Hezekiahs recovery. Or, A sermon, shevving what use Hezekiah did, and all should make of their deliverance from sicknesse. First preached, and now published by Robert Harris, pastor of Hanwell

HEZEKIAH'S RECOVERY . ESA. 38.9 .

The writing of Hezekiah King of Iudah , when hee had beene sicke , and was recovered of his sicknes .

LO heere a double condition and behaviour of King Hezekiah ; 1. he was ficke , and then he prayed : 2. he is recovered , and now he gives thankes . Our businesse lyes in this latet part ; which is made up of these two : 1. an Inscription , 2. a Description of the Song .

The Description presents unto us the parts of it ; 1. an aggravation of Hezekiah's former misery : 2. an amplification of the present mercie .

The Inscription acquaints us , 1. with the author of the Song , King Hezekiah . 2. with the nature of it , a Poem written . 3. with the argument of it , a Song of thankesgiving for the removeall of sicknes , & restoring of health . And first to the first : the passage is cleer , sick Hezekiah prayes , &c.

Sicke Hezekiah prayes , found Hezekiah sings : as comfort succeeds his crosse , so praises his prayers . Hence this :

After prayers , Doct. 1. praises . Prayers and prayses do not so enterfaire that they can never be separated , neither is there anie necessitie of premising pertitions to each particular thanksgiving ; onely in a generalitie this is regular , when we have removed afflictions by prayer , we should welcome deliverances with songs . So much was 1. established by Law , Shelamim . Levit. 3. & 7. after sacrifices of pacification , followed sacrifices of payments and thanksgiving . 2ly . ratified in the Gospell . It s a generall Canon , Is any afflicted ? what if ? Let him pray ; Is any merry ? what then ? Let him sing . T is not unlawfull to pray in mirth , to sing in miserie , ordinarily ; but t is simply necessarie in afflictions ro be prayerfull , in the midst of mercies to bee thankefull , and to entertaine severall conditions with different behaviours . Hereof is it that the Apostle . S. Paul doth so often linke prayers and thanksgivings together : as who would say , when the one is put over , you must passe to the other . So much ( 3ly . ) upon particular occasions is 1. prescribed by God , 2. practised by his Saints . Particulars will not bee needefull to men who know the generall course of Scriptures . So much ( 4ly . ) S. Iohn foretels , and in a sort undertakes for sucoceding ages , in his Revelat. What singing there should be after persecutions by Heathenish Rome , hee foretels in his fift chapt. what there was , Eusebius reports , especially in his last booke . Againe , what songs should follow upon the Churches deliverance from Rome Christian , or other ( whether seducers or persecutors ) S. Iohn fore-prophesies , V. Iubilees of the reformed Churches . time partly hath alreadie , and more fully will hereafter discover . So much ( 5ly . ) Education and Reason taught Heathens , and must perswade us . For , first , Reas. 1. if wee looke to God , he is ( as the Prophet saith ) worthy to bee praised ; 1. all excellencie is his , therefore all honour , saith reason in Philosophers . 2. All Religion is due to him , therefore all thankes , which is a religious act ; for to the highest Maiestie is due the loweft subjection , and that is Religion , which subjects the soule . 3. Hee is the first spring and author of good : all excellencie and honour is invested in him , and derived from him , and therfore must returne to him , Rom. 11. ult.

2. If we consider the thing it selfe ; Reas. 2. thankes is due after mercies received , and wee cannot withhold it without many incongruities : first ( as is implied ) Religion is violated , which tels us that wee 1. owe to God all possible service ; 2. that thanksgiving is a speciall worship , wherin we transferre all honour from creatures to God , Psalm . 50. ult. 3. that wee are no lesse bound to acknowledge Gods workings in our praises , than his willingnesse in our prayers .

2. Charitie is violated , which bids us love an enemy , much more a God ; to blesse those that curse , much more those that blesse us ; to overcome evil with good , much more to answer goodnesse with goodnesse . V. Arist. Ethicks . Indeed kindnesse , by the rules of friendship & love in the Heathens judgements , doth challenge eyther recompence , if we deale with our matches , or acknowledgement where the distance is great ; & the greater this , the greater that. Now betwixt God & us the distance is infinite , and if t were possible our love & thankfulnesse should fill up that distance , and extend it selfe into infinitenesse .

On the other side , not to bee as forward with our praises as prayers , argues base selfe-love and servilitie , and makes it appeare that wee love not God but his gifts ; nay , in truth that wee secretly hate him . For wee begrudge no man the praise of his kindnesse , but whom wee eyther envie or hate : now God is above the reach of our low envie ; and therefore our lothnesse to acknowledge him , proceeds from our inbred enmity against him , when of the twaine wee had rather denie his grace , than yeeld our selves beggars and dependants ,

3 Iustice is violated : we owe God thankes , 1. in point of Law and covenant ; T is our profession , our promise , our cheefage and rent that is due to him : Gratia specialis pars justitiae . Cic. l. 2. de inzent . so that the Orator spake not over , when he intimated that Ingratitude was a kinde of Unjustice . For what more unjust , than to detaine , against all desert and covenant , Gods right ? 2. In point of moralitie and honestie ; in manners wee must reciprocate with men , much more with God : nor can he be an honest man , who is not ashamed to be an unthankfull man .

3 If wee compare the dueties , Reas. 3. no reason but we should be as full of thankes as prayers : 1. I am sure we have as many mercies as crosses , comforts ( in present and reversion ) as wants . 2. All our sorrowes and afflictions are deserved , all our comforts undeserved : if that must not weaken our prayers , surely this must greaten our thankes . 3. Thankfulnesse will become us as much as beging , nay ( as the Prophet adds ) as much benefit vs , Chrys. ad pop. Ant. Hom. 11. as much comfort us : Thankefulnesse holds old mercies , and wins new ; yea , greater thankfulnesse is a surer evidence of love and sinceritie than prayer , and no lesse a cause than a signe of joy ; if not senior to prayer in the world , yet of more lasting , at least of more excellencie in the world to come .

Once , it is at least as needfull for us to give up praises as prayers , for these reasons : First , we are ( for certaine ) as forgetfull of the consolations as of crosses , nay more , because we are more sensuall than intellectuall , and fullest of selfe-love . Secondly , we are as likely to miscarrie in prosperity as in adversitie , unlesse the one bee sanctified by thanksgiving , as well as the other by prayer . As Crosses without prayer will embitter us , so Blessings without praises will swell us , and make us giddie , unlesse wee allay our wine with some of this sugar , thankes I meane , which is sweet in it selfe , most comfortable to us , Cant. 7 9. and more acceptable to God than sweetest Wines or Incense .

