nobis spiritus Deâ— efficit c. Berv. Ep. 107 Spirit that he is reconciled to God that God is his Friend his Sinnes which God hates and which makes him an enemy being pardoned whence his person is justified and God is more delighted with him because he beholds him in his Sonne Christ Jesus as cloathed with his Righteousnesse than displeased with his sinnes and daily infirmities There is more good in Christ for a godly man than there is evill in sinne against him and God would not have left this Jebusite in the Land I meane sinne in the Soule of a righteous man if notwithstanding that he could not have loved him Chamier 1 John 4.19 God loaths the sinne whilest he loves the person Et qui certus est Charitatis Dei erga se idem certus est salutis suae We love him because he loved us first Our love to God is but a reflex beame darted into our Soules from that Eternall Sonne of Love which burnes hot without wasting or the least Diminution The second worke of the Spirit as Lord in us is opus supprimens to suppresse all bad motions to sinne arising either from the corruption of our natures from the World without or the Devill about us and withall to stirre up good affections and motions to Piety and godlinesse amongst which inward motions the most principall are these First an utter dislike of sinne as sinne for that our good God is thereby displeased and offended Secondly an hungring and thirsting after Grace an eager desire above all things in the World to be at unity with God in Christ and to be reconciled unto him when we have provoked him by any hainous sin c. The third worke of the Holy Ghost in us is opus vivificans 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. In Symb. Oriental Eccles. apud Epiph. ad finem Anchorati a quickning or enlivening worke It is the Spirit that quickneth Iohn 6.63 As in the first Creation God Created Light before there was life in the Creature to bring forth and multiply Gen. 1.3.14.20.24 So in our Regeneration which is a new Creation Psal 51.10 there is ever a Principle of Light infused into the Soule before we can have life or be quickned in the exercise or doing of good That spirituall light is a clear and full perswasion of Gods love to us in Christ that He is our Father and we his Children that Christ is our Saviour c. Such a strong Faith is the Adamant that nothing will breake the Palme that sinks not under the most weighty burden The Oyle that ever swimmes above the Water be this poured in never so great quantity upon it It is such a powerfull Chimist that turnes Death into Life Sorrow into joy makes riches of Poverty nay all things of nothing 2 Cor. 6.10 as having nothing yet possessing all things Lastly it turnes cold feares into warme hopes sighs and groans into triumphant and joyfull songs trembling into leaping and clapping of hands witnesse Paul and Silas in the stocks witnesse too Acts 16.25 that renownd for undanted constancy Dr. Taylor of Hadley who when he came within two miles of the place where he was executed fetched a leape or two and withall said Now lack I but two stiles and I am even at my Fathers House he meant Heaven witnesse likewise that famous Hawkes in the booke of Martyrs who being desired to give a signe whether the Fire was tolerable to be borne promised it to his friends and after all expectation was past he lift up his hands halfe burned and being on a light Fire with great rejoycing strook them three times together Whence all this from what spring were derived all these streames of strength and comfort but from a lively Faith in Christ the fruit and effect of Gods Spirit and the cause of a lively Hope of happinesse which Hope is the * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Cyril Root and Seminary of good workes and the Mother of Patience In a word it is this wonder-working Faith that quickens and revives us first in Adversity Secondly in Death Thirdly in Duty First in Adversitie Let whole troopes of trouble let Sicknesse or Poverty c. seize upon or lay seige to a righteous Soule armed with a strong affiance in the Lord Jesus it defies this Host this tormenting Regiment of Sinne and Satan it sees * Cant. 2.9 Christ behind this Mud-wall and beholds a Saviour under this †Fides larvam detrabit Christo Aug. Vizard it discernes a mercifull hand through this black Cloud the hand of a wise God and indulgent Father the Heart of a tenderly loving elder Brother who knowing the mold whereof we be made doth exactly measure out every crosse unto us and will not loade us above the strength of our weake natures whose Foundation is frailty our composition dust and ashes Therefore a faithfull Soule having an Eye to this gentle Hand he solaces himselfe