The Life and Funeral Sermon of the Reverent Thomas Brand, Sermon

The Life and Funeral Sermon of the Reverent Thomas Brand · Sermon

p. 81THE Reverend Mr. BRAND's Funeral Sermon.

Joſh. 1.2.

Moſes my Servant is dead, now therefore ariſe, &c.

THE Occaſion of this Aſſembly is more than ordinarily doleful, Oh, that God would direct and bleſs what I have to ſay, that the Conſequence may be proportionably profitable! How God ſpake theſe words to Joſhua, is doubtful. It was not immediately by himſelf, God ſpake to none, as he ſpake to Moſes, face to face, That was Moſes his peculiar p. 82Priviledge, Exod. 33.11.Exod 33:11And the Lord ſpake unto Moſes face to face, as a Man ſpeaketh unto his Friend. But it was either by an Angel, or by a Viſion, when he was awake, or by a Dream when aſleep. Moſes my Servant is dead, God honours him, by owning him as his faithful Servant in performing all the Duties required of him in his Place. Though he ſo ſinned at the Water of Meribah, for which he ſhould never go into Canaan; yet he died in the State of Service, and God (as it were) ſaith, whatever he was, whatever he wrought, it was all mine.

Moſes my Servant. The Title of God's Servant is more than the meer Title of Apostle. Jude he calls himſelf, Jude 1.Jude 1the Servant, conceals himſelf to be the Apoſtle of Jeſus Chriſt. Peter he poſtponeth Apoſtle to Servant, 2 Peter. 1.1.2 Pet 1:1Peter the Servant and Apoſtle of Jeſus Chriſt.

p. 83Is dead, and now no longer able to execute his Office. This is ſpoken after his extraordinary interment, whether immediately by God, or by a good Angel, or good Angels. It is queſtionable whether any one of the Evil Angels were permitted to attend his Funeral, leſt they ſhould tempt the Iſraelites to idolize him. And after the Iſraelites ſolemn Mournings, God tells him, Moſes my Servant is dead, now therefore ariſe: As if he ſhould ſay, be not as one aſtoniſhed, and diſpirited, but rouſe up thy ſelf, to know, and do thy Duty; do not ſit muſing, but preſently, and vigorouſly ſet upon thy Duty: The Words I think need no farther Explication.

You ſhall have what I have to ſay under this Doctrine.

p. 84Doct. When God takes away an Eminent Minister by death, God requires our ſutable Notice and Improvement of it. Moſes my Servant is dead, and that makes way for more, and greater duty, both for Joſhua, and all the People, than ever before was incumbent upon them; That now becomes their Duty which was never ſo before. Joſh. 3.5,6,7.Josh 3:5Josh 3:6Josh 3:7And Joſhua ſaid unto the People, Sanctifie your ſelves; for to morrow the Lord will do wonders among you. And Joſhua ſpake unto the Prieſts, ſaying, Take up the Ark of the Covenant, and paſs over, &c. And the Lord ſaid unto Joſhua, This day will I begin to magnifie thee in the ſight of all Iſrael, that they may know that as I was with Moſes, ſo will I be with thee. Here you have Joſhua's charge to the People, and Prieſts, and God's encouraging of Joſhua, for they are all put upon ſuch kind p. 85of Duty, that cannot be done by a lazy, careleſs performance of it; ſuch a Duty, that if it be not performed in the ſeaſon God vouchſafes, they can never expect the like ſeaſon again.

For the opening the Doctrine, take it in theſe Five Propoſitions.

I. Prop.

I. The greateſt Service God imploys any in upon Earth, doth not exempt them from death. God's choiceſt Miniſters are not immortal; Thoſe that can moſt effectually direct others to eternal Life, cannot ſecure themſelves to live one day in this World. Zach. 1.5,6.Zech 1:5Zech 1:6Do the Prophets live for ever, &c. John 8.52.John 8:52Abraham is dead, and the Prophets are dead.

p. 86This Propoſition will be evident if you conſider,

1. Miniſters are ſubject to the ſame Diſeaſes and Caſualties with other Men. I know not any diſeaſe but the Leproſie that the Prieſts were priviledged from, under the Law; and I dare not be peremptory in aſſerting, that Miniſters have this priviledge continued under the Goſpel.

2. Miniſters are ſubject not only to more Diſtreſſes, and Sufferings, but alſo to more Diſeaſes, and more bodily Infirmities than others. They are to be the Lights of the World, and they are as a Candle ſet upon a Hill, which flares out before others.

p. 873. Miniſters Lives may be ſhortned, as well for other Mens Sins, as for their own. We may with trembling, conſider what manner of Miniſters God hath in our day taken, or ſnatcht from us by different diſeaſes. I'll confine my ſelf to two inſtances under each Head.

