The Soul's Conflict with Itself

Sicknesses are harbingers of death, ¹and in the apprehension of many they be the greatest troubles, and tame great spirits, that nothing else could •me, herein we are more to deal with God then with men, which is one comfort sickness yieldeth above other troubles. It is better to be troubled ⟨p. 398⟩with the distempers of our own bodies, then with the distempers of other mens souls; In which we have not only to deal with men, but with the devil himself, that ruleth in the humours of men.

Sicknesses are harbingers of death, ¹and in the apprehension of many they bee the greatest troubles, and tame great spirits, that nothing else could •me, herein wee are more to deale with God then with men, which is one comfort sicknesse yeeldeth above other troubles. It is better to bee troubled ⟨p. 398⟩with the distempers of our owne bodies, then with the distempers of other mens soules; In which wee have not onely to deale with men, but with the devill himselfe, that ruleth in the humours of men.

1. 1Comfort in sickness.Comfort in sicknes.

The example of Asa teaches us in this case, not to lay too much trust upon ¹the Physician, but with Hezekiah first, look up to God, and then use the means. If God will give us a quietus est, and take us off from business by sickness, then we have a time of serving God by patient subjection to his will. If he means to use our service any further, he will restore our health and strength to do that work he sets us about. Health is at his command, and sickness stays at his rebuke. In the mean, the time of sickness is a time of purging from that defilement we gathered in our health, till we come purer out, which should move us the rather willingly to abide Gods time. Blessed is that sickness that proves the