that hee could remember unto his present sicknesse The birth of the body of sinne with him lively deciphered his education at home his life at the Universitie and his whole course in severall places where since he lived 3. A strict and severe marking of every sinne whereof he found himselfe guilty by nature or by Act from his Childhood to his very entrance into the grave described as they were committed against every Commandement 4. A very deep aggravation of all these sins upon his own soule from knowledge from mercies from rods that God had used as barres in the way to sin and yet he had leapt over them and that with the bitterest expressions that sin can bee stiled by he spared not sinne in himselfe 5. A bitter contestation against hatred of and sorrow for sin in the discovery whereof me thinkes hee wrote as if his pen had bin dipt in teares of blood O those impartiall selfe-judgements dismall tremblings of heart and grievous burdens of soule under which he groaned to the last 6. An unsatisfiable hunger and thirst after Christ and the manifestation of God in him to his poore soule His written pantings and breathings after God did imitate Davids the panting Hart did not more bray for waters nor the thirsty ground more gape for moisture than his soule did to receive some drops of mercy in Christ 7. A most gracious bent of heart in most earnest desires to be as much purged as pardoned and that sinne might be as much subdued as for given peace any way did not content him but peace with grace and that God would so speake peace that he might not turne againe to folly 8. Constant use of meanes ordinary and extraordinary for the mortification of sinne and growth in grace and amongst the rest monethly fasting and humiliation wherein he found no small advantage 9. An Holy indignation at himselfe and revenge upon himselfe for time unfruitfully spent wherein hee conceived he neither did nor received good Godly sorrow wrought much of this in him and hee lost not by it growing more watchfull and more skilfull to improve all seasons of Good and to redeeme time that was lost 10. Unwearied perseverance in this godly thriving course even to a few dayes before his death untill weaknesse laid him in his bed the forerunner of his grave See the man and judge severely are not these the Characters of a Christian Thus he continued a selfe abasing and a Christ exalting soule Thus he conversed within 2. Touching his Christian deportment to others I shall in short declare it in this threefold respect which hee had to others 1. To the Churches of Christ both at home and in forraigne parts an exact observation of all memorable occurrences both good and evill in them that he might bee sutably affected with them either praying or praising God for them Deepe thoughts of sorrow he expressed upon Germanies desolations and great feares of the powring out of Gods indignation upon our owne Land strong Cryes and Teares to turne away judgements joy and thankesgivings upon hopes of refreshing to the Churches of Christ among us and one thing among the rest I may not passe when he enters upon the Register of this yeares mercies hee begins it with this title in Capitall letters ANNVS MIRABILIS 1641. and so it is A wonderfull yeare of Gods mercies to England 2. To his fellow Christians that were of his flock or otherwise a strict notice of their weaknesses troubles in mind temptations or other afflictions in divers kindes that hee might have a fellow-seeling as a Christian and pastorall bowels as a Minister to them to bee weake with them that were weake and tempted with them that were tempted that he might helpe to beare their burdens with them and so fulfill the law of Christ 3. To his enemies it was his reach to bee like minded to Christ to doe them good for all their evill and to seek it for them with his whole heart O sweet petitions and strong cries have been registred for them that have despised his Ministry and reviled his person I hope God will remember them if they belong unto him if not their storming at his goodnesse and the relation of it will argue but the greater malignity of their sin and leave them in a more inexcusable condition If this be the Christians Cognizance to love them that hate him and pray for them that despitefully use him let him be well accounted among the assembly of the Holy 2. If we consider him as a Minister of Christ these things I have observed that may not be unfruitfull to us and were no blots in him 1. His humble and heart-afflicting confession that at his first entrance into the Ministry his aime was more to seeke himselfe and his own than to serve Christ and seeke his glory It may be no needlesse or unusefull Item to his brethren in the Ministery we that live may doe well to take an hint from hence for a search of our ends in undertaking this sacred function It is rare if we be not deepe in this transgression and if so it is no shame to be plaine in our confessions and deepe in our Humiliations for it our gaine it will be if we awake and in sincerity now begin to serve the Lord Christ 2. His selfe-condemning for the best of his performances in the worke of his Ministry looking upon himselfe as an unprofitable servant in all Such