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CHAP. XVI. The Preservation.

PReservatives according to the Ancients, are two-fold: For some ought to hinder the plague to come; others also the plague being present, that it proceed not to cut down: But for the former, they have devised as well Amulets or Pomanders without, as Antidotes within. But since the Schools have been ignorant of the very essential thing∣linesse of the poyson; and indeed, that every Pest whether it shall be brought to us from without, or next, shall be bred within, presupposeth the image of a poysonsom terrour; therefore proper preservatives have never been known from a foundation. Therefore among preservatives, I consider,

1. Least the spirit of the Archeus do conceive a terrour in us, or that from a terrour he do not produce a terrifying poyson on himself, or one brought on him within from else-where.

2. That a fermental and co-resembling mummie being brought to us from without, doth not infect the Archeus the internal ruler of our mummie.

3. That whatsoever hath already in contagion become a partaker of the mummie, be killed, and departeth: Therefore the least co-resemblance which it hath common with us, is to be taken away: Wherefore some light poyson is alwayes wont to admix it self with every Antidote; to wit, that hereby the application and approximation may be taken away, that the Archeus may be preserved free from contagion, or that he fall not down into the mumial nourishment, and from thence frame a Tartar of the bloud to himself. In this last patronage of safeguard, antiquity hath been wholly vigilant, but it hath not been in∣cumbent about others, because they were unknown:

Although this last preservation hath therefore become uncertain and without fruit; because it hath rather respected the latter product, or seat, than the root or chief cause: when as in the mean time, a preservation from the effect, fore-going conditions being sup∣posed, is fore-stalled as being in vain. Therefore if we must treat of preservatives and antidotes to expel the poyson, as is meet, what things I have already explained concern∣ing the causes, processe, and manner of making the plague, ought to be firmly fixed in our mind.

The Pest therefore either enters from without, and marks the place of its entrance from without, because it primarily affecteth it, or is attracted with the breath, and there passeth thorow the Diaphragma or midriff, and causeth a pressure and perplexities upon the very bought of the stomach; and in the same place cloaths the matter, which soon ex∣hales from thence, and becomes infamous in contagion: And seeing that in nature every agent hath its beginning, increase, state, declining, and at length death, it must needs be likewise, that by how much the longer of continuance, and powerful, the corruption shall be, by so much also the more dangerous or destructive it be rendred: For the Pest beginning, is increased with the diminishment and death of the man.

For I a good while believed that every curative remedy of the plague was also of necessi∣ty the preservative of the same, because it is accounted a more easie thing to be preser∣ved, than to be cured; Or whatsoever it performeth in the same kind, which is the more difficult, that it should also willingly do that which is more easie: Wherefore I was great∣ly occupied in times past, with the care of diligently searching into medicines for expel∣ling of the poyson, to wit, whereon the whole satisfaction of my desire then depended. But afterwards I diverted my mind to another belief, and considered that healing reme∣dies had rather regard unto the extraction, or expulsion of the malady; and that such re∣medies had not place in preservatives for the future; To wit, seeing that which as yet is not, cannot also as yet be expelled, or extracted, yea not so much as extinguished: For truly, first of all, a remedy against the terrour of the man imagining, or of the Archeus, is not in it self so much positive as negative; and so the drinking of pure wine, even unto mirth, preserveth for the future; because it so rules the imagination not onely of the man, but of the Archeus, that the power of forming images perisheth: For so no man is

poor or defectuous, as long as he is cheerful from a drinking of wine: And therefore the holy Scriptures declare, that wine was made for cheerfulnesse, but not for drunkennesse; because it is a powerful preservative: So that although the sturdinesse of a man excludeth the terrours from the imaginaion of the man; yet a manly animosity cannot take away the terrour of the imagining Archeus: for the aforesaid animosity or sturdinesse of mind, ad∣mits of a combate from a contrary opinion of the Archeus: but mirth or cheerfulnesse introduced by such drink, neither admits of, nor acknowledgeth an enemy, as neither doth it undergo a strife, but excludeth them: But an exhilerating draught is more fit for the Pest to come, than for it being present: Therefore I grant also, that the preservative, and curative remedies for the plague as being present, are of the same company and in∣tention, but not for a future one; yet so, that preservatives of the plague as being pre∣sent, do not serve, but in the making of its increase, but not in its product being made; because of that which is corrupted, there are no longer preservatives, but onely healing remedies by extirpation.

