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many fears. Let not this fear weaken our hands; and if it allay our gaieties and our confidences, it is no harm. Those confidences which some men glory in are not real supporters, or good foundations. The fearing man is the safest, and if he fears on his death-bed, it is but what happens to most considering men, and what was to be looked for all his life-time. He talked of the terrors of death, and death is the king of terrors; and, therefore, it is no strange thing if then he be hugely afraid: if he be not, it is either a great felicity, or a great presumption.

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SELECTIONS.

VISITING THE SICK.

(John Wesley's Sermons, vol. ii. p. 311.)

By the sick I do not mean only those who keep their bed, or that are sick in the strictest sense; but I would include all such as are in a state of affliction, whether of mind or of body; and that, whether they are good or bad, whether they fear God or not.

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"But is there need of visiting them in person? May we not relieve them at a distance? not answer the same purpose, if we send them help, as if we carry it ourselves?" Many are so circumstanced, that they cannot attend the sick in person; and where this is the real case, it is undoubtedly sufficient for them to send help, being the only expedient they can use. But this is not properly visiting the sick; it is another thing. The word which we render visit, in its literal acceptation, means to look upon. And this,

you well know, cannot be done unless you are present with them. To send them assistance is,

therefore, entirely a different thing from visiting them. The former, then, ought to be done, but the latter not left undone.

"But I send a physician to those that are sick; and he can do them more good than I can." He can, in one respect; he can do them more good with regard to their bodily health; but he cannot do them more good with regard to their souls, which are of infinitely greater importance. And if he could, this would not excuse you. His going would not fulfil your duty. Neither would it do the same good to you, unless you saw them with your own eyes. If you do not, you lose an excellent means of increasing your thankfulness to God, who saves you from this pain and sickness, and continues your health and strength; as well as of increasing your sympathy with the afflicted, your benevolence, and all social affections.

That the performance of this duty is necessary, we cannot doubt, if we seriously consider that these are the very words of the great Judge himself: Come, ye blessed children of my

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Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and ye gave me meat: thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Verily, I say unto you, inasmuch as ye have done it to the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." If this do not convince you that the continuance in works of mercy is necessary to salvation, consider what the Judge of all says to those on the left hand: "Depart, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry, and ye gave me no meat: thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. Inasmuch as ye have not done it unto one of the least of these, neither have ye done it unto me 1."

ON DRESS.

(Wesley's Sermons, vol. ii. p. 226.)

What harm does fine dress do? The first

1 Matt. xxv. 34-46.

harm it does, is, it engenders pride; and where it is already, increases it. Whoever narrowly observes what passes in his own heart will easily discern this. Nothing is more natural than to think ourselves better, because we are dressed in better clothes; and it is scarce possible for a man to wear costly apparel unsuitable to his station, without, in some measure, valuing himself upon it. One of the old heathens was so well apprized of this, that, when he had a spite to a poor man, and had a mind to turn his head, he made him a present of a suit of fine clothes.

The wearing of gay and costly apparel naturally tends to beget anger, and every turbulent and uneasy passion. And it is on this very account that the Apostle places this "outward adorning" in direct opposition to the "ornament of a meek and quiet spirit;" he adds, "which in the sight of God is of great price." None can easily conceive, unless himself were to make the sad experiment, the contrariety there is between the " outward adorning" and this inward "quietness of spirit." You never can thoroughly enjoy this, while you are fond of the other. It is only while you sit loose to that "outward adorning," that you

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