The Best Remedies for the Worst of Maladies, Receipt 1
1. THe firſt ſpiritual Receipt, that I ſhall then preſcribe unto thee, who ever thou art that getteſt in thy hand, and readeſt this little tract,
Conſider ſeriouſly, and let thy thoughrs dwell long upon thoſe Sins, that I have inſiſted on, as ſuch which are the procuring Cauſe of this ſo ſore a viſitation from the Lord; and entring into a diligent ſcrutiny, and examination of thine own heart and ways: Conſider how far thou haſt been, or art a partaker of thoſe ſins, which have ſo highly provoked the Lord to ſend down this National Judgement of the Plague and Peſtilence among us. For if we ſtand guilty of the ſame Sins, how then ſhall we think to eſcape the like puniſhment? This was the way and courſe the Apoſtle took, when ſpeaking of Gods diſpleaſure againſt the Iſraelites, whereby many of them were overthrown in the Wilderneſs; how does he bring it home by way of ſpecial application. Now theſe things (ſaith he) were our Examples, to the intent we ſhould not luſt after evil things as they alſo luſted. Neither be ye Idolaters, as were ſome of them, &c. Neither let us commit fornication, as ſome of them committed, and fell in one Day three and twenty thouſand. Neither let us tempt Chriſt, as ſome of them alſo tempted, and were deſtroyed of Serpents. Neither murmure ye, as ſome of them alſo murmured, and were deſtroyed of the Deſtroyer. Now all things happened unto them for enamples; and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come, 1 Cor. 10.5, 6, to the 11, and 12. ver. So ſay I as from the Lord. As to the firſt Peſtilentiall ſin of Oppreſſion. Did the Lord plague Pharaoh, and his Land, with ſore and dreadful plagues, even this of the deſtroying Peſtilence, for his cruel oppreſſions, which he exerciſed over the bodies and conſciences of Gods people; Take heed then that thou art not found an Oppreſſor of the true worſhippers of Jeſus, the ſpiritual Iſrael of God: Take heed of exalting thy ſelf againſt God, in ſeeking ſtill to hold the ſpiritual Seed under Egyptian captivity and bondage. See, that thou lets them go to ſacrifice to the Lord God, as he has commanded them. Take heed of ruling over them with rigour, and making their lives bitter with hard bondage. Take heed ye rich men, that ye do not oppreſs the poor. Know that the Lord ſurely looks upon the afflictions of his people, and hears their cry by reaſon of their Task-maſters, and will come down to deliver them, Exod. 3.7, 8.
So to thoſe that are the Biſhops, Elders, and Overſeers, the Spiritual Rulers, and Leaders of the flocks of Chriſt. Take heed that ye be not Lords over Gods heritage, but examples to the flocks: See that ye feed the flocks of God, taking the overſight of them, not by conſtraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind, 1 Pet. 5.2, 3. Take heed that ye do not exerciſe a dominion over their faith, but are helpers of their joy, 2 Cor. 1.24. Take heed that ye do not eat the fat, and cloath you with the wool, and kill them that are fed: Take heed that with force and cruelty, ye rule not over them. So then to all that oppreſs, whether in one kind or another, ſee that ye undo heavy burdens, and let the oppreſſed go free, and break every yoke; elſe, ſurely the Lord will viſit for theſe things, and his ſoul will be avenged on ſuch a Nation as this.
2. So for the Sin of Perſecution, and Hatred againſt God, and his people. Hath the Lord ordained the Arrows of his Indignation, even the Inſtruments of Death againſt the Perſecutors? and will he ſtrike them into the hearts of his Enemies? O, then take heed, that thou art not found a hater of God, and a Perſecutor of the people of God, leſt the Arrow of the deſtroying Peſtilence, that flyeth at noon day, do light upon thee, and the Angel of the Lord perſecute thee.
3. So for the Sin of Murder and Bloodſhed. Hath the Lord threatned his ſore plagues againſt the Deſtroyers of his heritage? and will he avenge the blood of his Servants, at the great whore of Babylons hands? and is there a time when the Lord will make inquiſition for blood? Then beware that thou haſt not a hand in killing, and deſtroying the Saints of the moſt high God. And take heed, that thou partake not of Babylons ſins, leſt thou receive of her plagues. For the Lord will avenge the blood of his Servants, and will render vengeance to his Adverſaries, and will be merciful unto his land, and to his people, Deut. 32.43.
