The Life and Death of Thomas Tregosse, Letters
Penryn Octob. 5. 1669.
My Dear and Reſpected Brother.
I May tell you ſad ſtories of my heart; O! how unbelieving, fearful, and faint found I it, on thoſe ſhort views I took of it: But that God, on whom my ſcandalous heart hath raiſed ſo many falſe ſtories heretofore, and then gave my fears the lie; and yet continue I untoucht, and undiſturbed to this hour. I do caſt my ſelf on the diſpoſing hand of God, to live or die in my liberty, according to his pleaſure; When I go forth, not expecting to ſee my Family again, and my frequent eſcapes, fill me with pleaſing admirations of love, that (through Grace) I return triumphing in his goodneſs. How long this liberty may be indulged, I know not; but I know he will be a good God when he ſeizeth our freedom in the Goſpel: and it will be the Rod of a Father, and may tend to our increaſe & ſettlement. I have had one very ſtrange raiſing from the Grave ſince I ſaw you; the circumſtances whereof compelled me, and others to own a very viſible finger of God: But a Narrative of this would be too tedious; I deſire you would be importunate with God, that I might eye the approaching Glory, and the return of that great Shepheard, and might feed in hope, ſingly aiming at the Lords bleſſed Intereſt, being contented with my own greateſt decreaſes, might that be increaſed and enlarged. Gods waterings and bleſſigs muſt give life and fruit to all our poor and defective labourings. O! Beg that theſe may be eminently with me; poor England I think is near heavy ſtrokes for her barrenneſs, ſenſuality, and enmity againſt the power of holineſs: the Lord grant this may not come as a ſnare on you and me; but that we may be ſober and watchful unto Prayer. The gracious Lord, who dwelt in the buſh, be with you, to teach, ſtrengthen and warn you, that in his hand you may be ſerviceable and glorious; In him I am, and ever ſhall be,
Your unfeigned friend, yet unworthy ſervant, T. T.
Penryn Jan. 12. 1669.
My Dear Brother,
I Should rejoyce to hear how God is dealing with your inward man, and what meaſures of ſucceſs you are crowned with in your labours of the Goſpel, and intereſt of the Son of God in the world. We may juſtly gueſs …h…t God will do with us in the Land, by his breathings with his truths. I deſire with much earneſtneſs to know (ſeeing you have ſo many advantages beyond us in theſe poor corners) how the Spirits of Profeſſors ſtand qualifyed, ſo far as a conjecture may be made, by the viſible tenure of their carriages. I generally find a very ſecure, earthly, laizy frame hath ſeized thoſe among whom I occaſionally fall abroad: I hope better things with you; and that a more engaging relliſh, and taſte of God & Glory, is fallen on their hearts; and a more refined pure lip, ſeconded by more humble, ſelf-denying converſes before the world. O! What a bleſſed Omen would this be, that God is on healing tearms of Grace with England; I muſt confeſs in the place where I now labour God is travelling forth with a meaſure of the greatneſs of his might: Some moſt ſtubborn and obſtinate wretches attend the means, and our meetings grow; the Spirit of Jeſus hath made ſome to fall under him, and our hopes of greater things are increaſing; if the Lord for our unfruitful walkings blaſt not all. My Dear Brother; I need not tell you how ſweet it is to be tabernacling in Mount Tabor, by cloſe believing. Meditation, to ſee your Lord and mine; and on thoſe views to rejoyce with joy unſpeakable, and full of Glory: and by the ſtme alſo to mourn over unkindneſs with bitterneſs, as for an only Son. Your received anointings lead me, and keep you there: Only I muſt tell you, Sermons much watered in the Cloſet, and ſteep'd in fervent Prayer, will ordinarily prove moſt quickening to the dead, and conſolating to the Saints; and a heart dropt upon by ſuch views, will lay a more then uſual tincture of Heaven upon the mouth which will have a choice influence in a Teachers treating with Souls. I muſt commit you to Iſraels Keeper, in whom you may repute me,
Your unfeigned well-wiſhing friend, and engaged Brother, T. T.
Jan. 28. 1669.
