A46669:224
A token for children being an exact account of the conversion, holy and exemplary…
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.
London: printed for Dorman Newman, 1676
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
A PREFACE TO THE READER.
Christian Reader,
IN the former part of my Tokens for Children, I did in part promise, that if that piece met with kind entertainment, it might be followed with a second of the same nature. If it did not seem a little to savour of vanity, I might tell the World what encouragement I have met with in this Work; but this I will only say, that I have met with so much as hath persuaded me to give this little Book leave to go abroad into the World. I am not also ignorant, what Discouragement ⟨image 50⟩I may meet with from some, but as long as I am sure I shall not meet with this, that it's improbable, if not impossible, that it should save a Soul; I think the rest may easily be answered, or warrantably slighted. But because I am persuaded by some, that one Example in the former, (viz. that of a Child that began to be serious between two and three years old) was scarce credible, and they did fear might somewhat prejudice the authority of the rest, I shall say something to answer that. They which make this Objection are either good or bad; if bad, I expect never to satisfy them, except I should tell them of a Romance or a Play, or somewhat that might suit a carnal mind, it is like holiness in older persons, is a matter of contempt and scorn to them, much more in such as these I mention. The truth of it is, it is no wonder at all to me, that the Subjects of Satan should not be very well pleased with that, whose design is to undermine the interest ⟨image 50⟩of their great Master: nothing will satisfy some, except Christ and holiness may be degraded and vilified. But hold sinner hold, never hope it, Heaven shall never be turned into Hell for thy sake, and as for all thy Atheistical Objections, Scoffs and Jeers, they shall ere long be fully answered; and the Hosanna's and Hallelujah's of these Babes shall condemn thy Oaths, Blasphemies, and Jeers, and then thou wilt be silenced, and accept converting Grace turn thy heart quickly, thou wilt for ever rue thy madness and Folly, when it is too late to remedy it.