CHILDREN S BOOK COLLECTION
LIBRARY OF THE
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
LOS ANGELES
\ci
v
, />
TO K E N
FOR
CHILDREN:
BEING
An exaft Account of the Conversion, holy and exemplary Lives, and joyful Deachs of fevcral YOUN& CHILDREN.
JAMES JA
Minifter of tfee Gofpef.
fo which is
! A TOKEN for the CHILDREN bf
NE fr- EN GLAND.
O R,
Examples of C H I LD R EN, in whom
(he Fear of GOD was remarkably baddiog before they died ; in feveral Parts ^f Nt-w- England.
Preferved and f-'bli(hed for th'e "Encouragement Q^ PIETY in other Children.
With New additions.
B OS T 0 A', in &E W '- E NC L 4ND : Printed .. and ic !d by THOMAS and JOHN
at rhe BIBLE ad HFART, in CornhfJl, 1781.
To all Parents, School- Mafters anc School-iViiftrefTes, or any who have anj Hand in the Education of Children.
Dear Friends,
1HAVE oft thought thatChrlft 'peaks to you, zs Pharoah's ca'jjrh'fl- 61 to Mofes's mother, Take this Child and nurfc it for me. O Sir«, con fider what a precious Jewel is committed to your charge, what an acvtfi tage you have ta fa •* your love to Chtift.to ftock the next g*ner»tien wit] Noble Plants, and what a jo>ful account you may make if you be faithful Remember, Souls, Chrift aid Gme Cdmiu-i be overvalued, 1 confefs yott.hs* fome advantages, but let that only excire your diligence j the falvaticn ( Souls, the ccmmsndation of your Mafter, the greatnefs of ycur rewaid ac everlafting Glory, will pay for a!!. Remember the Devi) i« at woik hart! vricked ones are iniluflrious, and corrupt nature is a rugged, knotty piece t hew. Bi»t be not d.icouragcd, I arh almoft as much afraid of your laz'r.e: and unfaithfuinefs as any thing. r>o but fall to work luftiiy ar.d who know but that rough ftcnc may prove a Pi lar .n the Temple of God ? In the Nam of the living God, a* you will a-if*er it fhortly at his Bar, I ccmman you to be faith f'uJ in inftrucling aod catechizing your young one* j i»" >" th.nk I am to: pcfemp^o;y,J pray read ;he c mmand frcmmj Mailer himie. Deur. vi.y. It not the duty clear .' and tiire you neglect lo direct a Comma d Arc the S^uU of your Children of no v.ilue ? Are you willing that the /hculd be brands of Hell ? Are you indifferent whether they be Damned o Saved ? /h^'l the Devil run away with- them without controul ? will not yo tile your utmoft eodearour to drliver th*m from the wrath to ccme ? Yb fee that th«y are not fov.j?cls ur.ca;.able of the grace of God 5 whatever yo thi&k of them. Chrift doth not fi-^':t tlicm } they are ;jor too little to di< they are not too little to go to Hell, they are not too little to ferve the great Mailer, too litt e co s-o to Heaven j for of fuch is the Kingdom* Gcd : And will not a potfib-lity of their Converfion and Saivation, pi you upon the greafft diligence Co te*ch th<?m ? Or are Chrnt and Keavcr and Salvation, fruall th;nei with y»u ? If they be, then indeed I ha? done with yr.u ? Bur if they be not, I bsi'eech you lay about you *ith a! your might ; toe Devil knows your urn: is going apace, it v/ii! fhorrly I too late. O therefore what you do, do quickly, aad do it, I fay, w;th a your m g!v j O r>rav, ?ray, pray, and live ho'y before thsn:; o';j '.ake f-.in tim.- daily to f^ak i little to your Children, one by oar, about their miler; ble CondUioaby nature. I knew a Ciuld that was converted by this fen enc
fiofe
To Parents and Teachers, &c.
•om a godly School- Miftrefi in the Country, Every Mother's Child of ycu re by Nature Children of Wratb. Put your Children upon learning their :aiechirm, and the Scriptures, and getting to pray and weep by tbemfelves fter Chrift : Take heed of their company j take heed of pardoning! a Tie ; ake heed of letting th«m miff end the Sabbath, put th^m I befeech you, «p- n imitating thefe fweet Children j Jet them read this Book over »n hundred mr?, and obferve how they are affVfted, and aflc them what they think f thole Children, and whether they would not be foch ? and follow what ou do with earncil cries to G >d, and be in travail to fee Chrift formed i their Souls. I have prayed for you I have oft prayed for your ChiU ten, and I love them demy ; and I have prayed over thefe paper/ j th& 5od would ftnfce in with th?m, and make them effectual to the good of their ou's. Eacourage your Children to read this Book and lead them to improve • What is prefented, is faithfully taken from experienced folid Chrif- ians, fome of them no way related to the Children, v ho themfelves were Lye and Ear witnsfTes, of God's works of Wonderr & from my own knowledge,, r from Reverend G >dly Minifters, ajid frosn perfons that are of unfpotted eouunon, for Hblmefs, Integrity and Wifdom : and fevcral paffages ar* aken verbatim in writing from their dying Lipj, I miy add many other sfxceMent Examplei, if I have any encouragement in this Place, That ;the Young Generation may be far more excellent than this, is the Prejer of one that dearly loves little Children,
J anew ay »
The
The PREFACE,
Containing Directions to CHILDREN.
yOU may now hear (my dear Lambs) what other goo4 Children have done, and remember how they v. ept and prayed by themfelves ; how earneftjy they cried out tor an Intereft in the Lord Jefus Chrift : May YOU not read how dutiful they were to their Parents ? how diligent at their Books : how ready to learri the Scriptures and their Catechifms ? Can you forget what Queftions they were wont to afk ? How much they feared a lye, how muchthey abhorred r.aughty company, how hoiy.they lived, how dearly they were loved, how joyfntly they'died ?
But tell me, my dear Children and tell me tiuly. Do you do as thefe Children did: Did you ever fee your niiferabieilate by Nature ? Did you ever get by your felf and weep for Sin, and pray for grarw £nd pardon : Did you ever go to your Fa- ther or Mother^ M after or Miilrefs, and beg of them to pity vou. and pray for you, and to teach you what you (hall do to be faved r what you Ihail do to get to Chrift, Heaven and Glory ? Doft thou lo-. esto be taught good things ? Come tell me truly, dear Child, for I would fain do what I can poffibly to keep you from falling into everlafting Fire. I would fain have thee one of thofe little ones", which hrift will take into his arms and blefs How dofl thou fpend thy time? is ir in play and Idlenefs, and with wicked children ? Dare ycu take God's Name ia vain, fwear-tir tell a iye ? Dare you to do any thing which your Parents forbid you, and neglect to do what they command you? Do you dare run up and down on the Lord's-day? or do you k'-^ep in to read your Book, and to karn what your Parents command 'you ? what do you fay, Child ? Which of thefe two forts are you of ? Let me talk 3 \vith you, and alk you a few Queflions.
i. Were. "
. fh P R E P A C E. "
1. Were not thefe Children fweet 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 £r ife them ? What do you think is become of them, now they >ire dead and gone ? Why, they are gone to Heaven, and arc finging Hallelujahs with the Ar.gels ; they fee glorious things, and have nothing but joj and nle'afure, they fhall never fin any more, they fhaU never be beat any more, they ihaU ne-er be fick, or in pain any more.
2. And would not you have your Fathers love, your Mo- thers commendation ; your Mailer's good word ? Would not you have God and Chrift love you, and would not you fait) goto Heaven when you die ; and live with your godly Parents in Glory, and be happy forever ?
3. Whither do you think thofe Children go when ih-sy die, that will not do what they are bid, but play the Turinr, and fpeak naughty words, and break the Sabbath ? whither do fuch Children qo do you think ? Why, I will tell you, they who lie,muft go to their Father the D.evil, into everfaitbg burning; they who never pray, God will pour out his w/ath upon them; «nd when they beg and pray in Hell Fire, God will not forgive them; but there they muir, lie forever.
4. And are you willing to goto Hell to be burned with the Devil and his Angels ; Would you be in the fame condi- tion as naughty Children ? O Hell is a terrible place, that's worfe a'tfioufand times than whipping, G(»dV anger is worfe than your Father's anger ; and are you willing to anger God ? .O Child, this is moft' certainly true that all thm be wicked, and die fo, mult be turned into Heil; and if any one be once there, there is no coming out again.'
5. Would you not doany thing in theWorld rather than be thrown into Hell Fire ? Would you not do any thing in the world to get Chrift, and Grace, and Glory. '
6. Well now whirt will you do ? will you read this book a litt'e, becaufe your good Mother will make \ ou do it, and becaufe it is a little new book, bur as foon 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 <"»r this book ? Have you fhed ever a tear lines you began
reading j"
*
iti 7b* PREFACE.
reading ? have you been by yourfeif upon your knees ; and *)egg'ng tj™t Gad would make you like thefe blefled Chil- dren ? Or are you as you ufe to to be, as carelefs and foolifh and difobedient and wicked as ever ?
8. Did you never heir of a little Child that died ? and if other Children die, why may not you be (kk and die ? A'nd xv hat will you do then, Juld, if you (hould haVe no grace in your heart, and be found like other naughty Children ?
9 How do you know but you ony be the next Child that may ciie? .and \yhere are you then, if you be not God's Child?
i o. ^ ilt thou tarry any longer, my dear Child, before thou run into thy Chamber^ ami beg of God to give thee a Chrift for thy v,oul. that thou mayeft not b« undone forever ? Wile <*et prefently into a corner to weep and pray ? Methinks I fee '-hat pretty Larnb begin to weep, and think of getting by himfelf, and will as well as he can cry unto the Lord, to make him one of thofe little ones that go into the Kingdom of Heaven : Methinks there ftands a fweet. Child; and there ano- ther, that are refolved for Chrift, and for Heaven : Me^hinks that little Boy looks as if he had a mind to learn good things : Methinks I hear one'fay, Wei!, I will never tell a lie more; I will never keep any n-aahty Hoys company more; they will learn me to i wear, and to fpeak naught • words ; they do not Jove God. I'll learn my Catechifm, and get my Mother to teach ue to pray, and I will go and weep and cry to Chrift, and will not be quiet till the Lord hath given me Grace.
0 that's my brave Child indeed !
i f. But \vill you not quickly forget yourpromife ? are you refolvcd by the Strength of Chrift to be a goad Child? Are you indeed ? nay but ar~ you indeed ? Confider, dear Child, God calls you toTemember your Creator in the days of your youth ;?.nd he takes it kindly when litde ones come to him, and loves them dearly ; and godly people, efpecially Parents and MafterS and Miftrefles, they have no greater joy, than EO fee their Children walk in the way of truth.
Now tell me my pretty dear Child, what will you do ? fhall
1 rmke you a Book ? fhall I pray for you, and intreat you? (hall your good Mother weep over you ? And will not you make *}* gUd by your turning quickly to the Lord I Shall Chrift
<Tbe P R E F A C E. iv
tell you that he will love you ? And will not you love him ? Will you ftilve to be like 'thole Children? I am perfwaded that God intends to do good to the Souls of fome little Chil- dren by thefe papers, becaufe he hath laid it fo much upon my heart to pray for them and over thefe papers, and through mercy I luve already experienc'd that fomething of this nature hath not been in vain, i (hall give a word of direction, and fo leave you.
1. Take heed of what you know is naught ;as lying, O that is agrevious fault indeed, and naughty woids, and taking the Lord's name in vain,and playing upon the Lord's day,and keep- ing bud company, and playing with ungodly Children : But if you go to School with fuch tell them that God will not love them, but that the Devil will have them, if they continue to be fo panght.
2. Do what your Father and Mother bid you chear&Hy ; and take heed of doing any thing that, they forbid you.
3. He diligent in reading the Scripture, and learning ycvr Catechifnv; and what you do not understand, to be fure alk the meaning of.
4.. Think a little fometimes by yourfelf about God and Heaven, your Soul, and what Chi ill came iuto the world for,
5. And if you have no great mind to do thus, but had ra- thet be at phy, then think, \vhat is it that makes me not care for good things ; is this like one of God's dear Children ? I am afraid 1 am none of God's Child, I ftcl, I do not love to come unto him : O ! What (hall I do ? Either I will be God's Child or the Devil's ; O what (hall I do ? I would not be the Devil's Child for any thing in die World.
6. Then goto your Father or Mother, or fo me good Body, and sfk them what thou (halt do to be Gcd's Child ; and tell ihem that thou art at i aid, ar d that thou canlt not be con- tent eJ, liil thod Tia'ft got the love of Goi!.
7. Gil by thyfdf, into the Chamber or Garret, and fall
• y knees, and weep and mourn, and tell Chrift thou
hat he doth not love thee, but thou would fain
i; beg of him to give thee his Grace and pardon
, iins, and that he Avould make thee his Child. Tell
.iou doit not cure who don't love tl.ee, if God will but
love
fbt PREPUCE.
lore thse : Say to him, Father, haft thou not a hie/ing for vis thy poor Child ( bather haft tbeu not a bltjjing for me,. cv*nfor me ? 0 give me a Chrtft i 0 give rue a Chrtft ! 0 let me not bt undent forever I Thus beg as for your lives, aftd be not contented til! you have an anfwer ; and do thus every day, with as much earneflnefs as you can twice a day at lead.
8. Giveyomfeif up to Chriit: Say, Dear jefus,thou didft bid that little Children mo^ld be fnfFered to come unto thee; and Lord, I am come as v/tlJ *s I c.m ; I would fain be thy Child ; t«ke my Heart aryt make if humble and meek, and fer.fible apd cbediert; I give myfelf unto thee, dear Jefus, do what thou wilt with me, fj that thou wilt but>love me, and give me thy Gr^ce and Glory
9. Get acquainted with Godfy People, and afk them good queltions. and endeavour to love 'heir talk.
.io. Labour fo get adearlnve forChrifl ; read the Hiftory of C'hrilVs lufteringJ: and alk the reafon of his fufFerings, and never be c mtent till you Tee your need of Chriil, and the exce'lency and ufe of Chriic.
1 1. Hear the moil powerful Minifters ; and read the mod fearchlng books, ai.d get your Father u> buy you Mr. White's Book for little Children, and, A. Guide t6 Heaven.
12. Refolve to continue in welldoing all your days ; then thou fhalt be one of thofe fv/-et iiutle ones that 'Ch'riit v ill take into hi$ arms, and blefa, and give Jt Kingdom, Crown and Glory to. And now, deru Children, I have done, 1 have Written to you, I ruve prayed for you ; but what you will dp I can't tell. O Children, if you love me, if you love your Patents, if you love vouf Souls, if you would efc-tpe Hell Fire, and if you would live in Heaven when yon die, do you go and do as thefe good Children ; and fhat be you* Parents joy, your Country's honour, an-j live in God s f-.Ar, and die io bis lovs, is thevrr?yer of ycur dear Friend,
James
A
( 1 )
A
Token for CHILDREN.
EXAMPLE I.
Of one eminently converted between tight and nint Yean tld^ •with an Account of her Life and Death,
ISS Sarah Hawley, when fhe was between eight ••-.7 ^ and nine Years old, was carried by her Friends M >J I to hear a Sermon, where the Minifter preached ;<X;$ J uP°n Mat. x*- 3°' My Yoke it eafy> and my «*.-<•>-"»• •••"»>- 4 Pftrdcn it light. In applying of which Scrip- ture, this Child was mightily awakened, and made deeply ijpnuble of the Condition of her Soul, and her need of a Chrifta ,fhe wept bitterly to thijik what a Cafe fhe was in ; and went Home, and got by herfelf into a Chamber ; and upon her Knees me wept and cry'd to the Lord, as well as fhe could* which might eafily be perceived by her Eyes and Countenance*
2. She was not contented with this, but fhe got her little Brother and Sifter into a Chamber with her, and told them of their Condition by Nature, and wept over them and prayed with them and for them,
3. After this fhe heard another Sermon from Prov. XXix i. He that being often reproved, hardneth his Heart, mail fudienly be dellroyed, and iftat without Remedy : At which (he was more uffecled than before, and was fo cxceediog foiicitous about her Soul, that fhe fpent a great Part of the Nij;ht in weeping and praying, and could fcarc« ukeany
B lif-ft
2 A 'Token for CHILDREN.
Reft Day and Night for fome Time together ; defirir,g with all her Soul to efcape from everlafting FUmes, and to get an Intereft in the Lord Jefus : O whai mould (he do for a Chrift ! what mould Ihe do to be faved !
4. She g^ve her felf much to artending upoo tLe Word preached, a&d ftill continued very tender under it, greudy favouring what fhe heard.
5. She was very much in fecret Pn.yer, as might be esfily perceived by thofe who liftned at the Chamber Door, and ufualiy very importunate and full of Ttuis.
6. She could fcarce fpeak of Sin, or be fpoke to, but her Heart was ready to melt.
7. She fpent much Time in reading the Sciipture and a bpok called, The btft Friend in the worft of Times; by which the Work of God was much promoted upon her Soul, and was much directed by it how to get acquainted •with God, efpecially toward the End of that Book. Another Book fhe w*s much delighted with, was Mr. Swionock's Chriftian Mar.'s Calling, and by this ihe was taught in this Meafure to make Religion her Bulinefs. The Spiritual Bee was a great Companion of hers.
tf. She was exceeding dutiful to her Parents, very loth to grieve i hem in the leaft ; and if fhe had at any Time (which was very rare) offended them, fhe would weep bitterly.
9.. Sbeabhorr'd Lying, and allowed he^lelf in no known Sip.
10. She was very Confcientious in fpcnding of Time, and hated Idlenefs, and fpent her whole Time either in praying, reading, or inftrucling at her Needle,, at which fhe was vety ingenious.
11. When me was at School, me was eminent for her Dili- gence, Teschablenefs, Meeknefs aud Modeity',fpeakiug little; but when fhe did fpe.ik, it was ufualiy fpiritual.
i z.She continued in thisCourfe of religious Duties for fome Years together.
13 When fhe was about fourteen Years old, fhe broke a Vein in herLunijgs (as is fuppofed) and oft did (pit Blood, yet did a little iecover again, but had feveral dangerous R.elapfes.
14. Hi the begiuirrg of January laft, fhe was taken very b-ui again, in which Sicknefs fhe was in great Diltrefs of Sc-i-
Wl.cn
A Token for C H i L D R E N! 3
When fhe was firft taken, (lie faid, O Mother, pray, pray, pray for me, for Satan is fo bufy that I cannot pray for my- fclf ; I fee I am undone without a Chrift, and a Pardon ! O I am undone to all Eternity !
15. Her Mother knowing how ferious Hie had been former- ly, did a litte wonder that (he mould be in fuch agonies-. Up- on which her Mother afked her, What fin it was that was lo burdenforne to her Spirit ? O Mother, faid fhe. It is not any particular Sin of OmiiTion or Com million, that fticks fo clofe to my confcience, as the Sin of my Nature; without the Blood of Chtift that will damn me.
i ft. Her Mother nfked her Xvhat me fhould pray for, for her, (he anfw^ed, that I may have a faving Knowledge of Sin and Chrift, and that I may have an AfTurance of God's Love to my Soul. Her Mother afked-her, Why me did fpeak fo little to the Minifter that came to her ? She anfwered, That it washer Duty with Patience and Silence to learn of them: and it was exceding painful to her to fpeak to any.
•> 7. One Time when me fell into a fit (lie cried out, O I am going, I am going : But what fiiall I do to be faved ? Sweet Lord Jefus. i will lie at thy Feet ; and if I perifh it mall be at the Fountain of thy Mejcy.
1 8. She was much afraid of Prefumption, and dreaded a Miftake in the Matters of her Soul, and would be often put- ting up Ejaculations to God, to deliver her from deceiv- ing herfelf. To inftance in one : Great arid mighty God, give me Faith: aud true faith : Lord that I may not be a foolifh Virgin having a Lamp and no Oil.
19. She would be many Times laying hold on thePromifes, and plead them in Prayer That in Mat. xi. 28, 29. was much on her Tongue and no fmall Relief to her Spirit. How many Times would Jhe cry out, Lord, Haft thou not faid, Come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you reft.
20. Another Time her Father bid her be of good Cheer, becaufe me was going to a better Father : At which fhe fell into a great Paflion, and faid, But how do I know that ? I am a poor Sinner that w-mts AfTurance^ O for Aflurance ! It was ftill her Note, O for Aflurance ! This was her great
B ^ earncft
4 A foken for CHI L D REN.
eaineft and conftant Requeft, to all that came to her, to beg AfTurance for her ! And poor Heart, fne would look with fo much eagernefs upon them, as if fne defired noching in the "World fo much as that they would pity her, and help her with their Prayers; never was poor Oeatur? more earneft for any Thing than ihe was for Affunnce, and the Light of God's Countenance : O the pitious Moans that ike would make ! Othe Agonies that her Soul ,was in !
21. Her mother ajk'd her if God would fpate her Life* bow (he would Jive ? Truly Mother, faid Oie, We hive fucb bafe Hearts, that I can't tell. We are apt to prpmife great Thing when we are fick, but *vhen we are reco-fred we arc as ready to forget ourfelves and to return again unto Folly ; bnt I hope I mali be more careful of my Time and my Soul than I have been.
22. She was full of natural AfFeftion to her Parents, and -very careful left her Mother mould be tired out with much
'watching. Her Mother faid, How (hall 1 bear parting with thee, when I have fcarce dried my eyes for thy Brother I She anfwered, Xhe God of Love fupport and comfort you; It is but a little while, and we (hall meet, I hope in Glory', She being very weak coulcl fpeak but little, therefore hei Mother faid, Child, if thou haft any Comfort lift up thin< Hand ; which me did,
23. The Lord's Day before thi.t on which me died, J Kinfman of her's came to fee her, and afking of her whethe' {he knew him ? me replied, Yea, I know you, and 1 defin you would learn to know Chrift ; you are ycung, but yot know not how foon you may die : And O to die without ; Chrift, is a fearful Thing : O redeem Time ! O Time, Time Time, precious Time ! Being requeued by him not to fpec< her felf, (he faid, She would do all the good me could whil fhe lived, and when me was dead too, as pc-Tible : LTpoi •which account, (Tie defired a Sermon might be preached a her Funeral, concerning the preciouinefs of Time. O tha young Ones would now remember their Creator !
24. Some Minifters that came to her, did with Earneftnel teg that the Lord would pleafe to give her fome Token fc Good, tfcat ihe might go off triumphing ; and Bills of th fame Nature were fent to ieveral Churches.
25. After
A token y&r CHILDREN. 5
ij. After (he had long waited for an Anfwer of their Prayers, (he faid, Well, 1 will venture my Sool upon Chrift.
26. She carried it with wonderful Patience, and yet would often pray that the Lord woujd give her more Patience ; which he anfwered to Aftonifhment ; for confiiiering the Pains and Agonies Ihe was in, her Patience was next to a wonder ; Lord, Lord, give me Patience, faid me, that i may not dif- bonour thee.
27 Upon Thurfday, after long wailing, great Fears, and many Prayers, when all her Friends thought ihe had been pad fpeaking, to the Aftonifhment of her Friends, ihe btoke forth thus with a^very audible Voice, and chearful Coun- tenance; Lord, tbou haft promi fed, that whofoever cometh unto Thee, thou wilt in no wife call out ; Lord I come unto Thee ; and f urely thou wilt in no wife cad me out. O fo fweet ! O fo glorious is Jefus ! O I have the fwect and glorious Jefus ; He is fweet, He is fweet ! O the admirable Love of God in fending Ch'rift ! O free Grace to a p5or loft Creatute ! And thns (he ran on repeating many of thefe Things an hundred Times, but her Friends were fo aftonidied to fer. her in this divine Rapture, and to hear fuch gracious Worus, and her Prayers and Oefires fatisfied, that they could not write a quarter of what me fpoke.
