“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me; because the Lord hath anointed Me to preach good tidings unto the meek; He hath sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted…”
Isa. 61:1; Lk. 4:18
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Order of Contents
Articles 3
Books 4
Quote 1
Latin 1
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Articles
1600’s
Leigh, Edward – A System or Body of Divinity… (London, A.M., 1654), bk. 7
23. Joy & Sorrow 561
24. Of Sorrow 565-68
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1700’s
Barnard, John – ‘Sermon. The Christian’s Behavior Under Bereavements: Preached To the very Rev. Dr. Mather’s Church in the Time of the Measles’ in Two Sermons: The Christian’s Behavior under Severe and Repeated Bereavements, and The Fatal Consequence of a Peoples Persisting in Sin (Boston, 1714), pp. 1-26
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Books
1600’s
Flavel, John – A Token for Mourners in ed. William Vent, The Suffering Christian’s Companion, containing: a Token for Mourners… (Idle, 1830), pp. 1-127
“In 1674, two years after his second wife’s death, John Flavel published A Token for Mourners… the author helps the reader to think about grief, distinguishing ‘moderate’ sorrow from ‘immoderate’. He spells out what is appropriate for a Christian mourner and what is not. This book is full of Scripture, counsel, warning, and wisdom gained from prayerful reflection on the personal experience of affliction in loss and grief.” – Banner of Truth
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1700’s
Patrick, Symon – The Heart’s Ease, or a Remedy Against All Troubles: a Consolatory Discourse, particularly Directed to those who have lost their friends and dear Relations… (London, 1707) 285 pp. ToC
Patrick (1626-1707) was an Arminian, Latitudinarian, Anglican bishop.
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1800’s
Cuyler, Theodore – God’s Light on Dark Clouds (1882) 185 pp. reprinted by Banner of Truth
Cuyler (1822–1909) was a leading conservative American, Northern presbyterian and graduate of old Princeton Seminary.
“To the desponding and the bereaved, these words of sympathy and cheer are lovingly inscribed.”
Palmer, Benjamin – The Broken Home: or Lessons in Sorrow 1890 165 pp.
Palmer (1818–1902) was a leading Southern presbyterian minister and orator. He was intimately acquainted with being bereaved of loved ones, having had to bury four of his five children and his wife before writing this book.
“This central motivation of Palmer’s life is illustrated in self-sacrificial actions during perilous circumstances in both New Orleans and Columbia. In 1858 the pestilence of yellow fever struck New Orleans, and large numbers of people left the city. While this included many pastors who abandoned their flock, Dr. Palmer remained in order to visit the sick and dying, and in the words of his biographer, ‘to offer the consolation of the Gospel, and any other service which it was in his power to give…’ During that year, some 4,858 people in that city died of the fever and Palmer not only visited his own people, but others, particularly those who had no pastor. Indeed, it was his custom, while on his beneficent rounds, ministering to his own people, to enter every house on the way which displayed the sign of fever within; to make his way quietly to the sick room, utter a prayer, offer the consolation of the Gospel, and any other service which it was in his power to give, and then as quietly to leave.’
Twenty years later, in 1878, Palmer was equally faithful and active in visiting those who were once again struck down by another outbreak of yellow fever. Increasing age had not affected his activity in the least. He wrote to his sister, Mrs Edgeworth Byrd, the following report on his pastoral work at that time: ‘You will form some idea of the trial, when I state that during three months, I paid each day from thirty to fifty visits, praying at the bedside of the sick, comforting the bereaved, and burying the dead; and that, too, without intermitting the worship of the Sabbath or even the prayer meeting in the week.’ Such actions prompted a famous Jewish rabbi of New Orleans to observe, ‘It was thus that Palmer got the heart as well as the ear of New Orleans. Men could not resist one who gave himself to such ministry as this.’” – Douglas Kelly, Preachers With Power, pp. 99-100
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Quote
Samuel Rutherford
“One year’s time of heaven shall swallow up all sorrows, even beyond all comparison.”
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Latin Article
1600’s
Voet, Gisbert – (1) On Mourning for the Dead in Syllabus of Theological Problems (Utrecht, 1643), pt. 1, section 2, tract 6 Abbr.
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Related Pages
On Spiritual Desertion & Despair