Works, Chapter 7

Works · Chapter 7

p. 554CHAP. VII. How a Christian may exercise himself to Godliness, in visiting the Sick.

FIfthly, Thy duty is to exercise thy self in visiting the sick; The Visitation of the sick, is a work of as great weight as any (injoyned us) relating to others, and as much neglected and slighted in its management, as almost any duty commanded. Sickness is so common, and Death so ordinary, that with most their frequency takes away the sense of them, and charity in many sickens and dieth as fast as others bodies. The generality of pretended Christians, like the Priest and the Levite, if they see a man wounded, both in his body and soul, though it be to death, pass on the other side of the way, not caring to meddle with any that are in misery. They tell us they are true members of Christ, but like a bag of suppurated blood, they feel nothing, neither have any communion with the body. Many on their dying beds, whose souls are worse and more dangerously sick then their bodies, may speak to their Minister or Neighbour (for the duty belongs to the People as well as the Pastor) almost in the words of Martha to Christ; Sir, If thou hadst been here, my soul had not dyed; Some visite the sick, but rather out of a complement, then out of conscience, or to profit themselves more then their Neighbours. The Ingenuous Heathen Seneca, p. 555will tell such; If a man visit his sick friend, and watch at his Pillow for charity sake, and out of his old affection, we approve it; but if for a Legacy, he is a Vulture, and watcheth onelyonly for the carcass. The discourse of these is chiefly about worldly affairs, and nothing about the great concernments of eternity. Others sometimes go about the work, but perform it so ill, administring Cordials, when there is need of Corrosives, sowing Pillows under their sick friends heads, that they may die easily; or if they tell them of their danger, they do it so coldly and carelesly, and by halves, that as he said, there is pl…s periculi a medicamento quam morbo, More danger from the Physick then the disease … their soul-sickness is curable, but the unsutable medicines they take, make it incurable. It may be said of many a soul, as Adrians Counsellers said of him; Multitudo medicorum, &c. Many Physitians have killed the Emperour; Ah! How dreadful is it, when unskilful and unfaithful Mountebanks, undertake to tamper and trifle with immortal souls, that are just entring into their eternal estates; Father, forgive them, they know not what they do. Galen saith, in respect of bodily Medicines, In medicina nihil exiguum, There is nothing small in Physick; Every thing in it is of great consequence; A little mistake may cause death; I may upon greater reason say, There is nothing little in spiritual Physick; A small error in our prescriptions to sick souls, may cause dreadful mischief; Instead of curing we may kill the patient; Hazaels wet cloth was not more deadly to his Masters body, then the discourse of most is to their sick neighbours souls. p. 556Fear of displeasing, and a natural propensity to flatter, prevail with too many to sooth their dying friends into unquenchable flames. But surely there is more love (as well as more faithfulness) in frighting a sick person out of his spiritual Lethargy, then in fawning him into the eternal lake that burneth with Fire and Brimstone. Some venemous creatures tickle a man till he laughs, even when they sting him to death, so doth the flattering Minister or Neighbour; he raiseth a sick man, void of grace, to the Pinnacle of joy, and highest hopes of Heaven, and thereby throweth him down into the Culph of irrecoverable sorrows, and leaves him to undeceive himself in hell.

I shall first lay down two or three Motives to stir up the Reader to this work, and then direct him about it.

SECT. I.

11Motive.FIrst, It is a duty commanded thee by God. Men are apt to think the visitation of the sick to be onelyonly an act of Courtesie and Civility, which they may omit or perform at their pleasure; when it is an act of Charity and Christianity, which every Christian is bound to by a divine Precept. The Ministers of Christ are especially enjoyned this task; but every member of Christ also, when God gives him opportunity, oweth this debt to his Neighbour, Iam. 5. 14, 15. If any be sick, let him send for the Elders of the Church, and let them pray over him. The same word which commandeth the sick man to send, commandeth the Elder to p. 557go. Indeed its a gross fault in many sick persons (and therein they are exceedingly their own enemies) that they either send not at all for the Minister, or if they do, not till they have done with the Physitian; when their bodies are past all hope, then they look after some hope for their souls. But without question it is a duty for the Elder sometimes to go uncalled; Its good manners to be an unbidden guest at a house of mourning. Our Master was found of them that asked not for him, and so should his servants. There are those that can invite themselves to their Neighbours Tables, who withdraw themselves from their Chambers. Some are drunk so often with their Parishioners whilst they are in health, that they are afraid or ashamed to discourse seriously with them when they are sick. God may speak to many, as to the Shepherds of Israel; Wo be to the Shepherds of England that do feed themselves; should not the Shepherds feed the Flock? ye eat the fat, and ye cloth you with the Wool, ye kill them that are fed, but ye feed not the Flock; The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them, Ezek. 34. 3, 4. None are more cruel to the Flock, then those that are most covetous of the Fleece.

Oleaster on Lev. 14. 44. (Then the Priest shall come and look, and behold if the Plague be spread, &c. that being the third time the Priest was to visit the infected house) hath this useful observation; Si Saecerdos toties invisat leprosam domum, cur tu non aegrum? If the Priest were commanded so often to visit the leprous house, why dost not thou visit the sick p. 558person? The Plague in the heart, calls for more pity and help then the Plague in the House.

This duty also belongs to private members, as well as to publique Officers. Every Christian should love his Neighbour as himself, which he cannot do, unless he have a sense of his sickness, and endeavour to improve such an opportunity for his Neighbours Salvation. True love, like fire, burns hottest when the weather is coldest. Histories make mention of one Vr…i…us a Physitian, that being to die for the Gospel, and beginning to waver, Vitalis a godly man stept to him, and though he knew it would cost him his life, encouraged him, saying, What, have you been so industrious heretofore, to preserve mens bodies, and will you now shrink at the saving your own soul! Be couragious; For which faithful counsel he was condemned and suffered accordingly. Its our duty to assist them that die natural, as well as those that die violent deaths. To visit persons in their affliction, is one testimony of the truth of our Religion at this day. Holiness and Charity are like Father and Child. Pure Religion, and undefiled before God and the Father, is this, to visit the Fatherless and the Widows in their afflictions, &c. Jam. 1. ult. The fatherless and widows are expressed (but the sick, and strangers, and captives are included) because these are usually most afflicted and most neglected; Those that have received mercy, cannot but shew mercy. As visiting the distressed is a sign of it now, so it will be the test of Christianity at the great day, Mat. 25. 34, 35, 36. Come ye blessed, &c. I was hungry, and ye fed me; naked, and ye cloathed me; sick, and ye visited me, &c. Works of mercy fill up the whole bill, as the evidence of the p. 559Saints right to heaven. Whereof Luther gives this reason; because the consciences of the wicked shall justifie Christ as well in the absolution of the godly, as in their own condemnation. Though Christians do not give their almes, or visit the sick, to be seen of men, yet in doing many offices of love, and acts of charity, they are seen of men. So they who can witness the truth of Christians mercy, will be forced to acknowledge the equity of Christs sentence.

SECT. II.

SEcondly,22Motive. It is a special opportunity of doing and receiving good.

1. Of doing good; I think it the more necessary to speak to this Motive, because many are apt to judge all pains with sick persons to be to no purpose. They are discouraged from endeavouring the conversion of prophane men upon sick beds, supposing that such mens repentance will be as unsound as their bodies, even when they are sick unto death. Though I would not give the least encouragement to any men to defer their turning to God, beleiving him worse then mad, who puts off the weighty business of his soul, because peradventure God may grant him repentance hereafter; yet I must obviate this suggestion of the Divel, which hinders men from doing their duty; God may shew mercy to a soul at last; There is one example in Scripture, that none might despair. Sickness is with some men the tide-time of devotion. They who scorned godly men, and made a mock of godliness p. 560in their health, will prize the Saint, and desire his sanctity above all the world, when they lye upon sick beds, and consider what an holy God they are going to appear before. Sickness, as one saith, is, Officina virtutis, morum disciplina, The shop of vertue, and the school of manners; Therefore King Alfred was wont to say, I ever find my self best, when worst; best in soul, when worst in body; the sickness of my body, is physick to my soul; Experience daily informeth us that the Swaggerers and Gallants of the world (whose consciences are not seared with an hot Iron) though they gave themselves up to Drunkenness, and Gluttony, and Gaming, and Whoredom, and all manner of wickedness in their youth and strength, yet when they are weakened much with a disease, and have no hopes of continuing longer on earth, begin to wish that they had spent their time to more purpose, and are sensible of their neglect of God, and Christ, and their Souls, and Eternity; then many of them will desire the company of those that fear God, and beg their prayers, and hearken to their counsels, and would give all they are worth for a little of their grace and holiness. Even Benhadad the King of Syria, an enemy to the Prophets and People of God in his health, will send a Prince to Elisha with a large present, and most submissive expressions (thy Son Benhadad) in his sickness, 2 King. 7.9. Sickness gives men a double advantage for holiness.

1. It takes off their hearts from creatures, by teaching them experimentally what a poor weak cordial the whole creation is to sick or dying men. When men are strong and lusty, they can taste and savour p. 561earthly things; carnal comforts hinder their endeavours after spiritual; They take up with creatures as Esau, and say, they have enough; but sickness makes them know the emptiness of all sublunary things. When men are sick, they cannot rellish the worlds dainties and delicates; The preferments, and riches, and pleasures of the earth, are all unsavoury and uncomfortable to them. They now see the vanity of those things which heretofore they so much idolized, how unable they are to revive their fainting spirits, or to allay their pain, or purchase them the least ease, or procure them the least acceptance in the other world; and hence the price of the worlds market falls abundantly in their judgements. Bernard tells us of a Brother of his, that when he gave him many good instructions, and he being a Souldier, regarded them not, he put his finger to his side, and told his Brother; One day a Spear shall make way to this heart of thine, for admonition and instruction to enter.

