A Token for Children, Example 6
The ſixth Example of a poor Child that was awakened when ſhe was about five years old.
1. A Certain very poor Child that had a very bad Father, but it was to be hoped a very good Mother, was by the Providence of God brought to the ſight of a godly friend of mine, who upon the firſt ſight of the Child, had a great pity for him, and took an affection to him, and had a mind to bring him up for Chriſt:
2. At the firſt he did with great ſweetneſs and kindneſs allure the Child, by which means it was not long before he got a deep intereſt in the heart of the Child, and he began to obey him with more readineſs than Children uſually do their Parents.
3. By this a Door was opened for a farther work, and he had agreater advantage to inſtill ſpiritual Principles into the ſoul of the Child, which he was not wanting in, as the Lord gave opportunity, and the Child was capable of.
4. It was not long before the Lord was pleaſed to ſtrike in with the ſpiritual Exhortations of this good man, ſo that the Child was brought to a liking of the things of God.
5. He quickly learnt a great part of the Aſſemblies Catechiſm by heart, and that before he could read his Primmer within Book; and he took a great delight in learning his Catechiſm.
6. He was not only able to give a very good account of his Catechiſm, but he would anſwer ſuch queſtions as are not in the Catechiſm, with greater underſtanding than could be expected of 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 repeating of Sermons, he ſeemed very attentive, and ready to receive the truths of God, and would with incredible gravity, diligence, and affection, wait till duties were ended, to the no ſmall joy and admiration of them which obſerved him.
8. He would ask very excellent queſtions, and diſcourſe about the condition of his ſoul and heavenly 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.
10. When no body hath been ſpeaking to him, he would burſt out into tears; and being asked the reaſon, he would ſay, that the very thoughts of Chriſts love to ſinners in ſuffering for them, made him that he could not but cry.
11. Before he was ſix years old, he made conſcience of a 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 ſin.
12. He would be putting of Chriſtians upon ſpiritual diſcourſe vvhen he ſavv them, and ſeemed little ſatisfied; unleſs they vvere talking of good things.
13. Its evident, That this poor Childs thoughts vvere very much buſied about the things of another vvorld, for he vvould oftentimes be ſpeaking to his Bed-fellovv as mid-night, about the matter of his ſoul; and when he could not ſleep, he would take heavenly conference to be ſweeter than his appointed reſt. This was his uſual cuſtome, and thus he would provoke and put forward an experienced Chriſtian to ſpend waking hours in talk of God and the everlaſting reſt.
14. Not long after this, his good Mother died, which went very near his heart, for he greatly honoured his Mother.
15. After the dead of his Mother, he would often repeat ſome of the promiſes that are made unto Fatherleſs Children, eſpecially that in Exod. 22.22. Ye ſhall not afflict any Widow or the Fatherleſs 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 Motherleſs upon Earth, yet if any wrong me, I have a Father in Heaven who will take my part; to him I commit my ſelf, 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, and honourable and chearful death, from whom I received this information.