The Only Remedy, Title page – Dedication
THE ONELYONLY REMEDY, THAT CAN CVRE A PEOPLE, When all other Remedies faile.
By F. ROVS.
HOS. 6. 1.
Come let vsus returne to the Lord: for hee hath torne vsus, and he will heale vsus.
LONDON, Printed for IAMES BOLER at the signe of the Marigold in Pauls Church-yard. 1627.
To my Countrie.
BRethren, my hearts desire for this our Israel, is, that it may be saued: Saued temporally, saued eternally. And from the abundance of this desire in my heart, my mouth speaketh. True it is, that I am not willing to encrease the vnnecessary burthen of words, vnderunder which the world groneth; yet therefore necessarie words may not be retained. And as I said in the former, so may I not say yet in this latter, Is there not a cause? Is there not yet a cause to take more physick, as long as there are yet more diseases? Neuerthelesse, these are thrifty additions, both in measure & manner. That is added which seemeth to bee necessary; and where things are already done, men are directed to fetch new health out of old Medicines. But indeed a Medicine should not be accounted old as our Fashionists terme oldnesse, as long as new health is to be gotten out of it. In bodily sicknesse, a man will not loathe a Medicine that can cure him, because hee knowes it: much lesse will hee auoide to bee throughly recouered by it, because in part thereby hee hath beene already recouered. And least of all should any man thinke, that the reading of a Receipt without the taking of it, is able to cure him. This were to vse it for a Charme, and not for a Medicine. Yet the fashion of men now a dayes, is in these kindes most vnreasonable, and most lamentably to their owne losse: For they reade things profitable, only for pleasure; and so being content with a vanishing shadow; they willingly lose a solid and substantiall good. The pleasure of newnesse, or some handsome shape, wherein wholsome matter doth appeare, is the tentation of their reading. But this is the very folly of children, who louelove to play with guilded Pills, because they are guilded, but will not take them as Pills, or meanes of health. Surely, I wish that these men who professe to hate oldnesse, would hate this fashion; for it is an old one, euen as old, as the captiuity of Israel. Thou art vntounto them as a very louely Song of one that hath a pleasant voyce, Ezek. 33. 32.and can play well on an Instrument; for they heare thy words, but they doe them not. But though this wantonnesse may fall out in health, yet it ill becomes sicknesse. Wherefore let men consider whether they hauehave any griefe, or not; and if they hauehave, let them leaue their playing with physicke, and fall to taking of it. Especally physicke, which is so confirmed by proofe, that of all those that hauehave taken it soundly, none did euer perish.