Londons lamentation for her sinnes and complaint to the Lord her God. Out of which may bee pickt a prayer for priuate families, for the time of this fearefull infection. And may serue for a helpe to holinesse and humiliation for such as keepe the fast in priuate: together with a souereigne receipt against the plague. By W.C. pastor at White chappell. Crashaw, William, 1572-1626. 1625 Approx. 75 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 31 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2007-01 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A19581 STC 6017.5 ESTC S118685 99853892 99853892 19291 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A19581) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 19291) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1475-1640 ; 579:04) Londons lamentation for her sinnes and complaint to the Lord her God. Out of which may bee pickt a prayer for priuate families, for the time of this fearefull infection. And may serue for a helpe to holinesse and humiliation for such as keepe the fast in priuate: together with a souereigne receipt against the plague. By W.C. pastor at White chappell. Crashaw, William, 1572-1626. [60] p. Printed [by William Stansby] for G. Fayerbeard at the north side of the Royall Exchange, London : 1625. W.C. = William Crashaw. Printer's name from STC. "A souereigne medicine for and against the plague" has caption title. Formerly STC 4324. Identified as STC 4324 on UMI microfilm. Signatures: A-C D⁶. Reproduction of the original in the Folger Shakespeare Library. Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford. Re-processed by University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. Gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. EEBO-TCP is a partnership between the Universities of Michigan and Oxford and the publisher ProQuest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by ProQuest via their Early English Books Online (EEBO) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). The general aim of EEBO-TCP is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic English-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in EEBO. 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Keying and markup guidelines are available at the Text Creation Partnership web site . eng Plague -- England -- London -- Early works to 1800. 2006-03 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2006-03 Apex CoVantage Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2006-04 Judith Siefring Sampled and proofread 2006-04 Judith Siefring Text and markup reviewed and edited 2006-09 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion LONDONS LAMENTATION for her Sinnes : AND Complaint to the LORD Her GOD. Out of which may bee pickt a Prayer for Priuate Families , for the time of this fearefull INFECTION . And may serue for a Helpe to Holinesse and Humiliation for such as keepe the Fast in Priuate : Together with a Souereigne Receipt against the PLAGVE . By W. C. Pastor at White chappell . IER . 47. 6 , 7. O thou Sword of the Lord , how long will it bee ere thou be quiet ? Put vp thy selfe vnto thy scabberd , rest and be still . How can it be quiet , seeing the Lord hath giuen it a charge ? &c. LONDON , Printed for G. Fayerbeard at the North side of the Royall Exchange . 1625. TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE , THE Lord Maior of London , the Right Worshipfull the Sheriffes and Aldermen , and the rest of the Godly Citizens and Offiers , who haue eyther stayed in their Places and Duties during this Visitation : or sent their large and comfortable Beneuolence for the Poore . The Blessings of this and a better Life . RIGHT HONORABLE : IT was the Ordinance and Appointment of GODS owne Wisdome in the Law , that all his Sacrifices and burnt Offrings should be seasoned with Salt , the Fire importing Zeale , by which euery Sacrifice must be offered , and the Salt signifying Discretion with which it must be seasoned : If it wanted eyther of these ; it could not bee accepted . Now , as this literall Fire and Salt belonged to the Iewes , so the Spirituall is both commended and commanded to vs , that liue vnder the sweet yoke of the Gospell euen to the Worlds end : Namely , that all our Sacrifices & Seruice , if we mean to haue them acceptable to God , or auaileable to our selues , must not onely bee offered with the Fire of holy Zeale ; but tempered with holy Wisdome , and seasoned with the Salt of due Discretion ; therefore sayth ▪ Christ euen in his Gospell , Euery one shall bee salted with Fire , and euery Sacrifice shall bee seasoned with Salt : Whereunto Saint Paul alluding exhorts all Christians to see that Their Seruice and Sacrifice , bee not only holy and liuely , but also reasonable . Hence it is Right Honourable , and Worshipfull , that as our gracious King , out of his Humilitie and holy Zeale , commanded publike Fasting & Prayer , for the diuerting of this publike Iudgement : So now , out of holy and deepe discretion hath suspended for a time those publike meetings within the Citie : Out of no dislike of Fasting and Prayer , nor any wearinesse of those holy Exercises , as some Malignant Spirits malitiously traduce Him. But out of conscience to his God & care of his Subiects liues : wisely considering ( & in our knowledge most truely ) that seeing the sick & sore ( do what we Ministers could to the contrary ) mingled themselues confusedly , with the sound ( by which meanes its more then manifest , many thousands haue perished in this Citie and Suburbs . ) It therefore lay vpon him as Supreme Magistrate and Gods Lieutenant to looke to the liues as well as to the Soules of all his people , and to take order , that the Fasts ordained for the bettering of the Soule , should not so be vsed , as to tend to the destruction of the body . Leauing vs therefore in this distressed Citie , the Lords Day or Sunday for our soules , which being of Diuine Institution , can admit no Dispensation by humane power , and still commending and commanding vs that Day to fast & pray in priuate , and all the Kingdome else to doe it in publike for vs : And for the sauing of our liues , and to auoyd the tempting and prouoking of God. Hath wisely forbidden all other publike meetings of dangerous concourse in places Infected , till order can be taken ( which is no easie thing to doe ) to keepe the sound and sicke asunder . Now as all those that be well are notwithstanding to repaire to the Church , to be partakers of the publike Prayers & the holy seruice appointed for that day , so , for a helpe , of Humiliation and holy Deuotion to them that stay at home , whereof also many thousand Families especially in our Suburbs are not able to buy the Booke , I haue therefore beene perswaded to make publike this Meditation , Confession , and Prayer , which in these dayes of publike Calamitie , I walking hourely through the valley of the shadow of Death , ( burying forty , fifty , sometime sixty a day , and in the Totall , more then two thousand alreadie ) I poured out in the presence of my God : First , in priuate for my selfe , afterwards for the vse of those many thousand sicke soules that are or haue beene in my great poore Parish : And lastly , that hereby I might offer some Sacrifice and speciall piece of Seruice in way of holy thankfulnesse to the Lord our God , who hath hitherto pleased to preserue me , and my Brethren the Pastors of this Citie by his owne hand and power , beyond all humane helpe and hope ; walking continually , euen in the midst of the fiery flames alwayes in danger , and neuer in more perill then in the Pulpit : wherein the Lord hath beene so marueilous , & so magnified , his loue and power vpon vs , as if he should now take vs away , yet hath hee so deliuered vs , in discharging our duties , and by his holy Angels kept vs , thus being in our way , till hee hath literally made good that promise in the Psalme , yea , and much more : for alas wee haue not only seene a thousand fall at one side of vs , and ten thousand at another , but ( alas , alas , that our sinnes should so prouoke our God ) euen more then ten thousand on the one , and more then twenty thousand on the other . Which mighty work of God , if wee should sit still and swallow and superficially passe ouer , and not commend it , to our Brethren in the Countrey , whose turnes must follow God knowes how soone , as sure as God hath begunne with vs ; and if we did not preserue the memory of it , and represent it to Posterity , for their instruction , and that the Generations yet vnborne may prayse the Lord ; all holy men would accuse vs , Gods Church would censure vs , our own Consciences would condemne vs , and God himselfe take vengeance of vs , as most