[Logos alexipharmakos] or, Hyperphysicall directions in time of plague collected out of the sole-authentick dispensatory of the chief physitian both of soule and body, and, disposed more particularly, though not without some alteration and addition, according to the method of those physicall directions printed by command of the Lords of the Counsell at Oxford 1644 and very requisite to be used with them : also, certain aphorismes, premised, and conclusions from them deduced, concerning the plague, necesiary to be knovvn and observed of all, that would either prevent it, or get it cured / by Lionell Gatford ...

To the Right Honourable the Lords of the Councell, and others His MAJESTIES Commissioners for the Government of the City of OXFORD, Lionell Gatford wisheth in∣crease of honour, and the blessing of Peace, Temporall and Eternall.

BEing unjustly forced from that Cure, whereunto God had called me, as the most of my▪ Profession are, that will not turne Mountebancks and poyson the Peo∣ple) and not suffered▪ upon His Majesties gracious Exchange, (after seaventeene months impri∣sonment in London, without any cause shewen in all that time) either to returne to that Care or to practise any where else with safety (though licensed for all parts of this Kingdome) I was necessitated to repair to this City made happy in the midst of miseries by your Vigilancy & Gods blessing thereupon. I had not beene long here, but I saw and partooke (praysed be the Lord for it) of one of the greatest mercies (let others value it as they please) that ever this City was blessed with: A vast, and in their owne opinion, an invincible Army surrounded

us,* 1.1 as sometimes the Assyrians did Jerusalem: Their Tartaris, their Rabsarises and their Rabsakehs opened their mouths wide both against our religious Hezekiah, and against all his loyall Subjects then attending his sa∣cred Person, thinking (as their own bloudy Pamphlets did intimate) instantly to have devoured them all. And without doubt, If the Lord himselfe had not been on our side.* 1.2 If the Lord himselfe had not beene on our side, when those men thus rose up against us, they had swallowed us up quick when they were so wrathfully displeased at us: But bles∣sed be the Lord, he did not give us up as a prey unto their teeth; but put his hooke in their nose,* 1.3 and his bridle in their lips, and turned them back by the way, not by which they came, but by which they became the object of their Sove∣raign's tender mercy and compassionate pitty, whom they then pursued with their Rebellious malice and mercilesse cruelty. This unspeakable mercy of God to this City, or rather to this whole Nation, was attended upon (whether for our unthankfullnesse, or for our o∣ther sinnes, or for both! with that formidable judge∣ment of Plague. Upon the increasing and spreading whereof, observing, that your Honours, in your extra∣ordinary care of this place, had commanded certaine Physicall directions in time of Plague to be published, I was encouraged to beleeve, that Hyper-physicall directi∣ons for such a time could not want your patronage, And therefore finding none other of my calling, though farre more able, to have prevented me, I pre∣sumed to present you with these: Knowing withall, that without your helpe and assistance, both Physicall and Hyper-physicall prescripts, how excellent soever, will be but of little benefit or profit to the most of men; all

men being naturally prone to reject, at least to neglect that advise which would do them most good: and un∣lesse the Magistrates make them know that they beare not the sword in vaine, but will proceed to severe correction where wholsome instructions are despised, the Divine and Physitian both may prescribe till they are weary, and all to no purpose.* 1.4 We reade of an Aaron needing a calling upon from Moses to do what belonged to him in the time of a Plague.* 1.5 But as the Plague may be (and, for ought any man knowes to the contrary, this Plague may be such) the Magistrates actuall exercising their power in the execution of justice upon some pro∣voking Offenders may be so necessarily required, that the raging contagion will not cease without it. This I am confident of, and not without good grounds: That would your Honours be pleased but to revive the execution of some of your owne Lawes against that one horrid crying sinne of swearing and blaspheming Gods name, which so raignes in our streets and houses, the Plague of God would not rage so much in them, as now it doth.* 1.6 The Lord (saith the Commandement) will not hold him guiltlesse that taketh his name in vaine 'Tis swearing (saith one of the Prophets) that brings the flying rowle of the curse into mens houses,* 1.7 and makes it to remaine there, till it have consumed both them and the very timber and stones thereof. And 'tis for swearing amongst other foule crimes (saith another Prophet) that the Land mournes.* 1.8 As therefore ye tender particu∣lar mens persons, that have jeoparded their lives, for you, as ye regard the welfare of this City, wherein God hath preserved you, and as ye love this whole Land, wherein God hath highly honoured you, suffer not the

