Londons Lamentation, Part 1 (1 of 7)

Londons Lamentation · Part 1 (1 of 7)

p. 1THE FIRST PART OF THE Application.

1. To ſee the Hand of the Lord in it. Ten Conſiderations to work to this.

2. To mourn under the ſenſe of ſo great a Judgement.

WE come now to the Uſe and Application of this important Point. The Explication of a Doctrine, is but the drawing of the Bow: the Application is the hitting of the Mark, the white, &c.

Is it ſo, that God is the Author or Efficient cauſe of all the great calamities and dreadful Judgements that are inflicted upon Cities and Countreys; and in particular of that of Fire: then,

Firſt, Let us ſee the hand of the Lord in this late dreadful Ʋſe. Fire that hath been upon us: for certainly God is the Author (permiſſively at leaſt) he is the great Agent in all thoſe p. 2terrible Judgements that befall Perſons, Cities and Kingdoms. Ruth. 1. 13. 21. Pſalm 39. 9. 1 Sam. 3. 18.Ruth 1:13Ruth 1:21Ps 39:91 Sam 3:18Whoſoever or whatſoever be the Rod, its his hand that gives the ſtroke. The power of bringing Judgements upon Cities God challengeth to himſelf, Amos 3. 6. Sha… there be evil in a City, and the Lord hath not done it? Whatever the Judgement be that falls upon a City, God is the Author of it; he acts in it, and orders it according to his own good pleaſure. There is no Judgement that caſually falls upon any perſon, City or Countrey: Every Judgement is inflicted by a Divine Power and Providence. The Chalde…ns could never have burnt Jeruſalem, if the Lord had not granted The Souldiers Fire-brand by which was fired the famous Temple of Jeruſalem, was commiſſionated by a Divine Command.them a commiſſion. Hence ſaith the Prophet, Evil came down from the Lord, unto the gate of Jeruſalem, Mich. 1. 12. 'Twas a ſore evil, that Jeruſalem (which was one of the worlds wonders) ſhould be deſtroyed by fire; but this evil was determined at the Counſel-board in Heaven. Jeruſalem was burnt by a Commiſſion ſigned in Heaven, both when the Chaldeans under Nebuchadnezzar, and when the Romans under Titus Veſpaſian laid it in Aſhes. All ſorts of Judgements are more at the beck of God, and under the command Matth. 8. 5. 11. Whatever Miſcreants made the Fire-Balls, yet God did blow the fire, and ſo turned London into a Ruinous heap. Certainly there was much of Gods hand, whatever there was of mens heads in this fatal Fire.Matt 8:5Matt 8:11of God, than Servants are under the commands of their Maſters, or Souldiers under the commands of their General, or Children under the command of their Parents. Whatever Judgement God commands to deſtroy a Perſon, a City, or Countrey, that Judgement ſhall certainly and effectually accompliſh the command of God, in ſpite of all that creatures can do. God as he is our Creator, Preſerver, and Soveraign Lord, has an abſolute power both over our perſons, lives, eſtates and habitations: and when we have tranſgreſſed his righteous Laws, he may do with us, and all we have as he pleaſes: he may turn us out of houſe and home, and burn up all our comforts round about us, and yet do us no wrong. Thoſe things which ſeem accidental and caſual unto us, are ordered by the wiſe Councel, Power and Providence of God. Inſtruments can no more ſtir till God gives them a commiſſion, than the Axe or the Knife can cut of it ſelf▪ without an hand. Job eyed God in the fire that fell from Heaven, and in all the fiery tryals that befell him. p. 3And therefore, as one obſerves, he doth not ſay, the Lord gave, Auſti…e.and the Devil took away; nor the Lord gave, and the Chaldeans and Sabeans took away; but the Lord hath given, and the Lord hath taken, and bleſſed be the name of the Lord. Job 1. 20, 21.Job 1:20Job 1:21Certainly without the cognizance and concurrence of a Wiſe, Omniſcient and Omnipotent God, no creatures can move; nor without his fore-ſight and permiſſion, no event can befall any Perſon, City, or Countrey. Acts 17. 28. For in him we live, move and have our being. No man can put forth a natural action without him. Whatever the means or inſtruments of our miſery be, the hand is Gods, and this the Saints in all the Ages of the world have confeſt. It becomes us Levit. 10. 1, 2, 3, 4. Heb. 11. 25, 26.Lev 10:1Lev 10:2Lev 10:3Lev 10:4Heb 11:25Heb 11:26in every Judgement, to ſee the hand of the Lord, and to look through viſible means to an inviſible God: for though the Lord may, and many times do's make uſe of Satan and his inſtruments to ſcourge his deareſt children, yet it is but one hand; and many inſtruments that he ſmites us with. God makes uſe of what ſecond cauſes he pleaſes for the execution of his pleaſure. And many times he makes the worſt Iſa. 10. 5. to 20.Isa 10:5–20of men the Rod of his indignation to chaſtiſe his people with. Witne…s Pharaoh, Ahab, Haman, Herod, and the Aſſyrian Kings, with ſcores of other inſtances that the Scripture affords. And all Hiſtories abound in nothing more than in Inſtances of this nature, as all know that have read any thing of Hiſtory. The Conclave of Rome, and the Conclave of Hell can do nothing without a commiſſion from Heaven. They can't make a Louſe, nor burn a Houſe, nor drown Exod. 8. 18. Jer. 21. 10. Matth. 8. 32. Chap. 10. 30. Luke 21. 18.Exod 8:18Jer 21:10Matt 8:32Luke 21:18a Pigg, without a commiſſion under the Broad Seal of Heaven. A Sparrow lights not upon the ground, nor a hair falls not from our heads, no nor a briſtle from a Sow's back, (ſaith Tertullian) but by a Divine Providence. All created creatures both in that upper, and in this lower world depend upon God for their being, motion, and ſeveral activities. Now in that God did not exert his Power, neither to prevent, nor check thoſe furious flames, which he knew without his interpoſure, would lay all in aſhes; 'tis evident that it was his Divine pleaſure, that London ſhould be turned into a ruinous heap. Gods not hindering the deſolation p. 4of London was a tacit commiſſioning of the flames to burn down all that ſtood in their way. That ſuch are under a high miſtake, that aſcribe the burning of London, ſo to ſecond cauſes, as that they will allow no more Judgement of God in it, than that which accompanies common caſualty, I ſhall ſufficiently evidence, before I have finiſhed this firſt Uſe. But I hope the prudent Reader will make it his buſineſs to ſee the ſignal hand of God in this late fiery diſpenſation, and to remember, that the Scribe is more properly ſaid to write, than the Pen; and he that maketh and keepeth the Clock, is more properly ſaid to make it go and ſtrike, than the Wheels and Poizes that hang upon it; and every Workman to effect his work, rather than the tools which he uſeth as inſtruments. So the Lord of Hoſts who is the Chief Agent and Mover in all things, and in all actions, may more fitly and properly be ſaid, to effect and bring to paſs all Judgements, yea, all things that are done in the earth, than any inferiour or ſubordinate cauſes; ſeeing they are but his tools and inſtruments which he rules and guides according to his own Will, Power and Providence. At this ſome of the more civilized Heathen hath long ſince hammered, viz. That the ſame power diſpenſeth both comforts and croſſes, when they painted Fortune in two forms, with two faces of contrary colours, the foremoſt white, the hindermoſt black, to ſignifie that both good and evil came from the Goddeſs Fortune. When 'twas told Prince Henry, that delitiae generis humani, that darling of mankind, That the ſins of the people cauſed that affliction that was upon him: O no, ſaid he, I have ſins enough of mine own to cauſe that. So ſhould we all confeſs, that though God take occaſion by another mans ſin, or by another mans hand to fire my houſe; Yet the cauſe is juſt that it ſhould be ſo, and that I my ſelf have deſerved it, whatſoever the occaſion, or the inſtrument be. God had matter enough againſt the ſeventy thouſand that died of the Plague, though Davids ſin were the occaſion, yet the meritorious cauſe was in them. Certainly there is no man that hath been a ſufferer by this late dreadful Fire, but upon an eaſie ſearch into his own heart and life, he may p. 5find matter enough to ſilence himſelf, and to ſatisfie himſelf that though God has turn'd him out of his habitation, and burnt up all his comforts round about him, yet he has done him no wrong. Surely in the burning of the City of London, there was more of the extraordinary hand of God, than there was of the hand of Papiſt or Atheiſt. God if he had pleaſed, could have prevented brutiſh and skilful men to deſtroy Ezek. 21. 31.Ezek 21:31and burn, by diſcovering of their helliſh plots before they had taken effect, as he did Ahitophels, 2 Sam. 17. 10. to the 24. and as he did Tobiahs and Sanballats, Neh. 4. 7. to v. 16. And as he did the Jews who took counſel to kill Paul, Acts 9. 23, 24, 25. Acts 23. 12. to 25. And as he did that of the Gun-Powder-Treaſon. And God could have directed and ſpirited men to the uſe of the means, and then have given ſuch a bleſſing to the means, as ſhould have been effectual to the quenching of it when it was firſt kindled, but he would not, which is a clear evidence, that he had given from Heaven a commiſſion to the Fire to burn with that force and violence as it did, till all was laid in aſhes.

