faith that albeit all the world went from God in these extremities to many vnlawfull meanes yet he would sweetly rest in God and seeke for lawfull meanes onely here hee speakes of euery other faithful beleeuer as of himselfe that he also must haue this particular faith For a man must not onely haue faith concerning Gods prouidence as at other times but I must also beleeue that God in this speciall visitation hath a most speciall care of me and hath commanded his Angels to watch ouer me And for this cause all the promises are particularly applyed to this beleeuer from the beginning to the ende of this Psalme verse 3. Surely he will deliuer thee from the s◅are c. verse 4. Hee will couer thee with his wings and his truth shall bee thy shield verse 5. Thou shalt not be afraid c. verse 7. A thousand shall fall at thy side and it shall not come neare thee verse 8. Thou shalt onely see the reward of the wicked verse 11. Hee will giue his Angels charge ouer thee to keepe thee verse 12. They shall beare thee c. verse 13. Thou shalt walke vpon the Lion c. Wherefore thou must striue to haue this particular and speciall faith in troubles The 10. verse seemeth vnto me to containe this argument Hee that with all good conscience watcheth ouer his wayes and so endeuoureth with all his might to walke with his God in sinceritie of life and soundnesse of heart hee shall be deliue◅ redin the Pestilence Thou art one of them which striue with all good conscience to serue the Lord thy God and doest endeuour that no cause be giuen that thy father now in his anger shall s◅ite thee with the Pestilence Therefore hee will deliuer thee THe Lord saith in an other place that when the dayes of famine come he will not famish the soule of the righteous and to the true worshipper which serueth him in truth of spirit he saith The Lord shal blesse thy bread and thy water I will take away all sicknesse from the mids of thee The Prophet here teacheth vs as the Apostle that Gods children must auoyd all occasion of sinne or to speake yet more strictly as the holy spirit speaketh all shadow all likenesse or appearance of sinne So some godly Interpreters vnderstand that place The Psalmist as I iudge here compareth vs to wise and faithfull children which are most watchfull least by any the least meanes they giue cause of offence to their good parents And surely all arguments of our heauenly fathers loue and mercie considered in our election creation redemption regeneration adoption continuall preseruation euerlasting saluation we are of all other the most foolish and vnkind childrē if we study not chearefully to obey and carefully to auoyd the offence of so mightie so louing so gratious and so bountifull a father vnto vs. Againe if this watchfulnesse must be found alwaies in vs how much more euen then when our almightie Father in the continuance of his anger as Ieremie saith consumeth his enemies and chasteneth his owne people Therefore at this time specially all the wise sonnes of God tremble to displease him and studie to please him Psal. 2. 4. Question That a good conscience is a speciall preseruatiue against the Pestilence A Good conscience saith Augustine very well is the paradise of the soule and surely so an euill conscience is the very hell of the soule And Chrysost◅me calles the good conscience the good countenance of the soule because this conscience alone can approch boldly to the throne of grace Wherefore this good conscience is one of the greatest blessings wee haue on earth Now for as much as it is a thing most dangerous to bee deceiued in our greatest treasure and to take drosse for gold good for euill and euill for good let vs therefore be the more circumspect and carefull first to know and learne what this great grace is Secōdly let vs wisely examine ourselues whether we possesse it haue it in truth or ignorantly be deceiued as most mē be Lastly after iust triall and examination had of our owne hearts if we finde it in our selues let vs labor with all our strength to cherish it preserue it if we finde we haue it not let vs neuer giue our selues any rest but contend in all the meanes appointed to come to Iesus Christ that he may giue it vs for he alone can giue it and strength to keepe it Conscience is described of some to be a liuing lawe in our hearts which stirreth awaketh driueth vs vnto good things I suppose wee may truly describe the conscience first generally on this manner Conscience is an inward remembrancer in our minds and hearts witnessing eyther with vs or against vs of all our thoughts wordes and workes The cause wherefore the Lord hath put this remembrancer in man is this a small light and weake knowledge would soone lve hid and be as buried in him by reason of the corruption of our hearts and affections therefore the Lord hath left him this feeling as a keeper and a watch to awake him to marke and espie all his secrets and continually to present him vnto the iudgement seate of God that nothing may be lost in obliuion and this keeper men say to be as a thousand witnesses to testifie with vs or against vs euen of of all our secrets a great controller of Atheists euen in their secret chambers The seate of this remembrancer is the vnderstanding yet for that it is found sensibly to smite the heart therefore the holy Ghost euer seates him there So Salomon noteth speaking to Shimei Thou knowest all the wickednesse wherevnto thine heart is priuie that thou didst to Dauid my father And the Apostle saith that the great peace keepeth the heart and mind in Christ Iesus And the Author to the Hebrewes Your heart being pure from an euill conscience Eccles 7. 24. Lastly that this witnesse or remembrancer will be with vs or against vs at all times and that in Gods presence the Apostle testifieth Rom. 2. 15. The Gentiles shewe the effect of the Lawe written in their hearts their conscience also bearing witnesse and their thoughts accusing one an other or excusing before God The first diuision of the conscience is this the conscience is either 1. Good or 2. Euill 1. Of the good conscience SAint Peter 1. 3. 21. saith that a good conscience is a quietnesse of mind after we be perswaded of the grace of God in Christ being then readie without feare to present our selues before him Heb. 10. 2. The holy Ghost to the Hebrewes calleth it a conscience purged from dead works to serue the liuing God If the Heathens did so much reioyce in their good consciences which were but counterfeit in respect of the consciences of the faithfull how much more should we desire to know and reioyce to finde and endeuour to keepe
be perswaded that all this sacrifice and seruice which they offâ—…r vnto God in their supplications c. is accepted of God in Iesus Christ and shall returne from him a câ—…mfort for themselues and a blessing for theiâ—… brother according to his holy promise in this place This Iames telleth vs in the beginning of his Epistle that if any will receiue any good 〈◊〉 Lord let him aske in faith and wauer not for he that prayeth effectually must be perswaded his labour shall not be lost but that the Lord will consider it Psalm 66. 19. this â—…aith our Sauiour Whatsoeuer yeâ—… aske in prayer if you beleeue you shall receiue it The father of a lunaticke which was vexed also with an euill spirit came to Christ and spake thus doubtfully If thou canst do any thing helpe vs and haue compassion on vs. Christ answered If thou canst â—…eleeue all things are possible to him that beleeueth and straightway the father of the child crying with teares said Lord I beleeue helpe mine vnbeliefe Arguments to confirme their faith in this instant are these 1. The patient is a brother and a professor of the Gospell and therefore we must as feeling members coÌ„sider his case our as own 2. If heretofore he neuer gaue vp his name to Iesus Christ now hee is desirous to doe it as appeares and is signified by sending for the Elders by confession of his sinnes c. And thus both parts must striue that this prayer maâ—… be done in faith and may be working effectuall Cyprian speaking how he and his brethren did much good in his time in the visitation of the sicke saith that they proÌ„sperâ—…d according as they and the patient hath faith to speake vnto God Prout fides patientis adiuuat aut gratiâ—… curantis aspirat 9 Saint Iames here requires also the humiliation and faith of the patient The holy Elders doing their enduour with all dilligence the brother which is thus visited must striue also to beleeue as all things generally concerning his saluation so also so that this particular action of these holy men shall doe him good as for the free pardon of his sinnes so sor bodilie health so far as shall be expedient for him To this end the Apostle willeth the sicke man to confeile his sinnes and the elders to prouoke him thereunto by their experience vers 16. Confesse your sinnes one to another and pray one for another Surelie the Lord Iesus in all his miraculous cures euen requireth this faith in â—…uerie one of his patieÌ„ts Mat. 8 10. To the good woman which had the issue of bloud he saith Daughter be of good comfort thy faith hath made theâ—… whole And so to all the rest he asketh alwaies of their faith and how they are perswaded of his grace loue power and might to do them good And this is it that Cyprian noteth proâ—…t sides patientis adiuuat aâ—… the Patients saith helpeth vs so we preuaâ—…le with God in the visitation of the sicke The 10 point and the last here to be remembred is these meâ—… must haue zeale to perseuer and continue this holie exercise in abstinence add praier 〈◊〉 admonition and instructiâ—… c. For 〈◊〉 the Lord heareth alwaies the praâ—…ers supplications oâ—… his â—…uants in the beginning notwithstanding hee sheweth not alwaies anie full grant of them long after because he would haue his children more carnestly to sue vnto him and to waite vpon him So the Apostle chargeth that we perseuere and continue in praier waiting â—…nd expecting with patience a blessing from the Lord. And this our Sauiour teacheth vs sweetly by a parable And Daniâ—…l coÌ„firmeth it vnto vs by his owne pracâ—…ise and experience for thus he saith At the same time I Daniel was in heauinesse for 3. weekes of daies I ate no pleasant bread neither came flesh nor wine in my mouth neither did I annoint my selfe at all till three weekes of daies were fulfilâ—…ed Here is a watchfull continuance in praier fasting and humiliation for 21. daies then he reâ—…eiueth an answere Feare not Daniel for from