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

He seemed indeed to have a strange Presage of what he was to meet withal, and O how he laid in that he might not be unprovided for it! A prudence rarely seen among the Children of Men, whose Misery is great upon them because they know not their Time.

He seem'd indeed to have a strange Presage of what he was to meet withal, and O how he laid in that he might not be unprovided for it! A prudence rarely seen among the Children of Men, whose Misery is great upon them because they know not their Time.

There were especially two Calamities which he had a fore-boding of, Dismal Pain, and Early Death. As for his Pain, he was it seems to undergo exquisite Anguishes, ⟨p. 51⟩for many Months before his Dissolution; but before ever it came upon him, how strangely did he fortify himself against it! He said in his Diary some Years before he left the World,

There were especially two Calamities which he had a fore-boding of, Dismal Pain, and Early Death. As for his Pain, he was it seems to undergo exquisite Anguishes, ⟨p. 51⟩for many Months before his Dissolution; but before ever it came upon him, how strangely did he fortifie himself against it! He said in his Diary some Years before he left the World,

Sept. 2. I had not in the morning time enough for solemn Meditation: Great deadness and dullness was in my Heart, as to Spiritual Thoughts afterwards; the Reason was, because I did not perform my solemn Meditation as I should. I had now apprehensions that I must undergo sore Trials, and Conflicts, and great Afflictions. Wherefore it did highly become me to get as great a measure of Grace, as the opportunities which I enjoy may afford, and therefore I purpose to be more serious in my Meditations, not omitting other Duties therewithal. I see my Resolutions must every day be renewed, as to great diligence in my serving God. And since I must expect great Afflictions, I must make it my daily work by solemn Meditation to go over the whole