The beatitudes

1. He is the most skilful Physician, he hath his §1[Greek or Hebrew], there is no disease too hard for him. Psal. 103.3. Who healeth all thy diseases. The Pool of Bethesda might be an emblem of Christs blood. John 5.4. Whosoever first after the troubling of the water stepped in, was made whole of whatsoever disease he had. There are certain diseases Physicians cannot cure; as a consumption in the lungs, some kind of obstructions and gangrenes; Non est in medico semper relevetur ut ager. Some diseases are opprobria medicorum, the reproaches of Physicians^*; but there's no immedicabile vulnus, no disease can pose Christs skill; he can cure the gangrene of sin when it is come to the heart; he healed Mary Magdalen an unchaste sinner; he healed Paul, who breathed out persecution against the Church; insomuch that Paul stands and wonders at the cure, 1 Tim. 1.13. But I obtained mercy; [Greek or Hebrew]. I was bemercied. Christ heals head-distempers, and heart-distempers▪ which may keep ⟨p. 494⟩poor trembling souls from despair. O saith the sinner, never was any so diseased as I! but look up to thy Physician Christ, who hath healing under his wings; he can melt an heart of stone, and wash away black sins in the crimson of his blood; there are no desperate cases with Christ^*; he hath those salves, oils, balsams, which can cure the worst disease. Indeed there is one disease which Christ doth not heal; namely, the sin against the Holy Ghost; this is called a sin unto death; if we knew any who had sinned this sin, we were to shut them out of our prayer: There is a sin unto death, I do not say that he shall pray for it, 1 John 5.16. There's no healing for this disease; not but that Christ could cure this, but the sinner will not be cured. The King could pardon a Traitor, but if he will have no pardon, he must dye. The sin against the Holy Ghost is unpardonable, because the sinner will have no pardon; he scorns Christs blood, despites his Spirit, therefore his sin hath no sacrifice,