Page:TheParadiseOfTheChristianSoul.djvu/704

 dise. It will  be  discussed  more fully in  the ,  which, with the blessing  of  God, shall  be presented  to  the  good  reader. We shall  merely  content  ourselves, at  this  time, with  a summary  discussion  of  it.

If there  is  any  time  that calls more  than  another  for the exercise  of  Christian charity on  the  part  of  one who has  it  at  heart, it  is when  he  is  in  attendance  on the  sick  and  the  dying. Then it is  that  the  cause  of  a whole eternity is  to  be  advocated, and that  the  issue  of  life  is  at stake. Is that  a moment  to leave  the  sick  man  destitute  of all  seasonable  aid, to  advance, in a crisis  so  full  of  hazard, single-handed to  the  combat f

Away, then, with all  idle  and curious lookers-on; but  let such good  people  be  present as, by  their  counsel, their  encouragement, and  their  prayers, may  aid  the  dying  person in that  arduous  conflict,  and direct him  to  a happy  departure.

Their principal  care, however, should  be  to  secure  the exercise of  contrition, faith, hope,, charity,  and  resignation; that  is,  that  the  dying person should  conceive  an earnest  sorrow  for  his  sins, and make  lively  and  effectual acts of  faith,  hope,  and  love towards God  and  his  neighbour; resign  and  conform himself wholly  to  the  divine Will; place  his  fixed  reliance on  the  infinite  mercy  of God,  &c.

There is  scattered  throughout the    much  that will furnish  suggestions  proper for  this  object; of  which we will  note  down  those  portions which  occur  to  us  for  the good reader's  convenience.

Remember, however, that  as in  sickness  the  head  is  weak, arid the  reason  confused  in proportion  to  the  violence  of the  disease,  so  ought  such  suggestions not  to  be  crowded hurriedly together on  the mind, but  made  gradually, gently, and at  intervals,  that time also  may  be  given  for such reflection  upon  what  is said  as  may  turn  it  to  the account of  the  hearer. Oil poured into  a lamp  too  copiously and  impetuously  does not feed,  but  extinguish  it. Heavy rain  ploughs  up  or washes  away  fallow  ground; but when  it  falls  gently,  by penetrating  softly,  it  moistens and fertilises  the  soil.

It may  easily  be  seen  how much mischief  is  done  to  the sick in  this  particular,  when, by reading  or  talking  to  them too much,  the  mind  is  disturbed by  the  introduction  of matter  that  is  beside,  or  little to the  purpose.

Whoever, then,  would  employ the    for  the  benefit of  the  sick  and  dying, in addition  to  what  is  contained in  the  seventh  Part, may use  what  fellows: