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
and fervency he uttered to them and then being weary he lay down to rest and said Oh Mother slighty Convictions are dangerous temptations lead to sin and sin bereaves of all good And to the Maid who had kept him from his Cradle and instructed him till he came to his Latine tongue HONOUR I hope God will work a work of Grace in you and make you that you shall not be ashamed to confess him and then blessed the Lord for his own mercy in his Parents with many endeared expressions especially for their care of his soul afterwards said unto them all The Lord keep you I desire that the Lord may keep you all And his Mother staying by him he said Mother I love your company dearly and so speedily fell asleep and slept comfortably the greatest part of that night The two and twentieth day he brakefast with his Father and as their manner was of late one of them began and the other ended with blessing the Lord wherein he very thankfully owned his great supports from God and ardently desired if it pleased the Lord to spare him it might be to serve him faithfully in his Generation That day he was perswaded to rise a little in Blankets whilst his Bed was made when be said I feel to my self like a peice of earth I am as nothing and admired greatly the power of God keeping him alive Being laid again in his bed he said I feel my self very weak but I am kept alive by the mighty power of God saying Father God is very good to me indeed the Lord loves me I am sure And to his Mother Oh how am I refreshed but if God were not my God what should I do now His Mother asking him how he had done to day he said Indeed Mother I have been supported very much to day Oh this is a troublesome world a vain world nothing the eye beholds can stand us in stead I can now triumph over death God hath enabled me I would not now be without what now I enjoy for all the world Mentioning that Scripture Greater love can no man shew than for a man to lay down his Life for his Friend c. And that blessed are the dead that die in the Lord they rest from their labours c. And expressing his affection to his Parents which he did often he asked his Father affectionately the meaning of that Scripture But for a good man one would even dare to die and so applied to sleep in much peace and joy The twenty third day he complained of some weakness in his body but said He was strong in God but desired some living creature might stand on the bed by him to prevent Melancholly thoughts when he could not rest being asked what He said a young Lamb Pigeon Rabbit or any thing but a Squerril being named hoping it might easily be procured he was earnest for that having he said never seen any but once in the field Some were immediately imployed to procure one at any rate but all failed and his mind seemed to run so much that day and the next upon it that his Father said why dost thou so much desire it He said I find my self inclining to melancholy and I think such a thing would be pretty company for me and therein I may see the workmanship of God but I trust nothing shall evermore take off my heart from God At breakfast with his Father he had savoury discourse some of which his Father set down when he went out from him in his own words whilst they were in memory viz. Oh Father God greatly supports me I would not be without the love of God now for all this world if I die now I hope I shall meet with you in Heaven which is best of all His Father said Dost thou think thou shalt die He answered I cannot tell Father but I expect it for I have resigned my self to God His eldest Sister coming to him he said God hath done for us what man could not do with his eyes lifted up with holy admiration saying also Oh how said is it with those that have not God That day being taken up a little to have his bed made and finding it troublesome all his bones being sharp as if they would pierce his skin having no flesh to interpose in any part he uttered a word savouring of more weariness and impatience than any before namely It is better for me now to dye than to live His Father said nay Child be not weary of â—he Lords hand who hath done so great â—hings for you He accepted the Exhorâ—ation so as to be presently abased for it and did then upon occasion of taking refreshment solemnly pray for pardon oâ— the rash word he had spoken as he called it humbly begging more patience that hâ— might be kept from repining and owning the great goodness of the Lord to him his pooâ— unworthy servant Being laid in Bed and asked how he did he said His Bones were sore and he wâ—â— weak in his outward man but strong in God and indeed he very seldom complained oâ— sighed And when at any time his Father did remember him what God haâ— done for his soul he presently forgot hiâ— pain and was refreshed with very sensible acknowledgement of the favour oâ— God so that sometimes when he would say his Bones were sore his Father would reply I Child but your soul is not tâ— which he would say No Father God â—â— very good to me and dwelt