Some indeed God continued long in the World ſtruggling (I will not ſay to preſerve) but to improve their dying Life under unuſual and tormenting pains to the Churches benefit, whoſe Bodies were worn out with anguiſh, but their Souls had foretaſts of Heaven, before they got looſe from their clogs, viz. Mr. Corbet, who beſides his Pulpit-Labours wrote a greater number of Healing Treatiſes, than any I ever heard of. And Mr. Baxter of whom his Works ſay ſo much, I need ſay nothing.

p. 88Some others God did not continue ſo long, indeed 'tis impoſſible they ſhould, without miracle, their pains being in a ſad meaſure intolerable to thoſe that but ſympathized with them, viz. Mr. Jeremiah Whitaker, who was a mirror of Patience, and Mr. Joſeph Allein, whoſe Sufferings for Chriſt little other than hurried him to Heaven in a fiery Chariot, if any bodily diſeaſes may be called ſo, for their being terrible to the beholders.

Some others, whoſe Labours were more than ordinary, and ſucceſs anſwerable, God laid them to ſleep, without any hint to their admirers, to put up ſo much as one Prayer for their continuance, viz. Mr. Gouge, whom I think none will grudge the Title of the Evangeliſt of Wales, who did more for the promoting the Goſpel there, than ever was done before; p. 89who when he went to Bed well, was found dead there in the Morning. And Mr. Hardy, whoſe Zeal (and Prudence to manage it) was ſuch, that thoſe who envied him his Station, were forc't to get a By-Law on purpoſe, ere they could remove him. And when he was a great Bleſſing to the People, whither God ſent him, God put him to ſleep in much like manner with the former.

Some others, God ſtartled the Congregations with their Surprizal in the Pulpit, God calling them up thither, not only to preach but to die, viz. Mr. Oakes, who was (I think) as well in health as any time of his life, when he had ended his Afternoon Prayer before his Sermon, God call'd him to begin his eternal Sabbath with himſelf. And the next Lord's day but one, when Mr. … Kentiſh had rouzed the Peoples attention with p. 90the mention of Mr. Oake's being ſo lately ſtruck dead in the Pulpit, God made him a like inſtance.

Some others, who had but juſt begun to preach, but would probably have outſtript moſt others, God only ſhewed them to the World, and ſnatcht them to himſelf, viz. Mr. John Janeway, who lived ſo much in Heaven, that God as it were ſaid of him, Mich. 7.1.Mic 7:1my Soul deſireth the firſt ripe fruit, and this good Man ſoon periſht out of the Earth, i. e. ceaſed to live; as I remember, he never preacht more then one Sermon. and Mr. … Tyro, who was but offering at the Miniſtry, admired by all that heard him, but God ſoon took him to admire himſelf in Glory. Thus died theſe Worthies. Upon whoſe Provocations? not their own, beſure. They kept off Judgments, not procured them.

God ſaid to them as to Ezekiel, p. 91Ezek. 3.26.Ezek 3:26Thou ſhalt not be to them a Reprover.

Theſe Inſtances have enlarged the firſt Propoſition. I'll be briefer in the reſt.

II. Prop.

II. When God takes away any of his eminent Miniſters by death, God requires a more than ordinary notice ſhould be taken of it.

