A39690:268
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.
Alas, though you want your friends company, he wants not yours: Your care was to provide for this child, but Jesus Christ hath provided infinitely better for it than you could; you intended an Estate, but he a Kingdom for it: you thought upon such or such a match, but Christ hath forbid all others, and married your child to himself. Would you imagine an higher preferment for the fruit of your bodies?
A King from heaven hath sent for your friend, and do you grudge at the journey? O think, and think again, what an honour it is to you, that Christ hath taken them out of your bosom, and laid them in his own: stripped them out of those garments you provided, and clothed ⟨p. 89⟩them in white robes washed in the blood of the Lamb. Let not your hearts be troubled, rather rejoice exceedingly, that God made you instruments to replenish heaven, and bring forth an heir for the Kingdom of God.
A King from heaven hath sent for your friend, and do you grudge at the journey? O think, and think again, what an honour it is to you, that Christ hath taken them out of your bosom, and laid them in his own: stript them out of those garments you provided, and cloathed ⟨p. 89⟩them in white robes washed in the blood of the Lamb. Let not your hearts be troubled, rather rejoyce exceedingly, that God made you instruments to replenish heaven, and bring forth an heir for the Kingdom of God.
Your child is now glorifying God in an higher way than you can; and what though you have lost its bodily presence for a time; yet I hope you don't reckon that to be your loss, which turns to Gods greater glory.