so thereon as tâ— forget pain And speaking of the Lovâ— of God would say often chearfully now â—â— experience it He had a pretty good night The 24th day in the morning he waâ— pretty chearful and breakefast with his Father but eating little he said I do nâ—â— live by bread only His Mother asking hiâ— consent to go abroad he was very desirous of her stay with him but when â—â— heard it was for prayer he did more freely part with her His Father sitting in the Room he said Father God hath setled my mind greatly this day and I have nothing â—ow to hinder my joy in Christ Iesus But Father said he Though God hath sweetned death to them that he loves yet do not you think that death is troublesome His Father replied Yes Child a little to the flesh to which he answered cheerfully Yea Father and was no more solicitous He was willing in the Evening some Christians might meet in his Room and finding himself weak desired them to pray for him being asked what he desired he said That he might live in Gods sight His Father asked him if he did still freeâ—y resign up himself to the Lords dispose â—or Life or Death he answered chearfully Yea Father His Father further asked him if he had met with any assault against â—â—t he answered No he had not But shortly after he had a faint fit in which he called to his Father to come quickly to
in this little one who served his Generation by the will of God and fell asleep He came to Christ as a poor miserable vile undone sinner and to pass through the straight gate he wisely disburthened himself of what was gross and bulkie He became indeed as a little Child and was so fiâ—ted to enter into the Kingdome of Heaven having first unlearned what he attained in his Education and other accomplishments like Phil. 3. 7. He learned of the Father to come to Christ as John 6. 45. to a whole Christ whom he embraced heartily and followed fully and is upon the advantage of that good welcome Mat. 25. 21 23. Parents take then this encouragement to train up your Children in the admonition and fear of the Lord and observe what is said in the Preface to this Book for your help in this thing And Children let this Example perswade you to remember your Creator in the dayes of your Youth This Labour on your behalf as it hath our witness to the truth of it above hinted and our commendations to you for the matter of it as seasonable and useful so it shall have our â—â—â—uest before the Throne of God that it may not be a further witness against you Remembring Prov. 13. 13. but a special advantage in Gods hand unto your Salvation and furtherance in his will To his grace we commit it and you being alwayes willing to approve our selves Yours truly longing for your souls present and eternal good W. S. T. G. I. W. FINIS Why called Caleb His aptness at 4 6 years old and observance of parents His first sick-bed convictions at 7 years old His Fathers way to avoid affliction bringeth him aud his family thereinto and how Caâ—ebs early share in unreasonable afflictions under natural fearfulness before Inward and outward trobles together carry him to prayer christian correspondency The wisdome of his first Letter at 10 years old admired by his friend His second Letter at large in answer to his friend Being at peace amongst civil School-fellows he was less serious but revived under the Word at London Scrupled Heathen School Authors seriously Love to Scripture allays his love to School and why More sick bed convictions and the effects Providence preventing Country setling again His desire of return to London and why Afflicting Providences work stil for true good to him The quickening effect of applying family instruction more particularly The motives to his Mothers writing his sayings at last Soul-instruction preferred before health or life and the fruit which followed John 6. Psa. 42. 5 Isa. 2. Grace giveth ease begets abasemeÌ„t Psal. 119. Solitary seasons sweet slavish fear subdued 2 Cor. 4. 17. Litle sins lye heavy on a sincere soul. Great refreshment by Grace His incouragement to an honest prisoner His love-feast and entertain ment of friends His desire of obedience His importunity to confess to Christ after he believed His complaint impatience His Confession of Faith ☞ ☞ Psal. 51. 13. ☞ His former Conversation His pursuit of convictions His patients and support His inquiry after prayer He cannot be satisfied to defer obedience after Conviction His thigh measured not full 4. inches about Chearfully sheweth all his strength to prevail with his father that he might be obedient Boasteth in God admired grace for temporal and eternal mercy His holy converse His usual meal and chearful frame thereat Friends advise his baptisme Considerations of his fathers consent Further objection His impatience to obey His joy in consent His joy abated but the Objecter admitted His great discouragement His confidence His prayer on the occasion Weather favoreth His undauntedness with humility His extraordinary assistance thankful observance The preparation His grace in and after the ordinance An humbling sentence of death His eminent reviving and reverent publick thanksgiving prayer His joy in Gods assistance and experience of â—â— when he could not express it His hope on the behalf of God for the friend who last objected 2 Iohn 4. 