feathered fowl to gather themselves together and feast themselves upon the carkasses of the slain as Ezek. 39. 17 18 19 20. When God comes with died garments from Bozrah Isa. 63. 1. When he gathereth the Nations and brings them into the valley of Jehoshaphat and thither causeth his Mighty Ones to come down against them Ioel 3. 2. 11. When the day of Gods indignation doth come and he makes such slaughter amongst his Enemies that the Earth doth stink with their carkasses and the Mountains do melt with their blood Isa. 34. 2 3. When God treadeth the Wine-press of his wrath without the City and the blood comes out of the Wine-press even to the horses bridles Rev. 14. 20. In a word when the Lord shall come forth upon his White Horse with his Armies and shall destroy the Beast and all the Powers of the earth that take part with him as Rev. 19. from the 11th ver to the end Then God will speak terribly indeed against his Enemies by the Sword then he will roar out of Zion and utter his voice from Ierusalem and that in such a manner as will make both the heavens and the earth to tremble Ioel 3. 16. And indeed God speaks with a Terrible Voice where-ever he sends the Sword and makes the Alarm of War to be heard as sometimes he sends it amongst his own people for their sin 1 Kings 8. 33. When God brings into a Land a people of another Language and Religion of a fierce countenance and cruel disposition and gives them power to prevail and bring the Land under their feet so that the Mighty Men are cut off by them and the Men of Valour crushed in the gate the young men fly and fall before them and there is none to make any resistance when they break in upon Cities plunder houses ravish Women and Maids strip and spoil and put all to the sword the young with the grey-head cruelly rip up women with-childe and without any pity on little Infants dash them against the stones God speaks more terribly by such a Judgement than by Plague or Fire 5. The Famine is a dreadful Iudgement whereby God speaks sometime unto a people very terribly when God stretcheth upon a place the lines of confusion the stones of emptiness as Isa. 34. 11. When God sendeth cleanness of teeth into Cities as Amos 4. 6. When God shooteth into a Land the evil Arrows of Famine and it becomes exceeding sore this is one of the most dreadful Judgements of all Judgements in this world far beyond Plague or Fire or Sword See how pathetically the Famine amongst the Iews is described by Ieremiah in his Lamentations Chap. 4. from the 4th ver unto the 12. The tongue of the sucking Childe cleaveth to the roof of his mouth fâ—r thirst the young Children ask for bread and no man breaketh it unto them They that feed delicately are desolate in the streets They that were brought up in scarlet embrace dunghils For the punishment of the iniquity of the daughter of my people is greater than the punishment of the sin of Sodom that was overthrown in a moment and no hand stayed on her The Nazarites were purer than snow whiter than milk they were more ruddy in body then Rubies their polishing was of saphire their vtsage is blacker than a coal they are not known in the streets their skin cleaveth to their lones it is withered it is become like a stick They that be slain with the sword are better than they which be slain with hunger for these pine away stricken through for want of the fruits of the Earth The hands of the pittiful women have sodden their own Children they were their meat in the destruction of the daughter of my people The Lord hath accomplished his fury he hath poured out his fierce anger 6. The sixth terrible Iudgment is a Famine of the Word which is threatned Am. 8. 11 12. Behold the dayes come saith the Lord that I will send a Famine in the Land not a Famine of Bread nor a thirst for Water but of hearing the words of the Lord And they shall wander from Sea to Sea and from the North to the East and they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord and shall not finde it A Famine of the Word is a worse judgment than a Famine of Bread indeed few do really think so because the most judge according to sense but that it is so is evident to a Man of faith and consideration for as the soul is more excellent than the body and the concernments of the other life far beyond the concernments of this life so the provisions for the soul are more excellent than the provisions for the body and the means of getting eternal life to be preferred before the means of preserving temporal life and therefore by consequence the dearth scarcity of provisions for the soul must needs be a greater judgment than a scarcity of provisions for the body Unto which I might add that the Famine of the word doth usually bring with it many temporal judgments The burning of the Temple at Ierusalem and the failing of Vision was accompanied with slaughter by the sword and captivity of the Land 7. And lastly God speaks most terriblie unto a people when he sends divers of these Iudgments together as Lam. 1. 20. Abroad the sword bereaveth at home there is death when enemies without Plague and Famine within God speaks terribly when Fire and Sword goeth together or Sword and Famine or Famine and Plague or Famine of Bread and Famine of the Word These are some of the terrible things by which God doth sometimes speak SECT III. Why is it that the Lord doth speak unto a people 3. by such terrible things THe reason is because people don't hearken unto him speaking any other way God speaketh once yea twice but men perceive it not Iob 33. 14. Gods gentle voice is not heard or minded therefore he speaks more loudly and terribly that people might be awakened to hear Particularly God speaks thus terribly 1. Because People do not hearken to the voice of his word and messengers God speaks audibly by Ministers and when they are not regarded he speaks more feelingly by judgments he speaks first by threatnings when they are slighted he speaks by executions God first lifts up his voice and warns by his word before he lifts up his arme and strikes with his Rod when men grow thick of hearing the sweet calls of the Gospel God is even forced to thunder that he may peirce their ear when God speaks to the ears and they are shut God speaks to the eyes and other senses that his mind may be known especially when men obstinately refuse to hear God is exceedingly provoked to execute his terrible judgments upon them see Zach. 8. 11 12. But they refused to hearken and pulled away the shoulder and stopped their ears that they should not hear yea
hath put into their hands they have endeavoured the Reformation of the City whether as Gods under-officers they have improved their interest for the promotion of Religion in the zealous exercise of it yea whether they have put the Laws made in execution against Sabbath-breakers swearers drunkards endeavouring to find out and punish such offenders 4. Neglect of Church-reformation And is there no blame to be laid upon Church-officers hath there been that zeal for and faithful execution of Church-discipline according to the Rules of the word hath not the Lord Jesus Christ been affronted in his Kingly office by some who have imposed precepts of their own upon mens consciences instead of vigorously endeavouring the execution of his and taken the power of the Keyes out of the hands of those unto whom the Lord hath entrusted it hereby rendring the execution of discipline impossible according to the Laws of Christ have not the tender and most conscientious lain under the censures of some rather then the openly profane and scandalously wicked Neglect of Reformation am I speaking of nay have not many who call themselves Ministers endeavoured rather the overthrow then the promotion of it have they not had girds in their Pulpits at holiness and zealous profession which they have seconded by a conversation of dissoluteness malitious opposition and persecution of those especially who have been the most religious Sad neglects there have been of reformation in London and that when London lay under such obligations to reform as Christians they were obliged by baptismal and renewed vows as Protestants of the Reformed religion they were obliged to endeavour a reformation by Mercies they were obliged anâ— have they been under no other obligations And hath not the neglect of reformation notwithstanding all obligations rendred them guilty of disingenuity infideliy yea of perjury it self I verily believe this is the great sin God is scourging London for God is contending for a Reformation and if they do not endeavour it more vigorously the sooner I fear he will bring desolation upon them 7. A seventh sin of London is fearful Apostacy and a spirit of complyance with the sins of the times How many in London who formerly were great profestours have discovered themselves to be rotten hypocrites who casting off the sheeps clothing and laying aside all profession have given themselves up to dissoluteness and licentious living formerly they have seemed true penitents and to be washed from their iniquities but they have returned with the dogg to the vomit and with the Sow that is washed to the wallowing in the mire 2 Pet. 2. ult formerly they have been swept a little within and garnisht outwardly with a fair profession but the unclean spirit hath returned and without any great difficulty hath entered with seven worse spirits and defiled them more then before and made their last state worse then their first I speak not so much of those who worship God in this Mode or that Mode and of alterations herein but of those who sometimes professed religion and now do not worship God in any mode at all but wholly addict themselves to their lusts and are ashamed to be called or thought to be religious They would not now look like a Saint or speak like a Saint much less live like a Saint Thus have many in our dayes cast off all fear of God and devoted themselves with the Hell-hounds of the times to the service of the Devil resolving to do what in them lies to promote the interest of his Kingdom And if some are a little more aukward in his service and not altogether so like him and such apt Scholars presently as others whose education hath been in his School from their childhood yet they learn very fast and wonderfull is their proficiency in a short time and in regard of Apostacy they come neerer the Image of the Devil than those that have been alwayes tutor'd by him Now for any in London to forsake God that they might serve the Devil to draw off from the wayes of Holiness that they might walk in the wayes of Wickedness doth cast a great slurr upon God and his wayes They do in effect say That the Devil is a better Master than God and that the way of sin that leadeth to Hell is more eligible than the way of Holiness which alone can bring to Heaven The Lord threatneth that his Soul shall have no pleasure in such Apostates Heb. 10. 