grow leſs concern’d at it, and leſs Cautious towards the latter End of the Time, and when it was come to its height, than they were at firſt; then with a kind of a Turkiſh Predeſtinarianiſm, they would ſay, if it pleas’d God to ſtrike them, it was all one whether they went Abroad or ſtaid at Home, they cou’d not eſcape it, and therefore they went boldly about even into infected Houſes, and infected Company; viſited ſick People, and in ſhort, lay in the Beds with their Wives or Relations when they were infected; and what was the Conſequence? But the ſame that is the Conſequence in Turkey, and in thoſe Countries where they do thoſe Things; namely, that they were infected too, and died by Hundreds and Thouſands.
I would be far from leſſening the Awe of the Judgments of God, and the Reverence to his Providence, which ought always to be on our Minds on ſuch Occaſions as theſe; doubtleſs the Viſitation it ſelf is a Stroke from Heaven upon a City, or Country, of Nation where it falls; a Meſſenger of his Vengeance, and a loud Call to that Nation, or Country, or City, to Humiliation and Repentance, according to that of the Prophet Jeremiah xviii. 7,8. At what inſtant I ſhall ſpeak concerning a Nation, and concerning a Kingdom to pluck up, and to pull down, and deſtroy it: If that Nation againſt whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them. Now to prompt due Impreſſions of the Awe of God on the Minds of Men on ſuch Occaſion is, and not to leſſen them it is that I have left thoſe Minutes upon Record.
I ſay, therefore I reflect upon no Man for putting the Reaſon of thoſe Things upon the immediate Hand of God, and the Appointment and Direction of his Providence, nay, on the contrary, there were many wonderful Deliverances of Perſons from Infection, and Deliverances of Perſons when In-
