fo, but fets himself with all his might to walk more carefully for the future, this argues a right difpofition of foul in him. This is the beft he is capable of doing, towards making a reparation for what he has done amifs; and is a very good fign, that he is fincere in his profeffion. Thefe, my friend, are the moft obvious marks of a fincere defire to please God. And if these fruits appear in your converfation, you need not queftion, but the root from whence they fpring is found and good, and fuch as, through our bleffed Saviour's mediation, will nourish you to eternal life.

Eufeb. Really, Theodorus, you have given me fuch fatisfaction, and fet this great point in fo clear a light, that I hope nothing farther need be defired, for letting a man into the true ftate of his foul, but only, that he carefully apply himself to make a right ufe of the method here prescribed for it which I beseech Almighty God to give us all grace to do faithfully and impartially, and as in his fight, who knows us far better than we know ourselves, and whom we are sure we cannot deceive; though if we be not very careful and inquifitive, or make a judgement of ourselves otherwife than by the rules here laid down, we may deceive ourselves to our own deftruction.

Anchith. This difcourfe has come very feasonably for me, who am now upon the bufinefs of reviewing my life, and making my peace with God, before 1 ga bence, and be no more feen: and whofe great concern it is therefore to inquire narrowly into the state of my foul, that I depart not hence with a falfe peace, and ill grounded hope, and fo be made fadly to bewail the ill effects of my mistake to all eternity. I will therefore examine myfelf by these rules, that so I may see how the cafe ftands betwixt God and my foul; and what affurance I can promise myself, that if I die now, as I am very like to do, I fhall not be for ever miserable. And that I may do it as I ought, I humbly beg the affiftance of my God to open mine

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eyes,

eyes, that I may fee the wondrous things of his law, and may dilcover, and be truly penitent for, my manifold tranfgreffions of it.

A Prayer for Direction in order to a right Judgment of one's Self.

Lord God of befts, who fearcheft the heart, and triest

the reins, and obferveft all our ways, to bring us to a ftritt account for them, and to render to every man according to his works; to thee I fly for affiftance and direction in this my languishing condition. Difcover me clearly to myself, that I may fee how vain and foolish, bow carclefs and negligent, how disobedient and undusiful I have been, and may be deeply bumbled for it. And where I have faithfully and heartily endeavoured to please thee, though with great weakness and imperfection, make me fenfible of this too, that, through the merits of our bieffed Saviour, I may enjoy the comfort of it. Teach me to pass a right judgment upon myself, that I may neither prefume upon thy goodness, whilst I allow myself in any iniquity, nor defpair of thy mercy and forgiveness, when I do not. Mortify and fubdue the remainders of corruption in me. Increafe and perfect all my graces, or whatfoever good inclinations thou jeeft in me: and take me not bence, O gracious Lord, till thou shalt have fitted me for the fruition of thine everlasting kingdam. Hear me, O Lord, and grant me this my most bumble request, for the fake, and through the merits, of Jefus Chrift, thine only Son, our Lord and Saviour. Amen.

Theod. The good Lord hearken to you, and give you a gracious anfwer! And fo I recommend you to the divine protection, hoping to wait upon you again

to-morrow.

Anchith. A thousand thanks to you, good Theodorus, for all your kindness. I thank you alfo, Eufebius. Eufeb. I pray God be with you, and grant you a favourable night, after this long vifit.

The End of the Fourth. VISIT.

The

The Fifth VISIT.

The more immediate Preparation for Death.

Theoph. you, good Anchithanes; Timotheus and Ο

UR friend Eufebius and I are come to fee

Philogeiton defigned alfo to accompany us; but bufi = nefs has fallen out crois, that they are forced to beg your excufe till to-morrow, when we are all to be here by a new appointment.

Eufeb. They fully intended to have come with us, and were heartily troubled at their difappointment. 1 But pray, Anchithanes, how are you now?

Anchith. I thank God not very uneafy, either in body, or mind; but weaker and weaker; wearing away as you fee. The good God of his mercy fit me for my great change, which feems to be approach ing!

