sake that showed it and for conscience sake That which hee said of eating that may J say of drinking Drinke of any drinke that is set downe before you but if a scoll come to the table drinke it not because it is a sacrifice offered vnto the stinking idoll of the belly Let vs not onely flee all evill but all appearance of evill What hurt to health such scolls haue bene the conscience of many will beare mee record I wish that the force of Gods word could sweepe that out which mans corruption hath brought in When the brasen serpent made by Gods command was abused good Hezekiah brake it in peeces and called it Nehushtan that is a lumpe of brasse Seeing scols haue beene so vilely abused let vs breake them in peeces away with all appearance of evill This much concerning these enemies of health who by excessiue drinking drowne their spirits and the gifts of GOD within them There be now another sort of drunkards who spoile their health with reeke and smoke Tobacca-men who goe about to smoke the soule out of the body as if it were a foxe chased out of his hole this fire may be called as the fire of Nadab was called viz. strange fire I speake not of the vse but of the abuse of Gods creatures my reproofe is against these that spend the tyme with plussing of reeke which should be better imployed What count should such firie pipers make to God if death in an instant should feaze vpon them with that fire pipe at their mouth If God should say to that man what was thou doeing while I sent my servant death for thee Will that bee a gratious answere Lord I was spending the tyme that thou gavest mee for repentance at such and such an exercise I will not insist against this sinne that was once a great streanger in this land Onely this will J say for the present this taking of reeke seemeth to be a gracelesse thing Jf a man come in into a house and take but a drinke he wil first pray to God for a blessing But there is no grace for Tobacca as if it were not a creature of God Every creature of God is good and nothing to bee refused if it bee received with thanksgiving Away with such new inventions whereof the event is this the soule abhorreth all manner of meate Away with these creaturs which are nor received with thanksgiving Let vs now proceede in our text And they drewe neere the gates of death VVEE haue heard how all the sicke mans appetite is lost That which followeth is that they drawe neere the gates of death See how the living man sickneth and decayeth See how his sinne goeth downe by degrees first he can not eate after that all natural strength failing him hee draweth neere the gates of death yea so neere that with Job he is not able to swallow downe his spittle The doctrine J obserue heere is that sicknesse commeth formest death followeth after There is no disease that commeth to a man but it is like a warning peece of preparation for death The vse when ever wee find our appetite decay let vs remember the doores of death Againe let vs obserue heere that the Psalmist speaketh not heere of any light disease as of a tooth-ache or of some little throwing of the belly but of a deadly disease wherein all the cunning of the physician is gone See what doloures the sinne of man is able to bring vpon him Sinne while it is in doeing goeth merrily on like a ship falling into calme waters with flaunting failes but tary till the revenging tempest of Gods wrath come rush vpon the sinner and tumble him vp downe then is hee forced to know that there bee some great power provoked but let vs see what is vnderstood heere by the gates or doores of death By the gates or doores of death some vnderstand the graue when your graues are opened for to receiue your bodies then are the gates or ports of death opened that yee may enter in The graue maker is deaths porter A man is said to bee neere the gates of death when he is so sicke that there be more appearance of death then of lyfe Some are so sicke that they must make their Testament Some are yet neerer yea so neere that no hope of lyfe being left the living will cut off their winding-sheete The last yeere when J came out of that fever in all mens opinions deadly I found my winding sheete cut off lying in my studie amongst my bookes In such a case man may well bee said to be neere the gates of death when at every moment wee thinke that his breath should goe out In this drawing neere the graue J obserue also the weaknesse of man Were hee never so strong death at last will drawe him with sicknesse to her portes Samson for all his force yelded vnto this draught Let mee dye said hee with the Philistims there is neither force nor bewtie nor wisdome able to resist this draught Man in his name may learne his weaknesse The Hebrewes call him Enosh quasiâ—â—ger