wherein I find him, was that of a _Fellow_ and a _Tutor_ in _Harvard
Colledge_. With a rare Faithfulness did he adorn that Station! He used
all means imaginable to make his _Pupils_ not only good Scholars, but
also good _Christians_, and instil into them those things which might
render them rich Blessings unto the _Churches_ of God. Unto his Watchful
and Painful Essays to keep them close under their _Academical Exercises_
he added Serious Admonitions unto them about their Interior State; and
he Employed his _Prayers_ and _Tears_ to God for them, and had such a
flaming zeal to make them worthy Men, that upon Reflection he was afraid
_Lest his cares for their Good, and his affection to them, should so
drink up his very Spirit, as to steal away his Heart from God._
From _Cambridge_ he made his remove to _Malden_, and was their Faithful
Pastor for about a Jubilee of years together.
It was not long after his coming to Maiden that a sickly Constitution so
prevailed upon him, as to confine him from his Publick Work for some
whole seven of Years. His _Faithfulness_ continued when his _Ministry_
was thus interrupted. The Kindness of his Tender Flock unto him was
answered in his Kind Concern to have them served by other Hands. He took
a short voyage unto another Country for the Recovery of his Health;
which, though he recovered not, yet at his Return I find him comforting
himself with inserting of this Passage in his Reserved Papers:
“Peradventure the Lord Removed me for a season that he might set a
better Watchman over his Flock, and a more painful Laborer in his
Vineyard. This was one thing that I aimed at in Removing (to help the
People’s Modesty in the case), and I believe the Lord aimed at it, in
Removing me for a season.”
His Faithfulness now appeared in his _Edifying Discourses_ to those that
came near him; much bewailing the want of a Profitable and Religious
conversation in so many that profess Religion. And that yet he might
more _Faithfully_ set himself to do Good, when he could not Preach he
_Wrote_ several Composures, wherein he proposed the edification of such
Readers as are for plain Truths, dressed up in _a Plain Meeter_. These
Composures have had their Acceptance and Advantage among that sort of
Readers; and one of them, the _Day of Doom_, which has been often
Reprinted in both Englands, may find our Children till the Day itself
arrive.
It pleased God, when the distress of the Church in _Malden_ did
extremely call for it, wondrously to restore his _Faithful Servant_. He
that had been for near Twenty Years almost _Buried Alive_, comes abroad
again, and for as many years more, must, in _Publick Usefulness_,
receive the Answer and Harvest of the Thousands of Supplications with
which the God of his Health had favoured him.
How _Faithfully_ did he now Deliver the _Whole Counsel of God!_
How _Faithfully_ did he Rebuke _Sin_, both in his _Ministry_ and
_Discipline!_
How Faithful was he to the _Work of God_ in the Churches of
_New-England_, and grieved at every thing that he thought had any
Tendency to incommode that Glorious Work! But how _Patient_, how
_Loving_, how _Charitable_ to such as in lesser Matters differed from
him!
How Faithful was he in the Education of his _Family_! A very Abraham for
his Commands unto them, to _Keep the Way of the Lord!_ A very David for
his charge unto them to _Know the God of their Father and Serve Him!_
His long Weakness and Illness made him an _able Physician_ for the
_Body_ as well the _Soul_.
As he was _Faithful to the Death_, so he was _Lively to the Death._
It was a surprise to us to see a little, feeble _Shadow of a Man_,
beyond _Seventy_, Preaching usually twice or tlirice in a week,
Visiting, 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 _Lord’s-Day_ taken off before his Last. But in the _Last
Week_ of his Life, how full of _Resignation!_ How full of
_Satisfaction!_
From his Exemplary Life I will single out one thing, his EARLY RELIGION.
Our _Wigglesioorth_ was a Godly child, and he held on living to God and
Christ until the Seventy-Fourth Year of his Age.
When he lay a Dying, some one spoke to him about his having secured his
_Interest_ in the Favor of Heaven, and his _Assurance_ of that Interest.
He Replyed, [Methoughts like my _Polycarp,_]
“I bless God I began that Work betimes, and ere I was Twenty Years Old
I had made thorow work of it. Ever since then I have been pressing
after the Power of Godliness, the Power of Godliness! For more than
Fifty Years together I have been Laboring to uphold a Life of
Communion with God; and I thank the Lord I now find the Comfort of it!
