A27641:24
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.
Verily who will deny, that what things soever are written, are therefore written that by them we should be instructed, and that all things which are mentioned in the holy Scriptures, of the ministry of Angels not only of the Plague, but also of Famine and other Calamities, both to destroy the wicked, and also to correct and exercise the good, doth bring unto us great profit, that we may learn both to fear and love God, who is not tied unto the laws of Nature, as the Sto•ck Philosophers have thought and hath certain instruments of his Judgements more fearful even that those which are perceived by our senses. But hereby is not concluded that which thou wouldst have, namely, That thus we are taught, that there are no Natural causes used by Angels in the performance of the Commandments of God. The Scripture affordeth us examples of Plague sent upon men, making no mention of Angels; and those against whom I dispute, do grant, that it was the Plague of which Hezekiah wa• sick, yet is he not said to have been stricken by Angels. God doth ofte• by Moses and other Prophets threaten the Plague unto Sinners neither […] there any doubt but that these threatenings were not in vain; yet doth he […] ⟨p. 9⟩where recite that he will always send them by Angels. The Psalmist seemeth in certain Psalms to show that he was taken with the Plague, whom notwithstanding we never read to have smitten with any sore, or wound given by the Angels. All these things therefore, unless I be very much deceived, make nothing at all to the taking away of the contagious air, the Second cause of this Sickness.
Verily who will deny, that what things soever are written, are therefore written that by them we should be instructed, and that all things which are mentioned in the holy Scriptures, of the ministry of Angels not onely of the Plague, but also of Famine and other Calamities, both to destroy the wicked, and also to correct and exercise the good, doth bring unto us great profit, that we may learn both to fear and love God, who is not tyed unto the laws of Nature, as the Sto•ck Philosophers have thought and hath certain instruments of his Judgements more fearful even that those which are perceived by our senses. But hereby is not concluded that which thou wouldst have, namely, That thus we are taught, that there are no Natural causes used by Angels in the performance of the Commandments of God. The Scripture affordeth us examples of Plague sent upon men, making no mention of Angels; and those agains whom I dispute, do grant, that it was the Plague of which Ezekias wa sick, yet is he not said to have been stricken by Angels. God doth ofte by Moses and other Prophets threaten the Plague unto Sinners neither there any doubt but that these threatnings were not in vain; yet doth he