FOr-as-much as Almightie God, doth now visite, handle & punish this country and re­gion with the horrible and fearefull plague of the Pesti­lence, and many folkes (after an vnmanerly fashion) are so affraide there­of, that there bee heard and séene of them almanner of vnaccustomable woordes and workes, which become not well a Christian man: And seeing that all the déedes of charitie which one Christian man is bound to shewe vnto another (no lesse then vnto Christ him selfe) are perilously omitted, [Page] whereby then riseth all manner of slaunder to the weake, and misreport vnto the holy Gospell: I thought it profitable and necessa­ry to bestow vpon your charitie in this case, a short instruction & comfort out of the holy Scripture, to the intent, that the ignorant may be taught, the weake strengthened, and euery one counselled after his calling, to serue his neighbour.

And I will take for my Text, the 91. Psalme, which soundeth after this maner:

Ʋerse. 1 Who so sitteth vnder the de­fence of the highest, and abideth vnder the sha­dowe of the Almightie.

2 He sayeth vnto the Lord: my hope, and my strong holde: my God, in him will I trust.

3 For hee deliuereth me from the snare of the hunter, and from the noysome pestilence.

4 Hee shall couer thee with his feathers, & thy trust shall be vnder his winges: his faithful­nes and trueth shall be thy shield and buckler.

5 So that thou needest not to feare for any terror by night, nor for the arrowes that flye by day.

6 For the Pestilence that commeth priuily in the darke: nor for the sickenesse that de­stroyeth in the no one day.

[Page]7 Though a thousand fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand, yet shall it not come nye thee.

8 Yea, with thine eyes shalt thou see thy desire, and beholde, how the vngodly shall be rewarded.

BUt afore wee come to the vnderstanding of these comfortable wordes: your charity shal first know, that it is not my meaning to forbid or inhibite any man to flye or to vse Physicke, or to auoide dangerous and sicke places in these fearefull ayres, so farre as a man doth not therein against the beliefe, nor Gods commandement, nor against his cal­ling, nor against the loue of his neighbour. For though some will saye: Such Plague toucheth no man, but those that be ordained of God thereunto, like as there be certaine ensamples thereof found in holy Scripture: namely, as in Ezech. 9. & Apoc. 7. there was sent an Angell, which aforehand marked the vertuous and elect, or euer it was charged and commanded the second Angell to smite (with Pestilence or other Plagues) those that were not marked. Neuertheles, against that it might be said: Good sir, though it went so at such a time in such places, who maketh [Page] vs sure yet now, that it shal therfore chance so in al other deathes of the country? There­fore I will nowe at this time let all such things continue in their libertie at your dis­cretiōs like as al other natural things, which bee subiect and committed vnto our reason to rule. But as for the Christian which (by reason of office, or for pouerties sake, or for other reasonable causes) cannot, or be not minded to fly, I will herewithal shew them their best & highest comfort that they haue.

In like manner, I will not enter against them, that speake naturally thereof, and say: Such Plague commeth out of the influence of the Starres, out of the working of the Cometes, out of the vnseasonable weather and altering of the ayre, out of the South windes, out of stincking waters, or out of foule mistes of the grounde: For such wise­dome of theirs, will we leaue vnto them vn­despised, and not fight thereagainst: But (as Christian men) we will holde vs vnto the worde of God, the same will we suffer to be our most high wisedome, and giue cre­dence vnto it, and follow it: and so shall wee finde much better & surer instruction: Name­ly, that this horible Plague of the Pesti­lence commeth out of Gods wrath, because [Page] of the despising and transgressing of his godly commandements. For thus sayth the holy Prophet Moyses in the booke of Deut. Chap. 28.

Ʋers. 1. If thou wilt not hearken vnto the voyce of the Lorde thy GOD, to ob­serue and keepe all his commaundements and ordinances which I commaunde thee, then shall all these curses come vppon thee, &c.

And it followeth:

Ʋers. 21. The Lorde shall cause the Pesti­lence to endure long with thee:

Vers. 22. The Lorde shall smire thee with swelling, Feauer, heate, burning, blasting, drouth, &c. And shall persecute thee till hee vtterly destroy thee, and bring thee to naught.

And certainely this is the plaine trueth, and the very originall of these Plagues. No man ought to doubt thereon: For though the foresaide naturall causes doe somewhat a­grée also thereunto, yet is it sure and vn­doubted, that the same causes bee sent and stirred vp out of Gods wrath for our sinne and vnthankefulnesse.

And truely, that it is euen so; the holy Scrip­ture declareth; not with bare wordes onely, but sheweth it also with notable ensamples. For in the fourtéenth chapter of the book of Numbers, when all the spyes (except Iosua and Caleb) spake euill of the lande of promise, and made the people vnpatient & in an vp­rore: so that they chose them a Captaine, and thought to goe againe into Egypt, and to stone Moyses and Aaron which commaun­ded them the contrary, we read thus: Then appeared the glory of the Lord, and spake vn­to Moyses; How long doth this people blas­pheame me? And how long wil it be yer they beleeue me, for al the tokens that I haue done vpon them? therefore will I smite and destroy them with Pestilence, and make of thee a greater nation then this.

Likewise also when Dauid caused the peo­ple to be numbred, against Gods comman­dement, he displeased the Lord God horribly therewith. Therefore layed he the punish­ment vpō him, so that he was faine to choose himselfe, whether he had rather haue seauen yeares dearth, or thrée Moneths mischance in battaile, or thrée dayes Pestilence in the Lande? And when he chose the Pestilence, there dyed in thrée daies, seauenty thousand [Page] men, as it is written in the last chapter of the second booke of Samuel.

Séeing then that out of the word of God, wee knowe the very cause of this horrible Plague: Namely, that it is the faulte of our sinnes; as vnbeliefe, disobedience and vn­thankefulnes. Therefore, before all things, it shall be necessary, that wee refraine from the same; repent and amende our liues, if wee will bee preserued and deliuered from this horrible Plague. For if God punish vs, because of sinne: it is good to consider that we must first acknowledge and eschewe our sinnes, in case that hee shall withdrawe and take away his wrath & sharp punishment from vs. For if we continue in our euill, sin­full and culpable life, certainely he will not cease with the punishmēt, but go foorth more and more, till he giue and recompence accor­ding to our workes. But if we knowledge our sinne, refraine from it, repent and aske grace, then shal he also take away his wrath. And this horrible wrath (with other heauy burthens, as warre & dearth, that lye vpon our necke) shall hee mercifully take away from vs againe. As holy Paul sayeth, 1. Cor. 11. If we iudged our selues, we should not be iudged: But when we are iudged, wee be cha­stened [Page] of the Lord, that we should not bedam­ned with the worlde.

And out of all this may your charitie well perceiue, howe vnwisely and vnchristianly they doe, that out of inordinate feare of this Plague, leaue their calling and office, maliciously withdrawing the loue, helpe, and faithfulnesse, which they (out of Gods commaundement) are bounde to shewe vnto their Neighbours, and so doe sin grie­nously against the commandement of God. For certainely they doe but stirre vp the wrath of God more earnestly against them­selues, that hee may the sooner take holde vpon them and plucke them away with this Plague. For men may heare on euery side, that some doe shunne and flye not onely the sicke, but also the whole: Yea (that which is more foolishnesse) euen the Platters and Candlestickes, which come out of straunge houses, as though death did surely sticke therein. And (out of such fond childish feare) it commeth, that not onely some sicke folkes bee suffered to die without any keeping, helpe and comforte: but that women also great with childe, are forsaken in their most néede, for at such times, fewe or none will come vnto them: Yea, a man may heare al­so [Page] that the children forsake their Fathers and Mothers, and one houshold body kéepeth himselfe away from another, and sheweth no loue vnto him: Which neuerthelesse hee would be glad to bee shewed vnto himselfe, if he lay in like necessitie.

How be it, I suppose there come not ma­ny such chaunces to passe: neuerthelesse I must speake thereof that it be done no more from hencefoorth. For certainely it is vn­wisely and vnchristianly handled: and wee néede not thinke that the same is the waye to escape this Plague, but rather an occa­sion that it raigneth more mightily ouer vs. For séeing it is sure (as yee haue heard afore) that such Plague is sent for punish­ment of our sinnes, and Christ hath giuen vs a newe Commandement, that we should loue one another (as hee hath loued vs) it followeth that the farther we departe from the loue of our neighbour, the more wee lade sinne vpon vs, and deserue this plague so much the more.

Againe, the more diligently that we take héed vnto the loue of our neighbour, the surer shall we be from this Plague: No man née­deth to doubt thereof.

But heere withall will I also counsell [Page] or compell no man, to any vnnéedeful daun­ger (that he is not bound vnto by his calling nor by loue) but only warne those which for feare, leaue that which they are bound to do before God: To the intent that for such na­ked feares sake, they doe not transgresse nor omitte the commandement of God, & hope by sinne to escape this plague, which neuer­thelesse commeth because of sinne. For that were a foolish vnaduised counsell, if one would goe about to escape the wrath of God by transgression, and by sinne to auoide the punishment of sinne.

Besides this, doth experience shewe also that they which bee so sore afraide, doe com­monly miscary. Againe, they that waite vp­pon their offices and serue their neighbours, be deliuered; As it is well séene in the mini­sters of the Church, and other moe, that shun not the sicke, but must visite them and com­fort them with Gods worde, and prouide for them with the holy Sacrament: For we sée no wher, that they therfore must also be soone sicke and must die. Yea, how must the higher powers of the worlde doe, which (by reason of their calling, and for the common profite and regiments sake) abide also in the [...]eoper­die, & must minister because of loue? specially [Page] the chiefest, of one whereof there dyeth more then a thousand of other: And yet doth God commonly preserue them also that they bee deliuered, left still a liue, and dye in a good quiet age.

Therefore certainely such kinde of inor­dinate feare and flying against Gods com­mandement, is nothing else, but a declaring of a great and sore vnbeliefe, that men doe not beleeue & trust in God, that he can and will deliuer. And thus is verifyed the say­ing: The vngodly haue no peace. Esa. lvij. For if we will feare and flye where no perrill is, when will we then bestow our liues for our neighbours, as Christ hath done for vs: and we also be bounde to do likewise? 1. Ioh. 3.

