2. in p. 50. the 3. p. 51. the 4. in p. 53. the 5 p. 55. the 6 p. 66. Sixe meanes to keep us from dying of the plague p. 57. The 1 meanes p. 58. the 2 in pa. 59. the 3 in pa. 60. the 4 in pa. 64. the 5 in pag 65. the 6 meanes in pa. 66. Cautions touching the efficacie of these meanes to keepe vs frrm infection or death by the plague pa. 68. c. Reasons to proue that the godly doe dy in Gods fauour though the dy of the plagueâ— pag. 74. How that comes to passe page 81. What makes death blessed or accurssed to men pa. 84. Rules to know how we shal dy in Gods fauour though we dy of the plague pa. 74. 86. The first pa. 86. The second pa. 92 The third pa. 96. The fourth pag. 99. The fift p. 101. The sixt pa. 102. Seuen holy vertues or actiâ—ns to be done by Christians to assure them of Gods fauour and loue in life and death pag. 107 A distinction of the sauing graces of the Spirit wrought in the Elect. pag. What brings vs into the estate of grace and what keeps vs therein p. 108. A farewell to them that haue not been visited p. 118. A farewel to them that haue been visited and yet are escaped p. 118. A farewell to both sorts pag. 119. Dr. FEATLIES Approbation I Haue perused this Treatise and fynd it very sound for Doctrine and seasonable for the time and hauing receiued much comfort by it my selfe J desyre others may do the like by the further publishing thereof DANIEL FEATLY A SPIRITV all Cordiall against the Plague OF late it hath pleased God to visite my Familie with the sicknesse Vpon this occasion according to good order I am a Ier. 36.5 shut vp in my Church yard and by this meanes I may not without offence go abroad either to the house of God to teach my people or to my freinds houses to see how they doe but blessed be God that in iudgment remembers mercy sixe of nine persons b Abac. 3.2 remaine escaped as it is this day from death Ezra 9.15 and foure of nine from infection Though God haue imprisoned my body yet hath he enlarged my spirit though he hath silenced my tongue and thereby taken from me liberty to preach yet hath he put my pen into my hand and thereby given me an opportunitie to write some spirituall counsell for the comfort of my dearly beloved like loving neighbours and Parishioners and my kindred and friends that are affected afflicted with Gods visitation on vs. As also for their consolation that haue been are or may be in heavines by meanes of the like visitation That which I haue now written vnto you is that which will be best for you to reade and that will be best for you to read at this time which will best meet with and remoue that which doth now most trouble you namely Griefe and feare That you are grieued for me and mine and for our visitation I assuredly beleeue And because I beleeue it therefore haue I writteÌ„ these few leaues lines 〈◊〉 11 â—0 to asswage your sorrow for it were hard if my affliction should make a wound of griefe in your hearts and I not endeavour to make a playster of comfort to heale it Farre be such ingratitude from me and farre bee such a want from you Though in some respects I am grived with your sorrow yet in other regards I reioyce not simply for the griefe it selfe but for that which I know is the cause and that which I hope will be the fruite and that which I pray may be the issue of it The cause of your griefe for vs is your loue for when the Iewes saw how Christ wept for Lazarus â—oh 11.36 they said behold how he loued him The fruite is godly sorrow for sinne â—heÌ„â—eares â—or sin proue godly or repentance vnto amendment of life and saluation and indeed then sorrow or teares proue godly when they exercise a twofold nature they haue namely 1. A salt brackish or brinish quality 2. A wet or moyst qualitie The salt or brinish qualitie of sorrow or teares shewes it selfe to be godly 1. when it Seasons the soule with grace 2. When it eates out the corrupt humour of wickednes that is in it and 3 keepes the heart from putrifiyng in sin The moyst wet qualitie that is in teares doth shew it selfe to be godly when 1. it softens the heart that is hardned d Heb. 3.13 with the deceitefulnes of sinne and 2. when it e Ier. 4.14 washeth the heart from wickednes and f Isa 16 1â— clenseth it from the loue of sensuall pleasures The issue which I pray may come of your sorrow for me is an assurance to your soules that you are living and not dead members of the Christian body in that you g can be touched with the feeling of our infirmities Heb. 4 1â— Rom. 12.15 Weepe with them that weep * Heb. 4.5 remember them that are in bonds as if you were bound with them * Rom. 12. â—5 And pittie your brethren when the hand of the Lord toucheth them Heb. 13.3 Iob. 19 21 In these respects I hope I may say with the Apostle S. Paul 2 Cor. 7.9 Now I reioyce not that yee were made sorry but that yee sorrowed to repentance