Moravian Lives @ Moravian U

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Ful/3/50

Departed Sept. 3d, 1761.

The Course of Life of Mary Woodhead.

Our dear Sr. Mary Woodhead was born June 21st 1709 at Wipsey in Yorkshire; the Religion which her Parents profess'd, was that of the Church of England, to which she also adher'd, when she came to the Years of Maturity. She was concern'd about her Salvation from her Childhood, & used to frequent ye House of a pious Neighbour, who pray'd Night and Morning in his Family, she wanted very much to bring her Father into the same Track, & she & her sober mother urg'd it tho' in vain; when she was frighted by Thunder or in some Anxiety, her place of resort was to the foremention'd house; and she contracted a Connexion with one of the Daughters which never ceas'd, that Sr. being now in the Widows house. She was married in the Year 1733 to the present Widower our Br. James Woodhead, & some Years after her Concern about her Salvation encreas'd; it came into her mind that her Sins had caus'd all the dolorous Pains and Distress, that our Lord endured & instead of being comforted hereby, she look'd upon herself as his Murderer, thus (like Peter) for want of a true Insight into our Savr's Sufferings & Death, & of the cause thereof, she grew sickly thro' the Perplexity of her mind. When Mr. Ingham, Delamote and the rest of the Preachers at that time preach'd hereabouts, she went to hear them, & was encourag'd to believe in our Savr, since he of his own Choice came into the World and laid down his Life voluntarily to save poor Sinners; she constantly frequented the Meetings, & after the Societies were settled she and her Husband became Members of that at Horton. June 8th 1748 they were both receiv'd into the Congn. which was a great Grace and Favour to them. Nov. 13th in the same Year they were confirm'd with many others, and the next time enjoy'd that highest Good the Body & Blood of our Lord in the holy Sacrament; her Attachment to her beloved Lamb encreased and instead of being melancholy on account of her being the Cause of his bitter Torments, she became quite chearfull, lov'd him tenderly, and his Sufferings & Death became the sole cause of her Joy. Having obtain'd from him Absolution & that Peace which is truly so necessary for a poor Sinner heart, she went on in a still, happy Course. The Marks of the Thorny Crown, the plough'd Back, the Nail Prints in Hands & Feet, the Gash in the Side, the Streams & Drops of Blood, that flow'd at different times and in different Places from the Body and Members of Jesus, yea his very attitude especially his Corpse like form was her Hearts Element.

Her Attachment to our Savr, and Love for his People was such that she often wish'd with Earnestness, that she cou'd have the Grace to live at Lambs Hill, but her Husband's Affairs wou'd not permit it, he being engag'd in Coal Works near the Place where they liv'd. However her as well as his Desire to come to dwell among us was so

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...in this present Year, & before having a Br coming to their house with a Waggon on his business, he ask'd her playfully, now Mary are you ready to move to Lamb's Hill? she took it as sensible, & if the Brs had good for them, was quite ready & not with-out undergoing Difficulties was daily tired out with her Husband. Thro' this her little Mother of her angrish and child-like Character broke thro' the dryness the Brethren had had for many Years of her Town, so that the Brs both went to it, and have made a Happy Arrive to their Wark Simpel & joyfull: she was no friend to talk, but as soon as her chief matter was but mention'd she was ready & quick, & her Words were such as did not fail indeed to ease and bear her Mansions Hunger & the yearning of her own heart for her Savr and't could not be other that it was so sweetest by communication. When the 4th Bands & Classes were regulated anew last May, she and her Husband were appointed Servants to those of the Married Brs & Srs; for Office well adapted to & the Society, Sr of her Choir and indeed she was regarded for it by her own mother the H. Ghost, & thus led the Original Qualification for her Place. She was a Light indeed & to the hearts of all the Srs who knew trusted to her Providence: she was a Woman of God in them, which when in Distress of mind they came to her, to be comforted; and she has been a Blessing to many in a quiet speaking of our Savr & his precious Blood; and were any sick or anxious about their Salvation, tho' they might be of what Denomination they wou'd, they sent for Mary Woodhead, & she call'd the Brs to them; & has been a Minister of Grace to several in their last Hours. In outward Necessities she was the Person apply'd to, & wou'd help to the uttermost of her Ability & beyond it. It was her Practice not to see a necessitous Person go unreliev'd, neither wou'd she eat her Morsel alone. Thus she has gain'd in the whole Village the Character of a Mother, & her Memory will be honour'd as long as any of the present Inhabitants are in the Body. As she had no child of her own, her only Br being left a Widower with 3 Childn, and in low Circumstances, she took the eldest & brought her up; her Aim was to get her into the Choir house as soon as possible; she was the main support of the other 2 Childn & wish'd it might also become once their happy Lot; the former has now leave to come, & the necessary Preparations are making. For one half Year past, she has spoken much about going home; but one generally imputed it to the Longing of her Heart to see her beloved Lord; her habit of Body has been but weakly for some time past; when she was sometimes told that her Course had been easy, & perhaps she had a good deal to go thro' yet, & she used to answer, our Savr knows I am weak & can soon accomplish his Aim with me poor Sinner, & take me home; that was indeed her shining Beauty that tho' she was so

