AN APPROVEDMedicine against the

deserved Plague.

Is any among you afflicted.Let him pray. James.5.13.

IMPRINTED ATLondon, by Thomas Est, dwel-

ling in Aldersgate-Streete, at theSigne of the black Horse.

1593

To the honorable and ver-tyous Lady Scudamore, attendant uppon

hir Maiesties most excellent person in hir priuieChamber, Anthony Anderson, Preacher of Chri-

sts holy gospell, Subdean of hir Maie-sties Royall Chappell, wisheth all

honorable encrease, andheavenly felicitie.

1Lthough (Honorable Madame)the matter herewith tendred, beof small worth, to some men, &lesse esteemed with many, yet sure I am the right use thereof,may advaile moe, then make accomptof it. If in the daies of

health & prosperitie, wee thinck it duetifull to praythe Lord, to continue the fame, how much moreought wee, in affliction and adversitie, to practicefound petition, which godlinesse hath this riches,that the faithfull by it in Christ from God, doth receive, both temporary good, and eternall comforts.Wee in this Realme, are under the rod of affliction,and who doth pray, but those which are taught ofGod, to use it. Amongst the number of whome, forthat in my knowledge, with many others in Court,your Ladiship doth dayly use and desire it, and myselfe for your good opinion and Christian kindnesseconceived and bestowed on mee, to you greatlyboũd2, I am bold to patronize my poore indeavorspresent, under your Godly protection, assured that

The Epistle Dedicatorie.

both in Court & country, it shalbe the more in use,which undoubtedly will countervaile their paines, ifthey pray in faith. The cause moving this my boldnesse, to present the Church here with, is, my dutieto the fame in general, & especially, next to the mosthonorable Court, (whereof I am a poore membre,in hir Maiefties goodnesse,) to my comfortablecharge at Stepney3, a people of great import, for Maryne service, cheefely zealous God, loyall to hirMaieftie, well deferving of the whole Realme, andnow under the rod of this smart visitatiõ4, for whom,I humbly besech all them, which may or shall feeleany comfort by this poore tender, that in their ferventprayers, they will effectually commẽd5 us to the Throne of Gods mercies in Christ. And to yougood Madame, with the rest of the honorable andgodly Ladies and others at Court, I humbly commend mee, beseeching God, to graunt us mercifulldeliverance of this his loving rod, that wee hir Maieftiesservants, may thether returne to our boũden 6

dutie, as apertaineth, and so humbly I take my leave.August 1. 1593

Stepney. Your honors devote in the Lord,

Anthony Anderson

To the humble hearted Readers,in the Lord.

7THE Almightie GOD, the Lord ofHosts (as Father of mercies) deare brethren, for many peeres past, hathsweetly called us to unfained repentance,by the Ministery of his holyword, but wee have not hearkenedthereunto. Wherefore eftsoones8 and

againe, the same mightie God, bothat this present, common us, by his smart Preacher the bifiting9 rod. Whole encreasing voyce, cryeth to all in the personsof many, thus. Oh sinfull earth hearken and guive eare:stop thy course, stay thy race, tourney thy selfe to mee, receavemy stripes with pacience, and wisely foresee the plague andhide thee. For be that sent mee faith farther unto thee. O Nation10

not worthie to be loved, how yet, have I, loved thee11

What should I have done, that I have not done unto thee?I have given thee a wonderfull peace, an invincible protection,an heavenly doctrine, and the choice store, of all earthytreasure. The gold of Ophir12, Salomon13 sought after, but the14

Indians gold, I have powred into thy lap, as unlooked for.A Prince thou hast, the holy wonder of the world. Else,aske the 3 lands which know not God. Thy Realmeand rest, is kept by mee, the watchman thereof, and whensoever the enimie assaileth, I put him back, with great disgrace. The heavens doe drop the fatnesse, & the earth dothmake thee laugh and sing, what wouldest thou have more,but a continuance of that spirituall comfort, and corporallpleasures which yet abide with thee, but be wise and consider, see how I know begin to beate thee, beware therefore, repent in tyme, least I utterly remove, the Candlestick from15

