But because thou knoweft my Failings, and my Weakness is not hid from thee; I beg of thee, O my God, to fhew thy strength in my weakness; and to confirm my infirm Mind in this holy Refolution.

That fo never repenting of this Repentance, nor wavering in these Purposes, which I have now by thy Grace fo deliberately made; I may go on constantly in a pure and holy Life; till in the end of my Days I come to everlasting Joys, which thou haft prepared for them that love thee, through Jefus Chrift my Lord.

Amen.

H

Aving proceeded thus far What can further be done by the Sick Perfon, to fatisfy Himself and Others of the Sincerity of his Repentance?

Indeed, as I hinted before, the furest Evidence of the Truth and

Sincerity of Repentance, is Reformation and Amendment of Life. When a Man doth ceafe to do Evil; and doth no more allow himself in thofe wicked Practices, which he formerly indulged; then we truly fay, He doth Repent.

But to deal faithfully with the Dying Perfon, this Restraint from Sin is to be understood, with refpect to the time of his former Health and Vigour; and not to the present Confinement of a Sick Bed.

;

For whatever his Practice may have been in the former time of his Health, his prefent Weakness doth fufficiently convince him; That however his Inclination to fome Sins may continue, yet now that he is confined to a Sick Bed, he hath neither Ability nor Opportunity to commit them.

What the former Paffages of his Life have been; and how far in the time of his Health, he did amend

amend and reform, we must leave to God, and his own Soul. My present Design doth direct me to Examine; What is now to be done further by a Sick and Dying Perfon, to evidence the Truth and Sincerity of his Repentance.

And herein I shall observe the Direction of the Church of England.

In the Rubrick of the Order for the Vifitation of the Sick, The Minifter is to Examine; Whether the Sick Perfon do Repent him truly of his Sins?

And as an Evidence of the Truth of his Repentance, he is to Admonish him, to be in Charity with all the World. And is then further to exhort him; to exprefs this Charity in the following Particulars.

1. In Forgiving from the Bottom of his Heart all Perfons that have. Offended him.

2. And if he hath Offended any Other, to ask them Forgiveness. 3. And where he hath done Injury or Wrong to any Man, that he make amends to the uttermost of his Power.

And as a further Instance of Charity,

4. The Minifter should not omit earnestly to move fuch Sick Perfons as are of Ability, to be liberal to

the Poor.

From these Directions of our Church, the Sick Perfon is inftructed, how to examine the Truth of his Repentance. And the Duties he is now to perform, may be reduced to these Two Generals.

1. Charity. 2. Reftitution.
Of which I fhall difcourfe di-

ftinctly.

Charity is expressed,

1. In Forgiving. 2. Giving.

of

Of Charity in Forgiving.

;

Uch is the Uncertainty of the Affairs of this World, and fo great are the Mistakes which often happen in the hurry of Business and fo different are the Humours and Interests of Men with whom we Converse ; that it is impoffible for the most Pious and Prudent Perfon, to please and oblige all Sorts of Men. And those who are not pleafed and obliged, will pretend to be out of Humour; and, in plain Terms, will be your Enemies.

From hence it is; That no Man in this captious World, can be fo Good or fo Cautious, as to live without Enemies.

Nay, many times because he is Good, he is fure to find Enemies.

Da