An essay of moral rules observed in the use of medicinal remedies in order unto their success. Being a discourse of the causes of the decay of natural health, and brevity of humane life in this present age. By J. M.

WHen the Question was asked amongst the wise men of the World, What was the greatest Blessing Mortals were capable of enjoying? The Answer was as comprehensive when it was returned: Mens sana in cor∣pore sane, A sound mind in a sound body. For nothing is more apparent, than that the health of the Body, preserves the harmony of the Soul; and the harmony of the Soul preserves

the health of the Body.

Health is the greatest of all tem∣poral Blessings. Without it, the most delicious dainty will not please the pallat, the most fra∣grant odors will not delight the smell, the most harmonious melo∣dies will not gratifie the ear, the most beautiful objects will not please the eyes, the softest down will not ease the bones: Health is that which makes our delights delightful; without which, we cannot solace our selves in any temporal enjoyments, or worship a Deity in any spiritual perform∣ance. Our flesh upon us, being in pain, makes our Souls within us to mourn.

Health; it preserves the faculties of the Mind in strength and vi∣gor, makes the wit acute, the memory retentive, and under∣standing clear: Health is that which is of most comfortable im∣••••rtance unto men, next unto

the Salvation of their Souls.

Especially if we consider the many hundreds of Diseases which the mortal bodies of men are ex∣posed unto; some reckoning up Four thousand in all: Above Two hundred seated in the eyes, that small and tender part.

When a healthy constitution, and a holy disposition, joyn hand in hand; they consummate hap∣piness. Riches without health, is but like meat without a stomach; which the best Cook cannot make relishing. And Health without Religion, is but like a Down Pil∣low to a restless Head; which the best Chamberlain cannot make easie.

All our good things may be reduced to Three. The goods of the Body, of the Mind, and of Fortune; which Three if enjoyed, render a Man as happy as Solomon in all his Glory. He who ha••h Health to enjoy his Riches 〈◊〉〈◊〉

Grace to preserve his Health, and the hope of Glory to remunerate his Grace, wants no more.

A long Life sweetned with a healthful, is a great blessing, and promised as such to the pious, viz to come to their Graves in a ful•• age, as a Shock of Corn comes in its season.

The Beloved Disciple of ou•• Lord, survived the other Disci¦ples; and many of the Fathers o•• the Church were long lived which shews that the blessing o•• long life, so often promised unde•• the Law, had less abatement afte•• our Saviours days, than othe•• blessings had.

It's a great mercy to pa•••• through the wilderness of thi•• World, with our Bodies like th•• Jews Garments, little worn o•• impared by pining and languish¦ing sicknesses.

Who would not be desirous t•• w•••••• a Crown of Glory in th••••

World, and in the next also? which can be done no other way, but by gray hairs, found in a way of righteousness.

Enoch and Elias never dyed, and became examples, that a spotless •…•…ife might possibly have been im∣mortal.

Adam may well be reckoned above a Thousand years old, if we compute that time which he might have lived had he been born as Methusalem was. We may judg him as perfect at his creation, as one of the Ancients were at Two hundred: And his eating the fruit of the tree of Life, might supply his radical moisture, as fast as his heat consumed it, if he had not sin∣ned.

But we are but of yesterday, •…•…he day of our Pilgrimage being but as a shadow.

When our great and wise Cre∣•…•…tor made Man the Master-piece

of his Creation, he was please•…•… as a demonstration of his kindness to confer a temporal happines•…•… upon him, and to plant him in〈…〉〈…〉 Garden; wherein he might hav•…•… an opportunity, both to contem∣plate his Creators goodness, and to preserve his own life: Being in a supernatural way furnisht with wisdom to discern the particula•…•… qualities of those Plants with which he conversed: But being too familiar with the Tree o•…•… Knowledg, he forfeited his righ•…•… to the Tree of Life; and hath ex∣pos'd himself to the assaults of in∣numerable Diseases. But such i•…•… the kindness of Heaven to ma•…•… in his lapsed state, that he is plea∣sed to promise some of the influ∣ences of this symbolical Tree upon his obedience to the Divin•…•… will: so that by our observanc•…•… of those Divine and Eternal Law of Evangelical purity, which ar•…•… •…•…s••••••bed as the Christians Rule

we may as it were transplant the Tree of Life into our own Gar∣dens, and sit under the shadow thereof with great delight, and its fruit may become sweet to our tast.

It is probable that man before his fall was immortal; yet had he not sinned, he had not still con∣tinued here upon earth, though his age might have been extend∣ed to some thousands of years; but might have at length been tran∣slated from hence to Heaven, where he could neither have sin∣ned nor dyed.

