The daily office of a Christian being the devotions of the most Reverend Father in God Dr. William Laud, late archbishop of Canterbury : wherein several catechetical paraphrases ...

At the Visitation of the Sick.

* ARe you perswaded,

1. That no sickness or cross comes to any one by chance, or at all adventures?

2. But that they come from God, without whose providence no bodie is afflicted with diseases?

3. And that God being most wise, never will suffer any thing to be∣fal us, but when it is expedient [to be so?]

4. And that this sickness or cross which God has now sent upon you, is [therefore] expedient for you?

5. And moreover, that God has the assection of a Father towards us? And that a Father, whether he be indulgent to his Children, or whether he correct them, is a Father alike [in both], and that

he does the latter with no less kindness, nay perhaps with grea∣ter, than [he does] the for∣mer?

6. That for a long time he has be∣stowed good things upon you; and though now he gives you evil things, yet he would not have brought the evil upon you but onely to be the occasion of greater good, that is, that you may return to him?

7. That 'tis an effect of his [gra∣cious] favour, that notwithstan∣ding you have so often rejected him, yet he does not leave you so, but does visit you at last, and seek [after] you again?

Now if this be the Case, submit your own Will in this matter to the Divine Will, a Sacrifice, which is of all others next to that of Christ [him∣self] the most acceptable unto God.