Do you firmly believe this; and that this sickness is ordered by him for some special end?

Consider then for what ends a loving father corrects his child: either he is careless, or disobedient, or forgets his duty; or takes such ways as would ruin himself, if he were let alone.

Is not this your case?

To be sure, if it were left to your own ordering, you would never chuse afflictions; but God sees that it is good for you to be in trouble; or it may be, God will try whether you will love and trust in him, as well in sickness as in health.

Will you therefore, like a dutiful child, be thankful that your heavenly Father takes so much care of you?

Does not this affliction convince vou, that nothing deserves our love but God, since no Being else can help us in the day of adversity?

Will you therefore, in the first place, make application to God by prayer for an happy issue out of this affliction?

JESUS, you know, signifies a Saviour; and we all hope that he will be a

Saviour

Saviour to us. But this he will not be, unless we obey him as our Lord, that is our ruler and law-giver.

You must therefore consider wherein you have broken his laws, and you must repent of it, ask God's pardon, and resolve to do so no more, as you hope that he will be a Saviour unto you.

You believe, that he was conceived of the Holy Ghost, and born of the Virgin Mary?

Why then are you sure, that, as he is the Son of God, he is able to save such as come unto God by him; and as he was born of a woman, and took our nature upon him, he knows, for he has felt, our weaknesses, and will pity our infirmities.

You believe, that he suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried?

Are you not then hereby convinced what a sad state man was in, when God could not be reconciled to him, til his own Son had suffered what man had deserved to suffer?

And do you not see, at the same time, that no true penitent need despair, since here is a sufficient price paid for our redemption?

Neither ought you to doubt that God will deny us any thing, since he spared

C

not

not his own Son, but gave him up for us

all.

Do you therefore place all your hopes of mercy in Christ's death, and in the promises of God, for his sake, made to us?

Will you endeavour to follow the example of your Lord and Saviour, who bore with submission and patience, whatever God thought fit to lay upon him?

And will you remember, that he did 80, though his very judge found no fault in him? But we suffer justly, for we re"ceive the due reward of our deeds.'

And lastly, you will do well to remember the dying words of our Saviour; and when you come to die, commend your spirit into the hands of God.

You believe, that Jesus Christ rose again the third day from the dead.

Why then you are sure that his sufferings and death were well pleasing unto God, who otherwise would not have raised him to life again.

And though your Soul, when you die, shall go into an unknown world: yet, if you die in the favour of God, you will have the same God to take care of you, as Jesus Christ had.

And lastly, you are hereby assured, that God, who raised Christ from the dead,

will

will also quicken our mortal bodies; for so he hath declared in his word.

Since you believe, that Jesus Christ ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God, you must conclude, that all power in heaven and earth is committed unto him.

And can there be greater comfort for a sinner than this; That he who died for us, is ever with God, pleading the cause of his poor creatures that come unto God by him?

Although therefore, for your own sake, you cannot look for favour, yet for Jesus's sake you may, who ever liveth to make intercession for us.

Will you therefore endeavour to set your heart above, where your Saviour is ?

And that you may do so more earnestly, i remember your Saviour's words, when he was leaving the world; I go to prepare a place for you, that where I am, there ye may be also.

You believe that Jesus Christ shall come to judge both the quick and the dead.

If you believe this so truly as you ought to do, you will take care to judge yourself beforehand, that you may not be condemned of the Lord, when he cometh to judge the world in righteousness.

Will

Will you therefore examine your life, and see wherein you have offended, that you may repent, and make your peace with God, remembering that as death leaves you, judgment will find you?

However, you have this to comfort your soul, if you are sincerely penitent, that he who knows our infirmities, he who died to redeem us, is to be our judge.

And God grant, that you may find mercy in that great day.

You profess to believe in the Holy Ghost, to whom you were dedicated in baptism, and by which you were sealed to the day of redemption.

Now, if you have grieved this Holy Spirit, and by wicked works have driven him from you, you must sadly repent of it, and earnestly pray God to restore him, without whose aid you can never be sanctified, never be happy.

And when you call yourself to account, consider whether you have lived in obedience to those whom the Holy Ghost hath set over you; that is, the ministers of the gospel.

Do