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…

A Funeral Oration at the Death of the most desired Mr. Blake.

A Funerall Oration at the Death of the most desired Mr. Blake.

By Mr. Samuel Shaw, then School-master of the Free-School at Tamworth.

With a face sadder then usual, with an heart sadder then my face, but upon an occasion sadder then them both, I (who was deputed to this work by him to whom I now perform it) am here, rather to receive the expressions of your sorrow, then tell you the resentments of mine own. Being sensible of my stupefaction, (caused, not through the want of my affections, but the want of their object) I desire out of a pious policy, to supply my dryness, by taking your Tears, and putting them into my pump, so hoping to revive mine own, which yet I judge are rather drowned then dried up. And yet when I have done this, I know that all my expressions will fall short of the greatness of my grief, as much as my grief does of the greatness of its cause. This numerous Company of Pious groaners, these so many blacks, not made, but occasioned to be Mourners (badges of profession becoming badges of that grief, which for its greatness can be equalled by nothing but their former happiness which they once enjoyed) the universal gloominess of this day, represents to me rather the funeral of a Town, then a man, and the fall of a Church, rather then a single pillar: and rather induces ⟨image 17⟩me to think that ye are come to quench the unmerciful heat of a fever, then only to bedew that which was the subject of one. But if it may be, hold a little, and suffer your eyes a while to a new employment, even to see where you are, what you are doing, whose Obsequies you are solemnizing with so great devotion, and take the dimensions of your loss, if it be capable of any: which indeed is so great, that they only can know it, who knew not him, and they only can feel, who never enjoyed him; I speak not to aggravate your loss, but the sense of it, as for the cause of it, it admits of no addition. Whilst he lived, it was as impossible for him not to love you, as it was for you adequately to return his love: His care answered his love; and if his success had answered his care, we might happily have this day wanted an object of so great sorrow, in enjoying him. His writings were not read without satisfaction: His Sermons were never heard without an approving silence, seldom without a following advantage. His kindness towards you could not be considered without love, his awful gravity, and secretly-commanding presence, without reverence: Nor his conversation, without imitation.