Early piety, exemplified in the life and death of Mr. Nathanael Mather, who ...…

Even in the time of his mortal Sickness, he was very angry at himself if he had not heard a Portion of the Bible read unto him from day to day.

Once when he was near his End, a good part of a day having passed before he had enjoyed his Meal of Scripture; he said unto his Sister with some impatience, Alas! what an ungodly life do I lead! pray come and read my Bible to me; and read me the forty ninth Psalm. Indeed he read the Scripture not cursorily, but very deliberately, and considerately; and as an effect of his doing so, he could ⟨p. 44⟩give such an account of the Difficulties in it, as the most not only of Christians, but of Divines too, would judge an Attainment extraordinary. Not long before he dyed, he had read over all the large and great Annotations on the Bible, lately published by Mr. Pool, and some other Non-conformist Ministers; but having dispatched those two noble Folios, he said unto one that was intimate with him, Thus have I read the Bible, but I have now learnt a better way! And that way was this. He would oblige himself in reading to fetch a Note and a Prayer out of every Verse in all the Bible; to dwell upon every verse until it had afforded at least one Observation, and one Ejaculation to him.

Once when he was near his End, a good part of a day having pass'd before he had enjoyed his Meal of Scripture; he said unto his Sister with some impatience, Alas! what an ungodly life do I lead! pray come and read my Bible to me; and read me the forty ninth Psalm. Indeed he read the Scripture not cursorily, but very deliberately, and considerately; and as an effect of his doing so, he could ⟨p. 44⟩give such an account of the Difficulties in it, as the most not only of Christians, but of Divines too, would judge an Attainment extraordinary. Not long before he dyed, he had read over all the large and great Annotations on the Bible, lately published by Mr. Pool, and some other Non-conformist Ministers; but having dispatched those two noble Folios, he said unto one that was intimate with him, Thus have I read the Bible, but I have now learnt a better way! And that way was this. He would oblige himself in reading to fetch a Note and a Prayer out of every Verse in all the Bible; to dwell upon every verse until it had afforded at least one Observation, and one Ejaculation to him.