And I made a VOW:

That whenever I received certain Tidings, of the Lord's appearing to scatter our Foes and our Fears I will, within a Fortnight after, at furthest, keep a Day of Thanksgiving unto Him; wherein also I would make it my Business to contrive what other Acknowledgments, I should make unto Him, for His Benefits.

Several have been my Designs, in the two Months that are past; but these among the rest:

I. Whenever I pray with any sick Person, I would bee at pains to do what good I can, upon the Souls of them, that attend in the Room, where I give the Visit.

II. I would on Lord's Day Mornings, have my rising Thoughts often employed on this Quæstion, What Service may I do for the Lord Jesus Christ, as I am a Pastor to a Flock of His?

III. Oh! That while I am dressing myself in any Morning, I may bee frequently thinking, What special Service is there to bee done by mee, for the Lord Jesus Christ, in the Day ensuing.

IV. When I have heard a Sermon preached, I would, as I go out of the Assembly send up an Ejaculation to Heaven, that the Truths newly delivered may have an happy and a lasting Effect upon mee!

V. What Service may I do for the Lord Jesus Christ, as I am an Overseer of Harvard-College? I may suggest unto my Father, who is the Rector of it, many profitable Things. Especially, as to settling the Students in good Principles.

VI. When I understand that any Person belonging to my Flock, is in any peculiar Affliction or Temptation, I would of my own Accord, seek an Opportunitie, to assist them. 17 d. 8 m. [October.] This Day, which was a Fast in

1

1 Mather prayed at the Artillery Meeting, Monday, October 5. Sewall, Diary, 1. 99.

my Study, was a Day full of Sweetness and Heaven; and Assurances, that I am a pardon'd and shall be a blessed Man. One of my Errands to Heaven was, Guidance about the Change of my Condition.

18 d. 8 m Lord's Day. At the Lord's-Table, I did, as the Pastor of the Church, in the Name of my Father, then present, and myself, profess, that if our Death were needful to ensure the Salvation of any Soul present, wee would bee willing to dy immediately: and that, however wee brought all of them in our Arms unto the Saviour of Souls, that there might not bee one Child of Perdition among them all.

24 d. 8 m. DESIGNS. I. Lett mee do my part, in obtaining of the Ministers in this Town, that wee may together in private have our Dayes for Prayer with Fasting; which ourselves, our Flocks our whole distressed Land may fare the better for.

II. Never bee at Rest, while our Island here, the North part of Boston, is without a good Schoolmaster, and a florishing School.

III. My Father has præpared a little Book, about Faith, and Repentance, and the Day of Judgment.1 Lett mee promote and assist the Publication of it; and with no small Expence, endeavour to scatter it into Multitudes of Houses.

7 d. 9 m [November.] This DAY, was devoted unto secret Humiliations and Supplications, before the God of Heaven.

Having this Day, obtained and received, a joyful Assurance, that none of my former Iniquities would bee remembred against mee, I sett myself to beg the Smiles of God upon mee, in the Ordering of my single or married Estate, unto His Glory.

I acknowledged unto the Lord, my own Unworthiness of any good Thing, especially of the good Thing, which is

1 The Greatest Sinners Exhorted and Encouraged, Boston, 1686.

found by them that obtain favour of the Lord: I professed, that I would study to do nothing hereabout, that should bee Displeasing unto Him: I declared, that I desired Nothing in this World, which might prejudice my Glorifying of Himself: I said, that if Hee saw any thing would hinder mee from honouring of Him, I should bee glad, if Hee would hinder mee from having of that, whatever my misguided Appetites, might plead unto the contrary: I said, that if Hee would have mee to embrace a Cœlibacy, I would evermore take a Contentment in it, as that which would capacitate mee to serve my Parents, and His People, to whom I owe my All. Nevertheless, to this I subjoined, that since my Inclinations and Invitations did now seem to recommend a married Estate unto mee, I begg'd of Him, that Hee would lead mee in the Way wherein I should go; and I VOW'd unto Him, that if Hee would prevent all Obstructions, of my desirable Settlement in a married Relation, unto one who shall bee a Blessing to mee, in that Work, which my Hand finds to do, I will TWICE at least, EVERY YEAR, join with her, in keeping a Day of Thanksgiving, privately unto Himself: except His Providence at any Time, give a sufficient Cause, for the Omission of it.