28. When her foul xvas thus ravifned with the Love of Chrift, and herTongue fo highly engaged in magnifyiug God ; her Father, Brethren, and Sifters, with others of the Family, were called, to whom me fpake particularly, as her Strength would allow. She gave her Bible as a Legacy to one of her Brothers, and defued him to u(e it well for her fake, and ad- ded to him, and the reft, O makeUfe of Time to get a Chrift for your^Souls ; fpend no Time in running up and down in playing : O get a Chrift for yoar Souls while yon are Young ; Remember now vyour Creator before you come to a fick Bed : Put not off this great work 'till then, for then you will first! it a hard Worl; indeed. ! know by experience, the Devil will teil you it is enough ; and ye are Vourg, what need you to be in fuch hafte ? Ygu will have Time enough vhen you are old. But the? e "(lands one (meaning her Grand- jnotf-er) that itays behind, and I thar am but • Young am
going-
t> d Token for CHILDREN.
going before her. Therefore make your Calling and E'e&ioa fure, while you are in Health. But I am afraid t'nis will be but one Night's Trouble to your Thoughts ; bat icmembef, thefe are the Words of your dying Siller. O, if you knew how gord Chrift were ! O if you. had but one Taile of hi? SweetncTs, you would rutne'r go to Him a thoufand times tir^n (lay in this wicked World. I would not for ten Thousand, and ten Thouf<;id Worlds part with my tmereft in ChriiL O how h?.ppy am I, that I am going to ever Lifting Joys ! I \vouid nor go back again tor tweoty Thoufard Worlds ; and will yon not ftrive'to get an.Intereft in Chrift ?
29, nfier this, looking upcn one of h«r Father's Servants, (he faid. What mall I dj : What flialJ I do at that great Day, \vhen Chrill fhall fay to me, Come then blefi^d of my Father, in!- 'rit the Kingdom prepared for thee : Ar.-d fli-i!^' fay to the V\ icked, Go thou curfcd into the Lake 'thai: burns for ever. What a giief is it for me to think, that I fhalHee
.any of my Friends that I knew here upon Earth, turned into that Lake that burns forever ' O that Word, For ever, re- member that, For ever ! 1 fpeak thefe Words to you> but they are nothing, except God fpeak to you too : O pra ; pr>v, pra\', that God would give you Grace ! And then the ptayM, O Lord lr;i(h thy Work upon their Souls. It will be my Comf.->rt-(faid (lie) to fee you in Glory, bat it will be your evtiLilli.'g Happinefs
30. Her Grandmother told her flic had fpent herfelf too much ; (he f.tid, I c^re not for that, if I could do any Soul gnod. O with what V7ehemency did fiie fpeak, as if her Heart were in every \Vord ihe fpokc-
91. Slie was full of divine Sentences : alm^ft all her Dif- courfe, from the firilto the lail in-the Time ot her Sicknefs, wasab.vat her Soul, Chrift's Sweetnefs, and theSouls of others; in a wore!, like a continued Sermon
q>z. Upon Friday, after flic had fuch lively Difcoveries of God s Love, fh« was exceeding defirous to die, and cried out Come Lord Jcfus, come quickly, conduct me to thy Tabernacle; I am a poor Creature without Thee; but Lord Jefus, my Soul longs to be with Thee: O when fhall it be ! Why not now. dear Jefus ? Come Lord Jefus. come quickly,
belt
A Token for CHILDREN. 7
but why do I fpeak thus : Thy Time, dear Lord, is the beft • O give me Patience !
33 Upon Saturday ilie ipoke very ISuIe (being very dtowfy) yet now arid then dropt she^e Word, How. long fweet J^fus I Finifli thy Woik fweet Jefusi : Conic away dear fweet Lord J^fus. come quickly : Swett 1 ord help, come a way, now, DOW, d>ar Jetus, come quickly: Good Lord, give Patience to me to wait thine appointed Time ; Lord Jefus help me, help me.
-Thus at feveral Times (v.'hen out of her fleep) for {he was
jafkep the greateir. part of the Day.
34. Upon the Lord's Day, flie icarce fpoke any thing but much deficed that Bills of Thankfgiving might be feat to thofc
I who had formerly been praying for her, that they might help
' her to praife God for that full /vfiurance that he had given her of his Love: and feemed to be much f wallowed up with the thoughts of God's fiee jLove to her Soul. She oft commended her fpirit into the Lord's Hands; and the laft words (he wajs heard to fpeak, were thefe, Lord help, Lord Jefus help; Dear Lord Jefus; blefled Jefus — And thus up- on the Lord's Dsy between Nine and Ten of the Clock in the Forenoon, (he fl^pt fweetly in Jefus, and began an ever-
Luring Sabbath, February 19. 1670,,
~E~FT7Tp L E~ JL
Of a Clilj. that was admirably effected with the Thing* of G(J O. when be was between tivo and three Years old) with a brief Account of his Life and Death.
f. A Certain little Child, xvhofe Mother hi\d dedicated ^.jL him to the Lord in her Womb, when he conld not
fpe^k plain, would he crying after Gud, «nd was greatly de-
lirvous to be taught good Things.
2. He could not endure to be put to Bc*i without Family jDuty, but would put his Patents upon D'.)ty,.inii wculd v/ith imuch Devotion, kneel dov/:j, and with great Patience and [Delight continue 'till Duty was at an End, without the lealt .ExpiejlSoa of being weary ; and he feemed never io well pleafed
«s vvhen he wis engaged in Duty V , .
3. He could nr/t befatisficd wnh F.;.: l!\I5uiy, buthe would
vpon his Kot:es by lii-..'- ' , -:- or oiher.
4 He
8 A foken far CH iLDREff.
4. He was much delighted in hearing the Word of either rend or preached.
5. He loved to goto School, that he might learn forr.ething of God, and would obferve and take great Notice of wh;.t he had read, and come Home and fpeak of it wuh much Affeclion ; and he would rejoice in his Book, and fay to his Mother, O Mother ! ] have had a fweet Leflbn to Day, iwill you be pleafed to give n:c leave to fetch my Book thai you may hear it ?
6. As he grew up, he was more and more affected with the Things of another World; fo that if we had not received our Information from one that is of undoubted Fidelity, it would feem incredible.
7. He quickly learned to read theSoripture^ and with great Reverence, Tenderneis and Groans, read *iHJ Tears and ot-bs v;ere ready to hinder him.
#. When he was at fecret Prayer, lie would weep bitterly.
9. He was wont oftentimes to complain of the Naughtinefs of his Heart, and feemed to be more grieved for the Corruption of his Nature than for a&uaJ Sin.
10. He had a vaft Undeiftanding in the Things of God, even next to a Wonder, for one of his Age.
II He was much troubled for the Wandering of his Thoughts in Duty, and ih*t he could no; keep his Heart always fixed uf.^n God an-J the Wosk he w«is about, and his Affections constantly raiftd.
12. He kept a Watch over his Heart, and obferved the Woikjng of his Soul* and would complain that they were fo vain and fcoliih, andfo liule bulltd about fpniiual Things.
13. As he grew up, he grew daily in Knov/leoge and Ex- perieoce, and his Carriage \viis fo heavenly, and his Difcouife fo excellent and experimental, that it made thcfe who heard it aftonilhed.
14. He \vas exceeding importunate with God in Duty, and would plead with God at a ilrange Rute ; and would ufe fuch Arguments in Prayer, that one would think it \vere impoiiible fhould ever enter into the Heart of a Child: rind he would
'beg and expoftu!«ue, and weep fo, that fometimes it could not be kepi from the Ears of Neighbours ; fo that one of the next
Hcufe
A Token for CHIL&KBW. £
Houfewas forced to cry out, 7,4? Prayers and Tcarj bftbat Child in the next Houft will fink me to H ell I Becaufe by it he did condemn ills Neglect of Prayerr and his flight Perfor- mance of it.
15. He was very fearful of wicked Company, and would often beg of God to keep him from it, and that he might never be pleafed with them that tock Delight id difpleaiing of God: And when he was at any Time in the hearing o£ their v/icked Words, taking the Lord's Name in vain, or fwearing, or any filthy Words, it would even make hinn tremble, and ready to go home and weep.
16. He abhorred Lying with his Soul.
17- When he had committed any Sin he was eafily corn vinced of it, and would get in fome Corner and fecret Place, and with Tears beg Pardon of God and Strength againft fuch a Sin. He had a Friend that oft watched him, and Hftenee| aC his Chamber Door, from whom I received this Narrative.
1 .8. When he had been afked, whether he Would commit fuch a Sin again, he would never pronaife abfolutely, becaufe, he laid, his Heart was naught; but he would weep and fay^ he hoped by the Grace of God he mould not,
J9. When he was left alone upon the Sabbath-Days, he* would be fure not to fpend any Part of the Day in Idlenefa and Play, but be bufied in praying, reading in the Bible, and getting of his Catechifrfi,
20. When other Children were playing, he would many 2. time and oft be praying.
21* One Day a certain Perfon was difcoarfing with hirw about the Nature, offices, and Excellency of Chrift, and that He alone can fatisfy for our Sins, and merit everlafting Life for us ; and about other of the great Myfleries of Redemp- tion ; he fcemed favingly to underhand them, and greatly fdelighted with the Difcourfe.
22. One fpeaking concerning the RefurreOion of tfie Body, he did a«koowledge it ; but that the fame weak Body that v/as buried in the Church Yar-4 mould be raifed again, he thought very ftrange, but with admiration yielded, that no- thing was impofiible with God ; and that very Day he wafr taken fick unto Death
C +9. A
10 A Token for CHILDREN.
23. A Friend of his afked him, Whether he was willing to die, when he was firft taken Tick : He anfwered. No ; Becaufe he was afraid of his State as to another World : Why Child, faid the other, Thou dkllt pray for a new Heart, for an hum- b't and fincere Heart and I have heard thee ; didil thou not Jpray with thy Heart ? He laid, ( hope I did.
24. Not long after, the fame Perfon afked him again whe- ther he was willing to die ? He anfwered, Now I am willing, For I (hall go to v'hrift.
25 One afked him, What would become of his Sifter, if he (hould die and leave her ? He aiifwered, the Will of ihe Lord oiufl be done.
26 He ftiil grew Weaker and weaker, but carried it with a great deal of Sweetnefs and Patience, waiting for his Change, and at laft did chearfu41y commit his Spirit unto the Lord ; and calling upon the Name of the Lord, and faying, Lord Jefus, Lord Jefus, — in whofe Bofom, he fueetly fiept, dying as I remember, when he was about five or fix Years old.
EXAMPLE 111.
Of a little Girl ihc.t ivjs tvrmgkt upon, mben Jbe was be- tween four and jive Tears eld, wiib fame Account cf,-er bdy Lift-, and triumphant Death.
// A? T //. when Hie wa? between fout and five Years old, v/a* ?ve,u!y afiJedled in hearing theWord of God, and became very felicitous abptit her SouJ, and everlaftirrg ndition, weeping bitterly to think whax would become of her in another World, ajjdng ftrange Qiieflions concerr.ing God and Chfift. and her own Soul °o that this little Mary, before (he was five Years old, feemed to mind The one Thing needful, and to chooft, The better Part, and fat at the Feet of Chrift many a Time, and oft with Tears.
2. She was wont to be much in fecret Duty, and many times come ofTfrom her Knees with Tears
3. She would ciiufe fuch Times and Places for fscret t)uty as might ren^r her itfs obferved by others, snd did endeavour what polTibly (he could to conceal what fne was doing when engaged in fecret Duty.
4. Sb2
A Token /^CHILDREN. u
4. She was gieatly afraid of Hypocrify, and of doing any Thing to be Teen cf Men, and to get Commendation and Praife; and when flic heard one of her Brothers faying, That fce had been by himfelf at Prayer, (he rebuked himfharply, and tolu him how little fuch Prayers were like to profit him, and that it was but liule to his iVaife, to pray like a Hypocrite, and to be glad that'any ihould know what he had been dcmg.
5. Her Mother being full of Sorrow after the Death of her Hufbaud, this Child cMine to her Mother, and afk'd her Why (he wept fo exceedingly ? Her Mother anfwered, She had caufe enough to weep, becaufe her Father was dead : Ho. dear Mother, faid the Child, you have no caufe to weep To much ; for God is a good God ftiil to you.
6 She was a dear lover of faithful Minifters. One time after fhe had been hearing of Mr- Whisker, (he faid, I love that Man dearly, for the fweet Words he fyeaks about Chrift.
7. Her Book WHS her Delighi, and what ilie did read, fhe loved to make her own, and cared not for paffing over what ihe learned, without extraordinary Obfervation and Under- Handing ; and many times fhe was fo ftrangely affected in reading of the Scriptures, that ihe would burft out into Tears, and would hardly be pacified ; fo greatly was fhe takers with Chrift' s fufFerings, the Zeal of God's Servants, and ihe dan- ger of a natural State.
8. She would ..complain oftentimes of the Corruption of her Nature, of the Hardnefs of her Heart, that- fhe could re- pent no more thoroughly, and be no more humble and grieved for her Sins again ft a good God ; and when (lie did thus com- plain, it was with abundance o& Tears.
9. She was greatly concerned for the Souls of others, and grieved to think of the miferable Condition they were in upon that Account : When (he could handfomely, fhe would be putting in forae pretty fweet Word of Chrift ; but al>Qve all, ihe would do what fhe could to draw the Hearts of her Bre- thren, and Sifters after Chrift; and there was no fmall hopes that her example and good counfel did prevail with fome of :hem when they were very young, to get into Corners to pray, and to afk very-gracioas Queftions about the Things of God.
10. She was very confcientious in keeping the Sabbath, (pending the whole time either in reading, praying, or learning
C 2 ; }-r
xi ' A Token for C H i L D R E N.
her Catechifm, or in teaching her Brethren and Sifters. • One time when me was left at Home upon the Lord's Day, fhegot fome other little Children together, with her Brotbeis and Sifters, and inftead of playing (as other naughty v'.htldreiy "ufe to do) fhe told them, That v/,is the Lord's Day, and th<ij; they ought to remember .that Day to keep it hjly : .-\.id then me told them, how it was to be fpent in religious exer- cifes all the Day long, except fo much as was to be taken up in the Works of Neceflity and Mercv ; then me prayed with them herfelf, and among other Things begged that the Lord would give Grace and VVifdom to them little Children, that they might know how to ferve him : as one of the little Ones in the Company with her, told "after wards.
11. She was a Child of aflrange Tendernefs and Compaf- fjon to all, full of Bowels and Pity : Whom (he could not help, me would be ready to weep over; efpecially if fhe f.nv lier Mother at any time troubled, me would quickly make her Sorrows her own. and weep for her and with her.
12. When her Mother had been fome what felicitous 'about any woildly Thing, fhe would, if fhe could, put her off from her Care one Way or other. One Time me told her, O Mother, Grace is better than that (meaning fomcthing her Mother wanted) I had rather have Grace and the Love of Chrift, than any Thing in the World.
13. This Child was often mufing and bufied in the thoughts of her everlafling Work ; v/itnefs that ilrahge Queftion, O \vhatftre they doing, who are already in Heavea ? And fhe feem'd greatly defirous to be among thegi who were praifing, Joving, delighting in God, and feiving of Him without Sin. Her Language was fa ftrange about fpiritual Matters, that fhe made many excellent ChriHians to Hand amazed, as judging it fcarce to be parallel'd.
14. She took great Delight in reading of the Scriptures, and fome Part of it was more fweet to her than her appointed Food : She would get feveral choice Scriptures by Heart,, and difcourfe of them favourly,and apply them fuitably.
15. .She was not altogether a Stranger to other good Books, but would be reading of them with much Affection: and where fhe might, fhe noted the Books particularly, obferving what jr, the reading did moll warm her Heart, and Hie was ready
"roilon to improve it, 16. O<£
A Token far CHILDREN. 13
16. One Time, a Woman coming into the Houfe in a great Paffion, fpoke of her Condition as if none were like hers, and t would never be otherwife ; the Child faid, It were a ftrange Thing to fay, when it is Night, it will never be Day.
17. At another Time, a near Relation of her's being infome Streights, made fqme complaint ; to whom me faid, I have heard Mr. Carter fay, a Man may PO to Heaven without a Penny in his Purfe, but not without Grace in his Heart.
18. She had an extraordinary Love to the People of God ; nd when llie faw any that (lie thought feared the Lord, hsc rleart would even leap for Joy.
19. She loved to be much by herfelf,.and would be greatly grieved if flie were at any Time deprived of a Conveniency for fecret Duty; fhe could not live without conflant Addrefs to God in fecret ; and was not a little pleafed when fhe could go into a Corner t® pray and weep.
?.o. She was much in praifing God, and feldom or never complained of any thing but Sin.
2 i. She continued in this Courfe of praying and praifing of God, and great Putifulnefs and Sweetneis to her Parents and thofe that taught her any Thing; yea, me did greatly encou- rage her Mother while fhe was a Widow, and defired that the Abfence an Hufband might in fome Meafure be made up by the Dutifulnefs and Holinefs of a Child. She ftudied all the Ways that copld be to make her Mother's Life fweet.
22- When me was between eleven and twelve Years old, fhe fickned; in which fhe carried it with admirable Patience and Sweetnefs, and did what ihe could, with Scripture Argu- ments, to fupport and encourage her Relations to part with her, who was going to Glory, and to prepare themfelves to meet her in a biefTed Eternity.
23, She was not many Days fick before fhe was marked; v/hich file firil faw herfelf, and was greatly rejoiced to think that fhe was marked out for the Lord, and was now ^oing to drill. She called to her Friends, and faid, I am marked ; but be not troubled, for I know that I am marked for one of the Lord's own. One a'ked her, How fhe knew that ? She anf\vfcred, The Lord hath told me, that I am one of his dear Children. And thus fhe fpoke with a holy Confidence in the Lard's Lore to her Soul, and was no: in ths leaft daan ted when
ihe
14 A Token Jor C H i L D R E n.
fhe fpake of h;r Death; bur feerned greatly delighted in the Appreh?u!ion ol her Nearnefs to her Father's Houfe ; andiiV/as not long before ihe v/asbli'd with Joy uiifp^kableia believing
24. When fhe juit jay a (tying, her Mother came to her anc told her, She was forry that (he had reproved and corrected To good a Child fo oft. O M^i.'.rr, Lid ffis, Speak not thus I ble'.s God,. 'now [ LT.I 1 dying, fur yur Rep. oofs and Cor- recrioi.s too . :\>r it may be, I might have gone to Hell, if i had not be"en for your Reproofs and Curre6Han$.
25 Some of her Neighbour? coming -to vifit heiyaiked he If ihe would lr*ve them? She anfwered them, Ifyoufetve the Lord, you {hall come after me to Glory,
26. A little before (he died, (he had a grea Conflict with
Satan, and cried out, I am none of his. Her Mother feeing
her i a Trouble, afked her v/hatwas the \J;mer ? She ^r.fwered,
Satan did trgabie her, but now, I thar.k God, all is well, I
I am not his, but (Thrift's.
27 After this, ftis had a great Senfe of God's L;v,,', tr.i a glorious Sight, as if {he had feen ll.e very Heavens opened, and the Angels come to receive her : by which her ficaitv/-.? filled with Joy, and-her Tonone \v\t\f iVaife.
Being denied by the Standees by ro ^ive then) a par- ticular Account of what fliefa-.v .red, You ih-ill know hereafter ; and fo in an Extafy of joy ar.d holy Triumph, !lie went to Heaven, when (he was abju* twelve Years old — — —
E X A M P L £ IV.
'-fij Crji'd ihai legan to hvk l-m'ards Jlenven whs;; •' ?. 'U.^s
about P'jur jCtars old j with jdint obfirvqblt Pjtffagtl in
hir Life, and at her Dfatb. i. A Certain little Child, when fne was about four Years
XiL old, had a confcientious Senfe of her Duty towards her Patents, becauTe ihe Commandment faith, Honour thy father and thv /Wither : And though {he had little Advan- tage of Education, ihe carried it with the greateft Reverence - to her Parents imaginable, fo that ilr; was no fmall Credit, as well as Comfort to them.
2. It was no unufual Thing for her to weept if (he faw he» Parents troubled, tho1 herfeif had net b-;en the Occafion of it.
3. \Vhcn
A token for C H i L D R £ fr. 15
3. When fhe came from School, flie would with Grief and \bhorrence fay, That other Children had finned againft God >.y foeaking grievous Words, which were fo bad that fhe durft lot (peak them again.
4. She would be oftentimes admiring of God's Mercy, for c» much Goodnefs to her raiher than to r.theis ; that fhe faw erne bf g«ing, others blind, fome crooked, and that (he wanted loihing that was good for h^r.
5. She was many a Time, and often, in one Hole or an- nher, in Tears, upon her Knees.
ft. This poor little Thing would be ready to connfel other little '• hildren, how they ought to feive God? and putting them upon getting by themlelves to pray ; and hath been known, when her Friends have been abroad, to have been Leaching Children to pray,/ efpecialjy upon the Lo.dVDay.
7. bhsveryferioufly begged thePrayei s of others, that they would remember her, that the Lord would give her Grace.
8. When this Child faw feme that were Laughing who (tie judged to be very Wicked ; die told them, She feared they had little lleafon to be merry. They afked, Whether one might pot laugh ? fhe anlwered ; No indeed, 'till you have Grace ! They who are Wicked, hut mere need to cry than to laugh.
9. She would fay, That it was the Duty of Parents, Mailers and Miilrefles, to reprove (thofe under their Charge) for Sin, or elfe God wiij mtet with them.
10- She would be very attentive when fne read the Scnp- itures, and be much aiTeclc-d with them.
ii. She would by jjo Means be perfuaded to prophane the Lord's Day, but would fpend it in fome good Duties, ^ 12. When fhe went to School, it was willingly and joyfully, and fhe was very teachable and exemplary to other Children.
13. When fhe was taken fick, one afked her, Whether (be were willing to die r Sheanfwered, Yes, if God would pardon her Sins, Being afkedj How her Sins would be pardoned ? She aniwrred, Through the Blord of Chrift.
14 Slie fa id, She did believe iff Chrift, and defired and longed to be with Him ; ar-d did with a great deal of Chear- ifu'nefe give up her S?ul *
There were very many obf;r7abie Pa(Ta?ej in the Lifs an^ Ocath of this Chi'vi, bu' the H<my and Grief hrr Frifnds VTCJ?; in buried them.
E X A M P L E
itf A Token for C H j t D R 4 fc.
EXAMPLE V.
Of the pious Life and ^ful Death of a Child who died when
he was abotft 12 Tears old, 1632.
i • S~*Harl?t Biidgbam had no fooner Jearnt to fpeak, but ^ he betook himfelf to Prayer.
2. He was very prone to lear'n the Things of God.
3. He would be fometimes teaching them their Duty that waned upon him
4. He learned by heart many good Things, before he was veil fit to go to School: And when he was Tent to School, he carried it fo, that all who obferved him, either did or might admire him. O the fweet Nature, the good Difpofi- tion, the iincere Religion, which was in this Child !
5. When he was at School, what was it that he defired to learn, but Chrift, and him crucified ?
6. So religious and favoury were his Words, his Actions fo upright, his Devotion fo hearty, his fear of God fo great, that many were ready to fay, as they did of John, What Manner of Child mail this be ?