diâ—â—us â—â— mortifera agritudine in quam 〈◊〉 peccatum incidit that is from â—iseases wherevnto hee hath beene made subject by sinne Eliphaz speaking of mans weaknesse faith that wee dwell in houses of clay whose foundation is in the dust which are crushed before the moth See what an house thy soule ô man dwelleth into It is but a little lodge so ruinous that if a moth but creepe vp vpon it with the weight thereof it will be crushed The vse let no man lippen to his strength or youth While thou art into thy greatest force remember that God can cause thee to be crushed before a moth which shall drawe thee perforce in at the doores of death for to dwell amongst the crawling wormes Others by the gates of death heere vnderstand the power that death hath over all the living They call the power of death gates of death quia judicia olim in portis exercebantur because the magistrats in whose hand was the civill power sat into the portes of the City while they did exercise judgement In this sease Christ said that the gates of hell should not prevaile against his Church By the gates or portes of Hell is to be vnderstood the power of hell So heere by the gates of death learned interpreters vnderstand the power of death The doctrine J obserue heere is that great was the power of death before the coming of Christ. It is heere set foorth as a King or a magistrate sitting with great power rule and dominion This impire it keept ever till Christ came who tooke part of our flesh and blood that through death hee might destroye him that had the
creature whose motion hee could not vnderstand As for the earth it is a worke so wonderfull that no man tell wherevpon it hath beene founded Tell me O thou most learned Philosopher what can vphold such a heavy masse Thou wilt say that is founded vpon its Centre But what is that centre but a point What beareth vp that point that beareth vp all the rest But how can a point bee a fundation of so hudge a masse But imagine a man standing in the centre tell me what should be his situation According to the rules of Philosophie both his head should be vpward and his feete should be vpward Now what braine is able to conceiue this Some may think all this to be very easy but God did propound it vnto Job as a great argument Wherevpon said Hee are the fundations of the earth fastened We must therefore confesse that this worke of GOD which is but earthly is so wonderfull that it overfloweth all humane capacitie When a vessell is filled to the brimme it must at last overflow When our heart is filled with that which is wonderfull the wonders which we can not containe must runne over What shall J say more Behold O man all the parâ—es of the mekle world bend thy wits and see where thou can correct God his wisedome Come foâ—ward I pray thee and teach him a lesson if thou can If not confesse that his workes are wonderfull and that thou is filled with wondering so that GODS wonders in thy heart doe overflow From the mekle world let vs come to man the litle world Behold the fabricke of his body his browes his eares his eyes his nose his mouth Behold the wonderfull worke of God Teach GOD a lesson if thou can Wilt thou say that his mouth had beene best in his brow and that his nose had beene best behind his eare and that his eyes had beene more fitly into his chinne No not There is no part which can be devised to bâ—â— better then it is the worke is vvonderfull and therfore say that thou art filled with wondring Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodnesse and for his wonderfull workes to the children of men To come from the body to consider God his workings in the soule they are so wonderfull that no man can declare them Who shall not wonder to consider the workings of the soule J admire the mind and vnderstanding the will and the affections agreeing discording considering judging loving or hating making the body to laugh or to weepe according as the spirit is disposed Consider the spirit of man furnishing the body with fiue watches as with a guard for its preservation viz hearing seeing smelling feeling tasting and touching all set about the body for its preservation for as many watches to tell who is a foe and who is a friend The worke is so wonderfull that while I consider it my spirit doth overflow with wondering Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodnesse and for his wonderfull workes to the children of men Last of all seeing the curing of the sicknesse of the body is called a wonderfull worke how wonderfull must the curing of the sicke soule be For this cause and for others also CHRIST the Saviour of soules was called Wonderfull Vnto vs a child is borne said the Prophet and his name shall bee called WONDERFVLL This is