and to cast it from vs and when we beat down the body of sin 1. cor 9.27 by fasting and temperance And this is a meanes to keep vs from being iudged of the Lord. 1 Cor. 11 32. The sixt The Sixt and last meanes to keep vs from the infection of the plague concernes our duty and obedience to God and it is faithfulnesse and diligence in our callings with prudence to keepe vs within the compasse of our own waies for the Lord hath promised that hee will giue his Angels charge ouer his children to keepe them in all their wayes Ps 91.11 And this Ezekiah found for hee walked before the Lord in truth and vprightnesse not onely as an Israelite or Christian but as a King and Gouernour and hereby hee was preserued For as Salomon saith Hee that walkes vprightly Pro. 28.18 walkes safely For the second Six meanes to keepe vs frō dying of the plague The meanes to remooue the plague and to keepe you from dying of it though you be infected with it are likewise six and they are of two sorts 1. Ciuill 2. Religious The first The Ciuill meanes is the vsing of skilfull religious Physicians and Surgeons in obedience to Gods ordināce and with trust in his power and blessing For by the commandement of the Prophet Esay frō the Lord Ezekiah was to take a lumpe of dry figs and to lay it on the sore 2 Reg. 20.7 and by this meanes through Gods blessing hee did recouer The Religious means to keepe vs from dying of the plague are fiue and they be of two kinds for they concerne either God or our selues The meanes which concerne GOD are two The first meanes to keep vs frō dying of the plague and which concernes God The Second is earnest and fervent prayer to God to keepe vs a liue either by his blessing on the meanes if we haue any or without if wee haue none By prayer Num. 16.46.47.48 the plague was stayed in Israell when it was begun very hot For incense was offered vp with prayers to God the offering vp of incense Ceremonially did signifie teach the putting vp and accepting of our feruent prayers as is playne by the Psalmist where he saith Psal 141.2 let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense and the lifting vp of my hands bee as the euening Sacrifice And of this Ezekiah had good experience when the Lord said I haue heard thy prayer seene thy teares behold I will add vnto thy dayes fifteene years Isay 38.5 And besides 2 chr 6.29 1 Reg. 8.37.38 the Lord promised to heare their prayer made by the Israelits when they were visited by the Pestilence and the Lord hath promised Christians that thy prayer of faith shall preserue the sicke Iam. 1.15 The third The Second meanes which concernes God and that will keepe vs from dying of the plague is zeale and forwardnes in erecting and establishing and consequently in deuout and religious frequenting performing of the pure worship of God according to his Word and Will We read that when God was about to stay his hand from slaying the Inhabitants of Ierusalem by the plague that the Lord as a meanes thereunto bids his Angel to commaund his Prophet Gad to say to Dauid Goe vp 1 Chron. 21.18 and set vp an Altar to the Lord in the threshing floore of Araunah the Iebusite Whereunto Dauid obeying the text saith that hee went vp at the saying of Gad Verse 19. which hee spake in the name of the Lord Then Dauid said to Ornan grant mee the place of this threshing floore Verse 22. that I may build an Altar thereon vnto the Lord thou shalt grant it me for the full price that the plague may be staied from the people Note 1 Sam. 24. And when Dauid had bought paid for it Verse 26. then the Text saith Dauid built there an Altar to the Lord and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings and called vpon the Lord. And to the end it might appeare he accepted this worship for the appeasing of his wrath and staying of the plague The Lord answered him from heauen by fier vpon the Altar of burnt offerings For in the very next Verse it is said vers 37. that the Lord commanded the Angel Note and he put vp his sword againe into the sheath thereof Wee reade also that the people of Israel in Egypt made this a reason to perswade Pharaoh to let them go three dayes iourney Exod. 5.3 and sacrifice to the Lord their God least say they hee fall vpon vs with the pestilence Which shewes that if neglecting Gods worship be a meanes to bring the plague then zeale and deuotion in erecting countenancing performing of Gods worship according to his will is a meanes to remoue it and to keepe vs from dying of it And we may very probably coniecture