The mourner directory, guiding him to the middle way betwixt the two extremes, defect,…The mourner directory, guiding him to the middle way betwixt the two extreams, defect,…

Am I the first amongst you, whom God by his Providence hath called to regulate my Sorrow for the Death of a dear Relation? Not by many. Shall I be the last among you, that shall be thus exercised? Not by many. Many of you have followed Husbands or Wives, Parents or Children, to their Grave; and more of you shortly shall; and after that, others shall follow you to your long home, and see you lodged in the Dust. And where there was Love in living together, there will be Sorrow at your last parting asunder. I understand the Communication of two Religious and Tender Mothers in this place, since I began this sorrowful Subject, that had buried some of their Children. The one said, I fear I sorrowed too much for my Child, and sinned by excess of Sorrow. The other said, I buried ⟨p. 85⟩mine, and I doubt I was not sorrowful enough, and I fear I sinned in being short in my sorrow. To have a due sense of the Death of Relations, and of the hand of God in taking them from us, and yet to keep our Sorrow in due Bounds, is an hard Task that lieth upon us. Two things I have prayed for in my Affliction of this kind, That I might not be unsensible of God's hand, nor excessive in my Sorrow for the outward Comfort of my life removed thereby: And for the helping of my self in both, my thoughts have been so long working on this Text, which I might have kept secret in my Study, and not have brought them unto you, but the Consideration of the common Case of all (being mortal) that Death will enter into your Houses, and take your Living from you, and that there are in all, Affections common to Human Nature, which being corrupted, tend to Sin in over-loving of them, and over-joying in them while they live, and in over-sorrowing for them when they dye, hath moved me to communicate to you, what I thought for my self, that in the like case it might also be a Guide, and Direction, and support unto you.

Am I the first amongst you, whom God by his Providence hath called to regulate my Sorrow for the Death of a dear Relation? Not by many. Shall I be the last among you, that shall be thus exercised? Not by many. Many of you have followed Husbands or Wives, Parents or Children, to their Grave; and more of you shortly shall; and afrer that, others shall follow you to your long home, and see you lodged in the Dust. And where there was Love in living together, there will be Sorrow at your last parting asunder. I understand the Communication of two Religious and Tender Mothers in this place, since I began this sorrowful Subject, that had buried some of their Children. The one said, I fear I sorrowed too much for my Child, and sinned by excess of Sorrow. The other said, I buried