he who hath not only filled the earth but the Heavens with wondering The Heavens at the first could not well perceiue how by God his stripes man should haue health The Cherubins which represented the Angels had their heads ever bowed toward the Mercy-seat for to see the calling and healing of the Gentiles The fellowship of that mysterie had beene hid in God from them and that from the beginning of the world But so soone as it was revealed vnto them by the Church that is so soone as they sawe God his promise accomplished in the Church as in a glasse they all with one voyce praised God for his goodnesse and for his wonderfull workes to the children of men All the spirits of Heaven did praise Him that day with that divine song Glory bee to GOD in the highest Heavens peace on earth and toward men good will But what shall J say of men who are so much beholden vnto God Hath not God created vs Hath he not redeemed vs with the blood of his sonne Hath hee not delivered vs from many dangers at home and a field Hath bee not made all our bed in our sickenesse Hath he not brought vs backe from the doores of death But where is our thankfulnesse I say againe OH where is our thankfulnesse Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodnesse and for his wonderfull workes to the children of men To the Father Sonne and Holy Ghost bee glory and Majestie Dominion and power for ever and ever AMEN Eccles. 12. v. 10. Eccles. 12. v. 11. Bernar. super Cant. Quâ—rit aâ—â—â—aâ— verâ—uâ— cui consentiat aâ— correâ—iâ—â—em 〈◊〉 illumiâ—nâ—â—ur ad cognitioneÌ„ cui innitatur ad virtutem quo res â—nctur ad sipientiâ—m cui 〈◊〉 tur ad deâ—â—rem cui â—â—â—â—tetur ad sâ—â—uâ—â—illaâ—â—◠〈◊〉 sâ—uatur 〈…〉 Eccles. 12. v. 4. Luke 12. v. 35. Note 2. Tim. 1. v. 18. Libri Liberi Gen. 4. v. 7. Hieron ad Pamâ—nach Epist. 5. cap. 8. Exod. 33. â—1 v. 22. v. 19. v. 23. Exod. 34 v. 6. v 7. Note Psal. 101 v. 1. Ephes 3 v. 10 Psal. 18 v. 26. * Note * Note 1. King 1â— v 11 Jude v. 22. v. 23. * Note Act. 4. v. 36. Mark 3. â—7 * Note * Note Deut. 20 v. 10. v. 1â— * Note 2. Cor. 10 v. 4. * Note Leut. 19. v. 17. Ezek. 33. v. 3â— * Note * Note Note Act. 24 v. 25. * Note 1. King 22 v. 8. * Note * Note Job 6. v. 10. Ezek. 33 v. 3. * Note * Hose 6. v 5. Note * Note Jere. 1. v 17. Note Isa. 62 v. 16. * Note Ierem. 20. v. 9. * Note * Note * Note * Note 1. Cor. 3 v 18. * Note Prou. 30 v. 2. v. 3. * Note 1. Cor. 4 v. 10. 2. Kings 9. vi 1. Act. 26 v. 24. * 1. Cor. 1. v. 25. Note 1. Cor. 1. v 21. 1. Cor. 1 v. 18. Luk. 24. v. 2 Luk. 15. v. 17. 1. Cor. 1. v. 18. Note Luk. 12 v. 20. Note Heb. 6. v. 4. Note Psal. 37 v. 35. Ps. 129. v. 6. Iob. 5. v. 3 Iob. 5. v. 4. v. 5. Amos. 2. v. 9. The doctrine 1. Cor. 3. v. 19. The vse Note Tit. 2 v. 12. Note Note Note Note Note Luke 34 v. 25. Note Iude. v. 9. Note The doctrine Note Note Isay. 66. v. 17. The vse Note Note Ephes. 5. v. 3. Note Ier. 22. v. 8. Note v. 9. The doctrine Note Ionah 1. v. 11. v. 12. Iosh. 7. v. 8. v. 12 Note Iob. 8. v. 11. Note
him double his stroke against the Rocke while he should haue spoken to the stones who for a word would haue wept and shed teares to be drinke vnto Jsrael he in steade of speaking to the Rocke scourged the Rocke once and againe That Rocke was CHRIST and who would haue thought that euer Moses would haue scourged Christ for that deed particularly he neuer bowe the Lord by his prayer for once to let him set his foot in Canaan the type of Heauen Because he dishonored the word of faith with doubting he neuer entered into the land of promise The wordes of his doubt were these Here now yee rebels must wee fetch you water out of this Rock Hezekiel his answere to God was better when the Lord inquired of him if the dead bones could liue O Lord said he thou knowest O but God thinketh much of his word God hath said a great word Heauen and earth shall passe away but my word shall not passe away Christ speaking of the power of this word said that a word spoken with as great of faith as a graine of mustard seede should remoue a mountaine hence to yonder place S. Luke saith that such a word should be able to pluck vp by the roots a sycamine tree and plant it into the Sea a most vnfit place for planting * See how Gods word can cause a tree take roote in an element which naturaly is more bent to pluck vp trees by the roots shall we doubt of the power of this word were our distresse neuer so great No not There is such a power in this word that in time of miracles it made the shadowe of the Messinger to heale these that were sicke while Peter passed by The people brought foorth the sicke into the streets and laid them on beds and couches that at the least the shaddow of Peter passing by might ouer-shddowe some of them Such was their faith that they stroue