Well , we heare what should be ; Vse 1. now by way of reflection le ts doe two things : whereof the first is : fee what wee have done . Prayers and praises should sucoced each other , as day doth night summer winter ; what say you ? hath it bin so ? The truth is , when I cast my thoughts backward unto publick proceedings , I find what doth somewhat comfort mee ; I finde , first , that after publicke humiliations in 88. our most happy Queene was most publicke and solemne in her thanksgivings : next , after our deliverance in 1604. Nov. 5. a set time appointed for solemne praises ; thirdly , after deliberation had , some thanksgivings added to our publick prayers . But when we looke into private passages , alas wee are all too blame : we goe to God in our distresses , as Turkes use to goe to their Mahomet , or others to their Ladie , by troupes and Caravans ; but when we be delivered , we returne like those Lepers in the Gospell , scarce one in ten , in twentie , in a hundred . To speake sooth , most of us have small reason to glorie in our praiers ; they be too faint , too few , too much overrun with pride & unbeleefe : but in thankesgiving wee are starke naught , worse than naught . first , we will not see wood for trees , mercies for blessings ; when wee cannot tell how to looke besides them , we will not fall upon them in our thoughts : wants we see , and so are still craving ; favours wee will not see , and so are never thankfull . When speech is of crosses , wee have all ; crosses in body , crosses in soule , crosses in estate , crosses in friends , our life is made of crosses : when of mercies , we can finde none about house , no money in purse , no corne in barne , no comfort in the house , no friend in the world , wee see no land , nothing but sea .

Secondly , when wee see , wee will not speake : when we fall upon crosses , wee are cloquent beyond truth , we adde , we multiply , we arise in our discourse , like him in the Poet , I am twice , thrice miferable , nay ten times , nay twentie times , Aristop. in Plut. Act. 4. sc. 3. 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . nay a thousand times miserable ; But when it comes to mercies , we speake of them as malefactors doe of their faults , yeelde no more than what can be extorted from us , or proved against us , as if we were loath to peach God or our selves . Or if ( thirdly ) wee say any thing , it is rather to set up our selves than God , and the sacrifice is intended to our netts , witts , providence , more than to Gods mercie : in truth we serve our selves in praises as Ignorants doe in prayers , they set up flesh and estalish merit ; under a colour of prayer ; and wee under a flourish and varnish ( of God be thanked ) vent our pride , and stroke our selves . The worst unthankfulnesse is , when men love not to be beholden to God . Or lastly , if some thing bee said ; that s all , for little is done : True thankefulnesse stands in a reciprocation of affections & actions . Wee should returne love for love , and service at least for kindnesse ; but wee doe not so . It fares with us as once with Israel ; the care , which tastes words as the raste doth meats , V. Chrys. hom. 11 ad pop. Ant. Anima tristis non and it . was so filled with choler , that they could relish no comfort ( Exed . 6.9 . ) whilest Moses and Aaron spake : and our thoughts bee so sowred with the taste of crosses , that we can taste no mercies , at least wee cannot taste the sweetnesse of the giver in the gift ; and thence it is that our affections lye dead within us , whilst his mercies swarme about us . Hee shewes his power in the greatnesse , his wisedome in the seasonablenesse , his truth in the constancie , his grace in the freenesse , the riches of his mercies in the fulnesse of his blessings ; but nor one nor other affect us . Our hearts are so farre from Davids zeale hereupon , as that ( like Nabals ) they are cyther as cold or heavie as a stone . Miserable hearts , and miserably dead , when so manic warming and reviving comforts cannot raise them upwards : but in the meane , what hope of quicke actions , when we labour with so dead affections .

● For deeds : true thankefulnesse improves the gift , to the givers honour . A friend gives me a Ring , I le weare it for his sake ; a Booke , I le use it for his sake ; a Iewell , I le keepe it for his sake , that is , so as may best expresse my love , and report his goodnesse . Were wee truely thankefull to our God , wee would use all his tokens for his sake ; eate our meate to him , Zach. 14. weare our clothes to him , spend our strength for him , live to him , sleepe to him , dye for him : but ( out upon our unthankefulnesse ) we use his blessings as Ich● did Icherams messengers , David Goliab's sword , we turne them against their Master , & fight against heaven with that health , wit , wealth , those friends , meanes , mercies that wee received thence . If this be thankfulnes , to be so much the more proude , idle , secure , wanton , scornefull , impenitent , by how much the more wee are enriched , advanced and blessed , I cannot tell who may be called unthankfull . Brethren , understand your selves , there is not this day a Nation under heaven more bound to God than we be ; if now , we shal wast that time in spying out flawes in the State , and matter of complaint at home , that should be taken up in recounting mercies , t is just with God to lay us even with other distressed Churches , and to make us know what we had by what we want . If any place be yet left for admonition , be wee all advised to call to minde , with Pharaoh's Butler , Gen. 41.9 . this day our fault , even that fault which is our nationall sinne , the sinne of unthankefulnesse : and be it granted ( by you and me , and by us all ) that never people have had more cause , but taken lesse occasion of blessing God .

2 And now ( to speake forward ) let us take forth Hezekiah's lesson ; Vse 2. after sighes le ts send forth songs , as he did : nay , 2. Reg. 10.19 . he in the midst of sorrowes can finde some matter of praise : nay , Lam. 3.22 . the Church when she only liv'd , could yet say It is his mercy that we have so much . If the best people can sing in troubles , should not wee in peace ? If they can when distressed , should not we when delivered ? If they bee so sensible of one blessing , should not we of a hundred , of a thousand ? Ob. It may be their undertakings in the day of affliction were more . No , Ans. in feares and sorrowes wee are as ready to vow and promise thankes as any ; and if to promise should we not to pay ? Ob. It may be our deserts are greater . No , Sol. nor wee nor they can challenge any thing but by ve●me of the promise , Ob. and that was theirs as much as ours . It may be their engagements were more than ours No , Sol. whether we looke to the freenesse of the giver , or greatnesse of the gifts , we owe as much as who doth most .

For the first , the Lord hath cast upon us blessings , not only undeserved but undesired , unexpected ; he hath beene better to , us than his promise , than our prayers , than our hopes : hee hath prevented us with some which wee never fore-thought , yea done more for us than we are aware of ; and he hath given us others , which wee never durst once hope for . I thinke the man lives not , that ever durst promise to himselfe so many daies of happinesse , so long a peace , so sudden cure of the land , so flourishing a Church , so happie a time as wee have enjoyed ; and what gifts more free than such as prevent all prayers , exceed all hopes , and are not only above but against all deserts .

For the second thing , which greate us a kindnesse , to wit greatnesse and multitude of kindnesses , who is able to recount ( particulars shall I say , nay ) the severall kindes of them : First , we have blessings privato as many as soule & body ; house and field , field and towne , to wee and country can hold . Secondly , we have blessings publicke and nationall beyond number ; other nations bleed we sleepe ; other begge , wee abound ; others starve , we surfet ; others grope in the darke , our Sunne still shines ; others are quite disjoyned and dismembred they are members without heads beads without bodies , for lorne men , without Law , without Gospell , without Churches , or Teachers , or Livings , or Bookes , or all : wee have all ; Magistrates , Ministers , Lawes , Trades , Schooles , Churches , Townes , all , and all of the best ; of Kings the best , of Courts the best , of Law the best , of Bookes the best , of Sermons the best , of ayre , of fare , of water , of all the best : and can we not yet see matter of thankfulnesse ?

