The life and funeral sermon of the Reverend Mr. Thomas Brand Dr. Samuel Annesley

3. 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. 126⟩yet '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, ¹i.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 tower high in Speculation ⟨p. 127⟩and drop into Hell; it should be our Ambition to know words and ²things 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 engrossed his thoughts, about his own greatest concern, ³Lord, 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;