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

His being thus employed was more ways then one advantageous to him: for by this means he became a more accurate Grammarian then Divines usually are. Being also diligent in his Studies whilst he continued in this way of Employment, he became a Proficient in other Arts, as in Logic, Rhetoric, yea and in Theology. Moreover, it afterwards appeared to be of God, that he was Called to such a Work in such a place, for there the effectual Conversion of his Soul unto the Lord, was wrought in his tender years, even afore his going to Oxford; whence he was preserved from those Corruptions which undid many of his Contemporaries, through the Temptation which in the University they met with. The means of his Conversion was partly by seeing a strange difference between himself and sundry in that godly Family, where Divine Providence had cast his Lot in Toxteth, viz. the Family of Mr. Edward Aspinwall, who was a Learned and Religious Gentleman. Now he observed that the way and walking of that holy man, was such as himself had not as yet been accustomed unto, which caused sad fears to arise in his Soul, lest haply he might not be in the way which leadeth unto Eternal Salvation. Also ⟨p. 6⟩Mr.Harrison, then • famous Minister at Hyton, Preaching upon Jo•.3.3. concerning the necessity of Regeneration, and at the same time reading a Book of Mr.Perkins his, showing how far a Reprobate may go, God blessed these three things not only to Conviction, but to Conversion. This was Anno 1614. The pangs of the New-birth were exceeding terrible to him, inasmuch as many times when they were at Meals in the Family where he sojourned, he would absent himself to retire under hedges and other secret places, there to lament his misery before God. But after some time, the Lord revived his broken heart, by sending the holy Spirit in the Ministry of the Word to apply the Precious Promises of the Gospel to his Soul.

His being thus employed was more wayes then one advantagious to him: for by this means he became a more acurate Grammarian then Divines usually are. Being also diligent in his Studies whil'st he continued in this way of Imployment, he became a Proficient in other Arts, as in Logick, Rhetorick, yea and in Theology. Moreover, it afterwards appeared to be of God, that he was Called to such a Work in such a place, for there the effectual Conversion of his Soul unto the Lord, was wrought in his tender years, even afore his going to Oxford; whence he was preserved from those Corruptions which undid many of his Contemporaries, through the Temptation which in the University they met with. The means of his Conversion was partly by seeing a strange difference between himself and sundry in that godly Family, where Divine Providence had cast his Lot in Toxteth, viz. the Family of Mr. Edward Aspinwall, who was a Learned and Religious Gentleman. Now he observed that the way and walking of that holy man, was such as himself had not as yet been accustomed unto, which caused sad fears to arise in his Soul, lest haply he might not be in the way which leadeth unto Eternal Salvation. Also