7. He v/ould be much in reading the holy Scriptures.
8. He wasdeilrous of more fpirituai Knowledge; and would be often afliing very ferious and admirable Queftions.
9. He w^utd not ftir out of Doors before he had poured out his Soul to the Lord.
10. When he eat any Thing, he would be fure to lift up his Heart to the Lord for a Blcfilng upon it; and when he fad moderately refrefned himfelf by eating, he would not forget to acknowledge God's Goodnefs in feeing of him,
i f. He would not lie down in his Bed, 'till he had bee$ upon his Knees ; and when fometimes he had forgotten his Duty, he would quickly rife out of his Bed, and kneeling down upon his bare knees, covered witii no Garment but his Linens, aflc God Forgivenefs for that Sin.
12. He would rebuke his Brethren if they were at any Times too hafly at their Meals, and did eat without afking a Bleffiog; his Check was ufually thr:s ; Dare you do thus? God be merciful to us, thjs bit of Bread might choak us.
13. His Sentences were wife and weighty, and well might become fomc ancient Chriftiao.
14. His
A token for C H i L D R t IT. t?
14. His Sicknefs was a lingering Difeafe, againft which to comfort him* one tells him of Pcfidlioos that muft fall to hid Portion : And what are they ((aid he) I had rather have the Kingdom. of Heaven than a Thoufand fuch Inheritances.
15. When he wasfjckhe feemed much taken up with Heaven, and afked very feriouS Queftions about the Nature of his Soul.
1 6. After he was pretty well fatish'ed about that, He en- quited how his Soul might be laved ? The anfwer being made, by applying of Chrifts Merits by faith ; he was pfeafed with the Anfwer and was ready to give any one that mould defire it, an account of his Hope,
17. Being afked, whether he had rather live or die? He anfv/ered, I deftre to die, that I may go to my Saviour.
18 His Pains encieafing upon him, one aik'd him, Whe- ther he would rather ftiil endure thofe Pains, or forfake Chrift ? Alas, faid he, I know not what to fay, being but a Child ; for these Pains may ftagger a ftrong M«n ; but I will fhive to endure the heft I can. Upon this he called to mind ti-at Martyr 'T&fvraj Bilney ; who being in Prifon, the Night before his burning, put his Finger into the Candle to know }»ow he could endure the Fire. O (faid the Child) had Hived then, I would have run through theFire to nave gone to Chrifb.
19, His Sicknefs lafted long, and at leaft thiee Days before >r>. Peath, he prophefied his Departure, and not only that he muft die, but the very D»y. On the Lord's Day, faid he, look to me; neither was this a word of Courfe^ which you may guefs by his often Repetition, every Day afking ''till the Day came indeed, What, is Sunday come? Atlaft, thelook'd- for Day came indeed, and no fooner had the Sun beautified th.-.t Morning with it's Light, but he falls into, a Trance ; his Kyes were lixed, his Face chearful, his Lips fmiling, his Hands and Feet clafped in a Bow, an if he would have received fome blefled Angel that were at hand to receive hir> Snu!. But he comes to himfelf and tells them how he fa\v the fwecCelt fccrdy trra.t ever Eyes brheM, who bid him be o£ good Cheer, for he mult prefently go with him.
20. One that ftond near him, as now fufpecling ffeTir*^ of his Diflclution nigh, bid him fay. Lord, into t!iy Hands I commend my Spirit, which is thy due ; for why, then ha{l redeemed it, O Lord, my God moft true.
B it. Th-
1.8 A Token for CHILDREN.
21. The laft Words which he fpake, were exaftly tnefe : Pray,' pray, pray, nay, yet pray; and the more Prayers, the better, all profpers ; God is the beft Phyfician ; Into his Hands I commend my Spirit. O Lord jefus receive my Soul ; Now c)ofe mine Eyes : Forgive me Father, Mother, Brother, Siller, all the World. Now I am well, my Pain is alraoft gone, my Joy is at Hind. Lord have Mercy on me, O Lord receive my Soul unto thee. And thus he yielded his Spuif tip unto the Lord when he was about Twelve Years old. This Narrative was taken out' of Mr. AMBROSE'S Life's Leafe.
E X A M P L E VI.
Of a poor Child that was awakened when be was ah: '
Five Years old.
I. A Certain poor Child that had a very bad Father, but it JL\, is to be hoped a very good Mother, v as by the Pro- tideiiceof God brought to the Sight of a godly Friendof mine, who upon tiie firft bight of ilie Child, hud a great Pity for> him, and took, an ArTeftion for him. and had a Mind to bring him up for Chnfr..
2. At the firft, he did with great Sweetnefs and Kindnefs allure the Child ; by which Means it was not long before he got a dceplntereft in the Henri of the Child, and he began to obey him with more Readinefs than Children trfuaHy dotheirParents,
3. By this a Door was ope-ed -for a farther Work, and he had a greater Advantage to inftil fpiritual Principles into the Soul of the Child, which he was not wanting in, as the Lord gave Opportunity, and ihe Child was capable of.
4; It was not long before the Lord was pleafed to ftrike in with the fpiritual Exhortations of this good Man, fo th.-.t the Child was brought to a Liking of the Things of God.
5. He quickly iearnt a great Pan of the Affembly's Catechifr by Heart andj:hat before he could read his Primer within Book and het.took a great pelight in learnipjg h's Catechifm.
6. He was not only able to give a very good Account of bis Catechifm, but he would arfwer fnch Queflions ;.s are not in the Catechifm, with greater Undcrftanding- than -could be expected from one of his ^ge.
7. He took great foelight in difcourfing of the Things o{ Gcd; and when my Friend had been either praying or reading,
A *foken for CHILDREN, 1.9
. .
(expounding or repeating of Sermons, he feemed very attentive, -id ready to receive the Truths of God, and would with in- credib'e Gravity, Diligence and ArTe&ion, wait 'till Duties v^re ended, to the no fmall Joy and Admiration of thofe who cbferved him.
8. He would afk very excellent Queftions, and difcourfe about the Condition of his Soul and heavenly Things, and feemed mightily concerned what would become of his Soul when he Ihould die: So that hi.s Difcourfe made fome Chriftians even ftand aftoniflicd.
'9, He was greatly taken with the great Kindnefs of Chrift in dying for Sinners, and would be often in Teats at the men- tion of it : and feemed at a ftrange Rate to be affected with the unfpeakable Love of Chrift.
10. When no Body had be~n fpeaking to him, he would burft out into Tears, and being aiked the Reafon, he would fay, That the very Thoughts of Chrift's Love to Sinners in furjering for them, made him, that he could not but cry.
11. Before he was 6 Years old he made confcience of fecret Duty ; untJ when he pray'd, it was with fuch extraor- dinary Meltings, that his Eyes have looked red and fore wuh Weeping by himfelf for his Sin.
12. He woald be putting of Chriftians upon fpiritual Dif- courfe when he faw them, and feemed little fatisfied, unlefs they were talking of good Things.
13. It isevident, that this poor Child's Thoughts xvete very muph Oufied about the Things ofanothar Word, for he would oftentimes be fpsaking to his Bed-fellow at midnight about the Matters of his Soul ; and when he could not deep, he would take heavenly Conference to be fweeter than his appointed reft. This was his ufual ctiftom, and thus he would provoke and put forward an experienced Chriftian, to fpend waking Hours in talking of God and the everlafting Reft
14. Not long after this, his good Mother died, which went very near his Heart, for he greatly honoured his Mother.
15. After the Death of his Mother, he would often repeat fome of the promifes that are made to fatherlefs Children, efpecially that in Exod xxii. 22. Ye (hall not afflict any Widow, or the fatherlefs Child, if thou afflict them in any wife, and they cry at all unto me I will furely hear their Cry—
I* A faken for CHILDREN.
Thefe Word he would often repeat with Tears, and fayv I am Fatherlefs and Motherlefs upon Earth, yet if any wron«» me, Hiave a Father in Heaven who \vill take my Part; co Him I commit my felf, and in Him is all my Truft.
1 6 Thus he continued in a Courfe of holy Duties, living in the Fear of God,1 and mewed wonderfiul Grace for a Child, and died fwsedy in the Faith of Jefus.
My Friend is a iudirinut Chriftian of trsanyYearsExperience, who war noway* related to him, b-it a confia v Eve and Ear Witnefi of h.j godly i. f-. a.'.u honourable and cheerful Death, from whom 1 received this Iiiforfhstion,
EXAMPLE VII.
$fa notorious wicked Child, ivfro ivas taken up froin Begging and admirably converted ; with an Account of his h-^ly * Life end foyfttl Death, *wk^n hewn n'>n? Year* oLi. I. A Very poor Child of the Parifh of frewington' Butts* jLJk. came begging to the Door of a dear Chriftiap Friend of mine, in a very lamentable c<tfe, ib filthy and nafty, that he would have even turned one's Stomach to have looked on him: But it pleafed G.od to raife in ihe Heart of my Friend, R greit Pity and Tendernefs towards this poor Child, foth.it in ch.uicy he took him out of the Streets, whofe Paren's were unknown; and who had nothing at ail to commend him to any one's Charily, but his Mifery. My Friend eyingtheGlory of God, and the good of the immortal Soul of this wretched Crea- iure, difcharged the Parilh of the Child, aad took him as his owu, defigning to bri«ig him up for the Lord Cbriil. t\ no- b'e Piece of Charity ! And what did ranks the Kindnefs far the greit,rr, was r!v»t there feemed to be very linle Hopes of t! -rg Good upjn this Child, for he was a very Mtmfter of Wickeio-fs, and a tr.ouUnd Times more n-;!{&rtbie and vile is Sin, tiian by i.is Poverty. H<^ was running to Hell •, and w.*s old "n N -itightiuefs. when he
was yaung in V one (hall f'carce hear of a Petfon
fo like the Devil in his infancy, as this po^r Child was. ' What Sin was there (his Age was Cip*b!e or) that he did not commit? What by the Coproptton of his Nature, and the abominable Exsmpfe of other -iv.ys.he was arrived to a ftrange Pitch of Impiety lie would call filthy N.tmes.^take ' N.im.2 in vain, - i > >fi Swear, and dj ail Kind or
.;.ndas to an/ Th: ; of.God, woUcth;m an Heathen,
A ?oken for C H i L D R E N . %\
2 . But this Sin and Mifery was but a fti ohger Motive to At gracious Man to pity, him, and to do all th.u pofubly he >uld to pluck this Fire-brand out of the Fire; and it was •t long before the Lord was pleafed to let h:.m understand, that e had a Defign of everlafting Kindr.efs upon the Sou] of h'S poor Child ; for no fooner had this good Man taken his Creature into his Houfe, but he prays for him, and la- >ovus with all his might to convin e him of his miferable Condition by Nature, and to teach him fomethir.g of God, he Worth of his own Soul, and that Eternity of Glory or Vlifery jth-it he was born to: And blefTed be free Grace, it ,vas not long before the Lord was pleafed to let him" under- hand that it was himfelf which put it into his Heart to take n this Child, that he might bring him up for Chriil. 1 lie Lord foon ftruck in with his godly Infhuctions fo that an imazing Change was Teen in the Child; in a few Weeks rime he was convinc'd of the Evil of his Ways ; no more News now of his calling of Names. Swearing or Curfing ; no nnore taking of the Lord's Name i;i vain ; now he is civil and refpeclive, and fuch a flrarnge Alteration was wrought in the Child, that ail the P^rilh that rung of his Villany before, was now ready to talk of his Reformation; his ('ompany, his Talk, his Employment is now changed, and he is like another Creature; fo that the Glory of God's f:ee Grace began already to mine in him.
3. And this Change was not only on external one, and to be difcemed Abroad but he would get by himfelf, and weep and mourn bitterly, for his horrible wicked Life, as might eafi'y be perceiv'd by them that lived jn the Houfe with him 4 It w*s the great care of his godly Mailer to ftrike in with thole Convictions which the Lord had made, and to improve them alihe could ; and was not a little glad to fee that his La- frour was not in vain intheLord : Heiltll experiences that the Lord cJoth carry on his Work mightily upon the Heart of the Child : He is flill more and more broken under a Senfe of his undone State by Nature t He is oft in Tears, and bemoaning hii, loft and miferable condition. When his Mailer did fpeak of the Things of God, he liftned earneftly, and took, in with pinch grsedinefsand ^fTeclioii \vhat he taught. Seldom was theteany Difcourfe ;?bout Soul Matters in his hearing, but he heard it as if it were for his Life, and wept greatly. 5, He
2$ A Token for CHILDREN.
5. He would, after his Mailer had been fpeaking to hir/j,
c. .thers, of the Things of God, go to him. and queftion with
bout them, sruj beg of him to infbuct and teach him
f. :/r, and to tell hint thofe things agiin, that he d-.ight
r :isr and underfland them better.
has he continued feeking after the Knowledge of God a Chrift, and gn&ifing h -y Duties, till the Sicknefs came i the Houfe, with which the Child was fmmen. At hisfirft mg, the poor Child was greatly amazed and afraid, and t \£.\ his ;ains were great, and the Diftemper very tedious, he Senfe of his Sin, and the Thoughts of the miferablc c ndition that he feared his Soul v/as in, made his Trouble tunes greater; He was in grievous Agonies of Spirit, and } is fnm<:r Sins iUred him in the Face, and made hir.i trenibls; the po-ion of God's Arrows did even drink up his Spirits ; the Senfe of Sin and Wrath was fo great", that he could not tell what in the World to do ; the Weight of God's Difpleafure, and the Thought of lying under it to all Eternity, did even break him to Pieces, and he did cry out very bitterly, What couU. he do? He was a miferable Sinner, and he feared he fhould g > to He!l ; his Sins had been fo great and fo many, that there
5 no Hopes for him.' Ho was not by far fo much con- cerned for his Life, as for his Soul, what would become of that forever. Now the Plague upon his Body feemed nothing to that which v/as in his Soul.
7. But in this great Distress the Lord was pleafed to {end one to take care of his Soul, who u/ged to him the great and precious ProraiTes which were made to one ia his con- dition; telling him, There was enough inChrift for the chiefefi of Sinners ; and, that He came to feek and to fave fuch a loft Creature as he was. But this poor Child found it a very difficult Thing for him to believe that there was any Mercy iforfuch a dreadful Sinner as he had been.
8. He was made to cry o'»t of himfelf, not only for his Swearing ana! Lying, and other untowardly notorious Sins ; but. he was in great Horror for the Sin of his Nature, for the Vileoefs of his Heart, and original Corruption; under it he was in fo great Anguilh, that the Trouble of his Spirit made him in a great meafu re forget the Faios of his Bodyr
9- He
A loken for C H T L D R E w. 2 3
9. He did very particularly confefs and bewail his Sins with Tears; and fome Sins fo fecret that none in the World could charge him with.
16. He would condemn himfelf for Sin, as deferving no Mercy; and thought there was not- a greater Sinner in London than himfelf, abhorring himfelf as the vilefl creature he knew.
i i . He did not only pray much with llrong Cries andTeara hirnfeifj but he begged the Prayers of Chriftians for him.
1 1. He would a Ik Chriftians, whether they thought there were any Hopes for h;m,?nd would beg of them to deal plainly with him, for he was greatly afraid of being d.eceive^.
13. Being informed how tvilling and ready the Lord Chrift was to accept o; poor Sinners, upon their Repentance and Turning, and being counfelled to venture himfelf upon Chrift for Mercy and Salvation, he faid, I would rain caft myfelf upon Chrift, but he could not bat wonder, how Chriil fhauld be willing to die for fuch a vile Wretch as.he was ; and, that he found it one of the hSrdeft Things in the, World to believe.
14. But at. 1 aft it pleafed the Lord f o give him fome fmall Hopes that there might be Mercy for him, for he had been the chiefeft of Sinoei s ; and was made to Jay; a little hold on fuch Promifes as that, Ccrne unto ntc> all ye that art weary and heavy laden, a*d I will give you Reft. But O ! Junv did this poor Boy admire and blefs God for the leaft Hopes ! How highly did he advancefree and'iich Grace, that faould-ftity and pardon him ! And at lafthe was full of Praife, and admiring of God ; fo that (to fpeak in the Words of a precious Man, who was an Eye and Ear-Winefs) u to the praife andGloryof God be it fpoken,theHoufeat that day, for all theSicknefsin it$ was a little lower Heaven, fo full of Joy and Praiie.
i 5. The Chili! giew excedingly in Knowledge, Experience, Patience, Humility and Self-abhonency ; and bethought he cf.uld never fpeak bad enough of himfelf; the Name that he would caU himfelf by, was a 'ToaJ.
16. And i hough he prayed before, yet now. the Lord- poured out upon him the Spirit of Prayer, in an extraordinary Manner for one of his Age }• fo that now he prayed more frequently, more earneftly, more fpiritually than ever. ^O how eagerly would he beg to be waftied in the Blood of Jefus 1 And *hat the King of Kings, and Lord of La-ids, that was over
«4 A Toksn for CHILDREN.
HertVfn and Earth, and Sea, would pardon and forgive rnm afl his Sins, and receive his Soul into his Kingdom And what he fpoke.. tt was with fo much Life and Fervor of Spirit, th^t it fi!k-ci the Hearers with Aftoniihment and J <v
17. He had no final] Senfe of the Ule and Excellency of Chritl, and fuch Longings aird Breathings of his Soul after him, that when mention hath been made of v.hriit, he hath b-een ready almoft to lesp o'jt of his Bed for Joy
18. When he was told, that if he ftiould recover, he mufl not live as he lift ; but he mull give up himfelf to Chrift, and to be his Child and Servant, to be..r his Yoke and be obedient to his Laws, and live a holy Life, and take his Crofs, and fuller Mocking and Reproach., it may be, Perfection for his Name's Sake. Now, Child (fiid one to "him) are you willing to have Chrijft upon fi?ch Teims: He lignihcd his Willingnefs by the Earneftnefs of his Looks and Words, and the catting up of his Eyes to Heaven, faying, Yes, with ail my Soul*, the Lord help me, I will do this.
19. Yet he had many Doubts and Feats, ar-u was ever and anon harping upon that, T'hat tho' he were v/illing, yet Chiift he feared was not willing to accept him, becriiife of thegreat- nefs of his Sins: yet his Hopes were greater than Lis Fears,
20. The Wednefday before he died, the Child lay as it were in a Trance for about half an Hour, in which Time ht thought he £»/.v a Vifion of Ange?s : When he was out of his Trance, he wtts in a little Pet, arvd «^:ed his Ndffe, Why ihe «1id not let him go ? Go, U'iiither Child, fiid (he : Why along with thofe brave Gentlemen (faid he) but ihey told me ihe.y would come and fe'ch me for all y.>u opon Friday ne>.'
he doubled his Words many fimcs : Upon Friday next thole brave Gentlemen will come for- me; and upon that Day, the Child died joyfully
21. He was very thankful- to hts ^r.fler, and very
of his great Kindnefs ir, taking him oat of the Street, when he was a begging : /^ndhe admired at the goodnefs which put it into the Mind of a Stranger to look upon,?nd to take fuch a fatherly Care of fuch a pitiful Tony Creature as he was. O my dear Mailer (faid he) «nd Servant of God. I hope to fee you in Heaven, for I pm fure you will go thither. O ble(T<d, bleifed be God, that made you to take Pity upor
A Token for C ti i JL fc R E N. 2£
•ne, for I might have died, and have gone to the Devil, and bave been damned for ever, if it had not been for you.
22. The Thurfday befofe he died, he afkcd a very godlj* Friend of mine, What he thought of his Condition, and whither his Soul was now going ? For he faid, He could not flill but fear, left he mould deceive himfelf with falfe Hopes. At which ray Friend f poke to him thus, Child. For all that I have endeavoured to hold forth the Grace of God in Chrift to thy Soul, and giveo you a Warrant f r m the Word of God that Chrift is as freely offered to you, as to any Sinner in the tVorld ; if you are but-. willing to accept of him, thou mayeft have Chrift, and all that thou doft want with Him ; and yet thou doll give Way to thefe thy Doublings and Fears, a» tho' I told you nothing but Lies. Thou fay eft, ihou feareft that Chrift will not accept of thee.; I fear thou art not heartily willing to accept of Him. The Child afifwered, Indeed I aras Why then Child, if thou art unfeignedly willing to have Chriftf 1 tell thee, He is a thoufand Times more willing to have tbee, and wafli thee, and fave thee, than thou art to defire it. And now at this Time Chrift offers himfelf freely to thee again; therefore receive, him humbly by Fa'th into thy Heart, and bid him welcome, for he deferveth it, Upon which Words the Lord difeovered his Love urthe Child, and he gave a. kind of Leap in his Bed, and fnapt his Fingers and Thumb together with Abundance of Joy, as much as to fay, Well, yea all is well, the Match is made, (hrift is, willing, and I am willing too ; and now Chrift is mine, and I am his for ever,, And from that Time forward, in full Joy and AfTurance of God's Love, he continued earneftly praifiog God, with de- firing to die, and be with Chrift. And on Friday Morning he fweetly went to Reft, ufing that very Expreffion, Into thy Hands, Lord, I commit my Spirit. He died punctually at that Time which he had fpcke of, and in which he expe&ed thofe Angels to come to him ; he was not much above rin« Years ofd when he died.
This Narrative I had froto a judicious holy Man, unrt'ated to him, irho was an Eye and Ear-Witnefs to all thefe Things,
The End of the Firft Part.
On the Death aad Funeral of Pious CHILDREN.
BLEST Door of Biffs to weary Saints, Thou art grim Death become; Secur'd as in a Cabinet,
Their Duft is in the Tomb. By Death they enter to thofe Joys,
Prepar'd for them above, There they are ever fwallow'd up
In endlefs Life and Love. O ! there they fee as they are feen.
With clear unclouded Views ; O! there they hear of nothing elfc
But joyful olorious News. Anthems of Joy and Praife are there,.
With Hallelujahs Tung : Who would be fond of this vain World, .This Drefs, this Dirt, this Dung ? There Saints for ever do behold,
Their dcareft JESLV Face: There always they, admiring are
Eternal boundlefs Grace, They're in the Houfe not made with Hands,
In Heav'n eternally They dwell, and with the Rays of Chrift
They fhine moft glorioufly. Quite freed from Labour, Sorrow'* Sin,
From Cumbrance, Peril, Pain ; Then we (bill find whate'er we did
For Chrift, was not in vain. Now Heaven's Work is here begun,
The Work of fmgipg Praife ; The Work and Will of GOD in CHRIST,
Which there we'll work always.
A
TOKEN
FOR
C H I L D R Es N.
. , -i — , , ,
The SECOND PART.
BEING
A farther Account of the Converfion, holy and exemplary Lives and joyful Deaths of feveral Young Childreo, not publifhed in the FirftPart.
Pfal. viii. 2. Out of the Mouth of BAKE* and SUCKLINGS t/>ou hafl^Qrdained Strength.
Chrljlian Reader,
IN the former Part of my Token for- Children, I did in Part promife, that if that Piece met with kind Entertainment, it might be followed with a fecond of the fame Nature. If ir did not fcem to favour a little of Vanity, I might tell the World what Encouragement I have met with in this Work j but then I will only fay, tiiat I have met with fo much, at hath perfwaded me to give this little Book Leave to go abroad into the World, I am not a'fo ignorant, what Difcouragemeni I may meet with from feme ; but as long as I am fure I /hall not meet with this, that it's improbable, if not irnpoflible, that it fhou.d fave a Soul} I think the reft may eafily be anfwercd, or warrantabfy flighted. But becaufe I am perfuaded by feme, that one Example in the former (viz. that of a Child that began to be ferious between two and three Yean old) was fcaice credible, and they did fear might fcmewhat prejudice the Authority of the reft, I /ball fay fornething to anfwer that. They which make this Objection, ate either Good or Bad ; if B<td, I expe£t never tofa:isfy them, except 1 mould tell them a Romance or Play, or fomewhat that might fuit * rarnal Mind j it's like Holinefs in older Perfons, it is a Matter of Contempt and Scorn to them, much more in fuch as thefe I mention. The Truth of it is, it is no Wonder at ail t» me that the Subjcfts of Satan fhould not be very wr^l pleafed with that, whofe Defign is to undermine the Intereft of their great Mafter : Nothing w<ll fatisfy fozne, except thrift and Holinefs may be de§iadc4 and viltficd, E » But
To the R E A D E R.