the first day that thou diddest set thine bea rt to vnderstand and to humble thy selfe before thy God thy words were heard and I am come for thy words Thus we see that albeit the Lord heareth not at the first crie yet he delighteth to see our humiliation will grant our requests in his good time and not faile vs. And thus farre we haue seen howe the holy elders proceed in their spiritual cure These rules being followed with wisedome and iudgement I doubt not the holy men of God haue and may attaine great mercies blessings in the due practise of them in the visitation of the sicke people of God And if this spirituall exercise be so comfortable and so profitable in common and vulgar diseases which come of naturall causes onely howe much more precious are they in greater plagues in any as Saint Iames speaketh and therefore in the pesâ—…ilence it is so also which is no doubt a mixt euill of naturall common knowen causes and spirituall inuisible and vnknowen as wee haue before shewed Here I would â—…nd but that I must first answere two sortâ—… of men which oppose themselues against the comely and comfortable ordinance of the Lord. For some there are so hard hearâ—…ed and so voyde of all humanitie that they will not haue this holy exercise to haue any place in time of pestilence Again there are others â—…o void of al good iudgment which without all difference or respect of time persons or place frequent all houses without any feare of contagion or infection and exclaime mightily against all departure or going aside from the pestilence For the first sort I commend vnto them these holy rules following 1. they must summon theÌ„selues vnto the iudgement seat of God and looke on the plague as on the messenger of Gods wrath which cannot be auoided with change of places but by repentance and amendment of life c. 2 Let no man go aside nor tarry with a doubtful conseience but when as he shal haue learned out of the word of GOD what his dutie is that commending himselfe to God he may continue constantly therein 3 Let no man depart a haires bredth for feare of death froÌ„ the duties of humanitie nor breake any of the bondes of loue which are many as betweene man and wife betweene parents and children maisters and seruants betweene kindred betweene christians neigbours friends For if wee breake these bonds I see not howe humane societies may continue And here when the Lord shall change the life of anie of thy good friends be not cast downe as they which are without hope But remember Cyprians words NoÌ„ amittimus nostros sed tantum premittimus We haue not loct our good friends but we haue onely sent them before vs. 4 Let not him that is bound to anie ciuill office depart for such are
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
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
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
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
may bring him to the kingdome of heauen is most blind and counts all these holy meanes meere foolishnes 1. Cor. 2. 14. The wisedome of the fl◅sh is en◅tie against God so the Apostle speaketh The conscience handwriting or watchman in this man is giuen him of God partly to conuince him because hee walketh not according to the generall motions and naturall knowledge he hath of good things partly to bridle and keepe vnder his wild and disordred affections 1 This conscience excuseth euer falsly because of ignorance corruption of the minde and all affections as first when it doth excuse those works which in the generall are good indeede but are sinnes in him and all naturall men as Vzzas fact mentioned 1. Chron. 159. Secondly whē it excuseth and couereth any inward sin and hypocrisie by an outward false obedience An example of this wee haue in Mark 10 20. 2 This conscience first truly accuseth and citeth a man before God for that which is euil indeed as 10. 9. the wicked accusers were accusea by their own consciences Many are thus cited and sent for by this Parator and confesse it with shame as Saul did to Dauid and yet are neuer the better a dangerous signe Secondly this conscience citeth a man falsly for that which is not euill in it selfe but superstitiously thought to be euill Col. 2. 21. As for the committing or omitting of any thing against the superstitious traditions of men Touch not taste not handle not Thus much of the feeling conscience the dead conscience followeth A dead conscience is a heart and conscience voyd of all naturall sense or naturall feeling This conscience of all other is most fearefull and daungerous and commeth after multiplying and heaping of greeuous sinnes together or long contempt of the holy truth or both The Apostle speaketh of some of the prophane Gentiles that first from vanitie of minde they come to blindnes from blindnes they fall to hardnes of heart then they become past feeling and the last degree of euill is they giue themselues vnto wantonnesse to work◅ all vncleannesse euen with greedinesse And of Antichrist and his disciples hee sayth First they depart from the faith secondly they giue heed to spirits of error thirdly to doctrines of diuels fourthly they giue heede to such as speake lies through hypocrisie lastly their consciences is seared with a hot iron Signes of a deadly frozen and benummed conscience are these FIrst a dangerous signe to multiply sins without feeling Ephes. 