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

6 Spiritual sickness for sin, is yet far more perilous and mortal: nay, well were it for some thus sick, if it were mortal. If the disease would decease, the soul might revive and live. It varies (as some diseases do in the body according to the constitution of the sick) thereafter as the soul is that hath it: whether regenerate or reprobate. The malignancy is great in both, but with far less danger in the former.

6 Spirituall sicknesse for sinne, is yet farre more perilous and mortall: nay, well were it for some thus sicke, if it were mortall. If the disease would decease, the soule might reuiue and liue. It varies (as some diseases doe in the body according to the constitution of the sicke) thereafter as the soule is that hath it: whether regenerate or reprobate. The malignancie is great in both, but with far lesse danger in the former.

1 In the Elect this spiritual sickness is an afflicted conscience, when God will suffer us to take a deep sense of our sins, and bring us to the life of grace through the valley •f death, as it were by hell gates unto heaven. There is no anguish to that in the conscience: ^ka wounded spirit who can bear? They that have been valiant in bearing wrongs, in forbearing delights, have yet had womanish and cowherd spirits, in sustaining the terrors of a tumultuous conscience. If our strength were as an army, and our lands not limited save with East and west, if our meat were man•a, ⟨p. 82⟩and our garments as the Ephod of Aaron; yet the afflicted conscience would refuse to be cheered with all these comforts. When God shall raise up our sins, like dust and smoke in the eyes of our souls, and the ^larrows of his displeasure drink up our blood, and his terrors, seem to fight against us; when he buffets us from his presence, and either hides his countenance from us, or beholds us with an angry look; lo then! if any sickness be like this sickness, any calamity like the fainting soul. Many offences touch the body which extend not to the soul; but if the soul be grieved, the sympathizing flesh suffers deeply with it. The blood is dried up, the marrow wasted, the flesh pined as if the powers and pores of the body opened themselves, like so many windows to discover the passions of the distressed Prisoner within. It was not the sense of outward sufferings,) for mere men have borne the agonies of death undaunted) but the wrestling of Gods wrath with his spirit, that drew from Christ that complaint, able to make heaven and earth stand aghast: