Solomon's prescription for the removal of the pestilence, or, The discovery of the plague of our hearts, in order to the healing of that in our flesh by M.M.

The Preface to the Reader.

Reader,

I Had more Objections in my own thoughts to the sending forth this Paper; and can fore-think more faults like to be found with it when sent forth, then I shall now stand to tell thee of, or make any answer for. But because amongst all those Objections, I met not with this, That it was impossible it should do anie good, I thought the rest answerable; and because amongst all its faults, thou canst not (trulie) find this, That it was not intended for anie good, I perswade my self all the rest are pardonable. What the design of it is, if thou art in haste, the Title will tell thee; if thou art at leasure, and think'st it worth thy while, thou may'st find it in the Book it self; so ei∣ther way I might be excused from saying ought of it here. But somewhat for thy satisfaction know, when I considered the sore Judgment wherewith we have been visited, which so evidentlie declares Wrath to be gone forth from the Lord against us, I thought it might be an Essay verie acceptablè to God, and profitable to our selves, to do the best I could to make the voyce of the Rod Articulate; that in the print of its lashes, not onlie Gods Wrath, but the sin he scourgeth us for, and the duty he would drive us to, might be found in legible Characters, that even he that runs may read them. When I lookt on Affliction as a Medicine for a distempered Nation, I thought it was ex∣ceeding necessarie, in order to its kindlie working with us, to tell the nature, import and use of it; and to give directions how it ought to be received. And though I acknowledge my self the meanest of Ten thousand for so great a Work, yet when I saw or heard of nothing so particular and distinct, as I thought the matter required, humblie depending upon, and imploring Divine assistance, I made this attempt; wherein, whil'st I have guided my self by the Physitians own Rules, and an impartial consideration of the na∣ture of the Patient, I hope I have made no material (I am sure no wil∣ful) mistakes. This then was my great desire and hope, to be by this under∣taking, a worker together with Gods Providence for some good to the Nation. And surely no man hath cause to be angry with this intention, or with any thing that flows sincerelie from it. Had anie man, though the meanest a∣mong the People, in the time when Nineveh was threatned with destruction, given in a Catalogue of those sins they were guiltie of, the removal of which could onlie prevent their Ruine; I am perswaded his endeavours would have

been grateful to the Prince, his Nobles, and the People, though he had spoke to them all with more plainness and boldness, than I have done. And I dare confidentlie expect the same, if our Fasting and Prayers be not onlie for fashion-sake, but in as good earnest as theirs.

Two great miscarriages moreover I was prone to fear the most would be guiltie of, which I have especiallie consulted against. The first, of being swallowed up so much with a sense of their Suffering, as to be indispose for all profitable Reflections; and therefore fain would I turn mens eyes and thoughts from off this, to the sin that brought it; and have them onlie to consider the former, so much as to inform themselves more clearlie of the e∣vil of the latter. Oh what Out-cryes we may hear up and down, what dole∣ful times these are! So manie Thousands dead this Week, so manie another! The Plague got to this Town, and then to that! All Trading, as well as Persons, dead and gone! But were People formerly thus affected, whilst we were bringing this upon our selves? Did they cry out then, Oh how manie Thousand Oaths are sworn in a Week? And how manie Lyes told? How manie Thousands Drunk, and how manie commit Lewdness? Had we had Weeklie Bills of such Sins brought in, they would far have exceeded the lar∣gest Sums that ever yet the Mortalitie made. But alas! these with the most were light matters. Not half so manie groans and tears for these, nor anie such complaints of them; nor did the consideration of them make anie sensible alteration amongst us. Now this I would fain obtain, to have those dayes thought as much worse than these; and those actions as much worse than these sufferings, as the Disease is worse than Physick; and a Childs disobedience to his Parents, worse than his being Whip't: And he that should weep out of pitie to the Child, when he sees it lash't; and yet could be content to hear him revile and abuse his father, I should think to be a person of more Fondness, than Discretion; and for him to be more concerned for the Childs Smart, than the Parents Honor, argues him to have no true love for either.

And here by the way let me give a Caution, viz. That no man bewray so much follie as to argue, That because in mercie God may abate and remove his heavy Judgments, before manie, or perhaps any of these sins I have men∣tioned are put away from amongst us; and because we may have our former health and plentie restor'd, whilst there is no such Reformation of disorders as I have exhorted to, that therefore our Sufferings were not intended to cha∣stise us for those sins, nor to bring us to this Reformation. If thou be an A∣theist or Infidel that makest this Argument, who believest not there is a God, or that he concerns not himself with our Affairs, but that all things come by Nature or Chance, or I know not what, I shall then leave thee to receive sa∣tisfaction (if nothing sooner will give it) there, where all such as thou, by

