Selected quad for the lemma: friend_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
friend_n	answer_n	letter_n	receive_v	778	5	5.2253	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A64861	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 the ninth month, 1665. Aged twelve years and six months. Commending to youth the most excellent knowledge of Christ Jesus the Lord.	Vernon, John, fl. 1666.	1666 (1666)	Wing V250B; ESTC R219857	45,377	107

Justices for near two years more yet at last prevailed by slanders to be countenanced so by another in armes who took not such notice of the private malignity under pretence of Loyalty that the Chyrurgeon was encouraged as one of the chief in ransacking the said Vernons House and Closet which he had stored with Medicine for his Apothecary at pleasure with violence and dis-ingenuity incredible upon pretence of Armes where never was any and bruitishly frequented the house as he pleased sometimes in company sometimes alone in his drink venting his threats very absurdly to the great terror of the poor family The said Child being timerous and under a fit of sickness also at Ewel with more deep sence of sin having thus early to his care about his eternal estate the additional fears of unreasonable men so frequently was so exposed though naturally very chearful that his Father was enforced to remove the Family from thence to Newington with respect to their Schooling leaving them himself some weeks before The Child began therefore when his Father through these troubles left Ewel ●●rst in good earnest to approach to his ●eavenly father in private and to begin a ●orrespondency with his good friend Mr. R. D. in London wherein were Christian expressions in such wisdome and knowledge as made his friend question being the first he had written whether they could come from one so young being then ●ut Ten years old whereupon the said Mr. D. sent to him as followeth Dear Caleb I Received thine without date but not without serious desire of the best things and of ●hy beginning to be instructed in them which made thy Letter very acceptable and welcome to me being willing to hope that what comes under thy hand is not only notions in thy head but something of Truth in thy heart which I desire may be more and more really wrought in thee Thy Lines savour of an honest heart and seem to come from an older head than thy own yet being informed from such as I can credit that it was thy own writing I shall make no further inquiry than to have it confirmed from thy self in thy next to me whether indeed thou hadst not privately the help of any other before the writing of thine above mentioned unto me It is a large desire ex●ressed in thine to be filled with the Love of God and my hearts desire for thee is Th●● the Lord will fulfill that Petition for thee t●gether with that mentioned Ephes. 3. 1● 17 18 19. Which I desire thou mayest o● ten peruse ponder and be helped to pr● in the same Spirit of Truth The co●ing of Christ is hastening indeed as t●● Letter expresses 'T is but a little whi●● and he that shall come will come and will not tarry Heb. 10. 3● And it is a question worth all our inquir● who may abide the day of his coming Mal. 3● 12. Many there are that shall not and fe● there are that will be found blameless a●● harmless without rebuke at that day whic● yet is and shall be the portion of some Phil. 2● 15 16. I shall at present only desire thy answer unto two or three brief Questions following First What thou dost understand by th● coming of Christ Secondly What thou understandest b● his judging the Earth Thirdly What it is to be an outsid● Professor Fourthly What the Traditions of me● are Fifthly Whither the answer thou shal● return to the abovesaid questions be th● own apprehensions without any help from others A true and plaine answer to these things will be a further satisfaction about thy last Letter and I hope no disadvantage to thee ●ho by the serious thoughts of these things mayest be brought to a better understanding ●n them Thus with my dear love to thee and ●hy brother J. V. and Cousin Deborah and ●ll the rest desiring you may be all taught and ●nstructed in the truths of Christ as they are ●n him whom to know aright is eternal life John 17. I remain Thy assured Friend that desires thy Spiritual and temporal welfare R. D. London the 6 th of the 3 d Moneth 63. And in Answer received this following which he wrote immediately without study or prompting Ewell May 12 1663. Dear Sir I Received your kind Letter wherein you have desired me to write unto you an Answer to some certain Questions which you have hinted in your Letter which I shall answer as I hope the Spirit of Grace shall declare to me for I know and am assured that the Lord will declare his Spirit unto them that truly love him which indeed I may truly say I have not done but have erred against his word for which I have great cause to mourn for but I hope he may be my God who will be a God to them that truly seek after him in Spirit and in Truth who did put them words into my mouth which you desired me to send you word of and no body else But as for the coming of Christ I understand it to be two diverse wayes First His coming in the hearts of his People to purge and purify them Secondly His coming o● Earth when he shall set his People at liberty and shall destroy all Kingdomes that will n●● obey him and he shall set up himself a Kingdome Dan. 2. 44. And by his Iudgin● the Earth I understand when all both quic● and dead shall stand before his presence whe● he shall sever the bad from the good and sha●● say to them on his right hand COME Y● BLESSED OF MY FATHER But unto them on his left hand GO YE CURSED into Hell fire prepared for the Devil and his angels And to be an outsid● Professor I understand it to be one who make a shew of Christ but they be not so in thei● hearts And I understand the Traditions ●● men to be their following after the Lusts of the Devil rather than the Commands of God Which things I have not been told of I would desire you to excuse me for not dating my Letter and desire you would write unto me to unfold them to me more than I can do which I hope may be made of use unto my soul So I remain Your much obliged Friend CALEB VERNON ANd being removed to Newington and now no more exposed to such private hostility he went more chearfully to School and profited exceedingly in the Latine tongue making enterance also into the Greek that Summer but finding the opportunity of hearing the Word there uncertain in the Winter for the sake of it and his Fathers imployment in London the Family was removed thither where he was improved without more intermission to great proficiency in the Greek and Latine so as both his able Teachers as all with whom he was have said they never had any more apt of his age nor did any with whom he was see cause to use correction unto him who yet to his Parents trouble had lost much time by

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 fi●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 ●●●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 Ca●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 abasemēt 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 ●● 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