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
Ministers of the place to be publickly instructed and catechised 2. It pleased the Lord to bless holy education the good example of her Parents and catechising to the good of her Soul so that she soon had a true savour and relish of what she was taught and made an admirable use of it in a time of need as you shall hear afterwards 3. She was a Child of great dutifulness to her Parents and of a very sweet humble spiritual nature and not only the truth but the power and eminency of Religion did shine in her so clearly that she did not only comfort the hearts of her Parents but drew the admiration of all that were witnesses of Gods works of love upon her and may well be proposed as a pattern not only to Children but to persons of riper years 4. She continued in a course of Religious Duties for some considerable time so that her life was more excellent than most Christians but in her last sickness she excelled her self and her deportment was so admirable that partly through wonder and astonishment and partly through sorrow many observable things were past by without committing to paper which deserved to have been written in letters of gold But take these which follow as some of many which were taken from her dying lips and first published by religious and judicious Christians in Dutch afterward translated into Scotch and with a little alteration of the stile for the benefit of English Children brought into this form by me 5. In the month of August 1664. When the Pestilence raged so much in Holland this sweet Child was smitten and as soon as she felt herself very ill she was said to break forth with abundance of sense and feeling in these following words If thy Law were not my delight I should perish in my affliction 6. Her Father coming to her to encourage her in her sickness said to her be of good comfort my Child for the Lord will be near to thee and us under this heavy and sore Trial he will not forsake us though he chasten us Yea father said she our heavenly Father doth Chasten us for our profit that we may be partakers of his holiness no chastisement seemeth for the present to be joyous but grievous but afterwards it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness to them which are exercised thereby The Lord is now chastening of me upon this sick bed but I hope he will bless it so to me as to cause it to yield to me that blessed fruit according to the riches of his mercies which fail not 7. After this she spake to God with her eyes lift up to Heaven saying Be merciful to me O Father be merciful to me a sinner according to thy word 8. Then looking upon her sorrowful Parents she said It is said Cast thy burden upon the Lord and he shall sustain thee and he will never suffer the righteous to be moved Therefore my dear father and mother cast all your care upon him who causes all things to go well that do concern you 9. Her mother said unto her O my dear child I have no small comfort from the Lord in thee and the fruit of his grace whereby thou hast been so much exercised unto godliness in reading the Word in Prayer and gracious Discourse to the edification of thy self and us The Lord himself who gave thee to us make up this loss if it be his pleasure to take thee away from us 10. Dear mother said she though I leave you and you me yet God will never leave us for it is 〈◊〉 Can a woman forget her sucking Child that she should not have compassion on the fruit of her womb yet will not I forget thee behold I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands O comfortable words both for mother and children Mark dear Mother how fast the Lord keepes and holdeth his people that he doth even grave them upon the palms of his hands Though I must part with you and you with me yet blessed be God he will never part either from you or me 11. Being weary with much speaking she desired to rest a while but after a little time awaking again her father asked her how it was with her She made no direct answer but asked what day it was her father said it was the Lords day Well then said she have you given up my name to be remembred in the publick Prayers of the Church Her father told her he had I have learnt said she that the effectual fervent Prayer of the righteous availeth much 12. She had a very high esteem for the faithful Ministers of Christ and much desired their company where she was but knowing the hazards that such a visit might expose them and the Church to she would by no means suffer that the Ministers should come near her person but chose rather to throw her self upon the armes of the Lord and to improve that knowledge she had in the Word and her former experience and the visits of private Christians and those which the Church had appointed in such cases to visit and comfort the sick 13. One of those which came to visit her was of very great use to her to comfort her and lift her up in some measure above the fears of death 14. Though young she was very much concerned for the interest of God and Religion for Gospel Ministers and for the Sins and the Decay of the power of Godliness in her own Countrey which will further appear by what may follow 15. Her father coming in to her found her in an extraordinary passion of weeping and askt her what was the cause of her great sorrow She answered have I not cause to weep when I hear that Domine de Wit was taken sick this day in his Pulpit and went home very ill Is not this a sad sign of Gods displeasure to our Countrey when God smiteth such a faithful Pastor 16. She had a high valuation