with a kinder Influence still he view'd Those few who spite o' th' Fashion dared be good Improv'd ev'n old Disciples gain'd the young And dropt Instruction from his silver Tongue These had his Soul and his true Friendship try'd With these he pray'd for these he liv'd and dy'd Lov'd 'em so well that when Heav'n call'd away Almost he 's in a strait to go or stay Till Meditation did the Clouds remove And show'd the Glories of tho Blest above What Mansions in his Fathers-house prepar'd What Joys by Mortals never seen nor heard Then like the Hart whom the hot Chase invades Who plunges in the Brook from his lov'd shades His thirsty Soul breaks out with eager hast And finds those Streams of Bliss he dy'd to taste S. W. Upon the Death of the Reverend Mr. Thomas Brand. I. DEath Commands silence but his Death Forbids He Dead must Speak by his surviving Deeds Whose Life was Action and his Actions Life Purg'd from Dead Works in Vital Issues Rife When once the Quick'ning Spirit from above Breath'd in a Living Faith and Active Love But Slew him first while to his Naked Eye It did present that Dreadful Majesty Which put him to Isaiah's doleful Cry His Lips unclean and Their's amongst whom he dwelt Himself undone till the Live Coal he felt From off God's Altar purging Sin away Isa 6. Then answer'd Here I am send me I pray Our Gospel-Altar gave that Holy Fire Which to a Gospel-Temple did aspire Pag. 7. That of our Law no longer could content Seraphick Love must on God's Work be sent And sent he was much like another Paul Struck down he Heard Reviv'd Rose at Christ's Call Amongst his Brethren Labour'd more than all II. To 's Father's Name or Church was no Disgrace None he would do Had no desire to Rasel Whilst Build he might not in his Father's place Who Dignify'd by her yet far outvy'd That Grace and her more highly Dignify'd By such a Son Whom ah she had not known When in a Croud she did him too disown Had she foreseen sure for his sake alone Black Barth'l'mew had never Outed one But he his Filial Duty ne'er forgot No more her Name than his own Soul would blot Strokes aim'd at her he 'd with his Peril Ward And to her Worthies paid a just Regard Nor Brib'd Whilst he with Generous Content Her Titles mis'st his own fair Income spent Not Held of her yet Turned to her Vse For that 's True Schism and the worst Abuse Which Vogues Our Church not served but undone When Souls to Christ's by all apt means are wone III. This his grand Project this his single Aim Not ty'd to Party Interest or Name The Christian Sum with differing side agreed In God's Ten Words Christ's Pray'r the Apostle's Creed No Fire-brand but a burning shining Light His Love as fervent as his Knowledge bright This Pufft not up his Mind That Edify'd His and who knows how many Souls beside His Tongue Feet Hand and even Purse could Teach His Season'd Speech would daily hourly Preach Yet sweetly flowing Charm'd and Chain'd the Ear Whilst he could speak swift and intent to hear What some would stories call were Parables At once to Please and Profit Sacred Spells Could Heav'n lure down to Earth Earth ralse to Heav'n Such Help to Men Such Grace to him was given Words backs and edg'd by his rare Bounty cou'd From Flint supply the Desart with a Floud His wise Reproofs as Light'ning darted in Could melt hard Hearts and never rase the Skin No Scar would make will out yet wrought the Cure within IV. His Sermon not a Chance starcht Common place But drawn to suit the Peoples studied Case From a Try'd Word by Pray'r and searching Thought With one days Waiting Weekly to be Taught Himself of God to Teach Men as he ought His Text he 'd follow home and Hearers too What Preaching could not Conference might do On all and each he 'd spread the Gospel-Net Not only sow at large but singly set He 'd plow or even dig the fallow Soil Plant and then water with incessant Toil Would do the Work of an Evangelist Humbly Conceal'd under the Catechist V. A Catechist accomplisht every way Truth to Commend as well as to display A Master-builder who could surely lay The right Foundation ' gainst a Trying day Loose Truths he knew less understood soon lost And Pulpit-Summaries too big for most An oft Rehearsed Scheme they must retain Well might conceive what their own Words made plain Hardly could doubt what they were brought to prove Pag. 48. Or from their undertaken Duty move And least of all when wrought into