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break up the company。 This was indeed a faithful monitor to all
people that the plague is not to be avoided by those that converse
promiscuously in a town infected； and people have it when they know
it not； and that they likewise give it to others when they know not that
they have it themselves； and in this case shutting up the well or
removing the sick will not do it； unless they can go back and shut up
all those that the sick had conversed with； even before they knew
themselves to be sick； and none knows how far to carry that back； or
where to stop； for none knows when or where or how they may have
received the infection； or from whom。
This I take to be the reason which makes so many people talk of the
air being corrupted and infected； and that they need not be cautious of
whom they converse with； for that the contagion was in the air。 I have
seen them in strange agitations and surprises on this account。 'I have
never come near any infected body'； says the disturbed person； 'I have
conversed with none but sound； healthy people； and yet I have gotten
the distemper！' 'I am sure I am struck from Heaven'； says another； and
he falls to the serious part。 Again； the first goes on exclaiming； 'I have
come near no infection or any infected person； I am sure it is the air。
We draw in death when we breathe； and therefore 'tis the hand of
God； there is no withstanding it。' And this at last made many people；
being hardened to the danger； grow less concerned 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 pleased God to strike them； it
was all one whether they went abroad or stayed at home； they could
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 judgements of God and
the reverence to His providence which ought always to be on our
minds on such occasions as these。 Doubtless the visitation itself is a
stroke from Heaven upon a city； or country； or 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
to 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 occasions； 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 infected； 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 judgement for its being under
the conduct of human causes and effects； for； as the Divine Power has
formed 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 judgement； to 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 armed； 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 itself was such； and the
infection was received 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
received the sickness or infection but who received it in the ordinary
way of infection from somebody； or the clothes or touch or stench of
somebody that was infected before。
The manner of its coming first to London proves this also； viz。； by
goods brought over from Holland； and brought thither from the
Levant； the first breaking of it out in a house in Long Acre where
those goods were carried and first opened； its spreading from that
house to other houses by the visible unwary conversing with those
who were sick； and the infecting the parish officers who were
employed about the persons dead； and the like。 These are known
authorities for this great foundation point … that it went on and
proceeded from person to person and from house to house； and no
otherwise。 In the first house that was infected there died four persons。
A neighbour； hearing the mistress of the first house was sick； went to
visit her； and went home and gave the distemper to her family； and
died； and all her household。 A minister； called to pray with the first
sick person in the second house； was said to sicken immediately and
die with several more in his house。 Then the physicians began to
consider； for they did not at first dream of a general contagion。 But
the physicians being sent to inspect the bodies； they assured the
people that it was neither more or less than the plague； with all its
terrifying particulars； and that it threatened an universal infection； so
many people having already conversed with the sick or distempered；
and having； as might be supposed； received infection from them； that
it would be impossible to put a stop to it。
Here the opinion of the physicians agreed with my observation
afterwards； namely； that the danger was spreading insensibly； for the
sick could infect none but those that came within reach of