London looke backe at that yeare of yeares 1625 and looke forvvard, vpon this yeare 1630 / written not to terrifie, but to comfort.

London Looke Backe .

TO looke backe at Ills , begets a Thankefuln●●●e t● haue esc●p●d them : So the Children of Israel hauing d●y foot passed through the red Sea ▪ looked backe , with a double Ioy ; To see themselues on Shore , & their enemies Drown'd

To Looke Backe , at our sinnes , begets a Repentance : R●pentance is the Mother of Amendment : and Amendment leades vs by the hand to Heauen : So that if wee looke not Backe , ther 's no going forward in that Iourney to Ierusalem .

To looke Backe at an enemie , from whom wee flye ; Calls vp Hope , and Feare ; Hope to out-runne him , Feare to be ou●r-taken : Hope to fight with him agen , Feare neuer to fight more . To looke backe , strengthens wisedome , to looke forward , armes Prouidence : and lendes eyes to Pr●uention .

What Marriner hauing gotten safely by a Rocke , but with a liu●l● spirit lookes backe , and pra●s●th Heauen , for S●yl●ng by such a danger ? What Generall , but at the end of a Battaile , lookes backe , on his slaughtered Souldiers with sorrow : and on his liuing Regiments , with Gladnes ; What a Glory is it , to repeat the story of the fight ? How such a Captaine cut a braue way to Victory with his Sword ? How another brake through the Battalia's , like the God of Warre .

Looke backe therefore ( ó LONDON ) at Time , and bid him turne ore his Chronicles , and shew thee , that Yeare of Yeares 1625 For , The yeare ●625 . if euer there was in England , a yeare , great with Childe of wonder , that very yeare was then deliuered of that Prodigious Birth .

It was a yeare Fatall to all our Kingdomes ; For ▪ the Courts of our Kings , Fatall to our Kingdome . were forced to fly from place to place for safety ▪ and yet the pursuing enemie , D●ath , tracde them and ouertooke them by the pri●ts of th●ir feet .

It was ●atall ( O thou Empresse of Cittiees , fa●re Troynouant ) to t●ce ; For ( bloud shedde excepted ) thou with Ierusalem , To the Citty . didst feele as g●ue● us a Desolation : eating vp , with Mariam , thine owne chil●r●n , with Samaria thou wert beseiged , 〈◊〉 go not ( like Samaria ) with Benha●ad King of the Aramites , ● Kings . 20 ● . and ●2 . Kings more with him : But with a farre more cruell enemy , ( the Pestilence , ) and an infinite Army of Sinnes , which to this very day , fight against thee .

A more terrible Tyrant , then Benhadad ( and that is Death ) sayd then to thee , as h●e di● to Samaria ; Thy Gold and thy Siluer are mine , 1 Kings 20 5. thy Women 〈◊〉 and thy faire Children are mine . O how much of the one was then buried in Earth , and what excellent Pieces of the other lay then defloured in Graves ▪

Ioh. 6.20 . With Ierico , the wades of thy Glory ( O London ) were broken down ▪ for thy Princes tooke from th●e the Honour of their Chariots t●e Diuin●● the harmony of their Eloquence ; London ▪ generall Misery . Thy Magi●t●ates , the splend●r ●f their Authority ; Thy Merchants the Renowne of Commerce : Thy Physi●ians gaue thee ouer ; Thy Soldiers 〈◊〉 Cowards left t●ee in the open field : Thy ol● M●n went away , and thy young-men fled before thee in the 〈◊〉 of their Marrow .

Reader , to Feast thee with more v●riety , cast 〈◊〉 eye on these following verses , in which is set downe a 〈◊〉 full , and more liuely Description of that Lamentable Time .

This was that yeere of wonder , when this Land , Was Ploughed vp into Graues , and graues did stand From morne , till next morne , gaping still for more . The Bells ( like our lowde sinnes ) ne're giuing ore . Then , life look't pale , and sicklier then the Moone , Whole Households , well ●'th morne , lying dead at Noone . Then sicknesse was of her owne face affrayle , And frighting all yet was her selfe dismayde : LONDON was great with childe , and with a fright Shee fell in labour — But O pitious sight ! All in her Child-bed Roome did nought but mourne , For , thos who were deliuer●d were still-borne . The Citty fled the 〈◊〉 , for those Bells Which calld the Church man , rung his neighbors knells : The Citty fled the Citty , a●d in feare , That enemy shu●●'d who me● her euery where . The Citty so much of her Bo●y lost , Th●● she ap●e●r'd 〈…〉 Ghost : Paules Or●ans ( th●n ) 〈…〉 , to call This day a Qui 〈…〉 Who yesterday sate 〈…〉 me To morning 〈◊〉 , yet ●re they got home , Had To●ens 〈◊〉 th●m 〈◊〉 they should no more Heare A●th●●s there They we●e to goe before Him , to whose 〈…〉 Anthems were all sung , To instruments , which wereby Angels strung .

