Four godly and fruitful sermons two preached at Drayton in Oxford-shire, at a fast,…Foure godlie and fruitful sermons two preached at Draiton in Oxford-shire, at a fast,…

Now when this is said to be a favourable stroke, we must understand that it is so only unto Gods children, not to the wicked: concerning whose departure out of this world, it is said, that Hell followeth death. If they be not reconciled unto God, but live and die in their sins,¹ their case is fearful. And therefore is it a just hand of God upon impenitent sinners, that they should be horribly afraid of that sickness. No sin, nor Satan himself, is so much feared of them as the pestilence, nay nor Gods wrath it self: and therefore they care not what foul sin they commit, whereby they are sure to incur the Lords displeasure, so their bodies may escape this plague of God. But suppose they do escape it, if they be as full of impiety, and injustice, and impurity, as they were wont to be, the Lord hath seven times greater plagues behind,² and his revenging hand will be stretched out against them still. Therefore let them labour to make a good use of this, to humble themselves, and turn from their evil ways: otherwise assuredly some greater punishment will light on their souls, or bodies, or both.

Now when this is said to bee a fauourable stroke, we must vnderstand that it is so only vnto Gods children, not to the wicked: concerning whose departure out of this world, it is saide, that Hell followeth death. If they bee not reconciled vnto God, but liue and die in their sinnes,¹ their case is fearefull. And therefore is it a iust hand of God vpon impenitent sinners, that they should bee horriblie afraid of that sicknes. No sinne, nor Sathan himselfe, is so much feared of them as the pestilence, nay nor Gods wrath it selfe: and therefore they care not what foule sinne they commit, whereby they are sure to incurre the Lords displeasure, so their bodies may escape this plague of God. But suppose they doe escape it, if they be as full of impiety, and iniustice, and impurity, as they were wont to be, the Lord hath seuen times greater plagues behinde,² and his reuenging hand will be stretched out against them still. Therefore let them labour to make a good vse of this, to humble themselues, and turne from their euill wayes: otherwise assuredly some greater punishment will light on their soules, or bodies, or both.