Samuel Rogers his booke novemb 18 1634

1. I have long bene thinking of a general view of my life; and some hurrying thoughts, or other have caused mee to desist often: I am now this moneth. (Novemb: 30. 1634.) of the age of 21. So many yeares I have; Bine; but I have Lived but few of them; Sure then now I am of age; what if I count my yeares? Lord, teach mee to number my yeares past, that I may apply my heart to wisdome, to holines the few dayes, that are behind.

2. To begin then, and dally no longer; The first 13. yeares of my life. I lived without any reflexe thoughts; though I could stand, and answer my father, like an hypocrite, when he posed mee in religious matters; yet was I very rebellious, and feirce against my mother and the servants (who yet dealt unwiselye with my childish impetuous nature) So long I scarse knew practicallye, the right hand in religion from the lefte; About that time (as I take it;) my father was exercising (ut solet) in his familye upon the 11. Matt: & 2. last v[erses], Come unto mee, yee that are heavy loaden; &c: Art thou loaden? &c. no, no; answered my soule; wherat I was a litle startled; but the hedge, (as my age,) was but low, and the devell trode it downe with ease, when I was about. 13. and a halfe, my father seing how litle I had profited under such a diversity of schoole masters, as we had at wethersfeild; sends mee to Felsted: where indeed, I thinke, I got more good

3. in 2. yeares. with the blessing of god, upon the diligent labours of my godly master Mr Holbeach, then I got in many twoos before; the 1. yeare I borded at Mr Fitches; where I passed many a day of vanitye; amongst the rest, upon May day was 7. yeare; viz: 1627. I made account to adde one more, and being holyday; Mary Adams, our maide aske mee if I would goe to heare Mr wells at Terling; to which I answered yea; and so went skipping but why?