Manuscript description

[The unpaginated flyleaf contains two words written very faintly in what might be Halkett's hand: "Madm" and "Dear", plus the library's shelfmark written in pencil. The flyleaf is preceded by two modern endpapers.]

[Small parchment sheet tipped onto a guard with the following note: "This Box contains various Old Manuscript volumns [sic] of "Lady Halkett's Meditations" - which belong to the Library at Pitfirrane. - They were brought away by the Rev.d Dunbar Halkett, but he, not having had the leisure to proceed with any steps which he might then have had in view regarding them, they, - together with some Memoranda etc respecting them, - are packed up to be returned to Pitfirrane. J.H.".]

Table of Contents

In this book is first

1 A short expostulation about prayer

[[This item appears on pp. 1-6 (not paginated by Halkett).]]

2 The great conquest or the power of faith [pp.] 1 to 33

[[This item appears on pp. 7-39 (paginated 1-33 by Halkett).]]

3 Meditations upon the 143 Psalm [pp. 1] to 87

[[This item appears on pp. 40-126 (paginated 1-87 by Halkett).]]

4 Elisha's request and the evidence of its being granted (my dream) [pp. 1] to 70

[[Elisha's request appears on pp. 127-196 (paginated 1-70 by Halkett). Halkett's dream (msItem 8) appears on pp. 196-197 (unpaginated by Halkett).]]

5 The mother's will to her unborn child

[[This item appears on pp. 198-259 (paginated 1-62 by Halkett). As well as mother's advice writing (pp. 198-256) it includes a prayer (pp. 257-259).]]

observe a remarkable accident page 30 31

[[This probably refers to pp. 30-31 of ""The great conquest"", which she has annotated in the margin ""at Rossy when Sir Rob Montgomery was married""(see msItem 5 below).]]

[

The page numbers in this table of contents correspond to Halkett's own pagination.

The verso of p.ii is blank.

Expostulations about prayer

My God my God why dost thou withdraw thy presence from me; thou knowest without thee it is impossible I should have one good thought

...

Lord, make this work fit, for what I do intend it, which is to dedicate it unto thee, with my self and all that's mine, as being thine own. And so my God receive it, and dispose of it according to thy will

Amen

[

In this prayer, in which Halkett addresses God, Satan, and her own soul, she asks God to return his grace to her which he has withdrawn, causing her to be unable to pray properly.

Unpaginated by Halkett.

Page 6 is blank, but with 4 margins drawn in.

The great conquest or the power of faith 1 John 5 the latter part of the 4th verse This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith

The beloved Apostle, being desirous that all that were called to the fellowship of Christ sufferings, might know how to have and value an interest in them

...

strengthen me for this victory and make it perfect, that by faith I may overcome all things, that separates from thee

Amen

[

This meditation on I John 5:4 ends with a prayer.

On p.32 Halkett mentions the death of Charles I, "an innocent king". On p.36 Halkett has written a marginal note at the bottom of the page in different ink: "at Rossy when Sir Robert Montgomery was married', and on p.37 she has written "at Rosy" in the margin. This probably refers to Rossie House in Fife and to Sir Robert Montgomery, a parliamentary and afterwards royalist officer (d.1684), fifth son of Alexander Montgomery who was sixth earl of Eglinton. He married Elizabeth Livingstone, daughter of James Viscount of Kilsyth ( DNB; Scots Peerage, III, 450; William Fraser, Memorials of the Montgomeries Earls of Eglinton, I (Edinburgh, 1859), 79-81). The event she is highlighting - with these marginal notes and in her table of contents ("observe a remarkable accident"; see msItem 3 above)-is seeing a flock of sheep when she was sad and unable to find comfort in religious duties. One sheep was apart from the flock on a slippery bank, eating from bushes of thorn, yet content. She drew a moral that a true sheep of Christ's fold should not lament severe circumstances.

Entry paginated by Halkett pp.1-33.

Meditations upon the 143 Psalm being a Psalm of David the seventh penitential psalm

[

The 12 verses of the psalm are transcribed on pp. 40-41; she has a few pages of overview, then she explicates each verse on approximately 4-10 pages.

