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

1. If there be a good agreement between their life and their Death. For us to hear one that hath lived in all good Conscience, and hath approved himself faithful unto God in his generation, now at last bearing a full Testimony to the love of God to him, in his life, and rejoicing in Christ his Saviour, and the expectation of his Glory at his death, singing with Good Simeon, Luk. 2.29.30. Lord now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, for mine eyes have seen thy Salvation. This is a precious and Heart-Ravishing thing and gives abundant cause of boasting Hopes concerning such an one. But to hear one that hath lived wickedly, vainly, profanely, all his days, that hath neglected duties to God and men, never testified any love to Jesus Christ and his ways all his life long, while he enjoyed health, and strength, and opportunity, nor yet so much as witnessed Godly sorrow and repentance for his formerly misspent life. On his sick-bed▪ Talking of his Comforts and Assurances, and discoursing of Death and Eternity with a Sedate and Composed frame, is a most Astonishing thing, and so far from strengthening, that it weakens, nay let me say it extinguisheth the Hopes of any considerate Christian concerning such an one: and serves to fill him with doubts and despairing fears about ⟨p. 106⟩him. We read of those who▪ despise God in their lives, and yet have no bonds in their death, and he looks just like one of these▪ and this looks like the effect of a seared conscience, accompanied with the delusions of Satan.

1. If there be a good agreement between their life and their Death. For us to hear one that hath lived in all good Conscience, and hath approved himself faithful unto God in his generation, now at last bearing a full Testimony to the love of God to him, in his life, and rejoycing in Christ his Saviour, and the expectation of his Glory at his death, singing with Good Simeon, Luk. 2.29.30. Lord now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, for mine eyes have seen thy Salvation. This is a precious and Heart-Ravishing thing and gives abundant cause of boasting Hopes concerning such an one. But to hear one that hath lived wickedly, vainly, profanely, all his days, that hath neglected duties to God and men, never testified any love to Jesus Christ and his ways all his life long, while he enjoyed health, and strength, and opportunity, nor yet so much as witnessed Godly sorrow and repentance for his formerly mispent life. On his sick-bed Talking of his Comforts and Assurances, and discoursing of Death and Eternity with a Sedate and Composed frame, is a most Astonishing thing, and so far from strengthning, that it weakens, nay let me say it extinguisheth the Hopes of any considerate Christian concerning such an one: and serves to fill him with doubts and despairing fears about