Mens sana in corpore sano. A discourse upon recovery from sickness. Directing how natural…

Now the Marks, by which we may discern, that we come out of Sickness, with our Iniquity Forgiven unto us, will be found in our Answering the Ends, for which our Sickness came upon us: And our coming out of Sickness, as Gold out of the Fire. Wherefore, let us thus Question our selves.

Quest. I. After our Sickness, do we sincerely set our selves, to Reform all our Sin, more than ever in our Lives before? It was wholesome Advice unto a Sick-man, ⟨p. 34⟩in Job 34.31. Surely, It is meet to be said unto God, I have born Chastisement, I will not offend any more. Truly, one main Errand of Sickness, is to Embitter our Sin unto us; the Language of it, is, Thy way, and thy Doings have procured these things unto thee, this is thy Sinfulness, because it is Bitter. As the famous Olevian, upon a Sickness could say, Ex hoc morbo didici, quid […] peccatum; By Sickness I have Learned what Sin is! Thus, under our Sickness, we have been worse than Delirious, if we have not argued at this Rate; My Sin brought this my Sickness upon me; I may thank my Sin for This; Now if the Effect be so Bitter, what is the Cause? My Sins are worse than all the pains of my Head, my Side, my Feet; for my Sins brought these my pains upon me. Well then; Are we grown more Sick of Sin, by being Laid on a Bed of Sickness? Do we see our Commissions of what is Forbidden, in the Commands of God, and Reform them? Do we see our Omissions of what is Required, in the Commands of Good, and Reform them? If it be not so, Then take, O man, that Awful Warning ⟨p. 35⟩of Heaven, Thou art made whole, Sin no more, Lest a worse Thing do come unto thee. But if our Sickness, have by an Holy Diaphoresis, carried off our Sin, Then we that no longer say, I am Sick, are, Forgiven our Iniquity!

Quest. I. After our Sickness, do we sincerely set our selves, to Reform all our Sin, more than ever in our Lives before? It was wholesome Advice unto a Sick-man,