The Life and Death of Richard Mather, Text contd

The Life and Death of Richard Mather · Text contd

p. 19These Arguments were thus presented to the Consideratio… of some godly Ministers, and other Christians in Lancashire, a… several Meetings for that end. Nothing was satisfactorily sai… p. 20to take off the strength of these Reasons: But many were thereby perswaded that his Call to New-England was clear, yea even his own people at Tox…eth, who did so dearly love his Person, and highly prize his Ministry, yet thought he was now Called of God to leave them. And hereunto he was the more inclined, by some Letters of Mr. Cottons and Mr. Hookers who were lately arrived in New-England, and wrote (as then there was cause) very encouragingly unto godly people to come after them. Mr. Hooker in one of his Letters had this Expression; In a word (saith he) if I may speak my own thoughts fully and freely, though there are very many places where m…n may receive and expect more Earthly Commodities, yet I do believe there is no place this day upon the face of the Earth, where a gracious heart and a judicious head may receive more spiritual good to himself, and do more temporal and spiritual good to others.

Being then fully satisfied concerning the clearness of his Call for New-England, after many Prayers, and extraordinary see kings unto God, he engaged upon the Transporation of himself and Family thither. His parting with his People and other Friends in Lancashire, was like Paul's taking his leave of Ephesus, with much sorrow, many tears being shed by those who expected to see his face no more in this world. This Journey was begun in April 1635. when he travelled to Bristel in order to taking Ship there. In this Journey he was forced (as sometime Brentius was) to change his outward Habit that he might travel incognito, because Pursevants were designed to Apprehend him; but by this means he escaped them. From Bristol he set Sail for New-England May 23. 1635. The Lord, after manifold Trials of Faith and Patience, brought him in safety to the desired Haven. It is seldome known, that a man designed in Gods Eternal Counsel to special Service for his Name, doth not at one time or other experience Eminent Deliverances of Providence: So it was with this Servant of the Lord not once twice. Sundry eminent Salvations from deadly Dangers did the Lord vouchsafe unto him in his Childhood, which he would speak of in his p. 21old Age: But the most remarkable and memorable of all other, was that which hapned to him on the mighty Waters, where he that sits upon the Floods, and stilleth the raging of the Sea when the Waves thereof roar, and whom the Winds obey, shewed himself wonderful in goodness: for when the Vessel was upon the Coasts of New-England, there arose a fearful Storm (which the Americans are wont to call an Hiracano) by means whereof they were in no small danger; And had not the Lord strangely turned the Wind in an instant, they had all perished upon the Rocks which were just before, and within fight of them in the Ship. The Relation of this observable Providence we shall here set down in Mr. Mathens own words, left written by himself in his Journall from Lancashire to New-England. Thus he writech concerning it.

August 15. 1635.

The Lord had not yet done with us, nor had he let us see all his Power and Goodness which he would have us take the knowledge of: And therefore about break of day, he sent a most terrible Storm of Rain and Easterly Wind, whereby we were in as much danger, as I think ever people were. When we came to Land, we found many mighty Trees rent in pieces in the midst of the Bole, and others turned up by the Roots, by the fierceness thereof. We lost in that Morning three Anchors and Cables, one having never been in the water before; two were broken by the violence of the Storm, and the third out by the Seamen in extremity of distress, to save the Ship and their and our Lives. And when our Cables and Anchors were all lost, we had no outward means of Deliverance but by boysing Sail, if so be we might get to sea, from amongst the Islands and Rocks where we had Anchored: But the Lord let us set that our Sails could not save us neither, no more then the Cables and Anchors; for by the force of the Wind and Storm the Sails were rent asunder, and split in pieces as if they had been but rotten Rags, so that of divers of them was scarce left as much as an hand-breadth, that was not rent in pieces, or blown away into the Sea: So that at that time all hope that we should be saved, in regard of any outward appearance, was utterly taken away; and the rather, p. 22because we seemed to drive with full force of Wind directly upon a mighty Rock standing out in sight above water, so that we did but continually wait when we should hear and feel the doleful crashing of the Ship upon the Rock. In this extremity and appearance of Death, as distress and distraction would suffer us, we cried to the Lord, and he was pleased to have compassion upon us: for by his over-ruling Providence, and his own immediate good hand, he guided the Ship past the Rock, asswaged the violence of the Sea and of the Wind. It was a day much to be remembred, because on that day the Lord granted us as wonderful a deliverance, as I think ever any people had felt. The Seamen confessed they never knew the like. The Lord so imprint the memory of it in our hearts, that we may be the better for it, and be careful to please him, and to walk uprightly before him as long as we live. And I hope we shall not forget the passages of that morning untill our dying day. In all this grievous Storm my fear was the less, when I considered the clearness of my Calling from God this way. And in some measure (the Lords holy Name be blessed for it) he gave us hearts contented and willing that he should do with us and ours what he pleased, and what might be most for the glory of his Name, and in that we rested our selves. But when news was brought us into the Gun-room that the danger was past, Oh how our hearts did then relent, and melt within us! we burst out into tears of joy amongst our selves in love unto our gracious God, and admiration of his kindness, in granting to his poor Servants such an Extraordinary and Miraculous Deliverance. His holy Name be blessed for ever!

