I Shall first give you an account of his Birth . Secondly , Of his Life : And thirdly , Of the manner of his Death .

I. As to the time and place of his Birth ; He was born in the Town of Chesham , in the County of Bucks , upon the 18th of December , 1662. about ten of the Clock at Night ; so that the ●●ole term of his life was nine years , two months , and six dayes ; ●●ter which , having done his Work , he finished his Course with oy .

About his Birth are two things considerable ; as first his 〈◇〉 ; secondly , The occasion of it . His name was JABEZ , which signifies sorrowful , and ELIEZER , which signifies , my ol is an helper .

The occasion of it was this ; His Mother having been in ex nity of misery for the space of ten or twelve dayes , insomuch 〈◇〉 her Neighbours about her despaired of her life ; his Father . ing up the Bible to read it , opened in the 1 Chron . 4.9 , 10. there it is thus written , And Jabez was more honourable then his hen : and his Mother called his name JABEZ , saying , Because but him with sorrow . And Jabez called on the God of Israel , after O that thou wouldest bless me indeed , and enlarge my Coast , 〈◇〉 that thine hand might be with me , and that thou wouldest keep 〈◇〉 〈◇〉 evil , that it may not grieve me . And God granted him 〈◇〉 which he requested . When his Father had read these words , 〈◇〉 was considering that he had never observed them before , he came a Messenger to him with the Joyful Tydings , that he 〈◇〉 Son born into the World : He immediately resolved to 〈◇〉 him JABEZ-ELIEZER ; Jabez , because his Mother bare with sorrow , and Eliezer , to keep in memory the goodness and mercy of Almighty God to his Mother , who had b gratious to help and deliver her in her great Extremity , 〈◇〉 according to outward probability she was past recovery .

II . As to his Life , the comfort he enjoyned in it , was 〈◇〉 with sorrow and affliction : When he was at home with hi● rents , little observation could be made , only he took more 〈◇〉 ordinary notice of what past in the Family . When he was a three years and a quarter old , he had only learnt his Letters , an● was then carried to dwell with his Grand-father and Grand mother Russel , at the Town of Wadsdon , three miles from Aile●bury , in the County of Bucks , where he remained about for years and three-quarters ; yet never went to School in all the time , but took his learning as if he had spent his whole time there : In the month of December , Anno 1670 , his Grand-mother dyed , he was then brought up to London to his Father and Mother ( living in St. Bartholomews-Close ) being sick of an A which remained some time upon him , by which his spirits we brought very low , and he very melancholly : He went abo●● ten dayes time to learn Latin , at Christs-School , London ; 〈◇〉 by reason of his illness and indisposition of body , he was not c●pable to go any longer ; and this was all the time he spent 〈◇〉 School in his whole life .

There are ten Things very observable in his Life : As ,

1. His readiness to obey his Parents in what they commande● him .

2. His addicting himself to the reading of the Holy Scriptures .

3. His great Memory ; He was able to give a particular a●count of most of the memorable Passages both in the Old a● New Testament , with the names of Persons , their Actions , a●● the Circumstances thereof : To say no more , his retentive faculty was so capacious , that what-ever he read , he made it 〈◇〉 own .

4. His meditation in the Word of God , in the practice 〈◇〉 which he was both frequent and seriou● he shewed much his skill therein by his sublime Discourses about it , and the u●derstanding he had of the Divine Matter contained therein , wh● shewed him to be a great proficient .

5. 〈…〉 addicting himself to that great and necessary duty of 〈◇〉 he was not only affected with it , but made Conscience 〈◇〉 and would daily perform it .

6. His taking notice of the Works of God , which he shewed his reckoning up the mighty Acts which the Lord hath done 〈◇〉 his People , and against his Enemies in the dayes of old .

7. His taking notice of what he heard when he went to Sermons , of which he gave an account when he came home .

8. His fearing sin greatly , he said to his Brother Nehemiah , about twelve months before he died , when he was about eight years old , I would I had died when I first came forth of the Womb ( as my Sisters did ) before I could have spoke ; it had been better for me , for then I could not have sinned . Now I may live to be a man , and sin , and go to Hell , where they are alwayes a burning , and never die .

9. His great care to avoid doing that which might be to the prejudice of another ; if he found any thing that was lost , he would discover it , that it might be restored to the right owner .

10. His forwardness and zeal to Holy Duties was such , that he did not only practise them himself , but would be putting his Brother Nehemiah ( who was about seven years old ) upon the Duty of Prayer , and taking notice of what he read in the Holy Scriptures : and thanks be to God , his words ( through a blessing from above ) proved effectual to him in both .

III . As to the manner of his death ; he was taken ill of the small pox , Feb. 11. 1671. being the Lords-Day , and lay sick till the nteenth day , betwixt one and two of the Clock in the morn●●g , about which time he departed this life to possess a better ; ●nd to enjoy that he so much longed for , even the Presence of God , and the Holy Angels .

In the time of his sickness were these memorable Passages that ●●ow , worthy to be perpetuated for the benefit of posterity , considering his tender years .

He had a great sence upon him in the time of his sickness , both 〈◇〉 Original and Actual sin .

Of Original-sin , he said , Oh what Parents had we to bring 〈◇〉 things upon their Children ! I would there had been no such Tree that had bore such evil fruit : if they had been all good Tr then this had not been .

Concerning Actual-sin , he expressed his great sense of it , insomuch that the fear of committing it made him unwilling to live ; for when his Mother askt him , whether he were not willing to live ? his answer was , He should , if he were sure he should be as fit to die another time : but he doubted he should not , for ( saith he ) there is not a man that lives a week without committing many sins ; and it may be it may please God to take me away from the calamity that is coming upon England by War .

He desired that his Father would pray for him . His Mother askt him , What he would have his Father pray for ? his answer was , That God would pardon his sins , and fit him for his holy Habitation : His Mother said , Child , thou hast not committed many sins . Yes , saith he , I have sinned many a time , and yet I think as seldom as most Boys have ; but the reason why God hath plagued me thus , is , because I have neglected Prayer : I have prayed sometimes , but n●t so often as I used formerly to do . And in the sence of this he was much cast down , and said , It 's a brave thing to have Faith , Faith is a great Work ; if we had Faith but as a grain of Mustard-seed , we might say to this Mountain , Be thou removed , and cast into the Sea , and it should obey us : But Peter wanted Faith once , when he walked upon the Water ; for if Christ had not reached forth his hand to him , he had perished as Pharoah did ; though he had been in a better condition , because he was a better man .

In the time of his sickness he lay admiring the patience , long-suffering , and forbearance of God towards the wicked , saying , He would have spared that City of Sodom , if there had been but ten righteous in it , for their sakes ; but because they were so wicked , the Lord rained Fire and Brimstone from Heaven upon them , by which they were destroyed : But he observed , That God had such respect to his faithful Servant Righteous Lot , that he , and his , were preserved from that great destruction ; as also , that his Wife for her disobedience , was turned into a Pillar of Salt , as a standing monument of Gods displeasure .

Himself in this disponding frame went to prayer , in which he expressed himself as one that had a great sence of sin upon him ; and amongst many other very sensible and experimental ●xpressions , these words fell from his tender Lips : Lord , remember not against me former iniquities .

Whilst he lay in this blessed frame of spirit , pouring out his Soul in prayer to God , being yet under some fear whether Christ would receive him , he calls to his Mother , saying , Mother , I see a Vision : which he related as followeth ,

I see Clouds , and a face looking through them , and he reacheth forth his hand to stroke me , and to take hold of me , and others : but with his other hand he thrusts away great black men that speak blasphemy against him ; and he hath a brown purple coloured silk Garment on . His Mother askt him , What manner of man he was ? he answered , I see his eyes , and a glymps of his nose , but his face is so glorious that I cannot look upon it . His Mother askt him , who he thought this man was ? and he said CHRIST .

When he had ended this Relation , his Father said to him , now Jabez , I hope you will be willing to die : He answered , That he should , if he were sure this were true . He then desired his Father would pray for him , that God would pardon his sins , which accordingly he did , and then left him .

After this he met with some dispondencies , and desired his Father would come up again and pray for him ; For ( saith he ) 〈◇〉 will hear his prayers : But his Father not coming up presently , being ingaged in business , he called to his Mother , and said , Mother , I see another Vision ; I see little white Lambs lie upon little round Tables ; and they are so white , — His Mother askt him how they came so white ? He presently replyed , They are washed in the Blood of Christ , and sanctifyed by the Holy Spirit . After this his Father came up , and prayed for him , and he received some satisfaction , but it was still mixt with doubting .

His Mother being apprehensive of his Death , brake forth into tears , and said , My Child will die , I shall never see him any more : He presently replyed , Mother , he comforted ; comfort your self in the Lord ; I hope I shall see you and my Father again , I hope we shall all meet again in the Resurrection .

He once being left at home alone upon the Lord's-day , the whole Family being gone to hear the Word of God ; it was the 24th day of December last past , in this time of his sickness ( having never spake of it to her before ) he told his Mother , That upon that day he was afraid of every little noise that he heard , that it was some body that was coming in to rob the House ; but ( saith he ) I went and took the Bible and look'd Scriptures to comfort me ; one was this , Be not afraid of sudden Fear : But ( saith he ) I was 〈◇〉 one , for the Lord was with me .

He would often a or his Bible in the time of his sickness ; but his eyes being almost closed with the distemper , so that he could not see to read ; his Mother said , Child , thou canst say it without Book ; for , he had made the reading the holy Scriptures so much his business in the time of his health , that he could say many whole Chapters without Book both in the Old and New Testament , so that there was good ground for such a conclusion .

Sometime before he died , he had comfortable expressions concerning Glory to come , and good hopes of his interest in Christ , and the salvation of his Soul : and being discoursing concerning Heaven , and his being in the possession of it , he said , I shall see the Holy Angels ; and I shall be ashamed they will be so glorious ; for I am dust and ashes : there I shall see the twelve Apostles sit upon twelve Thrones , judging the twelve Tribes of Israel : and Jesus Christ , and God above them all : who would but praise such a God , that hath wrought such wonders in Egypt , and at the Red-Sea , in destroying Pharaoh and his Host : Praise the Lord all ye Nations , fall down and worship before him ; for he hath shewed marvellous things : I will praise him as long as I live : And he performed his promise , for he was much drawn forth in praising God the remaining part of his life .

He having had but little rest a long time before , his Mother said unto him , Child , leave talking , and see if thou canst sleep . He answered , Mother , which do you think will do me most good , sleep , or God ? Child , said his Mother , God hath appointed sleep to do us good , and to nourish us while we be here . He answered , Yes , but Mother , Prayer will do me more good ; prayer is better than sleep ; I am best when I pray . His Mother said , Ah , my poor Child will never sleep again , I doubt , here ! Mother ( saith he ) be comforted , I do sleep some-times ; comfort your self in the Lord .