therefore in these two respects in this mortalitie walke before GOD with Feare Faith With Feare because by sin we are subiect to the infection for it is iust with God that we who doe corrupt one anothers soules with the euâ—ll example of our words and workes vnto sin should also infect one anothers bodies with the contagion of this disease vnto punishment and let vs walke with Faith because he can countermaund and restraine it And thus much for my Instructions concerning your feare of the plague namely how farre you may feare it and how far you may not The directions concerning this your feare doe follow My directions touching your feare of the plague shall be giuen in two particulars 1. I will direct you how you may preserue your selues from being infected with the plague 2. I will direct you how you may keep your selues from dying of the plague thogh you be infected with it this wil I do not as a friend by requesting you to bee wary into what house or company you come which I need not doe Nor as a Physician by prescribing vnto you some rare preseruatiues which I cannot do but as a Minister and Preacher of the Gospel by giuing you some good counsel from the Word of God which being followed wil by Gods blessing bee better for these endes if the Lord see it good for his glory and our saluation then all the Bâ—ezâ—rs stone Vnicorns horne or Mithâ—idate in the world Sixe meanes to preuâ—nt the infecti n of the plagu For the first The means to preuent the plague are in number six and they are of two kindes 1. Such as concerne God 2. Such as concerne our selues The meanes which concerne God are three The first meanes to preuent the plague which concernes God is Faith that is trust or confidence in God whereby we rest and rely on his power goodnes for protection and not on the broken reeds of any outward meanes as good ayre refraining company shift of roomes and varietie of perfumes much lesse on any exorcised preseruatiues enchanted Tablets or Amulâ—ts to weare about our necks for that end To trust in God In whom we liue moue Act 17.28 and haue our being is to make him our rocke and our sortresse And because the righteous man makes the Lord his refuge and the most high his habitation therefore there shal none euill befall him Psa 91.9.10.11 neither shall the plague come nigh his dwelling for he shall giue his Angels charge ouer him to keepe him in all his wayes For by this faith or relying on God the Israelites when they had no power in theÌ„selues ouercame their enemies the Hagarites and for want of this faith 1 Chro. 5.20 or trusting in God his wrath fell vpon them Psal 78.21 The second The second means which concernes God is seeking his face and fauor his mercy and his loue wherby his anger may be appeased towardes vs and his displeasure remoued which prouokes him to send his pestilence among vs. To this seeking of Gods face 2 Chron. 7.14 wee are directed by the Spirit of God in the Word and vnto this is promised likewise a blessing For to haue the Lord to lift vp the light of his countenance vpon vs Psal 4.8 is better then all the contents of worldlings yea better then life it selfe The Lord saith to vs seeke yee my face Psal 27 8. and wee must say to to him Thy face Lord wil we seeke yea wee must seeke it before health or life For if we enioy his fauour we are happy though we were infected vnto death and if we want this we are accursed though wee should neuer bee smitten or die of the plague The third meanes to preuent the plague The third which concernes God is feruent and faithfull prayer to God in the name of Christ according to his will 2. Chron. 7.14 This is likewise commanded in the Word for this end and to this is annexed a promise to encourage vs to the practise thereof By praier Moses preuented the plague froÌ„ falling generally on all the Israelites when some of them dyed by the plague before the Lord. Numb 14.20.37.38 1. Cor. 10.10 And by prayer Moses preueÌ„ted another great plague and vtter destruction from falling on the Israelites did therby as it were bind the hands of the Lord that hee could not smite them Exod. 32. for the Lord said Vers 10.11 Let me alone that my wrath may waxe hot against them and that I may consume them Vers 14 And vpon this prayer the Lord repented him of the euill which hee thought to doe vnto his people The meanes which concerne our selues and which are good to preuent the plague from smiting vs are likewise three but they are of two sorts 1. Some which concerne our sins and disobedience 2. Some which concernes our dutie and obedience Those which concerne our sins are two The first meanes to preuent the plague which concernes our selues and our sinnes The fourth is humbling our selues in soule and body before the Lord in a free confession of our sins and acknowledgement of our worthinesse to be smitten by it This humiliation was commaunded by the Lord to the people of Israel and consequently to vs in them in the like case 2 Chr. 7.14 and to it also is promised a blessing 1 Chro. 21 15.16.17 2 Sam. 24.17 This Dauid and the Elders of Israel did being clothed in sackcloth and falling on their faces And by this they preuented the stroke of the Angel when hee stood betwixt the earth and heauen hauing a drawne sword in his hand stretched out ouer Ierusalem namely to destroy it also by the plague as other parts of the Countrey had euen then beene Amo 4.22 By this humiliation wee meet God to pacifie his anger as Iacob did his brother Esau and by this wee hide our selues from the punishing hand of God Gen. 32. Pro. 22.3 when we see it comming towards vs. By this Iosiah and the Niniuites preuented the execution of GODS iudgements threatned 1 Chro. 34.28 Ionah 3. The second means which concernes our sins The fift and is effectual for the preuenting of the plague is zeale against sin in our selues and others for God and his sake Num. 25.11.12 This zeale against sin is to be shewed by vs either as Magistrates vpon Malefactors notorious ones especially Psal 106.30 for by this Phinias stayed the plague when foure twentie thousand had dyed thereof Or as Ministers or Masters of Families by rebuking correcting sin in our people seruants and children Or as Christians 1 Cor. 11.31 2 cor 7.11 by iudging our selues taking reuenge on our selues And this wee doe when wee deny to our sinfull senses the allurements and contents of sin which is to plucke out the right eye Mat. 23.19 and to cut off our right hand
then vnto their spirituall and eternall good 1. Because it is not likely that death should worke vnto any temporall good for all temporal good things leaue them when they die And secondly because the good which by the text is said to be wrought is good vnto them that loue God and are called of his purpose therefore it is a spirituall and an eternall good in the eternal loue of God to their soules Reason 2 The godly which die of the plague doe dy in Gods loue because nothing can separate them from the loue of God in Christ Iesus The Reason is good because they that are separated from the loue of God in Christ doe die in Gods eternall displeasure because they die in their sinnes and goe to hell For if they that dye in the Lord are x Reu. 14.13 blessed then they that die out of him are accursed And that the godly cannot be separated from the loue of God in Christ is plaine by the Apostle who saith of himselfe and that which is true of one that is truely godly is true of all that partake of the y Iude v. 3. common saluation Neither z Ro. 8.38 life nor death nor any other creature can bee able to separate me from the loue of God which is in Iesus Christ our Lord. Whence I thus reason 1. If death cannot separate the godly from the loue of God then no death can for indefinite propositions are generall if no death can then death of the plague cannot 2. If nothing can separate the godly from his loue then death of the plague cannot for that is something and if death of the plague cannot separate the faithfull from Gods loue in Christ then must they needs dy in his loue thogh they die of the plague For a Ro. 14.8 whether they liue or whether they die they are the Lords therefore the Lord is theirs The state of Lazarus when hee lay full of sores and pouertie was in the eye of the world very wretched yet was hee blessed in his death for hee b was carried to Abrahams bosome Luc 16.22 and therefore died in Gods loue Indeed death of the plague may seeme to separate the godly from the loue of God but it is a separation of them from his loue of them as his creatures onely not as his children because it is not a separation of them from his loue of them c Rom. 8.38.39 in Christ Death of the plague is a signe of Gods displeasure but it is a signe of his temporary displeasure only and not of his eternall For though God in d Isa 58.7 8. a little wrath hide himselfe from his children for a moment yet with euerlasting kindnes will hee haue mercie on them Though God by death of the plague take our life and health from vs e Psal 89.31 32. Yet will he not take his louing kindnes from vs vtterly Though our friends depart from vs and death of this sicknesse part the parents from the children c. Yet f 2. Sa. 7.15 Gods