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

One might suppose, that such a Walk with God as the Reader has newly had Portrayed before him, should End in Raptures, and Ecstasies of Assurance; but I am to tell him, That this young Person had them not. And there wanted not Reason for it. For his Natural Distemper disposed him to what is contrary to Joy; but his Deep Humility had a greater share in the Jealousies and Suspicions which he would still cherish of himself. He was indeed so afraid of being an Hypocrite, that he would scarce allow himself to be called a Christian, and he did not care so ⟨p. 57⟩much as to tell any of his own Experiences, no, nor his Inclinations, unless to one or two Divines, who kindly refreshed him with their daily Visits; and with them too he would uphold his Discourse only in Latin, if any one else were by.

One might suppose, that such a Walk with God as the Reader has newly had Pourtrayed before him, should End in Raptures, and Extasies of Assurance; but I am to tell him, That this young Person had them not. And there wanted not Reason for it. For his Natural Distemper disposed him to what is contrary to Joy; but his Deep Humility had a greater share in the Jealousies and Suspicions which he would still cherish of himself. He was indeed so afraid of being an Hypocrite, that he would scarce allow himself to be called a Christian, and he did not care so ⟨p. 57⟩much as to tell any of his own Experiences, no, nor his Inclinations, unless to one or two Divines, who kindly refreshed him with their daily Visits; and with them too he would uphold his Discourse only in Latin, if any one else were by.

Never did I see more Caution against Hypocrisy, than what was in him; and a certain Self-abhorrence accompanying of it, caused to proceed from him no Expressions, but those of an Abased Soul. When his Brother having recited the Terms of the Gospel to him, with a design to obtain from him a Renewal of his Explicit Consent thereunto, asked him, Whether he did not judge himself Sincere in that Consent? He only replied, I should think so, if it were not for the Seventeenth of Jeremiah, and the Ninth.