The Life of Man seems to be much pared away; but it cannot prudently be attributed to any decay in nature, and its universal frame; but rather to the immo∣rality, and imprudent extrava∣gancies of Nations and Persons, indulging effeminate, luxurious, and pernicious customs.

Nor can we with any shew o•…•…

Reason, pretend to any mistake in the manner of computing the years of the Patriarchs. For if with some of the Ancients, we suppose them to be only Lunar years, and that Ten or Twelve of their years, made but one of ours: Then gross absurdities would follow from thence, as that they were Prolifique at Seven years of age. Enoch being no more when he begat Methusalem; the date of their lives must be reckoned shorter than many of ours at this day. Moreover the Scripture testifieth, that Abraham died in a good old age, full of days, being One hundred seventy and five years old; which number according to that computation, makes but Seventeen years and a half; a ridiculous old Age! It appears most manifest, that Moses computation of the year, was the same with ours: For mention is •…•…ade of the first, second, and

tenth Month; and lest any should imagine, as some have, that those Months lasted only Three days, we have mention made of the Se∣venteenth day of the second Month. The Reasons why the line of their lives was drawn to that length, may be referred to Divine wisdom, seeing it neeessa∣ry so to be, for Reasons best known to himself. And indeed, wonderful was their skill in all the secrets of nature, which might prove very subservient towards the lengthning their lives.

But how soon do we find the effects of sin, cutting their lives in halves, in three several Ages? And now we account him won∣drous old, who hath seen Four∣score Summers.

The Fathers in the primitive times, had great advantages for the prolongation of their lives, as they had satisfactorily con∣veyed into them the nature o•…•…

life-preserving Remedies from Adam, who gave names unto all creatures from their particular qualities; and from Solomon, whose miraculous wisdom is not to be parallel'd.

And for the more commodious propagation of Arts and Sciences, it was requisite men should have the experience of former Ages: For as many sensations breed an experiment, so many experiments a Science.

And moreover, the several moti∣ons of the heavenly bodies could not be known, without a long time to observe their Periods and Revolutions. It was the complaint of Hypocrates, A••s longa vita bre∣vis: and therefore the Almighty in his Wisdom, proportioned mens lives unto the length of Arts. Some Planets, as Saturn for one, not going its rounds in less than some hundreds of years, •…•…ould not have been known, if

men had not lived longer than they do now.

But yet we may observe, that the length of Mans age since Mo∣ses's time, seems considerably abre∣viated: He reckoning Threescore years and ten, the ordinary course unto which men generally arrived in those times, whereas now, a third part of all that are born in populous Cities, dye under Five years old; and the greatest part of those that are alive, are be∣tween Sixteen and Six and twen∣ty: And not above Seven in a hundred live unto any confidera∣ble Age. We have nothing in Scripture of Solomon's age; only that when he was old, his Wives turned away his heart. It's thought he might be Threescore and ten. Few Princes, either Jewish, Roman, Greek, or Ger∣man arrived at Fourscore. Queen Elizabeth out-lived all her prede∣cessors since the Conquest

The Ancients might probably be long lived, from natural as much as from providential Rea∣sons: For Adam was the imme∣diate work of God; and being come, as it were, newly from the Shop of his Creator, he could not be like a House built of rotten timber, but of a far stronger con∣stitution than this weak age af∣fords: Their bodies were not wasted with succession of sicknes∣ses, nor weakened with heredi∣tary diseases; but were armed to resist those few things then con∣trary unto their healths. The seminality of Diseases were not so pregnantly conveyed from the Parent unto the Child, their Infants were not so tenderly brought up, wastful Riot was a stranger unto them, and variety of meats was then unknown: Their nature was not oppressed with burthens, and forced to stagger with her load.

Moreover in the first ages of the World, the Air might be more pure, and not then so corrupted with terrene exhalations, such as after-times were pestered with, when once the flood had topt the earth, and drencht it with over∣flowings; and the fruits of the Earth were more nutrative be∣fore the Flood than afterwards, through the salt-waters of the great deep infeebling the Earth: We observe from our general ac∣counts of Mortalities, that there is a great increase in our Bills; in the year 1604, there dyed but 4323, and 895 of the Plague; but in the year 1659, there dyed 14720, and 36 of the Plague: And yet we observe near the same number of persons Born and Christened both years; ••o that the disproportion is near Nine thousand in a year, in about Sixty years distance.

