A27641:21
A learned treatise of the plague
A learned treatise of the plague wherein the two questions, whether the plague be infectious or no, and , whether and how far it may be shunned of Christians by going aside, are resolved / written in Latin by the famous Theodore Beza Vezelian.A learned treatise of the plague wherein the two questions, whether the plague be infectious or no, and , whether and how farr it may be shunned of Christians by going aside, are resolved / written in Latine by the famous Theodore Beza Vezelian.
London: printed by Thomas Ratcliffe, 1665
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Let us now come unto that which they allege concerning Second causes, which they deny to be any certain placing of the Stars, or corruption of the Air: Neither will the Physicians have any Plague or Infection to grow of those Causes. But if we grant this, and imagine that all Natural causes of the Plague are by them rehearsed, they must tell me, Why they shut out all these at once, insomuch that they will have them to have but small skill in Scriptures, who impute the plague (next after God) to these Causes? Because, say they, that the Holy Scriptures bear Record, that the Plague is sent by Angels, as Psalm 88. 1. 1 Chron 21. Ezech. 9. also in the History of Zennacherib, and in the Revelation, where there is mention made of a most noisome Ulcer; for, say they, that which God sendeth by Angels is not of Natural causes. I grant that, so far as concerneth the Angels themselves, who I yield are not reckoned among Natural ⟨p. 7⟩instruments: But what hinders, God so commanding, the Natural causes themselves to be stirred up by the Angels? For surely it cannot be doubted that they, both the good and the bad, do stir up the mind of man after a certain sort, what kind of moving soever it be, when as Satan is said to have entered into the heart of Judas, (unless we shall peradventure say, that the Good Angels have somewhat less power than the Bad) and that also is manifest by the Story of Ahab, and by the efficacy and power of the Spirits of Error. And who can deny that the will of man is to be reckoned amongst the very Chiefest causes of Mens actions? But if the will of Man be not debarred from the Ministry of Angels, why shall we think that other Natural causes must needs by the same be taken away? Moses stretching forth his Rod, raised up Lice, and innumerable sorts of Flies, brought out upon the sudden fearful Hail, and struck the Egyptians with most noisome Boils and Botches. And this Ministry of Moses was doubtless altogether as extraordinary, as the Ministry of Angels. But did not therefore the Lice and Flies come of Rottenness, the Hail of Vapours growing together on the sudden by restraint of the contrary, and the Boils and Botches also of corruptions of the Humours? Satan receiving a Grant from God, by a sudden raising of the Wind, and by throwing abroad the Fire from Heaven overthrew, and burnt the House of Job, together with all his Children.