A70554:6
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
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.
To the READER.
OF all Reading, History hath in it a most taking Delight, and no History more delightful than the Lives of good Men, it being not only pleasant, but profitable; and so while other Pleasures become a Bait to Vice, this becomes a Motive to Virtue. It may be said of such Lives as that Excellent Mr. Herbert said of Verses, A Life may find him who a Sermon flies, And turn delight into a Sacrifice.
OF all Reading, History hath in it a most taking Delight, and no History more delightfull than the Lives of good Men, it being not only pleasant, but profitable; and so while other Pleasures become a Bait to Vice, this becomes a Motive to Virtue. It may be said of such Lives as that Excellent Mr. Herbert said of Verses, A Life may find him who a Sermon flies, And turn delight into a Sacrifice.
Thou hast here a rare History of a Youth, that may be of great use and advantage both to Old and Young: That the Aged seeing themselves out-done by Green years, may gird up their loins, and mend their pace for Heaven; and that Young ones may be so wrought into the love of Religion, as it is Exemplified in this holy Person, as to endeavour with all diligence to write after his excellent Copy.
Thou hast here a rare History of a Youth, that may be of great use and advantage both to Old and Young: That the Aged seeing themselves out-done by Green years, may gird up their loyns, and mend their pace for Heaven; and that Young ones may be so wrought into the love of Religion, as it is Exemplified in this holy Person, as to endeavour with all diligence to write after his excellent Copy.