more upon their own Head. We see how far the Corruption in us would go if not hindred even to all manner of Evil and iniquity like a mighty Torrent would bear down all before it If Men were left to themselves and might do what was right in their own eyes as they were once in such a Condition when there was no King in Israel as is declared before the most horrible Judg. 19. Relation ever done under the Sun there would be nothing but Tribulation and Anguish Weeping and Lamentation through the Earth continual Fears would arise from the strivings of the People But Blessed be our God who stilleth the noise of the Waves when they arise and ruleth the raging of the Sea and the madness of the People If that had no bounds it would quickly over-spread the Face of the Earth and the other if not kept in would bring an universal Dâ—lâ—ge not only upon the Vngoaly but the Servants of God and the Compass of this lower World would be one entire Aceldama a Field of Blood. He hath sent Kings and Governours for the Punishment of evil doers and for thâ— praise of them that do well 1 Pet. 2. 13 14. The Word which God sent unto the Children of Israel preaching Peace by Jesus Christ he is Lord of all Acts 10. 36. Amongst other Dâ—ties doth Command submission to Kings and Magistrates and forbids the contrary No Rebellion whatsoever is lawful A real good end will not sanctifie it much less those false and specious Ones wherewith it is often accompanied It is a slanderous Report of the Gospel That some affirm thereof as if it did allow to do evil that good may come Rom. 3. 8. God revealed himself otherwise of Old. He is the Rock his Work is perfect for all his ways are judgment a God of truth and without iniquity just and right is he Deut. 32. 4. Thou art of purer eyes then to behold evil and canst not look on iniquity Hab. 1. 13. For I the Lord love judgment I hate Robbery for Burnt-offering Isa 61. 8. Will ye speak wâ—â—kedly for Gâ—d and talk deceitfully for â—im Job 13. 7. The Lord is righteous in all his ways and holy in all his works Psal 145. 17. More Texts might be alledged to manifest that his Glory is not to be advanced by sinful means Indeed this cannot be for it would be contrary to his infinite purity and uprightness with whom dwells no shadow of Evil. But Experience hath discovered that when some have designed Rebellion for their own Ambition Interest and Revenge they must have a Fig-leave to hide it from simple People whom they 2 Sam. 15. 8. 11. draw on their side And what can be better then Absoloms Vow Religion and the Glory oâ— God as hath been the method of former Ages this hath been made use of as a Pretence to further their own damned Enterprizes Good God! That thy Name should be so abused by vile Miscreants that thou who dost abhor and hast revealed thy Wrath against all unrighteousness of Men shouldst Rom. 1. 18. be made use of to Patronize it as if thou werâ— such an one thy self I am astonished to think of this horrible perverting of thy Ways and Nature Men would not dare do thus but thou holdest thy Tongue Hab. 1. 13. Otherwise there could be no Tryal whither they would do thus or not But notwithstanding all the Practices of wicked Hypocrites through which Strangers and the Ignorant may mis-apprehend the God whom we serve thou wilt be justified when thou speakest and clear when thou judgest at the last and great day And even now thou art in this and all other Matters as thou speakest in thâ— Word The Author of the New Testament observed by his own Example what he taught and commanded to others when he was betraâ—ed into the hands of wicked Men though he could have had more then twelve Legions of Angels yet made â—ot the least opposition He was the Son of God King of Kings and Lord of Lords and consequently exempt from paying of Tribute to Mat. 17. them yet rather then he would give offence he wrought a Miracle for the Payment thereof And hath left this standing Commandment to all his Followers Render unto Cesar the things which are Cesars Mat. 22. 21. which is more particularly explained Rom. 13. Render therefore to all their Dues Tribute to whom Tribute is due Custom to whom Custom Fear to whom Fear Honour to whom Honour Ye must needs be subject not only for Wrath but for Câ—â—science sake These things are as much due to the Supreme Magistrate as it is from a Child to a Parent he hath Right to them from his Subjects as they have to their own Goods or Estate The Doctrine of Loyalty and Obedience to Governors is laid down in as plain Terms as any other Duty in the Gospel and are sufficient to convince him who Acts in Sincerity and Truth But those which are Presumptuous Self-willed 2 Pet. 2. 10. of turbulent and factious Spirits have found out some little and trifling Evasions against these express Texts There is a way in the World of putting Interpretations when there is no more need of them then of the most plain obvious Expression But this is a Trick either to wrest or make the Commandments of God of none effect The wicked thus vindicate or palâ—iate their Transgression and others in alike manner justifie Rebellion Let all Men in general remember and take heed that the great â—aw-giver when every one comes to give Account before him will not be trifled with Such ways and devices will not now pass in Humane Courts and Judicatories They have so much the more to Answer for by prevaricating the way of the Most High making his Word as it were a Nose of Wax some have Blasphemously called it so to stamp any Impression and mould it to any shape as serves their base Sinister turns In the end such Men will find that the All-wise God will not be outwitted by them The Criminals are not to make their own Construction of the Laws against which they have offended but must receive according to his righteous Judgment when what is written Rom. 1. 