not without good warrant that the solemne worship of GOD with fasting praying and preaching appointed by Authoritie hath beene a meanes not for the worthinesse of it but by Gods blessing on his owne Ordinance to stay the sicknesse and to abate the multitudes that died thereof The meanes to preuent death of the plague which cōcern our selues are three The first appertains to the iudgement of the plague it selfe The fourth and it is a sensible feeling when wee are smitten with it in our own soules of the heauy hand of God by laying it close to our harts Which we do when we are made to search out our sins which are the cause therof and when we consider seriously of Gods heauy displeasure therein against our sinnes 1 Reg. 8.37 38. 2 Chron. 6.28 29. for to this is promised a blessing indeed this will make vs pray humbly feruently for the pardon of our sinnes the cause therof that they being pardoned a way may be made for mercy vnto vs. And S. Peter tels vs 1 Pet. 5.6 that if we humble our selues vnder the mightie hand of God hee will exalt vs in due time And the Apostle S. Iames saith Iam. 5.16 that the prayer of the righteous man preuaileth much with God if it be feruent The second means which concernes our selues The fift and is good to keepe vs from dying of the plague belongs to our sinnes and it is a turning from them leauing them For when Gods people 2 Chron. 7.13 14. on whom his Name is called shal turne from their wicked wayes he hath promised to heale them of the pestilence For by this wee cause God to repent of the euill And by this we remooue and put away the euill of our doing from before the eye of the Lord which were the causes of it Ionah 3.10 Isai 1.16 punish our selues for our sin that we may not be punished of the Lord. The sixt The third means which concernes
2. in p. 50. the 3. p. 51. the 4. in p. 53. the 5 p. 55. the 6 p. 66. Sixe meanes to keep us from dying of the plague p. 57. The 1 meanes p. 58. the 2 in pa. 59. the 3 in pa. 60. the 4 in pa. 64. the 5 in pag 65. the 6 meanes in pa. 66. Cautions touching the efficacie of these meanes to keepe vs frrm infection or death by the plague pa. 68. c. Reasons to proue that the godly doe dy in Gods fauour though the dy of the plagueâ— pag. 74. How that comes to passe page 81. What makes death blessed or accurssed to men pa. 84. Rules to know how we shal dy in Gods fauour though we dy of the plague pa. 74. 86. The first pa. 86. The second pa. 92 The third pa. 96. The fourth pag. 99. The fift p. 101. The sixt pa. 102. Seuen holy vertues or actiâ—ns to be done by Christians to assure them of Gods fauour and loue in life and death pag. 107 A distinction of the sauing graces of the Spirit wrought in the Elect. pag. What brings vs into the estate of grace and what keeps vs therein p. 108. A farewell to them that haue not been visited p. 118. A farewel to them that haue been visited and yet are escaped p. 118. A farewell to both sorts pag. 119. Dr. FEATLIES Approbation I Haue perused this Treatise and fynd it very sound for Doctrine and seasonable for the time and hauing receiued much comfort by it my selfe J desyre others may do the like by the further publishing thereof DANIEL FEATLY A SPIRITV all Cordiall against the Plague OF late it hath pleased God to visite my Familie with the sicknesse Vpon this occasion according to good order I am a Ier. 36.5 shut vp in my Church yard and by this meanes I may not without offence go abroad either to the house of God to teach my people or to my freinds houses to see how they doe but blessed be God that in iudgment remembers mercy sixe of nine persons b Abac. 3.2 remaine escaped as it is this day from death Ezra 9.15 and foure of nine from infection Though God haue imprisoned my body yet hath he enlarged my spirit though he hath silenced my tongue and thereby taken from me liberty to preach yet hath he put my pen into my hand and thereby given me an opportunitie to write some spirituall counsell for the comfort of my dearly beloved like loving neighbours and Parishioners and my kindred and friends that are affected afflicted with Gods visitation on vs. As also for their consolation that haue been are or may be in heavines by meanes of the like visitation That which I haue now written vnto you is that which will be best for you to reade and that will be best for you to read at this time which will best meet with and remoue that which doth now most trouble you namely Griefe and feare That you are grieued for me and mine and for our visitation