mercy shall not depart from vs. And so much of the first point in the doctrine of comfort touching your feare to die of the plague The second point herein is to shew how it comes to passe that the faithfull dy in Gods fauour though they dy of the plague This is effected by that which hath ben done How it coms to passe that though the godly dy of the plague they dy in Gods fauour and suffered by our Lord and Saviour Iesus Christ in whose righteousnesse we g Eph. 1.6 are accepted and by whose h Isa 53.5 stripes we are healed For 1. He hath i Ioh. 16.33 ouercome the world that is the afflictions of it one whereof is death which the meÌ„ of the world lay one them so that the afflictions which his children endure in this world while they liue here cannot hinder their saluation in an other world And therefore in this respect our Saviour wills them to be of good comfort Ibid. notwithstanding them 2 Christ hath giuen k 1. Cor. 15 56.57 vs victory ouer the stinge of death that it cannot now bee vnto vs a passage to eternall death and damnation as by nature through sinne it was and is to them that beleeue not in Christ nor amend their liues 3 Christ hath l Heb. 2.14 ouercome him that had the power of death which is the Deuill by his owne death so that he cannot carrie our soules to hell when we dy Luc. 16.22 as he did the soule of Diues and as he hath power to execute that punishment on all those that are out of Christ 4. Christ hath m Gal. 3.13 redeemed vs from the curse of the law being made a curse for vs. And thereby freed vs from the curse of any kind of death or afflictions bodily whatsoeuer In which respect S. Paule saith that in n Rom. 8.35.36.37 tribulation in death in persecution in famine in nakednes in perill in sword and why not then in o 1. Chron. 11.12 the sword of the Lord euen the pestilence in all these things wee are more then Conquerours through him that hath loued vs the Lord Iesus Christ 1. cor 1.30 vvho is made vnto vs of God wisedome righteousnes Phil. 2.21 sanctification and redemption and both in life and death advantage What makes death blessed or cursed It is not the kind of death in respect of the matter that makes men blessed or accurssed For in this respect a Ezek. 9.2 all things comes a like to all there is one euent to the righteous and to the wicked By this no man knoweth either loue or hatred But it is their graces or their sinnes whâ—ch they carrie with theÌ„ to tâ—eir deathes and the reward or punishment that followes after them when they are dead that makes them happy or miserable The godly carrie their graces vertues with theÌ„ to death Heb. 11.13 for they b dy in faith they c Reuel 14.13 dy in the Lord they d Lu. 2.29 depart in peace But the wicked carry their sins to their death e Iohn 8.21.24 For they dy in their sinnes as Absolon in his treason 2 Sam. 18. Num. 16. Corah in his rebellion and Herod in his pride Act. 12. That which followes after the godly is heauen for f Heb. 4.9 there remaines a rest for them g 1 Pet. 1.5 an inheritance and incorruptible reserued for theÌ„ in heauen Lazarus went to Abrahams bosome and the good Theife on the Crosse was with Christ in Paradise Luk. 23.43 that very day he dyed But that which follows the wicked after their h Heb. 9.27 death is iudgement which is i Reu. 6.8 hell that followes death k Rom. 2.5 wrath against the day of wrath As Iudas that went to l Act. 2.15 his owne place and Diues
remember comfort in him as God hath in iudgment remembred mercy for vs. 4 The CoÌ„panion of the outward affliction of Gods children The comdanion of their affliction it is inward Spirituall consolation at one time or other in one kind or other or in one measure or other wherein also wee haue had our share blessed bee God For as the h 1. Cor. 2.5 sufferings of Christ abound in them so their consolations also abound in Christ There i Psal 97. is light sowen for the righteous and ioy for the vpright in heart 1.5 And that which is sowne for them k Gal. 6 9 They shall reape in due time if they faint not the Lord Iesus will not l Ioh 14 18. leaue them comfortlesse hee will not m 1. Cor 10 13. suffer them to bee tempted aboue that they be able to beare hee hath n Ioa. 16.33 bidden them to bee of good comfort because though they shall haue afflictions in the world yet shall haue peace in him For though o Psal 30. heauinesse may endure for a night ioy shâ—l come in the morning p Hos 6.2 After two dayes hee will reuiue vs in the third day hee will raise vs vp and we shal liue in his sight The last thing to be considered in our affliction is the end of it which is the same with the end of all the afflictions of the godly And this end is twofold 1. Gods intent in sending of them 2. The event of theÌ„ when they are sent For both these minister comfort 1. The end or intent of GOD in afflicting his children is generally their good For euen in them i God is good to Israel More especially God intends to them therein these good things namely 1. In respect of himselfe to make them k heb 12.10 partakers of his holinesse 2. In respect of Christ that they may haue l Phil. 3.10 fellowship with his sufferings and bee made conformable to his death 3. In respect of the wicked that m 1 Cor. 11 33. they may nor be condemned with the world And fourthly in respect of themselues n Heb 12. that they may liue namely in heauen and there bee glorified vvith Christ when first they haue o Rom. 8.17 suffered with him 2 The end or euent likewise which according to Gods intent follows vpon all the afflictions of the godly it is comfortable for generally it is their good so Dauid found it when he said It is good for me that I haue been afflicted More particularly these good things insue thereupon namely 1. grace p Psal 119 7. better to learne Gods Statutes and to keepe his word 2 Peace or comfort in God and in conscience q Psal 119 71.61 For marke the perfect man behold the iust the end of that man is peace r Psal 37.37 2 Cor. 4 17. 3 Glory for Å¿ Iam. 5.11 our light affliction which is but for a moment worketh for vs a farre more exceeding and eternall weight of glory The beginning and progresse of Iobs troubles were very harsh and greeuous but S. Iames tells vs that t Ioh. 8.16 we haue seene and theard what an end God made It is true the visitation of the plague is vncomfortable because the feare of infection makes friends afraide to see vs but it is content that we haue had some that haue visited vs and it is comfort that though we had not had one to come vnto vs yet had we not been alone for u Mat. 18.20 God our Father hath beene with vs. x he hath not forsaken vs in our bondage for hee hath promised neuer to leaue of nor to forsake any of his And Iesus Christ hath been with vs for y wheresoeuer two or three are gathered together in the name of Christ hee is in the midst of them and wee according to our neede and dutie haue often humbled our selues before him in priuate fasting praying searching of our hearts and confessing our sinnes which is in part to bee gathered together in the name of Christ It was Sampsons Riddle that z Iudg. 14 14. out of the eater should come meate and out of the strong should come sweetnesse And it is a Christians Riddle That out of affliction should come consolation for of all the birds of the ayre fewe sing in winter but the Red-brest And of all the trees of the garden few are greene but the Bay tree and of all sorts of men few a Rom. 5.3 reioyce in tribulation but the godly That they haue cause to reioyce in tribulation bath euen now ben shewed in fiue seuerall points That they ought to doe so wee are taught by the Apostle Saint Iames who wills Christians b Iam. 1.2 to account it exceeding ioy when they fall into diuers tribulations That they do so may bee seene by the examplâ—s of Peter and the other Apostles who c Act. 5.41 Col. 1.24 reioyced that they were counted worthy to suffer for Christ how it comes to passe shall be shewed hereafter In the mean while you that are made sorrowfull with our visitation bee ioyfull at our consolation and so from asswaging your griefe I come to compound your feare Your feare is twofold partly in respect of vs and partly also in respect of your selues Your fear in respect of vs is least the hand of God should still bee stretched out against our familie to strike more with the infection that is amongst vs and to take away more by death of it To hearten you against this feare How to hearten our selues against the feard of the plague I pray you to take into your thought and consideration these three things 1. Though the Lord be able to proceed against vs still and though hee should bee iust if hee did so yet it may please the Lord to spare vs d 1. Sam. 12.22 for his owne Names sake because e Ierem. 1.7 it hath pleased the Lord to make vs his people for the Lord f Eph. 3.20 is able to doe exceeding aboundantly aboue all that wee are able to aske or thinke Hee deales not with his children according to their iniquities for who should remain in health or life Ahac 3.2 Euen in iudgement the Lord remembers mercy as the Prophet Abacuck tells vs as wee see it proued in that great plague in Israel for when the Angel of the Lord had slaine thereof 70000 in three dayes 2 Sam. 24.19 and hee began to stretch out his hand against Ierusalem also the Lord repented him of the euill and said to the Angel that had destroyed the people It is enough stay now thy hand That all are not infected or die not of the infection It is not because he is not able to doe it or if he did it it were not iust and all did not deserue it Lament 3.31.32.33 but because the Lord will not cast
