Theysatgenerallyinaroomnextthestreet,andastheyalwayskeptlatehours,sowhenthedead—cartcameacrossthestreet—endtogointoHoundsditch,whichwasinviewofthetavernwindows,theywouldfrequentlyopenthewindowsassoonastheyheardthebellandlookoutatthem;andastheymightoftenhearsadlamentationsofpeopleinthestreetsorattheirwindowsasthecartswentalong,theywouldmaketheirimpudentmocksandjeersatthem,especiallyiftheyheardthepoorpeoplecalluponGodtohavemercyuponthem,asmanywoulddoatthosetimesintheirordinarypassingalongthestreets。
Thesegentlemen,beingsomethingdisturbedwiththeclutterofbringingthepoorgentlemanintothehouse,asabove,werefirstangryandveryhighwiththemasterofthehouseforsufferingsuchafellow,astheycalledhim,tobebroughtoutofthegraveintotheirhouse;butbeingansweredthatthemanwasaneighbour,andthathewassound,butoverwhelmedwiththecalamityofhisfamily,andthelike,theyturnedtheirangerintoridiculingthemanandhissorrowforhiswifeandchildren,tauntedhimwithwantofcouragetoleapintothegreatpitandgotoheaven,astheyjeeringlyexpressedit,alongwiththem,addingsomeveryprofaneandevenblasphemousexpressions。
TheywereatthisvileworkwhenIcamebacktothehouse,and,asfarasIcouldsee,thoughthemansatstill,muteanddisconsolate,andtheiraffrontscouldnotdiverthissorrow,yethewasbothgrievedandoffendedattheirdiscourse。UponthisIgentlyreprovedthem,beingwellenoughacquaintedwiththeircharacters,andnotunknowninpersontotwoofthem。
Theyimmediatelyfelluponmewithilllanguageandoaths,askedmewhatIdidoutofmygraveatsuchatimewhensomanyhonestermenwerecarriedintothechurchyard,andwhyIwasnotathomesayingmyprayersagainstthedead—cartcameforme,andthelike。
Iwasindeedastonishedattheimpudenceofthemen,thoughnotatalldiscomposedattheirtreatmentofme。However,Ikeptmytemper。
ItoldthemthatthoughIdefiedthemoranymanintheworldtotaxmewithanydishonesty,yetIacknowledgedthatinthisterriblejudgementofGodmanybetterthanIweresweptawayandcarriedtotheirgrave。Buttoanswertheirquestiondirectly,thecasewas,thatI
wasmercifullypreservedbythatgreatGodwhosenametheyhadblasphemedandtakeninvainbycursingandswearinginadreadfulmanner,andthatIbelievedIwaspreservedinparticular,amongotherendsofHisgoodness,thatImightreprovethemfortheiraudaciousboldnessinbehavinginsuchamannerandinsuchanawfultimeasthiswas,especiallyfortheirjeeringandmockingatanhonestgentlemanandaneighbour（forsomeofthemknewhim）,who,theysaw,wasoverwhelmedwithsorrowforthebreacheswhichithadpleasedGodtomakeuponhisfamily。
Icannotcallexactlytomindthehellish,abominableraillerywhichwasthereturntheymadetothattalkofmine:beingprovoked,itseems,thatIwasnotatallafraidtobefreewiththem;nor,ifIcouldremember,wouldIfillmyaccountwithanyofthewords,thehorridoaths,curses,andvileexpressions,suchas,atthattimeoftheday,eventheworstandordinariestpeopleinthestreetwouldnotuse;for,exceptsuchhardenedcreaturesasthese,themostwickedwretchesthatcouldbefoundhadatthattimesometerrorupontheirmindsofthehandofthatPowerwhichcouldthusinamomentdestroythem。
Butthatwhichwastheworstinalltheirdevilishlanguagewas,thattheywerenotafraidtoblasphemeGodandtalkatheistically,makingajestofmycallingtheplaguethehandofGod;mocking,andevenlaughing,atthewordjudgement,asiftheprovidenceofGodhadnoconcernintheinflictingsuchadesolatingstroke;andthatthepeoplecallinguponGodastheysawthecartscarryingawaythedeadbodieswasallenthusiastic,absurd,andimpertinent。