By this little Picture you may guesse , if that yeare of 1625. was not one of the worlds Cli●a●tericall yeares : If it bee not ( to this day ) more remarkeable , than any ot●er yeare in the memory of man , looke backe but on such Calenders , as your obseruations may set downe , and then be your owne iudges .

Fi●st , 〈◊〉 ( in your looking backe ) remember those faynt and pu●gatiue Fl●xes , which then were the V●nt-currers , making way for other Diseases which immediately brake in vpon vs : How many Families f●ll by that Consumption ! How many househol 〈…〉 carry away ? 〈◊〉 one 〈◊〉 in a Thousand 〈◊〉 it ? Or if happily they get out of his fingers , did not a spotte●● Feauer then presently print her Nayles vpon their flesh ?

How many Bo●yes were by this Purueyor of Death , mark'd for Funeralls !

Our Doctors giue that young Sicknesse then as they doe this , now Reigning a fine gentleman like name , the sp●tted Feauer , as if it had beene Er●●nd , the s●o●t●d Feauer , as if it h●d beene a Beautifull faire ski●d Sickenesse , and those Spotes , the fr●ckels in the face of it . But how many did this spotted Leopard set vpon , and teare in peces ! The spotted Feauer .

The Physitians were modest , and gaue it a pretty harmelesse Name , ( the spotted Feauer ) but wofull experience made vs confesse , A kin man to the Plague . it was the direct Plague ▪ or Couz●n-germane to it : The spotted Feauer serued but as a By-name : The spots were the signes that hung at the Doores , but the Pestilence dwelt within .

Agen l●oke backe vpon that Moone , and that officious Starre , The Moon and her Wa●ting-ma●de .. waiting so close vpon her , and reade in both th●ir faces , w●at followed after .

Agen looke bac●e , at the sudden , and vnexp●cted death of K Iames : The Death of K. I. He lead the way , and Millio●s of Subiects followed after him ; Hee dyed of a Burning Feauer but that burning went cold to a great ●any Hearts in Christendome , and it ●●uck cold to vs in England . 〈◊〉 bre●th of 〈…〉 glittering of Bonfire● , and 〈…〉 People hea●ed vs agen , with the happy N●w●s of a Glorious Sunne ris●n And that Sunne was the Great Charlema●ne , our now present Soueraigne .

The Death 〈…〉 Agen looke backe vpon 〈◊〉 ●aths of our N●bility : Dukes , Earles , and Lords , bei●g at that time snatch't from vs .

The 〈…〉 graue . Agen looke backe , on the heapes of English , th●n swallowed in the sea , & eaten vp in the Low-Countries . Rekcon our Losses of Men abroad , and at that time , the ruine of Men , Women , and children at home .

Al this Remembrances being thus added vp together , poynt if you can ( through all the Reignes of our Kings ) to any one yeare so full of wonderful mutati●n● ! Such Shifting of the Windes from faire to foule , and from foule to faire weather . Such Eclipses , and such affrighting Changes ▪ and then my Penne shall be silenc'd ,

But of al the changes happening that yeare , the greatest is not yet mention'd : When our Sinnes were in a full Sea , God call'd in the waters of our punishment , The great Change . and on a sudden our miseries ebb'd : When the P●stilence struck 5000. and odde in a Weeke into the Graue ; an Angell came , and held the Sword from striking : So that the waues or Death fell in a short time , as fast as before they swelld vp , to our confusion : Mercy stood at the Church doores , and suffered but a few Coffins to come in : And this was the most wonderfull change of all the rest .

This was a Change , Crosses 〈…〉 . worthy to bee set ouer euery doore in Letters of Gold , as before Red ▪ painted Crosses stood there , turning Cittizens to runn-awayes . But a white ●lagge was held out in signe of Truce ; A pardon was promis'd , and it came to the great Comfort of all our Nation . A 〈◊〉 When more than threescore thousand were ●owen downe by the ●yeth of time : Deaths haruest towards the end of that yeare was all most all in . Looke backe ( O LONDON ) at these , and on thy knees , sing Hymnes to heauen to thy th●n d●liuerance .

T is strange to obserue , ●para that if a Bell be heard to Ring out , and that t is voyc'd in such a Parish within the walls of LONDON , a many is dead of the 〈◊〉 , O what talke it breedes ▪ If the next 〈…〉 two , then the Report stickes cold to the 〈…〉 Cit●● . But if ( as now ) it rises to 〈…〉 the Head , and thousands fearefully suspect , they 〈◊〉 bee vndone . And is there not great ●eaven for ●t is , thinke you ? Yes there is .

For all other Infirmities , and maladies of the Bo●y , goe simply in their owne Habit , and liue wheresoeuer , they are 〈…〉 , vnder their proper and knowne Names 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 pass●th onely by the name of the 〈…〉 an Ague , the Pox Fistula , &c. 〈…〉 so 〈◊〉 with 〈◊〉 that they 〈◊〉 and King out , sometimes ▪ night and d●y , ) that sudden destroyer of Mankind : 〈…〉 Enemie . that Nimble executioner of the Diuine Iustice : ( The Plague or Pestilence ) hath for the singularity of the Terrors waiting vpon it , 〈◊〉 title ; THE SICKNESSE .

It hath a Preheminence about all others : And none being able to match it , for Violence , Strength , Incertainty , Su●tlety , Catching , Vniuersality , and Desolation , it is called the Sicknesse . The 〈…〉 the 〈◊〉 . As if it were , the onely Sicknesse ▪ or the Sicknesse of Sicknesses , as it is indeede .

But , for all this Tyrants Raging and Rauing vp and downe this Citty ; after punishment : Mercy as you heard b●fore , came downe : when the deluge was p●st , a Raine-bow was seene : Martyrdome went before , and Glory with a Crowne of Starres immediately followed .

To Dye is held fearefull : and the Graue hath many formidable shapes .

Men alive in graue . A Prisoner being drag'd to a Iayle , out of which hee can neuer be deliuered , may truely call his Chamber , his Liuing Graue , where his owne sorrowes and the cruelty of creditors , bury him .

They , who with fearefull labour , maintaine life by digging vnder-ground , goe daily to their Graue ; So doe all Traytors that lay traynes to Blow vp their K. and Countre● : So doe all those whose blacke consciences pr●ck them on to dige Pitts for others , into which they fall then solues .

But to open a graue as it is indeede , the graue is our last Inne , A graue Opened . and a poore wooden Coffin our fairest Lodging Roome . No : the Graue is not our Inne , ( where we may lie to Night and be gon to Morrow ) but it is our standing House , it is a perpetuity , our Inheritance for euer : A peece of ground ( with a litle garden in it , fiue or sixe foot long , full of flowres and herbes , purchas'd for v● and our posterity , at the deerest Income in the world the losse of Life .

The World is our common Inne , The World a fair Inne , but il Lodging in it . in which wee haue no certaine abyding : It stands in the Road-way for all pass●ngers ; And wither we be vpon speed , or goe slowly on foot , sure we are that all our Iourneyes are to the land of death , and that 's the Graue .

A sicke-mans bed is the gate or first yard to this Inne , A Chamberline for all Trauelers . where death at our first arriuall stands like the Chamberlaine to bid you welcome , and is so bold , as to aske if you will alight , and he will shew you a Lodging .

In this great yeare of contagion , ( I meane 1625. ) when the Bell man of the Citty ( Sicknesse ) beate at euery dore , there was one who whilst he lay in his graue ( his death-bed as he accounted it : ) yet afterwards he Recouered , reported to his friends he beheld strange apparitions .

He saw a purchas'd Sessions ; The Iudge was terrible : In his hand , A man i● his Graue ●ees strange sights . Lightning in his voyce , Thunder : After thousands were cast , and condemn'd to dye , ( sayd this sicke man ) I saw my selfe a Prisoner , and cal'd to the Barre : The Iudge looking sternly vpon mee , was angry : A sickmans Sessions . my offences ( being read to me ) were heauy , my accusers many ; what could I doe but pleade guilty ! And falling on my knees , with hands held vp , cry for mercy .

Teares , sighes , and Anguishes of soule , speaking hard for me , the Iudge melted in compassion , signed a repriue , sau'd me from death , The best , Iudge in England . and set me free . O in what a pittifull state had I beene else ! for my conscience araigned me , my owne tongue accus'd mee , my owne guilt condemn'd mee : Yet the mercy of the Iudge sau'd mee .

In this graue I lay , my memory being dead , my Sences buried , my Spirits couered with Earthly weaknesses , and all the faculties of my soule , When men is weakest , God is strongest . cold as the clay into which I was to be turned . Yet loe ! I was called out of this Graue ; I quickned and reuiued : Seeing then that albeit death was about to thrust mee downe with one hand , yet life gentley pluckt me vp by the other , what did I but looke back● at the Horror which had beset me round ! I did not onely looke backe but I looked forward at the Happinesse comming toward mee , which with spred armes I embraced : neither did I onely looke forward , but I looked vpward to heauen . A due de●t must be payd . Had I not reason to pay my heauenly Ph●sitian with an humble & hearty Thankes-giuing ! I did so . Haue I not reason to put al others , ( that either t● is yeare or in any yeare to come , shall be call'd to the same Iudgment-seat ) in minde of their deliuerance !

Wee , being ( at least we ought to be ) Christs followers , vse as he did to giue thankes before we breake our Bread : and when we are satisfied , he is not satisfied , vnlesse wee pay him , thankes agen , thankes ! that 's all : Poore is that good turne which is not worth goda●ercy : That benefit withers , which is not warm'd by the breath of the Receiuer . Here , leaue we our ●icke-man , well recouered , and singing holy Ditties for his restoring : Let vs now agen looke backe , and stedf●stly fix our Eyes , vpon the ●errible face of that former wond●rfull yeare . How many in that swallowing Sea of contagion , were strucke with dreadfull Calentures , and Madnes of the Braines ! Rauing , Raging and Rayling : yea cursing God to his face ! And who had greater cause to Register vp his mercy , in fetching them out of such a hell , then they ?

Iob. 3.3 How many did then , with Iob ( through the anguish of their Soar●s ) wish that the day might perish in which they were borne ! Yet some at the same time being recouered did not onely not send vp prayers and prailes for their safety , but hauing tasted of the f●ll Cup of Gods mercy , they agen did te●pt , his Iustice . If Drunkards before their Sickenesse , they were ten times worse , after they were well .

They were not good , for Ioy they grew vnto strength , but being perfectly hea●thfull , were madd in their heartes that their purses were too weake to maintain them in their old Riots . Old s●r●s ill cured , breake out agen . What would not such haue ventur'd vpon , but that poue●ty gaue them Lame hands . These People had a minde to Cheate God by thinking they owed him nothing : Many men dea● , few amended . But God stop't them in their Carrecre ; for seeing no amendment in them , after they had beene smitten downe once or twice , at the third blow he struck them into Earth .

To close vp this sad Feast , to which none but Wormes were invited : let vs looke onely once more backe , at this , all-Conquerin● yeare , 1625. And remember that Preaching in many Churches , was in the heate of the Battails , forced to fly : Law , was at a Non-plus .

Traficke cast ouer-board , Trading in the Citty lay Bed-ridde , and in the Countrey ●orely shaken with an Ague .

Remember O you Cittizens , that our Schooles then lock'd out Learning , ( a wound to your children ; ) that your Seruants got little ( a Bruze to your Family ! ) that your selues spent much , and many of your Stockes were almost wasted to nothing : ( a Mayme to the Citty ) But then afterwards on the sudden , to see all this dis●oynted Buildings , put orderly into frame agen ! was there not great reason to reioyce ?

When that mighty number of 5000. and odde , The ●um●er that dyed in 1625. in LONDON , and round about were carryed on Mens shoulders to their last Home , what Glory is due to the Diuine mercy ! That wee ( who now walke vp and downe the Streets , ) Liue ! Nay , not onely liue in Health but liue ! hauing been layd in deaths Lappe , full of Sores , of Feauers , of Frenzes , yet are now healed in body and cured ●n minde .

Had euery Man , and Woman , as many voices as Birdes haue notes : All of them ought to be singing from Morne to Night , Praises , Hymnes , and Honours to this almightie Iohouah .

Are you not wearied , thus long with looking backe , turne your Heades therefore round , and now looke forward ▪

Looke not ( as all this while you haue done ) through perspectiue-glasses , to make obiects afarre off , appeare as if they were neere you , but looke with full eyes , at those presentations , which are directly now before you .

Looke forward as the Men of Genazaret did , who bringing all the sicke in the Countrey to Christ , besought him , that they might touch the Hemme of his Garment onely .

Luk. 7.30 . Looke forward , as the Cananitish Woman did who cryed alowd to Christ , saying : Haue mercy on mee O Lord , thou Sonne of Dauid ; My daughter is miserably vexed with a Deuill . Christ sayd nothing at first : Hee put her by once or twice , but see how the Key of importunity , can open the very gates of Heauen ! Her incessant intreaties , won●e him at length to say , ● woman , great is thy faith , bee it to thee as thou desirest , and her Daughter was made whole at that houre .

Math. 25.4 . Looke forward as the fiue wise Virgins did , to fill your Lampes with Oyle , and expect the comming of the Bridegroome .

When open warre is denounced against a Nation , they ( albeit before they slept in security , and lay drown'd in sensuall streames ) yet then awaken , they start vp , and looke forward for their armour , lest the enemy should come vpon them vnprouided .

To looke forward is to see where the fire is giuen to the Cannon , and so that weake part , which lyes subiect to battry , is fortified for resistance .

Looke forward therefore now ; For now the Drumme of Death is beating vp : the cannon of the Pestilence does not yet discharge , but the small shot playes night and day , vpon the suburbes : And hath sent seauen bullets singing into the Citty . The arrowes fly ouer our heades and hit so●e , though they as yet misse vs ; But none knowes how soone the strong Archer , may draw his Bow , and clea●e our very heartes ▪ Looke forward howsoeuer , and looke vp with open eyes , vnder your sheildes to receiue them as they come flying , lest they peirce you quit through , & nayle you to destruction .

This World is a Schoole , wee are Gods Schollers ; Our Schoole-master has taken vp ( this yeare ) as yet , but the twigge of a Rodde , A wicked ●c●o le , but the best Schollers . in comparison of that bundle of Roddes hee vsed in that yeare 1625. He shakes the twigg at vs , and a few ( of the lower formes in the Schoole ) feele the smart , but the head Schollers that sit in the higher formes , doe not as yet so much as tremble . Many are preparing to breake vp Schoole and steale into the Countrey : But take heed , and looke forward on the Booke , which your Schoole-master sets you to reade : To trewants . For if hee findes you not perfect in your Lessons ; Hee is binding the Rodde in his hand , harder and harder , and bee sure ( when hee strikes ) to bee payd soundly .

The Bell tolles in a few places , but heartes ake in many . Is Sicknesse come to thy doore ! Hath it knock't there ? And is it entred ? There are many good Bookes set forth , to driue backe Infection , or if it cannot be driuen away , Loue thy Physi●ian . instructions are giuen how to welcome it . Make much of thy Physitian : let not an Emperick or Mounti-bancking Quacksaluer peepe in at thy window , but set thy Gates wide open to entertaine thy learned Physitian : Honour him , make much of him Such a Physitian is Gods second , and in a duell or single fight ( of this nature ) will stand brauely to thee . A good Physitian , comes to thee in the shape of an Angell , and therefo●e let him boldly take thee by the hand , for he has been in Gods garden , gathering herbes : and soueraine rootes to cure thee ; A good Physitian deales in simples , and will be simply honest with thee in thy preseruation . I neuer sat with Aesculapius at the Table ; I scarce know what a Salu●tory-box meanes : yet● without asking leaue of the learned Colledge , to hang out my bill or begging licence at Surgeons hall , to seale aprobasum est vpon my Vnguents and Plaisters . I will aduenture to Minister Physicke , and Salues to any one , that in this time , is troubl'd with the Sicknesse : and my Patien●s in the end , shall confesse : That Gallen Hyppocrates , Paracelsus , nor all t●e great Maisters , of those Artes , did neuer lay downe sounder prescriptions . And heere come my Medicines martching in .

Art thou ( in this visitation stricken with Carbu●cles , Blaynes , and Blisters , Is thy body spotte● all ouer ? Art thou sure death bids : hee come away , by some Tokens which he hath sent thee ? Be ru●de by me , and take this receipt ; Trust to it , for it cui'd a King of Israel .

Cry out with Dauid , O Lord ! Chast●ze me not in thy wrath ▪ King Dauids P●ysi●ke . for thine Arrowes haue lighted vpon mee : There is nothing sound in my flesh because of thine anger : neither is there rest in my bones because of my sinnes . My woundes are putrified ; my Reynes full of burning : I am weakned and sore broken . My heart panteth : my strength fayleth me : And the light of mine eyes ( euen they ) are not mine owne : my Louers and my friends stand aside from my Plague , and my Kinsemen stand afarre off : Yet continue thou with the holy singer , and conclude thus , O Lord , hast to helpe mee .

How like you , this Medicine ? Is it of such vertue , that albeit , thou art sicke to thy Death : It will by degrees take away all thy Torments .

A Iulep . This second is a lulep to sweeten the mouth of thy Stomacke , after the bitternesse of thy sickenesse : ●or , when by an Armipotent hand , thou art lifted out of thy death-bed ; when the Bell hath ceast rolling for thee , and thy Womer-sle●pers leaue gaping for thy Linnen , thy goodes , and thy money : And are madde they are not likely to Rifle thy House : when thou hast an appetite to eate , and that thy feete are able to walke vpon that Earth , which was hungry to d●noure thy whole bdoy ; Then fall thou vpon that Earth , and Magnifie God . Then say , though thy sinnes in thy sickenesse made thy conscience shev a face to thee as blacke as Hell , yet seake thou to it , and tell it , that this Recouery with new repentance ( continued ) sh●ll make it like the winges of a Doue , couered with Siluer : and whose Feathers are like the yellow Gold ; Dauids Song set to our tune . Say to thy Soule , it shal bee as white as the Snow in Zumon , and co●s●sse that Gods Mercy is like the mountaine of Bashan : Say to thy Health , that the Chariots which God sent to guard it were twenty thousand Angels , Read 67. amongst whom , the Lord was as in the Sanctuary of Sinay .

Nay , albeit Death should lay his Mouth to thine Eare , and bid thee put thy House in order : For , thou shall Dye ; Yet , an Isaiah ( some good Mans prayer● ) or thine owne , 2 Kings 20.1 . may bee heard , and God may Ad●e to thy dayes fifteene yeares more , as he did to Hezekiah , vpon his Repentance .

Repentance is a Siluer Bell , Good Men sicke and soundes sweetly in the Eare of Heauen . It is a Dyamond shyning and sparkling in the darke , to inlighten all our miseries . It is a 〈◊〉 for euery wound : It is a golden ladder by whose st●pp●s wee climbe to immortality . It is a Chayne of Orient Pearle , tying vp Gods handes that hee shall not strike vs : Repentance smelleth sweeter then the Oyntment which the Woman Annoynted Christs feete ▪ Luke 7 38. when shee wip●d them with her Hayre . Repentance winnes the King of Heauen , to smile vpon vs as if wee were his ●auorites : and to say thus .

If thou still art ascending , Great 〈…〉 . and getting vp this hill of Repentance , blessed shalt thou bee in the Citty , and bless●d in the field ; Blessed bee the fruit of thy Body , and the fruit of thy Ground , and the fruit of thy Ca●tle , the increase of thy King , and the 〈◊〉 of thy sheepe : Blessed shall be the Basket , and thy Dough : Deut. 25 Blessed shalt thou bee when thou comest in , and blessed also when thou goest out .

Thy Land-soldiers ( O England ! ) Shall not stand in feare ●or thy Royall Nauy , for thine enemies that rise against thee , shall fall before thy face : They shall come out against thee one way , and fly before thee seauen wayes .

His word ( that speakes this ) may bee taken better then any Kings in the world : And therefore , hold out both thy hands vnder , this Tree of Blessings . and catch the golden apples when so freely they are taken downe into thy lappe .

But , if thou trample these gifts vnder thy feete , and spur●est at Gods fauour bestowed vpon thee , Bad seruice ▪ bad wages . in thy Health , in the midst of a hot sicknesse . If the Tolling of Bells cannot awaken you , nor the opening of graues affright you ▪ If Bill-men standing at other mens dores , cannot put you in minde , that the same guard , may locke vp yours , and the same red Crosses bee stucke in your Banners , : If to bee shut vp close for a Moneth , seeme but a short Saeue in a Tragedy , and not car'd for , when t is Acted ; Then heare ( O England and thou her eldest Daughter , so admired amonst Nations for thy Beauty . ) Heare what New Quiners of Punishments will bee opened ; For , these are the Arrowes which God himselfe sayes hee will draw out at rebellious Kingdomes : A Pestilence cleauing fast , Consumptions , feauers , burning Agues ; The Sword , Blasting new-Dewes , Heauen shall bee turned to brasle , and Earth to Iron : Or Houses to haue others dwell in them , our Vineyardes , to haue others ●ast them , our Ox●n to bee slaine , yet wee not eate them , our Sheepe to bee slaughtered , and to feede our enemies . These , and hideons squ●ldrons besides are threatened to bee sent out against disobedient people : What Physitians , Doctors , Surgeons , or Apothecaries , haue wee to defend vs in so dreadfull a Warre ? None , not any .

