THE Compleat SCHOLLER OR A Relation of the Life and Latter-End especially of CALEB VERNON Who dyed in the Lord on the 29th of of the ninth month 1665. Aged twelve years and six months Commending to Youth the most Excellent Knowledge of CHRIST JESUS the Lord. Psal. 34. 11. Come ye Children hearken to me I will teach you the fear of the Lord. Phil. 3. 8. Yea doubtless and I account all things but loss for the Excellency of the Knowledge of Christ Iesus my Lord. Psal. 8. 2. Out of the mouth of Babes and Sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine Enemies that thou maist still the Enemy and the Avenger London Printed for the Author 1666. The PREFACE to Parents of Children Tender Parents AFter the death of my late dear and precious little one I looked into what he had left and found a little Legacy of Grace from God for you and yours left by him besides what was lost through the too great carelesness of such as were about him in his sickness but these reliques at last were faithfully set down for you yours in writing from his mouth which being of value in my conscience and those I converse with who were Witnesses thereof I durst not detain whoever are so full as to despise them hoping the distribution hereof will be to the refreshment of every hungry soul. I intended at first to have sent them with an Epistle directed to your Children themselves and to his School-fellows especially who commend his harmless conversation amongst them before his effectual calling of God in Christ Iesus had so overlaid through Grace all those endowments begetting deep abasements for School-slightiness amongst the most sober sort to his becoming wholly as it were another new creature since their acquaintance with him But upon more serious consideration of the trust committed to me knowing I must be accountable I have for my own security and clearing as Paul Acts 20. 26 27. thought it meet to commend it to your managing and improvement faithfully towards their eternal good estate praying you to discharge your trust herein on the behalf of your little ones and see that none of them play it away by means of your slightiness lest you weep with them at the last knowing that you also must give an account of this and them to God as committed to your charge And I beseech you beware that herein neither love to this World nor any thing in this World either the riches or honour or wisdom c. thereof nor any weakness in the ensuing Treatise either in the esteem of that wisdom in You or real shortness in the Publisher thereof may make you afraid your Children should follow God so fully after the example herein lest it come against you as the Lord hath said the Queen of the South and Men of Nineveh shall against some too like this Generation How far it may concern your selves to become as little children in the sence of 1 Cor. 14. 20 and Mat. 18. 3. like the little subject of thâ—â— discourse I leave to your consciences who shaâ—â— vouchsafe to reade it over humbly and weigh it uprightly in the wisdom which is from above but sure I am such bowels of mercy to your poor Children as be get most sollicitude for the souls of them which remain from the Pestilence before the woful day come will prove most profitable when all earthly promotions will stand them in no stead but may be bewailed to have hurt the possessors of them Beware therefore lest your want of wisdom herein expose your tender vessels newly lanched into the sea of this sinful world and richly laden with variety of Natures endowments to miscarriage in their great voyage Heaven-wards for want of your skilful steerage of them amongst those Rocks and Sands on which so many have suffered shipwrack to their utter undoing through their over-bold adventure thereby against such fair warnings as Prov. 4. 14 15. Luke 8. 14. 1 Joh. 2. 15 16. Isa. 5. 12. I will therefore only set up a Sea-mark to warn you of four or five least seen through self-love on which multitudes have early been split and bulged fulfilling the Word of the Lord 1 Tim. 6. 9. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare and into many foolish and hurtful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition Towards which those Parents prove unhappy Pilots who are 1. Inordinately fond of Children in minority 2. Vainly inconsiderate in the Schooling of them 3. Unconscionably worldly in disposing them to outward Callings 4. Earthly-minded or ambitious in bestowing them in Marriages 5. Negligent in family-Family-duty or of ill conversation in the use thereof to the stumbling their Children by bad example Indeed most of these have been the sin and shame of Professing-Parents and the spoil of their poor Childrens souls and my hope of good times lies much in the expectation of a Spirit of Holiness upon Children to give them escape from the sin of their fathers few of whom I fear will live to inherit the Good they look for through such spoyl this world hath made in their spirit as declares too plainly they have supposed as 1 Tim. 6. 5. that Gain is Godliness what-ever they say or profess to the contrary And the most reformed Fathers will humbly accept it as great favour from the Lord after such provocation if they find Grace in return to the Prayer Psal. 90. 