A token for mourners, or, The advice of Christ to a distressed mother bewailing…

The Jews that were with Mary in the house to comfort her, When they saw that she went out hastily, followed her, saying, she goeth to the grave to weep there, Joh. 11. 32. As they do (saith Calvin) that seek to provoke their ¹troubles by going to the grave, or often looking upon the dead body.

1. 1Ex eorum more qui luctus sui irritamenta querunt. Calv.

Thus we delight to look upon the relics of our deceased friends, and often to mention their actions and sayings, not so much for any matter of holy and weighty instruction or imitation; for that would warrant and commend the action; but rather to rub the wound, and fetch fresh blood from it, by piercing our selves with some little trivial, yet wounding circumstances. I have known many that will sit and talk of the features, actions and sayings, of their children, for hours together, and weep at the rehearsal of them, and that for many months after they are gone: So keeping the wound continually open, and excruciating their own hearts without any benefit at all by them. A lock of hair or ⟨p. 39⟩some such trifle must be kept for this purpose to renew their sorrow daily by looking on it. On this account Jacob would not have his Son called Benoni, least it should renew his sorrow, but Benjamin.

Thus we delight to look upon the relicks of our deceased friends, and often to mention their actions and sayings, not so much for any matter of holy and weighty instruction or imitation; for that would warrant and commend the action; but rather to rub the wound, and fetch fresh blood from it, by piercing our selves with some little trivial, yet wounding circumstances. I have known many that will sit and talk of the features, actions and sayings, of their children, for hours together, and weep at the rehersal of them, and that for many months after they are gone: So keeping the wound continually open, and excruciating their own hearts without any benefit at all by them. A lock of hair or