A LEGACY FOR SAINTS; BEING SEVERAL EXPERIENCES of the deal of God with Anna Trapnel, In, and after her Conversion, (written some years since with her own hand) and now coming to the sight of some friends, they have judged them worthy of public view: Together with some Letters of a latter date, sent to the Congregation with whom she walks in the fellowship of the Gosspel, and to some other FRIENDS.  
London Printed, for T. Brewster, at the three Bibles in Paul's Churchyard, near London-House, 1654.   

To all that fear the Lord, under what form soever, who have fellowship with the Father, and his Son Jesus Christ; The Church of God usually meeting in Great Al-Hallows, London, (whereof Mr. John Simpson is Teacher) sendeth greeting.  
SOme Experiences of Anna Trapnell, our dea● Sister, now Prisoner in Bridewell, coming to our hands, we have perused and considered; And although the various and wonderful deal of God with her soul (known to many of us) for divers years last passed, are not herein mentioned, (as she intended, but was prevented by her present troubles) nevertheless, by our own hearts, we judge this small Legacy will be of much price and use to the Lords people: And seeing the malice of Satan, and hard measure from men, have endeavoured to bury her, both name, profession, (and if possible) spirit in her, whilst she yet lives, (and ●e think leans on her Lord's bosom.) Therefore is this Legacy now administered, which otherwise had waited the death of the Testatrix, as she fully purposed.  
All we conceive necessary to be said by us, concerning the Legacy itself, is only to give our Testimony, so far as we have knowledge (as our duty to God, and to his handmaid obligeth us) to the reality of the Experiences therein mentioned: whereof divers of us have been eye, and ear witnesses, and were with our Sister at several seasons, when she was under those particular deal of God. We purposely forbear to enlarge our commendations, because we apprehend this kind of Subject is always best commended by that presence and efficacy of God which he pleaseth to afford; and also, because we would not in the least degree infringe your liberty, to taste and try what spirit and excellency is in it, and so to judge freely (yet with seriousness, as having to do with God therein) what entertainment and esteem it deserves: we are also engaged by our duty, to give you some account of the person, by whom this Lagacy is bequeathed, who is indeed under much reproach and misrepresentation among all sorts of people; and we apprehend we might without offence say, made a spectacle to the whole Land, being rendered a Contemner of Scriptures, of Ordinances, and of late, as one of a vile Conversation; For her present imprisonment at Bridewell (if it were not so intended) cannot but suggest extreme scandal, and viciousness touching her, to all that hear thereof, though we that know her, and the cause for which she is laid there, are not ashamed of her, or it, and hope we never shall be, which is all we shall now say to that: Only give us leave briefly to impart (for your satisfaction) what we have known of her, for we have had communion with her in the light, love, spirit and ordinances of the Gospel, divers years, and to this day also, so far as we can obtain it, for the restraint she is now under; and are able to say, in opposition to what she is aspersed with, That  
1. She hath the Scriptures in very great regard; as that holy word which hath flowed from God, by men who had extraordinary inspiration and ability to give it forth, according to what hath been apprehended among the most sober and spiritual Saints from time to time, concerning the same; with the excellency whereof she professeth herself much ravished, making it her business to study, and to live in the power and spirit of them: whose profession and principles, having suffered many assaults and temptations herein, she remains exceedingly confirmed in her persuasions of, and love to the truth, holiness, authority, and precious usefulness of the Scriptures.  
2. She is for the spiritual exercise of all the ordinances of God, to the uttermost degree of light she enjoys; against Ranters, profane Notionists, and all sorts of men of scornful opinions to the contrary: for which we have not only her word, but her practice with us, which doth best express any one's principle.  
And touching the Ministry (because in relation thereunto also, a very hard sentence is passed upon her) there is this to be offered in vindication of her; that her principle is plain and firm for it, and that she doth much love and reverence, own all Ministers that enter in by the door, and have the true unction; her dissatisfaction is only to that standing, and institution which hath been by Bishops (it being derived from Rome) or such as are evidently after that pattern; and that also without the least prejudice to the grace of God in any.  
3. Her conversation (for any thing that ever came to our knowledge) we must testify hath been very beautiful and unblameable: exceeding unworthy of those black mouths which have been opened against it, and of those injurious hands she hath fallen into.  
We might say much of her tender conscience, her sweet, meek, sober, exemplary temper, and impartial love to all Saints: and also her freedom and desire to have communion with them upon that old, large, and universal principle of Saintship and union with Christ, wherein we know her to be very excellent, as some letters of her own (which we have thought our duty to make public) will more effectually declare, than we are able.  
This short Testimony we have thought fit to send abroad with this Legacy and Letters of our dear Sister, for the exoneration of our duty to God, to her, and to your souls, which we would not have indisposed (by any hard thoughts that reports may beget, concerning the person whose it is) to re●p the fruit, and refreshment which (our god blessing) may redound thereby.  
Dated the 9 of the 5. month 1654. Signed in the name, and by appointment of the congregation, in the absence of our Teacher, by john Proud Elder, Caleb Ingold Decon.   

Reader, thou art desired before thou readest this small Legacy, to take notice of these few faults, and mend them, which by reason of the difficulty of the Copy, being old written and torn, have escaped the Press.  
AS in page 15. line 6. for Aninomian, read Antinomian, p. 24. l. 19 r. the soul is made, p. 30. l. 1. for from r. for, p. 31. l. 31. for men r. me, p. 33. l. 27. for 3 Joh. r. 1. p. 35. l. 8. for words, r. worlds, p. 38. l. 31. for the 40. of Isa r. 29. p. 41. l. 2. for joh 1. 14. r. 14. and 1●.   

A LEGACY FOR SAINTS.  
SOme experiences of the workings of God in legal convictions, and in the time of childhood. First, When a child, than the Lord awed my Spirit, and for the least trespass, my heart was smitten, and though my godly mother did not see me offend, that she might reprove me, which she was ready to do, being tender of the honour of her beloved Saviour, even for the least secret sin, that the world calls a trifle; though I thought it nothing, yet still the allseeing [eye] watched my ways, and he called to me, though I knew him not, yet he kept me● and his banner over me was love; and though my nature was as corrupt as any, a child of wrath as well as others, and forward to do evil, and backward to that which is good, yet still I was under the awaking of Jehovah.  
Further, when I was about 14. years of age, I began to be very eager and forward to hear and pray, though in a very formal manner; Thus I went on some years, and then I risen to a higher pitch, to a more sp●ritu●l condition, as I thought, and I followed after that Ministry that was most pressed after by the strictest Professors, and I ●an with great violence, having a great zeal, though not according to knowledge, and I appeared a very high grown Christian in the thoughts of many, I had great parts, in prayer great inlargements, and in discoursing and repeating of Sermons, I was very forward, and did it with great delight and affection, and much trembling of spirit was upon me, but I was in all this very legal, and yet more legal; providence ordered that I should hear Mr. Peter's speak from those words, in the 26. of Isaiah the 20. verse, Come my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee, hid thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast. From these words he opened the marriage Covenant that is between God and his Spouse; from that word. Come, he shown the sweet compellation of God, to his Covenanted people; then I was convinced of the excellency of that condition, to be in Covenant, and to know it upon good grounds, which I was very ignorant of; and though I thought myself in a very good condition before, yet now it seized upon my spirit, that surely I was not in the Covenant, and if I were, I should know it; and I still cried out, oh what shall I do to know it! without the knowledge of God, to be my God, I am undone; my spirit is filled with horror, and the terrors of the Law exceedingly oppressed me, and I ran from Minister to Minister, from Sermon to Sermon, but I could find no rest; I could not be contented to hear once or twice in the week; but I must hear from the first day to the last, and thought that not enough neither; and if I had not shed some tears in a Sermon, I then went home full of horror, concluding myself to be that stony ground Christ spoke of in the parable of the sour; I apprehended Divine displeasure against me, leaving me in a feared condition, giving me over to blindness of mind, and hardness of heart for ever; and when I have been hindered from hearing a Sermon which I desired to hear, I have concluded that I might have received Christ in that Sermon, which being shut out from, I was shut out from Christ, that being the time that Christ should have been tendered to me, the which I missed, and so should be without Christ for ever. Such bondage I was under, that had I neglected a duty, or an opportunity of hearing, though a lawful occasion hindered, and I could not be said to neglect, yet it sorely seized upon me, that I had; And I was damned, one set a part for destruction, and I was strongly tempted to destroy myself, which had not divine power prevented, I had been a murderer of my own life, and of their lives that I loved most entirely, I have been waked in the night by the devil for this very purpose, and directed where to have the knife, and what knife I should take; & these assaults followed me not seldom, but very often, which made my poor soul and body exceedingly to tremble; I was exceedingly hurried to duty, & to Ordinances, so that I could not sleep in my bed, & was carried one while to draw forth a good condition from marks and signs, and if they were not in view, than my joy and comfort was gone, and my spirit was full of horror; love to the godly I thought had been an infallible sign to witness my good condition, and my thoughts much dwelled upon those words, I Joh 3.14. We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. Now than I came to examine my love, and to compare it to that love which was among the Saints, spoken of in Scripture, which was not a first evidence neither.  
This prop I was quite taken off from, I was now as a cripple, when his crutches are taken from him he falls; so my spirit was laid flat on the ground, and I was convinced that it was the Spirit alone that witnesseth to the creature its good condition, and all witnesses were nothing, if the Spirit did not witness: I was as if I had never heard of a Spirit, though I had professed much some years before; but because I went about to establish a righteousness of my own, as it were by the works of the Law, therefore I was left in the dark concerning the righteousness of the Lord Jesus, which I thought I had not denied; and if any that were Gospel enlightened Saints, had said to me, you rest in your good works, and expect to be saved some other way then alone by Jesus Christ, I looked upon them as doing me great wrong, and speaking very false, I thought, and I would say so to them, I am not so ignorant to look upon my works as any thing; but I was made to acknowledge afterward, that I had let up my own works in the room of Christ, and the Lord stripped me at last of all gifts and inlargements in duty, and I was stricken dumb, or else fast asleep, when I have set myself to pray, and it was indeed self that the Lord struck dumb, though I then beheld it not, but was sore wounded, being persuaded that I was for ever shut out from the presence of God, which weight I could hardly bear, it was so burdensome, that I still cried out, what shall I do? and all my prayer that was left me was this, Give me Christ, or else I die. Now nothing but a Christ would serve my turn, before it I could have had tears or any relent for sin, or inlargements in duty, I was well enough, but the only wise God knew it was best for me to be deprived of these which I so much builded upon and made idols of; I was as much troubled as Micah was, when Israel carried away his God.  
I am persuaded that bare Professors are the greatest Papists in the world; spiritual idolatry is the worst; and my experience teacheth me, that one may be a great worshipper of Idols, and yet never bow down to a picture: But oh when the Lord took away my gods, how I lamented! and the more spiritual my company was in their discourse, the more stony hearted I was; I could freely speak to those that lived under an old administration, my spirit being under the same, a legal discourse suited best with me; when I have been among those that have been filled with joy, being Proffessors of Divine love, and much acquainted with free grace in the power of it, which I was very ignorant of, so that their company was burdensome to me, yet I could not keep from them; sometimes I have gone from them full of horror, and my heart ready to burst, and my countenance hath startled them that have come to visit me; they have said I looked so ghastly, that they were affrighted to see me, ask me what I ailed, which I could hardly tell them, I was so filled the with terrors of the Law; I have come from hearing the word preached even distracted, so that my mother would say to me, if thou dost fast so day after day, and run thus up and down, the devil will take advantage against thee; but I could not endure to be spoken to, my spirit was so peevish and froward, and I apprehended I was never the better for my hearing so much, and praying and fasting, yet I could not forbear.  
And many that were enlightened in the doctrine of free grace, took a great deal of pains with me; persuading me to hear those Ministers that taught most upon the doctrine of free grace, but I could not relish that doctrine, it was such a cold, lean, poor discovery, I thought; I being under the flashes of hell, I delighted in the thunderings of the Law, and they pleased me best that preached most upon the Law, and that pressed legal qualifications, which I strove to come up to, and thought I should never have Christ without I was so qualified, as I was taught, unto which I could not attain, for all my struggling and striving after it, which made me conclude that I was not elected, if I were, I should be made conformable to his Image, who is holy which I was not, and therefore I was none of Christ's flock, which condition was very dreadful to me to be without Christ; and I could not receive a word of satisfaction from any, though some would say to me, dost thou not love Christ? I would say, but how shall I know whether my love be true love? I may think I love Christ, and deceive myself, I not being able to judge of may love, whether it were right or no; and therefore I was so puzzled, because I looked for that in the first place, which should come in as a second evidence, which caused my spirit continually to be in a hurry: I delighted to hear much of Christ preached to righteteou one's, but I cared not to hear Christ preached to sinners, for I looked first for holiness, and then for Christ.  
But the great and glorious God at length throughly convinced me of his justifying ungodly ones, and that he sent Christ not to call the Righteous, but Sinners, and he came to save the chiefest of sinners; and now I began to hearken to free grace, and I saw nothing else could revive me, and I found my spirits a little stayed, in listening to the free tenders of Christ, and then I was put upon arguing with God, entreating him to give me Christ, which he had given as the only object for poor sinners to fly unto, being stung with sin, he was the brazen Serpent that the father set up for to heal, and take away that sting of sin; and now, though I could not come unto God as a righteous one, I could come as a sinner, and beg of God to receive me, being such an object that he sent forth his love to, commending it to sinners, and to rebels; and I desired, oh that I might be one of those rebels that might have a pardon, were it upon never so hard terms; and truly I sound God trying me to purpose: it was a very hard thing to me to be ranked amongst the vildest miscreants in the world, and to behold myself as bad as the greatest adulterer or blasphemer in the world, which I looked upon to be a great deal vilder than I, and further from Gods accepting; but this conceit, free grace laid in the dust, and Divine light shown me the spawn and seed of all sin within my corrupt nature, which made me to lie in the dust, and to cry out, Lord let free grace own me, else I am undone; when the Law of the Spirit came, then sin revived, and I died; it shown me every secret sin that I saw not before, so that all my sins were set in order before me, and I beheld them innumerable; Oh what a deplored condition was I i● forlorn and without hope, nothing now could comfort me but the true Comforter, and nothing could speak peace to my soul but Christ; I saw I was undone, without the Son looked upon me, and my spirit grew very restless, and my thirst was very great: oh how I long after the water of life! I often told God, I c●uld not subsist without it, a general promise would not serve my turn; though it a little quiteted me when I was in great agonies, yet I could not be satisfied without a knowledge of God as my father; I thought to hear of an inheritance, and not to have an interest in it, it did but aggravate my sorrow, I must have a particular promise, the Spirit also to bear witness to my spirit, and sealing me up to the day of Redemption; I must have an assurance upon good grounds, my heart could not now cheat me with a counterfeit assurance, it had so often deceived me, and made me take comfort from false grounds, and still carried me about, but never brought me to my journey's end, I entered not into my true rest till the Lord brought me to cease from my own works, and to take a Christ upon his own terms; Oh what a knotty piece was I for the great Jehovah to work upon! until he put forth his mighty power, I could not believe; though many that cried down free grace as a doctrine of liberty to sin, I found no doctrine so striking at my sins as it, and though some would tell me I had found out an easy way to heaven now, to go to heaven in believing, but I found it a hard way, yea, impossible, for I could not believe till the day of God's power; I found it as easy to keep the whole Law, as to believe; I saw it alone the work of the most high, and in his own time his arm brought salvation to the heart of a poor miserable lost creature; had it not been for free grace, which I must continually acknowledge, and ascribe praise to him, who is worthy of honour for evermore.  
I could speak much concerning the time of my sorrow, of my terrors and perplexities, and sore plunges, I could make a large rehearsal, I could tell you much of the sad apprehensions I had of my eternal condition, which I have but as it were given you a little hint of, my condition in the time of my bonds, but my desire now is rather to tell you of my freedom, unto which I hasten; though I know that these mourning experiences may be of great use to the sorrowful and troubled spirit, that lieth languishing for want of the light of assurance, which God doth see good for a time to conceal from his beloved's, that he hath loved with an eternal love, which in time be draweth with loving kindness; Therefore let not any poor soul despair, there is free grace enough, an ocean, to swallow up, not my sins only, but many more, a fountain open for all manner of sins, be they never so great: poor souls! you cannot outsin mercy, your sins are finite, but grace is infinite; do not think that any sin can shut thee out of divine love, if it could, it would have shut me out, for certain I am, that no heart could be more desperately wicked than mine, no ones sins could be of a more scarlet dye then mine, strong unbelief, continually departing from the living God, as full of heart hypocrisy as I could hold; Oh let sinners admire free grace with me, that hath freed me from as stony, as seared, benumbed, senseless a condition, as any could or can be in; hearing or reading, or Saints speaking to me, was as to one deaf; I still concluded my condition to be like theirs the Scripture speaks of, that were given up by the Lord to blindness of mind, and hardness of heart; I thought confidently God had given me to know that I should perish for ever, but God's thoughts at length appeared higher than mine, as the Heavens are higher than the Earth; and when my Spirit had thus been upon the rack for a season, and tossed up and down with the waves of a continual accusing troubled conscience; And none spoke any word that did in the least measure revive me, till that voice sounded that I could not contradict, but I did withstand it, and repulse it as long as I could, and when it spoke as a still small voice, I rejected it a week, before I felt, heard and saw that glorious light and power, sounded into my spirit, which caused an echo, or answer from my spirit in believing the testimony of the Spirit, but that small voice made such a report in my soul, which made me to listen; it was such a speaking that I had not heard before, therefore it was very strange to me; the word I had was this, Christ is thine, and thou art his; and no word was spoken to my spirit for six or seven days but this; it followed me where ever I went; sometimes as I have been going along the streets, I have looked behind me, thinking I had heard some local voice, a voice without me, but sure it was because I was unacquainted with the voice of the Spirit speaking in, or to the soul; I ofttimes turned back when I have been going along the streets, to see who it was that spoke, taking that for visible which was invisible; I did not know that I had read such a word in the Scripture, that the Spirit spoke to me; but before my heart was brought over to believing the same power that raised Christ from the grave, appeared in destroying that strong unbelief, that made me departed from the living God; and as in the fullness of time, Almighty power brought Christ into the world, and into the grave, it raised Christ also out of the grave; this same power was a hand by Divine appointment, leading me through varieties of inward bitter desolations, until it brought me not only to the gates, but into a heaven of sweet consolation.  
Now I shall by the assistance of the Spirit, tell the time when my heart was brought to believe the pardon of my sins past, present, and to come, by an act of grave through the blood of the Lord Jesus, which I clearly saw by the light of the Spirit, bearing witness to my Spirit, that Christ was mine, and I was his.  
The time, the year 1642. the day, the first of the first month, called January, it being the first day of the week, commonly called the Sabbath day, which was indeed a Lords day to my soul.  
While Mr. John Simpson was preaching from that Scripture, in the 8 of the Romans, the words are these. Now if any man have not the spirit of Christ, be is none of his.  
Many Sermons he preached from this Scripture, and he had showed that the Spirit might be in that soul that was very dark, and much confused in its apprehensions of Christ, as he proved from John 14.5, 6, 7. Thomas faith unto Christ, Lord we know not wh●ther thou goest, and how should we know the way? Christ in the 4. verse told them, they knew whither he went, and the way they knew, and he tells them that they had known the Father and seen him, and yet they said they knew not; so that the Disciples of Christ had sometimes a confused knowledge of the Father and yet they had both seen and known; so that from thence was proved, that many poor souls might have the Spirit, as was instanced in many particulars; that the Spirit might be in the soul, though it could not make it out, through that exceeding hurry the soul lay in, being still in a confusion, its darkness being not dispelled by the glorious manifestation of the light of the spirit, sealing it up to the day of Redemption.  
My Spirit was under much trembling, for fear it should still be said that I had none of the Spirit, which often was a terrible sound within me, which I still dreaded, and my spirit cried out to the Lord; when this Sermon before mentioned upon that 8. of the Romans was almost ended, I said, Lord I have the Spirit, in this confused manner as I found a witness within me that I had the Spirit in those particulars that were declared, but my spirit strongly run out to the Lord for a clear manifestation of his love in Christ, and suddenly my soul was filled with joy unspeakable, and full of glory in believing, the spirit witnessing in that word, Christ is thy well-beloved, and thou art his; my soul was now full of joy as it could hold, now I saw all my sins laid upon Jesus Christ, and when he was sacrificed, all my sins were sacrificed with him; oh what triumphing and songs of Hallelujah were in my spirit, I knew not where I was, nor how to get out of the place where I sat, I apprehended nothing but a clothing of glory over my whole man; I never beheld Saints as I did then, I saw their faces like the face of Angels; Oh what Angelical creatures did they appear before me, full of shining brightness! oh what a heart inflamed now was mine, filled with the flame of Divine love! there appeared now no smoke, but a clear flame, nothing now before me but crystal appearances: oh how my soul was enamoured with Christ! Earth was now gone, and heaven come; the unclean spirit dispossessed, the pure spirit now possessed, taking my soul from the dunghill, and setting it upon the throne, my natural food I tasted not till now, it was bitter to my taste; but oh now, every bit of bread I eat, how sweet was it to my taste! Christ sweetened every creature to me, oh how sweet was the feasts of love, that my soul was made partaker of in very creature! oh what a rebound doth Divine love make in the soul! I could not keep love in, it would flame forth into a declaration, I must now tell Saints what I had now received from the spirits testimony, and that they might praise with me, having mourned with me; I told them I had now seen him whom my poor spirit doubted I should never have beheld, I called to others to come and taste how sweet and loving Christ is to sinners; now Sermons appeared living to me; where Christ was preached most to sinners, I delighted most in such a Ministry, and still went away with melody in my heart; for a whole year after, I was sealed up to the day of Redemption, I had exceeding raptures of joy very frequent, little or no intermissions, no questions or doubtings in the least measure, but my seat was still for constancy, a seat of joy and spiritual mirth, though sometimes the golden trumpet sounded higher, and sometimes lower, yet it still was sounding, and caused an echo to follow it.  

A sore combat after the Spirits testimony.  
THe time of that glorious sealing me, was after that testimony in which my spirit was set at liberty, that day before mentioned, being the first day of the week, and year 1642. upon the third day of that week and year, my occasions called me to Stepny, where I lodged at my Uncles all night, and my Aunt coming up into the Chamber to me, she said to me, Cousin, the Lord hath taken your mother from you, now labour to be married to Christ, you have nothing to take up your time, but to labour for Christ; I answered, I hope I am married to Christ; but as soon as my Aunt was gone down stairs from me, the Lord spoke to me, and said, I have made thee as sure of salvation, as I am God in heaven; why didst thou say thou hopest, and didst not rather tell that thy God had assured thee that Christ was thine, thou having such a clear testimony of the spirit, witnessing with thy spirit in such a bright light of glory, that thou couldst not but assent to it, thou shouldst now have declared it?  
Satan presently was let lose upon me, as soon as the Lord had spoken these words, which I am sure was from the Lord, they came in such Majesty, that caused all my joints to tremble, and sore perplexed I was; Satan buffeted, and my own heart strongly set upon me, persuading me that I had fallen from grace, and I had denied the Spirits work in me, and now I was nearer to perishing then ever; very hideous thoughts I was filled with and nothing but blackness before me; now I had sinned against the spirit, and this was more dreadful to me then all the time of my bondage, for I thought now the unclean spirit would have torn me a pieces, I was so terrified I could not go to bed till midnight, but walked about the chamber hearing nothing, nothing but damnation and hell set before me, I thought my torment to be as great as any of the damned, wherein it was a terrible hell to me for the time, which time, the endeared love of the Father suffered not to be long, it was not above three hours; my heavenly Father knew, had that extremity of spirit lasted long, it would have consumed my vital spirits, but as love moved my Father to speak kindly to my distressed spirit, in taking away this unexpressible torment, he gave me unexpressible glory and refreshing; And when I gave up all that I had received for lost at the very nick of time, and this night that was so dreadful to me, before the morning light my spirit was full of light, and a greater shining light than I saw before, I now beheld; And the spirit speaking that word in great power, Christ is thine, and thou art his, and the gates of hell shall never prevail against thee, all the power and policy of the devil shall not hurt thee, so as to deprive thee of thy Saviour. I had the representation of a seal set upon the wax, the spirit as fire made my stony spirits pliable for it to leave its mark or impression and stamp was set on my spirit, now I felt, saw and heard, that I never did before: oh that Arras of glory, that now was my clothing! now was I made like my Saviour, a crown given me, not made with pearls or rich diamonds, but far richer, not to be valued; earth cannot wear this crown, it's only the heaven of God that must enjoy this prerogative, it's those that are made Kings and Priests unto God, that are thus honoured; oh how transcendently glorious is the true sealing of the Spirit! sure no tongue is able to speak it out, the pen of the readiest writer cannot write this, it may give some hints of this seal, but for depth, length, and breadth, who can give a full description or relation of it, it is a thing impossible to be published? Oh than you sealed ones, come admire with me, who can tell forth Zions glory? Can not Paul tell what he saw in the third heavens? How then shall we declare our heaven's glory, when we know not whether we are in the body or out? Our joy is such, when the spirit takes us up, we know not where we are, for that present, though afterward it may be we are found in the Isle of Pathmos, our bodies may be found amongst the Babylonians, yea, and our spirits too, our communion taken away, but not our union; no doubting or questioning concerning that, though there may be much dissertion and darkness, as I shall tell you God willing, he giving me life to accomplish my desire, which is to leave the Saints a Legacy of experiences, that they may read, not my works, but the spirits works, and so admire him who is most worthy, when I am gone hence, and shall be no more seen.  
And if I vary concerning some experiences in this, in respect of doubting, and questioning union after sealing, it is my own experience, I must not record another's experience; it may be some may scruple at it, and therefore I thought fit to mention it.  
After my Spirit received the seal of the Spirit, I had abundance of raptures of joy, some when I have gone along the street, my raptures hath been such, that I minded not the ground I went upon, but divers times have been ready to fall flat on the plain ground; I have had sometimes so great ravishing of spirit, when I have been alone in a room by myself, my outward man hath been so altered on a sudden, to the view of those that have been in the house, which have found me alone, and not able to speak to them for a season, so that they have been frighted, thinking me not to be in health; and they beholding the tears falling from my eyes, have wondered what I ailed; but it was because the Son of righteousness shone hot upon my spirit, which caused a melting into tears, and many Scriptures opened to me, which I spoke to them that sat by, which have been astonished to hear and see a poor creature so filled, but it was Christ in me making use of me to publish the excellency of Jesus Christ, which my soul was so enamoured with; that my old Aunt sitting by me, said, she had lived above threescore years, and yet never felt such joy of the spirit, and yet a very godly woman; she wept to see me so, her heart was much affected. And this year in which I was newborn, I shall (the Lord helping me) give forth some few of those discoveries, which whole volumes cannot contain; Let free grace have all the glory.  
Oh to be in Christ! who can tell out his or her estate, night and day? How pleasant is it? Such a one where ever it goes, cannot but set forth it's beloved, it cannot tell how to speak of any thing else but Christ, it cannot tarry there where it may not speak of its Saviour; no language is pleasant to it, but that wherein its God is exalted; oh how sweet was my sleeping and waking, still I had rest in the bosom o● Jesus, oh what a great delight I had to be amongst the Saints, and my heart was full of zeal for his glory? oh what an eagerness and forwardness there is to receive good, and to do good in that time of the souls first conversion! then it's forward to suffer any thing for Christ; nick names are nothing to it, scandals and reproaches it can trample under foot; but when the doctrine of free grace was nicknamed, as some would tell me it was a doctrine of liberty to sin, than I could not but speak sharply to such; I found no doctrine leading to holiness so much as it, no salve drawing out corruptions and ill humours like this, no plaster healing the most desperate wound, like the plaster of free grace; its cleansing physic, it runneth between the marrow and the bones; sinners, would you be rid of bloody sins! Free grace hath opened a fountain for to wash in, not only your feet, but head and hands, yea your whole man; in this fountain I was cleansed, by this wine my drooping spirits were revived, Christ was that good Samaritan, that found me wounded, whom the Law nor Priest did not pity; legal threaten, and legal promises looked upon me, but pissed by and left me wallowing in blood, and pained with wounds; and if it had not been for that tender hearted Samaritan Jesus Christ, I had perished; oh how comfortable was his oil and wine to my wounds! great was his care for me, no tender mother like to Jesus; the Saints told me when I mourned for the loss of my tender mother, that Christ would be more tender, and would be all to me in the loss of earthly comforts; and he was more to me then they told me, he was double comfort, and a Comforter that hath tarried and abided with me, and will abide with me for ever, a Comforter that was still revealing love, and bringing love tokens to my soul, and setting before me varieties of dishes at every bankquet, for a year together, my meat was sweet meats from heaven, my drink wine upon the lees, wines well refined, milk and honey was my ordinary dish, the least appearance of God was marvellous sweet some days and nights I had feasts full of marrow, and visious full of glory.  
