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A25469
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The life and funeral sermon of the Reverend Mr. Thomas Brand Dr. Samuel Annesley.
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Annesley, Samuel, 1620?-1696.
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1692
(1692)
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Wing A3230; ESTC R16341
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41,890
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202
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under rates And he gave not only the Writings of Non-Conformists but of Conformists namely Pink's Tryal of Sincere Love to Christ Caley of Eternity Wade of Redemption of Time Dent's Plain-man's Path-way to Heaven Scudder's Daily-walk Reiner's Precepts c. But he gave Books of greater price As the Books of Martyrs in Three Volumes Charnock's Works in Two Volumes several Annotators on the Bible several Commentators on the Holy Scriptures several necessary Libraries to young Students and Candidates for the Ministry There was no place where he came and he was providentially drawn or driven into many Counties but he stored the Houses of all that would accept of his kindness with Books of Devotion I know not whether ever he gave away any one Book of Controversie unless it were Pool's Nullity of the Roman Faith and his Dialogue between a Popish Priest and an English Protestant He was always for Promoting down right Practical Godliness But above all his Stratagems to disperse goods Books I cannot but prefer his Device for the spreading of the Bible I cannot say how many hundreds if not thousands he gave away But he found this would not reach his end many would rather be without Bibles than put him upon the Charge of giving them Therefore he took this course which succeeded to his heart's desire by himself or Friends he sold Bibles at Eighteen Pence a Bible to all that desired them for themselves or their Children or Servants provided not to sell them again And by this means very many who refus'd them gratis Catcht at them at this under rate whereby they were furnished with Bibles and something returned towards the buying of more and this is the only trade he ever drove with Books He saw comfortable Fruits of his Liberality in giving Books some were converted more were edified by this spiritual Charity though he did not confine these Gifts to the Poor but gave also to the Rich both Bibles and other Books which he had extraordinarily bound that they might be the more generally accepted and he contrived such Books to such Persons that he was seldom disappointed of Success though sometimes he was to give one instance He once gave Wade's Treatise of the Redemption of Time curiously bound to a young Minister who at first received it kindly but when he began to read it he finding Mr. Baxter quoted in it he hastily returned it not enduring to read any thing that Mr. Baxter had written But I 'll close the Narrative of his giving Books with this Story Some Years since when the times were more hazardous to Dissenters A. N. C. Minister of his acquaintance being unavoidably necessitated to undertake a Journey of above Two hundred Miles in length when he could not at any reasonable rates get any Lawyer or other to go with him to advise him in the Difficulties he foresaw he should meet with Mr. Brand surprizingly offered what could not be impudently askt charitably to go with him and give him his best assistance 'T was not then safe to be known to be a Dissenting Minister he therefore concealed himself though his Friend must venture being known in the Place whither he went but carried down a considerable quantity of Catechisms and good Books in the Coach with him And in every Inn where he lodged or but baited at Noon he would not be many Minutes there before 't was so familiar to him to insinuate something for the good of Souls he would be fishing out whether any was and who was capable and pliable to receive Instruction and if he found any he would presently fasten upon their Consciences given them Counsel and Catechisms or other Books according as their case required At one place a Servant was so affected as to go after him the Town being scituate upon an Hill while he walked down hill before he went into the Coach begging to be taken with him to London having never heard so much about Soul-concerns before nor ever expecting the like again unless this request were granted He promised to call there at his return but the Coach-man without his knowledge went back another way At another Inn when he met