THe heart of the Wise is in the house of mourning: Ecles. [...]. [...]. (saith So­lomon) but the heart of fooles is in the [Page 2]house of mirth. Is the heart then, sometimes in a Pilgrimage from the body? Or is the body required to visit the sick, yea, though the Dis­ease be Infectious? Or are we al­wayes, by command, to intimate the Prophet, Psal. 42.3. whose Teares were his Meat day and night? The heart in­deed is often from home; and is least where it liveth, most where it loveth. The Sick must be visited, or else my Saviour will complaine as he doth in the Gospel, saying, I was sick, Mat. 25.43. Job 2.11. and ye visited me not. When Job 's three friends heard of the evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place; for they had made an appointment to­gether to come to mourn with him, and to comfort him. Vers. 13. So they sate down with him upon the ground, and mourned seven dayes and seven nights. When Elisha was fallen sick of his sickness wherewith he dyed, 2 Kin 13.14. Joash the King of Israel came down unto him, and wept over his face, and said, O my Father, my Father, the Charet of Is­ra [...], and the Horse-men thereof. When wicked King Jo [...]am went to be Irealed in Jezreel of the wounds which the Syrians had given him at R [...]mah, ch. 8. [...]. Ahaziah the Son of Heho­ram [Page] King of Judah went down to see him in Jezreel, because he was sick. Thus do I read of a Holy Patient visited by friendly Mourners: a Ho­ly Prophet visited by a weeping King: a Wicked King visited by an­other as wicked as himself. All these were visiters, or visited: But I do not find that the Diseases were In­fectious. No: I must therefore imitate the best of them in my cha­rity to others: but I may not forget charity to my self. Wilfully to run into apparent danger, is desperately to tempt the Keeper of Israel. What shall I then do? The passing-bells inform mine eares of the mortality of my Neighbours; and yet I can­not, I must not visit them. What (I say) shall I do? What course shall I take? Charity commandeth me, compassion hastenth me to the dying Christians, that by my ad­vice, or at least by my prayers I might expresse my commiseration. And yet, when I am just at my door provided, resolved, intended to go, even then mine own health, the health of my Family, and (which is greater then all these) the fear of displeasing my Gracious Protectour brings me back again, and keeps me [Page 4]at home. I would not be uncha­ritable; but I must not be desperate. Well then: I am resolved what I will do. I will (with Solomon) go to the houses of mourning, the houses of the Visited; yet not in body, but in mind, and in purse; I will pitty them, and I will send relief unto them. I dare not go in Person, but I will go in Affection; and for my Neighbours groaning under the evil of punishment, and for my self bur­thened with the evil of sinne; I will feed upon my teares day and night. I must grieve for my self in parti­cular; and yet I must not be so un­kindly Covetous, as to keep my teares onely for my self. In pub­lick Calamities those who shed no teares may be justly suspected to have no bowell [...]. I find my self not un-apt to weep; for I am prompted to that by the weakness of my dispo­sition. And yet I suspect my self; I am jealous of my self, that my teares do rather flow from my fear of Infection, then from a fellow-feel­ing of the miseries which the infect­ed suffer. To heighten therefore my mourning, and to justifie it by my compassion, I will propose to my self the Examples of others such [Page 5]as I finde Recorded in the word of my God.

When the Destruction of the Jewes was near at hand, 1 the Lord called upon them by the mouth of his Prophet, saying, Consider ye, Jer. 9.17. and call for the mourning women that they may come; and send for cunning wo­men that they may come: Verse 18 And let them make hast, and take up a wayling for us, that our eyes may run down with teares, and our eye-lids gush out with waters: Verse 19 for a voice of wayling is heard out of Zion, How are we spoy­led, &c. Verse 20 The Women were com­manded to hear the Word of the Lord; and their eares to receive the word of his mouth: they were to teach their daughters wailing; and every one her Neighbour Lamentation: Verse 21 For death was come up into their windows, and entered into their Palaces; to cut off the Children from without, and the young men from their streets. Verse 22 Even the carcassesof men did fall as dung upon the field, and as the handfull after the harvest-man; and none did gather them. The case is now with us, as it was then with the Jews. Alass, how are we spoyled too! How is death come up into our windows by the Infectious Aire! How do our [Page 6]Children dye, and our Young Men fall! Our Children which know not the cause; and our Young Men that trusted in the strength of their Youth! O how do the Carcasses of men fall as dung upon the open field, and as the handfull after the Harvest man; and yet there are none to ga­ther them up! They perish without, because either there is not room enough left within doors for them; or not people alive to attend them in their sickness; or not people of strength enough to unlock the doors or not means for their sustenance if they enter in. Thus necessity dri­veth them into the fields; and there mortality seizeth upon them, where no person is found to bury their bo­dies; no bearers to carry them to the surfeited Earth; no friends to be­wail the loss of their lives; and no Christians to cover them from their gazing spectators; the very Fowles of the Air, and the Beasts of the field. What heart would not break; what eye would not weep; what soul would not lament for this sad Visita­tion? Lam. 1.16. For these things (with Jere­miah) will I weep: mine eye, mine eye shall run down with water; because the comforter which should relieve our souls, is far from us.

The Lord hath thrown down Jeru­salem (saith the Prophet) and hath not pittied; 2 Lam. 2.17. and he hath caused their Enemy to rejoyce over them; he hath set up the born of their Adversary. Verse 18 Their heart cryed unto the Lord, O wall of the Daughter of Zion, let teares run down like a River day and night: give thy self no rest; Verse 19 let not the apples of thine eyes cease. Arise, cry out in the night: in the beginning of the Watches powre out thine heart like water before the face of the Lord: lift up thy hands towards him, for the life of thy young Children that faint in the top of every street. Verse 1 Even thus hath the Lord covered us also with a cloud in his anger, as then he did the Daughter of Zion; and cast down from Heaven unto the Earth the beauty of our Israel; and remembered not his foot-stool in the day of his anger. An Enemy destroyeth, and rejoyceth over us: but such an Enemy it is, as nei­ther can hear, nor will spare. The very Aire which was created to coole the flames of our scorching hearts, is so poysoned with the Infection, that the more we make of it, the less we our selves are made by it: the closer we seat it even to and in our hearts, the nearer doth the Infection [Page 8]approach our spirits. The corrupt­ed Aire shall be therefore cleansed by the thick groanes that shall fly from my heavy heart; and be purified with the thunder of my loudest cryes. With Moab in the Prophesie, Isa. 15.2. I will howle over N [...]bo, Verse 3 and over Medeba, in the streets let every one gird himself with sack-cloath: on all their heads let there be baldness: on the tops of our houses, and in our streets let eve­ry one howle, Jer. 48.4. weeping abundantly; for we are destroyed; for our little ones have caused a cry to be heared. Oh our sucklings that cry for milk from the breast, suck in destruction when they expect their nourishment. For these things (with Jerusalem) I will weep sore in the night (in this night of a General Affliction: Lam. 1.2.) my teares shall be on my cheeks, because among all our Lovers there is none to comfort us.

At the final desolation of the house of Israel, 3 Eze. 7.16. the Prophet told them that, They that fled away of them should escape, and should be on the Mountains like Doves of the Val­leys, all of them mourning, every one for his Iniquity: Verse 17 All hands should be feeble, Verse 18 and all knees should be weak as water: They should also gird them­selves [Page 9]with sack-cloath, and horrour should cover them; and shame should be upon all their faces, and baldness upon their heads. Lord what a time of mourning should here be! What a time of horrour! Destruction is threatned; and whom Destruction missed, mourning should over-take; feebleness should follow, weakness should pursue, and horrour should cover. Oh, that very time is come now upon us: that Prophesie is ful­filled in our Israel. Here is no sword to slay us; no Fiery Engines of a hel­lish invention to murder us; no men to take us Captives: but here is worse, far worse; Psal. 91.6. here is the Pesti­lence that walketh in darkness, and the destruction that wasteth at noon­day. Here are houses not inhabited; Streets not trampled; Churches not frequented, Sick not visited, Hungry not fed, Doors not opened, Bells not ceased, and Graves not satisfied. Isa. 24.10 Pro. 30.15 E­very house is shut up, that no man may come in. The Horse-leech hath here her two Daughters crying give, give. Here are three things not satisfied; yea, four things that say not, It is enough. The Hungry cry give, and the Thirsty cry give, and the Sick cry give, and the Grave cryeth give. The [Page 10] Hungry pine, and therefore cry; the Thirsty scorch, and therefore cry; the Sick want help, and therefore cry; but, O, the Grave is daily fed, and yet it is daily hungry. The mouth thereof is opened, and it devoureth men; and yet for all that, it still cry­eth for our return to the dust as we were. Eccl. 12.7 The Mountaines the great persons escape not: the habitations of men are like the Wildernesses for Beasts, because the Inhabitants are burnt up with the fiery Pestilence. Therefore (with the Prophet) For the Mountaines will I take up a weep­ing, Jer 9.10. and wayling; and for the Habi­tations of the Wilderness a Lamenta­tion; because they are burnt up that none can pass thorow them; neither can men hear the voice of the Cattel.

