A Token for Children, Example 2
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 account of his Life and Death.
1. A Certain little Child, whoſe Mother had dedicated him to the Lord in the womb: when he could not ſpeak plain, would be crying after God, and was greatly deſirous to be taught good things.
2. He could not endure to be put to Bed without family duty, but would put his Parents upon duty, and would with much devotion kneel down, and with great patience and delight continue till duty was at an end, without the leaſt expreſſion of being weary; and he ſeemed never ſo well pleaſed, as when he was engaged in duty.
3. He could not be ſatisfied with Family-duty, but he would be oft upon his knees by himſelf in one corner or other.
4. He was much delighted in hearing the word of God either read or preached.
5. He loved to go to School that he might learn ſomething of God, and would obſerve and take great notice of what he had read, and come home and ſpeak of it with much affection; and he would rejoyce in his book, and ſay to his Mother, O Mother, I have had a ſweet leſſon to day, will you pleaſe to give me leave to fetch my book that you may hear it?
6. As he grew up, he was more and more affected with the things of another world, ſo that if we had not received our information from one that is of undoubted fidelity, it would ſeem incredible.
7. He quickly learned to read the Scriptures, and would, with great Reverence, Tenderneſs and groans read, till tears and ſobs were ready to hinder him.
8. When he was at ſecret prayer, he would weep bitterly.
9. He was wont often times to complain of the naughtineſs of his heart, and ſeemed to be more grieved for the Corruption of his Nature than for any actual ſin.
10. He had a vaſt Underſtanding in the things of God, even next to a wonder, for one of his age.
11. He was much troubled for the wandrings of his thoughts in duty, and that he could not keep his heart alway fixed upon God, and the work he was about, and his affections conſtantly raiſed.
12. He kept a watch over his heart, and obſerved the workings of his Soul, and would complain that the were ſo vain and fooliſh, and ſo little buſied about ſpirituas things.
13. As he grew up, he grew daily in knowledg and experience; and his carriage was ſo heavenly, and his diſcourſe ſo excellent and experimental, that it made thoſe which heard it, even aſtoniſhed.
14. He was exceeding importunate with God in duty, and would plead with God at a ſtrange rate, and uſe ſuch arguments in prayer that one would think it were impoſſible ſhould ever enter into the heart of a Child; he would beg and expoſtulate and weep ſo, that ſometimes it could not be kept from the ears of Neighbours; ſo that one of the next houſe was forced to cry out, the prayers and tears of that Child in the next houſe will ſink me to Hell, becauſe by it he did condemn his neglect of prayer, and his ſlight performance of it.
15. He was very fearful of wicked company, and would oft beg of God to keep him from it, and that he might never be pleaſed in them that took delight in diſpleaſing of God: And when he was at any time in the hearing of their wicked words, taking the Lords Name in vain, or ſwearing, or any filthy word, it would even make him tremble, and ready to go home and weep.
16. He abhorred lying with his Soul.
17. When he had committed any fault, he was eaſily convinced of it, and would get in ſome corner and ſecret place, and with tears beg pardon of God, and ſtrength againſt ſuch a ſin. He had a friend that oft watched him, and liſtned at his Chamber-door, from whom I received this Narrative.
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 the 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 of 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 ſatisfie for our ſins, and merit everlaſting life for us, and about other of the great Myſteries of Redemption: he ſeemed ſavingly to underſtand them, and was greatly delighted with the diſcourſe.
22. One ſpeaking, concerning the Reſurrection of the Body, he did acknowledg it; but that the 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 was taken ſick unto death.
23. A Friend of his asked him whether he were willing to dye when he was firſt taken ſick; he anſwered, no; becauſe he was afraid of his ſtate as to another world: Why Child, ſaid the other, thou didſt pray for a new Heart, for an humble, and a ſincere Heart, and I have heard thee; didſt thou not pray with all 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 anſwered, now I am willing, for I ſhall go to Chriſt.
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 carried it with a great deal of ſweetneſs and patience, waiting for his change; and at laſt did chearfully commit his Spirit unto the Lord, and calling upon the Name of the Lord, and ſaying, Lord Jeſus, Lord Jeſus, — In whoſe boſome he ſweetly ſlept, dying as I remember, when he was about five or ſix years old.