5. I did not think it needful to give them any particular rules, beside those that follow:
1. Be plain and open in dealing with souls;
2. Be mild, tender, patient:
3. Be cleanly in all you do for the sick;
4. Be not nice.
6. We have ever since had great reason to praise God, for his continued blessing on this undertaking. Many lives have been saved: many sicknesses healed, much pain and want prevented or removed. Many heavy hearts have been made glad; many mourners comforted. And the _visitors_ have found from him whom they serve, a present reward for all their labour.
XII. 1. But I was still in pain for many of the poor that were sick: there was so great expence, and so little profit. And first, I resolved to try, whether they might not receive more benefit in the _hospitals_. Upon the trial, we found, there was indeed less expence: but no more good done than before. I then asked the advice of several physicians for them: but still it profited not. I saw the poor people pining away, and several families ruined, and that without remedy.
2. At length I thought of a kind of desperate expedient. “I will prepare, and give them physick myself.” For _six_ or _seven_ and _twenty_ years, I had made anatomy and physic the diversion of my leisure hours: though I never properly studied them, unless for a few months, when I was going to _America_, where I imagined I might be of some service to those who had no regular physician among them. I applied to it again. I took in to my assistance an apothecary, and an experienced surgeon: resolving at the same time, not to go out of my depth; but to leave all difficult and complicated cases, to such physicians as the patients should chuse.
3. I gave notice of this to the society: telling them, that all who were ill of _chronical_ distempers (for I did not care to venture upon _acute_) might, if they pleased, come to me at such a time: and I would give them the best advice I could, and the best medicines I had.
4. Many came: (and so every _Friday_ since:) among the rest was one _William Kirkman_, a weaver, near _Old-Nichol Street_. I asked him, “What complaint have you?” “O sir, said he, a cough, a very sore cough. I can get no rest day nor night.” I asked “How long have you had it.” He replied, “About _threescore_ years: it began when I was _eleven_ years old.” I was nothing glad, that this man should come first; fearing our not curing him, might discourage others. However I looked up to God and said, “Take this _three_ or _four_ times a day. If it does you no good, it will do you no harm.” He took it _two_ or _three_ days. His cough was cured: and has not returned to this day.
5. Now let candid men judge, does humility require me to deny a notorious fact? If not, Which is _vanity_? To say, _I_ by my own skill, restored this man to health? Or to say, God did it by his own almighty power? By what figure of speech this is called, _boasting_, I know not. But I will put no name to such a fact as this. I leave that to the Rev. Dr. _Middleton_.
6. In five months, medicines were occasionally given, to above five hundred persons. Several of these I never saw before; for I did not regard, whether they were of the society, or not. In that time seventy-one of these, regularly taking their medicines, and following the regimen prescribed (which three in four would not do) were entirely cured, of distempers long thought to be incurable. The whole expence of medicines during this time, was (nearly) _forty pounds_. We continued this ever since, and by the blessing of God, with more and more success.
XIII. 1. But I had for some years observed many who, although not sick, were not able to provide for themselves, and had none who took care to provide for them: these were chiefly feeble, aged widows. I consulted with the _stewards_, bow they might be relieved? They all agreed, if we could keep them in one house, it would not only be far less expensive to us, but also far more comfortable for them. Indeed we had no money to begin. But we believed He would provide, _who defendeth the cause of the widow_. So we took a lease of two little houses near: we fitted them up, so as to be warm and clean. We took in as many widows as we had room for, and provided them with things needful for the body: toward the expence of which I set aside, first, the weekly contributions of the _bands_, and then all that was collected at the Lord’s supper. It is true, this does not suffice: so that we are still considerably in debt, on this account also. But we are persuaded, it will not always be so; seeing _the earth is the _Lord_’s and the fulness thereof_.