My dear Brother,
I See you have taken up a more than ordinary care for me; the ground of which I ſuppoſe, is, ſomewhat of God you conjecture is upon me: In which, I beg the Lord you may not be miſtaken. If I ſhould confeſs the truth to my boſom Brother, my Heart is ſuch a confuſed diſorder'd piece, its Principles and ends lying ſo viel'd and hidden from my ſelf, that moſt frequently I am mine own ſtranger; I know not who, or what I am, whether God or ſelf ſwayes me. Only this ſtayes me, that were the eye of my heart levelled as directly, and in as much ſingleneſs at the glory of God in Chriſt, as I would have it be in my greateſt ſtrangeneſs to him and my ſelf, I think I ſhould be ſincere. This therefore being much my ſtate, I may admire at the touch of Gods Finger on your heart, to turn it to ſuch a worm. I had no ſooner the Letter, but I ſaw much of God by it; and in ſuch providences, (through the Redeemer) I deſire to hold ſome communion with him. I ſhall hint at a footſtep of the bleſſed walks of God to me, ſo far as your Lines may require. Seven or eight years ſince, I found amongſt the writings of a deceaſed friend, two Bonds belonging to a poor Ophan; on the finding of which, I ſent word to the Orphan, of them, who came to the Houſe where I dwelt, and gave order that one of her Debtors ſhould be ſued, for the calling in her Money. Accordingly that Bond was ſent to a Lawyer, and the Debtor ſued; But it being out of the way of my imployment to attend ſuch a buſineſs, I acquainted the Orphan I ſhould not follow that affair, but leave it to a Kinſman of hers to manage it; and accordingly regarded it no further; he promiſing to ſhew all fidelity for the bringing in from the Debtor, the Money to the Orphan. In proceſs of time, not having heard of the buſineſs, either from the Orphan or her Kinſman, and therefore concluding all matters were regularly managed, and in equity between them. As I was alone in my impriſonment, I had a thought that ſtuck upon me. I muſt needs enquire what iſſue of the Orphans affair, in her Kinſmans hand had attained; and on an inquiry, found out that the Orphan was abuſed, and damnified 14 l. by this Kinſman, who yet had ſo ſaved himſelf, that no Juſtice could be gaind againſt him. On which I was under many diſputes with my ſelf, whether I were not obliged to take care the Orphan might be ſatisfied. I did propoſe the caſe, but was informed in the Negative. However, becauſe I entruſted it in his hand, I could not ſo clearly diſcharge my ſelf; and therefore lately borrowed the money, and paid it to the Orphan; reſolving, notwithſtanding my preſent condition, rather to be the ſufferer my ſelf, then that the fatherleſs Child, by the others injuſtice, ſhould be injured; and was determined to eye the Lord for a way to diſcharge that money ſo borrowed. Within a very little time I had borrowed the 14. l. yours came; and within a little ſeaſon from another; and now you write me of more, which makes up the ſum. I have been ſomewhat moved under the graciouſneſs of God: the Lord make me fruitful in my ſeaſonable improvement of this diſpenſation. I ſhould be very glad, might I ſee you at Crediton in my paſſing up to the Aſſizes: Many things I have to ſay, which I muſt ſilence, till God open a door for a more ſatisfactory converſe. You are minded by us here, and I deſire to live on your thoughts, when neareſt God.
I am yours in unfeignedneſs, T. T.
May 11. 1670.
