The Happy Damsel:
OR,
A Miracle of GOD's Mercy, signalized on Maria Anna Mollier, living
near St. James's Westminster, a poor lame Creature, who had been a
Cripple from her Cradle, and on the 26th of November, 1693, she was
perfectly cured by the Hand of Divine Providence, to the great amazement
of all People.
To the Tune of, Summer-time.
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LEt unbelieving Men attend,
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unto this strange Relation here,
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Which as a naked truth I send
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to all the Land both far and near:
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The Lord is good and gracious still,
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to we poor Mortals here below;
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To those who do obey his Will,
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he does his love and kindness show.
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As we by sad experience find
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now in the World amongst us here;
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Yet were we faithfully inclin'd,
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strange Wonders daily would appear.
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Alas it is through unbelief,
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that Miracles so long have ceas'd;
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And therefore now our pain and grief
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from Age to Age has been increas'd.
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For God is merciful to all,
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that are in grief and sad distress;
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If on his righteous Name they call,
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he will not leave them comfortless.
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This Creature did sad Pains endure;
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at length, to God she made her moan,
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Who sent her then a speedy Cure,
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down from his bright Celestial Throne.
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The truth at large I will unfold,
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how by a Fall and fatal Stroke,
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When she was hardly five Months old,
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her little Infant-bones was broke.
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Her Thigh-bone clearly out of place,
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and likewise her poor Ancle too;
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Crooked she was in woful case,
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the like of her you never knew.
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Near thirteen Years this Grief she boar,
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as of a truth we understand;
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At length God's Love she did implore,
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who heal'd her by a Mighty Hand.
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November, six and twentieth day,
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this mighty Wonder strange was wrought:
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Now as from Church she took her way,
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rude Children, better fed then taught,
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Abus'd her as she pass'd along,
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because of her deformity:
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As she suffer'd all this wrong,
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poor Soul, she wept most bitterly.
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Her Mistress said, Do not lament
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in Tears, and make this pitious Moan;
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But labour, labour for content,
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and put thy Trust in God alone.
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The Bible then she took in hard,
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for to compare her grieved mind;
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Where she in Mark did understand
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what cure the Palsie-man did find.
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By Miracle, from Jesus then,
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his perfect Health he did receive;
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Yet Scribes and Pharisees were men
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that would not his great Works believe.
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O then, reply'd this youthful Maid,
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my very Heart is fill'd with grief;
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I wonder they could be, she said,
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such stubborn Men of unbelief.
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Would I had lived in those Days,
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when he those mighty Wonders wrought,
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My Tongue should have set forth his Praise,
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tho' Scribes did set his Works at naught.
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Nay, gracious Lord, I do believe,
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thou able art to cure me still,
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And I might soon my Limbs receive,
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if it were but thy blessed will.
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These Words she had no sooner spoke,
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but Nerves and Bones did snap amain
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Thus God, who she did then invoke,
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in love her Limbs restor'd again.
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Likewise this poor distressed Maid,
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who many Years this Grief endur'd,
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Did think she heard a Voice which said,
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Arise and walk, for thou art cur'd.
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She then arose, and walk upright,
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across the Room, then to and fro,
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Praising the Lord, as well she might,
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who did such dear Compassion show.
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Thousands hath seen her walk alone,
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both Young and Old, nay Rich and Poor,
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Who crys, the like was never known
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these many hunder'd Years before.
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