a more probable token of his anger, than of his favour

to me.

Theoph. This is too hafty a conclufion, with which you so torment yourself, as I fhall fhew it to be in due time. But firft, give me leave to ask you a previous neceffary question.

Anchith. Afk what you please, and I will be fure to answer you in the fincerity of my heart.

Theoph. What judgment does your parish-priest make of your repentance, and the state of your foul? He should be much better able to fatisfy you in this point, than any of us; both as he is better fkill'd in inquiries of this nature, and as it is to be prefum'd, you have thoroughly acquainted him, with all your doubts and fears, and the grounds and reasons of them; which you know we are strangers to. fays he to this point?

What

Anchith. Nothing at all; for I have never afked his opinion concerning it.

Theoph. How! Never afked his opinion! You very much furprise me. I could not have thought it poffible, that you could live fo near him, for fo long together, and have fuch freedom and intimacy with him in other refpects, and neither well, nor fick, advife with him about the great concerns of eternity.

Anchith. I was afraid of being too troublesome to him.

Theoph. Let me afk you then again: Do you not remember that injunction of the apostle St. James, (m) Is any fick? Let him call for the elders of the church : and let them pray over him, &c. Or is it none of your business to attend to his directions? And tell me, I beseech you; does this fear keep you from troubling the lawyer, when your estate is in danger, or the physician in time of fickness? Or is an eternity of infinite either happiness or mifery, of lefs concern to you, than this fhort uncertain life, and its perishing enjoyments? Befides, Theodorus is a very good man, (m) James v. 14.

and

and takes care of his charge. And I know him fo well, that I dare anfwer for him, he would esteem it a kindness rather than a trouble, to give him an opportunity of affifting you in the weighty affairs of the other life. I have heard him complain of it as a great discouragement, that of all this large parish fo few have ever come to him for his direction. He is not content with the diligent discharge of his office in publick, but would heartily rejoice in having an opportunity of converfing in private with any of his parishioners, that would lay their cafe before him; and would be fure to give them the beft refolutions he should be able, of all their doubts, and the fittest inftructions for the management of their lives here, and the preparation they are to make for another hereafter. Nor can any one take a more effectual course, for promoting his own eternal falvation, than by thus disclosing his weaknesses and faults, difficulties and dangers, in order to a cure, when in his greatest health and vigour. But when fickness comes, and death threatens a man, he is in a peculiar manner engaged to feek for all the affiftance that can be had; and to this end to acquaint his fpiritual phyfician with the maladies of his foul, after the fame manner, as he would the doctor or furgeon with the diseases or fores of his body; that fo, whenfoever death fhall feize him, he may by no means be unprovided for it. For this reafon it is, that our church directs, when any perfon is fick, notice fhall be given to the minister of the parish, to the end he may come and vifit him; and very juftly, this being a season wherein his help is more especially required, upon account of the near relation that is betwixt fickness and death; because there is then a more efpecial need of his prayers; and because, moreover, the fick perfon is ordinarily more attentive to the advice given him for the good of his foul, than those who seem at a greater diftance from their latter end; whofe thoughts are taken up

L 3

with

with thofe ordinary temporal affairs, wherein men are generally too deeply immersed.

Anchith. I own my fault, and will take care to mend it. It is now about his time of prayer; but, if God fpare my life till the afternoon, I will beg the favour of a vifit from him, and will freely unbofom myself to him; and, I hope, I shall not repent of it. Eufeb, Take my word for it, you will not.

Philog. You had beft fend immediately, before he go to church, to beg his prayers for you there, and thole of the congregation; and then let him know, that you would intreat him to fee you in the afternoon, as foon as with convenience he can,

Andbith. Then I must give you the trouble of call. ing my fervant, and fending him.

Philog. I will do it without delay.

