that thereby hee may haue entrance into vs againe Finally to end this point and to come vnto our purpose againe there is nothing we ought in all our liues to bee more carefull of then to striue to discerne betweene the true the blessed and most comfortable peace of Iesus Christ in our hearts and consciences and the false peace and most dangerous and deadly sleepe of carnall and benummed consciences where Sathan dwelleth That if wee haue the one we may with all our might endeuour to preserue it and if we be miserably deluded and so endangered by the other wee may with all speede come to the meanes appointed in the Gospell of Iesus Christ for our deliuerance Great and deadly is the sleepe of all Atheists hypocrites and carnall men before Sathans face by the light of the Gospell bee discerned They are like men which haue drunke some deadly poyson they can but sleepe and delight in sleeping and yet perswade themselues in this miserable security that all is wel Our Sauiour rendereth a reason of this when he saith Sathan watcheth them with all his strength munition armour and with all violence stâ—…uing to keepe blinde in this state all he can to the day of death There can bee no true peace before Christ by his word and spirit cast forth Sathan out of the mindes and hearts of men as long as men loue darkenesse and hate light as long as the sloniâ—… slintie polluted heart ' and conscience remaineth the peace and sleepe is to be suspected to be Sathanicall Secondly before Christ giue peace hee must needes warre with Sathan Luk. 11. 21. In this warfare the prisoner that Christ taketh which fought against him is the soule of man c. a man therefore must be captiuat and so in soule humbled vnder Christ before true peace in Christs kingdome that peace therefore which is before humiliation is to be suspected Thirdly where Christ hath ouercome there his goood spirit watcheth for hee will not leese any that he hath found Io. 10. 28. Where that spirit is there hee worketh true sanctification of soule spirit and body I. Thess. 5. 23. Where therefore true sanctification is wanting the peace is dangerous and to be suspected But of this more in an other question Now to returne to that wee purposed let vs consider briesly whether the wicked spirites are Gods instruments and messengers to smite vs with the Pestilence The Lorde vseth no doubt as in many other of his iudgements so in this the ministerie of Angels good and euill Hee maketh his Angels like the windes and his ministers are like a flame of fire It was as it seemeth to me a good Angell which with his sword drawne flew so many thousands in Israel in Dauids time Howbeeit Augustine saith hee can neuer remember that the good Angels execute any iudgements vpon any good people And it was the Angell of the Lord that flew in Senacheriâ—…s campe in one night 185000. And they were good Angels which came to Sodome and Gomor when it was destroyed with fire and brimstone It was likewise the Angell of the Lord which smote proud Herod that hee was eaten of wormes Act. 12. 13. Yet Iosephus saith hee sawe an Owle or a Diuell in that likenesse ouer his head presaging that miserable death And he addeth there followed great tormentâ—… in his inwarde parts His grandfather was eaten of lice but this Tyrants death sâ—…meth to be of some sore griping and guawing wormes in his bowels hee was made wormes meate saith Saint Luke It may be hee was tormented of lice without and wormes within But they were euill spirits and Sathans angels which plagued Aegypt Psal. 78. 49. 50. Hee cast vpon them the fiercenesse of his anger indignation and wrath and vexation by the sending out of euill angels hee made a way to his anger hee spared not their soule from death but gaue their life to the Pestilence And sathan is saide to fill Iobes body all ouer with most pestiferous botches and biles One saith the diuell gathereth of the first seeds of nature and applyeth them to some matter and so can produce strange effects but how farre hee can proceede in nature it is hard to iudge The diuell is limited two wayes First hee cannot out-reach nature Secondly the will of the Lord so saith hee the diuell can bring pestilence famine biles for he knoweth of what causes these euils do arise And an other reuerend diuine saith The wicked angels are Gods instruments in the pestilence working by naturall causes So the diuell is said to send the godly to prison but by meanes of tyrants Reue. 2. 10. and chap. 6. 8. 9. verse 1. At the commandement of God the windes are in like manner sent foorth by euill angels from the which windes doubtlesse it is manifest that many infections of the ayre and this infection chiefly doth arise And Augustine vpon the Psalme 78. hee is of iudgement that the good and euill Angels can vse these visible Elements and by them effect many things As men saith he can vse them not onely to sustaine life but also according to the measure of their knowledge most artificially both in sundrie supersluous trisles and in diuers mechanicall effects There be three sorts of maladies wherâ—…by the wicked are plagued and the godly chastened of the Lord. The first kinde is meere naturall the second is meere diabolicall the third is mixt Meere naturall I call all those which haue their causes knowne in nature discerned and cured not by rude Empyriâ—… but by the learned in the practise of Phisicke as the ordinary common diseases among the people Meere diabolicall I thinke wee may câ—… those euils wherein no cause appearâ—… to the most perfect and learned Phisition but some secret cause that is some wicket spirit sent of God to distemper the body and to cause the naturall faculties and parts of the body eyther not to be able to performe their