4. 18. 19. Rom. 1. 22. 30. 2 A dangerous signe to regard neither the curses nor blessings of GODS lawe Deut. 29. 19. But to flatter himselfe in his heart saying I shall haue peace although I walke according to the stubburnnesse of my heart so adding drunkennes vnto thirst the Lord will not be merciful vnto that man This heart is poysoned by the spirit of slumber Rom. 11. 8. 3 To make a mocke of sinne and of the Ministrie of Gods most holy Word Ezech. 33. 30. 31. 32. 33. 4 When vexation of spirit commeth to lay violent hands vpon themselues as to hang themselues with Iudas and Achitophel to kill themselues desperately with Saul and many others Lastly these are most fearfull signes of a most wicked prophane conscience to haue some notable horror of minde and trembling of bodie when some of Gods iudgements appeare blaspheinies in great extremities and passions of death Nero was wonderfully terrified with visions flashings of fire and terrible dreams after he had murthered his owne mother Belshazzar King of Babylon hauing the spoyles of Gods Church and in great contempt of the true God sporting himselfe and praysing the gods of gold and siluer of iron wood stone at the same houre appeared fingers of a mans hand which wrote ouer against the candlesticke vpon the plaister of the wal of the kings pallace and the king saw the palme of the hand that wrote Then the kings countenance was changed and his thoughts troubled him so that the ioynts of his l◅ynes were loosed and his knees smote one against another And this trembling had Felix when Paul disputed before him of righteousnes and temperance which he wanted and of the fearfull iudgements wherin all sinners must appeare before Iesus Christ in the end of the world and receiue a heauie sentence of condemnation The troubles of reprobates breede in them often desperation the causes of this are either secrt or open Secret Gods reprobation knowne to himselfe and not to be searched manifest causes in the ende finall impenitencie hardnesse of heart Here it is wisedome to hope the best of men Crastinus dies ignoratur wee knowe not what shall be to morrow if an open blasphemie with an abnegation of the trueth appeare not And thus much of an euill conscience Now to make in a word some vse of this sweet doctrine aforegoing and to apply it vnto our present purpose First in the time of pestilence and all other calamities wisely examine thy selfe as is afore shewed If thou doubtest of thy conscience how it may stand in the euill day make hast to purge it least euill preuent thee And if after sound tryall thou findest thy selfe to possesse a blessed cleane conscience well purged by Iesus Christ and sanctified by his holy Spirite then mightily keepe watch ward as it were that no enemy may steale this pearle frō thee for it is of inestimable value and surpassing vertue to preserue thee in the pestilence I giue thee here none other counsel then the holy Ghost hath giuen vs all For it is written Keepe thine heart with all diligence for thence proceed the actions of life and leese this thou shalt make shipwrack also offaith and spirituall vnderstanding And Christ saith that vnlesse the heart be purged and watchfully preserued and kept cleane it sends foorth euill thoughts adulteries c. Iob therfore was very carefull of his heart and conscience and very watchfully kept it My heart saith hee shall not reproue me of my dayes And so was Dauid for assoone as he had sinned and gaue occasion of that Pestilence before the Prophet Gad came vnto him it is said Dauids heart smote him after hee had numbred the people And examine thy selfe also truely how thou standest in the faith and how Iesus Christ is in thee Take heed of a false faith as thou beleeuest so so shall it be done vnto thee For like as the true faith brings many blessings to the beleeuers so a false faith breedes many euill effects in the vnbeleeuers And as the heart chiefly must be regarded so the outward sences and partes of the body must in no wise bee neglected in this watch The eye is a dangerous sence and most quicke and suddenly doth stirre vp euill motions in the heart wee must as Iob make a couenant with our eyes The ◅are must diligently first heaken and then consider how to beleeue and obey
things most â—…arre distant as one soule binâ—…es head and â—…eete together in one body To be â—…ort the Lord to bring his children to this high pitch of honour and dignitie doth proceede with them in this manner as followeth First the holy spirit singleth and seuereth thâ—…m out of the world by the â—…ound of â—…is Gospel 〈◊〉 15. 19. I haue chosen you out of the world And receiueth them to his owne house â—…nd â—…amilie Ephe. 2. 18. 19 Ye are no more strangers and forreners but citizens with the Saints of the houshold of God The 2. effect is Hee prepareth our hearts by faith to receiue Christ. And to this end 1. he renueth the minde 2. hee giueth an vnderstanding heart Marc 4. 10. â—…1 to receiue Christ by faith Ioh. 1. 11. To renue the mind his light dispelleth ignorance bringeth in that woÌ„derful doctrine which coÌ„ueâ—…teth the soule Psal 199. To renue the heart 1. he sofâ—…th and humbleth it by the preaching of Gods law Ezech. 