2. In sickness conscience is usually allowed more liberty to speak its mind, and men are then more at leasure to hear it. In health their callings, or friends, or lusts, or sports, or some carnal comfort or other, take up their hearts and time, that conscience must be silenced (as too bold a Preacher) for offering to disturb them in their pleasures, or if it will use its authority, and continue to speak in Gods name, and forbid their foolishness, and Atheism, and sensuality and prophaness, they are deaf to its calls and commands, and drown its voice with the noise of their brutish delights; But in sickness they are taken off from their trades, and pastimes, and merry meetings, and jovial companions, when their bodies are weak, their fleshly lusts are not so strong as formerly, whereby conscience hath a greater opportunity to tell them of their miscarriages and wickedness, and they themselves are more attentive to its words and warning.

Reader, Its a special peice of wisdom to improve such a season for the good of thy Neighbours soul. When the Wax is softned, then we clap the Seal upon it, lest it harden again, and be incapable of any impression. When the hand of God hath by sickness made the heart of thy wicked friend or brother soft and tender, then do thy utmost to stamp the Image of God upon it; Paul would preach whilst a door was opened, and there was likelyhood of doing good. Its a great encouragement to work, when the subject upon which we bestow our pains, seems capable of what we prosecute, and probable to answer our labour. We have some heart to strike a nail into a b…ard, because there is hope it will enter, but no list to drive a nail into a flint, because we despair of effecting it. The Smith strikes when the Iron is hot, he knoweth if he should stay till it is cold, his labour would be in vain; Friend, take the advantage of others bodily sickness, to further their spiritual health, lest they either die in their sins, or harden upon their recovery. Opportunity is like a joynt in some part of a fowl, which if we hit upon, we may easily carve and divide the fowl, but if the Knife fall on this side, or that side of the joynt, we do but mangle the meat, and take pains to no purpose. It is the speech of Master Richard Rogers in his seven Treatises, I have visited some persons that have been condemned to die, in whom (through the blessing of God upon his endeavours) I have found as good signs of saved persons, as of any that died in their beds, not having tasted of repentance before.

2. Its a special opportunity of Receiving good; We are taught more effectually by the eye then by the ear. The sight of a sick or dying person hath often a strange and a strong operation upon the beholder. When the Father heard of one that sinned notoriously, he cried out, I may be as bad as this man is; When thou seest one dangerously sick, thou mayst think with thy self, I must …e as this man is, sick unto death, when none of my Relations or Possessions can afford me the least comfort, and O how much doth it concern me to prepare beforehand for such an hour! If this mans work be now to do, when his life is ending, how sad is the condition of his precious soul? O that I were wise to consider timely, and to provide seasonably for my latter end. The sight of a dead man, was instrumental to the spiritual life of Waldus. The sight of others sickness may well quicken me to the greater industry and diligence after spiritual health. Do I behold my Neighbour, whose Sail formerly sweld with a full gale of worldly enjoyments, now wind-bound, chained to his chamber, or fettered to his bed, unable to rellish his food, or take any comfort in his friends? Do I see him full of Aches, and Pains, Tossings, and Tumblings, crying out in the evening, Would God it were morning, and in the morning, Would God it were evening, because of the anguish of p. 564his Spirit? Do I behold his cheeks pale, his eyes sunk, his lips quivering, his loyns trembling, his heart panting, and nature striving and strugling with the disease to keep its ground, and yet at last forced to quit the field, and leave the victory to its adversary, how many excellent observations may I draw from such a Text? What a fool am I, to trust the world, which leaves this man in his greatest want? How mad am I in loving sin, which is the cause of all these crosses and miseries, and which makes death so mortal to poor souls? Of how much worth and value is the blessed Redeemer, who will comfort a Christian in such a time of need, and carry him through his last conflict with joy and conquest? How careful should I be to get and keep a good conscience, which in such a day of extremity will yeild me true courage and confidence? The wise man doth not without cause tell us, It is better to go into the house of mourning (to the terming or charnel-house) then to the house of feasting, for that is is the end of all men, and the living will lay it to heart, Eccles. 7. 2. Men in a house of feasting, are apt to be forgetful of their duty to God, themselves, and their Neighbours, Isa. 22. 13, 14. Amos 6. 3, 6. Isa. 5. 11, 12. When the body is filled, the soul is often neglected. Iob was afraid of this in his Sons, Iob 1. 5, 6. It may be my Sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts, i. e. when they had been feasting at their elder Brothers house, God gives Israel a special caution against this, Deut. 8. 12, 14. Men in an house of mourning, are put in mind both of Gods Soveraignty, who draweth away their breath and they perish, Psa. 104. 29. and their own frailty, how p. 565soon they are gathered and withered, even in their prime and pride, Psa. 39. 5. I am blind if I do not see mine own end, in the end of another; and distracted if I do not provide for my last enemy, which I must necessarily encounter. Thus its a mercy to our selves, to be merciful unto others; and whilst we visit the sick, we visit our own souls. Who would not do his Neighbour good, when he may be confident it will tend to his own gain! I have but hopes by my visit, of advantaging a sinner; but I may be sure, if I be faithful therein, of profiting my self.

SECT. III.

THirdly,33Motive. It may be the last opportunity thou mayst ever have of advantaging thy sick neighbours soul. His sick-bed may be his death-bed, and then twill be too late to counsel or advise him. There is no Purgatory in the other world. Diseases both bodily and spiritual, must be purged away before death or never. He that is filthy at death, must be filthy still, even to all eternity; All the tears in hell will not wash out the least spot in the soul; All the fire of hell, will not purge out the least dross; Therefore Christ took the opportunity of dropping good counsel into the heart of the Theif on the Cross, knowing that if he had omitted it a very few hours longer, the soul of the poor Theif had been lost for ever. Hadst thou a friend going to Sea, and never to return again, waiting at a Port for a Wind and then to be gone, and hadst busine…s with him of as great concernment to him as his life, p. 566thou couldst tell him of a quicksand which he must beware of, or he will be cast away; wouldst thou not be quick and speedy to acquaint him with it, lest he should be under Sail before thou didst see him? would it not cut thee to the heart, if he should miscarry through thy negligence? The Application is easie; The soul of every Neighbour is, or ought to be dearer to thee then the body of thy nearest friend or relation. When thy wicked Neighbour is sick, his soul is launching for ought thou knowest, into the Ocean of eternity, whence he shall never, …ever, return more. He waits onelyonly for a wind, a word from God, and he is gone. The sick bed is the passage or path-way to the grave. Thou hast work to do with him, that is more worth to him then his life, that i… of as great value as his immortal soul, and eternal salvation. Now thou mayst acquaint him while he is on the shore, with his danger, and the way of his delivery; but if once he launch into the Main; thou mayst call loud and long enough after him in vain; O will it not pierce thee to the quick, if his soul should be swallowed up in the boundless and bottomless Sea of divine wrath, through thy laziness or unfaithfulness! When the day drew near for the destruction of the Jews, the heart of Haman swelled with hopes, and Hester had then an opportunity to step in and preserve the lives of her Countrymen; Mordecai tells her, Who knoweth whether thou art come to the Kingdom for such a time as this? She made use of the season, and saved their lives with the hazard of her own; Had she delayed a little longer it had been too late, they had all been sacrificed upon the Altar of Hamans p. 567ambition. When the hour of a wicked mans death approacheth, the heart of the roaring Lyon is big with expectation of his prey, and a Christian friend hath then possibly an opportunity to save the poor creatures soul; Now or never, there is no knowledge nor wisdom in the grave, whether the sick person is going. If he make use of the price God puts now into his hands, by serious, prudent, faithful and affectionate counsel, he may help the …inner to heaven; Who knoweth whether he be come by the Providence of God, into the sick mans Chamber for such a thing as this?

I have but one thing more to commend to thee, and then I shall speak to the work it self.

Before thou goest to thy sick Neighbour, go to God by prayer; intreat him to direct thee what to speak, and to succeed what shall be spoken. It is his own Ordinance, and therefore thou mayst the more comfortably beg and expect his assistance. Nehemiah would speak to God, before he spake to the King for the afflicted Jews; Hester prefers her Petition, first to her Maker, that her prayer might prosper, and then her Petition to her Husband, for the lives of her Countrymen. God is the Principal Agent, and if he be left out, all thy labour will be lost.

Wherein the exercising thy self to Godliness in visiting the sick consisteth.

