f Christ and their souls; and their nearness
to eternity: insomuch that good people took no small pleasure in his
company.

15. He bewailed the miserable condition of the generality of mankind,
(when he was about ten years old,) 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."

16. Thus he continued walking in the ways of God: in reading, praying,
hearing the word of God, and spiritual intercourse; discovering thereby
his serious thoughts of eternity, which seemed to swallow up all other
thoughts; and 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.

17. When he was about eleven years and nine months old his mother's
house was visited with the plague; his eldest sister was the first that
was visited with this distemper; and when they were praying for her, he
would sob and weep bitterly.

18. 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."

19. The rest of the family held well for some days, which time he spent
in preparing for death. Meantime he wrote several meditations upon
different subjects, particularly upon the excellence of Christ. He was
never well but when he was more immediately engaged in the service of
God.

20. At the end of fourteen days he was taken sick, at which he seemed
very cheerful; though his pains were great.

21. His mother, looking upon his brother, shook her head: at which he
asked if his brother was marked with the complaint? 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."

22. 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 thou hadst 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,"