38. It is a Meiosis and we are to understand that the Lord is highly displeased with such persons See how God pleads with Apostatizing Israel Ier. 2. 9 10 c. Wherefore I will yet plead with you saith the Lord. Pass ye over to the Isles of Chittim and see and send unto Kedar and diligently consider if there be any such thing Hath any Nation changed their gods which yet are no gods But my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit Be astonished O ye Heavens at this and be horribly afraid be ye very desolate saith the Lord for my people have committed two great evils they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters and have hewen out unto themselves broken cisterns that can hold no water And hence follows v. 15. The young lions roared and yelled upon him and laid his land waste his Cities are burnt without inhabitant and v. 17. Thou hast procured these things unto thy self because thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God and v. 19. Thy own wickedness shall correct thee and thy back-slidings shall reprove thee know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and bitter that thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God and that my fear is not in thee saith the Lord God of hosts And may not God thus plead with the Apostates of London and punish them as he did his people of Israel 8. The Eighth sin of London is deafning the Ear against all Gods Calls The Lord hath called upon London by his Ministers but they have been like the deaf Adder which will not hearken to the voice of the Charmer they have stopped their ears and turned away their shoulder and made their heart like an Adamant stone God hath called by his Mercies but this voice hath been too low and they have slept the more securely in sin God after other Means hath called by Afflictions first lighter then heavier and yet how many in London have and still do walk contrary unto God and will not return to him that hath smitten them They have been incorrigible under all Gods correcting Rods. When God spake by the Plague they were a little awakened but quickly dropt asleep again when the plague was a little over they return to their Trades again to their sins again but they do not return unto the Lord. And when the Judgement of the Plague was so much lost and ineffectual for their good this no doubt hath provoked God so quickly and unexpectedly to turn his hand upon them and
GOD'S Terrible Voice IN THE CITY Wherein you have I. The sound of the voice in the Narration of the two late Dreadfull Judgments of Plague and Fire inflicted by the Lord upon the City of London the former in the year 1665 the latter in the year 1666. II. The interpretation of the voice in a Discovery 1. Of the cause of these Judgments where you have a Catalogue of London's sins 2. Of the design of these Judgments where you have an enumeration of the Duties God calls for by this terrible voice By T. V. Micah 6. 9. The voice of the Lord cryeth unto the City and the Man of wisdome shall see thy name Hear ye the Rod and who hath appointed it Printed in the Year 1667. TO All such of the CITY WHO Have seen the Desolations OF LONDON BY The late Judgments of PLAGUE and FIRE IT might have seemed more seasonable unto some if a work of this nature had come forth unto view more immediately after the sound of Gods terrible voice and execution at least of the last dreadfull Iudgment of the Fire because if a Man strikes whilst the Iron is hot it is likely to make the more deep impression which when it grows cool growes hard and unmalleable and if the hammer of the Word had been used when London was newly come forth of the Furnace some might think they would have yielded the more easily unto it's strokes and the better have received the fashion which this Hammer would work them unto and that since the fresh and lively remembrance of the judgement is more worn off it is to be feared that they are more cooled and hardned and therefore in likelihood it will be more difficult to effect a due impression of the Iudgements by the Word upon them yet besides that it was not in my thoughts to attempt this Work until the greatest part of the Winter was spent I may further adde that though a discourse concerning the Plague would have been most seasonable under the Iudgment it self when people who were generally taken off from their trading had room and time for retirement and consideration more than ever they had in their lives before and therefore were more likely to lay to heart what might be spoken or written unto them on that Subject yet the reason is not the same in the Iudgement of the Fire which however startling and astonishing was so far from giving them retiring time for consideration as the former Iudgement of the Plague had done that it did engage them unto more labourious works than ever they had not only while London was burning in removing what they could save of their goods from the Fire but also since in looking out new Habitations and fitting their Houses and Shops for Trades which hath given them occasion for so much distraction that I fear they could hardly settle their mindes to read and consider so seriously as they should what the Lord hath been doing with them speaking unto them by this Terrible Voice which hath sounded so loud in their ears but by this time I hope that the most have attained to some kinde of settlement at least so much as to give them leave to sit down and ponder upon the meaning of God in these strange and dreadful Iudgements of Plague and Fire in the City and therefore this Book may be more seasonable unto the most than if it had been written and presented to them immediately after the Fire had burnt them out of their habitations Friends It is high time for all of you to retire your selves and bethink your selves and wisely to consider Gods dealings with you to open your ear and labour to understand these speaking Iudgments least if God be provoked by your deafness and incorrigibleness to speak a third time it be in your utter ruine and desolation If these Papers be any wayes helpfull to revive in your memories the Iudgments themselves by the Historicall Narration which here you have of them to work your hearts to some sense of sin in discovery of the cause and to perswade you unto a ready compliance with Gods design in the declaring of what God now expects from you after such dreadfull executions as yours will be the benefit so I desire that God may have the whole glory and that you would make this return for my help of you to help me with your prayers that I may be the more helpfull to you in mine who am Your dearly affectionate friend and servant in the Lord. T. V. Gods terrible Voice IN THE CITY Psalm 65. part of the fifth Verse By terrible things in righteousness wilt thou answer us INTRODUCTION SHall a Trumpet be blown in the City and the people not be afraid Shall there be evil in the City and the Lord hath not done it The Lyon hath roared who will not fear the Lord God hath spoken who can but Prophesie Am. 3. 6. 8. When the Pharisees spake to our Saviour to rebuke his Disciples for their loud praises of the Lord with Hosanna's he tells them If they should hold their peace the stones would immediately cry out Luk. 19. 39 40. And we read in Habakkuk Chap. 2. 11. Of the stone crying out of the wall and the beam out of the timber making answer Certainly we in London have lately heard the cry of stones and walls of timber and beams in their fall and flames I mean in the late Dreadful Fire which hath laid out Ierusalem in heaps or rather we have heard the Voice of God in this and other terrible things which have come upon us Let none then rebuke if one so unfit do make an attempt to speak something of the meaning of Londons Fire or of Gods Terrible Voice in this and other Judgements when by the mouth of Babes God can declare his Will SECT 1. By terrible things in righteousness wilt thou answer us THis whole Psalm breathes forth nothing but grace and goodness unto the people of God from the beginning of it to the end yea in the verse of my Text where God speaks most terribly and righteously in the Judgements and Destructions which he bringeth upon their Enemies yet he is called the God of their Salvation and those terrible things by which God speaks are not only a righteous answer unto their Enemies sins but also a gracious answer unto his peoples prayers By terrible things in righteousness wilt thou answer us I shall not speak of terrible things in the restrained sense as they befall the Enemies only of Gods people and the wicked whilst the righteous do escape and it may be hereby are preserved but as they may befall any people not excluding Gods people whom the Lord may answer by terrible things in righteousness Two Doctrines we may observe Doct. 1. That God doth sometimes speak unto a People by terrible things Doct. 2. That when God doth speak most terribly he doth answer most righteously First That God doth sometimes speak unto
