Grace and mercy to a sinner in a time of afflictions, or, The serious meditations of M. Tho. Ford of Rochester during the time of his imprisonment, before his execution, faithfully delivered from his own copie : together with his funeral sermon, preached by Mr. Wil. Sandbrook, P.M. Rochester / set forth for the strengthning of our faith in Jesus Christ ... ; published for the satisfaction of his friends ... by John Plasse.

Sect 3

The occasion of this business, and ap∣plication, to the remembrance of the per∣son deseased; and herein brevitie be∣comes

the time and season, ergo.

Let me acquaint you with these few hints, which possibly you may hear more at large hereafter.

The occasion I have told you al∣ready, and so need no further repeti∣tion.

The persons condition is now in a∣gitation.

1 His birth and education, with his parts and their improvements you all know, were to be highly approved of,

2 His conversation, and greatly pro∣digious act of sin, in so near a relation, is too well known, for me to trouble your memories or greive your spirits a fresh,

These things we grant to the most malevolent spirit, and contradicting spirit, we meet with; yet for his deportment in the time of his confinement sentence and execution, some things must be said.

1 These reverend Divines faithfully that dealt with him, and most in fre∣quency in the time of his confinement, can give a more strict and severe ac∣compt.

When I had the opportunitie to visit him, I found him in a sedate composure of spirit; I hope in the successe of their endeavours, and upon accompt exami∣ned with other things implicitely two great questions resolved,

1 Conviction of guilt of so great a transgression,

2 Yet this was not all but tenderness of contrition for this and other facts.

3 A totall relinquishing of any thing of humiliation or contrition for accep∣tation.

4 Only wrapt up himself in the armes of our Saviour Christ, as the only refuge,

Upon this accompt I did what I did and ought to do.

Let Momus carpe,

Wee will leave him to his own mast∣er, to him he stands, or falls, or suffers; only thus, it was his earnest desire to receive a sealing testimony from Christ in the ordinance, for his sealed con∣firmation of his interest in him,

And in this case I•• will doe it again upon like occasion, when they that ex∣cept are reduced to the like condition,

upon his supposed qualification, let male∣volent spirits say what they will.

I say he died a Christian: the testimo∣ny of this shall appeare to the shame of his Calumnators in print from his own hand. I confesse I have the original by me, but will conceale it yet.

I am yet confident his grand Adver∣saries do not know what,

1 Hee found of the things of God in Christ.

3 Nor can so exactly compose a peece of a Beleevers spirit, as he hath done,

This you know to speake in business of this nature, unusual, yet seeing such pettish foolish impertinances added in by ignorance and malicious beggerly pride I thought fit to acquaint you with my resolutions. Ile justifie it against opposition, let proud malice swell untill it break.

February. 20, 1656.

Valete