Sister from Glory would you or any of us have a Heart to invite her from so blissful a State Does not the Spirit of God by several Passages of Scripture seem to say to us as Judas said in another case What needs all this waste Tears are a good Ingredient for Prayer and Repentance let 's not be too prodigal of them in other cases Humanity does allow of some Sorrow but Divinity forbids much Dear Mother refuse not to be comforted receive the Comforts and refuse no longer the Creatures God affords you for the refreshing and supporting Nature Let David I pray be your Pattern in this case he pray'd for his Child while living he fasted he wept For says he who can tell whether God will be gracious to me and the Child may live this I doubt not but you did But when the Will of God was signified in the Death of his Child 2 Sam. 12. 22 23. Now he is dead says he wherefore should I fast can I bring him back again I shall go to him but he shall not return to me O that you could do likewise The Child being dead he wipes his Eyes falls to his Refreshments and submits to God Let not the want of one Mercy we all priz'd deprive us of the Comfort of the many Mercies we do enjoy 12. If we consider who we have lost methinks our Sorrow should be abated One who gave most excellent Demonstrations of a good Heart and a good Condition one I trust ripe for God and fitter for Heaven than Earth one panting for Glory long before she died and had set all in order for Eternity before she was sick she long'd to be dissolv'd that she might be with Christ Methinks I still hear her Ah says she how long O Lord how long when wilt thou come And to By-standers says she I 'm jealous you are conspiring to keep me longer out of Heaven And ah what a Sight did I see in my dear Sister when upon the very wing for Heaven and just ready to take her flight Ah! the heavenly Language she uttered while she did speak which was almost to the last and then when she could not speak the Movings of her Lips the Pantings of her Heart the Liftings of her Eyes and indeed every Motion of her Body spoke her to have strong Workings of Heart after God and to be upon the very Confines of Glory What cause of Mourning now it's our Loss but her Gain She had before a good Husband but now O now the Match between Christ and her Soul is compleated Me-thoughts she held my Father Disney's Hand so fast to the last as if she long'd to take him with her yet by degrees let go as if she had said God has more work for you here and I can freely let my Hold go of best Creature-Comforts as longing to be in my heavenly Father's Embraces I doubt not but to her to live was Christ and to die Gain therefore well might she leave that to be preach'd on at her Funeral and as her last Legacy to surviving Friends Weep not for me but weep for your selves and for your Children The greatest Reason for such Weeping present times seem to prognostick My dear Mother labour for a Christian Carriage under such a Cross God's Rod has a Voice as well as his Word and it 's our great Concernment to hear it and him that has appointed it Let us say Righteous O Lord art thou and in very Faithfulness thou hast afflicted us Let 's not entertain hard Thoughts of God but with Aaron hold our Peace for God has done it Dear Mother you know well that spiritual Comforts are the best Comforts Is not Christ better than ten Daughters than ten Sisters than ten Children Is not his Loving-Kindness better than Life Is there not more in a God than ever was or can be in a Creature We have no reason to sorrow as those without hope She whom we dearly lov'd is gone to her dearly Beloved she 's reaping the Fruits and Benefits of her Labours in the Lord and is blessed For blessed are the Dead that die in the Lord c. Like another Mary she chose the better Part which will never be taken from her She is it 's true taken away in the flower of her Age and when we most expected Satisfaction in such a Relation but God knew it the best time to gather such a Flower Mr. Baxter well observes Such have run long enough who have reach'd the Prize have sail'd long enough who are safely harbour'd and liv'd long enough who are ready to die We have more cause to rejoice that once we did enjoy such a Wife such a Child such a Sister such a Niece such a Friend to give up at God's Call than now to murmur that she is so suddenly remov'd she is I doubt not happy God has preferr'd her to Mansions of Glory before us let us prepare to follow God has call'd home another of your Children but you are not Childless O take heed by Repining Carriage of provoking God to farther