18. Rom. 2. 8. Shall be executed and found true Thus some who seem to be Religious Confess Men ought to pay Obedience unto Governours but then they say these Commands extend only to those Kings who love Christ and themselves live obedient to his Law. And whether they do or not private Persons are made Judges and if they think such an one doth not Subjects may lawfully disobey and rebel against him If this should be granted No King howsoever good or righteous would be safe in his Person for so apt are Men in judging the worst especially of those above them that they would censure him to be a prophane Prince or Hypocrite If he was another David a man after Gods own heart why he was hated and spoken
so far from being acceptable that they are an abomination unto him Ye shall not add unto the Word which I command you neither shall you diminish ought from it that ye may keep the Commandments of the Lord your God which I command you Deut. 4. 2. Let him strive to perform all them to the utmost and if he doth so letting alone those of Humane Invention he will be preferred before those who have been very frank and diligent in doing those things which were never required at their hands 'T is not multitude of outward Acts but deep Isa 1. Humility of Mind which hath more acceptance with God He that shall humble himself shall be exalted Mat. 23. 12. Who is of such a disposition as to be content with all his heart to be least in the Kingdom of Heaven if he may be there and is well pleased with whatsoever God doth If so he cannot grudge at the good Man of the House for doing what he will with his own if he seeth another who was not so long in the Vineyard as himself have an equal reward seeing he hath what was promised He cannot fume or rage to see the beloved Disciple lie in his Saviours Bosome or other favourites of Heaven admitted to a nearer Familiarity with Jesus He is not discontented or envious to behold white Robes given them who were slain for the Word of God and for the Testimony which they held Rev. 6. 9 11. They all receive according to their Works and if he had done the same things he should have had the same honour The different Crowns are set upon their heads according to their deeds and those which were eminent for Sufferings or Christian Graces the chiefest whereof is Humility shall have a proportionable Reward So that wouldst thou be great in the Kingdom of Heaven Learn of the good Patriarch to take up this resolution The Lord shall be my God Gen. 28. 21. and to esteem thy self not worthy of the least of his Mercies Gen. 32. 10. Not to say from the Mouth only but the ground of the Heart Lord I am not worthy to be â—ed with the crumbs that fall from thy Table and yet to be as obedient Children not fashioning himself according to the former lusts in his ignorance but as he which hath called you is holy so be ye holy in all manner of Conversation 1 Pet 1. 14 15. To be contented for his finall portion with the least mite of Gods bounty and yet heartily labour in the mean while not to offend him in the least point of his Law to fulfil all Righteousness to do all that is commanded him and say he is an unprofitable Servant he hath done that which was his duty to do He will indeed have an eye to the recompence of reward in General for hereby he will better despise the Pleasures of Sin and not be weary of Well-doing but of what sort it shall be whether above or below others that he leaves to the alone disposal of him Such are the thoughts of the sincere and humble Christian his expectation is not so very great but that shall never be an hindrance but further his advancement If he would be contented to be made as one of the hired Servants Luke 15. yet he may have the best Robe put on by his most Bountiful and Gracious Father Before honour is humility Prov. 15. 33. By this way the great example thereof as may astonish Men and Angels came to be highly exalted Phil. 2. 6 7 8 9. And whoso will follow his steps being meek and lowly in heart may in some measure be exalted likewise You shall lose nothing in the end if you would at present lose that just esteem of your selves for that the pride of the World calls so which is but Fancy and Usurpation And whatsoever Station ye are in the command reaches you Be ye of the same mind one towards another Mind not high things but condescend to Men of low Estate Rom. 12. 16. This is the way to be had in Honour by God and preferred even above those who call it a Sordid and base Spirit Lowliness of mind say they is sneaking and doth not become a noble Birth and Extraction But are these Men of a better Parentage then the Son of Goâ— Is their Family better then his who also according to the flesh was descended from the Antient Kings of Judah Are they wiser then he If they would acknowledge they are not they must think the Apostle spoke both Reason and Sence when he enforced this duty from his Example Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus who being in the form of God thought it not Robbery to be equal with God but made himself of no reputation and took upon him the form of a Servant and was made in the likeness of Men. If God be above Man and yet humbled himself to be as the meanest certainly it can be no disgrace for him who doth not differ from another but by an Estate fine Clothes aiery Titles of Honour to shew that civility which is due to a fellow-Creature partaker of the same flesh and blood and heir of the same common Salvation Behold God is Mighty and despiseth not any he is Mighty in Strength and Wisdom Job 36. 