in now. especially careful that no fresh occasion be given to the enemy of his soul to seize an advantage, through any sin incident to sickness. A fair life of constant religion would go for nothing, if one act of deliberate rebellion and opposition to GOD's will were indulged All past pardons will be worthless and invalid, if we involve ourselves in fresh debts at the last. Remember the wicked servant in the Parable, who, notwithstanding that he had been freely forgiven an immense debt, even ten thousand talents, yet because he was wroth with his fellow servant that owed him an hundred pence, was delivered by his Lord to the tormentors, until he should pay all that was due unto him. This is a warning to all of us, and teaches us, that although our sins should have been entirely pardoned, yet on the recurrence of fresh acts of sin and disobedience, God will restore us to the same evil condition we were in before our pardon was granted. These remarks are intended for those who have already striven to become reconciled to GOD. As concerning those however, who have deferred their repentance, and who think that it is to be accomplished in an hour, or in a day, and that the short period of thought and reflection allowed them before their death, is the only time required for repentance, little more need be said, than that GOD's mercies are infinite, and that He sometimes does accept resolutions of amendment, for amendment itself; but that since (as frequently appears after a recovery) they can so little be depended upon for duration and sincerity, we cannot but conclude with Bishop Andrewes: "This fashion of repenting, I can say little to; but I pray GOD that it deceive us not. It is not good trying conclusions about our souls." Persons in such a lamentable condition, are however not to despair; they must do what they can; and although, depressed and cast down, must still hope for mercy on their repentance. The guide of souls, by the above rubric, is directed to examine whether you truly repent you of your sins. will be well, as we have before intimated, if you true faith as there is but one HOLY SPIRIT,1 it is the first care of the Church to inquire whether the sick man is entirely ruled by the right belief. She makes an orthodox faith the foundation of all her proceedings, for we cannot be truly prepared to appear before GOD, if we be ignorant concerning Him, His nature, and His attributes, what He has done for us men, and all that He requires of us in order to our salvation. If it be an unquestionable verity that GOD is three Persons in one Divine Unity, how can we be prepared to meet the true God, if we have all our lives worshipped Him in that bare and simple unity in which He does not exist. Another reason why our faith should be strictly inquired into at this period, is the right the Church possesses of ascertaining whether the sick man die in the fellowship of true believers. As the faith is one, and 66 once for all delivered" as S. Jude2 declares; and as S. Pauls has said, "Though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you, than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed:" so we perceive that any one holding false doctrines cuts himself off from the communion of the Catholic Church, which is "the pillar and ground of the truth."4 A sick man dying, without confession of his faith, would give occasion, in many instances, to the enemy to blaspheme; and it is quite evident that at such a time a man is called upon to glorify GoD with his mouth, to make confession with his mouth unto salvation; and as he then bequeaths on the one hand to his children his property, so on the other should he leave behind him for the edification of friends, relatives, followers, and of the whole Church a plain, unequivocal declaration of his faith. Further, that the sick man should be brought to meditate upon and to stay himself upon his creed in this his extremity is a necessary weapon of defence to him against the fiery darts of the wicked one. It is in sickness, when the reasoning powers are at the weakest, and scruples are at the strongest, that Satan is most ready to assail us with instigations to doubt and infidelity. 1 Eph. iv. 4, 5.. 3 Gal. i. 8. 2 S. Jude 3. τῇ ἅπαξ πίστει. 5 Eph. vi. 16.. yet how patiently did he suffer Nathan to tell him, 'Thou art the man,' because he looked not so much at the messenger, as at his great Master, GOD ALMIGHTY, by Whom he was sent. Great men are nursed up in flattery from their cradle, and the mercenary tongues of those that depend upon them, will never permit them to know the truth; a sincere and impartial friend being the only thing which they want, who have abundance of all other earthly satisfactions. And now they are going to leave all, and to be judged by Him who hath no respect of persons, it is their greatest happiness and certain interest to have a holy man that may and dare let them know their estate, before it be unalterable. And for meaner persons, they must beware that their pride and peevishness do not discourage their spiritual physician from doing this necessary, though seemingly unpleasing office to them, because no man can judge his own case so well as an impartial and faithful bystander may do, since most men are apt to think too favourably of themselves.' There are also some