In the night before sleep had seized upon me, a bright light shined round my head visible and in the midst of that light stood one all in white, in the likeness of a creature all covered with brightness, my outward man at this light was stricken very weak, and all in a sweat but I received much joy, and was bid by the inward speaking of the spirit not to fear, for I had seen an Angel; surely it was a very glorious vision, such a perfume was left in my spirits all that night, and my strength of body given me as soon as this vision was ended, and I was full of triumphing in the Lord, who killeth and maketh alive; oh how sweet are true visions! oh that I could praise more that God that hath, is, and will be gracious to me for ever! my song was when the sentence of death was on my earthly Tabernacle, by reason of illness I still was filled with this joyful long; Oh death where is thy sting? Oh grave where is thy victory? Death was still presenced without a sting, and the Law without strength, these were now dissolved and gone, and I see an accomplishment of the great work of Redemption by Jesus Christ; I could not but dance before this Ark, though Michols mocked; I must declare that I was passed from Mount Sinai, into the Regions of Mount Zion, where I saw an end of the Law for Righteousness sake to every one that believes; not that I was now without Law unto God, neither despised I any part of the Law, but beheld it good, if a man or woman use it lawfully, the Apostle could not have said the Law had been faulty as in the Hebrews: But in respect of our corruptness, in the using of it, we it were that were faulty, not the Law in itself, that was pure, but I looked not where I might not only see it in its purity without me, but enjoy it within me, which while I looked first on commands and then on promises, I could not attain to it; but when I beheld first promises, and then commands, now I see an attaining to the Law of righteousness, though not in or by myself, yet in and by another; now I looked on the Law and legal precepts with an Evangelicall eye, whereas before the light of the spirit cam●, I turned Gospel into Law, but now appeared a harmony between both; a Law within me, not making void that without me, but now was given me a help meet, in beholding moral precepts in Evangelicall arms, Sinai's voice in Zions breast, now frowns are gone, and similes are come, thunder is fallen, and the still voice is risen, death under, life in the top, which crown sin nor Satan can never deprive Saints of, for Saints are not under legal precepts, but under Gospel commands, and in this sense they are dead to the Law by the life or Christ in them.  
And for this tenant of truth, I passed under the name of Aninomian, but praised be the Lord, I was not one by adherency, though by imputation; Antinomianism was not inherent in me, or adhered to by me, this name in plain terms is liberty to sin; as the Devil nick names Saints, so he neck names the doctrine of grace too, and sin which is like himself, he puts upon is a nickname garment, greater is he that is within Saints, than he that is in the world, Saint's garment is Jesus Christ, and nothing can rear or rent, or defile this garment; Saints clothing is the purest white, no dirt throwed upon it can soil it; oh Saints rejoice with me; shall we be found worthy to enter in at the strait gate, and plucked into the house by the hand of the Angel of the new Covenant, when they without shall be stricken with blindness, and so not able to find he door? Why must a Zoar be preserved for us, and a Sodom set on fire? Why must some be vessels of dishonour, and some of honour, some that are highways, and liars about in the hedges, fetched in to sup with Christ, and the grave ones of the world must not so much as have a taste of Christ's dainties? F●ee grace, and nothing but free grace makes us to differ from others; oh let the redeemed of the Lord say so, let not Zion boast of her own righteousness, which she hath done, but let her look by whom she hath her dignity, who strikes off all self-boasting; the more free grace is apprehended, the more self-righteousness is reprehended, the creature can never learn the lesson of humiliation and self-denial, till it hath been in the School of free grace, that is, the free School where the best learning is to be had, the poor and fatherless here find mercy; and here the Governor of this Free-school receiveth every poor Orphan, he refuseth none that comes, though they have not one friend to make suit for them; nay, such are soon entertained that trust wholly to this great Governor's mercy, they have the best learning, here is no respect of persons, but the poor beggar that lieth in the street, that knows not where to have a bit of bread, lath nothing but a clothing of tatters, to outward view a very miserable creature, such a one more respected than a rich Dives that goeth in his velvet and diadems of gold very day; oh what manner of love is this! that makes no difference between fools and learned ones, preferring idiots before the wisdom of the world, making the ignorant and erring Spirit to have the greatest understanding? Surely such must needs magnify free grace; oh how low is that creature in its own eyes, that lives in the spirit, and fetcheth nothing from its own free will, or from any work of his own, but all from Christ he sticks no flower in his bosom, but that which none can snatch from him; his walks of delight, is in no garden but where he may see his beloved walk before him; the Saint that is throughly spiritual, loves dearly to walk enclosed in the arms of its Saviour, and to be embraced by him, and kissed with the kisses of his mouth, for his love is better than wine; the spirits of wine hath a great efficacy in quickening those that faint and sound away, but of a stronger efficacy is divine love, it makes dead souls live, yea, though they are as a tree twice dead and plucked up by the roots, dead once, and plucked up, and set again and again, and pruned and dunged, and it becomes withered, dead; though sin hath killed the soul, so as to make it whither, no convictions, no legal promises, those are such promises that are made with conditions, no such striving can fetch life into one dead in sin and trespasses; all struggling and striving in this case, is but like the pains which the gardener takes with dead plants, that passeth his skill to recover, but what the skill of the Gardener cannot reach, Divine love can; the dead withered soul, though to its own view, and to others view it appear irrecoverable, Divine love lifts this dead soul, though it hath lain in the grave of sin, that in the thoughts of others, it's quite putrified, as they thought of Lazarus body: Let not dead souls be discouraged, for there is life enough for them, when not appehended by them; once my note was nothing but sorrowful complaining of a dead, seared, stony, hard heart, a Spirit I though: nothing could have stuck upon it, or have soaked into such a heart so hard; as it was often my expression, my heart nothing can possible enter it, for it is as hard surely, as the nether millstone, I could not tell what to liken it to, I thought it harder than any thing; yet though it was very hard, melting love wrought upon it.  
Now I wrought from life, and not for it, the spirit makes every duty a pleasure, whereas I sorely tugged to get up my heart in a duty, when I looked upon it as a task which I must do, and provide straw too, it was a burden I greatly groaned under; when I was put upon duties by a command, and I had no frame of spirit suitable, nor no words, I had nothing to fulfil my task, and yet I was pressed to do it, or else the threatening reached me, and terrified; but when my Mediator came, he overcame all my enemies that kept me under, and shown them to me dead and drowned in that red Sea, his blood, which victory was a long time accomplished, before I saw it; but when Christ made known to me my freedom, bringing me out of Egypt, than I offered sacrifices without interruption; now I had that brought to hand, which wrought all in me, and for me; when duty is accompanied with privilege, there is then a delight in duties; I was mightily taken with privilege, and it was meat and drink to me to be much in hearing, praying and meditating, and conversing, and I could do little else for a year; I now met with God in duties, I made them not my Comforters, but Christ in them, and as they were privileges given me by him, so I enjoyed them, giving Christ the pre-eminence, which was due to him, I having all from the father, not of debt, but by gift; those that say they enjoy all from him, they give all to him, and rejoice in him, as their only Portion.  
My Dear bosom friends, with whom I have fellowship in the spirit, from that engagement of love that is upon me, I am strongly moved to declare to you the sundry deal of God with me, the time of bondage, and freedom from that bondage, hath been declared, though but in short; Now after this hot Sun shine, there arose a black cloud, which appeared small at the first rising, but it still spread bigger and bigger, till it filled the heavens with blackness, the heaven in which God had set up his throne, in which the King of glory took delight, which is the Saints, this heaven was covered with clouds, and this dark cloud had its first rising out of the Sea, which Sea in its self, when not troubled, its very clam and smooth, and to swim upon it there is no danger: if we keep in the ship we are safe, but when winds arise, this calm Sea is troubled, contrary winds makes the smooth Sea full of waves and billows, and it becomes very tempestuous, and the creature is put to some plunges, and tossed up and down, though in the ship, yet many are put to great straits, by reason of such mighty storms which sometimes S●a-men meet withal, yet valiant Seaman's hearts do not sink without a leak be sprung in the ship, than their hearts ache, and the stoutest spirits than begin to die: but as long as the ship is firm, the courageous Marryner doth not fear; there is no danger so long as they keep the Sea under them and out of them, it will never drown them, but prove a sweet refresher. Oh what pleasure doth the Mariners take, when they get the mastery over the storm, and not it over them.  
This Sea in which my spirit first received trouble and dark dissertion, began to take hold of my rejoicing spirit; it was an eager pressing after the way of worship, to know the right way, and to enjoy it. I earnestly sought for, but could not find; now there arose contrary winds, which did blow so strong, that this smooth and pleasant Sea began to be so full of waves, and storms grew so fast, that my joy sunk, there grew a thick skin over my sight of union, and truly I minded not that which was my life, so much as the enjoyment of a way of worship, which night and day I lay poring upon, I could not take my natural rest, my thoughts dwelled so continually upon the study of Ordinances, and the right administrations, according to that practice in the time of the Apostles, the which I could not find any come up unto; fain I would have been in the practice of all the Ordinances that Christ left his Disciples to be helps meet to them, and I believe they are a Sea on which Saints may swim safely, till they arrive at their haven of eternal glory; Saints voyage continues till their mortal shall put on immortality, and till then, the waters are for Saints to float upon. Saints you are a float, keep in your Ark and you are safe, take heed of the blustering winds, which is too much eagerness, extrams will toss your spirits, they may drown your comfort and joy of union, though nothing can possibly drown your union. Saints you have need to stand upon your watch Tower, even at the time when you are seeking after spiritual things, for we have within us such a corrupt spirit, which proves such a treacherous enemy, it betrays us into the hands of Satan, which is that roaring Lion that goeth about, seeking whom he may devour, and so joineth with our enemy within us, to fight against us.  
Therefore unto all the Saints that practice, as they think, all the Ordinances that Christ left to his Disciples, I shall speak this word to you, have a care your fall not overhead and ears into this Sea; If you keep upon it, it may be very sweet to you, but if it once flow over your spirits you sink; my meaning is this, if any thing below Christ, yea, though it be an institution of Christ, if thou exalts it higher than thou shouldst, thou dishonourest Christ, and endangers thy spiritual welfare, truly Saints are very apt to misplace things: every thing may be usefully kept in their right sphere, but when that which should be beneath gets uppermost, then comes in confusion and darkness; for it we rejoice more in the Administration then in the Administrator, dark misty clouds will arise upon our spirits, and if a second vail cover our sight, it is worse for us then when the Law was a vail. Obscurity after the shining of Gospel light is terriblyer to bear, than that darkness before a freedom, for when once the soul hath a freedom from legal bondage by the spirit, that it can cry Abba father, and have Communion in the sight of union with God, as their father; and now though union may be in sight, yet it is afar off, and for want to Communion, the poor soul cannot take the felicity in its union, as it should; And truly, if we have too high esteem of things, we shall enthrall ourselves.  
Therefore dear friends, let God be your all, and not Ordinances; let God be your all, and not any practice, though a practice prescribed by the spirit; it's a dangerous thing to have our thoughts too much upon or after things, we are so apt to make that our all, our hearts are so ready to delude us, when our eye is a little off Christ; therefore let us still desire a fixed eye upon God in Christ, for this is the safest Road, there is no damage to that soul that continually keeps his feasts with Christ, for Christ is at all the cost: Oh that Saints were more in spiritual practice! the Lord knoweth I would not undervalue, or have a slight thought of of any Administration, or of any Saint, for surely I prise them; but the sum of all my speaking is; to give God his due, and by him we shall be thought to give every thing its due, and in so doing, how sweet will our harmony be; and though we be at a loss in respect of external, yet that sweet internal converse will delight our spirits, if that be not smothered by sin and Satan, which aims to give that a greater blow than any thing else; and this blow my spirits felt; it was not externals that caused my dissertion, for they are good in themselves; I would not be thought to make them the cause or put fault in them, the fault was in myself; concerning Ordinances, I still went on trying and examining the way which sundry Congregations walked in, and I walked a month or there abouts with one Congregation, and a time with another, and so with divers people I tried their way; but I could not be satisfied in my seeking, because I found not, neither was I taken off from that restless frame I was in, till a constant over pouring word came, which was this: I say to thee wait, it is the mind of thy God that thou shouldst wait; then my spirit was quiet, and I clearly understood that it was the mind of God not to discover a way of worship to me, in that I could not behold the practice of any people under any form, to be like the pattern in mount Zion; I could not apprehend their practice to be like that of old time, which the Scripture makes mention of, which was a practice full of the spirit, and the gifts of the spirit they had not only a letter, but the spirit bear witness to their practice, they were full of the spirit, of love and unity; not judging and ready to censure those that were not under the dispensation as they were, they loved Saints as Saints, and oh that Saints were in such a frame as to eye Saintship more, and to love one another, because of that heavenly relation they are in, having one Father and one Saviour!  
I only briefly mention some things concerning the time of my spirits first step into dissertion, and I cannot but warn Christ's babes, nay, though they be young men; that is such as are grown from their time of infancy to riper years, yet; those that are more strong in the faith, that have got higher than an Infant in spirituality, even these may be cautioned to take heed that they look not more upon externals, then upon internals: Saints, fetch all your comforts from your Saviour's bosom, still eye that which is from everlasting to everlasting, it's a very secure centring in Jesus; we are still in hazard of losing our spirits when they take a rambling from Mountains to Hills, sometimes they fall into a deep valley ere they are ware, and when they are down, many again find it a long time ere they can get up.    

HItherto you have had an account of the Proceed of God with her, from the beginning of his Works in her, in various dispensations of Freegrace, through Light and Darkness, Liberty and Bondage; wherein the deep and more discerning Generation of Christians may discover the beginnings and growing up of the child Jesus in her, unto greater measures of Wisdom and Power then are common to most Saints: and withal, some hints from God of the pleasure of his will, to magnify the Wonders and Powers of his Spirit by her, in some notable and transcending way; where God gins to break down the Walls of flesh in a Creature, in such a rending way, upon those ruins he raiseth up a foundation of Heaven and of Glory to be admired; In the deeps do men behold the wonders of the Lord; and be lays the foundation of his Chambers in the depths. Here followeth a Relation how the Glory of God appeared in her, in a time of sore sickness, when to all appearance she was nigh unto death showing the precious and Powerful faith that wrought in her, and the mighty witness of God to the truth of her faith in a Glorious Effect of his Power demonstrated upon her in a visible way; whereby god would seem as by a visible Sign to manifest that the Invisible God dwells in her, and would put to silence the Ignorance, Pride, and Rage of flesh against the Presence and Power of God in her: And whereby she seems to be set forth of God as an Example to all them that believe of a Faith and Power with God that is to be attained, beyond what most have yet received the enjoyment of; The Mystery of Faith with Power in the heights and depths of it, being yet very little understood, and less enjoyed by the Lords dearest Children; For whose sake this is come forth at length after some years' Concealment, and the rather in such a day as this: wherein the Saints are called to put on again the Faith once delivered: whereby they overcame all things both within and without, and all things became subject unto them: The account hereof follows as it was delivered to us in her own Words and Writings.  

