the World c. found in God to feed upon especially upon the new Covenant in Christ's Blood and in the end he said God hath comforted me greatly with what hath been now spoke And going to rest chearfully intreated that company might not have recourse to him saying he would keep his strength now for the next day to enjoy the benefit of some Friends who intended Prayer in his Chamber and he had a good night On the twentieth he was comfortable in the morning and brake fast chearfully with his Father and a Friend returning thanks very graciously and then reverently attended in Prayer the most of that day being filled with the sence of the love of God and saying sometimes to his Mother fervently God loves me Mother and sometimes I love the Lord. But in the afternoon the Friends retired into another room that he might take rest but his little Sisters remaining in that room he called to the eldest of them being seven years old and said unto her Mary come hither have you got any good by being prayed for to day observing to her she had been particularly mentioned in prayer She answered I hope I have Said he Mary if you should dye now what do you think would become of you She said I do not know He replyed it is your great concern to follow God that so you may know with many other words inforcing it and it is observable that from that time she hath been serious so as never before and pondred his sayings in her heart At night his Father supped with him upon a small Bird and afterward he returned thanks a Physician coming in whilst he was speaking and looking in at the Beds feet with his hat on he enlarged his desires that God would strengthen him his poor creature that he might never be ashamed to confess him before men who-ever they were and desired his Parents might be helped to resign him up to God and that he might alwayes have refuge for rest unto Christ being earnest for Sion with sence of her low estate as he was almost in every prayer and that night he rested well Some Friends had thoughts on the advice Iam. 5. 14. compared with Mark 6. 13. wherewith his Father acquainted him and he desired time seriously to consider of it and the next day being the 21 of the ninth month he seemed yet more hopeful and then desired a dayes time longer to weigh it but being told a Friend that might be concerned about it would not be in Town after that day he then gave his thoughts by way of Query humbly Whether it should be administred when one was mending before being careful lest it should reflect on so solemn an Appointment for he felt himself now mending and therefore had the less clearness therein but if he grew worse he should have further thoughts of it And after he invited that Friend and his Father to Breakfast when he prayed and praised God to the great refreshment of their souls His Mother being gone down with his Father and he feeling some weakness desired then to rest but noise being made among the little ones to his disturbance and his Mother coming up heard him speak to the Maid and them with some trouble in these words The Word of the Lord saith To him that is in affliction pitty should be shewed by his Friends but you take the ready way to hurt me It is well for me I have such a tender Father and Mother or else it might be worse and complained a little of them to his Mother which he never did before and said his strength failed him but God would never fail him His Mother reproving the disturbers left him to rest which he did but awakening towards night exprest much admiration at the goodness of God to such an one as he and said his bodily strength was little he was upon the brink of the grave and his breath almost gone if he spake but a little but he knew if he should die he should be received into the Arms of the Lord. And after a little time grew pretty chearful and desiring to sit up in his bed called his Cousin and little Sisters about him who had partly occasioned the noise of his disturbance and with his own hand cut out some of his Jelly and gave unto them intending himself to sup with his Father but he being prevented of coming up to him he gave some of his small Bird also to them all and then spake to them when they had supped in these words O the sweetness of the Love of God did you experience it as I do you would esteem it more than all the pleasures you can enjoy And with vehemency to his Mother Servants Cousins and Sisters admiration said further O my dear Sisters I long to see you converted O the damned in Hell how would they improve it but it is too late O therefore whilst you have time before the evil day comes take hold of the Righteousness of Iesus Christ and make sure of the Love of God What will you do upon a sick bed without it O my dear Sisters my bowels yern for you I hope I am sure of the Love of God and if I dye this night I shall go to