A39690:399
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.
1. Answer.
Suppose what you say, that you have no hope or expectation of another child remaining to you; yet if you have a hope of better things than children, you have no reason to be cast down: bless God for higher and better hopes than these, in Isa. 56. 4, 5. the Lord comforts them that had no expectation of sons or daughters, with this, That he will give unto them in his house, and within his walls a place, and a name better than of Sons or of Daughters; even an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off. There are better mercies, and higher hopes than these; though your hopes of children, or from children should be cut off; yet if your eternal hopes be secure, and such as shall not make you ashamed, you should not be so cast down.
2. Answer.
If God will not have your comfort to lye any more in children, then resolve to place them in himself, and you shall never find cause to complain of loss by such an exchange. You will find that in ⟨p. 130⟩God which is not to be had in the creature: one hours communion with him shall give you that, which the happiest Parent never yet had from his children; you will exchange brass for gold, perishing vanity, for solid and abiding excellency.