latter which are more visible now and apparent for as God being so slow to anger hath not been quickly moved to such indignation but as we have reason to think that his wrath hath been a long time boiling in his breast before it was raised to this heighth as to boile over and pour down Plague and Fire upon the City of London so we may reasonably infer that sins committed by London long agoe were the fuel put under that caused this boiling of his anger which because other judgments have not wrought the kindly effect of repentance the Lord hath been provoked to express this way which hath been more feeling and dreadfull Moreover when I reckon up London's sins I would not reflect alone upon any one party in as much as all parties have sinned and I believe the Lord hath been offended with all as in his judgments he hath made no difference that all might be awakened to see their faults with sorrow and shame And if it were fit I would begin here with my self being perswaded that my sins more then thousands of others have helpt to fill up the Viol of Gods anger but as I go along I shall endeavour by the grace of God to apply to my self the sins which conscience will accuse of that I may bewail and amend and I would beseech every one of you that cast your eyes upon these lines to do the like and to compare them with those lines which are written in the Book of your consciences and where you finde a transcript read and read again consider and lay to heart get to your knees confess and labour to drop at least some teares into the Bottle which if this little Book might help gather from your eyes and you could be perswaded to pour forth such waters before the Lord they might help to quench the violence of the Fire of Gods anger which we have reason to fear is still burning against us SECT VIII A Catalogue of London's sins which have provoked the Lord to speak with so terrible a voice in the City 1. THe first sin of London is slighting of the Gospel The Gospel in England hath above this hundred years shined forth out of the clouds of Popery and Antichristianisme which before did over-spread the Land and in no place of England hath the Gospel been preached with greater power and purity than in London and what entertainment hath it found hath it been valued according to its worth and excellency hath it been received as if it had come down from the God of Heaven expressing his love and good-will towards the children of Men as if it had brought such good newes and tidings as salvation by Jesus Christ Read the elogium which the Apostle Peter gives of the salvation made known by the Gospel 1 Pet. 1. 10 11 12. Of which salvation the Prophets have enquired and searched diligently who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you searching what or what manner of time the spirit of Christ which was in them did signify when it testified before-hand the sufferings of Christ and the glory that should follow unto whom it was revealed that not unto themselves but unto us they did minister the things which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the Gospel unto you with the holy Ghost sent down from Heaven which things the Angels desire to look into The Prophets of old did enquire and search but did not so clearly understand the Gospel as now it is revealed our Saviour tells his Disciples Luke 10. 24. That many Prophets and Kings had desired to see the things which they saw and had not seen them and to hear the things which they did hear and had not heard them for indeed this mystery was hid from ages and generations which God then made manifest unto the Saints Col. 1. 26. And the Apostle Paul tells us that though the ministration of the Law were glorious in so much that it made the face of Moses to shine unto whom the Law was revealed upon the Mount yet that it had no glory in comparison with the ministration of the Gospel whose glory did so far excell 2 Cor. 3. 7 10. the mysteries of Gods wisdome and love revealed in the Gospel being so glorious surely are worthy of acceptation and esteem especially when the Angels who are not so much concerned desire to look into these things unto whom it is said Eph. 3. 10. Is made known by the Church the manifold wisedome of God And yet these great things which have been reported by them who have preached the Gospel with the Holy Ghost sent down from Heaven have been undervalued in London The Gospel hath been slighted in London and though some have been more notoriously guilty yet who can altogether excuse themselves from this sin Now that the conviction may be more full I shall charge the sin more particularly 1. The ignorant persons in London have been guilty of this sin the light of the Gospel hath shin'd about them but they have mufled up themselves in darkness and suffered Sathan to keep them hood-wink'd least the light of the glorious Gospel should enter and lead them out of his snare thousands in the City