Doct. 2. The diseases in the souls of men, by nature are very grievous; which is here also implied, in that God was fain to send his own Son to help and heal us. Now, that the diseases of mens souls are so grievous, may appear many ways.1 First, because such a multitude of men are infected, not some one person in the whole world; in the body of mankind, not on some part, but from the crown of the head to the sole of the foot, all full of sores and diseases. There is no man that sinneth not; and so, no man that is not sick: and that is the reason why men fear the pestilence, because it makes so many sick. Secondly, because the soul of man by nature is sick of a multitude of diseases at once; for, even sin is a sickness: and so our sicknesses are innumerable, because our sins are so. And hence it is, that in Scripture so many metaphors are used to express the sickness of the soul; as, leprosy, wounds, plagues, poison, gall, &c. Thirdly, because the disease lieth in the soul it self. Of diseases, those are most mortal, that get into the spirits, and do most enfeeble man: how much more when it is in the soul? Fourthly, because, in respect of our selves, our sins or our diseases ⟨p. 895⟩are incurable: we can give our selves no remedy that can help us, Jer. 30. Fifthly, because, in the College of spiritual Physicians, there is scarce one of a thousand that can help the poor soul out of these diseases, Job 33. Sixthly, because there be but certain seasons only, in which men can be healed; as it was with the lame man at the pool of Bethesda: and if men miss these seasons, they are in danger to dye of these sicknesses. There be seasons of grace, and days of salvation: and men must not harden their hearts, while it is called To day.
Doct. 2. The diseases in the soules of men, by nature are very grieuous; which is heer also implied, in that God was fain to send his owne Sonne to help and heale vs. Now, that the diseases of mens soules are so grieuous, may appeare many waies.1 First, because such a multitude of men are infected, not some one person in the whole world; in the body of mankinde, not on some part, but from the crown of the head to the sole of the foot, all full of sores and diseases. There is no man that sinneth not; and so, no man that is not sick: and that is the reason why men feare the pestilence, because it makes so many sick. Secondly, because the soule of man by nature is sick of a multitude of diseases at once; for, euen sinne is a sicknes: and so our sicknesses are innumerable, because our sinnes are so. And hence it is, that in Scripture so many metaphors are vsed to expresse the sicknesse of the soule; as, leprosie, wounds, plagues, poison, gall, &c. Thirdly, because the disease lieth in the soule it self. Of diseases, those are most mortall, that get into the spirits, and doo most enfeeble man: how much more when it is in the soule? Fourthly, because, in respect of our selues, our sinnes or our diseases ⟨p. 895⟩are incurable: wee can giue our selues no remedy that can help vs, Ier. 30. Fiftly, because, in the Colledge of spiritual Physicians, ther is scarce one of a thousand that can help the poor soule out of these diseases, Iob 33. Sixtly, because there bee but certain seasons only, in which men can be healed; as it was with the lame man at the poole of Bethesda: and if men misse these seasons, they are in danger to dye of these sicknesses. There be seasons of grace, and daies of saluation: and men must not harden their hearts, while it is called To day.
- 1The diseases of the soul are grievous many ways.The diseases of the soule are grieuous many waies.
