AN EASE FOR a diseased man. published FOR THE instruction of those which are visited with sickness of body; especially those which being infected with the contagious pestilence are debarred from the public ministry of the word, and the comfortable society of their brethren. by M. M. Micah. 7. v. 7. I will look unto the Lord: I will wait for God my saviour: my God will hear me. v. 8. rejoice not against me, O my enemy: though I fall, I shall arise, &c. v. 9. I will bear the wrath of the Lord, because I haue sinned against him, &c. LONDON, Printed by W. jones, and are to be sold by John Wright, dwelling without New-gate. 1625. AN EASE FOR A DISEASED man. THat a Man may thankfully receive, patiently bear, and joyfully over-passe the cross of sickness: it is profitable for him to meditate principally( among others) of these points following. 1 Who is the author and sender of sickness. The Scriptures do teach us, that all sickness of body proceedeth from God, as appeareth by these places: In Deut. 28. v. 21, 22. The Lord shall make pestilence to cleave unto thee, until he hath consumed thee from the land whether thou goest to possess it. The Lord shall smitt thee with a consumption, and with a fever, and with a burning Ague, and with fervent heat. And in 1 Sam. 5.9. The hand of the Lord was against the city with a very great destruction: and he smote the men of the ●… tie both small and great, and they had Emerods in their secret parts. In that God is the author of sickness, we may learn these Lessons. 1 We must not ascribe our sickness to chance or fortune: for it is of the will of God. 2 look not too much to the means of thy sickness: as to could, surfeiting, infected houses, &c. But to lift up thine eyes to Heaven, remembering that the Lord hath sent it. Rom 9.19. 3 storm not against sickness with murmuring or impatience; for thou canst not resist it: the Lord hath sent it: and who hath resisted his will. 4 In sickness seek to the Lord for remedy; for he sent it, and he must take it away: So it is written. Hos. 6.1. Come and let us return to the Lord, for he hath spoyled, and he will heal us: Hose. 6.1. he hath wounded us, and he will bind us up. We must be careful therefore that wee seek not for health by unlawful means, 1. 2 King. 1.3. as by Witchcraft, conjuring, Charming &c. For Ahaziah is rebuked, for that in hi● sickness he sent to ask counsel concerning his recovery of baalzebub the God of Ekron. 2 We must not depend too much vpon the lawful means: 2. Chro. 16 12 as vpon the physician &c. For this was noted for a sin in King Asa, that being diseased in his feet, he sought not the Lord in his disease, but to the physicians: that is, the physicians only. 2 What provoketh God to smite man with sickness. The Scripture do teach us, that the sin of man, Leuit. 26 14.15.16. is commonly the cause why he is smitten with sickness. as in Levit. 26. v. 14.15.16. If ye will not obey me, nor do all the commandments, &c. Then will I also do this unto you: I will appoint over you fearfulness,( or a hasty plague) a consumption, and the burning Ague, to consume the eyes, and to make the heart heavy. 2. Sam. 24.15. Dauids mistrust in numbering the people, was scourged with a plague of 70000. men, within three dayes. We haue among the rest these particular sins set down, as the causes of this devouring plague of pestilence: The first sin is, Exod 5.3. The neglect of Gods service: Moses & Aaron desires Pharaohs leave to go and sacrifice to the Lord in the desert, least for want thereof he bring vpon them the Pestilence. Secondly, The abuse of the Sacraments. 1. Cor 11.30. For this cause( saith Paul) that is, for abusing the Lords Supper,( as is before in that 1. Cor. 11. Chapter, 30. ver.) many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. Thirdly, Disobedience to Gouernours. Nomb. 16 49. As Numbers 16.49. verse. The Israelites for rebelling against Moses and Aaron, dyed of the plague fourteen thousand and seven hundren men. Fourthly, Their Murmuring against God. So Moses saith, Numb. 13.3. The Israelites murmured against God, because he lead them no sooner into the land of Canaan, and because the land was no better, therefore the Lord threatened to smit them with the Pestilence, and to destroy them. And no doubt these sins and offences principally are among others the most sensible and apparent causes of the plague among vs. As 1. The contempt of the hearing of the word. 2 The neglect of the communication of the Sacrament. 3 Our unruliness, and disobedience to magistrates. 4 Our murmuring against God in the very time of the iudgement. In that sin is commonly the cause of sickness, learn these Lessons. First, look not too much on the means whereby, or the manner how thou art afflicted: but look especially to thy sin, as the principal cause of it. We say commonly, I took my sickness by such a journey, by such a surfeit, in such an infected house, &c. True, those were the outward means: But it was thy sin within thee which provoked God to offer those means to thee, and to make them strong and effectual to afflict thee. Secondly, When thou art visited with sickness, enter into examination of thine own heart, what sins do principally reign in thee, & do provoke God to smite thee in that manner. Thirdly, by fasting & prayer and repentance, turn to the Lord thy God, that he may in mercy forgive thy sin, and consequently take away thy affliction. Fourthly, learn thereby to loathe and avoid sin, which so incenseth God, and afflicteth thee. But note by the way and consider, first, that sin is not always the cause of the cross, as may appear by the answer of Christ to his Disciples, concerning the man that was born blind. Secondly, those which are afflicted, are not always greater sinners then others, joh. 9.2.3. as appeareth by the answer of Christ to those which shewed him of the Galileans, Luke 13.1.2. whose blood Pilate had mingled with their own Sacrifices. Therefore when thou seest thy neighbour afflicted, neither judge him rashly to be worse than thyself: nor excuse thyself presumptuously to be better, or more righteous than he. 3 To what end God smiteth man with sickness. God which is infinitely good, seeketh nothing in afflicting his children, but their good: as namely, he doth visit us with sickness for these causes. First, to draw us to repentance and amendment of life: 1. Cor. 11.32. least our sin be our destruction; as the Apostle Paul saith: 1. Cor. 11.32. When we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, because we should not be condemned with the world. Secondly, The Lord smiteth man, to humble the pride of our hearts, Psalm. 107 12. by the feeling of our own frailty & misery: when he humbled their hearts( saith david) Psal. 107.12. with heaviness, they fell down, and there was no helper. Thirdly, The Lord doth smite us, to try and examine us, Psal. 2.18. whether we will stand as fast to God in the time of adversity, as we seemed and promised to stand to him in the time of prosperity. Christ when he suffered, as Psal. 22.17, 18. Psal. 30.6 7. vers. is said to be tempted, that is, tried and proved in affliction, as gold is tried in the furnace. Fourthly, God smites us, because wee should shake off from us all carnal security: for prosperity maketh us careless and negligent in the worship and service of God, yea, even to forget God. Therefore the Prophet David, in psalm 30.6.7. In my prosperity I said, I shall never be moved, for thou Lord of thy goodness hadst made my mountain to stand strong, but thou didst hide thy face, and I was troubled. Therefore this must teach us, to apply our sickness unto the right end. Not the more the hand of God is vpon us, the more to harden our hearts( as Pharaoh did in egypt.) But our visitation must make us better: namely, it must make us more penitent for our sins, more humble in heart, more steadfast in faith, and more watchful over our own souls, least that if we profit not by so effectual means, our sickness shall be unto us but the beginnings of far greater iudgments. As the Lord threateneth in Leuit. 26. That if this iudgment of pestilence will not break in pieces thy hard and stony heart, the Lord I say hath pronounced in the said 26. of Leuit. saying verse 18. And if ye will not for these things obey me, then will I punish you seven times more, according to your sins. &c. and so forward throughout the chapter, and thou shalt there find, that God will not onely bring vpon them all the plagues of Aegyt, that if those egyptian plagues would not reform them, but that they would still be a people rebellious, then the Lord will set his face against them, and I will punish you seven times more according to your sins. &c. And thus the Lord four several times in that chapter, repeateth the plagues that he will sand, therefore let us make a right use of this plague of pestilence, that the Lords hand may be stayed, and our land healed. Fourthly, How a man may gather comfort to himself in sickness. First, let the sickeman consider that his visitation is sent of God, who is rich in mercy, and abundant in goodness and truth, and loveth him in Christ. Eph. 2.4. Exod. 34 6 Heb. 12.7. Cor. 10.13. From thence he may gather, first that God correcteth him of love as a Father, and punisheth him not as a judge. Secondly, God will lay no more vpon him, then he will make him able to bear. Thirdly, God will give an issue to the temptation in due time as shall be best for him. Let the sick man consider, how little his pain is in respect of that which others endured. Doth thy head ache, or thy heart pant, or thy foot or belly grieve thee? Is one member distressed, yet is not thy case like Iobs: all his members were afflicted at once he was smitten with boils, from the sole of his foot unto his crown. job. 2.7 Is thy whole body afflicted? Psal. 55.4. Math. 13.50. Yet is not thy case like Dauids, when being distressed in soul he cried out, saying: My heart trembleth within me, and the terrors of death are come vpon me. Luk 16.24 fear and trembling are come vpon me, and an horrible fear hath covered me. Is thy soul distressed? Yet is not thy affliction like those which lie yelling in Hell, in fire unquenchable, weeping, and wailing and gnashing their teeth; and haue not so much as a drop of could water to cool their tongues. Then think thus with thyself: Is one member grieved? God could smite all. Am I heart sick? God could enlarge my heart, and there with all my pain seven fold more. Am I distressed in soul? Luke 12.5. God could give me over into desperation. Am I distressed both in body and soul? God could throw both body and soul into hell fire. Thus mayst thou gather comfort in thy greatest pain, by considering how much less thy pain is, then God is able to inflict. Let the sick man consider, how much less his pain is then he deserveth. Psal. 14.3. All are gone out of the way: saith david, psalm 14.3, Iam. 2.3. Rom. 6.23. Deut. 27.26. And in many things we offend all. I am, 2, 3. Now the reward of sin is death:( Rom. 6.2, 3.) that is, the curse of God, hell fire, utter confusion both of body and soul. The damned in Hell would gladly suffer the pangs of death for ever, that they might be eased of their torments but for a while. Thus mayest thou gather