our selues and is auailable to preuent our death of the plague appertaines to the coÌ„mandemeÌ„ts of God and it is sincerity vprightnes of heart whereby we desire and endeuour to walke in obedience to all Gods commandements in the refraining of all known sinnes euen our beloued ones and in the practising of all knowne duties cheerfully conscionably and constantly The Lord tells vs by the Prophet Ezekiel Ezek. 14.17 20. that the righteous shall by his righteousnesse deliuer his owne life from the pestilence Prou. 10.2 and Solomon saith that Righteousnesse deliuers from death An experiment of the soueraignty of this meanes medicine wee haue in Ezekiah who to preuent if it were possible his death of this sicknesse with which he was smitten as the learned iudge hee vseth no better an argument to perswade the Lord to heare him herein then this Isay 38.3 Remember mee now O Lord how I haue walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart haue done that which is good in thy sight and behold what the Lord said vnto him by his Prophet Isai 2 Reg. 20.6 I haue added to thy dayes fifteene yeares I will heale thee and the third day thou shalt goe vp to the house of the Lord. Verse 5. And according to this promise was Gods performance for the text saith plainely Verse 7. that he recouered Cautions touching the efficacy of these meanes to keepe vs from infection or death of the plague But coÌ„cerning these directions I must giue you som cautions to teach you how for you are to rely on them for the preventing of infectioÌ„ by the plague or death by infection You are to know then 1. That you are not to think to prevaile with God to these endes by vsing some one of these meanes that is easiest to be done or which you like to choose but by the vsing of them all with continuance therein 2. You are not to expect preservatioÌ„ howeuer they be performed by you but then wheÌ„ for manner aswel as for matter they are done according to the Word 3. You are not to imagine that you can merite preseruation by these meanes for when you doe them best h Lu. 17.10 you are vnprofitable seruants for the efficacie of these exercises to their seueral ends depends not on our good performance but on Gods institution and blessing 4. You must not look to obtain by these religious exercises preseruation froÌ„ infection or death absolutly but with condition and reseruation only For we must vse these meanes in faith beleife to receiue good by them else why doe wee vse them as Gods ordinances to this end and wee must by faith beleeue to receiue good by them so farre as God meanes and intends we shall for it is in vayne to looke for it otherwise and God meanes and intends we shall receiue good by these holy exercises so farr as he hath reuealed his will and meaning for thus speaks the Scripture which reveals Gods will and meaning herein 1 Ioh. 5.14 If wee aske any thing according to Gods will he heareth vs. And the spirit maketh intercession for the Saints according to the will of GOD. Rom. 8.27 But you will aske me what is this will of God according to which wee are to pray and what is asked according to Gods will Surely that which God doth will and meane to grant What doth God will meane to grant Surely that which he hath promised to giue What is that which God hath promised to giue Surely good things for so speakes the Scripture l Mat 7.11 Your Father which is in heauen will giue good things to them that aske him They which m Psal 34.9 10. feare the Lord stall want nothing that is good And no good n Ps 84.11 thing will hee with hold from them that liue vprightly And what be those good things Surely those which are good for Gods glory and good for our saluation For what doth God will more then his own glory and the saluation of his Elect Seeing hee hath appointed their saluation by his own Sonne Eph. 1.5.6.11.12 according to the good pleasure of his will for the praise of the glory of his grace wherein hee hath made vs accepted in the beloued What is good if these bee not what is good without these Is it not enough for vs poore sinners that deserue not our health or life vpon any conditions to inioy them vpon these terms but wee must haue them without Gods good will whether or no it bee good for Gods glory our own saluation or else we are vndone and God is not true of his word nor carefull of vs Far be such strange lust from Christians whose lot is the Lord and whose portion is heauen to desire to liue here to the dishonour of God and the hinderance of their owne saluation far be it from crauers to be caruers and beggars choosers And so I come to the third thing which I propounded to deliuer touching your feare and it is comfort and consolation The comfort is against your feare to die of the plague and it is this That though you die of it yet are you not accursed but you shal die in the loue and fauour of God for you shal die o Num. 23 10. the death of the righteous you shall p Reu. 14.13 rest from your labours yee shall q Lu. 2.27 1 Thes 4.14 depart in peace and r sleepe in Iesus which whosoeuer doth is blessed In handling this matter of comfort I will obserue this method 1. I will proue that the faâ—thfull doe die in Gods loue though they die of the plague 2. I will shew how it comes about to bee so 3. I will giue you some Rules by which you may assure your selues that you shall die in GODS loue though you die of the sicknesse 1. That the godly die in the fauour of God though they die of the plague I wil proue by two Reasons of which this is the first Reason 1 The faithfull that die of the plague doe die in Gods loue because their death works to them spiritual and eternall good The Reason is good because nothing works to the spirituall and eternall good of the wicked that doe not die in Gods loue for they haue right to no spirituall or eternall good thing being out of Christ Å¿ Phi. 3.19 minding earthly things and hauing their t Ps 17.14 portion in this life onely And that the death of the godly though it bee of the sicknesse workes vnto their spiritual and eternall good I proue by S. Paul who affirmes That all u Ro. 8.28 things worke together vnto good to them that loue God who are called according to his purpose Whence I thus argue If the death of the godly by the plague be somthing then must it worke to the good of them for all things work if vnto their good
A CORDIALL OF COMFORT To preserue the Heart from fainting with Griefe or Feare for our Friends or our owne Visitation by the Plague Also a Thankes-giuing to Almightie God for staying the Visitation in London and the Subvrbs thereof Both which may be of vse to Christians in other places that are cleere visited or recouered BY WILLIAM CHIBALD Printed at London by W. I. for Nic. Bournâ— and Edw. Brewster and are to be sold at the Royall Exchange and at the Bible in Pauls-Church-yard 1625. TO The Right Worshipfull the Company of the Lether-Sellers The Masters and Wardens The Assistants and Liuery with the rest of the Brethren of that worthy Societie Right Worshipfull and Worthy THE DEdication of bookes vnto persons of place and qualitie is to manifest a seruiceable respect and reuerence vnto them and to supplicate a fauourable aspect and acceptation from them According to these fayre endes I haue aduentured to deuote this my Treatise which doth need the one to your Worships that are worthy of the other You are worthy of my Dedication in two respects namely as Citizens and as Lether-Sellers of London 1. As Citizens because I wrote it in the Visitation of the City and for the comfort of Citizens in the Visitation thereof 2. As Lether-sellers because you are that Company whereof my deare Father was Mr. Iames Chibald of sweet memory I hope among you who about the yeere 1595. was Master head of your Body euen as his eldest Sonne my louing Brother is a liuing member of the same at this day It remaynes that your Worships would be pleased by accepting the seruice of this Dedication to Patronize the Booke The rather seeing the Authors ayme in dedicating it to you is but to honour you that are liuing by my deare Parent that is dead and to honour the memory of him that is absent by you that are present which as Brethren of one Company and Parents of Children you cannot but approue That you may the more freely grant my request I pray you to take vnto your consideration further the subiect matter of the Booke which is Spirituall Physicke For it prescribes you first a Cordiall Secondly a Dyet The Cordiall hath a twofold nature 1. To preserue your bodyes from infection or death by the Plague if the Lord see it good for your soules and as Christians you should not desire it otherwise 2. To keep your soules from fainting with immoderate Griefe or Feare for your Friends or your owne Visitation