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

^bI have given you cleanness of teeth in all your cities, and want of bread in all your places, saith the Lord. As it is his blessing, that ^cour valleys are covered over with corn: so it is his plague, that ^dwe have sown much, and bring in little; that ^ethe mower filleth not his hand, nor he that bindeth sheaves, his bosom. When he is pleased, ^fhe will hear the heavens, and they shall hear the earth, and the earth shall hear the corn and wine and oil, and they shall hear us. England hath felt the smart of this sickness; and she that out of her abundance hath been able to lend others, hath also been glad to borrow of her neighbours. The ^gfat kin• of Bashan, rich gormandizers have not been acquainted indeed with this misery; and therefore have not sorrowed for the affliction of Joseph. ⟨p. 49⟩But the poor, the poor have grieved, groaned under this burden: whiles cleanness of teeth, and swarthiness of look were perceived in the common face. Whiles these ^harrows of famine wounded our sides, and our staff of bread, whereon our very life leans, was broken, we could then cry, hic digitus dei: here is the finger of God. In our plenty, saturity, satiety of these earthly blessings, we acknowledge not (manum expansam) his whole hand of bounty opened to us; though then we confessed (digitum extensum) his finger striking us, and bewailed the smart. Famine is terrible enough of it self; more dire and tetricall in regard of the company she brings along with her. For Sava farmes semper magnorum prima malorum Est comes.⁸ Raging famine is the prime companion of many fellow mischiefs. Ex uno grano oritur aceruus: of one grain of this starving misery, ariseth a whole heap of lamentable woes. The attendants of famine are murders, robberies, rapes, killing of children, that the same vessels become the wombs and tombs of little ones; and innumerable stretchings of conscience, to the revoking of former, and provoking of future judgements. No marvel if hunger disregard the mounds and fences of Gods laws and mans, when it breaks through stone walls. The Poet, somewhat morally describes Famine. Quesit am que famem lapidoso vidit in antro,