The House of Israel was com­manded to seek the Lord; 4 Amos 5.4. but they on the contrary are said to have sought Bethel, Verse 15 and to have entered into Gilgal, and to have passed to Beersheba: Verse 16 Therefore the Lord, the Lord of Hosts, the Lord said thus: Wailing shall be in all streets, and they shall say in all high wayes, Alas, Alas: and they shall call the husband­man to mourning, and such as are skilfull of Lamentation to wayling; Verse 17 [Page 11]and in all Vine-yards shall be wayl­ing, for I will pass thorow thee, saith the Lord. Here is again a cloud of sorrows; a thick mist of groans, Verse 18 for the day of the Lord is darkness, and not light. This cloud overcasteth us too; this mist choaketh us; this darkness blindeth us. Here is way­ling in our streets, to dim our eyes; here is the Husband-man mourning to stifle us with sorrow; and here is the mourning of the Vine-yards, to cloud our souls. Our hearts, Psal. 104.15. which should have been gladded with the fruit of the Vine, are squeezed and pressed like the bunches of Grapes. Our Bellies, which should have been filled with the Fruits of the Earth, do cry in their emptiness, and wayle with the Husband-man. One woe courteth another: one curse saluteth another. Our Sickness is great, and yet our Famine too is great; not that the Earth hath forgotten to be fer­tile, but by reason that men are afraid to furnish us. Pestilence con­sumeth, and Hunger cryeth: thus the Visited dye they know not of what; for Sickness calleth, and Hun­ger calleth, and Want calleth, and Sorrow calleth: all of them joyn in their hideous concord, in their hor­rid [Page 12] discord, and call for our Ruine, and yell for our Destruction. That heart which bleedeth not for such un­utterable sorrow, must needs be stone, or steel: nay worse; for stones will weep, to complain with the clouds: and steel will droop in a time of stormes. Heart, if thou are a wo­mans, break; if thou art a Christi­ans, lament; if thou art mine, be­moan the afflictions which dwell a­mong my friends, Joel 2.6. and the blackness which the faces of my Neighbours have gathered. Ps. 35.13. I will (with David) put on sack-cloath now, though for my very Enemies which are Sick; and humble my soul with Fasting: and I will go heavily, Verse 14 as one that mourn­eth for his Mother. With the Pro­phet Isaiah, Isa. 16.9. I will bewail with the weeping of Jazer the Vine of Shib­mah: I will water thee with my toares, O Heshbon, and Elealeh. Or with Jeremiah, Jer. 14.17 Let mine eyes run down with teares night and day, and let them not cease; for the Virgin-Daughter of this People is broken with a great breach, with a very grievous blow.

The Prophet Ezekiel telleth the Israelites, 5 Eze. 7.12. that The time is come; the d [...]y draweth near: let not the buyer [Page 13]rejoyce, nor the seller mourn; for wrath is come upon all the Multitude there­of. The King shall mourn, Verse 27 and the Prince shall be cloathed with desola­tion; and the hands of the people of the Land shall be troubled. O Israel, how great were thy pangs, when thus thou wert Visited! O how deep are our groans too in this day of our Vi­sitation! The Israelites are dead; their Torments are forgotten: but we live; we live dying; we live to suffer; we live to dye. To dye, said I? O that Death were sweet indeed, if it would come with a wish; if it would hasten it's approach: it were sweeter then the honey, Psa. 19.10 and the honey comb. What was formerly our dread, is now our desire. What we posted from, we would now hasten unto, could but Death yet grow so pittifull, so mercifull as to hear our desires. But we cannot either dye when we would, or how we would. We may not chuse either the time, on the manner of our death. See, See, how it stare's us in the face; and look's upon us in every Passenger that crawleth by our doors; in every Cossin that is carried by our win­dows. Dye we must; but of what Diseas [...]? By what means? If of Ago, [Page 14]'tis welcome: if of a Consumption, 'tis kind. But what if of the Plague? What if of the Pestilence? Wo un­us, there is our fear; thence is our trembling. If that arrow be short at us, we shall have no Preacher to pray by us, or to administer ghostly consolation unto us: no Friend to Visit us; yea, and it may be, nei­ther Physick to help us, nor Meat to strengthen us, no nor Servant to at­tend us. We may call, but none will dare approach to answer us: we may weep, but none will dare come to comfort us. This, this day is come upon us. The Buyer rejoyceth not, fearing least with his bargain he purchase a Disease. The Seller mourneth not, hoping that though he loose by his bargain, yet his money will furnish him with things for necessity. Thus the wrath of God is come upon us: we are cloathed with desolation. This I feele; and and yet I feele it not: I hear of it; but it cometh not yet upon me: it walketh by my doors; it beckneth to me in the streets; it knocketh at my habitation; and yet, for all this, (blessed be my God) it is not yet entered. But who knoweth how soon that affrighting Disease may [Page 15]force open my door; or creep in at my window; or peepe in at a key­hole; or slink in at a crevise? The Disease is general; but my sorrows shall be therefore as generall. All others shall not weep, and my self alone rejoyce. The meat offering, Joel 1.9. and the drink offering (the participation of the Holy Communion) through fear is cut off from the House of the Lord: the Priests, Hos. 4.3. the Lord's Mini­ster. do mourn. The Land mourneth, and every one that dwelleth therein languisheth; with the Beasts of the Field, and with the Fowles of the Heavens. Ezr. 10.6. Therefore (with Ezra) I will go into the Chamber; and when I am come thither, I will eat no bread, nor drink water; for I will mourn, because of the transgressions of us all. Or (with Nehemiah) I will sit down and weep, Neh. 1.4. and mourne certaine dayes; and fast, and pray before the God of Heaven.

The Lord God of hosts did threaten to touch the Land of israel, 6 Amos 9.5. and it should melt, and all that dwelled therein should mourn; and it should rise up wholly like a flood, and be drowned as by the flood of Aegypt. Thus hath he threatned us also; and hath he not brought it to pass? See, [Page 16] See how the Land melteth; Psal. 97.5 yea melt­eth like wax at the presence of th [...] Lord; at the presence of the God o [...] the whole Earth. Needs must the Land, (the hearts of the inhabitants of the Land) melt at his presence seeing, the Apostle styleth him a consuming fire. Heb. 12.29. Oh how all do mourn that dwell in the Land! The Parents lament the sickness of the Child; the the Wife of the Hus­band; the Servant of the Mistress all mourn, all lament. It may now be truly said that the whole Land is drowned: for, what eye is not dim­med with teares? What house is not filled with teares? What street is not washed with teares? if the saltnesse of water will cause a barrennesse of the Earth, what fruit can possible our Land produce, which is thus moystened, thus watered with the brine of our teares? And yet, me thinks, the Earth appeareth as gree­dy as ever; for it speedily devour­eth whatsoever is sprinkled on it by the sorrows of the inhabitants. The insected cry, and the languishing cry: and shall not my teares much rather trickle down my cheeks, although my door is nor yet converted into pasture; nor my walks over-gro [...]n [Page 17]with the springing grass? O yes, much, much rather: yea, and with [...]he more courage will I weep, by how much the more I retaine my [...]rength to weep. I hear, Jer. 4.31. me thinks be Voices of the Visited, as of a wo­ [...]an in travel; and their anguish as [...] her that bringeth forth her first [...]hild, bewayling themselves, and breading their hands, and each of [...]hem saying, Woe is me now, for my [...]ul is wearied because of this mur­ [...]ering Sickness. Isa. 22.5. Therefore will. I [...]ake up the resolution of the Prophet [...]saiah; and whosoever shall come to [...]ivert my teares; to them I will say, Look away from me; I will weep bit­ [...]erly; labour not to comfort me. Or (with Jeremiah) my soul shall weep [...]n secret places, for their pains; Jer. 13.17 and [...]ine eye shall weep sore, and run down with tears; because the Lord's flock is thus destroyed.

The second part of the S [...] ­liloquie, treating of several cause of God's Visitations.

I Mourn, and I mourn and all o [...] of a sense of the general suff [...] ­ance; I mourn and I mourn by pre [...] ­dent: But do I find the cause of o [...] Distresses? The ground of our Sic [...] ­nesses? Pestilence is not the on [...] arrow that is shot from the Almig [...] ­ty, when his revenge is stirred u [...] and yet every punishment is term a Stroak, a Stripe, a Plague. Wh [...] the Lord intended the spoyle of t [...] Aegyptians by the Children of Isra [...] that which in others would ha [...] been deemed theft, or at the least cozenage, was in the Israelites b [...] Justice, and done in Obedience [...] him who is Lord of all, Ex. 12.36. when th [...] spoyled the Aegyptians of their Jew­ells, Verse 37 which yet they but borrowe [...] ▪ And yet this to the lenders is term­ed a Plague; for the Lord said un [...] Moses, Ch. 11.1. Yet will I bring one Plagu [...] more upon Pharaoh, and upon Aegyp [...] afterwards he will let you go hence▪ When the first-born of Aegypt wer [...] decreed to be slain for the stubborn­ness of the King, the Execution o [...] [Page 19]at decree was styled a Plague: for [...]od told the Israelites by his Servant [...]oses, saying; Ch. 12.13 The blood shall be to [...] for a token upon the houses where are; and when I see the blood, I [...]ll passe over you; and the Plague [...]all not be upon you to destroy you, [...]en I smite the Land of Aegypt. [...]hen the Children of Israel had [...]ged after the flesh-pots of Aegypt, [...]d cryed, and murmured against Moses and Aaron, saying, Ch. 16.3. Would to [...]od we had dyed by the hand of the [...]ord in the Land of Aegypt, when we [...]te by the flesh-pots, and when we did [...]t bread to the full; for ye have rought us forth into this Wilderness to [...]ill this whole assembly with hunger: [...]hen (I find) the Lord was intreat­ [...]d for flesh; but that flesh proved [...]he Destruction of the People, and [...]hat Destruction is called a Plague. For, Num. 11.33. while the Quailes were yet be­tween their teeth (saith the Text) [...]re the flesh was chewed, the wrath [...]f the Lord was kindled against the people; and the Lord smote the people with a very great Plague. Consum­ption is also said to be a Plague; for so saith the Prophet. Zech. 14.12. This shall be the Plague where-with the Lord will smite all the People that have fought [Page 20]against Jerusalem: Their flesh [...] consume away while they stand [...] their feet; and their eyes shall [...] sume away in their holes; and [...] tongue shall consume away in [...] mouth. Thus every Judgement truly a Plague; and from Go [...] cometh; and upon men, weak [...] mortal men and women it come but it is for their sins; it is for t [...] Transgressions. Every one gro [...] under the Affliction, but few for Cause. We are angry with the R [...] and we are angry with the Correct and yet we quarrel not with [...] selves for meriting such, yea mo [...] yea greater, yea more tormenti [...] more continuing Punishments. [...] will therefore look into the sacr [...] page yet once again: I will look i [...] to the roll of that Book, and (wi [...] Ezekiel) I will spread it before no and find written therein the Lame­tations, Ezek 2.9. Verse 10 and Mournings and Woes. [...] will find the Punishments, and I w [...] find out the Offences too. I wi [...] mourn with them, with us, with ev [...] ­ry one that is visited: and with the [...] and for our selves I will pry into th [...] causes of our maladies, seeing I kno [...] that God will not be angry withou [...] a cause. Psal. 89.30. We do first forsake his Laws [Page 21]and walk not in His Judgements; Verse 31 we [...]st prophane His Statutes, and break [...]s Commandments; Verse 32 before He Visi­ [...]h our Transgression with the Rod, [...]d our Iniquity with Stripes.