Who so now desyreth to escape the wrath of God, and this horrible Plague, let him not aske his owne reason how hee shall doe, but beleeue and follow the worde of God: which teacheth him not to flye euill ayre and infec­ted places (which he may well do: neuerthe­lesse hee remayneth yet vncertaine whether it helpeth or no) but it teacheth him to leaue off from sinne, as from the very originall cause of this Plague and punishment, and (by true repentance and amendment of life) to walke againe in the right waye. For that [Page] is the only sure and wholsome flying in this dangerous time, whereby a man may escape this Plague.

But whither a man ought to flye, there­of will we heare the holy Ghost by the Pro­phete in this Psalme. He knoweth it much better then wee can thinke, and sayeth after this manner.

Verse 1. Who so sitteth vnder the defence of the highest, and abideth vnder the shadow of the almightie.

2 He sayeth vnto the Lord: My hope, and my strong holde: My God on whom I hope. For hee deliuereth mee from the snare of the hunter, and from the noysome Pestilence.

These wordes (my most dearely belo­ued) shall yee take to hart, and marke them well with all diligence: For they be not the wordes of men which can lie and deceiue: Howbeit though they were mens wordes, and some olde wise man spake them (or some well learned Physitian) ye would not yet despise them, but receiue & keepe them. But nowe bee they the very wordes of the high Maiestie of God, which the holy Ghost speaketh by the mouth of the Prophete. And they teach vs whither we ought to flye [Page] from this Plague, that we may be safe. And certainely they must néedes bee the very truth: For heauen and earth must passe, but my words shall not passe away, sayth the Lord.

But that ye may vnderstande them right and well, yée shall remember that it is the vse of the Holy Scripture (specially in the Psalme) to declare one meaning with two manner of sayings, as yee haue oft times heard. For so doeth the Prophet here speake, and sayeth:

Who so sitteth vnder the defence of the highest, and abydeth vnder the shaddow of the Almightie.

For to sitte vnder the defence of the high­est, is euen as much as to saye, as to abide vnder the shaddow of the almightie.

And with these wordes meaneth the holy Prophet nothing else, but who so putteth his trust in God with a right sure Christian beliefe, & giueth himselfe ouer into his pro­tection and defence, (for such people doeth God receiue to grace) them holdeth hee for his owne deare children (& euen so they be) & giueth them his holy spirit, which worketh in them true saluation and godly workes.

Therefore remayneth he also vpon them, and all things must serue for their wealth [Page] as Paul sayeth, Rom. 8. Such protection also and defence of God, is set forth vnto vs eue­ry where in the Scripture, as an ouer-shad­dowing and couering with wings. For like as the two Cherubins spred out their wings ouer the Arke; Exod. 37. Euen so doeth God spred out the winges of his protection ouer his elect. Therefore sayth Moses Deut. 32. Like as an Egle stirreth vp his nest, and flyeth ouer his yong ones: so spreadeth he out his fea­thers, and beares his people vpon his winges: After this maner spake the holy Angel Gabri­ell also vnto the most blessed and pure Vir­gin Mary, when she should be the Mother of God: The holy Ghost shall come vpon thee, and the power of the most highest shall ouer shaddow thee. Luc. 1. In like maner spake Christ also vnto Ierusalem: How oft would I haue gathered thy Children together, as an Henne gathereth her Chickens vnder her wings, and ye would not. Mat. 23. For though a true beleeuing man be in déede the Tem­ple of God, and God dwelleth in him, yet v­seth the Scripture oft to speake thereof, as though he did flye aboue vs, in as much as he doth ouer shaddow, couer and defend vs? and that because the heauen and the heauen of all heauens (as Salomon sayeth) can not [Page] comprehend nor containe him. Reuel. 3. But though he dwelleth in vs, yet flyeth he wide, hye and lowe, not only on the out side of vs, but also on the outside & ouer all creatures. And so in all these wordes, there is nothing else saide, but whosoeuer is a right beléeuing Christian:

Marke now then that he sayeth not: who so is wise, strong, rich, whole, or well frien­ded: Neither saith hee also: who so kéepeth him selfe thence, or flyeth thether, holdeth himselfe wel, or vseth good Phisicke: but who so putteth his trust in God. Not that the foresaid good things be euill, or may not be had or vsed with profite: But that they (where fayth is not) may euen as soone doe harme as good, and are in no wise able to deliuere from the wrath of God. But what doeth the beléeuer? He sayeth vnto the Lorde: My hope. But this do not the vngod­ly and vnbeléeuers, but set their hope in the foresaid points, put their trust in them, and boast thereon, & so commit spirituall whore­dome therewith, and make Idols thereof. But to God doe they not lift vp their eyes, neither thinke they vpon him, nor feare him. And when he commeth then with his wrath and ouertaketh them with his Plague, so [Page] that of necessitie they must needes thinke v­pon him, then feare they, and be afrayde of him; flie away, and knowe not where to a­bide: Then vanisheth away their hope and boasting, which they (in time of prosperitie) had vnto the creatures. And so commeth it to passe, that their wisedome hath bene plaine foolishnes: their strength, their owne misfor­tune: their riches, their owne destruction: their health, their own harme: their friends, their owne hypocrites, and traitours. And al that which they trusted vnto, cannot helpe them. When they would hide themselues on the backside thereof, it is euen as much as when one hideth him behinde a ladder. And when they would séeke helpe therby, if is euen like as a Wolfe should defende a Sheepe or a Goose.

