[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 ...

Certaine Aphorismes and conclu∣sions from them deduced, concerning the Plague, necessary to be knowne of all that would either prevent it, or get it cured.

AS there is a Corporall or Bodily Plague; which is by Physitians defined to be, A Com∣mon Epidemicall disease, most acute, contagi∣ous, and pernicious, that with its secret or close-lurking malignity, and Spiritfull poison invades and infects the heart and vitall spirits with all other parts of the body, suddainly and speedily over∣throwing them by causing extreame putridnesse and raging di∣stempers therein; shewing it selfe at the last, and for the most part, in spots, sores, or Carbuncles, together with other dange∣rous and deadly Symptomes. So there is also a Spirituall or Soule-Plaguea 1.1, called Sinne, which according to Divines, is a transgression of Gods Lawb 1.2 causing deathc 1.3 temporall and eternall; and may, for its neare resemblance to the other Plague, be further described in the same termes with it: viz. An universalld 1.4 or epidemicall diseasee 1.5, most acutef 1.6, conta∣giousg 1.7, and pernicioush 1.8, that with its secret or close-lurkingi 1.9 malignity and spiritfull poisonk 1.10 invades and infects, &c.

(2)

The Plague of the Soule is the originall or principall cause of the plague of the bodyl 1.11. And therefore without all di∣spute the best and surest, if not the onely course for avoiding or expelling the Plague of the body, is to avoid or expell the Plague of the soulem 1.12.No disease, say Physitians, can be ta∣ken away, unlesse the cause be taken away; and the cause being removed, say the Naturalists, the effect removes

with it; and the onely way that the Scriptures prescribe to get quit of any judgement, is first to get quit of Sinnen 1.13.

(3)

As the Plague of the body (according to Physitians in their Physicall way) is caused either by externall causes, such as the consuption of the aire, the contagious touch of some bo∣dies or things, &c. or else by internall causes, such as the putrefaction of the bloud or humours, &c. So the Plague of the Soule (according to Divines in their Theologicall way) is caused either by externall temptations and provo∣cations, and those principally of the senseso 1.14, to some where∣of the poison of the temptation is conveyed by the aire, to others by some contagious touchp 1.15; or else by internall cor∣ruptionq 1.16, the seed whereof is derived unto us from our Parentsr 1.17. And therefore if we would be preserved from the one plague as well as the other, we must provide and furnish our selves with such antidotes and preservatives, such cordialls and other approved remedies, as are good and pro∣per for the resisting and expelling of both sorts of corrupti∣on and putrefaction, as well externall, as internall. And such you shall finde by and by prescribed in their due order.

(4)

Not onely the Body-Plagues 1.18 it selfe, but also all the na∣turall or physicall causes thereof, are themselves caused by God, as the supreme and hyperphysicall causet 1.19. And therefore as we endeavour by Physicall preservatives to keepe and de∣fend our selves against the naturall and second causes of that disease before it seize upon us; and as we apply to our selves physicall medicines to cure us of it, when it hath taken hold on us: So we must not faile to addresse and apply our selves by hyperphysicall meanes and wayes to the supreme and first causeu 1.20, who disposeth and ordereth both that disease it selfe and all its causes as he pleasethx 1.21.

(5)

It is acknowledged by the best of Physitians (as a learned Doctor in that faculty Mathias Ʋntzery 1.22 informes me) That although there are many excellent medicines found out, and by reason, use, and experience of the wisest approved to be very happy and successefull, both for the preventing and cu∣ring the Plague of the body; yet it was never said, written, read, nor heard (they are the Authors owne words) that a∣ny mortall man, of all those that have beene, or are, could truly assume so much glory to himselfe, as to say that God had shewne and revealed to him any true certaine Antidote or Medicine against it, either to preserve man from it, or to expell it from man; but God reserves that skill to himselfe; and that, (as some Physitians as well as Divines conceive) because God would not have men to know any sure defence against that his just scourge of Sinne, but onely in him and from him. And therefore though we doe and ought to make use of such preservatives and medicinesz 1.23 in time of Plague, as Goda 1.24 hath by learned and experienced Physitiansb 1.25 impar∣ted unto us; giving him thankes for themc 1.26: Yet we can∣not and ought not to rely upon them: but we must submit all to the Lord and rest upon himd 1.27. And if we so doe, and re∣pent truly of our sinnes, and doe that which is just and right; although the Physitian can prescribe no certaine infallible re∣medy for it; yet the Divine can, so farre as to assure thee that it shall not hurt thee. For thy so doing (I meane thy re∣penting truly of all thy sinnes, and relying wholly upon God in and through the merits and mediation of Christ,) will undoubtedly preserve theee 1.28, if not from its stroke, from its venime and poison; so that, if it kill thee, yet it shall do thee no harme; for that he will be the death of its death, or the plague to its death for theef 1.29; and thy death shall be an advantage to theeg 1.30.