with this perswasion from that Principle his Faith extracts this infallible conclusion that this trouble or crosse is not the Axe of perdition but the pruning Knife of correction that God hath given a more strict charge to the army of afflictions 2 Sam 18.5 than Davids was to Ioab and his followers Doe the young man no harme doe mine anointed no hurt c. Nay he is assured not onely of the Negative but also of the Affirmative that is not onely of this that his crosse or affliction shall not hurt him â—quin but also doe him much good Hee knowes that affliction is Gods Physick Medicina animae and so it is sanativa mali praeteriti praeservativa à malo conservativa in bono it is administred to us by our heavenly Physitian to cure us of our sinnes past by driving us to repentance to prevent sinnes to come by begetting in us humility and a carefull watchfulnesse over our wayes And lastly to preserve and keepe us in well-doing whilst God denies a man health and riches which He knowes would be to him the fâ—mes of sinne and wickednesse upon these considerations a faithfull Soule rejoyces in the crosse and triumphs in his afflictions which he entertaines with joy and embraces with thankfulnesse knowing that comfort is laid up and hid for him though for the present it be hid from him light is sown for the Righteous and that as the crosse came from Heaven Psal 97.11 so it will carry us thither upon the back or rather merits of our crucified Lord Iesus Secondly as in Adversity so in Death it selfe Faith hath a quickning vertue to support us in our encounter with that Giant with that great Goliah who defies all the Host of Infidells holds them in bondage all the dayes of their lives and makes their whole life no better than a living Death Onely Faith encounters with this Giant and grapples with him as a vanquished underling insulting over him as much as he doth over the
sonnes of unbelief She sets her foot upon the neck of this King of feares and so as a Conquerour sets up a Flag of defiance to all petty dangers and feares which are onely dreadfull because they march towards and tend to Death the last the end and summe of all feared evills Let Death dresse it selfe like the cruellest and most bloudy fury come with all her Racks Fires Strappadoes wild beasts all her exquisite tortures invented by the wit of the most savage Tyrants Faith will set a Woman a child to make sport with it to dare and tire it and its executioners A faithfull man dying lookes up to Iesus as Alexander look'd his Physitian in the face Heb. 12.2 Curt. when he dranke off his potion wherein he was told there was poyson and being assured that Christ drunk out of Deaths bitter Cup an eternall health to all Mankinde suck'd the Gall and Venome out of it and made it an wholesome potion of immortality upon this assurance he looks into the Grave without feare and upon Death without horrour embraces it with joy as old Egredere anima mea c. so said He dying Hieron in vita ejus Hilarion and the Martyrs did as being the end of sinne and misery and the beginning of everlasting felicity This pious thought had St. Cyprian of it who when he was condemned to die by Valerian did lift up his hands and eyes to Heaven and cheerfully replied at the hearing of his fatall sentence Benedictus Deus c. God Almighty be blessed for this Gaole-delivery for that he is pleased to deliver mee from the fetters of my Body A man that is in debt feares the face of a Serjeant or Baliffe nay every one that weares a Sword is a terrour or death unto him Thus it is with the wicked their debts being not paid the black bills of the Lawes endictments against them being not cancelled they feare death 'T is otherwise with the Godly whose sinnes are pardoned and they reconciled to God they entertaine Death with the greatest welcome and delight that can be imagined as a messenger from their heavenly Father to invite them to a Palace from a Prison Chrys in Colos to a Court of Glory from a Dungeon of sorrow to be solaced and feasted amongst the Saints and Angels with heavenly delicacies the chiefe dish of which glorious banquet is the Vision of Almighty God to behold the soule-ravishing aspect of our Lord Iesus now glorified Death is the * Eccl. 41.1 O Death how bitter c. Rich mans feare the good mans wish whose sinnes are washed away in the bloud of the Lamb Christ Iesus whose person is therefore reconciled to God who upon this ground has a good Conscience a Conscience that is quiete bona that is not troubled nor staind with unrepented sinnes He that trembles at the approach of Death we may say to that man in the words of St. Austine O homo perdidisti fidem O man thou hast lost thy Faith which in the