the Lord and be with him for ever O that you knew the sweetness of the Love of God as I do Christ will make you rare without compare And now I call to minde some of Mr. Chares Verses saith he whereof having many more in his memory he repeated to them these If comliness I want His Beauty I may have I shall be fair beyond compare Though cripled to my grave And if above it all To Christ I married be My living Springs O King of Kings Will still run fresh in thee His Mother then said And do you remember Child what he saith of young â—saacs Yea Mother said he and then â—urther repeated some of these concernâ—ng youth Young Isaacks who lift up their eyes And meditate in fields Young Jacobs who the Blessing prize This Age but seldom yeelds Few Samuels leaving youthful playes To Temple-work resign'd Few do as these in youthful dayes Their great Creator mind How precious Obadiahs be That feared God in youth How seldom Timothy's we see Vers'd in the Word of Truth Few Babes and Sucklings publish praise Th' Avengers rage to bind O then in these your youthful dayes Your great Creator mind Few tender-hearted Youths as was Josiah Iudahs King Hosannah in the high'st alas How seldom Children sing Youths rarely ask for Zions ways Th 'had rather pleasure find But O in these your youthful dayes Your great Creator mind What Children Pulse and Water choose Continually to eat Rather than Conscience should accuse For tasting Royal meat Should you not bow a King to please Though tortures were behind Oh then in these your youthful dayes Your great Creator mind Much more with affection
would be giving something to help which he perceiving earnestly said Oh pray Father do not give me any thing for indeed Father I cannot take any thing but it will stop my passage The Maid said he tryed and could get nothing down which he confirmed his Father being not able to refrain seeing his alteration in countenance and violent labour by cough gushed out into tears which the Child seeing cryed out also and looking towards him said earnestly with weeping Pray Father do not weep but pray for me I long to be with God and desiring again his Father might pray with him he applyed to it briefly in too much trouble the Child strove much to refrain coughing laid himself back a little looked up and seemed to joyn fervently his Mother being also then called came in quickly to whom he said looking upon her when even spent Farewel dear Mother now I am going and to a Friend coming in Farewell dear Sir and the flegm as it was thought coming up into his mouth but carried back again through the length and toughness thereof his Father contented with his Mother and the Friend 's talking comfortably unto him was in great care for him and unwilling to give the Oyl of Almonds and Syrups at hand through his aversness to it ran down for something inoffensive for his relief and coming up instantly saw him thrusting first his finger and then his whole hand into his mouth to catch the flegm and hearing or seeing his Father coming cryed quickly as if he expected to take something O Father what shall I do but immediately as his Father came to him lay back and looking up said God God endeavouring to have uttered more but without groan his breath failing as if choaked with flegm he seemed as by consent to yeeld up the Spirit leaving to the last a very living evidence of the most general change and lively turning to God wholly that his Parents have experienced whereof these fragments gathered from him at last are but a taste of the great Grace granted to him in all heavenly wisdom and knowledge who being dead yet speaketh to the great reproof of his Parents in their shortness to him and of him under so much longer profession and for more full improvement of him whose swift race towards his latter end is impartially set forth uprightly for the sake of Youth and elder than he that may not yet meet Death with his Comfort and Composure so considerately hoping one good end of the Lords removing him may be for the more safe setting forth this part of an account of him through grace to the provoking of many to turn to the Lord which was the greatest end of his desiring to live beseeching all wisely to consider it and duly ponder Eccles. 9. 10. What soever thy hand findeth to do do it with all thy might for there is no work nor device nor knowledge nor wisdom in the grave whither thou goest which was through God of great advantage to him By his near Relation An Acrostick CAll to my Burial my Aquaintance young And let them hear what Grace hath done for me Let them allured be by my sweet Song Eternal through Unchangeable Decree Because through Grace by Faith I am made free Vnto the highest praise of God on high Exalt the Prince of Peace in whom I rest Redeeming Mercy made my soul desie Not only Death but ev'ry other test Of my unfained Love at twelve years old No weakness wit nor fear could make it cold In proof whereof bare bones did sacrifice Vnto my Lord the way this world despise And had I liv'd Methusalem's long day Vnto Him should my Soul subjection pay Pro. 10. 