A Token for Children, Example 1
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 Preached upon Matthew 11.30. My yoak is eaſie, and my burden is light: In the applying of which Scripture, this Child was mightily awakened, and made deeply ſenſible of the condition of her Soul, and her need of a Chriſt; ſhe wept bitterly to think what a caſe ſhe was in; and went home and got by her ſelf into a Chamber, and upon her knees ſhe wept and cryed 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.
3. After this ſhe heard another Sermon upon Prov. 29.1, He that being often reproved, hardeneth his heart, ſhall ſuddenly be deſtroyed, and that without remedy: At which ſhe was more affected than before, and was ſo exceedingly ſolicitous 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 a Chriſt! what ſhould ſhe do to be ſaved!
4. She gave her ſelf much to attending upon the Word Preached, and ſtill continued very tender under 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, and 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 times; by which the work of God was much promoted upon her Soul, and was much directed by it how to get acquaintance with God, eſpecially toward the end of that Book. Another Book that ſhe was much delighted with, was Mr. Swinnocks Chriſtian Mans Calling, and by this ſhe was taught in ſome 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 her ſelf in no known ſin.
10. She was very Conſcientious in ſpending of time, and hated idleneſs, and ſpent her whole time either in praying, reading, inſtructing her little Brothers, and working 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 very little; but when ſhe did, it was uſually very 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 buſie that I cannot pray for my ſelf, I ſee I am undone without a Chriſt, and a pardon! O I am undone! undone to 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 burdenſome to her ſpirit: 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 knowledg of Sn and Chriſt; and that I may have an aſſurance of Gods 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 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? O 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 her ſelf. 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. 11.28, 29. was much in 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 fell into a great paſſion, 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 Gods Countenance: O the piteous moan that ſhe would make! O the agonies that her Soul was in!
21. Her Mother asks her, if God ſhould ſpare her life, how ſhe would live; truly Mother, ſaid ſhe, we have ſuch baſe hearts that I can't 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 to turn again unto folly; but I hope I ſhould be more careful of my time and my ſoul, than I have been.
22. She was full of natural affection to her Parents, and very careful leaſt 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 anſwered, 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 Lords day before that in which ſhe died, a Kinſman of hers came to ſee her, and asking of her, whether ſhe knew him, ſhe anſwered; yes, 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 a Chriſt, it is a fearful thing: O redeem Time, O Time, Time, Time, precious Time! Being requeſted by him not to ſpend her ſelf: ſhe ſaid, ſhe would fain do all the good ſhe could while ſhe lived, and when ſhe was dead too, if poſſible; upon which account, ſhe deſired that a Sermon might be Preached at the Funeral concerning the preciouſneſs of Time. O that young ones would now remember their Creatour!
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 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 aſtoniſhment; 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 aſtoniſhment of her Friends ſhe broke forth thus with a very audible voice, and chearful Countenance: Lord, thou haſt promiſed that whoſoever comes unto thee, thou wilt in no wiſe eaſt out; Lord, I come unto thee, and ſurely thou wilt in no wiſe caſt me out. O ſo ſweet! O ſo glorious 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 a 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 ſatisfied, 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 engaged in the magnifying of God; her Father, Brethren, and Siſters, with other of the Family were called, 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 that well for her ſake, and added to him and the reſt, O make uſe of time to get a Chriſt for your Souls; ſpend no time in running up and down in playing; O get a 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 hard work indeed. I know by experience, the Devil will tell you it is time enough; and ye are young, what need you to be in ſuch haſte? You will have time enough when you are old. But there ſtands one (meaning her Grand-mother) that ſtayes behind, and I that am but young, am going before her. O therefore make your Calling and Election ſure, while you are in health. But I am afraid this will be but one nights trouble to your thoughts; but remmember, theſe are the words of a dying Siſter. O if you knew how good Chriſt were! O if you had but one taſte of his ſweetneſs, you would rather go to him a thouſand times, than ſtay in this wicked world. I would not for ten thouſand, and ten thouſand worlds part with my intereſt in Chriſt. O how happy am I that am going to everlaſting Joyes! I would not go back again for twenty thouſand worlds; And will not you ſtrive to get an intereſt in Chriſt?
26. After this, looking upon one of her Fathers Servants, ſhe ſaid, What ſhall I do? What ſhall I do at that 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 to me to think that I ſhall ſee any of my friends that I knew upon Earth turned into that Lake that burns for ever! O that word for 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 Souls. It will be my comfort to ſee you in glory; but it will be your everlaſting happineſs.
30. Her Grandmother told her ſhe ſpent her ſelf too much; ſhe ſaid, I care not for that, if I could do any Soul good. O with what vehemency, 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, Chriſts ſweetneſs, and the Souls of others, in a word, like a continued Sermon.
32. Upon Friday, after ſhe had had ſuch lively diſcoveries of Gods love, ſhe was exceeding deſirous to die, and cryed 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 (being very drowſie) yet now and then ſhe dropt theſe words, How long ſweet Jeſus, finiſh thy work ſweet Jeſus, 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 times (when out of her ſleep) for ſhe was aſleep the greateſt part of the day.
34. Upon the Lords Day ſhe ſcarce ſpoke any thing, but much deſired that Bills of Thanksgiving might be ſent to thoſe who had formerly been praying for her, that they might help her to praiſe God for that full aſſurance that he had given her of his love; and ſeemed to be much ſwallowed up with the thoughts of Gods free love to her Soul. She oft commended her ſpirit into the Lords hands, and the laſt words which ſhe was heard to ſpeak, were theſe, Lord help, Lord Jeſus help, Dear Jeſus, Bleſſed Jeſus— And thus upon the Lords Day, between Nine and Ten of the Clock in the Forenoon, ſhe ſlept ſweetly in Jeſus, and began an everlaſting Sabbath, February 19. 1670.