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
night pouring out tears before the Lord interceding for poor London in the day of its calamity but alas I fear there are too few weeping Ieremiah's at the throne of grace too few Moses's to stand in the gap too few Iacob's to wrestle with the Lord and hang about his arm Londons sins were too great and Gods anger against the City was too hot so easily presently to be quenched and allayed and if by the intercession of some a mitigation be obtained so that the Lord doth not stir up all his wrath utterly to destroy the place as he did Sodom and Gomorrah yet none can prevaile to call back that wrath and reverse that decree which is gone forth against the City The time of Londons fall is come the Fire hath received its commission from God to burn down the City and therefore all attempts to hinder it are in vain On the Lords day night the Fire had run as far as Garlick-hithe in Thames-street and had crept up into Cannon-street and levell'd it with the ground and still is making forward by the water-side and upward to the brow of the hill on which the City was built On Munday Grace-church-street is all in flames with Lumbard-street on the left hand and part of Fen-church-street on the right the Fire working though not so fast against the winde that way before it were pleasant and stately houses behind it ruinous and desolate heaps The burning then was in fashion of a Bow a dreadful Bow it was such as mine eyes never before had seen a Bow which had Gods Arrow in it with a flaming point It was a shining Bow not like that in the cloud which brings water with it and withall signified Gods Covenant not to destroy the world any more with water but it was a Bow which had Fire in it which signified Gods anger and his intention to destroy London with Fire Now the Flames break in upon Cornhill that large and spacious street and quickly crosse the way by the train of Wood that lay in the streets untaken away which had been pull'd down from houses to prevent its spreading and so they lick the whole street as they go they mount up to the top of the highest houses they descend down to the bottom of the lowest vaults and cellars and march along on both sides of the way with such a roaring noise as never was heard in the City of London no stately building so great as to resist their fury the Royal Exchange it self the glory of the Merchants is now invaded with much violence and when once the fire was entred how quickly did it run round the Galleries filling them with flames then came down staires compasseth the walkes giving forth flaming volleys and filleth the court with sheets of Fire by and by down fall all the Kings upon their faces and the greatest part of the stone-building after them the Founders statue only remaining with such a noise as was dreadful and astonishing Then then the City did shake indeed and the inhabitants did tremble and flew away in great amazement from their houses least the flames should devour them Ratle ratle ratle was the noise which the Fire struck upon the eare round about as if there had been a thousand Iron Chariots beating upon the stones and if you opened your eye to the opening of the streets where the Fire was come you might see in some places whole streets at once in flames that issued forth as if they had been so many great Forges from the opposite windowes which folding together were united into one great flame throughout the whole street and then you might see the Houses tumble tumble tumble from one end of the street to the other with a great crash leaving the foundations open to the view of the heavens Now fearfulness and terrour doth surprize the Citizens of London confusion and astonishment doth fall upon them at this unheard of unthought of Judgment It would have grieved the heart of an unconcern'd person to see the rufull looks the pale cheeks the tears trickling down from the eyes where the greatness of sorrow and amazement could give leave for such a vent the smiting of the brest the wringing of the hands to hear the sighs and groans the dolefull and weeping speeches of the distressed Citizens when they were bringing forth their wives some from their child bed and their little ones some from their sick bed out of their houses and sending them into the Countreys or some where into the Fields with their goods Now the hopes of London are gone their heart is sunk now there is a general remove in the City and that in a greater hurry than before the Plague their goods being in greater danger by the Fire than their persons were by the sickness Scarcely are some returned but they must remove again and not as before now without any more hopes of ever returning and living in those houses any more Now Carts and Draies and Coaches and Horses as many as could have entrance into the City were loaden and any money is given for help 5 l. 10 l. 20 l. 30 l. for a Cart to bear forth into the Fields some choice things which were ready to be consumed and some of the Countreys had the conscience to accept of the highest price which the Citizens did then offer in their extremity I am mistaken if such money do not burn worse than the Fire out of which it was rak'd Now Casks of Wine and Oyl and other commodities are tumbled along and the owners shove as much of their goods as they can towards the Gate every one now becomes a Porter to himself and scarcely a back either of Man or Woman that hath strength but had a burden on it in the streets It was very sad to see such throngs of poor Citizens coming in and going forth from the unburnt parts heavy loaden with some pieces of their goods but more heavy loaden with weighty grief and sorrow of heart so that it is wonderfull they did not quite sink under these burdens Munday night was a dreadfull night when the wings of the night had shadowed the light of the heavenly bodies there was no darkness of night in London for the Fire shines now round about with a fearful Blaze which yeilded such light in the streets as it had been the Sun at noon day Now the Fire having wrought backward strangely against the Winde to Billings-Gate c. along Thames-Street Eastward runs up the hill to Tower-Street and having marched on from Grace-Church-Street maketh further progress in Fen-Church-Street and having spread its wing beyond Queen-hithe in Thames-Street Westward mounts up from the Water-side through Dowgate and old Fish-street into Watling-street but the great fury of the Fire was in the broader Streets in the midst of the night it was come down Cornhill and laid it in the dust and runs along by the Stocks and there meets with another Fire which came down
