Page:Awful memorial of the state of Francis Spira (1).pdf/11

[11] friends accompanying him. And being arrived at the houſe of one James Arden, in St. Leonard's pariſh, they ſent for three eminent Phyſicians, who upon due obſervation of the effects, and of other ſymptoms of his diſeaſe, and ſome private conference one with another amongſt themſelves, returned this anſwer: That they could not diſcern that his body was afflicted with any danger or diſtemper originally from itſelf, by reaſon of the over-ruling of any humour; but that this his malady did ariſe from ſome grief or paſſion of the mind, which being over-burdened, did ſo oppreſs the ſpirits, as that they wanted a free paſſage; which ſtirred up many ill humours, whereof the body of man is full; and theſe aſcending up into the brain, troubled the fancy, ſhadowed the feat of judgment, and corrupted it. This was the fate of his diſeaſe, and that outward part that was viſible to the eye of nature. This they endeavoured to reform by purgation; either to conſume, or at leaſt divert the courſe of thoſe humours from the brain. But all their ſkill effected nothing; which made Spira ſay,

"Alas! poor men, how ignorant are you? Do you think that this diſeaſe is to be cured by potions? Believe me, there muſt be another manner of medicine; it is neither plaiſter nor drugs that can help a fainting ſoul, caſt down with the ſenſe of ſin, and wrath of GOD; it is only Chriſt that muſt be the Phyſician, and the goſpel the ſoul's antidote."

The Phyſicians eaſily believed him, after they had underſtood the whole truth of the matter; and therefore they wiſhed him to feel ſome ſpiritual comfort.

By this time, the fame of Spira was ſpread all over Padua, and the neighbouring country