'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — November 16

Epaphroditus met with a long and dangerous sickness. This is our nature; let us not dream of any immunity. God's children are subject to sickness while they live. Daily experience proves it, for our bodies have the seeds of sickness in them. If we do not recover, God little by little unties the marriage knot between the soul and body, and so death comes more easily. Since we cannot avoid sickness or death, how can we prepare ourselves beforehand? (1.) Before sickness comes, labour to make God your friend. If a man all of his life has followed his own wilful courses of sin, and continually blasphemed God and abused him, how can this man think to find comfort in sickness? Repentance in sickness may justly be suspected to be just a fear of punishment rather than a loathing of sin. God often leaves such men to despair. (2.) Wean your affections from the earth so you will be able to endure when any cross comes. It is an easy matter for one to die who has already died in his heart and affections beforehand. Consider the uncertainty and vanity of these things, and how they are unable to help you in your greatest need. (3.) Make up your accounts daily. When sickness comes, you will not have the hardest work yet to do. It is folly to put off the important until later. God may call you with a sudden death, or maybe allow your understanding and senses to be troubled. It is madness to put off our hardest work until our weakest estate. Every day we are affected by the world, and we need to wash ourselves daily for cleansing. (4.) In health lay a foundation for comfort in sickness. A good death is prepared for in a good life. Store up with Joseph against times of famine, sickness, and of death, and prepare such cordials as will strengthen you in sickness.

Devotional Readings taken from Puritan Devotional Readings 'Voices From The Past Vol.1.'
Richard Sibbes, Works, V:40-43
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