thee, and then who will pittie thy last dissolution? Behold,

An approved Medicine,

16and heare my rod, and mee that sent it. I have made theesick with striking, doe not my percing arrows, stick fast in17thee? Are not thy wounds putrified? Doth not hasty deathgreatly devoure thee? Dark it well and the cause therof.18Thy sinne is the cause, thy great sinnes, and they passing19accompt. Turne therefore unto mee that am in iust angrecoming unto thee with a mynde of revenge: prepare theetherefore to meete mee, before the daye of my decree come20forth. Come to mee, not with Israells hyspocrisie, but with21Magdalens teares. Rent your harts, and keeps whole your22garments, for I cannot take pleasure, in that bodily exercise, where the penitent spirit, speaketh not for mercie. If23any be afflicted let him pray. If many be under the rod, letall come together, turne together, mourne together, cry together and say: O Lord of Hosts, in the midle of thy warsthinck upon thy promised mercies. Wee come, no more tofight against thee in our sinfull lusts, but to fall before thee,forsaking & confessing our sinnes, sweet Lord have mercie.24And let every of you, from the top to the toe, (for you are25sore from the head to the foote) applying profitably the contraversie26to your selves, say: Our sinnes O Lord, yea everyman say, my sinnes, as our sinnes are the causes of this malaby. Our rebellions, presumptions, scorning, Atheistical27,our Romane sinnes ,our carnall apetites, present, past, remembred, and forgotten sinnes. Sinnes without remorse,without conscience, against all conscience, even when spirit quaketh in dread: even the flesh burneth in lust. Sinnesin Court unbridled, sinnes in the Church not repented of,28in the country not cared for. The prophanation of the Sabboth29 day, the abominations in the weeke day, no truth, lesse30trust, no faith to God, no love to our brethren, much fayll of loyaltie to the Prince, and small proofe of due obedience, to hir Magistrates. But a mightie scorne of the Lords Preachers, through an utter contempt of his word. Resolute, in31league with sinne, death and hell, and an absolute distrust,of Gods sure promises, either for mercies, or judgement.

against the deserved plague.

And what should I say more? Oh how many are the foolishwise, which say in unpunished boldnesse, they have no God,There is no God. Oh England, O people, why wilt thou32

dye? Say to thy selfe, Oh Soule, repent thee of thy sinne,and God will repent him of the plague, will take thee into33

his protection, and hide thee under his wings. They shall34

fall on both sides thee, but it shall not come to thee.But if thou wilt not hearken to this his voice, O flesh,

(of what mould to ever,) but still wilt pamper thy selfe incarnall delights, to a further transgression, (which nowought to be feared) then feare, for he hath not sent thisscourage for little purpose, and be sure that he hath his storehouse full, of final instruments, which can and will makequick dispatch. As cleannesse of teeth, barrennsse of earth,35

brought of heaven, devouring wormes, fierie feavers, burning botch, scowring sword, revenging axe, haylestones andstormes of fier, as of Sodome and Gomorrah36, to persecute,to pull downe, to cast out, andinto hell, all those which forget God. Are the treasures of wickednesse still in your houses, the false balance, small waights, naughtie wares, counterfaite lights, sweet words, sowre deeds? Do your heads37

eate for lust, and not for neede, drinck to surfet, and not forthrift, send their proud servants, to bring, and never satisfied?38

Are the daughters of Sion39 proud, as Esay40 deserves them?41

Be your Prophets chamber groomes, to lay pillowes, under42

sinfull elbowes? Or doe their tongues cleave to the roofe43

of their mouthes? Or speake they to the Clowds, or in the44

Ayre? Or is fearefull Ieremy45, become an example? Oh for46

woe. Ah Syon47, thou plowed field, sometime, the bewtie of48

the world? What is become of thee? Oh England the present Bride, beware of widowhood, the Bridegroome is49

come out of his chamber, goe foorth to meete him. He is gon50

into his beds of spiceries, shall he finde store? He feedeth of51

flowers, where be his Lillies? Oh thrise happie land, perceave thy present happinesse, prevent a futuer horror, prayfor the lyfe of thy Princely light, and barden not thy bart,52