The Reason given by the Bi∣shops

of Rome, for the contracting the year of Jubilee, from One hundred, to Fifty, and from Fifty unto Five and twenty, is ground∣ed upon a supposition, that the Age of Man is contracted in comparison of former times.

Had men in all places and in all ages, arrived unto the lives of the Patriarchs, the earth by this time had not been able to sustain them with food.

The Egyptians calculated the bounds of mens days, from the weight of their hearts, and judg∣ed a hundred years the utmost Period, taking their estimate from the weight of the heart; which they affirm increaseth two Drachms every year until Fifty, and decreaseth two Drachms un∣til a Hundred: But this opinion seems more curious than true.

Sickness, like a Weaver, passeth the shuttle of many lives, and at last cu••s the Thred. Excellently

shadowed by the Poets fiction, telling us of Three fatal Sisters, the one holding the Distaff, the other drawing the Thread, the third cutting it off.

It is a Question amongst some, whether the life of Man be ca∣pable of being prolonged by means? Unto which it may be answered, That the duration of a motion cannot be known, unless the measure thereof be known; nor can it be measured, unless it have known bounds: So that we cannot well know whether life may be prolong'd, without know∣ing how long it lasts. Now its difficult to know this duration punctually.

And yet as there are at this day some who exceed a Hundred, so there are a Hundred times as ma∣ny who do not arrive at that Pe∣riod. And as none can speak of Death by experience, because they who speak of it have not felt

it, and they who have felt it, can∣not speak of it. The case is much the same concerning Life; for unless a Man live unto ex∣tream old age, he will not believe that his life hath been prolonged: But on the contrary, that his hour was not yet come.

But yet it's not inconsistent with reason, to say, that he who would infallibly have dyed of a Gangreen in his Leg, hath had his Life prolonged, when his Leg was cured.

Or that a Consumptive Body hath been saved from death, when restored to a healthful state by a Medicinal dyet, which hath added Oil to the lamp of Life.

The Nectar and Ambrosia of the Poets, which kept their gods from growing old, seems to be a figure of the Tree of Life; which was a restorer of nature, as well as a Symbol of future things.

If Life consists in the union of heat and moisture, and Death ap∣procahes by the predominance of the contrary quality, viz. cold and dryness; Why may not such means as preserves the former, and keeps back the latter, have a natural tendency to prolong Life? alway supposing the Energie of all natural operations to depend upon a supernatural influence.

Suppose we, with Pythagoras, That Life is a straight line, and that the accidents which disturb it, and at length bring Death, constitute another line; and as these two Lines incline less or more one towards another, Death approaches sooner or later; and consequently Life is longer or shorter. Yet, may we not sup∣pose that Divine providence, and humane prudence, may probably conduce towards the retarding the neighborhood of these Lines?

Or suppose with the Chymists,

That Life consists in a volatile Armoniack, Sal. Why may we not suppose that Art improved may compose such fixed Alkali as may stop the wingy motions of the former Volatile?

It doth not seem probable, that means may be used with good success, to answer all other inten∣tions in nature, and be used in vain in the attaining that which is the most desirable thing in nature, and which that renders a Man ca∣pable of perfection in all Arts and Sciences, viz. Health.

As Fire dies for want of Air, and is extinguisht when the flame is suffocated; so doth our vital flame.

As our spirits are repaired by Air, so are our sanguine humours by Aliments.

Surely 'twas not without rea∣son, that Naom was foretold, O∣bed should be restorer of her age.

Physitians, they are the Instru∣ments

of the Divine Omnipo∣tence, renewing the lives of men.

Much may be done by Art for the retarding the course of nature, as may be seen in many Insects and Animals, and in men restored from Consumptive pine∣ing sicknesses, their flesh becom∣ing like that of Children, as in Naamans case; the efficacy of Remedies with some, is so great, that their youth is as it were re∣newed as the Eagle; their natu∣ral strength not abating at a great Age.

Certainly King David's depart∣ing from Keylat, diverted Sauls rage, and preserved his own Life for that time.

Our blessed Saviours own pra∣ctice, in preserving himself until the time he knew that his hour was come, is recorded for our imitation; and doth plain∣ly prove that Life may be pro∣longed.

Notwithstanding the lives o•…•… all the Mariners in the Ship were promised to be spared by that God who cannot lye; yet that promise was annexed unto their abiding in the Ship.

The wisdom of Joseph and Ma∣ry, in observing the Angels ad∣vice, and flying into Egypt with the blessed Babe, in all human probability prevented his death at Bethlehem.