duties or to benumbe the body or to do farre more with greater strength and violence then nature alone can effect such were those the scripture cals dâ—…moniaci possessed of diuels or holden of diuels or as some learned men reade inspired by diuels In which most grieuous affliction Sathan doth most commonly bereaue the possessed of the vse of common sense and reason working in them beside their ordinarie course of nature straunge effects euen such as the most iudicious both Phisitions and Diuines cannot ascribe to any other cause but to Sathans effectuall working There is great wisedome and heede to bee taken in helping and healing such at this day for it is not done by coniuration or diuination as Popish Priestes professe and practise but by entreating the Lord humbly in fasting and prayer I see no warrant we haue to talke or question with Sathan for hee is the Lords executioner hee hath sent him what authoritie then haue wee to commaund
Iesus Christ and to proclaime vnto men that if the execution of this iudgement cannot preuaile against their securitie the Lord himselfe commeth speedily to the generall iudgement to sweepe away all sinners from the face of the earth and to cast them into a place of torments where they shall haue plagues farre exceeding the plagues of Egypt not only in body but also in minde not for a day or two but for euer They shall haue plagues without end The eleuenth cause If any yet would know wherefore the Lord sweepeth away so many thousands in the world among Pagans with this beesome of destruction let him take a veiwe of the plagues of Egypt most terrible and dreadfull for besides the reuenge of his people the Lord mentioneth often another cause namely the manifestation of his power and might which he will haue knowne as by his mercies among his people so by his fearefull iudgements vpon his enemies Exod. 7. 4. and 5. By great iudgements the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord Chap. 9. 14. I will at this time send all my plagues vpon thine heart and vpon thy seruants and vpon thy people that thou maiest know that there is none like me in all the earth The twelfth and last cause may bee this againe in the Church among Gods people the reuenge of the couenant of the Lord for where the Lordes Lieutenants and keepers of his couenant the magistrates are slow to draw forth the sword of iustice there the Lord telleth vs he will draw forth his owne swords of famine warres and pestilence Leuit. 26. 14. 15. If ye will not obey me nor doe all these commandements and if yee shall despise mine ordinances either if your soule abhor my lawes so that ye will not do all my commandements but breake my couenant c. verse 25. I will send a sword vpon you that shall auenge the quarrell of my couenant When you are gathered in your Cities I will send the Pestilence among you Deut 28 15. If thou wilt not obey the voyce of the Lord thy God to keepe and doe all his commandements c. verse 21. The Lord shall make the p◅stilence cleaue vnto thee vntill he hath consumed thee the Lord shall smite thee with a consump◅on and with the feauer with a burning ague c. verse 27. the Lorde will smite thee with the hotch of Egypt with the ◅rods and with the scab and with the ◅ch that thou canst not be healed Now then condering the premises may not we heere out of the Lords booke more certainly declare the causes of the pestilence than the learned Pl◅an can doe and let vs not now thinke it strange that the Lord so smites vs in a short and light plague but rather let vs admire and extoll his mercies with all the praises we can for considering the grosse ignorance the great Atheisme the beastly epicurisme the prophane blasphemies the wicked periuries all the intollerable prophanations of Gods holy name the abuse of the Lordes Sabbothes the great contempt of Gods holy Ministerie word and Sacraments vncleannes adulteries incest fraud deceite vsuries and all manner of oppressions with infinite more sinnes amongst vs is it not a most admirable and miraculous mercy that wee bee not continually consumed with all the iudgements of the Almightie within these few yeares the Lord first began with a famine which sinote al the parts of the whole land not long after he made vs al to tremble with the sight of a most bloody Nation which came to deuoure vs now in the last place he hath called vs by Pestilence to a sin◅ere obedience vnto his Gospell The first iudgement was soone forgotten◅ the second hath giuen vs no instruction The Lorde grant this third and last of the Pestilence may open the eyes of his people Great plagues and iudgements argue great sinnes assuredly and great sinnes call for great iudgements I conclude this question with the wise mans golden sentence Though a sinner do euill an hundred times and God prolonge his daies yet I know that it shall be well with them that feare the Lord and doe reuerence before him but it shall not bee well to the wicked he shall be like a shadow because he feareth not before him THE 3. LECTVRE Verse 5. 6. Verse 5. Thou shalt not bee affraide of the feare of the night nor of the arrow that flyeth by day Verse 6. I meane the Pestilence that walketh in the darkenesse and of the Plague that destroyeth at noone-day TO passe ouer the allegories of which some are not vnprofitably nor vnfitly here vnderstood by diuers of the learned Interpreters I thinke it sufficient to commend vnto Gods people that sense only which the scope of the whole Psalm◅ leadeth me vnto I vnderstand here therfore in all these sweet promises by all these metaphors and borrowed speeches that great euill which the Prophet before verse 3. in naturall and proper tearmes hath called Deber hauoth The grieuous Pestilence or the pestilence of griefes that is most grieuous In the fift verse The Pestilence hath two fit names 1. The terror of the the night a metonymie of the effect for the cause because this sicknesse breeds many terrors feares in the night 1. Because the night is a sollitary time and solitarinesse doth encrease feares 2. Because of the darkenesse of the time for as all light brings comfort and boldnes so all darknes workes feare and discouragement in the sound much more in the weak and now most of all when a man is readie to walk into the valley of the shadow of death where is wont to be alwaies some agonies and great causes of feare Psal. 23. 