Now that you may the better ſee and acknowledge the hand of the Lord in the late dreadful Fire that has been amongſt us. Conſider ſeriouſly with me theſe ten following particulars.

Firſt, Conſider the intemperate heat, the drought of the 1ſeaſon, ſuch a hot and dry Summer as that was, has not been known for many years: How by this means every mans habitation Nah. 1. 10. Jo…l 2. 5. By this parching ſeaſon every mans houſe was prepared for fuel.Nah 1:10was as ſtubble, fully dry, prepared and fitted for the burning flames. Before God would ſtrike fire, he made our houſes like tinder: When fuell is wet and green, what puffing and blowing muſt there be to kindle a fire, and to make it burn? but when fuell is light and dry, it is ſo conceptive of fire, that even the very ſmell of fire puts it into a flame. And this was poor London's caſe; for every mans houſe had lain long a Sunning under the ſcorching beams of the Sun, and much brightneſs of weather, which made every thing ſo dry and combuſtible, that ſparks and flakes of fire were ſufficient to ſet mens houſes all in a flame about their ears. Now this finger of God we are neither to overlook, p. 6nor yet deny; 'tis our wiſdom, as well as our work, Exod. 8. 19.Exod 8:19to ſee not only the finger, but the hand of the Lord in every circumſtance that relates to that fore Judgement of fire, that we are ſtill ſighing under. 'Tis God that withholds ſeaſonable ſhowers, and that cauſeth it to rain upon one City, Amos 4. 7.Amos 4:7and not upon another. The Earth cannot open her bowels, and yield ſeed to the Sower, and bread to the Eater, if not 1 King. 17. 1, 2. Job 38. 31. Doubtleſs there was much wrath in his, that the Water-houſe which ſerved much of the City with water, ſhould be burnt down in a few hours after the fire firſt began. To want a proper …emedy when we are under a growing miſery, is no ſmall calamity. 'Tis ſad with the people that have nothing to quench the furious flames, but their own tears and blood. To be ſtript of water when God ſtrikes a people with that tremendous Judgement of Fire, is wrath to the utmoſt.1 Kgs 17:11 Kgs 17:2Job 38:31watered from above: nor the Heaven cannot drop down fatneſs upon the Earth, if God cloſe it up, and withhold the ſeaſonable ſhowers. This the very Heathens acknowledged in their fictions of Jupiter and Juno. God only can make the Heavens as Braſs, and the Earth as Iron, and reſtrai… …he Celeſtial influences. Can man bind the ſweet influences of Pleiades? or looſe the bonds of Orion? Can any but God forbid the Clouds to drop fatneſs? Surely no. Beloved, drought and ſcantneſs of water, upon a Land, a City, &c. is a Judgement of God. 'Tis no ſmall miſery to have the ſtreams dried up, when the fire is at our doors, Jer. 50. 38. A drought is upon her waters, and they ſhall be dried up: for it is the Land of Graven Images, and they are mad upon their Idols, Jer. 51. 35, 36. The violence done to me and to my fleſh, be upon Babylon, ſhall the inhabitant of Zion ſay; and my blood upon the inhabitants of Chaldea, ſhall Jeruſalem ſay. Therefore thus ſaith the Lord, Behold I will plead thy cauſe, and take vengeance for thee; and I will dry up her Sea, and make her Springs dry. Now mark what follows, ver. 37. And Babylon ſhall become heaps, a dwelling place for Dragons, an aſtoniſhment, and an hiſſing without an inhabitant. When God comes to plead the cauſe of Zion, againſt Babylon; not by words, but by deeds, by blowes, by terrible Judgements. When he comes to burn up the inhabitants of Babylon, and to turn them out of houſe and home; he firſt dryes up her Sea, and makes her Springs dry, Haggai 1 11. And I called for a drought upon the Land, and upon the Mountains, and upon the Corn, and upon the new Wine, and upon the Oyl, and upon that which the ground bringeth forth, and upon Men, and upon Cattel, and upon all the labour of the hands. 'Tis God that brings droughts and rain, and that opens and ſtops (the Clouds) the bottles of Heaven at his p. 7pleaſure, Jer. 14. 2, 3, 4. Judah mourneth, and the gates thereof languiſh, they are black unto the ground, and the cry of Jeruſalem is gone up. And their Nobles have ſent their little ones to the waters, they came to the pits, and found no water, they returned with their veſſels empty; they were aſhamed and confounded, they covered their heads. They muffled up their heads and faces, as a token of great grief and ſorrow as cloſe mourners do with us. Becauſe the ground is chapt, for there was no rain in the earth, the Plowmen were aſhamed, they covered their heads. There are many calamities that are brought upon us by humane means that are alſo avoidable by humane helps; but drought and want of water, …ſpecially when a devouring fire is kindled in the midſt of a people, is no ſmall judgement of Heaven upon that people, to want water when the houſe is all in flames is a high evidence of Divine diſpleaſure. We had no rain a long time before the fire, and the Springs were low, and the Water-works at the Bridge-foot which carried water into that part of the City that was firſt in flames were burnt dow… the firſt day of the fire. And was there not wrath from Heaven in this: Surely yes. Look as 'tis a choice mercy to have God at hand, and the creatures at hand when w… moſt need them: So 'tis a fore Judgement, to have God at a diſtance, and the creatures remote, when they ſhould be o… moſt ſervice and uſe unto us. Certainly Gods arming of th… Element of fire againſt us, and his denying at the ſame time water unto us, cannot but be a ſignal of his great indignation againſt us. And therefore it highly concerns us, to ſee th… hand of the Lord in that late lamentable fire that has been amongſt us. But,