by the Plague The Dyet is to teach you that suruiue how to liue to GODS glory by learning to bee thankefull to God for your own preseruation and for Gods wonderfull and mercifull staying of the sicknesse amongst vs. Both which as men and Christian men you haue reason to looke after and learne In hope of your free fauor herein I humbly take my leaue with my heartie prayer vnto God to blesse the reading of my Treatise to your Corporall and Spirituall health in Iesus Christ in whom I am Your Worships most bounden in all Christian seruice WILLIAM CHIBALD To the Christian Reader that needs Spirituall Physicke from the Word against Griefe or Feare by reason of the Plague IN the beginning of the Creation Gen. 1.2 when darknesse was vpon the deepe 2 Cor. 4.6 the Lord commaunded the light to shine out of darknesse As vnlikely effect of such a cause as the making one see that was borne blind Ioh. 9.11 by anointing his eyes with clay and spittle which was more likely to put them out if euer hee had any sight Not long since there was darknesse and heauinesse vpon the face of my Family by reason of Gods Visitation and behold out of the darknes of that sorrow Almightie GOD hath brought forth this Light of Spirituall coÌ„fort After a sort I may truly say GOD hath commaunded it to shine forth partly by his speciall assistance when J was in my selfe very vnfyt for study and partly by his prouidence in stirring vp many to bee very inquisitiue to seeke after it and to bee very importunate for the publishing thereof J neuer intended to put this Light vnder a Bushell wholly to couer it Matt. 5.15 for J did set it vpon a Candlesticke to giue light in one roome namely to my Parishioners kindred and friends to whom J gaue some Copies But now at the instance of many J haue put it into a Lanthorne hung it out in the open streets for the benefit of all passengers J confesse the light is but small it giues but J hope it will burne cleere and sweet the Treatise J trust wil be free from errour and offence J acknowledge also that it is hung out somewhat late in the Euening when many are at rest in their graues by the Visitation but the truth is my tynder was wet J could not strike fyer to light it sooner and when it was lighted J could not get it hung vp any sooner My meaning is the heauinesse of my heart for Gods visytation on the Citie my Congregation and my Family was some let to the penning of it and the difficultie of getting Work men to print it was a great hinderance to the publishing thereof any sooner Now that it is fynished and published my request is to the Christian Reader that hee vvould not close his eyes Mat. 13.19 that hee cannot see the light but open them to walke by it to the end hee may not stumble and fal at immoderate Griefe or Feare by reason of his own or his friendes Visytation by the Plague And my humble Prayer is That hee who is the true Light Iob. 1.9 that lighteneth euery one which commeth into â—he world Reuel 1.13 and who walketh in the midst of the â—euen golden Candlesticks That he would be graciously pleased to adde further light life to the â—eading perusing of my Treatise for the glory of God and the good of his Church and let all that read it for their comfort say with me Amen Euen as J will say with all that find comfort by the reading of it The Lord bee praised Yours in the seruice of your Faith W. C. A Table shewing the Contents of this Booke WHen teares for sin proue godly pag 4. How to comfort our selues against greife for the visitation of our families pag. 7. How to comfort our selues against greife for our visitation p. 12. The nature of the affliction of Gods children p. 12. The causes of their afflictions efficient and mouing pa. 13. 14. 15. The Companion of it p. 17. The end of it intent and euent p. 18. c. How to hearten our selues against the feare of the plague pa. 24. How you may lawfully feare the plague pa. 32 c. How you may not feare the plague pa 35. The plague is no signe of Gods eternall anger to the godly p. 43. Sixe meanes to preuent the infestiion of the plague p. 48. The 1. meanes p. 48. the
off for euer though hee cause griefe yet will he haue compassion according to the multitude of his mercies for he doth not afflict willingly Mica 7.18 for who is a God like vnto our God that pardoneth iniquitie and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage he retaineth not his anger for euer because hee delighteth in mercy 2. Though the Lord should smite vs all with the stroke of this sicknesse so that wee were all infected and sicke of it as in some families better then ours it is as iustly hee may deale with vs for ought we are able to resist or can deserue to the contrary yet may it please God to spare vs that wee die not a â—sal 38.1.5 Ezekiah was sicke of the plague as the learned iudge and the text saith he was sicke vnto death that is in his owne apprehension and in the opinion of the Physicians and in the violent and malignant nature of the disease yet did he recouer liued fifteene yeeres after The like is to bee seene by daily experience of many that doe suruine b Ionah 2. Ionah was in the sea but hee was not drowned c Dan. 3. The three children were in the fire but were not burnt d Dan. 6. Daniel was in the den of Lions but was not deuoured And why may not we be kept from dying of the plague though wee should bee infected with it if the Lord be so pleased in his free fauour Seeing in generall afflictions e Amos 4.11 some are as firebrands pluckt out of the burning euen as in haruest som gleanings are scattered that are not gathered by the owner and in the vintage some clusters of grapes are left on the vine that are not pluckt off I write not this in security as if I thought with Agag f 1 Sam. 15.32 The bitternesse of death vvas past or in presumption as if I were past all feare the conscience of mine own vnworthynes the knowledge of Gods after reckonings with som families do keepe mee from such folly But because the seruants of God may with Abraham g Rom. 4.18 hope against hope We doe not confidently assure our selues that it shall be so but comfortably we hope it wil in the free fauor and mercie of God which is as great as is his Maiestie and vvho vvill haue mercy on them on vvhom he vvill haue mercy 1 Rom. 9.15 3. What though all in our family that are now in health and life should bee smitten and that we h Isai 21.14 could not bee purged from our iniquitie till vvee die then for content I say for vs all as Paul did for himself and his companions k Act. 22. The vvill of of the Lord be done And as Christ our blessed Sauiour hath taught vs to say i Mat. 9.10 Thy vvill be done on earth as it is in heauen More particularly I say for my selfe as Dauid did for himselfe l Here am I 2 Sam. 15.24 let him doe to mee as seemeth good to him And for my selfe and children and seruants I say as good old Eli did for his sonnes m 1 Sam. 3 18. It is the Lord let him do what seemeth him good And for comfort to my selfe and you I say n Heb. 4 9. There remaines a rest for Gods people o 1 Cor. 15 19. We haue hope in Christ not in this life onely p 1 Cor. 51 For vvee know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle be dissolued vvee haue a building of GOD not made vvith handes eternall in the heauens q 2. Pet. 3 13. We according to his promise look for new heauens and a new earth vvherein dwelleth righteousnesse For we know that our Redeemer liueth r Iob. 19.25 Wee know vvhom vvee haue trusted and vvee are perswaded that hee is able to keepe that which wee haue committed vnto him against that day And therefore s 2. Tim 1.12 though the Lord kill vs yet will we trust in him t Iob 13.15 And so I descend from your feare for vs to your feare for your selues Your feare for your selues and your owne families is that though hitherto the Lord hath spared your houses from the visitation yet hereafter ere hee make an end he may though not with the first yet with the last either soone or Syne Concerning this your feare I must first giue you some instructions 2. Some directions And thirdly some consolations The Instructions shall be How we may lawfully feare the Plague in two points 1. How farre you may feare the plague lawfully 2. How farre and in what respects you may not feare the plague 1. You may lawfully feare the plague in three respects 1. In respect of it selfe 2. In respect of God 3. In respect of your selues 1. In respect of the plague it selfe because it is t 2 Chron. 20 9. an euill of punishment It is u 1 Reg. 8.30 a plague or sicknes It is x Deut. 28.21 a consuming pestilence And because it is a great plague yea one of the foure great plagues of God with which hee scourges his people when they rebell against him Ezek. 44.21 namely The Famine the Sword wilde Beasts and Pestilenâ—e 2. In respect of God likewise it is to bee feared because it is his sword wherewith he killeth whosoeuer is smitten with this sicknes hee is said after an extraordinary manner and more immediately y Ezek. 14 21 to fall into the hands of God which is a z 1. Chron 24.12 fearefull thing When the Lord sends this punishment into a land he is said to a 2 Sam 24.14 powre out his fury vpon it in blood and to b Heq. 10.31 plead with it in blood 3. In respect of your selues you may warrantably feare the plague for two causes 1. Because you are but flesh and blood and therefore subiect to bee infected by the malignant qualitie of it and to be corrupted in your blood with the contagion of it For you are not made of stones which it cannot pierce yee are as weake as water and cannot resist the stroke of GODS Angel you are b Ier. 18.6 as clay and cannot resist the Potter 2. You may feare the plague in respect of your selues because you are sinners and it is inflicted as a chastisement for c 1 King 8 33.37 sin Wee haue beene partakers of the sins of this Citie that moved God to send it Deuâ—r 28 15.22 2 Sam. 24 17. therefore we may iustly feare we shall be partakers in the visitation of the Citie by the plague sooner or later by infection or by death wee our selues or ours We that haue deserued the worst may warâ—antably feare the worst though God should be pleased beyond our expectation desert to spare vs as a d Mal. 3.17 father doth his own child which serueth him 2. How you may not feare