Wherefore did the Prophet Jere­ [...]ah cry out, and say, 1 Jer. 23.9. Mine heart [...]ithin me is broken; all my bones [...]ake: I am like a drunken man, and [...]ke a man whom Wine hath overcome, cause of the Lord, because of the [...]ord of his Holiness? Here I finde [...]e Prophet in a strange and fervent [...]assion, in a trembling Extasie: yet [...]ot too great if I consider the cause, I weigh the verse that imediately [...]sueth: Verse. 10 For the Land (saith he) is [...]ll of Adulterers: for because of wearing (or cursing) the Land [...]ourneth; the pleasant places of the wilderness are dryed up; and their nourse is evil, and their force is not [...]ght. VVas Jerusalem thus Visited or Swearing and Cursing? Was Sa­ [...]aria thus burnt up with drought or Adultery? Lord what then hath [...]ot This Land deserved? An Oath in very tongue causeth a Cross upon e­very Door. Uncle [...]nnesse in every Person causeth the sowlest sores in e­very Patient. The Sins are Univer­sall, the Panishment must needs there­fore [Page 22]be as Universal. The Pu [...] ­ment is become generall; O our sorrow would grow as gen [...] This disease may be cured by [...] For my part therefore I will b [...] first that shall step into Bethesd [...] I have layne the longest in my [...] Jo. 5.2. long have I also waited for th [...] vation of my God. I will im [...] the Prophet Jeremiah, and cr [...] with him, and as truly as he, [...] heart is broken.

Why did the Prophet Mic [...] solve to wayle, 2 Mich 1.8. and to howle; stript, and naked; to make a w [...] like the Dragons, and mourning [...] Owles? Verse 3 Was it not because the was coming forth out of his place­ing down to tread upon the high p [...] of the Earth? Verse 4 Was it not becau [...] Mountains should be molten [...] him, and the Vallies be cleft, as before the fire, and as the waters are powred down a steep place? [...] was Destruction for Samaria, Ruine for Jerusalem; Verse 5 but all was for the Transgression of Ja [...] and for the sins of the House of Isr [...] The Graven Images were the si [...] the People: Idolatry incensed Wrath of the Almighty. [...] might he punish, when the wor [...] [Page 23] [...]ens hands robbed him of his ho­ [...]our, whose work-man-ship we are. [...]ell might he resolve to be known [...]e Mighty God in his Revenge, [...]hom they would not acknowledge [...] be God when he forbore them. [...]ut is it not just so with us as it was [...]ith them; Verse 5 Is not Samaria the sin of [...]ur Jacob? Are not the high places [...] Judah our Jerusalem? Here is [...]rath, and Wrath, and Plague, and Plague; but is not Idolatry still in [...]ur Gates? The God of the Patri­ [...]rch saith unto us, as Jacob did un­ [...] his House-hold, Gen. 35.2 and to all that were with him, Put away the strange Gods [...]hat are among you. If therefore we [...]ave still a noise of the Beades; of [...]he Chapters pretended to be conse­trated at Rome: if we have Pictures Worshipped; Crucifixes Adored; Prayers not understood; and other foot-steps of the Heathen remain­ing amongst us; I cannot choose but remember what our incensed Crea­tor saith by his Prophet concerning the sins of the Jews; Jer. 9.9. Shall I not Visit them for these things, saith the Lord? Shall not my soul be avenged o [...] such a Nation as this? Lord where thou art not truly Worshipped, thou wilt be dreadfully Feared. Though [Page 24] this sin be not General, thought Universal amongst us; is it no [...] be found in Private? Doth it [...] lurk in private Closets? Is it [...] harboured in some secret hearts? hateth the light because it is not truth: but yet our sins may multi [...] in the dark, until they have brou [...] us to the Land of Darkness. O [...] (with Jacob) we would all arise, Gen. 35.3 go up to Bethel, and make there Altar unto our God; then we kn [...] he would answer us in our distr [...] This is our Plague, this is our Puni­ment which now doth rage amon [...] us: and is not that our sin? Is [...] that our iniquity? What remain but that (so far as lyeth in me) should strive to appease the wrath my God? I will therefore endeavo [...] to blunt his arrow, that it may sti [...] no more when he shooteth it at [...] I will pray unto him to remove once both the Sin, and the Punish­ment. I will do as did Micah: will wayle, and howle: I will way like the Dragons, and mourne like [...] Owles.

When Ezra had Confessed the sin the People, 3 Ezr. 10.1 weeping, and casling him self down before the House of Go [...] there assembled unto him out of Isra [Page 25] a very great Congregation of Men, and Women, and Children; and the Peo­ple wept very sore. What ayled the Priest to cast himself down; and the People so sorely to weep? Were they not come out of Captivity? Were they not busied in re-edify­ing the House of the Lord? Were not their burnt Offerings, and their Sacrifices made unto the God of Israel? What now should deject them? What should dismay them? The Lord questioneth Cain the Murderer, the Fratricide, saying, Gen. 4.6 Why is thy countenance sallen? If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? And if thou doest not well, Verse 7 sin lyeth at the door. Thus might Judah and Benjamin be likewise examined. They had a sin that lay at the door: yea nearer, closer to them if possible might be; even in their beds, in their bosomes. Ezra 9.1. They had not seperated themselves from the People of the Lands, and from doing according to their abominations: but they had ta­ken of their Daughters for themselves, Verse 2 and for their Sons: yea the hand of the Princes, and Rulers had been Chief in this Trespass. Yet for all this, their Punishment was not hi­ther to come upon them to the full. [Page 26]They had yet but a sprinkling of it only some drops: or at most but a gust, a small storm, a shower or tw [...] of rain. When the Lord was angry the clouds frowned; they knit thei [...] brows; and it were in the abun­dance of their compassion, cha. 10.9. they dis­solved into teares for the sins of th [...] People. But more vengeance w [...] expected; therefore the Childre [...] of the Captivity turned away the Wives, Verse 14 That the fierce wrath of G [...] for this matter might be turned fre [...] them. If such a sin as this he th [...] cause of this our dreadful Visitati [...] we ought also (with them) to fit the street of the house of God, Verse 9 tre [...] ­bling, because of this matter. Wh [...] ­ther this, or whatsoever else is th [...] cause of this Contagion, the sin this Land; Cha. 9.4. for my part I will [...] solve (with the same Ezra) to [...] astonished at the sins of the Lan [...] and (with the people) I will tre [...] ­ble at the words of the God of Israe [...] because of the Transgressions of [...] People of this Land. I will not rise from my heaviness; Verse 5 But I w [...] rent my Garment, Joel 2.13 or rather my Hea [...] and not my Garment, and turn un [...] the Lord my God: for he is Gracio [...] and Mercifull; slow to Anger, and [Page 27]great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. I will fall uponmy knees, Ezra 9.5. and spread out my hands unto the Lord my God.

Zion was threatned that her Gates should lament, and mourn; 4 Isa. 3.26. and that she being desolate, should sit on the ground. Here was the Punishment; a grievous Punishment: Desolation by War; Destruction by the Sword. Her Men should fall by the sword, Verse 25 and her Mighty Men in the War. But what was the cause? What stirred up the Almighty to shower down his ven­geance? Alas, it is too easily found. The Pride of the Woman was the De­struction of the Men. Verse 16 It was because the Daughters of Zion were haughty, and walked with stretched-out necks, and wanton eyes; walking, and min­cing as they went, and making a tink­ling with their feet. We are punish­ed; we are afflicted; not by the Sword, but (which is more dread­full) by the Pestilence. Our suffer­ances are not in the same manner indeed as were theirs; and yet we deserve both the manner, and the measure. Our Sins are alike; our Punishments must therefore be ex­pected alike; alike in the greatness, though they are not in the kind. [Page 4]They seem (me thinks) already t [...] agree in part; for, besides our sick­nesses, Mat. 24.6. we hear of Wars, and rumou [...] of Wars. Yea, they come yet near­er alike; for they were threatner that the Lord should smite them wi [...] a scab on the crown of the head of th [...] Daughters of Zion: Isa. 3.17 and this ver [...] Judgement appeareth among us i [...] every blane, in every botch, in ever carbuncle. Surely our sins are great, or greater then theirs. T [...] pride of our Sex in their Dresses, [...] their Laces, in their Jewells, [...] their Fashions, in their Gaites, [...] their Behaviours, in their Attendant in every thing is greater then Zion The Effects of Pride, their Lasci­vious Embracings, their Amoro [...] Conrtings are commoner, are fre [...] quenter then Zion's. Lord is it n [...] just with thee then, Vers. 18 to take aw [...] from us (as thou didest from Zion the bravery of our tinkling Ornaments and our Tyres, Vers. 19 and our Chains, an our Bracelets, Vers. 21 and our Rings, and o [...] changeable Suites of Apparel, Vers. 22 and o [...] Mantles, and our Glasses, and o [...] fine Linnen, Vers. 23 and our Hoods, and o [...] Vailes? Vers. 24 We may most justly in deed expect a stink, insteed of a swee [...] smell; and instead of a girdle a re [...] [Page 5]and instead of a well-set hair, blad­ness; and instead of a stomacher, a girdle of sack-cloath; and burning, instead of beauty. For us the Land mourneth; for our Pride the People are humbled; for our Sins the Pe­stilence Reigneth. Lord make us all with Zion, Lament and Mourn: make us sit on the ground, acknowledging Thy Justice, and Our Sinfulnesse. Eze. 35.15. God hath come down to the Grave a­mong us, as he did at the Destru­ction of Assyria for the Pride there­of; and caused Lybanon to mourn for us; and the Trees of the field to faint for us: therefore with Zion, I will lament, I will mourn, I will sit on the ground.

