A39690:66
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.
First, I shall give you the Signs of immoderate Sorrow, and show you when it exceeds its bounds, and becomes sinful, even a sorrow to be sorrowed for; and for clearness sake, I will first allow what may be allowed to the Christian mourner, and then you will the better discern wherein the excess and sinfulness of your sorrow lies.
First, I shall give you the Signs of immoderate Sorrow, and shew you when it exceeds its bounds, and becomes sinful, even a sorrow to be sorrowed for; and for clearness sake, I will first allow what may be allowed to the Christian mourner, and then you will the better discern wherein the excesse and sinfulness of your sorrow lyes.
And First, How much soever we censure and condemn immoderate Sorrow, yet the afflicted must be allowed an awakened and tender sense of the Lords afflicting hand upon them. Its no virtue to bear what we do not feel: Yea it is a most unbecoming temper, not to tremble when God is smiting.
The Lord faith to Moses, in the case of Miriam, Num. 12. 24. If her Father had spit in her face, should she not be ashamed seven days? The face is the Table and Seat of beauty and honour; but when it is spit upon, it's made the sink of shame: Had her own Father spit upon her face when she had displeased him, Would she not have gone aside as one ashamed by such a rebuke, and not have showed her face to him again in seven days? How much more should she take it to heart, and be sensible of this rebuke of mine, who have filled her face with Leprous spots, the signs of my displeasure against her? Surely God will be ashamed of those, that are not ashamed when he rebukes them.
The Lord faith to Moses, in the case of Miriam, Num. 12. 24. If her Father had spit in her face, should she not be ashamed seven days? The face is the Table and Seat of beauty and honour; but when it is spit upon, it's made the sink of shame: Had her own Father spit upon her face when she had displeased him, Would she not have gone aside as one ashamed by such a rebuke, and not have shew'd her face to him again in seven days? How much more should she take it to heart, and be sensible of this rebuke of mine, who have fill'd her face with Leprous spots, the signs of my displeasure against her? Surely God will be ashamed of those, that are not ashamed when he rebukes them.