fected, which intimate ſingular and remarkable Providence, in the particular Inſtances to which they refer, and I eſteem my own Deliverance to be one next to miraculous, and do record it with Thankfulneſs.
But when I am ſpeaking of the Plague, as a Diſtemper ariſing from natural Cauſes, we muſt conſider it as it was really propagated by natural Means, nor is it at all the leſs a Judgment for its being under the Conduct of humane Cauſes and Effects; for as the divine Power has form’d the whole Scheme of Nature, and maintains Nature in its Courſe; ſo the ſame Power thinks fit to let his own Actings with Men, whether of Mercy or Judgment, go on in the ordinary Courſe of natural Cauſes, and he is pleaſed to act by thoſe natural Cauſes as the ordinary Means; excepting and reſerving to himſelf nevertheleſs a Power to act in a ſupernatural Way when he ſees occaſion: Now ’tis evident, that in the Caſe of an Infection, there is no apparent extraordinary occaſion for ſupernatural Operation, but the ordinary Courſe of Things appears ſufficiently arm’d, and made capable of all the Effects that Heaven uſually directs by a Contagion. Among theſe Cauſes and Effects this of the ſecret Conveyance of Infection imperceptible, and unavoidable, is more than ſufficient to execute the Fierceneſs of divine Vengeance, without putting it upon Supernaturals and Miracle.
The acute penetrating Nature of the Diſeaſe it ſelf was ſuch, and the Infection was receiv’d ſo imperceptibly, that the moſt exact Caution could not ſecure us while in the Place: But I muſt be allowed to believe, and I have ſo many Examples freſh in my Memory, to convince me of it, that I think none can reſiſt their Evidence; I ſay, I muſt be allowed to believe, that no one in this whole Nation ever ſreceiv’d the Sickneſs or Infection, but who re-
