Meditation III

1

Though Christ were never sick,
Yet sure he under-went
Such piercing bitter pains; as were
More then equivalent:
And by his Sufferings
He took away the sting
Of all our Sufferings, Sickness, Pain,
And every evil thing.

2

Yea he them sanctify'd
By virtue of his Blood,
That they might as effectual Means
Promote our Spiritual Good
For he knew how to make
Trouble the way to Peace,
Sickness the way to soundest Health,
And Pain the way to Ease.

3

Some men have Bodies sound,
But Souls most deadly sick:
Blinds Eyes, hard Hearts, stiff Wills
'Gainst all Commands that kick.
Some men have thriving Souls,
Though Bodies not in Health:
And God doth make their Bodies Ailes
Promote their Spirit's wealth.

4

'Tis better to be sick,
And have thy Soul wax whole:
Then in a Body hail and strong
To have a sickly Soul.
For through Soul-sicknesses
Thou do'st dishonour God:
Who may be honoured when thou bear
Submissively his Rod.

5

Diseases bodily
May help thee to do well:
But Soul diseases, if not cur'd,
Will carry thee to Hell
Our Bodies may sometimes
Need Physick, more then Food
So may our Souls need Sicknesses
And Pains, to do them good.

6

Our Bodies Sicknesses
Are Physick for the Soul,
Corrected by a skilful hand
That can its force controll:
Who will so moderate,
And qualified the same,
That is shall do no hurt, but good;
Oh blessed be his Name!

7

By these he doth prevent
Much hurt that might be got;
Preserves us from Infectious Air
As by an Antidote.
'Gainst Constitution sins
Whereto our Nature bends,
And those whereto our Calling leads,
Hereby he us defends.

8

By these he purgeth out
Bad Humours, namely Pride,
Self-love, Impatience, Worldliness,
And many more beside,
By these he doth our Wills
Unto his Will subdue:
And makes us Peace, with Holiness,
And heavenly things pursue.

9

By these he quickeneth us
Our duty to attend,
Makes sin more bitter, teacheth us
To mind our latter end
By these he rend'reth us
More vile in our own eyes,
And helpeth us more heartily
His favour for to prize.

10

Makes Christ more precious to us
And Earthly things more vain;
By these he doth from too much love
Of present things us wean:
Makes us to think of home,
And long for Heavenly Rest,
Whilst here we feel our selves to be
With endless griefs opprest

11

As th' outward man decayes
And is consum'd away,
The inward man thus gathereth strength
And vigour every day.
Who would not Phisick take
Such Health for to procure?
And that their Souls such gains might make
A little smart endure?