believed stedfastly and without wavering It was a long and sore Trial above two Years and very great to her dear Mother who was continually with her for she was unwilling to have her from her But the Grace of God appearing so eminently in her Child the sweet Words which she uttered and the well-grounded Hopes of her Future Happiness did support her in her most sinking times And indeed they were both upheld by the Mighty Power of God She would comfort her Mother and say to her Do not mourn for me for you shall come to me and we shall be in Heaven together I shall want nothing when I come there I love you but I love Christ better It was asked her how she could love Christ who did so afflict her she quickly answered Because he hath loved me She told a Friend that came to see her without any previous Discourse There are two things I dare not do Commend my self nor murmur against God She was very thankful for every Kindness shewed her she did often make mention of the Kindness of a worthy Gentlewoman Mrs. Tyrrell of Mendham and would say how kind she had been to her who sent many sutable Restoratives for her weak Body and when she came to visit her she would desire her to pray for her She told a Neighbour that came to see her a little before her Death that she was now hasting to Heaven apace now the joyful time was near at hand which she longed for as the wearied Traveller for the refreshing Shade and the labourious Husbandman for the Night of Rest after the scorching Day And so her time was come to enter into the Joy of her Lord and died in Peace She had her Infirmities and Fits of Passion for which she would be grieved and very sorry but it was no wonder considering her violent Pain and long Affliction But she held fast her Integrity and loved Christ more and more O what a Feast had they that often conversed with her Had you but beheld a little poor pined Body and heard such great things declared by her it would have been far more wonderful than to read these things O the sight of Glory that she had The Conquest of Death and the daily longing to be with Christ Her Life was continued as a great Example to others and it will be well if she never may be forgotten She is now dead yet speaketh And may this small Account which is but the Fragments of what might have been gathered be for the Glory of God'â— rich Grace and to extol the Teachings of his Spirit and to declare the Excellency of an Immortal Soul and what it is capable of then we shall answer so great a Work of God which was so publick and not done in a Corner She might have been as a stupid poor ignorant and insensible Creature but by the Spirit of God quickning and enlivening of her was like the Box of Ointment poured out upon Christ which caused a sweet Savour throughout the whole House O may this never be forgotten by her Father nor Mother Brother nor Sister nor any of her Visiters Glory to God in the highest She died about the tenth of April A. D. 1683. Some memorable Passages of Joseph the Son of Joseph and Margaret Scolding of Middleton in the County of Suffolk aged about six Years and an half died the 4th of June 1678. 1. ABout a Year and an half before he died being very ill so as he could not sleep his Father asked him if he could not sleep he answered his Father that he could not sleep but said he I shall sleep a long Sleep How long saith his Father he replied Till Christ shall come to awake you and me and all the World His Father asked him how he knew that How saith he do you not believe that the Word of God is true At the Resurrection then shall Christ awake every one 2. At another time he had a little Potion of Physick to take which he was very unwilling to do but saith his Father If you love me take it Well Father saith he to satisfy you I will take it and when he had taken it saith he I pray God bless it to me And saith he The Angel gave John a little Book to eat which was sweet in his Mouth but bitter in his Belly This saith he is bitter in my Mouth but if God please he can make it sweet in my Belly 3. His Mother had often begged of God that if there were any means further to be used he would direct to it There came a bad Man to the House pretending Skill and was to take him in hand and had begun The Child 's usual way was continually to seek to God for a Blessing upon whatever he took but then he refused having these Expressions I care not whether he do or not Do you think God will bless such a wicked Man's Physick 4. He having heard Mr. Wincop preach did repeat some of the Sermon wherein was expressed how a Christian should examine himself concerning three things 1. Whose am I 2. Where am I 3. Whither am I going If I be in the narrow way to Heaven well and good but if in the broad way to Ruine and Destruction then I am undone for ever The Child would speak it in the House and privately to himself with much Affection and sometimes with many Tears Whose am I Where am I Whither am I going And also would speak it to his Fellows Whither are you going To be sure you are in the broad way to Ruin 5. If at any time he saw any thing amiss among the Servants or Children he would say If you will not keep God's Commandments you shall never come to Heaven and if they loved God they would keep his Commandments When they would reply We do but as others he would answer If you sin with the Multitude ye must perish with the Multitude It were better to go to Heaven alone than to Hell with Company 6. His extraordinary care concerning the Lord's-Day was such that he would watch over the the whole Family and would say You should not do so and so but spend the Day in Prayer Reading and other Religious Exercises He did make Conscience of praying by himself three or four times in the day 7. He would often be enquiring what Souls should do in Heaven his Father would tell him There is nothing but praising of God He would then reply Then they shall also leave sinning O it is a rare thing to be in Heaven 8. At another time he said If I were sure I should go to Heaven I should be glad to die at this present Age at the present His Mother replied And wouldst thou leave thy Father and me to which he answered I have a good Father and Mother but God is a better Father you make me eat and drink but if I get to Heaven I shall need no Light of the Sun nor Candle nor