But thus goeth it not with the beleeuer: for who so putteth his trust in the Lorde, shall not be confounded. Therefore saith he not onely that the Lord is his hope but also his strong holde, which he may flie vnto, in the which he may shut him selfe close, and be de­liuered therein. As Salomon sayeth in the xviii. Chapter of the Prouerbes: The name of the Lord is a strong Castell, the righteous flyeth vnto it, and shall bee defended. For [Page] the vnbeleeuers haue their hope euen in their goodes, but in necessitie, they finde no refuge, as the faithfull hath a strong holde and high Castell in GOD the Lorde.

And though the vnbeleeuers haue their whole will all their life long, yet hath it an euill ende, as it had with the rich man, which was buried in hell. Luke Chapter xvi. For who so beléeueth not, shall be dam­ned.

Againe, though the faithfull be plagued and persecuted all his life long, so that hee can not sée howe hee may be deliuered, yet hath hee this comfort, that the Lord is his God: that is, that he can helpe and de­liuer him as an almightie Lorde, yea, after such a fashion and way, as neither he him­selfe nor any mans reason can thinke or de­uise.

And though he doe it not, yet doeth not the faithfull despaire: but letteth the Lorde be his God, on whom hee hopeth: that is, at whose hande he looketh for all good in the life for to come and euerlasting. For hope seeth and looketh on that which is to come, which as yet is hid. As Paul sayeth, Rom. the viii. Chapt. Hope that is seene is no hope. [Page] for howe can a man hope for that which is seene. But if wee hope for that which wee see not, we looke for it by patience.

And so this is the meaning: The vnbe­léeuers haue their hope in the creatures, and are afraide of God. The faithfull hath his hope to God, and is Lord ouer the creatures. The vnbeléeuers miscarie, and by the crea­tures finde they no helpe in néede. The faith­full miscarie not, but God is vnto them a strong holde. The vnbeleeuers may well haue their willes as long as they liue, but at the last (thorow their despaire) there follow­eth euerlasting damnation. The faithfull may haue disquietnesse and temptation all their life long, but at the last (thorow their hope) there followeth euerlasting life.

Such hope should they haue, and they haue it indeede, that though they must lie vnder as long as they liue, yet after death they shall inherite euerlasting life.

But certainely it commeth not to passe, that they must alway lye vnder: For God is faithfull, and suffereth not his to be tempted aboue their strength, but maketh the tempta­tion so to haue an ende, that we may beare it. 1. Cor. 10. Therefore sayeth the Prophete moreouer:

For hee deliuereth mee from the snare of the hunter, and from the noysome Pesti­lence.

And in these words, doth he shortly shew vnto vs, that almightie God can and will deliuer his owne from all mis-fortune, yet e­uen in this life. For all the mischaunces that we be troubled withall in this temporal life, are of two sortes: Some come out of the wic­ked deuise of the Deuill, and of men: as shame and persecution. Some plainely of nature, and out of the ordinance of God: as Tempest and Pestilence. The faithfull now beleeueth and maketh his boaste, that these mischaunces can not be so great and migh­tie, but GOD shall deliuer him there­from.

And it is a goodly natural similitude, that he likeneth the euil wicked deuice of the vn­godly against the faithfull, to a nette or snare of the hunter. For like as a hunterproueth the kinde and nature of euery wilde beast, commeth priuily after him, seeketh out the course and habitation therof, and afterward setteth the Nette, that he may driue it there­into: Euen so do the vngodly also vnto the righteous. First, they looke howe they bee minded: If any one be free of language, then [Page] set they him on fire, that he may speak some­what sharpely, as Saint Ste euen did. Actes the vij. Chapter. If he be gentle and friend­ly, then imagine they some foolish thing v­pon him, and flatter away his harte from him as Dalila did vnto Sampson. If he séeke the saluation of the people, then sclaunder they him, as the Iewes blaspheamed Christ to be a Wine-supper, and a companion of Publicanes. If he be simple, then lye they v­pon him, behinde his backe, or euer he be­ware thereof: Then follow they vpon him, cry, lye, and complaine, that the vertuous Christian man knoweth not what poynt to be at or how he hath deserued it. Neuerthe­lesse, they thinke the Bell is so cast, that at the last it must ring as they will, but if fay­leth them.

For the Lord on whom we beleeue, which is our hope, refuge and God, can not onely preserue vs from their snares that wee fall not therein, but also when we fal into them, and they thinke wee be their captiues, hee can and will deliuer vs yet thereout. In like manner doeth God the Lorde preserue his faithfull, not onely from the noysome sicke­nesse of the Pestilence, but also when they bee taken therewith and infected already, [Page] he deliuereth them from it, and maketh them whole againe. But howe that commeth to passe, and how we shal vnderstand it, it shal follow hereafter more clearely.

This is now well to be marked also, that the Pestilence is a noysome sickenesse, not because it bringeth death (for that doe all o­ther mortall sickenesses likewise, and death is no losse vnto the faithfull, but aduantage, as Paul sayeth vnto the Philippians, the first Chapiter) but because that it taketh away the people very suddenly, vnlooked for and vnawares: And thereout then followeth strife, lawing or businesse among sinners, and of the common wealth, as euery man by him selfe can lightly perceiue and vnder­stande.

Therefore it is also an horrible punish­ment ouer the sinne of the worlde, which concerneth both them that dye, and them that are left aliue, as hereafter it shall fol­low.

Where as if there be now such a fayth as gieueth credence vnto God, hee shal preserue him frō al wicked imaginations of men, like wise from all noysome sicknesses. And at the last shall hee saue him, that continueth not without fruit, but breaketh out with right [Page] loue and faithfulnesse towardes his neigh­bour, & desireth also to bring him vnto that point, that he may beléeue and be pertaker of all such goodnes and benefites of God. Ther­fore doth the Prophete turne his words now also vnto his neighbour, and saith further­more;

Hee shall couer thee with his fethers, and thine hope shall be vnder his wings. That is: if thou also wilt put thy trust in him, thou shalt finde it so likewise. For hee sheweth such his benefits vnto all and euery one that put their trust in him As for the couering of his fethers, and hope vnder his wings, your charitie hath heard ynough before what it is.

Now, though all the faithful look for such help at God, & it happeneth vnto them, yet is it not done without a speciall battaile of Faith. For such help doth he promise vs in his holy word, that we should beléeue it: and if we beléeue it, it happeneth vnto vs accor­ding to our Faith. Therefore saith the Pro­phete moreouer, His truth is speare & shield, that is, his godly promises, which are sure & true, and neither lie nor deceane: Those are our weapons wherewith we fight, and ouer­come all aduersities. But like as speare and shield are not profitable vnto him that can­not, [Page] or will not vse them: euen so also doe not the promises of God profite him, that cannot fight therewith, and will not beléeue theron. For that is the right science in this battaile, when mis-fortune, aduersity, or tentation commeth, that we looke out all for accor­ding vnto Gods word: Namely, what com­forte and promise he hath made vnto vs in such a case, and with a right beliefe to take holde of the same, as of a shield, and to com­fort and defend our selues therewith: so can there no mischance doe vs harme, as the holy Saint Paule in the last chapter of his epistle to the Ephesians teacheth, and saith: Before al things take the shield of Faith, where with ye may quench all the fierie darts of the wicked.

Against the same (namely against Sathan our head enemy) is such word of God, euen the right speare, wherewith wee wound and ouercome him. For no bodily weapon hur­teth and hindreth men so sore, as the word of God stoppeth and hindreth Sathan, if it bee thrust vnder his nose, against his venemous dealing and tentation, For if a seruant (that dealeth wrongfully and vnthriftily in his maisters goods and businesses) be affraide, vexed, and pearsed through the hart, when a simple man saith vnto him: Thou vnthrift, [Page] why doest thou so? That is not thy maisters will and meaning, he did not so commaund thée. How much more goeth it thorow Sa­thans hart, when a vertuous Christian man holdeth the worde of God vnder his eyes, and bringeth witnesse ouer him that he as a wicked creature dealeth against his maker, and against his chosen children? Therefore doeth holy Saint Paul call Gods word also the sword of the spirit: And the Lord Christ defendeth himselfe onely with the same a­gainst all temptations of Sathan in the wil­dernesse.

Nowe when thou takest holde thus of Gods promises thorow-faith, and vsest them for speare and shielde to defende thy selfe, and to smite Sathan, then out of the same, it followeth, as the Prophete sayeth far­ther:

That thou needest not to feare for the hor­riblenesse of the night.

For the arrowes that flye in the daye time.

For the Pestilence that commeth priuily in the darke.

For the sickenesse that destroyeth in the noone day.

For these foure aduersities set forward [Page] and shorten the life of the vnbeléeuers: But the faithfull hath such consolation and pro­mise, that he néedeth not be afraide. First, for the horriblenesse of y ^e night: That is, for al manner of temptation & deceite, that hap­pen vnto men by night in the darknesse. For this we al perceiue, that in the night & in the darkenesse wee are weaker minded, of more dispaire, and more afraid then in the light.

The bloud runneth to our hearts, and the haires stand vpright, and all the body wax­eth colde for feare. Out of this com­meth it then, that wethinke we sée, heare, and perceiue somewhat, which in very deede is not so: then goeth one astray, another lée­seth his colour, the thirde falleth sicke, the fourth is become crooked: the fift goeth out of his witte: And so men thinke that the Deuill hath done it, where as it is yet a plaine naturall woorking of the excéeding great feare, which would destroye a man euen by daye time, if it were so greate.

How-be-it, true it is that the Deuill cau­seth such feare, and printeth it in, that hee may beguyle and destroy vs by feare, as by a naturall working. Yet is it nothing but a feare: for the Prophet calleth it not an euil or good spirit, but plainely the horriblenes of the [Page] night: Neither is it any thing else but an horrour and feare, and continueth an hor­rour and and feare.

