Judgment abate your Delight aggravate your Difficulties frame Excuses find Diversions enervate Motives and many other ways lessen your Service and as they grow they tend to still further Abatements in the opposite Graces Oh! where will these declensions stop if you allow them And every Day you will be less able and disposed to recover your former strength and consequently be less sure and fit to serve your Generation 2 Obs. The usefullest persons die David fell asleep Shall I represent this as a Warning or as an Encouragement to Service It hath something of both and in each respect it 's a strong Motive to serve our Generation 1. It 's a Warning to be useful whiles you live for Work or Loyter you Death is daily making its Approaches and when it seizeth it will be in vain to wish to be spared for greater use or resolve to do what you hitherto neglected Death sets a period to our Endeavours to benefit the Church or Nation our Friends or Relations they can expect no further advantage by us Therefore in a sence of your own frailty and the certainty of dying within a short while resolve with our blessed Saviour Ioh. 9.4 I must work the works of him that sent me while it is day the night cometh when no Man can work It 's a Mercy to have nothing undone which God gave us Life for and to be finishing it when the Arrest of Death is felt 2. It 's an Encouragement to such as faithfully serve their Generation The usefullest fall asleep not indeed if it were such a sleep as rendred the separated Soul unactive for continued Service here would be more pleasing and profitable to them than such a sleep as that but it 's a rest from Labour tho' not from Work from Pain but not from Pleasure to the departed Soul which will be with Christ and tho' separated for a while is sure to be re-united to the Body at the Resurrection It 's a Woe to the unprofited World that eminently useful Men are Dead for you can hope for no further help nor expect any benefit by them they left you barren and miserable after all their Labours and must be terrible Witnesses against you It 's a loss to the Church and Nation that such eminently useful Men must die the Defence Glory and Blessing of a People are removed what an open breach is made The Earth's endangered by removal of such Pillars These are the Chariots of Israel and the Horse-men thereof 2 King 13. 14. There be but few such among the multitude of Christians and their loss is not easily made up but to the faithful eminently useful Saint it 's a privilege he shall die being all such are not to be translated he would not live always Job 7.16 for by Death he goes into better company he 'll be freed from a weight that clogg'd him tho' he moved so fast the Sin and Sorrow he felt he is to feel no more he shall enjoy Christ in another manner relish Pleasures in a higher way and possess what he hoped and waited for Death must be his great Advantage to whom faithful and publick Service is his very Business and Trade whiles he liveth To me to live is Christ and to die is Gain Phil. 1.21 22. Instead of the Application of this Doctrine I shall turn my Discourse to the Occasion of our present Meeting the Death of your Pastor Dr. Samuel Annesley in whom we have the whole Text exemplified he served his Generation and he is fallen asleep In the last part a just cause of Mourning is presented with respect to many more than our selves in the former a lively Example is proposed for our imitation as to both here 's a convincing instance We see it 's possible for Men in our Age to serve their Generation and yet the greatest Usefulness prevents not Death for he who was so eminently Useful lies now Dead He began early he continued long and never ceas'd to serve his Generation until by Death he was allowed to rest from his Labours He was born of very godly Parents at Kellingworth near Warwick Anno 1620. and their only Child The Name Samuel was appointed for him by his eminently Pious Grand-mother who died before his Birth and gave this reason for her desire that he should be so called I can say I have asked him of God His Infancy was as strangely impressed with the thoughts of being a Minister to which his Parents dedicated him from the Womb which so transported him from 5 or 6 years old as to engage him to unusual Industry in what improv'd him in order to it then it was he took up a custom which he always observed viz. Reading 20 Chapters in the Bible every Day Our God to whom the end is known from the beginning was as provident in forming him for great Service as he was forward in those indications that he should be employed therein this appeared in the hale and hardy constitution of his Body which was such as to endure the coldest Weather without Hat Gloves or Fire For many years he seldom drank any thing besides Water his Sight so strong that to his Death he read the smallest Print without Spectacles and in a Life lengthened to his 77th Year He was rarely sick his Natural capacity was good and his temper vigorous and warm which his Grace over-ruled mostly to undertake those excessive Labours and sustain the Difficulties which without a Body and Mind so fashioned had been impossible in so long a course of Service And this vigour he so retained to his very Death as if God would give an instance That the servour of some Mens Souls in his Work were either