last place as in Adversity and Death so it has a quickning power to enliven us in Duty When there is great Faith in the Heart there will be much prayer in the mouth Charity in the Hand sedulity in the Feet to move with alacrity in those paths which tend to God and bend toward Heaven Faith like the Spring in a Watch sets all the Wheeles or Members of the Body on worke Heb. 11.26 Psal 71.20.80.18.119.25.37.88.107.149.154.159.143.11 Faith reflecting upon the Promises and having with Moses respect unto the great recompence of the reward of everlasting Life Doubtlesse David prayed to God for the enlargement or encrease of Faith when he desired so often as we finde in the Psalmes to be quickned This livelinesse in duty when we serve God with cheerfulnesse breaking through all oppositions to the contrary as it is the effect of a strong vigorous active Faith so it is a thing most pleasing to God Rom. 12.8 Shew mercy i. e. give Almes with cheerefulnesse God loveth a cheerefull giver 2 Cor. 9.7 As for those weake Christians Is 42.3 those bruised Reeds and smoaking flax who by meanes of their bodily distempers or weaknesse of Faith finde in themselves some indispositions and deadnesse unto or about spirituall duties when their Altar seemes to have no fire when they pray but not with wonted fervency when they heare but not with an attentive alacrity Let them not measure their interest or share in Christ by sense or feeling let them not be discouraged though they want inward comfort which is oftentimes denied to many a deare Saint it being a dish reserved for many a one till he comes to partake of the Heavenly Banquet Advise to those tha want comfort in duties and let me advise such although they have no comfort nor delight in duties as they are performed by them with some imperfection and drinesse yet let them rejoyce in this that they have so much grace as to doe the Wi l of God even with some reluctancy of theirs then they discharge their duty for the substance or matter of it though they faile in some circumstance or manner of doing And let them know too that that duty is most acceptable to God Vid. Fr. de Sales Bp of Geneva his Introduct to an holy life l. 4. c. 14. Is 50.10 Is 8.17 which is performed meerly out of Obedience to his command when our vigorous wills carry us to it and we take little delight in the performance of it because then we seeke not to please or content our selves so much as God And who is He that walketh in darknesse and hath no light let him trust in the Name of the Lord and stay upon his God who sometimes hideth his Face from his Children who are of the Familie or off-spring of faithfull Abraham This King of Spirits and Lord of Soules hath a Throne of Grace set up in his Childrens heart he rules and raignes in them by his blessed and holy Spirit whose Dominium and the parts of it you have heard Now followes the second particular which is Dominii generalitas the Generality of the Spirits Lording power in us of which with much brevity and concisenesse The Soule of Man may be fitly resembled to Noahs Arke Gen. 6.16 in which there were Gen. 6.16 First Second and Third stories Gen. 6. So in the soule there be upper and lower roomes the superiour and inferiour faculties and in all these the Holy Ghost by a generall command and rule keepes his abode and residence First it dwells or resides in the understanding which is the Soul 's 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the upper loft by clearing the darke and dimme eye of it by begetting in it a saving knowledge whereby we come to know the things of God 1 Cor. 2.12 those things which are revealed to us in his Word concerning our future end which is our soules salvation and the meanes
did in Calvin who had the Gowte a Feaver and Cholick all at one time But let us admire our Deare Friends invincible patience when he was as it were upon the Rack of torment my selfe then with others demanding by way of tryall how he did His constant reply was very well I thanke God Indeed he could not but be very well who had God for his Father Christ his Saviour and the Holy Ghost his Comforter whose Temple and house his soule and body was He had so resigned up his will to the Will of God which is the height of perfection that whatsoever God did and whatsoever He suffered he alwayes embraced as good Hee embraced his crosse and looked upon his troubles as the lot of Gods Children the Physick of the soule the Pledge of Divine love the badge of his Profession the Tryall of his Faith the exercise of his Patience the Testimony of his constancy the incentive of his Devotion and the Marke of his conformity with Christ his Head To whom that hee might by a closer Union