And then what remedy is best too be used against it, and to heal it when it hath infected any man. And although I will speak herein some what as other Physicians have done: yet because they have spoken already more then I can in the matter, though it be a great deal less then the matter of the disease requireth, (for none of them have showed any ascertained remedy, be their reason never so good) I will briefly as by the way somewhat speak ⟨image 3⟩of this disease, as they do: But as a preacher of God's word, and as a Physician for the soul, rather then for the body, entreat of the sickness and the remedy thereof, after the advise and counsel of God's word. Who supplieth all things omitted and not spoken of, concerning this most dangerous plagues by such as have written, besides the scripture of God, their mind touching the same. For in deed the chiefest causes of all plagues and sickness, is sin: which remaining within all men, worketh destruction, not only of the body, but also of the soul, if remedy be not found.1 And where as Galen sayeth that Omnis pestilentia fit a putredme aeris: that is too say, all pestilence cometh by the corruption of the air, that both beast and man drawing their breathes in the air corrupt, draweth the corruption thereof into them selves, he sayeth well: yet not enough. He sayeth also very naturally,2 that when the air is altered from his natural equality and temperature to to much and intemperate heat and moisture, pestilence is like then too reign. For as he sayeth in the same place, that heat and moisture distempered be most dangerous for the creatures of the world, yet that is not enough. As Ezekiel sayeth,3 where as God sendeth all these dystemperaunces, and yet if Noah, Daniel and Job were in the middest of them, they shall be safe. Even so sayeth David also ⟨image 4⟩Though they dye at the right hand ten thousand fold,4 and dye at the left a thousand fold, the plague shall not touch him that sitteth under the protection of the highest.
And then what remeadye is beste too bee vsed agaynste it, and to heale it when it hath infected anye manne. And althoughe I wyll speake herein some what as other Physycyons haue doone: yet because they haue spoken alreadye more then I canne in the matter, thoughe it bee a greate deale lesse then the matter of the desease requyreth, (for none of them haue shewed anye ascertayned remeadye, be theyr reason neuer soo good) I wyll breafelye as by the way somewhat speake ⟨image 3⟩of thys desease, as they doo: But as a preacher of Goddes woorde, and as a Physycyon for the soule, rather then for the bodye, intreate of the syckenesse and the remeadye thereof, aftherthe aduyse and counsell of goddes woorde. Whoo supplyeth all thynges omytted and not spoken of, concernynge thys moste daungerouse plagues by souche as haue wroten, besydes the scrypture of God, theyr mynde touchynge thesame. For in deede the chiefest causes of all plagues and syckenesse, is synne: whyche remaynynge wythin all menne, worketh destructyon, not onelye of the bodye, but alsoo of the soule, yf remeadye be not founde.1 And wheare as Galien sayeth that Omnis pestilentia fit a putredme aeris: that is too saye, all pestylence commeth by the corruptyon of the ayer, that bothe beaste and man drawynge theyr breathes in the ayer corrupte, draweth the corruptyon thereof intoo them selues, he sayeth well: yet not ynoughe. He sayeth alsoo verye naturally,2 that when the ayer is altered from hys naturall eaqualitye and temperature to to mouche and intemperate heate and moysture, pestylence is lyke then too raygne. For as he sayeth in the same place, that heate and moysture dystemperated be moste daungerouse for the creatures of the worlde, yet that is not ynoughe. As Ezechiel sayeth,3 wheare as God sendeth all thies dystemperaunces, and yet yf Noah, Daniel and Iob were in the myddeste of them, they shall be saufe. Eauyn soo sayeth Dauid alsoo ⟨image 4⟩Though they dye at the ryght hande tenne thousand foulde,4 and dye at the lefte a thousande fould, the plage shall not touche hym that sytteth vnder the protection of the highest.
- 1Li i. de disse. feb. cap. 5.
- 2Li i. de tempe, cap. 4.
- 3cap. 14,
- 4Psalm.