It is thought that the prohibi∣tion of some kinds of meats under the Law, was not only upon a Moral, but partly upon a Physi∣cal account, yielding no good nutriment, but proving injurious unto the lives and healths of men•…•…

The Centurion importuned our Saviour to cure his Servant•…•… which he would never have done•…•… had it not probably conduced to∣ward the prolongation of hi•…•… Life.

Another mistake, and certainly

not a little destructive unto the •…•…ives and healths of men, is, that Medicines operate by a natural E∣nergie infused into them in their first creation only, and have no dependance upon a Divine con∣curring influence, and especial blessing unto particular persons; whereas the contrary is most ap∣•…•…arent: And we find that many •…•…imes the best Remedies are used, •…•…he best advice taken, and most •…•…xact circumstances observed, and •…•…ll in vain. Whence should this •…•…roceed, but from a suspension of 〈…〉〈…〉 Divine concourse?

Some of the Ancients tell us, •…•…hat the Cures wrought at the •…•…ool of Bethesda, were not ex∣•…•…raordinary, but natural; be∣•…•…ause the Pool adjoyned unto the •…•…laughter-house, and it did con∣•…•…st of the Blood of the sacrificed •…•…easts, which by Naturalists is •…•…id to be of a healing nature. •…•…ut yet we may very well sup∣pose

the necessity of a Divine An∣gelick influence to this, the Poo•…•… whereby became efficatious.

Indeed our blessed Saviour cu¦ring the Blind-man with temper¦ed Clay, may seem highly ratio¦nal, that being the fittest ingredi¦ent to restore a defective part out of which the whole was a•…•… first composed: Yet that render the Cure no less miraculous.

Naamans washing in Jordan Se¦ven times, was a natural Reme¦dy, though attended with super¦natural success.

And the Wine and Oil poure into the wounds of the distresse•…•… Stranger by the good Samaritan was specifically appropriated yet the success depended upon superior influx.

A Plaister of Figs applyed unt•…•… Hezekiah's Plague-sore, was a ra¦tional Remedy, being proper t•…•… mollify hard tumours in the fles•…•… and to ripen Imposthumes.

There was a very rational con∣•…•…ormity between the leprous con∣•…•…agion, and the law of cleansing. The Leprosy did putrifie the skin, •…•…nd opposite unto that was Ce∣•…•…ar-wood, commended by Natu∣•…•…alists against Putrefaction. It was of an offensive colour, op∣•…•…osite unto that was the Colour of Scarlet; of an ill scent, contra∣•…•…y unto that was the smell of Hy∣sop; it did usher in death, con∣trary thereunto was the Sparrow let loose, significant sign of recovery. Because sometimes im∣pious men spin out the Thred of their lives: Therefore to imagine it contradicts the observation, that Faith and piety prolong Life, is a great mistake. For sometimes a long and a wicked Life may be twisted together, for some rea∣sons best known unto Divine Wis∣dom; as Manasseh reigned longest of any of the Kings of Judah: Sometimes the sinner may live to

be a Hundred years old, and y•…•… be accursed: The Posterity〈…〉〈…〉 Cain were longer liv'd than a•…•… of the Patriarchs, being reserv•…•… to be punished in the general D•…•…¦luge.

A fond opinion, and a gre•…•… mistake it is, of some, that Becau•…•… Divine Wisdom hath appoint•…•… the periods of our days, ther•…•…¦fore to suppose we cannot be i•…•…¦strumental either towards th•…•… lengthning or shortning of th•…•… same. The Jews were wickedl•…•… instrumental in taking away th•…•… life of the Lord of Life, notwith¦standing they did nothing bu•…•… what Divine goodness had deter¦mined before to be done; ther•…•… was no fatal necessity imposed up¦on their wills.

Sometimes Divine Wisdom bes•…•… knowing his own reasons, doth resolve the death of some persons, unless the moral Cause of the Di∣stemper be removed, as well as

the natural; and then the most •…•…roper Remedies are used in vain, •…•…ither towards the preservation of Health, or the removal of Sick∣•…•…ess.

King David understood that •…•…he determination concerning the Childs death was past; yet he •…•…rayed, and probably used means •…•…o prevent it.

The Creator and Conserver of •…•…ll things in the Universe, takes notice of the principal and subse∣quent causes of things; governing, disposing, and ordering, according unto his own free will: And yet all this Government seems to be void of any fatal violence, and comes to an efficiency from the ordina∣tion of various natural causes; which by human elections in na∣tural things, prove the occasions either of supporting or destroy∣ing Life.

