Medicines for the Plague, To the reader
❧ TO THE GODLY and Chriſtian Reader, perfect health of ſoule and bodie from our Lord and Sauiour Ieſus Chriſt, the only giuer and preſeruer of them both.
THeſe few Sermons, which at the first were meant but vntounto a few, I hauehave now publiſhed and made common vntounto others: not onelyonly that by this meanes the doctrine and conſolation contained in them, might be renewed vntounto the firſt hearers (which for them is a ſure thing, Phil. 3.1.as the Apoſtle ſpeaketh;) but that according to the Communion of Saints, as in the naturall bodie,1. Cor. 12.12. &c. that gift which is in any part, the reſt hauehave the vſe of it; ſo in the myſticall bodie of Chriſt, that which he by his spirit, and by his owne ordinance had made proper vntounto ſome, others might hauehave the fruit and benefit of the ſame. For ſeeing we be all alike ſubiect vntounto the ſame corruption and vnbeliefe in our ſoules, and there is no temptation appertaining vntounto man, but eueryevery one may fall into it, as well as another: there is no inſtruction or comfort out of the word of God, which any hauehave receiued, but the reſt of the ſeruants of God may receiue the like from thence: especially ſeeing they proceede from one and the ſame ſpirit of truth and of life, which quickening the whole bodie, worketh in eueryevery member proportionably. Therefore as I am not altogether out of hope, that others may bee benefited by them, beſides thoſe for whom they were first prepared: ſo if they be, J ſhall not repent me of this double labour; the one in preaching of them, and the other in publiſhing of them. I hauehave intituled them, Medicines for the Plague, becauſe they containe many meditations fit for that euill, both to preuent it, and to beare it patiently, and to be recouered out of it, and to die comfortably in it. And I muſt needs confeſſe, that I did not make choice of this text, to intreat of that argument of purpoſe, for then I might hauehave taken many other more fit in the Scripture; and this (to ſay the truth) doth not properly concerne it one whit: but hauing entred into this Pſalme, before there was any great rumor of the Plague, vponupon this occaſion of the Kings Highneſſe his firſt comming into theſe parts of his dominion, and ſo in the beginning handling ſomething of our dutie vntounto our ſoueraigne prince, according to the generall drift of the text; when this new accident of the Plague fell out, becauſe the Pſalme did still ſo farre agree with the time, as it was a time of trouble, I held on my courſe, and made a vertue of neceſsitie: and ſo did applie the Scripture vntounto the time, and all meditations of trouble ariſing out of it vntounto this one kind of trouble of the Plague eſpecially, proper vntounto that time, ſo far as it was neceſſarie. And ſo during the time of the publicke faſts, commaunded by publicke authoritie, and generally vſed for the moſt part eueryevery where, continuing in this text, as the Plague encreaſed, ſo in my whole courſe I did still aime at that more and more. Whereupon it commeth to paſſe, that the Medicines for the Plague (ſo called) are inſerted ſomewhat after the beginning, and ſo more towards the middeſt, and in the end moſt of all, according to the time. Therefore though this one thing be not diſperſed through the whole booke, and in eueryevery Sermon, (though it be in the moſt) the whole booke not vnfitly hath his denomination thereof: euen as ſome compound medicines are called not of all, but of one principall ingredient, and that alſo which in the artificiall confection is added to the reſt in the middeſt, or rather ſometimes euen at the laſt. And as the ſame Apothecaries, though they hauehave more of that ſtuffe remaining, put to no more than is fit at that time for the preſent receit: ſo though there was more of this Pſalme remaining vnhandled, yet I left it off, when the Lord in ſo great merciemercy did put an end almoſt to the Plague, especially in the chiefe parts of this realme; at what time alſo all men did diſcontinue their weekely fasting. And though I meant nothing leſſe at the firſt preaching of them, than that they ſhould thus be divulged; yet ſeeing the Lord did afterwards put it into my mind (as I am perſuaded) and gaue me good ſucceſſe by his bleſsing in ſetting them downe in writing, J doe not repent me of this labour. And it ſhall not be vnprofitable for vsus all by this meanes ſo long after, both to remember in what caſe we were then, to be still humbled by it; and what we then prayed for, that now wee may be thankefull; and what wee then vowed, that now we may performe it: and that we may be prepared for the like againe. And thus hoping of your Christian patience and charitable iudgement of theſe my indeuors, and of my good meaning in them, I commend them to your godly conſideration, with my prayers for you, and for them, vntounto him, who onelyonly giueth encreaſe to the planting and watering of all men according to his heauenly wiſdome;1. Cor. 3.6. and deſire you alſo, that you would further me with your prayers this way, and eueryevery way, that ſo we may all of vsus receiue as much as we giuegive, according to the promiſe of our Sauiour Chriſt,Luke 6.38. Looke vvith vvhat meaſure you mete vntounto others, vvith the ſame it ſhall be mete vntounto you againe. In hope whereof I reſt, and bid you heartely farewell in the Lord.
Norton in Suffolke. May. 1604. Yours in all Chriſtian duties, for the Lords ſake. Nicholas Bownd.