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 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
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
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
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
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
honest and as to man harmless but was little acquainted with the power of Religion till this sweet Child put him upon a thorow inquiry into the state of his Soul and would still be begging of him and pleading with him to redeem his time and to act with life and vigor in the things of God which was no small demonstration to him of the reality of invisibles that a very Babe and suckling should speak so feelingly about the things of God and be so greatly concerned not only about her own soul but about her Fathers too which was the occasion of his conversion and the very thought of it was a quickning to him for thirty years and he hopes never to wear off the Impressions of it from his spirit 6. After this she as I remember put her Father upon Family duties and if at any time he were for any time out of his shop she would find him out and with much sweetness and humility beg of him to come home and to remember the pretiousness of time for which we must all give an account 7. She was grieved if she saw any that conversed with her father if they were unprofitable unsavoury or long in their discourse of common things 8. Her own Language was the Language of Canaan how solidly profitably and spiritually would she talk so that she made good people take great delight in her company and justly drew the admiration of all that knew her 9. She could not endure the company of common children nor play but was quite above all those things which most Children are taken with her business was to be reading praying discoursing about the things of God and any kind of business that her age and strength was capable of idle she would not be by any means 10. It was the greatest Recreation to her to hear any good people talking about God Christ their Souls the Scriptures or any thing that concerned another life 11. She had a strange contempt of the World and scorned those things which most are too much pleased with She could not be brought to wear any Laces or any thing that she thought superfluous 12. She would be complaining to her parents if she saw any thing in them that she judged would not be for the honour of Religion or suitable to that condition which the providence of God had set them in in the world 13. This Child was the joy and delight of all the Christians thereabouts in those times who was still quickning and raising of the spirits of those that talked with her This poor Babe was a great help to both Father and mother and her memory is sweet to this day 14. She continued thus to walk as a stranger in the world and one that was making hast to a better place And after she had done a great deal of work for God and her own soul and others too she was called home to rest and received into the arms of Jesus before she was ten years old she departed about 1640. Example X. Of a Child that was awakened when she was between seven and eight years old with some account of her last hours and triumphant Death 1. TAbitha Alder was the Daughter of a holy and Reverend Minister in Kent who lived near Gravesend She was much instructed in the holy Scriptures and her Catechism by her Father and Mother but there appeared nothing extraordinary in her till she was between seven and eight years old 2. About which time when she was sick one asked her what she thought would become of her if she should die She answered that she was greatly afraid that she should go to hell 3. Being askt why she was afraid she should go to hell She answered because she feared that she did not love God 4. Again being askt how she did know she did not love God she replyed what have I done for God ever since I was born and besides this I have been taught that he that loves God keeps his commandments but I have kept none of them all 5. Being further demanded if she would not fain love God She answered yes with all her heart if she could but she found it a hard thing to love one she did not see 6. She was advised to beg of God a heart to love him She answered she was afraid it was too late 7. Being asked again whether she was not sorry that she could not love God She answered yes but was still afraid it was too late 8. Upon this seeing her in such a desponding condition a dear friend of hers spent the next day in Fasting and prayer for her 9. After this that Christian friend askt her how she did now She answered with a great deal of joy that now she blessed the Lord she loved the Lord Jesus dearly she felt she did love him O said she I love him dearly 10. Why saith her friend did you not say yesterday that you did not love the Lord and that you could not What did you mean to speak so strangely Sure said she it was Satan that did put it into my mind But now I love him O blessed be God for the Lord Jesus Christ 11. After this she had a discovery of her approaching Dissolution which was no small comfort to her Anon said she with a holy Triumph I shall be with Jesus I am married to him he is my husband I am his Bride I have given my self to him and he hath given himself to me and I shall live with him for ever 12. This strange language made the hearers even stand astonished but thus she continued for some little time in a kind of extafie of joy admiring the excellency of Christ rejoycing in her interest in him and longing to be with him 13. After a while some of her friends standing by her observed a more than ordinary earnestness and fixedness in her countenance they said one to another look how earnestly she looks sure she seeth something 14. One asked what it was she fixed her eyes upon so eagerly I warrant saith one that was by she seeth death a coming 15. No said she it is glory that I see 't is that I fix mine eye upon 16. One askt her what was glory like She answered I can't speak what but I am going to it will you go with me I am going to glory O that all of you were to go with me to that glory with which words her Soul took wing and went to the possession of that glory which she had some believing fight of before She died when she was between 8 and 9 years old about 1644. Example XI Of a Child that was greatly affected with the things of God when she was very young with an exact Account of her admirable Carriage upon her Death bed 1. Susanna Bicks was born at Leiden in Holland Jan. 24. 1650. of very religious Parents whose great care was to instruct and catechise this their Child and to present her to the