Divine goodness doth not a∣bolish, but disposeth of future

contingencies, without nulling the freedom of the Agent. The Creator is not obliged unto neces∣sity, but moderateth things and events according unto his own pleasure; and yet suffereth them to exercise their own proper mo∣tions, electing what seems bes•…•… (especially in externals); & herein the cause answers unto the effects▪ if the effects be necessary, th•…•… causes are so likewise; and in thi•…•… sense, the Life of Man and its period, may be said to be determi∣ned: And yet Man may be instru∣mental towards the contracting his own days.

Moreover there are certain Practices which have a natural tend••ney towards Life or Death; and this the inspired Pen-man in∣timates, when he tells us, That righteousness tendeth unto Life, and he that pursueth evil, pursu∣eth it unto his own death; and although there are frequent pro∣mises

of long Life made unto the obedient, it doth not infringe the verity of holy Jobs assertion, That our days are determined. When the Prophet told Amaziah, he knew God had determined to de∣stroy him, he tells him moreover, that he was instrumental to∣wards his own death, in not hearkning unto the voice of the Lord.

And Eli's Sons disobedience, pro∣nounced the sentence of Death against them, and it is rendered as the reason why God had re∣solved to slay them.

The date of the old Worlds duration was fixed unto One hun∣dred and twenty years; yet we find it was not so long liv'd by Twenty years, their wickedness contracting that, which seem'd a determined period: Therein declaring, that at what time Di∣vine wisdom shall speak concern∣ing a Nation, or People, to pluck

up, or to destroy; if that Natio•…•… or People turn from their evil way, he will turn from intended evil.

A great mistake it is, to imagine that the manner and moments o•…•… mens death, are the effects of con∣tingency; whereas it is most cer∣tain they come under the disposal and appointment of a wise over∣ruling providence.

As a Sparrow doth not fall un∣to the ground, so a Man doth not, without a special permission. The flight of that Arrow which pro∣cured Ahabs death, was guided by a Divine hand, who aimed at his mortal wound; yet his rash going to Battel, by the advice of his false Prophets, rendered, him in∣strumental towards his own death and ruine.

The Evangelical Prophet tells us of a Consumption determined upon the whole earth, occasioned by their great provocations.

We find Abimelech and his Fa∣mily

smitten with sickness, and •…•…reatned with death, but not •…•…ithout a moral cause.

And very often are the Jews •…•…alled upon to observe the Divine Laws, lest they dye for prophane∣•…•…ng them.

And the Prophets are frequent∣•…•… threatned with death, that •…•…hall presume to speak without a •…•…mission from Heaven.

Manoahs Wife made a very pro∣•…•…able conjecture, That God did •…•…ot design to slay her and her Husband, because of his graci∣ous appearance unto them.

The Jewish Rabbins tell us of one going to gather his Remedy prescribed by Solomon, against his particular distemper, was met by an apparition of Death, in the shape of a Schelliton; and it told him with an audible voice, it was too late, for he was struck by the Angel who kept the Key of the Grave. The meaning is obvious.

Natural Remedies, they are bu•••• like Elijahs staff layd upon the Child, they will not restore unto life and health, unless a superna∣tural virtue concur.

Marys supposition that the pre∣sence of her Saviour would have kept her Brother from dying, was not altogether groundless, though she was under a mistake, with re∣ference unto that present dispen∣sation.

The practice of true Piety, and serious Christianity, are great friends unto the health of nature.

There are attending the Divine Life, leisurely contemplations of heavenly things, joys refined from the dregs of sensuality, hopes of a noble and generous nature, wholesom, sweet, and comfortable fears; an universal harmony in all the Passions: and from hence by the favour of Di∣vine clemency, Health spring∣eth forth speedily.

The Fable of the Kite when sick, imploring help and recovery, and being denyed, by reason of her rapine and mischief, it affords an excellent moral.

The breaking off our sins by righteousness, many times proves a lengthening of our temporal Life and tranquility.

Plato's observation is excellent∣ly true, that all the mischiefs of the Body proceed from the Soul, and all its truest pleasures from the joy of the mind.

We have a memorable modern relation of a Consumptive person cured after Four years languish∣ment, by a prescription of an An∣gelical Apparition, joyned with a moral duty, to fear God and serve him.

The Jewish Doctors say, that Adam felt no cold, notwithstand∣ing he was naked, because he had communion with God; and as soon as ever he eat the forbidden

fruit, his Head aked.

