thankfully acknowledge them; and what Sins they have committed, that they may beg pardon for them, left they Die before the Morning.] and when they thould recommend both Themselves and Families to the Divine Protection, in humble and hearty Prayer: I fay, at Night (when thefe Duties fhould be performed) being loaden with Wine and Bufinefs, they fleep over their Cares and their Sins together.

But when the Discipline of the Physician keeps them Watchful and Sober; When fome lingring Disease fhall confine them to their Chambers, or nail them to their Beds; When their Sleep is departed from them, and that they lie rowling and tumbling and wishing for the Day; Then they are at leisure to confider their Ways, and to remember what they have done, and to reC

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collect the former Paffages of their Lives.

Then they are at leifure for fuch Thoughts as these.

What am I? Whence came I? Who gave me my Being? For what end and reafon was I Born? What have I Done? How have I behaved my Self fince I came into this World? Whither am I going now I am to leave it?

I feel fuch Decays of Nature, that I fee and obferve I must not long Atay here.

To what Place, into what unknown Regions fhall I next remove ? Where, O where shall I make my Eternal Unalterable Abode ?

Such feasonable and awakening Thoughts as these, are sometimes occafioned by the Confinement of a Sick Bed. And if duly complied with and improved, through the Goodness of God, and the Concurrence of his Ho,

ly

ly Spirit, they are a blessed Introduction to a happy Eternity. And therefore though this Sickness and Pain, which at prefent you may groan under, is very troublesome and uneafy; yet be not fretful and impatient. Do not murmur or repine: For God, who best knows what is profitable for you, hath fent it for your Good; to Awaken and Reform you.

When therefore your Pains are most preffing; when you bewail and bemoan your felf; then blefs God that you are ftill alive: That you are not taken off by a fudden stroke, as many Others have been; but that you have this time and leifure, to confider your Ways to examine your Confcience; to commune with your own Heart upon your Bed, and be ftill: To make your Peace with God, before you go hence, and are no more feen. C 2 2. The

5. Tckness and Pain doth instruct you, how to value your Health; and what thankful Improvement God doth expect, from the conti nued Enjoyment of so great a Mercy.

That it is your Duty most thankfully to acknowledge your Health; and alfo moft diligently to improve it for God's Glory, and the Benefit of Mankind, you may eafily be convinced from this following Confiderati on viz. That Health is a Ta lent as well as a Mercy: And as fuch, is not only to be enjoyed but improved. In plain Terms:

God gives you Health, not only to take your Eafe, and to live to your Self; but also thereby to do Good in the World, and to live to Others. And con

fequently

fequently to be unmindful of fo great a Mercy, or to neglect its Improvement, much more to lavish and mifpend it, is a very great Sin. Which is highly dif pleafing to Almighty God: And which he will not pardon without Reformation and Amendment.

Now in order to this Reformation, it hath pleased God, for your Conviction, to lay you upon a Bed of Sickness; thereby to make you fenfible of the Va lue of your Health, by the want of it: And to convince you of your finful Neglect, in depriving you of that Mercy you have fo often abused.

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Be not therefore impatient and fretful; but make this good use of your prefent Confinement; even to bewail the abufe of your former Health, and faithfully refolve; That if God thall pleafe. to continue your Life, and reC 3

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