Thus farre is Mr. Mathers Relation of this signal Providence, as left written with his own hand. And this is the more to be taken notice of, because the lives of several Choice Instruments of Gods Glory, were then saved: For not onelyonly Mr. Mather himself, but two of his Sons, who are now faithfull Ministers of God, were in that Vessel; and so likewise was that Worthy Minister of Christ Mr. Jonathan Mitchell, late Faithful and Famous Pastor of the Church of Cambridge in New-England, he being then a Childe of Eleven years of p. 23Age. Also this Deliverance is the more remarkable, in that several Vessels were cast away in that Storm. A Ship called the Angel Gabriel, which set out from Bristol with the Vessel wherein Mr. Mather was, being then at Anchor at Pemequid, was broke in pieces; and the very same strange and sudden turn of Wind which saved the Vessel wherein Mr. Mather was, ruined the other which came from England at the same time. Also there was then a Ship, going between Piscataqua and the Bay, which was cast away in this Storm, and all the people therein lost, except two that were spared to report the News. And amongst others in that Vessel which then perished, there was a precious Minister of the Gospel, viz. Mr. Avery, who with his Wife and five Children all perished. This Minister (though it be a Digression, yet the Story being so worthy of remembrance, let it here be recorded) every moment expecting that the next Wave would be a Wave of Death, lifted up his eyes to Heaven, saying, Lord, I cannot challenge a Promise of the preservation of my life, but according to thy Covenant I challenge Heaven: Which he had no sooner spoken, but a Wave immediately came and swept him away, and so wafted him to Heaven indeed. And by the way let it further be noted, That this which hath been mentioned is the onelyonly Vessel which miscarried with Passengers from Old England to New; so signally did the Lord in his Providence own the Plantation of New-England.

But (to digress no further) this Storm being allayed, the Lord brought them safe to an Anchor before Boston, August 17. 1635. Mr. Mather abode with his Family for some Moneths in Boston; and both he and his gracious Consort joyned to the Church there.

Being thus by a mighty hand and an out-stretched Arm brought into New-England, Motions from sundry Towns were soon presented to him, desiring that he would imploy the Talent which the Lord had enriched him with, for the work of the Ministry amongst them. At the same time he was desired at Plimouth, Dorchester, and Roxbury. Being in a great strait in his own minde which of these Invitations to accept p. 24of; Considering that in difficult cases Counsel is an Ordinance of God, whereby he is wont to discover his will, he therefore referred himself to the Advice of some judicious Friends; amongst whom, Mr. Cotton and Mr. Hooker were chief, who met to Consult of this weighty Aff…ir; And their Advice was, That he should accept of the Motion from Dorchester. Which being accordingly accepted of by him, he did (by the help of Christ) set upon that great Work of Gathering a Church; the Church which was first planted in that place being removed with the Reverend Mr. Warham to Conecticot. There was an Essay towards Gathering a Church April 1. 1636. but by reason that the Messengers of Neighbour-Churches were not satisfied, concerning some that were intended Members of that Foundation, the Work was deferred untill August 23. when a Church was Constituted in Dorchester according to the Order of the Gospel, by Confession and Profession of Faith; and Mr. Mather was chosen Teacher of that Church.

