Downame - Puritan-02038 v2

That bodily health is not much to be eFlvented. CHAP. XVI. That bodily health is bat ofjmall worth and excellencir. Nd thus much chcerning bodily ftrcn2.th .The Sec7.r. like alto may bee laid of health, wHchinitHahhinitfc /fe own nature is the good biding ofGod, and u a great Urf- a notable helpe to chofe that vie it well, for fins, butmuch the better performance ofall good duties: in abated through which ref ec. the Son of S rack faith, That aurtwruptian. p Y Ecclef.3o.tg. health and ¡irength are aboaegold, dr a whole body aboue infinit r6. treajure,there tee no riches about a found body, &noioy aboue the ioy of the heart. Yeain truth there is fcarce any earthly bief- fing to bee compared with it, Peeing it much leffens all our forrowes and atllielions, and fweetncth all ocher comforts and worldly benefits, which being feuered from it, become tedious &loathfome.Howbeit thisbleffìng of God through our corruption is continually fubie61 to great abufe, as when we ef+eeme it aboue Gods fpirituall graces,and the health of our foules, and do Pet our hearts fo upon it, as that we will not f+icke to vfe wicked and vnlawfull meanes, to preterite it whilef+ wehaue it, or recouer it when we want it; or finally, when thereby we are not furthered in the feruice of God, and in all good and Chriflian duties. For howfocuerwhilef+ we haue it, we are with all thankfulneffe to eflceme it, as be. ing a great bleffing ofGod; and when we want it,to defire it moderately, and to vfe all good meanes for the recouery of it : yet when it commeth in comparifon of Gods fandtifying I.Setix L. gifts, or the fpirituall health of the foule, which is a ccompa- Thathealth is nied with eternal'. life, it is to be contemned and defpifed, as bat common being light, vain, and,ofnovalue. imparted alfa to To which purpofe let vs confider, that howfoeuer health the wicked. be good, yet it is but a common good, which the Lord MI- Sanita ;em tor. parteth to the wicked, as well as to the Badly : and therefore posit we pates (as one faith) we are net to el eemebodil health a great good, magnnnrb:abet Y . g ef/e,quodbabet which teen a iced men aljo enioy : andoftentimes in a far Brea- . malus. A c_ ter mcafure then Gods dearefi feruants , for as the Pfalmifi guff. scrm.t a. tom.ro.col.s7. obferued, t43