A Token for Children, Example 11
Example XI. Of a Child that was greatly affected with the things of God when ſhe was very young, with an exact Account of her admirable Carriage upon her Death bed.
1. Suſanna Bicks was born at Leiden in Holland, Jan. 24. 1650. of very religious Parents, whoſe great care was to inſtruct and catechiſe this their Child, and to preſent her to the Miniſters of the place, to be publickly inſtructed and catechiſed.
2. It pleaſed the Lord to bleſs holy education, the good example of her Parents and catechiſing, to the good of her Soul, ſo that ſhe ſoon had a true ſavour and reliſh of what ſhe was taught, and made an admirable uſe of it in a time of need, as you ſhall hear afterwards.
3. She was a Child of great dutifulneſs to her Parents, and of a very ſweet humble ſpiritual nature, and not only the truth, but the power and eminency of Religion did ſhine in her ſo clearly, that ſhe did not only comfort the hearts of her Parents, but drew the admiration of all that were witneſſes of Gods works of love upon her, and may well be propoſed as a pattern not only to Children, but to perſons of riper years,
4. She continued in a courſe of Religious Duties for ſome conſiderable time, ſo that her life was more excellent than moſt Chriſtians, but in her laſt ſickneſs ſhe excelled her ſelf, and her deportment was ſo admirable, that partly through wonder and aſtoniſhment, and partly through ſorrow, many obſervable things were paſt by without committing to paper, which deſerved to have been written in letters of gold: But take theſe which follow as ſome of many which were taken from her dying lips, and firſt publiſhed by religious and judicious Chriſtians in Dutch, afterward tranſlated into Scotch, and with a little alteration of the ſtile (for the benefit of Engliſh Children) brought into this form by me.
5. In the month of Auguſt, 1664. When the Peſtilence raged ſo much in Holland, this ſweet Child was ſmitten, and as ſoon as ſhe felt herſelf very ill, ſhe was ſaid to break forth with abundance of ſenſe and feeling in theſe following words: If thy Law were not my delight, I ſhould periſh in my affliction.
6. Her Father coming to her to encourage her in her ſickneſs, ſaid to her, be of good comfort my Child for the Lord will be near to thee and us, under this heavy and ſore Trial, he will not forſake us though he chaſten us. Yea, father (ſaid ſhe) our heavenly Father doth Chaſten us for our profit, that we may be partakers of his holineſs; no chaſtiſement ſeemeth for the preſent to be joyous, but grievous, but afterwards it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteouſneſs to them which are exerciſed thereby. The Lord is now chaſtening of me upon this ſick bed, but I hope he will bleſs it ſo to me as to cauſe it to yield to me that bleſſed fruit, according to the riches of his mercies which fail not.
7. After this ſhe ſpake to God with her eyes lift up to Heaven, ſaying, Be merciful to me, O Father, be merciful to me a ſinner according to thy word.
8. Then looking upon her ſorrowful Parents, ſhe ſaid; It is ſaid, Caſt thy burden upon the Lord, and he ſhall ſuſtain thee, and he will never ſuffer the righteous to be moved. Therefore, my dear father and mother, caſt all your care upon him who cauſes all things to go well that do concern you.
9. Her mother ſaid unto her, O my dear child, I have no ſmall comfort from the Lord in thee, and the fruit of his grace whereby thou haſt been ſo much exerciſed unto godlineſs in reading the Word, in Prayer and gracious Diſcourſe, to the edification of thy ſelf and us. The Lord himſelf who gave thee to us, make up this loſs, if it be his pleaſure to take thee away from us.
10. Dear mother (ſaid ſhe) though I leave you and you me, yet God will never leave us; for it is …. Can a woman forget her ſucking Child, that ſhe ſhould not have compaſſion on the fruit of her womb, yet will not I forget thee, behold I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands. O comfortable words both for mother and children! Mark, dear Mother, how faſt the Lord keepes and holdeth his people, that he doth even grave them upon the palms of his hands. Though I muſt part with you, and you with me, yet bleſſed be God, he will never part either from you or me.
11. Being weary with much ſpeaking ſhe deſired to reſt a while, but after a little time awaking again, her father asked her how it was with her? She made no direct anſwer, but asked what day it was? her father ſaid it was the Lords day. Well then, ſaid ſhe, have you given up my name to be remembred in the publick Prayers of the Church: Her father told her he had. I have learnt, ſaid ſhe, that the effectual fervent Prayer of the righteous availeth much.
12. She had a very high eſteem for the faithful Miniſters of Chriſt, and much deſired their company where ſhe was; but knowing the hazards that ſuch a viſit might expoſe them and the Church to, ſhe would by no means ſuffer that the Miniſters ſhould come near her perſon, but choſe rather to throw her ſelf upon the armes of the Lord, and to improve that knowledge ſhe had in the Word, and her former experience, and the viſits of private Chriſtians, and thoſe which the Church had appointed in ſuch caſes to viſit and comfort the ſick.
13. One of thoſe which came to viſit her, was of very great uſe to her to comfort her, and lift her up in ſome meaſure above the fears of death.
14. Though young, ſhe was very much concerned for the intereſt of God and Religion, for Goſpel Miniſters, and for the Sins and the Decay of the power of Godlineſs in her own Countrey; which will further appear by what may follow.
15. Her father coming in to her, found her in an extraordinary paſſion of weeping, and askt her what was the cauſe of her great ſorrow? She anſwered, have I not cauſe to weep, when I hear that Domine de Wit was taken ſick this day in his Pulpit; and went home very ill? Is not this a ſad ſign of Gods diſpleaſure to our Countrey, when God ſmiteth ſuch a faithful Paſtor.
16. She had a high valuation of God, and could ſpeak in David's language, whom have I in Heaven but thee, and there is none on earth that I can deſire in compariſon of thee. She was much lifted up above the fears of Death; what elſe was the meaning of ſuch expreſſions as theſe? O how do I long! even as the Heart panteth after the water brooks, ſo my ſoul panteth after thee, O God, for God, the living God, when ſhall I come and appear before God.
17. She was a great hater of ſin, and did with much grief and ſelf-abhorrency reflect upon it; but that which lay moſt upon her heart was the Corruption of her Nature and Original Sin. How oft would ſhe cry out in the words of the Pſalmiſt, Behold I was ſhapen in iniquity, and in ſin did my mother conceive me, and I was altogether born in ſin: She could never lay her ſelf low enough under a ſenſe of that Original Sin which ſhe brought with her into the world.
18. She ſpake many things very judiciouſly of the old man and putting it off, and of the new man and putting that on; which ſhewed that ſhe was no ſtranger to converſion, and that ſhe in ſome meaſure underſtood what Mortification, Self-denial and taking up of her Croſs, and following of Chriſt meant. That Scripture was much in her mouth, The ſacrifices of God are a contrite heart; a broken and a contrite ſpirit, O God, thou wilt not deſpiſe. That brokenneſs of heart (ſaid ſhe) which is built upon and flows from faith, and that faith which is built upon Chriſt, who is the proper and alone Sacrifice for Sin. Theſe are her own words.
19. Afterwards ſhe deſired to reſt, and when ſhe had ſlumbred a while, ſhe ſaid, O dear father and Mother, how weak do I feel my ſelf! My dear Child (ſaid her father) God will in his tender mercy ſtrengthen thee in thy weakneſs. Yea father (ſaid ſhe) that is my confidence: For it is ſaid, The bruiſed reed he will not break, and the ſmoking flax he will not quench.
20. Then ſhe diſcourſed excellently of the nature of Faith, and deſired that the eleventh of the Hebrews ſhould be read unto her; at the reading of which ſhe cryed out, O what a ſtedfaſt loyal faith was that of Abraham, which made him willing to offer up his own and only Son! Faith is the ſubſtance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not ſeen.