3 John 4. Another humbling providence in his renew ed weakness His tender care of the Name of God and his Parents if he should die so soon after Baptisme His stedfastness under weakness His familiarity with death by Grace His pitty for the World and disesteem of their glory His modest bespeaking holy converse to express his sence of mercy with joyfulness He puts away childish things Paproacheth reverently to the Lords Supper His comfort encreases in the Word Prayr His seasonable and serious Questions to his sister and the successe through Grace ☜ His prayer after meat His answer about Jam. 5. 14. being doubtful therein How he expressed his provocation Admires Grace signifieth his Assurance His reconcilement and entertain ment of those he had repro ved for molesting him The 2d course for their souls ☞ The sweet fruit of his own assurance humbly brought forth to incourage them to feed His whol some melody at the end His gratious farwel at parting with his Guests When he was weak then he was strong His hancor after a living Creature and why His disposition suitable to true resignation A little impatience begetting speedy and deep abasment through grace His usual ease in paine His setled minde in supposing dissolution Sudainly grows weaker yet strong in God An humbling providence by the hand of one who dearly loved him An hour of temptation A good providence to his and his Parents great satisfaction His fresh revivings and humble desire for life to gracious ends Great patience His great Cordial His notice of death after refreshing rest and his behaviour in time of departure particularly His Parents evidence upon their experienc of him The true end of publishing this after his death being his own end of desiring life * Psal. 130. 20
than a Congregation of Christ How few hereby find a Wife as Solomon speaketh Prov. 18. 22. that is to the end God instituted them but seeking money as a HELP-MEET to them get a Woman with the World and the Devil with her unawares as Eve when the mouth of the Deceiver to a bitter day perhaps a Saphira helping by hypocrisie to save their earthly Estates and lose their Souls Herein Parents add to their prayer for Childrens Conversion their pains to effect their Perdition as one that prayeth a fire may go out adding fuel thereto so are these provisions for Lust under prayer for Life Did not Solomon King of Israel sin by these things yet among many Nations was there no King like him who was beloved of his God and God made him King over all Israel Neh. 13. 26. Nevertheless even him did outlandish-women cause to sin But lastly How doth neglect of Parents instruction of families or ill example therein before their Childden either in pride covetousness wrath lightness or other ill carriage unbecoming profession in Parents expose their observant Children and make fruitless and frivolous their performances amongst them when they shall discern them to fulfil Tit. 1. 16. before them Beware therefore of this above all that you lay not a stumbling example before them but that in simplicity and godly sincerity you shew them your good conversation in Christ filling up faithfully every relation in secret according to your open profession that they be not stumbled by finding the contrary for O the wound which Christ anâ— Truth and souls have received by eminent lâ—â— gifted Professors of contrary conversations 〈◊〉 little have either the lusts or Inhabitants 〈◊〉 world fallen before them How would Abraham be ashamed of such Children who so have shamed their profession in their opportunities Heb. 11. 15. wherein else they might have shined to the conviction and conversion of many Mat. 5. 16. 1 Pet. 3. 16. O tender Parents for the Lords sake then and for the sake of the soules under your charge pray for your own return to the attaining again the holy Examples of Fathers in Christ that they who dwell under your shadow may revive as the Corn and grow as the Vine the sent whereof shal be as the Wine of Lebanon Hos. 14. 7. That your Children and Servants may bless you in the name of the Lord and add not to their corrupt Nature any of these hazards aforesaid under your education in the sence whereof and how many poor Children lately may have been carried Christless thither and like sheep layd into the grave whose Parents thought it time enough perhaps to teach them soul-concernments at leisure this earnest of encouragement to poor endeavours for the souls of Children is published in love which its hoped by your acceptance and help may provoke very many to the salvation of souls And a special double Note is placed in the Margent pointing to the sick-bed lamentation of â—â—â—s little one for the loss of first convictions in 〈◊〉 most harmless manner of trifling away his 〈◊〉 with his most innocent School-fellows choaking for a