16. and the fulfilling Psal. 45. 16. Instead of thy fathers shall be thy children c. O therefore that Children may enter into more peculiar obligation to Christ as the Lord with heartiest Hosanna's in the highest in sence of being redeemed in this evil-day as the Scriptures speak from the vain conversation received by tradition from their Parents 1 Pet. 1. 18. and follow Christ soveraignly Rev. 1. 4. Learning of him in all their subjection to Parents the holy limits laid down Eph. 6. 1. that they obey always only in the Lord that is as they command according to Christ whom all are to hear in the highest Mat. 17. 5. as they would walk well-pleasing to God for I fear many Parents who make great profession are grown very vain first towards Children in minority so fondly affecting them to their hurt as if with all their baubles they were made to be but Apes and Baubles to Childish Parents for their present pleasure instead of discharging faithfully their great trust for their immortal souls in their minority by wisely nurturing them in the fear of the Lord timely inclining their tender years towards God as they would not make themselves sport so long and so far with the first fruits of their Childrens folly in the witty office of stubborn natures wilfulness and sinful speech as by delight therein to expose the Child to such self-willedness that at last through the Parents fondness they cannot endure the Child should undergo a moments smart though never so necessary to
preserve either body or spirit from sickness or sin For hence the discerning Child perhaps is fitted through Satan more early for such Companions abroad as were MEETING-MOCKERS and smarted together at Bethel of old under the great Fathers displeasure for want of timely discharge of earthly Parents duty towards restraining them 2 King 2. 23 24. Yea though they may be restrained from this through their Parents profession yet other inordinate affection in neglect of the Lord doth often fulfil the threatning Ezek. 24. 25. against Professors fondness in the lives of their little ones Let not tender Parents therefore look lightly over such Scriptures as these Prov. 22. 6. 15. ch 29. 15 19. and ch 23. 13 14. Eph. 6. 4. But if Children be wisely steered by tender Parents through this danger in minority and grow up soberly by degrees under their care and now fit for School how vainly inconsiderate Parents become what they learn there or by whom they are taught that word Luke 16. 8. in this may be for a Lamentation How do the Children of this world grow stricter in their care lest their Children at Schools should unawares learn the excellent knowledge of Christ than Professors are lest their Children at School should learn the vileness of this world O the heart-greived complaint of this Scholler on his sick-bed over School-pastimes choaking for a season his first serious convictions wherein yet he was not long nor at large nor an associat ever with any deboist but with the most sober youths And what tender sense had he before his sickness of the Name of God blasphemed in the continued upholding and preferring of Heathen Authors by Christian Schoolmasters wherein Heaven and Hell are turned into fictions to the hazarding Professors Children to setled Atheism or unsetled profession of Christ the Eternal Iudgment and Glory to come but how did the soul of this little one in need of favour and dread of wrath in hopes towards Heaven and fear of Hell tremble hereat I desire to remember with self-abasement and exceeding joy for the Angel of the Covenant who met with him saying This is the Way walk in it But how alas are our Daughters also brought up by professing-Parents as if they would have them attain the cursed commendation of Herodias Daughter Mat. 14. 6. rather than in the education and adorning Psal. 45. 13 14. become truly lovely to Christ v. 10. How many O how many like Micha's Mother Judg. 17. 4. are at greatest cost for snares to their Childrens souls How did the pride of our new-blown Gentry under great profession bud and blossom in the vanities foregoing before their fall as before Israels Ezek. 7. 10. and it were to be wished that abused fulness were not lusted after again by any already under smart for it unsensible of their sin But if Children die in the midst of these delights or the Plague take them in paths so contrary to the expectation of the Lord Isa. 22. 13 14. then how few Parents thus preparing them for spoyl before speak a word of their singing dancing stately tripping mantling and mincing attainments or any of that vain tribe of their trinkets and trumperies recounted by the Spirit more particularly Isa. 3. 16 18 19 20 21 22 23. about the most modish uses whereof perhaps yet they spent more circumspection and anger at their Childrens dulness than about their sin and soul-neglects to the last When conscience also upbraiding the visited Children in the words of Rom. 6. 21. What profit had you then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed for the end of those things is death Then perhaps they too late begin to teach the Child untimely to take up some words of God or Christ or Heaven or Faith or Repentance little thought of before and to apply a promise out of the path to uphold them in hopes of rest from Him whom they rejected for rule whilst they could enjoy their vanity and flatter themselves in the Child 's good estate though never so doubtful especially having the approbation of any easie Prophet they have set up for themselves as Ezek. 44. 