1. In endeavouring to benefit the soul of thy Neighbour.

2. In getting some spiritual profit to thy self.

First, In endeavouring the spiritual good of thy Neighbour. We are enjoyned in the eighth Command, p. 568to mind and further our Neighbours temporal wealth, but much more his spiritual welfare. Twas true which Bucers Physitian told him, when he expressed his eagerness to die, Non sibi sed multorum utilitati se esse natum, That he was not born for himself, but for the good of many others; Every Saint is to be as it were a common stock for the profit of many. He is born, and new born, not onelyonly for himself, but for others benefit. The Lynx is a spotted unclean beast, that knowing how his urine will congeal into a precious stone, and be profitable to men, maketh an hole in the ground when he pisseth, to hide it from them. Iob who knew the advantage that might acrue to others thereby, would not conceal either the word or works of God from them, Iob 6. 10. and 27. 11. To this end;

1. Labour to be acquainted with the state of the sick persons soul. Its dangerous to give either Purges or Cordials ignorantly, or at peradventure. The souls of men are of unconceivable value, and therefore not to be tampered or trifled with. Its a good step to the cure, to understand fully the disease, and the constitution of the Patient; therefore Physitians feel the pulse, view the urine, enquire of the sick person, or his friends, concerning his former course of life, diet, present digestion of his food, place of his trouble or pain, &c. that they may proceed upon good grounds, and give sutable and effectual advice. So shouldst thou Reader, in visiting the sick, inform thy self either by conference with some serious Christians of their acquaintance beforehand, or by some searching prudent questions to the sick, concerning the condition of their souls. p. 569The ignorance of a Physitian, may occasion the death of the Patient. Some practitioners in Physick, who intend much good, do much hurt, for want of judgement to find out the tempers and distempers of the sick. A mistake in soul-cases, is of more hazard then in body-sickness. If I undertake to humble a person who is already cast down sufficiently, and wants a Cordial, or to comfort one who is full of presumption already, and needs a Corrosive, how good soever my meaning may be, my acting is evil, and instead of releiving, I may destroy my Brother. The Eastern Churches did not without cause enjoyn the Minister, or such as were appointed to visit the sick, to continue with them seven days together, that in that space they might discover the man, before they applied themselves to him, either in a way of Admonition, or Counsel, or Consolation. Iobs friends when they came to visit him, spake not a word, either reproving or advising him, till they heard him open his mouth and curse the tongue that told the news of his birth. The knowledge of the sick mans spiritual condition, is as it were, the foundation upon which we must build all our discourse with him, and prayers to God for him; or at least it is the rule by which we must build, and therefore its very dangerous to mistake in it. If the Foundation be laid ill, the superstructure will never stand well; If the rule be crooked, the building cannot be strait. A blind Archer may as soon hit the Mark, as one ignorant of his Neighbours state, advantage his soul.

p. 570SECT. IV.

2. APply thy self to him sutably to his condition; As the conditions of men are several, so must the Application be; that which cures one, may kill another; One medicine will as soon cure all diseased bodies, as one way all sick souls; Indeed the Physick to be prescribed every Patient, is the same for substance; The blood of Christ; By his stripes we are healed; but there are several ways of tendering this to sinners, that they may be prepared for it, and give it all acceptation; that Physick which is given to one in a Potion, is given to another in a powder, to a third in an electuary, to a fourth in a pill, according as it will be most prositable and most acceptable to them. Its not easie so to write the bill, that the sick may receive, what is prescribed to his greatest content and advantage; For as many perish errore medici as vi morbi, by the error of the Physitian, as by the power of the disease. Though I judge it next to impossible, for me to set down exactly and fully, directions answerable to the difference of sick persons condition, disposition, education, calling, guilt, &c. yet I shall speak to the most ordinary cases, and be careful not to omit the main work, namely, that which concerneth the conversion of graceless and Christless persons, if on a sick bed, God peradventure will give them repentance.

If the sick person be judged carnal and unregenerate (for the Tree is known by its Fruits; Besides, its no breach of charity, to fear the worst p. 571of them, whose lives do not speak a positive holiness, especially whilst we are endeavouring their good) then in general I would advise thee to speak.

1. To the depravation of mans nature, and the transgressions of life, with the sad aggravations thereof. How holy man was by creation, how universally and desperately vicious he is by his fall from God, and what horrid unthankfulness he is guilty of in continuing in sin, notwithstanding the grace that is offered to him in the Gospel. Its fit to speak to the purity and equity of the Law of God, and to the difference and contrariety of his heart and life to it; to the sinfulness of sin, in its offensiveness and opposition, to the nature and word of an infinitely Holy, Glorious, and Gracious Majesty, in its destructiveness to the present peace and future perfection of his own precious and immortal soul, and in that the stain of it is so deep, and the venome of it so great, that nothing beneath the blood of God could wash out its spots, or be a sufficient Antidote for its poison. Tell him of the folly of sinners in refusing Heaven for Earth, Angelical Delights for brutish Pleasures, the blessed God for a base lust; and of his own madness likewise in running on so eagerly upon his own ruine against the counsels of men, the commands, threatnings, and intreaties of God, the convictions of his conscience, the calls and invitations of a loving Redeemer, and the motions of the holy Spirit.

2. Speak to the merit of sin, how it being committed against an infinite Majesty, deserveth infinite wrath and severity; Tell him that the Wages p. 572of Sin is death, temporal, spiritual, eternal; Acquaint him with the justice, holiness, and jealousie of God, how he will by no means clear the guilty, but hath threatned all manner of plagues and judgements on the workers of iniquity, and cannot fail in the least of accomplishing his word; how he is resolved to make all the Children of Men feel sin to be an evil and bitter thing, either in broken bones on earth, or, broken backs, and endless torments in hell. Let him know his own obnoxiousness, by reason of his many and greivous sins, to the curse of the Law, the wrath of the Lord, and the vengeance of the eternal fire. Tell him that he is by nature a Child of Wrath, an Enemy to God, and an Heir of Hell; that it had been just to have cast him out of the Womb into Hell; that Gods patience in bearing with him thus long, will but increase his condemnation and endless misery, unless he prevent it by sincere conversion.

This is the first thing requisite in order to the recovery of his soul. Till sin be discovered in its hainous nature, and bloody colours, it will never be lamented, nor the Saviour esteemed according to the duty of the Sinner. The first thing usually, which the Spirit doth in the change of a sinner, is to convince him of sin, Joh. 16. 8. And this is also first in the Ministers commission, Acts 26. 18. The great neglect of this in Ministers and others, is one reason that so few Sinners are awakened, the needful work of humiliation is so dangerously slighted, that poor souls go sleeping and dreaming all is well, till they come to be undeceived in Hell.

p. 5733. Speak to his own inability to help himself, that no less then infinite power can recover him out of his miserable condition; Men are prone to act like Brutes, when they are wounded to undertake the licking themselves whole; as if it were an easie thing to renew a carnal creature, and heal vitiated nature, but alas the work is not so soon done. Its another manner of work to open the blind eyes, and …liven the dead soul, then the secure careless worldling doth imagine. Its called a Resurrection from the dead, a new Creation, the Work of God, because nothing less then a Divine Almighty power can effect it, Revel. 20. 6. Ephes. 2. 10. Ioh. 6. 29. Ephes. 2. 6.

4. Speak to the necessity of a change in him, both of his disposition by Repentance, and of his condition by faith in Iesus Christ; That these are not works which may be done or left undone, but such as must be done, or he is undone for ever. Tell him the necessity of a change.

1. Of his Nature by Repentance, how God himself hath said; Except he repent he shall perish, and that it is not possible for the whole creation to make void Gods Word. That as he is a corrupted depraved creature, he is no way capable of Heaven, for God hath shut him out, and bard the gate of bliss against him; Into it (i. e. Heaven) can in no wise enter any thing that defileth, or is unclean, Rev. 21. ult. And he hath shut himself out by his vicious nature; for spiritual pleasures are not sutable, neither can be enjoyed by depraved and ungodly creatures. Let him know that swinish dispositions cannot rellish heavenly delights, and p. 574therefore if it were possible for him to get to Heaven in a carnal estate, Heaven would be no Heaven, that is, no place of joy or pleasure to him. Acquaint him especially wherein the nature of repentance consisteth, not in a few sighs or sobs for sin, or in crying God mercy, or saying, I am sorry I ever sinned, but in a real change of the heart and nature, that his mind must be changed to see the ugliness and deformity of sin, his will to refuse it as the greatest evil, his affections to loath it, and hate it above all things whatsoever,Job 42. 3. Jer. 31. 18. Ezek. 47.Job 42:3Jer 31:18Ezek 47 that he must abhor himself, and loath himself, and bemoan himself for all his abominations, if ever he would fi…d mercy; that he must in his whole man be altered, turned upside down, be contrary to what he is by nature, be converted and born again, or he can nevrr see the Kingdom of God, Mat. 18. 3. Ioh. 3. 3. Forget not also to discover the necessity of a change.

2. Of his state by faith in Iesus Christ, how the Son of God can alone deliver him from the wrath of God; that there is no name under heaven, by which he can be saved, but the name of Christ; that all his prayers, and tears, and duties, cannot satisfie the divine justice for the least of his sins, or deserve the least favour on the behalf of his soul; that he must of necessity be united by faith to Christ, and submit to his guidance, and give up himself to his Government, or perish eternally; that though Christ died for him without his will, yet he will not save him against or without his will, but he must be heartily willing to accept Christ as his Saviour and Soveraign, as ever he looks for salvation p. 575by him. Here it may not be amiss to acquaint him with the fulness of Christs merits, and the freeness of Gods mercy to them that do sincerely repent and believe; How God commands, intreats, threatens, promiseth, and all to draw men to mind the things of their peace.