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
and peace and to give an expected end But what shall I say my life shall not continue long I feel much weakness O Lord look upon me graciously have pitie upon my weak distressed heart I am oppressed undertake for me that I may stand fast and overcome 41. She was very frequent in spiritual ejaculations and it was no small comfort to her that the Lord Christ did pray for her and promise to send his spirit to comfort her It 's said said she I will pray the Father and he shall give you another comforter O let not him leave me O Lord continue with me till my battel and work be finished 42. She had very low and undervaluing thoughts of her self and her own reighteousness what meant she else to cry out in such language as that None but Christ without thee I can do nothing Christ is the true vine O let me be a branch of that vine What poor worms are we O dear Father how lame and halting do we go in the wayes of God and Salvation We know but in part but when that which is perfect is come then that which is imperfct shall be done away O that I had attained to that now But what are we of our selves not only weakness and nothingness but wickedness For all the thoughts and imaginations of mans heart are only evil and that continually we are by nature children of wrath and are conceived and born in sin and unrighteousness Oh! Oh! this wretched and vile thing Sin but thanks be to God who hath redeemed me fromit 43. She comforted her self and her Father in that great Scripture Rom. 8.15 16 17. Ye have not received the Spirit of bondage again to fear but ye have received the spirit of adoption by which ye cry Abba father It is the spirit that witneseth with our spirits that we are the children of God and if Children then are we heirs heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ. You see thence father that I shall be a fellow heir with Christ who hath said In my fathers house are many mansions if it were not so I would have told you I go to prepare a place for you and if I go to prepare a place for you I will come again and take you to my self that where I am there ye may be also O Lord take me to thy self Behold dear Mother he hath prepared a place and dwelling for me 44. Yea my dear child said her mother he shall strengthen you with his holy Spirit untill he hath fitted and prepared you fully for that place which he hath prepared for you 45. Yea Mother it is said in the 84. Psalm How lovely are thy Tabernacles O Lord of Hosts my soul doth thirst and longeth for the Courts of the Lord One day in thy Courts is better than a thousand yea I had rather be a Door keeper in the house of God than dwell in the tents of the wicked Read that Psalm dear Mother therewith we may comfort one another As for me I am more and more spent and draw near my last hour 46. Then she desired to be pray'd with and begged that the Lord would give her an easie passage 47. After this she turned to her mother and with much affection she said Ah my dear and loving Mother that which cometh from the heart doth ordinarily go to the heart once more come and kiss me before I leave you 48. She was not a little concerned about the souls of the rest of her relations and did particularly charge it upon her father to do what he could possibly to bring them up in the ways of God O let my sister be trained up in the Scriptures and Catechising as I have been 49. I formerly wept for my Sister thinking that she should die before me and now she weepeth for me and then she kissed her weeping Sister Also she took her young little Sister in her arms a Child of six months old and she kissed it with much affection as if her very bowels had moved within her and spoke with many heart-breaking words both to her Parents and the children 50. Her Father spake to one that was by to take the poor little Child away from her from the hazard of that fiery distemper and bid his daughter to give her from her for he had already too much to bear Well Father said she did not God preserve the three Children in the fiery furnace and did not you teach me that Scripture When thou passest thorow the Fire thou shalt not be burnt neither shall the flame kindle upon thee 51. She had a very strong Faith in the doctrine of the Resurrection and did greatly solace her Soul with excellent Scriptures which do speak the happy state of Believers as soon as their Souls are separated from their Bodies and what she quoted out of the Scripture she did excellently and suitably apply to her own use incomparably above the common reach of her sex and age That in 1. Cor. 15.42 was a great support to her The body is sown in corruption but it shall be raised incorruptible it is sown in dishonour it shall be raised in glory it is sown in weakness but it shall be raised in power And then she sweetly applies it and takes in this cordial Behold thus it is and thus it shall be with my poor mortal flesh Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord because they rest from their labours and their works do follow them The righteous perish and no man layeth it to heart and the upright are taken away and no man regardeth it that they are taken away from the evil to come they shall enter into peace they shall rest in their beds every one who walked in their uprightness Behold now Father I shall rest and sleep in that Bedchamber 52. Then she quoted Job 19.25 26 27. I know that my Redeemer liveth and that he shall stand at the latter end upon the earth and though after my skin worms destroy this body yet in my flesh shall I see God whom I shall see for my self and my eyes shall behold and net another though my reins be consumed within me Behold now Father this very skin which you see and this very flesh which you see shall be raised up again and these very eyes which now are so dim shall on that day see and behold my dear and precious Redeemer albeit the worms eat up my flesh yet with these eyes shall I behold God even I my self and not another for me 53. Then she quoted Joh. 5.28 Marvel not at this for the hour is coming in which all that are in their graves shall hear his voice and come forth those who have done good unto the Resurrection of Life See Father I shall rise in that day and then I shall behold my Redeemer then shall he say Come ye blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdom prepared for you before the beginning of the world 54. Behold now I live