EXAMPLE I. Of one eminently converted, between eight and nine years old, with an account of her life and death.

MRS. Sarah Howley, when ſhe was between eight and nine years old, was carried by her friends to hear a ſermon, where the miniſter preach⯑ed upon Mat. xi. 13. My yoke is eaſy, and my burden is light: in the applying of which ſcripture, this child was mightily awakened, and made deeply ſen⯑ſible of the condition of her ſoul, and her need of Chriſt; ſhe wept bitterly to think what a caſe ſhe was in; and went home and got by herſelf into a chamber, and upon her knees ſhe wept and cried to the Lord as well as ſhe could, which might eaſily be perceived by her eyes and countenance.

2. She was not contented at this, but ſhe got her little brother and ſiſter into a chamber with her, and told them of their condition by nature, and wept over them, and prayed with them and for them.

[2]3. After this ſhe heard another ſermon upon Prov. xxix. 1. He that, being often reproved, hardneth his heart, ſhall ſuddenly be deſtroyed, and that without remedy: at which ſhe was more affected than before, and was ſo exceeding ſollicitous about her ſoul, that ſhe ſpent a great part of the night in weeping and praying, and could ſcarce take any reſt day or night for ſome time together, deſiring with all her ſoul to eſcape from everlaſting flames, and to get an intereſt in the Lord Jeſus; O what ſhould ſhe do for Chriſt! what ſhould ſhe do to be ſaved?

4. She gave herſelf much to attending upon the word preached, and ſtill continued very tender un⯑der it, greatly favouring what ſhe heard.

5. She was very much in ſecret prayer, as might eaſily be perceived by thoſe who liſtened at the chamber door, and was uſually very importunate, full of tears.

6. She could ſcarce ſpeak of ſin, or be ſpoke to, but her heart was ready to melt.

7. She ſpent much time in reading the ſcripture, and a book called The beſt friend in the worſt of times; by which the work of God was much pro⯑moted upon her ſoul, and was much directed by it how to get acquaintance with God, eſpecially to⯑ward the end of that book. Another book that ſhe was much delighted with, was Mr. Swinnock's Chriſtian Man's Calling, and by this ſhe was taught in this meaſure to make religion her buſineſs. The Spiritual Bee was a great companion of hers.

8. She was exceeding dutiful to her parents, very loath to grieve them in the leaſt: and if ſhe had at any time (which was very rare) offended them ſhe would weep bitterly.

9. She abhorred lying, and allowed herſelf in no known ſin.

[3]10. She was very conſcientious in ſpending of time, and hated idleneſs, and ſpent her whole time either in praying, reading, inſtructing at her needle, at which ſhe was very ingenious.

11. When ſhe was at ſchool, ſhe was eminent for her diligence, teachableneſs, meekneſs and modeſty, ſpeaking little; but when ſhe did ſpeak, it was uſu⯑ally ſpiritual.

12. She continued in this courſe of religious duties for ſome years together.

13. When ſhe was about fourteen years old, ſhe brake a vein in her lungs (as is ſuppoſed) and oft did ſpit blood, yet did a little recover again, but had ſeveral dangerous relapſes.

14. At the beginning of January laſt ſhe was taken very bad again, in which ſickneſs ſhe was in great diſtreſs of ſoul. When ſhe was firſt taken ſhe ſaid, O mother, pray, pray, pray for me, for Satan is ſo buſy that I cannot pray for myſelf; I ſee I am undone without Chriſt, and a pardon! O, I am undone unto all eternity!

15. Her mother knowing how ſerious ſhe had been formerly, did a little wonder that ſhe ſhould be in ſuch agonies: upon which her mother aſked her what ſin it was that was ſo burthenſome to her ſpirits: O mother, ſaid ſhe, it is not any particular ſin of omiſſion or commiſſion, that ſticks ſo cloſe to my conſcience, as the ſin of my nature; without the blood of Chriſt, that will damn me.

16. Her mother aſked her, what ſhe ſhould pray for, for her; ſhe anſwered, That I may have a ſaving knowledge of ſin and Chriſt: and that I may have an aſſurance of God's love to my ſoul. Her mother aſked her why ſhe did ſpeak ſo little to the miniſter that came to her? She anſwered, that it was her duty with patience and ſilence to [4]learn of them: and it was exceeding painful to her to ſpeak to any.

17. One time when ſhe fell into a fit ſhe cried out, O I am going, I am going: but what ſhall I do to be ſaved? Sweet Lord Jeſus I will lye at thy feet, and if I periſh it ſhall be at the fountain of thy mercy.

18. She was much afraid of preſumption, and dreaded a miſtake in the matters of her ſoul, and would be often putting up ejaculations to God, to deliver her from deceiving herſelf. To inſtance in one: Great and mighty God, give me faith and true faith, Lord, that I may not be a fooliſh virgin, having a lamp and no oyl.

19. She would many times be laying hold upon the promiſes, and plead them in prayer. That in Mat. xi. 28.29. was much on her tongue, and no ſmall relief to her ſpirit. How many times would ſhe cry out, Lord, haſt thou not ſaid, Come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you reſt.

20. Another time her father bid her be of good cheer, becauſe ſhe was going to a better father; at which ſhe was much affected, and ſaid, but how do I know that? I am a poor ſinner that wants aſſurance; O for aſſurance! It was ſtill her note, O for aſſurance. This was her great, earneſt and conſtant requeſt, to all that came to her, to beg aſſurance for her; and, poor heart, ſhe would look with ſo much eagerneſs upon them, as if ſhe deſired nothing in the world ſo much as that they would pity her, and help her with their prayers; never was poor creature more earneſt for any thing, than ſhe was for an aſſurance, and the light of God's countenance; O the piteous moan that ſhe would make! O the agonies that her ſoul was in!

[5]21. Her mother aſked her, if God ſhould ſpare her life, how ſhe would live? Truly mother, ſaid ſhe, we have ſuch baſe hearts, that I cannot tell; we are apt to promiſe great things when we are ſick, but when we are recovered, we are as ready to forget our ſelves, and turn again unto folly; but I hope I ſhall be more careful of my time, and my ſoul, than I have been.

22. She was full of natural affection to her pa⯑rents, and very careful leſt her mother ſhould be tired out with much watching: her mother ſaid, how ſhall I bear parting with thee, when I have ſcarce dryed my eyes for thy brother? She an⯑ſwered, the God of love ſupport and comfort you: it is but a little while, and we ſhall meet in glory, I hope. She being very weak, could ſpeak but little, therefore her mother ſaid, child, if thou haſt any comfort, lift up thy hand; which ſhe did.

23. The Lord's day before that in which ſhe died, a kinſman of hers came to ſee her, and aſk⯑ing of her, whether ſhe knew him; ſhe anſwered, yea, I know you, and I deſire you would learn to know Chriſt; you are young, but you know not how ſoon you may die; and O to die without Chriſt it is a fearful thing: O redeem time! O time, time, time, precious time! Being requeſted by him not to ſpend herſelf, ſhe ſaid, ſhe would fain do all the good ſhe could while ſhe lived, and when ſhe was dead too, if poſſible; upon which ac⯑count, ſhe deſired that a ſermon might be preach⯑ed at the funeral concerning the preciouſneſs of time. O that young ones would now remember their creator!

24. Some miniſters that came to her, did with earneſtneſs beg that the Lord would pleaſe to give her ſome token for good, that ſhe might go off [6]triumphing, and bills of the ſame nature were ſent to ſeveral churches.

25. After ſhe had long waited for an anſwer of their prayers, ſhe ſaid, Well, I will venture my ſoul upon Chriſt.

26. She carried it with wonderful patience, and yet would often pray that the Lord would give her more patience, which the Lord anſwered to aſtoniſh⯑ment; for conſidering the pains and agonies that ſhe was in, her patience was next to a wonder: Lord, Lord, give me patience, ſaid ſhe, that I may not diſhonour thee.

27. Upon Thurſday, after long waiting, great fears, and many prayers, when all her friends thought ſhe had been paſt ſpeaking, to the aſ⯑toniſhment of her friends ſhe broke forth thus, with a very audible voice, and chearful counte⯑nance: Lord, thou haſt promiſed, that whoſoever comes unto thee, thou wilt in no ways caſt out; Lord, I come unto thee, and ſurely thou wilt in no ways caſt me out. O ſo ſweet! O ſo glo⯑rious is Jeſus! O, I have the ſweet and glorious Jeſus; he is ſweet, he is ſweet, he is ſweet! O the admirable love of God in ſending Chriſt! O free grace to a poor loſt creature! And thus ſhe ran on repeating many of theſe things an hundred times over; but her friends were ſo aſtoniſhed to ſee her in this divine rapture, and to hear ſuch gracious words, and her prayers and deſires ſatiſ⯑fied, that they could not write a quarter of what ſhe ſpoke.

28. When her ſoul was thus raviſhed with the love of Chriſt, and her tongue ſo highly ingaged in the magnifying of God, her father, brethren and ſiſters, with others of the family, were called [7]to whom ſhe ſpake particularly, as her ſtrength would give leave. She gave her bible as a legacy to one of her brothers, and deſired him to uſe [...]hat well for her ſake; and added, to him and [...]he reſt, O make uſe of time to get Chriſt for [...]our ſouls; ſpend no time in running up and [...]own in playing; O get Chriſt for your ſouls while you are young; remember now your creator before you come to a ſick bed; put not off this great work till then, for then you will find it a [...]ard work indeed. I know by experience, the [...]evil will tell you it is time enough, and ye are [...]oung, what need you to be in ſuch haſte? You [...]ill have time enough when you are old. But [...]here ſtands one (meaning her grandmother) that [...]ays behind, and I that am but young, am going [...]efore her. O therefore make your calling and election ſure, while you are in health. But I am [...]fraid this will be but one night's trouble to your thoughts; but remember, theſe are the words of [...] dying ſiſter. O if you knew how good Chriſt [...]as! O if you had but one taſte of his ſweetneſs, [...]ou would rather go to him a thouſand times than [...]ay in this wicked world. I would not for ten [...]houſand, and ten thouſand worlds, part with my [...]ntereſt in Chriſt, O how happy am I, that I am going to everlaſting joys! I would not go back again for twenty thouſand worlds, and will you not [...]trive to get an intereſt in Chriſt.

29. After this, looking upon one of her father's ſervants, ſhe ſaid, what ſhall I do? what ſhall I do at the great day, when Chriſt ſhall ſay to me, Come thou bleſſed of my father, inherit the kingdom prepared for thee: and ſhall ſay to the wicked, Go thou curſed into the lake that burns for ever? What a grief is it for me to think, that I ſhall ſee any [8]of my friends, that I knew upon earth, turned into that lake that burns for ever! O that word fo [...] ever, remember that for ever! I ſpeak theſe words to you, but they are nothing, except God ſpeak to you too; O pray, pray, pray that God would give you grace! and then ſhe prayed, O Lord, finiſh thy work upon their fouls; it will be my comfort to ſee you in glory, but it will be your everlaſting happineſs.

30. Her grandmother told her ſhe ſpent herſelf too much; ſhe ſaid, I care not for that, if I could do any ſoul good. O with what vehemence did ſhe ſpeak, as if her heart were in every word ſhe ſpoke.

31. She was full of divine ſentences, and almoſt all her diſcourſe, from the firſt to the laſt, in the time of her ſickneſs, was about her ſoul, Chriſt's ſweetneſs, and the ſouls of others, in a word, like a continued ſermon.

32. Upon Friday, after ſhe had had ſuch lively diſcoveries of God's love, ſhe was exceeding de⯑ſirous to die, and cried out, Come Lord Jeſus, come quickly, conduct me to thy tabernacle, I am a poor creature without thee; but Lord Jeſus, my ſoul longs to be with thee; O when ſhall it be [...] Why not now, dear Jeſus? Come Lord Jeſus, come quickly; but why do I ſpeak thus? Thy time, dear Lord, is the beſt; O give me patience!

33. Upon Saturday ſhe ſpoke very little (be⯑ing very drowſy) yet now and then ſhe dropt theſe words. How long ſweet Jeſus? Finiſh thy work, come away ſweet dear Lord Jeſus, come quickly; ſweet Lord help, come away, now, now, dear Jeſus come quickly; good Lord give patience to me to wait thy appointed time, Lord Jeſus help me, help me, help me. Thus at ſeveral [9]times (when out of her ſleep) for ſhe was aſleep the [...]eateſt part of the day.

34. Upon the Lord's Day ſhe ſcarce ſpoke any [...]ing, but much deſired that bills of thankſgiving [...]ight be ſent to thoſe who had formerly been [...]raying for her, that they might help her to praiſe God for that full aſſurance that he had given her of is love; and ſeemed to be much ſwallowed up [...]ith the thoughts of God's free love to her ſoul. [...]he oft commended her ſpirit into the Lord's hands; [...]nd the laſt words which ſhe was heard to ſpeak, [...]ere theſe, Lord help, Lord Jeſus help, dear Jeſus, [...]eſſed Jeſus.—And thus upon the Lord's day, between nine and ten of the clock in the forenoon, [...]e ſlept ſweetly in Jeſus, and began an everlaſting [...]bbath, February 19, 1670.

EXAMPLE II. Of a child that was admirably affected with the things of God, when he was between two and three years old; with a brief ac⯑count of his life and death.

A Certain little child, when he could not ſpeak plain, would be crying after God, [...]nd was greatly deſirous to be taught good [...]ings.

2. He could not endure to be put to bed with⯑ [...]ut family duty, but would put his parents upon [...]uty, and would with much devotion kneel down, [10]and with great patience and delight continue [...] duty was at an end, without the leaſt expreſſion of being weary; and he ſeemed never ſo well pleaſ⯑ed, as when he was ingaged in duty.

3. He could not be ſatisfied with family duty but he would be oft upon his knees, by himſelf, i [...] one corner or other.

4. He was much delighted to hear the word [...] God either read or preached.

5. He loved to go to ſchool, that he migh [...] learn ſomething of God, and would obſerve an [...] take great notice of what he had read, and com [...] home and ſpeak of it with much affection; and h [...] would rejoice in his book, and ſay to his mother O mother! I have had a ſweet leſſon to day, wi [...] you pleaſe to give me leave to fetch my book tha [...] you may hear it?

6. As he grew up he was more and more affect⯑ed with the things of another world; ſo that [...] we had not received our information from on [...] that is of undoubted fidelity, it would ſeem in⯑credible.

7. He quickly learned to read the ſcriptures, an [...] would, with great reverence, tenderneſs and groa [...] read till tears and ſobs were ready to hinder him.

8. When he was at ſecret prayer, he would wee [...] bitterly.

9. He was wont oftentimes to complain of th [...] naughtineſs of his heart, and ſeemed to be mu [...] grieved for the corruption of his nature, and fo [...] actual ſin.

10. He had a vaſt underſtanding in the things o [...] God, even to a wonder, for one of his age.

11. He was much troubled for the wandering [...] his thoughts in duty, and that he could not kee [...] [11]his heart always fixed upon God, and the work he was about, and his affections conſtantly raiſed.

12. He kept a watch over his heart, and ob⯑ſerved the workings of his ſoul, and would com⯑plain that they were ſo vain and fooliſh, and ſo [...]ttle buſied about ſpiritual things.

13. As he grew up, he grew daily in knowledge [...]nd experience, and his carriage was ſo heavenly, [...]nd his diſcourſe ſo excellent and experimental, [...]hat it made thoſe which heard it, even aſtoniſhed.

