The Balm of Gilead Prepared for the Sick, Title page – To the reader
THE BALME OF GILEAD PREPARED FOR THE SICKE.
THE WHOLE IS DIVIDED INTO THREE PARTES:
1. THE SICKE MANS SORE.
2. THE SICKE MANS SALVE.
3. THE SICKE MANS SONG.
Published by Mr. ZACHARIE BOYD, PREACHER of GODS WORD, at GLASOGW ▪
AVGVST▪
Latet vltimus dies vt observentur omnes dies: Sero parantur remedia, quum mortis imminent perscula.
EDINBVRGH Printed by IOHN WREITTOVN. 1629
Psal. 102.6.
I am like a Pelican of the Wildernesse.
TO THE RIGHT REVEREND FATHER IN GOD IAMES BY THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD, ARCHBISHOP OF GLASGOVV.
RIGHT REVEREND,
THE Preacher speaking of himselfe, said, that for his preachings hee sought to find out acceptable words, Eccles. 12. v. 10.words of delight, which in the same verse he calleth words of trueth: where I obserue that words of trueth, may bee words of delight, delight not being contrarie to trueth, neither pleasure vntounto profit: Such words are compared to goades & nailes, Eccles. 12. v. 11.which CHRIST the great Pastour giveth vntounto his Ministers, the Masters of Assemblees, who are appointed by him for to fasten;Bernar. super Cant. yea, and to naile mens soules vntounto him selfe: Such words are full of substance:Qu…rit a…a… ver…u…, cui consentiat a… corre…i…em, … illumi… n…ur ad cognitionē, cui innitatur ad virtutem, quo res. …nctur ad sipienti…m cui … tur ad de…rem, cui …tetur ad s…u… illa…, … s…uatur …. they are faire without faird.
As it is not good in preaching to make vse of swelled hydropick words of man his invention, neither must man take that for simplicity of the Gospell, which diverse call simplicity, viz. words wanting a due & painefull meditation, which is the very digestion of the spirit: Ill studied words can not be these acceptable words of Solomon: Of them can bee made no nailes for the fastening of loose and v…stable soules.
I ever thought this part of the Ministrie a painefull part, not to be done without great paines: Some speake of a Booke day, but all our dayes should be Booke dayes. If a Pagan could be moved for any thing to say, Ab perdiat diem, alace I hauehave left a day, what shall he say, who is a labourer in the Lords Vineyeard?
They who would doe this worke as they should, must with earnest prayers, painefull reading, and serious meditations emptie their veines of their blood, till palenesse the STVDDIE MARKE bee printed vponupon their face: They must watch while others sleepe, and labour at the candle: They must forsake the feathers and the downes at the chirping of the birds.Eccles. 12. v. 4.
In some measure I striue to this, though not as I would: Happie is the servant that is vigilant, hauing ever his loines girded and his candle in his hand, Luke 12. v. 35.waiting for the coming of his LORD.
Let it please your Lo. to take in good part this part of my labours, wherein is a boxe of balme, a little testimony of my thankfulnesse for the great kindnesse, whereof in my great affliction it pleased you to make mee partake: The bloody persecution in France did scatter many Churches, and mine amongst others: At my coming heere you refreshed mee with your comforts, and placed mee besides your selfe, where I find the LORD'S blessing vponupon my labours: To Him alone belongs the glory.
And seeing it is the LORDS will that man bee thankfull vntounto man, let me heere name three speciall friends to whom neither name not blood hauehave bund mee, but great louelove and kindnesse in time of mine adversitie, the bond whereof as I hope shall never bee broken. At my first coming to Edinburgh, good Doctour SIBBALD, the glory and honour of all the Physicians of our Land, would hauehave mee to abide with him:Note. But afterward, a preaching at a fast hauing made mine acquaintance with Sr. William Scot of Eli, that great Scots MECENAS, Patron to great ROLLOCVS, hee after that did keepe me with him, as one of his owne Children:2. Tim. 1. v. 18. the LORD grant vntounto him that hee may finde merciemercy in that day: From Sr. William you brought mee to Glasgow; of that your favour let mee not forget a speciall instrument, even that wise and godly man, Mr. Iames R…bertoun, Comisser of Hamiltoun, with whom I wish that I might both liue and die.
I heere in the dedication of this treatise acknowledge your bounty with a thankfull profession.
And seeing our Bookes are our Children, the bi…sb of our braines, Libri Liberi.it is most convenient, that you who hauehave the Patronage of the FATHER, should also vouchsafe a blessing to the Children. Which looking after. I intreat the Most High to preserue you vnblameable both in Soule and Body, vntill the day of his appearing.
At Glasgow the 23 of December, 1628. Your Lo. in all duetie Mr. ZACHARIE BOYD Preacher of GODS WORD, at GLASGOW.
TO THE READER.
THERE was never an age more fertile in reproofes and reproches than this: We are come to the dregges of dayes, where it is counted vertue to point out the imperfections of our brethren: Many are like the Flee, that can not rest but vponupon a scabbe. Charitable Reader, take in good part these my paines taken for thy profit: As for thee, whose countenance is cast downe, because of GODS graces in others, If thou doe well shall it not bee accepted? Gen. 4. v. 7.but if not, sinne lyeth as the doore: Doe better thy selfe and that shall be my reproofe. It was well said by St. Ierome:Hieron. ad Pam…nach. Epist. 5. cap. 8. Aut profer meliores epula… & me conviva v…ere, aut qualicu…que nostra coe…ula contentus esto: that is, if thou can prepare better cheare let …nce partake: if not, bee content with such as I hauehave.
THE SICKE MANS SORE
PSal. 107. v. 17.
Fooles because of their transgressions and because of their iniquities are afflicted.
V. 18.
Their soule abhorreth all maner of meate and they draw neare vntounto the gates of death.
V. 19.
Then they crye vntounto the Lord in their trouble: hee saveth them out of their distresses.
V. 20.
He sent his word and healed them; and delivered them from their destructions.
V. 21.
Oh that men wold praise the Lord for his goodnesse, and for his wonderfull works to the Children of men.
THis text may be called the sicke mans text.
The division of the words.
The text divideth it selfe in three speciall parts.
In the first is: the sicke mans sore.
In the second is: the sick mans salve.
In the third is: the sicke Mans song.
The sicke mans sore is in these wordes, Fooles because of their transgressions, and because of their iniquities are afflicted: their soule abhorreth all manner of meate &c.
The sicke mans salve is in these wordes, Then they cry to the Lord in their trouble: he saveth them out of their distresses: hee sent his word and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.
The sicke Mans song is a Song of praise in these wordes: Oh that men wold praise the Lord for his goodnesse, and for his wonderfull workes to the Children of men.