Englands sickness, comparatively conferred with Israels Divided into two sermons, by ThoEnglands sicknes, comparatively conferred with Israels Diuided into two sermons, by Tho

2. Thus having enquired what health is, leaving a while the consideration thereof as it is in it self; let us descend into it as respectively; casting an oblique eye unto that which is divers from it, or adverse to it. There is a significant and lightful demonstration or commentary, which one contrary nature gives to another, when they are diametrally opposed. The day would not seem so clear, if the departing Sun should not leave night to follow it. The foil adds grace to the Jewell. It (no less then) glorifies learning, that the malicious tong of ignorance barks at it. He knows the benefit of heat, that hath felt the sharpness of a freezing cold. If there were no sickness to trouble us, health it self would be thought sickness. The very enmity of these repugnances help the beholders judgement, either to embrace or reject them. Even their opposition is an exposition of their natures, deformity, darkness, sickness, sin, all those privative, corruptive. destructive things, which as they had no creation from God so give no direction to the good; yield (by a sober meditation) an unwilling lustre to those virtues, graces, and happy habits; against which they vaunt their contrariety. That if any lewd, vain, ill judging, worse affecting mind, shall still love the desolation of sin, rather then the consolation of spiritual health: it may appear to be, not because this object is not wretched, but because he is blind and bewitched.

2. Thus hauing enquired what health is, leauing a while the consideration therof as it is in it selfe; let vs descend into it as respectiuely; casting an oblique eye vnto that which is diuers from it, or aduerse to it. There is a significant and lightfull demonstration or commentarie, which one contrary nature giues to another, when they are diametrally opposed. The day would not seeme so cleare, if the departing Sunne should not leaue night to follow it. The foile addes grace to the Iewell. It (no lesse then) glorifies learning, that the malitious tong of ignorance barkes at it. He knowes the benefite of heate, that hath felt the sharpenes of a freezing colde. If there were no sicknesse to trouble vs, health it selfe would be thought sicknesse. The very enmity of these repugnances helpe the beholders iudgement, eyther to embrace or reiect them. Euen their opposition is an exposition of their natures, deformity, darknes, sicknesse, sinne, all those priuatiue, corruptiue. destructiue things, which as they had no creation from God so giue no direction to the good; yeeld (by a sober meditation) an vnwilling lustre to those vertues, graces, and happy habites; against which they vaunt their contrariety. That if any lewde, vaine, ill iudging, worse affecting mind, shall still loue the desolation of sinne, rather then the consolation of spirituall health: it may appeare to bee, not because this obiect is not wretched, but because hee is blind and bewitched.