for yee were made sorry after a godly manner that yee might receiue damage by vs in nothing But to omit any longer preface and to come to the matter intended which is remouing of your griefe and feare Against your griefe I will propound 1. matter of content 2. Meditations of comfort the good Lord reach and apply it by his Spirit vnto your Spirits according to the nature of the doctrine it selfe and according to my desire minde in propounding it That you may be contented with the hand of Gods visitation vpon my Family How to content our selues with Gods visitaion on our fâ—amily I pray you take notice of and consider seriously these fiue points 1 That we are not able to resist the hand of God for we are k not stronger then he Wee are in this respect but I as clay in the hands of the Potter for the a 1. Cor. 10.22 Ier. 18.6 Dan. 4.35 Lord doth according to his will in the armie of heauen and among the inhabitants of the earth and none can stay his hand 2 That we haue most iustly deserued to drinke of this cup with others b wee haue accepted the punishment of our iniquitie For we haue sinned against God and therefore must we beare c Micah 7 the hand of the Lord we indeed iustly receiue the due reward of our deedes Yea we must be anmbe not open our mouthes because it is his doing who hath not done without cause d Levit. 26 all that he hath done vnto vs. and therefore e Luk 23.
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
and to cast it from vs and when we beat down the body of sin 1. cor 9.27 by fasting and temperance And this is a meanes to keep vs from being iudged of the Lord. 1 Cor. 11 32. The sixt The Sixt and last meanes to keep vs from the infection of the plague concernes our duty and obedience to God and it is faithfulnesse and diligence in our callings with prudence to keepe vs within the compasse of our own waies for the Lord hath promised that hee will giue his Angels charge ouer his children to keepe them in all their wayes Ps 91.11 And this Ezekiah found for hee walked before the Lord in truth and vprightnesse not onely as an Israelite or Christian but as a King and Gouernour and hereby hee was preserued For as Salomon saith Hee that walkes vprightly Pro. 28.18 walkes safely For the second Six meanes to keepe vs frō dying of the plague The meanes to remooue the plague and to keepe you from dying of it though you be infected with it are likewise six and they are of two sorts 1. Ciuill 2. Religious The first The Ciuill meanes is the vsing of skilfull religious Physicians and Surgeons in obedience to Gods ordināce and with trust in his power and blessing For by the commandement of the Prophet Esay frō the Lord Ezekiah was to take a lumpe of dry figs and to lay it on the sore 2 Reg. 20.7 and by this meanes through Gods blessing hee did recouer The Religious means to keepe vs from dying of the plague are fiue and they be of two kinds for they concerne either God or our selues The meanes which concerne GOD are two The first meanes to keep vs frō dying of the plague and which concernes God The Second is earnest and fervent prayer to God to keepe vs a liue either by his blessing on the meanes if we haue any or without if wee haue none By prayer Num. 16.46.47.48 the plague was stayed in Israell when it was begun very hot For incense was offered vp with prayers to God the offering vp of incense Ceremonially did signifie teach the putting vp and accepting of our feruent prayers as is playne by the Psalmist where he saith Psal 141.2 let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense and the lifting vp of my hands bee as the euening Sacrifice And of this Ezekiah had good experience when the Lord said I haue heard thy prayer seene thy teares behold I will add vnto thy dayes fifteene years Isay 38.5 And besides 2 chr 6.29 1 Reg. 8.37.38 the Lord promised to heare their prayer made by the Israelits when they were visited by the Pestilence and the Lord hath promised Christians that thy prayer of faith shall preserue the sicke Iam. 1.15 The third The Second meanes which concernes God and that will keepe vs from dying of the plague is zeale and forwardnes in erecting and establishing and consequently in deuout and religious frequenting performing of the pure worship of God according to his Word and Will We read that when God was about to stay his hand from slaying the Inhabitants of Ierusalem by the plague that the Lord as a meanes thereunto bids his Angel to commaund his Prophet Gad to say to Dauid Goe vp 1 Chron. 