A divine herbal together with a forrest of thorns In five sermons. ... By…A divine herball together with a forrest of thornes In five sermons. ... By…

No marvel, if the Lord for this threaten us with the rod of famine, and to scourge us with that most smarting string of his whip. God hath laid himself fair in his bow already, and is ready to draw this arrow up to the head, and send it singing into our bosoms. Ferro saevior fames: it is one of Gods sorest judgements. Beasts and Sword kill quickly; and the Plague is not long in dispatching us: but Dearth is a lingering death. Lament. 4.¹ They that be slain with the sword, are better then they that be slain with hunger: for these pine away, stricken through for want of the fruits of the field. We see how our seasons are changed, because we can find no season to repentance. Our Springs have bin graves, rather then cradles: our Summers have not shot up, but withered our grass: our Autumns have taken away the flocks of our sheep. And for our latest Harvest, we have had cause to invert the words of our Saviour, Luke 10.² He saith, the Harvest is great, but the Labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord to send forth more Labourers into his harvest. But we might have said: the Labourers are many, and the harvest is small: pray ye therefore the Lord to send a greater harvest for the Labourers. God hath thus, as it were, pulled the Cup ⟨p. 26⟩from the Drunkards lips; and since he will know no measure, the Lord will stint him. If there will be no voluntary, there shall be an enforced fast. We have other great drinkers besides.

No maruell, if the Lord for this threaten vs with the rod of famine, and to scourge vs with that most smarting string of his whippe. God hath layd himselfe faire in his bow already, and is ready to draw this arrow vp to the head, and send it singing into our bosomes. Ferro saeuior fames: it is one of Gods sorest iudgements. Beasts and Sword kill quickly; and the Plague is not long in dispatching vs: but Dearth is a lingring death. Lament. 4.¹