sacred Name of that gracious and glorious God, who hath wrought these and other infinite mercies for you, to be dishonoured and profaned so as it is by cursed Oathes and blasphemous Cursings. Let some sharpe mulcts against Cursing and Swearing be duly inflicted and required, that if the dread of that Name do not ter∣rifie men from so abusing it, yet the feare of that Power wherewith God hath intrusted you, and their owne just punishment for disregarding both, may make them affraid to use that Name in vaine, which you have found by so often experiment not to be in vaine to those that honour and rely upon it: so shall your names be preci∣ous in Gods account, your freinds and servants that fly hither for succour be solaced and confirmed in their expectation thereof, your enemies mouthes be stopped in one of their lowdest clamours, and all both freinds and foes, that visit this City, be constrained to acknowledge, that the streets and ordinary places of concourse, under your Government are sweeter and better kept, then the Churches and Pulpits under the Rebells Tyranny. Pardon me (I humbly beseech you) for Pleading thus earnestly in this cause. The King's, your Honours, and this whole Kingdomes hopes of deli∣verance from those sore judgements, under which they still groane, (as well as those miraculous deliverances that have beene vouchsafed us) depend wholly upon that great Name. And therefore if not my zeale to Gods glory, yet my loyalty to my Soveraigne, my duty to your Honours, and my love to my Nation, may ex∣cuse my boldnesse in minding you of a speedy vindi∣cation of the honour of that Name. I know there are many other crimes amongst us, that cry alowde for

your more then ordinary care and diligence, zeale and courage,* 1.9 in chastening and correcting the daring a∣ctors of them: but (as Chrysostome once-spake) I con∣ceive this to be the best way of correction,* 1.10 to beginne first with one part of the Law, and see that that be observed, and then to go on to the rest. And with what part should ye begin first, if not with that, which is most transgressed, and (if it be rightly considered) easiest to be amended: Ʋp, then in the name of God, and sanctify the People by purging out from them this spreading sinne of cursing and swearing;* 1.11 and proove the Lord whether he will not,* 1.12 upon your banishing the Plague of God, and other rash curses and oathes out of mens mouthes, banish that Judg∣ment of the Plague it selfe and other Judgements from this City; The forementioned Father was bold to in∣gage his word & credit to the Citizens of Antioch, that upon their abstaining from swearing God would free them from that great Calamitie which was then upon them.* 1.13 I dare not undertake so farre; but it were well if you would please to make tryall, whether God would do so much, or not. This you may be assured of, for you have Gods owne word and promise for it, whe∣ther the Plague shall thereupon be removed from o∣thers dwellings or not,* 1.14 That love of yours to his name shall keepe you and your owne dwellings safe.* 1.15 As for your Honours observing these Directions your selves, it were too presumptuous a thought in me to expect, that any advise of mine should be hearkened unto by you who have so many learned and renowned Doctors to consult upon all occasions: yet where you find that I speake home to the purpose and God himselfe speakes the same, though not for my sake, yet for his, daigne

it the hearing, I and the following too, if you love your owne safety. Howsoever if you shall but tolerate and approve these Directions so farre, that others under your present charge, who cannot, many of them have accesse to those that are more learned and better able to counsell them, or rather are affraid or ashamed to appeare to such, how willing or ready soever to re∣ceive them, may by that your toleration and approba∣tion (the Reverend Doctors not dissenting be fully satis∣fied, that there is nothing herein prescribed, but what is good and wholesome, and will, through Gods bles∣sing, conduce much to their health and preservation, this will be ample honour and encouragement to

Your Honours most humbly devoted Servant L. G.

Notes

• * 1.1

  2 King 18. and 19.
• * 1.2

  Psal. 124.
• * 1.3

  2 Kings 19▪ 28.
• * 1.4

  Numb. 16▪ 46.
• * 1.5

  Numb, 25. 8.
• * 1.6

  Exod. 20. 7.
• * 1.7

  Zach. 5. v. 3, 4.
• * 1.8

  Hose 2 4, v. 2, 3.
• * 1.9

  Hom. 3. ad pop•• Antioch.
• * 1.10

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• * 1.11

  Joshus. 7. v. 13
• * 1.12

  Malach. 3. 10.
• * 1.13

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, &c.
• * 1.14

  Hom 3. ad Pop. Antioch.
• * 1.15

  Psal. 69. 36. & Psal. 91.