MARY A., when she was between four and five years old, was greatly
affected in hearing the word of God, and became very solicitous about
her soul, weeping bitterly to think what would become of her in another
world, asking strange questions concerning God, and Christ, and her own
soul. So that before she was full five years old, she minded the one
thing needful, and chose the better part.
2. She was wont to be much in secret prayer, and many times came from
her knees with tears.
3. She would choose such times and places for secret prayer as might
render her less observed by others: and endeavoured to conceal what she
was doing when she was engaged therein.
4. Her mother being full of sorrow after the death of her husband, this
child came to her and asked her why she wept so exceedingly? Her mother
answered that she had cause enough to weep, because her father was dead.
"No, dear mother," said the child, "you have no cause to weep so much,
for God is a good God still."
5. She was a dear lover of faithful ministers. One time after she had
been hearing Mr. Whitaker, she said, "I love that man dearly for the
sweet words he speaks concerning Christ."
6. Her book was her delight; and many times she was so strangely
affected in reading the Scriptures, that she burst out into tears, and
would hardly be pacified: so greatly was she taken with Christ's
sufferings, the zeal of God's servants, and the danger of a natural
state.
7. She often complained of the corruption of her nature, of the hardness
of her heart, that she could repent no more, and be no more humble and
grieved for her sins against a good God; and when she thus complained,
it was with abundance of tears.
8. She was very conscientious in keeping the Sabbath, spending the whole
time in reading or praying, learning her catechism, or teaching her
brothers and sisters. One time when she was left at home on the Lord's
day, she got some other little children together, with her brothers and
sisters, and told them that it was the Lord's day, and they ought to
remember it to keep it holy. She then told them it was to be spent in
religious exercises all the day, except so much as was taken up in the
works of necessity and mercy: then she prayed with them, and among other
things begged that the Lord would give grace and wisdom to them, (little
children,) that they might know how to serve him.
9. At another time a near relation of hers being in some straits, made
some complaint, to whom she said, "I have heard Mr. Garter say, 'A man
may go to heaven without a penny in his purse, but not without grace in
his heart.'"
10. She had an extraordinary love to the people of God: and when she saw
any who she thought feared the Lord, her heart would even leap for joy.
11. When she was between eleven and twelve years old, she sickened of
the plague, in which she behaved with admirable patience and sweetness,
and did what she could with Scripture arguments to support and encourage
her relations to part with her, who was going to glory, and to prepare
themselves to meet her in a blessed eternity.
12. She was not many days sick before she was marked with the complaint
which she first saw herself, and was greatly rejoiced to think that she
was marked out for the Lord, and was now going apace to Christ. She
called to her friends and said, "I am marked, but be not troubled, for I
know I am marked for one of the Lord's own." One asked her how she knew
that? She answered, "The Lord hath told me that I am one of his dear
children." And this she spoke with a holy confidence in the Lord's love,
and was not in the least daunted at the approach of death; but seemed
greatly delighted in the apprehension of her nearness to her Father's
house. And it was not long before she was filled with joy unspeakable in
believing.
13. When she lay dying, her mother came to her, and told her she was
sorry she had so frequently reproved and corrected so good a child; "O
mother," said she, "speak not thus: I bless God, now I am dying, for
your reproofs and corrections too: for, it may be, I might have gone to
hell, if it had not been for your reproofs and corrections."
14. Some of the neighbours came to visit her, and asked her if she could
leave them. She answered, "If you serve the Lord, you will come after me
to glory."
15. A little before she died, she had a great conflict with Satan, and
cried out, "I am none of his." Her mother seeing her troubled, asked her
what was the matter? She answered, "Satan did trouble me, but now, I
thank God, all is well. I know I am none of his, but Christ's."
16. After this she had a great sense of God's love, and a glorious
sight, as if she had seen the very heavens open, and the angels coming
to receive her; by which her heart was filled with joy, and her tongue
with praise.
17. Being desired by the bystanders to give them a particular account of
what she saw, she answered, "You shall know hereafter:" and so in an
ecstasy of joy and triumph, she went to God when she was about twelve
years old.