English Puritan & Reformed

Short instructions for the Sick

Richard Baxter (1615-1691) · 2,059 words · 9 min

The source for this document is https://quod.lib.umich.edu/e/eebo2/B17567.0001.001

Project Note

This is licensed under Creative Commons CC BY-NC-ND. This license allows reusers to copy and distribute the material in any medium or format in unadapted form only, for noncommercial purposes only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator.

The source of this document is the Early English Books Online (EEBO-TCP) website. Those books were transcribed in a character for character manner and can be very cumbersome to read since there was no standard spelling during that time. Many spelling variations such as "unlesse", "vnlesse", and "vnles" regularly appear.

This project was conceived to clean up those books as much as possible and make them more accessible to the interested reader, leading to the creation of a massive list of variant spellings and their corrections. This was used to clean up the text, but is of course only as complete as the list itself. Because of the nature of the original transcription, some words have missing characters or places where the original language (e.g., Greek) was not transcribed. This effort does not change that. Be aware that the original transcription can also be faulty and in some cases entire sentences may be missing.

Although this is no substitute for a properly compared, proofed, and scholarly edition, I believe that the result is a document which is far more accessible, particularly for searching for terms using standard spelling. The document has been cleaned and presented in what I hope is a pleasing and useful format for the vast majority of Christian brothers and sisters who just want access to read these spiritually nourishing works.

However, a word of warning: The Puritans were a very diverse group of people and their age was characterized with godliness, but also much upheaval, disputation and strife. They disagreed on many doctrines and some of these works contain less orthodox or Scriptural views than others. The reader is strongly advised to read with discernment, particularly if it is unknown whether author is trustworthy.

This project took a huge amount of time and skill to bring to fruition. I would particularly like to thank David Jonescue for the initial list of Puritans he found on EEBO and the concept behind this project as well as the continuous, unceasing efforts toward seeing this complete. Without his labor, this would not be available. Alex Sarrouf was invaluable in providing the initial list of over 7,000 spelling variations he had identified and corrected, as well as continuing to review more than 16,000 additions to that list for any typos.

Logan West
(with David Jonescue and Alex Sarrouf)
www.puritansearch.org

Short Instructions for the SICK, Especially for the Contagion, or otherwise, are deprived of the Presence of a Faithful PASTOR.

By RICHARD BAXTER.

THose happy Persons who have made it the chief care and bus ness of their lives, to be always ready for a dying hour, have least need of my present counsel: It is therefore those unhappy Souls, who are yet unprepared, whom I shall now Instruct. And, O that the Lord would bless these Words; and persuade them yet, ere Time be gone!

If sin had not bewitched men, and made them Monsters of senselessness and unbelief, it could not be, that an Endless Life, so sure, so near, could be so sottishly made light of, all their lives, as is by most, till they perceive that Death is ready to surprise them. But, poor sinner, if this have been thy case, supposing yet that thou art unwilling to be damned, I earnestly entreat thee in the Name of Christ, for the sake of thy Immortal soul, that thou wilt presently lay to heart these short Instructions, before Time and Hope are gone forever.

I. At last bethink thee what thou art? and for what End and Work thou camest into the World? Thou art a Man of Reason, and not a Brute, and hast a Soul which was made to Know, and Love, and Serve thy Maker; and that not in the second place, with the leavings of the flesh; but in the first place, and with all thy Heart and Might. If this had been indeed thy Life, God would have been thy Portion, thy Father, and thy Defense, and thou mightest have lived and died in peace and comfort, and then have lived with God forever. And should not a Creature live to the Ends and Uses which it was made for? Must God give thee all thy powers for Him self, and wilt thou turn them from him, to the service of the flesh, and that when thou hadst vowed the contrary in thy Baptism? How wilt thou answer for such treacherous ungodliness?

II. It is time for thee now to have serious thoughts of the Life which thou art going to: If thou couldst sleepily forget it all the way, it is time to awake when thou art almost there. When thy friends are burying that flesh in the earth, which thou didst more regard than God and thy Salvation, thy Soul must appear in an endless world; and see those things which God foretold thee of, and thou wouldst not believe, or set thy heart upon: As soon as Death hath opened the curtains, O what a sight must thou presently behold! A world of Angels and of holy Souls adoring and praising, and admiring that God, whom thou didst refuse to mind, and love, and serve: A world of Devils and damned souls, in torment and despair, bewailing their contempt of Christ and Grace, their neglect of God, and their Salvation; their serving the flesh, and loving the world, and willfully losing the time of Mercy, and all the means which God vouchsafed them. Believe it, sinner, there is an Endless Joy and Glory for the Saints, and an Endless Misery for all the Ungodly; and one of these must quickly be thy case. Thy state is changeable while thou art in the flesh; if thy soul be miserable, there is yet a Remedy; it's possible Christ may renew and pardon it: But as soon as thou goest hence, thou enterest into a state of Joy or Torment which must never change; no not when millions of years are past. And dost thou not think now in thy conscience that such an Endless Misery should have been prevented with greater care and diligence, then all the sufferings of this life? And that the attaining of such an Endless Glory, had been worth thy greatest care and labor? And that it is far better to see the Glory of God, and be filled with his Love, and joyfully praise him with his Saints and Angels for evermore, and by a holy life to have prepared for this; than to please the flesh, and follow the world a little while, and be undone forever! Hast thou got more by the world and sin than Heaven is worth? Thou art almost at the end of worldly pleasures, and hast all that ever they will do for thee; but if God had had thy heart and service, he would not thus have cast thee off; and his Rewards and Joys would have had no end. O how much happier are the blessed Souls in Heaven than we?