Were it the Divine pleasure to give men a constant frame of Health during their Pilgrimage, it were a great favour; but our impieties, like Hazaels wet cloth, prove fatal unto us, and moulder on these bodyes of ours, whose feet like Nebuchadnezzar's Image, are made of clay; Man being but earth, as the Prophet tells us three times in one breath, when he saith, O earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the Lord.

Repentance, often proves an excellent Antidote against sick∣ness and death.

Jezabel is threatned for her im∣penitency to be cast into a Bed, and her Children to be killed with death. Good men may dye, but they cannot be killed with death.

The Israelites repentance pro∣ved a soveraign plaister against the stings of the fiery Serpents.

And King Davids remorse, pre∣vailed

with the destroying Angel •…•…o sheath his Sword, after the •…•…aughter of Seventy thousand •…•…eople.

Rehoboams penitence at the •…•…reaching of Shemaiah, prevented •…•…he destruction of himself and his Princes.

When mens flesh is consumed, •…•…nd they are afflicted with strong •…•…ains upon their Beds, then the Almighty looks upon men, to see if any say they have sinned, and perverted that which is right, to deliver them from going down into the Pit, that their lives may see the Light.

When the Divine hand binds men with fetters, and holds them in the cords of affliction, then he shews them their work, and their transgressions that they have ex∣ceeded; then he opens their ears unto discipline, and commands that they return from iniquity; and if they obey and serve him,

they shall spend their days in pro∣sperity, and their years in plea∣sure; but if they obey not, they shall dye in their youth without knowledg; for God preserveth not the Life of the wicked, as E∣lihu tells Job.

Did men but consider the na∣ture of Man in this state of mor∣tality, and observe the wonder∣ful composure of their Bodies, the scituation of the parts, the circulation of the Blood, the se∣veral meanders of the veins and nerves, and the curious distribu∣tion of our aliment into flesh; they might easily perceive how small an obstruction would stop their breath, and how inconsi∣derable an inflamation would send us into another World as in a fiery Chariot, and how little a putrefaction would crumble us into our first original, if we were not supported by an Omnipotent •…•…nd; and instead of wondering

we live no more in health, we should admire we live an hour in ease.

As an exact observance of the eternal Laws of truth and good∣ness, are the best way to render Remedies effectual; so the con∣trary renders them unsuccesful towards Health, or long Life, as we find plainly exemplified in most of the wicked Kings of Ju∣dah and Israel, as Abijam, Atha∣liah, Ahaziah, Nadab, Elah, Omri, and many others, who reigned but Two, Three, or Four years a piece; and the Reasons are sometimes recorded, that it was for there sins which they sin∣ned, they shortning their lives with their Kingdoms, in whom sin, and a sudden death, reigned together.

He that prophaned the Sabbath under the Levitical dispensation, occasioned the beating his Soul out of his Body.

St. Anselm observes, that the Reason why Diseases abounded so much in the Summer, was be∣cause the Holy Eucharist was ir∣reverently received at Easter in his time.

When our Saviour cured the Man sick of a Palsie, he forgave him his sins, to convince him that they were the cause of his sickness.

The life of Man is swift as a Weavers Shuttle; especially if wickedness be interwoven, Di∣vine Justice cuts the Web.

Infidelity doth as it were tye up the hands of Omnipotence, and sets bounds unto the opera∣tions of his mighty works on mens Bodies.

The Jews who came out of E∣gypt, except Caleb and Joshua, dyed before they came into Ca∣naan, viz. that they might not introduce Egyptian innovations, and to chastise their rebellious

murmurings; and very often •…•…hey are threatened with sore sick∣nesses, and wonderful Plagues, if they did not hearken to the Di∣vine Law.

It's no wonder to see a strange punishment happen unto the workers of iniquity; nothing doth more conduce toward the preservation of our natural health, than our living the Divine Life; but when our ex∣pectations and actions are wholly imployed in the gratifications of the animal Life, we do but pre∣pare for the messengers of the Grave.

What Solomon observes of wealth and victory, may truly be said of Health and recovery, it depends not so much on natural as on Divine influences.

The wantonness of the Levite's Wife, occasioned a second rape by the Gibeonites; so when their lust had conceived, it brought

forth sin, and their sin bein•…•… finished brought forth death.

Eutichus for sleeping at a Ser∣mon, had by his fall almost step•…•… until awaked by the last Trumpet, had he not been miraculously rai∣sed by St. Paul.

Many of the Church of Co∣rinth were sick and weak, and lost their lives, for their unwor∣thy receiving the Bread of Life; and if men contemn the sacred Body of Christ, how can they expect God should take care of their Bodies? and if they make no reckoning of Christs death, its just with God to disregard their lives.

