An help to the duty in, and right improvement of sickness. By Henry Newcome, M.A. minister of the Gospel

An Help to the DUTY OF Right Improvement OF SICKNESS . Job 5.6 , 7 , 8.

Altho affliction cometh not forth of the dust , nor doth trouble spring out of the ground :

Yet man is born unto trouble , as the sparks flie upward .

I would seek unto God , and unto God would I commit my cause .

ELiphaz doth in these words , ( however mistaken in Jobs case , and so did not speak of God the thing that was right , Chap. 42.7 . ) give excellent counsel about our carriage under affliction ; namely , That we should look unto God as to the rise of it , and to him alone for relief .

In them are two parts ;

1. The considerations to lead to the Duty , v. 6 , 7.

2. The duty it self , v. 8.

The consideration under affliction to lead to our duty is , That affliction doth not come fortuitously or accidentally , as if it rise out of the dust , and came blindly , and of it self upon us , as weeds that grow out of the earth without any planting , or ploughing , or sowing for them . They may come we know not how , as to the Physical next cause , but not we know not why , as to the moral cause of them . Man is born ( indeed ) to trouble , as the sparks to flie upward ; not made to trouble , ( as hath been well observed ) but born to it : As born , he is born in sin , and so born to sorrow ; and tho every man is afflicted one time or other , in one kind or other ; and men may think , they have but their share in the common heap of the troubles of the life of mankind ; yet this comes not of it self neither , it comes not blindly and promiscuously , but is ordered , and measured out in every circumstance of it , in wisdom and proportion ; and therefore God is to be applied to in the case , whatever it is , as coming by his appointment for our sin , and for some great end upon us . If it were my case , as it is yours , ( says this Wiseman ) I would speedily turn unto Cod , and look at him as the chief and supream orderer of the whole ; and I would in the way , by him appointed , commit my cause wholly to him , and that should be my chief business and concernment , in this sad and sorrowful affair .

I shall content my self with this one Observation from the Text , ( tho it would afford many ) as sutable to my design in our present condition .

That it is a matter of great concernment for every man , to have a right apprehension of his affliction , in the true progress of it , as it respects God and his soul , in the causes and designs of it .

Afflictions come not of themselves , but they are sent , and they are appointed and ordered every one of them ; they come from God , and to him we must apply our selves , both in , and after them .

1. For publick evils ; Is there any evil in the city , and the Lord hath not done it ? Amos 3.6 . Who gave Jocob to the spoil , and Israel to the robbers ? did not the Lord , he against whom we have sinned ? Isa . 42.24 . It seems the very spoilers and robbers did not serve themselves , nor primarily set on themselves , but Israel was given to them by God , and for their sins . And the men of the world , that any where invade their neighbours , and disturb their peace , are Gods sword , Psal . 17.13 .

2ly . For particular personal afflictions , they also are appointed for us ; wearisome nights ( says Job Chap. 7.3 . ) not onely befalls me , but are appointed to me . No sorrows come upon us , but the Lord bids them come against us , no instruments can set themselves on work . Isa . 10.15 . The Saw or Ax may be sharp , but cannot do any thing without an hand or arm to weild them .

To instance in Sickness , ( to which I shall chiefly apply my self in this discourse . ) These sad distempers come not of themselves , not from the earth , tho infected , and sending out unwholesome and poisonous vapours ; the Lord ordered it to be pregnant with them to such an effect . It is not the infection of the air , the sudden changes from hot to cold , that does it ; for who ordered that temperature , or could order it , but the Lord of all ? And besides , suppose that these should be causes , they are but made use of by the supream Lord and Master of them all ; and it is evident , they are ordered , and particularly directed , because they are not thrown out promiscuously : some are taken , and others are left ; some escape in the most epidemical sickness , and some escape death that are sick , when others die that were under the same symptomes and appearances of them that have escaped . So that the whole dispose of this lot that is cast , Pr. 16.33 . is of the Lord . He is to be acknowledged chiefly , and our applications should be made to him , both in and after our great afflictions .

Now this makes affliction quite another thing , and leads into thoughts of another kind , and puts upon other measures . I fall sick of this or that sickness , why this is from the Lord . Ex. 15.26 . Job 33.19 . 2 Sam . 12.15 . The Lord hath sent it , the Lord hath put upon me this disease . The Lord hath visited me with this pain . The Lord hath stricken my Relation , or my self . The Lord , when people fear not his great and fearful Name , doth threaten , ( and also doth do it ) to make their plagues wonderful , and the plagues of their pride , even great plagues , and of long continuance ; and sore sicknesses , and of long continuance , Deut. 28.59 . Great and sore in their kind , and of long continuance ; to tarry long in a Countrey or place , or hang long on the persons afflicted , as ours do ; this is from the Lord .

1. It is a great thing to consider , that God should be concerned about me , tho it be but to afflict me . That I should on a sudden fall into his hands ; It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God , Hebr . 10.31 . out of whose hands I cannot quit my self , and none can rescue me . It may beget great and aweful thoughts to be doing with , that he hath done it .

2. He delights not to afflict . He is infinitely good , and gracious , and merciful , Psa . 35.27 . He takes pleasure in the prosperity of his servants . And if their state would bear it , he would have them always in health and cheerfulness , and all to succeed well with them . He doth not afflict willingly , nor grieve the children of men , Lam . 3.33 . And therefore there is something more in it , than I am willing ( it may be ) to see , or find , when so good a God doth thus treat me . When Philip of Macedon ( I think it was ) was told by some flattering tell-tale , that such a one exclaimed of him ; he bad them enquire diligently , for some ill thing had been done ; for he was a good man , and if not greatly injured , he was sure he would not speak ill of him . And so sure , some great ill has been done by me , or so good a God would not thus afflict me , and so sharply testifie against me . A proper reflection for a good man under sickness .

3. There is no way out , but by the same hand that we came in , Hos . 6.2 . He can heal as well as wound , and bind up as well as bruise . If he commit me to prison , there is no one else can discharge me ; and therefore to him I must apply my self for relief , and to none else .

4. Sin is the provocation : and that must be searched for , acknowledged , and amended , Psal . 107.17 . Fools because of their transgression , and because of their iniquities , are afflicted . And it is in the case of sickness , as the next words shew . Few , but they may say , if they had not been fools and sinned , but they might have kept their health . It is a special time to see sin , and it is the pardon and healing of that which our disease must go off by . It is repentance by which we make our peace ; to return to him that smiteth . Surely it is meet to be said unto God , I have born chastisement , I will not offend any more ; that which I see not , teach thou me ; if I have done iniquity , I will do no more , Job 34.31 , 32. This is seeking unto God , and unto God to commit your cause . 2 Cor . 7.10 . The sorrow after God worketh repentance . Let all the indignation turn upon the sin that hath brought this evil upon thee : And by this , 1. Thou shalt be assuredly helped to bear thy trouble . 2. Thou shalt in likelyhood get out of it , and it may be soon . 3. And assuredly get good by it .

USE . First , See hence , how commonly and carnally most people go through their sickness . God is not seen in it , nor sin seen by it . Men are sick , and either ,

First , They talk , they have catcht this new disease , and this is from the unwholesome weather , or an effect of the late Comet , and the extream frost , and the unwonted drought that followed it . Or I have catcht it of such a one , or I catcht cold , and so have brought it upon me ; all this may be true ; yet this is pitiful common talk . God is not seen in all this , nor named by some from the beginning to the end of their whole sickness . Or ,

Secondly , Their whole discourse is , how they are held and handled , where their pain is , and how it works them . And a story they can make of all passages , as if nothing else was minded by them . And they spend their time in groaning and complaining , and in using means to get up a gain . Or ,

Thirdly , Never think but to recover again ; as if recovery were due to the sick , and must come in course . After a few days , and the sooner the better , I hope to be revived again , and to be on my feet again . Now this is a great question ; Death hath come in at a less window than this . And besides , if this sickness comes from God , there is something else to do , than just to overcome as if it were going to the prison , and coming out again , and to pay nothing . It is odd reckoning at this rate , as if either , 1. God had not done it ; or 2. had done it without cause ; or 3. had not the right on his side , and had done the too hard ; and therefore 4. had retracted his Action , and would let it fall thus , and would suffer a Nonsuit . Can any thing be thought more disparaging to the blessed Majesty , the Holy , and Wise , and just God ? Is there evil in the city , and shall not the Lord do somewhat ? ( as some read that place , Amos 3.6 . ) Shall he not make something of it , to the conviction of the offender ? Never think it . Or ,

