A treatise of faith divided into two parts. The first showing the nature, the…A treatise of faith diuided into two parts. The first shewing the nature, the…

When we feel our bowels wring, or (as in a Sea-sickness) are dead sick for the present, then faith puts us in remembrance, we shall be the better many days after. Physic makes sick before it give health: so do afflictions, but the fruit is pleasant. When they are a little over we shall be able to say, Oh, this was good for me, I would not for any thing,¹ but I had borne the yoke in my youth, that I may live the more comfortably in my age. Wise parents do not always correct their children in measure, as being ignorant of their nature and disposition. The most learned Physician may be deceived in the disease and constitution of his patient, mistake in the quality or strength of his Physic, and so ⟨p. 334⟩miss of his intended cure: But the spiritual Physician of our souls, doth so exactly know our temper and disease, doth so entirely affect our health, so accurately mingle the malign and poysonfull ingredients in our Physic with correctors and allays, that the confection shall be good, and altogether shall and must work for the best. What though they be bitter to the taste? It is better with the body when it feedeth on sour herbs, which breed good blood, then on sweet meats which engender bitter vomits, and mortal sicknesses. The true soul-sickness, viz. sin and corruption that dwelleth in it, doth cleave so fast, and hath eaten so deep, that gentle purges, easy corrosives (that scarce work to sense or feeling) cannot expel or remove it.² True it is, that all evils in themselves are hurtful, but faith looketh upon them as they are changed in and by Christ, who hath taken away the poison which would be in the crosses we bear, and makes them serviceable for our good: Even as the art of the Apothecary doth make a poysonfull Viper into a wholesome Treacle.

When we feele our bowels wring, or (as in a Sea-sicknesse) are dead sicke for the present, then faith puts vs in remembrance, we shall be the better many dayes after. Physicke makes sicke before it giue health: so doe afflictions, but the fruit is pleasant. When they are a little ouer we shall be able to say, Oh, this was good for me, I would not for any thing,¹