A39690:316
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.
By these things Satan gets no small advantage upon the afflicted Christian; for albeit these thoughts are his burden, and God will not impute them to the condemnation of his people, yet they rob the soul of peace, and hinder it from ⟨p. 104⟩duty, and make it act uncomely under affliction to the stumbling and hardening of others in their sin; beware therefore lest by your excesses of sorrow ye give place to the Devil: we are not ignorant of his devices.
By these things Satan gets no small advantage upon the afflicted Christian; for albeit these thoughts are his burthen, and God will not impute them to the condemnation of his people, yet they rob the soul of peace, and hinder it from ⟨p. 104⟩duty, and make it act uncomely under affliction to the stumbling and hardening of others in their sin; beware therefore lest by your excesses of sorrow ye give place to the Devil: we are not ignorant of his devices.
15. Consid. Give not way to excessive sorrows upon the account of affliction, if ye have any regard to the honour of God and Religion, which will thereby be exposed to reproach.
If you slight your own honour, don't slight the honour of God and Religion too. Take heed how you carry it in a day of trouble, many eyes are upon you. It is a true observation that a late worthy Author hath made upon this case. What will the Atheist, and what will the profane scoffer say, 1when they shall see this? So sottish and malicious they are, that if they do but see you in affliction, they are straightway scornfully demanding; Where is your God?