Stories of Boys and Girls Who Loved the Saviour: A Token for ChildrenJaneway, James
Religion
Stories of Boys and Girls Who Loved the Saviour: A Token for Children
Janeway, James
Children -- Religious life -- Juvenile literature; Christian life -- Juvenile literature
15. When he was sick he seemed much taken up with heaven, and asked very
serious questions about the nature of the soul.
16. After he was pretty well satisfied about that, he inquired how his
soul might be saved? The answer being made, "By the applying of Christ's
merit by faith:" he was pleased with the answer, and was ready to give
any one that should desire it an account of his hope.
17. Being asked whether he had rather live or die? he answered, "I
desire to die, that I may go to my Saviour."
18. His pains increasing upon him, one asked him whether he would rather
still endure those pains or forsake Christ? "Alas!" said he, "I know not
what to say, being a child: for these pains may stagger a strong man;
but I will strive to endure the best I can." Upon this he called to mind
that martyr, _Thomas Bilney_, who, being in prison the night before his
burning, put his finger into the candle to know how he could endure the
fire; "O," said the child, "had I lived then, I would have run through
the fire to have gone to Christ."
19. His sickness lasted long: and at least three days before his death
he prophesied his departure, and not only that he must die, but the very
day. "On the Lord's day," said he, "look to me;" neither was this a word
of course, which you may guess by his frequent repetition, every day
asking till the day came indeed, "What, is Sunday come?" At last, the
looked-for day came on; and no sooner had the sun beautified that
morning with its light, but he falls into a trance, his eyes were fixed,
his face cheerful, his lips smiling, his hands and arms clasped in a
bow, as if he would have embraced some blessed angel that was at hand to
receive his soul. But he comes to himself, and tells them how he saw the
sweetest body that ever eyes beheld, who bid him to be of good cheer,
for he must presently go with him.
20. One that stood near him, as now suspecting the time of his
dissolution nigh, bid him say, "Lord, into thy hands I commend my
spirit, which is thy due; for why? thou hast redeemed it, O Lord, my
God, most true!"
21. The last words which he spoke were exactly these: "Pray, pray, pray,
nay, yet pray, and the more prayers the better all prospers; God is the
best physician; into thy hands I commend my spirit. O Lord Jesus receive
my soul: now close mine eyes: forgive me, father, mother, brother,
sister, all the world. Now I am well; my pain is almost gone, my joy is
at hand. Lord, have mercy on me. O Lord, receive my soul unto thee." And
thus he yielded up his spirit unto the Lord when he was about twelve
years old.
A POOR BUT HAPPY BOY.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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