much above the vanities of the world and took no pleasure at all in those things which usually take up the heart and time of young ones She would say that she was grieved and ashamed both for young and old to see how glad and mad they were upon vanity and how foolishly they spent their time 30. She was not forgetful of the care and love of her Master and Mistress which taught her to read and work but she desired that thanks might also be particularly given to them Indeed she thought she could never be thankful enough both to God and man for that kindness that she had experience of But again and again she desired to be sure to thank the Ministers that instructed her either by catechising or preaching 31. After some rest her Father askt her again how she did and began to express somewhat of that satisfaction and joy that he had taken in her former diligence in her reading the Scriptures and writing and her dutifulness and that great progress that she had made in the things of God upon which she humbly and sweetly desired to own God and his kindess in her godly education and said that she esteemed her holy education under such Parents and Ministers as a greater portion than ten thousand Gilders for thereby I have learned to comfort my self out of the Word of God which the World besides could never have afforded 32. Her Father perceiving her to grow very weak said I perceive Child thou art very weak It is true Sir said she I feel my weakness increaseth and I see your sorrow increasing too which is a piece of my affliction be content I pray you it is the Lord which doth it and let you and I say with David Let us fall into the Lords hands for his mercies are great 33. She laid a great charge upon her Parents not to be over-grieved for her after her death urging that of David upon them while the Child was sick he fasted and wept but when it died he washed his face and sat up and eat and said Can I bring him back again from death I shall go to him but he shall not return to me So ought you to say after my death our Child is well for we know it shall be well with them that trust in the Lord. She did lay a more particular and streight charge upon her mother saying to her dear mother who have done so much for me you must promise me one thing before I die and that is that you will not sorrow over-much for me I speak thus to you because I am afraid of your great affection consider others Losses what they have been Remember Job forget not what Christ foretold In the world you shall have tribulation but be of good cheer in me you shall have peace and must the Apostles suffer so great tribulation and must we suffer none Did not Jesus Christ my only Life and Saviour sweat drops of blood Was he not in a bitter agony mocked spit at nailed to the Cross and a Spear thrust thorow his blessed side and all this for my sake for my stinking sins sake did not he cry out my God my God why hast thou forsaken me Did not Christ hang naked upon the Cross to purchase for me the garments of salvation and to cloth me with his righteousness for there is Salvation in no other name 34. Being very feeble and weak she said O if I might quietly sleep in the bosome of Jesus and that till then he would strengthen me O that he would take me into his arms as he did those little ones where he said Suffer little children to come unto me for of such is the kingdom of heaven and he took them into his arms and laid his hands on them and blessed them I lie here as a child O Lord I am thy Child receive me into thy gracious arms O Lord grace grace and not justice for if thou shouldest enter into judgment with me I cannot stand yea none living should be just in thy sight 35. After this she cryed out O how faint am I but fearing least she should dishearten her mother she said while there is life there is hope If it should please the Lord to recover me how careful would I be to please you in my work and learning and whatsoever you should require of me 36. After this the Lord did again send her strength and she laboured to spend it all for Christ in the awakening edifying and comforting of those that were about her but her chiefest endeavour was to support her dear Parents from extraordinary sorrow and to comfort them out of the Scriptures telling them that she knew that all things did work together for the good of them that did love God even to those which are called according to his purpose O God establish me with thy free Spirit Who shall separate us from the love of Christ I am perswaded that neither life nor death nor angels nor Principalities nor powers nor things present nor things to come nor heighth nor depth nor any other creature shall separate us from the love of God which is towards us in Christ Jesus our Lord. My sheep saith Christ hear my voice and I know them and they follow me and I give unto them eternal life and they shall never perish and no man shall pluck them out of my hands My Father who gave them me is greater than all and none shall pull them out of my Fathers hands Thus she seemed to attain a holy confidence in God and an assurance of her state as to another world 37. When she had a little refreshed her self with rest she burst forth with abundance of joy and gladness of heart with a holy triumph of faith saying out Death is swallowed up of victory O death where is thy sting O grave where is thy victory the sting of death is sin and the strength of sin is the law but thanks be to God who hath given us the victory through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ 38. That she might the better support her friends she still insisted upon that which might take off some of their burden by urging the necessity of death We are from the earth and to the earth we must return is the mother of us all the dust shall Dust turn to dust from whence it is and the Spirit to God which gave it 39. The She discoursed of the shortness of mans life O what is the life of man the days of man upon the earth are as the grass and the flowers of the field so he flourisheth the wind passeth over it and it is no more and his place knows him no more 40. She further urged the sin and sorrow that did attend us in this life and the longer we live the more we sin now the Lord will free me from that sin and sorrow We know not the thoughts of God yet we do know so much that they are mercy
