The Art of Embalming Dead Saints, 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, … 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-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 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, ANNƲS 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,foreign. 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 your leſſe.
4. In his conſtant labours and travailes to forme Chriſt in the hearts of his people, by unwearied, faithfull, powerfull preaching of the Goſpell: In this way as hee was laborious, ſo he was skilfull too;(b)foreign, Chryſ. 10.5. in orat in Barl. Mart. As he ſaid of one Barlaam a Martyr, he was a good Archer, he ſhot his arrowes in the ayre, mighty words, and broke the Divels …ankes. No leſſe hath he wounded, ſpoiled, and ſcattered the devils forces, by the effectuall preaching of Chriſt in the place where God hath ſet him.
5. In his fervent deſire for a good proviſion for his people after his departure; that a Paſtor after Gods heart might be ſent to feed them.
In theſe wayes was his life, ſince he began to live, wherein he approved himſelfe an holy Man, and an holy Miniſter, labouring to perfect Holineſſe in himſelfe and others; He was no leſſe a ſaint dying than living: See his deſcent to the grave.
Perſeverance crownes a Chriſtian, it was his glory to bee perfected in the ſpirit as to begin in it. I ſhall but note theſe things toward his end.
1. His patient ſubmiſſion unto, and welcomming of Gods rod unto him. It was his choyce, Love and chaſten me, afflict and purge me my gracious God.
2. Holy care to make good uſe of Gods corrections, to conſider his wayes, to heare the rod, and him that had appointed it, and to learne obedience by the things he ſuffered.
3. Great ſtruglings under bitter temptations, made ſomething heavier by his diſeaſe, yet Grace was ſufficient in the midſt of all, and by ſaith he obtained victory in Chriſt, glorying over his Tormentors.
4. Conſtant profeſſion of faith, at his death ſealing the ſaving truths of Chriſt which he had preached, living and dying in the love of them: and whileſt ſweet counſells and hearty prayers to, and for them that were converſant about him: as for the Church of God, he ſpent his ſhort breathing time, untill his ſpirit returned to God that gave it. Caſt all up, and the ſumme in Charity muſt be, in life and death hee was Gods holy one, therefore will not God leave his ſoule in hell, nor ſuffer him to ſee corruption in the pit. Let me but touch our duties toward him, in three words and I have done.
1. Let us lament him, there is cauſe if we know our loſſe;Pſal. 12, 1. It is Davids cry, Helpe Lord, for the godly man ceaſeth: So many gaps are made for wrath to breake in, as there are holy men taken from us. Here is dead an holy man, and an holy Miniſter. It was Jeruſalems trembling, when good Prophets were cut off; It ſhould not be our rejoycing, The buriall of a Nurſe with Jacob hath a ſad Monument, her Sepulchre is called Allon Bachuth, the oke of weeping,Gen. 35.8.19, 20. ſhe dyed not unlamented; A Pillar of ſorrow is raiſed for Rachel his wife upon her grave. Nay, Iacob himſelfe an old Saint dying among ſtrangers wants no mourners, at the floore of Arad the Egyptians made ſuch a bitter lamentation that the place beares the name Abel Mitsraim, Gen. 50.11.the mourning of the Egyptians. Naturall affections become men, gratious affections ſhould be in Chriſtians (though not to mourne as without hope) yet to mourne greatly at the fall of ſuch a Saint, ſuch a Miniſter, ſuch a Pillar in the houſe of God.
2. Let us Imbalme him,Eccleſ. 7.1. at leaſt ſpread his owne confection on him, his good name is a precious oyntment, Holineſſe hath made it ſo. Give him his due then, as David to that Worthy, Dyed Abner as a foole dyeth? So ſay wee,2 Sam 3.33. dyed this Holy one, as a ſinner, as a ſot? no but as a Saint, giving up his ſpirit in Faith into the hands of a faithfull Redeemer. We may ſet it on his grave here lyes an Holy one.
3. Let us imitate and follow him, as he followed Chriſt: as he ſaid in his ſpeech upon a dead martyr,(c)foreign. Chryſoſt. ibid. we come not ſo much to commend him, as to bee bettered by him, in the imitation of his right wayes. Heare Chriſtians and Miniſters, there is a Copy for you both in this deceaſed Saint: ye his flock and hearers, write after him in ſelfe-examination, ſearch, judgement and aggravation of ſinnes, no leſſe in try all of Graces, and of your converſion: Walke after him in godly Sorrow, Repentance, Faith, Holineſſe, and Times redemption: Good fruit will then appeare in your lives, and ſweet comfort in perſeverance to death; Keepe ye a day-booke alſo for your ſoules, that your accompts may be in readineſſe, when your Lord ſhall come.
And we his Brethren in the Miniſtry may not diſdaine to be followers, where we have not beene leaders: let us now bethinke our ſelves, that we are called to ſeeke Chriſts and not our own; Digge we by ſtudy into the Myſtery of Chriſt, preach we the Goſpell painfully, faithfully, conſtantly: Love we the ſoules for which Chriſt hath dyed, and account it our glory to be ſacrificed upon the ſervice of their faith: ſo ſhall we dye peaceably in conſcience of our innocency from the blood of ſoules;1 … 5 4 And when the chiefe ſhepheard ſhall appeare, wee ſhall receive a crowne of glory that fadeth not away. To all and for a cloſe; Be ye holy, ſhall I ſay, as hee was holy? Nay, I ſet you an higher Copy, even as God is holy, ſtrive to reach it, though ye come ſhort in the truth, in the beauties of holineſſe; Ye heare your honour, Death and the Grave ſhall be your ſlaves, and yee Lords over them, while yee ſeeme to lye under their power. There is no feare of dereliction by God, nor corruption to betide you; Nothing can ſeparate betweene you and Chriſt, nor betweene Chriſt and God. After his ſufferings hee is entred into glory, and now is in the holieſt of all, appearing for you as your forerunner, yee alſo his Member-Saints ſhall follow him in this path of life, and when this darke vale ſhall be drawne aſide, then ſhall ye enter into the high and Holieſt place, to be perfected in the viſion of the Thrice Holy God, in whoſe preſence you ſhall have fulneſſe of joy, and at whoſe right hand you ſhall have pleaſures forevermore: All which the good Lord grant unto us, through Jeſus Chriſt our Lord. Amen.
FINIS.
End of the text · George Hughes, The Art of Embalming Dead Saints (1642)