IT being the desire of all the Saints, and of all that wish well to Zion to hear of the experiences each of other, that they have in the pourings out of the Spirit, which God hath said he will pour out in the latter days upon all flesh; his Sons and his Daughters shall Prophesy, many promises we have in the like nature; And faith Christ, those that believe as the Scripture hath said, out of their belly shall flow Rivers of living Waters; this spoke he of the Spirit which should be given after his Ascension to the Father; therefore the Saints are to expect it, and the more the Spirit appears, the greater will be the rage of Antichrist; but the greater their Tribulations are, the nearer will be their time of deliverance; and Christ encourages Saints to list up their heads, for their Redemption draweth nigh; And Christ tells believers it is not only given them to believe, but to suffer; and the Apostle bids us not think it strange concerning fiery Trials: for such things we must meet withal before we enter into Glory, even that glory promised the Saints in this life. Now Saints, the droppings and glimmering of the Spirit begin to appear, the day gins to dawn, the daystar shall appear in its brightness, so that it shall be said to the Saints, arise and shine, for your light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon you; then shall the Saints be of one mind, and one heart, and shall not need to teach one another; Saying, know the Lord, for they shall all be taught of God, from the least to the greatest, and then shall light break forth as at noon day; Surely, than believers shall be more frequent in calling to each other, to tell what God hath done for their souls, as I the most unworthy servant of the Lord Jesus, am engaged to declare what God hath lately done for me, putting forth his Power, both for the removing of the distemper from soul and body, which now I shall relate to the praise and glory of Freegrace; And I doubt not but that it will be to the joy of all the Saints, for unto them I call to magnify the Lord with me, and that we may exalt his name together; for it should be the delight of Saints to set up God, and not self, because what they are or have is all by Grace, so that the Psalmist saith, Not unto us, but unto thy name be the praise; this O friends! this makes me to abhor myself in dust and ashes, because I have seen the Lord more than in an ordinary manner; So that I cannot but speak the things which I have seen and heard from the holy Spirit, and this may be sufficient to draw out your attentions, and serious considerations to that experience I am about to speak through the strength of the Spirit which bears witness to what I speak to be truth, which Spirit shall lead into all truth. Saints, let me tell you, or the Spirit making use of me to tell you, that though a Cloud and Darkness may for a time cover your Spirits after you are Called, and Justified, and Sanctified by the holy Spirit in believing, for the Trial of your faith which is much more precious than Gold or Silver, for certainly when God seems to be at a distance from the soul in respect of Communion, so that God seems to be afar off, and yet the soul made one Spirit with the Lord Jesus; And this was my condition, that though I could own God as my Father, and had the Spirit of Adoption, whereby I could cry Abba, Father, and faith given to believe the pardon of all my sins past, present, and to come, even then my Spirits were ready to crack in the apprehension of myself the greatest of sinners, though brought up in the most strictest ways of God, according to that light, even from my Cradle, never given to any licentious ways, as I could say much to this purpose, when I came to look on God as a consuming fire.  
But I shall forbear to set forth the deal of God with me before and after Conversion, and in Conversion; which my Conversion was four years ago, wanting about a Quarter of a year, and for a year I may say I lived in the Regions of Heaven, being always rejoicing and praising God, but since that many Clouds of Darkness hath passed over my Spirits; But to speak of the late deal of God with me about half a year before my sickness, my Spirits groaned after the pourings forth of the Spirit, that so there might be a greater perfection break forth in my words, thoughts and actions: The Word perfect did much seize upon my spirits, but the more I sought for it, the further off (it went; to my apprehension) God was at a distance from me, yet in the greatest darkness I had the light of Union, but my soul breathed after Communion with my God, that though when I was among the Saints, Enlargements were given in; Yet when I was separated from them, and thinking to have Communion with God alone, my mouth hath been stopped, and my spirits in a Prison, not able to speak to God, because God spoke not to me; For the Creature cannot speak till God speaks, but I still thirsted, and my soul panted, as the Hart after the water brooks; And the nearer the time of light grew, the thicker I apprehended the Cloud; But praised be my Father that hath wrought a deliverance in me, for me, a stregthening of the Inward man, in decaying of the Outward (I cannot but say a) sickness, but it was no more than a bodily weakness, and though a great weakness, and extreme pain took hold of my body, all pain and distemper was removed from my spirits in a moment.  
The beginning of my distemper of body was about the seventeenth of June 1646. And from that time it waxed more and more upon me, but I strove against it as long as I could, and went abroad till the latter end of the forenamed month; about the twenty eighth day I took my Chamber, the feverish distemper growing still stronger; and the beginning of July, which is so called, on the first day of that month, which was the fourth day of the week in the morning, I had thoughts to go forth, thinking the Fever had been wearing away, but on a sudden that morning a great extremity of pain seized on my body, that as soon as I was out of my bed, I was fain to lie down again, and it was in much pains, and great heaviness of spirit, and a rending of heart, so that I watered my Couch with my tears, and I lay very heavy in spirit all that day, and much pained in body, and by that time night came, my strength of body was quite taken from me, so that I could not help myself, but friends were fain to help me into bed, and assoon as I was laid, I felt the knot unknit, and the heaviness of my spirits removed, and darkness expelled, and Satan fled, and corruptions mortified, and all distempers of spirit disbanded, that now instead of a Chaos of Confusion, a Fabric of Glory was set before me; And my spirit was so drawn forth in a view of God, so much glory was presented before me, such Visions of the Eternal God, that tongue is not able to express; the Raptures were so great, that I was not sensible of a body, whether in the body or out of the body God knows; But these discoveries were as coals of fire within me, which could not be kept in, and these pourings forth of love had in them such a heat that it melted my frozen spirits, which caused my eyes to drop tears, that though in the morning my spirits were rended, at evening the Son of Righteousness arose with healing in his wings, and uttering his Voice, telling me he was my beloved that would not leave me, and thus renewing of my former Evidences I had from Scripture, when the power of God enabled me to believe for my free Justification in the Lord Jesus, and also giving in immediately from himself in Scripture Language, as thus: I am thy father that hath pardoned thy iniquity for my own names sake, and I will never remember thy sins against thee any more, for I thy God change not, but rest in my love, and rejoice over thee with joy and singing, as it is written; And thus the Lord told me that though I had been as an untamed Heifer, like Ephraim in my thoughts and words; yet his bowels of love were not straitened towards me, but he looked on me as one of his beloved ones in the Lord Jesus.  
This speech from God came with a mighty lustre beyond what I am able to express, and that Scripture mixed with it, Hos. 14, I have healed thy back-slidings, and loved thee freely, and I lay not this weakness on thy body to upbraid thee, because thou hast lived so long in the flesh, and walked so little in the spirit, but this weakness on thy body, is, that the power of thy God may be made manifest; And I saith the Lord will teach and instruct thee, and inform, and reform thee by this my visitation which is in my love to thee; and the Lord was pleased to tell me the reason why my reproofs took so little effect on the Saints, that it was because I did not tell them of their faults in a way of love, and in the meekness of my Saviour, and he sweetly informed me, and told me for the future how I should speak to the Saints, and God ●lrried me out all the time of my sickness to speak suitable unto persons, according to each conditions.  
And thus God came in the first night, the flood of Divine excellency shined down mightily, that some Saints standing by me could not but conclude that certainly I was going out of the body, thinking that ere long I should be in enjoyment of what I saw expressly flow from the Spirit, which to them it appeared so glorious, that they were amazed that stood by me, and that night I still continued speaking, or rather the spirit in me.  
And the next day I was desirous to be out of the body, I longed to be dissolved, and while I continued pleading with God to be out of the body, entreating to go hence, that so I might be swallowed up in glory, lest continuing in the body, I should act in the flesh, and so dishonour my loving father; and in the midst of this and many other requests to God, this Scripture was presented, Hosea 6.2. which voice was from God, my thoughts not being on it, nor none speaking of it but God alone; it came thus, after two days I will revive thee, and the third day I will raise thee up, and thou shalt live in my sight, and with a full persuasion that I should recover; but I said Lord, this Scripture holds out my resurrection, or the restoring of the Jews, I was answered it was to manifest my recovery; but this departed from me, and the glory of God shined exceeding bright, and through the sweet odour of the savour of the spirit, which Scripture compares to ointment, which mightily drew out my love to my Saviour and to the Saints, debasing and loathing myself, and my love was drawn out to the greatest persecutors of our times, I could have lain under their feet to have done them good; and many Scriptures were presented, and a threefold interpretation given on them; Scriptures never appeared so sweet to me as they did then, and as many as the spirit brings to my remembrance, I shall relate.  
Further on the Lord's day after, (so indeed it was to me a Lords day) in the forenoon as I lay in the strength of the fever, burning very much within, but without like a clod, and my stomach being shut up, not able to take the creatures, nor to hear them spoken of, my stomach was so weak, that all that fortnight I lay and took nothing but small beer, & a little juice of cherries, or conserve of currants, I took a little sometimes for cooling of me, I did so burn in my throat and stomach; I remained thus like a dead carcase in respect of bodily strength, but filled with the spirit; and as I lay on the said Lords day, this Scripture came in with a very great strength in the midst of Divine contemplation; it was spoken this second time, after two days I will revive thee, than I was drawn forth to ask of God his mind to his handmaid from that Scripture, and my request was thus answered; one day with me, saith the Lord, is as a thousand, and a thousand as one day; but then I said, Lord, reveal the meaning of two days, and it was presently given in, the two da●es are two weeks, after two weeks, I will recover thee; a persuasion came in with great confidence in believing, that at that season God unloosed the bands of my spirit, he would unloose the weakness of my body; though contrary to reason it was even that night two weeks, that my soul was set at liberty that my body should be healed; and God spoke thus to me, did I not tell thee I would work a wonder in Israel? and did I not say unto thee, if thou wouldst believe, thou shalt see the glory of thy God? these Scripture languages were spoken to me in the spirit, encouraging me to believe, though the body should grow weaker, as it did afterward, and after the second appearing of God, I desired rather to be out of the body then in it, and when I breathed forth to God how I should live in the body, it was answered me, to the glory of thy God, is not my grace sufficient for thee? and art thou afraid to live in the body for fear of the strength of corruptions? Sin shall not have dominion over thee, for thou art not under the Law, but under Grace, and through the strength of thy Saviour, thou shalt be able to conquer all thy enemies, and get the victory over the greatest Giant-corruption and temptation; therefore be not faithless, but believing, it is for my glory thy recovery; then I said, Lord, do with me what thou wilt; if thou be'st glorified in it, whatsoever thy servant suffers, it matters not; when the Lord told me of that glory he would have in my recovery, my spirit was satisfied in urging it to God any more to take me out of the body. Now I looked for a further unfolding of God in this thing, now I knew it should be further sealed to me, but I knew not the time when God would seal it to me; so that when my friends desired me to settle things concerning outward affairs, nothing but death being expected and feared by them, and to my own sense and feeling, and yet believed otherwise; and I desired my friends to wait a while, for I told them I believed a recovery, and ● told them upon what grounds, but I bid them be silent, for if God had a purpose to take me hence, he would reveal it to me; but I told them, surely I should be raised here by a mighty power, for I knew it must be a great power to raise up one so dead in the body, that could not rise out of my bed all that fortnight, but as five lifted me out one night; and I was so extreme earthy, even as lead, that they had much ado to lift me into bed again, and I slept not, but talked night and day, the pourings forth of the spirit was such, when I did slumber, and that was but little, but then I felt my pain and weakness very much; now the greatest extremity did not affright me, though sometimes my bones hath been shaken in my flesh, my joints unloosed, and sometimes great pains, as if my bones had been pulled asunder: such torture hath seized upon me, and sick fits; that the parties which watched by me hath bowed me double, to keep breath in me, when I have been cold, and my breath cold within me, and to sense a breathing out my last breath, so that my friend that watched with me, desired to call other friends, but I entreated her to wait; much ado I had to speak, yet at that instant God told me my breath should be given me, and the vitals of my spirits restored that were sinking, the Lord gave me faith to believe, and I found at that time the power of the most high.  
And the next day about the same hour I had an extreme fit of shaking, to the amazement of those that stood by, and I desired a friend to raise me up in the bed, and as she held me, she asked me why I shook so; I told her the earthly Tabernacle must be shaken, and God would lay it lower before he restored it, that so his power may be made manifest, which he spoke of at the beginning of my weakness; and this extremity came on me after the second persuasion given me by my God from that Scripture spoken of which came to me on the first day of the week.  
On the third day of the week, the Lord sent me Mr. Greenhil, Minister of God's word, who assoon as I beheld, I could not but say, behold the man of God, such joy was in my spirits, which I could not but utter forth; when I saw the Saints I was mightily filled with rejoicing, and after I had declared those Revelations given into my spirit to this Minister of God, and other Saints that were then by, and the Spirit came with such a mighty gale upon me, that though I desired to be slow to speak, and swift to hear, yet than I could not; & when they desired me to tell them of the distemper of my body, when I have but spoke a little of that, I have been tired so, that I told them, to speak of my body, was but lost time; but if they would hear of Divine things; I was free from them, I moved in the right sphere, and was in my centre; it was my delight to tell of the unfoldings of God, for as I told them it was my desire to spend, and to be spent for the Lord Jesus; and when they desired me to take to creatures, I answered them I would, but I could not; they wished me to take the advice of the Physician, I told them I had not faith to make use of him, and whatever is not of faith is sin; and besides, I told them, I could not get down any thing my stomach was so weak and closed up, many arguments they brought to me, but God gave in answers to all of them; but after thus speaking, they were about to go away, and not to praise and pray with me, but there was such an earnestness stirred up within me to entreat prayer; that I never desired any with that eagerness and fervency of spirit to pray as I did Mr. Greenhil, though he told me he would, but that it would weaken my Tabernacle, and he said the waters many times arise so high, that they wash down the banks, yet I could not let him go, till he had joined in praises with me, and prayer for me; and to me it appeared such a prayer of faith, that I never heard him pray so, and when the Spirit breathed in him for my recovery, he said Lord strengthen thine handmaids persuasion; no sooner were these words gone forth, which I am sure was from the Spirit, and it was the purpose of God at that time to seal to that which was before spoken; therefore God so stirred me up, so to desire prayer, because that was the time of God's intentions to give me a farther testimony; and as the words before mentioned came forth, it was stamped upon my spirits in much glory and majesty in these words; it is finished, be it according unto thy faith; then I was confident without staggering, that I should recover, though I saw no probability in body, for that continued still weaker and like earth, even the Sent of a dead carcase: but God carried me up abundantly in believing, that after this I said: Friends, now I dare not question any more, because it is the voice of my God, that hath spoken it, and no delusion; therefore I said I am not afraid to tell the whole world, if I could see them, that God would raise me up at the time, that though the stripped me of my strength of body, he would restore it to me again, even at that night as I said before, God making it out to me by Scripture, and after sealing it to me.  
