A Golden Chain

The third rule is, that we must carry in mind the right and proper end of physic, least we deceive our selves. We must not therefore think that physic serves to prevent old age or death it self. For that is not possible, because God hath set down that all men shall die and be changed. And life consists in a temperature and proportion of natural heat and radical moisture; which moisture being once consumed by the former heat, is by art unrepairable; and therefore death must needs follow. But the true end of physic is to continue and lengthen the life of man to his natural period; which is when nature, that hath been long preserved by all possible means, is now wholly spent. Now this period, though it can not be lengthened by any skill of man, yet may it easily be shortened, by intemperance in diet, by^a drunkenness, and by violent diseases. But care must be had to avoid all such evils, that the little lamp of corporal life may burn till it go out of it self. For this very space of time is the very day of grace and salvation: and whereas God in justice might have cut us off and have utterly destroyed us, yet in great mercy he gives us thus much time, that we might prepare our selves to his kingdom: which time when it is once spent, if a man would redeem it with the price of ten thousand worlds, he can not have it.

The third rule is, that we must carrie in minde the right and proper end of physicke, least we deceiue our selues. We must not therefore thinke that physicke serues to preuent old age or death it selfe. For that is not possible, because God hath set downe that all men shall die and be chaunged. And life consists in a temperature and proportion of naturall heat and radical moisture; which moysture beeing once consumed by the former heate, is by art vnrepairable; and therefore death must needes follow. But the true ende of physicke is to continue and lengthen the life of man to his naturall period; which is when nature, that hath beene long preserued by all possible meanes, is now wholly spent. Now this period, though it can not be lengthened by any skill of man, yet may it easily be shortned, by intemperance in diet, by^a drunkennes, and by violent diseases. But care must be had to auoid all such euills, that the litle lamp of corporall life may burne till it goe out of it selfe. For this very space of time is the very day of grace and saluation: and whereas God in iustice might haue cut vs off and haue vtterly destroied vs, yet in great mercie he giues vs thus much time, that we might prepare our selues to his kingdome: which time when it is once spent, if a man would redeeme it with the price of tenne thousand worlds, he can not haue it.