Divine Providence in the Early Death of Pious and Lovely Children, Sermon

Divine Providence in the Early Death of Pious and Lovely Children · Sermon

p. 1A Devout Contemplation On the Early DEATH Of Pious and Lovely Children.

JER. IX. 21.

For Death is come up into our Windows, and is entred into our Palaces, to cut off the Children from without, and the Young men from the Streets.

HOW often doth the Great GOD repeat His Calls to us to look into our Graves! and how ſeaſonable is this Melancholly Subject ever to us thro' our whole Life! The affecting Strokes of His Providence return ſurprizingly p. 2upon us, every now and then, as the Clouds after the Rain.

We have had a dark and ſorrowful long Winter by reaſon of the Ʋntimely Deaths (as we are ready to ſay) of many of our dear Children, and hopeful Young People. And now this last Week a very ſudden awful Death has taken away One of the fairest Flowers in this Garden of GOD; One of the moſt Blooming and Lovely Children in the Town or Land, whether we ſpeak of Body or Mind.

I wou'd take this Occaſion therefore, for the profit both of Elder and Younger Perſons, to recollect the Contemplations which I have ſometimes had on the Meaning of Divine Providence, in ſuch grievous diſtreſſing Diſpenſations.

Our Context is one of the moſt mournful Chapters that you can find in all the Holy Scripture. Jeremiah, the Weeping Prophet, does in the moſt pathetical words that Art can chuſe and lay together, excite Himſelf and others unto Holy Sorrow on the foreſight of the Calamities coming upon Judea and Jeruſalem, by the conquering and cruel Arms of the King of Babylon. He wiſhes that his own Head were Waters, and his Eyes a fountain of Tears, that he might weep day and night, for the ſlain of the Daughter of his People. He weeps for their Sins, which he therefore Enumerates; and then He weeps afreſh over the proſpect of GOD's Judgments, the ſorrowful Fruit, and dreadful Puniſhment of their Sins: in which he muſt be a Stock rather than a p. 3Man, who is not affected with the Hand and Anger of Divine Providence.

This was the bitter Mourning in the Context: v. 15. Therefore thus ſaith the LORD of Hosts, the GOD of Iſrael; Behold, I will feed them, even this people, with Wormwood, and give them water of Gall to drink. v. 17. Conſider ye, and call for the mourning Women, that they may come,—and let them make haste, and take up a Wailing for us; that our Eyes may run down with tears, and our eye-lids guſh out with waters: for a voice of wailing is heard out of Zion! How are we ſpoiled! —Hear—O ye Women,— and teach your Daughters wailing, and every one her Neighbour Lamentation: for Death is come up into our Windows, and is entred into our Palaces; to cut off the Children from without, and the Young men from the Streets.

What can be more ſoft, paſſionate and moving, than the strain of the Context? and what wound up the ſtrings of ſorrow unto this High Note, but Death come into their Windows, to cut off the Children and Young people from the Streets! Well does the Prophet call for the tenderest hearts, and the ſhrillest voices, even of Women, to raiſe the Lamentation on this account.

All Divine Judgments call for our Sorrowing under Gods Hand and Rod. While God distributeth ſorrows in his Anger, our Eyes ſhould pour out tears unto God. We ought to weep with him that is in Trouble, and our Eyes ſhould mourn by reaſon p. 4of affliction. But in no Instance does Nature teach & even force ſorrow, more than in Bereavements and the Death of Children: This was the voice in Rama, Rachel weeping for her Children, and would not be comforted, &c. It was ſaid of Mary, ſhe goeth to the Grave to weep there; a Melancholly place indeed to draw forth the Tears of Relations.

But I'm aware that many may be too apt of themſelves to indulge Grief. I will forbear therefore to Enlarge any further on the Context. Death is come up into our Windows: ſcil. of the Chambers where the Sick lay. There's no locking our Doors againſt this Officer, when he comes to Arreſt, or ſerve his Execution. Or rather, as a Thief in the Night Steals in at the Window, ſo does Death often ſteal as ſuddenly into our Houſes, ere we are aware. Nor does it enter into the Cottages of the Poor only, but into the Houſes of the Rich, the Dwellings of Rulers, and the Palaces of Princes. But that which I ſhall only attend to is, that it ſpares not the tender pleaſant Children, nor the hail and promiſing Youths; Theſe, a moſt ſad part of its Execution, it cuts off from the Streets▪ The Streets, where the Young people were wont to Walk, and where the Children us'd to Play.

All the Obſervation that I ſhall raiſe from the Words, is this:

p. 5DOCTRINE. That abundance of the Children of Men, and of our moſt hopeful, pious and promiſing Children do Die Young.