14. He was exceeding importunate with God in [...]uty; and would ſo plead with him, and uſe ſuch arguments in prayer, that one would think it were impoſſible it ſhould enter into the heart of a child; [...]e would beg, and expoſtulate, and weep, ſo that [...]ometimes it could not be kept from the ears of [...]eighbours; one of the next houſe was forced to cry [...]ut, the prayers and tears of that child will ſink me [...]o hell, becauſe by it he condemns my neglect of [...]rayer, and my ſlight performance of it.

15. He was very fearful of wicked company, [...]nd would oft beg of God to keep him from it, [...]nd that he might never be pleaſed in them that [...]ook delight in diſpleaſing of God; and when [...]e was at any time in hearing of their wicked words, taking the Lord's name in vain, or ſwear⯑ [...]ng, or any filthy words, it would even make him [...]emble, and ready to go home and weep.

16. He abhorred lying, with his ſoul.

17. When he had committed any fault, he was [...]aſily convinced of it, and would get in ſome corner [...]nd ſecret place, and with tears beg pardon of God, [...]nd ſtrength againſt ſuch a ſin. He had a friend [...]hat oft watched him, and liſtned at his chamber⯑ [...]oor, from whom I received this narrative.

[12]18. When he had been aſked, whether he would commit ſuch a ſin again, he would never promiſe abſolutely, becauſe he ſaid his heart was naught [...] but he would weep, and ſay, he hoped by the grace of God he ſhould not.

19. When he was left at home alone upon th [...] Sabbath days, he would be ſure not to ſpend any part of the day in idleneſs and play, but be buſied in praying, reading in the bible, and getting o [...] his catechiſm.

20. When other children were playing, he would many a time and oft be praying.

21. One day a certain perſon was diſcourſing with him about the nature, offices, and excellency of Chriſt, and that he alone can ſatisfy for ou [...] ſins, and merit everlaſting life for us, and abou [...] other of the great myſteries of redemption; h [...] ſeemed ſavingly to underſtand them, and was great⯑ly delighted with the diſcourſe.

22. One ſpeaking concerning the reſurrection o [...] the body, he did acknowledge it, but that th [...] ſame weak body that was buried in the church⯑yard, ſhould be raiſed again, he thought very ſtrange, but with admiration yielded, that nothing was impoſſible to God; and that very day he wa [...] taken ſick unto death.

23. A friend of his aſked him whether he wer [...] willing to die, when he was firſt taken ſick; he an⯑ſwered no; becauſe he was afraid of his ſtate as [...] another world: Why child, ſaid the other, tho [...] didſt pray for a new heart, for an humble, and [...] ſincere heart, and I have heard thee; didſt tho [...] not pray with thy heart? I hope I did, ſaid he.

24. Not long after, the ſame perſon aſked him again, whether he were willing to die? He anſwer⯑ed, now I am willing, for I ſhall go to Chriſt.

[13]25. One aſked him what ſhould become of his ſiſter, if he ſhould die and leave her? He anſwered, the will of the Lord muſt be done.

26. He ſtill grew weaker and weaker, but car⯑ried it with a great deal of ſweetneſs and patience, waiting for his change, and at laſt did chearfully commit his ſpirit unto the Lord; calling upon his name, and ſaying, Lord Jeſus, Lord Jeſus, — in whoſe boſom he ſweetly ſlept, dying, as I remem⯑ber, when he was about ſix years old.

EXAMPLE III. Of a little Girl that was wrought upon when ſhe was between four and five years old, with ſome account of her holy life and triumphant death.

1. MARY A. when ſhe was between four and five years old, was greatly affected in hear⯑ing the word of God, and became very ſollicitous about her ſoul and everlaſting condition, weeping bitterly to think what would become of her in an⯑other world, aſking many queſtions concerning God and Chriſt, and her own ſoul. So that this little Mary, before ſhe was full five years old, ſeemed to mind the one thing needful, and to chooſe the bet⯑ter part, and ſate at the feet of Chriſt many a time and oft with tears.

2. She was wont to be much in ſecret duty, and many times come off from her knees with tears.

3. She would chooſe ſuch times and places for ſe⯑cret duty, as might render her leſs obſerved by [14]others, and did endeavour what ſhe poſſibly could to conceal what ſhe was doing, when ſhe was en⯑gaged in ſecret duty.

4. She was greatly afraid of hypocriſy, and o [...] doing any thing to be ſeen of men, and to get com⯑mendation and praiſe; and when ſhe had heard on [...] of her brothers ſaying, that he had been by himſelf at prayer, ſhe rebuked him ſharply, and told him how little ſuch prayers were like to profit him, an [...] that it was little to his praiſe to pray like a hypo⯑crite, and to be glad that any ſhould know what h [...] had been doing

5. Her mother being full of ſorrow after the death of her huſband, this child came to her mo⯑ther, and aſked her why ſhe wept ſo exceedingly Her mother anſwered, ſhe had cauſe enough [...] weep, becauſe her father was dead: No, dear m [...] ⯑ther, ſaid the child, you have no occaſion to w [...] ſo much, for God is a good God ſtill to you.

6. She was a dear lover of faithful miniſters. On [...] time, after ſhe had been hearing of Mr. Whitaker ſhe ſaid, I love that man dearly, for the ſwee [...] words that he ſpeaks concerning Chriſt.

7. Her book was her delight, and what ſhe di [...] read, ſhe loved to make her own, and cared not fo [...] paſſing over what ſhe learned, without extraordi⯑nary obſervations and underſtanding and man [...] times ſhe was ſo ſtrangely affected in reading of th [...] ſcriptures, that ſhe would burſt out into tears, an [...] would hardly be pacified; ſo greatly was ſhe take [...] with Chriſt's ſufferings, the zeal of God's ſervant [...] the danger of a natural ſtate.

8. She would complain oftentimes of the cor⯑ruption of her nature, of the hardneſs of he [...] heart, that ſhe could repent no more thoroughly and be no more humble and grieved for her ſi [...] [15]againſt a good God, and when ſhe did thus com⯑ [...]lain, it was with abundance of tears.

9. She was greatly concerned for the ſouls of [...]thers, and grieved to think of the miſerable con⯑ [...]tion that they were in upon this account; when [...]e could handſomely, ſhe would be putting in ſome⯑thing concerning Chriſt; but above all, ſhe would [...]o what ſhe could to draw the hearts of her bre⯑ [...]ren and ſiſters after Chriſt: and there was no [...]hall hopes, that her example and good counſel did [...]evail with ſome of them when they were very [...]oung, to get into corners to pray, and to aſk very [...]acious queſtions about the things of God.

10. She was very conſcientious in keeping the [...]bbath, ſpending the whole time either in reading [...] praying, or learning her catechiſm, or teaching [...]r brethren and ſiſters. One time when ſhe was [...]ft at home upon the Lord's day, ſhe got ſome [...]her little children together, with her brothers and [...]ters, and inſtead of playing (as other naughty [...]ildren uſe to do) ſhe told them, that that was the [...]ord's day, and that they ought to remember that [...]y to keep it holy; and then ſhe told them, how [...] was to be ſpent in religious exerciſes all the day [...]ng, except ſo much as was to be taken up in the [...]rks of neceſſity and mercy; then ſhe prayed with [...]em herſelf, and, among other things, begged [...]at the Lord would give grace and wiſdom to thoſe [...]le children, that they might know how to ſerve [...]m: as one of thoſe little ones in the company [...]th her told afterwards.

11. She was a child of great tenderneſs and [...]mpaſſion to all, full of bowels of pity; whom [...]e could not be [...]p, ſhe would be ready to weep [...]er; eſpecially if ſhe ſaw her mother at any time [16]troubled, ſhe would quickly make her ſorrows he [...] own, and weep for her, and with her.

12. When her mother had been ſomewhat ſolli⯑citious about any worldly thing, ſhe would, if ſh [...] could poſſibly, put her off from her care one wa [...] or other. One time ſhe told her, O mother, th [...] grace of God is better than that (meaning ſome⯑thing her mother wanted) I had rather have the gra [...] and love of Chriſt, than any thing in the world.

13. This child was often muſing and buſied [...] the thoughts of her everlaſting work; witneſs th [...] ſtrange queſtion, O what are they doing which a [...] already in heaven? And ſhe ſeemed to be great deſ [...]ous to be among them that were praiſi [...] loving, delighting in God, and ſerving of hi [...] without ſin. Her language about ſpiritual matter made many excellent chriſtians to ſtand amazed, [...] judging it ſcarce to be paralleled.

14. She took great delight in reading of t [...] ſcripture, and ſome part of it was more ſweet [...] her than her appointed food; ſhe would get ſeve [...] choice ſcriptures by heart, and diſcourſe of the [...] ſavourily, and apply them ſuitably.

15. She was not altogether a ſtranger to ot [...] good books, but would be reading of them w [...] much affection; and where ſhe might, ſhe noted [...] books particularly, obſerving what in the read [...] did moſt warm her heart, and ſhe was ready up [...] occaſion to improve it.

16. One time a woman coming into the houſe a great paſſion, ſpoke of her condition, as if i [...] were like hers, and it would never be otherwi [...] the child ſaid, it were a ſtrange thing to ſay w [...] it is night, it will never be day again.

17. At another time a near relation of hers be [...] in ſome ſtreights made ſome complaint, to wh [...] [17]ſhe ſaid, I have heard Mr. Carter ſay, a man may go to heaven without a penny in his purſe, but not without grace in his heart.

18. She had an extraordinary love to the people of God; and when ſhe ſaw any that ſhe thought ſeared the Lord, her heart would even leap for [...]oy.

19. She loved to be much by herſelf, and would be greatly grieved if ſhe were at any time depr [...]ved of a conveniency for ſecret duty; ſhe could not live without conſtant addreſs to God in ſecret; and was not a little pleaſed when ſhe could go into a corner to pray and weep.

20. She was much in praiſing God, and ſeldom or never complained of any thing but ſin.

21. She continued in this courſe of praying and praiſing of God, and great dutifulneſs and ſweet⯑neſs to her parents, and thoſe that taught her any thing. She did greatly encourage her mother while ſhe was a widow, and deſired that the abſence of a huſband might in ſome meaſure be made up [...]y the dutifulneſs and holineſs of a child. She ſtudied all the ways that could be to make her mo⯑ther's life comfortable.

22. When ſhe was between eleven and twelve years old, ſhe ſickened, in which time ſhe carried [...]t with admirable patience, and did what ſhe could with ſcripture arguments to ſupport and encourage her relations to part with her, as ſhe was going to glory, and to prepare themſelves to meet her in a bleſſed eternity.

23. She was not many days ſick before ſhe be⯑came dangerous, of which ſhe was ſenſible and re⯑joiced that ſhe was now going apace to Chriſt. She called to her friends, and ſaid be not troubled, for I [18]know I am one of the Lord's own. One aſked her, how ſhe knew that? She anſwered, the Lord hath told me, that I am one of his dear children. And thus ſhe ſpoke with a holy confidence in the Lord's love to her ſoul, and was not in the leaſt daunted when ſhe ſpake of her death; but ſeemed greatly delighted in the apprehenſion of her nearneſs to her father's houſe. And it was not long before ſhe was filled with joy unſpeakable in believing.

24. When ſhe juſt lay a dying, her mother came to her, and told her, ſhe was ſorry that ſhe had reproved and corrected ſo good a child ſo oft. O [...] mother, ſaid ſhe, ſpeak not thus, I bleſs God, now I am dying, for your reproofs and corrections too [...] for, it may be, I might have gone to hell, if it had not been for your reproofs and corrections.

25. Some of her neighbours coming to viſit her, aſked her, if ſhe would leave them? She anſwered them, if you ſerve the Lord, you ſhall come after me to glory.

26. A little before ſhe dyed, ſhe had a great con⯑flict with Satan, and cryed out, I am none of his her mother ſeeing her in trouble, aſked her what was the matter? She anſwered, Satan did trouble me, but now I thank God all is well, I know, I am none his, but Chriſts.

27. After this ſhe had a ſenſe of God's love and a glorious ſight as if ſhe had ſeen the very heavens open, and the angels come to receive her by which her heart was filled with joy, and he tongue with praiſe.

28. Being deſired by the ſtanders by, to give them a particular account of what ſhe ſaw. She anſwered, you ſhall know herea [...]ter; and ſo in an extaſy of joy and holy triumph, ſhe went to hea⯑ven [19]when ſhe was about twelve years old. Hal⯑lelujah.

EXAMPLE IV. Of a child that began to look towards hea⯑ven when ſhe was about four years old, with ſome obſervable paſſages in her life and at her death.

1. A Certain little child, when ſhe was about four years old, had a conſcientious ſenſe of her duty towards her parents, becauſe the com⯑mandment faith, Honour thy father and thy [...]ther. And though ſhe had little advantage of education, ſhe carried it with the greateſt reverence to her pa⯑rents imaginable, ſo that ſhe was no ſmall credit as well as comfort to them.

2. It was a uſual thing for her to weep if ſhe ſaw her parents troubled, though herſelf had not been the occaſion of it.

3. When ſhe came from ſchool, ſhe would with grief and abhorrence ſay, that other children had dinned againſt God by ſpeaking grievous words, which were ſo bad, that ſhe durſt not ſpeak them again.

4. She would be oftentimes admiring of God's mercy for ſuch goodneſs to her rather than to others; that ſhe ſaw ſome begging, others blind, ſome crooked, and that ſhe wanted nothing that was good for her.

[20]5. She was many a time, and often, in one place or another, in tears upon her knees.

6. This poor little thing would be ready to coun⯑ſel other little children, how they ought to ſerve God; and putting them upon getting by themſelves to pray; and hath been known, when her friends have been abroad, to have been teaching children to pray, eſpecially upon the Lord's day.

7. She very ſeriouſly begged the prayers of o⯑thers, that they would remember her, that the Lord would give her grace.

8. When this child ſaw ſome that were laughing, who ſhe judged to be very wicked; ſhe told them that ſhe feared that they had little reaſon to be merry. They aſked whether one might not laugh? She anſwered, No indeed, till you have grace; they who are wicked have more need to cry than to laugh.

9. She would ſay, that it was the duty of pa⯑rents, maſters and miſtreſſes, to reprove thoſe un⯑der their charge for ſin, or elſe God will meet with them.

10. She would be very attentive when ſhe read the ſcriptures, and be much affected with them.

11. She would by no means be perſuaded to pro⯑phane the Lord's day, but would ſpend it in ſome good duties.

12. When ſhe went to ſchool it was willingly and joyfully, and ſhe was very teachable and exem⯑plary to other children.

13. When ſhe was taken ſick, one aſked her, Whether ſhe were willing to die? She anſwered, Yes, if God would pardon her ſins. Being aſked how her ſins ſhould be pardoned? She anſwered, through the blood of Chriſt.

14. She ſaid, ſhe did believe in Chriſt, and de⯑ſired [21]and longed to be with him, and did with a great deal of chearfulneſs give up her ſoul to him.

There were very many obſervable paſſages in the life and death of this child, but the hurry and grief that her friends were in buried them.

EXAMPLE V. Of the Pious Life and Joyful Death of a Child, which died when he was about twelve Years old.