An approved Medicine,

53being till dayly called in mercie. For this sinne, many are54sick, and many are dead let the Remainder repent, least yeall likewise perish. And now my beloved, and important55charge, I besech you by the mercies of God, remember with56mee, there is no plague but for sinne, and the Lyon roarethnot, without his pray. Wee are now under this growing57plague with others, lette us repent effectually as others,58which truly, seeke the Lord, Cast our sinnes from us, anddraw the Lords mercie to us. Forget not what godly Sirach59faith, because of unrighteous dealing, and wrongs, andriches gotten by deceipt, the Kingdome, is translated, from60one people to an other. And bewise to understand this. Goods evillgotten, are of no long continuance. Finally let this sentence somon you, before the last Tromp, sound for you.61Go to now, ye rich men, weeps and howle, for your miseries, that shall come upon you. Your riches are corrupt,and you garments are moth eaten, your gold and silver iscanckered, and the rust of them, shalbe a witnesse againstyou, and shall eate your flesh, as it were fier. Ye heaped bytreasures for the laast daies. Behold: the byer of your labo-reres, which have reaped your feelds (roomed you shipppes)which is of you kept back, by fraud, cryeth, and their crye,is entred into the eares fo the Lord of Hosts. Iames,5.1.2.Lay your selves open to the Lord, for all things are aparant62unto him, but he will have thee to accuse thy selfe,that he may forgive thee. Ge that hideth his sinnes (faithSalomon) shall not prosper, but he that confesseth his sinnes, and forsaketh them, shall finde mercie. Therefore take a good heath to the, bring repentance with thee, fall on your63knees, lift up pure hands, the whole in the Church, in our great assemblies, the sick at home, amids their children and families. Take these prayers (or such) into your hands, send them hartely, up to God, in Christ our onely Mediator, andfeare not to find mercie, with gracious deliverance, because64he hath so promised, saying: Call upon mee in the day

against the deserved plague.

of thy trouble, and I will heare thee, and deliver thee, andthou shalt glorifie mee. And our saviour Christ doth tenderly65

derly invite all pentitent66 sinners thus. Come unto mee allyou that travell and be heavie loden, and I my selfe willease you. To whome with the Father and the holy Ghostby alwaies, all honour and glorie, one God everlasting.Amen.

A Prayer to God againstthe Plague.

67e prostrate our souls and bodies,before thy mercy seate, O Father ofmercies, & humbly confesse, that wehave most iustly procured, thy heavteindignation against us. We have hetherto, spent our time in wanton appetites, & carelesse abuse, of thy singular

bounties, but thou hast in mercie, curbed the bitte, & straytned therayne, of our unbridled affection, where by we begin todread thy threatned Judgements. Our sinnes are as manymold,as manifest, (O Lord) we have dayly heard ye wordof our saving heatlh, with ye eare of grudge & contempt, eitherderiding or not caring, but never truly repenting, atthe cry thereof. Thine aboundant blessings erthie, we havegreedily devoured, and by our wealth, have encreased ourwickednesse But O sweete Father have mercie, and pardonour sinnes, (even the whole tree, with her braunchingfruits,) which at this present, we heartely disclayme, andwherewith, even the teeth of the whole Land, hath beeneset on edge, namely infidelitie, incredulitie, and all impietie.No faith, no truth, no mercy, no knowledge of thee in our

An approved Medicineharts, though great pretence of thy Religion in our lippes,but by falsehood, and cunning circumvention, one of another,by lying lips, and decitfull tongues, vanitie, hath beene tossed,one to another, pyrvat pilffrie, and open stealth, robbingat home, and roving abrode, swearing, forswaring, whorringand killing, oppressing, & devoureing, to all our powersand policies, even blood unto blood, passing by pleasure topleasures, from profite to pride, from pride to ambition, andin ambition, to inware contempt, & outward disdaine, eachone of another. Our common peace by thee, hath not yetprocured our Godly peace with thee, but rather we havetaken occasion thereby, to harden our hearts against thee,which mightily hath drawen thee to this contraversiewith us. O Lord unbend (in mercy) thy bow of strength,for thy steeled Arrows, sticke fast in us, and our putrifiedwounds, bewray our iniquities. Yea Lord that more is, ifwe by thee, tourney not speedely to thee, the wise in thee, doebehold thy sharpned sword, with an outstretched arme,drawne out against us. O Lord heare us, and heale us,for in this our sickenesse and trouble(in our mediator ChristJesus) we call unto thee. And Lord it is high time, forour head Citie is sicke, hir Sister Cities grone under thisburden, their neighbor people are turned to their earth, and no part is free, from noysome pestilence. It flyeth by day,it walketh in the darke, it destroyeth at noone tide, & nonecan resist it, but onely thou O Lord, which sent it, even thouonely(if thou wilt) canst utterly restrayne it. O deere fatherforgive us wretched sinners, relieve us miserable wretches,remember that we are by earth and ashes, yet in thy merciethy deere children: deliver us from death, and worke lifein us. Let this thy loving rodde, ridde us, of our carnal rust,and quicken us with thy sanctifying spirit, open our hartsto thy holy word, purge our cosciences from all dead works,and rebuild us fit, for thy holy service, give us patience ineverie adversitie, an humble and regardant eye, in all prosperitie,fervent spirits to pray to thee, and now to give thee

against the deserved plague.

