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

2. To you that have in a special manner sate under his Ministry, that through this golden Pipe received the teachings of God, and the influences of his Spirit: to you I commend but this one thing, I will not clog your memories, but press upon your consciences this one thing, Live over what you have heard from him: I doubt not, but should I discourse with ⟨p. 19⟩any of you, he that could scarce speak sense in other things, would be an Orator in his commendations: and those that are best able to judge, and to express their judgement in the most florid strain, would (not only modestly, but) heartily confess, his Ministerial worth was above their commendations. Christians, you are the persons, of whom I would have it said concerning him, as 'twas said of the Corinthians concerning Paul, 2 Cor. 3.1, 2, 3. That your whole Congregation is a large Epistle of his commendations, sent forth into the world, well known, and read of all that know you, that you are Christs Epistle written by his Ministry, that Christ by his preaching hath written the blessed characters of his grace in your hearts, that is legible in your lives, that what ever his Ministry was to others, the efficacy of it is seen among You. And as the blessed Apostle bespeaks the Philippians, Chap. 4.9. Those things which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in him, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

3. To you that are of this Parish, though you have not that cause of complaint, which many have upon their change of Ministers, yet I cannot but charge these things upon you.

Remember how he came to you: wherein there was not only your importunity, but the determination of it, as a weighty case of conscience, by divers Reverend Ministers of the City, to whom it was referred; that he was as it were torn away from a People, to whom his labours and conversation was most acceptable: where when he preached his Farewell Sermon, there was not only a flood of tears; but the Lamentations of many were so loud,