A soveraign antidote against sinful errors, the epidemical plague of these latter dayes. Extracted out of divine records, the dispensatory of Christianity: for the prevention and cure of our spiritual distempers. By Claudius Gilbert, B.D. and minister of the Gospel at Limrick in Ireland.

To the Honourable Colonell Henry Ingoldesby, Governour of the Pre∣cinct of Limrick and Clare, and to the Inhabitants of the City of Limrick.

Honoured and Beloved in the Lord.

THe substance of this Tract was through the Lords help preached lately in your ears, and is of right now present∣ed to your eyes, that through his Grace, it may the better reach your hearts. The subject thereof is as seasonable as its excellent. The Lord

make it yours as profitably, as its made yours affectionately. The choice usefulness of its provisions will make full Amends for the plainness of its Order and Dress. Its not my work to tickle and flatter you, but to reach healing and food to your souls. A Signal hand of Heaven brought me over and fixed me here near five years ago; by the same good hand have I been kept here in the Lords charge ever since. We have had much cause still to mind and improve the wonderful dealings of our God towards us from that very day, as in former sea∣sons. Variety of Dispensations hath he carried us through both publiquely and per∣sonally. Visits of Iudgement, and then of Mercy, we have had from him again and again. No wayes hath he left unat∣tempted that might do us good, though our Returns have not been answerable. The Sword, Famine and Plague ranged in these parts upon Gods Errand at my first coming, and continued a considerable time. I was thereby occasioned to contribute my utmost by the Lords Aid, to the relief and cure of mens souls and bodies. It was then my

cordial delight and desire to spend and be spent for the good of Limrick; as the same is still my design and labour through the assistance of Heaven. The Voyce of Gods Rod cryed loud to this City then, that the man of Wisdom might observe his Name who had ap∣pointed it, in hearing his Rod. Our Hea∣venly Physitian saw it best then to diet and physick us, suiting his Prescripts to our di∣stempers. Few in this place did miss of a Touch; the deeper smartings of many among us warned all the rest. Our sins deserved much worse from his hand, yet he afflicted us very favourably. In the midst of wrath he remembred mercy, and stayed his rough wind in the day of his East wind. Af∣ter Purgations he gave us Cordials, and turn∣ed in due time our mourning into joy. Thanksgivings followed our humiliations, and our bitter waters were turned into sweet Wine. The Springs of Elim followed our Marah, and they reaped in joy, that had sown in Tears. If the peaceable fruit of that Rod may in Righteousness appear among us, the Glory will be his, and the Comfort ours. If our ill humours have been kind∣ly

removed, it will best appear in the right use of our health. If any grow wanton af∣ter Recovery, shame and sorrow will be their portion. It glads my heart that Gods Word and Works have not been quite fruit∣less in the midst of us; yet I cannot but la∣ment with a bleeding soul the sad improve∣ments of his renewed Kindness. What could more be done for us then he hath done? Why then is our fruit so wild and so empty? That it proves better with any of us, its of his Grace; that divers others seem to grow still worse, its through their fault. The Lord hath bestowed much cost upon us, but like the cursed Ground we bear still many weeds. He hath not spared for dressing or dunging: it will much aggra∣vate their sin and judgement, if any of us remain still barren. The good Husband∣man hath cast in good seed in this Ground of his, but the enemy hath crept in in the dark to scatter his Tares. Multiplicious Er∣rors still spread among us as in other parts, which grow much faster then Christs spiri∣tual Plants. Too many are found to play with their Light, and abuse it to do the De∣vils

work by. That good Word, which proves savour of Life to some, proves too of∣ten savour of Death to others. The Spirits of divers are grown so childish, that neither Barnabas nor Boanerges will please their Pa∣late. God hath restored us to health and plenty; but many souls are still diseased and starved. Sinful Infection troubles all Rela∣tions, yet is little felt, because spiritual. Much malignity attends those ill humours which work so strangely and perniciously. Some are Brain-sick with giddy Notions, and others heart-sick with feavourish Affecti∣ons. The Heads of some labour with Con∣vulsions; the Vitals of others suffer defecti∣ons. Spiritual Lethargies benumb some in∣to sleep and mortal dreams; raging Phren∣zies do inflame some others. Some are mer∣rily mad with pleasing Conceits; others melancholy through a sullen spirit: Lethal Apoplexies take some few suddenly; and spiritual Palsies seiz upon others more gra∣dually. Some have lost Appetite to the dain∣ties of Heaven; others seem to hunger, but digest not well. Spiritual Rickets do possess divers, and sinful Gouts trouble not a few.

