Selected quad for the lemma: glory_n
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A64861
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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.
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Vernon, John, fl. 1666.
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1666
(1666)
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Wing V250B; ESTC R219857
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45,377
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107
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to his support though his seeming reserved and drooping posture after his first dayes rejoycing to see his Parents in London he would not own to be melancholy but solemn meditation about his eternal estate with hope and some joy yet mixed at first with more fears and doubtings nor could any thing allure him into the Country again though his Father offered his company the Plague and number of his Patients beginning to abate because he prized he said the opportunities of the Word in London above life or hopes of more health elsewhere saying sometimes with ardency A day in thy Courts is better than a thousand elsewhere And thus began first to open himself to his Mother Mother I now begin to see the vanity of all things in this life and it is a troublesome world if I were assured of the Love of God I would chuse rather to dye than live And having intermitting fits with wearisom restless nights he said to his Mother about the beginning of the ninth month in the morning with joy Mother I have seen the Face of God and God hath as it were taken me into his Arms this night and assured me of his Love mentioning these Scriptures following as his refreshment And him that cometh to me I will in no-wise cast out And why art thou cast down O my soul and why art thou disquieted within me hope thou in God c. Cease ye from man whose breath is in his nostrils saying God had shewed him he might not trust to man for his healing but look unto and trust in him and whereas said he I was before very restless that I could not lye still in one place yet afterwards I was at great ease and could lie very quiet though I had no sleep Then cryed he out of his vileness also most humbly and said I see now how I was by nature plunged in sin and iniquity but my Lord Iesus Christ which he uttered ardently hath been a ransom for me and spake particularly of the vanity of his mind before his sickness and blessed the Lord for his Visitation In the midst of one fit he spake affectionately This is my comfort in my affliction Thy Word hath quickned me Upon the fifth of the ninth month he had many fainting fits but his faith and hope was so maintained in the midst of â—hem that he said joyfully Mother My flesh and my heart faileth me but God is â—he strength of my life and my portion for â—ver joying in God as his God in vaâ—iety of pithy expressions saying How â—ad would it be with me now if God were not â—ny God On the 7th of the ninth month his fit came as formerly which at first was grievous causing him to cry out once What shall I do but he checked himself presently and said Why I know God will help me and I will trust in him admiring much his goodness to him His Mother leaving him to lie quiet sent the Maid but he desired to be left alone and sometime after sending to him again he sent his Mother word he was very sick but God made it easie to him and when his Mother came he told her he was made so joyful through the light of Gods countenance that though he was very weak as ever he was in his body yet he could lie still magnified the Lord greatly for his Grace in chusing him who was he said so very vile by nature And now Mother saith he God hath taken away all my slavisâ— fear and whereas it was so with me that I could not endure to be in a room by my self now I care not how much I am alone He diâ— particularly complain then of a frothy frame before his Visitation blessing the Lord again for bringing this Sickness upon him saying For these light afflictionâ— which are but for a moment work for me â—â— far more exceeding and eternal weight â—â— Glory and mentioned the words also iâ— Rev. 7. 14. These are they which came oâ— of great tribulation washing their robes in the blood of the Lamb. He said one sin of his at Ewel had often lain heavy upon his heart namely his disobedience to his Mother once not going to bed when she had commanded it She told him she hoped God had pardoned it and all other his sins in Christ by whose Blood all was done away and she had both forgiven it him and had forgotten it which much satisfied him saying he hoped God would set him on the Rock that was higher than he and if he pleased to spare him he desired to be found obedient to him and desired to be joyned to his People asking his Mother if I. S. who had proposed himself and he knew was suspended for further tryal came forward saying It would be a sad thing if he should go backward in the things of God And then much admired the goodness of God to him saying How good is it to have an Interest in Christ now and how miserable is the contrary in such a condition as I am in and was much taken up with the consideration of Eternity so that his Mother marvelled at his sweet discourse at this time and thought his face even shined with the Grace of God that was on him he continued in a very heavenly frame of heart to the time of her going to bed and desiring to restrain him from talking more having had little rest he answered that talk about common things he found hurtful to him and he wanted breath quickly but to speak of the things of God was not wearisome but refreshing And the Maid of a worthy Acquaintance in Prison coming to see him he sent her Master word he loved him as he was the Lord's Prisoner and he was sure God would deliver his Prisoners Being asked how he knew that he said he had his Word for it which said that he would bring them from the East and from the West from the North and from all places whither they had been carried away captive and he was sure not a tittle of his Word should fail till all was fulfilled And that the enemies of the Lord he was sure should be destroyed for the Word of the Lord had said it repeating then some words of the 47th of Isa. to prove it and desired the Maid to tell her Master also that he was in the place where God would have him to be and desired him to stand fast in the Lord and not give way to the Adversary and desire her Mistris to be content and not to faint but consider that God was able to make up all her Husbands losses unto her His Father making ready two Larks for him he solemnly invited his Father Mother Brother Sister and Cousin to sup with him asking his Father whether it was not Levi that made a Feast to invite his Kindred unto Christ when he was converted â—nd did in a gracious manner before them give
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