THou canst not be ignorant, under this Noon-tide of the Gospel, that all diseases, aches and pains, that befall man in this life, are the proper Effects, and Fruits of mans own sin, we may thanke our selves for any evils that befall us. Our breach of obedi­ence due from us to God, is the cause of all breaches made by God upon us, in our bodies or estates. He hath broken me with breach upon breach, saith Patient Job, Job 16.14. Sin brings suf­ferings and sorrows upon us, Why then doth living man com­plain? Lam. 3.39. Thy breach is great like the Sea, who can heal thee? Lam. 2.13. Whereupon David prayes to God to heal the breaches, Psal. 60.2. He alone is the repairer of our brea­ches.

Yet there be sundry second causes of these Ruptures or brea­ches in mans bodie, and divers things occasioning them. They befall some in their very cradles, and infancie, sometimes by their fierce crying and frowardness: Sometimes again they happen to some, through carelesnesse in their dressing, swadling, and at­tendance. Sometimes they come through some extream cold and coughing. In some that are bigger and elder, they are oc­casioned by vehement agitation or stirring of the body in some violent motion of Riding, running, leaping, ringing, lifting some great weight, or by some stroke or blow on the belly, or some­times by loud shouting with the voyce, straining the body, and many such like, whereby the inward rim of the belly, wherein the bowels lye wrapt up and enclosed, being distended, rent or broken, the bowels fall down at such a breach, swell, and cause grievous pains, swellings, inflammations of, and torments in, those tender parts within, as Physitians more largely and learned­ly tell us.

My way of Cure is gentle, and ease-full, not causing the least pain or grief to to the body, or the affected part: 'Tis such as the tenderest child may endure without whinching, and therefore ap­plyable [Page 4]unto, and easie to be used on any other of riper yeers, and more discretion.

I launce not, cut not, pierce not the flesh or skin with any in­strument, as Chirurgions often doe, for the stone in the Bladder, and sew the wound up again, and yet we know some that for hope of future health and recovery, endure all these torments (though the remedie oftentimes prove worse then the disease) even willingly and patiently, and pay dearly for it too, in great sums of monie. Whereas I put my Patients to no pain at all, but procure and bring them present ease, certain remedie, and relief, unfailing cure, through the help and blessing of my Lord God, who is the chief closer up of breaches for his people, and heals the stroke of their wound, whose helping and healing hand I have hitherto alwayes found graciously working with mee, and by me, to whom therefore be th [...] Glory.

I arrogate not to my self any Apostolicall or miraculous way of healing, or giving soundness of body to the diseased: I doe the cure by Chirurgicall and Physicall meanes, Medicines and Directions to be prepared, used and applyed by mine own hand, as I see need and find cause.

If thy self or any of thy friends, son or daughter, stand in need of my skil, pains, or help, thou mayest find me, or hear of me at my House in Peterburgh, at the entring into the Minster-yard. I am often sent for abroad, sometimes unto places an hundred miles from my own dwelling. Thou mayest every week, send from London to Peterburgh by the Lincoln Carriers, who passe and repasse through our Citie, not far from my very door. And if it so fall out that I should not then be at home, and therefore can­not come to thee at the instant of thy sending, yet I will not fail to repair unto thee, and wait upon thee, at my first leasure and opportunity, if it bee not too troublesome or painfull for thy self, or thine, to come home to mee.

I boast not of what (God hath wrought and done by mee already, though many would not have beleeved what they them­selves upon trial have found true, I tell thee not crackingly of any great undertakings, I hang out no false Titles, nor mountebank Ta­bles of lying wonders, or imaginary cures. Many, where I have bin imploied, can and wil bear me witnesse of my real performances, towards them and theirs. And doe often with thankfull hearts [Page 5]blesse God for me; and are still glad upon any occasion to see mee, and acknowledge Gods goodnesse towards them, for pro­spering my pains in their desired recoverie, they bid me kind­ly welcome, give me (during the time I can stay) courteous en­tertainment. So that as Job 29.11. When the ear heard of me, then it blessed me, and when the eie saw me, it gave witness to mee.

My bodily presence or person promiseth not much, nor did it in S. Paul, 2 Cor. 10.10. no, nor yet in the Sacred Person of the Lord Jesus Christ himself, who went up and down healing every disease and sicknesse among the people. For Isai. 52.14. His visage was marred more then any mans, there was no form or comliness to move men to desire even Him.

I rufle not in silk or sattin, I flaunt not in Scarlet, or gorge­ous Apparel. I tell thee therefore before hand, ere thou see me, what a one thou shalt find me, lest when thou seest me, thou through pre-conceipt and mis-prision be disappointed, and fall short of thy expectation: as Naaman, 2 Kin. 5.11. Was wroth and went away, and said, Behold, I thought he will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the Name of the Lord his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the Leper.

