Nor can I refrain from declaring, that I have not writ thefe effays for the profane or vulgar; but for thofe only who are well verfed, or at leaft initiated in theological or medical studies: and for this reafon I chofe to publish it in Latin; which language has for many ages paft been made ufe of by learned men, in order to communicate to each other, whatsoever might feem to them either new, or expreffed in a different manner from the common notions. Wherefore, if any perfon should intend to publish an English verfion of this book, I give him this timely notice, that he will do it, not only againft my will; but likewife in direct oppofition to that equitable law, whereby every man is allowed to difpofe of his own property according to his pleasure *.

But to bring this preface to a conclufion; it is manifeft that the Chriftian religion requires of all its members in a moft efpecial manner, to practife every act of humanity and benevolence towards each other. Wherefore the utmost care ought to be taken, that this beneficent difpofition of mind be not corrupted by any means whatsoever and nothing contributes more towards bringing on this corruption, than opinions derogatory from the divine goodnefs. Upon this account, as fuch is the misfortune of our times, that it is not only allowed, but even by many deemed a commendable action, to oppugn, and by every

* This declaration feems to have been intended only to prevent any furreptitious tranflation of this performance from appearing, feeing moft of the works of our learned author have heretofore been greatly difgraced by attempts of that kind. Nevertheless the public may be affured, that Dr Mead not only approved, but infpected what is

now offered to them.

VOL. III.

X

method

method to invalidate, the doctrine and authority of the Chriftian religion; no interpretations of the histo ries of miracles ought to be looked upon as out of feafon, provided they appear neither improbable, nor repugnant to the nature of the facts related.

In fine, it was not my intention to treat of every disease mentioned in holy writ; but to confine myself more particularly to thofe, the nature of which is generally but little known, or at leaft to fuch as I had fome peculiar medicine for, or method of cure, to offer to the public; and to perform this task, in the fame order in which they occur in thofe facred writings excepting only Job's difeafe, to which I have given the first place, on account of the great antiquity of that book. The Saviour of the world, in order to make his divine power manifest to mankind, cured many other diseases, both of the body and mind, befides those which I have mentioned in this work : the nature and caufes of all which difeafes whofoever would intend to inquire into, muft of neceffity compile a body of phyfic, which was not my prefent defign. But if Providence protract my life, I am not without hopes of laying more of my thoughts on this fubject before the public, for the honour which I bear to my profession, unless

Frigidus obftiterit circum præcordia fanguis.

In the mean time, whatever be the fate of these effays with my readers, I fhall reft fatisfied from a confcioufnefs of the rectitude of my intention, in having thus employed fome of my hours of leifure.

A

155

A COMMENTARY on the DISEASES mentioned in SCRIPTURE.

JOB'S

CHAP. I.

The Difeafe of JOB.

OB's disease is rendered remarkable by fome uncommon circumftances and confequences; fuch as the dignity of the man, the fudden change of his condition, his extraordinary adverfity, his incredible patience under them, his reftoration to a much happier ftate than he had ever before enjoyed, and laftly, the fingular nature of the illnefs with which he was feized.

il

His habitation was in the land of Uz, which, according to the learned Frederick Spanheim*, was situated in the northern part of Arabia Deferta, towards the Euphrates and Mefopotamia. He was a very luftrious man, the most opulent of all the Orientals, very happy in fons and daughters, of a most upright life and exemplary piety. Now, it is related, that God, in order to try his integrity and constancy, permitted Satan to afflict him by all means which he could devife, except the taking away of his life. In pur"fuance of this permiffion, Satan brought the most "dreadful calamities on him: for all his oxen and "affes were driven away by the Sabeans; lis fheep "and fervants were confumed by fire from heaven;

Hiftor. Jobi, cap. iv.

X 2

66

"his

"his camels were carried off; his fons and daugh

66

ters were crushed to death by the falling in of the "house upon them in a violent ftorm of wind; and "foon after he himself was afflicted with fcabs and "foul ulcers all over his body; fo that he fat down among the ashes, and fcraped himself with a pot"fherd." Thus from a very rich man he became extremely poor, and from the height of profperity he funk into the depth of mifery. And yet all these evils did not give the leaft fhock to his firmness of mind, nor to his piety towards God *: wherefore the Lord, moved by his prayers, put an end to all his calamities; gave him twice as much wealth as he had loft, and made him more profperous than he had ever been before +.

Now, the book of Job may justly be esteemed the most ancient of all books, of which we have any certain account ; for fome are of opinion that it was written in the times of the patriarchs; many others, that it was compofed about the days of Mofes, and even by Mofes himfelf; and there are but few who think it pofteriour to him . For my part, I embrace the learned Lightfoot's opinion, that it was compofed by Elihu, one of Job's companions, chiefly because he therein speaks of himself as of the writer of this hiftory; and if fo, it will appear to be older than the days of Mofes. However this be, it is most certain that this book carries with it manifest tokens of very great antiquity; the most material of which

* See Job, chap. i. and ii.` + Ibid. chap. xlii. See Spanheim's learned differtation on this fubje& in the book above quoted, chap. viii, and ix.

His works, tom, i. p. 24.

feem

feem to be these. In it there is not the leaft mention made of the departure of the Ifraelites out of Egypt, of Mofes, or the Mofaic law. After the manner of the patriarchs, Job, as the head of his family, offered facrifices in his own private house, for the fins of his children *. When he declares his integrity, he fcarcely mentions any other idolatry, but that most ancient one, the worship of the fun and moon †, which we know to be very old, and to have first obtained among the neighbouring Chaldeans and Phonicians. In fine, his own age protracted far beyond the life of man in Mofes's time, is a proof of its antiquity, for he lived a hundred and forty years after an end had been put to his calamities; fo that it is reafonable to believe that he lived above two hundred years in all. For that he was aged when his misfortunes crouded on him, may be hence inferred, that, although his three friends are ftyled old men ‡, yet, in his disputes with them, he does not feem to honour them for their age, as Elihu does, To avoid prolixity, I join with Spanheim in opinion, that Job's time coincides with the bondage of the children of Ifrael in Egypt, fo as to be neither posteriour to their quitting that country, nor anteriour to their entering it.

But there fubfifts a difpute of a different nature between very grave authors, and that is, whether this narrative be a fable or a true history: if I were allowed to interpofe my opinion, I would fay, that it is not a parable invented by zorúzwois, but a dramatic poem compofed upon a true history; and per+ Ibid. chap. xxxi. ver.

*

Job, chap. i. ver. 5.

26. 27.

Job, chap. xxxii, ver. 6.

haps