CALEB VERNON Anagram Bor'e unclean Nue clean Robe Through Adams nature I Unclean was bor'e Through Grace betimes Christs Nue clean Robe I wore BY Nature in my first estate A wretched Babe was I In open field deserving hate In blood and filth did lie And in that state I did delight As in my sport and play And therein would with all my might Have wallow'd night and day And though from gross enormities I might by men be clear'd Yet to my Maker's searching eyes Defil'd I all appear'd Though Nature with a pregnant wit And comliness adorn'd me And Education adds to it To teach restrain reform me What prov'd it but a feigned paint On much defiling sin It did not kill but lay restraint Where outrage would begin A pleasant picture to the eye I hereby might appear By which to close Idolatry Some might be drawn I fear But God that faithful he might be That deadly snare would break And that right early unto me His Grace and Peace might speak With tenderness on these intents He strips me of my Vail My costly Cov'rings all he rents My Countenance makes pale My Comliness to rot he turns My witty words to groans My moisture up with drought he burns Discloseth all my bones And in a day of publick ire Me these rebukes did meet When Pestilence as burning fire Slew thousands at his feet I who to blossom did begin With such fair paint before Now as the early fruit of sin This character I wore Despised Idol broke to earth A potsherd no way fit To take up fire out of the hearth Or water from the pit But though near corruptible dust This curious Frame was brought By gracious pleasure stay I must Till noble works were wrought Till deep convictions of my sin Till Jesus form'd in me Till as my portion I begin The Lord 's dear Christ to see Till all my sins were done away Till terrors made to cease Till heart and mind could sweetly stay In thought surpassing peace Nay till in an accepted day My homage I could bring And in his instituted way Devote me to the King Till Christ put on his Truths allow'd His dying marks imbrace His Cause confest his Works avow'd His Sufferings boldly face His Promises for a portion took Saints for companions chose And on him set a fixed look For future free dispose Since then in an unusual way Rich Grace hath thus array'd me And in my young yet dying day With glory overlaid me What properly could I desire But now dissolv'd to be And in this Marriage choice attire My Bridegrooms face to see In Kedar who would not bemoan If there he must reside Ah wretched man who would not groan In sinful flesh to bide Who ' ld lodg in such a nasty shade As torturing tottering stands That hath a Palace ready made Not with polluted hands Where sin temptation suffring strife shall fully be destroy'd All dying swallow'd up of life And God at full enjoyd What aile my Parents then to weep My friends to be dismayd Relations such a do to keep To see a Child unray'd It s filthy garments layd in dust It lay'd repose to take Until the morning when it must With Royal Robes awake May this a witness be to Truth In this backsliding day A Christal Mirrour unto Youth How to amend its way A. C. By an old and honorable Disciple of Christ in the same Congregation who dearly loved him and is since also himself fallen asleep in Jesus and in the Hope of the Resurrection to glory by him I Cannot I adorn thy Sable Hearse With any lofty straind Heroick Verse Nor blaze thy praise with Heraldry Divine This thou at chievd'st among the Saints betime And left'st thy Name an Odour sweet to those That with Christ Iesus and his Truth did close Thou likewise an Example wast to all That knew thee rightly were they great or small Christ gave thee grace by grace thou didst conceive A saving Faith by saving Faith didst live At twelve years old indeed thou couldst dispute And readily some learned ones confute A truly Calebs Spirit was thee given To follow Christ on Earth and into Heaven We now thy Heavenly glories may recite Oh that in us might be the joyes we write That what thou dost enjoy in full a taste Have here we may to stir us up to haste To be with thee that so from troubles here In bliss we may be plac'd where is no fear What lowder grief with such an Emphasis Struck through some Ears to hear what Corps is this What flocks of Saints were crowding oh what storms Rest in their looks Grief wandred through all Forms For thee dear Soul But seeing that the Loss Is only ours let us the grief ingross And fly to Christ with whom is all relief That by him stayd may be our flowing grief Now judge Spectators if you do believe Whether all those that knew him may not grieve Parents and Brother Sisters and Church Members For this great loss both sighs and sorrow tenders There 's cause enough yet friends be all content And make his Life and Death your President John Symonds Senior Prov. 23. 