Imadethemsomereply,suchasIthoughtproper,butwhichIfoundwassofarfromputtingachecktotheirhorridwayofspeakingthatitmadethemrailthemore,sothatIconfessitfilledmewithhorrorandakindofrage,andIcameaway,asItoldthem,lestthehandofthatjudgementwhichhadvisitedthewholecityshouldglorifyHisvengeanceuponthem,andallthatwerenearthem。
Theyreceivedallreproofwiththeutmostcontempt,andmadethegreatestmockerythatwaspossibleforthemtodoatme,givingmealltheopprobrious,insolentscoffsthattheycouldthinkofforpreachingtothem,astheycalledit,whichindeedgrievedme,ratherthanangeredme;
andIwentaway,blessingGod,however,inmymindthatIhadnotsparedthem,thoughtheyhadinsultedmesomuch。
Theycontinuedthiswretchedcoursethreeorfourdaysafterthis,continuallymockingandjeeringatallthatshowedthemselvesreligiousorserious,orthatwereanywaytouchedwiththesenseoftheterriblejudgementofGoduponus;andIwasinformedtheyfloutedinthesamemanneratthegoodpeoplewho,notwithstandingthecontagion,metatthechurch,fasted,andprayedtoGodtoremoveHishandfromthem。
Isay,theycontinuedthisdreadfulcoursethreeorfourdays—Ithinkitwasnomore—whenoneofthem,particularlyhewhoaskedthepoorgentlemanwhathedidoutofhisgrave,wasstruckfromHeavenwiththeplague,anddiedinamostdeplorablemanner;and,inaword,theywereeveryoneofthemcarriedintothegreatpitwhichI
havementionedabove,beforeitwasquitefilledup,whichwasnotaboveafortnightorthereabout。
Thesemenwereguiltyofmanyextravagances,suchasonewouldthinkhumannatureshouldhavetrembledatthethoughtsofatsuchatimeofgeneralterroraswasthenuponus,andparticularlyscoffingandmockingateverythingwhichtheyhappenedtoseethatwasreligiousamongthepeople,especiallyattheirthrongingzealouslytotheplaceofpublicworshiptoimploremercyfromHeaveninsuchatimeofdistress;andthistavernwheretheyheldtheirdubbeingwithinviewofthechurch—door,theyhadthemoreparticularoccasionfortheiratheisticalprofanemirth。
ButthisbegantoabatealittlewiththembeforetheaccidentwhichI
haverelatedhappened,fortheinfectionincreasedsoviolentlyatthispartofthetownnow,thatpeoplebegantobeafraidtocometothechurch;atleastsuchnumbersdidnotresortthitheraswasusual。
Manyoftheclergymenlikewiseweredead,andothersgoneintothecountry;foritreallyrequiredasteadycourageandastrongfaithforamannotonlytoventurebeingintownatsuchatimeasthis,butlikewisetoventuretocometochurchandperformtheofficeofaministertoacongregation,ofwhomhehadreasontobelievemanyofthemwereactuallyinfectedwiththeplague,andtodothiseveryday,ortwiceaday,asinsomeplaceswasdone。
Itistruethepeopleshowedanextraordinaryzealinthesereligiousexercises,andasthechurch—doorswerealwaysopen,peoplewouldgoinsingleatalltimes,whethertheministerwasofficiatingorno,andlockingthemselvesintoseparatepews,wouldbeprayingtoGodwithgreatfervencyanddevotion。
Othersassembledatmeeting—houses,everyoneastheirdifferentopinionsinsuchthingsguided,butallwerepromiscuouslythesubjectofthesemen\'sdrollery,especiallyatthebeginningofthevisitation。
Itseemstheyhadbeencheckedfortheiropeninsultingreligioninthismannerbyseveralgoodpeopleofeverypersuasion,andthat,andtheviolentragingoftheinfection,Isuppose,wastheoccasionthattheyhadabatedmuchoftheirrudenessforsometimebefore,andwereonlyrousedbythespiritofribaldryandatheismattheclamourwhichwasmadewhenthegentlemanwasfirstbroughtinthere,andperhapswereagitatedbythesamedevil,whenItookuponmetoreprovethem;thoughIdiditatfirstwithallthecalmness,temper,andgoodmannersthatIcould,whichforawhiletheyinsultedmethemoreforthinkingithadbeeninfearoftheirresentment,thoughafterwardstheyfoundthecontrary。
