N01015:80
A faithful man, described and rewarded. Some observable & serviceable passages in the life…
A faithful man, described and rewarded. Some observable & serviceable passages in the life and death of Mr. Michael Wigglesworth. Late Pastor of Maldon [i.e., Malden]; who rested from his labours, on the Lords-Day, June 10th. 1705. In the seventy fourth year of his age. : And memorials of piety, left behind him among his written experiences. : With a funeral-sermon preached (for him) at Maldon; June 24. 1705. / By Cotton Mather. ; [Two lines of quotation in Latin]
Boston: printed by B. Green for Benj. Eliot, 1705
Title page typeset from the transcription.
A Faithful Man Described & Rewarded. A SERMON Preached at MALDON, o… › APPLICATION.
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.
As he was Faithful to the Death, so he was Lively to the Death. He earnestly Desired, That he might hold out, Useful unto the Last. God granted him his Desire; A Desire seldom denied unto them ⟨p. 26⟩that are so Importunate in it. It was a surprise unto us, to see a Little Feeble Shadow of a Man, beyond Seventy, Preaching usually Twice or Thrice in a Week; Visiting and Comforting the Afflicted; Encouraging the Private Meetings; Catechising the Children of the Flock; and managing the Government of the Church: and attending the Sick, not only as a Pastor, but as a Physician too; and this not only in his own Town, but also in all those of the Vicinity. Thus he did, unto the last; and he was but one Lords-Day taken off, before his Last.
As he was Faithful to the Death, so he was Lively to the Death. He earnestly Desired, That he might hold out, Useful unto the Last. God granted him his Desire; A Desire seldom denied unto them ⟨p. 26⟩that are so Importunate in it. It was a surprize unto us, to see a Little Feeble Shadow of a Man, beyond Seventy, Preaching usually Twice or Thrice in a Week; Visiting and Comforting the Afflicted; Encouraging the Private Meetings; Catechising the Children of the Flock; and managing the Government of the Church: and attending the Sick, not only as a Pastor, but as a Physician too; and this not only in his own Town, but also in all those of the Vicinity. Thus he did, unto the last; and he was but one Lords-Day taken off, before his Last.
But in the Last Week of his Life, how full of Resignation! how full of Satisfaction;
Sirs, His Instruction must Live with you, tho' he be Dead. Yea, and his Example too; his Holy Example; the Example of his Holiness & his Faithfulness.