1. Endeavour to give him just notions of a particular Providence, that though men do not so often attend to it as they ought, yet it certainly is evident both from Scripture and reason, that whatever befals every man on earth, is under the immediate direction of Providence. And as to his affliction in particular, persuade him to regard and consider it as coming from the hand of God.

2. Then discourse on the wisdom and goodness of God in sending these occasional rebukes of Providence, which (whatever we think) are sent for the best ends. Afflictions are the physic of the soul, designed to purify and purge it.

3. Under this view of things, press on him the exercise of patience, submission, and a total resignation to the Divine will; and direct him to look on the present dispensation (though griev ous) as sent in mercy to him, and as what may hereafter produce the most excellent effects.

4. Tell him, that in the best of men there are sins and follies sufficient to justify the severest dispensations of God's providence; that many good Christians have suffered worse; and what reason he has to be thankful, that his case is not still more calamitous.

5. Remind him of many mercies mixed with the present afflictions.

6. If it should please God to restore him, exhort him faithfully to concur with the design of this visitation, by his constant endeavour to amend that for which his conscience now smites him.

But if there should be apparent symptoms of approaching death,

1. Exhort him seriously to review his past life, and to call to mind the most remarkable transgressions of it; for which he should now greatly humble his soul before God, and sincerely renew his repentance.

2. Endeavour that his repentance may be sincere and unfeigned, to make him sensible of the evil and guilt of sin, from its contrariety to the holy nature of God, and shun the inevitable ruin to which it exposes the soul.

3. When he is thus humble and penitent, revive him with the consolations of the Gospel, the amazing compassion and goodness of God to a world of sinners, in sending his Son to redeem them by his death, and the merits of the Redeemer's sufferings, whose blood cleanses from all sin.

4. Then open to him in a plain and easy manner the Gospel method of salvation by Jesus Christ, and the only terms of pardon there proposed, namely, repentance, faith, and renewed obedience. And tell him that salvation in Christ consists in the lively exercise of love to him, a desire to serve and please him, and an humble dependence on his merits for justification and pardon, and in a deep self-abhorrence for his sin.

5. Remind him to settle his affairs as well as he can, and then to think no more of worldly things.

6. Leave him with some suitable texts of Scripture, which you apprehend most applicable to his state.

Helps for conversing with one in a good state.

If you have reason to believe that he is a real Christian, your work will not be difficult; it may be pleasant and useful; and you may possibly receive more advantage from him than he does from you. For the graces of a real Christian are at such a time commonly most lively, and the tongue very faithful to the sentiments of the heart, so that you will presently see what it Is that lies mostly on his mind, and your present

business will be 1st, to administer consolation; and 2nd, if he has any doubts, to remove them.

1. The consolation may be taken from his past experience. Direct him to look back to the goodness of God to him, and the sensible experience he has had of his love and presence. Bid him think what God has done for his soul, and thence draw David's conclusion, "Because "the Lord hath been my help, therefore in the "shadow of thy wings will I rejoice." Ps. Ixiii. 7.

2. Refer his thoughts to God's character as a Father; and then bid him think of the compassions of a father to a weak and helpless child.

3. Open the inexhaustible stores of divine mercy in the Gospel.

4. Insist on the mighty efficacy of the Redeemer's blood, and

5. The genuine marks of a true faith and sincere repentance.

6. Endeavour to affect his mind with a lively apprehension of the heavenly glory, to which he will very shortly be received.

If he has any doubts, endeavour to remove them by telling him,

1. That he is not a proper judge in his own case under the present weakness of his mental powers; that the lowness of his animal spirits causes him to look too much on the dark side, and to see every thing in a false light; and that he has no reason to suspect his case to be worse now than it was when he had better hopes concerning it.

2. Tell him, that the best of men have had their doubts; that if it be a sign of a weak faith, it is however the sign of some true faith.

3. That it is much safer to be doubtful than over confident.

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4. That however variable our frame may be, God's regard for his own children is always the same, unchangeable.

5. Ask him if he has any hopes? and whether he would part with the little hope he has for the greatest treasures on earth? Bid him examine the foundation of these hopes, as well as that of his fears, for he can never judge aright till he looks on both sides: and oftentimes a real Christian's weak hope has a better foundation than his strongest fears.

Other Helps for conversing with one in a
good state.

As to him, concerning whom there is good reason to hope he is in a state of grace,

1. Endeavour to support him in a cheerful, and animate him to a thankful frame. If afraid of death, represent the great promises of the Gospel. Endeavour to raise in him admiring and adoring thoughts of divine grace.

2. Exhort him to bear an honourable testimony to religion with his dying breath; and to recommend it to all those who come to him.

3. Urge him to be of a patient and resigned behaviour, and that this may be shewn to all around him; and exhort him to guard against a peevish or fretful temper to his attendants.

N. B. Let not your visits be too long, and be very solicitous that they may turn to the best account. Your visits may prove perhaps of singu lar advantage sometimes to persons who have before been entirely regardless of religion. Good men by your seasonable assistance may end life with more comfort to themselves, and more honourably to religion; or, if they live, they may make the better improvement of their sickness. You should visit them, because when heaviness "in the heart of man maketh it to stoop, a good "word often maketh it glad, (Prov. xii. 25.)

"removes the fears of unbelief, revives the 66 drooping spirits, and fills the soul with joy and 66 peace in believing." (Rom. xv. 13.)

Frequently put up a short prayer, or a few ejaculations to God to bless your endeavours,* and be properly prepared for so difficult an undertaking, as visiting and praying with the sick certainly are.

Helps for conversing with one who is sick, in order to discover to which of the foregoing states he may belong.

Consider and inquire his general character, especially from those who are best acquainted with him; and above all, from religious persons. As for instance, from a pious parent for a child; or from a master for a servant.

Get what information you can from himself; especially if you have good reason on the whole to think ill of him. If you have only a general reason to think he is wrong, without great immoralities to charge upon him, then be so much more solicitous to gather something from his own mouth, on which to form a plain and awakening address. You may ask the sick person seriously whether he has any thing in particular to say to you with regard to the state of his soul.

And if he has, you may then say to his relations or attendants, that perhaps it might be more agreeable to him, if he was left alone with you.

Put to him some of the following questions, which are the distinguishing characteristics of a

* See a form of that kind among the Prayers at the end of this book, for the blessing of God on the endeavours of a Minister to assist the sick.