Which may be thus evidenced,

1. God ſets Miniſters for a Sign to the People, that the People may receive Inſtruction, as well from the Providences of God towards them, as from their Doctrine. Iſa. 20.2,3,4.Isa 20:2Isa 20:3Isa 20:4At the ſame time ſpake the Lord by Iſaiah, the Son of Amoz, ſaying, Go, and looſe the Sack-cloth from off thy loins, and put off thy ſhooe from thy foot: And he did ſo, walking naked and barefoot. And the Lord ſaid, Like as my Servant Iſai. hath walked naked and barefoot three p. 29Years for a Sign and Wonder upon Egypt, and upon Ethiopia; So ſhall the King of Aſſyria lead away the Egyptians Priſoners, and the Ethiopians Captives, young and old, naked and barefoot, even with their Buttocks uncovered, to the ſhame of Egypt. Here are Symbolical and Significative Ceremonies, whereby the Prophet was to repreſent to them, not only in Viſion, as ſome ſuppoſe, but really, how they ſhould be carried away captive, he muſt put off his prophetical Mantle (ſuch as fell from Elias, when he was carried up to Heaven in a Whirlwind,) ſo they ſhould go ſtript (not ſtark naked) in ſorry and ragged apparel, as Priſoners are wont to be led; ſo he was to walk up and down in that manner, that they might be convinc'd what ſhould befall them. See the whole 4th. Chapter of Ezekiel, and Ezek. 12th. Chapter p. 93from V. 3d. to the 10th. and Ch. 24. from v. 16. to the 19th. Son of Man, behold I take from thee the Deſire of thine Eyes with a ſtroke; yet neither ſhalt thou mourn, nor weep, neither ſhall thy tears run down, v. 19. Forbear to cry, make no mourning for the dead — v. 18. So I ſpake unto the People in the morning, and at even my Wife died, and I did in the Morning as I was commanded, v. 19. And the People ſaid unto me, wilt thou not tell us what theſe things are to us, that thou doeſt ſo? The People enquire, as well they might. What is it that we are to learn by this? Theſe are types, what do they mean? but I'll cloſe this with this Scripture-ſtory. In 1 Kings 13. A Prophet is ſent to tell Jeroboam what ſhould befall his Idolatrous Altar, he ſtretcheth out his hand againſt the Prophet, but muſt be beholding to the Prophet's Prayer, p. 94that he may be able to pull it to him again: For this kindneſs he invites the Prophet to Dinner, but the Prophettells him, v. 8. If thou wilt give me half thine Houſe, I will not go in with thee, neither will eat bread or drink water in this place, v. 9. For ſo was it charged me by the word of the Lord, ſaying, eat no bread, nor drink water, nor turn again by the ſame way that thou cameſt. But this young Prophet was ſeduced by an old one, who pretended God by an Angel ſent to him to invite him to take ſome refreſhment, he having delivered his meſſage, and was returning home another way, as was commanded him; but as he ſate at the Table, the old Prophet is forced to tell his gueſt, he had ſeduced him, and for his yielding to the pretended Diſpenſation, a Lion ſhould kill him, which was executed that very p. 95day, and the poor Prophet's death muſt aſſure both Court and City of the Certainty of the Prediction. O what need have Miniſters to be cautious leſt God by their death confirm their Doctrine, v. 32.

2. God requires ſomething more than ordinary. Joſhua and the People had obſerved the ordinary time of Mourning. Deut. 34.8.Deut 34:8And the Children of Iſrael wept for Moſes in the Plains of Moab thirty days: So the days of mourning for Moſes were ended. Numb. 20.28.Num 20:28So many days they mourned for Aaron; the time of mourning for ordinary Perſons was ſeven days. But of Moſes, when they had mourned as long for him, as for any one. God now puts them upon ſomething more. It is not enough to do only as the People that went to ſee Chriſt crucified; Luke 23.48.Luke 23:48They ſmote their breaſts, and returned. A p. 96tranſient Pang of Paſſion is not ſo much as the leaſt that God calls for. Therefore,

III. Prop.

III. When God takes away his Eminent Miniſters, there is more work devolves upon others, both Miniſters and People, by it.

1. The Work they did muſt be done by others, that the Church of Chriſt may not be a looſer by their death. And this you'll find to be hard work, for many to perform what ſome one hath done, whom God hath taken from us. One Moſes did more then the ſeventy chief of them, who were to eaſe him of his burthen; he did more with God and Man in Egypt, and in the Wilderneſs, by Sea, by Land, in Peace, in War more by lifting up in hands, in prayer, than the whole by lifting up their hands p. 97in fighting. Exod. 17.11. When Moſes held up his hand Iſrael prevailed; and when he let down his hand Amalek prevailed. More for the quieting and ſatisfying of a murmuring People than any of them, than all of them could do. What is now therefore next to be done? and by whoſe hands? they might tremblingly enquire, for Moſes is dead, and if the deliverance he begun, be not carried on, they muſt periſh. Who dare now undertake it? But I'll ſpeak of Moſes as a Miniſter, and of ſuch things wherein we are all concern'd.

2. Repentance of the Sins they reproved, which are not yet repented of; and the Performance of the Duties they called to, which they have not yet obeyed the Call; Zach. 1.5,6.Zech 1:5Zech 1:6Your Fathers, Where are they? And the Prophets do they p. 98live for ever? But my Words and my Statutes which I commanded my Servants the Prophets did they not take hold of your Fathers? and they returned and ſaid, Like as the Lord of Hoſts thought to do unto us, according to our ways, and according to our doings, ſo hath he dealt with us, q. d. Where are diſobedient Fathers? though the Prophets die that threatned them, Did not the Threatnings purſue and overtake them? and ſo the Word will have the ſame effect upon you, though the Miniſters that preach it do not live to ſee its Accompliſhment.