nearest Relations and dearest Friends so that when the Disease hath first seized upon them and they have had the greatest need of succour they have left their friends in distress and flown away from them as if they had been their Enemies 2. A Deluge by Water is a Terrible Iudgement There have been several Floods which we read of in Histories that have suddenly broken in upon some places and overwhelmed Habitations and Inhabitants together But God never did and never will speak so Terribly by a Deluge of Water as by the great Deluge in the daies of Noah when the whole world was drowned thereby excepting Noah and those which were with him in the Ark. And because the Judgement was so dreadful and the History so affecting I shall set it before your eye out of Gen. 7. from the 11th ver to the end of the Chapter In the six hundredth year of Noahs life in the second moneth and the seventeenth day of the moneth in the same day were all the Fountains of the Great Deep broken up God withdrew the bounds which he had set to the great Sea so that the waters covered the earth as they did at the beginning and the Windowes of heaven were opened out of which God looked forth in anger upon the earth and powered forth a Viol of his wrath causing it to rain forty daies and forty nights in dreadful showres accompanied as is probable with stormy winds and hideous tempest which put the world into a fright and amazement when the Element of Air seemed to be changed into water and such a Torrent flowed in upon them on every side we may guess what fear they were over-whelmed withal but Noah and his Family were got into the Ark and the Lord shut them in then the waters encreased and bare up the Ark and it was lift up above the earth and the waters encreased and prevailed greatly upon the earth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and the Ark went upon the face of the waters so that all the high Hills and Mountains were covered fifteen Cubits Then all flesh died fowl and cattel and beast and every thing that creeped or moved on the earth and every man and Noah only remained alive and they that were with him in the Ark. God spake then terribly indeed unto the wicked world by the Flood which devoured them all together in the midst of their security and sin but God hath promised he will never speak thus by water any more 3. Fire is another terrible thing whereby God sometimes calls to contend by with a sinful People Fire is very dreadful when it hath a Commission from God and meets with much combustible matter and prevails without resistance God spake terribly by Fire unto Sodom and Gomorrah when he rained Fire and Brimstone on those Cities and consumed them See Gen. 19. from the 24th ver to the 29th The Lord rained fire and brimstone out of heaven and overthrew those Cities and the Inhabitants together and when Abraham looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah and the Land of the Plain he saw the smoke of the Country go up like the smoke of a Furnace God spake terribly though not so terribly to Ierusalem when he suffered their City to be set on fire by the Babylonians and their Temple to be burnt to the ground See Ier. 52. 12 13. But the most fearful Instances of Gods Terrible Voice by Fire are yet to come Thus God will speak by Fire unto Spiritual Babylon which may easily be proved to be Rome from Rev. 17. 18. She being the then great City which reigned over the Kings of the earth Babylons burning with fire you may read Rev. 18. 8 9 10 c. Therefore shall her Plagues come in one day Death and Mourning and Famine and she shall be utterly burnt with fire for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her And the Kings of the earth who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her shall bewail her and lament for her when they shall see the smoak of her burning standing afar off for fear of her torment saying Alas alas that great City Babylon that mighty City for in one hour is thy judgement come c. God spake terribly by fire when London was in flames of which in the application but he will speak far more terribly when Babylon shall be in flames and not only in part but wholly and utterly and irreparably burnt and turned into ashes when not only the City shall be consumed but also the Whore her self shall be hated and made desolate and devoured with fire by the Kings of the earth Rev. 17. 10. The last instance of Gods speaking terribly by fire will be the last day when the Lord Jesus Christ the Judge of Quick and Dead shall come down from heaven in flaming fire to take vengeance on all those that know not God and obey not the Gospel 2 Thes. 1. 7 8. And the Apostle Peter tells us that the heavens and the earth are reserved in store for fire against this day when the Heavens shall pass away with a great noise and the Elements melt with fervent heat and the Earth and all the works therein shall be burnt up 2 Pet. 3. 7 10. Then God will speak terribly by fire and above all most terribly to the ungodly world when he will sentence them unto and cast them into the Fire of Hell where they must dwell with devouring fire and inhabit everlasting burnings 4. The Sword is a dreadful Iudgement whereby God speaks sometimes very terribly especially when he draws it forth against his own and his peoples Enemies Hear how terribly God speaks as in Deut. 32. 39 40 41 42. See now that I even I am he and there is no God with me I kill and I make alive I wound and I heal neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand For I lift up my hand to heaven and say I live for ever If I whet my glittering Sword and my hand take hold on Iudgement I will render vengeance to mine Enemies and reward them that hate me I will make mine Arrows drunk with blood and my Sword shall devoure flesh and that with the blood of the slain and of the Captives from the beginning of revenges upon the Enemies When God furbusheth his Sword and whets it when God girdeth his Sword upon his thigh and marcheth against his Enemies when he draweth his Sword and maketh slaughter with it when his Sword devoureth much flesh and is made drunk with the blood of the slain when God gives Commission to the Sword saying Sword go thorow such a Land as Ezek. 14. 17. And powers out his fury on the Land in blood as ver 19. So that the Sword is bathed in blood and garments are rowled in blood and the Land is soaked in blood when blood is powred forth like water and dead bodies are cast forth into the open field without burial and God makes an invitation to all
they made their heart like an Adamant stone least they should hear the Law and the words which the Lord of Hosts had sent in his spirit by the former Prophets Therefore came there a great wrath from the Lord of Hosts So also when God gave up Ierusalem to desolation and ruine see the sin which provoked the Lord hereunto 2 Chron. 36. 16. They mocked the messengers of God and despised his words and misused his Prophets untill the wrath of the Lord arose against his people till there was no remedy 2. Because they do not hearken to the voice of his goodness and mercies The goodness and forbearance of God doth speak unto men from him and call upon them to forbear sin for shame to repent and return to him Rom. 1. 4. But when men despise the riches of his goodness and deafen their ear unto the language of his mercies and trample his patience under foot though God hath appointed a day of wrath hereafter wherein he will reckon with the whole ungodly World together and give them the just demerit of their sin yet sometimes his patience is turned hereby into fury and his anger doth break forth into a flame and consumes them by the blow of dreadfull temporal judgments 3. Because they will not hearken to the voice of lesser afflictions when Gods word is not heard he speaks by his Rod when his Rod is not heard he shoots with his arrowes strikes with his sword and if lesser afflictions be not minded then God speaks by more dreadful awakening judgments as the sins of men do precede the judgments of God so usually lesser judgments do precede greater judgments and as there are degrees and steps which men usually do make before they arrive to a great heighth in sin Nemo repentè fit turpissimus so there are degrees and steps which God usually doth take in inflicting his judgments for sin Look into one place for all which shews how God doth proceed from less to greater judgments Lev. 26. from the 15. v. to the 40 th when his statutes are despised and Covenant broken first he threatneth to send upon them consumption and a burning ague then he threatneth that they shall fall before their enemies and if they will not hearken to his voice in these judgments he threatneth to punish them seven times more for their sins and to make the Heavens as Iron and the Earth as brass and send a dearth amongst them And if they will not yet hearken he threatneth to send wild beasts which should devour their children and Cattel And if they would not be reformed by these things but still would walk contrary unto him he threatneth to walk contrary unto them and to punish them yet seven times more for their sins he threatneth to bring a sword upon them to avenge the quarrel of his Covenant and when they should be gathered together in their Cities to send the Pestilence amongst them and hereunto to adde the Famine And if they would not yet hearken unto God but still walk contrary unto him he threatneth that he will walk contrary unto them in fury and make them eat the flesh of their Sons and their Daughters and lay wast their Cities and make their Sanctuaries a desolation and upon them that are left alive he threatneth to send such faintness of heart that they should flee at the sound of a shaken leaf and fall when none pursued them and that they should pine away in their iniquities in the Land of their enemies Thus God proceeds by steps and degrees in the execution of his fierce anger upon a rebellious People when God speaks by ordinary diseases and is not heard then sometimes he sends a Plague and if after a Plague people will not return to him that smiteth them nor seek to pacify Gods anger which is kindled against them but walk so much the more contrary unto him he may walk contrary to them in fury and send fire into their Cities to devour their habitations And if the voice of the Fire be not heard he hath other judgments in readiness Sword Famine and the like And if temporal judgments be nâ—â— heeded he will bring upon them eternal judgments God is not heard any other way therefore he doth speak by such terrible things SECT IV. The Application God speaks sometimes to a People by terrible things THese few last years have given sad instances hereof in England especially the two last years in our City of London The voice of the Lord hath been in the City it hath been loud and full of terrour the Lord hath come forth against us with armed vengeance Frowns have been in his brow death and desolation in his looks thunder hath been in his voice flames of Fire in his hand the Pestilence hath gone before him and burning Coals at his feet He hath sent forth his Arrows which have scattered us and shot forth his lightnings which have discomfited us The Lord hath thundered in the Heavens and the highest gave his voice hail-stones and coals of fire the Lord hath visited us with storm and tempest and great noise yea he hath caused his glorious voice to be heard and shewed the lighting down of his arme with the indignation of his anger and with the flame of devouring Fire with scattering and tempest and hail-stones then the furrowes of the Earth were seen and the foundations of the City were discovered the Earth also shook because he was wrath and the Inhabitants of London trembled because of his fierce anger then the snares of death compassed us and the fears of hell gat hold on us and our hearts were moved within us as Trees when they are moved by the Wind. Dreadfull have Gods late judgments been in London the noise of which hath gone forth not only throughout the Land but also unto the outermost parts of the World Three things we should remark in this terrible voice of Gods judgments 1. The Iudgments themselves 2. The Cause of the Iudgments 3. The Design of the Iudgments In the first we have the sound of the voice In the two last the Interpretation of the voice 1. Concerning the Iudgments themselves Here I might speak of the judgment executed August 24th 1662. when so many Ministers were put out of their places and the judgment executed March 24th 1665. when so many Ministers were banished 5. miles from Corporations the former by way of introduction to the Plague which sometime after did spread in the Land but chiefly raged in the City the later by way of introduction to the Fire which quickly after did burn down London the greatest Corporation in England These judgments having been so lately and general in the Land and I presume so generally known with all their circumstances that it would be needless to give here a Narration of them But this I must say I could wish they were as generally believed to be judgments and accordingly laid to
