The Christian Armory, Book 1 · Chapter 14
CHAP. XIIII. Of certaine particular euils, defects, and deformities in the body, and also crosses in the outward state.
Question.
OF how many sorts are these particular euils?
A. Of two sorts; to wit, ordinary, and extraordinary.
Q. What are the ordinary euils?
A. They are either such as are in and about the body, or that hauehave a mans outward state for their obiect.
Q. What are those euils and defects that are in and about the body?
A. Deformity, lamenes, blindnes, deafnes, dumbnes, &c.
Q. How shall we comfort our selues against the lothsome deformity of the body?
A. By marking and meditating vponupon these conclusions following.
First, bodily deformity doth nothing preiudice the estate of Gods Saints before God, (as the examples of Iob, Dauid, Mephibosheth, Ezechias, Aza, Lazarus, &c. and of innumerable besides … demonstrate.)
Secondly, they endure but for a time, and (at the furthest) end and determine with this life.
Thirdly, though the bodies of Gods Saints be (for the time) neuer so lothsome and deformed, yet are their sinnes couered by the roiall roabes of Christ his righteousnesse,Ps. 32.1.2. and the soule in the meane time is most holy, perfect, beautifull.
Fourthly, at the general resurrection, this vile body of ours shall be made conformable to Christs glorious body:Phil. 3.20. it shall be no more mortall, but immortall; no more vise, but honourable; no more weake, but alwaies strong, no more heauie, but light and nimble; no more sinfull, but holy: and in a word, no more earthly, and néeding these outward meanes and helps of meat, drinke, apparell, rest, sléepe, physicke, recreation, marriage, &c. but they shall be alwaies spirituall, i. immediately supported by Gods omnipotent power, and absolutely subiect and obedient to the spirit.
Fifthly, God doth not hate the deformity of the body, but of the soule, by reason of sinne, contracted and committed by it and in it.
Lastly, we must remember, that our bodies are earthly and mortall, and not heauenly and eternall: and therefore we must not be discontent,2. Cor. 4.16 if rottennes enter into them; onelyonly let vsus prouide, that as the outward man dieth, so the inward man may be renewed daily.
Q. What comforts against lamenesse?
A. First, lamenesse is naturall, and is caused by sicknes, old age, or otherwise; and therefore it is to be endured with the greater patience.
Secondly,Acts 9.33. Aeneas. the children of God (as Mephibosheth▪ Aza, the créeple, whereof we reade in the fifth of S. Iohns Gospell, and a daughter of Abraham) hauehave béen,Luke 18. are, and shall be subiect hereunto, as much as the prophane and irreligious.
Thirdly, though the bodies of Gods Saints (for their correction,2. Cor. 4.16 trial, and exercise) be subiect hereunto, yet are their soules holy, sound, and nothing impeached by the lame body. Psal. 92.
Fourthly, death and the last iudgement, which is the time of the restitution of all things, will put an end to it and the body shall rise againe in farre greater integritie then euer it appeared in, when it was in the best plight.
Fifthly, physicke or surgery may possibly in time recouer the body, and therefore the meanes are not to be neglected.
1. Pet. 1.21.22.Lastly, let our faith & hope be in God, and our soules purified in obeying the truth through the spirit, and lamenesse shall not hurt vsus.
Q. Wherein shall a blind man comfort and solace himselfe?
A. In many things. First, that blindnes is a great part of innocency: for the eies (since Adams fall) are the windowes of concupiscence, and the porters to let in all vices, from which enticements vntounto euill, and blind are fréed.
Secondly, the blind sée nothing to distaste their stomackes, to offend their eies, or to grieue their minds, whereas iust Lot endued with the sense of seeing, 2. Pet. 2.8.vexed his righteous soule from day to day, in séeing the vnlawfull deeds of the Sodomites, &c. And so it fareth with Gods children that are blind, who sée not the euill obiects nor wickednes of the world.
Thirdly, blindnes is naturall and contracted by old age, sicknes, and the like infirmities, and therefore Isaac, Bartimaeus, and the blind man in the ninth of Iohns Gospell, and diuers Saints of God in all generations hauehave borne their parts herein; therefore this correction is so much the more patiently to be borne.
Fourthly, though the godly hauehave no bodily eies to behold the heauens, the earth, and the creatures, which eies the beasts, birds, and creeping creatures hauehave common with them, yet they hauehave spirituall and Angelical eies, whereby they behold God their Creator, and looke vponupon Christ sitting on the right hand of God his Father in heauen.
Fifthly, the eies are not simply necessary for godlinesse, for God requireth the heart and vnderstanding: and yet notwithstanding they shall be restored, yea and glorified at the generall resurrection.
Wherefore let vsus cléere the eies of our vnderstanding, and cast out of them all beames of selfe conceit, and all dust of error. And because our memories are then most sharpe and retentiue, hauing no outward obiect to blunt their edge, let vsus apply them to the learning of the best things, and with patience wait the time of the restitution of all things.Acts 3.21.
Q Propound some comfortable meditations for a deafe man.
A. First, the deafe person cannot be infected with lies and errors, he cannot be deceiued and gulled by flatterers, nor bee possessed with the ingredients of griefe, he cannot be prouoked to wrath, he séeth nothing to disturbe and disquiet him, and (that which most contenteth him) he cannot heare Gods blessed name blasphemed.
Secondly, by reading the scriptures, sermons, treatises, catechismes, he heareth God speake vntounto him: for God hath no néed of eares, but only requireth a deuout mind.
Ioh. 14.26.Thirdly, that which he formerly learned▪ the holy Ghost bringeth to his remembrance.
Lastly, his perfect hearing shall, (if not before) be restored vntounto him at the day of iudgement, and his deafenesse in the mean time cannot separate him from Gods louelove.
Q What vse must a man make of his deafnesse?
A. First, whiles we inioy the benefit of our hearing,Ps. 119.71. let vsus attend to Gods voice in the scriptures preached vsus, and let vsus treasure vp the word of God in our hearts to bestead vsus in time of néed.
Lastly, though we cannot heare nor discerne the notes of musicke, and the sounds of men and birds, yet we hauehave the vse of our eies, to behold the creatures, and God the Author of them.
Comforts for a dumbe man.
A. Men by reason of this want and affliction, are kept from many sinnes, euils, dangers, which many that cannot temper and gouerne their tongue runne into, for they cannot lie, slander, deceiue, they cannot blaspheme God, nor stirre vp the coales of con…ention, the séeds whereof an euill tongue doth cherish.
Secondly, they are not vndone by their rash & vntemperate words, much lesse are they in danger to lose their liues, as many lewd and slanderous speakers are.Psal. 52.5.
Thirdly, it is a labour to speake truly: and in silence there is rest.
Fourthly, if thou hast lost an il tongue, thou art a great gainer by it.
Fifthly, if thou canst not speake with thy tongue, then speake to God in thy heart; for God can and doth heare as well when thou art silent, as when thou speakest.
Lastly, if thou doe but groane, sigh, and cry vntounto God,Exod. 3.7. he heareth thée, and that thou shalt féele and finde. For as he that heareth God speake and answer,Exod. 14.15. is not deafe: so likewise he whom God heareth is not dumbe.