But to tell you how I was that night after Mr. Greenhil was gone; about the ninth hour, that night an extreme pain seized on me, and my throat was very sore and a swelling in my mouth, which even stopped my breath, and Satan violently seized on me, tempting me strongly, that my breath that night might be stopped, and I might have a quincy in my throat, and death take me away suddenly, and then what will become of thy faith? No sooner came this attempt, though very strongly, yet stronger was he that was within me, than he that is of the world, and God gave me a word to say to Satan immediately, which was this; avoid Satan, God is true, and thou art a liar, it is the voice of my God, I have heard, and I know it is true, and ere morning my throat and mouth was healed; then I saw the love and power of God in that, but the Fever continued very much burning, & my body outwardly like a clod of earth cold, and yet in great sweats, that I have been as in a reaking bath, when I have done speaking, that I have been removed from one side of the bed to the other, yet nothing troubled me, neither cold nor heat, and it was a time of extreme heat to others, they could not tell how to endure it, it was so faint a time, yet I complained of nothing, the carryings up of God were such, that when company was restrained from me through the tender love of my friends, yet I could not but utter my voice, such a mighty spirit of prayer was poured on me, in my weakness, that when none were with me, I could not keep silence what the Spirit spoke in me, as David says, so may I, that when I thought to be silent I could not, my spirits rejoiced exceedingly to be speaking of what I saw and heard; and as I often said, O Saints, that you did but feel, see and taste with me, what unutterable joy would you have! I could wish you all as I am except my weakness, and if I could speak to you as it was spoken to me (I told them) it would appear far more glorious: but it come from men at second hand, which is as water running through the channel but it came to me as water out of a fountain, that is, from one it came not so swiftly into me; now it came so fast from me, to the astonishment of friends, that one so weak, not able to sit up in my bed, a quarter of an hour, but in great pain, though they put pillows to keep me up, and this was after God had sealed to his own word that I should recover, for than I could have waited if it had been never so long, and in never such great torture, as I told the Saints now, I could lie upon a Rock till the time of deliverance come; had God set a longer time I could have been content, it was such delight to me to wait after the Sealing, For still when the tempter would tell me, when I laid my eyes together, I should be struck dead, and when I said I should recover, the Devil told me I should not, but death should deprive me of my confidence; yet no attempts startled me, or weakened my faith in the least measure, for God was still at hand to deliver; Many times Satan strove to shatter my confidence, but as my Saviour prayed for me when he was here upon the earth in praying for all that should believe, so he was ready to rescue me upon all occasions, both night and day, praised be his holy name, which told me he would not fail my expectations, but according as he had given me faith to believe, it should be to me; and still my Saviour encouraged me to believe, and I should see his glory.  
And the day after Mr. Greenhill was gone, Mr. Simpson came, he was with me the fourth day after I kept my bed, and I told him how greatly God had appeared to me, for which I desire to praise the great God; and after this Trumpeter in Israel (for I could not but give him that title so soon as I saw him come into the Chamber) and assoon as he had praised and was gone, I was troubled that he did not more question me, and bring arguments against me, for trial, I know true gold is made more manifest by the touchstone, and it is more purified in the Furnace, and appears from dross.  
But to tell you of the second coming of this Ambassador of Christ, now I beheld the Spirit of God moving in him to speak in a soulsearching manner, though he told me I might be deluded, and also telling me that many had been deluded, and he therefore Exhorted me to have a care that I believed upon good grounds, and told me I might make use of the means, and partake of the creatures, and to look up to God to give me sleep, many Exhortations and Examinations he used to me, which I much rejoiced in, for my faith was the more confirmed; and while I was upon the Trial, God came in with a mighty strength, telling me that I was not deluded, but he would raise me without means by his mighty power, as he did Lazarus out of the grave; at my first sickening I did use the means, I took things, but they did me no good, I was the more tortured, and felt myself the worse, because God came not in the means, it took no Effect, God had a further work to show to his people. And the Lord bid me tell these things in Gath, and publish them in Ashkelon; fear not saith God to tell it to the greatest Monarch of the world if thou be'st called to it, For I thy God am with thee; And I, saith the Lord, will strengthen thee in all difficulties that thou shalt meet withal.  
But now I shall tell you Saints, how God presented himself to me in many similitudes, which I never heard mentioned before by any, they were brought immediately from God and Scripture, presented that I never took notice of before, and God sweetly interpreted them to my spirit; God first filled me with contemplation about the Trinity, which was sweeter than the honey and the honycomb to my spiritual ; it came in such a Majesty to me, that I am not able to set it forth, it swallowed up my spirits; But in desiring to declare it to the Saints, this similitude of a Tree was set before me; God the root, his Son Christ the Tree, the Spirit the Sap, and as the Root, and Tree, and Sap are but one in a natural sense, for the Sap and Tree looked on in the Root, there is but one substance which lies hid till such time as it puts forth itself in a Tree, and then the Tree appears; but it is covered with a Bark or Rinde, and the Sap is discovered running from the Root, through the Tree into the Branches, which Sap is not so discovered as when the bark is peeled off the Tree: yet than it cannot be discerned in the nature of it; So the Father Son and Spirit are one in that glorious essential incomprehensible Being, making themselves forth in thee, 3 Joh. 5.7. God lies hid in the Root, man is not capable to know what he is, no more than man is capable to know what sweetness is in the Root of a Tree while it lies hid, till it appear in the Tree and Sap; so when this one God appears in the Tree, the Lord Jesus, than his sweetness gins to break forth, and is made forth more by the Sap, the Spirit; But I desired the Lord to show me this similitude by Scripture, in which he opened the Trinity by way of Root, Tree, and Sap; God is said to be love, and he that dwelleth in God dwelleth in love; So that from this, God appeared as the Root of man's happiness, being enfolded in the first person in Trinity from Eternity; by this Root, which the Scripture calls love, the first glorious person in Trinity appearing in the second person the Tree; But how is he called a Tree in Scripture? It was presently presented before me, that he was that Tree spoken of in Paradise, that Tree of life, Gen. 2. But how may the spirit be called sap from Scripture? Thus it is called a holy anointing, it is compared to Oil, To the Ointment Psal. 133.2. which was upon Aaron's head, and ran down upon his beard, and so to the skirts of his garment; And from the word Oil or Ointment, so the third glorious person in Trinity is likened unto sap, and thus it appeared to me that as the sap runs from the Root through the Tree into the branches, so the Spirit, the holy Oil runs from out of the Root, which is the Father through the Tree, which is the Son, into the Branches; For so the Saints are called in Scripture Branches of the Vine Christ Jesus, and as the Sap drops into the branches and twigs of a Tree, which causes them to live and appear green, and the efficacy of this Sap produces fruit, it is very Virtual, it descends of its virtue into the leavs, which else would whither; as for instance in the fall of the leaf, when the Sap returns into the Root, the leaves whither and fail; And as there is a Virtual Union of the Root, Tree, and Sap, and Branches, and Fruit, and Leaves; so there is a glorious Union and Congruity, that the Saints have in the holy Trinity, their life is in the Root, and it appears in the Tree, and manifested by the Sap to the Branches, the Elect appear dead till the Spirit which is the sap quickeneth them, and no fruit is brought forth, though they may have a profession, yet it is but as dead leaves which falls and crumbles to dust; So that from the spirit slows sweet waters, it produces sound fruit, it makes also professors green and lively; and as when the bark is peeled of the Tree, the Sap is more discerned: so when the humanity of Christ is taken from the Saints view, than the spirit was more discerned. Therefore says Christ, it is expedient that I go away, that so you may have a fuller sight of the Spirit. He that believes (as the Scripture hath said,) Out of his belly shall flow rivers of living waters, this spoke he of the spirit which those should receive that believed, that was not yet given, because Christ was not yet glorified; this Scripture appeared, very glorious to me, and I set the efficacy of it on my spirits, and God told me that the time was not yet far off ere he would pour out his Spirit upon his Children, and take away that skin of formality that hath lain so long upon their sights, and that drowsiness or sleepiness of spirit that hath seized upon them, and baptise them with the holy Spirit, which should break forth as fire among them, so that they shall be filled with the Song of the Lamb, and they shall behold their King of Salem, which is King of peace riding on his white horse of Triumph, Conquering and to Conquer; The Saints shall overcome by the Lamb, by the word of his testimony; Thus mightily God came into my spirits, which was exceeding sweet to me, which caused me to Exhort the Saints to study the Trinity more, of which one thought is more worth than ten thousand words.  
And further I shall tell you Saints, in other Scriptures how God did present himsef, as concerning jacob's ladder, as it is written, In his sleep he saw a Vision, a Ladder set upon the earth, the top of it reached to heaven, and he beheld the Angels of God Ascending, and Descending on it, and behold the Lord stood above it; and this Mystery was held forth in it, the Ladder signifies Christ a Saviour, the top reaching to heaven, and from those words the Lord stood above it, and it reached to the earth, in that the humane nature of Christ was presented, the Divine nature assumeing to itself flesh, and whereas it is said, the Angels of God Ascended and Descended on it, in that was held forth the sweet recourse the Saints have in Jesus Christ, in his Death, in his Resurrection and Ascension to glory. This appeared very sweet to me, but I cannot set forth things so fully as they came in, and God in the night set before me Sampsons' Riddle of the Lion and the honey, out of the eater came forth meat, and out of the strong came sweetness; By Lion is meant Christ, who is called in Scripture, the Lion of the Tribe of Juda, and by Honey is meant that sweetness that lies wrapped up in Jesus Christ, considered as a Lion yet full of sweetness; And as it is said, out of the eater come forth meat, Christ is that eater which eats up the spirits, as David said, the Zeal of thine house hath eaten me up, and the word might set out that virtue which comes from the Lord Jesus, which is the bread of life, in which we have life for ever, and out of the strong came sweetness, that is, out of the Lion of the Tribe of Juda flows all our sweetness and raptures of joy, and as Samson told them, Except they had ploughed with his Heifer, they could not have found out his Riddle; So the great God spoke to me in the whisper of his Spirit; and said; in believing in my son Christ, which is typed out by an Heifer, and Ploughing may signify believing, that in believing in thy Saviour thou shalt understand my secrets; God I may say spoke to me as a man speaks to his friend, but in a far more transcendent manner; and jonathan spoken of in the 1 Sam. 14. it came thus to me, that though he was so faint, that he climbed on his hands and feet, and his eyes were dim with faintness, and no sooner had he taken of the honey that dropped out of the rock, but his eyes were enlightened; so as soon as there is a distilling from that rock Christ upon the spirits, than it tastes such sweetness which strengthens the fainting spirits, and this was that which made me say; oh come Saints, taste and see! did you but know what I feel you would admire with me: oh how strong am I in the Lord, and in the power of his might!  
When I have closed my eyes, thinking to sleep, they have on a sudden been forced open, and upon the Sun shining in the room, this was declared to me; seest thou how the Sun shines in beams and streams accompanied with shadows? and I said, Lord, why doth it not shine as in the body of it, why doth it not shine so on the Earth, as in the Firmament? It was answered me, should it shine on the Earth, as it is in the Firmament, it would suddenly burn up all things on the earth, no fruits of the earth, nor any creature could live or breathe, and therefore that it might be for the comfort of the fruits of the earth, and of all creatures, it was spread forth in the beams and streams of it; so the Lord said to me, should I thy God dwell in thee, as I am in my essential glory, thou couldst not breathe in the body, but immediately thou wouldst die in the body, it could not bear such a weight of glory: therefore I shine on thee on beams and streams of glory, which produces those effects spoken of in Scripture; I was filled with joy: now I knew not wherefore God spoke this to me, till a while after: I was going to speak of it, and this voice came to me, This was brought to thee for the rectifying of thy Judgement: the erring spirit shall come to understand, Isa. 29. last: now I considered how I had erred, in that I had held forth before I sickened, that God dwelled essentially in his Saints, when I considered in Scripture, where it is said, God in us, and likewise when I viewed Gal. 5. which holds out the fruits and operations of the spirit, I was at a loss in my spirits concerning this, nor could not make it out, nor be convinced by any, till God satisfied me; and so in many other things none could give me light, till the light of lights came, and then my spirit was full of praises.  
Another time when I laid myself to sleep, something as it were pulled me by the shoulder, with this voice, it is better for thee to wake, I will show thee thy Saviour in the Mount; then was set before me Jesus taking up Peter and john into the Mount, and his transfiguration before them, which to me shined forth very glorious, that I said as the disciples said, Lord it is good to be here; and that of Moses and Elias appearing, in that was presented to me the glory of the Law of Moses, and from Elias was discovered the glory of the Prophets, and both these glories meeting in the glory of Jesus Christ; Oh how this did enamour the spirits of the Disciples, and herein they manifested the strength of their delight in saying, And let us build here three Tabernacles, one for thee, one for Moses, and one for Elias, it was with them as it is with a man that delights and affects a place, he desires to take up his abode there, so the Disciples would fain have been continually beholding that glory, but while he yet spoke, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased, hear you him; The soul wrapped up in the glorious discovery of the brightness of God, would fain be always in that condition, but that God seethe it good to draw a cloud to overshadow them; a cloud, but not a thick black one, but a bright one: which noted thus much, That let the greatest discovery of glory which caused the face to shine be withdrawn, (God doth not leave his without glory, though in a cloud) yet there appears brightness and a sweet voice, telling the Saints that they shall hear and see that invisible glory sounded forth in the Son, by that word hear ye him; now we see him as in a glass, but we shall see him as he is, when we shall be lifted up for ever above all clouds.  
At another season when I have shut my eyes, immediately they have been unclosed, and my Saviour presenting his speech to me that he said to his Disciples, when he was to departed from them, and that was this; Verily verily, I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of this Vine, till I drink it new in my Father's Kingdom; This came in, in such a mystery, that I was not able to understand it, but it was discovered a little, thus, That the spirit was held out in an emblem of wine when as Christ was upon the earth, but it shall after his Ascension break forth in a new, and far more glorious manner, like new wine, more sweet and perspicuous, so that it was made forth to me to be meant the pourings forth of the Spirit. Now I shall tell you Saints, of more illustrations and interpretations given in from the sight of herbs and flowers, as that of the sweet Briar, why sweet and yet thorny, we see the most sweetest enjoyment that this world can present to the creature, hath a thorn accompanying it, and likewise Christ is a very sweet fragrant smell to his friends, but to his enemies a thorn; and concerning flowers this was given in, the variety of smells proceeding from them, and the variety of colours, in which was held forth the variety of beauties, and sweetness flowing from my Saviour; one thing I minded in the marigold, it being brought before my eyes, I saw pleasures and honours, and the greatest preferments here guilded outsides, but black in the middle; so I saw the Lord Jesus glory to the Saints: but black to the wicked, even as the marigold appears like gold, in the middle black; and so likewise concerning spice. A few nutmegs being presented from a friend to me thus much was hinted forth, mercy and love coming from the friend of friends, not single but double mercies, and this was presented also from the hardness of it being stony, so Christ is the corner stone, and as the nutmeg is barky without, and gives but little smell till it be grated, and then the smell is very fragrant, and the oylness of it appears: so Christ when he is grated upon the spirits, that is, when he is made known unto the soul by the spirit. Oh what sweet fragrant smell comes into every faculty of the soul! And the spirit that holy oil or unction drops down upon the whole man, even as there is a discovery of the oil in the nutmeg, when it is grated. Truly Saints, did you but feel in the reading of this that sweet odour that I found in my spirits, you could not but praise with me. And when I saw the fruits of the earth, many instructions were given in, as in the sight of Cherries I saw the blood of my Saviour, and such fruits which was firm in the outside, & yet hollow, and a stone in the middle of them, so all things here below are hollow, though they appear firm.  
