Wesley Corpus

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 eventheir 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 no more seen. “Therefore his authority is not worth a rush; for it serves not the end for which it was given. “13. And surely he has not authority to kill them, by hindering another from saving their lives! “14. If he either attempts or desires to hinder him, if he condemns or dislikes him for it, it is plain to all thinking men, he regards his own fees more than the lives of his patients. “II. Now to apply. 1. Seeing life everlasting, and holi mess or health of soul, are things of so great importance, it is highly expedient that Ministers, being Physicians of the soul, should have all advantage of education and learning. “2. That full trial should be made of them in all respects, and that by the most competent judges, before they enter on the public exercise of their office, the saving souls from death: “3. That, after such trial, they be authorized to exercise that office by those who are empowered to convey that authority. (I believe Bishops are empowered to do this, and have been so from the apostolic age.) “4. And that those whose souls they save ought, meantime, to provide them what is needful for the body. “5. But suppose a gentleman bred at the University of Dublin, with all the advantages of education, after he has undergone the usual trials, and been regularly authorized to save souls from death: “6.