I. ^ ^O ME, my Soul, and let us rerfon toge-

a cher, concerning the Things ch:ic havs
m^ befallen us. This Body, to which thou
^ — -^ art united, flags and droops ^ The Vigor of it is abated, its Beauty withered and waited j The well-knit Limbs are grown feeble, and wich greac difficulty fuitain their Weight , or obey thy Com- mands. They fcarce perform any Offices aright ^ and when they do , it is with Pantings and Tremblings, with Wearinefs and Faintnefs. Ihey feem to groan and fmk under their Burden^ and each Member^which was formerly wont to ferve Thee , wich wonderful Cheerfulnefs and Adivity, nov/ calls for Succours from abroad, and is no longer able to fupport it felf. This is fuch a Change, as ought not to be felc.only, but well confidered too. Be not then therefore like to Horfi and Mule, whkh ^^^^- ^^^'^- '''• have no Underfianding y but lofe all ImpreHions, 35 fooa'as the Senfe of the Stroke ceafes. It is Tky
Z X Pri-
^tUtatiom anti p^anv&
Privilege and Duty both^ to refled and ruminate j to call back things already paft, and anticipate thofe which are to come ,• and.as for fuch as are actually pre- fent, to acquaint thy felf with the Caufes and Rea- fons, the Ends and Ules of them^ as well as with the Nature and Quality of the Things themfelves. All thefe are Operations proper to a reafoning Soul^, and the prefent Occallon calls upon thee for the Exercife of them all. For thou canft not be fick, as becomes a Man^ and a Chriftian^ without enquiring, whence, and wherefore it is, that thou art fo. The firft and nioit neceiTary Stcp^ both toward the patient enduring of the Anguiftj and the fuccefsful Application of the Remedies^, is to learn the true Original of our Difeafe.