21. Her Father and Mother hearing her excellent diſcourſe, and ſeeing her admirable carriage, burſt out into abundance of tears: upon which ſhe pleaded with them to be patient and content with the hand of God. O (ſaid ſhe) why do you weep at this rate over me, ſeeing, I hope you have no reaſon to queſtion, but if the Lord take me out of this miſerable world it ſhall be well with me to all eternity. You ought to be well ſatisfied, ſeeing it is ſaid God is in heaven, and doth whatſoever pleaſeth him: and do you not pray every day, that the Will of God may be done upon earth as it is in heaven. Now farther this is Gods will that I ſhould lie upon this ſick bed, and of this diſeaſe; ſhall we not be content when our Prayers are anſwered? Would not your extreme ſorrow be murmuring againſt God, without whoſe good pleaſure nothing comes to paſs. Although I am ſtruck with this ſad diſeaſe, yet becauſe it is the will of God, that doth ſilence me, and I will as long as I live pray that Gods will may be done and not mine.
22. Seeing her Parents ſtill very much moved, ſhe further argued with them from the Providence of God, which had a ſpecial hand in every common thing, much more in the diſpoſal of the lives of men and women: Are not two Sparrows ſold for a farthing, and not one of them falls to the ground without our heavenly Father? Yea, the hairs of our head are all numbred; therefore fear not, you are of more value than many Sparrows. Adverſity and Proſperity they are both good. Some things ſeem evil in our eyes, but the Lord turns all to the good of them which are his.
23. She came then to ſpeak particularly concerning the Plague, Doth not (ſaid ſhe) the Peſtilence come from God; why elſe doth the Scripture ſay, ſhall there be evil in the City which I have not ſent? What do thoſe people mean, which ſay the Peſtilence comes from the Air? Is not the Lord the Creator and Ruler of the Air, and are not the Elements under his Government? Or if they ſay it comes from the Earth, hath he not the ſame power and influence upon that too? What talk they of a Ship that came from Africa; have we not read long ago together out of Lev. 26.25. I ſhall bring a ſword upon you, and avenge the quarrel of my covenant, and when you are aſſembled in the Cities, then will I bring the peſtilence in the midſt of you.
24. After this, having taken ſome little reſt, ſhe ſaid, O now is the day for the opening of the firſt queſtion of the Catechiſm, and if we were there, we ſhould hear, that whether in death or life a Believer is Chriſts, who hath redeemed us by his own precious blood from the power of the Devil; and then ſhe quoted, Rom. 14.7, 8. For none of us liveth unto himſelf, and none of us dieth to himſelf. For whether we live we live unto the Lord, and whether we die we die unto the Lord, whether then we live or die, we are the Lords. Then be comforted, for whether I live or die, I am the Lords, O why do you afflict your ſelves thus? but what ſhall I ſay? with weeping I came into the world, and with weeping I muſt go out again. O my dear Parents, better is the day of my death than the day of my birth.
25. When ſhe had thus encouraged her Father and Mother, ſhe deſired her Father to pray with her, and to requeſt of the Lord that ſhe might have a quiet and peaceable paſſage into another world.
26. After her father had prayed for her, he asked her whether he ſhould ſend for the Phyſician; ſhe anſwered, by no means, for I am now beyond the help of Doctors. But ſaid he, my Child, we are to uſe the ordinary means appointed by the Lord for our help as long as we live, and let the Lord do as ſeemeth good in his eyes. But ſaid ſhe, give me the heavenly Phyſician he is the only helper, doth not he ſay, Come unto me ye that are weary and heavy laden, and I will give ye reſt, and doth not he bid us call upon him in the day of diſtreſs, and he will deliver us, and we ſhall glorifie him: Therefore, dear father, call upon him yet again for me.
27. About this time a Chriſtian friend came in to viſit her, who was not a little comforted when he heard and ſaw ſo much of the grace of God living in a poor young thing, which could not but ſo far affect him as to draw tears of joy and admiration from him, and her deportment was ſo teaching, that he could not but acknowledg himſelf greatly edifi'd and improv'd by her carriage and language.
