A77845:24
Paul's last farewell, or A sermon, preached at the funeral of that godly and…Paul's last farewel, or A sermon, preached at the funerall of that godly and…
Paul's last farewell, or A sermon, preached at the funeral of that godly and learned minister of Jesus Christ, Mr. Thomas Blake. By Anthony Burgess, pastor of the church at Sutton-Coldfield in Warwickshire. With a funeral oration made at Mr. Blake's death by Samuel Shaw, then schoolmaster of the Free-School at Tamworth.Paul's last farewel, or A sermon, preached at the funerall of that godly and learned minister of Jesus Christ, Mr. Thomas Blake. By Anthony Burgesse, pastor of the church at Sutton-Coldfield in Warwickshire. With a funeral oration made at Mr. Blakes death by Samuel Shaw, then schoolmaster of the Free-School at Tamworth.
London: printed for Abel Roper, 1658
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
2. With this knowledge labour much after Casuistical Divinity, whereby you may be able to direct the tempted in cases of Conscience, To guide the afflicted in soul, what they are to do; Indeed the Papists have a deal of Casuistical divinity in large voluminous discourses, but it is for the most part calculated according to their meridians of superstitious usages and Customs, but it is pity that among us Protestants, our controversial Books are far more then our casuistical, yet remember the Scripture calleth it, the tongue of the Learned, Isa. 50. 4. To know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary; The wounds of Conscience are the most tender, and therefore require a Spiritual skilful Physician. The Consciences of men are the subject matter of your Office, and therefore look after that Ars Cordis, which is indeed a liberal art that will set us free.
2. With this knowledge labour much after Casuisticall Divinity, whereby you may be able to direct the tempted in cases of Conscience, To guide the afflicted in soul, what they are to doe; Indeed the Papists have a deale of Casuisticall divinitie in large voluminous discourses, but it is for the most part calculated according to their meridians of superstitious usages and Customes, but it is pitty that among us Protestants, our controversall Bookes are farre more then our casuisticall, yet remember the Scripture calleth it, the tongue of the Learned, Isa. 50. 4. To know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary; The wounds of Conscience are the most tender, and therefore require a Spirituall skilfull Physitian. The Consciences of men are the subject matter of your Office, and therefore look after that Ars Cordis, which is indeed a liberall art that will set us free.
3. He that will faithfully discharge the Office of his Ministry, must regard the end of it, the ⟨p. 10⟩finis operis, and finis operantis, the finis ministerii, and ministri, must be all one: The end of the Ministry is to exalt God & Christ, to dethrone Satan, to bring many out of their sins unto the obedience of the Gospel: Now if a man aim at other things in his Ministry then this he can never comfortably discharge it: To be a Minister for earthly profits, for ambition and vain glory, these will be like the gravel, that will presently stop the Ship in its passage; and truly herein we may much lament our entrance in to this work, how many set upon it as a profession to live upon, by that they hope to satisfy their needs, but if this end and motive do still reign in thee, it will be like a millstone about thy neck; outward maintenance may be a secondary end, but not the principal; still then awe thy soul with the end of thy office, that all other knowledge is exercised about the body, or mens Estates, or the nature of things; but thine is Theology, De Deo, à Deo, in Deum, its concerning God objectively, its from God effectively, its to God finally.