to m Luc. 16.22 Hell when they died So that as long as yee dy not in your sinnes nor goe to hell but liue and dye in the grace of God and goe to heauen which you shall certainely doe if you liue and dye in Gods feare and in the faith of Christ you must needes dye in Gods loue though yee dye of the plague The third and last point in the doctrine of comfort Rules to know how christians shall dy in Gods fauour though they dy of the plague against the feare to dye of the plague is to giue you some Rules by which you may assure your selues you shall dye in the loue of God and his eternall fauour though you dye of the plague To which I now addresse my selfe That you may assure your selues you shall dye in Gods loue It is requisite that first you bee sure you liue in Gods loue for he cannot dye in any sense that neuer liued in the same And that you may knowe you liue in Gods loue it must appeare vnto you by the effects and motions of this life for n Iam. 2.16 Iob. 27.5 the body without breath is iudged dead Breathing and mouing are signes of life The effects and motions of your life in Gods loue will appeare by the vse and exercise of the graces of the Spirit of God which in his loue hee workes in you to o Ephes 2.5 6. quicken and raise you from the death of sin to the life of righteousnesse For this the Lord doth in his rich mercy Ibid. 4. and for his great loue wherewith he hath loued vs. These graces are of two sorts 1. Such as bring vs into an actual communion of Gods loue and fauour and sets vs in the state of grace 2. Such as keepe preserue in this state vnto the end The first Faith in Christ Of the graces of the first kind namely which bring vs into the state of grace there is but one onely and it is a iustifying Faith called Faith in Christ whereby a sinner with a p Matt. 11.28 weary and heauy laden soule that is a repenting and relenting heart goes and seekes to Christ for saluation rests and trusts in the merites of his death and righteousnes for forgiuenesse of sinnes Ioa 3.16 and eternall life This faith doth not of it selfe but by vertue of the obiect thereof which is Christ to whom by Gods appointment it doth vnite and ingraft vs in whom we are accepted and q Eph. 1.4.6 beloued of God and who dwells in your hearts by it Now if r Eph. 3.17 Christ dwell in your hearts by faith you shall be able to comprehend with all Saints what is the breadth and length v. 18 and depth and height and to know the loue of Christ which passeth knowledge If you liue and die in this faith of Christ then you may assure your selues you liue and shall dy in the loue of God For if yee beleeue in Christ then this will follow that first you are t 1. Ioh 5.1 born of God 2. yee are the u Gal. 3.26 children of God 3. yee are x Act 13 39. iustified from all your sinnes and shall receiue remission of them Act. 10.43 4. Ye are passed y Iob. 3.36 from death to life 5. Yee shall bee able to z Eph. 6.16 quench all fiery darts of the deuil And sixtly for the certainty of this yee are a Eph. 1.13 sealed with the Spirit of promise The second sort of graces that may assure vs wee shall dy in Gods fauour are they which keepe and continue vs in the state of grace wheÌ„ we are set into it and they are of foure kinds The first Sanctifying The second Comforting The third Contenting The fourth Crowning graces of which in order But first I would not bee mistaken for though I say faith in Christ doth set vs into the state of grace I would not bee vnderstood to speake exclusiuely as if it had no worke in keeping vs also in that state for wee are kept by the power of God through faith vnto saluation 1 Pet. 1.5 But I haue therefore assigned vnto it that worke of bringing vs into the state of grace and iustifying vs because the primary and chiefe act of it is this viz. To ingraft vs into Christ and hereby to bring vs into vnion communion with the loue of God in him and into the state of grace to liue by faith Rom. 1.17 The first kind of graces that keepe vs in the state of grace are sanctifying graces so called because they keepe vs from sinne and incite vs to holinesse These sanctifying graces are two The first is the loue of God The 2. is the feare of God of each a litle And first of loue vnto God What the nature of this grace of our loue to God is The second the Loue of God will appeare by the nature of our loue to any person like our selues whom wee loue vnfainedly our loue appeare in two things 1. In delighting in their company and communion 2. In a desire and indeuour to doe them good For so are wee affected to God if wee loue him for we delight to be in his presence and company in his Temple and to haue communion with him in his Ordinances the Word Sacrament Prayer Meditation and Thanksgiuing 2. Wee desire and will endeuour to doe the best wee can to honour and obey him in refraining those things that will displease him which is sinne and in practising all such things as wee know will pleaâ—â— him which are comprehendâ—d vnder faith and obedience If wee haue this loue of God and liue and dy therin wee shall thereby be assured that we shal dy in the loue of God to vs. 1. Because it will assure vs of the loue of God to vs. 1 Ioh. 4.19 For we loue God because hee loued vs first 2. Because it will assure vs wee haue the Spirit of God for loue is the e Gal. 5.22 fruite of the Spirit and they who haue Gods f Rom. 8.9 Spirit are Christs 3. Because it will assure vs our faith is sound For g Gal. 5.6 faith is working and it works by loue 1 Thes 1.3 4. Because it will assure vs that h Ro. 8.28 all things shall worke together to good namely to the good of our saluation for so doe they doe to them that loue God 5. Because it will assure vs we are i 1 Cor. 8.3 knowne of God that is acknowledged of him for his owne for so are they that loue God 6. Because the Loue of God will assure vs of the crowne k Iam. 1.12 2 5. of life and the kingdome of heauen for it is promised to them that loue God 7. Because it will assure vs we l 1 Ioh. 4.7 are borne of God and are his children yea that wee m 1 Ioh. 4.19 dwell in God
and that God dwels in vs. In which case whosoeuer is cannot but die in Gods loue and fauour the rather because this loue of GOD produceth the loue of our neighbour also yea of our enemyes which whosoeuer doth for conscience sake in action as well as affection may knowe they are n 1 Iohn 3.16 Matt. 5 44. translated from death to life and that they are the children of their heauenly Father The third is the Feare of God The second sanctifiyng grace is the feare of God that is feare to offend God not onely because he is iust but also and cheifly because he l Psa 130.2 is mercifull By this feare Christians learne to m Pro. 3.7 depart from euil and also to n Deut. 6.2 keep Gods commandements which whosoeuer doe 2 Ti 2.19 the Lord knowes that they are his and they are the o Ps 112.1 blessed of God If thus you feare God you may bee sure you shall dy in Gods loue and fauor first because Gods mercy is on all them that feare him Luc. 1.50 2. Because it is a signe to all such that they are redeemed from their spirituall enemies Sinne Hell Death Satan 3. Luc. 7.14 Because such walke in the comfort of the Holy Ghost 4. Act. 9.31 Because such know they are redeemed by the precious blood of Iesus Christ 5. 1 Pet. 1.17 18 19. Because such worke out their saluation that is the assurance of it to themselues Philip. 