for the shadowe of Peter and all that but for to be cured of a bodily disease O if men now a dayes were as bent for to come to this word of God as they were for the shadow of a man The power of this word within S. Paul put such vertue into his napkins that wypt the sweate from his body or the teares from his eyes that these to whome they were brought were cured of all their diseases yea and thereby euill spirits were cast out of some Such vertue came from the shadowes and clothes of such men that men might belieue that they were sent with this word that healeth the soule These miracles were done by the word and are writen for our learning that we may belieue Gods word to be true Fourthly seeing this word sent by God should be receiued by faith it must also be preached with faith let him that speaketh it speake it with boldnes not fearing the face of man hee must not be like the Trumpeter who trembleth while hee foundeth alarmes for to stirre vp the courage of others Fifthly seeing it is Gods word that is the word of power let him that heares a word preached consider well vvhose worde it is The touch stone of spoken wordes is the writen word This was the nobilitie of the men of Berea they tried the word after it was preached they searched the scriptures daily whether these things that were preached were so or not Sixtly in that it is said in my Text that the word is a messenger of health a messenger sent from God for to cure diseases we should make it welcome When Eglon a Pagan King heard Ehud saye Iudg. 3 v. 20. I haue a message from God vnto thee it is said that he arose out of his seat that is hee stood vpon his feete for to beare reverence to the worde of the Lord. When Hezekiah heard many sore wordes of threatning sent to him from God All that he said was Good is the worde of the Lorde what then should we say of the word of health the healing word which is sent for to cure both soule and body viz. the worde of the Gospell Goode is the Gospell goode is the Gospell the word of health may all sicke sinners now say This is that word sent for to cure the diseases that would not yeeld vnto the dead letters of the law Blessed are the feete of these that fetch Gospell the word of good tidings Seuently seeing the word sent from God is God his appointed meanes for the recouering of health when euer we are sicke if wee pray for health let vs intreat God to send his word vnto vs but seeing the word now commeth not downe from heauen in a voice thorow the aire but is committed to a messenger we must not looke for revelations but seeke that word from the messenger Gods interpreter to whom it is betrusted we must looke for a blessing from the word spoken by him who is called of God If God had not bidden Ezekiel prophecie vnto the bones the bones had neuer stirred for all his preachinges If profite had called him to be a Prophet his prophecie had neuer bene able to quicken these slaine But because he prophecied not till God bade him prophecie so soone as hee prophecied the sent word vnto the scattered dead bones they all got life and stood vp an exceeding great armie Men that run and speake vnsent find that their speach take no effect Certaine of the vagabond Jewes exorcists and among others seuen sonnes of Sceua who was chiefe of the Priests tooke vpon them to adiure a deuill that was in a man and that by Jesus whom Paul preached But what said the divell Iesus I know and Paul I know but who are yee Thus God as yee see hath appointed certaine men for to carie the word that he sendeth such a man the sickenesse of a man will knowe But if men runne vnsent though they should preach Jesus whome Paul preached the diseases like diuels shall say to them But who are yee yea the disease shall leape on them and ouercome them and preuaile against them as the diuell did to the exorcists When Gods word is sent for to heale most ordinarly it is sent by a rare man a pastour whom Elihu calles one of a thousand I know that by the word that God in my Texte is laide to send may bee vnderstood the power of God God indeede can heale men without a pastour either to speake to them or to pray for them but ordinarly he sendeth this word of healing by the mouth of some rare interpreter The words of Elihu are plaine for the clearing of my Text Behold first how he bringeth in the sicke man in his sickenesse Hee is chastened with pâ—ine vpon his bed the multitude of his bones with strong paine So that his life abhorreth bread and his soule dainty