Being thus again setled in the Lords Work, he therein continued unto his dying day; the Lord making him an Eminent. Blessing not onelyonly to Dorchester, but to all the Churches and Plantations round about, for the space of near upon Four and thirty years.

It is a true Observation which many from Luther have taken up, viz. That three things make an able Divine.

1. Meditatio; Study. Such an one must give himself to Reading and Meditation.

2. Oratio; Prayer. A Man of God must be a man of Prayer, even ever & anon upon his knees before God: And benè Orasse est benè Studuisse. Bradford the Martyr and Cartwright the Confessor, studied kneeling.

3. Tentatio; Temptation. As when Christ was to enter upon his pub…i…k Ministry he was grievously tempted; so it is wont to be with his Servants, and so it was with this good man. The Lord having great Service for him to do, he must under go great Temptations, that he might be the better fitted. for that whereunto he was call…d.

Wherefore before, and for some years after his accepting, p. 25Office-Relation in Dorchester, he was in much Spiritual distress by reason of uncertainties concerning his own Eternal estate. He did (as in wisdome he was bound to) keep these troubles secret from men, onelyonly he revealed the distress of his Soul to that great Divine Mr. Norton, then Teacher to the Church in Ipswich, unto whom (under Christ) God gave the tongue of the Learned to speak a word in season, whereby his Soul was Comforted; the Lord giving him to see that he was walking to Heaven in the same way that David, Asaph, H…man, &c. had gone before him.

During the time of his Pilgrimage in New-England he under-went not so many Changes, as before that he had done; for he never removed his Habitation out of Dorchester, albeit he had once serious thoughts that way, by reason that his old people in Toxteth, after that the Hierarchy was deposed in England, sent to him; desiring his return to them: But Dorchester was in no wise willing to forgoe their interest in him, therefore he left them not. Nevertheless, he did in New-England (as in a Wilderness might be expected) experience many Trials of his Faith and Patience. That which of outward Afflictions did most agrieve him, was the Death of his dear Wife, who had been for so many years the greatest outward Comfort and Blessing which he did enjoy: Which Affliction was the more grievous, in that she being a Woman of singular Prudence for the Management of Affairs, had taken off from her Husband all Secular Cares, so that he wholly devoted himself to his Study, and to Sacred Imployments. After he had continued in the state of Widowhood a year and half, he again changed his Condition, and was Married to the pious Widow of that deservedly Famous Man of God Mr. John Cotton; and her did God make a Blessing and a Comfort to him during the remainder of his dayes.

Old Age now being come upon him, he was sensible of the Infirmities thereof, being in his latter years something thick of Hearing: Also (as it was with great Zanchy) the sight in one of his Eyes failed, seven years before his Death. Yet God gave him Health of Body and Vigour of Spirit in a wonderful p. 26measure, so as that in fifty years together, he was not by Sickness detained so much as one Lords-day from Publick Labours. Which continued Health (as to Natural causes) proceeded partly from his strong Constitution of Body, and partly from his accustoming himself to a plain and wholsome Diet. Bona Diaeta est potior quovis Hippocrate. He never made use of any Physician, nor was he ever in all his life sick of any acute Disease. OnelyOnly the two last years of his Life he was sorely afflicted with that Disease which some have called Flagellum Studiosorum, viz. The Stone, which at last brought him to an end of all his Labours and Sorrows.

