THE LIVING WORDS OF A DYING CHILD. BEING A TRUE RELATION Of some part of the Words that came forth, and were spoken by JOSEPH BRIGGINS On his Death-bed.

Being on the 26th day of the 4th Moneth called June, 1675. Aged 11 Years, Five Moneths, and 15. Dayes.

Out of the Mouth of Babes and Sucklings hast thou ordained strength, Psal. 8.2.

Printed in the Year, 1677.

TO THE READERS WHETHER Children or others.

THis Youth was a very duti­ful Child to his Parents, and patient, and ready to receive Instructions; never was known to resist his Father or Mo­thers Advice and Counsel, but al­ways ready to obey their Commands, and minded good things, being very bashful, and ready to put himself forward to do any business to please his Parents or Relations; never [Page]sullen nor dogged; and what he did it was with all his might faithfully in Obedience to a meek and quiet spi­rit, to the last minute. In the Time of his Health for Three Years last past, he used to go to hear at the Meetings of the People called Qua­kers, and no where else, and was by rude Boyes scoffed at, and called a Quaker. He was a very manly, meek and sober Child, not given to quarrel with any. What we have here related, that he spoke of the great Love of the Lord, both to his own soul, and to his people, is far short of what he declared. His Depar­ture hence was on the Third Day of the Fifth Moneth, 1675. at 7 in the morning, the 13th Day of his sick­ness; in great stilness and patience he en [...]ered into Everlasting Life.

And We who were Eye and Ear Witnesses of this following Relation, do testifie, that his Words were so in Verse, and in such a great Power they were expressed, indeed greater then We can declare.

We whose Names are subscribed are Witnesses for the Lord in this matter, besides several others then present.

  • William Briggins, his Father and Mother living in Bartholomew-Close, in London.
  • Hester Briggins. his Father and Mother living in Bartholomew-Close, in London.
  • John Goodson, Chirurgeon, at the Chirurgeons Arms in Bartholo­mew Close, next neighbour.
  • Margaret Adams the Nurse.
  • Elizabeth Harford the Maid.
  • Mary and Elizabeth Meux Lodgers in the House.

The VVonderful Sayings spoken by Joseph Brig­gins, worthy to be min­ded.

ON the 26th day of the fourth moneth, a­bout the seventh hour in the Evening being (as we thought) very near death, after he had layen silent for about an hour, he began to appear full of exceeding great joy & plea­santness, and his mouth was opened and he said, I shall praise the Lord; for he is only to be praised: So he went on in Heavenly words in Prayer, to the admiration of the Nurse & Maid that heard him; of all which they only could rememeber that he said in admiration.

Oh! I have never heard of any other God but thee, O my Holy One.

And the Nurse offering him some Cordial to drink.

Nay, said he, I shall not eat nor drink-until I have seen my Heaven [...]y Father's Face in Glory-

And more and more he was changed, and filled with exceeding great Joy and Plea­santness, and said;

I have heard of thee, but now I see thee in Glory.

And many Heavenly sayings and expres­sions came from him; the Maid and Nurse did think he had been near going away: He hearing them speak so, He earnestly said, Pray call up my Father and Mother, for I have something to say to them concern­ing what I have seen of my Heavenly Fa­ther's Glory.

So he went on uttering many Heavenly Sayings and Exhortations in sound Judg­ment; his Mother was called up, and seeing him so greatly changed in so short a time, she wept, and ran down stairs and called his Fa­ther, and several People that were there at that time, and when he heard them come up, he joyfully called out,

Father, Father, Oh Father; and held out his Hand, and shook his Father by the Hand, and said.

Oh! pure and glorious is my Saviour which hath appeared to me, and hath ta­ken me into his Kingdom: Oh! mine eye hath seen his Glory.

His Words were expressed in so great Wis­dom and Power, that we were all amazed at them, being also in Meeter for the space of a­bout one hour and a half praising God, and admiring him, and his glorious Power, and Holy Order of glorified Saints and Holy Angels, and of the Glorious Day of God revealed, said he. Some of which many Words he gave forth to us are as followeth, viz.

O most Glorious God, great and won­derful things are brought to pass by thy own pure holy Power, by which thou hast revealed thy Son unto us thy Ministers, O my King, O let all People fear and stand in awe of thy Power, by which thou hast gathered many out of their sinful wayes, into pure Obedience to thee: Oh, thou hast given us a living Knowledge of thee, O pu e, glorious, holy God, let thy Life reach unto all my dear Friends, and keep them that know thee firm and sted­fast [Page 4]upon thy Holy Foundation Christ Ie­sus my King, whose appearance is very glorious at this day, and of his Govern­ment no end is to be; but Thousands of Thousands, Millions of Thousands shall come to see, and be made with me, par­takers of his glorious bright shining-day.

