The Life and Death of Thomas Tregosse, Section 5
SECT. V. Mr. Tregoſſe's Character.
HAving given ſome ſtory of Mr. Tregoſſe's Life and Death, it may be, not a little, Uſeful, to give ſome Character of his Perſon, Spirit, and Converſation.
Mr. Tregoſſe was of a middle ſtature, his Hair black; his Face paliſh, not perfectly round,His Natural capacity. nor long. His Spirit was Maſculine, Generous, and Great; agreeable to the condition of his Anceſtors. There was a ſparkling Vivacity apparent in moſt of his intenſe Actions. His natural humour was not moroſs but affable: yet was he not without a tincture of darke melancholy; which yet his grace improved to a great meaſure of ſeriouſneſs. He had alſo ſome ſparks of choller; which being ſpirited by warm affections for God, brake forth into a pure flame of Divine zeal. His natural Judgment ſeemed deep, and ſolid; his will firm and fixed; his memory tenacious and faithful; his Affections tender and active: And the whole capacity of his ſoul fit for great exploits.
But the moſt Illuſtrious and bright part of his Character regardeth his gracious capacity, and diſpoſitions.His univerſal Holineſs. His perſonal holineſs was remarkable, even unto great viſibility: And, I think, few, in this age, have, for ſo ſhort ſtanding, made a larger proficience in the School, and ſervice of Chriſt. After Jan. 1664. (from whence he dated his converſion) he baniſht from his heart, and life many vanities, he had been formerly adicted unto. Neither did he gain his godlineſs, at ſo cheap a rate as moſt profeſſors do: No; his heart was firſt deeply wounded for ſin, and thence delivered from it: He was, for ſome while, under many extremities, from a Spirit of Bondage, and theſe made way for a Spirit of Adoption. He was ſoundly convinced of his ſpiritual death by ſin, and that opened to him a door of life by Chriſt. And, the entire change of his heart much appeared in the change of his life, and laſt end. Neither had ſome particular graces only a place in him; but a combination and complexion of many amiable graces, ſeemingly oppoſite, ſeemed viſible in him. How affable and courteous was he; and yet how ſevere again… ſin? What meekneſs and humility in his own cauſe? and yet what courage, and magnanimity in the cauſe of God, ſhone in him? How much holy fear, and ſelf-jealouſie; and yet how much Chriſtian boldneſs, and confidence was he poſſeſſed with? What an inflexible, and ſtrong bent of heart for God, againſt ſin, ſeemed he to have? and yet how flexible and complying with others, for their good was he?
He did not, as ſome, take Chriſt to eaſe himſelf of his work; or to ſecure his luſts;His Sincerity. but to kill them and to quicken him to dutie. His peace of Conſcience was maintaned, not by peace, but war with Sin; it was not only from, but alſo in God. He had, not only form of Chriſt in his life, and Picture of him in his fancy; but alſo the Image of, Union with, and love for Chriſt in his heart. He affected not ſo much to entangle his thoughts in diſputes, about the controverſies of Religion; as to get the power of it ſtamped on his ſoul. His faith did not lye level with worldly Intereſt, but oppoſitie thereto. He climbed not, as ſome, …o the top of an high profeſſion, without …ing a deep foundation in ſelf-denial. He borrowed not, as to many, the Mask of Rel…g…on to conceal a rotten heart; but was unſ…tisfied in his heart-inquiries after grace, till he arrived to ſuch a full meaſure thereof, as is … …ttainable by any hypocrite.
H… d…yly progreſs in mortification of ſin, ſeemed very remarkable,His mortification. and conſpicuous. He knew full well, that one reigning luſt would darken and harden his heart; yea, bring all into captivity; and therefore durſt not gratify any luſt, in the leaſt. He was content to give up his luſts to death for Chriſt, who gave up his ſoul to death for him: He thought it not much to part with a beloved ſin, for a beloved Saviour. Yea, he ſeemed to take more pleaſure in ſubduing his unlawful deſires, then others do in the fulfilling of them And leſt his fleſh ſhould impoſe on his more noble part, he innured himſelf to many bodily ſeverities; and deprived himſelf of ſuch natural refreſhments, which others too much indulge themſelves in. Yet did he not content himſelf with external mortification, but maintained a daily conflict with the whole body of ſin, in corrupt nature, yea, he would oft blame himſelf much for ſpiritual ſins, as Infidelity; pride, &c. Which others could leaſt blame him for.