4. So for the fourth Peſtilential and highly provoking Sin of Idolatry. Was the anger of the Lord ſo kindled againſt Iſrael, when Iſrael had joyned himſelf to Baal-peor, that no leſs then four and twenty thouſand died in the plague. And did the Lord plague the people, becauſe of the Calf they had made? Then beware that ye be not Idolaters as were ſome of them, and provoke the Lord to anger with your inventions. For ſurely the Lord our God is a jealous God, his glory he will not give to another, neither his praiſe to Graven Images, Iſa. 42.8.
5. So for the Sin of Covetouſneſs, and a greedy deſire after gain. Is it a ſin ſo abhorring unto the Lord? does the wrath of the Lord come upon the Children of diſobedience, becauſe of it? Has the Lord denounced ſo many woes againſt it? and threatned to ſmite with his plagues, and puniſhments for it? O then beware of Covetouſneſs, and being greedy of gain, leſt thou be a troubler of thine houſe, Prov. 15.27.
6. So for the Sin of Curſing, and Swearing, and Falſe-ſwearing. Is it, that becauſe of Swearing the Land mourns, and the Lord had a Controverſie with the Land, becauſe of it? And that the Curſer ſhall be cloathed with his Curſing, as with a Garment? and it ſhall come into his bowels like water, and the Curſe ſhall enter into the houſe of the Falſe-ſwearer? O then, beware that thou art not found in theſe ſins, leſt theſe dreadful Judgments of God fall upon thee.
7. So for the ſeventh Peſtilential deſtroying Sin, namely, the ſin of Adultery, Fornication, and ſuch like corporeal filthineſs and uncleanneſs. Did the Lord ſo ſeverely puniſh the ſin of Zimbri and Cosby who were taken in the act of uncleanneſs, that no leſs then twenty four thouſand died in the plague? And did the Lord plague Pharaoh and his houſe with great plagues, becauſe of Sarai, Abrams wife? Then beware thou beaſtly Adulterer, thou filthy Fornicator, and unclean Liver, leſt the like ſeverity of God take hold of thee. Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the Cities about them, in like manner, giving themſelves over to Fornication, and going after ſtrange fleſh, are ſet forth for an example, ſuffering the vengeance of eternal fire, Jud. 7.
8. So for the Sin of Infidelity, Diſtruſt and Murmuring againſt God, the eighth provoking Peſtilential ſin. Did thoſe men that brought up an evil report upon the good Land (diſtruſting God for all the Signs that he had ſhewed among them) dye by the plague before the Lord? And did the Carcaſſes of thoſe who murmured againſt the Lord fall in the Wilderneſs, ſo that that they could not ſee the promiſed Land? O then take heed how thou cheriſh a murmuring diſtruſting, and unbeleiving heart againſt God. Take heed of raſing up an evil report upon the good land, thereby weakening the hands, and diſcouraging the hearts of thoſe, who would be found walking in the beautiful paths of the Lord, and be faithful in their generation.
9. So for the Sin of Diſcontent, loathing Gods bleſſings, and his proviſions, and luſting after evil things, to ſatisfie their inordinate deſires, the ninth provoking Peſtilential ſin. Did the Lord ſmite the people with a very great Plague, for this very evil? Then take we heed that we luſt not after evil things, as they alſo luſted.
10. So for the Sin of Pride, Ambition, and Vain-glory, truſting in an arm of fleſh, and not relying on the mighty power and faithfulneſs of God. Did the Lord for this ſin of David, ſend a Peſtilence among the Children of Iſrael, ſo that there dyed of the people Seventy thouſand men? O then take we heed of a proud, vain-glorious ſpirit, and that we truſt not in an arm of fleſh.
11. So for the Sin of Apoſtacy, Back-ſliding, and Revolting from God. Did the Lord often threaten that for this ſin he would conſume them by the Sword, the Famine, and the Peſtilence? O then take we heed that we do not Apoſtaſie, and Back-ſlide in our ſpirits from the Lord.
