Israels prayer in time of trouble with Gods gracious answer thereunto, or, An explication…

Lastly, other Physicians prescribe a bitter potion for the sick person to take; this Physician drinketh of the bitterest himself; others prescribe the sore to be lanced, this Physician is wounded and smitten himself: others order the Patient to bleed, here the physician bleeds himself: yea he is not only the Physician but the Physic, and gives himself, his own flesh, his own blood, for a purgative, a cordial, a plaster to the soul of his Patient; Dies himself, that his Patient may live, and by his stripes we are healed, Isai. 53.5.

Lastly, other Physicians prescribe a bitter potion for the sick person to take; this Physician drinketh of the bitterest himself; others prescribe the sore to be launced, this Physician is wounded and smitten himself: others order the Patient to bleed, here the physician bleeds himselfe: yea he is not onely the Physician but the Physick, and gives himselfe, his own flesh, his own blood, for a purgative, a cordiall, a plaister to the soul of his Patient; Dies himselfe, that his Patient may live, and by his stripes we are healed, Isai. 53.5.

We should from all this learn, First, to admire the unsearchable Riches of the mercy of our God,¹ who is pleased in our misery to prevent us with goodness, and when we neither felt our disease, nor desired a remedy, is pleased to convince us of our sins, Thou hast fallen by thine iniquity; To invite us to repentance, O Israel return unto the Lord thy God: To put words into our mouth, and to draw our petition for us, Take with you words, and say unto him, take away all iniquity, &c. To furnish us with arguments, we are fatherless, thou art merciful: To encourage us with promises, I will heal, ⟨p. 84⟩I will love; To give us his Ministers to proclaim, and his Spirit to apply these mercies unto us. If he did not convince us that iniquity would be a downfall and a ruin unto us,