The Godly Maid of Leicester.
Being a true Relation of Elizabeth Stretton, who lying upon her Deathbed, was wonderfully deli-
vered from the Temptations of Satan; worthy the noting of all that would live and dye in the
fear of God. The Tune is, In Summer time.
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AMongst the Wonders God hath shown,
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within this Island and elsewhere,
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A wonder strange I will make known,
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as ever any man did hear:
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A vertuous Maid in Leister dwelt
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who came of honest Parentage,
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Temptations and afflictions felt,
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although she was of tender age.
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Elizabeth Stretton was her name,
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of conversation Godly given,
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Gods holy Word was all her name,
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whose soul no doubt is now in heaven;
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Sore sick she was, and sick to death,
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and in a Trance for half an hour,
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That people thought her vital breath,
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extinguish'd was by death's strong power.
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He that rais'd Lazarus from the dead,
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did raise this Maid to life again,
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When as they thought her life was fled,
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and that by death she had been slain,
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At last with smiling countenance,
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upon the company did look,
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And said she had been in a trance,
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but Christ her soul had not forsook.
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I have been in a Combat great,
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even with the black prince of the air,
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By craft and by his strong deceit,
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did seek to bring me to dispair,
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But Christ doth ne'r forsake his flock,
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who evermore on him depend,
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He was my Fortress and my Rock,
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and brought my troubles to an end.
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Satan. O silly Soul, the Devil said,
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in Christ why dost thou put thy trust,
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In hell with me thou must be laid,
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and thy frail body turn to dust.
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Maid. I know my Corps to dust must fall,
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but my sweet Christ redeem'd my Soul,
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I am his Child on him I call:
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although my sins are very foul.
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Satan. No sinful soul in heaven may dwell,
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alas, poor wretch, thou art deceiv'd
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Thy sins will weigh thee down to hell
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when death or life hath thee bereav'd
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Maid. Gods mercy is above my sin,
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who did protect me from my birth,
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My Father knows where I have been
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amongst vile sinners here on Earth.
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WHose bad example me did cause
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to walk beside the path of grace
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I have broke all his Sacred Laws,
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yet he my soul doth still imbrace,
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When he perceiv'd my faith so strong,
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Satan began to hide his head,
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I did by him receive no wrong,
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so presently he vanished.
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He was no sooner vanished
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but my sweet Saviour appear'd to me
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When as you thought I had been dead,
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my soul her Saviour then did see,
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Poor wretch, said he, lo I will be,
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thy Father, Husband, and Delight,
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Thy sinful Soul from Hell to free,
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and overcome the Devils might.
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I hid my face a little space,
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to try how patient thou would'st be,
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I gave thee faith and means of grace
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and that sufficient was for thee,
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To overcome the Devils power,
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the gates of hell could not prevail,
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I helpt thee in a blessed hour,
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and thy poor soul I will not fail.
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Go tell thy Frieuds where thou hast been,
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and how my Children I protect,
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How I have pardoned thy Sin,
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and all the sins of my Elect.
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With Oyl he did annoint my soul,
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my head and all my body or'e,
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He did forgive my sins most foul,
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I praise his holy name therefore.
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Now I my Saviours love have again,
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I nothing in this world do crave,
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But that I once were free from pain,
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and fairly laid within my grave.
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All you that stand about my bed,
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see that the Lord above you fear,
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And think on this when I am dead
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that you your course so well may steer.
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For I have fought a happy Fight,
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and overcome, by Gods good Grace,
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The Devil in his power and might,
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and run with Comfort now my race.
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For henceforth is laid up for me,
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a Crown of immortality,
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Where I shall very shortly be,
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with Heavenly Saints that never die,
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Unto Gods Ordinance lets go,
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in the Week days with due respect,
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Think not the time ill spent all you
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that count your selves as Gods Elect
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As well as on the Sabbath day,
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as I have done as you do know,
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For I to you may truly say,
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I find the comfort of it now.
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Let none Gods Ordinance contemn,
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the means of their Salvation,
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Let not the Devil prevail with them,
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to bring them to Damnation,
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I praise my God in all my grief
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I never lost my hold of Grace,
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When other folks were bent to strife,
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I held the Church the chiefest place.
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And therefore mind me what I say,
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before your glass it be quite run,
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Though other people go astray,
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go forwords as you have begun
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And meddle not with them that are
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contentious any kind of way,
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But ever let it be your care
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Gods holy Ordinance to obey.
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For those that will not serve him here,
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in heaven with him shall never dwell.
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Therefore my Friends now have a care
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that you may scape the pains of hell
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So farewel friends, farewel to all,
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I'm going to a better place
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Let not the Devil bring you to thrall,
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nor fondly lose your hold of Grace.
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Lord Jesus now receive my soul
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I do bequeath the same to thee,
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O Lord forgive my sins most foul,
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and so to heaven passed she;
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And so departed she in peace,
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to heaven with Angels to remain,
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The Lord above gave her release,
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from her Afflictions, Grief and Pain.
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Let people mind her dying words,
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if in heaven they would live,
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Her life and death so much affords
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and heavenly comfort now doth give
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O Lord give us all grace, that we
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may live to him and dye to sin,
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Our Life and Death shall happy be,
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though in a wicked world we've been.
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