much above the vanities of the world and took no pleasure at all in those things which usually take up the heart and time of young ones She would say that she was grieved and ashamed both for young and old to see how glad and mad they were upon vanity and how foolishly they spent their time 30. She was not forgetful of the care and love of her Master and Mistress which taught her to read and work but she desired that thanks might also be particularly given to them Indeed she thought she could never be thankful enough both to God and man for that kindness that she had experience of But again and again she desired to be sure to thank the Ministers that instructed her either by catechising or preaching 31. After some rest her Father askt her again how she did and began to express somewhat of that satisfaction and joy that he had taken in her former diligence in her reading the Scriptures and writing and her dutifulness and that great progress that she had made in the things of God upon which she humbly and sweetly desired to own God and his kindess in her godly education and said that she esteemed her holy education under such Parents and Ministers as a greater portion than ten thousand Gilders for thereby I have learned to comfort my self out of the Word of God which the World besides could never have afforded 32. Her Father perceiving her to grow very weak said I perceive Child thou art very weak It is true Sir said she I feel my weakness increaseth and I see your sorrow increasing too which is a piece of my affliction be content I pray you it is the Lord which doth it and let you and I say with David Let us fall into the Lords hands for his mercies are great 33. She laid a great charge upon her Parents not to be over-grieved for her after her death urging that of David upon them while the Child was sick he fasted and wept but when it died he washed his face and sat up and eat and said Can I bring him back again from death I shall go to him but he shall not return to me So ought you to say after my death our Child is well for we know it shall be well with them that trust in the Lord. She did lay a more particular and streight charge upon her mother saying to her dear mother who have done so much for me you must promise me one thing before I die and that is that you will not sorrow over-much for me I speak thus to you because I am afraid of your great affection consider others Losses what they have been Remember Job forget not what Christ foretold In the world you shall have tribulation but be of good cheer in me you shall have peace and must the Apostles suffer so great tribulation and must we suffer none Did not Jesus Christ my only Life and Saviour sweat drops of blood Was he not in a bitter agony mocked spit at nailed to the Cross and a Spear thrust thorow his blessed side and all this for my sake for my stinking sins sake did not he cry out my God my God why hast thou forsaken me Did not Christ hang naked upon the Cross to purchase for me the garments of salvation and to cloth me with his righteousness for there is Salvation in no other name 34. Being very feeble and weak she said O if I might quietly sleep in the bosome of Jesus and that till then he would strengthen me O that he would take me into his arms as he did those little ones where he said Suffer little children to come unto me for of such is the kingdom of heaven and he took them into his arms and laid his hands on them and blessed them I lie here as a child O Lord I am thy Child receive me into thy gracious arms O Lord grace grace and not justice for if thou shouldest enter into judgment with me I cannot stand yea none living should be just in thy sight 35. After this she cryed out O how faint am I but fearing least she should dishearten her mother she said while there is life there is hope If it should please the Lord to recover me how careful would I be to please you in my work and learning and whatsoever you should require of me 36. After this the Lord did again send her strength and she laboured to spend it all for Christ in the awakening edifying and comforting of those that were about her but her chiefest endeavour was to support her dear Parents from extraordinary sorrow and to comfort them out of the Scriptures telling them that she knew that all things did work together for the good of them that did love God even to those which are called according to his purpose O God establish me with thy free Spirit Who shall separate us from the love of Christ I am perswaded that neither life nor death nor angels nor Principalities nor powers nor things present nor things to come nor heighth nor depth nor any other creature shall separate us from the love of God which is towards us in Christ Jesus our Lord. My sheep saith Christ hear my voice and I know them and they follow me and I give unto them eternal life and they shall never perish and no man shall pluck them out of my hands My Father who gave them me is greater than all and none shall pull them out of my Fathers hands Thus she seemed to attain a holy confidence in God and an assurance of her state as to another world 37. When she had a little refreshed her self with rest she burst forth with abundance of joy and gladness of heart with a holy triumph of faith saying out Death is swallowed up of victory O death where is thy sting O grave where is thy victory the sting of death is sin and the strength of sin is the law but thanks be to God who hath given us the victory through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ 38. That she might the better support her friends she still insisted upon that which might take off some of their burden by urging the necessity of death We are from the earth and to the earth we must return is the mother of us all the dust shall Dust turn to dust from whence it is and the Spirit to God which gave it 39. The She discoursed of the shortness of mans life O what is the life of man the days of man upon the earth are as the grass and the flowers of the field so he flourisheth the wind passeth over it and it is no more and his place knows him no more 40. She further urged the sin and sorrow that did attend us in this life and the longer we live the more we sin now the Lord will free me from that sin and sorrow We know not the thoughts of God yet we do know so much that they are mercy
