CHAP. LXIII. Of Physicke and Diet, Sicknesse and Health.
IN that Christ doth vouchsafe to bee called our Physition, and to bee so, it doth great∣ly commend vnto vs his kindnesse vnspeakable, and mercie vnmeasurable, that hee would come downe from heauen from his throne of glorie, to become a Physition* 1.1 to heale our desperate diseases. More that hee is no common leach, but such a one as wee may safely put our liues into his hand, it wil appeare easily if we consider the properties of an expert Physition, in whom these three are chiefly to be considered and required. First a sense of the infirmitie, wherby in looking wel ouer vs, we may know the disease the more* 1.2 throughly. Such a one was Christ, Esay 53. He had good cause to know our infirmities, he needed not that any should counsaile him, he knew what was in man. Secondly, a very rea∣die* 1.3 and willing minde to heale them, and take paines with them that are diseased. This also was in our Sauiour, Esay 64. The Spirit of the Lord is vpon me, in that hee hath an∣nointed me, that I was willing to heale the broken hearted, & preach forth the acceptable yeere of the Lord. Thirdly, a facultie and facilitie in healing. This also was in full measure in him. He went about, saith Matthew, doing good, healing euery disease and maladie a∣mong the people, which may far more fitly by way of a Metaphor, be translated vnto the soule, where after a more singular way he worketh great masteries, and doth great cures. This is the comfort of all comforts to the groaning soule, to haue a pitifull, a willing, and a skilfull Physition to looke vpon them, and take them in hand.
2 When sicknes or any affliction is vpon vs, wee must take heede that wee indent not with the Lord, but learne presently to liue righteously, and to profit by whatsoeuer is laid vpon vs, though we see not present release. For if the crosse onely humble vs, and wee be not humbled in heart, what shall we be when the crosse is gone? Therefore let vs see the Lord, and bee humbled, because it is his doing, and with our whole heart subscribe there∣unto, and let the Lord remoue it in his time, so that we presently profit by it.
3 A certaine man who had bin three yeeres pained with a grieuous disease, and finding* 1.4 no remedie by Physick, wished many times to die, and yet when he had better considered, he humbled himselfe and said with his heart, If this lie on me all my life, yet wil I serue the Lord, which done he found present ease, and was not troubled therewith afterward. Also when men are fallen into the hands of the Magistrate, or of the discipline of the Church, they will shew great repentance for the time. But when the time of their examination and course of Iustice is past, then also is their pietie past, they are neuer the better; which shew∣eth that they were not truly humbled, neither receiued any profit by their present correc∣tion. But let vs learne to profit by both, namely, by the immediate, or mediate hād of God vpon vs, and know that if the Lord forgiue our sinnes they shall be forgotten of men, and if we shame our selues, and be truly humbled vnder his hand for them, then the Lord will take away our shame, and whatsoeuer affliction in his due time.
4 If wee promise amendment in the time of our trouble, and yet followe it not in the* 1.5 time of prosperitie: it is for hardnesse of heart. For Pharaoh his example is for to feare, we must not put it off for time to come, but presently learne to amend our liues, otherwise the Lord may deale with vs as he did with him.
5 When sicknes or any other trouble doth afflict vs, if we would know▪ whether it pro∣ceed from the fauour & loue of God towards vs, let vs learne to see it in the example of the theefe on the crosse, who fled vnto God, profited by the crosse, and would that others also* 1.6 should so do: for if we can in trouble flie to God, not to witches, and profit by our crosse, which in it nature is able to make vs worse, whereunto also Sathan will set to his hand; if wee desire to amend our life, and that others also should amend by our example: by these