she desired her Father to pray with her which he frequently did at Bed-time It was no less observable the peculiar Respect she had for the Scriptures which she always called God's Word for when her Mother or the Maid did read in another good Book she would sometimes distinguish and bid them read God's Word and unsatisfied until they did Sometimes she delighted to have a Book in her Hand and please her self to speak Words as if she read and once it was observed in the midst of the Action she cast the Book out of her Hand with a troubled Mind uttering those Words I can't tell the meaning of it She was greatly delighted with Singing with which she passed away many a wearisome Hour but would frequently call for the singing of Psalms and ask for some in particular as sing the Tabernacle and sing The Lord is my Shepherd c. In the mean time would not only deny her self her usual necessary Diversions and lie composed but would be seriously attentive oft-times with Eyes and Hands lifted up as if she understood what was spoken or sung and had a Taste in her Spirit of the Sweetness of the Word And sometimes was observed as if she were privately praying by her self as her Gesture and Words over-heard did import but was offended if they took notice of it to her If any did ask her Whether she was willing to die and go to Heaven her usual Reply was Go to Heaven but no die But in the latter time of her Sickness her Answer to such a Question was She would die and go to Jesus Christ And when it was put to her if she desired not to be well and play about with Sister and Brother she would answer in the same Words Would die and go to Jesus Christ This was the ordinary Frame of her Spirit Many occasional Sayings that savoured of Grace and Wisdom above that of a Child are not inserted because not perfectly remembred for want of noting them in time Her tedious and long Affliction she bore with admirable Patience when few about her knew how to bear the sight of it Early in the Morning that she died she sang her self as often she would do with a more sweet and melodious Strain than they about her thought they had ever heard her Within a few hours after while her Mother was rocking she said to her Mother No rock no rock thereby giving her as the Mother interpreted a final Discharge from further Care and Trouble and immediately with a silent Groan she died The hearing only of the Report I am sensible cannot so much affect or inform as the seeing and hearing the Child which unto the most judicious Observers Ministers and others gave such an Evidence of the Grace of God in it as caused Thanksgiving by many unto God on that account Yet I question not the Reader will meet with somewhat that is not ordinary in a Child of that Age worthy to be remarked and pertinent to our purpose which is to demonstrate that little Children are capable of spiritual Impressions and gracious Actings That which hath been declared concerning this Child was by the Father summarily comprized in the following Verses Transcendent Rays of Heavenly Light In this Babe's Soul here shin'd Prayer and Praise God's Word his Saints Were it's Delight to mind Her Sayings Years and Grace became God did her Patience try He that the First-Fruits holy made The whole Lump sanctify The two last Verses prompt me to add wherewith I shall conclude That as it pleased the Lord to build and bless the Family to which this Child did relate with a numerous Off-spring nine of which are now living and the Eldest of them but seventeen Years old There is through a Blessing on Education to be seen springing up in them In some the Blade in others the Ear and in some the full Corn in the Ear. Or it may be said of these Branches as of Aaron's Rod that budded some Branches bring forth Buds others bloom Blossoms and some yield Almonds The Praise whereof is given as is due unto God alone Amen Free-Grace displayed IT pleased the All-wise God to send a great Affliction upon Mary Stubbs the Daughter of Thomas and Mary Stubbs of Harleston in the County of Norfolk being a Child between four and five Years old In the beginning of her Sickness she seemed very unwilling to hear any things spoken to her of Death or to be instructed for the good of her Soul she shewed a great dislike and would be very angry Yet her Relations did not forbear for some time to instil sutable Instructions according to her Capacity and tender Years until they were discouraged to see the Child so averse to and displeased with them The Parents being greatly concerned for the everlasting Good and Happiness of the Soul of this their Child did resign her unto the special and immediate Teachings of the Spirit of God It is our Duty to sow the Seed and leave the Success to his Blessing that giveth the Increase for it is the Inspiration of the Almighty which giveth Understanding and putteth Wisdom into the inward Parts even of Babes and Sucklings notwithstanding the Darkness and Enmity of our Corrupt Natures as will be evident in this famous Instance and following Relation Her Mother did ask her Whither she should go if she died she replied at first she knew not afterwards being asked the same Question she then answered she should go to Heaven But it was told her all that died did not go thither yet she said she did think she should And beyond all Expectation there did appear a great Change in her for she began to be very sensible of her Condition and to cry and mourn fearing she should go to Hell Now she was very desirous to have her Friends pray for her that she might go to Heaven and be made a new Creature Her Sickness increased and she was very serious and suddenly so weaned from this World that she had no desire to live but rather to die and would argue against living here far beyond what could be expected considering her Infancy with those that discoursed with her concerning the Excellency of Life and could never be persuaded to entertain any thoughts of it She lay in her Cradle pineâ— away and her Strength gone so that she had no use of heâ— Limbs yet her Soul vigoroâ— and lively wholly fixed for eternal Life In this her languishing Condition she was very earnest with them that came to see her desiring their Prayers for her and would tell them what she desired they might pray for her that she might have good Hopes and good Grounds that she should go to Heaven and not be under a Mistake that she might have Grace and Wisdom to know how to serve the Lord. She did desire to be made sensible of her Sin and the need she had of Christ and that the Lord would put his Fear into her Heart that she
