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I. THE GREAT INCIDENCY OF HUMAN NATURE TO SICKNESS AND BODILY DISEASES. The best of men are not exempt from them. This incidency to sickness and bodily diseases is founded partly in the frame of our natures, partly the common accidents of life, but especially the great inlet to all calamity, namely, sin, and our fatal apostasy from God. Then what reasons we have for thankfulness, for every moment's enjoyment or continuance of health. And as we should be thankful for health, we should be also submissive in sickness.

II. SICKNESS AND BODILY DISEASES HAVE A GREAT DEAL OF INSTRUCTION IN THEM. It pleases God frequently to inflict them for this very end; that men might thereby be brought to the knowledge of themselves, and their duty towards Him. This may appear —

1. From a consideration of God, who has all along made it plain in the revelations of His Word, that He has that love and goodwill to mankind, He never afflicts them for affliction's sake.

2. From a consideration of the calamity itself. By diseases and sickness we are taught the absolute vanity and uncertainty of this world, with all the comforts of it; the beauty of all vanisheth before us upon a sick bed. By sickness we gain an easier insight into our own guilt, and all the unreasonable provocations we have given the Almighty, throughout the whole course of our lives. Sometimes the sin is read in the very distemper itself.

III. WHAT AN ALLAY TO SO GREAT A CALAMITY IT IS TO HAVE A MESSENGER OR INTERPRETER. Some understand here the ministry of an angel. The value of such a messenger may be seen —

1. In our indisposedness to do anything oft good purpose for ourselves.

2. The great mistakes we are apt to fall into.

3. A mediator is of further advantage, to implore God on our behalf. Learn to live under a wise expectation of such a calamity. Let us not despise at such times the help of God's ministers.

(Nathanael Resbury, D. D.)

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KJV: He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, and the multitude of his bones with strong pain:

WEB: He is chastened also with pain on his bed, with continual strife in his bones;