5. Speak to the shortness of his time, to do this weighty and necessary work in; that now there is no dallying, no delaying; for within a few hours it may be too late; that grace must be got now or never; that Christ and pardon, and life must be obtained now or never; that no sin shall be forgiven, no person shall be justified, no soul renewed or cleansed in the other world, that is not pardoned and sanctified in this; that Heaven and Hell are before him, and within a short time the matter will be determined which of the two he shall be in for ever; that he must now get a title to bliss, or miss it for ever; now prevent the unquenchable fire, or burn in it for ever; that he is now upon the shore, just stepping into the Ocean, either of Honey or Wormwood, Joy or Horror, and therefore it concerns him nearly to consider what he doth, and to be diligent to the utmost, if he would escape the endless company and torments of Devils and damned Spirits. Take heed of giving him hopes of recovery, which many do to please the sick or their friends; for hereby thou mayst exceedingly injure his soul, frustrating all the means used for his spiritual health. Think not much to be often with the sick person, in case thou hast opportunity. Let his misery move thee, and the love of Christ draw thee. When we fell an Oak, p. 576thirty or forty of the first strokes seem to be lost, because the Tree stirs not, yet if we continue, it comes at last down, and sheweth the effects of the first, as well as the last strokes; If he be converted thou wilt be satisfied; however thy reward is with God. If this unconverted person be scandalous, then it may be sometimes convenient to hint at the horrid nature of such sins, being committed against common light, and abhorred by many of the very Heathen, and marked particularly for vengeance by the jealous God, 1 Cor. 6. 9, 10. Gal. 5. 19, 20, 21. Ephes. 5. 5, 6. Thou mayst have the more hopes of success in visiting such a one, because conscience in this sinner, will probably prove thy friend, and joyn with thee in terrifying him for those sins, from which it could not (though it frequently attempted) disswade him.

If the unconverted person be one that liyed civilly and orderly in his outward conversation, paying every man his own, keeping his Church, forbearing enormous crimes, &c. It will be then needful to commend his civility, Iesus looked on such a man and loved him; but also to discover its defects and insufficiency, that there is one thing lacking; how his nature is universally polluted, and it must be throughly purified, or he is a lost man; that its one thing to have a wound hid, and another thing to have it healed; that many In…idels have been unblameable in their outward carriages, who yet perished, being without Christ; that the Scribes and Pharises went farther then most civil men, for they had not onelyonly a negative holiness in denying gross sins, but a Positive holiness (in shew at least) they prayed, fasted, &c. yet he, to whom p. 577it is impossible to lye, tells us, Mat. 5. 20. Except your righteousness exceed the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no wise enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. It will be good also in dealing with such a person, to insist much upon the latitude and purity of the Law of God, how it forbiddeth (and condemneth for) the least sinful thought, and how nothing less then perfect obedience can answer its demands, or satisfie the Law-giver, because such men are apt to judge themselves righteous, comparing themselves with those that are notoriously vicious. They think all is well, their minds being darkned and unable to discern and discover the secret lusts which are hugd in their hearts; Besides, their consciences being defiled as well as other faculties, are not so true to them as to convince them powerfully of that pride, hypocrisie, unbelief, impenitency, atheism, and ungodliness, which they are guilty of. And Satan hath a strict watch over them, to keep them asleep in sin, not caring, so men go to hell, whether they go thither in the dirty road of scandalous and crying crimes, or in the cleanly path, and through the fair Meadows of Civility. Whether the person be scandalous or civil, it will be needful to let in light at some crevice, and not to leave the sinner wholly in the darkness of despair; The good Samaritan poured Oyl as well as Wine, into the wounds of him that fell among Theives. A little hope may melt that heart which despair would harden. Sturdy Theives have wept at the news of a Reprieve, that have stormed and raged at the sentence of Condemnation; But this is wisely to be done, lest the p. 578sinner be encouraged to presume. Lenity is to be joyned with Severity;Miscenda est leni…as cum sev…ritate. sit amor, sed non emolien…; sit rigor, sed non exasperans. Greg. Mor. 10. Let there be love, but not emboldening them to sloth; let there be terror, but not driving them into a fury, saith Gregory.

If the sick person be one that is judged a true member of Christ, then speak to the excellency of Grace, and Christ, and Heaven, to the certainty and worth of those promises that are entailed on beleivers, to make his passage into the other world as comfortable as thou canst. It will be fit also to speak to those graces of Faith, Patience, Love, Heavenly-mindedness, and Ioy in God, which should be minded and exercised in a time of sickness, how the time of affliction is the spring, the special time wherein those graces should shoot up and shew themselves, that God expecteth some service from him under his fickness, and that his last works should be better then his first. If he be under doubts and fears (for Satan will take the advantage of his sickness, to assault him with his fiery darts, and Saints are too apt to Question Gods love when they feel his hand; the weakness of the body, discomposing the mind, and denying it the free exercise of spiritual judgement) then advise him to review his former experiences of divine goodness, and trials of divine grace within him, to hold fast on Jesus Christ, and to consider that sickness is common to men, good as well as bad; that though they differ vastly in the other world, yet not at all in their passage thither; Singular Saints have been afflicted with the sorest sickness; Iob was a none-such for sanctity, yet full of sores; Its a question whether he were p. 579more eminent for corporal distempers, or spiritual health; Hezekiah, David, Asah, Paul, Epaphroditus, were all thus chastened of the Lord, but not condemned with the world.

Whatsoever the sick person be, whether gracious, or graceless, it will not be amiss to mention the three great lessons which God would teach every one by affliction.

1. The emptiness of the world, appearing in its inability to afford the least ease to the body, or comfort to the soul of the sick; how little worth is that which fails a man in his greatest need!

2. The preciousness of Christ, and Grace, and the Promises of the Gospel, which can enliven and encourage a dying person; that can cause light in darkness, joy in sorrow, and life in death; that can enable a Christian to rejoyce in tribulation, and to welcome pain and sickness, nay, and the very King of terrors; and to look into the other world with comfort and confidence.

3. The sinfulness of sin, which is the original of all diseases, and aches, and greif, and separation of friends, and losses, and miseries whatsoever. The Rabbies say, that when Adam tasted the forbidden fruit, his head aked; Tis clear, sin is the original of sickness; The body is the instrument of unrighteousness, therefore the subject of diseases; For this cause many are weak and sick, 1 Cor. 11. 30. All the evil in this and the other world, are the issue and off-spring of sin; Ah! what a root of bitterness is that, which brings forth such bitter fruit! Be sure to take the thoughts of the sick off from resting in Physitians, or any means p. 580used for their cure; Th…s was the fault of good Asah, 2 Chron. 16. 12. Let them know that it is God that wounds, and he onelyonly that can heal, and therefore he must not be tempted, either by despi…ing those helps which his providence giveth, or by relying on them. Hippocrates gave this counsel to all Physitians, that when they went upon any occ…sion to visit their Patients, they should consider first of all, whether there was not, divinum aliquod in morbo, something of God in the disease; if so, he held the Patient to be desperate, and his recovery impossible; Cujus contrarium verum est; If it were the hand of God that smote them, the same hand can help them; for with him nothing is impossible. Let them understand that sickness hath a supernatural as well as a natural cause. That all diseases are like the Centurions Servants, at the command of God; He saith to one, Go, and it goeth; to another, Come, and it cometh; to a third, Do this, and it doeth it. God would have the Israelites know, that not onelyonly Sword, and Famine, and Captivity, but also Pestilence, Consumptions, Feavers, and Burning Agues are sent from Heaven, Deut. 28. 21, 22. He causeth those stormes, and tempests, and quarrels, and contentions that are between the humours in our bodies, to their disturbance and destruction; therefore Moses beholding the whole body of the Jews (except two renowned members) corrupted, for he lived to see all that came out of Egypt besides to die, cryed out; Thou turnest man to destruction, and …ayst, Return ye children of men.

p. 581SECT. V.

3. DEal closely and faithfully with him; Let not fear of giving distaste or hope of some advantage to thy self, make thee false to the soul of the sick. Do not play the part of a Mountebank in using palliating medicines to allay the distemper, or Anodynes to stupifie the patient, and neglect the root of the malady. Alas, carnal wretches are prone enough of themselves to deceive and flatter their own souls, till it be too late for second thoughts, and the wicked one will be at their beds side, to hinder if it be possible, all means from awakening and undeceiving them; be careful therefore lest thou shouldst be any way accessary to Satans design; Sin is like the little Serpent Aspis, which stings men, whereby they fall into a pleasant sleep, and in that sleep die; sinners need all the rouzing and affrighting considerations that may be; He that gives a potion, which instead of furthering health, procureth death, is a Murderer. The Flatterer is like the worm Terendo, mentioned by Pliny (in Nat. Hist.) as soft as Silk, in the feeling of the hand, but it biteth so hard with the teeth, that it eateth out the heart of the strongest timber. Flattery is to sin, what Oyl to Fire, it makes it flame the more. O tis dangerous to speak peace, where God speaks war; shouldst thou do so, the blood of such a soul would be required at thy hands, Ezek. 33.8. Jer. 23. Faithful dealing will bring thee in most comfort at present, and most credit hereafter, as also be most advantagious to the p. 582sick person. When the great day comes, the man that hated flattery, and scorned for a little profit or favour to disown his duty, or prove false to the soul of his Neighbour, will hold up his head with courage, but the cowardly and fearful wil hang down their heads with shame, Rev. 21. 8.

4. Pray with him, and for him. Sick persons are often full of pain and grief, and are more then usually assaulted by Satan, whereby they are the less able to pray for themselves, and have the more need of the prayers of others. Its observable that though the Holy Ghost commandeth men in other afflictions to pray themselves; Is any afflicted? let him Pray; yet when he mentioneth sickness, he saith not; Is any sick? let him Pray; But, Is any sick? let him send for the Elders of the Church, and let them pray over him; Jam. 5. 13, 14. i. e. A sick man is not so fit to pray himself, he wanteth others to pray for him, and with him. The soul sympathizeth in the sufferings of the body, and the inner man is seldom at rest, if the outward man be distempered and disquieted. The mind is unfitted for duties, by the diseases of the flesh. Paul calls his bodily weaknesses a temptation, Gal. 4. 13, 14. Afflictions on the flesh, are temptations to the spirit, and sickness is a piercing Arrow in Satans Quiver of temptations.