THE BALME OF GILEAD PREPARED FOR THE SICKE THE WHOLE IS DIVIDED INTO THREE PARTES 1. THE SICKE MANS SORE 2. THE SICKE MANS SALVE 3. THE SICKE MANS SONG Published by Mr. ZACHARIE BOYD PREACHER of GODS WORD at GLASOGW AVGVST Latet vltimus dies vt observentur omnes dies Sero parantur remedia quum mortis imminent perscula EDINBVRGH Printed by IOHN WREITTOVN 1629 Psal. 102.6 I am like a Pelican of the Wildernesse TO THE RIGHT REVEREND FATHER IN GOD IAMES BY THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD ARCHBISHOP OF GLASGOVV RIGHT REVEREND THE Preacher speaking of himselfe said that for his preachings hee sought to find out acceptable words words of delight which in the same verse he calleth words of trueth where I obserue that words of trueth may bee words of delight delight not being contrarie to trueth neither pleasure vnto profit Such words are compared to goades nailes which CHRIST the great Pastour giveth vnto his Ministers the Masters of Assemblees who are appointed by him for to fasten yea and to naile mens soules vnto him selfe Such words are full of substance they are faire without faird As it is not good in preaching to make vse of swelled hydropick words of man his invention neither must man take that for simplicity of the Gospell which diverse call simplicity viz. words wanting a due painefull meditation which is the very digestion of the spirit Ill studied words can not be these acceptable words of Solomon Of them can bee made no nailes for the fastening of loose and vâ—stable soules I ever thought this part of the Ministrie a painefull part not to be done without great paines Some speake of a Booke day but all our dayes should be Booke dayes If a Pagan could be moved for any thing to say Ab perdiat diem alace I haue left a day what shall he say who is a labourer in the Lords Vineyeard They who would doe this worke as they should must with earnest prayers painefull reading and serious meditations emptie their veines of their blood till palenesse the STVDDIE MARKE bee printed vpon their face They must watch while others sleepe and labour at the candle They must forsake the feathers and the downes at the chirping of the birds In some measure I striue to this though not as I would Happie is the servant that is vigilant hauing ever his loines girded and his candle in his hand waiting for the coming of his LORD Let it please your Lo. to take in good part this part of my labours wherein is a boxe of balme a little testimony of my thankfulnesse for the great kindnesse whereof in my great affliction it pleased you to make mee partake The bloody persecution in France did scatter many Churches and mine amongst others At my coming heere you refreshed mee with your comforts and placed mee besides your selfe where I find the LORD'S blessing vpon my labours To Him alone belongs the glory And seeing it is the LORDS will that man bee thankfull vnto man let me heere name three speciall friends to whom neither name not blood haue bund mee but great loue and kindnesse in time of mine adversitie the bond whereof as I hope shall never bee broken At my first coming to Edinburgh good Doctour SIBBALD the glory and honour of all the Physicians of our Land would haue mee to abide with him But afterward a preaching at a fast hauing made mine acquaintance with Sr. William Scot of Eli that great Scots MECENAS Patron to great ROLLOCVS hee after that did keepe me with him as one of his owne Children the LORD grant vnto him that hee may finde mercie in that day From Sr. William you brought mee to Glasgow of that your favour let mee not forget a speciall instrument even that wise and godly man Mr. Iames Râ—bertoun Comisser of Hamiltoun with whom I wish that I might both liue and die I heere in the dedication of this treatise acknowledge your bounty with a thankfull profession And seeing our Bookes are our Children the biâ—sb of our braines it is most convenient that you who haue the Patronage of the FATHER should also vouchsafe a blessing to the Children Which looking after I intreat the Most High to preserue you vnblameable both in Soule and Body vntill the day of his appearing At Glasgow the 23 of December 1628. Your Lo. in all duetie Mr. ZACHARIE BOYD Preacher of GODS WORD at GLASGOW TO THE READER THERE was never an age more fertile in reproofes and reproches than this We are come to the dregges of dayes where it is counted vertue to point out the imperfections of our brethren Many are like the Flee that can not rest but vpon a scabbe Charitable Reader take in good part these my paines taken for thy profit As for thee whose countenance is cast downe because of GODS graces in others If thou doe well shall it not bee accepted but if not sinne lyeth as the doore Doe better thy selfe and that shall be my reproofe It was well said by St. Ierome Aut profer meliores epulaâ— me conviva vâ—ere aut qualicuâ—que nostra coeâ—ula contentus esto that is if thou can prepare better cheare let â—nce partake if not bee content with such as