I assuredly beleeue And because I beleeue it therefore haue I writteÌ„ these few leaues lines 〈◊〉 11 â—0 to asswage your sorrow for it were hard if my affliction should make a wound of griefe in your hearts and I not endeavour to make a playster of comfort to heale it Farre be such ingratitude from me and farre bee such a want from you Though in some respects I am grived with your sorrow yet in other regards I reioyce not simply for the griefe it selfe but for that which I know is the cause and that which I hope will be the fruite and that which I pray may be the issue of it The cause of your griefe for vs is your loue for when the Iewes saw how Christ wept for Lazarus â—oh 11.36 they said behold how he loued him The fruite is godly sorrow for sinne â—heÌ„â—eares â—or sin proue godly or repentance vnto amendment of life and saluation and indeed then sorrow or teares proue godly when they exercise a twofold nature they haue namely 1. A salt brackish or brinish quality 2. A wet or moyst qualitie The salt or brinish qualitie of sorrow or teares shewes it selfe to be godly 1. when it Seasons the soule with grace 2. When it eates out the corrupt humour of wickednes that is in it and 3 keepes the heart from putrifiyng in sin The moyst wet qualitie that is in teares doth shew it selfe to be godly when 1. it softens the heart that is hardned d Heb. 3.13 with the deceitefulnes of sinne and 2. when it e Ier. 4.14 washeth the heart from wickednes and f Isa 16 1â— clenseth it from the loue of sensuall pleasures The issue which I pray may come of your sorrow for me is an assurance to your soules that you are living and not dead members of the Christian body in that you g can be touched with the feeling of our infirmities Heb. 4 1â— Rom. 12.15 Weepe with them that weep * Heb. 4.5 remember them that are in bonds as if you were bound with them * Rom. 12. â—5 And pittie your brethren when the hand of the Lord toucheth them Heb. 13.3 Iob. 19 21 In these respects I hope I may say with the Apostle S. Paul 2 Cor. 7.9 Now I reioyce not that yee were made sorry but that yee sorrowed to repentance for yee were made sorry after a godly manner that yee might receiue damage by vs in nothing But to omit any longer preface and to come to the matter intended which is remouing of your griefe and feare Against your griefe I will propound 1. matter of content 2. Meditations of comfort the good Lord reach and apply it by his Spirit vnto your Spirits according to the nature of the doctrine it selfe and according to my desire minde in propounding it That you may be contented with the hand of Gods visitation vpon my Family How to content our selues with Gods visitaion on our fâ—amily I pray you take notice of and consider seriously these fiue points 1 That we are not able to resist the hand of God for we are k not stronger then he Wee are in this respect but I as clay in the hands of the Potter for the a 1. Cor. 10.22 Ier. 18.6 Dan. 4.35 Lord doth according to his will in the armie of heauen and among the inhabitants of the earth and none can stay his hand 2 That we haue most iustly deserued to drinke of this cup with others b wee haue accepted the punishment of our iniquitie For we haue sinned against God and therefore must we beare c Micah 7 the hand of the Lord we indeed iustly receiue the due reward of our deedes Yea we must be anmbe not open our mouthes because it is his doing who hath not done without cause d Levit. 26 all that he hath done vnto vs. and therefore e Luk 23.
the Lord is iust for wee haue deserued to haue ben beneath for our sinnes f Psal 39. For who are we And what is our Fathers house that in such a common calamity we should looke to be free Seeing g 1. Pet. 4. the time is come that iudgment must begin at the house of God 3. That we are not alone in this affliction for we haue fellowes enough too many if the Lord saw it good h 1 Cor. 10.13 There hath no tentation taken vs but such as is common to man The Lord hath i 2. Sam. 7.14 chastened vs with the rod of men and with the stripes of the children of men yea with the stripes of them that are his owne children 4. That all in our family haue not bin smitten as yet but a few onely nor are they all dead that were smitten but some onely nor were they all smitten together but by degrees successiuely only First our seruants and then our children nor with so heauie a stroke as some haue bin but gently with moderation k Ier. 30.11 10.24 with measure and iudgement the Lord be praised therefore 5. And lastly