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,…

By this time, and from these Evidences, O my Soul, art thou not convinced that thy sorrow for thy dead hath been, and still is excessive sorrow? that thou hast and dost transgress the bounds of Christian Moderation, and thereby offend thy holy Lord, wrong thy self, discredit that Religion thou dost profess, discourage the good, and cast a stumbling-block in the way of the ungodly, and wilt thou still proceed herein? Canst not thou sensibly feel the stroke of his hand, and yet patiently submit unto his will? How long wilt thou thus be cast down, how long wilt thou thus be disquieted within me? Is thy Relation fallen asleep, and are thy Graces slumbering? Is thy Faith as dead in thy Heart, as thy Relation is in the Grave? Shall Nature work thus strongly in thee, and Graces so feebly? If natural Affections be ⟨p. 221⟩exorbitant, hath not God implanted Grace in thee, that it may correct, moderate and govern them? Art thou only a Rational, and not a Believing Soul? Yea dost thou thus Immoderately grieve, as if thou wast neither believing, nor rational in thy sorrow? If there be nothing in the common Book of corrupted Nature that thou canst read, but what doth add grief unto thy grief, yet is there not enough in that special Book of sacred Scripture that might turn thy sorrow into Joy for those of thine that sleep in Jesus? Or hast thou thrown it by, and neglected to look and search into it? Or if thou readest, dost thou understand what thou readest, or dost thou consider what thou dost understand, or believe with an unshaken Faith what thou dost consider, whilst thy sorrow doth continue so excessive?

By this time, and from these Evidences, O my Soul, art thou not convinced that thy sorrow for thy dead hath been, and still is excessive sorrow? that thou hast and dost transgress the bounds of Christian Moderation, and thereby offend thy holy Lord, wrong thy self, discredit that Religion thou dost profess, discourage the good, and cast a stumbling-block in the way of the ungodly, and wilt thou still proceed herein? Canst not thou sensibly feel the stroke of his hand, and yet patiently submit unto his will? How long wilt thou thus be cast down, how long wilt thou thus be disquieted within me? Is thy Relation fallen asleep, and are thy Graces slumbering? Is thy Faith as dead in thy Heart, as thy Relation is in the Grave? Shall Nature wôrk thus strongly in thee, and Graces so feebly? If natural Affections be ⟨p. 221⟩