5 Doctrine. The LORD healed all Davids diseases.

Here we have three things to be explained.*

1 Wherein this healing consists. As be∣fore it was said of diseases, so (there being the same reason of contraries) healing also [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] bath for its proper subject the body naturall ill affected by some disease or wound; but by Metaphor it may be transferred to other things also. For as in the proper sense he is said to heale, who takes away that which hinders the health of the body so in the me∣taphoricall, he who takes away from any thing that which hinders the well being of it. Page  71So 2 King. 2.21, 22. Psal. 60.2. And thus it is often transferred to the soule: though here the similitude holds not in every point. For in the body, nature being freed from the noxious humour doth of it self breed good blood, and supply it to the repairing the strength of the whole impaired by the dis∣ease. But in the soule after lapse, there is no power to any saving good.

2 How this healing is wrought: Namely by the Spirit of God using the Word and Sacraments. It is the work of the Spirit of God, Who is therefore called Holy, because He sanctifies the faithfull, and this work of healing is a part of sanctification. But the Spi∣rit doth not effect this without us, Rom. 8.13. That therefore we may be fitted for this work, the Spirit useth the word, which is compared to a medicine, Prov. 4.20, 21, 22. 1 Tim. 6.3. The Spirit therfore by the word and with the word 1 shewes us our diseases. 2 moves the will to seek to be healed, by disswasives from remaining under the do∣minion of sin, and perswasives to holinesse. 3 directs the action. It useth also the Sacra∣ments, by which we are united unto Christ, (Baptism for initiation, the Eucharist for pro∣gresse) and so we are gathered (as sometimes He would have gathered the children of Je∣rusalem) Page  72under his wings, wherein is healing, Mal. 4.2. Yea the Sacraments, sealing the great benefits of God to us, and our duty toward Him, do both encourage us to seek healing, and afford most effectuall arguments to move us to it.

3 How farre. In all that truly repent and beleeve, God heales all diseases, but not straightway perfectly, nor in all equally, but by different degrees. For the Scripture makes 3 distinct degrees of belee∣vers. 1 Beginners, who are called Children using milk, Hebr. 5.12, 13. 2 Proficients, Ephes. 4.14, 15. 3 Perfect or strong men, Rom. 15.1. But in all true beleevers this hea∣ling is so farre made, as to take away the do∣minion of sinne, and that it may not hinder their salvation; and in none perfectly or in every point in this life. The word in the Text is [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Who is healing] God so heales the diseases of our soules here, that He is still healing them more and more. Perfect health is not to be enjoyed but in heaven.

In this sense God is said to heale his people,* 2 Chron. 30.20. And in the same sense in proper termes he is often called The San∣ctifier of his people.

For God,* and God onely hath 1 perfect knowledge of all our diseases. 2 Power or Page  73ability to cure them, as being Omnipotent, and so nothing hard to Him. 3 Liberty and authority, His justice saved; which Christ by His obedience and death hath so farre sa∣tisfyed, that it not onely permits, but (upon the Covenant between Him and the Father) requires that all that beleeve in Him should be healed. 4 Will, as in this particular of David desiring his cheerfull obedience in his generall calling, and specially in the admi∣nistration of the Kingdome, and there∣upon

• Davids salvation.
• His owne glory.

So in every man according to his calling.