A39690:266
A token for mourners, or, The advice of Christ to a distressed mother bewailing…
A token for mourners, or, The advice of Christ to a distressed mother bewailing the death of her dear and only son wherein the boundaries of sorrow are duly fixed, excesses restrained, the common pleas answered, and divers rules for the support of Gods afflicted ones prescribed / by J.F.
London: printed for Robert Boulter, 1674
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.
There is no Christian parent in the world but would rejoice to see his child out-strip and get before him in grace, that he may be more eminent in parts and service than ever he was; And what reason can be given, why we should not as much rejoice to see our children get before us in glory as in grace? They are gotten to heaven a few years before you, and is that matter of mourning? Would not your child (if he were not ignorant of you) say as Christ did to his friends a little before his death, when he saw them cast down at the thoughts of parting, Joh. 14. 28. If ye loved me ye would rejoice because I go unto the Father. q. d. Do you value your own sensible comfort from my bodily presence with you, before my glory and advancement in heaven? Is this love to me? Or is it not rather self-love?
There is no Christian parent in the world but would rejoyce to see his child out-strip and get before him in grace, that he may be more eminent in parts and service than ever he was; And what reason can be given, why we should not as much rejoyce to see our children get before us in glory as in grace? They are gotten to heaven a few years before you, and is that matter of mourning? Would not your child (if he were not ignorant of you) say as Christ did to his friends a little before his death, when he saw them cast down at the thoughts of parting, Joh. 14. 28. If ye loved me ye would rejoyce because I go unto the Father. q. d. Do you valew your own sensible comfort from my bodily presence with you, before my glory and advancement in heaven? Is this love to me? Or is it not rather self-love?
So would your departed friend say to you: you have professed much love ⟨p. 88⟩all along to me, my happiness seemed to be very dear to you; How comes it to pass then, that you mourn so exceedingly now? This is rather the effect of a fond and fleshly, than of rational and spiritual love: If ye loved me with a pure spiritual love, ye would rejoice that I am gone to my Father. It's infinitely better for me to be here, than with you on earth, under sin and sorrow. Weep not for me, but for your selves.