Isa. 40. Last, the erring spirit shall come to understand, and the murmuring spirit shall learn doctrine. The Lord made this Scripture very sweet to me, and I was encouraged to comfort drooping Saints, to cast their souls upon Jesus Christ, who calls to the weary and heavy laden to come to him, that is to believe in him whom the father hath sent. And I also was filled with such a spirit of boldness, as it is written, the righteous are as bold as a Lion, so that whereas I am of a fearful spirit by nature, yet God then carried me forth to speak abundantly to all that came to me, whether they were of high or low degree. And such relent of spirit was in me towards backsliders, that I desired to weep tears of blood, if it had been possible to have gained them. Oh friends, how did I thirst after the welfare of every one! that they that told me, they lived in the spirit, I told ●hem how sweet a thing walking in the spirit w●s, which will teach to entreat when we are reviled, and to be of a lamblike spirit when enemies reproach, that so we might imitate that lamb which took away sin; and sure had not the spirit of God gone along with exhortations, they would not have took so much effect upon many spirits. I think hardly any came but they went away affected, both young and old; such was the love of God thus to break forth, which had I the tongue of Angels, I could not express. I desire it may shine forth in all my actions, for truly the work of God is marvellous in my eyes; and that Scripture of Christ telling his Disciples, that they should set upon twelve thrones, Judging the twelve Tribes of Israel, by that word twelve thrones, was much set forth to me, the great dignity of the Saints. The Lord acquaint us more with the Spirit in the letter, then shall we be able to understand every truth, and the erring spirit shall come to understand, and the murmuring spirit shall learn doctrine; as God much persuaded me that that spirit of formality, which hath lain so long upon the Saints, should be taken off, and the Lord gave me faith to believe for the Saints, and me thinks I see them groaning after the pourings forth of the spirit, and surely the time shall not be long ere the Lord will satisfy the groaning soul, and answer the expectations of the Saints, for as in God are hid treasures of wisdom and knowledge, so every treasure shall be opened to the Saints in the appointed time, therefore the Saints shall wait for it.  
Many times God appeared in visions of glory to me, as I lay wrapped up in the spirit, I beheld a glorious star shining exceeding bright, and the bright morning star the Lord Jesus was much presented into my thoughts, and concerning Fzekiels vision, he saw by the River Chebar, it is said he saw visions of God, which word being brought immediately from God to me, it was very sweet; this was given into me, that when Saints are in affliction, in respect of their outward man, though they be in great straits; yet nothing can deprive them of the break forth of their God, nay, then when the creature is at a low ebb in the outward man, the Lord is pleased to visit the creature with a full Sea of glory, and saith to the Saints, be you open ye everlasting gates, that the King of glory may enter in. Oh how sweet this Scripture was spoken in the spirit to me! I can but hint things forth, and speak partly of what I found; Saints, I question not but in your own experiences, what hath been declared, will be more cleared to you by the spirit, though I am able to declare them but stammeringly, yet these things came plainly into my spirits, and with a mighty fullness, that I could evidently say, these are the appearances of an infinite God, and no delusion, praised be the most high; my mouth was full of praises, and begged of all that came nigh me to praise, that had the spirit of praises; and still I was entreating the Saints to speak sweetly and gently to all persons, that they might appear to be the sheep of the great shepherd Christ; I told them how it become Saints to be of a meek spirit, and I was not ashamed to confess that I was by nature of a contentious perverse spirit, which I now loathed; and every proud thought was an abomination to me, and I told the Saints they were to look up for strength, to walk as people of another Nation, that it might be said, they are the people of the living God, who have the mark of God in all their actions. Now friends, I shall tell you once concerning my raising from weakness to strength, from pain to ease, and that both to the amazement of myself, and those that were present with me; but oh that I might never forget to praise the Lord, not only in word, but in my holy conversation! in all these discoveries that have been related, my body still grew weaker and weaker, and the Sent of dead souls turned out of the grave was still in my nostrils, and my body like unto a clod of earth, and pain working up to my heart; the day before my recovery, one Captain Harris prayed by me, and in that prayer I was mightily strengthened in believing, and could not but say, Lord, why may not I be raised now? And answer was suddenly darte● into my spirit, I the Lord can raise thee now, but thou shalt be raised at that time that thy God hath given thee to believe; Oh how sweet was this answer in my Spirits, that though I had a desire then to arise, and I strove to list up myself, yet I could not, for the Lord told me his time was not yet, and until the day of deliverance came, I was not only weak and sick in body, but my spirits were very dead, not activity or liveliness in them all the forenoon, but in the afternoon this Scripture was handed by my father to me; why is thy soul troubled? why is thy spirit sad within thee? Believe in God, believe also in me, John. 14.1. in this I was mightily refreshed, and my spirits quickened, and faith much strengthened; not that unbelief did seize upon me at any time, after God had sealed these things upon my spirit, though Satan told me that at that instant I believed I should recover, my breath should be taken out of my body; now it did not fear me, God still persuading me that his power should be made manifest, but I still grew to the earth, my body waxed very cold, and in clamy sweats, that those that had been present with persons when their breath departed from them, they could not imitate, or liken me to any other but a dying person; to my own feeling and sense my hands were dead, and the rest of my body very liveless, my breath to my own sense was even departing from me, this was about six or seven a clock that night: then I was raised, and suddenly God poured a mighty spirit of prayer upon me, that I felt my breath which was taking leave of my body, heated, and I pleaded with God in believing, for the accomplishment of his promise, and Abraham was set before me, his faith strong, though he saw no sacrifice, he believed God would raise an Isaac out of the ashes; so God carried my spirits up contrary unto sense, and when the spirit of prayer was off me, than god instructed me what to say to the Saints that stood by quivering and fearing, not being able to see this accomplished by the eye of faith, it being very contrary unto sense, and when the spirit making use of me had done encouraging the Saints, telling them they should surely see the work of the Lord; and after thus speaking, I fell in a trance, in which I saw the glory of my Saviour exceedingly, but I cannot speak what I saw; and this lasted about a quarter of an hour, and when it began to wear away, this voice was given into my Spirits, I say arise, walk and praise me; set forth my glory; this came with a mighty strength, that I felt strength given into my limbs that were deadest, first revived, and a song of Hallelujah sounded into my spirits, saying, now sing praise unto the great God, and to the Lamb that sits upon the throne, and great joy came into my spirits from the holy Spirit; and no sooner did God say arise, walk, but I was lifted up by the power of the most high God from my bed, and I called for my clothes, all pain was ceased, the Fever left me, and I put on my clothes, and as soon as I came out of my bed, death pangs seized extraordinarily upon me, my heart strings were ready to crack, and I was even sinking, a swimming in my head being very great also, and my spirit suddenly was drawn forth to say, Lord, wilt thou now nullify the work? and shall thy hand maid now be deserted? and the Lord answered me, am not I thy strength? and I found strength immediately, and could walk about the room without fainting, or any body to help me, and my stomach was opened that I could let down broth, which before I could not; and I continued up till midnight, praising God with the Saints; and after I was laid in my bed, I could not shut my eyes to sleep all that night, to think that on such a sudden so great an alteration should be made, that I could lie down free from all pain and distemper that I felt before, and so I grew still, every day more strength was given in to me; on the fourth day at night, thus God appeared, and on the first day of the week after, which is called the Sabbath day, I went abroad to the praise and glory of my father, which hath ever since continued my health, and I minded thus much in Gods raising of me, he doubled his power in recovering me once and again, when I began to faint, and also the week following God told me I should have my perfect strength, which week was the third day, instanced in Hosea 6.  
And thus Saints, having an encouragement from the Spirit of Truth, to set before your view some of the experiences God hath given into me, through his own free love, but a creature-capacity cannot contain all the incoming of God I had while I lay in my sickness; but being very much importuned by some friends, I have fulfilled their desires, through the assistance of God, in setting forth as much as was brought to my remembrance, I being a weak worthless creature, a babe in Christ, which makes his power the more manifest.  
And now Saints, I entreat your prayers continually for me.    

HEre is further added a short discourse, written eight years ago, weighty and precious, for that it pierceth through the veil, searcheth into the inside of things, and giveth some hint of things now looked for by many, but then more hid and covered; whereby the wisdom and depth of that spirit that is in her may sufficiently appear: we find this inscription before it, as the title of it, viz. The third month, the year, 1646. A declaration of Revelations, or the unfoldings of God to the soul in visions of glory; the mind of God made known by his spirit, not only concerning its own particular, but others also, according to promise; thy God will show thee great things to come, jer. 33.3.  
After an extraordinary appearance of God, he yet shown me more, and hath been, and is still very mighty in all his operations, working such a frame of spirit, subjecting itself unto its God, in all the several kinds of providences, & sundry dispensations that it meets with, seeing a sweet harmony in contraries, in things that please not flesh and blood in every thing enjoyed, and in nothing enjoyed, God appears all in all, so that when pipes are cut off, and streams cease running, and not only streams without, but also within, seem to be dried up; even then when the heart and strength fails, nay, though there be not any feeling of the movings, and actings, and flow of the Spirit, though the beams are clasped in the body of the Sun, it is not the beams that are my centre, but the Son itself; unto this height will the spirit bring the Saints, until which time, there is a living upon something below God; I by the spirit am able to tell Saints, that God is about to take them off resting on any thing below himself, and surely God will lead them through the wilderness, but they shall march on triumphantly, because the captain of their salvation shall go before them, so that Scorpions, and fiery Serpents shall not devour them; God will put a hook in the nostrils of the Leviathan, the flood of the dragon shall not swallow up the woman, which is the Church, Rev. 12. because the child Jesus, which is the man child spoken of, is within the Saints; the heavens of God most expect to be shaken by God, but not from God, but from all things below God: me thinks I see by the light of the spirit the time of desolation, and restauration drawing nigh: Oh Saints, stand upon your watch, for certainly Antichrist, which is the beast spoken of, that shall appear like a Lamb but with his two horns shall gore as a beast, for so his nature is, though in pretences there may be the form of a Lamb, and in outward show, therefore iniquity is called a mystery, Rev 13. because it worketh in a Sophistical manner, else it would not swallow up so many into its gulf; this beast which comes wrapped up in the skin of the Lamb, it is only a Lamb in show, not in substance, it is said to come out of the earth, which signifies his power only to be in the earth, and his two horns, the one is subtle policy, or a secret sophistry, and the other horn an open power, the one playing the part of an underminer, the other of an open discoverer; the one horn worketh under ground, making the ground hollow, the other horn is a more visible power, pushing those that work not with them, and that would swallow them up into its own power, but this beast understands not the things made known by the spirit, to an Elisha that the King of Syria spoke in his bed chamber, 2 King. 6.12. so that though this undermining beast may think to affright, in uttering his voice like a dragon, yet he shall not scare the Saints from their steadfastness, they will follow their Lamb, where ever he goes, which Lamb will appear a Lion, to rescue the Sheep-out of the mouth of the wolf; though they prevail so far as to catch the sheep into their mouths, they shall not let their teeth in them, so as to by't them in pieces; For the Saints, their bars are iron, and their gates brass, so that the strongest Dragons teeth cannot rend Saints a sunder; the beast shall so far prevail as to scatter them from enjoying some outward privileges, nay, I believe, for a time all outward privileges shall as it were be in the hand of Antichrist, he exalting himself▪ above all that is called God or above him that is the true God, and seeking dominion in the seat of God, which is the Saints, into which seat he shall never come, for its Gods alone prerogative to keep his Court in the Saints, they are his throne; the Prince of the Air shall abide in Airy climates; Surely the footstool of God shall not mount up into the throne, though the horn of policy working under ground, may, cause a dust to fly about the throne, and may raise up ill vapours out of the bottomless pit, which may be offensive, and there may and is, and will be yet a great smother in the Nations, so that the Temple shall hardly be discerned; but the King knoweth his Temple, and his place where he keeps Court, and his Subjects know him to be their Prince of peace in the midst of wars, and ruins of the outward Court, and no smother shall make their eyes to water or wax dim, because Christ is their sight, and the light and being of their eye; no marvel that the Saints are so strong sighted, what can deprive them of their sight? it is not the rail of the Dragon, nor the horn of the beast, nor the smoke of Antichrist, that is able in the least measure to dim the sight and light of Saints: They are his house of glory, upon whom he sets a defence; what Cannon can batter down that house that God is in? They do but beat the Air, that manage subtlety to shackle Saints, they do but bring themselves further into shakels; but what shall I say? or shall God say it? That he hath sent the Assyrian into the Land to bring about his own design, Isa. 10.12. and when the great jehovah hath accomplished his own purpose, on mount Zion, by that time shall the measure of iniquity be full, and the vials of wrath ready to empty on that harlot that hath deceived the Nations; then shall the spirit appear in its full flame, burning up all dross and rubbish before it; and on whom it displays, its glorious rays of beauty, there shall be such a sparkling, that others seeing the sparks fly out so fast, sh●ll conclude there is fire within, and shall say, this is the very Mount of God, the City of the Holy One, and shall admire that fire should be in the bush, and the bush not burnt; is it not matter of wonder, that the infinite being should be in a finite being, and yet not the finite consumed? Me thinks I see not only foolish Virgins slumbering and sleeping but the wise Virgins are also in a slumber, but when the bridegrooms appearance shall be manifested, shall they still lie in slumber? I believe otherways, that there shall be such an awaking of all things, the very foundations of all things shall be shaken by that foundation that shall stand for ever; God will set his Mountain on the top of all Mountains; there indeed shall be the munition of rocks on rocks, and one glory within another: Oh what varieties are in the feasts that the Saints bridegroom provides for them! If they be slumbering when his feasts are ready, he sounds out the golden trumpet of his spirit, and causeth a great alarm to come forth from himself, which immediately awaketh the Spouse, that it saith, it is the voice of my beloved, that saith, arise and come away, leave those Babylonish garments behind, that thou hast as it were been wrapped in; surely the filthy polluted ragged garments that hang upon the Lords joshuaes, Zach. 3.3, 4. those who are his anointed Priests, shall be shaken off, the white robe of Righteousness shall be their clothing; although the evil one may hang his rags on God's Priests, they shall not abide, because they are of a royal descent, they are the King's children, rags are the clothing of such that sit on dunghills, and filthy garments for such that tumble in the mire; but Saint's clothing is whiter than the snow in Salmon, purer than the purest thing that mortal eye can behold; and this spiritual part of a Saint, nothing can defile, though it be of never such a tainting nature; I confess, what ever action, or word, or thought hath any thing of flesh in it, there is rags; for flesh is altogether a garment of rags, the most refined flesh is a filthy garment, not becoming a Saint; no garment becomes a Saint but Jesus Christ, his words and actions, and thoughts, and motions: Oh how ragged and polluted are they, if their clothing be not Jesus Christ! streams are full of mud that flow not from this fountain, those waters are brackish that come not from this Conduit, no water refresheth like that River, the streams thereof are said to refresh the City of God, Psal. 46.4. this is water of life, that in dying times makes lively, and when weeds are burnt up and whither, the plants shall sprout forth and wax green, and blossom as the rose, and none shall pluck them up.  