A Voice was once heard from the high places of Israel, 5 Jer. 3.21 weeping and supplications of the People; because they had perverted their way, they had forgotten the Lord their God. Here was sorrow at the heart for the sin of the soul; and yet no Destruction of the body threatned for Disobedi­ence. Had they continued in this their repentance, they might have prevented the ensuing Judgements: but intermission of sorrow proved to be the ground of their sorrow. Hence came their Land to be cur­sed [Page] [Page] [Page 4] [...] [Page 5] [...] [Page 30]with Barrenness, and the Proph [...] to cry out, Cha. 12 4 How long shall the L [...] mourn, and the Herbs of every [...] wither, for the wickedness of them th [...] dwell therein? Here Wickedness w [...] the Cause, and Barrenn [...]ss the Effect. But why should the Herbs and Flow­ers of the field suffer for the sins [...] the People? Alas, they grew up t [...] wards Heaven in their gratefull a [...] knowledgement, that from the [...] they received their nourishment [...] the Earth. Yea so innocent th [...] were, that when they looked abo [...] them, and saw (as it were) the wi [...] kedness of them for whose servi [...] they were made, every morni [...] hung pearly-tears upon their droo [...] ­ing eyes: and when they saw th [...] men had not half so much remo [...] as they themselves, they sad [...] shrunk to bed again in the Earth. It was a curse to them to be ens [...] ved in the service of cursed sins: [...] poysonous is transgression; so m [...] chievous is iniquity. Thus th [...] Herbs were cursed for the sins of th [...] Jews: but what had the Jews do [...] amiss, which we have not exceeded What wickedness had they commit­ted which we have not surpassed Therefore our Herbs and our Flow­ers, [Page 31]the beauty of our Gardens, and the pride of our Knots is nipped, is withered with the poysonous breath that ariseth from our infected bo­dies: and yet we fear that what we dispatched the air to kill in our Gar­dens, will bring poyson to us, and slay us in our Houses. Thus we suf­fer; for thus have we sinned: I will therefore resolve with the Pro­phet David, Psal. 119.136. That Rivers of Waters shall run down mine eyes, because we have not kept the Law of our God.

Shall not the Land tremble for this, 6 and every one mourn that dwelleth therein? Amos 8.8 Saith the Prophet Amos. Tremble! for what? Israel knew well enough; the poor were sen­sible enough; Vers. 6 even the Poor that were bought for silver, and the needy that were sold for a pair of shooes. Here was Oppression in the streets, Vers. 5 and Crying in the gates; for the Ephah was made small, and the Shekel great; and the ballances were falsified by deceit. No marvel that the Psal­mist concludeth, Psa. 61.9. Surely men of low degree are vanity, and men of high de­gree are a lye: to be laid in the bal­lance they are altogether lighter then vanity. It was thus among the Is­raelites; [Page 8]and thus it is among [...] also. Men of low degree are vanity, vanity in the account, and contemp [...] of Superiours? Vanity in the cru­elty of Superiours. Men of high de­gree, the Richest Traders, the Mer­chants of Corn, and the other fruit [...] of the Earth, are a lye: their mea­sures are false, their weights are false: yea they buy by one, an [...] they sell by another. They devou [...] their brethren, and yet they do it by a shew of Justice; for the ballance [...] they have corrupted, and the weight [...] they have pared; insomuch as men erre most, they are most deceived when they think themselves most righted, best dealt with. This I [...] ­justice commandeth us justly to mourn: so the belly cryeth, and the back cryeth. The hungry cry when they buy of the rich, and are cozen­ed by the rich: when they suffer in the cozenage, and suffer likewise in the publick, in the general punish­ment for the cozenage. For this our Land Mourneth, for this our People are Visited, our Houses are shut up, our Streets are not frequented, our Markets are not filled; and yet the hungry lament, and the thirsty do mourn. The poor can neither buy [Page 9]for their money; nor be imployed in their willing labours to earn them money; nor live without money. We roar all like Beares, Isa. 59.11 and mourn sore like Doves. We look for judge­ment, but there is none: for salvation, but it is far from us. Therefore with the Oppressed I will cry, and with the Visited also I will cry. I will cry with the Oppressed for Right; and I will cry with the Visited for health. How long, Lord, how long wilt thou punish us? Ch. 44 22. O remove our sins like a cloud: blot out, as a thick cloud, our transgressions, and as a cloud our sins: return unto us, for thou hast redeemed us.

The third part of the Soli­loquie; shewing that Sin especially is the cause of the Pestilence.

THe Diseased (ignorant of the kind of their Maladies) cause the Physitian to consult with their Paulses; to examine their Urine; and by sympromes to find out the Cause of their disturbance. So should the sick Soul also; or else the ignorance of the sin may hinder the cure. Ge­neral [Page 34]complaints have been mad [...] by men groaning under the burden of several Visitations: but doth the Pestilence come by the same Rule [...] and arise from the same causes Surfeits, and Consumptions, an [...] Feavers, and Palsies, and Plurisie and other such sicknesses may ha [...] their Causes in Nature, and the Remedies oft-times by Physick: bu [...] neither is the cause of the Pestilen [...] so clear in nature; nor is the cu [...] thereof so easie by Physick. Or if [...] be; yet is this Disease more Infec [...] ­ous, more Mortal, and therefore mo [...] Dreadfull then any of the rest. I [...] shall therefore be my first care [...] find out the cause in my Soul, b [...]fo [...] I look upon the effects thereof [...] the bodie [...] of sinfull mortals. I wi [...] examine our times by those of o [...] Ancestours; and see whether this ge­neral Contagiou doth not rather pro [...] ceed from the malice of the soul [...] then from the Air-dyet, or whats [...] ­ever else the Physitians conjectu [...] at.

The men which Moses had sent [...] spic out the Land of Canaan returi­ed, 1 Num. 14.36. and made all the Congregation [...] murmur against Moses, by bringing up a slander upon that Land of Pro­mise: [Page 35]and those very men that did bring up that evil report upon the Land, Vers. 37 dyed of the Plague before the Lord. What? Of the Plague? Of the Pestilence? There were but Ten of those spies, and those Ten onely dyed. We have the Pestilence too; but it contenteth not it self with Ten, and Ten, and Ten, and Ten, but Hundreds dye; Hundreds are Visited; Thousands complain; every one feareth. But was their Disease the same as Ours? Was not theirs an inflamation of their tongues, and wormes issuing out of them, as a just recompence, because with their tongues they had lyed? Or was it not some other extraordinary Plague from the hand of God? Or was it not that Pestilence which was threat­ned when the Lord said unto Moses, How long will this People provoke me; Vers. 11 and how long will it be ere they believe me, for all signs which I have shewed among them? Vers. 12 I will smite them with the Pestilence, and dis-in­herit them; and will make of thee a greater Nation, and mightier then they? Whatsoever their Disease was, though I cannot determine it; yet will I consider the cause thereof. The cause was a sin, a grieveas sin; [Page 12]a lye: and the effect of this was [...] sin, a grievous sin; it was murmu­ring. O thus have we also added sins unto sins. We also lye; we lye grievously, desperately, impudently. Like unto Job's Friends, Job. 13.4. Psal. 40.4. Psal. 58.3. Psal. 62.4 Ez. 24.12 Hos. 10.13. we are for­gers of lyes; we turn aside to lyes; we go astray so soon as we be born, and speak lyes: we delight in lyes; and we have wearied our selves with lyes: justly therefore now do we eat the fruit of lyes. And yet, not content­ed with this, we murmur too. A­gainst our Superiours we murmur, for not governing us according to our Licentious, and sinfull desires: a­gainst the Rich we murmur, because we float not in their plenty: yea even against God himself we mur­mur, because he granteth not our sinful desires. Thus in every thought, and in every word we ei­ther find a sin, or make a sin. For this our lying, for this our murmu­ring we are now Visited; we are now Stricken; 1 Cor. 10 10. we are (as those spies were) destroyed of the Destroyer.