1. CHarles Bridgman had no ſooner learned to ſpeak, but he betook himſelf to prayer.

2. He was very prone to learn the things of God.

3. He would be ſometimes teaching them their duty that waited upon him.

4. He learned by heart many good things before [...]e was well fit to go to ſchool: and when he was [...]ent to ſchool, he carried it ſo, that all that ob⯑ [...]erved him, either did or might admire him. O [...]he ſweet nature, the good diſpoſition, the ſincere [...]eligion which was in this child!

5. When he was at ſchool, what was it that he [...]eſired to learn, but Chriſt, and him crucified?

6. So religious and ſavoury were his words, his [...]ctions ſo upright, his devotion ſo hearty, his fear [...]f God ſo great, that many were ready to ſay as [...]hey did of John, What manner of child ſhall this be.

7. He would be much in reading the holy ſcrip⯑ [...]res.

[22]8. He was deſirous of more ſpiritual knowledge, and would be oft aſking very ſerious and admirable queſtions.

9. He would not ſtir out of doors before he had poured out his ſoul to the Lord.

10. When he eat any thing, he would be ſure to lift up his heart unto the Lord for a bleſſing upon it; and when he had moderately refreſhed himſelf by eating, he would not forget to acknowledge God's goodneſs in feeding of him.

11. He would not lie down in his bed till he had been upon his knees; and when ſometimes he had forgotten his duty, he would quickly get out of his bed, and kneeling down upon his bare knees, would aſk God forgiveneſs for that ſin.

12. He would rebuke his brethren if they were at any time too haſty at their meals, and did eat without aſking a bleſſing; his check was uſually this, Dare you do thus? God be merciful to us, thi [...] bit of bread might choak us.

13. His ſentences were wiſe and weighty, and might well become ſome ancient chriſtian.

14. His ſickneſs was a lingering diſeaſe, againſt which, to comfort him, one tells him of poſſeſſion [...] that muſt fall to his portion; And what are they? ſaid he, I had rather have the kingdom of heaven than a thouſand ſuch inheritances.

15. When he was ſick, he ſeemed much taken up with heaven, and aſked very ſerious queſtion about the nature of his ſoul.

16. After he was pretty well ſatisfied about that he enquired how his ſoul might be ſaved; the an⯑ſwer being made, by the applying of Chriſt's me⯑rits by faith; he was pleaſed with the anſwer, and was ready to give any one that ſhould deſire it, a [...] account of his hope.

[23]17. Being aſked, whether he had rather live or die? he anſwered, I deſire to die, that I may go to my ſaviour.

18. His pains increaſing upon him, one aſked him, whether he would rather ſtill endure thoſe pains, or forſake Chr [...]ſt? Alas, ſaid he, I know not what to ſay, being a child; for theſe pains may ſtagger a ſtrong man, but I will ſtri [...]e to endure the beſt that I can. Upon this he called to mind that martyr Thomas Binley, who being in priſon, the night before his burning, put his finger into the candle, to know how he could endure the fire. O (ſaid the child) had I lived then I would have run through the fire to have gone to Chriſt.

19. His ſickneſs laſted long, and at leaſt three days before his death he propheſied his departure, and not only that he muſt die, but the very day. On the Lord's day, ſaid he, look to me: neither was this a word of courſe, which you may gueſs by his often repetition, every day aſking till the day came indeed, What is Sunday c [...]me? At laſt the looked for day came on; and no ſooner had the ſun beautified that morning with its light, but he falls into a trance, his eyes were fixed, his face chearful, his lips ſmiling, his hands and face claſp⯑ed in a bow, as if he would have received ſome bleſſed angel that were at hand to receive his ſoul. But he comes to himſelf, and tells them how he ſaw the ſweeteſt body that ever eyes beheld, who bid him be of good cheer, for he muſt preſently go with him.

20. One that ſtood near him, as now ſuſpecting the time of his diſſolution nigh, bid him ſay, Lord, into thy hands I commend my ſpirit, which is thy [24]due; for why, thou has redeemed it, O Lord my God, moſt true.

21. The laſt words which he ſpake, were ex⯑actly theſe: Pray, pray, pray, nay, yet pray; and the more prayers, the better all proſpers: God is the beſt phyſician; into thy hands I commend my ſpirit. O Lord Jeſus receive my ſoul: now cloſe mine eyes: for⯑give me father, mother, brother, ſiſter, all the world. Now I am well, my pain is almoſt gone, my joy is at hand. Lord have mercy on me. O Lord receive my ſoul unto thee. And thus he yielded his ſpi⯑rit up unto the Lord, when he was about twelve years old.

This Narrative was taken out of Mr. Ambroſe his Life's Leaſe.

EXAMPLE VI. Of a poor Child that was awakened when he was about five Years old.

1. A Certain very poor child, that had a very bad father, but it was to be hoped a very good mother, was, by the providence of God, brought to the ſight of a godly friend of mine, who upon the firſt ſight of the child had a great pity for him, and took an affection to him, and had a mind to bring him up for Chriſt.

2. At the firſt he did with great ſweetneſs and kindneſs allure the child, by which means it was not long before he got a deep intereſt in the heart of the child, and he began to obey him with more readineſs than children uſually do their parents.

3. By this a door was opened for a farther work, [25]and he had a greater advantage to inſtill ſpiritual principles into the ſoul of the child, which he was not wanting in, as the Lord gave opportunity, and the child was capable of.

4. It was not long before the Lord was pleaſed to ſtrike in with the ſpiritual exhortations of this good man, ſo that the child was brought to a liking of the things of God.

5. He quickly learned great part of the aſſem⯑bly's catechiſm by heart, and that before he could read his primmer within book; and he took a great delight in learning his catechiſm.

6. He was not only able to give a very good ac⯑count of his catechiſm, but he would anſwer ſuch queſtions as are not in the catechiſm, with greater underſtanding than could be expected from one of his age.

7. He took great delight in diſcourſing about the things of God; and when my friend had been either praying or reading, expounding or repeat⯑ing of ſermons, he ſeemed very attentive, and ready to receive the truths of God, and would with in⯑credible gravity, diligence and affection wait till duties were ended, to the no ſmall joy and admira⯑tion of them which obſerved him.

8. He would aſk very excellent queſtions, and diſcourſe about the condition of his ſoul and hea⯑venly things, and ſeemed mightily concerned what ſhould become of his ſoul when he ſhould dye: ſo that his diſcourſe made ſome chriſtians even to ſtand aſtoniſhed.

9. He was greatly taken with the great kindneſs of Chriſt in dying for ſinners, and would be in tears at the mention of them; and ſeemed at a ſtrange rate to be affected with the unſpeakable love of Chriſt.

[26]10. When no body had been ſpeaking to him, he would burſt out into tears, and being aſked the reaſon, he would ſay, that the very thoughts of Chriſt's love to ſinners in ſuffering for them, made him that he could not but cry.

11. Before he was ſix years old, he made con⯑ſcience of ſecret duty; and when he prayed, it was with ſuch extraordinary meltings, that his eyes have looked red and ſore with weeping by himſelf for his ſins.

12. He would be putting of Chriſtians upon ſpi⯑ritual diſcourſe when he ſaw them, and ſeemed little ſatisfied unleſs they were talking of good things.

13. It is evident, that this poor child's thoughts were very much buſied about the things of another world, for he would oftentimes be ſpeaking to his bed-follow at mid-night about the matters of his ſoul; and when he could not ſleep, he would take hea⯑venly conference to be ſweeter than his appointed reſt. This was his uſual cuſtom, and thus he would provoke and put forward an experienced chriſtian to ſpend waking hours in talk of God, and the ever⯑laſting reſt.

14. Not long after this, his good mother dyed, which went very near his heart, for he greatly ho⯑noured his mother.

15. After the death of his mother, he would often repeat ſome of the promiſes that are made unto fatherleſs children, eſpecially that in Exod. xxii. 22. Ye ſhall not afflict any widow, or the fa⯑therleſs child; if thou afflict them in any wiſe, and they cry at all unto me, I will ſurely hear their cry.—Theſe words he would often repeat with tears, and ſay, I am fatherleſs and mother⯑leſs upon earth, yet if any wrong me, I have a fa⯑ther [27]in heaven who will take my part; to him I commit myſelf, and in him is all my truſt.

16. Thus he continued in a courſe of holy duties, living in the fear of God, and ſhewed wonderful grace for a child, and died ſweetly in the faith of Jeſus.

My friend is a judicious Chriſtian of many years experience, who was no ways related to him, but a conſtant eye and ear witneſs of his godly life, honourable and chearful death, from whom I re⯑ceived this information.

EXAMPLE VII. Of a notorious wicked Child, that was taken up from begging, and admirably convert⯑ed; with an account of his Holy Life and Joyful Death, when he was nine Years old.

1. A Very poor child of the pariſh of Newington-Butts, came begging to the door of a dear chriſtian friend of mine, in a moſt lamentable con⯑dition; but it pleaſed God to raiſe in the heart of my friend a great pity and tenderneſs towards this poor child, ſo that in charity he took him out of the ſtreets, whoſe parents were unknown, who had no⯑thing at all in him to commend him to any one's cha⯑rity but his miſery. My friend eyeing the glory of God, and the good of the immortal ſoul of this wretched creature, diſcharged the pariſh of the child, and took him as his own, deſigning to bring him up in the fear of the Lord. A noble piece of charity! And that which did make the kindneſs far the greater [28]was, that there ſeemed to be very little hopes of doing any good upon this child, for he was a very monſter of wickedneſs, and a thouſand times more miſerable and vile by his ſin, than by his poverty. He was running to hell as ſoon as he could go, and was old in naughtineſs when he was young in years; and one ſhall ſcarce hear of one ſo like the devil in his infancy, as this poor child was. What ſin was there (that his age was capable of) that he did not commit? What by the corruption of his nature, and the abominable example of little beg⯑gar-boys, he was arrived to a ſtrange pitch of im⯑piety. He would call filthy names, take God's name in vain, curſe and ſwear, and do almoſt all kind of miſchief, and as to any thing of God worſe than an heathen.

2. But this ſin and miſery was but a ſtronger motive to that gracious man to pity him, and to do all that poſſibly he could to pluck this fire-brand out of the fire; and it was not long before the Lord was pleaſed to let him underſtand that he had a de⯑ſign of everlaſting kindneſs upon the ſoul of this poor child; for no ſooner had this good man taken this creature into his houſe, but he prays for him. and labours with all his might to convince him of his miſerable condition by nature, and to teach him ſomething of God, the worth of his ſoul, and that eternity of glory or miſery that he was born to; and bleſſed be free grace, it was not long before the Lord was pleaſed to ſhew-him that it was himſelf which did put it into his heart to take in this child, that he might bring him up for Chriſt. The Lord ſoon ſtruck in with his godly inſtruc⯑tions; ſo that an amazing change was ſeen in the child, in a few weeks ſpace he was ſoon con⯑vinced of the evil of his ways; no more news now [29]of his calling of names, ſwearing, or curſing, no more taking of the Lord's name in vain; now he is civil and reſpective; and ſuch a ſtrange alteration was wrought in the child, that all the pariſh that [...]ung of his villainy before, was now ready to talk of his reformation; his company, his talk, his im⯑ployment is now changed, and he is like another creature; ſo that the glory of God's free grace be⯑gan already to ſhine in him.

3. And this change was not only an external one, and to be diſcerned abroad, but he would get by himſelf, and weep and mourn bitterly for his hor⯑rible wicked life, as might eaſily be perceived by them that lived in the houſe with him.

4. It was the great care of his godly maſter to ſtrike in with thoſe convictions which the Lord had made, and to improve them all he could; and he was not a little glad to ſee his labour was not in vain in the Lord; he ſtill experiences that the Lord [...]oth carry on his own work mightily upon the heart of the child; he is ſtill more and more bro⯑ken under a ſenſe of his undone ſtate by nature; [...]e is often in tears, and bemoaning his loſt and mi⯑ſerable condition. When his maſter did ſpeak of [...]he things of God, he liſtened earneſtly, and took [...]n with much delight and affection what he was [...]aught. Seldom was there any diſcourſe about ſoul matters in his hearing, but he heard as if it were [...]or his life, and would weep greatly.

5. He would, after his maſter had been ſpeaking [...]o him, or others, of the things of God, go to him [...]nd queſtion with him about them, and beg of him [...]o inſtruct and teach him further, and to tell him [...]hoſe things again, that he might remember and un⯑derſtand them better.

6. Thus he continued ſeeking after the know⯑ledge [28]was, that there ſeemed to be very little hopes of doing any good upon this child, for he was a very monſter of wickedneſs, and a thouſand times more miſerable and vile by his ſin, than by his poverty. He was running to hell as ſoon as he could go, and was old in naughtineſs when he was young in years; and one ſhall ſcarce hear of one ſo like the devil in his infancy, as this poor child was. What ſin was there (that his age was capable of) that he did not commit? What by the corruption of his nature, and the abominable example of little beg⯑gar-boys, he was arrived to a ſtrange pitch of im⯑piety. He would call filthy names, take God's name in vain, curſe and ſwear, and do almoſt all kind of miſchief, and as to any thing of God worſe than an heathen.

2. But this ſin and miſery was but a ſtronger motive to that gracious man to pity him, and to do all that poſſibly he could to pluck this fire-brand out of the fire; and it was not long before the Lord was pleaſed to let him underſtand that he had a de⯑ſign of everlaſting kindneſs upon the ſoul of this poor child; for no ſooner had this good man taken this creature into his houſe, but he prays for him. and labours with all his might to convince him of his miſerable condition by nature, and to teach him ſomething of God, the worth of his ſoul, and that eternity of glory or miſery that he was born to; and bleſſed be free grace, it was not long before the Lord was pleaſed to ſhew him that it was himſelf which did put it into his heart to take in this child, that he might bring him up for Chriſt. The Lord ſoon ſtruck in with his godly inſtruc⯑tions; ſo that an amazing change was ſeen in the child, in a few weeks ſpace he was ſoon con⯑vinced of the evil of his ways; no more news now [29]of his calling of names, ſwearing, or curſing, no more taking of the Lord's name in vain; now he is civil and reſpective; and ſuch a ſtrange alteration was wrought in the child, that all the pariſh that [...]ung of his villainy before, was now ready to talk of his reformation; his company, his talk, his im⯑ployment is now changed, and he is like another creature; ſo that the glory of God's free grace be⯑gan already to ſhine in him.

3. And this change was not only an external one, and to be diſcerned abroad, but he would get by himſelf, and weep and mourn bitterly for his hor⯑rible wicked life, as might eaſily be perceived by them that lived in the houſe with him.

4. It was the great care of his godly maſter to [...]trike in with thoſe convictions which the Lord had made, and to improve them all he could; and he was not a little glad to ſee his labour was not in [...]ain in the Lord; he ſtill experiences that the Lord [...]oth carry on his own work mightily upon the heart of the child; he is ſtill more and more bro⯑ken under a ſenſe of his undone ſtate by nature; he is often in tears, and bemoaning his loſt and mi⯑ [...]erable condition. When his maſter did ſpeak of the things of God, he liſtened earneſtly, and took [...]n with much delight and affection what he was [...]aught. Seldom was there any diſcourſe about ſoul matters in his hearing, but he heard as if it were for his life, and would weep greatly.

5. He would, after his maſter had been ſpeaking [...]o him, or others, of the things of God, go to him [...]nd queſtion with him about them, and beg of him [...]o inſtruct and teach him further, and to tell him [...]hoſe things again, that he might remember and un⯑ [...]erſtand them better.