directions that you will do well to profit by, which aim at rendering the repentance as perfect as may be. It is obvious, that if your sickness have fallen upon you as a consequence of sin, there can be no true repentance, so long as the sin is retained. All incentives, therefore, to the sin which has occasioned this punishment sent by GOD to you in His mercy, must be without hesitation laid aside. Here that golden rule must be allowed its operation in full force, “If thine eye offend thee, pluck it out." In order that you may deepen and render more intense this, which may be your last repentance, closely inquire into the degrees of imperfection which have attended your former acts of penitence, that so this last act may prove indeed "a repentance not to be repented of." Mark well whether your former exertions to please GOD, and cause angelic rejoicings "sinner that repenteth," have been so earnestly engaged in, as to make you resolve to live holily, and whether your actions have since corres over the ponded with the fervency of your resolutions. Consider how much or how little time has been spent in retirement, in humiliations, in fastings, in prayers. Think with yourself how much or how little you have judged yourself, that you might not be judged. Think in what respects you have taken revenge upon yourself, and in what respects you have missed so doing, whether by almsgiving, or by other acts of self-denial. Such thoughts as these will quicken your remorse, and cause you to seek from the all-merciful God, with an earnestness and vehemence proportioned to your necessity, "pardon for the imperfections of your repentance, acceptance of your weaker sorrows, supplies out of the treasures of grace and mercy.' 1 You are doubtless well aware that there is such a thing as repenting through fear. You must beware of reposing any trust in such a repentance, for God requires of us that penitence which springs from a principle of love. Now fear is a very effective principle to move us at the first beginnings of repentance, but must have no place at a death-bed where repentance has to be completed. At least here "perfect love must in the end and before death has sealed our eyes cast out fear." We must endeavour to cherish in our souls the affection of a son, and not of a slave, crying, Abba FATHER. There are some sins which admit of no satisfaction being made, in which restitution is not possible, and no contrary acts can be exercised. For these, penitential prayers and almsgiving (if indeed the latter is in your power) are advised; since they are the only acts of repentance that can be performed. As for instance, the sin of intemperance can only be repaired in a dying man by prayer and alms. What reparation too can be given to a dead person who has been seduced by you into sin? Prayer and alms would seem to be the great means in such cases whereby reconciliation with GOD may be obtained. The words of Bishop Taylor on the subject of an effective repentance are of great importance, and must be full of profit to the sick man. "Let the sick man, 1 Taylor's Holy Dying. : but have the appetites of beasts and fools. But if the sick man fixes his thoughts, and sets his habitation to dwell here, he swells his hope, and masters his fears, and eases his sorrows, and overcomes his temptations. 3. Let the sick person be infinitely careful that his Faith be not tempted by any man, or anything; and when it is in any degree weakened, let him lay fast hold upon the conclusion, upon the Article itself; and by earnest prayer beg of GOD to guide him in certainty and safety. For let him consider, that the article is better than all its contrary or contradictory, and he is concerned that it be true, and concerned also that he do believe it but he can receive no good at all if CHRIST did not die, if there be no Resurrection, if this Creed hath deceived him: therefore all that he is to do is to secure his hold, which he can do no way but by prayer and by his interest. And by this argument or instrument it was that Socrates refreshed the evil of his condition, when he was to drink his aconite. 'If the soul be immortal, and perpetual rewards be laid up for wise souls, then I lose nothing by my death: but if there be not, then I lose nothing by my opinion; for it supports my spirit in my passage, and the evil of being deceived cannot overtake me when I have no being.' So it is with all that are tempted in their Faith. If those articles be not true, then the men are nothing; if they be true, then they are happy : and the Articles fail, there can be no punishment for believing; but if they be true, my not believing destroys all my portion in them, and possibility to receive the excellent things which they contain. By Faith we quench the fiery darts of the devil; but if our Faith be quenched, wherewithal shall we be able to endure the assault ?" Before leaving this subject, be persuaded, should any article of the faith perplex you, as proposing what you consider contradictory to experience, or as in any other way difficult of reception, to lay it with openness before the guide of souls who ministers to you. However the article may present difficulties to your view, be assured there are good solutions to be found for them, and the lips that keep knowledge will doubtless, in most cases, |