cially feing it is for my fpirituall advantage? for I hope my foul shall flourish while my body decayes, and the weaknes of this outward man fhall bee a meanes to ftrenghten my inner man.

Yet a little while and he that fhall come will come, and will not tarry.

May 13, 1657.

A

S fpring the winter doth fucceed,

And leaues the naked Trees doe dreffe,
The earth all black is cloth'd in green;

At fvn-shine each their joy expreffe.

My Svns returned with healing wings,
My Soul and Body doth rejoice;
My heart exvlts, and praises fings

To him that heard my wailing Voice.

My winters past, my stormes are gone,
And former clowdes feem now all fled;
But, if they mvft eclipfe again,
I'le rvn where I was fuccoured.

I haue a fhelter from the ftorm,
A fhadow from the fainting heat;
I haue acceffe vnto his Throne,
Who is a God fo wondrous great.

O haft thou made my Pilgrimage
Thys pleafant, fair, and good;
Bleff'd me in Youth and elder Age,
My Baca made a fpringing flood?*

I ftudiovs am what I fhall doe,
To show my Duty with delight;
All I can giue is but thine own,
And at the most a fimple mite.

Sept. 30, 1657.

T pleased God to viset me with my old Distemper of

IT

weaknes and fainting, but not in that fore manner fomtimes he hath. I defire not only willingly, but thankfully, to fubmitt to him, for I trvft it is out of his abvndant Love to my straying Soul which in prosperity is too much in love with the world. I haue fovnd by experience I can no more liue without correction then without food. Lord, with thy correction giue Inftrvction and amendment, and then thy ftroakes shall bee welcome. I haue not been refined in the furnace of affliction as fome haue been, but haue rather been preferved with fugar then brine, yet will he preferve me to his heavenly kingdom.

Thus (dear children) haue yee seen the many fick

* See page 21 and note.

neffes and weakneffes that I haue paffed thro: to the end that, if you meet with the like, yov may haue recourse to the fame God who hath heard and deli

uered me, and will doe the like for yov if you tryft in him; And, when he shall deliuer yov out of distresse, forget not to giue him thankes, but to walk more. closely with him then before. This is the defire of your Loving mother, A. B.

In the fame book were vpon special occafions the Poems, &c., which follow added.

Vpon my Son Samuel his goeing for England, Novem.

6, 1657.*

HOU mighty God of Sea and Land,

THO

I here refigne into thy hand.

The Son of Prayers, of vowes, of teares,

The child I ftay'd for many yeares.†

Thou heard'ft me then, and gav'ft him me;

Hear me again, I giue him Thee.

He's mine, but more, O Lord, thine own,

For fure thy Grace on him is shown.
No freind I haue like Thee to truft,
For mortall helpes are brittle Dvst.

*He was her eldest child. See Introduction.

+ See page 5.

Preferve, O Lord, from stormes and wrack,
Protect him there, and bring him back;

And if thou shalt fpare me a space,

That I again may fee his face,

Then shall I celebrate thy Praise,

And Bleffe the for't even all my Dayes.

If otherwise I goe to Rest,

Thy Will bee done, for that is beft;
Perfwade my heart I fhall him fee

For ever happefy'd with Thee.

May 11, 1661.

T hath pleased God to giue me a long Time of re

IT

spite for these 4 years that I haue had no great fitt of ficknes, but this year, from the middle of January 'till May, I haue been by fitts very ill and weak. The firft of this month I had a feaver feat'd vpon me which, indeed, was the longest and forest that ever I had, lafting 4 dayes, and the weather being very hott made it the more tedious, but it pleafed the Lord to support my heart in his goodnes, and to hear my Prayers, and to deliuer me out of adverfity. But, alas! I cannot render vnto the Lord according to all his loving kindnes, nor take the cup of falvation with Thanksgiving as I ought to doe. Lord, Thou that knoweft All things know'ft that I defire to teftefye my

thankfullnes not only in word, but in Deed, that my Conversation may speak that thy vowes are vpon

me.

Y thankfull heart with glorying Tongue

MY

Shall celebrate thy Name,

Who hath reftor'd, redeem'd, recur'd
From ficknes, death, and Pain.

I cry'd thov feem'ft to make some flay,
I fought more earnestly;
And in due time thou fuccour'ft me,
And fent'ft me help from High.

Lord, whilft my fleeting time shall last,
Thy Goodnes let me Tell.

And new Experience I haue gain'd,
My future Doubts repell.

An humble, faitefull life, O Lord,

For ever let me walk;

Let my obedience teftefye,

My Praise lyes not in Talk.

Accept, O Lord, my fimple mite,
For more I cannot giue;

What thou beftow'ft I fhall restore,

For of thine Almes I liue.