22. The Thursday before he dyed he asked a very godly friend of mine, what he thought of his condition, and whither his soul was now going? for he said he could not still but fear least he should deceive himself with false hopes, ⟨p. 70⟩at which my friend spoke to him thus, Child, for all that I have endeavoured to hold forth the grace of God in Christ to thy Soul, and given you a warrant from the Word of God, that Christ is as freely offered to you, as to any sinner in the world; if thou art but willing to accept of him, thou mayest have Christ and all that thou dost want, with him; and yet thou givest way to these thy doubtings and fears, as though I told thee nothing but lies. Thou sayest thou fearest that Christ will not accept of thee; I fear thou art not heartily willing to accept of him. The Child answered, indeed I am: Why then Child, if thou art unfeignedly willing to have Christ, I tell thee he is a thousand times more willing to have thee, and wash thee, and save thee, than thou art to desire it. And now at this time ⟨p. 71⟩Christ offers himself freely to thee again; therefore receive him humbly by Faith into thy heart, and bid him welcome, for he deserveth it: Upon which words the Lord discovered his love to the Child, and he gave a kind of a leap in his bed, and snapped his fingers and thumb together with abundance of joy, as much as to say, Well, yea all is well, the match is made, Christ is willing, and I am willing too; and now Christ is mine, and I am his for ever. And from that time forward, in full joy and assurance of Gods love, he continued earnestly praising God, with desiring to die, and be with Christ. And on Friday morning he sweetly went to rest, using that very expression, Into thy hands Lord I commit my spirit. He died punctually at that time which he had spoke of, and in which he expected ⟨p. 72⟩those Angels to come to him; he was not much above nine years old when he dyed.
22. The Thursday before he dyed he asked a very godly friend of mine, what he thought of his condition, and whither his soul was now going? for he said he could not still but fear least he should deceive himself with false hopes, ⟨p. 70⟩at which my friend spoke to him thus, Child, for all that I have endeavoured to hold forth the grace of God in Christ to thy Soul, and given you a warrant from the Word of God, that Christ is as freely offered to you, as to any sinner in the world; if thou art but willing to accept of him, thou mayest have Christ and all that thou dost want, with him; and yet thou givest way to these thy doubtings and fears, as though I told thee nothing but lyes. Thou sayest thou fearest that Christ will not accept of thee; I fear thou art not heartily willing to accept of him. The Child answered, indeed I am: Why then Child, if thou art unfeignedly willing to have Christ, I tell thee he is a thousand times more willing to have thee, and wash thee, and save thee, than thou art to desire it. And now at this time ⟨p. 71⟩Christ offers himself freely to thee again; therefore receive him humbly by Faith into thy heart, and bid him welcome, for he deserveth it: Upon which words the Lord discovered his love to the Child, and he gave a kind of a leap in his bed, and snapt his fingers and thumb together with abundance of joy, as much as to say, Well, yea all is well, the match is made, Christ is willing, and I am willing too; and now Christ is mine, and I am his for ever. And from that time forward, in full joy and assurance of Gods love, he continued earnestly praising God, with desiring to die, and be with Christ. And on Friday morning he sweetly went to rest, using that very expression, Into thy hands Lord I commit my spirit. He died punctually at that time which he had spoke of, and in which he expected ⟨p. 72⟩those Angels to come to him; he was not much above nine years old when he dyed.