comfort to thyself, considering how sparing the Lord scourgeth thee, when as for thy desert he might utterly confounded thee. 4 Also let the sick man consider, that the best Saincts of God haue ben subject to the like distress, and haue been visited with the like cross of sickness. Gen. 48.1. jacob wrestled with God, and prevailed with men, job 27. yet subject to sickness. job an upright man and a just, yet was he smitten with ulcers, from the head to the foot. 2 King. 13 14 Elizeus an holy Prophet, the spirit of Elias was double vpon him, yet he sickened and dyed. 2 King 10.1. Hezekiah, an holy King, there arose none like him, either before or after him, yet was he sick to the death. Iesus loved Lazerus, joh. 11.15 yet he sickened & dyed of it. Of this meditation, the sick man may gather this comfort. Surely, notwithstanding my sickness, my part shall be among the holy monarch, Prophets, and Saincts of God, beloved of Iesus Christ, for thus were they visited and afflicted. Yea, this argueth, that I am of their number: for God scourgeth every son that he receiveth. Hebr. 12.6 Fifthly, Let the sick man consider, how great the joys of Heaven are, which are laid up in store for him, if he patiently abide the Lords visitation, even such as the eye hath not seen, 1. Cor. 2.9. Rom. 8.18 neither hath the ear heard, neither is the heart able to conceive: so will he say with Paul, I count that the afflictions of this present time, are not worthy the glory which shall be shewed to vs. Thus will the hope of the ioy to come, assuage the pain of the present malady. Sixthly, Let the sick man consider, Luk 24.26 that such things Christ himself suffered, and so entred into his glory. And now being in his glory, he seeth, feeleth, and pitieth the distress of his members. For( saith the Apostle) wee haue not an high Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, Heb. 4.15. but was in all things tempted in like sort, and therefore knoweth the better to pity vs. From this meditation, will a rise this comfort. Doth Christ which redeemed me, both see and feel my affliction: Surely then will the same my Redeemer, comfort me in measure sufficient, and release me in time convenient. 5 How a man should behave himself in time of his sickness. Concerning spiritual things, let the sick man thus exercise himself. First let him be occupied in prayer. In which prayer, let him crave of God these points following. 1 That he may haue a sight of his sins. 2 A godly sorrow for his sins. 3 The forgiveness of his sins. 4 Faith, to beleeue that his sins are forgiven him. 5 Patience and constancy in his trouble. Sixthly, Deliverance in good time, which way it pleaseth God. So are we commanded to do, and so haue the Saincts left us an example: as the Apostle james 5.15. saith, Iam. 5.15 Is any man afflicted? lat him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. 2. King. 20.2. Also it was the practise of Ezechiah being sick, turned his face to the wall, and prayed to the Lord. Secondly, Let him be occupied in reading of the word: for there he shall find, 1 Examples of Gods mercy shewed vpon the afflicted. 2 Comfortable promises of strength and deliverance made to the Saincts. 3. Instruction how to bear, and what use to make of Gods visitation. All these( and more then these) shall he find in Gods word. Whereof david said in psalm 19.10. Psal. 19.10 Psal. 119.92. Thy word is sweeter than honey, and the hony comb. And psal. 119.92. Except thy Law had been my delight, I should haue perished in my affliction. Thirdly, Let him meditate of the other life which he is passing unto, where he shal haue sabbath vpon sabbath: that is, rest for evermore. Where, Esa 66.23. the Lord shall wipe a-away all tears from his eyes: and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, neither crying, neither shall there be any more pain, Revel. 21.4. for the first things( that is the worst things) are there passed over. Concerning temporal things, let the sick man observe these points. After he hath sought to the Lord who smit him &c. Then let him in the first place seek help unto the physician, and all other lawful means of recovering health. Ecclu. 34.1 Math. 8.15 Honor the physician for thy necessities sake, for God hath created him. saith Ecclesiastic. 38.1 The Lord healeth not now either miraculously( as he did Peters wives mother) or contrary to means( as he did Hezechiah) with a cluster of figs, 2 King. 20 7. joh. 9.6, or the eyes of the blind with day, joh. 9.) But he smiteth by means, and he healeth by means. To that end hath he given to man, the knowledge of the secreets and properties of natural things: and to that end also hath he p●… that nature and strength into herbs, sp●ces, roots, &c. That they might be sovereign to our diseases. So that whosoever despiseth in sickness the lawful means which God offereth of recovery, that man is guilty of his own blood, in the presence of the Lord. 2 Let him dispose the goods which the Lord hath given him, by his Will & Testament as Isaiah the Prophet willeth Hezekiah to put his house in order, because he should dy, and not live. And of his so doing, will follow this good. 1 He may dispose of his goods which God hath sent him, as they may most glorify God( which gave them) after his decease 2 He shall cut of much occasion of contention and striffe among those whom he leaveth behind him. 3 His mind shall be the quieter, and the more heartily bent to God, and to another world: when he hath set at a stay the goods of this life, according to his will. Then may he say with jacob, O Lord, I haue waited for thy salvation. Gen. 49.18. FINIS.