Now as this _outward man_ desires not onely _life_, and _being_, but also _health_ and _cheerfulness_ in all the living _motions_ and _actions_ thereof: So, (and much more ten thousand fold) requires the _inward_ and _spirituall_ man, an _healthfull_ and _cheerfull temper_. For as the Lord loveth a _cheerfull giver_: So loves he also a cheerfull _Preacher_, a chearfull _hearer_, a chearfull _prayer_, and a chearfull _sufferer_ for his Name sake: He loves that the shoes of _preparation_ be on our _feet_ ready to run (all _wayes_ and _weathers_) the _paths_ of his _Commandments_: That like a _vessel_ our _leaks_ be stopt, and our whole _soul_ be ready in an holy _trim_, and _tightness_, for all his holy employments of us in the greatest _tempests_: that like heavenly _souldiers_, our _Arms_ be fixt, or like an _Instrument_, the _strings_ of our _affections_ and _parts_ be all in tune, to make heavenly _musick_ in the holy _ears_ of our heavenly _Lord_ and _King_. Tis true, as it is between a loving _couple_, (and as it was in the Church at _Ephesus_) it is not easie to keep in the first _flame_ of _Love_, _fresh_ and _equall_, although the _fire_ of the _truth_ and _sinceritie_ of _marriage love_ never die, or be extinguished. [Sidenote: Spirituall distempers.] It is true that _Paul_ cries out (how much more may we) _O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from this body of death?_ Tis true, that sometimes _corruption_ and _Satan surprize_ and carry away the strongest _champions_ of _Christ Jesus_, as _slaves_ and _captives_ for a time, untill _Christ Jesus_ rescue, redeem and ransome, by giving _repentance_ unto his _Israel_, as he did to _David_, _Peter_, _&c._ as _Abraham_ rescued _Lot_, and as _David_ recovered all his precious _captives_, led _slaves_ away from _Ziklag_. I am far therefore from passing the _sentence_ of _death_ upon the least of the little ones of _Jesus_, (notwithstanding their _spirituall weaknes_, and _sicknesses_) in whom the least _spark_ or breathing of the _spirit_ of _Life_ can be discerned. And I desire to see and lament the _spirituall sicknesses_, and _diseases_ of mine own and others _Spirits_, which yet are not unto _death_ (as _Christ Jesus_ spake of _Lazarus_) but for the _glory_ of _God_, in the _fall_ and _rising_ of his _servants_. [Sidenote: Distinction between spirituall _death_, spirituall _sickness_ and spirituall _weakness_] Yea as _Paul_ distinguisheth of _Gods_ afflicting hand on his _Saints_ at _Corinth_, so must I distinguish, between these three, _death_, _sicknes_ and _weakness_: Every _sicknes_ of _Gods Children_ is not a _death_, for the _inner_ man cannot die, no more then _Christ_ himself. _Rom: 6_.