The mourner directory, guiding him to the middle way betwixt the two extreams, defect, excess of sorrow for his dead to which is added, The mourners soliloquy / by Thomas Doolittle ...

CHAP. VII. The Second Doctrine, and the general Method propounded.

Doct. II. THat Christians ought so to bound their Sorrow for the Dead, that it be not excessive and immoderate.

Am I the first amongst you, whom God by his Providence hath called to regulate my Sorrow for the Death of a dear Relati∣on? Not by many. Shall I be the last a∣mong you, that shall be thus exercised? Not by many. Many of you have followed Husbands or Wives, Parents or Children, to their Grave; and more of you shortly shall; and afrer that, others shall follow you to your long home, and see you lodged in the Dust. And where there was Love in living together, there will be Sorrow at your last parting asunder. I understand the Com∣munication of two Religious and Tender Mo∣thers in this place, since I began this sor∣rowful Subject, that had buried some of their Children. The one said, I fear I sor∣rowed too much for my Child, and sinned by excess of Sorrow. The other said, I buried

mine, and I doubt I was not sorrowful enough, and I fear I sinned in being short in my sor∣row. To have a due sense of the Death of Relations, and of the hand of God in taking them from us, and yet to keep our Sorrow in due Bounds, is an hard Task that lieth upon us. Two things I have prayed for in my Affliction of this kind, That I might not be unsensible of God's hand, nor exces∣sive in my Sorrow for the outward Com∣fort of my life removed thereby: And for the helping of my self in both, my thoughts have been so long working on this Text, which I might have kept secret in my Study, and not have brought them unto you, but the Consi∣deration of the common Case of all (being mor∣tal) that Death will enter into your Houses, and take your Living from you, and that there are in all, Affections common to Human Na∣ture, which being corrupted, tend to Sin in over-loving of them, and over-joying in them while they live, and in over-sorrowing for them when they dye, hath moved me to communicate to you, what I thought for my self, that in the like case it might also be a Guide, and Direction, and support unto you.

In treating on this Subject of Sorrow, that it might be moderate, as becometh Christi∣ans

that have hope, and not like Heathens that have no hope of a joyful Resurrection of the dead (omitting many things in so copious a Subject, endeavouring to contract as much as I can), I shall cast my Mattter into this Method.

1. I shall lay down some Rules concerning the kind and degrees of Sorrow for the Dead.

2. I shall give you an account, when our Sorrow for the Dead is excessive and immode∣rate.

3. I shall shew you the Cure, or bring you some Remedy against excess of Sorrow.