3. 4. 3 The night breedes fearefull dreames which in time of the Pestilence increase terrors Iob in his affliction crieth out because hee is terrified with the visions of the night When I say my couch shall relieue mee my bed shall bring comfort in my meditation then fearest thou with dreames and astonishedst me with visions my soule choseth rather to be strangled and to die then to be in my bones When the Lord mindeth to amaze his enemies with any terrors hee powreth his iudgements vpon them in the night season when hee would shake all Egypt hee slew one euen the first borne in euery house in Egypt at mid-night and it caused a dreadfull crying and lamentation throughout the whole land Exod. 12. 29. 30. 33. It was the night time whē the Lord slew 185000. in Senacharibs campe that so he might beat downe the great insolencie of that proude enemie of his people First the Pestilence is called the arrow that flyeth by day So Dauid called it Psal. 38. For that it comes inuisibly if mē be not wel sighted they cā hardly discerne how it flies Secondly for that it comes swiftly a man can hardly auoid it Thirdly because it strikes suddenly as an arrow doth when men thinke
neither can our faith receiue him by any other meanes So then such as seek◅ him without his word shall neuer find him to their comfort Psal. 119. 114. 2. Question Wherefore the Lord smiteth his people with the Pestilence THE Bookes of God giue the Pestilence many names some proper some borrowed and metaphoricall which may helpe vs with some light to discerne the causes of this terrible destroyer of mankinde First the most sit and significant name in all the Scriptures is giuen it in the third verse of this Psalme Deber hauoth a a plague of sorrowes or a plague of griefes and torments for that it is both most noysome and painefull as our experience teacheth vs. The same word is vsed Exod. 5. 3. where it signifieth in like manner the Pestilence But Exod. 9. 3. the murraine which fell vpon the beastes of Egypt Because the murraine and the pestilence destroy both man and beast alike Secondly it is tropically called The hand of the Lord. 2. Sam. 24. 14. Iad Iehouah Because the Lordes power and might more appeares is more manifested in this great euill than in any other I thinke it not fabulous what I haue heard some report that they haue seene as it were the print of a hand vpon the armes and other parts of the body of sundry smitten with the pestilence Thirdly the Pestilence in this Psalme hath sundry names Pachadlaiilah the feare of the night from the effect for that it causeth many seares in the night So Dauid Psalme 38. 2. b Chets an arrow flying by day because it strikes suddenly it is swift and deadly 3 Verse 6. a Destroyer againe walking in darke places no light can helpe vs to discerne this contagion this euil spreds it selfe so closely and so darkly 4. Verse 6. Kereb which word signifieth againe destruction or ruine or as some say the biting of a wicked spirit ve 10. 5. Negang a plague a scourge a whip because it is the Lordes great scourge for the correction of his people 6. It is named also 2 Sam. 24 21. 25. Magephah which signifieth great smiting and grieuous beating of Nagaph to smite and beate to death The holy Ghost in all his speeches concerning this sicknesse seemeth to desire to list vs vp aboue the secondarie causes to looke vpon the Lorde and to fixe and fasten all our sences vpon him Thus Dauid speaketh Let vs fall now into the handes of the Lord for his mercies are great And the Lord is said to send the Pestilence as it were a meslenger and executioner of his iustice And to meete vs with the pestilence Exodus 5. 3. And to smite with the pestilēce to plead against his enemies with the Pestilence and to persecute with the Pestilence Whersore when and whersoeuer we see this hand of God let vs remēber that the destroier is sent from God to smite vs for our good if we fly vnto his mercies for they be great as Dauid speaketh but for our iust confusion if we abide still in our sinnes and rest vpon the creatures for now we must list vp our selues to look on him which smiteth pleadeth and persecuteth vs for our sinnes most iustly as we haue deserued because wee would neuer acknowledge his hand power and might in his other ordinarie fatherly and gracious chastifements vpon vs. Now for the causes of the Pestilence the Phisitiōs who ought to guide vs in this argument here some sweate much and gaine little others either ouer-boldly flye vp to constellations or too negligently ascribe it to secret causes They all say that it is an infectious poison deadly enemie to the vitall spirits with all speed flying into the hart the castle of life but whence it commeth whereof it ariseth and wheresore it is sent in these causes they confesse their ignorance First they say it is not bred of any elementall qualitie cold hot drie moyst but doth proceed of some venimous pollution which is spred in the ayre Againe saith he These be the maladies I haue said often they haue some secret cause And whereas some deeme the scorching heate of Summer to be some cause