O but these be blessings sarre off , Ob. they touch not thy particular .

No doe ? Ans. have wee not all our private interests in the publique weale ? But speake in good earnest , hast thou no particular favours no blessings privative , none positive ? for shame yeeld both .

Yea but where be they ? Ob.

Nay where be they not ? thou hast eyes , Ans aske the blinde whether that be not a blessing ; thou hast cares , aske the deafe whether that bee not a blessing thou hast a tongue , what thanks the dumb of that ? thou hast hands , feet , wits , limbs , life , bones , sinewes , reins , mercies ●now betwixt head & foot to fill a volume , is all this nothing : Nay tel me , which way canst thou look , but thou sect mercies ? what canst thou touch , but thou feelest mercies ? where canst thoutread , but thou standest on mercies ? But of what art thou compounded of but of blessings every sense , every joint , everie splint , everie naile a blessing : nay , what is thy house made of but blessings : what is it filled with but blessings of blessings of the Barne , blessings , of the Field , blessings of the Wombe , all blessings : nay , what s the World made of but blessings ? V. Basil in Iulit . Mart. Heavens , Starres , Fire , Ayre , Water , Earth , with all in the one , with all in the other blessings ; all things blessings , all persons blessings , all estates blessings , all times blessings , as S. Paul discourseth , 1. Cor. 3. ult. Now when the Lord doth so lade us with benefites , and that daily , shall not wee be thankefull ? Blesse , saith our Saviour , when you are cursed ; and shall wee not blesse being thus blessed ?

All this while I speake nothing of spirituall blessings ; indeed no tongue can reach them : we can close them all within one word , one syllable , God hath given us Christ ; but what a gift is that ? In him he hath given us a new world : the olde world was forfeyted in a day ; De jure . house , ground , furniture , all forfeited in Adam : then came in the promised seed , the blessed seed Christ , and in him all things are made new ; new heavens , new earth , new Church , 2. Cor. 5.17 . new tenure , all things renewed , bettered with infinite advantage to us , but cost to Christ : What a thing was that , for the Creator to become a creature , for life to dye , for happiness to weepe , for glory to be buffeted , for immortalitie to bee buried ! O Lord Christ , who would have done thus for an enemie , for a friend , besides thy selfe ? But t is done ; hee was made flesh , seene of angels , slain of men , laid in grave , raised to glorie , and we are now redeemed , justified , sanctified , glorified in him . Redeemed , justified , sanctified , glorified ! what words be these : what things ? No man , no Angell can conceive the worth of these things : when wee have said all , all is this , God hath given us Christ , that is , God hath given us himselfe , and all the creatures in heaven & earth . God hath delivered us from the evill of all evils , and hath given us the blessing of all blessings , the marrow of all comforts ; the earth is ours , the heavens ours , the word ours , the spirit ours , God ours because Christ is ours . Now then when in Christ our head wee are estated in the whole world , have we not matter of thankfulnesse ? yes ( we now see it ) if we had hearts .

But how shal 's get a thankefull heart first , Ob. and expresse it next ?

Labour for three saving graces ; 1. Humility ; Ans. 2. Faith ; 3. Love . All these send a man abroad , and make him seeke himselfe in others .

First , Humilitie empties a man of all great opinions of the creature , and fills him with an high admiration of the Creator . The humble man so well understands himselfe , and other creatures , and Gods excellencie , that he sees that too much cannot be ascribed to God , too little to man : and therfore he is very willing that God should carry all the praise and glorie from all creatures ; and the more hee can abase flesh and exalt God , the more glad he is . Labour then to be humble men with Iacob and you wil findy our selves leffe than the least favour , then you will see ; V. Bradford . matter of thankfulnesse there , where the proude finds matter of murmuring .

Secondly , Faith is another emptying vertue : it layes up all its treasure in anothers house , and leaves it in anothers hands for feare of robbing . The faithfull mans treasure is Christ , his life is Christ his crowne and glorie is Christ : if Christ hath , honour , he hath honour enough ; therefore he willingly carries all to Christ . Labour then for faith : for if faith once unite you to Christ , that you be one , and unite you to God through Christ , that you can look upon God as your God , then you will seeke his honour as your owne .

Thirdly , love seekes not its owne ( eyther prosite or credite ) it liwes in another , and it works for another : in that measure that wee love God , wee will seeke Gods glory , we will speake good of his name , Amas & laudas . in Ps. 85. sic & Chrys. ad pop. Ant. bo . 64 and set out his praises . O love him who is love beautie , nay glorie inselfe : and if thou love , thou praisest , as Ausben speakes .

Thus the heart will be tuned and set right , if it be a broken heart , abeleeving heart , a nealous heart , t will endite well , praises wil streame from it as naturally as water from a fountaine , Psal. 45.1 . but then ( in the next place ) the outward man must concurre , the tongue must walke apace like a swist pen ; to that end , do but owne thine owne words , first , tabe up the complaints thou madest in thine afflictions , he as eloquent in enlarging thy forrowes now past , as thou wast then ; speake now what paines , seanes , griefes , somes God hath now delivered thee from , as Hezekiah doth here : inprove thy then somewes to present thankefulnesse .

Secondly , ●●●●●unt thy vowes and promises then , call 〈…〉 what thought is thou then hadst , what vowes thou then mad'st ; O if God would this once helpe me , these faults should be left , and these dueties done : now pay thy vowes .

1 Heare the other creatures , they sing , &c. 2 Thy flesh must rejoyce ( as David speakes ) in the Lord , thy face and countenance must take up and looke cleerely , thy feet must be lift up as Iacobs were , thy hands must be set on worke , thankefulnesse must be acted , not onely talkt of . Here know , first , that hee is most thankefull that lives best , Qui rectè agit Deum laudat . Aug. in Ps 34. that leaves most faults and doth most good .

Secondly , that all we doe or forbeare , must bee done out of thankefulnesse for what we alreadie hold , or have good bonds for .

Thirdly , that our thankes must in some measure answer Gods mercy , and our former misery ; the more our sighes were , the more our songs must be ; the more prayers were made , the more praises must follow ( for those bee double mercies that follow upon prayer ) . and next for God , the more remarkeable the deliverance was , the more solemn and heartie the thanksgiving must be , for singular mencies we must doe some singularthing , set apart some time , some Present , some gift , doe some thing that may scale up our humblest acknowledgement of Gods goodnesse , else great mercies will work great thoughts , as Hezekiah found for a time , 2. Chron. 32.25 .

Now to particulars , first , to the title , secondly , to the ●ed●●● of the Song : The title acquaints us with the qualities of the Song , a Wr●●●ing , the matter of it , a Narration , 1. of his sicknesse ; 2. of his recoverie : which two parts make up the whole Song following .

For the first , the things enquirable about this Song are chiefly three : first , what kind of writing it is ; secondly , by whom it was written : thirdly , for what use .

Which three questions shal receive these three short answers following .