Strokes but if God should write you Childless you are not yet bereft of Comfort while the God of all Comfort is yours If God will not let any part of your Happiness lie in Children then let it wholly lie in himself The Love and Delight we plac'd in such a Friend may now be placed to greater Advantage upon Jesus Christ That the Stream of our Affection to him may be so much the stronger as there are fewer Channels for it to divide into is the earnest Prayyer of Your Obedient Son G. D. A Letter to Sister W. upon her Husband's Death Dear Sister MY Wife being indispos'd by a Cold cannot write but you may be assured we are both hearty Sympathizers with you in your sad and solitary Condition The Breach the Lord has been pleas'd to make upon you indeed is great and such as none can express but those that experience it but God having made it who alone can make it up I hope you will endeavour to be satisfied and not to mourn as one without Hope If the Lord will not have any part of your Happiness to lie in a Husband then let it wholly and intirely lie in himself labour to bring your Heart and Mind to a sweet Submission to the Pleasure of your Father And though a Bosom-Friend be not yet God is who is the same yesterday to day and for ever Relations may and must die but God lives who is stiled The Father of the Fatherless and a Husband to the Widow I question not but you can suck much Sweetness from the many gracious Promises made for the Encouragement of such as you The poor Interest I have at the Throne of Grace was improv'd for him and shall be for you That 's best for us that God does and this being God's Doing you must kiss his Rod in Silence and give Glory to the Hand that rules it c. A Letter
1690. THat I have particularly mentioned the Sins of my Youth c. I must acquaint all Perusers of this Book That I am not asbamed to do it for the advance of Free and Rich Grace Some PASSAGES of the LIFE of Gervase Disney from my first Marriage especially with many Particulars before such as either occur'd to Memory or by the help of my Diary I was capable of taking In which I have endeavoured as Impartially to view my dark Side as Bright and both for these Reasons By the former I discover the miserable Corruption of my wretched Nature the Wiles and Subtilties of a busy Devil who goes about like a roaring Lion seeking whom he may devour By the latter I would discover the wonderful Free Grace of God to me who was one of the worst and greatest of Sinners in bringing me from under Satan's Slavery and Dominion I The said Gervase Disney was born the Day of March 1641 at of Religious Parents viz. John Disney of Swinderby in the County of Lincoln Esq the Eldest Son by a Second Venter of Sir Henry Disney of Norton-Disney Kt. and Barbara his Wife who was the Eldest Daughter of Gervase Lee of Norwell-Hall in the County of Nottingham Esq They had nine Children lent them by the Lord viz. Cornelius Elizabeth Gervase Mary John Sarah Samuel Dorcas Daniel Sarah and Samuel died very young The former of the Purples and tho very young yet had a good Savour of Spiritual Things upon her Heart and in that Sickness a longing desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ She was esteemed one of the beautifullest Children that ever was seen her Hair being Milk white and Complexion pure white and red yet it was judg'd her greatest Beauty lay within the Lord having betimes adorned her Soul with Ornaments of Grace and from the abundance of her Heart her Mouth did often speak to the great Comfort and Refreshment of weeping Friends that stood about her She called much upon God as her Father My Father one Day standing by her Bed-side and hearing her frequently cry out O my Father my Father asked her who she meant did she mean him O no no said she it 's my Heavenly Father I cry after you are my Father on Earth but it 's my Father in Heaven I want You cannot help me but he can Many such like Passages I have heard my Father Disney report of her which shewed her to be more sit for Heaven than Earth Samuel also died young of a Lethargy being removed from Earth to Heaven when about the Age of 4 Years He was a Child of most pregnant Parts and had a strange understanding in the best Things He was indeed a good Young Samuel and feared God from a Child He was my Father's great Favourite and Darling in his Company and with his pretty Talk my Father did much delight and would therefore usually at his walking Hours which he did pretty much for Exercise he must lead his young Samuel by the Hand and then could not but admire his pious Talk his strange Questions