A very plain, and poor, little Obſervation you'll be ready to ſay; what any Child may make, and I would pray them to do ſo. I'm ſure, you don't think that I intend to labour in the proof of this obvious Truth, and Univerſal Experience of Mankind. There is great Inequality as to the length of peoples lives here in the Body, tho' at the longest the life of man is very ſhort; as a Vapour that endureth but a ſhort time. There are the untimely Births which never ſee the Light: and many that are Born alive, yet only number a few breaths, hours and days, and expire again, without fulfilling their Week or Month. What brittle and tender things are our Babes, and what multitudes die in Infancy! Delights, lent us for a year it may be, and then taken (we hope) to the Delights of God for ever. In Childhood the blooming flower falls too, and Autumn comes almoſt before the Spring's begun. If thro' a million Dangers, mortal to others, we get up to Youth, yet how ſuddenly and often does Death cut down the verdant budding plant! And when from Youth we are got to Manhood, even then in the prime of our ſtrength we are often ſnatch away from Families, p. 6from Service, and from all Worldly Enjoyments. Job 21.23. The number of his months are cut off in the midſt; he dies in his full strength, his Breaſts are full of Milk, and his Bones are moistned with Marrow.

Thus is it with the Children of Men; and this happens alike to all, both to the Evil and the Good. Now my Deſign is with Modeſty and Holy Reverence to Enquire into the Reaſons of Providence in this particular, which tho' it may ſometimes appear very dark, and be very grievous to particular perſons, yet certainly is in it ſelf very Wiſe, and Holy and Gracious.

I am to Obſerve then, that abundance of our hopeful and lovely and promiſing Children, and thoſe top that are really Pious and Godly in their Childhood, do Die Young. It always has been, and ſtill is ſo. Righteous Abel, the first fruits of fallen Man to God, the firſt Martyr for Religion, and the firſt-born of the Grave, died young. Enoch was no Old Saint in his Day, tho' ripe for Heaven, when God took him. He died not, it's true, but was the Earnest to the Old World of the Reſurrection. The ten Children of Job, who we hope Inherited their pious Fathers Sanctity, and Prayers, died together in their Youth. Heavy the Tydings to their amazed Parents—The Houſe fell upon the Young men, and they are dead, and I only am eſcaped alone to tell thee. Sometimes the Holieſt, and whom God loves beſt, he takes ſooneſt. p. 7So it was we know in the peaceful Death of the young Prince Abijah. 1 King. 14.13. He only of Jeroboam ſhall come to the Grave, becauſe in him there was found ſome good thing. To name no more, Our Bleſſed Saviour himſelf has ſanctify'd an Early Death by dying in the prime of the Life of Man.

And now give me leave to do ſome Honour unto the Divine Providence, (as it ſhall enable me) in ordering theſe Early Deaths. It is a thing very grievous to us, lamentable to ſee, and heavy to bear, and ſo it ſhould be; yet we may not complain of the Divine Government, no not in this; however grievous it be to Grace and Senſe together. Let the Sovereign GOD call ſoon for them that fear him, and are but beginning to ſerve him, and ſo are likely to honour him, and be Bleſſings in the World; whoſe Hope and Crown they are; yet is he eaſily juſtified in his doing, and clear in his judging thus. Now that I may begin right on this Argument, which is one of the deep things of God; Let me ſay,

1. The Soveraignty of God is enough, and inſtead of a thouſand Reaſons, to his Creatures in any of the Diſpenſations of his Providence, which may be dark to them. I'm afraid that the Sovereignty of God is not at all conceived of, nor adored by multitudes of Chriſtians, as it ought to be. The Scripture every where ſpeaks in the moſt exalted ſtrains that can be about it. And when the Diſpenſations of God are ſuch as furprize and confound p. 8our weak Reaſon and Underſtanding, then very often inſtead of going about to ſatisfy our ſcruples, and level them to our Capacity, it bids us worſhip, inſtead of arguing about the Unſearchable Councils of Heaven; and contemplating the Greatneſs of God to be dumb. So in Gods dealings with his Servant Job, when he and his Friends had been contemplating the poſſibility of ſuch Inflictions on an Upright perſon; at laſt Elihu takes up the Argument, and reproves them all for preſuming to talk ſo freely of the Great GOD; asking them if God were to give them Account of what He did or could do? or if they muſt be diſſatisfy'd with the Almighty's Actions when ever they could not account for them? He vouchſafes them no other ſatisfaction but the Greatneſs & Dominion of God; and when God himſelf ſpake afterward out of the Whirlwind, it was in the ſame lofty Style and Reaſoning; proper to, and worthy of a God. Job 33.12, 13, 17.36.22, 23, &c.

Very juſtly may the Great GOD diſdain to let us reaſon with him againſt any Circumſtances which He orders for us, either in reſpect of Life or Death. Shall not the Clay ly ſtill under the Potters skilful Hand? Balaam was provok'd to ſtand corrected by his Aſs; and yet the Aſs taught the Prophet with Juſtice and Mildneſs: Yet Vain Man, that is born like the Wild Aſſes Colt, would be wiſe before God, even to reprove his Maker!

Let me further obſerve here Two Things.

p. 91. Life and Death are among thoſe things that abſolutely belong to the Divine Sovereignty. Who but the God of the Spirits of all fleſh ſhall ſay, when our Souls ſhall come into theſe dwellings of fleſh, and when leave them? The Key of Hades is in his Hand, and it is one of the Inſignia of his Supream Dominion. The Life he gave is his own, and ſhall he not do what he will with it?

2. God is to be reſigned to even with reſpect to the degrees of preſent Serviceableneſs, or Future Glory. We ſhould deſire indeed a Distinction in both Worlds, owning our ſelves unworthy mean while of a Name in either of them. But in the midſt of Ʋſefulneſs here, and of the proſpect of Advancement in a better World, we muſt bear a ſpirit of abſolute Submiſſion if God call us to Die. To do much we ſhould always deſire, that we have done no more, ſhould be our Humiliation; that we have done any thing is matter of Thanksgiving, and if it muſt be no more, we muſt (like our Famous and Eminent Mr. Mitchel when a dying) bleſs God for the leaſt, which we never deſerv'd, and ſo reſign our elſe deſired Life. If we have any place in the Firmament of Glory, we muſt leave it to God to ordain our magnitude and brightneſs there; and as one Star differs from another Star in Glory; ſo is the Reſurrection of the Dead. Now he that telleth the Number of the Stars, and calleth them all by Name, has done the ſame in Numbring the Elect, and making them Veſſels of Honour.

p. 10I proceed now to ſay,

2. Our lovely, gracious Elect Children cannot be too ſoon in Heaven. Happineſs and Bliſs in the fulneſs and perfection thereof can never come too ſoon. If God takes the Elect Infant from the Mothers Breast, or the Fathers Knees, to Himſelf an infinitely better Father; pray, what loſs is it? How bleſſed is it for the Babe that no more days or months were ordained for it in this ſcorching and freezing world of ours! in this world of Sin and Affliction! Will the Babe pine after the Mothers Breaſts, when Angels have taken it in their brighter Arms to carry it to, and lay it in the Boſome of JESƲS; the Good Shepherd of Souls, who layes the Lambs in his Boſome? Surely 'tis beſt of all to go to an immediate Everlaſting Reſt, ſince God ordains it; never to have felt at all the Evils of guilt or trouble which the Godly are here ſo often groaning under! Well then, we are never too young to be happy: Happineſs can never come too ſoon; that Surprize muſt at laſt be exceeding pleaſant.

3. Sometimes it has been the deſire and choice of Holy Children, with ſubmiſſion to the Sovereign Pleaſure and Wiſdom of God, not to have a long continuance here in this World. This is a rare thing indeed, yet we lately had an Inſtance of it in our Neighbourhood, in that Excellent Youth, the Son of Major Fitch, whoſe gracious Example, and lamented Death will not be ſoon forgotten. It was p. 11a pretty frequent paſſage with him, that he ſaw little in this World to make one deſire to live long here. 'Twas a ſign that his heart was ſoon and ſtrangely ſet on Heavenly Things. This requires ſome very comfortable degrees of hope and good aſſurance of our Intereſt in a better Life. There are but few even of the Children of God in advanced years, who upon ſettled and weighed principles of Devotion, arrive unto an habitual willingneſs to Die. Yet ſome ſtrange Instances of it have been found under the Early Impreſſions of Divine Grace: The fear of Sin, the longing for freedom from it, and the deſire to be with Chriſt, may ſometimes excuſe even the deſire to be diſſolved, preſerving Reſignation to God: but the Glorifying God on Earth, the Serving our Generation according to the Will of God, and the Believing in the Alſufficiency of the Grace of God to keep us thro' the World, muſt make Life when prolonged, not only eaſie, but delightful to us, and an Esteemed Mercy of God to us. Certainly to abide in the fleſh is very needful and deſirable, while to live is Chriſt: but when we change this thought, and can ſay to our ſelves—to me to die is Gain, it may be difficult not to verge too much with the Holy Apostle in his deſires rather of a diſſolution; & to groan being burdened in this Tabernacle; knowing that while we are at home in the body, we are abſent from the Lord, Phil. 21.23. 2 Cor. 5. begin. Some Good People have wiſh'd for a Sudden Death; but moſt of the Children p. 12of God with great Reaſon joyn rather in that part of our Littany, to be preſerved from it. However, it very much takes away the darkneſs of the Diſpenſation, when it comes to be the matter of a devout perſons deſire and choice. But theſe are Extraordinary Caſes, not to be bro't into Example, nor to be commended to our Imitation; & therefore not to be inſiſted on.