their Love Persons he 'd singly Truths conjunctly Teach Hearers should speak them and the People Preach Call'd and Conducted to a sound Reply By Questions fitting each Capacity And well he knew under such gentle Rain The leaking Sieve must yet a Dew retain And Fruitless Trees a Leafie Verdure gain He taught not Parrots nor would whisper in Such sounds as empty Heads should give agen Would sence by Words conveigh with holy slight Apt Words suggest by sence conveigh'd aright Mind Conscience Will he 'd throughly Catechize Yet not Confess the Man Each power surprize By Christian Wiles for Christ with Holy Paul Would to save some become all things to all VI. He far above the World could yet descry Wisdom's hid Paths below But drew the Eye Still to attend th' unerring Pole above By which himself did safely calmly move His Morning Evening-Dews the Word Praise Pray'r And even these a Heavenly Manna were The Happy Horse should with his Closet share This knew him early oft long on his Knees Constant at study and to him who sees In secret often Fasting to prepare The Food of Souls with utmost Pains and Care There a John Baptist Coming thence he 'd be Sweet like his Lord and innocently free Wise to win Souls by Christian Curtesie Thrice Happy Orb where e're this Sun did shine Whose Heav'nly Course shed Influence divine Meted the Hours and number'd out each Day For all that would observe his constant way His daily Weekly Motion yea his Rest So Measur'd they were Measures for the Best Standing one day or going back had been A Miracle in him was never seen Heaven's Kindness in him shone to Good and Bad Those his Light blest and these his Warmth made Glad Forth from his Native East this kinder Sun Rejoyc'd a large repeated Course to run To barren Climates he would gladly bring Thrô smartest Winter-storms a Gospel-spring But ah more swift than strong ran out of Breath Sunk in a Sea of Tears that wail his Death Yet from his Highest South did not decline Set upon Heaven's Prime Meridian Line There does thô Hid from us more brightly shine VII But O the Light disperst throughout this Land Yea Life convey'd by his Instructive Hand Which rightly found what here he had to do Writings too many were Readers too few There he 'd
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
most high you are the Children of Adoption and Heaven is yours by Inheritance Col. 2.6,7 As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord so walk ye in him Root'd and built up in him and stablished in the Faith as ye have been taught abounding therein with Thanksgiving III. III. To Youth 'T was to Young ones Mr. Brand delighted to speak in some respect above all others to these was his Heart most enlarged and his Tongue most fluent and 't is to these my Tongue and Pen are most streightned my consciousness to my self of coming short of him in every thing but most in this of his holy Oratory to Youth that Text almost frights me from saying any thing Job 6.15 How forcible are right words But what doth your arguing avail Not but that I am willing to imitate him and wish that my words might be his Eccho in more then repeating a little of that he hath spoken and longer than for a short time and with more than a vanishing faintness I heartily wish that the Spirit of God would bring things to your remembrance that you might not only thrô strength of Memory but through strength of Grace remember the Counsel he gave you what Questions he put to you upon the Questions of your Catechism and what Answers he so prompted you to make as to make them your own what youthful Sins and Temptations he warned you against and how he prest you to early Piety How he encouraged you from Christ's being the Childrens advocate against their captious Accusers for following him with Hosannahs Christ applying that of the Psalmist to them that Psal 8.2 God by them did still the Enemy and the Avenger i. e. they did more to the Detriment of the Devil's Kingdom than most others I hope you will never forget with what evidence of Reason with what warmth of Affection with what conviction of Conscience he bespoke you for Christ I hope you cannot but remember Here was his Heart here were his hopes here was his sleeping waking Thoughts his sleeping thoughts his last thoughts when he went to sleep his waking thoughts his first thoughts when he wak'd in the Morning here was his plodding praying thoughts