6. Thus he continued ſeeking after the know⯑ledge [30]of God and Chriſt, and practiſing holy du⯑ties, till the ſickneſs came into the houſe, with which the child was ſmitten; at his firſt ſickening the poor child was greatly amazed and afraid, and, though his pains were great, and his diſtemper very tedious, yet the ſenſe of his ſin, and the thought of the miſerable condition that he feared his ſoul was ſtill in, made his trouble ten times greater; he was in grievous agonies of ſpirit, and his former ſins ſtared him in the face, and made him tremble; the poiſon of God's arrows did even drink up his ſpirit; the ſenſe of ſin and wrath was ſo great, that he could not tell what in the world to do; the weight of God's diſpleaſure, and the thoughts of lying under it to all e [...]ernity, did even break him to pieces, and he did cry out very bitterly, what ſhould he do? he was a miſerable ſinner, and he feared that he ſhould go to hell; his ſins had been ſo great and ſo many, that there were no hopes for him. He was not by far ſo much concerned for his life, as for his ſoul, what would become of that for ever. Now the plague upon his body ſeemed nothing to that which was in his ſoul.

7. But in this great diſtreſs, the Lord was pleaſed to ſend one to take care of his ſoul, who urged to him the great and precious promiſes which were made to one in his condition, telling him, that there was enough in Chriſt for the chiefeſt of ſinners, and that he came to ſeek and ſave ſuch a loſt creature as he was. But this poor child found it a very difficult thing for him to believe that there was any mercy for ſuch a dreadful ſinner as he had been.

8. He was made to cry out of himſelf, not only for his ſwearing and lying, and other outwardly notorious ſins; but he was in great horror for the ſin of his nature, for the vileneſs of his heart, and [31]original corruption under it; he was in ſo great an⯑guiſh, that the trouble of his ſpirit made him in a great meaſure to forget the pains of his body.

9. He did very particularly confeſs and bewail his ſins with tears; and ſome ſins ſo ſecret, that none in the world could charge him with.

10. He would condemn himſelf for ſin, as de⯑ſerving to have no mercy, thought that there was not a greater ſinner in all London than himſelf, and he abhorred himſelf as the vileſt creature he knew.

11. He did not only pray much, with ſtrong cries and tears himſelf, but he begged the prayers of Chriſtians for him.

12. He would aſk chriſtians, whether they thought there were any hopes for him, and would beg of them to deal plainly with him, for he was greatly afraid of being deceived.

13. Being informed how willing and ready the Lord Jeſus was to accept of poor ſinners, upon their repentance and turning, and being counſelled to venture himſelf upon Chriſt for mercy and ſalva⯑tion, he ſaid he would fain caſt himſelf upon Chriſt, but he could not but wonder how Chriſt ſhould be willing to die for ſuch a vile wretch as he was, and he found it one of the hardeſt things in the world to believe.

14. But at laſt it pleaſed the Lord to give him ſome ſmall hopes that there might be mercy for him, for he had been the chiefeſt of ſinners; and, he was made to lay a little hold upon ſuch promiſes, as that, Come unto me all ye that are weary and [...]avy laden, and I will give you reſt. But O how did this poor boy admire and bleſs God for the [...]eaſt hopes! How highly did he advance free and rich grace, that ſhould pity and pardon him! and at [...]aſt he was full of praiſe, and admiring of God, [32]ſo that (to ſpeak in the words of a good man, that was an eye and an ear-witneſs) to the praiſe and glory of God be it ſpoken, the houſe at that day, for all the ſickneſs in it, was a little lower heaven, ſo full of joy and praiſe.

15. The child grew exceedingly in knowledge, experience, patience, humility, and ſelf-abhorrence; and he thought he could never ſpeak bad enough of himſelf, the name that he would call himſelf by, was a toad.

16. And though he prayed before, yet now the Lord poured out upon him the ſpirit of prayer in an extraordinary manner, for one of his age; ſo that now he prayed more frequently, more earneſt⯑ly, more ſpiritually than ever. O how eagerly would he beg to be waſhed in the blood of Jeſus! and that the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, that was over heaven and earth, and ſea, would par⯑don and forgive him all his ſins, and receive his ſoul into his kingdom. And what he ſpoke, it was with ſo much life and fervour of ſpirit, as that it filled the hearers with aſtoniſhment and joy.

17. He had no ſmall ſenſe of the uſe and excel⯑lency of Chriſt, and ſuch longings and breathings of his ſoul after him, that when mention had been made of Chriſt, he hath been ready almoſt to leap out of his bed for joy.

18. When he was told, that if he ſhould reco⯑ver, he muſt not live as he liſt; but he muſt give up himſelf to Chriſt, and be his child and ſervant, bear his yoke, and be obedient unto his laws, and live a holy life, and take his croſs, and ſuffer mocking and reproach, it may be perſecution for his name ſake. Now, child (ſaid one to him) are you willing to have Chriſt upon ſuch terms? He ſignified his willingneſs by the earneſtneſs of his looks [33]and words, and the caſting up of his eyes to hea⯑ven, ſaying, yes, with all my ſoul, the Lord help⯑ing me, I will do this.

19. Yet he had many doubts, and fears, and was ever and anon harping upon that, that though he were willing, yet Chriſt he feared was not willing to accept him, becauſe of the greatneſs of his ſin; yet his hopes were greater than his fears.

20. The Wedneſday before he died, the child lay as it were in a trance for about half an hour, in which time he thought he ſaw a viſion of angels: when he was out of his trance, he was a little un⯑eaſy, and aſked his nurſe, why ſhe did not let him go? Go whither, child, ſaid ſhe? Why along with thoſe brave gentlemen, ſaid he; but they told me, they would come and fetch me away for all you upon Friday next. And he doubled his words many times, upon Friday next thoſe brave gentlemen will come for me; and upon that day the child died joyfully.

21. He was very thankful to his maſter, and very ſenſible of his great kindneſs in taking him up out of the ſtreets when he was a begging, and he admired at the goodneſs of God, which put it into the mind of a ſtranger to look upon, and to take ſuch fatherly care of ſuch a pitiful ſorry crea⯑ture as he was. O my dear maſter, (ſaid he) I hope to ſee you in heaven, for I am ſure you will go thither. O bleſſed, bleſſed be God that made you to take pity upon me, for I might have died, and have gone to the devil, and have been damned for ever, if it had not been for you.

22. The Thurſday before he died, he aſked a very godly friend of mine what he thought of his condition, and whither his ſoul was now going? for he ſaid he could not ſtill but fear, leſt he ſhould deceive dimſelf with falſe hopes; at which my friend [34]ſpoke to him thus: child, for all that I have en⯑deavoured to hold forth the grace of God in Chriſt to thy ſoul, and given you a warrant from the word of God, that Chriſt is as freely offered to you, as to any ſinner in the world; if thou art but willing to accept of him, thou mayeſt have Chriſt and all that thou doſt want, with him; and yet thou giveſt way to theſe thy doubtings and fears, as though I told thee nothing but lyes; thou ſayeſt, thou feareſt that Chriſt will not accept of thee, I fear thou art not heartily willing to accept of him. The child anſwered, indeed I am: why then child, if thou art unfeignedly willing to have Chriſt, I tell thee, he is a thouſand times more willing to have thee, and waſh thee, and ſave thee, than thou art to deſire it. And now at this time Chriſt offers himſelf freely to thee again, therefore receive him humbly by ſaith into thy heart, and bid him welcome, for he deſerv⯑eth it: upon which words the Lord diſcovered his love to the child; and he gave a kind of leap in his bed, and ſnapped his fingers and thumb together with abundance of joy, as much as to ſay, well, yea, all is well, the match is made, Chriſt is willing, and I am willing too; and now Chriſt is mine, and I am his for ever. And from that time forward, in full joy and aſſurance of God's love, he continued earneſtly praiſing God, with deſiring to die, and be with Chriſt. And on Friday morning he ſweetly went to reſt, uſing that very expreſſion, Into thy hands, Lord, I commit my ſpirit. He died punctually at that time which he had ſpoke of, and in which he expected thoſe angels to come to him; he was not much above nine years old when he died.

This narrative I had from a judicious holy man, unrelated to him, who was an eye and ear-witneſs to all theſe things.

EXAMPLE VIII. Of a child that was very ſerious at four years old, with an account of his comforta⯑ble death when he was twelve years and three weeks old.

1. JOHN SUDLOW was born of religious parents in the county of Middleſ [...]x, whoſe great care was to inſtil ſpiritual principles into him as ſoon as he was capable of underſtanding of them: whoſe endeavours the Lord was pleaſed to crown with the deſired ſucceſs: ſo that (to uſe the expreſ⯑ſion of a holy man concerning him) ſcarce-more could be expected or deſired from ſo little a one.

2. When he was ſcarce able to ſpeak plain, he ſeemed to have a very great awe and reverence of God upon his ſpirit, and a ſtrange ſenſe of the things of another world, as might eaſily be per⯑ceived by thoſe ſerious and admirable queſtions which he would be oft aſking of thoſe chriſtians that he thought he might be bold with.

[2]3. The firſt thing that did moſt affect him, and make him endeavour to eſcape from the wrath to come, and to enquire what he ſhould do to be ſaved, was the death of a little brother; when he ſaw him without breath, and not able to ſpeak or ſtir, and when carried out of doors, and put into a pit-hole, he was greatly concerned, and aſked ſur⯑priſing queſtions about him; but that which was moſt affecting of himſelf and others, was whether he muſt die too, which being anſwered, it made ſuch a deep impreſſion upon him, that from that time forward he was exceeding ſerious, and this was when he was about four years old.

4. Now he was deſirous to know what he might do that he might live in another world, and what he muſt avoid, that he might not die for ever, and being in⯑ſtructed by his godly parents, he ſoon labours to a⯑void whatſoever might diſpleaſe God; now tell him that any thing was ſinful, and that God would not have him to do it, and he is eaſily kept from it, and even at this time of day, the apprehenſions of God, and death, and eternity, laid ſuch a reſtraint upon him, that he would not, for a world, have told a lye.

5. He quickly learned to read exactly, and took ſuch pleaſure in reading of the ſcriptures and his catechiſm, and other good books, that it is ſcarce to be paralleled; he would naturally run to his book without bidding: when he came home from ſchool, and when other children of his age and ac⯑quaintance were playing, he reckoned it his recrea⯑tion to being that which is good.

6. When he was in coats he would be aſking his maid ſerious queſtions, and praying her to teach him his catechiſm, or ſcriptures, or ſome good thing; common diſcourſe he took no delight in, but did moſt eagerly deſire to be ſucking in of the knowledge of the things of God, Chriſt, his ſoul, and another world.

[3]7. He was greatly taken with the reading of the book of Martyrs, and would be ready to leave his dinner to go to his book.

8. He was exceeding careful of redceming and improving of time; ſcarce a moment of it but he would give an excellent account of the expence of it; ſo that this child might have taught elder per⯑ſons, and will queſtionleſs condemn their idle and unaccountable waſting of thoſe precious hours in which they ſhould, as this ſweet child, have been laying in proviſion for eternity.

9. He could not endure to read any thing over ſlightly, but whatſoever he read, he dwelt upon it, laboured to underſtand it thoroughly, and remem⯑ber it; and what he could not underſtand, he would oft aſk his father or mother the meaning of it.

10. When any chriſtian friends have been diſ⯑courſing with his Father, if they began to talk any thing about religion, to be ſure they ſhould have his company, and of his own accord he would leave all to hear any thing of Chriſt, and crept as cloſe to them as he could, and liſten as affectionately, though it were for an hour or two. He was ſcarce ever known to expreſs the leaſt token of wearineſs while he was hearing any thing that was good, and ſometimes when neighbours children would come and call him out, and entice him, and beg of him to go with them, he could by no means be perſuad⯑ed, though he might have had the leave of his pa⯑rents, if he had any hopes that any good boy would come into his father's houſe.

11. He was very modeſt whilſt any ſtranger was preſent, and was loth to aſk them any queſtions: but as ſoon as they were gone, he would let his father know, that there was little ſaid or done but he obſerved it, and would reflect upon what was [4]paſt in their diſcourſe, and deſire ſatisfaction in what he could not underſtand at preſent.

12. He was a boy of moſt prodigious parts for his age, as will appear from his ſolid and rational queſtions; I ſhall mention but two of many

13. The firſt was this, when he was reading by himſelf in Draiton's poems about Noah's flood and the ark, he aſked who built the ark? It being an⯑ſwered it was likely that Noah hired men to help him to build it: and would they (ſaid he) build an ark to ſave another, and not go into it them⯑ſelves?

14. Another queſtion he put was this: whether had a greater glory, ſaints or angels? It being an⯑ſwered, that angels were the moſt excellent of crea⯑tures, and 'tis to be thought their nature is made capable of greater glory than man's, he ſaid he was of another mind, and his reaſon was, becauſe an⯑gels were ſervants, and ſaints are children; and that Chriſt never took upon him the nature of an⯑gels, but he took upon him the nature of ſaints, and by being man, he hath advanced human nature a⯑bove the nature of angels.

15. By this you may perceive the greatneſs of his parts, and the bent of his thoughts, and thus he continued for ſeveral years together, labouring to get more and more ſpiritual knowledge, and to prepare for an endleſs life.

16. He was a child of an excellent ſweet tem⯑per, wonderful dutiful to his parents, ready and joyful to do what he was bid, and by no means would do any thing to diſpleaſe them, and if they were at any time ſeemingly angry, he would not ſtir from them till they were thoroughly reconciled to him.

17. He was not only good himſelf, but would do what he could to make others ſo too, eſpecially thoſe that were neareſt to him; he was very watch⯑ful [5]over his brethren and ſiſters, and would not ſuf⯑fer them to uſe any unhandſome words, or to do any unhandſome action; but he would be putting them upon that which was good, and when he did at any time rebuke them, it was not childiſhly and ſlightly, but with great gravity and ſeriouſneſs, as one that was not a little concerned for God's ho⯑nour, and the eternal welfare of their ſouls.

18. He would go to his father and mother with great tenderneſs and compaſſion (being far from telling of tales) and beg of them to take more care of the ſouls of his brethren and ſiſters, and to take heed leſt they ſhould go on in a ſinful Chriſtleſs ſtate, and prove their ſorrow and ſhame, and go to hell when they die, and be ruined for ever.

19. He was exceedingly affected with hearing of the word of God preached, and could not be ſatis⯑fied except he could carry home much of the ſub⯑ſtance of what he heard; to this end he quickly got to learn ſhort-hand, and would give a very pretty account of any ſermon that he heard.

20. He was much engaged in ſecret duty, and in reading the ſcriptures; to be ſure morning and evening he would be by himſelf, and was, no queſ⯑tion, wreſtling with God.

21. He would get choice ſcriptures by heart, and was very perfect at his catechiſm.

22. The providences of God were not paſſed by without conſiderable obſervation by him.

23. In the time of the plague he was exceeding⯑ly concerned about his ſoul and everlaſting ſtate; very much by himſelf upon his knees. This prayer was found written in ſhort-hand after his death.