have been affectedly ignorant though they have had means of knowledge so near and so easy to come by multitudes have perished out of London and multitudes still remain in their ignorance O the neglect that there hath been of learning Catechisms and how few have endeavour'd to acquaint themselves with the Principles of the Christian Religion that they might have the more full and clear understanding of the Gospel 2. The vicious and profane have been guilty of slighting the Gospel how many such persons have there crouded and are still crouding out of London into Hell when the light of the Gospel shined upon them which would have guided them in the way to Heaven because this light hath been too troublesome in its discovery and reproof of their dear and sweet sins they have hated it and endeavoured to fly as far as they could from it or to shut their eyes as hard as they could against it 3. The civil persons also have been guilty there have been many sober Citizens and Matrons civil youths and virgins who have been free from the gross pollutions which are in the World through lust who have been diligent in their calling just in their dealings courteous and sweet natur'd in their demeanour and yet without the least degree of the power of godliness without which it is impossible they should be saved alas none of these have given any warme welcome unto the Gospel in their hearts which hath been so long preached in the City the kindness of a friend hath been esteemed by them but the kindness of God hath not been regarded if a Messenger had come and told them how they might save their estates when in danger of loss or how to save their relations when in danger of
a People by terrible things Here I shall show 1. How God may be said to speak 2. What those terrible things are by which God doth sometimes speak 3. Why God doth sometimes speak unto a People by terrible things and then apply 1. How God may be said to speak God being a Spirit hath no Mouth nor Tongue properly as men have who have bodies and therefore his way of speaking is not like ours though sometimes he hath created a Voice in as articulate sound as if it had proceeded from the mouth of man to declare his will but there are several wayes in which God hath spoken and doth speak unto the Children of men by which he doth as really and effectually make known his mind as if he spake with mans voice 1. God hath spoken formerly unto men immediately in extraordinary wayes and that sometimes more terribly as when he gave the Law upon Mount Sinai when the Mount burned with fire and there was blackness and darkness and tempest thundrings and lightnings and the sound of the Trumpet exceeding loud and the voice of words so exceeding terrible that it made the whole Camp to tremble and Moses himself said I exceedingly fear and quake Exod. 19. 16. Heb. 12. 18 19 20 21. This way of Gods speaking the Children of Israel were not able to bear therefore they desired that Moses might speak unto them but that God would not speak unto them thus any more least they should die Exod. 20. 19. At other times God spake with a more still and gentle voice and in a more milde way as when he spake to Samuel in the night he thought at first that it had been the voice of Eli 1 Sam. 3. 4 5. Thus God spake unto Abraham unto Iacob unto Moses to whom it is said he spake face to face as a man speaketh to his friend Exod. 33. 11. God spake also in an extraordinary way to his Prophets of old when he made known unto them his counsel that they might declare it unto the people Sometimes he spake unto them with an audible voice which he created when no Shape was seen sometimes by Angels who appeared in bodies which they laid down again when they had delivered their message sometimes by Dreams and Visions in the night sometimes by Urim and Thummim sometimes by more secret Inspirations of the Spirit In the last daies of Gods extraordinary speaking he spake by the most extraordinary person namely by his own most dearly beloved and only begotten Son Heb. 1. 1 2. whom he sent out of his bosom to declare himself Ioh. 1. 18. and reveal what he had heard of the Father Ioh. 15. 15. who brought life and immortality to light by the Gospel and made known Gods purpose and Grace in mans Salvation 2 Tim. 1. 9 10. and uttered such things as were kept secret from the foundations of the world Mat. 13. 35. The Gospel began to be spoken of by the Lord Iesus himself and was continued and confirmed by his Apostles who were his Witnesses to whom God also did bear witness with signs and wonders and divers Miracles and gifts of the Holy Ghost according to his will Heb. 2. 3 4. 2. And now though not so immediately and in such extraordinary wayes yet still God doth speak unto the Children of men There are two wayes of Gods speaking now unto men namely his Word and his Works 1. His Word contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament which holy men wrote as they were inspired by the Holy Ghost 2 Pet. 1. 