Various obstructions disorder mens souls, whence the disfiguring of their Life and Acts. Internal stoppages often discolour the external man; the falling-sickness and the swounding fits do also take turns in souls and Societies. Consumptions and Dropsies appear so visibly, that they prognosticate but Ominous things. Sad Symptoms are seen in mens faces and speech, their tongues and breathings concurring therewith. If you feel their pulse and Beatings of heart, you may soon descrie Syncopal Tokens. Schirrhus's and hardness are easily felt; swellings and sores manifest themselves. Thus this world appears a sinful Hospital for the God of mercy to give visits to. What comes away from men, proves a Semeiotick that points at the Cure by sad Characters. The Causes of such dangerous Affects must needs be va∣rious and multiplicious. Diseases compli∣cate and inveterate, bespeak a difficult and a dubious Cure. Secresie and strength add much to that evil, besides senslesness and un∣ruliness. Disorder in food and in exercise with sloth and slumber aggravate the same Strains and Ruptures with Dislocations, Tumors

and Wounds manifest more evil. Humours and spirits being distempered do soon dis∣order the substantial parts. Excess in Reple∣tion and vacuity, in number and extent, still do make it worse. Retention of evil & wast∣ing of good, do both testifie the method of help. Indications thus being so various, its no wonder if the cure be slow both in Church and State. Purgations total and particular, must attend diet, rest and all due help. Both the Patients care and all Assistants, will be as needful as the Physitians skil. Politick Phy∣sitians and Ecclesiastical had need look to Christ for skil, strength, success. Choice and cordial Preservatives, Alexipharmacks are often needed, where malignity doth infest mens souls. Industrious Care and painful attendance will be found herein of exceeding need. The Ladies hand and the Eagles eye, with the Lions heart, will help very much in all such dressings. Seek therefore and wait for that Soveraign Aid without which no means can find a Blessing. Observe his Pre∣cepts, taking what he gives, carefully forbear∣ing what he doth forbid. Fear to displease Christ, our Gospel-Phoebus, that must teach

and prosper Aesculaps labours. That Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing wings to all such as love and fear him above All. Neglect then no means appointed by him; abuse not the means by resting thereon. His All-sufficient Grace believe and expect for his own Glory in each of his Wayes. If he make you smart, its for your good that you may be healed on the best ac∣count. Here is an Antidote fitted to our Case, the good Lord bless it to you and to me. Be helpful to me that I may help you at the Throne of Grace, so shall we find him our present help still. His Grace will sure be suffici∣ent for us, and his strength shall be perfected in weakness. I shall as heartily rejoyce in your good as if it were mine; and shall design to be, through the Renewed supplies of Christs Holy Spirit,

Your Affectionate Ser∣vant for his sake, in all Gospel-work, CLAUDIUS GILBERT.

From my study in Limrick, 11. 11./Januar. 23. 1656.

Notes

• Deut. 8. 2, 3, &c.
• Ezek. 14. 17, 18, 19, 20, 21.
• Micah 6. 9.
• Habac. 2. 2.
• Esay 27. 6, 7, 8.
• Psalm 30. 11. John ••. 9.
• Psalm 126. 5.
• Heb. 12. 11.
• Esad 5. 3, 4. &c.
• Heb. 6. 7, 8.
• Esay 5. 5.
• Matth. 13. 24, 25.
• 2 Cor. 2. 16, 17.
• Act. 4. 36.
• Mark. 3. 17.
• Phil. 2. 12, 13,
• Rom 9. 16.
• An eminent Physitian, the Son of the Sun among Poets.
• Mal. 4. 2.
• 2 Pet. 1. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12.
• Esay 64. 5.
• Psalm. 37. 4, 5, &c.
• Prov. 3 6.
• Heb. 12. 10.
• Eph. 6. 13, 19.
• Col. 4. 3, 4.
• Psalm 46. 1.
• 2 Cor. 12. 9.