of God and could speak in David's language whom have I in Heaven but thee and there is none on earth that I can desire in comparison of thee She was much lifted up above the fears of Death what else was the meaning of such expressions as these O how do I long even as the Heart panteth after the water brooks so my soul panteth after thee O God for God the living God when shall I come and appear before God 17. She was a great hater of sin and did with much grief and self-abhorrency reflect upon it but that which lay most upon her heart was the Corruption of her Nature and Original Sin How oft would she cry out in the words of the Psalmist Behold I was shapen in iniquity and in sin did my mother conceive me and I was altogether born in sin She could never lay her self low enough under a sense of that Original Sin which she brought with her into the world 18. She spake many things very judiciously of the
good Parents command you What do you say Child Which of these two sorts are you of Let me talk a little with you and ask you a few Questions 1. Were not these Children sweet Children which feared God and were dutiful to their Parents Did not their Fathers and Mothers and every body that fears God love them and praise them What do you think is become of them now they are dead and gone Why they are gone to Heaven and are singing Hallelujahs with the Angels They see glorious things and having nothing but joy and pleasure they shall never sin no more they shall never be beat any more they shall never be sick or in pain any more 2. And would not you have your Fathers love your Mothers Commendation your Masters good word Would not you have God and Christ love you And would you not fain go to Heaven when you die And live with your godly Parents in Glory and be happy for ever 3. Whither do you think those Children go when they dye that will not do what they are bid but play the Truant and Lye and speak naughty words and break the Sabbath Whither do such Children go do you think Why I will tell you they which Lye must go to their Father the Devil into everlasting burning they which never pray God will pour out his wrath upon them and when they beg and pray in Hell Fire God will not forgive them but there they must lye for ever 4. And are you willing to go to Hell to be burned with the Devil and his Angels Would you be in the same condition with naughty Chilren O Hell is a terrible place that 's worse a thousand times than whipping Gods anger is worse than your Fathers anger and are you willing to anger God O Child this is most certainly true that all that be wicked and die so must be turned into Hell and if any be once there there is no coming out again 5. Would you not do any thing in the World rather than be thrown into Hell Fire would you not do any thing in the World to get Christ and grace and glory 6. Well now what will you do will you read this book a little because your good Mother will make you do it and because it is a little new Book but as soon as ever you have done run away to play and never think of it 7. How art thou now affected poor Child in the Reading of this Book Have you shed ever a tear since you begun reading Have you been by your self upon your knees and begging that God would make you like these blessed Children or are you as you use to be as careless and foolish and disobedient and wicked as ever 8. Did you never hear of a little Child that died and if other Children die why may not you be sick and die and what will you do then Child if you should have no grace in your heart and be found like other naughty children 9. How do you know but that you may be the next Child that may die and where are you then if you be not God 's Child 10. Wilt thou tarry any longer my dear Child before thou run into thy chamber and beg of God to give thee a Christ for thy Soul that thou mayest not be undone for ever Wilt thou get presently into a corner to weep and pray Methinks I see that pretty Lamb begin to weep and thinks of getting by himself and will as well as he can cry unto the Lord to make him one of these little ones that go into the Kingdom of Heaven Methinks there stands a sweet Child and there another that are resolved for Christ and for Heaven Methinks that little Boy looks as if he had a mind to learn good things Methinks I hear one say well I will never tell a lye more I will never keep any naughty Boy company more they will teach me to swear and they will speak naughty words they do not love God I 'le learn my Catechism and get my Mother to teach me to pray and I will go to weep and cry to Christ and will not be quiet till the Lord hath given me Grace O that 's my brave Child indeed 11. But will you not quickly forget your promise are you resolved by the strength of Christ to be a good child Are you indeed nay but are you indeed Consider dear child God calls you to remember your Creator in the dayes of your Youth and he takes it kindly when little ones come to him and he loves them dearly and godly people especially Parents and Masters and Mistresses they have no greater joy than to see their Children walking in the way of truth Now tell me my pretty dear Child What will you do shall I make you a Book Shall I pray for you and entreat you Shall your Good Mother weep over you And will not you make us all glad by your turning quickly to the Lord Shall Christ tell you that he will love you And will not you love him Will you strive to be like these Children I am perswaded that God intends to do good to the Souls of some little Chidren by these Papers because he hath