I haue THE SICKE MANS SORE PSal 107. v. 17. Fooles because of their transgressions and because of their iniquities are afflicted V. 18. Their soule abhorreth all maner of meate and they draw neare vnto the gates of death V. 19. Then they crye vnto the Lord in their trouble hee saveth them out of their distresses V. 20. He sent his word and healed them and delivered them from their destructions V. 21. Oh that men wold praise the Lord for his goodnesse and for his wonderfull works to the Children of men THis text may be called the sicke mans text The division of the words The text divideth it selfe in three speciall parts In the first is the sicke mans sore In the second is the sick mans salve In the third is the sicke Mans song The sicke mans sore is in these wordes Fooles because of their transgressions and because of their iniquities are afflicted their soule abhorreth all manner of meate c. The sicke mans salve is in these wordes Then they cry to the Lord in their trouble he saveth them out of their distresses hee sent his word and healed them and delivered them from their destructions The sicke Mans song is a Song of praise in these wordes Oh that men wold praise the Lord for his goodnesse and for his wonderfull workes to the Children of men 1. PART THE SECKE MANS SORE IN the words of the Psalmist here first the ordour is to bee considered Judgements heere goe before mercy or for to speak so take the fore-gate of Mercy when God was desired by Moses to shewe him his face God said vnto him that no man could see his face and live But behold said hee there is
of a godly heart is all in this wish when shall I come and appeare before God Item I desire to bee dissolved and to bee with Christ. But for some reasons the most godly whiles will seek life from God some desire to live because they desire yet to doe some better service for God than hitherto they have done they are sorie that in their calling they have not beene so busie as it became them to bee the desire of their life is onelie that they may redeeme the time by dooing some one good turne or other for their God Jn my iudgment this chieflie made Hezekiah to weepe to croude and to chatter while hee heard the message of death This chiefly made the Psalmist crye Take mee not away in the midst of my dayes * Others even of the number of the godly will crye for life because they finde not themselves so well prepared for to come before the face of their Iudge they see that as yet they have not put the affaires of their Soule to an order It is likelie that this also made Hezekiah to weepe so fore that he chattered at the words of the messinger of death God by Isaiah bade him put his house in order if that had beene already done it had not needed Gods command seeing then his house was not set in order which is but an easie matter it would seeme that his soule was not so set in order as that hee found it ready to compeare before the iudgment seat of God O how fearefull is that tribunall for an vnprepared soule What terrours are these sinne and sicknesse death the grave an vnprepared soule The vse of all this is seeing there is nothing more certaine than death and nothing more vncertaine than the time and place thereof let vs ever be vpon our guarde ready to flitte and remove out of our tabernacles of clay My time is in thine hand said David Wee cannot tell how soone our glasse shall end Let vs therefore resolve with Hezekiah in all the way of our pilgrimage to goe softly in the bitternesse of our soule Againe in that it is said that the sicke men cry vnto the Lord in their trouble let vs observe the perversnesse of our nature Troubles make vs to crye bodily afflictions rouze vs vp to crye but alas while wee sinne we keepe silence while the Thiefe is cutting a purse hee is quiet but while hee is scourged for his fault hee will shoute for every stripe While Satan is forcing vs with his tentations to offend our God wee often yeelde therevnto without any crye to our God Jt is then especially that wee shoulde crye vnto him when wee finde sinne comming against vs to force vs to offend our God God in his word hath set downe a notable Lawe for a Damsell betrothed to a husband I will let you heare the Law If a Damsell saith the Lord that is a virginâ— bee betrothed to an husband and a man find her in the Citie and lye with her Then yee shall bring them both out to the gate of that Citie and yee shall stone them with stones that they die the Damsell because shee cryed not and the man because hee humbled his neigboures wife But if a man finde a betrothed Damsell in the field and the man force her and lye with her then the man only that lay with her shall die But in the Damsell there is no sinne worthie of death for hee found