passages were usuall in his owne day-booke This day I preached weakly carnally with much corruption c. O how good is it to be a selfe denying Man a selfe-denying Master But Lord how hard is it to have any thing and deny himselfe in all yet must we strive 3. The good proofe which he made of his Ministry in the time allotted him I shall but touch the evidence of this in these particulars 1. In his abilities humane and divine His workes have shewn this and among others his worth approved by that famously learned King James who being called before his Majesty as a delinquent in delivering a false view of some of S. Augustines works was yet dismissed for his sufficiency with a Schollars reward This may silence detractors in that respect but his proficiency in the knowledge of the mysterie of Christ was eminent 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Greg. Nys in Orat. in laud Fra. Basil however he judged himselfe nothing in all in the sound judgement of truth a Mountain not a reede to be shaken as one said of Basil 2. In his diligent and indefatigable study to doe Christs worke carefully and faithfully as becomes the Worke of such a Master he feared the curse of doing Gods worke negligently it is good thus to feare 3. In his tender bowels and affection to those soules over whom God had set him How did he watch for them pray for them and carry them in his heart daily with desire to save them poore soules ye know not
is whereby what ever a man seeth it is given to him and made his own Faith doth but touch and take with God To believe Christ and to have him is all one in the language of Gods Spirit so to believe God his power 1 John 5 12. wisdome and goodnesse is but to have them to believe his union with us love to us zeale for us protection over us even in death against death is but to enjoy all this and possesse the sweetnsse of it It is registred of those holy worthies among many other great exploits Hebr. 11.33 that by Faith they obtained promises whether they were promises peculiar to themselves or in common with other Saints it matters not here this is certaine faith only gives possession of them And is not this a notable ground of confidence and insultation over the grave to have God and to have his Attributes and to have his Son all ours prest to do us good To see Mines of gold and no more but to see them may maze the eye but leave the man poore to see and have all is that which maketh rich and sets above contempt for a close to this were it only to see God and to lose him a man might be notwithstanding a scorne to death But where reall subsistence evidence and propriety of an Almighty gracious arme concurres that soule may laugh at the frownes of death and terrors of the pit All this doth faith secure to the Saint well then may he be bold and say in the grave shall my flesh dwell confidently for thou wilt not leave my soule in hell nor suffer thine holy one to see corruption we have seene the weight of these golden truths The use of them is next considerable I shall adde from all but three words in generall for use to convince to counsell and to comfort and these as the former rules direct me 1. Use 1. Grant holinesse in the nature of it a conformity to the holy God and in the vertue of it the only preserving embalme from dereliction in death and corruption in the grave who and in what case art thou unholy soule look on and be convinced of thy sinne and of thy misery 1. Of thy sin and be ashamed Is holinesse the image of the glorious God are the beauties of it the splendor arising from the confluence of all graces It is sin then to want it uglinesse and basenesse to be a gracelesse man the Blackmore is not more unlike to nor more despised of the fairest creature Amos 9.7 than thou art of God Are ye not as the children of the Ethiopians unto me said the Lord to an ungodly seed O that I could let thee see thy selfe in Gods glasse how wouldest thou hide thy face Whose image and superscription bearest thou ungodly sinner No other reply can be made but the Devils nothing appeares upon thee but sin and sin is nothing else but the Devill in perspective or in his naturall image children of the devill is the proper name that our Lord stamps upon ungodly men and rightly his seed are they termed both for their birth and likenesse if the confluence of sinne make up the Devils image vile wretch beat this upon thy heart if it be Gods command to be holy it is thy cursed sin to be unholy and if holinesse arise from the concurrence of all grace hellish sinner thou whose nature is inconsistent with any one grace or the rellish of it see thy sin thy selfe 2. Of thy misery be convinced and be confounded if holinesse only be the preservative against dolefull desertions in deadlihead and corruption in the pit what will become of thee unholy wretch Hast thou other enbalmes prepared against that day take what thou canst fill thy soule with vaine hopes and whorish perfumes of mercy get for thy carkase the r Regale unguentum appellatum quoniam Parthorum Regibus temperatur Plin. Not. Hist l. 13. c. 2. royall oyntment that beseemes Kings after that wrap thy selfe in Sear-clothes and then be wound up in a sheet of Lead and hew a Sepulchre out of the