12. So for the Sin of Rebellion, and Obſtinate Diſobedience, againſt God and his Commandments. Did the Lord for this ſin threaten, that he would ſend the Peſtilence among them, and make it cleave unto them, until he had conſumed them? O then beware, that thou ſin not againſt God, and his Commands, with an Obſtinate, Rebellious, and diſobedient heart.
13. So for the Sin of Inſurrection, and riſing up againſt the Lords lawful Governours and Government. Did the Lord ſo ſeverely deal with Corah, Dathan, and Abiram, and their Complices, and Co-partners for this evil; not viſiting them after the common viſitation of men, cauſing alſo the Plague to break in among them, ſo that there died thereof, Fourteen thouſand and ſeven hundred? O then take we heed of this ſo highly provoking Peſtilential ſin.
14. So for the Sin of Prophanation of Gods holy things, and an Over-curious, Preſumptuous ſpeculation, and prying unwarrantably into the ſecrets of God. Was the hand of the Lord ſo heavy upon the men of Aſhdod, and alſo upon the men of Beth-ſhemiſh for this ſin, ſo that he ſmote them with a deadly deſtruction, even of the people, Fifty thouſand and threeſcore and ten? O then ſee that we are not guilty of this ſo highly provoking Peſtilential ſin.
15. So for the laſt Peſtilential deſtroying Sin of Adding or Diminiſhing from the word of God, for which the Lord hath threatned ſuch dreadful plagues and puniſhments. O take thou heed of this ſo highly provoking ſin, leſt the Lord add unto thee his plagues, and take away thy part out of the Book of Life.
Having now ſeriouſly conſidered, what thoſe ſins are, that ſo highly provoked the Lord to ſend down this ſore viſitation, of the Plague or Peſtilence among a people ſee I ſay, that thou enter then into a diligent ſearch, and examination of thine own heart and ways to find out the ſin or ſins, which thy Conſcience ſhall tell thee thou ſtandeſt guilty of before the Lord: Whether it be the ſin of Oppreſſion, Perſecution, Murder, Idolatry, Adultery, Covetouſneſs, Curſing or Swearing, Infidelity, Diſcontent, Pride, Apoſtacy, Diſobedience, or any other of the forementioned provoking evils. And ſee that thou art very exact, and not ſlight, and ſuperficial, in this manner of ſelf-examination. This is the exhortation of the Lord, by his Prophet Zephaniah, Chap. 2.1, 2. Gather your ſelves together, yea; gather together, O, Nation not deſired: thus is it rendred in our Tranſlation, but other Traſlations read it thus: Search your ſelves narrowly, yea ſearch your ſelves narrowly, O people, not worthy to be deſired. Before the Decree bring forth, before the day paſs as the chaff, before the fierce anger of the Lord come upon you. I finde the Hebrew word ſignifies thus much; Firſt, To gather your wits together, that was before diſperſed upon vanity. Secondly, To frame your ſelves to purge away your ſpiritual chaff. Thirdly, To ſearch narrowly, as for a loſt jewel, or hid mine. The true ſence is, Enter into your ſelves; ſearch, try and examine all your ways and doings, that ye may rightly underſtand how heavily and greivouſly God muſt needs be offended with your great and manifold ſins. And mark the reaſon why they ſhould be ſo diligent and induſtrious in this work; Before the Decree bring forth: That is, before that doth come to paſs, which is decreed by God againſt you; Gods Decree is then ſaid to bring forth, when it cometh to be executed. As the bringing forth of a woman doth not follow preſently after the conception, but in the appointed due time: So alſo is the Decree of God not brought to light, by the execution of it, until the time determined and appoined by himſelf.