III. And seeing you are so near to the Judgment of God, where your Soul must receive its final Sentence, it is high time now to juag yourself, and know what estate your Soul is in; whether in a state of Justification, or of Damnation. For this may be certainly known if you are willing. And first you must know who they be whom Christ will justify, and whom he will condemn: And this the Word of God will tell you; for he will Judge them by that Word. In a word [

All those whom Christ will justify and save, are made new creatures by the renewing work of the Holy Ghost: Their eyes are opened to see the vanity of this world, and the certainty and excellency of the Glory of Heaven; and to see the odiousness of sin, and the goodness of a holy life, and to believe that Christ is the only Savior, to cleanse them from their sins, and bring them to that Glory. And therefore they forsake the sinful pleasures of the flesh, and set their hearts on the everlasting blessedness, and seek it before all things; and lamenting and hating their former sins, they give themselves sincerely to their God and Father, their Savior and their Sanctifier, to be taught and ruled, justified, sanctified, and saved by him; resolving whatever it cost the flesh, to stand to this choice and Covenant to the death.

] This is the case of all that Christ will justify and save: The rest, who never were thus renewed and sanctified, will be condemned, as sure as the Gospel is true. Therefore let it be speedily your work, to try whether this be your case or not. Have you been thus enlightened, convinced, and renewed, to believe in Christ, and the life to come, and to give up yourself in a faithful Covenant to God your Father, your Savior and your Sanctifier; to hate your sin, and to live and love a holy life, in mortifying the flesh, and seeking Heaven before the World? If this be not your case, I should but flatter and deceive you to tell you of any hope of being saved, till you are thus renewed and justified. Never imagine a lie to quiet you, tell help is past. No one that is unregenerate, or unholy, shall ever dwell with God. Yet you may be saved, if yet you will be truly converted and sanctified; but without this, assuredly there is no hope.

IV. Therefore I counsel you in the Name of Christ,to look back upon your sinful life with sorrow; not only because of the danger to yourself, but also because you have offended God! What think you now of a sinful and of a holy life? Had it not been better that you had valued Christ and Grace, and lived in the love of God, and in the joyful hopes of the life to come, and denied the sinful desires of the flesh, and been ruled by the Law of God, and spent your time in preparing for Eternity? Do you not heartily wish that this had been your course? Would you take this course if it were to do again, and God recover you? Repent, repent from the bottom of your heart, of the time you have lost, the mercy you have abused, the grace you have resisted, of all your fleshly, worldly desires, words and deeds; and that you gave not up your soul and life to the love of God and Life eternal.

V. And now resolvedly give up yourself in a hearty Covenant to God: Though it be late, he will yet accept and pardon you, if you do it in sincerity. Take God for your God your portion and felicity, to live in his love and praise forever; take Christ for your Savior, to teach, and rule, and justify you, and bring you unto God; and the Holy Spirit for your Sanctifier, and certainly he will take you for his Child. But see that you be truly willing of his Grace, and resolved never to forsake him more. O happy Soul, if at last the Lord will make this change upon thee! And I will tell you certainly how to know, whether this late Repentance will serve for your Salvation, or not. If it be but Fear only which causeth your Repentance, and the Heart and Will be not renewed, but you would turn again to fleshly, worldly, and ungodly life, if you be recovered; then it will never save your Soul: But if your Heart, your Will, your Love be changed, and this change would hold if God recovered you to health again, then doubt not of Pardon and Salvation.

VI. And if God have thus changed your heart, and drawn it to himself, be thankful for so great a mercy: O bless him for giving you a Redeemer and a Sanctifier, and the pardoning Covenant of Grace. And now be not afraid or loath to leave a sinful world, and come to God; pray harder for Grace and pardon then for life. Commit and trust your souls to Christ: He had never done so much for souls, if he had not loved them, and been willing to receive them. How wonderfully came he down to man to bring up man to the sight of God! He is gone before to prepare us a Mansion in the City of God; and hath promised to take us to himself, that we may dwell with him, and see his Glory! The world which you are going to, is unlike to this; there is no pride, or lust, or cruelty, oppression, deceit, or any sin: No wicked men to scorn or persecute you; no vanity to allure us; no Devil to tempt us; no corruption of our own to burden or endanger us; no fears, or cares, or griefs, or discontents; no poverty, sickness, pain, or death; no doubtings of the love of God, or our Salvation: But the sight of God, and the feelings of his love, and the fervent flames of our love to him, will be the everlasting pleasure of the Saints. These will break forth in triumphant and harmonious thanks and praise in the presence of our glorified Redeemer, and in concord with all the heavenly Hosts, the Blessed Angels, and the Spirits of the Just: This is the end of Faith and Holiness, Patience and Perseverance; when Hell is the end of unbelief, ungodliness, sensuality and hypocrisy. How justly are they condemned, who sell their part of endless Joys for a shadow and dream or transitory pleasures? And can delight more in the filth of sin, and in a fading vanity, than in the love of God, and the fore-thoughts of Glory? What Love can be too great? what Desires too fervent? what Prayer and Labor can be too much? what Sufferings too dear for such a Blessedness?

VII. Lastly, Because there are many cases of the Sick which require the presence of a judicious Divine, if it be possible get the help of such; if not, remember that God is just in denying men that mercy in their distress, which in time of their health and prosperity they rejected with scorn and contempt, and cleave to him whom they may enjoy forever.

This was Written in the time of the great Plague, 1665. for the Sick, in the City of London, but because it is the Work of all our Lives, to prepare for a Safe and Comfortable Death, it is Reprinted for the Use of all. 1673.