rock to lye safely in And shall these commend thy soule to God or preserve thy body from putresaction Sinne will spoile these ointments and eat thorow all these fences The soule the body Prov. 10.7 Jer. 22.15 yea the name of the wicked shall rot Shalt thou raigne saith God to Coniah because thou closest thy selfe in Cedar Alas sin will spoile Cedar pales one simple pale of holinesse were better then all but that thou hatest thou shalt therefore stinke alive and stink dead Thy soule is a forsaken thing left of God to the spoile of Devils and thy body shall rot in the prison whither thou goest untill both be clapt together into hel Aâ—curse shalt thou be and an abomination for ever for thou art unholy 2. As thou art an enemy to holinesse so no lesse art thou to God himselfe say then that the holy one is Gods favourite that God will never leave him to be a prey to death nor give him up a spoile unto corruption what is this to an unholy soule hating God and hated of him It is sin more grievous to neglect and slight the Lord that is so gracious and faithfull to his people as not to give them to the least disadvantage under death And judgement shall be aggravated to the weight of sinne God will certainly relinquish the ungodly wretch in all those deadly evils whereinto his sin hath led him he shall not have a smile of his countenance nor the least work of grace from his hand nor hope of recovering out of the dungeon but he that is soveraigue of death and hell shall give him up to the tormentors Mat. 25.41 he shall passe the deadly sentence depart thou cursed the tempest of his wrath shall drive him he shall smite him not only into the place of Dragons and of death but into the place of Devils where the everlasting arme of vengeance doth for ever torment the unholy crew that are descended thither 3 Unholy sinner know this thou art as contrary to faith as to God and holinesse and thy unbeliefe makes thee a perfect sinner and perfectly miserable thou canst want no sin that wantest faith unbeliefe is the root of all and binds on all in guilt in power and defilement neither can faith more secure the gracious presence of God and sweet priviledges in death unto the Saint then unbelief doth make sure the wrath and curse of God the plagues of death and hell to the ungodly man They are deadly words John 3.18.36 He that beleeveth not is condemned already He that beleeveth not shall never see life but the wrath of God abideth on him Rev. 21.8 The unbelieving shall have their part in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone These dreadfull things thy unbeliefe secures to thine unholy soule What inscription leavest thou upon thy Tombe-stone when thou
and victory in death it salse 3. Let saith also have its perfect worke if you provide well for your selves against the evills of the dark habitation and shadow of death Caâ—e in this matter I would commend mainely about two things 1. To pitch upon the true object the proper remedies and preservatives against these deadlyevills 2. That the Act of faith upon these be genuine and naturally to it such as may shew it to be Gods noble plant in the soule these are the realizing evidencing and appropriating these saving receits unto the soule 1. There be great and precious promises for salvation in the midst of the furious assaults of death and the pit which have admirable vertue if well applied such are these Esay 26.19 Hos 13 14. Ioh. 11.26 Dead men shall live death shall be plagued for killing and the grave destroyed for devouring and whosoever liveth and beleeveth in me shall neverdye These perhaps confidered in the letter may seeme either not to be or not to be evident or not to be a mans owne but thing remote or farre of Now let savign faith come and worke upon these it will make all the sweethesse of these to bee in present which seemeth either not to be or to be long hereafter to come it will make them evident which otherwise cannot be seene and it will give possession to a soule of all the goodnesse of them unto which otherwise it is but a stranger what a sweet security is this to a poore soule to live in death to vex and were out the grave and never truly dye or be corrupted this safe-guard will faith give out of Gods promises neither can law or curse prejudice or disannuall it beleeve O then beleeve the promises 2. God infinite invisible immortall all-powerfull and only wise Pro. 18.10 is the Rock the fortresse the Sanctuary of his Saints Esay 8.14 all his attributes shelter them in every storme fence them against fiery darts and hide them from the bloody pursuit of that mercilesse one that hath the power of death let faith worke mightily on him also to compasse the Almighty Heb. 11.27 to make him seene that is invisible to give propriety and interest in him that is immortall wrap thy selfe by faith in God put on his attributes as garments of salvation while thou livest and keepe them about thee for grave-clothes when thou dyest God will not disdaine to by they safety in the pit and then death must destroy his glory and corruption eat thorough it before they can come to de mischiefe unto thee Stagger not then but be strong in faith giving glory unto God 3. The son of God manifest in the