the feeling of Divine Vengeance, are at once convinc't what the sin is which hath deserved it, and that there is a God who inflicts it; but if thou be a Christian, then I would wish thee well to examine the nature of the thing, (that I mean, which thou thinkest God hath not punish't us for, because it is yet continued) and upon the issue of that examination, pass thy judgment. It's much to be feared thou wilt see Drunkards, and hear Swearers, after the Plague may be ceas't; and wilt thou think therefore that these, and the like Wickednesses, did not provoke God to afflict us? But rather stay, if thou art in doubt, till the great reckoning day, till thou hast heard all mens Accounts cast up, and those Actions which are then approved confidentlie pronounce no sins; but not all those that survive the heaviest Judgments here on earth, which may be sent to punish and reform those that were guiltie of them; since hardned sinners may frustrate some ends of an Affliction, and all are not fol∣lowed here, as Pharaoh was. No, I say, do not justifie all such Actions, though thou shouldst hear them openlie defended, and applauded, and those men punish't that dare to oppose and contradict them, and that opposition made the onlie sin. This lower World is full of such mad mistakes and confusions, but all will shortlie be set strait.

The other miscarriages that I feared men would be apt to run into, and which I have laboured to provide against, was, That though they might be convinc't that sin in the general, was the cause of all our miseries, yet hardly that it was their sin, or their friends, but some bodies else that they don't love; and so shift it off to this or that Party, whom they would have punish't, had they been in Gods stead. Such a strong self-love there is in everie man, that his fancie shapes God verie much in a likeness to himself. Even the vilest sinners, Psal. 50. 21. thought God such an one as themselves. And con∣sequentlie they account themselves, and all their Concernments dear to God, and so would interpret all his Providences in favour of them, to right their quarrel, and to avenge them of their enemies; for thus would they prescribe God, might they be call▪d to his counsel. All would fain carrie it, that God is of their Partie, and against those whom they are against; everie man will be more inclined to accuse others▪ than himself: Nay, and hence it oft falls out, that they who have espoused anie sin, will be so far alone from thinking ill of it, that they'l rather accuse the contrarie vertue; and so godliness it self may sometimes bear the blame, or however the most godlie and unblameable men. The Pillars of a▪Land sometimes are accounted the Pests of it, on which whilst some men blind with rage, lay their hands to pluck them down, they are about to do themselves, and the people with whom they are, the same courtesie that Sampson did to the Philistine Lords. They who were the Salt to savour a corrupt World, were accounted the filth and off-scouring of all

things. Ahab will sooner count Elijah than himself, a troubler of Israel. And when anie mischief befalls the Empire, then the poor Christians must be thrown to the Lyons. Thus I fear amongst us, manie bitter and unde∣served censures will be past by one against another; which great sin I have done my best to consult against, whil'st I have chieflie laboured to bring eve∣rie man to a reflection upon himself; whil'st I have studied faithfullie to deal, both to this man and that, his share in procuring our miseries; and whil'st I have made the Divisions and Parties that are amongst us which occasion this Censoriousness, one great cause of our Sufferings. However one or otber may interpret what I have done, I am prettie indifferent; only I hope I have said nothing, which need make anie man presentlie fall a confu∣ting me, which, I▪le promise you, it's an hard thing in these dayes to escape; say what you will, 'tis against Sin onlie I have a quarrel: If any guiltie person (as the Pharisees when Christ preach't) shall think I mean him▪ let him once again know, That it is not against Small or Great, but the Sins of All, that I am entered into the Lists; and I hope they'l rather see to for∣sake, than vindicate them. But if otherwise, if leave may be granted, I dare undertake to evidence, That Sin is that which brings Suffering, and that those things I have mentioned as the sins of our Nation, are indeed such. Yea, and if it be not thought Immodestie to forestall the Readers judgment, I dare add, That I have spoken verie great Truth and Reason in the matters most liable to Exception, notwithstanding all the weaknesses and disadvanta∣ges in the representing, which I readilie acknowledge to be manie and great. But I have alreadie exceeded the due bounds of a Preface; wherefore to conclude, Let all censure as they shall find meet; only let me make a solemn Profession (which is the more credible from one, who hath no great reason to expect to out-live the General Desolation) that, so far as I know my own heart, I have spoke nothing with a design to exasperate any, or to humor and gratifie one Faction, by disgracing or inveighing against another; but it hath been my care to speak the very truth, according to the infallible Word of God, and the clearest apprehensions of my own Soul; with an unfeigned desire to discover what indeed those sins are, which we especiallie smart for, that the inconsiderate and ignorant may be informed, the guiltie humbled, wickedness rooted out, God appeased, and all our mercies, both spiritual and temporal, restored and continued; and these designs shall be followed with my prayers: (and I hope with thine too that read'st me) but how far the success may answer either, I must leave to the Readers improvement of, and Gods blessing upon my well-intended, though weak endeavours.

Thine in the Service of the Gospel, M. M.