their canonical epistles, have spent some good part of their holy lives in the ample commendations of those eminent saints to whom they wrote ; as Paul in his to Philemon, and John in that of his to an honourable lady, and that other to a meaner person — viz., Gains ; and that they went not behind the door, as we say, to whisper, but as on the house-top did iDroclaim the religious and pious practices of tliose more choice Chris- tians to the imitation of others. And farther , when I consider that which the apostle speaketh of Demetiius, a rare and not ordinary testimony : 'Demetrius hath a good report of all men, and of the truth itself: and we also bear record ; and we know that our record is true,' 3 John 12. And yet furtlier, when I consider what is recorded of Hezekiah, 'Thus did Hezekiah throughout all Judah, and wrought what was good, and right, and true before his God. And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, and in the law and commandments, he did it with all his heart, and prospered,' 2 Chron. xxxi. 20, 21, And when I consider what high commendations the apostle bestows upon the churches of Macedonia, 2 Cor. viii. 1-11 ; and upon the church of Thes- salonica, 1 Thes. i. 1-9; and also 2 Thes. i. 3-5. And when I consider that it was the Holy Ghost who writ Jehoiada's epitaph, ' They buried him in the city of David among the kings, because he had done good in Israel, both towards God and toward his house,' 2 Chron. xxiv. 16. It is said also of Josiah, in his commendations by the same Spirit, ' Like unto him there was no king,' 2 Kings xxiii. 25. Moses and Mordecai, Sarah, Deborah, Esther, Elizabeth, and others, after their deaths, have had their due praises. When I consider of these things, I am very well satisfied in what I have said concerning this deceased sister and friend. I do noways doubt but that we may very safely say good of such when dead, whose ordinary course and practice it was to do good while they lived ; but in this censorious age, no sooner is dust cast upon some Christians' heads, but there are those that will do what they can to throw dirt in their faces. Augustine doth very fitly com- pare those to Dives his dogs; they lay licking and sucking Lazarus his sores, but his sounder parts they never meddled with. To trample upon the reputation and stain the glory of them that 'die in the Lord,' argues such persons to be akin to fleas, who bite most when men are asleep. It was one of Solon's laws, that none should dare to speak evil of the dead ; and Plutarch tells us, that that was highly com- mended and duly observed. But is it so now ? This I am sure, that it well becomes Christians not to dare to speak evil, if they could, of those who for the main have lived holily and died graciously, as this deceased friend hath done. Let this satisfy us, that she is above the praises and envies of men. It is the good, the profit, the advantage of all your souls and theirs into whose hands tliis little piece may fall, that has drawn me out to write so large an epistle. If I had only the dead in my eye, a few lines should have served my turn. I doubt not but that you will kindly accept of my endeavours to be serviceable to your immortal souls; and who can tell what fruit may grow upon this tree ? I shall improve all the interest I have in heaven, that both the Epistle and your glorified mother's Experiences may be blest to the furtherance of the internal and eternal welfare of all your souls. The 'good-will of him that dwelt in the bush' rest upon you and yours. So I rest, honoured friends, your souls' servant, Thomas Brooks.
EXPERIENCES OF MRS SUSANNA BELL,
TAKEN FROM UKR OWN MOUTH BY A NEAK RELATION OF HERS, A LITTLE BEFORE HER DEATH.
Lc/f as a Jcgacy to her mourning children.
It pleased the Lord to order it so that in my young days I was cast into a family that feared the Lord; and going to hear Mr White ^ preaching from these words, Prov. xv. 15, ' But he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast ;' from these words he did shew how happy a thing a good conscience was, and what a sad thing it w^as, with Judas, to have a had conscience. And what a hlessed thing- it was to have a good conscience from that of Hezekiah : Isa. xxxviii. 3, ' And he said, Remember now, 0 Lord, I beseech thee, how I have walked before thee in truth, and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight.' This sermon God made useful to me ; and after this it pleased tlie Lord to order it so that I changed my condition, and the Lord provided for me a good liusband, ' one that feared him.' And some troubles being here, many of the people of God went for New England, and among them my husband desired to go ; but I and ray friends were very averse unto it. I having one cliild, and being big with another, thought it to be very difficult to cross the seas with two small children ; some of my neiglibours advising me to the contrary, living so well as I did. But I told them that wliat the Lord would have me to do that I would willingly do ; and then it i)leased the Lord to bring that scri])ture to my mind : Eph. v. 22, ' Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord ' — and then my heart was brought oif to a quiet sub- mission. But after this, I being well-delivered, and the child well, it pleased the Lord soon after to take my child to himself. Now upon this, so far as it pleased the Lord to help a poor wretch, I begged earnestly of him to know why he took away my child, and it was ' ProbaLlv the excellent John AVhite of liOndon.— G.
EXPERIENCES OF MRS SUSANNA BELL. 453