doors of their houses upon them from whence they have come forth no more till they have been brought forth to their graves we may imagine the hideous thoughts and horrid perplexity of mind the tremblings confusions and anguish of spirit which some awakened sinners have had when the Plague hath broke in upon their houses and seized upon neer relations whose dying groans sounding in their ears have warned them to prepare when their doors have been shut up and fastned on the outside with an Inscription Lord have mercy upon us and none suffered to come in but a Nurse whom they have been more afraid of then the Plague it self when lovers and friends and companions in sin have stood aloof and not dared to come nigh the door of the house lest death should issue forth from thence upon them especially when the disease hath invaded themselves and first began with a pain and diziness in their head then trembling in their other members when they have felt boiles to arise under their arms and in their groins and seen blaines to come forth in other parts when the disease hath wrought in them to that height as to send forth those spots which most think are the certain tokens of neer approaching death and now they have received the sentence of death within themselves and have certainly concluded that within a few hours they must go down into the dust and their naked souls without the case of their body must make its passage into eternity and appear before the highest Majesty to render their accounts and receive their sentence None can utter the horrour which hath been upon the spirits of such through the lashes and stings of their guilty consciences when they have called to mind a life of sensuality and profaneness their uncleanness drunkenness injustice oaths curses derision of Saints and holiness neglect of their own salvation and when a thousand sins have been set in order before their eyes with another aspect than when they looked upon them in the temptation and they find God to be irreconcileably angry with them and that the day of grace is over the door of mercy is shut and that pardon and salvation which before they slighted is now unattainable that the grave is now opening its mouth to receive their bodies and hell opening its mouth to receive their souls and they apprehend that they are now just entring into a place of endless wo and torment and they must now take up their lodgings in the inferiour regions of utter darkness with devils and their fellow damned sinners and there abide for evermore in the extremity of misery without any hopes or possibility of a release and that they have foolishly brought themselves into this condition and been the cause of their own ruin we may guess that the dispairful agonies and anguish of such awakened sinners hath been of all things the most unsupportable except the very future miseries themselves which they have been afraid of In August how dreadful is the increase from 2010 the number amounts up to 2817 in one week and thence to 3880 the next thence to 4237 the next thence to 6102 the next and all these of the Plague besides other diseases Now the cloud is very black and the storm comes down upon us very sharp Now death rides triumphantly on his pale horse through our streets and breaks into every house almost where any inhabitants are to be found Now people fall as thick as leaves from the trees in Autumn when they are shaken by a mighty wind Now there is a dismal solitude in London-streets every day looks with the face of a Sabbath day observed with greater solemnity than it used to be in the City Now shops are shut in people rare and very few that walk about in so much that the grass begins to spring up in some places and a deep silence almost in every place especially within the walls no ratling Coaches no prancing Horses no calling in Customers nor offering Wares no London cries sounding in the ears if any voice be heard it is the groans of dying perions breathing forth their last and the funeral knells of them that are ready to be carried to their graves Now shutting up of visited houses there being so many is at an end and most of the well are mingled among the sick which otherwise would have got no help Now in some places where the people did generally stay not one house in an hundred but is infected and in many houses half the family is swept away in some the whole from the eldest to the youngest few escape with the death of but one or two never did so many husbands and wives die together never did so many parents carry their children with them to the grave and go together into the same house under earth who had lived together in the same house upon it Now the nights are too short to bury the dead the whole day though at so great a length is hardly sufficient to light the dead that fall therein into their beds Now we could hardly go forth but we should meet many coffins and see many with sores and limping in the streets amongst other sad spectacles methought two were very affecting one of a woman comming alone and weeping by the door where I lived which was in the midst of the infection with a little Coffin under her arm carrying it to the new Church yard I did judge that it was the mother of the childe and that all the family besides was dead and she was forced to coffin up and bury with her own hands this her last dead childe Another was of a man at the corner of the Artillery-wall that as I judge through the diziness of his head with the disease which seised upon him there had dasht his face against the wall and when I came by he lay hanging with his bloody face over the rails and bleeding upon the ground and as I came back he was removed under a tree in More-fields and lay upon his back I went and spake to him he could make me no answer but ratled in the throat and as I was informed within half an hour died in the place It would be endless to speak what we have seen and heard of some in their frensie rising out of their beds and leaping about their rooms others crying and roaring at their windows some comming forth almost naked and running into the streets strange things have others spoken and done when the disease was upon them But it was very sad to hear of one who being sick alone and it is like phrantick burnt himself in his bed Now the plague had broken in much amongst my acquaintance and of about 16. or more whose faces I used to see every day in our house within a little while I could finde but 4. or 6. of them alive scarcely a day past over my head for I think a moneth or more together but I should hear of
him who hath been so long filled with joys in the heavenly mansions I might speak of the carriage of the master in his sickness under the apprehensions of death when the spots did appear on his body he sent for me and desired me to pray with him told me he was now going home desired me to write to his friends and let them know that it did not repent him of his stay in the City though they had been so importunate with him to come away but he had found so much of Gods presence in his abode here that he had no reason to repent he told me where he would be buried and desired me to preach his funeral Sermon on Psal. 16. ult In thy presence there is fulness of joy and at thy right hand there is pleasures for evermore But the Lord raised him again beyond the expectation of himself friends or Physician Let him not forget Gods mercies and suffer too much worldly business to croud in upon him choak the remembrance and sense of God's goodness so singular but let him by his singularity in meekness humility self-denial and love zeal and holy walking declare that the Lord hath been singularly gracious unto him But when I speak of home concernments let me not forget to look abroad the Plague now increaseth exceedingly and fears there are amongst us that within a while there will not be enough alive to bury the dead and that the City of London will now be quite depopulated by this Plague Now some Ministers formerly put out of their places who did abide in the City when most of Ministers in place were fled and gone from the people as well as from the disease into the Countreys seeing the people crowd so fast into the grave and eternity who seemed to cry as they went for spiritual Physicians and perceiving the Churches to be open and Pulpits to be open and finding Pamphlets flung about the streets of Pulpits to be let they judged that the Law of God and nature did now dispense with yea command their preaching in publick places though the Law of man it is to be supposed in ordinary cases did forbid them to do it Surely if there had been a Law that none should practise Physick in the City but such as were licenc'd by the Colledge of Physitians and most of those when there was the greatest need of them should in the time of the Plague have retired into the Country and other Physitians who had as good skill in Physick and no license should have staid amongst the sick none would have judged it to have been breach of Law in such an extraordinary case to endeavour by their practise though without a license to save the lives of those who by good care and Physick were capable of a cure and they could hardly have freed themselves from the guilt of murther of many bodies if for a nicety of Law in such a case of necessity they should have neglected to administer Physick the case was the same with the unlicensed Ministers which stayed when so many of the licenc'd ones were gone and as the need of souls was greater than the need of bodies the sickness of the one being more universal and dangerous than the sickness of the other and the saving or losing of the soul being so many degrees beyond the preservation or death of the body so the obligation upon Ministers was stronger and the motive to preach greater and for them to have incurred the guilt of soul-murther by their neglect to administer