Iwenthome,indeed,grievedandafflictedinmymindattheabominablewickednessofthosemen,notdoubting,however,thattheywouldbemadedreadfulexamplesofGod\'sjustice;forIlookeduponthisdismaltimetobeaparticularseasonofDivinevengeance,andthatGodwouldonthisoccasionsingleouttheproperobjectsofHisdispleasureinamoreespecialandremarkablemannerthanatanothertime;andthatthoughIdidbelievethatmanygoodpeoplewould,anddid,fallinthecommoncalamity,andthatitwasnocertainruleto\'judgeoftheeternalstateofanyonebytheirbeingdistinguishedinsuchatimeofgeneraldestructionneitheronewayorother;yet,Isay,itcouldnotbutseemreasonabletobelievethatGodwouldnotthinkfittosparebyHismercysuchopendeclaredenemies,thatshouldinsultHisnameandBeing,defyHisvengeance,andmockatHisworshipandworshippersatsuchatime;no,notthoughHismercyhadthoughtfittobearwithandsparethematothertimes;thatthiswasadayofvisitation,adayofGod\'sanger,andthosewordscameintomythought,Jer。v。9:\'ShallInotvisitforthesethings？saiththeLord:andshallnotMysoulbeavengedofsuchanationasthis？\'
Thesethings,Isay,layuponmymind,andIwenthomeverymuchgrievedandoppressedwiththehorrorofthesemen\'swickedness,andtothinkthatanythingcouldbesovile,sohardened,andnotoriouslywickedastoinsultGod,andHisservants,andHisworshipinsuchamanner,andatsuchatimeasthiswas,whenHehad,asitwere,HissworddrawninHishandonpurposetotakevengeancenotonthemonly,butonthewholenation。
Ihad,indeed,beeninsomepassionatfirstwiththem—thoughitwasreallyraised,notbyanyaffronttheyhadofferedmepersonally,butbythehorrortheirblasphemingtonguesfilledmewith。However,IwasdoubtfulinmythoughtswhethertheresentmentIretainedwasnotalluponmyownprivateaccount,fortheyhadgivenmeagreatdealofilllanguagetoo—Imeanpersonally;butaftersomepause,andhavingaweightofgriefuponmymind,IretiredmyselfassoonasI
camehome,forIsleptnotthatnight;andgivingGodmosthumblethanksformypreservationintheeminentdangerIhadbeenin,Isetmymindseriouslyandwiththeutmostearnestnesstoprayforthosedesperatewretches,thatGodwouldpardonthem,opentheireyes,andeffectuallyhumblethem。
BythisInotonlydidmyduty,namely,toprayforthosewhodespitefullyusedme,butIfullytriedmyownheart,tomyfunsatisfaction,thatitwasnotfilledwithanyspiritofresentmentastheyhadoffendedmeinparticular;andIhumblyrecommendthemethodtoallthosethatwouldknow,orbecertain,howtodistinguishbetweentheirzealforthehonourofGodandtheeffectsoftheirprivatepassionsandresentment。
ButImustgobackheretotheparticularincidentswhichoccurtomythoughtsofthetimeofthevisitation,andparticularlytothetimeoftheirshuttinguphousesinthefirstpartoftheirsickness;forbeforethesicknesswascometoitsheightpeoplehadmoreroomtomaketheirobservationsthantheyhadafterward;butwhenitwasintheextremitytherewasnosuchthingascommunicationwithoneanother,asbefore。
Duringtheshuttingupofhouses,asIhavesaid,someviolencewasofferedtothewatchmen。Astosoldiers,therewerenonetobefound。—thefewguardswhichthekingthenhad,whichwerenothinglikethenumberentertainedsince,weredispersed,eitheratOxfordwiththeCourt,orinquartersintheremoterpartsofthecountry,smalldetachmentsexcepted,whodiddutyattheTowerandatWhitehall,andthesebutveryfew。NeitheramIpositivethattherewasanyotherguardattheTowerthanthewarders,astheycalledthem,whostandatthegatewithgownsandcaps,thesameastheyeomenoftheguard,excepttheordinarygunners,whoweretwenty—four,andtheofficersappointedtolookafterthemagazine,whowerecalledarmourers。Astotrainedbands,therewasnopossibilityofraisingany;neither,iftheLieutenancy,eitherofLondonorMiddlesex,hadorderedthedrumstobeatforthemilitia,wouldanyofthecompanies,Ibelieve,havedrawntogether,whateverrisktheyhadrun。
