A51833:131
Advice to mourners under the loss of dear relations in a funeral sermon long…
Advice to mourners under the loss of dear relations in a funeral sermon long since preached / by the late Reverend Dr. Thomas Manton ... And now occasionally published on the much lamented death of Mrs. Ann Terry, who died the 9th of November, 1693. With a short account of some passages of her life, and papers left under her own hand.Advice to mourners under the loss of dear relations in a funeral sermon long since preach'd / by the late Reverand Dr. Thomas Manton ... And now occasionally published on the much lamented death of Mrs. Ann Terry, who died the 9th of November, 1693. With a short account of some passages of her life, and papers left under her own hand.
London: printed by J.D. for Jonathon Robinson, 1694
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.
PAPER IV.
GOD hath been pleased to deprive me of my dear Husband; so that my Care ought to be doubled in the Education of my poor Children, when I must discharge his part, and my own Duty too: I know not how soon God may call me out of this World, I have frequent Warnings of my Mortality by the Death of others, and my own often Indisposition. My Children are now young, and therefore what I say may not make due Impressions on them, by reason of their tender Age; and when I come to die, I know not whether I shall have Time, Opportunity, or my Senses, then to speak to them of the things that belong to their everlasting Peace: for ought I know, I then may be seized (as often I have been) with Convulsion-fits, ⟨p. 48⟩which may soon carry my Soul out of this into an endless Life; so that I may not have any leisure to counsel, instruct or charge them to take care of their dear, precious and immortal Souls: therefore I shall leave my Charge and Commands in Writing, that they may often take a View of them, as being the Commands of their dying Mother. Dear Children, I charge you, as you hope to meet me with Comfort at the Day of Judgment, that you avoid all Sins, as Lying, Swearing, taking God's Holy Name in vain, (which I particularly mention as incident to your Age;) I charge you make Conscience of keeping the Sabbath-Day holy: Do not think your own Thoughts, nor speak your own Words, nor do your own Actions; remember it is God's Day, and must be spent in his Service. Before you go to Church, bless God for the Mercies of the Night past, for giving you leave to see the Light of another Day, especially another Sabbath-Day, wherein you may have an Opportunity of waiting upon God, and getting good to your poor Souls. When you are in the solemn Assemblies of God's People, let your Carriage be grave, serious and awful, as remembering God sees you; and let your Minds be attentive to what the Minister ⟨p. 49⟩saith: Hear so that your Souls may live: Be not forgetful Hearers, but be ye Doers of the Word, and so shall ye be blessed in all that you do. Do not spend any time in idle Recreation, or walking in the Fields upon the Lord's Day, for the Profanation of that Day is an Inlet to many other Sins. My dear Children, spend some time every Day in reading God's Word, and in Prayer; you know not what a Blessing it is to have the Bible, therefore do not slight it, but make a good Use of it: