Moravian Lives

1783.Leominster Archives
Course of Life of our late Maid Sister Eliz: Bethell from her own
hand Writing.
I was born May the 21st 1754 in the Town of Monmouth where my
Father was placed as Officer in the Excise, & in my third Year my Father
was removed to Leominster in Herefordshire; When I was about Six
Years old, my Aunt took me to her into Shropshire; She had no Child of
her own, & was tender to me; My Unkle  Uncle was of a rough dispossition  disposition and
subject to swear very much, which made me think God would not love him;
for if I thought if I did once Swear I ofd go to the bad Place, & I often would
go to the retir'd part of the Garden to pray to God to keep me from the place
where bad Children were sent to. I was very fond of reading Books that
mentiond anything about God; at last my Aunt began to be uneasy about me,
& thought I was not playfull  playful enough like other Children: In my 12th Year
my Mother came for me, & took me home that I might have better Education;
This was a hurt to me, & I soon got a Love for pleasure, & vain amusements &
quite forgot my religious Course; My Mother was exceding  exceeding fond of me
& often would remind me what a reward was promised to those that love God;
but the ever faithfull  faithful friend of Sinners knew how to make my pleasant days
bitter, by taking from me my tender, & Affectionate Mother in a few Months after
I came home; this was a great trial to me, & the holy Ghost Spirit showed me how I had
Sinned against God in getting out of the simple track I was in, in my younger
Years; I often called to mind how my dear Mother on her death Bed cryed  cried out
Dear Savr come & take me; & in a short time he took her to himself without
Sigh or groan: I found I had now lost a good Friend, & had it more
difficult in many respects; This was a means of stirring up my thoughts
to a religious Course, & I was glad to get into any Corner I could to pray
to God; & I often wish'd to return again to my Aunt, & carried a Book in
my Pocket to be ready to go at any time; In a short time I became
so distress'd about my Salvation that I would freely have given my body
to have saved my Soul from the Misery wch I expected the Lord would lay
upon me: I was now about 14 Years old; and my distress encreasing  increasing I
once went into the Fields, & wander'd about where there was no Path for