be joyned now that his Soule was drawing towards Heaven he desired to receive his Viaticum that Heavenly Foode which might as it did strengthen his Spirit in its long journey to Eternity That which is a Sacrament as of thankfull Commemoration so of Confirmation for that it confirmes our Faith that Christ is and will be in all respects to our souls I had rather say to our persons what the Bread and Wine is to our Bodies Had you beene present and seene with what flaming devotion with what burning Affections and holy Reverence he received that holy Foode the Seale of his Pardon That 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ignatius when in a cold frosty morning being the Lords Day hee tooke off all his Caps and sat up in his Bed Bare-headed in honour to his dread Soveraigne the King of Heaven his Lord Jesus exhibited as Crucified in that Sacrament for our sinnes Had you but seene this and heard the Heavenly expressions that fell from his Lips you would have concluded that as he was a rare Saint so a most worthy Receiver and that they who contemne this Sacrament cannot be Saints Having thus got faster hold on Christ and grasping his Saviour in the Armes of his Faith and Thankefulnesse Luke 2.29 Hee ever after sang old Simeons Song Domine nunc Dimittis c. Lord now lettest thou thy Servant depart in peace He longed after his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hee desired to be released from his Prison the body is no more to the soule Hee often wished to be dissolved and to be admitted to a neerer familiarity with Christ And having sent from the Chamber where he lay sick many messages to his Wifes aged Parents wishing them and another almost as aged in this Towne to prepare themselves for their Death which was approaching having discharged this last great act of Charity declaring thereby that he was loth to goe to Heaven alone To be happy without company Hee suggested this more than once to his beloved Consort that when shee saw him close his Eyes shee should not be troubled but conceive that hee was asleepe Death was no more to him which was entertained with moving of his Lips and lifting up of his Hands to Heaven even when hee could not stirre nor speake His Body after many Toiles and Travells in Gods Service is now asleepe for a time but his Soule is awake in Heaven Wearing the Crowne of Perseverance and Singing with the Heavenly Chorus of Saints and Angells a Triumphant Hymne to the Lambe Christ Jesus Sitting upon a Golden Throne who will at the great Day raise up his Body from its long sleepe by vertue of that Spirit which Raised up Christ from the Dead and dwelled in a ful measure in the Soul of this our late Reverend Learned Master who me thinks does bespeake us on Earth from Heaven in the words of S. Paul Eph. 5.1 Be ye followers of me as I was of the Lord Jesus in Faith and Love in Humility and Patience Weep not for me but turn your Tears into practice of my Vertues Judg. 9.48 As yee have seen me do so do ye likewise Thus if we do in a strict and holy conformity we shall be happy as He is and partake with him of Glory Trin-unî Deo Laus Gloria Amen THE TRIUMPH OF FAITH over DEATH ROMANS 8.11 If the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortall Bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you IT is a true saying of Athenagoras Lib. de Resurrect that Christian Philosopher 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 There is no Truth though never so ancient and grounded upon the Word but hath a lie attending and cleaving fast unto it which must not be understood of the nature of Truth it selfe that Virgin Daughter of Almighty God but to the malice of the Devill and to the madnesse of Heretickes and others his instruments that do corrupt and blast it It is a Principle all the World over except among Atheists that omne verum est à Deo omne falsum à Diabolo omnis error ab homine All Truth is from God as the prime authour of it all falsity from the Devill all errour from man The last goes alwayes under the vizard of the first i.e. errour under the mask of Truth But the Second i. e. falshood confronts Truth to the face and stands in open defiance of it So bold and daring are Hereticks that they have in their audacious writings strook at the very Essence Power Mercy Truth and Justice of God of this latter sort are they who deny the Resurrection 1 Tim. 2.18 they strike at Gods Power and overthrow his other Attributes as Wisdome Truth and Justice Thus did Hymenaeus and Philetus Men given up to carnall delights as their Name imports The like did the Valentinians who asserted most falsly that Christ redeemed onely our Soules and not our Bodies and so contenting