5. The Proudest two-footed Creature on Earth must not vie in Glory with him and if he doth not abhor Men of low Estate why should they who are of the same mould and stand in the very same Relation to him who is Lord over all Why should they trample over those of their own kind Love Horses better and look upon them with more scorn then if another sort of Creatures They are incensed perhaps because those which seem so despicable in their Eyes are of the same nature with themselves as if they were angry at themselves because they are but Men or have such an high value of themselves that they would have nothing look like them but what is Glorious and Lovely How far will Pride proceed Wherefore should Earth and Ashes be so lofty in its own conceit Why should he swell so much who when his breath is gone becomes one of the most loathsome Spectacles in the World Why should he shew himself more imperiously and disdainfully over those who are Flesh of his Flesh and Bone of his Bone then the Lord and Maker of them all unto whom all the Nations of the Earth are as the drop of a Bucket It was commanded the King who is as much above Nobles as they above Beggers his heart should not be lifted up above his Brethren Deut. 17. 20. Much less may they who not only presume to be exalted in their own conceits above but account them more inferiour then brute Beasts although they be made in the Image of God and are his workmanship as well as themselves and therefore in no sort should be despised This temper though so frequent in the World it being
that we are related and the Objects of his Concern That 〈◊〉 doth and will punish the World for their Evil and the wicked for their iniquity Isa 13. 11. is manifested when his wrath is kindled a little for sometimes Punishment doth begin to seize on the ungodly Sinner even before he goes to receive the full recompence of his doings By that abundant Misery which is every where he doth let all the Earth know that he hath indignation against Sin and this the place thereof Again on the other hand By seeing the felicity of his Chosen by that little taste of Happiness he gives unto his dutiful Children He doth thereby assure that he designs to bring them unto greater to encourage here and reward hereafter Their affliction and trouble doth manifest the Sin even these have They are chastened of the Lord that they should not be Condemned with the World 1 Cor. 11. 32. That liberal Provision and plenty the Evil and unthankful have is for Tryal or Retribution for even these do some little good So that a Man shall say Verily there is a reward for the Righteous Verily he is a God that judgeth in the Earth Psal 58. 11. The Lord looketh from Heaven He beholdeth all the Sons of Men from the place of his Habitation he looketh upon all the Inhabitants of the Earth He fashioneth their Hearts alike he considereth all their VVorks Psal 33. 13 14 15. God doth care for us and we have to do with him Heb. 4. 13. notwithstanding his infinite Greatness for he hath been pleased to admit thereof The VVord Prayer and Praise do keep up this astonishing intercourse They expel the former Hatred Aversation and Strangeness Can two walk together except they be agreed Amos 3. 3. But they may when they are Acquaint now thy self with him and be at Peace Job 22. 21. Abraham was called the Friend of God Jam. 2. 23. Many like sayings the Holy Ghost makes use of as may create Humble Boldness and love to him There is nothing affrightful in him to good Men but perfect love casts out Fear 1 John 4. 8. When this once begins to be established and rooted it is no harshness to make mention of his name then to talk and think of him must be exceeding delightful The very reason why natural and disobedient people cannot endure to hear or speak of God is for want of what is here mentioned and they judge of others by themselves But examine your selves is there any torment to speak of what one loves There is such a thing as love of God if themselves would turn from every evil way and come nearâ—â— they might be happy partakers and not only conceive but be sensible thereof It is the whole required of Man to love God with all his Heart all his Soul all his Strength and all his Mind to love him better then any yea all things besides As much as he can and to use sincere endeavours to love him more The first thing to be done before any can come unto that is to hate evil Psal 97. 10. And then we may love the Lord which gives a delicate relish of every duty we owe unto him O how love I thy Law it is my Meditation all the Day Psal 119. 97. My Meditation of him shall be sweet I will be glad in the Lord Psal 104. 34. My Mouth shall be satisfied with Marrow and Fatness whilst my tongue praiseth thee with joyful lips Psal 63 5. Praise ye the Lord for it is good to sing praises unto our God for it is pleasant and praise is comely Psal 147. 1. But God commendeth his love towards us in that while were yet sinners Of the Sacrament Christ died for us Rom. 5. 8. Now it is just and reasonable that wonderful and gracious works should be had in remembrance To this end our Lord instituted the Sacrament of his Body and Blood that we may call to mind the one was broken the other shed for us to obtain the forgiveness of our sins This do in remembrance of me Luke 22. 19. Here is a positive command and the refusal is an act of Disobedience It is called by his own name the Communion of the body of Christ and the communion of the blood of Christ 1 Cor. 10. 16. The Psalmist seems to have intended it in a prophetick Spirit when he said I will take the Cup of Salvation and call upon the name of the Lord Psal 116. 13. So that it may be applyed to this Every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward Heb. 2. 2. Again He that despised Moses Law died without Mercy Heb. 10. 28. That Soul which did not receive the Passover was to be cut off from his people And ought not the Marke 12. 6. Son of God himself be as much reverenced in the Commandments he gave us Did he not work for us a greater Salvation then the other did for our Fore-fathers in delivering them from the Land of Aegypt May it not be fearfully expected that those who either contemn or wilfully neglect this divine institution shall not be admitted into that eternal inheritance Christ hath purchased for us And where I am there shall my Servant be John. 12. 26. But he is none who will not do the things Christ saith and commands Let all consider of this and fear and lay hold of opportunity for this duty That of 1 Cor. 11. 28 29. should not keep people away for this is a certain Rule That if one truly repents and discerns the Lords Body that is esteem it more then common Bread and Wine he can never eat or drink unworthily A common and ordinary capacity doth not judge of more then he sees or handles Indeed there are too many especially in Country Towns and Villages that are sunk into gross Ignorance and Darkness as to spiritual things who was in the fault will be judged at the last day There being throughout our Land like Priest like People both backward and unwilling the one to give the other to receive instruction Yet any one that is a Man and reasonable Creature otherwise he could not do the common business of life may conceive thus much that God is who made the World and all things therein The Bible is his Word and whatsoever is written therein is most true and certain When this is heard or read sincerely it will by degrees let in more Light into his Soul Especially if he goes to the place where it is Preached and Expounded He may come to understand the sence and meaning for the Scripture in necessary things is very plain and then to conceive thereof in his mind There he may learn that under the old Law God instituted many Ceremonies and required the punctual observation of them and though the beggarly Elements and carnal Ordinances are done away for they were Types of Christ our Passover who is now risen yet since his supper is ordained to be kept in
â—urmised such a thing is Harsh and impracticable so he is thought an hard Master who requires and that his Commandments are grievous which is abominably False Where the Love of God is fixed that makes all things easie and delightful done in Reference to him They have Peace and Satisfaction all their days a well grounded Hope and are secured against the terrors of Death They do every thing of a cheerful mind and not grudgingly But where the work is only done and people are glad it is over Whose Holy and Spiritual things are left as soon as out of the Closet or Congregation and care for no other Hearing or Conversation thereof Who run on in their manner of serving God and certainly conclude themselves Right because they have the Course and Generality of the World on their side though they have been mistaken all along in matters of pure and sincere Religion Who do not universally prove what they do and if they did could find no Rejoycing in it â—ndeed their way may become familiar and customary to them for vain Hopes and Formality if not examined may produce some Gladness and Exultancy And then they reject what is more for Melancholy These will admire so many words should be made about what they conceive and do in short They may look upon what is here and afore-offered as a parcel of Melancholy Notions and contradictory to the Argument of Happiness which they fancy as only apt to breed Disturbance and sadness of Mind But iâ— the whole Work of Religion might be made so short Why did God make so large and full a Revelation in Scripture which is to be searched and contains infinite matter Why did he afford such a long John 5. 39. Psal 14. 2. time to Man upon Earth to understand and seek God if it might have been done so quickly His doings are all Wisdom and no more then what is Necessary Religion is not a Business of such sudden dispatch as some would falsly imagine and make it The general prâ—jâ—dice against Truth is that it makes Mâ—lancholy But he that will not be thus Melancholy shall be Miserable for ever We learn from 2 Thes 2. 