“What, then,” you will say, “do all illnesses come in punishment for sin?” No, not all, but many do; some spring from laxity. I say this because gluttony and drunkenness and sloth give rise to sicknesses of this kind. Accordingly, we must be watchful for one thing only: that we bear every blow with gratitude. At times the blow comes to chastise sin, as in the book of Kings we see a man [i.e., King Asa] seized with a foot disease for this reason. On the other hand, the blow might be inflicted to increase righteousness still further, as God says to Job, “Do you think that I have had dealings with you for any other reason than ‘that you might be justified?’ ”—St John Chrysostom

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