If therefore with Naaman , thou wouldst bee cleansed from Leprosy , 2 Kings . 5.14 . thou must obey Elisha , and wash thy selfe seauen times in Iordan : Wee●e seauen times a day ▪ Nay , seauen times an houre for thy sinnes .

Whosoeuer with Ahaziah , ( the King of Samaria ) falleth sicke , and sendeth for recouery of Baal-Zebub , ( the god of Ekron ) and not to the true God indeede , 2 Kings 7. ● hee shall not come from his bed , but dye the Death .

For , 2 Kings ● . 5 . wee sincke to the Bottome of the watters , as the Carpenters Axe did : But , though neuer so Iron-hearted , the voyce of an Elisha , ( the feruency of prayer and praysing God ) can fetch vs from the bottome of Hell : And by contrition make vs swimme on the toppe of the waters of Life .

Now , albeit at the first crying to God , nay , the Second , God lou●● an earned Sui●e● . Third , Fourth , or twentith time , hee will not heare thee ; But that thy sighes are neglected : Thy teares vnpittyed : Thy sores nor repented : Thy hunger not satisfied ; Thy pouerty not relieued . Yet giue thou not ouer : stand at the gate of Gods mercy still ; Begge still : 1 Sam. 1. ●● Knock still , and knock hard ▪ For , 〈◊〉 was barren , yet being an importunate suiter , her petition was heard , and signed . Shee was fruitfull , and had three Sonnes , and two Daughters .

So , albeit wee bee barren in Repentance , in Thanksgiuing , in Charity , in Patience , in Goodnes : Yet if vnfeignedly wee pray to Heauen , wee shall bee fruitfull : And these fiue shall bee our Sonnes and Daughters .

By this meanes our Ma●● shall change her Name agen to Naomi , Ruth . ● . 2● ▪ and our bitternes , bee turned into sweetnes .

Art thou sicke ! Thy best and onely Doctor dwells aboue : Hast thou beene sicke ! Art thou amended ! Fill Heauen and Earth , full of Songes to thy Eternall Physition , who takes nothing of thee , for any Eloctu●ri●s hee giues thee , His Pilles are bitter , but whol●some , and of wonderous operation : And so much the better , because what he giues , comes gratis ?

Art thou recouered ? Hast thou pluck't thy foot out of the graue , Syrack . 30● . 14 . when it was stepping in ?

Then with the Sonne of Syrach , acknowledge , that a Beggar in health is better then a diseased Monarch , Health and Strength , are fairer then gold , and a sound body is an infinite Treasure .

So that , if thou doest not open thy Lippes , to Magnifie him , that hath snatched thee out of the lawes of destruction , His blessings are to thee , as messes of meate set vpon the graue .

I must yet once more wish thee ( O Troy nouans ) to cast thine eyes about thee : Looke forward on thy sad Neighbour ( distressed Cambriage , ) Sickenesse shakes her , her glorious Buildings are emptied , her Colledges shut vp , her Lourned Sonnes forsake her , her Tradesmen cry out for succour . Want walkes vp and downe her streetes , a few Rich , a many Poore ; But the hands of the one cannot feede , not fill the mouthes of the other .

To thee therefore ( O thou Nourishing mother of all the Citties in England ) to thee ( albeit thou art in some Sorrow thy selfe ) does this afflicted Nource of Schollers come ; What tree hath Branches broad enough to shelter her from stormes but thine ? Where is a Sunne to warme her frozen Limbes if it moues not in thy Zodiack ? Thou ( O Queene of Citties ) art Royall in thy gifts ; Charity sits in thy Gates , and compassion waites vpon thee in thy Chamber ; So that with Dido , thou often sayeth .

Non ignara mali , Miseris succurrere disco . My miseries to my selfe being knowne , Makes me count others wants , mine owne . FINIS .