Wesley Corpus

But supposing a gentleman, bred at the University in Dublin, with all the advantages of education, after he has undergone all the usual trials, and then been regularly authorized to practise : 6. Suppose, I say, this Physician settles at , for some years, and yet makes no cures at all; but, after trying his skill on five hundred persons, cannot show that he has healed one; many of his patients dying under his hands, and the rest remaining just as they were before he came: 7. Will you condemn a man who, having some little skill in physic, and a tender compassion for those who are sick or dying all around him, cures many of those, without fee or reward, whom the Doctor could not cure? 8. At least did not, (which is the same thing as to the case in hand,) were it only for this reason, because he did not go to them, and they would not come to him? 9. Will you condemn him because he has not learning, or has not had an University education? What then? He cures those whom the man of learning and education cannot cure ! 10. Will you object, that he is no Physician, nor has any authority to practise? I cannot come into your opinion. I think, Medicus est qui medetur, “He is a Physician who heals;” and that every man has authority to save the life of a dying man. But if you only mean, he has no authority to take fees, I contend not; for he takes none at all. 11. Nay, and I am afraid it will hold, on the other hand, Medicus non est qui non medetur; I am afraid, if we use propriety of speech, “he is no Physician who works no cure.” 12. “O, but he has taken his degree of Doctor of Physic, and therefore has authority.” Authority to do what? “Why, to heal all the sick that will employ him.” But (to wave the case of those who will not employ him; and would you have even their lives thrown away?) he does not heal those that do employ him. He that was sick before, is sick still; or else he is gone hence, and is Ino more Seen. Therefore, his authority is not worth a rush; for it serves not the end for which it was given. 13.