The Soul's Conflict with Itself

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 ²health of the soul. We are best, for the most part, when we are weakest. ⟨p. 399⟩Then it appears what good profici•s we have been in time of health.

The example of Asa teaches us in this case, not to lay too much trust upon ¹the Physitian, but with Hezekich first, looke up to God, and then use the meanes. If God will give us a quietus est, and take us off from businesse by sicknesse, then we have a time of serving God by patient subjection to his will. If he meanes to use our service any further, hee will restore our health and strength to doe that worke he sets us about. Health is at his command, and sicknesse stayes at his rebuke. In the meane, the time of sicknesse is a time of purging from that defilement wee gathered in our health, till wee come purer out, which should move us the rather willingly to abide Gods time. Blessed is that sicknesse that proves the ²health of the soule. Wee are best, for the most part, when wee are weakest. ⟨p. 399⟩Then it appeares what good profici•s we have been in time of health.