On Visiting the Sick

1. Under this head I ^ould first make a few preliminary remarks. — You will remember that this part of a minister’s work is very important. With regard to some it is the only kind office you will ever be able to perform for them. — Perhaps if you neglect it, they may go into the presence of God with a testimony against you. — Sometimes you will have to visit persons, who have been entirely regardless of religion, — to whom you may prove of singular advantage. — At other times good men, — and they may end life in a manner more comfortable, — and more honourable to

religion, on accoant of it’; — if they live they may make a better improvement of their future moments. — The discourses you with them in health, which were at the time reviving cordials to their drooping spirits, will not be entirely without a relish on their sick-beds; — but let not this relax yoar purpose of visiting them; — at these times, riiore than when they were healthy, you ought to attend to them; remembering that when sorrow makes the heart droop, then a good word makes it glad.

§ 2. Remember that visiting the sick is a very difficult part of your work. — It is not suffi-* cient merely to put up a hearty prayer to God; — but we ought to be concerned to make a solemn preparation ibr-the word. — Augustine wondered that ministers should take such care to prepare their sermons, and never take care what they should say to sick peo« pie.

§ 3. You should not wait to be sent for; — but when you hear that any of your congregation are ill, take the first opportunity of visiting them; — for diseases often take a quick turn. — Generally take the beginning of an afternoon for this purpose. — It will be proper to allot a certain portion of the day to this work, if you are in a large congrega* tion. This will be like laying aside a bag for charitable uses. — Keep a catalogue of the sick.

§ 4. Let your visits be frequent, — but not too long; — and be very solicitous that they may turn to the best account.

5. Before you go, consider serioudj how you ought to behave; — what is to be said and done; — and pray that God would go with you. — Remember how very difficult it is to do good. — And be sure to preserve a good conscience on these occasions.

§ 6. More particular directions respecting the manner in which visits to sick -people are to be conducted.

§ 7. FiBST, I shall give you some hints relating to the precautions to be taken, in order to know the case of the sick.

§ 8. For this purpose some use may be made of others. — Consider yoursdves and inquire of others their public character, — especially from those who are best acquainted with them, — and above all from religious persons; — a pious parent, for instance, concerning a child; a master, concerning a servant, &rc.

9. Be solicitous for proper information from themselves; — particularly if you have reason upon the whole to believe their state is bad. — If you have only a general idea that they are wrong, without having any great immoralities to charge upon them, then be so much the more solicitoas to gather something from their own mouths, — on which you may ground a plain and awakening address. Send their relations, if you can conveniently, out of the room; — then ask the person seriously, if he hath any thing particular to say to you with regard to the state of his soul.~^Inquire what are his hopes, and especially on what foundation they are built. — When you have asked him a few questions on these heads leave him room to talk; — perhaps he may freely and fully tell you his state.

§ 10. If he doea not, ask him such questions as these. — Has sin ever been your grief and burden 1 — What have you done to get rid of it? — In what view has Christ appeared to you? — What are your thoughts of the covenant of grace; — Have you kept up secret prayer? — Have you feJt the power of scripture upon your heart! — Have you been concerned to give your thoughts and affections to God as well as your external actions! — Have you felt a struggle with the temptations of Satan, — and the corruptions of your own heart? — Have you inquired after the remedies of the particular distempers of your own mind? — And so far as you have understood them, have you endeavoured to use them? &c.

§11, Secondly, I would now offer a few remarks on the advices to be given them, and discourse to be held with them.

§ 12. If their sickness be threatening, some advice as to their temporal Zifhiirs may be needful; — but your main business relates to their spiritual concerns. — As to temporal affairs, as briefly as possible, to make a disposition of them by will. — Sometimes this is of great importance, — at others, however, it is not. If there be any suspicion of ill-gotten wealth or property, urge them to an immediate restitution, as absolutely necessary; — and should they refuse, warn them of their danger and pray for them; — but in other respects show them but little attention. — Be very cauttous

thai you do not give the smaRest intimation that you wish to turn the will into such a channel as may be most for your own interest. — When you know that legacies are designed, have as little as possible to do with the will.

^13. As to spiriinal concerns your advice must be regulated by the state and character of each individual; — there is the bad, the dubious, and the comfortable.

§ 14. You will find some whose conduct is baa, — and that are really in a state of condemnation and misery. — Here your duty is plain, though the execution of it will be difficult.

15. 1. Labour to convince such, that their case is very dangerous. — In doing this, you are to rest your arguments chiefly on scripture, with their own representation of their case. — If you find that there is any one sin prevalent in their character, rest your charge apon that. — If drunkards, liars, &c. bring such texts as prove they will be shut out of heaven. — Represent the aggravation of their sins, particularly the religious advantages they have enjoyed.

16. 2. Rather lament over, than upbraid such persons. — Severity will produce hatred; — and probably they will not wish to have any thing further to do with you.

§ 17. 3. Be careful you do not drive them into despair, — especially when you see that they begin to be awakened to a sense of their danger. — While they appear unconcerned, urge the most dreadful things, — represent to

ip them the wrath of God, as inexpressibly dfeadful, — borrow images from present and familiar things, — such as the burning of a fever, — the tossings of. a restless night, &c. — By these, endeavour to impress upon them some idea of the excruciating and everlasting pains of hell. — But, as I have said before, do not drive them to despair; but as soon as you conceive they need consolation, exhib« it to them the riches of the mercy of God in Christ. — Repeat the most consolatory passages of scripture that you can recollect,- — and let them clearly see that you have pointed out their danger, only to prevent their ruin, and lead them to the Saviour.

