Many are the fayings of the Wife, Eccl. vii. 14. In ancient and in modern books enroll'd, But to th' afflicted in his pangs their found Little prevails; or rather feems a tune Harfh, and of diffonant mood from his complaint, Unless he feel within Some fource of confolation from above; Secret refreshings that repair his firength, And fainting fpirits uphold. MILTON. LONDON: Sold by R. FAULDER, Bond-Street; J. MATHEWS, [Price FOURPENCE.] A FRIENDLY VISIT, &c. YOUR OUR prefent affliction, my Dear Friend, demands fomething more than the ufual forms of condolence. Sorrow, which, like yours, cannot be prevented, may yet be alleviated and improved.-This is what I aim at in addreffing you, and if I seem to intrude, let my motive be my apology. Having felt how much better it is to go to the houfe of mourning than to the houfe of feafting-having received my best Lef fons, Companions, and even Comforts, in it; I would adminifter from my little ftock of experience and while I thus endeavour to a Eccl. vii. 2, A 2 affift Mi affift your meditations, fhall rejoice if I may contribute, though but a mite, to your comfort. Were I, indeed, acquainted with the peculiar circumftances of your lofs, I fhould employ particular confiderations: but a paper like this can only have a general aim; which is to acquaint the heart, at a favourable moment, with its grand concerns; to give it a ferious impreffion when foftened; and an heavenly direction when moved. Let us, therefore, fit down humbly together in this house of mourning:-If the heart of the wife be found here, your experience, I hope, will prove that here also it is formed:-and let us calmly contemplate fome momentous Objects intimately connected with it, and viewed with peculiar advantage from it. OUR GOD is the first of these objects; with him we feldom form any close ac b Eccl. vii. 4. quaintance |