10 13. They are to receive the Love of the Truth who would be saved from hence spring their Principles of acting aright and they must know before hand to avoid what is Evil and Destructive The Knowledge of Truth brings unto God who hath established all things under whose Shadow we may be secure from all Evil and Danger Indeed there may be mistaken ways of pleasing him which have no Footstep in his Word on a furious unwarranted Zeal which exposing to Trouble and Inconvenience without his Acceptance may run out of Breath in a wrong Road and so spend it self in weariness and doubt of mind There may be aâ— overmuch Righteousâ—â—ss in not Commanded things but in keeping close to the lines of known Duty in observance of the Precepts is application and hope of the Promises there is Approbation of Conscience Blessed are those Servants who are so doing It is called a Work of Faith and Labour of Love 〈◊〉 Thes 〈◊〉 3. but still they contentedly do it looking for the Reward and Rest as they have a little in the mean while to carry them through here yea this is an Antidote against Melancholy for they would be so otherwise the restless and busie Faculties of Man must be doing somwhat though less troubled when in any acting yet are uneasie if not on their proper Business as Religion is of the mind and outward Calling of the Body and this in subservierâ—y to the other A strange wresting of things to call that Mâ—lancholy Isa 5. 20. which only prevents and keeps it off a Disturbance which belongs to our Peace to be driven away and avoided which is the chief Good to be sought after and cherished None are more Melancholy then who seem to decline it for their utmost Happiness lies in Stupefaction and the studied Arts of unmindfulness but take away these and they sink into Dumpishness or are tortured in mind They having either a dead and troubled Heart do not know what Peace is and must find out some cure for that which would bring them to Repentance or Desperation O'foolish Sinners who hath bewitched you Why will you not suffer Gods design to be answered in you for he would have you turn from your Sins and Vanities the guilt whereof if permitted to stir causes Sorrow if stifled heaviness of Mind All this is a sad Earnest of worse things to come if not prevented this only way You must either comply or smother but how unreasonable is â—he last for if you could put away instead of putting afar off the evil Day it will come at the appointed time do what you can you only shut out the Sence thereof If in driving away Melancholy you could utterly beat off Death If you could hinder your Souls from being stript naked and sent into the other World where are no Company Pleasure or Recreations to harden If you could escape the day of Judgment and the dreadful Event thereof then it were some advantage to chase away Serioâ—sâ—ess but as things now stand it is the greateâ—â— Folly and â—anâ—er Be perswaded to endure it here for a little time Dare to be somewhat dull for a day or two and suffer the lâ—ksomâ—â—â—ss of what you have done in Iniquity 2 Cor. 7. 8 9 10. aâ—d begin the Work of Righteousness If people could be prevailed upon to be Mâ—lâ—ncholy a little and they must or suffer Eternally what is worse they would be Christians in Deed and in Truth for this is the great hindrance with aâ— High and Low Wise and Ignorant Religion makes dull and therefore they keep off Here again is to be repeated the former Observation Things at fiâ—st make a shew of the contrary Whatever brings Happiness and real Good to Mankind hath a slight appearance of Misery and Evil. The Wisdom from above doth bring Peace Satisâ—actron Delight and Assurance but the Enemy who lets from all that is Good would Suggest it raises Trouble Disquiet Fear and such like Many think of what is aforementioned as dull things because they do not make much outward noise and merriment But they do not understand the true Happiness of a Man. Peace c. What can be more desired Would they be Children always in Laughter or Crying now up in excessive Mirth and down again in Dejectedness and Anguish The first at the very instant doth not satisfie and there is weariness in it the other doth really Afflict It is desirable to be between both in a sober composed State to be as other Creatures pleased with themselves And though there is a knowledge of Imperfection and Vanity yet to go on contentedly to a better State and comfort himself in the mean time with hopes thereof He is just as a Man should be for the Mouth was not made always to be contracted Who
Stubboinness Had you not a good mind towards God when your Desires were Pure and Sincere After whom were they most sutably inclined To him above and nothing here Then you were whispered by Satan or told by his Instruments to go that way was to be Melancholy and to avoid that you did follow Sin and Vanity Is not this really Sorrow But it may be through the Deceitfulness of Sin thou canst not tell how to get out but thou must Be advised first to forbear the outward Acts VVash and make Clean put away your former Evil Doings the Clouds will go off and the Sun may again appear in its full Might Then resume thy former Thoughts and do accordingly This kind of Melancholy leads up to the Most High from whom cometh every Good thing Observe all the Commandments but there is no need of laying any greater Burden on thy self by performances which are not required The Service God hath instituted is reasonable which may be done with a ready and willing mind Be diligent in thy Calling for this is the Will of God and agreeable to Peace as an Employment of those powers of Body and Mind Keep good Company for there is a strong