Entry paginated by Halkett pp.1-87.

Psalm 143:1-12

1 Hear my prayer O Lord give ear to my supplications in thy faithfulness answer me in thy righteousness

...

12 And of thy mercy cut off mine enemies and destroy all them that afflict my soul: for I am thy servant

[This section contains the text of Psalm 143:1-12.]

Introduction to meditations on Psalm 143:1-12, ending with a prayer

What example is fitter for me to follow, than the practice of this holy prophet, who turned all things that had been an occasion of dishonouring God, to his praise

...

and teach me how to live in all things like one that is sealed unto the day of redemption by that spirit, which I beg may be my guide in this, that I am now beginning, and to my end

Amen

Meditation on Psalm 143:1

1 Hear my prayer O Lord give ear to my supplications: in thy faithfulness answer me and in thy righteousness

Prayer is the best preparation for prayer, and to whom should it be directed but unto him, whose title is, a God hearing prayer, therefore unto him shall all flesh come

...

therefore I will pray unto my God continually to hear and answer me

[The rubric is the text of Psalm 143:1.]

Meditation on Psalm 143:2

2 And enter not into judgment with thy servant for in thy sight shall no man living be justified

If David who was a man after God's own heart made a deprecation to be delivered from judgment, how shall they appear who hardly ever think upon that day.

...

But O Lord remember what I am, flesh that can never be justified, for all is possible for me to do, oh let me not destroy myself but in thee find help

[The rubric is the text of Psalm 143:2.]

Meditation on Psalm 143:3

3 For the enemy hath persecuted my soul he hath smitten my life down to the ground he hath made me to dwell in darkness as those that have been long dead

Here David gives a reason for his earnest intercession for mercy, because his enemy had not only persecuted, but prevailed against him

...

and yet how little, fervency have I in seeking of a true and lively faith, or to be quickened in those graces which may distinguish me from those that are dead and out of thy remembrance, O Lord

[

The rubric is the text of Psalm 143:3.

On p.62 Halkett refers to her own sinfulness causing "the reproach and scandals which now I suffer".

Meditation on Psalm 143:4

4 Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me: my heart within me is desolate

To one that knows the beauty of holiness nothing is so anxious as sin,

...

It is that temple made without hands eternal in the heavens to which I steadfastly will look. And that God, I know will give me comfort when I am most desolate. for

[The rubric is the text of Psalm 143:4.]

Meditation on Psalm 143:5

5. I remember the days of old, I meditate on all thy works, I muse on the works of thy hands

the memory is one of the most necessary faculties of the soul, and never more useful than when it is employed, to bring past things present, to be a means to support a desolate spirit by a seasonable application

...

Oh give thanks unto the God of heaven for his mercy endureth for ever

[The rubric is the text of Psalm 143:5.]

Meditation on Psalm 143:6

verse 6 I stretch forth my hand unto thee my soul thirsteth after thee as a thirsty land. Selah.

The body is oftentimes made use of to demonstrate the affections of the soul, and examples are borrowed from temporal things the better to express what is spiritual

...

and that thou makest it perpetual in giving me that water after which I shall never thirst because it will be a well of water springing up to everlasting life

[The rubric is the text of Psalm 143:6.]

Meditation on Psalm 143:7

7 Hear me speedily O Lord my spirit faileth hide not thy face from me lest I be like unto them that go down to the pit

This whole psalm is an evidence of David's faith, and his distrust, his faith proceeds from the experience he hath had of God's faithfulness and truth, and upon what he hath heard of the days of old

...

that none may judge me like them that go down into the pit, but rather one that both in life and death shall ever praise thee

[

The rubric is the text of Psalm 143:7.

Halkett refers again to scandal on p.97: "Yet let my sins be blotted out of thy remembrance and all unjust scandals from the tongues of men."

Meditation on Psalm 143:8

8 Cause me to hear thy loving kindness in the morning for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk for I lift up my soul unto thee.