O Lord God and merciful Father, take pity upon me a miſerable ſinner, and ſtrengthen me, O Lord, in thy faith, and make me one of thy glorious ſaints in heaven. O Lord keep me from this poiſonous in⯑fection; [6]however, not my will but thy will be done, O Lord, on earth, as it is in heaven; but, O Lord, if thou haſt appointed me to die by it, O Lord, fit me for death, and give me a good heart to bear up under my afflictions: O Lord God and merciful fa⯑ther, take pity on me thy child, teach me O Lord thy word, make me ſtrong in faith. O Lord, I have ſinned againſt thee, Lord pardon my ſins; I had been in hell long ago if it had not been for thy mercy; O Lord, I pray thee to keep my parents in thy truth, and ſave them from this infection, if it be thy will, that they may live to bring me up in thy truth: O Lord I pray thee ſtay this infection that rageth in this city, and pardon their ſins, and try them once more, and ſee if they will turn unto thee. Save me O Lord from this infection, that I may live to praiſe and glorify thy name; but, O Lord, if thou haſt appointed me to die of it, fit me for death, that I may die with comfort; and O Lord I pray thee to help me to bear up under all afflictions for Chriſt his ſake. Amen.

24. He was not a little concerned for the whole nation, and begged that God would pardon the ſins of this land, and bring it nearer to himſelf.

25. About the beginning of November 1665, this ſweet child was ſmote with the diſtemper, but he carried it with admirable patience under the hand of God.

26. Theſe are ſome of his dying expreſſions, —The Lord ſhall be my phyſician, for he will cure both ſoul and body—Heaven is the beſt hoſpi⯑tal —It is the Lord, let him do what ſeemeth [...] good in his eyes. Again—It is the Lord that taketh away my health, but I will ſay as Job did, Bleſſed be the name of the Lord. If I ſhould live longer, I ſhall but ſin againſt God. Looking upon his father, he ſaid, if the Lord would but lend [...] [7]the leaſt finger of his hand to lead me through the dark entry of death I will rejoice in him.

27. When a miniſter came to him, among other things he ſpake ſomewhat of life. He ſaid, this is a wicked world, yet it is good to live with my parents, but it is better to live in heaven.—

28. An hour and an half before his death, the ſame miniſter came again to viſit him, and aſked him, art thou not afraid to die? He anſwered; no, if the Lord will but comfort me in that hour. But, ſaid the miniſter, how canſt thou expect comfort, ſee⯑ing we deſerve none? He anſwered, no, if I had my deſerts I had been in hell long ago. But, replied the miniſter, which way doſt thou expect comfort and ſalvation ſeeing thou art a ſinner? He anſwered, in Chriſt alone—In whom, about an hour and an half after, he fell aſleep, ſaying, he would take a long ſleep charging them that were about him not to wake him.

He died when he was twelve years, three weeks, and a day old.

EXAMPLE IX. Of a child that was very eminent when ſhe was between five and ſix years old, with ſome memorable paſſages of her life.

1. ANN DANE was born at Colebrook in the county of Bucks, who was no ſooner able to ſpeak plain, and expreſs any thing conſiderable of reaſon, but ſhe began to act as if ſhe was ſancti⯑fied from the very womb.

[8]2. She was very ſollicitous about her ſoul, what would become of it when ſhe ſhould die, and where ſhe ſhould live for ever, and what ſhe ſhould do to be ſaved, when ſhe was about five years old.

3. She was wont to be oft engaged in ſecret prayer, and pouring out of her ſoul in ſuch a manner as is rarely to be heard of from one of her years.

4. I having occaſion to lie at Colebrook, ſent for her father, an old diſciple, an Iſraelite indeed, and deſired him to give me ſome account of his experiences, and how the Lord firſt wrought upon him.

5. He gave me this anſwer, that he was from a child ſomewhat civil, honeſt, and, as to man, harmleſs, but was little acquainted with the power of religion, till this ſweet child put him upon a thorough inquiry into the ſtate of his ſoul, and would ſtill be begging of him, and pleading with him to redeem his time, and to act with life and vigour in the things of God, which was no ſmall demonſtra⯑tion to him of the reality of inviſibles, that a very babe and ſuckling ſhould ſpeak ſo feelingly about the things of God, and be ſo greatly concerned not only about her own ſoul, but about her father's too, which was the occaſion of his converſion; and the very thought of it was a quickening to him for thirty years, and he hopes never to wear off the impreſſions of it from his ſpirit.

6. After this ſhe (as I remember) put her father upon family duties, and if at any time he was long abſent from his ſhop, ſhe would find him out, and with much ſweetneſs and humility beg of him to come home, and to remember the preciouſneſs of time, for which we muſt all give an account.

7. She was grieved if ſhe ſaw any that converſed with her father, if they were unprofitable, unſavory, or long in their diſcouſe of common things.

[9]8. Her own language was the language of Ca⯑nean. How ſolidly, profitably, and ſpiritually would ſhe talk? So that ſhe made good people take great delight in her company, and juſtly drew the admiration of all that knew her.

9. She could not endure the company of common children, nor play, but was quite above all thoſe [...]hings which moſt children are taken with; her bu⯑ [...]neſs was to be reading, praying, diſcourſing about [...]he things of God, and any kind of buſineſs that [...]er age and ſtrength was capable of, idle ſhe would [...]ot be by any means.

10. It was the greateſt recreation to her, to hear [...]ny good people talking about God, Chriſt, their [...]uls, the ſcriptures, or any thing that concerned [...]nother life.

11. She had a ſtrange contempt of the world, [...]nd ſcorned thoſe things which moſt are too much [...]leaſed with. She could not be brought to wear [...]ny laces, or any thing that ſhe thought ſuper⯑ [...]uous.

12. She would be complaining to her parents, [...] ſhe ſaw any thing in them that ſhe judged would [...]ot be for the honour of religion, or ſuitable to that [...]ndition which the providence of God had ſet them [...] the world.

13. The child was the joy and delight of all [...]e chriſtians there-abouts in thoſe times, who was [...]ll quickening and raiſing of the ſpirits of thoſe [...]at talked with her. This poor babe was a great [...]elp to both father and mother, and her memory is [...]eet to this day.

14. She continued thus to walk as a ſtranger in [...]e world, and one that was making haſte to a bet⯑ [...] place. And after ſhe had done a great deal of [...]ork for God and her own ſoul, and others too, [10]ſhe was called home to reſt, and received into the arms of Jeſus before ſhe was ten years old.

EXAMPLE X. Of a child that was awakened when ſhe was between ſeven and eight years old, with ſome account of her laſt hours, and trium⯑phant death.

1. TAbitha Alder was the daughter of a holy and reverend miniſter in Kent, who lived near Graveſend. She was much inſtructed in the holy ſcriptures and her catechiſm, by her fathe [...] and mother, but there appeared nothing extraordi⯑nary in her till ſhe was between ſeven and eight years old.

2. About which time, when ſhe was ſick, or aſked her, What ſhe thought would become of he [...] if ſhe ſhould die? She anſwered, that ſhe was great⯑ [...]ly afraid that ſhe ſhould go to hell.

3. Being aſked why ſhe was afraid of going t [...] hell? She anſwered, becauſe ſhe feared ſhe did no [...] love God.

4. Again, being aſked how ſhe did know ſhe di [...] not love God, ſhe replied, What have I done fo [...] God ever ſince I was born? And beſides this, I hav [...] been taught, that he that loves God keeps his com [...] mandments, but I have kept none of them at all.

5. Being farther demanded if ſhe would not fai [...] love God? She anſwered, yes, with all her hear [...] if ſhe could, but ſhe found it a hard thing to lo [...] one ſhe did not ſee.

[11]6. She was adviſed to beg of God a heart to love him: She anſwered, ſhe was afraid it was too late.

7. Being aſked again whether ſhe was not ſorry that ſhe could not love God? She anſwered yes, but was ſtill afraid it was too late.

8. Upon this, ſeeing her in ſuch a deſponding condition, a dear friend of hers ſpent the next day in faſting and prayer for her.

9. After this, that chriſtian friend aſked her how ſhe did now? She anſwered with a great deal of joy, that now ſhe bleſſed the Lord, ſhe loved the Lord Jeſus dearly, ſhe felt ſhe did love him. O, ſaid ſhe, I love him dearly.

10. Why, ſaid her friend, did you not ſay yeſ⯑terday, that you did not love the Lord, and that you could not? What did you mean to ſpeak ſo ſtrangely? Sure (ſaid ſhe) it was Satan that did put it into my mind: but now I love him. O bleſſed be God for the Lord Jeſus Chriſt.

11. After this, ſhe had a diſcovery of her ap⯑proaching diſſolution, which was no ſmall comfort to her; Anon (ſaid ſhe, with a holy triumph) I ſhall be with Jeſus, I am married to him, he is my huſband, I am his bride; I have given myſelf to him, and he hath given himſelf to me, and I ſhall live with him for ever.

12. This ſtrange language made the hearers even ſtand aſtoniſhed: but thus ſhe continued for ſome little time, in a kind of extaſy of joy, admiring the excellency of Chriſt, rejoicing in her intereſt in him, and longing to be with him.

13. After a while ſome of her friends ſtanding by her, obſerved a more than ordinary earneſtneſs and fixedneſs in her countenance; they ſaid one to another, Look how earneſtly ſhe looks, ſure ſhe ſeeth ſomething.

14. One aſked what it was ſhe fixed her eyes upon [12]ſo eagerly? I warrant (ſaith one that was by) ſhe ſeeth death a coming.

15. No (ſaid ſhe) it is glory that I ſee, it is that I fix my eye upon.

16. One aſked her what was glory like? She anſwered, I can't ſpeak what, but I am going to it; will you go with me? I am going to glory, O that all of you were to go with me to that glory! With which words her ſoul took wing. and went to the poſſeſſion of that glory which ſhe had ſome believing ſight of before. She died when ſhe was between eight and nine years old.

EXAMPLE XI. Of a child that was greatly affected with the things of God, when ſhe was very young; with an exact account of her admirable car⯑riage upon her Death-bed.

1. SUſannah Bicks was born at Leyden in Holland, Jan. 24, 1650, of very religious parents, whoſe great care was to inſtruct and catechiſe this their child, and to preſent her to the miniſters of the place, to be publickly inſtructed and cate⯑chiſed.

2. It pleaſed the Lord to bleſs the holy educa⯑tion and good example of her parents, and cate⯑chiſing to the good of her ſoul, ſo that ſhe ſoon had a true ſavour and reliſh of what ſhe was taught, and made an admirable uſe of it in a time of need, as you ſhall hear afterwards.

3. She was a child of great dutifulneſs to her pa⯑rents, and of a very ſweet, humble, ſpiritual na⯑ture, and not only the truth, but the power and [13]eminency of religion did ſhine in her ſo clearly, that ſhe did not only comfort the hearts of her parents, but drew the admiration of all that were witneſſes of God's works of love upon her, and may well be propoſed as a pattern, not only to children, but [...]o perſons of riper years.

4. She continued in a courſe of religious duties [...]or ſome conſiderable time, ſo that her life was more excellent than moſt chriſtians, but in her laſt [...]ickneſs ſhe excelled herſelf, and her deportment was ſo admirable, that partly through wonder and [...]ſtoniſhment, and partly through ſorrow, many obſervable things were paſſed by without commit⯑ [...]ing to paper, which deſerved to have been written [...]n letters of gold: but take theſe which follow, as ſome of many which were taken from her dying [...]ps, and firſt publiſhed by religious and judicious ſhriſtians in Dutch, afterwards tranſlated, and with [...] little alteration of the ſtile (for the benefit of Eng⯑liſh children) brought into this form by me.

4. In the month of Auguſt 1664, when the peſti⯑ [...]ence raged ſo much in Holland, this ſweet child was ſmitten, and as ſoon as ſhe felt herſelf very [...]l, ſhe was ſaid to break forth with abundance of [...]enſe and feeling, in theſe following words: If by law were not my delight, I ſhould periſh in my af⯑ [...]iction.

6. Her father coming to her to encourage her in [...]er ſickneſs, ſaid to her, be of good comfort my [...]ild, for the Lord will be near to thee and us, un⯑ [...]er this heavy and fore trial, he will not forſake us [...]ough he chaſten us. Yea father (ſaid ſhe) our [...]eavenly father doth chaſten us for our proſit, that [...]e may be partakers of his holineſs; no chaſtiſe⯑ [...]ent ſeemeth for the preſent to be joyous, but grie⯑ous, but afterwards it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of [14]righteouſneſs to them which are exerciſed thereby. The Lord is now chaſtening of me upon this ſick bed, but I hope he will bleſs it ſo to me, as to cauſe it to yield to me that bleſſed fruit, according to the riches of his mercies which fail not.

7. After this, ſhe ſpake to God with her eyes lift up to heaven, ſaying, Be merciful to me, O father, be merciſul to me a ſinner, according to thy word.

8. Then looking upon her ſorrowful parents ſhe ſaid, It is ſaid, Caſt thy burthen upon the Lord and he ſhall ſuſtain thee, and he will never ſuffer the righteous to be moved. Therefore, my dear father and mother, caſt all your care upon him who cauſes all things to go well that do concern you.

9. Her mother ſaid unto her, O my dear child I have no ſmall comfort from the Lord in thee, and the fruit of his grace, whereby thou haſt been [...] much exerciſed unto godlineſs in reading the word in prayer and gracious diſcourſe, to the edification of thyſelf and us. The Lord himſelf who gav [...] thee to us, make up this loſs, if it be his pleaſun to take thee away from us.

10. Dear mother (ſaid ſhe) though I leave you and you me, yet God will never leave us; for it; ſaid, Can a woman forget her ſucking child, that ſ [...] ſhould not have compaſſion on the fruit of her wom [...] yet will not I forget thee, behold I have graven the upon the palms of my hands. O comſortable word [...] both for mother and children! Mark, dear mother how faſt the Lord keeps and holdeth his people that he doth even grave them upon the palms of h [...] hands. Though I muſt part with you, and yo [...] with me, yet, bleſſed be God, he will never pa [...] either from you or me.

11. Being weary with much ſpeaking, ſhe deſi⯑reſt [15]a while, but after a little time awaking [...]ain, her father aſked her how it was with her? [...]e made no direct anſwer, but aſked what day it [...]as? her father ſaid, it was the Lord's day. Well [...]en, ſaid ſhe, have you given up my name to be membered in the publick prayers of the church? [...]er father told her he had. I have learnt, ſaid ſhe, at the effectual fervent prayer of the righteous [...]aileth much.

12. She had a very high eſteem for the faithful [...]niſters of Chriſt, and much deſired their company here ſhe was, but knowing the hazard that ſuch viſit might expoſe them and the church to, ſhe [...]uld by no means ſuffer that the miniſters ſhould me near her perſon, but choſe rather to throw [...]rſelf upon the arms of the Lord, and to improve [...]at knowledge ſhe had in the word, and her former perience, and the viſits of private chriſtians, and [...]oſe which the church had appointed in ſuch caſes viſit and comfort the ſick.

13. One of thoſe which came to viſit her, was of [...]ry great uſe to her to comfort her, and lift her [...], in ſome meaſure, above the fears of death.

14. Though young, ſhe was very much concerned the intereſt of God and religion, for goſpel mi⯑ [...]ters, and for the ſins, and the decay of the power godlineſs in her own country, which will further pear by what may follow.

15. Her father coming in to her, found her in extraordinary paſſion of weeping, and aſked her [...]at was the cauſe of her great ſorrow? She an⯑ [...]ered, Have I not cauſe to weep, when I hear that [...]. de Wit was taken ſick this day in his pulpit, [...] went home very ill; is not this a ſad ſign of [...]d's diſpleaſure to our country, when God [...]teth ſuch a faithful paſtor?

