His wife (the match was so huddled up) had no portion promised, at least that he knew of, who relied on his father, so that she was also deserted by her friends; and having £200 in her own hands, that had been given her by a grandmother, with that they took and stocked a farm in Sussex, where she who had been highly bred, has been often seen in a red waistcoat, milking her cows, and became the great comforter and encourager of her husband. God, saith she, hath had mercy on me, and any pains taking is now pleasant to me. There they lived some years with much comfort, and had the blessings of marriage, divers children. After some few years, he was met in Kent, on the road, by one of the tenants of the estate, and saluted by the name of landlord. Alas, said he, I am none of your landlord. Yes, you are, said he, I know more than you do of the settlement. Your father, though a cunning lawyer, with all his wit, could not alienate the estate from you, whom he had made a joint purchaser. Myself and some other tenants know it, and have refused to pay any money to Dr. Reeves. I have some money ready for you in my hands, which I will pay to your acquitance, and that will serve you to wage law with them. He was amazed at this wonderful Providence, received the money, sued for his estate, and recovered it. “He that loseth his life (saith Christ) for my sake and the gospel’s shall find it.” His godly wife, enjoying a loving husband, several fine children, and a handsome estate, in the midst of these outward blessings, fell into a way of questioning the truth of her grace, because of her outward prosperity. This was her sin without doubt, for which a friend rebuked her; but it was a severe rebuke that the Lord gave her for her unthankfulness; a fine boy, about three years old, fell into a kettle of scalding wort, and was taken out by his mother, and died. This she looked on as the Lord’s discipline for her unthankfulness, and was instructed.
London:—Printed and sold by J. Evans and Son, Long-lane, sold also by F. Collins, 60, Paternoster-row; and by J. Nisbet, 16, Castle Street, Oxford Street.