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

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 ⟨p. 50⟩is nothing in prescribing the best means, except there be also a will in the Patient to use & apply them; I will use some motives to persuade all that find themselves affected with this sickness, to desire with all earnestness that they may be cured, that so they may be made willing also to apply the remedies. And because all physic, both for body and soul, is in it self, or at least in conceit unpleasant to the Patient; and none are willing to use it, but those who feel the pain or see the danger of their disease; therefore it is fit that we set down the nature, properties and effects of this carnal security, that so a desire may be wrought in those who are subject unto it to be cured of it. The which is more necessary in that this sickness is not painful to the Patient, but insensible, like the lethargy or dead palsy;