new relation, is apparent in 
 her diary. The anticipation of them was con- 
 nected with fervent prayer, and her uniform 
 deportment proved that the petitions were 
 sincere. 
 
 The first visit she received, in her new 
 abode, from her excellent father, is thus no- 
 ticed. " He read and expounded the ci. Psalm 
 (well styled the householder's Psalm,) and gave 
 us these rules always to act by ; well worth 
 remembering. That God, who is the first and 
 best, must be served with the first and best. 
 That except the Lord build the house, they la- 
 bour in vain that build it. That every crea- 
 ture is that to us that God makes it to be, com- 
 fortable or uncomfortable. That man's life 
 and happiness does not consist in the abundance 
 
 • From Mrs. Savage's MS. + Appendix II. 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 41 
 
 of what he possesses. That the things of time 
 and the body are not to be compared with the 
 tilings of the soul, and eternity." 
 
 As from this period, her rehgious principles 
 were necessarily more fully called into exer- 
 cise, it will not be unprofitable to mark with 
 increased attention, their holy influence. Re- 
 ligion did not flow, in her soul, as a contracted 
 rivulet in a subterraneous cavern, but, like 
 a widely-extended river, by its fertilizing 
 streams, it enhvened and enriched the sphere 
 in which she moved. 
 
 4* 
 
42 MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 Her Character.* 
 
 To delineate the character of persons long 
 smce dead is, indeed, a task : but happily, in 
 the present instance, the difficulty is materially 
 lessened by Mrs. Savage's pious industry. 
 
 It is not my intention to eulogize, but, for 
 public advantage, to represent this excellent 
 woman with all possible fidelity. That she 
 had faults none can doubt; though, to adopt 
 the language of lier funeral sermon, (an au- 
 thentic copy of which, in manuscript, is in the 
 author's possession,) " This testimony is borne 
 of her, that notwithstanding the many and 
 
 * Mrs. Brett informed me in conversation, that slie distinctly 
 remembers her pious ancestor. In stature she was rather short 
 and corpulent, with features more hke the painting of her father 
 than that of her mother, The sprighthness of her disposition 
 appeared even in old age, and she constantly promoted, by 
 heavenly converse, the edification of all around her. Mrs. Brett 
 was often catechized by her, and still preserves a prayer which 
 she composed for her use. It is a pleasing specimen of 
 simple language, comprehenaive brevity, and pious supplica- 
 tion. 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 43 
 
 great trials she met with in a large family of 
 children and servants, above forty years, she 
 was never seen so much in a passion as to 
 say or do, what she might have cause to ac- 
 cuse and reproach herself for afterwards." 
 
 She, however, deplored her native depra- 
 vity, and keenly observed those effects which 
 passed unnoticed by surrounding friends. She 
 needed no arguments to prove that, as in the 
 natural, so in the moral world, there are no 
 gardens without weeds, no trees without su- 
 perfluous branches. It was an habitual dis- 
 cernment of indwelling sin (a siglit only 
 beheld by a spiritual eye) which, as it mani- 
 fested the necessity of daily mortification, 
 excited fervent aspirations after heavenly 
 felicities. Hence on one occasion, she writes ; 
 " Friday night. In my closet I was much 
 cheered and revived by thinking of the second 
 coming of Christ, especially with that scrip- 
 ture, Acts iii. 19, where it is called the " time 
 of refreshing." Such, indeed, it will be. Here 
 I am often tired with duty, tired with sinning, 
 tired with a corrupt heart ; sometime tired 
 and weary with just nothing. Oh, but there 
 is a time of refreshing coming. Well may it 
 be called so. Mr. Alleine, in one of his let- 
 ters, speaks thus, to comfort Christians in 
 
44 MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 
 
 their sufferings. ' Wait awhile, and you shall 
 have a blessed heaven.' The Lord speaks 
 to a Christian as one did to his creditor; 
 * Have patience with me, and I will pay thee 
 all.' Oh, for faith and patience! How^ safely 
 and sweetly would these carry us to our home 
 and harbour, through all dilhculties." 
 
 At another time thus ; " I lately heard a 
 good remark. Why should those go mourn- 
 ing to the grave who hope to go rejoicing to 
 Heaven? Yet I find my spirit lean to the 
 mourninc: side. What with our own and 
 others' sins, and our own and others' sor- 
 rows, this world may well be called a vale 
 of tears. Blessed be God for a comfortable 
 hope that shortly they shall all be wiped 
 away. The blessed saints above obtain joy 
 and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall 
 flee away." 
 
 Mrs. Savage in her natural temper was 
 contented and cheerful, meek and affectionate. 
 
 Filial duties were eminently observed by 
 her. Slie " honoured her father and mother." 
 
 In the conjugal relation she happily dis- 
 covered the influence of Christianity. Her 
 attentions to her husband, though minute, were 
 not confined to " things temporal ;" she assidu- 
 ously studied the advancement of his spiritual 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 45 
 
 interests. Her diary shows that when secular 
 business lawfully occupied his time, she was 
 a Irequent intercessor at the throne of grace, 
 that his heart might not be too much en- 
 gaged. 
 
 She loved home, and, as the head of a 
 family, aimed, by setting a pattern of cheer- 
 ful, serious piety, to walk " as becometh the 
 gospel." For the spiritual welfare of her do- 
 mestics she cherished a holy zeal, and dis- 
 covered it by regular and patient instruction, 
 as well as fervent prayer. " Oh," she writes, 
 soon after her marriage, "that the family 
 might be the better for me. As far as I know 
 my own heart, I earnestly desire the salvation 
 of every soul under our roof. Oh, that they 
 did but see what I see of the excellency of 
 Christ, the sinfulness of sin, and the vanity of 
 creatures !" 
 
 She was the mother of nine children, but 
 only four of them survived her. The care and 
 tenderness she discovered in their infancy did 
 not exceed her concern for their souls. As 
 they advanced in years her pious anxiety in- 
 creased, and no pains were spared to teach 
 them the things of God. A considerable part 
 of the evening of the Sabbath was devoted 
 to family instruction. She excelled in the 
 
46 MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 
 
 happy art of recommending religion to the 
 young. She gained tlieir attention, and, by a 
 careful representation of piety, as the reverse 
 of every thing harsh and severe, they were 
 encouraged to be inquisitive on divine sub- 
 jects. To her instructions were added the 
 most affectionate prayers ; and her children, 
 when not immediately under her inspection, 
 were visited with such letters of piety and 
 love, as, with the blessing of God, were calcu- 
 lated to produce the happiest effects. 
 
 Her diary abounds with expressions of con- 
 cern for her children. "Oh," she writes, on 
 one occasion, " that I could be every day 
 travailing to see Christ formed in them. This 
 week I was much affected when reading, in 
 course. Proverbs xxx. 8. " Remove far from 
 me vanity and lies." It is the only prayer in 
 that book. Mcthinks it is a very proper prayer 
 for children. I have earnestly begged of God 
 to remove from mine, vanity and lies." 
 
 At another time thus; "I read in course, 
 in my closet, Isaiah liv. with ihc Exposition. 
 I was much affected with the 13th verse, 
 ' And all thy children shall be taught of the 
 Lord.' Though it is spoken of the Church's 
 children, I would api)ly it to my own children 
 in particular, and desire to act faith on it. I 
 
MEMOIRS OF ftras. SAVAGE. 47 
 
 am caring and endeavouring that they may 
 be taught and instructed in the good way. 
 This is the inward desire of my soul. Now, 
 saith God, they sliall be taught of me, and all 
 thy children shall. A sweet promise. It much 
 satisfies me. Lord, set in with poor parents 
 who desire nothing in the world so much as 
 to see their children walk in ' the narrow way ' 
 that leads to life." 
 
 As a friend she shone with peculiar lustre. 
 Her enjoyment of the society of her friends 
 was ever improved to spiritual purposes. 
 Mutual exhortation and prayer were special 
 objects of attention ; and some portion of 
 scripture being selected as a parting farewell, 
 happily lessened, by an elevated style of 
 thought, the pangs of separation. 
 
 Tidings having suddenly reached her of 
 the illness of one whom she regarded in that 
 character, she remarks, " My heart was full, 
 my remedy is to retire and spread the letter 
 before a compassionate Father, and tell him 
 how it is, which I find more easy tlian to sub- 
 mit freely to his all-wise disposal ; yet, when 
 I had done this, I was refreshed." 
 
 The death of a friend was no trifling oc- 
 currence ; every feeling was exercised, and 
 the most sacred efforts resorted to, that the 
 
48 MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 
 
 event might be follow^ed by entire resignation, 
 and personal benefit. 
 
 " Nor was the funeral denied the grace 
 Of many tears, virtuous and thoughtful grief; 
 Heart-sorrow, rendered sweet by gratitude." 
 
 IVurdswurtli't Excurtion, 
 
 Thus she records the loss of an acquaint- 
 ance ; " My dear friend, Mrs. Bradbiirn, 
 having brought a living child into this world, 
 went herself, about four hours after, to a 
 better. She went, as I hear, triumphantly to 
 glory, sweetly sleeping in Jesus. I heard not 
 of it till Friday. I was then much affected. 
 I could not quiet my spirit for some time. A 
 dear praying friend left us, and gone to re- 
 ceive the reward of her work. Indeed she 
 lived much in a little time, and was a pattern 
 of piety. Great need of such. May I not cry 
 to God as one did to the dying prophet, " My 
 father, my father, the chariots of Israel, and 
 the horsemen thereof.' ' Were it not that the 
 Lord of Hosts hath left us a small remnant 
 we had surely been like Sodom ere now.' 
 And wilt thou lessen the number of thy pray- 
 ing ones ? Surely it bodes ill ; especially, now 
 there is so much need of such. But shall the 
 clay contend with the potter? His will is 
 his wisdom. Infinite wisdom sees good thus 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 49 
 
 it sliall be. With that I silence my murmur- 
 ings." 
 
 On the death of her brother-in-law, Mr. 
 Radford, of Chester, in the year 1699, she 
 thus wrote; " Lord, what work has sin made! 
 It is the old kill-friend. What a great many 
 of our dear relations have been snatched away 
 from us in a short time. All in the midst of 
 their days and usefulness. O that my heart 
 were more duly affected, and that I could be 
 learning the meaning of these providences, 
 which have really a sad aspect. There is 
 reason to fear when God houses his people so 
 fast, that a storm is coming. I am told dear 
 brother Radford finished admirably well, and 
 gave great satisfaction as to the safety of his 
 eternal state. Is it not matter of comfort, that 
 our dear friends have safely escaped the cor- 
 ruptions, and entanglements of this evil world, 
 landed at their everlasting rest? Brother 
 Henry* preached his funeral sermon on Tues- 
 day evening, August 22, from Psalm Ixxxviii. 
 18. ' Lover and friend hast thou put far from 
 me, and mine acquaintance into darkness.' It 
 is God who removes them. They are put far 
 out of our sight, out of hearing, out of our 
 reach. He gave the following directions: — 
 
 * Appendix III. 
 5 
 
50 MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 
 
 Bless God for the lovers and friends we have 
 had, and for the comfort wc have had in them. 
 Learn by such providences to cease from man. 
 Retain the remembrance of the love and friend- 
 ship of those who are now removed. Imitate 
 them in what is virtuous and praise-worthy. 
 Let it make death and the grave more fami- 
 liar to us. Diligently prepare to follow after. 
 Bless God for the remnant that are left of our 
 lovers and friends. Since they are thus re- 
 moved from us, let us make sure of a friend 
 and a lover that will never fail. -He said that 
 under such providences it is comfortable to 
 believe, that, though put far from us they are 
 gone nearer to God ; though they are removed 
 from us, God is not. Wc are going to them, 
 and shall be with them shortly." 
 
 It would be easy to illustrate, with valuable 
 matter, Mrs. Savage's general character ; but, 
 it being my intention to notice, more particu- 
 larly, those features of it which seem best 
 calculated for edification, I shall, at once, at- 
 tempt a delineation, hoping to illustrate, there- 
 by, the essential principles of religion. An 
 admirer of creation is not satisfied with casu- 
 ally surveying a rich landscape, but, for im- 
 provement as well as gratification, finds plea- 
 sure m visiting and individualizing its minuter 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 51 
 
 beauties. So a spiritual mind delights to 
 expatiate on regenerating mercy, and to trace, 
 in the " heirs of salvation," the moral image 
 of their Saviour. 
 
 As there is a beautiful uniformity in Chris- 
 tian experience, the following extracts may 
 serve to show that the people of God are en- 
 gaged in a conflict, emphatically styled spi- 
 ritual ; that devotional exercises are their 
 element ; that their hopes of divine acceptance 
 rest exclusively on the meritorious sacrifice 
 of Christ ; that " things above " engross their 
 affections; that present attainments cannot 
 satisfy them ; that universal obedience, and 
 entire resignation to the will of heaven, are 
 their habitual aim. In short, that religious 
 excellence is characterized by godly fear, holy 
 love, and spiritual joy. 
 
 SECTION I. 
 
 Her Diligence in improving Time, and in 
 studious Exercises. 
 
 When the toil and bustle connected with a 
 farm-house, and a large family, are consi- 
 dered, it is truly astonishing how so much 
 
52 MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 
 
 was accomplished. It should be borne in 
 mind, that her preparation for eternity, wliich 
 it will appear was most exemplary, never hin- 
 dered her secular afiairs. Her eye was fixed 
 upon the land of Canaan, but she perseveringly 
 walked in the paths of appointed duty. She 
 attended, diligently, to the routine of the 
 kitchen and the dairy, the market and the 
 fair. "Conscientious waiting upon God," it 
 is observed in her funeral sermon, " neither 
 prevented her discharging her duty to those 
 who were about her, nor hurried her to the 
 neglect of her temporal concerns. So re- 
 markable was her diligence in her family, 
 that, excepting the portion of time which she 
 consecrated to God, it is said of her, by one 
 that observed and knew her well for forty 
 years, that she was not idle or unemployed, 
 no, not a moment. She very well understood 
 and knew that her duty to God did, by no 
 means, oblige her to neglect the duties of a 
 wife, a mother, or a mistress. When out of 
 the more immediate service of God, she was 
 constantly discharging these. Religion is no 
 friend to sloth, confusion, and indolence." 
 
 Mrs. Savage habitually rose early, and so 
 miserly was she of time, that when, through 
 the disturbances of nursing, or other causes, 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 53 
 
 she slept too long, her diary records especial 
 dissatisfaction and regret. 
 
 It -\vas the order and -wisdom of her house- 
 hold regulations, which enabled her to redeem 
 time for mental improvement. She thought 
 much, and, considering her pressing engage- 
 ments, she read much. Good books were her 
 treasure ; 
 
 " Their familiar voice 
 
 Even to old asc, with unabated charm. 
 
 Beguiled her leisure hours ; refreshed her thoughts." 
 
 IVoTdtworlh, 
 
 Her acquaintance with, and delight in, the 
 Holy Scriptures was extensive and sincere, 
 and laid a firm foundation for the accurate 
 knowledge she discovered of the system of 
 revealed truth. The Psalms of David, and 
 St. Paul's Epistles, were peculiarly admired. 
 During the last years of her life she usually, 
 while at work, kept the Bible within reach, 
 that she might turn to such portions as were 
 the subjects of meditation. With reading 
 the Scriptures (in regular order) and her 
 father's Exposition, she commonly began 
 the day; and the wakeful hours of night 
 were usually improved by repeating, from 
 memory, Psalms, and Hymns, and Cate- 
 chisms. 
 
 5* 
 
54 MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 
 
 The following are pleasing specimens of a 
 devout perusal of the divine word, in which 
 she particularly recognises the goodness of 
 God. " Wednesday morning, I read in course 
 Ezckiel xvi. A portion of scripture, where 
 as in a glass, I may see my own face. His 
 kindness to that poor forlorn infant was great. 
 Surely such was his kindness to me in in- 
 fancy, when I was wholly polluted and defiled 
 with original con'uption. Then he had com- 
 passion on me, washed me with water, entered 
 into covenant with me in baptism, so that I 
 became his. He decked me with ornaments, 
 viz : natural abilities, both of body and mind, 
 in a competent manner. In a word, he did 
 much for me. But I was unthankful, fought 
 against him with his own weapons. Yet he 
 was pleased to follow me with the calls of his 
 grace, till, at last, he made them effectual, and 
 brought me home to himself. To the king, 
 eternal, immortal, invisible, be honour and 
 glory forever. Amen." 
 
 " Sabbath, July 15, 1694. I did not awake 
 with thoughts suitable to the day. Is my 
 Lord risen, and is my heart so low and cold ? 
 I was lately refreshed by reading, in the 
 family, Daniel xii. 13, How comfortably 
 does that book close ! The good man had 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 55 
 
 great revelation of things to come, and he 
 seems, by the story, to have desii'ed earnestly 
 to see the coming of Christ, and the accom- 
 plishment of the great things he iiad been told 
 of, verses 6, 8. But observe, how God an- 
 swers him. ' Go thou thy way till the end 
 be ; for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at 
 the end of the days.' Thy body shall rest in 
 the grave ; thy soul, in heav^en. As if he had 
 said. Let it suffice thee it siiall be, though thou 
 dost not live to see it. I believe God hath 
 great things to do in the world ; perhaps, 
 shortly, in the destruciion of antichrist, root 
 and branch, and the advancement of the 
 gospel-kingdom of Jesus Christ. Though I 
 may not live to see it, yet, I trust, I shall rest 
 with that good man, and all the dear mem- 
 bers of that great body, and stand in my lot 
 at the end of the days, in the resurrection of 
 the just." 
 
 " 1708, January 11. This week I am read- 
 ing, in course, in the Epistle to the Hebrews, 
 wherein, I see more excellency than ever 
 heretofore. The eighth chapter is concerning 
 the everlasting covenant. I will make a new 
 covenant. The Exposition especially ob- 
 serves, that pardon of sin seems to be the 
 foundation of the rest. I will do so and so, 
 
56 MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 
 
 ' For I will be merciful to their unrighteous- 
 ness, and their sins and their iniquities will I 
 remember no more.' And, methinks, the 
 manner of the expression is exceedingly 
 sweet. In the Old Testament it used to be 
 — ' If they will walk in my statutes, and do 
 them, and be obedient, &c., then I will be 
 gracious.' But, here are no ifs and ands; I 
 will and you shall is the language. This is 
 indeed, gospel, good news. Enough to make 
 one's heart leap for joy. He works all our 
 works in us, and for us. Oh, this everlasting 
 covenant has that in it which is " all our sal- 
 vation, and all our desire." It was that which 
 my dear and honoured father had his heart 
 much upon. 
 
 " In the ninth chapter, as all along, he is pre- 
 ferring the gospel before the law, the New 
 Testament before the Old. But, that which 
 most affects me is the last verse, where, speak- 
 ing of Christ's second coming, the true saints 
 are described to be such as look for him. 
 This the wicked do nut. They would be glad 
 if he would never come. But the real Chris- 
 tian looks, nay longs, for his coming. As the 
 mother of Sisera. ' Why arc his chariot's 
 wheels so long in coming V I desire to be 
 always found in a praying, waiting frame, 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 57 
 
 and in the way of my duty, because he will 
 come suddenly, and find many sleeping. 
 Therelore, Oh my soul, watch. Watcii." 
 
 It is in the records of inspiration, that the 
 Christian beholds wisdom clad in her love- 
 liest attire, and finds truth " unmixed with 
 error." The Scriptures are the map by which 
 he travels Zionward, the fountain, by whose 
 streams he is refreshed, the armory from 
 whence his spiritual weapons are supplied. 
 As such they are inexpressibly precious. But 
 is it not to be feared, that professions of ex- 
 clusive attachment to revealed truth, are, by 
 some persons, converted into an asylum for 
 sloth, or prejudice, or pride? Despising the 
 usual methods of instruction, and the produc- 
 tions of all uninspired writers, they arrogate 
 to themselves the wisdom which must be de- 
 rived from reading the Bible only. Mrs. 
 Savage, however, thought otherwise, and 
 without undervaluing the Bible, highly es- 
 teemed the pious labours of good men ; es- 
 pecially such books as were best calculated 
 to strengthen the understanding, to quicken 
 devotion, and excite to holiness. A Heine's 
 Letters, Polhill's Precious Faith, the works of 
 Owen, Hopkins, and Howe, Flavel, Baxter, 
 and Watts, with other writings of a similar 
 
58 MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 
 
 description, were the subjects of patient and 
 regular perusal. She delighted much in bio- 
 graphy, and her diary manifests the interest 
 with which she read Clarke's Lives, Mather's 
 History of New England, and the Lives of 
 Mrs. Bury, Mrs. Rowe, Mrs. Walker, and 
 Mr. Reynolds. She likewise transcribed 
 several manuscript memoirs for the use of 
 herself and her family. On retiring to rest 
 she commonly placed good books near the 
 bedside, to prevent an unprofitable employ- 
 ment of her waking thoughts. 
 
 The application which has been noticed 
 was not instituted to equip a pedant, or to 
 furnish matter merely for discourse ; but for 
 personal benefit, and to subserve, by holy 
 practice, the divine glory. " Saturday morn- 
 ing," she Myites, " I was refreshed in reading 
 the exposition on Ilosea v. 14. " Tear, and 
 go away ; Though God tear, yet if he stay — 
 if he tear, and tarry — there is some hope ; but 
 if he tear, and go away, 'tis sad indeed. Oh the 
 cheering, comforting influences of the divine 
 presence 1 *Tis that to the soul, and much more, 
 which the refreshing dews of heaven are now 
 to the thirsty earth which is parched and dry. 
 In the evening I read in Mr. Alleine's Life (that 
 pattern of piety) some of his letters. I met 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 59 
 
 with many heart-warming expressions. Per- 
 suading to preparedness for trials, he remarks. 
 " How sad is it with them that are called to 
 part with all for Christ, and arc not sure of 
 him neither;" "therefore," he adds, "what- 
 ever you do, get, and keep, your evidences for 
 heaven clear." He would admire the mercy 
 of God in every meal, and say to his wife, "I 
 live a voluptuous life, but it is upon spiritual 
 dainties, such as the world know not, nor 
 taste of." Another saying, " When I look 
 back upon the gentle dealings of God with 
 me, I often think he has brought me up as in- 
 dulgently as David did Adonijah, of whom it 
 is said, his father had not displeased him. I 
 have received nothing but good at the hands 
 of the Lord all my days." The same may I 
 say. What a good master have I served, or 
 rather, a tender, indulgent Father. He hath 
 followed me with mercies all my days." 
 
 She made extensive and useful collections 
 from the books she read, and by writing the 
 sermons she heard preached, and copying 
 others from manuscripts which appear to have 
 been borrowed for the purpose, transmitted 
 to posterity much treasure. She did not re- 
 pent the toil. Her pleasure in perusing such 
 papers has already been hinted at, and the 
 
GO MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 
 
 advantage she found in having heard, to adopt 
 her revered father's expression, " for the time 
 to come," is visible in almost every part of 
 her diary. Thus she wrote in the year 1727: 
 — " Sabbath day, October 29. We read, at 
 noon, a good old sermon of my dear father's 
 (as long since as January, 1687) concerning 
 those things that pertain to godliness. lie 
 mentions ten, which, he said, no godly per- 
 son is without — 'Knowledge, repentance, 
 faith, sincerity, a spirit of prayer, love to the 
 people and word of God, public spiritedness, 
 mean thoughts of the world, delight in Sab- 
 bath sanctification.' Lord, let these things be 
 in mc, and abound. Methinks, as I grow old, 
 I haA^e more delight and sweetness in my old 
 sermon notes, and often think of those who 
 had seen the old temple ; — they wept, while 
 others rejoiced. Yet, I heartily bless God 
 for the gifts and abilities of our younger 
 ministers. But I am comforted to think that 
 I have not now my foundation to lay. I had 
 then the best helps, so that my roots were 
 watered with wine." 
 
 In the year 1750, when aged 86, noticing 
 a sermon, preached by her honoured father, 
 on Psalm Ixxi. 17, 18, "O God, thou hast 
 taught me from my youth," she writes : " he 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 61 
 
 gave five excellent lessons for young ones • 
 Remember your Creator, Eccl. xii. 1 ; Come 
 to Jesus Christ, John vi. 45 ; Bear the yoke, 
 J^ament. iii. 27; Flee youthful lusts, 2 Tim. 
 ii. 22 ; Cleanse your way, Ps. cxix. 9 ; " Bles- 
 sed are they that dwell in thy house." There 
 are precious promises, sweet ordinances, rich 
 graces and gifts, choice comforts and hopes, 
 and everlasting joys yet behind." 
 
 How forcibly does the preceding exhibition 
 commend Christian diligence ! When it is 
 considered how high a station industry oc- 
 cupies among virtues, how honourably it is 
 associated in Scripture, and how closely it is 
 allied to personal comfort, as well as public 
 advantage, we do not wonder that the exam- 
 }les of the saints are proposed, by inspired 
 wisdom, as a stimulus to exertion. " Be 
 not slothful, but followers of them who, 
 through faith and patience, inherit the pro- 
 mises." 
 
 It not unfrequenfly happens that young 
 Christians, either from the overpowering 
 splendour of newly-discovered objects, or 
 from a mistaken apprehension that God is 
 only served by prayer and ])raise, neglect 
 their temporal avocations, or undervalue the 
 opportunities afforded by common duties for 
 6 
 
62 MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 
 
 holy obedience. Too often, likewise, they 
 overlook their best interests by omitting to 
 store their minds with Christian knowledge, 
 which, however painfully acquired, always 
 affords its possessor a rich remuneration. 
 Though, in truth, the divine glory has greater 
 accessions by the unwearied industry, patient 
 submission, and habitual self-denial of con- 
 sistent believers, than by the highest flights 
 of rapturous devotion. Be diligent in busi- 
 ness is the heavenly oi'der " fervent in spirit, 
 serving the Lord." 
 
 SECTION II. 
 Her Benevolence and Moderation, 
 
 That Mrs. Savage possessed a truly bene- 
 volent spirit, and was actuated in works of 
 charity by pure motives, is very evident. 
 Hear her language: "I find the duty of 
 giving, hard to manage aright — to keep the 
 eye single. I find it much easier to draw 
 out the hand to the hungry, than to draw 
 forth the soul in inward compassion. O this 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 63 
 
 inside of duty is that which I find so very 
 hard." 
 
 She did not act upon the antichristian prin- 
 ciple, that heaven is to be merited by chari- 
 table deeds. She had been better taught. 
 " As the elect of God, holy and beloved," she 
 " put on bowels of mercy," well knowing how 
 peculiarly a kind and benevolent spirit adorns 
 the gospel. Indeed, if heaven is the reward 
 of alms-deeds, how can the poor who have 
 every thing to receive — nothing to bestow — 
 hope for a place in glory 1 How different the 
 language of revelation ! " By grace are ye 
 saved, through faith : and that not of your- 
 selves, it is the gift of God, not of ivorks, lest 
 any man should boast." — " Hearken, my be- 
 loved brethren, hath not God chosen the poor 
 of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the 
 kingdom which he hath promised to them 
 that love him ?" 
 
 There was nothing forced, in her benefi- 
 cence. It was truly divine. "Providence," 
 she remarks, "having placed me at the upper 
 end of the table, I have dealt out with a libe- 
 ral hand." This part of her character has 
 been thus recorded by one of her family. 
 " The pleasure with which she gave alms, or 
 did any other good office to the poor, or dis- 
 
64 MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 
 
 tressed, is not to be described. She willingly 
 employed herself in making garments tor 
 their clothing. She always spoke of the 
 plenty of a farm-house as one of the chief ad- 
 vantages of her station, that it allowed her 
 greater opportunities of supplying the wants 
 of the poor, and feeding the hungry, which 
 she always did with her ow'n hands. She 
 was often observed to be most cheerful those 
 days wherein she had been most called on 
 for such charity. 
 
 Moderation too, eminently distinguished 
 this excellent woman. After her marriage 
 she was deprived of those opportunities for 
 public worship which, from infancy, she had 
 enjoyed. The nearest house of prayer was 
 the parish church, to which, though a dis- 
 senter from principle, she, on the Lord's day, 
 statedly resorted, but on sacrament days she 
 usually travelled to Broad Oak, or Nantwich; 
 the former about eight, the latter about five 
 miles distant. 
 
 Without relaxing in her attachment to the 
 mode of worship adopted by dissenters, or at 
 all shrinking from an avowal of it, she em- 
 braced every proper opportunity of testifying 
 her respect for the established clergy, and 
 strengthening their hands in their important 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 65 
 
 labours. On one occasion she writes, " Our 
 minister takes a great deal of pains in cate- 
 chizing (Sabbath noon). I send mine to iiim 
 for example's sake, for I take the Assembly's 
 Catechism, which they have learned, to be 
 much better than that the church of England 
 appoints ; but I find he joins some useful in- 
 structions, and I hope some of them may re- 
 main. To-day he exhorted them to the great 
 duty of secret prayer. Lord, set in, and 
 speak to their hearts, that all pious endea- 
 vours this way may meet with their desired 
 success." 
 
 There are individuals who may be ready 
 to censure her conduct, and almost suspect 
 her sincerity. To such I would present the 
 following extract from her diary. " 1703, 
 Aug. 15. — In the morning I had refreshment 
 by reading Psalm cxxxix., concerning God's 
 omniscience — " Searched me and known me :" 
 — very comfortable as to the censures of men, 
 and suitable to me as to our non-conformity. 
 Some accuse of singularity, and hypocrisy, 
 in my conformity. Thou hast seen and search- 
 ed, and knowest my heart in that matter — 
 that it is right with thee. As my dear father 
 thus expresses it — ' I am censured by some 
 for conforming so far ; by others for doing it 
 6* 
 
66 MEMOIES OF MRS. SAVAGE. 
 
 no further. Which shall I seek to please ? 
 Neither. But thee, O heavenly Father, who 
 seest in secret.' — Reading this week in the 
 book of Job, and observing the speeches of 
 his friends, how savourily and piously they 
 speak in some things, and yet how much mis- 
 applied to Job ; and that though they often 
 said the same to him, yet there was great want 
 of that candour and tenderness which his case 
 required ; methinks, I could not but have these 
 reflections. Why should I think it strange 
 that it should be so now? Good men diflcr 
 in their sentiments, not understanding each 
 other's meaning. I believe there are many 
 wise and holy men of the Episcopal, as well 
 as the Presbyterian, persuasion. If we could 
 all walk humbly and piously with God ac- 
 cording to the light we have, and charitably 
 believe that others do so too, this, I think, 
 would heal us. IIow comfortable is the ap- 
 peal — He knoweth the way that I take." 
 
 Her papers contain frequent extracts from 
 the Book of Common Prayer, with special 
 observation of many admirable petitions, and 
 their suitableness to her own circumstances. 
 
 Indeed her religion did not consist in cavil- 
 ling, nor in a tedious, invective spirit. Divine 
 love having occupied her soul, there was no 
 
MEMOinS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 67 
 
 place for illibcrality and prejudice. Though 
 she possessed an ardour of intellect by no 
 means common, it ^vas not exercised in con- 
 temning others. Nor did the extensive know- 
 ledge she had acquired by reading, and medi- 
 tation, and a long acquaintance with the 
 world, afford, in her judgment, any reason for 
 despising those who differed from her. She 
 was convinced that — " to agree in our senti- 
 ments as to every point of doctrine or dis- 
 cipline, or as to the authority or expediency 
 of every rite of worship that may be in ques- 
 tion, is absolutely impossible. The best of men 
 difler, their understandings differ; various 
 associations have been accidentally formed, 
 and diflerent principles have been innocently, 
 and perhaps devoutly admitted, which, even 
 in a course of just and sensible reasoning, 
 must necessarily lead to diflerent conclu- 
 sions."* 
 
 On one occasion she manifests her grief at 
 the conduct of a clergyman who, in her 
 opinion, had discovered a different spirit ; 
 and under the obvious influence of a love 
 of moderation, combined with sacred fidelity, 
 she addressed to him the following letter. It 
 
 • Doddridge's Sermon on Christian candour. 
 
G8 MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 
 
 is known to have been candidly received, 
 and it cannot be supposed that tlie gentleman 
 less esteemed the writer. 
 
 " Dear Sir, 
 
 " I have long desired an opportunity of con- 
 versing with you, and I know not how to ex- 
 cuse my doing thus, since you are so oblig- 
 ing and easy of access, but only for privacy, 
 especially as it becomes such as I in silence to 
 learn. Yet, we are also commanded to be 
 ready to give a reason of the hope that is in 
 us, with meekness and fear. Therefore, you 
 M ill pardon my boldness in thus expressing 
 my thoughts. Women's tongues and pens, 
 sometimes claim a freedom, which men, who 
 are more wise and reserved, will not use. It 
 is (or may be thought) our unhappiness to 
 differ from the Established Church in some 
 lesser things, but while we agree in funda- 
 mentals, why should there be, among us, strife 
 and envying? 
 
 " The high charge we had yesterday from 
 you, of devilish pride, arrogance, &c., I can- 
 not account light, especially from one who 
 should stand in the place of God, to guide and 
 direct us in the way to heaven. I think it 
 invidious to judge men's hearts, which none 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 09 
 
 but God can do. It cannot be in itself sinful 
 to dissent from the church, else why did we 
 cast off' the yoke of Rome 1 
 
 " F'or my own part — I freely profess that 
 I have seen so much sincere piety, fervent 
 charity, and humility practised in those I have 
 joined with, and found such solid peace and 
 tranquillity in this way I have walked in, 
 that, I trust, I shall never be either allured, 
 or affrighted, from it. Tlie name of schism 
 (that ecclesiastical scarecrow) is industriously, 
 though falsely, thrown on us, as I have seen 
 proved. But if it were true — who is in the 
 fault 1 The imposers of things which them- 
 selves own to be unnecessary — or we who 
 dare not comply with them, yet are desirous 
 to sacrifice any thing to peace, but truth ? I 
 must say, as any unprejudiced person will, that 
 if the nonconformists are mistaken, they are 
 the most unhappy to exclude themselves from 
 all that is desirable in the world, and expose 
 themselves to poverty, scorn, and hatred. I 
 must do them that justice to tell you, I never re- 
 member to have heard one public reflection 
 from any of them upon the established church. 
 I need not here enter into the merits of their 
 cause, which hath so many better advocates; 
 onlv I must take the freedom to express my 
 
70 MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 
 
 resentments tliat we have, sometimes, from 
 your pulpit, such keen reflections as wc can- 
 not bear, and as, I am sure, do no real good 
 to any one. The great things of the Gospel 
 — faith in Christ — repentance unto life — and 
 new obedience — these are enough to spend 
 our zeal about, as a worthy person writes. 
 Our lives are short, our work great, our 
 souls precious, heaven and hell real things, 
 and all that must be done for eternity must be 
 done quickly, or it will be too late. There- 
 fore, I am always glad to hear ministers insist 
 on these great things. I was much affected, 
 many years ago, with a sermon I wrote from 
 you on those words — ' Purifying to himself a 
 peculiar people, zealous of good works.' 1 
 wish you would preach, and pray, as you did 
 then; yet, good sir, excuse my freedom in 
 thus giving vent to my thoughts. I think there 
 is no family but ours in the parish that are 
 accounted dissenters ; yet, you know, we are 
 as true friends to you, and the church, as any 
 in the parish, perhaps more than many who 
 profess to be entire members of the church of 
 England. As many of our family attend the 
 ministry as most, or any of the like number; 
 and it is to me sad that we should be censured, 
 and worse thought of tiian they, than hund- 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 71 
 
 reds who absent themselves through ignorance 
 and carelessness. It is \veli we are not to be 
 each other's judges. 
 
 " Said my honoured fother, when dying 
 — ' Follow peace, and holiness, and let 
 them say what they will' This has been 
 my sincere desire and endeavour. And I 
 solemnly profess, I have not at all endea- 
 voured to draw my children into the same 
 w^ay, otherwise than what my example might 
 do, though some of them have taken pains 
 to study those points, and are not Presby- 
 terians by chance, but of choice ; for I de- 
 sire they may not pin their faith to my sleeve, 
 but choose for themselves, and, if they take 
 this despised way, it is not because they know 
 no other, but because they know no better. 
 
 " I have heard divers complain that you 
 speak so low, they can scarce hear you, but 
 I observed yesterday you could raise your 
 voice. If I had foreseen our treatment, I be- 
 lieve my place had been empty. I know not 
 how they will answer it who beat their fellow- 
 servants, and cast stones instead of bread. I 
 know not what the Church would have — 
 they have all the profits, preferments, and ad- 
 vantages they can desire, yet because our 
 governors take off the power to persecute, it 
 
72 MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 
 
 avails nothing. But I am quite too tedious, 
 and I crave your pardon, sir, a thousand 
 times, for my freedom with you. I truly re- 
 spect your person and ministry, and pray for 
 its success. I am satislicd you well know 
 the great value of all souls, and the danger 
 of most. This thought will quicken you to 
 cry aloud, and show your hearers their sin 
 and duty before it be too late. What a 
 blessed place is iicaven, where there will be 
 no divisions, or disturbances, for ever ! To 
 which glory He brings us who hath most 
 dearly bought us with the inestimable price 
 of his own blood. Amen." 
 
 Monday, January 14, 1716 — 17. 
 
 Though she entertained the highest regard 
 and veneration for her truly eminent father, 
 and other divines his contemporaries, in whom 
 was concentrated almost every valuable at- 
 tainment, she did not despise their successors, 
 ^he rejoiced in the gifts, graces, and success 
 of all who exalted the Redeemer, and invited 
 sinners to his throne. 
 
 Early indications of piety and ability she 
 diligently cherished, and, by an amiable can- 
 dour, animated and encouraged the diffident 
 and humble. She was, indeed, a " mother in 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 73 
 
 Israel,'' and her " moderation was known," 
 After hearing a sermon at Wrenbury Church, 
 on Titus ii. 14, " Zealous of good works" — 
 she writes — " O that I may learn to be always 
 zealous in a good thing, and remember my 
 dear father's rule — ' In those things that all 
 the people of God are agreed, to spend my 
 zeal ; and as for other things about which they 
 differ, to walk according to the light God has 
 given me, and charitably to believe others do 
 so too.' I desire not to be zealous as to these 
 smaller matters ; and, methinks, I find as I 
 grow in years that I am in my judgment more 
 catholic, and would not do any thing to in- 
 crease differences, but rather, what I can to 
 heal. Lord, when shall it be 1 This balm, 
 this healing balm, 'tis only with thee. O pour, 
 pour of it on us." 
 
 This Christian virtue appeared equally 
 conspicuous in her use of temporal enjoy- 
 ments. Prosperity did not elevate her. Nor 
 was she dejected by adverse events. When 
 her husband was robbed of a considerable 
 sum of money, she calmly remarked, as she 
 had done on other occasions, — " Well, it 
 should stir us up to secure that treasure which 
 none can take away from us." 
 7 
 
74 MEMOIRS OP MRS. SAVAGE. 
 
 SECTION III. 
 
 Her Zeal and Public Spirit. 
 
 Pharisees arc notorious for spending their 
 zeal about lesser matters, while the greater 
 are neglected. Not so Mrs. Savage. With 
 a truly apostolic fervour she aimed to over- 
 throw the dominion of Satan, to obtain a large 
 increase of grace, and, by her prayers, her 
 example, and her correspondence, to promote 
 the worship of God, and the interests of the 
 Messiah's kingdom. 
 
 She diligently cherished a zealous spirit, 
 and rejoiced in all attempts to do good. On 
 one occasion she writes, " Sabbath, July 10. 
 Dear brother's subject was Galatians iv. 18. 
 ♦ It is good to be zealously aflected always in 
 a good thing.' The things of God and reli- 
 gion are good things, the best things. It is a 
 good thing to draw near to God; to keep far 
 off from sin; to give thanks unto the Lord; 
 to bear the yoke ; to do good in our places to 
 others; to hope and quietly to wait for the 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 75 
 
 salvation of tlie Lord. These things I should 
 be zealous for. My affections and actions 
 should be zealous, and vigorous against sin, 
 in desires after God. I should be forward to 
 good works, fervent in s})irit, serving the 
 Lord ; diligent in doing, daring and bold in 
 suffering." 
 
 Some time afterwards, on perusing the ser- 
 mon just mentioned, she thus expresses her- 
 self: "I remember my fauUs, particularly 
 lukewarmness, in opposition to this holy zeal. 
 I am afraid lest, sometimes, that which, at 
 first, looks like meekness, prove a fault. By 
 being too mild for a fault the glory of God 
 suffers. We ought, indeed, to be as lambs in 
 our own cause, but as lions in the eause of 
 God. It is a scripture comparison, ' the 
 righteous are bold as a lion.' I see great 
 need every day of the wisdom which is from 
 above." 
 
 At another time she writes — " Wednesday. 
 Dear brother preached the lecture (at Broad 
 Oak) from Heb. iv. 12, The word of God is 
 sharper than a two-edged sword. The word 
 is a weapon in the hands of Christians, and 
 in the hand of Christ. Lord, direct, and teach 
 me how to use this weapon. Let the word 
 which I heard last Sabbath be as a sword to 
 
76 MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. j^fL. 
 
 pierce, and kill my lukewarmncss and want 
 (if zeal. And prosper, O Lord, the sword in 
 the mouth of Christ — the everlasting gospel 
 in the mouths of thy dear ministers — that the 
 kingdom of Satan may fall before it like 
 lightning from heaven. I cannot but rejoice 
 in the endeavours which arc on foot in many 
 places in this nation, for suppressing profane- 
 ness, the Societies for Reformation of Man- 
 ners. We see there is great need of some to 
 stem the tide. God in mercy own them, and 
 hear the prayer of the royal Psalmist, O let 
 the wickedness of the wicked come to an 
 end. Amen. So be it." 
 
 It was a source of peculiar gratification 
 that her husband, soon after his marriage, 
 united with her in attempting the spiritual 
 benefit of their neighbours. A lecture was 
 instituted at their house, and many excellent 
 ministers alternately travelled thither to pub- 
 lish the everlasting gospel. The commence- 
 ment of this work of love is thus noticed: 
 «' 1087. Thursday, September 8. We had 
 the first meeting in our house at Wrenbury 
 Wood. Blessed be God, that has trusted us 
 with a house to emjiloy for him, which I 
 therefore think the better of. Dear brother 
 preached from Revelations iii. 17. Pretty 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 77 
 
 manv hearers. I begged of God that it may- 
 be said of our poor house, that this or that 
 man or woman was born again there." 
 
 "It often pities me," she writes on another 
 occasion, " to think of the state of some of 
 my neighbours. They are well inchned, have 
 good principles of moral honesty and sobriety, 
 yet, I have great reason to fear, they are 
 strangers to a saving change, and dying so, 
 will be for ever miserable. Oh that it would 
 please God to call them effectually to himself. 
 I know the Father of spirits is infinite in 
 compassion, and knows what is best; but 
 how would it rejoice my heart to see con- 
 verting work go forward among us." 
 
 The lively feelings of her spirit, and the 
 pious ardour of her desires for the prosperity 
 of Zion, are manifest from the following mem- 
 orandum, dated 1G96. " A meeting of non- 
 conformist ministers appointed August 11, to 
 be at Chester. The eternal God himself meet 
 and bless, direct and succeed them in all their 
 ways ! They used to meet at Knutsford, but 
 appointed it now at Chester, to be nearer 
 my dear father, who was designed to be there, 
 and to preach, it being so ordered by them at 
 the last meeting. But God has seen good to 
 break their measures, and hath taken him to 
 7* 
 
78 MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 
 
 the " general assembly and church of the first- 
 born," to be with the " spirits of just men made 
 perfect." Should I not rejoice in hope that 
 I am on my way to this happy end ; like 
 poor Gideon — faint yet pursuing — faint yet 
 pursuing !" 
 
 " This day, viz., Tuesday, August 11th, my 
 husband went early to Chester. He was pres- 
 ent in that sweet assembly. There were 
 twenty-six ministers. A lovely sight to see 
 so many together, who are messengers of 
 churches, and the glory of Christ, let men say 
 what they will. But for our late disappoint- 
 ment it would have been too much like heav- 
 en. Alas ! we must not set up our staff here. 
 This is not our rest. In the evening he re- 
 turned — much affected with the sight of so 
 many worthy men together. The sermon 
 was preached by Mr. Owen, the same that 
 preached my dear father's funeral discourse. 
 An excellent sermon from 2 Cor. vi. 1. — " We 
 then as workers together witli him, beseech 
 you also that ye receive not the grace of God 
 in vain. Concerning the dignity and duty of 
 gospel ministers: one says, they were affected 
 at the meeting much as they were at the build- 
 ing of the second temple — weeping and re- 
 joicing. Lord, hear prayer, and pour out 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 79 
 
 of the Spirit. Where is the Lord God of Eli- 
 jah 1 — It is comfortable that Jesus Christ is 
 the same, the same to his ministers now that he 
 was formerly, if they cleave faithfully to him, 
 even to old age — to the old age of the church. 
 •I am in-:.' I am he that I used to be — he that 
 my people have found me. Faithful is he that 
 hath promised who also will do it ; viz., all 
 that we can ask or think, and more, if for 
 our good." 
 
 In all public events she felt a lively interest. 
 She was a loyal subject, and, in the spirit of 
 true Christianity, was ever anxious for the wel- 
 fare of her country. She rejoiced in its defence 
 and prosperity. 
 
 The year 1690 is memorable for King 
 William's (of glorious memory) expedition 
 against Ireland, and the battle he gained at 
 the Boyne. His progress through Shropshire 
 and Cheshire, on his way thither, is thus pre- 
 served by Mrs. Savage. " Friday, June Gth, 
 King William came to Whitchurch in his 
 way to Ireland. He lay that night at Com- 
 bermere ; thence, next day, to Peel, to Col- 
 onel Whitley's ; thence, on Sabbath day, to 
 Chester ; thence, to Hoylake to take ship. I 
 have earnestly begged of God that his blessing 
 may go along with him." 
 
80 MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 
 
 " Monday, July 7th. It pleased God to 
 send good tidings. Tlic king iiimsclf in 
 great danger ; he escaped with a slight 
 \vound. Our general killed, and many more ; 
 yet it pleased God to give victory to the 
 Protestant forces, so that on Thursday, July 
 3d, the king entered Dublin, which King 
 James hath quit, not being able to make any 
 resistance. An instance to me of the truth 
 of that sweet Scripture — Psalm Ixvi. 12, ' he 
 cuts (Hebrew, slips) ofl' the spirit of princes,' 
 as easily as we do a flower. News from the 
 navy at sea not so good, the admiral proving 
 treacherous.* I trust God will shew himself 
 there as he has done by land. Is he ' the God 
 of the hills only, and not of the valleys also 1 ' 
 
 The death of the great monarch first named 
 is thus noticed. " 1702, March 8th, a little 
 before eight in the morning, our good King 
 William submitted to the stroke of death, 
 after a fortnight's illness, occasioned, at first, 
 by a fall from his horse. He is taken away 
 in the midst of usefulness ; about fifty years 
 old ; much lamented, and deservedly, God 
 having made him a useful instrument of much 
 
 • The Earl of Torrington. lie was aftcn\-ards tried by a 
 Court Martial, and acquitted. — Burnet's Own Time, vol. 
 jv. 75, &c. 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 81 
 
 good to US for thirteen years. I wish we 
 could learn not to trust in an arm of flesh, but 
 to take Christ for our King, who ever Uves to 
 subdue his and our enemies." 
 