consider that none of vs haue wanted that which many our betters haue beene without namely food and physicke helpers and keepers varietie of roomes and chambers with other conueniences so that I may truely say to Gods glory our benefit and your content of our selues as Paul did of himselfe and companions in affliction We are * 2 Cor. 6.9 as dying and behold we liue as chastened but not killed and in another place * 2 Cor. 4.8 We are troubled on euery side but not distressed Wee are in doubt but not in despaire And with Dauid the n Lord hath thrust sore at vs but hath not giuen vs ouer vnto death It is true I haue parted with a good seruant good childe and a good Curate My faithfull fellow helper in the ministery but it is content to vs they were not too good for him that gaue them their goodnes and that had more right to them then I for God in heauen was o master to the one p Father to the other and q Arch-Pastor and Bishop to the other and therfore might command them And it is a comfort to vs so it may be to you that r the Lord is better to vs then tenne sâ—ns â—2 Sam. 1 3. as Elkanah said that himselfe was to his wife Annah Now least haply content may seeme to some but a dry plaister for such a running sore not broad enough to couer it or not soueraigne enough to heale it therfore to make a perfect cure I haue thought of another medicine for the malady and so I passe on to the second sort of meditatioÌ„s that may giue you comfort as well as content against your heauinesse for our visitation How to coÌ„fort our selues against griefe for our visitation These comforts shall be taken from seuerall considerations concerning our affliction as namely 1. The Nature of it 2. The Cause of it 3. The Effect of it 4. The Companion of it 5. And lastly the End of it For in all these points there lieth matter of comfort from all these haue the faithful raised comfort to themselues in their afflictions and withall these haue wee comforted our selues in our visitation 1. The Nature of this visitation is the same with the nature of all other afflictions on the godly The nature of the affliction of the godly which is not to be a vengeance of God to wreake his fury on vs to our vtter destruction but to be a b Heb. 12.5 6 7. 1. Cor. 11.32 chatistment and correction to make vs repent more soundly of our past sinnes and to prevent with more watchfulnesse the committing of the same or like sins againe Reu. 3.19 that c Reu 2.29 we may be zealous and amend Indeed it is in it selfe a punishment and to the wicked that repent not it is a vengeance but to the godly that amend it is not so as shall bee proued more at large hereafter And therefore in this respect may we all take comfort in it 2 The cause of this our visitation is twofold The causes of the afflictions of the godly Efficient and impulsiue The Efficient Cause is the author or sender of it which is God and herein God is d to be considered not simply as God onely but as God a 2. Sam. 7 14. our Father or as mercifull For by this visitation wee fall into Gods hands whose b 2. Sam. 4 14 mercies are great and herein GOD c Heb 12.7 deals with vs as with his sons and daughters Therefore wee ought not to d Heb. 16. faint when vvee are rebuked of him but consequently bee comfortable therein The second cause is Impulsiue or that which mooueth God thus to afflict or chasten vs which is his eternall loue in Christ For as many as the Lord loues hee rebukes and chastens e Reu. 3.19 The Lord may chasten vs with the f 2 Sam. 7.4 15. rod of men and vvith the stripes of the children of men but his mercy shall not depart from vs. So that g Phil. 2.1 if there be any comfort in loue that is in Gods loue then may wee comfort our selues in our affliction which proceeds from it It is true the Instrumentall cause of this our visitation hath been Gods Angell or infection by men but the supreme Efficient is GOD. It is true also that in respect of our sinnes the h anger and fury of GOD may bee sayde to bee an Impulsiue or moouing cause of it a 2 Sam. 24 1. b Ezek. 10 19 But it is but his temporary anger vvhich is but for a i moment c Isa 54.8 VVhich may and doth well stand with his eternal loue euerlasting compassion in Christ with which wee are to bee comforted The effect of their affliction 3 The effect and fruit that comes to the faithfull by all their afflâ—â—tions when they are exercised thereby is very coÌ„fortable it is the a peaceable fruite of righteousnes e Heb 5.8 that is increase of holinesse both in heart life which will bring forth true quâ—et and peace to the soule though the body and outward man h Heb 6.9 be disquieted afflicted with theÌ„ for the present it is to c learne obedience by the things we suffer f Hos 6.1 it is to d Heb. 12.12 returne to God that smites vs and be zealous and amend g Reu. 3.29 So that we having in some measure through Gods grace fouÌ„d these fruits and effects wrought in vs by our affliction and these beeing comfortable because they be such as e accompany saluation therfore ought you not to sorrow f as men without hope 1 Thes 4.18 g Mat. 2.18 like Rachell that would not be comforted but even in griefe to