Theoph. I trust he has done it already, that you need not be folicitous upon that account.

Anchith. I hope it is done in a good measure; yet not fo, but that I have great caufe to pray to God to complete it. And it is a matter of that vaft confequence to my foul, that I cannot be too careful about ft: which makes me beg what farther affiftance you can give in order to it.

Theoph. With all our hearts.

Anchith. I am very weak, and much spent, fince you faw me laft, and not like to continue any time in this world; and would be glad to improve the small remainder of my days, if at least I have any yet remaining, to the best purposes I can.

Theoph. What fervice is it we can do you?

Anchith. When you did me the favour, Theophilus, to vifit me formerly, you promifed to inform me how I might frame a right judgment of myself, fo as to difcern whether I be in the favour of God at prefent, and in the way to be faved hereafter: but Theodorus, I thank

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I thank him, has been at fo much pains to teach me this, that I shall not now trouble you about it, Theoph. What is it then you would defire?

Anchith. To be taught what duties are peculiarly incumbent upon one in my condition, that lies upon the bed of fickness, and every day expects his diffolution; as I now do.

Theoph. I know not how we can employ our time better, if your weakness will not make our discourse a disturbance to you.

Anchith. Affure yourselves, it will not. For though I am much spent as to my body, I thank God my understanding is ftill clear. And I hope I fhall be able both to attend to, and practile what I fhall learn from you.

Theoph. Do not think, Anchithanes, that we pretend to teach you, but only to refresh your memory, and bring to mind what you have let flip, during this want of your health.

Anchith. I fhall not interrupt your good defign, by returning your compliment; but do beg the favour of you to begin.

Theoph. You are then to look upon yourself, as poffibly upon the brink of the grave, ready to launch into eternity, in as uncertain a condition as (a) Damocles, with his dagger hanging over his head, and threatening every moment to drop upon him, and dispatch him. Which thought calls upon you to mufter up all your forces, and be as induftrious as poffibly you can, in making a good ufe of the few fands that yet remain in your glass. It is but a little time you can promise yourself to work in, the day being far spent, and the night, wherein no man can work, in all appearance, drawing on apace. There is none fo weak, but God, if he fee fit, can reftore him: and we have known divers perfons given over by the physician, and doubtless in as low a condition as yourfelf, that yet have recovered, and lived many years after. But this being what (a) Cic. Tufc. Quæft. 5.

you

you have little reafon to expect, you do very wifely In laying afide your concern for this world, and employing your thoughts wholly for the other. Your only business is now, to make what farther preparation you can, for a happy departure hence, and a bleffed eternity when you are gone.

Anchith. And how muft I do this?

Theoph. I believe by this time you find by experience, that it is no great matter a man can do, when reduc'd to your helpless circumftances. Yet what he can, must be done.

Anchith. Be pleas'd to give me your directions, and I will obferve them according to my power.

Theoph. I fhould have begun, in the first place, with the first thing our Church recommends in her rubrick for the vifitation of the fick; which is, To fend to the minifter of the parish, to beg his affiftance and prayers. But, instead of preffing this upon you, I am rather And I to commend you for having already done it. prefume you are fatisfied by this time, you did well and wifely in it.

Anchith. I have owned it to you formerly, and have much more reafon to do it, now that I have had more experience of the valuable bleffing of fo useful a help, at fuch a time as this: which is a benefit I owe to you Theophilus; and I return you hearty thanks for having first put me upon it.

Theoph. I was fully fatisfied of the fingular ufefulnefs of fuch a guide, when you came within fight of eternity, and of fuch an interceffor for you to Heaven; who, being of God's own appointment, is therefore the fitteft perfon to offer up your requests for you, and to affift you in the other offices of religion. Such a fpiritual phyfician is therefore to be applied to, and not only defired once or twice for form-fake, but fo as that he may perform the feveral parts of his office conftantly during the perfon's fickness. This is one confiderable branch of his function, and would prove of admirable ufe, if duly put in execution.

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Eufeb.

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