IV. STRANGE AND TRUE.

I READ, in the Revelation, of a beast, one of whose heads was, as it were, wounded to death. I expected in the next verse that the beast should die, as the most probable consequence, considering:—

1. It was not a scratch, but a wound.

2. Not a wound in a fleshy part, or out-limbs of the body, but in the very head, the throne of reason.

3. No light wound, but in outward apparition, (having no other probe but St. John’s eyes to search it,) it seemed deadly.

But mark what immediately follows: And his deadly wound was healed. Who would have suspected this inference from these premises. But is not this the lively emblem of my natural corruption? Sometimes I conceived that, by God’s grace, I have conquered and killed, subdued and slain, maimed and mortified, the deeds of the flesh: never more shall I be molested or buffeted with such a bosom sin: when, alas! by the next return, the news is, it is revived and recovered. Thus tenches, though grievously gashed, presently plaster themselves whole by that slimy and unctuous humour they have in them; and thus the inherent balsam of badness quickly cures my corruption, 89not a scar to be seen. I perceive I shall never finally kill it, till first I be dead myself.