vnthankfull Caitiffes , euen Monsters of Mankind , & vnworthy to breath vpon the Earth . Being therefore in some sort touched with the sense of this hand of our God , both of his hand of Iustice and of Mercy , and being euerymoment put in mind of our mortality , eyther by the sound in our eares , or sights in our eyes ; can we but be moued ( vnlesse we were senselesse Stocks & Stoicks ) to take into our serious and continuall Consideration , the now most lamentable Case , of this late so florishing a Citie , and of this whole Kingdome into which this wild-fire of Gods wrath begins so fast to flie , and can wee but lay to heart so great a sorrow ? Or dare wee for our soules but deale truly with our God , in seeking sincerely and carefully searching out the true cause in our selues , in our people , and in the whole Kingdome that should thus prouoke the Lord against vs ? Certainly some heauy judgement must fall vpon vs if we doe not , and will follow them whoeuer they bee that double and dissemble with their God in this case . And if any that be abroad and yet vnvisited , thinke I deale too farre and too freely in this Confession . I aske no more but to forbeare his judgment , til they be vnder the hand of God , as we haue bin now three moneths and more , and then they will iudge I am too short : The while God in mercy pardon that , and wherin I may be thought to go too far , I shall easily answere it to God or Gods Anointed : & shal sigh & sob in secret to consider the wrath & woes that wait for those wicked ones , who as they deeply haue had their hand in pulling downe this Plague , so carelessely seeke to passe it ouer , and looke not after the God that hath smitten them , and the whole Land for their sakes , and will if they turne not betimes , smite them downe to Hell : What stony hearted Stoicke can he be who sees more then forty thousand Christians , many as good , and some better then Himselfe laid in the dust , in little more then twice forty dayes , and is not humbled vnder the Hand that did it , and sensible of the Sin that did procure it ? Can hee bee a good Seruant of God or Subiect to his Souereigne , that besides ten thousand aged , weake , and poore , shall see an Army of ten thousand more , braue , lustie , and seruiceable young men , and tenne thousand more comely and mariageble young women , and ten thousand more young Infants , whose proofe and hope had beene still before them , already taken out of one Corner of this Kingdome , and sits not downe in dust and ashes mourning to that God that tooke them , for that King that lost them , with that Land that wants them . For that Sinne that pluckt them from vs ? I dare pronounce vpon him from God whoeuer hee bee that can or dare thus sleightly and sliely passe by the workes of God , and laughes in his sleeue at such a judgement as this , is markt vp by God for some greater vengeance as sure as the fourteenth of Ezekiel is Gods true Word . For if hee that mournes for sinne be the man that is Markt by God for blessing and deliuerance , what 's hee that makes a sport of sinne ; and layes from his heart the Iudgements thereby procured , but one that 's sealed vp for confusion and destruction : O therefore that my heart were a Fountaine , and my eyes Riuers of teares , that I might worthily bewaile the sinnes of our Nation together with mine owne , and weepe for the slaine of the Daughter of my people : So cried the holy Prophet of the abundance of his holy Zeale ; and so I am sure in their seuerall measures doe all the Ministers and men of God amongst vs , that haue but tasted of the same spirit , mourning for the desolations of this Citie ; and more for the Contagion that causeth it , and most of all , for the sinnes that procured them both : And who would not care to sacrifice themselues what way the Lord should please , so the wrath of God might bee pacified towardes this Church and Nation , and those plagues remooued which are the cause of this Plague : And till these be remooued , we shall find the Prophets tell vs true , that eyther this Plague shall stil stay & creep like a Canker ouer our whole body , or else only make make way to some more fearefull that shall follow after it . That this may be preuented , he cannot be a Christian that will not both cry to God , and confesse to him the publike , and priuate , and personall sinnes that be the cause thereof . And as all that are enabled and taught by the holy Spirit of God ; to poure out their soules in humble Prayer , and hearty Confession , will in holy obedience to the holy Prophets counsell ; Take vnto themselues words , and returne vnto the Lord : So for those that cannot open their mouthes as they desire , and yet haue hearts that groane after God , and soules that seeke the Lord. For their assistance only haue I beene perswaded to publish this , which now I leaue to them , and them and it together , with our selues to the mercifull acceptation and gracious blessing of our Good God : who grant vs all in these dayes of danger ( when somtimes almost a thousand a day are pickt vp , and pluckt away before our faces ) So to liue and so to dye , as when we dye we may be sure to liue for euer . And so to part with one another here , as we may be sure to meet in Heauen : And here so to confesse our sinnes , as at the last Day Christ may confesse vs to be his owne . And so to pray here as we may prayse God eternally in Heauen . LONDONS LAMENTABLE COMPLAINT to her GOD. Containing , A Prayer for the time of Infection : afore confession of SINNE . A Meditation vpon the causes and remedie of this Plague : A Thankesgiuing for Gods mercie euen in this Crosse . Most high and holy Iehouah thou being of beings , who giues life and being to euery Creature , giue leaue vnto us , the most unworthy oues of all thy Children , to come before thee , and present our petitions at the Throne of Grace ; Wee durst not rush so rudely into thy holy presence , mightie Lord God , nor beg so boldly so great a sauour , were it not that thou hast gratiously vouthsafed , not onely to call and inuite vs , but euen command vs to come vnto thee , and call vpon thee in the day of our affliction , and hast moreouer mercifullypromised , that thou wilt heare vs and deliuer vs , that we may glorifie thy great Name : In this confidence we take comfort , to come to thee O Lord , in this day of our trouble , and common calamitie of our Church and Kingdome . And first we doe all , in the name one of another , and wée for our parts , euery one of vs for himselfe , humbly and freely cousesse , wee haue all had our hands in this blood , and each one borne apart , in pulling down these heauie plagues vpon this City and our Nation : O Lord wée doe none of vs excuse our selues , but wee doe euery one of vs accuse , and arraigue our selues at the barre of thy Iustice , and we doe all pronounce our selues guiltie in thy sight : Nor are we onely tainted with Originall sin in our natures , but Lord our liues are stayned , with all actuall pollutions , in our thoughts , words , and déeds , by sins of Comission and Omission , by sins not onely of Ignorance , but euen of negligence carelesnesse and presumption : Miserable sinners that wée are , wée haue not only committed soule and fearefull things , abhominable to thy pure and holy Maiestie , dishonorable to thy holy Religion , offensiue to thy holy Law , and therefore iust prouocations of thy Wrath : but alas , we haue sometime totally omitted , and at the best alwaies failed in all the good and holy duties required at our hands : Wée haue not béene humbled for thy iudgements , nor thankfull for thy mercies , as wee ought to haue beene , therefore thy mercies being abused , haue heretofore made way for thy Iudgements , but wee wicked wretches haue beene bettred by neither of both . Thou hast written to vs the great things of thy Law , but wée haue not regarded them , Thou hast reuealed to vs thy blessed Gospell , but wée haue not belieued it ; Thou hast honoured vs with thy loue , but wee haue not walked worthie of it : Thou hast afforded vs blessed meanes and many opportunities to doe good , and by well doing to come nearer vnto thee , but we haue , either so neglected them , or abused them , as thereby wee haue done much euill instead of good : Thou hast also giuen vs time to turns & repent , but we haue turned it the wrong way , & mispent it in vanities : Thou hast she wed vs the way , and offered vs the meanes to know and feare thée , but wee haue wilfully wandred in our owne wayes , and haue not cared to come neere thée , and haue put thy feare farre from vs , Such sinfull Caittfs are wee O Lord , as the meanes of thy honour , wee haue turned to thy dishonour , our owne helpes into hinderances , our Comforts into Crosses , and our Crosses into Curses , thy Mercies into Iudgements , and thy Uisitations into vengeance : And the gratious blessings that were giuen vs , as helpes to bring vs neerer thee ; Wée haue peruerted , to drive vs further from thée : Thy heauenly word , and holy Sacraments , which thou hast gratiously giuen vs , ( more then to many other Nations ) to be the meanes of our Conuersion , and Saluation , wee haue prophaned and peruerted , to our hardning in sinne , and agrauating our condemnation . These O Lord are the common and generall sins of our times , of Us , our Citie , and our Nation , which as an vniuersall deluge running ouer our Land , wée also haue béene carried away by the violence of these sinfull streames : besides the personall sins preuailing in this age , as baine swearing , inordinate drinkings , super fluous feastings profusenesse in gaming , vanitie and pride in apparell , oppressions and fraudes in bargaining , prophaning thy Sabbaths , neglect of thy poore members , contempt of thy Word , and holy Ministers , formalitie in Religion , dulnesse in deuotion , coldnesse in charitie ; In all which O Lord and euery one of them , we are not able to excuse , much lesse exempt our selues , besides also the publicke sinnes of our State , in letting our Lawes bee laid a sleepe against Idolatrie & Superstition , whereby much Popish impietie hath not only beene practised in priuate , but so publickly professed , that euen the Remish Dagon did stand in defiance with thy holy Arke , whereby thy Religion hath béene villified , thy Ordinances despised , thy great Name dishonoured , and thy Sauctuarie troden vnder foot : Nor was this the sinne alone of some set ouer vs , who by their places , ought rather to haue defended thy truth and maintained the Integritie thereof with their liues and blood , & yet either wickedly , or weakly haue giuen way to these enormities , whereby Poperte and Idolatrie , were in a sort inuited and prepared for , before they came ; But in this sinne , like the sinne of Ieroboam , all our Israel hath sinned against the Lord of Hoasts , for alas wee haue all either had our hands , or held our tongues , and not béen zealous in the cause of thée our God And when for this our prophanenesse and presumptions against thée , Thou hast declared thy selfe angry against vs , both at home , and abroad , wée haue béene so far from fearing thée , and séeking thy face , in Prayer , & Fasting , and holy humiliation in true contrition , and hearty repentance : As contrariwise when other Nations were sighing , and sorrowing for our sin and securitie , wée were lul'd asleepe , and cryed peace , peace , when there was none : And when other Churches were fasting and praying , we alas were masking , feasting and playing : And when as thy Gospell had glutted vs , so as holy Lectures , begun to bee now held , like meate out of season , and preaching in some places to bee put downe , pet euen then O Lord , were the Theaters magnified , and enlarged , where Satan is serued and sinne secretly instilled , if not openly professed . Thus hast thou O mightie God béene little better then forgotten among vs these many yeares : And thus hath thy glorious Name béene dishonoured , thy precious Religion billified , thy gratious Ordinances despised , thy fearefull Iudgements neglected , thy bounteous Mercies abused , thy holy Councels contemned , thy fatherly warnings not regarded , and thy sacred Word in thew , and ceremonie aduanced , but indéed and truth troden vnder foot . It is true O Lord , wee thought and spake otherwise of our selues while our plenty pleased vs , our prosperitie bewitcht vs , and worldly carnalities blinded vs : Then wée séemed to our selues to be a glorious Nation , a beautifull Church and outwardly appeared to be a people that did righteousnesse , and forsooke not the Ordinances of their God ; But now that affliction hath made vs wiser , and thy corrections haue opened our eyes , now we see what we are , and are ashamed of our selues : Now we cast the dust of contempt vpon our owne heads , we goe out of our selues , and we cry to thée in the hearing of thy holy Angels , & all thy holy Churches vpon earth , wee are vncleane , we are vncleane ; and like vncleane and loathsome Leapers deserue to bee cut off from the blessed bodie of thy Church , May euen to bée rooted out of the Land of the Liuing , as being the Nation , next vnto the Iewes , who hauing béene honoured , and blessed by thée , aboue all the World , haue most dishonoured thée of all other , playing with thy Mercies , dallying with thy Iudgements , and prophaning all thy holy things , not considering wee are no better then the flye playing with the candle , wée in our sins being flaxe and stubble , and thou our God in thy furie a consuming fire . Therefore it is O Lord , that now thy mercies are gone aside , and giuen place vnto thy Iustice , and thy Iustice prouoked hath kindled thy wrath and the fire of thy wrath being now broke out in the most fearefull Pestilence this Nation euer saw : Now our beautie is turned into Ashes , our Melodie into Mourning , our Songs into howlings , our glorie into confussion of face , our triumphs into teares , aud our flourishing Citie into a Wildernesse , there being now at our doores nothing but death , destruction , and desolation , nothing but miserie and mourning , crying and confusion in our streets ; This is our present estate O Lord , and it is thy doing , and herein only are we happy that wee sée thy hand , and know , and belieue it to bée thy doing : And wée all confesse O Lord , righteous art thou in all thy wayes , and most iust are all thy iudgements : For séeing we all offended thee , therefore now thou makest vs one offend another ; And because we feared not thée , thou hast now iustly made vs afraid one of another . And because wee wickedly and carelesly mispent our time , now thou hast made vs wearie of our time , and brought to passe that which thou didst threaten , that in the morning we wish it were euening , and in the euening that the morning would appeare and as though we were either wearie of our time , or afraid of the ayre , wee breath in we vainly wish , the long desired Sommer , would now flye fast away , and turne vs ouer , to the cold and carefull Winter : And because wee poysoned all things by our sins now thou iustly makest vs feare poyson , in our very meate , drinke , and apparell : Nay but for thy speciall mercy , we are not safe in our Pues , & Pulpits in our Church : And because we delighted not to come to thy house , now thou makest vs glad to flye from our owne houses . And because we cared not to come to thy house for the food of our soules , thou hast iustly brought it to this , that we knowe not whither to goe , nor to what house safely to send for the food of our bodies : & because we haue wickedly set our hearts , vpon the miserable Mammon of this World , thou hast now in Iustice made a great number at their wits and , not knowing what to doe with it , where to hide it , with whom to leaue it , nor whom to trust with it , neither can they carrie it with them , nor dare they tarrie with it themselues , and because they would lend nothing in Charitie , they haue now none left , to lend vnto at all : And now they that loue it best , ( by thy wonderfull Iudgement ) are affraid to touch it , least that which formerly poysoned their soules , should now infect their bodies ; O Lord how wonderfull are thy workes , and how iust are all thy Iudgements . And now , O Lord , that wée sée our case , and are sensible of thy hand that is vpon vs , what shall wée say , what shall wée thinke might bée the cause of this so fearefull a Plague ? and that so mercifull and pitifull a Father , is now become so seuere and angry a Iudge ? Shall we be so Foolish as to thinke it comes because our King is not Crowned , as though former experience hath not proclaimed the contrary ? Or so Prophane as to ascribe it to the Summer , and Season of the yéere , as though thou wert not God as well of the Winter as the Summer ? Or so Proud as to thinke that because we haue hitherto held vp thy Religion , better then some other Nations , and haue in some measure maintayned the Preaching of thy Word , and haue béene a Sanctuary and Refuge , For some distressed Christians of other Countries , wée may therefore with the Hypocritical Iewes trust vnto our externall Prefession , and cry , The Temple of the Lord , The Temple of the Lord , as though thou hadst néed of any Nation to kéep vp the credit of thy cause ? Or so Presumptuous , as to thinke that because thou hast taken vs to be thy Church , and some of thy Children are amongst vs , thou canst not therefore be angry with vs ? Or because we haue done some good , wée may