themselves with vaine Phantastike Speculations they slighted all good works as unprofitable and of no use living in the meane while in all lewd profanesse Crames Aâ—b And no marvell Nam qui Resurrectionem carnis non credit quid ille boni credat aut faciat He that believes not the Resurrection of the Flesh after Death what good can be expected to be done by him in this Life To these we may adde the Manichees who rejected the Resurrection as fabulous and maintained that our Soules should be saved without our Bodies What will not Men dare say who reject the Scriptures A blushing shame would have stained their Consciences and a recantation of their errour seiz'd on their Tongues had they but read and believed that portion of Gods Word which I have now read unto you If the spirit c. He shall quicken or restore to Life your mortall and dead Bodies which now
THE TRIUMPH OF FAITH OVER DEATH Or The Just Man's Memoriall Compris'd in a Panegyrick and Sermon at the Funerall of the Religious most Learned Dr. COMBAR late Master of Trinity Colledge in Cambridge and Deane of Carlile Delivered in Trinity Colledge Chappell By R.B.B.D. the 29. of March 1653. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Spiritus Sanctus non incolit nisi virum fortem 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chry. 1 COR. 15.55 O Death where is thy Sting O Grave where is thy Victory LONDON Printed by J.G. for R. Royston at the Angel in Ivy-lane 1654. TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE JEROME Earle of PORTLAND c. Right Honorable IT is an high prerogative of nature and priviledge of Grace when Good is annex'd to Greatness And it is better to be without this than not to be great in goodnesse But when both meet in one they make a glorious and an happy conjunction commanding by a secret power both imitation and honour Men usually honour those that are great whose natures lead them to imitate the Good My honour'd Lord though I am a stranger to your Person yet not so to your fame and though you may justly wonder at my hardy attempt in fronting this Treatise with your noble Name yet in this forward act I want not a President even the learned Austine Lib. 4. c. 14. Quem non noveram facit sed amaveram bominem ex Doctrinae fam◠c. who in his Confessions makes an acknowledgement to God of a piece of boldnesse in dedicating a Book to a great Oratour of Rome by Name Icherius whose face he had never seene However if this be objected as a crime I cannot but promise to my self your Lordships pardon especially when your Goodnesse shall reflect upon the Spring of this hasty motion It was the prevailing importunity of the dearest friends of our late reverend Deane which forced me to the Presse and put me upon this bold Dedication that so they might give to the World a cleare Expresse of their gratitude to your Lordship for your high favours to the most renowned Doctour now deceased who was a Magazen of Learning and an exact Modell of vertue a Picture of Patience and a Patterne of Devotion It addes not a little to your Lordships honour that you had relation to Him as your Tutour who ever had an high esteeme of your noble Person thus not unknown to me who know that men not rancord with envy usually love in others what they see in themselves and therefore He whom Combar loved and honourd must needs be rare and excellent My Lord all that I humbly beg is this that your Honour would grace Him now dead with your Tuition who living did adorne you with His in our Society which owes much to your Lordship in promoting Him to be Master of it who was it's happy Crown and Glory In that promotion my selfe with many others had a share and as a Testimony of a thankfull brest I humbly crave your Honours acceptance of this ensuing Worke which falls as short of the Deceased's merit as He outstripp'd the men of this proud Age in knowledge and sweetnesse of Spirit With it your Lordship has a tender of my most hearty Devotions I shall ever supplicat the Almighty that when you have finished your Course with the glory of those two Graces which are oft joynd in the * Rev. 2.19 13.10 Heb. 6.12 Scripture and like Eros and Anteros in the Fable live and die together I meane Faith and Patience you may inherit a blessing in the Land of Promise the †〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chrys Haven of everlasting rest and happinesse This is the unfained wish of Your Honours devoted Servant R. Boreman Jan. 9. 