But the SICK are a special and frequent Object of the Pastoral Care. The Pastors, when the Sick Person sends for them (and often without their sending, and though they forget their Duty, to call for the Elders) have a very serious, and sometimes a very difficult Work to do. If the Sick be capable of Receiving Instruction, the Pastors now set before him, in lively Terms, the Miserable State which by Sin, both Original and Actual he is fallen into: and seeing him affected with a Sense of his Misery, they then as livelily propose to him the Remedy in a Great SAVIOUR provided for him. In the Directories prepared many Ages ago, for the Visitation of the Sick, it was directed that the Sick Person should say, O my GOD, I now place the Death of my Lord JESUS CHRIST between Thee and my Sins: Thus our Pastors do assist the Sick Person, all they can, to place his Faith in the Sacrifice, and the Righteousness of a Glorious CHRIST, for Deliverance from Eternal Death, as well as Temporal. They Tender the Covenant of Grace to him in the several Articles of it, and obtain his Explicit Consent unto them all. They repeat the Calls of the Gospel to him, and they obtain such Answers thereunto, as to make it hopeful that they are become Effectual. They set before him the very great ⟨p. 108⟩and precious Promises of GOD unto returning Sinners, and especially such Words of a Merciful SAVIOUR as that [worth a Thousand Worlds!] Him that cometh unto me, I will in no wise cast out. They go through a Process of Repentance with him; Urging him to look upon the Sins of his Heart and Life with a due Contrition for them; to make the Flight of a Distressed Soul unto the Open Fountain for the Forgiveness of them; and therewithal to resign up his Mind unto the Holy Spirit, that he may be made a new Creature, and be brought into the Life of GOD. And that Repentance may have its perfect Work (if they apprehend Occasion for it) they exhort him, That if he have wronged any Neighbour either in his Estate or his Esteem, he would now make him all possible Reparation; Or, That if he has had any Companions in Impiety, he would now give his faithful Warnings and Rebukes unto them. If the Patient has been of Conspicuous Piety, they comfort him with the best Views they can give him of the Heavenly World, of which he is now upon the Borders, and of the Rest which remains for the People of GOD.
But the SICK are a special and frequent Object of the Pastoral Care. The Pastors, when the Sick Person sends for them (and often without their sending, and though they forget their Duty, to call for the Elders) have a very serious, and sometimes a very difficult Work to do. If the Sick be capable of Receiving Instruction, the Pastors now set before him, in lively Terms, the Miserable State which by Sin, both Original and Actual he is fallen into: and seeing him affected with a Sense of his Misery, they then as livelily propose to him the Remedy in a Great SAVIOUR provided for him. In the Directories prepared many Ages ago, for the Visitation of the Sick, it was directed that the Sick Person should say, O my GOD, I now place the Death of my Lord JESUS CHRIST between Thee and my Sins: Thus our Pastors do assist the Sick Person, all they can, to place his Faith in the Sacrifice, and the Righteousness of a Glorious CHRIST, for Deliverance from Eternal Death, as well as Temporal. They Tender the Covenant of Grace to him in the several Articles of it, and obtain his Explicit Consent unto them all. They repeat the Calls of the Gospel to him, and they obtain such Answers thereunto, as to make it hopeful that they are become Effectual. They set before him the very great ⟨p. 108⟩and precious Promises of GOD unto returning Sinners, and especially such Words of a Merciful SAVIOUR as that [worth a Thousand Worlds!] Himthat cometh unto me, I will in no wise cast out. They go through a Process of Repentance with him; Urging him to look upon the Sins of his Heart and Life with a due Contrition for them; to make the Flight of a Distressed Soul unto the Open Fountain for the Forgiveness of them; and therewithal to resign up his Mind unto the Holy Spirit, that he may be made a new Creature, and be brought into the Life of GOD. And that Repentance may have its perfect Work (if they apprehend Occasion for it) they exhort him, That if he have wronged any Neighbour either in his Estate or his Esteem, he would now make him all possible Reparation; Or, That if he has had any Companions in Impicty, he would now give his faithful Warnings and Rebukes unto them. If the Patient has been of Conspicuous Piety, they comfort him with the best Views they can give him of the Heavenly World, of which he is now upon the Borders, and of the Rest which remains for the People of GOD.