Fourthly , When men are never serious in sickness , unless they think they shall die . As if they would stand out against God as long as they can , and keep their sins as long as is possible . Men would not be in any fault , as the cause of their sickness ; and will keep their ground , and be as they were , and after recovery be so too ; unless apparent danger force them to other thoughts . And we find oft , that men are not sick enough , to have the Minister sent for , or to be prayed with . Alas , to repent onely when they think they must not live , makes it very suspicious , whether they sincerely repent or no . And besides , it may be death as soon as apprehended , and so prevent all endeavours to reconcile thee to God ; that thou that wilt not do it , till thou fearest death , mayest die when thou fearest , and so have no time to do it all . An usual thing it is to say , he never suspected himself till last night , or this morning ; and if he applyed not himself to God , till he suspected himself , he was ill advised , and would be sadly provided for his dreadful change . O the deceitfulness , and wretched wickedness of mens hearts ! They love their sins , and would not disease themselves , nor dislodge their sins for sickness , but for death they would ; thank them for nothing . And it is sadly to be feared , that such as will not think of repentance , till they think they shall die , do not think truly to repent at all ; but that it is repentance with pro●●e , and that if they revive they will sin again . As a man does by his goods on his sick-bed , he disposes of them so and so ; but if he live , he will have them himself . As if such a wretch should say in his heart , If I die , and can sin no longer , then I am sorry for my sin ; but ( as if God could be mocked ) they resolve it is with power of revocation ; and if they live , the dec●yed sin shall live too . This is to slight sickness , unless mortal , and God too in it ; and thus too too many do , and so come to die in their sins . And here I may say , It were a very desirable and advisable thing , that men would think of dying continually , and use themselves to serious discourses of death in their best health , and so consult about this affair with the wisest : That to talk of death , and Christ , and the Soul on a sick-bed , should not be counted raveing , and an ill sign , because it is nothing but what he hath always used , and his sickness now quickens him to it . And if we could use our selves more to such converse ; to speak of death to the sick , might not speak a suspicion of death , and so discourage the sick party . And be sure you speak betimes , that it be not driven till you cannot speak to them , and they want that help it may be to die with ; and you be troubled after , that you said so little to them .

Fifthly , When men give way to crosness and peevishness in their sickness . That those that have the pains and trouble of them , have this addition to it , that they cannot please them with any thing they do . Not that I would have any discouraged hereby , in their willing attendance and pains about the sick ; for God may design the sickness of one , to be a correction to more than one ; pain to the party , and toil and patience to Relations to attend upon him . And besides , they know not how soon they themselves may need the pains and patience of others in the like case . But however it is a great miscarriage to be peevish and humorsome , it looks as if you were angry at your cross , and none can please you that are about you . It might tame and meeken you in all reason , if you were sensible of Gods hand upon you ; and whilst you have him to please , who seems to be offended with you ; one would think it might be less difficult to please you . Some interpret , that of Eccles . 5.17 . All his days he eateth in darkness , and he hath much sorrow and wrath in his sickness ; of a carnal wretched Miser , that hath no comfort in what he has , eats all his days in darkness , hath no joy in his very meat , for the cares that continually feed upon him ; and when such an one comes to be sick , he is vexed and fretted that he is taken out of his business , and he is in anger in his sickness , and frets and rages at his pain , and restraint , and danger of death . And thus oft sickness works the wrong way : God is not seen , or thought on , or men would be of another temper .

2d . USE , To answer this query , How should we carry under sickness ? 1 Pet . 4.16 . To be sick ( as the Apostle says to suffer ) as a Christian ; as one that sees God inflicting it upon him for his sin , that acts wisely , and seeks to God , and unto God commits his cause .

First , Feel thy affliction . Take heed you slight it not , Heb . 12.5 . nor despise it , so as not to seek for help , or repent , unless in extremity ; not sick enough to be prayed for : as if repentance was never seasonable or intended , unless we must die . Surely there is a frown in this rod . It is a sad hand of God that is upon us . Sickness in it self is a sore punishment to nature ; it is sad to them that feel it ; To be thrown into the dark , and shut out from business and company , and to have pain and distemper to be taken up with . When a man is chastned with pain upon his bed , and the multitude of his bones with strong pain ; so that his life abhorreth bread , and his soul dainty meat ; ( or as Psal . 107.18 . His soul abhorreth all manner of meat . ) His flesh is consumed away that it cannot be seen , and his bones that were not seen , stick out . [ If it be a good sign of recovering , yet it is a sad punishment in it self , and an expression of Gods displeasure , to lose all flesh and strength on this fashion , and to have a body to begin again . ] His soul draweth near to the grave , and his life to the destroyer , ( Job 33.19 , 20 , &c. ) And then also to be at the gates of death , and to say , the sorrows of death compassed me , the pains of hell gat hold upon me ; I found trouble and sorrow , ( Psal . 116.3 . ) When thou mayest say as Hezekiah did , Isa . 38.10 , 11 , &c. I am deprived of the residue of my years , I shall not see the Lord , even the Lord , in the land of the living . [ I shall go to Church no more , nor injoy opportunities for my Soul any more , which it is well , if I did so to purpose as I should have done ; and if I must see the Lord no more in the land of the living ; It is well if I have good hopes that I shall see him in the land that I am going to . Believe it , a great and tremendous concern ! ] I shall behold man no more , with the inhabitants of the world . [ To whose company I have been all along used , and it is well if I be not too much glewed to it , and have sinned with ; and be not an utter stranger to the new company I am going to . ] Mine age is departed , and is removed like a shepherds tent . [ My acts and deeds of life are done , chuse what kind of age it has been ; and whereas I vainly thought , I had had a well-built house to have tarried in ; I find it is but a shepherds tent , a place for a poor shift , and to serve a Temporary turn ; It 's easily unpinn'd , and taken down , and removed utterly . ] I have cut off like a weaver my life . [ Like a web not half woven , I have by my sin cut it out of the loom . ] He will cut me off with pining sickness , from day even to night wilt thou make an end of me ; I reckoned till morning , that as a lion , so he will break all my bones ; from day even to night wilt thou make an end of me . Like a crane or a swallow , so did I chatter ; I did mourn as a dove , mine eyes fail with looking upward . O Lord , I am oppressed , undertake for me , and all this because of thine indignation and wrath : for thou hast lift me up , and cast me down . Psal . 102.10 . These are sad , and proper resentments for a sick-bed . Do not carry under the least sickness , as if there was nothing in i● . It may soon be more , and too great for thee to deal with ; and besides , it is a sign of a good child-like temper , to be checkt with a little . There may be much displeasure in a little : Le . 24.41 . Take it as a punishment , and accept of the punishment of thy sin .

Secondly , Fall to thy duty early . Begin betimes the proper work for thy condition : Go out to meet him whilst he is yet a great way off , Lu . 14.32 . and desire conditions of peace . Prevent the very siege if you can ; however , stand not out to be stormed . The sooner you apply your selves inward , 1st . The work will be easier . 2dly . You will be more able for it . 3dly . The likelier to be sincere , when you do not stand out to the last . 4thly . You may fare the better , and less affliction may serve : This is taking the disease at the beginning , which is as safe for the Soul as the Body ; bleed speedily , and purge speedily , but especially repent at the beginniog of the sickness . 5ly . However you may be sure of help , to be patient , and have supports and comforts if the affliction increase , and continue long ; if you begin on this manner . And 6ly . An happy death , or an holier life . O take thy disease in time in this sense . To allude to that of ( 2 Sam . 19.20 . ) Shimei acknowledges he had done perversly , and begs , that the King would not lay it to heart : for as he had been a great offender , so he was the first of all the house of Joseph that came to meet him . It is a fine thing to come in at first , to bow with a little : such a one shall never be overcharged , but either spared in the weight of his burthen , or favoured in his strength to bear .

Thirdly , Consider your ways . Examine , search , and try ; hear what conscience says ; now it is backt , and it may be will speak , and be free with thee : This is for such and such a sin , thus and thus hast thou done , or thus thou hast not done , which thou shouldest and mightest have done . For this cause many are sick and weak amongst you , and many fall a sleep , 1 Cor . 11.30 . Some miscarriages about holy Ordinances , ( which thou canst seldome quit thy self from ) may proc●●re God to afflict thee in this very kind . That forequoted place , Job 34.31 , 32. is a most excellent form of words for such a time , but not formally to be used : but add to it , Psal . 139.23 , 24. Search me , O Lord , and know my heart : try me , and know my thoughts , and see if there be any wicked way in me , and lead me in the way everlasting . It is not to ask God to know , as if he knew not , or to beg of him to take notice of what he certainly knows ; but to make him know himself , and all his thoughts and ways , that he may be led into the way everlasting . Seriously think of thy ways , when thus corrected , for it is sin hath done all this .