with a Youth that he found capable he gave him a Catechism and promised if he would learn it by his return which would be about a week he would give him five Shillings which he did and had his reward At another Inn where he met with a School-master he perswaded and encouraged him to season his Scholars with the knowledge of those things whereby they might be saved The Stock of Books he carried down did not hold out all his Journey but he sent down upon his return up at once as many as cost above eight Pounds At one Inn where he gave Books in his going down some of them fell into those hands who way-laid his coming up at the time he said he should return that they might clap him in Prison for spreading of Seditious Books that is the Character they put upon Mr. Baxter's Call to the Vnconverted of which there hath been printed as some guess a Hundred Thousand so generally acceptable and profitable hath it been 't is impossible for me to tell you how many have been Converted by it but here I must not conceal the chief Contrivance was against the Minister he accompanied and their Design against him failing a design more full of base Ingratitude and Treachery than ever any you heard of but that is foreign to this account they contrived this design against Mr. Brand but God disappointed them in this also for the Night before they were to set out to return one of the Coach-Horses fell so lame not known how that in the Morning he could hardly be led to watering and so continued two or three days till they were weary of waiting for his return so that he past the place unmolested Thus Eâ— 8 31. the Hand of God was upon him to deliver him from the hand of his Enemies and of such as laid wait by the way God delivered him without his knowing that he needed any such deliverance I know not whether ever he knew of the main Contrivance for that lay undiscovered several Years till the chief Contriver revealed it under horror of Conscience for that and other unsuspected Abominations only this was at present plainly remarkable that a Horse should be suddainly so lame as scarce to bear being dragg'd to watering and suddainly so well as to go above Two hundred Miles without halting One as soon as he came into his Inn where they intended to have seized upon him askt him Why he came not the day in the former week as he mentioned in his going down and another dropt it afterwards that if he had come then some were ready to apprehend him for the Books he gave away Should I add more instances 't would be more than need I 'll therefore mention some of his Infirmities which may serve as a Shadow to his ill drawn
Cull out the Best Here all invite On Free-cost or for Colour ask their Mite Who Starving yet his Treat accepted not Pag. 57 58. Till they might seem at least to Pay their shot Spred thus the Sacred Writ more common grew Yet better known was held more Sacred too None Bought more Truth or Weightier than he None would less Sell or Give it out more Free The Happy Scheme that Great Assembly drew Pag. 46. By England's publick Doctrine wouched True By Ireland's Learned Primate voted best With Cumber's for the Temple Service drest Sent out by Thousands lodged every where Freely to Teach God's Knowledge and his Fear VIII That Hundred thousand times repeated Call Answer'd by Thousands yet not heard by all Directions too with Now or Never prest And many more by Everlasting Rest Commended he from the Great Baxter's Pen Spred in an Age how blest with two such Men He at the Head of Twenty thousand Guides Pag. 55. Drew after those as many more besides All Offering Freely or at lowest Price To lead Men to the Heavenly Paradise Pink Caley Wade Dent Scudder's Daily Walk Pag. 56. With Reyner's Rule and to prevent a Balk The Vindication of that Godliness They Teach some Mock few Live thô most profess These giv'n to make Men Practically Wise Pag. 57. To such a Word Polemick might suffice Pool against that which Most Worst Errors does comprize With more and larger Volumes showing forth At once their Authors and the Donor's worth Some in the Plainer Dress of Charity Others to Court Acceptance by the Eye Here Golden Drops but there a Learned Show'r Into some Students Laps he 'd frankly pour IX His Purse as free as were his constant Pains Souls to deliver from their Captive Chains On froward Patients backward Clients He Would rare Advice bind with as rare a Fee Answer'd their Need or honour'd their Degree Whilst he the Body fed Twice Welcome Guest Whose Soul would Welcome its Presented Feast They whom his Cost could fit for an Employ Civil or Sacred were his Crown his Joy The Care and Charge of num'cous