independent on the Body or their Bodies with Moses were still repaired even to Old Age when he designeth extraordinary Services by them But which was more he was not only thus separated but also sanctified from the Womb oft since declaring He never knew the time he was not Converted About 15 Years of Age he went to Oxford where he gave such Instances of his Piety and Diligence as would engage a Recital if I resolved not to omit these with all other things tho' very laudable except his Usefulness his ripe Fruits which fed so many my regard is to A Heart so naturally bent for God's Glory and the good of Souls cou'd admit no longer delays from Work than what a due fitness for it and a regular call unto it made necessary yet so long Conscience obliged him to desist he well knowing that the strongest desires of Ministerial Work in the unqualified and uncalled will not justifie their usurpation of the Office nor prevent Disorders and Damage to the Church and themselves by their publick performances He began to cast his Net as Chaplain to the Earl of Warwick then Admiral and thence removed to Cliff in Kent where he met with a Storm more tempestuous than at Sea for the people of that Place being fond of
our own Translation which it 's a fault needlesly to recede from The former part viz. Serving his Generation will be so inlarged on as the scope of my discourse that at present I need say no more than to note that the word Serve 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is metaphorical and denotes both the publick influence of David's Labours and his great Subjection it alludes to a Man's Rowing in a Vessel under the conduct of a superior Pilot. The Royal Prophet was but an Under Rower i. e. as much under Divine Authority and as dependant as if the meanest Man He served in the Vessel viz. the Church and State the safe Passage whereof he consulted and subserved as his principal business By the Will of God God did not only serve his purposes by him which the most regardless and obstinate cannot prevent but this Blessed Man did designedly and faithfully serve those purposes God intended in his Age and Place he obeyed God's Will as he had notice of it and what ever labour expence or danger attended it This Will of God he still consulted as to the matter and manner of his performances If you read the History of David's Life and the Book of Psalms you 'll find the laudable Character in my Text evidenc'd in almost an uninterrupted Series of publick and profitable Actions from his very Youth to his Death By him God saved Israel from greatest Dangers he secured their Peace enlarged their Borders he fought their Battels united the Tribes brought the Ark to Zion established the Publick Worship encouraged and propagated real Piety exemplified the Divine Law in the course of his Practice few are the instances wherein he came short of the Common Good as the scope yea his Heart was so enlarged as to resolve greater things than God thought fit to permit his Execution of as building the Temple for which nevertheless he prepared the Materials How solicitous was he that his indispos'd Age it self might not fail to be useful to God's Honour in his own yea future Generations Ps. 71. 17 18. O God thou hast taught me from my youth and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works Now also when I am old and gray headed O God forsake me not until I have shewed thy strength to this generation and thy power to every one that is to come A Life so eminently useful might well warrant his saying I bear up the pillars of the Earth Ps. 73.5 deserve the peoples acknowledgment 2 Sam. 18.3 Thou art worth ten thousands of us and answer the Testimony the Omniscient God gave before-hand concerning him Act. 13.22 I have found David a man after my own heart who will fulfil all my will 2. David's Death He fell asleep after not before he had faithfully served a common good nor later than he was capable to do so Every Man is Immortal be his danger never so great till he hath accomplished the service God designeth by him and there is scarce a good Man that knows himself such but would live till his course in service be finished or would chuse to live longer than he can be serviceable but when we are unfit to be Instruments of good to others and are wrought to a meetness for Glory it 's fit time others have our place whom Providence hath suited to God's further Designs by somewhat peculiarly fitted to the rising Generation The word by which David's Death is expressed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he lay him down to sleep which notes Death to be no terror to him and that Resurrection would certainly ensue The former part of the Text is what I shall principally insist on therein David is commended and they who imitate his life partake of the like Honour Two Observations the words easily afford I Obs. It 's an excellent Character of a deceased Person that by Faithfulness and Diligence in his place he hath been eminently useful in his Generation To render this intelligible and useful I shall 1. Explain this Character 2. Give an account of some things requisite to render a Man eminently useful in his Generation who is capable to be so by his Gifts Estate Office c. 3. Evidence the Excellency of this described Character For the Explication of this Character I shall