A02178:4725
The works of the reverend and faithful servant of Jesus Christ M. Richard Greenham,…The workes of the reuerend and faithfull seruant af Iesus Christ M. Richard Greenham,…
The works of the reverend and faithful servant of Jesus Christ M. Richard Greenham, minister and preacher of the Word of God collected into one volume: revised, corrected, and published, for the further building of all such as love the truth, and desire to know the power of godliness. By H.H.The workes of the reuerend and faithfull seruant af Iesus Christ M. Richard Greenham, minister and preacher of the Word of God collected into one volume: reuised, corrected, and published, for the further building of all such as loue the truth, and desire to know the power of godlinesse. By H.H.
London: printed by Thomas Snodham and Thomas Creede for William Welby, 1612London: printed by Thomas Snodham and Thomas Creede for VVilliam VVelby, 1612
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
CHAP. LXIII. Of Physic and Diet, Sickness and Health.
CHAP. LXIII. Of Physicke and Diet, Sicknesse and Health.
IN that Christ doth vouchsafe to be called our Physician, and to be so, it doth greatly commend unto us his kindness unspeakable, and mercy unmeasurable, that he would come down from heaven from his throne of glory, to become a Physician1 to heal our desperate diseases. More that he is no common leach, but such a one as we may safely put our lives into his hand, it will appear easily if we consider the properties of an expert Physician, in whom these three are chiefly to be considered and required. First a sense of the infirmity, whereby in looking well over us, we may know the disease the more2 throughly. Such a one was Christ, Isaiah 53. He had good cause to know our infirmities, he needed not that any should counsel him, he knew what was in man. Secondly, a very ready3 and willing mind to heal them, and take pains with them that are diseased. This also was in our Saviour, Isaiah 64. The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, in that he hath anointed me, that I was willing to heal the broken hearted, & preach forth the acceptable year of the Lord. Thirdly, a faculty and facility in healing. This also was in full measure in him. He went about, saith Matthew, doing good, healing every disease and malady among the people, which may far more fitly by way of a Metaphor, be translated unto the soul, where after a more singular way he worketh great masteries, and doth great cures. This is the comfort of all comforts to the groaning soul, to have a pitiful, a willing, and a skilful Physician to look upon them, and take them in hand.