the Bible and getting of his Catechism 20. When other Children were playing he would many a time and oft be praying 21. One day a certain person was discoursing with him about the Nature Offices and Excellency of Christ and that he alone can satisfie for our sins and merit everlasting life for us and about other of the great Mysteries of Redemption he seemed savingly to understand them and was greatly delighted with the discourse 22. One speaking concerning the Resurrection of the Body he did acknowledg it but that the same weak body that was buried in the Church-yard should be raised again he thought very strange but with Admiration yielded that nothing was impossible to God and that very day he was taken sick unto death 23. A Friend of his asked him whether he were willing to dye when he was first taken sick he answered no because he was afraid of his state as to another world Why Child said the other thou didst pray for a new Heart for an humble and a sincere Heart and I have heard thee didst thou not pray with all thy heart I hope I did said he 24. Not long after the same person asked him again whether he were willing to die He answered now I am willing for I shall go to Christ 25. One asked him what should become of his Sister if he should die and leave her He answered the will of the Lord must be done 26. He still grew weaker and weaker but carried it with a great deal of sweetness and patience waiting for his change and at last did chearfully commit his Spirit unto the Lord and calling upon the Name of the Lord and saying Lord Jesus Lord Jesus In whose bosome he sweetly slept dying as I remember when he was about five or six years old EXAMPLE III. Of a little Girl that was wrought upon when she was between four and five years old with some account of her holy life and triumphant death 1. MAry A. When she was between four and five years old was greatly affected in hearing the word of God and became very solicitous about her Soul and everlasting condition weeping bitterly to think what would become of her in another World asking strange questions concerning God and Christ and her own soul so that this little Mary before she was full five years old seemed to mind the one thing needful and to choose the better part and sat at the feet of Christ many a time and oft with tears 2. She was wont to be much in secret duty and many times come off from her knees with tears 3. She would chuse such times and places for secret duty as might render her less observed by others and did endeavour what possibly she could to conceal what she was doing when she was engaged in secret duty 4. She was greatly afraid of hypocrisie and of doing any thing to be seen of men and to get commendation and praise and when she hath heard one of her Brothers saying that he had been by himself at prayer she rebuked him sharply and told him how little such prayers were like to profit him and that was little to his praise to pray like a hypocrite and to be glad that any should know what he had been doing 5. Her Mother being full of sorrow after the death of her Husband this Child came to her Mother and askt her why she wept so exceedingly her Mother answered she had cause enough to weep because her Father was dead No dear Mother said the Child you have no cause to weep so much for God is a good God still to you 6. She was a dear lover of faithful Ministers One time after she had been hearing of Mr. Whitaker she said I love that name dearly for the sweet words that he speaks concerning Christ 7. Her Book was her delight and what she did read she loved to make her own and cared not for passing over what she learned without extraordinary observations and understanding and many times she was so strangely affected in reading of the Scriptures that she would burst out into tears and would hardly be pacified so greatly was she taken with Christs sufferings the zeal of Gods Servant the danger of a natural state 8. She would complain oftentimes of the corruption of her nature of the hardness of her heart that she could repent no more thorowly and be no more humble and grieved for her sins against a good God and when she did thus complain it was with abundance of tears 9. She was greatly concerned for the souls of others and grieved to think of the miserable condition that they were in upon this account when she could handsomly she would be putting in some pretty sweet word for Christ but above all she would do what she could to draw the hearts of her brethren and sisters after Christ and there was no small hopes that her example and good counsel did prevail with some of them when they were very young to get into corners to pray to ask very gracious questions about the things of God 10. She was very conscientious in keeping the Sabbath spending the whole time either in reading or praying or learning her Catechism or teaching her Brethren and Sisters One time when she was left at home upon the Lords day she got some other little children together with her brothers and sisters and instead of playing as other naughty children use to do she told them that that was the Lords day and that they ought to remember that day to keep it holy and then she told them how it was to be spent in religious exercises all the day long except so much as was to be taken up in the works of necessity and mercy then she prayed with them her self and among other things begged that the Lord would give grace and wisdom to them little Children that they might know how to serve him as one of the little ones in the company with her told afterwards 11. She was a Child of a strange tenderness and Compassion to all full of Bowels and Pity whom she could not help she would be ready to weep over especially if she saw her Mother at any time troubled she would quickly make her sorrows her own and weep for her and with her 12. When her Mother had been somewhat solicitous about any worldly thing she would if she could possible put her off from her care one way or other One time she told her O Mother grace is better than that meaning something her Mother wanted I had rather have grace and the love of Christ than any thing in the world 13. This Child was often musing and busied in the thoughts of her everlasting Work witness that strange question O what are they doing which are already in Heaven And she seemed to be hugely desirous to be among them that were praising loving delighting in God and serving of him without sin Her language was so strange about spiritual matters that she made