21. And thus God speaketh either externally by his Word alone or internally with his Word by his Spirit 1. God speaketh now unto men externally by his Word alone to some more silently unto whom he gives his Scriptures only to be read and brings to their view his written Word alone without the advantage of other Ordinances which might more powerfully declare unto them his will Unto others he speaks more audibly where the Gospel doth sound in their ears and wiâ—h the Scriptures God sendeth his Ministers to preach unto them God speaketh by his Ministers who are his Watchmen in his Name to warn the people of his Judgements temporal and eternal which in the Scriptures he hath threatned Ezek. 3 17 18 c. Isa. 63. 6. who are the Lords Embassadors 2 Cor. 5. 20. from whom they have a Commission to preach the Gospel and declare the glad tidings of Salvation unto all such as repent and believe and yield up themselves unto the obedience of the Word Ministers stand in the room of Christ and it is well for us that God speaks unto us by Ministers because we should not be able to endure should he speak unto us immediately by himself should he speak unto us with an audible voice as he did to the Children of Israel on Mount Sinai when he gave the Law this would be so terrible that with them we should desire to heat Moses and chuse Ministers rather to speak unto us yea if Christ Jesus himself should come down from heaven however he might have been heard in his state of Humiliation when his Deity was so much vailed yet if he should now appear in the glory he hath with the Father or as he appeared unto Iohn his Beloved Disciple when his eyes were as a flame of fire and his countenance like the Sun when it shineth in its full strength and his voice like the sound of many waters I say if Christ should thus appear and preach unto us such a dread and amazement would fall upon us that we should fall down dead at his feet as his Disciple Iohn did Rev. 1. 13 14 15 16 17. Therefore it is better for us in this state of weakness that God speaketh to us by Ministers men of like passions and infirmities with our selves whom we may be able to bear and whose words notwithstanding our weakness we may be able to hear 2. God doth now also speak unto men internally with his Word by his Spirit when God sends his Spirit with his Word for Conviction only or some Common work thus God calls upon the wicked who sit under the preaching of the Word moves and strives with them by his Spirit but they resist the spirit stifle Convictions wil not hearken to his calls and motions Gen. 6. 3. Act. 7. 51. But especially God speaks with his Word by his Spirit when he sendeth his Spirit for Conversion and to effect a saving change thus God speaks when he calleth blind sinners out of darkness into his marvellous light 1 Pet. 2. 9. quickneth dead sinners putting into them a new Principle of spiritual life Eph. 2. 1. rescueth enslaved sinners out of Satans snare 2 Tim. 2. 26. delivering them from the power of the Devil and translating them into the Kingdome of his dear Son Col. 1. 13. when by his Spirit he draweth sinners Ioh. 6. 44. and joyns them unto Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 6. 17. God
speaketh unto men with his Word by his Spirit when he doth thus effectually call them and he speaketh unto men also by his Spirit when he graciously visiteth them which are called when he teacheth melteth warmeth quickneth strengtheneth and refresheth them by his Spirit as they sit under the influence of his Ordinances when he speaketh peace unto their Consciences sheweth them his reconciled Face sheddeth abroad his love in their hearts and giveth such sweet comforts and ravishing joy as is unspeakable and full of Glory Ioh. 6. 45. Ioh. 14. 26. Luk. 24. 32. Psal. 143. 11. Eph. 3. 16. Act. 3. 19. Psa. 85. 8. Rom. 5. 5. Psa. 94. 19. 1 Pet. 1. 8. 2. God speaketh unto men by his Works and that either by his works of Creation or by his works of Providence 1. God speaketh by his works of Creation the Heavens have a voice and declare Gods glory Psa. 19. 1. and the Earth hath not only an ear to hear Isa. 1. 2. but also a tongue as it were to speak Gods praise We read of the Seas roaring and the Floods clapping their hands of the Mountains singing and the Trees of the wood sounding forth their joyful acclamations yea beasts and all cattel creeping things and flying fowl Dragons and all Deeps Fire Hail Snow Rain and stormy winde as they fulfill his Word so they speak and in their way declare what their Maker is or rather in them and by them God doth speak and make known something of himself Psa. 148. 7 8 10. c. We read of the Voice of the Lord in Power the Voice of the Lord in Majesty the Voice of the Lord upon the waters the Voice of the Lord dividing the flames of fire the Voice of the Lord shaking the Wilderness of Cadesh breaking the Cedars of Lebanon and the like which is the Voice of the Lord in the terrible noise of Thunder Psa. 29. 