1 The writing is Poeticall , and delivered in Verse , for the helpe both of memorie and affection . 2 For the Penman , we cannot say much of certaintie , nor is it much materiall ; this is certaine , Hezekiah made cyther the descant or plainsong . 2. the Worthies of God , Iob , David , Saloman , &c. were much delighted with Poetry . 3. the Kings of Iudah ( sundry of them ) were endued with an extraordinarie spirit , & a divine sentence was often in their mouthes , as wee see in the writings , and speeches , and praiers of divers of them : wherefore if wee say that Hezekiah pend this with his own hand , we say more than what seems reasonable in it selfe , and probable to others . Howbeit if anie will contend ( from the phrase ) that the worke was Esaias , V. Sixt. Sen. & de Tena . in his Isag . and the motion onely from Hezekiah , we will notgainsay it : it sufficeth , that Hazekiah was the first mover , and that the Lord hath now pleased to adde it to the Canon , V. Sanct. & MuscuLad locūergo t is not so wel entirled by the 70 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . as he did also his Letters , 2. Chran . 30.

For the third question , the good Kings meaning was to consecrate ( with this song ) himselfe and his life to God , and to leave this upon record as a pledge and proofe of his thankfulnesse to all posteritie .

In his practise , take notice of our duetie .

Wee must adde to our present thankesgivings some pawne and monument of our thankfulnesse for the future . Doct. 1. We must , for great blessings , stake downe present thankes : that 's one duetie , but that 's not all ; wee must leave some monument therof ( as we may ) to posteritie , and cast how we may eternize Gods praises , and procure him honour in surviving ages .

This ( first ) God commands ; Tell it ( saith hee , when he speakes of great mercies ) to thy childrens children . i.e . convey thankefulnesse to posteritie , and keep on foot Gods praises to the worlds end , if possible . Hereof is it , that the Lord sets a speciall Accent upon speciall mercies , and takes order that they may bee reported to succession . Thus when he had set Israell over Iordan , and in possession of his countrey , Set up ( saith hee ) stones , Iosh. 4.7 , 8 , 9. some in the water , some on the land , that may witnesse my mercie , your thankfulnesse , for after times ; let the very place speake it . And elsewhere , Day unto day ( as here place to place ) must utter his goodnesse and mans gratitude . Hence those solemnities of the Passe-over for one mercie , Levit. 23 of Pentecost for another , of Tabernacles for a third , of Trumpets for a fourth , of new Moones for a first , &c. God for great mercies would have a commemoration , a day of publicke thanksgiving throughout all generations .

Secondly , as God commanded , so his people practised this duetie ; sometimes they set out time , Est. 9. as in the feast of Purim ; sometimes they set up Altars , as Abraham often ; sometimes they leave a marke upon the place , 2. Chr. 20 as Iehosaphat in the valley of Beracah ; sometimes they multiply sacrifices , as Salomon , &c. sometimes they dedicate songs , as David often ; sometimes they present and hang up some monument of victorie , recoveric , or the like , 1. Sam. 21. Iudg. 8. V. Rainel . praelect. 208. del . Apoc. as David Goliah's sword , Gideon his Ephod-like present , what ever it was , Hezekiah his Poeme , whether in parchment , brasse , marble , &c. and all this to this end , that Gods praises mought out-live them , and bee sung by men as then unborne , as David speakes . Thus they of old , reason calls for the like from us .

1 T is but civilitie to return blessing for blessing : an Heathen will doe it . Now God blesses us beyond this life , not onely in heaven but upon earth , in our names , estates , posteritie , kindred ; and why should not wee future and prorogue our blessings beyond life also ? 2 T is but honestie to pay our debts : now doe what we can , we shall die in Gods debt . Sith we be not able to pay all at once , And so make Christ our keyre , as Chrys. de lande Dei . V. Ang. in Ps. 91. le ts be paying in our heires and executors to the worlds end . 3 T is a course we take with earthly Benefactors , we would perpetuate their fame to eternitie if we could , and doe wee not owe more to God ? 4 T is good policie to build Gods name , for then God will build ours , 1. Sam. 2. as hee said to K. David of an house : if wee honour him , hee will honour us . 2. Chr. 32.32.33 . indeed Hezekiah eternizeth his owne name in thus magnifying Gods .

Lastly , t is a sure evidence of our sinceritie and true love to Gods name , when wee desire that it may out-live ours , and bee glorified by others as well as by our selves .

Having thus concluded the point , Vse 1. the application shall runne all one way , and this it is ; What so good a King practised , so great a God challengeth , so cleere reason perswadeth , let us now practise . Tell me ( my brethren ) are not wee in Gods debt as well as Hezekiah ? Was not hee as thankefull for the present as we can be ? Are not we bound , to pay our debts , to edifie posteritie as much as he ? Wel then , if you have as much cause as he , as great need as he , as maine motives as hee , doe as he did , prase God with a lasting song ; doe something that may set the world a singing when you are sleeping in the dust . Want ye as yet motives ? Looke to your Father ; T is 2 signe of the best goodnesse to aime at publ . goods . his goodnesse lives for ever towards you , let your thankes be immortall to him : looke to your Redeemer ; hee is the same for ever to you , be the same to him , in all maner of thankefulnesse : looke to predecessors ; they have lest us monuments of their love to God and us , le ts reach them with advantage to posteritic : looke to successors ; they heyre our sinnes and sorrowes , le ts leave them some song's and matter of joy aswell as cause of mourning : looke to our Adversaries ; they upbraid us , V. Camp. aliosque &c. as Penninnah did Hannah , with our unfruitfulnesse : they crake that all our Churches , Hospitals , Colledges are theirs . And albeit enough is said and done already to breake the teeth of their slanders , yet if possible lets ( as our S. Peter adviseth ) muzle them quite by doing more good . 1. Pet. 2.15 . 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉

You will say ( perhaps ) the lesson is good and not unseasonable , Ob. but it concerns Hezekiahs , great men , rich men , learned men , that have meanes of expressing themselves publiquely ; but alas wee are poore , simple , obscure , &c.

Yea but hear me ; Ans. you are in Gods debt too , are you not ? You must pay your debts , must you not ? Tenants must pay their rent , a cheefage , &c. must they not ? Well then , if you owe lesse , pay lesse : if you hold not so much of your land-lord as another doth , yet I pray you pay for your cottage , and for that you hold : you are a tenant to God as well as King Hezekiah , pay your rent .

Ob. But t will not be accepted , t is so poore .

Sol. Come , that s a put-off ; á Marke by the yeare from a Cottier , is accepted as well as a hundred pounds from a Farmer . Understand that God weighs circumstances , and t is accepted according to that a man hath : Goats haire pleases him as well as Iewels from some hands ; two mites as well as two millions . Hee needs not gifts , he respects the giver , and t is possible for him that hath but a subjects purse to have a kings hart , as t is said of Araunah , he was but a subject , but yet gave like a King , 2. Sam. 24.23 .

Ob. O but wee have no such encouragements to give as Hezekiah had .

Sol. And why , I pray ? 1. God wrought a wonderful deliverance for him ; he hath wrought as great for thee , for mee , for us all , it may be bodily , certainly spirituall .