be thought their nature is made capable of greater glory than mans He said he was of another mind and his reason was because Angles were Servants and Saints are Children and that Christ never took upon him the nature of Angels but he took upon him the nature of Saints and by his being man he hath advanced human nature above the nature of Angels 15. By this you may perceive the greatness of his parts and the bent of his thoughts and thus he continued for several years together labouring to get more and more spiritual knowledge and to prepare for an endless life 16. He was a Child of an excellent sweet temper wonderful dutiful to his Parents ready and joyful to do what he was bid and by no means would do any thing to displease them and if they were at any time seemingly angry he would not stir from them till they were thorowly reconciled to him 17. He was not only good himself but would do what he could to make others so too especially those that were nearest to him he was very watchful over his brethren and Sisters and would not suffer them to use any unhandsome words or to do any unhandsome action but he would be putting them upon that which was Good and when he did at any time rebuke them it was not Childishly and slightly but with great gravity and seriousness as one that was not a little concerned for Gods honour and the eternal welfare of their Souls 18. He would go to his Father and Mother with great tenderness and compassion being far from telling of tales and beg of them to take more care of the Souls of his brethren and Sisters and to take heed least they should go on in a sinful Christless state and prove their sorrow and shame and go to Hell when they die and be ruined for ever 19. He was exceedingly affected with hearing of the Word of God preached and could not be satisfied except he could carry home much of the substance of what he heard to this end he quickly got to learn Short-hand and would give a very pretty account of any sermon that he heard 20. He was much engaged in secret Duty and in reading the Scriptures to be sure morning and evening he would be by himself and was no question wrestling with God 21. He would get choice Scriptures by heart and was very perfect at his Catechism 22. The Providences of God were not passed by without considerable observation by him 23. In the time of the Plague he was exceedingly concerned about his Soul and Everlasting State very much by himself upon his knees This Prayer was found written in Short-hand after his Death O Lord God and merciful Father take pitie upon me a miserable Sinner and strengthen me O Lord in thy faith and make me one of thy glorious Saints in Heaven O Lord keep me from this poisonous Infection however not my will but thy will be done O Lord on earth as it is in heaven but O Lord if thou hast appointed printed me to die by it O Lord fit me for death and give me a good heart to bear up under my afflictions O Lord God and merciful Father take pity on me thy child teach me O Lord thy Word make me strong in faith O Lord I have sinned against thee Lord pardon my sins I had been in hell long ago if it had not been for thy mercy O Lord I pray thee to keep my Parents in thy truth and save them from this Infection if it be thy will that they may live to bring me up in the truth O Lord I pray thee stay this Infection that rageth in this City and pardon their sins and try them once more and see if they will turn unto thee Save me O Lord from this Infection that I may live to praise and glorifie thy name but O Lord if thou hast appointed me to die of it fit me for death that I may die with comfort and O Lord I pray thee to help me to bear up under all afflictions for Christ his sake Amen 24. He was not a little concerned for the whole nation and begged that God would pardon the sins of the Land and bring it nearer to himself 25. About the beginning of November 1665. this sweet Child was smote with the Distemper but he carried it with admirable patience under the hand of God 26. These are some of his dying Expressions The Lord shall be my Physician for he will cure both Soul and body Heaven is the best Hospital It is the Lord let him do what seemeth good in his eyes Again it is the Lord that taketh away my health but I will say as Job did Blessed be the name of the Lord. If I should live longer I should but sin against God Looking upon his Father he said If the Lord would but lend me the least finger of his hand to lead me through the dark entry of Death I will rejoice in him 27. When a Minister came to him amongst other things he spake somewhat of life He said This is a wicked world yet it is good to live with my Parents but it is better to live in heaven 28. And hour and an half before his Death the same Minister came again to visit him and asked him John art thou not afraid to die He answered No if the Lord will but comfort me in that hour But said the Minister How canst thou expect Comfort seeing we deserve none He answered No if I had my deserts I had been in hell long ago But replied the Minister which way dost thou expect Comfort and Salvation seeing thou art a Sinner He answered In Christ alone In whom about an hour and an half after he fell asleep saying he would take a long sleep charging them that were about him not to wake him He dyed when he was twelve years three weeks and a day old Example IX Of a Child that was very eminent when she was between 5 and 6 years old with some memorable passages of her life who died about 1640. 1. ANne Lane was born of honest Parents in Colebrook in the County of Bucks who was no sooner able to speak plain and express any thing considerable of reason but she began to act as if she was sanctified from the very womb 2. She was very solicitous about her Soul what would become of it when she should die and where she should live for ever and what she should do to be saved when she was about five years old 3. She was wont to be oft ingaged in secret Prayer and pouring out of her Soul in such a manner as is rarely to be heard of from one of her years 4. I having occasion to lie at Colebrook sent for her Father an old Disciple an Israelite indeed and desired him to give me some account of his Experiences and how the Lord first wrought upon him 5. He gave me this answer that he was of a child somewhat civil
