maie be assured through true and godlye doctrine to dye in the Lorde and soo be eternallye blessed straighte waye after their deathe as Saincte Jhon sayeth And incase god reserue them to longer lyef they maye liue in trueth and vearitie vntoo him with detestation and hatred of sinne the originall cause of mannes miserye and wretchednes and wyth the loue of mercy and grace the originall and onely workers of mannes quyetnes and euerlasting saluatiō geuen vnto vs from god the father almightye thorough Jesus Christe his onely sonne our Lorde To whome wyth the holye ghost be all honour and praise worlde wythout eande So be it ¶ An homolie to be reade in the time of pestilence contayninge the true causes of the same And likewise a moste present remedye for as many as be alreadye or hereafter shalbe infected wyth that dysease Gathered out of the holy scripture by John Hoper Busshoppe of Worcester and Gloucester ANNO DOMINI 1553. Marci i. Repente and beleue the gospell IT is the desire of all sicke men to knowe what medicine and remedye hath beene knowen moste to preuayle best too remoue and soonest to cure make whole the person dyseased And the greater and more daungerouse the syckenes is the more circumspect and wise the sicke man muste be in knowledge and choise of the medicine Lest happely he seeke a remedy inferior and to weake for the greatnes strength of his disease The nature cōdicion therfore of pestilence being so daūgerous as it is in dede y t who so euer be infected or attemted therw t al hath nede to be well instructed and thorughly perswaded of a sufficient remedye stronger then the sickenes it selfe Or els the dysease shall more hurte the sicke pacyente then the medicine can do him good Thē must nedes followe the deathe and y e destruction of the diseased person It behoueth therefore all men that be mortall to knowe the most generall and most daūgerous dyseases that mortalitie shalbe troubled withall And then as he seeth his greate and necessary aduersaries and syckenes to knowe also the greatest and most necessary remedy and helpe against his diseases And because sinne hath soo preuayled in vs that trueth perswaded vnto vs by thexamples of others sooner instructeth and longer tarieth then any thinge taught vs by doctrine or testimonye I shall before I enter into the causes of the pestylence shewe the strength and nature of sickenes from thexamples of souche godly persons as in the worde of god are mencioned of for oure instruction Kinge Dauid emonges other dyseases fell intoo the pestilence The greatnes and daunger whereof passed all humane worldly healpes as it appeareth by hys lamentable crye and complaynte vnto the Lorde My soule saieth he is sore troubled But how long Lord wilt thou differre thy help And the same crie and complainte he made vnto the Lorde when the plage of pestilence had infected his whole Realme from Dan too Berzabe And sawe the remedye therof to be onlie in god Praying him to commaund his Aingel to stryke the people no more Ezechias the kinge sawe that besides god al meatsonnes and remedies were to weak and inferior for y e strength and power of the pestilence sickenes ▪ wherfore he turned him selfe to y e wall and praied god to do that for him that no phisicke nor medicine washable to do And sainct Paule in hys wonderfull oratyon that he maketh concernyng the resurrectyon of the dead waigheth moste deapely the nature condicion of mannes myserable estate in thys lief Bourdeinnyng hym wyth suche strong aduersaries sicknes and deseases both of body and soule that euery man may see how impossible it is for mā to fynde deliueraunce from the tirannie and strengthe of syckenes excepte onely the mercy of god in Christe Jesu Nomberyng there sixe and aduersaries so stronge as the least of them except Christ helpe is hable to destroy both bodie and soule The first is corruptiō The second mortalitie The third sinne The fourth the lawe condempning sin The fifth death The sixte hell necessary and indiuisible plagues and sickenes of man in this lief Against the which he findeth no remedy neyther by Galien nor Hipocrates neyther yet by thearth of para y t men say cureth al woundes But with greate faith confydence marketh and weigheth the strength of deseases though they be neuer so stronge too be yet inferior too the medsone and remedy that god hath prouided for vs onlie in Christe Therefore compareth y e inferior strength of althose sicknes vnto y e sufficient remedy of god through Christ saying after this maner Thankes be vnto god which hath geuē vs victorye thorough oure Lorde Jesus Christ. Wherby it is euident and plaine that god is thonely remedy for al plages deseases How be it nowe I shal more speciallye open y e causes of the plage and the nature of the same y t our sicknes the causes therof may be more knowen and the better auoyded The principall cause of pestilence is opened by S. Paule by thies wordes By sinne saith he came death into y e world and for the cause of sinne god sendeth the plage of pestilence and all other diseases that punisheth towardes death