THE LIFE and DEATH OF ABEZ-ELIEZER RUSSEL, Son to William Russel, in the Parish of St. Bartholomew the Great, London. Who departed this life to possess a better, Feb. 19. 71. Being nine years, two months, and six dayes old. Wherein are divers memorable Passages spoken by him in the time of his sickness; with other things of remark in the time of his health, worthy to be perpetuated to posterity. Written for the benefit of all, but especially two sorts, Parents and Children.  
With some acrostic Verses, an Elegy and Epitaph upon his Death.  
The memory of the Just is blessed, Prov. 10.7.  
Come ye Children harken unto me, I will teach you the fear of the Lord, Psal. 34.11.  
And that from a Child thou hast known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto Salvation, 2 Tim 3.15.  
I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy Children walking in the Truth, John 2.4.  
London, Printed in the Year 1672.   

TO THE Christian Reader.  
READER,  
WE ought to reckon the enjoyment of Children none of our smallest blessings, especially when God hath planted the Seeds of Grace in their Souls: we sometimes mistake their value while we have them, but are made to know it when we lose them, the knowledge of which costs us dear. Divine Grace ennobles their spirits, puts a lustre upon them, forms holiness, and stamps the Image of God in their Souls, by which it may be red, as in legible Characters, That they are the Children of God, and Heirs of Glory. This fits them to serve God here, and is the earnest of their inheritance of Glory hereafter. For what is Grace, but Glory begun? But how few there are that have got this Pearl, whose Hearts are possessed with this Gem, and whose Souls are enameled with this invaluable Treasure of Saving Grace, the vanity and impiety of our Age doth sufficiently evince; not only among the common sort, but the Wise, the Learned, the Mighty, the Noble, that should be examples of virtue and Piety to others, are become encouragers of 'vice and Impiety.  
But the Lord of his rich Grace( who hath denied it them) hath bestowed it upon Him, who is now become the subject of my Pen, and an object of mortality, that in him might be verified what was declared by the Prophet David, Psal. 8.2. Out of the Mouths of Babes and Sucklings hast thou ordained strength, because of thine Enemies, that thou mightest still the Enemy and the Avenger. As also our Blessed Lord and Saviour, who said, Mat. 11.25, 26. I thank thee, O Father, Lord of Heaven and Earth, because thou hast hide these things from the Wise and Prudent, and hast revealed them unto Babes: even so, Father, for thus it seemed good in thy sight.  
I am fully satisfied that Jabez-Eliezer had the work of Faith with Power, wrought effectually by the Spirit upon his Soul; as also the evidence of the pardon of his sins by the Blood of Jesus, with full assurance of his interest in the heavenly Inheritance, believing he should possess it when he departed out of this World, as will appear by his expressions in this ensuing Discourse.  
I have been moved to publish it for the benefit of two sorts of Persons, Parents, and Children,( though it may be of general advantage to all) to whom I shall in order both of time and place direct my Discourse.  
First, You that are Parents, Let me persuade you to teach them the Fear of the Lord betimes: Train up your Children in the way they should go whilst they are young; bring them up in the Nurture and Admonition of the Lord; Instruct them in the Rudiments of the Christian Religion; take care that they spend the Lords-Day in Holy Exercise; and for their encouragement be you their Example; when they have been hearing the Word of God, examine them about it; and what they have learned, fasten upon their spirits by good instruction, that it may abide with them: Never speak of God, his Word, and Works, but with holy reverence: Take heed of sinning at all times, but especially in their presence, lest you become the ruin of their Souls by your evil example.  
See that you carry it like Christians one to another, in that relation you stand in, as Husband and Wife, and towards them as Parents. Keep up the practise of Prayer in your Families in the presence of your Children, and let your Expressions bespeak the aweful reverence you have of Almighty God, to whom you direct your Prayers; and in your requests beg of God that he would bless them both in Soul and Body; showing them the evil of sin, the dreadful punishment of sinners in Hell; the excellency and necessity of Christ, and the Joys of Heaven; that as he hath made them yours by Generation, they may be his by Regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Spirit.  
Teach them their duty to you as Children, both in Honour and Obedience, and let them know the distance that is betwixt you in point of relation.  
Now if in all this you can be instrumental( through a blessing from above) to save their Souls, it will be of much greater concernment than all the pains and care you can take about it.  
Secondly, You that are Children, Be persuaded seriously to red and meditate what I have here presented to your view; follow the example that is set before you; remember what Jabez-Eliezer did, who is gone to Heaven, that you may meet him with comfort in the Resurrection-Day, that he may bid you welcome, and rejoice in your company; for that in his life he lived to God, and being dead, he yet speaketh. Now if this may contribute any thing towards your Salvation, 'twill be profit to you, and rejoicing to him in the day of Christ.  
God Almighty hath commanded you to remember your Creator in the dayes of your youth, Eccles. 12.1. Beware therefore that you forget not your duty, but take the advice of Holy David to his Son Solomon, 1 Chron. 28.8, 9. Now therefore in the sight of Israel, the Congregation of the Lord, and in the audience of our God, keep and seek for all the Commandments of the Lord your God.— And thou Solomon my Son, know thou the God of thy Father, and serve him with a perfect heart, and with a willing mind.  
The Lord hath been pleased for your encouragement to take special notice of such in the Holy Scriptures, that have remembered him in the dayes of their youth; it is said of Timothy, 1 Tim. 3.15. And that from a Child thou hast known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto Salvation, through Faith which is in Christ Jesus. St. John in his Epistle to the Elect lady hath these Expressions; The Elder unto the Elect Lady and her Children, whom I love in the Truth.— I rejoiced greatly, that I found of thy Children walking in truth, as we have received a Commandment from the Father.  
If you will but practise according to these Examples, there will be Peace on Earth, and Joy in Heaven.  
Be careful to obey your Parents in all their lawful commands not grudgingly, but with cheerfulness: Consider the Obligatio●● that lies upon you, and perform it.  
Let it be to you matter of Admiration as well as Consideration, that he whose work was so great, and time so short, sho●● make such dispatch in the finishing of it: Though he was a Child, he pressed after Heaven with a holy violence to take it, as it were by force; he was so afraid of sin, he slighted Life, and choose Death, lest he should commit it: He had such a love to, esteem of, and delight in the Lord Jesus, that nothing else could satisfy him, but a comfortable assurance of an interest in him; that he should be so affencted with the Duty of Prayer, that for some few Omissions he should conclude he had so sinned as to provoke God to lay affliction upon him, when( it's to be feared) many of grown years make not that care and Conscience about greater sins; they will not forsake their Old Iniquities nor live to God in New Obedience; they wish when they die they may go to Heaven, but walk while they live in the ways of Hell: But, 
Wouldst thou, when Death hath done, deserve a Story  
Should slain the memory of Great Pompey's glory?  
Conquer thyself, Example be thy Guide,  
Die just, as our Sin-conquering Jabez died.   
I have no more to say, but commit you to God, who will reward you if ye do well, and punish you if ye do ill; whom I implore for a blessing upon your Child-like endeavours, begging that he would not onely begin a good work in your Souls; but that he will perfect it to the day of Christ; which is  
The earnest desire, and Prayer of your Christian Friend, to serve you in what I may, William Russel.   