of this euill he answereth first euery hot disease as the Plague is more dangerous and grieuous in hot times then in colde Secondly that it is knowne by obseruation that the hottest Summers haue bin without all manner of plagues and that sometimes it hath begun in Winter and ceased in Summer or Autumne Thirdly if any say that it is bred of rotten exhalations which abound in vnsauourie places of great cities he answereth that it is found likewise to pester the people also which inhabite the most sweete and sauourie regions that can be and in the most temperate season Againe he he saith Sunt pestilentiae semina vsque adeo occulta c. The first causes which breede the pestilence are so vnknowne so in◅isible and so strange to all our senses that we are altogether ignorant of them and they smite vs when we thinke not of them neither can they euer bee espied but by their effecies and euents Againe hee speaketh wittily of rotten and vnsauourie ayres Ea Epidemio◅ quosdam morbos inferre solet nunquam tamen sola pestilentes ad pestilentiam interdum confert incrementum addit at non illam excitare potest sed causae altioris hoc opus est The putrifaction of the ayre saith he which ariseth of vncleane streetes c. it may cause some of the common ordinary diseases among the people but this alone can neuer breede the Pestilence This giueth greater strength to the contagion and increaseth it but cannot beget this euill the Pestilence is an effect of some higher power Thus then wee see these learned Phisitions to confesse their ignorance in the causes of this most grieuous sicknesse The most they can say is that it is a poyson sent into the ayre which poysoneth and killeth men in a straunge manner and it is not to bee forgotten that this man sendeth vs aboue nature and secondarie causes vnto an higher power that is I thinke to speake with the Scripture to the mightie hand of God as we haue before shewed Where the Phisition faileth and cannot proceed to discouer the causes of straunge and incurable diseases it were no disgrace for the best of them to intreat the religious and learned Diuine to reach sorth his helping hand It were happie in Church and Commō-wealth if men were so linked together in hearts and affections for that Artes and Sciences liberall and common are so coniugated and tied together that they haue continuall reference one to an other and can neuer well want the helpe one of an other Now to returne to our purpose these three questions may here be considered 1. What moues Almightie God and our most mercifull Father to smite his people with the Pestilence 2. By what instruments he vseth to smite his people in the
him to depart where God hath sent him A Prince or Magistrate is offended with a subiect for some disloyaltie an Officer is sent to imprison him shall hee or any other charge the Officer in the Princes name to let him alone and not to touch him Is it not their way onely to pacifie the Prince and so the Magistrate will commaund the Officer to surcease euen so where God sendeth Sathan his executioner to arest any person in any forme or manner in body or minde the onely way no doubt is to entreat the Lord to be pacified and to rebuke Sathan Againe we reade often that Sathan tormented many in sundry most grieuous diseases which I call the third and mixt kinde for by secret poysons hee hath made them incurable to the best practitioners in Phisicke in all ages The good woman mentioned Luke 13. verse 16. shee is saide to bee bounde of Sathan 18. yeares and to haue a spirit of infirmitie And such were many lunatikes and may be to this day they had a disease of causes partly knowne partly vnknowne Matt. 17. 15. Maister haue pittie on my sonne for he is a lunatike The learned deriue the cause of this euill from the Moone as the name importeth because they haue obserued that such as are borne in the change are thus pained but note what the Euangelist addeth and wee shall see the secret cause of it verse 18. Iesus rebuked the diuell and hee went out of him and the childe was healed in that houre Here then we see a disease in part naturall in part sathanicall And maister Caluine hee saith that experience teacheth vs howe this disease dooth increase and decrease according to the course of the Moone yet this lets not but that Sathan can put in his effectuall working in the naturall meanes Neque tamen hoc obstat quo minus sathan naturalibus medijs suos impetus permise uenit The woman also mentioned Marke 5. 25. labouring of an issue of bloud twelue yeares may seeme to be grieuous on this manner for some cause or causes seene to bee secret and vnknowne such be sathans practises for it is said shee had suffered many things of the Phisitions and had spent all shee had and it auailed her nothing but she became much worse and this woman was one of Gods elect for shee heard afterwardes these gracious wordes Daughter thy faith hath made thee whole goe in peace and be whole of thy plague Of this third and last kinde I iudge to bee our common plague and pestilence at this day My reasons are First it is partly naturall for if there were here no naturall cause then those whom the plague hath infected cannot doubtlesse so much as bee cased much lesse healed by naturall remedies but this second to bee very false our common sence and experience dayly teacheth vs. Secondly it must haue also some secret cause for the learned as I haue before noted cannot finde it to arise of any elementall qualitie in nature But my greatest and surest ground is this the word of the Lorde speaketh it plainly that the wicked spirits are his messengers and his instruments for this purpose If any doubt of this let him looke into the iudgements which were inflicted vpon Egypt and Iob by the ministerie of wicked spirites for so the Psalmist speaketh they vexed and tormented Egypt with wonderfull plagues They turned the water that was in the riuer into blood They which can corrupt one element for the destruction of mankind can corrupt another the water with blood the avre with the pestilence But wicked spirits did the first therefore they can doe the second when and where God permitteth Againe they which can poyson the water with frogs may poison in like manner the aire with pestiferous exhalations euill spirits did the first ergo Thirdly they which cā destroy beasts with the morraine may as easily destroy men with the Pestilence the wicked spirits did the first and therefore can doe the second Exod 9. 