bez month, about the ninth hour, in the evening of the sixth-day of the week, and was carried to the Bank meeting-house of Friends in Philadelphia, and buried from thence on the First-day following, being accompanied by many friends, and others. He was ten years and seven days old when he died, and as he was much beloved for the sweetness of his nature and disposition, so he was greatly lamented by many who were acquainted with him. I have this account to leave concerning him, not so much that he was my son, as to excite other youths to serve and fear the Lord, and to love him above all; and that they might remember their Creator in their youthful days, that it might be well with them in this world, and when time here to them shall be no more : He was a lad much inclined to read the holy Scriptures, and other good books, especially religious ones; and was always obliging, obedient, and loving to his parents, and ready and willing to do any service he could do to his friends any little services in his power he cheerfully performed, and took delight in. He was very diligent, and ready to go to religious meetings, and an entire lover of religious people. In his sickness he behaved himself more like a wise man, than a youth of that age, bearing his pain and sickness with a great deal of patience. I being in another part of the world, he would gladly have seen me, but said he should never see me any more, and herefore desired his mother to remember his dear ove to his father, and tell him that he was gone o his Heavenly Father. He was very fervent in prayer in the time of his sickness, and prayed that God would preserve his people all the world over. One time, when in great misery and pain, he prayed to Christ, saying, "Sweet Jesus! blessed Jesus! give me patience to bear my misery and pain, for my misery is greater than I can well bear! O come, sweet Jesus, why art thou so long a coming? I had rather be with thee than in the finest place in all the world." Many religious expressions he spoke on his dying bed, greatly to the satisfaction and melting of his friends and relations who came to see him in his illness. One day he said, My misery and pain is very great, but what would it be if the wrath of God was in my soul? He believing in the love of God in Christ, made him desirous of being with him; and seeing the joy that was set before him, thought the time long to be with Jesus, as knowing that then he would be out of all misery and pain. His heart was full of love to his relations, acquaintance, and friends, who came to see him in his illness; and full of tender sweetness and Divine love, he took his last leave of them, which greatly affected many. This was one of the most pinching exercises I ever met with in all my days; but as he aid in his illness, so I now write, "The wisdom of the Lord is wonderful!" One time in this dear child's sickness, he said, "Oh! the good hand of Thee, the Lord, help me, give mie ease, and conduct me safe," (i. e.) to God's kingdom uttering this verse; "Sweet Jesus, give me ease, for mercy I do crave; And if thou'lt give me ease, then mercy I shall have." Although this was a great and sore exercise, and deep affliction to me, in losing this promising youth, and my only son; yet, considering that he went off the stage of life like a solid good Christian, it was made tolerably easy to me; for he departed this life in much brightness and sweetness, and more like an old Christian than a youth of ten years of age. It was usual for me to advise his mother not to set her affections too much upon him, thinking he was too good to live long in this world, and too ripe for heaven, to stay long here on earth, or in this world of sorrow and misery. This dear and tender youth, when reading (to which he was much inclined) if he met with any thing that affected him, either in the sacred writings or other good authors, he would write it down, and get it by heart. He was, more than common, affectionately concerned for his mother, doing whatever he could freely and cheerfully to serve her, and told her not to do divers things which he thought too much for her, saying, "Mother, let me do it; if I were a man thou should not do any thing at all," (meaning as to labour,) my dear wife being very industrious, and apt to overdo herself at times, and she being affected with his filial love and care for and towards her in his father's absence, it caused her sometimes to turn about and weep, in consideration of his great care for and love to her. I thought a little memorandum of the life and death of this religious lad was worthy recording, in order to stir up other youths to obedience and love to their parents, who begat them, and carefully and tenderly nourished and brought them up; and also to love and obey God, from whom they have their life, breath, and being, and to believe in Christ, who died for them; who is the glorious Light of all the nations of them that are saved, and walk therein, according to sacred writ. As noted above, he got several pieces by heart out of the bible, and other religious writings, first writing them with his pen. Two short ones I may recite, of which nature were divers others, which peradventure may be edifying to some, who may cast their eye thereon. One place, which much affected my mind, that he wrote down, and got by heart, was the 15th verse of the 57th chapter of that evangelical prophet Isaiah: "For thus saith the high and lofty One, that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy, I dwell in the high and holy place; with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones." Another little piece was five verses, which among others he wrote, and got by heart, viz. "As one day goes another comes, And sometimes shews us dismal dooms; Though now and then's a pleasant day, I have now but one only daughter, Rebecca, left me out of twelve children, (except my wife's son and daughter.) |