propose the following Heads which I think will render that Duty plain which I would this Day call you to the performance of 1. God so disposeth of Men in their respective Generations that they are capable of being benefited by each other The parts of a Political Body can no more say to each other I have no need of thee than those of the Natural 1 Cor. 12.21 which disposition of things is the foundation of all Societies Men need each other and are receptive of mutual Advantages Conversation Friendship Families Trades Common Safety and what not are provided for hereby and without it would be defeated and cease but the All-wise God hath placed Men in that posture towards each other that no one is Self-sufficient Some need Health others Knowledge others Defence others Food and Raiment others Counsel others Reproof and Spiritual Instruction others Comfort and the like in each of these respects those words of our Saviour may be applied Ioh. 12.8 The poor you have always with you some that need your help many in a great degree most in one sort or other so that none can pretend want of Objects or Occasions as a Plea why they are not useful they are daily at hand and adapted to the Nature and Proportion of your Talents infinite Wisdom hath contrived the several wants of Mankind to give opportunity for employing that common Stock he hath distributed and as wonderful is it that those very wants be the great Means that the several Possessors of that Common Stock receive benefit by the shares thereof which they respectively do enjoy for it 's visible that whatever any one Man enjoys would leave him distressed unless by exchanging that with another he were relieved by what that other Man possesseth and himself wants Nay that no Man may reflect on God as unkind to the World because the Poor are so many it 's worthy our admiration that Poverty it self is very conducive to the Publick Good not only as it prevents much sin but as it 's the greatest Spur to Diligence Callings Inventions and Services which the Common Benefit depends upon yea were none poor every Man would be next to miserable by wanting all those conveniencies which they now obtain by any other persons Want or desire of Wealth Who would be Servants private Soldiers Seamen Handicrafts-men c. if none were poor If some would study Law Physick c. it 's from few of them that their Neighbours could expect the advantage of their Arts. They who would sail to other Countries and bring back any thing of their peculiar growth how few if any besides themselves should be the better for them I wish I might not say we should have fewer Preachers
can be wanting yea or weak in the Constitution of this Person he also must be greatly cleansed from those dregs which debase divert and deaden the less useful He seems to breath in another Air to be of another make and governed by contrary Inclinations and Rules than most of Mankind be I had like to have said Christians hence he is too often branded as less prudent because he walks by Rules so much above what poor and narrow Souls embrace and postponeth those things beyond which a vulgar spirit cannot derive a Motive Let us remark a few Scripture Instances lest all appears a meer speculation behold Queen Esther taking her Life in her hand to save her People did not she then love her People above her Life Esth. 4. 16. Moses neglected God's Offer to advance his Family and intercedeth for the Nations safety as if he had hated his own house Numb 14. 12 17. What Dominion over Covetousness Selfishness and Cowardice did Nehemiah manifest whiles by acting their contraries he repaired Ierusalem established God's Worship among the Captives restored by his means Without ostentation he might say Should such a one as I flie Neh. 6. 11. Mordecais mind was well ballasted that under such Advancement retained such Goodness and Meekness as still to seek the Weal of his People and speak Peace to all his Seed Esth. 10. 3. How could Caleb and Ioshua refuse to frame their Account to the Humour of the Multitudes but that that they had a more Excellent Spirit than the other Spies Numb 14. 24. Oh the magnanimity zeal for God love to Souls contempt of the World and unwearied vigour and largeness of heart which governed Paul to his extensive Usefulness which might be instanced in the other Apostles and Martyrs yea those illustriously shine in every eminently useful Christian It 's the excellency of their Spirit which forms such vast Designs and enables to the unwearied pursuits thereof Divine Influence inspires them and keeps their Minds above what 's mean and selfish beyond what 's narrow and sordid yea so widens and enflames them that their Spheres prescribe the only Limit to their Attempts how far would they relieve reform and improve the Church the Nation yea the World were it but in their power Judge the Spirit by the use others make of the same Abilities how useless how hurtful 3. The eminently Useful have more manifest grounds for a comfortable Death than others can expect Death makes a great discovery of the true Value of things whatever renders this safe and easie we ought highly to esteem as Men assured it 's our Passage into Eternity and puts a period to our Preparations for it In the grave there 's no work nor device to change our State or improve our Meetness for an unseen World Eccles. 