"The LORD Gives, And The LORD Takes Away."

Though we mourn, we must not murmur

(John Angell James, "Sorrow for the Death of Friends")

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"Naked I came from my mother's womb, 

and naked I will leave this life.
 The LORD gives, and the LORD takes away. 

Praise the name of the LORD! Job 1:21

"See, I am the only GOD. 

There are no others. 

I kill, and I make alive.
 I wound, and I heal, and no one 

can rescue you from MY power." 

Deuteronomy 32:39

When a holy and beloved object 

of our affection is removed by death, 

we ought to sorrow--

humanity demands it, and Christianity, 

in the person of the weeping JESUS, 

allows it. The man without a tear, 

is a savage or a stoic--

but not a Christian.

GOD intends when HE bestows HIS gifts, 

that they should be received with smiles 

of gratitude; and when HE recalls them, 

that they should be surrendered with 

"drops of sacred grief." 

Sorrow is an affection implanted by 

the Creator in the soul for wise and 

beneficent purposes; and it ought not 

to be ruthlessly torn up by the roots, but 

directed in its exercise by reason and piety. 

The work of grace, though it is above nature--

is not against it. The man who tells me not 

to weep at the grave--

insults me, mocks me and wishes 

to degrade me! Tears are the silent, 

pure, sincere testimony of my heart 

to the excellence of the gift HE gave 

in mercy; and in mercy, no doubt, 

as well as judgment, HE has recalled.

But then, though we mourn, 

we must not murmur. We may 

sorrow, but not with the violent and 

uncontrolled grief of the heathen 

who have no hope. Our sorrow 

may flow as deep as we like--

but noiseless and still in 

the channels of submission.

It must be a sorrow so quiet as 

to hear all the words of consolation 

which our Heavenly FATHER utters 

amidst the gentle strokes of HIS rod.

It must be a sorrow so reverential as 

to adore HIM for the exercise of HIS 

prerogative in taking away what 

and whom HE pleases.

It must be a sorrow so composed 

as to prepare us for doing HIS will, 

as well as bearing it. 

It must be a sorrow so meek and gentle 

as to justify HIM in all HIS dispensations.

It must be a sorrow so confiding as 

to be assured that there is as much 

love in taking the mercy away, as 

there was in bestowing it. 

It must be a sorrow so grateful as 

to be thankful for the mercies left, 

as well as afflicted for the mercies lost.

It must be a sorrow so trustful as 

to look forward to the future with hope.

It must be a sorrow so patient as to bear 

all the aggravations that accompany or 

follow the bereavement, with unruffled 

acquiescence. 

It must be a sorrow so holy as 

to lift the prayer of faith for divine 

\grace to sanctify the stroke.

It must be a sorrow so lasting as 

to preserve through all the coming 

years of life, the benefit of that event, 

which, in one solemn moment, changed 

the whole aspect of our earthly existence.

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GraceGems has just published James Hervey's consoling three page 

article   "Comfort to the Sick and Afflicted" 1747.