N00460:238
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.
Sermon › Proposition 6 › Application 3: USE III.Sermon › Proposition 6 › Application 3: VSE III.
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.
2. Eye and observe the Providence of God in his answering of your endeavours with them. Take notice what effect your labour and pains have upon them. It is not enough for us to sow the seed, but we are to be watchfully looking for its coming up, and to observe how it thrives: and if you can discern them to be serious, willing to take counsel, and hearken to your advise; if you can find that they bring forth any fruit which is becoming them; and according to the Word of God, you are to receive this as an answer of your Prayers, and a token for good: and now you may comfortably recollect the remembrance of this, when they are gone; and bear up your spirits therewithal: and the more memorials you have of such things as these the more let your hearts be encouraged, and your hopes strengthened thereby: the neglect of thus doing, many times leaves us at a loss, and under prevailing fears.
2. Eye and observe the Providence of God in his answering of your endeavours with them. Take notice what effect your labour and pains have upon them. It is not enough for us to sow the seed, but we are to be watchfully looking for its coming up, and to observe how it thrives: and if you can discern them to be serious, willing to take counsel, and hearken to your advise; if you can find that they bring forth any fruit which is becoming them; and according to the Word of God, you are to receive this as an answer of your Prayers, and a token for good: and now you may comfortably recollect the remembrance of this, when they are gone; and bear up your spirits therewithal: and the more memorials you have of such things as these the more let your hearts be encouraged, and your hopes strengthned thereby: the neglect of thus doing, many times leaves us at a loss, and under prevailing fears.
4. Be not ignorant. Our Apostle ascribes the immoderate sorrow of Christians to this. Text. where under Ignorance is comprehended, a not knowing, a not believing, and a not considering: for that which we do not give credit to, or do not apply our thoughts unto, we may be said practically not to know; and for help against this in particular;