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

And as he thus put on the whole Armour of God, that he might be able to stand when he should be tried, so he found the benefit of it when he came into the Field. Few in the World ever bore such Dolours with such a silent and a quiet and composed Temper as he. Some that were intimate with him, would say, He was one of an Iron Patience, and they had rarely if ever seen such a patient Patient. But his Death he seemed all along most careful to be ready for.

And as he thus put on the whole Armour of God, that he might be able to stand when he should be tryed, so he found the benefit of it when he came into the Field. Few in the World ever bore such Dolors with such a silent and a quiet and composed Temper as he. Some that were intimate with him, would say, He was one of an Iron Patience, and they had rarely if ever seen such a patient Patient. But his Death he seem'd all along most careful to be ready for.

In his Papers. Meditations on the four last things, was a Title mentioning a Subject of his most solicitous Contemplations. Above three Years before his Translation, his Diary hath such a Note as this. Speaking to Day something concerning my Commencement, ¹I was strangely surprised, and had many Thoughts, yea ⟨p. 52⟩Persuasions, That I should not live. He then—. Rest. What may be the Import hereof I cannot tell; yet I gather thus much: That it is incumbent on me without further delay, to make my Calling and Election sure.

In his Papers. Meditations on the four last things, was a Title mentioning a Subject of his most solicitous Contemplations. Above three Years before his Translation, his Diary hath such a Note as this. Speaking to Day something concerning my Commencement, ¹I was strangely surprized, and had many Thoughts, yea ⟨p. 52⟩