afterwards she had much Joy and would triumphantly say I am my Beloved's and my Beloved is mine She knew she should go to Heaven and it was asked her What was done there she answered There was singing Hallelujahs with the Saints and Angels to all Eternity These Expressions were often uttered by her to the Admiration of all that heard them This was an Expression she uttered O that I were in my Fathers House and one answered You are in your Fathers House but she replied I mean my Fathers House in Heaven And O said she that the Angels would conduct my Soul to Glory She was asked whether she had not a desire to live she said No but was willing to die to be with Christ She complained of the Illness of her Body Yet saith she it is better to endure this than the Pains of Hell That her Patience might hold out was her request to the Lord and would say Lord Give me Faith and Patience for Heaven will quickly sweeten all When her Mother thought she had been ready to die she did ask her Whether she did clearly see that she had an Interest in Christ she answered It must be in my Heart and if the Lord did open her Eyes she should see clearly her Interest in Christ and that she was a new Creature O Mother said she if you had been willing to part with me I had been in Heaven before this time I am not gone but I am going to Heaven When she was under great Pain she was asked whether she had rather be without the Pain and forsake Christ or bear the Pain and enjoy Christ O said she I had rather have the Pain than forsake Christ for he hath made me a new Creature and fit for Heaven she should be unwilling to do that for he was a good Christ to her Her Body was like to an Anatomy yet then and to the end unless for some time when her bodily Weakness did cloud her her Spirit was lively and she had between times as much Joy as her Heart could hold and it was her own Expression more than she could bear She did much admire the rich Grace of God to her that he should chuse her and she said O Mother praise the Lord for his Goodness and her Heart was so ravished with Joy that she could not be thankful enough and said O magnify the Lord O magnify the Lord And then she was desirous that her Father and Mother Brother and Sister should mind Heaven that they might come thither after her She declared it was her longing desire to go to her dear Jesus and her dear Saviour O when shall the time come and O precious Jesus I cannot be thankful enough for the Joy thou givest me O admire admire him and she could not declare the Joy she had And at another time O admire the Lord for ever for ever that he should pass by others and chuse me O praise the Lord O praise the Lord. And she declared that she had Joy in the Covenant of God an everlasting Covenant that could not be broken and cried out several times O sweet Jesus O blessed Jesus he is sweet and she then said her Joy was very great and she lay admiring the Lord that he should love such a poor Creature as she was and that he should die for her These things were uttered by her freely of her self without any prompting by others And at another time she said The Lord had told her she was one of his dear Children and she knew she should go to Heaven as sure as she lay there O I am full of Joy There were some present that discoursed of Worldly Matters and she said A sight of Christ a sight of Christ is worth ten thousand Worlds There was one did ask her What was the ground of her Joy and she answered She did believe that Christ was her Porâ—ion and that Christ was her's and she was his And when she had further Pains upon her she would pray in the Night for Patience and that she might not grumble O when shall I be with my dear Jesus O that I might wait till my time come In her times of great Trouble she would speak to her Mother O speak of Heaven nothing but Heaven will satisfy me It was usual with her to desire her Visiters and Watchers that they would speak of Heaven O speak of Heaven O speak of Heaven and she did not like to hear any speak of Worldly Matters When she was musing one day her Mother asked her what she was thinking of she answered I am thinking of the Joys of Heaven Sometimes the Lord did hide his Face from her yet then she could trust him when she could not see him And after waiting a while she had usually great Consolation When she spake so much of her Joy her Mother would tell her that she feared lest it should not be true Joy or that it was naught but she answered I am sure it is not I am as sure as I lie here it is not She did continually admire the Love of God and his free Grace and would say What am I more than another that he passes by others and thus manifests himself to me When the Lord's-Day was come she did often tell them that were with her that they should then mind nothing but Heavenly Things Many good Books were read to her but she did much delight in Mr. Janeway's little Book called A Token for Children When her Troubles were greatest she would then rejoyce for she then did think her Rest was at hand And she was comforted in this Consideration that her Affliction here would make Heaven the sweeter in the Enjoyment of it When any looked upon her pined Body she would say I see a better sight The Sting of Death was taken out and she did familiarly speak of it without being afraid of that great Change yea with exceeding great Joy She would say to her Friends concerning her Affliction that if it had not been sanctified to her and been made a good Affliction it would have been a sad and uncomfortable one indeed Towards her latter end she had a great sense of the Body of Sin and Death which she did complain of and made her vile in her own Eyes but yet she did rejoyce that in Heaven she should be freed from it And O said she that I might never sin one Sin more and that I could do as Christ said to the Woman Sin no more and O said she nothing but Christ nothing but Christ can satisfy me Her Love to her Relations was so great that she would always desire they might live together in Heaven She would say she could not tell how to bear the Thoughts of her Brothers perishing for ever The World to come and the Glory which is to be revealed of which she had many Foretasts were frequently before the Eye of her Faith as if they had been within the view of her Sense She