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

He desired one to read to him, John 17.22. And the Glory which thou gavest me, I have given them, &c. The very hearing of which put him into an ecstasy of Joy, and he desired him to read of Christ's ⟨p. 75⟩Love. 14.15.16.17. of John. Some of which he then read to him. A while after, speaking to one about Family Prayer, he said, a Camel may as well go through the Eye of a Needle as a Man that prays not in his Family go to Heaven. He prayed much for the Enlargement of Christ's Kingdom. The Evening before he died, this Person was with him from one of the Clock in the Afternoon till Six, during which time he was possest with such foretastes of heavenly Joys that made him earnestly cry out, O let me be with thee! With thee, Oh my God! Oh, I long for Heaven! Oh, welcome Death! Oh, happy Death that will put an end to all ⟨p. 76⟩my Troubles and Conflicts, one moment in Abraham's Bosom will make amends for all, turn Sorrow to Joy. What a dreadful appearance will there be at the Great Day? What a sad thing will it be to be disappointed at last and come short of Heaven! O my Redeemer liveth, I have served a good Master! I would not desire Life for a moment, unless it was to promote the Interest ⟨p. 77⟩of Christ. If God would give me my choice what I would ask, I would not ask Life. Nay, I have prayed to God that I might die. Why so, said a By-stander? That I may, said he, be with God. Upon which he cried out, O my God, I would come to thee! Let me live with thee! Here he added something with a peculiar Fervour, which bearing hard on some, he thought too remiss in their spiritual Warfare. I forbear to mention, but if this hint twitch any Man's Conscience, let him not slight it. His last ⟨p. 78⟩words to this relater were, Pray much.

He desired one to read to him, John 17.22. And the Glory which thou gavest me, I have given them, &c. The very hearing of which put him into an ecstasie of Joy, and he desired him to read of Christ's