3 4 5 6 7 8. And there is no one work of the Lord though not with such a noise which doth not with a loud voice as it were in the Name of the Lord proclaim unto the Children of men how great and glorious the Lord is who hath given it its being and use and place in the world especially the work of God in the Make of man his body the members and senses his Soul the powers and faculties doth without a tongue speak the praise of that God who curiously framed the body in the womb and immediately infused the living soul Psa. 139. 14 15. Zach. 12. 1. 2. God speaketh by his Works of Providence and that both merciful and afflictive 1. God speaketh by his Merciful Providences by his patience and bounty and goodness he calleth men unto repentance Rom. 2. 4. He giveth witness of himself in giving rain and fruitful seasons Act. 14. 17. Gods providing mercies Gods preventing mercies Gods preserving mercies Gods delivering mercies the number of Gods mercies which cannot be reckoned the order and strange method of Gods mercies which cannot be declared the greatness of Gods mercies in the kinds and strange circumstances which cannot be expressed do all with open mouth call upon men from the Lord to repent of their sins which they have committed against him and to yeild all love thankfulness and obedience unto him 2. God speaketh by his afflictive Providences There is a voice of God in his Rod as well as in his Word Mic. 6. 9. Hear the Rod and who hath appointed it when God chasteneth he teacheth Psal. 94. 12. When God lifteth up his hand and strikes he openeth his mouth also and speaks and sometimes openeth mens ears too and sealeth their instruction Iob 33. 16. Sometimes God speaks by Rods more mildly by lesser afflictions sometimes God speaks by Scorpions more terribly by greater Judgements which leads to the second particular SECT II. 2. What are those terrible things by which God doth sometimes speak THe word in the Original is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifieth he feared Terrible things are such great Judgements of God as do usually make a general impression of fear upon the hearts of people Take some instances 1. The Plague is a Terrible Iudgement by which God speaks unto men The Hebrew word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he spake It is a speaking Judgement where God sends the Plague he speaks and he speaks terribly the Plague is very terrible as it effecteth terrour the Pestilence which walketh in darkness is called the Terrour by night Psal. 91. 5 6. The Plague is very terrible in that 1. It is so poysonous a disease it poysons the blood and spirits breeds a strange kind of venom in the body which breaketh forth sometimes in Boils and Blains and great Carbuncles or else works more dangerously when it preyeth upon the vitals more inwardly 2. It is so noysome a disease it turns the good humors into putrefaction which putting forth it self in the issues of running sores doth give a most noysome smell Such a disease for loathsomeness we read of Psa. 38. 5 7 11. My wounds stink and are corrupt my loins are filled with a loathsome disease and there is no soundness in my flesh my lovers and my friends stand aloof from my sore and my Kinsmen stand afar off 3. It is so infectious a disease it spreadeth it self worse than the Leprosie amongst the Iews it infecteth not only those which are weak and infirm in body and full of ill humors but also those which are young strong healthful and of the best temperature and that sometimes sooner than others The Plague is infectious and greatly infectious whole Cities have been depopulated through its spreading many whole families have received infection and death one from another thereby which is the third thing that rendreth the Plague so terrible 4. It is so deadly it kills where it comes without mercy it kills I had almost said certainly very few do escape especially upon its first entrance and before its malignity be spent few are touched by it but they are killed by it and it kills suddenly as it gives no warning before it comes suddenly the arrow is shot which woundeth unto the heart so it gives little time of preparation before it brings to the Grave Under other diseases men may linger out many weeks and moneths under some divers years but the Plague usually killeth within a few daies sometimes within a few hours after its first approach though the body were never so strong and free from disease before The Plague is very terrible it is terrible to them that have it insomuch as it usually comes with Grim Death the King of Terrours in its hand and it is terrible to them which have it not because of their danger of being infected by it the fear of which hath made such an impression upon some that it hath rased out of their hearts for the while all affections of love and pitty to their