Concerning the Time and Manner of his Sickness and Death, thus it was. There being some Differences in Boston, Counsel from Neighbour Churches was by some desired, to direct them in the Lord what should be done: Accordingly the Churches sent their Messengers; and Dorchester Church, amongst others, sent Mr. Mather their aged Teacher, who Assembled in Boston, April 13. 1669. He was, because of his Age, Gravity, Grace and Wisdome wherewith the Lord had endowed and adorned him, chosen the Moderator in that Reverend Assembly. For divers dayes after his being thus in Consultation, he enjoyed his Health as formerly, or rather better then for some time of late. But as Luther when Assembled in a Synod was surprized with a violent Fit of the Stone, whence he was forced to return home, his Friends having little hopes of his life; so it was with this holy man. For April 16. 1669. he was in the night, being then in his Sons house in Boston, taken exceeding ill through a totall stoppage of his Urine. The next morning he therefore returned home to Dorchester. Great was the favour of God towards him, that he should be found about such a blessed Work as then he was ingaged in, for the Lord found him sincerely and earnestly endeavouring to be a Peace-maker. His being thus taken when at a Synod, brings to minde that of the German Phaenix;

Viximus in Synodis, & jam moriemur in illis.

p. 27Now as usually Providence so ordereth, that they who have been speaking all their lives long, shall not say much when they come to die: Blessed Hooker in his last Sickness, when Friends would have had him answered to some Enquiries which might have made for their Edification after he was gone, he referred them wholly to the things which he had taught them in his health, because then he had enough to do to grapple with his own bodily weakness, &c. Neither did this good man speak much in his last Sickness either to Friends or to his Children. OnelyOnly his Son who is now Teacher of a Church in Boston, coming to visit his Father, and perceiving the Symptomes of Death to be upon him, said unto him, Sir, if there be any speciall thing which you would recommend unto me to do, in case the Lord should spare me upon the Earth, after you are in Heaven, I would intreat you to express it. At the which, his Father making a little pause, and lifting up his eyes and hands to Heaven, replied, A speciall thing which I would commend to you, is, Care concerning the Rising Generation in this Country, that they be brought under the Government of Christ in his Church; and that when grown up and qualified, they have Baptism for their Children. I must confess I have been defective as to practise, yet I have publickly declared my judgement, and manifested my desires to practise that which I think ought to be attended, but the Dissenting of some in our Church discouraged me. I have thought that persons might have Right to Baptism, and yet not to the Lords Supper; and I see no cause to alter my judgement as to that particular. And I still think that persons qualified according to the Fifth Proposition of the late Synod-Book, have Right to Baptism for their Children.

His bodily Pains continued upon him untill April 22. when in the Morning his Son aforementioned, coming to visit him, asked his Father if he knew him; to whom he Replied that he did, but was not able to speak any more to him: Whereupon his Son saying, Now you will speedily be in the joy of your Lord; His Father lifted up his hands, but could not speak. Not long after his Son again spoke to him, saying, p. 28You will quickly see Jesus Christ, and that will make amends for all your pains and sorrows: At which words his Father again lifted up his hands; but after that he took notice of no person or thing, but continuing speechless untill about 10 h. P. M. he quietly breathed forth his last. Thus did that Light that had been shining in the Church above Fifty years, Expire.

As some of the Lords precious ones have had a reall apprehension and prae sense of their approaching D…ssolution imprinted on their Spirits; so it is noted of Ambrose and of Gorgonia of old; and of Gesner, Melancthon, and …anford among Modern Divines: Thus it was with this holy man some time afore his departure. The last Text which he taught from, and insisted long thereon, was that 2 Timothy 4. 6, 7, 8. I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand; I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the Faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a Crown of Righteousness, which the Lord the righteous Judge will give me at that day; and not to me onelyonly, but unto all them also that love his appearing. And the portion of Scripture which before that he had insisted upon, was Job 14. 14. All the dayes of my appointed time, will I wait till my change come. The Lord found his blessed Servant so doing. Also the last private Conference-Meeting which he was at in Dorchester, he had prepared to speak from those words, 2 Cor. 5. 1. For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternall in the Heavens: But bodily pains prevented him from speaking what was in his heart to have expressed; the Lord intending that he should no more speak of, but see that place which he had so much and so often thought on, and long prayed and longed to enjoy.

