GOod people, according as God called the people, for to hear his judgements, concerning his Church: Nay, He did not onely call the People, but he called the whole earth; nay, the whole World: and all things that comes forth of it: Even ſo I deſire all Chriſtians within this our Nation; Nay, all in the whole World, to hear and to give their due attention, to what I here declare: concerning a very ſtrange and marvelous wonderful work of God, which is to be proved at this preſent time of my writing, within the County of Darby, near to Backwell, within a Mile, or ſomething more: at a little houſe noer Over Hadin, hard by the Mill:

Indéed I gave you a little Caviat conſerning this wonderſul ſtrange ſlory, which is nothing but true: I ſay I gave you a Character of it, which was dated, October 13. Which I had, by Relation, from many ſeveral perſons: but ſince that time, I my ſelf, the Author of this Book, hath been with the Maid, and hath had ſome diſcourſe with her, which hath given me a great deal more ſatisfaction then I had before; and ſo I thought it good to give every one as good ſatisfaction as lyeth in my power for to do: and by Gods aſſiſtance, I do intend to declare the truth as near as I can, and no more but what I ſaw and heard from the Mouth of the Damſel and her Mother. For on December the 6. day, being the Lords day, I was with the Maid, and had ſome diſcourſe with her, conſerning her condition; For when this Damſel was about Eleven years old, it pleaſed the Lord to ſtrike her with a lamentable pain in the ſmall of her back, which was a great means to make her ſtoop very much, and it pleaſed the Lord that ſhe ſo continued for the ſpace of ſix years, and at the end of thoſe years her Stumach was taken from her, that ſhe could not eat as formerly ſhe could; and about St. An hews day, ſhe quite ſorſock her meat, and hath not taſted of any Food ſince: Save onely upon St. Thomas day in one thouſand ſix hundred ſixty ſeven, ſhe eat thrée ſlices of an Apple, but never ſince ſhe hath not taſted of any Rind of mortal Food, bread nor drink, or water, but as they wet her lips with a Spoon and Spring water; but now ſince Martlemas day, ſhe hath ſuckt of a Stu'd Pruan: but nothing can be perceived to go down into her body to this preſent day. And yet &c is very lively, and likely for to live; She is Ninetéen years of Age about Candlemas next; ſhe is worn very bare of her body, very ſmall left but skin and bone, much like the Picture of Annotomy, yet ſhe hath ſome fleſh left on her Arms, and her face, and ſome little blood in her Cheeks; and her lips, and her Spéech is very plain, and perica, as ever it was, yet her voice not all out ſo ſtrong as formerly, and yet very ſtrong and perfect, conſidering her condition, to the great amazement of all which ſees or hears her ſpeak, a thing which is almoſt paſt the belief of man, but yet very true, for I the Author of this Book can witneſs it for truth: For as I told you he ore, I was with her on the ſixt day of this preſent December, and had ſome diſcourſe with her, concerning her condition; and moſt of her diſcourſe is of the Scripture; concerning the duty which a Chriſtian oweth to God: ſhe doth not advance her ſelf in any way, but doth confeſs her ſelf a ſinner: truſting in the Lord for mercn, and the Lord grant every one of us ſo for to do.

She is very ready in the Scripture, is able to diſcourſe with any of the Clergy, ſhe is ſo very ready in diſputing of Scripture, and yet very ſmall Learning, when it pleaſed the Lord to ftrike her into this condition; and yet now as ready as if ſhe had gone ſeven years to the School: a mighty providence, and a thing to be admired at; but the Lord is ſuffiſient, and is able to do much more then man is able to expreſs.

But before I go any further, I do intend to give you a little more ſatisfaction concerning this Damſels taſt: for after it was known and ſpread abroad in the Country, the thing being ſo very ſtrange that the Country was very hard of beleiving it to be true, as ſome do to this 〈◊〉 (will not believe) but all I can ſay to ſuch as theſe, I pray God that they have a true faith to believe in Ieſus Chriſt; for as for my own part, my conſcience tells me, I ought to believe it, for when I was with her, I could not conceive any way to the contrary. But indeed the hard belief of ſome men is not to be marvelled at: for in the time of our Saviour Jeſus Chriſt, when he walked on the earth. I ſay there was many that would not believe him, which I ſhall ſpeak more of hereafter.

But now to give you a little more ſatiſfaction concerning this Damſels Faſt, as I told you before, ſome of the head of the Gentry which lives near the Damſel, cauſed twenty Maids to be choſen out of ſeveral Towns thereabouts, to wake and watch with her, for to ſée how ſhe lived, that they might be the better ſatisfied in the truth; and theſe twenty Maids did watch and wake with her, every one her turn: and when they had done, they all agréed that ſhe received no food, but as they wet her lips with Spring Water in a Spoon: which is a great ſatisfaction to many, yet ſome as I told you before, very hard of belief; but ſince that tune for a further tryal, the moſt worthy and honourable Earl of Devonſhire, for a further and more full ſatisfaction, he hath ſent fourteen Maids to wake and watch with her, that he might be the more ſatisfied in the truth; theſe Maids wake with her by two at a time, for four and twenty hours, and ſo every two did ſo, till they had waked ſeven nights and ſeven days, and when they had ſo done, they certified that ſhe did receive no mortal Food, but onely the wetting of her lips with Spring water in a ſpoon: and as it is very credably reported, this hath given him very good ſatisfaction, and he doth believe it to be true.

