N00460:174
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.
3. This also must be before they die. The working of the Gospel condition in us, depends upon the Grace of God, and except he puts it in▪ to us we shall never have it: and he gives to none but here in this life, this is the only accepted time, and day of salvation; there is no business to be done in the grave, and nothing of this nature left to be accomplished in another world: now only is working time, then every one comes to have his reward, and that is to be distributed to every one according to the things done in the flesh, 2 Cor. 1.10. Death disposeth of men to their everlasting Unchangeable Estate. It puts an end to the Gospel treaty, and brings every man to, and lodgeth him in that place from whence he shall return no more·
3. This also must be before they dy. The working of the Gospel condition in us, depends upon the Grace of God, and except he puts it in▪ to us we shall never have it: and he gives to none but here in this life, this is the only accepted time, and day of salvation; there is no business to be done in the grave, and nothing of this nature left to be accomplished in another world: now only is working time, then every one comes to have his reward, and that is to be distributed to every one according to the things done in the flesh, 2 Cor. 1.10. Death disposeth of men to their everlasting Vnchangeable Estate. It puts an end to the Gospel treaty, and brings every man to, and lodgeth him in that place from whence he shall return no more·
4. The reality of this work is a secret which no other can infallibly discern: The Saving change in a man is something inward: the sincerity of it lies in the heart; and that must be much out of our knowledge; It is Gods alone prerogative to Search and judge of that. All that l•ves within our compass to do about […], is at most but conjectural, and the best conclusion that we can draw, is no more than that it is strongly probable that it my be so: though saving grace hath its marks or characters, yet because they are spiritual, there is none that can certainly know them, but he that gives them, and he