He was, especially in his last Sickness, a Pattern of Patience. For although extremity of pain, without any acute Disease, was that which brought him to his Grave, yet he did never so much as once cry out from first to last; and it was very rare to hear him so much as groan (but never grumble) under p. 29his dolorous Griefs. In this Sickness, whereof he died, he was much delighted in reading Doctor Goodwins Discourse about Patience, in which Book he read till the very day of his Death. Once in his Sickness, his Son saying to him, that inasmuch as several small Stones were come from him in his Urine, now possible he might have some ease; his Father answered with an affecting earnestness of expression, As for that matter, the Will of the Lord be done. Such was his grace and patience. And at the same time his Son saying to him, God hath shewed his great faithfulness unto you, having upheld you now for the space of more then Fifty years in his Service, and imployed you therein without ceasing, which can be said of very few men upon the face of the whole Earth. His Father replied, You say true; I must acknowledge the mercy of God hath been great towards me all my dayes: but I must also acknowledge, that I have had many failings, and the thought of them abaseth me, and worketh patience in me. When any one asked him how he did; his usual Answer was, Far from well, yet far better then my iniquities deserve. Thus did he (like old Austin who died reading the Penitential Psasms) keep up a spirit of Repentance to the last.

As he was a man faithful and fearing God above many, so the Lord shewed great faithfulness unto him, both in making him serviceable unto the last, yea and continuing the vigour of his Spirit, and power of his Ministry. Few men, though young, are known to Preach with such vigour as he did but ten dayes before his death. Also the Lord was faithful and gracious to him, in respect of his Children. It was a special token of Divine favour unto some of the Ancients, that their Sons after them succeeded in the Ministry; so was it with the Fathers of Gregory Nazianzen, Gregory Nyssen, Basil, Hilary, &c. And the Lord cheered the heart of this his Servant in his old Age, by giving him to see most of his Sons imployed in the Ministry many years before their precious Father's decease. He left four Sons in that Work; one of whom, viz. Mr. Eleazar Mather, late Pastor of the Church at Northampton in New-England, went to his rest about three Moneths after his Father, with him to found forth the praises of God amongst the Spirits of just men made perfect. The other three are yet surviving, viz. Mr. Samuel Mather, Teacher of a Church in Dublin; Mr. Nathaniel Mather, late Minister of Barnstable in Devon, and since in Rotterdam in Holland; and Increase Mather of Boston in New-England.

Concerning his Judgement. Touching matters of Fait and Doctrine, his large Catechism which contains the Summe of the Body of Divinity, doth sufficiently manifest his Orthodoxness to the World. Indeed he was a strenuous opposer of the Errours of the Times. Touching Worship and Disc…pline; he was for the true Congregational Way, in opposition to both the Extremes of Brownism on the one hand, and Presbyterianism on the other hand. As for Brownism, he was of the same apprehension with Mr. Dod and Mr. Cotton, That God is not wont to make choice of men infamous for gross Vices (as that Brown and Barrow were) to be the Discoverers of momentous Truths. And to manifest that he was farre from the Errour of that Way, he hath left a judicious Manuscript, proving that although Power, i. e. Priviledge and Liberty doth belong to the Fraternity, yet that Rule is proper to the Presbytery of the Church. As for Presbyterianism, his Printed Books in Answer to Mr. Herle and Mr. Rutherford, shew how farre he was distant from that Perswasion. Also some years before his Death, he prepared for the Press an Elaborate D…scourse, Entituled, A Plea for the Churches of New-England; divided into Two Parts: The former being an Answer to Mr. Rathbands Narration of Church-Courses in New-England; The other containing Positive Grounds from Scripture and Reason, for the Justification of the Way of the Churches in New-England. Not many weeks before his death a Friend acquainting him, that some reported that he had declared himself to be a Presbyterian; He replied, You tell me a strange thing: I have written Books in Defence of the Congregational-Way, as differing from the Presbyterian, and doth any one say I declared my self for that Perswasion? It is nothing so. At the same time it being said to … he had p. 31the principal hand in the Platform of Discipline, and had he not changed his judgement from that? His Answer was, No, not in any one particular that I know of.