Fourthly , Beg repentance and forgiveness . To be healed the Divine way , is to be forgiven . No forgiveness of sin , no recovery , either at all , or to any purpose . Our blessed Saviour heals with pardon , as if it could come effectually no other way . To say , Son , Thy sins be forgiven thee , is as much as to say , Rise up and walk , Mat . 9.2 . It is as easie to say the one , as the other ; and it is the sick mans interest , that the one should not be without the other . What availeth it truly , ( if it could be ) that my disease should go , and my sin that brought it , lye upon me undischarged ? The Psalmist therefore prays , That God would look upon his affliction and pain , and forgive all his sins , Psal . 25.18 . And when he blesses God for a recovery , it is first , and in order to the other ; for forgiving all his iniquity , and healing all his diseases , Psal . 103.3 . And Isa . 33. ult . They shall not say they are sick , because the Lord hath forgiven their iniquity : Either as a cause , or introduction to their healing , or as an additional mercy , the perfection of their health ; that they should be healed and forgiven too . O be loath to come off , ( if thou couldest ) with recovery , and thy guilt still upon thee .

Fifthly , Beg Soul , health . To be delivered , and advantaged against the power of sin by this affliction : That if thou hast done amiss , thou mayest do so no more , Job 34.32 . I said , Lord , be merciful to me , heal my soul , for I have sinned against thee , Ps. 41.4 . A true ingenious Soul , that is rightly sensible and awake , desires pardon before health ; for it is better than health : For in his favour is life , Psal . 30.5 . And his loving kindness is better than life , Psal . 63.3 . I had rather have his pardon and peace , and lye sick , than be well and want it , or doubt of it . And secondly , I do equally desire grace and healing with my pardon . For a Soul truly changed , if it were possible to be forgiven , would be greatly unsatisfied , if left under the power and love of any sin : nay , if it could be assured to be forgiven as oft as he sins , he could not be content to live a sinner . Such a principle the new nature is of , love to God , and likeness to him , that the true Soul would not sin , if in some sense he might ; that is , might sin with indemnity . So in this case of sickness , the wise , good man , should be loath to come out unpurged and unhealed . He says , I hate sin , that causeth this displeasure ; and I would be cured more than in the Temporary cure of sickness ; It is death to me to be well , and sin again as I have done . And besides , it will hinder and retard my cure ; my health may wait for my repentance , or it may bring me soon into some worse evil : The dregs of the disease unpurged , doth always bring some worse distemper , of which I count sin the worst ; and if that remain , some greater evil will assuredly come upon me ; and therefore cry mightily for a purified and purged heart at such a time as this ; and let this be thy great care and concernment . He looketh upon man , [ when sick ] and if any say , [ which all do not , God knows , but those that do , God looks at ] I have sinned , and perverted that which was right , and it profited me not . [ I have done basely and wickedly , and against all Justice , and Reason , and Right , and done my self no good ; neither by any thing wherein I have sinned against thee ; for he that truly repents , hath this notion of his sin , That it is not only unlawful , but unprofitable ; and if he be not convinced , that it is his interest as well as duty , he will never effectually leave sin ; ] now to this man will God look : he will deliver his soul from going into the pit , and his life shall see the light , Job 32.27 , 28.

Sixthly , Now consider death , which sickness leads to , and is part of , and learn to die by every sickness ; for some sickness will be that unto death , and prepare for this to be it ; and put thy self into such Scripture-sentiments , as are mentioned in the first direction .

Seventhly , Apply thy self to Christ freshly and truly , who only can help about death : It is amazing and distracting to think of death , if thou canst not believingly think of Christ . This is one of the great things , that makes Christ absolutely necessary for thee . O get thy Soul near to Christ , by whom alone thou canst comfortably be sick , and profitably recover ; For he himself took our infirmities , and bare our sicknesses , Mat . 8.17 . Tho we did never read that he was ever sick , yet he took our sicknesses as his own , and had a compassionate feeling with every sick person that was brought unto him ; and did endure in greater things , what was equivalent , and more evil than sickness ; and hath taken the curse and sting out of every disease for us ; and besides , Hebr . 2.9 , 14 , 15. hath tasted death for every man ; by whom we are delivered from the evil and danger of death , and also from the fear of death . In Peru , they say , they have a plant , which they put into the hand of the sick person , which shews whether he shall live or die , and that as he looks cheerfully or sad upon it . We have no such plant to try by ; but if Souls be helped to fix on Jesus Christ , and have him put into the hand of their faith , they must needs be cheerful ; and it is a blessed presage , that they shall be for eternal life ; but if he looks sadly upon Christ , and if he now help him not , for want of a true interest in him , he is like to die everlastingly . O he is a Messenger , Job 33.23 , 24. an Interpreter , one of a thousand , that at such a time as this , can shew to man his righteousness . [ Gods Righteousness in his punishment ; or can help the poor sick man to discover his sincerity , or rather the Righteousness of Christ to shrowd him in . ] Then he is gracious unto him , and saith , deliver him from going down into the pit , I have found a ransome for him . [ This ransome from Hell , and Death , and the Grave , is none but Christ ; and he is valued as one of a thousand to the sensible sick man , that can be a Messenger of such tidings to him : Death ( as a great Divine said ) is a thing by it self ; but it is not to be done by thy self . The Lord will help thee to die , when thou comest to die , if he help thee to live uprightly and sincerely whilst thou livest ; that , as he said , When I come to do the work which I never did , I shall have the help which I never had . When one said on his death-bed , He would stick to Christ ; one replied , But your surer hold will be , That Christ now will stick to thee . And indeed this is a sure comfort at such a time . That the Child in the Mothers arms , holds fast about the Mothers neck ; but the Childs safety is , that the Mother holds fast on the Child : and so for the Soul at Death ; Thou may hang by thy weak Faith on Christ ; but he will hold thee faster than thou cast hold him , and this will secure thee .

Eighthly , After this , frame to patience . This Sickness is from God , and for sin . Thou with rebukes doest correct man for iniquity , Psalm 39.11 . This Sickness is Gods rebuke of me for my iniquity . Lam . 3.39 . And why should a living man complain , a man for the punishment of his sin ? The thoughts of God in Sickness , do quiet by Diversion ; they groan heavily , that have nothing else to do , nothing to think of , but their Sickness and Pain . Erasmus said , He had sometimes eased himself under the pain of the Tooth-ach , by filling his mind with some excellent thing worthy of the Imployment of his Soul . One in great pain , but of great Patience , said , He did not deliver himself to his pain , but to God that laid it upon him . A thankful patient Submission to the Divine Wisdom and Will in this case , is a great duty , and means of relief and present sweetness , and the way to have real profit by the Affliction . Patience worketh experience , Romans 5.4 . A man must be quiet and satisfied with his Affliction , before he can get any Experience , or learn any thing by it . Which leads to the

Ninth Duty ; Get as much good as you can in the affliction . The expectation of good by the Affliction is a great help to Patience under it ; and therefore set thy self for it , all that ever thou canst : Be learning all along . Beg of God , that he will instruct thee , as well as chastise thee . Psa . 94.12 . Now is the time to know that of God , and Christ , and Sin , and the World , so as you never did before , and probably never had done , if not thus afflicted .

Tenthly ; Be much in prayer . Line thy Bed with Prayer . Then cryed they to the Lord in their trouble , and he saveth them out of their distresses , Psalm 107.19 . It is seasonable in Sickness , as well as in a Storm at Sea . O , what words may you take with you in this case , out of Hezekiah's prayer , and David's prayer , Psalm 116 , &c. That God would be merciful to you , and heal your Soul . For mitigation of pain , for necessary Intermission , and refreshments ; for strength to bear , for patience , for recovery , if God see good ; and for eternal Life if you dye , and to live to better account , if you do recover . But this leads to the

III . USE .