Thismadethewatchmenbethelessregarded,andperhapsoccasionedthegreaterviolencetobeusedagainstthem。Imentionitonthisscoretoobservethatthesettingwatchmenthustokeepthepeopleinwas,firstofall,noteffectual,butthatthepeoplebrokeout,whetherbyforceorbystratagem,evenalmostasoftenastheypleased;and,second,thatthosethatdidthusbreakoutweregenerallypeopleinfectedwho,intheirdesperation,runningaboutfromoneplacetoanother,valuednotwhomtheyinjured:andwhichperhaps,asIhavesaid,mightgivebirthtoreportthatitwasnaturaltotheinfectedpeopletodesiretoinfectothers,whichreportwasreallyfalse。
AndIknowitsowell,andinsomanyseveralcases,thatIcouldgiveseveralrelationsofgood,pious,andreligiouspeoplewho,whentheyhavehadthedistemper,havebeensofarfrombeingforwardtoinfectothersthattheyhaveforbidtheirownfamilytocomenearthem,inhopesoftheirbeingpreserved,andhaveevendiedwithoutseeingtheirnearestrelationslesttheyshouldbeinstrumentaltogivethemthedistemper,andinfectorendangerthem。If,then,therewerecaseswhereintheinfectedpeoplewerecarelessoftheinjurytheydidtoothers,thiswascertainlyoneofthem,ifnotthechief,namely,whenpeoplewhohadthedistemperhadbrokenoutfromhouseswhichweresoshutup,andhavingbeendriventoextremitiesforprovisionorforentertainment,hadendeavouredtoconcealtheircondition,andhavebeentherebyinstrumentalinvoluntarilytoinfectotherswhohavebeenignorantandunwary。
ThisisoneofthereasonswhyIbelievedthen,anddobelievestill,thattheshuttinguphousesthusbyforce,andrestraining,orratherimprisoning,peopleintheirownhouses,asIsaidabove,wasoflittleornoserviceinthewhole。Nay,Iamofopinionitwasratherhurtful,havingforcedthosedesperatepeopletowanderabroadwiththeplagueuponthem,whowouldotherwisehavediedquietlyintheirbeds。
Irememberonecitizenwho,havingthusbrokenoutofhishouseinAldersgateStreetorthereabout,wentalongtheroadtoIslington;heattemptedtohavegoneinattheAngelInn,andafterthattheWhiteHorse,twoinnsknownstillbythesamesigns,butwasrefused;afterwhichhecametothePiedBull,aninnalsostillcontinuingthesamesign。Heaskedthemforlodgingforonenightonly,pretendingtobegoingintoLincolnshire,andassuringthemofhisbeingverysoundandfreefromtheinfection,whichalsoatthattimehadnotreachedmuchthatway。
Theytoldhimtheyhadnolodgingthattheycouldsparebutonebedupinthegarret,andthattheycouldsparethatbedforonenight,somedroversbeingexpectedthenextdaywithcattle;so,ifhewouldacceptofthatlodging,hemighthaveit,whichhedid。Soaservantwassentupwithacandlewithhimtoshowhimtheroom。Hewasverywelldressed,andlookedlikeapersonnotusedtolieinagarret;andwhenhecametotheroomhefetchedadeepsigh,andsaidtotheservant,\'I
haveseldomlaininsuchalodgingasthis。\'However,theservantassuringhimagainthattheyhadnobetter,\'Well,\'sayshe,\'Imustmakeshift;thisisadreadfultime;butitisbutforonenight。\'Sohesatdownuponthebedside,andbadethemaid,Ithinkitwas,fetchhimupapintofwarmale。Accordinglytheservantwentfortheale,butsomehurryinthehouse,whichperhapsemployedherotherways,putitoutofherhead,andshewentupnomoretohim。