much as that in a little one of the same age who since that time I hear went sweetly to Heaven Doth not the Reverend Mr. Clark in his Works quote a Child of two years old that looked towards Heaven Doth not credible History acquaint us with a Martyr at seven years old that was whipped almost to death and never shed one tear nor complained and at last had his Head struck off I do not speak of these as common matters but record them amongst those stupendious Acts of him that can as easily work Wonders as not What is too hard for the Almighty Hath God said he will work no more wonders I think most of Gods works in the business of Conversion call for Admiration And I believe that Silence or rather Praise would better become Saints than questioning the truth of such things especially where an apparent Injury is thereby done to the Interest of Christ the Honour of Gods Grace and the Reputation of so eminent a Saint I judge this sufficient to satisfie most as for others I trouble not my self if I may but promote the interest of Christ and the Good of Souls and give up my Account with joy it 's enough That the Lord would bless my endeavours to these ends I beg the prayers of all Saints and yours also sweet Children that fear the Lord and that Parents and Masters would assist me with their warm application of these things and that Children may be their Crown and their Joy is the Prayer of one that desires to love Christ and little children dearly James Janeway A TOKEN FOR CHILDREN The Second Part. Example VIII Of a Child that was very serious at four years old with an Account of his comfortable Death when he was twelve years and three weeks old 1. IOhn Sudlow was born of religious Parents in the County of Middlesex whose great care was to instill spiritual Principles into him as soon as he was capable of understanding of them whose Endeavours the Lord was pleased to crown with the desired success so that to use the expression of a holy man concerning him scarce more could be expected or desired from so little a one 2. When he was scarce able to speak plain he seemed to have a very great awe and reverence of God upon his spirit and a strange sense of the things of another world as might easily be perceived by those serious and admirable questions which he would be oft asking of those Christians that he thought he might be bold with 3. The first thing that did most affect him and made him endeavour to escape from the wrath to come and to enquire what he should do to be saved was the death of a little Brother when he saw him without breath and not able to speak or stir and then carried out of doors and put into a pit-hole he was greatly concerned and asked notable questions about him but that which was most affecting of himself and others was whether he must die too which being answered it made such a deep impression upon him that from that time forward he was exceeding serious and this was when he was about four years old 4. Now he is desirous to know what he might do that he might live in another world and what he must avoid that he might not die for ever and being instructed by his godly Parents he soon labours to avoid whatsoever might displease God now tell him that any thing was sinful and that God would not have him do it and he is easily kept from it and even at this time of day the apprehensions of God and Death and Eternity laid such a restraint upon him that he would not for a world have told a Lie 5. He quickly learned to read exactly and took such Pleasure in reading of the Scriptures and his Catechism and other good Books that it is scarce to be parallel'd he would naturally run to his Book without bidding when he came home from School and while other children of his age and acquaintance were playing he reckon'd it his Recreation to be doing that which was good 6. When he was in coats he would be still asking his maid serious questions and praying her to teach him his Catechism or Scriptures or some good thing common Discourse he took no delight in but did most eagerly desire to be sucking in of the knowledge of the things of God Christ his Soul and another world 7. He was hugely taken with the reading of the Book of Martyrs and would be ready to leave his Dinner to go to his Book 8. He was exceeding careful of redeeming and improving of time scarce a moment of it but he would give an excellent account of the expence of it so that this Child might have taught elder persons and will questionless condemn their idle and unaccountable wasting of those precious hours in which they should as this sweet Child have been laying in provision for Eternity 9. He could not endure to read any thing over slightly but whatsoever he read he dwelt upon it laboured to understand it throughly and remember it and what he could not understand he would oft ask his Father or Mother the meaning of 10. When any Christian friends have been discoursing with his Father if they began to talk any thing about Religion to be sure they should have his company and of his own accord he would leave all to hear any thing of Christ and creep as close to them as he could and listen as affectionately though it were for an hour or two He was scarce ever known to express the least token of weariness while he was hearing any thing that was good and sometimes when neighbours children would come and call him out and entice him and beg of him to go with them he could by no means be perswaded though he might have had the leave of his Parents if he had any hopes that any good body would come in to his fathers house 11. He was very modest whilest any stranger was present and was loth to ask them any questions but as soon as they were gone he would let his father know that there was little said or done but he observed it and would reflect upon what was past in their discourse and desire satisfaction in what he could not understand at present 12. He was a Boy of almost prodigious parts for his age as will appear by his solid and rational questions I shall mention but two of many 13. The first was this when he was reading by himself in Draiton's Poems about Noah's Flood and the Ark he askt who built the Ark it being answered that it was likely that Noah hired men to help him to build it And would they said he build an Ark to save another and not go into it themselves 14. Another question he put was this Whether had the greater glory Saints or Angels It being answered that Angels were the most excellent of Creatures and it s to
