Englands sickness, comparatively conferred with Israels Divided into two sermons, by ThoEnglands sicknes, comparatively conferred with Israels Diuided into two sermons, by Tho

1 Martyrdom, God hath in all ages of his Church suffered some witnesses of his holy truth to be purified like gold in the fire. Though they are blessed that have so suffered, & the Church hath in conclusion gained by this loss. yet during the turbulent working of these thunder exhalations in our air, we have lamented miseram regionis f•ciem, the miserable state of our country, whose face hath bin scratched and torn by the bloody nails of these persecuting bears, Needs must the land be sick, where the Governors, like ill Physicians have purged away the good humour, and left the bad behind them. When they have imprisoned stripped, scourged, famished, drowned, burnt the innocent, and rewarded the wretched instruments of such deeds. When ⟨p. 45⟩the poor infant falling out (by the midwifery of fire) from the mothers womb. hath been call back again into the •others flames. When the bodies and bones of the dead, which by the law of nature should rest in quiet have been digged out of their Sepulchres,¹ violated, curled, burnt, as if (saith their Proverb) they would kill god-have-mercy on's soul. When women have been dragged out of their •ous•s sick men from their beds: & the woods have abounded with saints, whiles the temples with their persecutors ^rwild deserts have been frequented with true worshippers, & the consecrated Churches with Idolaters. When the holy boo• was either not had or must be hid. It is no impeachment of a churches health to have these assaults go•ing her sides? Such a time will give cause to complain with Israel, ^sI •m in distress, my bowels are troubled: mine hart is turned with in me, for I have grievously rebelled. Abroad the sword bereaveth, at home there is death. This is the main blow of persecution