Selected quad for the lemma: peace_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
peace_n	justice_n	quarter_n	session_n	5,031	5	10.5854	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A17336	The woefull and lamentable wast and spoile done by a suddaine fire in S. Edmonds-bury in Suffolke, on Munday the tenth of Aprill. 1608		1608 (1608)	STC 4181; ESTC S114180	7,254	18

gone but behold how swift is mischéefe when God driues it before him to the punishment of our sinnes all were labouring to beare away some of their goods but before their burthens could be taken vp they were compelled to forsake them to looke about for the safegard of their liues leauing the rest to the mercy of the fire The desolate effects that this cruell Element wrought in Saint Edmonds-bury aforesaid is able to thawe the most frozen heart and to worke a relenting in the most obdurate spirit that is Whose fury was so vehement that from the Monday it began till the Wednesday after the rage thereof could not be fully extinguished nor could it bee throughly quenched albeit all the welles and pondes about the towne were drawne dry to that purpose This heat as it consumed two hundred dwelling houses and vpwardes in the same towne with their houshold-stuffe and barnes with much Corne vnthreshed in them with many thousand quarters of wheat barley and rie threshed and laide vppe in Chambers Horses in the the stable Kine Swine and other Cattel so did the rage thereof continue to adde gréefe and sorrow to a place that of it selfe ministreth nothing but matter of sorrow namely the Prison of the same towne which in short space the prisoners for the time being remoued by the merciles iudgement of fire was condemned to be burned and quite consumed into ashes Many inhabitants are impouerished by it most of them vndone for euer many thousandes of pounds cannot make good the losses spoiles that this towne hath receiued hereby The misery of this place is matchles the losses of the people numberles their cares cureles for what a strange alteration may it be thought to them the were wont to succor harbor others in distresse to be now left succourles made destitute of harbour themselues by the violent blowe of this storme and euen in a moment of time to be deiect and throwne done from the toppe of riches and well-fare to the most lowe degrées and conditions of pouerty and sorrowe and in stead of choice and delicate diet of faire dwellings and of soft lodging to haue now no foode at all no certaine dwelling but the miery frame of this wild world to walke in and no better lodging then the bare ground This Towne so famous before for beautie and for statelines of building is now vntimely defaced ouerthrowne by this sodaine misfortune and deserues no lesse to be pitied and relieued then that affliction did which the citty of Cannas the adioyning places thereof felt so grieuously that all the houses of the same being couered and oppressed with heaps of burning ashes the Romans in very pity of their estates were contented to release them tenne yeeres tribute to repaire the inestimable damages of one such irruption I pray God that the inhabitants of this distressed place may but finde amongst vs parte of the like comforte and feeling compassion in this so sad extremity To this cruell wild fire storme that so raigned in the houses and wrougt such lamentable spoils to this poore Towne may be added another casualtie and calamitie that did lay hold vpon a carte comming loaden to the Market with Corne and increased the sorrow of her owner by the rage of the flames which were no sooner carried to her by the violence of the wind but she was quite consumed and the Corne burned and two or three of her horses turned into ashes to the great sorrow of such as saw it and could not helpe it and the ineffable discomfort of many that might haue béene relieued by it The diligent and industrious care of the Iustices of the peace that were there at that time assembled at the quarter Sessions and of many others met there together by those occasions deserues not to passe vnremembred who by their examples stirred vp many as much as in them lay to vse their best meanes to appease this heate which notwithstanding continued so strong in the assault that it consumed as is aforesaid two hundred and odde dwelling houses and for all that was or could be done it is thought and reported from the mouths of very sufficient and iudicious persons that an hundred thousand pounds will not make good the losses that this towne of S. Edmonds-bury hath receiued by this fire nor recouer it to the former estate which besides the wracke of houses that by this calamity of fire were laid leuell with the ground lost also her substance and riches of corne money gold plate wares c. of infinite value and measure wherewith the same was formerly stored to the vnrecouerable vndoing of the owners thereof and of their wiues and children who by this meanes are left quite destitute of means euen to maintaine their wretched bodies with food And now because the consideration of that which our sins haue deserued is a forcible motiue to digest with patience these or any crosses or miseries that befall vnto vs let vs call to minde what God might further haue laide vpon vs besides this or our late afflictions of plague fires waters frost c. and yet not onely not exceeded the boūd of his iustice but haue still shewed himselfe of infinite mercy for it is a generall Axiome and an approued verity ratified by the common consent of all Diuines That as God doth reward aboue our deserts and in his eternall recompence farre exceedeth the value of any workes we can doe soon the other side doth he chastise farre vnderneath the rate of our misdeedes and his infinite iustice considered his greatest punishment amounteth not to the excéeding heynousnes of the least of our sinnes And seeing the iniuries that we daily offer to so infinite a Maiesty in so opprobrious and despightfull manner being so farre inferior and so highly beholding vnto him are so many in number so grieuous in qualitie and so ordinary in experience with all men though God should double and treble all punishments of sinne and lay them on sinners backes for their seuerall offences yet might he iustly double them a new and as often as he thought good without doing any iniury to the offendors yea and punishing far lesse then their deserts Let vs not then thinke much if wee whose offences are most grieuous suffer a few scourges and afflictions but rather account them as easie messengers to call vs homewards and as motiues to draw vs to amendment that euery man particularly descending into himselfe may learne to strike saile to his sinnes and put his soule into the safe harbour of Penitence lest remayning still in the scope of wicked winds and weather some inexpected gulfe and suddaine storme dash him vpon the rocke of eternall ruine God grant there ensue not a second affliction worse then this by forgetfulnes and careles security FINIS