21.18 and set vp an Altar to the Lord in the threshing floore of Araunah the Iebusite Whereunto Dauid obeying the text saith that hee went vp at the saying of Gad Verse 19. which hee spake in the name of the Lord Then Dauid said to Ornan grant mee the place of this threshing floore Verse 22. that I may build an Altar thereon vnto the Lord thou shalt grant it me for the full price that the plague may be staied from the people Note 1 Sam. 24. And when Dauid had bought paid for it Verse 26. then the Text saith Dauid built there an Altar to the Lord and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings and called vpon the Lord. And to the end it might appeare he accepted this worship for the appeasing of his wrath and staying of the plague The Lord answered him from heauen by fier vpon the Altar of burnt offerings For in the very next Verse it is said vers 37. that the Lord commanded the Angel Note and he put vp his sword againe into the sheath thereof Wee reade also that the people of Israel in Egypt made this a reason to perswade Pharaoh to let them go three dayes iourney Exod. 5.3 and sacrifice to the Lord their God least say they hee fall vpon vs with the pestilence Which shewes that if neglecting Gods worship be a meanes to bring the plague then zeale and deuotion in erecting countenancing performing of Gods worship according to his will is a meanes to remoue it and to keepe vs from dying of it And we may very probably coniecture not without good warrant that the solemne worship of GOD with fasting praying and preaching appointed by Authoritie hath beene a meanes not for the worthinesse of it but by Gods blessing on his owne Ordinance to stay the sicknesse and to abate the multitudes that died thereof The meanes to preuent death of the plague which cōcern our selues are three The first appertains to the iudgement of the plague it selfe The fourth and it is a sensible feeling when wee are smitten with it in our own soules of the heauy hand of God by laying it close to our harts Which we do when we are made to search out our sins which are the cause therof and when we consider seriously of Gods heauy displeasure therein against our sinnes 1 Reg. 8.37 38. 2 Chron. 6.28 29. for to this is promised a blessing indeed this will make vs pray humbly feruently for the pardon of our sinnes the cause therof that they being pardoned a way may be made for mercy vnto vs. And S. Peter tels vs 1 Pet. 5.6 that if we humble our selues vnder the mightie hand of God hee will exalt vs in due time And the Apostle S. Iames saith Iam. 5.16 that the prayer of the righteous man preuaileth much with God if it be feruent The second means which concernes our selues The fift and is good to keepe vs from dying of the plague belongs to our sinnes and it is a turning from them leauing them For when Gods people 2 Chron. 7.13 14. on whom his Name is called shal turne from their wicked wayes he hath promised to heale them of the pestilence For by this wee cause God to repent of the euill And by this we remooue and put away the euill of our doing from before the eye of the Lord which were the causes of it Ionah 3.10 Isai 1.16 punish our selues for our sin that we may not be punished of the Lord. The sixt The third means which concernes
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
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
O Lord our God thus confesse our sins vnto thee as if thou knewest them not who art greater then our consciences knowest althings 1 Ioh. 3.20 but that by the repetition and remembrance of them we might be drawne more soundly to repent of them and to haue our eyes opened more cleerely to discerne thy iustice in punishing of vs with this thy visitation and thy righteousnes in afflicting vs with many miseries thereby Ps 52.4 that thou mayest bee cleare when thou art iudged Dan. 9.7 For Righteousnes belongeth vnto thee O Lord but vnto us open shame as at this day All this is come vpon us III. Acknowledging Gods Iustice in sending the Plague for our euill deedes and for our great trespasses and thou hast punished vs lesse then our iniquities deserue Ier 9.13 therefore will wee be dumbe and not open our mouthes Psal 39.9 Thou hast not done without cause Ezek. 14.28 all that thou hast done vnto vs Lev. 26.43 and therefore will wee accept the punishment of our iniquitie Though thou hast not punished vs according to the greatnesse of our sinnes as they deserue in measure which is thy mercy yet hast thou punished vs according to the kind manner of our sinnes which is thy iustice for we haue profaned thy house and sanctuarie with our formall and hypocriticall seruing of thee without the inward partes both of our selues and of thy worship and therefore hast thou shut the dores of thy house vpon vs when we were visited and hast by lawfull authoritie and good order shut vs vp in our owne houses Psa 101.2 In our owne houses wee haue not walked before thee with a perfect heart for false weights and measures false lights and bad wares haue been in many of our shops and ware-houses and therefore it is iust with thee to shutt vp our shopps for want of