If the person be carnal, what Motives hast thou from his misery to quicken thee to the duty! The poor creature is going to Hell, and knoweth it not. His destruction is near, and he is not aware. p. 583How should the thoughts of that extremity and eternity of torments which he is every moment liable to, stir thee up to be earnest and instant with God on his behalf? It may be thou wouldst sit up a whole night to watch with him for the comfort of his body; Dost thou not know that the soul is infinitely more worth? O watch and pray, that he enter not into eternal condemnation. Thou art not ignorant that God hath made promises of grace, as well as promises to grace, and canst not tell but that grace waiteth in heaven for the …ick person; onelyonly thy prayer must be the messenger to fetch it thence. God hath shewn mercy at the last, he can do it to this man, therefore thou mayst have the more hopes; Besides, it may be his sickness shall not be unto death, but onelyonly to heal his diseased soul, and so to give him a new life, both natural and spiritual. The Question before thee, is, whether that poor sick creatures soul shall be Christs or the Devils for ever, and wilt thou not plead hard with God that it may be thrown in to Christ, whose title is unquestionable, and that the Grand and Arch-enemy of Christ and Men may be frustrated and disappointed in his expectation? Zeal to the advancement of thy Redeemers interest, and love to the soul of thy Neighbour, should actuate and animate thy requests, and put life and fervency into thy Petitions.

If the sick man be godly, thou hast the more encouragement to pray. God hath promised as much to him, as thou canst rationally desire for him. He hath hopes to speed, that goeth to an honest p. 584able man, and sheweth him his Bond for what he demands. God is infinite both in righteousness and power, so that there is no fear of a repulse, if you can shew his hand for your request. He delights to hear his promises pleaded in prayer, and to see his Children so full of affection, as to be fervent in their petitions for each other. Thou mayst send the same message by prayer to Jesus, that the Sister of Lazarus did; Lord, behold he whom thou lovest is sick, and mayst be confident of the like gracious answer; This sickness is not unto death (eternal) but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.

Next to thy endeavours for the good of thy sick Neighbours spiritual estate, it will be fit to advise him about his temporal estate, that he may dispose of his worldly affairs, and his wealth (if God have given him any) with wisdom, and settle things so firmly, that his Relations may not be wrangling for his goods, when his body is at rest in his grave.

Secondly, The exercising our selves to Godliness in visiting the sick, consisteth in getting good to our own souls by it. Deut. 18.11. Eccle…. 5. 1,2.Deut 18:11Though it be forbidden us to enquire of the dead, and ask their counsel, yet its commanded us to enquire of the dying, and to learn of them. Sick men may teach them that are in health many excellent lessons. Some say, that ground covered with Ashes, is made thereby the more fruitful. The Dust of the dead, falling upon a right soil, an honest heart, will make it p. 585the more abundant in holiness. A Christian findeth walking in Hospitals or Church-yards among the sick or dying, much conducing to the health and life of his soul. He that was cast dead into his Grave, by touching the bones of dead Elisha, he was ravished to life; That which Elias said to Elisha, when he begged a double portion of his spirit; If thou seest me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee, may fitly be alluded to in this place. The sight of others sickness and death, and their departures from us, is a great means to increase the spirit in us, and to double our care and diligence in preparing for such an hour.

1. In laying to heart thine own frailty. He is but a cold clod of clay, and dead already, who doth not see his own death in the death of others. Sickness is but one remove from death; the sick bed is the way to the coffin; therefore when thou visitest the sick or dying, reflect upon thy self and consider; This will be my case, or a worse, a violent stroak; The same enemy that encountred my Neighbour, is upon his march towards me, and will certainly overtake me; The feet of them that carry my friend to his grave, are ready to carry me also; what need have I to be always in a dying frame, and ready for death. The very next arrow that death shoots, may be levelled at me; and shall not I stand always upon my guard in expectation of it, and armed for it? O how deep will the head of that Arrow pierce me, if it find me naked!

2. In considering Gods mercy to thee, and blessing him for the health thou enjoyest. The pain of others, will tell thee that ease is a mercy; the racking sickness, p. 586and restless nights of others, do speak aloud in thine ears,Carendo potius quam fr…endo sapimus. that health and rest are mercies. O how shouldst thou adore that God who distinguisheth thee thus graciously from others! Mayst thou not think with thy self, Here is a person full of pain, the day is full of darkness to him, and wearisome nights are appointed to him; Lo his Wife and Children, and Friends are weeping about him, but cannot relieve or redress him; all the comforts of this life are un…avoury to him; His aches and grief, and diseases, hinder him much in spiritual performances, and in the prosecution of a better life; how much a… I bound to the Lord, that it is not so with me? I can relli…h outward mercies, and am refreshed with bodily comforts; I have no such distemper or pain to take me off from prayer or Scripture, but I may be as frequent and as urgent as I will about my soul and eternal concernments; Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all within me praise his holy name. Surely health is the Prince, the first-born of outward blessings. Though foolish men deprive themselves frequently of it, for the satisfaction of a sensual wanton appetite, yet its more worth then a thousand of those brutish transitory delights. A Stomach is of more value then meat, and a good digestion then raiment; Men think not much to part with much of their wealth in their sickness for a little health. O it deserves thy prayers to God for it with submission to his will when thou wantest it, and thy praysing of God for it with enlarged affections when thou hast it.

3. In observing the necessity of a timely repentance, and its difficulty on a dying bed. How unfit is a man to begin to live, when he is wracked with p. 587pain, and going to die! The dolour and trouble of his body are great impediments to the good of his soul. When the outward man is in great distress, and the inner man sympathizing with it, the best words are often wasted and thrown away, and the mind is unfit either to receive counsel or comfort. Further, How irrational is it to give Satan our prime, our health, or strength, and God our weak and consumptionate, and dying parts; to present our enemy with our quick, and nimble, and active faculties and members, and to put off our best friend with a body full of sores, and a soul full of sin! Besides, the longer men continue in sin, the more difficult their conversion will be. He that hath wandred or travelled out of the right way all day, will hardly be perswaded to go back all the way, and set out again at night. Where Satan hath dwelt long, he will hardly be removed. A Ship, the longer it leaketh, the harder it is to be emptied. The f…rther a nail is driven in, the more trouble to get it out; The longer my soul continueth in disobedience, the harder it will be to bring it to repentance. The more sin is riveted and habituated in me, the more pains, and toyl, and grief, it will cost to get it subdued and slain.

4. In learning more the excellency of grace, and an interest in Christ, and God, which will do a man good in a day of …ickness, and an hour of death; He is a friend indeed, that is a friend in a day of adversity. The sinners folly in neglecting durable riches, teacheth the Christian wherein true wisdom consisteth, and the worth of it; That it consisteth not in heaping up such treasures, or getting such friends as will p. 588be useless and unprofitable in a time of need, but in laying up a treasure in Heaven, and ensuring eternal comforts. Cold …harp weather, sheweth the value of an healthy constitution. A storm will speak the worth of a sure Anchor, and a skilful Pilot. The excellency of grace, and holiness, and Christ, and God, are not fully known till we come into the other world, where all sublunary comforts are wanting; But the more any condition in this world resembleth that, and the nearer we approach that, the more visible is the value of divine and lasting blessings. A Cordial is not esteemed till we come to fainting fits. A soul that in time of health, and wealth, and outward prosperity, made the fear and ways of God, and the estate of the godly, the object of his scorn and contempt, when he comes to be awakened by the alarum of death, and to look into the other world, will make them the object of his choice, and give a world (if he had it) for them.

A Good Wish about the visitation of the sick, wherein the former heads are applied.

The Introduction.THe righteous Lord, and God of all grace, who for sin afflicteth man with sickness, yet in the midst of judgement remembreth mercy, intending his instruction, not his destruction by it; having designed such afflictions, as rods to whip men to himself, to make them out of love with sin, the spring of all their sufferings and sorrows, and to wean them from the earth, who otherwise would make it their Heaven; and hath also appointed men to be p. 589the means through which these mercies shall be conveyed, and sicknesses sanctified to them. I Wish in general, that I may never omit to visit those Neighbours with pity, whom God hath visited in fury; muchless insult as the Edomites over the afflicted Israelites, and persecute them whom God hath smitten, drawing blood from those wounds which are already blew with the blows of the Almighty; but may be faithful to the precept and purpose of my God in this particular, and adopt my second table duties into the Family of the first table, by visiting the sick, not out of common civility, but out of charity, and in obedience to the God of my health. It is my priviledge, that my Almes may become Sacrifice, my Courtesies worship, and in paying that debt of love which I owe to my Neighbour, I may pay that duty which I owe to my Maker. O that in all my common transactions, I might move upon principles of reason, and especially in works that have a tendency Godward, act upon grounds of Religion. Lord, thou hast an eye to my good, in all thy providences and dealings; why should not I have an eye to thy glory, in all my practices and actings? Cause thy fear so to possess my heart, that I may visit the sick out of conscience, and let thy grace so assist and accompany my endeavours, that thou mayst visit them to their eternal comfort.

