N00460:97
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.
2. Positively, three things may be observed.
1. That the Heathen are not to be imitated in their excessive Mourning. The Apostles drift in this place is, to persuade them to moderation in their sorrowing; and so not to follow the courses which such used as did exceed all bounds therein Gods People are too prone to be overwhelmed with immoderate Grief on such occasions as these befalling them in the Providence of God. Rachel weeps for her Children, and will not be comforted, because they are not; the Gentiles were accustomed to do too much, but those that profess Christ should set bounds to themselves, and endeavour not to go beyond them: the reason of this difference will afterward follow; but here this Rule is to be attended, viz Gods Children should beware of indulging themselves in their sorrow. They have a great deal more need ⟨p. 43⟩to lay Restraint upon themselves, the most are in greater danger of doing too much than too little▪ we find that the Egyptians mourned for Jacob, seventy days, Gen. 50 3. whereas Joseph mourned but seven days, ver. 10 although he was his Father, and had been so tender of him, and this was not for want• of filial affection or because they loved him better than he did, but because he had more grace than they, which helped to rectify the exercise of natural grief.
1. That the Heathen are not to be imitated in their excessive Mourning. The Apostles drift in this place is, to perswade them to moderation in their sorrowing; and so not to follow the courses which such used as did exceed all bounds therein Gods People are too prone to be overwhelmed with immoderate Grief on such occasions as these befalling them in the Providence of God. Rachel weeps for her Children, and will not be comforted, because they are not; the Gentiles were accustomed to do too much, but those that profess Christ should set bounds to themselves, and endevour not to go beond them: the reason of this difference will afterward follow; but here this Rule is to be attended, viz Gods Children should beware of indulging themselves in their sorrow. They have a great deal more need