We must not therefore believe that bad Antidotes, although they were the most potent poysons, could drive away the terrour, as neither the pestilent effect of the terrour; For truly the poyson of the pestilence is irregular and different from other poysons in this, that it issues from the terrour of the Archeus, as it were fire out of a flint: For if the Ar∣cheus being terrified, yield up the field, verily the body (which being considered in it self, is a meer dead Carcasse) cannot receive comfort. Furthermore, if the Archeus be so con∣sidered to retire, that a poyson enters in his place, and in this respect shall supplant the Archeus himself; how shall sweet odours and incenses prevent the poyson, especially if the very excellentest of sweet smels, are also capable of receiving a pestilent contagion? Therefore let it be a part of Christian piety and compassion, studiously to contemplate with me, how blockishly and unexactly so many Simples have been heaped up together for preserving, and curing; and how much their unfaithful succours have deluded ten thousands of men, and their expectations; because they have every where mocked mankind in a true remedy, by reason of the grosse ignorance of causes: For indeed a curative remedy of the plague being present, presupposeth that which a preservative remedy prevents for the future: Therefore a proper curative remedy is convenient onely, as by slaying of the product (which is the pestilent poyson it self) it annihilates it in the matter wherein it re∣sides: In the next place also, another curative remedy being conjoyned with it, is employ∣ed in expelling the subject of the poyson it self, which is to be attempted by-sweat: Moreover, a third is that which takes away and lessens the co-suiting of causes unto their products, the which also hath in it the nature of a preservative. The Pest therefore which is drawn in from without, from an infected body, garment, or place, hath indeed in it, an absolute and formal pestilent poyson, which presupposeth not a fore-existing fer∣mental putrefaction, and therefore it suddenly invadeth with no fore-going complaints, and it utters future signes, but onely it hath need of an appropriation; which kind of preserving in making of the Pest, a rectifying of the air, familiar to Hipocrates, contein∣eth (of which in its own place) no otherwise than as in a popular plague; To wit, that the poyson it self in the air may be killed, and the air also, originally so disposed, that it suffers not the nourishable humour to be mumially corrupted, or to snatch unto it a fermental putrefaction.

These things of a remedy for the future. Otherwise, when as the pestilent poyson is now received within, it lurketh, and is unknown, and also is fitted and sealed in the Archeus; and that by reason of the singular swiftnesse of its poyson: But then, defensive remedies alone do come too late, unlesse they are also healing ones. First therefore eve∣ry cure of preserving, is busied, that the body may be always actually hot, and kept in transpiration, and that the mind may be disposed unto a cheerfulnesse opposite to terrour; even as I have already before cited concerning wine out of the holy Scriptures: But what thou readest concerning the rectifying of the infected air, it hath respect not so much unto the air, as to the points thereof, to wit, in whose vacuities or hollow empty spaces, the vapour of contagion sits or floats. Furthermore, those remedies which take away a putrefaction through continuance, and poyson out of the air, but terrour out of the mind, and lastly, mumial co-fittings or suitable coniunctions out of the body, these are preservatives: For the perfumes or suffumigations of Hipocrates, freeth not onely the encompassing air, but also the air that is attracted inwards, yea, and the co-agulated va∣pour from the poyson, and together also from a fermental putrefaction, no lesse then as it hinders the mumi••l ferment from being applyed; to which ends also, Antidotes, Ze∣nextons or external preservative Pomanders do conduce, which are able to kill the

image of terrour, and pestilent poyson, in the proper subject of the vapour, or Tartar of the bloud; and in this respect also, to divert and hinder the terrour of the Archeus.

