15. A friend of his asked him, when he was first taken sick, whether he was not willing to die? He answered, No! because he was afraid of his state as to another world. "Why, child," said the other, "thou didst pray for a new heart, for an humble and sincere heart, and I have heard thee: didst thou not pray with thy heart?" "I hope I did," rejoined he.
16. Not long after, the same person asked him again, "If he was willing to die?" He answered, "Now I am willing, for I shall go to Christ."
17. He still grew weaker and weaker, but behaved with a great deal of sweetness and patience, waiting for his change. At last, calling upon the name of the Lord, and saying, "Lord Jesus, Lord Jesus!" he sweetly slept, dying when he was between five and six years old.
[HAPPY MARY.]
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.
2. She was wont to be much in secret prayer, and many times came from her knees with tears.
3. She would choose such times and places for secret prayer as might render her less observed by others: and endeavoured to conceal what she was doing when she was engaged therein.
4. 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 was dead. "No, dear mother," said the child, "you have no cause to weep so much, for God is a good God still."
5. She was a dear lover of faithful ministers. One time after she had been hearing Mr. Whitaker, she said, "I love that man dearly for the sweet words he speaks concerning Christ."
6. 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.