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Part II. those who fell their falvation for it.It will excite us the better to confider the ufe of faith and holinefs, which cannot prevent us from dying, any more than others, but which may enable us to die better than they.

To render your vifits to the fick the more ufeful, take the following directions.

(1.) Stay not till their ftrength and understanding be gone, and the time fo fhort that you fcarce "ly know what to do, but go to them as foon as you hear they are fick, whether they fend for you

(or not.

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(2.) When the time is fo fhort, that there is no opportunity to attempt the change of their hearts in that diftinct and gradual way which is ufual with others, we must be fure to dwell upon those truths which are of the greatest importance, and which are the most likely to effect the great work of their converfion.-Shew them the certainty and glory of the life to come; the way in which it was purchas ed; the great fin and folly of neglecting it in time of health; yet the poffibility that remains of obtaining it, if they do but clofe with it heartily as their happiness, and with the Lord Jefus Chrift, as the way thereto; abhorring themfelves for their former evil, and unfeignedly refigning up themfelves to be juftified, fanctified, ruled and faved by

him.

him. Shew them the fufficiency and neceffity of the redemption by Jefus Chrift, and the fulness of the Spirit, which they may, and must be partakers of the nature and neceffity of faith, repentance, and refolutions for new obedience, according as there shall be opportunity. Labour, upon conviction and deliberation, to engage them by folemn promise to Chrift, that if their lives are spar'd, they will yield him fuch obedience."

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(3.) If they recover, golto them purposely to remind them of their promises, that they may reduce them to practice. If, at any time afterward, you fee them remifs, go to them again, to put them in mind of what they formerly faid this is often of great ufe to fuch as recover: it has been the means of converting many a foul. It is neceffary therefore, that you vifit them whose sickness is not mortal, as well as them that are dying: you will hereby have fome advantage to bring them to repentance and newness of life, as you will afterwards have this to plead against their fins. When the emperour SIGISMUND afk'd the bishop of COLEN "What was the way to be faved?" He anfwer'd

In MR. BAXTER's practical works (Vol. I. p. 511, &c.) there is "A form of exhortation to the godly and "the ungodly in their fickness," which the reader may find it worth his while to consult, for further direction on this head. edro anus sus fa

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that he must be what he promis'd to be, when he was laft troubled with the ftone or the "gout." In fuch a manner may we remind our

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people after a fit of sickness, of the resolutions they made in it. compilado win not anointer bris

5. It is the duty of minifters to REPROVE and admonish such as have been guilty of notorious and fcandalous fins.

Before we bring fuch matters to the congrega tion, [the propriety and manner of which will be afterwards confider'd] it is ordinarily fit for the mi nister to try what he himself can do more privately, to bow the finner to repentance. A great deal of skill is here required, and a difference, must be made according to the various tempers of the soffenders. But with the moft, it will be neceffary to fall on with the greatest plainnefs and power; to fhake their careless hearts, and fhew them the evil of fin; it's fad effects; the unkindness, unreasonableness, unprofitableness, and other aggravations that attend it; what it is they have done against God, and themfelves. Warlord moti

6. We ought to give due encouragement to thofe humble, upright, obedient chriftians, who profit by our teaching, and are ornaments to their profeffion...

We should, in the eyes of all the flock, put fome difference between them and others, by our more

especial

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efpecial familiarity, and other teftimonies of our approbation of, and rejoicing over them, that fo we may both encourage them, and excite others to imitate them. God's graces are amiable and honourable in all, even in the pooreft of the flock, as well as in their. paftors. The fmalleft degrees must be cherished and encouraged; but the highest, more openly honour'd, and propos'd to imitation. They who flight the most gracious because they are. of the laity, while they claim to themfelves the honour of the clergy, as they fhew themfelves proud and carnal, take the ready way to debafe themfelves, and to bring their office into contempt. If there be no honour due to the real fanctity of a chriftian, much lefs to the relative fanctity of a paftor; nor can he reasonably expect it should be given him.

gel adlar CHA P. III.

Of feveral particular cafes and characters, to be regarded both in preaching and private difcourfe

AVING treated of preaching in general,
and recommended private instruction, with

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regard to some objects peculiar to it, we shall now take notice of fuch cafes as are to be attended to in BOTH.]

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I. One great part of our minifterial work (i. e. both in publick and in private,), is to bring unfound profeffors to fincerity.

Tho' we be not abfolutely certain that this or that man in particular is unfound and unfanctified, yet as long as we have a certainty that many fuch attend upon our miniftrations; and fince we have a great probability that this is the character of fome that we can name, we have ground enough to go upon, in treating with them for their converfion.

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Alas! the mifery of the unconverted is fo great, that it calls loudeft for our compaffion. They are in the gall of bitterness, and the bond of ini quity. They have no part or fellowship' in in the pardon of fin, or the hope of glory. We have therefore a work of great neceffity to do for them; even to open their eyes, to turn them. ⚫ from darkness unto light; from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive the forgive-. nefs of fins, and an inheritance among the fanctified by faith in Chrift ;+'-to foften and open their hearts, to the entertainment of the truth, if peradventure God will give them repentance,. to the acknowledging of it, that they may efcapeout of the foare of Satan, who are led captive by him at his will.' It is fo fad a cafe to fee men in a state of damnation, that methinks we

* A&ts viii. 23. + xxvii. 18.

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2 Tim. ii. 25, 26. fhould

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