Chap.19. rable time made Religion the great businesse of their lives; apprehending the chief happineseot man to confist in reconciliation with God, pardes of fin, in a gracious frame of heart, in communiu with God, and a faithful ferving of him: whe ther they have fet their affections on things above, have had their converfation in Heaven, have preffed earnestly after the Glory of the other world, have laid hold on eternal life, have been treasuring up for eternity, have improved their Talents for God, bave been ferviceable to him in their genera tion. If their Confciences (upon a serious search ) can bear witneffe that (through Grace) it has been thus (in fome good measure) with them, then they have great reafon to encourage their hearts in the Lord, and to awaken all the powers of their Joules to bleffe his holy Name for working fo gra cious a frame of heart in them. And let them ftill feek to the fame fountain of Grace, that he would pleafe to perfect holinesse more and more in them, till he bring them into the City of the li ving God, the Heavenly Ferufalem, to an inne merable company of Angels, to the general Ajfembly and Church of the first-born, to the Spirits of just men made perfect, and to Fefus the Medi atour of the new Covenant, Heb.12.22. But if the cafe has not been thas (in any conf derable degree and measure) with them, but upon a ferious fearch they find they have been igns TA rant and mistaken about, or too negligent and careleffe of the great things that concern their falvation, then let them bewail their fad condition, and cry mightily to God to give them his holy Spirit, to enlighten their minds, to convince them throughly of their fins, of the danger, folly, and pollution of them; to give them a heart to repent in good earnest, to bestow upon them a broken and a contrite Spirit; to diffolve their fony hearts into that Godly forrow which worketh repentance to fal vation, never to be repented of, and which bring eth forth fruits meet for repentance; to difcover to them their great need of a Saviour; to draw their foules effectually unto him, that they may close with him fincerely and refolvedly for those ends and purpofes for which he came into the world; namely, to procure our pardon by his Merits, and to fanctifie our natures by his Grace and holy Spirit ; to mortifie our corruptions,to deliver us from Satans power, and to bring us back again unto God. And for the better information of their minds in the things they fhould know and believe in order to their talIvation; and to direct their practife, I must refer them to the three first Chapters of the first part of this Treatife, and the second and third Chapters of the fecond part; which I defire them heedfully to mind and ponder upon. Befides thefe Directions already mentioned, there are fome others also very requifite for fick perfons to mind and regard. As, I. They I. They fhould fettle their eftates and sy affairs (if they have not already done it, s prudence they should in time of health) fo their minds may be free and vacant for pr exercifes, and not disturbed with earthly and bafineßes. And those that have estøs € them not forget to be charitable, and to fomething to pious afes, knowing that réjus facrifices (offer'd in a right manner and to right end) God is well-pleased. IT. If they remember any wrongs, or of injustice they have done to their neighbors, thefe with whom they have had dealings, let th take reftitution or labour to give chem ction as they are able; that the guilt of the fins remain not on their Confciences. HII. If they be at variance with any, leten feekreconciliation, and freely and heartily for those that have done them wrong, remem how much they stand in need of forgivenes God. IV. Let them give good counsel to thofe de them, and the friends that come to visit then and exhort them earnestly to mind the work out their falvation intime of health, and net ti their hearts on this world, on the pleasures or pi fits of it, which will not avail them in the of death: Let them advise them` now to live F to God, now to lay a good foundation again ve time to com:. The words of fick and dying po n tl th d d th ภ O fons use to be much heeded and remem bred.. V. Let them (in the intervals of fharper pains) look over their life paft, and recollect Gods won derful favours and bleffings beftowed upon them, to stir up their hearts to praife and magnifie his holy Name. How many are there that if they would read over the hiftory of their life paft, may find matter enough of praife, and to provoke them to fend up lome fuch thankful ejacula tions as these Bleed be the Lord in all my life time I never broke a bone, never fell into the hands of robbers, never into publick shame, or noifom difeafes: I have not begg'd my bread: God gave me a right fhape of body; the right ufe of my understanding, careful and pious Parents, goad and boumiful friends, a religious education; delivered me in fuch and fuch a danger, heard my Drayers in fuch particular preßures of my spirit, &c. Owhat fhall I render to the Lord for all his behefits towards me! VI. Let them decline (as much as they can ) he vifits of vain and worldly perfons, who (by heir carnal and frothy difcourfes) are like to turb and hinder them in their preparations for Heath, and thofe fpiritual meditations and exerifes they should be employ'd in. Thofe hat vifit fick perfons, or attend about them hould not talk to them (as 'tis too common) of vain, worldly, needleffe bufineffes; but of things that concern the welfare of their fas And to this Head I may also refer this one more, that at fuch a ferious time no vain, u frothy books fhould be read to them, or by s (as is by many ufed to make them merry fach Treatifes as may better them to God-way and further them in the way to Heaven. To ditate and feriously ponder on the four late treated of in the next Chapter will not be fitable for them. ve VII. Let them confult with, and the fa vice of their spiritual guides, while they have Some strength of body, and the right aft understandings, before their Spirits are for th that there is no converfing with them. VIII. Let them confider Gods aim by fign in fending fickneffe upon them: Let enquire into the mean cals them to: let them he them confider what co บร ou wh the W ons they are especially to mortifie,what fins to de what duties to perform, what Graces to extrafe And (though they may and ought coule and means for the removing of their fickneffe, wi ing to the Lord for his bleffing thereupon) Palet them not forget to pray as earnestly to G their ficknesse fanctified as removed. Blan the man whom thon correcteft and teaches, 94.12. he |