16. She had a high valuation of God, and could [16]ſpeak in David's language, Whom have I in heave but thee, and there is none upon earth I can deſire compariſon of thee. She was much lifted up abo [...] the fears of death. What elſe was the meaning ſuch expreſſions as theſe, O how do I long! even the hart panteth after the water-brooks, ſo my ſo panteth after thee, O God, for God, the living Go [...] When ſhall I come and appear before God?

17. She was a great hater of ſin, and did, wi [...] much grief and ſelf abhorrence reflect upon it: b [...] that which lay moſt upon her heart, was the co [...] ⯑ruption of her nature, and original ſin. How oft [...] would ſhe cry out in the words of the pſalmiſt, E [...] hold I was ſhapen in iniquity, and in ſin did my moth conceive me, and I was altogether born in ſin. S [...] could never lay herſelf low enough under a ſenſe that original ſin which ſhe brought with her into t [...] world.

18. She ſpake many things very judiciouſly the old man, and putting it off, and of the n [...] man and putting it on; which ſhewed that ſhe w [...] no ſtranger to converſion, and that ſhe, in ſor [...] meaſure, underſtood what mortification, ſelf-deni [...] and taking up of her croſs, and following of Chr [...] ⯑meant. That ſcripture was much in her mouth, [...] ſacrifices of God are a contrite heart, a broken and contrite ſpirit, O God, thou wilt not deſpiſe. Th [...] brokenneſs of heart (ſaid ſhe) which is built up [...] and flows from faith, and that faith which is bu [...] upon Chriſt, who is the proper and alone ſacri [...] for ſin. Theſe are her own words.

19. Afterwards ſhe deſired to reſt, and when [...] had ſlumbered a while ſhe ſaid, O dear father a [...] mother, how weak do I feel myſelf! My dear ch [...] (ſaid her father) God will, in his tender men [...] ſtrengthen thee in thy weakneſs. Yea father (s [...] ſhe) that is my confidence: for it is ſaid, The bri [...] ⯑ [...] [17]he will not break, and the ſmoaking flax he will [...] quench.

20. Then ſhe diſcourſed excellently of the nature faith, and deſired that the eleventh of the Hebrews [...]ould be read unto her; at the reading of which, [...] cryed out, O what a ſtedſaſt faith was that of [...]aham, which made him willing to offer up his [...]n and only ſon! Faith is the ſubſtance of things [...]ed for, the evidence of things not ſeen.

21. Her father and mother hearing her excellent courſe, and ſeeing her admirable carriage, burſt [...] into abundance of tears: upon which, ſhe plead⯑ [...] with them to be patient, and content with the hand God. O (ſaid ſhe) why do you weep at this [...]e over me, ſeeing I hope, you have no reaſon to eſtion, but if the Lord take me out of this miſera⯑ [...] world, it ſhall be well with me to all eternity. [...]u ought to be well ſatisfied, ſeeing it is ſaid, God in heaven, and doth whatſoever pleaſeth him: [...]d do you not pray every day, that the will of God [...]y be done upon earth, as it is in heaven? Now [...]her, this is God's will, that I ſhould lie upon this [...] bed, and of this diſeaſe: ſhall we not be con⯑ [...]t when our prayers are anſwered? Would not [...]r extream ſorrow be murmuring againſt God, [...]hout whoſe good pleaſure nothing comes to paſs. though I am ſtruck with this ſad diſeaſe, yet be⯑ [...]ſe it is the will of God, that doth ſilence me, [...] I will, as long as I live, pray that God's will [...]y be done, and not mine.

22. Seeing her parents ſtill very much moved, ſhe [...]her argued with them from the providence of [...]d, which had a ſpecial hand in every common [...]g, much more in the diſpoſal of the lives of men [...] women: Are not two ſparrows ſold for a far⯑ [...]g, and not one of them falls to the ground with⯑ [...]our heavenly father? Yea, the hairs of our head [18]are all numbered; therefore fear not, you are of m [...] value than many ſparrows. Adverſity and proſperi [...] they are both good. Some things ſeem evil in o [...] eyes, but the Lord turns all to the good of the which are his.

23. She came then to ſpeak particularly concern⯑ing the plague: Doth not (ſaid ſhe) the peſtilen [...] come from God? Why elſe doth the Scripture fa [...] Shall there be evil in the city which I have not ſen [...] What do thoſe people mean, which ſay, the pe [...] ⯑lence comes from the air? Is not the Lord the cre [...] ⯑tor and ruler of the air, and are not the eleme [...] under his government? Or if they ſay it comes fro [...] the earth, Hath he not the ſame power and influen [...] upon that too? What talk they of a ſhip that ca [...] from Africa? Have ye not read long ago togeth [...] out of Lev. xxvi. 25? I ſhall bring a ſword [...] you, and avenge the quarrel of my covenant, [...] when you are aſſembled in the cities, then will I br [...] the peſtilence in the midſt of you.

24. After this, having taken ſome little reſt, [...] ſaid, O now is the day for opening the firſt queſti [...] of the catechiſm, and if we were there, we ſho [...] hear, that whether in death or life a believer [...] Chriſt's, who hath redeemed us by his own preck [...] blood from the power of the devil; and then [...] quoted Rom. xiv. 7.8. For none of us liveth unto h [...] ⯑ſelf and none of us dieth unto himſelf. For whether live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, die unto the Lord, whether then we live or die, are the Lord's. Then be comforted, for whether live or die, I am the Lord's. O why do you a [...] yourſelves thus! But what ſhall I ſay? with we [...] ⯑ing I came into the world, and with weeping I [...] go out again. O my dear parents, better is the [...] of my death, than the day of my birth.

25. When ſhe had thus encouraged her father [19]mother, ſhe deſired her father to pray with her, and [...]o requeſt of the Lord that ſhe might have a quiet [...]nd peaceable paſſage into another world.

26. After her father had prayed for her, he aſk⯑ [...]d her, whether he ſhould ſend for the phyſician; he anſwered by no means, for I am now beyond the help of doctors. But, ſaid he, my child, we are to [...]ſe the ordinary means appointed by the Lord for our [...]elp, as long as we live, and let the Lord do as ſeem⯑eth good in his eyes. But, ſaid ſhe, give me the [...]eavenly phyſician, he is the only helper. Doth [...]ot he ſay, Come unto me all ye that are weary and [...]eavy laden, and I will give you reſt? and doth not [...]e bid us call upon him in the day of diſtreſs, and [...]e will deliver us, and we ſhall glorify him: There⯑fore, dear father, call upon him yet again for me.

27. About this time a chriſtian friend came in to [...]iſit her, who was not a little comforted when he [...]eard and ſaw ſo much of the grace of God, living [...]n a poor young thing, which could not but ſo far [...]ffect him as to draw tears of joy and admiration from him, and her deportment was ſo teaching, that [...]e could not but acknowledge himſelf greatly edified [...]nd improved by her carriage and language.

28. That which was not the leaſt obſervable in her, was the ardent affection ſhe had for the holy ſcrip⯑tures and her catechiſm; in which ſhe was thorough⯑ [...]y inſtructed by the godly divines of the place where [...]he lived, which ſhe could not but own as one of the greateſt mercies next the Lord Chriſt. O how did [...]he bleſs God for her catechiſm, and beg of her fa⯑ther to go particularly to thoſe miniſters that had taken ſo much pains with her to inſtruct her in her [...]atechiſm, and to thank them from her, a dying child, [...]or their good inſtructions, and to let them underſtand [...]or their encouragement to go on in that work of ca⯑ [...]echiſing, how refreſhing thoſe truths were now to [20]her in the hour of her diſtreſs. O that ſweet cate⯑chiſing, ſaid ſhe, unto which I did always reſon with gladneſs, and attended without wearineſs.

29. She was much above the vanities of the world and took no pleaſure at all in thoſe things which u⯑ſually take up the heart and time of young ones. Sh [...] would ſay that ſhe was grieved and aſhamed both for young and old, to ſee how mad they were upon vanity, and how fooliſhly they ſpent their time.

30. She was not forgetful of the care and love o [...] her maſter and miſtreſs, which taught her to read and work, but ſhe deſired that thanks might alſo b [...] particularly given to them. Indeed ſhe thought ſh [...] could never be thankful enough both to God and mar [...] for that kindneſs that ſhe had experience of: But a⯑gain and again ſhe deſired to be ſure to thank the miniſter that inſtructed her, either by catechiſing o [...] preaching.

31. After ſome reſt, her father aſked her again how ſhe did, and began to expreſs ſomewhat of the ſatisfaction and joy that he had taken in her former diligence in her reading the ſcriptures, and writing and her dutifulneſs, and that great progreſs that ſhe had made in the things of God, upon which ſhe humbly and ſweetly deſired to own God and his kindneſs in her godly education, and ſaid, that ſhe eſteemed her holy education under ſuch parents and miniſters as a greater portion than ten thouſand gil⯑ders, for thereby I have learned to comfort myſelf out of the word of God, which the world beſides could never have afforded.

32. Her father perceiving her to grow very weak ſaid, I perceive child thou art very weak: It is true Sir (ſaid ſhe) I feel my weakneſs increaſing, and I ſee your ſorrow increaſing too, which is a piece of my affliction; be content I pray you, it is the Lord which [21]doth it, and let you and I ſay with David, Let us fall into the Lord's hands, for his mercies are great.

33. She had laid a great charge upon her parents not to be over-grieved for her after her death, urging that of David upon them, while the child was ſick, he faſted and wept, but when it died, he waſhed his face, and ſate up and eat, and ſaid, Can I bring him back again from death, I ſhall go to him but he ſhall not return to me. So ought you to ſay after my death, our child is well, for we know it ſhall be well with them that truſt in the Lord. She did lay a more particular and ſtrict charge upon her mo⯑ther, ſaying to her, Dear mother, who have done ſo much for me, you muſt promiſe me one thing before I die; and that is, that you will not ſorrow over-much for me: I ſpeak thus to you, becauſe I am afraid of your great affliction: conſider others loſſes, what they have been; remember Job; for⯑get not what Chriſt foretold, In the world you ſhall have tribulation, but be of good cheer, in me you ſhall have peace: and muſt the apoſtles ſuffer ſo great tribulation, and muſt we ſuffer none? Did not Jeſus Chriſt, my only life and ſaviour, ſweat drops of blood? Was he not in a bitter agony, mocked, ſpit at, nailed to the croſs, and a ſpear thruſt through his bleſſed ſide, and all this for my ſake, and on the account of my ſins? Did not he cry out, My God, my God, why haſt thou forſaken me? Did not Chriſt hang naked upon the croſs, to purchaſe for me the garments of ſalvation, and to cloath me with his righteouſneſs, for there is ſalvation in no other name.

34. Being very feeble and weak, ſhe ſaid, O if I might quietly ſleep in the boſom of Jeſus! and that till then he would ſtrengthen me! O that he would take me into his arms, as he did thoſe little ones, when he ſaid, Suffer little children to come unto me, for of ſuch is the kingdom of heaven; and [22]he took them into his arms, and laid his lands on them and bleſſed them. I lie here as a child, O Lord, I am thy child, receive me into thy gracious arms. O Lord, Grace! Grace! and not Juſtice! for if thou ſhouldſt enter into judgment with me, I cannot ſtand, yea, none living ſhould be juſt in thy ſight.

35. After this, ſhe cried out, O how faint am I! but fearing leſt ſhe ſhould diſhearten her mother, ſhe ſaid, While there is life, there is hope: if it ſhould pleaſe the Lord to recover me, how careful would I be to pleaſe you in my work and learning, and whatſoever you ſhould require of me!

36. After this, the Lord did again ſend her ſtrength, and ſhe laboured to ſpend it all for Chriſt, in the awakening, edifying and comforting of thoſe that were about her; but her chiefeſt endeavour was to ſupport her dear parents from extraordinary ſor⯑row, and to comfort them out of the ſcriptures, tel⯑ling them that ſhe knew that all things did work to⯑gether for the good of them that did love God, even to thoſe which are called according to his purpoſe. O God, eſtabliſh me with thy free ſpirit! Who ſhall ſe⯑parate us from the love of Chriſt? I am perſuaded that neither life, nor death, nor angels, nor princi⯑palities, nor powers, nor things preſent, nor things to come, nor heighth, nor depth, nor any other crea⯑ture, ſhall ſeparate us from the love of God, which is towards us in Chriſt Jeſus our Lord. My ſheep (ſaith Chriſt) hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me, and I give unto them eternal life, and they ſhall never periſh, and no man ſhall pluck them out of my hands. My father who gave them me is greater than all, and none ſhall pluck them out of my father's hands. Thus ſhe ſeemed to attain a holy confidence in God, and an aſſurance of her ſtate as to another world.

37. When ſhe had a little refreſhed herſelf with [23]reſt, ſhe burſt forth with abundance of joy and glad⯑neſs of heart, with a holy triumph of faith, ſaying, Death is ſwallowed up in victory, O death where is thy ſting? O grave where is thy victory? the ſting of death is ſin, and the ſtrength of ſin is the law; but thanks be to God, who hath given us the victory through our Lord and Saviour Jeſus Chriſt.

38. That ſhe might the better ſupport her friends, ſhe ſtill inſiſted upon that which might take off ſome of their burthen, by urging the neceſſity of death: We are from the earth, and to the earth we muſt re⯑turn: duſt is the mother of us all, the duſt ſhall turn to duſt, from whence it is; and the ſpirit to God who gave it.

39. Then ſhe diſcourſed of the ſhortneſs of man's life. O what is the life of man! The days of man upon the earth are as the graſs, and the flowers of the field, ſo he flouriſheth; the wind paſſeth over it, and it is gone, and his place knows him no more.

40. She further urged the ſin and ſorrow that did attend us in this life, and the longer we live, the more we ſin; now the Lord will free me from that ſin and ſorrow. We know not the thoughts of God, yet do we know ſo much, that they are mercy and peace, and do give an expected end. But what ſhall I ſay, my life ſhall not continue long, I feel much weakneſs. O Lord, look upon me graciouſly, have pity upon my weak diſtreſſed heart. I am oppreſſed, undertake for me, that I may ſtand faſt and overcome.

41. She was very frequent in ſpiritual ejacula⯑tions, and it was no ſmall comfort to her, that the Lord Chriſt did pray for her, and promiſe to ſend his ſpirit to comfort her. It is ſaid (ſaid ſhe) I will pray the Father, and he ſhall give you another com⯑forter. O let him not leave me! O Lord continue with me till thy work be finiſhed.

[24]42. She had very low and undervaluing thoughts of herſelf, and her own righteouſneſs; or elſe what meant her crying out in ſuch language as that, none but Chriſt! without thee I can do nothing? Chriſt is the true vine! O let me be a branch of that vine: what poor worms are we! O dear father, how lame and halting do we go in the ways of God and ſal⯑vation? We know but in part, but when that which is perfect is come, then that which is imperfect ſhall be done away. O that I had attained to that now: But, what are we ourſelves? not only weak⯑neſs and nothingneſs, but wickedneſs. For all the thoughts and imaginations of man's heart are only evil, and that continually: we are, by nature, chil⯑dren of wrath, and are conceived and born in ſin and unrighteouſneſs. Oh! this wretched and vile thing ſin! but thanks to God, who hath redeemed me from it.

