JOHN SUDLOW was born of religious parents, in the county of Middlesex,
whose care was to instill spiritual principles into him as soon as he
was capable of understanding them, whose endeavours the Lord was pleased
to crown with the desired success.
2. When he was scarce able to speak plain he seemed to have a very great
awe and reverence of God upon his spirit, and a strange sense of the
things of another world.
3. The first thing that much affected him, and made him endeavour to
escape from the wrath to come, and to inquire what he should do to be
saved, was the death of a little brother. When he saw him without
breath, and not able to speak or stir; and when carried out of doors,
and put into the ground, he was greatly concerned, and asked whether he
should die too? Being answered yes it made so deep an impression on him,
that from that time forward, he was exceedingly serious; and this was
when he was about four years old.
4. He was now desirous to know what he might do that he might live in
another world, and what to avoid, that he might not die for ever. And,
being instructed by his parents, he soon laboured to avoid whatsoever
might displease God. Now the apprehensions of God, death and eternity,
laid such a restraint upon him, that he would not, for a world, have
told a lie. He was much taken with reading the book of martyrs, and
would willingly leave his dinner and go to his book.
5. He went to his father and mother with great tenderness and
compassion, and entreated them to take more care of his brothers and
sisters; and to take heed lest they should go to hell, and be ruined for
ever.
6. The providences of God were not passed by without his minute
observation. In the time of the plague he was exceedingly concerned
about his everlasting state, and was very much by himself upon his
knees. The following prayer was found written in short hand after his
death.
7. O Lord God and merciful Father, take pity upon me, a miserable
sinner: and strengthen me, O Lord, in thy faith, and make me one of thy
saints in heaven. O Lord, keep me from this poisonous infection;
however, not my will, but thy will be done. O Lord, if thou hast
appointed me to die by it, fit me for death, and give me a good heart to
bear up under my afflictions. O Lord God, and merciful Father, take pity
on me, thy child. Teach me, O Lord, thy word; make me strong in faith. O
Lord, I have sinned against thee; Lord, pardon my sins. I had been in
hell long ago if it had not been for thy mercy. But, O Lord, if thou
hast appointed me to die, fit me for death, that I may die with comfort.
And, O Lord, I pray thee to help me to bear up under my afflictions for
Christ's sake. Amen.
8. He was not a little concerned for the whole nation, and begged that
God would pardon the sins of this land, and bring it nearer to himself.
9. About the beginning of November, this child was smote with the
distemper, but he behaved with admirable patience under the hand of God.
10. These were some of his last expressions. "The Lord shall be my
physician, for he will cure both soul and body. Heaven is the best
hospital. It is the Lord, let him do what seemeth good in his eyes."
Again, "It is the Lord that taketh away my health; but I will say as Job
did, 'Blessed be the name of the Lord.' If I should live longer, I
should but sin against God." Looking upon his father, he said, "If the
Lord will but lend me the least finger of his hand to lead me through
the dark entry of death, I will rejoice in him."
11. When a minister came to him, among other things, he spake something
of life. He answered, "This is a wicked world: it is better to live in
heaven."
12. An hour and a half before his death, the same minister came again to
visit him, and asked him, "John, art thou not afraid to die?" He
answered, "No, if the Lord will comfort me in that hour." "But," said
the minister, "how canst thou expect comfort, seeing we deserve none?"
He answered, "No, if I had my deserts, I had been in hell long ago."
"But," replied the minister, "which way dost thou expect comfort and
salvation, seeing that thou art a sinner?" He answered, "In Christ
alone." In whom, about an hour and a half after, he fell asleep.