28. That which was not the leaſt obſervable in her, was the ardent affection ſhe had for the holy Scriptures and her Catechiſm, in which ſhe was throughly inſtructed by the godly Divines of the place where ſhe lived which ſhe could not but own as one of the greateſt mercies next the Lord Chriſt. O how did ſhe bleſs God for her Catechiſm, and beg of her Father to go particularly to thoſe Miniſters that had taken ſo much pains with her to inſtruct her in her Catechiſm, and to thank them from her a dying Child for their good inſtructions, and to let them underſtand, for their encouragement to go on in that work of Catechiſing. how refreſhing thoſe truths were now to her in the hour of her diſtreſs. O that ſweet catechiſing, ſaid ſhe, unto which I did always reſort with gladneſs, and attended without wearineſs!
29. She was much above the vanities of the world, and took no pleaſure at all in thoſe things which uſually take up the heart and time of young ones. She would ſay, that ſhe was grieved and aſhamed both for young and old, to ſee how glad and mad they were upon vanity. and how fooliſhly they ſpent their time.
30. She was not forgetful of the care and love of her Maſter and Miſtreſs which taught her to read and work, but ſhe deſired that thanks might alſo be particularly given to them. Indeed ſhe thought ſhe could never be thankful enough both to God and man for that kindneſs that ſhe had experience of: But again and again ſhe deſired to be ſure to thank the Miniſters that inſtructed her either by catechiſing or preaching.
31. After ſome reſt her Father askt her again how ſhe did, and began to expreſs ſomewhat of that ſatisfaction and joy that he had taken in her former diligence in her reading the Scriptures and writing, and her dutifulneſs, and that great progreſs that ſhe had made in the things of God, upon which ſhe humbly and ſweetly deſired to own God and his kindeſs in her godly education, and ſaid that ſhe eſteemed her holy education under ſuch Parents and Miniſters as a greater portion than ten thouſand Gilders, for thereby I have learned to comfort my ſelf out of the Word of God, which the World beſides could never have afforded.
32. Her Father perceiving her to grow very weak, ſaid, I perceive Child thou art very weak: It is true Sir (ſaid ſhe) I feel my weakneſs increaſeth, and I ſee your ſorrow increaſing too, which is a piece of my affliction; be content, I pray you, it is the Lord which doth it, and let you and I ſay with David, Let us fall into the Lords hands, for his mercies are great.
33. She laid a great charge upon her Parents not to be over-grieved for her after her death, urging that of David upon them, while the Child was ſick, he faſted and wept, but when it died, he waſhed his face and ſat up and eat, and ſaid, Can I bring him back again from death, I ſhall go to him but he ſhall not return to me. So ought you to ſay after my death, our Child is well, for we know it ſhall be well with them that truſt in the Lord. She did lay a more particular and ſtreight charge upon her mother; ſaying to her, dear mother, who have done ſo much for me, you muſt promiſe me one thing before I die; and that is, that you will not ſorrow over-much for me: I ſpeak thus to you, becauſe I am afraid of your great affection; conſider others Loſſes what they have been; Remember Job; forget not what Chriſt foretold; In the world you ſhall have tribulation, but be of good cheer in me you ſhall have peace; and muſt the Apoſtles ſuffer ſo great tribulation, and muſt we ſuffer none? Did not Jeſus Chriſt my only Life and Saviour ſweat drops of blood? Was he not in a bitter agony, mocked ſpit at, nailed to the Croſs, and a Spear thruſt thorow his bleſſed ſide, and all this for my ſake, for my ſtinking ſins ſake? did not he cry out, my God, my God, why haſt thou forſaken me? Did not Chriſt hang naked upon the Croſs to purchaſe for me the garments of ſalvation, and to cloth me with his righteouſneſs, for there is Salvation in no other name.
