Selected quad for the lemma: work_n
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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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abatement at all but rather an enlargement that the addition to his estate procured an addition to his Charity And here give me leave to tell you that this next to my inexcusable Laziness is the true reason of retarding these Papers there was somewhat of Charity very singular and extraordinary about this time which he in his great Humility acquainted me with I will not say advised with me for he was fitter to advise me than I him this hath wholly slipt my Memory all but the undistinct Notions that there was such a thing though some Circumstances made it impracticable I confess I have made all the enquiry I can by Letters and other ways yet I cannot retrieve it if I could it would be the most considerable Instance in this confused Story but I must wave it After some years in this place he was morally forced to another the Arguments for his remove took hold of his Conscience and those that did so he was not able to resist tho' never so much against his Inclination There he continued till driven away by persecution not only from them but from the County Some while he wandered about from place to place like his Master he went up and down doing good and God was with him Could I hope that it would provoke to holy Emulation not to sinful Prejudice I would be more particular in naming the several Counties and the several Places in such Counties where he spread the Gospel to the apparent detriment of the Devil's Kingdom and advancement of Christ's and he comfortably saw a good Success of his Ministry where-ever he came But after many wearisome Journeys and tiresome Labours his ill frame of Health necessitated him to a more fixed Station near London where he was greatly importuned to exercise his Ministry to which he yielded upon these Conditions Namely to be at liberty three Sabbaths in the Month to preach where he should find need they being supplied by two other worthy Ministers and afterwards by one And this he did 'till bodily Distempers disenabled him tho' he was often told it was impossible to hold out such a Course of Labour yet his zeal was such that he could not forbear attempting beyond his strength tho' to prolong his life That lingring Distemper which brought him to his Grave first seized him upon a wet Journey about his Master's Work upon which he was so intent that he Acts 20.24 counted not his Life dear unto him It was his only joy to fulfil the Ministry which he receiv'd of the Lord Jesus to testifie the Gospel of the Grace of God Thus I have run over his Course of Life give me leave to be a little more particular in some I wish I might not say unparalelled Singularities Preaching His Preaching was remarkable both in what it was not as well as in what it was It was not with enticing words of Man's Wisdom He did as industriously avoid as others do industriously study Declamations for Sermons He took more pains for his Sermons both on his Knees and in his Study then most others that he might Preface all he said with thus saith the Lord. He constantly kept one day in the Week little other ways than a Fast for his lord's-Lord's-day's work He would never offer either to God or Man what cost him nought His Praying was always fervent his Preaching always clear and vehement his words well fitted to his Matter and his Matter well chosen for Conviction and perswasion for Conversion and Edification And when did he Preach any one Sermon without some of these Effects Bear with this Digression to give you a single Instance of Advice he some Years after gave to a young Preacher You will need a double Portion of the Blessed Spirit to guide and bear you up against the Temptations you will meet with from the snareling World 'T is hard to be lifted up by the Lord and not to lift up our selves your Watch must be constant and your Prayers frequent and fervent or you will forsake your first Love and wax careless and carnal and afterwards warned him against two extreams viz Pride and Diffidence saying if Ministers were to Preach before a learned and large Auditory they were too apt to be diffident more concerned at the Presence of Man than of God and on the other hand if the Assembly was popular and mean and did appear affected how hard do they find it to subdue Pride But to return God blessed his Labours where-ever he went a special Presence of God accompanied him ni all his Vndertaking For he Preach'd as well out of the Pulpit as in it It was seldom that any one could speak to him but he would hook in something of Religion ere they parted When he went into any House he quickly enquired what entertainment Religion met with there he scarce spake to any but he presently insinuated something of Practical Godliness for he always declined speaking of Christians different Practice as to Modes of Worship when any such things were ask'd him he would if possible put it off with something else or tell them other Mens Judgments rather than his own and thro' gracious exercise he had a notable Dexterity in putting by Tit. 3.9 unprofitable Questions i. e. Questions whereby we can profit nothing and taking occasion thence to inculcate something of real moment He did not this only in a customary way of Discourse as that which he was most habituated to but out of the abundance of his heart his mouth spake His general Conversation towards all was Pious and Pleasant he used innocent mirth as an inviting Vehicle to convey his pious Instructions He was plentifully stored with very useful Narratives of Men both good and bad he gathered up excellent Remarks upon the Temper and Carriage of Mankind which he made use of not only to divert but to instruct for he would sometimes pleasantly droll upon the Miscarriages of some which he thought would not digest a direct and plain Reproof he that told me this lived in the House with him and saith He diligently observ'd and doth not remember That ever he heard him rehearse so much as one Story without a manifest Design either to exhort or warn or gently to rebuke those to whom it was directed And this was not only an instance of his candid Temper but of his great Discretion for the Memory is more apt to retain affecting Stories than meer Precepts and the Conscience will make a direct Application of an indirect Reproof And if the Story be intended to excite Duty it doth not only imply a Precept but shews the Precedent which is a great Motive to Industry And tho' he was of too sweet a Temper willingly to displease any yet he could not but deal so plainly with those he conversed with that when he saw any thing to be reprov'd he would not in a Compliment forbear them but rebuke them sharply that they might be sound in the Faith