A Token for Children, Example 9 – Example 10
Example IX. Of a Child that was very eminent when ſhe was between 5 and 6 years old, with ſome memorable paſſages of her life, who died about 1640.
1. ANne Lane was born of honeſt Parents in Colebrook in the County of Bucks, who was no ſooner able to ſpeak plain, and expreſs any thing conſiderable of reaſon, but ſhe began to act as if ſhe was ſanctified from the very womb.
2. She was very ſolicitous about her Soul, what would become of it when ſhe ſhould die, and where ſhe ſhould live for ever, and what ſhe ſhould do to be ſaved, when ſhe was about five years old.
3. She was wont to be oft ingaged in ſecret Prayer, and pouring out of her Soul in ſuch a manner as is rarely to be heard of from one of her years.
4. I having occaſion to lie at Colebrook ſent for her Father, an old Diſciple, an Iſraelite indeed, and deſired him to give me ſome account of his Experiences, and how the Lord firſt wrought upon him.
5. He gave me this anſwer, that he was of a child ſomewhat civil, honeſt, and as to man harmleſs, but was little acquainted with the power of Religion, till this ſweet Child put him upon a thorow inquiry into the ſtate of his Soul, and would ſtill be begging of him, and pleading with him to redeem his time, and to act with life and vigor in the things of God, which was no ſmall demonſtration to him of the reality of inviſibles, that a very Babe and ſuckling ſhould ſpeak ſo feelingly about the things of God, and be ſo greatly concerned not only about her own ſoul, but about her Fathers too, which was the occaſion of his converſion, and the very thought of it was a quickning to him for thirty years, and he hopes never to wear off the Impreſſions of it from his ſpirit.
6. After this ſhe (as I remember) put her Father upon Family duties, and if at any time he were for any time out of his ſhop, ſhe would find him out, and with much ſweetneſs and humility beg of him to come home, and to remember the pretiouſneſs of time, for which we muſt all give an account.
7. She was grieved if ſhe ſaw any that converſed with her father if they were unprofitable, unſavoury or long in their diſcourſe of common things.
8. Her own Language was the Language of Canaan: how ſolidly, profitably and ſpiritually would ſhe talk? ſo that ſhe made good people take great delight in her company, and juſtly drew the admiration of all that knew her.
9. She could not endure the company of common children, nor play, but was quite above all thoſe things which moſt Children are taken with; her buſineſs was to be reading, praying, diſcourſing, about the things of God, and any kind of buſineſs that her age and ſtrength was capable of, idle ſhe would not be by any means.
10. It was the greateſt Recreation to her to hear any good people talking about God, Chriſt, their Souls, the Scriptures, or any thing that concerned another life.
11. She had a ſtrange contempt of the World, and ſcorned thoſe things which moſt are too much pleaſed with. She could not be brought to wear any Laces, or any thing that ſhe thought ſuperfluous.
12. She would be complaining to her parents, if ſhe ſaw any thing in them that ſhe judged would not be for the honour of Religion, or ſuitable to that condition which the providence of God had ſet them in, in the world.
13. This Child was the joy and delight of all the Chriſtians thereabouts in thoſe times, who was ſtill quickning and raiſing of the ſpirits of thoſe that talked with her. This poor Babe was a great help to both Father and mother, and her memory is ſweet to this day.
14. She continued thus to walk as a ſtranger in the world, and one that was making haſt to a better place. And after ſhe had done a great deal of work for God and her own ſoul, and others too, ſhe was called home to reſt, and received into the arms of Jeſus before ſhe was ten years old; ſhe departed about 1640.
Example X. Of a Child that was awakened when ſhe was between ſeven and eight years old, with ſome account of her laſt hours and triumphant Death.
1. TAbitha Alder was the Daughter of a holy and Reverend Miniſter in Kent, who lived near Graveſend. She was much inſtructed in the holy Scriptures and her Catechiſm by her Father and Mother, but there appeared nothing extraordinary in her till ſhe was between ſeven and eight years old.
2. About which time, when ſhe was ſick, one asked her what ſhe thought would become of her if ſhe ſhould die? She anſwered, that ſhe was greatly afraid that ſhe ſhould go to hell.
3. Being askt why ſhe was afraid ſhe ſhould go to hell? She anſwered, becauſe ſhe feared that ſhe did not love God.
4. Again being askt how ſhe did know ſhe did not love God; ſhe replyed, what have I done for God ever ſince I was born; and beſides this, I have been taught, that he that loves God keeps his commandments but I have kept none of them all.
5. Being further demanded if ſhe would not fain love God? She anſwered, yes with all her heart, if ſhe could, but ſhe found it a hard thing to love one ſhe did not ſee.
6. She was adviſed to beg of God a heart to love him: She anſwered, ſhe was afraid it was too late.
7. Being asked again whether ſhe was not ſorry that ſhe could not love God: She anſwered, yes, but was ſtill afraid it was too late.
8. Upon this, ſeeing her in ſuch a deſponding condition, a dear friend of hers ſpent the next day in Faſting and prayer for her.
9. After this, that Chriſtian friend askt her how ſhe did now? She anſwered with a great deal of joy, that now ſhe bleſſed the Lord, ſhe loved the Lord Jeſus dearly, ſhe felt ſhe did love him. O, ſaid ſhe, I love him dearly.
10. Why, ſaith her friend, did you not ſay yeſterday, that you did not love the Lord, and that you could not? What did you mean to ſpeak ſo ſtrangely? Sure (ſaid ſhe) it was Satan that did put it into my mind: But now I love him, O bleſſed be God for the Lord Jeſus Chriſt.
11. After this ſhe had a diſcovery of her approaching Diſſolution, which was no ſmall comfort to her. Anon (ſaid ſhe with a holy Triumph) I ſhall be with Jeſus, I am married to him, he is my husband, I am his Bride, I have given my ſelf to him, and he hath given himſelf to me, and I ſhall live with him for ever.
12. This ſtrange language made the hearers even ſtand aſtoniſhed: but thus ſhe continued for ſome little time in a kind of extafie of joy admiring the excellency of Chriſt rejoycing in her intereſt in him, and longing to be with him.
13. After a while ſome of her friends ſtanding by her, obſerved a more than ordinary earneſtneſs and fixedneſs in her countenance; they ſaid one to another, look how earneſtly ſhe looks, ſure ſhe ſeeth ſomething.
14. One asked what it was ſhe fixed her eyes upon ſo eagerly: I warrant (ſaith one that was by) ſhe ſeeth death a coming.
15. No (ſaid ſhe) it is glory that I ſee, 'tis that I fix mine eye upon.
16. One askt her what was glory like? She anſwered, I can't ſpeak what, but I am going to it; will you go with me? I am going to glory, O that all of you were to go with me to that glory! with which words her Soul took wing, and went to the poſſeſſion of that glory which ſhe had ſome believing fight of before. She died when ſhe was between 8 and 9 years old, about 1644.