A27641:29
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.
Now we must treat of going aside; for so I had rather call it, than flying; though I think it the part of a Wise-man to fly peril with reason. There are some therefore, which do without exception find fault with going aside for the Plague, that they count it a very heinous offence, though they think that those which tarry ought not to use rashness. There are on the other side which hold that every man, so soon as the Plague cometh, ought to provide for himself, having no regard, or but very small of the fellowship and duties which Christian Charity doth command. Now I for my part do dissent from both these▪ and especially from the latter, as having most lawful causes: But ere I set down my own judgement in this Controversy, let us hear these disputing the one against the ⟨p. 12⟩other. Thus therefore they which think it not lawful to fly, do first of all Philosophically dispute against those that hold it not lawful to tarry at all, they allege out of Plato his Gorgias, That it is foolishness to fear Death; and that he cannot seem to be a temperate person which flieth Death, because it proceedeth of too much delight in life; nor yet to be a just man, for that he which in the time of the Plague provideth for himself by running away, doth yield neither to God nor Man his due. To these Reasons they set down others taken out of the holy Scriptures, as That they think not well of the providence of God, by whose unchangeable Decree the course of man's life is limited: That they distrust God, and believe not his promise, I will be thy God, and the God of thy Seed: That they are void of all Charity, nay, and more, of all Natural pity and affection: That they tempt God after the example of the Israelites, Exod. 17. 3. & Psal. 78. 18. appointing God by what manner, time, and place, and by what means he may save them: That they love not God from their hearts; for being enamoured and in love with Earthly goods, they neglect and are careless of the heavenly: That they fear death too much, for that they set themselves against the will of God, which is always good: That they think themselves stronger than God, and that they can escape his hand: That they do openly break the law of Christ, and of Nature; by which they are commanded to do unto others as they would be done unto themselves: