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
These Three Books of the same Author Mr. James Janeway are Printed for 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 unstung a Sermon Preacht at the Funeral of Thomas Mousley 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 BEING An Exact Account of the Conversion Holy and Exemplary Lives and Joyful Deaths of several young Children By James Janeway Minister of the Gospel Suffer little Children to come unto me and forbid them not for of such is the Kingdom of God Mark 10.14 LONDON Printed for Dorman Newman at the Kings Arms at the Corner of Grocers Alley in the Poultrey 1676. To all Parents School-masters and School-Mistresses or any that have any hand in the Education of Children Dear Friends I Have oft thought that Christ speaks to you as Pharaoh's Daughter did to Moses's Mother Take this Child and Nurse it for me O Sirs consider what a precious Jewel is committed to your charge what an advantage you have to shew your love to Christ to stock the next Generation with Noble Plants and what a joyful account you may make if you be faithful Remember Souls Christ and Grace cannot be over-valued I confess you have some disadvantages but let that only excite your diligence the Salvation of Souls the commendation of your Master the greatness of your reward and everlasting glory will pay for all Remember the Devil is at work hard wicked ones are industrious and a corrupt nature is a rugged knotty piece to hew but be not discouraged I am almost as much afraid of your laziness and unfaithfulness as any thing Do but fall to work lustily and who knows but that rough stone may prove a Pillar in the Temple of God In the Name of the living God as you will answer in shortly at his Bar I command you to be faithful in Instructing and Catechizing your young ones If you think I am too peremptory I pray read the command from my Master himself Deut. 6.7 Is not the duty clear and dare you neglect so direct a Command Are the Souls of your Children of no value Are you willing that they should be Brands of Hell Are you indifferent whether they be Damned or Saved shall the Devil run away with them without controul Will not you use your utmost endeavour to deliver them from the wrath to come you see that they are not Subjects uncapable of the Grace of God whatever you think of them Christ doth not slight them they are not too little to dye they are not too little to go to Hell they are not too little to serve their great Master too little to go to Heaven For of such is the Kingdom of God And will not a possibility of their Conversion and Salvation put you upon the greatest diligence to teach them Or are Christ and Heaven and Salvation small things with you If they be then indeed I have done with you but if they be not I beseech you lay about you with all your might the Devil knows your time is going apace it will shortly be too late O therefore what you do do quickly and do it I say with all your might O pray pray pray and live holily before them and take some time daily to speak a little to your Children one by one about their miserable condition by Nature I knew a Child that was converted by this sentence from a godly School-mistress in the Country Every Mothers Child of you are by Nature Children of wrath Put your Children upon Learning their Catechism and the Scriptures and getting to pray and weep by themselves after Christ take heed of their company take heed of pardoning a lye take heed of letting them mispend the Sabbath put them I beseech you upon imitating these sweet Children let them Read this Book over an hundred times and observe how they are affected and ask them what they think of those Children and whether they would not be such and follow what you do with earnest cries to God and be in travel to see Christ formed in their Souls I have prayed for you I have oft prayed for your Children and I love them dearly and I have prayed over these papers that God would strike in with them and make them effectual to the good of their Souls Incourage your Children to read this Book and lead them to improve it What is presented is faithfully taken from experienced solid Christians some of them no way related to the Children who themselves were Eye and Ear-witnesses of God's works of Wonder or from my own knowledg or from Reverend godly Ministers and from Persons that are of unspotted reputation for Holiness Integrity and Wisdom and several passages are taken verbatim in writing from their dying Lips I may add many other excellent Examples if I have any encouragement in this Piece That the young generation may be far more excellent than this is the Prayer of one that dearly loves little Children James Janeway A PREFACE Containing DIRECTIONS TO CHILDREN YOV may now hear my dear Lambs what other good Children have done and remember how they wept and prayed by themselves how earnestly they cryed out for an interest in the Lord Jesus Christ May you not read how dutiful they were to their Parents How diligent at their Books how ready to learn the Scripture and their Catechisms Can you forget what Questions they were wont to ask How much they feared a lye how much they abhorred naughty company how holy they lived how dearly they were loved how joyfully they died But tell me my dear Children and tell me truly Do you do as these Children did Did you ever see your miserable state by Nature Did you ever get by your self and weep for sin and pray for grace and pardon Did you ever go to your Father and Mother or Master or Mistress and beg of them to pity you and pray for you and to teach you what you shall do to be saved what you shall do to get Christ Heaven and Glory Dost thou love to be taught good things Come tell me truly my dear Child for I would fain do what I can possibly to keep thee from falling into everlasting Fire I would fain have you one of those little ones which Christ will take into his Arms and bless How dost thou spend thy time is it in play and Idleness and with wicked Children Dare you take Gods Name in vain or swear or tell a lie Dare you do any thing which your Parents forbid you and neglect to do what they command you Do you dare to run up and down upon the Lords day or do you keep in to read your book and to learn what your