Before the day paſs as the chaff] that is, very ſwiftly, ſuddenly, like chaff, the day is paſſing away, therefore whiles ye have time yet, before the day that runs and wears away ſo faſt, does bring forth the Decree, produce and make appear what God hath decreed againſt you. O Nation undeſirable, ſearch your ſelves, yea ſearch your ſelves very narrowly, whiles the heat of the Lords wrath doth not yet come upon you; whiles the day of the Lords wrath doth not yet take hold of you. This is further inculcated and preſt by the Lord in the Propheſie of the Prophet Haggai, chap. 1.5, 7. Is it a time for you, O ye, to dwell in your ceiled houſes (that is, in your ſtately and ſumptuous houſes, for pleaſure and delight) and this houſe lye waſte, or deſolate, meaning the Lords houſe: Now therefore, thus ſaith the Lord of of Hoſts, Conſider your ways; Or which is more agreeable to the Original, Set your heart upon your ways: Obſerve and conſider well how it fares with you, by reaſon of your ſins. Had they conſidered, or ſet their hearts aright upon their ways, this might have prevented the execution of Gods judgements mentioned the 9, 10, and 11, verſes thereof. For want of this the Lord by the Prophet Iſaiah ch. 1. takes up a bitter lamentation and complaint; Hear O Heavens, and give ear O Earth; for the Lord hath ſpoken: I have nouriſhed and brought up children, and they have rebelled againſt me. The Ox knoweth his ower, and the Aſs his maſters ſcrib: but Iſrael doth not know, my people (ſaith he) doth not conſider. They were more brutiſh and void of underſtanding then the beaſts or brute creatures. For want of this conſideration it was, that every one turned to his courſe of ſin, as the horſe ruſheth into the battel, breaking and running through like a water flood, as the word is properly uſed. And why? Becauſe no man ſaid What have I done? And the Lord complaineth further, That the Stork in the Heaven knew her appointed times, and the Turtle, and the Crane, and the Swallow did obſerve the time of their coming, but his people knew not the judgement of the Lord, Jer. 8.6, 7. This is that conſideration which we ought to have of our ſelves: But what ſtrangers are moſt men and women to their own hearts? who enters into ſuch a ſerious thought as to ſay, What have I done?
Seneca reporteth of Sexius, how every night before he ſlept he asked his own heart, What evil this day haſt thou amended? what vice haſt thou reſiſted? in what part art thou bettered? Surely ſuch a courſe as this, would prevent the fearleſs and heedleſs running into many groſs enormities and ſins; and ſo prevent the ruine and deſtruction of many a poor ſinful ſoul. This courſe the Church took in the Lamentations, Wherefore doth the living man complain? a man for the puniſhment of his ſins? Let us ſearch and try our ways, and turn again unto the Lord, Lam. 3.39, 40. Fall then in good earneſt upon this work of ſelf-examination; and think it better to know thine own infirmites, and thy ſoul-ſickneſſes and ſores, then to know the whole world, and all the wonders thereof; It is one of the beſt parts of wiſdom to know thy ſelf: This will beat down thy pride, and keep the humble, and lead thee to the true knowledge of God; It will caſt out and keep out ſin, and preſerve thee from many temptations; It is the beginning and foundation of grace and repentance, Lam. 3.40. And will prevent the ſevere ſtroak of Gods judgements, as in that of Zephany 2.1, 2. And ſaith the Apoſtle, If we will judge our ſelves, we ſhall not be judged of the Lord, Surely did we but know what the heart of man is, while unregenerate and in its natural eſtate; what a ſink, a ſea of ſin and filthineſs it is; how deceitful above all things and deſperately wicked, as Jeremy hath it, Jer. 17.9. what infinite intricate windings and turnings there are in the dark laborinths of mans heart; what a multitude of vain thoughts do lodge within it, Jer. 4 14. What ſwarms of luſts and uncleaneſs iſſue out from this corrupt and putrified fountain, Mat. 12.34. comp. with chap. 15.18, 19, verſes. What a deal of ſelf-ſophiſtry and impoſture is wrapt up there, by which millions of ſouls are inwraped in the ſnares and ſhackels of Satan; I ſay did we rightly know, and were not ſtrangers to theſe things, it might put us on with all ſeriouſneſs and readineſs this ſo weighty and profitable a work.
