A70554:132
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
THE LIFE and DEATH OF Mr. NATHANAEL MATHER. › Part 2: II. His PIETY.
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.
Indeed, Preparation for Death, in one word, contains the substance of what he had been doing divers years before the King of Terrors took his Clay House away.
And as he was desirous to prepare for what Passive Obedience he might be put upon, so he was loath to have his Heart not well ordered or furnished, when active Obedience might be called for at his hands. Tho he never lived to preach any other than some private Sermons, yet he was not unthoughtful of the Time when public ones might be expected from him. It may not be unuseful for me to insert one of his Meditations here; it runs in such terms as these.
And as he was desirous to prepare for what Passive Obedience he might be put upon, so he was loath to have his Heart not well ordered or furnished, when active Obedience might be called for at his hands. Tho he never liv'd to preach any other than some private Sermons, yet he was not unthoughtful of the Time when publick ones might be expected from him. It may not be unuseful for me to insert one of his Meditations here; it runs in such terms as these.
¶Whether I should be a Minister? I considered all Objections which Persons might make against it, and answered them every one. But one Objection startled me more than the rest, to wit, Personal Unfitness, from my Hebetude, or want of Invention. To which I answered, with minding that Promise in Exod. 3. 12. Certainly I will be with thee. And the beginning of ver. 18. They shall hearken to thy voice. And where God finds work, there he will give strength. I likewise considered 1 Chron. 28. 10, 20. and