Page:A Journal of the Plague Year (1722).djvu/20

 hardly a Horſe to be bought or hired in the whole City for ſome Weeks. Once I reſolv'd to travel on Foot with one Servant; and as many did, lie at no Inn, but carry a Soldiers Tent with us, and ſo lie in the Fields, the Weather being very warm, and no Danger from taking cold: I ſay, as many did, becauſe ſeveral did ſo at laſt, eſpecially thoſe who had been in the Armies in the War which had not been many Years paſt; and I muſt needs ſay, that ſpeaking of ſecond Cauſes, had moſt of the People that travelled, done ſo, the Plague had not been carried into ſo many Country-Towns and Houſes, as it was, to the great Damage, and indeed to the Ruin of abundance of People.

But then my Servant who I had intended to take down with me, deceiv'd me; and being frighted at the Encreaſe of the Diſtemper, and not knowing when I ſhould go, he took other Meaſures, and left me, ſo I was put off for that Time; and one way or other, I always found that to appoint to go away was always croſs'd by ſome Accident or other, ſo as to diſappoint and put it off again; and this brings in a Story which otherwiſe might be thought a needleſs Digreſſion, (viz.) about theſe Diſappointments being from Heaven.

I mention this Story alſo as the beſt Method I can adviſe any Perſon to take in ſuch a Caſe, eſpecially, if he be one that makes Conſcience of his Duty, and would be directed what to do in it, namely, that he ſhould keep his Eye upon the particular Providences which occur at that Time, and look upon them complexly, as they regard one another, and as altogether regard the Queſtion before him, and then I think, he may ſafely take them for Intimations from Heaven of what is his unqueſtion'd Duty to do in ſuch, a Caſe;