2.12 6. Because such are blessed And so much for the sanctifying graces Ps 128.1 I know faith in Christ is a sanctifying grace as well as the loue feare of God for the Elect are sanctified by faith in Christ Act. 26.18 But I haue named all these six graces by the chiefe and most proper act of each which of faith is to iustifie and not to sanctifie It is true faith doth sanctifie as well as iustifie but by a secondary act not as it layes hold on Christ for so it iustifies but as it incites to obedience and restrains from sin for which it produceth the loue and feare of God for faith sanctifies as it workes and faith workes by loue Gal. 5.6 which also is true of the fear of God Ioh. 1.12 for by faith we â—re Gods children he is ouâ— adopted Father And 〈◊〉 call on the Father bâ— fâ—ith then must wee passe the time of our soiourning heere in feare namely in feare to offend God by sin 1 Pet. 1.17 As obedient children not fashioning our selues according to the former lusts in our ignorance v. 14. Of the second kinde of vertues holy gifts which keep vs in the state of grace The third is Hope when wee are set into it by faith there is but one it is a comforting grace and it is Hope 1. Thes 4. vlt. and Hope is a grace of God whereby we comfort our selues against the immoderate feare of death in our selues or greife for the death of our friendes and by it the faithfull earnestly looke long and will for the second comming of Christ Act. 23.6 Rom. 5.2 and a ioyfull resurrection from death to eternall life thereby Whosoeuer hath this Hope may assure themselues they shall dy in Gods favour 1. Rom. 5.5 Because iâ— will not make them ashamed that is they which by it looke for a ioyfull Resurrection it will not deceiue them of the thing hoped for but will bring them to the possession of it 2. Because it is a sure signe that the loue of GOD is shed abroad in their hearts by the holy Spirit Rom. 5.5 1 Thes 5.8 3. Because this hope is a helmet of saluation to cover the heads of the Saints here one earth against Sin Satan and all spirituall enemyes 4. Because by this hope the faithfull assure themselues their bodies are at rest in the graue till the second comming of Christ Act. 2.26 5. Because they are saued by hope Rom. 8.24 6. Because he that hath this hope purgeth himselfe 1. Iohn 33 viz. from sinne wickednesse and he that thus purgeth himselfe 2 Ti. 2.21 Rom. 9.21 is a vessel of honour and hee that is a vessell of honour Ibid. 23. is a vessell of mercy and he that is a vessell of mercy is a vessell afore prepared vnto glory The third kind of holy vertues that keepe vs in the state of grace The fift is Patience is the contenting grace it is Patience And by this patience wee first quiet our selues in the will of God in all our afflictions and meekely submit our selues to indure them 2. By patience we stay our selues on Gods pleasure patiently waiting his leasure for the performance of his promise of helpe and deliuerance If you haue and doe exercise this patience you may be sure to die in Gods fauour Luk. 21.19 1. Because by it you possesse your soules Rom. 2.7 2. Because by it you shall gaine eternall life Heb. 6.12 15. 3. By patience you shall inherit the promises of grace and glory 4. By patience we shall get experience Rom. 5.4 namely of the fatherly loue of God towards his children Rom. 15.4 5. By patience we shall nourish and confirme our hope Iam. 1.4 And 6th Because if patience haue her perfect worke wee shall be entire and lacke nothing The sixt is Perseuerance The fourth fort of vertues and holy gifts of the Spirit that keepe vs in the state of grace when we are set into it by faith in Christ It is a crowning grace and the grace that puts the crowne of glory on our heades is perseuerance to the end of our liues in the number measure of all our Christian graces together with all the holy fruits and effects that proceed from them in the vse and exercise of them If you shall thus perseuere in grace you may bee sure to dy in Gods favour 1. 1 Ioh. 2.24 Because you shall continue in the Sonne and in the Father 2. Because you shall bee saued 3. Mat. 10.22 Because you shall receiue the crowne of life 4. Reu. 2.10 Because the Lord Iesus will present you vnblameable and vnreproueable in Gods sight 5. Col. 1.22 Because when Christ shall appeare 1 Ioh. 2.28 you may haue confidence and not bee ashamed before him aâ— his comming 6. If yee fight a good fight finish your course and keepe the faith 2. Tim. 4. then you may assure your selues that henceforth is laid vp for you a crowne of righteousnes which the Lord the righteous Iudge will giue you at that day There be other graces of God that are necessary to saluation viz. a beleife of the Gospell repentance for past sinnes I doe not meane amendment of life or new obedieÌ„ce which in nature follow Faith in Christ but these doe not set men into the state of grace but
onely dispose them thereunto and vnto faith which doth set men therein and therfore haue I not mentioned them here because it is possible for a man to haue these and yet not dye in the state of grace if hee dy before he haue faith in Christ and the other bee wrought in him and therefore can you not assure your selues that you dy in Gods fauour if you stay here and haue not the other sixe There be also besides a beleife of the gospell and repentance for past sinnes some other graces that doe follow it as effects fruits thereof namely peace of conscience and ioy in the holy Ghost and these also are helpes to preserue vs in the state of grace For that peace of God which passeth all vnderstanding and consequently the ioy of GOD Phil. 4.7 which is 1 Pet. 1.8 vnspeakable glorious doth keepe our hearts and minds in Christ But these graces imply comfort more then duty I had rather that Christians should endeauour to assure themselues they shall die in Gods fauour by graces that import duty then by them which import coÌ„fort least some Christians tender in conscience not finding the graces of comfort may therfore think they haue no grace nor are in the state of grace which is vsuaâ—l with such to thinke of theÌ„selues specially in affliction violence of temptation wheras indeed as long as the dutifull graces exercise themselues in them they may assure themselues they shall die in Gods fauour though they want the feeling of their ioyfull and comfortable graces for the time so they hunger for them lament after them and endeuour in the vse of the means to get them In like manner besides all the forenamed graces and holy gifts of the Spirit there be some vertuous actions and Christian duties Vertuous actions that will assure vs to dy in Gods fauor to which the godly are stirred vp continually by the Spirit and by the means of the six forenamed graces and by the constant conscionable practise whereof they may rather assure theÌ„selues they liue in Gods fauour consequently shall dye therein I will but only touch them Rom. 10.9 Heb 10.23 1. A zealous profession of the Gospel notwithstanding the slaunder and danger accompanying it Heb. 6.6 Ier. 50.4.5 6. 2 Reg. 23.3 2. Often renewing our couenant with God of new obedience by searching our hearts and liues for our sins and lamenting our back-slidings 3. Deuout intention of mind Psal 26.6.7.8.84 and instant affection of heart in Gods seruice and worship Col. 3.5 in all the points and kinds of it publike priuate or secret ordinary or extraordinary Matt. 5.24.50 4. Mortifying our sinful nature and lessoning our will and power to sinne by crossing our owne wills to the end we may doe Gods and denying to our selues the occasions and opportunities of our beloued sins 5. Growing in grace 2 Pet. 3.18 5.10 12 and increasing in the number and measure of our Christian vertues and holy graces 6. 1 Pet 5.7.8 A sober moderating of our affections about worldly profits pleasures and honors that our hearts be not set too much thereupon 7. 1 Cor 7.31 30.39 Diligent faithfulnesse and conscionablenesse according to Iustice and Equitie in doing our duty in our ordinary callings whether in Common-wealth 1 Cor. 7.24 Church Col. 3.18 â—â— 22. or Family But all these are the fruits and effects of the sixe forenamed graces they shew the soundnesse and sinceritie of them and therefore are necessarily implied in them and for as much as they are not habits or vertues themselues but actions of those vertues and graces and also for because the forenamed sixe with their vse and exercise are sufficient to assure vs that we shall die in Gods fauour therefore haue I forborne to speake of them at large as I haue done of the other six The rather because these sixe are sufficient to free vs from all euils sin affliction death hell and the deuill and to make vs partakers of all good things as grace peace glory and God himselfe But to draw towards an end We doe all owe God a death this debt is to be paid when God will demand it The Lord respects not therefore what need we stand on it in what coyn we pay our debt gold or siluer so it be his own stampe and bee weight with the allowance that is what need we be troubled what death we die Num. 23.1 so it bee the death of the rigtheous which God himselfe sends and not we our selues pull vpon our selues through our owne sins and so it be in the faith Heb. 11.13 with trust and confidence for the allowance and acceptation of the death and obedience of Iesus Christ to our iustification for what euer our death be wee shall be happy in it Be it ordinary or extraordinary of an Ague or the Plague in the bed or in the field in the Citie or in the Countrey a naturall or a violent death And thus much by occasion of your present Griefe Feare to pacifie the one and to satisfie the other and further to sanctifie sweeten theÌ„ both to your future edification by humiliation or consolation in Iesus Christ Of these Meditations which God by his Spirit hath ministred vnto mee I may say as