Churches he Sustained by Apostilick Charity As first he rais'd the People Pastor Place Which oft his Pains would help his Presence grace The Catechist he planted every where And oft would be throughout his ample Sphere Hir'd not a few to Teach more to be Taught Books for the most and Time for many Bought Outdoing Mammer's Pay the Poor had earn'd While they God's Work their Christian Calling Learn'd Conform to Christ He to enrich the Poor Made himself so Would still exhaust his store As that came on his Bounty did advance Reserving but the Entail'd Inheritance A Root of Growing Liberality Which whilst he liv'd was certain not to Die May but his Spirit with that Mantle go And Charity shall never fail below His Income all Return'd each Year above Put out to Use by Acts of Faith and Love He 's now admiring in its vast Encrease Made sure for ever Crown'd with joyful Peace X. How Blessed he who only would receive Of Heaven's Free Gift that he might freely give God's Almoner a Bishop thô no Peer To Church and Poor a Just kind Overseer He knew his Order free for Marriage-bands Was Free in them they could not Tie his hands A Match for him by Heaven's Care design'd He found Well-fitted to his Generous Mind Thus Clear of Popish feigned Chastity Did ev'n their Fame of Charity outvy Thô 〈◊〉 can scarce be told his Right-hand did Which from his Left industriously was Hid. Children he had Born not for Earth but Heav'n To him that gave them so intirely given The Covenant for them so Improv'd and Prest God took them Early Ripe to Endless Rest Thus was he still Surviving Glorify'd He walke his liv'd with God And when he dy'd Left a Name better than of Children here Souls Born to God and Nurtur'd in his Fear XI His Care for Heaven was He Heaven's Care Pag. 62 64. None should be set or he escape the Snare Once Way-laid to be seiz'd Hell's Prisoner Made Heaven's at Large just till the Coast was clear 'T was fit His Feet should hold their Liberty Whose Tongue Hand Purse to Hell's despite were free But Ah! He spent himself too Lavishy His Body â—…'d not Respite scarce Repair Souls did so far Engross his Time and Care Till forced less to Work he seem'd Confin'd Earth grew a Prison to his Heav'nly Mind His Three Years Weakness and continued Pain Hung on his active Soul a heavy Chain Foâ—…'d in the Feverish Fire of Native heat By Pious Travel rous'd enrag'd by Damping Wet His Legs now Fetter'd Swell Thrô ev'ry Part Pain ran in vain Pursu'd by Medick Art Yea thô it sometimes made a daring Halt As from his Side the Vitals to Assault Or fixed like thô since 't is fully known His Temperament had nothing of the Stone An Asthma too Essay'd to stop his Breath What Skill could Loose such Twisted Bands of Death XII He meekly follow'd as his Captain Led In doing and by Suffering Perfected Sence overwhelm'd Faith was his Ease and Rest His Soul in Patience quietly possest Humbly ador'd God's Love and long'd to see The Face so sought by Faith Hope Charity He Greatest in this Greatest of the Three Misgiving Fear could not his Torment prove Who was ev'n here so Perfect grown in Love When Work he might not Fain he 'd go to Rest Could choose to be Dissolv'd as far the Best Prepar'd as one Wise even to Presage That Midnight-Cry which Câ—…'d him off the Stage Who like his Saviour thrô him Crucify'd But Easier far a Bleeding Victor dy'd And went in Triumph to Heav'n's Wedding-Feast If Love be Welcome there a Welcome Guest The Honour due to such a Memory Must lay a Tax on all Posterity A Minor Prophet and a far less Poet For his own Age alone can never show it Men Christians Ministers so many Made More by his means Improv'd yet more Essay'd With all who Owe a Service to that Lord He so well Serv'd should their best Aids afford His Name with just Acknowledgments to Grace And with his Vertues fill the vacant Place This Composition needs must fall too Law All I can Pay is not the Tythe J. O. To the READER On the BOOK REad here the Effigies of a lovely Soul Compos'd with a mysterious Harmony Of what soe're was great and good Behold The Parts rude draught the curious Texture he Alone that formed it so good With that same Wisdom understood A Soul too pure to act a Body here Too great to be confin'd to a Clod of Earth And shackling dull Mortality to bear Impatient to be gone as 't was for birth Too resolutely brisk by far To keep 's frail Cottage in repair Blest Martyr so I dare that Hero call As well as those who mount the Heav'n by fire Who sacrifices quiet Life and all Pusht on by uncontroulable desire To serve the Lord thy Mem'ry shall Without our Praises grateful be till this vast Fabrick fall J. E. FINIS