Who so sytteth vnder the defence of the hyghest , and abydeth vnder the shadowe of the Almyghtye .

He sayeth vnto the LORDE : My hope , and my stronge holde : my God on whom I trust .

For he delyuereth me from the snare of the hunter , and from the noy some pestilence .

He shall couer the wyth hys fethers , and thy truste shal be vnder hys wynges : hys truth is spere and shylde .

So that thou nedest not to fear for the horriblenesse of the nyghte , for the arowes that flye by daye tyme .

For the pestilence that commeth preuely in the darke : for the syckenesse that destroyeth in the noone daye .

Though a thousande fall at thy syde , and ten thousande at thy ryght hande , yet shall it not come nye the.

Yee wyth thyne eyes shalte thou se thy desyre , and beholde , howe the vngodly shal be rewarded .

BVt afore we come to the vnderstondynge of these comfortable wordes , your charite shal fyrst knowe that it is not my meanyng to forbyd or inhibite ony man to flye or to vse phisycke , or to auoyde daungerous and sycke places in these fearfull ayres , so farre as a man doth not therin against the belefe , nor gods commaundement , nor agaynst hys callynge , nor agaynst the loue of hys neghboure . For though some wyll saye : Such plage toucheth no man , but those that be ordeyned of God therevnto , lyke as ther be certayne ensamples therof founde in the holy scripture ▪ Namely , how the Ezech. 9. and Apoca. vii . ther was sent an angel , which aforehande marked the vertuous & electe , or euer it was charged & commaunded the seconde angell to smyte with pestilence or other plages ) those that were not marked . Neuertheles agaynst that it myght be sayde : Good syr , thoughe it wente so at suche a tyme in suche places , who maketh vs sure yet nowe , that it shall therfore chaunce so in all other deathes of the country ? Therfore wyll I now at this tyme let all suche thynges continue in theyr worthynesse and fre , lyke as all other naturall thynges , whiche be subiecte and commytted vnto oure reason to rule . But as for the christen , whiche ( by reason of offyce , or for pouerte sake , or for other reasonable causes ) can not , or be not mynded to flye , I wyll here withall shewe them theyr best and hyghest comforte that they haue .

In lyke maner , I wyll not entre agaynst them , that speake naturally therof , and saye : Suche plage commeth out of the influence of the starres , out of the workynge of the Cometes , out of the vnseasonable wether and alterynge of the ayre , out of the Southe wyndes , out of stynkynge waters , or out of foule mystes of the grounde : For such wysedome of theyrs wyl we leaue vnto them vndespysed , and not fyght there agaynst : But ( as Christen men ) we wyll holde vs vnto the worde of God , the same wyll we suffre to be oure moost hye wysedome , and geue credence vnto it , and follow it : and so shall we fynde muche better and surer instruccion : Namely , that this horrible plage of the pestilence commeth out of Gods wrath , because of the despysynge and transgressynge of his godly commaundementes . For thus sayeth the holy prophet Moses in the fyft boke , the .xxviii. Chapter :

Yf thou wylt not herken vnto the voyce of the LORDE thy God , to obserue and kepe all his commaundementes and ordynaunces which I commaunde the , then shal all these curses come vpon the. &c. And it followeth : The LORDE shall cause the pestilence to endure longe wyth the : the LORDE shall smyte the wyth swellyng , feuer , heate , burnynge , blastynge , drouth . &c. and shall persecute the tyll he vtterly destroye the , and brynge the to naught .