Thenextmorning,seeingnoappearanceofthegentleman,somebodyinthehouseaskedtheservantthathadshowedhimupstairswhatwasbecomeofhim。Shestarted。\'Alasl\'saysshe,\'Ineverthoughtmoreofhim。Hebademecarryhimsomewarmale,butI
forgot。\'Uponwhich,notthemaid,butsomeotherpersonwassentuptoseeafterhim,who,comingintotheroom,foundhimstarkdeadandalmostcold,stretchedoutacrossthebed。Hisclotheswerepulledoff,hisjawfallen,hiseyesopeninamostfrightfulposture,therugofthebedbeinggraspedhardinoneofhishands,sothatitwasplainhediedsoonafterthemaidlefthim;and\'tisprobable,hadshegoneupwiththeale,shehadfoundhimdeadinafewminutesafterhesatdownuponthebed。Thealarmwasgreatinthehouse,asanyonemaysuppose,theyhavingbeenfreefromthedistempertillthatdisaster,which,bringingtheinfectiontothehouse,spreaditimmediatelytootherhousesroundaboutit。Idonotrememberhowmanydiedinthehouseitself,butIthinkthemaid—servantwhowentupfirstwithhimfellpresentlyillbythefright,andseveralothers;for,whereastherediedbuttwoinIslingtonoftheplaguetheweekbefore,therediedseventeentheweekafter,whereoffourteenwereoftheplague。Thiswasintheweekfromthe11thofJulytothe18th。
Therewasoneshiftthatsomefamilieshad,andthatnotafew,whentheirhouseshappenedtobeinfected,andthatwasthis:thefamilieswho,inthefirstbreaking—outofthedistemper,fledawayintothecountryandhadretreatsamongtheirfriends,generallyfoundsomeorotheroftheirneighboursorrelationstocommitthechargeofthosehousestoforthesafetyofthegoodsandthelike。Somehouseswere,indeed,entirelylockedup,thedoorspadlocked,thewindowsanddoorshavingdealboardsnailedoverthem,andonlytheinspectionofthemcommittedtotheordinarywatchmenandparishofficers;batthesewerebutfew。
Itwasthoughtthattherewerenotlessthan10,000housesforsakenoftheinhabitantsinthecityandsuburbs,includingwhatwasintheout—parishesandinSurrey,orthesideofthewatertheycalledSouthwark。Thiswasbesidesthenumbersoflodgers,andofparticularpersonswhowerefledoutofotherfamilies;sothatinallitwascomputedthatabout200,000peoplewerefledandgone。ButofthisIshallspeakagain。ButImentionithereonthisaccount,namely,thatitwasarulewiththosewhohadthustwohousesintheirkeepingorcare,thatifanybodywastakensickinafamily,beforethemasterofthefamilylettheexaminersoranyotherofficerknowofit,heimmediatelywouldsendalltherestofhisfamily,whetherchildrenorservants,asitfellouttobe,tosuchotherhousewhichhehadsoincharge,andthengivingnoticeofthesickpersontotheexaminer,haveanurseornursesappointed,andhaveanotherpersontobeshutupinthehousewiththem（whichmanyformoneywoulddo）,sototakechargeofthehouseincasethepersonshoulddie。
Thiswas,inmanycases,thesavingawholefamily,who,iftheyhadbeenshutupwiththesickperson,wouldinevitablyhaveperished。
But,ontheotherhand,thiswasanotheroftheinconveniencesofshuttinguphouses;fortheapprehensionsandterrorofbeingshutupmademanyrunawaywiththerestofthefamily,who,thoughitwasnotpubliclyknown,andtheywerenotquitesick,hadyetthedistemperuponthem;andwho,byhavinganuninterruptedlibertytogoabout,butbeingobligedstilltoconcealtheircircumstances,orperhapsnotknowingitthemselves,gavethedistempertoothers,andspreadtheinfectioninadreadfulmanner,asIshallexplainfurtherhereafter。