But hold Sinner* hold, never hope it, Heaven dull never be turned into Hell ifor thy fake : and at ibr thy Atheiftjci! Objections, Scoff* and Jeer?, they &a e'er long he ru'ly.aufwered j and the Hofaunaa's and Halieiujan's of thefe fweet babes flu 1 condemn thy Oaths, Blafphemies and Jeers, and then thou wtlt be filenced : and except converting G-ace corn thy Heart qivck.'y, thou wilt forever rue thy Madnefs and Foily, when it is too }n\e 10 remrdy it. But if the Perfons who make this Objection are godly, I quefticn cot but k'uat 1 may give them reafon»ble Satisfaction.
Fi.-ft. Confider, who it is that I had that E*amp'e from. It was one Mrs. Jeofrict in Long-JLane in Mary Magdalen Bermondfey Paiifii, i»-tbe county ofSurry, a Woman of that Fame in the Church of Chrift for her exem- plary Piety, Wifdom, Experience, and hrgular Watchfulnefs over every Punctilio th** fh: fpsiks, that I queftion not but that her Name is preci- ous to raoA of the Minifter? of London, at leaft in the Bam-ugh j and as a Reverend Divine faid, fuch a Mother in Ifrael, her Tingle Teft,mony about London, is of as much Authority almcft as any one fingle Minifter't . And having fmce difcourfcd ibis matter with her, fiic calls God to W.mefs, that ihc bath fpoken nothing but Truth $ only in this /he failed, in that /he fpake not by far fo much at flie might have done, concerning that fweet Babe. I might add, that I have fince 'hat (een a godly Gentleman cur of the Country, fhat did proteft to me, that he had fecn as m»;ch as tha' iu a little one of the fame Age, who fince that Time, 1 hear, w;nt lw«etly r.o Heaven. Duth.not the Reverend Mr, Clark, in his Workr, quote 2 Child of two Ysars old that looked towards Heaven ? Doth not ci edible H.ftory acquaint us with a Martyr at fevrn Years oJd, that_was whipped aimoft to Death and never flied one Tear, nor complained ; aad at iaiV, Yi$ his Head ilruck off? I do not fpeak of tbcfe as common Matteis, but record them aaiong thofe ilupendous Afts of Him that can as eafily wcrk Wonders aa not. What is too hard for theAImighty ? Hath God faid he wiil work no .more Wonders ? I think moft of Go<Ts Wo;ks in the Eufmefs of Conver- Kioo call for Adaniraiion % And I believe that Silence, or rather Praife, would letter become Saint:, than queftioning the Truth of fuch Things : Efpe- eially where an apparent .Injury is thereby done to the intere/r. of Chrift, the Honour of God:o Grace, and the Reputation offo eminent a Saint. • I judge this fufficie.n? to fifisfy moft j as far others, I trouble net mjie't ; If I may but promote thslmerfcit of Chnft, ard the good of Souls, and give op my Account with Joy, i»'s enough. Th^f the Lord would blcfs my ^ndeavcurs to thefe Ends. I beg the Prayers af all Saints, and yours alfu fweet Children that fear the Lord. And tfcat P..rtnts and Mafter* would aflift me with their warm Application of theff Thirgf j and that C}» Idrec iBaay be their Crown and their f iy, is the Prayer of one that defues te love Chri{i and little Children dearly,
"James J anew ay >
for CHILDREN.
.<t>....<>.-.*>--<X""<>-"«>-'O"-O"-'<>-"O -<>--<>• "<>••••<>•—<>••><>•— <>...-4>....<>..
The SECOND PART.
EXAMPLE VIII.
O/" 0 C/6//V thai was very furious at four Tears oht, with an dc count of his comfortable Deatb^ whm be was twehe Tears and three Weeks eld.
JOHN Sud/onv, was born of religious Parents, in the County of MiJdlefix, whofe great Care was to inftil fpiritual Principles into him, as foon as he was capable of underftanding of them ; whofe Endeavours the Lord was pleafed to crown with the defired Succefs ; So that (to ufe the ExprefLoji of a holy Man concerning him) Scarce more could be expected or defired from fo little a One.
2. When he was fcarce able to fpeak plain, /he feemed to have a great Awe and Reverence of God upon his Spirit, and a ftrange Senfe of the Things of another World, as might eafily be perceiv'd by tbofeferious and admirable Queftions which he would be oft aiking of thofe Chriftians that he thought he might be bold with.
3. The firit Thing that did mod affect him, and made h-'m endeavour toefcape from the wrath to come, and enquire what he mould do to be faved, v/as the Death of a. little Brother ; when he faw him without Breath, and not able to fpeak or
'ftir, and then carried out of Doors, and put into a'T^t-hole, he was greatly concerned, and afked notable Qjueftions about hini ; but that which was moft affecting of himfelf and others vvas, Whether he muft Die too ? which being aufwered, it
made
2 A Token for CHILDREN.
made fuch a deep Impreflion upon him, that fiom that Time forward he was exceeding ferious, and this was when he was about four Yeats old.
4. Now he is dttirous to know what he might do that he might live in another .World, and what he mufl avoid, that he might not die forever, and being Inftrucled by his godly Pa- rents, he foon labours to avoid whatsoever might difpieafe God; now telihim thai any thing was finful, and that Gcd \\oulj not have him to do it, and he is eafiiy kept from It ; and even at this Time of Day, the Appreheollons of God and Death and Eternity lard fueh a Reftraint upon him, that be would noi fyr a World have told a Lie.
5. He quickly learnt to read exactly, and took fuch plea- fure in reading the Scriptures, and his Catechifm, and other good Books, that it is fcarce to be parallel ; he would na- turally run to his Book without bidding, when he came HOUK from School, and whenother children of his Age and Acquain- tance were playing, he reckoa'd it his Recreation to ba doing that which is good.
6. When he was in Coa'ts he would fliil be afking his Maid ferious Quellipns, ana praying her to teach him his Catechifm, or Scriptures, or fome good things ; common Dif- coarfe he took no Dehght in. but did moil eagerly defire tc be Kicking ia the Kno'^lscig-.' of ihe Things of God, Chrift, hij Soul and another World.
7. He was hugely taken with the reading of the Book ol Martyrs, and would be be ready to leave his Dinner tc go to his Book.
8. He was exceeding careful in redeeming and improving of Time; fcarce a Moment of it, but he would give an ex- cellent Account of the Expence of it ; fo that this Chile might have taught elder Perfons, and queftionlefs condemt their idle and unaccountable waitings of thofe precious Hour: in which they mould (as this fwcet Child) have been laying in Provifion ft r Eternity.
9. He could not endure to read any thing over flightly, bu vhatfoever he read, he dwelt upon it, and laboured to under ftand it thoroughly and lemember it, and what he could no underftand he would oft a{k his Father or Mother th< Meaning of it.
10. When
A foken for CHILDREN. 3
TO. When any Chriftian Friends have been d'.fcourfir.g vith his Father, if they began to talk any Thing about Reli- gion, to be fure they IhouJd- have his Company, and of his >wn Accord, he would leave all to hear any Thirg of Chrift, ind crept as clofe to them as he could, and liilcn -as affeftio- nately,thGughit \vere for an Hour or two : He was fcarceever Scnown to exprefs the leaft Token of Wearinefs while he was hearing any Tiling that was Good, and fometimes when Neighbours Children wq^ild come and call him out and entice jiim, and beg of him to go with them, he could by no Means be perfwaJed (though he might have had the Leave of his Parents) if he .had any hopes that any Body would come into his Father's Houfe.
11. He was very modeft whilfl any Stranger was prefent, and was loth to afk them any Queflions : but as foon as they* were gone, he would let his Father know that there was little faid or done, but he obferved it, and wotrlcl reflect upon what was paft in their Difcoarfe, and defire Satisfaction in what he could not uriderftand at prefent.
12. He was a Boy of moft prodigious Parts for his Age, as will appear from his folid.and rational Queftions; I ftuU mention but two of many.
13. Thefirft was this, ^'hen he was rending byhimfelf, in Dr«//c,VsPoems about AW>'sFIoodandtheArk,heafked,Who built the Ark ? It being anfwered, that it was likely that W',ak hired Men to help him buildit: And would they(faid he) build an Ark to fave another, and not go into it themfelves?
14. Another Queftion b« put was this : Whether had gjc-itcr Glory, Saints Cf Angels ? It being anfwered, that Angels were th» moft excellent of Creatures and ii's to be :hought their Nature is m'ide capable of- greater Glory than Man's. He faid, he was of another Mind, and his Reafon was, aecauff Angels were Servants, and Saints are Children ; and chat Chrift never took upon him the Nature of Angels, but he ook upon him the Nature of Saints, and by hiY being MAN, rle hath advanced Human Nature above the Nature of Angels;
i 15. By this you may perceive the greatnefs of his Parts, ^nd the bent of his Thoughts ; and thus he continued for everai Y'ears together, labouring to get more and more fpiri- :ual Knowledge, and to prepare for an endlcfs Life.
16. He
4 A Teken for C H i L D R i w.
1 6. He was a Child of an excellent fweet Temper, won derfuHy dutiful to his Parents, ready and joyful to do what fee was bid, and by no Means would do an^ Thing to difple-ife them, and it they were at any Time feemingly angry, he would not ftir frofri them, till they were thoroughly recon- ciled w him,
17. He was not only good himfelf, but would do what he could to. make others fo too.efpecially thofe that were near- eft to him ; he v/as very watchful over hisBrethren and Sifters, and would not fufFer them to nfe any unhandfome Word?, or to do any unhandfome Action, but he would be putting them upon that which was Good : and when he did at any Time re- buke them, it was not childifhly and fiightily, but with great Gravity, and Serioufnefs, as one that was not a little concerned for God's Honour; and the eternal Wel- fare of their Souls.
1 8. He would gC to his Father and Mother with great Ter.dcrocf* afcd Compaflicn (being far from telling of Tales) and beg of thgm, to take more Care of the Souls of his Bre- thren and Sifters, and to take heed, left they mould go on in a finful Chriftlefs State, and prove their Sorrow and,Shame, and go to Hell when they die, and be rained forever.
19. He was exceedingly affected with hearing the Word of God preachedj and could not be fatisfied except he couid carry home ir.uch of the Subftance~flf v/hr.t he had heard ;. to this end he quickly got to learn fi. i would give a Very pretty Account of any Sermon that he heard.
20. He was much engaged in feciejc Duty, and in reading the Scriptures : to be fure Morning and Evening r-e would hfc by himfelf, and xvas, r.o Queftion, wreftring vith God.
21. He would get choice Scriptures by- Heart, and was •?ery perfect at his CatecKifm.
22. The Providences of God werp not pafTed by witkcut conflderable Obfervation by him.
23. In the Time of the Plague, he was exceedingly con- cerned about his Soul and eveilafling State.
This prayer was found written in Short-Hand after his Death,
0
A Tuktn Jor CHILDREN. J
fr*\ LORD COD and merciful bather, take pity ttfrcn me a *S miferablf Si finer, ana ft lengthen me, 0 Lord, in thy Faith * and make me one ffthv glorious Saints in Heaven* 0 Lord9 keep me from this poifoncus Jr.fettion ; however, r.ot my Will but thy Will le done, 0 Lord, on Earth, as'it is in Heaven ; but, 0 Lord, if thou haji appointed me to die by it, 0 Lordt fit me for Death, and g -ve ine a good Heatt forbear up under my <4 fit ft ions : 0 Lord Cod and merciful Father, take pity upon me thy Child ; leach me, 0 Lord, thy Word, make me, firong in Faith. 0 Lord, I have finned againft thee ; Lord pardon my Sins. 1 had been in Hell longago, if it had not faen for thv Mercy : 0 Lord, 1 pray thee to keep my Parent* in thy Truth, and Jav^s tktm front this Infeftion, if it le thy Iff /I, that they mcy lite to bring me up in thy Truth : 0 Lord, I pray thee ft ay this Infcflion that ragcth in this City, and pardon their Sins, and try them once vtorct and fee if thcj nvil I tu*n unto thee. Save we, 0 Lord, from this Infefiion^, flat I way lire to praift and glorify thy Name ; but, 0 Lent? if thou haft appointed me to die of it, fit we for Death, that I way die with Comfort ; and, 0 Lord, I pray thee to help rite to bear up under all Affi'ttions, for Chrift's Sake. Amen.
24. rfe was not a little concerned for the whole Nation;' and begged that God wo old pardon the Sins of this Landa and bring it nearer to himfeJf.
25. About the Beginning of November 1665, this fweet' Child WAS fmote with r^c Diftemper,. but he carried it with admirable Patience under the Hand of God.
26. Thefe were feme of his dying ExprelTions — The Lord fliall be my Phyfician, for he will cure both Soul and Body — • Heaven is the bell Happicefs — It is the Lord, let him do what feemeth good in his Eyes.-— — Again, — It is the Lord that taketh away my Health ; but I will fay as Job faid, BU/edbe the Name of ins Lord.— If I fiiould live longer, I ftiall buc fin againft God. Looking upon his Father, he faia, If th.c-*
;,Lord would but lend me the leaft Fir.?er of his Hand to lead ,me through the dark Entry of Death, I \vill rejoice in him. : 27. When a Minifter came to him, imong other Things, he'
fpa.ke fome what of Life. He f aid, This is a wickedWoHd.yet it 5?
^ood to live with my Parents, but it is better to Jive io Heaven,
6 A Token for CHILDREN.
28. An Hour and an half before his Death, the fame Mini- Her came again to viiit him, and a/ked him, John, art thou afraid to die r He anfwered, No, if the Lord will but comfort me in that Hour. But, laid the Minifter, How canft thou expeft Comfort, feeing we deferve none ? He anfwered, No, if J^had^my Deferts, I had been in Kell long ago. But, re- plied tihe'Minifter, Which Way dolt thou exped Comfort and Salvation, feeing thou art a Sinner ? He anfwered, In Chrift
alone. In about an Hour and an Half after he fell Lfleep,
faying, lit would take a long Sleep, charging them that were about him not to wake him.
He died when he was twelve Years, three Weeks and one Day old.
E X A~M P L E~lx~
Of a Child that wcs Very eminent ^ when Jhe was between five
and fix Tears old^ with fane memorable PuJJages of her Life t
ibho died about 1640. I. ANn* Lfine ^vas born of honed Parents in Colebrook, in
•^* the County of Buck^ \vho was no fooner abletofpeak plain, and exprefs *ny thing conf'derable of Reafon^but me began toacr. as if (he. were faocYiried from the very Womb.
2. She v/ns very folicitous about her Soul, what would be- co.ne of it when Ihe ihould die, and where flie mould live for ever, and what me (liould do to be f^v^d, when (he w?.s about Five Years old.
\ She was v/ont to be eft engaged in fecret Prayer, and pouring out -her Soul in fuel) a Manner, as is rarely to b« heard of from or.e of her Years.
4. J having Occafion to lie at Colebrook, fent for her Fa- ther, an old Difcipie, an Ifraclite indeed, and defned him to five me fome Account of his Experiences, and how the Lord rft wrought upon him ?
5 He gave me this anfwer, " That he was of a Child . fomewhn civil ; honeft, and as to a Man, harmlefs ; but he was little acquainted with the power of Religion, till this fweet Child put him upon a thorough inquiry into the ftate of his Soul, and would {till be begging of him, and plead-' ing with him to redeem his time, and to act with life and
vigour
A Foken .y&r CHILDREN. 7
vigour in the things of God, which was no fmali demqnftra- tion to him of the reality of Invifibles, that a very Babe and Suckling mould fpeak fo feelingly about the Thirgs of God, and be fo greatly concerned, not-only about her own Sou?, but about her Father's too, which was the occafion of his Conve.rfion, and the very thought of it WAS a quickening to him for thirty Years, and he hopes never 'to wear off the Impreflion of it from his Spirit.'*
6 After this (he put her Father upon Family Duties, and if he was for any time out of his Shop, Hie would f?nd him out, and with much fweetnefs and humility beg of him to come home, and remember the precioufnefs of Time, for which we muft all give an account.
7. 'She was grieved if fhefaw any that conyerfed with her Father, if they were unprofitable, unfavory, or long in their difcourfe of common Things.
8 Her own Language wars the" Language of Canaan : How' folidly, profitably, and fpiritualiy would me talk ! So that fhe made good people take great delight i$ her Company, and juftly drew the Admiration of all that^new her.
9. She could not endure the Company of common Children, nor Play, but was quite above all thofe Things which muft Children are laken with; her Bufmefs w: to be reading, praying, difcourfing about the Things of God. and any k nd of Bufmefs that her Age and Strength was capable of: Idle flie would not be by any Means.
10. It was the greatefl Recreation to her to hear rny good People talking about God, Chrift, their Souls, the Scriptures, or any Thing that concerned another Life
11. She had a ftrange contempt of the World, and fcorned thofe Things which moft are too much pleafeJ with. She could not be brought to wear any Lac^a, or any thing that flie thought was fuperfluous.
12. She would be complaining to her Parents if flie faw any thing in them that fhe judged would not be for the Ho- nour of Religion, or fuitabie to t' which .the Providence of God had.fet them in, in the '»'/'.': rid.
13. This Child was the Joy and Delphi of all the Chrif-
in thofe Times, \vho was itill quicb/r:^ F 2 anj
: 4 Token for G H i L D R 5 ».
and raifing of the Spirits of thofc that talked with her. This ?oor Babe was a g eat help to both Father and Mother, and ner Memory is fweet co this Day.
|4- She continued thus to walk as a Stranger in the World, and one that was making hafls to a better Place. And after fne had done a g.-e-t deal of Work ca;ied Horns to retf, ?nd received into the .Arris of JE s u t, befur- Ihe WHS ten Years old ; file departed about 1640.
E X A M P L E X.
Of a Child that wis awaktncd -whtn fl)t was between 7 anJ 8 Tears <?/;/, with jowe Account sf her lajl Hours, and triumphant Heath.
I. CT*dbitha Alder was a Daughter of a holy and rev?- •4- rend Miniiter in Kent, who lived near Gravt fruit. She was much inftrucled ill ihe holy Scriptures and her Gate- chifm,by her father and Mother, but there appeared nothing extraordinary^in her, till (he was between Seven and Eight Years old.
2. About which Time, when (he was fkk, one aflced her, What (he thought would become of her if ihe fhould die I ihe anfwered, That (he was greatly afraid (he (hould go to [lell.
«. Being afked, why (he was afraid of going to Hell ? She angered, Becaufe (he feared (he did not love God.
4. Again being afked, How (lie did know that (he did not Jove God ? She replied, what havs I done for God ever fince I was born ? And befides this I have been taught, That |ie that loves God keeps his Commandments, but 1 have kept none of tham all.
5. Being further demanded, If fli? would not fain love God ? She anfwered, Yes, with all her Heart, if (he could, but (he] found it a hard Thing to love one (he did not fee.
' 6. She was advifed to beg of God a Heart to love him ; flic j anfwered, She was afraid it was too late.
7. Being afked again, whether (he was not forry that fhe.i could not love God? She anfwered, Yes, but ftiil was afraid
It was too late.
8. Upon
4 foktn for C H j L B R E *r. £
8. Upon this, feeing her in fuch a defponding Condition, a dear Friend of hers fpent the next Day in .Failing and Vrayer for her.
9. After this that Chriilian Friend afl:ed her how (he did now ? She anfwered with a great deal of joy, Th?.t now. (he blelfed the Lord, (lie loved the Lord Jefus dearly, The felt ihe did love him ; Oh ! faid fhe, 1 iov« him dearly.
10. Why, faid her Friend, did you not fay Yefterday, that you did not love the Lord, and that you couKi not ? What did you mean to fpeak fo fhangely ? Sure (faid fhe) it was Satan that did put it into my Mind: But now I love him, O blefTed be God for the Lord jefus Chrift.
' n. After this (he !>ad a Difcovery of her approaching DifTo- lution, which was no final) Comfort to her : Anon, (faid fhe , with a holy Triumph)' I (hall be with Jefus, I am married to him, He is my Huiband, { am his Bride, I have given myfeif to him, and he hath given hhnfelf to me, iind I fhall live with him for ever,
12. This ftrange Language made the Hearers even ftand aftonidied : But thus {he continued for fpme littieTime, in a Kind of Ex«afy of Jo/, admiring the Excellency of Chrifr, rejoicing in her Intereil in him, and loog'og to be with him.
i v After a while, foire of her Friends jtanding by her, obferved a more than qrdinary Earneftnefs and Fixed nefs in her Countenance ; they fnid one to another, Look how <?ai r neftly (he looks, fure /he feeth fcmcthing.
74.. One a/ked, -What it was fhe fixed her Eye* upon fo eagerly; I warrant (faith one that was by) (he feeth Death a corning,
re. No (faith (lie) it is Glory that I fee, it is that I fix my Eye upon.
1 6. One afked her, What was Glory like ? She anfwered, ! can't fpe ik what, but I am going to it ; will you £p with me to that Glory ! With which Words her Soul took, Wing, and went to the Poffeflion of that Glory which Hie had foms believing Sight of before.
She died when flie was between eight and n'ne Years old, about 1644.
EXAMPLE
19 A Token for CHILDREN.
EXAMPLE XL
Of a Child that was greatly affeftsd with the Things .,
when Jhe was very young, with an exafl Account of her admirable Carriage upon her Death- Bed.
I. C>Ufannah Bicks was born ar Leiden in Holland, Jan. 24. ^ 1650, of very religious Parents, \vhofe great Care wa$ to inftrucl and catechife this their Child, and to prefent her to the Minifters of the Place, to. be publickly inftrufted and catechifed.
2 It pleafed the Lord to blefs the holy Education and good Example of her Parents, and Catechifmg.to the good of her Soul, fo dm Hie foon had a true Savour and Relifli of what /he was taught, and maJe an admirable Ufe of it in a Time of Need, as you fhall hear afterwards.
3. She was a Jhild of great Dutifulnefs to her Parents, and of a fweet, humble, fpi ritual Nature, and not only the Truth, but the Power and Erninency of Religion did mine in her fo clearly, that (lie did nnt only comfort the Hearts of her Parents, but drew the Admiration of all tha.t we're WitnefTes of God's Work of Love or. her, and may well be propofed as a Pattern not only to Children, bur to Perfons of riper Years.
4. She continue'! inaCourfe of relipious Duties for fome confiderable Time, fo that her Life was more excellent than moll Chriftians, but in her laft Sicknefs (he excelled her felf, and her Deportment was fo admirable, that partly through Wonder and Aftonimment, and partly through Sorrow, many obfervabJe Things were jfcfled by without committing to Paper, which deferved to have been v/ritten in Letters of Gold : But takethefe which follow, as fome of the many that were taken from her dying Lips, and firft publifhed by religious and ju- dicious Chriftians in Dutch, afterwards tranilated into Scotch^ and with a little Alteration of ihe Stile (for the Benefit of Englifn Children) brought into this Farm by me.
5. In the Month of Anguft 1604, v/hen the Peftilence raged To much in Holland* this fweetChiM was fmirten, and as foon as me felt herfelf very ill, me was faid to break fonh wiih abundance of Senfe and Feeling, in thefe Words : If thj I..--' were not my Delight, I Hiould perifii in my Affliction.