his plodding thoughts how he might do good to the next Generation his praying thoughts that God would direct and bless unwearied his Endeavours You know how sollicitous he was to give you suitable Instruction and how desirous that you might drink it in as the Earth the Rain In short I cannot express pray do you endeavour that you may practically conceive how he did as it were travel over you that might be the Comfort of the present and the Blessing of the next Generation But now 2 Kings 2.3,9 God hath taken away your Master from your Head this day you shall never more skip for joy at his approaching presence you shall never more be cheared with his holy Charms you shall never more be provoked by his irresistible Perswasion Methinks you can do no less then cry to God for what Elisha askt of Elijah a double portion of his Spirit not twice so much as he had I know not whether that may be expected on this side Glory but as the first-born in dividing of Inheritances twice so much as any of the Brethren of the Family so twice so much as those who have not had such helps You will be great losers if your gain be not proportionable to your Talents Great are our Expectations from you if you do not bestir your selves to be exemplary for Piety and Vsefulness good and bad will justly blame you the good will mournfully bewail their disappointment they are big with hopes that those who were the chief of his Care and Charge should stand up in his stead and make it their business to do that by many hands which he did alone that the Church may be no loser by his death The bad will with triumph scorn you which is a dreadful way of real blaming of you as degenerate Plants there needed no such cost and care to make you like them How will you bear such dagging upbraidings But in short how will you answer it to my Master You must give another kind of account to him than you did to Mr. Brand the account he called you to was such that what was faulty might be amended and what was defective might be made up But when Christ shall call you to an account you know not how soon that will be the State of Preparation will be over there will be no more no not a Minutes space for Repentance no place of rectifying Mistakes Now now is your time your only time your fleeting perishing expiring time Therefore answer the Convictions of your own Consciences now make Conscience of the performing the Promises you have made to God and him Now do that in a way of Faith and Holiness that Christ may say to you Well done good and faithful Servants enter you into the Joy of your Lord. FINIS Elogies were sent in all the Languages Christ's Epitaph was written if I may so call the Inscription upon his Cross but I 'll only present you with these Vpon Reverend Mr. Brand. T he helpfullest of Ministers and Saints H is Work God blest with Grace or with restraints O n those who felt neither of these effects M uch may they fear their hardning for neglects A ll sorts who knew him best they him most pris'd S trangers alone they were who him despis'd B ehold Report Admire never Disdain R ead'ly to imitate him Heaven to gain A ll worldly Happiness it shrinks before N ever to vy in competition more D eath is at hand to open you the Door t' a Wake eXhort proVokes the Vse o' th' Story DeCeMber the first he Was taken to Glory ◠A. Vpon Reverend Mr. Brand. WHen Primitive Devotion Zeal and Love Fled back to th' Ark like Noah's weary Dove Heav'n left some Sparks behind to let us see What once we were and still we ought to be Some few good Men and this was one to save A sinking World not only just but brave Nobly he stemm'd the Tide vast Seas roll by And dash the Rock but could not mount so high The firm Foundation could not sink or start 'T was deep and sure a meek and humble Heart The noisy Bar the Road to Wealth and Fame He shuns those gawdy Toys below his aim The despis'd Gospel all his Thoughts did claim Nor rashly did the sacred Charge invade He chose it as an Office not a Trade Trembling the weighty Task he undertook But when engag'd did never backward look His Zeal alike well plac'd and well design'd Neither luke-warm nor raging cold nor blind Sworn to no Party in no Interest he But that of common Christianity So sweet so affable his Mind and Face He prov'd Good-nature was no Foe to Grace His Charity like Heav'ns confin'd to none Not even the worst but shar'd his Rain and Sun Tho'