Gods Holy Mind Touching Matters Moral, Tract 2 · Part 74
Obiections against flying in the time of plague and pestilence.
Obiection. 1 Plague and pestilence is from the ha…d …f God, and from his hand we cannot flie, his hand can finde vsus out whither soeuer we goe: th…refore it is not lawfull to flie in the time of plague and pestilence.
Quest. How is this to be answered?
Answ. Thus; the argument is not good, for euill things comming from the hand of God may bee auoyded, if God shew a way and meanes how to a…oid them: as fire on an house comes from the hand of God, Iere. 17.27.Iere. 17.27. yet it may and ought to be auoided.
Obiection. 2 Psal. 19.6 7.10 God promiseth to the godly that they shall be deliuered in the time of plague and pestilence: and to flie in the time of plague is to distrust this promise of God; and therefore it is not lawfull to flie.
Quest. How is this to be answered?
Answ. Thus; that promise is to be vnderstood with condition if God see it good for them; they vsing all good meanes for their safety: and so for a man to flie in the time of plague and pestilence, if he be not hindered by his place and calling; and so as it be not to the hurt or hinderance of another or others, is not to distrust Gods promise; but to vse the good meanes offered according to Gods appointment, least he should tempt God.
Obiection. 3 Men are to visite the sicke and to come to them, Mat. 25.39.43. therefore it is not lawfull to flie from them in the time of sicknesse.
Quest. How is this to be answered?
Answ: Men are not bound to visite such as are sicke of a disease dangerously contagious,Leuit. 13.46. 2 King. 15.5. but may auoide them if they bee not hindred by their place and calling, and so as it bee not to the hinderance or hurt of another or others: the Lepers amongst the Iewes were to bee seuered from their brethren.
Quest. What is the second thing that tends to the maintenance and preseruation of the life of a mans owne body; and to the wellfare and safety of a mans owne body?
Answ. This; the procuring and vsing of all good and lawfull meanes, according to his abilitie and power, that are helpefull and profitable for the continuance of health and and strength of his body, and for the preuenting of sicknesse and weakenesse of body, and for the recouery of health and strength of his body when they are impayred.
Quest. What are the good and lawfull meanes that a man is to procure and to vse according to his abilitie and power, that are helpefull for the continuance of the health and strength of his body, and for the peruenting of sicknesse and weaknesse of body, and for the recouery of health and strength of his body when they are impayred?
Ans. Foure especially.
Quest. What is the first of those?
Gen. 28.20; Pro. 30.8. Mat. 6.11. 1 Tim. 5.23. Eccl. 10.16, 17Answ. This; necessary and wholesome foode, cloathing and lodging, vsing them seasonably and moderately.
Quest. May not a man sometimes vse meate and drinke more then for meere necessity?
Answ. Yes, he may; a man may sometimes vse meate and drinke,Psal. 104.15. Eccles. 5.17. Luk. 5.29. God giuing them to him, for honest delight; so as it be not to surfetting and drunkennesse, and to the oppressing of his body, making it vnfit for good duties of religion, or of his place and and calling.
Quest. May not a man sometimes on speciall occasion abridge himselfe of his ordinary and necessary foode?
Ezra. 10.6. 1 Cor. 9.27. Coloss. 2.23.Answ. Yes, he may; a man may and ought sometimes on speciall and iust occasion, to humble and afflict his body by fasting; yet so as he doe not weaken, abolish, or destroy nature, and make his body vnfit for any good duty.
Quest. Man not a man or a woman hauehave and vse cloathing and apparrell more then for meere necessity, and more then serues meerely for the continuance of the health and strength of his or her body, and for the preuenting of sicknesse and weaknesse of body, and for the recouery of health and strength of body, when they are impayred?
Gen. 41.42. Iudg: 5.30. Mar. 11.8.Answ. Yes, they may; a man or a woman may hauehave and vse cloathing and apparrell (God giuing it to them) for ornament and comelinesse; so as it be not to the setting out of the vanitie and lightnesse of their minds and wantonnesse;Isai. 3.16. Zeph. 1.8. 1. Tim. 2.9.10. Luk. 16.19. or the pride of their hearts in the forme or fashion of it, or beyond their abilitie: or vnfitting for them in regard of their Sex, age, degree, place, calling, and office; and so as it bee not alwayes alike.
Obiection. Luke. 3.11. Hee that hath two coats let him part with him that hath none, it seemes therefore not lawfull to hauehave and to vse two coats, or more cloathing then for meere necessity.
Quest. How is this to be answered?
Answ. Thus; the meaning is not that it is not lawfull to hauehave and to vse more then one coat; but that men and women must be ready to giuegive of their abundance to them that want: for Christ himselfe had two coats, John 19.23. and Paul had both a cloke and other apparrell. 2 Tim. 4.13.
Quest. What is the second good and lawfull meanes that a man is to procure and to vse according to his ability & power, that is helpefull and profitable for the continuance of the health and strength of his body; and for the preuenting of sicknesse and weaknesse of body, and for the recouery of the health and strength of his body when they are impayred?
Answ. This; honest and lawfull mirth,2 King. 3.15. Pro. 15.13. Pro. 17.22. Nehem. 8.10. Eccles. 3.4. Philip. 4.4 and reioycing in an holy manner, and sometimes in vsing the helpe of musicke by singing or playing on an instrument of musicke, or by hearing others sing or play, so as it be with moderation, and in due time and season.
Quest. What is the third good and lawfull meanes that a man is to procure and to vse, according to his ability and power, that is helpefull and profitable for the continuance of the health and strength of his body, and for the preuenting of sicknesse and weakenesse of body; and for the recouery of the health and strength of his body when they are impayred?
Answ. This; the helpe of Phisicke and Chyrurgery as occasion is giuen, vsing good and lawfull medicines;Exod. 21.19 2 King. 20.7. Iere. 8.22. Mat. 9.12 2 Chron. 16.12 and not trusting in them as able to doe any good of themselues, but intreating the Lord for a blessing on them.
Quest. What if a man or a woman in the time of their sicknesse or weakenesse of body, hauing vsed Physicke, finde no helpe or ease by it, but are rather weaker and worse, what are they then to doe?
Answ. They are not then altogether to leaue the vse of Physicke, but still to vse it in some other kinde if they be able to take it; for if one kinde of Physicke doe them no good, another may by the blessing of God on it; as Diet or Cordialls,…. 28.15. foreign or such like; and they are to leaue the issue and euent to God, and to liue by faith, wayting on God for a blessing, and quieting their hearts in his will whatsoeuer comes to passe: He that beleeues makes not hast. Isa 28.15.
Quest. What is the fourth good and lawfull means that a man is to procure, and to vse, according to his abilitie and power, helpefull and profitable for the continuance of the health and strength of his body, and for the preuenting of sicknesse and weakenesse of body; and for the recouery of the health and strength of his body when they are impayred?
Answ. This; honest and lawfull exercise, mouing and stirring of his body,…oh. 10.23. Sam: 1.18 …en. 27.3. and that seasonably and in fit time and place, and without iust offence of any; and more or lesse as the state of his body requires, and as his calling will suffer him; as walking, running, leaping, shooting, tenis-playing, hunting, and the like.
Quest. What are the things that tend to the maintenance and preseruation of the life of the body of another, or others, and to the welfare and safety of the body of another or others?
Ans. They are either things inward in the heart, or outward things.
Quest. What are the things inward in the heart that tend to the maintenance and preseruation of the life of the body of another or others?
Answ. Foure especially.
Quest. What is the first of those?
Answ. This; a kinde and louing disposition and affection of heart,Ephes. 4.32. Galat. 5.22. Coloss. 3.12. kinde heartednesse towards all, whereby men or women are tractable and easie to be vsed, and to be imployed for the good of others whatsoeuer they be, in any thing wherein they may doe them good as occasion is offered; without hurt or wrong to themselues or others.
Quest. What is the second thing inward in the heart, that tends to the maintenance and preseruation of the life of the body of another or others, and to the welfare and safetie of the body of another or others?
Answ. This; such a meeke and calme disposition of heart,Eccles. 7.11. Mat. 11.29. Ephes. 4.2. Gala. 5.23. Coloss. 3.12. 1 Pet. 3.4. as is neither prone to prouoke, nor easily prouoked to anger by iniuries and wrongs offered or done, when men are of quiet and meeke spirits when iniuries are offered or done to them.