 In the same year " a bill was brought into 
 Parliament by the Tories, against occasional 
 conformity, which produced great and long 
 debates. By this bill, all those who took the 
 Sacrament and Test, and did afterwards go 
 to the meetings of the Dissenters, or any 
 meeting for religious worship that was not 
 according to the Liturgy of the Church of 
 England, where five persons were present 
 more than the family, were disabled from 
 holding their employments, and were to 
 be fined in a hundred pounds, and in five 
 pounds a day for every day in which they 
 continued to act in their employments, after 
 their having been at any such meeting : they 
 were also made incapable to hold any other 
 employment, till after one whole year's con- 
 formity to the church, which was to be pro- 
 ved at the Quarter Session ; upon a relapse, 
 the penalty and the time of incapacity were 
 doubled : no limitation of time was put in the 
 bill, nor of the way in which the oflence was 
 to be proved ; but whereas the act of the 
 Test only included the magistrates in corpo- 
 
82 MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 
 
 rations, all the inferior officers or freemen in 
 corporations who were found to have some 
 interest in the elections, were now compre- 
 hended within this bill. The preamble of the 
 bill asserted tiie toleration, and condemned 
 all persecution for conscience sake, in a high 
 strain." * 
 
 The attempt, however, failed, to the great 
 satisfaction of Dissenters, whose fears as to 
 the event had, while the bill was pending, 
 risen high. On its rejection by the House of 
 Lords, Mrs. Savage observed — " Our com- 
 fort is, the Lord God omnipotent reigns. 
 Methinks I see great reason to fear lest God 
 hath a controversy with the professors of our 
 time for our conformity to the world. How 
 unlike the plain old Puritans ! Lord help me 
 to begin at home in humbling of my own 
 
 • Burnet's History of his Own Time, vol. v. p. 119. The bill 
 itself, with the Debates in both Houses, may be seen in the 
 Parliamentary History of England, vol. vi. pp. 59, 15^!, and 359. 
 
 Bishop Burnet, who argued at length against the bill, 
 believing it would necr.ssarily strike at the Toleration Act, ob- 
 served of the preamble — that it put him in mind " of a clause 
 in the sentence of the inquisitors ; when an heretic is con- 
 demned, and delivered to the secular arm, they conjure the 
 magistrate by the mercies of God, and the bowels of Jesua 
 Christ, that no harm be done to the obstinate heretic, neither 
 in life, nor limb; but all this, said he, is but a farce, for he is to 
 be burnt immediately." Parliamentary liistory, voL vi. p. 16L 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 83 
 
 soul : and oh ! — that God would be entreated, 
 and leave a blessing behind." 
 
 At a time of anxious expectation as to the 
 issue of a threatened invasion by the French, 
 she writes, " What will be the end we know 
 not. The truth is, we are a sinful nation. The 
 profaneness of some, the coldness and luke- 
 warmness of others, may justly provoke God 
 to give us up to the will of our enemies. Yet 
 we hope there are thousands among us run- 
 ning into the breach, and crying mightily on 
 behalf of these nations. I have been of late 
 sometimes afraid lest wise and good men 
 among us have too much pleased themselves 
 with our being called Great Britain ; and, it 
 may be, God will make us see that our strength 
 is not in ourselves, but in him only." 
 
 She diligently and conscientiously observed 
 fasts, both congregational and appointed by 
 authority. The following extracts manifest a 
 delight in spiritual worship, and a fervency in 
 ministerial labours, not often surpassed. 
 
 "June 18th. My dear, and self, and my 
 little girl, went to Broad Oak ; it being the 
 third Wednesday, was the fast, which my 
 dear father was enabled, by divine assistance, 
 to carry on from nine till four in praying, 
 singing, preaching, and expounding. A sweet 
 
84 MEMOIRS OF MliS. SAVAGE. 
 
 opportunity it was, wherein my soul certain- 
 ly had communion with God, who was pleas- 
 ed so to answer my prayers as to keep me 
 from drowsiness all the time, which I reckon 
 a great mercy." 
 
 " 1692. June 8th. — Wednesday the public 
 fast. I W'cnt to Broad Oak. Took my two 
 little girls with me. Dear father preached 
 from Gen. xlii. 21 — 'guilty concerning our bro- 
 ther.' He insisted on three points : 
 
 1. The office of conscience. I bless God 
 for any tenderness of this kind — that I have 
 that within me which will smite when I do 
 amiss. I bless God for such a deputy with all 
 my heart. 
 
 2. The benefit of affliction. Till Joseph's 
 brethren were in trouble they thought not of 
 their sin. Sanctified affiictions are spiritual 
 promotions. But 
 
 3. That chiefly insisted on, was the guilt 
 ■we all lie under concerning our brother. 
 Both omissions and commissions laid open in 
 many particulars. Here I must lay a guilty 
 hand on a more guilty heart, and cry, I am 
 verily guilty concerning my brother. What 
 relation have I filled up as I ought ! Father, 
 forgive. 
 
 " It pleased God to abate the pleasure I 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 85 
 
 should have had now in being here, by lay- 
 ing his hand on my iathcr, afflicting him with 
 lameness, and much pain on his bed. Weari- 
 some nights appointed him ; full of the graces 
 of God's Spirit, iiumility, patience, resigna- 
 tion ; especially, full of the sermons he had 
 lately preached concerning Christ : what he 
 is to believers in forty particulars.* He said 
 he never had so much comfort in the reflec- 
 tion upon any subject as this. Notwithstand- 
 ing his illness he went on Sabbath, June 12, 
 limping to the pulpit, where, indeed, his delight 
 is, and preached, expounded, and catechized 
 as usual, being strengthened with strength 
 from above. Still he goes on to preach Christ 
 from Phil. iii. 7 — 10. " But what things were 
 gain to me," &c. Christ. Christ. In com- 
 parison with him all is nothing. Lord, teach 
 me this good lesson. Still my father is much 
 
 * These sermons are in the best style of their admired author, 
 The subjects, with an appropriate text to each, are as follows: 
 our Lord Jesus Christ is considered, in relation to his people, 
 as their Foundation — Food — Root — Raiment — Head — Hope — 
 Refuge— Righteousness — Light— Life — Peace — Passover— Por- 
 tion— Propitiation — Freedom — Fountain — Wisdom — Way — 
 Ensign — Example — Door — Dew — Sun — Shield— Strength — 
 Song — Horn — Honour — Sanctification— Supply — Resurrection 
 —Redemption— Lesson — Ladder— Truth-Treasure-Tcmple 
 —Ark— All. [Republished by the Presbyterian Board of Publi- 
 cation.] 
 
 8 
 
8& MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 
 
 afflicted with pain. The use I would make 
 is to be myself preparing for the like. If this 
 be done in the green tree, if he be so afflicted 
 who has done so much and been so long a 
 faithful labourer in the Lord's vineyard, wiiat 
 must I expect, who have been cumbering the 
 ground ? " 
 
 The annual return of Nov. 5th, served to 
 excite fresh emotions of thankfulness for the 
 signal deliverance of England from ungodly 
 machinations. Nor was her observance of 
 the day a mere formal recollection of the 
 treason. Her very soul was lifted up to the 
 great Deliverer. Iler devout father, and other 
 excellent ministers, commemorated the event, 
 annually, by a sermon adapted to the occa- 
 sion. The returns of these opportunities were 
 highly prized. In 1724, she writes : " Nov. 5. 
 The return of the year should excite our 
 thankfulness for national mercies. Yet a 
 protestant people. Blessed be God. Ps. 
 cxxiv. When this old mercy is in danger to 
 be forgotten, God still sends us fresh ones; as 
 at this time King William, of blessed memory, 
 landed in England, Nov. 4th, 1C88, whom 
 God made a saviour to deliver us from popery, 
 and slavery. At the same time of year again, 
 another great deliverance, in 1714, from the 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 
 
 87 
 
 Rebellion at Preston. Our soul escaped as a 
 bird. I often fear lest I offend God for want 
 of a public spirit. A sign I am but a babe in 
 
 the family." 
 
 SECTION IV. 
 
 Her Humility. 
 
 " True humility," observes an illustrious wri- 
 ter,* " is a lowly frame and habit of spirit, 
 arising from a due sense of the glorious ex- 
 cellency of the almighty God, our own frailty 
 and infirmities, and our infinite dependence 
 upon his bounty, goodness, and mercy." And, 
 among the various graces which adorn Christi- 
 anity, there is none more valuable. It is es- 
 sential to personal religion, and peculiarly 
 distinguishes eminent piety. Who has been 
 more humble than Abraham, or Jacob, or 
 Job, or David, or Paul ? Dr. Harris said ; so 
 much humility as any man has, so much grace 
 and worth he possesses, and no more. 
 
 The Scriptures abound in discoveries of its 
 
 * Sir Matthew Hale. 
 
88 MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 
 
 importance. " Thus saith tlic high and lofty 
 One that inliabiteth eternity, \vh()se name is 
 Holy ; I dwell in the high and holy place, 
 with him also that is of a contrite and humble 
 spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and 
 to revive the heart of the contrite ones." 
 " Put on humbleness of mind," — " Be clothed 
 with humility." 
 
 Angels are bright examples of this sacred 
 virtue, and it is observable that Ezckiel, when 
 relating his vision of their " attention, activity, 
 and perseverance in executing the divine 
 commands," expressly states that " they had 
 the hands of a man under their wings." We 
 see their operations, but not their hands. They 
 are humble. 
 
 The language of our Saviour on the subject 
 is especially striking. " Whosoever shall ex- 
 alt himself shall be abased ; and he that 
 humbleth himself shall be exalted." — And it 
 is " well worthy," as Dr. Doddridge has re- 
 marked, " of our observation, that no one sen- 
 tence is so frequently repeated as this: which 
 occurs at least ten times in the Evangelists." 
 Humility is indeed, 
 
 "The proof of goodnrs?, and the solid stamp 
 
 Of blessed pieiy ! The hallowed base 
 
 On which the Christian virtues love to rest." 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 
 
 89 
 
 Mrs. Savage, having learned of Him who 
 was " meek and lowly in heart," was " poor 
 in spirit." This is manifest from her deep 
 sense of the evil of sin — her esteem of the 
 righteousness of Christ, her submissive con- 
 duct while suffering affliction — her gratitude 
 for divine mercies — her meekness under re- 
 proach — her contentment in every station 
 — and her love to prayer, and all heavenly 
 appointments. The following extracts fur- 
 nish her sentiments on this interesting topic, 
 shewing her love, as well as practice, of hu- 
 mility. 
 
 " 1688, Dec. 9th, Sabbath. In the morn- 
 ing I was more than ordinarily drowsy, but 
 God was found of me before we went to 
 public worship. I find it more easy to go on 
 in a course of external duty, than to be heaven- 
 ly and spiritual as I should be. How many 
 vain thoughts lodged within me to-day. 
 How long, Lord, must it be so 1 This night I 
 begged of God the twenty-four good spirits 
 which my dear falher has been preaching 
 over this year. Methinks I see cause to be 
 especially earnest for an humble spirit. Oh, 
 humility is a most excellent adorning grace. 
 I find pride strong in me, and I am apt to be 
 jealous of mv dear relations lest they do any 
 8* 
 
90 MEMOIRS OP MRS. SAVAGE. 
 
 thing in pride or vain-glory. I am of his 
 mind who named the three great graces of a 
 Christian, Humility ! Humility ! Humility ! 
 We cannot have too mean thoughts of our- 
 selves, provided we do not neglect our duty, 
 nor let go our hold of Christ." 
 
 " 1694, August 7th. The return of the 
 day brings to my mind the mercy of God to 
 me in my birth. Thirty years I have been a 
 monument of mercy. Yet, how have I abus- 
 ed that patience and long-suflering which have 
 so long waited to bring me to repentance. If 
 I can any way judge of a change, the greater 
 part of these thirty years of my life was 
 spent wholly in a state of unregeneracy, 
 wherein I was not only a stranger but an ene- 
 my to God ; and if, out of the lesser half of 
 my time, I subtract all that which hath since 
 been employed in serving the Devil, the 
 world, and the flesh, how small a part of 
 my time hath my God had to his service! And 
 when out of that I subtract all my lifeless, 
 careless duties, wherein I have as it were 
 only mocked him, offering a sacrifice without 
 a heart, I am amazed to think that his pa- 
 tience is yet lengthened out to a tree which 
 hath been so many years barren in the vine- 
 yard. O what empty spaces are there in the 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 91 
 
 time that is past. I wish that for time to come 
 my time may be better filled up." 
 
 " 1702, Sept. 14. Dear brother (after long 
 intermission) came to us, and preached our 
 lecture from Matt. v. 3., ' Blessed are the poor 
 in spirit.' Lord, entitle me to this blessing. 
 Such are happy in both worlds — both hero 
 and hereafter. This true poverty of spirit i.s 
 that which empties me of self that I may be 
 filled with Christ. It extends itself to God — 
 our brother — ourselves. It enables us to 
 possess ourselves in any condition. I have 
 often desired it of God, and it is the breathing 
 of my thirsting soul — Lord, make me poor 
 in spirit, and rich in spirituals. How poor 
 soever I may be in the world, make me rich 
 in faith, an heir of ' the kingdom,' and I have 
 enough." 
 
 At another time she writes thus : " In the 
 evening several of our friends came, espe- 
 cially Mr. King, who was our good helper. 
 He preached excellently next day (Sabbath) 
 from Luke xviii. 22. ' Yet lackest thou one 
 thing ; ' but he rather insisted on the parallel 
 Scripture, What lack I yet ? There is much 
 lacking in the best. Alas ! I lack much — 
 much wisdom, much knowledge, much grace. 
 Surely it is a proper, a very proper question 
 
02 MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 
 
 for mc to put to myself frequently, and espe- 
 cially some times — when going to prayer. I 
 should then be reflecting — what lack I ? 
 What is it most needful to pray for ? When 
 going to the Lord's Supper I should ask — 
 What is it I now especially want 1 — Lord, 
 that my eyes may be opened — that my heart 
 may be softened. This evening we had a 
 long-desired opportunity. All things ready. 
 But my poor heart was not prepared. I was 
 cold and dull. Lord, pity and pardon, and 
 help mc in after reflection. I need not long 
 consider to answer this — " What lack I yet ?" 
 Noticing an unpleasant dispute between 
 ]Mr. Savage and a neighbour, she writes, " I 
 heartily desire to forgive him all his hard 
 thoughts and speeches. If we can approve 
 ourselves to God in our integrity, we must be 
 content to pass through evil report, as well as 
 good report. It comforts me much that my 
 husband has so satisfied Mr. Lawrence, Mr. 
 Illidge, and others of the chief of the society, 
 that he has not deserved those aspersions 
 which he has cast upon iiim. I hope God 
 will, in time, bring good out of this evil. 
 I have earnestly desired it of God, but I am 
 concerned that I do not pray so much and 
 earnestly for him as I should. I think of Mr. 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 93 
 
 Baxter's saying — ' Others' unkindnesses to us 
 are but a clieck to us for our unkindncss to 
 God.' " 
 
 The concluding sentence of one of the vo- 
 lumes of her diary is strikingly characteristic 
 of her prevailing disposition. " It is now 
 almost seven years since I began this little 
 book. If there have been the workings of any 
 grace, it is owing to the God of grace, for I 
 am nothing." 
 
 SECTION V. 
 
 Her Patience atid Resignatioti %inder Ajjliction. 
 
 It was in tribulation that Mrs. Savage most 
 evidently manifested, by a heavenly dignity 
 and composure, the influence of piety. In 
 her afflictions we see the keenest sensibility 
 regulated by faith, and in the deepest sorrow 
 behold her yielding, by sincere resignation 
 and fervent prayer, to the divine will. Her 
 patience and humility, with a constellation of 
 celestial graces, shone, in every melancholy 
 gloom, with peculiar lustre. The brilliancy 
 of the stars is best seen when the night is 
 
94 MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 
 
 dark. " Oh that wc could learn," she re- 
 marks, " these four good lessons, which sick- 
 ness should teach us — what a vain thins the 
 world is — what a vile thing sin is — what a 
 poor thing man is — what a precious thing an 
 interest in Christ is. If we could thus make 
 the house of affliction a school of instruction, 
 how well were it." 
 
 She thus notices the sudden illness of her 
 beloved father, at a time when he was ex- 
 pected to preach at Wrenbury Wood : " 1687, 
 Dec. 2G, Monday. I went at night with my 
 husband to Broad Oak, on foot, with a sad 
 heart. Sometimes I could resign my father 
 up to God ; then, by-and-by, natural affection 
 prevailed, then, grace again. I well remem- 
 bered that when, at first, I entered into cove- 
 nant with God (as well as often since), 1 gave 
 my all to him, without excepting any of my 
 dearest comforts, and now shall I draw back 1 
 No. I did heartily, as my tender affection 
 would suffer, resign him up to God. We 
 found him not so ill as I feared. Wednesday 
 and Thursday his pain continued, yet still sup- 
 ported. Everlasting arms are under. An un- 
 seen hand making all his bed easy to him, and, 
 in some degree, ])rofitable to us. Three things, 
 he told us, are comfortable in aflliction, — "An 
 
MEMOIUS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 95 
 
 affliction borne patiently ; an enemy forgiven 
 heartily ; and a Sabbath sanctified uprightly." 
 Further, " Six things are a salve for every 
 sore ; Christ, a good conscience, the promises, 
 patience, prayer, foretastes of heaven." He 
 had many more sweet expressions. Grace will 
 appear in any condition. On Friday he be- 
 gan to amend. Let God have all the glory." 
 
 It pleased God frequently to exercise her 
 with sharp and long-continued trials of a more 
 personal nature. " Many are the afflictions 
 of the risfhteous." " God had one Son," said 
 Augustine, " without sin, but none without af- 
 fliction." A few days after the birth of her 
 first child she was called to the painful task 
 of surrendering him to the tomb. The whole 
 of her account of the affecting event is so 
 interesting as to render any apology for its 
 length unnecessary. 
 
 " 1G88. About 5 at night, December 18th, 
 he died: seemingly in little extremity; where- 
 in God answered my prayers. Now I could 
 not keep my passions in bounds. Strength of 
 natural affection works, yet my judgment is 
 quiet. I had not one repining thought against 
 God, as if he dealt hardly with me. ' It is 
 the Lord, let him do as seemeth him good.' 
 Shall I refuse to drink of the cup that my 
 
96 MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 
 
 Father puts into my hand? If he had seen it 
 good for mc I should have had this comfort 
 spared ; but, perhaps, he saw that my lieart 
 would too much have gone out after it. There- 
 fore hath he dried up the cistern, to bring me 
 nearer to the fountain. Oh that it may have 
 that blessed eflect ! As to the everlastins: 
 state of the child, I have good hope concern- 
 ing it ; 'tis a very comfortable thing on this 
 account to have an interest in God, because 
 he hath said, * I will be a God to thee and to 
 thy seed.' It should seem that David had 
 some hope of the eternal salvation of his child 
 that died in infancy, because he says — I shall 
 go to him. I am satisfied that it v.as taken 
 into covenant with God. What though my 
 house be not so M'ith God, he hath made with 
 me an everlasting covenant, and this is all my 
 salvation and all my desire. My good God 
 hath been with me in six troubles, and in 
 seven. Thrice this year in peril. What 
 another year may bring forth I know not, nei- 
 ther am I solicitous to know, for this I know 
 — All is working for my good. God is teach- 
 ing me by his rod. Upon this rod I have 
 found honey. How hath my soul sometimes 
 gone out after God ! I have had sweet com- 
 munion with him, and communications from 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 97 
 
 him upon my bed ; particularly, on Sabbath- 
 day, December 16th, when my dear mother 
 read to me 1 Tim. i. Oh ! how did my soul 
 catch at that passage in the beginning — The 
 Lord Jesus Christ, who is our hope. Who is 
 my hope. As one said, This me, and my, and 
 mine, is the life of religion. It is the life of 
 my comfort when I read Romans viii. 1, to 
 be able to say, there is no condemnation 
 to me. Who would be without an interest in 
 Christ? 'Tis comfortable at all times, but 
 surely sweetest of all, when under God's 
 atllicting hand, to be able to say — ' the rod is 
 in the hand of a Father — this bitter portion is 
 designed for my good — though he slay me, yet 
 ril trust him.' — Shall I think much to be 
 crossed who deserve to be crushed ? My 
 keeping of my chamber makes me, some- 
 times, sad and solitary, to think of the plea- 
 sure others in my circumstances enjoy, to 
 whom God is pleased to spare their children ; 
 but hath he not made it up to me, in some 
 measure, already, by sweet communion with 
 himself? And oh ! what comfort also have 
 I in other relations — a yoke-fellow, kind and 
 loving beyond expression — parents, brothers, 
 and sisters — all joining with me in singing to 
 God, both of mercy and judgment." 
 
98 MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 
 
 *' My strength r3turns pretty fast. Blessed 
 be God. I desire to be ready for the next 
 trial. He is training me by degrees. Tiie 
 honey that Jonathan tasted on the rod — 1 
 Sam. xiv. 27, did enlighten his eyes. O ! that 
 it may be so witii me. Others can attend on 
 public ordinances. I am confined. Psalm 
 Ixviii. was read by me one Sabbath morning. 
 A sweet allusion from that passage, verse 12 
 — she that tarried at home divided the spoil. 
 God can make my solitude profitable to me, 
 yet I cannot but long to see the outgoings of 
 my God, my King, as I have seen them in the 
 sanctuary." 
 
 Early in the year 1094, another infant son 
 was removed from her embraces, soon after 
 his birth. Her sentiments will be best ex- 
 pressed in her own laiiguage. 
 
 "Friday night, 12th January, about six 
 o'clock, it pleased God to take him to himself 
 I found it hard to quiet my s{)irit so as I should. 
 My judgment is quiet ; and tells me that from 
 such a hand nothing can come amiss ; but 
 my affections are often rebelling. Nature is, 
 sometimes, too strong for grace. I must not 
 for the sake of this one cross throw away 
 other comforts. I have other relations exceed- 
 ingly tender and careful, especially he who 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 99 
 
 is in the nearest relation, wliom God might 
 have taken from me instead of this infant. 
 ]My dear mother was with me two nights, and 
 sister Radford from Chester, staying till the 
 cliild was taken, was very useful to nie. I 
 have the prayers of dear father, brother, &c. ; 
 but, above all, that which most comforts me 
 is — my covenant interest in God as mine, 
 which gives me hope that he means me no 
 hurt in his dispensations. He saw that I 
 spent too many thoughts and cares about my 
 children, and if this had been spared my 
 cares would have been increased. I trust 
 God hath taken him to heaven, and left me 
 to serve him better on earth. Amen." 
 
 The death of her only surviving son, in 
 the twenty-second year of his age, gave fresh 
 occasion for the exercise of Christian graces ; 
 and though her heart seems to have been, 
 thereby, peculiarly agonized, she was ena- 
 bled, through divine influence, thus to record 
 the visitation. 
 
 " 1721, February 15. My dear Philip 
 was seized with the fatal distemper, the small- 
 pox. Many, many, fervent prayers were put 
 up for him, both in closets and congregations, 
 but on Monday, February 27th, between one 
 and two o'clock, he breathed his last — the 
 
100 MEMOIRS OF MKS. SAVAGE. 
 
 blessed spirit took wing, I trust, to the world 
 of everlasting rest and joy. Tiic desire of 
 our eyes — concerning whom we were ready 
 to say, This son shall comfort us. Once all 
 our joy — now, all our tears. Near 22 years 
 of age. O my dear Jonathan, thou art slain 
 in the high places. lie was just beginning to 
 appear in public business — sober, and pious. 
 A true lover of his friends, of whom he said 
 on his death-bed, ' I lay them down as I do 
 my body, in hope to meet again every way 
 better.' To his father he said, ' Farewell, 
 my dear father, you won't be long after me :' 
 — one of the last words we could understand 
 was of that blessed choir — that triumphant 
 choir, to which, I verily believe, he is joined. 
 A sore breach this is to us. But, now God has 
 done his work, let us go and do ours — pa- 
 tiently, and quietly lying down under the 
 rod. It is the Lord, let him do as seemeth 
 him good. I have no murmuring thoughts. 
 Lord, thou shalt beat, and I will endeavour 
 to bear. I do not think the worse of God, or 
 of prayer, for this dispensation ; yet, some- 
 times, I am much oppressed. I find that de- 
 ceit lies in generals. IIow often have I in 
 word, and in tongue, given up and d.cvoted 
 my all — yoke-fellow, children, estate — and all 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 101 
 
 without mental reservation. And now, when 
 God comes to try me in but one dear comfort, 
 with what difficulty can I part with him ! O 
 this wicked heart. Shall I think to keep back 
 any thing when I have given all? By no means. 
 Lord, I am thine, and all I have, and all I 
 can do. Though thou shouldest strip me of all 
 my children, and of ail my comforts here, yet 
 if thou give me thyself, and clear up to me 
 my interest in the everlasting covenant, it is 
 enough. That blessed covenant has enough 
 in it to gild the most gloomy dispensation of 
 Providence. O, that we may hear the Lord's 
 controversy ! He seems to speak in this pro- 
 vidence as one that will be heard. Lord, give 
 me the hearing ear. The man of wisdom will 
 hear. What says my Lord unto his ser- 
 vant ? — It is a great loss to lose any children, 
 especially such an one as this. Lord, do me 
 good by it, that I may keep the mean be-tween 
 despising the chastening, and fainting under 
 it. We have had a long series of health, 
 peace, plenty — We have not been emptied 
 from vessel to vessel. We have lived too 
 easily, too happily, even to the envy of those 
 about us — and now, God sends this sharp and 
 heavy affliction. I would get good by it, and 
 be brought nearer to himself. Alas ! how 
 9* 
 
102 MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 
 
 weak is my heart, how hard to turn my tears 
 into the right channel. We have many s}-m- 
 pathizing friends and letters, which to me are 
 but as songs sung to a heavy heart." 
 
 "March 5th. Sabbath-day. Mr. Taw- 
 dry preached the funeral sennon on Hcb. vi, 
 12. 'That ye be not slothful, but followers of 
 them, w'ho through faith and patience inherit 
 the promises.' He gave him a short, but just, 
 character. I am comforted with hopes that 
 I shall shortly follow him to that blessed rest. 
 Lord, do us good by these providences. 
 Bring me nearer to thee, and then ' separate 
 me from what thou wilt, and when thou wilt !' 
 I have condoling letters daily from my friends. 
 Their words, indeed, do reach my case, but 
 cannot reach my heart. Yet (I bless God) I 
 am supported. Every one of our dear friends 
 is sorry for us. But, what are they ?" 
 
 " Friday, March 24. This was my dear 
 Philip's birth-day : if he had lived to it he 
 would have been twenty-two. But, I trust, 
 he is born into glory. ' The pangs of death 
 to a believer are but as the pains of a birth. 
 Blessed be God, my dear child had no bands 
 in his death. He said, ' Death is not bitter.' 
 I must remember the mercy of his birtii, and 
 with this comfortable reflection — that neither 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 103 
 
 of US were over desirous, or over foml, not- 
 withstanding we had five daughters before. 
 A good woman said to the prophet — Did I de- 
 sire a son ? I hope not inordinately. My 
 dear mother, when some seemed much pleased 
 that we had an heir, said, — ' If they Iiave not 
 a better inheritance than any we have for 
 them, it were better they had never been born.' 
 I trust he is now possessed of a blessed inher- 
 itance — incorruptible, undefiled, and that fa- 
 deth not away." 
 
 " Lord's day, April 30th, I went to Nant- 
 wich. I had too many thoughts of my dear 
 Philip, who used to ride before me. Yet, I 
 hope, I do cheerfully acquiesce in the divine 
 disposals. The text was Rom. vi. 13, Yield 
 yourselves unto God. I trust I do this delib- 
 erately, sincerely, freely, for ever. I did it 
 at the Lord's table, and when I took the ele- 
 ments I had this thought — The particular 
 grace I desire to get strengthened hero is — 
 submission, and contentment with the blessed 
 will of God in this severe dispensation. I 
 have good ground to hope I am answered. 
 My judgment is quiet and satisfied, but my 
 aflcction sometimes breaks out. I have not 
 had a dry day since. In heaven all tears 
 shall be wiped away. O blessed state ! Ev- 
 
104 MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 
 
 erlasting joy shall crown those blessed ones, 
 and sorrow and sigliing shall forever flee 
 away." 
 
 This heart breaking trial called forth the 
 commiseration, and sympathy of friends, both 
 near and distant. Many consolatory letters 
 were addressed to her : part of her reply to 
 one written by the Rev. Mr. Finch, of Nor- 
 wich, is as follows : 
 
 " Rev. and dear sir, — " I do, as I w-ell may, 
 esteem it a great favour that you would take 
 so much time from your other weighty em- 
 ployments to write to me a mere stranger — 
 but unacquaintedness with the face is no bar 
 to the communion of saints — and for all your 
 kind expressions of a tender sympathy, I re- 
 turn you a great many thanks. 'Tis a demonstra- 
 tion that you are qualified, as a gospel minis- 
 ter should be, to bind up broken hearts, and to 
 speak a word in season to them that need it. 
 It has pleased our heavenly Father, in wisdom, 
 to chastise us, by taking away the ' desire of 
 our eyes with a stroke,' yet I desire to justify 
 him in all his dealings. From his good hands 
 nothing can come amiss. I can see by what 
 you write that you can easily put your soul 
 in my soul's stead, and know, somewhat, of 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 105 
 
 the heart of a sorrowful parent. I was ready 
 to say — this same shall comfort us, and that 
 he would be serving God on earth when we 
 are silent in the dust ; but infinite wisdom said 
 otherwise. And shall folly dispute ? We 
 were ready to think our mountain stood 
 strong ; but alas ! soon convinced of the con- 
 trary. I would now make it my greatest 
 care to improve the providence. To lose such 
 a dear child, and not be bettered by the af- 
 fliction, doubles the loss. You well observe 
 that of David — ' I shall go to him' — not only 
 to him to the grave, but to him to heaven, to 
 be joined to that blessed choir which he spoke 
 of a few hours before his death. Though 
 we are much at a loss as to the partic- 
 ular meaning of this providence, yet in 
 general, we are sure it is well. I have 
 now one less tie to draw me downward, and 
 shall have so much less care in my dying mo- 
 ments." 
 
 Afterwards she thus expresses herself: — 
 " This week I found among some of my old 
 collections a useful passage concerning afflic- 
 tions. ' If such things befal the Master, it is 
 sulTicient for the servant to be as his Master, 
 and as his Lord. And all to make him more 
 humble, more awful of God, more careful to 
 
106 MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 
 
 please him, more fearful to offend him, 
 more conformable to, and contemplative of, 
 Christ's sufferings, and more compassionate 
 to others. Afllictions render sin more bitter, 
 Christ more sweet, the world more contempti- 
 ble, death more desirable, heaven more de- 
 lightful, and glorious grace more admirable 
 in the saints. How good to be thus troubled 
 on every side, but not distressed ; cast down, 
 but not destroyed ; a bush burning, but not 
 consumed ; in a fiery furnace, yet receiving 
 no hurt. Nay more, the fiery chariot of af- 
 fliction shall be pressed for the service of 
 carrying Christians to heaven. Their very 
 tribulations are made the door for their enter- 
 ing into the kingdom of God. Therefore, 
 the Scriptures count them haj)py that endure, 
 and teach us to reckon it * all joy' when we 
 fall ' into divers temptations.' When I read 
 or hear such things, my own heart ref)roach- 
 es me that I have not thus received correc- 
 tion, as I ought. Though my judgment is 
 well satisfied, and submits to the sharpest 
 strokes, yet my aflections are often stubborn, 
 unwilling to be subjected. It was one of 
 my dear Philip's sayings, when on his 
 death-bed — ' I can bear any thing from 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 107 
 
 God's immediate hand' — Then wliy should 
 not I ?" 
 
 In the year 1729, the faith and patience 
 of this heavenly traveller were again severely 
 tried. Affliction met her with a still more 
 terrible aspect, and the king of terrors re- 
 moving by a sudden grasp, her aged husband, 
 left her a mourning widow. How aflecling is 
 the following statement ! 
 
 " Saturday, Sept. 27th. A heavy stroke 
 falls upon me, unexpectedly, by the sudden 
 death of my dear yoke-fellow, with whom I 
 have lived in great amity and affection, these 
 forty-two years and six months. Lord, what 
 is man 1 He seemed pretty well in the morn- 
 ing, but complaining of pain I persuaded him 
 to go to bed, which he no sooner had done, 
 but he expired without a sigh or groan. 
 Alas ! what — what is this that God hath 
 done unto us? O, for wisdom and grace to 
 improve this sad providence ! He had almost 
 completed his seventy-eighth year. I will 
 endeavour to lay my hand on my mouth. I 
 have often told my heavenly Father, that I 
 will take nothing ill that he shall do with me. 
 Since I have his eye, his ear, and blessing, 
 why should I not submit to his rod ?" 
 
 " Sabbath day, Sept. 28th. We kept a poor 
 
108 MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 
 
 cold, and sorrowful sabbalh. I sit alone and 
 keep silence." 
 
 " Monday. I received condoling letters. 
 One reminds me of that sweet promise — Thy 
 maker is thine husband — I am a widow, but 
 not desolate — none of those who trust in God 
 shall be desolate." 
 
 " I record it to the praise of my best 
 Friend, that this evening (IMonday) I begin to 
 be in a better frame ; more composed — so 
 that I slept well. How kind is my heavenly 
 Father to a froward child ! Lord, help me 
 to behave myself well under this sharp dis- 
 pensation. I own the mercy of God to me 
 in outward things. I am not forsaken of my 
 friends, but the contrary ; every one is ready 
 to help me. I am not loft in debt, and with 
 children little. Surely all these mercies should 
 make me thankful." 
 
 " Tuesday, Sept. 30th. I am still desiring 
 and endeavouring to improve this affliction. 
 I would meditate on the happiness of separate 
 spirits. lie that was lately groaning (though 
 that was seldom) is now, I trust, singing and 
 rejoicing, and would not be again with us. O 
 glorious hour ! Blessed exchange !" 
 
 " Wednesday, Oct. 1st, We laid up the 
 dear remains in comfortable hope of a glori- 
 
MEMOIRS OF Mils. SAVAGE. 109 
 
 ous resurrection. The sadness of my spirit 
 makes me almost stupid ; yet, in reflection, I 
 will say — all is well. We are parted tor a 
 time; yet, I trust, we shall be together for 
 ever. Our friends and neighbours mingle 
 tears with us. He has long served his gene- 
 ration, and is now gone to rest. A flood of 
 cares falls on me, but I cast all my care on 
 my heavenly Father, who has cared for me 
 hitherto, and I trust, will. I lack wisdom. I 
 ask it. Lord, give — give liberally. Do not 
 upbraid. No, not with my folly. For the 
 liOrd God is a sun and shield : the Lord will 
 give grace and glory : no good thing will he 
 withhold from them that walk uprightly. A 
 promise worth a king's ransom. God's 
 sovereignty should silence me, and his wisdom 
 satisfy. It is well with my husband. It is 
 well. All is well that God doth. My time 
 after him is not likely to be long." 
 
 SECTION VI. 
 
 Her Piety and Devotion. 
 
 Having seen the ardent glow which signalized 
 
 Mrs. Savage's piety in public and social life, 
 
 10 
 
110 MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 
 
 it will not be unimportant to retire with lier 
 into her closet, there to witness her holy earn- 
 estness for advancement in Christian experi- 
 ence and godly practice. 
 
 Her disposition being peculiarly sociable, 
 she felt a refined pleasure in Christian friend- 
 ship, and in conversation directed to spiritual 
 subjects. Nevertheless, her prevailing enjoy- 
 ment was in retirement, and, unless unavoida- 
 bly prevented, she constantly sought it, morn- 
 ing and evening, and, in her latter years, at 
 noon also. " It is the nature of true grace," 
 observed a great divine, " that however it 
 loves Christian society in its place, yet it in a 
 particular manner delights in retirement, and 
 secret converse with God. So that, if per- 
 sons appear greatly engaged in social reli- 
 gion, and but little in the religion of the clo- 
 set, and are often highly affected when with 
 otlicrs, and but little moved when they have 
 none but God and Christ to converse with, it 
 looks very darkly upon their religion." 
 
 " I would rather," she writes, '* spend one 
 solitary hour in mourning before God over 
 heart corruption, than many in the outward 
 exercises of religion, wherein hypocrites may 
 not only equal but outdo the sincere Christian. 
 I usually find that when 1 most solemnly se-^ 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. Ill 
 
 questcr myself, and spend most time in duty, 
 then God is pleased to meet me, and make 
 the duty sweet indeed." To this, perliaps, is 
 to be attributed in a great degree, her emi- 
 nence in piety. 
 
 The following stanza, by Dr. Watts, well 
 expressed her desires when engaged in secret 
 worship : 
 
 Far from my thoughts, vain world, begone, 
 Let my religious hours alone; 
 Fain would my eyes my Saviour see ; 
 I wait a visit, Lord, from thee. 
 
 " This," she remarks, " is usually applied to 
 the Lord's day, but I think it a very proper 
 thought any time when I retire." 
 
 Self-dedication formed an important part 
 of her employment, and it was attended with 
 a blessed efl'ect. 
 
 A specimen is thus recorded : " Sabbath 
 evening, Sept. IStli, 1687. I renewed my 
 covenant with God, afresh resolving (accord- 
 ing to Mr. Allein's phrase) to call nothing 
 mine but him — my Lord and my God — lie is 
 mine. I will rejoice. Nothing shall be able 
 to separate — neither death, nor life — prosper- 
 ity, nor adversity. I trust in him. I rely on 
 his promises. Tiiese shall be my staif with 
 
112 MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 
 
 which I will pass over this Jordan towards 
 the heavenly Canaan. Next morning I had 
 comfort in reflecting on this." 
 
 She invariably entered upon a new year 
 with devout solemnity, and, accompanying a 
 minute retrospect of providential goodness 
 with fervent praises, consecrated herself anew 
 to the glory of her heavenly Benefactor. 
 Tiie form prescribed by her father was, at 
 those seasons, commonly used, and having 
 transcribed it in her diary, she signed and 
 sometimes scaled it. The following instances 
 present themselves. 
 
 "1721, Jan. 1st. I am now entering on 
 another year. It is of the Lord's mercy I 
 am not consumed. Yet spared — to see the 
 beginning of it. It is uncertain what it may 
 bring forth. I have, this morning, made a 
 fresh surrender of myself and all that is dear 
 to mc, to be freely and entirely at the dispo- 
 sal of my heavenly Father — with this solemn 
 profession — that there shall be but one will 
 between us, and it sliall be his. By his grace 
 1 am determined to take nothing ill that he 
 shall do with mc. If all other steps arc 
 ordered by God, surely the last, and most im- 
 portant step, shall be so — the great step from 
 one world to another. I hope he will order 
 
MEMOIRS OF MKS. SAVAGE. 113 
 
 it wisely and comfortably. I must own I 
 have some fears about my children's health. 
 The circumstances of two of them are peri- 
 lous. But both as to the one, and the other, 
 I have spread my concern before my dear 
 and tender Father, and with him I cheerfully 
 leave myself, and all mine. I was allected 
 with what I read lately in the exposition on 1 
 Tim. ii. 2. — ' That we may lead a quiet and 
 peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.' 
 This is the top of the ambition of a good 
 Christian — to lead a quiet and peaceable life 
 in all godliness and honesty — to get through 
 the world unmolested — in a low, private sta- 
 tion : and truly, this well suits me, being 
 what I desire for myself. If God will be 
 with and keep me in the way that I go, and 
 give me food to eat, and raiment to put on, 
 then the Lord shall, yea he shall be my God. 
 I have avouched him to be mine, and, through 
 grace, I resolve to be wholly, and entirely his. 
 
 •r ******* * 
 
 And, I am bold to assert that unallowed 
 miscarriages, contrary to the bent and desire 
 of my heart, shall not make void this cove- 
 nant. 
 
 Thy own. 
 
 10* 
 
 Sarah Savage." 
 
114 MEMOIRS OF MUS. SAVAGE. 
 
 At another time she thus writes. "Jan. 1. 
 Methinks I should begin the year with some- 
 thing of solemnity. I would begin it with 
 God. The last has been a year of mercy. 
 No remarkable affliction to myself or mine. 
 Many mercies. No death in the family of 
 our children — houses made to grow. Bless- 
 ed be God, the God of our mercies ! Now, 
 what does the Lord my God require of me ? 
 I should love him more and serve him better. 
 In order to it I devote and dedicate myself 
 afresh to his fear and service — and, with so 
 much the more seriousness, as I see the day 
 approaching. I have now completed my six- 
 tieth year. What a great while wandering in 
 this wilderness ! 
 
 " Long ago, my dear father observed, from 
 Joshua xiii. 1, where God says, * Thou art old, 
 and stricken in age,' that ' those who are so 
 have need to be reminded of it.' Surely I 
 should be daily considering, What lack 1 
 yet? — What knowledge — what love to God — 
 what heavenly mindedness? These I much 
 lack, and would l)e daily improving in — but, 
 alas ! I am apt to grow cool, careless, indo- 
 lent. Methinks because of all this, I would 
 make a sure covenant, and seal it. I would 
 be belter this year I am entering upon limn I 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 115 
 
 liavG been formerly. Particularly, I would 
 sanctify Sabbaths better, and be more fre- 
 quent in solemn meditation, which has been 
 called a soul-fattening duty. Lord, help me 
 herein, for, of myself, I am unable to think 
 a good thought, much less a chain of good 
 thoughts. 
 
 " I take God the Father (my great Cre- 
 ator) for my chiefest good and my highest 
 end. 
 
 " I take God the Son (whom he hath exal- 
 ted) to be my Prince and Saviour. 
 
 " I take God the Holy Ghost for my sanc- 
 tifier, teacher, guide, and comforter. 
 
 " I take the word of God to be my rule in all 
 my actions. 
 
 " I take the people of God to be my people 
 in all conditions. 
 
 " I also give, dedicate, and devote myself 
 unto the Lord, all that I am, all that I have, 
 and all that I can do. And this I do delibe- 
 rately, sincerely, freely, and for ever. 
 
 " Amen. And let this covenant that I have 
 made on earth be ratified in heaven. 
 
 [Seal] «' Sarah Savage." 
 
 " I do this with all solemnity, because I find 
 
116 MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 
 
 my naughty heart too apt to fall olT, and ne- 
 glect solemn obligations. It is an old maxim, 
 ' Fast bind, tast find,' We cannot repeat too 
 often that which we cannot do too well. Dear 
 Lord, help thy poor feeble, unworthy servant, 
 and daily work in me what thou requires! of 
 me." 
 
 She abounded in the arduous duty of Self- 
 examination. Heavenly wisdom not only 
 preserved lier from presumption, but, by 
 creating anxious solicitude as to the reality 
 of her experience, induced a frequent and 
 scrutinizing appeal to the bible on the im- 
 portant subject. She also, carefully, used 
 other aids, so far as they corresponded with 
 revelation ; and diligently noted, in waiting, 
 whatever she met with in reading, or heard 
 in public worship, conducive to the same end. 
 
 " My dear brougiit me," she writes on one 
 occasion, " a good book from brother Henry, 
 entitled, — A Sacramental Question concern- 
 ing Assurance. I find many excellent things 
 in it, which are very suitable to me — answer- 
 ing the objections of doubting Christians, who 
 fear they have not passed a saving change, 
 because they cannot tell exactly the time of 
 it. But (saith the worthy author) ' If the 
 Spirit of Christ hath wrought such a change 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 117 
 
 in your judgment, choice, aficctions, con- 
 science, and life, as will make up the character 
 of a sanctified person, you should not be per- 
 plexed for want of knowing when this change 
 was first made. You may know a man is 
 alive, though you know not when or where he 
 was born.' ' 'Tis certain,' (saith he) 'corrupt 
 nature could never incline you to love God, 
 and be devoted to him — to hate sin, and watch 
 against it — to take Christ for your Saviour, and 
 heaven for your portion. It must be from the 
 Divine Spirit ; however early, gradual, and in- 
 sensible it seems to have been effected.' I 
 have often had fears as to myself, that I have 
 not experienced sufficiently the terrors of the 
 law, but I bless God for the satisfaction I have 
 here met w-ith." 
 
 When detained from public worship, the 
 time was frequently spent in serious self-in- 
 quiry. Thus she expresses herself on one of 
 these occasions : " I was all day at home. I 
 read sometimes in Firmin's Ileal Christian. 
 Very excellent. Concerning receiving Christ 
 in truth, I am, especially, to ask, IIow did I 
 receive him ? Was my choice deliberate — 
 free — full ? Am I resolved, by his grace, it 
 shall be firm and abiding? That death itself 
 shall not separate ? I trust I am. But then 
 
118 MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 
 
 Avliom did I receive 1 A Saviour, and also a 
 vSovercign. A Christ as well as Jesus. I am 
 ■willing to take his yoke upon me. It is a 
 sweet, pleasant, easy yoke. It is my daily 
 grief that I daily break his holy laws. It is 
 my comfort that he can subdue these rebels 
 in my soul, which oppose his rule and govern- 
 ment. O thou King of Peace ! tread tliem 
 under thy feet. I still find creature love pre- 
 vails too much, and I wonder at the patience 
 of my heavenly Father, that he does not take 
 away the comforts I over-prize. Yet, Lord, 
 tliou knowest, in the settled bent of my 
 choice, I do love thee more than these : more 
 than any thing else. That I do at any 
 time seem to do otherwise is my greatest 
 grief." 
 
 At another time thus : " This morning I 
 read in an excellent book — Co ley on Eter- 
 nity. What an awful thought! Shortly all 
 seen things shall not be seen, and unseen 
 things seen. It is a serious, and a needful 
 (|uestion — What evidence have I for heaven 
 — what ground have I to hope that it shall go 
 well with me to all eternity ? My conscience 
 witnesses for me, that I love the Lord Jesus 
 Christ in sincerity — that I would not omit a 
 known duty, nor commit any known sin — 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 119 
 
 that I would walk in the narrow way, and 
 carefully follow those w^ho now through faith 
 and patience, inherit the promises — that it is 
 my great grief that, in so many instances, I 
 come short of my duty, grieve the Spirit, and 
 wound my conscience. Yet, I hope I can say 
 I do not w'ickedly depart from my God. It 
 grieves me, saith a pious one, that I cannot 
 give him present actual possession of that 
 which I would he should have. It is reported 
 of some hermits, that they were very careful 
 of their sepulchres, but took little care of their 
 houses, becjftise they should dwell but a little 
 while in their houses, but should lie a long 
 time in their sepulchres. Oh that I could al- 
 ways think of this, and act accordingly." 
 