11. 19. 20. 2. he causeth it with sighes and grones to confesse Rem 826. There is no good thing in my flesh 3. the heart hungreth after Christ and his righteousnesse Mat. 5. 6. 4. Lastly he worketh in the heart that admirable worke of God Iohn 629. Even a pretious and victorious faith to receiue as with a haÌ„d Iesus Christ and his benefits Ioh. 1. 12. The 3. effect and worke of Gods spirit is hee giueth them as a free gift vnto Christ. Ioh. 1027. 924. And Christ vnto them againe in like maner Rom 8 3. 2. CaÌ„t. 2. 16. My welheloued is mine anâ—… I am his The 4. effect The holy spirit doth in a most wonderfull and reall manner knit their soules and hearts vnto Christ and Christ ento them againc so that Christ become the head and the beleeuer the liuely member of Christ. So as the branches haue not a mâ—…re certaine sap life and growth by the vine then the true beleeuer hath life grace and growth in al good graces from Christ. lab 15. 1. 2. For this cause the Apostle saith truly We are mibers of his body of his flesh of his bones Epâ—… 5. 38. 21 Fiftly then Christ doth communicate vnâ—…o them being thus vnited vnto him by the wonderfull worke of his spirit all graces and blessings which conceâ—…ne their euerlasting saluation 1. They are couered with his righteousnes as with a golden robe Gal. 2. 27 They receiue by his spirit the precious vertue of his death which hath a great â—…fficacie to kill sinne Rom 6. 6. Gal. 6 15. and the vertue of his buriall to rot sin that so they may loath it as an vnsaâ—… carrion being crucified and slaine in them and the vertue of his resurrection Phil. 38. 9. whereby they are made new creatures Gal 6. 15. 16. 3 Because of this communiâ—…n wee are said to bee partakers of the diuine nature And the beleeuer may speake all this the Apostle speaketh in his owne person I am crucified with Christ but I liue yet not I any more but Christ liueth in me and in that I now liue in the flesh I liue by faith in the sonne of God who hath loued me and giuen himselfe for me Insignis sententia fideles extra se viuere id est in Christo A notable saying saith maister Cal. the faithfull â—…ue without themselues in Christ. 6 Lastly when they are thus highly aduanced into the communion of the holy Trinitie all the holy Angels and Saints of God they slay not then in one stay but they must haue their dayly confirmation by the said word and spirit that so they may haue a holy growth vnto a perfect man and vnto the measure of the age of the full growth or fulnesse of Christ. And this growth is signified vnto vs by the growth and increase which is to be seene in the partes of any naturall body Ephe 4. 15. Let vs follow the trueth in loue and in all things grow vp to him which is the head that is Christ. And againe Col. 2. 19. All the body furnished and knit togither by ioynts and bands increaseth with the encreasing of God Thus farre briesly of this holy communion The third promise And I will deliuer him The Lord will haue his childreÌ„ wade through afflictions yea sometimes to bee smitten with the plague it selfe but hee will deliuer them that is hee will restore him to health if that bee good for him or else he wil change this miserable and transitorie life with the happy and immortall life which is best of all Blessed is the man whom God correcteth therefore refuse not thou the chastâ—… of the Almightie for hee maketh the wound and bindeth 〈◊〉 vp hee smiteth and his hands make whole he shall deliuer thee in fixe troubles and in the seuenth the 〈◊〉 shall not touch thee The fourth promise And I will bring him to honour It is not to bee doubted but God hath perâ—…ormed this promise alwayes to his children whether wee vnderstand it of an earthly â—…anour or an heauenly they which faile of this one are sure notwithstanding of the other and sometime of both Ioseph and Daniel of both after great aduersitie Hezekâ—…as Dauid and Iob of both after plagues and pestilentiall maladies Yet Lazarus and many of his condition wanting this vaine and transitory glory haue receiued the greater measure of the heauenly Here againe I do not thinke but that he putteth vs in minde of the glory of our resurrection and of our regeneration where assuredly our glory begins 2. Cor. 1. 18. which while wee consider albeit afflictions for the present are greeuous yet wee must be wonderfully cheared and comâ—…orted for howsoeuer heere for a moment our bodies bee subiect to many most grieuous and noysome diseases for our correction and chasticement and after to putrefaction yet in the ende they shall be â—…illed with a wonderfull glory For they shall shine in the resurrection as the Sunne and shall be like the Angels of God Whereas the wicked shall ariâ—…e to a greater shame then if they were filled with all the sores and plagues of Aegypt And therefore this promise much comforted Iob â—…or thus he speaketh of it in his great passions most chearefully I am sure that my Redeemer lâ—…cth and he shall stand the last on the earth and though after my skinnâ—… wormes destroy this body yet shall I see God in my flesh whom I my selfe shall see and mine eyes shall behold and none other for me though my reynes are consumed within mee The fifth promise With length of daies will I sanctifie him Here I iudge this promise as that aforegoing and the last which followeth concerneth both the life present and that which is to come The faithfull then in that plague looked euery mâ—…ment for death and therefore they haue this promise to comfort them An old age is promised as a blessing often to the godly and they