season the tender Seed in his soul the reviving whereof by especial grace in an acceptable season stood him in so much stead as you will see in the face of Death and Iudgment whereunto none of his great natural parts nor School-attainments durst approach Be pleased to peruse it therefore and improve it unto the most special care of your Childrens eternal welfare and pursue your frequent prayers for their conversion in the paths thereof so as by all means to promote and by no means to betray your prayers that the account of them may not be with grief but joy which is the earnest prayer indeed of Your and your Childrens wel-wisher in the Gospel of Christ I. V. In Commemoration of our Friend and School-fellow the truly virtuous and Religious Youth CALEB VERNON An ELEGY CALEB Ah peerless Caleb art thou dead No no thou art not but thy soul is fled To Heaven thy better part shall never dye But shall survive yes and thy memory Shall ever live and though thy life expire Yet shal all those that knew thee thee admire And honour thy remembrance Worthy youth Whose chiefest love was Piety and Truth Who tho so young and tender yet didst chase Away the thoughts of sin and didst embrace Sincerity and with an upright heart Didst God 's Commands to chuse the better part A second Timothy I well may stile thee Of which true title none can ere beguile thee Which thou deserv'st and hast an ample share In his perfections although so rare I' th Scriptures from a child he knowledg had And stuck close to the good shuning the bad Even so didst thou whose chief sole delight Was for to serve the Lord thy God in spight Of all the opposition which was made By Satans instruments to make to fade Thy hot love t'wards thy Lord fervent zeal Unto good works which no vain thing could steal He in the graces of his Parents dear Enjoy'd a very large and ample share So thou the virtues of thy Father and Thy gracious mother at the second hand Deriv'st A rare example he did prove Others for to provoke his God to love So thou a holy pattern didst appear Although so young while that thou livest here And though th' art dead thy soul doth sore on high Death wher 's thy sting Grave wher 's thy victory Caleb blest Child the Victory is thine Who like an other Sun in Heaven dost shine O Child belov'd of God admir'd of men For all thy virtues and thy graces when Shall we again thy like behold whose Spirit A beautious Crown of Glory dost inherit O wonder of our iron age wh'ast left Something of which the world can't be bereft Let us lament our losse whilst he above Sings holy praises to the God of Love W. D. Another AH cruel Death that no one dost regard But unto all entreaties still art hard It is thy sting that makes so many grieve 'Cause mortals of their lives thou dost bereave It is thy deadly Spear that doth divide Poor Children from their Parents thou dost guide Thy piercing Iavlin to the mortals heart Thou strik'st ev'n Youth it self by thy keen Dart. Couldst thou not stop thy hand O greedy Death But with thy mighty stroak must stop his breath Who in his youthful dayes did flourish much O Death why didst thou rob the world of such A Iewel which with few I might compare One that in time might been the Son and Heir Of Learning one beyond his age endu'd Wisdom and Virtue were by him pursu'd O Death couldst thou not execute thy rage On other men that feeble be with age Or on some other youth in whom such rare And virtuous qualities did not appear But must so soon deprive us of a Iewel Oh envious Death What i' st makes thee so cruel Such a most pretious Iem all ought to
would be giving something to help which he perceiving earnestly said Oh pray Father do not give me any thing for indeed Father I cannot take any thing but it will stop my passage The Maid said he tryed and could get nothing down which he confirmed his Father being not able to refrain seeing his alteration in countenance and violent labour by cough gushed out into tears which the Child seeing cryed out also and looking towards him said earnestly with weeping Pray Father do not weep but pray for me I long to be with God and desiring again his Father might pray with him he applyed to it briefly in too much trouble the Child strove much to refrain coughing laid himself back a little looked up and seemed to joyn fervently his Mother being also then called came in quickly to whom he said looking upon her when even spent Farewel dear Mother now I am going and to a Friend coming in Farewell dear Sir and the flegm as it was thought coming up into his mouth but carried back again through the length and toughness thereof his Father contented with his Mother and the Friend 's talking comfortably unto him was in great care for him and unwilling to give the Oyl of Almonds and Syrups at hand through his aversness to it ran down for something inoffensive for his relief and coming up instantly saw him thrusting first his finger and then his whole hand into his mouth to catch the flegm and hearing or seeing his Father coming cryed quickly as if he expected to take