CHAP. I. Containing general directions to all fami- lies and persons under sickness, Direct. I. Inquire into the ends and designs for Page 16 Direct. IV. Be not anxious for recovery, but leaveona the issue of thy sickness to God, Direct. V. Bind yourself with purposes to improve health better, if God shall recover you, Direct. VI. Timeously make your wills, and settle CHAP. II. Containing particular directions to those who are afflicted with sore and long affliction, Direct. L. Justify God in the greatest afflictions, Direct. II. Be sensible of God's hand, and beware of stupidity under heavy afflictions, Direct. III. Beware of misconstructing God's deal- ings, or charging him foolishly, Direct. IV. Labour to exercise a strong faith, Direct. V. Labour to bear up with patience, www www Page 61 ib. 78 Direct. VII. Guard against repinings and murmurings against the providence of God, CHAP. III. Containing special directions to the Children of God, under sickness or any afflictions, 70 Direct. I. Guard against fainting or desponding under God's afflicting hand, Direct. II. Study to be exemplary in patience and submissive to God under affliction, Direct. III. Be much in the exercise of praise, Direct. IV. Set about actual preparation for death, 89 Direct. V. Study to glorify God, and edify those about you by your speech and behaviour, Direct. VI. Shew your concern for advancing the kingdom of Christ in the rising age, Direct. VII. Labour to be fortified against Satan's temptations in time of sickness, www www. www 85 96 102 104 CHAP. IV. Containing special directions to the unregenerate when under sickness and affliction, 109 Direct. I. Consider the miserable condition of a Christless person under sore sickness, Direct. II. Improve sickness as means of conversion, Direct. III, Beware of slighting God's voice in the 113 www. 114 rod, Direct. IV. Reflect upon the sins of your bypast life, and be deeply humbled for them, Direct. V. Flee presently to Christ by a true faith, 116 Direct. VI. Call the elders of the church to pray for you, CHAP. V. Containing directions to God's people, when recovered from sickness and distress, Direct. I. Try if affliction hath been sanctified to www you, Direct. II. Offer to God the sacrifice of thanksgiving, Direct. III, Beware of forgetting the Lord's kind Direct. IV. Inquire after these fruits of righte 117 118 ib. 120 124 www. www. www ousness, which are the genuine effects of sanctified affliction, Direct. V. Be careful to perform these engagements which you come under in time of sick CHAP. VI. Containing directions to the unregene rate, when they are recovered from sickness, Direct. I. Examine what are the fruits of your affliction, and if it hath not the marks of that which is unsanctified, www www www. ww ww www. Direct. II. Consider the danger of not being bet- www www www www www www CHAP. VII. Containing directions to these sick per- Direct. VII. Let dying persons be earnest in pray er to God, www www Some meditations and ejaculations, proper for sick i and dying persons, and especially for a dying believer, An addition of some further meditations proper Direct. I. Be thankful to God for health, and im- Direct. II. Make conscience of visiting the sick, Direct. IV. Pray with and for the sick, www. Direct. V. Let your sick friends have suitable of the sick, Direct. VII. When their sickness doth ensue.in death, behave. Christianly under the dispensation, Page Direct. VIII. Let the sickness and death of others THE AFFLICTED MAN'S COMPANION; OR, A Directory FOR A FAMILY OR PERSON UNDER AFFLICTION, BY SICKNESS OR OTHERWISE. INTRODUCTION. MAN, when he first dropped from his Maker's hands, was a holy and innocent creature, pure from sin, and consequently free from sickness and trouble, enjoying uninterrupted health and prosperity both in body and soul. But no sooner was he tainted with sin, but he became liable to all sorts of miseries temporal, spiritual, and eternal. His soul being the residence of sins and lusts, his body turned the receptacle of sickness and diseases. And, seeing God's own children have the relics of sin and corruption in them, while in this world, they are not to expect exemption from such afflictions; and the infinitely wise God sees meet to make use of bodily distempers to correct the corruptions, and try the graces of his people, and to promote both their spiritual and eternal advantage. Hence it is said of Lazarus, John xi. 3. "Behold, he whom thou lovest is sick." He was beloved, and yet sick. It is no rare thing for the dearest of God's saints to be put to chatter like cranes, and mourn like doves, by reason of sore sickness; as Hezekiah did, Isa. xxxviii. 14. Sanctified and healthy souls may be matched with weak and sickly bodies, as was Gaius, 3 John 2. withstanding the case is sometimes most trying and exercising to the best of God's people; and they are never more ready to question God's love, or quarrel with A Not |