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shall recover by it, if it be for his good to live longer; however, he shall have his pardon sealed, and then he need not be solicitous whether God order him to live or die, because he shall be happy either in life or death, and either of both these shall work together for his good. Finally then, the visitation of the sick is of divine institution, and of excellent use; and that it may have all those effects upon us which God designed to us thereby, let us descend to a particular view of all the parts of it, when first we have considered the method of the whole office, as it is presented in the following scheme.

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PARTITION I.

OF THE SUPPLICATIONS.

SECTION I.

OF THE SALUTATION.

§. I. PEACE BE TO THIS HOUSE, AND TO ALL THAT DWELL IN IT] This office is introduced by that pious salutation which the Jews were wont to express by wishing peace, (as St. Hierom notes,) and this they constantly used to those they met morning and evening. Nor did the Gentiles omit this religious civility, or the Christians forbear to salute in this manner, not only their brethren, but the heathens alsod. And though our Lord Jesus forbid his disciples (in their first hasty embassy) to stay in ceremoniously complimenting those they met by the way according to the custom of their nation, Luke x. 4, yet, lest he should be thought to dislike the universal rite of salu

a Quod Græce xaîpe, et Latine Ave, Hebraico Syroque sermone appellatur, Pax tibi. Hieron. in Luc.

Mane et

b Jud. xviii. 15. vespere pacem optamus obviis.

Com. in Aboth. fol. 4.

c Al. ab Alex. Genial. Dier. lib. 2. cap. 19.

d Theoph. ad Autolyc. lib. 2. initio.

tation, or privilege that rudeness which some miscall religion, he enjoins them in the next verse, upon their entering into any house to salute it, saying, Peace be to this house. And it will not seem strange that we have transcribed that precept into this office, if we consider that one main part of the apostles' errand then was, to heal the sick, Luke x. 9, Matt. x. 8. And since the miraculous gift of healing continued long after in the church, no doubt the primitive and apostolic men did use this very salutation when they went to work these wonderful cures in the houses of those they visited; so that even when the gift was ceased the form of salutation remained still, which therefore we use to this very day in our visiting the sick, because we go on the same charitable account, though not with the same power; and the sense of the words is very suitable, for peace signifies all outward blessings; but when it is used in way of salutation, it properly imports health: whence it is that where we read, Is he well? and the Greek versions, Is he in health? the Hebrew phrase is thus, Is there peace to him? When therefore a family is visited with sickness, and full of distress, what better prayer can we make for them, than that they may all have peace, that is, health and prosperity? And as the apostolical salutation was not a mere compliment, but a real benediction, as appears by our Saviour's assuring them, If the house were worthy, their peace should be upon it, ver. 9, 10, 8so shall this prayer of ours prevail for what we ask, to that house which is prepared to receive it; wherefore they ought to receive

e Luke x. 5. et in Vulg. et quibusd. Græcis Exemp. Matth.

X. 12.

f Gen. xxxix. 6. Heb. Num ei par? LXX. εἶπε δὲ αὐτοῖς,

Ὑγιαίνει.

8 Οὐ μόνον ἀσπασμός ἐστι τοῦτο, ἀλλὰ καὶ εὐλογία. Theophylac. in loc.

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our salutation as a real blessing, and to welcome the ambassadors of heaven, who in the time of their calamity come to bring health and salvation to their dwellings.

SECTION II.

OF THE SHORT LITANY.

I. REMEMBER NOT, LORD, OUR INIQUITIES, NOR THE INIQUITIES OF OUR FOREFATHERS: SPARE US, GOOD LORD, SPARE THY PEOPLE, WHOM THOU HAST REDEEMED WITH THY MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, AND BE NOT ANGRY WITH US

FOR EVER. Answ. SPARE US, GOOD LORD]

The litany being designed for the averting of evil, and the proper office for a state of affliction, should probably have been entirely used here, but that it is supposed the sick man will be unable to attend so long; wherefore the church hath selected the most pertinent sentence of the greater litany, and the Kúpte Xéŋoov, or lesser litany, to supply this place, of both which we have discoursed beforeh; so that now we are only to observe how pertinent they are on this occasion. The scripture informs us that God is the author, and sin the meritorious cause of all afflictions, Job v. 6, Lament. iii. 39; and therefore advises us, when we are afflicted, to pray, James v. 13. Now there is nothing so needful to pray for in this case as the pardon of those sins which have brought this evil on us. Hence the Greek forms do often repeat this requesti; and we acknowledge that God hath matter enough against us

h Comp. Temple, part II. partit. i. sect. 2. §. 3. and sect. 3. §. 25.

ἡ Ὑπὲρ τοῦ συγχωρηθῆναι αὐτῷ πᾶν πλημμέλημα. Euchol, p. 415.

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