4. Poſſibly God may have conſulted the Spiritual advantage of a deſirable and gracious Child in its Early Death. I mean both in reſpect of Grace here, and Glory hereafter. Had the Child lived, you know how certainly it had been expoſed in this place of ſin, temptation and danger: what from the Snake in the Graſs, latent Indwelling Sin, and that Adder in the Path, the Devi and Satan; what from an Inſnaring World, and the luſting fleſh reſiſting the Spirit in all its heavenly deſires. It is a Circumſtance of great happineſs to be once ſafely paſt all theſe hazards, & out of the reach of theſe mortal Enemies and fiery darts; never to be tempted, nor to ſin more; but to be confirm'd in a State of Grace, and aſcertain'd, poſſeſs'd of Everlaſting Happineſs. Now God only knows how little a longer time might have been improved; how little might have been got by it, how much might have indeed been ſuffered by it. It is a ſad truth, but a certain one, that many Good people have found little or no advantage to their Spirtual Life by length of time. They were Converted young, it may be, p. 13and if they had died young, they had been in the ſame place in Heaven, if not in a better, then having liv'd to more years. How often have people gone backward, quench'd the Spirit of Grace, and hurt their own Souls. Take the Inſtance of Solomon; how gloriouſly did he begin, and outſhone in Grace, as he did in Wiſdom and Dignity: He was the Wonder of the Church, as his Temple was of the World: He went before the very Ministers of Religion, and the Lords Prophets in zeal and in devotion: and now had he died young, his Grace had been without a stain upon it: but he liv'd to ſhow the frailty of the Greateſt Saint in a State of Worldly Affluence, and the hazard there is from Senſual Objects in our greateſt Attainments here below. I dare not preſume to think whether his fall has put him a great way back in the Liſt of the Glorify'd, his Repentance and Recovery being glorious in our Eyes; but certainly if his Graces had not been brighter above, had he died in his unſpotted youth, and before his fall, yet had his Name among Saints on Earth been ſo.

We are Sailing in a very tempeſtuous and uncertain Sea, like Mariners that ſometimes ſet out with a fair and ſtrong Gale, and make half their Paſſage in a few days; but then they meet with ſome rough contrary Winds that force 'em to Ly by at leaſt, if they are not driven back, and have many a League to meaſure over again, if ever they make their Paſſage at all. If the Ship ſpring a leak, tho' it do p. 14not founder, but after many hardſhips the Port is gained, yet the Loſs and Damage ſuſtained is uſually very much. So are there many that Set out well in their Youth, and at laſt get to Heaven, but it is ſorely ſhatter'd and broken, through their falls before one temptation and another in their way. The Floods do not drown them in perdition, but yet thro' their ill Conduct and fooliſh Management much of their rich Freight and Lading is damnify'd and thrown Overboard. They can ſhow the Riches they once had put aboard them, but alas, canker'd and marr'd now: they are not when they die, even what they were in their early years, but their Beauty marr'd by the advance of Age; which tho' it be natural to the Body, yet it is unnatural to the Immortal Soul. They die Penitents it's true, but not Proficients; and tho' they get to Heaven at laſt, yet no higher there than if they had died in their younger days.

Upon all, ſay, if it is not very poſſible that God may graciouſly have conſulted the Spiritual Advantage of many an Elect Veſſel of Mercy, in their Early Death. We have no foreſight of things to come, but God has the moſt perfect that can be; and tho' there's no foreſight of Grace in the Saints before it is given, but only in the purpoſe of God to give it, for in our corrupt nature it never could be at all but of his free Gift; yet in the beſt of Saints there's an eaſie foreſight to us all of Corruption ready to break out upon all Occaſions, without p. 15Gods reſtraint and prevention thereof: and to God it is open and naked how good people will act if they come to be in theſe and thoſe Circumſtances. Some God permits for wiſe Ends, and the Good of others, to live and ſhew the prevalency of Corruption in them, againſt ſuitable ſtrivings and meaſures of his Grace; and others God prevents from being like Inſtances and Sufferers, by a happy Early Death. And tho' he does not ſay, as to particular perſons (and leſs may we) that this is his End; yet poſſibly it may be ſo in the very Inſtances we are mourning over. Indeed for ought we know, had they liv'd they wou'd have grown in Grace more and more; and it is meet for us to ſuppoſe and hope it wou'd have been ſo: but 'tis as true, that for ought we know it wou'd have been otherwiſe: and it is not at all amiſs for us to ſatisfy our ſelves after this manner; when the matter is neceſſarily left ſo doubtful to us, and hazardous. But ſo much for this particular.