7. The memory of the Just is blessed I. V. An Anagram CALEB VERNON Nue Noble Race A New and Noble Race he ran so fast That he o're-took the swiftest Saint at last He ran in earnest to the Refuge City And therein found escape defence pity And underneath the Everlasting Arms Which did support his Soul from fear of harms Indeed he ran as Caleb ran to find The promis'd Land when Isr'el lagg'd behind His Teachers wanted strength to keep him pace He out-ran Parents in his Noble Race As if the Angels had lent him a Wing To run with them in Love to Israels King Like the young Lad which Zechary sets forth With measuring-Line wherein did lie his worth In which the Angels ever do retain Their glory as their waiting doth remain Inviron'd in the Word and Will of God Which was indeed dear Caleb's choicest food And seeing he so follow'd his dear Master I would not faint although he ran much faster But for my Children and my Soul must weep That we instead of running so do creep In twelve dayes and an half from Iordans joy He did more than in twelve years ere did I. But grace perhaps did each day for a year Seal him a Pattent in return of Prayer For Life chiefly that Converts he might make And took him hence for the Election sake That safely this might be set forth of him And he not hazarded hereby to sin For few can bear his praise and few reproof But both I trust hereby shall now help Youth To their Conversion like to Caleb's then To this dispose of him I 'le add Amen But until then excuse me if I weep That yet I live and Caleb fell asleep For else I fear great evils yet to come And such remov'd that Iudgment may have room But may the Mouths of Babes Hosannahs fill The Enemy and th' Avenger must be still The Lord make Caleb's Cluster then in truth The first-fruits of his harvest amongst Youth And stir up Aged too to swifter pace By this Example in the Noble Race J. V. From a very dear Relation An Acrostick CAn Caleb stay when God will have him go Away to Caleb and himself also Loe he a Child yet Christian did become Er 't pleas'd his Father for to call him home But was no sooner new-born but he dies Unto the Lord a most sweet sacrifice E'ne unto him that made him twice to live Render he did what er'e he had to give Name Spirit Soul and Body though but poor Offerd up all What could a Prince do more Now to the Lord alone be praise therefore W. A. An Anagram CALEB VERNON An Noble Cure THou Lord on him hast wrought A Noble Cure From World Flesh Devil thus to set him free His Soul ful sweetly to thee to allure To make him happy to Eternity A Cure so Noble that it shall remain On days to come to praise of thy rich grace Who never undertook'st a Cure in vain Among the Seed of holy Jacob's Race Physician of great value Lord art thou And vertue also from thy Wings is found For healing sin-sick-souls none else knows how As thou of every desperate mortal wound Which to thy praise for ever shall redound W. A. From his own friend his Fathers friend
CALEB VERNON Anagram Bor'e unclean Nue clean Robe Through Adams nature I Unclean was bor'e Through Grace betimes Christs Nue clean Robe I wore BY Nature in my first estate A wretched Babe was I In open field deserving hate In blood and filth did lie And in that state I did delight As in my sport and play And therein would with all my might Have wallow'd night and day And though from gross enormities I might by men be clear'd Yet to my Maker's searching eyes Defil'd I all appear'd Though Nature with a pregnant wit And comliness adorn'd me And Education adds to it To teach restrain reform me What prov'd it but a feigned paint On much defiling sin It did not kill but lay restraint Where outrage would begin A pleasant picture to the eye I hereby might appear By which to close Idolatry Some might be drawn I fear But God that faithful he might be That deadly snare would break And that right early unto me His Grace and Peace might speak With tenderness on these intents He strips me of my Vail My costly Cov'rings all he rents My Countenance makes pale My Comliness to rot he turns My witty words to groans My moisture up with drought he burns Discloseth all my bones And in a day of publick ire Me these rebukes did meet When Pestilence as burning fire Slew thousands at his feet I who to blossom did begin With such fair paint before Now as the early fruit of sin This character I wore Despised Idol broke to earth A potsherd no way fit To take up fire out of the hearth Or water from the pit But though near corruptible dust This curious Frame was brought By gracious pleasure stay I must Till noble works were wrought Till deep