to her to speak to any 17. One time when she fell into a fit she cried out O I am going I am going But what shall I do to be saved O what shall I do to be saved Sweet Lord Jesus I will lye at thy feet and if I perish it shall be at the Fountain of thy mercy 18. She was much afraid of presumption and dreaded a mistake in the matters of her Soul and would be often putting up ejaculations to God to deliver her from deceiving her self To instance in one Great and mighty God give me faith and true faith Lord that I may not be a foolish Virgin having a Lamp and no Oyl 19. She would many times be laying hold upon the Promises and plead them in prayer That in Mat. 11.28 29. was much in her Tongue and no small relief to her spirit How many times would she cry out Lord hast thou not said Come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest 20. Another time her Father bid her be of good cheer because she was going to a better Father at which she fell into a great passion and said but how do I know that I am a poor sinner that wants assurance O for assurance It was still her Note O for assurance This was her great earnest and constant request to all that came to her to beg assurance for her and poor heart she would look with so much eagerness upon them as if she desired nothing in the world so much as that they would pity her and help her with their prayers never was poor creature more earnest for any thing than she was for an assurance and the Light of Gods Countenance O the piteous moan that she would make O the agonies that her Soul was in 21. Her Mother asks her if God should spare her life how she would live truly Mother said she we have such base hearts that I can't tell we are apt to promise great things when we are sick but when we are recovered we are as ready to forget our selves and to turn again unto folly but I hope I should be more careful of my time and my soul than I have been 22. She was full of natural affection to her Parents and very careful least her Mother should be tired out with much watching Her Mother said how shall I bear parting with thee when I have scarce dryed my eyes for thy Brother She answered The God of love support and comfort you it is but a little while and we shall meet in Glory I hope She being very weak could speak but little therefore her Mother said Child if thou hast any comfort lift up thy hand which she did 23. The Lords day before that in which she died a Kinsman of hers came to see her and asking of her whether she knew him she answered yes I know you and I desire you would learn to know Christ you are young but you know not how soon you may die and O to die without a Christ it is a fearful thing O redeem Time O Time Time Time precious Time Being requested by him not to spend her self she said she would fain do all the good she could while she lived and when she was dead too if possible upon which account she desired that a Sermon might be Preached at the Funeral concerning the preciousness of Time O that young ones would now remember their Creatour 24. Some Ministers that came to her did with earnestness beg that the Lord would please to give her some token for good that she might go off triumphing and Bills of the same Nature were sent to several Churches 25. After she had long waited for an answer of their prayers she said Well I will venture my soul upon Christ 26. She carried it with wonderful patience and yet would often pray that the Lord would give her more patience which the Lord answered to astonishment for considering the pains and agonies that she was in her patience was next to a wonder Lord Lord give me patience said she that I may not dishonour thee 27. Upon Thursday after long waiting great fears and many Prayers when all her Friends thought she had been past speaking to the astonishment of her Friends she broke forth thus with a very audible voice and chearful Countenance Lord thou hast promised that whosoever comes unto thee thou wilt in no wise east out Lord I come unto thee and surely thou wilt in no wise cast me out O so sweet O so glorious is Jesus O I have the sweet and glorious Jesus he is sweet he is sweet he is sweet O the admirable love of God in sending Christ O free grace to a poor lost Creature And thus she ran on repeating many of these things a hundred times over but her Friends were so astonished to see her in this Divine Rapture and to hear such gracious words and her prayers and desires satisfied that they could not write a quarter of what she spoke 28. When her soul was thus ravished with the love of Christ and her tongue so highly engaged in the magnifying of God her Father Brethren and Sisters with other of the Family were called to whom she spake particularly as her strength would give leave She gave her Bible as a Legacy to one of her Brothers and desired him to use that well for her sake and added to him and the rest O make use of time to get a Christ for your Souls spend no time in running up and down in playing O get a Christ for your Souls while you are young remember now your Creator before you come to a sick-bed put not off this great work till then for then you will find it a hard work indeed I know by experience the Devil will tell you it is time enough and ye are young what need you to be in such haste You will have time enough when you are old But there stands one meaning her Grand-mother that stayes behind and I that am but young am going before her O therefore make your Calling and Election sure while you are in health But I am afraid this will be but one nights trouble to your thoughts but remmember these are the words of a dying Sister O if you knew how good Christ were O if you had but one taste of his sweetness you would rather go to him a thousand times than stay in this wicked world I would not for ten thousand and ten thousand worlds part with my interest in Christ O how happy am I that am going to everlasting Joyes I would not go back again for twenty thousand worlds And will not you strive to get an interest in Christ 26. After this looking upon one of her Fathers Servants she said What shall I do What shall I do at that great day when Christ shall say to me Come thou Blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdom prepared for thee and shall say to the wicked Go thou
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