Words that contain in them _A History of a Life_ more Valuable than I
have seen a Volume in Folio.
Epitaph. (Believed to Have Been Written by Rev. Cotton Mather.) The Excellent Wigglesworth; Remembered by Some Good Tokens.
His Pen did once _Meat from the Eater_ fetch; And now he’s gone beyond
the _Eater’s_ reach. His _Body_ once so _Thin_, was next to _None_; From
hence he’s to _Unbodied Spirits_ flown. Once his rare skill did all
_Diseases_ heal; And he does nothing now _uneasy_ feel. He to his
_Paradise_ is joyful come, And waits with joy to see his _Day of Doom._
Contents.
Memoir of the Author
Autobiography
To the Christian Reader
On the following Work
Prayer unto Christ
The Day of Doom
Security of the World before Christ’s coming
Suddenness and Terror of his appearing
Resurrection — All brought to judgment
The Sheep separated from the goats
The several sorts of reprobates described
The Saints justified — Election — Atonement
They are placed on thrones
The wicked brought to the Bar
Secret sins brought to light
Hypocrites plead for themselves
Another sort of hypocrites
Civil honest men’s pleas
Pretended want of opportunity to repent
Plea of examples of betters
Godly men’s examples misleading
Scripture, darkness, and difference of interpretation
Fear of persecution
Plea of God’s mercy and justice
Vessels of mercy
Mercy abused — Day of grace past
Shutting out by God’s decree
The Heathen’s plea
Reprobate infants’ plea
The wicked all convinced and silenced
Hopeless and helpless estate of the ungodly
Sentence of condemnation
Sentence executed — The wicked cast into Hell
Their unsufferable torments
The saints rejoice thereat
They ascend in triumph to Heaven
A Short discourse on Eternity
A Postscript unto the Reader
Vanity of Vanities
Death expected Ill
A Farewell to the World
Funeral Sermon
Epitaph
[1] Luke 12:19.
[2] Matt. 25:5.
[3] Mat. 24:37, 38.
[4] 1 Thes. 5:3.
[5] Mat. 25:6.
2 Pet. 3:10.
[6] Mat. 24:29, 30.
[7] 2 Pet. 3:10.
[8] Rev. 6:15
[9] Mat. 24:30.
[10] Rev. 6:15, 16.
[11] Mat. 25:21.
[12] Rev. 6:14.
[13] Thes. 4:16.
[14] John 5:28, 29
[15] Luke 20:36.
1 Cor. 15:52.
[16] Mat. 24:31
[17] 2 Cor. 5:10.
Matt. 25:32.
[18] Mat. 5:10, 11.
[19] Heb. 12:5, 6, 7.
[20] Luke 7:41, 47.
[21] John 21:15.
Mat. 19:14.
John 3:3.
[22] Rev. 6:11.
Phil. 3:21.
[23] Mat. 24:51.
[24] Luke 11:24, 26.
Heb. 6:4, 5, 6.
Heb. 10:29.
[25] Luke 12:47.
Prov. 1:24, 26.
Job 3:19
[26] Gal. 3:10.
1 Cor. 6:9.
Rev. 21:8
[27] Exod. 20:7, 8.
2 Thes. 1:6, 8, 9.
[28] Heb. 13:4.
1 Cor. 6:10.
[29] Zach. 5:3, 4.
Gal. 5:19, 20, 21.
[30] Rom. 2:13
[31] Acts 4:12.
[32] 1 Cor. 6:3.
[33] Jude 6.
[34] 2 Cor. 5:10.
Eccl. 3:17.
John 3:18
[35] Job 17:6.
Eph. 1:4.
[36] Rev. 1:5.
[37] Eph. 2:1, 3.
[38] Mat. 23:13, 15.
Rom. 9:20, 21.
[39] Isa. 53:4, 5, 11.
[40] Acts 1:3, 48.
Jam. 2:18.
Heb. 12:7.
Mat. 19:29.
[41] 1 John 3:3.
Mat. 25:39, 40.
[42] Isa. 53:11, 12.
Rom. 8:16, 17, 33, 34.
John 3:18.
[43] Luke 22:29, 30.
Mat. 19:28.
[44] Mat. 25:34.
[45] Cor. 6:2.
