A Token for Children, Example 12 – Publishers advertisement 2
Example XII. Of the excellent carriage of a Child upon his death bed when but ſeven years old.
IAcoh Bicks, the Brother of Suſannah Bicks, was born in Leiden in the year, 1657. and had religious education under his godly Parents, the which the Lord was pleaſed to ſanctifie to his Converſion, and by it lay in excellent proviſions to live upon in an hour of diſtreſs.
2. This ſweet little Child was viſited of the Lord of a very fore Sickneſs upon the ſixth of Auguſt, 1664. three or four weeks before his Siſter, of whoſe life and death we have given you ſome account already: in his diſtemper he was for the moſt part very ſleepy and drouſie till near his death, but when he did wake he was wont ſtill to fall a praying.
3. Once when his Parents had prayed with him, they asked him if they ſhould once more ſend for the Phyſician? No (ſaid he) I will have the Doctor no more; the Lord will help me: I know he will take me to himſelf, and then he ſhall help all.
4. Ah my dear child, ſaid his Father, that grieveth my heart: Well (ſaid the Child) Father let us pray, and the Lord ſhall be near for my helper.
5. When his Parents had prayed with him again, he ſaid, come now dear Father and Mother and kiſs me, I know that I ſhall die.
6. Farewell dear Father and Mother, Farewell dear ſiſter, farewell all. Now ſhall I go to heaven unto God and Jeſus Chriſt, and the holy angels: Father, know you not what is ſaid by Jeremiah: Bleſſed is he who truſteth in the Lord: now I truſt in him, and he will bleſs me. And in 1 John 2. it is ſaid, Little Children love not the world, for the world paſſeth away.
7. Away then all that is in the world, away with all my pleaſant things in the world: away with my Dagger for where I go there is nothing to do with Daggers and Swords; men ſhall not fight there but praiſed God. Away with all my books; there ſhall I know ſufficiently, and be learned in all things of true wiſdom without books.
8. His Father being touched to hear his child ſpeak at this rate could not well tell what to ſay; but, my dear child, the Lord will be near thee and uphold thee.
9. Yea Father (ſaid he) the Apoſtle Peter ſaith, God reſiſteth the proud, but he giveth grace to the humble. I ſhall humble my ſelf under the mighty hand of God, and the ſhall help and lift me up:
10. O my dear child, ſaid his Father, haſt thou ſo ſtrong a faith?
11. Yea, ſaid the Child, God hath given me ſo ſtrong a faith upon himſelf through Jeſus Chriſt that the Devil himſelf ſhall flee from me, for it is ſaid, He who believeth in the Son hath everlaſting life, and he hath overcome the wicked one. Now I believe in Jeſus Chriſt my Redeemer, and he will not leave or forſake me, but ſhall give unto me eternall life, and then I ſhall ſing, holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of Sabbath.
12. Then with a ſhort word of Prayer, Lord be merciful to me a poor ſinner, he quietly breathed out his Soul, and ſweetly ſlept in Jeſus when he was about ſeven years old. He died Auguſt 8. 1664.
Hallelujah.
Example XIII. Of one that began to look towards Heaven, when he was very young, with many eminent paſſages of his life, and his joyful death, when he was eleven years and three quarters old.
1. Iohn Harvy was born in London, in the year 1654. His Father was a Dutch Merchant, he was piouſly educated under his virtuous mother, and ſoon began to ſuck in divine things with no ſmall delight.
2. The first thing very obſervable in him was, that when he was two years and eight months old, he could ſpeak as well as other children do uſually at five years old.
3. His Parents judging that he was then a little to young to ſend out to ſchool, let him have his liberty to play a little about their yard, but inſtead of playing, he found out a ſchool of his own accord hard by home, and went to the ſchool-Miſtriſs, and intreated her to teach him to read, and ſo he went for ſome time to ſchool without the knowledge of his Parents, and made a very ſtrange progreſs in his learning, & was able to read diſtinctly before moſt Children are able to know their letters.
