The Morning exercise [at] Cri[ppleg]ate, or, Several cases of conscience practically resolved

2. That it is not every Minister neither who is fit for this work, and therefore here it is required, that he be one of a thousand.

But this I shall pass over, and come to that which is allotted to me, the resolution of this great and important case of Conscience: How Ministers or Christian friends may and ought to apply themselves to sick persons for their good, and the discharge of their own consciences. I take it to be one of the hardest parts of the Ministerial works to make seasonable applications to such persons. I shall therefore endeavour to answer it, though not so fully as the point deserves, yet so far as the brevity of this Exercise will permit, in these eight Propositions or Directions.

1. Endeavour must be used to understand the state of the sick person; As Physicians do by sick persons, they enquire into the manner of their life, diet, &c. it is a great step to the cure to know the Patients temper, because as bodily so spiritual Physic must be suited to the temper; and disposition, and condition of the Patient. And as Physicians take pains in this by conference with friends and by examining the Patient, so should Ministers by discourse with religious acquaintance, and by searching conference with the sick person, endeavour to find out the ⟨p. 114⟩truth, for why should not men be as accurate in healing mens souls, as their bodies? since the very Heathen could say, That all our care should be translated from the things of the body, to the soul, so Epictetus in his 6; Chapter, [Greek or Hebrew], &c. and as for the body men prize those Physicians most that best know their temper, &c. so should sick persons prefer (caeterîs paribus) that faithful Minister that hath most knowledge of them, &c.