convictions of my sin Till Jesus form'd in me Till as my portion I begin The Lord 's dear Christ to see Till all my sins were done away Till terrors made to cease Till heart and mind could sweetly stay In thought surpassing peace Nay till in an accepted day My homage I could bring And in his instituted way Devote me to the King Till Christ put on his Truths allow'd His dying marks imbrace His Cause confest his Works avow'd His Sufferings boldly face His Promises for a portion took Saints for companions chose And on him set a fixed look For future free dispose Since then in an unusual way Rich Grace hath thus array'd me And in my young yet dying day With glory overlaid me What properly could I desire But now dissolv'd to be And in this Marriage choice attire My Bridegrooms face to see In Kedar who would not bemoan If there he must reside Ah wretched man who would not groan In sinful flesh to bide Who ' ld lodg in such a nasty shade As torturing tottering stands That hath a Palace ready made Not with polluted hands Where sin temptation suffring strife shall fully be destroy'd All dying swallow'd up of life And God at full enjoyd What aile my Parents then to weep My friends to be dismayd Relations such a do to keep To see a Child unray'd It s filthy garments layd in dust It lay'd repose to take Until the morning when it must With Royal Robes awake May this a witness be to Truth In this backsliding day A Christal Mirrour unto Youth How to amend its way A. C. By an old and honorable Disciple of Christ in the same Congregation who dearly loved him and is since also himself fallen asleep in Jesus and in the Hope of the Resurrection to glory by him I Cannot I adorn thy Sable Hearse With any lofty straind Heroick Verse Nor blaze thy praise with Heraldry Divine This thou at chievd'st among the Saints betime And left'st thy Name an Odour sweet to those That with Christ Iesus and his Truth did close Thou likewise an Example wast to all That knew thee rightly were they great or small Christ gave thee grace by grace thou didst conceive A saving Faith by saving Faith didst live At twelve years old indeed thou couldst dispute And readily some learned ones confute A truly Calebs Spirit was thee given To follow Christ on Earth and into Heaven We now thy Heavenly glories may recite Oh that in us might be the joyes we write That what thou dost enjoy in full a taste Have here we may to stir us up to haste To be with thee that so from troubles here In bliss we may be plac'd where is no fear What lowder grief with such an Emphasis Struck through some Ears to hear what Corps is this What flocks of Saints were crowding oh what storms Rest in their looks Grief wandred through all Forms For thee dear Soul But seeing that the Loss Is only ours let us the grief ingross And fly to Christ with whom is all relief That by him stayd may be our flowing grief Now judge Spectators if you do believe Whether all those that knew him may not grieve Parents and Brother Sisters and Church Members For this great loss both sighs and sorrow tenders There 's cause enough yet friends be all content And make his Life and Death your President John Symonds Senior Prov. 23. 23 24 25. Buy the Truth and sell it not also Wisdom and Instruction and Understanding The father of the Righteous shal greatly rejoyce and he that begetteth a wise Child shall have joy of him Thy father and thy mother shall be glad and she that bare thee shall rejoyce To all that love the Lord Iesus in sincerity The Testimony of two or three Witnesses to the truth of the fore-going Treatise THis that now comes to your hand is a little part as a few fragments of that full table those were entertained with that had the blessing of being nigh that little one which is here presented to you the truth of which for the most part we can testifie having been eye and ear witnesses of these things What it is we truly desire it may be blest unto you to the ends designed by the Author of this little Book It being the main If not the only end why this little follower of God desired to live It may be the breathings from that heart that so much longed being converted to convert others may be of use though imparted at the second hand we have seen made good Pro. 14. 27. The fear of the Lord is a fountain of Life c. And He that believeth in me as the Scripture hath said out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water John 7. 31. Some of us have been much convinced by what we saw what bare conversions there are in the world and how far short of believing as the Scripture hath said most men and women are that leaves them so short of the Spirit hinted 1 Pet. 2. 7. We have been too much strangers to that Faith that worketh by love and puts us under Gospel-constraints To live to him that died for us and rose again God hath rebuked this Generation