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

He was at first surprised, at the measure of Spiritual-mindedness, without which that great Saint, Dr. Owen! apprehends the Life and Peace of Souls to labour under prejudice; and he thought a Mind swallowed up in such Heavenly Frames and Works as were needful thereunto, almost wholly to be despaired of; until (as himself a few hours before he dyed said unto me) he deemed he saw an Instance of such a Walk with God, not very far from the place of his abode: To which purpose his reserved Papers have a large Discourse, of which this is in the Conclusion: There might be a greater Progress in Religion, than is commonly thought for. What have I Examples for, but to imitate them? Abraham is famed for believing so strongly, when he had no Example before ⟨p. 24⟩him: Let me try and see, whether I having such opportunities may not arrive to as high a pitch in Christianity, as any that I have known. He then in the strength and through the Love of God set himself into a way of strict, secret, laborious Devotion whereby though none but God and He filled the Theatre, which he acted upon, he would be in the Fear of the Lord all the day long. He withdrew from the delight of this World, and gave himself up to an assiduous Contemplation of God and Christ, and a sedulous endeavour after utmost conformity unto him: Thus […] kept abounding in the Work of the Lord until three Years of wonderful Holiness had ripened him for eternal Happiness.

He was at first surprized, at the measure of Spiritual-mindedness, without which that great Saint, Dr. Owen! apprehends the Life and Peace of Souls to labour under prejudice; and he thought a Mind swallowed up in such Heavenly Frames and Works as were needful thereunto, almost wholly to be despair'd of; until (as himself a few hours before he dyed said unto me) he deem'd he saw an Instance of such a Walk with God, not very far from the place of his abode: To which purpose his reserv'd Papers have a large Discourse, of which this is in the Conclusion: There might be a greater Progress in Religion, than is commonly thought for. What have I Examples for, but to imitate them? Abraham is fam'd for believing so strongly, when he had no Example before ⟨p. 24⟩him: Let me try and see, whether I having such opportunities may not arrive to as high a pitch in Christianity, as any that I have known. He then in the strength and thrô the Love of God set himself into a vvay of strict, secret, laborious Devotion vvhereby thô none but God and He fill'd the Theatre, vvhich he acted upon, he vvould be in the Fear of the Lord all the day long. He withdrew from the delight of this World, and gave himself up to an assiduous Contemplation of God and Christ, and a sedulous endeavour after utmost conformity unto him: Thus kept abounding in the Work of the Lord until three Years of wonderful Holiness had ripened him for eternal Happiness.