in Divinity which I have heard my Father say sometimes he was astonished at and sometimes his Questions would be so deep that lie was almost non-plust to answer He was extraordinary Inquisitive and would usually demand a Reason for every Thing under Debate He loved Prayer and would not tho so very young be got to Bed without it his wonderful Ripeness in his Infancy seemed a Presage and Prognostick in his Friends Apprehensions that he was not like to be long one of this World he seemed indeed to be tho a Bud yet ripe for nipping As soon as Sickness seised him my Father sent down Hill at Lincoln to good Old Mr. Reyner to desire his Prayers for him and not long after went down himself to make Enquiry after him Mr. Reyner presently told him I believe with Sorrow enough that as to his Son Samuel he must resign him to God and prepare to part with him for â—he did not believe he was long for this World and saith he I ground my perswasion upon this when I pray for his Recovery I find strange Restraints upon my Spirit and am much dampt strained but when I pray that the Lord would fit him for himself and crown him with Happiness to Eternity when I beg for the Eternal Welfare of his Soul I am then much enlarged Thus the Secrets of the Lord was with that good Man that truly feared him for the Child died at that Time thâ— I suppose as likely to live according to Haimâ—â—â—â— Conjecture as any of us being all 〈…〉 of the Small-Pox at that time but my Brother Cornelius who had that Distemper young and my Sister Mâ—…y who through God's Goodness escaped the Infection by my Mother's removing her to Sâ—â—inder by when we were dropping down of them one after another My Brother Cornelius died of a Consumption about the Year 1664 and in about the 28th Year of his Age at my Uncle Thomas Disney's at Stoke-Hammond He went to School at Lincoln where his quick and ripe Natural Parts were soon observed at School he was so extraordinary industrious and studious that in a short time such was his Proficiency in Humane Learning the was accounted one of the â—…st Scholars not only of that School but perhaps of that Town and Country As to Grammar-Learning his Master Mr. Clark was pround he had such a Scholar to boast of being indeed the very Credit of his School and would therefore usually put him upon the most difficult Tasks in Learning and Disputing He was a great Improver of Time in his younger Years I having been credibly informed he would hardly allow himself time for those necessary Repasts that Nature might warrantably challenge the spare time that he had from School which other Scholars spent in Play and youthful Recreations he would constantly with great Delight spend in his Study usually rising early and sitting up late for such end His great Prosiciency in Learning was such that he proved very useful I may not say serviceable to the Scholars of the same Form for whilst they were spending their spare Hours with delight in Play he would be spending his with as great delight in his own Studies or in the Service of those Idle Lads who commonly engaged his help in preparing their School-Exercises for them they knowing well that what he did of that Nature would pass in School as current Pay for the discharge of those Debts they by their idle trifling Humour had contracted He was likewise very forward in the best Things truly Conscientious as in Charity must be believed in his Closet-Duties he spending much time there a constant Attender upon Ordinances both on Sabbath-days and Week-day-Lectures He took Sermons very exactly in Short-Hand and repeated them as distinctly after in my Father's Family He was very useful to those of us that were Younger and would most frequently upon a Sabbath-day
but either Conformity which I durst not yield to or leaving the Town which I was resolved upon as the best Expedient for my Ease The Lord who has never failed me in a time of Trouble now appeared for me in his Counsels and Conduct I was now upon Terms with my Cousin clarâ—Clarâ—son for his House in Kirton and was come to a Conclusion Yet as the Lord was pleased to order it providentially though I was pleased with the House very much and my Wife before had consented to the taking it I would have a Day 's time further to speak with my Wife about it And she at that time being at Wigwall thither I went and as soon as I came I met with a Letter from Mr. Barrett my most worthy Friend who was constantly contriving for my well-doing both in Soul and Body acquainting me that there was a House at Ollercarre to be det which might prove a convenient Seat for me and