The Excellency of a Public Spirit, Title page – Dedication
THE EXCELLENCY OF A Publick Spirit: Set forth in a SERMON Preach'd (since much enlarged) at the FUNERAL Of that late Reverend Divine Dr. SAMVEL ANNESLEY: Who departed this Life Dec 31. 1696. In the 77th Year of his Age.
With a Brief Account of His LIFE and DEATH.
By Daniel Williams, Minister of the Gospel.
LONDON, Printed for Iohn Dunton, at the Raven in Iewen street, 1697.
To that Flock of Christ, over which the Reverend Dr. Annesley was lately Pastor.
Much honoured and esteemed,
THis presents you with a Discourse (for substance) preached and printed at your desire. I faintly hope its acceptance with many, when Iustice is become a stranger, and a meer honest Man a glorius Title. Publick Usefulness must scarce escape with the Brand of Folly with those, whole Trade is turned into tricking, or account publick Employs no more than a decent opportunity to cheat the People. But Truth may profit them, unless a Zeal for their Disease will not allow their reading what is directed for their recovery. To you, and some others, this Subject must appear too plainly instamp'd with God's Image and Authority, and a tendency to Common Weal, to admit the Censure of a Narrow Spirit (however disguised) to be it's Standard. Especially, when this is what commended your late Pastor to such unusual Affection, as you expressed to him living, dying, yea, when dead. Yet this might be expected, seeing his very Spirit is transfused into his People; by whose Bounty (in good part) he performed such great Things for a common Good. Few Ministers, had such cause of glorying in so many Publick Spirited Hearers, as yours, Mr. Denham, Mr. Hartley, Mr. Cockerill, with many now at rest, might be named; the living I scarce forbear. The Sermon is much enlarged, and the Method somewhat changed, that it may more contribute to common Serviceableness. What's more desirable than to Vseful in making others so? Hence the eminent Services of Mr. Brand, so revived the Dr. And hereby we most extend and pertuate publick Benefits; yea, oft above our own Ability, and beyond our Life. Promote you that Design in this barren Age, by putting this Tract into Hands who need it, and by your own vigorous Example and Prayer's; that it may be seen the Spring of your Charity and Christian Activeness, is more lasting than the Exemplary Life or Labours of your deceased Guide. May you find, in Spirituals and Externals, there is that scattereth and yet increaseth: The liberal Soul shall be made fat; and he that watereth, shall be watered also himself And all of us be excited to more holy Fervour, by the Death of two such as Dr. Annesley and fervent Mr. Oldfield in one Day, and worthy Mr. James soon after. I am,
Your Servant in the Gospel, Daniel Williams.