3. Fourthly they which can breed scabs and blisters can breed the pestilence cha 9. 10. Lastly the destroyer which flue so many in one night throughout all Egypt with the Plague can plague in like manner to this day where and when he is sent hee was an euill angel saith Dauid he sent euil angels he gaue their life to the Pestilence In Iobs story wee see sufficient demonstrations for this purpose They which can bring downe fire from heauen to destroy beastes may in like maner poison the aire and men with the pestilence the wicked spirits did the first Ergo can do the second Secondly they which can driue windes and tempests together to beate downe houses most violently may be as fit instruments to execute the like iustice and iudgements in the pestilence the wicked spirits c. Thirdly they which can poison the soules of men suggesting and breathing most pestilent motions into the mindes of men to their destruction can much more easily poyson their bodyes when GOD sendeth them for that purpose But Sathan did that first wee see in the Sab◅ans and in the Chaldeans and in all the pestilent crewe of rebellious sinners at this day hee driueth them before him as men driue beastes saith August Ergo. Lastly he that would plague that blessed man of God Iob with most grieuous poyson and torments in his bodie can doe much more vpon all the wicked enemies of God and vessels of wrath and the like also vpon Gods good people to this day but Sathan and his wicked spirites smote Iob with most pestiferous vlcers or pestilentiall carbuncles or biles scabs and sores most noysome Wherefore these wicked spirits may and doe no doubt serue the Lord in the like iudgements to this day And for this cause some of the learned Interpreters haue sayde these two names vsed in this Psalme Keteb and Deber are the names of certaine euill spirites which poyson the ayre with pestilent and venimous exhalations Of all the premises let vs conclude that wee must in this visitation of the Lorde principally lift vp our mindes aboue the secondarie causes Winter Sommer colde heate drought moisture all the elementarie qualities and fasten our eyes vpon the mightie hand of GOD who when and where it pleaseth him sendeth foorth his raunging hunter this olde Dragon these venimous Aspes and bloodie Lyons Sathan and his wicked spirites against vs as in the warres and famine so likewise in the pestilence the Scriptures speake often that the wicked spirites flye about and doe many euils as Iob 1. 7. 2. 2. 1. King 22. 22. Matth. 12. Luke 8. 31. Ro. 16. 20. 2. Cor. 12. 8. Ephe. 2. 2. 6. 11. 1. Pet. 5. 8. 9. But how agrees these Scriptures with Saint Peter◅ words 2. Pet. 2. 45. wee read that the Angels which sinned were cast downe into hel and deliuered into chaines of darkenesse to bee kept vnto damnation so Iude verse 6. They are reserued in
haue so accounted it Gen. 15. 15. Thou shal come to thy fathers in peace and shalt be buried in a good old age So Gedâ—…on is buried in a good age Iudges 8. 32. And Dauid full of daies riches and honour 1. Chron. 29 28. Surely olde age and gray haires is a Crowne of glory to the righteous and godly man For thus the holy Spirit speaketh Age is a Crowne of glory when it is found in the way of righteousnesse but all things are turned into sinne and accursed to the wicked and vngodly Againe Gods children are more satisfied here on earth with a fewe daies then the wicked are with Nestors yeares And concerning long dayes in heauen there shall be dayes continually and no more nightes The heauenly Ierusalem hath no neede of the Sunne neither of the Moone to shine in it for the glory of God doth light it and the Lambe is the light of it The 6. and last promise I will shewe him my saluation This promise of all the rest is most comfortable And here two things must be considered First who see their saluation or to whome it is shewed Secondly where and when it is shewed vs and seene by vs. For the first not euery man can see into this mysterie no not euery professour of the Gospell first he must be as he is described in this Psalme a faithfull man a godly man a righteous man watchfull ouer his wayes a deuout man fearing God the Lord doth assure such in time by his good spirit of their election adoption vocation and euerlasting saluation Rom. 8. 