AndhereImaybeabletomakeanobservationortwoofmyown,whichmaybeofusehereaftertothoseintowhosebandsthesemaycome,iftheyshouldeverseethelikedreadfulvisitation。（1）Theinfectiongenerallycameintothehousesofthecitizensbythemeansoftheirservants,whomtheywereobligedtosendupanddownthestreetsfornecessaries;thatistosay,forfoodorphysic,tobakehouses,brew—houses,shops,&c。;andwhogoingnecessarilythroughthestreetsintoshops,markets,andthelike,itwasimpossiblebutthattheyshould,onewayorother,meetwithdistemperedpeople,whoconveyedthefatalbreathintothem,andtheybroughtithometothefamiliestowhichtheybelonged。（2）Itwasagreatmistakethatsuchagreatcityasthishadbutonepest—house;forhadtherebeen,insteadofonepest—house—
viz。,beyondBunhillFields,where,atmost,theycouldreceive,perhaps,twohundredorthreehundredpeople—Isay,hadthere,insteadofthatone,beenseveralpest—houses,everyoneabletocontainathousandpeople,withoutlyingtwoinabed,ortwobedsinaroom;andhadeverymasterofafamily,assoonasanyservantespeciallyhadbeentakensickinhishouse,beenobligedtosendthemtothenextpest—house,iftheywerewilling,asmanywere,andhadtheexaminersdonethelikeamongthepoorpeoplewhenanyhadbeenstrickenwiththeinfection;Isay,hadthisbeendonewherethepeoplewerewilling（nototherwise）,andthehousesnotbeenshut,Iampersuaded,andwasallthewhileofthatopinion,thatnotsomany,byseveralthousands,haddied;foritwasobserved,andIcouldgiveseveralinstanceswithinthecompassofmyownknowledge,whereaservanthadbeentakensick,andthefamilyhadeithertimetosendhimoutorretirefromthehouseandleavethesickperson,asIhavesaidabove,theyhadallbeenpreserved;whereaswhen,upononeormoresickeninginafamily,thehousehasbeenshutup,thewholefamilyhaveperished,andthebearersbeenobligedtogointofetchoutthedeadbodies,notbeingabletobringthemtothedoor,andatlastnonelefttodoit。
（3）Thisputitoutofquestiontome,thatthecalamitywasspreadbyinfection;thatistosay,bysomecertainsteamsorfumes,whichthephysicianscalleffluvia,bythebreath,orbythesweat,orbythestenchofthesoresofthesickpersons,orsomeotherway,perhaps,beyondeventhereachofthephysiciansthemselves,whicheffluviaaffectedthesoundwhocamewithincertaindistancesofthesick,immediatelypenetratingthevitalpartsofthesaidsoundpersons,puttingtheirbloodintoanimmediateferment,andagitatingtheirspiritstothatdegreewhichitwasfoundtheywereagitated;andsothosenewlyinfectedpersonscommunicateditinthesamemannertoothers。AndthisIshallgivesomeinstancesof,thatcannotbutconvincethosewhoseriouslyconsiderit;andIcannotbutwithsomewonderfindsomepeople,nowthecontagionisover,talkofitsbeinganimmediatestrokefromHeaven,withouttheagencyofmeans,havingcommissiontostrikethisandthatparticularperson,andnoneother—whichIlookuponwithcontemptastheeffectofmanifestignoranceandenthusiasm;likewisetheopinionofothers,whotalkofinfectionbeingcarriedonbytheaironly,bycarryingwithitvastnumbersofinsectsandinvisiblecreatures,whoenterintothebodywiththebreath,orevenattheporeswiththeair,andtheregenerateoremitmostacutepoisons,orpoisonousovaeoreggs,whichminglethemselveswiththeblood,andsoinfectthebody:adiscoursefulloflearnedsimplicity,andmanifestedtobesobyuniversalexperience;
butIshallsaymoretothiscaseinitsorder。
Imustheretakefurthernoticethatnothingwasmorefataltotheinhabitantsofthiscitythanthesupinenegligenceofthepeoplethemselves,who,duringthelongnoticeorwarningtheyhadofthevisitation,madenoprovisionforitbylayinginstoreofprovisions,orofothernecessaries,bywhichtheymighthavelivedretiredandwithintheirownhouses,asIhaveobservedothersdid,andwhowereinagreatmeasurepreservedbythatcaution;norwerethey,aftertheywerealittlehardenedtoit,soshyofconversingwithoneanother,whenactuallyinfected,astheywereatfirst:no,thoughtheyknewit。
