4. Tho Loss of Relations befalls none but such as have sinned, and thereby made a forfeiture of their Lives; yet the death of Relations might not be inflicted for any Sin committed by the Survivors beyond the Case of others that have their Relations yet continued with them. Job had seven Sons and three Daughters in one day removed by a strange and sudden Death, and yet he had this Testimony from God himself, that he was a perfect and an upright Man, and one that feared God, such a one that there was ⟨p. 33⟩nor such another, Job 1.8, 18, 19. Tho we have many Humane Infirmities come to our Thoughts after their Death, which being bewailed, for Christs sake shall be pardoned; yet when no Sin above Saints in an imperfect state, or no Conscience-wounding, wasting Sin; or but what is common to the good, and is too often found in the best Men, upon serious search, under such a Loss, hath been committed by them when joined in Life, the Loss is more easily born, than when some aggravated Sin remembered, after they are parted by death, and proves the sting of that Affliction. Therefore be advised, to live in Love with them, discharging carefully and constantly all Relative Duties in Life, that you may part with less stinging sorrow, and more quieting comfort; whoever in the Family be first taken from the rest by death. It will be no small Comfort to the Surviving when the dying Relation shall give them thanks for all their Love to them while they lived with them, and as great a Terror to those whose Consciences are not past feeling, if they leave a complaint behind them on a dying Bed; My Husband to me hath been a bitter Husband; or my Child to me hath been a disobedient Child, and a grief unto my Heart; or if they do not, if an awakened, reflecting, accusing Conscience doth, will cause sorrow at parting; and when their Bodies are consuming in their Graves, ⟨p. 34⟩will be filling and loading your Hearts with griping grief.
4. Tho Loss of Relations befalls none but such as have sinned, and thereby made a forfeiture of their Lives; yet the death of Relations might not be inflicted for any Sin committed by the Survivors beyond the Case of others that have their Relations yet continued with them. Job had seven Sons and three Daughters in one day removed by a strange and sudden Death, and yet he had this Testimony from God himself, that he was a perfect and an upright Man, and one that feared God, such a one that there was ⟨p. 33⟩nor such another, Job 1.8, 18, 19. Tho we have many Humane Infirmities come to our Thoughts after their Death, which being bewailed, for Christs sake shall be pardoned; yet when no Sin above Saints in an imperfect state, or no Conscience-wounding, wasting Sin; or but what is common to the good, and is too often found in the best Men, upon serious search, under such a Loss, hath been committed by them when joined in Life, the Loss is more easily born, than when some aggravated Sin remembred, after they are parted by death, and proves the sting of that Affliction. Therefore be advised, to live in Love with them, discharging carefully and constantly all Relative Duties in Life, that you may part with less stinging sorrow, and more quieting comfort; whoever in the Family be first taken from the rest by death. It will be no small Comfort to the Surviving when the dying Relation shall give them thanks for all their Love to them while they lived with them, and as great a Terrour to those whose Consciences are not past feeling, if they leave a complaint behind them on a dying Bed; My Husband to me hath been a bitter Husband; or my Child to me hath been a disobedient Child, and a grief unto my Heart; or if they do not, if an awakened, reflecting, accusing Conscience doth, will cause sorrow at parting; and when their Bodies are consuming in their Graves, ⟨p. 34⟩will be filling and loading your Hearts with griping grief.