soul-physick would have been more hainous and unanswerable that they were called by the Lord into publick I suppose that few of any seriousness will deny when the Lord did so eminently own them in giving many seals of their Ministry unto them Now they are preaching and every Sermon was unto them as if they were preaching their last Old Time seems now to stand at the head of the Pulpit with its great Sithe saying with a hoarse voice Work while it is called to day at night I will mow thee down Grim Death seems to stand at the side of the Pulpit with its sharp arrow saying Do thou shoot Gods arrows and I will shoot mine The Grave seems to lie open at the foot of the Pulpit with dust in her bosome saying Louden thy Cry To God To Men And now fulfill thy Trust Here thou must lye Mouth stopt Breath gone And silent in the Dust. Ministers now had awakning calls to seriousness and fervour in their ministeriall work to preach on the side and brink of the Pit into which thousands were tumbling to pray under such neer views of eternity into which many passengers were daily entring might be a means to stir up the spirit more than ordinary Now there is such a vast concourse of people in the Churches where these Ministers are to be found that they cannot many times come neer the Pulpit doors for the press but are forced to climb over the pews to them And such a face is now seen in the Assemblies as seldome was seen before in London such eager looks such open ears such greedy attention as if every word would be eaten which dropt from the mouths of the Ministers If you ever saw a drowning Man catch at a rope you may guess how eagerly many people did catch at the Word when they were ready to be overwhelmed by this over-flowing scourge which was passing thorough the City when death was knocking at so many doors and God was crying aloud by his judgments and Ministers were now sent to knock cry aloud and lift up their voice like a Trumpet then then the people began to open the ear and the heart which were fast shut and barred before How did they then hearken as for their lives as if every Sermon were their last as if death stood at the door of the Church and would seize upon them so soon as they came forth as if the arrows which flew so thick in the City would strike them before they could get to their houses as if they were immediately to appear before the Barr of that God who by his Ministers was now speaking unto them Great were the impressions which the Word then made upon many hearts beyond the power of Man to effect and beyond what the people before ever felt as some of them have declar'd When sin is ript up and reprov'd O the teares that slide down from the eyes when the judgments of God are denounced O the tremblings which are upon the conscience when the Lord Jesus Christ is made known and proffer'd O the longing desires and openings of heart unto him when the riches of the Gospel are displayed and the promises of the Covenant of grace are set forth and applyed O the inward burnings and sweet flames which were on the affections now the Net is cast and many fishes are taken the Pool is moved by the Angel and many leprous spirits and sin-sick-souls are cured
Murder Incest and the like It is not unlikely but they count such an action as this meritorious in their kind of merit which in the issue they will finde to merit the flames of eternal Fine instead of a Crown of Glory which I wonder that in their way they can have the least hopes of I believe that the people will now take more heed of them and their waies and instead of promoting their cause I hope that a contrary effect is produced and that the before Indifferency of a generation more newly sprung up who did not know them is now turned into loathing and detestation of such a religion as can allow of such practises My work is not to declare what hath been proved against the Papists before the Honourable Committee of Parliament appointed to enquire into their insolencies and the proofs which have been given in concerning the Fire and who have been accessory thereunto No I would rather endeavour to turn peoples eyes from men to God for whoever were the instruments God was the Authour of this evil which hath come upon us there being no evil in the City that is evil of punishment which the Lord as a righteous and the supream Judge doth not inflict And surely more of the extraordinary hand of God than of any men did appear in the burning of the City of London God could have prevented men by discovering their plots as he did that of the Gun powder-treason before they had taken effect God could have directed and given a blessing unto means for the quenching of it when it was first kindled God who hath the winds in his Fist could have gathered in the Wind and laid it asleep or so turned it the other way that it should have been a defence to the City or God who hath the Clouds at his command and the Bottles of Heaven in his hand could have gathered his thick Clouds together and squeez'd them opend his Bottles and poured down Rain in abundance upon the City so that if the wind had blown as it did it should have blown water upon the fire which would quickly have put it out But the Heavens at that time were Brass no showring Clouds to be seen the Fire begins is quickly taken notice of though in the midst of the night Fire Fire Fire doth resound the streets many Citizens start out of their sleep look out of their windows some dress themselves and run to the place The Lord Maior of the City comes with his Officers a confusion there is councell is taken away and London so famous for wisdom and dexterity can now find neither brains nor hands to prevent its ruine The hand of God was in it The Decree was come forth London must now fall and who could prevent it No wonder when so many Pillars are removed if the Building tumbles the prayers tears and faith which sometimes London hath had might have quenched the violence of the fire might have opened Heaven for rain and driven back the winde but now the fire gets mastery burns dreadfully and God with his great Bellows blowes upon it which makes it spread quickly go on with such force and rage overturning all so furiously that the whole City is brought into jeopardy of desolation That night most of the Londoners had taken their last sleep in their houses they little thought it would be so when they went into their beds they did not in the lest suspect when the doors of their ears were unlockt and the casement of their eyes were opened in the morning to hear of such an enemies invading the City and that they should see him with such fury enter the doors of their houses break into every room and look out of their casements with such a threatning countenance As it is said Lam. 4. 12. The inhabitants would not have believed that the adversary should have entered the gates of Ierusalem so the Inhabitants of the City would not have believed that the Fire should have entred and prevailed to burn London to the ground That which made the ruin the more dismall was that it was begun on the Lords day morning never was there the like Sabbath in London some Churches were in flames that day and God seems to come down and to preach himself in them as he did in Mount Sinai when the Mount burned with Fire such warmpreaching those Churches never had such Lightning dreadful Sermons never were before delivered in London In other Churches Ministers were preaching their Farewel Sermons and people were hearing with quaking and astonishment Instead of a holy Rest which Christians have taken on this day there is a tumultuous hurrying about the streets towards the place that burned and more tumultuous hurrying upon the spirits of those that sat still and had only the notice of the eare of the quick and strange spreading of the Fire Now the Train-bands are up in Arms watching at every quarter for Outlandish men because of the general fears and jealousies and rumours that Fire-Balls were thrown into houses by several of them to help on and provoke the too furious flames Now Goods are hastily removed from the lower parts of the City and the body of the people begin to retire and draw upwards as the people did from the Tabernacles of Corah Dathan and Abiram when the earth did cleave asunder and swallow them up or rather as Lot drew out from his house in Sodom before it was consumed by fire from Heaven Yet some hopes were retained on the Lords day that the Fire would be extinguished especially by them who lived in the remote parts they could scarcely imagine that the Fire a mile off should be able to reach their houses But the evening draws on and now the Fire is more visible and dreadful instead of the Black curtains of the night which used to be spread over the City now the curtains are Yellow the smoke that arose from the burning parts seemed like so much flame in the night which being blown upon the other parts by the winde the whole City at some distance seemed to be on fire Now hopes begin to sink and a general consternation seiseth upon the spirits of people little sleep is taken in London this night the amazement which the eye and ear doth effect upon the spirit doth either dry up or drive away the vapour which used to binde up the senses Some are at work to quench the fire with water others endeavour to stop its course by pulling down of houses but all to no purpose if it be a little allayed or beaten down or put to a stand in some places it is but a very little while it quickly recruits and recovers its force it leaps and mounts and makes the more furious onset drives back its opposers snatcheth their weapons out of their hands seiseth upon the Water-houses and Engines burns them spoils them and makes them unfit for service Some are upon their knees in the
