John Sudlow’s Testimony

(Died in childhood in 1665, exact age unknown)

 

John Sudlow was born of religious parents, in the county of Middlesex in England. They were careful to instill spiritual principles into him as soon as he was capable of understanding them. Those endeavors the Lord blessed with success. When he was scarce able to speak plain, he seemed to have a very great awe and reverence of God upon his spirit, and a strange sense of the things of another world. The first thing that greatly influenced him was the death of his brother. It made him endeavor to escape from the wrath to come, and to enquire what he should do to be saved. When he saw his brother without breath and not able to speak or stir; and when the body was carried out of doors and put into the ground, he was greatly concerned. He asked whether he should die too? When told that he would, it made so deep an impression on him, that from that time on, he was exceedingly serious. He was about four years old when this happened.

 

He was now desirous to know what he might do that he might live in heaven and what to avoid that he might not die and go to hell for ever. When his parents instructed him, he quickly labored to avoid whatever might displease God. Now the apprehensions of God, death and eternity, laid such a restraint upon him, that he would not for a world have told a lie. He was much taken with reading the book of Martyrs, and would willingly leave his dinner and go to his book. He went to his father and mother with great tenderness and compassion. He entreated them to take more care of his brothers and sisters and to take heed lest they should go to hell and be ruined for ever. The providences of God were not passed by without his careful notice. In the time of the plague he was exceedingly concerned about his everlasting state, and was often alone upon his knees praying. The following prayer was found written by his hand after his death.

“O Lord God and merciful Father, take pity upon me, a miserable sinner and strengthen me, O Lord, in your faith, and make me one of your saints in heaven. O Lord, keep me from this poisonous infection. However, not my will, but your will be done. O Lord, if you have appointed me to die by it, prepare me for death, and give me a good heart to bear up under my afflictions. O Lord God, and merciful Father, take pity on me, your child. Teach me, O Lord, your word and make me strong in faith. O Lord, I have sinned against you. Lord, pardon my sins. I would have been in hell long ago, if it had not been for your mercy. But O Lord, if you have appointed me to die, prepare me for death, that I may die with comfort. O Lord, I pray to help me to bear up under my afflictions, for Christ’s sake. Amen.”

He was very concerned for the whole nation. He begged that God would pardon the sins of this land and bring it nearer to himself. About the beginning of November 1665, this child was overcome by the distemper, but he behaved with admirable patience under the hand of God. These were some of his last expressions.

“The Lord shall be my physician, for he will cure both soul and body.—Heaven is the best hospital.—It is the Lord, let him do what he seems good in his eyes.”

Again:

“It is the Lord that taketh away my health; but I will say as Job did, “Blessed be the name of the Lord.” (Job 1:21) If I should live longer, I should but sin against God.”

Looking upon his father, he said, “If the Lord will but lend me the least finger of his hand, to lead me through the dark entry of death, I will rejoice in him.” When a minister came to him, among other things, he spoke something of life. He answered, “This is a wicked world: it is better to live in heaven.” An hour and a half before his death, the same minister came again to visit him, and asked him, “John, are you not afraid to die?” He answered, “No, if the Lord will comfort me in that hour.” “But, ” said the minister, “how can you expect comfort, seeing we deserve none?” He answered, “No, if I had my just deserts, I would have been in hell long ago.” “But, ” replied the minister, “How do you expect comfort and salvation, seeing that you are a sinner?” He answered, “In Christ alone.”—In whom, about an hour and a half later, he fell asleep.




John Harvey’s Testimony

(Born 1654, Died at approximately age 11)

 

John Harvey was born in London, in the year 1654. His father was a Dutch merchant. He was piously educated by his mother, and soon began to hear divine things with delight. The first thing 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 of age. His parents thinking that he was then too young to send too school, let him have his liberty to play about their yard. But instead of playing, he found out a school of his own accord near home. He went to the school-mistress, and entreated her to teach him to read. So he went some time to school without the knowledge of his parents, and made a very good progress in his learning, and was able to read distinctly, before most children knew their letters.

 

He was wont to ask many serious and weighty questions about matters which concerned his soul and eternity. 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 is dead, does not the scripture say he must rise again? Yes, and I must die, and so must everybody, 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.” He was not then quite five years old. This conversation turned her sorrow for her brother into admiration and she was made to sit silently and quietly under that trying providence.