1654. EPITAPHIVM Reverendissimi Doctissimique Domi. Do ris Combar c. qui devotam Deo animam reddidit 28. Feb. 1653. postquà m annos 78. plus minus cum celebritate nominis compleverat COs priscae pietatis atque lima Sincerae Solidae Piae sed acre Novae hujus Logodaedalae Sonorae Fucatae meretriciae Flagellum Atlas Religionis Orthodoxae Tibicen fidei Columna veri Falsi Malleus haeresin retundens Retundens quoque Schisma Hypocritarum Doctrinae jubar eruditionis Fundus Fax Criticae politiorum Fons linguarum idiomatumque nidus Cunctas tam benè continens loquelas Loquelas veteres eruditas Eos quotquot habet quot Occidensque Nido scilicet adde quas ad unguem Modernas tenuit cubabat isto Chaldaeus Syrus Aethiops Arabsque Hebraeus Samarita Persa Coptus Flumen nectaris ingenî Scatebra Thesauri sed Ausonî Pelasgi Penus Flos Latialis Vmbra Tullî Athenae merae Attici Leporis Favus mellis Hymettii alveare Torrens eloquii Medulla Suadae Dicendi Veneresque Gratiaeque Sagax arbiter elegantiarum Legendi sine fine dipsas atrox Librorum helluo litterarum abyssus Aevi surculus aurei renascens Morum stella nitens in his tenebris Exemplar probitatis atque gemma In hoc stercore temporum refulgens Candor Simplicitasque Comitasque Et mista gravitas suavitate Frons jucunda decor verendus oris Iecur felle carens cor absque fuco Ingens pectoris integri serenum Musarum meliorum amor voluptas Et gentis decus dolor togatae Hoc uno partitèr facesse livor Quo Combare jaces jacent Sepulchro J. Duport Gr. Linguae Professor R. Joannis Morini Blesensis de reverendissimo decano Doctore Combar Testimonium ALius praeterea codex nempe Samaritanus celebratur dicitur esse Archiepiscopi Armachani ab eo è Palaestinâ in Hyberniam exportatus qui Leydensibus Academicis nonnullo tempore fuit commodatus Istum codicem vir clarissimus Doctissimus Thomas Combarus Anglus quem honoris officii reddendi causâ nomino cum textu Judaico verbum e verbo imo literam cum literâ maximâ diligentiâ indefesso labore comparavit differentiasque omnes juxta capitum versuum ordinem digestas ad me misit humanissime officiosissime Excerpt è Morin Animadvers in Censuram Exercitationum p. 419. Errata in concione corrigenda PAge 16. Line 29. redundant linguis p. 17. l. 21. for but read heat p. 19. l. 8. r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 THE LIFE AND DEATH OF THE Reverend and Learned Religious Dr. COMBAR WE never read of any that were blamed for drawing too much Water out of the well of Life The saying of a learned Divine Dr. F. Neither can we possibly give too much honour to the Lord of glory and King of Saints though wee should put our inventions upon the Rack and scrue up our expressions to the highest There are many wayes and diverse meanes whereby God may be glorifyed by us but none more effectuall and powerfull to the advancement of his glory then by acknowledging with due Prayses the many eminent vertues which as so many Rivelets streame into the Soules of the Saints from the everlasting Spring of Divine Grace They glorifyed God
was snatched from his Domestick Contents and his meanes taken from him by the hand of violence through this storme he beheld a higher arme of Providence and kissed the Rod with meekenesse herein imitating holy Job of whom he was an exact Picture and concerning whom St. Austine sayes thus libro 1. de moribus Ecclesiae Catholicae Amisit ille omnes divitias factus repente pauperrimus tam inconcussum animum tenuit infixum Deo ut satis de monstraret non illas sibi fuisse magnas sed se illis sibi autem Deum It was his vigorous active Faith working by love that was the ground of this undaunted Patience Non murmurat Qui se filium Dei cogitat Vincentius He that believes himselfe to be in the number of Gods Sonnes will never murmur nor repine at providence He believed that Christ had provided for him in Heaven 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Heb. 10.34 an everlasting inheritance a better and an enduring substance Therefore he tooke joyfully the spoyling of his Goods and those things which others court with dazled Eyes he did not account worth a glance of his which like the Sunne-flower did not open to every blaze but onely to the light and heate of Christ the Sunne of Righteousnesse Whom he loved whom he served of whom his heart was full dwelling therein by his spirit which kept out all things else from comming in so that there was no roome for hatred no roome for malice no roome for desire of revenge for he was never heard to dart out of his mouth any passionate word from the time he first suffered against the persons of his enemies but onely these God forgive them This was the Language of the Sonne of God upon the Crosse and it is the voyce of Gods Sonnes and Servants It was ever His who was often like holy David and the melting Prophet Jeremy seene which hee desired not to weepe and being demanded why he did so He then replied it was out of griefe when he considered