9. 10. Therefore whatever is the best Evidence of our Title to Eternal Life and the greatest Meetness for it that must afford ground of highest Comfort when Self-love and the nearness of Eternity gives Death an awakening power 1. I shall prefix a Caution 2. Prove what I assert 1. For Caution The Mistakes of weakly designing Men necessitate me to acquaint you it 's Christ only who procured a safe and comfortable Death by meriting our Pardon and a Right to Eternal Glory with a happy Resurrection It 's by Faith only that a Regenerate Penitent looks to rely on and receives Christ as our Atoning Saviour for Pardon and Life according to his Promises in the Gospel which Promises with the included Benefits are purchased only by Christ's Obedience and applied as an Effect thereof whenever they are applied The Qualifications which the Gospel appoints in him whom the Promises invest in its Benefits are no causes of those Benefits nor any part of the Righteousness which procured them But Christ using his Gospel as an Instrument in the Governing and Saving of Sinners and pleading with them his purchased Benefits for Motives to their Obedience to the Gospel as a Rule of Judgment It 's not sufficient to our comfortable Death that we believe that Christ obeyed and died to procure Pardon and a Right to Salvation for Penitent Believers but it must appear to us that we are partakers of that Pardon and Right to Life which must be by the Evidence of our Regeneration Repentance and Faith not one without the other nor either when we come to die without their genuine necessary Effects and each persevered in Vain hopes if we totally want whatever the Gospel Promises make indispensably needful to our obtaining Eternal Glory and the contrary whereto the Gospel threatneth with an Exclusion from Heaven Iohn 3. 3 36. Luke 13. 3. Heb. 12. 14. cap. 10. 38. He is fool hardy that dares die not knowing but that his Faith was the Faith of an unregenerate impenitent heart yea or satisfies himself with having thought he once at first had such a true Faith but is not sure that he persevereth therein that regards not any conformity to Christ. Universal Obedience sincere Holiness and Fidelity to God and Improvements of his Talents all which the Gospel so insists on as being fitter to give evidence than things more obscure or remote can be Mat. 10 33. and 25. 30. 2 Cor. 13. 5. Ephes. 5. 6. 2. I shall prove that the eminently Useful have more manifest grounds for a comfortable Death than others can expect for which end it will be sufficient that I evidence This eminent faithful usefulness is a most plain and infalible Evidence of our Title to Eternal Life and it also argueth a very great meetness for Heaven whence it will follow that the eminently faithful useful Man hath more manifest grounds for a comfortable Death than others can expect and consequently his Character is Excellent It tends to a comfortable Death as 1. It is a most plain and infallible Evidence of our Title to Eternal Life Faithful eminent usefulness is not only an evidence considered abstractedly but it gives evidence to the sincerity of all or most other Graces yea and receives it from them for by the in-being and activity of such Graces it subsisted and in it each of them expressed their vital power and sincerity and that not darkly but clearly not doubtfully but to full conviction so that the eminently useful Man hath the concurrent Testimony of every Grace in a light to which each contributes And it answers any just challenge that can be made to his having those several Graces and that in reality so that if Faith Repentance love to God a new Birth or Perseverance have Life promised to them and the sincerity thereof being evident to a Man must yield strong consolation then the eminently useful Man hath very abundant reasons of Comfort as to his interest in Eternal Life I shall evidence this by three things 1. Can he doubt the Truth of his several Graces Not of his Faith because he hath been thus signally excited by his assent to what Christ as Prophet hath
revealed and encouraged by trusting in his Saviours Merits Strength Testament and governed by the commands of Christ his received Lord and that in so faithful an Execution of his own Covenant Consent and Vows yea his Union to Christ is attested as well as his Faith by which he is united for his truly devoted fruitful life could proceed from and subsist by nothing lower than those Vital influences and supplies which came from Christ his Head and Root Gal. 2. 20. Phil. 1. 19 20 21. His Repentance also is unsuspected when he beholds his Lusts so subdued as not to hinder his living to God entirely as his end his Heart so altered in its purposes resolves and relishes that he could not live to carnal self but a common good wherein he delighted and spent himself He knows his former evil course is duly bewailed when so directly changed and that sin was truly hateful being he hath not only endeavoured the utter Mortification of it in himself but greatly laboured to rescue all others from the dominion and effects thereof He is sure of his new Birth when he reflects that nothing less could make my aims my temper and course to be so far conformed to Christ's as my devotedness to God's glory and to the benefit of Saints and Sinners doth attest 1 Ioh. 4. 17. Yea more a lower Principle than what was formed in Regeneration would never have lasted thus long and carried me thus far Ioh. 4. 14. 2. This eminently useful Man's stated course and contrivances repel a Jealousie that his love to God or Man or appearing Zeal was a painted Fire his Faith Hope or other Graces a dead Image because all these have vitally concurred to direct fix and strengthen his Labours to lay out his Talents drive a constant Trade and spend his life for Christ Ioh. 14. 21. 1 Ioh. 3. v. 16 17. Rom. 12. 11 12 13. And there is as little ground to question his Perseverance when he knows he was not taken off from publick serviceableness by his sloth fear weariness selfishness or change of purpose or designs yea that now he feels his Soul solicitous for and prepared unto a publick good were he but capable to contribute to it 3. Besides this Testimony from the evidence of such Graces as Life is promised to the useful Man is in a way likelier for comfort than others because the spirit of God doth not usually forbear to cast a light upon the Graces of such when they come to die but and that not rarely he makes them to behold his face and experience some foretasts of the approaching Glory so that with Moses they die at the Mouth of God with Stephen Act. 7. 57. as David 2 Sam. 23. 5. Yea besides this the useful Man is encouraged by the great things that passed between God and his Soul in bending him for and carrying him through those Attempts and Employments wherein he hath served the Will of God in his Generation many Answers of Prayer eminent Deliverances from Evil Supports when Fainting Revivings and Enlargements when tempted to Remissness frequent views of Christ and Heaven for renewal of Strength and the like which he hath oft experienced have so familiarized God and Christ to him and so fixed his Trust in his Goodness Truth and Word that he can quietly commit his Spirit to him And so from all put together having now fought a good fight finished his course and kept the faith he beholds that Crown of Righteousness hanging over his head which he knows his God will give him 2 Tim. 4. 8. and he hath an abundant entrance into God's Kingdom 2 Pet. 1. 11. 2. This eminent Usefulness argues a meetness for Heaven He can easily quit all worldly Enjoyments who valued Life it self but as a means for service and consecrated all he had as subservient to it This Man is not called off before his Work be done for his course is finished and the end of his being on Earth so fully answered Acts 13. 25. Heaven must be a real Rest to him after so much Labour and very suitable in the nature of it to one of so agreeable a disposition What welcome Company are perfected happy Souls when the contrary made the saving and healing of miserable Sinners to engage his Thoughts and command his Strength whiles he lived on Earth His Soul that was so enlarged by Grace for publick Use will be very receptive of those fuller Streams of heavenly Joys How will he be satisfied with more of God's likeness there when it will be but the perfection of what he judged so lovely as to strive so much to propagate it here Psalm 17. 14 15. This Publick Spirit will be ravished in contemplating and adoring a blessed God when he beholds how universal a Good he is yea and ever hath been by the Records of his Beneficence there published and explained whatever Employment Heaven allots for it 's no place of idleness he is greatly prepared for it who did heartily perform so much under the great disadvantages of this present state which did arise both from his Works and himself yea and such as he had to deal with So that this man is gathered when ripe he his even here a Vessel of Glory being so meet for his Masters use 2 Tim. 2. 21. Now how comfortable will Death be to a Man thus well assured of eternal Happiness and prepared for that wherein it will consist It cannot endanger nor hurt him he must rather desire than abhor or fear it when only a sense of present serviceableness where it is more needful hath reconciled useful Saints to a longer Life Phil. 1. 23 24. To such useful ones as Paul it belonged to triumph over Death rather than be afraid and welcome its approaches to enjoy that a regard whereto had made him so laborious 1 Cor. 15. 57 58. Thus I have represented the Grounds on which a very useful Man may die comfomfortably But can there be the like for an unuseful Person I am sure where a Life unprofitably spent through sloth negligence self-seeking and unfaithfulness to God doth stare a Man in the Face it 's a just challenge to his Hopes it justifies his Fears and he vainly expects Advantage by Death or Safety in dying Yea a Man who hath been Useful in lesser degrees through remissness and narrowness of Heart cannot but feel greater jealousie of his Condition than the eminently Useful yea he must make bitter reflections upon his past Life wherein he finds so many neglects and baulks So little Work done in so long a time and with so great a Stock and being self-conscious of the much greater Things he might have performed for a common Good sure he cannot without grief behold his season over whiles the Blood of Souls the Groans of a dying Church or a sinking Nation testifie against his departing Soul that omitted relieving them to his Power What work for Shame and Sorrow ay and Fears too will this