15. Eph. 430. All the faithfull ought to striue daily in all religious seare to come to the knowledge and the full assurance by faith of their saluation Secondly if thou demandest when and where the faithfull see their saluation I answere that they see it both on earth and in heauen first in earth they see it as in a glasse two waies â—…st by saith when they see Christ and haue the assurance of his benefits in their hâ—…ts by the holy spirit secondly by â—…eeling when they â—…eele the power and vertue of Christ working in them true moâ—…ficaton and sanctification of life Again they see their saluation in heauen when they come to the present possessioÌ„ of that crown which is purchased for them then shall they no more see darkly for â—…ohn saith We know that when he shâ—… appeare we â—…all bee 〈◊〉 him for we shall 〈◊〉 as he is and be with him where he is 10 17 〈◊〉 24. Note here 〈◊〉 â—…sts and Athâ—…sts till the Lord 〈◊〉 your eyeâ—… with his eye â—…alue you can neuer but doubt of your saluation for he alone doth shew it whom and where and when he will To be short this is a most soueraigne comfort for all Gods people and euer hath bene in all paines and griefes of this present life plagues persecutions and all euils whatsoeuer Iob reioyceth in his miserie saying I am sure my redeemer liueth and I shall see him c. THE 7. LECTVRE The seuenth Question Of the visâ—…ation of the sicke which dutie must also be â—…erformed by some chosen faithfull and discreet men in the Pestilence Iames 5. 14. Is any sicke among you let him send for the Elders c. WE haue already shewed very cordâ—…all and precious preseruatiues both against many euils and specially against the Pestilence And yet there is one more which is giuen vs of the Lord no lesse profitable and effectuall then the rest And this is that comfortable visitation of the sicke which containeth medicines of wonderfull vertue to be ministred by the righteous and religious Elders or holy Ministers vnto Gods people and by the wiâ—…e godly brethren one to an other in all their maladies In the visitation of the sicke Iames teacheth vs what the sicke or visited must doo 1 He must send for the Elders verse 14. 2 Acknowledge his sinnes verse 16. 3 He must beleeue verse 15. 4 He must pray with them verse 16. Secondly what the visitors must be 1 The Elders verse 14. 2 The Elders of the Church verse 14. 3 Faithful men verse 15. 4 Righteous men verse 16. 5 Zealous men 6 Mercifull men 7 Men of one accord Thirdly what the visitors must do 1 They must come to the house of mourning verse 14. 2 They must teach and admonish the patient verse 16. 3 They must striue in fasting and praier for him verse 15. 4 They must pray tn faith verse 15. 5 They must perseuer and expect a blessing assuredly Is any sicke let him send for the Elders 1 HEre againe with Iames wee see that sicknes as all afflictions of this life is common to all the godly with the wicked poore rich strong and weake in faith there is no exception nor priuiledge here to free any man 2. S. Iames would haue the sicke man to sheâ—…e his faith loue by sending first of his own accord for the Elders of the church to instruct him and to pray for him and to comâ—…ort him so the Elders seeing his desire his loue feare shall be stirred vp in a greater affection and compassion towards him againe 3 Wee must here note also wherefore the holy Ghost sends vs first to these spirituall Phisitions of the soule before wee call for the other of the body which must not be despised And this hee doth that these holy men may take a view of the spirituall causes of our euils and labour to remoue them for then our naturall griefs are both soonest holpen most soundly cured so Christ begins his cure Mat. 9. 2. by remouing first the spirituall causes Thy sinnes are forgiuen thee And surely this we finde daily true by our experience that when phisicke â—…res without the Lord as it were the sores plagues of their soules become more dangerous incurable for being nothing humbled nor bettered by the Lords chasticements they walke more boldly in their old sinnes when they recouer health thâ—… before Now lâ—… 〈◊〉 examine with all diligence what speciall points S. Iames commendeth vnto vs concerning the visitation of the sicke First hee saith the Elders must be sent for by these Elders the holy spirit vnderstandeth else-where the holy Ministers chiefly and with them the godly brethren which were their helpers in their ministrie and spirituall seruice vnto God and his church men of knowledge wisedome experience and godlinesse without rebuke Secondly hee saith not one but many Elders not one Elder for here in this spirituall seruice as in many other corporall actions that is true which the Preacher saith Two are better then one Againe the loue iudgement experience faith feeling and praier of many must here be more effectuall and comfortable then of one And yet here cases no doubt may ofteÌ„ so fall out as that some one most rare most expert and wise messengers of the Lord must be sought for albeit as Iob
bound by the lawes of christian and godlie pollicie in euerie common wealth to attend vpon their calling function and place in their owne citie 5 Lastly the Pastors and elders as here Iames speaketh may not depart for how then shall the sicke be visited and comforted which thing seemeth here to be commaunded commended by the holie Apostle vnto them The second sort make many obiectioÌ„s which may be thus answered First they say Gods decree is vnchangeable Frgo it is in vain to depart or to goe anie thing aside for no maÌ„ can escape his decree and so death when he sends it This argument is not good for Gods decree doth not take away ordinarie and lawfull meanes to saue life no not When a man hath receiued an answere from God to prolong his life as in S. Paule who was told of the Lord he should goe to Rome and yet the Apostle neglecteth no means of Gods prouidence to bring him thither Act. 27. 143. Againe they say Such as flie from death loue not God for death is the way to him Yet againe looke on Paules example he greatlie desired to be with Christ. Phil. 1. 21. 24. And yet for his brethrens sake Rom. 9. 3. and Gods glorie he would not giue vp his life to the enemies handes when they thirsted so much for his bloud act 25 11. And he giueth God great thankes for his deliuerence 2. Cor. 1. 5. 