Wholesome words. A visit of advice, given unto families that are visited with sickness;…

Thirdly, Sickness bringing such an Humiliation ⟨p. 6⟩upon a Family, methinks, it should also bring a Reformation into the Family. When a Distemper comes into a Family, tis very certain, it should Cure every Disorder in that Family. All the Griefs & Groans of a Sick Person in the Family, are so many Pungent Sermons, for the Reformation of all that is amiss; Lively Sermons upon such a Text as that; Job XXII.23 Thou shalt put away Iniquity far from thy Tabernacles. When Sickness comes into a Family, it is a Day of Adversity, wherein every one in the Family should Consider, how they have Miscarried, & Reform all their own Miscarriages. But especially, it now concerns the Master of the Family, so to take the Warning from the Sickness in his Family, as to Reform every thing that may be there Provoking to God. My Friend, Let the Sickness there put thee upon awful Thoughts, what shall now be done, that Family Piety, and Family Instruction, and Family Government, may more flourish in thy Family, than heretofore. Most of all, If any Master of a Family, hath been so very Criminal, as to neglect Family Prayer, let him hear the Cry of the Sickness in his Family unto him, thus Articulated; ⟨p. 7⟩Oh! Neglect Family Prayer no Longer! Now call thy Folks together; tell them that thy Family, whereto the God of Heaven speaks by the Sickness now upon it, shall be no longer Prayerless; tell them thou art afraid lest God go on to pour out His Fury in something worse than Sickness, upon a Family that Calls not on His Name: Fall down upon thy Knees in the midst of them, & spread the Sins, the Wants, the Fears, & the Desires of thy Family, as well as thou canst before the Lord. Happy & Healthy, that Sickness, which thus Reforms the Family that it comes into!

Thirdly, Sickness bringing such an Humiliation ⟨p. 6⟩upon a Family, methinks, it should also bring a Reformation into the Family. When a Distemper comes into a Family, tis very certain, it should Cure every Disorder in that Family. All the Griefs & Groans of a Sick Person in the Family, are so many Pungent Sermons, for the Reformation of all that is amiss; Lively Sermons upon such a Text as that;