IacknowledgeIwasoneofthosethoughtlessonesthathadmadesolittleprovisionthatmyservantswereobligedtogooutofdoorstobuyeverytriflebypennyandhalfpenny,justasbeforeitbegan,eventillmyexperienceshowingmethefolly,IbegantobewisersolatethatI
hadscarcetimetostoremyselfsufficientforourcommonsubsistenceforamonth。
Ihadinfamilyonlyanancientwomanthatmanagedthehouse,amaid—servant,twoapprentices,andmyself;andtheplaguebeginningtoincreaseaboutus,IhadmanysadthoughtsaboutwhatcourseI
shouldtake,andhowIshouldact。ThemanydismalobjectswhichhappenedeverywhereasIwentaboutthestreets,hadfilledmymindwithagreatdealofhorrorforfearofthedistemper,whichwasindeedveryhorribleinitself,andinsomemorethaninothers。Theswellings,whichweregenerallyintheneckorgroin,whentheygrewhardandwouldnotbreak,grewsopainfulthatitwasequaltothemostexquisitetorture;andsome,notabletobearthetorment,threwthemselvesoutatwindowsorshotthemselves,orotherwisemadethemselvesaway,andIsawseveraldismalobjectsofthatkind。
Others,unabletocontainthemselves,ventedtheirpainbyincessantroarings,andsuchloudandlamentablecriesweretobeheardaswewalkedalongthestreetsthatwouldpiercetheveryhearttothinkof,especiallywhenitwastobeconsideredthatthesamedreadfulscourgemightbeexpectedeverymomenttoseizeuponourselves。
IcannotsaybutthatnowIbegantofaintinmyresolutions;myheartfailedmeverymuch,andsorelyIrepentedofmyrashness。
WhenIhadbeenout,andmetwithsuchterriblethingsastheseIhavetalkedof,IsayIrepentedmyrashnessinventuringtoabideintown。I
wishedoftenthatIhadnottakenuponmetostay,buthadgoneawaywithmybrotherandhisfamily。
Terrifiedbythosefrightfulobjects,Iwouldretirehomesometimesandresolvetogooutnomore;andperhapsIwouldkeepthoseresolutionsforthreeorfourdays,whichtimeIspentinthemostseriousthankfulnessformypreservationandthepreservationofmyfamily,andtheconstantconfessionofmysins,givingmyselfuptoGodeveryday,andapplyingtoHimwithfasting,humiliation,andmeditation。SuchintervalsasIhadIemployedinreadingbooksandinwritingdownmymemorandumsofwhatoccurredtomeeveryday,andoutofwhichafterwardsItookmostofthiswork,asitrelatestomyobservationswithoutdoors。WhatIwroteofmyprivatemeditationsIreserveforprivateuse,anddesireitmaynotbemadepubliconanyaccountwhatever。
Ialsowroteothermeditationsupondivinesubjects,suchasoccurredtomeatthattimeandwereprofitabletomyself,butnotfitforanyotherview,andthereforeIsaynomoreofthat。
Ihadaverygoodfriend,aphysician,whosenamewasHeath,whomIfrequentlyvisitedduringthisdismaltime,andtowhoseadviceIwasverymuchobligedformanythingswhichhedirectedmetotake,bywayofpreventingtheinfectionwhenIwentout,ashefoundI
frequentlydid,andtoholdinmymouthwhenIwasinthestreets。Healsocameveryoftentoseeme,andashewasagoodChristianaswellasagoodphysician,hisagreeableconversationwasaverygreatsupporttomeintheworstofthisterribletime。
ItwasnowthebeginningofAugust,andtheplaguegrewveryviolentandterribleintheplacewhereIlived,andDrHeathcomingtovisitme,andfindingthatIventuredsooftenoutinthestreets,earnestlypersuadedmetolockmyselfupandmyfamily,andnottosufferanyofustogooutofdoors;tokeepallourwindowsfast,shuttersandcurtainsclose,andnevertoopenthem;butfirst,tomakeaverystrongsmokeintheroomwherethewindowordoorwastobeopened,withrozenandpitch,brimstoneorgunpowderandthelike;