 While on a visit to her brother, Matthew 
 Henry, at Chester, she thus mentions the ex- 
 ercises of the Sabbath : " I had a comfortable 
 day joining with that assembly in holy ordi- 
 nances. In the forenoon, Brother went on in 
 expounding gospel Psalms, such as especially 
 look at Christ. To-day Psalm Ixix. We had 
 the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper (the first 
 in the new Chapel) administered, which I 
 have often found sweetness in. I received a 
 pardon as being the purchase of that precious 
 blood which purchases precious privileges, 
 
120 MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 
 
 and nourishes precious graces, and comforts. 
 Lord, evermore give me of this bread. The 
 exhortation, Have I here also looked after 
 him that seeth mc? He told us, that much 
 of religion lies in the eye of a believing soul 
 being fixed on an all-seeing God. 
 
 " The subject was 2 Cor. xiii. 5. Examine 
 yourselves whether ye be in the faith. Doc- 
 trine : all that profess themselves Christians 
 ought strictly to examine whether they are 
 Christians indeed. 
 
 " I remember my faults — how much 1 have 
 been wanting in this great duty. Oh ! this 
 heart work is hard work. The motives he 
 urged were — It is a matter of great concern- 
 ment — The rule is very strict — It is easy to 
 be deceived — Multitudes are mistaken — It is 
 a matter that will be examined shortly — A 
 mistake is of fatal consequence — and the true 
 discovery of our state will turn greatly to our 
 advantage. The rules he gave were — 
 Examine your settled judgment — Your delib- 
 erate choice — Your indwelling cares — Your 
 outgoing affections — And your constant and 
 allowed practice. Psalm cxxxix. 23, 24. O 
 God, do thou help me in the search. 
 
 " The third head most alarms me — In- 
 dwellincf cares — I have too manv thoujrhts 
 
MEMOIIIS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 121 
 
 and cares concerning things of time and the 
 body, but the thoughts I most dehght in are 
 of another kind ; though, alas ! too few and 
 seldom. Eben-ezcr." 
 
 Another sacramental opportunity is thus re- 
 corded : " I did avouch the Lord for my God, 
 and I had some true, though weak, desires 
 towards him. The exhortation was from 1 
 John. ii. 2. And he is the propitiation for our 
 sins : and not for ours only, but also for the 
 sins of the whole w^orld. This was suitable 
 to the subject of the day. Phil. iii. 9. Not 
 having mine own righteousness ; proving that 
 the best of us have no righteousness of our 
 own wherein we dare appear before God. 
 There were some serious queries to-day. 
 
 1. Do you not find great defect in love to 
 God? Think so seldom and so coldly of 
 him ? 
 
 2. Do you not find great defect in love to 
 your brother? I am verily guilty. 
 
 3. Do you not find great defect in love to 
 your own souls, and their true interest ? 
 
 4. Do you not find a want of power to be, 
 and do, what indeed you would, in that which 
 is good ? 
 
 I must own all this, and a great deal more. 
 Where then is n1y righteousness ? Lord, I have 
 11 
 
122 MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 
 
 none. None. None of my own ; but, I hope 
 I have some interest in one who is tlie Lord 
 Jesus Christ, the Righteous. I fly to him as 
 my only refuge. Let me be found in him here, 
 and for ever." 
 
 Meditation may be instanced as another 
 branch of her devotional character. 
 
 " Where your treasure is there will your 
 heart be also," was the impressive declaration 
 of our Lord, when describing the nature and 
 cllccts of piety. And since God is the Christ- 
 tian's treasure, and heaven the appointed place 
 for the full enjoyment of his presence, the con- 
 sequence is natural : 
 
 ■ ' Contemplation is his bliss." 
 
 After hearing a sermon Mrs. Savage thus 
 expresses herself: "I endeavoured to do 
 some little in the excellent duty of meditation. 
 The subject was concerning Christ. Surely 
 here is a large field. What think ye of Christ ? 
 A subject preached on at Nantwich, long ago, 
 by my dear father, of blessed memory. It is 
 of great consequence and necessary for all to 
 reflect what their thoughts are of Christ. 
 Some do not know him, nor think of him at 
 all. Some think meanly, others think hardly 
 of him. — But ask a sincere believer, and he 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 123 
 
 thinks Iilm the brightness of his Father's glory 
 — the fairest of ten thousand. A mirror of un- 
 paralleled love thus to die for sinners — 
 enemies. But that which most affects me is, to 
 think that he is my beloved, and my friend ; 
 He wliom I have known, chosen, loved, and 
 desired to serve, and please in all things ; and 
 wherein I fail, I mourn and grieve. O that I 
 could thus think of him, and demean myself 
 to him. He is my ' all and in all,' both for 
 justification and sanctification — sufficient for 
 me both here and for ever." 
 
 In one place her practice is thus recorded : 
 " In the evening I endeavoured, with a little 
 success, to meditate on the great privilege of 
 adoption. Behold what inanner of love the 
 Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should 
 be called the sons of God ! One sweet, excel- 
 lent remark of worthy Doctor Manton is this 
 — ' That a child is not discarded or cast ofT 
 for every offence, as a servant may be, but 
 he is borne with, and made the best of." 
 Methinks this thought comforts me against 
 daily infirmities. This night, on my bed, I 
 had satisfaction in these meditations : If God 
 be my Father I shall want no good thing. I 
 shall have boldness in the day of judgment. 
 
124 MEMOIBS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 
 
 Wherefore should I fear if the judge be my 
 Father, and my Friend '?" 
 
 On another occasion thus: "Nov. lOlh, 
 Sabbath. In the afternoon I stayed at home 
 alone. The first hour I was very dull and 
 lifeless: afterwards I set myself to meditate 
 on the four last things — Death — Judgment — 
 Heaven — IIcll. The tiiought of these brought 
 some warmth to my aflections. How sweet 
 is it when I think of death, to think that it 
 will be my friend. It may be near. If so, 
 the will of the Lord be done. To die will be 
 gain. All things are mine, whether death or 
 life. As for judgment, I have reason to hope 
 the Judge will be my Advocate ; when I 
 think of hell — to have that within me which 
 says — through grace, this belongs not to me. 
 And then, for the happiness of heaven ; when 
 I think of it — it is hard to believe that such 
 poor services should have so rich a reward. 
 But this he does like a king — he gives it to all 
 them that are made meet for that inheritance." 
 
 Again; "Brought in safety to one Sabbath 
 more. The light I see is the Lord's. This 
 morning I read, in course, in my closet, Psalm 
 cviii. Methinks some passages in it did help 
 to raise my meditations of the happiness and 
 glory of heaven. There and there only, will 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 125 
 
 the heart be fixed upon the work of pi-aise. 
 Then no diversion from it nor distraction in 
 it. Then there will be a perfect delivery 
 from every thing that offends. Then, indeed, 
 our enemies shall be trodden down. There 
 will be no devil to tempt, no corrupt heart to 
 bo drawn aside. If I could keep my heart in 
 a believing sight and expectation of that glory, 
 it would quicken, strengthen, and enlarge me 
 in all holy obedience." 
 
 On retiring in the evening to her closet, she 
 frequently said — " Courage, my heart, now one 
 day more of a vain, vexing world is gone, and 
 one day nearer heaven." 
 
 Love to prayer, has ever distinguished the 
 children of God, and it did not fail to do so in 
 the present instance. If one Christian privil- 
 ege was pre-eminently valued by Mrs. Savage, 
 it was prayer — serious, spiritual, importunate 
 prayer. She frequently remarked — ' Prayer 
 is a salve for every sore — a remedy for every 
 malady.' " I have often," she writes, " expe- 
 rienced prayer to be heart's ease. Oh, what 
 a sweet privilege is it to have such a friend 
 as God, to whom to tell all one's mind ! A 
 shame that I do not more improve such a 
 privilege." 
 
 Indeed she abounded in the sacred duty, 
 11* 
 
126 MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 
 
 and, under all circumstances, sought an asy- 
 lum at the throne of grace. " I had a letter," 
 she remarks, " from Chester with heavy ti- 
 dings. This occasions grief and fear. My 
 heart was full : my remedy is to retire, and 
 spread the letter before a compassionate Fa- 
 ther, and tell him how it is, which I find more 
 easy than to submit freely to liis all-wise 
 disposal; yet, when I had done this, I was 
 refreshed." 
 
 " This week," she writes on one occasion, 
 " I was somewhat thoughtful about changing 
 servants. God in mercy order it for the best. 
 I committed the matter to him by prayer, and 
 then I was easy in my thoughts. I have 
 often had experience of his goodness and kind 
 j)rovidence going before me in this matter. 
 Forty years and upwards have I been wander- 
 ing in this wilderness, and hitherto I have 
 lacked nothing. Praised be God !" 
 
 At another time ; " I was at Wrenbury in 
 the afternoon. The subject was concerning 
 Prayer. Ask. Seek. Knock — noting im- 
 portunity. The minister especially exhorted 
 to secret prayer. I bless God for the comforts 
 of my closet, when no eye sees but my 
 heavenly Father. Oh this hidden and divine 
 life, which I have lately been reading of, what 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 127 
 
 a blessed life is it ! May I more experiment- 
 ally taste the sweetness of it. I must own I 
 love to be alone, to be looked on by my 
 heavenly Father, who sees in secret. 
 
 His is a pure, and searching eye, 
 
 Witness to all that's true ; 
 Dark hell, and deep hypocrisy. 
 
 Are all before his view." 
 
 Her exalted esteem for this important ex- 
 ercise is manifest in the following extract, 
 from one of her latest diaries. " I was guihy 
 of a great omission. I forgot secret duty till 
 about noon. I then retired. I well may 
 blush, and be ashamed of my folly. Is this 
 like one that delights to approach unto God ? 
 I confessed and bewailed this with tears, and 
 I had comfortable hope through Christ, my 
 great Mediator, that it shall not be laid to my 
 charge. I trust that I do not wickedly, 
 though often weakly, depart from God, and 
 duty. My dear, kind, heavenly Father con- 
 siders our frame. He is always mindful of 
 us, though we are not so of him." 
 
 Prayer before receiving the daily provisions 
 of the table was, in Mrs. Savage's esteem, 
 highly necessary, and she was accustomed to 
 remark, "In craving God's blessing upon our 
 
128 MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 
 
 food there sliould be the same seriousness as 
 in otlier acts of worship, since it is the same 
 God we address ourselves to." How forcibly 
 does this thought commend itself to the heart 
 of every Christian ! 
 
 How strongly she has marked her Love 
 of the Sabbath and Divine Ordinaiices, 
 may be seen by the following extracts. The 
 devotions, the instructions, and the society of 
 the sabbath, greatly endeared it, and her 
 preparation for its a})proach was most exem- 
 plary. Indeed, the appointed labours of the 
 week were relieved by frequent aspirations to 
 its enjoyments : and these, by elevating and 
 composing the mind, gave an impetus to her 
 native fervour, highly serviceable to her gene- 
 ration, and honourable to the cause of Christ. 
 
 " I would not forget," she remarks, " a 
 pretty, affecting verse in Mr. (afterwards Dr.) 
 Watts's Hymns : 
 
 ' Failier, my soul would still abide 
 Within thy teni|)le, near tiiy side ; 
 But if my fuct must hence depart 
 Still keep thy dwelling in my heart :' 
 
 it is often the secret language of my soul." 
 
 Again she writes : " The Lord loves the 
 gates of Zion, and so do I. My conscience 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 129 
 
 bears mc witness that I, sometimes, envy the 
 sparrows and swallows who are where I can- 
 not be. Blessed are they that dwell in thy 
 house. But, alas ! it is not the bare enjoy- 
 ment of ordinances that avails any thing if 
 the heart be not spiritual, and heavenly, so as 
 to enjoy God in them. — Herein I was former- 
 ly much wanting, so that the Lord is right- 
 eous in cutting me short." 
 
 On another occasion thus : " Blessed be 
 God for the return of this holy day — this 
 queen of days ! O for a heart to improve it 
 to spiritual advantage. I purposed to have 
 gone to church, having been long confined, 
 but was hindered by wet weather. Wo is 
 me that I am cold, and hard, and want those 
 warming, softening influences of grace which 
 I have formerly enjoyed. But, alas ! I have 
 not improved them ; and yet I rejoice in what 
 I have had — especially, that I have seen the 
 outgoings of my God — my king. I hope the 
 axe of the word was laid to the root of the 
 tree of my heart, even in the days of my 
 youth. And blessed be God for the help I 
 have from good books. He can, and doth 
 make cold meat to nourish. Lord, make 
 providences effectual instead of ordinances, 
 that they may further spiritual growth. Sure 
 
130 MEMOIKS OF MR£. SAVAGE. 
 
 tlic impression of such repeated strokes shall 
 not easily wear out." 
 
 " 1G8S-9. March 3. Sabbath. A sweet 
 day — spent at Broad Oak — the place of my 
 solemnities — where I have many a time met 
 with God, and been refreshed. A sacrament 
 day. My preparation was slighty and dis- 
 tracted. I find it very hard to have my 
 heart in any measure broken for sin. There, 
 in that sweet ordinance, our gracious Fatiier 
 was pleased to feast us his poor children. 
 Towards the close my heart was a little revi- 
 ved at thoughts of being for ever at his table 
 in glory. It is good being here. O, but 
 a thousand times better being there. I came 
 away refreshed, yet that night, and the next 
 day I was dull in duty, as I usually am after 
 such sweet opportunities — to my shame." 
 
 " 1G91. Sabbath, June 24. Being sacra- 
 ment day at Nantwich I went thither. I set 
 out pretty early. I begged the presence and 
 blessing of my good God, which he was 
 pleased to afford me. Mr. Lawrence's sub- 
 ject was 1 John iv. 21, That he who loveth 
 God love his brother also — concerning 
 brotherly love. A sweet duty. Christ 
 places it next to the first, and great, com- 
 mandment, and makes it a badge of disciple- 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 131 
 
 ship. John xiii. 35. I am verily guilty in 
 tliis concerning my brother. This day I liad 
 some sweet communion \vith my God in the 
 ordinance of the Lord's Supper. Who, and 
 what am I — a worthless worm — that I should 
 be admitted to the table of the King of kings 1 
 In tlie close the minister spoke of vowing our- 
 selves to God. jNIy heart was a little raised 
 in expressing myself in that vow of Jacob's, 
 Gen. xxix. If the Lord will be with me, and 
 keep me in this way — the narrow way 
 which, by his grace, I will walk in — and 
 give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on 
 — which is in one word — Christ, who alone 
 is both the food and raiment for precious 
 souls — so that I come to my heavenly 
 Father's house in peace — even that an abund- 
 ant entrance be administered unto me into 
 that everlasting kingdom — Then the Lord, 
 whom I have this day avouched, shall be my 
 God, and I shall be to all eternity swallowed 
 up in seeing and enjoying him. Amen. I 
 came home tired, yet inwardly refreshed. 
 How soon am I made cool again by this pre- 
 sent evil world, which appears my enemy in 
 nothing more than in taking off the edge of 
 my allections to spiritual things." 
 
 On another occasion she writes — " A sac- 
 
132 MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 
 
 ramcnt day. Yet I have been too remiss in 
 preparation. I have been told pains should 
 be taken to trim the lamp. But, alas ! I am 
 greatly w^anting here. The world and its 
 concerns take up my thoughts and time, and 
 jostle out things of greatest importance. 
 Yet I dare not absent myself when I have an 
 opportunity, lest, when the King comes in (as 
 he surely doth) to see the guests, he be dis- 
 pleased if my seat be empty. I desired the 
 divine presence, which he was graciously 
 pleased to vouchsafe me. I made fresh re- 
 solves against all sin, to all duty — even hard 
 duties that are most unpleasant to the corrupt 
 nature. The subject concerning the return- 
 ing prodigal — he arose and came to his 
 Father. Lord, to whom else shall I go, thou 
 art the Lord my God. The true convert 
 yields a willing subjection to God, both as to 
 what he will do with us, and what he will 
 have us to do. It is owing to the grace and 
 goodness of God that any sinners are brought 
 home to him. Though we are joint heirs 
 with Christ, yet not joint purchasers — he trod 
 the wine-press alone. This day, through 
 mercy, not drowsy. Lord, keep me from 
 mine iniquity." 
 
 Again. " We went to Nantwich, to renew 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 133 
 
 OLir covenant at the Lord's Supper. I Jiope 
 I found much sweetness, having afresh re- 
 nounced the flesh and world, and devoted 
 myself to God and Christ with full purpose of 
 heart. Amen. Hallelujah ! Hath my dear 
 Father admitted poor me to his table, though 
 most unworthy 1 Shall not this oblige me to 
 duty and obedience ! The exhortation was — 
 If any man come after me, and hate not father 
 and mother, he cannot be my disciple. By 
 hating, here is meant less loving My love 
 to Christ is to exceed my love to my dearest 
 relations. I have this day seen and tasted 
 how he has loved me — even more than his 
 own life — and shall I not abound in love and 
 duty to him ?" 
 
 At another time. " Sabbath. I have been 
 this day favoured with a sacramental oppor- 
 tunity. I have been endeavouring to shew 
 forth the Lord's death. I had this meditation 
 — I must shew it to God as the purchase of 
 my peace and pardon. Lord, this is my be- 
 loved Saviour. I must shew it forth to my 
 own soul. Behold here is blood, and it was 
 shed for me. Here is a spotless righteousness 
 — and it is mine. I must shew it forth to 
 others. I have eaten and drunk into that 
 great body of which Christ is the head, and I 
 12 
 
134 MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 
 
 look upon the meanest of his members as my 
 brethren — tlie excellent of the earth, in whom 
 is my delight. Let me walk this week as one 
 who has this day had communion with the 
 Father and his Son Jesus Christ." 
 
 In more advanced life she writes: — *' Sab- 
 bath. I had all good helps. The subject was 
 Rev. xxii. 14. Blessed are they that do his 
 commandments, that they may have right to 
 the tree of life, and may enter in through the 
 gates into the city. Methinks it is comforta- 
 ble to have this blessing in the close of the 
 Bible. Though I cannot say I do them, yet I 
 endeavour it, and if I reallv knew what would 
 displease God, I would not do it, but endeav- 
 our the contrary. It was an excellent note 
 of good Mr. Mottershead long ago — We 
 wTestle not with flesh and blood, said he, only, 
 yet witli these daily. I often find the. flesh, 
 the earthly part, my great hindcrance, as, 
 particularly, this Lord's day. By the time I 
 come to the assembly, methinks I am not my- 
 self — not the same that I was in the closet — 
 but so dull, unafiected — a disinclination to any 
 thing that is spiritual and heavenly : sometimes 
 I lay the blame on my declining age, and de- 
 cay of bodily spirits, but alas ! I fear it is 
 worse; owing to my spiritual sloth — in a cold, 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 135 
 
 dull frame at tlie Lord's tabic, yet I endeav- 
 oured to renew my covenant against all sin — 
 to all duty." 
 
 *' 1708. April 25th, Lord's-day. We went 
 to Nantwich, where we had the comfortable 
 ordinance of the Lord's Supper. Our Lord 
 Jesus hath instituted it purposely to keep in 
 remembrance his death, knowing how apt we 
 are to forget him ; and though, to a carnal eye, 
 it looks a mean thing, yet to those who are 
 savingly enlightened, it has another aspect. 
 Who can but be aflected with it, to think that 
 my dear Lord Jesus, in the night wherein he 
 wasbetrayed, when hebegan his most bitter pas- 
 sion, yet was so mindful of us, and our com- 
 fort, as to institute this ordinance ? Blessed 
 be God for any sweetness my soul has at any 
 time found in it. Mr. Lawrence's subject was, 
 Phil. iii. 11. Press toward the mark. It is 
 our great duty to be daily groAving, and press- 
 ing forward in that which is good. Sure I 
 am I have many eyes on me. Some praying, 
 and exhorting, that I may hold on, and get 
 forward in heaven's way. Others, that would 
 rejoice in my fall ; but my comfort is, though 
 I am weak and foolish, careless and lukewarm, 
 yet my God is able to supply all my wants, 
 and has undertaken to preserve all that belong 
 
136 MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 
 
 to iiim (as I trust I do) safe — safe to liis hea- 
 venly kingdom. Oh tiiat this hope may quick- 
 en me to holy obedience !" 
 
 But although she often enjoyed much sweet- 
 ness in holy ordinances, yet, it must not be 
 supposed she was always upon ' the mount.' 
 She, like other Christians, was not without 
 tryingcxpcricnce. By divine grace, however, 
 she usually was enabled to ' hold fast her 
 confidence.' She thus writes: — " What a 
 hard, stupid heart have I, that I am not affec- 
 ted with the love of my dear Jesus to my soul, 
 This Sabbath is an instance. — 'O fool, and 
 slow of heart.' When I should have been 
 meditating on redeeeming love, and getting 
 my heart alTected with it at the Lord's Supper ; 
 then my heart was so heavy with sleep, and 
 I so dull, and out of frame, that I was like a 
 stock, or a stone. It is a matter of grief and 
 shame to me in reflection, that I have so trifled 
 away such a sweet opportunity. In the close 
 I was a little raised. The exhortation was 
 from the 92d Psalm, Those that be planted in 
 the house of the Lord shall flourish in the 
 courts of our God. The subject of the day 
 was concerning brotherly love, from James v. 
 20, Converteth a sinner. O that I might more 
 manifest that I am of the body by a fellow- 
 
MEMOIK.S OF MRS. SAVAGE. 137 
 
 feeling with the members, especially by being 
 solicitous for their souls." 
 
 Again ; " We had, at noon, a sacramental 
 opportunity. Blessed be God, The King sit- 
 teth at his tabic, but doth my ' spikenard send 
 forth its smell V Alas ! No. I fear my de- 
 sires were not right. Much coldness, and dis- 
 traction. Yet, I trust, I did receive Christ, 
 though with a trembling hand ; and, as the 
 bread and wine, which I have eaten, are so 
 mine, as never to be again separated from me, 
 so is Christ thereby set forth, and applied to 
 my soul. For I am persuaded that neither 
 life, nor death, shall be able to separate me 
 from his love. Amen." 
 
 In illustrating the piety and devotion of this 
 excellent woman, her attentive Revieiu of 
 Mercies received should not be overlooked. 
 In this department of Christian wisdom, so 
 eminently distinguished in the Scriptures, she 
 was a proficient. She well understood the 
 ' loving-kindness of the Lord.' — The following 
 are edifying specimens. 
 
 " 1714. June. When I look back to the 
 year 1686, wherein I first began this account 
 of myself, it is with the remark of that bles- 
 sed apostle — having obtained help of God I 
 continue to this day. Hitherto supported, com- 
 12* 
 
138 MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 
 
 forted, carried on through storms and difficul- 
 ties, so as still to be, in some measure, press- 
 ing forward. Not unto me, not unto me. 
 Free grace shall hav^e all the glory. I was 
 then little more than twenty, now almost fifty 
 years of age. I have entered my declining 
 years. Finding those that look out of the 
 windows begin to darken, I am obliged to use 
 glasses. I find my strength fails. Yet, as to 
 these infirmities, several things comfort me — 
 They are only natural, and common, not hast- 
 ened by my own sin, and folly — I, otherwise, 
 enjoy a very great measure of health, and 
 can be in any post of usefulness, not having 
 been confined to my bed or chamber for almost 
 three years. But, the greatest support of all 
 is — the good hope of everlasting rest — that 
 when my earthly tabernacle shall be dissolved, 
 I shall have a heavenly mansion provided for 
 me, where I shall see God, and my glorious 
 Redeemer, and enjoy them — and, though how, 
 or in what manner this shall be we are not 
 sure, yet the thing itself is clear, as if written 
 with a sun-beam. Not all the powers of earth 
 and hell shall be able to break, or make void, 
 one link of that glorious golden chain. More- 
 over, whom he did predestinate, them he also 
 called ; and whom he called, them he also 
 
JrEMOmS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 139 
 
 'justified ; and whom he justified, them he also 
 glorified. What though the flesh perish, and 
 be worms' meat, yet the better part will be 
 secured and the Lord Jesus Christ will not 
 lose one grain of the dust of any of his dear 
 people, but will, by his power, raise them up — 
 so that soul and body shall be united, and be 
 together for ever with the Lord. Amen. 
 Hallelujah ! Establish thy word unto thy ser- 
 vant on which thou hast caused me to hope. I 
 am not ashamed, for I know in whom I have 
 trusted, and he is able to keep that which I 
 have committed unto him against that day." 
 
 Again. " 1730, Feb. 15. I have had such 
 plentiful experience of the goodness of God 
 to me through all the way in which he hath 
 led me in this wilderness, that I cannot but 
 think it a duty to leave an acknowledgment 
 of it under my own hand, for the quickening 
 and encouragement of my dear children and 
 grand-children who have this evil world to 
 pass: 
 
 ' A dangerous and tiresome place.' 
 
 " I heartly subscribe to that sweet truth, 
 ' that a holy, heavenly life, spent in the service 
 of God, and communion with him, is the most 
 pleasant and comfortable life in the world.' 
 
140 MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 
 
 I liavc found that wisdom's "ways are wavs 
 of pleasantness, and desire, as one of my 
 chiefest mercies, to mention my unspeakable 
 liappiness in a religious education. My pa- 
 rents were of the first three* for piety, and 
 their good instructions, earnest prayers, and 
 .excellent examples, are, at this distance of time, 
 blessed. — Though they are long since out of 
 the reach of prayer, yet God is not out of the 
 reach of praise." 
 
 " I fmd in the life of a good man (Ilalybur- 
 ton), that besides his will as to temporal con- 
 cerns, he thought proper to leave something 
 on record of his sentiments concerning religion. 
 I freely deolare I came into the world a defiled, 
 polluted branch of the first Adam, tainted with 
 original corruption — a child of wrath. And 
 I must own it was infinite mercy that laid 
 hold of me, discovered me to myself, changed 
 and renewed me, or else I had been lost for 
 ever. I owe it to the infinite mercy of my 
 gracious God that lie has revealed his Son in 
 me — the only Mediator between God and 
 man. I trust only to his infinite merits and 
 satisfaction. None but Christ. None but 
 Christ. And if I had as many souls as 1 have 
 bail's on my head, I durst venture them all on 
 
 * See 2 Samuel xxiii. 23. 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 141 
 
 that sure foundation. This I account a faitii- 
 fiil saying, and worthy of all acceptation — 
 that Jesus Christ came into the world to save 
 sinners, of whom I am the chief. The 71st 
 Psahn, being the aged (Christian's prayer and 
 song, I think very api>licable : 
 
 ' At thy command I venture down 
 Securely to the grave.' 
 
 *' Though my flesh must see corruption, yet, 
 I trust in that almighty Power which raises 
 from the dead, and that in the great day I 
 shall be set on the right hand, and be publicly 
 owned, and acknowledged, though infinitely 
 unworthy such a favour. I know that my 
 Redeemer liveth. Above all, I should desire, 
 as Mr. Baxter did, those words of my risen 
 Lord to be written on my sick and death bed 
 — I ascend to my Father and your Father, to 
 my God and your God." 
 
 " Sarah Savage." 
 
 " Wrenbury Wood." 
 
 Another record of the same kind is dated 
 1734. " Finding decays," she writes, " espe- 
 cially in my memory, I think it not improper 
 to leave this testimony under my hand of that 
 kind Providence which has followed me all 
 my days. I think the employing of my wri- 
 
142 MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 
 
 ting faculty this way is a duty which God 
 may expect from me, since I must own that it 
 is a pleasure to me, which some who could do 
 it, are averse to. 
 
 " In the IGth year of my age I was admit- 
 ted to the Lord's table. I took the covenant 
 of my baptism upon myself. I made it my 
 own act and deed to join myself to the Lord, 
 and I have since found unspeakable comfort 
 that my early days — the male in the flock, 
 were dedicated to his service. I have often 
 repeated, but never, repented, this choice. 
 
 " I think I may say I had my roots watered 
 with wine. Such sweet seasons of grace. 
 Line upon line. The best helps for my soul. 
 Surely I should reckon this among my 
 choicest mercies. I have my lot cast where 
 I have not only gospel light, but all advanta- 
 ges — exhortations — encouragements — to im- 
 prove this light, and to be enlightened by it. 
 How much am I indebted ! Such powerful 
 preaching, sweet sabbaths, comfortable sac- 
 raments. 
 
 " I think I should not overlook the great 
 mercy I had in those years by bodily health 
 — not one day's sickness in twenty years — I 
 had comfort in the society of friends, and 
 dear relations. We dwelt tocrethcr in the 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 143 
 
 greatest unity. I had excellent helps by 
 good books — the lives of holy persons of both 
 sexes. These 1 am sure may be placed in 
 the account of my mercies. 
 
 " The most signal, eminent mercy of God 
 to me was in the great turn of my life, when 
 I was married, March 28, 1687, to one every 
 way a help-meet for me. I was enabled, in 
 some measure, by divine grace, for the duties 
 of that state, and I had abundance of the com- 
 forts of it. All praise to the God of my 
 mercies. 
 
 " In the year 1688, I was brought safely 
 through the small-pox, after wdiich my dear 
 father led us in a family thanksgiving. He 
 preached from John v. 14. Thou art made 
 whole, sin no more. I would reckon the fre- 
 quent lectures we then had, among my mer- 
 cies. I hope some good was done, and the 
 house was, as I thought, perfumed by the 
 good prayers offered in it. 
 
 " The end of that year my first daughter, 
 Sarah, was born, and suitable mercies were 
 afforded to us both. After her I had six liv- 
 ing children — three taken, three left — Dear 
 Philip spared to his 22d year, then taken by 
 the small-pox. I shall go to them. 
 
 "Another considerable mercy to me has 
 
144 MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 
 
 been the marriage of all my four daughters 
 suitably, and with consent, and to those who 
 fear God, and have a competency in the 
 world. All of them fruitful vines, and nursing 
 mothers. Especially, that I see some of 
 theirs, as they grow up, serious, with their 
 faces heaven-ward." 
 
 " I think I may reckon among my mercies 
 the supports I have had under sharp afflic- 
 tions: an only son taken in the flower of his age, 
 1721 — my dear husband in September, 1729, 
 suddenly removed — Yet my God lias taken 
 that care of me which the dearest relations 
 could not have done, had they been spared. 
 Since I have been in the widowed state, still 
 goodness and mercy have followed me. 
 
 *' The health I have in my old age is, sure- 
 ly, a great mercy. 
 
 ' His mercy crowns my growing years.' 
 
 " I have the use of reason, and peace in my 
 own conscience, those ur)sj)cakable blessings. 
 How much am I indebted ! Ebene/.er." 
 
 Mrs. Savage's pious commemoration of her 
 birth-day deserves particular notice. In 1704, 
 it is thus expressed : 
 
 "Now forty years I have been in this wil- 
 derness. I have not wanted the pillar of cloud 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 145 
 
 and fire for guidance on my way. I have had 
 manna — bread from heaven — and that for 
 many years, of the finest. The rock, Christ, 
 to drink of, and be refreshed. Tliou gavest 
 thy good Spirit for my teacher and comforter. 
 But that which I would be especially thankful 
 for is — the Canaan — the rest that is to come, 
 and for any comfortable hope of an interest 
 in it. Yet that which damps and allays my 
 joy and comfort is — my wilderness sins — my 
 manifold murmurings and provocations. Had 
 not my Lord Jesus, my dear Moses and great 
 intercessor, stood in the gap to stay the stroke 
 of divine justice, it had not been with me as 
 now it is. There is a Jordan, it is true, be- 
 tween me and the heavenly Canaan, but, 
 through grace, I will not fear it. The God of 
 peace will make me more than a conqueror 
 over the last enemy." 
 
 The next year she writes : " Aug. 7th. I 
 must remember the mercy of God in my birth ; 
 now I am forty-one. A great while to live to 
 so little purpose. I bless my God who en- 
 dued me with a reasonable soul, and a perfect 
 complete body, strong and healthy, especially 
 when I was a child. I have been told that 
 my mother nursed me with less trouble than 
 
 any of her children." 
 
 13 
 
148 MEMOinS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 
 
 " I desired this evening, in my secret duty, 
 to be more than ordinary in earnest with God 
 for her — that showers of blessings may fall 
 upon her — that God would bless her, and 
 fulfil all her petitions, both for herself and us : 
 and though my dear, thrice dear and honour- 
 ed father, is out of the reach of my prayer, 
 yet I desire to send hearty praises to God for 
 him, and the great, unspeakable privilege I 
 had to be born of such parents — for all the 
 sweet counsels, reproofs, example, sermons, 
 prayers, expositions — and for what sweetness 
 there has been in his pious discourses, and also 
 his pathetic letters — by all which he endea- 
 voured to make religion the most necessary, 
 excellent, amiablethingthatcould be. Though 
 I think it sad that he was so soon and sudden- 
 ly removed, yet it was a mercy he was so 
 long continued in usefulness — and that his 
 very name has a good savour to all that knew 
 him. God grant that I may follow him here 
 in the regeneration, that I may meet him with 
 comfort in the great day." 
 
 At another time, Aug. 7th, 1723, she thus 
 expresses herself ; "What a long time have 
 I wandered in the wilderness of this world, 
 yet lacked nothing — nothing needful, or good 
 for mc. Mcthinks I have abundant reason to 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 147 
 
 own the kindness of my heavenly Father as 
 to my better part. When I removed hither, 
 I yet remember my fear and trembling, lest I 
 should wither and decay in grace, in the want 
 of the opportunities I had always enjoyed. 
 But how has my kind God been gracious 
 herein, above what I could have hoped. 
 Blessed, and kept, and taught. Surely I 
 should be very thankful for a competency in 
 the world — free from the snares of riches and 
 poverty. Methinks among my sweetest en- 
 joyments I would reckon good books, which I 
 have found very profitable and good company, 
 often, in my solitude. I was lately, much 
 aflected in reading Deut. x. 5 ; speaking of the 
 tables of the Covenant which Moses put into 
 the ark, it is added — ' and there they be.' On 
 which the annotations thus enlarge : " We 
 may say to the rising generation — we have 
 had the benefit and comfort of bibles, sabbaths, 
 sacraments, &c., and we leave them you — 
 there they be — as we received them from our 
 parents.' I trust Jesus Christ will have his 
 faithful witnesses in all ages, and that the gates 
 of hell shall never be able to ])revail against 
 his church. I own I am ready to sign a dis- 
 charge in full, that there has not failed to me 
 one good thing of all that God has promised, 
 
149 MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 
 
 either pertaining to this life, or a better. And 
 now, what doth the Lord my God require of 
 me, as Deut. x. 12 ? It is in one word — obe- 
 dience. I^ord, 1 would be obedient, but I 
 find myself often pulled back. I cannot do 
 the good I would. I remember the years past, 
 what advantage I found by solemn meditation, 
 which now I find so great aversion to ; but I 
 do purpose, by the grace of God, to practise 
 it more now, in the beginning of this new year 
 of my life. Lord, help me herein." 
 
 " To be SPIRITUALLY-MINDED is life and 
 peace." Experience proves it. JMeditation 
 on heavenly things will occasion little inter- 
 ruption to customary avocations; while the 
 frequency of the exercise contributes, in no 
 small degree, to advance growth in grace, as 
 well as to discover the present attainments of 
 believers. " It is," observed the excellent 
 Caryl, " a great part of our holiness to be 
 spiritually-minded while we are conversing 
 with God, through Jesus Christ, in spiritual 
 duties. But to be spiritually-minded and to 
 mind spiritual things, when we are conversing 
 with the clods of the earth, and the furrows 
 of the field ; when we have to do with corn 
 and grass, with trees and plants, with sheep 
 and oxen ; when we behold the birds and fowls 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 149 
 
 of the air, the worms and all that creep upon 
 the n:roun(l — Then, I say, to be s})iritually- 
 muided, ami thence to have our thoughts as- 
 cending and soaring up to God, in hearl-affec- 
 ting and quickening contemplations, witness- 
 eth a high degree of holiness. To make a 
 ladder out of earthly materials, for the raising 
 of ourselves in spirit to heaven, is the art of 
 arts. Holy and happy indeed are they who, 
 being taught of God, have learned this art, 
 and live in the daily practice of it."* 
 
 Mrs. Savage's residence in the country was 
 thus improved, and her diary abounds with 
 numerous instances illustrative of the prece- 
 ding remarks. The following have been 
 selected. 
 
 " My child being weak and unable to take 
 its food, I am forced, at present, to have a 
 nurse in the house. By my unconcerned- 
 ness at the crying of her child, in compari- 
 son with my own, I cannot but sometimes 
 think of the pity and tenderness of my 
 heavenly Father towards his children. He 
 hearkens attentively to their cry, whereas the 
 prayer of the wicked is an abomination to 
 him." 
 
 " We had Mr. Lawrence's little boys with 
 
 * Flavel's Husbandry Spiritualized. 
 13* 
 
150 MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 
 
 US, and when I consider their great loss of a 
 pious, tender motlicr, my heart moves in pity- 
 to them. From whence I cannot but infer 
 the pity and tenderness that is in the heart of 
 the Father of mercies towards those who arc 
 the seed of his friends and followers. For, 
 alas ! what are our compassions compared 
 with his?" 
 
 *' Monday. Overhearing a servant, being 
 weary, w^ishing earnestly for night, that she 
 might rest, I could not but be aflbctcd. Surely, 
 if I was thoroughly weary of this world, 
 which is so full of toil, labour, and sorrow, I 
 should long for the rest of death, when my 
 body shall sleep in the grave, and my spirit 
 return to God who gave it." 
 
 " The coals coming to the fire with ice 
 upon them, at first seemed as though they 
 would put out the file, l)ut afterwards they 
 made it burn more fiercely. I had this medi- 
 tation. It is often so with me. That which 
 seems against me is really for me. — Have not 
 afilictions worked for my good? Sometimes 
 I have gone to an ordinance, as these coals to 
 the fire, all cold and frozen, and there I have 
 been melted. My love and desire have been 
 inflamed. That it hath not oftener been so, 
 has been my own fault." 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 151 
 
 " Seeing other creatures clean and white 
 in the same i)lace where the swine were all 
 over mire, I thought it did represent good and 
 bad men in the same place ; the one defiled 
 by the same temptations which the others 
 escape, through the grace of God, and watch- 
 fulness." 
 
 " An old tree in the garden was removed. 
 We were afraid it would not grow in its new 
 place. I could not but take occasion to bless 
 God that he was pleased, in my tender years, 
 to transplant me, and to take me from the 
 common of a natural estate, into his own gar- 
 den. The time was a ' time of love.' Lord, 
 how is it? Wherefore? What saw^est thou 
 in me to move thee ? Nothing but misery. 
 The greater was the mercy. Oh that I may 
 bring forth fruit to God !" 
 
 " Walking in the garden I had tiiis medita- 
 tion. Seeing some young trees, which have 
 all had the same soil, the same planting, tiie 
 same watering, yet, some blossoming and 
 flourishing — others scarcely alive, it cannot 
 but make me think of the difference that there 
 is in the growth of professors under the same 
 means of grace. In my Father's family, how 
 did I see some that were planted after me far 
 more fruitful God-ward. This I reflect upon 
 
152 MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 
 
 with shame. This comforts me — tliat I am a 
 branch in Christ, and all such he will purge, 
 that they niay bring forth more fruit, accord- 
 ing to that Scrij)ture, John xv. 2. I have to- 
 day been reading how Christ is the way to the 
 Father, namely, to acquaintance, acceptation, 
 relation, reconciliation, with him. The way 
 to the performance of his promises, and to 
 the possession of his kingdom. All sweet, un- 
 speakable privileges belonging to those to 
 whom Christ is the way." 
 
 " By observing the flowers in the garden, 
 which yesterday spread themselves in the 
 sun, to-day, in the want of that luminary, 
 close and melancholy, I see the need 1 have 
 of the warm influences of the blessed Sun of 
 Righteousness, without which my graces will 
 soon languish." 
 
 " Being employed in the garden, I was 
 aflected to see how much the weeds come on 
 faster than the plants and herbs. Just so do 
 corruptions thrive and grow in my soul. Yet 
 this comforts me — the herbs, most of them, 
 are better rooted than the weeds ; they are 
 not so easily pulled up. The good part shall 
 not be taken away. If I am growing on the 
 root — Christ — no man shall ever be able to 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 153 
 
 pull me thence — kept by the power of God to 
 salvation," 
 
 *' I was affected lately when I saw our 
 newly-sown garden, which we had secured so 
 carefully, as we thought, from fowls, and had 
 closely covered it, yet receive as much hurt 
 by the unseen mole, which roots up and de- 
 stroys. Lord, grant this be not the case of 
 my poor soul. Many good seeds are sown. 
 Line upon line — Daily hearing or reading 
 some good truths. And, by the grace of 
 God, with my good education, I have been 
 kept from gross sins, but I have great reason 
 to fear the unseen mole of heart-corruption, 
 pride, covetousness. These work secretly, 
 but dangerously ! Lord, do thou undertake 
 for me." 
 
 " On Saturday my dear came home safe. 
 Praised be God. The same watchful eye is 
 over him abroad, and over us at home. Our 
 joy at meeting, though after a short absence, 
 was mutual and great. I fear lest, at any 
 time, it exceed bounds. This, in the reflec- 
 tion, makes me think of the great joy that 
 there will be when all the espoused members 
 of Christ shall be gathered together to him, 
 their crreat husband — to be for ever with the 
 
154 MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 
 
 Lord. The thoughts of it sometimes refresli 
 me." 
 
 "Finding my sight much decayed, so that 
 I cannot read a hue without glasses, I had 
 this thought : Surely this is a call to me to 
 spend more time in meditation and prayer, 
 which are, sometimes, best performed when 
 the eyes of the body are shut." 
 
 " The slow, gradual approach of the sun, 
 that is, the shadow of it, in my chamber, re- 
 minds me of the old observation — We tower 
 up to heaven by a thousand ascents in the 
 slow proficiencies of grace— yet if, at last, I 
 can attain, all will be well." 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 155 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 Her Removal to West Bromicich, and Death. 
 
 How long, after the death of her husband, 
 Mrs. Savage continued at Wrenbury Wood, 
 is not certainly known ; but on leaving that 
 place, she sojourned, for a season, with her 
 children and friends. It was not till the year 
 173G that she removed to West Bromwich, 
 and it was her tinal abode. The change will 
 be best expressed in her own words. 
 
 " Tuesday, September 7th. I take leave 
 of Wem,* particularly of this closet, humbly 
 desiring to leave a blessing behind mc on 
 them and all theirs, entreating that all the 
 prayers that have been, or shall be, offered up 
 here may be graciously heard, and answered, 
 for Christ's sake. Next morning I set for- 
 ward for Bromwich, not without some degree 
 of fear and trembling, lest I should not be 
 
 * The residence of her daughter, Mrs. Holland, the wife of 
 the Rev, Mr. Holland, a Dissenting Minister. 
 
156 MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 
 
 able for such a journey ; yet, I bless God for 
 some degree of courage, and cheerfulness. 
 We slept at Newport. Next day came 
 hither in safety. AH my bones shall say. 
 Lord, who is like unto thee ? I take this as 
 an answer to prayer. And now 1 am here. 
 Lord, what wilt thou have me to do ? I am 
 encouraged to find some good, praying peo- 
 ple, with whom I hope to spend a happy eter- 
 nity. I observe that when old Jacob w-ent 
 down into Egypt, God told him that Joseph 
 should close his eyes. So it may be that my 
 child here* may do the last office for me. If 
 so, I beg my precious soul may be safe ; then, 
 all is well." 
 
 In this situation, freed from the cares of 
 business, she spent the residue of her days 
 in diligent preparation for heaven. 
 
 It pleased God, however, to prolong her 
 earthly existence a considerable time. 
 
 While here, she was favoured with a visit, 
 which she thus records. 
 
 " 1737. May 23d, Monday night. We 
 were surprised by the coming of an unexpect- 
 ed friend — Dr. Doddridge. I have been often 
 pleased and edified by his books, but I never 
 expected to have conversed personally with 
 * Mrs. Witton. She died JXoveniber 3d, 1775, a;t. 74. 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 157 
 
 hiin. I now find such a happy mixture of 
 piety, sweetness, and humihty, as niucli 
 atHects me." 
 
 She often adverts to the advanced period 
 to which her days had been lengthened, in 
 terms 1 ike the following. 
 
 " 1738. March 14. O that I may be 
 some way useful even in old age ! I am will- 
 ing to continue here while God pleases, but 
 my settled judgment is, to desire to depart, 
 and be with Christ, which is far better. I 
 see my children's children, and peace upon 
 Israel." 
 
 " 18th. Looking out at my window I see 
 Bromwich church, where that excellent man 
 Mr. Reynolds was buried. I have desired 
 that my bones may be laid by his, especially 
 that I may stand with him at Christ's right 
 hand in that day." 
 
 " 20th. Though alone, I am not lonely. I 
 can delight in a pen and a book, and opportu- 
 nity to devote myself to God. My best 
 Friend sees in secret. I am comforted under 
 decays of nature when I think of the future 
 glory. This morning I was refreshed by re- 
 membering these particulars of a sermon of 
 my dear brother's. Characters of the true 
 friends of Christ. ♦ They visit him — value 
 14 
 
158 MEMOIRS OF MRS, SAVAGE. 
 
 hiin — and vindicate him ; welcome him, wait 
 for him, and walk with him : — they lay all 
 iheir concerns at his feet — they love all iiis 
 friends — they long for his second appearance 
 in glory.' This is my beloved and my 
 friend." 
 
 *• 1742. April 10. My kind Master will 
 not cast off a poor old servant. It is a good 
 remark of Dr. Watts's — that ' to a pious per- 
 son old age is but as a summer's evening.' 
 O that mine may be so !" 
 
 " 1742. April 15. Saturday night. I am 
 desirous to prepare for the approaching Sab- 
 bath and sacrament. I find some comfort 
 from that old verse, 
 
 " The Lord can tell, he knows full well 
 The thoughts we entertain." 
 
 " I would be better, and do better. A kind 
 providence has followed me all my days, par- 
 ticularly, in bringing me to this place to finish 
 life so comfortably — where I have so many 
 advantages both for soul and body." 
 
 The following memorial of the illness and 
 death of a neighbour, though brief, is interest- 
 ing. 
 