Thred-needle-street a little further with another which came up from Wall-brook a little further with another which comes up from Bucklers-bury and all these four joyning together break into one great flame at the corner of Cheap-side with such a dazling light and burning heat and roaring noise by the fall of so many houses together that was very amazing and though it were something stopt in its swift course at Mercers Chappel yet with great force in a while it conquers the place and burns through it and then with great rage proceedeth forward in Cheapside On Tuesday was the Fire burning up the very bowels of London Cheapside is all in a light fire in a few hours time many Fires meeting there as in the center from Soper-lane Bow-lane Bread-street Friday-street and Old-change the Fire comes up almost together and breaks furiously into the Broad-street and most of that side of the way was together in flames a dreadful spectacle and then partly by the Fire which came down by Mercers Chappel partly by the fall of the Houses cross the way the other side is quickly kindled and doth not stand long after it Now the Fire gets into Black-fryers and so continues its course by the water and makes up towards Paul's Church on that side and Cheap-side Fire besets the great building on this side and the Church though all of stone outward though naked of houses about it and though so high above all buildings in the City yet within a while doth yield to the violent assaults of the conquering flames and strangely takes Fire at the top now the lead melts and runs down as if it had been snow before the Sun and the great beames and massy stones with a great noise fall on the Pavement and break through into Faith-Church under neath now great flakes of stone scale and peel off strangely from the side of the Walls the Conqueror having got this high Fort darts its flames round about now Pater-noster-rowe Newgate-market the old Baily and Ludgate-hill have submitted themselves to the devouring Fire which with wonderful speed rusheth down the Hill into Fleet-street Now Cheap-side Fire marcheth along Iron-monger-lane old Iury Lawrence-lane Milk-street Wood-street Gutter-lane Foster-lane Now it runs along Lothbury Cat-eaten-street c. From Newgate-Market it assaults Christ-Church and conquers that great building and burns through Martin's lane towards Alders-gate and all about so furiously as if it would not leave a House standing upon the ground Now horrible flakes of fire mount up the sky and the yellow smoke of London ascendeth up towards Heaven like the smoak of a great Furnace a smoak so great as darkned the Sun at noon-day it at any time the Sun peeped forth it looked red like blood the Cloud of smoak was so great that travellers did ride at noon day some miles together in the shaddow thereof though there were no other cloud beside to be seen in the sky And if Munday night was dreadfull Tuesday night was more dreadfull when far the greatest part of the City was consumed many thousands who on Saturday had Houses convenient in the City both for themselves and to entertain others now have not where to lay their head and the fields are the only receptacle which they can find for themselves and their goods most of the late Inhabitants of London lye all night in the open Ayr with no other canopy over them but that of the Heavens The fire is still making towards them and threatneth the Suburbs it was amazing to see how it had spread it self several miles in compass and amongst other things that night the sight of Guild-hall was a fearfull spectacle which stood the whole body of it together in view for several hours together after the fire had taken it without flames I suppose because the timber was such solid Oake in a bright shining coale as if it had been a Pallace of gold or a great building of burnished Brass On Wednesday morning when people expected that the Suburbs would be burnt as well as the City and with speed were preparing their flight as well as they could with their luggage into the Countreys and neighbouring Villages Then the Lord hath pitty on poor London his bowels begin to relent his heart is turned within him and he stayes his rough wind in the day of the East wind his fury begins to be allayed he hath a remnant of people in London and there shall a remnant of houses escape the wind now is husht the Commission of the fire is withdrawing and it burns so gently even where it meets with no opposition that it was not hard to be quenched in many places with a few hands now the Citizens begin to gather a little heart and encouragement in their endeavours to quench the Fire A check it had at Leaden-hall by that great building a stop it had in Bishopsgate-street Fen-church-street Lime-street Mark-lane and towards the Tower one means under God was the blowing up of houses with Gunpowder Now it is stayed in Lothbury Broad-street Coleman-street towards the gates it burnt but not with any great violence at the Temple also it is stayed and in Holbourn where it had got no great footing and when once the fire was got under it was kept under and on Thursday the flames were extinguished But on Wednesday-night when the people late of London now of the fields hoped to get a little rest on the ground where they had spread their beds a more dreadful fear fals upon them than they had before through a rumour that the French were comming armed against them to cut their throats and spoil them of what they had saved out of the Fire they were now naked and weak and in ill condition to defend themselves and the hearts especially of the females do quake and tremble and are ready to die within them yet many Citizens having lost their houses and almost all that they had are fired with rage and fury and they begin to stir up themselves like Lyons or like Bears bereaved of their whelps and now Arm Arm Arm doth resound the Fields and Suburbs with a dreadful voice We may guess at the distress and perplexity of the people this night which was something alleviated when the falsness of the alarm was perceived Thus fell great London that ancient City that populous City London which was the Queen City of the Land and as famous as most Cities in the world none so famous for the Gospel and zealous profession of the reformed Religion And yet how is London departed like smoak and her glory laid in the dust how is her destruction come which no man thought of and her desolation in a moment how do the Nations about gaze and wonder how doth the whole Land tremble at the noise of her fall how do her Citizens droop and hang down their heads her Women and Virgins weep and sit in the dust Oh the paleness that now sits upon the cheeks the
astonishment and confusion that covers the face the dismall apprehensions that arise in the minds of most concerning the dreadful consequences which are likely to be of this fall of London How is the pride of London stained and beauty spoiled her arme broken and strength departed her riches almost gone and treasures so much consumed The head now is sick and the whole body faint the heart is wounded and every other part is sensible of its stroke never was England in greater danger of being made a prey to a forraign power than since the firing and fall of this City which had the strength and treasure of the Nation in it How is London ceased that rich City that joyous City one corner indeed is left but more than as many houses as were within the walls are turned into ashes The Merchants now have left the Royal Exchange the buyers and sellers have now forsaken the streets Grace-church-street Cornhill Cheapside Newgate Market and the like places which used some time to have throngs of traffiquers now are become empty of inhabitants and instead of the stately houses which stood there last Summer now they lie this Winter in ruinous heaps The glory of London is now fled away like a Bird the Trade of London is shattered and broken to pieces her delights also are vanished and pleasant things laid waste now no chaunting to the sound of the Viol and dancing to the sweet Musick of other Instruments now no drinking Wine in Bowls and stretching upon the beds of lust now no excess of Wine and banquettings no feasts in Halls and curious dishes no amorous looks wanton dalliances no ruffling silks and costly dresses these things in that place are at an end But if houses for sin alone were sunke and fuel for lust only were consumed it would not be so much but the houses also for Gods worship which formerly were a bulwark against the fire partly through the walls about them partly through the fervent prayers within them now are devoured by the flames and the habitations of many who truly fear God have not escaped and in the places where God hath been served and his servants have lived now nettles are growing owles are screeching thieves and cut-throats are lurking A sad face there is now in the ruinous part of London and terrible hath the voice of the Lord been which hath been crying yea roaring in the City by these dreadful judgments of the Plague and Fire which he hath brought upon us Thus you have the Narration of the judgments themselves SECT VII 2. Concerning the Cause of these Iudgments why hath the Lord spoken by such terrible things in the City of London IN giving an account hereof I shall make use of the second Doctrine observed from the words That when God speaks most terribly he doth answer most righteously They are Gods judgments and therefore they must needs be righteous judgments Can there be unrighteousness in God No in no wise for how then could he be God How then could he judge the world Let God be true and every man a lyar Rom. 3. 5 6. Let God be righteous and all the world unrighteous for light may more easily depart from the Sun and heat be separated from the fire and the whole creation may more easily drop into nothing than God cease to be just and righteous in the severest judgments which he doth inflict upon the children of men If any profane mockers do reply against God and reflect upon his righteousness and goodness towards his own people because these judgments have fallen so sore upon London the Glory of the Land yea of the World for the number of godly persons as in scoff they call them which dwell in it if God were so righteous and favourable to the Godly would he bend his bow and shoot so many arrows amongst them as he did in the visitation by the Plague whilst he suffered so many notoriously wicked persons to escape would he send the Fire to consume so many habitations of the Godly whilst the houses of the most vicious and vile were preserved I shall labour to stop the mouths of such who are ready to open them against the King of Heaven by proposing to consideration these following particulars 1. That Gods way is sometimes in the Sea and his paths in the great Waters and his foot-steps are not known Psal. 77. 19. That his judgments are unsearchable and his waies past finding out Rom. 11. 33. And that even then he is righteous in all his waies and holy in all his works Psal. 145. 17. And when clouds and darkness are round about him righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his Throne Psal. 97. 2. And when his judgments are a great deep his righteousness is like the great Mountains Psal. 36. 