Newcastles call, to her neighbour and sister townes and cities throughout the land, to take warning by her sins and sorrowes. Lest this overflowing scourge of pestilence reach even unto them also. As also a direction, how to discover such sins as are the procurers of Gods judgments by divers methods. By R. Jenison, Dr. of D. Whereunto is added, the number of them that dyed weekely in Newcastle and Garth-side, from May 6. to December 31. 1636.

CHAP. V.

Pestilence is yet the fruit of Mans Sin. The Sin of these Israelites here. All evill being for Sin, wee are to justifie God, his truth and people; and to take all blame to our selves.

Quest. BVt is not God a God of mer∣cie, grace, and goodnes? Whence then is it that wrath, & hot anger is said to goe out from the Lord, and particularlie this of Plague or Pestilence? We must therefore conceive, and may easilie imagine,

that in case of gods wrath, and of the breaking out of Pestilence there is some great cause provoking him thereunto; seeing he doth not afflict willingly, or frō his heart, nor grieue the children of men. The great God herein is like the litle Bee, which yeelds hony of its selfe, but stings not till it be angred or provoked.

The first in this Text, provoking the Lord to this great wrath, was the peo∣ples murmuring against Moses and Aaron, charging them with the death of those rebels, whom God destroyed justly for their sinnes, and their rising ac∣cordingly

against them: which as it is in its owne nature highly displeasing to God who cannot indure his officers and faithfull servants should either bee envied and maligned, as these two were by Corah, &c. or repined at, when for their sake the Lord doth punish such as wrōg them. So for the Circumstances of it, it became exceeding great; for it is said, But on the morrow (after Corah was swallowed up, and they were spared and escaped) all the Congregation of the children of Israel murmu∣red against Moses, & against Aaron, &c. Where 1. for

time, it was on the mor∣row immediatly after their 1. former sinne. 2. God wrath executed on others 3. their owne sparing. 4 their former and but ye∣sterdayes shew of repen∣tāce, or forsaking the tents of the wicked. 2. For the persons who sinned, they were 1. for qualitie, the children of Israel, from whō God had cause to have expected better things. 2. For number, All the con∣gregation of them, it was a generall sin and conspira∣cie. 3. For persons agains•• whom; it was against Mos•••• and Aaron: against Moses a Prophet & Prince, against

Aaron the Priest of the Lord, both which had late∣ly, yea and now made in∣tercession for them: they were neither afrayde to meddle with such deare servants of the Lord, who prooved edge-tooles to them; nor ashamed so ill to requite them for their love.

This was their sin. And when our sins become like either for nature or for cir∣cumstances, we have great cause to looke for like wrath: nay if such sins, as envying, hating, and rising against Gods Ministers and faithfull servants, and if such circumstances of sin,

as to sinn upon sin, and to multiply transgressions to sin after examples of Gods wrath on others, after our ovvne sparing and delive∣rances, and after former shewes of repentance: If for men in covenant with God to sin against him, and to sin as it were by conspiracie and consent; and if unthankfulnesse a∣gainst God and his Mes∣sengers and Servants de∣serve wrath, and be fol∣lowed with Pestilence, then no marvell if wrath be gone out from the Lord against us of this place, yea, and Nation, and if the Plague be alreadie be∣gun

amongst us, and so far proceeded as it is. But of the Sins more particularly for which wrath goeth out from God, and for which Pestilence is sent, I shall speake hereafter on some other Grounds of Scripture.

Here wee may observe in the generall, That mans Sin is the cause of his Sor∣row. Love to Sin procures Gods anger against the Sinner: And as here, The Plague of the heart and soule brings Gods Plague upon the bodie. Remark∣able examples hereof we have in the Angels cast out of heaven for ever be∣cause

of their Pride: in Adam cast out of Paradise (and with him all Man∣kind) for disobedience: in a whole world of men, for violence, sensualitie and securitie: in Sodom and other Cities, destroied suddenlie for Pride, abuse of Gods good creatures, I∣dlenesse, and abominable Lusts: in the Iewes, both in their first Captivitie, when the Lord (so grie∣vouslie) afflicted them for the multitude of their Transgressions: and in this their so fearfull dispersion and scattering whereby they are broken off, because of unbeliefe.

