A LITTLE DUTCH BOY

Johannes Middel was born in 1832. He was a particularly beautiful child, like the infant Moses, and his godly father, (who later became a minister) felt there was something remarkable about him. He begged the Lord to shew him what he should call the child, but for two days after birth could get no answer. But on the third day, the day he had to register his birth, when supplicating the Lord regarding him, he felt constrained to open the Bible and was arrested by the words, “His name is John” (Johannes in Dutch). At the same time he felt such a heavenly glory in his own soul and seemed to see such a beauty in the name, which means The grace of God, that, full of joy, he went to his wife and said to her : “Dear heart, his name is John.” She looked full of wonder and told him that three hours ago, when in prayer over the same thing, those very words were inpressed on her mind, and ever since she had been begging that he might be given them too. This was a wonderful confirmation to him, and he hastened to the office to register the birth.”

Some people called it enthusiasm when he told them about it, but the child’s whole life and death showed it was of the Lord. The grace of God appeared remarkably early in him. He used to listen with the greatest attention to the family worship and the many prayers of his father and mother, and from the age of two used to try and pray for himself. He longed to be able to read the Scriptures himself and was untiring in his efforts to learn, and by the age of four years could read tolerably well. The Holy Spirit had already convinced him of sin, and his childish prayers for forgiveness were most touching.”

At that time there was much persecution of the godly who had separated from the state church, and when he heard of it he would often burst into tears; then, raising his little hands on high, would look up and say, “O Lord, take care of Thy people and keep them from their enemies. The ungodly are so wicked. O do take care of Thy Church.” Love to God and his neighbor was his chief characteristic. Anything which he read in the Bible and could not understand, he wanted his father to explain to him, and by the time he was five he had a clear and lively sense of the misery of man, the absolute necessity of the operations of the Holy Spirit, and of Jesus Christ as the only way of salvation. He loved and learnt by heart all the Psalms on repentance with amazing alacrity, and used to sing them to his own melodies, but he did not feel he ought to sing the Psalms of praise as he had not yet had the forgiveness of his sins. He was much loved by some of the godly, and sometimes they would speak as if he was a saved character, but he would stop them and say, “I am only a little tiny bit converted and I’ve got to be wholly converted, haven’t I, Father?” Once, in his absence, his mother said to his father, “What a comfort this boy will be to us in our old age!” but he replied, “Dear heart, you may count on it, God is ripening that child early for glory.””

Sometimes when his father was away from home, the workmen in the factory where he was manager would start some foolery, and if Johannes heard or saw it he would say to them, “Don’t you know that God sees and hears everything you do, and He has a remembrance book always before Him? God punishes for every sin. You mustn’t do that any more but must pray to Him to convert you, for if you are not converted you will be lost for ever. Please promise you will not do it again, but ask the Lord to forgive you and convert you.” The majesty of God weighed heavily with him—amazingly so. Once when standing at the door five boys passed by cursing and swearing•. He ran quickly indoors and, in great distress and crying bitterly, sobbed out, “0 Mother, Mother”—but could get no further. His father said, “My dear Johannes, what is the matter? What makes you cry so?” but it was nearly twenty minutes before he could stop crying, and then said with such heartfelt grief, “0 Father, those boys were taking the Name of God in vain, and swearing!” For some time he continued to cry and then begged me to kneel down and pray the Lord to convert the boys.”

Johannes delighted to be in the company of godly people and listened to their conversation with rapt attention. What he could not understand, he asked his father to explain to him afterwards, and would then meditate over it and pray about it. He was particularly sympathetic with children who had ungodly parents and who, according to his judgment, must be lost if they were never taught the way of salvation. Once he saw in the distance some children in fancy dress dancing in front of an organ. He seemed greatly distressed and said, “Father, if those children should die dancing like that, they would go into hell, wouldn’t they?” His father replied, “Their parents force them to do it, but who knows but what they may sigh under it inwardly?” “O Father,” he replied, “what wicked parents they must be! Let us pray for those poor children and for their parents that God would call them by His grace”; immediately falling on his knees begging his father to pray, and was evidently much moved. Sometimes he prayed as many as thirty times in a day—in fact prayer seemed an absolute necessity to him: and he evidently had a feeling he would not be long in this world.”

When five years and three months Johannes contracted chickenpox, accompanied by a very high fever. The doctor considered him in a critical condition, and when the little boy realized this, it was pathetic to see him. Feeling that he had not had the forgiveness of his sins, and that he could not be saved without it, he kept wringing his little hands and was continually crying out day and night: “O, I’m so frightened, so frightened,” yet kept on praying. Sometimes he screamed with fear at the thought of so dying, and the enemy attacked him unceasingly. If asked if he was in pain, he would say, “O Father, what is the pain in my body? It is far less than my poor soul. O, Father, my poor soul, that still has no forgiveness”; then again cried aloud, “I’m so frightened! 0 Father, 0 Mother, do pray for me.” They did pray for him continually, but he never felt it was sufficient, and knew that only the Lord could bring deliverance and tell him that Jesus died for him.”

On the fourth day he suddenly seemed quieter. He had turned his face to the wall and could be heard pouring out his heart to God. At last he broke out into singing the last verse of the 7th Psalm”

According to His righteousness
The Lord I’ll magnify,
And will sing praise unto the name
Of God that is most high.”

(Dutch rhyming Psalms)”

His face beaming with heavenly joy Johannes then told his father he had received the forgiveness of all his sins, that Jesus was his Saviour, and that he was going to heaven to praise him for ever and ever. After this, quite exhausted, he fell back on the pillows in a swoon. Remedies were applied and he revived a little, but after this the sickness increased and he was able to talk very little. But several times he waved his hands joyfully on high to show how happy he was to be going to heaven. On the day of his death his speech returned for a little while on three occasions. During one of these his father said to him, “My dear little Johannes, haven’t you any fear at all now?” He answered, “No, Father, no more fear.” “Dear Child, can you really fully believe all your sins are forgiven?” he said, “Yes, dear Father, for now I am wholly converted. O Father, Wholly. Now I am going to my dear Lord Jesus,” and he raised his hands toward heaven. “But, my dear child, you have always loved us your parents so dearly. Would you not like to stay a little longer with us?” “If it is the Lord’s will, dear Father.” “But supposing the Lord gave you the choice and said, “Johannes, you may go to heaven, or stay a little longer with your parents. If you had free choice, which would you choose?” “O Father, then I would go to heaven—go to heaven!” As he said this, he looked upward with eyes full of heavenly joy, clearly full of holy longing to be with Christ which is far better. He spoke repeatedy in a similar way and of the blessed prospect before him even up till three or four minutes before he breathed his last. Now he is above singing the song of the Lamb.”

—The Friendly Companion.”

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