6. Her
A Token for C H i L D R JMT. is
i 2 A fvktn /<?£ CHILDREN.
but afl<ed what Day it was ? Her Father faid, it was the Lord's Day. Well then, faid me, Have you given up my Name to be remembered in the public Prayers of the Church' Her Father told her he had. I have learnt, "faid (he, ThS the effectual fervent Prayer of the R/ighteous availeth much.
12 She had a very high Efteem for the faithru! Minified of Chrift, and much defined their Company where flie was, but knowing the Hazard that filch a Vifit might expofe them and the Church to, me would by nr. means fuffer that the Mini- fliers (hould co.iie near her Perfon, out chofe rather to throw herfelf upon the Arms of the Lord, ai.d to improve that Know- ledge ihe had in the Word, her former Experience, and the Vifits of private ChriftianS, and thofe whom the Church had appointed in fuch. <- afes, to vifit and comfort the Sick.
15 One of thofe which came to vlfit her, was of very great Ufe to coiijfoit her, and lift her ap in fomc Meafure above the Fears of Death.
14. Though young, ihe was very much concerned for the Inter eft of God and Religion, for Gofpel-Min!ftefs,and for the Sins and Decay of the Power of Godlinefs in her ownCountiy,. •which will further appear by what may follow
15. Her Father cc?i;ing in. to her, found her in an extraor- dinary Pafiion of weeping, and afked her wh^.t was the Caufe of her great Sorrow: She .anfwered, Have I not caufe to weep, when I hear that Dotainf De IV it w^.s taktn fick this Day in his Pulpit, and went home vet y ill? Is not this a fad Sig.Yof God's Difpleaftfre to our Country, when he fmiteth fuch a faithful Paftor.
16 She had a high Valuation of God, and could fpeak :n iJiivid'd Lauguage, Whom have 1 in Heaven but Thee,,an'd there is none on Earth that I can d<Ji> e in cwpanfin cf Thee. She was much lifted above the Fears of Deiith; what elfe was the Meaning of fuch Exp efTions as thefe ? O^how do 1 long ! even as the Hart panteth after thee, OGod, for God, the living God, when mall I come and appear before God.
17. She was a great Hater of Sin, and did with muelt Grief and Self-Abhorrency refletf upon it ; but that which lay moil upon her Heart, was the Corruption of her Nature and original Sin. How oft would Ihe cry out in the Words of the Ffilasift, BeboiU, I was ftiapen in Iniquity, and in Sia'
A ^Token for CHILDREN, ij
did my Mother conceive me : And I was altogether born ia !r.;i. L>h.e could never lay herfelfJow enough under a Senfe uf that original ciin which ihcbs ought with her into theWorld. if!. She Jp,ike many ihirgs very judicioufly of the o}d M:i.is i»nd jn-.'.iino it off and of the ntw Man, and putting that on; which {hewed that fhe w«sno btranger to Conver- fion, and that fhe in feme Meafuie underftood what Mor- tification ^ 8e.lf-denra4, and taking up of her Crofs, and fol- lowing Chrilt meant 'llut Sciipture was much in her Mouth, The Saciifices of God are a contrite Heart ; a broken and a contrite Spirit, O <"icd, thou wilt not defpife. That Brokennefs of Heart ((aid fhe) which is built upon and flows from Faith, and, that Faito which is built upon Chrift, who is the proper and alone' Sacrifice for Sin. Thtfe are her own Words.
19. Afterwards fne desired to reft, and when fhe had flum* Sertd a while, 'fl^e jfiiid, O dear Father and Mother, how weak I dp- ted myfelf ! My dear Child (faid her Father) God will in liis tender Mercy ftrengthen thee in-thy Weak* hefs. Yea Father (faid fhe) that is my Confidence; For it is faid. The bruifed Reed he will not break,' and the frrjoaking Fhx. he will not quench.
20. Then fhe difc/>urfed excellently of* the Nature of Faith' and dcfired that the Eleventh of Hebrews fliould be read unto her; at the reading of which fhe cried out, O what a fledfaft Foyal' Faith v/n.r. that of //briibaw, which made him willing to offer up his ov/n and only Son ! -Faith is the Subfhmce o£ Things h'<;;t\i for, aid cl\e Kvidence of Things not feen.
2 »'. Her Father and Mother , hearing her excellent Difcourfe
and ffcir.0 her excellent v arriage, burft out inC)' Abundance
of Te.irs . Upon whic'h flie p!?«t1ed with them to be patieiit,,
and content with the Hnnd (-r God. 0 (faid fhe) why doyou
weep at this R^re ovei me, fecis^g, \ hope, you have no Reafoa
to queft'.oo, but iftheL'ojd take me out of* this referable
\Vor!d, it fliail be well with me to all Eternity. Yo*.. >ught
;:ii fritisfiel feeing it is faid, (JodisinH*- and
•• /Jim: And do not yt u l .m. y every
Duy, i hat the Vvili of God may be done upon Earth", as it la
yen? Now Futhtr, this is God's Will, that I mould He
v:;">n this fick He'd, and of this Difeafe ; fhall we not be content
'vncn Qur Pvayep ate anfw«red ? Would no; you-- extrcara
G
14 A token {or C H i L D R s ri.
Sorrow be murmuring againll God,without whofe goodPleafure nothing comes topis Altlio' I am ft ruck with this Difeafe, yet becaufeitis th^Vv illot God, that doth fiience me; and I will, as long as I live, pray that God's Will may be done, and not mine. \
22. Seeing her Parents ftill very much moved, fh« further argued with them from the Providence of God, which had a fpecial Hand in every common Thing, much more in the Difpofni of the Lues of Men and Women : And are 'not two : Sparrows fold fcr a Farthing, and not one of them falls to ihe Ground without our heavenly Father? Yea, the very Hairs of our Head are all numbered: therefore fear not, you are of Tnore Value than many Sparrows'. Adverfity and Prosperity they are both good. Some Things appear Evil in our Eves, but the Lord turns all to the Good of them who are his.
23. She came to fpeak particubrly concerning the Phgue. Doth not (faid ihe) the Peililence come from God ? Why elfe doth the Scripture fay Shall there be Evil in the City which I have not fent ? What do thefe People mean, which fay, the Peftilence comes from the Air ? Is noi the Lord the Creator and Ruler of the Air, and are not the Elements under his Government? Or if they fay, it comes from the Earth, hath he not the fame Power and Influence upon that too ? Why rulk they of a Ship that came from frlca ? Have we not rend long ago, Lev. xxvi. 2 5. I ma) i bi ing a Sword upon you, and averge the Quarrel . ?-'~d when you ate aftembled in the Cities, the ng rhe Petfilence in the iiidft of you.
"24.- After this, havino^tsken fome little Reft, fhe faid, O now is the Day for opening of the firft Queftton of the Cate- chifni, and if we were there, we (hould hear, that whether in Death or L?'., a Believer is ChmTs, who hath redeemed us by his own pieclo.is filood from the Power of the Devil : And then fhe quoted Rom. xiv. 7,8. For none of us hveth unto himfeU, and none of us dieth unto hirnfelf. For whether we Jive we Jive unto the Lord,ard vfietrer we die wedie unto the
Vi it!' Wtcpiuy i •»»».»< - . t iS
Hiuft f,o out agv.n. O my dear Parents, Better is the IJay of riw Death than the Day of my Birth.
7 2C. vvlicn
A token /^CHILDREN. 15
z 5 When fl\e had thus encouraged her Father and Mother flie deiirt'dher Father to pray with her, and to lequeft of the Lord iha? fhe might have a quiet and peaceable Paffage into another World.
26 After her Father had prayed for her, fie aficed her, whether he fliould fend for the Phyfician ; (lie anfwered, By no means, for I am now beyond the Help of Doctors. Rut, laid he, my Child, \ve are to ufe the ordinary Means appointed by the Lord for our Help, as long as we live, "and let the Lord do as feemeth good in his Eyes. But,.faid fhe, Give me the heavenly Phyilcian : He is the only Helper. Doth not he . fay, Come unto me all ye. that are weary and heavy laden> and I will give you Reft : And doth not he bid us call upon him in the Day or'Dittiefs. and he will dcjiver us, and \ve mall glorify Irim : Therefore, dear lather,. call upon him yet again for me
27. About this time a Chriftian Friend came in to vifit her, who was not a little comforted when he heard and faw fo much of the Grace of God living in a poor young Thing, which could not but fo far affec't him as to 'draw Tears of Joy -and Admiration from him, and her Deportment was fo inching th:;i he could not but acknowledge Inmfelf greatly edified and improved by her Carriage and Language.
28. That which was not the leailobfci Table in her, was the ardent Affeclion me had for the holy Scriptures and herCaie- chifni, in which fhewas thoroughly inftrucled by the Divines of the Place where me lived, which me could not but own as one of the greateft Mercies next to the Lord Chriil. O how fhs did blefs God for her Catechifm, and beg of her Father to go particularly to thofe Minifters that had taken fo much Fains with her to inftriift her in her Catechifm, ,ind to thank them from her a dying Child for their good Induc- tions, and to let them undcrftand, for their Encouragement to go on in the Work of Catechifing, how refrefhmg thofe Trnhs were now to her in the Hour of her Diftrefs. Q that fvveet Catechifirtg, faid (he, unto which \ did always re- forc with Gladnefs, and attended without Wearinefs,
29. She was much above the Vanities of the World, and took f:o Pieafure at all in thofe Things which ufually take up ti^ Heart and Time of youug Ones, She would fay, thai
G a fte
i6 A Token for C.H i L D R z p.
fhe was griered and afnamed both for Young and CJ ', tc fee how glad and' mad they were upon Vanity, and how fLcliihly they (pent their Time
30. She was not forgetful of the ~are *nd Love of her Matter and Miftrefs whojaught her t^Re-d and Work, but /he defined that Thanks might be particularly given to them. Indeed fhe thought (he could never be thankful enough both to God and man for that Kindnefs that fhe had Experience of : But again and again, (lie de'.ired to be fure to thank the Mini- flerswho inftructed her, either by C.uechi;;ing or Preaching.
31. After fome Reft, her bother aflcsd nsr again, How flie did, and began toexprefs fomewliat of that Satisfaction and Joy. that he^iad taken in her form-jr Diligence, in hjr re . : the Scriptures, and Writing, and her Dutifulnefs, and that Progrefs (he had made in the the Things of God : Upon which ihe humbly and fweetly cefired to own God and his Kindnefs in her godly Eciucatioo, and laid f'he e<leemr:d her lioly Education under fuch P-.-'er.-s :'.nrf Mini'lers as H gte.acr Portion than ten Thoufand Giidem, for thereby I havcfleurned to comfort my felf out of-t'^e ^-\r • .! o! (.J-.-a, '-vhich the Worli befides could never have ait •;
32. Her Father perceiving ii:r to grow •: y we.', laid, [ perceive Child, thou art very \vz-\k ; fr is true Sir (fai-.! I feel my Weaknefs incrcafeth. and f KC your Sorrow increafing too; which is apiece of my Af;l:5ion : Be content, I pray you. It is the Lord whijii doth it v: '• let you and I fay with David, Let us fali into the f. *rd's Hands, for his Mercies are great.
53. She laid a great charge upnn her P.^ rer.tr; not to be ovci grieved for her after her Death, urgiog that of L on them ; while the Child was fick. he'f-ifced i .d wep:, \vhen it died, he wafhed his - -
faid, Can I bring hitn back again from De-tta ? ! ihall'go *o him, but he fiiafl nor return me. So ought you to fay after my Death, Oar Child is well ; for we know it fhall be well •with them that trull in the Lord. :sy a more par-
ticular and ftrait Charge upon }.- De\r Mother, who have c. ::5 for nif
promife me one Thing mo - <- ; »nd .'hat is, lhar.
you r iVeti'< 'tnus T0 y°h'(
4 -Tvken /or C H i i, D R E N. ?7
£ec-iuf- am afraid of your great A$li<5Hon. Confider other Lr.fies, what .they have been : remember Jobt forget-not wha,* x Chrift foretold, In the World you (hail have Tribuiaiiort* but be of good Cheer, in rne you (half have Peace And nni ft the Apoftles fuffcr fo great Tribulati r,, and muft we .fuifer none ? Did not Jefus Chrift my only^Lif/: ar.d Saviour, fweat Droj>s of Blood ? Was he not in bitter A£bny, mocked, -pit at, nailed to the Crofs, and a Spear thrufl through hi.*"""' blelTed Sids, and all this for my fake, for my ftinking Sins fake? Did he not cry out, My (:od, my God, why haft .thou fotfaken me ? Did sot Chrift hang nyked upon the Crofs to purchafe for me the Garments of Salvation, and to cloath me with his Riijhteculnels, for there is Salvation in no other Name.
34. Being very feeble and weak. (he (aid, O if I might .quietly deep in the Bofom of Jefus : and that 'till then he would ftrengthen me ! O that he would take me into his Arms as he did thofe little Qpes, xvlierc he laid, Suffer Ji'itle childien to come unto me, for of fuch is the Kingdom ff Heaven, and
ttock thei^ into his Arras, and \*\A his Hands on them and :fled them. 1 lie here^as a Child, O Lord, I am thy Child, receive me into thy gracious Arms. O Lord, Grice ! Grace ! and not Juftice ! for if thou fli^uldft enter :'nto judgment with me, [ cannot (land, yci, none living iliould be jjft in thy Sight.
35. After this fhe cried out, O how faint am I ! But /ear- ing left me (liould dishearten her Mother, (he faid, While there is Life, there is Hope : If it fhould ple^fe the Lord to recover me, how careful would I be to ple'afe you in my Work and Learning, and wlutfc.ever you (liould require of me ! :
36. After this, the Lord did again fend her Strength, and I (he laboured to fpend it all fot Chrift, in the awakening, tdi- fying and comforting of thofe who were about her ; bur her chiefeft, Kndea,vo,nr was tp fupport her dear Parents from extraordinary Soffow, and to comfort them out of the Scrip-
, 'cliir:; them, That flic knew that all Things did work thj good of them that did love God, even to
j.-ik'd accordirig to his Purpofe. O (". eftabli ,hy free Spirit! Who (hall feparate us from
, >? I am perfuaded, t!'^ neither Life, .
j8 A Token for C H TVL D R E N.
peath, nor Angels, nor Principalities, nor Powers nor Things prefent, nor Things to come, nor Height, nor any other Crea- ture, fhiill feparate us from the Love of God, which is to- wards us in Chrifi jefusour Lord. My Sheep (il:ith Chrift) hear my Voice^ and I know theni, and they follow rne, and I give unto them eternal Life, and they fh*!! never perifli, and no Man (hall pluck them out of my Hands. My Father who gave :hem i-neis gre-uer than alls andlione fhail pluck them out of my r?ather*sHands. Tr-usflie feemed to attain to a hoi /Confidence in God, and an Afftirance of her State as to another World.
37, When (he had a liftis refiefhed htrfelf with Reft, fhe bnrli forth with Abundance of Joy and Gladnefs of Heart, with a feoly Triuhipri cf Faith, faying out, Death is fwa-i lowed up in Viclory : O D^atb, where is thy Sting ! O Grave, where is thy Victory ] The Sung of De.uh is- Sin, and the Stiength of Sin is the Lav/; but Thanks be to God, who hath
en us the Victory through our Lord and Saviour Jefus Chrift.
38. That fhe might the better fuppr-rt her Friends, fhe ililj ^ed upon that which might t?.ke oft fome of their L
by urgi-ig the Neceffity of Deatk : We are from the EadB; I to the Earth we maft reuirn ; Du'ft is the Mother of us the Duft fhcill return to -the Dull, from v/henc$ it is; and the Spiiit to God who gave it.
39 Then Hie difcourfed of the Shortnefs of Man's I ife. O what is the Life of Man ! The Days of Man upon the Eirth aie'as ?!:c Grafs, r- ~ rh'e Flowers of the Fit-Id, fo he flourifheih, the Wind rer i:5 ?.pd it is no incie, and
his Place kno,, i6re.
AO. She furihc- id Sorrov/ that d'rl attend
<*,. us in l his Life-, and the Ip.v , ihs rnarev/e l;n : no^v
^ the Lord will free me from iK >-'- Sin
rot the Tfioughts-of God, yet c ii, tbat they
2' e Mercy and Peace, "and do , j End. But
fhall I fay, my Life iliall not continue long, I feel much ;-:efs. O Lore', look upon me graciq,uHy, havt pity upon my weak diftreffed Heart. I .mi opprei: for me, that J may (land faft and ovcrcotv.e.
4!. She \vr>s very frequent in fpiruual Ejaculations, and it
fma-.l C(.n}i>>rt to her, that ?he Lord Cruift did p.rny
to fend his Spirit to comfcrr 4ier. It is
A Tcttn /^CHILDREN. 19
faid (faid (he) I will pray the Father, and he fhall give you another Comforter. O,Jet not him leave me ! O Lord, con- tinue with me till my Battle and Work isiinifhed.
42. She had very low and undervaluing Thoughts of herfelf and Lei own Righ^oufnefs : What meant fhe elfe to cry cut in fucli Language as that, None but Chrlfi I Without Thee I can do nothing ! Chrift is the Vine ! O Jet me be a Branch of . that Vine : What poor Woims are we ! O dear Father, how lame and halting do we gr. in the Ways of God and Salvation ? We know but in part, but when that which is per feel is come, then that which is imperfect foall be done away. O that fehad attained to that n<xw: Ik*»what are we ourielves, not only Weaknefs and Nothingnefs, but Wicked nefs : For all the Thoughts and Imaginations of Man's Heart are only EviJfc and that continually : We are by Nature Children of Wrath, and are conceived and born in Sin and l/nrighteoufnefs. Oh ! Oh ! this wretched and vile Thing SIN ! But thanks to God, wh^ hath redeemed me from it.
43. She comforted herfelf and her Father, in that great
tcripture, Rom. viii. 15,16, 17. Ye have not received the pirit of Bondage again to Fear, but ye have received the Spirit of Adoption, by ivhich we cry, Ablm Father. It is the Spirit that \vitnefTeth with our Spirits, ihat we aie the Children of God ; and if Children, then we are Heirs, Heirs of God, and Joint- Heirs v ith Chrifl. You fee iherce, Father, that I >fhall be a Fellow- Heir with Chrift, uho hath faid, In my Fathers Houfe ate many Manfions, if" it were not fo, I would have told you. I go to prepare a Place for you, I will ccmd again, and take you to myfelf, that where I am, there ye inay be alfo. O Lord, tnke me to thyfelf. Beheld, dear Mother, he hath prepared a i;lace anil Dwelling forme.
44. Yea, niy dear Child, faid her Mother, He (hall ftrengthen you wnh his holy ,Qpint, until he hath fitttd and prepared you fully for that place, which he hath prepared for you.
45. Yea, Mother, it is faid in the 841!) Fialm, How lovely are thy Tabernacles, 0 Lord of Holts, my Soul doth thirit3 and longeth for the Courts of the Lord : One Day in thy (. u ts is better than a .Thou find; yea, I had ratht Dcor-keeper in the Houfe^of Gcd, than dwell in the Tents of the Wicked. Pvead ibis Pfalm, dear Mother, \vhe-/e-
Witfc
z6 *A Token for C H i L D R E K .
with we may comfort one another. -As for me, i am more and more fpent, and draw near my hft Hour.
46. Then, fhe defired to be prayed wiih, and begged that the Lo.d would give her ac eafy PafTige.
47. After this, ihe turned to her M^iher, and with much Affection. (hefaid, Ah, my deaf and Jovirg Mother i that v;hich Cometh from the Heart doth ordinarily go to the Heart ; once more come and k'ifs me before I leave you.
48. She was IV.H a little concernid about the Souls of her Relations, and did particularly charge it upon her Father, to1 do what he poflibly could to biung them up in the Ways of God. O Jet my Siiler be trained rip in the Sciiptures, and
*Catecliiflog, as I have beer).
49. I formerly wept for my Sifter, thinking that Jhe w : uld die before me, and now me v/eepeth for me, and then me kiflecf her weeping Siffrrr Alfo the took her young filler in hef Arms, a Child of fix Months "old, and (he tiffed it with much Affection, as if her very Bowels had moved within her, and fpoke with many Heart-breaking Words, both to her Parents snd the Children.
50. Her Father fpafce tc'one that was by to take the poor little Child away from her, from the Hazard of that fiery Diflernp?r, and bid his Daughter to give her from her, for he had already too much to be-.r. Well. Father, faidfhe, did not God prefervc the three' Children in the fiery Furnace : And did you net teach . :ipture, Wken tfau p:\ifrft th>o* tht Fir? ihou f>jdt ;;;! iz l;t>;itt r^itLcr Jhall t!'? F/amtJt k-ndls upon l hft;.
51. She had a very ftrong Faith in the Dech-inc of the1 Rcfurrcdior., and did greatly folace lier Joul with excellent Scriptures, ., -:.ik the happy State of Be'ic
foon as the^r ^J fxim their Bodies ; and .'.-h&t
ihe quoted otu of tf,e Scriptures, ilic did exceilenily and fuit-
ably apply to her own Uie, incomparably above the commori
Reach of her Sex and Age. '1 hat in" i Cor._xv. 42. w^s a
good Support to her. The Body is fown in Corruption, but it
e railed in Incorrnption : it is fown in Dimoro'jr, it
i raifed in GJory : It is fown in Weaknefs, but k mall
•^-.{ in Pov/er, And then ftie fwcetly applies, and tnkes
k is, and thus it lhall be 'vvith.
iny
A Token /(^CHILDREN. 21
my poor mortal Fkfh : BlefTed are the Dead that die in the Lord, becaufe they reft from their L;^bcur, and their Works do follow them. The Righteous rerifh and no M«>n layetl it to Heart, and the Upright aie itken ;*w*y, and no Man regardeth it that they are titken away frcm the Evil to ccme: They fhall enter into Peace, and they ihal] rtft in their teds, every one who walketb in his Uprightnefs. Behold new. Father, I (Hall rtft and fleep in that Bed-Chamber,-.
52. Then (he quoted J< b xix. 2,5, 26, 27 I knew that my Redeemer liveth, and that He fiuJl Hard at the, latter End upon the Earth ; and though after rry Skin Worms deflroy this Body, yet in my fltfh (hall J fee God; \vhcml mall fee for my ieJf, and my Eyes (halj behold, and not ano- ther, tho' my Reins be ccnfumed \vithin rr,e. Behold no\* Father, this very Skin which you fee, and the very Flefh which you fee, fhr.ll be raifed up again; and thefe very Eyes Which now are fo dim, mall on that Day fee and behold my dear and precious Redeemer ; albeit the Worms eat up my Fleih, yet with thefe Eyes ihafl I beheld God, even I myfelf, and not another for me. * .
53. Then (he quoted Job y. 28. Marvel not £t thus, for the Hour fs coming in which all that are in their Graves fhall come forth ; thofe that have done Good to the Refur- reclion of Life See Facli^r, I /hall rife in that Day, and tfren I (hall behold my Redeemer ; then fiiall he fay, Come ye biefled of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prtpaied for you before the Beginning of the Woild.
54. Behold now I live, yet not I, but Thrift liveth in me, and the Life that 1 now live in the Fleih, is by the Faith uf the Son of God, who loveth me, and gave hi rr ft if fcr me. I am fave'd, and that not of my felf, it is the Gift of God, not of Works that no Man mould boaft.
55. My dear Parents-, .now we muft ftcrtly patt, my Speech faileth me, pi ay the Lo:d for a quiet Clofe to my Conibat.
56. Her Parents replied, Ah our dear Child, how fad is that to us, that we muft pan ? She anfwercd, f go to Hea-
iven, and there we iliall find one anojhtr" again • = Jefus Chrift.
