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the adminiftration of medicines. Every perfon that 

 is ill, fhould be comforted with hopes of recovery, 

 and cheerful profpe&s of life. To foretell a perfon's 

 death in his prefence, who is then ill of an acute 

 complaint, has no fmall influence in verifying the 

 prediction. Even thofe whofc profeflion leads them 

 to recommend religion to others, fhould be careful 

 of dwelling too much upon gloomy fubjects, and 



giving people difpiriting ideas of their fituation. 



Repentance and amendment of life are no doubt in 

 many inflances neceMary to be advifed, but great 

 care muft be taken to adminifter, together with ad- 

 vice, that greateft of all cordials — Hope* 



I have before mentioned, that an opinion pre- 

 vailed among the lower ranks of people, that bleed- 

 ing at certain times of the year was a falutary prac- 

 tice, whether any immediate neceflity appeared to 

 make it proper or not. The fame abfurd notion 

 prevails with refpe<ft to the taking purgative medi- 

 cines. It is needlefs to fay more here, than that 

 fuch habits are extremely improper to be com- 

 menced, and fhould be by all means if poflible pre- 

 vented. If, however, they have been begun, we* 

 muft not precipitately direct: them to' be omitted, 

 but to diminifh the quantity of blood taken, and to 

 omit the purgative, and in time lay them both afide 



Vol. IV. F f altogether. 