Quest. What is the highest degree of meekenesse and quietnesse of heart, in regard of iniuries and wrongs offered or done to men?
Answ. Long suffering; which is,Nom. 12.3. Pro. 14.29. Pro. 15.18. 1 Cor. 13.4. Gal. 5.22. Coloss. 3.12 when men or women being much and often prouoked by iniurious words or deeds, doe notwithstanding quietly passe them ouer, and put them vp, and are still quiet and calme, and not prouoked to anger.
Quest. Wherein is meekenes and long suffering to be expressed?
Answ In two things especially.
Quest. What is the first of those?
Answ. This; in a quiet bearing with the infirmities and frailties of others, as hastinesse, slownesse, importunitie, rashnesse, and with passions and perturbations appearing in their actions, so farre forth as they are troublesome, and grieuous, and displeasing to vsus:Galat. 5.2. Ephes. 4.2. Coloss. 3.13. not bearing with open offences and sinnes of men, but admonishing and reprouing for such sins, keeping within the compasse of our calling.
Quest. What is the second thing wherein meekenesse and long suffering is to be expressed?
Answ. This; in a free remission of reuenge,Mat. 6.12. Ephes. 4.32, Coloss. 3.13 neither carrying in our hearts any purpose of reuenge for wrongs done to vsus, or supposed to bee done, nor returning punishment and euill for euill, in way of requittal for them.
Quest. VVhat is the third thing inward in the heart, that tends to the maintenance, and preseruation of the life of the body of another or others, and to the welfare and safetie of the body of another or others?
Answ. This; an inward fellow-felling of that which befals others in respect of their bodies and outward estates,om. 12.15. Cor. 12.25.26▪ when men are inwardly touched and affected according to the knowne outward estate and condition of others.
Quest. How are men inwardly fellow-feeling touched and affected according to the knowne outward estate and condition of others?
Answ. Two wayes.
Quest. VVhat is the first of those?
Psal. 35.27. Luk. 1.58. Philip. 1.26.Answ. This; by reioycing with others that hauehave iust cause of reioycing for their outward good and prosperitie seene or heard of: not in respect of their ill-gotten goods, in prospering in knowne sinne.
Quest. What is the second way by which men are inwardly fellow-feeling, touched and affected, according to the knowne outward estate and condition of others?
Answ. This; by mourning and greeuing with others that hauehave iust cause of heauinesse: mourning▪ and griefe for the outward euill, distresse, and aduersitie seene or heard of, and by pitying them,Psal. 35.13.14. Ephes. 4.32. Coloss. 3.12. Heb. 13.3. 1 Pet. 3.8. and by being tender hearted towards them: not with such as sorrow when they ought to reioyce, nor pitying men or women in respect of deserued misery, and iust punishment brought on themselues.
Quest. What is the fourth thing inward in the heart, that tends to the maintenance and preseruation of the life of the body of another or others, and to the welfare and safetie of the body of another or others?
Rom. 12.18. Galat. 5.22. Coloss. 3.15. 1 Thess. 4.11.Answ. This; an heart disposed to peace and quietnesse, and a care and desire to maintaine concord and good agreement amongst men, as much as is possible and in our power.
Quest. VVherein is an heart disposed to peace and quietnesse, and a care and desire to maintaine peace and good agreement amongst men, to bee expressed?
Answ. In three things especially.
Quest. What is the first of those?
Pro. 17.14. Pro: 19.11. Pro. 20.3. Iam. 3.17. Gen. 13 8.9. Math. 17.27.Answ. This; in passing by offences so farre as they concerne vsus in particular, and may be passed ouer without hurt or wrong to our selues or others; and sometimes for quietnes sake, in parting from our owne right.
Quest. What is the second thing wherein an heart disposed to peace and quietnesse, and a care and desire to maintaine peace, concord, and good agreement amongst men, is to be expressed?
Answ. This; in construing things in the best sense,2 Sam. 10.3. 1 Cor. 13.5. and taking eueryevery thing, if it be possible, in the best part.
Quest. What is the third thing wherein an heart disposed to peace and quietnes, and a care and desire to maintaine concord and good agreement amongst men, is to be expressed?
Answ. In medling onelyonly with our owne matters and businesses,1. Thes. 4.11. 1 Pet. 4.15. and such things as concerne vsus in regard of our callings and conditions of life.