23 24 25. Buy the Truth and sell it not also Wisdom and Instruction and Understanding The father of the Righteous shal greatly rejoyce and he that begetteth a wise Child shall have joy of him Thy father and thy mother shall be glad and she that bare thee shall rejoyce To all that love the Lord Iesus in sincerity The Testimony of two or three Witnesses to the truth of the fore-going Treatise THis that now comes to your hand is a little part as a few fragments of that full table those were entertained with that had the blessing of being nigh that little one which is here presented to you the truth of which for the most part we can testifie having been eye and ear witnesses of these things What it is we truly desire it may be blest unto you to the ends designed by the Author of this little Book It being the main If not the only end why this little follower of God desired to live It may be the breathings from that heart that so much longed being converted to convert others may be of use though imparted at the second hand we have seen made good Pro. 14. 27. The fear of the Lord is a fountain of Life c. And He that believeth in me as the Scripture hath said out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water John 7. 31. Some of us have been much convinced by what we saw what bare conversions there are in the world and how far short of believing as the Scripture hath said most men and women are that leaves them so short of the Spirit hinted 1 Pet. 2. 7. We have been too much strangers to that Faith that worketh by love and puts us under Gospel-constraints To live to him that died for us and rose again God hath rebuked this Generation
Justices for near two years more yet at last prevailed by slanders to be countenanced so by another in armes who took not such notice of the private malignity under pretence of Loyalty that the Chyrurgeon was encouraged as one of the chief in ransacking the said Vernons House and Closet which he had stored with Medicine for his Apothecary at pleasure with violence and dis-ingenuity incredible upon pretence of Armes where never was any and bruitishly frequented the house as he pleased sometimes in company sometimes alone in his drink venting his threats very absurdly to the great terror of the poor family The said Child being timerous and under a fit of sickness also at Ewel with more deep sence of sin having thus early to his care about his eternal estate the additional fears of unreasonable men so frequently was so exposed though naturally very chearful that his Father was enforced to remove the Family from thence to Newington with respect to their Schooling leaving them himself some weeks before The Child began therefore when his Father through these troubles left Ewel â—â—rst in good earnest to approach to his â—eavenly father in private and to begin a â—orrespondency with his good friend Mr. R. D. in London wherein were Christian expressions in such wisdome and knowledge as made his friend question being the first he had written whether they could come from one so young being then â—ut Ten years old whereupon the said Mr. D. sent to him as followeth Dear Caleb I Received thine without date but not without serious desire of the best things and of â—hy beginning to be instructed in them which made thy Letter very acceptable and welcome to me being willing to hope that what comes under thy hand is not only notions in thy head but something of Truth in thy heart which I desire may be more and more really wrought in thee Thy Lines savour of an honest heart and seem to come from an older head than thy own yet being informed from such as I can credit that it was thy own writing I shall make no further inquiry than to have it confirmed from thy self in thy next to me whether indeed thou hadst not privately the help of any other before the writing of thine above mentioned unto me It is a large desire exâ—ressed in thine to be filled with the Love of God and my hearts desire for thee is Thâ—â— the Lord will fulfill that Petition for thee tâ—gether with that mentioned Ephes. 3. 1â— 17 18 19. Which I desire thou mayest oâ— ten peruse ponder and be helped to prâ— in the same Spirit of Truth The coâ—ing of Christ is hastening indeed as tâ—â— Letter expresses 'T is but a little whiâ—â— and he that shall come will come and will not tarry Heb. 10. 3â— And it is a question worth all our inquirâ— who may abide the day of his coming Mal. 3â— 12. Many there are that shall not and feâ— there are that will be found blameless aâ—â— harmless without rebuke at that day whicâ— yet is and shall be the portion of some Phil. 2â— 15 16. I shall at present only desire thy answer unto two or three brief Questions following First What thou dost understand by thâ— coming of Christ Secondly What thou understandest bâ— his judging the Earth Thirdly What it is to be an outsidâ— Professor Fourthly What the Traditions of meâ— are Fifthly Whither the answer thou shalâ— return to the abovesaid questions be thâ— own apprehensions without any help from others A true and plaine answer to these things will be a further satisfaction about thy last Letter and I hope no disadvantage to thee â—ho by the serious thoughts of these things mayest be brought to a better understanding â—n them Thus with my dear love to thee and â—hy brother J. V. and Cousin Deborah and â—ll the rest desiring you may be all taught and â—nstructed in the truths of Christ as they are â—n him whom to know aright is eternal life John 17. I remain Thy assured Friend that