Riches of mercy to men in misery, or, Certain excellent treatises concerning the dignity…

If whatsoever be delivered be meat to nourish, Physic to heal, then we must learn to esteem it much: What is ¹the reason that men account of the Philosophers Stone so much, if it could be got? Why do men labour all their lives for it, and spend their Estate to get it, when they see so many before them to have lost their labours? It is true, it heals all the diseases of the body, but this heals all the diseases of the soul, and this may be attained, the other cannot. Let us therefore as Solomon bids us, buy the truth, that is, beat any pains for it, lose outward contentments for it, and when we have got it, sell it not for pleasure, idleness, or things that will not profit us; and this we would do, if we were as sensible of spiritual diseases as of bodily, for then we would turn the Word over and over, and find plasters for our sores If a man be troubled with the Stone or Gout, whither will he not go? and what will he not give for remedy? so if a man have but the least grain of grace in him, he shall find spiritual diseases as sore as temporal. If we did see our diseases, we would to the Word and get them healed, we would gather reasons and apply them in particular▪ 1▪ Suppose a man have a disease like a Fever, an inflammation ⟨p. 289⟩of lust; see what reasons the Word hath against it, and apply them in particular. First, if they take their pleasure, they shall lose their profit in God; for an hours pleasure eternity of pain. This consideration caused Job to make a Covenant with his eyes not to look on a maid. Secondly, consider what great punishments are to the works of sin and iniquity, Job 31. 3. strange sins have strange punishments. Thirdly, sweet sins have bitter punishments; this sin of lust, or any other pleasing sin is sweet, therefore the punishment must be bitter, as sweet as honey at first, but as bitter as gall after, as soft as oil, but as sharp as a razor. Fourthly, it is an irrecoverable disease, they that go into it return not again, neither take hold of the ways of life, that is, ordinarily they do not. Make a plaster of these reasons, and apply them, and they will heal.

If whatsoever be delivered be meat to nourish, Physick to heal, then we must learn to esteem it much: What is