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
old man and putting it off and of the new man and putting that on which shewed that she was no stranger to conversion and that she in some measure understood what Mortification Self-denial and taking up of her Cross and following of Christ meant That Scripture was much in her mouth The sacrifices of God are a contrite heart a broken and a contrite spirit O God thou wilt not despise That brokenness of heart said she which is built upon and flows from faith and that faith which is built upon Christ who is the proper and alone Sacrifice for Sin These are her own words 19. Afterwards she desired to rest and when she had slumbred a while she said O dear father and Mother how weak do I feel my self My dear Child said her father God will in his tender mercy strengthen thee in thy weakness Yea father said she that is my confidence For it is said The bruised reed he will not break and the smoking flax he will not quench 20. Then she discoursed excellently of the nature of Faith and desired that the eleventh of the Hebrews should be read unto her at the reading of which she cryed out O what a stedfast loyal faith was that of Abraham which made him willing to offer up his own and only Son Faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen 21. Her Father and Mother hearing her excellent discourse and seeing her admirable carriage burst out into abundance of tears upon which she pleaded with them to be patient and content with the hand of God O said she why do you weep at this rate over me seeing I hope you have no reason to question but if the Lord take me out of this miserable world it shall be well with me to all eternity You ought to be well satisfied seeing it is said God is in heaven and doth whatsoever pleaseth him and do you not pray every day that the Will of God may be done upon earth as it is in heaven Now farther this is Gods will that I should lie upon this sick bed and of this disease shall we not be content when our Prayers are answered Would not your extreme sorrow be murmuring against God without whose good pleasure nothing comes to pass Although I am struck with this sad disease yet because it is the will of God that doth silence me and I will as long as I live pray that Gods will may be done and not mine 22. Seeing her Parents still very much moved she further argued with them from the Providence of God which had a special hand in every common thing much more in the disposal of the lives of men and women Are not two Sparrows sold for a farthing and not one of them falls to the ground without our heavenly Father Yea the hairs of our head are all numbred therefore fear not you are of more value than many Sparrows Adversity and Prosperity they are both good Some things seem evil in our eyes but the Lord turns all to the good of them which are his 23. She came then to speak particularly concerning the Plague Doth not said she the Pestilence come from God why else doth the Scripture say shall there be evil in the City which I have not sent What do those people mean which say the Pestilence comes from the Air Is not the Lord the Creator and Ruler of the Air and are not the Elements under his Government Or if they say it comes from the Earth hath he not the same power and influence upon that too What talk they of a Ship that came from Africa have we not read long ago together out of Lev. 26.25 I shall bring a sword upon you and avenge the quarrel of my covenant and when you are assembled in the Cities then will I bring the pestilence in the midst of you 24. After this having taken some little rest she said O now is the day for the opening of the first question of the Catechism and if we were there we should hear that whether in death or life a Believer is Christs who hath redeemed us by his own precious blood from the power of the Devil and then she quoted Rom. 14.7 8. For none of us liveth unto himself and none of us dieth to himself For whether we live we live unto the Lord and whether we die we die unto the Lord whether then we live or die we are the Lords Then be comforted for whether I live or die I am the Lords O why do you afflict your selves thus but what shall I say with weeping I came into the world and with weeping I must go out again O my dear Parents better is the day of my death than the day of my birth 25. When she had thus encouraged her Father and Mother she desired her Father to pray with her and to request of the Lord that she might have a quiet and peaceable passage into another world 26. After her father had prayed for her he asked her whether he should send for the Physician she answered by no means for I am now beyond the help of Doctors But said he my Child we are to use the ordinary means appointed by the Lord for our help as long as we live and let the Lord do as seemeth good in his eyes But said she give me the heavenly Physician he is the only helper doth not he say Come unto me ye that are weary and heavy laden and I will give ye rest and doth not he bid us call upon him in the day of distress and he will deliver us and we shall glorifie him Therefore dear father call upon him yet again for me 27. About this time a Christian friend came in to visit her who was not a little comforted when he heard and saw so much of the grace of God living in a poor young thing which could not but so far affect him as to draw tears of joy and admiration from him and her deportment was so teaching that he could not but acknowledg himself greatly edifi'd and improv'd by her carriage and language 28. That which was not the least observable in her was the ardent affection she had for the holy Scriptures and her Catechism in which she was throughly instructed by the godly Divines of the place where she lived which she could not but own as one of the greatest mercies next the Lord Christ O how did she bless God for her Catechism and beg of her Father to go particularly to those Ministers that had taken so much pains with her to instruct her in her Catechism and to thank them from her a dying Child for their good instructions and to let them understand for their encouragement to go on in that work of Catechising how refreshing those truths were now to her in the hour of her distress O that sweet catechising said she unto which I did always resort with gladness and attended without weariness 29. She was
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