be therefore the bolder in Cuill ? Or because there bee some holy Lots amongst vs , therefore our Sodome cannot be consumed ? O , Lord , all these be the broken staues of Egypt , these cannot comfort vs in this our Calamity . These will not vphold vs in this day of our distresse , and this houre of temptation , that thou hast brought vpon vs : No , Lord , all these and all other like to these , are eyther lyes or vanities : And thy holy Prophet hath told vs , and wée beléeue it , that those who trust to lying vanities forsake their owne mercies . Therefore , O Lord , wee renounce ; for those our Idle and Idoll conceits haue spoken vanitie , our Deuiners haue séene a lye , and haue told false Dreames , O , Lord , they comfort vs in vaine : For contrariwise thy Word hath taught vs , thy Spirit informes vs , and now our owne Consciences tell vs , that our own wayes and doings haue procured this vpon vs , and none but our selues , and nothing but our sins haue pulled down this Plague , and that we haue forsaken thée the Lord our God , who didst lead vs the right way , but with thy people Israel , we haue committed two euils , we haue forsaken thée , the Fountains of Liuing Waters , and haue hewes our selues broken Cisternes that can hold no water . Thus haue wee requited thee the Lord our God , being a foolish people and vnkind , therefore now our owne wickednesse both correct vs , and our back-slidings doe reprooue vs , and haue made vs know , and sée , and féele ; how euill and bitter a thing it is that wée haue forsaken thée the Lord our God , and that thy feare was not in vs. And now , O Lord , that wée sée our case , and sée also the cause of it , now what shall we doe for remedie , where shall we séeke reliefe , whither shall wee goe , to whom shall we flie , but euen from thée vnto thée , euen from thy deserued anger , to thy vndeserued mercy ? For destruction is from our selues , but Saluation is of thée , O Lord , and thou art hee that canst both wound and heale , both kill and make aliue : None but thou couldst haue laid this vpon vs , none but thou canst remooue it from vs : To thée therefore doe wee lift vp our eyes , O thou that dwellest in the Heauens , and do beséech thée helpe vs in this distresse , for vaine is the helpe of Man , and though our sinnes plead against vs , and make thée for a time kéepe backe thy comfort from vs , pet our eyes shall waite vpon the Lord our God vntill hee haue mercie vpon vs : For whateuer wée be , thou art the Lord that changest not , for else thy Children should bee all consumed : We therefore take comfort , and say one to another . Come let vs returne vnto the Lord , for he hath torne vs , he will heale vs : He hath smitten , and hee will bind vs vp , after two dayes he will reuiue vs , in the third day he will ravse vs vp , and we shall liue in his sight . For art not thou he in whom our Fathers trusted and were deliuered ? Art not thou the God that brought thy people through the raging Sea , and through the barren Wildernesse into the Land of Peace and Plentie ? Art not thou he that saued thy Seruants in the fiery Ouen , in the Lions den , & in the Whales belly ? And is there not mercy with thee , else there should not be left a man on the earth to feare thee ? And is not that mercy of thine euerlasting , & endures to al Generations ? And though we be cast into the last ends of the World , and may fears that the Store-house of thy mercies is exhaust and spent , yet hast not thou taught vs twenty times in one Psalme , that thy mercy endures for euer ? And in that mercy , hast thou not made a couenant of Peace , Parson , and Reconciliation with the Sonnes of men ? And hast thou not sealed that Couenant , and made it firme in the bloud of thy blessed Sonne ? And hast thou not proclaymed thy selfe to be the God that kéepes Couenant and Mercy to thousand Generations ? Séeing then thou hast vouchsafed to take vs and make vs thy people , and to receiue vs into thy holy Couenant , and hast pleased to place thy holy Tabernacle among vs , and honoured vs with thy holy Word and Sacraments , and hast among vs hundreds and thousands whom thou hast separated from the sinfull masse of Mankind , and sanctified , and sealed for thy selfe , so as they runne not riot with the wicked World , but waite on thee in the holy wayes of thine Ordinances , Iudgements , and Mercies , and lay to heart thy words and warnings , and mourne in Sion for the affliction of Ioseph , and for their owne , and the sinnes of others , and for the iniquities of the Time : Therefore our Faith bids vs beléeue , and the truth and certainty of thy Couenants causeth vs to hope , that thou wilt chastise vs to our correction , but not plague vs to destruction : And in this confidence wee come vnto thée , thou Father of Mercies , and are bold to beséech thée to call to mind thy Couenant , whereby thou hast bound thy selfe , to be our God , and to take vs to bee thy People , and neuer to forsake vs ( although by our sinnes we haue forsaken thée ) as long as by Faith we cleaue vnto thée , and in Repentance and Humilitie doe seeke thy face : And in the vertue and merit of that blessed bloud of thy holy Sonne , which hee hath shed for vs , and all Beléeuers , we take boldnesse to our selues , to challenge at thy hands the performance of those swéet promises , thou hast made vnto vs , and sealed in his bloud shedding . And first we begge at the hands of thy holy Maiestie ( euen rather then our lines , or beliuerances from this dreadfull Plague ) peace and pardon to our poore Soules , and assurance of thy loue in Christ , for our eternall happinesse : and then wee beséech thée not so much to deliuer our bodies from this Plague , as to saue our soules from sin which is the Plague of all Plagues , and the true cause of this Plague , therefore wee cry and pray with thy holy Prophet , Lord haue mercie vpon vs , and heale our soules , which haue sinned against thee . Then wee beséech thée , thou God of compassions , looke in mercie vpon this Land , make vs not like Sodome , Gomorrha , as wee haue deserued , wee confesse wee are vnder thy Hand , and all the World could not haue laid this on vs , but only thou , O Lord , And it was time for thee O Lord , to lay to thy hand , for wee had almost made void thy Law : Thou hast therefore iustly taken vs vnder thy hand , and because thy gentle warnings were despised , thy holy Counsels contemned , thy Iudgements neglected , and thy Mercies abused , thou hast therefore iustly giuen way to thy wrath , and let loose thy heauy Iudgements vpon our Land : Yet this is our comfort , and Man , nor Deuill can take it from vs , that we are in thy hand , O Lord , and with thée is mercie . And as we blesse thy Name , that thou hast not giuen vs ouer into the cruell hands of mercilesse men , the wicked bloudie Papists , so in this , our soules take comfort , that we are vnder the hand of our heauenly Father , whose mercies are great : And in the multitude of those thy mercies , we looke vp to thée , O Lord , and beséech thée , be mercifull to this Land. Thou art our Father , and we haue fouly offended , therefore thou must needs correct vs , or else thou louedst vs not , & punish vs also , or else thou wert not iust : Correct therefore Lord , and spare not , but yet in thy Iudgement , not in thy furie , lest we be all consumed . And forasmuch , as corrections are to worke our not onely Humiliation , but Reformation also , we begge not the remoouing of thy Iudgement , till it hath wrought thy worke , and not onely brought vs down vnder thy hand , but euen purged our hearts , and renewed the face of our Church & Common-wealth . And séeing till then , O Lord , wee neyther may expect , nor dare desire thou shouldst remooue it , wee beseech thee to prepare vs all to bee both willing and ready to meete thee our God , and now to be content , thou glorifie thy selfe in vs , and vpon vs by Life or Death , so thou saue our Soules : But when it hath done thy worke , and finished that for which thou didst send it vpon vs , then , O Lord , in mercie remooue it from vs : And preuent the other grieuous plagues that must needes follow vpon , and after this . And howsoeuer thy iust and long forborne Decree is now gone out against vs , so as yet our cryes and teares mooue thée not , Nay , the Prayers of our Prophets preuaile not with thee , Insomuch as those Noabs , Daniels and Iobs , that are among vs , are onely able to deliuer themselues ( and scarce that , O Lord , so great is the Contagion of our sinnes ) yet we beséech thée giue vs leaue to take comfort , in beléeuing thine owne Word , and trusting to that which no mortall Creature , no Humane Assurance , but thine owne holy Selfe hast told and taught vs : Euen that in Wrath thou