Asking Dauid sayth Thou doest punishe the childerin of men for sinne Moises also plainly sheweth that the principall and chyef cause of pestilence is not in the corruption of the ayer nor in the superfluous humors within man But that sinne and y e transgression of goodes lawe is the very cause and chief occasion of pestilence of al other diseases And y e experience therof was tried in the pestylence that raigned in king Dauides time for his sinnes and the sinnes of the people So that al y e scripture of god manifestly declareth that the contempt and breache of goddes lawes is the chief and principall cause of pestylence and of all other plages that he sendeth for our punishment And from this cause procedeth those causes y t phisicions speake of the corruption of the aier whiche is neuer corrupted nor can corrupte man or beast excepte mā for whose sake and comfort both ayer and all other beastes were made be firste corrupted by sin and transgression of goddes lawes Neither could man take any surfeit by meates nor anye yuell humors coulde be engendered of any meates were not y e man that vseth them corrupte first infected with sinne But when the Lord doth see that the people forgeate or contempne his blessed commaundementes and that souche as be appointed to rebuke and punish suche transgressours of goddes lawes suffer without punyshment y e glory of god and his holy commaundementes to be oppressed and set at naught as we se daylie they be in deed From these causes our sinne and abhominacion the Lord taketh occasion to turne hys good creatures made for oure lief to be a meanes of oure deathe which neuer woulde be were
In Homelye to be read in the tyme of pestylence and a moste presente remedye for the same 〈◊〉 God Honour the Kynge 1. Pet. 2. To all Pastoures and Curates Wythin the Kinges Maiesties Diocesse of Worcester and Gloucester EAuyn as we be blinde and unthankeful for goddes fauourable mercies where with all he foloweth vs in health welth and prosperitie So be we blinde vnsensible for his most iust plages where with all he persequuteth and punisheth vs in sickenes scarsitie troubles And nowe emongest other tokens of his displeasure and wroth hath sente vs in dyuerse places one of the extreamest plages that euer he deuised to punishe man withall in this life the plage of pestilence For as mouche as he meaneth thereby not onely to kill and destroy the bodies of souche as by this plague he pourposeth to take out of this mortall lief But also wythout repentaunce and tourning to his mercy in Christe before death the soule of souche as departe from hence muste neades perishe by goddes iust iudgemente And not onlie this to be theande of souche as it pleaseth god to strike to death by this his seruaunte and messanger the plage of pestilence But also the like daunger of his displeasure remaineth to me and to all other that haue the cure charge of the peoples soulles in this the kinges Maiesties hoste noble Realme Ouer whom god and he hath made vs watche men and ouerseers too admonishe and warne the people of all daungers plages that god shall sende for their punishmente Incase we admonishe not in time the people commytted vnto oure charge of souche plages as for synne he pourposeth too punysshe vs wythall their losse and dampnatyon shalbe requyred at oure handes For the dyscharge of my selfe and alsoo for the beter instructyon of souche as haue cures wythin thys Diocesse of Worcester and Gloucester and yet not beste hable too dystharge them and farther more for the proffyte and saluacyon of the people emonges whome it maye please God too sende hys fearefull plague of pestylence I haue thoughte it niy boundon duetye seyng at all tymes I can not comforte the sycke my selfe too collecte or gather intoo some shorte sermonde or homelye a medycyne and moste presente healpe for all men agaynste the plague of pestylence And in thesame alsoo too prouyde some presente remedye for souche as shalbe infected wyth that desease And for the better vnderstandynge of the medycyne I wyll vse thys ordre that all Physycyons learned doo vse in theyr practyse of Phisycke Fyrste I wyll shewe the cheafeste cause of the pestylence And then what remeadye is beste too bee vsed agaynste it and to heale it when it hath infected anye manne And althoughe I wyll speake herein some what as other Physycyons haue doone yet because they haue spoken alreadye more then I canne in the matter thoughe it bee a greate deale lesse then the matter of the desease requyreth for none of them haue shewed anye ascertayned remeadye be theyr reason neuer soo good I wyll breafelye as by the way somewhat speake of thys desease as they doo But as a preacher of Goddes woorde and as a Physycyon for the soule rather then for the bodye intreate of the syckenesse and the remeadye thereof aftherthe aduyse and counsell of goddes woorde Whoo supplyeth all thynges omytted and not spoken of concernynge thys moste daungerouse plagues by souche as haue wroten besydes the scrypture of God theyr mynde touchynge thesame For in deede the chiefest causes of