that when thou hast created angels, and they saw thee produce fowl, and fish, and beasts, and worms, they did not importune thee, and say, Shall we have no better creatures than these, no better companions than these? but stayed thy leisure, and then had man delivered over to them, not much inferior in nature to themselves. No more do I, O God, now that by thy first mercy I am able to rise, importune thee for present confirmation of health; nor now, that by thy mercy I am brought to see that thy correction hath wrought medicinally upon me, presume I upon that spiritual strength I have; but as I acknowledge that my bodily strength is subject to every puff of wind, so is my spiritual strength to every blast of vanity. Keep me therefore still, O my gracious God, in such a proportion of both strengths, as I may still have something to thank thee for, which I have received, and still something to pray for and ask at thy hand. FOOTNOTES: [297] John, xi. 43. [298] John, xii. 28. [299] Matt. xxvii. 46, 50. [300] Deut. v. 22. [301] 2 Sam. xxii. 14. [302] Psalm lxviii. 33. [303] Psalm xxix. [304] John, v. 25. [305] Rev. i. 12. [306] Job, iv. 16. [307] Psalm xciii. 3, 4. [308] Ecclus. xviii, 8. [309] Ecclus. v. 7. [310] 1 Sam. xix. 15. [311] 2 Chron. xxiv. 25. [312] Amos, iii. 12. [313] Acts, v. 15. [314] Matt. ix. 6. XXII. SIT MORBI FOMES TIBI CURA. _The physicians consider the root and occasion, the embers, and coals, and fuel of the disease, and seek to purge or correct that._ XXII. MEDITATION.