312 THE TOWERS AND CONTESTS OF FLUSH AND Sp1R1T, body, or long and habitual diseases that attend flesh and blood. When the sour or acid humours in animal nature rise to an irregular height, or when the body is frequently exercised with sharp and tedious pains, even a well- tempered man becomes peevish and fretful ; he vexes his own spirit with impatience.; he murmurs against the hand of God ; and this secret uneasiness, though it daresnot appear in visible rage against his Creator, yet it cannot contain itself in silence, but breaks out with too much evidence and guilt, quarrelling with his fellow creatures round about him : He tires outhis best friends with perpetual disquietude ; he loses his meek and gentle temper ; and the man that was wont to be always pleased and easy, now resents every thing, and scarce any body can please him. This appears with bright evidence to be occasioned by bodily disorders; for even our natural hunger makes us peevish : When sharp andcorrosive juices prey upon the stomach itself, for want of food, how touchy and fretful: does our temper grow, till a good meal provides matter for those digestive juices to act upon ? then the flesh grows easy, and the good humour returns. But to pursue the observation concerning diseases. When the natural spirits are reduced very low by long weakness, how cold and inactive are some good men ? When phlegmatic humours prevail in the body, how slothful are some christians in every duty ? How back- ward to all active services of God or man ? Even those very persons who were once chearful and zealous, and ready to every good work.. After the same manner, when, through distemper of body, black and melancholy juices get the ascendant over the more sprightly animal powers, how often do we find persons of a sweet aífable behaviour grow sullen and unsociable ? Those who were fond of company and conversation, seek dark corners and solitary chambers of retirement ; they grow listless to every diversion, and will hardly admit a visitant, or give answers to the com- mon questions of life. Again, when the powers of nature are broken by con- tinual diseases, the mail of courage becomes fearful, and
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