Secondly, Conſider the ſuddenneſs and unexpectedneſs of this Judgement. Who among all the burnt Citizens, did 2ever expect to ſee London laid in aſhes in four dayes time? Gods Judgements many times ſeize upon mens perſons, houſes and eſtates, as the Souldiers did Archimedes, whilſt he was buſie in drawing lines in the duſt. Iſa. 64. 3. When thou didſt terrible things which we looked not for. When the Citizens ſaw London in flames, they might truly have ſaid, This is a terrible thing which we looked not for: we were minding p. 8our buſineſs, our Shops, our trades, our profits, our pleaſures, our delights; we were ſtudying, and plotting, and contriveing how to make our ſelves and our children great and rich, and high and honourable in the earth; and it never entered into our thoughts, that the deſtruction of London by fire, was ſo near at hand, as now we have found it to be, Iſa. 47. 7, 8, 9, 11. Thou ſaidſt I ſhall be a Lady for ever: ſo that thou Babylon bore it ſelf bold upon the ſeventy years proviſion laid up before hand, to ſtand out a Siege, and upon its ſtrength and riches, but for all this 'twas taken by Cyrus.didſt not lay theſe things to thy heart: (what things, we the Judgements of God that were threatned) neither didſt remember the latter end of it. Therefore hear now this, thou that art given to pleaſures, that dwelleſt careleſly; that ſayeſt in thine heart, I am, and none elſe beſides me. I ſhall not ſit as a widow, neither ſhall I know the loſs of children. But theſe two things ſhall come to thee in a moment, in one day; the loſs of Children and Widowhood, they ſhall come upon thee in their perfection. Evil ſhall come upon thee, and thou ſhals not know from whence it riſeth; and miſchief ſhall fall upon thee, thou ſhalt not be able to put it off: and deſolation ſhall come upon thee ſuddenly, which thou ſhalt not know. Was not London the Lady City of our Land? Did the inhabitants of London lay thoſe Judgements of God to heart that they either felt or feared? Did London remember her latter end? Were not moſt of the inhabitants of London given to ſinful pleaſures and delights? Did they not live careleſly and ſecurely? Were they ever ſo ſecure and inapprehenſive of their danger, than at this very time when the flames broke forth in the midſt of them? They had newly eſcaped the moſt ſweeping Plague, that ever was in the City and Suburbs: but inſtead of finding out the plague of their hearts, and mourning over the Plague of their 1 King. 8. 37, 38. Iſa. 9. 13, 14, 15. Jer. 8. 6.1 Kgs 8:371 Kgs 8:38Isa 9:13Isa 9:14Isa 9:15Jer 8:6hearts, and repenting of the evil of their doings, and teturning to the Moſt High, they returned to their fins and their Trades together; from both which for a time the Plague had frighted them; concluding in themſelves, that ſurely the bitterneſs of death was paſt. They thought that the worſt was paſt, and that after ſo dreadful a ſtorm they 1 Sam. 15. 32.1 Sam 15:32ſhould have a bleſſed calm; and dreamed of nothing but peace, and quiet, and ſafety, and Trade; ſtriving with all their might to make up thoſe loſſes, that they had ſuſtained by p. 9the Peſtilence. They having eſcaped the Grave, when ſo many ſcore thouſands were carried to their long homes, were very ſecure; they never thought, that the City, which had been ſo lately infected by a contagious Plague, was ſo near In the MonethMonth of Septemb. the Plague was at the higheſt, and in the ſame MonethMonth the flames of London were at higheſt. Doubtleſs there is ſome myſterie in this ſad Providence, London was Judgement-proof, Plague-proof in Septemb. 65. and therefore God ſet London in flames in September 66.being buried in its own ruines: they never imagined, that the whole City ſhould be put in flames, to purge that Air that their ſins had infected. And therefore no wonder if deſolation came upon them ſuddenly, in a moment, in one day. No marvail that ſo great a Fire was kindled in the very heart of the City, and they not ſee the hand that kindled it, nor have no hands nor hearts to quench it. Judgements are never ſo near, as when men are moſt ſecure, 1 Theſs. 5. 3. The old world was very ſecure until the very day that Noah entered into the Ark. Luke 17. 27. They did eat, they drank they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the Ark, and the flood came and deſtroyed them all. Luther obſerveth, that it was in the Spring that the flood came, when every thing was in its prime and pride, and noing leſs looked for than a flood: They neither believed, nor regarded Noahs preaching, nor his preparations for his own and his childrens ſecurity; but merrily paſſed without intermiſſion, from eating to drinking, and from drinking to marriage till the very day that the flood came and ſwept them all away. Their deſtruction was foretold them to a day, but they were drown'd in ſecurity, and would take no notice of Noahs predictions, nor their own peril. They had made their guts their God; they had buried their wits in their guts, and their brains in their bellies: and ſo were neither awakened, nor bettered by any thing, that either N…ah ſaid or did; and ſo they periſhed ſuddenly and unexpectedly. So Sod…m was very ſecure, till the very day that fire and brimſtone was rained from Heaven about their ears, ver. 28, 29. Likewiſe alſo as it was in the dayes of Lot, They did eat, they drank, Gen. 19. 23. 24.Gen 19:23Gen 19:24they 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. Lot was no ſooner taken out of Sodom, but Sodom was as ſoon taken out of the world: their fair ſunſhine morning had a foul diſmal evening: they p. 10had a hanſel of Hell on this ſide Hell; they paſt through fire and brimſtone here, to an eternal fire in Hell, as Jude ſpeaks. So Jude 7.Jude 1:7the Jews were deadly ſecure before the firſt and latter deſtruction both of their City and Countrey by ſword and fire. Compare theſe together. Amos 6. 3. Lam. 4. 11, 12. Ezek. 12. 22, 27, 28. Hab. 1. 7. Luke 2. 19, 41, 42, 43, 44.Amos 6:3Lam 4:11Lam 4:12Ezek 12:22Ezek 12:27Ezek 12:28Hab 1:7Luke 2:19Luke 2:41Luke 2:42Luke 2:43Luke 2:44All the world could not perſwade them, that their Temple and City ſhould be laid in Aſhes, till the Chaldeans at one time, and the Romans at another, had ſet both their City and Temple in a flame before their eyes. Now mark ſudden and unexpected Judgements do alwayes carry a great deal of the anger and ſeverity of God in them, Deut. 7. 4. So will the anger of the Lord be kindled againſt you, and deſtroy thee ſuddenly. God being greatly angry with Jeruſalem, Iſa. 29. 1, 2, 3, 4. He tells her, that her Judgement ſhould be at an inſtant, ſuddenly, ver. 5. Pſal. 64. 7. But God ſhall ſhoot at them with an arrow, ſuddenly ſhall they be wounded. Hab. 2. 7. Shall they not riſe up ſuddenly that ſhall bite thee, and awake that ſhall vex thee, and thou ſhalt be for booties unto them? Prov. 6. 14, 15. Frowardneſs is in his heart, be deviſeth miſchief continually, he ſoweth diſcord. Therefore ſhall his calamity come ſuddenly; ſuddenly ſhall he be broken without remedy. Here is a diſmal doom; not bruiſed, but broken; yea, ſuddenly broken, when they leaſt dream or dread the danger. And this without remedy, there ſhall be no poſſibility of piecing them up again, or putting them into a better condition, Chap. 24. 22. Their calamity ſhall riſe ſuddenly; when they think that they have made all cock-ſure, then ruine and deſolation lyes at their door. Certainly there are no judgements ſo dreadful and amazing, as thoſe which come moſt ſuddenly and unexpectedly upon the ſons of men: for theſe cut off all hope; they hinder the exerciſe of reaſon; they cloud mens minds; they diſtreſs mens ſpirits; they marr mens councils, and they weaken mens courage; and they daunt mens hearts ſo, that they can neither be ſerviceable to themſelves, nor their friends, not the publick; all this was evidently ſeen upon the body of the Citizens, when London was in flames. The more eminent cauſe have we to take notice of the hand of the Lord, in that late fiery diſpenſation that has paſt upon us. The year 1666. according to the computation of ſeveral ſober, wiſe, learned p. 11men, ſhould have been the Chriſtians Jubilee: many mens expectations were high, that Rome that year ſhould be laid in aſhes; but it never entered into any of our hearts or thoughts, that this very year London ſhould be laid in aſhes. O unexpected blow! Berlin in Germany who in the Pulpit Scultet. A…a….charged the Apoſtle Paul with a lie, was ſuddenly ſmitten with an Apoplexy, while the words were yet in his mouth, and f…ll down dead in the place. The Parſon of Chrondal in Kent, having got a Pardon from Cardinal Pool) as the Popes Subſtitute in that work) the next Lords Day in his own Pariſh preſſes all his people to do the l…ke, with this Argument, that he was now ſo free from all his ſins, that he could die preſently; and God preſently ſo ſtruck him in the Pulpit that he died and never ſpoke more. As Bibulus a Roman General was riding in triumph in all his glory, a Tyle fell from the houſe in the Street and knockt out his brains. Otho the Emperour ſlew himſelf with his own hands, but ſlept ſo ſoundly the night before, that the Grooms of his Chamber heard him ſnort. And Plutarch reporteth the like of Cato. Lepidus and Aufidius ſtumbled at the very threſhold of the Senate and died: the blow came in a cloud from Heaven Sophocles died ſuddenly by exceſſive joy: and Homer by immoderate grief. Mr. Perkins ſpeaks of one, who when it thundered, ſcoffingly ſaid, it was nothing but Tom Tumbril a hooping his Tubs, and preſently he was ſtruck dead with a Thunderbolt. Olympus the Arrian Heretick bathing himſelf, Theatre of Gods Judgements: lib. 1. ap. 9. p. 64.uttered ſad words againſt the bleſſed Trinity, but ſuddenly a threefold Thunderbolt ſtruck him dead in the ſame place. Attilus King of the Huns, proudly gave out, that the Stars fell before him, and the earth trembled at his preſence, and how he would be the ſcourge of all Nations; but ſoon after he died by a flux of blood breaking out of his mouth, which choaked him on his wedding-day. King Henry the Second of France upon the Marriage of his Siſter with the King of Spain, was ſo puffed up, that he called him ſelf by a new Title, Tres-heur…uſe Roy, The thrice happy King. But (to confute him) in ſolemnizing that Marriage, he was ſlain at Tilt, by the Captain of his Guard (though againſt p. 12his will, but not without Gods determinate counſel) in the very beginning of his ſuppoſed happineſs. Now every one that is a man either of reaſon or Religion, will certainly ſay, that in theſe ſudden Judgements that befell theſe perſons, there was the angry and diſpleaſed hand of God to be ſeen. O how much more then ſhould we ſee the angry and diſpleaſed hand of the Lord, in that ſudden dreadful fire, that has turned our once renowned City into a ruinous heap. Jer. 8. 15.Jer 8:15In this year 1666. many thought that there had been many great and glorious things in the womb of Providence, that would have been now brought forth, but they were miſtaken: for unexpectedly London is laid in aſhes. But,