34. Being very feeble and weak, ſhe ſaid, O if I might quietly ſleep in the boſome of Jeſus! and that till then he would ſtrengthen me! O that he would take me into his arms as he did thoſe little ones, where he ſaid, Suffer little children to come unto me, for of ſuch is the kingdom of heaven, and he took them into his arms, and laid his hands on them and bleſſed them. I lie here as a child, O Lord I am thy Child, receive me into thy gracious arms. O Lord, grace! grace! and not juſtice, for if thou ſhouldeſt enter into judgment with me, I cannot ſtand, yea none living ſhould be juſt in thy ſight.
35. After this ſhe cryed out, O how faint am I! but fearing leaſt ſhe ſhould diſhearten her mother, ſhe ſaid, while there is life there is hope: If it ſhould pleaſe the Lord to recover me, how careful would I be to pleaſe you in my work and learning, and whatſoever you ſhould require of me.
36. After this the Lord did again ſend her ſtrength, and ſhe laboured to ſpend it all for Chriſt in the awakening, edifying and comforting of thoſe that were about her; but her chiefeſt endeavour was to ſupport her dear Parents from extraordinary ſorrow, and to comfort them out of the Scriptures, telling them that ſhe knew that all things did work together for the good of them that did love God, even to thoſe which are called according to his purpoſe; O God eſtabliſh me with thy free Spirit! Who ſhall ſeparate us from the love of Chriſt, I am perſwaded that neither life nor death, nor angels, nor Principalities, nor powers, nor things preſent nor things to come, nor heighth nor depth, nor any other creature ſhall ſeparate us from the love of God which is towards us in Chriſt Jeſus our Lord. My ſheep (ſaith Chriſt) hear my voice, and I know them and they follow me and I give unto them eternal life, and they ſhall never periſh, and no man ſhall pluck them out of my hands. My Father who gave them me is greater than all, and none ſhall pull them out of my Fathers hands. Thus ſhe ſeemed to attain a holy confidence in God, and an aſſurance of her ſtate as to another world.
37. When ſhe had a little refreſhed her ſelf with reſt, ſhe burſt forth with abundance of joy and gladneſs of heart, with a holy triumph of faith ſaying out, Death is ſwallowed up of victory, O death where is thy ſting? O grave where is thy victory? the ſting of death is ſin, and the ſtrength of ſin is the law, but thanks be to God who hath given us the victory through our Lord and Saviour Jeſus Chriſt.
38. That ſhe might the better ſupport her friends, ſhe ſtill inſiſted upon that which might take off ſome of their burden, by urging the neceſſity of death: We are from the earth and to the earth we muſt return: is the mother of us all, the duſt ſhall Duſt turn to duſt from whence it is, and the Spirit to God which gave it.
39. The She diſcourſed of the ſhortneſs of mans life. O what is the life of man! the days of man upon the earth are as the graſs and the flowers of the field, ſo he flouriſheth, the wind paſſeth over it and it is no more, and his place knows him no more.
40. She further urged the ſin and ſorrow that did attend us in this life, and the longer we live the more we ſin, now the Lord will free me from that ſin and ſorrow. We know not the thoughts of God, yet we do know ſo much, that they are mercy and peace, and to give an expected end. But what ſhall I ſay, my life ſhall not continue long, I feel much weakneſs, O Lord look upon me graciouſly, have pitie upon my weak diſtreſſed heart. I am oppreſſed, undertake for me, that I may ſtand faſt and overcome.
41. She was very frequent in ſpiritual ejaculations, and it was no ſmall comfort to her, that the Lord Chriſt did pray for her, and promiſe to ſend his ſpirit to comfort her, It's ſaid (ſaid ſhe) I will pray the Father, and he ſhall give you another comforter. O let not him leave me! O Lord, continue with me till my battel and work be finiſhed.