How we should carry after afflictions ? Tho the Sickness be gone , yet if God sent it , something is to be done more than to get rid of it . And the truth is , the great benefit of sickness is to be reaped after sickness . Hezekiah's writing , wherein he profitably reflects upon the passages of his Sickness ( Isaiah 38.9 . ) was made when he had been sick , and recovered of his sickness . For if God sends it , and inflicts it , and for sin , and for thy future good , it is your part and duty to see to the full improvement of it . For if we recover , to be the same , or no better , or worse , what were we afflicted for ? It might have risen out of the dust or ground , and go to the dust again , for any use thou makest of it , toward God or thy self . But hath God , the Wise , and Holy , and Good God , taken thee , and thrown thee on a Sickbed , laid thee alone , and in silence so long , laid thee so long by as useless , and shewed thee this , and the other World , and all for nothing ? Doth he give Physick to come away , as it came , and bring nothing away with it ? Shall he bring such a grievous evil upon thee , and ( as was said before , from that of Amos 3. ) Shall he not do something ? Consider —

First , It is a choice and special season of learning much . Some great Divines have said , they have learnt more of Christ on a Sick-bed , than by the Study of their whole Lives . Sickness is a great instructor . It will tell you that , and make you believe it too , which all other Instructors could never do .

Secondly , It is a sign of an inveterately diseased Soul , if the Bodies sickness doth not stir it .

Thirdly , This unconcernedness under thy bodily Sickness , will either be Death to the Soul , or another Judgment to bring thee to rights : For God will not lose his Rod upon thee . As yet exaltest thou thy self against God , said Moses to Pharoah , Exodus 9.17 . And to the recovered man our Saviour says , John 5.14 . Sin no more , lest a worse thing come unto thee ; there is certain danger towards thee . Therefore

First , If thou hast not been sensible , and helped , and kindly melted under thy affliction ; but hast been common and ordinary in thy frame all along ; be humbled for thy great sin and hardness : Wonder how ever thou hast gotten through . But do not think to come off thus ; to be but as thou wert before , after all . Resolve upon it , that there is more work behind , for something must be done for this Affliction sake .

Secondly , If thou hast been sensible and melted ; labour to retain , pursue and increase that frame ; keep it , and make it move : what was but hinted then , get the whole of it now thou hast health again , and strength to pray , and think , and labour , which it may be then thou couldst not do .

1st . Observe to hate and contest the sin that then reflected upon thee . When he hath them in the Cords of Affliction , then he shews them their work ( what work they have made on it ) and their transgressions that they have exceeded . If it were a sin then , let it be one now , and so dealt with by thee , that it may never come upon thee at such a time again . The sin that went just before . The sin that came first to mind . The sin that came hardest to light , after most painful enquiry . The sin that did lye then most heavy upon thee . O hate this sin , and pray against it , and never allow it the grace and connivence with thee , that it hath had . See thy sins of omission , and be resolved upon more painful Godliness than ever heretofore ; for thou hast learn'd , thou mightst have been ruined for not doing . Retain the same thoughts against the same things , and make them stronger , and let them not pass off , as the thoughts of that time extorted from thee by thy extremity , as an act done in duress , that is in it self with thee invalid . Oh with what rage , and without mercy , will such thoughts tear thee , when they come again on the like occasion !

Resolve in health to perform the resolutions made in Sickness .

Offer to God the Ransom of thy Life , in the Sacrifice and Death of the Sins which thy Sickness apprehended and brought to thy hand for thee . And remember this , To repent in health , as you did in Sickness : Make good your Sick bed-repentance , that you may prove it sincere . And take heed that you never fall into the case that I have heard of one lately , who being Sick after a former Sickness , had this woful complaint ; I was Sick , and I repented of my Drunkenness , and I thought I did then repent truly ; but I sinned again , and now I think I repent again ; but I cannot say , it is more than I did then ; and the effect shewed that was not sincere ; and how shall I trust to this Repentance now ? And he was forced away in this condition .

2ly . See the emptiness of the world , and the mischief of sin . And let it be always to thee , what it was in Sickness . O says one , Sickness is the Mother of modesty ; on a Sick-bed a man is neither Lustful , nor Covetous , nor Ambitious ; he is sick , and all the World is sick too ; as when a man is giddy , all turns round with him . It is a time for God to withdraw men from their [ vain worldly ] purposes , and to hide pride from man , Job 33.17 . Happy ( says one ) is that man , from whom his pride is so hid , that he may never find it again . What did any of these things avail thee ? I was Sick , I would have given them all for a little health ; much more now I would give them , and Health , and all , for a glimps of Gods favour now , and when I dye . How mortified should I be to the World from henceforth ? for it is just worth as much and no more to me now , than it was to me when I was sick .

3ly . What you could not do for sickness , that you found needful to be done , do it now with all seriousness and diligence , as if God had restored you for this very end . If thou cryed , O spare me a little , that I may recover strength before I go hence and be no more , that thou mightest have a little respite to be better fitted against thou must dye indeed , see thou make it good , now God hath heard thy Prayers , and seen thy Tears . It was poor imperfect distracted work , that thou then madest of it ; do it better now , and think thy life given for that very end , and be thankful and faithful .

4ly . How precious should Christ be to me , and his Covenant : he and it are all my salvation , and all my desire . 2 Sam . 23.5 . There is my comfort and refuge . This is my Cordial against sinking , and swooning , and dying , and despairing on a Sickbed . His name is as ointment poured forth ; Cant . 1.3 . to them that believe he is precious , 1 Peter 2.7 . O let my Soul ever love , and prize , and admire him , as I saw cause then to do ; he is always the same ; O that I could always keep the same sense of it .

Fifthly , Inward peace should be my great care . If I had it then , O what Joy and Relief was it unto me ? And how easie did it lay my Sickness : O let me study to cherish and keep it , and value it above all comforts in the World . If I wanted it , what a darkness was it to me ? How did it imbitter my Sickness , my unassuredness about my Soul ? Why God spared me to recover this strength , sent me back to get this lesson better ; hath given me to live to make this matter readier .

It is very sad for poor Creatures , to cry out for the light of Gods countenance , when they are in distress and afraid of Death ; and when the fit is off , to let the pursuit fall , and not to miss it at all . Poor Soul ! if ever thou wantest it , be never quiet till thou hast it in some measure . Give all diligence to make thy calling and election sure ; 2 Pet . 1.10 . that thou mayst have Peace , and mayst be found of him in peace , 2 Peter 3.14 . Pray for it to him , who alone can give it ; remove all the sin and neglects that do lett your comfort , and wait for it , as that which thou canst as ill be without in thy Life , as at thy Death . And if it be not neglected , and thou fail not on thy part , whilst thou goest on , Isa . 50.10 . Obeying the voice of the Prophet [ keeping out of sin , and keeping up to thy duty in all things . ] Tho thou walkest in darkness , and hast no light ; yet trust in the Lord , and stay thy self upon thy God , and thou shalt have peace and safety at last . It is not peace barely wanted , but neglected , that can make thy condition dangerous . O let poor Creatures think with themselves , That if they had dyed of such a fit , what a dangerous case they had been in ; let their recovery be taken for such a Mercy , as indeed it is , and let them take heed they be not as unready the next time . And if another can say , I found comfort in my Sickness , and if I had died then , I should have had good hopes ; And what doest thou live to make thy case worse , and less assured ? God forbid .

Sixthly , Conclude with thy self , That he hath not recovered thee , and made thee to live , that thou shouldest not dye . Say , I must dye sometime . It may be I have escaped , when I looked for it , and may go when I do not look for it . O let this always live in thy thoughts ; be dead to Sin , and the World , that there may be less to dye from , when thou shalt be Sick unto Death . What so oft at Death , and no fitter for it ! O pray , and strive to dye daily , and to live as a Sojourner , and Stranger , the rest of thy time .

Seventhly , Take hold of eternal life . Thou wert lately hard by it ; O never forget it ; think of that blessed State on the other side of Death . And rejoyce in the hope of the glory of God . Rom. 5.2 . That you are turned back to be tossed again ; but you shall come to shore one day , and never be tossed more . O! what a blessed Place , and Rest , and Peace , and Holiness , and Love , thou hast been in sight of ! Long for it , when thou shalt be dead for good and all , and must dye no more , to be happy ; when thou shalt be with Christ , which is far better , Philemon 1.23 . When you shall for ever be with the Lord , 1 Thessalonians 4.17 . Entertain and comfort thy self , and one another with these words : Mighty proper converse for those that have been Sick . And

Eightly , Let all this be● in expression of your thankfulness to God . Acknowledg his bounty and goodness to thee ; O love the Lord , that hath heard the voice of thy Supplication , in the day of thy Trouble , when thou didst call upon him . Observe the Circumstances of thy reviving , the signal passages of thy Recovery . Something may be gathered up , that is remarkable from every Sickness , which may ingage thy love , and confirm thy trust in God for the time to come , Psalm 34.1 . to the 7th , and Psalm 116. from 1st to the 9th . Sacrifie to God the sacrifice of thanksgiving , and call upon his name with rejoycing : Pay thy vows . Offer to God ( as one says ) the ransom of thy Life . Thankfulness is the best preservation of Health .