11. They say the pestilence is an especiall messenger sent from God and therefore we must quietlie abide it So warres and famin And yet Abraham Isaac and Iacob flee and depart to those places where they might best be relieued They say we haue no christian example for this departure This is no good argument Is it not apparant in holy scripture what euery one hath done and wee know that in many things the generall rules of doctrine are sufficient to determine those things whereof wee haue no commaundement nor any paricular example They say Dauid sled not the plague That was a short time and whither should he flee seeing that pestilence was spread all ouer the land 2. Sam. 24. The christians in Alexandria being amoÌ„g the heathens without all difference or respect of persons time or place did persorme all duties ofhumanitie and charitie in visiting and comforting the liuing and burying the dead Pagans ergo much more should we do this among the Christians I answere such Christian constanciâ—… and mercifull humanitie is to be praysed and followed so that a generall rule be not made of it For Euseâ—…us doth not say that euery one did so but that very many of the Cristians did so An admonitioÌ„ concerning the vse of phisicke and all naturall helpes which the Lord may blesse for our good as in other maladies so in the pestilence SAint Iames addeth that after the former spiritual comforts the Elders of his time did annoint the sick with oile in the name of the Lord euen as our Sauiour had before appointed and his Disciples practised in their miraculous cures This gift of healing the Apostle speaketh of 1. Cor. 12. 30. shewing it to be a peculiar gift are all doers of myracles haue all the giftes of healing And it ceased in the Church when the Gospell was sufficiently confirmed with myracles euen anon after the Apostles Prophets and Euangelists had finished and ended their worke and when their time was expired Now then the gist ceasing it is madnesse to retaine still the signe which went with the gift that is this annointing or anciling and more madnesse to make a Sacrament of it as Antichrist hath done and most extreme madnes to giue it vnto them onelic which are a dying which was wont to be giuen to such as did recouer health againe Wherefore as the holie visitors then did first vse their spirituall exercise which is left for vs to practise and next this extraordinarie gist and meanes of healing so let vs carefully and wisely heere call sor in the second place the learned phisition the comsortable and ordinary meanes which God hath lest vnto vs in nature as long as the worlde endureth This order that holie writer the godly Preacher commendeth vnto vs in these wordes My sonne faile not in thy sicknesse but pray vnto the Lord and â—…e will maâ—…e thee whole leaue off from sinne and order 〈◊〉 hands aright c. and cleanse thine heart from all wickednesse c. Then giue place to the Phisition for the Lord hath created him let him not go from thee for thou hast neede of him the houre may come that their enterprises may haue good successe for he also shall pray vnto the Lord that he would prosper that which is giuen for the prolonging of life Whereas some obiect that in the pestilence naturall remedies of phisicke cannot benefite vs because the causes here cannot be found or seene in nature I answere with M. B. If there come into the pestilence no naturall causes then these whome the plague hath infected cannot doubtlesse so much as be eased much lesse be healed by naturall remedies But this secoÌ„d to be very false experience common sense do daily tell vs. Wherefore I affirme that naturall remedies must not be neglected Againe whereas others doe obiect that phisicke heere often is seene to haue but small good successe I answere that we must not say of naturall preseruatiues that because they doâ—… not benefite one or two or three therefore they cannot helpe any at all It is a badde conclusion for consider that God doth gouerne naturall causes and their effects as it pleaseth him and blesseth them to whom hee will where and when he will And hence it commeth that the infection toucheth not euerie one that is in daunger of it neither is it deadly to euerie one that is infected Others yet more fondly dispute against naturall remedies in this sicknesse and they saie that God hath here a more speciall prouidence and he will smite whom he will to death and therefore all remedies are to small purpose These men againe want iudgement I answere that the Lord no doubt when he sent a famine into Egypt and the regions there-about he determined who should die in that scarcitie yet for all this ceaseth not Ioseph with most wise counsell to prouide for the Egyptians and Iacob for his familie The like did Paul in the sea with the Marriners when hee had receiued an answere hee should come to Rome safely as is before shewed And Christ knew his time and yet he went aside often from the enemies hand till his houre came vsing the ordinarie meanes for his preseruation And that no man may stand stifly in his owne rash iudgement Quid Temeritate fortius saith Tullie What so foole hardie or so violent as rash and hastie spirits Heare what that learned Father of blessed memorie Maister Luther saith of this matter in his Treatise of the pestilence
