A Token for Children, Example 7 – Title page 2
EXAMPLE VII. Of a notorious wicked child, who was taken up from begging, and admirably converted; 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 very lamentable caſe, ſo filthy and naſty, that he would even have turned ones ſtomack to have looked on him: 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 nothing at all in him to commend him to any ones Charity, but his miſery. My friend eying 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 for the Lord Chriſt. A noble piece of Charity! And that which did make the kindneſs far the greater was, that there ſeemed to be very little hopes of doing any good upon this Child, for he was a very Monſier 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 beggar boyes, he was arrived to a ſtrange pitch of impiety. He would call filthy Names, take Gods 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 his 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 deſign 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 own 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 let him underſtand, that it was himſelf which 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 inſtructions, ſo that an amazing change was ſeen in the Child, in a few weeks ſpace he was ſoon convinced of the evil of his ways; no more news now of his calling of Names, Swearing, or Curſing; no more taking of the Lords Name in vain; now he is civil, and reſpectful, and ſuch a ſtrange alteration was wrought in the child, that all the Pariſh that rung of his villany before, was now ready to talk of his reformation; his company, his talk, his imployment is now changed, and he is like another creature; ſo that the glory of Gods Free-grace began already to ſhine in him.
3. And this change was not only an eternal one, and to be diſcerned abroad, but he would get by himſelf, and weep and mourn bitterly for his horrible 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 that his labour was not in vain in the Lord; he ſtill experiences that the Lord doth carry on his own work mightily upon the heart of the Child, he is ſtill more and more broken under a ſenſe of his undone ſtate by nature; he is oft in tears and bemoaning his loſt and miſerable condition. When his Maſter did ſpeak of the things of God, he liſtened earneſtly, and took in with much greedineſs and affection what he was taught? Seldom was there any diſcourſe about Soulmatters in his hearing, but he heard it as if it were for his life, and would weep greatly.
5. He would after his Maſter had been ſpeaking to him or others of the things of God, go to him, and queſtion with him about them, and beg of him to inſtruct and teach him further, and to tell him thoſe things again, that he might remember and underſtand them better.
6. Thus he continued ſeeking after the knowledg of God and Chriſt, and practiſing holy duties, till the ſickneſs came into the houſe, with which the child was ſmitten; at his firſt ſickning, the poor child vvas greatly amazed and afraid, and though his pains were great, and the diſtemper very tedious, yet the ſenſe of his ſin, and the thoughts of the miſerable condition that he feared his ſoul vvas 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 Gods Arrows did even drink up his ſpirits; the ſenſe of ſin and wrath was ſo great, that he could not tell what in the world to do; the weight of Gods diſpleaſure, and the thoughts of lying under it to all eternity, 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 was 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 for 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 horrour for the ſin of his Nature, for the vileneſs of his heart, and original corruption; under it he was in ſo great anguiſh, 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 or ſin, as deſerving to have no mercy, though 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 he 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 Chriſt was to accept of poor ſinners upon their repentance and turning, and being counſelled to venture himſelf upon Chriſt for mercy and ſalvation, he ſaid he would fain caſt himſelf upon Chriſt, but he could not but wonder how Chriſt ſhould be willing to dye 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 heavy laden, and I will give you reſt. But O how did this poor boy admire and bleſs God for the leaſt hopes! How highly did he advance free and rich grace that ſhould pity and pardon him! and at laſt he was ſo full of praiſe, and admiring of God, ſo that (to ſpeak in the words of a precious man, that was an eye and 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 knowledg, experiences, patience, humility, and ſelf-abhorrency, 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 earneſily, 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 pardon 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 excellency of Chriſt, and ſuch longings and breathings of his Soul after him, that when mention hath 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 recover, he muſt not live as he liſt; but he muſt give up himſelf to Chriſt, and to be his Child and Servant, to 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 and words, and the caſting up of his eyes to Heaven, ſaying, yes, with all my Soul, the Lord helping 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 in a little pett, 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 dyed 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 creature as he was. O my dear Mother (ſaid he) and child of God, 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 dyed, and have gone to the Devil, and have been damned for ever, if it had not been for you.
22. The Thurſday before he dyed 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 leaſt he ſhould deceive himſelf with falſe hopes, at which my friend ſpoke to him thus, Child, for all that I have endeavoured 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 Faith into thy heart, and bid him welcome, for he deſerveth it: Upon which words the Lord diſcovered his love to the Child, and he gave a kind of a leap in his bed, and ſnapt 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 Gods 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 dyed.
This Narrative I had from a judicious holy man un-related to him, who was an eye and ear-witneſs to all theſe things.
FINIS.
A TOKEN FOR CHILDREN.
The Second Part.
BEING A farther Account of the Converſion, Holy and exemplary Lives, and Joyful Deaths of ſeveral other young Children, not publiſhed in The Firſt Part.
By James Janeway, Miniſter of the Goſpel.
Pſal. 8.2.
Out of the Mouth of Babes and Sucklings hoſt thou ordained ſtrength.
LONDON, Printed for D. Newman, at the Kings Arms at the Corner of Grocers Alley in the Poultrey, 1673.