 

After this his parents moved to Aberdeen, they placed their child under a school-master there. His custom was on the Lord’s Day in the morning, to examine his scholars, concerning the sermons they had heard on the previous Lord’s Day. He added some other questions, which might try the understanding and knowledge of his scholars. The question that was once proposed to his class was whether Christ had a mother? None of the scholars could answer it, till it come to John Harvey, who being asked, whether Christ had a mother? He answered, no. As he was God, he could not have a mother; but as he was man he had. This was before he was six years old.

 

One day, when he saw one of his close relatives come into his father’s house drunk, he went to him, and wept over him. He besought him that he would not so offend God, and hazard his soul. He was a conscientious observer of the Lord’s Day. He spent all the time either in secret prayer, reading the scriptures and good books, learning his catechism, or hearing the Word of God. He 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 Lord’s Day. He was very humble and modest, and hated anything more than necessaries either in clothes or diet.

 

When he perceived either his brother or sister proud of their new clothes, he would reprove their folly. When his reproof was ignored, he would bewail their vanity. Once he had a new suit brought from the tailor’s. When he looked it over, he found some ribbons on the knees and this grieved him. He asked his mother, “Would those things would keep him warm?” No, child, said his mother. “Why then, ” said he, “do you allow them to be put there? You are mistaken if you think such things please me. I doubt, some that are better than us, may need the money that this cost you, to buy bread.” At leisure times he was talking to his school fellows about the things of God, and the necessity of a holy life. That text he much spoke on to them was, (Matthew 3:10, Luke 3:9) “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.”

 

After this his parents moved not far from London, where he continued till the year 1665. He was then sent to the Latin school, where he soon made a very considerable progress, and was greatly beloved of his teacher. The school was his beloved place, and learning his recreation. He had a word to say to everyone that he conversed with, to put them in mind of the worth of Christ and their souls and their nearness to eternity. So much so did he do this that people took enjoyed his company.

 

At about the age of ten, he bewailed the miserable condition of mankind in general and that they were utterly estranged from God. “Though they called him Father, ” he said, “yet they were his children by creation, and not by any likeness they had to God, or any interest in him.” Thus he continued walking in the ways of God, in reading, praying, hearing the Word of God, and spiritual discourse. He discovered by this his serious thoughts of eternity which seemed to swallow up all other thoughts. He lived in a constant preparation for it, and looked more like one that was ripe for glory than an inhabitant of this lower world.

 

When he was about eleven years and three quarters old, his mother’s house was visited with the plague. His eldest sister was the first that was visited with this distemper. When they were praying for her, he would sob and weep bitterly. As soon as he perceived his sister was dead, he said, “The will of the Lord be done; blessed be the Lord! Dear mother, you must do as David did. After the child was dead he went and refreshed himself, and quietly submitted to the will of God.” The rest of the family was well for some days and he spent the time preparing for death. Meantime he wrote several meditations upon various subjects, particularly upon the excellency of Christ. He was never more happy then when he was more employed in the service of God.

 

After fourteen days, he was taken sick. He seemed very cheerful though his pains were great. His mother, looking upon his brother, shook her head. At this he asked if his brother was marked? She answered, “Yea, child.” He asked again, whether he was marked? She answered nothing. “Well, ” says he, “I know I shall be marked. I pray let me have Mr. Baxter’s book, that I may read a little more of eternity before I go into it.” His mother told him, he was not able to read. He said, “Then pray by me and for me.” His mother asked him, whether he was willing to die and leave her? He answered, “Yes, I am willing to leave you and go to my heavenly Father.” She answered, “Child, if you have but an assurance of God’s love, I should not be so much troubled.” He answered, “I am assured 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.” 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 rejoice. I tell you I am so full of comfort, that I cannot tell you how I am. O mother, I shall presently have my head in my Father’s bosom. I 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 to the Lamb for ever!”

 

After this his speech began to fail him, but his soul was still taken up with glory. Nothing now grieved him but the sorrow that he saw his mother to be in for his death. To distract her a little, he asked, “What she had for supper?” But presently, in a kind of rapture, he cried out, “O what a sweet supper have I making ready for me in glory!” But seeing all this did but increase his mother’s grief, he asked her, “What she meant, thus to offend God? Know you not that it is the hand of the Almighty? Humble yourself under the mighty hand of God.’ Lay yourself in the dust, and kiss the rod in token of your submission to the will of God.” Upon which, raising himself a little, he gave a lowly bow, and spoke no more! But went to rest in the bosom of Jesus.