rememberest Mercie , and that thou keepest not anger for euer , but that thy mercies endure for euer . And that thou hast not onely betrothed vs vnto thy selfe in faithfulnesse and truth , but euen married thy selfe to vs , and though we wickedly , in our spirituall Idolatries , and other sinfull courses , cut off our selues from thee , and whorishly giuen our selues to others : yet most mercifully hast thou called vpon vs , to returne againe to thee , and thou wilt receiue vs : But miserable Catiffes that wee are , wee cānot turn to thée , we could of our selues fal away from thée , but of our selues , wee cannot returne home vnto thee : Cause vs therfore to returne , O Lord , and séeing thou so louest vs , as thou wilt not leaue vs , wee beseech thee also loose vs not , nor suffer vs good Lord to loose our selues , but renew our hearts towards thée , and cause vs to cry and mourne after thée , and say with Ephraim , turne thou vs and wee shall bee turned , conuert vs , and wee shall bee conuerted , thou art the Lord our God : And bring vs backe againe , O Lord , the right and holy way : First , make our faces ashamed of our back-slidings , and our Soules more grieued for the same , then for the Plague that is vpon vs : Then make vs seeke thee sincerely , and not slauishly , and out of Loue more then Feare , and make vs turne vnfaynedly and with the whole heart : And let vs not come , with sorrow onely in our hearts , but holy words also in our mouthes , and take vnto our selues the words that thou hast taught vs , and say vnto thee , Take away all iniquitie , and receiue vs graciously , so will wee render the calues of our lips . And that our Prapers be not bull , let vs , whet and sharpen them by Fatting ; nor let vs bring thee Bare words , but let our humiliation be accompanied with works of Mercie , Pietie , Pittie , and Compassion : And that the Humiliation of vs bath Prince and People , may bee both more acceptable to them and auaileable to vs , stirre vp the holy heart of our holy Phineas , thy Seruant and our Souereigne , that hee may stand vp in the Zeale of his God , and execute thy iust Iudgement vpon the Zimryes , and Cozbyes , that bee amongst vs , euen the great sinnes , and bold Sinners of this Nation , that then , as thy Word hath told vs , thy Plague may bee stayed . To which end also make our Mosesses , to stand in the Gappe , and our Aarons , with the swéet Incense of their holy Prapers , to stand betwixt the liuing and the dead , and stirre vp our Priests , the Ministers of the Lord , to wéepe for vs before thy Altar , and let them cry and say , Spare thy people , O Lord , and giue not ouer thine Heritage to reproach : Let not the Papists and Schismatickes insult ouer vs ; Let them not say at their Idolatrous Méetings , nor prophane Conuenticles , Where is now their God ? for thou art our God , and thou art in Heauen , and thou doest what thou pleasest , and all thy wayes are right , and the Iust walke in them , but Transgressors shall fall therein : Let them know , O Lord , that thou being our Father , and wee hauing iustly prouoked thee , thou wilt take thy Children in hand , and that they ought not to haue reioyced ouer vs , in the day of our destruction : O suffer them not good Lord , to make thy correction , their aduantage : O let them not lay their hands vpon our substance , in this Day of our Calamitie , suffer them not to stand in the crosse-wayes , to cut off those whom thou shalt spare , and make a prey of those that shall remaine : Wee shall euer acknowledge , how great soeuer this Plague bee , yet thy mercies are greater , in that thou tookest vs into thine owne hand to correct vs , and gaue vs not ouer into the hands , of these men the Iesuited Papists , whose mercies are cruell , and their cruelties insatiable : Therefore good Lord , when thou hast remooued thy hand , let vs not fall into their hand , but saue vs for thy selfe , and let vs liue to call vpon thy Name , and let vs desire rather now to dye vnder the hand of thee our Father , and in thy feare and loue , then to liue to heape sinne vpon sinne , and to be reserued for further vengeance , or to be exposed to the cruel Papists the wicked Enemies of Religion . O looke vpon vs in mercie Lord , who lye downe in the dust of Desolation , and are couered with confusion of our faces , O look downe vpon vs , who looke vp vnto thée , and who desire to rend our harts though not our garments , and to turne to thée the Lord our God , O looke vpon this desolate , and distressed Citie , who now may cry to all her stately Sisters the Cities of Europe , and to all her beautifull Daughters , the Cities of England , and with ashes now vpon her head , instead of her stately & costly Crowne cals vpon them all and sayth , Come and behold the workes of the Lord what desolations hee hath made in the midst of my most wealthy and populous streets , learne by mée , and seeke the Lord while hee may bee found , left he pull downe your Pride : And reioyce not ouer mee , O thou mine Enemie , thou Daughter of Babylon , lest the Lord turne his wrath from mee to thee , and hasten the vengeance , so long agoe deserued by thee , and pronounced vpon thee ; trust thou in thy Horses aud in thy Chariots , thy Idols and thy Idoll Superstitions , We will remember the Lord our God , For thy Name , O Lord , is a strong tower , and the righteous flying vnto it , are alwayes helped : Thou hast spoken it Lord , and wee beléeue it , and in that beliefe are wee bold to presse vnto thee , nay , to presse thee with performance of thy promise . Therefore , O thou that art the helper of the friendlesse , helpe vs in this City , who are forsaken by so many friends , and left destitute by them , that should haue stood to vs in this day of our desolation , but hast not thou told vs , that if our Fathers and Mothers should forsake vs , yet thou Lord wilt take vs vp : Thou therefore who séest our friends faile vs and our acquaintance to stand afarre off , stand thou so much the néerer vs , O Lord our God : And now that humane helpes fall short , Helpe thou vs O God of our Saluation for the glory of thy Name : O thou in whom the Fatherlesse finds mercie , in thée let the comfortlesse findcomfort , In thée let this desolate Citie find consolation . Looke mercifully vpon vs who come vnto thée , with teares in our eyes , sorrow in our soules , Lamentations in our mouthes , heauinesse in our hearts , workes of mercie in our hands , and humilitation of the whole man : And thou that loosest not a teare , forgettest not one desire , but hearest euery greane , and counts the very sighes and sobs of all thy Saints , giue vs comfort , and fill our hearts with hops , that this humiliation of our King and his people shall not be fruitlesse , but after it is not barely performed but accomplished , and perfected , as thou appointest it shall then preuaile with thée our God , not onely to make an end of our miseries , but to remember and renew thy Cauenant with vs , and to bring vs and this Citie , and our whole Land , both Court and Kingdome neerer vnto thée , and hauing in this fire of affliction consumed our corruption , and purged away our drosse both in Church and Common-wealth , wilt make vs come out new creatures , both high and low , both publike and priuate persons , pure as Siluer , and as Gold most precious before thée : And wilst hereby worke out that inward Renouation , and that outward Reformation , in our Church and State , in our Court and Kingdome , and all that see it shall say ; This hath God done , for they shall shall perceiue it is thy worke : Then we that did sowe in teares , shall reape in ioy : Then the long night of our sorrow beeing ended , the long desired morning of our ioyes shall shine forth : The voice of the Turtle shall be heard in our Land , Blessed shall then they all be that come to vs in the Name of the Lord : And beautifull the feete of those , that bring vs the glad tydings of the Gospell , whose faces formerly haue béene contemned , Olde things shall then be done away , and all things shall bee made new . Truth shall flourish , and Heresie finde no footing , Iustice shall reigne , Oppression shall be oppressed : The hand of Briberie shall be broken : The arme of iniustice cut off , and the Mouth of Iniquitie shall be stopped : Then shall our Sons grow as plants , and our Daughters bee like polished precious ftones , Our Garners shall be full , and our Cattle shall increase , we shall feare no breaking of Enemies to inuade vs , nor heare any newes or noyses to affright vs , no cryes , nor clamours , nor complaynings in our stréets ; Our poore shall eat and be satisfied , and our rich shall reioyce in the blessings of their God : Our Priests shall be clothed with Saluation , and Sions Saints shall sing aloud for ioy : Our Princes shall be wiser , and our Iudges better instructed , and insteed of seruing themselues and the time , will then learne to serue the Lord with feare , and reioyce to him with reuerence . Then shall our King and Queene ioy in thy strength , O Lord , and exceedingly reioyce in thy saluation : Then all our friends shall reioyce with vs , and all our enemies be couered with confusion , and the World shall say , Blessed are the people that bee in such a case , yea a thousand times blessed the people , that haue such a Lord for their God , who hath purged them , from their old pollution , and purified them for himselfe , that now he may dwell among them for euermore . Heare vs G God of Mercie for thy Name sake , But Lord wée beséech thée begin with the better part first , euen the spirituall sores of our Soules and of our Land , remoue those Plagues first which hath pulled downe this Plague , therefore begin wée beséech thée at the right end , and make vs not healthfull and found in body , and leaue vs sicke in soule , and miserable in our spirituall state ; Turue vs therefore O God of our saluation cause thy louing countenance to shine vpon vs , and wée shall bée safe : Bring vs againe into thy Temples with ioy , and into thy Courts with praifs , satisfie vs early with thy Mercies , and comfort vs according to the dayes wherein thou hast afflicted vs : Now let thy worke appeare vnto thy Seruants , and thy gloeie vnto their Children : Then we will gee into thy house with true Burnt offrings , and with théerefulnesse of heart wil pay thee our vowes , which our lips haue vttered , and our mouthes haue spoken in the dayes of our affliction . And wée that bée thy People and shéepe of thy Pasture will giue thée thankes for euer , and shews forth thy Prayses vnto the Generations that shall follow after vs , vnto the Worlds end . And this our poore Prayer which here wée haue presented , and this ▪ our weake thanks-giuing which wée haue here rendred to thy holy Maiestie , we humbly beg may bée accepted , not for our selues alone , but for thy whole Church , euen the blessed body of thy deare Sonne . Nor for our friends alone , but euen our enemies , for whom we implore rather thy Mercie to couuert them , then thy Iustice to corfound them , yet if they will not be reclaymed , restraine their rage , good Lord , and frustrate all their furie , make the malice of Man turne to thy praise , and if our Prayers can doe them no good , at least , let their causelesse Curses and cursed Plots doe vs no hurt : Stand by all the Armies and Forces of thy Church both by Sea and Land , and by all them that stand vp for thy holy Cause , especially that chiefe Champion of thy Church , thy deuoted Seruant our Souereigne Lord , rouse vp his Royal heart , inflame him more and more with zeale and loue to thée , that thy Church may finde him and thy foes may féele him to be the Great Defender of thy Christian Faith , and the Man of Men whom thou hast marked for thy selfe , euen a second Cyrus raised vp anoynted and sanctified by thy selfe to performe all thy pleasure , and to execute thy great and glorious Designes , not only for the building vp of our Ierusalem , in the Reformation and Restoration of our Church , but to subdue the Nations before thee , and to weaken and loose the Loynes of such Kings as will not open their hearts to thée . The promise thou didst please to make to Cyrus , who knew thée not , make good wée beséech thée much more to Him who knowes thée , and feares thée , and submits his soule vnto thée , and casts his Crowne downe at thy féete : That is , Make him thy great Shepheard , hold vp his Right hand , subdue thine enemies before him , open to him all dores of difficulties breake in pieces the gates of Brasse , and cut in sunder the barres of Iron , and goe before him when hée goes to make the crooked places of the World streight . To which end giue him good Lord beside all thy other blessings , the Treasures of darknesse , and hidden riches of secret places , that euen therby also he may know that thou the Lord who hast called him and set him on work , art able to payhis Armies , & prouide for him ; do this O Lord for Iacob thy Seruants sake and Israel thine Elect. Blesse the Quéene . Thou that hast made her His , make her also Thine , that so she may be a helpe to him , a blessing to vs a cōfort to the distressed Churches of France and a Ioy to the Christian World : Blesse therefore good Lord , and make powerfull all meanes of her Conuersion publike and priuate , and for the settling of her soule in thy holy Truth , and in the waies of righteousnesse : And besides the Prayers of vs , and thy whole Church ouer the World , daily made for Her , wee beséech thée gratiously to regard the serious supplications which wée are sure his Maiestie daily powres out before thee , for her happie and spéedie Connersion ▪ that so shée may bée a Pursing Mother as he is a nursing Father to thy Church Shine from Heauen with the beames of Loue and Mercy vpon those glorious Seruants of thine , the King and Queene of Bohemia , and their Royall Branches , and as thou haft honoured them not only to beléeue in thée , but to suffer for thée , so giue them in thy good time ; a blessed Issue of all their vniust sufferings , and in the meane time arme them with Faith and Patience to waite on thée . Looke downe in Mercie , and blesse with thy speciall blessing the High Court of Parliament , be with them at their Méetings , Consultations and Conclusions , set thy fear before their eyes , and let thy glorie bee their greatest Ayme , knit the hearts of Prince and People one to onother , and all to thée ; Confound all priuate Plots any way tending to the hinderance of the comfortable continuance of that blessed Méeting , till they haue first discouered , and then found meanes to cure the Corruptions , Plagues , and great diseases of this Church and State. Blesse this whole Land , make his Maiesties Councell faithfull to thée , least otherwise they proue false to him , Purge the Tribe of Leui , that their lips may preserue pure knowledge , and their liues may expresse the Life of true Religion . Refine our Nobilitie , from the fil thie dregs of Poperie , and all ignoble bafenesse , Cleanse the hearts and hands of our Iudges and Magistrates , and purifie our People in this furnace of Affliction , and humble vs all from the King vnto the Captiue , that so we may bée a People prepared for the Lord. And looke downe in Mercy as thou art a God of Mercy vpon those many hundreds , nay yet , alas , alas , thousands of our deare brethren in this Land , and especially in this Citie , who still lye groaning vnder the burthen of thy Wrath , & the Sword of thy destroying Angell : Alas O Lord these Sheepe , what haue they done ? Or are wee better then our Brethren ? Or are these thousands that fall before our faces any greater sinners then the rest ? Or rather haue not wee sinned more then they , and yet they are smitten , rather then wée ? O how wonderfull are thy workes , how vnsearchable are thy Iudgements , and thy wayes past finding out . Againe , how infinite and vnmeasurable are thy Mercies to all them that feare thée , and seeke thy Face ? Therefore we beséech thée let the sorrowfull sighing of these thy Prysoners come before thee , and according to the greatnesse of thy power , preserue thou those that are appointed to dye . At least , wée beséech thée as thou emptiest the Earth , fill the Heauens , and whom thou takest from vs , Lord take vnto thy selfe and fill thy heauenly Mansions with their Soules , whose bodies haue left so many houses desolate in our streetes . And for so many of vs whom thou pleasest to preserue , Lord , Let vs not liue , but to honour thee ; therefore mark vs with thy holy stampe , and seale vs for thy selfe ; that when the Angell of Iustice sees vs sorrowing for our sinnes , and for the iniquitie of the time , and mourning for the Miseries and sighing for the sufferings of thy Saints , and laying to our hearts the affliction of Ioseph , he may then not only passe by vs , but euen in the midst of this common calamitie leaue vs some badge of thy blessing , & some better Testimonie of thy Loue , in the holy vse of this thy Iudgement , then the more secure times of our liues past haue formerly afforded vs. Thus Lord , haue wee powred out our soules into the bosome of thy Mercie : Thou art hee that heares the Prayer , vnto thee shall all flesh come , and if all flesh may come shall not then thy Children be bold to presse vnto thee ? And seeing we haue poured out our hearts to thee , O poure not out the Uialls of thy Wrath vpon vs , but poure down vpon vs the new of thy fauour , the showres of sweet Compassion . Heare vs thou blessed Father , plead for vs thou blessed Sonne , helpe our infirmities thou blessed Spirit of Grace , and make thou Intercession for vs , with those holy groanes that cannot by vs bee expressed : Heare vs and answere vs thou glorious Trinitie in holy Unitie , not for any Merits of ours , for wee lay our hands vpon our mouthes , nay , wee abhorre our selues in dust and ashes , but only for the precious bloud-shedding , and all sufffcient Satisfaction of Iesus Christ , the Suretie and Sauiour of our Soules , the Mediatour of our Peace , and the Eternall High Priest of the New Testament . In whose blessed Name and holy words , wee shut vp this our weake Prayer , offer this our poore Sacrifice , and tender this pitifull complaint of our poore soules vnto the hands of thy heauenly Maiestie , as hee hath taught vs , and left vs in his holy Gospel the Charter of our Peace : Our Father , &c. A SOVEREIGNE MEDICINE FOR and against the Plague : Being an ancient and approoued Antidote , and the sure and infallible way how to escape the Plague , or at least the Plague of the Plague . TAke thy Heart ( for there beginnes the Plague ) and euery morning , wash it , in the teares of true repentance and heartie sorrow for thy sinnes : But that it may bee throughly washt , see first thou stretch it vpon the tenters , or rather set it vpon the racke , of a strict Examination , that so it may poure it selfe out , and make a free and full Confession : Then mollifie it in the precious Oyle , and bathe it in the bloud of Iesus Christ the true Balme of Gilead , by a true and liuely Faith. Being thus clensed , then strengthen it by cordiall comforts confected of nothing else , but the pure and sweet promises of the Gospell : And this Confection is only to be made ; by the skilfull hand of the holy Physician and Spirituall Apothecarie , the Minister of God , whom thou shalt alwayes find at the signe of the Bible , or the Holy Lambe , and there thou art sure of true and wholesome Simples ; But take heed of them at the Crosse-keyes , or the Signe of Agnus Dei , for though the Shops be gorgeous , and all things gloriously painted , thou art sure to be coozened with counterfeit Drugs , and with the corrupt Balsome of Aegypt , in stead of the true Balme of Gilead . Thy Heart thus rectified , let it then command thy tongue and lippes , to acknowledge that thou for thy part by thy sinnes of Commission and Omission hast had thy hand , and borne thy part in pulling downe , this Pestilence and all other plagues of God : Let it then command it selfe to promise and vow , that if thou for thy part , may by the power and mercie of God bee preserued , thou wilt performe some speciall seruice to him , his Church or Children , more then before : And let it command the said tongue and lips to vtter and publish the same promise , the better to bind it selfe to obedience . Let it then command the eyes , to turne away from beholding , and the eares from hearkening after vanitie , and yeeld themselues , the instruments of holy Obseruation , to marke and consider the works of the Lord ; It must then command the hands , to keepe themselues free from corruption , and that they bee painfully , and faithfully imployed in the honest labour of thy lawfull Calling , and thy feet to walke in those wayes , and tread onely in those steps , which God hath appointed thee . This done , then take for thy Breakfast , in the Name of the Lord , a Chapter of the blessed Bible , and so set thy selfe vnto thy worke , and faithfull labour of thy lawfull Calling . Then after thy dayes labour done , bodily refection , take for thy Spirituall Dinner and Supper thy heartfull of holy Obseruations of those mightie Workes of God , both of his Iustice and Mercie towards thy selfe and others : which all that day long , eyther thine eyes haue seene , or thine eares haue heard of . Then the day beeing done , see that thou and thine for your Banquet , or reare Supper , doe close vp your stomackes , with those true Sweet-meates , certaine selected Chapters of the blessed Bible : Then after a holy Commemoration , of what euery one hath heard or seene , or obserued that day touching the wondrous Workes of God , and application of the same one to another : and each one to himselfe , Let then the Heart command the Tongue with comfort and boldnesse , to recommend the soules and bodies of Thee and Thine into the blessed tuition , powerfull protection and safe keeping of the Keeper of Israel . But forget not noe thing as thou wouldest haue all this profitable , and to doe thee any good , namely , to learne ( which thou maist doe , of that excellent Apothecary Saint Paul ) what it is to liue the life of faith , when naturall reason and humane helpes not only faile thee , but haply are all against thee : This Faith I tel thee afore-hand is not easily found , but I deale truly with thee who had it , and can teach thee how to get it , for though himselfe cannot giue it thee , yet hee will both direct and lead thee , and bring thee acquainted with that holy Spirit , who gaue it him , and will not denie it thee if thy Tongue doe begge it , and thy Soule seeke it : Neuer so little of this Faith is precious , therefore so thou get it and haue it right , care not for the quantity ; for it is a holy Elixir , a true Quintessence which will presently and perpetually multiply , beyond ordinary beliefe , to the infinite inriching of the Soule that enioyes it . But this Faith hath one strange propertie , that although it will bee content to bee gathered vp by graines of young and weake Christians , and treasured vp by drammes and ounces of such as be rich and strong men in Christ , yet can it not abide to be measured or mixt with Scruples : For these Scruples are of a contrary nature to true Faith : but otherwise , be it more , be it lesse , so it be true , its perfect , and thou shalt find thy selfe happy if thou haue it : for the least quantitie of this Faith will affoord thee euery Morning and Euening a proportion of that true Treacle , or Methrydate , which yet was neuer made at Venice ( except closely in some corners ) by reason of that great Iugler the Pope , who conueyes in corrupt Drugs and false Ingredients : This Methrydate is made of more strange Simples , then bee the bloud of Scorpions , or the flesh of Vipers : For it is and must bee confected of the flesh and body , and bloud of a Man , but such a Man as the World neuer had a Second , for he must be the child of Adam , and yet the Sonne of no Man , and a true Man , and yet no Man to be his Father : Now his bloud taken from him while he is aliue , and yet so taken from him as he must needs dye , is of that Souereigne excellency , and that infinite vertue and Merit , as the Quintessence that may be extracted out of it , ( which only this fore-named Faith can doe , ) Is that Superexcellent , nay , Supercelestiall Methry date of that high infallible , and inualuable vertue , as the Soule that out tastes of it Morning and Euening , did neuer perish , nor shall to the Worlds end . Therefore , I say againe , as thou wouldst haue this Medicine worke , and become powerfull for thy preseruation , forget not to take a taste of this continually , the first thing in the Morning , and the last at Night . Then lye thee downe in Peace , and securely take thy rest , for thou art free from the feare of all that are able to hurt thee . But bee sure , for a signe whereby to know this Physicke workes well , that instantly when thou wakest thy heart , doe forth-with fixe it selfe on God , and vpon him bestow thy first thoughts : And so when thy body hath receiued so much sleepe and rest as may make it seruiceable for the Soule , then vp with it in the Name of the Lord , that so both Body and Soule may set themselues to serue their God : Then taking this Medicine , and following all the former directions , thou mayst safely enter vpon thy businesse , and aduenture vpon the dangers of that day both thou & thine . Prouided first , that you alwayes intermixe ( as occasion is ) together with the duties of your Calling , such workes of Piety towards God , Iustice and Equity towards Man , Mercy and Charity towards the Poore , as the Diuine Prouidence shall lay before thee , or cast in thy way : For take it for a Rule , that these foure must alwayes goe together , and God himselfe hath so ioyned them all together , as cursed bee the Man that puts them asunder , for hee carries such a heart about him , as this Physicke can neuer doe him good : But where these foure are conscionably conioyned , this Physicke neuer fayled to worke his worke : but where any of the foure is wanting , and totally neglected , there the other three will doe no good , but contrariwise , if they cannot get the company