speaketh we shall hardly finde one such amongst a thousand Thirdly he addeth they must be the Elders of the church that is such as are best knowne to thee thine owne wise pastor c. which can best discerne al thy sores or that minister which hath bene Gods most holy ordinance either for thy conuersion or confirmation Question BVt here now a question may bee demanded whether the same Ministers of God which serue the Lord in their publike ministry and come to the holy assemblies are charged also in this place to attend vpon the visitatiō of the sicke in time of pestilence Answere TO this I answer with men of iudgement that it were very expedient that at such times there should be certaine speciall men chosen for this purpose men knowne both for their ministery godlinesse and sinceritie of life who should not neglect their dutie concerning eyther the soules or bodies of the faithfull which they could performe or cause any way to be done for their good Secondly I answere that I cannot see how the Pastor notwithstanding can neglect any of his slocke committed of the Lord vnto his charge in any calamitie or the pestilence For the Apostles charge is so general in my iudgement that it excludeth all exceptions of persons time and sicknesse Any man may send in any sicknesse for the Elders of the Church But here let wise Christians be carefull as not to abuse the loue of their kinsfolkes and friends so to preferre the health of all the congregation before their own and so to striue to content themselues with the presence of such as the magistrates haue selected and appointed for this purpose This religious loue care for the church was in Boz who being sicke himselfe of the plague at Lausanna would not haue M. Ioh. Caluin and P. Viret to come vnto him when they offered freely most lo◅ingly to come visit him because saith he we must preferre the benefit of Gods Church and the glorie of God before our owne comforts and the preseruation of our owne life Fourthly these men must be men of great loue mercy compassion for this cause hee willeth vs to take the Elders of our Church that is such louing knowne mercifull men as can will mourne with vs and for vs. Psal 41. 1. Blessed is hee that iudgeth wisely of the poore the Lord shall deliuer him in time of trouble A notable example of this compassion is in Iobs friends for first they came to comfort him secondly they wept greatly when they sawe him thirdly their great griefe is signified in renting of their cloathes fourthly their compassion in sitting by him seuen dayes and seuen nights in silence This is the time when Gods children must striue to shew their affection and brotherly kindnesse towards the Saints Fifthly these holy Elders which visit the sicke must affect one thing be of one minde and of one accord for the cri◅s and praiers of such men be very strong and can soonest and best preuaile with the Lord according to his owne truth holy promise Uerely I say vnto you that if two of you shall agree in earth vpon any thing whatsoeuer they shall desire it shall be giuen them of my father which is in heauen for where two or three are gathered togither in my name there am I in the midst of them The truth of this promise is to be seene in the practise and praier of the holy Saints The disciples which were met togither to pray for the good successe of the gospel for spirituall courage boldnesle in their ministry for the cōfirmatiō of their doctrine by signes wonders I it is said of the whole multitude of thē which beleeued there prayed That they were of one heart of one soule Ast. 4. 31. 32. They lift vp their voyces vnto God with one accord ver se 24. 3. After prayer they obteined all that they asked For it is said first that they were confirmed presently with a myracle The place was shaken where they were assembled togither and all were filled with the holy Ghost vers 31. 2. They receiued their second request spirituall boldnesse courage for it is said they spake the word of God boldly ver 31. 3. Lastly the Gospell was more glorified had a more free passage daily And the day of Penticost when they waited togither in praier for the gifts of the holy Ghost It is said they were altogither with one accord in one place And the holy Disciples which beleeued they are said that in hearing the word in praier they continued with one accorde daily in the Temple These Elders then of whom Iames speaketh must be thus affected Religious men faithfull men deuout men righteous men and such will not lightly iarre or disagree but be most carefull to keepe the bandes of loue in holy peace and vnitie with heart and minde affecting one thing and bearing with them of weaker iudgement till the Lord hath reuealed better things vnto them These men thus hauing one heart and one mouth may send forth such cries vnto the Lord as shall be heard and none other Sixtly S. Iames requireth that they be faithfull men righteous men and m◅n of good feeling They must haue faith for otherwise they cannot pray as wee haue before shewed ver 15. of that 19. Psalme they must be righteous men for otherwise they shall be reiected of God in this sacrifice which they offer Pro. 21. 