Indéed it is a very ſtrange and miraculous wonder; nay, it may be called, A Wonder of all Wonders, for the like was never heard of before, neither in our days, nor in our Fore-Fathers days: No, not ſince the Lord created man; but we may aſſure our ſelves that it is the Will of the Lord, for to let us ſée his handy-work, for to try whether we do believe that there is a God that can work ſtrange and wonderful works; and yet there is ſome ſo hard of belief, that will not ſtick to ſay; I mean concerning this Maid; that there is ſome deſembleation in it, and will find ſome ſcornful Word or other concerning it; Nay, ſome will not ſtick to ſay, that there is Witch-craft in it.

But as for ſuch as thoſe I deſire not to ſpend no raſh judgement upon them, but leave them in the imagination of their own hearts: but as for my own part, I fully believe as the Word ſays, as you may find it in the 28. Chap. of the Prophet Iſaih, and about the 29. Verſe. the Words be theſe: This alſo cometh forth from the Lord of Hoſts, which is wonderful in counſel, and excellent in working: But indéed in theſe days mens hearts be ſo deceitful that it is hard to find any, that his heart and tongue agrees together: for many in theſe our days which doth make a fair 〈◊〉 that they be very Religious people, and fears the Lord in an out 〈◊〉 to the World, and yet I ſay, ſuch as they, I can hear, doth ſpend their judgement very raſhly concerning this Maid, which I here have ſpoken off: which is contrary to the Word of God: But as for ſuch as thoſe, I would deſire them to look in the 29. Chapter of Iſaiah, and about the 13. Verſe and conſider with themſelves whether they be 〈◊〉 or no, of that deep Hipocriſie, as the Lord calls it in the Contents of that Chapter, as you may ſind in the 13. Verſe. Wherefore the Lord ſaid, foraſmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips doth honour me, but have removed their heart far from me▪ and their fear towards me, is tought by the Precept of Men: And fear we may ſee now the Lord was angry with this people in thoſe days, which made ſuch a fair outward ſhow with their lips, but yet their hearts was contrary; indéed I would deſire you to look into the 14. verſe of that ſame Chapter, and there you may find it very plain; to underſtand the cauſe why the Lord doth work ſuch great and marvellous works; for as I have read it unto you in the 13. Verſe, he challenged them for their Hipocriſie; Therefore behold I proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder; And indeed the Lord may, for any thing that I know, have ſpoken the very ſame words to us here in theſe our Nations; for to be ſure no Nation in theſe days could be déeper plunged in that deadly ſin of Hipocriſie, then we: for in the 13. verſe, you may underſtand that the Lord calls deſembleation, a déep Hipocriſie, in theſe Words, They honour me with their lips, but have removed their heart far from me: and I pray God there be not too many ſuch now adays: which may be a great cauſe of the Lords working this great and marvelous work here among us, now in this ſinful Nation; and hath made his choſen Ueſſel of this Damſel, for to work this great and marvelous work upon; and for any thing that I know, may have ſpoken the very ſame words to her, as he ſpake in the 41. of Iſaiah, and about the 9, and 10, Verſes. The Words be theſe; I pray you take notice, it is worth your obſervation: Thou whom I have taken from the ends of the Earth, and called thee from the chief men thereof, and ſaid into thee, thou art my Servant, I have choſen thee, and not caſt thee away, fear thou not for I am with thee, be not diſmayed, for I am thy God; I will ſtrengthen thee, yea, I will help thee: yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my Righteouſneſs.

Oh! What comfortable ſpeeches is here from the Lord to poor ſinners? and as I may ſay, why may not the Lord have ſpoken the very ſame words to this Damſel? for truly I do fully believe that we may be bold to ſay, that the Lord hath made a choſen Ueſſel of her:

And by Gods help I will do my beſt endeavour to lay it open unto you in theſe thrée Conditions.

And firſt of all, as the latter part of the 9. Verſe ſays, I have choſen thee, and not caſt thee away; For certainly the Lord hath choſen her for to work this great and wonderful work upon:

For in the firſt place, he hath brought her body into ſuch a condition, as the like was never known or heard of before ſince the creation of man; a body preſerved with life, and hath not taſted of any mortal food not of fifty wéeks, and ſome more: and therein it makes me the bolder to ſay, I do believe ſhe is one of the Lords choſen Ueſſels.

Secondly, She hath her ſpéech as perfect for any to underſtand, as ſhe had in the time of her health, and ſpeaketh very hearty, conſidering her weak condition of Body.

