History of Northampton, Massachusetts, from its settlement in 1654;

204 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON. [1669.
Sermons Published Rev. Ricliai'd MatliGi", wlio died a sliort time
after his Death, before Eleazar, counseled his younger son,
Increase, to pay particular attention to the
spiritual interests of" the rising generation. Eleazar also
treasured the dying words of his father, and preached several
sermons, shortly before his own death, in which he
carried out this last injunction. The substance of these
sermons was published in 1671, under the title "Serious
exhortations to the present and succeeding generations in
New England, earnestly calling upon them all to endeavor
that the Lord's gracious presence may be continued with
posterity ; being the substance of four sermons preached
at Northampton by Rev, Eleazar Mather." Upon one of
these pamphlets, Dr. Increase Mather penned the following
: — "The first sermon was preached June 13, 1669;
the second, June 37, following ; the third, July •!*'' ; the
fourth and last, July 11"'. After which day my brother
Eleazar lived not in health able to preach ; for July 13 he
took to his bed and July 34"' he went to rest in the Lord,
to keep everlasting Sabbath in heaven."
Tributes to his
Few indeed are the tributes to his worth and
Memory. talcuts left by tliose who had personal acquaintance
with him, and it is only from
others who judged him by the results of his labors, that
any estimate of his character can be obtained. Rev. Cotton
Mather, his nephew, writes of him as follows : —
"Here (Northampton) he labored 11 years in the vine,yard of the Lord,
and then the 12 years of his day's labor did expire, not without the
deepest lamentations of all the chnrches as well as his own, then sit-
ting along the river of Connecticut. As he was a very zealous pi-eacher
and accordingly saw many seals of his ministry, so he was a very pious
walker, and as he drew towards the end of his days, he grew so remarkably
ripe for heaven in a holy, watchful, fruitful disposition, that
many observing persons did prognosticate his being not far from his
end."
Rev. Jonathan Edwards, in his "Narrative of Surprising
Conversions," speaks of him as "one whose heart was
much in his work, abundant in labors for the good of pre-
cious souls, he had the high esteem and great love of his
people, and was blessed with no small success."