Priscilla Thornton

Mr. Thomas Thornton, the aged and faithful pastor of Yarmouth, was blessed with a daughter nam'd Priscilla, which at the age of eleven, left this world, having first given demonstrations of an exemplary piety.
She was one remarkably grave, devout, serious; very inquisitive about the matters of eternity; and in her particular calling very diligent. She was nevertheless troubled with sore temptations and exercises about the state of her own soul; the anguish of her spirit, about her body of death, caus'd her to pour out many tears and prayers; and she pressed, that some other pious children of her acquaintance might with her keep a day of humiliation together, that (as she expressed it) they might get power against their sinful natures. But it pleased God at length to bless the words of her godly mother, for the quieting of her mind. It was her singular happiness, that she had such godly parents; but it was her opinion and expression, we trust too much to the prayers of our parents, whereas we should pray for our selves.
At last she fell mortally sick. In the beginning of her sickness, she was afraid of dying : for, said she, I know of no promise to encourage me. She could not but own that she had in some measure walked with God; yet she complained that she had not found God meeting her in her prayers, and waking her heart willing to be at his dispose : and that the pride of her heart now lay as a load upon it. She own'd. that she had many thoughts of Jesus Christ, and that it grieved her that she had sinned against him, who had done and dy'd for her.
But many days were not past, before she could profess her self willing to die, with some assurance of her then going to eternal blessedness. Many thanks and loves did she now render to one of her superiours, declaring, twas because they had curb'd her and restrain'd her from sinful vanities - And she said, were I now to choose my company, it should be among the people of God: I see plainly that they are the only company. She was not without her conflicts in this time, wherein one of her speeches was, 'damna'tion, that is the worst thing of all, but Christ is of all, the best : I find it so : Christ is to me wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption.' She told her father, she knew she was made up of all manner of sin; but, said she, ' I hope God has humbled me, and purdon'd me in the merits of the Lord Jesus Christ.' Unto her affectionate mother she said, ' mother, why
do you weep, when I am well in my soul? well, will you mourn when I am so full of joy? I pray rejoice with me.'
When she was extreamly spent, she said unto her parent, 'O my father, I have been much troubled by satan, but I find Christ is too hard for him, and sin and all.' She now said, I know now that I shall die. And being ask'd hether she were afraid of death, with a sweet smile she replied, no, not I, Christ is better than life! And so she continu'd in a most joyful frame till she died; a little before which, it being the Lord's day, she ask'd what time of the day 'twas, and when they told her, 'twas three of the clock, she reply'd, what? is the Sabbath almost done? well, my eternal Sabbath is going to begin, wherein I shall enjoy all felicity, and sing hallelujahs to all eternity. And hereupon she quickly fell asleep in the Lord.²