The Godly Maid of Leicester.
Being a true Relation of Elizabeth Stretton, who lying upon her Death-bed, was won-
derfully delivered from the Temptations of Satan: worthy the noting of all that
would live and dye in the fear of God. The Tune is, In Summertime.
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AMongst the wonders God hath shown,
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within this Island, and else-where,
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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 Leicester 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 aim,
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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 deaths 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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she on 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 ayr,
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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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S[a]tan. O si[l]ly 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 of 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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[Amon]gst vile Sinners here on earth[,]
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The Second part, to the same tune.
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WHose bad example did me 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 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 our Saviour then did see:
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Poor Wretch, said he, loe I will be
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thy Father, Husband, and delight:
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Thy Sinful Soul from Death is free,
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and overcame the Devils might.
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I hid my Face a little space,
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to try how patient thou wouldst 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 friends 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 o're,
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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 the 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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From 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 dye.
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Unto Gods Ordinance let's go,
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in the weekdays with due respect,
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Think not the time ill spent all you
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that count yourselves 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 condemn,
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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 left my hold of Grace,
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When other folks are 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 be run,
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Though other people go astray,
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go forward 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 shall never dwell,
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Therefore my friends now have a care,
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that you may escape 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 Christ 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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