Physicians do of their medicines Probatum est that is They haue been proued and approued by the seruants of GOD of whoÌ„ we read in the Word out of which they are taken by and my Selfe in this present Visitation of my seruants children louing Assistant whom the Lord hath taken to rest from his labours in his Vineyard betimes Math. 20.12 and hath giuen him his wages for his worke as it were but one houre therein Matt. 20.12 What remaines but that as I haue made the potion and sent it so you take and apply it And because I haue taken paines to write these Meditation for you that therefore you will take care to read peruse them to ponder and consider of them seriously for your selues and your own good to confer the points with the proofs and to compare your selues with the points that you may receiue further direction and instruction according as the nature of the seuerall points shall lead you and your particular need require To the end you may by laying your selues to the Rule find iuster cause of humiliation in your selues or of consolation in Iesus Christ If you shall lay them close to your hearts I doubt not but as they haue ministred comfort and content to vs for which wee praise our good God so will they vnto you by his blessing For which I will not cease to pray But before I end I would take my leaue of you by saying one thing more vnto you according as your houses haue beene cleare all this while or visited and your selues sound or infected and that which I will say shall
be first vnto you all of both sorts ioyntly and then vnto each sort of you in severall That which concernes you altogether is a watch-word and a Request My watch-word is to warne you not to censure your brethren that haue been either infected when you were cleere or visited more heauily then your selues or taken away by the visitation when you surviue as if they were greater sinners then you for this were to bee miserable comforters Luc. 13.2 4 Iob. 16.2 when you should be comforters of them in misery Yea it is to trample on them whom God hath cast downe My request is that you would according to your abillitie with your handes releiue their povertie as well as in heart pitty them for that is charitie Hereunto you are called not onely by the word which bids you Loue indeed as well as in word 1 Ioa. 3.18 affection only but also by the extreme penurie wherein too many haue bin are will be cast Luc. 2.16 partly by sicknesse partly by decay of trade and partly by approching winter That which shall be spoken of each sort o you in seuerall shall be first to them that haue not ben visited all this while and theÌ„ to them that are recouered and escaped from death though you were visited To you whose houses haue yet been free I would giue an admonition and an exhortation My admonition is That you would not be secure as if God now could not smite you For there were first in this Visitation that shall not be last and there shall be last that were not first And my exhortation is That you neuer forget the free fauour of God in your protection preseruation least he repent him of the good hee hath done vnto you But that you studie what you shall render to the Lord forâ—â—â— his benefits Ps 116.12 and endeuour to expresse your thankfulnesse for such a deliuerance by seruing him you and your houshold more constantly conscionably Iosh 24.15 To you whose houses haue been visited and yet your selues are escaped and enioy your liues so a pray I would likewise giue you a caution and a counsell My caution is that you thinke not that any thing in your selues or in your meanes hath made the difference betwixt you that are aliue and other that are dead for this were to sacrifice to your selues Abac. 1.16 and to your net and yarne But that God his free favour his power and goodnesse hath made the difference who will haue mery on whom hee will and who can preserue whom he pleaseth And my counsell is That during the time of your liues hereafter 2 Chron. 30.17 you set your hearts to seeke God and make him your portion and inheritance Ps 116.5 walke within your houses with a perfect heart Ps 101.2 Ioh. 5.14 and sin no more least a worse thing come vnto you 2 The. 2.16 Now our Lord Iesus Christ himselfe and God euen our Father which hath saued vs and giuen vs euerlasting consolation comfort your hearts and stablish you in euery good word and worke And Blessed bee God euen the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ 2 Cor. 1.3 4. the Father of mercies and the GOD of all comfâ—rt who comforteth vs in all our tribulation that wee may bee able to comfort them which are in trouble by the comfort vvherewith wee our selues are comforted of God Amen FINIS AN HVMBLE THANKS-GIVING TO ALMIGHTIE GOD For his so soone so great and so gracious staying of the Plague in the Citie of London and Subvibs thereof BY WILLIAM CHIBALD PSAL. 36.1 O giue thankes vnto the Lord for he is good for his mercy endureth for euer Printed at London by W. I. for Nic. Bourne and Edw. Brâ—wster and are to be sold at the Royall Exchange and at the Bible in Pauls-Church-yard 1625. The Preface THE more deadly a disease is the greater is the Cure and the greater the Cure is the greater is the commendation of the Physician Euen so the greater any danger is the greater is GODs deliuerance from it the greater ought to bee our Thankesgiuing vnto his blessed Maiesty for it On these and the like grounds J haue formerly stirred vp my selfe vnto secret priuate and publike giuing of thankes to our good God for abating the heat of the sicknes the number of them that dye thereof And synce J haue endeauoured to forward others also to glorifie God in this behalfe by penning a forme thereof and publishing it with this Treatise The rather because J haue not seen nor heard of any thing in this kind set forth for publike benefyt The time and meanes of grace considered J thinke J may truely say for the generalitie that synne did neuer so abound in quantitie qualitie and variety as of late it hath done in our Citie of London and the Suburbs thereof And now behold answerable to the measure of our synnes is the measure of Gods Visytation for there was neuer such a plague sent among vs. Jn like manner the contagion and malignitie of this Plague consydered which in so short a time when so many vvere absent killed so many thousands J may safely say there was neuer such a Deliuerance in this kinde vvrought by Almightie GOD for vs â—â—d therefore answerable to Gods great goodnes ought to be our great gratefulnes Now consydering Christian Reader that the measure of our thankfulnesse to GOD ought to be so great and that our power as of our selues to performe it is so small Let vs all that want holy wisdome Iam. 1. for this purpose 1 Ti. 1.17 aske of God onely wise that hee would bee pleased to giue vs in abilitie what he requires of vs in dutie and that the meditations of my heart in conceiuing of this forme and the vvordes of our mouthes in vttering it may bee directed by his blessed Spirit and accepted in his beloued Sonne Amen 1 Reg. 1.36 And let the Lord God of our Citie and our deliuerance say so too The parts of the Thanksgiuing for this Deliuerance are SIXE I. BEmoning our Miserie caused by the Plague II. Confessing our sinnes that brought it III. Acknowledging Gods Iustice in sending the Plague IV. Thanking GODs goodnesse for staying it V. Praying to GOD wholly to remooue the Plague VI. Professing our amendment vpon the remoueall thereof A THANKESGIVING TO GOD FOR STAYING the Plague O LORD GOD of Heauen and earth by whose patience prouidence it is that yet vvee liue and moue Act. 17.28 and haue our being in this world for our life drew nigh vnto the graue Ps 88.3 4 and wee were counted with them that goe downe into the pit Through thy goodnesse O Lord wee are a remnant escaped Ezra 9.15 as appeareth this day reserued as wee trust to glorifie thy Name But who are wee dast and ashes miserable sinners that should be bold to glorifie thy goodnesse that deseâ—â—e not to confesse
