A learned treatise of the plague

That they do, and teach that which no Christian hath done, but that which hath often been done by the Heathens. And thus much say the first: unto whom these later have nothing to answer, who under pretence of saving their lives, persuade flying away without exception. Wherefore if these things alleged against those which do in such sort fly the Plague, so that they in any thing swerve from the Rules and Laws of Godliness and Charity; I hold with their Adversaries, and count them worthy of all blame, which fly from thence whither they should rather run, if they had but the least spark of humanity. But if these Reasons be wrested against those, who being moved with just causes go aside, and keep that mean by which they let pass no part of their duty either towards God or their Neighbours, (which we say may oftentimes be done,) we affirm, that all these Arguments, in show never so plausible and strong, to be of no force or value, if the matter it self be diligently weighed¹ and considered. For answer to their first Reason, albeit the Decree of God be unchangeable, and that his eternal providence hath set the unremovable bounds of our lives; Yet doth not this take away the ordinary and lawful means to save our Lives; no, not although a man have received an answer from God of prolonging his life, as we have showed by the manifest example of Saint Paul, Acts 27. 14. ⟨p. 13⟩and 31. much less that we may not use these means, when it is yet hid from us, what God from everlasting hath decreed concerning the prolonging and ending of our life. Moreover, why should he be said to distrust the promises of God, who doth follow the ways appointed by God, to avoid Evils, that notwithstanding he dependeth wholly upon God; unless peradventure we can any where find in the holy Scriptures this Commandment expressly written, When the Plague rageth, fly not away. And amongst them, preservative Remedies are to be reckoned; and amongst these, going aside in due time; the like also, as the very name of Contagion doth manifest. And this also is plain, That he doth not only not offend against Christian Charity, neither yet tempt God, who in such manner by going aside doth avoid the Plague, so that in the mean time he let pass no act of Piety towards God, or of Charity towards his Neighbour;

That they do, and teach that which no Christian hath done, but that which hath often been done by the Heathens. And thus much say the first: unto whom these later have nothing to answer, who under pretence of saving their lives, perswade flying away without exception. Wherefore if these things alledged against those which do in such sort fly the Plague, so that they in any thing swerve from the Rules and Laws of Godlinesse and Charity; I hold with their Adversaries, and count them worthy of all blame, which fly from thence whither they should rather run, if they had but the least spark of humanity. But if these Reasons be wrested against those, who being moved with just causes go aside, and keep that mean by which they let passe no part of their duty either towards God or their Neighbours, (which we say may oftentimes be done,) we affirm, that all these Arguments, in shew never so plausible and strong, to be of no force or value, if the matter it self be diligently weighed