laid it so much upon my heart to pray for them and over these Papers and thorow mercy I have already experienced that something of this nature hath not been in vain I shall give a word of direction and so leave you 1. Take heed of what you know is naught as lying O that is a grievous fault indeed and naughty words and taking the Lords name in vain and playing upon the Lords Day and keeping bad company and playing with ungodly Children But if you do go to School with such tell them that God will not love them but that the Devil will have them if they continue to be so naught 2. Do what your Father and Mother bids you chearfully and take heed of doing any thing that they forbid you 3. Be diligent in reading the Scripture and learning your Catechism and what you do not understand to be sure ask the meaning of 4. Think a little sometimes by your self about God and Heaven and your Soul and where you shall go when you die and what Christ came into the world for 5. And if you have no great mind to do thus but had rather be at play then think what is it that makes me that I do not care for good thinks is this like one of Gods dear Children I am afraid I am none of God's Child I feel I do not love to come to Him O what shall I do Either I must be Gods Child or the Devils O what shall I do I would not be the Devils Child for any thing in the world 6. Then go to your Father or Mother or some good body and ask them what thou shalt do to be Gods Child and tell them that thou art afraid and that thou canst not be contented till thou
cursed into the Lake that burns for ever What a grief is it to me to think that I shall see any of my friends that I knew upon Earth turned into that Lake that burns for ever O that word for ever Remember that for ever I speak these words to you but they are nothing except God speak to you too O pray pray pray that God would give you grace and then she prayed O Lord finish thy work upon their Souls It will be my comfort to see you in glory but it will be your everlasting happiness 30. Her Grandmother told her she spent her self too much she said I care not for that if I could do any Soul good O with what vehemency did she speak as if her heart were in every word she spoke 31. She was full of Divine Sentences and almost all her discourse from the first to the last in the time of her sickness was about her Soul Christs sweetness and the Souls of others in a word like a continued Sermon 32. Upon Friday after she had had such lively discoveries of Gods love she was exceeding desirous to die and cryed out Come Lord Jesus come quickly conduct me to thy Tabernacle I am a poor creature without thee but Lord Jesus my soul longs to be with thee O when shall it be Why not now dear Jesus Come Lord Jesus come quickly but why do I speak thus Thy time dear Lord is the best O give me patience 33. Upon Saturday she spoke very little being very drowsie yet now and then she dropt these words How long sweet Jesus finish thy work sweet Jesus come away sweet dear Lord Jesus come quickly sweet Lord help come away now now dear Jesus come quickly Good Lord give patience to me to wait thy appointed time Lord Jesus help me help me help me Thus at several times when out of her sleep for she was asleep the greatest part of the day 34. Upon the Lords Day she scarce spoke any thing but much desired that Bills of Thanksgiving might be sent to those who had formerly been praying for her that they might help her to praise God for that full assurance that he had given her of his love and seemed to be much swallowed up with the thoughts of Gods free love to her Soul She oft commended her spirit into the Lords hands and the last words which she was heard to speak were these Lord help Lord Jesus help Dear Jesus Blessed Jesus And thus upon the Lords Day between Nine and Ten of the Clock in the Forenoon she slept sweetly in Jesus and began an everlasting Sabbath February 19. 1670. EXAMPLE II. Of a Child that was admirably affected with the things of God when he was between two and three years Old with a brief account of his Life and Death 1. A Certain little Child whose Mother had dedicated him to the Lord in the womb when he could not speak plain would be crying after God and was greatly desirous to be taught good things 2. He could not endure to be put to Bed without family duty but would put his Parents upon duty and would with much devotion kneel down and with great patience and delight continue till duty was at an end without the least expression of being weary and he seemed never so well pleased as when he was engaged in duty 3. He could not be satisfied with Family-duty but he would be oft upon his knees by himself in one corner or other 4. He was much delighted in hearing the word of God either read or preached 5. He loved to go to School that he might learn something of God and would observe and take great notice of what he had read and come home and speak of it with much affection and he would rejoyce in his book and say to his Mother O Mother I have had a sweet lesson to day will you please to give me leave to fetch my book that you may hear it 6. As he grew up he was more and more affected with the things of another world so that if we had not received our information from one that is of undoubted fidelity it would seem incredible 7. He quickly learned to read the Scriptures and would with great Reverence Tenderness and groans read till tears and sobs were ready to hinder him 8. When he was at secret prayer he would weep bitterly 9. He was wont often times to complain of the naughtiness of his