I Wish that the Command of my God, 11Motive, To visit the sick is a duty.may be a sufficient Motive and warrant to make me set about the practice of this work. It is my duty to visit them that are sick, as I am the Lords Servant; I disown his authority, I deny his Image, if I do not sympathize with others p. 590in misery. Nature it self commandeth me to be affected with the conditions of such as are afflicted. All creatures will commiserate those of their rank and order, that are in misery; Bees will rather stay and starve with those of their kind, that are unable to flie to their Hives, by reason of the weakness of their wings, then stir from them, or forsake them. The Swine are so sensible of their fellows sufferings, that if one of the Company be lugd, all the rest will after their manner condole it. If a Beast be slain, and its blood spilt, others of that sort will …hew their love and pity, by scraping earth on the blood, burying their fellow, and solemnizing his funeral with a kind of lamentation. Grace doth much more enjoyn me to be sick in others sickness, poor in others poverty, and to remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them, and them that suffer adversity, as being my self also in the body; David, speaking of his enemies that sought his destruction, saith, But as for me, when they were sick, my cloathing was sack-cloth, I humbled my soul with fasting, and my prayer returned into mine own bosome; I behaved my self as though he had been my friend, or brother, I bowed down heavily, as one that mourneth for his Mother, Psa. 35. 11, to 15. My God hath said, To him that is afflicted, pity should be shewn; Sickness is one of the greatest outward afflictions, it renders all the comforts of this life uncomfortable; The largest Houses, Revenues, Honours, the most loving Acquaintants, Friends, Relations; are all unsavoury to them that are under great sickness. To visit the prosperous and healthy is courtesie, but to visit the distressed and sick is charity. The sweetest p. 591showres should fall on the lower grounds. Lord, thou art the Father of mercies, and art afflicted in all the afflictions of thy Children; thy soul is greived for the miseries of Israel; How sutable is it for them who expect mercy another day, to shew mercy at this day! Make me a follower of thee, as a dear child, to put on bowels of compassion, and to be merciful in heart, tongue, and hand, as thou my Father in Heaven art merciful.

I Wish that as a wise Merchant I may make the use of this price, 22Motive, Its a good opportunity for the doing of goodwhich is put into my hand, for the furtherance of my own and my neighbours peace. Sickness is a special opportunity, wherein I may advantage others souls; The most poisonous Viper is at such a season benummed with cold, and so may be handled without much danger. The strength of the body of sin, is much abated (at least in regard of act and exercise) by the weakness of the natural body. They who counted holiness a fancy, and holy ones Phanaticks, in their health and power, will beg hard for purity, and desire the Saints prayers in their sickness. The waters of those passions which in a Summer of prosperity did overflow their bounds, and threatned to over-whelm and over-throw all that was near, are frozen up in a Winter of adversity, and kept within their banks; There are many nicks in time, as we see in a Clock, which if they hit, the work goeth on well. The hardened hearts of sinners are often melted, when their persons are confined to their warm Chambers; As Tinder when dry easily takes fire, by the least spark that falls on it; so when the souls of ungodly men are made soft by sickness, and their thoughts p. 592of the evil of sin in the pain it brings on their bodies, makes their affections combustible, it will be much the easier to kindle the fire of repentance in them; Affliction boareth or openeth the ear, and then its seasonable to drop some wholsom counsel into it. Though a load on the ground be hard to be stirred, yet a load on the wheels is easie to be drawn. The illness, and aches, and distempers of sinners bodies, do as it were set the work of conversion, and minding the good of their souls, upon the wheel, and therefore such opportunities ought to be diligently improved; Sickness is a good time when charity is in season. Tis a grace to have an opportunity for the service of my God, but a greater to improve it. The Eastern people do Plow and sow their grounds, when the former Rain hath softned it; and why should not I endeavour to Plow up the fallow ground of my Neighbours heart, and to sow in it the seeds of savoury instructions, when it is made tender by sickness? Lord, thou layest hold of every opportunity, to bless me with mercy answerable to my necessities; make me both wise to discern time and judgement, and faithful to make use of all such seasons to do thee service.

I Wish that the opportunity I have thereby of doing good to my own soul,Its a good opportunity for the receiving of good. may move me to be the more careful and consciencious in visiting the sick. It is the wise mans speech, It is better to go into the house of mourning, then to go to the house of feasting; for that is the end of all men, and the living will lay it to heart. It is better, as it is most sutable to my present state. Tis not proper for Pilgrims to spend their time in Pleasure. Sorrow is becoming p. 593in a valley of tears. An house of mourning agrees well with the mourners in Sion. This world is a Sea, I am a Mariner, and Mariners rejoyce in the Haven, not in the Tempestuous Ocean. This life is a warfare, I am a Souldier; Tis too soon to be joyful whilst I am fighting; it will be time enough when all my Enemies are foyld. O how harsh is it for a child to be jocond, when he is far from home! Weeping is good language for them that sit down by the River of Babylon; How can I sing the Lords songs in a strange Land? Again, It is better to go into the house of mourning, as it is most profitable to my precious soul. Grace thrives best in a wet soyl; By the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better. The inner man is best when clad in mourning. Trees planted by the water-side, hang with clusters, and bring forth fruit in due season. The sick bed is a Pulpit, and though there be a wicked man in it, he may teach me rare instructions; If he be wholly silent, his condition Preacheth to me, that sin is the greatest evil, that the world is a cheat and impostour, and that grace is the most desireable created good. His dark chamber, weeping friends, watered couch, aking head, trembling heart, pale lips, quivering loyns, all call aloud to me to consider of, and prepare for such an hour. Abel, being dead, yet speaketh; My sick, my dead Neighbour speaketh; Prepared be, to follow me. Some have been raised to life by beholding the dead. O that I were wise to observe and improve the opportunities which free grace affordeth me, for my own and others welfare! If I lose a good Market for the furtherance of my outward estate, I befool and p. 594bewail my self. Ah, why should I not be as much affected with the loss of opportunities for my inner man. Sinners observe their seasons for the gratifying their Loves, and the satisfying their lusts. The Thief waiteth for the full Purse, till the Market is over, and commodities be sold. The Adulterer makes use of the dark night for his deeds of darkness. Satan watcheth every opportunity to insnare and destroy me; if I give him the least advantage by idleness or carnal security or running into occasions of sin, he doth presently lay hold on it to pollute me. All men indeed may shame…me. The Mariner doth spread his Sails when the Winds blow. The Merchant observes his Exchange hours, when he may meet with many friends, and dispatch much business in a little time. The Lawyer minds his Terms. There is a time when Kings go out to Battel, 2 Sam. 11. 1. which Souldiers will not neglect. The Husbandman makes Hay whilst the Sun shines; Yet, Ah how foolish am I to let slip those golden seasons which my God giveth me,Eccles. 3. 11. and 9. 12.Eccl 3:11Eccl 9:12 for working out my own salvation! Lord, thou hast made every thing beautiful in its season; But poor silly man knoweth not his time. 1 Chron. 11. 391 Chr 11:39Grant me so much prudence, that is the men of Issacar, I may have understanding of the times, and so much piety as to serve the times, not as Worldlings, in altering my course according to the fashions and customes of men, but in embracing what is tendered in due time, for my own and others good, always adhering to the Commands of thee my God.

33Motive. It may be the last opportunity.I Wish that the uncertainty of my sick Neighbours outward recovery, may make me the more careful p. 595and solicitous about his spiritual health. If he die, he is stated and fixed for ever and ever, and I am for ever deprived of all opportunities of profiting or advantaging his soul. Now he is sick, he is nigh death, but one step from it. The sick stand upon the borders of the grave, upon the brink of the pit, nay, of eternity. Those that are in most perfect health, are inclining towards death; but they that are sick, are approaching the Chambers of darkness. Such a man may speak in the language of Haman, My life draweth nigh unto the grave, Psa. 88. 3. Should he depart this life in a natural estate, he falleth into the jaws of eternal death. All prayers for him will then be fruitless, and there is no giving counsel to him after death. I must now advise, exhort, perswade, beseech him to mind faith and repentance, or never do it; I must now put up hearty cries and groans to God on his behalf, or never do it. The loving kindness of God cannot be declared in the grave, nor his faithfulness in destruction. Psa. 88: 11Ps 88:11When he is wailing in Hell for the ungodliness of his heart and life, I may be weeping on earth for my neglect of him, or unfaithfulness to him, but both our tears will be ineffectual, and our cries comfortless. O that the love of my Saviour, the command of my God, the worth of a soul, the weight of an eternal estate, the fear of losing such a season, and the impossibility of recalling or recovering it, may all provoke me to be instant with the sick, to turn to God, and abhor and bewail their sins, and to be fervent with God, that he would crown my endeavours with success! Lord, I may speak thy Mind and Will to Men, but thou alone, who didst make the ear, canst enable them to hear, let it please thy Majesty so to affect my heart with a due sense of others misery, so to direct my tongue what to speak in order to their recovery, and so to prosper the undertakings of thy servant, that as often as I visit any unconverted person in his sickness, I may turn a sinner from the error of his ways, save a soul alive, and hide a multitude of sins.