These Three Books of the same Author Mr. James Janeway are Printed for and Sold by Dorman Newman HEaven upon Earth or the best friend in the worst of times The third Edition enlarged Price 2 s. 6 d. Death unstung a Sermon Preacht at the Funeral of Thomas Mousley an Apothecary With a brief Narrative of his Life and Death also the manner of Gods dealings with Him before and after his Conversion Drawn up by his own hand Price 1 s. A Sermon Preached at the Funeral of Thomas Savage Price 4 d. A TOKEN FOR CHILDREN BEING An Exact Account of the Conversion Holy and Exemplary Lives and Joyful Deaths of several young Children By James Janeway Minister of the Gospel Suffer little Children to come unto me and forbid them not for of such is the Kingdom of God Mark 10.14 LONDON Printed for Dorman Newman at the Kings Arms at the Corner of Grocers Alley in the Poultrey 1676. To all Parents School-masters and School-Mistresses or any that have any hand in the Education of Children Dear Friends I Have oft thought that Christ speaks to you as Pharaoh's Daughter did to Moses's Mother Take this Child and Nurse it for me O Sirs consider what a precious Jewel is committed to your charge what an advantage you have to shew your love to Christ to stock the next Generation with Noble Plants and what a joyful account you may make if you be faithful Remember Souls Christ and Grace cannot be over-valued I confess you have some disadvantages but let that only excite your diligence the Salvation of Souls the commendation of your Master the greatness of your reward and everlasting glory will pay for all Remember the Devil is at work hard wicked ones are industrious and a corrupt nature is a rugged knotty piece to hew but be not discouraged I am almost as much afraid of your laziness and unfaithfulness as any thing Do but fall to work lustily and who knows but that rough stone may prove a Pillar in the Temple of God In the Name of the living God as you will answer in shortly at his Bar I command you to be faithful in Instructing and Catechizing your young ones If you think I am too peremptory I pray read the command from my Master himself Deut. 6.7 Is not the duty clear and dare you neglect so direct a Command Are the Souls of your Children of no value Are you willing that they should be Brands of Hell Are you indifferent whether they be Damned or Saved shall the Devil run away with them without controul Will not you use your utmost endeavour to deliver them from the wrath to come you see that they are not Subjects uncapable of the Grace of God whatever you think of them Christ doth not slight them they are not too little to dye they are not too little to go to Hell they are not too little to serve their great Master too little to go to Heaven For of such is the Kingdom of God And will not a possibility of their Conversion and Salvation put you upon the greatest diligence to teach them Or are Christ and Heaven and Salvation small things with you If they be then indeed I have done with you but if they be not I beseech you lay about you with all your might the Devil knows your time is going apace it will shortly be too late O therefore what you do do quickly and do it I say with all your might O pray pray pray and live holily before them and take some time daily to speak a little to your Children one by one about their miserable condition by Nature I knew a Child that was converted by this sentence from a godly School-mistress in the Country Every Mothers Child of you are by Nature Children of wrath Put your Children upon Learning their Catechism and the Scriptures and getting to pray and weep by themselves after Christ take heed of their company take heed of pardoning a lye take heed of letting them mispend the Sabbath put them I beseech you upon imitating these sweet Children let them Read this Book over an hundred times and observe how they are affected and ask them what they think of those Children and whether they would not be such and follow what you do with earnest cries to God and be in travel to see Christ formed in their Souls I have prayed for you I have oft prayed for your Children and I love them dearly and I have prayed over these papers that God would strike in with them and make them effectual to the good of their Souls Incourage your Children to read this Book and lead them to improve it What is presented is faithfully taken from experienced solid Christians some of them no way related to the Children who themselves were Eye and Ear-witnesses of God's works of Wonder or from my own knowledg or from Reverend godly Ministers and from Persons that are of unspotted reputation for Holiness Integrity and Wisdom and several passages are taken verbatim in writing from their dying Lips I may add many other excellent Examples if I have any encouragement in this Piece That the young generation may be far more excellent than this is the Prayer of one that dearly loves little Children James Janeway A PREFACE Containing DIRECTIONS TO CHILDREN YOV may now hear my dear Lambs what other good Children have done and remember how they wept and prayed by themselves how earnestly they cryed out for an interest in the Lord Jesus Christ May you not read how dutiful they were to their Parents How diligent at their Books how ready to learn the Scripture and their Catechisms Can you forget what Questions they were wont to ask How much they feared a lye how much they abhorred naughty company how holy they lived how dearly they were loved how joyfully they died But tell me my dear Children and tell me truly Do you do as these Children did Did you ever see your miserable state by Nature Did you ever get by your self and weep for sin and pray for grace and pardon Did you ever go to your Father and Mother or Master or Mistress and beg of them to pity you and pray for you and to teach you what you shall do to be saved what you shall do to get Christ Heaven and Glory Dost thou love to be taught good things Come tell me truly my dear Child for I would fain do what I can possibly to keep thee from falling into everlasting Fire I would fain have you one of those little ones which Christ will take into his Arms and bless How dost thou spend thy time is it in play and Idleness and with wicked Children Dare you take Gods Name in vain or swear or tell a lie Dare you do any thing which your Parents forbid you and neglect to do what they command you Do you dare to run up and down upon the Lords day or do you keep in to read your book and to learn what your
