What does Dum Nihi Vita Fuit comma Tibi Christi Fidilis ut is Sum mean?

Answer 1

A slight misquotation; the correct form is:

Dum mihi Vita fuit, Tibi, Christe, Fidelis ut essem

This is a line from the epitaph of the 17th-century Christian philosopher Sigismundus Lupichius (Sigmund Lupichi), which was quoted by Cotton Mather in his Ecclesiastical History of New England as follows:

Dum mihi Vita fuit, Tibi, Christe, Fidelis ut essem

Mente Pia Studui, Dogma Sonando Tuum.

Tu mihi Daelitiae, - Tu Divitiaeque fuisti;

Tu mihi Defuncto, Gloria, Vita, Salus.

"While I had Life, so that I might be True to You, O Christ,

With a Pious Mind I Devoted myself to Speaking your Doctrine.

To me You were Delight, and Riches;

To me, now Dead, You are Glory, Life, Salvation."