The mourners cordial against excessive sorrow discovering what grounds of hope Gods people have…

And now we may easily discover what influence this must have upon sorrow to attemper it, and make it moderate, viz. by giving us a prospect of good with relation to that very evil which hath put us to trouble: and there are these effects which are ⟨p. 54⟩the natural result of it, all of which are very serviceable unto this purpose.

1. It makes the affliction look less then it did before: it hath not so much in it now as appeared to us at the first aspect: for by this hope entertained, we begin to discern that it is not so great an evil as we had reckoned it to be: the man had overrated it, whilst he was looking upon it through' the spectacles of despair; but Hope puts a sweeter colour and countenance upon it; it makes him to resolve that it is nothing near so bad •s he had been persuaded by his misgiving thoughts: it takes off many of those evil circumstances which he thought it to be attended withal; and this greatly heightens it, and makes it be far more portable; thus the Psalmist eased himself when he found the burden ready to sink him with its weight, Psal. 43. ult. Why art thou cast down O my soul, hope thou in God, &c.

1. It makes the affliction look less then it did before: it hath not so much in it now as appeared to us at the first aspect: for by this hope entertained, we begin to discern that it is not so great an evil as we had reckoned it to be: the man had overrated it, whilst he was looking upon it thro' the spectacles of despair; but Hope puts a sweeter colour and countenance upon it; it makes him to resolve that it is nothing near so bad •s he had been perswaded by his misgiving thoughts: it takes off many of those evil circumstances which he thought it to be attended withal; and this greatly heightens it, and makes it be far more portable; thus the Psalmist eased himself when he found the burden ready to sink him with its weight,