flesh the Prince-Saint given to bee the head of his Church is deathes king and the Graves commander they are his conquered captive slaves he keepes them shut up under lock and key Revel 1.18 he hath they keyes of hell of death were wethen but his confederats and member-Saints how might we laugh at the from nes and spite of death and slight the venome of the grave Ioh 14.1 Faith will accomplish this for you unite you to him cause you to see him make you his and him yours ye therefore that beleeve in God beleeve also in him Hee carrieth God with him where he is God is He makes good all promises in him they are yea and Amen granted and performed Make sure of him and have all Faith hath by gracious dignation as it were a command over him hee will no where faile it Faith called him to his three companions in the fiery furnace and he brought them out in safety Dan. 3.25 not so much as the smell of fire was upon them and no lesse will it draw him to accompany his saints in the deadly habitations where he will keepe them and whence he will never leave untill hee raise them out and no smell of the grave shall be upon them obey these counsells exerise faith in these and live above death yee shall never see corruption but overcome death when yee dye and triumph over the grave while ye live in it and sing that triumphant son when ye awake O death where is thy Sting O grave where is thy victory c. Lastly the sweet comfort of these golden truthes may not be concealed from the Saints Use 3. the Lord hath given speciall charge O comfort comfort them especially his afflicted ones that are oppressed either with the sad thoughts of his absence or feares of the fury of these last enemies I dare not with-hold the Cordialls provided for these sick soules 1. To you is comfort sent that are sick of Love that lye commplaining of Gods absence from you or desertion of you that long for Cry for waite for his returne and presence saving O when will hee come and appeare to us why doth hee leave and forsake our soules Refraine from these complaints yee holy ones God hath not left you Then is a soule left indeed when it hath no desires after God but here is no feare of Gods forsaking you while your soules are restlesse in longing after him wipe away your teares and looke up God is it neerer to you than ye thinke It was Mâ—â—â—es caâ—e once shee weepes for Christ and all the while he stands by her and so is not unusuall with the Saints Joh. 20.15.16 that are selfe-susoicious to thinke upon every uneven step of theirs God to be gon It may be sometimes his comforting presence may bee hid and yet his sanctifiing presence continueth to inlarge your soules in desires after him this is then better for you than that Grace more needrull for you than Comfort know this deare soules God cannot God will not leave you when you are dead Heb. 13.5 and will hee forsake you while you are alive He desires to have more trust from you upon his promise I will never leave you nor forsake you and you shall certainly receive more manifestations of love from him quicken faith wher sence faileth and be assured as soone may hee forsake Christ the Head-Saint which is impossible as you the member-Saints whose soules delight in him These good and comfortable words God speakes to your hearts O receive them and be cheared for they are true and faithfull 2. For you that are sick with feare is fom fort here prepared ye that are of a trembling heart God faith unto you be strong ye that are fearefull andshake at the terrors of the enemies of your salvation be ye comforted ye that often expresse your feares one time or other we shall perish by the hand of sin and bee given up to death and hell O how terrible are the thoughts of death how gastly the visage of the grave woe unto us when wee must descend into the pit And why so fearefull poore Saints O that yee would make use of faith now and take in the consolations of God Can promises chear the heart
more then wine can they secure invincibly against the power of sin of death of hel All these are yours Hath Christ vanquisht death and the grave hath he made the gates of hell to breake asunder and conquer'd all the power of darknesse Doth he now laugh at death and shake terribly the grave He is yours his holinesse yours his conquest yours his triumph yours and his dominion yours Death and hell lye at his feet and at your feet also O lift up your heads and rejoyce ye holy ones in this lot and behold yet more Can the Almighty forgive sin can hee blot out transgression can he undee the paines and chaines of death can he stop the grave from devouring and bring the prey out of its Mouth out of its Bowells can he chaine the devill and make hell not to be his This God is yours yee that have obtained that holy and precious faith ye are his holy ones and can he leave your soules in hell or sufler his holy ones to see corruption ye will take up better thoughts of God and be comforted against your feares if yelet faith worke thoroughly on him Bee hold and speake confidently Esay 50.7.8.9 challeng the King of terrors as the Saints have done their terrible enemies before you The Lord God will helpe mee therefore I shall not bee confounded I have see my face like a flint