O Lord our God thus confesse our sins vnto thee as if thou knewest them not who art greater then our consciences knowest althings 1 Ioh. 3.20 but that by the repetition and remembrance of them we might be drawne more soundly to repent of them and to haue our eyes opened more cleerely to discerne thy iustice in punishing of vs with this thy visitation and thy righteousnes in afflicting vs with many miseries thereby Ps 52.4 that thou mayest bee cleare when thou art iudged Dan. 9.7 For Righteousnes belongeth vnto thee O Lord but vnto us open shame as at this day All this is come vpon us III. Acknowledging Gods Iustice in sending the Plague for our euill deedes and for our great trespasses and thou hast punished vs lesse then our iniquities deserue Ier 9.13 therefore will wee be dumbe and not open our mouthes Psal 39.9 Thou hast not done without cause Ezek. 14.28 all that thou hast done vnto vs Lev. 26.43 and therefore will wee accept the punishment of our iniquitie Though thou hast not punished vs according to the greatnesse of our sinnes as they deserue in measure which is thy mercy yet hast thou punished vs according to the kind manner of our sinnes which is thy iustice for we haue profaned thy house and sanctuarie with our formall and hypocriticall seruing of thee without the inward partes both of our selues and of thy worship and therefore hast thou shut the dores of thy house vpon vs when we were visited and hast by lawfull authoritie and good order shut vs vp in our owne houses Psa 101.2 In our owne houses wee haue not walked before thee with a perfect heart for false weights and measures false lights and bad wares haue been in many of our shops and ware-houses and therefore it is iust with thee to shutt vp our shopps for want of trading and to infect other of our roomes and chambers with a fearefull contagion Many of vs that were wont proudly to let and strutt it out in the streetes in the vanitie and varietie of strange apparell and new fangled habits and attyres hast thou now clad with mourning weeds and giuen vs cause to put sackcloth on our backs and ashes on our heads foâ— we are baased even to the dunghill The members of our bodyes we haue abused as weapons of vnrighteousnesse vnto sinne and therefore hast thou O Lord weakened and deformed the bodies of some with blanes and sores boyles and carbuncles and filled the bodies of others with the Tokens of thy displeasure We haue corrupted one another wirh the euill example of our workes and made them sinne and therefore it is iust with thee that we should be a meanes to infect one another to sicknesse and death Many of our Ministers thy faithfull seruants wee regarded not while they liued and therefore hast thou depriued vs of them yea many of vs haue defrauded them of their double honour 1. Ti. 5.17 reuerend respect and plentifull maintenance and therfore hast thou taken from vs the means of our maintenance by commerce and traffique Wee haue been hard-hearted and close-fisted to the necessities of our poore neighbours liuing amongst vs and therefore it is iust in respect of thee that our neighbour countries round about vs did deny to bring vs that abode in the Citie food and victualls and to bury those of vs that did go out of it with comely buriall Wee haue by our bad liuing and vniust dealing caused thy Gospel thy truth so plentifully preached 2. Pet. 2.2 in this Citie to bee euill spoken of abroad and therfore it is iust with thee that wee should bee a mocking and hissing a by-word and a reproach vnto our neighbour countries about vs. Wee doe not O Lord God thus iustifie thy proceeding against vs as if it needed our cleering but to testifie our desire as much as possible wee can to glorifie thy iustice by shaming our selues to the end wee may bee the better prepared to glorifie thy mercy also which is aboue all thy workes in our wonderfull deliuerance Psa 145.9 