Pharoah was plagued exceed∣ingly, for being too familiar with A••rahams Wife; when she was restored unto her Husband, he was restored to his Health.

Miriams sedition raised a Tu∣multuous disturbance in the har∣mony of her health. The dissi∣mulation

of Gehaza's tongue, procured the Leprosy upon his skin; Ʋzziah's invading the Priests Office, and burning in∣cense, caused the Divine displea∣sure to smoak against him, ma∣king his beauty to consume away like a Moth.

Hananiah's false Prophets, did but predict his own destruction and death.

Ahaziah's evil consultation with the God of Ekron, to know whether he should recover of his sickness, made his Disease prove incurable.

Pharoah's persecution ended in his own destruction and drown∣ing.

Ahab by his cruelty, became cruel unto his own Life.

The Samaritan Lords infideli∣ty, pressed his Soul out of his Body.

The calumniating rage of the Children against the good old

Prophet, provoked the rage of the Bears to devouer their Bo∣dies.

Herod's vain-glorious ostenta∣tion, brought such a Disease up∣on his Body, of which he had no reason to boast.

The pride of the Daughters of Zion, changed their sweet smell into a stink, and their well-set Hair into baldness.

Sapphira's Perjury, summoned the feet of those who had carried her Husband to his Grave, to carry her to the same place.

Benhadads curiosity, proved the fatal Messenger of his death; the Prophet returning answer, that he might recover, but should surely dye.

Jeroboam's Idolatry, and pray∣ing unto false gods, provoked the true God to stop his breath.

Saul's disobedience unto his maker, crumbled him into dust.

Belshazzar for his riotous re∣velling,

by a bodyless hand∣wrighting upon a wall, had the end of his Life and Kingdom de∣nounced against him.

When Nadab and Abibu offered strange fire, a stranger fire is sent to consume them.

Because good-men immaturely dye, to infer Piety hath no influ∣ence upon the prolongation of Life, is a great mistake.

The Carkasses of good Israel∣ites may fall in the wilderness of this World, and yet their Souls may be entertained in the Hea∣venly Canaan.

A good Prophet for some sin∣gle act of disobedience, may be made a prey unto a devouring Lyon, and yet his Soul be recei∣ved into everlasting habitations.

If an Eli neglect to chastize his rebellious Children, he may be permitted to break his neck, and yet may enter into Life nei∣ther maimed nor halt.

When Ʋzzah shall touch th•…•… Ark without a commission, hi•…•… death shall immediately succee•…•… his rashness.

When a Moses shall neglect to circumcise his Child, an Ange•…•… shall threaten his Life with a drawn Sword.

Many times judgment begins at the House of God, and he makes good men examples of his severity in this Life.

Evil Angels may contend with good ones, about the bodies of good men; but their Souls shall be kept free from danger.

It is thought that King Davids numbering the people, was the best act he did, before he took his Bed.

Sampson lost his natural strength by his disobedience and viola∣tion of his vow, rather than by his cutting of his Hair; it being rather a moral, than a natural cause of his weakness.

The fretful, though holy Pro∣•…•…het Jonah, going contrary unto 〈…〉〈…〉 Divine command, had almost •…•…een swallowed up by death, as well as by the Whale.

But sometimes the sickness of •…•…he Body, may be sent to pro∣mote the health of the Soul; as the Leprosie on Naamans flesh, may conduce towards the whiten∣ing of his mind.

Sicknesses are sometimes Pro∣batory as well as Punative, some∣times both; and they are sent as the Tryals of grace, and are de∣claratives of Divine Mercy.

It was a remarkable question that was asked our Saviour, Who sinned, this Man or his Parents, that he was born blind? His an∣swer we know was, It was for the declaration of Divine Mercy, ra∣ther than either of the former rea∣sons, as the sickness of his friend Lazarus, was for the Glory of God, that the work of Divine Power

might be manifest in his restau∣ration.

The Righteous may sometimes be taken away from the evil to come, as the good Patriarchs were before the Flood, and as A∣bijah was laid to sleep, before the calamity of his Fathers House; sometimes the Child may derive those distempered humours from its Parent, which may prove the occasion of its death: though God hath promised long Life un∣to them that obey, yet he hath never promised, that he would not sometimes, as it were, bor∣row good mens natural lives, and make a happy exchange, making good his promise, and answering other ends of his pro∣vidence, by recompencing the loss of a Temporal, with the grant of Eternal Life.

When the extraordinary means of understanding Tongues ceased, men made use of rational

and ordinary methods, to become acquainted with Languages, viz. Schools of Literature, and indu∣strious educations.