O let your lives be mortified , and humble , and spiritual , and heavenly ; you have seen the Grave , live as such , more exemplary in your lives ; that if you have known any thing after the flesh , you may henceforth know it so no more , 2 Corinthians 5.16 .

But to Sin still , or to be worse , and more secure , because thus spared , is the highest ingratitude , and the greatest hazard you can run . Having received such a deliverance , as this , should we again break his commandments ? Ezr. 10.13.14 , It is ( says one ) like striking the Chyrurgion with one hand , who hath cured the other for him . God forbid ( as the Hebrew hath it , God forgive ) God forgive such security , and hardness , and ingratitude , and sublimate wickedness , and prevent the woful end that is like to befall such as are guilty of such a sin .

IV . USE .

Is to such as are yet free from this sickness . Is there nothing for them to do ?

First , Remember what you have had at any time this way . You have , it 's like , been Sick some time . Others Sickness may call to your rememberance what you have suffered in the like kind , and also whether you profited and mended by it . And see with care and fear , whether the vertue and profit of it be not worn off , and that you be not ready to be Sick again . If the old mark be gone , we must at it again .

Secondly , Think not that others need or deserve more than you , that you are spared . Are they greater sinners than you ? I tell you nay , but except you repent , you shall [ be Sick also and Dye , Luke 13.2 , 3. and ] perish too .

Make every ones Sickness yours , to do them good , and your selves good by it , till you come to have a Sickness of your own to be instructed by .

Thirdly , Do as much to prevent as to remove it ; to preserve your health , as to recover it ; come in of your own accord , when you see others of the same Tenure forced in . Take their Circumstances to heart , and apply thy self to Repentance , and serious Holiness , that thou mayst not need this Rod , or at least mayst be better provided to entertain and improve it , than they could be , that are made examples to thee . It is a sad time when so many are Sick , and Religion so dead as it is . Oh , that it might be a time of reviving as to that !

V. USE .

Is of Observation and Instruction to several cases , that differ from one another in this present Concern . Since this Affliction is from God , it is good to consider how wise and punctual he is in his providence this way : How he suits the Circumstances of men ; at least they ought to take it so .

First , Some may be sick , that have little to do . Such have leasure to be Sick .

Some indeed have less to do than they would have .

Some have less to do than they should have .

For the former , God may call them to perfect the work of their patience , Jam . 1.4 . now the active part of their life is gone ; and if they can behave themselves bravely in that , they shall honour God and their Religion greatly ; it may be more than ever they did by working ; and they shall find sweetness in the exercise of their Grace , and shall be rewarded for their patience as duly as for any work they ever did for God . If a man overlive his parts and ability for work , or his opportunity for work ; God will maintain his old Servants , tho sick on their bed ; they were weary of their uselesness , and complained they wanted work , and God sends them work ; they have time to be sick , and have nothing to do but to attend to it with patience , and to an holy improvement of it towards God . It is cheap dying , ( as a great man said ) in such circumstances ; and this is wisely ordered by God for you .

Others are sick : why , better be sick than idle ; they would find nothing to do , take to no business , throw themselves out of all useful imployment : It is just with God to lay them to bed : better be sick , than lead an idle fudling life ; and less will maintain it , and it may prove more wholesome to you : I confess it is sad for such to be sick , when they come not fairly by their sickness . 1 Cor . 11.32 . Yet God may judge them , and chastise them , that they may not be condemned with the world .

God may make you know , how you spend your time , and punish your misexpence of it , by filling your mo●●s with pain and sorrow . Many Wretches that have said , Let us eat and drink , for to morrow we die ; have eat and drunk , and to morrow , or in a little time do die upon it . O the destruction of Souls , and Estates , and Comforts of Life , and Life it self , that excess and idleness have made amongst us ! It is a true observation , and a sad one , That our new drunkards , generally , live not so long , as the old drunkards did ; God makes the poison to work sooner : and if a young man will be dissolute , ordinarily he is soon gone : that he that would do nothing worthy his life , should live but a while . Such unprofitable persons as these , Is it not justly and wisely done , that they should be laid under sickness ? It is better for Relations to see them sick , than to see them sin , as they use to do : They may know now where to find them , and not have them wanting at unseasonable times , as they were wont : And God may bless sickness to the health of their Souls ; God hath sometimes made a long sickness , contracted by no better a course , to bring some to Repentance , and to detest their ways , and their Companions and good fellows ; and to resolve to live otherwise , if they might live .

God oft for the terror of others , is pleased not to trust them , but takes them away ; but he causes them to bear Testimony against the way they lived in ; and it calls aloud upon all that survive , to break off their sins by Repentance ; that they may escape sickness , or at least Repenting before sickness , they may better know that their Repentance is true ; which is hard for a man to know that it is so , when he comes not in till forced , and cannot tell on what principle he Repents ; Eccles . 7.17 . If you will destroy your selves before the time , we cannot help it . But yet we are encouraged in the ways of God , from this , That the stoutest of you when you come to be sick , and fear death , ( unless surprized by the suddenness of it ) you utterly disclaim your whole course . And some love not the sight of their drunken companions , when they come into that condition . And the truth is , such Panders for the Devil , ( for I can call them no better ) who have seduced others to sin , if they were sensible of the dying curses that some of their convinced companions have left upon the fellowship , they would have little joy of their lives , unless they speedily Repented . And we think it is as good to stay where we are , as to fall in with you , and come back again when we come to die . O that young men would be wise , Eccl. 12.1 . and consider , and remember their Creator before the evil days come , wherein they shall find no pleasure : and that from the great wickedness of their lives , which yet have been so little a time . Let all despisers of Christ , speedily seek unto him , lest that be verified of them , which Christ said in a like case , ( John 7.24 . ) Ye shall seek me , and shall not find me : and where I am , you cannot come : nay , in the state you are , you shall never come .

Secondly , Some are sick that are too busie . Over head and ears in the World , and busier by far than they should be ; why , God justly takes them off , and makes them find time to be sick . They could not find time to pray , or hear , or keep Sabbath ; but God finds them time to be sick . And it may tend to cure their immoderacy towards the World , and then they will be great gainers . However they are justly dealt with in their present suspension ; and they had better lye by it to the work of Repentance and patience all their days , than to be trusted with health again , to be so unmercifully busie in the World as they were . Our blessed Lord , together with his most earnest caution , to take heed lest at any time , [ if it were but one time , it were too many by one ] your heart be overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness ; Lu . 21.34 . joins with these , [ as matter of the same sin and danger ] to be overcharged with the cares of this life .

The heart may surfeit of worldly cares , and these eat out Religion , and bring decays upon the Soul . How have some good men seen the snare of too much business ? And how have others resolved , they would not let a Trade master them , but be content with what their Trade would bring in , without taking up their time from reading , and all duties that might improve their Souls , tho they could have had a far fuller Trade than they had ? And others , that have known when they have had enough , and have withdrawn themselves from such a throng of business , and have given place to others that had less . But others will toil , as long as they get any thing ; and the more they get , the more they toil . Now it is an act of mercy to send a good fit of sickness , to give such a man some respite from his toil : And God may bless it , to cure his heart of his Sinful and Destructive thirst after the World , to the rescue of his Soul . And let such be thankful for Gods care of them , and improve their Sickness to the cure of their Souls on this account .

Thirdly , Some are laid aside by Sickness , That had little rest , and must be busie for their own and Families necessities . They lived on their hard labour , and but barely could live with all their toil : and yet oft these must be Sick too . This is indeed a sad case , and yet very frequent . But the Wise God doth order it for great and good ends . The poor man may want time to mind his Soul , and remember Eternity as he should do , and must be Sick to do it . Alas , their Sickness is no rest to their toil , tho it be a respite from it ; but the greater is their patience , and submission to the Divine Will , and their trust in the Divine Providence . And let such Repent of their sins , and turn to God with all their hearts , to provide for theirs , that are now taken out of their hands , and put into Gods own . And let them that are Gods Stewards , and have of Gods Riches in their hands , look to it , that they lose not such an opportunity of Disbursement , to relieve the destitute Families of such as are Sick , and were laborious when in health . God certainly has provided you with an overplus for such a time as this . The poor shall never cease out of the land ; therefore I command thee , saying , Thou shalt open thy hand wide unto thy brother , to thy poor , and to thy needy in the land . ( Deut. 15.11 . ) To thy poor , and to thy needy ; they become thy care and thy charge under God , who hath made thee able , and has laid his command upon thee . And in such an advantaged object of mercy as this , let him refuse the Divine command for mercy and bounty , that dare .