die She answered Yes if God would pardon her sins Being asked how her sins should be pardoned She answered through the blood of Christ 14. She said she did believe in Christ and desired and longed to be with him and did with a great deal of chearfulness give up her soul There were very many observable passages in the Life and Death of this Child but the hurry and grief that her friends were in buryed them The Fifth Example of the pious Life and joyful Death of a Child which dyed when he was about twelve years old 1632. 1. CHarles Bridgman had no sooner learned to speak but he betook himself to prayer 2. He was very prone to learn the things of God 3. He would be sometimes teaching them their duty that waited upon him 4. He learned by heart many good things before he was well fit to go to School and when he was set to School he carried it so that all that observed him either did or might admire him O the sweet nature the good disposition the sincere Religion which was in this Child 5. When he was at School what was it that he desired to learn but Christ and him crucified 6. So religious and savoury were his words his actions so upright his devotion so hearty his fear of God so great that many were ready to say as they did of John What manner of Child shall this be 7. He would be much in reading the holy Scriptures 8. He was desirous of more spiritual knowledg and would be oft asking very serious and admirable questions 9. He would not stir out of doors before he had poured out his Soul to the Lord. 11. When he eat any thing he would be sure to lift up his heart unto the Lord for a blessing upon it and when he had moderately refreshed himself by eating he would not forget to acknowledg Gods goodness in feeding of him 12. He would not lye down in his bed till he had been upon his knees and when sometimes he had forgotten his duty he would quickly get out of his bed and kneeling down upon his bare knees covered with no Garment but his Linings ask God forgiveness for that sin 13. He would rebuke his Brethren if they were at any time too hasty at their meals and did eat without asking a blessing his check was usually this dare you do thus God be merciful unto us this bit of bread might choak us 14. His sentences were wise and weighty and well might become some ancient Christian 15. His sickness was a lingring disease against which to comfort him one tells him of possessions that must fall to his portion and what are they said he I had rather have the Kingdom of Heaven than a thousand such inheritances 16. When he was sick he seemed much taken up with Heaven and asked very serious questions about the nature of his soul 17. After he was pretty well satisfied about that he enquired how his soul might be saved the answer being made by the applying of Christs merits by faith he was pleased with the answer and was ready to give any one that should desire it an account of his hope 18. Being asked whether he had rather live or dye he answered I desire to dye that I may go to my Saviour 19. His pains encreasing upon him one asked him whether he would rather still endure those pains or forsake Christ Alas said he I know not what to say being but a Child for these pains may stagger a strong man But I will strive to endure the best that I can Upon this he called to mind that Martyr Thomas Bilney who being in prison the night before his burning put his finger into the candle to know how he could endure the fire O said the Child had I lived then I would have run through the fire to have gone to Christ 20. His sickness lasted long and at least three dayes before his death he prophesied his departure and not only that he must dye but the very day On the Lords day said he look to me neither was this a word of course which you may guess by his often repetition every day asking till the day came indeed what is Sunday come At last the lookt-for day came on and no sooner had the Sun beautified that morning with its light but he falls into a trance his eyes were fixed his face cheerful his lips smiling his hands and face clasped in a Bow as if he would have received some blessed Angel that were at hand to receive his soul but he comes to himself and tells them how he saw the sweetest body that ever eyes beheld who bid him be of good cheer for he must presently go with him 21. One that stood near him as now suspecting the time of his dissolution nigh bid him say Lord into thy hands I commend my spirit which is thy due for why thou hast redeemed it O Lord my God most true 22. The last words which he spake were exactly these Pray pray pray nay yet pray and the more Prayers the better all prospers God is the best Physitians into his hands I commend my spirit O Lord Jesus receive my soul Now close mine eyes Forgive me Father Mother Brother Sister all the World Now I am well my pain is almost gone my joy is at hand Lord have mercy on me O Lord receive my Soul unto thee And thus he yielded his Spirit up unto the Lord when he was about twelve years old This Narrative was taken out of Mr. Ambrose his Life's Lease The sixth Example of a poor Child that was awakened when she was about five years old 1. A Certain very poor Child that had a very bad Father but it was to be hoped a very good Mother was by the Providence of God brought to the sight of a godly friend of mine who upon the first sight of the Child had a great pity for him and took an affection to him and had a mind to bring him up for Christ 2. At the first he did with great sweetness and kindness allure the Child by which means it was not long before he got a deep interest in the heart of the Child and he began to obey him with more readiness than Children usually do their Parents 3. By this a Door was opened for a farther work and he had agreater advantage to instill spiritual Principles into the soul of the Child which he was not wanting in as the Lord gave opportunity and the Child was capable of 4. It was not long before the Lord was pleased to strike in with the spiritual Exhortations of this good man so that the Child was brought to a liking of the things of God 5. He quickly learnt a great part of the Assemblies Catechism by heart and that before he could read his Primmer within Book and he took a great delight in learning his Catechism 6. He was not only able to give a very good account of his Catechism
but he would answer such questions as are not in the Catechism with greater understanding than could be expected of one of his age 7. He took great delight in discoursing about the things of God and when my Friend had been either praying or reading expounding or repeating of Sermons he seemed very attentive and ready to receive the truths of God and would with incredible gravity diligence and affection wait till duties were ended to the no small joy and admiration of them which observed him 8. He would ask very excellent questions and discourse about the condition of his soul and heavenly things and seemed mightily concerned what should become of his soul when he should dye so that his discourse made some Christians even to stand astonished 9. He was greatly taken with the great kindness of Christ in dying for sinners and would be in tears at the mention of them and seemed at a strange rate to be affected with the unspeakable love of Christ 10. When no body hath been speaking to him he would burst out into tears and being asked the reason he would say that the very