 " 1741. January 20th. This day we had 
 discouraging tidings of our friend John Hick- 
 
MEMOIRS OP MRS. SAVAGE. 159 
 
 COX, fearing that he is wearing oiT. It is 
 comfortable to think that I shall not stay long 
 behind, but, especially that Jesus Christ is the 
 same yesterday, to-day, and for ever. It 
 pleased me to see in a small note from him 
 latelv that he styled himself ' Your comforted, 
 afflicted friend.' Our God has cordials for 
 his afflicted servants." 
 
 " May 22. This morning our good friend 
 J. II. — (whom we have so long prayed for) 
 died. The precious soul received into those 
 blessed mansions, which he has been so long 
 expecting, and preparing for. We had hoped 
 he should yet have been continued for useful- 
 ness here. But God said — No — And, there- 
 fore, it is fit we should submit." 
 
 Nor is the grateful recollection of providen- 
 tial kindness to our nation less pleasing, 
 
 1743. November 5th. She writes, " My 
 good God still renews his mercies to me, 
 but, alas ! how dull and cold am I in 
 thankfulness. The mercies of this day to 
 this nation, though so long since, should not 
 be forgotten. We are still a Protestant peo- 
 ple. Nothing was blown up but the treason. 
 None were executed but the traitors. This 
 was the Lord's doing. Old mercies should 
 be remembered with new thankfulness." 
 
160 MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 
 
 A life spent in the fear of God, in the 
 active exercise of tiiose graces which dignify 
 the Christian character, must terminate well. 
 From the uttermost part of the earth have 
 we heard songs, even glory to the righteous. 
 
 Mrs. Savage's views of death were, in gene- 
 ral, cheering, and she was commonly enabled, 
 through her whole course, to regard the ' last 
 enemy' as disarmed and conquered. On one 
 occasion she thus expresses herself. " I was 
 at home all day. I find going out will not 
 agree with my present condition. Yet I 
 would be very thankful that it is not with me 
 as formerly in these circumstances. My good 
 God grants me the use of my limbs. As to 
 future events I humbly submit to his will. My 
 times are in thy hand. My two last confine- 
 ments were accompanied with mourning on 
 account of the death of dear relations, and 
 which of us death will next strike at we know 
 not. But, blessed be God, it is a serpent 
 without a sting. O death, where is thy sting? 
 I trust I can cheerfully bid farewell to all that 
 is dear to me on earth, knowing that my best 
 Friend is in heaven, where he ever lives and 
 reigns — and he has prayed that all his may be 
 with him. Amen. 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 161 
 
 " O glorious hour I O blessed abode ! 
 I shall be near, and like my God! 
 And flesh and sin no more control 
 The sacred pleasures of my soul!' " 
 
 Another lime thus. "Lord's day spent in 
 solitude. In tlic morning I was chastened 
 with pain. I thought — what if it should 
 increase and be a messenger of death. I did 
 not fear it. I thought of that excellent trans- 
 lation of Psalm Ixxiii. : 
 
 ' What if the springs of life were broke, 
 
 And flesh and heart should faint? 
 God is my soul's eternal rock, 
 The strength of every saint I ' 
 
 Surely there is no reason to fear." 
 
 In an illness wherein she expected to die, 
 her faith and hope were strong; mentioning 
 the particulars in her diary, she says, " I 
 was not well. I apprehended symptoms of a 
 fever, and I record it to the praise of God's 
 Grace, that I had but little fear of death. The 
 next morning I was well again : my heaven- 
 ly Father but shook his rod." A little after 
 she thus proceeds : " This week I thought 
 sometimes of that passage in Daniel xii. 13. 
 ' But go thou thy way.' A sweet Scripture. 
 The prophet Daniel is dismissed, and promised 
 a comfortable retreat. Mcthinks I should like 
 14* 
 
162 MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 
 
 this text for my funeral sermon. Death is a rest 
 from our labours ; my body shall rest in the 
 grave; my soul in heaven." In that illness 
 being asked whether she wanted any thing, she 
 replied, " I do not want peace of conscience 
 and hopes of a better world." 
 
 Her meditation on her latter end was fre- 
 quent and famihar, and in reading good books 
 she particularly noticed what was calculated 
 to remove the ' pain of dying.' The following 
 are a few instances. 
 
 " The Communion of Saints is an article 
 of our creed, and a very desirable one in this 
 imperfect state. It will be much more so in 
 that state of perfection. And, indeed, the en- 
 joyment of those in the other world whom I 
 so dearly loved here, is that which, sometimes, 
 in my serious thoughts, does a little sweeten 
 the thought of death to me." 
 
 " I read part of an old discourse of dear 
 brother Henry's concerning Sabbath sanctifi- 
 cation. He had this argument : It would help 
 to prepare for death to consider — If it be hard 
 to get out of the world for one day, when we 
 shall so soon return to it again, surely we shall 
 find it hard to get out and not return. I en- 
 deavoured to meditate a little on death — It is 
 the last enemy — but it is a conquered one. 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 1G3 
 
 It is but welcome death, and farewell death — 
 for ever. Oh that I may experience the first 
 resurrection, and then the second death sliull 
 have no power." 
 
 " Saturday morning I was weak and spirit- 
 less. In the afternoon I read some of my 
 New England History ; a book which often 
 sw-eclly entertains me. To-day I was affect- 
 ed with a passage respecting Mr. James 
 Noyse, p. 148. He said he felt the whole 
 frame of nature giving way, which threatened 
 his dissolution to be at hand. But, he thank- 
 ed God, he was not amazed at it. Truly I 
 cannot but often think the same of myself, yet 
 I avoid speaking of it lest I should be thought 
 fanciful. But I would make this use of my 
 frequent infirmities. O that the blessed 
 angels may be ready to meet my departing 
 soul. ' When his present state,' observes Mr. 
 Howe, ' shall be considered by a saint in glory, 
 what a change ! What would I once have 
 given for a steady, abiding frame in holiness : 
 for a heart constantly bent, and biassed to- 
 wards God ; constantly serious, tender, lively, 
 watchful, heavenly, spiritual, meek, humble, 
 cheerful, self-denying. How have I cried 
 and strove for this, to get such a heart. How 
 oft have I spread this desire before the 
 
164 MEMOIRS OF MR.S. SAVAGE. 
 
 Searcher of hearts — Turn me out of all my 
 worldly comforts, so thou give me but such a 
 heart. What indignation have I sometimes 
 conceived against my own soul when I have 
 found it wandering, and could not reduce it ; 
 hovering, and could not fix it ; dead, and 
 could not quicken it ; low, and could not 
 raise it. How earnestly have I expected this 
 blessed day when all these distempers should 
 be perfectly healed, and my soul recover a 
 healthy, lively, spiritual frame." 
 
 " Sabbath. This week I read part of a 
 sermon by Mr. Grosvenor at the funeral of a 
 Mrs. lludge, one of his society, an aged 
 widow. He styles it ' Precious Death.' At 
 p. 20, he has this excellent remark : ' Since 
 the steps of a good man are ordered by the 
 Lord, surely he will order this last, this most 
 important step, the step from one world 
 to another.' It is a long step. Methinks 1 
 should be very thankful for this good soul- 
 food. The Lord will not sutler the soul of 
 the righteous to famish. Blessed be his name. 
 Afterwards he proceeds. — ' Tiie death of a 
 saint brings honour to Christ. I undertook 
 for him (may the Redeemer say) and here he 
 is. I have led him through the wilderness of 
 this world, and I have now brought him to 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 165 
 
 the gates of the grave. I will not leave iiim 
 there, but will keep him company tiirough the 
 valley of the shadow of death. It is my busi- 
 ness to see that he takes no harm.' How 
 comfortable is it to be able, on a death-bed, 
 to say — Lord, I venture my all on the efficacy 
 of thy grace, and the unfailing certainty of 
 thy covenant. On this have I built all my 
 hopes, and on the same bottom I will now 
 venture my departing soul. I know^ whom I 
 have trusted. It is no new, no unusual thing 
 for me to give myself, body and soul, unto 
 thee. It is what thou knowest I have often 
 done. Father, into thy hands I commend 
 my spirit. I know I cannot comfortably do 
 it at death, if I do not sincerely do it now. 
 The excellent saint, Mr. Grosvenor speaks of, 
 had much comfort in her last hours, though 
 in her life-time she leaned much to the doubt- 
 ful side. The nearer she came to her end the 
 more her assurance grew. At length these 
 words dropped from her : ' I thank God I 
 have no clouds nor fears remaining.' From 
 that time, he observes, ' we stood round the 
 dying as curious spectators to see and ob- 
 serve, how heaven met the travelling soul on 
 its way — to learn to die — to see religion in 
 some of its grandeur — to see a mortal triumph 
 
160 MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAOE. 
 
 over death, and, through faith and patience, 
 more llian a conqueror. And, alter she had, 
 with the majesty of an ancient patriarch, 
 given the last admonitions and blessings to 
 the several branches of her family, she 
 waited, to use her own words, but a little 
 while for ' leave to die.' When in her last 
 sickness, the minister asked her what he 
 should more particularly desire of God for 
 her, she answered ; ' Pray for patience to 
 bear the pains and troubles of sickness — for 
 pardon of all sins — and the evidence of that 
 pardon, acceptance with God in the beloved, 
 our Lord Jesus Christ, and a welcome recep- 
 tion into his presence."' 
 
 It was not needful, though had it been 
 consistent with infinite wisdom, it would have 
 been for edification, that Mrs. Savage should 
 have left this world, enjoying those cheering 
 manifestations which have shed a lustre upon 
 some favoured believers. A sudden death 
 does not admit of it. The words of a saint, 
 whose soul is just ready to take flight to 
 heaven, are peculiarly impressive, but they 
 are not the test of our judgment. The life 
 is the best evidence of ])iety. What Mrs. 
 Savage's was we have seen. Her hoary hairs 
 were found in the way of righteousness, and 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 1G7 
 
 her end, though not triumphant, was serene, 
 and lia{)py. The event will be best related 
 in the words of her niece, Miss Hannah 
 Tylston, in a letter to a friend. 
 
 " My dear aunt Savage died, February 
 27th, 1752, and in a good old age (almost 
 eighty-eight,) was gathered to her people. 
 Her death was sudden. She dropped mortality 
 without being herself sensible of the change, 
 till she found herself in the world of light, 
 among the number of spirits made perfect — 
 the world to which she was allied, and formed 
 to the temper and disposition of. She had 
 lived a holy, cheerful life ; made religion her 
 business, her choice early ; and she was an 
 ornament to her profession, through all the 
 different scenes and periods of it. She was 
 useful, beloved, meek, humble, charitable. 
 She is gone to receive her reward — ^joined by 
 the society she loved. May I ever remember 
 such examples as these, to quicken, animate, 
 and encourage me in the Christian warfare, 
 since I have by experience known how 
 happy all thy servants are. May my soul 
 be gathered with theirs.'' 
 
 Her mortal remains were deposited in the 
 church-yard at West Bromwich, in sure and 
 certain hope of 'the resurrection to eternal life.' 
 
168 MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 
 
 The funeral sermon was preaciicd, March 
 15th, 1752, by the Rev. Mr. Howell, Dis- 
 senting Minister at West Bromwich, from 
 Daniel xii. 13. " But go thou thy way, till the 
 end be ; for thou shalt rest, and stand in tiiy 
 lot at the end of the days" — a text of her own 
 choosing. The discourse was never printed. 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 
 
 1G9 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 Miscellaneous Extracts from her Diary, be- 
 tween ilie years 1688 and 1732. 
 
 1688. December 8. Saturday night. — I 
 spent a little time in looking over my papers 
 of this kind, finding how it hath formerly 
 been with me. I have just cause to fear 
 decays in grace, because I do not watch 
 over the motions of my heart so strictly as 
 formerly. Wo is me. Do I go backward 
 instead of forward ? O Lord, strengthen thou 
 the things which remain. This evening I was 
 a little refreshed with a passage, in a letter 
 from a friend, speaking of the providence of 
 God thus— It is not only tender, but parti- 
 cular. He gives his angels cliarge over me. 
 A host of angels about one Elijah. 
 
 1089. September 10. I read, in course, 
 ]\Iicah iv. I found many sweet prophetical 
 passages concerning the enlai'gement of the 
 gospel church. " The mountain of the Lord's 
 house shall be established on the top of the 
 15 
 
170 MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 
 
 mountains." A thing I have often prayed 
 for — that Christ's kingdom might be ujipcr- 
 most ; and though I may not hve to see it, 
 yet I steadfastly beheve it shall be in God's 
 due time. 
 
 12th. My dear mother, together with 
 brother and sister Hulton, came to see us. 
 Stayed all night. Next day returned. I was 
 much pleased, and refreshed with their com- 
 pany, but, alas ! how do such pleasures pass 
 away — perish in the using ! At parting, my 
 mother prayed with us. Sister Hulton left 
 with me that Scripture, Lam. iii. 26. It is 
 good both to hope and quietly wait. Oh, I 
 want this quietness of spirit, but I do cast my 
 care upon God. If it be good for me he will 
 bear me up under my burden to the appointed 
 time ; if otherwise, I submit. I will endea- 
 vour that there shall not be a murmuring 
 heart. 
 
 IGOO. April 11. Wednesday, I was pre- 
 sent at the funeral of Mrs. Kirks, at Chester. 
 Brother preached immediately after, on Luke 
 xvi. 9. — " that when ye fail." Death is a fail- 
 ing. This nio-ht mv father came to Chester. 
 
 Thursday. My father preached, and bap- 
 tized brother Henry's child Elizabeth, in the 
 face of a full assembly. God, hear prayers 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 171 
 
 for it, and make it a brancli of thy family. 
 Tills night wc all — sisters and brothers — 
 slept at brother Henry's, where afterwards, 
 wc went up to sister's chamber, and my 
 fatiicr prayed with his ten children. — Blessed 
 be God wliohath once brought us all together 
 in this world, but the great time of gathering 
 is to- come. 
 
 Saturday. After I had a few days seen 
 and enjoyed my dear relations we must part. 
 It is very probable it may be long before we 
 again meet, but as to that I am not very soli- 
 citous. My three sisters are all near an hour 
 of peril and danger. I have prayed for, and 
 commended them to God. In better hands 
 they cannot be. Now I will wait for a good 
 issue. We came home safe, but I was verj- 
 weary. When I reflect on the five days past, 
 it cannot but be with regret and sorrow that 
 I have not performed this long intended jour- 
 ney after a godly sort. I have not done, nor 
 gotten the good which I might. Little com- 
 numion with God in secret. Oh that I might 
 now regain lost time. My gracious God was 
 also with our family, so that we" find all well 
 at our return. My. child well and hvely, in 
 answer to prayer. How much am I indebt- 
 ed ! Behold he hath been careful for me 
 
172 JIEMOIUS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 
 
 with all this care, and what small returns 
 have I made ! 
 
 Sabbath, July 19. I went in the morning 
 to Nantwich, it being sacrament day. Little 
 time spent in preparation. But, this morning 
 I read the last chapter of Matthew, concern- 
 ing the resurrection of my Lord. Methought 
 the 7th verse very much affected me — " He 
 goeth before you into Galilee, there shall ye 
 see him." I trust he goes before me this day, 
 and will be in yonder assembly, where I shall 
 see him, according to the desire of rny soul. 
 Mr. Lawrence preached in the morning on 
 Rom. i. 16. — " I am not ashamed of the gospel 
 of Christ." There is no reason to be ashamed 
 of it, but rather to glory in it, because it is 
 * the gospel of Christ,' and also, ' the power 
 of God to salvation.' It is a mean of salvation 
 by the power of God going along with it. 
 At noon he administered the sacrament. lie 
 was very lively and sweet. I came away re- 
 freshed. In the afternoon Mr. Edglcy 
 preached : a young man whom my father has 
 been training up among the sons of the pro- 
 phets. Oh that the spirit of Elijah, or rather 
 of the Lord God of Elijah, might rest on 
 these Elishas, that they may be pillars in the 
 temple of my God. His subject vi'as Matt. 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 173 
 
 xi. 28. ' Come unto mc' To which my soul 
 answers, Behold; I come unto thee, for thou 
 art the Lord my God. I returned at night, 
 but I iiad not that time for self-examination 
 and reflection which was needful. 
 
 1602. Jan. 24th. I did not rise so early 
 as I should. The weather very cold, and my 
 heart cold also. How weak is my heart to 
 every thing that is good. What reason have 
 I to be thankful for the comforts of this life 
 that I enjoy, that I am not wandering about 
 to beg my bread. Sometimes this w^cek my 
 heart has been a little raised in secret duty ; 
 at other times as cold as a stone. 
 
 29th. I had a letter and comfortable tidings 
 from my dear father, as also four directions 
 how to keep warm within in this cold season. 
 
 1. ' Get into the Sun, that is, Christ. Under 
 the beams of this blessed Sun of Righteous- 
 ness there are warmth and comfort. 
 
 2 Walk to the fire, that is, the word of God. 
 ' Is not my word like fire V How many w arm- 
 ing, comforting passages are there. 
 
 3. Keep in motion, and action. Stirring up 
 ourselves, and the gift and grace of God that 
 is in us. 
 
 4. Christian converse and communion. 
 ' How can one be warm alone V 
 
 15* 
 
174 MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 
 
 Alas ! Wo is me, I have not the opportu- 
 nity for Christian society which, formerly, I 
 had ; but my comfort is, that the blessed Spirit 
 of God is not tied to work by means. God is 
 able to make all grace abound in me according 
 as my need shall be. 
 
 March 30. We sung in the family, at night, 
 the close of Psalm cxlv. Them that love 
 him will the Lord preserve in every place. 
 At this my soul catches. I trust I am of the 
 number of those who love him ; and though 
 I am remote from many of my dear relations, 
 and, which is worse, from ordinances of wor- 
 ship, yet, in this place, my God can, doth, will 
 preserve me. 
 
 April 3. Sabbath. This being a Sacra- 
 ment day at Nantwich we designed to have 
 joined there, but were prevented by ill 
 weather. However, my good God sends me 
 refreshing truths, when I wait at wisdom's 
 gates, in my closet. This morning I read an 
 exposition on Judges v. 31. So let all thine 
 enemies perish. God and his people have 
 joined interests — his enemies are theirs — 
 theirs are his. I thank thee, O Father, for 
 this sweet word this morning. The worst 
 enemies I have in the world are my own cor- 
 ruptions. If my enemies, then thy enemies. 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 175 
 
 So let tlicin perish. So — as Sisera and his 
 host, by an immediate hand from heaven when 
 means failed. So — irrecoverably. So as 
 not to rally again ; but this must not be while 
 I am in this world ; yet, if my God will assist 
 me to subdue, and keep them under, it shall 
 be well. This day we had no preaching at 
 Wrenbury. In the afternoon we went to 
 Baddely. Heard Mr. Barnct on Mark i. 3. 
 * Prepare ye the way of the Lord.' They must 
 prepare to receive Christ coming in the 
 fiesh ; we to receive him coming in the spirit. 
 — Come, thou sweet Jesus, take up thine abode 
 with me. 
 
 May 29. Sabbath. I was called up early 
 
 to Eiiz. S , in perilous circumstances, but 
 
 safely and speedily the mother of a living child. 
 Blessed be God ! I have not been enough 
 thankful for the mercy of my birth. In the 
 afternoon I went to church. Mr. Oliver 
 preached on Rom. ii, 4. respecting the ill use 
 that is, and the good use that should be, made 
 of the patience of God. 
 
 1693. April 20. Thursday. I heard bro- 
 ther Henry on Gen. xxx. 2. ' Am I in God's 
 stead V Doctrine. No creature is or can be to 
 us in God's stead. God may be instead of all 
 creatures. Lord, teach me this good lesson. 
 
176 MEMOIRS OF MKS. SAVAGE. 
 
 Friday. Brother Henry's little child (Mary) 
 began to be ill. 
 
 Saturday. About noon she died. A short 
 race soon run. Not quite three weeks old. 
 The first tliat I ever saw die. O that I 
 may by it learn the sinfulness of original sin. 
 
 Sabbath. April 23. Brother's subject, 
 Rom. V. 14. ' Nevertheless death reigned 
 from Adam to Moses, even over them that 
 had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's 
 transgression' — viz., infants. The discourse 
 was concerning the dominion and reign of 
 death. A thing that I find nature is shy 
 of thinking of, but it is profitable One of the 
 uses which I took special notice of was this 
 — Get from under the I'eign of sin, and submit 
 to the reign of Christ, and you need not fear 
 the reign of death. But that which he espe- 
 cially insisted on was the reign of death over 
 infants, which is proved by sad experience. 
 In the close, the directions he gave to parents 
 that have children thus snatched away, were 
 four scriptures. 
 
 Gen. xliii. 14. ' If I be bereaved of my chil- 
 dren, I am bereaved.' 
 
 1 Sam. iii. 18. ' It is the Lord — let him do 
 what seemeth him good.' 
 
 2 Kings iv. 20. ' It is well.' 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 177 
 
 Job i. 21. ' The Lord gave, and the Lord 
 hath taken away. Blessed be the name of tlic 
 Lord !' 
 
 Sept. Gth. My dcnr mother came to give 
 us a visit. She brought good tidings. The 
 voice of joy and rejoicing is in the habitation 
 of my dear relations, and in mine. Praised 
 be God. Brother Henry, having been slan- 
 dered by a malicious person as if he was 
 overseen in drink, made his appeal to the 
 magistrates of the town, when his innocen- 
 cy was made to appear as the light, and 
 his adversaries made ashamed, and forced to 
 acknowledge their fault ; wherein God is to 
 be acknowledged, who not only takes care 
 of the persons of his servants, but also of 
 their names, and reputation. This was on 
 September 3d. 
 
 December 20th. Wednesday. My mother's 
 maid from Broad Oak came to see us. She 
 brought me a comfortable letter from my 
 dear father, wherein he reminds me of a pass- 
 age he had newly read that morning in the 
 family. 1 Thess. v. 24. ' Faithful is he that 
 callcth you, who also will do it.' Query. What 
 will he do? Answer. That spoken of ver. 
 23. sanctify me throughout, and preserve me 
 blameless to his holy kingdom. Further, 
 
178 MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 
 
 What will he do? What will he not do? 
 This, he adds — He will never leave you, nor 
 forsake you. When you go down into the 
 darksome valley he will be with you — his rod 
 and his staff shall comfort you. Amen. This 
 coming from an ambassador of Christ, I take 
 as a consolatory message from heaven, and I 
 desire to act faith on it. Blessed be God. 
 His consolations are not to me small. The 
 interest I have in the prayers and affections 
 of my dear parents is comfortable, but what 
 is this compared with the intercession of my 
 great High Priest — -.Tesus Christ — who is pass- 
 ed into the heavens for me— seeing he ever 
 liveth, (which no friend on earth doth) to make 
 intercession for me ? 
 
 1694. March 13. My God still continues 
 to me the mercy of sabbaths : he is not want- 
 ing to me. I was at church morning and 
 afternoon. Mr. Oliver's subject, Rom. ii. 13. 
 ' Not the hearers of the law are just before 
 God.' Religion is an inward thing. Lord, 
 search me and try me, and help nie to look 
 within, that my heart may be sound and sin- 
 cere. I am heavy and dull. Lord, w^hen shall 
 I serve thee without weariness ? I sec reason 
 to fear some quickening providence. Father, 
 fit me for thv will. 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 179 
 
 Thursday. We had a private day at Mr. 
 
 Backet's to seek God for that afflicted family. 
 Two sons not well. Mr. Lawrence preaciied 
 on Psahn xxxix. 5. * Verily every man at his 
 best estate is altogether vanity.' — Hebrew, 
 Every man when settled. Oh that I was 
 more thoroughly convinced of this great 
 truth, that I may act accordingly. 
 
 June 4th. Monday. My husband having 
 business at Peover, and I having long design- 
 ed a journey thither, we went, where we stay- 
 ed till Wednesday. Kindly entertained, but 
 especially satisfied in personal acquaintance 
 with Mrs. Calvert, having conversed together 
 by letter seven years, but we nev^er saw each 
 other till now. I hope she is a true, serious 
 Christian. She is near eighty, full of sweet 
 and heavenly expressions, yet busied much 
 with the affairs of that great family. We re- 
 turned safe. Blessed be God ! When I re- 
 flect on the fine peo[)lc, stately house, and 
 furniture, &c. with which I was lately de- 
 lighted, yet my own mean house, being my 
 home, is more truly delightful to me — because 
 here I am to abide. All true comfort I see 
 flows from interest. If I could look upon 
 heaven under the notion of my home, it would 
 make thouirhts of it sweet. 
 
ISO MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 
 
 July 11th. Wednesday. This week my 
 good friend Mr. lUidge, having been at Broad 
 Oak, called on me. He brought me good 
 tidings thence. I am concerned to hear him 
 complain of want of love to God and things 
 spiritual. If he finds so much wanting, sure- 
 ly I much more. The company of such is 
 delightful to me in this our imperfect state. 
 Thy people, dear Lord, shall be my people in 
 all conditions. I have, at times, this week 
 had some more warmth upon my aficctions 
 in duty than usual ; and here is my misery — 
 that, whereas my straitness is a means to 
 humble me, my enlargements often help to 
 puff me up. 
 
 Oct. 29th, Sabbath. In the morning I 
 read some of the sermons of my dear father, 
 preached on the passion of Christ. How 
 much more easy is it when I read of his 
 sufferings to find natural affections stirring, 
 than sj)iritual ones. What matter of grief 
 and shame that an innocent person should be 
 thus used. But Oh ! how should it especially 
 affect me to think that it was not for himself 
 that he suffered, but for lost man — to bring us 
 to God. Be astonished, O ye heavens, at 
 this. I would not have my seat empty in the 
 public assembly when I can go, therefore, in 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 181 
 
 the afternoon I went to Wrenbury. I liad 
 some weak desires and breathings after com- 
 munion with my God. Mr. OUver's subject 
 — Psalm cxlvi. 5 : he shewed that those who 
 ha\c an interest in God are the only happy 
 people, which is, certainly, a great truth. It 
 is well with them in life, better at death, best 
 of all to eternity. 
 
 Thursday. I went to Broad Oak. 
 
 Saturday. The near approach of the Sab- 
 bath puts me upon inquiring what I shall do 
 to prepare myself to meet my God. 
 
 Sabbath. Nov. 4th. This is the day 
 which the Lord hath made. A sweet exposi- 
 tion from the close of Matthew xi. — ' Come 
 unto me, all ye that labour.' May I not, with 
 that poor blind man, rise, and be of good 
 cheer, since he calls me ? Dear Saviour, I 
 come to thee, a poor, weary, heavy-laden 
 sinner. From thee alone I expect a supply 
 of all my wants. The subject of the day was 
 John xiv. 27. ' Peace I leave with you, my 
 peace I give unto you ; not as the world 
 givoth give I unto you. Let not your heart 
 be troubled, neither let it be afraid.' Doctrine. 
 The Lord Jesus Christ hath given and left his 
 own peace as a precious legacy to all his dis- 
 ciples and followers to the world's end. Oh! 
 16 
 
182 MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 
 
 this sweet gift, tiiis peace ! It is heart's ease ; 
 a liouse on a rock ; heaven upon earth. Six 
 hindrances of it — Want of knowledge — Want 
 of grace — Want of godly sorrow — Want of 
 faith — Want of prayer — Defects in obedi- 
 ence. 
 
 At the Lord's Supper my father had this 
 expression concerning true believers — that 
 the blessed God hath promised to come to 
 them, and make his abode with them. This 
 I hastily catch at. My circumstances are 
 such that I must shortly expect many weeks' 
 confinement. Lord, I have loved the habita- 
 tion of thine house. I would gladly have my 
 abode there, but since I cannot, wilt thou 
 vouchsafe to take thine abode with me. Will 
 God in very deed dwell with man — a sinful 
 unworthy creature? I am not worthy that 
 thou shouldst come under my roof, yet shall 
 it be so ? I charge you, O ye daughters of 
 Jerusalem — all that is within me — be careful 
 that you do not grieve or offend this blessed 
 guest. 
 
 17th. Saturday night. Reading in Mr. 
 Flavcl, concerning the vision of God which 
 the saints in heaven have — he hath this scrip- 
 ture allusion to Deut. xii. 8, 9. You shall not 
 love, nor delight in God as ye do this day. 
 
MEMOIRS OP MUS. SAVAGE. 183 
 
 For, if the perfection of that state would 
 admit of shame or sorrow, how should we 
 blush and mourn in heaven to think how cold 
 our love, and how low our delights in God 
 were on earth. Further ; under the same 
 head, he adds thus — Ah, little do the friends 
 of dead believers think what visions of God, 
 what ravishing sights of Christ the souls of 
 their friends have, when they are closing their 
 eyes with tears. Serious thoughts of this 
 would moderate grief in such cases. 
 
 21st. Wednesday. We had a lecture at 
 Mr. Becket's, at Sound. Mr. Lawrence 
 came, and other friends, to seek God, espe- 
 cially for that family. One son lately died ; 
 another, who was entered into the ministry, 
 in a languishing state. Father, hear prayer. 
 
 If it please thee reprieve and spare such 
 as may be instrumental for thy glory. I had 
 opportunity there to renew my covenant at 
 the Lord's table, that ordinance being admi- 
 nistered for the sake of old Mrs. Parker, 
 who has been long confined to her chamber. 
 I would come to that ordinance humbly to 
 pay my homage to a crucified Saviour, and 
 to avow to all the world that I glory only in 
 the cross of Christ, whom I have this day re- 
 ceived afresh to be mine, and given up my- 
 
184 MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 
 
 self to be his. Mr. I^awrence's subject was 
 Psalm xxxix. 9. ' I was dumb, I opened not 
 my mouth, because thou didst it.' 
 
 160G. Sept. 22d. Wednesday. Dear 
 brother Henry preached Ilanmer lecture, 
 from Psalm ciii. 13. ' Like as a father pitieth 
 his children, so the Lord pities them that fear 
 hiin.' An excellent sermon. The foolish, 
 simple child is pitied and instructed — the sick 
 child pitied and comforted. The froward 
 child is pitied and borne with. The fallen 
 child is pitied and helped up again. The 
 punished child pitied and spared. The peni- 
 tent child pitied and pardoned. The weaned 
 child pitied and fed. The weary child pitied 
 and carried. The wanting child pitied and 
 supplied. The wronged child pitied and 
 righted. The weak child pitiod and assisted. 
 The willing child pitied and accepted. 
 Knowing by some experience the tender 
 bowels of a parent to my children, I can the 
 better judge of the tenderness of my heavenly 
 Father. 
 
 1697. Sabbath. January 10th. This day 
 and the evening before I spent some time in 
 reading my dear father's sermons on Col. iii. 
 11. Christ is all and in all. With this he 
 concludes that subject which he was so long 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 195 
 
 upon, viz. what Christ is to true believers in 
 forty particulars. lie is their Foundation, 
 Food, Root, Raiment, Head, Hope, Refuge, 
 Righteousness, &c. What can be added ? 
 , He is our all — our all in all — both in respect 
 of the benefits we have by him — Election — 
 Creation — Conversion — Justification — Conso- 
 lation — Teaching — Redemption — Strength — 
 at Death — in Judgment — to Eternity. In all 
 these Christ is all in all. Further, as to duty 
 to be performed to him. He is all in all to be 
 known, chosen, loved, desired, delighted in, 
 trusted, thought of, followed, preached. He 
 is all in all in the Scriptures, in the Sacra- 
 ments, in Sabbaths, in praying. Blessed be 
 God for these sweet, wholesome truths to be 
 food for my poor soul. He * being dead yet 
 speaketh.' And what is it he says, but that 
 which his heart was always full of? Christ. 
 Christ. Christ. Methinks I hear him still — 
 O make Christ your all.* 
 
 Friday, January 29th. I went to Whit- 
 church, and thence to Broad Oak. I found 
 my dear mother well. Since my dear father 
 is dead, I am ready to say — the glory is de- 
 parted. But why should I say so, since the 
 
 * The valuable book alluded to here, Christ all in all has been 
 published by the Pres. Board of Publication, 
 16* 
 
186 MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 
 
 presence of God in his ordinances, is contin- 
 ued ? He appears to own and bless that 
 young man Mr. Bcnion so that the congrega- 
 tion seems to be as great as usual. 
 
 A comfortable day on Sabbath, January 
 31. Mr. Benion's subject was 2 Cor. x. 5. 
 concerning the government of the thoughts, 
 which is, surely, a very seasonable word to 
 me. He gave four excellent rules : 
 
 1. Curb and check the first motions of 
 your thoughts to evil. 
 
 2. Call them off, and reclaim them when 
 busied about evil. 
 
 3. Inure your thoughts to good objects, 
 which they should fix on. 
 
 4. Engage them to moderation when em- 
 ployed about things in themselves lawful. 
 These lawful things undo us, said a good man. 
 Oh, if I could observe these rules, what advan- 
 tage should I have by this day's opportunity. 
 
 Tuesday, April 27. I went to Chester to 
 spend a few days, and enjoy my dear rela- 
 tions. My good God brought me thither in 
 safety, and I found them all well. 
 
 28th. A public fast appointed by authority 
 for our whole nation to be humble before God 
 — to pray, and seek his face, if so be that he 
 will yet be intreatcd of us — that the issue of 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 187 
 
 this summer's proceedings may be an honour- 
 able, comfortable peace to all Europe. My 
 brother beijau with an exhortation to stir us 
 up to the work of the day. Then prayed and 
 expounded Jonah i. Prayed again at large. 
 Then })reachcd from Isaiah lix. 20. compared 
 with Rom. ii. 26. The Redeemer shall come 
 to Sion to turn away ungodliness. The Re- 
 deemer is Christ. Sion, the Church. Many 
 ways he may be said to come. He came in 
 his first appearing in flesh. He comes in the 
 preaching of the everlasting gospel. He 
 comes to Sion — when he enlarges Sion's 
 borders — when he establishes Sion's peace — 
 when he asserts Sion's privileges — when he 
 abaseth Sion's enemies. It is our great duty 
 and interest to prepare for his coming, which 
 must be by turning from ungodliness, accord- 
 ing to frequent Scripture calls — Turn ye. 
 Turn ye. Without this we must expect no 
 benefit by his merciful appearances for his 
 Church. Even the prosperity of fools tends 
 to their hurt. He delivered many excellent 
 truths. Lord, write them upon my heart that 
 I may be the better. Oh that the prayers 
 which have been offered to-day may return 
 with a gracious answer. I was affected with 
 a plea of dear brother's in one prayer this 
 
188 MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 
 
 day — ' Lord, Avhilst each of the confederate 
 princes is taking care for liis own interest, 
 and securing of that, wilt not thou take care 
 of thy people, and thy interest V — It is com- 
 fortable that all the praying people of God in 
 the nation have been our connpanions in the 
 work of this day. Lord, hear thou in heaven 
 thy dwelling-place. 
 
 Friday evening. Many good people met 
 at brother Henry's, to a Christian conference. 
 The subject they are upon is — The benefits 
 flowing from Justification — Adoption — Sanc- 
 tification — according to the Assembly's Cate- 
 chism. This time upon increase of grace : 
 The question was — What are the helps to in- 
 crease of grace ? The Word, Prayer, Medi- 
 tation, Christian Communion, and many more 
 mentioned, which I have foolishly let slip. 
 
 Friday, June 4th. ]My husband and I 
 went to Broad Oak with our three little 
 daughters. My dear aged mother hath been 
 for some weeks much indisposed. Now, 
 blessed be God, better. She cannot but be 
 revived with eight of her grand-children 
 about her. God hear her prayers for them 
 all, that they may in due time be tiees of 
 righteousness, 
 
 Tuesday night, 8th. Brother Henry came 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 189 
 
 to US there, and the day following preaclied 
 the lecture on Job xiv. 14. * All the days of 
 my appointed time will I wait till my change 
 come.' What is meant by waiting ? Look- 
 ing. Longing. Patience. Preparation. This 
 great change will come certainly, and may 
 come suddenly; therefore, it is our great wis- 
 dom and duty to prepare for it. He gave the 
 following directions. Get into a good state. 
 Keep in a good way. Avoid those things 
 which, when this change comes, will make it 
 bitter. Abound in, and secure those things 
 which will make for you at a dying hour ; 
 every day treasure up a prayer against that 
 day. Sit loose to those things which, at 
 death, you must leave. Converse much with 
 those things which you must then go to. 
 Eternity ! Eternity ! Oh that it could make 
 some impressions upon my heart. I am 
 ashamed that I, who perhaps am so near 
 death, being but a few weeks from a perilous 
 hour, converse no more with it. How seldom 
 and shy are my thoughts of it. I am loth to 
 own my kindred to the dust. Unlike Job, who 
 said to corruption, ' Thou art my father : to the 
 worm, Thou art my mother and my sister.' 
 
 I had a comfortable time with my dear 
 mother. We slept together, and often pray- 
 
190 MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 
 
 ed together, ^vitIl coml^^rt, at our bedside. 
 She told me of Mr. Steel's remedies against 
 distractions, which must be so as to a great 
 many other evils which I daily fall into — viz., 
 these two, Sincerity, and Watchfulness. God 
 help me in these. 
 
 Friday, June 18. I came to Whitchurch, 
 to meet my husband to go home after a fort- 
 night's absence. Blessed be God for mercy 
 abroad, and at home ; going out and coming 
 in, no adversary or evil occurrent. 1 came 
 home safe at night. We all met together in 
 peace and love. Praised be God, whose good 
 providence doth watch over us when absent 
 from each other. It is a mercy to have 
 friends and relations to be with and enjoy — 
 but a greater mercy to have a comfortable 
 home to come to — to find ' rest in the house 
 of a husband,' if any thing in this world may 
 be called so. 
 
 Thursday, 24th. This day brings afresh to 
 my mind the sad providence of this time 
 twelve months, when God, by a sudden 
 stroke, took away the desire of our eyes — my 
 dear father. It is easy to weep over some 
 of those showers of tears that were then shed, 
 but it is hard to make a right improvement 
 of the event. Oh ! sin, sin. Sin it is that 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 191 
 
 makes us naked, and deprives us of our com- 
 forts. The Lord is righteous, because we 
 have provoked him. 
 
 Tuesday, July 27th. We had Mr. Law- 
 rence with us, a few of our neighbours and 
 friends being met to seek God, especially for 
 mercy for the family, and myself in reference 
 to the hour of my approaching sorrows. He 
 expounded Psalm xvi. very sweetly. He 
 observed from ver. 2., that there are saints in 
 the earth — that they are the excellent ones of 
 the earth, and that in them we should greatly 
 delight. The subject w^as Psalm xxii. 30. 
 'A seed shall serve him' — namely, Christ. 
 He hath in all ages had his remnant, who hath 
 faithfully owned and served him — he has so 
 at this day — and will have to the end of time. 
 What a great duty lies upon parents in train- 
 ing up children. Oh that ours maybe a seed 
 to serve Christ, and to bear up his name in 
 their day. I have often prayed (yet with 
 submission) that, if it be the will of Go 1, I 
 might not bear or nurse any who shall dis- 
 honour him — but if it should please him to 
 deny me this request, I am told to-day of two 
 things to comfort : 
 
 I. The testimony of conscience that I have 
 done my duty towards them : which God 
 
192 MEMOIRS OF MUS. SAVAGE. 
 
 assist me in for his mercy's sake, for I am 
 weak. 
 
 2. This may comfort, that Christ will have 
 a seed to serve him, though mine should not 
 be of them — which God forbid. He can of 
 stones raise up children unto Abraham. 
 
 1698. January 5. I went to dear Broad 
 Oak. I found dear sister Tylston there. 
 She and I are all that are left of four. — A 
 joyful, sorrowful meeting. Oh that I could 
 look above and beyond all the things of sense 
 and time, and have my thoughts surely fixed, 
 where alone true and substantial joys are to 
 be found. 
 
 Sabbath. January 9. Brother preached 
 at Broad Oak, from Colossians iv. 12. ' That 
 ye may stand perfect and complete in all the 
 will of God.' The words seem to imply Sin- 
 cerity — Strength of grace — Steadiness and 
 perseverance in grace. He gave the follow- 
 ing directions. 
 
 Have respect to all God's commandments. 
 Psalm cxix. 6. 
 
 Hate every false way. Psalm cxix. 38. 
 
 Put on the whole armour of God. Eph. vi. 
 11, 13. 
 
 Abound always in the work of the Lord. 
 1 Cor. ii. last. 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 193 
 
 Do all to ihc glory of God. 1 Cor. x. 31. 
 
 Watch in all things. 2 Tim. iv. 5. 
 
 Press on toward perfection. Philip, iii. 
 13, 14. 
 
 Whatever you do in word or deed, do all 
 in the name of the Lord Jesus. 
 
 We had, likewise, this day a sacrament 
 opportunity. May I not say as the Psalmist, 
 — ' Thou anointest my head with oil, my cup 
 runneth over !' I have afresh renewed my 
 covenant with God, professed my faith in a 
 crucified Christ, and hope of salvation only 
 by him. None but Christ. None but Christ. 
 The great things which I want, and he has 
 promised them, are — Remission of sins, and 
 the gift of the Holy Ghost. 
 
 Wednesday, June 13th. Dear brother 
 preached our lecture on Zcch. xii. 10. 'They 
 shall look on him whom they have pierced, 
 and mourn.' Have I had such a sight of him, 
 as to cause me to mourn after a godly sort ? 
 Truly, sometimes, I fear lest I have been 
 %vanting herein, having not lain so low as I 
 should in deep humiliation. He exhorted 
 those that do not truly mourn for sin, to look 
 on the torments of hell, and dread them ; and 
 to look on the sorrows of the Redeemer and 
 the penitent sinner, and imitate them. Those 
 17 
 
194 MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 
 
 who do truly mourn, he exhorted to continue, 
 mourning. Every day brings fresh cause. 
 And to comfort themselves from it, consider- 
 ing — That while they are looking on Christ 
 with an eye of sorrow, he is looking at them 
 with an eye of grace and mercy. That sin 
 that thus troubles them shall never hurt them. 
 That the time is coming when even these 
 tears shall be done away. Sorrow for sin 
 shall cease in heaven. All tears shall be 
 wiped away. He concluded with Psalm 
 cxxvi. last. ' They that sow in tears shall 
 reap with joy.' Blessed be God for this good 
 word. Do us all good by it. 
 
 Sabbath, July 3d. I went to Wrenbury, 
 both morning and afternoon. Mr. Garnet 
 preached well, from Psalm Ixiii. 1. ' O God, 
 thou art my God, early will I seek thee.' 
 How earnestly doth the divine Psalmist 
 breathe after God in this wilderness state ! 
 How comfortable is it to have an interest in 
 God when trouble comes ! — to be able to say, 
 as David, ' Although my house be not so with 
 God, yet hath he made with me an everlast- 
 ing covenant, ordered in all things and sure.' 
 I find it is my great fault to be too solicitous 
 for my house, especially my dear children. 
 But why should I be so when God is mine ? 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 195 
 
 All good things are mine, whether for the 
 life that now is, or that which is to come. 
 
 I must not omit this remark to-day. Being 
 at our church in a pretty full assembly, and 
 observing the universal bowing of all about 
 me at the name of Jesus in the Creed, I had 
 this thought — Why do I not do as the rest? 
 Is it because I do not honour him, and his 
 name, as well as they do ? Surely I have as 
 much cause, to whom so much is forgiven. 
 If I thought he did require that outward cere- 
 mony, or had commanded it, I should not be 
 W'anting in it, though it were a thousand times 
 more. But I have been taught that he re- 
 quires the heart more than the knee, and I de- 
 sire heartily to subscribe to his government, 
 to own him as King in his church, and my 
 King. Does that evangelical prophet say — 
 * the government shall be on his shoulders V 
 I say — Amen. It shall. 
 
 Let it be so, O Lord, and let all the people 
 of the earth be thy willing subjects. — As to 
 thi.s ceremony, I cannot see reason for bowing 
 at the name Jesus in the Creed only, and not 
 at other times when he is named. Besides, 
 I have heard it said, by those who understand 
 the original, that it is not " At," but — " In" 
 the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, of 
 
196 MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 
 
 things in heaven, and things in earth, and 
 things under tlic eartli. But I will not judge 
 those that practise it. If we can each ap- 
 prove ourselves to God, it is enough. Indeed, 
 it is well that we are not to be each other's 
 judges. 
 
 October 10. Monday evening. My dear 
 brother Ilenr}^ and sister Tylston came to us ; 
 truly welcome, though not then expected. 
 Blessed be God, whose good providence has 
 brought so many of us together of the rem- 
 nant that is left in the land of the living, 
 though we cannot but sensibly remember 
 those who are taken from us. This night 
 brother expounded 2 Cor. v. — That which I 
 chiefly observe is from verse 6. We should 
 not be at home in the body, but rather, as 
 strangers, and as in oiu" inn. Next day he 
 preached from Hag. i. 9. ' Ye looked for 
 much, and lo, it came to little.' — We are 
 often frustrated in our expectations. I wish 
 I could learn from hence to lean less on crea- 
 tures. Inquiring in the close — Wherefore is 
 it that God does, oftentimes, thus disappoint 
 and frustrate our hopes as to our worldly 
 affairs — he observed, that it may be, there is 
 a want of a true principle of grace in the 
 heart — that perhaps secret, or family duty is 
 
MEMOIKS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 197 
 
 neglected, or carelessly performed. If so, no 
 wonder God crosses you in your aflairs. — He 
 asked, Do you give God his due in works of 
 piety and charity ? Are you concerned for 
 the name, and interest of Christ abroad in 
 the world 1 Do you not let his house ' lie 
 waste' in this sense 1 Help me, O Lord, to 
 examine myself, and to look at my face in 
 this glass. — Though, at present, our aflairs 
 are so smooth, and harvest completed, yet if 
 God should turn his hand, and blow upon 
 what we have, how soon will it be otherwise ! 
 I desire to stand perfect, and complete, in all 
 the will of God. 
 
 Thursday, 21st Dec. We had a lecture. 
 Mr. Lawrence preached from Matt. xix. 21. 
 * Thou shalt have treasure in heaven.' He had 
 this remark, which I would beg of God to 
 write upon my heart — If our treasure be on 
 earth, we are going from it — if in heaven, we 
 are going to it. O that mine may be in 
 heaven ! 
 
 1G99. Monday, July 15th. I w^ent to 
 Nantwich. Dear brother preached excel- 
 lently from Johnxvii. 16. ' They are not of this 
 world, even as I am not.' Doctrine, That as 
 Christ was not, so true Christians are not, of 
 this world. He gave eight useful directions 
 17* 
 
198 MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 
 
 in the close : Let not the wisdom of the 
 world be your guide. — Let not the w-ay of 
 the w^orld be your rule. — Let not the wealth 
 of the world be your chief good. — Let not 
 the cares of the world encumber you. — Let 
 not the comforts of the world entangle you. 
 — Let not the crosses of the world disquiet 
 you. — Be not too fond of life. — Be not too 
 fearful of death. 
 
 I heartily bless God for this good word, 
 and will endeavour, by his grace, to be made 
 better by it. 
 
