A guide to godliness or a Treatise of a Christian life showing the dutiesA guide to godlynesse or a Treatise of a Christian life shewing the duties

CHAP. VIII.

Of such Reasons as may move us to abhor carnal security, and to use all means either to prevent it, or to be freed from it.

Of such Reasons as may mooue vs to abhor carnall securitie, and to vse all meanes either to preuent it, or to be freed from it.

§. 1 That it is necessary to have our hearts wrought unto the hatred of this Vice.

§. 1 That it is necessary to haue our hearts wrought vnto the hatred of this Vice.

IN the practice of physic it is a thing of greatest difficulty, to discover truly and throughly the disease of the Patient, and the state of his body; and yet this skill is most necessary, seeing they who fail in this point alone, must needs fail in all the rest, applying unfit, if not hurtful medicines, which weaken the body and strengthen the disease. But yet it is not enough that the sickness by the symptoms and signs be plainly discerned; and the causes and effects, properties and qualities of it well known; if the learned Physician and sick Patient proceed no further; but it is also required for the effecting of the cure, that there be first a willingness in the Patient to be healed of his infirmity, with a resolution to use the medicines which shall be prescribed; and then skill and faithfulness in the Physician, to prescribe such as are effectual for his recovery. And thus it fareth with the spiritual diseases of the soul, the Patient and Physician. For we must first labour to know what the sickness is by the signs thereof, and then be careful in prescribing & applying the best remedies. And therefore having plainly discovered this dangerous disease of carnal security by the signs of it, it remaineth now that we come to the cure, and show the means whereby he who findeth himself sick of this pernicious disease, may be recovered to spiritual health. And first, because the skill in the physician