But O where is the man almoſt, that knows, or ſets himſelf in good earneſt for to know and find out the Plague of his own heart! O what a many of Plague-ſores, and running iſſues are in the hearts of men and women at this day, and yet they are inſenſible of them. Every one almoſt is ſenſible of the Plague-tokens, or ſores when they ſeize upon the body, and moſt people fear and dread this contagious diſeaſe, becauſe of the loathſomneſs of it, but for the Plague of the Heart, the Soul-ſickneſs and ſores, O where is there any knowledge or diſcerning of it! where is there any ſenſe of the loathſomneſs and infectiouſneſs of it! And yet without this, how can we expect a healing? and the removal of this ſevere ſtroke of the Lord? according to Solomons prayer, at the dedication of the Temple, 1 King. 8.37, 38, 39. If there be in the land famine, if there be peſtilence, &c. whatſoever plague, whatſoever ſickneſs there be: what prayer and ſupplication ſoever be made by any man, or by all the people Iſrael (and mark what follows?) which ſhall know every man the plague of his own heart, and ſpread forth his hands towards this houſe: Then hear thou in Heaven thy dwelling place, and forgive, and do, and give to every man according to his ways, whoſe heart thou knoweſt (for thou, even thou onelyonly knoweſt the hearts of the children of men.) Now this prayer of Solomon had its confirmation from the Lord, 1 King. 9.3. So that this knowledge of the Plague of the heart, is a neceſſary qualification or ingredient to go along with that prayer, which ſhall be prevailing with the Lord for the removal of the Peſtilence out of the land or Nation wherein it is. But if the men of this generaration are ſtill unacquainted with the plagues or ſores of their own heart, if they be ſtill as vain, as proud, as oppreſſing, as Superſtitious, as Idolatrous, as Adulterous, as Murderous, as Blaſphemous, as Rebellious and Diſobedient againſt the Lord and his commands, as reviling and perſecuting the way of truth and holineſs as ever, can it be expected that the hand of the Lord ſhould be removed, or the fire of his his indignation, which now burns ſo very hot among us, ſhould be quenched?
Set thy ſelf then in good earneſt upon this heart-ſearching work, whoever thou art that would eſcape this ſevere ſtroke of the Lord. And if thou knoweſt not how to deal with thy heart, it is ſo treacherous and vile, put up Davids prayer unto the Lord. in Pſal. 139.23, 24. Search me O God, and know my heart, try me and know my thoughts; And ſee if there be any way of wickedneſs in me, and lead me in the way everlaſting. If there be any pernicious, hurtful, or oppreſſing way in me; and lead me upod the way of eternity, upon that way which may lead me to eternal life. But know, that if thou wilt be careleſs and neglectve ſtill of this ſo neceſſary a work, and put the Lord upon it, he will then make a very ſtrict and diligent ſearch, and ſee what will be the ſad event and conſequent of it, Zeph. 1.12. And it ſhall come to paſs at that time, that I will ſearch Jeruſalem with candles, and puniſh the men that are ſettled on their lees, that ſay in their heart, The Lord will not do good, neither will he do evil. And what follows? Therefore their goods ſhall become a booty, and their houſes a deſolation: they ſhall alſo build houſes, but not inhabit them; and they ſhall plant vineyards, but not drink the wine thereof. Then the mighty man ſhall cry bitterly. And God wyll bring diſtreſs upon men, that they ſhall walk as blind men, becauſe they have ſinned againſt the Lord, and their blood ſhall be poured out as duſt, and their fleſh as the dung, and at that time, neither their their ſilver nor their gold ſhall be able to deliver them in the day of the Lords wroth, but the whole land ſhall be devoured by the fire of his jealouſie: For he ſhall make even a ſpeedy riddance of all them that dwell in the land. And when is this time that the Lord will make this ſtrict and diligent ſearch as with candles? ver. 7. declares it, It is in the day of the Lord, when he prepareth a ſacrifice, and ſhall bid his gueſts. And in that day of the Lords ſacrifice, then will be puniſh the Princes, and the Kings children, and all ſuch as are cloathed with ſtrange apparel, that leap on the threſhold, and fill their Maſters houſes with deceit. O England, then be exhorted to conſider thy ways, that thou mayſt find out thy hideous provoking abominations before the Lord make a ſpeedy riddance. This is the firſt ſpiritual Receit I would preſcribe unto thee.