Therefore where a right beliefe is, there is no feare. Where no fearefulnes is, there is also no horrour, nor fantasie of spirites or deceitfulnes of the night, but plaine courage and boldnesse. If any thing els be séene (as fire or light) they be but naturall things, out of the heat of the ground: like as lightnings, dragons, falling starres and Cometes, be in the aire and in the heauen. But herewithal will not I speake against the wonderfull vi­sions and tokens, which God sendeth for a warning before great mischaunces to come.

Secondarliye the faithfull is sure for the arrowes that flie in the day time. That is all manner of mischaunces, which ouertake a man openly in the daye: and yet so suddenly and vnwares, that he can not escape them. As when a tyle falleth from the rooofe of an house, when a wicked beast doeth euill, or when an vn̄grations person doth hurt in bo­dy, traine, or goods. For such misfortunes come for the most part so suddenly, that a man can not preuent them, but must let them hitte as with an arrow, and afterward restore and heale the harme with great tra­uayle [Page] and labour. But now will God pre­serue his faithfull from such misfortune▪ if they haue his promises before their eyes, be­léeue thereon, and order their liues thereaf­ter.

Thirdly, a faithfull person needeth not al­so to be afrayde for the Pestilence, that flip­peth in priuilie in the darke. This is verily a comfortable promise in this dangerous time, for the which, wee should by right put our trust in God, and thanke him therefore, for asmuch as it is one of the most perilous and horrible Plagues, wherewith hee visiteth & punisheth the sinne of the world. For it ta­keth holde of life vnwares, and plucketh a man a way in two or three dayes (or euer he can order his busynesse and house, and make his Testament) créepeth in priuily in the darke, so that no man knoweth what it is, or whence it commeth, or whether it goeth, therefore can no man kéepe himselfe surely from it.

For if it were in meate or drinke, it might be eschued: If it were an euill tast, it might be expelled with a sweet sauour: If it were an euil winde, y ^e chāber might with diligence be made close therefore: If it were a cloude or mist, it might be seene and auoyded: If it [Page] were a raine, a man might couer himselfe for it: but nowe it is a secrete misfortune that créepeth in priuily, so that it can neither be séene nor heard, neither smelled nor tasted, til it haue done thee harme.

Therefore the more daungerous and noi­some that the plague is, the better and more excellent is the promise, that no man shoulde haue cause to despaire. For how might God make vs a more excellent and fairer promise then that hee promiseth to deliuer from the Pestilence vs that be his children, and that we néede not to be affraide thereof, though a thousand die of the same at our left side, & ten thousand at our right side. Yet shall it not reach vnto vs, if we doe but beléeue this pro­mise, and let it be our speare and shield. For if we so doe, then shal such poisoned arrowes either not hit vs at all, or else not wound vs to death.

Fourthly, God will also preserue his chil­dren from the sicknesse that destroyeth in the noone daye: For the noone day when the Sunne is at the strongest, is cause of much heate and feuerous sicknesses: special­ly in those countries where the Sunne ry­seth hye, and commeth nye ouer mens heads. [Page] For great heate bringeth much sweat, con­sumeth and altereth the bloud, causeth inor­dinate drinking, and maketh that the people are glad to coole themselues againe foolish­ly: and thereout ariseth all manner of peril­lous diseases, which are not very vnlike the sicknesse of the Pestilence.

Nowe, whether it be feare of the night, or arrowe of the day, whether it be Pestilence or sicknesse that commeth by the euil South­winde, or what plague soeuer, that lyeth v­pon the world because of their sinnes, God the Lord will preserue his faithfull therfrom or delyuer them from it. And that shal come to passe so certainly and so wonderfully, that (as the Psalmist and our Prophet sayeth,) Though a thousand fall at thy left side, and ten thousand at thy right side, yet shal it not touch thee.

This is doubtles a louing, merciful, com­fortable and faire promise, whereon our hart by reason should trust, and chieslie reioyce in the same. For he that speaketh it, is only Almightie, and moste true, there­fore wee shoulde with reason giue credence vnto him.

For we can do God no greater dishonour then to dispair in his holy word. We ought [Page] therefore to be much more afraide of that inordi­nate feare then of death it selfe: for death can not hurt vs, in asmuch as (we thorowe baptisme) are graffed and buried vnto like death with Christ. But fearefulnesse (which is nothing else but an vnbeliefe) may harme vs, and bring vs into imprudence. Where­fore my most dearely beloued, take these pro­mises to heart, strengthen your heart, mind, and vnderstanding therewith, and be not faynt harted. So shall yee proue by experi­ence, that God is true, and faithfully perfor­meth that which he promiseth.

And that yee may the more easely beléeue it, I wil declare it vnto your charitie, by a si­militude how it commeth to passe, & whence it springeth, that a right faithful Christian man may bee safe and free from all these Plagues: for it is good to vnderstande, and comfortable to know.