here though I met with some Rubs yet God in his Providence seemed to point out that Habitation to me I went to view it and though it was upon disadvantage there being much finishing work within Doors wanting yet I liked it so well as hoping it might prove a quiet and comfortable Place to me besides the Priviledges appertaining to it That I concluded to take a Journey to Mr. Burton about it but his Bailiff who lived with his Family in the House and as I perceived since had no desire it should he let told me he would send to Mr. Burton to know his Terms and to acquaint him with my desire of taking it How he managed his Business I know not but the answer he returned me was that his Master Burton would not let it under Sixscore Pounds per Annum which was 20 l. more than he had before offered it to others for This I took to be a cross Providence and had proceeded I think no farther but for my Brother Spateman who advised me that nothing could be done or known without my going thither who offered very kindly to go along with me thither we went and in a few Days I took the House for 30 l. per Annum less than was mentioned to the great grief I did perceive of the Bailiff who it 's to be feared consulted his own profit more than his Master's interest And truly this Providence I cannot overlook viz. That I had not had the House if a Rainy Day had not prevented another going to take it just at that time and hither now the Lord has brought us Men by their Fury have driven us from Nottingham which though they might intend it for my Hurt God can turn it to Good O that I may keep in his Ways and leave Issues to him To the 14th of June 85 I find in my Diary Acknowledgments Day by Day that I had experienced the Lord's Goodness in casting my Lot into this Place having to that time enjoyed most comfortable Sabbaths for the most part very publick Assemblies to the refreshment of others as well as our selves Here I find by those Diaries I was much carried out in praising God and in begging that I might be enabled to make some answerable Returns to him by a thankful Heart and a fruitful Life At my first coming to Ollercarre it was much upon my Heart to consider what I should render unto the Lord for all his Benefits towards me and mine I had this serious Resolve That I would not shut God out of my House who was pleased to give me Entertainment in it I then pitch'd upon this Method for Family-Discipline On Week-Days to do thus 1. Prayer every Morning by six o Clock for the benefit of those Servants that were to be abroad after upon account of Husbandry and this to be performed by my Cousin Watson or when abroad by some one Man-Servervant 2. By 9 a Clock every Morning to call my Family together toâ— worship God by Prayer singing part of a Psalm reading a Chapter and then Prayer 3. To go to Dinner by 12 a Clock 4. To Family-Prayer at â— in the Evening to be performed in the same Method as in the Morning 5. To Supper by 7 a Clock 6. After Supper to spend some time in reading some good Life or other good Book 7. By â— a Clock every Person to their Chamber 8. Every Monday Night by â— a Clock to catechise Servants and Children 9. Every Thursday night Repetition 10. All unlawful Games as Cards Dice c. all kind of Ribaldry vain Songs foolish Talking and idle Jesting Swearing Lying c. and all kind of Sin whatsoever are here forbidden no profane Persons to abide in my House no Liar to tarry in my Sight On the Lord's Day this Method 1. To begin the Day as to Family-Worship with Family-Prayer by 8 a Clock in the Morning 2. By 9 a Clock to Sermon 3. By 12 a Clock to Dinner 4. By 2 a Clock to Sermon 5. By 6 a Clock to Family-Prayer 6. By 7 a Clock to Supper 7. By 8 a Clock to Repetition This Method in my Family for most part through assisting Grace we have performed experienced the benefit of and would commend it to others When I have not had this Method I have found these Inconveniences 1. That the mistiming of one thing has usually occasioned the mistiming of every thing in my Family 2. That when we were uncertain as to our time for Family-Worship I have often found some of my Servants absent and their Plea usually was that they had engaged in such Business as they could not leave off whenas a stated known time for such Duties gives all advantage to forecast their Business for it and it must be their Faults if they do not 3. Want of a set-Time is usually accompanied with this dreadful Inconvenience that Worldly Occasions either quite justle out some part of the Worship of God or straiten one in the performance of it 4. By late Prayers either