But if indeed the Pest be conceived by a proper errour within, other preservatives are required, than when as we must live about infected places, or persons: But the plague being formed, moves the same to go with a speedy course in a retrograde order, from a poyson formed, unto a corruptive vapour: Therefore also neither are amulets or preservative pomanders occupied about an inferiour and remote preparation of the pestilent matter that is to be averted; but for the overcoming of the formal and ultimate poyson, and suiting of the Archeus with the Tartar of the bloud, in the one extream, and in the other, with the poyson drawn in: And so an amulet keeps a curative betokening in preserving; yet it is excedeed by a curative remedy in this, that healing remedies ought not onely to kill the poyson; but also to thrust it out by sweat: Indeed both betokenings ought to concut in curative remedies: For othe••wise, in vain doth the body flow down with much moisture of sweat, if the Tartar of the bloud be not resolved, but is rather continued by the con∣tinued terrour of the Archeus. Truly the causes, as well the constitutive, as the occasional one, being known, afterwards the indication o•• betokening of things to be done, co∣ariseth onely by the conduct of reason: For if a fermental putrefaction hath given a be∣ginning unto, and caused the first disposition of the matter, places putrified through continuance, as also nourishments easily putrifying, are to be avoided.

An open air is healthful to healthy persons, because it hath the power of an elementa∣ry consuming; but the air as it is such, doth no lesse obey contagion, than other bodies, and it conteineth in its own Magnal of the air, as it hath hollow po••es, the whole conta••ion; the which at length by pining away in the same place, doth for the most part die, not but of its own accord, in the space of 40 dayes; and by an elemen∣tary power is spoyled of the poysonous seed of a ferment: For the seeds of things con∣ceived, do by little and little decay in the air, as they being shut up in the hollow places of the air, as it were in wombs, do return to the last disposition of corruption, and the first generation of watery matters. All sorrowful things also, are to be removed, not onely because they are near unto fear and terrour, but especially because they do forthwith produce a sensible fermental putrefaction (the mother of sighs) about the mouth of the stomach. The places therefore, and objects of a sorrowful remem∣brance, as also such fellowships, are to be avoided, no lesse than sorrowful messages, and discourses of History: Exhilerating Wines are to be drunk, as also the more strong Ales or Beers; because that by causing carelessenesses and animosities, they shake off grief, and terrours: But the cold air and winds hurt those that are infect∣ed, yea that are fearful and sorrowful after any manner, or whatsoever is opposite to exhalation and sweat: A washed house doth now and then indeed take away the fermental put••efaction and contagion; and the wa••ery vapour hurts those that are infected; there∣fore it were first to be dried. Forty dayes shutting up, although they may increase the fer∣mental putrefaction; yet they take away the pestilent poyson, as it perisheth of its own accord in that space of time: Perhaps therefore custom hath brought over those Quaren∣tanies or forty dayes enclosures, for any renovation whatsoever: For although swimming, or cutting of a vein, may seem to diminish the fermental putrefaction; yet seeing nature hath laid up the bloud for her treasure; it follows, that as oft as she shall perceive the bloud of the veins to be taken away, the Archeus as it were fearing treachery, is dispo∣sed unto terrour, and draws the rest of the bloud inward to himself, and by consequence also, it calls the pestilent poyson together with it, into the inner chamber; which motion is diamentral with, or directly opposite to sweat: And therefore, let as well the cutting of a vein, as swimming, be destructiue; also all loose solving of the belly is to be avoided; because so, the more crude bloud of the meseraick veins is made to putrifie through the ferment of the solutive m••dicine (even as elsewhere in the book of Fevers) to wit, at the evacuation whereof, the meseraick veins do ••etch back bloud out of the hollow vein, and this out of the small branching veins of the body; which motion is diametrically opposite to the curing of the plague.