My Dear Brother,
YOurs of the 16th. of April, I received not till the 7th. inſtant. Your long ſilence I confeſs much amazed me: but now in your lines, and the reaſon by them given me of the ſuſpence in thoſe paper-enter courſes, I rejoyce. Since my laſt lines to you, according to my engagement by recognizance; I had an opportunity to ſpend ſome time with your friends at Crediton, Chimly, and Southmoulton▪ and am ſorry where there is an appearance of ſo encouraging an harveſt, ſo little ſtomack, and ſpirit is found in adjacent Labourers. It hath been long my thought, that God hath yet a great controverſie with the Nonconforming (though the beſt) part of the Engliſh Miniſtry; among whom how few are there who naturally care for the ſtate of the poor periſhing Countrey; and what their hands find to do, do it with their might? This with that levity of Spirit, unholineſs of Lip, Reigning Selfiſhneſs, Earthly mindedneſs, Formality, Lukewarmneſs in Worſhip, Security, &c. viſible upon the profeſſing body, doth as apparently and dangerouſly threaten England, as the more branded D… baucheries. I could heartily wiſh (had the wiſe Lord ſeen it fit) your ſtation had been fixed in your native Soil, that you might be to the quickning of Brethren, and profeſſing Saints; and alſo ready at hand to ſuccour thoſe poor corners, which ſeem to cry as the Macedonian in the viſion, Come over and help us. But you know your proper gift, and I preſume will carefully ſtudy and anſwer your calls. I did contract friendſhip in that journey, with Mr. Stucley, whom I find of another Spirit, in whoſe ſociety my Soul was refreſhed: And Mr. Flavel of Dartmouth, I find a well tempered Man; whom elſe I met with to rejoyce in, of my Brethren I ſcarce know any. The times are now very black, and clouds are gathering in every quarter; what the iſſue of our ſtorms may be, a little time will much indicate, I wiſh I could ſay, Nubecula cito tranſibit; To give you my fears, I think this nothing to what muſt enſue: I have been long waiting for this; and do conſidently believe this not the deareſt teſtimony that muſt be given to Goſpel-truths, and Duties. A national overwhelming cluſter of ſevere judgments, I am ſore afraid, is at the door, ſharper then what formerly, for ſome ſcores of years we have felt: though I hope there will be a larger meaſure of God to ſanctifie them, for the reforming of his own, and converting the Rebels, then ever we yet experienced. This I confeſs, is ſome ſtay to me, under what I am enforced to believe. I have often begged, if the Lord ſees I am like to prove a diſhonour to his Intereſt, he would firſt ſhut me up in the duſt. Dear Brother, Pray for me, that I may do my work according to my convictions, humbly and with ſucceſs; and that after my teachings of others, and ſmall ſufferings, I may not be a ſtranger to the Light, Love, and Life, by which the Saints are quickned, and ſo at laſt a Caſtaway. The Lord make you uſeful, and keep up your courage, and grant you a deliverance from rude and unreaſonable men, which, with deſires of the like cequeſts from you on my behalf, will be now all,
From your moſt affectionate and engaged Brother in the Faith. T. T.
Penryn, September 16. 1670.
My Dear Brother,
AT this Aſſize at Exon I was called to my Trial, but no perſecutor appearing to give evidence againſt me; my jury acquitted me, and a Verdict of not guilty was returned. George Smith, the Deputy major of Torrington, when the Conventicle was ſurprized (and the grand Enemy in this affair) was at Lent Aſſize attending: but the Trial being put off; by this Aſſize God diſabled him for ſuch a journey, he having received in a drunken voyage, a fall from his Horſe; by which his ſhoulder-bone is diſlocated, and he rendred unable to dreſs or undreſs himſelf; and ſo like to abide to the day of his death. His Wife alſo (that violent Woman) died of a Timpany, a fearful ſpectacle to all beholders; ſhe departed hence the night of that Lords day in which I exerciſed at Torrington, in my journeying now to my home. I ſuppoſe you heard of the bad end of another Perſecutor there, one Denys, Smith, Brother in Law, who ſo much rejoyced when our meeting was broken up, affirming, the ſurprizal of the Conventicle did him more good, and more rejoyced him then all his loſſes did ſadden him: his Wife alſo bitterly belch'd forth theſe words concerning me, hang the Rogue; hang him at the Sign-poſt, or next Tree, and never ſend him to Exon: This poor wretch did hang himſelf in his own Study, and thereby his Eſtate is forfeited to the Town. Many much take notice, how ſignally Gods hand hath been againſt them ſince that Meeting. There are a very precious handful at Chinely, Southmoulton, and adjacent parts, who gladly receive the word: their ready ſubmiſſion to the truth in my former journey, engaged my heart to viſit them again, and hope our ſeeing each other hath not been in vain: Your memory is dear to ſundry of them, and your ſcatterings there. I wiſh they might again ſee you. A fruitful heavenly lip to improve truths imparted, by correſponding preſſing conferences, is much wanting among us: I pray beg it for me, and your other Brethren, now labouring My complaint will not Crucifie my unbelief, pride and deadneſs; pray labour for me with God, with whom I leave you, and am,
Your much obliged Brother in the Lord. T. T.
