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

Thus may a Church be outwardly sick by mans Persecution; she may be sick also by Gods affliction. This is diverse, accordingly as our sins deserve, and his judgement thinks fit to punish us; 1. By war, 2. by famine, 3. by pestilence; the easiest of them heavy enough, and able to deprive a Church of health. Though the first might seem to be mans weapon, and so fitter to have been inserted among the former persecutions; as Israel termed her enemies, ^uOur persecutors are swifter then the Eagles of the heaven, they pursued us upon the mountains; they laid wait for us in the wilderness: yet because God calls Ashur his rod: and it is He that sends either peace or war; and no adversary sword can be lifted up against us; but by (more than) his permission; for he hath a punishing hand in it. Let us see how he can make his Church of Israel sick.

Thus may a Church be outwardly sicke by mans Persecution; she may bee sicke also by Gods affliction. This is diuerse, accordingly as our sinnes deserue, and his iudgement thinkes fit to punish vs; 1. By warre, 2. by famine, 3. by pestilence; the easiest of them heauy inough, and able to depriue a Church of health. Though the first might seeme to be mans weapon, and so fitter to haue beene inserted among the former persecutions; as Israel tearmed her enemies, ^uOur persecutors are swifter then the Eagles of the heauen, they pursued vs vpon the mountaines; they laide waite for vs in the wildernesse: yet because God cals Ashur his rod: and it is He that sends eyther peace or warre; and no aduersary sword can be lifted vp against vs; but by (more thē) his permission; for he hath a punishing hand in it. Let vs see how he can make his Church of Israel sicke.

1. uLam. 4.19

1 War is that miserable desolation, which finds a land before it like Eden, and leaves it behind like Sodom, and Gomorrah, a desolate and forsaken wilderness. Happy are we that cannot judge the terrors of war, but by report & hear-say. That never saw our towns and Cities burning, whiles the flame gave light to the Soldiers to carry away our goods. That never saw our houses rifled, our temples spoiled, our wives ravished, our children bleeding dead on the pavements, or sprawling on the merciless pikes. We never heard the groans of our own dying and the clamours of our enemies insulting, confusedly sounding in our distracted ears: the wife breathing out her life in the arms of her husband, the children snatched from the breasts of their mothers, as by the terror of their slaughters to aggravate the ensuing torments of their own. We have been strangers to this misery in passion; let us not be so in compassion. Think you have seen these miseries with your neighbours eyes, and felt them through their sides. Let it somewhat touch us, that we have been threatened: Octogsimus octanus mirabilis anus, Have we forgotten the