grant him longer life, be pleased however to [gibe him grace] to fubmit to thy Will, and enable him [to] humbly and quietly [to take this] Chaftisement, as [tby Wifitation,] that he may bear it patiently, and be diligent to make his peace with thee, and then his Sickness thall have this bleffed event, [that after this] miserable, finful, and [painful life] fhall be [ended] by a happy death, though he muft ftay no longer with us, yet [be may dwell with thee] and thy glorious Saints and Angels [in] that bleffed [life] which is free from all evils, and full of all felicity, being alfo [eberlafting,] without alteration or any end; which as it was purchased by the merits, fo it is now begged [through] the Mediation of Jefus Christ our Lozd] who liveth for ever.

Amen

PARTITION III.

Of the Exhortation.

SECTION I.

Of the first part of the Exhortation contained in the prefcribed form.

S. I.

T is a part of the Minifters Office to Exhort as well as to Pray for their People, 2 Tim. iv. 2. and that not only in time of health, but also in time of fick

For then

↳ Græc, dvrijede T addy@y.i.c.manu juftentate infirmos. Grot.

The Church is

nefs, 1 Thef. v. 14. ". they ftand in moft need of our directions, and then they are most likely to follow our wholefome advice. unwilling we should lofe fo probable an opportunity and fit a feafon to do good; and fince the Patient is now made tender and tractable by fuffering, we are here furnished with a proper and pious Exhortation to improve that happy temper for his fouls health And though the Prieft is not abfolutely tyed to this form of R 3

words

words (because of the variety of cafes in fick Men) yet this is fo rarely contrived, that it will fute moft occafions; and those who confider it, will be convinced that they are not able to make any thing comparable hereto. The ufe of Exhorting the Sick hath long continued in the Western Church, and the principal heads of this very form are prescribed in an Ancient Council, fuppofed to be held above 800. years ago; where the Prieft is ordered, after he hath Prayed for the Sick, "tò fpeak comfor“tably and mildly to him, exhorting him to place all his "hope in God, and to bear his fcourging patiently, to be"lieve it is defigned for his purifying and amendment, as "alfo to confefs his fins, and promife reformation if God "fhall grant him life, and that he engage to do acts of Pe"nance for his faults; alfo that he difpofe of his Eftate "while his reafon and fenfes remain intire, and that he "break off his Iniquities by Alms-deeds; that he forgive "all that have offended him; that he hold a right Faith "and Belief, and never despair of God's mercy, Concil. Nannetenj. cap.4. ap. Binium, Tom.3.p.2. pag.131. which I have the more fully fet down, because it is evident our Learned Compofers of the Liturgy had this ancient Conftitution for their Guide, in their drawing up this present Exhortation, having only put these things into proper phrafes, and a more exact method, the order of which we may thus defcribe: In this first part, which is the prescribed form, are two Particulars; First, Inftruction: Secondly, Exhortation, properly fo called. 1. We are to inftruct the fick Man. First, Concerning the Author of Affliction, viz. God. Secondly, The caufes of it, viz. 1. To try our Graces: 2. To correct what is amifs in us. Thirdly, The manner of bearing it, viz. 1. With Penitence. 2. With Patience. 3. With Faith. 4. With Thankfulness. 5. With Submillion. Fourthly, The event of Affliction fo born, viz. 1. It fhall be profitable.

2. It shall tend to our Salvation. The Second Part is Exhortation, properly so called, wherein we are to exhort the fick Man, Firft, To Patience: 1. By the words of Scripture, Heb. xii. 6. &c. 2. By applying them to this cafe. 3. By propofing the example of Chrift unto him, Secondly, We exhort him to examine himself. 1.In general, of his Baptismal Vow. 2. In particular, both of the acts which he hath done, and the Faith which he believeth. These are the parts of the fet form, the remaining particulars concerning Confeffion of Sin, Forgiveness of Injuries, Satisfaction for wrongs done, difpofing of the Eftate, doing acts of Charity and Alms-deeds, being referved for the general directions which are the fecond part of this Exhortation, of which hereafter; Let it fuffice that we note here,nothing is wanting which is requifite for the comfort and benefit of a fick Perfon, as the particulars will evince.

. 2. Dearly Belobed, know this, that Almighty God is the Lozd of Life and Death, and of all things to them pertaining, as Pouth, Strength, Health, Age, eakness and Sicknels; wherefoze whatever your Sicknels is, know you certainly that it is God's Mittation.]"To the Afflicted (faith Job) Pity fhould be fhown, chap. vi. 14. and gentle words are fitteft for those in distress; wherefore we begin our Admonition with this courteous falutation [Dearly Beloved.] As to thofe we Vifit, fome are ignorant, they know not these plain things, and those which do know them, are so apt to forget them through pain and other diverfions, that we judge it neceffary to teach the one, and put the other in mind of fuch things as are proper to the ftate of Sickness. First, Concerning the Author of Affliction, which is no other than God: In cafe of a Dif

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Quid prodeft (inquit) aperta monftrare? nim fcimus nec attendèPlurimum, interdum emus, &c. Sen, ep. 94.

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