1. The emptiness of the world, appearing in its inability to afford the least ease to the body, or comfort to the soul of the sick; how little worth is that which fails a man in his greatest need!
2. The preciousness of Christ, and Grace, and the Promises of the Gospel, which can enliven and encourage a dying person; that can cause light in darkness, joy in sorrow, and life in death; that can enable a Christian to rejoice in tribulation, and to welcome pain and sickness, nay, and the very King of terrors; and to look into the other world with comfort and confidence.
3. The sinfulness of sin, which is the original of all diseases, and aches, and grief, and separation of friends, and losses, and miseries whatsoever. The Rabbis say, that when Adam tasted the forbidden fruit, his head ached; Tis clear, sin is the original of sickness; The body is the instrument of unrighteousness, therefore the subject of diseases; For this cause many are weak and sick, 1 Cor. 11. 30. All the evil in this and the other world, are the issue and off-spring of sin; Ah! what a root of bitterness is that, which brings forth such bitter fruit! Be sure to take the thoughts of the sick off from resting in Physicians, or any means ⟨p. 580⟩used for their cure; Th•s was the fault of good Asa, 2 Chron. 16. 12. Let them know that it is God that wounds, and he only that can heal, and therefore he must not be tempted, either by despi•ing those helps which his providence giveth, or by relying on them. Hippocrates gave this counsel to all Physicians, that when they went upon any occasion to visit their Patients, they should consider first of all, whether there was not, divinum aliquod in morbo, something of God in the disease; if so, he held the Patient to be desperate, and his recovery impossible; Cujus contrarium verum est; If it were the hand of God that smote them, the same hand can help them; for with him nothing is impossible. Let them understand that sickness hath a supernatural as well as a natural cause. That all diseases are like the Centurions Servants, at the command of God; He saith to one, Go, and it goeth; to another, Come, and it cometh; to a third, Do this, and it doeth it. God would have the Israelites know, that not only Sword, and Famine, and Captivity, but also Pestilence, Consumptions, Fevers, and Burning Agues are sent from Heaven, Deut. 28. 21, 22.
1. The emptiness of the world, appearing in its inability to afford the least ease to the body, or comfort to the soul of the sick; how little worth is that which fails a man in his greatest need!
2. The preciousness of Christ, and Grace, and the Promises of the Gospel, which can enliven and encourage a dying person; that can cause light in darkness, joy in sorrow, and life in death; that can enable a Christian to rejoyce in tribulation, and to welcome pain and sickness, nay, and the very King of terrors; and to look into the other world with comfort and confidence.
3. The sinfulness of sin, which is the original of all diseases, and aches, and greif, and separation of friends, and losses, and miseries whatsoever. The Rabbies say, that when Adam tasted the forbidden fruit, his head aked; Tis clear, sin is the original of sickness; The body is the instrument of unrighteousness, therefore the subject of diseases; For this cause many are weak and sick, 1 Cor. 11. 30. All the evil in this and the other world, are the issue and off-spring of sin; Ah! what a root of bitterness is that, which brings forth such bitter fruit! Be sure to take the thoughts of the sick off from resting in Physitians, or any means ⟨p. 580⟩used for their cure; Th•s was the fault of good Asah, 2 Chron. 16. 12. Let them know that it is God that wounds, and he onely that can heal, and therefore he must not be tempted, either by despi•ing those helps which his providence giveth, or by relying on them. Hippocrates gave this counsel to all Physitians, that when they went upon any occ•sion to visit their Patients, they should consider first of all, whether there was not, divinum aliquod in morbo, something of God in the disease; if so, he held the Patient to be desperate, and his recovery impossible; Cujus contrarium verum est; If it were the hand of God that smote them, the same hand can help them; for with him nothing is impossible. Let them understand that sickness hath a supernatural as well as a natural cause. That all diseases are like the Centurions Servants, at the command of God; He saith to one, Go, and it goeth; to another, Come, and it cometh; to a third, Do this, and it doeth it. God would have the Israelites know, that not onely Sword, and Famine, and Captivity, but also Pestilence, Consumptions, Feavers, and Burning Agues are sent from Heaven, Deut. 28. 21, 22.