His way of Preaching was plain, aiming to shoot his Arrows not over his peoples heads, but into their Hearts and Consciences. Whence he studiously avoided obscure phrases, Exotick words, or an unnecessary citation of Latine Sentences, which some men addict themselves to the use of. Mr. Dod was wont to say, That so much Latine was so much flesh in a Sermon: So did this humble man look upon the affectation of such things in a Popular Auditory to savour of Carnal wisdome. The Lord gave him an excellent faculty in making abstruse things plain, that in handling the deepest Mysteries he would accommodate himself to Vulgar Capacities, that even the meanest might learn something. He knew how to express foreign. He would often use that Saying, Actis est celare Artem. And much approved that of Austin; If (said he) I preach Learnedly, then onelyonly the Learned and not the Ʋnlearned can understand and pr…fit by me; but if I preach plainly, then Learned and Ʋnlearned both can understand, so I may profit all. He was Mighty in the Scriptures: Whence Mr. Hooker would say of him, My Brother Mather is a mighty man. Also his usuall way of Delivery was very Powerful, Awakening, and Zealous; especially in his younger years, there being few men of so great strength of body as he, which together with his natural fervour of Spirit, being fanctified, made his Ministry the more powerful. And the Lord went forth with his Labours to the Conyersion of many, both in England and in New-England. Yet though his way of Preaching was plain and zealous, it was moreover Substantial and very Judicious. Even in his beginning times, Mr. Gillebrand (a famous Minister in Lancashire; and the more famous, for that though he did exceedingly Stammer in his ordinary discourse, he would Pray and Preach as fluently as any man) once having heard him Preach, asked what his Name might be? And answer being made that his Name was Mather; Nay (said Mr. Gillebrand) call him Matter, for believe it this man p. 32hath Substance in him. Yea, such was his Solidity of Judgement, that some who were his Opposites, yet did therefore greatly respect and honour him. Doctor Parr (then Bishop in the Isle of Man) having heard Mr. Mather was Silenced, lamented it, saying, If Mather be Silenced I am sorry for it, for he was a solid man, and the Church of God hath then a great loss.

Because he was esteemed eminently Judicious, therefore amongst the Reverend Elders in New-England, he was much improved in Managing the Controversies then under Debate about Church-Government. The Discourse about the Church-Covenant, and the Answer to the XXXII. Questions, both written Anno 1639. although they pass under the Name of the Elders of New-England, Mr. Mather was the sole Author of, as Mr. Cotton in his Answer to Baily, pag. 70. and Answer to Williams, pag. 63. and Mr. Nathaniel Mather in his Epistle to the XXI. Questions concerning Church-members and their Children, have truely related. And when there was a Synod called to Covene at Cambridge, Anno 1647. that Reverend Assembly desired three Elders to draw up A Modell of Church Government against the next Session, viz. Mr. Cotton, Mr. Mather, and Mr. Partrich. The Printed Platform of Discipline is for the substance of it the same with that which was Composed by Mr. Mather. It might be said of him, as was said of that blessed Martyr, that he was sparing in his Diet, sparing in his Speech, most sparing of all of his Time. He was very diligent both as to duties of general and particul…r Calling, which are indeed the two Pillars upon which Religion stands. As to his general Calling; He was much in Prayer, especially in his Study, where he oft-times spent whole dayes with God in suing for a Blessing upon himself and Children, and upon the people to whom he was related, and upon the whole Country where he lived. The Requests which upon such occasions he put up to God in Jesus Christ, and also how his heart was moved to believe that God heard him, he left (many of them) in writing amongst his private Papers, I suppose that so himself might have recourse unto those Experiences p. 33in a time of darkness and Temptation; also that his Sons after him might see by their Fathers Example, what it is to walk before God. Now what a loss is to to the world when such a Righteous man is taken away! Well might Philo and Jerome weep bitterly, when they heard of the death of any such men, because it portended evil to the places where they had lived, and served God. As he was much in Prayer, so he was very frequent in Hearing the Word. It was his manner to attend several Lectures in Neighbour-Congregations, untill his D…sease made him unable to ride; yea and usually even to his old Age (as did Mr. Hildersham) he took Notes from those whom he heard, professing that he found profit in it.