Phisition and take heed of wicked ignorant bold empyricks which kill many men and yet feare nothing because they be not called to their accounts according to good lawes for this cause prouided And let the poorer sort with good aduise and counsell if they can haue any vse Maister Phaers medicines in his short but learned Treatise of the Pestilence which he wrote of purpose for the benefit and comfort of the poore I haue added a fewe medicines of Maister Phaers because of some emptie pages they may serue at a neede and by Gods grace do some good when better counsell is wanting A most precious Electuary against the Pestilence for the rich TAke Cinamome elect one ounce Terra sigillata 6. drams fine mirre 3. drams Vnicornes horne one dram the seed and rinde of citron rootes of Dyptany burnet TormeÌ„tille Zedoary red coral ana draÌ„s two yelow saunders foure scruples red saunders two scruples white bene and red flowers of marygolds ana one dram Iuory raced Scabiouse Betonice Offininis tunicae appellatae seed of Basile the bone of a Stags hart Saffron ana two scruples make a fine powder adde vnto it of Bole armoniake preparate two ounces white sugar three pound and with a sirrup of Acetocitate citri make a goodly electuary and keepe it in a glasse Or this forme with lesse cost and quantitie TAke of the rootes of Dictamu tormentil bole armeni prepared that is washed with water of Scabiouse terra sigillata ana 6 drams of the roote of Gentian and of the roote of butter-burre of Betonie called in the shops Betonice tunicae Ana 2. scruples red saunders one scruple Iuorie raced the barke of Citrone of red corall of the bone of a stags heart of the roote of Zedoary ana halfe a dram of most pure perles of both kindes of been ana 2. scruples fragmentorum quing lapiduÌ„ pretiosorum ana one scruple amber good Vnicornes horne ana halâ—…e a scruple of gold and siluer leaues three of each mingle all these make a fine pouder If the Pestilence commeth with great excesse of heat take one dram and drinke it vpon Rose water and vineger but if yee feele it cold take it in a draught of wine and couer you with clothes so that ye may sweate as long as is possible for without doubt it is a present remedie as I my selfe haue oftentimes proued For the poore the best I finde is this TAke the roote called Petasites in Latine in English the butter-bur growing by the water side drie it make fine powder of it giue it the sicke If the Pestilence commeth with heate take three drams of it in Rose water and vineger but if it come with a cold giue it in a draught of wine and cause him to sweate as long as he can endure it To ripe the botch TAke Mallowes the rootes of holihock onions as much as shall suâ—…fice wash them and seeth them in water and afterward bray them in a morter with powder of linseed and of Fenâ—…greke a good quantitie of swines grease fresh laying on the plaister euerie day once To breake the botch SOme lay on it a plaister made of figges soure leuen and reisins without kernels braied and incorporate altogither in oyle of camomill To mundifie the botch AFterward mundifie the place with a salue made of yolkes of egs fine barly flowre and a litle hony or oyle of Roses Medicine for incarnation LAst of all for the perfect incarnation take the iuice of Daises with a litle waxe make a soft oyntment and vse it or ye may lay thereto any other salue incarnatiue as ye are wont to do in other cleane sores FINIS Psal. 105. 45. Deut. 28. 47. Ps. 78. 10. 17. Ps. 81. 13. Ann. 1588 Ann. 1589. Psal. 107. 18. Psa. 78. 37 An. 1592 Psa. 78. 37 An. 1593 Anno. 81. An. 188. Ioachim Camerar synopsi de peste pref Euseb. in chro An. 254 Act. M. P. 74. Lauathr seâ—… de peste Ann. 530. Euseb. lib. 9. cap. 8. 8. cap. 16. sub fine 7. cap. 21. An. 540. Euagr. lib. 4. c. 24. 2. c. 6. An. 1359 Anno. 1521. Act. M. P. 682. Anno. 1576. Anno. 1577. Ioachim Camerar insynopsi de pâ—…e Petrach ex millenis qui busque hom vix 10. super essent Num. 25. 9. Psal. 106. There was avehement Pestilence in England Anno. 348. Act. M P. 484. and. Anno. 1314. Anno. 1591. Anno. 1592. Oâ—…diseases 8351. An. 1593. Carnal and irreligious feares presumption and securitie Abolog c. 8. Leu. 13. 46 2. Kin. 15. 5 Mat. 13. 14. 15. Esa. 6. 9. Fat things want sense and feeling Deu. 6. 7. 8. 9. Gen. 18. 19 Exod. 12. 26. Iosh. 24. 15 The godly tremble to heare see your childreÌ„ and seruants in the streets Ps. 101. 7. Gen. 35. 2. Ep. to Phil. Deut. 21. 18. 20. 2. Sam. 24. 25. Sic exoratus est Iehouah terrae * Yet the Iewes think it to bee a Psalme of Moses Three daieâ—… 2. Sam. 24. 16. 〈◊〉 25. The parts * or dwelleth Sense * Latibulum Tremell * Beseter * IithlouaÌ„ â—…bserue 1. Foure sorts of men in troubles diueâ—…sly affecâ—…ed Iâ—…b 3. 16. Heb. 11. 6 Rom. 14. Io. 6. 9. Math. 13. 58. Mat. 6. 5. Mar. 16. 14 Luk 8. 25. Matt. 8. 10. 13. Matth. 9. 22. Math. 9. verse 29. Matth. 15. verse 28. Mar. 10. 15 Luk 8. 50 4. Tractat de IdoloruÌ„ vanitate Leuit. 26. Deut. 28. Serm. 2. de mortal Math. 9. 2 Psal. 28. Dauid smitten with the Pestileneeâ—… 2. Kin. 20. Heb. In the argument of this Psalme Leuit. 14. 37. Num. 12. Lib. 7. cap. 11. Ier. 15. 15 Psal. 32. 5. Luk. 7. Heb. 10. 35 Tertul. de patientia Heb. 11. 3â—… 32. 2. Chron. 14. 16. 1. Sam. 30. 6. Hest. 4. 14 Dan. 3. 17 Heb. 11. 2. Tim. 1. 12. a Ge. 56. Pro. 12. 2 Io. 14. b Act. 8. c c Ps. 119. 112. d 2 miT 4. 7. Psal. 56. The second part or confirmation of the former doctrine by an argumeÌ„t of experience Habak 2. 4 Chap. 24. 15. Luk. 1325 Mat 7. 13 Obseru 2. Verse 12. 2. Cor. 1. 3 4. * or Pestilence of sorrowes or mâ—…st noisome The third part of this Psalme or application of the former docrine here begins Pl. n. for superlatiâ—… I doo not ground this vpon the metaphoâ—… * Mortalibus miserabile hoc imprimis est impendentem tantam perniciem ne odore quidem sentire nos posse Fernel 14. c. 1 1 King 8. 37. a 2 Sam. 24. 14. b Ezec. 14 19. Leuit. 26. 25. Num. 14. 12 c Exo. 9. 15. Ezec. 38. 22. 11. Ier. 29. 1â—… Causes of the pestileÌ„câ—… What the pestilence iâ—… Fernelius Lib. de abditi Sed a venenato inquinamento acrei infuso 〈◊〉 bi quos sâ—…pe dixi causam occultam habere Wherefore the plague is more grieuous in summer than in winter Vnsauourie streets giue strength to the Pestilence The first