In this month, I had these among other, DESIGNS.

I. The Apostles advice to a Young Minister, was Exercise thyself unto Godliness.1

2

I would now Read over Mr. Swinnock's fine Discourses,2 on this Art; and bestow my particular Ejaculations upon every Article, as I go along.

II. Tis observable, that the Want of Mortification in a Minister, procures a sad Unsuccessfulness unto his Ministry. That I may not bee, as alas, I fear, I am, a doleful Instance hereof, lett mee immediately read over Dr. Owens Holy

11 Tim. 4, 7.

2

I

George Swinnock (1627–1673), a non-conformist divine. He wrote much, and a good part was printed.

Treatise of Mortification,1 and endeavour to apply and follow the Directions in it.

III. When I hear a Sermon, it shall bee a Custome with mee, to attend every Head, and every Text, mentioned by the Preacher, with some Ejaculation to Heaven, pertinent thereunto.

Oh! Blessed bee the Lord, for teaching mee, this Way of hearing His word, and moulding my Heart according to that Word!

IV. I would have by mee, a Catalogue of all the Communicants belonging unto our church,2 and in my secret Prayers, I would sometimes go over this Catalogue, by Parcels at a Time, upon my Knees; praying for the most suitable Blessings I can think of, to bee bestow'd on each Person, by Name distinctly mentioned.

12 d. 10 m. [December.] In a præparation for the Lord's Supper, I came at last unto these Passages before the Lord. 'Lord, I am willing to part with all that thou wouldest have mee to forego, for an Interest in the Lord Jesus Christ. I am willing to forego my Righteousnesses; and I do confess unto Thee, that after all that I have done, or can do, for Thee, if Thou shouldest break mee sore in the Place of Dragons forever, I could not say, there were any Injustice in thy Proceedings. I am willing to forego my Corruptions too; and I do profess unto Thee that I wish every Sin were made bitter unto my Soul; I wish I may choose Thee only for my Best Good and my last end; and never do or bee any thing, but glorify Thee forever."

The last Week of this Month, I preached on Lord's-Day, Munday, Tuesday, Wednesday,' Thursday, in the same week.

John Owen (1616-1683), Of the Mortification of Sin in Believers, 1668. 2 Such a list, but in the writing of Increase Mather, is in Record Book, No. 3 of the Second Church. There were sixty-nine brethren and one hundred and seven sisters.

"Mr. Cotton Mather Preaches forenoon, mentions the Notion Mede has about America's Peopling." Sewall, Diary, I. 115. Nathaniel Mather, uncle of

Yea, several weeks, I have in one week preached five Times and once, I preach'd five Times in two Dayes, which came together. So that it cannot bee expected, that I should have much Liesure, to record much in my private Papers. But among my DESIGNS, I would particularly enter these.

I. In perusing my Sermons before I preach them, I would ever make my doing of that, an Exercise of Devotion; by endeavouring to fetch an Ejaculation, out of every Head, and every Text produced in them.

II. In preaching of my Sermons, lett my active Mind bestow upon my Hearers, ejaculatory prayers, like those which I have employ'd for myself, in the revolving of them.

III. When I understand, that any of my Flock do not walk so as to adorn the Doctrine of God their Saviour, I would with a very particular and peculiar Concernment for them, often cry unto God, on the behalf of those Persons by Name; that they may glorify the Lord.

23 d. 11 m. [January, 1685-86.] This Day I spent, in the Services of a secret FAST. Especially for the Smiles of Heaven upon mee, to direct mee about the change of my single Estate.

This Day, with Anguish of Soul, in the Sense of my own Sinfulness, and Filthiness, I cast myself prostrate, on my Study-floor with my mouth in the Dust. Here, I lamented unto the Lord, my Follies, which might have an Influence to deprive mee of the Blessing which I was now pursuing. I judg'd, I loath'd, I hated myself, because of those accursed Things and besought the Forgiveness thereof, thro' the Blood of the Covenant. I then begg'd of the Most High, that Hee would, notwithstanding all my Miscarriages, Cotton, had a poor opinion of Mede's works. "It is easy to discern all along his other writings that there was a secret rottennes that influenced his glosses and interpretations of Scriptures, and indeed this is it that makes his books so acceptable with many of our prelaticall clergy; yea, very many of his admired notions are only covers for some such sore." 4 Collections, VIII. 8.