But leaving other evils, consider wee, that God doth 1, Threaten pestilence for Sin, as Levit. 26.14, 15, 16-24, 25. Deut. 28.15-21, 22. Ezek. 6.11, 12. Alas for all the evill abomi∣nations of the house of Isra∣el: for they shall fall by the Sword, by the Famine, and by Pestilence. So heere, these Murmurers were first threatned with Pesti∣lence for their unbeliefe: and here in my Text, it was inflicted for their Sin, which is already mentio∣ned. So then 2, God doth also send, and Inflict Pe∣stilence for Sin: as see Exod. 12.29. Psal. 78.50,

51. Amos 4.10. So David was met with for his pride, 2 Sam. 24.10. And so now must wee take this Pestilence, and other like Sicknesses to be justly sent for our Sins: and why not the same, or like to the Sin of Irreverence among the Corinthians; who, be∣cause they came to the Lords Table, and retur∣ned also from it, in their Sins, in their contentions, contempt one of another, dis-respect of their Tea∣cher, Saint Paul, their ig∣norance, and other Sins, it is said, For this cause many among you are sicke and weake, and many sleepe.

Now this Sicknesse and death among them is not improbably, by some, thought to bee that of Pestilence.

Whence is this? 1. Such is the nature of Sin, as that [ 1] it being evill, can bring forth nothing but evill: therfore doth one and the same word in the originall include in the signification of it, both Sin and Punish∣ment. So that he that will sinne, doth but hatch the cockatrice egge, & nourish a viper in his own bosom, which will be his destru∣ction.

2. Such againe is the [ 2] Holiness and Iustice of God,

that hee cannot spare ob∣stinate Sinners without impeachment to his Iu∣stice, Man himselfe being the Iudge to whom God seemes to appeale, saying, How shall I pardon thee for this? Seeing thou wilt neither seeke pardon, nor forsake thy Sin. Tell me, wouldst thou that I should violate my Iustice to spare thee in thy Sins? How canst thou in reason ex∣pect it? Will yee infect one another with your e∣vill examples, and com∣pany-keeping; by temp∣ting and inticing one ano∣ther to Sin, to my disho∣nour, and shall I still fit

still and doe nothing? shal not I send my plagues among you, to make you afraid one of another, and to sever you one from a∣nother? Shall I not mul∣tiply my plagues till you, each of you see the plague of your owne heart, and seeke unto me for mercie, and for healing? If other∣wise, Shall I not visit for these things?

Vse. [Vse 1] Now that Gods hand is so heavie upon us, wee 1. See whom to thank; none but our selves, our pride, our unfruitfulnesse, our sensualitie, our securi∣tie, our manifold defe∣ctions from God, both in

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his truth and holinesse, have procured these to us. The evils wee doe, and that willingly, are the cause of all the evils wee suffer unwillingly. How∣soever, let us in this (as in other evils) ever justifie God, take blame to our selves, and accept of the punishment of our Sins: which Lesson wee may learn of holy David, who having by pride, vaine-glorie, and selfe-confi∣dence, provoked God to smite his people with Pe∣stilence, is yet soone tou∣ched in conscience; and being tender-hearted, hee shewes himselfe also wise,

to see the cause in him∣selfe, and unpartiall to judge himselfe, taking the whole blame and shame onely to himselfe, saying, I have sinned. — Is it not I that commanded the peo∣ple to bee numbred? But these Sheepe, what have they done? I have sinned greatly in that I have done. — I have done very foolish∣ly. O worthy King! O most worthy example, e∣ven for Kings and Magi∣strates to imitate.