3. New Duties ſpring as it were out of their Graves. There ſhould be a Progreſs in the Knowledge and Practice of ſerious Godlineſs; Can you think that God requires no more of you now than he did of our Forefathers, when he firſt p. 99ſent the Goſpel amongſt them? that we ſhould know no more now, than thoſe who had the firſt dawnings of Goſpel-light out of worſe than Aegyptian darkneſs? that God expects no more fruits from you who have been ſo long cultivated, than from thoſe that ſcarce ever heard a Conſcience-awakening Sermon? Surely, you cannot perſwade your ſelves, I hope all the Devils in Hell cannot perſwade you to think ſo. Beſides, every Age hath its peculiar Truth. The Apoſtle Peter, 2 Pet. 1.12.2 Pet 1:12when he mentions his departure, tells them he would have them eſtabliſhed in the preſent Truth. And the Apoſtle Jude tells thoſe to whom he wrote, Jude 3.Jude 1:3that 'twas needful for him to write unto them and exhort them, that they ſhould earneſtly contend for the Faith which was first delivered unto the Saints. Doth it not concern us p. 100diligently to enquire what may be the Doctrine of Faith, which God calls us now earneſtly to contend for? Give me leave to propoſe it to your Enquiry, Whether it may not be the Doctrine of the Kingly Office of Jeſus Chriſt? Miſtake me not, I urge no other Contentions than that which every one will grant to be a Duty, namely, ſtrive with God, in fervent Prayer for his fulfilling all the Promiſes that concern Chriſt's mediatory Kingdom, in ſhort, that God would grant what Chriſt hath taught us firſt to pray for, Thy Kingdom come, that Chriſt's Kingdom may be advanced, and Satan's Kingdom may be deſtroyed. And ſtrive with Men by the moſt forcible Arguments that the Scriptures furniſh us withal, to be Chriſt's willing People in this day of his Power. And to ſtrive with Enemies with the moſt piercing p. 101Convictions, that thoſe Arrows may be ſharp in their Hearts to wound, and heal them. Chriſtians, pray, let it be your great care to approve your ſelves to be the faithful Subjects of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, without any reſerve of either Sin, or Duty.

4. New Sins, like new Diſeaſes, are peculiar to ſpecial times, for the Cure of which we muſt apply proper Remedies. We yearly ſpeak of new Fevers, when they are but the ſame with ſome peculiar Circumſtances. So in ſpiritual Diſeaſes, ſeveral times have their ſeveral dangers. Acts 20.29.Acts 20:29After my departing ſhall grievous Wolves enter in among you, not ſparing the Flock, v. 30. Therefore watch, &c. and v. 25. And now behold, I know that ye all among whom I have gone Preaching the Kingdom of God ſhall ſee my face no more. When ravening p. 102Wolves can no more worry, then Seducers will be buſie to pervert, and when watchful Shepherds are taken away, 'tis then time for the Sheep of Chriſt to be ſenſible of their danger, that they may neither be frighted, nor flattered out of the Fold of Chriſt.

Prop. IV.

IV. While the Senſe of the Death of any Eminent Miniſter is freſh upon us, we ſhould take that advantage of getting an abiding benefit. When the Iron is hot, then is time to ſtrike, to faſhion it into that uſeful form, that it muſt abide in till it is worn out. Whoſe heart is heated and mollified by ſuch a Providence as this, let it not cool again without ſome powerful Improvement.

p. 1031. The Circumſtances of ſuch a Providence, which are moſt affecting, will wear off, if there be not great care to preſerve them in their preſent vigor. We are in many things more affected with the Circumſtances, than with the things themſelves. Do but obſerve it in thoſe ſignal Paſſages of God's providence towards you, which you did preſently put down in writing, to keep by you; when ſome Years after you read them, doth it not bring to mind thoſe Circumſtances that were forgotten?

2. Several things of great moment fall out but once in our Life, and perhaps you'll find this to be ſuch a Providence, when you conſiderately conſider of it.

I think every one that will but ſeriouſly reflect upon the Providences p. 104of his own Life will find himſelf furniſhed with inſtances of this kind, both in the things of this Life and a better. Some ſpeak peremptorily, that every one hath, ſome time of his life ſome providential offers of worldly advantage which if it be let ſlip, they never have a ſecond offer like it. Nay more, they ſay, there's never any one under overwhelming preſſures, but if he had complied with ſome hints of Providence, he might have prevented it: I will not divert ſtrictly to examine this aſſertion, becauſe 'tis not my buſineſs to preach a worldly Lecture. But obſerve it therefore in Spirituals. There's not any one now periſheth under the Goſpel, but if he had, or would comply with the ſtrivings of the Spirit he might be ſaved. You will ſay, 'tis only the Elect ſhall be ſaved. I ſay ſo to. But add then; There is not any one in p. 105the World (… can prove he is not elected. I grant 'tis eaſie to prove that they are not yet effectually called, but who can prove they never ſhall be. Though Salvation be of Grace, yet Damnation is onelyonly for Sin. There's not any one in the World, ever was, or ſhall be damned, onelyonly becauſe he was not elected. Do you therefore catch at the offer of Salvation, and let not one offer ſlip: Perhaps you'll ſay, this Counſel is too late, you have let many ſlip. Well, but be intreated to ſlip no more, caſt thy ſelf at the feel of Chriſt in a way of Duty, and there humbly reſolve to live and die. I do once more in the name of my Maſter invite and adjure thee to accept of this offer, do not neglect it, it may be thy laſt; thou canſt not of thy ſelf cloſe with it, call in help from the Spirit of God, take p. 106Provocation and Encouragement from the Apoſtles way of urging it. Phil. 2.12,13.Phil 2:12Phil 2:13Work out your own Salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God which worketh in you, both to will and to do, of his good pleaſure.