The Rebellious Israelites were threatned by Moses, 1 Deut. 28.61. that Every Sickness, every Plague which was not written in the Book of the Law, them should the Lord bring upon them, un­till [Page 13]they were destroyed: Vers. 62 And they should be left few in number, whereas they were as the stars of Heaven for Multitude. These were the mena­ces, these were the threats to the Children of Israel: but among all these Sicknesses, where is that which reigneth among us? Hath God prepared a new punishment for us, such as the Israelites never suffered, nor the Law ever mentioned, nor skill ever cured? Doubtlesse thus God could afflict us; but he chu­seth rather to punish us as he did o­thers, that so we might find out the cause as others have done. He was pleased to tell the Israelites the cause of their Plague which he would send upon them; Vers. 62: even Because they would not obey the Voice of the Lord their God. Just thus he punisheth us as he punished them; even untill we are almost quite destroyed: and he telleth us our sin, our offence too, by his Word, by his Ministers, by our own Consciences, even, that we refuse to obey the Voice of the Lord. Just therefore, most just it is, that seeing we have, we do, we will thus sin; even thus, yea thus severely likewise we should be punished. Yea, we deserve it in a far greater [Page 38] manner; in a far greater measu [...] He who threatened those that would walk contrary unto him, Levit. 26.21. and wo [...] not hearken unto him, that he wo [...] bring seven times more Plagues up [...] them, according to their sins: [...] who by Moses threatned them, th [...] If they would not observe to de all [...] words of that Law which are writ [...] in that Book, Deut. 28.58. that they might fear t [...] Glorious Name, Vers. 59 The Lord thy Go [...] Then the Lord should make the [...] Plagues wonderfull, and the Plagu [...] of their Seed; even great Plague and of long continuance: and s [...] Sicknesses, and of long continua [...] The self-same God hath found walking contrary unto him; a [...] therefore hath brought on us sev [...] times more Plagues then former [...] He seeth that we fear not this G [...] ­rious Name, The Lord our God therefore hath he sent us gr [...] Plagues, and of long continuance.

Thus I sit, and muse, and cons [...] ­der of the Sickness: I hear the Be [...] Tolling; even those Bells which we wont to invite us to the Temple that we might know our sins at th [...] mouth of the Preacher, and pra [...] for remission of our sins by the hel [...] of the Preacher; the very self-sam [...] [Page 39] Bells serve now to tell me that one man lyeth languishing, and desireth my Prayers; another man is depart­ed, and wanteth nothing but a Fu­nerall; a third man is to be buried, but a Neighbourly, and Friendly Company is wanting. Every stroak of a Bell (me thinks) hitteth me at the heart, and biddeth me to pre­pare for my last farewell Every toll awakeneth my conscience; and bid­deth me remember what my sins have merited. Thus mine eares re­ceive a sound; and thus my trem­bling heart feele [...]h a throb, a beating, a panting for my particular sins which have been some cause of this general Sickness.

Moses went unto the Lord, 3 and said, Ex. 32.31. Oh this People have sianed a great sin, and have mad them Gods of Gold! But what followed? The Lord Plagued the People, Vers. 35 because they worshipped the Calf which Aaron had made. There was the Sin, and there was the Punishment. But was that Plague the same as this which now doth rave, and rage amongst us? Surely our sins are the same as were theirs; for we dig the entrels of our mother Earth, and (like the Au­gures, the South-sayers, though they [Page 16] said no sooth, no truth at all) conjecture, we divine by those [...] trailes; yea, and we decree h [...] who is rich, to be a good man, a [...] ficient man, an honest man, and wh [...] not? We value the man for [...] Gold; we worship him for it; honour him for it. And is not to sin with the Israelites? We very little differ from those Id [...] ­ters, even nothing at all. Th [...] made them Gods of Gold, and make Gold our God. Justly the fore are we thus punished by [...] True God, because we honour [...] which is no God. The Israelites [...] this very kind, and sort of Plage such a very Pestilence as ou [...] and for just such a sin as this of ou [...] Though Moses prayed for them, y [...] though he desired to be blotted ou [...] the Book of God, Vers. 32 rather then th [...] should not be forgiven; yet G [...] decreed saying, Vers. 33 Whosoever hath si [...] ­ned again [...] me, him will I blot out my Book. [...]hosoever hath sinned a gainst him? If he should deal [...] with us who should people the lan [...] Who should [...]nhabit our dwellings Who should enjoy our Treasures He hath begu [...] blotting indeed al­ready: His Ink is found in the [Page 17] blackness of every blane; in the blew­ [...] of every Token; in the redness of [...]ery Crossed Door. But will this sotting alwayes continue? Will he [...]t stay his hand? Will his wrath [...]rn like fire for ever? Our bones [...] scattered at the graves mouth, as [...]hen one cutteth, and cleaveth wood [...]on the Earth. But mine eyes are [...]to thee, O God, the Lord; in thee is [...] Trust. Either blot not at all, Psa. 141.7 or [...]ly blot out our Offences. Vers. 8 Hide thy [...] from our sins, and blot out all our [...]quities. Say unto every one of [...] as thou diddest unto Jacob by the [...]outh of thy Prophet; I, even I am [...] that blotteth out thy Transgressions, Is. 43.25. [...]r mine own Names sake, and will [...]t remember thy sins.

The Fourth Part of the [...] liloquie, consisting, of se­veral Examples of Dread­full Pestilences.

LOrd what a hideous din [...] in mine eares! There [...] ­groan able to have shaken eve [...] Earth it self, had it been impr [...] ­ed in the deepest bowells the What another? Heark! Th [...] weeping too. Oh this is the sad­wearisome life of us poor si [...] who are caged, and miewed up [...] Infected Cities, and Towns, and lages. The Diseased groan th [...] the extremity of their pains; an [...] want of comforts both of body, soul. The sound are weeping so [...] miseries of the sick; and long the deliverance even of their w [...] Families from the burden of flesh. Some Habitations are m [...] both Hospitall, and Charnel-ho [...] where many a one lyeth sick; [...] for want of help, they sicken w [...] out Hope, they dye without Com [...] and they consume without Interm [...] Sometimes again the Mother, [...] [Page 43] dandled her Infant in her clasping [...]mes, is enforced in those armes to [...]ry it to the Grave. Sometimes [...]e Husband, who dearly affected be Wise of his bosome, is enforced to [...]ake her the burden of his shoul­ [...]ers; and to bear her dead Corps [...] the devouring Earth, for want of [...]riends, and Neighbours to ease [...]im of the burden. Yea, sometimes [...]he Children are enforced to assist [...]heir Father, in the carriage of their Mother to her longest home. O hor­our, horrour, horrour! Can pitty [...]nd no entrance at the hearts of strangers? Can compassion find no [...]arbour in the bowells of Neigh­bours? Will none perform this act [...]f piety to key-cold woman to the carcass of a woman, but onely her Husband, the Husband of her Af­fection; and her Children, the la­bour and the fruit of her Womb? O how divers in the world would stand amazed at the sight, and hardly de­termine whether the drops which fall from the faces of the bearers be the sweat of their brows, or the tears of their eyes. Oh what a dreadfull time is this! Did ever age produce a paralell to this severe Contagion? Was it ever known that a Pestilence [Page 20]was so generall, and so malign [...] Did ever any people drink so of the Cup of Sorrow, Astonish and Desolation as we do? Ez. 23.33 Was Samaria, Vers. 4 or Aholah, or Aholib [...] Babylon, Jer. 25.20 or Jerusalem; was ev [...] King of the Land of the Philistin [...] Askelon, Vers. 21 Vers. 22 or Uzzah, or Ekro [...] Ashdod; Vers. 23 was ever Edom, or [...] or Ammon, Hos. 4.18. or Tyrus, or Zidon; ever Dedan, or Tema, or any place so drunk with the Cup [...] from the Lords hands, as we Our drink was formerly sowre our Whoredoms, with our Abo [...] ­tions: Jer. 8.14. Ch. 23.15 Ch. 25.15 Ez. 39.17 Vers. 18. Vers. 19. Lam. 1.12 Now therefore we have ters of Gall to drink; we are with Worm-wood; and our Cu [...] Cup of fury, of trembling, and of nishment. O the Plague, the P [...] it is that eateth our flesh, and d [...] ­eth our blood: It eateth the fle [...] the Mighty, and drinketh the blo [...] Princes; it drinketh even untill drunken with our blood. Was t [...] ever any sorrow like unto our sor wherewith the Lord doth afflict [...] this day of his fierce wrath?

But why do I thus cry out? W [...] complain I so mournfully, as if Afflictions exceeded all that e [...] were sent upon the Children. [Page 21]M [...]n? If I consider our estate by it [...]f, I cannot choose indeed but [...]clude it miserable: but if I weigh [...] with the Pestilences of former [...]es, it will not perhaps appear a [...]rden so un-supportable. Com­ [...]risons may peradventure ease my [...]rief, and lessen my Torments: [...]erefore (with David) I will re­ [...]mber the dayes of Old; Ps. 143.5. I will me­ [...]ate on all the works of God. It [...]y be that Solomon may advise [...]e, and comfort me too, where he [...]us counselleth; Eccl 7.10 Say not in thine [...]art, What is the cause that the for­ [...]r dayes were better then these? For [...]ou doest not enquire wisely concern­ [...]g this. Ps. 77.5. I will therefore consider the yes of Old, and the years of ancient [...]nes.

The Children of Israel murmured [...]ainst Moses and Aaron about the estruction of Korah, Dathan, 1 Num. 16.41. Abi­ [...]m, and their Accomplices, saying, [...]e have Killed the People of the Lord: [...]d presently there was wrath gone [...] from the Lord, Vers. 46 the Plague was be­ [...]n. Vers. 49 So th [...]y that dyed of the Plague [...]ere Fourt en Thousand and Seaven [...]undred, and all in a day; beside [...]m that dyed about the matter of [...]orah.

When Israel abode at Shi [...] the People committed [...] horedome the Daughters of Moah: 2 Num. 25.1. and not tented with this high offence, Vers. 3 also joyned themselves unto [...] Peor, Psal. 106.28. and did eat the Sacri [...] the dead. Vers. 29 Thus they provo [...] Lord to anger with their inven [...] and the Plague brake in upon [...] and those that dyed in the Plagu [...] Twenty and Four Thousand. Num. 25.9. [...] sin was do [...]ble; it was Whore bo [...]h Carnal and Spiritual: the [...] nishm [...]nt was therefore almost [...] to that which was sent for mu [...] ring.