43. She comforted herſelf and her father in that excellent ſcripture, Rom. viii 15, 16, 17. Ye have not received the ſpirit of bondage again to fear, but ye have received the ſpirit of adoption, by which ye cry Abba Father. It is the ſpirit that witneſſeth with our ſpirits, that we are the children of God; and if children, then we are heirs, heirs of God, and joint heirs with Chriſt. You ſee thence, father, that I ſhall be a fellow-heir with Chriſt, who hath ſaid, in my Father's houſe are many manſions, if it were not ſo, I would have told you, I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to myſelf, that where I am there ye may be alſo. O Lord, take me to thyſelf. Behold, dear mo⯑ther, he hath prepared a place and dwelling for me.

44. Yea, my dear child, ſaid her mother, he ſhall ſtrengthen you with his holy ſpirit, until he [25]hath fitted and prepared you fully for that place which he hath provided for you.

45. Yea, mother, it is ſaid in Pſalm lxxxiv. How lovely are thy tabernacles, O Lord of hoſts, my ſould doth thirſt for the courts of the Lord: one day in thy courts is better than a thouſand; yea, I had ra⯑ther be a door-keeper in the houſe of God, than dwell in the tents of the wicked. Read that pſalm, dear mother, wherewith we may comfort one another. As for me, I am more and more ſpent, and draw near my laſt hour.

46. Then ſhe deſired to be prayed with, and begged that the Lord would give her an eaſy paſ⯑ſage.

47. After this ſhe turned to her mother, and, with much affection, ſhe ſaid, ah my dear and loving mother, that which cometh from the heart, doth ordinarily go to the heart, once more come and kiſs me before I leave you.

48. She was not a little concerned about the ſouls of the reſt of her relations, and did particularly charge it upon her father to do what he could poſ⯑ſibly to bring them up in the ways of God. O let my ſiſter be trained up in the ſcriptures, and cate⯑chiſing, as I have been.

49. I formerly wept for my ſiſter, thinking that ſhe would die before me, and now ſhe weepeth for me, and then ſhe kiſſed her weeping ſiſter; alſo ſhe took her young little ſiſter in her arms, a child of ſix months old, and ſhe kiſſed it with much af⯑fection, as if her very bowels had moved within her, and ſpoke with many heart-breaking words, both to her parents and the children.

50. Her father ſpake to one that was by, to take the poor little child away from her, from the hazard of that fiery diſtemper, and bid his daughter [26]to give her to them, for he had already too much to bear. Well father, ſaid ſhe, did not God pre⯑ſerve the three children in the fiery furnace; and did you not teach me that ſcripture? when thou paſſeſt through the fire, thou ſhalt not be burnt, neither ſhall the flame kindle upon thee.

51. She had a very ſtrong faith in the doctrine of the reſurrection, and did greatly ſolace her ſoul with excellent ſcriptures, which do ſpeak the happy ſtate of believers, as ſoon as their ſouls are ſepa⯑rated from their bodies, and what ſhe quoted out of the ſcripture, ſhe did excellently and ſuitably ap⯑ply to her own uſe, incomparably above the com⯑mon reach of her ſex and age. That in 1 Cor. xv. 42. was a good ſupport to her, The body is ſown in corruption, but it ſhall be raiſed incorruptible; it is ſown in diſhonour, it ſhall be raiſed in glory; it is ſown in weakneſs, but it ſhall be raiſed in power. And then ſhe ſweetly applies it, and takes in this cordial. Behold, thus it is, and thus it ſhall be with my mortal fleſh, Bleſſed are the dead which die in the Lord, becauſe they reſt from their labours, and their works do follow them. The righteous periſh, and no man layeth it to heart; and the upright are taken away, and no man regardeth it, that they are taken away from the evil to come, they ſhall enter into peace, they ſhall reſt in their beds every one who walked in their uprightneſs. Behold, now father, I ſhall reſt and ſleep in that bed-chamber.

52. Then ſhe quoted Job xix. 25, 26, 27. I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he ſhall ſtand at the latter end upon the earth; and though after my ſkin, worms deſtroy this body, yet in my fleſh ſhall I ſee God; whom I ſhall ſee for myſelf, and my eyes ſhall behold, and not another's, though [27]my reins be conſumed within me. Behold now, fa⯑ther, this very ſkin which you ſee, and this very fleſh which you ſee, ſhall be raiſed up again; and theſe very eyes which now are ſo dim, ſhall, on that day, ſee and behold my dear and precious re⯑deemer albeit the worms eat up my fleſh, yet with theſe eyes ſhall I behold God, even I myſelf, and not another for me.

53. Then ſhe quoted John v. 28. Marvel not at this, for the hour is coming in which all that are in their graves ſhall hear his voice, and come forth; thoſe that have done good unto the reſurrection of life. See, father, I ſhall riſe in that day, and then I ſhall behold my redeemer; then ſhall he ſay, Come ye bleſſed of my father, inherit the king⯑dom prepared for you before the beginning of the world.

54. Behold now I live, yet not I, but Chriſt liveth in me, and the life that I now live in the fleſh is by the faith of the ſon of God, who loved me, and gave himſelf for me. I am ſaved, and that not of myſelf, it is the gift of God, not of works, leaſt any man ſhould boaſt.

55. My dear parents, now we muſt ſhortly part, my ſpeech faileth me, pray to the Lord for a quiet cloſe to my combat.

56. Her parents replied, ah our dear child! How ſad is that to us, that we muſt part? ſhe anſwered, I go to heaven, and there we ſhall find one another again; I go to Jeſus Chriſt.

57. Then ſhe comforted herſelf to think of her ſeeing her precious brother and ſiſter again in glory. I go to my brother Jacob, who did ſo much cry and call upon God to the laſt moment of his breath: and to my little ſiſter, who was but three years old when ſhe died: who, when we aſked [28]her, whether ſhe would die? anſwered 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 ſtay with my mo⯑ther, if it be the Lord's will. But I know that I ſhall die, and go to heaven and to God. O ſee, how ſo ſmall a babe had ſo much given it, to be have itſelf every way, and in all things ſo ſubmiſ⯑ſively to the will of God, as if it had no will of its own; but if it be the will of God, if it pleaſe God; nothing for her, but what was the will and plea⯑ſure of God; and therefore dear father and mother, give the Lord thanks for this his free and rich grace, and then I ſhall the more gladly be gone. Be gra⯑cious then, O Lord unto me alſo, be gracious to me, waſh me throughly from my unrighteouſneſs, and cleanſe me from my ſin.

58. After this, her ſpirit was refreſhed with the ſenſe of the pardon of her ſins, which made her to cry out, behold, God hath waſhed away my ſins, O how do I long to die! The apoſtle ſaid, in this body we earneſtly ſigh and groan, longing for our houſe which is in heaven, that we may be cloathed therewith. Now I alſo lie here ſighing and long⯑ing for that dwelling which is above. In the laſt ſermon which I heard, or ever ſhall hear, I heard this, which is matter of great comfort unto me.

59. Then ſhe repeated ſeveral notable ſcriptures which were quoted in that ſermon, afterward ſhe deſired to be prayed with, and put petitions into their mouths, viz. That all her ſins might be for⯑given, that ſhe might have more abundant faith, and the aſſurance of it; and the comfort of that aſſurance, and the continuation and ſtrength of that comfort, according as her neceſſity ſhould require. Afterwards ſhe prayed herſelf, and continued ſome time.

[29]60. When prayers were ended, ſhe called to her father and mother, and demanded of them, whe⯑ther ſhe had at any time angred or grieved them, or done any thing that did not become her? And begged of them to forgive her.

61. They anſwered her, that if all children had carried themſelves ſo to their parents as ſhe had done, there would be leſs grief and ſorrow on all hands than there is; and if any ſuch thing had eſ⯑caped thee, we would forgive it with all our hearts, you have done as became a good child.

62. Her heart being comforted with her peace with God and he [...] parents, ſhe began to diſpoſe of her books; particularly ſhe intreated her mother to keep Mr. De Wit's catechiſe lectures, as long as ſhe lived, for her ſake, and let my little ſiſter have my other books, in remembrance of me.

63. Then, ſhe ſaid, ſhe felt her breaſt exceeding⯑ly pained, by which ſhe knew that her end was very nigh. Her father ſpake to her as he was able, telling her, the Lord would be her ſtrength in the hour of her neceſſity.

64. Yea, (ſaid ſhe) The Lord is my ſhepherd, al⯑though I paſs through the valley of the ſhadow of death, I will not fear, for thou art with me, thy rod and thy ſtaff, they comfort me: And it is ſaid, the ſufferings of this preſent life are not worthy to be compared with the glory that ſhall be revealed in us. Shall I not ſuffer and endure, ſeeing my glo⯑rious redeemer was pleaſed to ſuffer ſo much for me? O how was he mocked and crowned with thorns, that he might purchaſe a crown of righte⯑ouſneſs for us: And that is the crown of which Paul ſpoke, when he ſaid, I have fought the good fight, I have finiſhed my courſe, I have kept the faith, henceforth is laid up for me a crown of righte⯑ouſneſs, [30]which the Lord, the righteous judge ſhall give unto me in that day; and not only to me, but to all who love his appearing.

65. Ye are bought with a price, therefore glorify God with your ſouls and bodies, which are his. Muſt I not then exalt and bleſs him while I have a being, who hath bought me with his blood? Surely he hath born our griefs, and took our infirmities, and we eſteemed him ſmitten and ſtricken of God; But he was wounded for our tranſgreſſions, and bruiſed for our ſins: The chaſtiſement of our peace was upon him, and by his ſtripes are we healed, and the Lord laid upon him the iniquity of us all. Behold the lamb of God that taketh away the ſins of the world: that lamb is Jeſus Chriſt who hath ſatisfied for my ſins. So ſaith Paul, Ye are waſhed, ye are ſancti⯑fied, ye are juſtified in the name of our Lord Jeſus, and through the ſpirit of our God.

66. My end is now very near, now I ſhall put on white raiment, and be cloathed before the lamb, that ſpotleſs lamb, and with his ſpotleſs righteouſ⯑neſs. Now are the angels making ready to carry my ſoul before the throne of God. Theſe are they who are come out of great tribulation, who have waſhed their robes and made them white in the blood of the lamb.

67. She ſpoke this with a dying voice, but full of ſpirit, and of the power of faith.

68. Her lively aſſurance ſhe further uttered in the words of the apoſtle; We know that if this earthly houſe of our tabernacle be diſſolved, we have one which is built of God, which is eternal in the heavens; for in this we ſight for our houſe, which is in heaven, that we may be cloathed there⯑with.

69. There father, you ſee that my body is this [31]tabernacle, which now ſhall be broken down; my ſoul ſhall now part from it, and ſhall be taken up into the heavenly paradiſe, into that heavenly Je⯑ruſalem. There ſhall I dwell and go no more out, but ſit and ſing, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God of hoſts, the Lord of Sabbath! Her laſt words were theſe; O Lord God, into thy hands I commit my ſpirit, O Lord be gracious, be merciful to me a poor ſinner.—And here ſhe fell aſleep.

70. She died the firſt of September 1664, betwixt ſeven and eight in the evening, in the fourteenth year of her age; having obtained that which ſhe ſo oft intreated of the Lord, a quiet and eaſy depar⯑ture, and the end of her faith the ſalvation of her ſoul.

EXAMPLE XII. Of the excellent carriage of a Child upon his death-bed, when but ſeven years old.

1. JAcob Bicks, the brother of Suſanna Bicks, was born in Leiden; and had a religious educa⯑tion under his godly parents, the which the Lord was pleaſed to ſanctify to his converſion, and by it lay in excellent proviſions to live upon in an hour of diſtreſs.

2. This ſweet little child was viſited of the Lord of a very ſore ſickneſs three or four weeks before his ſiſter, of whoſe life and death we have given you ſome account already: in his diſtemper he was for the moſt part very ſleepy and drowſy, till near his death, but when he did awake, he was wont to be much engaged in prayer.

[32]3. Once when his parents had been praying with him, they aſked him again if they ſhould ſend for the phyſician? No (ſaid he) I will have the doctor no more; the Lord will help me: I know he will take me to himſelf, and then he ſhall help all.

4. Ah my dear child, ſaid his father, that grie⯑veth my heart: Well (ſaid the child) father, let us pray, and the Lord ſhall be near for my helper.

5. When his parents had prayed with him again, he ſaid, come now dear father and mother, and kiſs me, I know that I ſhall die.

6. Farewell, dear father and mother, farewell dear ſiſter, farewell all. Now ſhall I go to heaven unto God and Jeſus Chriſt, and the holy angels: Father, know you not what is ſaid by Jeremiah: Bleſſed is he who truſteth in the Lord? Now I truſt in him, and he will bleſs me. And in 1 John 2. it is ſaid, Little children love not the world, for the world paſſeth away.

7. Away then all that is in the world, away with all my pleaſant things in the world: away with my dagger, for where I go, there is nothing to do with daggers and ſwords: men ſhall not fight there, but praiſe God. Away with all my books; there ſhall I know ſufficiently, and be learned in all things of true wiſdom, without books.

8. His father being touched to hear his child ſpeak at this rate, could not well tell what to ſay; but, my dear child, the Lord will be near thee, and uphold thee.

9. Yea, father (ſaid he) the Apoſtle Peter ſaid, God reſiſteth the proud, but he giveth grace to the humble. I ſhall humble myſelf under the mighty hand of God, and he ſhall help me and lift me up.

[33]10. O my dear child, ſaid his father, haſt thou ſo ſtrong a faith?

11. Yes, ſaid the child, God hath given me ſo ſtrong a faith upon himſelf, through Jeſus Chriſt, that the devil himſelf ſhall flee from me, for it is ſaid, He who believeth in the Son hath everlaſting life, and he hath overcome the wicked one. Now I believe in Jeſus Chriſt my redeemer, and he will not leave or forſake me, but ſhall give unto me eternal life, and then ſhall I ſing Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of Sabbath.

12. Then with a ſhort word of prayer, Lord be merciful to me a poor ſinner, he quietly breathed out his ſoul, and ſweetly ſlept in Jeſus, when he was about ſeven years old.

EXAMPLE XIII. Of one that began to look towards heaven, when he was very young; with many emi⯑nent paſſages of his life, and joyful death, when he was eleven years and three quar⯑ters old.

1. JOhn Harvey was born in London, in the year 1654, his father was a Dutch merchant; he was piouſly educated under his virtuous mother, and ſoon began to ſuck in divine things with no ſmall delight.

2. The firſt thing very obſervable in him was, that when he was two years and eight months old, [34]he could ſpeak as well as other children do uſually at five years old.

3. His parents judging, that he was then a little too young to ſend out to ſchool, let him have his liberty to play a little about home. But in⯑ſtead of playing, he found out a ſchool of his own accord hard by, and went to the ſchool miſ⯑treſs, own accord hard by, and went to the ſchool miſ⯑treſs, and intreated her to teach him to read: and ſo he went for ſome time to ſchool without the knowledge of his parents, and made a very great progreſs in his learning, and was able to read diſ⯑tinctly, before moſt children are able to know their letters.