I know I shall not be ashamed He is neere that justifieth me who will cont end with me will sin will death will the grave let us stand together Behold the Lord God shall helpe me who will condemne me shall these adversaries lead mee in triumph Loe they all shall wax old as a garment the moth shall eat them up poore death poore grave the moth shall fight with you and consume you should the saints then feare to encounter with you God will deliver you into their hands and like old moth-eaten garments shall they teare you and come out Live then above feares yee Saints in the shadow of death feare no evill for God is with you Leape for joy and be glad at the remembrance of his Holinesse 3. To close all but a word to the congregation of saints both sick and well consider your calling and be comforted over all the crosse blasts that may meet you in the world ye are Gods annoynted his holy ones holinesse is your Cognizance which as it hath the neerest likenesse and is the Image of God so it hath the highest place of dignity next to God Holinesse sets up Iehova above all that is his glory wherein he is exalted above all creatures None can abase the holy one of Israell next to him is his holy child Iesus Holinsse advanceth him unto his Fathers throane and in this head are all the Saints Holinesse makes them fit upon his throane Be glad then and rejoyce in what God hath done for you He hath created you Holinesse to the Lord Mighty Princes hath God made you over sin death the grave and hell The powers of darknesse may puff at you but ye shall trample them under foot Sit downe then every of you glory in your portion and in the thoughts of insuing graplings with death and the grave sing with David with Christ My heart is glad my glory rejoyceth my slesh also shall dwell confidently For thou wilt not leave my soule in hell neither wilt thou give thy Holy one to see corruption This joy This Honour have all his Saints Praise we the Lord Amen Thus of the Text. Vsefull observations upon the life and death of Mr. William Crompton the Reverend and faithfull Pastor of the Church of Lanceston Cornwall I Have another text and another Sermon for you before I dismisse you the one is our deare and Reveredn Brother now interred the other will be fruitfull Collections from his life and death imitable by us all I confesse my judgement is that these Pulpit-speeches of the dead as generally used doe very much hurt in the hearts of many yet I dare not be injurious to the Holy to conceale that honour wich God himselfe hath cast upon them In the present what I speake I shallayme it more to your instruction than the deads commendation though it cannot but make his name a sweet savour I omit the usuall preface of place birth and parentage I begin with him where I find him beginning with himselfe even from the first evidence which he conceived he had of his interest in Christ And all that I shall note of him will be under these two conside rations 1. As a member of Christ 2. As minister of Christ 1. Touching him as a Christian that ye may see I speake not by rote I may let the world know that not many houres before his death being under some conflicts and not able much to speake he delivered unto me his Bosome-day-booke wherein he said he had ript up his heart and so hee had indeed desiring me to returne after some consideration my judgment of him and it I did so as I could As for him I am perswaded such thorough dealing with a mans owne heart as was there discovered cannot be expected but from a soule in Christ It pleased the Lord to speake peace to him in the Answer And for the Booke being as his conscience the booke of secrets â— thought it fit it should have its funerall with himselfe wherewith he trusted me and I did see it consumed before I saw him buried Now though many things therein are to be concealed under a sacred tye I know it will be faithfulnesse to commend some things thence of publicke use that they may doe good to others No other shall I touch and those I shall divide it to two branches 1. Such notable things as concerned himselfe in the way of Christianity 2. Such as note his carriage and respect to others I. Concerning himselfe I find these things remarkable under his owne hand which may testifie the life of Christ and the power of godlinesse 1. A care to looke for the beginning of his life to God or at least the first evidence of it which satisfied his self-suspecting-self-suspecting-heart and this be notes to bee in a sicknesse which God laid on him September 1631. at which time it seemes sin appeared more gastly to him and Christ more desirable in that he begins his reckoning of returning from that terme I mentioned this nor that I thinke he was not converted till then as hath been misreported for he gave good proofe of God in him long before that time but I aymed only at this use in it for our selves to make us wary how we trust our conceited conversions A storme may shake us out of all our selfe-confidences nay make us mistrust whither any thing be true in us at all it is good therefore to looke carefully to the laying of our first foundation in Christ 2. Upon this shaking an exact scrutiny and search of his heart and wayes from the first time