To enquire into their disorders, and procure advice for them; To relieve them, if they are in want; To do any thing for them, which he (or she) can do; To bring in his accounts weekly to the stewards.¹ ¹ The leaders now do this. Upon reflection, I saw how exactly in this also, we had copied after the primitive church. What were the antient deacons? What was _Phebe_ the _deaconess_, but such a _visitor_ of the sick? 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.