Charles Bridgeman’s Testimony

(Died at approximately 12 years of age)

 

Charles Bridgeman no sooner learned to speak, but he betook himself to prayer. He was prone to learn the things of God. He would be often teaching them their duty that waited upon him. He learned by heart many good things before he was fit to go to school: so religious were his words, his actions so upright, his devotions so hearty, his fear of God so great, that many were ready to say, as they did of John, “What manner of child shall this be?” He would be much in reading the Holy Scriptures. He was desirous of more spiritual knowledge, and would be often asking very serious questions. He would not stir out of doors before he had poured out his soul to the Lord.

 

When he ate any thing he would be sure to lift up his heart unto the Lord for a blessing upon it; and when he had moderately refreshed himself by eating, he would not forget to acknowledge the goodness of God in feeding him. He refused to lie down on his bed until he had been upon his knees; and when sometimes he had forgotten his duty, he would quickly arise, and, kneeling upon his bare knees, ask forgiveness of God for that sin. He would rebuke his brethren, if at any time they were hasty at their meals, or eat without asking a blessing. His check was usually this, “Dare you do this? God be merciful to us! This bit of bread might choke us.”

 

His sentences were wise and weighty, and might well become an ancient Christian. His sickness was lingering; in which one told him of possessions that must fall to his portion: “And what are they? said he: I had rather have the kingdom of heaven than a thousand such inheritances.” When he was sick, he seemed much taken up with heaven, asking very serious questions about the nature of his soul. After he was pretty well satisfied about that, he enquired how his soul might be saved? The answer being made, “By the applying of Christ’s merits by faith, ” he was pleased with the answer, and was ready to give any one that should desire it an account of his hope.

 

Being asked, whether he had rather live or die? He replied, “I desire to die that I may go to my Saviour.” His pains increasing, one asked him, whether he would rather still endure those pains, or forsake Christ? “Alas, ” said he, “I know not what to say, being but a child: these pains may stagger a strong man, but I will endure them the best that 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.”

 

Three days before his death, he told them not only that he must die, but the day: no sooner was that day come, but he fell into a trance, his eyes fixed, his face cheerful, his hands and arms clasped in a bow, as if he would have received some blessed angels that were at hand to receive his soul. When he came to himself, he told them that he saw the sweetest body ever eyes beheld, who bade him be of good cheer, for he must presently go with him. The last words he spake, were 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, receive my soul unto thee.”

 

And thus he yielded up his spirit unto the Lord, when he was about twelve years old.




Mary A’s Testimony

(Died of the Plague at age 12)

 

Mary A. when she was between four and five years old, was greatly affected in hearing the Word of God, and became very solicitous about her soul, weeping bitterly, to think what would become of her in another world, asking strange questions concerning God and Christ, and her own soul. So that before she was full five years old, she minded the one thing needful, and chose the better part. She was wont to be much in secret prayer, and many times came off from her knees with tears. She would chose such times and places for secret prayer, as might render her less observed by others: and endeavored to conceal what she was doing, when she was engaged therein.

 

Her mother being full of sorrow after the death of her husband, this child came to her and asked her why she wept so exceedingly? Her mother answered that she had cause enough to weep, because her father is dead: “No, dear mother, ” said the child, “you have no cause to weep so much, for God is a good God still.” She was a dear lover of faithful ministers. One time after she had been hearing of Mr. Whitaker, she said, “I love that man dearly for the sweet words he speaks concerning Christ.”

 

Her book was her delight; and many times she was so strangely affected in reading the scriptures, that she burst out into tears, and would hardly be pacified: so greatly was she taken with Christ’s sufferings, the zeal of God’s servants, and the danger of a natural state. She often complained of the corruption of her nature, of the hardness of her heart, that she could repent no more, and be no more humble and grieved for her sins against a good God; and when she thus complained, it was with abundance of tears. She was very conscientious in keeping the Sabbath, spending the whole time in reading or praying, learning her catechism, or teaching her brothers and sisters. One time when she was left at home on the Lord’s day, she got some other little children together, with her brothers and sisters, and told them, that it was the Lord’s day, and they ought to remember to keep it holy. She then told them it was to be spent in religious exercises all the day, except so much as was taken up in the works of necessity and mercy: then she prayed with them, and among other things begged that the Lord would give grace and wisdom to them, (little children,) that they might know how to serve him.