trading and to infect other of our roomes and chambers with a fearefull contagion Many of vs that were wont proudly to let and strutt it out in the streetes in the vanitie and varietie of strange apparell and new fangled habits and attyres hast thou now clad with mourning weeds and giuen vs cause to put sackcloth on our backs and ashes on our heads foâ— we are baased even to the dunghill The members of our bodyes we haue abused as weapons of vnrighteousnesse vnto sinne and therefore hast thou O Lord weakened and deformed the bodies of some with blanes and sores boyles and carbuncles and filled the bodies of others with the Tokens of thy displeasure We haue corrupted one another wirh the euill example of our workes and made them sinne and therefore it is iust with thee that we should be a meanes to infect one another to sicknesse and death Many of our Ministers thy faithfull seruants wee regarded not while they liued and therefore hast thou depriued vs of them yea many of vs haue defrauded them of their double honour 1. Ti. 5.17 reuerend respect and plentifull maintenance and therfore hast thou taken from vs the means of our maintenance by commerce and traffique Wee haue been hard-hearted and close-fisted to the necessities of our poore neighbours liuing amongst vs and therefore it is iust in respect of thee that our neighbour countries round about vs did deny to bring vs that abode in the Citie food and victualls and to bury those of vs that did go out of it with comely buriall Wee haue by our bad liuing and vniust dealing caused thy Gospel thy truth so plentifully preached 2. Pet. 2.2 in this Citie to bee euill spoken of abroad and therfore it is iust with thee that wee should bee a mocking and hissing a by-word and a reproach vnto our neighbour countries about vs. Wee doe not O Lord God thus iustifie thy proceeding against vs as if it needed our cleering but to testifie our desire as much as possible wee can to glorifie thy iustice by shaming our selues to the end wee may bee the better prepared to glorifie thy mercy also which is aboue all thy workes in our wonderfull deliuerance Psa 145.9 IV. Thanking Gods goodnes for staying Plague For O Lord our God In that when the sicknesse was so hot and so many had dyed thereof thou shouldest then stay it It was not because the sword of thine Angel was blunted with so many strokes or because there were no more people to dye or no more graues in London or because there was in vs no more desert of punishment Exod. 14.11 or in thee no more power to punish But because thou wert pleased in iudgement to remember mercy Abac. 3.2 and that thou delightest in mercy rather then iudgement Mica 7.18 That wee are aliue when others are dead that wee were in health when others were sicke It was not because wee were not within the compasse of thy stroke or could defend our selues or were able to heale the wound But because thou wouldst haue mercy on whom thou wouldst no goodnesse or power in vs but meerely greatnesse and goodnesse in thee hath made the difrence And therefore as thou art worthy to receiue glory Rev. 4.11 honour and power so saluation and glory and honour and power euen glory and honour for manifesting thy power in our salvation and preseruation 2. Chr. 7.14 bee vnto thee for euer For in this our deliuerance O Lord our God we see and therefore desire to glorifie thy wisedome in putting it into the minde of our Gouernours to appoint thine owne means of healing our Citie by humiliation with Fasting and Prayer and enabling thy Ministers and people vnderstandingly feelingly faithfully and feruently to vse those meanes and also in taking opportunitie in our greatest extremitie to worke this our deliuerance to the end the worke might the more cleerely appeare to be thine owne In this thy deliuerance we discerne thy power and therfore accordingly wee desire to praise thee in that thou art able to countermand all thy creatures euen the very Angels those principalities and powers for thou didst on a sodaine and in a short time worke a great deliuerance notwithstanding the wonderfull increase of the contagion in so many places the heate of the weather the multitude of the people and heynousnesse of our sins all which wrought toward a contrary end In this thy deliuerance wee behold thy truth and faithfulnesse O Lord our God in making good thy promises of healing thy people 2. Chr. 7.15 when they shall seeke thy face with prayers teares humiliation and turning vnto thee in not keeping thine anger for euer in not letting the rod of the wicked rest for euer vpon vs all Psa 103. Psa 105. nor suffering thy people to bee tempted aboue their strength but giuing a good issue of their tryall In this our deliuerance we glorifie thy patience in that thou hast not dealt with vs according to our sins Psa 103.11 nor