His Crucifixion to the world was not leſs viſible:His Crucifixion to the world. He ſeemed to have acquired a great indifference of Spirit for things indifferent; to give periſhing things but periſhing affections. As our bleſſed Lord gave his Heaven for him, ſo he thought it not much to give his earth for his Lord: He could not part with Chriſt for any worldly good; and therefore was willing to part with all for Chriſt. The believing views he had of future Glories, darkned the world glories to him; ſo that he ſeemed to admire nothing, but approching glory, or what related thereto. Poverty in Chriſts way was greater riches to him, then a flouriſhing ſtate in the ways of ſin. He knew how to abound in his wants, by contentedly wanting what the Lord thought not fit for him, and thereby crucifying his deſires, he made the Croſs of Chriſt eaſy to him. His deſires were low, and therefore his ſpirit high above the frowns, and ſmiles of this lower world. He ſeemed better pleaſed in his mean condition, then worldlings are in the higheſt. His mind was too great, to put a great value on the nothings of this life: He brought his natural deſires into a narrow compaſs, and thence gained a great inlargement of Spirit.
By his long ſufferings he gained a great dexterity and skill in bearing the Croſs: By ſtarving ſin,His Art in bearing the Croſs. and crucifying his heart to the world, he took out the ſtings of his ſufferings. He knew, that the Divine will was more Eligible then his own; and therefore he endeavoured to conform unto it, as well by paſſive as active obedience. He knew he could not glorifie God more, then by being content, that Gods Glory ſhould gain by his private loſſes. He durſt not make ſin a ſhelter againſt ſufferings; or bear falſe witneſs againſt God, by repining under the Croſs. He was not ſo well pleaſed with ſin, as to prefer it before ſufferings: Or ſo ill-pleaſed with ſufferings as to fly from them when called thereto. He innured himſelf to the yoke of Chriſt, and ſo gained the Art of bearing his Croſs. His Conſcience continued under a lively ſenſe of ſin, and that made him dead, and in a meaſure ſenſeleſs as to ſuffering. His Will was ſo far broken, as that it could chearfully bend, and ſubmit to the Croſs; yea, welcome croſſes, when in Gods way. When God brought him into any affliction or ſuffering, he waited there till God brought him out. He knew himſelf to be nothing, and that made him bear any thing from God, with contentment: And by knowing his own vileneſs, he learnt to juſtify God in every croſs. His ſpirit was generous and noble, like that of the Eagle, which is not clamorous when it wants food. He ſtudied paſſive obedience as well as active; to be well-pleaſed with what God did, as well as to do what was well-pleaſing to God. He had a fit diſpoſition for the Croſs, which made that eaſy to him, which ſeemed into llerable to others. As he durſt not make men Lords of his faith, ſo neither of his happineſs, by doting on their ſmiles, or fearing their frowns; but as worldly men content themſelves with the world, without God; ſo he endeavoured to content himſelf with God, without the World. He had his preſent wants ſupplied, by ordinary or extraordinary means, and therefore conceived lit his duty to truſt God for the future: He knew he had more of the creature than he deſerved, and therefore was not: anxious about having more. He was much taken up about the weighty things of Eternity and therefore little concerned about theſe lower things.
He had many generous and noble diſpoſitions, but no one appeared more illuſtrious, and viſible in him,His zeal for God. after his converſion, than zeal for his Maſters ſervice; and the good of Souls. Oh! what a rare and excellent Quality is a publick Spirit for God? And how much was this holy man inveſted herewith? How little did his flamin zeal care to live, when the honour of his great Lord, ſeemed to bleed, and die? What a meek and patient Spirit had he, as to injury done unto himſelf? and yet how impatient and zealous was he as to injury done unto his Lord? How modeſt and backward was he in his own cauſe? and yet how magnanimous and forward in the cauſe of God? How little was it in the power of the greateſt men, to frown him out of duty, or flatter him into Sin? What a maſculine courage had he, with a fixed reſolution not to diſpleaſe God, to pleaſe men? Yea, how much vigor and ſtrength did his zeal gain by oppoſition? He ſeemed indeed naturally to have a Heroick ſpirit: But how much did Grace transform this natural quality into a Divine zeal? How much of divine flame, and how little of wildfire or carnal wrath was there in his zele?
Notwithſtanding his ardent zeal for God, yet was he of a very peaceable and quiet ſpirit.His Catholick Charity. He did not, Salamander-like, delight to live in the fire of contention; but was of an uniting healing ſpirit: He was not only a Patient, but alſo an Agent in ſeeking after peace: He judged our Church diviſions one of our greateſt plagues; He had a Catholick univerſal charity, and love for all: and albeit he hated the vices of wicked men, yet he loved their perſons. But he had a particular affection for all Saints, and that as Saints; making their graces, not their opinions, the meaſure of his love. His ſpirit and principles were ſo peaceable, as that he deſired to avoid all needleſs diſputes, that might breed ſtrife: But when he was called to diſpute, or confer with thoſe of different judgements, he evidenced much modeſty, and meekneſs; arguing not for glory, and victory, but to inquire into truth: Wherein he affirmed nothing, but what he endeavoured to prove out of the Scriptures: And when he could not fully comply with other mens perſwaſions, yet he would not impoſe his own on them, as the rule of their faith or communion.
