ONe of the most troublesome Symptoms in almost all Feaverish Distempers, is wont to be Thirst; and in mine it was importunate to a degree, that made me very much so, in frequently solliciting those that were about me for Drink, which, in the heat of the Fit, seem’d so desirable an Object, that it then much lessen’d my wonder at that parch’d King’s agreement, who, urg’d with Thirst, sold his Liberty for a full Draught of cold VVater. But alas! I sadly found, that the Liquor I swallow’d so Greedily, afforded me but a very transient Relief, the latter being gone almost as soon as the former had pass’d thorow my Throat, so that not only it did but amuse me, not Cure me; but, which is worse, Drinking it self increas’d my Thirst, by encreasing the Feaver, whose uneasie Symptom that was. Wherefore, seeing all the cooling Juleps that could be administer’d, did free me from nothing but the Expectation of being much reliev’d by such slight and palliative Medicines; the Doctor thought himself this Day oblig’d to a quite contrary, and yet a more generous Remedy; and order’d, that, instead of giving me Drink, they should take away Blood, as judging it the best and far the surest course to take away the uneasie Symptom, by removing that which Foments the cause.
Thus when the Mind is distemper’d with turbulent Commotions, and the disquieted Appetite does too restlessly and eagerly crave Objects, which, though perhaps in themselves not absolutely Bad, are at least made, by a Conjunction of Circumstances, unfit and dangerous for the Person that longs for them: VVe, like unskilfull or unruly Patients, fondly imagine, that the only way to appease our Desires, is, to grant them the Objects they so Passionately tend to. But the wise and soveraign Physitian of Souls, who considers not so much what we do wish, as what we should wish, often discerns, that this praeternatural Thirst indicates and calls for a Lancet, rather than a Julep, and knows it best to attempt the Cure, rather by taking away somewhat that we have than by giving us that which only a Spiritual superfluity reduces us to want: And in effect, we often see, that as a few Ounces of Blood taken away in a Feaver, does cool the Patient more than the giving him ten times as much Drink would do; so a few Afflictions, by partly letting out, and partly moderating our corrupt Affections, do more compose and appease a Mind molested with inordinate Appetites, than the Possession of a great many of the Objects we impotently desire. VVhilst our Appetites are roving, and unreasonable, and insatiate, the obtaining of this or that particular Object does but amuse the Patient, not take away the Disease; whereas seasonable, and sanctify’d Crosses, that teach us to know our selves, and make us sensible how little we deserve, and how little the things we are so Greedy of could make us happy, if obtain’d, may reduce us to a Resignation, and Tranquility of Mind, preferrable to those over-valu’d things, which, as it keeps us from enjoying, so it keeps us from needing. Thus Zacheus, who, whilst a Publican never thought he had enough, when he had once entertain’d our Saviour, though he offer’d to make a quadruple Restitution of what ever he had fraudulently acquir’d, was, upon a sudden, by being freed from Avarice, grown so Rich, that he was forward to give no less than half he had to the Poor; as if his Divine Guest had wrought upon his Goods, such Miracles as he had done upon the five Loaves, and two Fishes, of which the Remains amounted to more than the whole Provision was at first.
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