A39690:409
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.
2. Answer.
There is much difference betwixt the sudden death of infants, and that of grown persons: The latter may have much work to do, many sins actually to repent of, and many evidences of their interest in Christ to examine and clear, in order to their more comfortable death; and so sudden death may be deprecated by them.
But the case of Infants who exercise not their reason, is far different, they have no such work to do; but are purely passive; all that is done in order to their salvation, is done by God immediately upon them; and so it comes all to one, whether their death be more quick, or more slow.
3. Answer.
You complain of the suddenness of the stroke, but another will be ready to say, had my friend died in that manner, my affliction had been nothing to what it now is; I have seen many deaths contrived into one: I saw the gradual approaches of it upon my dear Relation, who felt every tread of death as it came on towards him, who often cried with Job, Chap. 3. 20. Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery, and life to the bitter in soul? which long for death but it cometh it not, and dig for it more than for hid treasures: which rejoice exceedingly and are glad, when they can find the grave.