her in the field and the betrothed Damsell cryed and there was none to save her Now what is to bee inferred vpon this This is the matter The soule of a Christian is as a Damsell a virgin betrothed vnto Christ the blessed Bridegrome of our soules Sathan the tempter is like a Russian comming to force and defile this Damsell Jf the soule crye not while Sathan is vsing violence the Soule and Sathan shall die the soule because it cryed not and Sathan because hee forced the Soule But if while Sathan is vsing violence rhe soule cry vnto God for help then Sathan shall only die yea though in that case the soule in something should bee defiled yet shall shee not die because she cryed vnto the Lord. The vse of this is that whensoever wee shall perceive Sathan comming with force for to deflore or defile our soule Christs Damsell we incontinent crye with all our force vnto GOD. Lord help mee Lord leade mee not into tentation O God of my mâ—â—â—â— prevent mee and keepe mâ— from these snares bee thou a shelter for mee and a strong tower from the enemie This was Pauls doing when hee feared to bee forced with that bodie of death hee cryed Miserable man that I am who shall deliver mee from this body of death This was the practise of Joseph while his Mistresse saide to him lye with mee hee cryed vnto God How should I doe this wickednesse and sinne against God * Hee that will not crye to God before hee sinne Gods plagues at last shall cause him crye for his sins * Well is that man and that woman that can crye to God for to save them from the houre of tentation If a Damsell was forced in the fielde her sinne was not thought worthye of death because it was supponed that shee cryed but that there was none to help her But it is not so with our soule whether it crye in the Citie or in the field if shee cry shee shall find that there is a God for to help her and therefore if shee be forced shee can have no excuse Well is that soule that is continually crying to God in prayer Jf a palliard knowe that a woman will crye hee will feare to make an onset but if hee see her smyle hee knoweth that hee hath found his match It is so with Sathan that great palliard and the soule of man If Sathan knowe thy soule to bee a crying soule a soule that will tell all his teâ—tations to Christ her husband hee will feare to tempt that soule Satan is feared for Christ hee beleeveth and hee trembleth But if hee see a soule that is quiet a soule that heares his filthie language and smileth vpon him with a wanton eye there the vncleane Spirit knoweth that hee hath founde his match Well is that soule that Sathan finds weeping for offending Christ her husband O what a difference is betweene a soule whose eyes are drumly with teares of repentance and a soule whose eyes are wanton ' light and smyling eyes filled with spirituall adulterie Remember this vse O man when ever Sathan shall come to tempt thee vnto sinne then crye thou vnto the Lord vnto Christ thy husband and Sathan that filthy Russian shall flie awaye in haste so long as wee breath let vs pray that the Lord would lead vs into the land of righteousnesse
another for leprosie to another for barrennesse to another for sicke horse to another for sicke kine to another for their swine I neede not goe farre Beholde into the same house where J preach that place of S. 〈◊〉 mooles in my time J sawe a deepe hole at the side of that stone where the miserable ignoraÌ„ts of this land had digged for to get the dust of that pretended Saint as if it had had power for to give health Mercifull God what blindnesse of ignorance was that What could be the cause of this This was the cause The poore people could not find the worde Gods messenger for health The Bible was a clasped booke then the Antichristian seales were as yet not loosed they heard nothing but mumbling of Masses wordes that they vnderstood not wordes that could not heale their hearts sicke of sinne and what wonder that like hennes they came seraping and scarting among the graves seeking if they could find any pickle of comfort to their comfortlesse soules Blessed bee our God that hath sent his word to this place for healing of sicke sinners whereas of before they were wont to bee sent to seeke comfort from the dead that had no comfort for themselves Gods word is a salve for all sorts of sores To come to my doctrine there is no disease vncurable to the word when it shall please God to send it I confesse that there bee diseases like devills some of a kinde that are more hardly driven away than others This sort of devils said Christ cannot bee cast out but by fasting and prayer to the worde of prayer fasting behoved to be ioyned Not that the word wanted force for to chase out these Devills but because of vs