8. in the case But why Parents why is not that Learning on which only you dare lay stress in Plagues and in death which is so certain to you and your children yet in a time so uncertain both to you and them preferred in life as the great Lesson commended and commanded by the Master Mat. 6. 33. chap. 11. 29. who must judge us at the last day according to what he hath taught us and we may not so easily trifle away Joh. 12. 48. Be considerate then Parents in your Childrens Schooling lest the door should be shut and they as the foolish Virgins when they can be vain no longer are willing to learn what may be hid from their eyes But if Shipwrack be not in this danger neither a Rock is in sight and Sands about it that split or suck up many a stately Vessel that saileth too nigh and that is called a CALLING though the High Calling of God in Christ Jesus the Scripture more calls so is seldom so called now by Professors and in this how unconscionable are Parents in the dispose of their Children to their undoing for how little are they bounded by such Commands and Counsel in the case as Titus 3. 14. 1 Cor. 7. 24. How few Children therefore abide with God in their outward Calling and how many with the World the Flesh and the Devil either in the dishonest nature thereof or sinful entrances thereinto vile customs therein or to effect their freedom so called though the very servants of corruption therefore which yet if never so honest in all should be minded to the neglecting the Invitation of the Gospel to Christ becomes as pernicious as open prophaness wherefore he complains of souls so swallowed up in the most lawfull outward callings as the Epidemical means of perdition Luke 14. 18. Mat. 22. 5. How many poor Children herein are instead of being as Samuel lent to the Lord sold to the world by their parents as long as they live deferring soul-concernment till death when they lament too late they had not such a Mother as Samuel and Timothy had in their youth and mourn at the last as Eccl. 12. 1. wishing in the day of wrath when riches profit not that their Parents had lesse indulged their bodies for a moment and more their immortall souls Yet Fourthly If this be escaped the earthly mind and ambition of Parents in marriage adds a multiplying Cypher as after Ahabs sin so obnoxious before 1 Kings 16. 31. and a Sydonian with silver is now far more esteemed than a daughter of Sion without it or with little less as if the half Language of Ashdod already were intended to be perfected rather than our posterities more compleatness in Christ. O shameful Professors How unlike Rebecca are you herein Gen. 27. 46. Surely Smithfield would better become such your Marriage-Markets
me all ye that are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest And afterwards he laid hold on that word He that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out Also two other words that had been of use to him for the confirmation of his hope in God One was in Isaiah I am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for my name sake I will not remember thy sins And that in the 73 Psal. My heart and my flesh faileth but the Lord is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever And another in the 119 Psal. This is my comfort in my affliction for thy word hath quickned me Then he was asked how or to what extent he had received Christ He answered as King Priest and Prophet Then it was asked what he had and expected by Christ as a Priest He said he had been an acceptable Sacrifice for him and interceded for him Then it was asked what he expected from him as King he said to rule him and defend him Then it was asked if he would be subject to him in all things He answered Yes he desired to be so for he was sure it was his reasonable service He was asked what he expected as a Prophet He answered That he should instruct and guide him and none else Then it was asked to what end he tendred his Faith to the Brethren He answered that he might be baptized and joyned to Christs fold Then he was asked what light he had in Baptism He answered that that Scripture had been of use to him He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved Besides Christs example as a pattern to us â—nd Philip and the Eunuch instancing that in particular If thou believest with all thy heart thou mayest Besides he mentioned the case of the Jayler Then he was asked how he could adventure on such a work in such a condition He said he would trust God and do what he could Then it was said it may be he might diâ— in the water what if he should die He chearfully then said Why Death is mine if I die in it and it is the work of God and then it will be known that Christ hath some that will follow him in difficulties But his Father replied though Child it be so easie to you it will be a trouble to us we cannot so easily part with you Why Father said he If I should die God can make it up to you and I shall go to Heaven His Father then told him the