V. Prop.

V. The preſent time is always the fitteſt for the preſent Duty. What is our preſent Duty? There are preculiar Seaſons for particular Duties, Eccleſ. 8.6. Becauſe there is a time and ſeaſon for every work, therefore the Miſery of Man is great upon him. Here it is that we blunder, and run our ſelves into confuſion, in perverting our Duties, in doing that firſt which ſhould be laſt, and putting off that to the laſt which ſhould be firſt. Mat. 6.33.Matt 6:33Seek ye first the Kingdom of God. We tire our ſelves in hunting after the p. 107World, and when we are weary, we would have reſt, not in Heaven, that's a Holy place, poſſeſt by holy Inhabitants, Holineſs is hated about all things, let it be called Heaven, but let it be a Turkiſh Paradice, a place of freedom from Miſery, and an enjoyment of ſenſual Delights. Thus we pervert both means and end, and while out our life in a Dream, till we awake in Hell. At beſt we loſe our Tyde, and then muſt row againſt it all the way. Whereas the hardeſt Duties of Religion, did we but mind their ſeaſon, would be made graciouſly natural to us.

1. Conſider what help God ordinarily affords for preſent Duty, which, if that be neglected, he p. 108ſometimes offers it not again. Should we reflect upon the Duty God now injoined in this Verſe, and remember what God did to their immediate Anceſtors, Numb. 13.31,32. V. 30. And. Caleb ſtilled the People — and ſaid, Let us go up at once and poſſeſs it, for we are well able to overcome it, v. 31. But the Men that went up with him, ſaid we are not able to go up againſt the People, for they are ſtronger than we; compare this with Num. 14.37,40. v. 37. Thoſe Men that did bring up the evil Report upon the Land, died by the Plague before the Lord, v. 40. The People roſe up early in the morning, and got them up into the top of the Mountain, ſaying, Lo, we be here, and will go up into the place which the Lord hath promiſed; for we have ſinned. The ſum of the Story is this; 'twas their Duty to go preſently and take poſſeſſion of Canaan. p. 109Thoſe that diſcouraged them to this Duty, God ſtruck them dead ſuddenly: This ſtartles the Survivors, they did but ſleep upon it (or rather wake upon it) one night, on the very morrow morning, they'll go to rights to Canaan. No, 'tis too late, God refuſeth the Conduct of them, there's never a Man of them ſhall ever ſee Canaan. Think of this over again.

2. The oftener preſent Help for preſent Duty is neglected, the more likely it is that God is upon his departure from ſuch a People, Jer. 16.21. Therefore behold, I will this once cauſe them to know, I will cauſe them to know mine hand and my might, and they ſhall know that my Name is the Lord, q. d. once for all, and I'll trouble my ſelf with them no more.

p. 110And now God ſaith, My Servant Brand is dead. Perhaps ſome may be ready preſently to ſay, Will you compare him with Moſes? It is ſaid. Deut. 34.10.Deut 34:10There aroſe not a Prophet ſince in Iſrael like unto Moſes, whom the Lord knew face to face. You may obſerve, ſeveral Perſons are commended in Scripture as Non-ſuch Perſons for ſome peculiar Excellency, wherein they excelled others, though ſome in other things excelled them, e. g. 2 Kings 18.5,6.2 Kgs 18:52 Kgs 18:6Hezekiah truſted in the Lord God of Iſrael, ſo that after him was none like him among all the Kings of Judah, nor any that were before him, &c. For truſting in God without calling in Heatheniſh Succours, none like him. So of Joſiah, 2 Kings 23.25.2 Kgs 23:25Like unto him was there no King before him, that turned to the Lord with all his heart, and with all his ſoul, and with all his might, according to all the Law of Moſes, p. 111neither after him aroſe there any like him. For his diligent care to root out Idolatry, and eſtabliſh the true Religion, none like him. And of John Chriſt ſaith, Mat. 11.11.Matt 11:11Among them that are born of Women, there hath not riſen a greater than John the Baptiſt. Other Prophets propheſied of Chriſt to come, John Baptiſt could point to him, and ſay, Joh. 1.29John 1:29Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the Sin of the World. He could ſhew him to be already come. And the bleſſed Apoſtle ſaith of the Galatians. Gal. 4.14.Gal 4:14My temptation which was in my fleſh ye deſpiſed not, nor rejected, but received me as an Angel of God, even as Chriſt Jeſus, q. d. If Chriſt Jeſus himſelf had come amongſt you, you could not have been more kind to him then you were to me. In a word, I will grant Moſes excell'd all the Prophets, not only in the Sublimeneſs of his Propheſie, p. 112but in the Excellency and Multitude of his Miracles. In one Age he wrought Seventy ſix Miracles, when all that were wrought from the Beginning of the World to the Deſtruction of the firſt Temple were but ſeventy four, as ſome of the Jewiſh Maſters count them. Moſes had an Hundred ſeventy three Colloquies with God, which we read not of all Prophets beſides.

