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,…

4. The Antecedent, Concomitant, and consequent Circumstances of the Resurrection. That ⟨p. 140⟩is what shall go before, what shall accompany, and what shall follow after the raising of the dead; and all these are laid down in the following part of this Chapter, which is a Spring and Fountain of Living, Lively Comfort against excessive sorrow for the dead: And methinks I feel it already to begin to work: It warms my Heart, it doth begin to burn within my Breast: My Affections move, and it seems to me that my sorrow is turning into joy, and my heaviness into rejoicing, and am put to a stand, whether now I shall call my Tears for my dead, Tears of Sorrow or of Joy. Have we been sorrowing because she is dead? Methinks I cannot but joy that she sleeps in Jesus: Have we been mourning because the Body is in the Grave? Oh how delightful is it to me to think upon such good grounds, that the Precious and Immortal Soul is above in yonder glorious Heaven, in the presence of the Father, and Redeemer, and Comforter, and in the innumerable company of Angels and saved Souls, perfectly Holy and Happy for ever? Have we been so much troubled because the Body did fall at the parting stroke of death; methinks my trouble is allayed when I am considering and certainly sure that it shall rise and fall no more; Is it an aggravating sorrow to look back upon ⟨p. 141⟩the Circumstances of the Funeral: The Bearers carrying the Corps upon their Shoulders, the Mourning Relations following, and many sorrowful sympathizing Friends coming after to see the dead Body lodged in its long Home? Methinks another Affection is ready to take its turn, and to act its part, even Delight and Joy, when I look forward and foresee the Lord a coming, and all his Holy Angels with him, calling the dead to rise; they hear and come forth from their sleeping places, and after Judgment go with their Lord into the highest Heavens, in Body and Soul, not only to their long, but last, yea, Everlasting Home, to Live, and Love, and Joy in God to all Eternity. Oh what difference is there between believing Thoughts of these great and glorious certain things, and those that have been daily running to the Grave, looking upon a consuming Body? What wrong have I done my self in hastening to this part no more, and coming to it no sooner?