He did not attempt to preach for some weeks before he died, but was not prevented; the whole of any Lord's-day during his affliction, from going to the meeting-house. Only two days previous to his death, he administered the solemn and interesting, but too much neglected, ordinance of the Lord's Supper to his beloved people. Oh! it was a time not to be forgotten, when he took his affectionate farewell of all the members of the of the church who were present! The writer of this memorial well remembers seeing several of Mr. C.'s friends returning home from the meeting-house on this occasion, whose countenances evidenced a strong persuasion that they should never see the face or hear the voice of their beloved pastor again in this world. The pleasing and delightful state of his mind, in the last days of his life, will be discovered in the following communication to the writer of this sketch from the pen of a near relative.
"During the whole of his illness he maintained the greatest calmness and composure; the enemy was not once permitted to disturb his peace, or to shake his confidence in God. On one occasion, a short time before his departure, he said to a friend, 'The Lord is very kind to me; for while he afflicts me with one hand, he supports me with the other; yes, he always has been good to me, he never has forsaken me;' and with his characteristic energy added, 'And nobody shall make me believe that he will ever forsake me now.' When conversing with another friend on the bright and glorious prospect he had of future bliss, he said, 'I am very ambitious, for I am striving for a crown; and it is one which will never fade away.' His family did not perceive him to be materially worse, until the Saturday previous to his death; but from the evident change which then took place, they urged his staying at home on the sabbath-day; to this he replied, 'I have a great wish to go, perhaps, for the last time.' His wish was complied with, and, propped up with pillows in an easy chair, he, for the last time, distributed to his weeping church the memorials of the Saviour's death; and, with wonderful composure, although with feeble steps, he walked round the aisles of the chapel, and took leave of all the persons present. On the Monday he appeared fast sinking into the arms of death; and, on a friend saying to him, 'The conflict will soon be over,' he replied, 'Do you think so?—I'm afraid not.' The restlessness of death was evidently now upon him, and on being assisted up stairs, a distressing fit of coughing came on, accompanied by difficulty of respiration, and the loss of all power to expectorate: this continued with but little cessation during the night. A highly esteemed friend visiting him early in the morning of Tuesday (the day on which he died), he said, 'Well, Madam, we have often talked together about heaven, I hope I shall soon be there,' adding, 'but, perhaps, you will pray with me once more on earth?' This was most kindly complied with. My mother asked what passage of Scripture she should read; he promptly replied, 'The 116th Psalm;' many parts of which were strikingly and beautifully adapted to his own circumstances at that moment. After prayer, he said to the same friend, 'If I get safe to heaven, and should hear that you are coming (and am permitted) I will welcome you there.' On being asked if Christ was precious to him, he said, 'More than any thing else; the world is nothing to me now; death has lost its sting, and the grave has no terrors.' Repeatedly, during the day, he said, 'Oh! how gladly could I lie down and die!—O that I had wings like a dove!' &c. To his highly esteemed brother, Mr. Reynolds, he said, 'Well, Sir, when I am gone, I shall want you to bury me;—do not say much about me, preach to the people, and tell them to be stedfast,' &c. On one of his family coming to his bedside, he said: 'Love not the world, nor the things that are in it; set your affections on things that are above, and trust in the Lord at all times.' To another, 'Live near to God, put your trust in him, and he will carry you through.' To his youngest daughter he affectionately said, 'Remember your Creator, my dear Betsy, in the days of your youth, perhaps you may not live to be old.'—His end was peace: he was not the subject of ecstasies; but he possessed a stable confidence, of which the approach of the last enemy could not deprive him."
At the comparatively early age of fifty-four years, this devoted servant of Christ left this transitory world, about five o'clock in the afternoon of Tuesday, the 5th day of August, 1834; calmly and serenely falling asleep in Jesus.
On Monday, the 11th, his mortal remains were conveyed to the burying-ground belonging to the meeting-house, and there interred and left to moulder into dust, until the voice of the archangel and the trump of God shall raise them.
Agreeably to the request of our departed brother, Mr. Saunders, of Barton-Mills, delivered an address at the grave; and the people then assembled in the meeting-house to hear the funeral sermon, which, at the request of his beloved brother, was preached by the Particular Baptist minister residing in the same village, from 1 Cor. xv. 58: "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast;" &c. Prayer was offered at the grave by the Rev. J. Jarrom, of Wisbeach; and the brethren Mays, of Fordham, and Buckpitt, of Burwell, prayed in the meeting-house. As an evidence of the high esteem in which Mr. Compton was deservedly held, these services were numerously attended from the neighbouring congregations, although it was in the midst of harvest, when every hour is of great importance.
There was in Mr. Compton, a combination of excellences; a happy temperament of mind, a cheerfulness of disposition, and a great flow of animal spirits; these being under the influence and regulation of divine grace, he was calm and unmoved by events that would have overwhelmed many other men.
As a neighbour, benignity and kindness emanated from his heart, dwelt upon his countenance, and were expressed in his words and actions.
As a Christian, integrity and uprightness, consistency of character, deep humility, fervent devotion, liberality of feeling and conduct towards those who differed from him on some points of doctrine, an ardent love to Jesus Christ, to his word, and to his people, were features by which he was eminently distinguished.
Zeal for his Master's cause, love to the souls of men, active, persevering, and laborious efforts to make known the word of life to his perishing fellow-creatures, characterized the public ministry of our departed friend.
As a pastor, he was diligent, faithful, and affectionate. As a husband and a father, his worth was known and appreciated by his bereaved widow and children.