2 The world was not so bad then as now ; a man can publish nothing but t is carpt at , settle no perpetuitie but t is perverted , Schools , Colledges , Hospitals , all abused . Come , come , this is but shifting : 1. the world is still like it selfe ; all never were , never will be good : 2. these and such like objections were long since answered by Salomon , Eccl. 11. view them at leisure . In the meane , marke what I say to thee : first , if thou canst not trust posteritie , and all honestie must needs die with thee , doe something whilst thou hast time , Gal. 6. O but what s that to posteritie ? Yes , I le shew thee how thou mayest now lay a foundation for posteritie , and do that this yeare , this moneth , which may turne to Gods honour a thousand yeares hence . How is that ? Thus : Art thou a father of children ? 1. write Gods mercies upon their names ( so thou be not phantasticall ) and let thy children weare therein Gods praises to their graves ; at least write them in their memories and hearts , tell thy children , and charge them to deliver it downwards to theirs , what God hath beene to thee , what great things he hath done in thy dayes , and so make walking Libraries and living Bookes of thy children : A godly posteritie is a breathing altar . 2. Art thou childlesse ? yet set up an altar in thy house , worke thy people to heaven-ward ; sow good seed amongst thy servants , and some of them and theirs may blesse God for thee a hundred dred yeares hence . Art thou a poore man ? bee rich in grace , readie to everie good worke , and thy name shall live when thou art dead : no men in Scripture more commended & renowned , than poor men and women ; God himselfe writes their lives , and records their good deeds .

O but I am so poore , that I have no meanes of shewing my thankfulnesse . Doe not say so , hee never wanted meanes that did not want an heart , get that , and God will fit thee with oportunities as he hath with abilities . Never tell mee ; thou mayst make the world the better for thee a great while hence if thou wilt . How ?

1 If thou wouldest borrow a little from back and belly , Videtur Rogers in Fox . twentie to one thou moughtest lend God something . 2 If that cannot be , say with Peter , Act. 3.6 . Silver and gold I have none , but such as I have I give ; I le pray , I le worke , I le advise , I le plant , sow , doe something that shall doe good hereaster : there is not the least toe but it hath its use and excellency in the bodie . Art thou learned ? doe good that way , V. Tornial . as Hezekiah did . Some conceive him well seene in the Mathematicks ( belike because of his buildings , water-courses , and the signe given him by God ) howsoever , wee have his Epistle and Poemeextant , and they hold out instruction to the worlds end . If God hath given thee sufficiencie in this kinde , thou mayest speakethy minde to men yet unborne , and convey to them that light which God hath reached to thee . Be not too curious this way ; thou seeft that some in this scribling age set forth their owne wits , some their owne folly : doe thou set forth Gods praise , and ayme at mans good ; write something ( as thy gift is ) that may doe posteritie good . V Fox Martin H. 6. We are infinitly bound to God for the blessing of Printing , and to our fathers for their labours : and wee of England are much to blame , if we leave not Arts and Tongues more resined and perfected than we found them , and the Scriptures more fully opened ; no people living better furnished with meanes , no writings extant better accepted abroad , or to better purpose at home . O that in stead of tristers , Scholars would make themselves publique , and not burie their treasure with them like misers , or leave their workes like fatherlesse children to the mercy of strange mid-wives , when themselves are gone .

Art thou rich ? let King Hezekiah be thy patterne : he was a good Common-wealths-man , Reade his life in Kings and Chron. he built much , he conveyed water to the Citie , hee fortified the land , and did good in warre and peace : 2. He was a good Church-man , he countenanced the Ministerie , he restored their meanes and livings , hee repaired Gods house , aduanced Gods worship , defaced the contrarie . Thy place ( haply ) will not suffer thee to hold pace with him in all , yet follow him as thou maist : 1. as a citizen and member of the State , rast the publique good ; see what good may be , done in thy Ierusalem , the towne of thine aboad , fre what houses need thy helpe , what grounds , what neighbours : here 's a man over-renied , try whether thon-canst not case him ; there 's a man wants corne for his land , stock for his stuffe , helpe him ; there 's a third that hath will and skill to trade , but he wants credite ; there 's a fourth that could live with a little helpe , else he and his estate sinke , O come quickly before the man be drowned with all his family ; a fist there is that 's able to breed some but not all his children , hence hee is disheartned , take away one Lamb and put it to another Ewe .

2 When thou hast done so , cast thine eyes over Indah with him ; looke abroad , and see how present wants threaten posterity with miserie , and as thou canst prevent it : I. see how manie grown ones there be that play , or steale , or beg for want of imployment , and set thy wits on work to finde out some trade , some husbandry , some businesse that may give some imployment . 2. see how manie little ones there be that mought be usefull if they had breeding ; but alas their parents ( if living ) have neyther meanes to breed them Scholars , nor money to binde them apprentices : call upon thy selfe and others , saying , There 's a wittie childe , le ts breed him a Scholar ; there 's a strong childe , le ts traine him up for a Souldier , make him an apprentice , &c. who knowes what service hee may doe the Church or Countrey oneday : O what good mought rich men doe this way if they had hearts ! If they feare to erect publique standing Schooles or Colledges , or to give some Fellowships for perpetuitie , let them ( if they minde the common good ) take some particular children that are most hopefull , and breed them , 1. in the Country , 2. in the Universitie till they be sit for publique service . Here 's no danger , unlesse they will say , these may prove ill ; which is with the sluggard , ( - Pro. 26.13 . ) to lye still left a Lion should be in the street : doe thou go on till thou seest thy seed lost , and then stop there , and try an other ground .

2 Bee , with Hezekiah , a good Churchman ; 1. repaire Gods house , & let it never be said , that our Churches lye like Barnes , and that Our Father lets downe what Pater noster set up . 2. Promote Gods worship , and allow some oyle to his Lamps : doe not Pharaoh-like call for Bricke without materials . What ? expect Sermons , many Sermons ; learning , much learning ( so that our Preacher must be able to answer any question ) and yet denie him meanes ! Meanes ? by all meanes we would have him have a competencie . A competencie ; how much is that ? who shall judge of that ? Now the good Lord keepe his Clergie from the vulgars competencie . I speake what I know , and I speake it with a wet face and a bleeding heart , I know Preachers of excellent parts , that spend their strength in the Pulpit , who cannot lay out sistie shillings in sive yeares upon books , but they must fetch it either off the backs , or out of the bellies of their poore children . Call you this a competencie ? Well , if wee deserve no kindnesse , yet doe us justice , le ts have what your fathers gave us . Hezekiah found things alienated and turned out of course ; no doubt wits were working then : Take heed ( Sir ) of Innovations , of making your Clergie too rich ; the State hath thought fit to lessen their meanes : men can now prescribe against them , we can shew a composition , and prove our custome , &c. But what answers this good King ? Custome mee no custome , wee must not make a custome of robbing God . Were these things once Gods ? eyther shew mee Gods release , or else restore them home . Now would I could say of him as a Father said of Ahab , Amb. de Na● . quotid . e nascitur A●hab , &c. In redeeming Church livings . Hezekiah ever lives , never dies : and the Lord put it into the heart of our trebble Hezekiah to advise also about this point .