H . Tfe^
22 A Token for CHILDREN.
57. Then ihe comforted herfelf to think of feeing her pre- cious Brother and Sifter again in Glory. I go to my Bro- ther Jacob, who did fo much cry and call upon God to the laft Moment of his Breath ; And to my little Sifter who was but three Years old when file died ; Who when we a(k? d her, Whether (lie would die? Anfwered Yes, if it be the Lord's Will. I will go to my little Brother, if it be the Lord's Will, or I will flay with my Mother, if it be the Lord's Will. But I know that I mall die and go to Heaven and to, God* O fee, hew fmall a Babe had fo much given it to be* have itfelf every way, and in alt I hiogs fo fubmiflively to the Will of God, as if it had no Will of its own ; but if it pleafe God ; nothing from her, but what was the Will and Pleafure ef God: And therefore dear Father and Mother, give the Lord Thanks for his free and rich Grace, and then I mail the more gladly be gone. Be gracious then, O Lord, unto me alfo, be gracious to me. Warn me thoroughly from my Unrighteoufnefs, and eleanfe me from my Sin.
58*. After this her Spirit was refremed with the Senfe of the P<*rJon of her Sin, which rmde her to cry out, Behold God hath warned away my Sins, O how do I long to die ! Trie Apoilie faid, In this Body we earneftly figh ^,nd groan, longing for our Houfe which is in Heaven, that we may be cloathed therewith. Now I alfo He here fighing and long- ing for that Dwelling which is above. In the laft Sermon which I heard, or ever (hall hear, I heard this in the New- Ch;:rcb, which is Matter of great Comfort to me
59 Then ihe repeated feveral notable Scriptures which e quoted in that Sermon, afterwards (he defired to be prayed with, and put Petitions into their Mouths, viz*. That all 'her Sins might be forgiven, That (he might have more abundant Faith, and the AfTu ranee of it; and the Comfort of that Afiu ranee, and the continuation and Strength of that Comfort, according ks her Necefiity fnould require. After- wards (he prayed herfelf, and continued a pretty Space.
60. When Prayers we-,e ended, fue called to her Father and Mother, and demanded of them, whether fhe had at any Time anger'd or griev'd them, or done any Thing that did not become her? and begged of them to forgive her.
6s. They
A Token Jor C H j L D R E N. 23
61. They anfwered her, that if all Children had carried themfelves fo to their Parents as flie had done, there would be lefs Grief and Sorrow on all Hands than there is ; and that if any fuch Thing had efcaped thee, we would forgive 11 v/ith all oar Hearts, you have done as became a good Child.
62. Her Heart being quieted wiih her Peace with God and her Parents, fhe began to difpofe'of her Books; particularly ftie intreated her Mother to keep Mr. Dt Witfs Catechile Lectures as long as fhe lived, for her fake, and let my little Sifter have my other Books, as my Remembrance.
63. Then (faid me) me felt her Breaft exceedingly pained, by which (he knew that her End was very nigh. Her Father fpoke to her as he was able, telling her the Lord would be her Strength in the Flour of her Neceflity
64 Yea, faid me, 1 he Lord is my Shepherd, although I pafs through the Valley of the Shadow of Death, I will not fear, for thouart with me,, thy Rod and thy Staff, they comfort me: And it is faid, The Sufferings of this prefent Life are not worthy to be compared with the Glory thatlhalJ be revealed in us. Shall I not fufferand endure, feeing my glorious Re- deemer was pleafed to fuffer fo much for me ? O how was He mocked and crowned with Thorns, that he might purclufe a Crown of Righteoufnefs for us : And that is the Crown of which Paul fpoke, when he faid, I have fought the good Fight, I have finifhed my Courfe, I have kept the Faith ; henceforth there is laid up for me a Crown of Righteoufnefs, which the Lord the righteous Judge mail give unto me in that Day ; and net only unto me, but to all that love his appearing
65. Ye are bought with a Price, therefore glorify God with your Souls and Bodies, which are his Mull I not then exalt andblefs Him while I have aBeing, who hath bought me with his Blood? Surely he hath borne our Griefs, and took our Infirmities, and weefleemed him fmitten and ftricken of God : But he was wounded for our TranfgrelTions, and bruifed for our Sins : The Chaftifement of our Peace was upon Him, and by his Stripes we are healed ; and the Lord laid upon Him the Iniquity of us all. Behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the Sins of the World : That Lamb is Jefus Chrifl, who hath fatisfied for my Sins. So faith Pau/> Ye H 2 are
?4 A .Token for CHILD ax N.
are warned, ye are fanclihed, ye are j unified in the Name of the Lord Jefus Chrift, and through the Spirit of our God-
-66. My End is now very near, now I fliall put on the white Raiment, and be cloathed with the Blood of the Lamb, that fpotlefs Lamb, and with his fpotlefs PJghteoufnefs Now are the Angels making ready to carry my Soul before the Throne of God. Thefe are they who are come out of great Tribulation, who have wafhed their Robes, and made them white in the Blood of the Lamb.
67- She fpoke this with a dying Voice, but full of Spirit, and of the Power of Faith.
6b. Her lively Aflurance (lie further uttered in the Words of the Apoftle, We know that if this earthly Houfe of our Tabernacle be di Solved, v. e have one which is built of God, which is eternal in the Heavens; for in "this, we figh for our Houfe which is in Heaven, that we maybe cloathed therewith.
69. There, Father, you fee that my Body is this Taber- nacle, which new Irull be broken down ; my Soul fha'l now yari frorri it and be taken up into that heavenly Paradife, in- to that heavenly Jerufalem. There fTiall I dwell and go no more out, but fit and ftng, Holy, holy holy, is the Lord God of Hoils, the Lord of Sabaoth ! Her Jaft Words were ttoie : O Lord God, into thy Hands I commit my Spirit,
O Lord be gracious, be merciful to me a poor Sinner.
And here Ihe fell afleep.
73. She died the firil of September 1664, betwixt feven and eight in the Evening, in the fourteenth Year of her Age ; having obtained that which flie fo oft intreated of the Lord a quiet and eafy Departure, and the End of her Faith, the Salvation of her Soul.
EXAMPLE XII.
Of the excellent Carriage of a Child upon his D tain- Bed ^ when hut Sevin Years eld.
f *^p4COB Bickt, the Brother of Sufannah Bieh, was JT born in L*iJent in the Year 1657; and had a re- ligious Education, under his godly Parents, which the J-Qrd was pleafed to fanctify to his Converfion, ard by it lay »-;ieat Provifions to live upon in an Hour of Diftrefs.
2. This
A ffoktn for C H i L E> R ? N. 25
2 This fweet: little Child was vifited of theLord of s very Jore Sicknefs, upon the fixth of Auguft )66|, three or four Weeks before his Sifter, of whofe Life and Death we have given fome Account already. In this Diilemper he v/ns for the moft part very fleepy and dro\yfy, till near his Death, but when he did awake, he was wont ftill to fall a praying.
3 Once when his Parents had prayed with him, they afk~ ed him if they mould once more fend for the Phyiician i* No (faid he) I wiil have the DoSor no more ; the Lord will rrelp me ; I, knew he will take me to Hirnfelf, and then he fnall help all.
4. Ah my dear Child, faid his Father, that grieveth my Heart. Well, (faid the Child) Father let us pray, and the J^ord (hall be near -for nly Helper.
5. When hig Parents had pr.tyed with him again, he faid, Come now dear Father and Mother, and kifs me, I know that I (hall die.
6. Farewel dear Father and Mother. Farewei dear Sifter. Farewel all. Now (hall I go to Heaven unto God and Je- fus Chrift, and the holy Angels: Father, know you not what is faid by Jeremiah ; Blefled is he who trufteth in the Lord. Now I'truft in him, and he will blefs me. And in i John 2. It is faid, Little Children, love not the World, for tjie World pafTeth aw^y.
7. Away then af] that is in the Word, away with all my pleafant Things in the World ; away with rrty Dagger, for v/here I go, there is nothing to do ^with .Daggers and Sv/ords : Men (hall not fight there, but praife .God. Away with all my Boojcs ; there fhaii I know fufiiciently, and be learned in all Thinas of true Wifdom, without Books.
8 His Father being touched to hear his Child fpeak at th-'s Rate, could not well tell what to fay; but, ny dear Child, the Lord will be near thee, and uphold thee
9. Yea, Father (faid he) the Apoftl.e Peter faith, God re- fcileth the Proud, but he giveth Gnice t{> the Humble I frail hui-ubie my felf under the mighty Hand of God, an<i ill l-elp and lift me up
'ear Child, laid his Father, hnft rhou fo ftror.g
26 A Token /^CHILDREN.
11. Yes, faid the Child, God hath given me fo flro.-g a Faith upon Himfelf through Jefus Chrift that the DevJ him- felf (hall flee from me, for it is faid, He that beLeuath iti the Son hath evsrlafting Life, and he hath overcome th^ •wicked One. Now 1 b-r^ve ia Jefus Chrift my Redeemer^ and he will not leave or forfoke me, but lhall give unto mq eternal Life, and then fhall I ling, Holy, holy, holy, is tbi Lord of Sabbath.
12. Then with a fhort Word of Prayer, Lord be merciful to tnaaSinner, he quietly breathed out his Soul, and fweetly flept in Jefus, when he was about Seven Years old. He died Auguft the 8th 1664.
HALLELUJAH.
E X A M P L E XJII.
Of one who began to look towards Heaven* when he was ve*} young, with many eminent Pajjages of his Life, and his joy fa Death, when be wa< 1 1 Tears and three Quarters old.
/Ohn Harvy was born in London, in the Year 1654, His Fatner was a Dutch Merchant. He was piouflj fducated under his virtuous Mother; and foon began to fuel 1-.. divine Things with no fmall Delight.
2. The fit ft Thing very obfervabls in him was, thatwher he WITS two Years and nine Months old, he could fpeak a,
as other Children do uCually at five Years old.
3. His Parents judging that he was then a little too younj to fend out to School, !<?t him have his Liberty to play J little about the Yard- B'jt inflead of playing, he found oil a School of his own Accord hard by Home, and vent to thj School-Miftrelj, and inteated her to teach him to read, and \( went for fome Time to School without the Knowledge of hi Parents, and made a very ftrang^ Progrefs in his Learning and was able to read diftinclly, before mo(r Children ar able to know their Letters
4. He was wont to aik many ferious jnd weighty Queftion about Matters which concerned his Soul and Eternity.
5. His Mother being greatly troubled upon the Death fl one of his Uncles, this Child came to his Mother and faK
" Mother,
A Token for C H i L D R E N.~ 27
28 A Token for CHILDREN,
of him to fpend hisTime better than in Drinking and Gaming * and this he did without any Inflection from his Parents, but from an inward Principle of Grace, and Love to God and Souls, as it is verily believed.
10. When he was at play with other Children, he would be oftentimes putting in fome Word to keep them from' r.aughry Talk of wicked Actions; and if ^ny did take the Lord's Name in vain, or do-any Thirg that was not becoming of a good Child, they flionld loon hear of it with a Witnefs; nay, once hearing a Boy fpealt very prophanely, and that af- ter two or three Admonitions, he would not forbear, nor go out of his Company neither, he xvus fo tranfported with Zeal, that he could not forbear falling upon him to beat him, but his Mother chiding him for it, he faid that he could not endure to hear the Name of God fo abufed by a wretched Boy.
i \\ He was a Child that tock great Delight in the Com- pany of good Men, and efpecially Miniflers and Scholars ; and if he had any leifure Time, he would improve it by vi- fiting of fuch, wfcofe Difcourfe might make him wifer and bjetter ; and when he was in their Society, to be fure, his Talk was more like a Chriilian and Scholar than a Child.
12, One Day after School time was ever, he gave Mr. Andrew Kant (one of the Minifters of Aberdeen] a Vifit, and afked him feveral folid Queftion*, but the good Man afked him fome Queftions out of his Catechrfm, and finding hip not fo ready in the Anfwers as he mould have been, did a little reprove him, and told him, th;;t r-e muftbe fine to get hi? Cc.techifm perfectly by Heart": The '. hild took the Reproof very well, and went Home and tell very hot upon his Catechifm, and never left, till he had got it by Heart; and not only fo, but lie would be ertjuiring into the Senfe and Meaning of it.
[5. He was fo gieaVly taken with his Catechifm, that he was not content to learn it himfelf, but he would be putting oct.ers upon learning their Catechiim efpecially thoie that were reared him ; he could' not be fati-lied, till he had per- fwaded h'.s Mother's MaiJs to le^rn it;- and when they were at Work, te w^ould be following ihem with fome good
Queilion
A To'&n for C H i L D R E w. 2£
Oueflion or other ; fo that the hild Teemed to be taken up wuh the Thoughts of his Soul and God's Honour and the good of other .bouls,
14 He was a conscientious, obferver of the Lord's Day, fpending all the Time ei.her in fecret Prayer, or reading the: Scriptures, and good ,EU>oks ; I earning eif hjs Catechifm, and he.uing the Wor . of God, urd pubiick, Duties ; and was not only careiui in the Performance of thele. Duties himfelf, but •y/as ready .to pui all that he knew upon a ftri£t Gbfervation of ihe Lord's Day, and exceedingly grieved at the Pro* phanation of it. One Lord's Day, a Servant of his Father's going out of the Houfe upon. extraordinary Cccafion, to fetch fome Licer, he took, on fo Bitterly th t he could- fcarce be, pacified; b.ecaufe that holy Day was fo abufed («s he jucget^ in his Father's. Houfe.
ir. When was between fix and feven Years eld it pleafed God to afiiict him with fore Eyes, which was r,o fmall grief; to him, becaufe it kept him fiom School which he loved as well S3 many Boys do. their Flay ; and that which wrs worfc~ he was commanded by live Docloj not to, read any Book v/hatloe.ver at Home. J'utp hew was this poor Child grieved, that it might not h^ve Liberty to tead t-he bcly Sciiptutes; and for all. their C harge, he would get by himleif^ and Hard by rhe Window and read- the Bible and good Htiks vyea* he was fo greedy of re^dirg the Scriptures, and tuck, fo much, Delight in -them, that he would fcarce a!'ow 1 ime to dref* himfelf^for reading the .Word of G(»d was his great De- light. Yea, tho' he had been beat for lludying fo n.uch, yet i- ju'.'ging it God's Command, that he fbould give himfelf up ro reading, he could ru^t be beat off firm it uii he wasfo.badj, that he had ijke nevei to ht\e recovered hi? ,£ight more
16. It was his Praclice to be much ly hinjdf in lecret Prayer, and he was careful to maru-ge tim VV oik, fo as that it might be as fecret as pt.flible 't could be, but his firqrencyr and conllancy made it to be ealily cbfervtd ; up< n vhxr rc> Tim*, orie having a gie^t TV ird to knew vh.it tjus IvvK-t Bnbe prayed foi. got into a I ii.ce near him, hid l.<aid h ITV very cirutfi'y praying A,.r tie Clurch (f -God. ctfn rj] ij t ihe Kingdom of the Ciclpel might U f{ end c^ti K Woi-Jd.and that U,e Kii^dcm of C»»ct n.i^la rcor« ».rc
30 A Token for C H i L D RE N.
come into the Hearts of God's People, and that the Kingdom of Glory might be haflned. He was wont to continue half an Hour, fometimes an Hour together upon his Knees.
17 He was much above the Vanities that moil Children are taken with, and was indeed too much a Man to live long,
18. He was very humble and modeft* and did by no Means affecl finenefs in Apparel, but hated any Thing more than NecefTaries, either in Cloaths or Diet.
19. When he perceived either his Brother or Sifters pleafed with their new Cloaths, he vvt-uld with a great deal of Gravity reprove their Folly; and when his Reproof fignified little, he would bev/ail their Vanity.
zo. Once he had a new Suit brought from the Taylor's, which when he looked on, he found fone Ribbons at the Knees, at which he was grieved ; Hiking his Mother, Whethei thofe Things would keep him waim ? No Child, faid the Mother. Why then (faid he)do you fuffer them to be pu; here ; you are miftaken, if you think fuch Things pleafe me ; and I doubt fome that are better, than us, may want the Money that this coil you, to buy them Bread.
.21. He would intreat his Mother to have a Care of gra- tifying a proud Humour in his Brother and Sifters ; he did tell them of t*e Danger of Pride, and how little Reafon the) had to be proud of that which wus their Shame; for faid he, If it had not been for Sin, \ve mould have had no need of Cloaths.
22. At Jeifure Times, he would be talking to his School- Fellows about the Things of God, and urge the Nectflity ol 2 holy Life. That Textjie much fpoke on to them, The A> is laid to the Root of the Tiee, and every Tree that bringetl not forth good Fruit is hewn down and caft into the Fire Every Mother's f hild of us that doth not bring forth th( Fruit of good Works, lhall fhortly be cut down with the Aa of God's Wrath, ard caft into the Fire of Hell ; and this h< fpoke like one that believed and felt the Power of what hi fpake, and not with the lead Viability of a childifh Leyitj of pirit. This was when he was between feven and cigh Ye is old, and if he perceived any Children unconcerns about ihdr Souk, he would be greatly troubled at it
13. After
A Token for C H i L D R E N. 31
23. After this, his Parents removed not far from London, where he continued 'till that dreadful Year Sixty-five : He was then ferit to the Latin- School, where he foon made a, great Progrefs, and was greatly beloved of his Mafter, the School was his beloved Place, and Learning his Recreation. He was never taught to write, but took it of his own Ingenuity*
24. I'e was exceeding dutiful to his Parents, and never did in the leaft difpute their Commands, except, when he thought they might crofs the Commands of God, as in the forementioned Bufmefs of leading the Scriptures ,when his Eyes were fo bad.
25. He was exceedingly contented with any mean Diet, and o be fure he would not touch a Bit of any Thing, 'till he iad begged God s Blefling upon it.
26. He would p.ut his Brother and Sifiers upon their Duties, and oblerve them whether they performed it or no,
and when he faw any negleft, he would fopn warn them ; if he faw any of them take a Spoon into their Hands before they iad craved a Bleffing, he faid, That is juft like a Hog indeed.
27. His Sifter was afraid of the Darknefs. and would fome- times cry, upon this Account ; he told her, She muft fear God more, and (be need then be afraid of nothing.
28. He would humbly put his near Relations upon their Duty, and minding the Concerns of their Souls and Eternity, with mare Serioufnefs and Life; :rnd to have a care of doir.g that which was for the Dishonour of God, and the Hazard of the Soul.
29. He was of a compaflionate Difpofition, and very pitiful to the Poor, or any that we'-e in Diibefs; but his greateft Pity was to poor Souls; and as well as lie could, he would t>e patting Children, Play-Fellows, Servants and Neighbours, upon rainuing their poor Souls.
30. One notable Inftance of his true Charity I cannot omit, A certain Turk was by the Providence of God caft into the Place where he lived, which this fvvee? Child hearing of, had a great Pity to his Soul, and fludied how he might be any way inftrumental to do it good; at Jaft, finding a Mar that underftood the Language of the Turk, he ufed Means to get
together, which he at laft procured ; the firfl: Thing that I 2 hp
3* A Token for C H i L D R E K.
he did was to put his Friend upon cjifcourfing wit*i theTurj<: about his Hriucipies whether he acknowledged a Deity •, -which the Turk owning, the next Thing he entjmied after was, What fce thought of the Lord Je.'us Oh rift ? At winch the Turk was troubled, and put off theDifcourfer and (aid he was atbirft.and an hungry; which ;he Child being infonned of by the Inter- peter, immediately went to a Brew-Houfe near at H^nd (his own Hoafe being far off) and did intreat ths' Vaft.r of the Brew-Houfe to gtve him fome Beer for the Turk, and the Argument he uferl was this, S.r, ke^* is a poo* Stranger that is athirji, we know not lahare iv-: may ht cajl before <we die. He went to another Place, and b.gged Food for him j ufirg the f-me Argumenras before. Bu. his Fiiends hearing of it, were angry with him, but he told 'them he did it fior a poor Stranger that was fir fiom Home ; a' d he did it, that he mighi think the better of Chaflians, and the Chriftiafjj Religion.
3 i . He would have a favonry Wort) to fry to every one he converfed with, to put them -n Mind of tiie Wotth of Chrift, and their SouK, and their nearnefs to Eternity. Infomuch, that good People took no fma!S Pleafure in his Company. The Taylor that made hi* -deaths, would keep them longer before hebrouohi them H'-me- that he might have the Ker-eht of his fpi- ritual and c^rifli^n Society ; arid more frequent Vrifits.
2?. He bewailed the mifersble Condinon of the Generality of 'Mankind (when he was about ten Years old) that they were utterly eflranged from God, though they called hint Father, yet they were hi Children only -by Creation, and not by any Likenefs they had to God' or Inteteft in Hirn.:
2; Thus he continued v/alking in the" Ways of God, €ngageH in reading, praying, hearing the Word of God and fpiritual DiCe^urfes, difco\eiing thertbv his ferious Thoughts of Eternity.
34, He had an eatneft defire if it might be the Lord's good Pleafure, to give himferf up o the Lord in the Work of the Miniftry, if he mould live ; aud this out of a devir Love to Chrift and Souls
- 35 He was next to the Bible, mofl taken with reading ot ^'ePev. Mr. Baxter's Works, efpecially his Saints tvcr-
"
4 foten for 0 H i L p K £ V- 3£
lofting Reft', and nuly the Tluu^hts cf that Reft arc! F.tcr- DUV feemed.to fwallow up all other 'Thoughts ; and he lived in a con^.ant Preparation for i(, and looked mure like 01,9 that was ripe fos Gloiy, than an Inhabitant of this' Josvtr World
v 56 When he w«s about eleven Years u.nd three Quartets old his Mother s Hcufe was viiiicd w:»h the Plague ; his el- deft Sifter was the firft thar was vifitei1 with this l^ifier per, and when they were- praying for her, he w..iii.i f.b ai.u weep bitterly. .
37. As foon as he perceived that his Sifter w?s cie^d, h^ (aid, The Uill of the Lord he done ; blefled b, t.^e Lord. Dear ^Ibther/foid he, you muft do as David did, after ihr Child w^s de^d, He wtrt and refrcfhed himfelf, *nd quiedy fubmitted himfeU to the "Will ot God.
38. lie reft of the Family K-1J well for ?bout fourteen Da>s, rthtch Time he fpent in religious Duties, and piep/.r- ing for his Dr. 1 1 ; but "ftili his gieat Book' was, The ^ t.'.ft Reft \ wlsich lie read witl- exceeding v.uri fny jjethering many <,bfetv tions out of i* in VVriti.-g for 'hi* own Ufe. He \rrore ieveial divine MeditAioris of his own upon ieveial Suhjecls ; but that which feen>ed njoit admirdblc, w.^s a Meditation up n rhe ''Excellency' of Chrill: He was never well but when he "was morfc iiDfuediately engaged in the Service of God
39. At fourteen Days End,, he was taken fick, at which he feemed very patient and chlarful. yet fometimes he woul<i fay his Pain was great,
• 4<v His Mother looking upon his Brother, fhaked her Head ; at which he allied if his Brother \fere marked ; (he anfwerec!, Yea ( hi]d, he afl:ed afc-iin, whether he \\e>e m-r- ked: (lie anfweted nothing : \\V11, fays he, I know Ifha'! be marked ; I pray let me have Mr. Hax'ei's bock, that I may read a little more of Eternity, before I go into it. His Mother told him, That he w?s not j;b'e to lead ; He faid that he- was ; however then, piny by me and for me. Flis Mother anfvvered, fhe was fo f<j!l of Grief, th t fne could not pray now ; but delited to hep him pr y hi-3 "*il Prayer. \
41. His
A Token /^CHILDREN.
41. His Mother a&ed him, whether he were willing to die, and leave' her ? He anfwered, Yes, I am willing to leave you. and go to my heavenly Father. His Mother anfwered, Child, if thou hadil but an AfTurance of God's Love, i fhould not be fo much troubled.
