A Token for Children, Example 8
Example VIII. Of a Child that was very ſerious at four years old, with an Account of his comfortable Death when he was twelve years and three weeks old.
1. IOhn Sudlow was born of religious Parents in the County of Middleſex, whoſe great care was to inſtill 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 expreſſion 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 perceived by thoſe ſerious and admirable queſtions which he would be oft asking of thoſe Chriſtians that he thought he might be bold with.
3. The firſt thing that did moſt affect him, and made 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 then carried out of doors, and put into a pit-hole, he was greatly concerned, and asked notable 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 is 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 inſtructed by his godly Parents, he ſoon labours to avoid whatſoever might diſpleaſe God; now tell him that any thing was ſinful, and that God would not have him 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 Lie.
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 parallel'd; he would naturally run to his Book without bidding, when he came home from School; and while other children of his age and acquaintance were playing, he reckon'd it his Recreation to be doing that which was good.
6. When he was in coats, he would be ſtill 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.
7. He was hugely 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 redeeming 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 perſons, 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 throughly, and remember it; and what he could not underſtand he would oft ask his Father or Mother the meaning of.
10. When any Chriſtian friends have been diſcourſing 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 creep 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 perſwaded, though he might have had the leave of his Parents, if he had any hopes that any good body would come in to his fathers houſe.
11. He was very modeſt whileſt 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 paſt in their diſcourſe, and deſire ſatisfaction in what he could not underſtand at preſent.
12. He was a Boy of almoſt prodigious parts for his age, as will appear by 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 askt who built the Ark? it being anſwered that 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 themſelves?
14. Another queſtion he put was this; Whether had the greater glory Saints or Angels? It being anſwered, that Angels were the moſt excellent of Creatures, and its to be thought their nature is made capable of greater glory than mans. He ſaid he was of another mind, and his reaſon was, becauſe Angles were Servants, and Saints are Children; and that Chriſt never took upon him the nature of Angels, but he took upon him the nature of Saints, and by his being man he hath advanced human nature above 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 temper, 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 thorowly 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 watchful over his brethren and Siſters, and would not ſuffer 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 Gods honour, 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 leaſt 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 ſatisfied except he could carry home much of the ſubſtance 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 queſtion 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 exceedingly 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 pitie 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 Infection, 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 printed 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 Father, 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 the 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 glorifie 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 the 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 Hoſpital. —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 ſhould but ſin againſt God. Looking upon his Father, he ſaid, If the Lord would but lend me 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, amongſt 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. And hour and an half before his Death, the ſame Miniſter came again to viſit him, and asked him, John, 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, ſeeing 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 dyed when he was twelve years three weeks and a day old.