N30070:117
A token for mourners, or, The advice of Christ to a distressed mother, bewailing…
A token for mourners, or, The advice of Christ to a distressed mother, bewailing the death of her dear and only son. Wherein the boundaries of sorrow are duly fixed, excesses restrained, the common pleas answered, and divers rules for the support of God's afflicted ones prescribed. / By John Flavel, Preacher of the Gospel of Christ at Dartmouth in Devon. ; [Two lines of Latin text]
Boston: printed by S. Kneeland, 1730
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.
Now this is very sinful, and displeasing to God; for if he have such a tender care for our Bodies, that he would not have us swallowed up of over much Grief, no tho' it be for Sin, 2 Cor. 2.7. but even to that Sorrow sets Bounds. How much less with outward Sorrow for Temporal Loss? May not your Stock of natural Strength be employed to better Purposes think you than these? Time may come, that you may earnestly wish you had that Health and Strength again to spend for God, which you now so lavishly waste, and prodigally cast away upon your Troubles to no Purpose, or Advantage.
Now this is very sinful, and displeasing to God; for if he have such a tender care for our Bodies, that he would not have us swallowed up of over much Grief, no tho' it be for Sin, 2 Cor. 2.7. but even to that Sorrow sets Bounds. How much less with outward Sorrow for Temporal Loss? May not your Stock of natural Strength be imployed to better Purposes think you than these? Time may come, that you may earnestly wish you had that Health and Strength again to spend for God, which you now so lavishly waste, and prodigally cast away upon your Troubles to no Purpose, or Advantage.
It was therefore an high Point of Wisdom in David, and recorded, no doubt, for our Imitation, who when the Child was dead, ceased to mourn, but arose, washed himself, and eat Bread, 2 Sam. 12.20.
Fifthly, When Affliction sours the Spirit with Discontent, and makes it inwardly grudge against the Hand of God, then our Trouble is full of Sin, and we ought to be humbled for it before the Lord.