But yet if you will conſider Mr. Brand, though I compare him not with Moſes in the forementioned Particulars, yet I could mention more than I dare. I'll therefore wave all that I have to ſay, and come to that which I would and ſhould come to, after all that can be ſaid, and that is, Application.

p. 113Application.

I'll begin with a word of

Information; But I fear the Belialiſts will call it a Uſe of Conſolation, That Mr. Brand is dead; What was ſaid of the two Witneſſes, may in its meaſure be ſaid of him; Rev. 11.10.Rev 11:10They that dwell upon the Earth ſhall rejoice over them, and make merry, and ſhall ſend gifts one to another, becauſe theſe two Prophets tormented them that dwelt upon the Earth. We ſhall never be troubled with his Zeal more; we were uneaſie whenever we came where he was, tho' he ſaid nothing to us, we were in fear, he would awaken our ſleeping Conſciences, and make them fall upon us, that we ſhould have much ado to quiet them; but now, he will never diſturb us more. I will not ſtay with theſe; only leave one word with them. That though they would not hear it from him, p. 114yet, unleſs by ſome other hand, they take the Counſel he did, or would have given them, viz. To turn from ſin to God, they will never go whither he is gone.

But the little Application I intend ſhall be to thoſe who will receive it.

I. To my Brethren therefore let me addreſs my ſelf. And ſeeing God by his Providence hath ſingled out the meaneſt amongſt you to be your Remembrancer, do not ſlight the Meſſage for the Meſſenger's ſake, but receive it for its moment's ſake. God ſpeaks to you by (ſhall I call it) a viſible voice, and ſhould we not anſwer as Paul did to Chriſt upon his firſt powerful ſpeaking to him. Acts 9.6.Acts 9:6Lord what wilt thou have us to do?

p. 1151. Reflect upon what you have heard, and ſeen of Mr. Brand. This will requite your ſecond thoughts, the moſt ſedate thoughts, and till they preſent you with a better Method make uſe of this, viz. Withdraw your ſelves as you do for ſecret Devotion, and there with awful Apprehenſions of God's ſpecial Preſence, thus (or in a more tranſporting manner) beſpeak your own Souls. O my Soul, here's an Employment worthy of thy ſelf! Here a Miniſter of Christ indeed! Iſa. 42.2.Isa 42:2Here's one that made no noiſe in the World, but did his Maſter's work in his Maſter's way! Here's one, whoſe Body, and Soul, and Eſtate, and Intereſt were all vigorouſly laid out for Chriſt! Is not this Example worthy thy Imitation? ſhall no more uſe be made of this, then of a Squib, to be thrown away for a blaze, and a noiſe, and there's an end of it; or to uſe a better Metaphor, ſhall it be p. 116only looked upon as a Prodigy, to be talkt of for a while, and nothing more? No, my Soul. God requires another kind of Improvement. God's giving me notice of ſuch a Perſon is a Talent I muſt account for! Brethren, are you in good earneſt, will you do thus much? If ſo; I am ſure your Conſciences will not be quiet till you do more.

2. Put down in writing what in his Life your Conſciences charge upon you to be your Duty to imitate. I'll ſuppoſe you now in the Secrets of God's preſence, wholly taken up with ſuch (as more ſpiritual) Soliloquies. This, and that he did, which I do not. This and that, he did, otherwiſe than I do. I cannot but ſay, 'Tis my Duty as much as his to fulfil my Miniſtry, where he had gracious Ability to diſcharge his Office, I may have the p. 117like to diſcharge mine. I'll therefore put down my preſent Sentiments of theſe things, and lay them by, for further Meditation and Prayer.

3. Every day review what you have written; do it with Meditation and Prayer. Where you left it the day before, endeavour to take it up with the ſame (or greater) Senſe of being concern'd for the Souls of thoſe to whom God ſends you, he hath done much; it cannot be denied, but what hath been done, may be done. Here's one gave up himſelf more entirely to God, and to do good than I have yet done. What, though his worldly Eſtate was better than mine, ſhall I therefore imitate him in nothing? What! do nothing more than I did before! Think of it and pray over it again, and lay it by again, till it be ripe for a Reſolution.

p. 1184. Take it up again, and read it over, and pray it over, and think it over, with ſubſtracting, adding, altering as upon the moſt mature deliberation the Matter requires, and then bring it to a ſerious, humble, and temporary Reſolution; and whether you will bring that Reſolution under another refining. I ſubmit it to you, but when it hath come under your laſt hand mould it into a Cautious, Self-dying, Temporary Vow: You know my Brethren better than I, that well compoſed Vows are extraordinarily helpful for the doing of extraordinary Service, and they are ordinarily bleſſed with more than ordinary Succeſs, but the Succeſs depends much upon the manner of their compoſition. I have named three Qualifications, which muſt be inſeparable, namely, Cautious, for raſh Vows involve the Soul in p. 119dreadful Perplexities, that many gracious Perſons never extricate themſelves while they live. And they muſt not only be Cautious, but Self-denying. I think I may ſay 'tis univerſally true, without ſo much as one exception, that a Self confident Vow is always broken. What we undertake in our own ſtrength, God not only in Juſtice, but in Mercy ſhews us our folly; the more we live at a Dependance upon God in every thing (in a way of Duty, not of Sloth) the more infallible is our Succeſs: Add one Qualification more, and that is Temporary not perpetual; miſtake me not, I am not ſpeaking of Baptiſmal Vows, or of thoſe that make up (as it were) the Subſtantials of Religion; but of prudential Vows, that help us to the better performance of ſome ſpecial Duties; it is ſuperfluous to ſpeak here againſt Popiſh Vows, the word Temporary p. 120excludes them; and well may they be excluded; who exclude all but themſelves from being religious, they call all their own Clergy Secular, i. e. worldly, that are not under ſome of their perpetual Vows, to them they appropriate the Title of Regular, and count their Votaries the only Religious among them; but all I aim at is this. Many whoſe hearts are ſet for God whoſe Judgments are newly informed, whoſe affections are warmly engaged, and whoſe Conſciences are tenderly convinced that they muſt do their utmoſt to get aſſurance of their own Salvation, and then their utmoſt to promore the Salvation of others, and they would fain have the ſame Impreſſion abide upon their Spirits without any abatement; and therefore they bind themſelves to ſuch Severities of Religion, that the Change of Providence render impracticable, and ſo what they intended p. 121to be a furtherance proves a hindrance of the end they deſigned: Therefore let your Vow be Temporary, and do by it, as you do by a Leaſe near its expiration, renew it again, with what alteration of Circumſtances is neceſſary, without any abatement of the ſubſtance of your vow.

My Brethren, I pretend not to teach you; this is all I aim at I beg of you to do ſomething more after the propoſing of this Example, than you did before the propoſing of it, what to do, and how to ſecure the manner and the continuance of doing it, I leave wholly to your ſelves, and to the Spirit's direction, I only beg, that this Example may not be loſt to you.

p. 122II. To private Chriſtians; ſo far as what I have offered to my Brethren is ſuitable to your Station, make Conſcience of it; But add,

1. Improve Miniſters while you have them, you cannot but be ſenſible, God is removing them apace, and which of you hath not ſaid over ſome Miniſters of your particular acquaintance, had I thought God would have taken them away ſo ſoon, I would have better improved my acquaintance. Do it now with thoſe that remain, make the beſt you can of them, all manner of ways. In hearing of them, avoid two Rocks, be neither wanton, nor cenſorious; do not ſwallow all you receive like Pills without chewing, becauſe you eſteem the Preacher, nor Wyer-draw what is delivered, becauſe of prejudice. Do not refuſe wholeſome Truths, becauſe p. 123they are not dreſt up to your liking: Nor commend what is blame worthy becauſe it ſuits your humor. How many better then your ſelves would welcome what you nauſeate. Many hungry Souls would count your Orts a Feaſt; in ſhort, if you did but conſider this one thing in Mr. Brand's ordinary compoſing of his Sermons: Surely 'twould make you cautious of hearing of Sermons ever after, namely, the more then ordinary time that he ſpent in Prayer, methinks it doth as it were naturally prompt you to be proportionably much in Prayer, that the word preached may be ſavingly profitable. Chriſtians I propoſe it to your Conſciences, whether ſerious praying, ſecret prayer before and after every Sermon you hear, would not do much to cure you of your faults of both hearing and practiſe. Though we trifle with Men, we dare not do p. 124ſo with God. A few ſerious Minutes with God before and after a Sermon, pray, try, whether 'twill not work Wonders.