As to his particular Calling, he was even from his youth a hard Student. Yea his minde was so intent upon his Work and Studies, that the very morning before he died, he importuned those Friends that watched with him to help him into his Study: They urging that he was not able to go so farre, he desired them to help him and try; which they did: but ere he was come to the door of his Lodging-room, I see (saith he) I am not able, yet I have not been in my Study several dayes, and is it not a lamentable thing that I should lose so much time? After his entrance upon the Ministry, he was not onelyonly in England (as hath been said) but in New-England abundant in Labours: for except when he had an Assistant with him (which was seldome) he Preached twice every Lords-day; and a Lecture once a fortnight, besides many occasionall Sermons both in Publick and in Private. Also he was much exercised in answering many pract…cal Cases of C…nscience, and in Polemical, especially Disciplinary D…scourses. In his P…blick Ministry in Dorchester he went over The Book of Genesis to Chap. 38. Psalm 16. The whole Book of the Prophet Z…cha…iah. Matthews Gospel, to Chap. 15. 1 Epist. to Th…ss. Chap▪ 5. And the whole Second Episle of Peter; his Notes whereon he reviewed, and Transcribed for the Press, not many years before his decease.

Notwithstanding those rare Gifts and Graces wherewith the p. 34Lord had adorned him, he was exceeding low and little in his own eyes. Some have thought that his greatest errour was, that he did not magnifie his Office, as he might and sometimes should have done. If a man must erre, it is good erring on that hand. Humble enough, and good enough, was the frequent Saying of a great Divine. And another observeth, That every man hath just as much and no more true worth in him, as he hath Humility. Austine being asked which was the most excellent grace, answered, Humility; and which was the next, answered, Humility; and which was the third, replied again, Humility. That indeed is Comprehensively All, being of great price in the sight of God: And if so, Mr. Mather was a man of much Reall Worth.

It hath been the manner of some, in writing Lives to insertSo B…a in the Life of Calvin Ban…osius in the L…fe of Ramus, &c. the Wills of those whose Lives and Death they have described. The last Will and Testament of him, whose Life and Death hath thus been related, breathing forth a most humble, holy, and gracious Spirit, we shall here subjoyn the Preface and Conclusion of it. It was written with his own hand Octob. 16. 1661. And beginneth as followeth.