desires thy Spiritual and temporal welfare R. D. London the 6 th of the 3 d Moneth 63. And in Answer received this following which he wrote immediately without study or prompting Ewell May 12 1663. Dear Sir I Received your kind Letter wherein you have desired me to write unto you an Answer to some certain Questions which you have hinted in your Letter which I shall answer as I hope the Spirit of Grace shall declare to me for I know and am assured that the Lord will declare his Spirit unto them that truly love him which indeed I may truly say I have not done but have erred against his word for which I have great cause to mourn for but I hope he may be my God who will be a God to them that truly seek after him in Spirit and in Truth who did put them words into my mouth which you desired me to send you word of and no body else But as for the coming of Christ I understand it to be two diverse wayes First His coming in the hearts of his People to purge and purify them Secondly His coming oâ— Earth when he shall set his People at liberty and shall destroy all Kingdomes that will nâ—â— obey him and he shall set up himself a Kingdome Dan. 2. 44. And by his Iudginâ— the Earth I understand when all both quicâ— and dead shall stand before his presence wheâ— he shall sever the bad from the good and shaâ—â— say to them on his right hand COME Yâ— BLESSED OF MY FATHER But unto them on his left hand GO YE CURSED into Hell fire prepared for the Devil and his angels And to be an outsidâ— Professor I understand it to be one who make a shew of Christ but they be not so in theiâ— hearts And I understand the Traditions â—â— men to be their following after the Lusts of the Devil rather than the Commands of God Which things I have not been told of I would desire you to excuse me for not dating my Letter and desire you would write unto me to unfold them to me more than I can do which I hope may be made of use unto my soul So I remain Your much obliged Friend CALEB VERNON ANd being removed to Newington and now no more exposed to such private hostility he went more chearfully to School and profited exceedingly in the Latine tongue making enterance also into the Greek that Summer but finding the opportunity of hearing the Word there uncertain in the Winter for the sake of it and his Fathers imployment in London the Family was removed thither where he was improved without more intermission to great proficiency in the Greek and Latine so as both his able Teachers as all with whom he was have said they never had any more apt of his age nor did any with whom he was see cause to use correction unto him who yet to his Parents trouble had lost much time by
the occasion beseeching the Lord to strengthen him his poor unworthy Servant in his Will to his Honour and help him against all the temptations of Satan praying for Sion the reviving the Cause of the Lord and helping those who prosest him to maintain a good profession to his Honour and if it were his Will to give him a Good Day to morrow to witness to him and order it for his glory At which the friend and all the company were well contented as a good conclusion of it The night continued tempestuous and he called often betwixt his slumbers to know what weather and the answer still seemed to daunt him but the morning appearing calm and Sunshine beyond any day long before confirmed him and he was willing to rise often as impatient to go but being deferred till noon and finding his body but weak he desired not to rise till the very instant of going but would not yet be withheld by his weakness saying I will lye still that I may have strength to serve God One in his hearing saying The place for his Baptizing was very dangerous where an Aunt of hers was stoned by the Souldiers upon the like occasion it nothing terrified nor discomposed him yet did not he manifest any vanity in his strength but behaved it as one fully resolved to obey to the uttermost waiting on the Lord composed for assistance with his mind very humbly and unmovedly set upon his will The Coach of a certain friend being lent him and two other hired for the company some other friends going on foot there was one went by to help in any occasion of fainting expected and he with his Father Mother and Gentlewoman who the night before endeavoured to disswade and his Brother who was to be baptized with him went in that Coach where pillows were appointed for his ease on the laps of two of them but in stead of â—ying down or being weary he desired to sit up and sat upright all the way chearfully and as soon as he came out of the Gate said heartily Father me thinks I begin to be very hungry I would I had something to eat His Father said there was Cordial or Sack or Hartshorn-Jelly but he refused those and desired some bread if it could be got which he had not eaten of a moneth before And a rowl being obtained he ate heartily and drank after it calling for more of it again by the way and found himself much strengthened for which he praised God as for fitness to serve him fulfilling his hope His fit came not that day visibly as it had done for many before but being come to the place as he sate by the fire much company coming his Father whilest he was making ready spake to them from Acts 21. 