Theoph. You must refolve beforehand, to deal plainly and fincerely with him, and conceal nothing that lies upon your conscience, or wherein you want his direction, but to give him a true state of your cafe. And then it will be his care, to tell you how far you are right, and where you have mistaken your way; whether you are found in the faith, regular in your deportment, hearty and fervent in your devotions, and how you may best rectify whatsoever is amifs in any of these refpects. He will examine into your difpofition for leaving this world, and your title to a better; that so you may be able to make a judgment, how it is like to fare with your immortal foul; will pray with you, for the pardon of your fins, thro' our Saviour's mediation; and for the affistance of the Holy Spirit, duly to qualify you for whatfoever fhall be determined for you; and, at laft, if he fee juft grounds for it, will, according to the authority committed to him by his Lord and Mafter, and in obedience to the church's command, upon your bumble and bearty request, pronounce to you the comfortable words of abfolution; that fo, if it fhall please God to take our good friend from amongst us, you

may

may depart in peace, with a quiet conscience, and a fure title to a far better estate in the manfions of blifs and glory; (2) that when your earthly house of this tabernacle fhall be diffolved, you may have a building of God, an boufe not made with hands, eternal in the Heavens.

Anchith. I am heartily afhamed and grieved, that I never confider'd this before. I am fenfible it has been a great neglect, that I have not made better advantage of fo ufeful a guide, fo faithful a minifter of God's word, and fo effectual a help in the important concerns of my foul. And if it pleafe God to prolong my days, I will take efpecial care to avoid the like folly for the future. At prefent, I will wait with patience for his coming, when he shall be at liberty. Theoph. I hope you will pardon the freedom I have taken with you; and I thank you for fo readily hearkening to my advice; and, I am fatisfied, you will foon be fenfible of the benefit of it. In the mean time, I should proceed to confider the doubt you but now ftarted; that the punishment God lays upon you in this world, is a more probable token of his anger, than of his favour, towards you; but that I find we have tired you too much already, and it is therefore high time that we now take leave of you.

Eufeb. Let us therefore withdraw; I am fure it must be proper for Anchithanes that we do.

Anchith. I cannot deny but my fpirits are low, and I am no company for you. But yet, gentlemen, I cannot part with you, unless you will be fo kind as to appoint another meeting here in a few days; that, if it please God to fpare my life till then, I may partake of fome other of your comfortable and useful observations; and particularly, as to the doubt now mentioned concerning God's hand upon me at prefent. I am not able to express my gratitude for the benefit of this kind vifit: and it will be a confiderable alleviation of my pains, if I may but promife myself fome other doses of the fame reviving cordial.

Eufeb. Since the difcourfe you have heard has met with fo favourable a reception, I fhall be ready, at any time, to give my attendance, and do you the beft fervice I fhall be able.

Theoph. And I most willingly.

Philog. I am fure I fhall be as defirous of another fuch interview, and fome farther like conversation, as you can poffibly be; and therefore fhall by no means abfent myself, if I have life and health, and be not inevitably prevented.

Anchith. I moft heartily thank you all. But when may I hope for this favour?

Theoph. It fhall not be long before you are troubled again with our company: and we will fettle the time amongst ourselves.

Anchith. I am much obliged to you all. And I hope you will not fail of being as good as your words, and in as little time as may be.

Eufeb. You need not fear us.

Anchith. I have had too much experience of your goodness to queftion it. But my great defire of more of the fame entertainment, puts me upon thus preffing you to confirm your promise.

Eufeb. Almighty God have you in his protection, that, whether you grow better or worse, live or die, you may be intitled to an intereft in bis favour, and the manifold bleffings he has prepared for his beloved.

Philog. I am loth to leave my kind neighbour; but I think it now more than time for you to try, if you can recover your spirits, too much exhausted by so long a vifit.

Theoph. Dear Anchithanes, it is neceffary we should take leave of you; but it will not be long ere we renew your trouble. In the mean time, we shall be fure to pray for you: and fo we commit you to the Divine protection.

The End of the Second VISIT.

The