Thirdly, Conſider the force, violence, vehemency and 1irreſiſtibleneſs of it: deſpiſing and triumphing over all thoſe Many Authors ſpeak much of the Greek Fire (ſome of which burnt the Saracens Fleet) to be of ſuch force, that the Ancients accounted, no other means would extinguiſh it but Vinegar. And certainly ſeveral fir…s that have been enkindled by Romiſh Jeſuits have not been leſs turious.weak endeavours that were uſed. This Fire broke forth with that violence, and raged with that fury, and appeared in that dreadfulneſs, and ſpread it ſelf with that diſmalneſs, and continued for ſo long a time with that irreſiſtibleneſs, that diſcouraged hearts and weak hands with their Buckets, Engines, Ladders, Hooks, opening of Pipes, and ſweeping of Channels, could give no check to it. This fire broke in upon the Inhabitants like an Arm of the Sea, and roared and raged, like a Bear robbed of her Whelps, until it had laid our glory in aſhes. When the fire was here and there a little allayed or beaten down, or put to a ſtand, how ſoon did it recover its force and violence, and make the more furious onſets; burning down Water-houſes, Engines, Churches, and the moſt ſtrong, pleaſant and ſtately houſes, nothing being able to ſtand before its rage. How ſoon did the flames mount up to the tops of the higheſt houſes, and as ſoon deſcend down to the bottom of the loweſt Vaults and Cellars? Stone walls and Brickwalls, and thoſe noble and ſtrong Pieces of Architecture were all but fuel to thoſe furious flames.How did they march along Jehu-like on both ſides of the Streets, with ſuch a roaring, dreadful and aſtoniſhing noiſe, as never was heard in the City of London before? Londons ſins were now ſo great, and Gods wrath was now ſo hot, that there was no quenching of the furious flames. The Decree for the burning of London was now gone forth, and none could reverſe it. The time of Londons fall was now p. 13come. The fire had now received its commiſſion under the Broad Seal of Heaven, to burn down the City, and to turn it into a ruinous heap; and therefore it defied and contemned all remedies, and ſcorned to be ſuppreſt by human… attempts. Who ever kindled this fire, God blew the coal; and therefore no arts, counſels, or endeavours of men were able to quench it. If God commiſſion the Sword to walk abroad, and to glut it ſelf with blood, who can command it into the Scabbard again? No art, power or policy can cauſe that Sword to lie ſtill, that God has drawn in the Nations round us, untill it hath accompliſhed the ends for which he has drawn it. As to our preſent caſe, when I weigh things in the ballance of right reaſon, I can't but be of opinion, that had Magiſtrates and People vigorouſly and conſcienciouſly diſcharged their duties, much of London (by the bleſſing of God upon their endeavours) that is now ruined, might happily have been preſerved. When in a ſtorm the Ship and all the vaſt treaſure that is in it, is in danger to be loſt, 'tis ſad to ſee every Officer and Marriner to mind more, and endeavour more the preſervation of their Cheſts, Cabins and particular intereſts, than the preſervation of the Ship, and the vaſt treaſure that is in it. Now this was juſt our caſe: Cicero Lib. 1. Ep. 15. ad Atticum.in his time laughed at the folly of thoſe men, who conceited that their Fiſh-ponds and places of pleaſure, ſhould be ſafe when the Common-wealth was loſt. And we may well mourn over the folly and vanity of thoſe men, who were ſo amazed, confounded, diſtracted, beſotted and infatuated (if not worſe) as not to improve all heads, hands, hearts, councils and offers, that were made for the preſervation of the City. This is, and this muſt be for a lamentation, that in the midſt of publick dangers, all ranks and ſorts of men ſhould take more care for the preſervation of their trifling Fardels; (for ſo is any particular mans eſtate, though never ſo great, when compared with the riches of a Rich, Trading, Populous City) than they do for the preſervation of the publick good. That there might have been rational and probable anticipations of thoſe dreadful conflagrating progreſſes, I ſuppoſe all ſober men will grant: that theſe were p. 14either hid from ſome mens eyes, and ſeen by others, and not improved, was Londons wo. When London was almoſt deſtroyed, then ſome began to blow up ſome houſes for the preſervation of that little that was left, and God bleſt their endeavours; but had ſome had encouragement, who long before were ready for that work, and who offered themſelves in the caſe, '…is v…ry prob…ble that a great part of London might have been preſerved. But what ſhall I ſay, Divine Juſtice dos as eminently ſparkle and ſhine in the ſhutting of mens eyes, and in the ſtopping of mens ears, and in the hardning mens hearts, againſt the viſible and probable means of their outward preſervation, as in any one thing. This we muſt ſeriouſly conſider, and then lay our hands upon our mouths, and be ſilent before the Lord. The force and violence of this fire was ſo great, that many that removed their goods once, twice, thrice, yea, and ſome oftner, yet loſt all at laſt. The fire followed them ſo cloſe from place to place, that ſome ſaved but little, and others loſt all. Now how well dos it become us, in the rage and fury of the flames, to ſee the hand of the Lord, and to bow before him, as this fire being like Time, which devours all before it. Jeruſalem was the glory and beauty of the whole Earth; and the Temple was one of the worlds wonders: but when Titus Veſpaſian's Souldiers had ſet it on Joſ…phus.fire, it burnt with that rage and fury, that all the induſtry and skill that ever could be uſed, imagined, or thought on, could not quench it, though Titus would gladly hav… preſerved it, as a matchleſs monument. They threw both water and the blood of the ſlain into it, but it burnt with that violence, that nothing could extinguiſh it. King Herod for eight years together, before the ruine of it, had imployed ten thouſand men at work to beautifie it; but when once 'twas on fire, it burnt with that fierceneſs, that there was no preſerving of it, the D…cree of Heaven been gone out againſt it, &c. But,

