For notices of Rainsborough— whose ' Funeral Sermon' composes the ' Glorious Daj' of the Saints' Appearance ' — see our Memoir, Vol. I. pp. xxx., xxxi. AVe there state that certain contemporary broad-sheets might be given here; but on re-examining them, they prove such poor doggerel as to be unworthy of reprint. The curious in such out-of-the- way literature will find them in the British Museum. In that posthumous tractate of John Vicars, ' Dagon Demolished : or, Twenty Admirable Examples of God's severe Justice and Displeasure against the subscribers of the late Engagement against our Lawfull Soveraign, King Charles the Second, and the whole House of Peers,' .... [1C60, 4to,] we have Rainsborough as one of the 'Examples,' as follows: — ' Collonel Rainsborow, a miglity engager, and prime stickier for the power at Westminster, a desperate header of the Levellers, and Admiral of the Kavy at Sea, was suddenly also assaulted by a company of cavaliers at Pomfract town, in Yorkshire, in an inne, and there murthered by them,' [p. 10.] The mistake as to the scene of the crime is only one of many blunders of all sorts; 'Pontefract' was the town whence the royalist murderers came. The item concerning Rainsborough as 'Admiral at Sea' confirms our conjecture that Brooks's sea-services were proljably under him. See Memoir, as above. The title-page is given below.* — G.
A glorious conversation from all Believers.
Delivered in a Sermon By THOMAS BROOKS, Preacher of the Gospel at Thomas Apostles at tlie interment of the Corps of that renowned Commander, Colonell TJiomas Rainnborouyh Who was treacherously murthered on the Lords day in the morning at Donca.^tter, October 29. 1648. and honourably interred the 14th of i\"ore?H6er follow- ing, in tiie Chappell at Wappimj neare London.
Isa. 26. 19. Thy dead men shall live (together with) my dead body shall they arise. Awake, and sing yee that dwell in the dust ; for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast forth her dead. 2 Pet. 3. 14. Wherefoi-e (beloved) seeing that yee look for such things, be diligent that yee may be found of him in peace, wi'hout spot, and blameless.
Printed by M. S. for Jtapha Harford, and Matthew
Simmons, and are to be sold at the Bible in Queens-head
Alley in Pater-noster-row, and in Aldersgate-streete.
THE EPISTLE DEDICATORY
To the Eight Honourable Thomas, Lord Fairfax, Lord General of all the Parliament's Forces in England ; such honour and happi- ness as is promised to all that love and honour the Lord Jesus.
I purpose not, Eight Honourable, to insinuate myself or my poor endeavours into your favour by fine words and feigned commendations of your virtues. A sincere heart abhors it, and a wise heart doth both suspect that art, and account it base. Eight Honourable, when I preached upon this subject of the saints' glorious appearance at the last. He that knows all hearts and thoughts, knows that I liad not the least thought to put it to the press. And that partly because the meditations following were not the meditations of a week, no, nor of two days, but of some few hours — I having but short warning to pro- vide, and other things falling in within the compass of that short time that did divert my thoughts some other ways ; but mainly because of that little little worth that is in it. And yet. Eight Honourable, the intentions of some to put it to the j)ress, in case I would not consent to have it printed — by which means truth and myself might have been co-partners in suffering — and the strong importunity of many precious souls, hath borne me down and subdued me to them. They besieged me so strongly that they have taken away this little thing, which they are pleased to call [a] good prize ; but it will be well if they be not mis- taken. I shall look upon it as free grace and mercy to them and me, if they, having made a prey of it, find it worth their having. I stood out against them, not because I prized it, but because I thought it not good enough for them. But since it is fallen into their hands, my desire is, that the rich blessing of God may so accompany it, as that it may reach their hearts, and be better to them than the choicest riches of this world.
Now may it please your Excellency, the reasons why I have gladly taken the occasion to make honourable mention of your name, are three : —
First, Because the sense of your great worth has wheeled my thoughts in this kind towards you.
316 THE EPISTLE DEDICATORY.
Secondly, That I might testify not only to your Honour, but to all the world, my thankful remembrance and due acknowledgment of your Lordships undeserved respect towards me.
lliinlli/, Because tlie matter doth relate to the glorious appearing of one of England's worthies, with the rest of the saints, to one whom your Excellency did dearly love, higldy prize, and greatly honour.
My noble Lord, I shall much rejoice if this poor mite may in any measure help forward your faith and joy in the Lord Jesus: which that it may, I shall humbly supplicate the throne of grace. My Lord, this is your greatest honour, that you account the opportunities of ser- vice for God and his people your greatest honour upon earth : that your Honour hath appeared, in the darkest night and in the greatest storms, for the honour, the safety, the sound peace and liberty of the saints and this kingdom — and that notwithstanding all the discourage- ments your Excellency hath met with, through the neutrality, apos- tasy, and treachery of men, high and low, in this kingdom. Ah ! my Lord, what a mercy is this, that the true nobility of your Lordship's spirit, scorning such baseness, hath delivered you from those checks, wounds, and lashes of conscience which those forenamed wretches lie under, and from that shame and confusion of face wliich hath already begun to seize upon them here, but shall more fully and dreadfully seize on them in the great day of account, when the books shall be opened, and all the treachery and baseness to enslave the saints and this kingdom shall be discovered!
My noble Lord, tlirough the glorious presence of God with you, you have done gloriously in endeavouring the full rescue of the people of God from the hands of cruel and unreasonable men, who have left no stone unturned, that their lusts and will upon the people of God might be satisfied. My Lord, as you have pleaded the cause of the people of God, and as you have appeared for them, do so still : for the Lord will side with those that side with his saints, and they that seek their lives seek yours also. But the comfort is, God will make Jerusalem ' a cup of poison unto all the people round about : ' he will make Jerusalem ' a burdensome stone: and all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth gather together against it,' Zech. xii. 2, 3.