In the meane , let my speech to rich subjects proceed : Would you leave some proofe of your thankfulnesse behinde you ? follow those Worthies who of late have gone before you in this kinde , hyre men to be honest in restoring to God his due : and if you have ought in your owne hands that of right belongs to the sonnes of the Prophets , Gen. 20. heare God speaking to you in King Abimelech , Restore to the Prophet his owne , and he shall pray for you : if you doe not , his bloud in his children , the flesh upon his bodie , the anguish upon his spirit , the soules that depend upon him for food will cry against you , and will lay your houses levell with the ground . Do not turne off all with a Tush , Tythes were Leviticall , the Gospel speakes nothing of a Tenth , &c. 1. answer what 's written ; 2. shew us where the old apportion is reversed , and which is that quote pars now that conscience must rest in , and when that s done , then give us a just Commentary upon that , V. Cartw. in Prov. Prov. 20.25 . and tell us who hath authoritie to take that ( from a Church shall I say ? nay ) from God , that hath bene once given him ? And when you have reduced and resolved all into a competencie , yet let it be S. Pauls competencie , 1. Cor. 9. Let him that preacheth the Gospell live upon the Gospell , as hee that maketh shooes , or heeles hose , lives upon his labour . I speake no more than what everie Scholar , who is acquainted with a course of studie & reading , knowes to be true : all that meanes which usually is thought sufficient to defray all charges , to satisfie all payments , to answer all expectations of wife and children for portions , of strangers for hospitalitie , is little enough to buy a constant Preacher bookes , and physicke . Now then , if you will be competent arbitrators , allow him something more , some bread , some clothes , something to keepe his wife and children from begging or starving .

You are wearie ( I dare say ) of this discourse , I have now done , I have discharged my conscience in delivering my errand , & have shewed you how you may witness your thankfulness to succeeding times , if you please . There 's first , your owne family and posteritie to bee moulded ; secondly , there be poore Orphans and children to be bred , Schooles to be erected , poore Students in the Universitie to be maintained , poor Preachers to be encouraged , Church livings to be redeemed and augmented : and if this be not sufficient , there be poore Labourers to be imployed , poore debtors to be relieved , yongue Tradesmen to be credited ; and if this doe not like you , there be in the countrey , fields to be trenched , woods to be planted , high-wayes to be amended , correction-houses to be builded , publique store-houses and Granaries to be appointed , youths and souldiers to be trayned ; and in the Cities , waters to bee conveyed , fire-engins to bee invented , &c. And in both , Churches to be repaired , prisons to be furnished with some Teachers , and other imployments more than a few : stand not idle now all the day long , because none sets you on worke ; House , Towne , Field , Countrey , Citie , Church , Common weale , Men , Women , Children , Tradesmen , Church-men , blinde , lame , poore , all call upon you to worke : nay , Christ saith , whilest its day worke ; the Spirit saith , whilest you have time , doe good ; your Father saith , Give to seven and eight , be not weary in well-doing ; your labour is not lost , your cost is not lost , God will pay you all againe , honour him he will honour you , blesse him hee will blesse you , giue him immortall praise , and you shall receive an immortall Crowne .

We have heard , first , that King Hezekiah was thankefull ; secondly , that hee was thankefull to purpose : Now le ts see for what hee is so thankefull ; 1. that his sicknesse was removed ; 2. that his health was restored . Wee will shut up both in one .

Freedome from sicknesse , Doct. enjoyment of health , are two mercies which call for manie thankes . Need we prove this ? First for sickenesse , we have the voyce of God and man , that it is amercie to escape it ; 1. God promises freedome from it , Exod. 15.26 . Lev. 26.16 . Deut. 28.22 . as a blessing upon the obedient ; 2. Hee threatens the inflicting of it as a judgement upon the rebellious , and accordingly proceeds .

Secondly , all men be of the same minde ; first , good men wil blesse God for an Eagle-like-body , Thence called 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 S. Epiphan. a bodie full of strength and life , of action and motion like the Eagles , which is most lasting Ps. 103. Secondly , naturall men ranke this in the forefront of mercies , yea reckon of health as an abridgement of all blessings , and of sickenesse as the summe of all outward miseries . And that not-altogether without reason .

For first , sicknesse must be numbred amidst naturall evils : how soever it will stand with universall nature , and the all wife God can improve it to singular use , yet in it selfe , it must be deemed evill in its nature , being against the private welfare of the patient ; evill in its cause , mans sinne ; evill in its terme and issue , it tends to death ; evill in its effects , it adds to our miserie : whereas some evils wound with sorrow , some threaten us with destruction , this doth both .

Secondly , it maimes nature , and hinders goodnesse ; the bodie is deprived of cheerfulnesse and activitie , Malum contristivum quae voluntati , corrupti●um quae naturae , contrariatur : est affectus vitians actionem . Galen . the soule disappointed , like the Traveller that rides a tyred horse , it can neither receive that good , nor doe that good that otherwise it could . There 's no man knowes , but he that knows ficknesse , what a disadvantage t is to the soule to be ill lodged in a ruinous bodie : It s even stifled within it selfe for want of motion , and move it cannot for want of organs , but verie lamely : The understanding is clouded , memorie weakned , judgement dazled , phantasie disturbed , affections distempered , in short , the whole frame of Nature so dis-jointed , that like broken bones it can neyther rest nor move . Nor is the stroke only upon naturall actions , but upon morall also ; the soule in diseases chronicall becomes so lazie , listlesse , neutrall , that it hath no mind to pray , no stomach to food , no heart to doe any thing for it selfe ; and in diseases more acute is so taken up and transported with paine & anguish , that it mindes nothing but what cannot be had , sleep and ease , &c. Hence we may put that difference betweene sicke and sound that the Heathen put betweene poore and rich ; ciog . the healthfull man may studie when hee will , walke when he will , eate when he will , sleepe when he will , worke , play , fast , feast , ride , runne when hee will : but the sickly man must studie , preach , travell , eate , sleepe when he can ; he is not his owne so command : hee hath not himselfe , much lesse other comforts . No marvell if sicknesse at one blow deprive us of the comfort of our meats , beds , houses , grounds , friends , wife , children , &c. it deprives a man of himselfe : hee hath wit , but not use of it ; memorie , but not the benefite of it : yea it turnes him well-most into an Image ; he hath eyes , and scarcely sees ; eares , and heares not ; mouth , and speakes not ; feet , but walkes not : nay yet further , those senses & parts which let in comfort to the sound , occasion the sick mans trouble , the sight of his cupps , glasses , boxes makes him sicke , the smell of his meates sicke , the taste of his drinkes sicke , the least noyse offends him , the least ayre pierces him , in a word , this turnes his comforts into crosses , his bed tyres him , his chaire troubles him , his friends disquiet him , their absence offends him , and so doth their presence , their ●●●ence offends , and so doth their talke , their mirth doth , and so doth their sadnesse : poore man , somewhat he would have , but he cannot tell what ; hee is not well , and therefore nothing is well about him ; he is sicke , and so all the world is made of sickenesse to him , as to the giddie all things run round .

