Графични страници
PDF файл
ePub

Twenty-third
Rule.

the sick

should be

fortified against the

may perform those things which they ought on this occasion.

If death appears to be at no great distance, The mind of the mind of the sick person should be fortified against the fear thereof, and death ought to be represented to him as the termination of all miseries, and the door which leads those who have given good evidence of true repentance to eternal happiness.

fear of death.

Twentyfourth Rule.

Absolution to

the penitent;

its nature to

be explained

and in what sense to be pronounced.

But concerning those whose repentance shall be unfeigned, there can be no doubt but be given to that absolution may rightly be pronounced if they shall earnestly seek it; and lest its nature should be misunderstood, it ought to be explained as much as possible, and may be propounded as absolute with respect to those offences which have brought scandal on the Church, and as authoritative with respect to all other sins, and as securing the grace of God towards those who have perfected true repentance.

Twenty-fifth
Rule.

He that has the care of souls ought always to remember that the sick should be variously be variously discoursed with, according to their various

The sick to

discoursed

ing to their

positions.

sumptuous

conversed

contrite

dispositions; for to those who nourish an ill- with accordfounded hope of future happiness the justice different disof God should be set forth; those heavy How the prethreats under which God has forbidden wick- should be edness in all men every where, should be with. urged in a lively manner, and the terrors of the tremendous judgment, and the punishments of hell, as far as may be, ought to be represented to the life: but, on the other How the hand, the mind of a sick person who is truly should be contrite, and groans under his heavy burden of sin, must be soothed with pleasant converse concerning the mercy of God, and for his solace those places of Scripture may be illustrated in which God promises pardon to penitent sinners; the merits of the Saviour should be recalled to his mind, and he may and ought to be admonished to place his hopes in the

same.

comforted.

Rule.

should be

If he shall happen to be a parent who is Twenty sixth visited, he should be moved to bless and give Parents his children good advice, especially if he seem moved to to be near death; for the advice which a dying children parent gives will sink deeper into his children's

give their

wholesome counsels.

Twenty

seventh Rule.

minds and more prevail with them than that which he had instilled into them before his sickness.

If it be a servant that is visited, he should

To what ser- be urged to disclose if he know of

vants should
be advised
to do.

Twentyeighth Rule.

The sick person who is in want should be assisted.

Twenty-ninth
Rule.

The sick

should be moved to settle his

any designs entered on by his fellow-servants contrary to the interest of his master or mistress.

If the sick person be poor, and in need of the necessaries of life, the Curate should assist him as far as he is able, and either bestow on him some money, or if through his own poverty he cannot do this, he should charge those who are rich in behalf of the sick.

When there shall be occasion, the Curate should exhort the sick to a settlement of his

worldly affairs, as well lest being unsettled worldly they should disturb his mind and divert it reason given. from more momentous subjects, as lest if he

affairs. The

should die before they are settled, uneasiness and litigation might arise amongst those who survive him. It will be proper also, if he be wealthy, to stir him up to deeds of charity, by arguments sought from the sentence to be awarded at the last day.

Thirtieth

Rule.

going exhor

to be all

one visit.

this assigned.

These exhortations are not all of them to be urged at one time, as well because such The forea course would weary the sick, as because it tations not is meet that the Curate should bring forth urged during something new as often as he visits the person A reason for labouring under indisposition, lest he should seem to be always dwelling upon the same thing, and be accused of a want of knowledge by those who hear him, as if through ignorance he knew not how to vary his discourse.

Rule.

exhortations

The Curate, prayers being ended, and Thirty-first having brought his exhortations to a close, Prayers and may kindly inquire of the sick person con- being ended, cerning his bodily health, and in a friendly may enter manner converse with him as to the remedies

the Curate

into friendly

converse with the sick respecting his bodily

to which he has had recourse, and if he be
skilled in medicine he may (unless a medical health.
man be present) give him his advice; for by
this method he will render himself welcome.

Rule.

course the

The Curate at length being about to depart, Thirty-second should advise the sick person privately to what dismeditate on those things he has heard from Curate him, and should move him to follow his ad- departing monitions, pray for his health, and beseech person's

should use at

from the sick

presence.

First Rule.

The Curate

should re

quest the

those who

attend upon the sick.

God that the sick person may, by the help of his grace, be both able and desirous of carrying himself suitable to the circumstances in which he is placed.

Rules belonging to the Third Division.

Not unfrequently is it meet that the Curate should have the assistance of the attendants assistance of of the sick person, for the furtherance of his eternal salvation; for he may prevail much with the sick if he can bring those to help him in earnest who are related to the sick person, either by consanguinity or friendship. The manner To them, therefore, in private, he may speak in the following manner:-" Right and praiseworthy is the care you are bestowing upon this your sick friend; add, I implore you, to the care for his body, a care also for his soul; for that is by far the most excellent part of man, and deserving of greater concern; by so much the more, therefore, principally attend to this, in order that his soul may be healthful; you may in this way most season

in which he should address them.

« ПредишнаНапред »