 

At another time a near relation of hers, being in some straits, made some complaint, to whom she said, “I have heard Mr. Garter say, “A man may go to heaven without a penny in his purse, but not without grace in his heart.” She had an extraordinary love to the people of God: and when she saw any who, she thought, feared the Lord, her heart would even leap for joy.

 

When she was between eleven and twelve years old, she sickened of the plague, in which she behaved with admirable patience and sweetness, and did what she could with scripture-arguments to support and encourage her relations to part with her, who was going to glory, and to prepare themselves to meet her in a blessed eternity. She was not many days sick before she was marked, which she first saw herself, and was greatly rejoiced to think that she was marked out for the Lord, and was now going apace to Christ. She called to her friends, and said, “I am marked, but be not troubled, for I know I am marked for one of the Lord’s own.” One asked her, how she knew that? She answered, “The Lord hath told me, that I am one of his dear children.” And this she spoke with a holy confidence in the Lord’s love, and was not in the least daunted at her death; but seemed greatly delighted in the apprehension of her nearness to her Father’s house. And it was not long before she was filled with joy unspeakable in believing.

 

When she lay dying, her mother came to her, and told her, she was sorry she had so frequently reproved and corrected so good a child. “O mother, ” said she, “speak not thus: I bless God, now I am dying, for your reproofs and corrections too; for, it may be, I might have gone to hell, if it had not been for your reproofs and corrections.” Some of the neighbors came to visit her, and asked her if she could leave them? She answered, “If you serve the Lord, you will come after me to glory.” A little before she died, she had a great conflict with Satan, and cried out, “I am none of his.” Her mother seeing her troubled, asked her what was the matter? She answered, “Satan did trouble me, but now, I thank God, all is well. I know I am none of his, but Christ’s.” After this she had a great sense of God’s love, and a glorious sight, as if she had seen the very heavens open, and the angels coming to receive her; by which her heart was filled with joy, and her tongue with praise.

 

Being desired by the bystanders to give them a particular account of what she saw, she answered, “You shall know hereafter:” and so in an ecstasy of joy and triumph, she went to God, when she was about twelve years old.




Sarah Howely’s Testimony

(Died in 1670 at approximately age 14)

 

Miss Sarah Howely, when she was between eight and nine years old, was carried by her friends to hear a sermon, where the minister preached on (Matthew 11:30), “My yoke is easy, and my burden is light; ” in the applying of which scripture, the child was mightily awakened, and made deeply sensible of the condition of her soul, and her need of Christ; she wept bitterly to think what case she was in; when home into a chamber, and upon her knees, she wept and cried to the Lord as well as she could, which might easily be perceived by her eyes and countenance. She was not contented with this, but got her little brother and sister into a chamber with her, and told them their condition by nature, and wept over them, and prayed with them. After this, she heard another sermon upon (Proverbs 29:1), “He that being often reproved, hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy; ” at which she was more affected than before, and was exceedingly solicitous about her soul, that she spent great part of the night in weeping and praying, and could scarcely take any rest day or night for some time together; desiring with all her soul to escape from everlasting flames, and to get an interest in the Lord Jesus: O what should she do for Christ! What should she do to be saved!

 

She gave herself much to attending upon the word preached, and still continued very tender under it, greatly relishing what she heard. She was very much in secret prayer, and was usually very importunate, and full of tears. She could scarcely speak of sin, or be spoke to, but her heart was ready to melt. She spent much time in reading the scripture. She was exceeding dutiful to her parents, very loath to grieve them in the least; and if she had at any time, (which was very rare) offended them, she would weep bitterly. She abhorred lying, and allowed herself in no known sin. When she was at school, she was eminent for her diligence, teachableness, meekness, and modesty, speaking a little, but when she did speak, it was usually spiritual. She continued in this course of religious duties for some years together.

 

When she was about fourteen years old, she broke a vein in her lungs, (as is supposed,) and often spat blood, yet did a little recover. In the beginning of January, she was taken very bad again, in which sickness she was in great distress of soul. When she was first taken, she said, “O mother, pray for me, for Satan is so busy that I cannot pray for myself: I see I am undone without Christ, and a pardon! O, I am undone to all eternity!” Her mother, knowing how serious she had been formerly, did a little wonder that she should be in such agonies; and asked her what sin it was that was so burdensome to her spirit? “O mother, said she, it is not any particular sin that sticks so close to my conscience, as the sin of my nature; without the blood of Christ, that will damn me.”