Your charitie séeth and prooueth daily by experience, how mighty & horrible a thing the darkenesse of the night is. For when it falleth, it couereth all the whole world, dark­neth the colour and fashion of all creatures, captiuateth all men and beastes liuing, that they must be still and rest, yea, and maketh them faintharted and fearefull, and so of all [Page] things it is a mighty inuincible tyraunt whom no man may withstand. Neuerthe­lesse, it is not yet so mighty, that it can darken, ouerwhelme, and quench the least light that is founde in the world. For wee sée, that the darker the night is, the clearer doe the starres shine: Yea, the least candle light that is lighted, withstandeth y ^e whole night, and suffereth not onely the darke­nesse not to couer or oppresse it, but giueth light euen in the middes of the darkenes, and smiteth it backe a certaine space on e­uery side: & where it is borne, thence must darkenesse depart, and giue place vnto the light: al the power and fearefulnesse there­of, can not helpe against it.

And though a light be so weake, that it giueth not light farre aboue it, neither can smite the darkenesse backe (as the sparke of an whote cole) yet can not the darkenes couer it, much lesse quench it: but it giueth light it selfe alone, so that it may be séene a farre off in the darkenesse, and remayneth vnouercome of the same, though it cannot helpe other thinges, nor giue light vn̄to them.

Yea (that yet more wonderfull is) a rotten shining péece of Wood, which ne­uerthelesse [Page] hath the fayntest light that can be founde, remayneth inuincible of all the power of darkenesse: and the more it is compassed about with darkenesse, the clearer light it giueth: so little can darke­nesse ouercome or holde downe any light, but it ruleth, vanquisheth, and expelleth the darkenesse, which else ouerwhelmeth, snareth, and putteth all things in feare.

Euen so likewise doth a well spring al­so, for there may we see, how a little vaine of water, breaketh out of the groundsome where scarce so great as a finger.

And when it is closed in rounde about, that the water may gather together, and must néedes be a ditch or a pitte, yet sprin­geth it neuerthelesse. And though the wa­ter bee certaine hundreds weight aboue the spring, yet may not it driue the spring backe, but the spring driueth the whole burthen of the water backe, and aboue it selfe, and springeth still more and more, till the poole flowe ouer. And if the other water be foule and vncleane, it cannot mi [...]e it selfe vnder the fresh cleare water of the spring, but it remaineth cleare till it come farther abroad from the first head thereof, as it may wel be prooued by daily [Page] experience. If a naturall light then be so mighty against the darkenes of the night, and an earthen well spring so strong in stryuing against all standing waters: howe much more doeth it then, the true e­uerlasting and heauenly light, and the onely inuinsible spring of all life, name­ly, God the Lorde our maker and Saui­our?

That God is the true, euerlasting and heauenly light, witnesseth Iohn the Euan­gelist in the first Chapter, and sayeth: God was the worde, in him was the life, and the life was the light of men. Likewise also in his Canonicall Epistle in the first Chap­ter: God is light, and in him is no darke­nes.

In like manner, That he is the onely inuincible spring of all life, witnesseth the Prophet Ieremie in the seconde Chapter. For there sayth the Lord: My people committeth a double sinne, they forsake me the liuing spring of life, and make them­selues fayre welles, which neuerthelesse giue no water. And Dauid saieth in the xxxv. Psalme: With thee is the spring of life, and in thy light see we light.

If God the Lord then be the true light, [Page] it followeth that all they which put their trust in him, bee as a burning candle: for by faith doth God dwell in our harts, and we are the liuing temple of God, as Paul to the Corinthians doeth witnesse more then once. Therefore saith Christ of his Disci­ples. Math. 5. Ye are the light of the world. And of Iohn the Baptist: He was a burning▪ and shining light. Iohn 5. Likewise if God be the euerlasting and liuing fountaine, it followeth, that the faithfull be euen flow­ing springs. Therefore sayth Christ also. Iohn 7. Who so beleeueth on mee, as the Scripture sayeth, out of his body shal flow streames of liuing Water: But this he saide of the Spirit which they that beleeue on him should receiue.

Like as the darkenesse of the night now can hurt no earthly or worldly light, but must giue place and flye from the light: E­uen so saith Satan also which is a Prince of spirituall darkenesse, can doe no harme to a true right beléeuing Christian man, but must feare and flie from him: For God which is the euerlasting light, dwelleth & shineth in his hart, and driueth and expel­leth far from him all the workes of darke­nesse. And like as no heape of water can [Page] driue backe any fountaine of the grounde, and hinder the quicke spring thereof: and like as no vncleannesse can make it foule, euen so also can no aduersity of this world take away or shorten any Christian mans life. For God which is the fountaine of all life, dwelleth and liueth in his heart, and driueth all hurtful poyson and mortal sick­nesses farre away from thence, so that not onely it can not harme him, but hee also helpeth other people, and deliuereth them by his presence: euen as a light that shi­neth farre about it, and as a spring that al­way floweth, runneth and maketh the ground moyst and fruitfull.

And this is that the Lord sayeth in the Gospell, in the last of Marke: The tokens that shall follow them which beleeue, are these: In my name shall they cast out deuils, speake with newe tongues, driue away ser­pents: and if they drinke any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them: They shall lay handes vpon the sicke, and they shall recouer. So is it read also in the Actes of the Apostles the v. Chapter, that the sicke were made whole onely of Saint Peters shaddow.