Even so now the miraculous ways of curing Diseases are blockt up, Men are to apply themselves unto rational Methods, and such as have the most natural tendency towards the accomplishment of that end, and the fairest prospect of probability; and they are such as follow, viz. the advice and counsel of able, learned, and ex∣perienced Physitians, whose na∣tural abilities are advanced by ingenious education, and their universal learning confirmed by experience; such being most fit to rectify the disorders in mens Bodies, who by their enquiry into Anatomy, understand the particular parts of the same; and taking notice of the scituations, structures and figures of the springs and wheels by which na∣ture

moves, they are the bette•…•… enabled to regulate her disorderly motions: And they understand¦ing the natures of Animals, Mi¦nerals and Vegitables, can th•…•… more dextrously apply fit reme∣dies, according unto the severa•…•… indications of distempers, an•…•… circumstances of Patients.

Physitians best understanding the natures of Air, and Meats and Drinks; are best able to di∣rect to such natural Rules as ar•…•… most conservative of Health.

To suppose the art of Physic•…•… to be useless, because it is not in∣fallible, is very unreasonable; fo•…•… were Physitians infallible, the•…•… might make men immortal, an•…•… so alter the statute-Laws of Hea∣ven, by which the nature c•…•… man is subjected unto death.

As in Divinity, the most sacred institutions are insignificant unt•…•… the Souls of men, if not rightl•…•… received and applied; even so i•…•…

Physick, the most wholesom Re∣medies are useless unto mens Bo∣dies, if not used in a right man∣ner; which chiefly consists in taking the Distemper in the be∣ginning, before nature is wasted, and hath lost its helping-hand; and to persevere in a regular course, until the distemper be fully conquered.

How can men expect the con∣course of a Divine Blessing to at∣tend the advice of ignorant and unworthy pretenders unto Phy∣sick, or of secret hazardous and Poysonous Medicines, which are exposed unto sale in every Corn∣er? the directions for the use of them, being like King David's Let∣ter by Ʋriah, to give instructions for the ruine of the Patient.

The World is full of com∣plaints, of the ineffectual appli∣cation of Medicines; and the true cause thereof must arise from hence, That Men are so irregu∣lar

and preposterous in the use o•…•… the same.

Many there are in our Weekl•…•… Bills of Mortality, who sacrific•…•… their lives unto their credulity and destroy their Bodies, as wel•…•… as their Souls, by an implicit•…•… Faith.

And whatever Medicine i•…•… gilded over with the pretences o•…•… rare and experienced, is cryed up•…•… and swallowed down, when it'•…•… as common in the Shop, as Sal•…•… and Pepper in a Kitchen.

Can Men expect preservation•…•… when they willingly suffer thei•…•… Brains to be beaten out with the Bills of Mountebanks?

If any Man pretend unto a Se∣cret, some are as ready to pro∣claim it, as if they thought some good Angel, like Mahomets Pige∣on, whispered it in their ear; when it often proves like Gun∣powder, and blows up their Healths.

There are more dye of soft places in their Heads, than of Ul∣cers in their Lungs; and multi∣tudes dig their Graves with their thick Skulls.

How can men pray for a bles∣sing upon the means, when they take such Mungril Physitians ad∣vice, who can sooner cure all Diseases than one; especialy in such a Nation as ours is, where there is such great variety of able, learned, experienced and consci∣entious Physitians? and by the wisdom of Authority, a Society of Apothecaries establisht, who have demonstrated unto the World their care to prevent a∣buses in Medicines, by erecting a publick Elaboratory for the preparation of Chymical Reme∣dies in the most exact manner; and using all prudential Methods to prevent deceits in Medicines?

There is nothing that denomi∣nates a wise Man more, then use∣ing

the best and most probable means to accomplish his ends: and nothing is more subservient unto happy conclusions, than prudent Counsels; but such is the preposterous practice of many a∣mongst us, that it may not be imprudent to make an addition of one casualty more in our Weekly accounts of Mortality, viz. so many dyed Martyrs unto their Physitians ignorance; they taking the advice of some broken Tradesman, Disbanded Soldier, Bankrupt Merchant, &c. the very scum of the People, whose Receipts prove equally fatal with the Jaw-bone of an Ass; such like Evah, or rather like the Serpent, pretending to give that which shall be good for Food and Physick, but in the end beguiling Men of their Health, and few days after the Patient dyes the death: As the Lyon in the Fable, that pretended to pull the Thorn

out of the Lambs foot, but in the end devoured it.