Sorrow

SORROW, Tristitia; this is a Passion that contracts the Heart, sinks the Spirits, and spoils the Health of the Body. The Scripture advises us, not to suffer ourselves to be overcome with Sorrow. a St. Paul distinguishes two sorts of Sorrow; one a godly, and the other a worldly Sorrow. Godly Sorrow 2 Cor. vii. 10.worketh Repentance to Salvation not to be repented of; but the Sorrow of the World worketh Death. For behold, this self-same thing that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what Carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what Indignation, yea, what Fear, yea, what vehement Desire, yea, what Zeal, yea, what Revenge! He elsewhere reproves the Thessalonians, for the too great Sorrow that they 1 Thes. iv. 13.shew’d at the Death of their Relations. The wise Man commends a kind of Sorrow, which is rather a serious and sober Deportment, and a banishing of vain Joys, than a Eccles. vii. 3.real Sorrow. Sorrow is better than Laughter; for by the Sadness of the Countenance the Heart is made better. The Heart of the Wise is in the House of Mourning, but the Heart of Fools is in the House of Mirth. He intends to tell us, that the grave and serious Air of a Master that reproves us, is more profitable than the Laughter and Caresses of those that flatter us. Jesus Christ upbraids the Pharisees with that counterfeit Air of Sorrow and Mortification, that they affected to put on when they fasted. But he would have his Disciples avoid all such Affectation, which are the Effects of Self-love, and to gain the Matth. vi. 16. Isai. xlii. 4.Approbation of Men. Isaiah, describing the Qualities of the Messiah, says, he shall not be severe or violent, he shall not fail nor be discouraged till he have set Judgment in the Earth. The Hebrew Text says, He shall not quench, and shall not break: His Reign shall be a Reign of Mildness and Mercy. St. James advises those to pray that are in SorrowJam. v. 13.. Is any among you afflicted, let him pray.

Read this article in its place on the printed pages