without scruple, recede from our purpose to things of less importance, and that daring rashness by which we run ourselves into danger, and rush without cause into temptations which should be carefully avoided. Rule. should be partake of the per, and sion requires should be The Curate should urge him to a participa- Nineteenth tion of the Lord's Supper, and advise him to The sick prepare himself for the time appointed for its exhorted to celebration, and take care that some friends Lord's Supbe called in to participate with him: but he when occashould inquire of him, whether he has ever its nature partaken of it before, because if he be now explained to about to receive it for the first time, its nature, the necessity for it, and its efficacy ought to be explained, and he should be instructed in what manner he may best prepare himself. him. Rule. should be make resti The Curate should often hold converse with Twentieth the sick person concerning the restitution he The sick should make to his neighbour for the injuries moved to he has inflicted on him; for by how much the tution. less the generality think of this when in good health, by so much the more are they to be admonished when they are sick, and it behoves E And to special restitution on account of injuries which he has him that they be instructed what satisfaction is due to every description of injury and to the end that the sick may the more willingly restore the things unjustly acquired, the following should be proposed to his consideration, namely, that all things must within a short time most certainly be forsaken, that things ill-gotten will pass unhappily away, nor long be profitable to their heirs, nay rather be most likely hurtful to them, and place them in danger of eternal damnation; and although they may be most profitable, and without any hazard of future calamity, yet that it is the utmost madness to subject himself to endless misery in order that some thankless heir may enjoy a fleeting pleasure. Since there can be no greater injury inflicted on the souls of their neighbours than when they are led on to perpetrate some occasioned to wickedness, something should be specially said concerning the necessary restitution in cases of this kind, and the sick must be urged to counsel them to a special repentance, and, as far as he can, persuade those whom he has the souls of others. 9 in any manner enticed into sin: the Curate, therefore, should admonish him to tell them, having privily called them unto him if they be near, or if they be distant to signify to them by letter or through some trusty friend, that he has by the fatherly correction of God been happily called to a more sober way of thinking, that he has already truly turned from all the crimes of his past life, and now heartily grieves, not only that he himself rashly committed those things, but also, forasmuch as he at any time associated them with himself in evil company, he now implores and adjures them to look to their eternal interests in time, now at last to renounce all their transgressions, and especially those into which, either by bad example, or unwise counsel, or by any wicked advice, he has led them; that he himself is now fully convinced of the wickedness and great danger of those things, that he is persuaded an account must be rendered to God, not only with respect to his own transgressions, but also concerning those sins of others to which he himself, by Twenty-first The Curate : his conversation, has been the occasion of blame, and that, therefore, he cannot depart this life with a mind at rest, unless he first advise them, with his last breath, to a timely reformation of life, and, as far as is in his power, secure them from the death due to their offences, and render them fit for a better life and since almost all men every where are apt to be partakers in the crimes of others, if not in other respects, at least in a neglect of brotherly rebuke, it will become all, and especially those who are about to depart this life, to exhort in a general way all that visit them to true repentance and the cultivation of piety and all who are dangerously sick may reasonably be admonished to make this general reparation on account of that prevailing injury which proceeds from such neglect. The Curate should also charge the sick person, that as he seeks from men the forgiveness of his offences, so, on the other hand, to forwho have in- give them, and he should show him what ex should move him to forgive those jured him. tent and degree of remission is necessary, in notions on forgiveness pointed out. order that a man may obtain from God remission of his own offences; for some being ex- Mistaken horted to a general forgiveness of those who the subject of have trespassed against them, erroneously of sins and dangerously imagine that they have done enough if they pardon them with their lips, although meanwhile the design of taking some revenge lies concealed at heart, whenever they shall regain their health and have an opportunity in their power: and others, on the contrary, think to exempt themselves from all moral obligation, and that the remembrance of injuries should be so effaced from the mind, that they should not indeed afterwards muse thereon, if when admonished they are willing to forgive the offenders. Twentysecond Rule. Prayers may those ap public autho To the prayers appointed by public authority the Curate may sometimes add other forms, as he shall judge expedient, for the be added to condition of the sick, and by them he will be pointed by able prudently to instruct the sick rity. and person those who wait upon him, respecting those duties which belong to them for the time being, namely, by beseeching God that each |