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…

3. Another sad consequent is sometimes, divisions and breaches among the People, while a ⟨p. 18⟩Godly Minister is alive, he is like a Corner Stone, that uniteth both sides of the Wall together, but when that falls, then the wall falls with it. Then one is for this Minister, and another for that, then one liketh this, and another the contrary, and thus seeds of contention and division are sown, which may come up too fast, hence the presence of a Godly, Grave, Wise Pastor is very necessary, it is the Spiritual defence of a People, which made him cry out, when the Prophet was taken, My father, my Father, the Chariots of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. 2 Kings 13. 14. And now we come from the Doctrinal part to the practical; And although my custom in such Sermons, is not to discourse about the Dead, they being like Anatomy Lectures, for the good of the living, yet because we are celebrating the Funerals of a Learned and Godly Brother, who by his Office, was in public station in the Church of God; I shall briefly speak to some few of those Ministerial qualifications, that were in him mentioned in the Doctrine, not imitating Nazianzen, who in his Funeral Orations of his Father, as also Athanasius, Basilius and others industriously gathereth up every thing that may make to their praise, if not hyperbolically exceeding sometimes; but I shall rather come short of what might be spoken. And first, his Doctrinal abilities, and parts in controversial points, are sufficiently known by the Books he hath written; those Children will resemble the Father, though he left no bodily ones. It is true, there were some particular opinions and contests ⟨p. 19⟩he was fallen into with other Learned men, on whose side the truth did stand, you will not judge it meet for me to interpose, only because of the difference that is sometimes in Judgement between Godly men, we see some by profaneness, gladly have it in their mouths, saying, what heed is to be given to these Ministers, there are not two of a mind; They write against one another, they have Book against Book, and then some good people they are offended; what shall we do, say they, we look upon both as Godly, and yet they cannot agree; because I say, of this offence, I shall speak a little to it.

3. Another sad consequent is sometimes, divisions and breaches among the People, while a