A39658:13
The balm of the covenant applied to the bleeding wounds of afflicted saints First…
The balm of the covenant applied to the bleeding wounds of afflicted saints First composed for the relief of a pious and worthy family, mourning over the deaths of their hopeful children; and now made public for the support of all Christians, sorrowing on the same or any other account. To which is added, A sermon preached for the funeral of that excellent and religious gentleman John Upton of Lupton esq; by John Flavell, preacher of the gospel at Dartmouth in Devon.The balm of the covenant applied to the bleeding wounds of afflicted saints First composed for the relief of a pious and worthy family, mourning over the deaths of their hopeful children; and now made publick for the support of all Christians, sorrowing on the same or any other account. To which is added, A sermon preached for the funeral of that excellent and religious gentleman John Upton of Lupton esq; by John Flavell, preacher of the gospel at Dartmouth in Devon.
London: printed for J. Harris, 1688
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Certainly, Madam, the intent of the Redeemer's undertaking was not to purchase for his People Riches, Ease, and Pleasures on Earth; but to mortify their Lusts, heal their Natures, and spiritualize their Affections, and thereby to fit them for the eternal fruition of God. Upon this supposition the truth of this conclusion (how strange soever it seems) is firmly built.
Certainly, Madam, the intent of the Redeemer's undertaking was not to purchase for his People Riches, Ease, and Pleasures on Earth; but to mortifie their Lusts, heal their Natures, and spiritualize their Affections, and thereby to fit them for the eternal fruition of God. Upon this supposition the truth of this conclusion (how strange soever it seems) is firmly built.
It was not without divine direction, that the subject of the ensuing Discourse was as pertinently, as seasonably, recommended to me by your dear Husband, in the day of your sorrows for your only Son. He took, I hope, his Portion of Comfort out of it before he died, and it is now left as a Spring of Comfort to you, who then mourned with him, and now for him.
Heavy Pressures call for strong Support, and fainting Seasons for rich Cordials. Your Burden is indeed heavy, yet I must say ⟨image 5⟩'tis much our own fault they are so heavy as we feel them to be: for according to the measure of our delight in, and expectation from the Creature, is our sorrow & disappointment when we part from it. The highest Tides are always followed with the lowest Ebbs. We find Temperance and Patience knit together in the same Precept, and Intemperance and Impatience as inseparably connected in our own Experience. It may be we did not suspect our selves of any sinful excess in the time of their enjoyment, but it ⟨image 5⟩