Now as sickenesse is a great affliction , so health as great a mercie : it comes from mercy , Hence called in Hebr. length . on . and presupposes manie blessings ; good temper , good ayre , ( at least for us ) good food , at least a wonderfull blessing upon poore meanes . 2. It tends to mercie , health tends to life ( the greatest blessing ) to a long life , yea immortalitie so farre as that goes . 3. It carries with it a troupe of mercies , 1. it sweetens all other crosses and wants ; health maketh thin coats warme , hard fare sweete , a meane lodging good , t is the poore mans sawce at 's table , his cloke in his journcy , his warming-pan in his bedde , his boots in the myre , and when he is at worst he can leape and say , as the countrey phrase is , Health is worth all . 2. It puts him into possession of all other blessings : 1. Hee enjoyes himselfe , his wits , senses , limbs be his owne , hee hath their use and service . 2. with himselfe he enjoyes all things about him ; the light is pleasant , the ayre sweete , his meate good , drinke good , bedde good , now all that was naught before becomes good . Againe , he relishes all , hee findes contentment in all : now he sees a wife to be a wife , children to be children , friends to be friends , whereas before all the world was made of his humour , whether bitter or sowre . Not to●● long , health is the just temper of nature ; there all is quiet , cheerefull , Actiones coaservat & tuctur . Fucksiast . fit for action : a good bodie helps the estate , the family , the soule ; all within one , all upon him , all about him smile and prosper in time of health : and therefore this motion from sickenesse to health . i. from sadnesse to mirth , from paine to ease , from prison to liberrie , from death to life , must needs be a happie motion , worthie thankes .

If sicknes needs many prayes , Vse 1. & health deserves many thanks ; le ts so bestow our selves , that if it be possible , wee may prevent the one , and enjoy the other : for the first , beware ( to keepe mee to mine owne profession ) of sinne , all sinne ; sinne is the mother , sicknesse the daughter : man never saw the one , til he matcht himself with the other . More specially foure sorts of sinnes must bee as much abhord as sickenesse , as death .

1 Sins of death : Pro. 5.9.11 . God hath adjudged whoredome , Pro. 5. murder , &c. and such like capital offences to sickenesse , to death . 2 Sinnes of rebellion , committed against the cleere light and letter of the Word : 2. Sam. 3.29 . these are threatned with all manner of diseases , Levit. 26. Dent. 28. 3 Sinnes of contemptuous prophanenessc : the Lord hath said that he will be sanctified in all that come nigh him ; And when any in their approches were securely profane , the hand of God was upon their bodies , to death , or sicknesse : so Nadab , &c. so Vzziah so 1. Cor. 11. 4 Sinnes that have their roote in the bodie , or at least worke powerfully upon the bodie . 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 Vi. Alsted . Rhet. Of this sort wee name onely those three , which the Rabbins touch in one Proverb and three letters : The first is povertie , which at the first may seeme but little to impeach health ; but if we look upon it in its cause , idlenesse , unthriftinesse , intemperance most an end ; or in its effects , theft , robbery , &c. fretting ; or in its companions , ill lodging , ill fare , ill clothing , &c. this may well passe for one cause of weakenesse . The second is pride , a sinne that so swels the soule that it breaks the skin and case , the body : pride breakes the wits , witnesse Nebuchadnezzar ; breakes the heart , and wounds it selfe , witnesse Saul , Achitophol , and breakes ones sleepe , ones peace , bodie , estate , all ; a sick disease : a proude man is never without some ailement . The third is drunkennesse or intemperance : a man of this distemper , lies as open to diseases as an unwalled Towne to invasions and assaults . Pro. 25.27.28 . To him is woe , rednesse of face , &c. Pro. 23. Brethren , if you would not be sicke , have nothing to doe with these forerunners : prevent sickenesse in the cause .

For the second , Health , great Salomon hath written a Physicks for us , as well as Ethicks , in his Proverbs : there you may reade of the Countrey mans three Doctors , Quiet , Diet , Mirth . For the first , health is nothing but Natures rest & repose ; health gives peace , and peace yeelds health : outward peace is a great blesing , and verie wholesome , but that comes from peace within ; which is double , 1. peace of Iustification , 2. peace of Sanctification . So long as there 's warre in the conscience , warre in the affections , one power and lust conflicting with another , alas there 's no more quiet to us than was of old to Rebecca : Gen. 26. but when Faith heales the conscience , and Grace hushes the affections , & composes all within , then the soule lookes out of the bodie , and sits in the face with a checrefull countenance . If your flesh , with Davids , shall rejoyce , labour for this peace ; get faith in Christs bloud , get the vertue of Christs resurrection , get wisedome , i. all saving grace , and that makes for health , and is a medicine , Pro. 3.8 .

2 For Dyet , Salomon gives rules , 1. for time , Eccl. 10.16 , 17.2 . for qualitie , Pro. 23. speaking of wine-bibbers , Pro. 25.27 . fleshmongers , Pro. 20. & 3. &c. 3. for quantitie ; eate not too much honey , which is true in the letter : V. M. Mason of Fasting . let not out the appetite , left it cut thy throate , Pro. 23.2 . but rather be of the restraining hand , feed with fear , as Inde speakes , tise with an appetite , Aureliam . and use the Emperours Physick , cure all exceedings by abstinence .

3 For Mirth , Salomon is much in that argument : he 1. Pro 15.13 . & 17.12 . commends the thing , a good hart . i. a cheerful heart is health to the bones , a very medicine : 2. he perswades the means , Put sorrow from thy heart ( saith he ) rejoyce with thy wife , be lightsome in thy clothes , cheerefull at thy meales , &c. diligent in thy calling , than the which nothing is more availeable to comfort , after spiritual meanes of prayer , thanksgiving , &c. And he that in Gods meanes puts himselfe into possession of these , shal arrive at so much health as shall be behoovefull .

Secondly , Vse 2. if this double blessing be worth double thankes , le ts prize it accordiagly , & praise God for it , and 1. remember that there is a twofold deliverance ; one , which keeps us from sicknesse ; another , that helps us out of sickenesse : a double blessing , one in continuing health without sicknesse , another in restoring health after sickenesse . If we enjoy eyther , let God have the praise , and conclude for thy bodie , Et qua feci mala , & quae non feci , & c.d. med. as Amstem for his soule , blesse God that hee hath kept off some , & taken off other sicknesses . For the first , there be som men who never knew what back-ach , tooth-ach , head-ach meant , they scarce know what t is to have a finger ake , Galen . desan . tuend . l. 1. c. 4.5 . at leaft they have enjoyed some good measure of health which hath its latitude ; these men I confesse can hardly weigh sickenesse , or prize health : the best course will be to send them to an Hospitall , or to the house of of mourning , there shall they find silence , solitarinesse , sadnesse , light shut out , ayre shut out , misery shut in , children weeping , wife sighing ; the husband groning , Oh my head , O my backe , O my stomach , sicke , sicke , sick , I cannot tell what to do , where to rest , helpe me up , helpe me downe , O I sinke , I cannot stand , I cannot sit , I cannot lye , I cannot eate , I cannot sleepe , I cannot live , I cannot die , O what shall I doe ?