the evening the hand was not with-drawn plentifull and powerfull hath preaching been in London in season and out of season on the Sabbath day and on the week day but hath London answered all Gods care and cost hath not God come for many years together seeking fruit and found nothing but the leaves of profession hath he not often threatned to cut down the unfruitfull Trees and not suffer them to cumber his ground any longer and when through the intercession of the Vine-dresser he hath spared them this year and another year hath not the same unfruitfulness still remained what could the Lord have done more to his Vine-yard than he hath done wherefore then when he looked for Grapes brought it forth only leaves or wilde Grapes And is it then to be wondred at if the Lord pluck down the hedge thereof that it might be eaten up by the wilde Boar and Beast of the field if he break down the wall thereof and make it waste and desolate Is it to be wondred at if he with-hold the Clouds that they rain not on it and suffer briars and thorns to spring up in it where the Plants did grow The Vine when it is unfruitful is the most unuseful of all Trees it is fit for nothing but the fire and the Lord hath threatned to gather the unfruitfull branches and to cast them into the fire and burn them and the Earth which drinketh in the rain that often falleth upon it and instead of herbs meet for the use of him by whom it is dressed bringeth forth nothing but bryars and thorns God rejecteth and curseth and in the end burneth O the unfruitfulness of London O the briars and thorns which have flourished in this ground whereby the seed of the Word hath been choaked O the hemlock the thistle and the wormwood that have sprung up in the furrowes of the field O the tares that have abounded and overtopped the wheat and how little good Corn hath there been brought forth O the wilde Olive Trees which have grown up in Gods Garden and wilde Figges and wilde Grapes which the Figg-Trees and Vines of God have yielded unto him O the leanness of his sheep in such fat pasture O the barrenness the barrenness of London under such plentifull showers of the Word instead of the fruits of righteousness which are to the praise and glory of God there have been the fruits of unrighteousness and wickedness which are to Gods dishonour instead of the fruits of the spirit which are love joy peace gentleness meekness temperance goodness faith there have been the works of the flesh fornication uncleanness lasciviousness hatred variance emulations wraths strifes seditions heresies envyings murders drunkenness revellings and such like of which the Apostle tells us that they which do such things shall not inherit the Kingdome of God And those who have not abounded in the grosser works of the flesh very few of them have been very fruitfull in good works London hath had the means of grace and yet most of them without grace few of them have much grace London hath had powerfull Ordinances but but what powerful effect have they produced what have they to shew of all their Prayers and Sermons and Sacraments have they attained unto a great measure of mortification is grace grown up to a great heighth what evidences what experiences have the best got which they might have got had they been more diligent Give me leave a little more particularly to instance the unfruitfulness of London in regard of repentance faith love and new obedience the fruit which God so much looketh for and so much delighteth in 1. Where have been the fruits of Repentance in London Calls there have been to repentance frequent fervent reason for repentance sins numerous hainous need of repentance that judgments temporall eternall might be diverted that pardon happiness might be obtained and yet O the impenitency and hard-heartedness of London few bleeding hearts under the sharp sword of the Word little tenderness under the most melting discourses few converts and penitent persons did the most powerful preaching especially before the Gospels eclipse bring forth in London converting work was at a great stand though there were so many unconverted persons in the City and by the impenitency and hardness of heart in London Gods treasures of wrath have been filled up which in some measure he hath opened in these late judgments that he hath inflicted and yet the great day of his wrath is stil to come Rom. 2. 4 5. 2. Where have been the fruits of Faith in London how hath unbelief abounded the great Gospel sin more dangerous than any other and more hainous in London than in any other place O the thick vail of unbelief which hath hid Gospel mysteries and things afar off from the eyes of this people O the evil heart of unbelief which hath shut the door against the Lord Jesus Christ who hath knocked so long for entertainment O the sottishness of London to believe no more when truths have been made so plain and clear when promises have been made known so great and sure when Christ hath been preached and tendered and when Heaven hath been reveal'd and proffered and when all have such need for the most to shut the eye and ear and heart and through unbelief to refuse to give God the lye and turn upon him the back to give Christ a wound and tread his blood underfoot to give the spirit a repulse and send him away griev'd from the heart as men do by their unbelief this sin doth provoke the Lord to great displeasure 3. Where have been the fruits of love in London O the want of love to God and one to another the grace of love is necessary and sweet and hath been much pressed but little exercised in London there hath been much love of the World but little love of the Father hatred of the brethren hath abounded but there was little brotherly love burning anger there hath been litle burning love burning lusts litle burning love inordinate carnal love little true spiritual love carnal love hath exceeded the bounds but spiritual love hath been in a very low degree and when love in London hath waxed cold is it a wonder if Gods anger hath waxed so hot and broken forth into such flames as we have seen 4. Where have been the fruits of new obedience in London and expression of love to Jesus Christ by keeping of his commandments though his commandments are not grievous 3. A third sin of London is hypocrisy in the profession of religion This sin exceedingly prevailed in the late times when profession of religion was grown into fashion religion was neer in the mouths of most but far from the reins there was a general face of religion but it was no more than skin-deep It was seated in the countenance not rooted in the heart how many painted sepulchres had we in London outwardly fair and
