be also reasonable. We must approve ourselves both to men and unto God; that they may see we are loving friends, and that he may see we are his dutiful Children. Est enim quædam et dolendi modestia. For there is a certain modesty even in mourning, and it is as unseemly to weep immoderately, as it is not to weep at all.

And let none think that by this concession unto Nature and decency, the wound will be made incurable; and that it is easier not to mourn at all than to mourn moderately. These are but the dreams of heavy souls; that think that none can stand still, but they that are resolved never to stir. It is said, indeed, that we may more easily abstain from a thing of which we never tasted, than refrain from it after a little acquaintance. But this must be understood of pleasure, and not of grief. When we have mourned a little, we shall soon see that there is neither pleasure nor profit in our mourning. Or if any one shall think it to be some pleasure, yet it will notwithstanding be easily moderated; because it is only the pleasure of being eased of our loads that oppressed us, not of being satisfied with the pressure of any delightful object. It is but the letting out of sadness, not the bringing in of any pleasure; and therefore when the heart is

once eased of its burden, it will soon be persuaded to mourn no more; for that will be the bringing upon us a new burden.

But then, on the other side, as we may grant something unto nature, so we must be sure not to let it work alone. That

we may weep moderately, it will be necessary to make resistance to our sorrows, and muster up all the consolatory Arguments that are reposited in our minds. Nature will do its part without our help. We need not study how to weep enough; nor use any Arguments to persuade ourselves into tears. It is a superfluous employment to strive to magnify our loss; for fancy is apt to make it bigger than it is. It is a foolish trouble to be careful how to mourn, for tears will flow from us without any bidding. All our work must be to stop their passage as fast as we can, and to make them flow leisurely, not gush forth with too great a violence. Our Reason and Religion must be called up in all haste, to make as strong a Dam as we are able to our sorrow, or else, if it have its course, it may overflow us.

He is a base Pilot that leaves his Tackling in a storm, and suffers his Ship to run along with the tempest; and no less ignoble and abject is his Spirit that permits himself to the Gusts and Hurricanes of his own Passions, and lets them drive him

whither they, and not whither he himself pleases. But it is a degree of madness to use Reason itself to make the Blasts more terrible, and when the Storm is too furious, by art and skill to conjure up more boisterous Passions. Who could pity him that sets his Reason against himself, and studies how to be as miserable as his mind can make him? We need not be so in love with grief as to create it to ourselves. Nature, as I said, knows how to mourn without our teaching. We had need think rather how to bear our natural troubles, than how to lay more upon our shoulders. But if we will make any opposition, we must begin before our Passions are too strong. They are too powerful of themselves, and we must not let them gather more strength by our negligence. If we do not at the very first set ourselves in a posture of defence against them, they will seize upon our whole Soul, and get everything into their possession. As soon therefore as our grief stirs, we must strive to comfort ourselves, and not either help forward or suffer our grief. If we go and bewail our Friends as much as we can, and think to cheer our souls afterward, we shall soon find that our Souls are drowned with a flood, and that it will be a long time before it be soaked up. When we give the least leave to these Passions,

they will ask no leave of us afterward; but the Soul will mourn like Rachel, and refuse to be comforted. As soon therefore as thou hearest of the death of thy Friends, do not spend the time in bemoaning thyself, saying, Alas! what a Friend have I lost! did ever any man part with such a person? Where shall I find one comparable to him in Wisdom, in Love, in Faithfulness, in all manner of sufficiencies to make a Friend? Do not, I say, after this sort stand to aggravate thy grief; but instantly say, why should living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins? why should I trouble and torment myself with my own thoughts; why should wind and tide run together? how many reasons have I to be contented? and spread them all before thy eyes, that thay may dry up thy tears and cease thy sorrow. Labour, at least, that these thoughts may tread upon the heels of the other, and as soon as may be, overtake them, and get the mastery of them. And so doing, thou wilt weep as much as is fit, but no more than thou oughtest. Nature will be satisfied, and thou thyself not ashamed. None will think that thou art not grieved, and thou wilt feel that thy heart

is comforted.

SECTION 3.

Which shews rather what might be said than what is said in this present Treatise for moderating our sorrow. But yet those Examples which we have from others may move us to follow their Rules, and so a brief touch is made upon them.

BUT

UT what comforts are these (may some say) which you bring us? with what Reasons will you assist us?

I suppose it will be of no great effect to answer, that the wisest persons have made their mourning short and moderate; because I have already named two both good and wise, that were excessive. And therefore I must endeavour to make men thoroughly wise, and furnish them with such reasons as will not suffer them to be oppressed with their sorrows. Yet methinks it is observable, that the Egyptians mourned ten times as long as the Children of Israel. Seven days ordinarily contented the people of God for their grief, (as you may see, Eccles. 22. 12; Job 2. 13.) whereas they that were Strangers to the God of Israel, extended their mourning seventy days, as you may read, Gen. 50. 3. yea the greatest mourning that the Israelites used for their two