no rest, till thou vouchsafe to have mercy uppon us. OurPrince thine holy Anoynted, prayeth for us, hir potetates,thy preaching ministers, and sanctified people, mourne and lament. Thy wydows, and desolate Orphanes, yea thy smaland tender Infants cry, lifting up pure hands, sweete Lord,(say they) have mercy. And now O Lord both one and all,powring out the teares of our hearts unto thee, most humbly besech thee, relieve us, release us, heare us, forgive usrevive us, preserve us, protect us, deliver us from evill, and receave us into thy everlasting favor, through Jesus Christour Lord: To whome with thee and the holy Ghost, threedistinct persons and one onely our good God, be all honourand glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

An earnest prayer for the Queenesmost excellent Maiestie.

68 Lord God holy Father, infinitlywise, omnipotent, and aboundantin mercie, mightie inworke, & iust in revenge, whichfor the common converse, of allmen, hast planted the, plats, &put them under soveraigne auctoritie,through which good governmet, they might

most firmely, live and love one another, most wiselyordaining each one, to have mutuall need and occasionedentercourse with another. Sondry whichRoyall staved, of bewtie and bands, eftsoones69 thouhast broken into shievers, when by overmuch pro-

An approved Medicine,

vocation & contempt, thy awonted long suffering,hath bene abused: as therby under a sparing chastisement,to reduce them, or by a deadly blow, utterlyto subvert them. O Lord magnificent, by thee it is,that Kingdomes are, and Kings doe raigne. Puttestdowne one, & setteth up another, as, where, & whenit pleaseth thee, in all & every place, under the Coapeof heaven. Wee thy chosen children and people ofEngland, magnifie thy mercies, and prayse thy power,for giveing & preserving unto us, a most rare and pearelesse Queen, our Soveraigne Ladie E L I Z A B E T H,by whose sacred scepter, thy holy Church,this common weale, and many other Nations andpeople have found, both celestiall blessings, and terrestrialcomforts. The faithful Protestant from whersoever,findeth heere a secure & fertile norcery. Thewillfull papist, fitteth under his Vyne, & the malcontentcarnall, hath long lasting favour, but every ofwhich by hir, have from thee O Lord, thy gospell, toreclayme them, hir Scepter, to protect them, with asweet rod, in sparing hand to refine them. Hir disloyallsubiects at home, & hir professed enimies abroadof all sorts, thou hast miraculously brought under, orto utter confusion. For the which wee render untothee continuall praise. An inasmuch O Lord, asour life,& the light of the land thy golden Candlestick,is deadly darckned in the want of hir, Lord, stillgive us thy bountifull merice, and therein preserve,hir Highnesse, long to raigne over us. Encrease, thygraces in hir, hir goddnesse to us, to thadvaunce ofvertue,& suppression of vice. Keepe thyne annoynted

against the deserved plague.

our Soveraigne, from the trechery of dissemblingsubiects, and malice of the forren foe. Hide hir underthe shadow of thy wings, from the noysome pestilence,and defend hir against the hurtfull sword:that our selves and families, may live in peace, ourland, may yeld hir encrease, & that no invasion, may70

empeach us, or going out may daunt us, nor and cryingbe in our streetes.

Deare Father graunt hir our Soveraigne, a swifteye and speedie rescue, from the subtill snare, of everywily hunter. Give hir Lord, fast, and not fayllingconfederats. Wise and faithfull Councellors, loyalland loving subiects, and so in thy mercie keepe usfrom evill, that wee provoke not, thy iudgements, todeprive us, of our chiefest comfort. Grant this OFather, through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Preface.

My Father having speciall care,of Stepny his great charge:

Hath made sweet prayers for their comforttheir harts to God enlarge.

And I desirous of your health,My bretheren, Sisters all:

Have sent you these to traine you up,rather on God to call.

For th’health and wealth or our parents,our selves and neighbours eke:

Pray we to God with one accord,for so it is most meete.

And so my bretheren fare you well,with all my sisters deere:

God graunt that we may give untogods word attentive care.

Antony Anderson, Iunior.

A prayer for the infection of the plague. 1593.