something O Father what shall I do but immediately as his Father came to him lay back and looking up said God God endeavouring to have uttered more but without groan his breath failing as if choaked with flegm he seemed as by consent to yeeld up the Spirit leaving to the last a very living evidence of the most general change and lively turning to God wholly that his Parents have experienced whereof these fragments gathered from him at last are but a taste of the great Grace granted to him in all heavenly wisdom and knowledge who being dead yet speaketh to the great reproof of his Parents in their shortness to him and of him under so much longer profession and for more full improvement of him whose swift race towards his latter end is impartially set forth uprightly for the sake of Youth and elder than he that may not yet meet Death with his Comfort and Composure so considerately hoping one good end of the Lords removing him may be for the more safe setting forth this part of an account of him through grace to the provoking of many to turn to the Lord which was the greatest end of his desiring to live beseeching all wisely to consider it and duly ponder Eccles. 9. 10. What soever thy hand findeth to do do it with all thy might for there is no work nor device nor knowledge nor wisdom in the grave whither thou goest which was through God of great advantage to him By his near Relation An Acrostick CAll to my Burial my Aquaintance young And let them hear what Grace hath done for me Let them allured be by my sweet Song Eternal through Unchangeable Decree Because through Grace by Faith I am made free Vnto the highest praise of God on high Exalt the Prince of Peace in whom I rest Redeeming Mercy made my soul desie Not only Death but ev'ry other test Of my unfained Love at twelve years old No weakness wit nor fear could make it cold In proof whereof bare bones did sacrifice Vnto my Lord the way this world despise And had I liv'd Methusalem's long day Vnto Him should my Soul subjection pay Pro. 10. 7. The memory of the Just is blessed I. V. An Anagram CALEB VERNON Nue Noble Race A New and Noble Race he ran so fast That he o're-took the swiftest Saint at last He ran in earnest to the Refuge City And therein found escape defence pity And underneath the Everlasting Arms Which did support his Soul from fear of harms Indeed he ran as Caleb ran to find The promis'd Land when Isr'el lagg'd behind His Teachers wanted strength to keep him pace He out-ran Parents in his Noble Race As if the Angels had lent him a Wing To run with them in Love to Israels King Like the young Lad which Zechary sets forth With measuring-Line wherein did lie his worth In which the Angels ever do retain Their glory as their waiting doth remain Inviron'd in the Word and Will of God Which was indeed dear Caleb's choicest food And seeing he so follow'd his dear Master I would not faint although he ran much faster But for my Children and my Soul must weep That we instead of running so do creep In twelve dayes and an half from Iordans joy He did more than in twelve years ere did I. But grace perhaps did each day for a year Seal him a Pattent in return of Prayer For Life chiefly that Converts he might make And took him hence for the Election sake That safely this might be set forth of him And he not hazarded hereby to sin For few can bear his praise and few reproof But both I trust hereby shall now help Youth To their Conversion like to Caleb's then To this dispose of him I 'le add Amen But until then excuse me if I weep That yet I live and Caleb fell asleep For else I fear great evils yet to come And such remov'd that Iudgment may have room But may the Mouths of Babes Hosannahs fill The Enemy and th' Avenger must be still The Lord make Caleb's Cluster then in truth The first-fruits of his harvest amongst Youth And stir up Aged too to swifter pace By this Example in the Noble Race J. V. From a very dear Relation An Acrostick CAn Caleb stay when God will have him go Away to Caleb and himself also Loe he a Child yet Christian did become Er 't pleas'd his Father for to call him home But was no sooner new-born but he dies Unto the Lord a most sweet sacrifice E'ne unto him that made him twice to live Render he did what er'e he had to give Name Spirit Soul and Body though but poor Offerd up all What could a Prince do more Now to the Lord alone be praise therefore W. A. An Anagram CALEB VERNON An Noble Cure THou Lord on him hast wrought A Noble Cure From World Flesh Devil thus to set him free His Soul ful sweetly to thee to allure To make him happy to Eternity A Cure so Noble that it shall remain On days to come to praise of thy rich grace Who never undertook'st a Cure in vain Among the Seed of holy Jacob's Race Physician of great value Lord art thou And vertue also from thy Wings is found For healing sin-sick-souls none else knows how As thou of every desperate mortal wound Which to thy praise for ever shall redound W. A. From his own friend his Fathers friend
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