IV. Thanking Gods goodnes for staying Plague For O Lord our God In that when the sicknesse was so hot and so many had dyed thereof thou shouldest then stay it It was not because the sword of thine Angel was blunted with so many strokes or because there were no more people to dye or no more graues in London or because there was in vs no more desert of punishment Exod. 14.11 or in thee no more power to punish But because thou wert pleased in iudgement to remember mercy Abac. 3.2 and that thou delightest in mercy rather then iudgement Mica 7.18 That wee are aliue when others are dead that wee were in health when others were sicke It was not because wee were not within the compasse of thy stroke or could defend our selues or were able to heale the wound But because thou wouldst haue mercy on whom thou wouldst no goodnesse or power in vs but meerely greatnesse and goodnesse in thee hath made the difrence And therefore as thou art worthy to receiue glory Rev. 4.11 honour and power so saluation and glory and honour and power euen glory and honour for manifesting thy power in our salvation and preseruation 2. Chr. 7.14 bee vnto thee for euer For in this our deliuerance O Lord our God we see and therefore desire to glorifie thy wisedome in putting it into the minde of our Gouernours to appoint thine owne means of healing our Citie by humiliation with Fasting and Prayer and enabling thy Ministers and people vnderstandingly feelingly faithfully and feruently to vse those meanes and also in taking opportunitie in our greatest extremitie to worke this our deliuerance to the end the worke might the more cleerely appeare to be thine owne In this thy deliuerance we discerne thy power and therfore accordingly wee desire to praise thee in that thou art able to countermand all thy creatures euen the very Angels those principalities and powers for thou didst on a sodaine and in a short time worke a great deliuerance notwithstanding the wonderfull increase of the contagion in so many places the heate of the weather the multitude of the people and heynousnesse of our sins all which wrought toward a contrary end In this thy deliuerance wee behold thy truth and faithfulnesse O Lord our God in making good thy promises of healing thy people 2. Chr. 7.15 when they shall seeke thy face with prayers teares humiliation and turning vnto thee in not keeping thine anger for euer in not letting the rod of the wicked rest for euer vpon vs all Psa 103. Psa 105. nor suffering thy people to bee tempted aboue their strength but giuing a good issue of their tryall In this our deliuerance we glorifie thy patience in that thou hast not dealt with vs according to our sins Psa 103.11 nor
our selues and is auailable to preuent our death of the plague appertaines to the coÌ„mandemeÌ„ts of God and it is sincerity vprightnes of heart whereby we desire and endeuour to walke in obedience to all Gods commandements in the refraining of all known sinnes euen our beloued ones and in the practising of all knowne duties cheerfully conscionably and constantly The Lord tells vs by the Prophet Ezekiel Ezek. 14.17 20. that the righteous shall by his righteousnesse deliuer his owne life from the pestilence Prou. 10.2 and Solomon saith that Righteousnesse deliuers from death An experiment of the soueraignty of this meanes medicine wee haue in Ezekiah who to preuent if it were possible his death of this sicknesse with which he was smitten as the learned iudge hee vseth no better an argument to perswade the Lord to heare him herein then this Isay 38.3 Remember mee now O Lord how I haue walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart haue done that which is good in thy sight and behold what the Lord said vnto him by his Prophet Isai 2 Reg. 20.6 I haue added to thy dayes fifteene yeares I will heale thee and the third day thou shalt goe vp to the house of the Lord. Verse 5. And according to this promise was Gods performance for the text saith plainely Verse 7. that he recouered Cautions touching the efficacy of these meanes to keepe vs from infection or death of the plague But coÌ„cerning these directions I must giue you som cautions to teach you how for you are to rely on them for the preventing of infectioÌ„ by the plague or death by infection You are to know then 1. That you are not to think to prevaile with God to these endes by vsing some one of these meanes that is easiest to be done or which you like to choose but by the vsing of them all with continuance therein 2. You are not to