Discourse yett more distinctly and more cogently upon it; and press my Flock with a new Vigour, to be liberal in their Expences upon pious Uses. 2. G. D. My Son Increase is now of Age enough, to know the Meaning of Consideration. I would now more than ever, oblige him to attend upon me, at such Times of the Day, as can be best spared for it. And I would never lett him spend many Minutes with me, without entring upon a Point of Conversation, that may instruct him, and enrich him, so that he may be the wiser and the better for it. 3. G. D. Think, what Subjects, my aged Father may do most good by studying and insisting on: and whatever Subjects I find him at work upon, look out for him, as many good Writers thereon, as I can, to entertain him with a grateful Variety in his Meditations. 4. G. D. The People of the Scotch Nation in this Town, form a Society, which have a Quarterly Meeting. That Society have a Bank, for the Releef of their Poor. Since the University of Glasgow, have taken such Notice of me, as they have lately done, I have some Claim to an Admission into their Society. This Admission may give me a precious Opportunity to do good unto them, and by them unto many others. I will take the matter into consideration, and proceed and project (if Heaven allow of it,) what Good may be done by this new Opportunity. 5. G. D. I am concerned for the Welfare of the great Grammar School of the Town. I would unite Counsils with a learned, pious, honourable Visitor of the School, to introduce diverse good Intentions into it. This among the rest; that Castalio, and Posselius, be brought into the School; 1 1 Sebastian Castalio [Chateillon] (1515?-1563), writer of Sacred Dialogues for the Instruction of Youth, and Johann Posselius (1528-1591). No work of either writer had been republished in America at this time; and this may have been one of the reasons for Mather's preference. A school book would have a certain market, and, of course, a preface would be required, recommending the work to and that the Lads for their Latin Exercises, turn into Latin such Things as may befriend the Interests of Christianity, in their Hearts and Lives; particularly, the Quæstions and Answers, in our Supplies from the Tower of David. 1 6. G. D. A Man who has been commander of a Vessel, (Kolλap) is fallen into a distracting Trouble of Mind; another Neighbour, who is altogether distracted (Kiore) 2 has a Family thereby in great Affliction. I will consider these Objects of Compassion, and I will study and contrive as well as I can, to make their Condition comfortable. 7. G. D. I am now so sick, that I have not Presence of Mind and Vigor of Thought, enough to project a good Answer, unto the Question, which I would this Morning think upon. My Sickness will help to make me yett more sick of this World. It must also quicken my Dispatch of what must be done before I go out of the world. 17 d. 1 m. Prostrate in the Dust before the Lord, I declared with Tears, (among other Things,) my sweet Satisfaction, with all those afflicting and abasing Circumstances, which might produce in my Condition at any time, a Conformity to what was in the Condition of my once abased Saviour. But then my Soul was filled with Joy, in an Expectation, that my glorified Saviour, will one Day bring me to partake with Him, in the Glories of the heavenly world. 1. [March 18.] G. D. I hear of some young Men in my Flock, who abandon themselves to the ruinous Courses of Gaming; and who especially betake themselves thereto, for the Quieting of their Minds, when they meet with any Thing in the public Sermons that proves troublesome to their Consciences. Oh! lett me with all possible Fervency, and Compassion, dispense to them the Warnings of God. the student and enlarging upon the opportunities thus given. I am unable to learn that either writer was introduced by Mather in his lifetime. 1 Collar. 2 Keyes? 2. G. D. To accomplish my little Daughters for Housekeeping, I would have them, at least once a week, to prepare some new Thing, either for Diet, or Medicine; which I may show them described, in some such Treatise as the Family Dictionary. And when it is prepared, I will also make some Remarks of Piety, in a way of occasional Reflection upon it. 3. G. D. My Mother is now entred the seventieth Year of her Age. What shall I do, that I may assist her Preparation for her Appearance before the Lord? I will discourse with her; as prudently and as takingly as I can, on that illustrious Point; and I will putt into her Hands to read, what may be most agreeable and serviceable for her. 4. G. D. A lively Discourse about the Benefit and Importance of Education, should be given to the Countrey. The Countrey is perishing for want of it; they are sinking apace into Barbarism and all Wickedness. It should be considered of. 5. G. D. Shall not I do well, to write a Letter unto one or two of the principal Ministers in Connecticut-Colony; concerning the fearful Circumstances, into which the Love of Rum, has brought several, even of their principal Ministers, and by Consequence very many of the miserable People? And awaken them, to dispense their laweful Admonitions? The Consequences of the affected Bottel, in that Colony, as well as in ours, are beyond all Imagination. 