A learned treatise of the plague

It now remaineth that I show you when it may be convenient to go aside; for as in other indifferent things, so also may a man use going aside both well and ill: and so far am I from persuading the same to every man without exception, that on the contrary I confess that they offend much less, who when they might otherwise, with a good Conscience, withdraw themselves, had rather yet tarry; and to venture and endanger their Lives, rather than that they might seem to have forsaken their Neighbour, or Family. I confess, I say, that these offend much less than those, who being carried away with too much distrust, or with unmeasurable fear of death, forgetting and neglecting all duties of Humanity, have this only before their eyes, Away quickly, a far off, long ere you return again. Men surely most worthy to be thrust out of all company of men, the bonds whereof they break all to pieces. Now what in this point may be observed, I think may this way be determined.

It now remaineth that I shew you when it may be convenient to go aaside; for as in other indifferent things, so also may a man use going aside both well and ill: and so far am I from perswading the same to every man without exception, that on the contrary I confesse that they offend much lesse, who when they might otherwise, with a good Conscience, withdraw themselves, had rather yet tarry; and to venture and endanger their Lives, rather than that they might seem to have forsaken their Neighbour, or Family. I confesse, I say, that these offend much lesse than those, who being carried away with too much distrust, or with unmeasurable fear of death, forgetting and neglecting all duties of Humanitie, have this only before their eyes, Away quickly, a far off, long ere you return again. Men surely most worthy to be thrust out of all company of men, the bonds whereof they break all to pieces. Now what in this point may be observed, I think may this way be determined.

First of all I think it is to be provided, That every man do summon himself unto the Judgement▪seat of God, unto the Plague as the coming of news of the wrath of God, condemning himself, that he may be acquitted by him, and that withal he weigh with himself, that he is called to stand forth and plead his own Cause, and that this Rod cannot be avoided by change of place, but of manners; and that if he must die, that this is decreed for the good of them which die, forasmuch as they are blessed which die in the Lord.