 Sabbath, Aug. 6th. How fast, methinks, 
 time passes. Now the sun is beginning to go 
 from us ; and as fast eternity hastens. Death 
 will shortly put an end to my sabbaths and 
 sabbath opportunities. O my soul, up and 
 be doing. Give all diligence about thy great 
 work while doing time lasts. This sabbath I 
 spent at home. The weather wet, and I un- 
 well. I read this morning Rosea xii. I find 
 Ephraim reproved for feeding on wind. Do 
 I not the same when filled with vanity, as I 
 am too much when I have, or might have, 
 better ? A sweet promise, verse 9, of restor- 
 ing ordinances, and opportunities for our 
 souls' good. I observe that it is here 
 mentioned as an aggravation of the sin of 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 199 
 
 that people that they were the seed of godly- 
 Jacob — a praying man. I would remember 
 this. 
 
 1700. Sabbath. Feb. 4th. I was at 
 Nantwich in the afternoon. Mr. Lawrence 
 preached a funeral sermon for my aunt Bur- 
 roughs, from Acts xxvi. 8. ' Why should it be 
 thought a thing incredible that God should 
 raise the dead V The resurrection of the 
 body is one great article of our Christian 
 faith, which I find is more easy to prove, than 
 improve. Should I not glorify him with my 
 body, seeing he hath prepared so much glory 
 for it? Lord, I offer it to thee a living sacri- 
 fice, and it is but reasonable service. The 
 return of the season brings to mind the mercy 
 of God to me last year, about this time, in 
 supporting and strengthening me when con- 
 fined to my chamber and bed. He was plea- 
 sed to make it, and to make it easy. Blessed 
 be his name for the honey which I found on 
 that rod. But, alas ! the sense of the afflic- 
 tion, and the mercy which attended it, soon 
 wear off. Wo is me ! that neither the north 
 wind nor south wind have their kindly effect 
 on me. 
 
 Hard is my heart, Lord, to my grief I feel. 
 Be thou the loadstone, let me be the steeL 
 
200 MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 
 
 Sabbath. March 19th. Methinks I should 
 be learning; to endure liardness hke a cood 
 soldier of Jesus Christ, The cause is good — 
 the captain gracious — the combat short — the 
 conquest sure — the crown glorious. I daily 
 find the combating between grace and corrup- 
 tion. First one prevails, then another. Oh 
 how should I crroan and lonir for the rest on 
 the other side Jordan. When shall I come and 
 appear before God ? 
 
 July 6th. At Broad Oak. Had comfort 
 in the society of my dear mother, especially 
 when we prayed together in that which was, 
 once, my dear father's closet, and which he, 
 so solemnly, dedicated to the service of 
 God. 
 
 Next day Mr. Benion preached ; his text — 
 ' Let a man examine himself, and so let him 
 eat;' a duty I have been greatly wanting in, 
 and in which I cannot fix my vain heart. 
 When I think I have a heart I want time ; 
 when I have time I want a heart, so that this 
 exercise is greatly neglected. Yet I cannot 
 but say I find a settled principle which in- 
 clines me to seek and love God. — As holy 
 Mr. Corbet expresses it — ' I had rather have 
 a heart to love him perfectly, than have all 
 the wealth in the world.' I had an oppor- 
 
MEMOIFwS OF MRS. SAV^AGE. 201 
 
 tunily to renew my covenant at the table of 
 tlie Lord. ' Behold what manner of love is 
 tills, that we should be called the sons of God.' 
 I deserve rather to be among the dogs or 
 swine, than to partake of children's bread. 
 Yet it is thy rich bounty thus to treat me. 
 * Bless the Lord, O my soul.' Receive Christ 
 and all salvation in him, and with him. 
 Lord, I do. My Lord, and my God. I was 
 drowsy before, but not after the ordinance. 
 I discover much corruption by being no more 
 sensible of this great love. 
 
 Mr. Nevet (a son of old Mr. Rowland 
 Nevet, a nonconformist and dear friend of 
 my father's) preached in the afternoon. His 
 text, Psalm cxix. 104. ' Through thy pre- 
 cepts I get understanding ; therefore I hate 
 every false way.' An excellent, plain ser- 
 mon. One mark of a true hatred of sin was 
 — when we hate it most in ourselves. This I 
 think I do. 
 
 1701. INlay 13th. I was safely delivered 
 of a daughter — my eighth child. Means 
 were ready, and my good God much more 
 so. He was a present help, according as we 
 have often prayed. ' I love the Lord because 
 he hath heard my voice, and my supplica- 
 tions. Because he hath inclined his ear unto 
 
202 MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 
 
 me, therefore will I call upon him as long as 
 I live.' I will love prayer, and practise it 
 more. 
 
 Through mercy I soon recruit my strength. 
 The Lord is my strength, and he shall be my 
 song. How much am I indebted ! Not a 
 mother only, but a nursing mother. Comfort- 
 able nights. Sleep — God's physic. 
 
 Tuesday, being the eighth day (as of old 
 the ordinance of circumcision was attended 
 to). May 20th, brother Henry and sister came 
 to us. We invited our neighbours, and some 
 relations, to the enrolling of the dear little 
 one. After we had professed our faith in 
 Christ, and purposes, and desires of obedience 
 to him, the infant was solemnly received into 
 the visible church of Christ. Named Han- 
 nah, especially from Samuel's mother. Lord 
 Jesus, gather it into thine arms. Let it be 
 among the lambs of thy flock, whereof thou 
 thyself art the great and good shepherd. 
 Hear the prayers of the day for parents and 
 children ; and, as thou art pleased to add to 
 our numbers, add daily unto our graces. 
 One hint brother had this day which was 
 very seasonable : ' The birth of children 
 should remind us of our departure hence. 
 They come on the stage, as it were to thrust 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 203 
 
 US off; and shortly we must give way to 
 them, as others, who went before, did to us.' 
 Oh that the consideration hereof might help 
 to loosen me from all these comforts. What 
 have I here ? This is not my rest. 
 
 I must also remark the mercy of God to 
 the country in the weather this month. We 
 have had seasonable and refreshing rain, so 
 that the earth yields her increase. Let God, 
 even our own God, give us his blessing. 
 
 Monday, July 7th. Dear brother preached 
 our lecture from Job xv. 1 1. * Are the conso- 
 lations of God small with thee V They are 
 not small in themselves, nor should they be so 
 to us. Is it a small thing to have an interest 
 in God as our Father ? In Christ and his 
 purchase ? Is it a small thing to have the 
 throne of grace open '? to be sealed with the 
 Holy Spirit of promise 1 to have a title to the 
 heavenly glory? Are these small things? 
 By no means. Then, O my soul, up and be 
 doing. Mind most these great things. Lord, 
 let my actions discover what it is that I most 
 value — earth or heaven. 
 
 1702. February 22d. I am yet spared, 
 through divine patience ; a wonder of mercy 
 that such a barren, worthless tree should yet 
 have a place in the vineyard. One sabbath 
 
204 MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 
 
 more put as a price in my hand to get wis- 
 dom. Blessed be God, who waits to be gra- 
 cious. I heard Mr. Edgly in the afternoon, 
 from Isaiah i. 10, 17. 'Wash ye, make you 
 clean ; put away tiie evil of your doings from 
 before mine eyes ; cease to do evil ; learn to 
 do well ; seek judgment, relieve the oppress- 
 ed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.' 
 O Lord, I am greatly polluted. Do thou 
 wash me — not my feet only, but my hands 
 and my head ; and, above all, my heart. I 
 am sensible if thou wash me not, I have no 
 part with thee. O Lord, thou God of peace, 
 sanctify me wholly — soul, body, and spirit. 
 The more I am acquainted with myself, the 
 more need I see I have of this washing. My 
 dear father desired that repentance might ac- 
 company him even to heaven's gate. Much 
 more may I. 
 
 Sabbath. March 1. How happy were it 
 for me, if a sabbath frame of heart did but 
 return with the blessed day. How amiable 
 are thy tabernacles, O Lord. My soul thirst- 
 eth for God, even for the living God. In 
 many congregations in England, I think 
 most, this is a sacrament day — a covenanting 
 day. I have earnestly desired my God to fill 
 his ordinances with abundance of his Spirit 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 205 
 
 and blessing, without which they arc dry, 
 empty, and barren. 
 
 April 8. Wednesday. Brother Henry 
 came to Broad Oak. He preached the lec- 
 ture from Isaiah xl. 31. ' They that wait 
 upon the Lord shall renew their strength.' — 
 Those that are constant to God in ways of 
 duty, shall find him constant to them in ways 
 of mercy. Many good lessons were taught 
 us to-day. At death the soul shall mount, 
 not on eagles", but on angels', wings. At the 
 resurrection the body shall mount up to meet 
 the Lord in the air. But he gave us this 
 caution, which was very seasonable — See 
 that you are sanctified, and renewed now, or 
 else there will be no mounting up then. An 
 earthly, sensual heart will sink rather than 
 soar. 
 
 Wednesday, May 13. This evening old 
 
 JNIrs. M , of Wrenbury, was buried. Mr. 
 
 Garnett's text was chosen by the relations, 
 she having had it read to her the day she 
 died. Psalm cxix. 128. 'I esteem all thy 
 precepts concerning all things to be right, 
 and I hate every false way.' This, said she, 
 hath been my practice for many years, and 
 she caused it to be read again. I heartily de- 
 18 
 
206 MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 
 
 sire to fall under this character. Lord, grant 
 that I may, and, so far as I am able to judge 
 of myself, I do, esteem all thy precepts con- 
 cerning all things to be right. * The law is 
 holy, and the commandment holy, just, and 
 good.' As David, in the 47th verse of this 
 Psalm — ' I will delight myself in thy com- 
 mandments, WHICH I HAVE LOVED.' In the 
 
 next verse he repeats it — ' which I have 
 loved.' — Though I cannot say, which I have 
 kept, I hope I can say, which I have loved. 
 I hate every false way. I hate sin more in 
 professors than in others — more in my own 
 house than in others — and most of all, in my 
 own heart — which makes me pray, ' O Lord, 
 wash my heart from wickedness.' 
 
 1703. January 4. I had desires towards 
 God, that I might sanctify this holy day, but 
 alas ! present things do greatly deaden and 
 hinder. I read an excellent sermon of my 
 dear father's, whose memory is very sweet, 
 on those words — ' I am the way' — namely, to 
 the Father : The way to acquaintance with 
 him, access to him, acceptance with him. 
 The way of atonement — adoption — accomp- 
 lishment of promises — admission into his hea 
 venly kingdom. Lord Jesus, be thou my 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 207 
 
 way ; and seeing I receive thee as such, help 
 mc to walk in thee. 
 
 Tuesday, March 9th. Brother Henry 
 preached at our house from Matt, v. 4. — 
 ' Blessed are they that mourn.' — Gracious 
 mourners are blessed, and shall be comforted. 
 I bless God who hath given mc any thing of 
 a serious spirit, though my natural temper in- 
 clines me to the contrary. His wisdom has 
 cast my lot where I have not those tempta- 
 tions to levity and diversion which some 
 have, for which I humbly bless and praise 
 him. Lord, make me more and more serious. 
 There is great reason. God is serious above 
 us. Devils are so in tempting. The blessed 
 angels are serious in their work. And shall 
 we, of all the creation, be light and vain ? 
 Gracious mourning is seen in habitual serious- 
 ness — and in actual mourning on a spiritual 
 account. Lord, make me one of thy mourn- 
 ers. Such are blessed. For they are like 
 Christ. Their sins are pardoned. They are 
 freed from many sins which vain mirth ex- 
 poses to. 
 
 May 23. Sabbath. I was at Wrenbury, 
 morning and afternoon. I was somewhat 
 aflbcted with that expression in the Common 
 Prayer — 'Almighty God, unto whom all 
 
208 MEMOIRS OF MUS. SAVAGE. 
 
 hearts are open, all desires known.' I have 
 sometimes good desires which prove abortive, 
 for want of endeavours accordingly, Mr. 
 Garnctt's subject was, Gal. v. 25. * If we 
 live in the Spirit let us also walk in the Spirit.' 
 Oh it is this heavenly walking which is the 
 life of religion. Without this, I am but as 
 sounding brass. It is my great grief that I 
 do not more manifest a real work of grace by 
 a suitable conversation. We had public no- 
 tice given of a general fast next Wednes- 
 day. Lord, help me to humble my soul. But, 
 alas ! how hard do I find it to sanctify a fast. 
 It is little that I can, and less I do. To rest 
 from common labour is easy, but to devote 
 and dedicate that rest to God is not so easy. 
 
 Sabbath. October 10th. Our minister 
 preached a good sermon against swearing — 
 ' Swear not at all.' It is a shame it should 
 be such a reigning sin in a land of such light 
 and knowledge, that the blessed name of God 
 must be rent and torn by debauched wretches, 
 to fill up the vacancies of their idle chat. 
 Lord, forgive me, that I do not, as I should, 
 mourn over this crying sin of the land. It is 
 a great mercy to be out of the hearing of it, 
 as I am, especially to be delivered from such 
 sad pollutions myself, for I have that in my 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 209 
 
 heart which would incline it to all sin, if my 
 God should let me loose to the power of mine 
 own corruptions. 
 
 October 17th. I was at home all day. I 
 called to mind some discourse I had with my 
 dear mother lately. She said she had this 
 from an excellent minister — That we must 
 make it our business to search out the sin 
 which we were most exposed to, and to strive, 
 and pray, and watch against that, or else we 
 do nothing in religion. Lord, help me here ; 
 that which my own conscience accuses me to 
 be the sin that most easily besets me is too 
 much love of, and too many cares for, my 
 children. Lord, turn it into the right channel 
 — into care and concern for their precious 
 souls. Methinks, as my dear father's grand- 
 children increase, and grow up, I cannot but 
 have many fears lest any of them should go 
 out of God's way, and be a reproach to the 
 holy profession which we have made. The 
 Lord, in mercy, prevent. 
 
 1704. Feb. 27th. A comfortable opportu- 
 nity at Nantwich ; having long been fasting 
 from the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper. I 
 had some spiritual hungerings. Oh that my 
 poor soul may be emptied of self, and filled 
 with Christ ; emptied of earth and filled with 
 18* 
 
210 MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 
 
 heaven. The su])jcct was, Rom. xv. 4. ' That 
 we, through patience and comfort of tlic 
 Scriptures, may have hope.' Many things are 
 revealed to us in the Scriptures which are 
 great matters of comfort to us. There is a 
 glorious happiness in the oiher world, and a 
 way open to it, through Christ, for fallen man. 
 He is himself the way. We may know that 
 we are in this way. I bless God for his re- 
 vealed will. Mr. Lawrence told us to-day 
 that there is no true peace or satisfaction to 
 be found in this world, but that which arises 
 from the testimony of a good conscience. 
 Speaking of the providence of God towards 
 his people, he had this expression — ' The father 
 of a family takes care of the meanest servant 
 he has, nay the meanest beast ; but he has not 
 the same degree of care and love for them 
 which he has for his children. So it is with 
 our heavenly Father.' I have this day afresh 
 bound myself to my God in a perpetual cove- 
 nant. Oh that T may not henceforth walk as 
 other Gentiles w'alk. 
 
 March 26th. I was affected with hearing 
 this passage, which I remark, because it may 
 affect some when I am in the dust. When 
 some considerable gentlemen of the society 
 (at Nantwich) were gone in together one 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 211 
 
 Lord's day evening, and were talking of some- 
 thing unsuitable to the day, poor Betty Parsons, 
 a good old disciple, overhearing them, said — 
 ' Sirs, you are making work for repentance.' 
 This short and seasonable rebuke damped 
 them much, and turned the stream of their 
 discourse into a better channel. So true is 
 that saying of the wise man — ' A word spoken 
 in season, how good is it !' 
 
 July 10th. My dear mother sent for me to 
 Broad Oak to meet my dear brother Henry, 
 who preached the lecture that day from Sol. 
 Song, i. 4. ' We will remember thy love more 
 than wine.' Holy souls take abundance of 
 pleasure in remembering the love of the holy 
 Jesus. I desire to remember the contrivances, 
 the condescensions, the costliness of his love : 
 but the constancy and continuance of it, espe- 
 cially, affected me. That we who live, as it 
 were in the old age of the world, so many 
 hundred years after his incarnation, should 
 still receive the sweet, and fresh effects of it. 
 
 Oct. 29th. My dear brother has lately print- 
 ed a discourse concerning the Lord's Supper, 
 wherein I find svi^cetness. I desire to look 
 beyond instruments — for who is Paul, and 
 who isApoUos? Yet I bless God from my 
 heart for them. This expression aflectcd me 
 
212 MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 
 
 — ' The father of the family loves not to have 
 any of the children absent at meal time !' 
 Lord, grant that this spiritual food may nour- 
 ish, and refresh, my soul. 
 
 1705. June 24th. I cannot but remark the 
 providence of this day nine years, in the sur- 
 prising death of my dear and tender father, 
 who served his generation faithfully, and nat- 
 urally cared for souls. He was removed to 
 heaven in the midst of usefulness. Oh that I 
 may still retain the good things he taught me, 
 and follow him who followed peace and holi- 
 ness. I cannot but sometimes remember that 
 habitual weariness which he complained of, 
 because I many times find it so with myself, 
 especially when the days are long, and the 
 seasons hot. This day I was somewhat re- 
 freshed in mind as to this — that my dear Lord 
 Jesus submitted to the same. He was ' wea- 
 ried with his journey,' John iv. 6. ; and if 
 so, he knows my frame. Surely, ' he bare our 
 griefs.' 
 
 Sabbath. July 1. How svi'iflly does time 
 hasten away ! Now six of the twelve months 
 of this year are gone. We are beginning the 
 other six. What may be before the end God 
 only knows. Blessed be God for any hope 
 of a happy eternity. I would fain be con- 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 213 
 
 versing more familiarly with death. — Oh bles- 
 sed, blessed for ever, be my God, for any light 
 in my understanding, and warmth in my aflec- 
 tions. It is the grace of God that distinguishes 
 me from the vilest. 
 
 September 30th. I was at Nantwich, 
 having not had a sacramental opportunity for 
 several months. Blessed be God for any 
 hungerings. It is the same that opens my 
 mouth that fills it. He shall have the glory 
 of all. I have had comfort in avouching the 
 Lord this day to be my God. O this precious, 
 precious blood, this sealing blood. Shall I 
 ever esteem it as a common thing ? God for- 
 bid. The exhortation was — ' The stone which 
 the builders refused is become the head-stone 
 of the corner.' God hath set him for a foun- 
 dation. Blessed are all they that build upon 
 him. Lord, I desire to build the hopes of my 
 salvation on this rock — * other foundation can 
 no man lay.' This alone is enough. 
 
 October 29th. In reading, in course, Eze- 
 kiel xxii. I find, when God, by the prophet, is 
 judging that people, and enumerating their 
 manifold sins, he twice mentions Sabbath pro- 
 vocations, verses 8, 26 — as if those sins, above 
 others, were of a crimson dye. 
 
 On Wednesday I went to see my dear mo- 
 
214 MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 
 
 ther. I found her as to her outward man, 
 weak and feeble, but strong in the graces of 
 Christ Jesus : the inward man renewed day 
 by day. She abounds in humihty, meekness, 
 and contempt of the world, and the sight of 
 her excellent carriage does very much confirm 
 me in the substantials of religion — that God 
 will enable those that are his to persevere to 
 the end of their race, and will be with them 
 in the end, preserving them to his heavenly 
 kingdom. O that I may, by her example, do 
 as those Christians in the primitive times — 
 ' Thank God and take courage.' 
 
 December 29th. I became the mother of a 
 dead son. My God was to me a present help, 
 as he has been many times in like circumstan- 
 ces. I adore his wisdom in choosing this rod 
 to beat me with ; he is rigliteous, nay, gracious. 
 I would be thankful that he has spared me. 
 ' Why died I not from the womb V Job iii. 11. 
 The hope of the hypocrite is compared to an 
 untimely birth : God grant that my hope may 
 not be such, but be built on Christ — the rock 
 of ages. The infant was buried at Wren- 
 bury, by the other dear little ones. The fourth 
 of mine that lies here. Oh what a reign has 
 death even over those who have not sinned 
 after the similitude of Adam's transgression ! 
 
MEMOinS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 215 
 
 I could not but be affected with a passage 
 in a divine hymn of Mr. Baxter's, somewhat 
 appUcable to my case : 
 
 ' In saddest thoughts and grief. 
 In trouble, fear, and pain, 
 I cried for his relief, 
 And did not cry in vain : 
 He heard with speed, 
 And still I found 
 Mercy abound 
 In time of need.' 
 
 Blessed be God for the good Spirit, who is my 
 remembrancer. 
 
 A remarkable event I cannot but remark. 
 
 Lately, a Mr. L , formerly living in this 
 
 parish, but now in Malpas parish, buried a 
 daughter aged sixteen or seventeen years, at 
 which the mother, being a passionate mourner, 
 said, She had rather have buried her husband, 
 and two or three more of her children. And 
 now, this week, it has pleased God to take 
 away another daughter. There has been but 
 a fortnight and two days between the two 
 funerals. See how sad and provoking a thing 
 it is to murmur against the Majesty of hea- 
 ven. He does whatsoever he pleases, and 
 why should our folly prescribe to his wisdom ? 
 
216 MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 
 
 A third daughter has hardly escaped the dis- 
 temper. She was reported to be dead. 
 
 1706. Saturday morning, March 9th. — 
 I read, in course, Joel iii. I thought it was 
 very refreshing in the midst of that great 
 wrath which was threatened against the 
 church's enemies — so that blood should flow 
 as out of a wine press — that ' The Lord w ill 
 be the hope of his people, and the strength of 
 the children of Israel.' v. 16. All sincere 
 Christians are the true Gospel Israel, and God 
 will be their strength and hope in the worst 
 of times. This promise reminds me of a 
 passage of Zuinglius, who, when flashing the 
 terrors of the law in the very face of impeni- 
 tent sinners, would say — ' Good Christian, 
 stand aside, for this is not thy portion.' How 
 comfortable is it to say — By the grace of God 
 this wrath belongs not to me. It is the Lord 
 Jesus Christ alone who delivers from the 
 wrath to come. 
 
 Sabbath. July 14th. I was all day at 
 home ; spent some time, in the afternoon, in 
 reviewing my Diary, written nearly twenty 
 years ago. I find sweetness in the reflection 
 that I had then, often, communion with God 
 in secret prayer and meditation. I remember 
 the love and kindness of God to me then. I 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 217 
 
 am afTectcd with what my dear mother said 
 to me at leaving dear Broad Oak : when I 
 urged my unfitness for my new state, she re- 
 plied — ' you will now find exercise for those 
 graces, which, hitherto, you have not exer- 
 cised.' And I cannot but own now, after 
 nineteen years, how kind and good my hea- 
 venly Father has been to me here, in placing 
 me in these comfortable relations, so that 
 here is no want of any good thing — but more 
 grace. 
 
 November 30. Saturday. This week we 
 received Brother Henry's new Annotations on 
 the five books of Moses. Lord, bless all helps, 
 and crown all pious endeavours with thy 
 blessing. 
 
 1707. January 1. One year passes, and 
 another comes, so my time insensibly slides 
 away. And what have I done in this year 
 that is past, for my God, or for my soul and 
 eternity 1 I desire to renew my resolution 
 of closer walking for the future. It may be 
 this may be the year of my death. I bless 
 God that the thoughts of it are not so terrible 
 as, sometimes, they have been. As I grow 
 into years I see still more and more of the 
 emptiness of all things here below. 
 
 October 9th. I w^as a little discomposed 
 19 
 
218 MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 
 
 on the account of our worldly concerns ; 
 things not succeeding as I expected, I was 
 ready to be all in a flame. My spirit was 
 more ruffled than it had been a long time. 
 But behold how my wise heavenly Father 
 deals with me. We read in course, in the 
 family, as soon as I was up, part of Psalm 
 cxix. and that verse, ' The law of thy mouth 
 is better to me than thousands of gold and 
 silver.' It was so to David. It should be so, 
 it shall be so, to me. I will endeavour not to 
 repine at any event, since I have thy good 
 word to be my guide, companion, and coun- 
 sellor. 
 
 Saturday. I went in the evening to Nant- 
 wich, in order to spend the Sabbath there, it 
 being our monthly opportunity for the Lord's 
 Supper ; and a comfortable season we had. 
 I trust I do get ground of my corruptions, 
 though slowly, and one good evidence is, that 
 I am glad when I hear ministers on searching 
 subjects, as Mr. Lawrence was, 2 Tim. iii. .5. 
 ' Having a form of godHness but denying the 
 power.' I have reason to fear this is the 
 character of very many among ourselves. 
 He had many excellent things, and in the 
 close, these which I desire to remember — The 
 more of the power of godliness, the more 
 
MEMOIKS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 219 
 
 comfort. That the form without the power 
 will bring none to heaven. Lord, grant that 
 I may get good by tliis awakening word. A 
 form of religion I have, and ought to have. I 
 need not be ashamed of my Master. But if I 
 have no more than the form, I am miserable. 
 One character of such he told us, is — that 
 they rest in outside performances, which, I 
 hope, I do not- — Alas ! what are these but the 
 shell and leaves ? The fruit and kernel are 
 what I thirst after — that I may find him whom 
 my soul loveth. Through mercy I was not 
 at all drowsy in this day's work. I returned 
 home safely, but dull and unfit for closing 
 duties. Next morning, my body though 
 sown in weakness, was raised in power. 
 Blessed be God for sleep, health, food, and 
 all other my common mercies ; the want of 
 any one of which, would make my life un- 
 comfortable. Especially, and above all, I 
 bless God for spirituals — the Lord Jesus Christ 
 (who is my hope), and all the benefits I enjoy 
 in, and by, him ; particularly, for the good 
 helps for my soul. 
 
 Whilst means in plenty I enjoy, 
 Let not my soul be parched, and dry. 
 
 I was much refreshed, this week, by read- 
 
220 MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 
 
 ing in brother Henry's book on the Lord's 
 Supper. The benefits to be receiv-ed by that 
 sweet ordinance are — Pardon of sin — the 
 privilege of adoption — Inward joy and peace 
 — the strenixthcninfT and increasinfj; of i'race 
 — tlie earnest of the eternal inheritance. 
 God be praised for this good word. Let it 
 comfort and quicken me. 
 
 1722. February 27th. Tliis day twelve 
 months my dear Philip took leave of our 
 world. It was a time to bring to remem- 
 brance. The wormwood and the gall of that 
 providence my soul hath still in remembrance. 
 I purposed to sanctify it as a fast, but I was 
 forced to be employed in household concerns, 
 by things unforeseen. I find it much easier 
 to fast, than to pray and sanctify the fast, as 
 I should. I would learn more humility, 
 meekness, weanedness from all creature com- 
 forts. Mr. Yawdry had an excellent subject 
 on sabbath-day — ' The love of Christ con- 
 straineth us.' Surely it should constrain me 
 to a patient, quiet, meek frame under his afllic- 
 ting hand — and to be sowing, even in tears. 
 This week we lost two young cows. Many 
 years we have had no such loss. The Lord 
 gave, and, when he pleases, he takes away. 
 
 March 28th. Reading, in course, John xx. 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 
 
 221 
 
 20, concerning Clirist's appearance to liis dis- 
 ciples, I was i)lcased with a sweet remark in 
 the Annotations. ' See the condescension of 
 our Lord Jesus. The gates of heaven were 
 ready to be opened to him, where he might 
 have been in the midst of the adoration of 
 a world of angels ; yet, for the benefit of his 
 cliurch, he lingered on earth, and visited the 
 little private meetings of his poor disciples — 
 stood in the midst of them, with — Peace be to 
 you.' What encouragement is this to us 
 now, since no length of time can, in the least, 
 abate his love and tenderness. Having loved 
 his own, he loved them to the end. 
 
 This week I was much affected to hear a 
 poor old woman of our society complain of 
 decays, especially of drowsiness in God's 
 worship. ' I go,' said she, * in pain and 
 weakness, yet if I could be lively, and in a 
 good frame when I come there, how I should 
 be comforted.' I often fear the same of my- 
 self Lord, pity, and help under such decays, 
 and let me be more busy now, and endeavour 
 to lay up something in store against such an 
 evil day. 
 
 July 29th. I find among my old papers a 
 good remark on Psalm civ. 2S. ' Tliat thou 
 givest them they gather;' though it was 
 19* 
 
222 MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 
 
 spoken of brute creatures, yet it is applicable 
 to us. What God gives I should gather, 
 whether abroad or at home ; in the congre- 
 gation or closet ; in preaching or reading. 
 What thou givest, O Lord, help me to gather. 
 I gathered out of a good book, the great duty 
 of meditation. I endeavoured a little with 
 this naughty, earthly heart, but I brought 
 little to perfection. 
 
 In reading over my old papers, especially 
 some of good Mr. Lawrence's sermons long 
 ago at Nantwich, I find things that please and 
 edify me. Treating of the love of God, ex- 
 cellently from that scripture — * The Lord 
 direct your hearts into the love of God,' he 
 says — ' There is great reason to fear we have 
 but little of the true love of God, few delight- 
 ful thoughts of him, few careful thoughts to 
 please him. How little is there bestowed 
 upon God, and on his service. — Most of us 
 love a cheap religion. Many times one lust 
 is more chargeable to a man than all his re- 
 ligion.' 
 
 October 7th. Sabbath. I kept home all 
 day. I employed my spare hours in reading 
 some collections out of Mr. Baxter's book 
 concerning being crucified to the world. 
 Very excellent things, and suitable to me 
 
MEMOIRS OF MES. SAVAGE. 223 
 
 We converse so much with it, that we arc in 
 danger of being swallowed up of it, — like poor 
 Korah, and his rebellious company. Lord, 
 keep us from being over fond of it. I find in 
 the fore-cited collection this passage, which 
 pleased me. Speaking of the excellence of 
 being crucified to the world — ' It is,' saith he, 
 ♦ the very honesty, chastity, and justice of the 
 soul — our fidelity to God in keeping the cove- 
 nant made with him — thus giving God the 
 creature and your hearts, when covetous 
 worldlings unjustly rob him of both.' Lord, 
 keep, keep, and help me to keep myself, un- 
 spotted from this vain, evil, sinful world. 
 Though the world should not, must not, be 
 made a rest or bed for the soul, yet it is con- 
 venient to travel in — as a way to a better 
 country. Lord, give me wisdom and grace 
 to use what thou givest me for thy glory, as 
 a good steward that must give an account, 
 and knows not how soon. 
 
 1723. Wednesday. February 27. Dear 
 Philip's dying day. Two years. Mrs. Ann 
 Clive here — mingles tears with us. We sung 
 together Watts's hymn on Rev. xiv. 13. — 
 Concerning all the pious dead, 
 
 'Sweet is the savour of their names.' 
 
224 MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 
 
 I rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Tliis 
 week I read in dear Mrs. Hunt's papers what 
 afiectcd me — viz. : — ' The true love of God is 
 to be the spring of our duties.' — When I retire 
 to my closet, I would reflect — Is it the true 
 love of God that brings me hither ? Or, is it 
 not obedience to my natural conscience — 
 that dares not omit such a known duty 1 I 
 hope the former. 
 
 Sabbath. April 14. I keep home as usual. 
 Did something for my soul, but too little. I 
 prayed sincerely for those who go abroad for 
 help for their souls, while poor I sojourn in 
 Mesech and Kedar. This day not well. 
 What dear rent does the soul pay for this 
 earthly tabernacle ! Seldom that I would do 
 good, and then, how to perform I find not. 
 This should make me long for the everlasting 
 Sabbath. Then, no indisposition. Nothing 
 to clog or hinder the full enjoyment of God to 
 eternity. Hallelujah ! Tliis day, looking 
 over some old papers I found this remark, 
 which pleased me : ' There is a sweet sympa- 
 thy between a regenerate heart, and a pre- 
 cious truth.' Afterward — ' 'Tis only saints in 
 heaven who may be said to keep holy-day.' 
 Another : ' Many would weep and lament if 
 they knew they had not a month to live, who 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 225 
 
 now laush and rejoice, though they know not 
 they shall live a day.' 
 
 June 27th. Thursday night, about nine 
 o'clock, dear Betty Keay (my grand-daughter) 
 resigned her spirit with little seeming extremi- 
 ty (small-pox). A holy, sweet, dutiful, humble 
 child. Gone to a better world. She had 
 made a great progress in religion, beyond what 
 we could have expected. Many excellent 
 things dropped from her in sickness; such 
 as 'When I have formerly read of that 
 martyr in flames, who said he felt no more pain 
 than if on a bed of roses, I knew not then what 
 he meant — but I bless God now I know, and 
 am so swallowed up of joy as not to regard 
 my outward pains.' When recovering from a 
 fainting fit, she would say — * Thy rod and 
 staff support me.' So one by her spoke of 
 the bright world — to which, she soon added, 
 ' to which I go, I hope.' The Saturday after, 
 we laid up the dear remains in Hanmer church- 
 yard, by her own dear father, in hope of a 
 joyful resurrection. Oh! what an awful day 
 will that be, when the last trump shall call 
 all the dead — and the dead in Christ shall rise 
 first — and she among them. I bless God, 
 several things alleviate my grief for this 
 stroke. 
 
226 MEMOIRS OF Mils. SAVAGE. 
 
 Short was her life, the longer is her rest 
 
 God takes them soonest whom he loveih beat. 
 
 One good lesson, methinks I have learned 
 by this gu-j's piety — the power of divine 
 grace, notwithstanding little other helps. If 
 he will work, who can let or hinder ? Surely 
 it is a great confirmation to me of the truth of 
 the Christian religion. I have sometimes been 
 grieved to think of their loss of their dear 
 father, but with God the fatherless fnideth 
 mercy. When her mother said — * Thou art 
 going to thy dear father,' she replied — ' I am 
 going to my dear Jesus.' Oh ! the inestima- 
 ble worth of an interest in him at such a time. 
 
 Sabbath. November 20. In the afternoon 
 I was at home alone. I read some of an ex- 
 cellent sermon by Mr. Watts, entitled ' The 
 Hidden Life of a Christian,' which he, indeed, 
 describes so that one may discern he lived that 
 sweet, excellent life. What is there in a poor 
 saint here, he asks, that discovers what he 
 shall be hereafter? Those holy martyrs and 
 confessors described Ileb. xi. in their sheep- 
 skins and goat-skins — wandering in deserts — 
 hidden in dens and caves — what was there 
 in these poor, miserable spectacles, that looks 
 like a saint in glory ? ' It doth not yet appear 
 what we shall be.' Then shall it be made 
 
MEMOIRS OP MRS. SAVAGE. 227 
 
 known to the world — these were the men that 
 wept and prayed in secret — that sought the 
 face of God in their private chambers. They 
 are now made more than conquerors through 
 Him that loved them. The poor trembling 
 Christian, who lived this hidden and divine life, 
 watering this hidden seed of grace with so 
 many secret tears, shall now reap a rich 
 and orlorious harvest. He shall doubtless come 
 again with rejoicing. Light is sown for the 
 rigiiteous. 
 
 The seeds of joy and glory, sown 
 
 For saints in darkness here, 
 Shall rise and spring in worlds unknown, 
 
 And a rich harvest bear. 
 
 Surely the very thought of this should quick- 
 en and encourage me. 
 
 1724. Sabbath. May 10th. We had a 
 full family, about eighteen in all. My daugh- 
 ter Holland went with the young ones to Nant- 
 wich. She left me her last to take care of. 
 I had comfort in her society, and was much 
 affected with God's goodness to mine in things 
 pertaining to this life. She told me of an ex- 
 cellent petition of Dr. Bates, which he often 
 used — that we might have a tolerable passage 
 through the world, and a comfortable passage 
 
228 MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 
 
 out of it. It was eminently granted to him. 
 He died without any previous sickness, laid 
 down on his bed, saying he was not very 
 well — only his own children were about him 
 — they knew not when he expired. No doubt 
 the blessed angels were ready to do their oOice, 
 and convey the precious soul to Abraham's bo- 
 som. 
 
 When I saw them set out to-day to Nant- 
 wich, I applied to myself that of the prophet 
 Elisha to his servant — ' Went not my heart with 
 thee V I should much rejoica in joining with 
 those societies. My soul needs the best 
 helps. Wo is me, I sojourn in Mesech. I 
 comfort myself that Christ knows our works, 
 and where we dwell — what temptations, what 
 discouragements. 
 
 July 26. I read parts of a sermon in the 
 Morning Exercises. Thatw^hich most affects 
 me, is that of excellent Mr. Steel, concerning 
 the Memory, which is, certainly, a noble fac- 
 ulty. ' It should not be like a child's pocket, 
 filled with trash, but like the ark of the testi- 
 mony, in which the tables of the law were 
 laid up.' How prone am I to remember 
 what I should forget, and to forget what I 
 should remember. Mr. Steel, in this sermon, 
 brings in eight particular things which wc 
 
MEMOIRS OP MRS. SAVAGE. 229 
 
 should remember — Our Creator — The love of 
 our Redeemer — The doctrines of our religion 
 — The duties of Christianity — Our sins — Our 
 vows and obligations made to God — The 
 church of God, the mystical body — Our latter 
 end. Lord, write on my heart these good 
 lessons. 
 
 November 15th. I am all day at home. I 
 should spend more of this holy day in joy 
 and praise. There is matter enough. O what 
 a pleasant work it is! I should begin my 
 heaven now. I read some old papers of my 
 dear Philip, written at Boreatton. The strict 
 watch he kept over himself, and his own 
 heart, comforts and shames me. He had but 
 little working time, and was busy. He was 
 soon taken to his reward. One evening this 
 week, I was refreshed in reading, in the fami- 
 ly, * When the poor and needy seek water, 
 and there is none, and their tongue faileth for 
 thirst, I the Lord will hear them, I the God 
 of Israel will not forsake them. I will open 
 springs.' Like that sweet scripture — ' He filleth 
 the hungry with good things.' Meditation on 
 this did me good afterwards. I set my poor 
 seal to this truth. My dear God has opened 
 springs for me in this dry and barren wilder- 
 ness. I have great encouragement to pray 
 20 
 
230 MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 
 
 and thirst. The Lord's arm is not shortened. 
 I would be daily inquiring — What lack I 
 yet ? I was told by one that lately heard our 
 excellent Mr. Watts, at Berry-street, in Lon- 
 don — that he thus closed a sacrament there : 
 * Now, Christians, Arise, shine.' Surely tiiis 
 is what the Lord my God requires of me. I 
 should shine — in a holy conversation. These 
 good remarks, that sometimes come strangely 
 to me, perhaps through many hands, yet are 
 spiritual food, and help to nourish and comfort 
 my poor, lean soul. Blessed be God. If I 
 should always return thanks for corporal food, 
 which only nourishes a dying body, surely 
 much more for this spiritual nourishment. 
 Our dear Mr. Lawrence had long ago this 
 observation from that scripture — ' Wherefore 
 do you spend your money for that which is 
 not bread?' ' Whenever we meet with any 
 thing that does our souls good, though but in 
 discourse, that is bread.' 
 
 1725. Sabbath, Sept. 20. I pleaded with 
 God in my closet that I come in a good day. 
 A remarkable day. A day in which he uses 
 to own and bless his people. This morning I 
 was affected with dear Mrs. Hunt's definition 
 of secret prayer : ' It is the familiar entertain- 
 ing of ourselves with God about the inward 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 231 
 
 State of our souls, to which we arc embolden- 
 ed by the merits of Jesus Chi'ist.' This I 
 have remarked before, and it is worthy of 
 double observation. Further, reading in 
 those excellent papers I find this remark: 
 Thursday, February 21, 1095. She went to 
 her grandmother's (an old disciple of great 
 worth,) where she had appointed a private 
 day of prayer for herself, children and ianiily. 
 There were four excellent ministers, Mr. 
 Howe, Mr. Shower, Mr. Reynolds and Dr. 
 Annesley. They all prayed. Mr. Howe 
 only preached on that sweet scripture. Psalm 
 xlii. 8.—' The God of my life.' ' There was,' 
 she says, 'such a double portion of God's 
 Spirit poured out on all present, both ministers 
 and people, that they said they never experi- 
 enced the like. As for me,' she writes, ' I 
 was not troubled with one unruly thought all 
 the while, but I was as if I had been in 
 heaven — composed and serious. The hours 
 seemed but as minutes. I then thought surely 
 religion is the greatest reality in the world, 
 else it could not produce such real and strong 
 eftects.' O that my soul may be gathered to 
 that sweet, and general assembly both of min- 
 isters and Christians, where so many now are 
 who so experienced the powers of the world 
 
232 MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 
 
 to come. My greatest grief and trouble is the 
 want of a fixed heart. O that I could get and 
 keep a sabbath-frame. 
 
 Wednesday morning, October 13. I had 
 some sweet thoughts on an old subject of my 
 dear father's long ago — * Even Jesus, who de- 
 livered us from the wrath to come.' — There is 
 a wrath to come. Assuredly hell is no bug- 
 bear. A remnant are delivered from it. 
 The deliverer is Jesus. Sweet name, as oint- 
 ment poured forth. This is my beloved, and 
 this is my friend. 
 
 1726. February 20. I was affected this 
 morning, when my dear read in the family, 
 Psalm xlii. with that passage where the 
 Psalmist styles God — * the God of my life.' I 
 desire to own him as such. He is God both 
 of my temporal and spiritual life, and will 
 take care of both. One morning, this week, I 
 reflected seasonably on a passage I have long 
 since been pleased with : A good man thus 
 reasons with himself: * O my soul, when wilt 
 thou be at leisure to meet with thy God ?' 
 We are hindered by a thousand imperti- 
 nencies that are nothing to the work of a 
 Christian. 
 
 November 22. Tuesday morning. I re- 
 deemed time early for my closet, and had the 
 
MEMOIRS OF MES. SAVAGE. 233 
 
 comfort of it. I began the book of Deutero- 
 nomy with brother's Annotations. Many ex- 
 cellent things. I remember my dear mother, 
 %vhen the book of Annotations came to lier, 
 said she began with Deuteronomy, and gave 
 this reason — ' I shall not live to read the 
 whole, therefore, I take this which is the 
 summary of the rest.' Brother observes, that 
 it was spoken in the last month of Moses' life 
 in the plains of Moab. When he knew he 
 had but a little while to live, he was the more 
 busy. Surely I should be so. I am now in 
 my climacteric year. I should daily appre- 
 hend my nearness to eternity, and move 
 more swiftly, since I cannot but see the day 
 approaching. 
 
 1727. February 4th. At Whitchurch. I 
 saw a few of my old Christian friends, with 
 whom I have fasted and feasted ; but the 
 greater part are gone to the better world, 
 where I hope to meet them, and join in ever- 
 lasting praises. 
 
 I read a sermon of my dear father's con- 
 cerning the last judgment. Many things in 
 it very awful ; but that which, especially, 
 affected me was this, ' Things done in the 
 closet shall be proclaimed.' This should ex- 
 cite me to seriousness. The motto good 
 20* 
 
234 MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 
 
 Mrs. Bury had written in her closet was — • 
 Thou God seest mc. I praise my God that 
 this thought yields me some comfort. My 
 dear and kind heavenly Father sees some 
 secret transactions between him and me, 
 whicli I trust he will accept only, only for 
 Christ's sake. 
 
 Wednesday evening. March 27th. I 
 should be trimming my lamp, and doing 
 something in preparation for the Lord's table 
 on Sabbath-day. It troubles me that I have 
 not of late felt those inward meltings of soul 
 as formerly in that ordinance, yet still I would 
 be found as at the pool-side, waiting. I am, 
 sometimes, comforted to think that my de- 
 light in closet duty increases, and I trust my 
 heart is more engaged to inward universal 
 holiness. 
 
 Thursday morning. Feb. 11,1731. We 
 sung in the family that verse in the 71th 
 Psalm, 
 
 ' Then, in the history of my age, 
 
 When men review my days, 
 They'll read thy love in every page, 
 In every line thy praise.' 
 
 I thought how some that come after me, 
 and read my poor Diary, will read there the 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 235 
 
 love of God to me in every page. ' Surely 
 goodness and mercy have followed me all my 
 days' — in the single, married, widow state — 
 through all the changing scenes of life. — 
 Whence I take comfort that he will keep me 
 to finish well. 
 
 1732. Nov. 26th. Sabbath-day. Mr. 
 Witton's * text, Isaiah iii. 10. * Say ye to 
 the righteous, it shall be well with him.' 
 Blessed be God for these comfortable tidings. 
 I close this day with satisfaction, that it shall 
 be well with me living, dying, and to eter- 
 nity. The comforts of a dying hour are 
 usually proportioned to the holiness of the 
 past life." 
 
 The commencement of one of Mrs. Sav- 
 age's later diaries, furnishes an apt conclusion 
 to the preceding extracts. 
 
 " I find when I began my two last books 
 of this kind, one in 1714, the other in 1722, 
 I did not then expect to live to finish them, 
 yet it has pleased God so to lengthen out my 
 frail life that I continue to this day a living 
 monument of sparing mercy. And I am still 
 desirous to persist in this poor account of my- 
 
 * The Rev. Richard Witton, M. A., was Mrs. Savage's son-in 
 law. lie was 40 years Minister of the Dissenting Congregation 
 at West Bromwich, and died December 28, 17C5, aet. 82 
 
23G MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 
 
 self, hoping it may be useful to some of mine, 
 when I am in the dust, for their quickening, 
 and encouragement in the narrow way. I 
 find in brother's Annotations on Deut. iii. 22, 
 the following note on the encouragement 
 Moses gave to Joshua: — 'Those that are 
 aged, and experienced in the service of God, 
 should do all they can to strengthen the hands 
 of those who are young, and but setting out 
 in religion.' — And since 'tis observed, that 
 what is written remains — I here leave the 
 the testimony of my experience, that Christ's 
 yoke is easy, and his burden light. 
 
 Sarah Savajre." 
 
 O 
 
 The following ' Select Sentences,' gleaned 
 from various of Mrs. Savage's papers, will 
 not be unsuitably preserved in the present 
 memorial. 
 
 It is an awful thing for the best saint, who 
 has his accounts most ready, to stand before 
 the Judge of heaven and earth, to receive his 
 final doom. — Mrs. Ilulton. 
 
 Serious thoughts of eternal happiness, and 
 eternal misery, will make all our difficulties 
 vanish. — lb. 
 
 Whatever takes me off from making the 
 favour of God my chief end, and Christ my 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 237 
 
 only way to it, does but deceive — cannot sat- 
 isfy — is not bread. — Mr. Lawrence. 
 
 We are more apt to fear the death of 
 friends, than the death of rehgion. — lb. 
 
 As secret sins allowed do, in effect, deny 
 God's omniscience — How doth God know 1 — 
 so secret duties own and approve it. — Jb. 
 
 There is need of much wisdom and grace 
 to direct in managing the body — to give it its 
 due and no more — -as to food, raiment, and 
 rest. — lb. 
 