The matter of it. 1. Know his condition.I Wish that I may be solicitous to understand the spiritual conditions of the sick, that my prescriptions may be profitable, being sutable to their several sores. The knowledge of the disease, must necessarily precede directions for its cure. Its folly to undertake their recovery, whose estates I am ignorant of. He works at the labour-in-vain, who goeth about to heal a wounded Patient, when he knoweth not the place or nature of his pain. The mistake of the Physitian may be as mortal and dangerous as the disease it self. It will be no wonder if a blind man shoot awry and miss the mark. This was the cause that Jobs friends, though holy men, and designing a good end, wandred exceedingly; and instead of administring comfort by their visitation, wounded him to the quick, and proved his greatest cross; The Sabeans and Chaldeans robbed him of his Cattel; Satan wronged him in his body, but his three friends vexed his soul, and did break him in peices with words. Their ignorance was the ground of the hurt they offered, instead of the help they intended, Job 19. 2. A Friend may do that mischief upon a false supposition, which an Enemy doth out of malice. Though the Doctrine be true and right, if the Application p. 597of it be wrong, I may kill sooner then cure the person to whom I apply it. The Husbandman must know the nature of his ground, before he casteth in his seed, or otherwise he will miss of his expected crop. Lord, thou knowest the conditions and dispositions of all men, by immediate intuition, and needest not that any should testifie of man; thou knowest how needful it is for me to understand by rational discourse, who and what those sick persons are, how things stand betwixt thy Majesty and their souls, whose recovery I go about; O help me to find out their sickness, and to give such advice out of thy word, that thou mayst work their cure.

I Wish that when the condition of the sick person is found out,22Let thy Application be sutable. neither fear nor flattery may make me unfaithful to his soul. Those prescriptions cannot be profitable, that are not answerable to his estate. I am unfaithful to God, my Neighbour, and my self, if my Application be not sutable to his condition. My God commandeth me to proclaim War against the presumptuous, to preach Peace to the penitent; and if I act otherwise out of fear, or affection, I act contrary to my commission; I am false to my trust, if I keep not close to the will of my Lord. He that takes not his Masters Precepts for his rule, will at last be counted and punished as an unfaithful servant. I hinder also my Neighbours good, whilst I give him counsel unsutable to his case. I may pretend love and respect, but its real hatred to flatter him who is hastening to the unquenchable fire. How dreadful will his fall be, from the high Turret of presumption, into the infernal pit of perdition, and how little thanks p. 598will he give me in the other world, for cozening his soul, by telling him all was well, till he came to see his own and my mistake in hell! Again, the guilt of such a crime would make a deep gash in my own conscience. Its ill slighting, or tampering with inestimable souls; His blood will be required at my hands; and if the blood of a slain body cry so loud for vengeance, what will the blood of a murdered soul do? Why should I to humour any mans lust, injure his soul, hinder my own peace, and incur the anger of the Lord. O that no foolish pretences whatsoever, may keep me off from acquainting sinners with th… …il and end, the nature and danger of their sins. Its Gods order, first to cast the soul down, and then to lift it up. The ground must feel the Plow, before it receive the Seed. Sorrow must precede comfort, and they must sow in tears, who would reap in joy. God must shake all Nations, before the desired of all Nations will come to him. We come to Sinai, the Mount that burneth with fire, and to blackness and darkness, and a tempest which makes even a Moses to fear and quake exceedingly, before we come to Mount Sion, the City of the living God, the Heavenly Ierusalem, and to Jesus the Mediatour of the new Covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things then the blood of Abel. The Law is a School-Master to drive us to Christ. Austere Iohn, with his Ax laid to the root of the Tree, threatning the fire to those that bring not forth fruit, prepareth the way for the sweet alluring Iesus; Mourning and Grief, is the Midwife of true mirth; Penitential tears are the streams that lead to the Rivers of Pleasures; Even p. 599the doleful sound of the Trumpet attendeth the Iudge, when he is going to acquit a Prisoner by publique Proclamation. Violence must be offered to corruption, or there will be no acceptance of the Lord Christ. The building of holiness is the more strong, for having its foundation of humiliation laid deep: The safety of the soul doth depend like Jonahs, upon his being cast over-boord, and utterly lost in his own apprehension.

The blessed Iesus himself is brought into a desolate Wilderness, before Angels are sent from Heaven to comfort him. O that I might follow my God in his usual way, and never prophesie smooth things to rugged and …ed men, but endeavour to break their hearts on …th, who have persisted in the breach of his holy Laws, that their backs may not be broken in Hell; Yet I would not instead of beating down the rotten Paper walls of presumption, drive any into the Dungeon of desperation; but as the good Nurse, have the breast of consolation, as well as the rod of correction in readiness for such Children. Moses and Christ met together upon Mount Tabor. The Gospel must be Preached to heal those wounds which are opened and discovered by the Law. The Lord sendeth me to proclaim liberty to the Captives, and the opening of the Prison to them that are bound. Lord, thou killest and makest alive, bringest down to the grave, and bringest up. Its easie and ordinary with thee to break those bones which thou intendest to rejoyce, and to perplex those Rams in Briars and Thorns, which thou intendest to accept of as a sacrifice. Teach thy Servant to know how to speak a word in season, both to the wicked and to the godly, p. 600how to divide thy word aright, both in its minatory, and consolatory parts, that as occasion shall …e, I may awaken the wicked out of their deadly slumbers, and quicken the godly to their spiritual watchfulness, and help to sweeten that bitter cup which thou hast put into their hands. O that thy blessing might water my labours for both their welfares! Alas poor sick unregenerate ones, are dropping into boundless and endless sorrows, and yet are without sense. Though they are dying they know not what they are doing, nor whither they are going; Their eyes are shut by the god of this World, that they see not that unspeakable misery to which they are liable every moment; their hearts are hardened through custom in sin, that neith… …reatnings nor promises prevail with them to feel their wounds and sores. O thou great Physitian, thou Lord of life, thou God of health, open their eyes, send some Ananias to them, that they may receive their sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost; enable them so to mourn now, that they may be comforted when the time of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord, and help thy servant to deal so faithfully with those whom thou callest me to visit, that I may never give thy Majesty cause to say of me as once of the Prophets of Israel, They have healed the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, Peace, when there is no peace.

33Be close and home in thy Applications.I Wish that I may be close and home in my Applications to sick persons, and speak what is proper to their estates with ardency and affection, to their very hearts; Its ill dallying with edged tools; O how sad is it to toy and trifle, to be formal or customary in counsel p. 601or reproof, or comfort to immortal souls, that are launching into the Ocean of eternity. Death is a serious thing, and that which they never did before, nor shall ever do again. Sin is a serious thing, as the damned find in Hell by woful experience. Though there they are in blackness of darkness, yet they have light enough to see sin to be the evil of evils, and altogether sinful. Christ was serious when he took upon him my nature, and therein did offer up himself… a sacrifice for sin. God is serious in commanding faith and repentance, and in promising Heaven to the faithful and holy, and Hell to unbeleivers and atheists; And shall not I be serious and in earnest, when I am dealing about matters of eternal life and death, and about the concernments of God and Christ, and souls, and eternity! O with what earnestness should I perswade the wicked, to turn from their wickedness and live! If ever their souls would draw near to the Lord of life, it concerns them to do it, when their bodies are drawing nigh to the Chambers of death; It is but a very few hours, and their condition will be past all amendment, all alteration. In this poor pittance of time, all must be done, upon which the Scales must turn, for their salvation or damnation. They are going to make that change which will admit them into endless joy or torment, and render their estates unchangeable. Their time is hastening, that they must struggle with dreadful pains, and strong distempers, and death, the King of terrors, and must review that life which is ending, and look back upon all that they have done, and judge their persons and actions impartially, whether they will or no, that they must take p. 602their leave of all their friends, and food, and sleep, and lands, and houses, and honours, and pleasures, and riches, and step into eternity, and appear before God without their Relations, or Possessions, or any worldly comforts, to help or encourage them; that they must be tried by an holy Law, and an holy Judge, for their everlasting lives or deaths; and can my expressions be too full of weight and reason, or my affections too full of bowels and pity, in my dealing and discourse with such men? Lord, thou knowest the poor silly children of men, are unable to judge of eternal affairs according to their weight; they are quickly lost, when in their thoughts they begin to launch into that boundless Sea; The ponderousness of the subject, is ready to affright and press them down, being so much beyond and above their shallow understandings; But wouldst thou please to enable them, though it were but to peep into the other world, and to behold, through some Crevice, what is doing and enjoyed there, both by thy friends and thine enemies, they would soon have other thoughts of thee and thy service, and other carriages when they are about thy work; the greatest seriousness would then be too little, the greatest ardour would not be thought enough for thy worship; they would then indeed, be fervent in spirit when they are serving the Lord. O teach thy servant, though he cannot see into the other world with the eye of sense, yet so to look into it with an eye of faith, that he may transact the concerns thereof with that diligence, faithfulness, and fervency, which thou acceptest, and whilst he liveth, be zealous of good works.