(6)

Whatsoever we take or make use of to prevent or expell

the Plague either of Body or Soule, must be taken or used speedily, without the least delayh 1.31: for the poyson of both Plagues is so subtill and spiritfull, that it both infects and kills in a very short time; oftentimes in a few houres.

These Aphorismes and conclusions being premised, I hope the following Directions will prove the more benefi∣ciall, provided that these two cautions be observed.

First, That these Directions be look't upon directly as they are, not as the originall prescripts of a Divine, for then there had beene lesse of the Physitian in them, but as the oc∣casionall meditations of a Divine upon the originall pre∣scripts of a Physitian, and so there is a kinde of necessity, that they should favour the more both of the Physitians 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 and his 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 to, his medicinall confections and his medicinall expressions.

Secondly, That whereas the Director keeping close to the Allegory makes use of Physicall termes to expresse Theo∣logicall graces, the Reader be not so gracelesse as to abuse those expressions to the venting of his owne rudenesse and prophanesse.

Notes

• a 1.1

  1 Kings: 8, 38.
• b 1.2

  1 Iohn. c. 3 v. 4. Rom. 7. v. 7, 8. cap. 4. v. 15.
• c 1.3

  Rom. 7. v. 9, 10, 11. cap. 5. 12, Deut. 30. Ezek. 18.
• d 1.4

  Rom. 3. v. 9, 10, 11. 12, 19. ••3. 1 Iohn. c. 1. v. 8. 10.
• e 1.5

  Ez. k. 34. v. 4. Math. 8. v. 17.
• f 1.6

  Gen. 6 5 Ps. 19. 1••.
• g 1.7

  Isa••h••. 6. cap 24. 5. Psal. 106. 35. Re∣vel 18. 4.
• h 1.8

  Levit. 26. Deut. 28. Rom. 6. 23. 1 Cor. 6. v 9, 10.
• i 1.9

  Psal. 19. 12. Rom. 7. 23.
• k 1.10

  Deut. 32. v. 33. Psal. 140. 3 James 3. v. 6. 8.
• l 1.11

  Levit. 26 v. 23. 25. Deut. 28. v. 15 21. Jerem. 29. v. 18, 19. Ezek, 14. v. 23. 19. Numb. 12. v. 4. 33. cap. 16. v. 41. 46.
• m 1.12

  1 Kings: 8. v 37, 38, 39. Ezek. 9. v. 4, 5, 6.
• n 1.13

  Jerem. 18. v. 8. Ezek. 18. 30 Hosea: 6. v. 1. Luke: 13. v. 3, 5.
• o 1.14

  Genes. 3. v. 6, 17. cap. 6. 2. 2 Sam, 11. 2. Prov. 6. v. 24, 25. cap. 7. 21.
• p 1.15

  Prov. 6. 29. cap. 7. 13. 2 Co. 6 17.
• q 1.16

  Rom. 7. v. 20, 21, 23, 24. Genes. 6 5. Matth. 15. 19.
• r 1.17

  Psal. 52. 5. Rom. 5. 12. Ezek. 16. 3.
• s 1.18

  Levit 26. 25, Deut. 28, 21. Numb. 1•• 33. cap. 16. 46. 2 Sam. 24. 15. Amos 4 10.
• t 1.19

  Psal. 38. v. 3, 7. Deut. 28. v. 22, 61. Psal. 74. v. 17. Job. cap. 37, & 38. Amos 3. 6.
• u 1.20

  1 Kings: 8. 37, 38. 2 Sam. 24 v. 17, 18, 21. 2 Kings: 20, v. 2, 3. 7. Hosea 6. 1. 2 Chr. 16. 12.
• x 1.21

  Deut. 32. 39. Psal. 135. 6.
• y 1.22

  Lib. 2. delue pestif••∣ra.
• z 1.23

  2 Kings. 20, 7.
• a 1.24

  Job. 5. 28. James 1. 17. 1 Cor, 12. 9.
• b 1.25

  Coloss 4. 14.
• c 1.26

  Ephes. 5 20.
• d 1.27

  Deut. 32. 39. Psal. 121. v. 1, 2. and Psal. 107, v. 18, 19, 20. Luk. 8. 43, 44.
• e 1.28

  Ezek. 18. 30. Psal. 1▪ 9 1 and Psal. 31. 19.
• f 1.29

  John: 11 25, 26, 1 Cor. 15. v. 55, 56, 57: Hos. 13. v. 14.
• g 1.30

  Philip. 1. 21.
• h 1.31

  Numb. 16. 45. 46. 2 Sam. 24 15, Joel. 2. 12. Psal. 95. v. 7, 8. Isaiah 55. 6. Prov. 1. v. 24, 25, 26, 27, 28.