42. He anfwered, and faid to his Mother, I am afTured Dear Mother, that my Sins are forgiven, and that I (hall go to Heaven ; for, faid he, here flood an Angel by me, that told me, that Iftioald quickly be in Glory.
45 At this his Mother btlrft forth in Teats. 0 Mother \ faii he, did you but know what Jay I feel t you would not weefi but rejoice. 1 ttll you 1 am fo full of 'Comfort ', that leant t*l\ you how I am', 0 Mother, 1 fliall prsfently have my Hfad in m? Father '/ Bofim, ztid jhall be where the four and twenfy Elders fliall caft down their Crowns, and Jing Hallelujah, Glory and Praife, tz him that fits upon the Throne^ and unto the Lamb forever.
44. Upon this, his Speech began to fail him, but his Soul feeroed ftill to be taken up with Glory, and nothing POM grieved him but the Sorrow that he faw his Mother to be in for his Dea'h: A little to divert his Mother, he afked 'her, What fbs had to Snpper ? but prcfently in a Kind of divine Rapture, he cried out, 0 ivhat a facet Svpptr have J making read* for vte in Glory !
45 But feeing all this rather increaf,- than allay his Mother's Grief, he was more troubled, and afced her what Hie meant, thns to offend God; kn.ow you net that it is tht H \f-.d of the Almighty ? Huztbh yourjeff under the mighty Hand of God. Lay yourfelfin the Du.fl gnd kifs tkt Rod, *fG;d> and itt me fie y on do /'/, in Token oj your Submifflon to the Will of God, and bow before Him. Upon which, raifing himfe)f a little, he gave a -Jowly Bow, and fpake no more, but went chearfully and triumphant'y to Reft, in the Bofom of JESUS.
H A L L E L U J A //.
- ( 35 )
A N A R R ATI VE of fundry remarkable Paflages concerning Mr, John Langham^ Son of Sir JAMES LAN CHAM, Knight and Baronet.*
By THOMAS BURROUGHS, B.ti.
THIS fweet Child was five Tears and an half old within two or three Days, when God took him : But he had arrived to that in five Years and a little more, that fome (I am afraid ) have not at rived to in ten Times the Space.
He had learnt the JJfimblys Jhorter Catecbtfm through, and began to learn it over again, with the Proofs out of the Scriptures at large, wherein he had made feme IVogrefs.
He met one Day (in a Gentlewoman's Chamber, who lives in the.Houfc) with a Book that treated of the PaJJlon ^CHRIST, **nd reading a little in it, faid he liked the Book well, and that he would read it over. So he began arid read fome few Pages, then turned the Leaf down, anci the next Day came again and began where he left, aivJ fo from .Day to Days jfill he had read a confiderable Pare of it,
Me was a very dutiful Child to his Parents, and would exceedingly rejoice, when he had done any Thing* or carried himfelf fo, as to plealc thrm.
He was taken with a Book called The Pra&ict ef Puty, and delighted to be reading in it".
Hi*
* Hf *«V(/ July 29, 1659.'
C j« )
His Father fpcalu ig to h>m one Day about the Devil and Hell, and Thinps of that Natuie. <»fked him, It he were. not afraid t- be alone ? He anf^ee.!., No .: Fcr Gid would dsfiid him. His Father »&ed tvrn, Why ne thought f0 r He replied, that W? loved GW, aw/. /A*/ /v b'pfd that God loved him. Bu: (fanh his Fathci) V->u have bc>en a «• m r> and G d loves not Sinners. But 1 amforryfor jt.y Si it (faith he) and do repent — R^v i i ( c^p'ie^ h i i Fa the i ) do vf%u k«<ow v» h«i Repentance. roe^rs, a d what belongs to it ? Anu he gave nm a gocd. A co -u n't of the Appuhtrfion he had o^ tR^ Nature of t^at Grace, according' to wha- he h^d lea«ned in hi^ Cate- c;".im« but yet in hi* own Words and Expreffions.
H'- wt u d ofttn rfri is Sifter (who. was fomewhat: voungcr than himk 1) Whetbtr flje trufttd In Gcd. and, kvtd G.od?_ 2nd w u'd tell her, that, If flie fought (/;/, G^l iviid! be fmnd of her -t but if foe forfook God^ God uauld caji htr iff fjr ever.
He »0( \ \\ at Dt ;ght in his Book, that his Father and iVloh-r have- tc-en Caufc fometimes to hide awav h s Bo k from h.m.
He w 2^ never oWtrvtd to ^i^cover i-ny Poutirg; or pifjonten.it. wheji upon, any Qrcafion he v-ns tor reeled. For vou muH i.orthirk I am teiiirg u u the Stoiy'oJ one in whom Jdam (as <hf y tei.gn B wave Mure) never fi i ed. There is //W F'oolijhr.ffs \ound up, in ail Children, s Heart!* that uiit fin elites need the Rtd oj Lo> reffian j tho' there be very ie^ M ulu m there appeai ed lefs than io hirn.
T'he Day before ht died, r.e; defned me to pray for him : I ;o1d h m, If he wcu.;d have ire to piay for him, he rr.uit tell me, what I fhouid pray for ; and uh« he would hv\e God do for him ! He anfwtied, T» far /on his &i>s.
Oft upon his fit k Bed he would be repeating to h;m(elr tie 55th Cr.aj.ttrr of Jjaiah+ snd <-;hir Places of bciip'tne, which 141 Ue 1 imc cf his Hv.aiih i.e had
b) Hcau.
But
V 37 )
But that Paflage in the forementioned Chapter was fnoft frequently in his Mouth, and uttered by him withinuch Affection : My Thought s are not yourThougbtt) neit tier are my Ways your tf ays. faith the Lord : Fcf as the Heawns are higher than the Earth, fo are my Ways and my Thoughts than your 7 bought s .* As if God (out of this fwcet Babe's Mouth) had, in thefe Words, rea-l to his Parents a L-£ture of Silence and Sub* miflion under his Hand ; and taught ihem that he mult be dealt with and difpofed oK rot as ihey> but as their heavenly Father (wh-fe Thoughts were far different) ihould fee fining.
One Time he brake out into this Fxprefliori ; My God, my God^ deliver me out of thh A/hftry^ and from the Pains of Hell far Wef.
A little before his Death he brake out into thefe Words i My Sins pardon, my SeuJ fatte, for Chri/t his Sake.
I cannot blame thofe worthy Perfons To nearly related to him, tho' they mourn at parting with fuch a fweet and hopeful Child ; any more than 1 could blame them for feeling Pain, if one of their Lirribs were torn from another. Only they mud not mourn to Defpondency.
What an Inftrument of God's Glory m^ht he have proved ? What a deal of Service might he have done for God (in all Likelihood) had he lived to old Age? But it was Gud's doing.
The END of the SECOND PART,
2fe» '
TOKEN
* O R THE
CHILDREN
\ OF
NE JF- E N GLAND.
/F the Children cf New- En gland fhsuld not with an Early Pietv,y^/ themfehes to Know and Serve the Lord JESUS CHRIST, the GOD of their Fathers, they will be condemned, not only by //^Examples of pious Children in other Parts of the World, the publijned and printed Accounts whereof have been brought over hither ; but there have heen Exemplary Children in the midfl of New- England itfe/f, that will rife up againft them for their Condemnation. It would be a very profitable tiring to our Children, and highly acceptable to all the godly Parents of the Children, i/\ in Imitation of the excellent JANF WAY'S Token for Children, there were made a true Collection of notable Things^ exemplified in ihe Lives and Deaths of many among us* whoje Childhood hath been Jignahztd for what is virtuous and laudable.
In the Church Hiftory of New-England is to be found the Lives of many eminent Perfom, among whofe EminencieS) not the leaflwas^ their fearing of the Lord from their Youth, and their being loved by the Lord when they were Children.
But among the many other Inflates of a Childhood 0«^Youih delivered from Vanity /^Terious Religion, which New-E/ -gland has afforded^ thefe few havs particularly been preftrved.
EXAMPLE
( I )
EXAMPLE I.
° --*-•* ITTLE more than Thirteen Years old was 1 JOHN CLAP, of Scituate.wten he dy'd ; T but it might very truly belaid of him, That Y W/7tf ^* «wrf.r^/ Young, he began to feek £-«'•••->-••«>- 4> after the Gad of his Father. From his Infancy he difccvered a fingular DeJight in the Holy *Scriptures, wheicby he was made wife unto Salvation ; and he allb made himfelf yet further amiable by his Obedience to his Parents, and his Ccurtefy to all his Neighbours. As he grew up, he fignalized his Con- cern for Eternity, not only by his diligent Attendance upon both pubiick and ynvxtsCatechiJtng butalfo by the like Attendance on the Miniftry of the Wtrd, which he would ponder and apply, and confer about with much Difcretion of Soul, and pray for the good Effeft thereof upon his own Soul. Yea, 'twas even from 'his Childhood obfervable in him, that ever after he began to fpeak reafonably, he would both affectionately regard rheFtf w'/y Prayers^ and likewife, both Morning and Evening, with a moft unwearied Conftancy, recommend himfelf by his own Prayers unto the Mercies of God.
Arriving higher into his Age, he was very confcientious of his Duty both to God and Man: and particularly careful of his Father's Bufmtfs, which now became his own Calling. At Work with his Father in the Kield« he would frequently be propounding of ^ueflions^ by the Anfweis of which he might be promoted in the Knowledge of God; and at the Seafuns which others ufually employ to vain Purpofes, he would be abounding in the Exercifes of Devotion. But of all ihe itnitable Things to be feen in !mr>>»he was exemplary nothing more than his Endeavours in Preparation K 3 for,
2 A T o K E N for the
for, and SanfttficatiGn of, the Lord's-Da*;. Yea, his Parents have affirmed, that for a Year or two before he dyd, fheytiev-r .heard an unprvfiiaWe Word'cime out 9f his Mouth ; but he would often bewail the idle, trifling, V4Jn Difcourfes of oth*r People.
About a Yeir and a half before he died, the good Spirit of God We/Ted him with yet a more thorough Convidion of his Mifery by Reafon of ^iri. both Ori- ginal and Aftuilf Whence, though he had "been fuch a P ttem ot Inntcenc), yet he would aggravate his own Strtfufaefet with Lamentations truly extraordinary. — ror his Relief ag i:>ft the Terrors of God, where- \v th he was now fttflraQed he was brought unto an Defpair of his own Righteoufneflfes and Abilities: b,; in this Condition, he came to" adore the Grace of God jffe ing a JESUS who 5? aht: to favc unte tfie it rerwft ; In his Longings to e joy the Love of God through Jefus, he w«ia like the Hatt f anting ffft'r me Wcter-i5r',r,ks /
The Wounds of his >/>/>/'/ were accompanied with a Unguifhing and confuming of his Isfn . yet with great Patience he endured the H. nd of God, and he followed the Lord with Prayers* with 6r/Vj,with Tears , for the Mtnifeftation of the Divine Love unto him.
It was alfo oblerved and admired, that when he was abroad at the publick Worihip, in the Time of nis Weaknefs, he would jiand the whole Tune of the long Exercifes, and be fo affectionately atrentive that one might fee every Sentence uttered in thofe Exercifes make fome Irnpreijion upon him. The beft Ghnftians in the Place profeifed themfelves made adi^med by the Fervency of this ycung Diftiph' ! /\nd in Days of publick Humiliations, or ihankfgirir.gs. kept v/ith ^Regard unto the general Circumflances of the Country, he would bear his Part, with fuch a Senfe of the publick Trouble!* or Mtrcies, as argued more than a. common Meifure of a public Spirit in him.
The Minister of the Place, vifuing of him, after" SickneiS had cdn£nsd him, found him in extream
Dejecliori
CHILDREN of New-Engkr^S. 3
Pejcclicn of Soul ; his verv "-nngh his
Fear, lefc the Day cf Grace *a hihY ; vet
juftifying of God, though ho i! ouio 1st iVi ever an>ong the *Damoecl. But yet his • unip.-Tvni
with Htpcs in the nlfumcient *' Ne Ndied
Jtfus : in whi h /7'yV/ I'.e c "»/
of G- ace* according to h'.s if4n;enu»'g alter
thofe whereof lie w-s 101 r..;-
A Month before lu di-M he kept his Fed ; thf fir ft Fortnight vhti<.of lie \vas vevy conUor iefs. rud yet very parent ; abounding all ,th«s while in gracious Admonition'; u-itrt other young People, tbf-:r they vvould be conce«-ned" for their ov n ete> nal Sa/v«mon.«- — - And y.'ii fh'Hild not now have liearc! Kim complain, th-it 4ie wanted Health and H'n£:. thorg!i he diu fo ; but that he wanted Faith, and Pc-?ce, .ar;d thrift ; ye^t ex-preffing a prof <u:id Subnv'flion f the Will of God.
Put in the lail Fortnight of i.;: :' 'or ("h.iid
of God h.i'i liis weary Son, • :y f.itiated.
with the Promift's of the /• ew-Cwent>r.t. G*d filled him with a marvellous- Affurance of his Love, and fo /£'£/:.<•/ hi ni with hi-- ov/n ^f>:r;t, that he rejoiced ivith Joy ttafyeakabk and full of Glory, He would often be faying, Whom hav* I in Weavcn but thee ? and there h n^ne on Earth that I defire "e/iJes thte : ftly Flejli xr.i my Heart failsib, but God >/ //V Strength cf my Heai t , and ',ny Portion forever. -"nd, <*?"i» that mv R.dstmcr livss, and that he fljall flfivd at the latter Day upon the Earth, An'd, If I l;ve> I frail live, ttvto //•:- Lr>rd ; if I die, 1 Jball die vvto the Lord; nn4 ~'.jl-el' er I fine or die, I am tht-Lcra*r. And, IV hen Chnjl, T-.-''/ /'/ my Life, foalt appear, then foal I '1 alfo .ipp<?r>r <with kiwi ,->; G!or-v. He \vouid profef?, that his Cumniunion witli the Lord Jefus C.hriit was inex^refiible ; and the Spe<5rarcrs judged his Confolar tions to be as grc-'it ?.s could h? boirre, in a rnortal Body. Being now afked, Whether the Thoughts of dying 'troubled him not ? He replied, A-?, Death if no Terror to met becaufi Chrijl haj taken away my 5/»,
4 ^ T o K E N for the
•which it the Sting of Death. But being afked, Whe- ther he was ^willing to live ? He aniwered, / am willing to fubmit unto the Will ofGol ; but- if God have appointed me to Life, I dsfire ( may live i9 h*s Glory. And being aiked, Whether 'God had put out of Doubt his Interejl in a dying and ri/ing Jsfus ? He aniwered, Tes ; 'and God h :/ fallj anfwcrtd my Dtfires* 1 am now going to a, tho'tf-tnd Tint's better World. He told his Mother, I lovs you as dearlv at my own Life, yet I had rather die, and be ivth Chr:ft.
He continued fix Days with his Teeth fo fhut, as that they could not be opened ; and for the firft three Daps and Nights, he took no Suftenance ; afterwards, though this but feldom, he fuck'd in between his Teeth, nothing but a little cold Water : In which Time, they that laid their Ears to his Lips, could over- hear him continually expreffing his Comfort in God. But juit before his Death, his Teeth were opened; when he would often fay, Oh ! bow precious is th& Blood of Chrift, it is worth wort than i 7 noufind Worlds / and often pray, Ctm?, L^rd J e/as, C"»i? quick!;;! And at Uft, he gave up himfelf to God, ii riiofe Words, Lsrd Jtfus* recsivt mv Spirit. He d !i;cd his Mother to turn his Face unto the Wall; whe; r>on fheTaid, John, difl tliou now remember HezekiahV turning his Face unto t's Wall ? Hi laid, Yes> I -? member it ? and as (he turned him in her :\rms lie ] 'ilctly breathed lys Soul into the Arms or* i.is bles7'^ \ S '.i>ur.
h.- Mr. Witheril ./ by M> . Unaa f -hr, CM-.n, He wat a V*}
E X A M P L E I?.
. Thomas T'-ornton> the -.gee! and faithful P^ile- fTarmouf/), w-s L a D.ingliter, named
Ptiicilla, which at the this World,
Having Srfl given De:notiftracio;.s <*/ an c:;:.;-plary Piety.
She
M
CH 1 1 D R E N of New-Englaad. 5
She was one remarkably grave, devout, ferious ; very inquifitive about the Matters of Eternity ; and in her particular Calling very dil'gent. She was, neverthelefs, troubled with fore Temptations and Exercifes about the State of her own Soul; theAnguim. of her Spirit about tfce Body of Death, caufed her to pour out many Tears and Prayers; and me prtfied, that fome other pious Children of her Acquaintance, might with her keep a Day of Humiliation together : That (as (he exprefTed it) they might get power againft their fmful Nature, But it pleaied God at length to blefs the Words of her godly Mother, for the quieting of her Mind. It was her fingular Happinefs, that' me had fuch godly Parents ; but it was her Opinion and Expreffion, We trujl to$ much to- the Prayers of eur Parents, whereas *we Jhould pray for ourfelves.
At laft, (he fell mortally fick. In the Beginning of her Sicknefs, me was afraid of dying: For, faid (he, / know of no Promife to encourage me. She could not but own that (he had in fome Meafure walked with God ; yet (he complained, That (he had not found God meeting her in her Prayers, and making her Heart willing to be at his Difpofal; and that the Pride of her Heart now lay as a Load upon it. She owned, That (he had many Thoughts of Jefus Chrift, and that it grieved her that me had finned againfl him, who had done and dy* d for her.
But many Days were not paft, before me could profefs herfelf Willing to Die, with fome AiTurance of her then going into eternal Bleflednefs. Many Thanks and Loves did (he now render to fqme of her Superiors, declaring, 'Tnuas becaufe they had curVd her, tndreftrairid her from fnful Vanities. And (hefaid', Were / new to dioofe my Company, it fhouU be among the People of God \lfet plainly that they are theonlyCompany. She was not without her Conflicts in this Time; wherein one of her Speeches was, Damnation, that is the •w*rj} Thing of all, but Chrijl it of "alt the be ft : Ifiaditjo ; Chr.Jl it to me Wifdom, Right eoufnejs, Saxtitfcatton,
*»*
6 A T o k E N for tbs
and Redemption. She told her Fathet (he knew (he was made up of all Manner of Sin ; but, faid fhe, 1 hope God b~is humbled me> and pardoned vie in ih? Msr'.ts of the Lord 'jefus Gorijl. Unto her affectionate Mother [he faid }\}<,t!:ert <wby dc you ivesp, when I a?K iuell in wy Scul ? IV il • jsu mourn, when I am fo full of Joy ? ' / fray rejoice with me.
,. ihe v.as extremely fpent, (he faid unto her Patents, 0 ///}' Futier^ I have bs^aviuch troubled bySatant tut 1 Jitid Ch'rift is too hard for him, and Sin, and all. She nuu faid, I kr^^jj nc,*w that 'i Jhall die ; and beitjg afkcd, \Vhe htr fht v ere afraid of Death ? \vitha fweet Sfliiie (he replied^ Ao, »^/ /, Chrift is better than Life! .4na fo Ihe continued in a rnoft joyful Frame, till flic ditd : a little before which it bei g the Lord's Day, (he iifked, What time of the D^y 'twas ? and when they told her, 'Twas Three of the Clock, ihe replied, What is. the Sabbuih almoil done ? Well, my Eternal Sabbath is a going to begin, wherein [ ftiali enjoy all Felicity, and fipg Ha' elujahs to ^11 Eternity. ^nd Lereupca Hie quickly fefl aflec-p in the Lord.
EXAMPLE III,
MR. HATHANAEL MATHER diedo^ob.t;. i6Ho. at the ;- «e of Nineteen, an Inftance of more than common Le;ip;i"g and Virtue On, his Grave- Stone at Ksleiti, theit: aie- thefe Words defervedly infcribed , lii E ASHES OF A N H -i R D STUDENT, AGOOD SCHOLAR, AND A GREAT CHRISTIAN.
He was one who ufed an extraordinary Diligence to obtain Ski!' in the leveral Arts that make an accom- piiilied Scholar : but he was more diligent in his Endea- vours to become an experienced Cbriftian.
He did wuh much of Solemnity enter into COVE- NANT v/irh G.OD, wh»:tt he was ab. ut Fourteen Years old ^nd af»et\vaijds he renewed -that foiecin /idlion, icli A Form as this :
« I
CHILDREN of New- En aland. 7
* I do renounce all the Vanities and wretched Idols and 1 evil Courfes of the World.
* f do choofe. and will ever have, the great GOD, for my heft Good my laft Enci, my only Lord. He (hall be the only One, in the Glorifying and Enjoying of whom ftuli be my Welfare ; and in the Serving of whom (hall be my Work.
' I will ever be rendering unto the Lord Jefus Chrift, my pr per cknowSedgments, as unto my Pdeft, my Prophet^ knd my King, and the Phyfician of my Soul. « I will ever be ftud^ing what is my Duty in thefe Things • ; and wherein I find myfelf to fall (hort, I will' ever count it rny Grief, and Shame ; $nd betake myfelf to the Blood of ' jh6 Everlafting Covenant*
' Now humbly imploring the Grace of the Mediator to 1 be fufficient for me, I do as a further Solemnity, hereunto 1 fiibfcribe my Name, with both Heart and Hand.*
Having done this, he did for the reft of his Life wa& with much Wat cftfuln el's and Exaclnefs.
One of the Difeflorits, which he drew up for himfelf. was this :
* O that I might lead a Spiritual Life! Wherefore let 1 me regufate ,ny Life by the Word of God, and by fuch 1 Scriptures as tlieje,
< i. For regulating mf Thwghtst Jer, iv, 14. Ifa. Iv. 7* * Pfal. civ, 34
* 2. For regulating rny Jfeftions, Col, iii. 1,5. Gal. v. 24, [ For my &*$**,. PAil . i 2. For ray Joy, Phil. iv. 4,
Ffaim xliii. 4. »vly ,0e/!rg, Ifniah ii. 6, 8, 9 My Love* < Matth • xxii. 37 My HatrtfcPhL xcvii ?o My Fear* 4 Luke Kit. 4, 5- My ffofit, Pfal. xxxix. 7. My Trufl, ' Pial. Ixii. 3. Ifi, xxvi 4!
' 3 For itgulaiingmy Speech, Kph. iv. 20. Col iv. 6, « Deut. vi. 6, 7.
* 4. ^or regulating my Work, Tit, iii. 8r i Jim v, -D. ' Matth V- 47.'
i
A T O K E N for tbg
Another of his Direftories was formed into an Hymn* ' LORD, what mall I return unto
* Him from whom all my Mercies flow ?
r(I.) To me to live, it CHRIST thall be, « For all I do I'll do for Thee.
1 (H-) My Queftion (hall be oft beflde, 1 Hiiu thou may'ji mcj} be glorify* 4.
* (HI.) i will not any Creature love, ' But in the Love of Thee above.
•« (IV.) Thy Will I will embrace for nwie ; 'And every Management of" thine
* Shall pleafe me (V.) A Conformity c To thee fhall be my Aim and Eye.
* (VL) Ejaculations fhall afcend
' Not feldom from me. (VI I.) Til attend
* Occasional Reflexions, and
* Turn dl to Gofd that comes to Hand.
' (VIII.) And in particular among
* My Cares I'll try to make nty Tongue 1 A Tree of Life, by fpeaking all
' As be accountable who (hall.
* (IX ) But lafi, nay/r/? of all. I will
* Thy Son my Surety make, and ftill
' Implore Him. that he would me blefs
* With ir'trergth ?s well as Righteaufoefs.'