14. And when he would not be perswaded we ceased saying THE WILL OF THE LORD BE DONE Giving a brief account of the occasion with the Objestions and the Answers and Conclusion thereupon Then desired now to witness to it as the will of God shewin the Commands for it Signification of iâ— and Ends that should be proposed in it desiring they might be in them and thaâ— Presence which might make it to both hiâ— Sons the Communion of the Death and Resurrection of Christ to such a putting him on in the virtue of all his Offices as might manifest their being as iâ— were thenceforth new-died with oâ— tinged into Christ to their savour oâ— him in all things in newness of Nature and Life And then being carried downâ— the Administrator being ready received him into his Arms but feeling him so light and such a parcel of dry bones indeed it tried his faith unto some holy trembling to whom the Child said I am not afraid and was very conveniently and speedily baptized his Father standing ready with a warm Blanket to receive him beheld him going back as of a well pleased and indeed shining countenance saying as soon as he could speak I am very well Father And being laid dry on a bed but his breath very short through disturbance in changing the clothes he desired to lie a little season being very cold and it seems had a little spice of a cold fit which began before whilst he was making ready though his Father heard not of it till after and indeed a sentence of death seemed to be upon him in his Fathers esteem who whilest thanksgiving was returned by the brother who baptized him spake often to the Child softly to ask how he did who said I can scarce take my breath it is so short but I shall be better after I have lain a little and in half an hour or thereabouts sate up cheerfully and himself returned publick praise solemnly before them all for the assistance of such dry bones in his service alluding to the dry bones of Israel Prayed likewise earnestly for Zion desiring the repairing her desolate and waste places and earnestly for their standing fast who had put on Christ that day or lately that they might never bring dishonour upon such a holy profession And being again in the Coach seeing an old Friend there present called to him and entreated him to serve the Lord And being on his way rejoyced in the goodness of the Lord that had carried him according as he believed through his will And now Father it will be seen said he that God is greater than man And by the way home called for warm Ale at an Inn and continued better than in many dayes before acquainting his Father and Mother That he had very great joy in Communion with God coming up out of the Water when he could not express it his breath failing through some water that went into his mouth which he merrily said he had forgot to shut and being come home and laid in his bed after a little quiet he appeared more lively than before nor had he any longer any cold or hot fit that day which had not missed to hold him several hours for many days before and said then again to some friends whom he desired might sup in his room Now I hope Mr. B. meaning the friend who last dissented will be convinced that the power of God is greater than the wisdom of man saying he was never so well in his life viz. in his soul and better in his body than before he was Baptized He then desired he mightly with his dear Father and Mother that night And did acquaint them again He thought he saw the glory of God when he came up out of the Water and was very sweetly refreshed though he was not able to express it The next day being before appointed for Thanksgiving in the Congregation upon the choice accounts of healing above fifty of them of the Pestilence and adding lately towards the repair of the Breach upon them by the death of twenty eight above twenty such as is hoped shall be saved and that some of
them saw of their Children through grace walking in the Truth then which a great Apostle had no greater joy His Father went to attend the Lord in his Courts on that day intending to revive the Lords afflicted Remnant with the account of this gracious addition to their causes of Joy but his Mother stayed with him on which day it pleased God for the humbling of them and his people who might else perhaps have been subject to have been lifted up to renew a fresh sentence of death upon him by general indisposedness and subjectness to fainting so that his Mother feared his dissolution that day she thought â—e appeared weak in the morning after his Father was risen and asked whether he â—hould stay with him he said No Mother I had rather he should go about the work of the Lord and he desired his Father that he might be prayed for that as he had put on Christ so he might grow up in him among his People But after his Father was gone he lay in the forenoon as if he had â—een dying and the Friend Mr. B. aforeâ—aid coming in told his Mother he thought he was drawing on and that there would be little alteration seen in him till he died She desired to know what she should give him He said if he were his own he