 The world has a great many servants and 
 friends, but 1 never knew any praise it at 
 parting.— lb. 
 
 While the world is in a bustle about earth, 
 and things below, the believer steals to hea- 
 ven, and makes little noise. — lb. 
 
 We must not admit of any excuse from 
 duty, unless we think it is one that will avail 
 in the great day of judgment. — Mr. Illidge. 
 
 What an absurd sight to see a crucified 
 Saviour on the board, and a sleeping Christian 
 in a pew. — Dr. Benion. 
 
 To be amended by a little cross, afraid of 
 a little sin, and affected with a little mercy, is 
 a good evidence of grace in the soul. — Mrs. 
 Parsons, 
 
 I find that God will not maintain, or en- 
 
238 MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 
 
 courage, any of his children in sloth, or idle- 
 ness. When I took more pains with my 
 heart, I was in a better frame. I never took 
 extraordinary pains, but I received extraordi- 
 nary profit. — Mrs. Hunt. 
 
 In keeping up a profession of religion, you 
 meet with difficulties from without. — In keep- 
 ing up the power, you meet with difficulties 
 from within : — but hold on, and be not dis- 
 couraged — the ' pure in heart' long to see God, 
 and in a little time those longings shall be sat- 
 isfied. — Matthew Henry. 
 
 Those who desire spiritual blessings are 
 blessed in those desires, and shall be filled 
 with those blessings. — lb. 
 
 He that gives to God his soul, and serves 
 him with the inner man, will think no out- 
 ward expression of reverence too much — 
 He will give his body too. — Philip Henry. 
 
 A heart to be truly thankful for the Re- 
 deemer, is a good sign of an interest in the 
 redemption. — lb. 
 
 If we copy the example of Christ, it will be 
 an evidence that we are his now, in the kins:- 
 dom of grace, and an earnest that we shall 
 follow him hereafter into the kingdom of 
 glory. — lb. 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. 239 
 
 Though we cannot wash in innoccncy, yet 
 we must wash in penitency. 
 
 Forced absence from God's ordinances, 
 and forced presence with wicked people, is a 
 grievous burden to a gracious soul. — lb. 
 
 Christians are witnesses to the power of 
 God's grace, to the sweetness of his comforts, 
 to the truth of his promises, and the tender- 
 ness of his providence. — lb. 
 
 The happiness of heaven consists in being 
 with Christ — ' that they may be with me.' — 
 Thoughts of this are reviving, and should be 
 improved, as a cordial to keep from fainting 
 under any trouble — as a spur to put us for- 
 ward in duty — as a bridle to restrain from 
 sin — and as a loadstone to draw our aflections 
 upward. — lb. 
 
MEMOIRS 
 
 OP 
 
 MES. ANN HULTON, 
 
 YOUNGEST DACGHTER OF THE REV. PHILIP HENRY A. M. 
 BY HER BROTHER, 
 
 MATTHEW HENRY, V. D. M. 
 
 " She was born from Heaven, 
 
 Fulfilled her visit, and returned on high." 
 Dr. Watts. 
 
 21 **^ 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 The favourable reception given to the Memoirs 
 of Mrs. Savage, has induced the compiler of 
 that volume to give publicity to the following 
 sheets. They contain a memorial of one of 
 the same renowned family, and are calcula- 
 ted, with the Divine blessing, for general edi- 
 fication. 
 
 It may be necessary to state, that the 
 manuscript was written by Mrs. Hulton's 
 brother, the Reverend Matthew Henry, for 
 private circulation, accompanied with a Pre- 
 face by the Reverend James Owen. Mr. 
 Henry, though strongly urged, could not be 
 prevailed on to publish the narrative : having 
 printed the well-known Life of his father, Mr. 
 Philip Henry, he, according to tradition, 
 deemed any attempt to increase the notoriety 
 of his family inconsistent with modesty. The 
 manuscript has, therefore, hitherto remained 
 in obscurity. 
 
 The following extracts from the preface by 
 Mr. Owen, (who was Mrs. Hulton's friend) 
 
 243 
 
244 PREFACE. 
 
 will not, it is hoped, be unacceptable to the 
 reader. 
 
 " The picture exhibited in the following pa- 
 pers is for the instruction of the mind, and 
 not the gratifying of the sight ; — it is for imi- 
 tation, not for ornament. It represents the 
 hidden man of the heart, and not the out- 
 ward countenance. It is the natural delinea- 
 tion of the new creature, not an artificial 
 painting. 
 
 " It was drawn for the use only of some 
 near relations who desire the memorial of 
 those with whom they took sweet counsel 
 together, and walked to the house of God in 
 company." 
 
 Mrs. Hulton, and her sister Mrs. Radford, 
 died within a few weeks of each other, and 
 within little more than a year of their emi- 
 nent father, Mr. Philip Henry, whose most 
 excellent Life has been lately made public. 
 As a star of the first magnitude shines bright- 
 er by being attended with lesser lights origi- 
 nally kindled by its beams, so now by their 
 natural relation and aspect they are happily 
 formed into a glorious constellation. 
 
 The subsequent account, which for sub- 
 stance is extracted out of her own papers, is a 
 signal instance of the advantage and blessing 
 
PREFACE. 243 
 
 of a religious education. She was planted in a 
 fruitful soil, and being daily watered with the 
 dews of heaven grew up into a tree of right- 
 eousness, which the Lord hath greatly blessed, 
 and soon transplanted into the Paradise of 
 God. Her early acquaintance with the divine 
 oracles made her wise unto salvation, direct- 
 ed her to repeat Mary's choice, and to regulate 
 her conversation by that sacred volume of 
 which she had a complete exposition, of her 
 own writing, taken from her judicious father's 
 mouth in the constant and unremitted course 
 of his family worship. 
 
 I know not whether the children were more 
 happy in having such parents, or the parents 
 in having such children: they travailed of 
 them in birth again till Christ was formed in 
 them. What by their alternate instructions, 
 prudent conduct, heavenly example, and power- 
 ful intercessions for them, they were the hap- 
 ]iy instruments of their regeneration, and be- 
 held, with holy delight, their spiritual offspring. 
 Happy are those parents that have their 
 quiver full of such arrows. 
 
 This short narrative may be of use both to 
 
 young people, — to engage them in early piety ; 
 
 and to parents, — to encourage them to bring 
 
 up their children in the nurture and admonition 
 
 21* 
 
246 PREFACE. 
 
 of the Lord ; for faithful is he who hath prom- 
 ised that such as arc trained up in the way 
 they should go, shall not depart from it. 
 
 There is no failure on God's part in per- 
 forming the promises, but the failure is on our 
 part in the performance of duty. Let God be 
 true, and every man a liar. If children mis- 
 carry, parents must charge themselves, either 
 with the neglect of due instruction, or just 
 correction, or with a defect of prudence in 
 conduct, exactness in conversation, strictness 
 in oversight of them — or a tender regard to 
 their spiritual welfare in disposing them to 
 worldly settlements. 
 
 Some one or more of these causes usually 
 have an influence upon their degeneracy. It 
 is sad that worldly considerations should sway 
 so much with many (shall I call them Christian 
 parents?) to expose their children to almost 
 invincible temptations, by settling them in 
 profane and prayerlcss families. 
 
 A seeming comfortable disposition in this 
 world sways more with them than the ever- 
 lasting concerns of their immortal souls. 
 
 They postpone their eternal welfare to the 
 temporal conveniences of this present life. 
 Ye fond parents, ye go a very preposterous 
 way to work ; you would make sure of the 
 
PREFACE. 247 
 
 world for them, and hope for grace ; whereas 
 you should first seek the kingdom of God and 
 his righteousness for them, and other things 
 will be added to them. Let piety be the 
 chief thing in your eye in the disposal of 
 them, if you would have them do well for this 
 world. 
 
 How many have I known, who, by over- 
 looking religion, and grasping at secular ad- 
 vantage for their children, have to their 
 sorrow, lived to see them ruined for this, and 
 the other world. Their spiritual welfare was 
 what they could not promise themselves, 
 therefore the disappointment was less, but the 
 prejudice infinitely greater: their temporal 
 welfare, at which they principally aimed, 
 issued in the greater disappointment; and 
 though the prejudice be the less it is the 
 more afflictive because more sensibly felt, and 
 accompanied with the guilt of being accessary 
 to their spiritual and eternal undoing. 
 
 Let me intreat you, tender parents, for the 
 Lord's sake, for your own sakes, and for your 
 children's sakes, when you put them to call- 
 ings, to place them in such families as may 
 improve them in the high and holy calling of a 
 Christian. 
 
 And when you dispose of them in marriage, 
 
248 PREFACE. 
 
 dispose of them to such meet helps as that they 
 may draw equally in the yoke of Christ ; and 
 if you must needs make some disagreeable al- 
 lowances, let it be in the smaller things of this 
 world, and not in the greater things of religion, 
 lleckon that child well portioned indeed who 
 hath chosen God for its portion. An interest 
 in the everlasting covenant is the best inheri- 
 tance you can leave them. Riches are tran- 
 sient and uncertain things ; and the abundance 
 of them contributes more to the miseries of a 
 future life, than to the happiness of this. 
 
 The more you covet of this woi'ld for your 
 children, the more difficulties you perplex their 
 salvation with, for the Divine Author of it 
 assures us, that a rich man shall hardly enter 
 into the kingdom of heaven. 
 
 If you desire their present and future hap- 
 piness, train them up in the ways of serious 
 piety, and settle them in religious families ; 
 for " godliness hath the promise of the life 
 which now is, and of that which is to come ! !" 
 
 J. B. WILLIAMS. 
 
 Swan Hill, Shrewsbury, 
 Oct. 8, 1819. 
 
MEMOIRS 
 
 OP 
 
 MES. ANN HULTON. 
 
 Ann, the youngest daughter of Mr. PhiHp 
 Henry, was born at Broad-Oak, November 
 25th, 1668 ; she was baptized by her father 
 privately. When she was about a year old, 
 she was sick and nigh unto death of an ague, 
 on which he notes, " that she was freely given 
 up to the will of God. Lord, do thy pleasure 
 with mc and mine, but contend not with a dry 
 leaf" 
 
 He hath noted another ill fit she had when 
 about a year and a half old, and adds, " No 
 sooner doth any thing ail my children but I 
 am presently thinking it is for death. My 
 own guilt, and sense of my unworthiness 
 causes such misgivings, 1 Kings xvii. 18, but 
 God is good." 
 
 She gave very early indications of a sweet 
 
 249 
 
250 MEMOmS OF MRS. HULTON. 
 
 and towanlly disposition, and an aptness to 
 learn above most of her sex and age, which 
 induced lier father, after she had learned to 
 read English well, before she began to sew, 
 to initiate her in the Latin tongue, which she 
 took very easily, but made no great progress 
 in it. 
 
 From a child she knew the Holy Scrip- 
 tures, and read them with delight ; spoke in- 
 telligently of Scripture stories, and was betimes, 
 as soon as she grew to any capacity, very well 
 affected and inclined to the exercises of piety 
 and devotion. 
 
 Yet in her own reflections upon her child- 
 hood, (written in the year 1GS8,) though she 
 blesses God for the advantages of a good 
 education, she bewails that the cursed foun- 
 tain of original sin soon bubbled up. " My 
 childhood and youth" (saith she) " were sin- 
 ning vanity. I can remember nothing that I 
 did in the world for many years, much less 
 my sins ; but, when I now see what follies 
 other children are guilty of, I have no reason 
 to think that I came behind them therein." 
 She accuses herself of loving play, and being 
 froward : though few of her age were more 
 mild and tractable, and loved work and a book 
 better than she did. 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS. IIULTON. 251 
 
 She soon made her Catechism very familiar 
 to her, and loved to hear and ask questions 
 concerning the things of God. Before seven 
 years old, she learnt to bear her part in the 
 repetitions of the heads of sermons in the 
 family, having the happiness of a very quick 
 understanding, and a good memory. 
 
 When she was about eleven years old, she 
 began to write sermons, and continued it all 
 her days. What she wrote was good sense, 
 well spelled, and the substance of a discourse. 
 She kept her sermon-books very carefully, 
 and in good ordci\ She very frequently 
 looked over and conversed with what she 
 had written long before. Read under her 
 own hanfl the account of the days of her 
 youth — " I soon learned" (saith she) " a 
 course of external duties, and was pleased 
 with the bare performance of the duty with- 
 out looking at the manner how it was done; 
 but at length, it pleased God, who separated 
 me from my mother's womb, to call me by 
 his grace and reveal his Son in me. I can- 
 not be punctual as to the time, but rather 
 desire to make sure the thing. The merciful 
 circumstances of this good work were, that 
 it was done early in my days, and not 
 attended with such pangs and terrors as 
 
252 MEMOIRS OF MRS. HULTON. 
 
 some others endure. The Spirit of God 
 convinced me and wrought on me by degrees. 
 Many a time hath God spoken to me in a 
 still small voice, and therein he considered 
 my frame, but the less fine was paid at first, 
 the greater rent I must expect to sit upon 
 afterwards ; perhaps the least terror the more 
 doubts afterwards. I might tell (saith she) 
 long stories of the goodness of God in dis- 
 covering to me the infinite evil of sin, giving 
 me to mourn over it, quickening me to duty, 
 especially to make sure work about my 
 foundation, enabling me to close sincerely 
 with Jesus Christ, which I think I have done 
 as well as I could, though never so well as I 
 would. When God gave me some enlarge- 
 ments in holy duties, I rested much in them, 
 and counted upon comfort and assurance ; 
 when, alas ! I was not at all ready for it. 
 But often times my secret duties were more 
 long than fervent ; more external than inter- 
 nal." She complained to one of her sisters 
 long after, that she found it was possible to 
 lose much time even in the closet. Those 
 that were intimate with her, could not how- 
 ever, but observe, not only how constant she 
 was to secret worship, and how she abounded 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS. HULTON. 253 
 
 in it, but what a discernible pleasure and de- 
 light she took in it. 
 
 In the sixteenth year of her age, she was 
 admitted to the Lord's Supper, February 
 1084, and with a great deal of satisfaction 
 both to herself and her father, joined herself 
 to the Lord in an everlasting covenant never 
 to be forgotten. After the second time of her 
 approach to that ordinance, she made this re- 
 mark of her spiritual state: " I now fell into 
 a very dull and lifeless frame. Drowsiness 
 prevailed much : it was very grievous to me, 
 and after many foils by it, I resolved, with 
 tears, never to yield to it. Hovi^ I got out of 
 this frame I cannot tell, but this I know — that 
 it was the work of the grace of God. It was 
 a great hinderance to my progress in rehgion, 
 that I did not open the case of my soul to 
 those that were able to advise me; which 
 proceeded from my reservedness, and has 
 cost me dear. But this I did seriously pro- 
 mise to one that will be a witness against me 
 if I lie, that whereas there are those who 
 make excuses for non-attendance at the Gospel 
 feast, I will not be excused." Afterwards she 
 thus writes — " I was very full of complaints, 
 and empty of praises. I had great supports, 
 but few suavities ; some sweet sabbaths and 
 22 
 
254 MEMOIRS OF MRS. HULTON. 
 
 sacraments, but very many damps to my 
 joys. Sin was exceedingly odious to me, and 
 I remembered, with shame, how I had stifled 
 convictions, and how careless and indifl'erent 
 I had been in matters of religion ; how pride 
 and passion had most easily beset me ; and 
 how often God had called by his word and 
 I would not hear. The place where I was 
 planted was a vineyard, but it grieved me to 
 think how I had cumbered the ground by my 
 barrenness ; yea, brought forth wild grapes 
 by relative miscarriages, and other sins, both 
 of omission and commission ; blessed be God 
 that which I did I allowed not ; with my 
 mind I served the law of God, and delighted 
 in it after the inner man. I esteemed holiness 
 above any thing in the world, and had chosen 
 God for my portion. I smarted greatly for 
 some tongue-sins : some untrue words, though 
 not devised, yet spoken in haste, through in- 
 advertency, were as a sharp sword in my 
 bowels, and my bones were broken, through 
 my own carelessness. The spirit of bondage 
 long prevailed sadly ; it cannot be expressed 
 what straitness of spirit I found ; how the 
 wings of faith were dipt, and how the tempter 
 conquered me. But when the sorrow of my 
 spirit even tied my tongue, yet I loved to be 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS. IIULTON. 255 
 
 alone before God, to be looked on by him ; 
 and many a time hath he had pity. I cannot 
 say that ever he was wanting to me, but 
 made all grace to abound towards me. His 
 word has been a means of conviction, of 
 quickening, of comfort to me many a time, 
 and I have found it sweeter than honey, or 
 the honey-comb. He restored my soul, he 
 led me in the paths of holiness for his name's 
 sake. It pleased God, some time after this, to 
 make me more than ever sensible of the in- 
 sufficiency of my own righteousness to justi- 
 fy me, and to show me my need of Christ, and 
 his fulness : so that I counted all things but 
 loss that I might win Christ and be found in 
 him. Thus did the Lord, many a time, wait 
 to be gracious to me, when I was like him 
 who said, * Why should I wait for tlie Lord 
 any longer V At length the Holy Spirit, who 
 came to convince the world, was pleased, 
 (as at a certain time I was verily persuaded) 
 to convince me of these ten things, viz. 
 
 1. That God is my ciiiefest good, and 
 that to know, love, and serve him, is my hon- 
 our and happiness ; the greatest I am capa- 
 ble of. 
 
 2. That Jesus Christ came into the world 
 to save sinners ; that he is able and willing 
 
256 MEMOIRS OF MUS. IIULTON. 
 
 to save me, and there is salvation in no 
 other. 
 
 3. That rehgion is the most amiable, plea- 
 sant, and beneficial thing in the world. 
 
 4. That much of the power of godliness 
 consists in the great duties of self-denial, and 
 mortification. 
 
 5. That I have sinned and come short of 
 the glory of God, and am undone without 
 Christ. 
 
 6. That the favour of God is better than 
 life. 
 
 7. That sin is the worst of evils, exceeding 
 sinful ; and evil, and an only evil. 
 
 8. That there will be no getting to heaven 
 without much pains and difficulty. 
 
 9. That I shall never be a loser by doing 
 my duty. 
 
 10. That I am infinitely obliged to God 
 who hath wrought these things in me." 
 
 " Now," saith she in her papers, " I fear I 
 did every day act contrary to these convic- 
 tions, not keeping up a continual watch over 
 myself; but commonly my daily failings 
 passed not without sad reflections. I was 
 solicitous to make sure my being joined to the 
 Lord in an everlasting covenant, and there- 
 upon I did vocally do it in Mr. Alleine's form 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS. IIULTON. 257 
 
 of words ; and did also subscribe with my 
 hand to the Lord ; which remains as a witness 
 against me if I be false to it. Renouncing the 
 world and the flesh, I did cleave to God in 
 Christ alone as my sovereign Lord and 
 Ruler ; my chiefest good and highest end ; 
 and I never repented it, only that I did it no 
 better. God was pleased sometimes gently 
 to correct me by distempers of body, but in 
 much mercy ; for I had been as a bullock un- 
 accustomed to the yoke, knowing neither how 
 to want nor how to abound ; yet now I see 
 he works all for good, and do purpose, by 
 his grace, to be well pleased with every thing 
 that happens to me, because it is the will of 
 God." 
 
 In a paper written in the year 1688, she 
 thus mentions the advantages of her educa- 
 tion : — "I was born of one who had the hon- 
 our to be of that office who are the messen- 
 gers of the Churches, and the glory of Christ. 
 (2 Cor. viii. 13.) A labourer in the vine- 
 yard ; though thrust out by men, yet at work 
 in season and out of season : and being it 
 was so, my education was accordingly — 
 in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. 
 
 " As I grew up I have strained at gnats 
 and swallowed camels, often falling into sin. 
 22* 
 
258 MEMOIRS OF MRS. IIULTON. 
 
 I did not prefer the word of God's mouth to 
 my necessary food. My own iniquity pre- 
 vailed, that is, flesh-pleasing in food and ap- 
 parel, and sinful bashfulness in profitable 
 questions." " Yet," she adds, " one evidence 
 of my love to God is love to the sabbath-day. 
 It is the best day of the week to me. I am 
 glad when it draws near; I feel the want of 
 it before it comes. Another evidence is, 
 mean thoughts of the world ; my age exposes 
 me to the contrary temptations : but whom 
 have I in heaven but thee ? and I would get 
 above it. The promise-performing God has 
 begun to perform that promise to me, (Rom- 
 ans vi. 14.) ' Sin shall not have dominion.' 
 Pride, that tympany of the soul, by the appli- 
 cations of the Heavenly Physician, is begun 
 to be cured, though but begun. Psalm ciii. 
 2. ' Who healeth all thy diseases.' Vain 
 thoughts compass me about like bees. I am 
 stung with them. My pride appears in my 
 thoughts, pleasing myself with my own say- 
 ings and doings. O that I could say as 
 David, Psalm, cxxxi. 1. ' Lord, my heart is 
 not haughty.' She observes once after a 
 Sacrament, " I thought that the Apostle's 
 method was taken. Let a man examine him- 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS. IIULTON. 259 
 
 self and so cat ; yet dull, lifeless, and un- 
 believing." 
 
 "March 28, 1G89. I was very proud, 
 given to pleasure, with the neglect of God ; 
 and it does find me out ; ' for they that ob- 
 serve lying vanities forsake their own mer- 
 cies.' 
 
 She mentions her father's particular advice 
 to her to look to secret duty. Keep up that 
 whatever you do, nothing will prosper with- 
 out it ; all grace grows, as love to the word 
 of God grows. 
 
 This collection of her experiences she drew 
 up when she was about nineteen years old, 
 but, I believe, never any one beside herself 
 saw it, or knew a tittle of it till after her 
 death. For the top of her ambition was to be 
 accepted of that God who sees in secret. 
 Any one that hath read these lines, which 
 were the easy and natural product of her pen, 
 and of a-piece with her discourses, will say, 
 There is something more in them than is 
 usually found in such tender years ; and will 
 wish she had been more large and copious in 
 the account. 
 
 She wrote also her Father's Exposition of 
 the Scriptures in the family very judiciously ; 
 and made use of them in her private reading 
 
260 MEMOIRS OF MRS. HULTON. 
 
 of the Bible. She gave herself much to the 
 reading of good books, yet not neglecting the 
 usual employment of her sex and place. Mr. 
 Clarke's last volume of Lives she read again 
 and again with much pleasure, and was well 
 versed in it : and ready, upon all occasions, 
 to produce pertinent and profitable passages 
 out of that and other good books for the edi- 
 lication of others : she was able, with the 
 good householder, to bring out of her treasury 
 thintrs new and old. She made a larrre col- 
 lection, in writing, of what she met with most 
 remarkable in her reading. 
 
 How amiable and exemplary her deport- 
 ment was in all relations ! — as a daughter, 
 as a sister, as a friend, they who knew her 
 can easily bear record : and, though it never 
 appeared to the discouragement of the rest, 
 yet it could not but be discerned that Mr. 
 Henry had a special dear love for his little 
 Nancy, and sometimes said she was the dia- 
 mond in his ring. 
 
 In the twentieth year of her age she was 
 married to Mr. John Hulton, a tradesman in 
 Chester, April 26, 1688; and she was equally 
 yoked. On that occasion, her father selected 
 as a topic for advice, Eph. v. 24, 25. ' There- 
 fore as the church is subject unto Christ, &c.* 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS. IIULTON. 261 
 
 And thus pleasantly remarked ; — 'I am loth to 
 inv^ert the apostle's method and order, and, 
 therefore, shall keep to that. Though the 
 husband be the superior, and have the pre- 
 eminence in other things, he must not be of- 
 fended, if his wife go before him learning her 
 duty. The church (that is, of the first-born, 
 considered as such, all the true saints in the 
 world) is subject to Christ. He is owned by 
 them as their Lord and Ruler, both in word 
 and deed. They have learned to deny their 
 own wills, whereinsoever they come in com- 
 petition with his, both as to what they must 
 have, and as to what they must do. Now 
 just thus, in like manner, are wives to be sub- 
 ject to their own husbands. It is called 
 reverence, 1 Peter iii. Their speech is to be 
 accordingly, 1 Peter iii. 5, 6. They are to be 
 obedient to their lawful commands and ap- 
 pointments. I am unwilling to call them 
 commands, unless in a soft sense, 1 Peter iii. 
 6. They are to be patient under their re- 
 bukes ; be never both angry together, 1 Peter 
 iii. 4, 5. Thus God will have it ; your place 
 requires it, 1 Tim. ii. 12, 13, 14. Gen. iii. 16. 
 You will have most comfort when it is so. 
 Observe one caution, — it must be in the Lord, 
 
262 MEMOIRS OF MRS. HULTOX. 
 
 not absolutely and universally without excep- 
 tion, but, — in the Lord. 
 
 ' Husbands must learn to love their wives, 
 by Christ's love to his church, that was, a 
 sincere, upright, unfeigned love ; a special, 
 singular, superlative love ; a permanent, abid- 
 ing, and fruitful love. The husband should 
 show his affection to his wife, by dwelling 
 with her, by bearing her infirmities, by going 
 in and out before her, by guiding her way, 
 and providing all things that arc fit for her.' 
 
 Take the account of that turn of her life in 
 her own words, in the continuation of the 
 afore-mentioned papers : — 
 
 " After nineteen years barrenness in the 
 place where I first sprung up, God was 
 pleased, by his providence, to put me into the 
 married state, and transplant me into a new 
 soil. It was an affair I thought of great 
 weight, and I was much afraid of seeking 
 great things for myself in this world therein. 
 When I press it upon my conscience, I can- 
 not but acknowledge that I did therein com- 
 mit my way unto the Lord, and did lay my- 
 self before him as white paper, for him to 
 write his will upon me ; and, accordingly, his 
 Providence brought it to a comfortable 
 issue, aflcr much distraction of mind about it." 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS. HULTON. 263 
 
 April 21, 1C9S, (a few days before licr 
 marriage) she thus writes: — " I did set my- 
 self before the Lord to repent of all the sins 
 of my single state ; and if sin were never 
 bitter before, I think it was exceedingly 
 bitter then, and, through grace, I did then re- 
 new my hold of God as mine." 
 
 Soon after this, she removed to Chester. 
 " That morning," she writes, " reading alone, 
 in course (Exodus iii.) of Moses' objections 
 against going on God's errand, I was much 
 comforted by God's answer, ver. 12, * Cer- 
 tainly, I will be with thee.' Applying that 
 word to myself was very refreshing. Some 
 time before this, reading Gen. xxviii. concern- 
 ing Jacob's vow, it affected me, and I then, 
 with some seriousness, entered into a solemn 
 promise, that if God would be with me, in 
 that present way, and provide for me, and 
 make the issue comfortable, that then he 
 should be my God ; creatures should not have 
 the throne in my soul. I would be more 
 watchful against sin, and be more diligent 
 and careful in his service." 
 
 Some weeks after her settlement at Chester 
 she thus writes under the foregoing record of 
 her solemn vow : — " Because deceit lies in 
 generals, and because after particular foils by 
 
264 MEMOIRS OF MRS. HULTON. 
 
 temptations my conscience reproaches me 
 that it was for want of rcsokition, I now, in 
 God's name, go forth resolving, not only in 
 general to serve the Lord in iioliness and 
 righteousness before him all the days of my 
 life, but particularly, in the strength of Jesus 
 Christ, I resolve against the following sins : — 
 flesh-pleasing and inordinate appetites ; passion 
 and frowardness ; drowsiness and weariness 
 in the worship of God ; despising others ; 
 thinking or speaking ill of any ; self-conceit 
 and pride ; a lying tongue ; all injustice in the 
 calling wherein God iiath put me; discontent 
 in the condition allotted for me." 
 
 " I do likewise, in the same strength, 
 resolve upon the following duties : — self- 
 denial ; meekness; livehness in duty; repro- 
 ving when there is opportunity ; humility, and 
 low thoughts of myself; truth, ecjuity, justice, 
 and charity : in general, making conscience 
 of all God's commands. 
 
 Thus she set out in her new condition, and 
 how strictly she adhered to the rules she laid 
 down was very evident, as far as could fall 
 under the observation of others. Sometime 
 after, she thus writes : — " Because, through 
 the necessity of my outward afiairs, my 
 secret duties are commonly limited and con- 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS. IIULTON. 2G5 
 
 tractcd more than formerly, I have been 
 ready to fear that I have decUned in grace, 
 and left my first love. I am sensible of the 
 prcvalency of unbelief, and of God's witii- 
 drawings ; but, though he slay me yet will I 
 trust in him. I have this day promised se- 
 riously to spend some time every day in con- 
 verse with God. I see in a trade the shop 
 must be constantly attended, though, perhaps, 
 for some time no profits come in ; so I he 
 trade of religion must still be followed, though 
 there be not, for the present, any sensible 
 comfort and benefit. In this place where 
 God hath set me, he doth require of me, 
 
 1. That I get much knowledge and grace, 
 because I have means for getting them. 
 
 2. That I be very humble, because my 
 gifts are small, and my attainments poor, 
 graces weak, and failings many. 
 
 S. That I be ready for death, because I 
 see many funerals. And, because death at a 
 distance did not affect me, it pleased God to 
 bring it nigh me in the death of a near, and 
 that a very dear relation, viz. sister Henry, 
 February 14, 1G88-9. The quarrel God 
 seemed to have with me therein was upon the 
 account of relative sins, and the omission of 
 relative duties ; whereupon I endeavoured to 
 23 
 
266 MEMOIRS OF MHS. IIULTON. 
 
 repent of them, and renew my covenant in 
 lliat matter. And, because that providence 
 did not do the work for which it was sent, 
 shortly after, another dear friend wliom I 
 loved as my own soul, was suddenly taken 
 away (Mrs. Bradbury) ; the circumstances 
 of her death beincj such as I was near fallinsj 
 into myself, viz. child-bearing ; it did much 
 aflect me with cares and thouijhts about 
 another world, which had been too little 
 minded by me. After this Providence, I was 
 threatened by the illness of my dear mother ; 
 upon her recovery, my sense of the mercy 
 obliged me to promise to be more freely 
 willing to resign to the will of God another 
 time ; and surely there is all the reason in the 
 world, when the great God condescends to 
 grant my request, that I should say. His will 
 be done. Sin hath much prevailed. Omis- 
 sions witness against me, and a constant re- 
 missness in my walking. I cannot answer 
 for one of a thousand ; but — help is laid upon 
 one that is mighty." 
 
 She became a mother, July 29, 1689, (but 
 the child died in the birth) ; on which provi- 
 dence she thus writes : — " A day never to be 
 forgotten ; wherein I felt the bitter fruits of 
 the sin of my grandmother Eve ; that part of 
 
MEMOmS OF MRS. HULTON. 267 
 
 her sentence being fully fulfilled, ' I will 
 greatly multiply thy sorrow.' 'In sorrow 
 thou shalt bring forth.' The peril and danger 
 Avas much greater than ordinary; so that, 
 there was but a step between me and death. 
 JMy flesh and heart were ready to fail, and 
 friends ready to despair ; but God became the 
 strength of my heart, and my portion ; and I 
 trust he will be so for ever. But, behold, 
 what have these sheep done 1 The innocent 
 I cannot say, but the less guilty must die ; O 
 Adam, Adam ! what hast thou done ! My 
 comforts are taken away before I had well re- 
 ceived them : was it all lost labour'? Surely 
 no ; I have good hope that Heaven is some- 
 thing fuller for my babe. I shall go to her, 
 but she shall not return to me. My God is 
 instead of all to me; and were he not mine, 
 sure it were impossible to bear up without 
 sinking under those pains I endured, but the 
 mercy swallowed up the affliction, and re- 
 joiced against judgment. I often promised 
 to love him, and to live to him ; and I do it 
 once more." 
 
 From the consideration of this event, con- 
 cerning her first child, she hath sometimes 
 said, " What need mothers have to pray for 
 their children before they are born." 
 
268 MEMOIRS OF MRS. IIULTON. 
 
 Iler next remark is, yVpril 20, 1690. " I 
 sickened of tlie small-pox, and, though in 
 perilous circumstances, yet was wonderfully 
 brought through it : when I had received 
 the sentence of death within myself, surely 
 the Lord w^as ready to save me ; and the 
 mercies, the sweet mercies which I experi- 
 enced in the affliction, I shall never forget. 
 
 " I may truly say with David, * Unless thy 
 law^ had been my delight, I should then have 
 perished in mine affliction.' But God doth 
 seem by his Providence to call me to be hea- 
 venly-minded ; to be more humble ; to take up 
 with him as my happiness ; to be less afraid 
 of death ; — to abound always in the work of 
 the Lord. Thou hast in love to my soul de- 
 livered it from the pit of destruction, for thou 
 hast cast all my sins behind thy back." Isa. 
 xxxviii. 17. 
 
 Li tiiis illness, when she was asked how she 
 did, her usual answer was, " I shall be well." 
 
 June 29, 1691. " I received," she writes, 
 " special mercy from God, in answer to 
 prayer. He was to me a present help, and 
 did not only spare, but multiply, and gave me 
 a living son, or rather, lent him to me for a 
 while: and I have resigned him and myself 
 to the will and disposal of our Heavenly Fa- 
 
MEMOmS OF MRS. HULTON. 2G9 
 
 thcr. How great is his goodness, and how 
 great is his beauty! Zech. ix. 17. I look 
 upon every sin, after such a mercy as this, (o 
 be more deeply aggravated than before. — My 
 great unprofitableness, under the means of 
 grace, is that at the serious consideration of 
 which my heart doth even melt, and my 
 spirits sink ; finding comfort in that Psalm, 
 (ciii. 12.) ' As far as the east is from the 
 west, so far hath he removed my transgres- 
 sions from me ;' — I thought, with joy, if it 
 were so good for me to have my transgres- 
 sions removed as far as the east is from the 
 west, how much better would it be when they 
 shall be removed as far from me as hell is 
 from heaven." 
 
 On a Sacrament-day, May 6, 1694, in 
 which it seems she had more communion with 
 God than ordinary, she thus writes : — " For- 
 get not ever, O my soul ! the sight that thou 
 hast had this day from Pisgah's mount of 
 Canaan's land. What shall I render to the 
 Lord ? I have, at the Lord's table, seen my Re- 
 deemer as he was in his blood and sufferings ; 
 but shortly I hope to see him as he is, though 
 not as I am. See to it then, O my soul ! that 
 thou purify thyself, even as he is j)ure." 
 
 May 5, 1695, she thus writes : — " This last 
 23* 
 
270 MEMOIRS OF MRS. HULTOX. 
 
 month past I have received great mercy from 
 God in the recovery of both the children from 
 the small-pox ; the one brought into great 
 peril, the other brought through imminent 
 danger, by a fever which seized him about 
 three weeks after the bei2;inning of the small- 
 pox. What shall I render to the Lord for his 
 great benefits ? He hath been trying me 
 whether I could freely give up my children, 
 which I hope I having done, he turned the 
 scale and restored them to me. God having 
 corrected me by the child's relapse, my own 
 heart condemncth me for my own backsli- 
 dings. Oh, that now I might remember 
 whence I am fallen, and repent and do my 
 first works ! I have been this day shewing 
 forth the Lord's death, and renewing my cov- 
 enant with him : surely it is meet to be 
 said unto God, ' I have borne chastisement, 
 I will not offend any more.' Amen, Amen." 
 November 19, 1695. In her confinement, 
 after the birth of a child that died when nine 
 days old, she thus writes : — " God hath of 
 late been proving and trying me, to do me 
 good in my latter end. I looked for peace 
 but beheld trouble. My house not made to 
 grow ; but the Lord who gave quickly took 
 away again, adored be the name of the Lord. 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS. IIULTON. 271 
 
 And now, what doth the Lord my God re- 
 quire ? My greatest concern is to improve 
 this providence. God hatli (and so have I) 
 been calHng my sin to remembrance, that I 
 may be humbled under his mighty hand, and 
 cleave closer to him in love, dependence, and 
 resolution ; lor even this is performed tor me, 
 and what have I to shew now for my interest 
 in him and relation to him ? Is not my hope 
 a groundless hope ? I do not ground it upon 
 myself and my own righteousness, but Jesus 
 Christ is he, concerning whom I say, ' Whom 
 have I in heaven but thee V 
 
 March 1, lODG. " Dare not, my soul, to 
 deny that thou hast this day met w'ith thy 
 God at his table. Silence, thou loud and 
 clamorous unbelief. Never open thy mouth 
 any more. God is willing to be mine, and 
 who can say against it? For, if he will 
 work, who can let it 1 Only remember, that 
 having received Christ Jesus the Lord, I must 
 walk in him." 
 
 Thus far goes her paper of experience, in 
 which she seems to have given vent to her 
 thoughts when they were more than usually 
 enlarged. And if such as this was her con- 
 verse with God, it will be of use to inquire 
 what was her conversation in the world. 
 
272 MEMOIRS OF MRS. HULTON. 
 
 Not to mention the common characters of all 
 the saints, which appeared eminently in her, 
 nor the careful discharge of the duties of her 
 jiarticular relation ; there are some things 
 which have been observed concerning her, 
 which were peculiarly exemplary and in- 
 structive. 
 
 1. That though she was so constant in her 
 secret worship, and took so much delight in 
 her closet work, yet she ordered it with so 
 much discretion, that it did not interfere with 
 nor hinder her from, any needful attendance 
 upon her worldly affairs — in the house or 
 shop. Every thing is beautiful in its season : 
 and there is a way of abiding with God, and 
 serving the Lord Christ in the particular call- 
 ing wherein we are called, as well as in his 
 immediate worship. The virtuous woman 
 will look well to the ways of her household, 
 and yet not neglect the ways of her heart. 
 
 2. That she was very industrious to pro- 
 mote the family worship in all the parts of it ; 
 contriving for it in its season, that nothing 
 might put it out of time ; calling to it ; being 
 ready to attend on it ; and careful to prevent 
 all disturbance in it. If inferior relations 
 would thus do their part, it would be a great 
 help to the master of the family in the dis- 
 
MEMOIUS OF MRS. HULTON. 273 
 
 charge of his duty. In licr husband's absence 
 she carefully and constantly performed all 
 the parts of family worship herself. It being 
 their custom to pray together morning and 
 evening, she frequently prayed with him. 
 She prayed much for their children, and 
 carefully instructed them in the things of God 
 as they grew capable. Her tender care of 
 two orphans, the relations of her husband, 
 which the providence of God brought into 
 their family, was very remarkable, especi- 
 ally her great concern for their spiritual wel- 
 fare. 
 
 3. That she was very few of her words, 
 not only in making of bargains, but in her 
 converse ; swift to hear and slow to speak : 
 but when she did speak it was with wisdom, 
 and to the purpose. She was like the still 
 waters which run deep but make no noise. 
 One might observe in all her discourse, that 
 she thought twice before she spoke once; 
 and so prevented a deal of that guilt and 
 grief which attend the multitude of words. 
 Her s})ecch was always with grace. She 
 breathed forth a religious air in her common 
 converse ; and usually expressed herself in her 
 converse with her friends in Scripture lan- 
 guage. The word of God dwelt richly in her, 
 
274 MEMOIRS OF MUS. IIULTON. 
 
 and, by the Divine blessing on her great dili- 
 gence in reading the Scriptures and other 
 good books, (which was her daily practice) 
 she acquired a good stock of Scrij)ture know- 
 ledge ; out of which treasury she readily 
 brought forth things new and old, which rend- 
 ered her conversation both pleasing and pro- 
 fitable. 
 
 4. That she preserved an evenness and 
 composure of spirit under all events ; one 
 should seldom or never see her ruffled or dis- 
 turbed by any provocation, lifted up with any 
 joy, or cast down with any sorrow ; but, 
 whatever happened to weigh down one scale, 
 her wisdom and grace suggested something 
 to put in the other scale to keep the balance 
 even. Upon the death of her father, an afflic- 
 tion that went so near her heart, how calm- 
 ly did she apply those words of Thomas to 
 his fellow disciples when I>azarus was dead, 
 * Let us go and die with him.' 
 
 5. That she was very cheerful in her con- 
 verse, and was far from that sourness and 
 melancholy which some good people indulge 
 themselves in to the reproach of their profes- 
 sion ; she made it to appear that she found 
 the ways of wisdom pleasantness. 
 
 6. She was very charitable to the poor, and 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS, UULTON. 275 
 
 stretched forth her hand to the needy. She 
 was always very careful not to make the 
 poor at her door stay long for their alms, 
 for in that time, she would say, they might 
 get another aims elsewhere. She loved to 
 visit the godly poor, when they were sick, 
 and discourse with them, and relieve them. 
 She was one that devised liberal things, and 
 sought opportunities of doing good. 
 
 7. On the Lord's Day she commonly had 
 her heart much enlarged in rejoicing and 
 thanksgiving, and she used to refresh herself 
 much on that day with singing of psalms 
 alone at the time of vacancy from other 
 duties. 
 
 8. She was very forward to promote 
 works of piety and charity, and to stir up 
 others thereto. Her zeal herein provoked 
 many; she delighted in opportunities of 
 shewing kindness to others, and was very 
 courteous in her behaviour towards all. 
 
 9. She was very frugal of her time, and 
 was observed by those about her to be con- 
 tinually employed. 
 
276 MEMOIRS OF MRS. IIULTON. 
 
 SECTION I. 
 
 Sojne savoury nseful 2>assagcs gleaned np oxd of 
 some of her letters to Iter relations and friends. 
 
 To a gentlewoman, under some doubts about 
 her interest in Christ she thus writes : — *' I 
 know not what is better for a man when he 
 is out of the way, and is convinced of it, 
 than to turn back and get as fast as he can 
 into the right way : if thou art persuaded 
 thou art not yet in Christ, give up thyself to 
 him quickly in a marriage covenant. The 
 word is nigh thee to direct thee ; the throne 
 of grace is nigh thee, and to it thou mayest 
 draw near for assistance. I believe there is 
 nothing God is more willing to give than his 
 Spirit." 
 
 Upon the occasion of a marriage in her 
 father's house, she hath this observation in 
 another letter, " She that is married careth 
 for the things of the world. Indeed, her 
 opportunities of doing good will be more 
 than they w^ere, but of getting good less. 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS. IIULTON. 277 
 
 * It is more blessed to give than to receive.* 
 I find, as to myself, that a little thing abates 
 my zeal and flattens my spirit in duties, 
 ^vhich makes me fear the snares of the world. 
 It is an enemy to our souls, and our graces ; 
 to our duties, and to our comforts ; to our 
 holy living, and to our comfortable dying." 
 
 She had a tender sense of sin, as appears 
 by this passage in a letter to the same per- 
 son : " Indeed, it is difficult to be sensible of 
 sins we think small ; they are like knots in a 
 fine thread, or hair, — hard to untie: greater 
 sins, like knots in a rope. I am greatly afraid 
 of open presumptuous sins, such as may- 
 break my peace as long as I live. I may fitly 
 compare myself to a body full of ill humours ; 
 though a sore in one place is seemingly 
 healed, yet it breaks out in another; so when 
 I am better in one respect, I am worse in 
 another.' 
 
 Iler mean opinion of herself she expresses 
 in another letter to the same person: 
 " Should I go about to tell you how bad T 
 am, it were more than I could do ; surely I 
 am ready to go out of love with myself every 
 day ; there is some shift to be made to flee 
 from other things that molest, but not from 
 
 one's self Reallv, madam, religion is the 
 24 
 
278 MEMOIRS OF MRS. IIULTOX. 
 
 most amiable thing in the world. If I could 
 be very good, and yet think myself bad, how 
 well were it." 
 
 In another, she thus writes about medita- 
 tion: " I confess I am too little acquainted 
 with it, especially the practical part, which 
 is the sweetest. As to what I have tasted, I 
 cannot tell the one half of the sweetness of 
 it, and many times I have found more of God 
 therein than in prayer. Before I can fix, there 
 is some preparation necessary, and many a 
 chain of vain thoughts to grapple with, which 
 do often prevail and rob me of all my medi- 
 tating time. As to my helps in it, — ;ny God 
 is he that worketh both to will and to do : 
 what more unruly than the thoughts? it is 
 very hard to govern them! 1. I find a fixed 
 heart a great help ; the contrary I find a 
 great hindrance : now where shall we find 
 this, but whence every good and perfect gift 
 comes ? 2. An heart like the treasury of the 
 good householder, wherein are things laid up 
 both new and old. There must be know- 
 ledge to furnish us with matter. It is easier 
 to know what helps there are, than to find 
 ourselves helped by them. Most of my 
 meditations arc confused and torn ; sometimes 
 some attribute of God is the subject of them, 
 
MEMOIRS OV MRS. HULTON. 279 
 
 as his wisdom, power, holiness; sometimes 
 some sin, some scripture," &c. 
 
 To her eldest sister, Mrs. Savage wlio was 
 married, she thus wrote : — " I am so well ac- 
 quainted with myself as to know I am very 
 unfit for the condition thou art in, and hast 
 so much comfort in ; the conditions are as tiie 
 persons are. I sadly fear displeasing God or 
 doing any thing which will wound conscience. 
 I am ready to think there cannot but be 
 more hindrances in our great business, in that 
 condition than in my present condition. Dost 
 thou not find it so ? If it be not for the glory 
 of God, I hope something will be thrown in 
 the way to hinder it ; for, however it is, God 
 is good. It is no small comfort to have infin- 
 ite Wisdom and Power engaged for one's 
 good." 
 
 To another dear friend : " I fear thou hast 
 too good an opinion of me, which makes my 
 work more difficult to beat down myself. Be 
 not guilty of blowing up that bladder which 
 is so apt to fill of itself. I shall take it as a 
 part of friendship if thou wilt chide, instruct, 
 an I counsel me. Put thyself in my case. 
 Thus far I am determined, and no farther, 
 namely, to be guided by infinite Wisdom. I 
 heard something suitable to-day from Psalm 
 
280 MEMOIRS OF MRS. IIULTON. 
 
 XXV. ' He will teach sinners :' within that 
 number I come, if not within the latter, ' The 
 meek will he guide.' Be thou a fervent inter- 
 cessor for me at the throne of grace ; and 
 pray meet me there at six o'clock on Satur- 
 day night, if thou canst conveniently. This 
 morning I met with a suitable promise, Isa. 
 Iviii. 11, • And the Lord shall guide thee con- 
 tinually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and 
 make fat thy bones : and thou shalt be like a 
 watered garden, and like a spring of water, 
 whose waters fail not :' — for the fulfilling of 
 which to me I have no desert to plead, but 
 Divine mercy, goodness, and faithfulnci-s; 
 and is not that sufficient ? Who but a fool 
 will be in want of any thing, when he may 
 have it for asking 1 I cannot but reckon it 
 one of the greatest of my earthly blessings, 
 that I am the child of such a family, a branch 
 of this vine ; and have often acknowledged it 
 as a great mercy that as I was the youngest, 
 so I thought the most likely to stay longest 
 here: and \Aho knows but I may? I desire 
 to trust God, however it be : the seed of the 
 upright shall be blessed. Though myself I 
 think unworthy, yet I am come of parents 
 that are in covenant ; but this will not save 
 me, unless there be a principle within ; it is 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS. HULTON. 281 
 
 encouragement to think that the smoking flax 
 shall not be quenched. Mr. Vines* observes, 
 " That Christ would not have them drowned 
 whom he calls, ' O ye of little faith.' Matthew 
 viii." 
 
