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

Proposition 5. The death of some Ministers should provoke us to make better use of all Ministers, living and dying. And the speaking to this, may serve for Application of all the rest.

1. The death of bad Ministers should at least startle us. I begin with these, because some take my Text to speak of false Prophets, which though I think they mistake, yet we may gather instruction from it, ere we reject it. Wicked Ministers are Master-builders of the Synagogue of Satan; instead of attempting to break the heart with piercing convictions, they daub it over with untempered mortar: Scripture they wrack 2 Pet. 3.16. ([Greek or Hebrew]) to speak what the Holy Ghost never intended: and they will put pillows under their elbows, that they may sin at ease. God chargeth them with hunting of souls, Ezek. 13.18. but 'tis not to save the souls alive that come to them; 'tis to destroy them, not to save them: whereas Christ employs his faithful Ministers to be fishers of men, Luke 5.10. [Greek or Hebrew], to catch them alive, that they may live, and that with God unto eternity. Now for those that strengthen the hands of the wicked, by promising them salvation, though they turn not from their evil way, Ezek. 13.22. Those spiritually blind Guides, and those hood-winked sinners that are guided by them, shall both fall remedilessly into Hell. You that love your sins, love such Ministers as will least disturb you in the prosecution of them, but how long can you, or any for you, hush your consciences asleep? How long will these pleasing dreams last? Those that help them to cast off the thoughts of death, cannot secure themselves from the stroke of it. Methinks 'tis considerable, God made that Prophet who seduced another, to be the very Herald of Gods displeasure for ⟨p. 16⟩