.300006.4000075

<gap></gap><date>1783.Le</date><hi rend="underline"><placename>ominster Archives</placename></hi>
Course of Life of our late Maid Sister <persname>Eliz: Bethell</persname> from her own
hand Writing.
<gap></gap>I was born <date>May the 21</date><hi rend="underline"><hi rend="superscript"><date>st</date></hi></hi><date> 1754</date> in the Town of <placename>Monmouth</placename> where my
Father was placed as Officer in the Excise, & in my third Year my Father
was removed to <placename>Leominster in Herefordshire</placename>; When I was about Six
Years old, my Aunt took me to her into <placename>Shropshire</placename>; She had no Child of
her own, & was tender to me; My <sic>Unkle</sic>  <corr>Uncle</corr> was of a rough <sic>dispossition</sic>  <corr>disposition</corr> 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 of<hi rend="underline"><hi rend="superscript">d</hi></hi><hi rend="superscript"></hi> 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. <gap></gap>I was very fond of reading Books that
mentiond anything about God; at last my Aunt began to be <emotion>uneasy about me,</emotion>
& thought I was not <sic>playfull</sic>  <corr>playful</corr> enough like other Children: In my 12<hi rend="underline"><hi rend="superscript">th</hi></hi> 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 <sic>exceding</sic>  <corr>exceeding</corr> fond of me
& often would remind me what a reward was promised to those that love God;
but the ever <sic>faithfull</sic>  <corr>faithful</corr> 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 <add>Spirit</add> 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 <sic>cryed</sic>  <corr>cried </corr>out
Dear Sav<hi rend="underline"><hi rend="superscript">r</hi></hi><hi rend="superscript"></hi> 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; <gap></gap>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 w<hi rend="underline"><hi rend="superscript">ch</hi></hi> I expected the Lord would lay
upon me: I was now about 14 Years old; and my distress <sic>encreasing</sic>  <corr>increasing</corr> I
once went into the Fields, & wander'd about where there was no Path for