Eufeb. And fo it certainly would, if the generality of mankind were but as wife as they ought to be.

Theoph. It is a difmal confideration, to think how great a part, I fay not, of mankind, but even of them that call themselves Chriftians, and have paffed all their days in this our truly excellent, primitive, apoftolical Church, live at fuch a rate, that they feem to have little more than the name of Chriftians, to diftinguifh them from Jews, Makometans,or Heathens. I have heard Theodorus, and other divines, make fad complaint, with great grief and forrow of heart, that, when they go to affift their fick neighbours in their neceffity, they find them too often fo intolerably ftupid and fenfelefs as to the business of religion, that it evidently appears to have been none of their care, and little good is to be done with them. Many times they are not fent to at all; and, when they are, it is too often to very little purpose, confidering what fort of perfons they have to deal with. The man they are to visit, defires to partake of their prayers. He looks upon himself as taking his leave of this world, and begs they will befeech Almighty God to grant him a happy paffage into a better. But, as to the conditions required on his own part, and without which there is no hope of falvation, he is a great ftranger to them. If he be afked, What grounds he has to hope, that God is reconciled to him, and has forgiven his fins; his answer is, That he has lived quietly and peaceably, has wronged none of his neighbours, and fo he hopes well of him. felf. But ask him to give an account of his faith, and he does it very lamely. He has lived always in the bofom of the Church, and commonly has made a part of the publick congregation; but, not having been taught his Catechifm when he was young, nor having duly accustomed himself to read the Scriptures, and other good books, fince, he is almoft as little verfed in the principles of Christianity, as if he had been bred up amongst the favage Indians, or in the deferts of Arabia. This is a dreadful cafe, and fuch a difccurage

ment

ment to a faithful paftor, as one would fcarce imagine poffible in a Chriftian country, and where the free ufe of the Gospel is allowed, and the reading of it encouraged, and its doctrines continually explained and inculcated, as they are with us: yet I am well affured it is too true, and too common.

Eufeb. This is a fad ftory, if it happen but now.

and-then.

Theoph. I doubt, if you afk of them who have had occafion to know it beft, you will find it no fuch rarity as you may imagine. And then if you inquire into his practice, he hopes well of it; but, alas! he is miferably deficient here too. He was bred up with a profeffion of religion, and has avoided fome of the more heinous fins, fuch as robbery, adultery, murder, or folemn perjury, which he has never been guilty of, tho' perhaps he has made no confcience of twearing in his ordinary converfation, in direct oppofition to our Saviour's prohibition, (b) Swear not at all; nor is notorious for drunkennefs, or lying, or cheating, though poffibly far from being innocent in any of thele refpects. As for the worship of God in his family, he is as perfect a stranger to it as can be, having never prayed with them, morning or evening, fince he had them to pray with, and poffibly but rarely by himself; nor perhaps has he fo much as ufed himself to beg God's bleffing upon his meals, or to return thanks for them. He has taken no care of his children, to bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. He minded indeed to get what wealth he could for them, and to fettle them in the world to the beft advantage; but, as to their everlatting welfare, he hith had as little regard for that, as for his own; which he feldom, if ever, feriously thought of. He went on carelefly, and did as he faw others do, but never troubled himself to inquire whither the path he was in would lead him, and whether the end of it would not be death, and everlafting deftruction.

(6) Matth. v. 34.

T 4

Eufeb.

Eufeb. This is a woful proof of the great need fuch have of all the affistance that may be, to rescue them, if poffible, from those intolerable tortures they have been so long preparing for themselves,

Theoph. It is a melancholick employment to vifit fuch thoughtless finners, both because of the dreadful condition they are in at prefent, and because likewife of the little impreffion is like to be made upon them, by all the best advice that can be given them, the moft urgent and preffing exhortations that can be ufed, and all the most amazing terrors, that can be represented to them, or the moft bleffed hopes that can be fet before them.

Anchith. Can they poffibly forbear confidering at fuch a time as this?