heart and seemed to be more grieved for the Corruption of his Nature than for any actual sin 10. He had a vast Understanding in the things of God even next to a wonder for one of his age 11. He was much troubled for the wandrings of his thoughts in duty and that he could not keep his heart alway fixed upon God and the work he was about and his affections constantly raised 12. He kept a watch over his heart and observed the workings of his Soul and would complain that the were so vain and foolish and so little busied about spirituas things 13. As he grew up he grew daily in knowledg and experience and his carriage was so heavenly and his discourse so excellent and experimental that it made those which heard it even astonished 14. He was exceeding importunate with God in duty and would plead with God at a strange rate and use such arguments in prayer that one would think it were impossible should ever enter into the heart of a Child he would beg and expostulate and weep so that sometimes it could not be kept from the ears of Neighbours so that one of the next house was forced to cry out the prayers and tears of that Child in the next house will sink me to Hell because by it he did condemn his neglect of prayer and his slight performance of it 15. He was very fearful of wicked company and would oft beg of God to keep him from it and that he might never be pleased in them that took delight in displeasing of God And when he was at any time in the hearing of their wicked words taking the Lords Name in vain or swearing or any filthy word it would even make him tremble and ready to go home and weep 16. He abhorred lying with his Soul 17. When he had committed any fault he was easily convinced of it and would get in some corner and secret place and with tears beg pardon of God and strength against such a sin He had a friend that oft watched him and listned at his Chamber-door from whom I received this Narrative 18. When he had been asked whether he would commit such a sin again he would never promise absolutely because he said his heart was naught but he would weep and say he hoped by the grace of God he should not 19. When he was left at home alone upon the Sabbath days he would be sure not to spend any part of the day in Idleness and Play but be busied in praying Reading in
in vain in the Lord he still experiences that the Lord doth carry on his own work mightily upon the heart of the Child he is still more and more broken under a sense of his undone state by nature he is oft in tears and bemoaning his lost and miserable condition When his Master did speak of the things of God he listened earnestly and took in with much greediness and affection what he was taught Seldom was there any discourse about Soul-matters in his hearing but he heard it as if it were for his life and would weep greatly 5. He would after his Master had been speaking to him or others of the things of God go to him and question with him about them and beg of him to instruct and teach him further and to tell him those things again that he might remember and understand them better 6. Thus he continued seeking after the knowledg of God and Christ and practising holy duties till the sickness came into the house with which the child was smitten at his first sickning the poor child vvas greatly amazed and afraid and though his pains were great and the distemper very tedious yet the sense of his sin and the thoughts of the miserable condition that he feared his soul vvas still in made his trouble ten times greater he was in grievous agonies of spirit and his former sins stared him in the face and made him tremble the poison of Gods Arrows did even drink up his spirits the sense of sin and wrath was so great that he could not tell what in the world to do the weight of Gods displeasure and the thoughts of lying under it to all eternity did even break him to pieces and he did cry out very bitterly what should he do he was a miserable sinner and he feared that he should go to Hell his sins had been so great and so many that there was no hopes for him He was not by far so much concerned for his life as for his Soul what would become of that for ever Now the plague upon his body seemed nothing to that which was in his soul 7. But in this great distress the Lord was pleased to send one to take care for his Soul who urged to him the great and precious promises which were made to one in his condition telling him that there was enough in Christ for the chiefest of sinners and that he came to seek and save such a lost creature as he was But this poor Child found it a very difficult thing for him to believe that there was any mercy for such a dreadful sinner as he had been 8. He was made to cry out of himself not only for his swearing and lying and other outwardly notorious sins but he was in great horrour for the sin of his Nature for the vileness of his heart and original corruption under it he was in so great anguish that the trouble of his spirit made him in a great measure to forget the pains of his body 9. He did very particularly confess and bewail his sins with tears and some sins so secret that none in the world could charge him with 10. He would condemn himself or sin as deserving to have no mercy though that there was not a greater sinner in all London than himself and he abhorred himself as the vilest creature he knew 11. He did not only pray much with strong cries and tears himself but he begged he prayers of Christians for him 12. He would ask Christians whether they thought there were any hopes for him and would beg of them to deal plainly with him for he was greatly afraid of being deceived 13. Being informed how willing and ready the Lord Christ was to accept of poor sinners upon their repentance and turning and being counselled to venture himself upon Christ for mercy and salvation he said he would fain cast himself upon Christ but he could not but wonder how Christ should be willing to dye for such a vile wretch as he was and he found it one of the hardest things in the world to believe 14. But at last it pleased the Lord to give him some small hopes that there might be mercy for him for he had been the chiefest of sinners and he was made to lay a little hold upon such promises as that Come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest But O how did this poor boy admire and bless God for the least hopes How highly did he advance free and rich grace that should pity and pardon him and at last he was so full of praise and admiring of God so that to speak in the words of a precious man that was an eye and ear-witness to the praise and glory of God be it spoken the house at that day for all the sickness in it was a little lower Heaven so full of joy and praise 15 The Child grew exceedingly in knowledg experiences patience humility and self-abhorrency and he thought he could never speak bad enough of himself the Name that he would call himself by was a Toad 16. And though he prayed before yet now the Lord poured out upon him the Spirit of prayer in an extraordinary manner for one of his age so that now he prayed more frequently more earnesily more spiritually than ever O how eagerly would he beg to be washed in the Blood of Jesus and that the King of Kings and Lord of Lords that was over Heaven and Earth and Sea would pardon and forgive him all his sins and receive his Soul into his Kingdom and what he spoke it was with so much life and fervour of Spirit as that it filled the hearers with astonishment and joy 17. He had no small sense of the use and excellency of Christ and such longings and breathings of his Soul after him that when mention hath been made of Christ he hath been ready almost to leap out of his bed for joy 18. When he was told that if he should recover he must not live as he list but he must give up himself to Christ and to be his Child and Servant to bear his Yoke and be obedient unto his Laws and live a holy life and take his Cross and suffer mocking and reproach it may be persecution for his Name sake Now Child said one to him are you willing to have Christ upon such terms He signified his willingness by the earnestness of his looks and words and the casting up of his eyes to Heaven saying yes with all my Soul the Lord helping me I will do this 19. Yet he had many doubts and fears and was ever and anon harping upon that that though he were willing yet Christ he feared was not willing to accept him because of the greatness of his sin yet his hopes were greater than his fears 20. The Wednesday before he died the Child lay as it were in a trance for about half an hour in which time he thought he saw a
Vision of Angels When he was out of his Trance he was in a little pett and asked his Nurse why she did not let him go go whither child said she why along with those brave Gentlemen said he but they told me they would come and fetch me away for all you upon Friday next And he doubled his words many times upon Friday next those brave Gentlemen will come for me and upon that day the Child dyed joyfully 21. He was very thankful to his Master and very sensible of his great kindness in taking him up out of the streets when he was a begging and he admired at the goodness of God which put it into the mind of a stranger to look upon and to take such fatherly care of such a pitiful sorry creature as he was O my dear Mother said he and child of God I hope to see you in Heaven for I am sure you will go thither O blessed blessed be God that made you to take pity upon me for I might have dyed and have gone to the Devil and have been damned for ever if it had not been for you 22. The Thursday before he dyed he asked a very godly friend of mine what he thought of his condition and whither his soul was now going for he said he could not still but fear least he should deceive himself with false hopes at which my friend spoke to him thus Child for all that I have endeavoured to hold forth the grace of God in Christ to thy Soul and given you a warrant from the Word of God that Christ is as freely offered to you as to any sinner in the world if thou art but willing to accept of him thou mayest have Christ and all that thou dost want with him and yet thou givest way to these thy doubtings and fears as though I told thee nothing but lyes Thou sayest thou fearest that Christ will not accept of thee I fear thou art not heartily willing to accept of him The Child answered indeed I am Why then Child if thou art unfeignedly willing to have Christ I tell thee he is a thousand times more willing to have thee and wash thee and save thee than thou art to desire it And now at this time Christ offers himself freely to thee again therefore receive him humbly by Faith into thy heart and bid him welcome for he deserveth it Upon which words the Lord discovered his love to the Child and he gave a kind of a leap in his bed and snapt his fingers and thumb together with abundance of joy as much as to say Well yea all is well the match is made Christ is willing and I am willing too and now Christ is mine and I am his for ever And from that time forward in full joy and assurance of Gods love he continued earnestly praising God with desiring to die and be with Christ And on Friday morning he sweetly went to rest using that very expression Into thy hands Lord I commit my spirit He died punctually at that time which he had spoke of and in which he expected those Angels to come to him he was not much above nine years old when he dyed This Narrative I had from a judicious holy man un-related to him who was an eye and ear-witness to all these things FINIS A TOKEN FOR CHILDREN The Second Part. BEING A farther Account of the Conversion Holy and exemplary Lives and Joyful Deaths of several other young Children not published in The First Part. By James Janeway Minister of the Gospel Psal 8.2 Out of the Mouth of Babes and Sucklings host thou ordained strength LONDON Printed for D. Newman at the Kings Arms at the Corner of Grocers Alley in the Poultrey 1673. A PREFACE TO THE READER Christian Reader IN the former part of my Tokens for Children I did in part promise that if that piece met with kind entertainment it might be followed with a second of the same nature If it did not seem a little to savour of vanity I might tell the World what encouragement I have met with in this Work but this I will only say that I have met with so much as hath perswaded me to give this little Book leave to go abroad into the World I am not also ignorant what Discouragement I may meet with from some but as long as I am sure I shall not meet with this that it 's improbable if not impossible that it should save a Soul I think the rest may easily be answered or warrantably slighted But because I am perswaded by some that one Example in the former viz. that of a Child that began to be serious between two and three years old was scarce credible and they did fear might somewhat prejudice the authority of the rest I shall say something to answer that They which make this Objection are either good or bad if bad I expect never to satisfie them except I should tell them of a Romance or a Play or somewhat that might suit a carnal mind it is like holiness in older persons is a matter of contempt and scorn to them much more in such as these I mention The truth of it is it is no wonder at all to me that the Subjects of Satan should not be very well pleased with that whose design is to undermine the interest of their great Master nothing will satisfie some except Christ and holiness may be degraded and vilified But hold sinner hold never hope it Heaven shall never be turned into Hell for thy sake and as for all thy Atheistical Objections Scoffs and Jeers they shall ere long be fully answered and the Hosannah's and Hallelujah's of these Babes shall condemn thy Oaths Blasphemies and Jeers and then thou wilt be silenced and accept converting Grace turn thy heart quickly thou wilt for ever rue thy madness and Folly when it is too late to remedy it But if the Persons that make this Objection be godly I question not but that I may give them reasonable satisfaction First consider who it is that I had that example from It was one Mrs. Jeofries in Long-Lane in Mary Magdalen Bermondsey Parish in the County of Surry a woman of that same in the Church of Christ for her exemplary Piety Wisdom Experience and singular watchfulness over every punctilio that she speaks that I question not but that her name is precious to most of the Ministers of London at least in the Burrough and as a reverend Divine said Such a Mother in Israel her single Testimony about London is of as much authority almost as any one single Ministers And having since discoursed this matter with her she calls God to witness that she hath spoken nothing but the Truth only in this she failed in that she spake not by far so much as she might have done concerning that sweet Babe I might add that I have since that seen a godly gentleman out of the Countrey that did profess to me that he had seen as
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
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
the evening in the fourteenth year of her age having obtained that which she so oft intreated of the Lord a quiet and easie departure and the end of her faith the salvation of her soul Example XII Of the excellent carriage of a Child upon his death bed when but seven years old IAcoh Bicks the Brother of Susannah Bicks was born in Leiden in the year 1657. and had religious education under his godly Parents the which the Lord was pleased to sanctifie to his Conversion and by it lay in excellent provisions to live upon in an hour of distress 2. This sweet little Child was visited of the Lord of a very fore Sickness upon the sixth of August 1664. three or four weeks before his Sister of whose life and death we have given you some account already in his distemper he was for the most part very sleepy and drousie till near his death but when he did wake he was wont still to fall a praying 3. Once when his Parents had prayed with him they asked him if they should once more send for the Physician No said he I will have the Doctor no more the Lord will help me I know he will take me to himself and then he shall help all 4. Ah my dear child said his Father that grieveth my heart Well said the Child Father let us pray and the Lord shall be near for my helper 5. When his Parents had prayed with him again he said come now dear Father and Mother and kiss me I know that I shall die 6. Farewell dear Father and Mother Farewell dear sister farewell all Now shall I go to heaven unto God and Jesus Christ and the holy angels Father know you not what is said by Jeremiah Blessed is he who trusteth in the