all plagues and syckenesse is synne whyche remaynynge wythin all menne worketh destructyon not onelye of the bodye but alsoo of the soule yf remeadye be not founde And wheare as Galien sayeth that Omnis pestilentia fit a putredme aeris that is too saye all pestylence commeth by the corruptyon of the ayer that bothe beaste and man drawynge theyr breathes in the ayer corrupte draweth the corruptyon thereof intoo them selues he sayeth well yet not ynoughe He sayeth alsoo verye naturally that when the ayer is altered from hys naturall eaqualitye and temperature to to mouche and intemperate heate and moysture pestylence is lyke then too raygne For as he sayeth in the same place that heate and moysture dystemperated be moste daungerouse for the creatures of the worlde yet that is not ynoughe As Ezechiel sayeth wheare as God sendeth all thies dystemperaunces and yet yf Noah Daniel and Iob were in the myddeste of them they shall be saufe Eauyn soo sayeth Dauid alsoo Though they dye at the ryght hande tenne thousand foulde and dye at the lefte a thousande fould the plage shall not touche hym that sytteth vnder the protection of the highest And where as reason hath many good and probable argumentes in thys matter touchynge the cause of pestylence that it should come some time by reason of souche humors as be in the body disposed and apte to corrupte then is the man quickelye by drawing and breathyng as well the corruption of hym self as y e infection of the ayer infected And that souche humors as be grosse and inclined to corruptiō riseth of yuell and immoderat diet and the infection taketh hys origynall and begynnynge from souche beastes carinnes and other lothsome bodies that rotte vpon the face of the earthe not buryed or els from moorishe standynge and dampyshe waters sinckes or other souche vnholsome moistures soo that towardes the faull of the leafe bothe the ayer that man lyueth in as alsoo mans bodye it selfe bee more apte and disposed to putrifaction more in y e time then in any other tyme for diuerse naturall causes These causes are to be considered as naturall and consonaunte to reason yet there bee reasones and causes of pestylence of more waight and more worthye of deape and aduysed considerations and aduertisementes then thies be And the more because they lye within man be marked but of very fewe and hide them selues secretely tyll they haue poysoned the whole man both bodye and soule For in dede phisicions that write medle with no causes that hurte man but suche as come into man from with out as the humors they saye take theyr infectyon from vnholsome meate and yuell dyet or els from the corruption of the ayer wyth souche lyke But our sauyoure Christe sheweth that oure corruptyon and syckenes riseth from within vs as I wyll declare hereafter in the causes that the scripture teacheth of pestylence and al other dyseases Requyringe you diligentlye to loke vpon the same and to reade it in your churches that the people may vnderstand both the cause of this goddes plage of pestylence and howe too vse them selues in the time of this sickenes or anye other that shall happen vnto them by goddes appointmente As god may be glorified in them and you and I discharged of our bounden dueties And they them selues that shal happen to be infected with the plage of pestilence and by the same be brought to death
not our hainouse dishonouring and contempte of God For the Lordes creatures be perfectly good and made al to comforte and reioyce holsome cleane and pure withoute all infectyon But seinge that the contempte of god and the filthines of sinne is nether by the Cleargie opened declared ne detected neyther by the heades of the countrey and offycers appointed vnder god and the kyng punished Except therfore there shoulde nothing els liue in this world then sinne abhominacion and contempt of god god is forced for the taking away destruction of filthy lief and filthy liuers to appoint an extra ordinary magistrate to reforme and punish the mother of all mischyef synne and contempte of gooddes holye woorde And soo altereth not by chaunce nor by the influence of sterres the holesomnes of the ayer intoo pestylente and contagyouse infectyon And the meate and drynke wyth theyr nutrimente and foade intoo poyson and venome that by their meane sinne and sinners myghte bee slayne and taken oute of thys worlde and no longer too blaspheme God Thus dothe the woorde of god declare theffectuouse and pryncypal cause of pestylence too be the contempte of Goddes woorde that shoulde kepe men in ordre bothe too God and man The breakynge whereof hath alwayes brought these plagues into Realmes as prophane writers also manifestly declare Orosius sayeth that the greate dearthe and famyne that came emonges the Romanes in the tune of Caesar Augustus was because Caius his neuewe contempned to honor the liuing god as he was taught at Hierusalē whē he passed into Siria Wherfore it is expedient and before al thinges necessary for as monthe as the plage is come into soundry places about vs for euery one to trye hym selfe what iust