42. She had very low and undervaluing thoughts of her ſelf and her own reighteouſneſs; what meant ſhe elſe to cry out in ſuch language as that, None but Chriſt! without thee I can do nothing. Chriſt is the true vine! O let me be a branch of that vine! What poor worms are we! O dear Father, how lame and halting do we go in the wayes of God and Salvation. We know but in part, but when that which is perfect is come, then that which is imperfct ſhall be done away. O that I had attained to that now: But what are we of our ſelves? not only weakneſs and nothingneſs, but wickedneſs. For all the thoughts and imaginations of mans heart are only evil, and that continually; we are by nature children of wrath, and are conceived and born in ſin and unrighteouſneſs. Oh! Oh! this wretched and vile thing Sin! but thanks be to God who hath redeemed me fromit.
43. She comforted her ſelf and her Father in that great Scripture Rom. 8.15, 16, 17. Ye have not received the Spirit of bondage again to fear but ye have received the ſpirit of adoption by which ye cry Abba, father. It is the ſpirit that witneſeth with our ſpirits, that we are the children of God; and if Children, then are we heirs, heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ. You ſee thence father, that I ſhall be a fellow heir with Chriſt, who hath ſaid, In my fathers houſe are many manſionſ, if it were not ſo I would have told you, I go to prepare a place for you, and if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to my ſelf, that where I am there ye may be alſo. O Lord take me to thy ſelf. Behold, dear Mother, he hath prepared a place and dwelling for me.
44. Yea, my dear child, ſaid her mother, he ſhall ſtrengthen you with hiſ holy Spirit, untill he hath fitted and prepared you fully for that place which he hath prepared for you.
45. Yea Mother, it is ſaid in the 84. Pſalm, How lovely are thy Tabernacles, O Lord of Hoſts, my ſoul doth thirſt, and longeth for the Courts of the Lord: One day in thy Courts iſ better than a thouſand; yea, I had rather be a Door keeper in the houſe of God than dwell in the tents of the wicked. Read that Pſalm, dear Mother, therewith we may comfort one another. As for me, I am more and more ſpent, and draw near my laſt hour.
46. Then ſhe deſired to be pray'd with, and begged that the Lord would give her an eaſie paſſage.
47. After this, ſhe turned to her mother, and with much affection ſhe ſaid, Ah my dear and loving Mother; that which cometh from the heart doth ordinarily go to the heart, once more come and kiſs me before I leave you.
48. She was not a little concerned about the ſouls of the reſt of her relations, and did particularly charge it upon her father to do what he could poſſibly to bring them up in the ways of God. O let my ſiſter be trained up in the Scriptureſ and Catechiſing, as I have been.
49. I formerly wept for my Siſter, thinking that ſhe ſhould die before me, and now ſhe weepeth for me, and then ſhe kiſſed her weeping Siſter. Alſo ſhe took her young little Siſter in her arms, a Child of ſix months old, and ſhe kiſſed it with much affection, as if her very bowels had moved within her, and ſpoke with many heart-breaking words both to her Parents and the children.
50. Her Father ſpake to one that was by to take the poor little Child away from her, from the hazard of that fiery diſtemper, and bid his daughter to give her from her, for he had already too much to bear. Well Father, ſaid ſhe, did not God preſerve the three Children in the fiery furnace, and did not you teach me that Scripture, When thou paſſeſt thorow the Fire, thou ſhalt not be burnt, neither ſhall the flame kindle upon thee.
51. She had a very ſtrong Faith in the doctrine of the Reſurrection, and did greatly ſolace her Soul with excellent Scriptures, which do ſpeak the happy ſtate of Believers as ſoon as their Souls are ſeparated from their Bodies, and what ſhe quoted out of the Scripture ſhe did excellently and ſuitably apply to her own uſe, incomparably above the common reach of her ſex and age. That in 1. Cor. 15.42. was a great ſupport to her, The body is ſown in corruption, but it ſhall be raiſed incorruptible, it is ſown in diſhonour, it ſhall be raiſed in glory; it is ſown in weakneſs, but it ſhall be raiſed in power. And then ſhe ſweetly applies it, and takes in this cordial. Behold thus it is, and thus it ſhall be with my poor mortal fleſh, Bleſſed are the dead which die in the Lord, becauſe they reſt from their labours, and their works do follow them. The righteous periſh and no man layeth it to heart, and the upright are taken away, and no man regardeth it, that they are taken away from the evil to come, they ſhall enter into peace, they ſhall reſt in their beds, every one who walked in their uprightneſs. Behold now Father I ſhall reſt and ſleep in that Bedchamber.
