Addresses to old men, and young men, and little children. In three discourses ...…

To Male-children, I might particularly mention one who at the age of twelve years, among other expressions of an unusual seriousness and gravity, wrote from his Lodging at Cambridge to his Father in Dorchester,—These very syllables.

'Tho I am thus well in my Body, yet I question whether my Soul do prosper as my Body doth; for I perceive yet to this very day, little growth in grace; and this makes me question, whether grace be in mine heart, or no. I feel also daily great unwillingness to good Duties, and the great ruling of Sin in my heart; and that God is angry with me, and gives me no Answer to my prayers, but many times he even throws them down as dust in my face; and he does not grant my continual Requests, for the spiritual blessing of the s•s•ning of my hard heart. And in all this, I could yet take some Comfort; but that it makes me to wonder, what God's secret Decree concerning me, may be. For I doubt whether God is ever wont to deny grace and mercy to his chosen, (tho' uncalled) when they seek unto him by prayer for it; and therefore seeing he does thus deny it to me, I think that the reason of it is most like to be, because I belong not to the Election of Grace. I desire you, that you would let me have your prayers, as I doubt not but I have them; and rest. your Son, Samuel Mather.

'Tho I am thus well in my Body, yet I question whether my Soul do prosper as my Body doth; for I perceive yet to this very day, little growth in grace; and this makes me question, whether grace be in mine heart, or no. I feel also daily great unwillingness to good Duties, and the great ruling of Sin in my heart; and that God is angry with me, and gives me no Answer to my prayers, but many times he even throws them down as dust in my face; and he does not grant my c•ntinual Requests, for the spiritual blessing of the s•s•ning of my hard heart. And in all this, I could yet take some Comfort; but that it makes me to wonder, what God's secret Decree concerning me, may be. For I doubt whether God is ever wont to deny grace and mercy to his chosen, (tho' uncalled) when they feek unto him by prayer for it; and therefore seeing he does thus deny it to me, I think that the reason of it is most like to be, because I belong not to the Election of Grace. I desire you, that you would let me have your prayers, as I doubt not but I have them; and rest. your Son, Samuel Mather.