5. The Righteous are ſometimes taken away from the Evil to come. As the Prophet obſerves, Iſa. 57.1. And ſometimes it's certain, that Hopeful and Pious Children are ſo, as Abijah was: 1 King. 14.13. And King Joſiah too, to whom it was promiſed as a token of Divine Favour; 2 Kings 32.20. That becauſe his heart was tender and humble before God, therefore he ſhould be gathered early to his Fathers, & his Eyes ſhould not ſee the Evil that was coming on Judah and Jeruſalem.

p. 16Long Life here in this World is unavoidably attended with many Sorrows, eſpecially if a perſon be pious and devout. Mens own Sins, and the Sins of others, eſpecially of Relatives; our Afflictions alſo by Bodily Pains and Sickneſs, and by Bereavements in Eſtate and Relatives, multiply Grief upon us thro' our preſent Pilgrimage, and make the days of the years of it very Evil. They that die young are ſoon out of this dark and ſuffering Scene; if they had liv'd longer, there had been poſſibly many things which they little foreſaw to have imbitter'd their lives to 'ern; yea, the very things (many of 'em) wherein they promis'd themſelves the moſt comfort. How often have the Relatives that Survive come to bleſs their Departed Dead, ſaying,—Bleſſed are the cloſed Eyes that never ſaw theſe things. This is true, both as to Sins and Judgments, and thoſe both publick and private. For Instance, it may ſeem to us every way to have been happier for Eli to have died young, than in his Age to have ſeen the Iniquity of his Sons, and their Death in their Sins, together with the Captivity of the Ark, which he died under the heavy Tydings of. How bitter is it to a Godly perſon, to live and ſee Children and Brethren grow up and prove Apostates from God, Children of Belial, and periſhing under the Judicial Strokes of Divine Providence. It is better never to live to bear, than to bring forth theſe Sons of Sorrow. God ſees (ſays the late Excellent Mr. N. Taylor) the riſing Storms p. 17to come, and when they wou'd Overſet the Veſſel, and therefore diſpatches the Sailing Orders, and provides a ſafe Harbour: His Greens he early Houſes alſo in a warm place, becauſe they are ſo tender, that the ſharpneſs of the coming Weather wou'd nip and kill them. The mean while there's Corn that can endure the cold of Winter, and the heat of the Summer; and it is fitting that it ſtand and grow full ripe, and be gather'd when it is turn'd white for the Harvest. The hopeful Youth is ſometimes taken away in favour from the Evil to come.

6. Many things reſpecting the Nature of Saving Grace are to be learn'd from, and are ſeen in the Early Deaths of pious and hopeful Young people. As,

1. It ſhows us that Grace intends not to ſecure us a long Life here in the Body. No, it is the aſſimilation of the Soul unto another Life, and its preparation for it: it is to wean the Soul from the ſenſitive life, and to raiſe it above the ſame: it points the Soul unto the life of ſpirits in holineſs and happineſs that is to come; and on no pretence therefore can it fix the heart down in any deſires or proſpect of living long here. Indeed, Grace never ſhortned any ones life here, but has prolong'd rather many a mans; length of days are in her right hand and long life ſhall ſhe add unto thee: Prov. 3.16. There is nothing in a principle of Grace and Holy living, but what tends to the preſervation and lengthening p. 18out of mans life. It bears antipathy to, and deteſtation of all thoſe Intemperances and vicious Exceſſes, which ſhorten mens days. It does by trust and prayer commit us to the care & bleſſing of the God of our lives. It deſires to live to his Glory; and it ſecures to us that ſo far as God ſees it beſt for us, we ſhall live in his world. But no further can a principle of Grace look to a continuance of the preſent life. No, the firſt and chief Relation of Divine Grace, and Benefit from it is unto a life to come. Col. 3.3. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in GOD. The Spiritual Life only is worthy to be called our Life; and this is hid with Christ; as the life of the Branches is hid in the Root: So are our Hopes for Eternity depoſited and laid up with Chriſt in Heaven.