whose prayers are sluggish while the bellie is full A full bellie maketh the spirit lumpish fulnesse of food sends vp such thicke vapours which become clowdes betweene the face of God and our prayers so that they can not passe thorow Againe seeing Gods word is his appointed meane whereby hee not onlie giveth health to the body but also to the soules of his children let vs not wonder that Sathan the enemie of mans salvation bee a great enemie to this word to the teachers and to the hearers There is not a Sermon made to a people but Sathan is affraide to losse a soule for this cause especiallie hee beares a great ill will at Pastours because they carie the word of health Such men are the Lords Ensigne-bearers against whom Sathan shooteth his greatest peeces If they fall the men of health fall the sicke can no more get salve for his sore for this cause let no man wonder that Sathan raiseth slanders vpon Preachers This maketh that Dragon often to stretch out his taile that hereby hee may sweepe downe the lights of the World which shew vnto vs the way of salvation Jf once hee can make this word of God to bee ill spoken of and by the reeke of calumnie darken the light or make it to bee loathed hee thinkes that hee hath wonne a field As for you who take vpon you any profession of godlinesse by frequenting Sermons and often hearing of this word Beware that by a scandalous life yee make others to loath that which is Gods also appointed meanes for the healing of soules Woe to them that make the worde of God to bee ill spoken of Againe seeing the word is so poweâ—full a meane for to recover the health that is lost it must also bee a most powerfull preservative of health The vse seeing it is so let vs make meekle of Gods word in our health for it is the word of health the messenger of health the word of good tidings What better tidings would a sicke man have than that hee should bee healed * There was such a desire of health in Christs dayes that the people throâ—ged so about him that some not being able to enter in at the doore of the house where he was clambe vp vpon the house vncouered the roofe above his head and let downe the sicke into beds by the hole they had broken vp Jf wee knew the vertue of Gods word before that wee were debarred therefrom by a multitude wee should vncover the roofe of the house where it is preached that we might bee let downe by cords as wee loue our health wee should loue this word of health All men wish for health heere is the best preservative feare God and heare his word diligentlie If thou losse a preaching needlesly it is a wonder if thou contract not some disease If thou also be sluggish to come to Gods house or if thou come but yet heares carelesly and receiues not the word with greedinesse that is a spirituall lumpishnesse of heart a forerunner of some painefull disease Men ordinarly before some sicknes find a certain heauinesse with want of appetit There is no surer token of a fearfull disease to come then a lumpish loathing of Gods word It is of the word as of the Sacrament Jf the Sacrament of the supper be eaten vnworthily by the children of God though God after their repentance forgiue them the sinne yet he will chastise them with diuers diseases for this cause said the Apostle many are weake and sickly amongst you and many sleepe Euen so when the word is heard negligently without due preparation for this cause many are plagued with diuers diseases There is no such token that God will keepe the health of a people as when a people hath appetit of the word and heares it with greedinesse These delicate soules that are not content with the sincere word of God except that it be saused into the entising words of mans wisdome can not be but sickly soules Such men must be filled with some filthinesse within which bursteth out into scabs which scripture calleth the itching of the eare Thus as Solomon faith The full soule lotheth the honiâ— combe euen Gods word that is sweeter then the honie combe But to the hungrie soule euery bitter thing is sweet A morsell of drye bread is more pleasant to a hungry man then wild foule is to him that is Blewe burstex as we say This land let me be familiar is as it were Blewe bursten vvith abundance of Gods word We are well fed but it is not seene on vs Because we are filled we loth the honie combe J see no greater token of great diseases to come vpon this land then this Scotlands appetite of Gods word is lost Let vs heere also obserue the craft of Sathan who in all things goeth about to counterfeit God in his doings Heere in my Text it is said that God healeth the sicke with wordes he sent his Worde and healed them Sathan goeth about to make men beleiue that he can heale diseases also with words which wee