Here is a prayer mixed with faith and desire of obedience and no address can be so acceptable to God as what is thus presented

...

oh my God direct me in the safest and the speediest path that leadeth to it, and in the meantime

[The rubric is the text of Psalm 143:8.]

Meditation on Psalm 143:9

9 Deliver me from my enemies I fly unto thee to hide me

None ever did express, faith or reliance upon God but they were sure to find enemies even from that reason because they make God their friend,

...

and I will fly to thee, by that which may make my faith visible to others even good works therefore

[The rubric is the text of Psalm 143:9.]

Meditation on Psalm 143:10

10 Teach me to do thy will for thou art my God: thy spirit is good lead me into the land, of uprightness

I desire nothing more than to obey thy will therefore I beseech thee teach me what it is for thou art my God

...

that it may be no hindrance of my journey to the land that I desire to live uprightly in here, that through thee my God I may be led to that, that is perfect for ever hereafter

[The rubric is the text of Psalm 143:10.]

Meditation on Psalm 143:11

11 Quicken me O Lord for thy name sake: for thy righteousness sake bring my soul out of trouble.

Perseverance is one of the hardest graces to attain in Christianity and therefore David having made one. request to be taught of God he makes another to be quickened

...

but from my own trouble I will take occasion to offer up a prayer for others

[The rubric is the text of Psalm 143:11.]

Meditation on Psalm 143:12

12 And of thy mercy cut off off [sic] mine enemies and destroy all them that afflict my soul: for I am thy servant.

God is so infinite in mercy, that there is very few things that we can seek in mercy that we shall be denied and this David had experience of, which made him thus form his requests

...

while I have continuance here then shall I be partakers of my master's joy hereafter which Lord grant for thy goodness sake

Amen

[The rubric is the text of Psalm 143:12.]

Elisha's request, and the evidence of its being granted, by a comparison, with the example 2 Kings 2:9 And Elisha said I pray thee let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me

Covetousness is a sin that we are commanded to beware of, and yet we are enjoined to covet earnestly the best gifts and this made, the prophet Elisha when his master was going to leave him (and asking him, what he should do for him before he left him) desire a double portion of his spirit

...

yet thy power may be seen upon ourselves in mortifying corruptions, subduing sin quickening of grace and persevering in the ways of righteousness which will bring glory to thy name and salvation to our souls through our Lord Jesus

Amen

[

In the final sentence 'myself' is emended to 'ourselves' by Halkett.

Entry paginated by Halkett pp. 1-70.

Finding here an empty place I cannot but insert a dream which I found in a loose paper that I had writ the next day after; (the dream was upon August the 19th 1651 that night)

I thought I was praying alone in my closet and a young man was before me who like Elihu to Job .33.6. offered himself instead of God to answer my requests

...

Lord make my soul fit for mercy and then shew it when and how thou pleases

[Entry not paginated by Halkett; added later into a blank page and a half.]

Mother's advice to her unborn child Betty, plus a prayer of thanksgiving

[Entry paginated by Halkett pp.1-62.]

The mother's will to her unborn child being writ at Pitfirrane when I was with child of my dear Betty 1656

Upon this day it was that I have been most guilty of my greatest sin, being that which God commanded to be sanctified to himself and therefore the least sin must be great that hath such an aggravation of disobedience

...

These instructions I give thee, believing it thy greatest portion for these rules improved will sanctify and bless whatever else thou hast. Therefore consider what I have said and the Lord give thee understanding in all things

[

Halkett notes in the lower margin on p.253 that her daughter was born on Wednesday 26 November 1656.

Entry paginated by Halkett pp.1-59, though the last three pages are torn.

A thanksgiving after my deliverance out of childbed

Praise the Lord oh my soul and exalt the God of thy salvation who heard thee in the day of thy distress, and strengthened thee from heaven and delivered thee from that wrath purchased by sin, and turned my mourning into joy

...

and shall forever pray both for myself and all I have interest in that we may attain that crown of glory purchased for all believers through the merits of our redeemer to whom be ever praise and glory

Amen

[

Entry paginated by Halkett pp.60-62.

Page 259 is blank, unpaginated.

After the final page are two modern endpapers.