thoughts of Christs love to sinners in suffering for them made him that he could not but cry 11. Before he was six years old he made conscience of a secret duty and when he prayed it was with such extraordinary meltings that his eyes have looked red and sore with weeping by himself for his sin 12. He would be putting of Christians upon spiritual discourse vvhen he savv them and seemed little satisfied unless they vvere talking of good things 13. It s evident That this poor Childs thoughts vvere very much busied about the things of another vvorld for he vvould oftentimes be speaking to his Bed-fellovv as mid-night about the matter of his soul and when he could not sleep he would take heavenly conference to be sweeter than his appointed rest This was his usual custome and thus he would provoke and put forward an experienced Christian to spend waking hours in talk of God and the everlasting rest 14. Not long after this his good Mother died which went very near his heart for he greatly honoured his Mother 15. After the dead of his Mother he would often repeat some of the promises that are made unto Fatherless Children especially that in Exod. 22.22 Ye shall not afflict any Widow or the Fatherless Child if thou afflict them in any wise and they cry at all unto me I will surely hear their cry These words he would often repeat with tears and say I am Fatherless and Motherless upon Earth yet if any wrong me I have a Father in Heaven who will take my part to him I commit my self and in him is all my trust 16. Thus he continued in a course of holy duties living in the fear of God and shewed wonderful grace for a Child and died sweetly in the Faith of Jesus My friend is a judicious Christian of many years experience who was no ways related to him but a constant eye and ear-witness of his godly life and honourable and chearful death from whom I received this information EXAMPLE VII Of a notorious wicked child who was taken up from begging and admirably converted with an account of his holy Life and joyful Death when he was nine years old 1. A Very poor Child of the Parish of Newington-Butts came begging to the door of a dear Christian friend of mine in a very lamentable case so filthy and nasty that he would even have turned ones stomack to have looked on him But it pleased God to raise in the heart of my friend a great pity and tenderness towards this poor child so that in Charity he took him out of the streets whose Parents were unknown who had nothing at all in him to commend him to any ones Charity but his misery My friend eying the glory of God and the good of the immortal soul of this wretched Creature discharged the Parish of the Child and took him as his own designing to bring him up for the Lord Christ A noble piece of Charity And that which did make the kindness far the greater was that there seemed to be very little hopes of doing any good upon this Child for he was a very Monsier of wickedness and a thousand times more miserable and vile by his sin than by his poverty He was running to Hell as soon as he could go and was old in naughtiness when he was young in years and one shall scarce hear of one so like the Devil in his infancy as this poor Child was What sin was there that his age was capable of that he did not commit What by the corruption of his Nature and the abominable example of little beggar boyes he was arrived to a strange pitch of impiety He would call filthy Names take Gods Name in vain curse and swear and do almost all kind of mischief and as to any thing of God worse than an Heathen 2. But his sin and misery was but a stronger motive to that gracious man to pity him and to do all that possibly he could to pluck this fire-brand out of the fire and it was not long before the Lord was pleased to let him understand that he had a design of everlasting kindness upon the Soul of this poor child for no sooner had this good man taken this creature into his house but he prays for him and labours with all his might to convince him of his miserable condition by Nature and to teach him something of God the worth of his own Soul and that Eternity of Glory or Misery that he was born to and blessed be Free-grace it was not long before the Lord was pleased to let him understand that it was himself which put it into his heart to take in this Child that he might bring him up for Christ The Lord soon struck in with his godly instructions so that an amazing change was seen in the Child in a few weeks space he was soon convinced of the evil of his ways no more news now of his calling of Names Swearing or Cursing no more taking of the Lords Name in vain now he is civil and respectful and such a strange alteration was wrought in the child that all the Parish that rung of his villany before was now ready to talk of his reformation his company his talk his imployment is now changed and he is like another creature so that the glory of Gods Free-grace began already to shine in him 3. And this change was not only an eternal one and to be discerned abroad but he would get by himself and weep and mourn bitterly for his horrible wicked life as might easily be perceived by them that lived in the house with him 4. It was the great care of his godly Master to strike in with those convictions which the Lord had made and to improve them all he could and he was not a little glad to see that his labour was not
old man and putting it off and of the new man and putting that on which shewed that she was no stranger to conversion and that she in some measure understood what Mortification Self-denial and taking up of her Cross and following of Christ meant That Scripture was much in her mouth The sacrifices of God are a contrite heart a broken and a contrite spirit O God thou wilt not despise That brokenness of heart said she which is built upon and flows from faith and that faith which is built upon Christ who is the proper and alone Sacrifice for Sin These are her own words 19. Afterwards she desired to rest and when she had slumbred a while she said O dear father and Mother how weak do I feel my self My dear Child said her father God will in his tender mercy strengthen thee in thy weakness Yea father said she that is my confidence For it is said The bruised reed he will not break and the smoking flax he will not quench 20. Then she discoursed excellently of the nature of Faith and desired that the eleventh of the Hebrews should be read unto her at the reading of which she cryed out O what a stedfast loyal faith was that of Abraham which made him willing to offer up his own and only Son Faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen 21. Her Father