6. G. D. A poor Woman in my Neighbourhood ('OMλav8) labouring under Distraction; her Family must needs labour under Necessities. I will procure for them some Releef. The Deacon of the Church of Wenam, is also worse than Distracted; and the Pastor and the Church, are embroiled by him, in Abundance of Trouble. This 1 1 Holland. 2 Rev. Joseph Gerrish (1650-1720) was the pastor at Wenham. furnishes me with Occasions for me to do many charitable Offices, which I shall watch to do, for them all. 7. G. D. Many, many Things I have to do; many Things of the greatest Consequence. I shall either leave them undone, or do them not well, or miss the Time of doing them, if I do not with much Resignation unto it, obtain the heavenly Conduct. I would therefore now more than ever, putt this Article most explicitly and expressively, into my morning-Prayers; Oh! Lett me be led unto those Works which it would be well for me to do this Day, and be help'd in the doing of them! 24 d. 1 m. Satureday. I have been of late, much afflicted and enfeebled with Sickness in my Stomach; a palled, and a pained Stomach. I would be awakened from hence, to bewayl my Want of a Stomach for the Service of God, and for Meditations on my Saviour. I have not had a due Appetite for the best Objects and Actions; nor have I duely relished them. I would bewayl my not being sick of Sin, as I ought to have been; and my being more sick of laborious Perseverance in some duties, than I should have been. The Offences of my Stomach in the Intemperance of the Table, are also to be bewayled. A Pardon of these Miscarriages, thro' the Blood of the great Sacrifice, and the Grace to carry better, are to be more pursued by me, than a Deliverance from my bodily Malady, and in the first Place obtained. In the Evening, I attended the Devotions of a Vigil. Therein I sought unto the Lord, for the Pardon of all my Iniquities. I beleeved, and received His pardoning Mercy, and I relied on the Merit of my glorious Advocate, thro' whom it comes unto me. I then told my strong Redeemer, that the Floods of the Ungodly made me afraid. I fear'd lest the Power and Malice of my Enemies might ruine my Serviceableness. I cast myself Entirely into the Protection of my strong Redeemer, and I besought Him to show 1 me a Token for Good, that they who hate me, may see and be ashamed. Particularly, I pray'd, that a remarkable Remorse, and Horror of Conscience, may be sent into one of them, from the Spirit of the Lord; from whence there might arise a Testimony for me. 1 1. [March 25.] G. D. Some of the Neighbourhood, not having Seats to their Minds in our Assembly, run to a Congregation, which is held in the Meetinghouse of the Anabaptists. Hereby, they never see the Baptism of the Lord administred, nor hear the pathetical and affectionate Prayers made on that Occasion; They miss an Ordinance, in which a gracious Presence of the Lord, is to be looked for. I should in the most proper and prudent Wayes I can contrive, make these unadvised People sensible of the Wrong they do their own Souls, in wandring where they do. 2. G. D. I find, it will be necessary or convenient for me, almost every Night, to take an Account of my Children, what they have been doing in the Day, and how they have spent their Time; and make it an Occasion of continual Admonitions of Piety unto them. Especially for Cresy. 3. G. D. I have a Nephew, becoming a prentice to a Goldsmith, (Baploλoμee гpeev)2 and now I would (with agreeable Advice accompanying of it) putt into his Hands, my Book of, A Good Master well-served, as a continual Monitor unto him, of his Duty. 4 3 4. G. D. To take some Scores of my Treatise on, The Trinity and on, Christianity demonstrated, (and make agreeable Dedications) and send them unto the Universities in Scotland; particularly to that of Glasgow, may be a sensible 1 The First Baptist Church in Boston was constituted May 28, 1665, and Rev. Ellis Callender was in charge at this time. It did not enjoy a building of its own until some years after. * Bartholomew Green, son of Maria Mather and Bartholomew Green. |