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

IV. His Sermon not a Chance starched Common place; But drawn to suit the Peoples studied Case, From a Tried Word, by Prayer, and searching Thought, With one days Waiting, Weekly to be Taught Himself of God to Teach Men, as he ought. ⟨image 73⟩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 plough, or even dig the fallow Soil; Plant, and then water with incessant Toil: Would do the Work of an Evangelist, Humbly Concealed under the Catechist.

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. ⟨image 73⟩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 accomplished 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;¹ 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, Called, 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 Leafy Verdure gain. He taught not Parrots, nor would whisper in Such sounds, as empty Heads should give again: Would sense by Words, convey with holy slight; Apt Words suggest by sense conveyed aright. Mind, Conscience, Will he'd throughly Catechize; Yet not Confess the Man; Each power surprise By Christian Wiles for Christ; with Holy Paul Would, to save some, become all things to all.