p. 603I Wish that my heart may be so affected with pity towards sick and afflicted persons,44Pray with them, and for them. that I may often and earnestly remember them in my prayers. A little Captive, considering the Leprosie of her Master, was instrumental for his cure, by crying out, Would God my Lord were with the Prophet that is in Samaria, for he would recover him of his Leprosie. I have more reason when I behold a Leprous soul, near its last gasp, to look up to Heaven with, Would to God that poor creature were with Jesus Christ, that great prophet of his Church, who is able and willing to enliven, and pardon, and sanctifie, and save; Would to God he would be perswaded to come to Christ, to cling to Christ, to close with Christ, for he would recover him; And what do I know but my prayers may be prevalent on his behalf; Christ when dying, prayed for his enemies, for them that imbrued their hands in his blood; and shall not I pray for my friends when they are dying, and possibly ignorant whether they are going? My Prayers are a cheap courtesie, and diminish nothing of my estate, either spiritual or temporal. Their misery is an awakening motive to the duty. Never did they stand in such need of help from others, and wrastling with God on their behalves, as now that they are taking their journey into a far Country, and entring upon an unchangeable condition. They may say to me, as Nehemiah to Geshem; I am doing a great work, &c. I am going to die, to bid adieu to all the folly and vanity, and comforts of this world, to take possession of my long home, of the place wherein I must abide for p. 604ever; O pray for us, that we may be pardoned, and saved, that we may repent and believe, that we may die in the faith, and obtain the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto life eternal. They have many distractions upon their own spirits, by reason of pains and bodily distempers, and the loss and lamentation of their Kindred and Relations, that they cannot poure out their hearts to God with that freeness and seriousness, and earnestness, which (probably) they desire. Their enemies, and assaults, and temptations, at such a time are more quick, and strong, and violent, and full of rage, having but a short time. I must now pray for them, or never pray for them; Now beg mercy for them, or never beg mercy for them. When their life is gone, all tears, and cries, and groans for them are in vain. Davids greatest passions for dead Absolon were to no purpose. They are then gone the way they shall not return, and fixed in that place whence they shall never remove. Lord, I confess that my narrow heart hath not pity enough for afflicted, and sick, and dying souls, and my weak hands have not power enough to supply or support them in their sad estates, but thou hast both. O be pleased to look down from Heaven, the habitation where thine holiness dwelleth; Behold their miseries, hide thy face from all their iniquities; out of thine infinite fulness, releive their necessities. Let the eyes of their souls be opened to see their sins and their Saviour, before the eyes of their bodies be closed. Give them patience and strength answerable to the burden thou layest on their backs; Enable them to do their last works well, and let them be better then their first; Open thou their lips, and let their mouths p. 605shew forth thy praise, before they go to the place of silence. Stand by them in their last conflict with their enemies, Death and Devils, that they may over come both, be more then conquerours through him that loves them, and pass through the jaws of death, to the joys of a blessed eternal life.

I Wish that my soul may be the more sound for every visit I bestow on sick bodies.22In receiving good by them There is not so much danger of catching their outward diseases, as there is hope of increasing my spiritual health, if I am not wanting to my self. The sick and dying bed is a Pulpit, out of which I may be instructed more fully in many serious truths, though the sick or dying man be speechless. King Joash obtained three famous victories over the Syrians, 2 King. 13. 14, to 20.2 Kgs 13:14–20by visiting sick Elisha, and might have gotten a compleat conquest over them, if it had not been his own fault. The sight of sick and dying men, may assist me in my conflicts with the three great enemies of my present purity, and future comfort and bliss. It teacheth …e how vain it is to make provision for that flesh which will it self ere long, be provision for wormes; Ah how foolish am I to pamper and please that which instead of releiving or refreshing, will in my extremity pierce and pain me! It teacheth me that the world it self is the greatest Cheat and Impostour in the world. That though it laughs and smiles on men, dandling them on her knees, and hugging them in her armes, whilst they are in health, and promising all sorts of comforts and pleasures; yet in their sickness and misery she turns them off, and leaves them, as Absolons Mule did him, to be …hot through with the p. 606heart-cutting arrows of eternal death; By discovering the emptiness and falseness of these two seeming ends, the flesh and the world, it helpeth me to overcome my third enemy, and to repel the fiery darts of the Devil. The cup of temptation, which hath so often bewitched me to drink down his deadly poison, had its prevalency from the worldly profit with which the out-side was guilded, or the fleshly pleasure with which the in-side was sweetned. Ah! could I but bid an hearty defiance to the World and the Flesh, and conquer them, I need not fear the wicked one; They are the powerful Advocates, by which Satan pleads, and too often prevails with the soul; By these Hand-maids he wooeth the Mistress. But the sick bed is a Book in which I may read their deceitfulness and treachery, their perfidiousness and fallacies, and thereby learn to avoid them.

Further, I may read the sinfulness of sin in others sickness. That Parent must needs be a deformed monster, that begets such uncomely and ill-favoured children. In the dreadful effects I may behold the poisonous cause. Man had never known sickness in his body, if he had not known sin experimentally in his soul; Tis the plague and stone of the heart, that causeth those in the flesh. When I behold the sick man labouring under his distemper, how he is chastened with pain upon his bed, and the multitude of his bones with strong pain, so that his life abhorreth bread, and his soul dainty meat; How his flesh is consumed away that it cannot be seen, and his bones stick out; he is filled with tossings too and fro, unto the dawning of the day: When I behold his eyes sinking, his heart panting, hi… p. 607Wife and Children wailing and wringing their hands, his friends weeping, his tongue faltering, his throat ratling, his breath failing, his strength languishing, his whole body in a cold clammy sweat, wrestling with his pain and disease; may I not well cry out, O what an evil is sin, which bringeth all this upon the poor Children of men! My Redeemer is therefore said to bear our sicknesses, because he bare our sins in his body on the tree, 1 Pet. 2. 24. Mat. 8. 17. And in all his applications for the cure of the diseased, he had an eye to the root of the malady; To one that was diseased, he said, Be of good cheer, thy sins are forgiven thee; To another, Sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee. When the Angel was smiting Israel with a Pestilence, holy Davids thoughts ran upon the procuring cause, I have sinned, I have done very wickedly; My God teacheth Israel the grievous nature of their defilement, in the greatness of those judgements which they brought upon them. Speaking of his severity towards them, he tells them, Thy way and thy doings have procured those things unto thee; this is thy wickedness, because it is bitter, because it reacheth unto thine heart, Ier. 4. 18. Our bodies are full of natural corruption, because our souls are full of moral corruption. O how fitly may I therefore, when I behold the evil of affliction on others, abhor and bewail the evil of sin in my self!

Once more, I may be instructed in the necessity of a timely preparation for such an hour of affliction; Can I think a …ick bed a fit place, an hour of pain and grief a meet season to begin that great business p. 608of turning from sin, of loathing my self for all my abominations, and working out my own salvation? Is it rationally to be imagined that trembling joynts, dazelled eyes, a fainting heart, failing limbs, a body full of aches and diseases, a soul sympathizing with it, and full of vexation and grief, should be fit instruments about such a work, which an angelical strength, and agility, and freedom, is little enough for? Ah, What wise man would build his eternal making and welfare, upon such a tottering and sandy foundation? The greatest strength, and longest time, and most vigorous health, is not in the least degree, too much for this needful and weighty business; and shall I put it off till my strength fails, my health is gone, and my time near its last sand? Lord, Beside all these, I may learn the excellency of thine Image, and thy favour; Sickness cannot waste them, nor death it self destroy them. Where the Curtains are drawn, and the windows close, in the darkest chamber of the dying man, the comeliness of thy likeness, and the sweetness of thy love, are most sparkling and glorious. The want of outward comforts, doth convince the unbeleiving world of the worth of eternal blessings. When the flesh and world that made shew of such love to their deluded favourites, turn them off in their extremity, as the Jews did Judas (complaining to them of his-folly and wickedness) What is that to us, see thou to that; Thou standest by and ownest thy servants, thou knowest their souls in their days of adversity; and how-ever thou dealest with them in their health, wilt be sure to tend and look to, to be both Nurse and Physitian to thy sick children. p. 609Thy grace is a reviving Cordial, and thy love will make even death it self a sweet and desireable dish. O help thy poor servant to gain much spiritual good by those natural evils which others suffer. As others sickness speaketh these things to mine ears, and their conditions make them visible to mine eyes, do thou write them in my heart, that all such providences of thine towards others, may make sin more ugly, the world more empty, thy graces and favour more comely and desireable, and that furthering my purity at present, they may further my eternal peace hereafter.

Finally,The Conclusion. I Wish that the sickness of others, may cause me to be the more industrious in a faithful improvement of my health, and take me wholly off from priding, and pampering, and making provision for that flesh, which is so apt to breed diseases, and in its greatest beauty and strength is so near to death. The goodliest structure of body is but earth a little better wrought, or more curiously then usually moulded up, and with an ordinary disease is mard and defaced, and so calleth on me to be humble rather then lifted up. The Flesh that I provide for my flesh, is not more subject to corruption, or more perishing then the flesh for which it is provided. Within a few days I shall have an end both of food and feeding; O that I might waste that body in Gods service, which will ere long waste with sickness! spend and he spent in his work, who gives me my health, and strength, and hath promised a bountiful reward! Sure I am, I can never bring them to a better Market, nor put them off at an higher price. Is it not better to consume my flesh in doing good, in p. 610glorifying my God, then with idleness and ease, or with distempers and diseases? Satans servants do not grudge to give their prime and cheif, their heal…h and strength to their lusts, and shall not I give mine to my Lord? Ah Lord, an unthankeful selfish unbeleiving heart, hath too much …indered me from, and disturbed me in those excellent duties which thou callest me to; O deliver me from it for thy mercies sake! Strengthen me by thy good spirit, both to do good to, and receive good by such as thou chastenest with sickness; so to consider the poor and afflicted, and to visit others in my heath, that thou mayst visit me with thy saving health; strengthen me upon my bed of languishing, and make all my bed in my sickness, that my most mortal sickness may not be unto death (eternal) but for thy glory, and my passage into endless bliss; yea, that in the other world, I may stand among thy Sheep on thy right hand, and hear that blessed heart-chearing voice, Come thou blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for thee before the foundation of the World; For I was hungry and thou gavest me meat, I was thirsty and thou gavest me drink, I was a stranger and thou didst take me in, I was sick and thou visitedst me; when my soul shall be above all sin, and my body above all sickness, and both blessed in thy favour and fruition, for ever, and ever.

Amen.