27. and the sicke can haue no comfort in them And they must haue a good feeling of the wants of their brother otherwise their praier will not worke and be effectuall so the promise is to be vnderstood the prayer of a righteous man auaileth much which is working and effectuall Seuenthly they must instruct and admonish the patient and by mutuall conference so stirre him vp to open and re◅eale such sinnes and euils as most grieue his hart and conscience They must know his passions his life his calling his knowledge his feare his affections his loue and all his conuersation and how long he hath knowne Iesus Christ. Againe here they must be wise to discerne whether Sathan hath wounded him with any siery dart and so hath caused him to doubt of his election vocation faith repentance c. They must be prouided of examples which may shewe him how that other of Gods children haue so bene smitten haue languished long and yet at last were graciously restored But nothing comparable to our owne experience Here let them pray earnestly for the spirit of iudgement for that Sathan hath many strange inuisible delusions and remember the prouerbe That a gracious speech heateth the passions of the soule A word spoken in his place is like app◅es of golde with pictures of siluer Eightly Saint Iames requireth in the visitors of the sicke verse 15. a praier of faith They must
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
cause of the pestilence Exod. 23. 25. The second â—…ause of the Pestilence The third cause of the Pestilence Psal 91. Verse 1. The fourth cause of the Pestilence The fifth cause of the Pestilence Deut. 28. 58. The sixt cause of the Pestilence The seuenth cause of the Pestilence Chap. 28. 23. The eight cause of the Pestilence Euseb. lib. c. 16. Dis. 9. 1. 7. 8. Matth. 24. 29. The eleuenth cause of the Pestilence The conclusion These sins raigne in euery Citie towne and hamlet and yet the watchmen are a sleepe the Lords couenant is broken the watchmen regard not and therefore he will auenge the quarrell of his couenant by thâ—… Pestilence Anno. 1587. Anno. 1588. Anno. 1592. Eccle. 8. 11. 12. 15. Iob. 7. 13. 14. 15. Note what sundrv effects this feare wrought in Phatoh and all his subiects 2. King 19. 35. No wisdom in time of Pestilence to walke in the aires of night Hypocrates Aphorisme Iude verse 5. 1. Iohn 3. 8. Iohn 8. 44 a Reuel 22. 9. 1. Cor. 11. 3. b Turtul Apoc. ca. 22. Gene. 3. 1. Long conference with Sathan dangerous let him soone be packing Matth. 4. c Matth. 12. 43 44 1. Mens 2. Cogitatio 3. Affectus 4. Voluntas 5. Studium Gen. 3. 4. 5. 6. Gen. 4. 26. Psal. 8. 84. Iob. 144. Thus we are â—…ll by nature without exception Ep. 2. 2. 3. 4 Ep. 2. 1. 2. 3 De diuin daem lib 1. cap. 3. 5. Vtlamen solis penetrat aquam nubemacreÌ„ ita spiritus petrat omnia P. M. By speciall euidences to discerne and discouer Sathans habitation Ierom. epitad DamasuÌ„ Cypr. de Iiuore caelo Hel ser. 2. The 〈◊〉 peace of Christ the false peace of Sathaâ—… Ro. 15. 11. 1. Th. 5. 6. 1. Cor. 15. 34. 2. Cor. 2. 18. 2. Cor. 4. 34. Luk. 11. 21. 2. Cor. 4. 4 1 Tit. 1. 15. Ezech. 11 19. Ps. 104. 4 2. Sam 24. 1. Chr. 21 16. Aug. in Psal. 78. 2. Ki. 19. 35. Gen. 19. Antiq. 19. 7 Bubonem supra caput suum funi exten to nisidenteÌ„ Act. 12. 3. Wicked spâ—rits by sorcery filled their soules with errors destroyed their bodie with the pestilence Malakiâ—… Ragnim Iob. 1. 2. P. M. Beza de peste Ille spiri Daemoniacus de menâ—…b vestrie aduersus nos araeliatur Tert. Apoâ—… 27. Math. 8. 14. 15. * Verse 34. August in Psal. 78. Angeli mali ex vtraque parte The Lord will not suffer the de * Iobs plagu the plague of Egypt haue one name in the originall causes Iob. 2. 7. Exod. 9. 11. Deut. 28. 28. 59. 60. 01. Esd. 27. 8. 9. How to comfort our selues and to make vse of afflictions * The godly are beaten for the confirmation of their brethrâ—… and for the instructioÌ„ of the wicked Good to haue changes Psal. 7. 3. 2. Cor. 12. 9. Rom. 5. 2. 3. Iames 1. 2. 3. Nonignara mali miseris suâ—…curreie disco The sense Obseâ—… Euseb. hist. lib. 7. 21. Rom. 5. 2. 3. Matt. 6. Luke 12. 2. Sam. 24. 17. Verse 25. We must shew compassion on our brethren in praying for them in our liberalitie towardes â—…m in visiting them when they be sicke of which dutie see more in the ende Lo teunnâ—…h Note A particular victoriouâ—…â—…aith a speciall preseruatiue against the pestilence as before q. 1. Lo Teunnah 1. Th. 5. 21 Ier. 14. 15 Hob. 4. 16 Dangerous to be deceiued in a good cause 2. Cor. 13. 5 Definition * Or the Lords hand-writing Heb. 9. 14. Conscientia bene actae vitae multorumque beneficiorum recordano iucundissima est What a good conscience is Two things in a good conscience Note The first peace between God our hearts is by Christ immediatly onely Ro. 〈◊〉 1. Heb. 9. 14. 10. 22. Io. 14 27. Io. 8. 56. M. 42. Ps. 103. 1. 3 Phil. 3. 7. The second peace between a man and his own heart conscience 2. Cor. 1. 12 Tit. 1. 15. 16. 