Fourthly , God makes Sickness general , without respect of persons or parties ; Rich as well as Poor ; City and Town as well as Countrey ; Old as Young ; and it enters upon us without difference . Eccl. 7.14 . This is Gods wise hand , to the end that man should find out nothing after him . That all should fear God and his Judgments , and mend upon it . If none were Sick or dyed , but the Ancient , the young ones would be vain and secure . If none dyed but the young , the men of age would be unconcerned . But the voice of this Providence cryeth to all , Mic. 6.9 . Hear ye the rod , and him that hath appointed it . None can secure himself in this day of the Lords Visitation . And God is to be seen and acknowledged in this proceeding , on this particular account ; That tho we are wofully broken by divisions , and severed sinfully into Parties , yet God unites all in the Affliction .

O how some would be lifted up , if they could make a Property of Gods Judgments , and that God should be the Executioner of their Revenges ; If this Sickness should take parts , and go onely on one side ! But the Just and Holy God finds sin in all , and visits all ; God agrees us in our Sufferings . And the truth is , he may bless it to the uniting of us more than we are , since he makes no difference in the punishment of us . If this be a Judgment , this side hath displeased God as well as the other . Is it a Fatherly chastisement ? Why , then God takes care of the other Party as well as of theirs .

I knew one once , that upon difference in Judgment , had been at some heats and distance with another Worthy man : It hapned shortly , that he fell Sick of a distemper that was Epidemick , as this is now ; and he heard at the same time , that he with whom he differed , was down of the same distemper ; And it is not to be said , how his heart was melted towards him , and how little the difference between them was in his eye , when both were under the same affliction . When Children will quarrel , and will not be quiet in the House , the wise Father beats them both , and it is the best way to agree them . O to what heighth , and distance , and to the destruction of Christian love , are our differences risen ! And all about , comparatively , little things . And we may know what weight the matter is of , by what these things are to us when Sick . Alas , a Sick man sees these are far from the great things that his Soul is taken up with at such a time . How do carnal prejudices fall at such a time ? How we can pity one another , and can be glad of the Prayers of them that can Pray , of what perswasion soever . And if I can but be forgiven my self , I shall freely forgive my brother , and desire to be forgiven by him too . O how charitable are we on our Sickbeds ? I wish we never let those heats kindle , which Sickness does so extinguish . One may be heard sure , among the Sick of the divided Parties to say , Who art thou that condemnest thy brother ? If God will accept thee , thou wilt cease to judge thy brother any more . Sickness will find thee something else to do , than to hate and revile , and censure any one for lesser things . And may this peaceable Spirit increase , and ever dwell with us . And if our being joined together in this common correction unite us not , it is well if some greater Judgment come not upon us , that shall effectually agree us . One might almost venture our whole Controversies to the sense and arbitrement , not so much of the most learned and most judicious , but of the Afflicted and Sick of both Sides .

Fifthly , God makes sad breaches . Hopeful and useful persons are snatcht away . It is the Lords hand ; men do not consider , that oft such men are taken away from the evil to come . Isa . 57.1 , 2. There are skulls in Golgotha of all sizes , as the Hebrew Proverb is . Indeed when they are gone , they were so useful , and so lovely , and so delightful , and so greatly taking , that we are ready to blame our selves , that we did not foresee they were not like to continue . Heb . 11.38 . The world indeed was not worthy of them . But many bad ones are also gone in as great a surprise ; Hopeful , as well as less promising persons in their Places , and the like Circumstances ; That we should be further instructed in the sacred secrets of the Divine Soveraignty and Providence ; and that all things come alike to all , Eccl. 9.1 , 2. and that love or hatred is not to be known by any thing under the sun . The World is rid of some bad ones , and is punished in the loss of good ones : But Gods Will be done . We are to seek unto God , and unto him to resign the whole cause . Psal . 102.23 , 24. It is not the first time he hath brought down mens strength in the way , and shortened [ hopeful and useful ] mens days . In the way , when to their thinking they were but entring on business , not near their Journeys end . Like some men that go from home , and dye in their Journey ; that go to Sea , and dye in the Voyage . It is his will , and it is well it should be so . I have read a Story of a hopeful young man , that was found dead in his Study , with his Finger upon that place in Wisdom , 4.7 , 8 , &c. For tho the righteous be prevented with death ; yet shall he be in rest . For honourable age is not that which standeth in length of time , nor that is measured by number of years . But wisdom is the gray-hairs unto men , and an unspotted life is old age . He pleased God , and was beloved of him , so that living amongst sinners he was translated . Yea speedily was he taken away , lest that wickedness should alter his understanding , or deceit beguile his soul . For the bewitching of naughtiness doth obscure things that are honest , and the wandering of concupiscence doth undermine the simple mind . He being made perfect in a short time , fulfilled a long time . For his soul pleased the Lord , therefore hasted he to take him away from among the wicked . A very full and satisfactory account of such a Providence . Simlerus , a famous German Divine , dyed young : the Author that writ his Life , hath this Remark ; That good and profitable men oft dye sooner than the wicked and unprofitable ; and God may do it ,

To shew ( 1. ) his displeasure and hatred to the World , not to let such live to do them good .

2. His love to the good , to take them to himself .

I confess , I met with an hint of this ensuing similitude from another , which I think may be improved in many particular cases , wherein we think some are immaturely taken away .

A Child may be commanded to go to bed before the rest of his Fellows . They may sit up to be merry , but he must go in the beginning or midst of the sport or business ; for such indeed is our life , that when we are in the midst of our design , and business , the call to Bed must be obeyed . Nor is the case hard :

First , It may be , it is the Childs time ; the Mother says , Come Child , it is your time . And when the time is come , I must break off in the midst , and leave others to their work or play .

Secondly , It may be the Child is toiled ; and tho not sensible of it , the Parent is . Come Child , thou hast had a sore day of it , of Work or Travel , and I would have thee at thy rest ; and when the Child comes to Bed ( tho not altogether so willingly ) he finds it easie , and better by far than sitting up any longer . For rest is sweet to the labouring man . Eccl. 5.12 .

Thirdly , It may be the Child is not all out well , and the sitting late up , may add to his Disease . Thou art lately recovered , or hardly recovered , and nothing worse than sitting up late for one that is not well . Thou hast a diseased Soul , which longer sitting up may hurt , and sleep may cure . It is best for some to dye soon , to get perfectly cured , and worse Diseases prevented .

Fourthly , It may be the Child do's no good , and do's but take up a Room , and hinder others , that may do some good with staying up . I am an useless Body , and rather troublesome , and I cannot go to Bed too soon . Others may sit up , for they do somewhat w●●●o Fire and Candlelight . It should never grieve me to dye , that have but little left me to do .

Fifthly , It may be the Child is wrangling and unpeaceable . Get to Bed , unless you can be quiet . It is the wrangling of some that makes them pack sooner to Bed . Melanchthon said , He should dye willingly , that he might go away from the Sophistry of those times . And Strigilius said , I desire to dye . 1. That I may enjoy the sight of the Son of God . 2. That I may be freed . Ab manibus & implacabilibus odii , Theologorum . And another German Divine said , Quis me tandem liberabit ab ista rixosâ Theologiâ . And some that are wrangled with , and cannot have quietness , are sent to bed , that they may be at quiet . Child , thy Step-Brothers will be quarrelling with thee ; thou wouldst be at peace . I have consulted the tenderness of thy Spirit ; thou hatest strife , and they hate peace . I have ordered thy Bed to be made ready , and laid down for thee . For shelter Child , go thou to Bed , and leave them to wrangle it out that love wrangling , and love to sit up to have their ●●angle out .

Sixthly , As good go to bed , 1 Tim . 5.6 . Mat . 25.5 . as sleep by the fire . Some are dead whilst they live , others oft slumber and sleep . Have such dead and sleepy fits , that it is better for them by far they were in Bed . Better dye than live to sin , and overlive our activeness and life in Religion .

Seventhly , They that tarry , may set up to little purpose . It is not so good business in this World , that I should refuse rest to tarry by it .