the miserable sad condition they were in who in these times even against the Word and against Conscience runne as it were in a gallop to Hell in the broade way of Sacriledge Wrong and Violence whilest they forget God our Lord Christ that bought them at a deare price not observing the will of him that died for them and would reward their service with Eternall joyes as he hath promised but serving the Devill who will requite them for their paines with paine and torments and that everlasting When the good Deane considered this woefull madnesse in worldlings and the miseries which attend their sinfull Soules he used to weepe which is an infallible signe of a good man and a sanctified Spirit to weepe for the sinnes of others 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Good men are of a melting weeping temper and disposition It would require a larger time than these straites wherein I am bounded to relate unto you the severall actions of Piety which passed from him all the time of his lingring sicknesse He made good by his devoute practises that saying of Saint Austine Prov. Gall. Non potest malè mori qui vixit benè hee cannot die ill that liveth well It is never a bad day that hath a good night I could tell of his frequent ejaculations to God in prayer which was for the most in Latine and sometimes Greek I could likewise enlarge my discourse in a repetition of his frequent Almes his often remembring the poore knowing that Almes accepted upon the Altar of Christs Merits deliver from death and that God will not turne his face from him that turnes not away his face from the poore in their affliction c. In a word he walked as a friend with God as Enoch Gen. 5.22.6.9 Noah and Abraham did He was much in that great duty of Prayer he often spake to God in it and loved to hear God speake to him in his Word He delighted to reade it himselfe and heare it read which was constantly and frequently done by his deare Consort who one night above the rest reading to him that passage in the Gospell concerning Thomas his thrusting his hand into our Savours wounded side John 20.27 John 20.29 He upon this fell a weeping with that expression in his mouth which fell from our Saviours to Thomas Happy are they that believe and see not He believed though He saw not and therefore did he weepe He washed with the teares of Repentance those wounds of his Lord which did bleed upon the Cross for his sinnes and in a lively faith touched the print of his Nailes and thrust his Finger into the hole of his side Thereby taking a reall possession of his Crucified Saviour therefore presently as he wept he said with Thomas his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 My God and my Lord The Nailes and Speares The bloudy Crown of Thornes which printed his sacred Temples gored his Lords side pierced his Hands and Feete had so imprinted the love of Christ in the Soule of our deare Saint that he was ready with St. Paul and other holy Martyrs to die for the Lord Jesus on whom his heart was alwayes fixed by whom it was possessed in whom it was established to whom it was most sincere and truly devoted as appeares by the constancy of his Faith even to the houre of his Death which is a cleare evidence and demonstration that he was a true Divine a man of God one led by the spirit You know what S. Paul sayes Rom. 8.14 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And as Chrysostome notes upon this Text they onely are said to be ledde by the spirit who are carried on to their lives end by it in a continued practice of holinesse and never fall from their holy profession by meanes of any secular Feare Crosse or Tribulation Filium Dei se prodit qui bonum quod cum laude inchoarit etiam perfecit cujus finis exordio respondet Novar Bona inceptio sine fine est instar corporis speciosi sine capite A good beginning without a good end is like a beautifull specious body without an head The saying of Henry the Fourth in an Epistle of his to Otho Bishop of Ramberg That consummatū est It is finished which Christ uttered dying might though not so fully become him who finished his course with patience and kept the Faith with a Martyr-like constancy and perseverance being one that was most constant to his friends and loving to his enemies as appeared by his promoting the servants and retinue of his Predecessour who had been uncivill to him who was civill to all and well reputed by all which stirred up Envy if not Malice in the brests of his Adversaries When he had almost runne his last stage and neere the end of his Race He was shot by one of Deaths black Arrowes with a Disease in his Feete which hindered not his progresse in godlinesse That begat another as it