Theoph. It is too evident they can. Either they care not to hear of the danger they are in; or, if they give it a patient hearing, they hope God is merciful, and will pardon their fins; they meant no harm, and they truft he will therefore be favourable to them; they are forry they have offended him, and wifh they had done otherwife, and perhaps make fome faint promnifes of being wiser for the future, if it may please God to reftore them to their health. But, as for any real fign's of a true and hearty repentance, thefe are rarely to be met with among fuch nominal Chriftians.

Eufeb. This is a lamentable cafe. But yet, fince, if they will ever be brought to confider, they will do it upon a near profpect of death; and fince it is found by experience, that fome few are then fo awakened out of their former lethargy, as thenceforward really to become new men; it is very fit they fhould have the means used, to try what the effect will be.

Theoph. And those who are duly mindful of their flocks, will not refufe to do the utmost in their power, for reclaiming fuch; tho' it is easy to imagine, what a mortification it must be to them, to obferve the difficulty of their undertaking, and the little hope they have of fuccefs in it. This is a great difcouragement

to a good man; but will not deter him from performing his duty to them, whatsoever the event be. And it is a wonderful comfort to him, if at any time he be fo happy, as to awaken either a ftupid, or a hardened finner into a fenfe of his duty, to be truly humbled for his guilt, and earnestly defirous, not only of par don for it, but of ability to bring forth fruits meet for repentance.

Eufeb. Hence we fee, what reason there is to try, if any good can be done upon the worft of men; who we may be fure will hearken now, if ever.

Theoph. And this confirms what I faid, that the minifter ought to have notice, when any in his parish are fick, that fo he may attend them, and do what fervice he can for them. For not only thefe, but the holiest and best of Chriftians, will acknowledge the great benefit of his affiftance, of which they are fo fenfible, that they feldom need to be put in mind of fending to him, and are rejoiced at the fight of him, when coming to minister to them, and are always highly thankful to him for it. This therefore, is our Church's first direction to the fick, That notice be given to the minister of the parish of his fickness.

In the fecond place, inquiry is to be made, whether the fick man has fettled his temporal affairs; and he is to be exhorted to make his will immediately, if it be not already done.

Eufeb. A very proper exhortation upon divers ac

counts.

Theoph. Moft certainly; but not in relation to Anchithanes, who, to my certain knowledge, has made his fome days fince: it had been better to have done it fooner, but, being done, there is no occafion to press it now.

Anchith. Theodorus, good man, when he was firft fo kind as to give me a vifit, told me, he was commanded to inquire what care I had taken, as to the difpofal of my temporal concerns; and was fo urgent with me to make no longer delay, left haply I

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might die inteftate, and bring great mischief by it to my family and relations, that I forthwith fent for an attorney, and dispatched that affair, as Theophilus has ¡declared.

Theoph. It were greatly to be wifhed, that all who have any eftates to leave behind them, would be perfuaded never to be without a will, and ever-and-anon to overlook it, and fee what occafion there may be for any alterations in it. I have heard of fome that have renewed their will annually; and I cannot but think it very prudent, in fuch as have great dealings in the world, to do it. And all others ought to amend what they shall think defective in it, upon every confiderable alteration in their circumstances.

Eufeb. This undoubtedly were very adviseable, if men would be prevailed with to hearken to it. But, alas! the generality are fo far from thus repeating their will, that they will not be got to make it at all, till they find themfelves at the point of death; and it is well, if they can be invited to do it then.

ance.

Theoph. They can no more endure to think of making their wills, than of fetting about their repentAnd hence it too often comes to país, that tho' they acknowledge both neceffary, and promise, and feem refolved, to do both before they die, they are both put off till it is too late, and fo are never done at all. It is highly reasonable therefore, that this fhould be one part of the fick man's examination, to the end that if he have hitherto neglected either of these duties, he may be perfuaded to apply himself to it with all the fpeed that may be.

Eufeb. It were much rather to be defired, that perfons would take care of both, in the time of their health and ftrength, when they are better qualified for the performance of them. But fince the most part will not be brought to this, by any confideration whatfoever, they have the more need to be put in mind of it when they come to die.