A39690:331
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.
Now you see that your affections were sunk many degrees deeper into the creature than you were aware of: and what should God do in this case by you? Should he suffer you to cleave to the creature more and more? Should he permit it to purloin and exhaust your love and delight, and steal away your heart from himself? This he could not do and love you. The more impatient you are under this affliction, the more need you had of it.
And what if by this stroke the Lord will awaken your drowsy soul, and recover you out of that pleasant, but dangerous spiritual slumber you were fallen into, whilst you had pillowed your head upon this pleasant, sensible creature-enjoyment? Is not this really better for you, ⟨p. 109⟩than if he should say, sleep on? He is joined to Idols, let him alone, he is departing from me the fountain, to a broken Cistern, let him go?
And what if by this stroke the Lord will awaken your drowzy soul, and recover you out of that pleasant, but dangerous spiritual slumber you were fallen into, whilst you had pillowed your head upon this pleasant, sensible creature-enjoyment? Is not this really better for you, ⟨p. 109⟩than if he should say, sleep on? He is joyned to Idols, let him alone, he is departing from me the fountain, to a broken Cistern, let him go?
Yea, What if by this stroke upon one of the pleasantest things you had in this world, God will discover to you, more sensibly and effectually than ever, the vanity both of that, and all other earthly comforts, so as that you shall from henceforth never let forth your heart, your hope, your love and delight to any of them as you did before? you could talk before of the creatures vanity; but I question whether ever you had so clear and convincing a sight of its vanity as you have this day: And is not this a considerable mercy in your eyes?