Oil of Scorpions, Table of contents
The Cure of our Miseries is the work in hand; and this work is aduanced by fiue Considerations, whereof,
The first Consideration shewes, That God is offended, when we are punished, and this appeares euen by the weight of the punishments. Sect. 1. pag. 5.
A first, The Pestilence. Sect. 2. pag. 8.
A second, Decay of Trade. Sect. 3. pag. 15.
A third, Pouertie and Consumption of Treasure. Sect. 4. pag. 21.
A fourth, Dearth, Tempests, and vnseasonable weather, &c. Sect. 5. pag. 28. Hereunto is annexed
A Digression, to remoue certayne preposterous Remedies of Gods punishments. Sect. 6. pag. 36.
The second Consideration, that Gods wrath punishing, is prouoked by our great sinning. Sec. 1. pag. 41. Our sinnes are great, for wee may discouer these,
A first, Swearing and Blasphemie. Sect. 2. pag. 53.
A second, Drunkennesse. Sect. 3. pag. 67.
A third, Vnthankfulnesse. Sect. 4. pag. 76.
A fourth, Deceitfulnesse of Trade. Sect. 5. pag. 81.
A fifth, Vnnaturall filthinesse. Sect. 6. pag. 87.
A sixth, Declination to prophanenesse. Sect. 7. pag. 96.
A seuenth, Back-sliding to Idolatrie. Sect. 8. pag. 108.
which hath with it three wretched Absurdities,
First, Turning from a spirituall worship vntounto carnall Idolatrie. Sect. 9. pag. 111.
Second, Partaking a Religion laden with bloud. Sect. 10. pag. 131.
Third, Running from God preseruing, to God destroying. Sect. 11. pag. 140. Hereunto is annexed a Medicinable Corollarie, contayning some vndenyable markes of Antichrist. Sect. 12. pag. 153.
An eighth, Monstrousnesse of Apparell &c. Sect. 13. pag. 166. Hereunto is annexed an Antidote for the Vulgar, who are not angrie with these great sinnes, but with the punishments of them. Sect. 14. pag. 188.
A third Consideration; That Gods punishments for sinne, call for Conuersion from sinne. pag. 202.
A fourth Consideration; That Man turning from sinne, Gods wrath returnes from punishing Sect. 1. p. 202. which being first enlarged, & after summed, doth amount to the Medicine of Repentance. Sect. 2. pag. 214. which must hauehave
In it
First, A Confession of sinnes. Sect. 3. pag. 219.
Secondly, A Detestation of sinne. Sect. 4. pag. 224. From whence issues an Anger and Reuenge on our selues for sinning, and here is set downe the true Doctrine of chastising the Body; by Fasting, &c. Sect. 5. pag. 236. And is farther cleered from the Leauen of Popish satisfaction. Sect. 6. pag. 250.
Thirdly, A turning from sinne vntounto the contrarie Righteousnesse. Sect. 7. pag. 260. And this is to be aduanced.
First, In our selues. Sect. 8. pag. 266.
Secondly, in others, Sect. 9. pag. 276.
With it, Vehement prayer and Inuocation. Sect. 10. pag. 299.
A fifth Consideration, Necessarie, if not made vnnecessarie, by the former Considerations; It is this. Where lesser punishments preuaile not to amendment, the greater vsually preuaile to destruction. pag. 306. But I pray God to worke better things in vsus, euen such a Repentance as accompanyeth Saluation. Amen.
Place this after the Epistle before fol. 1.
OILE OF Scorpions.
The Miseries of these Times turned into Medicines and Curing themselues.
THE LORD hath Roared from SION, and sent forth his voice from the Mountayne of his Holinesse. Hee hath bent his Bow and prepared his Arrowes, yea, some of them hath hee shot, and their wounds are yet greene vponupon vsus. What remaynes but to seeke remedie for the hurts receiued, & to search out means that the remayning Arrowes may bee retayned. Towards this, euen the Arrows themselues will excellently direct vsus. For they are like the Arrowes of Ionathan, that had a message in their wings; for they can tel vsus of wrath, and warne vsus to auoid it. This language of theirs Dauid doth well vnderstand, euen men after Gods heart, but Children in vnderstanding cannot, or will not perceiue it. Ye… this very vse of them God himselfe hath taught vsus; in his infinite Mercy desiring, and expecting that his Rod may comfort vsus, and his stripes may hea…e vsus. Yea, he hath taught vsus the Meanes of doing it, and it is in briefe; Consideration and laying toConside ration digesteth Gods Iudgments into spirituall nourishment and physick. Hagg 1. 6. Eccl. 7. 2. 4. Heart. The Lord saith by Haggai, that hee hath smitten Israel in their Corne and Wine; and what doth he inferre vponupon it? Consider your wayes. The Wiseman is commended by the wisest of men, for entring into the House of Mourning, and …aying it to his Heart. Moses, the Man of God desires to lay the Doctrine of Mortalitie to his Heart, that so hee may apply his Heart to wisedome.Psa. 90. 12. And GOD complayneth that the Death of the Righteous,Esa. 57. 1. a Fore-runner of Iudgement, passeth away without Consideration. It seemes then that God by his Iudgements calleth for Consideration, without which wee are Barbarians to them, and they are meere Torments to vsus. Without Consideration, the profitable part of Gods Iudgements is lost, and the Tormenting part is onelyonly left, whereas by it the tormenting part would bee taken away, and the profitable part would remayne with vsus for euer. Let vsus therefore heare and consider what the Lord speakes to his Church in his chastisements, and with the blessed Virgin, Let vsus lay vp his Words in our Hearts.