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

I. His INDUSTY.

He was an hard Student, and quickly became a good Scholar. From his very Childhood, his Book was perhaps as dear to him as his Play, and hence he grew particularly acquainted with Church-History, at a rate not usual in those that were above thrice as Old as He. But when he came to somewhat more of Youth, his Tutor (who now writes) was forced often to Chide him to his Recreations, but never that I remember for ⟨p. 4⟩them. To be Bookish was natural unto him, and to be plodding easy and pleasant rather than the contrary. Indeed he afforded not so much a Pattern as a Caution to young Students; for it may be truly written on his Grave, Study killed Him. The marks and works of a Studious Mind were to be discerned in him, even as he walked in the Streets; and his Candle would burn after Midnight, until, as his own Phrase for it was, He thought his bones would all fall asunder. This was among the passages once noted in his Diary.

He was an hard Student, and quickly became a good Scholar. From his very Childhood, his Book was perhaps as dear to him as his Play, and hence he grew particularly acquainted with Church-History, at a rate not usual in those that were above thrice as Old as He. But when he came to somewhat more of Youth, his Tutor (who now writes) was forced often to Chide him to his Recreations, but never that I remember for ⟨p. 4⟩them. To be Bookish was natural unto him, and to be plodding easie and pleasant rather than the contrary. Indeed he afforded not so much a Pattern as a Caution to young Students; for it may be truly written on his Grave, Study kill'd Him. The marks and works of a Studious Mind were to be discerned in him, even as he walked in the Streets; and his Candle would burn after Midnight, until, as his own Phrase for it was, He thought his bones would all fall asunder. This was among the passages once noted in his Diary.