A39690:434
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.
Admit what the objection supposes, that you have real grounds to fear the eternal condition of your dear Relation, yet it's utterly unbeseeming you, even in such a case as this, to dispute with, or repine against the Lord.
I do confess it's a sore and heavy trial, and that there is no case more sad, and ⟨p. 138⟩sinking to the spirit of a gracious person. Their death is but a trifle to this; but yet, if you be such as fear the Lord, methinks his indisputable Sovereignty over them, and his distinguishing love and mercy to you, should at least silence you in this matter.
I do confess it's a sore and heavy tryal, and that there is no case more sad, and ⟨p. 138⟩sinking to the spirit of a gracious person. Their death is but a trifle to this; but yet, if you be such as fear the Lord, methinks his indisputable Soveraignty over them, and his distinguishing love and mercy to you, should at least silence you in this matter.
First, His indisputable Sovereignty over them, Rom. 9. 20. Who art thou, O man, that disputest with God? He speaks it in the matters of eternal election and reprobation. What if the Lord will not be gracious to those that are so dear to us; Is there any wrong done to them or us thereby? Aaron's two Sons were cut off in an act of sin by the Lords immediate hand, and yet he held his peace, Levit. 10. 3. God told Abraham plainly that the Covenant should not be established with Ishmael, for whom he so earnestly prayed, O let Ishmael live before thee! and he knew that there was no salvation out of the Covenant; and yet he sits down silent under the word of the Lord.