Fourthly, Conſider the ſwiftneſs of it. It flew upon the wings of the wind, that it might the ſooner come to its journies end: It ran along like the fire and hail in Aegypt, p. 15deſtroying and conſuming all before it. The Apoſtle James Pſalm 18. 10. Exod. 9. 23, 24. James 3. 6. 2. The winds are the Fan of Nature to cool and purge the A…r. But at this time God brought the winds out of his Treaſury, to ſcatter the flames of his indignation, that ſo London might become a deſolation.Ps 18:10Exod 9:23Exod 9:24Jas 3:6Jas 3:2ſpeaks of fierce winds. The wind was ſo boiſtrous, that it ſcattered and carried the fire, the flames ſometimes one way, ſometimes another, in deſpite of all the reſtraints, reſiſtances and limits, that the amazed Citizens could have ſet to it. I ſhall not trouble you with the various notions of Philoſophers concerning the wind, partly becauſe they will do no ſervice in the preſent caſe; and partly becauſe our work is to look higher than all natural cauſes. All that either is or can be ſaid of the Wind, I ſuppoſe may be thus ſummed up that it is a creature that may be 1. Felt: 2. Heard: and Little underſtood. Very wonderful is the rice of the Winds; when it is ſo calm and ſtill upon the Seas, that ſcarce a breath of air is perceivable, upon a ſudden the wind is here and there, and every where, Eccleſ. 1. 6. The wind goeth toward the South, and turneth about unto the North, it whirleth about continually, and the wind returneth again according to his circuits, Pſal. 135. 7. He bringeth the wind out of his treaſuries. But what thoſe treaſuries are, and where they are, no man on earth can certainly tell us. The Wind is one of the great wonders of the Lord, in which, and by which the Lords Name is wonderfully magnified, Pſal. 107. 24, 25. They that go down to the Sea, ſee the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep. What wonders? He commandeth and raiſeth the ſtormy wind; although ſome thing may bek nown of this creature in the natural cauſes of it; yet it is a wonder John 3. 8.John 3:8above all, that we can know of it. What the Wind is, and from whence it comes, and whither it goes none can tell.

