Sound advice from Martin Luther

(Thanks to Pr. Keith Wolter, Christ, Mililani...)

Excerpt regarding the Bubonic Plague sweeping through Wittenberg in 1527:

Whether One May Flee From a Deadly Plague:

"I shall ask God mercifully to protect us. Then I shall fumigate, help purify the air, administer medicine and take it. I shall avoid places and persons where my presence is not needed in order not to become contaminated and thus perchance inflict and pollute others and so cause their death as a result of my negligence. If God should wish to take me, he will surely find me and I have done what he has expected of me and so I am not responsible for either my own death or the death of others. If my neighbor needs me however I shall not avoid place or person but will go freely as stated above. See this is such a God-fearing faith because it is neither brash nor foolhardy and does not tempt God."

Luther's Works Volume 43 pg. 132, the letter "Whether one may flee from a Deadly Plague" written to Rev. Dr. John Hess.