I Richard Mather, considering the certainty of death, and the uncertainty of the time thereof; and withall knowing it to be the will of God that a man should set his House in order before he depart this life, Do make this my last Will and Testament in manner following. First of all, I acknowledge the rich and wonderful Grace and Mercy of Almighty God, whose hands have made me and fashioned me, and who took me out of my Mothers Womb, that having made me a Man, who might have made me a Beast or other Creature; He hath also by his good Providence preserved the beeing and comfort of my life all the d…yes of my Pilgrimage untill now, even for the space of these Sixty five years: During all which time, he hath not suffered me to want either food or raiment, or the service of any p. 35creature, which hath been requisite for my comfortable subsisting in this World; which I acknowledge to be the bounteous gift of Him who is Lord of all Creatures, and the High Possessor of Heaven and Earth. Next of all, and more especially I am bound to give Thanks and Praise to Him whil'st I have any beeing, that I being a Childe of Wrath by Nature as well as others, and being born in a place of much Profaneness and Popery, he hath of his abundant grace vouchsafed to draw me out of that woful estate of Sin and Ignorance wherein I lay, and to make himself and his Christ known unto me by the Gospel, of which grace I was most unworthy; and in his great patience and me…cy to bear with my manifold and great offences, both before and since the time of his gracious Calling of me, though for my unworthy walking in many particulars, I might justly have been for ever rejected of him. Yea and such hath been his rich grace, that he hath vouchsafed to put me an unworthy creature into the Ministry of the Gospel of his Son, that I should not onelyonly know and profess the same (which is unspeakable mercy) but be also a Preacher of it unto others. In which Imployment if any thing hath been done which hath been pleasing unto him, or any way beneficiall to any Childe of his, it hath not been I that have done the same, but the grace of God which was with me. For I must needs acknowledge to the praise of his Patience and Grace, That in my poor Ministration for the space of these Forty two years and upwards, I have been much defective in Wisdome and Watchfulness over the peoples Souls, in Purity, in Faithfulness, in Uprightness, Meekness, Humility and Zeal: And because of th…s…, and p. 36many other my defects and offences against the Lord, I stand in much need this day of mercy and forgiveness through his Christ, and have no cause to look for any acceptance either in this or in another World, for any Righteousness of my own, either as touching my Minist…y or otherwise, but disclaiming all thought of that kinde, my onelyonly trust and hope is to be accepted of him, and (when this life shall end) to be saved in his Heavenly Kingdome meerly by his Free-grace, and the Obedience and precious Passion and Intercession of his dear Son. And concerning Death, as I do believe it is appointed for all men once to die; so, because I see a great deal of unprofitableness in my own life, and because God hath also let me see such vanity and emptiness even in the best of those Comforts which this life can afford, that I think I may truely say, That I have seen an end of all perfection: Therefore if it were the will of God, I should be glad to be removed hence, where the best that is to be had doth yield so little satisfaction to my Soul, and to be brought into his presence in glory, that there I might finde (for there I know it is to be had) that satisfying and All-sufficient contentment in him, which under the Sun is not to be enjoyed. In the mean time I desire to stay the Lords leisure. But thou, O Lord, how long! Now concerning my Outward Estate, sith the Earth is the Lords and the fulness thereof, the habitable World, and all that is therein; to him therefore belongs the praise of all that I poss…ss in this kinde: And for the portion thereof which he hath given unto me, it is my minde and will, if so it please his Highness, that after my decease the same may be disposed of as followeth, &c.

p. 37Having thus graciously expressed himself, he proceeds to the disposal of his Temporal Estate; which being of private Concernment, we shall not here trouble the World therewith. But after the disposal of that, he concludeth with a most Solemn Charge to his Children; with the rehearsall whereof we shall finish. It is in words following.

Concerning my Son Timothy, with all the rest of my Beloved Sons, as I hope God hath already made them partakers, at least sundry of them, of his saving grace in Christ, for which I and they have cause to be endlesly thankful; so I think it not amiss, for the furtherance of their Spiritual good, to lay upon them this serious and solemn Charge of a Dying Father, That none of them presume after my decease to walk in any way of sin and wickedness in one kinde or another, or in a careless neglect of God, and the things of God, and of their own Salvation by Christ: for if they shall so do (which God forbid) Then and in such case I hereby testifie unto them, That their Father which begat them, and their Mother which bare them, with all the Prayers which they have made, and Tears which they have shed for them, their Example, their Admonitions and Exhortations which they have administred to them, together with this my last Will and Solemn Charge; All these will rise up against them as so many Testimonies for their Condemnation at the last day. But I have better hopes of them; And do hereby declare unto them, That if they shall seriously repent of their sins, Believe on the Lord Jesus, and by his grace walk in all the wayes of God, and as becometh the Gospel of Christ; as this will be to the Honour and p. 38glory of Him that made them, so it will redound to their own unspeakable comfort and benefit in this and in another World: and their Father that now speaketh unto them, with their dear Mother now with God, shall exceedingly rejoyce in the day of Christ, when we shall receive our Children unto those Everlasting Habitations; and shall see not our selves alone, but those also that have proceeded and come forth out of our own bowels, to have their part and portion in that Eternall Glory. In desire and hope that it may be so, I commend them all to the Lord of Heaven's Blessing: And let the Blessing of God in Jesus Christ, be poured out and remain upon them all for evermore.

Amen.

FINIS.

End of the text · Increase Mather, The Life and Death of Richard Mather (1670)