A Meditation Upon Spiritual and Bodily Sicknesses by William Spurstowe (ca. 1666)   The soul has its maladies, as well as the body, and yet how wide is the difference between the patients of the one and of the other, in regard of those qualities which may dispose them for a cure and recovery out of them?  In the diseases of the body it matters not whether the patient knows the name of his disease, or understands the virtue of the medicines which are prescribed, or be able to judge of the increase, height, and declination of his distempers by the beatings of his pulse. The whole business is managed by the care and wisdom of the physician, who oft times conceals the danger on purpose lest fear and fancy should work more than his physic, and hinder the benefit of what he applies.  But in the maladies of the soul it is far otherwise.  The first step unto spiritual health is a distinct and clear insight of sin, such which makes men to understand the plague of their own hearts.  Christ heals by light, as well as by influence. He first convinces them of sin, and then gives the pardon, He discovers the disease to them, and then administers the medicine.  Ignorance is a bar to the welfare of the soul, though not of the body, and makes the divine remedies to have as little effect upon it, as purges or cordials have upon the glasses into which they are put.   It is Solomon’s peremptory conclusion that a soul without knowledge is not good, nor indeed can be, because it wants a principle, which is as necessary to goodness as a visive power to the eye to enable it to discern its object.  How can he ever value holiness who understands not what sin is?  Or desire a Savior who hath no sense of his need?  O therefore, blessed Lord, do Thou daily more open my eyes, that I may see myself to be among the sinners, and not among the righteous; among the sick, and not among the whole; that so I may be healed by Thee, who came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance; not to save the whole, but the sick.  Be thou my Physician, and let me be Thy patient, until Thou makes me to say, “I am not sick, because Thou hast forgiven me all mine iniquities.”   -----------------------  This article is taken from:  Spurstowe, William.  The Spiritual Chymist: or, Six Decads of Divine Meditations on Several Subjects. London: Philip Chetwind, 1666.  A PDF file of this book can be downloaded, free of charge, at http://www.ClassicChristianLibrary.com