The memorable Passages of the Birth, Life and Death of Jabez-Eliezer Russel, &c.  
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. king up the Bible to red 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 cost, 〈◇〉 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 red these words, 〈◇〉 was considering that he had never observed them before, he came a Messenger to him with the Joyful tidings, 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 gracious 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 enjoined 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 melancholy: 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 whatever he red, he made it 〈◇〉 own.  
4. His meditation in the Word of God, in the practise 〈◇〉 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 affencted 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 spoken; 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 always 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 red 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 sense 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 three 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 asked 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 asked 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 sense 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 pharaoh 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 sense 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 asked 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 asked 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 engaged in business, he called to his Mother, and said, Mother, I see another Vision; I see little white Lambs lye upon little round Tables; and they are so white,— His Mother asked him how they came so white? He presently replied, They are washed in the Blood of Christ, and sanctified by the Holy Spirit. After this his Father came up, and prayed for him, and he received some satisfaction, but it was still mixed with doubting.  
His Mother being apprehensive of his Death, broke forth into tears, and said, My Child will die, I shall never see him any more: He presently replied, Mother, he comforted; comfort yourself 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 looked 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 red; 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 marvelous 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 yourself in the Lord.  
His Mother asked him, if he was willing to die? He answer let, if he were sure he should go to Heaven; but Mother, I 〈◇〉 not choose but weep, the first time I red of Christ's sufferings, 〈◇〉 be should suffer such a death, for such sinners as we are. When was in the country, I thought they did very ill that went to Meet●●gs. His Mother said, Why didst think so? Did thy Grandfather or Grand-mother tell thee so? He answered, No, but o●hers did, and said, they brought sufferings upon themselves: But saith he) I did not consider, that they were better suffer here, and 〈◇〉 pleasure in the World to come; than have pleasure here, and suffer in the World to come.  
A little before his death, in the height of his extremity, he ●ut forth his hand, and with much vehemency of Spirit uttered these Expressions; Praised be the Lord God: And the last time that his Mother remembers she heard him say any thing of this kind, after he had lain, and could hardly bring out his words for a considerable time before, he stretched forth his hand, and said with a loud voice, My God. His Mother said, Child, thee hast assurance thou shalt go to thy God, hast thee not? Yes, saith he.  
He would often say in the time of his sickness, That he had ●●ver seen any of his Sisters, but now he should see them; and a little before his departure out of this World, he not having spoken a word a considerable space of time before, turned his face towards his Mother, saying, Mother, what were my Sisters names? His Mother answered, Child, one was Hephzibah, and another was Sarah, and he remembering the third, said, Grace, which was the name of his other Sister; and as I apprehended, the ●●●son of his inquiring after their names was this, that he did believe they were gone to Heaven, and that he should know 〈◇〉, and call them by their names when he came there.  

To the beloved memory of Jabez-Eliezer Russel, An acrostic.  

J Is Jabez dead and gone, and left us here!  
A And shall we not for him let fall a tear!  
B Behold! His Sun no sooner came in sight  
E Even with the Hemisphere, but it was night;  
● Zeal made him then to give the brightest light.   

E Eternity in bliss he doth possess;  
L Lament no more, his Soul's in happiness  
I I am assured: for Christ he did enjoy  
E Even while he lived in his House of day.  
● Zealous for God, for heaven he did prepare,  
E Each day and hour, each week, each month, and year,  
R remembering well how short his time was here.   

R Rare Soul! that now sits crowned in Heaven's choir,  
U Viewing that God thy Soul did much desire.  
S Should we lament? No, rather let's rejoice,  
S Since thou hast made both Christ and heaven thy choic●  
E Else there were cause: but now thy Work is done,  
L Let us the race that's set before us run.    

An Elegy upon the Death of Jabez-Eliezer Russel.  
IS Jabez dead i'th blossom of his Day!  
Hold, hold, my Muse, let's make a little stay.  
If Death hath done it, sure he is unkind,  
In taking him, and leaving worse behind.  
He might have spared and tried him; let him know,  
'twas harsh and cruel, 'twas a Coward's blow.  
Was he thy equal? Was there none but he  
thou couldst find out to be a match for thee?  
●●e Earth's round Globe hath multitudes of Men,  
Tall Cedars that are ripe; why didst thou then  
●ay hold of him, who might( if spared) have done  
Service for God, his country, and his own  
Parents, of whom thou hast him now bereft.  
Could none supply his place that thou hast left?  
Must cut down Infants, and let Age go free?  
If God hath sent thee, we will silent be.  
Though it be hard for Flesh thus to comply,  
Tis Grace alone must give the victory  
On our side, and make us to fulfil  
In every thing our great Creators Will.  
But hold my Muse, let's not of Death complain▪  
Though loss to us, yet Death to him was gain.  
He left this World, where nought but trouble is,  
But's gone to Heaven, where there is nought but bliss.  
The Blessed Angels there he doth behold,  
The twelve Apostles, and the Saints of old,  
With Jesus Christ, who kept his Soul from thrall,  
And God Almighty sits above them all.  
God's very presence fills his Soul with Joy,  
Such as is endless, and will last for ay.  
and now is one of that blessed choir made,  
With hallelujahs make their constant trade;  
That which he longed for, now he doth possess;  
His Soul is filled top full with happiness.  
He feared sin, sin doth him not annoy:  
Christ was his Life, Christ now he doth enjoy.  
He's out o'th reach of all temptations got,  
Heaven is become the portion of his lot.   

His Epitaph.  
HEre lies interred a Child that lived ●  
Who though he died, lives to eter●●●y  
The Holy Scriptures were his great delig●t  
He's now above among the Saints in light  
He lived a holy Life, in Death had pea●e  
He died that all his sorrows might surce●●   
FINIS.