The life and death of that Reverend man of God, Mr. Richard Mather, teacher…

THE LIFE & DEATH OF Mr. Richard Mather.

The Writing and Reading of the Lives of Worthy Ones, hath been by some accounted amongst the most profitable works of men under the Sun. The Labours of some Learned amongst the Gentiles this way have not been altogether without benefit, witness what is done by Plutarch, Laertius, Philostratus, Eunapius, Pliny, &c. albeit they are to be read with judgement. But especially the faithful Description of the Lives of those who have been Eminent Teachers in the Church, hath been to the great advantage of after Ages. Many have reaped benefit by reading Dorotheus his Collection of the Lives of the Prophets, Apostles, and Seventy Disciples of Christ: And (not to speak of the Labours of Gennadius, Epiphanius, Isidore, and Prochorus of old) among later Writers, Shopfius his Academia Christi, and Tossanus concerning the Lives of the Fathers, and Melchior Adam concerning the Lives of all our Modern Divines, as far as he could by any means come to the knowledge thereof. The pains which Mr. Clark hath taken in publishing the Lives of many of our English Worthies, hath been profitable to not a few: And great pity it is that more should not be done that way. If the Lives of Brightman, Parker, Ames, Burroughs, Hooker, &c. were published to the World, it might be of general advantage. Nor is it to be doubted but that there have been many famous in their Generations, whose Memories are ⟨p. 2⟩buried in the dust, for want of some one to undertake and office, whereby their Names might have been perpetuated to Posterity.

THe Writing and Reading of the Lives of Wortky Ones, hath been by some accounted amongst the most profitable works of men under the Sun. The Labours of some Learned amongst the Gentiles this way have not been altogether without benefit, witness what is done by Pluterch, Laertius, Philostratus, Eunapius, Pliny, &c. albeit they are to be read with judgement. But especially the faithful Description of the Lives of those who have been Eminent Teachers in the Church, hath been to the great advantage of afterAges. Many have reaped benefit by reading Dorotheus his Collection of the Lives of the Prophets, Apostles, and Seventy Disciples of Christ: And (not to speak of the Labours of Gennadius, Epiphanius, Isidore, and Prochorus of old) among later Writers, Shopfius his Academia Christi, and Tossanus concerning the Lives of the Fathers, and Melchior Adam concerning the Lives of all our Modern Divines, as farre as he could by any means come to the knowledge thereof. The pains which Mr. Clark hath taken in publishing the Lives of many of our English Worthies, hath been profitable to not a few: And great pity it is that more should not be done that way. If the Lives of Brightman, Parker, Ames, Barroughs, Hooker, &c. were published to the World, it might be of generall advantage. Nor is it to be doubted but that there have been many famous in their Generations, whose Memories are