When David sent for the [...] ­tain of the Host to number the [...] ­ple; 3 Joab answered h [...]m fairly, [...] ­ing, 2 Sam. 24 3. Now the Lord thy God add [...] ­th People (how many soever th [...] an hundred fold; and that the ey [...] my Lord the King may see it: but [...] doth my Lord the King delight in thing? Vers. 4 Notwithstanding the Ki [...] Word provailed against [...]oab, an [...] gainst the Captains of the Host: Joab, and the Captains of the went out from the presence of the [...] to Number the People of Israel. [...] what was the event thereof? Lord sent a Pestilence upon Israel [...] Vers. 15 [Page 47] [...] morning even to the time appointed: [...] there dyed of the People from Dan [...] to Beersheba Seventy Thousand [...]en; and all of them in the space but three dayes. Vers. 13 Here was yet a [...]ater number then before; and [...] all of them fell for the sin of one [...]ly man: but this one man was a [...]g; and for his Eminent offence [...] times as many were slain, as [...]en the multitude of people joyned a murmuring. He who by the peo­ple was acknowledged worth ten thou­ [...]d of them, Ch. 18.3. now for his sin became [...]e destroyer of seven times as many them as he was vallued at by [...]em: so great was the anger of the [...]ord, for a sin so great, and commit­ [...]d by a person so great, so eminent.

The Almighty threatned Jeru­slem by the mouth of his Prophet, 4 [...]at he would make that City desolate, [...]d an hissing: Jer. 19.8. every one that passed [...]ere by should be astonished, and hiss, [...]ecause of the Plagues thereof. The [...]me God threatned Edom also by [...]e same Prophet, saying, Ch. 49.17 Edom [...]hall be a delolation: every one that [...]th by shall be astonished, and shall [...]ss at the Plagues thereof. The same God again threatned Babylon by the same Frophet, saying, Ch. 50 13 Because of the [Page 24]Word of the Lord, it shall not be [...] ­ted, but it shall be wholly deso [...] Every one that goeth by Babylon be astonished, and hiss at her Pla [...]

Thus I remember thy Judge [...] of Old, Psal. 119.52. O Lord, and receive c [...] Confesse I must indeed that W [...] sinned with our Fathers, 2 Chro. 6.37. we have amiss, and dealt wickedly: b [...] our Punishments as great as ou [...] thers were? Fourteen Thousand Seven Hundred of them fell a [...] time: Twenty and Four Tho [...] at another time: Threescore [...] Ten Thousand at a third [...] Lord, what mighty Numbers, here! and yet we fear when O [...] ­eth; we tremble when Ten; w [...] when Twenty; we are dism [...] when an Hundred; we are hop [...] heartless, even almost quite dea [...] ready when a Thousand depart. [...] why should not we expect as [...] Plagues as were sent upon a [...] our Ancestours, seeing, that our are not less either in Namber [...] Weight? Wherein are we be then Jerusalem, or Edom, or B [...] ­lon, that we are not yet as deso [...] as were they? That every one [...] passeth by is not astonished, nor his [...] at us, as they did at them? He [...] [Page 49]Visited them doth Visit us: Ps. 89.32. he Visi­ [...]th our Offences with his Rod, and [...]r Sins with his Scourges. Yet he Visiteth us not so sorely as he did he Israelites, when Fourteen Thou­ [...]and and Seven Hundred of them lyed; or not so severely as when [...]wenty and Four Thousand of them vere swept away: or not so grie­ [...]ously as when Threescore and Ten [...]housand of them were destroyed; [...] not so terribly as Jerusalem, Edom, [...]d Babylon; for we are not quite [...]esolate: or not so furiously as Nini­ [...]th, to whom God spake by his Pro­ [...]het saying, Nah. 3, 19 There is no healing of thy ruise; thy wound is grievous: all [...]hat hear the bruit of thee shall clap [...]he hands over thee: Or howsoever [...]ot so remedilesly as the Army of [...]haraoh at Euphrates, whom the [...]ord mocketh by the mouth of his [...]rophet, saying, Go up unto Gilead, Je [...]. 46.1 [...] [...]nd take Balm, O Virgin, the Daugh­ [...]r of Aegypt: In vain shalt thou use [...]y Medicines, for thou shalt not be [...]ured. This, Ez. 12.18 O this maketh me to [...]t my bread with quaking, and to [...]ink my water with trembling and [...]arefulness, for fear least our sin-re­ [...]enging God should punish us as he [...]ath done them. O what me [...]cies [Page 50]doth he not yet offer unto us; W [...] kindness doth he not yet afford [...] To our Physitians he giveth kno [...] ledge: to our Medicines he give virtue. The Herbs of the fields, [...] and the Fruits of the trees, and [...] flesh of the beasts do yet offer the selves for our cure, and our su [...] ­nance. O that we had but so m [...] happiness, as to know the mi [...] which is due to our Offences [...] that we had but so much mercy s [...] God, as to know his mercy in gentle visitation! For this our m [...] will I groan; for these our sins [...] ­lament; for the mercy of my [...] I will Pray, and I will Cry; He [...] Lord, Psa. 20 [...]0 [...] and have mercy upon us: I be thou our helper. O he thou our in trouble, for vain is the help of [...]

The Fifth part of the Soli­loquie, shewing how God threatneth before his Visitation.

IT is a weakness, it is a sondness, it it a madness in people not to be­lieve the sure effects of certain cau­ses, before they become obvious to their senses. In the course of Nature we are apt to believe what we dare not try. Who will put his finger into the fire to try if it will burn? Who will cast himself into the wa­ter to try whether it will drown him? Yet in things divine we are too in­credulous, too full of unbelief. I find that my God hath stricken di­vers with Plagues for the sins which they have committed: But I like­wise find that he hath threatned di­vers before the Visited them, that so by their amendment they might pre­vent those Judgments which other­wise would ensue. It is my best way to finde out the crying sins of the Land, by observing the punishments which are sent us for them: but I must not forget either the patience [Page] [Page 50] [...] [Page 51] [...] [Page 52]of our God, or the obstinacy men? the long suffering of [...] Creatour, or the impenitency of [...] Creatures. Sure I am that the L [...] did alwayes call to Repentance be­fore he punished Offenders: he ha [...] ever woed Transgressours both [...] Promises, and by Threatnings be­fore he ever made them sick in smi [...] them for their Transgressions. Mic. 6.13 1.

When the Israelites were to [...] freed from the Aegyptian bondag [...] O how often was Pharaoh admonis [...] ­ed to let them go! Moses and Aa [...] said unto him, The God of the H [...] brews hath met with us: Exo. 5.3. let us go, [...] pray thee, three dayes journey into [...] Desert, and Sacrifice to the Lord [...] God, least be fall upon us with the P [...] ­stilence, or with the Sword. Lord how meek Moses begged for the peo­ple! yea, and in the Name of God too; and for an act of Religion too; and for fear of Judgements too: yea and those Judgements not small or trivial; for they should be either the Pestilence, or the Sword; yea, and he pretendeth that those Judge­ments should sall upon the Israeli­tes, the People of God, if they neg­lect their Sacrifices; he saith not, upon the Agyptia [...]s; he saith not, [Page 53]upon the King: And yet for all this, the King yielded not; the Israelites sacrificed not; and therefore the Plagues, the Vengeance came upon the heads of their Oppressors.

Gogg was threatned for a thing which yet he was suffered to do. 2 The Israelites were to be his purchase; the un-walled Villages his prey; Ez. 38.11 all that dwelled without Walls, and had neither Barrs, nor Gates should be made desolate by him. Thus the People of God were to suffer for the sins committed against their God. But was the Enemy to escape, by whom the People should be cor­rected? Was Gogg to be enriched, and to enjoy the spoyle? Nothing less. The very instument of revenge was not to be freed from the wrath of the Revenger, nor the Execu­tioner to be accounted innocent, though he punished the guilty. I will plead against him with Pestilence saith the Lord) and with blood. Verse 22 I will rain upon him, and upon his bands, and upon the many people that are with him, an over-slowig rain, and great hail-stones, fire and brim­stone. Thus the Israelites offended, and were threatned with the Armies of Gogg. Gogg offended, in that he [Page 54]knew not his Maker; in that looked onely to his advantage [...] spoyles, whilst yet he executed vengeance of God: he's there threatned; he shall therefore be [...] sumed. When he should have venged God upon the Rebel [...] People, then God himself wou [...] revenged upon him with Judgm [...] from Heaven.

The Prophet Ezekiel was ser [...] threaten the Israelites for their [...] Rebellions, 3 and thus said the [...] God unto him, Smite with thine [...] and stamp with thy foot, Eze. 6.11. and say, [...] for all the evil abominations of House of Israel; for they shall so the Sword, by the Famine, and [...] Pestilence. He that is far off sha [...] of the Pestilence, Verse 12 and he that is [...] shall fall by the Sword; and he that maineth, and is besieged shall dye the Famine: thus will I accomplish fury upon them. Here is warn given before the blow be stricke there is the Sword already halfo here is the Famine already in a [...] preparation; here is an Angel re [...] to disperse the Pestilence: but be [...] execution here is a threatning f [...] Even thus also hath our good G [...] dealt with us: thus hath he war [...] [Page 55] [...]s. He who delighteth not in the [...]eath of a sinner, Ez. 33.11 doth never strike before notice given; for he had ra­ther that our repentance should quiver his arrows, then that by our sins he should be enforced to hit us at the heart.