Eightly , They must all go to Bed anon . It is but a little time that I could stay up ; It is no great difference in going a little sooner . To Bed I must go , and the sooner I go , the more rest I shall have .

Ninthly , However my father bids me . And a good ordered Child never asks any questions , but obeys , and goes , when bidden .

Tenthly , If a Child go to bed in the dark , and his bed be ready ; It is all one when he is in it , as if he had been lighted unto it . But if he have a Candle to Bed with him , he may go more comfortably . God will lighten thy darkness ; and if thou have the light of his Countenance to go to Bed with , it is better than sitting up with the longest , and going to Bed , it may be , in the dark at last .

Some live a great deal in a little time ; when their work is done , they shall be called home , and the sooner the better . If some get their Work done sooner , why should they not be set at Liberty ? Cleobis and Biton , the two Sons that drew their Mother in her Chariot , when the Horses were not ready , and she should go to her Devotion : She is reported by Plutarch , to have asked of the Goddess , the greatest good for her Sons , and that Night they both dyed . The Heathens thought this an answer to her desires . Sure then Christians may much more make the greatest good out of Death . The same wise Heathen could say of one dying soon , He is departed the banquet before drunkenness , before he came to the follies and vanities his after Age might have brought to him . O! but he might have done a great deal of good , if he had lived .

Answer First , He might also have met with a great deal of evil .

Secondly , He might have met with many temptations to sin , which now he is past and secured from . Better dye to prevent , than repent to recover from , sin .

Thirdly , God will want no Instrument of any good , that he will have done in the World .

Fourthly , And Heaven is better to him on his account , than any good he could have had , or any good he could have done , if he had tarried here . He is prevented with early Glory , and is not that well ? Persons usually can be willing to part with their dearest Children into the remotest parts of the World , upon their probable or likely advantage , tho they may never see them again ; And shall any undervalue Heaven , so as not to think that a Preferment Supereminent , so that they may afford to spare the sight of them for it ? Parents can say , We must deny our selves for our Childrens good . — Ay , but a great comfort of our Life is gone ; we would never have parted with him for any advantage ; we needed not to let him go out of our sight ; we had enough to live together . But alas , you must dye your selves shortly , and then that is answered . You would not care how soon he came after you , and the matter is not so much that he is gone a little before .

Sixthly , God orders sickness longer to some than to others .

First , Some few get sooner through than others do . And if they part with their Sickness , before they have parted with their sin , it will be never the better for them . The shortest Sickness did not come without a cause , nor without a design from God upon thee ; and thou mayest expect an after-reckoning , if the Distemper went before thou repentedst . There may be as much cause of , and displeasure in a short Sickness , as in a longer . O let the goodness of God ( as well as thy afflicton ) lead thee to repentance ; Rom. 2.4 . and let his tenderness of thee , melt , and not harden thee .

Secondly , Some , if they escape , are brought very low , and they continue in long weakness . God sadly changes their countenance , tho yet he sends them not away . Job 14.20 . They look like ( that they might have been ) even dead men . O that they may never set a countenance on their sin any more . God hath kept thee long to it , it is well if thou hast yet learned thy lesson . That he hath seemed so unwilling to let thee go , it is well if thou hast answered his leisure , and yielded thy self to him of all this long time . If thou be released , and not discharged fairly , he hath thee within his reach , and at an instant can fetch thee in again . Suspect thy self , lest thou hast not been so yielding as thou shouldest have been , that he hath continued his hand so long upon thee . And beware of the sad consequence of being no better after a long Sickness ; and tremble at Hell , where the fit will never go off , and the punishment never end . And be sure to make out , what hitherto thou art wanting , in serious and speedy after Repentance . Eze . 14.23 . And know that without a cause the Lord hath not done all this unto thee . Thou hast not had one fit more , nor been Sick one day longer , than thou didst deserve , or was necessary to thy Souls cure : And this thou hadst best see to , unless thou hast not felt enough of Gods hand ; for he will not be baffled by thee . Men fall Sick again , not only by relapse , as to their distemper ; but for not forsaking their sin by what they have had . A distemper tarries , as if loath to leave ; and seems to be gone , and comes back again , which you call a Relapse . Alas , it tarries for something not yet effected in thee , or ●●●y Relations , and those that are afflicted with thee ; and it comes again for something that is left behind , something that is not surrendred as it should be , and must be . Nothing of the thing it self , or of the continuance , or of the return , is out of the dust ; but designed and appointed to the least circumstance , and is to be answered by us , as thus by Infinite Justice , Wisdom , and Faithfulness ordered upon us . But ,

Thirdly , Some have continued weakness ; distempers for years , Chronical diseases , tedious and painful , and it may be incurable . And it may be they are puzled to understand why it should be so with them . Why it is of the Lord .

1st . Thou art apt to think thy case strange and singular ; Alas it is no new thing , nor new method that God hath treated men in . Isaac above forty years blind . David at last bed-rid . Asa diseased in his feet , possibly of the painful Gout . How was Job stricken in his body , after he had lost all his goods besides ? What Chronical diseases did Christ cure , of Leprosie , Palsie , Lunacy , eighteen-years-old Infirmity ? &c. And there is worse abroad than thine , even now . To have some eminent above many , for Piety , Charity , Publick usefulness , sweetness of Temper , laid aside under an uncomfortable deprivation for his last years . To have others lye bedrid in continued pain night and day , and clouded inwardly all the while , and but scarcely provided for outwardly , and this for many years too ; and the sad cases of deep continued melancholy , distraction , and madness , shews a case harder than thine .

2dly . It might be worse in it self , it might be without intermission ; it might be with thee as it is with the worst that can be found ; and it might be always with thee as it is sometimes . Thy intermissions and breathing times , are of great clemency and compassion towards thee ; and that thou hast not the addition of desertion , poverty , and uncomfortable Relations to top it up with , is a great mercy .

3dly . Be it that there is no cure for it ; but that it is the messenger that is sent for thee , and is like to attend thee as thy keeper , till thou art fetcht home ; 2 Chnro . 16.12 . What of all this ? Asa sinned , in that he sought not the Lord , but to the physician . Not as if it were unlawful to seek to the Physician ; but it is a sin not to seek to God first ; or to look that the Physician should do good without God ; and so to be vext , that the Physician cannot cure thee , is , as if God was not lookt at by thee . Is he in Gods stead ? ( to allude to that of Jacob ) who hath denied health unto thee ? Gen. 32.2 . Will nothing content thee but curing ?

1st . It may keep thee under long thoughts of Death before it come , so that thou canst not say but thou hast warning .

2dly . It may keep thee out of sin and vanity , and withhold thee from some lusts , ( which war against the soul ) which some others of a better state of health , are forced to fight hard with , or be overcome by .

3dly . It may cure the sin and sloth of thy Soul . Thou carriest the rod stuck to thy back . God keeps thee in awe , seems to resolve he will break thee of thine humour , or he will know why . That as fear of a fit may keep thee in awe as to thy diet , and such things as are nought for thy distemper , thou dost carefully forbear ; Thy passion , and pride , &c. is also nought for it , and thy distemper may so awe thee from thy wonted extravagancies , that thou mayest happily , being thus held to it , contract an habit of seriousness and meekness , &c. to thy great advantage .

4thly . It may make thee more attentive unto God , more true at Ordinances , more trembling at his word . I confess I have for some time with sorrow of heart , seen how few take any great heed to the word Preached ; but here and there a person under Affliction , that are of sorrowful Spirits , that are broken otherwise ; these seem to give most heed , and are most affected with what is said . Thou hast the advantage of such a condition , and may God give thee the benefit of it .

5thly , This may wean thee from the World . Thou hast a good weaning-time , that thy parting will not be all at once . It is some preparation for Death , that there is nothing in this World of enjoyment , but what I can leave for God , and nothing of my care ( as to Children and the like ) but what I can leave to God . Thou hast now time to train up thy heart to this , which may make Death easie , as well as thy pain makes it desired .

6thly , Thou hast a brave time to get assurance ; imploy this business to purpose ; cry mightily for it , and pursue it , till Truth and Mercy answer thee . O health well parted with , if it hath helped to inward peace , and assurance of Gods favour to thee ! Thou hast nothing else to do , when thus enfeebled and cast aside , and set alone so long as thou hast been ; and if this be the fruits of it at last , thou wilt bless God for this way of afflicting .