and Mother hearing her excellent discourse and seeing her admirable carriage burst out into abundance of tears upon which she pleaded with them to be patient and content with the hand of God O said she why do you weep at this rate over me seeing I hope you have no reason to question but if the Lord take me out of this miserable world it shall be well with me to all eternity You ought to be well satisfied seeing it is said God is in heaven and doth whatsoever pleaseth him and do you not pray every day that the Will of God may be done upon earth as it is in heaven Now farther this is Gods will that I should lie upon this sick bed and of this disease shall we not be content when our Prayers are answered Would not your extreme sorrow be murmuring against God without whose good pleasure nothing comes to pass Although I am struck with this sad disease yet because it is the will of God that doth silence me and I will as long as I live pray that Gods will may be done and not mine 22. Seeing her Parents still very much moved she further argued with them from the Providence of God which had a special hand in every common thing much more in the disposal of the lives of men and women Are not two Sparrows sold for a farthing and not one of them falls to the ground without our heavenly Father Yea the hairs of our head are all numbred therefore fear not you are of more value than many Sparrows Adversity and Prosperity they are both good Some things seem evil in our eyes but the Lord turns all to the good of them which are his 23. She came then to speak particularly concerning the Plague Doth not said she the Pestilence come from God why else doth the Scripture say shall there be evil in the City which I have not sent What do those people mean which say the Pestilence comes from the Air Is not the Lord the Creator and Ruler of the Air and are not the Elements under his Government Or if they say it comes from the Earth hath he not the same power and influence upon that too What talk they of a Ship that came from Africa have we not read long ago together out of Lev. 26.25 I shall bring a sword upon you and avenge the quarrel of my covenant and when you are assembled in the Cities then will I bring the pestilence in the midst of you 24. After this having taken some little rest she said O now is the day for the opening of the first question of the Catechism and if we were there we should hear that whether in death or life a Believer is Christs who hath redeemed us by his own precious blood from the power of the Devil and then she quoted Rom. 14.7 8. For none of us liveth unto himself and none of us dieth to himself For whether we live we live unto the Lord and whether we die we die unto the Lord whether then we live or die we are the Lords Then be comforted for whether I live or die I am the Lords O why do you afflict your selves thus but what shall I say with weeping I came into the world and with weeping I must go out again O my dear Parents better is the day of my death than the day of my birth 25. When she had thus encouraged her Father and Mother she desired her Father to pray with her and to request of the Lord that she might have a quiet and peaceable passage into another world 26. After her father had prayed for her he asked her whether he should send for the Physician she answered by no means for I am now beyond the help of Doctors But said he my Child we are to use the ordinary means appointed by the Lord for our help as long as we live and let the Lord do as seemeth good in his eyes But said she give me the heavenly Physician he is the only helper doth not he say Come unto me ye that are weary and heavy laden and I will give ye rest and doth not he bid us call upon him in the day of distress and he will deliver us and we shall glorifie him Therefore dear father call upon him yet again for me 27. About this time a Christian friend came in to visit her who was not a little comforted when he heard and saw so much of the grace of God living in a poor young thing which could not but so far affect him as to draw tears of joy and admiration from him and her deportment was so teaching that he could not but acknowledg himself greatly edifi'd and improv'd by her carriage and language 28. That which was not the least observable in her was the ardent affection she had for the holy Scriptures and her Catechism in which she was throughly instructed by the godly Divines of the place where she lived which she could not but own as one of the greatest mercies next the Lord Christ O how did she bless God for her Catechism and beg of her Father to go particularly to those Ministers that had taken so much pains with her to instruct her in her Catechism and to thank them from her a dying Child for their good instructions and to let them understand for their encouragement to go on in that work of Catechising how refreshing those truths were now to her in the hour of her distress O that sweet catechising said she unto which I did always resort with gladness and attended without weariness 29. She was
yet not I but Christ liveth in me and the life that I now live in the flesh is by the faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me I am saved and that not of my self it is the gift of God not of works that no man should boast 55. My dear Parents now we must shortly part my speech faileth me pray the Lord for a quiet close to my combat 56. Her Parents replied Ah our dear child how sad is that to us that we must part She answered I go to heaven and there we shall find one another again I go to Jesus Christ 57. The she comforted her self to think of her seeing her precious brother and sister again in glory I go to my brother Jacob who did so much cry and call upon God to the last moment of his breath And to my little sister who was but three years old when she died who when we asked her whether she would die answered yes if it be the Lords will I will go to my little Brother if it be the Lords will or I will stay with my mother if it be the Lords will But I know that I shall die and go to heaven and to God O see how so small a babe had so much given it to behave it self every way and in all things so submissively to the will of God as if it had no will of its own but if it be the will of God if it please God nothing for her but what was the will and pleasure of God And therefore dear Father and Mother give the Lord thanks for this his free and rich grace and then I shall the more gladly be gone Be gracious then O Lord unto me also be gracious to me Wash me thorowly from my unrighteousness and cleanse me from my sin 58. After this her spirit was refreshed