make compared with a vigorously useful Life 4. The future Rewards of an eminently useful Man will be greater than others His Crown will weigh in proportion to his service They that turn many shall shine as the Stars in the Firmament for ever and ever Dan. 12.3 He that gained the ten Talents was made a Ruler over ten Cities he that gained two was made Ruler but over five Luke 19.17 These wider Vessels shall be filled as well as the lesser but being larger they contain the more O then happy he who was most abundant in Labours no degree whereof shall be in vain 1 Cor. 15.58 Gal. 6.9 10. Their Works shall follow them as a Retinue adding to their Grandeur and Rivers shall be more acknowledged by our blessed God when he will come to reward the very Drops These Mens Place in the Body will be more Noble their Thrones higher perhaps their Services more Eminent in a heavenly Estate as much in proportion as they had been on Earth And tho' all faithful Ones shall be as Angels Luke 20. v. 3. Yet among these there are Degrees wherein there will be a correspondence as to those Every generous Design Tear Labour Hardship Expence Loss and Hazard will be found in a proportioned Glory He that soweth bountifully shall reap bountifully 2 Cor. 9.6 Whence it 's easily inferred how excellent a Character of a Believer it is that he was an eminently useful Person in his Age it 's a Title will found in the very Heavens and be honourably acknowledged by Christ upon his Throne he will say Well done thou good and faithful Servant enter thou into the Ioy of thy Lord Mat. 25.21 Which yet is no reflection on his own Merits for in the Vertue thereof the most useful Saints inherit those further additions according to his Promise as well as the less Useful possess the lesser degrees True it 's all his own and he may do what he will with his own but if he is pleased to foretell us how he 'll dispence this his own to Men thereupon his Veracity commands our assured expectations and if he also use those higher Measures of Glory as Motives to greater Labours we in being very Laborious cannot be disappointed of those higher Measures any more than of the least yea we frustrate his End in publishing such Promises if we are not excited to more abundant Labours by the Benefits promised and upon such Labours expect those Benefits I have offered what I hope will convince you of the Truth of the Third general Head viz. That to be eminently Useful in ones Generation is an excellent Character for to be so employed is an Honour put upon that Man by the infinite God The Spirit of such a Man is Excel-cellent and God-like he hath the greatest Grounds for a comfortable Death both from the evidence of his Title to eternal Life and his meetness for it And last his future Glory will be greater than that of others I shall proceed to the Application of this Doctrine by some Inferences 1. Inference To be a publick Plague is a great reproach what can be said worse of a Man when dead That one did no Good in an eminent Station that he hid his Talent which should have been employed in view are infamous Scars but that any Man should influence to publick Mischief this leaves his Memorial accursed better never have been born his Gifts his Estate Powers and Offices are become a Snare to himself and a Mischief to the Publick The more active the greater detriment the longer he lived the more lasting Curse hath this Man been and the further hath he contributed to the Woe of others as well as to his own Damnation He will be signally marked in another World for the harm he did in this receiving his Torments with remarkable notice when they do groan to themselves who sinned only against themselves Will the Powers or Riches he had on Earth guard him against the sorest Vengeance for the hurt he did No no Of this abhorred sort are the Wasters of Countries Tirannical Princes Propagaters of Heresies Perverters of Justice great Oppressors of the Poor Wasters of God's Vineyards Betrayers of their Countries Silencers of useful Preachers Enemies to the Ministry and Calumniators of Ministers and the like Happy Multitudes if such had never been and next happy that they soon are taken away see Ier. 22.17 18. Such will wish they had been Idiots and Beggars of any thing else which could have more incapacitated them from doing Mischief 2 Inf. This may convince us of the mischief of a narrow Sectarian Spirit and consonant Principles wherever they prevail By such a narrow Spirit I mean a Spirit that confineth Charity to a Sect distinguished from other Christians by Customs or Opinions that are not Essential to true Godliness and is embittered and enraged against all who differ from such Usages and Opinions This is the Spirit of Popery which is a Sect tho' a great one yea it is the worst of Popery and where-ever it Rules the most Diabolical part of Anti christianism is undestroy'd All the Persecutions and Impositions of that Beast proceed from this very Spirit and from Principles both Ministring to it and formed by it for their influence is mutual There 's scarce any thing more opposite to Publick Usefulness or less consistent with the Precepts Design and true Spirit of Christianity the former is that which my Subject so calls me to demonstrate and testifie against that without doing so I cannot faithfully handle this Doctrine But who can doubt the Destructiveness