And although he could forbear, and bear with all for their good, yet could he not bear with ſin in any;His dexterity in Admonitions and reproofs. but was a ſevere Admonitor, and Reprover thereof. Yea, his very preſence was a powerful and perſwaſive Admonition to ſuch as he reproved; for there was ſo much gravity and ſweetneſs mixed in his countenance, that one word from him would oft effect more, then many from ſome others: Eſpecially, by his holy converſation, exemplifying what he urged on others from the word of God, he much convinced ſuch as were defective, and ſubdued their wills to the will of God. I my ſelf once heard him, in the preſence of ſeveral Miniſters, ſharply reproving the ſin of Miniſters, in miſpending their time, whiles together, in frothy, or unprofitable conference: Which reproof he managed with ſo much majeſty, and yet with ſo much humility, and ſubmiſſion; confirming all that he preſſed from the word of God, that, I muſt confeſs, I could not but conclude, that there was much of God, in his ſo ſeaſonable Admonition and Reproof.
Neither did his ſeverity extend to the ſins of others only,His vigilance and heart examens. but alſo to his own: He was a curious obſerver of his own ſpirit, its ends, intentions, inclinations, motions, riſings, and fallings, as to Sin or Grace. He always kept a vigilant eye on his heart, and every night made particular reflexions on the paſſages of the day paſt, with a ſtrict examen, how it had been ſpent; what his converſation had been towards others; and how he had demeaned himſelf in his private duties towards God. He examined not only what he had done, but alſo from what principles he had done it; and thus by the knowledge of what he had done, he came the better to know, what he was to do; by ſtuddying well the book of his own heart, and life he became a good ſtudent, and proficient in the myſtery of godlineſs, and of ſin. He was a man of great obſervation, and of nothing more than of his own ſpirit its various viciſſitudes, turnings, and windings, &c. Thus he came to have an intimate and deep acquaintance with his own heart; and an experimental ſenſe of the holy ſpirits working in him; Hence alſo he came to know, what ſins he had to confeſs, and humble himſelf for; what mercies to bleſs God, or petition for, what burdens to grone under. At ſome times he found himſelf under great deadneſſes and diſtractions; at other times under ſweet inſpiration of the holy Spirit, and enlargements; Sometimes he ſighed under ſinking deſpondences, black unbelief, and haſe fears; at other times, he was on the wing of faith, and full of courage.
He had his ſtated times for private and family duties: Faith and prayr were his chief refuſe in his troubles.His private duties. And, indeed, he ſeemed to drive a great trade with Heaven, by prayer; wherein he was very powerful and prevalent; He had a very ſtrngling, wreſtling ſpirit in Prayer; bottomed on a deep ſenſe of his own need, large deſires, and lively workings of faith. What ſtrength he gained by prayer, he loſt not by neglects after prayer, but improved for God. His Spirit ſeemed unſatisfied in duties, till he had met with God, or ſomething from God. Sometimes he was dull and indiſpoſed in the beginning of a duty; but before he came off, he oft found great Aſſiſtances; when he found weakneſſes, the Lord gave in unexpected ſupplies of ſtrength; when he was caſt down under any perplexing diſturbing fears, or difficulties from within or without, he had recourſe to his Bible, and thence received frequently ſuch ſweet and encouraging promiſes, ſet home by the ſpirit of God; as afforded abundance of refreſhing relief to him.
His Family Exerciſes and Diſcipline deſerve a particular Remark. He gave no Toleration to any known ſin,His Family Diſcipline. or omiſſion of Duty: He was very diligent in preventing, or reproving the Prophanation of the Lords day, even to idle words: Neither was he leſs careful for the pious Education, and Inſtruction of thoſe under his domeſtick charge. Every morning and evening, for the moſt part, he read, and expounded a part of the Scriptures, ſung a Pſalm, and prayed with them. Every Friday night he examined their proficience in the Aſſemblies leſſer Catechiſme, explaining ſome part thereof to them. Every Lords day at night (beſides other Duties) he repeated the ſubſtance of what was delivered that day in the Sermons Preached: And after ſuch Exerciſes he examined his Servants, and ſuch Children as were capable, what they remembred; not ſuffering any to live under his Charge, who would not give account of their Faith. When he did not read a Chapter, his courſe was to examine and inſtruct his Servants, concerning the Fundamentals of Religion, which was a great means for the improving their knowledge. Beſides his private Retirements, and Family-duties, he had his ſet times every day, to ſpend with his Wife in private prayer.
