The Godly MAID of LEICESTER:
Being a true Relation of ELIZABETH STRETTON, who lying upon her Death-
bed, was wonderfully delivered from the Temptations of Satan; worthy the noting of all that
would live and dye in the Fear of GOD, etc.
To the Tune of, In Summer-time, etc.
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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 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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God's 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 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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Whenas 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 Despair;
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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 Corpse 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.] God's 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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Whenas 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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Father, Husband, and Delight,
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'Thy sinful Soul from Hell to free,
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overcome the Devil's might.
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'I hid my face a little space,
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try how patient thou wouldst be,
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'I give thee Faith and means of Grace,
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that sufficient was for thee,
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'To overcome the Devil's power,
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Gates of Hell could not prevail,
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'I helpt thee in a blessed hour,
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thy poor Soul I will not fail.
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'Go tell thy Friends where thou hast been,
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how my Children I protect;
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'How I have pardned thy sin.
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all the sins of my Elect.
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With Oyl he did anoint my Soul,
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my Head, and all my Body o'er,
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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 Saviour's 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 God's 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 die.
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Unto God's Ordinance let's 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 yourselves as God's 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 God's 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 be run,
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Tho' other People go astray,
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go forwards 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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God's 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 will 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 thee, and dye to sin,
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Our Life and Death shall happy be,
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tho' in a wicked World we've been.
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