Penryn, October 7. 1670.
My Dear Brother,
I am a Sympathizer with you in dear Mr. R's loſs of ſo choice a mate; but ſuppoſe his ſo exemplary living on God, will do much to quiet him in the loſs of the beſt injoyment not everlaſting; and the ground of hope ſhe is ſafely houſ'd from the ſtorms we feel and fear, will I believe, and do more ſweetly reconcile him to this ungrateful and fleſh-diſguſting ſtroke. As for what God ſpeaks to you in this providence, I think its plain, viz. That you more effectually daily dye to what is not God and Spirit; and that you enure your Soul to more deep and fixed thoughts of your own diſſolution. I hear many very precious ones have been lately, at London (through a malignant diſtemper in the Bowels) called …ome; the Lord more fully warn them who ſurvive, and us; alſo of thoſe black and tempting days which probably are near us. My thoughts have been much of late ſetled, I know not how, on a converſing with the ſtate of departed Saints, Martyr'd for the teſtimony of Jeſus. I have obſerved in ſpecial two paſſages in Mr. Foxes Acts, &c. The one of Mr. Rogers the Protomartyr in Marys Reign; who in his Priſon had this paſſage to the Printer of Mr. Foxes book, then in bonds with him, Thou (ſaid he) ſhalt live to ſee the alteration of this Religion, and the Goſpel freely preached again: and therefore have me commended to my Brethren, as well in Exile as others; and bid them be circumſpect in diſplacing the Papiſts, and putting good Miniſters into Churches, or elſe their end will be worſe then ours. The Printer accordingly lived, but what remains for us who have ſhamefully ſlighted his counſel, time will evidence. The other is from Mr. Holland, who thus beſpeaks Bonner after his ſentence; This I dare be bold in God to ſpeak (which by his Spirit I … moved to ſay) that God will ſhorten our hand of cruelty; that for a time you ſhall not moleſt his Church; and this ſhall you in ſhort time well perceive (my Brethren) to be moſt true; for after this day in this place, there ſhall not be any, by him put to the tryal of Fire and Faggot. After which there was not one burned in Smithfield. I principally conſider that expreſſion, That for a time they ſhould not moleſt his Church. The Lord prepare me for a ſuffering day, and if fair weather ſucceeds, we ſhall be more watchful in its improvement. As for our condition 'tis full of threats and trouble; Warrants are granted for the levying of 220 l. on me; yet God hath kept them off; but I am expecting daily to be ſtripp'd of all. Our meeting place is taken from us, through their threatnings on our Landlord: we now meet at my houſe, and once each Lords-day above the number; but very few are free to attend, unleſs with four. I am alſo threatned to be perſecuted on the corporation Law; ſo that I am conſtantly expecting an impriſonment: but I ſhall endeavour to turn into the ſtrong hold, as a Priſoner of hope. I ſhould very gladly underſtand more particularly, how it is with you in this troubleſome and ſickly time; however, the Lord clear up your intereſt, and grant you an open door; if called hence into his preſence with exceeding joy. I ſhall commit you to God, beſeeching him to guid and uſe you, and to preſerve you blameleſs to his Kingdom.
I am yours moſt unfeignedly. T. T.
FINIS.
ERRATA.
P. 4. l. 1. r. others. p. 6. l. 27. dele of them. p. 7. l. 25. r. about. p. 10. l. 24. for converſion r. converſation. p. 11. l. 24 for convenant r. convert. p. 12. l. 25. for ond r. and. p. 26. l. 21. for hoth r. hath. p. 30. l. 3. dele you know I have. p. 36. l. 20. r. related. p. 42. l. 15. after in add underſtanding. p. 43. l. 6. for refuſe r. refuge. p. 47. l. 28. after him r. in. p. 52. l. 15. for ſome r. ſame.
End of the text · Theophilus Gale, The Life and Death of Thomas Tregosse (1671)