71Lord our God omnipotent,of mercy wee thee crave:Pour downe thy truth most excellent,

that we the same may have.And cease O Lord thy iry rod,

which doth opresse us sore:And give us true repentance Lord,

that we may sinne no more.Cease now O Lord thy heavie hand,

the Father wee entreate:And let us in our harts thy woord,

full often times repeate.From the O Lord wee cannot fly,

Thy power doth so excell:But keepe from us we thee beseech,

thy rod which is most fell.But give to us O Lord of might,

the pardon of our sinne:And take thy plague from us O Lord,

that heere of long hath bin.Give us O Lord thy holy word,

which alwaies is most true:And give us grace to praise thy name,

for praise to thee is due.Remember blessed Lord thy flock,

which else is like to pyne:And take from us that havie clogge,

which loads us at this time.

A Prayer.

Thy will be done O Lord of might,as seemeth best to thee:

For thou wilt strike where thou thinkst best,no man a lette can bee.

When it shall please thy maiestie,to take this life away:

Receave our soules unto thy Throne,to live with thee for aye.

O Lord preserve our noble Queene,our realme and people both:

And keep us from the deadly feare,of thyne eternall wroth.

Grant our request O Lord of might,for Christ his sake thy sonne:

And take away thy cruell plague,that now is us among.

Finisqd Anthony Anderson, iunior.

[ENDNOTES]

1 Fig.2. Drop cap A. Courtesy of Bodleian Library.2 Bond.2 “Stepney is a district of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets in London's East End that grew out of a medieval village around St Dunstan's church and the 15th century ribbon development of Mile End Road. The area built up rapidly in the 19th century, mainly to accommodate immigrant workers and displaced London poor, and developed a reputation for poverty, overcrowding, violence and political dissent.” Retrieved from Hibbert, Christopher. The London encyclopaedia. 3rd ed. London: MacMillian, 2008. Print.4 Visitation.5 Commend.6 Bonded.7 Fig.3. Drop cap T. Courtesy of Bodleian Library.8 Soon after.9 [marginal note] Micah. 6.9. 10 [marginal note] Pro.22.311 [marginal note] Zoph.2.1.12 A port mentioned in the bible; known for its wealth.13 Likely a transliteration of Solomon.14 [marginal note] 2.Chron.8.18.15 [marginal note] Reue.2.5.16 [marginal note] Micah.6.9.17 [marginal note] Psal.38.2.5.18 [marginal note] Micah.6.13.19 [marginal note] Oseas.9.9.17.20 [marginal note] Psal.106.in all.21 [marginal note] Lucke.7.3822 [marginal note] Ioel.2.13.23 [marginal note] Iam.5.13.24 [marginal note] Esa.1.5.6.25 [marginal note] Hos.4.1.26 [marginal note] Iero.8.6.27 Not believing in God or religion.28 [marginal note] Iero.17.27.29 Sabbath, the day of rest30 [marginal note] Hose.4.1.2.31 [marginal note] Esa.28.32 [marginal note] Psal.14.133 [marginal note] Iero.18.8&26.334 [marginal note] Psal.91.4.7.35 [marginal note] Amos.4.6.36 Sodom and Gomorrah: ancient cities mentioned throughout the bible; destroyed by God; synonymous with sin.37 [marginal note] Eccle.10.16.17

38 [marginal note] Amos 4.1.39 Likely a transliteration of Zion.40 Esaias, Isaiah: biblical prophet; helper of the Lord.41 [marginal note] Esa.3.16.42 [marginal note] Ezech 13.18.43 [marginal note] Esa.28.10.44 [marginal note] 1.Cor.9.26.& 14.9.45 Jeremy: biblical; prophet in the bible.46 [marginal note] Ier.20.9.47 Likely a transliteration of Zion.48 [marginal note] Micha.3.12.49 [marginal note] Psal.19.5.50 [marginal note] Cant.6.1.51 [marginal note] Cant.4.13.52 [marginal note] 2.Sam.21.17.53 [marginal note] 1.Cor.11.54 [marginal note] Lucke.13.3.5.55 [marginal note] Ro.12.1.56 [marginal note] Amos.1.2.&.3.4.57 [marginal note] Zeph.2.3.58 [marginal note] Esa.30.22.59 [marginal note] Eccle.10.8.60 [marginal note] Habr.2.9.61 [marginal note] Ia.5.1.2.62 [marginal note] Pro.28.13.63 [marginal note] 1.Tim.2.8.64 [marginal note] Pro.50.15.65 [marginal note] Math.11.28.66 Repentant; showing or feeling sorrow.67 Fig.4. Drop cap W. Courtesy of Bodleian Library.68 Fig.5. Drop cap O. Courtesy of Bodleian Library.69 Soon after.70 [marginal note] Psal.144.10.71 Fig.7. Drop cap O. Courtesy of Bodleian Library.