Note 158 — Chapter XVII

At his own desire, his remains were brought to Ewood, the farm-house, in the parish of Halifax, where his son resided, and from thence they were followed to Luddenden chapel, near Halifax, by great numbers, who, with intermingled sighs and tears, sang, at his dying request, all the way from the house to the chapel. They lie near the communion-table, without any monumental record, except his name, &c., on the stone which covers his grave. Mr. Venn preached his funeral sermon, in the churchyard at Luddenden, the church itself not being sufficiently large to hold the congregation; and the next day (being Sunday) at Haworth, to a numerous and deeply-affected assembly, many of whom came from a great distance to testify their respect and veneration for their departed minister. This sermon was afterwards published, and contains the earliest and most authentic account of him. Mr. Romaine also preached a sermon on the occasion of his death ten days after his decease, at St. Dunstan’s in the West, London, from Phil. i. 21—“For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Both Mr. Venn and Mr. Romaine fixed upon a text which had been peculiarly precious to him, and of which his life had been a bright illustration.”