Of which many Words more he spake which cannot be remembred.

Again he said, O Glory, Glory, Everla­sting Praises be given to thee by me, and all we that know thee; O I have much to say for thee.

He was asked if he knew what he had said? his answer was, I have preached the Gospel to you.

His Father desired all present to hearken and mind what he said, and spake some of his words to them, but he was grieved, and said:

O be silent all flesh and stand by, for we that have seen thy pure mighty Glory can preach this Gospel which is thy power, and the day comes on apace, that all that undertakes to speak of thee, and obeyes not thy Power, by this Power they shall [Page 5]be brought to Silence: There are many Ways and Baptisms in the world; but Oh thou Pure, Holy, Holy one, we thy Mi­nisters have known thy Spiritual Baptism into Christ Iesus my Lord, by which the living water have we known and felt. Oh it is indeed exceeding pure, by which we have been washed from all our Sins. Oh my King thou wast slain, and by the virtue of thy pure Blood, we have this gain. Oh that all may wait continually upon thee, that they may be kept from all the deceiveable wayes of this world. Oh mind and serve the Lord in your day; for his Holy Truth revealed in you is the Way in which you must Wait and Obey. Oh! Glorious are the Beams of the Sun that hath shined into my Heart, in which I have seen the Glory of his Day, although in the grave shortly this Body is to lie. But Oh Glo­ry, Glory, and Halelujahs my Soul doth sing to thee O my King, for the Redemp­tion of my Soul, that shall never dye; but in Praises pure for ever shall endure; a li­ving taste thou hast given to me most sure. O my Father and Mother; all my Friends [Page 6]which to me are dear; yet a Glory I have seen most bright; in which I shortly must appear; He is my King and Leader which is my Saviour most dear; O exceeding glorious is this Holy Place where Saints and Angels in bright shining Glory behold his pure Face: Oh All obey his pure Truth in your day.

That you may feel the Virtue of his Grace;
For mortal man is but to run his Race.

And woe to them that shall not Obey his Grace; for such do not feel his Virtue, nor ever shall see his Face.

Some were whispering together towards the further end of the room, at which he see­med to be grieved, and said these Words, pointing with his Finger.

Here is a Spirit speaks in this room that is not of God.

He was so much spent, he could hardly speak, and bid the People that stood by stand further that he might have a little Aire; he was offered something to drink, he said, he [Page 7]would not receive it; a little after he was [...]ressed again to receive it,

No, said he, If I should I should tell a [...]ye, and gave a Sign to put it away, and said,

Oh the Sons of God have better refresh­ment then a Cup of cold water. And so lay silent a while, but again spake as follow­eth: The Lord hath taken me into his Kingdom, He hath discovered the fresh Springs of his Love to my Soul. O all that know the Lord, be obedient to his Po­wer, and he will discover himself more to you, and you shall know more; Thousands, Thousands, Millons will the Lord call. O that my Kindred after the Flesh might come to know the Lord.

Again after some time of Silence he said,

O that my Fellows, my Companions might know the Lord; they shall know the Lord, they shall follow me: Here be some stand by me that do not know the Lord.

Which he repeated again, and again, and then said,

What wait you to hear? What do you all stand here to hear?

His Father answered him, they stand to hear what the Lord will speak by thee.

He said, No, all that are here do not wait to hear the Lord speak; you do not all know the Lord, you think you know him; but you know him but in the Notion, but when you come to dye, you shall know, that you did not know the Lord.

When some spake of his being light headed, and as though he should speak he knew not what, he seemed grieved, and earnestly said,

I had rather be torn alive by Dogs, then that an Impure or Unholy Word should come out of my Mouth.

Some that knew him very well wondred to hear him speak as he did, and said, they had never heard such words come from him be­fore; he said,

The Lord hath fully made that known to my Soul, which I had some feeling of before.

On the next day about the Seventh Hour in the morning; he was very earnest in Prayer softly to himself; but some words were heard, viz.

O let all that know not thy pure Truth come and receive it saith my Soul.

And sung of the Olive Tree, and the Ftuit thereof, which he had fed on, and of his Refreshment he had thereby.

He was asked what he meant by the Olive Tree? He said, The Tree of Life.

And many more Heavenly Sayings he ut­tered before he departed to his Everlasting Rest.

THE END.

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