God is the great Generaliſſimo and Soveraign Commander Mat. 8. 27. Num. 11. 31. Iſa. 27. 8. Num. 11. 13. Gen. 8. Exod. 1. 10. Chap. 13.Matt 8:27Num 11:31Isa 27:8Num 11:13Gen 8Exod 1:10of the Winds, ſo that a blaſt of wind cannot paſs without his leave, licence and cognizance, Jonah 1. 4. But the Lord ſent a great wind into the Sea, and there was a mighty Tempeſt in the Sea. The winds are Gods Poſts; they are ſometimes meſſengers of mercy, and ſometimes meſſengers of wrath. Pſal. 147. 18. He cauſeth his wind to blow. The winds are at Gods command, to come and go, and go and come at his pleaſure. When there is nothing but a ſweet, ſmooth and ſilver calm on the Seas, if God dos but give forth a word of p. 16command, how ſoon are they thrown into Hills and Mountains, and how dreadfully do the waves daſh and claſh one againſt another? Pſal. 148. 8. Fire and Hail, Snow and Vapours, ſtormy Wind fulfilling his word. Sometimes the word that God has to fulfill, is a ſaving word, and ſometimes 'tis a deſtroying word, a drowning word, a ſinking word. Now according to the word that God has to fulfill, ſo do the winds alwayes blow. The Lord hath the winds at command, to be his Executioners and adminiſtrators; either of deſtruction or preſervation. What are ſtormy winds at Sea or a Shore, but the utterings of Gods voice in wrath and judgement. Sometimes God is ſaid to fly upon the wings of Pſal. 18. 10. 2 Sam. 22. 11. Pſal. 104. 3.Ps 18:102 Sam 22:11Ps 104:3the wind: and ſometimes he is ſaid to ride upon the wings of the wind: and ſometimes he is ſaid to walk upon the wings of the wind. Now theſe things are ſpoken after the manner of men, to ſhew that the winds are continually acted and governed by a Divine Power. God flies upon the wings of the tempeſtuous winds ſpeedily to execute the vengeance Exod. 15. 10. Exod. 14. 21.Exod 15:10Exod 14:21written: and he rides and walks upon the wings of the more ſ…t, eaſie and gentle gales of the wind, that he may make good the mercies promiſed. No creatures in Heaven or on Earth, hath the winds at command, but God ſolely and properly. Every wind that blows, has a commiſſion under the Great Seal of Heaven to bare it out in all it dos. If the winds ſhould be examined, queſtioned and required, to give in a full and exact account, of the many thouſand Marriners that they have drowned, and of the many thouſand Ships that they have ſpoyled and deſtroyed, and of the many ten thouſand houſes that they have blown down at ſome times, and of the many ſcore thouſand houſes, that (when the fire has been kindled) they have helpt to conſume and reduce to aſhes at other times, they would ſhew you the hand and ſeal of Heaven for all they have done. The Soveraignty and greatneſs of God doth eminently ſhine and ſparkle in this, that the winds are originally in his hand. He gathereth the wind in his f…ſt. God keeps the Prov. 30. 4.Prov 30:4royaltie of all the creatures in his own hand. The winds are greater or leſſer, of a longer or ſhorter continuance, according p. 17to the will and pleaſure of the great God; and not according to the workings of ſecond cauſes. The more civilized Heathens had this notion amongſt them, That the winds were under the Dominion of one Supream Power; and therefore dividing the world among ſundry Gods, they gave the honor of the Winds to Ae…lus, whom they ignor…ntly ſuppoſe, had a power to lock them faſt, or to let them looſe at his pleaſure. Theſe poor beſotted Heathens thought, that their feigned God Ae…lus had power to govern and bridle the winds, and to turn them this way and that way, as a man governs the Char…ot in which he rid…th. And many ignorant Atheiſtical wretches when the winds are boiſterous and violent, they are ready to ſay, that there is conjuring abroad, and that the D…vil is at work; but they muſt know, that the Devil has not power of himſelf, to raiſe one blaſt of wind, no nor ſo much wind as will ſtir a ſea ther. I know that the Devil is the Prince of the power of Epheſ. 2 2.Eph 2:2the air, and that when God will give him leave to play R…x for ends beſt known to himſelf, he can then raiſe ſuch ſtorms and tempeſts, both at Sea and a Shore, as ſhall daſh the ſtouteſt Ships in pieces, and remove Mountains, and mak… the moſt glorious Cities in the world a ruinous heap, he can eaſily and quickly raze the foundations of the faireſt, the Job 1. 19.Job 1:19richeſt, the ſtrongeſt, and the renowneſt, and the oldeſt buildings in the world, if God will but permit him▪ But without Divine permiſſion, no Angel in Heaven, no Devil in Hell, nor no Witch on Earth, can raiſe or continue the winds one moment. Satans power over the wind is only a derivative power, a permiſſive power; but the Lords power over the wind, is a ſupream power, an abſolute power, an independant power. Now O what eminent cauſe have we to ſee the hand of the Lord in that boiſterous wind that continued four dayes and nights, and that carried the fire to all points of the Compaſs, to all parts of the City, (if I may ſo ſpeak) till our glorious City was laid in Aſhes! Oh how great were the ſins of that people! Oh how great was the anger of that God, who united two of the moſt dreadfulleſt elements Fire and Wind, to deſtroy our City, and lay our glory p. 18in the duſt! When the Romans put fire to the Walls of Jeruſalem, at firſt the North W…nd blew it furiouſly upon the Joſ…phus Aniq. l. 7. c. 28.Romans themſelves; but ſuddenly the wind changing and blowing from the South, (as it were by Gods Providence, ſaith my Author) it turned the fire again upon the wall, and ſo all was conſumed and turned into aſhes. And this Eleaz…r in his Oration to his companions, takes ſpecial notice of, where he ſaith, Neither hath our Caſtle by nature inexpugnable, Page 75 8.any thing profited us to our preſervation; but we having ſtore of victuals and armour, and all other neceſſaries, have loſt all hope of ſafety; God himſelf op…nly taking it from us. For the fire that once was carried againſt our enemies, did not of it ſelf return againſt us, and unto the wall we built. Suppoſe the Romans, or ſome ſet on by the Conclave of Rome, did at firſt …et our City on fire, by caſting their fire-brands (for by that means Jeruſalem was ſet on fire) or fire balls here and there; yet how highly dos it concern us, when we conſider the furious wind that helpt on the fury of the fire, to lay our hands upon our loynes, and to ſay, the Lord is righteous; …nd that our preſent ruine, is but the product of incenſed Juſtice, &c.

