A learned treatise of the plague

But I, because I think that this Paradox or strange opinion can no more be proved by good reason, then if a man with Anaxagoras should hold the Snow to be black, or out of the Hypothesis of Copernicus, labour to prove, that the Earth doth really move, and the Sun stand still, as the Centre of the World, do judge, that this so great fear, which bringeth with it a forgetfulness of all duty, both may, and also ought otherwise to be put away: neither will I believe this Disease not to be infectious, until some man shall teach me, either out of the Word of God, or by evident and good reasons to the contrary; for there are in the very course of Nature certain and most sure grounds and proofs of this verity, so long as the order of necessary Causes agree with themselves.

But I, because I think that this Paradox or strange opinion can no more be proved by good reason, then if a man with Anaxagoras should hold the Snow to be black, or out of the Hypothesis of Copernicus, labour to prove, that the Earth doth really move, and the Sun stand still, as the Center of the World, do judge, that this so great fear, which bringeth with it a forgetfulness of all duty, both may, and also ought otherwise to be put away: neither will I believe this Disease not to be infectious, untill some man shall teach me, either out of the Word of God, or by evident and good reasons to the contrary; for there are in the very course of Nature certain and most sure grounds and proofs of this verity, so long as the order of necessary Causes agree with themselves.

For I deny, although it be agreed upon, that the Plague, of all other diseases, is most infectious; yea, and that unavoidable death for the most part doth presently follow: that therefore the Standing, in which God hath placed every man, is to be forsaken. I deny, I say, that therefore that thing is not to be preferred before Life it self, which we owe unto God, to our Country, and which we owe unto men, either for some public or private respect. And I had much more rather they would bestow their endeavours in persuasive disputes, to restrain mens flying away for fear of the Plague, than that they should labour to prove their strange opinion of the Plague not to be contagious. Indeed, I had rather have the Consequent (according to the School-phrase) in that same Enthymeme to be denied, than the Antecedent; for by that means something might be brought to pass, not only by probable, but also by necessary Arguments, according to their own desire, namely, That those do very greatly offend, who, for fear of any peril do offend against God, or against their Neighbour. For what Christian man dareth to call these things into controversy? or if he dare do it, shall not be reproved by the restimony of his own Conscience, though all the world should be silent? For I do not think that there are