For the reason why this self-examination SER M. XX. is requisite is, that it is an introduction to the practice of two other duties, confession and repentance. By confession is meant, not confession to men but to God; though the former in some cases, where the of fender is in doubt what sort of atonement he ought to make, may be necessary for him in order to receive spiritual advice and consolation; but however this may be, confession of our sins to God, as at all times, so especially at the approach of death, is indispensable; it is indispensable in order to our repenting and obtaining forgiveness; if we do not own that we have been guilty, how can we express sorrow for our sins, or intreat God to pardon us!

After confession follows repentance ;this is made up of sorrow that we have of fended God, and endangered our own souls, and a firm purpose to reform our lives, if

SERM. it should please the Almighty to prolong XX. them. Let not, however, any one flatter

himself that the practice of these on his death-bed will avail him, if he lived in the constant neglect of them before; I very much fear that it will not; however, it is all that is left for him-he must do what he can; proper behaviour at this awful period will probably better his situation, and cannot make it worse; but what I mean is, that it would be the height of folly and presumption to trust to it entirely.

The repentance exercised at our latter end, ought only to be the more solemn completion of what we have lived in the constant habit of before. Entreaty for God's pardon and acceptance, is to follow this confession and repentance; and this we are to offer up, not trusting in any fancied merits of our own, not confiding in our tears and supplications, but in the mercy of God, and in the merits and me

diation

diation of Jesus Christ. The sick are cut SERM. XX. off from the duties of active life, and it is therefore more highly incumbent on them to dedicate a great portion of their time to religious meditations and religious employments; I do not say that they are to use them to such a degree as to bring themselves into any farther danger, by terrifying themselves into a state of melancholy or despair, but that in general, particularly in long illnesses, the above employment of their time will be a source of the greatest comfort and satisfaction. And here let me caution those, whom illness prevents for any considerable time from engaging in the duties of active life, not too greatly to lament and repine at it: God knows what is best for us; in whatever state it pleases him to place us, that is our trial; it is according to our behaviour in that state that we shall be rewarded or punished by him; from those to whom he gives health and strength

XX.

SERM. strength he expects one kind of exertion; from those whom he visits with disease, and confines to the chamber of sickness, he requires another. Each may have their separate merits, and the sick may deserve as much of God as the well. Let not then the sick complain that they are cut off from the means of doing good; they have no reason; their example may be productive of the greatest good; their patience, their piety, their reliance on the divine. goodness, may be more highly beneficial to those around them, than the greatest earthly kindnesses which they could confer. I have already recommended patience under what we are actually suffering; but it may be necessary, likewise, to caution you against encouraging too great apprehensions of what you imagine that you may suffer. This is necessary, because there are persons who think they could support their present pains with tolerable fortitude,

but

but who at times sink under the idea of SERM. XX. the greater sufferings, which they suspect

still to await them. Surely this is disquieting themselves in vain; all their melancholy terrors cannot avert the decrees of the Almighty; and in the mean time the despondency to which they give way is in itself criminal, as it implies a distrust of God, and it likewise greatly aggravates their actual afflictions, and deprives them of what little comfort they might experience. "Sufficient for the day is the evil thereof." Let them bear, as well as they can, what God at present inflicts, and let them trust to his goodness to support them under the sorrows which may remain. If they have that faith, and use that supplication which they ought, they may be sure that he will do so. Besides, we in general bear afflictions much better than we expect; they are not always so terrible as they appear to be at a distance. As to the

pang

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