I will smite the Inhabitants of this City (saith God by Jeremiah con­cerning Jerusalem) both Man and Beast: 4 Jer. 21. [...]. they shall dye of a great Pesti­tence. Loe here is still the future tense, I will; not I do. God de­lighteth not in the execution of his wrath; but yet his I will is as sure as his I do. Thus he hath formerly threatned us with his I will; I con­fesse indeed he hath: and yet we would not believe what was to come, and only because we found it not in­stantly present. Hence it is, that now our people cry; now our beasts do roar: and it is but just that men and women should be ranked in the order with beasts, seeing that our sins have discovered us to be more stupid then them. Yet the beasts perish, though they could not sin; and we perish because we can do no­thing but sin. So the Servant suf­fereth for the offences of the Master: so the Beasts are punished for the [Page 56]sins of the owners. The Pesti [...] putteth no distinction between t [...] both, although the one could [...] the other would not avoid the nishment.

In the Book of Exodus the L [...] saith concerning Pharaoh, 5 and Egyptians, Exo. 9.15. Now I will stretch [...] mine hand, that I may smite thee thy people with Pestilence, and [...] shalt be cut off from the Earth. T [...] heed Pharaoh, he is true who thro [...] neth; and although he saith, I w [...] yet he saith also now I will. H [...] ready for thee, although thy he [...] be not ready for him: he is [...] now prepared to punish, if thou [...] not just now prepared to obey. I w [...] bring a Sword upon you, Lev 26.25 that sh [...] avenge the quarrel of my Covenan [...] and when ye are gathered together [...] your Cities, I will send the Pestilen [...] among you; and ye shall be deliver [...] into the hand of your Enemies, saith the Lord to the Israelites. And again: The Lord shall make the Pestilence [...] cleave to thee, Deut. 28.21. untill he have consumes thee from off the Land whither tho [...] goest to possess it. Yea, and yet once, again; Num. 14.11. The Lord said unto Moses, How long will this people provoke me? And how long will it be e're they be­lieve [Page 57]me, for all the signs that I have [...]ewed among them? Vers. 12 I will smite [...]em with the Pestilence, and dis­ [...]herit them, and will make of thee a nightier Nation then they. O the fa­thoruless treasure of the bounty of my God! O the riches of his goodness, Rom 2. and patience, and long-suffering, lead­ing us to repentance! What were the Israelites, that he should not Plague [...]hem? Why not presently? The wages is due so soon as the service is done; and the punishment is as due, so soon as the offence is committed: and yet, although God be forward in the former, he is slow to the lat­ter: although he delight in the for­mer, yet is he hardly drawn to the latter. Me thinks when I consider the Israelites, I wonder at their Re­bellions: and yet, me thinks, when I consider our selves, I wonder much more. Isa: 5.1. What could have been done more to this Vine-yard of God, that he hath not done unto us? He hath fenced us, Verse and gathered out the stones from us and planted us with the choy­cest Vinc, and built a Tower in the midst of us, and also made a Wine-press in this his Vine-yard, and yet for all this, when he looked that we should bring forth grapes behold wild grapes. [Page 58]Oh how my heart panteth w [...] me, and my whole self is in a t [...] bling fear, when I consider his [...] e [...]es, and our rebellions! O [...] thinks I see a hand-writing ag [...] us almost upon every door, Dan. 5.5. ever habitant, written as it were, wit [...] fingers of a man's hand (as Belshazar saw upon the plaister [...] Wall;) Vers. 6 which maketh my [...] ­nance change, and my thoughts be bled, so that the joynts of my loy loosed, and my knees finite one a [...] another; and I cry for mercy have offended; and I knod compassion, for I have transgn [...] God did threaten Israel with: stilence that should dis-inherit t [...] and all this to avenge the quar [...] his Covenant, because they still voked him; because they woul [...] believe him, for all the signes he had shewed among them. [...] wherein had Israel offended? what manner? In what meas [...] which this Land hath not excee [...] And yet, o how unwillingly do [...] Almighty punish us! O how slo [...] O how gently! Mat. 11.1. The Kingdom Heaven suffireth Violence, saith Jesus. Violence indeed, by our [...] the Reven [...] [Page 59]Sword for him: we bend his bow for him, and make it ready: Psal. 7.12. Verse 13. Psal. 64.3 we also repare for hun the insteuments of death, because we whet our tongues like swords, and bend our bows to shoot o [...]r arrows, even bitter words, that we may shoot in secret at the perfect: Verse 4 sud­denly do we shoot at him, and fear not. And what now can we expect but judgments, seeing that we will not offer the just, and rightfull violence to the Kingdome of heaven, even the violence of our prayers; the violence of our tears; the violence of sobs and sighs, and groans in our spiritual com­bats, and conflicts? What can we expect but vengeance? And what do we meet with, but destruction? He hath threatned, and threatned, again and again; and yet we have resist­ed, and resisted, again, and again too. Isa. 5.7. When he looked for Righteous­nesse, behold Oppression: justly there­fore, now we look for mercy, behold a [...]cry. A cry in the Beds of the lan­guishing; a cry in the Chambers of the Infected, and pined Prisoners; a cry of the healthfull, for fear of in­fection; a cry of Parents for their tender children; a cry of Children for their dying Parents. Brother cry [...] for brother; sister [...] sister: [Page 60]All cry for help; All cry for mer [...] O Lord hear our Prayers, Psa. 102.1 and let [...] Cryes come unto thee.

The Sixth part of the Sol [...] loquie, treating of the du [...] of a Christian; decreeing both to whom, and for whom we ought to pray in time of Pestilence.

I Weep and weep, and sigh a [...] sigh, and pray, and pray: [...] why do I thus weep, and sigh a [...] pray? If for my self, it is a de which is challenged even by natu [...] it self, so that I may have any her [...] by these means either to prevent, [...] to cure the sicknesse. If for others, is charity; it is a religious due [...] Thus we are commanded by the [...] postle; Oal. 6.2. Beare ye one anothers burde [...] and so fulfill the law of Christ. An [...] again, by the same Apostle, I an [...] commanded to weep with them th [...] weep. Ro. 12.15 But must my tears be gene­ral? Must my prayers be universal For all? For the wicked as well as the godly? There was a time whee the Prophet Jeremiah might no [...] [Page 61]pray for Judah. Jer. 14.11 The Lord said un­to him, Verse 12 Pray not for this people for their good: When they fast, I will not bear their cry; and when they offer burnt-offerings, and oblations, I will not accept them; but I will consume them by the sword, and by the famine, and by the Pestilence. cap. 16.3 There was a time too when the Lord said concern­ing the sons, and concerning the daugh­ters that were born among the Jews, and concerning their mothers that bare them, and concerning their fathers that begat them: Verse 4 They shall dye of grie­vous deaths; they shall not be lamen­ted; neither shall they be buried; but they shall be as dung upon the face of the earth; and they shall be consumed by the sword, and by the famine; and their carkeises shall be meat for the fowle of heaven, and for the beasts of the earth. For thus saith the Lord, En­ter not into the house of mourning; Verse 5 neither go to lament, nor bemoan them: for I have taken away my peace from this people, saith the Lord; Verse 6 even lo­ving kindnesse, and mercies. Both the great and the small shall dye in this land: they shall not be buried, [...] shall men lament for them, [...] themselves, nor make them [...] for them, And there was [...] [Page 62]when the eys of Jehojakim the so [...] of Josiah King of Judah, Ca. 22.17 and [...] heart were nought but for coveteous [...] and for to shed innocent blood, and oppression, and for violence to do [...] Therefore thus said the Lord conc [...] ing him, Verse 18 They shall not lament [...] him, saying, Ah my brother, or Ah [...] ster: they shall not lament for h [...] saying, Verse 19 Ah Lord, or Ah his glory. [...] shall be buried with the buriall of Asse, drawn, and cast out beyond [...] gates of Jerusalem. Thus it [...] with them; but must it there [...] be thus with those which dye of [...] sicknes; of the Pestilence? With [...] This were a dreadfull sentence [...] deed, To dye, and not to be pitti [...] to dye of the Plague, and be [...] denth not to be prayed for. W [...] knoweth indeed, but that some su [...] as those men of Judah, may be [...] mongst us? Who knoweth but th [...] some Jehojakims may be among t [...] Visited? What then? Shall I ther [...] fore pray for none? Yea, shall nor pray for them? God forbid. Th [...] lesse they pray for themselves, th [...] more will I pray for them. The les [...] they know God, the more will I pra [...] that they may know him. The sick­er they are in body, the more nec [...] [Page 63]they have of comfort in minde. What though they in part may be a cause of this mortality? What though their wickednesses have help­ed to bring this Contagion? If they are enemies to my particular, I will forgive them: though they are God's, I will pray for them; even that he in his good time would be pleased to call them home both to the knowledge, and the practise of his Truth. David I am sure did pray for, and pitty his enemies; Ps. 35.13. for so he professeth, saying, As for me, when they were sick, my cloathing was sack-cloath: I humbled my soule with fasting. And thus did my Redeemer too for Jerusalem: for, Lu. 19.41 When he was come neer to the City, he beheld it: yea, be wept over it, saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, Verse 42 at least in this thy day, the things which be­long unto thy peace! But now are they hid from thine eyes. Shall David weep then for his enemies? Shall my Jesus weep for his enemies, for the enemies of his father, Joh 20.17 and my fa­ther; of his God, and my God; and shall not I weep for those who are in misery, and distresse? My Saviour knew who were elected, and who were reprobates; and yet he wept [Page 64]over the whole City. I dare not p [...] into those secret counsels of my Go [...] nor can I know all those wh [...] he hath ordained for heaven or he [...] Shall not I then weep for them [...] in general in this general Calami [...] Yes, I will keep my turn: I [...] sing my part in this dolefull conso [...] Surely if my God should forbid [...] praying for them, even the very pr [...] hibition might peradventure enco [...] rage me to perform it: he know [...] that we are apt to doe whatso [...] he forbiddeth. O my God, eit [...] take away my readinesse, and apt [...] to contradict thee; or else for [...] me nothing but what thou would [...] have me to perform. But w [...] should. I pray for those, who (tho [...] they are visited) refuse to repent [...] Shall I hope to alter the eternal d [...] cree of him with whom is no va [...] ableness, Jam. 1.17 neither shaddow of change What if he hath reserved them so [...] vengeance? Can I, by my praye [...] snatch them out of the fire? If the are sick, peradventure I cannot cur [...] them. If they are not yet sick, [...] cannot preserve them. O thes [...] churlish, inhumane, un-christian, uncharitable thoughts! God there­fore sendeth them this affliction, [Page 65]that they may repent: and that [...]y may rather prevent, then he ex­ [...]rcise his revenge. Seeing therefore [...]hat I know not the hearts of any, I [...]vill pitty all: and since by my [...]rayers I cannot prevaile for them [...]o whom is reserved the blacknesse of [...]arknesse for ever; Jud. 13. I will grieve, [...]hat Man is become so wicked, as to reasure up unto himself such wrath a­ [...]ainst the day of wrath. Rom. 2.5. Fain would [...]ny God have conquered the stub­ [...]ornnesse of stiff-necked Israel with [...]he pleasant allurements of his hea­ [...]enly blessings: yet they would not [...]eeld, they would not relent. Then [...]e threatned them: yet they would [...]ot yeeld. Then he punished them; [...]nd yet they would not turn: which [...]ade him cry out by his Prophet. I [...]ave sent among you the Pestilence af­ [...]er the manner of Egypt; Amo. 4.10 yet have yee [...]ot return [...]d unto me, saith the Lord. Surely the Lord is very angry with [...]uch as will not tremble at his judge­ments; which made him threaten so by Ezekiel, saying, Ez. 14.19 If I send a Pestilence into that land, and powre out my fury upon it in blood, to cut off from it man and beast: Though Noah, Verse 20 Daniel and Job were in it, as I live saith the Lord God, they shall deliver [Page 66]neither sonne nor daughter: they deliver but their own soules by righteousness. What comfort then I receive or give, when I mou [...] the comfortlesse? What hope ha [...] to speed, when these worthies sh [...] be denyed; If they were here to [...] tercede for them by their ea [...] supplications? Sure I am that I not so good as any of those th [...] Not as the worst. Gen. 9.21 Not as [...] though he had been drunk. N [...] Job, though Eliphaz taxed him impatience, when as he just himself, and seemed to tax [...] God himself with in justice, Job 16.15 say [...] I have sewed sack cloath upon my [...] and defiled my borne in the dust. face is foul with weeping; Verse 16: and [...] eye-lids is the shadow of death. Verse 17 for any injustice in my hands: als [...] prayer is pure. No, no; far sh [...] come I of either, of any of the Poore I; a poor, weak sinfull [...] even as sinfull as the worst; as [...] ked as the worst. And (now I [...] gin better to bethink my self by th [...] king worse of my self) what are th [...] which I question, whether I mi [...] pray for them, or not? Are they si [...] ­ners? So am I. Are they grieve [...] sinners? So am I. Surely I doe [...] [Page 67]know enough of my solf, If I doe [...]ot know my self the worst, the vilest [...]e chiefest of sinners. It is then but [...]ustice that I should pray for the [...]orst, since I my self either am, or [...]ight have been worse then them. My prayers shall be general, for all; [...]oping that God may be pleased to [...]ave mercy on all. But it a­ [...]y among them be certainly Re­ [...]robates, though I know it not; yet, [...] will pray that they may be taken [...]om the number of the faithfull, [...]hat so they may neither seduce by [...]heir temptations, nor offend by their examples, nor dishonour my good God any longer by their crying, and multiplying abhominations. Yet must I howsoever be charitable in my devotions; and pray for others, as well as for my self.