 To the same bosom-friend she writes, — *' t 
 have not taken tlie world for my portion, and 
 I think I have been made willing to take up 
 with little of it for my passage : in my father's 
 house the lines are fallen unto me in a pleas- 
 ant place, and though I never absolutely re- 
 solved against a removal from it, yet I can- 
 not but have dreadful apprehensions concern- 
 ing it ; the proposal of it hath occasioned mo 
 many a troublesome thought, and is like to do 
 more. I am passive : delay in some cases is 
 dangerous, but here desirable. Rebekah's 
 relations. Gen. xxiv. 55, said, ' Let the damsel 
 abide with us a few days, at least ten.' But I 
 was pleased to find it in the margin, ' a full 
 year, or ten months.' Sure that is a quiet 
 and desirable world where there is neither 
 marrying nor giving in marriage ; of what 
 little avail will it be there, whether we were 
 here single or married? My desire is to 
 
 * A learned and excellent divine, who died, A. D. 1G55. See 
 Clarke's Lives, fol. p. 43, Brook's Lives of the Puritans vol. 
 iii. p. 230. Ed. 
 
 24* 
 
282 MEMOIRS OF MRS. IIULTON. 
 
 depart and be with Christ, which I am sure 
 is best of all. Dost thou see the providence 
 of God going before me ? A stander-by may 
 sec more than a person concerned : it is very 
 comfortable to have that to plead which .lacob 
 had when in trouble, Gen. xxxii. 9. ' The 
 Lord which saidst unto mc, Return.' The 
 Urim and Thummim is now abolished : we 
 must expect direction in an ordinary way: 
 who liath knowui the mind of the Lord ? 
 Certainly this is his mind, — that we should 
 live to his glory ; this is his will, — even our 
 sanctification — and it should be ours." 
 
 To the same gentlewoman, her dear 
 bosom-friend, she thus expresses herself be- 
 fore she was married : — 
 
 " Thou art writ upon my heart in capitals 
 easy to be read, as those that converse with 
 me may see; thou hast given me the right- 
 hand of fellowship in holy ordinances, but 
 hadst thou seen through mc, surely thou 
 wouldst not have suffered me to sit so nigh 
 thee ; was there ever such a misspender of 
 time, such a trifler away of opportunities as I 
 am ? When thou thinkest well of me, thou 
 seest me not in my own clothes. I am much 
 afraid of getting hurt by the good opinion 
 thou hast of me. Thou seest in my book the 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS. HULTON. 283 
 
 fulfilment of the Scriptures, Isaiah xliv. 5. 
 
 that thou couldst see in my life the fulfilling 
 of my own engagements ! It is easier to vow 
 than to pay, but it is great encouragement to 
 think that God is a covenant-friend. He is 
 not so to every one. Who are we that God 
 should take us into covenant with himself? 
 It is not because ho hath need of us, but, 
 because we have need of him. And must 
 covenant people walk as other Gentiles ? 
 Surely no !'' 
 
 Soon after her marriage she wrote thus : — 
 " I scarce know yet where I am, but this I 
 know, that I am under the care of my Hea- 
 venly Father. It is now come to the trial, 
 more than ever, whether I make conscience 
 of duty or no, I mean my secret duty. When 
 
 1 had larger opportunities for it, I could not 
 for shame, but at least seem to improve them, 
 though, alas ! what lost time was there in the 
 closet which others thought not so ! It can- 
 not but be bitter now ; yet I would not for 
 something have all undone that hath been 
 done there, but I wish it had been done better. 
 Blessed be God for the Redeemer that is come 
 to Sion to turn away ungodliness from Jacob ; 
 as it is quoted, Romans ii. 26, though it is 
 otherwise, Isaiah Hi. 9. My thoughts arc 
 
284 MEMOIRS OF MRS. HULTON. 
 
 very much of dear parents, and brothers 
 and sisters ; but there is danger lest if I think 
 too much I should be discontent with my pre- 
 sent condition, which is best for me. I have 
 seen a Httle more of the world than I had 
 seen a little while ago, and, truly, there is 
 nothing in it which aflbrds solid comfort and 
 satisfaction to the soul ; one sight, by faith, 
 of the lowliness of Jesus Christ, is enough to 
 make one out of love with every thing else in 
 comparison of him." 
 
 Upon the death of Mrs. Bradburne * siic 
 thus wrote to a dear friend : — " As was her 
 way, such was her end, even peace, submis- 
 sion to the will of God, rejoicing in Christ 
 Jesus ; expressed in such language as this, — 
 * None but Christ, none but Christ, he is my 
 all in all.' Thus did she go triumphantly to 
 heaven. I shall never forget her whom I so 
 dearly loved ; her death made some impression 
 upon this rocky heart of mine. ' If this be 
 done to the green tree, what shall be done to 
 the dry?' Sure it should make me think 
 more of heaven. We use to fancy to our- 
 selves how our friends and acquaintance that 
 are at a distance from us in the world, do 
 live ; though we never saw how, yet, from 
 
 * Memoirs of Mrs. Savage, p. 43. 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS. HULTON. 285 
 
 what we have heard, we imagine what they 
 do ; what company they have ; what privi- 
 leges, &c. And what a happy state do I 
 imagine the soul of my dear friend to be in, 
 whose face always shone, and yet was cover- 
 ed with a veil of humility. It is some com- 
 fort to me, that as I loved and delighted in 
 her company here, so I shall enjoy it refined 
 for ever. Though friends fail, yet God is the 
 strength of my heart, and my portion for 
 ever. As to myself, I might be useful in the 
 world if I had a heart according to the price 
 in my hand. Indeed I have lived at ease in 
 Sion, as it speaks mercy. I wish it might 
 not be said so of me, as it speaks a sinful 
 frame. I have been ready to say, My moun- 
 tain stands strong, I shall never be moved ; 
 when it is but God's hiding of his face, and 
 I shall be troubled. When friends are gone, 
 tiie sting of affliction lies in the reflection 
 upon my misimprovement of them whilst with 
 them. Let us therefore redeem the time, be- 
 cause the days are evil. The world is cer- 
 tainly nothing, and nothingness is all that is in 
 it. Continue to pray for me for all things 
 that may be suitable : spiritual mercies can- 
 not be unsuitable. I pray forget not in all 
 your enjoyments to enjoy God as the gladness 
 
286 MEMOIRS OF MRS. HULTON. 
 
 of your joy ; for, wliat is all without him, but 
 vanity and vexation 1 Even ordinances them- 
 selves are dry and sapless unless he fills them, 
 though there is the likeliest place to find him : 
 more of God, but not more than God we 
 should seek for. It is v^ery comfortable, me- 
 thinks, when with new acquaintance we meet 
 with those that are travelling in the same road 
 with us, and aiming at the same ultimate end. 
 It is sure God hath his remnant every where, 
 and heaven will not want inhabitants, though 
 such unworthy wretches as I come short 
 through unbelief. You are singing of mercy 
 and judgment; therefore providences are so 
 mixed towards us in this world, — a gleam 
 of peace to fit us for a brunt of trouble 
 — that we may not settle ui)on our lees. 
 Where you are you learn to know what 
 David complained of, when he sojourned in 
 Mesech, and dwelt in the tents of Kcdar. 
 In such a place there is good to be done 
 where there is none to be gotten : and there 
 is this advantage to it, that by doing good we 
 get good ; by kindling others our own hearts 
 will burn within us, and who knows whether 
 you may be cast there for such an occasion 
 as this ?" 
 
 To another of her sisters, upon the death 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS. IIULTON. 287 
 
 of her sister Henry, in tiic year lG89,she wrote 
 thus: — " There were few famiUes so Httic ac- 
 quainted wiih tiie scourges of Divine Provid- 
 ence as ours was ; but now the days of visita- 
 tion are conic, and coming more and more. 
 These are teaching providences; should we not 
 learn obedience by them — passive obedience, 
 — lest the next furnace w-e are cast into be 
 seven times hotter? It would, I think, be a 
 greater aliliction to have such relations as are 
 with us our grief and burden, whilst with us, 
 than it is to have those that were our comfort 
 taken from us. We must consider that God 
 hath a greater interest in all our creature-com- 
 forts than we have ; they are but lent us, and he 
 may call them when he hath occasion for 
 them ; and who are we that we should con- 
 tend with him ? 
 
 To her sister in the country. — " I rejoice 
 to hear of the continuance of your welfare ; 
 the same that is good is still doing us good, 
 and loading us with his benefits : we must not 
 expect that our health and prosperity should 
 always last. Shall we receive good and not 
 evil also, forasmuch as we do evil and not 
 good ? If we could learn this good lesson in 
 the enjoyment of our creature-comforts, — to 
 enjoy God in all, and, in the want of them, to 
 
289 MEMOIRS OF MIIS. HULTON. 
 
 enjoy all in God, it would thereby appear that 
 we lived by faith. It isdillicult to learn how 
 to want, and it is no loss so to learn how to 
 abound." 
 
 In a time of affliction she thus writes : — 
 " 'Tis pity that prosperity should do us hurt, 
 for no affliction for the present seenns joyous, 
 but grievous ; and if the heart had been duly 
 humbled by constant mortification and inured 
 to the cross, these outward afflictions would 
 not have been so hard to bear." 
 
 Upon her recovery from the small-pox she 
 writes : — " I write to let you know that I am 
 going from strength to strength, through the 
 Divine goodness ; yet reprieved, because not 
 ready for heaven. Help me to praise God 
 for sustaining and delivering mercy, and also 
 to pray that I might greatly profit by this 
 visitation, that my God may not complain 
 that yet I have not returned unto him. I 
 cannot but acknowledge with thankfulness 
 the interests I have in the love and prayers of 
 good people here, though unworthy of it." 
 
 At a time of public trouble, she writes : — 
 " It is a mercy there are not fears within, as 
 well as fightings without ; though, truly con- 
 sidered, public calamities were worse than 
 personal, yet, commonly, personal do more 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS. HULTON. 289 
 
 aflect. — When the sword doth not depart 
 from the house, as in David's case, it is an 
 excellent thing to have a God to trust to, es- 
 pecially an interest in him in whose hands 
 our times are : not only events themselves, 
 but the seasons of them. I find nothing more 
 prejudicial to me than distrust, both in refer- 
 ence to the concerns of the soul, and of the 
 body also. I hope to see you shortly, but 
 wives must be housewives, and sometimes 
 shopwives, as I know who. I find it hard to 
 turn into a closet. Let not thy farm, nor my 
 merchandize, be hindrances to us in the way 
 to heaven. The visiting of several sick and 
 afflicted friends takes up a gi'cat part of our 
 evening time now ; we must not expect to be 
 ourselves exempted from chastisement ; the 
 best we can expect is to have them from 
 a Father — in measure and in mercy. There 
 is no greater or better ground of hope 
 than the truth and faithfulness of God, for 
 that cannot fail ; all tiie question is, Whether 
 we can lay claim to the promises? He is in 
 a sad case that must be miserable if the word 
 of God be true, and he is as happy that must 
 be so if the God of truth be true. Who 
 shall separate us from the love of God? 
 
 The children of Israel, in their march towards 
 25 
 
290 MEMOIRS OF MRS. IIULTON. 
 
 Canaan, removed out of the wilderness of 
 Paran ; in the world we go out of one wilder- 
 ness into another, but the Canaan is before us. 
 I am now at Elim, where there are twelve 
 wells of water, and threescore and ten palm- 
 trees ; led into green pastures and fed beside 
 the still waters. The only trouble is my un- 
 profitableness, barrenness, leanness, non-pro- 
 ficiency. It is easier to complain than to 
 amend. I know you rejoice with us when 
 we rejoice : that you may do so, you must 
 know how it is with us : — as yet, health and 
 peace are continued; the nursery prospers, 
 and the little ones ; angels watch over us con- 
 tinually : the tediousness of nursing we owe 
 to sin ; that which sweetens it is the hope that 
 some of our children may glorify God in the 
 world." 
 
 And in another : — " The nurseries continue 
 to prosper, thanks be to Him who comforteth 
 us as one whom his mother comforteth. I am 
 glad to hear you have this breathing-time. 
 Our Heavenly Father is, we see, slow to 
 afllict, but swift to shew mercy : long in for- 
 bearing, not long in contending. If it be that 
 he is preparing to strike, we should prepare 
 to be stricken : what ! shall we receive good, 
 and not evil? Faith and patience are the 
 
MEMOIUS OF MRS. IIULTON. 291 
 
 two great bearing graces which arc necessary 
 in a time of peril. Base distrust is a sin that 
 doth most easily beset me, either of God's 
 power or will ; neither of which can easily be 
 questioned ; for is any thing too hard tor 
 God 1 — or is his mercy clean gone ? No, no ! 
 O pray for more faith ! I cannot but pity your 
 frequent Sabbaths, spent at home, while we 
 have the manna at our tent-door ; but remem- 
 ber that the careful Father, if there be no 
 school near, will teach his child at home, 
 rather than he should not learn ; so will the 
 blessed Spirit, the Great Instructor, do the 
 work himself, teaching his people to profit ; 
 and, if he doth it, it will be well done ; for assu- 
 redly, if he be not filling the ordinances, they 
 are but empty breasts ; if he pass by and do 
 not speak, there is no meeting. O, that we 
 had more of God ! not more than God, but 
 more of him. Those same things you beg 
 tor yourself, beg for me, especially for faith ; 
 I have reason to believe (as Mr. Baxter said 
 to his friends) that God will sooner hear your 
 prayers than mine. In his funeral sermon, 
 with the account of his death, his humility 
 and self-denial appear admirable, and make 
 me think of that Scripture, ' If the righteous 
 scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly 
 
292 MEMOIRS OF MRS. HULTOX. 
 
 and sinner appear V If he did nothing to 
 boast of, sure I have a great deal to mourn 
 over." 
 
 To her sister in the country, with common 
 tidings and business, she intermixeth very 
 pertinently such lines as these: — "We need 
 sometimes to be in heaviness, we must look 
 for it : herein is the heart deceitful, — that we 
 think we trust in God ; but when creatures 
 fail, we find by our own failing, that we trust- 
 ed in them : you will not want spiritual sup- 
 plies while God is all-sufficient." 
 
 " To render good for good is no more than 
 the publicans do ; yet, alas ! how much evil 
 do we render for good to Ilim that is good, 
 and doth good !" 
 
 " Pray, pray that we may be found of God 
 in peace, without spot, and blameless. The 
 time is short, and therefore every opportunity 
 ought to be taken hold of for improving rela- 
 tions, both near and far ofl", that that great 
 talent of society may not be buried in a 
 napkin." 
 
 "I have less thinking-time here than you 
 have in the country. A solitary life I mighti- 
 ly prized formerly, but the great and wise God 
 did not see it good for me : my temper in- 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS. IIULTON 293 
 
 clined me to it, but now I can envy tlic out- 
 ward condition of none." 
 
 " You would not envy my bare enjoyment 
 of gospel privileges if you knew how unpro- 
 fitable I am under them ; it is easier to spend 
 a deal of time in the external performance of 
 holy duties in the old road, than to improve a 
 little time seriously and profitably therein. 
 If you knew my sad declinings, especially 
 my great remissness in keeping my heart, 
 you would pity me rather than flatter me. 
 Pride is a weed that, in the soil of my heart, 
 needs no watering." 
 
 " Poor sister Henry, upon the death of the 
 child, is sitting alone and keeping silence. 
 The consideration of her giving it up to God 
 in baptism, when she was asked by my father 
 whether she could freely do it, hath had influ- 
 ence upon her submission. Let us in a day 
 of prosperity be joyful, and think of a day 
 of adversity." 
 
 " Is it any wonder that dying creatures die 1" 
 
 " In this vale of tears we are full of com- 
 pla'nts. It is a bad sign that former afflictions 
 have not done their work, in that He is fur- 
 ther testifying against me by the sickness of 
 
 the children ; when the staff and the rod will 
 25* 
 
294 MEMOinS OF mk.s. iiulton. 
 
 not do, the cart-wheel and the threshing in- 
 strument arc used by him, who is * wonderful 
 in counsel, and excellent in working.' Isa. 
 xxviii. 27, 28, 29. I need not request your 
 prayers, mostly for divine teachings, — that 
 they may accompany divine chastenings. 
 They are bitter things when an interest in 
 covenant-love is not clear, but ' He knows the 
 way that I take; when he hath tried me I 
 shall come forth as gold :' let not the Almigh- 
 ty put me in the furnace and leave me there." 
 At another time : — " It is a mercy to have 
 such comfortable homes as we have ; such 
 relations — so much health. O, how short do 
 we come of the law of thankfulness ! every 
 one of God's mercies, even the least, calls for 
 more praise and thanks than wc return for 
 them in general : to reflect upon my own un- 
 thankfulness may make me humble. I desire 
 your prayers, as you have mine, for mercy 
 and grace. This is a vain world we live in; 
 time slips while I hold my hand ; how busy, 
 how diligent should we be ; all will be little 
 enough when we come to die ! I heartily 
 sympathize with you in the tcdiousness of 
 your nursery, but take heed of complaining 
 as Rebekah : ' If it be so why am I thus V — 
 why is this child of promise so troublesome "? 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS. HULTON. 295 
 
 It comforts me as to nursing inconveniences, 
 that bringing up of children, lodging strangers, 
 and washing the saints' feet, are put together 
 as good works. 1 Tim. v. 10, Let not evil 
 tidings remove your fixed heart. Though 
 when we looked for peace, behold trouble ; 
 did not we agree for this — if need be, for a 
 season to be willing to be in heaviness? Our 
 sympathizing with each other is a little help, 
 but, alas ! miserable comforters are we. I 
 have sometimes been dejected in remembrance 
 of former zeal, forwardness, and fervency in 
 the good way, from which I fear I have de- 
 clined ; upon which, once calling to mind, 
 that Scripture did comfort, (Ecclcsiastes vii. 
 10.) ' Say not thou that the former days were 
 better than these.' O, that blessed book of 
 God hath all in it I want ! let us study it more. 
 What calamities hath sin brought upon us, 
 and yet itself we should count a thousand 
 times worse. It is easy to reckon up afflic- 
 tions, but my sins and God's mercies are 
 numberless, — one of which is the interest we 
 have in the pity and prayers of our dear 
 friends. I may hope that all these things are 
 performed for me, and may gather hence, 
 that seeing the threatening part of the cove- 
 nant is feelingly made good in afflictions, the 
 
206 MEMOIRS OF AIRS. IIULTON. 
 
 promising part (Psalm Ixxxix. 30, &c.) will 
 also : the same truth is engaged for both. I 
 rejoice to hear of your children's recovery : 
 are we like the one leper, who returned to 
 give thanks, or like the nine ? Times of trial 
 are times of gaining experience, for patience 
 w^orks experience. We usually pray often 
 for the preventing the evils we fear, but sel- 
 dom thanking serves: sure the mercy, the 
 God of the mercy, deserves as many praises 
 as prayers. I find worldly cares rightly com- 
 pared to thorns, but one thing is needful. 
 My little girl is learning to walk, and repre- 
 sents the weakness of the heart after it falls 
 into sin. It fears, faints, and flags. . The 
 heart's deceitfulncss is desperate : when in 
 prosperity, I have thought if I were in afllic- 
 tion, I should be very humble and contrite 
 under God's hand ; when in aflliction, — O, if I 
 were delivered I should and would be very 
 thankful and obedient ; but it is neither so nor 
 so ; never may it be trusted in again." 
 
 Upon the death of her little one, at nine 
 days old, November, 1095, she thus writes : 
 — " It is easier to answer you to your satis- 
 faction, than to answer the call of Divine 
 Pi'ovidence, which sounds louder and louder ; 
 it requires more time than I now have to 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS. HULTON. 297 
 
 tell you my need of chastisements, and God's 
 wisdom and goodness in choosing this rod to 
 do it with. My fruit towards him hath been 
 untimely ; the breasts of the promises have run 
 waste : I have not drawn from them and been 
 satisfied. It brings to my remembrance, as 
 my own sin, so your affliction ; — from the 
 same hand, of the same kind, with the same 
 design of good to us. O, that I could im- 
 prove my present retirement in considering 
 what the Lord my God requires of me ! We 
 should learn this by all our disappointments, 
 not to boast of to-morrow, for we know not 
 what a day may bring forth. It is no hard 
 usage that I should be diminished whilst 
 others are increased ; for do not all things 
 come alike to all 1 Nay, as many as our 
 Heavenly Father loveth he rebukes and 
 chastens, and though it be a mighty hand, and 
 therefore good reason why I should humble 
 myself under it, yet it is the hand of a Father, 
 w-hich, whilst it is on to afflict, is under to 
 support ; and death itself shall not separate us 
 from the love which we have in Christ Jesus 
 our Lord, to whom be glory for ever. When 
 I have been a few days from home, I begin 
 to think myself a wanderer from my place, as 
 a bird that wanders from her nest. I wish I 
 
298 MEMOIRS OF MRS. IIULTON. 
 
 do not settle on the lees, being so much a 
 stranger to that sojourning state in which Ab- 
 raham was, in the land of promise. We are 
 changing our servants ; all changes are trou- 
 blesome ; this world, therefore, is a trouble- 
 some world, because so full of changes : suffi- 
 cient to every day is the evil thereof." 
 
 A letter which she wrote to one of whom 
 she heard something scandalous, taking care 
 it should not be known from whom it came, 
 may be inserted here. 
 
 Mr. 
 
 " To ease myself, and, if it might be, 
 to do you good, is my design in writing this. 
 I having joined with you in Gospel ordi- 
 nances, cannot hear of your fall without fear 
 and trembling. Very loath I was to believe 
 it, speak of it I may not : — * tell it not in 
 Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askelon ;' 
 but first to yourself, whom I cannot expect 
 to inform of that which you know not, but 
 remind you of that you do know, — that the 
 prevailing love of God in the heart will no 
 way consist with the love and liking of any 
 sin. Whoever they be that name the name 
 of Christ and do not depart from iniquity, I 
 am sure their profession will carry them but 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS. IIULTON. 299 
 
 a little way, at farthest but to heaven's gates : 
 dissembled piety is double iniquity, and shall 
 receive greater damnation. I do wonder 
 how, and with what face, any one can appear 
 before God, among his people, in solemn or- 
 dinances, that is yet resolved to go on in sin. 
 Consider, you may deceive us that join with 
 you, but not Him that searcheth the heart, 
 and knows what is in man. Is your spot the 
 spot of God's children 1 It is true David fell 
 foully, and I fear some have encouraged them- 
 selves in sin by his example ; but let them 
 consider it was once — in an hour of tempta- 
 tion, — and it cost him dear. He came home 
 by weeping cross, and I bcliev^e he would not 
 for his kingdom have repeated the sin : after 
 which he had scarce a good day. Where- 
 fore is his sad fall recorded, but that all peo- 
 ple may take heed of entering into temptation, 
 and watch and pray that they may not ? Is 
 it a light matter that religion is so much re- 
 flected on? By your means the blessed name 
 of Jesus Christ suffers. People say, Yea, 
 they are all alike ; whereas, God knows, as 
 )'ou have opened the mouth of the wicked, 
 you have saddened the hearts of the godly, 
 who mourn in secret for your miscarriages. 
 May I advise you, nay, doth not the word 
 
300 MEMOIRS OF MUS. IIULTON. 
 
 of God conimaiid you, to remember whence 
 you are fallen, and to repent ; and let your 
 repentance be public, as your fall haih been. 
 There is yet hope if you return, but none if 
 you go on : there is a fountain opened fur 
 poor sinners, to wash from sin and from un- 
 cleanness, but then you must look up to him 
 whom you have pierced, and mourn. I know 
 not what frame you are in, but God knows. 
 Tliis comes from the true love I bear to your 
 soul, and the interest of religion, which great- 
 ly suffers ; offences do come, and will come, 
 but wo to them by whom they come ! Can 
 there be baser ingratitude than to make Him 
 stiffer by us who suffered so much for us ? 
 Do you thus requite the Lord ? Dare any 
 come to the table of the Lord for a cloak to 
 vile practices ? O profound madness ! Is 
 the holy Jesus a pattern of sin ? Is Christian- 
 ity a bare name ? No, I will never believe it ! 
 What shall I say ? Return unto the Lord, for 
 you have fallen by iniquity : take with you 
 these words, and say, ' Take away all iniquity.' 
 Hosea xiv. 2. I shall cease speaking to you, 
 but not praying for you, who am 
 
 " Your soul's friend." 
 
 When sickness had long been in the family 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS. IIULTON. 301 
 
 (and breach upon breach made) of a near 
 neighbour and relation, she thus writes : — 
 '• The hand of God is going out against us : 
 his Providence siiews his controversy to be 
 great and long, and something more than or- 
 dinary. Judgments begin with us, the dis- 
 temper spreads, and where it may end we 
 know not ; the dregs of the cup may y-et be 
 reserved for ourselves : I cannot say but I 
 have had fair warning, and yet I have not 
 got above the fears of death, that king of 
 terrors. It is a great attainment : I can think 
 of nothing future with so much certainty as 
 dying ; that great work, once to die." 
 
 When her children had the small-pox she 
 writes : — " They and we are in good hands ; 
 it is a great mercy we are not singled out 
 for some uncommon and extraordinary judg- 
 ment, but visited with the same that many are 
 tried with. I hope that you will intreat for 
 us that this affliction may not be lost." 
 
 Writing the news of one who died sudden- 
 ly, she added, " What need have we to be 
 ready to die at very short warning ! Desire 
 sister Radford, though she be abroad from her 
 family, yet being there where she is useful, 
 not to be too thoughtful of home, as I myself 
 
 have sometimes been, when I found after- 
 26 
 
802 MEMOIUS OP MRS. IIULTON. 
 
 wards that I was not so much missed, as 
 through my pride, and minding my own 
 things, I thought I was." 
 
 After the death of her sister Radford, she 
 thus wrote to her sister Savage : — " The good 
 tidings we have had of your safe delivery, 
 (which was the next day after her sister 
 Radford's death) and that God was to you a 
 present help, and both root and branch are 
 spared, mixcth our song of judgment with 
 mercy, and God hath set the one over against 
 the other. We have been continued together 
 many years, and after the crown fell from our 
 head,* God let us alone another year also, 
 but now the knot is broken. O for a sense 
 of Divine displeasure in this dispensation and 
 wisdom to spell out the meaning thereof! 
 ' for all this his anger is not turned away, but 
 his hand is stretched out still.' Dear sister 
 Tylstonf is very weak ; we want our Aaron, 
 the priest of the family, who would have 
 stood between the living and the dead, that 
 the plague might be stayed : God is angr}^, 
 and yet I am not humbled as I should be 
 under the mighty hand of God ; and a mighty 
 
 * An allusion to her Father's death. Ed. 
 
 t Catherine, the wife of John Tylston, M. D. A Memoir 
 of Dr. Tylston may be seen iin the Evangelical Magazine for 
 1817, p. IGI. Ed. 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS. IIULTON. 303 
 
 liand indeed it is. O, pray for me that I 
 may be more so ! I find there is no putting 
 ofl' the great work of closing with Christ 
 till sickness and death come, for that is a 
 very unfit time. And when it is done, I see 
 it is not easy then to have the comfort of it." 
 
 And in another : — " This is a loud speaking 
 controversy, and where it will end God only 
 knows ; but he is no less wise and good than 
 ever he was, however it is. This shall after- 
 wards yield the peaceable fruit of righteous- 
 ness. Pray, pray hold up the hands and the 
 heart, and you may do more than I." 
 
 And a little after : — " That you may know 
 the better how to direct your prayers and 
 praises, this comes to acquaint you that we 
 are not consumed, and it is of the I^ord's 
 mercies it is so. The Lord will perfect that 
 which concerns us ; and what is that but our 
 eternal happiness mostly ? if that be sure 
 all is well; we have our infirmities, and is 
 this our rest? If concerning this life only 
 we had had hope, it had not been much 
 worth." 
 
 When she had not occasion giv^en her by 
 providences to write such lines as these to 
 her friends and relations, then she would fill 
 her letters, (and abundance of them are so 
 
304 MEMOIRS OF MRS. IIULTON. 
 
 filled) with ll)C heads of sermons she had 
 heard last, giving a concise account of the 
 substance of them, and especially what in 
 them did most afiect her, and do her good. 
 This practice would never leave us unfurnish- 
 ed with matter for pious and profitable letters, 
 and might help very much to spread the sav- 
 our of the knowledge of Christ. 
 
 SECTION II. 
 
 A Catalogue of Sins, for Help in tlve 
 Confession of Sin 
 
 Who can understand his errors ? 
 
 Original corruption ; actual transgressions ; 
 sins of ignorance, sins against knowledge, 
 sins in infancy, childhood, youth, and riper 
 age ; sins in the single state ; sins in the mar- 
 ried state ; sins in unregeneracy ; backslid- 
 ings ; sins against God, my neighbour, my 
 own soul. More particularly, 
 
 Ignorance of God, aggravated by the en- 
 joyment of the means of knowledge ; athe- 
 ism, questioning his being or providence ; 
 hard thoughts of God, forgctfulncss of him ; 
 sins against the first commandment, which 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS. IIULTON. 305 
 
 requires to know, love, and believe, in God; 
 to fear him, and trust in him : giving that 
 glory to any other which is due to him alone, 
 in reference to God's worship, natural or 
 revealed ; neglect of prayer and praise ; 
 negligences in them, loathness to be beholden 
 to God for any thing ; ascribing the glory of 
 deliverances to somewhat else, not to God. 
 
 Drowsiness ; vain thoughts in prayer ; sins 
 in reference to God's word ; not hearing or 
 reading it with attention, reverence, serious- 
 ness ; but slightly and cursorily. Sabbath 
 sins ; want of preparation for it ; slothfulness 
 on that day; omission of Sabbath duties; 
 doing my own works : vain thoughts, weari- 
 ness of the Sabbath. Sacrament sins ; bap- 
 tismal covenant oft renewed, but forgotten, 
 not improved. Covenants against particular 
 sins, to particular duties broken : especially 
 as to the spending of some time daily in 
 converse with God, by meditation ; neglect 
 of that great duty, both solemn and occasional, 
 and of daily self-examination, Backslidings 
 as to this from wonted care. Slovenly 
 performance of closet work ; taking the name 
 of God in vain ; spiritual pride, and ostenta- 
 tion in religious duties ; pride in apparel, in 
 words, in thoughts; self-conceit, self-love; 
 26 * 
 
306 MEMOIRS OF MRS. IIULTON. 
 
 flesh-pleasing, gratifying inordinate appetites, 
 the body fed, the soul starved ; excess in 
 food, sleep, recreations ; God is not in all my 
 thoughts, lying down and rising up ; my 
 aims every morning not actually set right at 
 God's glory ; the great gospel-laws of repent- 
 ance and faith broken ; time, precious time, 
 misspent ; time of youth not improved ; love 
 of ease and pleasure ; disobedience to gov- 
 ernors; despising others better than myself: 
 doing that which was good to be seen of 
 men; no relation filled up with duty: many 
 that I might have done good to, dead and 
 gone ; others that I might have got good by ; 
 the opportunity past. Sermons lost : reproofs 
 lost and forgotten ; anger and bitterness ; un- 
 chaste thoughts, or affections ; abuse of law- 
 ful things ; loving, and overloving ; doing 
 any wrong to any person, whether knowing- 
 ly or ignorantly ; uncharitablcncss ; giving 
 grudgingly ; not devising liberal things ; 
 lying through heedlessness ; impatience of 
 reproof; slandering or reporting of slanders ; 
 speaking evil of others, hearing evil spoken 
 with delight ; discontent ; covetousness ; love 
 of this present world appearing in worldly 
 thoughts, — many, constant, welcome. Envy- 
 ing, and inordinate affections ; neglect of re- 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS. HULTON. 307 
 
 proving and watciiing over others ; sinful 
 bashfulness; little grief for others' sins; sin 
 sits light. Love of Christ little thought of; 
 single mercies ill-rcquited for; afflictions not 
 improved ; brought low, raised up again, yet 
 not amended ; no attainments made in grace 
 answerable to the means I enjoy ; great 
 carnality ; oppositions to the Spirit's motions 
 of late and heretofore ; prevailing dejections 
 and despondencies of spirit. ' God be merci- 
 ful to me a sinner.' 
 
 Heads of Mercies for Help in Thanksgiving, 
 
 COMMON MERCIES. 
 
 A BEING and that rational ; mercies of my 
 conception, birth, nursing, infancy, rational 
 faculties, natural understanding, limbs and 
 senses, preservation in the cradle, at the 
 breast, sustenance, clothes, food, not only for 
 necessity, but for delight ; parents continued ; 
 other relations provided to take up before 
 they forsook ; mercies at school ; a capacity 
 to learn, a memory able to retain truths ; 
 continuance almost twenty-one years in the 
 world; Divine patience exercised; scarce a 
 
308 MEMOIRS OF MRS. IIULTON. 
 
 day's sickness in all this time, as I remember ; 
 daily bread; varieties; drink hath not been 
 tears. Much comfort in the single estate, 
 in the married estate : suitableness in re- 
 lations; extraordinary deliverance when in 
 the valley of the shadow of death, July 28, 
 1G89. 
 
 LESS COMMON MERCIES. 
 
 CoDT.Y education ; daily instructions ; special 
 means for getting of knowledge ; wise and 
 seasonable reproofs ; holy ordinances duly ad- 
 ministered ; admitted to the Lord's Supper 
 about fifteen years old ; the example of god- 
 ly parents; line upon line; Sabbath; some 
 measure of knowledge. 
 
 SPECIAL MERCIES. 
 
 Election from eternity ; free, effectual calling 
 betimes in youth ; strivings of the Spirit ; 
 checks of conscience ; admonitions ; quicken- 
 ings from the word ; strength vouchsafed to 
 perform duties ; victory over temptations ; 
 comfort in sorrow ; preventing mercies ; 
 taught to pray ; answers to prayers for rela- 
 tions in working good for them. 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS. IIULTON. 309 
 
 FAMILY MERCIES. 
 
 The house preserved from fire when bejjun 
 very near, June, 1G90 ; the family begun to 
 r be built up; children preserved from the 
 perils of infancy. Two of my near relations' 
 children taken oft' quickly by death ; mine, of 
 the same age, spared. March 27, 1G93. — 
 One child of a dear friend burnt to death ; 
 another neighbour's child drowned lately, yet 
 mine preserved ; one of the children preserved 
 from a dangerous fall down a pair of stairs 
 into the street ; the recovery of both of them 
 from the small-pox. May, 1G95. January, 
 1695-6. — Both recovered from a malignant 
 fever when they had been given up ; at the 
 same time two servants brought low by it, yet 
 raised up. Ourselves preserved from the 
 same distemper when two dear relations, 
 mother and daughter, fell by it : wonder of 
 mercy not to be forgotten. 
 
 NATIONAL MERCIES. 
 
 Great plenty ; no famines ; deliverance from 
 the French fleet at sea, 1692, and victory 
 over them, the wind turning for us ; London 
 delivered from the earthquake the same year 
 
310 MEMOIRS OF MRS. HULTON. 
 
 when some kingdoms have been overturned 
 and ruined by them. 
 
 SECTION III. 
 
 Some account, ojlicr last .sick?icss. 
 
 She was at public ordinances both morning 
 and evening on the Lord's Day, August 29 : 
 she had been with her relations, who were ill 
 the day before, and that day also. Though 
 the distemper had seized her a day before, 
 yet she kept it to herself, as loath to be taken 
 oft' by it from her work and duty. But that 
 night it appeared that she was under the vio- 
 lent assault of a high fever ; the alarm of 
 which she received with her usual evenness 
 and composure of spirit ; and though she 
 seemed from her first arrest to have received 
 the sentence of death within herself, yet she 
 was not at all disturbed at it, but spake of her 
 circumstances with much cheerfulness. She 
 was exceedingly afflicted with pain in her 
 head, which quite deprived her of rest, and 
 sleep departed from her eyes. 
 
 On Monday she sat up most of the day, 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS. IIULTON. 311 
 
 spoke of her spiritual state with great humility 
 and self-diffidence, repenting of sin, yet re- 
 joicing in Christ Jesus : she said she was 
 afraid of saying too much of her hope and 
 comfort, because the heart is deceitful. 
 
 All that week she continued worse (not- 
 withstanding all means used) but kept in a 
 very patient, submissive, heavenly frame. 
 When asked how she did, she answered. 
 " Better than I deserve." Often said, " I 
 know whom I have trusted." She desired to 
 have the beginning of Isa. xliii. read and 
 opened to her, — that Scripture which Mr. 
 Bilney the martyr supported himself with, — 
 ' When thou passest through the waters I will 
 be with thee.' She desired pardon for her 
 omissions in the duty of her relations. The 
 following sentences she uttered : 
 
 " I am not weary of living, but I am weary 
 of sinning ; I would live as Christ lives, and 
 where Christ lives, and that I am sure will be 
 heaven." 
 
 " There are many passages in the Psalms 
 not so proper for us but at such a time as 
 this ; as that, ' My flesh and my heart fail, 
 but God is the strength of my heart and my 
 portion for ever.' " 
 
 " Let none think the worse of religion nor 
 
312* MEMOIRS OF MUS. IIULTON. 
 
 of our family-worship, for the afflictions tliat 
 are in our famihcs, nor have a hard tliought 
 of God ; for however it be, yet God is good." 
 
 When her pain and extremity were great, 
 she said, " I know the great God can do me 
 no wrong. Who would desire to go so many 
 steps back which must some time or other be 
 gone over again, when now I have but one 
 stile more and I shall be at home?" 
 
 " I have hope in my death, for Christ hath 
 said, * Because I live, ye shall live also.' " 
 
 " I have distrusted God and am ashamed 
 of it, for God is truth." 
 
 " Now for a promise." 
 
 " I hope this is no surprise." 
 
 " You are miserable comforters, but Jesus 
 Christ is my abiding portion." 
 
 " I shall now be gathered to my people, 
 and I have loved those that are godly, both 
 poor and rich." 
 
 " Blessed be God for the Scriptures now." 
 
 Towards Saturday night she grew deliri- 
 ous ; yet even then it was evident her heart 
 was upon nothing so much as God, and the 
 things of her soul ; speaking often with a 
 smiling, cheerful countenance of psalms of 
 praise, and hymns of joy. 
 
 While she was under this disturbance she 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS. IIULTON. 313 
 
 often recollected herself with this word, — 
 " Here is notliing but tohu and hohu, (re- 
 ferring to Genesis i. 2.) confusion and empti- 
 ness^ but it wall not be so long." 
 
 After eight days conflict with her distem- 
 per, on Monday, September 6, 1697, between 
 the hours of seven and eight in the morning, 
 she fell asleep in the Lord. 
 
 She was buried, September 8, in St. Brid- 
 get's church, attended to the grave by 
 abundance of true mourners, with whom her 
 memory is, and will be very precious. 
 
 Mr. Samuel Lawrence preached her fu- 
 neral sermon that evening at her brother's 
 meeting-place, on Job vii. IG. " I would not 
 
 hve always." 
 
 27 
 
MEMOIRS 
 
 MRS. ELEANOR RADFORD, 
 
 BY HER BROTHER 
 
 THE REV. MATTHEW HENRY. 
 
 315 
 
MEMOIRS 
 
 OF 
 
 MRS. EADTOED. 
 
 By her brotlver, the Reverend Matthew Henry. 
 
 [from a copy in MRS. SAVAGe's HAND-WRITING.] 
 
 Eleanor, the third daughter of Mr. Philip 
 Henry, was born at Broad Oak, July 23d, 
 1GG7, being Tuesday. Her father writes in 
 his memorandum of it, " Blessed be God, who 
 was present in the time of need." 
 
 She was baptized privately, July 27th, by 
 Mr. Jonathan Edwards, of Jesus College, in 
 Oxford. 
 
 Her natural temper, from a child, was 
 timorous. 
 
 She had her name Eleanor appointed her 
 by the last will of her grandfather, who died 
 half a year before she was born. 
 
 While she was a child, she had frequent 
 
 317 
 
319 MEMOIRS OF MRS. RADFORD. 
 
 illness, which the Lord graciously brought 
 her through. She was of a very tender, lov- 
 ing, and towardly disposition, and became 
 acquainted betimes with the things of God, 
 of which, through her great modesty and 
 self-diiridence, she was not very forward 
 to express herself, but very sincere and in- 
 dustrious in her converse with them. 
 
 She began early to write sermons, and the 
 daily family expositions of the Scripture, and 
 what she wrote she made use of; for while 
 she lived in her daily reading of the Scrip- 
 tures, in her closet, she read along with them 
 the expositions she had written. She gath- 
 ered, in writing, what she thought observable 
 in the books she read, or in the papers com- 
 municated to her, and kept it together. 
 
 She was married to Mr. Samuel Radford, 
 a tradesman in Chester, January 1st, 1688-9 ; 
 and as by the grace of God, she was enabled 
 to do the duty of, so she had abundance of 
 comfort in, that relation. 
 
 What account we can find among her pa- 
 pers since her death, concerning her spiritual 
 state, and her communion with God, is only 
 a constant register which she kept of all her 
 approaches to the Lord's Supper. She made 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS. RADFORD. 319 
 
 her first approach in the 17th year of her age, 
 and then writes thus : 
 
 " I was advised by my father to put tlicse 
 three questions to niyseU', for my help in pre- 
 paration, and to examine myself upon them. 
 AVhat am T ? What have I done ? and what 
 do I want ? And by these three questions I 
 did search and try myself, according to my 
 weak ability, and what was amiss therein I 
 humbly beg of God to pardon. 
 
 Question 1st What am i ? Am I in a 
 state of sin, or in a state of grace, a child of 
 God, or a child of the devil ? Have I re- 
 nounced all for Christ ? 
 
 Answer. I hope I can say, in the truth 
 and uprightness of my soul, that I have re- 
 nounced all my sins, and taken Jesus Christ to 
 be mine, and given up myself to him to be 
 his. 
 
 Question 2d. What have i done ? 
 
 t.^nsivcr. God knows, and my own con- 
 science knows, how greatly I have sinned 
 against, and provoked, the pure eyes of his 
 glory. 
 
 1. The sin of my nature testifies against 
 me, and I desire to testify against it. Lord, 
 forgive the sinfulness of my nature. 
 
320 MEMOIRS OF MRS. RADFORD. 
 
 2. Tlie numberless number of actual trans- 
 gressions which I have been guilty of. 
 
 In thought : which of the commandments 
 have I not broken? A\'ho can understand 
 my heart sins ? 
 
 In word : telling untruths — some, since I 
 have known to do better. I am convinced 
 that my vain and idle words must come 
 into judgment, and my idle unprofitable 
 letters too. 
 
 In deed : omitting known duties. I have 
 not been so frequent and constant as I should 
 have been, in the duty of secret prayer; in 
 reading God's word, and singing his praises 
 alone. Committing known sins. I have not 
 carried it aright towards my relations, 
 superiors, inferiors, and equals. I have not 
 been diligent to use my uttermost endeavours, 
 as 1 should have done, for the salvation of the 
 souls of those with whom I have conversed. 
 I have always had too good an opinion of 
 myself. Lord, humble me for my pride. I 
 have enjoyed great means of knowledge, and 
 yet am very ignorant of what I might, and 
 should have known. I have often quenched 
 the motions of the Spirit and not hearkened 
 to the voice of my own conscience. ' Lord, 
 who can understand his errors ? ' * Cleanse 
 
MEMOIUS OF MRS. RADFORD. 321 
 
 thou mc from secret faults. My sins have 
 been more aggravated than the sins of others, 
 having been committed against hght and con- 
 viction — Having drawn up this bill of indict- 
 ment against myself, next comes in, 
 Queslio7i 3d. What do i want ? 
 
 1. I want pardon for these, and all my sins ; 
 
 2. An interest in Christ, as my Redeemer 
 and Saviour 
 
 3. I want to have my strong corruptions 
 weakened ; 
 
 4. And my weak graces strengthened. 
 These, and many more, I expect, and desire, 
 
 to have supplied at the Lord's table. 
 
 The Lord will supply all my wants out 
 of his fulness. Amen. I was admitted to 
 the Lord's table this February 17th, 1683—4, 
 where I felt unspeakable sweetness ; then and 
 there the knot was tied, and the bargain 
 made, which I would not release for a thou- 
 sand worlds. I desire from the bottom of 
 my soul, to bless God that ever I knew the 
 meaning of a sacrament. I have this day 
 felt that in my soul, which did much warm 
 and refresh me, viz., a full persuasion of the 
 love of God to me, and I desire to love him 
 better than ever. I have heartily closed with 
 him to-day : my soul hath said — * None but 
 
322 MEMOIRS OF MRS. RADFORD. 
 
 Christ' — ' NoMG but Christ.' — The Lord make 
 my heart more and more sound herein. The 
 exhortation was that of Christ's, ' Go and sin 
 no more." 
 
 On the next opportunity she writes ; " I 
 came away greatly comforted, and more sen- 
 sible of the love of Christ to me, and I hope 
 I shall have cause to bless God for this day, 
 as long as I have a day to live. The exhor- 
 tation was Psalm Ivi. 13. ' Thou hast de- 
 livered my soul from death, wilt thou not de- 
 liver my feet from falling?' He that hath 
 done the greater will do the lesser." 
 
 On another, " This was a price put into 
 my hand to get wisdom. Blessed be God. 
 The duty pressed was — to continue with 
 Christ in his temptation : the Lord help me 
 so to do." 
 
 " Another precious day of grace. I was a 
 guest at the blessed table, and must say, as 
 Mephiboshcth — ' Who am I that thou should- 
 est look upon such a dead dog as I am ?" 
 
 " Another sweet opportunity, wherein I 
 have, as well as poor I could, given myself 
 to God wholly, only, and for ever. Amen." 
 
 On another — " I have to-day, by the un- 
 speakable goodness of my God to me, come 
 away from his table with abundant consola- 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS. RADFORD. 323 
 
 tions and satisfaction, because I hope I am in 
 Christ Jesus. I am grieved that I walk no 
 more closely with God. O tiiat the sweet- 
 ness I have found to-day may engage me to 
 more watchfulness. I have this day, with an 
 eye of faith, seen the great love of Christ to 
 me ; I tasted it, and was refreshed. Blessed 
 be God, I had a comfortable day of it ; I en- 
 deavoured to set faith on work, and came 
 away comforted." 
 
