Christian Directions, Chapter 19
CHAP. XIX.
Directions to such as visit the Sick.
VIsiting the Sick being a work of Mercy, it will be thy wisdom so to manage and improve the same, that thou maist both benefit thine own soul thereby, and likewise doe good to the sick Party.
I. That thou maist benefit thy self thereby, take these few directions.
1 In visiting thy sick Neighbour take occasion to think of thine own mortality, Scito omnem conditionem versabilem esse & quicquid in alium incurrit, posse in te quo que ineurrere. Sen. de tranq.and proneness to fall into Sicknesses and Diseases: for that which befalls one man may befall another, in that we all carry about us, as mortal, so frayl bodies, subject to the like calamities; which the Lord knows how soon may befall any of us.
2 Lift up thine heart in thankfulness unto God, for that health and strength of body he is pleased still to continue unto thee. Health is a greater mercy than most doe imagine. Ask the sick man what hee thinks of health, and he will tell thee, it is the greatest of Temporal mercies,Carendo magis quam habendo. Sol nisi cum deficit spectatorem non habet. Seneca, and in it self a mercy not to be valued; the truth is, all Mercies are prized by the wanting of them, more than by the having and enjoying them. As no body admires the Sun but when it is eclipsed; so neither doth any esteem health, but when by sickness they are deprived thereof,
3 Labour to be compassionately affected with the miseries and afflictions of thy brother, Job 6. 14for as Iob speaketh, To him that is afflicted pity should be shewed from his friend. Which duty is often urged and pressed in Scripture,Rom. 12. 15. as by the Apostle Paul, Rejoyce with them that rejoyce, and weep with them that weep; and by the Apostle Peter, in this phrase,1 Pet. 3. 8 foreign, i. e. esto…e mu…uo molestiarum sensu …ffecti. Beza. Having compassion one of another▪ which Beza Paraphrastically well turns, Be touched with the sence and feeling of one anothers griefs. And truly that communion and nearness of conjunction that sincere Christians have one with another, doth call for this duty; for as they are all sons of one Father, so are they members of one body, in respect whereof there should, nay there ought to be such a compassion and sympathy in the members of the Mystical body, I mean among Christians, as there is in the members of the Natural body. Now, you know that in the Natural body if one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; as the Apostle expresseth it, 1 Cor. 12. 26. which place Saint Augustine in his Works often expounding,Aug. in Ps. 130 & Tract. in soar. most excellently shewes the mutual compassion betwixt the members of a Natural body; Behold, saith he, the foot treadeth on a thorn, and see how all the members condole it; the Back bends it self, the Head stoopeth; the Eye, though remote in place, diligently searcheth it out; the Tongue complaineth, as if it self were pricked; and the Hands doe their best to pluck it out; and yet neither Back, nor Head, nor Tongue, nor Eye, nor Hand, nor any member but the Foot was touched with the thorn; and surely such a sympathy and fellow-feeling there ought to bee amongst true Christians, who are all members of one body, whereof Christ Iesus is the head.Rom. 12. 5
II. As in visiting the Sick, thou must be careful to benefit thine own soul thereby, so likewise to doe what good thou canst to the sick Party.
To that end observe these few Directions.
1 Forbear to talk of any vain, worldly, or needless matter before him; but let thy discourse be as savoury and Spiritual, so in some measure suitable to his condition; as of Death, and preparation thereunto; of the Day of Judgement, of the happiness of those who have an interest in Christ, and his Righteousness, and the like.
2 Perswade the sick Party to settle his estate, by making his Will, (if he have not done it before) that so hee may with more freedome wholly mind the spiritual good and welfare of his soul. This counsel did the Prophet Isaiah give unto King Hezekiah, Isa. 38. 1when hee was first struck with sickness.
3 If thou apprehendest his Disease to be dangerous, flatter him not with a hope of recovery, lest thereby thou betray his soul to eternal death; but deal faithfully with him, by declaring unto him his weak and dangerous condition, and advising him, as to think of death, so to prepare for it, telling him, that the fitter hee is to dye, the fitter he will be to live, if the Lord should adde more days to his life.
4 If thou perceive him to be ignorant, instruct him in the Principles of Religion, especially touching mans miserable condition by Nature, and the state of redemption by Jesus Christ.
5 If thou perceivest that he hath not a due sence of his Sins, endeavour to affect him with a sence and apprehension of his Sins, and the hainousness of them; as also of his miserable condition in regard of the punishments due unto him for the same, which are all Judgements and Plagues here, and eternal death and damnation with the Devils and damned in Hell.
6 Question him concerning his willingness to dye, and his hope of a better life after this, and upon what foundation he builds his hope of salvation; whether upon his good meaning and desires? or upon his just and honest dealing with men? or upon his frequent performance of holy duties? If thou perceivest that hee builds his hope of Salvation upon any of these, or upon any thing besides Jesus Christ, labour to take him off from those false bottoms, by shewing him the insufficiency of his good meaning and desires, yea of his civil and religious righteousness to salvation, how they are but rotten foundations whereon to build the hope of his Salvation.
7 Having taken him off from his false bottoms, and rotten foundations, then instruct him in the only true ground of Salvation, whereon hee may safely bottom his hope of Salvation, viz. Christ and his righteousness, with the Merits of his Death and Passion.
8 Labour to convince him that there is no way or means of Salvation, but only by beleeving in Jesus Christ, by receiving him as his Priest and King, by resting upon his all-sufficient Sacrifice for the pardon and forgiveness of his sins here, and for eternal life and salvation hereafter.
9 Perswade him thereupon to goe out of himself unto Christ, to adventure his soul upon him, with a disclaiming of all his own righteousness as filthy raggs, to place his whole confidence upon the righteousness of Jesus Christ, and upon the merits of his Death and Passion. To this end set forth unto him the perfection of Christs righteousness, the all-sufficiency of Christs Sacrifice, with his willingness to receive and embrace all poor Sinners that will but come unto him, and cast themselves, and the burden of their sins upon him.
10 Perswade him from his heart to forgive those who have wronged him, as he expects forgiveness at the hand of God; and if he hath wronged any by acts of injustice,Non remittitur peccatum nisi restit…atur ablatu… Aug. …. 54 1 Cor. 11. 3 perswade him to make what restitution and satisfaction he is able, telling him, that goods ill gotten will prove a moath to consume, and a fire to burn his whole estate.
11 Because, as the Apostle speaketh, If we judge our selves, we shall not be judged of the Lord. Perswade him to keep a Day of Judgement in his own Soul, by calling to mind his Sins, together with the aggravating circumstances of them, and then to arraign and condemn himself for the same, judging himself guilty, as of all Judgements and Plagues here, so of eternal torments in Hell hereafter; and then to fly unto Jesus Christ for the pardon and forgiveness of his Sins, who is a true City of refuge to all those who fly unto him, against the Hue and Cry of their Sins,Joh. 6. 37 and will in no wise cast out any who come unto him.