In this work, Flavel meditates on the words of Luke 7:13: “And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not.”
Using this verse, Flavel helps readers reflect on reasonable and unreasonable sadness. He explains what is permissible and appropriate for Christians, as well as what is not.
He even includes a section where he counsels grieving non-Christians. The majority of the work, however, is aimed at providing comfort to devout people who are grieving.