52. Then ſhe quoted Job 19.25, 26, 27. I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he ſhall ſtand at the latter end upon the earth, and though after my skin worms deſtroy this body, yet in my fleſh ſhall I ſee God, whom I ſhall ſee for my ſelf, and my eyes ſhall behold, and net another, though my reins be conſumed within me. Behold now Father, this very skin which you ſee, and this very fleſh which you ſee, ſhall be raiſed up again; and theſe very eyes which now are ſo dim, ſhall on that day ſee and behold my dear and precious Redeemer; albeit the worms eat up my fleſh, yet with theſe eyes ſhall I behold God, even I my ſelf, and not another for me.
53. Then ſhe quoted Joh. 5.28: Marvel not at this, for the hour is coming in which all that are in their graves ſhall hear his voice and come forth, thoſe who have done good unto the Reſurrection of Life. See Father I ſhall riſe in that day, and then I ſhall behold my Redeemer; then ſhall he ſay, Come ye bleſſed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you before the beginning of the world.
54. Behold now I live, yet not I, but Chriſt liveth in me; and the life that I now live in the fleſh is by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himſelf for me. I am ſaved, and that not of my ſelf, it is the gift of God, not of works, that no man ſhould boaſt.
55. My dear Parents, now we muſt ſhortly part, my ſpeech faileth me, pray the Lord for a quiet cloſe to my combat.
56. Her Parents replied, Ah our dear child how ſad is that to us that we muſt part! She anſwered, I go to heaven, and there we ſhall find one another again, I go to Jeſus Chriſt.
57. The ſhe comforted her ſelf to think of her ſeeing her precious brother and ſiſter again in glory. I go to my brother Jacob, who did ſo much cry and call upon God to the laſt moment of his breath: And to my little ſiſter, who was but three years old when ſhe died: who when we asked her whether ſhe would die; anſwered, yes, if it be the Lords will. I will go to my little Brother, if it be the Lords will, or I will ſtay with my mother, if it be the Lords will. But I know that I ſhall die and go to heaven, and to God. O ſee, how ſo ſmall a babe had ſo much given it to behave it ſelf every way, and in all things ſo ſubmiſſively to the will of God, as if it had no will of its own; but if it be the will of God, if it pleaſe God, nothing for her, but what was the will and pleaſure of God: And therefore, dear Father and Mother, give the Lord thanks for this his free and rich grace, and then I ſhall the more gladly be gone. Be gracious then, O Lord, unto me alſo, be gracious to me. Waſh me thorowly from my unrighteouſneſs, and cleanſe me from my ſin.
58. After this her ſpirit was refreſhed with the ſenſe of the pardon of her Sins, which made her to cry out, Behold God hath waſhed away my ſins, O how do I long to die! The Apoſtle ſaid, In this body we earneſtly ſight and groan, longing for our houſe which is in heaven, that we may be clothed therewith. Now I alſo lie here ſighing and longing for that dwelling which is above. In the laſt Sermon which I heard, or ever ſhall hear, I heard this in the New Church, which is matter of great comfort unto me.
59. Then ſhe repeated ſeveral notable Scriptures which were quoted in that Sermon, afterward ſhe deſired to be pray'd with, and put petitions into their mouths, viz that all her ſins might be forgiven, that ſhe might have more abundant faith, and the aſſurance of it; and the comfort of that aſſurance, and the continuation and ſtrength of that comfort, according as her neceſſity ſhould require. Afterwards ſhe prayed her ſelf and continued a pretty ſpace.