To undeceive thee therefore, know that I am as Jacob, a plain man, Gen 25.27. and thou shalt find honest and plain dealing at my hands.

I am verily perswaded, that there be a great many in this Nation, grievously troubled with this kind of infirmity of Rup­tures, and slipping down of their bowels, into the lower parts of their body, who for lack of timely help, do languish, droop, w [...]ar away, and their breach becommeth daily bigger and big­ger, for when the Caul or Filme that should lap in the bowels, and bear them up from sinking and setling downward, is rent and broken, how can the vessels within but ever and anon slide down, and be with much pain, and difficultie lifted, or kept up?

Many such I fear there be, who through too much modesty and shame hide their weakness, or if some near friend know it, do yet utte [...]ly despair of cure or mends in this world, and so lead miserable and uncomfortable lives.

For upon any more then ordinarie motion and agitation of [Page 6]their body, yea upon every small distemper through cold or wind the parts above, fall down into the breach, fret and swell, and make the body very sore and fall of cruell torment, yea it makes them stomack sick and to vomit, and they are so dis-abled here­by, that they grow listlesse, unweldie, cannot, or care not to walk abroad, least it should fall down and put them to pain, much lesse can they, or dare they, work at any bodily labour, ride a journey, or exercise themselves, though it be even with moderate, and more gentle movings, and stirrings of the body.

Now by Gods blessing, I can and shall so help them, that even those whose infirmities and grievances in any kind of these Rup­tures (whether Wind-rupture, Gut-rupture, or Flesh rupture) be the greatest, painfullest, and most tormenting, shall in very short time be able to walke, ride, work, bear burdens, and cheer­fully go about any stirring imployment, And whereas some that undertake to help persons diseased in this kind, doe it by pain­full cures, and are a long while in doing it, and many times en­joyn their Patients to lie continually in bed for thirty or fortie dayes together, and apply Sear clothes, Plaisters, &c. My way is more easie, more speedie, and safe, and sooner then thou thy self haply couldst expect or desire.

Good things the more common, the better; Wells, the more drawn the sweeter water; my candle shineth no worse because another is lighted by it, it now growes towards evening with me, I am sixty yeers old and upwards, and therefore desire before my Sun-set, and it be past working-time, to doe all the good I can, that my Candle may blaze a little in the s [...]cket before it go out, and be no more seen. Some of my good friends have seri­ously intreated me to make my skill more common, not to bury my talent which God hath given me for the good of others, and indeed I sometimes check my self, as those hunger-starved men, 2 Kin. 7.8. and thinke, I do not well to conceal my experienced skill, but should draw out my selfe (who indeed am now alrea­dy on the tilt) that the best wine may be at last, for publike be­nefit in releiving the needfull, not reserving it (as Misers doe) for any private ends or gain to my self.

Wherefore I have thus at last, thought good and resolved to publish in Print, for the behoof of my Countrie, and to make known this particular disease of Ruptures, what I dare under­take [Page 7]and professe to doe, or to professe rather what God hath done, and I hope will yet doe, by me.

I doe verily thinke that some vain-glorious and vapouring Mountebank, some self-seeking greedie Emperick would have raked together a great estate, gotten great summes of money, by lesse skill, lesse profitable, usefull and easefull cures then I (by Gods blessing) have done and can doe.

For my part (though I be a man of mean estate and condition, yet) I seek no great things to my self (not Balaams wages, Num. 24.13.) I desire onely a competent viaticum to maintain my self and family, in a comfortable sufficiencie, and to eat the labour of my hands, as Solomon concerning the vertuous woman, bids, Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gate, Prov. 31.31.

I have heard how that some learned and carefull Lawyers have had lands, and great Annuities given them during their life, in re­ward of their prosperous and successefull pains, in carrying some one cause, in some one great suit of Law.

And yet health is more worth then wealth, Skin for skin, yea all that a man hath will he give for his life, Job 2.4. what would not some diseased rich man give to be made sound and whole, or find ease and remedie against some lingring sickness or tormenting pain, which makes his life sad and uncomfortable?

The Woman in the Gospel, that had the issue of blood twelve yeers, spent her whole estate upon Physitians (so fain would shee have had health) against that languishing infirmity, and yet shee was so far from being bettered, or getting remedie, that she be­came rather worse, till she happily touched the great Physitian of soul and body, and then was made presently and perfectly whole, Mar. 5.26.

I boast not of things beyond my line, I onely tell thee what God hath done by me, I ascribe nothing to my s [...]lf, mine own worth, or works, but (with that Divine Poet, Du Bartas Quadr. of Pibrach, Stanz. 5.)

[Page 8] Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy Name be the praise, who dost mightily manifest and magnifie thy wisedome, power, and goodness, by imploying, and blessing the poor la­bours, parts and services of thy meanest and most contemptible servants and instruments for the good of others. To whom there­fore be all the glory. In whom I shall ever be,