calamities.

[65] _Numbers, Chap. xii. Verse 14._

[66] _Kings, Book ii. (al. iv.) Chap. v. Verse 27._

[67] _The same, Chap. xv. Verse 5._

[68] _Acts, Chap. v._

[69] _The same, Chap. xiii. Verse 11._

CHAPTER IV.

_The disease of king Jehoram._

Of king Jehoram it is related, that, "for his wicked life, the Lord
smote him in his bowels with an incurable disease, so that he voided
his intestines daily for the space of two years, and then died of the
violence of the[70] distemper." Two impious kings are recorded to have
had the same end, Antiochus Epiphanes, and Agrippa; of whom it was
said: [Greek: Eis ti ta splanchna tois ou splanchnizomenois].[71]

[70] _Chronicles, Book ii. Chap. xxi. Verse 18._

[71] _See the Notes of Grotius on this Place._

Of what avail are bowels to those
who have no bowels?

Now this distemper seems to me to be no other than a severe
dysentery. For in this the intestines are ulcerated, and blood flows
from the eroded vessels, together with some excrement, which is always
liquid, and slimy matter; and sometimes also some fleshy strings come
away, so that the very intestines may seem to be ejected.

CHAPTER V.

_The disease of king Hezekiah._

"When Hezekiah lay sick of a mortal disease, and the prophet Isaiah
went and declared to him, by God's express command, that he should die
and not recover; the Lord moved by his prayer, commanded Isaiah to
return, and tell him, that he would cure him in three days. Whereupon
Isaiah ordered a _mass of figs_ to be taken, and laid it on the boil;
whereby he recovered[72]."

[72] _2 Kings, Chap. xx._

Now to me it seems extremely probable, that this king's disease was a
fever, which terminated in an abscess: For in cases of this kind,
those things are always proper, which promote suppuration; especially
digestive and resolving cataplasms; and dried figs are excellent for
this intention. Thus, the Omnipotent, who could remove this distemper
by his word alone, chose to do it by the effect of natural remedies.
And here we have an useful lesson given us in adversities, not to
neglect the use of those things, which the bountiful Creator has
bestowed on us, and at the same time to add our fervent prayers, that
he would be graciously pleased to prosper our endeavours.

CHAPTER VI.

_The disease of Old-age._

Old-age _itself is a disease_, as the poet has properly expressed