 At another time: " A sweet opportunity; 
 the duty pressed was, ' Arm yourselves, like- 
 wise, with the same mind.' " 
 
 At another : " A wonder of mercy, that I, 
 who am not worthy of a crumb from the 
 table, should be admitted to sit at it, and feast, 
 not only with, but upon, the Lord. How is 
 it'? I have renewed my covenant afresh with 
 him, and deliberately chosen him for my 
 treasure ; and now, I bless God, I count the 
 world, and all things on this side him, but 
 trash." 
 
 " Another precious opportunity. The duty 
 pressed was, ' to work out my own salvation 
 with fear and trembling.' The Lord help me 
 in it, and work in me both to will and to 
 do." 
 
324 MEMOIRS OF MRS. RADFORD. 
 
 At another: "From Phil. iv. 1, ' So stand 
 fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.' " 
 
 At another : " The exhortation was from 
 Ps. cxvi. 16, * Truly, I am thy servant.' " 
 
 At another : " From 1 Samuel xii. 24, 
 ' Only fear the Lord.' " 
 
 At another: "From Romans xii. 1, 'Pre- 
 sent your bodies a living sacrifice.' " 
 
 At another : " Tiiis was an avouching day : 
 I did afresh take God to be mine. The 
 Scripture closed with was Deut. xxvi. 17, 
 ♦ Thou hast avouched the Lord.' " 
 
 At another, "Job x. 15. 'If I be wicked, 
 wo to me.' Wo, and a thousand woes to me, 
 if I be wicked. I that have known more, 
 and professed more, and been more convinc- 
 ed than others. I that have had so many 
 mercies from God, and so oft renewed my 
 covenants with him. If I be wicked, and 
 must go to hell at last (as all that are wicked 
 must,) it will be hell indeed to me." 
 
 At another time : " I was minded of that 
 great duty, ' in all my ways to acknowledge 
 God,' from Prov. iii. G." 
 
 " I was exhorted from Hebrews xii. 1. ' to 
 lay aside every weight, and the sin that doth 
 most easily beset me.' 
 
 From 1 John i. 12, ' Not to sin.' 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS. RADFORD. 325 
 
 From Psalm xxxi. 23, ' To love the Lord.' 
 
 From Romans viii. 1, 'To walk after the 
 Spirit.' 
 
 From 1 Cor. xv. 58, ' To abound in the 
 work of the Lord.' 
 
 From 2 Cor. v. 14, 15, ' To live to Christ.' 
 
 From 1 Thess. iv. l,*To walk so as to 
 please God.' 
 
 From Col. iii. 1,2, 3, * To seek the things 
 above.' 
 
 From 2 Peter iii. 18, ' To grow in grace.' 
 
 From Eph. V. 15, 16, 'To walk circum- 
 spectly.'" 
 
 « From Eph. iv. 22, 23, ' To put off the 
 old man, and to put on the new man.' I hope 
 I have done that to-day, which I shall have 
 cause to bless God for, to eternity.'" 
 
 " From 1 Cor. x. 12, ' Let him that think- 
 eth he standeth take heed lest he fall.'" 
 
 " A sealing day ; the Lord did accept, and 
 pardon. I did endeavour to give myself to 
 Christ deliberately, sincerely, freely, and, it 
 shall be, for ever. The Lord keep it always 
 in the imagination of the thoughts of my 
 heart, and establish my way before him." 
 
 At another : " The exhortation was, from 
 1 Peter i. 13, * Gird up the loins of your 
 mind.' It was a sweet opportunity. What I 
 28 
 
326 MEMOIRS OF MRS. RADFORD. 
 
 have in hand is nothing to what I have in hope. 
 
 * Not unto me, O Lord, but to thy name be 
 the praise' I had the comfort; God shall 
 have the glory." At another : " 1 Peter i. 
 22, ' Love one another.' I was dead and 
 cold at the ordinance, I would endeavour to 
 make up what was amiss by after diligence. 
 The Lord set in with me." 
 
 " 2 Samuel xxiii. 5. — ' Yet hath he made 
 with me an everlasting covenant.' 1 did 
 afresh take God the Father to be my chiefest 
 good and highest end ; God the Son to be my 
 Prince and Saviour; God the Holy Ghost to 
 be my sanctifier, teacher, guide, and comfor- 
 ter ; God's word to be my rule in all my ac- 
 tions, and his people to be my people in all 
 conditions. The exhortation was, to join in 
 the angels' song, Luke ii. 14, * Glory to God 
 in the highest.'" 
 
 Thus far before she was married. 
 
 At another time — " The exhortation was, 
 Ps. Ixxxv. 8. 'Not to return again to folly.' 
 All sin is folly, but sin, after God hath spoken 
 peace, is folly with a witness." 
 
 At another time : " From Hosea xiv. 8, 
 
 * To have no more to do with idols.' — From 
 Psalm xxiii. 6, • To dwell in the house of the 
 Lord.'— From Col. ii. 6, 7, 'To walk in 
 
MEMOIRS OF MRS. RADFORD. 327 
 
 Christ with thanksgiving.' — From Isa. ii. 5, 6, 
 • Walk in the hght of the Lord;' that is, 1st. 
 to walk closely in my family, in my shop. — 
 2d. To walk comfortably ; for God would 
 have his people a comforted people. From 
 John viii. 10, ' To go and sin no more.' " 
 
 At another : " I was very dull and drowsy 
 some part of the time, but came away rejoic- 
 ing that I had what I came for. The Lord 
 help me to be the more busy after. The 
 Scripture closed with, was Romans vi. 12." 
 
 At another: "The exhortation was from I 
 Peter ii. 9. ' To shew forth the praises of 
 him who hath called us.' " 
 
 "From Joshua xxiv. 21,22, 23, 'Ye are 
 witnesses.'" 
 
 " From Deut. xxix. 9, ' Keep the words of 
 this covenant.' " 
 
 " From Gen. xxix. 1, ' Then Jacob went on 
 his way.' Margin, then Jacob lift up his 
 feet; when he had that view of God, chap, 
 xxviii. 12, and made that vow to God, chap 
 xxviii. 20, then he lift up his feet.' 
 
 "From Jer. xiii. 11. 'To be unto him for 
 a name and for a praise, and, therefore, to 
 abstain from those things which make a dis- 
 honour and disgrace to God, and to abound 
 in those thinj^s which are for his honour." 
 
32S 
 
 MEMOIRS OF MRS. RADFORD. 
 
 "From Eccl. viii. 11, 'Keep the king's 
 commandment, because of the oath of God.' " 
 
 " From 2 Timothy ii. 3, ' To endure hard- 
 ness.' " 
 
 " From 2 Chron. xv. 14, 15, ' To seek with 
 my whole heart.' The Lord grant that the 
 impressions of this ordinance may not wear 
 ofi:' " 
 
 " From 1 Cor. v. 11, * To purge out the old 
 leaven.' " 
 
 " From Daniel xii. 13, ' Go thy way till the 
 end be, for thou shalt rest.' " 
 
 The last she received was July 4th, 1G97. 
 " The exhortation was from the practice of 
 the eunuch, Acts viii. 39, * He went on his 
 way rejoicing.'" 
 
 These are some of the Memorandums she 
 kept of these opportunities. 
 
 In her letters to her sisters there are many 
 very savoury, pious expressions, that speak 
 what her heart was full of. 
 
 •* This is the world of troubles and disap- 
 pointments. I never saw so much of it as 
 now. I desire your prayers for me, that I 
 may be weaned from it more and more." 
 
MEMOIRS OF MR.5. IIADFORD. 329 
 
 " I desire to be content in the place where 
 God liath set me. O that I had wisdom to 
 do the duly of it. I see we must not liave 
 every thing that we would have in this 
 world." 
 
 She was seized with a fever, as it proved, 
 though little suspected of several days, Au- 
 gust 1st, 1G97 
 
 In the beginning of her illness she often 
 expressed an entire submission to the will 
 of God, however he should please to dispose 
 of her. 
 
 It was the ninth or tenth day of her illness 
 before it appeared perilous, and then it grew 
 violent, and seized her head. 
 
 She breathed out her soul info the embraces 
 of the Lord Jesus, August 13th, being Friday, 
 between four and five o'clock in the after- 
 noon. 
 
 She was buried in St. Michael's Church, 
 Chester, August IGth, being Monday. 
 
 Mr. James Owen preached her funeral ser- 
 mon that evening, at her brother's meeting- 
 place, on Rev. ii. 7. ' To him that overcom- 
 eth will I fifive to eat of the tree of life.' 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 No. I. 
 
 Of the excellent wife of Philip Henry, little, com- 
 paratively, is known. What she was may, how. 
 ever, be gathered, though nothing is particularly 
 said of her, from her son's (Matthew Henry) ser- 
 mon on her death. She died May 25th, 1707, 
 in the 79th year of her age. The following ex- 
 tracts from Mrs. Savage's diary are interesting. 
 — < The memory of the just is blessed.' 
 
 « 1707. Monday morning, 28th of April. I 
 went to Broad Oak to visit my dear aged mother ; 
 very sensible of the honour and duty I owe her 
 while she lives, though not in a capacity to pay 
 it as I would. I found her weak in body, yet 
 strong in the graces of the Spirit — faith, love, 
 and thankfulness — contempt of the world, and 
 longing for heaven. O that I may tread in her 
 steps. She said to me — ' I have been a great 
 while here, to what end should I desire to live 
 longer?' 
 
 " Friday, May 2. I went to Broad Oak. Found 
 my dear mother very weak. Some days in bed 
 
 331 
 
332 APPENDIX. NO. I. 
 
 all (Jay. But, blessed be God, her faith and hope 
 not shaken. It is a great confirmation to me of 
 the reality of invisible things, to see a holy life 
 end so well. ' The end of that man (or woman) 
 is peace.' 
 
 Sabbath. May 4. I spent at dear Broad Oak, 
 tlie place of niy solemnities, where I have had 
 many a comfortable Sabbath. Blessed be God 
 for the opportunity of this, though not as former- 
 ly. Weeping should not hinder sowing. We 
 had Mr. Doughty to be our good helper, from 
 Gal. vi. 9. — ' Let us not be weary in well doing : 
 for in due season we shall reap if we faint not.' 
 A very good caution. Alas ! I am apt to faint, 
 to flag, and tire. But I have a great deal of rea- 
 son to hold on and hold out, forasmuch as in due 
 season — in God's due time — I shall reap. When 
 I told dear mother the subject, she replied — 'nor 
 in evil suffering.' Let this be a quickening con- 
 sideration to me when I faint and tire — a blessed, 
 glorious harvest is before me, I trust, which will 
 make amends for all. 
 
 Wednesday, 7th, I went again. Dear brother 
 came from Chester. We had a very affectionate 
 prayer at meeting at our dear mother's bed-side. 
 He had this expression in pleading with God for 
 mercy for her — ' Ilcr children do rise up and call 
 her blessed ; Lord, do thou command the bless- 
 ing.' He preached the lecture there. We had a 
 
APPENDIX. NO. I. 333 
 
 comfortable opportunity from 1 Cor, xv. 19. 'If 
 in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are 
 of all men most miserable.' A Christian's hope 
 in Christ looks above, and beyond this life, or else 
 their case were very sad. He shewed that true 
 Christians have hope in Christ for righteousness, 
 strength, everlasting happiness. They have hope 
 in Christ in this life, in reference to daily sins, 
 daily services, daily sorrows. But not in this life 
 only — their comfort looks above and beyond this 
 life — ' We hope in Christ' — That he will be with 
 us in our dying agonies : he is not like the master 
 of that poor Amalekite, 1 Sam. xxx. 13. who left 
 him ' because he fell sick' — That he will receive 
 our precious souls into glory — That he will bring 
 us off in the judgment — That he will make us 
 eternally happy in the vision and fruition of 
 God. 
 
 May 11th. I heard yesterday that my dear 
 mother continues as she was. Lord, support. 
 Put under thy everlasting arm. 
 
 Friday. I went to see my dear mother : found 
 her still declining, yet very sensible. That after- 
 noon I was much revived by brother Henry com- 
 ing and praying with her, and the family — all 
 coming to her bed-side, as she desired. The 
 chapter in course to read was 1 John v. 5. 
 When he came to the 11th verse — " And this is 
 the record that God hath given to us eternal 
 
33i APPENDIX. NO. I. 
 
 life." she attended heedfuUy, and said — ' And 
 that's enough,' — Afterwards she joined in singing 
 some verses of the 23d Psalm. Afterwards he 
 prayed — short, but full of pious aficctions — and 
 she solemnly blessed us all. And it was the last 
 time. 
 
 The Sabbath, May 18th, I spent at Broad Oak. 
 — Dear mother still declining. Finding her 
 memory fail she said — ' This day I am afraid of 
 speaking much, lest I should not speak well.' — 
 She often spoke with much cheerfulness of the 
 happiness she was almost arrived at. When 
 some were about to pray by her she requested 
 them ' not to desire her life, for she was full of 
 days. I have,' said she, ' as many of the com- 
 forts of this life as I can desire, and now want 
 nothing but the comforts of a better.' 
 
 Wednesday. Mr. Pell, their late minister, died 
 of a consumption, at Whixall, to whom she had 
 pleasantly sent this message some weeks before — 
 ' Desire Mr. Pell not to be angry if I get to 
 heaven before him.' — But it proved that she 
 (though he was but five-and-twenty, she seventy- 
 eight) stayed a few days longer. — Towards the 
 end of the week we saw her decline apace : her 
 memory often failing, she did not speak with that 
 coherence she always used to do. As one said 
 on a like occasion, it could not but grieve me to 
 hear one that was not wont to speak an incoherent 
 
APPENDIX. NO. I. 335 
 
 word, lot drop some now when so near eternity. 
 But God's ' way is in the sea.' It is a quickening 
 to us to be busy, while senses and understanding, 
 and memory are continued, because we know not 
 how they may fail us. 
 
 On Saturday, sometimes, she would be cheerful. 
 — When asked how she did, she would say — 
 ' Pretty well' — but more often, ' Pray for a poor, 
 dying, senseless creature.' About a quarter after 
 twelve that night, without so much as a groan, she 
 gradually expired — began her everlasting Sabbath. 
 ' At midnight the cry was made — the bridegroom 
 came.' 
 
 ' A poor beheaded family,' (said brother Henry 
 in one prayer) ' but thou, O Lord, art the ever- 
 living head of all the families of the earth.' 
 Lord, thou art righteous. I will lay my hand on 
 my mouth. She hath finished well — come to her 
 grave in a full age — like a shock of corn in its 
 season. Lord, make me to know my end. I 
 find this stroke, coming so gradually, much easier 
 borne by me, than that of dear father eleven years 
 ago. O what a glorious Sabbath do they keep 
 together in heaven, who kept so many solemn, 
 comfortable ones on earth ! What glorious sights 
 are opened to the eye of the soul of a believer, 
 while we are closing the eyes of the body with 
 floods of tears ! I heartily bless my God for all 
 the good I have got, though far short of what 
 
336 APPENDIX. NO. I. 
 
 I might, from her excellent example, especially 
 humility, contentedness, contempt of the world, 
 zeal, and life in holy duties. 
 
 Wednesday, May 28th, we accompanied the 
 dear remains to the ship of the grave. And fur- 
 ther we cannot go. Dr. Benion preached the 
 sermon at Broad Oak, at ten o'clock, from Heb. 
 vi. 12. 'That ye be not slothful, but followers 
 of them who through faith and patience inherit 
 the promises.' A very suitable subject, wherein 
 he gave her her due character. Among other 
 things he said (than which nothing could be more 
 true) ' She was always well satisfied with what- 
 ever God and her friends did for her.' She hath 
 run out a comfortable race — having, from her 
 youth, chosen the narrow way, not suffering the 
 concerns of earth to swallow up the main matter ; 
 yet she hath been continued head of a large fami- 
 ly for sixty years. Lord, grant some one may 
 stand up to do something towards filling up the 
 gap. She hath left only three children, and 
 twenty-two grand-children. O that the prayers 
 that are upon the file for them may descend in 
 showers of blessings : Amen. Amen. 
 
 I cannot here omit Mr. Baxter's epitaph which 
 he placed on his dear wife in Christ Church, Lon- 
 don : — 
 
 Thus must thy flesh to silent dust descend 
 Thy rairtli and worldly pleaeurcs thus will end ; 
 
APPENDIX. NO. I. 337 
 
 Then happy, holy souls: but, wo to those 
 Who heaven forgot, and earthly pleasures chose. 
 Hear now this preaching grave, without delay ; 
 Believe, repent, and work while it is day. 
 
 Upon this I was thinking while we stood by 
 dear mother's grave, in Whitchurch church. 
 
 June 3d. We went once more to dear Broad 
 Oak. A headless family. 
 
 4lh. Wednesday. Brother preached a funeral 
 sermon for dear mother, on Prov. xxxi. 28. 
 « Her children arise up and call her blessed.' 
 Whence he drew an exhortation to parents, so to 
 carry it that their children might have reason to 
 call them blessed for their kindness, wisdom, 
 charity, prudence, and, especially, piety. To 
 children, to own with thankfulness the great mer- 
 cy of having such parents. Bless them, that is, 
 honour and reverence them while we have them ; 
 and bless God for them, when gone, that ever 
 we had them — rthat we had them so long. 
 
 And, surely, if ever any children in the world 
 had reason to rise up and call a parent blessed, 
 we have. — So wise, so kind, so tender, charitable, 
 prudent, provident, and above all, so pious. Sure 
 we can never say enough in her praises ; all that 
 knew her, will with us bear record. 
 
 What we have to do is to rise up, and study 
 daily in every thing to follow her example ; that 
 we be not slothful — for we all know she was not. 
 29 
 
339 APPENDIX. NO. II. 
 
 These things do, for the present, make a good 
 impression on me. God grant it do not wear ofl", 
 but that they may sink into my heart, that I may 
 now be gathering, and lay up for myself in store 
 a good foundation — forasmuch as I see the end 
 of those who are holy and useful." 
 
 No. II. 
 
 A SERMON, 
 
 Preached at a Wedding, November 6 1684. 
 
 BY THE REV. MATTHEW HENRY. 
 
 [From the original Manuscript*] 
 
 Psalms ci. 2. — O when wilt thou come unto me ? 
 
 These words may be looked upon as spoken by the 
 sweet singer of Israel; either. 
 
 1. In his PERSONAL capacity as he was a 
 saint. And then they shew what is the great 
 thing that a gracious heart pants and breathes 
 after, namely, the presence of God, which, it 
 should seem, David at this time wanted, or, at 
 least, wanted the comfort of Note — 1. God 
 may sometimes, in appearance at least, withdraw 
 
 * Obligingly communicated by the Rev. Thomas Stedmam, 
 M. A. Vicar of St. Chad, Shrewsbury. 
 
APPENDIX. NO. ir. 839 
 
 himself from his people, and seem to bo at a dis- 
 tance from them. Christ himself upon the cross 
 experienced this truth, when he groaned out his 
 Lama Sabacthani — why hast thou forsaken me? 
 If this be done to the green tree, what shall be 
 done to the dry ? Note — 2. When God is 
 withdrawn, the child of God thinks the time 
 long till he comes again. David does not at all 
 question God's coming to him — No, faith says, 
 though he be gone, he will come again ; but only 
 desires that it may be hastened. Compare Psalm 
 xiii. and 1st verse. 
 
 ' When wilt thou come?' As the saints desire 
 to come to God hereafter, so they desire to have 
 God come to them here. The Spirit and the 
 bride, that is, the spirit in the bride, saith, Come. 
 Come. ' Even so come, come quickly ; make 
 haste, my beloved,' is the natural language of 
 grace. And is this the language of our hearts? 
 A wicked man cannot truly desire God to come 
 to him, knowing that if God comes to him, he 
 comes in anger ; and, therefore, he wails when 
 he sees him come — Rev. i. 7. But to a child of 
 God, nothing is more welcome, his heart is 
 ready for him, the everlasting doors are lifled up 
 for the King of Glory to come in ; and he is glad 
 of such a guest. Or, 
 
 2. In his PUBLIC capacity, as a magistrate, for 
 this Psalm is penned to a royal tune, ver. 8. 
 
340 
 
 APIENDIX. 
 
 Some think it was penned before his coming to 
 the crown,* and then ' when wilt thou come ?' is, 
 when wilt thou make good the promise which thou 
 hast given me of the kingdom ? And truly he had 
 reason to say, when wilt thou come ? for it was 
 a long time, and a sad time with David between 
 his anointing to, and his possession of, the king- 
 dom. Some read it, I will behave myself wisely 
 until thou come. — q. d. I know thou wilt come; 
 though thou art slow, yet thou art sure ; and I 
 will endeavour to carry myself aright till thou 
 dost come. We find that he did so. — 1 Sam. 
 xviii. 14. — 'David behaved himself wisely in all 
 his ways.' He did his duty and left the event 
 to God. Others think it was penned after his 
 coming to the crown, and then he earnestly de- 
 sires God to come to him. 
 
 1st. To establish his kingdom to him, and 
 to subdue his enemies before him, which he 
 could never have done, as he did, without the 
 presence of the Lord of Hosts — It was he that 
 went upon the top of the mulberry-trees, 2 Sam. 
 V. 24. 
 
 2d. To assist him in the performance of the 
 duty of his kingdom. | I will behave myself 
 wisely, saith ho, and, O that infinite wisdom 
 would come and help me so to behave myself. 
 Observe, how abruptly this comes in here in the 
 * Calvin. t Ainsworth. 
 
APPENDIX. NO. 11. 341 
 
 midst of his resolutions, like that of Jacob — Gen. 
 xlix. 18. — In the midst of his speaking his pur- 
 poses to others, he turns to God to speak his re- 
 quest to him for aid and assistance, as knowing 
 that without that all his purposes would be to no 
 purpose, 
 
 3d. To give him the comfort of all his enjoy- 
 ments. For a kingdom, a world is nothing to a 
 gracious soul without God. Or, 
 
 4th. David might speak these words in his 
 PRIVATE capacity as a master of a family ; for it 
 follows — ' I will walk within my house.' God 
 having called him to a house of his own, he 
 humbly desires God to come and dwell with him 
 in it. ' Oh, when wilt thou come unto me?' 
 
 Doctrine. — That the presence of God, in a 
 house or family, is a very desirable thing. Or 
 thus — 'Tis a very desirable thing when a man 
 hath a house of his own, to have God come to 
 him, and dwell with him in it. 
 
 I shall shew, 
 
 I. What the presence of God is. 
 
 II. Prove it very desirable. And. 
 
 III. Shew what we must do, that we 
 
 MAY have it. 
 
 I. I shall shew what the presence of 
 God is. 
 
 1st. There is his common presence; by which 
 he is every where ; excluded out of no place — 
 29* 
 
342 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 included in no place : — of this David speaks in 
 Psalm cxxxix. 7, &c. And thus he is in the 
 most wicked house in the country, and sees and 
 registers, and will one day severely reckon for, 
 all the wickedness that is in families. But, 
 
 2d. There is his special presence, and that is 
 meant here ; the presence of his love, and grace, 
 and blessing — his covenant presence. Such a 
 presence as is promised to be ' where two or 
 three are gathered together in his name.' Matt, 
 xviii. 20. Such a presence as was in the house 
 of Obed-Edom, when the ark was there.-^Such a 
 presence as went down with Jacob into Egypt. 
 Gen. xlvi. 4. Such a presence as was with 
 Joshua in his wars, (Josh. i. 9,) ; and with Caleb 
 in his, (Josh. xiv. 12.); and with Gideon in his, 
 (Judges vi. 12.); and with David in his, according 
 to his desire (1 Sam. xviii. 14.) ' David behaved 
 himself wisely according to this purpose of his,' 
 and the Lord was with him according to this 
 prayer of his. 
 
 II. To PROVE IT DESIRABLE wc shall considcr, 
 what kind of presence the presence of God is ; 
 and then, you shall judge if it be not desirable. 
 
 1. It is a guiding presence; where God is, he 
 is as a director, Psalm Ixxiii. 23. ' I am contin- 
 ually with thee ;' what then ? Why, ver 24 — 
 ' Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel.' We 
 
APPENDIX. NO. ir. 343 
 
 have often need of guidance when we know not 
 what to do, as the phrase is, 2 Chron. xx. 12. 
 
 When we know not what to do in point of duty 
 — what we must do? Then, God directs by his 
 word and Spirit, and his deputy conscience; 
 making the way of duty plain ; resolving our 
 doubts, satisfying our scruples, shewing us the 
 way ; and, which is more, leading us in it. And 
 is not this desirable ? 
 
 When we know not what to do in point of 
 event — what we shall do. Then, God directs by 
 his providence, opening a door where we saw 
 none ; extricating us out of difficulties when we 
 knew not how to do it for ourselves. Where God 
 is, he is a pillar of fire and cloud, in every wilder- 
 ness—eyes to the blind: and have not families 
 need of this guidance in family affairs ? Job v. 
 24 — ' and shalt not err' — so some. 
 
 2. It is a guarding presence. Where God 
 dwells in the house, he is a wall of fire about the 
 house — Zech. ii. 5. ' 'Tis the Lord that keeps the 
 city' — Psalm cxxvii, 1, 2. The inhabitants of 
 that house where God dwells ' abide under the 
 shadow of the Almighty' — Psalm xci. 1, &c. 
 And is not that a precious privilege? When 
 God is in the house, the glorious angels pitch 
 their tents round about it — Psalm xxxiv. 7. ; and 
 these are a better guard than ever a prince or 
 potentate in the world hath. 'Behold, he that 
 
344 
 
 APPEADIX. 
 
 kcepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. 
 The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade 
 upon thy right hand. The sun shall notsmitethce 
 by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord shall 
 preserve thee from all evil : he shall preserve thy 
 soul. 
 
 3. It is a supplying presence. As nothing 
 truly and really evil can lie upon, so nothing 
 truly and really good can be wanting to, that 
 house and family where God is. When the 
 Fountain of good comes, the streams come with 
 him ; so that whatever a child of God wants at 
 any time, he may be assured it is not good for 
 him, and then better to be without it. ' Behold, I 
 stand at the door, and knock : if any man hear 
 my voice, and open the door, I will come in to 
 him, and will sup with him, and he with me.' 
 God is a guest that brings not only his own en- 
 tertainment, but entertainment for those that let him 
 in, along with him. When God comes to a house- 
 warming (pardon the country expression) he 
 brings a royal present with him : like that of 
 Ilazael's to Elisha — 2 Kings viii. 9. — ' a present 
 of every good thing.' ' My God shall supply all 
 your need according to his riches in glory by Christ 
 Jesus. The Lord is my shepherd ; I shall not want.' 
 4. It is a supporting presence. Whilst we are 
 in this world we have not only our wants, but 
 our burdens ; pains, sicknesses, losses, crosses, 
 
APPENDIX. NO. II. 346 
 
 and disappointments. These are burdens, family 
 burdens, which we are often groaning under. 
 Now where God is in a family, he will either take 
 off these burdens, or which comes all to one, he 
 will sustain under them. He will cither lighten 
 the load, or strengthen the shoulder. ' The 
 eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the 
 everlasting arms.' Deut. xxxiii. 27. ' Though I 
 walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I 
 will fear no evil : for thou art with me, thy rod 
 and thy stalf they comfort me.' — Psalm xxiii. 4. 
 David comforted himself with this when he should 
 be in the valley of the shadow of death, that is, 
 in very great trouble, that God would be with 
 him as a shepherd, and there would be his rod 
 and his staff. 
 
 Shepherds use a staff to bear up the weary 
 sheep ; nay, God, the great, the good shepherd, 
 carries his lambs in his arms — Isa. xl, 11. 
 Where God is, he will not be wanting in inward, 
 spiritual supports, under outward, temporal bur- 
 dens of what kind soever. 
 
 5. His presence makes all sweet. It sweetens 
 all family crosses. These are things which we 
 must count upon, and look for here, in this world. 
 But the presence of God takes out the sting — the 
 bitterness of every affliction, 'Tis this that puts 
 honey on every rod, 'Tis this that is the alone 
 comfort of a child of God at all times, and in all 
 
346 APPENDIX. NO. II. 
 
 conditions. See that promise, Isa. xliii. 2. — 
 » When thou passest through the waters, I will be 
 with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not 
 overflow thee ; when thou walkest through the 
 fire, thou shalt not be burned ; neither shall the 
 flame kindle upon thee. 
 
 It sweetens all family comforts. 'Tis the pre- 
 sence of God that is the sugar of all our enjoy- 
 ments. What are relations and friends without 
 God ? A spread table, a full cup, a warm house, a 
 soft bed, without God ? Mercies are then sweet 
 when we can see them come, not from a hand of 
 common providence, but from a hand of special 
 love. 'Tis the covenant, or rather, God in the 
 covenant, that puts milk into the breasts, wine 
 into the bottles of all creature comforts. All 
 creatures are that to us that God makes them. 
 
 6. His presence makes all successful. When 
 God was with Joseph, though in the narrow 
 sphere of a prison, all that he did was made to 
 prosper — Gen. xxxix. 23. The presence of God 
 in a house makes all the affairs to prosper, the 
 corn to prosper, and the cattle to prosper ; and all 
 to prosper as far as will be for good. It is pro- 
 mised (Psalm i. 3.) as part of the blessing. Job 
 xxii. 28. Psalm x-xxvii. 4, 5. Duet, xxviii. 3, 
 &c. ' He shall be like a tree planted by the 
 rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his 
 season; his leaf also shall not wither; and what- 
 
APPENDIX. NO. II. 
 
 347 
 
 soever he doeth shall prosper. Thou shalt also 
 decree a thing, and it shall be established unto 
 thee ; and the light shall shine upon thy ways. 
 Delight thyself also in the Lord, and he shall 
 give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy 
 way unto the Lord, trust also in him, and he 
 shall bring it to pass. Blessed shalt thou be in 
 the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field.' 
 
 If Laban's family prospered while Jacob was 
 there, much more will that family prosper where 
 the God of .Tacob is. 
 
 The psalmist gives us, in Psalm cxliv. 12 — 14, 
 a picture of outward prosperity, and his heart 
 was beginning to bless the covetous, and to say, 
 ' Happy is the people that is in such a case.' But 
 he soon corrects himself, ' Happy is the people 
 whose God is the Lord,' for they have all this, 
 either in kind, or kindness. 
 
 And now tell me, if the presence of God be not 
 very desirable in a house. 
 
 in. I AM TO DIRECT YOU WHAT TO DO, THAT 
 YOU MAY HAVE THIS PRESENCE OF GOD IN YOUR 
 HOUSES. 
 
 I hope you are convinced it is desirable, and 
 are truly willing to do any thing that you may 
 have it. Then, 
 
 1st. If you would have God come to you, 
 vou must invite him to come. Send a special 
 messenger to the throne of grace humbly to de- 
 
348 APPENDIX. NO. II. 
 
 sire the divine presence. Breathe out those 
 words of David, ' O when wilt thou come unto 
 me?' God will not come uninvited. You will 
 scarce come to a friend's house that does not de- 
 sire your company. 
 
 In the Gospels we find Christ once at a wed- 
 ding, but then he was called. John ii. 2. If the 
 divine presence be not worth the asking, it is not 
 worth the having, and then it is worth nothing. 
 
 Make an errand, then, to God, to intreat him 
 that he would be pleased to come under your 
 roof. Go to him, and tell him you have a house 
 at his service, and that you shall think it an 
 uncomfortable house if he does not come and 
 dwell with you in it. Tell him he shall be heartily 
 welcome to the best you have, and you are sorry 
 you have no better. Be earnest with him. Re- 
 solve to have no nay. — See Exod, xxxiii. 14, 15. 
 When Solomon had built a house, he made a 
 solemn business of inviting God to it (2 Chron. 
 vi. 41.). and he had a gracious answer (chap, 
 vii. 12.). This is called dedicating a house 
 (Psalm XXX.) the title — (Deut. xx. 5.) — passing 
 over the right of it to God, and to his service ; 
 and, where that is done in sincerity, God will be 
 sure to take possession. Open the gates to let 
 liim in (Psalm xxiv.) ; and say, as Laban to 
 Abraham's servant, (Gen. xxiv. 31.) 'Come in.' 
 
 2dly, If you would have God come and dwell 
 
APPENDIX. NO. II. 349 
 
 in your houses, you must bid him welcome into 
 your hearts, for it is the heart that God loolis for 
 — the heart that God calls for. If you had a 
 thousand houses, and should give them all to 
 God, and bid him welcome into them all, if you 
 should not give him your hearts, you would give 
 him nothing. Where God shall not be a heart- 
 guest, he will not be a house-guest. Plainly, 
 thus. If you would have God to come to you, 
 you must get him to be your friend, and then he 
 will be sure to come ; and how must that be done 
 but by making Christ yours by a true and lively 
 faith ; closing with him, accepting of him, making 
 him your friend, and then God in him will be 
 your friend too. Is this work done, or is it not ? 
 If not, do it, and do it quickly, as you tender the 
 welfare of your families ; for till this be done in 
 sincerity, God will never come near you nor 
 your house either. 
 
 Christ is said to ' dwell in the heart by 
 faith.' Eph. iii. 17. Now when Christ dwells 
 in the heart, then, and not till then, God will 
 dwell in the house. Now what say you to this? 
 If you would have God come to you, you must 
 come to him. Behold, he calls you — do you 
 come at his call, and then he will come at yours. 
 Admit Christ into your hearts ; put the key 
 into his hands ; let him have possession of every 
 30 
 
350 
 
 APPENDIX. NO. II. 
 
 corner of it: for assure yourselves, you cannot 
 have a better guest. 
 
 3dly. If you would have God come to your 
 houses, you must keep them clean swept from all 
 sinful pollutions: for what fellowship hath light 
 with darkness, Christ with Belial, or God with 
 sin ? Sin is the only thing that God hates ; and, 
 therefore, he will have nothing to do with those 
 hearts, with those houses, in which that is 
 uppermost. Will you lodge the traitor, the rebel, 
 in the best chamber, and then invite the Prince 
 to your house ? See Job xxii. 23. ' Thou shalt 
 put away all iniquity far from thy tabernacle.' 
 As you must not be wicked yourselves, so you 
 must see that none of yours be wicked. You 
 must use your authority with children and ser- 
 vants to keep them from sin. — Remember Eli : 
 how dear the indulgence of his sons cost him ; 
 there is a terrible Scripture, (Prov. iii. 33.) — " the 
 curse of the Lord is in the house of the wicked." — 
 Those that are housekeepers, if they be sin keep- 
 ers, the curse of the eternal God (hear this and 
 tremble) will rest upon them, and their house. 
 Will God dwell there, where drunkenness and 
 uncleanness are ; where cursing and swearing, 
 where lying and sabbath-breaking arc ? You 
 know he will not, therefore have nothing to do 
 with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather 
 reprove them, especially in those that are under 
 
APPENDIX. NO. II. 351 
 
 your charge, for to them you are reprovers by 
 odice. What hath God given you your author- 
 ity for, but that you may use it against sin ? 
 Take pattern by holy Jacob (Gen. xxxv. 2.) He 
 said unto his household, ' Put away the strange 
 gods that are among you ;' and holy David in 
 this psalm, (verses 3, 4, 5, 7.) which is called the 
 householder's psalm — ' I will set no wicked thing 
 before mine eyes : I hate the work of them that 
 turn aside : it shall not cleave to me. A froward 
 heart shall depart from me ; I will not know a 
 wicked person. Whoso privily slandereth his 
 neighbour, him will I cut off; him that hath an 
 high look, and a proud heart, will not I suffer. 
 He that workcth deceit shall not dwell within my 
 house : he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my 
 sight. 
 
 4thly. If you would have God to dwell in your 
 houses you must furnish them, and make them 
 ready for his entertainment. The Shunammite 
 woman, when she would have the prophet lodge 
 under her roof, provided prophet's furniture for 
 him, a bed, a table, a stool, and a candlestick ; 
 and then he turned in thither. 
 
 Now there are two things which you must set 
 up, and keep up, in your house for God, if you 
 would have him come and dwell with you ; these 
 are, a Throne and an Altar. 
 
 1st. You must set up a throne for him. You, 
 
352 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 and your house, must be truly willing to be 
 governed by hun in every thing. For God will 
 not dwell where he shall not rule. He will not 
 be a guest, where he shall not be a king. Where 
 he shall not be all in all, he will be nothing at all. 
 Let not those expect his blessing, that will not 
 bear his yoke. God will have the uppermost 
 place in the heart, and in the house too, or else 
 he will have none ; for God will come no where 
 to be an underling. Now what say you to this ? 
 Are you willing to have him upon these terms? 
 Will you promise that, by the grace of God, sin 
 shall not rule you, the world shall not rule you ? 
 For ♦ no servant can serve two masters. Ye 
 cannot serve God and mammon.' Luke xvi. 13. 
 God will not come to that house where the love 
 of the world reigns. I dare say he will not, for 
 ♦ the friends of the world are the enemies of God,' 
 James iv. 4. and God's enemies will not have 
 him to reign over them, Luke xix. ; and then, he 
 will never come near them unless to their ruin. 
 
 2d. You must set up an altar for him, and 
 it must be a smoking altar. I mean this : if you 
 would have God to dwell with you, you must set 
 up, and keep up, the daily worship of God in your 
 families. He expects and requires a lamb in the 
 morning, and a lamb in the evening. You know 
 what was Joshua's resolution ; ' As for me and 
 my house, we will serve the Lord.' Let it be 
 
APPENDIX. NO. II. 353 
 
 yours. Pray with your families. Read the 
 Scriptures to them, and sing Psahns. These are 
 the three great family duties ; and see that none 
 of them be neglected. Which of them is not very 
 profitable, and very comfortable ? Take some 
 time also to catechize your children and servants. 
 Teach them the good knowledge of the Lord. 
 God has committed them to your charge, and 
 expects from you an account of them. 
 
 Remember also to make a business, and to 
 make a conscience, of family worship. Be dili- 
 gent and serious in it. Consider what a God 
 you have to deal with, and carry it accordingly 
 in all your performances. Be careful to time 
 duty aright. 'Tis usually the earlier the better, 
 both morning and evening. Let not worldly 
 affairs crowd family worship into a corner, or 
 lead you to omit any part of it, or to huddle it 
 over slightly. 
 
 Especially be careful to sanctify the Sabbath in 
 your houses as well as in church. The fourth 
 commandment seems to be directed, especially to 
 masters of families. ' The seventh day is the 
 sabbath of the Lord thy God ; in it thou shalt not 
 do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, 
 thy man-servant, nor thy maid-servant, nor thy 
 cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates.' 
 If thou be careful and conscientious in this mat- 
 30* 
 
354 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 ter, go on and prosper ; and be assured that the 
 Lord is with you. 
 
 5thly. If you would have G' d to dwell in your 
 families, you must be very careful in the perform- 
 ance of the duties of your family relations ; as 
 superiors, inferiors, and equals, always remem- 
 bering, that we are really what we are relatively. 
 Study the law of the fifth commandment, and be 
 obedient to it. There is great duty in the conju- 
 gal relation. The husband's duty, is, to ' love his 
 wife even as himself,' The wife's duty is, to be 
 obedient to her husband in the Lord. The duty 
 of both is, to do all they can to help one another 
 to heaven ; to pray together, and be concerned 
 for the welfare of one another's souls. Parents' 
 duty is, to ' bring up their children in the nurture 
 and admonition of the Lord.' Masters' duty is, 
 to give their servants that which is just and 
 equal. Children are to obey their parents, and 
 servants their masters, in the Lord, These 
 duties are often mentioned in the Epistles, to shew 
 what stress God lays upon them. The great 
 family duty is mutual love and unity. See 
 Psalm cxxxiii. 
 
 To conclude. Now you see what you must do 
 that you may have the presence of God with you 
 in your houses. And, I think, in shewing you 
 what kind of presence that is, I have said enough 
 to persuade you to it. Now will you be persuad- 
 
APPENDIX. NO. in. 355 
 
 ed? If not, take what follows — the curse of 
 God. 
 
 If you will, be assured that God will certainly 
 come to you, and take up his abode with you, be 
 your house never so mean in this world ; and you 
 shall shortly go to him and take up your abode 
 Mith him in a better world. W^ith which words 
 comfort yourselves and one another. 
 
 No. III. 
 
 Account of tlic Death of the Rev. Matthew Henry, 
 from Mrs. Savage's Diary. 
 
 1714. Tuesday, June 22. This day brings an 
 affliction. We went, yesterday morning, to 
 Nantwich, to meet dear brother Henry in his re- 
 turn from Chester. When we came to Nantwich 
 he had met with a fall, but no seeming hurt ; said 
 he was well, and hastened to chapel, which was 
 filled with hearers, where he preached on Jeremi- 
 ah xxxi. 18. 'I have surely heard Ephraim be- 
 moaning himself thus ; Thou hast chastised me 
 and I was chastised, as a bullock unaccustomed 
 to the yoke ; turn thou me, and I shall be turned ; 
 for thou art the Lord my God.' (His farewell 
 sermo^n as it proved.) He did not preach with 
 
356 APPENDIX. NO. III. 
 
 thai vigour he used to have ; was something 
 short, and afterwards, exceedingly heavy and 
 sleepy. He was bled but towards morning grew 
 convulsed, and, about seven or eight o'clock, the 
 immortal spirit took flight to the land of everlast- 
 ting peace and rest, with very little extremity. 
 He could spend and be spent, and now he has 
 scaled it with his blood. Lord, what is man? 
 If a hair falls not, sure a head, such a head, 
 cannot fall without particular direction or disposal 
 of our heavenly Father. — What is this that God 
 has done unto us ? — Well may it be said, ' We 
 ai*e this day weak, our hands are feeble.' 
 
 Wednesday, June 23d. — I went to the place to 
 take leave of the dear earthen vessel, in which 
 was lodged such a treasure, and shall always re- 
 member there was nothing of death to be seen in 
 his face, but rather something of a smile. How 
 is the gold become dim, and the fine gold changed ! 
 — That head, that hand so fitted for service, now 
 cold and moveless. Lord, what is man, the 
 greatest, the best ? When God bids Moses go up 
 and die on Mount Nebo, it is observable, he adds 
 — ' As Aaron thy brother was gathered to his 
 people.' Sure this should mind me of my own 
 dissolution, as sprung from the same good olive, 
 and spending our childhood together, in much 
 comfort and pleasure, under that dear and benign 
 shadow. I have reason to think he loved me the 
 
APPENDIX. NO. III. 357 
 
 best of all his sisters, and it is with satisfaction I 
 tliink of the love I had for him, and the great 
 unity that was amongst us then, so that I do not 
 remember one angry or unkind word betwixt us. 
 O how happy a thing it is thus to dwell and not 
 have the sting of any unkindness in the reflection. 
 Though I well remember that I have thought my 
 dear mother had most tenderness and love for my 
 brother, yet I was so far from envying for his 
 sake, that I complied with her, and loved him 
 with a pure heart fervently. I remember the 
 many cares and fears I had for him when he was 
 ill of a fever at London, at Mr. Doolittle's, and 
 the strong cries and tears I offered in secret to my 
 heavenly Father, accompanied with a purpose of 
 a particular act of religion that I would be found 
 in, if God should hear prayer for him, and spare 
 him to us, greatly dreading how my dear parents 
 could bear the stroke, when I saw them so afflict- 
 ed for the death of Mr. Hosier, his companion and 
 friend. God was graciously pleased then to 
 hearken to our petitions, and give him to us 
 again ; but, afler a time, my good purposes (to 
 my shame) proved abortive. 
 
 Friday, June 25th. We gathered up the 
 mantle of this dear Elijah ; took the dear remains 
 to Chester, lodged them in the silent tomb — ' the 
 house appointed for all living.' We laid him in 
 Trinity church (by his dear first wife,) accom" 
 
858 APPENDIX. NO. III. 
 
 panicd with a vast crowd, desiring to pay their 
 tribute to his blessed memory, for so that of the 
 just man is. Before we came from Nantwich, 
 good Mr. Reynolds, preached in our chapel, from 
 that text — ' Well done, good and faithful servant.' 
 He shewed that our Lord Jesus will certainly 
 come again, and reward all his true and faithful 
 servants, and those whom he blesseth, are bless- 
 ed indeed. One inference I remember (among 
 many good ones) was, if our Lord does own and 
 commend them, he will not be displeased with us 
 for commending them, which, indeed, is comfor- 
 table, for this Demetrius had a good report of all 
 men, and we cannot but bear record. May I not 
 be slothful, but a follower of him in faith and 
 holiness, that I may share with him in that 
 blessed rest. We have no reason to weep for 
 him, but for ourselves. Our sins have provoked 
 God to put out this burning and shining light. 
 As to the manner of his death (being on a journey 
 and amongst strangers) I doubt not God had wise 
 and holy ends in so ordering it. Sad, sad, sad 
 tidings to his poor family. 
 
 Sabbath, June 27th. Mr. Mottershead preach- 
 ed for dear brother — ' My father, my father, the 
 chariots of Israel, and the horsemen thereof.' 
 God will own his faithfid servants living and 
 dying; the angels are fellow-servants with the 
 saints, and will attend them, and guard the pre- 
 
APPENDIX. NO. HI. 359 
 
 cious soul to the pvepared mansions. Many of 
 our crood friends mourn with us. I desire to sit 
 alone and keep silence. God's will be done, and 
 he docs all well and wisely. 
 
 I must not here omit what he himself spoke of 
 to Mr. lUidge, last May, in London, with much 
 affection, and said, it should be his particular say- 
 ing or motto, " Tliat a holy, heavenly life, spent 
 in the service of Cod, and communion with him, 
 is the most pleasant and comfortable life any one 
 can live in this world." 
 
 Dear brother's sudden removal has deprived us 
 of many excellent things that would no doubt have 
 dropped from him ; he only said once or twice, 
 " I bless God I have inward supports." Another 
 time he said, " Sin is bitter ;" but his head was 
 so soon seized, that it could not be expected, nor 
 did he say one word of his dear wife and 
 children. 
 
 What shall we say to these things ? ' The 
 gold is become dim, and the fine gold changed.' 
 I would be quickened to be doing my great work, 
 because I know not but my great Master may 
 come suddenly. O Lord, cause me to live as I 
 would die. Methinks my heart is so full of this 
 subject of dear brother, that I can scarce turn my 
 thoughts or pen to any other. I trust the re- 
 moval of such excellent ones will help more 
 
360 APPENDIX. NO. III. 
 
 to familiarize death to mc, and endear the heaven- 
 ly glory. 
 
 The Sabbath after good Mr. Gardner, at Ches- 
 ter, had the same text with our Mr. Mottershead. 
 Afterwards Mr. Worthington, his assistant, from 
 those words of our dying Lord — < Weep not for 
 me, but for yourselves, and your children.' So I 
 do, and shall. I am, sometimes, ready to say, I 
 shall go to the grave mourning for him, especially 
 for the sake of the young ones — the rising gene- 
 ration. 
 
 THE END.