Lord would accept a man according to what he hath and not according to what he hath not He said he was sure he had strengtâ— to be baptized and God would give hiâ— more His Father told him that the samâ— Promise that was made to them that prayed in the Temple when God gave theâ— ability to be there was made to them thâ—â— had respect thereto when his hand hindred And that which might justifie Timothy being a member to be absent Miletum when he was sick might excusâ— one from coming in being sick and unable to do what he would wherein God would accept the will for the deed To which he readily answered But indeed Father I know I have strength and could have come down to day if any one would have taken me up and God will give me more strength It was asked him what he proposed by Baptism He answered I would obey all the Commandments of Christ repeating that Scripture Repent and be baptized every one of you in the Name of Iesus Christ for the remission of sins Then it was asked him do you expect righteousness by Baptism O no said he Then it was queried what he intended by his being baptized He said to put on Christ and be obedient to him in all things He spake also of being buried with Christ in Baptism as dying to sin and his own righteousness c. Then was inquiry made into his conversation and he had not been known ever to be addicted to any sort of vice and seldom to play being ever delighted in Learning and Knowledge and on idle dayes pleased greatly to be imployed under his Father onely the Maid thought that at Newington when he was at School freed from his troubles at Ewel about the time he complains of himself he was one time apt to be frothy in play and somtimes to speak rashly but never knew any intention to lie or that he purposly made a lye at any time but she was grieved more at his lightness for a little time there than ever before or since his coming from thence and that he had often lamented it to her himself Satisfaction being then declared by all that heard in the point of his Faith it was agreed to spread the difficult case of his Baptism before the Lord in solemn Prayer The next day being the 13th day of the ninth month in the morning he said he was something better and God had more strengthened him in order to doing his duty and once said God bid him go forward and though he seemed very weak yet he desired to be taken and laid in the bed where prayer was to be made all that day and he attended with great reverence bearing his fit with great patience then and usually indeed when he was sickest in body he would forget the sence of it by remembring how well he was made in his soul admiring much that God was his God Before the end of the day he was carried back to his own Bed for repose and his Father going to him at night he said Father pray you have you come to any conclusion to day about my being baptized which put his Father being yet doubtful and thinking his weakness would quiet him therein to some strait what to answer seeing his earnest expectation having omitted that day to debate it after Prayer but fearing to discourage him instantly replyed Child we have not been nor are not without serious thoughts of it and some do more encline to it and we shall yet consult it seriously if you cannot be satisfied to defer it I pray you Father do saith he for indeed I cannot be satisfied and I would fain be in Christs Fold The next day being the fourteenth he seemed much weaker but still minded this as his duty with great desire to be doing it but having not been up in many dayes before but as aforesaid from one Bed into another his Father asked him how he could thiuk to go about such a work seeing he was not able to be got up out of his bed for a moment his thigh being then not full four inches about and he not being able to endure so much as a Doubâ—et or Gown upon him his bones were so bare He answered very chearfully He did believe God would help him to rise to do that his work and give him strength and he had some already so that he was able to rise now if his
Father would have him To which his Father thinking it might convince or refresh him consented and he was taken up in warm Blankets and sate by his Father on Pillows upright well nigh two hours in which time he had very gracious converse and with chearfulness said Father the Lord is my strength of whom should I be afraid Indeed you are my dear Father but I have a dearer Father in Heaven How great mercy have I that I should have such a tender Father in Earth and in Heaven also And seeing his little Sister by him of five years old which the rest used to call Mother he said to her affectionately Nancy the Lord make you a Mother in Israel O how do I long to see Christ formed in you And looking to his Father he said Why indeed Father she had many very good expressions in the Country and would say to the Maid in a morning What mercy is it that we are alive and so many thousands taken away at London and so many little Children Then speaking of the Adversaries to the People of God he said their time is but short And being asked how he knew that said the Word of God sayes it mentioning that Scripture Rev. 12. The Devil is come down with great wrath because he knoweth he hath but a short time Two