When the Lord hath any ſervice for the wind to do, it is preſently upon the march, to run and diſpatch his errands, whether of indignation or of mercy. If the Lord General of Heaven and Earth, the great, the ſupream Commander of the winds, will have them to deſtroy a people, and to help on the deſtruction of their houſes, when the flames are kindled; or to break and daſh in pieces their Ships at Sea, it ſhall ſoon be accompliſhed, 2 Chron. 20 37. Becauſe thou haſt joyned thy ſelf with Ahaziah, the Lord hath broken thy works, and the Ships were broken, that they were not able to go to Tarſhiſh. B…ſt…ro…s winds at Sea or a ſhore, are the arrows of God ſh…t out of the bended bow of his diſpleaſure; they are one of the lower tier of his indignation, that is fired upon the …ildren of men, Nahum. 1. 3. The Lord hath his way in the whirle wind, and in the ſtorm, and in the clouds are the duſt of …is feet. The great Spaniſh Armado that came to invade our Land in 88. were broken and ſcattered by the winds: So that their p. 19dice games were fraſtrated, and they ſent into the bottom of the Sea, if not into a worſe bottom. And when Charles the V. had beſieged Algier (that Pen of Thieves) both by Sea and by Val. Max. Chriſtiae. page 132.Land, and had almoſt taken it, by two terrible Tempeſts, the greateſt part of his great Fleet were deſtroyed, as they did lye in the Harbour at Anchor. Ships, Houſes, Trees, Steeples, Rocks, Mountains, Monuments can't ſtand before a tempeſt… ous wind. 1 Kings 19. 11. A great ſtrong wind rent the Mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks. What more ſtrong than Rocks and Mountains? and yet they were too weak to ſtand before the ſtrength of a tempeſtious wind. Oh the terrible execution that God doth many times by the winds both at Sea and aſhore. Pſal. 18. 7. The earth ſhook and trembled, the foundations of the Hills moved and were ſhaken, becauſe he was wroth. ver. 8. There went up a ſmoke out of his noſtrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it, ver. 10. He rode upon a Cherub, and did flie, yea, he did flie upon the wings of the wind. ver. 12. His thick Clouds paſſed hailſtones and coals of fire. verſe 13. The Lord alſo thundred in the Heavens, and the higheſt gave his voice; hail ſtones and coals of fire, &c. The fire in London carried the noiſe of a whirle-wind in it: and that made it ſo formidable and terrible to all that beheld it, eſpecially thoſe that lookt upon it as a fruit of Gods diſpleaſure. The wind was commiſſionated by God to joyn iſſue with the raging fire, to lay the City deſolate. I think the like dreadful inſtance can't be given in any age of the world. We can't ſay of the wind that blew when London was in flames, that God was not in the wind; as 'tis ſaid in that, 1 Kings 19. 11. For aſſuredly, if ever God was in any wind, he was remarkably in this wind, witneſs the diſmals effects of it amongſt us to this very day. Had God been pleaſed to have hindered the conjunction of theſe two Elements, much of London might hav… be…n ſtanding, which now lyes buried in its own ruines. I grant that 'tis probable enough, that thoſe that did ſo long before propheſie and predict the barning of London, before it was laid in aſhes, were the prime contrivers and furtherers of the firing of it: but yet when they had kindled the fire, that p. 20God by the bellows of Heaven, ſhould ſo blow upon it, as to make it ſpread, and turn like the flaming Sword in Paradiſe Gen. 3. ult.Gen 3every way; till by its force and fury, it had deſtroyed above two third parts in the midſt of the City: as the phraſe …s, Ezek. 5. 2. This is, and this muſt be for a ſore lamentation. God wbo holds the winds in his fiſt, who is the true Ae…lus, Pſalm 13. 5. Mark 4. 39.Ps 13:5Mark 4:39could either have lockt them up in his treaſures, or have commanded them to be ſtill; or elſe have turned them to have been a d…fence to the City. God who holds the bottles of Heaven in his hand, could eaſily have unſtopt them; Gen. 7. 11.Gen 7:11he could with a word of his mouth have opened the windows of Heaven, and have poured down ſuch an abundance of rain upon the City, as would quickly have quencht the violence of the flames, and ſo have made the conqueſt of the fire more eaſie. But the Lord was angry, and the Decree was gone out, that London ſhould be burnt, and who could prevent it?