of this Spirit to Publick Benefit and Service if you observe the way and behaviour of all sorts of Persons who are acted by it For under its impulse it is that 1. Men confine their Usefulness to their own Faction as if they were indebted to seek the good of none beyond it nay as if Conscience obliged them against all Attempts for Benefits more common and extensive They judge all Men out of their Herd unworthy of their love concern or labour what 's the Publick to them further than as things affect their own Let the Ship sink so their Cabbin can be saved they 'll obstruct all Settlement in Church or State if it be any other than a Provision for their Sect or managed by any besides themselves yea scruple not to advance their Party upon the Ruins of the Publick as Men see from Age to Age. 2. What is it to such Bigots if true Christianity prevail with Men or Converts be multiplied unless they become their Proselites Alas they judge no Man Religious or Good out of their own Garb they surmize him Carnal who cannot pronounce their Shibboleth and do as good as say they are all in a Damnable State who at all oppose them Hence such people are far more industrious to bring Men to a compliance with their fond Peculiarities than to a subjection to the great and most undoubted Precepts of the
and tended to make him a successful Blessing or his Heart and Hands had failed He was a Man of great uprightness he squared not his Profession by his Secular Interest tho' he had a large Family yet he quitted a full Maintenance rather than sin against God by Conformity Before then he was turned out of his Lecture and kept out a while because he could not comply with some Extravagancies of the late Times and since hath he suffered because he must witness for the Old Truth against Antinomianism His Integrity made him a Stranger to all Tricks and sometimes his Charity betrayed him to be impos'd on by such as use them His Humility was signal he seemed to have the meanest Opinion of his own Gifts and Labours highly esteeming others and envying none no not the acceptance of our promising young Ministers He might say with David I prayer as if made up of that Every Day he prayed twice in his Family to the last moment that he was capable His usual way was to pray 3 or 4 times a day in his Study Upon every extraordinary Occurrence in his House he kept a Fast. Under every Affliction before he would speak of it or pitch on means to redress it he spread it still before God in Prayer which brought him tho' a most affectionate Husband to bear the News of his Wives death with that composure as calmly to say The Lord gave the Lord hath taken away blessed be the Name of the Lord. And after the greatest Losses he was used to speak of them with an unconcernedness as if anothers not his own In Prayer he was mighty and the returns remarkable and frequent He could trust God with all and was still resigned to his Will His solicitous concern was that God might not be dishonoured When he lay Sick this was oft repeated Oh! that I may not dishonour God in my last moments whom in my poor manner I made it the business of my Life to honour Oh! that I may not dishonour my God by my impatience Being one Night under exceeding torture he called his Daughter then present and charged her not to entertain one hard thought of God by any thing he felt but be assured he is infinitely Merciful and none are happy but those that serve him he gives peace of Conscience that 's beyond all the World can give none can die cheerfully but a Christian he shines on my Soul through Christ. God and Heaven were so habituated to him that in some disorder in his Head by his Distemper fixing there he still kept the same Savour breathed the same Spirit and spake of Divine Matters most consistently His Head was not free of those Projects for God which in Health it was ever full of I 'll end this with Mr. Baxter's who knew not how to flatter or fear any Man Account of him Dr. Annesley is a most Sincere Godly Humble Man totally devoted to God Mr. B's Life Having hinted some things that respect the Excellency of this Person some may whisper but what Tokens of God's Favour had this useful Man more than others he had many Troubles and Exercises God testified his Favour to him in Instances which he most esteemed and pursued above all things yea dispised and renounced all compared therewith which is enough to testifie him a happy Man what ever he endured or wanted God kept him faithful in his Work to the last for which he thus thanked God on his Death-Bed Blessed be God I can say I have been faithful in the Work of the Ministry above 55 Years He had great success in his Work many called him Father as the Instrument of their Conversion the worthy Mr. Brand was one many called him Comforter In all his sufferings he found supports which kept him as chearful as his Office and Age allowed under all yea 17 weeks pain without a discontended Word or Thought Signal returns of Prayer he frequently had and very close Communion with God in Christ. His Charity and Care wanted not comfortable Effects How many whom he contributed to the Education of are useful Ministers In how many Places doth Religion flourish by his means God gave him a great Interest in the Hearts of most Ministers and serious People How oft and long did they pray for his Life as