He would alfo keep 'whole Day! of Prayer and Praife by Limfelf : And he would fet himfelf to consider much of that Queition, What ft> all I do for God?
He was muc-*i in M-ditationt ar*d often wrote the chief Heads of his Meditation. He would read the Scripture, v.-ith a Note, and a ll'tjh, fetched out of every Verier And at Night, he would aflc,
1. What has Gcd'' Mercy to we been this Day?
2. tt hat has my Carriage te God been this Day ?
3. If I die this N>ght, is my immortal Scul jafe? Many more fuch imitable Things are in the Hiflory of his
Life, divers Times printed in London.
E X A M P L £
CHILDREN of New- England. 9 EXAMPLE IV.
ANN GREENOUGH, the Daughter of Mr William Gresntugh* left the Wo*ld, when (h$ was but about sive Years old and yet gave aftonifhing Difcoveries of a Re- gard to God and Chriil, and her own Soul, .before ihe went away. When ihe he^rd any Thing about the Lord Jefus Chriil, fhq would be Arangely tranfported,,and ravifhed in her Spirit at it ; and had an unfpeakable Delight in Catechi- fing She would. put ftrange Queitions abotft Eternal Things, and make Anfwers he/felf that were extreamly pertinent. Once particularly (he a/ked, Are not we dead in Sin ? and piefently added, But I will take this way, the Lord Jefus Chrift mall make me alive. She was very frequent and con- ilaru in Secret grayer, and could not with any Patience be interrupted in it. She told her gracious Mother, That ihe there prayed for her ! And was covetous of being with her Mo'her, when Hie imagined fuch Duties to be going forward. When (he fell fick at lail of a Confumption, The would not by any Sports be diverted from the Thoughts of Death, where ihe took fuch Pleafure, that Ihe did not care to hear of any Thing elfe. And if ihe vere allied. Whether fhe were willing to die ? She would dill cheai fully reply, Ah, by all Means, that I may go to the Loid JeVus Chi ill,
EXAMPLE V.
AT Bcflon, i zth day of the 3d month, 1694, there died one Daqit/ Williams t in the i8th Year of his Age. There was a Collection made of fome of his dying Speeches.
Being aiked, Whetbei he loved theLord? He repiy'd,Yea, I
love Him dearly ; for lord, whom have 1 in Jieaven but thee.
He faid, God had promifed, * They that feek Him eaily
' mall find Him : Ever lince I was a Child, 1 dedicated :ny-
' felf to feek the Lord. * Though I have not had fo much
* Time as fome others, yet that little Time which I had, I
* fpent in wairing on, and wreftling with God by Prayer ; 'and I faid, I will not let thee go, 'till thou-'haft bleiTed me.'
Sect ng fome of his Relations weep, he f*iid Why do you C*y> when I am rtady to Sing for joy ?
I- 2 They
?0 A To KEN for the
They faying, They knew not how to part with him he replied, are you not willing I mould go to my hfeare ly Fatter? I (hall quickly be with my Heaven'y Father, and with hi* holy Angels where they ave fmglng of hhijejuj^hs. It's better being thete :h*n here. V, hen ! am there, T Ilun't Wift myfrlf here, hi this rrouble&rae Woild again. I have a defi e - dep.ri and be with Chrift, which is beft of ,,11.
Hew 3 ,nuch coi.cemed for poor periling Souls. He would fay, * Oh, that 1 hud^uengrh i flow would I pr*y. ,,r.d %.h, « and c. y to ( od, for the poor World ti.at lives in . ' Pride !'
'He exprefled himfelf rnoft pathetically to his Relations, when he took his Leave of them.
At laft, he afked, What .Angel that was, trm he f*w before ln\m ? Well, faid he, I fhall be \vi:h him : t ome* Lord lefus, come quickly !
A Friend afking him how he did, he faid ' I am one bound
* for Heaven. I would not have you pr.y f..r my Life < I am afraid you do !*
On the Day of his Death, beirg full of P^in,he faid, ' ]efus '« Chrift bore more than this, and He died for me; and mall j
* I be afraid to die and go to him ? No, I am no'.'- — . i hen faid he, 0 Death ! where is tky Sting ? Q Crave ! "jjher* is thy Vittory ?
E X A M P L £ VI.
Extraftofa Letter from Sauthold, 23^ 4'h itiontb^ 1698.
* T Have been requefted to give you this Account frcm the
* A Parents of a gracious Child, who in all her Life did
* comport herfelf to walk in the Lord's holy Fear, and gave a ' great Attention rn hearing the Woui of God, and the Lord
* was pleafed to ripen her for HimfeK. tho' me was but fifteeen
* Years and four Months old. Tho' me was Young, it pleafed
* the Lord to put a great Fear and Awe upon her Heart of ' breaking the fifth Commandment. And when tae \vas under
e the Difpenfation of God in Sicknefs, i: pleafed the Lord for. \ tQ endue her with Patience^ to be willing to bear his B-ind
' with
CHILDREN of New-EnglancL i$
f with all Meeknefs. She coafefiedherfelf to be a great Sinner, f and to have finned againft a gracious God. But the Lord « vouch! ai'cJ her aftrong F;«ith, to believe that he is a merciful f God, acd willing to furgive Sirs, and that he had fcrgivea « hci Sus in the .Jlood of our blefTed Saviour Jefus Chrift. 8 Arld, thoeioie. flu- WHS very willing to leave the World, and
< hi r'.'.thsr and Moiher, having Faith Uut ihe was going to
• Ch ' ••'•* : I'hcfe were her own Expreflions. When her
• Motner did afk her, if ftye was willing to die, for {he was too « young to die : She fome time before Hie died, faid (he was « not fit to die, but prayed unto the Lord, that he would pleafe « to fit her and make her willing :o die. Obt faid (lie, Death ' comet unaware, it - comes like a Thief in the fright? « fhe Loid granted herDefire: For afterwards, when her f Mother Hiked her, Aly Child are you 'willing to die ? Her
< %nfwer was, That now fhe was willing to die, and leave a ' thoufand Worlds, and Father and Mother and all, to go to « Chrift. She defired that the Curtains might be drawn, that ' the Light of this World might not deprive her from be- « holding the Brightnefs and the Glory cf the other World. f And when (lie Jaw her Father and Mother weeping for her,
« (lie {aid; My dear Father and Mother, don't mourn for me ; ' « you might well mourn "for me, if I were to go into utter « Darknefs; but I am going to God in Heaven. I long to be « in ihe New Jcrufatem, with the Lord Jefus Chrift : And f now I can die. /\nd lying a while in an Agony, when (lie « came out of thar Agonyf (he faid, Mother, did you not hear « me jing ? I thought I was in Heaven with the Lord jefus
* Chrift, and my Grand Parents, and the holy Angels, and « heard fuch melodious Praifes of God, as I never heard ; and
I was very forry I co.il.Vnot fing like them. She faid to « her Relations, Oh, don't fet your Hearts upon the World, « nor lo<;k for the Honours and Riches of this World ; but \ feek firft the Kingdom of Heaven She would call upon*
• her Father to go to prayer at the Evening, and fay, I cannot, I dare not go to ileep without it She wifhed that fome
* young People might come to her, to put them in mind to ' confider their latter End, and leave off their Pride. There
* r-ame a youj^Jflaid • to fee her", and (he faid to her with
' 'Fears,
12 A T O K E N /;r /fo
' Tears, that fhe fhould not follow the Fafliions ofthe World, ' and not put off Repentance to a Tick Bed. Yea, fhe fpake ' to ail them that were about her, That they would not mind «• tliis World, but the oiher World Her Mother a feed' her,
* if fhe was not afraid to lie in the Duft? But fhe w^s not ' thoughtful what fhould become of her Body, believing he.r ' Soul would go to God Mother,- (aid ihe, I could not (ing
* here, but now I am going to fmg the Praifes of God in
* Heaven Looking on her Father, Ihe fdid, Oh, Father, ' there is no God like our God, for he is a God pardoning ' iniquity, Tranfgreffion and Sin. She faiJ I wonder how f you do to live in fuch a troublefome evil and fmful World : ' Don't you fee how the judgments of God are all over the ' Earth. She often cried out, (J Lord Jefus, Come: Let ' thine Angels come, and carry me to the Bpfom of Abraham.
> ' This is a true Relation of i'hjs gracious Flower of the
* Lotd jefus Ghrift : one w*s an only Child : her Name was
* Bethiab, the Daughter of Tbot/iay and il/<*ry Longwcrth.
* The Lord raife up your He^rt, to declare his wonderful
* Mercies, in working fo grscioufly upon the Heart of fuch « a young Flower ; that the LOH! nny rnife up more fuch
* gracious Souls in our rihng Gta^Mtion.'
EXAMPLE VII.
A notable Pajfage, transcribed from the life cf Mr. ' J< h»i Baily, at rtlzled in a Serrpon preached on i'r-t Day of Lrf Funeral, at Bofton. By Dr. C O T T O N M A T H E R.
ROM a Child he did know the holy Scriptures-. Yea, frorn a Child he was. wife nr.f> Sjthati9*» In his ' very Childhood he difcovered. the Fear of God upon l-is
* you g Heart, and Prayer to God was one of his earljf ' Exeicifes.
* I here was one very remarkable FJFtcl of it, His Father ' was a Man of a very licentious Com-erfauon ; a" Gasnefter,
* a Dancer, a very lewd Company -keeper. The Mother of -'this fiYev? '/ejfel, .one Day took him, while he was yet a ! Child, and calling the Family together, ola'de him to pray
CHILDREN of New-England. i$
4 vmh them. His Father coming to underfland at what Rate
* the Child had prayed with the Family, it fmote the Soul of < him with a great Conviction, and proved the Beginning of
* his Conversion unto God. God left not off working on ' his. Heart, until he proved one ofthemoft eminent Chriftians' 4 in that Neighbourhood. So he lived, fo he died ; a Man
* of more than ordinary Piety. And it w^s his Manner fotfe-
* times' to retire unto ihofe very Places of his LewdnefTes, ' where having that his little Son in Iris Company, he would « pour oat Floods of Tears in repenting Prayers before the
* Lord.'
EXAMPLE VIII.
Of Daniel Bradly, the Son of Nathan Hefter Bradly, cf Guilford, in Connecticut, NEW-ENGLAND.
WHEN the faid Child was about three Years old, he had one Night an Impiefiion of the Fears of Death, which put him into crying: his Mother told him, if he died he wcuM go to Heaven ; unto which he replied, He knew not how to like that Pbce, where he fhould be acquainted with no body. After which, upon all occafions,he was inquifitive about the State of Souls after Death, and feemed to- have real Appreheniions about it, according unto, if not beyond his Capacity.
The third Day Ague took him in his fixth Year, and held him near three Years : Some Months befoie his Death he had rruny grevious Pains, in which his Patience was very obicrvable v yet he once felt a Par.g of Impatience, fo as to think it had been better he had never been bom, yet he fubmitted to his Father's Reproof: after which he began to be afTauited iTurply with the Fears of Death, and rnanifefted ftrange Conceptions about the World to come . He could not fee God, nor could he apprehend ho\v he mould love God better than his Parents, nor h(/w God fhould 1 ve him, nor how he could live in Heaven, cfpecia! y if his Parents were not there, or if he might not know them He alfo expreiTed Difficulty to belitve the Redirection of the Body, rod- was continuai-y £fx.ing his Mother C^ueftions about
Thicgs
i 4 A T o K E N /<?r /&?
Things of this Nature, and how it could be, if he died ?nri ws eaten up of the Worms, he could live again She then told him the Words of Job : And though after my Skin Worms deftroy this Body, yet in my Fieih Thai! I iee God : And if (he toJd him any Thing that me heaid or the good People fo appteh -nd-'-d, or the like, it gave him little Current except (he could aflare him it \v=s fo in the Bible; and that would always lit hioi down quiet. He told his Mother, that he thought the Reafon wny people f- ;d in the Bible, was that they might find out what God would have them to do ; and they prayed for what they would have God do for them. He w<is much troubled that he v as . ot big enough to pray. His Father told him that Parents prayed for their Children*; bat that did not fatisfy him, 'ti;i it was told him he was big enough to pray for himfelf ; and then he doubted >ie coald not pray aright : His" Mother told him he'muft pray according to his Ability, and God would accept it i i hen he addreffed himfelf to the Duty, and v/ould have a>! go out of tne Room except his Mother, and ihe to fb.y that if he prayed what was not right, (lie mighr tell hi*;:; then with great Solemnity he fixed his Eyes, and afkcd his Mothei. whether he mould begin with that Ex^tiHon (BLESSED GOD) which was not inual in the Beginning of Prayer in his hearing, and he manifefting fome extraordinary realifing ^ppiehenficnsof God. was-exceeding affecting to his Mother. The Subilance of his Prayer was,^ Thu he might live and be i*. Comfort to his Parents ; or ir he muft die, that God would own him, and love him, and help him to love God, and make h:m know how it mould be with him in the vYoild to cofne ; and deft red to be willing to die when his Tm.c came. After this he frequently wai obferved to pr.iv, and defued to be alone for tliat End. One 1 ime he had "a great Saduefs fell upon him, that lafted fome Time befote the Cai'.fe of it wss known : But at lail he told his Mother, God \va* always angry wi^h him, and he w?.s afraid to tell why, ii!! (he perfwaded him; and then he confeffed. that ne hiid been guilty of a Lie that he told, anci mould have told another, it he had not fome Way been prevented, and that he doubted tfce Sin of that to him
CHILDREN of New- England. *5
was as great as if he wer.t through with it : His Mother afked him, if he were forry for it; he faid he was formerly ferry for it, but now more than ever ; his Mother told him, if he were forry for it. God would have Mercy: He afked her whether it. were fo in the Bible ; Hie told him, the Word was, He that confefTeth and foi faketh his Sin, (hall find Mercy : He faid he knew what confefling was, but he did tot underiKnd foriaking ; .{he faid, it was to do fo no more, that gave him fome quiet ; yet ftill Trouble and Fear of God's Anger hung about him : Then his Mother told hiili of Chrift's Redemption, and of Sins being pardoned through him, and GUI Netfd of an Intereft in that Redemption; at v.'i'^*t he finiiing and wondering afked, Whether it was ceitiinly fo, that Chrift died for Man's Sake; he faid he hud never heard it before. She afked if he did not remem- ber it had been read in the Family, or taught in the Cate~ chifm ? He faid he did not, but now greatly rejoiced in the Apprehension of Chrift's Lo?e fo revealed.
After this he had a ftrong Pang of Temptation, and afked his Sirter. whether (he might not kill him ? His Mother (being out of the Room) came in and reproved him for faying fo fitful a Word He afked how it appeared to be Sin, feeing he lived in fo much Pain : She put him in Mind of Mr. Co/tons Explication of the fixth Command, that we are not to fhorten the Lives of our felves or others, but prefer ve both ; upon which he paufed a while, and then defired his Mother to teach him the Cat- chifm (which he h'td lenrnt before) and fhe did from the Beginning, until fhe came p;ift tha,t Queftion of the fixth Command, which he readily anfwered to ; but then defired to go to that which was betrer. She afked him, what he meant ? He anfwered .whereabout it fpeaks of the eternal Son of God : fhe turn- ed to that Part of the Catechifm, and upon that Anfwer, Jefus Chnfl 5s the only Son of God, who for our fkes became Man, that he might redeem and fave us. He lifted up his Hand, and faid, it is enough, and fo feemed to meditate theieon.
16 A T o K E N for the
Alfo it was obferved, that before and after his Sickne.fi began, that he hath fo dealt with and reproved grown Per- loos, for what in them he faw was Evil (in private) that the Perfons themfelves have confefied, that they hoped his Chriftian Reproofs would be for their Good, that they fhould never forget them, for in them he did fpeak to their Cofjfciences.
He had a Defire to make a Will, to difpofe of what. Tic had, that he might leave it as a Token of his Love to his Relations, and other of his Friends he had received Kindnefs from in his Sicknefs ; but would not do^ it until he had his Father's Confent, which he defired ; the which being grant- ed, he difpofed of thofe Things he had (though fome of them were but Trifles) with as much Difcretion and prudent Confideiation as if they had been Matters of the greateft Moment, and he a Man of mature Judgment. -Ordered alfo who fhc.uUl dig his Grave ; exprefled his defire to die, and was heard praying for Death ; and told his Mother imme- diately before he died, he was now going to Heaven and that it would be beft for her, that he mould die, for now me was forced to take a great deal of Pains with him., but then (he'd be at Refl : a/Iced her, if me did not fee it fo, and wondered at her llownefs to acknowledge it ; remembered his Love to his Relations, thar.kfu to thofe that had been often Watch- ing with him, and prayed his Mother to remember them all with fuch Tokens of his Love as were in his Power to give, nominating feveial part cuiar Perfons; and all this he fpake with great Chearfulnefs, and yet with Solemnity ; and fo funk down in his Mother's Arms, and died quietly.
EXAMPLE
CHILDREN of New- England. 17
EXAMPLE IX.
EARLY PIETY exemplified in
Elizabeth Butcher.
SECTION I.
Containing a br iff Account of her ^ ftom her Birth, July 1709$ to her fir ft remarkable lllnef^ in September 1716.
i, 'C'LIZABETH BUTCHER, Daughter of Alvin and Ij Elizabeth Butcher of Bjjftont was born July I4th 1709. Her Parents gave her up to God from the Womb,, and as foon as (he was capable of fpeaking they began to inilrudt her in the Things of God
2. Whep (he was about Two Years and half Old; as (he Jay in the Cradle, (he would a(k herfelf trut Queftion, What is my corrupt Nature ? and would make Anfwer again to herfclf, It it empty of Grace, bent unto Sin. and only to Sin and that continually. She rook, great Delight in learn- ing her Catechifm, and would not willingly go to Bed with- out faying fome Part of it.
3. She being a weakly Child, he: Mother carried her iiHO' the Country for Health : Hnd when (he was about Three Years old and at Meeting, (he would fet with her Eyes fixed on the Minifter, to the Admiration of all that fat about hery who faid that grown up People might learn and take Exam- ple of her. She took -great Delight :q reading, and was ready and willing to receive Inftru&ion.
I 4. But nothing more extraordinary as v/e remember ap-
, peareJ in her, till fhe came to be about Six Years old. Then
ft»e began to inquire concerning God, and the Nature and
A if '>'s of her SouU and me faid (he was afraid (he had not,
• to that End for which (lie was nude. She was aflced
M 2 y.^31'
x8 A T o K B N /0r /&<?
what was the End me was nude for ? The Child snfwered To glorify God : But I am afraid I have not lived to th$' Glory of God as I mould have done SJie was tcld that (he; jnuft pray to God that He would pleafe to pardon her Sins,, and give her Grace to ferve and glorify Him.
5. She was not contented with the bare reading of Cod's Word but would frequently, afk the meaning of it .-'nd when me was at her Work fhe would often afk where fuch and fuch Places of Scripture were, nnd would mention the Words that fhe might be directed to find them.
6. It was her practice to carry her Catechifm, or feme other good Book to Bed with her, and in the Morning fhe would be fitting up in her Bed reading beiore any of the Family were awake befi'ies her.
7 One Day as (he v/as fitting by the Fire, fhe afk'd — Why our fir ft Parents eating the forbidden Fruit was count- cd Sin to them ? At another Time fheafk'd, Who were meant fey the wife and foolifh Virgins r And what w«s mean t by. the Oyl in the Lamps ? As fhe fhe w.-re reading a Sermon of Dr Cotton Mather's, fhe afk'd, Who was meant by thfi goodly Cedar ? And when fhe was told, me faid-r-And who are meant by the Fowls that are juft fledged ? Sho was tolcf they meant little Children; and Chrift called them to cornd to Him. But faid fhe, How can I who am but a Child gO to Chrift? Being informed, fhe faid,- But will Ch nil ac- cept of me ? me was anfwered, Yes, and fereral F'irce? of Scripture were mentioned for her Encouragement.
SECTION II.
Containing a Jhart Account of ber In ler frfl jllntfs^ f'om beptember 1716/5 Fetruar;' j'/'io-iy.
j. TN September 1716, fae was taken ill, and in her Sick-
i nefs belvaved herfelf with fuch wonderful Patience
as ail that c.ime near admired. She would often put up
that Requeit, Heavenly Father, Give ITU gire m«
|hy Grace, and pardon all my Sins, for JefnsChrift's Sake,
Amen Then fhe faid.. \Vhac is Sarclincation ? And made
r to herfelf ; It is the Work of God's f<ee Grace>—
What
CHILDREN of New-England. 19
What are the Benefit which in this Life do accompany or flow from justification, Adoption *nd Sanclification ? They are /^flurabces of God's Love, Peace of Conscience, joy in the Holy Ghoit, lacreafe -cf Grace, and Perfeveranoe there- in to the End.
2. Being fked if fhe was willing to die, and go to Chrift ; {he faid, Ve^ : But Child, you know you are a Sinner; {lie faid Yes : And you know where the Wicked go \vhen they die ; {he faid, Yes, they are caft into Heli: And being" afked if Ihe was not afraid of going thither : fhe faid, No, for Chnit is an all-fufficient Saviour, and He is able to lave me, and I hope he will : 1 ho' I have not feen Chriii, yet I hope I (hall fee Him.
3. A whi|,p after Hie faid, I am weary of this World, and Jong to be gone : O when fhall [ go, O v;hen fhali I go ! Her Mother «.{ked her if :he was willing to leave her here alone ? She anlwered, Yes, For when you die 1 hof-> y>; u v/ill go to Heaven too.
4. She feeling an Alteration in h*ifdf, defiied her Mother to fend for Mr. Sc wall \ and when he came, he afked her, how {he did i She anfwered, Very weak. He afked her, if /he were willing to die ? She faid, Yes. He faid, do you
' know you are a Sinner ? fhe faid Yes : He aflc'd her, If ilie bad not heard that there v/as another and better World than this ? Hie anfwcred, Yes. He a/ked her fevera) other Qiief- tions, but they flipr rny Memory. He was going to afk her one Queilion, but (aid it Wd,«3 a great one to ;;fk a ChiJd^ but however he would, and fi^id to her. Child, are you willing humbly to fubmit to the Will of God either for Life or Death : fhe fairi, Yts.
5. A while after {he was v/eepiog, and fceng afned the Reafon, (he faid, I thought I faw the Flames of Hell and \vas going there, but I thought I fa\v Chrift, and He c-tll'4 me to come to Him ; and then I was not afraid ; and I have cried to God for Grace to ferve Him.
6. A while after (lie was taken with Convulfion Fits, and lay fever*! Hours, all c opes of Recovery being taken away . liutfhe reviving again, her Pain returned \vith gjeaterVider.ce : §lie grayed to God to take her away out of this miferable
World,
20 A T o K E N fcr the
World and cried, O God, my God, ifthou wilt pleafe
to take me away, I will be willing to bear what P*in thou (halt pleafe to lay upon me : O God, my dear God, I love Thee dearly ! And this (he repeated feveral Times over.
7. Her Mother fitting by her weeping, the Child faid, Dear Mother, you make me have more Pain : Her Mother faid, no my dear Child I don't ; She faid Yes,you crv, and that troubles me, and caufes me to have more Pain.
8. Mr. Bewail being fent for again, He faid, Child, Is it not better to be in Heaven with God and Chrift, then to be here Mhe anfwered Yes, Yes. He afk'd her if he mould pray to God that He would be pleafed- to take her to Him- lelF? She made aquick Reply, doubling her Words, Yes, Yes. He afked her another Queftion, but being in gneat Trouble it flipt my Memory : But the Child made no Anfwer to it, and only faid, I am fpent.
9. A few Hours after, her Pains, abating again, the Fits returned with more Violence and held her feveral Hours and then left her. She l*y tor