2. Again, The Death of pious Children teaches us this alſo of a Principle of Grace, that where it once is, the Soul is ſafe. Let Death come as ſoon as it will after a perſons Coverſion, when once a Sanctifying Change has paſſed on him, be he never ſo young, the Soul is ſafe. It is indeed very deſirable to us on many accounts, that there be ſome good ſpace granted to us for the Exerciſe of Grace, and the Actings of the Regenerate Life: that ſo the Great GOD may have ſome Honour and Service from us, the fruits of that Grace which He hath Implanted in us; and we ſome good Evidence and hope of His Grace in us, and of our Title to Eternal Life; that ſo we may at laſt die in peace and p. 19Comfort as well as Safety. But this is not abſolutely neceſſary: and a perſon really dies in peace, in a State of Salvation, and goes to Heaven, if a Change be truly wro't in the Soul, tho' God do not ſpare him any length of time to bring forth the fruits of his Grace. And the Early Deaths of pious Ones may ſatisfie us, That Salvation depends not on length of time for the continued Exerciſe of Grace; tho' it be in its ſelf a Favour of GOD greatly to be deſired, if it may be His Will.

3. Hence alſo does it evidently appear, that Salvation is not of Works, but of Free Grace altogether. If it were of Works of Righteouſneſs wro't by us, it were much to be apprehended that they who die young could never be ſaved. If Infants are ſaved, it muſt be of free Grace, fortheſe can have no Works of their own: no, not ſo much as one Act of Faith are they capable of: and yet of ſuch is the Kingdom of Heaven. Multitudes of them are ſanctify'd and juſtify'd, and taken to Heaven. In ſome proportion it is thus with him that dies young: ſuppoſe within the Month or the Year wherein the Grace of God has taken hold of his Heart; when he is but juſt beginning to live to GOD, is but turning to Him in his own apprehenſion, and by his own confeſſion has done nothing for Him; but was beiginning he hop'd in earneſt to think of doing ſomething, & Now muſt be gone: However, he dies in Chriſt and goes to Him: but then how rich and free is that Grace which ſaves him? Where p. 20is Boasting? Where is any life of working ſo much as to be imagined?

Wherefore to finiſh this Head, How amiable and adorable doth this render ſaving Grace to us! that however young we die, 'tis poſſible to be ſaved by it; that how ſoon ſoever it takes poſſeſſion of us, it puts us into a ſecure and happy Sate. O how lovely and deſirable a thing then is it! how very valuable and precious!

See you One that has but juſt begun to ſeek and ſerve GOD, and GOD has ſo ſuddenly, inſtantly, preſently rewarded and glorified him! when CHRIST his Judge ſhall name this Child with honour in the Last Day, what can it anſwer?— LORD, when did I ever ſerve Thee? What did I ever do for Thee? From the day that thy Grace found me, I had not a year, not a month, not a week (it may be) allowed me to live to honour Thee! No, Gracious LORD! in the day almoſt wherein thou didſt pleaſe to Sanctifie me thou didſt alſo Glorifie me. E'er I cou'd find thy Grace in my Soul, I found my ſelf taken to thy Glory; and as I was but beginning to ſeek thy Mercy, I found my ſelf Embraced in the Arms of it.

O what ſhould render GOD & His Grace more amiable to us, than his glorifying it after this manner to the young Penitent, the Infant Saint! No ſooner born from Above, than taken Thither.

7. And laſtly, The Death of thoſe that are pious and gracious in their Youth is of excellent Ʋſe, and p. 21great Neceſſity, to quicken and excite their Acquaintance, Friends and Relations to an inſtar and careful Preparation for their own Dying Hour. Many are the Instructions and Admonitions in it, both to Elder and Younger People. It may be of great Service to Survivors. And this is a Reaſon worthy of a Good GOD, whoſe care is for the Souls of many in his Providential Dealings with One.

Let me then Obſerve, and ſo make the proper Application of the Doctrine, in this Illustration of it.

1. That to be ſure in the Early Death of pious Children, there are many Uſeful Admonitions intended to thoſe that are Young. Younger Friends and Relatives ſhould take the Warnings of GOD, which are firstly and directly meant to them.

You muſt be admoniſh'd, O Young Perſon, that you your ſelf may die ſoon and ſuddenly likewiſe. You ſhould never ſee one of your Own Age buried, or one younger than your ſelf die, but you ſhould ſeriouſly think—'It might have been my turn as well, or mine may be the next, and within a few days (if not to day or to morrow) I may follow. What am I better than my Companion? or it may be my life is not of half the worth that his or hers was! nor has been half ſo well improved or redeemed! or if it has, yet this makes no difference; ſince the best die young.

See one proof of that Truth, Pſal. 39.5. Verilye very man at his beſt Eſtate is altogether Vanity. p. 22A Flouriſhing Youth and Piety met together ſeem one of the beſt Eſtates of Man: the ſtrength of our years united with the ſtrength of Grace. 1 Joh. 2.14. I write unto you young men, becauſe ye are strong, &c. Yet in this Vigour of Nature and Grace both, may we ſuddenly expire and vaniſh away.

Wherefore Early Religion is the highest Wiſdom, and Interest of all the Children of men; the moſt Important and neceſſary thing that can be. You can never begin too ſoon to think of your Souls, ſince you may every day look to die. This alone ought to awaken you to remember your Creator in the days of your Youth, and as you enter upon this life, to chuſe that Good part which can never be taken away from you; and to Seek first the Kingdom of GOD, and his Righteouſneſs. The Funeral of eevery Infant or Child, calls all the Children in the Streets to be thinking of, and preparing for their own Death: for if you are not too young to Die, neither are you to be Religious, and to make your Souls your care.

It warns you now in your Youth, that you need better Friends & Dependance than any in this World, and a better Portion than this World can ſlatter you withal. For be you in the arms of your Parents, or bereav'd of them can you number up a great many Friends that heartily reſpect you, and care for your Intereſts? Are the Comforts of this Life ſurrounding you and your Worldly Eſtate increaſing upon you? Yet a day or an hour may p. 23ſnatch you away from all; while your helpleſs Friends ſtand in Amazement and Sorrow about you, to ſee you expire. That Child alone is ſafe & happy, who has the Great GOD for its Father, and Guardian and Portion.

Children! Let me put it to you, whether you have ever yet began to think of your Souls, your Sins, your Saviour, your Baptiſm, your Dying Hour, and of Eternity. Do you pray, do you fear to ſin, do you take any care to be Saved? O what Reaſon there is to fear that few of you little conſider any thing of this nature! which of you almoſt has any tho't about Death now in your Childhood? You ſcarce ſeem to apprehend it poſſible, and much leſs do you realize it as very likely, that you may die young. Will you never begin to think, Young People? not one ſober tho't of your Eternal State, tho' you ſee ſo many of your own Stature in the Grave. GOD teach thee betimes ſo to number thy days, as to apply thy heart unto Wiſdom.

GOD can make the Death of your Companions a moſt awakening and effectual Sermon to you: and it may be worth anothers dying to do thy Soul good, and bring thee home to Chriſt: It preaches to thee in a more affecting manner than any meer words can, and in the happy ſeaſon to Relatives, when their affections are ſtirred, and their Souls the more eaſily come at. And O that our Young people wou'd but hear the good Counſels from the Funerals of their pious Friends that die p. 24young! how well worth were it their dying, betimes to faſten ſuch Inſtructions for the Salvation of others.

2. The death of hopeful Children and Young people may be of great Spiritual Advantage alſo to Elder perſons. Parents ſhould be quickned in Holy Living, by the death of their Children; and the Grey Head ſhould receive Inſtruction & Awakening by the fall of the blooming Youth. There are many things ſaid to them that are in Advanced Age, in the Death of their Juniors.

Are theſe fallen ſo ſoon, how long ago then might I have been in my Grave? may the Elder Chriſtian ſay. Adore the Sovereign Grace of GOD, that has ſo long ſpared you. Had you been cut down thus ſoon, think what had become of you, & where had you been long ſince? Conſider why God ſpares you. Shame your ſelf for your Defects, and fear: If the green tree be fell'd, laden with Bloſſoms, or firſt ripe fruits; what then ſhall be done to the dry? Shall that ſtand always barren and unprofitable, to cumber the Ground? What? ſee we a Child Older in Grace, and wiſer and better than we in Years? our ſelves not ſo ripe for Heaven, as thoſe that were Ʋnborn when we were Men & Women! So the Army of Iſrael bluſh'd when they ſaw the ruddy Boy excel them all in Faith and Valour.

Are ſo many Young Ones in Heaven, and are we Old and never like to get thither? How can we bear the tho't? or how ſhall we when Death comes?

p. 25Are ſo many Young Ones in Heaven, and You O Aged Believer ſo little Ready in your own Account? Your Evidences ſo little clear? Your Intereſt in Chriſt ſo doubtful? Your Days ſpun and worn out to ſo little purpoſe? How ſhould it quicken you to give all diligence in making your Election ſure?

Do ſo many Younger die in Christ, and have not we had all their Opportunities, and more by far than all thoſe which they have ſo well and timely Improved? How will they riſe up in Judgment againſt us, and condemn us! O fatal difference between man and man! Some dying young in Chriſt, others living old Christleſs.

Take the Alarm, O Dying Aged Sinner! if one come to thee from the Dead thou wilt repent! & that too as we paint the bright Angels of GOD with a Youthful Mein and Air! let him tell thee with a charming voice of the Glories he has ſo ſoon paſs'd into, and invite thee tho' ſo late to ſeek a part in thoſe unſpeakable and Eternal Felicities! What? will not this Glorious Viſion it ſelf Convert thee! No, tho' one come like Lazarus from the Boſome of Abraham unto you

You that are Parents, be you quickned to think ſeriouſly of dying your ſelves. The fruit of your Bodies are already (ſome of them) in the Grave; how ſoon may you look to be there too? Death that has already torn out ſome of your Bowels, will ſoon pierce your Heart. Parents are ſo ſecure p. 26and forgetful of their own Mortality, that Death muſt needs lay its cold hand on their Boſome, and take their Babes thence, to awaken 'em: And ſurely they will ſenſibly feel themſelves Mortal, while they ſee a part of themſelves Interr'd already. So David graciouſly improv'd the death of his Child,—I ſhall go to it. Say thus, O Parent, to thy ſelf: I ſhall ſoon follow; and be it thy care (O my Soul) ſo to improve thy preſent Sorrows, and the Reſidue of thy few Evil Dayes in the fleſh, that I may meet mine whom I have committed to Christ, with Joy in His Preſence at the laſt.

Three words of Advice let me leave with Parents, reſpecting their Children.

1. To begin betimes to Inſtitute them for GOD. We muſt give them up to GOD in Baptiſm; and as ſoon as they are able to learn teach them to know God, and fear Him, and ſerve Him. Betimes tell 'em of their Precious Souls, and of their Glorious Saviour, and of their Dying Condition. Put them betimes on preparing for Death: they will die never the ſooner for it, but may much the better, and you'll have the more peace and comfort in their death, if they are ſuddenly taken from you. Your Children are daily liable to the ſtroke of Death, where then (O Parent) is your Care or Love or Kindneſs to them, if you do not what you can to prepare 'em for it! And how reverently ought Children to p. 27mind what their Parents ſay to 'em about their Future and Everlaſting Intereſts.

2. Let Parents prepare betimes to part with their lovely Children, and get their Soul even as a weaned. Child; even before they wean their Babes from their Breaſt. We muſt look for Abrahams trial and Emulate his Faith, Gen. 22.2. Take now thy Son, thine only Son Iſaac, whom thou lovest, and offer him up to Me. Our best are GOD's Due; What He made for Himſelf, and lends for a while to us. GOD comes into His Garden, and plucks which flower He pleaſes, and which but the moſt beautiful & fragrant do men gather? Let the Great GOD take his own, & let us make Abels acceptable Offering, the best of our Flock. The Shunamite, that Great Woman, had one wondrous Son, a ſpecial Gift of Heaven to her in Reward of her Piety; but ſoon had She the ſorrow to ſee him die, and that very ſuddenly, in her lap: She made no Shriek in that terrible Surprize, nor ſo much as ſhew'd her Diſtreſs to Her Houſhold; no, not to her Husband, the partner of her Joyes and Griefs: She went to GOD, i. e. unto his Prophets feet, where her humble ſilent Action ſpake thoſe Auguiſhes which no Words could utter: the mean while her Reſignation to the Will of GOD, & her Contentment therein, was moſt admirable: the Child was dead, yet ſaid ſhe,—All is well. Give me leave thus to Pharaphraſe it.

What GOD Ordains is Well and Beſt.

It's Well with Ours when gone to Reſt.

p. 28It's Well with Ʋs who ſtay behind,

If more from Earth and Fleſh reſin'd,

We're patient, pray'rful, meek, reſign'd.

3. Let us be Comforted and quieted in the Death of hopeful Children. A Child in Heaven is well provided for, well diſpos'd of, well preferr'd. It has a good Portion, is gone to a good Father, to a good Family, to good Company; to an Everlaſting Reſt, and to Infinite Bleſſedneſs. The Covenant of God embraces our Children with more tenderneſs, than our Arms ever did. Bleſſed are the Dead in Chriſt, that are ſoon paſs'd from Sin and Sorrow here, to the Eternal Fulneſs of Holineſs and Comfort in the Preſence of GOD for ever.

We muſt not repeat Jacobs Error, who ſuppoſed himſelf bereaved, when Joſeph was only Advancing under the ſpecial Favour of Providence in Another Countrey. He would needs be an Inconſolable Mourner, and go down into the Grave after his Son mourning, But in time he heard of all his Glory in Egypt, (which what was it to the Glory of the leaſt of our Little Ones that behold the Face of God in Heaven) and then the good Patriarchs Spirit revived, and he ſaid,—Joſeph my Son is yet alive, I'll go and ſee him before I die. Truly, ſo, O Chriſtian, the Child thou mourneſt over may be now in Heaven and Glorify'd; It is thy Hope and Faith it is ſo: let thy ſinking Spirit then revive and ſay,—By the Grace of God, I will endeavour ſo to live, that I may See it in Glory when I Die.

FINIS.

End of the text · Benjamin Colman, Divine Providence in the Early Death of Pious and Lovely Children (1714)