N00460:140
The mourners cordial against excessive sorrow discovering what grounds of hope Gods people have…
The mourners cordial against excessive sorrow discovering what grounds of hope Gods people have concerning their dead friends / by Samuel Willard, teacher of a church in Boston. ; [Five lines from II Corinthians]
Boston: printed by Benjamin Harris, 1691
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
But there is a great enquiry which still remains, and it is about the strength of this hope in reference to the Subject about which it is to be conceived by us: Though the things themselves be indubitable conclusions concerning all such as are so qualified; yet what room is there to exercise this hope in particular, respecting this and that person? and how may our sorrow be moderated thereby? for, suppose we our selves are true believers, and consequently heirs of the Promise, yet except we have some encouragement to hope and believe that those who are gone, died in Christ, we must remain hopeless concerning them. I know that there are divers serious Souls, that would desirously have something be offered for their satisfaction in this great case; I shall therefore endeavour to discuss it according to Scripture Light; and to make way for a more full resolution, let these things be premised.
But there is a great enquiry whieh still remains, and it is about the strength of this hope in reference to the Subject about which it is to be conceived by us: Though the things themselves be indubitable conclusions concerning all such as are so qualified; yet what room is there to exercise this hope in particular, respecting this and that person? and how may our sorrow be moderated thereby? for, suppose we our selves are true believers, and consequently heirs of the Promise, yet except we have some encouragement to hope and believe that those who are gone, died in Christ, we must remain hopeless concerning them. I know that there are divers serious Souls, that would desirously have something be offered for their satisfaction in this great case; I shall therefore endeavour to discuss it according to Scripture Light; and to make way for a more full resolution, let these things be premised.