MOURNER: OR THE AFFLICTED RELE V E D. BY BENJAMIN GROSVENOR, D. D. K The FOURTH EDITION, As one that comforteth the Mourners. Fob 39. 25. LONDON: Printed for GEORGE KEITH, in Grace-church-treet, TO THE MOURNERS, Whofe later Sorrows have been especially regarded in the following Papers. MY DEAR FRIENDS: S foon as you caft your Eyes upon this little Piece, fome of you will imme diately think of the good Husband who is no more; or of the tender Parent who has given the laft Bleffing. Others will remember the dear Wife, the Defire of your Eyes; the pretty Child, in whofe (6) Life your own feemed to be bound up; the Brother will come into mind, who was as your own Soul; and the excellent Friend, who fometimes ticketh clofer than a Brother. I have had all these Cafes in my Eye; and with a Sympathy that can only arife from fome Experience and Benevolence in conjunction, have endeavored to affwage and improve your Sor rows at the fame time. It is fomewhat neceffary to have: been acquainted with Grief, in order to address suitably to the Tendernefs of its Nature; to obviate the Subtlety of its Pleas and Pretenfions for Excefs, and to manage its Operations and Effects. There is danger, otherwife, of in creafing 1 creafing the Anguish we would alleviate, and the Wound is made to bleed afresh*: Even Balm itself may be painfully applied. There are, indeed, fome Wounds that will heal of themselves. Give them a little Time, and the Stock of Sorrow is not fo great but it will quickly be spent: The hafty Showers will foon be over. But the real Mourner is apt to have the Reasons of his Anguish continually before him; and to be more intent upon wafting his Spirits than his Sorrows: Fond of Solitude and Silence, that he may indulge his Paffion, and provoke the Emotion of that Grief which is ready to devour him; taking a fort of Pleafure to lye down under its Oppres *Curando fieri quædam majora videmus fion, |