4. He was wont to ask many ſerious and weighty queſtions about matters which concerned his ſoul and Eternity.
5. His Mother being greatly troubled upon the death of one of his Uncles, this Child came to his Mother, and ſaid; Mother, though my Uncle be dead, doth not the Scripture ſay, he muſt riſe again; yea, and I muſt die, and ſo muſt every body, and it will not be long before Chriſt will come to judge the world and then we ſhall ſee one another again, I pray Mother do not weep ſo much. This grave Counſel he gave his Mother, when he was not quite five years old, by which her ſorrow for her Brother was turned into admiration at her Child, and ſhe was made to ſit ſilent and quiet under that ſmarting ſtroke.
9. After this, his Parents removed to Aberdeen in Scotland, and ſetled their Child under an able and a painful School Maſter there, whoſe cuſtome was upon the Lords day in the morning, to examine his ſchollers concerning the Sermons that they had heard the former Lords day, and to add ſome other queſtions which might try the underſtanding and knowledge of his Schollers; the queſtion that was once propoſed to his form was, whether God had a mother? none of all the Schollars could anſwer it, till it came to John Harvy, who being asked, whether God had a Mother, anſwered no; as he was God, he could not have a Mother, but as he was man, he had; this was before he was quite ſix years old. His Maſter was ſomewhat amazed at the Childs answer, and took the firſt opportunity to go to his Mother, to thank her for inſtructing her Son ſo well, but ſhe replyed, that he was never taught that from her, but that he underſtood it by reading, and his own obſervation.
7. He was a Child that was extraordinary inquiſitive, and full of good queſtions, and very careful to obſerve and remember what he heard.
8. He had a great hatred of whatſoever he knew to be diſpleaſing to God, and was ſo greatly concerned for the honour of God, that he would take on bitterly, if that any groſs ſins were committed before him. And he had a deep ſenſe of the worth of Souls, and was not a little grieved when he ſaw any one do that which he knew was dangerous to their Souls.
9. One day ſeeing one of his near Relations come into his Fathers Houſe diſtemper'd with drink as he thought, he quickly went very ſeriouſly to him and wept over him, that he ſhould ſo offend God, and hazard his Soul, and beg'd of him to ſpend his time better then in drinking and gaming, and this he did, without any inſtruction from his parents, but from an inward principle of grace, and love to God and ſouls as it is verily believed.
10. When he was at play with other Children, he would be often times putting in ſome word to keep them from naughty talk, or wicked actions, and if any did take the Lords name in vain, or do any thing that was not becoming of a good Child, they ſhould ſoon hear of it with a witneſs; nay once hearing a boy ſpeak very profanely, and that after two or three admonitions, he would not forbear nor go out of his company neither, he was ſo tranſported with zeal, that he could not forbear falling upon him to beat him; but his Mother chiding of him for it, he ſaid, that he could not indure to hear the name of God so abuſed by a wretched boy. This is obſerved not to vindicate the act, but to take notice of his zeal.
11. He was a Child that took great delight in the Company of good men, and eſpecially, Miniſters and Schollers; and if he had any leiſure time, he would improve it by viſiting of ſuch, whoſe diſcourſe might make him wiſer and better; and when he was in their ſociety, to be ſure, his talk was more like a Chriſtian and Scholler, then a Child.
12. One day after School time was over, he gave Mr. Andrew Kant. (one of the Miniſters of Aberdeen) a viſit, and asked him ſeveral ſolid queſtions, but the good man asked him ſome queſtions out of his Catechiſm: and finding him not ſo ready in the anſwers as he ſhould have been, did a little reprove him, and told him, that he muſt be ſure to get his Catechiſm perfectly by heart; the Child took the reproof very well, and went home and fell very hot upon his Catechiſm, and never left, till he got it by heart, and not only ſo, but he would be enquiring into the ſenſe and meaning of it.
13. He was ſo greatly taken with his Catechiſm, that he was not content to learn it himſelf but he would be putting others upon learning their Catechiſm, eſpecially, thoſe that were neareſt to him; he could not be ſatisfied, till he had perſwaded his Mothers Maids to learn it, and when they were at work, he would be ſtill following them with ſome good queſtion or other; ſo that the Child ſeemed to be taken up with the thoughts of his Soul and Gods honour, and the good of others Souls.
14. He was a conſcientious obſerver of the Lords day, ſpending all the time either in ſecret prayer, or reading the Scriptures, and good books; Learning of his Catechiſm, and learning of the Word of God, and publick duties; and was not only careful in the performance of theſe duties himſelf, but was ready to put all that he knew upon a ſtrict obſervation of the Lords day; and was exceedingly grieved at the profanation of it; one Lords day a ſervant of his Fathers going out of the houſe upon an extraordinary occaſion to fetch ſome Beer, he took on ſo bitterly, that he could ſcarce be pacified, becauſe that holy day was ſo abuſed (as he judged) in his fathers houſe.
15. When he was betwixt ſix and ſeven years old, it pleaſed God to afflict him with ſore eyes which was no ſmall exerciſe to him, becauſe it kept him from School which he loved as well as many boys do their play, and that which was worſe, he was commanded by the Doctor not to read any Book whatſoever, at home. But, O how was this poor Child grieved, that he might not have liberty to read the holy Scriptures; and for all their charge, he would get by himſelf, and ſtand by the windows, and read the Bible and good Books; yea he was ſo greedy of reading the Scripture, and took so much delight in it, that he would ſcarce allow himſelf ſometimes time to dreſs himſelf for reading, the Word of God was his great delight. Yea, though he hath been bear for ſtudying ſo much, yet judging it Gods command that he ſhould give himſelf up to reading, he could not be beat off from it, till he was ſo bad, that he had like never to have recovered his ſight more.
16. It was his practice to be much by himſelf in ſecret prayer, and he was careful to manage that work, ſo as that it might be as ſecret as poſſible it might be, but his frequency and conſtancy made it to be ſo eaſily obſerved, upon which, one time one having a great mind to know what this ſweet babe prayed for, got into a place near him, and heard him very earneſtly praying for the Church of God, deſiring that the Kingdom of the Goſpel might be ſpread over the whole world, and that the kingdom of grace might more and more come into the hearts of Gods people, and that the Kingdome of glory might be haſtned. He was wont to connue half an hour, ſometimes an hour, upon his knees together.
17. He was much above the vanities that moſt Children are taken with, and was indeed too much a man to live long.
18. He was very humble and modeſt, and did by no means affect fineneſs in apparrel, but hated any thing more than neceſſaries either in cloths or diet.
19. When he perceived either his Brother or Siſter pleaſed with their new clothes, he would with a great deal of gravity reprove their folly, and when his reproof ſignified little, he would bewail their vanity.
20. Once he had a new ſuit brought from the Tailors, which when he looked on, he found ſome ribbons at the knees, at which he was grieved: asking his Mother, whether thoſe things would keep him warm. No, Child ſaid his Mother, why then ſaid he, do you ſuffer them to be put here, you are miſtaken, if you think ſuch things pleaſe me; and I doubt ſome that are better then us, may want the money that this coſt you to buy them bread.
21. He would intreat his Mother to have a care of gratifying a proud humour in his Brother and Siſters, he did tell them of the danger of pride, and how little reaſon they had to be proud of that which was their ſhame; for ſaid he, if it had not been for ſin we ſhould have had no need of cloaths.
22. At leiſure times, he would be talking to his School-fellows about the things of God, and urge the neceſſity of a holy Life; that text he much ſpoke on to there; the Axe is laid to the root of the tree, and every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit, is hewn down and caſt into the fire. Every Mothers Child of us that doth not bring forth the fruit of good works, ſhall ſhortly be cut down with the axe of Gods wrath, and caſt into the fire of Hell; and this he ſpake like one that believed and felt the power of what he ſpake, and not with the leaſt viſibility of a childiſh levity of ſpirit. This was, when he was between ſeven and eight years old, and if he perceived any Children unconcerned about their Souls, he would be greatly troubled at it.
