244 DIRECTIONS FOR GETTING AND KEEPING people to take heed how they use them, without the advice of a learned and faithful physician; for medicines must not be only fitted to diseases, but to bodies: that medicine will kill one man, which will cure another of the same distemper; such difference there may be in their age, strength, complexion, and other things. So is it much in our present case. And therefore, as, when all the physic books in the world are written, and all réceipts known, yet will there be still a necessity of physicians; so, when all discov- eries and directions are made in divinity, there will still be a neces- sity of a constant standing ministry. And as ignorant women and empirics do kill ofttimes more than theycure, though they have the best receipts, for want of judgment and experience to use them aright ; so do ignorant teachers and guides by men's souls, though they can say the same words as a judicious pastor, and repeat the same texts of scripture. Not that I mean that such can do no good: yes, much, no doubt, if theywill humbly, compassionately, and faithfully improve their talents within the verge of their own calling ; which if they go beyond, ordinarily a remarkable judg- ment followeth their best labors; both to the churches, and partic- ular souls that make use of them. And therefore because (if my conjectural prognostics fail not, ás I daily pray they may) we are like to be more tried and plagued in this way than ever were any of our forefathers since Adam's days, till now ; and seeing this Is the. hour of our temptation, wherein God is purposely separating the chaff, and discovering to the world the dangers of injudicious, misguided zeal; I shall therefore both first and last advise you, as ever you would have a settled peace of conscience, keep out of the hand ofvagrant and seducingmountebanks, under what names, or titles or pretenses soever they may assault you. Especially suspect all that bestow as much pains to win you to their party, as to win you to Christ. Direct. II. ' Make as full a discovery as you can, how much of the trouble of your mind doth arise from your melancholy and bodily distempers, and how much from discontenting afflictions in your worldly estate, or friends, or name, and according to your dis- covery make use of the remedy.' I putthese two causes of trouble here together in thebeginning, be- cause I willpresently dismiss them ; and apply therest ofthesedirec- tions only to those troublesthat are raised fromsins andwants in grace. 1. For melancholy I have by long experience found it to have so great and common a hand in the fears and troubles of mind, that I meet with not one of many, that live in great troubles and fears for any long time together, but melancholy is the main, seat of them though they feel nothing in their body, but all in their mind. I would have such persons make useof some able, godly physician,
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