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much belov'd by her Brn & Srs, & regarded as a mother, which she did not see nor feel herself, but rather look'd upon herself as the least, she wd: be an amiable Handmaid of our Savr, to anxious than lofty. In short, she wd: an amiable Handmaid of our Savr. Her Attachment to him & his Congn: was genuine & unalterable: It was her Delight to come as often as possible to Lambshill, & on General Days, nothing but diet-ness [sickness] or severe Sickness cou'd keep her away; & she alway went away with a joyfull Heart. Of late she has been used to say when she came to L. Hill, now I have one time less to come to this happy Place. Sunday the 23d past being Genl Meeting she came with her Husband to L. Hill & being ask'd by her Labourers, how she was, she answer'd not well, I think this is the last time of my coming here. When she got home her disorder encreas'd; on Tues the 25th her Husband came & call'd the Doctor to her & also to acquaint the Br & Sr Pugh that she was ill; he visited her in his way to Horton & kept a Liturgy by her Bedside, attended with a tender Impression of the Nearness of our Lord. Frid: she was quite cheerful & had not so much Pain as before. Apt. 28th at his return from Baildon he visited her again; & sung several Verses with her, she was chearfull & well in her heart: when she was ask'd, if she thought she shou'd go home this time, she answer'd: I don't know, our Savr has not yet assur'd me of it, to me it wou'd be the most desireable thing; but, I am his & am resign'd to his Will, let him do as he thinks best, he is my Lamb & I am his poor bit of Dust, I am chearfull but want to be still nearer to him. During her Sickness when some of our Brn & Srs who live in her Neighbourhood came to visit her she exhorted them to abide faithful & to keep to him & his Blood, ay, to his Blood! & her happy mien was an Edification to all around her. Friday at 2 in the Evening Br & Sr Pugh were sent for, As Sr Pugh was sick he went and took Dr Brook with him as he had attended her in her Sickness, she was quite sensible; when she was ask'd, how she did, she said: I am going to our Savr, I am glad you are come to see me once more; I am a poor Sinner & have nothing, I am asham'd before him, that I have not lov'd him more, & that I have been so cold towards him, who lov'd me so much; I shall blush when I come to him; but his dear Wounds & his precious Blood cleanses me from all Sins, his blood, yes, his precious Blood, which she repeated with a particular Emphasis. Observing ye Doctor, she said, that is our Br the Dr he has done what he cou'd yea, he has done all that cou'd be done for me. She said: I

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wou'd praise our dear Lamb if I cou'd, but he must take the Will for the Deed, & all too little. A Liturgy was kept by her & having remain'd sensible till the very last, she turn'd pale in the Arms of Jesus during ye Singing of the Verse: "Now she does get Permission;" having receiv'd the Blessing of the Congn: & her Choir in the 52d Year of her dying Life.