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

Now then, as the withdrawing of competent meat and drink from the body, lessoneth that radical moisture ⟨image 36⟩(which is the oil whereon the Lamp of life feeds) and makes way for dryness: whence the kindly heat (which like other fire might be a good servant, must needs be an ill master) getting more then due and wonted strength▪ for want of resistance, tyrannizeth, and not finding whereupon to work, turns upon that substantial vividity, exsiccating & consuming it This oversparing abstinence wastes, weakness, sickens the body, dangers it to an Hectic or some worse disease, of no less hurt, then too great repletion, So when the Soul (either through a mad frenzy of wickedness, or dull melancholy darkness of ignorance or sensual perverseness of affections) forbears, forbids herself to feed on that sacred and vital substance, Jesus Christ the vivid sap of grace and virtue, (which keeps true life and soul together; stilled into the heart by the holy Ghost) begins to dry up, as a ^dmorning dew: shrinking at the thirsty beams of the rising Sun, and the fire of sin; gets the predominance. Now where that unruly Element ²reigns in a mortal body, it hazards the immortal soul to death. There is then no marvel, if the soul descends into the fall of sickness, into the valley of death, when she shall refuse the sustentation, health and very life thereof, her Saviour: who is not only (cibus, but ipsa salus) meate, but health it self, as Paul calls him ipsam vitam, qua vivimus, quam vivimus, the very life whereby we live, which we live, ^fWe live in Christ, we live by Christ, nay, we live Christ, for our very life is Christ. ^gNow live not I, but Christ liveth in me.

Now then, as the withdrawing of competent meat and drinke from the body, lessoneth that radicall moisture ⟨image 36⟩(which is the oyle whereon the Lampe of life feedes) and makes way for drines: whence the kindly heate (which like other fire might be a good seruant, must needes bee an ill master) getting more then due and wonted strength for want of resistance, tyrannizeth, and not finding whereupon to worke, turnes vpon that substantiall viuiditie, exciccating & consuming it This ouersparing abstinence wastes, weakenes, sickens the body, dangers it to an Ecticke or some worse disease, of no lesse hurt, then too great repletion, So when the Soule (eyther through a mad frenzy of wickednesse, or dull melancholy darkenes of ignorance or sensuall peruersenesse of affections) forbeares, forbids herselfe to feed on that sacred and vitall substance, Iesus Christ the viuid sappe of grace and vertue, (which keepes true life and soule together; stilled into the heart by the holy Ghost) beginnes to drie vp, as a