with the sense of the pardon of her Sins which made her to cry out Behold God hath washed away my sins O how do I long to die The Apostle said In this body we earnestly sight and groan longing for our house which is in heaven that we may be clothed therewith Now I also lie here sighing and longing for that dwelling which is above In the last Sermon which I heard or ever shall hear I heard this in the New Church which is matter of great comfort unto me 59. Then she repeated several notable Scriptures which were quoted in that Sermon afterward she desired to be pray'd with and put petitions into their mouths viz that all her sins might be forgiven that she might have more abundant faith and the assurance of it and the comfort of that assurance and the continuation and strength of that comfort according as her necessity should require Afterwards she prayed her self and continued a pretty space 60. When Prayer was ended she called to her father and mother and demanded of them whether she had at any time angred or grieved them or done any thing that did not become her and begged of them to forgive her 61. They answered her that if all children had carried themselves so to their Parents as she had done there would be less grief and sorrow on all hands than there is and if any such thing hath escaped thee we would forgive it with all our hearts you have done as became a good Child 62. Her heart being quieted with her peace with God and her Parents she began to dispose of her Books particularly she intreated her Mother to keep Mr. De Wit 's Catechise Lectures as long as she lived for her sake and let my little Sister have my other Book as my remembrance 63. Then she said she felt her breast exceedingly pained by which she knew that her end was very nigh Her father spake to her as he was able telling her the Lord would be her strength in the hour of her necessity 64. Yea said she The Lord is my Shepherd although I pass through the valley of the shadow of death I will not fear for thou art with me thy rod and thy staff they comfort me and it is said the sufferings of this present life are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us Shall I not suffer and indure seeing my glorious Redeemer was pleased to suffer so much for me O how was he mocked and crowned with thorns that he might purchase a Crown of righteousness for us And that is the crown of which Paul spoke when he said I have fought the good fight I have finished my course I have kept the faith henceforth is laid up for me a crown of righteousness which the Lord the righteous Judge shall give unto me in that day and not only to me but to all who love his apprearing 65. Ye are bought with a price therefore Glorifie God with your souls and bodies which are his Must I not then exalt and bless him while I have a being who hath bought me ye bought me with his blood Surely he hath born our griefs and took our infirmities and we esteemed him smitten and stricken of God But he was wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our sin the chastisement of our peace was upon him and by his stripes are we healed and the Lord laid upon him the iniquity of us all Behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world That Lamb is Jesus Christ who hath satisfied for my sins So saith Paul Ye are washed ye are sanctified ye are justified in the name of our Lord Jesus and through the spirit of our God 66. My end is now very near now I shall put on white raiment and be clothed before the Lamb that spotless Lamb and with his spotless righteousness Now are the angels making ready to carry my soul before the throne of God These are they who are come out of great tribulation who have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 67. She spoke this with a dying voice but full of spirit and of the power of faith 68. Her lively assurance she further uttred in the words of the Apostle We know that if this earthly house if our tabernacle be dissolv'd we have one which is built of God which is eternal in the heavens for in this we sigh for our house which is in heaven that we may be clothed therewith 69. There Father you see that my body is this Tabernacle which now shall be broken down my Soul shall now part from it and shall be taken up into the heavenly Paradise into that heavenly Jerusalem There shall I dwell and go no more out but sit and sing Holy holy holy is the Lord God of hosts the Lord of Sabbaths Her last words were these O Lord God into thy hands I commit my spirit O Lord be gratious be merciful to me a poor sinner And here she fell asleep 70. She died the first of September 1664. Betwixt seven and eight in
and not with the least visibility of a childish levity of spirit This was when he was between seven and eight years old and if he perceived any Children unconcerned about their Souls he would be greatly troubled at it 23. After this his Parents removed not far from London where he continued till that dreadful year sixty five he was then sent to the latine School where he soon made a very considerable Progress and was greatly beloved of his Master the School was his beloved place and learning his recreation He was never taught to write but took it of his own ingenuity 24. He was exceeding dutiful to his Parents and never did in the least dispute their command except when he thought they might cross the command of God as in the forementioned business of reading the Scriptures when his eyes were so bad 25. He was exceeding contented with any mean diet and to be sure he would not touch a bit of any thing till he had begged Gods blessing upon it 26. He would put his Brother and Sister upon their duties and observe them whether they performed it or no and when he saw any neglect he would soon warn them if he saw any of them take a spoon into their hands before they had craved a blessing he said that is just like a hog indeed 27. His Sister was afraid of the darkness and would sometimes cry upon this account he told her she must fear God more and she need then be afraid of nothing 28. He would humbly put his near Relations upon their duty and minding the concerns of their Souls and Eternity with more seriousness and life and to have a care of doing that which was for the dishonour of God and the hazard of the Soul 29. He was of a compassionate and charitable disposition and very pitiful to the poor or any that were in distress but his greatest pity was to poor Souls and as well as he could he would be putting Children Play-fellows servants neighbours upon minding their poor souls 30. One notable instance of his true charity I cannot omit A certain Turk was by the providence