A sermon preached at the funeral of reverend Mr. Will. Whitaker, late minister of…

we are harsh, and uncharitable, yea, uncivil, and not fit to visit a dying person, if we disturb them with any close questioning of their repentance. Oh, 'tis a piece of cruelty to thrust the probe of the Word into their festered consciences; we must take sins forsaking of them, when they can no longer commit it, to be their forsaking of sin: and though we with never so much tenderness suspect their estate, and beg of them to take heed of dying in a mistake, that will then cease ⟨p. 9⟩to be curable, yet such language is not to be endured, we must (at least) be dismissed with Felix his complement, Acts 24, 25. Go thy way for this time, when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee. But that season never comes: one while such melancholy (for so must all seriousness be called) will hinder the working of his Physic, another while 'twill break his rest, and so he must rather be let alone to go to Hell, than be troubled with directions how to get to Heaven. Well, in short, think what you will of us, and of our errand, both in health and in sickness; though you carry it, as if 'twere always too soon, or too late for you to be serious in Religion; the warning we give you, will have its efficacy, one way or other, Isa. 55.10, 11. if your hearts be not melted, they will be hardened, by the shining of the Sun of Righteousness; if you make it not your business to lay hold on eternal life, you cannot avoid it, but eternal death will lay hold on you.

we are harsh, and uncharitable, yea, uncivil, and not fit to visit a dying person, if we disturb them with any close questioning of their repentance. Oh, 'tis a piece of cruelty to thrust the probe of the Word into their festered consciences; we must take sins forsaking of them, when they can no longer commit it, to be their forsaking of sin: and though we with never so much tenderness suspect their estate, and beg of them to take heed of dying in a mistake, that will then cease ⟨p. 9⟩to be cureable, yet such language is not to be endured, we must (at least) be dismist with Felix his complement, Acts 24, 25