And certaynly this is the playne truth and the very originall of these plages . No man ought to doute theron . For thoughe the forsayd naturall causes do somwhat also thereto , yet is it sure and vndouted , that the same causes be sent and stered vp oute of Gods wrath for our synne and vnthankfulnesse . And truely that it is euen so , the holy scripture declareth , not wyth bare wordes onely , but sheweth it also wyth notable ensamples . For in the fourth boke of Moses the fourtenth Chapter , whan all the spyes ( excepte Iosua and Caleb ) spake euell of the lande of promes , and made the people vnpacyent and vprourysh , so that they chose them a captayne , and thought to go agayne in to Egipte , and to stone Moses and Aaron , ( which commaunded them the contrarye ) we reade thus : Then appeared the glorye of the Lorde , and spake vnto Moses ▪ Howe longe doth thys people blaspheme me ? And howe longe wyll they not beleue me , for all the tokens that I haue done vpon them ? ther fore wyl I smyte and destroye them with pestilence , & make of the a grater nacion them this .

Lykewyse also whan Dauid caused the people to be nombred agaynste Gods commaundement , he displeased the Lorde God horribly therwith . Therfore layed he the punyshment vpon hym , so that he was fayne to chose hymselfe whether he hadde rather haue seuen yeares derth , or thre monethes myschaunce in battayll , or thre dayes pestilence in the lande . And whan he chose the pestilence , ther dyed in thre dayes seuentye thousande men , as it is wrytten in the laste Chapter of the .ii. boke of Samuel .

Seynge then that out of the word of God we knowe the very cause of thys horrible plage : Namely , that it is the defaute of our synnes , as vnbelefe , disobedience & vnthankfulnesse . Therfore before all thynges it shal be necessary , that we refrayne from the same , repent , and amende our lyues . Yf we wyll els be preserued and delyuered from thys horrible plage . For yf God punysh vs because of synne , it is good to considre that we must fyrst knowlege & eschue our synnes , in case that he shall withdrawe and take away hys wrath & punyshment from vs . For yf we continue in our euell synfull and culpable lyfe , certaynly he shall not ceasse wyth the punyshment , but go forth more & more , tyl he geue and recompence accordynge to our workes . But yf we knowlege our synne , refraine from it , repent and axe grace , them shal he also take awaye hys wrath . And this horrible wrath ( with other heuy burthens as warre & derth that lye vpon oure neck ) shall he mercyfully take awaye from vs agayne . As holy Paull sayeth .i. Cor. xi . Yf we iudged our selues , we shulde not be iudged : But whan we are iudged , we be chastened of the Lorde , that we shulde not be damned wyth the worlde .

And out of all thys maye youre charyte well perceaue , howe vnwysely and vnchristenly they do , that out of inordinate feare , of thys plage leaue theyr callynge and office , maliciously wythdrawyng the loue , helpe , & faythfulnesse , which they ( out of gods commaundement ) are bounde to shewe vnto theyr neghbours , and so do synne greuously agaynste the commaundement of God . For certaynly they do but stere vp the wrath of God more earnestly agaynste themselues , that he may the sooner take hold vpon them and pluck them awaye with thys plage . For men maye heare on euery syde , that some do shone and flye not onely the syck , but also the whole : Yee ( that yet more foolyshe is ) euen the platters and candelstyckes which come out of straunge houses , as though death dyd surely styck therin . And ( out of suche fonde chyldyshe feare ) it commeth , that not onely some syck folkes be suffred to dye away wyth out all kepynge , helpe and comforte , but the wemen also greate wyth chylde be forsaken in theyr nede , or els commeth there vtterly no man vnto them : Yee a man maye heare also , that the chyldren forsake theyr fathers and mothers , and one houshold body kepeth hymselfe awaye from another , and sheweth no loue vnto hym : Whiche neuertheles he wold be glad to se shewed vnto hymselfe , yf he laye in lyke necessite .

Howbeyt I suppose ther come not manye such chaunches to passe , neuertheles I must speake therof that it be done nomore from henceforth . For certaynly it is vnwysely & vnchristenly handled : & we nede not thynke that the same is the waye to escape thys plage , but rather an occasion that it raygneth the more myghtely ouer vs . For seynge it is sure ( as ye haue herde afore ) that such plage is sent for punishment of oure synnes , and Christe hath geuen vs a new commaundement that we shulde loue one another ( as he hath loued vs ) it followeth , that the farther we departe from the loue of our neghboure , the mor we lade synne vpon vs , and deserue thys plage but the more . Agayne the more diligentlye that we take hede vnto the loue of oure neghboure , the surer shall we be from thys plage : No man nedeth to doute therof .

But here withall wyll I also counsell or compell no man , to ony vnnedeful daunger , ( that he is not bounde vnto by his callynge nor by loue ) but onely warne those , whiche for feare leaue that whiche they are bounde to do before God : To the intent that for such naked feares sake , they do not transgresse nor omytte the commaundement of God , and hope by synne to escape thys plage , which neuertheles commeth because of synne . For that were a foolysh vnaduysed counsell , yf one wolde go aboute to escape the wrath of God by transgression , and by synne to auoyde the punishment of synne .

Besydes thys , doth experience shewe also that they which be so sore afrayed , do communly miscary . Agayne , they that wayte vpon theyr offices and serue theyr neghbours , be delyuered : As it is well sene in the ministers of the churche and other mo , that shone not the syck , but muste vyset and comforte them wyth Gods worde , and prouyde for them wyth the holy sacrament : For we se no where , that they therfore must also be soone syck & must dye . Yee how must the hygher powers of the worlde do , which ( by reason of theyr callynge , and for the commune profyt & regimentes sake ) abyde also in the ioperdy , and must mynistre because of loue ? Specyally the chefest , on one wherof ther lyeth more , then on a thousand of other ? And yet doth God communly preserue them also that they be delyuered , left styll on lyue , and dye in a good quyete age .

Therfore certaynly such inordinate feare and flyenge agaynst Gods commaundement is nothynge els , but a declaryng of a greate and sore vnbelefe , that men do not beleue & trust in God , that he can and wyll delyuer . And thus is verified the sayenge : The vngodly haue no peace . Esa. lvii . For yf we wyll feare and flye where no parell is , whan wyll we then bestowe oure lyues for oure neghbours , as Christ hath done for vs ? & we also be bounde to do lykewyse .i. Io. iii.

Who so now desyreth to escape the wrath of God & thys horrible plage , let hym not axe his own reason how he shal do , but beleue & folow the word of God : which teacheth hym , not to flye euel ayre & infecte places ( which he maye well do : neuertheles he remayneth yet vncertayn whether it helpeth or no ) but it teacheth hym to leaue of from synne , as from the very originall cause of this plage and punishment , and ( by true repentaunce and amendement of lyuyng ) to walke agayn in the right waye . For that is the onely sure & wholsome flyenge in thys daungerous tyme , wherby a man may escape thys plage . also and defence of God , is set forth vnto vs euery where in the scripture , as an ouershadowynge & coueryng with wynges . For lyke as the two Cherubins spred out theyr wynges ouer the Arke Exodi . xxxvii . Euen so doth God sprede out the wynges of his protection ouer hys electe . Therfore sayeth Moses Deutero. xxxii . Lyke as an Aegle stereth vp hys nest , and flyeth ouer hys yonge ones : so spredde he out hys fethers , and bare hys people vpon hys wynges . After this maner spake the holy angell Gabriell also vnto the moste blessed and pure virgyn Mary , whan she shulde be the mother of God : The holy goost shall come vpon the , and the power of the hyghest shall ouershadowe the. Luc. i. In lyke maner spake Christ also vnto Ierusalem ▪ How oft wolde I haue gathered thy chyldren together , as an henne gathereth hyr chekens vnder hyr winges , & ye wold not ? Mat. xxiii For though a true beleuyng man be in dede the temple of god , & god dwelleth in hym yet vseth the scriptur oft to speak therof , as though he dyd flye aboue vs ( in asmuche as he doth ouershadowe , couer & defende vs ) & that because the heauen & the heauen of all heauens ( as Salomon sayeth ) can not comprehende nor conteyn him .iii. Reg. iii. But though he dwelleth in vs , yet flyeth he wyde , hye & lowe , not only on the outsyde of vs , but also on the outsyde and ouer all creatures . And so in all these wordes ther is nothynge els sayde , but : who so euer is a ryght beleuynge Christen .

Marke now then that he sayeth not : Who so is wyse , stronge , ryche , whole , or wel frended . Nether sayeth he also : who so kepeth hymselfe thence , or flyeth thether , holdeth hymselfe well , or vseth good phisycke , but who so putteth hys trust in God . Not that the foresayd good thynges be euell , or maye not be had or vsed wyth profyte : But that they ( where fayth is not ) may euen assoone do harme as good , are in no wyse able to delyuer from the wrath of God . But what doth the beleuer : He sayeth vnto the Lorde : my hope . But this do not the vngodly and vnbeleuers , but set theyr hope in the forsaid poyntes , put theyr trust in them , and boast theron , and so commyt spirituall whoredom therwith , and make ydols therof . But to God do not they lyfte vp theyr eyes , nother thynke they vpon hym , nor feare hym . And whan he commeth then with hys wrath , and ouertaketh them with a plage , so that of necessite they must nedes thynke vpon hym , then feare they , and be afrayed of him , flye away and knowe not where to abyde : Then vanysheth awaye theyr hope and boastynge , whych they ( in tyme of prosperite ) had vnto the creatures . And so commeth it to passe , that theyr wysedome hath ben playne foolyshnesse : theyr strength , theyr owne mysfortune : theyr ryches , theyr owne destruccion : theyr health theyr own harme : theyr frendes theyr owne ypocrytes & traytours . And al the whych they trusted vnto , can not helpe them . Whan they wolde hyde themselues on the backsyde therof , it is euen as much as whan one hydeth hym behynde a ladder . And whan they wolde seke helpe therby , it is euen lyke as yf a wolfe shuld defend a shepe or a goose

But thus goeth it not wyth the beleuer : for who so putteth hys trust in the Lorde , shall not be confounded . Therfore sayeth he not only that the Lorde is hys hope , but also hys stronge holde , whych he maye flye vnto , in the whych he may shutte hymselfe close , and be delyuered therin . As Salomon sayeth in the .xviii. Chapter of the prouerbes : The name of the Lorde is a stronge castel , the ryghteous flyeth vnto it , and shal be defended . For the vnbeleuers haue theyr hope euen in theyr goodes , but in necessyte they fynde no refuge , as the faythfull hath a stronge holde and hye castell in God the Lorde .

And though the vnbeleuers haue theyr whole wyll all theyr lyfe longe , yet hath it an euell ende , as it had wyth the rych man , whych was buryed in the hell . Luce. xvi . For who so beleueth not , shal be damned . Agayn , though the faythfull be plaged and persecuted all hys lyfe longe , so that he can not se how he maye be delyuered , yet hath he thys comforte , that the Lorde is hys God : that is that he can helpe and delyuer hym as an almyghty Lorde , yee after suche a fashion and waye , as nother he hymselfe nor ony mans reason can thynke or deuyse . And thoughe he do it not , yet doth not the faythfull dispayre , but letteth the Lorde be hys God , on whom he hopeth : that is , at whose hande he loketh for all good in the lyfe for to come & euerlastynge . For hope seyth and loketh on that whych is to come , whych as yet is hyd . As Paule sayeth Roma . the .viii. Chapter . Hope that is sene , is no hope : for how can a man hope that whyche is sene . But yf we hope that whych we se not , we loke for it by pacience .

And so is this meanyng : The vnbeleuers haue theyr hope in the creatures , and are afrayed of God . The faythfull hath his hope to God , and is lorde ouer the creatures . The vnbeleuers myscary , and by the creatures fynde they no helpe in nede . The faythfull myscary not , but God is vnto them a stronge holde . The vnbeleuers may well haue theyr wylles as longe as they lyue , but at the last ( thorow theyr dispayre ) ther followeth euerlastynge damnacyon . The faythfull maye theyr lyfe longe haue disquyetnes and temtacion , but at the last ( thorow theyr hope ) ther followeth euerlastynge lyfe .

Suche hope shulde they haue , and they haue it in dede , that though they must lye vnder aslonge as they lyue , yet after death they shall enherete euerlastynge lyfe . But certaynly it commeth not to passe , that they must alwaye lye vnder : For God is faythfull , and suffreth not his to be temted aboue theyr strength , but maketh the temtacion so to haue an ende , that we may bear it .i. Cor. x. Therfore sayeth the prophete moreouer : For he delyuereth me from the snare of the hunter , & from the noysome pestilence And in these wordes doth he shortly shewe vnto vs , that almyghty God can and wyll delyuer hys owne from all mysfortune yee euen in thys lyfe . For all the myschaunces that we be troubled wythall in thys temporall lyfe , are of two sortes : Some come out of the wycked deuyce of the deuell and of men , as shame and persecucion : Some playnly of nature and out of the ordinaunce of God , as tempest and pestilence . The faythfull nowe beleueth and maketh hys boast , that these myschaunces can not be so greate and myghtye , but God shall delyuer hym ther from .

And it is a goodly naturall similitude , that he lykeneth the euell wycked deuyce of the vngodly agaynst the faythfull , to a nette or snare of the hunter . For lyke as an hunter proueth the kynde and nature of euery wylde beast , commeth priuely after hym , seketh out the course and habitacion therof , and afterwarde setteth the nette , that he maye dryue it therein : Euen so do the vngodly also vnto the ryghteous : Fyrst , they loke how they be mynded . Yf ony one be fre of langage , then set they hym on fyre , that he maye speake somwhat sharpely , as saynt Steuen dyd . Actu . the .vii. Chapter . Yf he be gentle and frendly , then ymagen they some foolyshe thynge vpon hym , and flatter awaye hys harte from hym as Dalila dyd vnto Samson . Yf he seke the saluacion of the people , then sklaunder they hym , as the Iewes blasphemed Christ to be a wynesupper and a companyon of publicans . Yf he be simple , then lye they vpon hym behynde hys backe , or euer he be ware therof : Then followe they vpon hym , crye , lye , and complayne , that the vertuous Christen man woteth not what poynte to be at , or how he hath deserued it . Neuerthelesse they thynke the bell is so cast , that at the last it must rynge as they wyll , but it fayleth them .

For the Lorde on whom we beleue , whych is our hope , refuge and God , can not only preserue vs from theyr snares that we fall not therin , but also whan we fall in to them , and they thynke we be theyr captiues he can and wyll delyuer vs yet therout . In lyke maner doth God the Lorde preserue hys faythfull , not onely from the noysome sycknesse of the pestilence , but also whan they be taken therwyth and infecte already he delyuereth them from it and maketh them whole agayne . But how that commeth to passe , and howe we shall vnderstande it , it shall followe here after more clerely .

This is now well to be marked also , that the pestilence is a noysome sycknesse , not because it bryngeth death ( for that do al other mortal sycknesses lykewyse , and death is no losse vnto the faythfull , but auauntage , as Paule sayeth , Philip. the fyrst Chapter ) but because that it taketh awaye the people very sodenly vnloked for and vnwares : Wherout them ther followeth , stryfe , lawyng or busynes amonge synners and of the comune welth , as euery man by hymselfe can lyghtly perceaue and vnderstande . Therfore is it also an horrible punyshment ouer the synne of the worlde , whyche concerneth both them that dye , and them that are lefte alyue , as hereafter it shall followe .

Where as is nowe suche a fayth as geueth credence vnto God , he shall preserue hym from all wycked ymaginacions of men , lykewyse from all noysome syckenesses . And at the last shal he saue hym , that continueth not wythout frute , but breaketh out wyth ryght loue and faythfulnesse towarde hys neghboure , and desyreth also to brynge hym vnto that poynte , that he maye beleue and be partaker of all suche goodes and benefites of God . Therfore doth the prophete turne hys wordes now also vnto hys neghboure , and sayeth farthermore :