causes of thys pestylence eche man hath wythin him selfe Euery Christian man and woman muste searche whether theyr religion and christianitie be souche as god by hys worde dothe maintayne to be good for there is no greater occasyon of pestilence then superstycyon and false relygyon The Busshoppe Person Uycare and Curate must examine them selues what knowledge of goddes word is in them and what dilygence they haue taken too brynge the people to a ryghte knowledge and perfecte honor of God for there is noo greater daungere of pestilence then where as the Cleargie is either ignoraunte of goddes worde or negligent in teachyng thereof The Justices gentlemen must loke howe they kepe them selues and the kynges Maiesties people in y e true knowledge and obedience of goddes lawes and the Kinges for nothing prouoketh the pestilence more daungerously then where as suche as sitte and be appointed to do iustice do their owne affections with contempte iniuries bothe to god and man and the plage of god will reuenge it All we therfore that be subiectes and liue vnder one god and one kinge must nowe that god hath sente vs this pestilence see that we haue true louing faithful trustie and obedyent hartes wyth one hole minde altogether to obey reuerence loue healpe succour defende and vpholde with all our wittes gooddes ryches and strengthe this oure onely Kinge the Magistrates and councellours that be appointed vnder hys highnes For as Saincte Paule saieth he that disobeieth and resisteth the hygher powers appointed by god resist god prouoke the pestilence and vengeaunce of god against vs. And we must take hede also that we hate not one another yf we do the plage wyll not ceasse and the places that yet be not infected god shall infecte what so euer defence man maketh againste it And although Galien of all remedyes saieth to flie the ayer that is infected is best Yet I know that Moses by the worde of god sayeth Flee whether thou wylte in case y u take wyth the the contempt of god breache of his commaundement god shall fynde the oute Yea and although manye medicines be deuised and assureth the infected to be made whole yet not wythstandyng I know goddes worde sayeth the contrary that he will sende vnto vnsensible careles and wilfull sinners souche a plage and incurable a pestilence that he shall not be deliuered but dye and perish by it Therfore forasmouche as synne is thoccasion chiefly of pestilence let euery man eschewe and auoyd it both spedelye and penitentlie and then shall ye be preserued from the plage sufficientlye as ye shal perceaue in the remedy of this daungerous plage that begynneth to raigne emonges vs. For doubtles although we could flye to Locris or Crotone where as Plinie sayeth the pestilence was neuer yet god saith incase we feare not him we shall surely be infected The remedy against the pestylence LOke as the scripture of god onely sheweth y e very cause of pestilence so doth it the very true and onely remedye agaynst it I doo not dislike y e remedies that naturall phisicke hath prescribed yet I do not hable them as sufficient remedies for their imperfection sake I woulde also they were vsed and the remedies prescribed in goddes boke not omitted For I see all the remedyes that euer was deuysed by man is not hable to remoue assuredlie the pestylence from hym that is infected there wythall althoughe they be neuer soo excellente and good And I fynde the same concernynge the preseruacyon from the pestylence deuysed by man alsoo insufficyente for mannes preseruacyon yet not to be contempned for the reason of theyr chiefest preseruacyon is very good and allowable and yet not sufficient Which is of all things chiefly to be vsed against the pestilence fleing and departure from the place wheare as the ayer is corrupte Wherefore for souche as maye nothing is better then too flee and excepte he do he offereth him selfe too a presente daunger of deathe But yet the woorde of God sayeth plainelye that flee whether we wyll yf we forsake not synne and serue the lyuynge god the plage shall ouertake vs. And thys can not be a suffycyent remedy for there be certen persons that can not flee although they woulde As the poorer sorte of people that haue no frendes nor place too flee vntoo more then the poore house they dwell in Like wyse there be souche offyces of truste as men for noo cause maye flee from it As the Busshoppe Person Uicare and Curate who hath the charge of those that god pleaseth too infecte wyth the pestilence and yf they forsake theyr people in thys plague tyme they be hirelinges no Pastoures and they flee frō goddes people into gods high indignaciō Such alsoo as haue places and offices of truste for the commune wealth as the Capitaines of souldiers in y e time of warre Judges and Justices in the tyme of peace Incase they should flee their countryes or leaue theyr warres for y e plage of pestylence they shall neuer be good souldiers nor good Justices for the commune wealth And they shalbe accompatable to almighty god for all the hurte and detriment that hath happned vnto the people in their