of God cast in the place where he lived which this sweet Child hearing of had a great pity to his Soul and studied how he might be any way instrumental to do it good at last finding a man that understood the language of the Turk he used means to get them together which he at last procured the first thing that he did was to put his friend upon discoursing with the Turk about his principles whether he acknowledged a Deity which the Turk owning the next thing he inquired after was what he thought of the Lord Jesus Christ At which the Turk was troubled and put off the discourse and said he was athirst and an hungry which the Child being informed of by the interpreter immediately went to a Brew-house near at hand his own house being far off and did intreat the Master of the Brewhouse to give him some Beer for the Turk and the argument he used was this Sir here is a poor stranger that is athirst we know not where we may be cast before we dye he went to another place and begged food for him using the same argument as before but his friends hearing of it were angry with him but he told them he did it for a poor stranger that was far from home and he did it that he might think the better of the Christians and the Christian Religion 31. He would have a savoury word to say to every one that he conversed with to put them in mind of the worth of Christ and their Souls and their nearness to Eternity Insomuch that good people took no small pleasure in his company The Taylor that made his cloths would keep them the longer before he brought them home that he might have the benefit of his spiritual and Christian society and more frequent visits 32. He bewailed the miserable condition of the generality of man-kind when he was about ten years old that were utterly estranged from God though they called him Father yet they were his Children only by Creation and not by any likeness they had to God or interest in him 33. Thus he continued walking in the ways of God ingaged in reading praying hearing the Word of God and spiritual discourse discovering thereby his serious thoughts of Eternity 34. He had an earnest desire if it might be the Lords good pleasure to give himself up to the Lord in the work of the Ministry if he should live and this out of a dear love to Christ and Souls 35. He was next to the Bible most taken with reading of Reverend Mr. Baxters works especially his Saints Everlasting Rest and truly the thoughts of that Rest and Eternity seemed to swallow up all other thoughts and he lived in a constant preparation for it and looked more like one that was ripe for glory then an inhabitant of this lower world 36. When he was about eleven years and three quarters old his Mothers house was visited with the Plague his eldest sister was the first that was visited with this distemper and when they were praying for her he would sob and weep bitterly 37. As soon as he perceived that his Sister was dead he said the will of the Lord be done Blessed be the Lord dear Mother said he you must do as David did after the Child was dead he went and refreshed himself and quietly submitted to the will of God 38. The rest of the family held well for about fourteen dayes which time he spent in religious duties and preparing for his death but still his great Book was the Saints Rest which he read with exceeding curiosity gathering many observations out of it in writing for his own use He wrote several divine meditations of his own upon several Subjects but that which seemed most admirable was a meditation upon the excellency of Christ he was never well now but when he was more immediately ingaged in the service of God 39. At fourteen days end he was taken sick at which he seemed very patient and cheerful yet sometimes he would say that his pain was great 40. His Mother looking upon his Brother shaked her head at which he asked if his Brother were marked she answered yes Child he asked again whether he were marked she answered nothing well says he I know I shall be marked I pray let me have Mr. Baxters Book that I may read a little more of Eternity before I go into it His Mother told him that he was not able to read he said that he was however then pray by me and for me His Mother answered that she was so full of grief that she could not pray now but she desired to hear him pray his last prayer 41. His Mother asked him whether he were willing to die and leave her he answered yes I am willing to leave you and go to my heavenly Father His Mother answered Child If thou hadst but an assurance of Gods love I should not be so much troubled 42. He answered and said to his Mother I am assured dear Mother that my sins are forgiven and that I shall go to Heaven for said he here stood an Angel by me that told me I should quickly be in glory 43. At this his Mother burst forth into tears O Mother said he did you but know what joy I feel you would not weep but rejoyce I tell you I am so full of comfort that I cant tell you how I am O Mother I shall presently have my head in my Fathers bosome and shall be there where the Four and Twenty Elders cast down their Crowns and sing Hallelujah Glory and Praise to him that sits upon the Throne and unto the Lamb for ever 44. Upon this his speech began to fail him but his Soul seemed still to be taken up with glory and nothing now grieved him but the sorrow that he saw his Mother to be in for his death a little to divert his Mother he asked her what she had to Supper but presently in a kind of divine Rapture he cried out O what a sweet Supper have I making ready for me in glory 45. But seeing all this did rather increase then allay his Mothers grief he was more troubled and asked her what she meant thus to offend God know you not that it is the hand of the Almighty Humble your self under the mighty hand of God lay your self in the dust and kiss the rod of God and let me see you do it in token of your submission to the will of God and bow before him Upon which raising up himself a little he gave a lowly bow and spake no more but went chearfully and triumphingly to Rest in the bosome of Jesus Hallelujah FINIS These BOOKS of the same Author Mr. James Janeway are Printed and Sold by Dorman Newman HEaven upon Earth or the best Friend in the worst of times The third Edition Enlarged Price 2 s. 6 d. Death Vnstung a Sermon preacht at the Funeral of Thomas Mowsley an Apothecary With a brief Narrative of his Life and Death also the manner of Gods dealings with Him before and after his Conversion Drawn up by his own hand price 1 s. A Sermon preached at the Funeral of Thomas Savage Price 4 d. A Token for Children first and second part the price of each 6 d.