2. Acquaint your ſelves more familiarily with ſome one, or more Miniſters, that you have or may find ſpecially beneficial to your Soul. Though there's no ſufficient Scripture-warrant for a Popiſh Confeſſor to have a Key to your Conſcience for ſecular Advantage, yet there's ſufficient warrant for Chriſtians to ask and Miniſters not to dare to deny particular Advice and Encouragement in all emergent Caſes. Where Paſtors and People are duly communicative for ends purely Spiritual, 'Tis no ſmall advantage to both: Miniſters may learn as much to help their Preaching, as People may learn to guide their Practiſe. But,

p. 1253. Do not trouble your Miniſters with things remote from practical Caſes of Conſcience, but about your own preſent Duty. Chriſtians I would charge you to weigh every word in this direction; do not trouble your Miniſters, by diverting them and your ſelves from what's of moment to what's trivial, (unleſs it be when it may be a Duty to unbend their Bow, for refreſhing their tired Spirits) however pleaſant it may ſeem to be, 'twill be a Trouble to review. Then let it be your Miniſters, ſome run up and down, and ſettle no where, who are at beſt but like thoſe Deer that leap over the Pales, who though they meet with better Paſture then the Park affords, yet they are leaner than thoſe that ſtay in their Encloſure. Such planetary Chriſtians, though they converſe with worthy Miniſters, p. 126yet 'tis ordinarily about things remote from what is ſpiritually profitable, they will ask Problematical Queſtions, and be ſure like the Lapwing to make the greateſt noiſe far from their Neſt; they will not come near any thing that comes near their Conſcience, but all the words they ſpeak are ſuch as Chriſt calls unprofitable, Mat. 12.36,37.Matt 12:36Matt 12:37i.e. neither they, nor others can profit any thing by them; whereas your diſcourſe with Miniſters ſhould always be of what may properly enough be called a Caſe of Conſcience; their buſineſs, and their very Recreations ſhould be reducible to Caſes of Conſcience, and that not only Caſes of Conſcience, but practicable Caſes of Conſcience; not Caſes like the Cobwebs of the School-men, finely ſpun but of no uſe, but of thoſe things that concern Duty. Notions will not ſave us, we may towre high in Speculation p. 127and drop into Hell; it ſhould be our Ambition to know words and Acts 11.14.Acts 11:14things whereby we may be ſaved. And 'tis not enough to know what is Duty; but what is our own Duty, we are too apt to remember what is ſaid to be others Duty, and to twit them with the neglect of it, when we neglect our own. Peter himſelf ſaid to Chriſt, when what he ſpake ſhould have engroſt his thoughts, about his own greateſt concern, Joh. 21.21,22.John 21:21John 21:22Lord, and what ſhall this Man do? Jeſus ſaid unto him, if I will, that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me. Mind your own Duty, to ſeek direction how you may direct thoſe that are under your charge to do their Duty, that is your Duty, but do not concern your ſelves with that which doth not concern you, as your own Duty; if you do, the least harm it doth you, is the neceſſitating p. 128you to omit your preſent Duty, you juſtle out your preſent Duty; and that is the laſt thing I mentioned in this Direction. Let your Enquiry always be about your preſent Duty; you will find this to ſhake off many Impertinencies; this will contract your work into a narrow compaſs; this will facilitate your greateſt difficulties; for this you may pray in Faith, for God's aſſiſtance and acceptance; the well diſcharge of your preſent Duty, gives you the faireſt hopes, that when that which is your future Duty ſhall come to be your preſent Duty, you ſhall graciouſly grow up into a capacity to diſcharge it.

I'll name but one thing more;

4. Exerciſe and evidence your real profiting by the Miniſtry you ſit under, by diſcharging all your relations with ſuitable Godlineſs. You have now your liberty p. 129to chooſe what Miniſter you pleaſe; what choice ever you make, let it not be with the deſpiſing of others; bleſs God for the manifold Gifts and Graces to his and your Servants, for Chriſt's ſake: Do not confine the Church of Chriſt to a Party, His little Flock would be a little Flock indeed, ſhould all be excluded, that do not worſhip him the ſame way. You chooſe a Paſtor [be ſure it be one whom Chriſt owns as is under Shepherd] you take him to be the fitteſt for you (though he is not ſo to others) do you make it your buſineſs to be the beſt Chriſtians, the beſt Husbands, the beſt Wives, the beſt Parents, the beſt Children, the beſt Maſters and Miſtreſſes, the beſt Servants, the beſt Neighbours, the beſt Friends, the beſt Dealers, the beſt Companions. Dear Chriſtians be covetous of the beſt Graces, be ambitious of the beſt p. 130Priviledges to put it beyond doubting, that you are the Son and Daughters of the moſt high; you are the Children of Adoption, and Heaven is yours by Inheritance. Col. 2.6,7.Col 2:6Col 2:7As 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: 'Twas 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 'tis 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? p. 131But 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 p. 132applying that of the Pſalmiſt to them, that Pſal. 8.2.Ps 8:2God 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 p. 133deſirous 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 2.3,9.2 Kgs 2:32 Kgs 2:9God 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 firſtborn in dividing of Inheritances, twice ſo much as any of the Brethren of the Family, ſo, p. 134twice 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 Ʋſefulneſs; 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 p. 135you 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.