[46] Rom. 2:3, 6, 11.
[47] Rev. 6:15, 16.
Isa. 30:33.
[48] Eccl. 11:9, 12, 14.
[49] Ps. 139:2, 4, 12.
Rom. 2:16
[50] Eccl. 12:14.
[51] Mat. 12:36.
Rom. 7:7
[52] John 5:40, and 3:19.
Mat. 25:19, 27.
[53] Rom. 2:4, 5.
[54] Isa. 1:5.
Jer. 2:20
[55] John 3:19, etc.
Prov. 8:36.
Luke 12:20, 21.
[56] Luke 13:34.
John 5:40, and 15:22.
[57] Rom. 3:10, 12.
[58] Rom. 6:23.
[59] Mat. 7:21, 22, 23.
[60] John 6:70.
1 Cor. 9:27.
[61] Rom. 2:19, 21, 22, 23.
[62] John 9:41.
Rev. 2:21, 22.
[63] Luke 12:47.
Matt. 11:21, 22, 24.
[64] Luke 13:20.
[65] Luke 13:27.
Matt. 22:12.
[66] 1 Cor. 11:27, 29.
[67] Mat. 6:21, 24.
Rom. 1:25.
[68] 1 Cor. 11:27, 29.
[69] Acts 8:13.
Isa. 58:2, 3.
Heb. 6:4, 5.
[70] 2 Pet. 2:20.
[71] John 2:24, 25.
[72] John 6:64.
Psal. 50:16.
Mat. 15:26.
[73] Rev. 3:17.
Mat. 13:20.
[74] Mat. 6:2, 4, 24.
Jer. 8:5, 6, 7, 8.
[75] Psal. 78:34, 35, 36, 37.
[76] Zach. 7:5, 6.
Isa. 58:3, 4.
1 Sam.15:13, 21.
Isa. 1:11, 15.
[77] Mat. 6:2, 5.
John 5:44.
[78] Zech. 7:5, 16.
Hos. 10:1.
[79] Luke 18:11.
[80] 1 Sam. 15:22.
[81] Eccl. 7:20.
[82] Deut. 10:12.
Tit. 2:12.
Jam. 2:10.
[83] Luke 18:11, 14.
[84] 1 Sam.16:7. 2 Chron. 25:2.
[85] Heb. 11:6.
1 Cor. 13:1, 2, 3.
[86] Heb. 11:6.; 1 Cor. 13:1, 2, 3.
[87] Rom. 10:3.
[88] Rom. 9:30, 32.
Matt 11:23, 24 and 21:41.
[89] Mat. 6:5.
[90] Prov. 26:23.
Mat. 23:27.
[91] Prov 15:8.
Rom. 2:3.
[92] Prov. 27:1.
Jam. 4:13.
[93] Eccl. 12:1.
Rev. 2:21.
[94] Luke 13:24.
2 Cor. 6:2.
Heb. 3:7, 8, 9.
[95] Eccl. 11:9.
Luke 14:18, 19, 20.
[96] Amos 6:3, 4, 5, 6.
Eph. 5:16.
Luke 19:42.
[97] Luke 13:21, 25, etc.
Phil. 2:12.
[98] Mat. 18:7.
[99] John 7:48.
[100] Psal. 19:8, 11.
Exod. 23:2.
Psal. 50:17, 18.
[101] 2 Tim. 3:5.
[102] 1 Cor. 11:1.
Phil. 4:8.
[103] Psal. 32:5.
2 Chron. 32:26.
Mat. 26:75.
Prov. 1:24, 25.
[104] 2 Pet. 3:16.
[105] Prov. 14:6.
Isa. 35:8.
Hos. 8:12.
[106] Matt. 11:25.
Prov. 2:3, 4, 5.
[107] Acts 28:22.
[108] John 12:42, 43.
[109] Luke 12:4, 5.
Isa. 51:12, 13.
[110] Luke 9:23, 24, 25 and 16:2.
[111] Luke 9:26.
Prov 8:36
John 3:19, 20.
[112] Psal. 78:38.
2 Kin. 11:26.
[113] Psal. 30:9.
Mic. 7:18.
[114] Mic. 7:18.
Rom. 9:23.
[115] Rom. 2:4.
Hos. 11:4.
[116] Luke 13:34.