Larks being roasted for Supper whereof he used to eat but a leg and a wing at the most He did then very fervently give thanks unto God with highest praise for that meat that endureth to eternal life and humble thanks for his daily support and mercies of every sort with great enlargement both for his work before him and in praise for what had been wrought for him and in him and when he found he had sat up to his full strength went to his bed blessing the Lord depending upon his Father to come the next day to some conclusion about his further obedience On the fifteenth day his Father went into the Country and meeting with some Christian Friends improved that opportunity for their earnest advice with prayer setting forth his great strait in the case and taking their answer one by one upon what they had heard both for and against it they unanimously advised the answering his desire therein leaving the issue unto the Lord whose Wisdom they judged had engaged the Child herein beyond any reasonable objection that could be brought to oppose it only one of them desired that if he could be taken off by the perswasion of his Father he might but the most of them as his father had done having used all Arguments they could to him before declared they durst not further object His Father observing he had had nothing of it from man but the contrary and not expecting his life ordinarily a day observing the Childs oppression also through delay herein and chief revivings were alwayes in the hopes of obedience without vanity counting of the worst and exploding any thought of righteousness or expectation of certain healing by it yet expressing he could not dye so comfortably in the neglect of it and often saying he would do what he could and was perswaded God would enable him that he should not be the worse for it His Father after many dayes revolving it in his mind the Child being but too dear unto him did yeeld his judgment also to trust God with the issue And then imployed one to search diligently for an House near a River where it might most conveniently the next day be performed but as he returned home calling on a Christian Friend whose imployment in Physick was to be respected and finding him of opinion he could not be carried thither alive and sensible of the great reproach that would follow if he dyed in the attempt it so far renewed his thoughtfulness as to entreat that Friend to try if he could perswade the Child to defer it and his Father then going before unto him found he had been weaker that day yet still more impatient to perform this as his duty before he dyed having much longed for his Fathers return saying often O that I might see my dear Father When will my Father come And upon the coming of any up stairs Me-thinks I hear the feet of my Father which was much his frame in his absence at any time but now much more by expecting resolution herein His Father coming he soon sollicitously enquired for his consent and acquainting him with the concurrence of some friends to countenance it he rejoyced greatly and smiling upon his Mother he said with great ardency and strength Mother to morrow I shall go abroad now to the glory of God and I know he will strengthen me But his Father telling him that a worthy Friend yet dissented who would come presently to confer with him he abated his rejoycing but readily consented he should come and was impatient till he came The Friend being come exprest his joy in his faith but gave the very reasons he had often heard from his Father and others why one so weak should be satisfied to forbear and added that it was said all Iudea went out to be baptized but he never heard that any were carried out Caleb replyed That Christ bid his Disciples go and teach all Nations baptizing them but never said if they be sick and weak do not baptize them And persisted in his perswasion of Gods assistance although a good Gentlewoman then also sought to diswade him but after several speeches to him which seemed to weary him he looked about him upon the Company and seemed to suspect they spake but the mind of his father and others there silent on which he lay down as weary and discouraged and said even weeping Well if my Father would not have me I will not explaining himself if he was not thought a fit subject The friend seeing his countenance so changed and supposing he grew weak beyond capacity of performing it the present day also being tempestuous and like to be so the day following said unto him Well I see I trouble you I shal say no more to discourage you but rest upon it and see to morrow if it be such weather and you finde you have no strength to go you will be satisfied To which he replyed Yes if I have not strength but I know God will give me strength His Father observing his great dejection added It may be Child you think he spake in our name and you may think we design to put thee off but he only speaks his own mind in true love to thee and the Lord as we did and it is now left to a good issue as you shall find your strength and the season to morrow therefore if thou wilt in a few words commit it unto God The Friend said It may be he is too much spent but he accepted of the motion of his Father and sitting up again prayed very pertinently to