himself; in their temporal Concerns, as well as their spiritual, if that be really best for them. His Seed fhall be mighty upon Earth: the Generation of the Faithful fhall be blessed. Riches and Plenteoufnefs fhall be in his Houfe: his Righteoufnefs endureth for ever.

k Pf. cxii. 2, 3.

SER

SERMON XIII.

ISAIAH Xxxviii. I, 2.

In thofe Days was Hezekiah fick unto Death; and Ifaiah the Prophet, the Son of Amoz, came unto him, and faid unto him, Thus faith the Lord, fet thine House in Order: for thou fhalt die, and not live. Then Hezekiah turned his Face towards the Wall, and prayed unto the Lord.

N difcourfing lately on thefe Words, after

IN

reminding you of the Uncertainty of Life and Health, and the Need of preparing for Sickness and Death before either of them appears to be at Hand, I proposed to assist you in this good Work, by laying before you the Duties of the Sick.

I. Respecting their Fellow-creatures.

II. Refpecting more immediately God and

their own Souls.

VOL. III.

T

1. The

I. The former, I obferved to you, are expreffed in the Text by the Words, Set thine Houfe in Order, or, tranflating more literally, Give Command concerning, or, to thine Houfe. And this Direction may well be enlarged to comprehend, both due Regulations of all Affairs in which the Sick are interested, and proper Advice to all Perfons with whom they are connected. In the firft of thefe Views I have already treated of it.

And proceed now to the next Point, that of needful Advice to thofe of our own Family, our Relations and Domeftics, with whom may well be joined at least our Friends, and thofe with whom we have lived in Familiarity.

It is a Character, which God gives of Abraham with Marks of great Approbation, I know him, that he will command his Children, and his Houfhold after him, and they shall keep the Way of the Lord to do Justice and Judgment. Undoubtedly both he and the other good Patriarchs performed this Duty through their whole Lives, as we fhould alfo; but we find it recorded of feveral of them, and therefore may prefume it of the reft, that they gave more folemn Admonitions to their Families at

a Gen. xviii. 19.

their Deaths, in which too our Imitation of them is highly requifite. For the dying Words, and those which probably may be fuch, of Parents and Masters to their Children and Servants, of Friends to their Friends, and of worthy Perfons to fuch as refpect them, naturally make an uncommon Impreffion. The Occafion is awful; the Minds of the Hearers are usually tender and affectionate; apt to condemn their former Difregards, and to receive what is now faid, as carrying in it a peculiar Obligation and Sacrednefs: befides that it may often render forfaking bad Customs and acting right much the easier to them, if they can fay, (what the World will regard more than a better Reason) that such was the dying Injunction of fuch a Friend.

You will therefore furely improve fuch an Opportunity, as their Profpect of being deprived of you, though not a certain one, affords you for this excellent Purpose. If you have always, or for a confiderable Time, led a pious Life, you will testify to all about you, that you have found it the fure Way to inward Peace, and that you feel the Faith and Love of God a strong Support in your present Hour of Suffering and Trial. If you have been remifs

and negligent you will excite them, by speaking of the Remorfe which it gives you, to more Care and Zeal. If you have fallen into grofs and public Sins, you will exprefs to them fully a deep Senfe of your Guilt. For be affured, that taking Shame to yourself thus will be true Honour, both in the Eyes of God and Man. Warn others therefore against the Rocks on which you have fplit, and befeech them to learn, by your fad Experience, without wanting to add their own. If they are well difpofed and good, give them the Pleafure of knowing that you rejoice in it; and exhort them to perfevere with Tokens of a cheerful Confidence that they will. If you difcern Faults or weak Sides in them, or Dangers to which they will be liable, caution them, not harshly, but in the kindeft and most perfuafive Manner, to avoid, for your Sake as well as their own, what you forefee will elfe prove hurtful, if not fatal to them: and beg of them, that, if they should notwithstanding go wrong, the Remembrance of your Words may at leaft, when they find they have, prevail on them to retreat in Time. If you have neglected inftructing them in effential Points, acknowledge it to them with Sorrow, and be

earnest