[117] Luke 19:42, 43.
Jude 4.
[118] Rom. 2:5, 6.
Isa. 1:24.
Amos 2:13.
Gen. 18:25.
[119] Mat. 25:3, 1, 2.
Prov. 12:8, 29, 30.
[120] Isa. 5:18, 19.
Gen. 2 : 17.
Rom. 2:8, 9.
[121] Rom. 6:23.
2 Thes. 1:8, 9.
[122] Ezek. 83:11.
Exod. 34:7, and 14:17.
Rom. 9:22.
[123] Rom. 9:18, 19.
[124] Heb. 22:17.
Rom. 11:7, 8.
[125] Luke 13:27.
2 Pet. 1:9, 10, compared with Mat. 19:16.
[126] Acts 3:19, and 16:31.
1 Sam. 2:15.
John 3:19.
Job 5:40.
2 Thes. 2:11, 12.
[127] Ezek. 33:11, 12.
Luke 13: 34.
Prov. 8 : 33, 36.
[128] Gen. 2:17.
Mat. 25:41, 42.
Ezek. 18:20.
[129] 2 Pet. 1:10.
Acts 13:46.
Luke 13:24.
[130] Mat. 7:7, 8
Gal. 5:22, 23.
[131] John 3:19.
[132] John 15:22, 24.
Heb. 2:3.
Isa. 66:34.
[133] Mat. 11 : 22.
Luke 12 : 48.
[134] Mat. 11:22.
[135] Gen. 1:27.
Eccl. 7 : 29.
Hos. 13 : 9.
[136] Mat. 11 : 25, compared with 20:15.
[137] Rom. 1:20, 21, 22.
[138] Rom. 2:12, 15 and 1:32.
Mat. 12:41.
[139] Rev. 20:12, 15, compared with Rom. 5:12, 14 and 9:11, 13.
Ezek. 18:2.
[140] Psal. 51:5.
[141] Ezek. 18:20.
Rom. 5:12, 19.
[142] 1 Cor. 15:48, 49.
[143] Rom. 5:12.
Psal. 51:5.
Gen. 5:3.
[144] Mat. 23:30, 31.
[145] Rom. 9:15, 18.
Rom. 5:15.
[146] Mat. 20:15.
[147] Psal. 58:8.
Rom 6:23.
Gal. 3:10.
Rom. 8:2, 30, and 11:7.
Rev. 21:27.
Luke 12:14, 8.
Mat. 11:22.
[148] Rom. 3:19.
Mat. 22:12.
[149] Rev. 6:16, 17.
[150] Psal. 139:2, 3, 4.
Eccl. 12:14.
[151] Mat. 25:45.
[152] Mat. 22:12.
Rom. 2:5, 6.
Luke 19:42.
[153] Mat. 28:18.
Psal. 137:7.
[154] Isa. 33:14.
Psal. 11:6. Num. 25:19.
[155] Mat. 25:41, and 25:10, 11, 12.
[156] Luke 12:20.
Psal. 49:7, 17.
Deut. 32:2.
[157] 2 Pet. 3:10.
[158] Luke 16:28.
[159] Rev. 21:4.
Psal. 68:10.
[160] 1 Cor. 6:2.
[161] Compare Prov. 1:26. with 1 John 3:2, and 2 Cor. 5:16.
[162] Luke 16:25.
[163] Psal. 58:10.
[164] Mat 25:41.
[165] Luke 13:38.
Prov. 1:26.
[166] Mat. 25:46.
[167] Mat. 13:41, 42.
[168] Mat. 25:30,
Mark 9:42.
Isa. 30:33.
Rev. 21:8.
[169] Mat. 22:13, and 25:46.
[170] Rev. 14:10, 11.
[171] Luke 16:24.
Jude 7.
[172] Isa. 33:14.
Mark 9:43, 44.
[173] Luke 12:47.
[174] Mat. 11:24.
[175] Luke 16:23, 25, and 13:28.
[176] Luke 13:24.
[177] Mat. 9:44.
Rom. 2:15.
[178] Psal. 68:10.
Rev. 10:1, 2, 3.
[179] 1 John 3:2.
1 Cor. 13 12.
[180] Rev. 21:4.
[181] Psal. 16:11.
[182] Heb. 12:23.
Rev. 1:6, and 22:5.