Morning or Night we put off our greatest and best Work to the worst time and give God the World's leavings 5. We need God's Blessing upon us and our Family-Occasions as much early in the Morning as later therefore should be early at the Duty of Family-Prayer and not too late or long at Night for fear of Drowsiness And I must not omit to add I have every way found such Methods beneficial too and the Lord has enabled me in some measure to perform my purpose it being blessed be the Lord very rare that we have mist it since we came to Ollercarr Here again at my first coming I renewed my Covenant with God and did desire and beg I might bring a new Heart to my new Habitation and readily give God Entertainment where he has been pleased to give me Admission This Place the Lord seemed in his Providence to point out for me and here he has blest me O that whatever others do I and my House may serve the Lord. Here
Wages it cannot be for your Bible tells you What you sow that shall you reap and he that cannot lie hath said If you live after the Flesh you shall die but if you through the Spirit do mortify the Deeds of the Body ye shall live I am not for inviting you to a Party or for tying up Salvation to this or that Opinion but I would fain prevail with you to be good for be of what Opinion you will the Scripture warrants me to tell you That without Strictness Self-denial and Holiness you cannot be saved Mat. 16. 42. Mat. 11. 12. 1 Pet. 1. 15 16. Dear Sir as you tender the everlasting Welfare of your Soul do no longer as the most but imitate the best and endeavour to be a Follower of those who through Faith and Patience inherit the Promises or things promised Forsake bad Company for you know who has said The Companion of Fools shall be destroyed Prov. 13. 20. Be you a Companion of those that fear God and let not the Wicked any longer intice you or however prevail with you for the Scripture is very clear and positive in it That except Drunkards repent and reform they shall be shut out of the Kingdom of Heaven 1 Cor. 6. 9 10. That except Swearers repent of their prophane Swearing and reform they shall fall into Condemnation James 5. 12. That unless Liars put away their Lying and speak every one Truth to his Neighbour they shall have their part in the Lake that burns with Fire and Brimstone Rev. 20. 8. That if Company-keepers forsake not the Foolish that is the Wicked and live they shall be reckoned amongst the Companions of the Wicked who shall be destroyed Prov. 13. 20. I charge you not but leave it to your own Conscience to consider how far you are guilty in any of these Matters and then get into your Closet down upon your Knees bewail before God your sinful Miscarriages and beg a new Heart and Grace that you may live a new Life and be assured that what I say is out of a sense of your deplorable Condition whilst you remain in your Sins and a Desire to see you return to that God who waits to be gracious Come to Christ and heartily accept him for he is offered to you O that I could see this great Work done what a rejoycing would it be to all that are good about you Then might your Wife bless God for such a Husband who would help her Heavenwards then would your pious Relations delight in your Society and your Parents with joy say as the Father of the Prodigal This my Son was lost but is found was dead but is alive yea the Conversion of a Sinner on Earth causes Joy in Heaven That the Lord would bless this Advice to you is the earnest Prayers of him who shall then approve himself always Your Friend and Servant in Christ Jesus G. D. A Letter to my Mother Mrs. B. D. upon the Death of her good Daughter and my dear Sister Stanyforth Ever honoured Mother AT this time I have much Business upon my hands and some that requires quick dispatch otherwise my coming to see you would have prevented my writing to you and now I should be sorry that these Lines should add weight to your Sorrows by setting your Wounds a bleeding afresh I am much readier to bear a part of your Burthen having reason enough to be concern'd for and sensible of so sad a Breach as it has pleas'd the Lord to make upon us by the Death of my dear Sister Stanyforth Something I would contribute to your Support and Refreshment under such a Dispensation therefore desire your perusal of the under-written Considerations which has wonderfully supported me the Blessing of Heaven render them useful to you 1. We may and ought to consider the necessity of Dying 2 Sam. 14. 14. For we must needs die Preceding Generations made way for us and shall not we make way for others when God calls 2. The Friends we lose are not so much ours as God's God has taken but what he first lent This comforted Job when amongst other things he had lost his Children The Lord gave saith he and the Lord hath taken away blessed be the Name of the Lord. 3. God has a hand in the Death of Friends My Times are in thy Hand says holy David and is there not an appointed time to be upon Earth 4. God in the saddest Passages of Providence aims at his People's Good All things shall work together for them that love God c. 5. God is still with us Psal 46. 1. Though Friends forsake us through unavoidable Mortality yet an everlasting God is where he was There is Sweetness enough in God to sweeten all outward imbittering Circumstances Though the Conduit-Pipes thrô which Mercies were convey'd unto us be taken away the Fountain runs still entire in God May we have a care of doing any thing to dim the Eye of our Faith for Hagar we read had a Fountain by but her blubbering Eyes kept her from beholding it 6. How great soever the Stroke and Affliction is we yet deserve greater our Sins are heavier than our Sufferings the Fire of God's Wrath is not proportion'd to the Fewel of our Sins 7. God has taken away one great Comfort but he might have taken away all Shall we receive Good at the Hands of God and shall we not receive Evil 8. Consider the Evil that comes by Discontent and immoderate Sorrow Discontent makes us our own Tormentors Luk. 21. In Patience possess your Souls by Impatience we are Possessors of our Sins and turn'd out of our Understandings Peace and Comfort Too immoderate Sorrow wastes the Spirits Prov. 15. By Sorrow of the Heart the Spirit is broken 2 Cor. 7. Worldly Sorrow worketh Death it greatly provokes God A meek and quiet Spirit is in the Sight of God of great price but a froward peevish Spirit is abominable to him Prov. 11. 20. 17. 20. 22. 5. Psal 18. 26. God may be provoked by this Sin to lengthen out Misery and to adjourn Mercy 9. God gives and takes away Relations at his own Pleasure let us rather praise God we have enjoy'd such a Blessing so long than repine she is gone so soon bless we a smiting as well as a smiling God a taking as well as a giving God 10. The Breach made is sad but herein God has 1. Done us no Wrong 2. He has done our dear Friend no Hurt Done us no Wrong he has taken but his own his own by his Creation by your Donation by Purchase and Redemption and by her own free Resignation And has our dear Father hurt her Is it to hurt her to put her to Bed to throw off her filthy Garments from her to gratify her in her own longing Desire which was To be dissolv'd and to be with Christ and to enshrine her in Glory 11. Think of the Invalidity of Weeping If Tears could possibly bring my
which time I was afraid mine to you had miscarry'd I heartily rejoice at the Lord's Goodness to you and yours and through Mercy can give you the same Account concerning me and mine though a sickly Season in many Places We have through the Goodness of God of late enjoy'd very comfortable Opportunities at my House for which I desire to bless God But the last Meeting we had here being rather too large was disturb'd the Mayor having notice of Peoples coming in sent his Serjeant who when the People were disperst and the Minister gone came in and desired Liberty to search my House which I giving him he told me if upon my word I would say there was no Minister at my House he would neither trouble me nor himself I assured him there was none he then only went into the Garden where he pretended he saw 300 but however they not being able to make a Conventicle of it nor a Riot the Jury found it an unlawful Assembly the which they prosecute and I intend to traverse for they cannot make out any unlawful Act. The Day is yet dark and the Sufferings of many great and Sin at the bottom of all If the Hearts and Lives of Professors were better we should soon see better Times It 's repenting Work and reforming Work is our Duty O that we could see the Hand of God in all that befals us and turn to him that smiteth O that we could with Faith and Patience look up to the Rock of Ages when Foundations seem out of course c. A Copy of a Letter to Madam L. upon the Death of her Kinswoman and the Birth of her Child Honoured Madam I Did at the same time by the Pen of Mrs. Green receive the sad Tidings of the Death of your dear Kinswoman Mrs. M. and the joyful News of your safe Delivery from the Pains and Peril of Child-bearing the one I know would be afflicting enough to you the other I can assure you was welcom Tidings to me and a Mercy I hope and believe you