6. We do not understand all the mysteries of nature neither are we acquainted with all the mysteries of State and if there be some mysteries in Gods way of governing the World and distributing temporal mercies and judgments which we do not apprehend in every thing the meaning of and cannot so fully trace Gods righteousness and goodness therein let us say it is because our eyes are shut and that we are covered with darkness Therefore let us shut our mouths too and seal up our lips with silence not daring in the least to utter any thing which may derogate from these attributes in God which are as inviolable and unchangeable as his very Beeing This might be said if the reason were more abstruse than it is 2. But secondly the reason of Gods judgments and righteousness therein with the salve of his goodness towards his own people may be apprehended if we consider 1. That these Judgments of Plague and Fire are both of them National judgments 1. The judgment of the Plague was National in as much as London was the chief City in as much as the Kings Court was here and most Countries had relations here and all Countries had concernments here moreover the Plague was not only in London and Westminster and and places neer adjacent but it was dispersed into the Countries at a farther distance as Cambridge Norwich Colchester and other Towns where it raged either the same or the next year as much proportionably as it did in London 2. The Judgment of the Fire which burned down only the City and left Westminster and the Suburbs standing and did not reach into the Countreys yet was a National judgment because London was the Metropolis of the Land because the Beauty Riches Strength and Glory of the whole Kingdom lay in London and it was not the inhabitants of the City who alone did suffer by this fire but the whole Land more or less do and will feel the smart hereof 2. These Judgments then being National it is not unreasonable to say that National sins have been the cause of them and if so we may readily finde a reason of Gods righteousness in these proceedings
bring the Judgement of the Fire and if they will still walk contrary to God they must expect that God will walk contrary to them untill he have consumed them 9. A Ninth sin of London is Profaneness and a loose and frothy spirit especially in the Youth and springing generation I do not tax all for I am confident there is a serious and godly Youth growing up But O that there were not reason to say that the generality of Youth is profane and wicked as well as those who are grown more mature in wickedness And this Profaneness hath shewed it self In 1 Profane using Gods Name 2 Profane breaking of Gods Day 3 Profane scoffing at Gods People 1. In profane using of Gods Name How grosly hath the third Commandment been broken in the City how hath the great and dreadfull Name of the Lord God which should make men to tremble in the mention of it and command their spirits into aw and reverence been vainly taken by many and used to fill up the sentence of their ordinary discourse And not only so but how hath the Name of God been tossed in the black mouths of the Children of darkness and even torn in pieces by their hideous Oaths and Execrations What an hellish noyse hath the sound of full-mouth'd Oaths made sometimes in the streets enough to make the hair stand on end of one who hath a sence of the greatness of that Majesty upon his spirit which hereby is so audaciously affronted Oh the Swearing that hath been used by Londoners in buying and selling Many Parents have been so addicted to this sin in their Families that their little Children have no sooner learned to speak but they have also learned of them to swear by the Name of God which hath been all the teaching of God that they have given them a devilish teaching indeed which hereafter they will curse and bann them for in Hell But if you should have laid your ears unto the Taverns and Ale-houses and Whore-houses and other Devil-houses once standing in London and harkened to the speeches of many of the Devils Imps in their drinking and gaming and other lewd practises especially when a little cross'd and vexed Oh what language of Hell might have been heard How have those cursed Villains in the heat of their wine and anger shot vollies of Oaths in the face of the God of Heaven and whetting their tongues like a sharp sword they have not feared to wound the name of God when they have received any injury from men O what poyson of Asps hath there been under their lips but a worse poyson of sin in their hearts from the evil treasure and abundance of which these oaths and blasphemies have proceeded But who can find words to set forth the evil of this sin which hath not the temptation of pleasure advantage or honour as other sins have and therefore is a great argument of a monstrous wicked heart And who can express Gods displeasure for this sin for which he makes sometimes a whole land to mourn And hath not this sin provoked the Lord to utter his angry voice in Plaguing and burning the City that they might fear to abuse his Name any more 2. In profanc breaking of Gods day Sabbath breaking was an ordinary sin in London I say not it was so much broken in doing the ordinary works of the particular callings but in that which was worse How many did spend the Sabbath in eating to excess and drinking till they were drunk in sleeping in walking into the fields in sports and recreations Many wholly neglected the worship of God on that day and instead of that did the Devil more service on the Lords day then all the days of the week besides The many weeks of Sabbaths which London had in the time of the Plague methinks did reprove London for their profaning of the weekly Sabbath And the great fire I will not call it bon-fire because so destructive to London which was begun in the City on the Lords day did reprove London for those lesser fires I will not call them bon-fires because so offensive to God which not long before were kindled in the streets on that day which called for other kind of work Not to speak any thing whether there were any just occasion for those fires and ringing of bells most of which were melted before they were rung so generally again and such a shew of mirth and rejoycing at that time The Citizens carrying forth their goods and lying in the fields with grief and fear might put them in mind how often they had walked out into those fields on the Lords day for their recreation when they should rather have been hearing the word preached or if that were over repeating it in their own families giving and receiving instruction or in their closets at the throne of grace or employed in meditation As God delights in those that call his Sabbaths a delight and makes sweet promises to them so he is highly displeased with Sabbath breakers and hath denounced severe threatnings against them Jer. 17. 27. If ye will not hearken to me to hallow the Sabbath day I will kindle a fire in the gates of Jerusalem which shall devour the Palaces thereof and shall not he quenched 3. In profane scoffing at Gods people The name of a Saint and Godly man hath been ridiculous to many prophane Spirits in London and used by them in a way of reproach How have Gods people especially the more strict and zealous been made the drunkards song and laughed at in the streets Horrid impiety as if it were matter of more shame to be like the Holy God than to be like the Foul Devill and to be employed in the work of angels than to drudge in Satans chains No wonder if God is angry with such a place where such vipers have had their abode Prophaness is a great sin that hath brought ruine upon us 10. A tenth sin of London is Pride This sin being so odious to God so destructive where it abounds and so universal in London I shall speak of it the more largely both in regard of the inward workings and the outward expressions of it which when opened I believe there are none that will be able to say they are wholly free from it 1. In regard of the inward workings of pride Oh how hath the poison of this sin envenomed the spirits of the most in a very high degree How many self-admirers have there been in London who have been puft up with an overweening conceit of their own excellencies What high touring swelling thoughts have they had of themselves What secret self-pleasing and lifting up themselves in their own esteem Some esteeming themselves for that which is matter of shame admiring themselves for their own wit and parts when they have lain fallow and not been employed for God or when they have been employed to his dishonour when they have been wise but it hath been to do
to them but they love not humility in themselves for they will stoop to none Thus some also out of a secret design of pride have discommended others behinde their backs that they might be thought to exceed them whom they could correct and finde fault withall they have laboured to bring down others that they might set up themselves And the same design of Pride they have had in commending others to their faces and exalting them in words above themselves not from a reall esteem which they have had of them above themselves but only that they might draw forth a commendation from them Such expressions of pride have been to be found in Professors and have been more latent but I shall speak of the more gross and open expressions which have been generall in the City We read of the pride of the Daughters of Ierusalem Isa. 3. 16 c. They were haughty and walked with stretched forth necks and wanton eyes walking and mincing as they went and making a tinckling with their feet and what was it they were proud of See from v. 18. to v. 25. Their ornaments their Cauls their Tires their Chains their Bracelets their Mufflers their Tablets their Head-bands their Rings their Iewels their changeable suits of Apparel and the like And hath there not been this pride in London Were not the Daughters of London like the Daughters of Zion for pride and haughtiness Was there any place in England that could shew such pride of Apparel as London could shew which the Female sex were not only guilty of Was there any fashion though never so antick and apish which London did not presently imitate Who can count the Cost which hath been lavished out in Cloathing and rich Apparel some pinching their Bellies and Families to lay it out on this Lust. This Pride of Apparel is very shamefull and absurd Cloaths being the Badge of Apostasie which were not made use of till after the fall therefore the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifies Cloathing comes from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He prevaricated and it is as if a Thief should be proud of his Shackles or any Malefactor of his mark of disgrace At least the gaudy attire of many persons hath signified the emptiness and frothy minde within and that they have had nothing to set them forth but their Cloaths I might also add the pride which the daughters of London have had of their Beauty though it be but skin-deep and the Body but a skinfull of dirt and the choycest beauty without discretion like a Jewel hanged at the ear or nose of a Swine And the Lord knows what monstrous and defiled and deformed insides the most of those have had who have been so fair and adorned outwardly Many in London have been proud of their fine cloaths and fair faces and others of their fair Shops and stately houses Pride has hung about the neck like a Chain and covered them like a garment instead of the cloathing and Ornament of Humility which before God is of so great price Now God is highly offended with the sin of Pride God resisteth the proud 1 Pet. 5. 5. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he doth as it were set himself in battell array against them Pride goes before destruction and an haughty spirit before a fall Prov. 16. 18. Pride was one of Sodoms sins which City was burnt with fire from Heaven Ezek. 16. 49. The Scriptures speak of Three Cities that were burnt for this sin of pride among other sins namely Sodom Ierusalem and Babylon And may not London come in for a fourth The botches and blains and loathsome sores in the bodies of many when the Plague was in London and the burning of so much fewel of pride by the Fire methinks were a very loud reproof and rebuke of London for this sin 11. An eleventh sin of London is fullness of Bread or intemperance in eating this was another of the sins of Sodom God did feed London with the finest of the Wheat and gave plenty of Corn and Flesh and other Provisions but how have they abused Plenty by their Intemperance and Luxury O the excessive Feasting in Halls and private Houses of them whose Estates have been more plentifull What indulging hath there been to the Appetite as if self-denyal in regard of the Appetite were no duty or an enemy and with the Poor to be shut out of doors What curiosity of Palat and daintiness have many in London had so that Air Earth Sea must be ransackt to please them and all would not do What loathing have they had of ordinary food Many good creatures of God must be cut and mangled and spoyled to make them new dishes which however pleasing have but spoyled their stomachs and bred diseases in their bodies Some have not eaten much but have been so choice that scarce any food hath pleased them and that not through sickness of body but wantonness of mind others have been pleased with their food and overpleased and all their pleasure hath been therein All whose God as the Apostle speaks Phil. 3. hath been their belly Such like the Rich man Luk. 16. 19. have fared sumptuously and deliciously every day O the excessive cost that some have bestowed upon their Tables daily O the excessive quantity of Meat that some have devoured O the excessive time that hath been wasted in pampering the flesh What rioting and banqueting hath there been daily in London many feeding themselves without fear as if gluttony were not any sin at all How many have been like fed Horses in the City or like fatted Oxen who as the Apostle Iames speaks have lived in pleasure and been wanton and nourished themselves as in a day of slaughter Jam. 5. 5. and as Hos. 13. 6. According to their pasture so were they filled they were filled and their heart was exalted therefore have they forgotten Me. This kinde of Intemperance hath so strangely brutified many that they have been even degenerated into Beasts only that they have been more unusefull for hereby they have unfitted themselves for all kinde of service as if they were born only to eat but withall they have prepared themselves for those ruining and slaughtering Judgements which have come upon the City 12. A twelfth sin of London is Idleness a consequent of the former only that Idleness hath been more generall this was also a sin of Sodom I will not say but many Citizens of London were diligent in their Calling but how many idle Vagrant persons were there in the City What Idleness in many of the Youth if not held in the more strictly and some breaking forth and lavishing away stollen time which was not at their own dispose whatever strictness was used Moreover what an ill example for idleness did many Governours themselves give to their children and servants When Masters were idle abroad no wonder that Servants were idle at home when Mistresses were idle in their Chambers no wonder if the Kitchin did
11. he will be your refuge under oppression and present help in time of trouble Psal. 46. 1. he will be your rock and fortress your high tower to defend you or your deliverer to redeem you out of all your troubles trust in God alone for all things if you make use of creatures do not lean and stay upon them for they will slip from under you but stay your selves on God O the peace and quiet which this will yield in shaking troublesome dayes when others hearts tremble within them and are moved like leaves upon the approach of danger you shall not be afraid of evil tydings but have your hearts fixed trusting in the Lord Psal. 112. 7. 13. God doth expect that London should have Death in continual remembrance This God expects from the Judgement of the Plague the Death of so many thousands a week in London gave such a spectacle of Mortality and Preached such a Sermon in the City as should bring the remembrance of Death into their minds every day of their lives the death if it were but of one or two should put you in mind of your later end but when you have seen so many go down into the pit before you it should inscribe the remembrance of death more deeply upon your mindes the record of which you should look daily into the gates of the City in the year of the Plague seem'd to have this inscription upon them All Flesh is Grass Let that word sound every day in your ears and remember your bodies are exposed to the stroke of death every day and though you have out-lived the Plague that yet Death hath you in the chase and will ere long you know not how soon overtake you remember your glass is running and will quickly be run out and therefore all the dayes of your appointed time as you should remember so you should prepare for your great change God expects that the remaining inhabitants of London should be prepared well for death now when they have had death so much in their view some of you have been sick of the Plague and brought to the very brink of the Grave all of you have been in danger of the Plague when the disease was so sore and raging I fear most of you were unprepared for death at that time and had you dyed then that it would have been with horrour and I believe that there are few of you but did in the time of your fears and danger make vows and promises if the Lord would shelter you from the arrows which flew about you and spare your lives then that you would lead new lives and be more carefull to prepare for your change so that Death should not take you so unprovided any more God expects the fulfilling of your promises and that you should live up to the vowes which you made in the time of your distress and so provide your selves whilest you are well that the messenger of Death may have a welcome reception when ever he summoneth you to leave this world 14. God expects that London should retain great impressions of Eternity You have had the door of Eternity set wide open in your view when so many were thronging in at the door and I believe you had deeper apprehensions of Eternity in those dayes than ever you had in your lives take heed that those impressions do not wear off and that you lose not those apprehensions especially when you are drawing every day nearer and nearer thereunto Think often of the vast Ocean of Eternity without bottome or bank on the other side into which the whole stream of time will empty it self and how quickly the small rivulet of your appointed dayes may fall into it Think often of the unalterable state of Joy or Misery which you must enter into at the end of your course think how thin and short the pleasures of sin are in this life in comparison of the horrible and endless torments of hell and how light and momentaneous the afflictions of Gods people are here in comparison with the exceeding and eternal weight of glory prepared for them in Heaven 2 Cor. 4. 17. 15. God doth call upon London by the Fire which burnt down the City to secure themselves against the Fire of Hell London's Fire was Dreadful but the Fire of Hell will be a thousand-fold more Dreadfull The Fire of London was kindled by man be sure some second cause was made use of herein but the Fire of Hell will be kindled by God himself Isa. 30. 33. Tophet is ordained of old for the King it is prepared he hath made it deep and large the pile thereof is Fire and much Wood and the breath of the Lord like a stream of brimstone doth kindle it The Fire of London burnt the houses of the City and consumed much of the goods but the Fire of Hell will burn the persons of the wicked Matth. 15. 41. Depart ye cursed into everlasting Fire The Fire of London did burn most but not all the houses in the City some are yet remaining but the Fire of Hell will burn all the persons of the wicked not one of them shall escape and remain The Fire of London was extinguished and did last but four dayes but the Fire of Hell will be unextinguishable it will burn for ever it is called everlasting Fire in which the damned must lye and burn eternally without any possibility of ever getting forth If you had known before of Londons Fire where it would begin and how it would spread and seize upon your houses surely you would have taken some course for the prevention of it you know before of the Fire of Hell the Word of God hath revealed it O take some course for prevention of it at least for securing of your selves against it when the Fire was burning in London you did fly from it least it should have consumed your persons as well as houses O fly from the Fire of Hell into which your persons will be thrown if you go on in sin fly from the wrath which is to come fly unto Jesus Christ who alone can deliver you 16. God doth call upon Londoners by the Fire to be like Strangers and Pilgrims in the World God hath burned you out of your habitations that he might loosen your affections from houses and riches and all things here below that he might unsettle you unhinge unfix you that you might never think of Rest and Settlement in the Creatures as long as you live God calls upon you by this Judgement to take off your hearts from this world which is so very uncertain and to be like Strangers and Pilgrims upon the earth who are to take up your lodging here but a few dayes and nights in your passage to the other world God expects you should live as those who have here no certain dwelling place and therefore that you should not lavish away too much of your thoughts and affections and time about these