60. When Prayer was ended, ſhe called to her father and mother, and demanded of them whether ſhe had at any time angred or grieved them, or done any thing that did not become her? and begged of them to forgive her.
61. They anſwered her, that if all children had carried themſelves ſo to their Parents as ſhe had done, there would be leſs grief and ſorrow on all hands than there is; and if any ſuch thing hath eſcaped thee, we would forgive it with all our hearts, you have done as became a good Child.
62. Her heart being quieted with her peace with God and her Parents, ſhe began to diſpoſe of her Books; particularly ſhe intreated her Mother to keep Mr. De Wit's Catechiſe Lectures as long as ſhe lived, for her ſake, and let my little Siſter have my other Book as my remembrance.
63. Then ſhe ſaid ſhe felt her breaſt exceedingly pained, by which ſhe knew that her end was very nigh. Her father ſpake to her as he was able, telling her the Lord would be her ſtrength in the hour of her neceſſity.
64. Yea (ſaid ſhe) The Lord is my Shepherd, although I paſs through the valley of the ſhadow of death, I will not fear, for thou art with me, thy rod and thy ſtaff they comfort me: and it is ſaid, the ſufferings of this preſent life are not worthy to be compared with the glory that ſhall be revealed in us. Shall I not ſuffer and indure, ſeeing my glorious Redeemer was pleaſed to ſuffer ſo much for me. O how was he mocked and crowned with thorns that he might purchaſe a Crown of righteouſneſs for us: And that is the crown of which Paul ſpoke, when he ſaid, I have fought the good fight, I have finiſhed my courſe, I have kept the faith, henceforth is laid up for me a crown of righteouſneſs, which the Lord the righteous Judge ſhall give unto me in that day; and not only to me, but to all who love his apprearing.
65. Ye are bought with a price▪ therefore Glorifie God with your ſouls and bodies which are his. Muſt I not then exalt and bleſs him while I have a being; who hath bought me, ye bought me with his blood? Surely he hath born our griefs, and took our infirmities; and we eſteemed him ſmitten and ſtricken of God: But he was wounded for our tranſgreſſions and bruiſed for our ſin, the chaſtiſement of our peace was upon him, and by his ſtripes are we healed, and the Lord laid upon him the iniquity of us all. Behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the ſins of the world: That Lamb is Jeſus Chriſt who hath ſatisfied for my ſins. So ſaith Paul, Ye are waſhed, ye are ſanctified, ye are juſtified in the name of our Lord Jeſus, and through the ſpirit of our God.
66. My end is now very near, now I ſhall put on white raiment and be clothed before the Lamb, that ſpotleſs Lamb, and with his ſpotleſs righteouſneſs. Now are the angels making ready to carry my ſoul before the throne of God. Theſe are they who are come out of great tribulation, who have waſhed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
67. She ſpoke this with a dying voice, but full of ſpirit and of the power of faith.
68. Her lively aſſurance ſhe further uttred in the words of the Apoſtle. We know that if this earthly houſe, if our tabernacle be diſſolv'd, we have one which is built of God, which is eternal in the heavens; for in this we ſigh for our houſe which is in heaven, that we may be clothed therewith.
69. There Father you ſee that my body is this Tabernacle which now ſhall be broken down; my Soul ſhall now part from it, and ſhall be taken up into the heavenly Paradiſe, into that heavenly Jeruſalem. There ſhall I dwell and go no more out, but ſit and ſing, Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God of hoſts, the Lord of Sabbaths! Her laſt words were theſe; O Lord God into thy hands I commit my ſpirit, O Lord be gratious, be merciful to me a poor ſinner. — And here ſhe fell aſleep.
70. She died the firſt of September, 1664. Betwixt ſeven and eight in the evening, in the fourteenth year of her age; having obtained that which ſhe ſo oft intreated of the Lord, a quiet and eaſie departure, and the end of her faith, the ſalvation of her ſoul.