will endeavour to improve towards your Support and Comfort and the Glory of the great Jehovah See dear Madam the Lord's Tenderness and Goodness to you in late Dispensations your Afflictions are mix'd and allay'd with Mercies You may experience what patient Job says The Lord gives and the Lord takes and I believe with him likewise you desire to bless his holy Name He has taken away your Kinswoman but he has given you a Child has taken away one that was very useful faithful and necessary to you and given you one who through his own Blessing upon a religious and pious Education you may comfortably hope he will make so Let not blubber'd Eyes for a Comfort lost prevent your chearful fruitful and thankful Notice of what remains pour not so much upon the dark-side of present Dispensations as to hinder your taking the Comfort of and heartily blessing God for the bright-side and Shinings of Mercy Dear Madam I am a hearty Sympathizer with you in your Trouble and desire to bear my part in blessing the Lord with you and for you with reference to Mercy show'd you You have now obtain'd a new Mercy from the Lord and I believe know well that new Duties are incumbent upon you c. A Letter to my Mother upon the Death of my Sister D. May 24 1690. Ever honoured Mother STill the Lord is pleased to make Breaches upon our Family the suddain and surprizing News of our dear Sister's Death came to us this Day by Mr. B. and I could not omit sending a few Lines to you by Post this Night I know Honoured Mother the Stroke lies exceeding heavy upon you I am afraid much too heavy being very well acquainted with the Tenderness of your Affections and the Workings of your Bowels to Relations But I pray dear Mother refuse not to be comforted I am perswaded you have no reason to sorrow as one without hope for her who I believe now sleeps in the Bosom of her and our dear Redeemer Our God has done his Pleasure let us now labour to do our Duty and be content We heartily wish our selves with you but can't as yet accomplish that Desire being unprovided of Horses and a Servant but as soon as may be we do purpose it The good Lord sanctify this Stroke to us all and â—it us for our latter End and grant that we may be Followers of those who through Faith and Patience inherit the Promises The Inclosed I desired may be sent to my poor afflicted Brother to whose Relief and Support I desire to contribute something Though Shortness of Time suffers not Enlargement farther than to present all our humble Duties to your self and honoured Aunt with Service to all Friends I rest Honoured Mother Your Obedient Son G. D. A Letter to Brother D. upon the Death of his Wife May 24 90. My Dear Brother I Heartily lament the sad Breach the Lord has been pleas'd to make upon you and am the more a Sympathizer with you as knowing by my own Experience what such a Stroke and Dispensation means The Lord has I know taken away the Delight and Desire of your Eyes this is your Misâ—ry but having taken her to himself let that be your Comfort he has snatch'd at a Stroke a Wife out of your Bosom which certainly is most grievous but has he not taken her into his own let this be your Support She was well provided for on Earth and had as much Satisfaction aâ— I believe any on account of a tender Husband sweet Children deaâ— Relations and other comfortable Accommodations but much better now in Heaven has better Place better Company better Employment tâ—an a vain World evâ—r did or could afâ—ord What occurs in 2 Cor. 7. 29 31. equally concerns both you and me whose Conditions in this case havâ— been the very same though now different you must labour to be and carry as if you had not lost a Wife and I as if I had no Wife Time is short and Life shoâ—t and relative Comforts are transient and fluid things thereforâ— your Sorrows must be moderate for your Loss and my â—oys be as if they were not seeing we and ours are to fall and part and pass away in our Courses My dear Brother labour â—or a Christian-Carriage under so sad a Cross O that what you want in the Creature may be abundantly made up by a Creator and that what you have lost as to Streams may be supplied from a Fountain God's Rod has a Voice as well as his Word and I believe you 'l labour to hear it and him that has appointed it O Brother we must have a care of â—nterâ—aining hard Thoughts of God who does all thingâ— in Righteousness and afflicts his Children in very Faithfulness My Bowels really yearâ— towards you now Wifeless and your poor â—aâ—â—s now Motherless the Lord be a Comfort and Support to you all and make up this astonishing Breach