Lord now I trust in him and he will bless me And in 1 John 2. it is said Little Children love not the world for the world passeth away 7. Away then all that is in the world away with all my pleasant things in the world away with my Dagger for where I go there is nothing to do with Daggers and Swords men shall not fight there but praised God Away with all my books there shall I know sufficiently and be learned in all things of true wisdom without books 8. His Father being touched to hear his child speak at this rate could not well tell what to say but my dear child the Lord will be near thee and uphold thee 9. Yea Father said he the Apostle Peter saith God resisteth the proud but he giveth grace to the humble I shall humble my self under the mighty hand of God and the shall help and lift me up 10. O my dear child said his Father hast thou so strong a faith 11. Yea said the Child God hath given me so strong a faith upon himself through Jesus Christ that the Devil himself shall flee from me for it is said He who believeth in the Son hath everlasting life and he hath overcome the wicked one Now I believe in Jesus Christ my Redeemer and he will not leave or forsake me but shall give unto me eternall life and then I shall sing holy holy holy is the Lord of Sabbath 12. Then with a short word of Prayer Lord be merciful to me a poor sinner he quietly breathed out his Soul and sweetly slept in Jesus when he was about seven years old He died August 8. 1664. Hallelujah Example XIII Of one that began to look towards Heaven when he was very young with many eminent passages of his life and his joyful death when he was eleven years and three quarters old 1. Iohn Harvy was born in London in the year 1654. His Father was a Dutch Merchant he was piously educated under his virtuous mother and soon began to suck in divine things with no small delight 2. The first thing very observable in him was that when he was two years and eight months old he could speak as well as other children do usually at five years old 3. His Parents judging that he was then a little to young to send out to school let him have his liberty to play a little about their yard but instead of playing he found out a school of his own accord hard by home and went to the school-Mistriss and intreated her to teach him to read and so he went for some time to school without the knowledge of his Parents and made a very strange progress in his learning was able to read distinctly before most Children are able to know their letters 4. He was wont to ask many serious and weighty questions about matters which concerned his soul and Eternity 5. His Mother being greatly troubled upon the death of one of his Uncles this Child came to his Mother and said Mother though my Uncle be dead doth not the Scripture say he must rise again yea and I must die and so must every body and it will not be long before Christ will come to judge the world and then we shall see one another again I pray Mother do not weep so much This grave Counsel he gave his Mother when he was not quite five years old by which her sorrow for her Brother was turned into admiration at her Child and she was made to sit silent and quiet under that smarting stroke 9. After this his Parents removed to Aberdeen in Scotland and setled their Child under an able and a painful School Master there whose custome was upon the Lords day in the morning to examine his schollers concerning the Sermons that they had heard the former Lords day and to add some other questions which might try the understanding and knowledge of his Schollers the question that was once proposed to his form was whether God had a mother none of all the Schollars could answer it till it came to John Harvy who being asked whether God had a Mother answered no as he was God he could not have a Mother but as he was man he had this was before he was quite six years old His Master was somewhat amazed at the Childs answer and took the first opportunity to go to his Mother to thank her for instructing her Son so well but she replyed that he was never taught that from her but that he understood it by reading and his own observation 7. He was a Child that was extraordinary inquisitive and full of good questions and very careful to observe and remember what he heard 8. He had a great hatred of whatsoever he knew to be displeasing to God and was so greatly concerned for the honour of God that he would take on bitterly if that any gross sins were committed before him And he had a deep sense of the worth of Souls and was not a little grieved when he saw any one do that which he knew was dangerous to their Souls 9. One day seeing one of his near Relations come into his Fathers House distemper'd with drink as he thought he quickly