Those things which I have ••i••herto spoken, are of the number of negative preserva∣tions, or they are admonitory rules of things to be avoided, which rules do not, yet, contain health. But among positive preservatiues, Amulets challenge the first place to them∣selves, which obtain a proper faculty, whether it be for killing of the poyson, or else for preventing of the mumial appropriation of the Archeus: Both of them indeed are curative in the making of the Pest. Next a sudoriferous one follows, which is a rooter out of the plague, and of its seat, by washing off. Again, the Archeus being grieved and

affrighted, straightway betakes himself inwards, fleeth as it were to his Castle, begets sor∣row and sighings, and the enemy being received within, increaseth venemous perplexi∣ties: Therefore he is to be called forth unto delights, and by sudotiferous medicines: For sudoriferous or sweat-provoking remedies, are all of the same intention, and almost of the same weight, but at leastwise they differ in the degree of goodnesse. In the next place, in an Antidote being adjoyned, I praise the potion of Hyppocrates, whereunto I adde Ginger, and the black berries of Ivy; because they are Diaphoreticks which are ac∣ceptable to the stomach. Also antidotes are to be given in generous or rich wine, and that presently after food, not indeed so much that the sick party may sweat, as that his body may be kept in transpiration: But let the food be light, and little; for in every fever, and rather in the plague, digesti on faileth; therefore let the more pure drink supply the room of the more large food: For pure or unmixt wine excludeth fear, cares, sorrow, and ter∣rour; And therefore also the chief preservative is establ••shed in confidence.

Indeed I do not here speak of Christian faith or confidence (although in Spirituals, there is every where matter of great moment) for they also who lay down their life for the sheep, do now and then die of the plague, other carelesse persons remaining safe: For their confidence hath either a defective rottennesse within, or some other obstacle; The Lord not working miracles, but for his hidden Judgments. The faith or confidence therefore, of which I speak in this place, is the natural mean of animosiry or stoutnesse of mind, fighting against, and strongly resi••ting terrour; neither is that faith positive I believe, but altogether negative, not abhorring, not fearing, yea neither therefore be∣lieving that he shall be infected: For as a pestiferous terrour hath a suspitious and fearful faith annexed unto it, that they have lately conceived something of contagion, or do feel a murmuring about the mouth of their stomach; so the preservation thereof is a a belief that they have conceived nothing: neither therefore is it sufficient that the con∣fidence be not terrifying (which is a mean between terrour and animosity) but it is requi∣red that it be operative, by not believing that they shall be insected: And that not by an inducement of reason, but altogether by a free power of animosity, and the meer mo∣ther of confidence: otherwise, children and mad-folks, although they have conceived no terrour, yet they oftentimes perish by the plague, for want of an operating confidence, which frames a preservative ot it self: For not to believe that one shall be infected, works far more strongly than the presumption of fear, not onely because a negative destroys more strongly than an affirmative builds up; but because it together therewith, contains a privation, which is stronger than every positive: For we are those who pro∣ceed from an infinite nothing, and therefore our nature doth more strongly apprehend nothing, than something itself, from whence also it obtaineth rest to it self; even as is to be seen in negative Syllogisms, wherein the conclusion follows the negative, and forsakes also a particular affirmative connexed with it, that it may bring it self into quiet∣nesse by a denial.

For truly, the understanding being now degenerate, and naturally distrusting it self, in understanding [this something] of things, had always rather lay down in not know∣ing, or not being able to know: And that is the cause of fluggishness in Sciences: There∣fore the belief requisite in terrour, for preserving, is positive, and therefore it ought ef∣fectively, actually, and ••fficiently to stand; although with hope it concludeth negatively from the weaker part. A good man, in readily serving those that are infected with con∣tagion, if by reason of the piety of his work, he hopeth and trusteth more in the good∣nesse of the work, or of desert, than in a free valiant confidence on God, he hath a faith con-joyned with hope, and it includes an agony of fear and terrour: Therefore he naturally undergoes an infection, unless he be preserved from elsewhere. But the confi∣dence of this place is drawn, not so much from Saff••on, or the exhilarating things of boasters, as from the cheerful drink of the more pure wine. Women with child, also women in child-bed, or menstruous women, because they are then more restrained under the command of their womb, than under the conduct of the universal Archeus, therefore they are the more dangerously oppressed with the Pest: For truly, the Archeus of the womb doth no way obey reason, or confidence, which is wholly vexed with con∣fusion, and a sorrowful troop of disturbances: Therefore the womb is to be comforted with the oyl of Amber, and with Amber dissolved in the best spirit of wine, and with the suffumigation of the warts of the shanks of a horse, being beaten to powder in a mortar.