A35535:1512
An exposition with practical observations continued upon the thirty second, the thirty third, and…An exposition with practicall observations continued upon the thirty second, the thirty third, and…
An exposition with practical observations continued upon the thirty second, the thirty third, and the thirty fourth chapters of the book of Job being the substance of forty-nine lectures / delivered at Magnus near the Bridge, London, by Joseph Caryl ...An exposition with practicall observations continued upon the thirty second, the thirty third, and the thirty fourth chapters of the booke of Job being the substance of forty-nine lectures / delivered at Magnus neare the Bridge, London, by Joseph Caryl ...
London: printed by M. Simmons, 1661
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Secondly, Health is worth the praising of God for; and that considered, either, first, as continued, or, secondly, as restored. 'Tis a mercy not to be pained, not to be sick; 'tis a more sensible, ⟨p. 367⟩though not a greater mercy to be freed from pain, and recovered out of sickness. While we are kept free from pains and sicknesses, how thankful should we be; and when we are freed from and brought out of the bonds of bodily pain and sicknesses, how soul-sick, yea how dead are we if we are not thankful!
Secondly, Health is worth the praising of God for; and that considered, either, first, as continued, or, secondly, as restored. 'Tis a mercy not to be pained, not to be sicke; 'tis a more sencible, ⟨p. 367⟩though not a greater mercy to be freed from paine, and recovered out of sickness. While we are kept free from paines and sicknesses, how thankfull should we be; and when we are freed from and brought out of the bonds of bodily paine and sicknesses, how soule-sicke, yea how dead are we if we are not thankfull!
Thirdly, Seeing pains and sicknesses are such sad afflictions; be wise and careful for the preservation of your health; do not throw away your health upon a lust, do not expose your selves to lasting pains and pining sicknesses, for the satisfying of a wanton sensual appetite. The health and strength of this frail body, are of more value then ten thousand of those vanishing delights. Yet how many are there, who run themselves to the graves mouth, and into the thickest throngs of those destroyers, for the taking up of such pitiful and perishing delights? who to please their flesh for a few moments in surfeiting, drunkenness, and wantonness, bring many days, yea months and years of pain and torment upon their flesh? yea, and not only shorten (I mean as to what they might probably have had by the course of nature) the number of their days, but suddenly end & extinguish them. It hath been said of old, Gluttony kills more men then the sword; that is, it casts em into killing diseases. 'Tis a maxim in war; Starve your enemy if you can rather then fight him; cut his throat without a knife, destroy him without drawing a sword; that is, with hunger. Some are indeed destroyed with hunger, and hunger, if not relieved, will destroy any man! Yet surfeiting destroyeth more then hunger, and 'tis a more quick and speedy destroyer. We have known many who have cut their own throats, by cutting too much and too fast for their bellies; Pampering the Body destroyeth more bodies then starving. Many while they draw nigh to their Tables, their souls (as Elihu here saith) are drawing near to the grave, and their life to the destroyers. Therefore, remember and consider, O ye that are men given to appetite, (as Solomon calleth such, Pro: 23:2.) or rather as the Hebrew elegance there hath it, ye that are Masters of appetite, studying your Bellies, till indeed ye are mastered by appetite, to you, I say, remember and consider, Health is more then meat, and life then dainty fair. All the content that intemperance can give you, cannot recompense you for the pains that sickness will give you;