Bodilyhealth andcafefrom torments. 85 CHAP. XX XVI. Bodilyhealth and torefrom torments. 19. UT a far greater interefl of Pelf to be denyed, doth Ji confift in our bodily health and eafe and freedom from tlofe painsand torments, which perfects:ors see to infal upon the godly. An averfnefs to fuffering, is natural to man,and in it felf no fin , But an exceffive averfnefs doth fignifie too much tendernefs of the fleth, and. too little power of Reafon which fhould quiet the mind, when it cannot abate the paim ofthe body ; and muff caufe us to fubmit to a leffer evil , to avoid a greater : or to obtain a greater good, then it de- priveth us of : Paul and Slias could ling with their bodieS fore, and their feet in the flocks. To be loyffill in tribulation fhould be no ftrange matter toa Saint : muchmore with a pa- tient fubmiffion to undergo it. We maynot thruft our felves into the fire,nor choofe fuffering without a call ; but we muff fuffer rather then fin, and choofe the wounds or hurts of the body before the wounds and loffes of the foul. But becaufe fief:hand bloodwill drawback, and make too great a matter of fufferings, I shall briefly give you ten Confiderations that may perfwade you herein to deny your felves ; and in two cafes I defire you tomake ufe of them : Firft, in cafeyou have no Way to efcapefuffering,but by finning: then denyyour felves and choofe to fuffer. Secondly, in cafeof Gods affliaions which unavoidably lye upon yon : then denyyour felves by aquiet and patient fubmiffion : And for both confider. That is the belt condition for us,inwhich wemay be molt ferviceable to God. And if we fuffer for Righteoufnefs, we may ferveGod as well in fuch fuffering as in aprofperous flare: Or if God himfelfafflitl us, we may ferve him in our afflicii- on : Our patience then is the fervie that we are called to. The fufferings ofthe Saints have done very much to the-pro- moting ofthe Gofpel and building of the Church Men will fee that there is fomewhat worth the fuffering for,in the Chri- ilian Religion, and fee that Heaven is taken by believers for a certain thing, when they can let go earth for it : They will Bb be
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