went very seriously to him and wept over him that he should so offend God and hazard his Soul and beg'd of him to spend his time better then in drinking and gaming and this he did without any instruction from his parents but from an inward principle of grace and love to God and souls as it is verily believed 10. When he was at play with other Children he would be often times putting in some word to keep them from naughty talk or wicked actions and if any did take the Lords name in vain or do any thing that was not becoming of a good Child they should soon hear of it with a witness nay once hearing a boy speak very profanely and that after two or three admonitions he would not forbear nor go out of his company neither he was so transported with zeal that he could not forbear falling upon him to beat him but his Mother chiding of him for it he said that he could not indure to hear the name of God so abused by a wretched boy This is observed not to vindicate the act but to take notice of his zeal 11. He was a Child that took great delight in the Company of good men and especially Ministers and Schollers and if he had any leisure time he would improve it by visiting of such whose discourse might make him wiser and better and when he was in their society to be sure his talk was more like a Christian and Scholler then a Child 12. One day after School time was over he gave Mr. Andrew Kant one of the Ministers of Aberdeen a visit and asked him several solid questions but the good man asked him some questions out of his Catechism and finding him not so ready in the answers as he should have been did a little reprove him and told him that he must be sure to get his Catechism perfectly by heart the Child took the reproof very well and went home and fell very hot upon his Catechism and never left till he got it by heart and not only so but he would be enquiring into the sense and meaning of it 13. He was so greatly taken with his Catechism that he was not content to learn it himself but he would be putting others upon learning their Catechism especially those that were nearest to him he could not be satisfied till he had perswaded his Mothers Maids to learn it and when they were at work he would be still following them with some good question or other so that the Child seemed to be taken up with the thoughts of his Soul and Gods honour and the good of others Souls 14. He was a conscientious observer of the Lords day spending all the time either in secret prayer or reading the Scriptures and good books Learning of his Catechism and learning of the Word of God and publick duties and was not only careful in the performance of these duties himself but was ready to put all that he knew upon a strict observation of the Lords day and was exceedingly grieved at the profanation of it one Lords day a servant of his Fathers going out of the house upon an extraordinary occasion to fetch some Beer he took on so bitterly that he could scarce be pacified because that holy day was so abused as he judged in his fathers house 15. When he was betwixt six and seven years old it pleased God to afflict him with sore eyes which was no small exercise to him because it kept him from School which he loved as well as many boys do their play and that which was worse he was commanded by the Doctor not to read any Book whatsoever at home But O how was this poor Child grieved that he might not have liberty to read the holy Scriptures and for all their charge he would get by himself and stand by the windows and read the Bible and good Books yea he was so greedy of reading the Scripture and took so much delight in it that he would scarce allow himself sometimes time to dress himself for reading the Word of God was his great delight Yea though he hath been bear for studying so much yet judging it Gods command that he should give himself up to reading he could not be beat off from it till he was so bad that he had like never to have recovered his sight more 16. It was his practice to be much by himself in secret prayer and he was careful to manage that work so as that it might be as secret as possible it might be but his frequency and constancy made it to be so easily observed upon which one time one having a great mind to know what this sweet babe prayed for got into a place near him and heard him very earnestly praying for the Church of God desiring that the Kingdom of the Gospel might be spread over the whole world and that the kingdom of grace might more and more come into the hearts of Gods people and that the Kingdome of glory might be hastned He was wont to connue half an hour sometimes an hour upon his knees together 17. He was much above the vanities that most Children are taken with and was indeed too much a man to live long 18. He was very humble and modest and did by no means affect fineness in apparrel but hated any thing more than necessaries either in cloths or diet 19. When he perceived either his Brother or Sister pleased with their new clothes he would with a great deal of gravity reprove their folly and when his reproof signified little he would bewail their vanity 20. Once he had a new suit brought from the Tailors which when he looked on he found some ribbons at the knees at which he was grieved asking his Mother whether those things would keep him warm No Child said his Mother why then said he do you suffer them to be put here you are mistaken if you think such things please me and I doubt some that are better then us may want the money that this cost you to buy them bread 21. He would intreat his Mother to have a care of gratifying a proud humour in his Brother and Sisters he did tell them of the danger of pride and how little reason they had to be proud of that which was their shame for said he if it had not been for sin we should have had no need of cloaths 22. At leisure times he would be talking to his School-fellows about the things of God and urge the necessity of a holy Life that text he much spoke on to there the Axe is laid to the root of the tree and every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire Every Mothers Child of us that doth not bring forth the fruit of good works shall shortly be cut down with the axe of Gods wrath and cast into the fire of Hell and this he spake like one that believed and felt the power of what he spake
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.