 

Her mother asked her, what she should pray for, for her? She answered, “That I may have a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ; and that I may have an assurance of God’s love to my soul.” Her mother asked her, why she spoke so little to the minister that came to her? She answered, “It was her duty with patience and silence to learn of him.” 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? Lord Jesus, I will lie at thy feet; and if I perish, it shall be at the fountain of thy mercy.”

 

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 herself. To instance in one, “Great and mighty God, ” said she, “give me faith, and true faith; that I may not be a foolish virgin, having a lamp, but no oil.” Her father bade her be of good cheer, because she was going to a better Father: at which she fell into a great agony, and said, “But how do I know that? I am a poor sinner, who wants assurance: O, for assurance!” This was her great, earnest, and constant request, to all that came to her, to beg assurance for her; and 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 a poor creature more earnest for any thing than she was for assurance, and the light of God’s countenance: O the piteous moan that she would make! O the agonies that her soul was in!

 

The Lord’s day before that on which she died, a kinsman of hers came to see her, and asked 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 Christ, is a fearful thing: O, redeem time! O, time, time, precious time!” Being requested, by him, not to spend herself, she said, “She would fain do all the good she could while she lived:” upon which account she desired that a sermon might be preached at her funeral, concerning the preciousness of time.

 

Some ministers who came to see her, earnestly entreated the Lord to give her some token for good, that she might die in full triumph: notes of the same nature were sent to several churches. After she had long waited for an answer to their prayers, she said, “Well, I will venture my soul upon Christ.” For the pains and agonies that she was in, her patience was next to a wonder: “Lord, ” said she, “Lord, give me patience, that I may not dishonour thee!”

 

On 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 cheerful countenance: “Lord, thou hast promised that whosoever comes unto thee, thou wilt in no wise cast him out: Lord, I come unto thee, and surely thou wilt in no wise cast me out. O, so sweet! O, so glorious is Jesus! I have thee, sweet and glorious Jesus; he is sweet, he is sweet! O the admirable love of God in sending Christ, and free grace to a poor lost creature!”

 

Her soul then seemed ravished with the love of Christ. And while she was engaged in magnifying of God, her father, brethren, and sisters, with others 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 Christ for your souls: spend no time in running up and down, or in playing: O get 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 hard work indeed: I know by experience, the devil will tell you it is time enough; and ye are young, and what need ye be in such haste? You will have time enough when you are old. But remember the words of a dying sister. If you knew how good Christ is! If you had but one taste of his sweetness, you had rather go to him a thousand times, than stay in this wicked world. I would not for ten thousand worlds part with my interest in Christ. O, how happy am I, that I am going to everlasting joys! I would not go back again for twenty thousand worlds; and will you not strive to get an interest in Christ?”

 

After this, looking upon one of her father’s servants, she said, “What shall I do at the 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 cursed, into the lake that burns for ever!” What a grief it is for me to think, that I shall see any of my friends that I knew upon earth, turned into that lake which burns for ever! O that word, for ever! Remember that for ever! I speak these words to you, but they are nothing, except God speaks to you too: O pray, that God would give you grace!” And then she prayed, “O Lord, finish thy work upon their souls: it will be my comfort to see you in glory; but it will be your everlasting happiness.”

 

On Friday, after she had had such lively discoveries of God’s love, she was exceedingly desirous to die, and cried out, “Come, Lord Jesus, come, quickly! Conduct me to thy tabernacle. I am a poor creature without thee: but, Lord Jesus, my soul longs to be with thee: O when shall it be? Why not now, dear Jesus? Come, Lord Jesus, come, quickly! But why do I thus speak? Thy time, dear Lord, is the best: O, give me patience.”

 

On Saturday, she spoke but little, being very drowsy, yet now and then she dropped these words, “How long, sweet Jesus? Finish thy work, sweet Jesus: come away, Lord Jesus, come quickly!” On the Lord’s-day she scarcely spoke any thing. She requested that notes of thanksgiving might be sent to those who had formerly prayed for her, that they might help her to praise the Lord for that full assurance which he had given her of his love; and seemed to be swallowed up with the thoughts of God’s free love to her soul. She often commended her spirit into the hand of the Lord. The last words she was heard to utter, were these, “Lord, help, Lord Jesus, help! Dear Lord Jesus, blessed Jesus!” 

 

Thus, on the Lord’s-day, between nine and ten o’clock in the evening, she sweetly slept in Jesus, and began an everlasting Sabbath, Feb. 19, 1670.