Brethren , if you have not felt sickenesse , yet heare it , view it see how it racks and tortures a poore man , and that done , reflect upon thy selfe and say , O Lord how much am I bound to thee for health ! I can eate , my brother cannot ; I can walke , he cannot ; I sleep all night , he never layes his eyes together ; O Lord give mee a mercifull heart to men , a thankefull heart to thee for this blessing :

For the second sort ; have we beene sicke and now made sound ? lay both estates together with Hezekiah , and provoke thy selfe to thankfulnesse . Call to mind what then thine anguish was , how sicke thy stomach was , how sad thy friends were , how tedious the night , how long the day , how terrible the thoughts of death , the apprehension of judgement : thinke now thy thoughts then , acknowledge now thy then purposes and vowes . Didst thou not then thinke , and promise , Oh if God would reprieve mee once more , I would become a new man , more carefull of my wayes , more thankfull for health than ever I have beene : thinke now what the price of health was then , what then thou wouldst have given for one nights sleep , one hours ease , one draught of drink , one vomit , one stoole , one the least of those mercies which now thou enjoyest : thinke how little wealth , house , land , friends , all seemed to thee without health , and now thou hast all restored againe in this , lift up thine eyes and hands to heaven with Nebuchadnezzar , and say , Sicknesse put me out of possession of all , but with health all is come back againe ; my stomach is come to mee , my sleepe , my flesh , my strength , my joy , my friends , my house , my wealth , all is returned : O what a change is here ! earst nothing but pain , now nothing but ease ; not long since stript of all , now possessed of all , as if I were another Iob.

Thus , would wee looke eyther downeward or backward , wee should become more thankefull ; but in any case take that with you which is said before of thankefulnesse in generall , and apply it to this particular of health . Nibil prodest verbis praeserre virtutem , factis destruere zeritatem . Cypr de mortal . Iob 23.10 . Thankfulnesse stands not in words and complements : if you will bee truely thankefull for health , thus doe .

1 Come forth of affliction as Iob did , that is , as the gold comes out of the fire , purged from your drosse : let sicknesse draine the soule as well as bodie , and leave your humours , your pride ; selfe-love , worldlinesse , hypocrisie , &c. weaker than it found them : and now you be made whole , take your Saviours Item , Sinne no more , Iob. 5.14 . lest a worse thing happen to you ; fall not to your olde dyet , lest you fall into your old diseases and relapse . The chiefest use of sicknesse is to be made after it : in sicknesse wee must resolve against sin , our speciall sin ; but after sicknesse we must second our resolutions with performances . Now then pay thy vowes , sinne over thy sinnes no more , but lay downe the practise of grosse sinnes , the purpose of all , & shun at least the occasions of them . And then in the second place , offer to God the ransome of thy life , as the Law runnes , Exod. 31. I meane , leave some seale & pawne of thy thankefulnesse to God , Vid. Cic. de nat. deor . l. 2. Tibul. elog 1. ad . Isi●ē . Strab. l. 8. Plut de oracul . Pyth. as Hezekiah did , nay as Heathens , did ; they after a shipwracke and danger , would offer something , after a fit of ficknes would consecrate something to their gods . If thou wilt not be before hand with Philistims to offer in thy miserie , yet at least returne with the Samaritan , being recovered , and present something , let some Church , some Parish , some one Preacher , some few poore men be witnesses of thy thankfulnesse , and blesse God with and for thee . I shall ever suspect that thanksgiving , that spends it selfe in emptie words : the man truely thankefull , will make a shift to pay his Physitian , much more to praise his GOD. with hand as well as tongue . Reall thankefulnesse , is the best preservative of health : let Hezekiah lengthen Gods praises , and God will lengthen his dayes , and give him such a protection as never subject had .

Nor is it sufficient to present the Lord once , and to confine our thankefulnesse to anie one particular instance ; we must , in the third place , consecrate our strengths and lives to God , and offer up our selves as living and acceptable sacrifices to him Rom. 12. that is , woe must use all our time , all our wit , all our health , Opus nostrum Psalterium nostrum est . Aug. in Psal. 91. everie limbe , everie thing that hee hath folded up in our health , to the setting up of God in our hearts und lives ; love him more than ever , feare him more , trust him more , pray more , reade more , heare more , do more worship , at least more purely than before in our Christian calling ; and in our particular calling be more upright , constant , cheerefull , fruitfull than before , more humble , more helpfull , more mercifull , more true , just , charitable than before : in one , better Christians , better Church-men , better Common-wealths men , better husbands , better Masters , better parents , children , servants than before . This , this is true thankfulnesse , when we heale in soule and bodie together , when we grow in spirituall strength as well as in bodily , when wee spend all that sufficiencie upon GOD and the publique , which we have received from God ; and this is the thankfulnesse which I now call you and my selfe unto , O be thus thankefull for your private safetie , and for the publique . Our prayers for London , &c. have engaged us unto thankfulnesse for them ; for if we were bound to pray for them being visited , wee are bound to praise God for them being delivered : This was preached before the publique thanksgiving . and would the one might be as solemne as the other .

2 Now if we must be thankful for other , must we not for our selves ? O my brethren , le ts cast an eye towards our head Citie , & see what desolations are there made ; goe into some places , and there 's silence : aske , where dwels such a one . and the answer will be , hee is dead : where 's his wife ? dead : where his children ? dead : where his man , his maide ? dead : who is in the house ? death : and who dwels there ? death : and who at next house ? death : and who next that ? death , death ; pale death keepes shop , sits in the windowes , seales up doores and holds possesion , so that none dare enter . Passe from streetes into some houses , and what see you ? some children , but nor father nor mother ; aske , childe where's father ? gone : where 's mother ? gone , he knowes not whither nor how . Passe on , and see in others sad silent parents , mourning like Rachel , because their children are not : To make the matter short , doe but thinke what once their feares were , what now their griefes are for their friends , then sicke , now dead ; and then come home , and say , In this common calamitie God hides our towne , there 's no crying in our streetes , no rolling of bells , no tumbling of carkases , no sealing up of doores , brethren meete together in the Church , neighbours together in the fields , parents dare keep their children by them , husbands and wives live together ; we be not a terror or danger one to another , but a comfort , a safeguard : O who can bee sufficiently thankfull for these mercies ? why should we whine for a few wants ? we lacke money , lacke corne , &c. O thou hast thy life for a prey ; thou , thy wife , thy children , thy man-servant , thy maid-servant , thy kindred , thy neighbours , thy cattle-live , and life is more than rayment , food , money , all things under Christ . blesse God for this , and say , I am poore , but yet I live ; my wife is sickly , but yet shee lives ; my children weake , lame , but yet they live : whilst there 's life , there 's mercie ; Exod. 18.4 . Ps. 118.18 . where there 's mercy , there should be thankfulnesse : the dead cannot , the living , the living , saith Hezekiah , must praise God , and that whilst living , as David speakes , Ps. 146 : 3.