18. If you conceive that you discern something in them that looks like genuine, evangelical repentance, be not too ready to administer consolation, — except as conditional; — there is a great danger in authoritative absolution. •”-Tell them plainly that if they do not rest their souls on Christ, there is no room for hope. — Remind them of the treachery of their own hearts, that they may maintain a due jealousy over themselves, and see to their sincerity before it be too late. — Represent to them the peculiar aggravation of their sins, — particularly the misimprovement of a religious education, means of grace, afflictions and temporal enjoyments. After adl, perhaps, little will be done the first visit; — but repeat it, — and particularly as your hearts charge you with past neglect of such unhappy creatures.

§ 19. II. You will be called to visit others, whose characters are dubious.

§ 20. 1. Exhort such to a very diligent scrutiny into their state. — Point out the importance of their being acquainted with their case, and especially inculcate the doctrine of human depravity and the deceitfulness of the heart.

21. 2. Advise them to be willing to know the worst. — Tell them they cannot make their case better by shutting their eyes, — but on the contrary, it will be worse if ihey entertain false’ hopes; — and that a strict examination of themselves can do them no harm, nor renewed acts of repentance be of any injury, even if they are real christians.

22. 3. Assist them in this work by particular representations of the religious dispositions, desires, fears, hopes and pursuits of good men. — Go over again what was said to them, while you were sounding their consciences; — and in proportion to the dubiousness of their case, urge these things more strongly.

§ 23. 4. Give them your own judgment plainly and seriously. — Remember, when you pray with them, particularly to offer up earnest petitions to God to lead them into the knowledge of themselves.

24. III. See what should be done for them of whom you have a good hope.

24. 1. Endeavour not only to support them, but to raise, them to a cheerful, animated and thankful frame. — If they are afraid of death, point out to them the great promises of

6 the gospel. — Endeavour to raise in them admiring and adoring thoughts of divine grace. — Nothing can be more reasonable, -as well as scriptural, than that a christian should go out of the world cheerful, — rising like a guest, satisfied with his provisions, and thankful to the master of the feast.

§ 26. 2. Exhort them to bear an honourable testimony to religion with their last breath, and to recommend it to all who come to see them, as a thing of the first importance. — Death bed addresses have often been very useful.

<5 27. 3. Urge upon them the proper exercise of patience and resignation; and that they carefully avoid peevishness and ill nature.

§ 28. I now come to say something about the manner how to pray with the sick.

§ 29. 1. Take care that your prayers are not too long. — Never notice public afiairs, unless when praying with dying christians of eminent character. — Rather enlarge on the general interest of Christ in the world; and pray for a universal revivai.-^Good men have always a zeal for it; but even on this head be not too long.

30. 2. Let your prayers be as serious and spiritual as possible. — Labour to get yourself into a good frame. — Lifl up your heart to God for the influences of his Spirit. — His teachings will make this work pleasapt to yourselves and delightful to real christians who may join with you.

§ 31. 3. When the person seems to be ill an unconverted state, represent his case awfully before God, and earnestly beg of him to have mercy on him. — Here you are to endeavour to “save him with fear, plucking him out of the fire.” — Pray that God would give him a little more time, and that he may be reprieved before the sentence of wrath be executed upon him.«^This may awaken more than an express exhortation .;-it may also impress others. — A contrary method will tend to harden those of the same character. — Tak care how you csjl them the servants of God : — our brother or sister is rather more proper on these occasions; — this, however, may have a bad effect, — and it is what we object to, in the funeral service.

‘J 32. 4. When you pray with a dying christian, be much in expressions of faith, and a criptions of praise for him. — Acknowledge the favours God has bestowed. — Praise him for regenerating grace, communion in- ordinances, sanctifying influences of his Spirit, promises for divine consolation in death, transporting views of a glorious resurrection; — and for enabling him to adorn religion in his life, and persevere to the end. This must be so managed as not to appear like flattery. — Praise God for comforts received in confinement, for the serenity and peace with which he is enabled to look into an eternal world, and for the hope, that though he dies to us, he will live to God.

§ 33. 5. Do not forget, on these occasions, to pray for those of the family who may join with you, — and particularly that they may be

1S4 LECTURES OS PREACHING.

prepared for the will of God, andjthat the affliction may be sanctified to fit them for sickness and death.

34. Take the following hints by way of appendix,

1. Do not neglect the directions here giren because the illness does not seem dangerous. -Such neglect, perhaps, may be attended with fatal consequences. Act always on supposition of the worst, and it may turn to good account. To habituate yourselves to these irules ip of great importance.

35. 2. If the person recovers, still follow him with your serious exhortati€y;is. Visit him in his recovery, remind him of former convictions and confessions, — urge the vows of God which are upon him. Pray with him, and remind him hqw eternity appeared to him in his affliction, and what thoughts he had of another world.

36. 3. If it please God to remove the sick person, be sure to visit the surviving relations — at least two or three times, with a view of leading them to a due improvement of the providence: — thus endeavor to cooperate with divine Providence, and you may perhaps, find divine grace operate with you; — under such circumstances they will be the moe ready to attend to your advice.