Neither was this his religious care for inſtructing Souls confined onelyonly to his Family,His holy Conſerence. but extended unto others. He was inveſted with a ſingular Giſt of Perſonal Conference, which Talent he employed for the good of Souls; being ready to take, yea, to ſeek all convenient opportun ties to treat with them, about their eternal ſtate. He was much in preſſing men to Holineſs: He was wont to propoſe queſtions to thoſe he converſed with, and deſired the like of them; which the Lord made very ſucceſsful He eſteemed it no ſmall burden to be caſt on any ſociety, where his time was ſpent in unprofitable diſcourſe; and when he was caſt on ſuch, his ordinary practice was, to put a ſtop to ſuch unedifying conference, by ſpiritual divertiſement, or turning it to ſome holy diſcourſe. When he intended to viſit any Chriſtian Family, his method was, firſt to call his Wife and Mother, that they might joyn with him in prayer, for a bleſſing on his intended undertakement; and being greatly ſenſible of the advantages that are acquired by perſonal Conference, he gave thoſe of his hearers, whom he judged moſt judicious, divers directions for the right management thereof, on all occaſions.
He had a great Tenderneſs, and regard towards ſuch as were ſick: When he underſtood of their ſickneſs,His Viſitation of the Sick. he waited not till he was invited, neither did he rudely intrude where he might not be welcome; but firſt employed a Friend, to ſhew his willingneſs; and then where he might be received, he failed not to viſit them, and to adminſter ſuch ſpiritual advice, as he conceiv'd moſt proper for the ſtate of their Souls. And to thoſe who wanted a competent ſupply of conveniences, he imparted not only of his ſpiritual, but alſo temporal Gifts, according to what God had bleſſed him with. He failed not to pray with them before his departure, nor to ſpare any labour, or trouble, in the difcharge of this Chriſtian Office.
As for other more extenſive parts of his Miniſterial Gifts, His Miniſterial Gifts and Labours.and Labours, they were alſo very remarkable. His Preaching was ſolid and practical; he had a great Pathos, and vehemence in ſetting home Truths on Conſcience: His Sermons were full of plainnſs, and yet clothed with a ſacred Majeſty: His words were familiar, and yet very efficacious: He dwelt much on awakening Truths; ſuch as might pierce and ſting the Conſciences of ſecure ſinners; and yet to ſuch as needed Conſolation, he was another Barnabas, full of ſweetneſs. He had much of Divine aſſiſtance, as well in the compoſing, as in the hearing of Sermons: He oft ſaid, that uſually his Sermons were given him on his knees: His practice was, when he had pitcht on a Text, to apply himſelf to Prayer; and whilſt he was on that duty, he oft had the Heads of his Diſcourſe give in unto him. As for his enlargements he was never barren; having a memory to treaſure up all that he read, and an Elocution apt to deliver what he had treaſured up, on all occaſions. Thoſe who knew him, much admired how he could preach ſo oft, and yet ſo well. He was likewiſe endued with a large gift of prayer. which he alwayes expreſſed in Scriptural language, wherein he ſeemed to have much communion with God.
In brief, he was one of Divine Lights and Heats for God. His zeal in promoting the ways of God,A Summaris of his Character. was flaming and ardent: He was affable in his Speech, ſerious and grave in his Carriage, invincible in his courage, Charitable to ſuch as differed from in perſuaſions, ſo long as he ſaw their deſign was to promote Godlineſs; temperate in the uſe of the Creature, Frugal in the husbanding of his time, ſpending his ſpare hours in walking, meditating. Praying, or converſing with Chriſtians about Soul-affairs. And indeed, he was of ſo holy a diſpoſition, and heavenly temper, as that all good Men who knew him, reverenced him. To conclude, his greateſt ambition ſeemed this, to act and ſuffer ſomewhat more then ordinary for God; that ſo he might, by a ſingular exemplary converſation, ſilence the reproaches of ungodly men, and give check to the Pride, Formality, Vanity and Carnality of too many Profeſſors in theſe wanton days, which he ſadly bewailed, as ſad prognoſticks of great Deſolations: Only, he hoped there were ſome, and the Lord would raiſe up more young Converts, who ſhould be furniſhed with Spirits, and converſations for the enlargement of Chriſts Kingdom. But more of his Spirit, Fears, and hopes, will appear, in, and by his following Letters.