Medicines for the Plague, Title page – Dedication
MEDICINES FOR THE PLAGVE: That is, Godly and fruitfull Sermons vponupon part of the twentieth Pſalme, full of inſtructions and comfort: very fit generally for all times of affliction, but more particularly applied to this late viſitation of the Plague.
Preached at the ſame time at Norton in Suffolke, by Nicholas Bownd, Doctor of Diuinitie.
And now publiſhed for the further good of all thoſe that louelove and feare the Lord.
Peruſed, and allowed.
Exod. 15.26.
If thou wilt diligently hearken vntounto the voice of the Lord thy God, and wilt doe that which is right in his ſight, and wilt giuegive eare vntounto his commaundements, and keepe all his ordinances, then I will put none of theſe diſeaſes vponupon thee, which I brought vponupon the Aegiptians: for I am the Lord that healeth thee.
LONDON, Printed by Adam Jſlip for Cuthbert Burbie, and are to be ſold at the Swan in Paules Churchyard. 1604.
To the right Worſhipfull Maſter Doctor Tindall, Deane of Eely, and Maſter of Queenes Colledge in Cambridge, his very reuerend and good friend, the dayly encreaſe of that bleſſing of God, which is promiſed to the mercifull. Matth. 5.7.
RIght Worſhipfull Sir, if this ſmall Treatiſe had beene a learned diſcourſe of ſome high point of Diuinitie in controuerſie at theſe daies, it might vvell hauehave beene thought beſeeming the fauour of him, vvho hath not only ſpent all his life in the Vniuerſitie among the learned, but for his great learning and vviſdome hath many yeares beene chiefe gouernour not onelyonly of thoſe that are ſtudious and deſirous of learning, but of great learned men themſelues, and thoſe vvhichwhich are teachers of others. But ſeeing it containeth nothing els but common and ordinarie inſtructions vntounto godlineſſe, and conſolations in trouble; it may be iudged more fit to be preſented vntounto ſome, vvho though hee vvere of like vvorſhip, yet might be of leſſe learning and authoritie among the learned. But my Apologie and defence for my ſelfe, is this, That ſuch hauehave beene your deſerts a great vvhile, not to others alone, but euen vntounto my ſelfe, that they hauehave craued ſomevvhat at my hands long agoe, as vvell as at others. Preſuming therefore of the thankfulneſſe of many others vntounto you, according to their dutie, I could not ſatisfie my ſelf in this my (I wil not ſay vnthankfulneſſe) but inſufficient thanks; and ſo this oportunitie being offered, I did not conſider ſo much vvhat vvas meet for you to receiue for your deſert, and for your place, as what I vvas preſently fit for my abilitie to bring: euen a little fruit of my labours, for your aboundant kindneſſe tovvards me:2. Sam. 4.15.33. as the Prophet Eliſha did to the Shunamite, for all her great fauours to him and his. And as the fruit of your fauour hath not beene for a fevv dayes or months, but hath extended it ſelfe vntounto many yeares, ſo I vvas deſirous to leaue behind me ſome teſtimonie of my dutie againe, vvhichwhich might continue for ſome yeares: and that as you hauehave long ſince by many deſerts attained vntounto that commendation vvhichwhich the ſpirit of God giueth vntounto Boaz, Ruth. 2.20.That you hauehave not ceaſed to doe good to the liuing, and to the dead; ſo your vertues might be remembred to the glorie of God, not onelyonly vvhiles you liue, but when you ſhall be dead. Of vvhichwhich if I ſhould ſay nothing my ſelfe, knowing ſo much, and hauing ſo good cauſe; not onelyonly the many learned diuines and ſtudents in other arts, which vnderunder your wiſe gouernement continue the ſtudies ſtill in your Colledge, with great encouragement from your ſelfe; but thoſe godly preachers eſpecially, vvhichwhich theſe many yeares hauehave come from thence into diuers parts of this realme, vvith great profit vntounto the Church of God, vvill ſpeake ſufficiently both for the time preſent, and this next age to come: vvhichwhich doe vvillingly and in all places acknowledge themſelues, and their learning, and the foundation of all their preferment to be vvholly beholding to your ſelfe. Which godly care of yours in aduauncing of learning and pietie (you being a profeſſed patrone of learning and learned men) ſhall ſo much the rather continue and encreaſe in you to the good example of others of your ranke, vvhen beſides the bleſsing of God vponupon your labours this vvay (vvhichwhich is principally to be regarded) you ſhall perceiue, that by obliuion it is not altogether forgotten of men. And thus hoping that you vvill accept this, as a teſtimonie of my true thankefulneſſe vntounto you, vvhere better requitall is vvanting, I pray God to bleſſe you in your Colledge ſtill, that from thence, as frō an excellent ſchoole of the Prophets, there may come continually manie faithfull Paſtors into the Church of God: not ſo much like thoſe that vvere brought vp at the feet of the great Doctor Gamaliel, Act. 5.34. Chap. 13.1. and 11.26.as thoſe that vvere at Antioch, vvhichwhich gaue the firſt name vntounto Chriſtians: that God may be honored, and the Church edified by your meanes more and more: and ſo your ſelfe not onelyonly hauehave the continuance of a good conſcience here, but moſt of all in the laſt day, They may bee your crowne, 2. Cor. 1.14.and you theirs: vvhen all of you appearing before the Lord, you may vvith much comfort ſay vntounto him, Here am I, Iſai. 8.18.and the children whom thou hast giuen vntounto me: and hee againe vntounto you,Matth. 25.21. Jt is well done good ſeruant and faithfull, thou hast beene faithfull in little, I will make thee ruler ouer much, enter into thy masters ioy. So verie humbly and heartely I take my leaue. Norton in Suffolke. May. 1604.
Your Worſhips in all dutifull louelove. Richard Bownd.