23. After this, his Parents removed not far from London, where he continued till that dreadful year ſixty five; he was then ſent to the latine School, where he ſoon made a very conſiderable Progreſs and was greatly beloved of his Maſter; the School was his beloved place, and learning his recreation. He was never taught to write, but took it of his own ingenuity.
24. He was exceeding dutiful to his Parents and never did in the leaſt diſpute their command, (except, when he thought they might croſs the command of God) as in the forementioned buſineſs of reading the Scriptures when his eyes were ſo bad.
25. He was exceeding contented with any mean diet, and to be ſure he would not touch a bit of any thing till he had begged Gods bleſſing upon it.
26. He would put his Brother and Siſter upon their duties, and obſerve them whether they performed it or no, and when he ſaw any neglect, he would ſoon warn them; if he ſaw any of them take a ſpoon into their hands before they had craved a bleſſing, he ſaid that is juſt like a hog indeed.
27. His Siſter was afraid of the darkneſs, and would ſometimes cry, upon this account; he told her, ſhe muſt fear God more, and ſhe need then be afraid of nothing.
28. He would humbly put his near Relations upon their duty, and minding the concerns of their Souls and Eternity, with more ſeriouſneſs and life, and to have a care of doing that which was for the diſhonour of God and the hazard of the Soul.
29. He was of a compaſſionate and charitable diſpoſition, and very pitiful to the poor, or any that were in diſtreſs, but his greateſt pity was to poor Souls; and as well as he could, he would be putting Children, Play-fellows, ſervants, neighbours, upon minding their poor ſouls.
30. One notable inſtance of his true charity, I cannot omit. A certain Turk was by the providence of God caſt in the place where he lived, which this ſweet Child hearing of had a great pity to his Soul, and ſtudied how he might be any way inſtrumental to do it good, at laſt finding a man that underſtood the language of the Turk, he uſed means to get them together, which he at laſt procured; the firſt thing that he did, was to put his friend upon diſcourſing with the Turk about his principles, whether he acknowledged a Deity which the Turk owning; the next thing he inquired after, was, what he thought of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt. At which the Turk was troubled and put off the diſcourſe, and ſaid, he was athirſt and an hungry; which the Child being informed of, by the interpreter, immediately went to a Brew-houſe near at hand (his own houſe being far off) and did intreat the Maſter of the Brewhouſe to give him ſome Beer for the Turk, and the argument he uſed was this; Sir, here is a poor ſtranger that is athirſt, we know not where we may be caſt before we dye; he went to another place and begged food for him; uſing the ſame argument as before, but his friends hearing of it, were angry with him, but he told them he did it for a poor ſtranger that was far from home, and he did it that he might think the better of the Chriſtians, and the Chriſtian Religion.
31. He would have a ſavoury word to ſay to every one that he converſed with, to put them in mind of the worth of Chriſt and their Souls; and their nearneſs to Eternity. Inſomuch, that good people took no ſmall pleaſure in his company. The Taylor that made his cloths, would keep them the longer before he brought them home, that he might have the benefit of his ſpiritual and Chriſtian ſociety; and more frequent viſits.
32. He bewailed the miſerable condition of the generality of man-kind, (when he was about ten years old) that were utterly eſtranged from God, though they called him Father, yet they were his Children only by Creation, and not by any likeneſs they had to God, or intereſt in him.
33. Thus he continued walking in the ways of God, ingaged in reading, praying, hearing the Word of God, and ſpiritual diſcourſe, diſcovering thereby his ſerious thoughts of Eternity.
34. He had an earneſt deſire, if it might be the Lords good pleaſure, to give himſelf up to the Lord in the work of the Miniſtry, if he ſhould live; and this out of a dear love to Chriſt, and Souls.
35. He was (next to the Bible) moſt taken with reading of Reverend Mr. Baxters works, eſpecially his Saints Everlaſting Reſt; and truly, the thoughts of that Reſt, and Eternity; ſeemed to ſwallow up all other thoughts, and he lived in a conſtant preparation for it, and looked more like one that was ripe for glory, then an inhabitant of this lower world.