7htly . Thy work is Patience , to exercise and train thy Soul by degrees , to quietness and contentedness with thy condition ; to have thy will conquered , and thy self resigned to the Will of God ; Not to desire to be otherwise than what God sees good and best for thee . To think it well and best it should be thus , because he hath ordered it thus to be . A brave Soul that was , of whom I have been certainly told , that when vivisited by some friends , he was found leaning against the corner of a Table upon a cushion , thrusting himself with all his strength , and had no ease whilst he did not keep that posture : And he said , That if God would have it so , he could be patient with that posture as long as he lived . It is all one , says the well disciplin'd Soul , what my condition is , if God be with me at present , and will save my Soul at last .

8thly . We have received good , why should we not receive evil ? I have this great affliction , but to purge out the dregs of prosperity . It is common for the bottom of the glass to run dregs . Others die all at once , and I die by degrees , which may make it more easie at last . And if thy condition be singular , ( which it may be it is not neither ) that thou art more afflicted than some others ; Conclude not , That it is because God loves thee less ; but it may be , because thou wert worse than some others , and didst need more ; and therefore be more humbled , if more afflicted . Or , God may design to make thee better than others , to make thee more mortified , humble , patient , Heavenly-minded , than others are , that are not in the like circumstances . But be patient , and thankful , and more holy , and all is well , and best for all this : And thou wilt say at last , That of all this sorrow thou couldst not have spared one minute of it . And since we are always sinning , and provoking God to be sending to us ; I had as good keep the Messenger with me , which I know and am used to , as to have fresh and strange ones sent to me every day . — For thee to say after all , That it is thy greatest trouble , and thou art cast down under sickness , because it disables thee for work ; It is a great failing .

For ( as Mr. Baxter says ) 1. For thy personal advantage , it doth most quicken to such duties ; for Praying and Repenting now or never ,

2. For others , It is not thy duty when God disables thee for it . If he lay thee aside in the Vineyard , and doth thy work by others , he doth thee no wrong : He doth not require work of thee , when thou canst not do it . But see what deceitfulness lies in this , when we have time , and health , and opportunity to work , then we loyter ; and when we are Sick and disabled , then we complain we cannot work .

That thou art a trouble to others to attend thee , it is a weak complaint ; If thou art not counted so to thy Relations , thou shouldest be thankful for it , and own Gods kindness to thee , that they are tender of thee , and count nothing too much , or enough that they can do for thee . And it is their duty to be tender of thee ; It is part of their work which God calls them to , to look to thee . He will reward thy Tenders for what they do for thee , and would have thee well lookt to . And it is all one what is their work , all goes into the account of the Lords service ; and it tries their patience , and natural affection , and kindness , and compassion , and painfulness , and will be their great advantage , and shall have a full recompence .

The last USE is ,

To those that have had breaches made upon them by this Affliction . Some very sad and surprizing ; why , the Lord hath done it . And that you should not sorrow to excess , 2 Cor . 7.9 . Jer . 31.15 . or after the world , to weep like Rachel , and refuse to be comforted . Besides , the comfort you should take in the hoped for happiness of them that are gone , and that you should not say , you have lost ( as one says ) , but you have onely parted with them ; so as in Christian hope and confidence , you shall meet them again . I would suggest , to stop the present sorrow by way of diversion , these two important intimations . Is thy Relation gone ?

First , Art thou ready ? It is a seasonable Prayer upon the fresh tidings of this and that friend that is gone ; The Lord grant the next may be ready . But let it not seem uncompassionate and harsh in thy present grief , to ask thee that question . This is a momentous inquiry , and thou that art left , must go , and it may be soon . If thou be ready , bless God , and rejoyce in the mercy , that thou hast good hopes to meet thy Relation in glory shortly , and let that suffice . If not ready , make it thy speedy business ; and instead of sorrowing , where sorrow can do no good , fall to thy own tremendous concernment , and let fear and danger take up thy grief , and find thy Soul other work .

Secondly , May this be the worst ? It is a great Affliction . Now as our Saviour said , Joh 5.14 . Behold , thou art made whole , sin no more , lest a worse thing come unto thee . So I , Behold , thou art sadly and sharply afflicted , and the Lord hath sadly wounded , and broken thee , sin no more , lest a worse thing come unto thee . Wrath is begun , meet thy God , do not think he hath done his worst . Search for sin , that hath brought this evil upon thee , and repent , to prevent a worse . Let thy sorrow be after God , to work repentance . 2 Cor . 7.10 . That this sorrowful Providence , may not be a Presage and forerunner of a greater mischief . But being sanctified and improved this way , it may prevent such a thing , and thou maist escape with this .

And thou mayest make this further advantage of the Death of thy Relation , To follow him with thy profitable thoughts into the state he is in .

First , For his Soul . O think of Heaven the more for his sake , who is newly gone thither . O think what a change he has found . What a blessed state of Life , and Light , and Love , and Praise , he is entred into ! How he is transformed and perfected in his entrance among the spirits of just men made perfect , He . 12.23 . Ma. 22.30 . and is made one among them ; like an Angel of God . When Esther was taken into the Court , in likelihood of such high Preferment , Mordecai ( her dear Uncle ) walked every day before the Court , Est. 2.11 . to know how Esther did , and what should become of her . And so such concerned Relations upon the high advance of theirs , should walk before the Court of Heaven daily , to contemplate of what is become of them . What a dignity they are in , of Blessedness , Holiness , and Immortality . How their wants , and desires , and fears , are all ended , and what perfect Holiness they are commenc't upon ! That now they are made like unto Christ , 1 John 3.2 . and shall see him as he is . O how do they admire Rich and Free Grace , that hath saved such sinners as they were ! And how do they adore and love Christ , for what he hath done for them from first to last ? And how they do live in the concordant praises of the Blessed Deity , their Creator , Redeemer , and Sanctifier , and shall do so to all Eternity ! O joyn thy Soul to them in the same work , of Love and Thanksgiving , as much as thou canst ; which may be a foretast to thee of what thou shalt have , and a blessed pledge and earnest to thee , That thou also shalt at last be with them . And let it further thy Preparations , and increase thy Desires and Longings for it . They have now been so many days , or weeks , or months in Glory : Let these thoughts raise thy Soul above all these things , and make thee take wing for Heaven , to be with Christ , which is far better . And

Secondly , For his Body . O think now how that body is laid into darkness , and how far by this time it is gone unto corruption ? Lazarus was counted to stink when he had been dead but four days . Joh . 11.39 . O how his beauty is consumed away ! How hath he found his kindred under ground , corruption his father , Job 17.14 . John 11.35 , 38. and the worms his brother and sister ! Our Saviour wept , and groaned over Lazarus when in the grave : It could not be for the loss of him , because he knew he would raise him again at that instant . But it was ( as Divines think ) from his sense he had of what sin by Death had brought upon man , that his body should thus be subject to such destruction , stench , and rottenness , and loathsomeness , that was ere while so beautiful and lovely . Camerarius tells a story , That in a Town of Germany , there was a young Gentleman , one of the fairest young men of his time ; but when taken with a grievous Sickness , of which he dyed , his Friends importun'd him , that he might be taken in Sculpture or Picture , to be his memorial to posterity ; He would not grant it . All they could obtain was , That after he had been dead , and some days in the ground , they should open his grave , and represent him as they then found him . They did so , and found his face half gnawn away with worms , and about his midriff and back bone , they found many Serpents . They caused this spectacle as they found it , to be cut in stone , and it lyes among the armed Statues of his Ancestors ; and the Author says , he had oft seen it . O how should this humble us , and make us for ever abhor priding our selves in any bodily beauty ! It was good Counsel given to one , that looked a good face in the glass ; O think how that face would look , if you could see it one year after it had been in the grave . And yet think also of the Resurrection , which is the Christian relief against this inevitable misery of corruption ; That when Christ comes , 1 Thes . 4.14 . Phil . 3.21 . those that sleep in Jesus , God will bring with him . And these vile bodies shall be made like to his glorious body , according to the working , whereby he is able to subdue all things to himself . Even Death , and Corruption , and all . Adore and believe this Doctrine of the Resurrection : And thus live with the deceased , with their Souls in Heaven , and their bodies in the grave , for thy Souls Improvement .

It is now time to conclude this Discourse : And upon the whole matter , I shall do it with the excellent advice of a Worthy man .

Pray for the first Grace of Gods Children , Not to need to be corrected .

Or for the second , To be better by the least correction ; A sign of a melting heart , to bleed at the least blow .

Or at least , Thirdly , That God would not let us go so far , as that neither Prosperity nor Adversity can do us good . Amen .

FINIS .