Diseases of the Soul, Part 21
Short windednesse and wearinesse of doing well. Disease 19.
THe Asthma is caused by abundance of grosse & clammy humours, gathered into the gristles, or lappets of the lungs: or through some distillations, wherewith the Trachea arteria, or wind-pipe is repleate.
Cause.
THe causes of this spirituall Short-windednesse, are 1. want of Faith, which is the true life-bloud of courage against all difficulties. 2. want of Patience, to hold out in the working vp of saluation. 3. a feeble hope, not supposing the recompence to the worth of their labours.
Signes and Symptomes.
THe Signes of both the diseases are palpable: the Physician may easily iudge of his Patient, the Patient of himselfe. He prayes for a brunt very zealously, but like a hasty showre soone ouer. You shal hauehave him the first man at Church, on a Sabboth morning, and the first man out. He layes the foundation of an Almes-house, and so leaues it. He shootes vp, like Ionas gourd, in a night, and next day withers. Hee is in religious practices, like the Spring in that windy month, March many forwards. He riseth faire, as a Summer-sunne, but is soone clouded: no man rides faster at first putting forth, nor is sooner weary of his iourny. A little onwards to heauen, he quandaries, whether to go forward to God, or with Demas to turne back to the world. The light of his deuotion is euer anon in the ecclipse, and his whole life rings the changes; hot and cold, in and out, off and on, to and fro: he is peremptory in nothing, but in vicissitudes. Hee is early vp and neuer the neere; saluting Christ in the morning, but none of those that staied with him: therefore losing his reward, because he wil not tarry working in the Vineyard till night. He purposeth to go to God, Mat. 15. 32.and in the fit of his deuotion tels him so, but still breakes promise. One told Socrates, that he would faine trauel to Olympus, but he feared his ability to hold out the iourney. Socrates answered him, I know you walk eueryevery day a little, put that together in a continuing straitnesse, and you shall come whither you desire. This man rowes (as we al should do) against the stream; & whiles he neglects 2 or 3. strokes, he is carried down further in an houre, then he can recouer in a day. He loues, like a horse, short iourneys: & walks on so warily, wearily, timorously, that he tels his steps, and his stops; and reckons eueryevery impediment to a rub & a thorne.
Cure.
FOr his cure. Pro ratione victus, as they prescribe for the Asthma, which is a disease in the body, to auoid perturbations of the mind: so let this Orthopnick, for the help of his mind, auoid needless perturbations of the body. He is troubled, like Martha about many things, but forgets the better part. GiueGive him some iuyce of Bulapathum, which is the herbe patience. For he hath neede of patience, that after he hath done the Heb. 10. 36.will of God, he might receaue the promise. Hee considers not that heauen is vp an hill, like Olympus with the heathen, mount Sion with the Christian, and therfore thinks to get thither per saltum, not per scansum. Assure him, that Saluation Phil. 2. 12. 2. Pet. 1. 10.must be wrought vp, and Election made sure by diligence. That vincenti dabitur; not to him that flyes, nor to him that knockes a bout or two, nor to him that faints and yeelds, but To him that ouercomes. That who continues to the end shal be Reu. 2. & 3. Mat. 24. 13.saued. That it was a shame to see Lot incestuous with his daughters in the Mount, that kept him chaste in Sodome: to see Noah mocked of his son for drunkennesse, by whose righteousnesse his sonne scaped. That he hath many incouragements, Christ calling, the Father blessing, the Spirit working, the Angels comforting, the Word directing, 2. Thes, 3. 13 Gala. 6. 9. Esa. 28. 12.the Crowne inuiting: all tuning him this one lesson, Bee not weary of weldoing. For in due season we shall reape, if we faint not: and after our weary labour finde rest.