36. When he was about eleven years and three quarters old, his Mothers houſe was viſited with the Plague; his eldeſt ſiſter was the firſt that was viſited with this diſtemper, and when they were praying for her, he would ſob and weep bitterly
37. As ſoon as he perceived that his Siſter was dead, he ſaid, the will of the Lord be done. Bleſſed be the Lord, dear Mother, ſaid he, you muſt do as David did, after the Child was dead, he went and refreſhed himſelf, and quietly ſubmitted to the will of God.
38. The reſt of the family held well for about fourteen dayes, which time he ſpent in religious duties and preparing for his death; but ſtill his great Book was the Saints Reſt; which he read with exceeding curioſity, gathering many obſervations out of it in writing for his own uſe. He wrote ſeveral divine meditations of his own, upon ſeveral Subjects, but that which ſeemed moſt admirable, was a meditation upon the excellency of Chriſt; he was never well now but when he was more immediately ingaged in the ſervice of God.
39. At fourteen days end, he was taken ſick, at which he ſeemed very patient and cheerful; yet ſometimes he would ſay that his pain was great.
40. His Mother looking upon his Brother, ſhaked her head, at which he asked, if his Brother were marked; ſhe anſwered, yes Child? he asked again, whether he were marked, ſhe anſwered nothing; well ſays he, I know I ſhall be marked; I pray let me have Mr. Baxters Book, that I may read a little more of Eternity before I go into it. His Mother told him that he was not able to read; he ſaid, that he was; however then pray by me, and for me; His Mother anſwered, that ſhe was ſo full of grief, that ſhe could not pray now; but ſhe, deſired to hear him pray his laſt prayer.
41. His Mother asked him, whether he were willing to die, and leave her, he anſwered yes, I am willing to leave you, and go to my heavenly Father. His Mother anſwered, Child, If thou hadſt but an aſſurance of Gods love I ſhould not be ſo much troubled.
42. He anſwered, and ſaid to his Mother, I am aſſured, dear Mother, that my ſins are forgiven, and that I ſhall go to Heaven, for ſaid he, here ſtood an Angel by me, that told me, I ſhould quickly be in glory.
43. At this, his Mother burſt forth into tears, O Mother, ſaid he, did you but know what joy I feel, you would not weep, but rejoyce. I tell you I am ſo full of comfort, that I cant tell you how I am; O Mother I ſhall preſently have my head in my Fathers boſome, and ſhall be there, where the Four and Twenty Elders caſt down their Crowns and ſing Hallelujah, Glory and Praiſe, to him that ſits upon the Throne: and unto the Lamb for ever.
44. Upon this, his ſpeech began to fail him, but his Soul ſeemed ſtill to be taken up with glory, and nothing now grieved him but the ſorrow that he ſaw his Mother to be in for his death; a little to divert his Mother, he aſked her, what ſhe had to Supper, but preſently in a kind of divine Rapture, he cried out, O what a ſweet Supper have I making ready for me in glory,
45. But ſeeing all this did rather increaſe then allay his Mothers grief, he was more troubled, and asked her, what she meant, thus to offend God; know you not, that it is the hand of the Almighty. Humble your ſelf under the mighty hand of God, lay your ſelf in the duſt, and kiſs the rod of God, and let me ſee you do it in token of your ſubmiſſion to the will of God, and bow before him. Upon which raiſing up himſelf a little, he gave a lowly bow, and ſpake no more: but went chearfully and triumphingly to Reſt, in the boſome of Jeſus.
Hallelujah.
FINIS.
Theſe BOOKS of the ſame Author, Mr. James Janeway, are Printed and Sold by Dorman Newman.
HEaven upon Earth, or the beſt Friend in the worſt of times; The third Edition Enlarged, Price 2 s. 6 d.
Death Ʋnſtung, a Sermon preacht at the Funeral of Thomas Mowſley an Apothecary. With a brief Narrative of his Life and Death, alſo the manner of Gods dealings with Him, before and after his Converſion: Drawn up by his own hand, price 1 s.
A Sermon preached at the Funeral of Thomas Savage, Price 4 d. A Token for Children, firſt and ſecond part, the price of each 6 d.
End of the text · James Janeway, A Token for Children (1676)