4. He was wont to aſk many ſerious and weighty queſtions, about matters which concerned his ſoul and eternity.

5. His mother being greatly troubled upon the death of one of his uncles, this child came to his mother, and ſaid, mother, though my uncle be dead, doth not the ſcriptures ſay, he muſt riſe again; yea, and I muſt die, and ſo muſt every bo⯑dy, and it will not be long before Chriſt will come to judge the world, and then we ſhall ſee one ano⯑ther again, I pray mother, do not weep ſo much. This grave counſel he gave his mother, when he was not quite five years old, by which her ſorrow for her brother was turned into admiration at her child, and ſhe was made to ſit ſilent and quiet un⯑der that ſmarting ſtroke.

6. After this, his parents removed to Aberdeen in Scotland, and ſettled their child under an able ſchool-maſter there, whoſe cuſtom was upon the Lord's day in the morning, to examine his ſcholars concerning the ſermons that they had heard the former Lord's day, and to add ſome other queſtions which might try the underſtanding and knowledge of his [35]ſcholars. His maſter was often amazed at this child's anſwers, and took an opportunity to go to his mother, to thank her for inſtructing her ſon ſo well; but ſhe replied, that he improved in his underſtanding, not only by her inſtructions, but by his own reading and obſervation.

7. He was a child that was extraordinary inqui⯑ſitive, and full of good queſtions, and very careful to obſerve and remember what he heard.

8. He had a great hatred of whatſoever he knew to be diſpleaſing to God, and he was ſo greatly concerned for the honour of God, that he would be much diſpleaſed, if any groſs ſins were com⯑mitted before him. And he had a deep ſenſe of the worth of ſouls, and was not a little grieved when he ſaw any do that which he knew was dangerous to their ſouls.

9. One day ſeeing one of his near relations come into his Father's houſe diſtempered with drink, as he thought, he quickly went very ſeriouſly to him, and wept over him, that he ſhould ſo offend God and hazard his ſoul, and begged of him to ſpend his time better than in drinking and gaming; and this he did, without any inſtruction from his pa⯑rents, 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 ſome word to keep them from naughty talk, or wicked actions; and if any did take the Lord's name in vain, or do any thing unbecoming of a good child, they ſhould ſoon hear of it from him; nay, once hearing a boy ſpeak very profanely, and that after two or three ad⯑monitions he would not forbear, nor go out of his company neither, he was ſo tranſported with [36]zeal, that he could not forbear falling upon him, to beat him, but his mother chiding of him for it, he ſaid, that he could not endure to hear the name of God ſo abuſed by a wretched boy. This is obſerv⯑ed not to vindicate the act, but to take notice of his zeal.

11. He was a child that took great delight in the company of good men, and eſpecially miniſters and ſcholars; and if he had any leiſure time, he would improve it by viſiting of ſuch, whoſe diſcourſe might make him wiſer and better; and when he was in their ſociety, to be ſure his talk was more like a chriſtian and a ſcholar than a child.

12. One day after ſchool-time was over, he paid Mr. Andrew Kent (one of the miniſters of Aberdeen) a viſit, and aſked him ſeveral ſolid queſtions; but the good man aſked him ſome queſtions out of his catechiſm: and finding him not ſo ready in the anſwers as he ſhould have been, did a little reprove him, and told him, that he muſt be ſure to get his catechiſm perfectly by heart: the child took the re⯑proof very well, and went home and ſet very cloſe to his catechiſm, and never leſt it till he got it by heart; and not only ſo, but he would be en⯑quiring into the ſenſe and meaning of it.

13. He was ſo greatly taken with his catechiſm, that he was not content to learn it himſelf, but he would be putting others upon learning it alſo, eſpecially thoſe that were neareſt to him; he could not be ſatisfied till he had perſuaded the ſervants to learn it, and when they were at work, he would be ſtill following them with ſome good queſtion or other; ſo that the child ſeemed to be taken up with the thoughts of his ſoul, God's ho⯑nour, and the good of others.

[37]14. He was a conſcientious obſerver of the Lord's day, ſpending all the time either in ſecret prayer, or reading the ſcriptures, and good books; learning of his catechiſm, and hearing of the word of God, and publick duties; and was not only careful in the performance of thoſe duties himſelf, but was ready to put all that he knew upon a ſtrict obſervation of the Lord's day, and was exceedingly grieved at the profanation of it. One Lord's day a ſervant of his father's going out of the houſe upon an extra⯑ordinary occaſion, to fetch ſomething that was wanted, he took on ſo bitterly, that he could ſcarce be pacified, becauſe that holy day was ſo abuſed (as he judged) in his father's houſe.

15. When he was between ſix and ſeven years old, it pleaſed God to afflict him with ſore eyes, which was no mall grief to him, becauſe it kept him from ſchool, which he loved as well as many boys do their play; and that which was worſe, he was commanded by the doctor not to read any book whatſoever at home. But O how was this poor child grieved, that he might not have liberty to read the holy ſcriptures! and for all their charge he would get by himſelf, and ſtand by the window and read the bible and other good books; yea, he was ſo greedy of reading the ſcriptures, and took ſo much delight in them, that he would ſcarce allow himſelf time to dreſs himſelf; for reading the word of God was his great delight. Yea, though he had been beat for ſtudying ſo much, yet judging it God's command that he ſhould give himſelf up to reading, he could not be beat off from it, till he was ſo bad that he had like never to have recovered his ſight more.

16. It was his practice to be much by himſelf in [38]ſecret prayer; and he was careful to manage that work, ſo as that it might be as ſecret as poſſibly it could be, but his frequency and conſtancy made it to be eaſily obſerved! upon which, one time one having a great mind to know what this ſweet babe prayed for, got into a place near him, and heard him very earneſtly praying for the church of God, deſiring that the kingdom of the goſpel might be ſpread over the whole world, and that the kingdom of grace might more and more come into the hearts of God's people, and that the kingdom of glory might be haſtened. He was wont to continue half an hour, ſometimes an hour, upon his knees to⯑gether.

17. He was much above the vanities that moſt children are taken with, and was indeed too much above this world to live long in it.

18. He was very humble and modeſt, and did by no means affect fineneſs in apparel, but hated any⯑thing more than neceſſaries either in cloaths or diet.

19. When he perceived either his brother or ſiſ⯑ter pleaſed with their new cloaths, he would, with a great deal of gravity, reprove their folly, and when his reproof ſignified little, he would bewai their vanity.

20. Once he had a new ſuit brought him, which, when he looked on, he found ſome rib⯑bons at the knees, at which he was grieved, aſk⯑ing his mother, Whether thoſe things would keep him warm? No, child, ſaid his mother: Why then ſaid he, do you ſuffer them to be put here? you are miſtaken, if you think ſuch things pleaſe me: and, I doubt, ſome that are better than us, may wan [...] the money that this coſt you, to buy them bread.

[39]21. He would intreat his mother to have a care of gratifying a proud humour in his brother and Eſters, he did tell them of the danger of pride, and [...]ow little reaſon they had to be proud of that which was their ſhame: for, ſaid he, if it had not been [...]or ſin, we ſhould have had no need of cloaths.

22. At leiſure times he would be talking to his [...]chool-fellows about the things of God, and urge [...]he neceſſity of a holy life. This text he much ſpoke [...]bout to them; the axe is laid to the root of the tree, [...]nd every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit, is [...]ewn down and caſt into the fire. Every mother's [...]hild of us, that doth not bring forth the fruit of [...]ood works, ſhall ſhortly be cut down with the axe [...]f God's wrath, and caſt down into the fire of hell, [...]nd this he ſpake like one that believed and felt the [...]ower of what he ſpake, and not with the leaſt vi⯑ [...]ibility of a childiſh levity of ſpirit. This was when he was between ſeven and eight years old, [...]nd if he perceived any children unconcerned about [...]heir ſouls, he would be greatly troubled at it.

23. After this his parents removed not far from London, where he continued till that dreadful year [...]ixty-five; he was then ſent to the Latin ſchool, where he ſoon made a very conſiderable progreſs, [...]nd was greatly beloved of his maſter; the ſchool was his beloved place, and learning his recreation. He was never taught to write, but took it of his [...]wn ingenuity.

24. He was exceeding dutiful to his parents, and [...]ever did in the leaſt diſpute their commands, except when he thought they might croſs the com⯑mand of God) as in the forementioned buſineſs of [...]eading the ſcriptures when his eyes were ſo bad.

25. He was exceedingly contented with any [...]ean diet, and to be ſure he would not touch a bit [40]of any thing till he had begged God's Bleſſing upon it.

26. He would put his brother and ſiſter upon their duties, and obſerved them whether they per⯑formed them or no, and when he ſaw any neglect, he would ſoon warn them; if he ſaw any of them take a ſpoon into their hands before he had craved a bleſſing, he ſaid, that is juſt like a hog indeed.

27. His ſiſter was afraid of the darkneſs, and would ſometimes cry upon this account; he told her ſhe muſt fear God more, and ſhe need then be afraid of nothing.

28. He would humbly put his near relations upon their duty, and minding the concerns of their ſouls and eternity, with more ſeriouſneſs and life, and to have a care of doing that which was for the diſho⯑nour of God, and the hazard of the ſoul.

29. He was of a compaſſionate and charitable diſpoſition, and very pitiful to the poor, or any tha [...] were in diſtreſs, but his greateſt pity was to poo [...] ſouls; and as well as he could he would be putting children, play-fellows, ſervants, and neighbours upon minding their precious ſouls.

30. One notable inſtance of his true charity, I cannot omit. A certain Turk was by the provi⯑dence of God caſt into the place where he lived which this ſweet child hearing of, had a great pity to his ſoul, and ſtudied how he might be any way inſtrumental to do it good; at laſt finding a man tha [...] underſtood the language of the Turk, he uſed mean [...] to get them together, which he at laſt procured; the firſt thing that he did, was to put his friend upon diſcourſing with the Turk about his principles, whe⯑ther he acknowledged a Deity, which the Turk owning; the next thing he enquired was, Wha [...] he thought of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt? at which th [...] [41]Turk was troubled, and put off the diſcourſe, and ſaid, he was thirſty and hungry; which the child [...]eing informed of, by the interpreter, immediately [...]vent to a brew-houſe near at hand (his own bouſe being far off) and did intreat the maſter of it to give him ſome beer for the Turk, and the argument [...]he uſed was this, Sir, here is a poor ſtranger that [...]s a-thirſt, we know not where we may be caſt be⯑ [...]ore we die: he then went to another place, and [...]egged food for him, uſing the ſame argument as [...]efore; but his friends hearing of it, were angry [...]ith him, but he told them he did it for a poor [...]ranger that was far from home, and he did it that [...]e might think the better of the chriſtians, and the [...]riſtian religion.

31. He would have a ſavoury word to ſay to very one that he converſed with, to put them in [...]ind of the worth of Chriſt, and their ſouls; and [...]heir nearneſs to eternity. Inſomuch that good [...]eople took no ſmall pleaſure in his company. The [...]ylor that made his cloaths, would keep them the [...]nger before he brought them home, that he might [...]ave the benefit of his ſpiritual and chriſtian ſociety, [...]d more frequent viſits.

32. He bewailed the miſerable condition of the [...]nerality of mankind (when he was about ten years [...]d) that were utterly eſtranged from God, though [...]ey called him father, yet they were his children [...]ly by creation, and not by any likeneſs they had [...] God, or intereſt in him.

33. Thus he continued walking in the ways of [...]od, ingaged in reading, praying, hearing the [...]ord of God, and ſpiritual diſcourſe, diſcovering [...]ereby his ſerious thoughts of eternity.

34. He had an earneſt deſire, if it might be the [...]ord's good pleaſure, to give himſelf up to the [42]Lord in the work of the miniſtry, if he ſhould live and this out of a dear love to Chriſt, and ſouls.

35. He was (next to the bible) moſt taken with reading of the reverend Mr. Baxter's works, eſpe⯑cially his Saints Everlaſting Reſt; and truly the thoughts of that reſt, and eternity, ſeemed to ſwal⯑low up all other thoughts; and he lived in a con⯑ſtant preparation for it, and looked more like one that was ripe for glory, than an inhabitant of thi [...] lower world.

36. When he was about eleven years and thre [...] quarters old, his mother's houſe was viſited with th [...] plague; his eldeſt ſiſter was the firſt that was viſited with this diſtemper, and when they were praying for her, he would ſob and weep bitterly.

37. As ſoon as he perceived that his ſiſter wa [...] dead, he ſaid, the will of the Lord be done; bleſ⯑ſed be the Lord; dear mother, ſaid he, you muſ [...] do as David did, after the child was dead, he wen [...] and refreſhed himſelf, and quietly ſubmitted to th [...] will of God.

38. The reſt of the family held well for abou [...] fourteen days, which time he ſpent in religious du⯑ties, and preparing for his death; but ſtill his fa⯑vourite book was The Saints Reſt, which he rea [...] with great attention, gathering many obſervation out of it in writing, for his own uſe. He wrote ſe⯑veral divine mediations of his own, upon ſevera [...] ſubjects; but that which ſeemed moſt admirabl [...], was, A meditation on the excellency of Chriſt. H [...] was never well but when he was more immediately engaged in the ſervice of God.

39. At fourteen days end he was taken ſick, a [...] which he ſeemed very patient and chearful; ye [...] ſometimes he would ſay that his pain was great.

[43]40. His mother looking upon his brother, ſhook [...]er head, at which he aſked if his brother were dangerous? She anſwered, yea child; be aſked again whether ſhe thought him ſo: ſhe anſwered nothing; well, ſaid he, I pray let me have Mr. Baxter's book, that I may read a little more of eternity, before I go into it. His mother told him that he was not able to read, he ſaid that he was; however, then pray by me, and for me; his mother anſwered, that ſhe was ſo full of grief, that ſhe could not pray now, but ſhe deſired to hear him pray his laſt prayer.

41. His mother aſked him, whether he were wil⯑ling to die and leave her? He anſwered, yes, I am willing to leave you and go to my heavenly fa⯑ther. His mother anſwered, child, if thou hadſt but an aſſurance of God's love, I ſhould not be ſo much troubled.

42. He anſwered and ſaid to his mother, I am aſſured, dear mother, that my ſins are forgiven, and that I ſhall go to heaven, for, ſaid he, here ſtood an angel by me, that told me I ſhould quickly be in glory.

43. At this his mother burſt forth into tears. O mother, ſaid he, did you but know what joy I feel, you would not weep, but rejoice. I tell you I am ſo full of comfort, that I can't tell you how I am; O mother, I ſhall preſently have my head in my father's boſom, and I ſhall be there, where the four and twenty elders caſt down their crowns and ſing hallelujah, glory and praiſe, to him that ſits upon the throne, and unto the lamb for ever.

44. Upon this his ſpeech began to fail him, but his ſoul ſeemed ſtill to be taken up with glory, and nothing now grieved him but the ſorrow that he ſaw his mother to be in for his death; a little to [44]divert his mother, he aſked her what ſhe had to ſup⯑per, but preſently, in a kind of divine rapture, [...] cried out, O what ſweet ſupper have I making ready for me in glory.

45. But ſeeing all this did rather increaſe, than allay his mother's grief, he was more troubled and aſked her what ſhe meant thus to offend God know you not that it is the hand of the almighty? Humble yourſelf unto the mighty hand of God, lay yourſelf in the duſt, and kiſs the rod of God, and let me ſee you do it in token of your ſubmiſſion to the will of God, and bow before him. Upon which, raiſing himſelf up a little, he gave a lowly bow, and ſpoke no more, but went chearfully and triumphantly to reſt, in the boſom of Jeſus.