This short word is all that we meet with of this discourse, she being to this day prevented of perfecting it with that enlargement intended and desired; if what hath been presented here, may administer any service, either to the spirit of God in her, for the Justification thereon, which is now under a cloud, or to poor sinners or trembling Saints, for the drawing or refreshing of their benighted imprisoned spirits, by the discovery of the riches & glory of free love and the power of the spirit thus far appearing in this handmaid of God it will increase through Christ our rejoicing, and abundant thanksgiving in the Lord, who is shortly putting a new song into our mouths, of Glory and triumph over all things whatsoever, through the approaching and appearance of jehovah in his glory amongst us.  
FINIS.   

To the Church sometimes meeting at ALHOLLOWS.  
Dear Friends,  
IT hath pleased the Lord to cast me at a distance from you, and your precious meetings, and sweet, lovely, spiritual, desirable enjoyments, which is more prized by me then my life or liberty, the which is now in Jeopardy; but I am through Divine strength, not only willing to be bound, but to die upon so honourable an account, as I here suffer for, which is only the expressing the Lords bounty, and rich grace to sinners; my heart overflowing therewith, I cannot hold; my compassion and dear affections worketh forth towards Christ's flock so strongly, that the Anti-christian Clergy hearing the sound, were not able to bear it; and therefore, because they saw so many adhere to the extraordinary things discovered by and through a weak instrument, it was grievous to them, and they would not admit of any discourse with me, but cried out to the Magistrate to lay bonds upon me; saying, we must not have the people so deluded, calling me witch, deluder, Imposter, and other vild terms they cast on me; and farther, said I stirred and provoked the people to Rebellion against powers, though I never spoke as touching them since I came into the Country any great matter, so as to be questioned by any: but a Clergy man, one Mr. Powel, a great Teacher in these parts, hath taken his oath against me, that he heard me repeat that vision spoken of in the book, which he never did; 
Concerning the Cows and Oxen.  I never changed a word with him, but he coming into a friend's house where many precious souls were met, which desired me to give an account of God's deal with me from a child, which I did; and I never found such a broken, self-abasing, selfdenying frame of spirit in me, as then; and though this man pretended much mildness towards me, yet he hath discovered much falsehood and rage; and because I, when brought before the Rulers, said I was not guilty according to the form of the bill, as it was laid together against me, he said I denied my Christ and the Spirit; But I have sent you the bill for to pass your judgement of my answer, whether I should not have denied Christ if I had acknowledged guilty to all therein, which I must have done, had I said guilty, 
And they have bound me to the good Behaviour.  than they granted me a Travers to the next Sessions, which is 13. weeks hence, and Captain Langdon, my faithful friend I came down with he, and Major Bauden, they were bound for my appearance, 150 l. a piece, and 1200 l. these dear friends, they were of the late Parliament, which the Priests had no good will unto, and their hatred is, because their standing quivers, and their fat benefices are almost at an end; sure I am they are Christ's greatest enemies, that hath been and now is: Therefore that you may be answered as touching Christ's Reign, beg that to be tumbled down, that as rotten rafters stand in the way; I am very sure the Lord will cut his work short in righteousness and by all interruptions is making way for his Dyadem of beauty to appear, he will set his King up as chief Protector, let men and devils do what they can. Therefore my dear friends, be not of a doubtful mind, stand fast, hold your confidence and Resolution concerning those particulars you first engaged in, at the setting that blessed meeting up, wherein the Lords presence hath been eminently seen, and their spawn is discovered thereby, which we thought had been free from sting; and because we own that second days meeting, in joining with your pounds a few mites, therefore we are watched by professors, as if we were treacherous to the State, but here are a company of close walking Saints, to what they know, and they would be more informed concerning generation-work; but warning is, to speak no more in that name; and many of the soldiers for coming to the place where I am, are warned to their colours, and an Ensign under Captain Fox, which is Governor of Pendennis-castle, who coming to visit my friend where I am, this Ensign Randal inviting me to his house, as he did the other friends, Fox hearing of it, put him out of his place; this man hath an excellent humble spirit, and of a very good report; I give you to understand these several pushings of the horn, that so you may not only have life in your wrestle, but might have it more abundantly, striving together in prayer for the day of the Lord; Man, the devil, and Anti-christ hath their day now; the Lord make you all sensible of the blaspeming of the Lords coming and reign, truly it often makes me tremble to hear and see Christ derided and scoffed at by men that are great Rabbis, professors indeed, but of the largest kind, such as dare lie, and revile those that are not of their opinion: my beloved brothers and sisters, I am bound always to bless God for you, and your tender care and dear love to me doth much work up my affections for you, and draweth out my whole heart to serve you any way: And I knowing the workings of your desires after my welfare, the which to understand will be well pleasing to you, therefore I need not crave acceptance; The Lord whom I serve hath from a child kept me, and still doth keep me as a Rememberer of him in his ways, as well as rejoicing and working righteousness, and he meets me in all these according to his promise; praise free grace for me: I entreat prayer and praises abundantly to him whose spirit and eye guided and counselled me hither, and is still my safety; you would admire divine love with and for me, if you knew the let down of all might that hath been in me, and on my behalf, the which is too large to give you an account of by writing; but in this little ●ast given to you I know it will satisfy for the present. I found the benefit of your prayers this time twelve month, I being in Satan's sore enthraldom, which was as a Lion and a Bear to me; I shall never forget your labour of love for me then, and seeing you were prevaile●s then, which was manifest, even this month deliverance was wrought for you unworthy sister; but I will bless God for the worthiness of a Christ crucified for me, who manifested himself as a safety and Saviour to the utmost; now the Lord tryeth my faith by suffering the uncircumcised Philistime to war against me, and this storm calls forth prayer afresh for me, though this is but a small encounter to the other, because my stroke, I cried out, was heavier than my groaning, and I could not find nor see God any where, nor in any thing as a God of love; but now mercy and goodness follows me day and night, and blessed be his name, he is an open treasure-house, and much treasure he conveyeth; pray that I may walk worthy of his Kingdom and glory. Truly my dear brothers & sisters, the joy of the Lord is my strength, he thinketh nothing too dear nor too much for those that are sealed to the day of Redemption; we are beholding to Christ, who becomes all in all; I see every day much leanness, barrenness and unfruitfulness in me, that is, in my flesh there is still struggling, and fight, and warring, but through faith in Christ I am an overcomer, and I am not foiled; but the more I see of brightness, the more I am filled with self abhorrency, and loathing my own ways & thoughts. Dear friends, I entreat an exhortation and advice from you, it will much add to my joy: I hope I need not use any motive to stir up and draw out your love towards me, for I having found it ready to serve me upon the greatest occasion, I will not doubt of it now, though I am so remote; I know many waters cannot quench love, and therefore before I take leave of you for this time, I shall desire that you, with my own soul, may be more in the practice of love, provoknig one another unto that love and unity which is a perfect bond, and fulfiller of the Law, it beareth and forbeareth, it envieth not, it takes up no evil reports against any of the flock, it judgeth not rashly, it seeketh not her own, it surely praiseth for another members enjoyment, as for its own. Seeing all members make but one body, let the same mind be in us, which dwelled in Christ Jesus: this is the earnest desire of her which prayeth for you without ceasing, and salutes the whole Church, and rests  
Your unworthy Sister in the fellowship of the Gospel, ANNA TRAPNEL. From Tregasow at Captain Langdons, near Trurow, this 15. of the 2. month, 1654.   

A Letter to a Friend.  
Dear Sir,  
I Waited for a fit opportunity and matter still more fuller to present you with; and truly matter is so much, that now I cannot by writing give an account: the Lord hath been a very tender father, and hath and doth give me many expressions thereof; his provision is much, and of the best continually: I may say he is more and better to me then my desires, for they are scanty, but he is fullness; and ever since I saw you, I have had Rivers of pleasures, spiritual kindnesses unutterable; but have I any thing to boast in, save in Free grace? No surely. O of Divine love will I make mention, who is the same yesterday as to day, and so will be for ever: it altars not, and I find it so: but however, if I did not, yet it hath not so much as a shadow of change in it; but the Lord is a never failing portion, and I every day have new experience thereof; I may well use that admiring speech of Paul, Oh the heighht and depth, both of the wisdom and knowledge of God, his ways are past finding out! yet untrodden paths hath wisdom brought out, but to whom? even to fools, and low, base, vild nothings; and this the wise, learned, rich, knowing one's cannot bear. True Scripture language cannot be born in these days, the people of this generation vote it down, and the cry is amongst all sorts, especially the Clergy, and that of the refined sort too, that cries, away with Christ's reign and Subjects, we will have our Barrabasses live. And shall not hearing and se●ing Christ so despised, cause us to say with them under the Altar, that so many years ago cried out, Come Lord Jesus, come quickly? Oh, now is a time to beg God to work, now his Law of the Spirit is so made void, and that by those that are frequent in forms, and much they plead for them, but the power is hated, as their actions witness, which are sufficient Judges: but what can be said to these things, God is for the work of the day, who shall then frustrate? Dear Sir, I shall now acquaint you with the tumultuous waves, and high billows that rise up in these parts; I said when Satan was letting out the noise of his water-spouts upon me, that then all the waves had gone over me, but I than saw his: now men hath theirs, but men's billows are easy to his, because my father smileth; that which is sweeter than the honey comb, qualifies that bitterness I have from unreasonable men; Paul met with beasts at Ephesus, I may say also I have met with beasts in Cornwell, unreasonable men roared upon me, they endeavoured to let out to the utmost, their cruelty and disgraceful usage, which they manifested, furiously coming into the chamber, where I lay, at one Mr. Hills in Trurow, who invited me to his house to visit his wife in his absence, he having taken a journey to London, and is there for the present; and his wife desired me to lodge there all night, the which I did, and it was told me that a warrant was out for me, and I was to be sought for at Captain Langdons, or at Major Baudens, which is my other dear friend; but in the mean time I coming to the Town where the Sessions was, they heard of it, and talk was that they would send for me the first day that I came, which was the fourth day of the last week, and I expected that day to have been called; but truly the Lord saw I was not enough prepared, for my timorous fearful nature did much work. I never having been called before a Ruler, I begun to consult with flesh and blood, but the Lord prevented them that day, that so I might receive strength from the mount before their valleys were presented: And blessed be the Lord, that night the Lord appeared lovely all night, part of it I was discoursing with a young Minister, his name is Mr. Paul, he came out of the west to see me, having heard such various reports of me, for the book had given a report before I came here; and this man after some time spent in discourse, I desired him to pray, the which he did very sweetly; he desired it of me, but I refused: yet after he had done, the Lords wind filled my sails, that I swom to the haven, where was precious lading brought me, and I saw eminent riches and royalty, all that night continuing in prayer and singing till day light, sitting in a chair, and many with me, men and women, and that Minister; they all came to visit me, and the Lord was among us, and in the morning I was had to bed, being very weak, and I lay till the afternoon silent, in a very great Rapture of joy: and my enemies that acted secretly, and the open ones too, I beheld devising against me all the reproach and ill usage they could, and in the afternoon, while I was singing, they sent the Constable for me, who made a great bussel, saying, he had an order to bring me out of my bed and he pulled me, but I felt nothing, than many men and women talking to him, some saying he had better please God then man, he trembled, and said, he must do what he was commanded; but in the mean time Captain Langdon went to the Bench of Justices, and desired them to be pacified till the morrow, and if I were in a capacity I should come, he would pass his word, and many offered body for body, but nothing would appease them; they were desired to come, and see, and hear; so some of them came, and they made a great tumult in the house, and commanded my friends out of the chamber, only some few stayed; and these cruel Rulers had no patience to hear, but pulled me off my pillow, and rung me by the nose, and caused my eyelids to be pulled up, but no harm I felt, nor nothing interrupted me; the which they seeing, ceased, the Lord overpowering them, though their rage was great, that they said they would take me out of bed, they could not, and at that same time one Welsted a great Presbyterian Priest, he called out in the chamber door, where he than stood, saying, a whip will fetch her out; but my father preserved me from the promping Clergy, and the fiery Magistrate that day: And at night about seven of the clock, I came to some ordinary frame to discourse, and said, how quiet have I lain all this day, hath none been in the chamber? Reply was, yes, many; and then my friends came and told me all that had happened that day, for which I praised the Lord, and I hope I shall never forget that days mercy, and I bless the Lord I slept more sweeter that night following this storm, than I have done since I came hither, and in the morning risen and went to the Session's house, I being sent for, where I went without dauntedness, fearful timorous nature being strucken dead through mount Corrobborating: and when I came, no witness they had appeared for them but a Clergy one, and of him and his actings the letter to the Church makes mention, which I have made bold to send to you to read, or have it read among them; and further, when I said, not guilty, according to that bill that was found against me, they had other bills against me, and my friend Captain Langdon too, but they could not be found, which if they could have found a bill against my friend, he could not have been my surety: herein the Lord appeared too: and I am bound with my sureties to Travers the indictment at the next Sessions, there to be questioned by the Bench upon the same matter; in the indictment I was bound to the good Behaviour, and constrained to enter into Recognizance, with Sureties to appear at the next Assizes. And after they had thus done, they questioned me about the book penned at London, which they tendered to me, and asked me whether I would own that book as mine; I answered, I was not careful to answer them to that matter: they than caused the Vision which mentions the horns; and Cows, and Oxen, to be read, and asked me what I would say to that? was that mine? I said as before, I would not answer them touching the book. I saying that they were not to question me in this Country, concerning what was spoken at Whitehall, for that I thought there was a Council wise enough to examine as to that: and they writ down, I denied all; But as because I would not accuse myself to satisfy their wills; Further they came to question me where I had dwelled? and from what part of London I came? and what moved me to come hither? did none ask me to come? this they asked me often: and I Replied, I would not accuse any. And I said I had liberty to come here as well as to another place: For that I was not under any Restraint: They said no, that was true: But what moved me to come hither? and to this many speak at once; And I said, are you all Speakers at once against me? I will speak to the civilest of you, and so directed my speech to one: Then they asked me whether an extraordinary impulse was that which moved me to come? I told them, as to this I would not tell them, for that I knew they were not capable of such things; And one of these Justices that questioned me, his name is Mr. lance, one of Holland Simpsons' Church people, a very unlovely walker, little sign of membership in him; yet he would undertake discourse concerning the Spirits impulses; But as some of their own said, this discourse gravelled them, and soon made them give over; they had no more to say, but run into confusion, only some uttered a few envious deriding expressions, calling me dreamer. I said so Joseph was called. And then one Major Selly calls two women, that said they would take their Oaths I should say I knew the Justices were with me that day beforementioned, the which was false; and when they were called, one fell in a swound, and the other run away; But I told him that there might be false witnesses brought against me; and so had Christ and the Apostles: therefore that was no wonder to be dealt so with: they commanded one to be indicted, and the Jailer was bid take him, for but looking cheerfully, being one of my friends, they said he laughed at them: I than asked them whether they lay upon the Catch, and would make a man an offender for nothing; thus I have as brief as I could, given you a Relation, omitting many several passages for another opportunity; and what I apprehended most observable, I have now Related, that you may take notice of the horns running at my breast; which as touching me, much hath been fulfilled. My two sureties, one standing on the one side of me, and the other on the other side when the horn run at me; they, or the Lord through them, said, I will be thy safety, an arm and a hand clasping me round. Observe this I pray in the Book. Captain Langdons Salutes presented to you and your wife; My Salutes and dear respects to you and to my dear sister, your wife; and Salutes to my brother and sister Powel, and to Captain Harrison your brother, and to Betty, and to my Stripling: I beg your praises for me, and Prayer without ceasing: She will not herein be wanting for you, who is greatly obliged to serve you.  
Anna Trapnel. From Capt. Langdons' at Tregasow near Trurow: the fourteenth of the second Month, 1654.   

From the Prison to the Prison at Windsor Castle, the sixth of the third Month. 1654.  
DEar brothers, with your wives: Salutes presented: it's no small joy to me, the hearing your Faith, Confidence, Courage and Steadfast unshaken frame of Spirit which you abide in, the which I hope will continue to the end: and that it may mount, prayer is without ceasing in your behalf: and Faith is very strong and bold to affirm for that Zeal you have held out, that it is not Jehu like, but Jesus like, bearing his stamp on it: which no sufferings, nor hard harsh deal can shake: neither can any insinuating, flattering, smooth, fine words change and alter a well grounded faith and resolution for the great sure and abiding Protector: (it's not great proffers of fat Benefices, amounting to an hundred by the year that shall beguile you of a reward: that is far more than thousands or ten thousands a year) But ● word of this is caution enough to you, whom I am confident hath overcome the evil one, as to that and many other respects, I hope.  
Yet these being trying times, Cedars have need to be put in mind that the root beareth them, and not they the root, and it's well that it is so: For were it not for the Root, establishing and building up work would be soon decayed, especially in troublesome times: he or she that standeth, have need to look to their Foundation: Not in respect of what is already: but sure there is a darker Cloud, and a rougher Sea at hand, and greater will be the Billows yet: A blustering tribulation time must be expected before we see our haven: But all that love Christ in sincerity will not shrink, whatever pinch they meet with: Knowing that their Redemption will sufficiently requite and recrute them.  
My Lord, for whose sake I am in man's Prison, is very free, and supplieth all my wants, and continually he feasts my soul, his go forth are prepared as the morning, and he is to me as the former and latter rain, and he leaveth me not without sap one moment: sure I shall bless the Lord, the good hand of the Lord, for leading me down to Cornwell: while I live I shall praise for the special favours I have seen, and I shall magnify free grace for the double inlargements that hath been enjoyed in Prison; it's a place of melody, joy unspeakable and full of glory, in believing.  
I never found so much of Divine presence without interruption, as since my Lodge in Plymouth Fort: (Oh friends, it's a very high honour to suffer for well-doing) for then neither God nor Conscience will condemn, and then what can hinder boldness with God? (and for him.)  
The Clergy hath stirred up the Magistrate, and they commanded the Soldiery, which soon acted; a Fox being a Kinsman to the chief Ruler, cries out, come see my Zeal for thy Government! though I meddled not with him, nor his government: but my work since I came into the West, hath been a holding out what I saw and heard from Scripture, touching the New Covenant, as concerning sinners and poor tempted souls: and the Reign of King Jesus his Laws and Ministry: and this was held out in that extraordinary dispensation that you saw and heard of: which hath been very little absent from me since I saw you, which is to the wonder of my own particular, and of many others, that my health, strength and natural life is preserved under so much fillings and actings; but how beholding am I, and all the Family of God with me are engaged with me to Christ Jesus, who is all in all: and sure it's for Zions sake that I cannot hold my peace.  
And may not I speak in my Chamber, and sing on my Bed, and pray on my Knees? doth the Lord forwarn me, doth Scripture forbidden me? or will the General Assembly of the first born reprove me, or the particular Church I walk with, will they be offended, or will you my Father be angry, or you my brother be dispeased? I beseech you then let me know it, for I would not offend Jew nor Gentile, but especially the Church of Christ: but indeed as for the stumbling Jew, the foolish Greek, the blind Gentile, the erring Priest, against these there must come out the wisdom of God, and the power of God: though it be counted foolishness, nonsense, witchcraft, and a white Devil, as such are the terms of devout Women, Learned Clergy, Selfseeking Rulers in these parts; hearing their subtle Fox at Pendenis Castle, to aid and assist with his Squadron of Soldiers, and the fiercest grim looked ones must be the Conveyers to Prison, that so the Clergy may be pleased; and this was their envy, because I saw their downfall, and told of it, they could not abide me: but that which made them cry out, was their Diana Tithe; this gain brought to them by the Rulers, makes them cry up the fourth Monarchy, not that they care for them, but it's theirs that they are greedy after, and that maketh the Priest take false oaths, or do any thing to ingratiate with the Rulers, that so they may put into their mouths; but their time will not be long I am confident, for their horn groweth blunt pointed: it will ere long be broken to pieces, it cannot last many years, for woe, and great fury is against them, being the greatest enemies Christ hath in England, and they make the poor Countries drunk with their Fornication. Oh therefore lament and mourn, and pray down this abomination, and bless God that you are come off from the Adulterers function, and take heed of meddling with a hoof of that beast any more!  
I believe you never saw nor felt that horn as I have done since I came from London, but if as to my hurt the pushing had been, I would have been silent, I am sure I should: but seeing its against the Priestly office, and prophetical and Kingly cower of King Jesus, I must declare for him, and while I have tongue and breath it shall go forth for the fifth Monarchy-Laws teaching and practice: Oh let not life be more valued than it! shall we think too much for the chiefest of ten thousands? (God forbidden.)  
My dear Brothers and Sisters, your beloved wives, I beg leave to encourage you, and to comfort you with my comfortable enjoyments, being persuaded they are for your sakes: And oh that you may be strengthened thereby, hearing of a poor Shrub, one of a timorous, fearful, cowardly nature: and in her own concernments no whit valorous the Lord knoweth, but as for the Lords concernments I see fierce Rulers, and reviling Priests, and mocking rude multitude, and Swords and Guns do not, nor hath not so much as caused the least damp to arise in me, but I praise that such a vile unworthy Creature as I, should have so much honour inferred upon me.  
I never was sure so much in self-loathing and abhorring as now: If that the Trial of faith be so precious, what is faith itself? but what is that object then for whom it's tried? I pray rest on him, and abide faithful to the end: for I know he will Crown you with Deliverance and Conquest; Fight under his Banners he will not forsake you; wait, for you shall not be ashamed: you shall see the end of your faith, and your tongue shall say, let the Lord be magnified; Praise ye the Lord for me, and Pray for me a poor silly Creature, in whom the Lord is seen: I have nothing to glory in, save in infirmities: Pray that I may not be proud of sufferings, I have a base heart; but the Lord through Grace maketh me for the present more than a Conqueror: Pray that I may continue; I dare not say, if all deny Christ, I will not: Yet through his strength I shall not love my life to the death; and I have believed, therefore have I spoken, and I believe, and therefore speak, and the Lord our God increase our Faith. Amen, so be it, saith your sister in the Faith and Fellowship of the Gospel.  
Anna Trapnel.  
For the Lords Prisoner at Windsor Castle. From the same Lord's Prisoner at Plymouth Fort, who is to be sent by Sea I do not know when; But I am to be conveyed to Portchmouth, and the Order saith to the Council, and so to be dealt with according to Justice; but I know not what their Justice is: But I am sure their true Justice shall make them know what it is in due time; I am no fearful nor careful as to what they may say and do: The Lord and his Council is on my side, that shall be my defence for ever.   

To the Church sometimes meeting at All-hallows the Great, in Thames-street, In LONDON.  
My Dear  
BRothers and Sisters; Grace, Mercy and Peace I am persuaded are your companions. And it's no small joy to me; Neither is it a little matter in my esteem, to be taken in, and reckoned one of your companions in the sweet and lovely Fellowship of the Gospel; And that upon that noble account of Union and Communion with Christ. Which Principle you do well to look unto, that nothing take it away from you; For sure it is a Crown worth the prising; And will, and doth make you as a Beacon on a Hill lighted: And if this Crown be let go, than Antichrists rigid thorny Crown will be advanced by you, and I, you will put yourselves out of a capacity of doing and receiving that good which I am sure this Gospel Principle affords, and honours you with; But of that I need say no more, for I know you are taught of God, and being so, I know you are not unwilling to be put in mind by your unworthy sister, whom I am sure hath a dear, honoured, honouring, respectful love to you in her heart, and wherever she goeth; And saying often to the Lord, what am I, that thou shouldest put me among those children? I am melted by love's flame, and in the suns thaw and heat; I through Grace now write unto you my beloved friends; that though your unworthy sister be in a Prison here at Plymouth Fort, it's for the matters and concernments of King Jesus. Therefore I am persuaded it will be no blemish to your dear Fellowship, the which I prise more than my liberty or life, If I know my own heart: Sure I have cause to bless God for your Prayers, for I know I have much benefit thereby; Not now only, but ever since I saw you. O my friends! Pray! Pray! Pray still for her which never ceaseth Praying for you; even when my bodily senses sleepeth, my Spirit hath Communion with you, and for you. I never had so many smiles, and such constant intimate familiarity with God, as since my outward imprisonment: O that you were all as I am, except my bonds, for its a condition worth the high esteem of you all; But shall I boast of Visions, and Revelations, and Faith wound up very high? I will not hereof boast; But of free Grace I will think, and speak, and praise, and give thanks, and let me herein engage you also; and Christ's love to his friends; I beseech you for his sake do not be silent, hold not your peace day nor night, till Jerusalem be made the praise of the whole earth. You have a prize put into your hands, lay hold: O do not let it go! They that draw back, the Lord will have no pleasure in; He cannot abide tottering frames of spirit; He no way approves of a setting the hand to the Blow, and falling back again to a lazy idle state, they are not like to attain to that stature Scripture speaks of; which is better than worldly state, and dying pomp, and withering prosperity, and fading gallantry. What will they do, who takes up, spends, and wastes away that time which sure is precious? Dear friends, you probably may hear divers reports concerning me, from that false evil spirits raising in these parts, and sending their Rumerous sound into those Eastern parts, which I know hath grieved many of you; though as to the harboring of Reports against me, whereby to be prejudiced concerning the work of the Lord in me, and magnified by me: I am persuaded you will not receive any thing of such like nature; which hath the Spawn of Satan in it: But I would not vindicate myself, were it not for truth's sake. But however I leave my own particular with the truth, who will vindicate itself and me too at the conclusion. For the which I am made willing by Divine strength to wait, and not compulsively, but willingly; For I know him in whom I trust will stand by me. And indeed he is always with me; against enemies within and without, what I have suffered since I saw you: For the Lord thereby, he is still putting on more of that clothing of humility which my soul exceedingly desires, and pray friends do you beg this for me too, and that I may not be proud of Sufferings: Methinks they are high honours. I sure am unworthy to be so honoured: but O how beholding am I to Christ and his worthiness! and to that I look: and I know he keepeth me, else I should soon departed from him and his ways; I stand not one moment but by Omnipotent power; And of this he maketh me largely to experience: I may admire his love: Many ways it hath let out its embraces; I will not fear what men can do unto me, for I am not ready to be bound, but to die: I speak not a Paul's word, but the Lord knows I speak from seeing, hearing, tasting and feeling that which maketh my heart live: And I know that Christ lives in me, and the life that I live is by the faith of the Son of God, who died and gave himself for me: and the knowledge of this makes souls active for him, not only to honour him in prosperity, but to glorify him in the fires: And if any be cast into Prison by Satan, either inwardly or outwardly, if it be for Christ, they shall have great joy: and though I could not count it all joy when I was in Satan's horrible Pit; Yet for that sorrow occasioned by him, I have had abundance of joy, and can and do account it a choice pearl in my Crown that I am now Crowned with, which is freely given to me, not only to believe, but to suffer; and truly this second Prison of Satan's is a joyful one not only to me, but to many spectators. My dear brothers and sisters, you mourned while I was in that last years Prison. But I beseech you rejoice and be glad, that your unworthy sister hath liberty and enlargement in a Prison; I should rejoice to see your faces, and enjoy that sweet Communion in God's Sanctuary, but though absent in body, I am sure I am not so in Spirit, and the thoughts of this affords me great contentment: For I cannot say woe is me, because I am not in Mesech, neither am I an inhabitant in the Tents of Kedar: For the Lord is a Sanctuary here as well as in the West, and I know if he carry me West, East, North or South, he will not let me fall: But if myself or Creature carry me, I durst not be so confident, My dear friends, bear with my boldness for Christ; I am sure I have a bashful nature, and as to my own matters I am not forward. Do I herein justify myself? I do not, but I praise the Lord, and our Father that keepeth me: whatsoever any besmearing are, he washing open Fountain washeth away. And I see all thing working for good, though I come very short of my duty to God-ward, and indeed I may cry, O my barrenness and un●●u●fulness, and that truly, for I tail much the expectation of so many showers of mercy, in that I am so little in bringing forth fruit; But I can say m● desires are large, Pray then! O pray to our Father to fulfil such desires, which is a●ter much: Sanctify, that I may glorify him in Soul, Body and Spirit, they being the Lords; I would not be my own, nor for my own things; I would be, and be for the Lord: entreat that I may hold out to the end, notwithstanding all rage or rages. I shall give you a fuller account of my demeanour when the Lord brings me to see you, which sure I shall do, though many seek my life: They that lose their life for King Jesus sake, shall take it up again, and they that cowardly seeks to save it, shall lose it. I sent you a Letter from the West, in one to brother Gardner: wherein I desired your Counsel and Exhortation, but I have no Answer: I believe you do not forget me; Yet I am grieved you do not write to me now in my bonds. But I am persuaded they are made easy through your Prayer; if I any way offend you, tell me, that I may do so no more; but if any are not persuaded concerning the extraordinary dispensation that hath been, and is still upon me: I am sorry that any should be offended at such Soul-ravishing, Sin-subduing, Creature-Crucifying, Christ-Exalting Ordinance, Loving Enjoyments. If any of these be not prized, and endeavoured after by me, then chide me: O spare not to reprove me, for in many things I offend: But my dear friends, if Christ's eye ravisheth, I must sing; If he open the mouth, it will Pray; if the Spirit say come, the Brid saith so to; and they that hear utter, come Lord Jesus, come quickly: I am taking my Voyage, Time and Tide will not tarry: I take my leave, Pray for my journey from Portchmouth, and for courage to bring me to the Council. I have much at the present I bless God. Farewell my dear friends, I Rest,  
Your Engaged sister in the Spirit, and Faith, and Fellowship of the Gospel. Anna Trapnel. Who desires not to be her own, but the Lords and his People's. For Whole Zion she suffers, with whole Zion she shall Reign: Though unworthy. From Plymouth Fort in haste, going straight with Captain Kendal a State's Ship to Portchmouth. This 8 of the 3 Month. 1654.  
FINIS.