of their companion , they mourne and pine away , and in a short time will bee gone , and stay no longer there , where they cannot be compleate . Prouided also that Man , nor God doe euer find thee out of thy way , but alwayes eyther walking faithfully in thy lawfull calling , or else doing some good in the performance of some of the foresaid duties of Piety , Iustice , or Mercie : For these bee the wayes of a Christian , and hee that is found out of all these is vtterly out of his way , and consequently out of that protection which God hath granted to them that wayte on him , which runnes in these words , That Hee hath giuen his Angels charge ouer them , to keepe them in all their wayes , &c. And the power of this Protection no Creature can infringe . So as by vertue thereof , the Seruants of God haue walked in safetie in the midst of such dangers as hath beene an amazement to the World , and a wonder to themselues : And for the want of this , many thousands haue miscarried , not only of Gods Enemies , who walke in wrong and wicked wayes , but euen such of his friends and followers , who being misled by the World or their owne Presumptions , tooke to themselues the boldnesse to step aside , out of their owne wayes , and so haue shifted themselues out of that shelter or safetie , which otherwise they might haue challenged as their owne . And lastly , Prouided that in all times of danger thou take heed of tempting God , for otherwise thou mayst iustly prouoke him to deny his blessing to this Medicine , without which , as Souereigne and powerfull as it is , it can do no good . Now if thou wilt auoid this feareful and dangerous Sinne of tempting GOD , thou must take heed : First , of putting thy selfe into any needlesse danger : And it is then needlesse , when without necessary cause or lawfull calling , eyther for gaine or pleasure , or any priuate respect thou puts thy selfe into places , or among persons infected . Secondly , thou must also at thy vtmost perill , carefully vse all good helpes of Nature and Art , which Gods good Prouidence affoords thee , whether they bee commended vnto thee by the Learned Physician , or approued by true and reall experience , and whether they be meanes Preseruatiue , Curatiue , or Restoratiue . Thirdly , thou must bee wary of all wilfull distemper , and bee diligent in keeping a carefull and orderly dyet , not only for moderation and sobriety , in respect of the quantity both of meate , and drinke especially , but also for Wisdome in the choice of the quality and condition of that little thou feedst vpon . And lastly , abhorre more then Poyson or the Plague it selfe these wicked Opinions , and all that hold them . First , that the Pestilence is not infectious in it selfe , and of it owne nature , but so immediately , and only the hand of God , as none become infected , but only by his stroke . Secondly , that euery mans dayes are so numbred , as doe or not doe what hee will , he cannot liue longer , nor die sooner then his day and houre appointed . Thirdly , that therefore all carefull auoyding of persons or places infected , and diligent vsing of meanes appointed for prescruation are needlesse and to no purpose . The foulenesse and falsenesse of all these three appeares : First , in that the Leaper must bee shut vp , and all men auoyd him , yea , though he were a King , which being nothing so deadly as is the Pestilence , ( seeing some liued with it many yeeres ) It is manifest it was so commanded , only in respect of the Contagion . Secondly , that Iobs Friends being louing , wise , and Religious , and comming to comfort him , hauing the Pestilence , Leprosie , or some such contagious sicknesse , stood afarre off , and refused to come neere him . Thirdly , Hezekiah hauing ( that which neuer man had else ) a Lease of his life for fifteene yeeres , from him that was able to make it good , yet vsed all ordinary meanes and humane helpes , for preseruing his health , and prolonging his life . Fourthly , Saint Paul hauing an expresse grant from God , of the liues of euery one in the Ship with him : yet the next day , when the Mariners , who are the means vnder God to command and rule , and saue a Ship , would haue craftily conuayed themselues out , to haue saued their owne liues , leauing Paul and the rest to be saued by that promise and power of God : Saint Paul plainly told the Captaine , If these men goe out of the Ship we cannot bee saued . For howsoeuer that condition of vsing meanes was not expressed , yet he knew it to be implyed , which was all one . Lastly , our Lord Iesus himselfe , whose Deitie could deliuer him from all danger , yet to teach vs to be carefull in vse of all good meanes , and to let vs see how made these men be , when such as had Plagues pressed too neere vpon him , called for a little Ship to wayte vpon him , because ( sayth the Text ) of the multitude , lest they should throng him . Yet hee that refused the throng , refused not his dutie , hee that fled from the danger , fledde not from his calling , but preacht Gods Word vnto them , himselfe in the Ship , and the people on the shore . The last wicked opinion to bee auoyded , is , that none who loue , feare and serue God , and beleeue in him can dye of the Plague , and all that doe , doe want Faith : The wickednesse of which Doctrine appeares in this , that diuers of the dearest of Gods Saints haue tasted , nay drunke as deeply the Cup of all externall Crosses , and bodily afflictions whatsoeuer , as any Vnbeleeuers or Enemies of God haue done . Againe , in that many of Gods Children , who in common Calamities turne to the Lord in Faith and true Repentance , howsoeuer thereby they saued their Soules , yet for their bodily liues were swept away with the rest , by the generall Iudgement : As a great number of them that perished in the Floud , and diuers of those that dye by the hand of Iustice , and all Histories and Ages affoord frequent examples . And lastly , if thou wouldest take heed of tempting God , stand in thy station , make Conscience to doe thy duty , Flie not with Ionah from the presence of the Lord , for hee can follow thee , and find thee where euer thou art , and reach thee afarre off as well as at home , and make Ionah feele him ( being fled from his duty ) euen when hee thought himselfe most safe , and slept securely : Thou therefore that mayst boldly begge Gods blessing in thy place and duty , how darest thou tempt and try the power of God , by flying from it . Vse this Medicine and obserue these Rules , and as sure as God is true and just , thou mayst boldly beleeue the Plague shall either not touch thee , or not hurt thee ; but in stead of a Plague shall bee a Blessing to thee : And whereas many of GODS good Children haue taken and died of this Infection , as it is manifest on the one side they wanted not Grace , nor Faith for Saluation , so it is as cleere on the other ; that thev some way failed in the vse of this Medicine either , in not belceuing what in this case ought to be belieued , or in not doing something to bee done for their deliuerance in this danger : In all which Cases , the Rule of Christ is certaine : according to thy faith , and consequently thy obedience , which alwayes waits on true Faith , So be it vnto thee . This Medicine is so ancient and so approued , that since the World began it was neuer found to faile in one particular , sauing only such as either seeme to vse it but did not , or vsing it in part ; yet failed in some particulars which in the vse of Medicines may not bee allowed . And by the vertue of this Medicine alone , many about this Citie haue beene preserued to this day , whose Callings and Duties ineuitably bound them within the reach of such dangers , from which all the humane helpes in the World could not haue deliuered them : And still if they faile not in Faith , nor discharge of their Duties : God who is the Authour of this Medicine will not faile in performance of his promise . FINIS . Notes, typically marginal, from the original text Notes for div A19581-e140 Mark. 9. 49 Rom. 12. 2. Hos . 14. 2. Notes for div A19581-e540 Matth. 11. Psal . 50. Hos . 8. 12. 1. Kings 14. 16. Es●y . Iob. Le● Heb. Psal . 119. Deu. 18. 67. 1. Ki. 20. 18 Ier. Ionas 2. Psal . 123. 2. Mal. 3. 6. Hos . 6. 1 , 2. Psal . 22. 4. Psal . 130. 4 Psal . 100. 4 Psal . 136. Ezek. 14. Hab. 3. 2. Hose 2. 19. ●● . Hos . 14. 2. ● Psal . 46. Esay . Prou. Psal . Psal . Psal . Psal . Psal . Esay . Psal . 2. Psal . 21. Psal . 144 Esay : 44. ● Esay . 45. 1 ▪ 2 , 3 , 4. Esay , 2. Sam. 24. Lu. 13. 1. 2. Rom. 9. Psa . 79. 11. Ezek. 9. Rom. 8. Iob 42. 6 ▪ Notes for div A19581-e1440 Heb. 11. 38. Psal . 91. 11. Leuit. 13. &c. ● . Kings . 15. Iob 2. Esay 38. 5 ▪ Acts 27. Verse 31. Mar. 39. 10 & 4. 1 , 2. Ionah . 1.