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

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 Mat. 28. 19, 20. and Josh. 1. 9. and Judg. 6. 12, 14. And then I thought with my self, That as for living in a remote part of the Country, I should be willing thereunto, if so I might do Service for God, and bring Glory to his Name. And whilst I was musing on these things, I was melted into a frame, that I thought heretofore I should never be in, namely, humble Submission to the good Pleasure of God, however he should dispose of me. I knew, that though I were Reproached for what meanness I should this way be exposed