But all this while (since my thoughts have been sixed upon those that are visited, and I am certainly resolved for whom I will pray) let me be sure that I direct my prayers aright, or else my devotion may be but blindnesse, and my Religion, Su­perstition. To him without doubt, & to him alone must I tender my Peti­tions, from whom, yea from whom alone this sicknesse is sent upon this [Page 68]sinfull Land. And who is he [...] visiteth the earth, but onely the [...] Creatour of heaven and earth? [...] very Philistines could acknowledg this, 1 Sam. 4.5 when the Arke of the Co [...] of the Lord came into the Campe, [...] all Israel showted with a great sh [...] so that the earth rang again. [...] then began to be afraid, for said, Verse 7 God is come into the Campe. [...] they said, Woe unto us, for there [...] not been such a thing heretofore: Vers. 8 [...] unto us.; who shall deliver us [...] the hands of their mighty Gods? T [...] are the Gods that smote the Aegypt [...] with all the plagues in the Wildern [...] Thus even by the testimony of uncircumcised, my God is detem­ned to be the sin-revenging G [...] who punisheth offenders with the Plagues and Pestilences. But shall onely depend upon their testimon [...] who knew not God, for my assuran [...] that this vengeance cometh fro [...] God? No: I will look a little sa [...] ther, and finde David the good P [...] ­phet acknowledging it in his Psalm [...] and saying, Ps. 78.50 He made a way to his a [...] ­ger; he spared not their soule [...] death; but gave their life over to the Pestilence. This the patient Job con­fessed, Job. 5.17. saying, Behold happy is [...] [Page 69]man whom God correcteth: therefore spise not thou the chastening of the [...]mighty: For he maketh sore, Vers. 18 and [...]deth up; he woundeth, and his [...]ds make whole. This the holy [...]ophet Hosea proclaimed and said, Hos. 6.1. me and let us return unto the Lord; [...] he hath torn, and he will heale us: [...] hath smitten, and he will hinde us [...] This was the song of devout [...]nnah: The Lord killeth, 1 Sam. 2.6 and ma­ [...]h a live; he bringeth down to the [...]eve, and bringeth up. Yea and [...]s God himself doth publish to the [...]ole world, and saith, Deut. 32.39. See now [...]t I even I am he, and there is no [...]d with me. I kill, and I make a [...]e: I wound, and I heale: neither [...] there any that can deliver out of [...]ne hand. It is cleer then, it is most parent, that in this general sick­ [...]sse, I must of necessity acknowledg [...] Finger of God. There was once [...]ime when he himself proclaimed, [...]ying, Isa. 65.1 I am sought of them that ask­ [...] not for me: I am found of them [...]at sought me not. I said, Behold [...]e, Verse 2 behold me unto a Nation that was [...]t called by my Name. I have spread [...]t my hands all the day unto a Robel­ [...]us People. And surely, that time is [...]ow come again: for we sought him [Page 70]not, and yet we have sound hi [...] this day of our Visitation, eve [...] this dreadfull sickness. Vers. 4 He [...] spread out his hands all the day unto us a Rebellious people; we would not harken unto him: [...] ­ly therefore doe we remain an [...] the graves; and hence it is tha [...] hands are held up unto him. [...] alas, so weak are our devotions feeble are we in our Petitions unconstant, so wavering are our Faith, that our Hands, are vier then our Hearts. We [...] fain to have an Aaron, Ex. 17.12 and a H [...] ­stay them up, or else we are rea [...] let them down; and if they fa [...] great Amalekites, (both our sin [...] Gods revenge) will prevaile aga [...] us. He cryeth out unto us, [...] me, behold me; and (wo [...]is unto we do behold him in his severe, consuming wrath: But O tha [...] might behold him in the clear most lovely glory of his mercy that he might now be sought o [...] though formerly we have not a [...] for him! He once did promise a time should be when the childre [...] Israel should come, they and the [...] dren of Judah together, [...]er. 50.4. going, [...] weeping: they should go and seek [Page 71] [...]d their God. Surely that time is [...] come to us his Israel: for now we [...] and weep as we go (as did David [...] Absolom) We weep as we go up to [...] Chambers. With Joseph, 2 Sam. 18.33. Ge. 34.30 we seek [...]ere to weep; and we enter into our [...]ambers, and we weep there. With [...]e Church in the Psalms, Ps. 126.6. we goe [...]th and weep. With the Israelites, [...] weep before the doore of the Taber­ [...]cle of the Congregation. Num 25.6 With Da­ [...]d, 2 Sam. 15.30. and the people that were with [...]m, we weep as we go up to the Ci­ [...]. Yea, with Ishmael, we weep all [...] as we go. And as we weep, Jer. 41.6. so [...]hope we shall seek too; even seek [...]e Lord, and his strength; Psa. 105.4 yea seek [...]s face evermore. This is the way for [...]ardon; and this is the means for [...]alth: for so God promised King [...]o [...]omon, saying: If I shut up heaven [...]at there is no rain: or if I command [...]e Locusts to devour the Land: 2 Chro 7.13. or if [...] send a Pestilence among my people: if [...]y people which are called by my Name [...]hall humble themselves, and pray, Verse 14 [...]nd seek my face, and turn from their wicked wayes; then will I hear from [...], and will forgive their sinne, and will heale their land. Lord, this P [...]ilence thou hast sent among us: among us Christians that are called [Page 72]by thy Name. Let others do [...] they will: Jos. 24.15 As for me, and my h [...] we will serve thee, O my Lord. [...] thou make me to turn from my [...] ked wayes, that thou mayest [...] from heaven, and forgive my s [...] and heale this land: for I will [...] thy face; I will humble my sel [...] will pray unto thee, and say.