So vtterly must we vanish euery thing that is contrary & against the euerlasting [Page] light and springe of life, where a right Christian man is, in whome God dwel­leth by a true beliefe and out of whom the holy Ghost shineth and floweth.

Let Satan then presse in here with all his darkenesse, and with all his hurtful in­fection, yet shal ye see in beliefe that he can not take or destroy any Christian man therewith, if he continue in faith, & kéepe God in his hart: But he shall be smitten backe and driuen away by force, as the wounderfull workes of Christ, and of all Saints doe manifestly declare. Therefore it is a great shame for a christian man to be afraid for the Plague of the Pestilence, as to flye from them whome he is bounde to serue by Gods commaundement. For by reason hee should without all feare make haste vnto them, not onely to fulfill Gods commaundement, but also by his presence to helpe them, if their faith doe else worke withall. But if it come not to passe, yet is hee sure, for asmuch as God dwelleth in him, and he walketh and go­eth in Gods commandement. For certain­ly this promise shall not faile him:

Though a thousand fall at thy side, & ten thousand at thy right side, yet shall it not [Page] touch thee.

But with faith must these wordes be taken holde vpon, for naturall reason doth not comprehend them, in asmuch as in­déede it appeareth farre otherwise. And no man néedeth to thinke nor iudge, that they which die of this plague, be all vnchristian and faithlesse: but we ought not to doubt, but that there die thereof many vertuous men, and leaue many vngodly. This is done, because that death may happen to a man two manner of waies.

One way after the common course of na­ture, according as euery mans death is appointed him of God: and we haue con­sented vnto it in baptisme. Of this sayth the holy man Job in the xiiii. Chapter: A man hath his appoynted time, the number of his moneths standeth with thee: thou hast appoynted him his bounds, which hee shall not ouerpasse. Another way may death happen to a man before the time, by reason of his great & grieuous sinnes: As the Lord hath threatned by Moyses, that if his com­mandement be not kept, he wil cause pesti­lence to reigne: whereout it is certain, that when they be kept, the plague abideth out. Likewise saith he in the commandements: [Page] Honor Father and mother that thou maiest liue long, &c. Out of the which it is cer­taine, that his life which doeth them not, shall be shortened. In like manner sayeth Dauid in the 55. Psalme, The bloud-thirstie shal not bring their life to the halfe nomber. Whereout it is sure, that they should liue much longer, if they shed not innocent blood. Likewise Christ saith: Luk. 12. Ifye doe not repent, yee shall all perish, as they that the towre in Siloa fell vpon. Whereby it is certaine, that who so repenteth not, may looke for all mis-fortune.

And of this vntimely death onely spea­keth this Psalme, and promiseth the faith­full Christian men, that they shall be frée from it. For from the right apointed death into the which we haue consented in Bap­tisme, we neither can, nor shall be deliue­red. Wherefore if a vertuous right Chri­stian man die of this plague, it is certainly his very houre appointed vnto him of God which he cannot preuent. But doubtlesse, there dye of it many sinners also beside, which might well liue longer if they re­pented. And though some bee taken be­cause of their sinnes, yet be they not there­fore damned, but if they aske forgiuenesse [Page] of sinnes, and beléeue, they shall be saued: As Paul saith: When wee be iudged, we are chastened of the Lord, that wee should not be condemned with the world.

Thus goeth it then together, that iust men die their owne right death, but the wicked die an vntimely death, and there­with doeth God punish the world sorest of all, because of their sinnes, but spareth his owne for their faiths sake. Therefore should they not be feareful nor faint-hear­ted: but (as the Prophet saieth) they should looke and beholde, how the vngodly are re­compenced: For whether the wicked dye before the time, or the iust in the right sea­son, yet is it done both for the punishment and plague of the vngodly. If vertous fa­thers and mothers die from wicked diso­bedient children, then be the children pla­ged: for they are afterward, euil nurtered, hanged or slaine. If yong children dye from wicked fathers and mothers, then be the children deliuered, and the fathers and mothers punished, in that they haue ga­thered their goods for those that they wish them not vnto. If tyraunts die, then bee they punished, and the persecuted Christi­an deliuered. If good rulers die, which [Page] with their wisdome haue maintayned peace and good gouernance, then be they in peace: And so the vngodly which are left a­liue, rayse vp warre and sedicion, and bee alway punished worse and worse. Shortly who so hath eyes of faith, séeth that true beleeuers die in a right season, but the vn­godly before the time. Wherefore whether good men die or liue, it is done for their wealth. But whether the wicked die or liue, it is done for their punishment, & al­waies shal they be plagued, & their wicked­nes shalbe rewarded them.

Wherefore my most dearely beloued, take ye such doctrine and comfort to hart & follow the same. Flye in good earnest (by true repentance & amendment) from sinne wherewith the worlde hath deserued this horrible plague: And flie by a true vpright faith vnto Gods worde, wherein is the fountaine of life, & the light of men: Then shal ye be whole & safe from this and other plagues, and so liue to the honour of God & wealth of your neighbour, til the appointed time come wherin God y ^e father (in y ^e death of Christ that we be baptised in) shal send for vs out of this miserable life to his own euerlasting kingdome: which God graunt vnto vs all,

Amen.