The Sun also, which is a visible Image of the invisible Divinity, as for light, so for its vivifying heat, wherewith all sensible things are maintained, as the intelligible by the supercelestial Sun, works the same effect in case of purification, as fire. As we may see by experience, as the places where the Sun-beams come not, are ever musty and mouldy, and to purifie them wee open windowes to admit light into them: and there make great fires, which is very proper in the time of the Plague, for it chaseth away ill air, as light doth darknesse. Also evill spirits, who have more reputation in the dark, from plague walking in darknesse, the _Hebrews_ call this Divell ravaging by night _Deber_, and from his violence and Meridian Divell, that of the day _Keteb_; the Greeks Ἐμπουσα. There is in the fire, saith _Pliny_, a certain faculty and medicinall vertue against the Plague. Who for the absence and hiding of the Sun, comes to form it self: wherein wee find by lightning it here and there may bring great comfort and succour in many kinds. As _Empedocles_ and _Hippocrates_ doe elsewhere sufficiently demonstrate. There was also a Physitian at _Athens_ that got much reputation, by causing them to kindle many fires during the Plague time. So that, the true Plague of the soul being iniquities and offences, which poison it, its _theriac_ or counter-poyson, cannot bee better found then in the fire of contrition that the Holy Spirit kindles therein: _My heart was hot within mee, while I was musing, the fire burned_, _Psal._ 39. 3. There is also a fire of Tribulation which was spoken of before, that consumes our vanities, and unruly concupiscences; and makes us return to God, whereupon one of the ancient Fathers said, it was a happy tribulation that forceth to repentance. And St. _Gregory_, the evils that presse us here, doe compell us the sooner to come to God. And that for our greater good, that God doth thus burn us by the fire of tribulation: that which was said by the _Psalmist_ 26. 3. _Prove me O Lord, and examine mee, try my reins, and my heart_: And in the 13. of _Zach._ _vers._ 9. _I will bring the third part through the fire, and I will refine them as silver is refined, and I will try them as Gold is tried_: For fire hath a double property, as hath been said; the one to separate the pure from the impure, and the other to perfect that which remains of the pure. Take away rust from silver, and it will go forth a most pure vessell: But the propriety of these significations is better kept in the Hebrew, then in any other tongue. Where the verb _Szaraph_ is joined and attributed unto silver, which signifies, to melt, and to refine, and to Gold _Bahan_ to prove. The one denotes Gods in Elect an holy purity of conscience by silver, the other by gold a perfection of constancy, which wee cannot know better then by proof: and from thence comes dignity and eternall glory, the one and the other acquired by the