a publick Blessing And how generally is his Death lamented He thankfully owned God in all He signally witnessed for him in his Judgments on several of his Persecutors One died signing a Warrant to apprehend him Many might be instanced but it 's fit we cover such in acknowledgment of present Quiet He had uninterrupted peace and assurance of God's Covenant-Love for above 30 years last past It 's true he walked in Darkness for several years before that which is common to those who are converted in Childhood their change not being remarkable and so apter to be questioned and they oft make up in a long time by frequent returns the sad hours that others have pressing in at once But God had a further design viz. The fitting and enclining him to relieve wounded Consciences by his Ministry and Discourse wherein he was so Eminent that most troubled Souls resorted to him He used to say that this made him unable to preach a Sermon without some Word to them This Assurance had not one Cloud in all his Disease He oft said I 've no doubt nor shadow of doubt all 's clear between God and my Soul he Chains up Satan he cannot trouble me To conclude all He had an abundant entrance into God's Kingdom He was reconciled to Death yea so desirous of it as hardly induced him to have his Life prayed for But hearing some Ministers had been servently praying for his Life he replied I 'm then more reconciled to Life than ever for I 'm confident God will not give a Life so eminently in answer of Prayer as mine must be if he would not use it to greater purposes than ever before Yet some little time before his change his desires of Death appear'd strong and his Soul filled with the foretasts of Glory oft saying Come my dearest Jesus the nearer the more precious the more welcome Another time his joy was so great that in an extasie he cried out I cannot contain it what manner of Love is this to a poor Worm I can't express the thousandth part of what praise is due to thee we know not what we do when we offer at praising God for his Mercies it 's but little I can give but Lord help me to give thee my All. I 'll die praising thee and rejoice that there 's others can praise thee better I shall be satisfied with thy likeness satisfied satisfied Oh my dearest Jesus I come Now do not you think Christ is worth the faithfullest Service which ends in this manner To you of this Congregation for whose Salvation he was so concerned shall I say bewail the loss of him when you are so sensible Yet that 's but Just. Bless God for your enjoying his faithful Labours so long see that none of you perish after such pains to save you be established in the Truths you have heard which you see governed his Life to such great purposes and helped him to die with sure Triumph Shew your regard to his Memory by kindness to his Family and by not breaking off from this Church that he may not be reflected on by your giddiness as if he Taught you no better or Established you no more than to be deluded to serve a Carnal Turn in pretence of greater Purity You his Children live your Fathers Advice and Example or what a Witness will he be against you Let us all go hence with a due sence of it The World hath lost a Blessing the Church hath lost a Pillar the Nation hath lost a Wrestler with God the Poor have lost a Benefactor You his People have lost a Faithful Pastor his Children a Tender Father we in the Ministry an Exemplary Fellow Labourer FINIS There is now in the Press A COMPLEAT HISTORY of the most Remarkable Providences both of Iudgment and Mercy which have happened in this present Age Extracted from the best Writers the Authors own Observations and the numerous Relations sent him from divers Parts of the Three Kingdoms To which is added whatever is Curious in the Works of Nature and Art The whole digested into one Volume under proper Heads being a Work set on foot 30 Years ago by the Reverend Mr. Pool Author of the Synopsis Criticorum and since undertaken and finished by William Turner M. A. Vicar of Walberton in Sussex Recommended as Useful to Ministers in furnishing Topicks of Reproof and Exhortation and to private Christians for their Closets and Families Proposals and Specimens giving a fuller Account of it are to be had of I. Dunton at the Raven in Iewen-street and of Edward Richardson near the Poultry Church There is newly Published ⸫ The Character of Dr. Sam. Annesley by way of Elegy with a Preface written by one of his Hearers Price 6 d. Sold by E. Whitlock near Stationers-Hall ⸪ The whole Parable of Dives and Lazarus Explain'd and Apply'd in several Sermons preached in Cripplegate and Lothbury Churches by Ioseph Stevens Lecturer at both Published at the Request of the Hearers and recommended as proper to be given at Funerals Price bound 2 s. Printed for I. Dunton ⸪ The Secret History of White-Hall from the Restoration of Charles II. down to the Abdication of the late King James Writ at the Request of a Noble Lord and conveyed to him in Letters by late Secretary-Interpreter to the Marquis of Louvois who by that means had the perusal of all the private Minutes between England and France for many years The whole consisting of Secret Memoirs c. Published from the Original Papers by D. Iones Gent. Sold by R. Baldwin in Warwick Lane ⸪ The Dying Pastor's last Farewell By Mr. Allyn Printed for I. Dunton Price 1 s.