1. Io. 2. 21 27. Zac. 12. 10. 11. 20. 8. 16. 1. Io. 3. 19. 20. The spirit of prayers a good signe of a good conscience Spiritus ducit orationeÌ„ ad Deum si spiritus reus apâ—…d se sit conscientia erubescet quomodo audebit orationem ducere ad alaâ—…re ibid * Ephe. 6. 15. 2. Cor. 5. 18 19. Psal. 119. Rom. 10. 15 1. Tim. 1. 5. 19. Watch ouâ—…r thy conscience as ouer the apple of thine eye * Ro. 14. 5. Act. 24. 16 What a troubled conscience is 〈◊〉 Sam. 25. 37. Wee haue many Nabals in these dayes It is a common practise with Pâ—…pists and Atheists to hâ—…ng themselues 2. Co. 7. 9. 10. Esa. 57. 15 Psal. 51. Zach. 13 1 Esa. 53. 5. As in popery we see many gibbets to hang poore con sciences Zach. 12. 10. They are Gods enemies which through their sinnes and infirmities take â—…ccasion to blasphâ—…me God Iames 5. 15. What an euill conscience is Nocte dieq suum gestat in pectore testem Iuucnal Saâ—…yr 13. Rom 8. 7. This conâ—…ence is a specâ—…ll preseâ—…t ue oral com wâ—… soâ—…es or men Popish consciences are thus much disquieted Eph. 4. 19 The popish â—…erisie Mat. 27. 5. Psal. 55. 2. Sam. 17. 23. Snetonvita Neronis Take heede ye Church robbers to your conscience be-â—…ime if your hearts condemne you God is greaâ—…er c. Dan. 5. 4. 5. 6. Act. 24. 26. Hebr. 12. 17. 1. Ioh. 5. 16. Matt. 12. 31. Pro. 4. 23. 1. Tim. 1. 18. 19. Mar. 21. Iob. 27. 6 2. Sam. 24. 10. Iob 31. 1. Psal. 45. 12. Psal. 36. 1. Iam. 1. 12. Ch. 3. 6 Watch ouer all parts A gracious preseruation in the Pestilence As of the orders of angels Psal. 103. 20. Luk. 1. 19. 29. Dan. 9. 21â—… 8. 16. Iere. 1. 9. Dan. 10. 16. Iudg. 13. 20. But that storie is very Iewish and fabulous Col. 1. 16. Psal. 103. 148. 1. Ki. 21. 22. Reue. 19. Dan. 7. 10 Psal. 34. Ezec. 10. 5 Dan. 9. 21 Ps. 104. 4 Heb. 1. 7. Mat. 5. Luk. 2. Not as the euill spirits do Luk. 15. Ps. 34. 7. Psal. 91. 15. Heb. 1. 14. 2. K. 5. 17. It may be this was Michael Iesus Christ. Eze. 37. 2. K. 19. Col. 1. 16. 20. We are in communion with the Angels Iob. 4. 18. 1. Per. 1. 12. 1. Cor. 11. Eph. 1. 12. 22. Obiection Answere Questi 〈◊〉 Answere Gal. 1. 6. Io. 20. 31. 2. Pet. 1. 19 Wherefore Angels appeare not Mat. 4. An so do his members often 1. Cor. 7. 20. Siman Magus Act. 8. Deut. 8. 10. 11. 12. Pro. 30. 9 Psal. 34. Iob. 1. 10. The euill angels haue no such power to dest oy vs as the good angels to preserue vs. Psal. 103. 20. The vse of the doctrine going besore Reu. 19. 22. The condition of Gods children in this world Pâ—… 8. lib. nat h. c. 15 Plin. h. n. lib. 8. c 15 16. 23. * Peten Lib. S. n. b. 15. â—…alen * Dependeth â—pon me or â—mbraceth me The paâ—… Not 〈◊〉 Luk. 12. 32. 1. Ioh. 5. 18 Ignoti nulla cupido We do not desire things vnknowen Mark 4. 11. Mâ—…t 16. Rom. 8. 26. Mal. 1. Rom. 12. 1. And yet few so blind and so wicked but they say they can pray Psal. 141. Eccles. 4. 17. Rom. 10. 14. Iames 5. Psal 22. 1. 2. Cant 5. 4. 56. Psal. 66. 18. * If I delighâ—… in wickednâ—…s Psal. 38. 2 Some good Interpretâ—…s so iudge 1. Promise Obiection Gal. 6. 14 15. 16. Reu. 5. 20. Cant. 5. 5. 6. 7. 8. Psal. 69. 17. Psal. 107. vers 6. 13 19. 28. Act and M. in M. Philpots letters 2. Cor. 12. 9. 10. Act. M 2. Iohn 1. 3. Iohn 17. 20. 2. Cor. 13 4. A parable is a speech comparing like things together to stirre vp affection to illustrate any doubt and to shew the effectuall working of any thing by most familiar and best known â—…tudes 1. Cor. 2. 9. Es. 5. E the 14. 15. â—…ere 15. 17. An vnderstandâ—…ng â—…eart oâ—… a â—…ng heart Mat. 13. 15. Iustificatition Sanctification 2. Pet. 1. 4. Gal. 2. 20. Iohn Cal. Com in Gal. verse 2. 10. 2. Pet. 3. 18. Epâ—…e 4. 13. Iob. 5. 17. 18. 19. Mat. 13. 43 Dan. 12. 5. Iob. 19. verse 25. If Sathan be sent to torment the body remeÌ„ber Iobes comfort 1. Tim. 4. 8. Prou. 5. 1. 2. Pro. 4. 10. 25. 8. Câ—…itie bona senio satur Pro. 16. 31. Age nor honour make men wiâ—…e but the spirit of God Iob. 32. 8 9 Com. 5. Keue 21. 23. 1 Who see their saluation Psal. 23. 6. 2 Cor. 3. 12. 18. Io. 8. 56. Heb. 11. 1. Eph 320. Phâ—… 3. 8. 10. 19. 2. Cor. 13. 4. Gal. 6. 14. 15. 16. 1. 10. 3. 2. Ch. 19. 2. Chro. 16. 10. 12. Note Ecc. 4. 9. Iob. 33. 23. * Ioach. Camerar in synop depeste Ewichâ—…s depeste Here I desire to bee taught by the godly learned both how S. Iames must be vnderstood and how â—…he sicke of the plagne may best be visited B. de peste Iob. 2. 12. 13. 2. Pet. 1. 7. Rom. 15. 6. Matâ—…8 â—…8 19 Omothumadon Ast. 2. 1. 4 24. * Uers. 31. Parresia Eph. 6. 19. 1. Chro. 28 20. Act. 2. 1. Act. 1. 46. Phil. 3. 15. 16. Ro. 15. 16 Verse 15. Ephe. 6. Esai 11. 2. Pro. 25. 11 Euchentes pisteos Câ—…a 5. 16. Mat. 21. 22. Mat. 9. Verse 22. 23. 24. 4 Tract de Idol vanit Mâ—…tt 9. 22. Kom 12. 12. Luke 8. 1. Dan. 10. 2. 3. Vers. 12. Mat 2. 46. 47. 1. Ob. Thus a heatheÌ„ spaketh Tam fatale est medicum adhibe re quam conualescere Delato 2. obiect 3. obiect 4. obiect 5. Obiect 6. Obiect If any desisire to know more of this read Bâ—…za of the pestilence Lib. 7. ca. 10. Marc. 6. Eccle. 38. 9 10. 11. 12. Ecclesi 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 1 Denature dcorum Of the plague in Wittenberge Ann. 1527 Note Ioel 2. 12. Conclusion 1. Ch. 6. 12. Maist. Phaer of the Pestilence * Of euery one like quantitie Let the Apothecary help you to make this pouder