is envying And this sin was to be found not only in Women which envied others that exceeded them in beauty of body in cloaths and dressing and such like toyes but also in men who envied them who were of the same trade which had better houses and shops more custome and wealth than themselves as Hesiod 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Yea this envying was to be found among many Ministers who envied others that had better parts and more learning greater applause and more auditors than themselves There was a spirit among us which lusted to envy Jam. 4. 5. which besides the great torment that it brings to the spirit where it reigns is a very great provocation to the Lord. 23. The twenty third sin of London is slandering and backbiting which hath been the consequent of the former The ninth commandment hath been exceedingly broken in London especially in a private way of bearing false witness against the neighbour and wounding his reputation by a slanderous tongue some inventing lyes and raising slanders which they have in their consciences known to be false others taking up slanders readily believing them without any just proof This sin you have set forth with a caution to take heed of such persons Ier. 9. 4 5. London hath been full of backbiters and tale-bearers and too many professours have been guilty of this sin few have entertained backbiters with an angry countenance which as the wind driveth away rain would have driven them out of sight I might here add the hatred of one another that hath been in London much through slanders the emulation that hath risen from hatred the wrath that hath risen from emulation and the wrath of God which hath arisen from these and other works of the flesh spoken of Gal. 5. 19 20. 24. The twentyfourth sin of London is murmuring and that not only in want and under losses and crosses but also in fulness and plenty Many Farmers in the Countrey have murmured at the plenty and cheapness of Corn many tradesmen in the City have murmured at the plenty of the commodities which they have dealt in because however such plenty is a publick and unspeakable mercy yet they have had the less private advantage which hath been chiefly regarded by them Yea some in their murmuring have wished for a Plague that the survivers might have the better trade And I have heard that a Fire also hath been wisht for to take off the plenty of such commodities that the remainder might bear the higher rate Is it a wonder then if God have sent Plague and Fire which some have called for by such murmuring speeches The Israelites in the Wilderness were plagued for their murmuring and the murmuring company of Corah that were not swallowed up with him were consumed by a fire from Heaven 25. The twenty fifth and last sin of London which I shall speak of is Carnal security another of Sodoms sins It is said of the Sodomites Luk. 17. 28 29. In the days of Lot they did eat they drank they bought they sold they planted they builded But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from Heaven and destroyed them all When London had provoked God so highly by so many sins yet how secure were they before his judgements broke forth upon them they eat and drank they bought and sold c. They sate at ease and put far from them the evil day as Amos 6. they were still and at rest little expecting such changes as have come upon them and taking little care to prevent them they were secure and trusted in arms of flesh broken reeds which have alwayes failed And I might add here as a cause of the security of some the presumptuous confidences of future events which belong only to God to foreknow which some have taken upon them so absolutely to determine as if they had looked into the book of Gods decrees or had an infallible revelation from him of what should come to pass O the good dayes that some have looked for upon the presumption of what they had no ground for Great expectations many had of the Fall of Antichrist and Babylon in the year 1666. and other events limiting times which God hath not clearly revealed which is an entrenching upon Gods prerogative and I believe a greater provocation than such persons are aware of This may be one reason why London is fallen instead of Babylon in this year of such expectation and presumption By this time it may be the Reader may be wearied with reading as I am with thinking and writing of Londons sins But how hath the Lord been wearied with the bearing of them how hath he been pressed with the weight of them as a Cart is pressed that is full of Sheaves Amos 2. 13. If when you have read of Londons judgements withall you consider Londons provocations you must needs acknowledge that God is righteous in that he hath punished London no more than they have deserved for these sins 2. GOds Righteousness will further appear if we consider that he hath punished London less than her iniquities deserved 1. God might have punished London deservedly with more dreadful judgements here and that both in the same and another kind 1. God might have deservedly punished London worse in the same kind 1. In the judgement of the Plague It was a dreadful Plague indeed but God could have made it more dreadful where he shot one arrow he might have shot an hundred he visited many families he might have visited every family and swept every house with the beesome of destruction Though so many fell yet I believe that five parts in six of the inhabitants of London were preserved God might have taken away the five parts and have left but one alive yea it might have been said of London as it was of Israel Amos 5. 2 3. The Virgin of Israel is fallen she shall rise no more the City that went out by a thousand shall leave an hundred God might have made every hundred that dyed by the Plague a thousand he might have sent out his arrows after all the inhabitants of London that were gone into the Countrey and smitten them wheresoever he found them or he might have met with them upon their return home and given commission to Death to lay hold on them assoon as they entred into their doors He might have depopulated the City of London by the Plague so that every house should have had dead Corpses lying and none to bury them He might have made our Plague wonderful fearful and of long continuance We that have survived so great a mortality have reason to say that deservedly it might have been greater that we deserved as much or more to fall for our more heinous sins than thousands that are gone down into the pitt surely it is of the Lords mercies that we are not consumed he was merciful in sparing of us he would have