our owne vildenesse being vnworthy as of the Deliueâ—ance it selfe so to giue thee thankes for it I. Bemoning our misery caused by the Plague Our vildenesse and vnworthinesse appears by our great and many sinnes and the haynousnes of our sins by thy late dealing with vs in heauy displeasure Our soule hauing in remembrance our affliction and misery Lam. 3.19 20. the wormewood and the gaull is humbled in vs For thou hast sent the plague among vs after the manner of Egypt Amos 4.10 in most grieuous manner the like was neuer before among vs. Thou hast not only visited vs with Agues and Feuers Eze. 14.21 but with one of thy foure sore iudgements The Plague or Pestilence a consuming sicknesse Deu. 23.21 by which thou hast powred out thy fury in blood vpon vs. Eze. 14.19 With it bane been infected all the Parishes of our Citie and Suburbs saue one and of it haue dyed and fallen thousands at our sides Psal 91.7 and ten thousands at our right hand rich and poore young and old profane and sincere professours and preachers The chiefe and Princes of the Cities of our Nation is solitary sits as a widdow She that was full of People is emptie of Inhabitants the streets thereof mourne and the high wayes to it lament the publike markets are not frequented and the solemne Assemblies of thy worship are much desolated darkned by the putting out of many worthy Lights his faithfull Ministers At home ô Lord som haue perished for want of keeping and abroad some haue fallen downe dead in the feilds and streets One of some houses O Lord God haue dyed all and every one Parents and children Masters and seruants and in other all haue bin sicke at once not one able to help another In som familyes might bee heard the out-cry of the tender mother for her onely child and in other the lamentation of the carefull father for the death of his sonne and heire or the child that was the picture of his likenes Yea such and so great was our greife and feare O Lord that when wee went to bed well wee looked to bee smitten ere morning and could take little rest for the noise of bells towling ringing out in our eares And when wee arose in health in the morning we expected to be cast downe ere night and could not follow our callings cherefully for the sight of our eyes multituds of our dead brethren and sisters caried vp and downe the streets to buriall Wee doe not O Lord God repeate these our calamityes to informe thee as if thou who didst bring them vpon vs didst not know of them or hadst forgotten them but that we might not forget them nor thy heauy displeasure against our sinnes in them that wee might bee made more sensible of our great deliuerance by calling to minde our former danger and distresse and thereby also the better prepared to a more free and humble confession of our sins Eze. 12.16 that haue brought these calamities vpon vs. For wee must needs confesse O Lord our God to thy glory and our owne shame II. Confessing our sins that brought the Plague that we haue practised those sinnes against which in thy Word this plague is threatned and vpon the committers whereof it hath beene executed in former Ages of the Church For in all duties concerning thy sacred Maiestie our brethren and our owne selues Ezek 14.13.19 Wee haue sinned by trespassing grieuously and therefore hast thou sent the plague Eze. 38.22 with the pestilence pleaded against vs in blood Wee haue not O Lord our GOD sacrificed vnto thee Exod. 5.3 nor worshipped thee so frequently nor so deuoutly as wee should therefore hast thou fallen vpon vs by the pestilence and many of vs haue defiled thy sanctuary Ezek. 5.11 the place of thy worship when wee haue resorted thereunto with our detestable things our abominable sinnes impenitencie and hypocrisie and therfore a great part of vs haue dyed by the pestilence in this visitation Vnto our brethren we haue beene cruell and haue not proclaimed libertie to them that were in our danger Ier. 34.5.17 therefore the Lord hath proclaimed libertie to the pestilence for many of vs. Ier. 14.10.12 And we our selues haue delighted to wander in our own wayes Ier. 14.10.12 and to take pleasure in sin for a season and haue not refrained our feet from euill paths Therfore the Lord hath not accepted vs hee hath remembred our iniquity hath visited our sinnes and consumed vs by the pestilence With Pharaoh wee haue hardned our hearts against thy mercies iudgements Exod. 9. and haue not beene reclaimed from our sinnes thereby we haue not let our lusts goe that we might serue thee nor let our brethren goe that they might serue thee But haue discouraged cooled their Zeale in thy seruice therefore hast thou smitten vs by the pestilence Ver. 18. and cut off many from off the earth Wee haue with Israel murmured against Moses Aaron Nu 16.21 our Magistrates and Ministers for their zeale in correcting and reprouing our vnrighteous dealing inordinate walking and there haue dyed many thousands of the plague Nu 16.42 besides those that â—y of other diseases With the Spies of the Land of Canaan Num. 14.37.36 wee haue brought vp an euill report vpon thy holy Maiesty thy Church and holy Ordinances Ps 50.31 as if thou wert like the wicked as if thy Church were a company of none but Hypocrites and Rebels and as if thy sacred Ordinances were vnholy things taught profanenesse and therefore by bringing vp this slander vpon thy Name through our loosenesse and vnconscionable life many are dead of the plague before the Lord. Nu. 14 37. As Magistrates and Ministers Husbands and Wiues Parents and Children Masters and Seruants rich and poore high and low young and old one with another We haue not obeyed thy voyce Ier. 32.23 24. nor walked in thy Law Wee haue done nothing at all that thou hast commaunded vs to doe and therfore what thou hast spoken in thy Word of the pestilence it is come to passe and thou seest it and wee haue felt it Deu. 25.21 Yea wee would not obserue to doe all thy commandements and statutes which thou commandest vs to do but haue broken them all in one kinde and measure or other And therefore hast thou made the pestilence cleaue vnto vs till Ibid. it hath consumed vs. We haue not harkened vnto thy words Ier. 29.19.17 which thou hast sent unto vs by thy seruants the Prophets or Pastors teachers Leu. 26.23 when they haue called vs vnto repentance nor haue we been reformed by lesser corrections but walked contrary unto thee Iere. 29.18 therefore hast thou persecuted us with the pestilence Leu. 26.25 and sent it vnto our Cities where we haue ben gathered together We doe not
to their saluation Make an end of the tryall wee pray thee of other Churches by the sword famine or any other iudgmeÌ„t and continue to ours the peace of the Gospel the Gospel of peace preseruing all Estates and degrees amongst vs in Church and Common-wealth from this other plagues if it be thy blessed will to execute iustice and to shew mercy for the taking away of this and the turning away of other heauy iudgements Be thou exalted Lord in thine owne strength so will we sing and praise thy power Psa 21.16 VI. Professing our amendment vpon our remouall of the Plague For we doe not desire O Lord our God to haue the plague of our sicknes taken away from amongst vs that the plague of our sinnes may remaine within vs nor that thou shouldest turne thy heauie hand from vs that wee might returne to our former wickednes for the time past of our life is sufficient and to much to haue liued therein 1. Pet. 4.3 If thus againe we should breake thy commandements Ezera 9.14 wouldst thou not be angrie with vs till thou hadst consumed vs but wee beg this further favour of thee not to die Psa 118.17 but to liue to declare thy works and to praise thy name Ier. 50.4.5 For this end with mourning and weeping for our former many and greiuous sinnes wee come vnto thee and seeke thee and will ioyne our selues vnto thee in a perpetuall couenant neuer to be forgotten Wee will make a couenant befâ—â—e thee our God to walke after thee to keepe thy coÌ„mandements thy statutes and thy testimonies with all our hearts and with all our soules nnd to performe the words of the couenant 2 Reg. 23.3 and to stand vnto it wee will make a sure couenant write it and seale vnto it Neh. 9.38 yea wee will enter into a curse and into an oath to walee in Gods lawe Neh. 10.29 and to obserue and to do all the commandemnts of the Lord our God that we may ty our loose harts to the obedience of thy holy wil for euer And let our houses which thou hast visited or kept cleare from this contagion and let our bodies which thou hast healed or preserued from infection and let our soules which thou hast humbled comforted in any measure by and vnder this visitation beare witnes to our sincerity in making this holy vow and couenant with thee Let them bee a continuall remembrance to put vs in minde of often renewing it before thee and let them bee as a threefold cord not easily broken faster to binde vs to the keeping of this oath couenant with thee for euer And now O Lord our God since thou hast by thy Spirit put into our hearts this desire to giue thee thanks directed vs to this means of manifesting our thankfulnes we humbly beseech thee keepe it for euer in the thoughts and imaginations of the hearts of thy people 1 Chr. 29 15. and set our hearts vnto thee And giue vs such a heart that wee may feare thee keepe thy commandements alwayes Deu. 5.29 that it may bee well with vs and with our children for euer so wee thy people and sheepe of thy pasture will giue thee praise for euer will alwayes bee setting forth thy praise from generation to generation Amen Now vnto the King immortall inuisible and onely true God most mighty wise faithfull and true patient and pittifull gracious mercifull infinite in all perfection The Father of mercy in The Sonne of peace through The Holy Spirit of coÌ„fort be yeelded and giuen for all our former and later deliuerances in this or any other kind and namely for the present staying of the Plague happily in great measure already begun and continued and hopefully in the end to be perfected accomplished From our beliefe trust our loue and feare our hope and ioy our patience obedience with our bodies and soule by our thoughts words works in our liues and deaths all honour and glory and all praise thanks from this time forth and for euer Ps 106.48 And let all the people say AMEN FINIS