expect preservatioÌ„ howeuer they be performed by you but then wheÌ„ for manner aswel as for matter they are done according to the Word 3. You are not to imagine that you can merite preseruation by these meanes for when you doe them best h Lu. 17.10 you are vnprofitable seruants for the efficacie of these exercises to their seueral ends depends not on our good performance but on Gods institution and blessing 4. You must not look to obtain by these religious exercises preseruation froÌ„ infection or death absolutly but with condition and reseruation only For we must vse these meanes in faith beleife to receiue good by them else why doe wee vse them as Gods ordinances to this end and wee must by faith beleeue to receiue good by them so farre as God meanes and intends we shall for it is in vayne to looke for it otherwise and God meanes and intends we shall receiue good by these holy exercises so farr as he hath reuealed his will and meaning for thus speaks the Scripture which reveals Gods will and meaning herein 1 Ioh. 5.14 If wee aske any thing according to Gods will he heareth vs. And the spirit maketh intercession for the Saints according to the will of GOD. Rom. 8.27 But you will aske me what is this will of God according to which wee are to pray and what is asked according to Gods will Surely that which God doth will and meane to grant What doth God will meane to grant Surely that which he hath promised to giue What is that which God hath promised to giue Surely good things for so speakes the Scripture l Mat 7.11 Your Father which is in heauen will giue good things to them that aske him They which m Psal 34.9 10. feare the Lord stall want nothing that is good And no good n Ps 84.11 thing will hee with hold from them that liue vprightly And what be those good things Surely those which are good for Gods glory and good for our saluation For what doth God will more then his own glory and the saluation of his Elect Seeing hee hath appointed their saluation by his own Sonne Eph. 1.5.6.11.12 according to the good pleasure of his will for the praise of the glory of his grace wherein hee hath made vs accepted in the beloued What is good if these bee not what is good without these Is it not enough for vs poore sinners that deserue not our health or life vpon any conditions to inioy them vpon these terms but wee must haue them without Gods good will whether or no it bee good for Gods glory our own saluation or else we are vndone and God is not true of his word nor carefull of vs Far be such strange lust from Christians whose lot is the Lord and whose portion is heauen to desire to liue here to the dishonour of God and the hinderance of their owne saluation far be it from crauers to be caruers and beggars choosers And so I come to the third thing which I propounded to deliuer touching your feare and it is comfort and consolation The comfort is against your feare to die of the plague and it is this That though you die of it yet are you not accursed but you shal die in the loue and fauour of God for you shal die o Num. 23 10. the death of the righteous you shall p Reu. 14.13 rest from your labours yee shall q Lu. 2.27 1 Thes 4.14 depart in peace and r sleepe in Iesus which whosoeuer doth is blessed In handling this matter of comfort I will obserue this method 1. I will proue that the faâ—thfull doe die in Gods loue though they die of the plague 2. I will shew how it comes about to bee so 3. I will giue you some Rules by which you may assure your selues that you shall die in GODS loue though you die of the sicknesse 1. That the godly die in the fauour of God though they die of the plague I wil proue by two Reasons of which this is the first Reason 1 The faithfull that die of the plague doe die in Gods loue because their death works to them spiritual and eternall good The Reason is good because nothing works to the spirituall and eternall good of the wicked that doe not die in Gods loue for they haue right to no spirituall or eternall good thing being out of Christ Å¿ Phi. 3.19 minding earthly things and hauing their t Ps 17.14 portion in this life onely And that the death of the godly though it bee of the sicknesse workes vnto their spiritual and eternall good I proue by S. Paul who affirmes That all u Ro. 8.28 things worke together vnto good to them that loue God who are called according to his purpose Whence I thus argue If the death of the godly by the plague be somthing then must it worke to the good of them for all things work if vnto their good