disease befalleth any one by chance, and without cause?

(2.) But that it is sent from God, without whose ordinance no one is afflicted with disease?

(3.) That God, however, is most wise, and that He suffers nothing to happen but what is proper?

(4.) And, therefore, that the pain or disease now sent to you from God is designed to be profitable to you?

(5.) That God, moreover, exercises towards us a fatherly affection, but that a father, whether he be indulgent or chastises, is still, in either case, a father, and that God never acts with less, and peradventure with greater, love when chastising than when He is indulgent?

(6.) That having for a long time given you good things, He now sends evil things; but that the evil are not sent save for the sake of effecting greater good, namely, that you may return to Him?

(7.) That you ought to be thankful because,

though you have often rejected Him, He has, nevertheless, never so deserted you, but visiteth and seeks you out anew?

If these things be so, you ought to submit your will to the Divine Will, which submission, next to the death of Christ, is the most acceptable of all sacrifices to God.

Do you CONFESS,

(1.) That you have not lived so well as it behoved you? nay, that you have led a wicked life and often and grievously have sinned?

(2.) Have you not some besetting sin? or, are there not some sins which weigh down your conscience, so that an especial absolution would be a beneficial relief?

(3.) Have you any scruples relating to faith or religion?

(4.) Have you, in the bitterness of your heart, reflected upon the past years of your life?

(5.) Do you desire to feel a greater sorrow on their account than that of which you are now sensible? or, if fully sensible, do you rejoice thereat? and if not duly sensible, do you grieve?

(6.) Do you desire to be enlightened concerning those things of which you are ignorant or forgetful, in order that you may become penitent for the same? Is it also a source of grief to you that you are ignorant and forgetful of those things?

(7.) Have you resolved, if you should recover, to judge and condemn yourself for that in which you have offended?

(8.) Have you resolved, if your life be spared, to amend your ways, and to avoid as well the reality as the appearance of those things in which you have offended?

(9.) Do you devoutly promise this?

(10.) And do you desire that you should be freely admonished respecting this your pro

mise?

Do you BELIEVE,

(1.) Those things which are contained in the creed of our Christian faith, once delivered to the saints?

(2.) And that you cannot be saved unless you do believe those things?

(3.) Do you rejoice and give thanks to God,

that you were born, and have lived, and are now about to die in this faith?

(4.) Do you desire yourself, and do you wish that we should supplicate God, in your name, that this faith may not fail you now, nor, what is more, at the very moment of death?

(5.) Do you humbly desire, also, that the fruit of this faith, more especially faith in the death of Jesus Christ, however it may have withered in life, may not perish at death?

(6.) If your senses shall fail, or pain or weakness should bring you to that state in which some things contrary to religion or its precepts may escape you, do you wish that they should be accounted as not spoken, and do you disown them as your real sentiments?

Do you FORGIVE,

(1.) Those who have in any way offended you, as you would that they should forgive you?

(2.) Do you beseech that God Himself, also, will forgive them?

(3.) Do you remit to those who have injured

you in word or deed, the recompense they are bound to render?

(4.) Do you wish it to be communicated, in your name, to those who have offended you, that you have entirely forgiven them all their trespasses?

(5.) Would you forgive them if they had more grievously and frequently offended you? (6.) Would you rejoice if there were at this time many more whom you might forgive, in order that there might, in consequence, be a remission of your offences more abundantly granted you by God?

if you

(1.) Do you, have injured any, seek their pardon and forgiveness?

(2.) Have you especially called to mind who these injured persons are, and do you wish your desire for their forgiveness to be signified to them in your name?

(3.) Since no remission of offences against the eighth and ninth precepts of the divine law can be hoped for without restitution be made, as far as can now be done, are you prepared to restore to them their property, from

D