A70554:10
Early piety, exemplified in the life and death of Mr. Nathanael Mather, who ...…
Early piety, exemplified in the life and death of Mr. Nathanael Mather, who ... changed earth for heaven, Oct. 17. 1688 whereto are added some discourses on the true nature, the great reward, and the best season of such a walk with God as he left a pattern of.
London: printed by J. Astwood for John Dunton, 1689
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
This was the practice of this young Disciple, who among all his other Learning (wherein for his time he excelled most) had in Nineteen years so perfectly learned this Lesson, that the wise God saw it fit he should take out.
About Fourteen years old he did dedicate himself wholly to God and his Service, and entered into a Solemn Covenant with God to that purpose: which as he did not begin rashly, and without great deliberation; so he did not transact it slightly, but with great sense and seriousness: The Matter and Form of which Covenant you have in this ensuing Narrative, signed with his own Hand, according to that word of the Prophet, (Isa. 44. 5.) One shall say, I am the Lords, and another shall call himself by the name of Jacob, and another shall subscribe with his hand to the Lord. And with what care and Conscience he p•••formed ⟨image 3⟩this Covenant, in Fasting, in Prayer, in Watchings, in Self-Examination, in Meditation, in Thanksgiving, in Walking with God in all, is fully witnessed in what follows, which shows that he was a true Nathanael, an Israelite indeed in whom was no guile. Not like those Israelites which the Prophet reproveth, for that they flattered God with their Mouth,—lied to him with their tongues, their hearts not being right with him, nor steadfast in his Covenant. For having once given up himself to God, He kept the ways of the Lord, and did not wickedly depart from his God.
About Fourteen years old he did dedicate himself wholly to God and his Service, and entred into a Solemn Covenant with God to that purpose: which as he did not begin rashly, and without great deliberation; so he did not transact it slightly, but with great sense and seriousness: The Matter and Form of which Covenant you have in this ensuing Narrative, signed with his own Hand, according to that word of the Prophet, (Isa. 44. 5.) One shall say, I am the Lords, and another shall call himself by the name of Jacob, and another shall subscribe with his hand to the Lord. And with what care and Conscience he pformed