Oil of Scorpions, Title page – Dedication
OILE OF Scorpions.
The Miseries of these Times turned into Medicines and Curing themselues.
By FRANCIS ROUS.
Cypr. Epist. 8.
Deus vti que qui quem corripit diligit, quando corripit, ad hoc corripit vt emendet, ad hoc emendat vt seruet.
LONDON
Printed by W. Stansby for Iohn Parker, and are to bee sold at his Shop in Pauls Church-yard at the signe of the three Pigeons.
1623.
TO MY DEARE COVNTRY, AND ESPECIALLY TO THE dearest part of it, my Country-men of Heauen.
Brethren, by the Flesh or the Spirit▪ or both;
WHEN I sawe the Miseries of these Times, by a successine continuance ouer-taking each other, and the Arrowes of the Almightie to fall thick vponupon vsus, it seemed to mee that Wrath was gone out against vsus, and that the Hand of God was vponupon vsus. On the other side, when I saw the dulnesse and deadnesse of Men, who hauing the stripes freshly smarting and bleeding on their backs, and the sp…s galling in their sides, yet are like the Horse and Mule that hauehave no vnderstanding, the dulnesse of the people seemed to me more fearful then the punishments. For when a Nation growes stupid and senselesse at the Chastisements of God, and doth not or will not vnderstand Gods meaning in them, there goes out a speech from the Highest, Why should they be smitten any more? whereof this is the meaning; In stead of a fatherly Correction, there must come a sweeping Desolation. Therefore I thought it necessarie to become an Interpreter to the people, though the meanest of a thousand, to shew Gods meaning in his chastisements; for by them God would hauehave something to be done, the doing whereof may cure and remoue them. It may bee that some will require a propheticall Spirit, rightly to interprete the Iudgement of God, as the rich Man would hauehave one to come from the Dead to conuert his Brethren; but to these I giuegive the same answer that was giuen to him; That the Scriptures … left vntounto vsus for sufficient Interpreters. As Gods chastisements hauehave beene interpreted in them, so may we still interprete them. By this paterne hauehave the Fathers and Ancients of the Church made construction of Gods Iudgements, and by great Reason. For God is still one and the same both in Iustice and Mercy, and therefore he hath left one and the same Word, whereby to construe his Iudgements and Mercies. Accordingly from Gods Word in the old Testament,1. Cor. 10. 11 Saint Paul tells vsus in the New, That Gods punishments on the Israelites in the first Times of the World, are to be examples to vsus on whom the ends of the World are come. Therefore let vsus boldly, because safely, march vnderunder the Shield of so great an Example, beleeuing with him that now, as heretofore punishments and sinnes are tyed together. Indeed, if God would hauehave altered his course, and by a new kind of gouernment send generall punishments where there are not generall sinnes, there might hauehave beene need of new Prophets, to hauehave broght vsus Newes of a new Dispensation. But before wee begin this warrantable Interpretation, let vsus turne our Eyes to things most dangerously vnwarrantable, the Abuse and misconstruction of Iudgements commonly vsed. Some take no notice at all of the strokes of this Wrath, but with the Mirth and Madnesse of Wine and Pleasures, take away the knowledge of it, as the Sacrificers in the Valley of Hinnon, by the n…yse of Instruments tooke away the cryes of their sacrificed Children. Such merry men, singing and dancing to the Violl, and withall forgetting the miseries of Ioseph, no doubt, will cry out with Iudas. Wherefore serueth this waste? and with Dauids brother, out of the pride of thine heart ar… thou come▪ downe to the battell. But I answere with Dauid, Is there not a Cause; yea, euen the greater Cause, because the Lion hath roared; and such beasts are not afraid; so that the greater the number is of these mad men of mirth, the greater had neede to be the company of Mourners, or the mourning of that Company. It is the mourning of the penitent, that maintaynes the mirth of the Delinquent, and it is the ten righteous Men that keepe fire and brimstone from a company of abominable Sodomites.
Others there are that gaze on the stroke, and stand amazed at their miserie, but looke not vp to the highest Striker; yea, by murmuring and re…yning, … to bite the stones that are throwne at them. A third sort there is, that with earthly Balmes will cure the strokes of Heauen, and by the strength of their plots will binde the hands of Omnipotence, and by the finenesse of their little Wits, will supplant the Counsells of an infinite Wisedome. All these are out of the way, and either seeke no Remedies, or false Remedies, or Remedies out of order.
Therefore with Elihu, when I saw there was no answere in the mouth of these men, I thought to answere my part and to shew mine opinion. For my Heart was full and the Spirit within constrayned mee. A strong desire possessed me that God might be pleased and appeased, that my Country-men, euen after the Flesh, might be both temporally and eternally saued, and out of this zeale the fire burst out, and these following wordes hauehave issued.
If any finde yet another fault, that the worke is great, and this worke is little, I answere; That a little Boat may land men on a large Continent, and the Discourse that of it selfe is little, may deliuer them into a large Countrey, where by their owne View they may make a large Discouery. It lands vsus on the large Field of Consideration; and therein wee take notice of Gods Iudgements, and of their Causes and Remedies▪ The first, their owne smart will discouer; and the second, this following Map will somewhat delineate; and where it wants▪ refers … large ones already made. And in this fruitfull World of Paper, I desire onelyonly to supply what is …anting, not to adde vntounto fulnesse▪ But the Readers themselues may make this worke greater three wayes, if they please. First, by ioyning other Bookes to this, wherein are larger Discourses of the Heads that are here but briefly touched▪ Secondly, by Communication; by calling e…ry one to his Neighbour, … Master to the Family, the Minister to the … …riend to his Friend … to consider of Gods Iudgement…, of their Causes and Remedies. For by the Considerations of many, these Considerations … be increased; and …his sparke shall become a great fire, by bringing much wood to it. Lastly, it may be …ade great, by a great and powerfull operation, … a strong working in our Hearts and Lines. A little Doctrine may become great in working great effects; for … Ward is but a Seede▪ and like the least of Seede…, yet in a good Heart it makes n Tree for the Birds … build on. Therefore as much as thou wouldest hauehave it enlarged, so much be thou enlarged in thy …; for by yeelding is great Roome and great Nourishment thou shalt make it great, in the growth of good Thoughts and good Actions. Therefore complaine not that it is little, when thou mayest make it greater thy selfe, and indeed this greatnesse is most to be desired. For then shall it somewhat resemble the Sermon of Ionah, which was little in words, but great in operation; for it turned and saued a populous Citie. But this greatnesse, comes chiefly from the Greatest, to him therefore, let vsus pray, Turne vsus, O Lord, and wee shall bee turned.
Amen.