It becoms us at this time every man to search and look into his own heart, to find out that Achan which troubleth the campe, that

Ionah, who troubleth the sea, and causes such storms of wrath, that Sheba for whose cause God layes siege to our townes and cities. How this may bee done, or how we may find out our sinnes, as causes of present judgements, I shall indeavor hereafter to shew more fully. Onely now take we heed that wee doe not so far goe about to ju∣stifie our selves, as to tran∣slate the cause of our suffe∣rings from our selves to o∣ther men, whether fore∣fathers, superiours, (we being in a ranke of inferioritie) Inferiors, (if we be gover∣nors and Magistrates, who

are ready to account and call the people accursed: David did not so, as vvee have heard:) Exemplarie judgements on a place be∣fall chiefly for the sinns of exemplary persons: nei∣ther doth God shew him∣selfe Judge from heaven, till his Vicegerents here on earth, too much and too long neglect to execute his righteous judgements: or lastly, to the holy Prophets of God, as King Ahab layd the famine upon Elias, and the rebellious Israelites here the death of the con∣spirators upon Moses and Aaron. Neither let us blame Gods truth and reli∣gion

as causes of our suffe∣rings, as did the idolatrous women of old, Ier. 44.18. and as did the heathen in primitive times of the Christian church, proclai∣ming the innocent Christi∣ans guilty of death, as oft as therwas either drought, famine, earth-quake, or plague: yea, as some I doubt are readie now to charge the truth we main∣tain against outlandish 〈…〉〈…〉 novelties with these pre∣sent evils, and to threaten the state & kingdom with ruine: though neither state nor Church were ever blessed with more peace,

plentie & prosperity, then when the ancient truth of God, and doctrine of our Church was more unani∣mously taught and main∣tained then now it is. We may rather retort upon them, as Ieremy did upon those women: do not such things rather now come into remembrance with the Lord?

Howsoever, be we sure wee doe not at unawares charge Gods justice in these our sufferings, whilest wee goe about to justifie either our Church and nation as innocent, guiltles, & never in better condition; or our selves and persons, whilest

wee will see and acknow∣ledge no sinne (at least by name or in particular) by our selves: being ready to aske, Wherefore hath the Lord pronounced (and done) all this great evill against us? or what is our iniquity? &c. The Lord in no wise can indure such pride: for this layes the blame on God himselfe, and amounts to no lesse then horrible blasphemy: for in case of such common & remarkable judgements, either God or man must bee acknowledged unjust: but proud man will rather have God to bee thought unjust, then himselfe the sinner, and so

going from one to one, we may find sin, it may be, in grosse confessed the cause of this & like judgements, but every man for his par∣ticular will bee without fault, and will be ready to justifie himselfe in his place, ranck and calling. Now then where must the fault lie, but in God him∣selfe? what blasphemy is this against God? when may wee once expect an end?

2. Wee hence see how [Vse 2] to get this wrath and great evill removed from us, or else sanctified to us: to see sinne and to purge it out, is the spirituall cure of this

and all other evils, as wee shall see hereafter.

[Vse 3] 3. In the meane time wee not repenting, may foresee our owne utter ruine: wrath is now in∣deed gone out, but when will it take up?

Notes

• Our sinne the cause of our sorrow.
• Lament. 3.33.
• Psal. 41.42.
• The sin of these Israe∣lites here, aggravated.
• Our like Sins causes of our Iudgments now.
• 2.4••
• Sin pro∣cures wrath
• 1 Kings, 8.38.
• 2 Pet. 2.4••
• Gen. 3.17.
• Gen. 6.
• Math. 24.38, 39.
• Ezek. 16.49, 50.
• Lamen. 1.5.
• 2 Chro. 36.14, 15, 16, with 17, &c.
• Isa. 50.1.
• Rom. 11.20.
• Specially Pestilence, which is both threatned,
• Numb. 14.11, 12.
• And infli∣cted for sin••
• 1 Cor. 11.30.
• This is frō
• The natur•• of Sin.
• Gen. 4.13.
• From God holinesse.
• Ierem. 5.7.
• Ierem. 5.9
• In our suf∣ferings to justifie God, his truth and people.
• 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• ••ament. 1.18.
• Psalm. 119.••5.
• And to blame our selves.
• 2 Sam. 2.10-17.
• Ezek. 18.2.
• 1 Kings 17.18. Numb. 41.
• Si coelum stetit, si terra mo∣vit, si fa∣mes, si lues, statim Christianos ad leonem acclamatur. Tertul. A∣polog. cap. 39.
• Ierm. 4.21.22.23.
• Ier. 16.10.