An Appendix will be added. First Rule. Why the Curate ought to provide a catalogue of sins. visiting of those who have been sick and are beginning to recover. The Seventh, will treat concerning the visitation of those young persons who have not as yet attained to the full use of their understanding. And to these will be added An Appendix, showing the various ways of bringing the sick to an acknowledgement, and, when necessary, to a particular confession of their sins. Rules to be comprehended under the First Whoever has taken upon himself the cure of souls, let him in the first place have some himself with accurate catalogue of sins, and in juxtaposition to every sin let him place texts of Scripture which expressly forbid and denounce the same. For with such help as this it will be easy to recall to the sick man's recollection his derelictions of duty, and to convince him of their heinousness and dangerous conseIts descrip- quences. And that this catalogue may be tion. the more adapted to use, let him so arrange the sins according to the various states and conditions of men, that he may be able to behold at one view those sins which are most peculiar to each condition; for since every one most frequently falls into sins which from his constitution of life are, in comparison of others, besetting, it is right that the Curate should be able to make mention of every one of those sins to which the sick man's condition in life shall have rendered him more inclined. Second Rule. Minister should have a manuscript should note It were to be wished, if leisure would per- The parochial mit, that every parish Minister should provide himself with a little book* in which the names book, in of all his parishioners should be so written which he that an entire leaf or two should be left for down the every family, and that he should adjoining the life, and name of every individual note down his and station of life, and whatever he may for this given. happen by accident or private inquiry to learn names, ages, stations in morals of his age parishioners. A book of this description has been published by Mr. Exton, entitled Speculum Gregis, or Parochial Minister's Assistant.-Rivingtons. The reason In what man ner the faults ioners should be noted down. respecting him, whether it merit commendation, or be deserving of reprehension; he should also note down all other circumstances which he shall deem will be advantageous to his parishioners that he should remember; for by this method as he will be able to do good to those who enjoy health by bestowing seasonable rebuke, and exhortation to persevere in a righteous course, so will he also, when visiting a sick person, know what things will be suitable to his situation and proper to advance for being acquainted, as a spiritual physician should be, with the disease, he will be able far more easily and happily to succeed in the cure. But lest the book I speak of should at any of his parish- time fall into hands he would not wish, it is advisable, in noting down matters deserving censure and disgrace, to have recourse to some mark intelligible only to himself, lest perchance an acquaintance with it having been diligently discovered by another, should inflict injury rather than benefit upon a brother in Christ. So also should the Minister take care A caution that these, his he vations, be not turned to bad account. The Curate all should pro vide himself prayers circum that these, his remarks in writing, be not private obserturned to bad account; neither should convert his knowledge of the secret faults and errors of a Parishioner to any other end than the soul's health and moral emendation of the individual whose faults have been noted down. Next, let him compile (as far as can be Third Rule. accomplished) short prayers suited to circumstances, or compose for the occasion with short prayers to be added to those prescribed for the suited to all Visitation of the Sick, in the Book of Com- stances. mon Prayer. I would, moreover, recommend what sort of that such compositions should not only express ought to be. and stir up devotional feelings, but also discreetly hint at those truths to the ignorant and thoughtless, which it is not always judicious to teach more plainly and clearly. Let him, at any rate, prepare two general forms of address; the one of which abounds in threatenings to be poured out against those sins which are denounced in Scripture, the other to be addressed to the desponding, setting forth in the words of Scripture the infinite mercy and compassion of Almighty prayers these Why he should be furnished with prayers of this description. Fourth Rule. He should of address to reason for this given. : God for prayers of this description evince a careful concern as well as skill on the part of the Curate, and not unfrequently secure to him the love and esteem of his flock; nor do they more please by their novelty than by the devotional spirit and the seasonable instruction which they supply: they are at the same time profitable to the sick and to those present on such occasions. Let the Curate moreover prepare to the prepare forms best of his ability some general forms of address the sick. The to the sick, which shall be suited to the various conditions in which men are placed; for, otherwise, he will sometimes fail in those subjects upon which it may be proper to address the person visited in his sickness;-the short addresses which follow seem to me of the description to which I allude: 1st Form. A Formulary of Speech which the Curate may use in any case of common Sickness. A form "You may be well assured, my Brother, suited to any that sickness and disease are not without case of |