A Miraculous proof of the resurrection, or, The Life to come demonstrated being a strange but true relation of what hapned to Mris Anna Atherton, who lay in a trance 7 days ... with her speech ... verbatim as it came from her brother Dr. Atherton, physician in Caermarthen / published, now seasonably, as an invitation to an holy life in maidens, in this adulterous and atheistical generation ...

1680

A Miraculous PROOF of the Resurrection: OR, The LIFE to come Demonstrated.
Being a Strange but True Relation of what hapned to M^ris Anna Atherton:

Who lay in a Trance 7 days, and had burning Coals applyed to her feet, but no life appeared: and liv'd comfortably 2 years after: with her Speech to her Mother when she came to life, verbatim, as it came from her Brother D^r. Atherton, Physician in Caermarthen.

Published, now seasonably, as an Invitation to an Holy Life in Maidens, in this Adulterous, and Atheistical Generation, wherein neither God, Christ, Soul, Heaven nor Hell are minded; but drinking, whoring, swaring, lying, &c. to be a Curb to Vice, & incourage Vertue.

M^ris Anna Atherton.

THIS Maid being about fourteen years of Age, fell sick in November 1669. Whereupon several Physicians were called to her Assistance, who consulted about her Distemper; and judg'd it to be somthing of an Ague, though the Symptoms thereof (as they confessed) were somewhat different from those which are usual in that Distemper.
2. Her Disease, whatever it was, prov'd too hard for their Skill and Medicines, and brought the Patient to a thinness of Body, paleness of Countenance, and Stupidness to any thing but her Devotion. She was before of a full Habit of Body, of a brisk and lively Temper, and prone to all kind of Exercise befitting her Age.
3. Under this strong Alteration she continued till the Beginning of February ensuing, when by little and little she felt a sensible Decay of her whole Body, which daily increasing, prevailed at length upon all the Organs of Life and Motion; so that in appearance she lay void of either, whereupon she was concluded to be really dead.
4. The Women who came to do their last Office to her Body, perceived more Heat and Warmth in her, than they thought to be usual in dead Bodies, upon which they desisted a while; And, because the Room was close, and a fire had been alwayes in it, (thinking the unusual Warmth might proceed from thence) they opened the Casements to let in what Air they could, and put out the Fire, and then left her some time to her self.
5. But returning, they found the same Warmth to continue; then they left her in this manner one whole day, yet could find no alteration: whereupon they applyed a Looking-glass to her Mouth, but not the least Cloud appear'd: they put live Coals to her feet, which discovered not the least sign of Life or Sense.
6. Notwithstanding her Mother (it being so ordered by Providence) was very timorous, which made her delay her Burial, and kept her uncoffin'd till sev'n days were expired, at the end of which time, her heat which before was so languid and obscure, that it could scarcely be discerned, began (like some sparks of fire raked up in Embers) to glow, and more manifestly discover it self.
7. Upon which, Rubbings and other artificial Helps were used, which did not prove ineffectual; for, in a short time, they found a trembling Vibration of the Pulse, afterwards she began to breath, and so at last gradually recovered all her Senses. The first thing that she spake of, was That she desired to see her Mother, who coming to her, she thus uttered her mind:

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A Looking glass applyd to her mouth, & coals to her feet. Comes to herself, Sees an Angel, & calls for her Mother

The Maids Speech when she came out of her Trance.

8. O Mother! Since I was absent from you, I have been in Heaven, an Angel went before me to conduct me thither; I passed through three several Gates, and at length I came to Heaven Gate, where I saw things very glorious and unutterable, as Saints, Angels, and the like, in glorious Apparel; and heard Unparalleld Musick, Divine Anthems and Hallelu-jahs.
9. I would fain have entred that glorious place, but the Angel, that went before me, withstood me, yet I thought myself half in: but he told me, I could not be admitted now, but I must go back, and take leave of my Friends, and after some short time, I should be admitted.
10. So he brought me hither again, and is now standing at the Beds-seet; Mother! You must needs see him, he is all in white. Her Mother told her, It was but a Dream or Fancy, and that she knew not what she said: whereupon she answered with a great deal of Vehemency, That it was as true, as that she was there at present: She took notice also of several persons in the Room by their Names, to shew she did not dream, but spoke with Understanding.
11. But for the greater Confirmation, she told them of Three or Four Persons that were dead, since she was deprived of her Senses, and named each Person; (one of them was dead, and they knew not of it before they sent to enquire:) she said, she saw them passing by her while she stood at the Gate.
12. One whom she named was reputed a Vicious Person, came as far as the Gate, but was sent back again another way. All the Persons she named, dyed in the time she lay in this Trance.
13. She lived about two Years after this, enjoying a perfect Health, and then dyed in great Assurance of her Salvation; speaking comfortable Words, and giving wholesom Instructions to all who came to visit her. It is worthy Observation, that during the whole time of her first Sickness, which was about a quarter of a yer, she neither eat nor drank any thing, besides the juyce of an Orange and the yolk of an Egge.

'Tis then necessary all Persons be kept 48 hours before burial, lest they should be buried alive.

London, Printed by T. Dawks in Black-fryers, who was as desirous to be satisfied in the truth of this Relation as any Reader can be, and was so before he did dare to publish it. &c. Reader, be pleased to be advertised that from the said T. Dawks may be had (1) the Pictures of the 3 prime Discoverers, Ores, Bedloe and Dugdale, with Verses declaring their Reasons for discovering this damnable Popish PLOT: (2)Godfreys Murder made Visible, in a large sheet, with a Copper plate, in colors or plain, being an Ornament for all P [...]otestant Families. (3) A Chronology of the Growth of Popery, shewing when, and who brough Superstition in. (4) The Rise, Discovery and Demonstration of the PLOT in 52 Copper Figures, with a Book to explain them. (5) Also Salmon's Universal Dispensatory a Companion not only for the chiefest Physicians of Europe, but for the most ingenuous Ladies and Gentlewomen, furnishing them with the Nature & Virtues of Roots, Herbs, Plants, Flowers; the Physical use of Insects, Animals & their parts; Preserved, distilations; &c. (6) His Horae Mathematicae, being a new Method of Calculating Nativities, Brief and Admirable for Verity; which certainly will become, when known, the practicablest Book on that Subject in the whole Universe (6) His Synop. Medicinae, with 21 Copper plates will certainly be pulished, this Trinity-Term 1680. These things have oft been inquir'd for, and sent for into most Counties, but are de [...]v'd by ill humord men, as if there were no such Books, when they may always be had there for C [...]p [...].

Reader, Beware of a Cheat, for This true Original Relation, from the Doctor, the M [...]s [...] brother is [...] ridiculously counterfeited in a little [...] penny Book: be not abused with that which [...] Propriety.

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