inclination in our Nature toward this And though now we are often separated from one another by our several Business and Action yet these shall cease when the times of refreshing shall come when there shall be no need of Action because the end is obtained We are not now to be always in Company for we have something else to do and also they do not continually divert through the remainders of Sin and Ignorance though so much the more according as we are purged from these and have less Avocation All Melancholy and Disquiet which is the same thing doth arise from not answering the natural ends and therefore the way to avoid it is to know our own Frame and to carefully comply with the just tendencies thereof All irregularity and disorder in the Flesh is Sickness or Pain Of ness Sick. And the Lord God formed Man out of the Dust of the Ground Gen. 2. 7. Then the Ground was not Accursed nor the Creature brought into the bondage of Corruption so it is conceived he was made Immortal but after his Transgression Thorns and Thistles sprang up the Seed of Diseases and Mortality was received in with the Juice of the forbidden Fruit. Sickness came Gen. 2. 19. into the World upon Man and upon Beast and every living Creature for they were formed out of the Ground before the Fall. They partake of the Punishment of Original Sin but not so Jer. 12. 4. much of Actual and Intermedial Sins for it may be observed that they do not languish under pain or Ilness from within unless by Mans Tampering and Cruelty until what brings on their Death Whence we learn that to avoid Sickness or Pain To Hereditary Guilt let us add as little more as we can Let us comply with Gods Law which he hath revealed for the Benefit of miserable and falen Man. Be Temperate in all things use Labour and Exercise according to the measure God hath ordained it is no unbecoming thing to go to the Herd and consider their ways for Health is a present and sensible good We are alike according to the Body with them The different shape doth not alter much as appears by their several Kinds How is their well Being and sound Constitution preserved Nature goes on with them according to its Course They eat what is wholesome and sutable without superadded Sauces and Mixture Think upon their Rest and Sleep which they leave off before the rising of the Sun. See them in their goings forth and comings in what degrees of Motion they use and they are better for doing so much as designed unto The Horse and Ox performing due Service do better run out their appointed time nor perish sooner unless over wrought by Tyranny or Covetousness A good Man is Merciful unto his Beast Much more should those that are Rich have the like in consideration for Servants and the Poorer part of Mankind Not suffering them to Labour beyond their Strength for that exhausts and consumes the vital Spirits as again others do Destroy themselves before their time by Sloth and Idleness Moderation is excellent and carries through all things of the World. When the Faculties of mind are pure and free in a sound Body they can better exert themselves It is a great Blessing srom God so it is to be sought for and preserved by his established means What Man is he that desireth Life and loveth many days that he may see Good keep thy Tongue from Evil and thy Lips from speaking Guile Depart from Evil and do Good seek Peace and pursue it The Eyes of the Lord are upon the Righteous and his Ears are open unto their Cry Psal 34. 12 13 14 15. This is the way to prevent loss of Liberty or Life from the offended Magistrate Violence and Mischief from a Quarrelling Neighbour so he is safe as to Man And then from within himself Nothing is so good a remedy to keep the Body in its due Temperament as avoiding Sin and doing commanded Duty Gods Providence here stands engaged for outward Accidents and Casualties Sickness or Pain doth happen one of these three ways and so we are taught as to each of them Ye shall serve the Lord your God and he shall Bless thy Bread and thy Water And I will take away Sickness from the midst of thee Exod. 23. 25. He hath put a standing Wholesomeness and Nourishment in those Creatures appointed for our Food and if any Poyson or Hurt should be in them as that is seldom in common things but rather in new Inventions of Luxury he can by a Thought or some other manner divert from receiving thereof or afterwards cause that it shall not hurt them Nature which is made the great Temptation to Unbelief doth plainly manifest his Eternal Power and Godhead for he first erected such a standing Course of things and even now Governs it He over-rules the whole and disposes each part thereof So he is not to be thrust out but should be sought unto as well as the Physitians and outward Help He in the first place 2 Chron. 16. 11 12. and they in Subordination unto him The dull and unthankful World will cry out upon such a Prescription or Plaister and therefore he shall have the thanks who was the Instrument of bringing it unto them Whereas they might remember who made the Body Who was it that gave Skill and Understanding to the Physitian He can also turn his Counsel into Foolishness It was God who first made and gave that Vertue in Physick and Salve to Heal for otherwise a piece of Wood might do the same He hath endued things with their several Efficacies and Uses I taught Ephraim also to go taking them by their Arms But they knew not that I Healed them Hos