should give him nothing more but about noon he was again suddenly revived to the great admiration and refreshment of his Mother to whom he said he was now pretty well but troubled with shortness of breath and desired to dine with her and his sisters and then did eat more with them with chearfulness then he had done at once many days before He took then occasion to say to her He had resigned himself to the Lord and Life or Death was alike to him but my greatest trouble if I should die now said he is the scandal that I am afraid will be cast upon my Father and Mother by the world which he said did lie in wickedness who would say they had killed me by suffering me to be Baptized whereas I am not the worse and I know if I dy now I should have died if I had not been Baptized and afterwards he said I am willing to live if it please the Lord that I might serve him among his people But had afterward several faintings that day and spake little but towards the Evening enquired for his Father who had occasion to stay later than he intended hearing he was better than when he left him by a Messenger he sent who received the account of his chearful condition about noon but not the alteration But calling upon the Friend aforesaid who had seen him in the Morning was acquainted with his opinion he was drawing near his end when at he hasted to him and found him very low indeed and cold and understanding his Mother had omitted upon the advice of the friend to use any thing being tender of disturbing him his Father a little grieved thereat applied to his Lips and palms of his Hands the refreshing he used to be relieved with and inwardly a little of his usual inoffensive revivers in a small quantity and caused cherishing fumes to simper on coals in his Chamber which with the Lords blessing together with the content of his Fathers company greatly restored him and he was cheerful and disposed to converse His Father asked him then whether he was not sorry he had been baptized now He answered no he would not but have been baptized for all this world and said he was sure he had got no hurt by it but told his Father he had been very ill that day And when he could scarce speak he was so weak he heard his Sister Nancy say Who shall have Calebs Bird when he is dead But said he Father I shall not think of dying yet but if I do I will give it to my Sister Betty who hath none for Nancy hath one already His Father asked him whether he thought he should live then I know not Father said he for I have resigned my self to God but he is able to recover me His Father having prayed once with him before he desired him again at parting to recommend him to the Lord and he left him chearful He had but little rest 〈…〉 and in the morning said to his Mother I have been dying twicc this night and to his Sister Tell my Father I live still who when he came to him found him in a sweet composed frame and disposed to converse saying Father how doth the World lie in wickedness And now Wisdom calls to her Children How long ye simple ones will you love simplicity and fools hate knowledge And speaking another time of the joy of the Wicked he said there will be shameful spuing upon all their glory His Father having occasion to write in the room did not presently entertain discourse with him but after some time of silence he said Father will it not disturb you to talk with me He said No Child I will come to thee Then he said Father I find my self greatly comforted in God I was once without him and now see what it was if God should have cut the thread of my life and now I wish I might warn others and do good whilest I live His Father breakfasting with him he did in a very lively sort enlarge upon the sure mercies of God to his soul praising him much for his goodness in enabling him to do his Will and for his Parents tenderness to him begging the Lord would not suffer it to go unrewarded and that if it might please him to spare his life he might be helped to acknowledge it and praised God that he should have a tender Father in Heaven and tender Parents on Earth too in such a condition That day he gave all his toyes to his little Sisters saying if he should live he hoped he should never mind such things His Father told him the Congregation had condescended to appoint a Church-meeting with him that evening that he might have the priviledge of the Lord's Supper wherein to the eye of Faith Christ would be evidently set forth crucified before him for his consolation which he accepted thankfully and said he would lye still to preserve his strength thereunto and when the time came his father spake briefly from Iohn 10. I am the door by me if any man enter in he shall be saved He attended with very great diligence and partook with great reverence sitting up in his bed to attend and afterwards humbly desired thanks might be returned to the Congregation for their love and care herein The next day being the first day of the week his Father tarried at home with him and enlarged upon the latter part of these words viz. And shall go in and out and find pasture setting forth in more variety what a soul entring in by Christ as the door and going out of himself