And thirdly, She hath a far better and more perfect Memory then formerly ſhe had in the time of her health, and eſpecially in diſcourſing of the Scriptures.

And theſe be my chiefeſt Reaſons why I ſay that I do believe ſhe is a choſen veſſel of the Lords.

But indéed, I do believe that if all the people were together, and did all the beſt they could, I mean all that hath béen with her, and hath ſéen her in this condition: I ſay, if they all ſhould do the beſt they can, they would have much ado to perſwade ſome to believe.

No, it is to be feared, ſome would rather give out ſome ſcornſin ſpéeches, deſpiſeing any one which would perſwade them to believe it for truth.

But I deſire ſuch to look into the 13. of the Acts of the Apoſtles, and about the 41. verſe. and there you ſhall find what is ſpoken concerning ſuch as will not believe the Wondrous Works of the Lord; I pray take notice, and theſe be the words; Behold ye deſpiſers, and wonder and periſh, for I work a work in your days, a work which you ſhall in no wiſe be ieve, though a man declare it unto you.

And indéed I do believe this place of Scripture was never ſo much fulfilled ſince it was Written, as it is now in our days, concerning this Maid, a Wonder the like never known before in any age: and is too true that there is too many Deſpiſers, and I pray God the Words of this Text, do not too ſoon fall upon ſome of them: for as the latter part of the Uerſe ſays: They will not believe, though a man declare it unto them. Nay, there be ſome which have béen with the Damſel, and hath ſéen her, and yet they be very hard of belief: juſt like unto thoſe people which we read of in the Goſpel, which would not believe the words which our Saviour Ieſus Chriſt ſpake to them face to face: No, but they laughed him to ſcorn, as you may find it written in the eight of Luke, and about the fifty ſecond and fifty third verſes: and yet for all they laughed him to ſcorn, he let them ſee a wonderful ſtrange work, which he wrought upon the body of J 〈◊〉 daughter, in raiſing her from death to life.

And now in theſe our days, he hath béen pleaſed to work a very ſtrange work upon this Maid which I have here ſpoken off, to ſée if we will believe, and not to periſh through our unbeleiving hearts: for he that hath a ſtedlaſt heart to believe in the Lord, be ſhall never fall: for the Lord will uphold him, as David ſays, in the 37. Pſalm, and the 24. verſe Though he fall he ſhall not be utterly caſt down for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand. Indéed, happy is that man whom the Lord upholdeth: I pray God give us all grace ſo to lead our lives, that we may deſerve to call for his helping hand, and that we may deſire the Lord to lead us in the way of truth, as David ſaid, in the 25. Pſalm, and the 5. Verſe: Lead me in thy truth, and teach me, for thou are the God of my Salvation, on thee do I wait all the day: And the Lord of his mercy give us an grace to wait on the Lord day and night, for the good of our ſalvation.

And to draw to a Concluſion, I ſhall but onely give you a Word or two in the way of Exhortation, and I pray God it may take place in the hearts of all that either reads it, or hears it read; for this I muſt néeds tell you, if you do deſire to have mercy at the Hands of God, at the latter day, you muſt ſtrive to kéep his Commandements: that is, to love one another: which is, I am afraid, a very hard thing for a great many to do.

And agant, we ſhould be pittiful one to another as brethren; having compaſſion one of another, as you may find it Written in the 3. Chap. of the firſt Epiſtle of Peter, and the 8. verſe, in theſe words; Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compaſſion one of another: Love as Brethren, be pittiful, be courteous: indeed I would deſire every Chriſtian, to kéep and obey theſe Commandments, as for forth as they be able, for in ſo doing, we may come to be in love with God, and know him: As you may finde it in the 4. Chap. of the firſt Epiſtle of John, the 7. and 8. verſes. In theſe words, Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God, and every one that loveth, is born of God, and knoweth God; He that loveth not, knoweth not God, for God is love.

O then let us 〈◊〉 by all poſſible means to love one another as Brethren, and then may we boldly ſay we love God, if we had but this brotherly love, and would ſtrive to keep his Commandements.

As you may find in the firſt Epiſtle of John, and the 2. verſe. For he ſays there, By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep his Commandements.

And the Lord grant us all grace ſo to do.

And now to conclude, I deſire every one to conſider with themſelves, what they have heard here in this little Book; for although the Uollume be but ſmall, yet the matter is of a great ballew, for it conterus very much to the ſalvation of man, though in ſome part of it, ſome may ſay it conterus worldly affairs: 〈◊〉 ſuch I make this, although that my former part of this book, be but, as you may ſay, worldly news: yet I ſay it may well be called heavenly matter: For ſo ſtrange a wonder was never heard on before: and my conſcience tells me, I may boldly ſay it is a fore 〈◊〉 to bring us into the way of Repentance: Which I pray God to give us all grace ſo to do; and that for Jeſus Chriſt his ſake.

And ſo the God of Peace, Love, and Unity, Bleſs, Guide, and Keep us all, this time, hence forth, and for ever-more,