To cloſe up this particular, conſider much of the Wiſdom, Power and Juſtice of God ſhines in the variety of the motions of the wind. Eccleſ. 1. 6. The wind goeth toward the South, and turneth about unto the North, it whirleth about continually, and the wind returneth again according to his circuits. The wind hath its various circuits appointed by God: when the wind blows Southward, Northward, Weſtward, or Eaſtward, it blows according to the Orders that are iſſued out from the Court of Heaven. Sometimes the wind begins to blow at one point of the Compaſs, and in a ſhort time whirles about to every point of the Compaſs, till it comes again to the ſame point where it blew at the firſt; yet in all this they obſerve their circuits, and run their compaſs, according to the Divine appointment. As the Sun, ſo the winds have their courſes ordered out by the wiſe Providence of God. Divine Wiſdom much ſparkles and ſhines in the circuits of the winds; which the Lord brings out of his treaſure, and makes them ſerviceable, ſometimes to one part of the world, and at other times to other parts of the world. Exod. 14. 24. Jonah 1. 4▪ Chap. 4. 8.Exod 14:24Jonah 1:4'Tis the great God that appoints where the winds ſhall blow, and when the winds ſhall blow, and how long the p. 21winds ſhall blow: and with what force and violence th… winds ſhall blow. The winds in ſome parts of the world, have a very regular and uniform motion in ſome moneths of the year, blowing conſtantly out of one quarter, and in others out of another. In ſome places of the world (where I have been) the motions of the wind are ſteady and conſtant, which Marriners call their Trade-wind. Now by theſe ſtated or ſetled winds, Divine Providence dos very greatly ſerve the intereſt of the children of men. But now in other parts of the world, the winds are as cha…geable as mens minds: The Laws that God layes …p…n th… winds in moſt parts of the world, are not like the Laws of the Medes and Perſians, which alter not. One day God layes Dan. 6. 8.Dan 6:8a Law upon the winds to blow full Eaſt, the next day to blow full Weſt, the third to blow full South, the fourth to blow full North: yea, in ſeveral parts of the world, I have known the winds to change their motions ſeveral times in a day. Now in all theſe various motions of the winds, the Providence of God is at work for the good of mankind. That there is a dreadful ſtorm in one place, and at the ſame time a ſweet calm in another; that a tem…tuous ſtorm ſhould deſtroy and daſh in pieces one fleet, and that at the ſame inſtant, and in one and the ſame Sea, a proſperous gale ſhould blow another fleet into a ſafe harbour: That ſome at Sea ſhould have a ſtiff gale of wind, and others within ſight of them ſhould lye becalmed: That ſome Ships ſhould come into harbour top and top gallant, and that others ſhould ſink down at the ſame harbours mouth, before they ſhould be able to get in; is all from the Decree of God, and that Law that he has laid upon the winds. That terrible temp…ſtuous wind that affrighted the Diſciples, and that put them not only to their wits end, but alſo to their faiths end, was allayed by a word of Chriſts mouth, Matth. 8. 26. He aroſe and rebuked the winds and the Sea, and there was a great calm. O Sirs, when London was in flames, and when the winds were high, and went their circuits, roaring and makeing a moſt hideous noiſe, how eaſie a thing had it been with Jeſus, by a word of his mouth, to have allayed them? but p. 22…e was more angry with us, than he was with his D…ciples, who were in danger of drowning; or elſe he would as cer…ainly have ſaved our City from burning by rebuking the winds and the flames, as he did his Diſciples from drowning, by rebuking the winds and the Seas. I have b…en the longer upon this fourth particular, that you may the more eaſily run and read the anger of the Lord in thoſe furious flam…s, and in that violent wind that has laid our City deſolate. 'Tis true Aſtrol…gers aſcribe the motions of the winds to ſpecial Planets: The E…ſt wind th…y aſcribe to the Sun, the Weſt wind to the Moon, the South wind to Mars, and the N…rth wind to Jupiter, but thoſe that are wiſe in heart, by what I have ſaid concerning the winds; may ſafely and and groundedly conclude, that God alone hath the S…pream power of the winds in his own hand: and that he alone orders, directs, and commands all the motions of the winds. And therefore let us look to that terrible hand of the Lord that was lifted up in that fierce wind, that did ſo exceedingly contribute to the turning of our City into a ruinous heap. B…t,

Fifthly, C…ider the extenſiveneſs of it. How did this 5dreadful fire ſpread it ſelf, both with and againſt the wind, Within the Walls of the City, there were eighty one Pariſhes conſumed. For every hour the fire laſted, there was a whole Pariſh conſumed.…ill it had gained ſo great a force, as that it deſpiſed all mens attempts? It quickly ſpread it ſelf from the Eaſt to the Weſt, to the deſtruction of houſes of State, of Trade, of Publick Magiſtracy, beſides Mynes of Charity; it ſpread it ſelf with that violence, that it ſoon crumbled into aſhes our moſt ſtately Habitations, Halls, Chappels, Churches, and famous Monuments. Thoſe Magnificent Structures of the City that formerly had put ſtops, and given ch…cks to the furious fl…m…s, falls now like ſtubble before the violence of a ſpreading fire. This fire like an Arm of the Sea, or like a Land-flood broke in ſuddenly upon us; and ſoon ſpread it ſelf all manner of wayes amongſt us: it ran from place to place like the fire and ha…l in Aegypt; now 'twas in this Street, and anon in that: Now this Steeple is on fire, and then that: Exod. 9. 13Exod 9:13Now this place of Judicature is laid in aſhes, and then that: Now this Hall is in flames, and then that: Now this Pariſh p. 23is burnt down to the ground, and then that: Now this Ward is turned into a ruinous heap, and then that: Now this Quarter of the City is level wi…h the ground, and then that: Now this Gate of the City is demoliſhed and conſumed and then that. The adverſary hath ſpread out his band upon Iam. 1. 10.Jas 1:10all her pleaſant things, ſaith the Prophet lamentingly; and and we may ſay ſighingly, the fire hath ſpread out its hand upon all our pleaſant things, upon all our pleaſant Houſes Shops, Trades, Gardens, Walks, Temples, &c. The Plague the year before, did ſo rage and ſpread, that it emptied many thouſand houſes of perſons; and now this dreadful fire hath ſo ſpread it ſelf, that it has not left houſes enough for many thouſands of perſons to dwell in, there being more than 13000. houſes deſtroyed by the furious flames. Sin is of a ſpreading nature, and accordingly it had ſpread it ſelf over all parts of the City; and therefore the Lord (who delights to ſuit his Judgements to mens ſins) ſent a ſpreading fire in the midſt of us. The mercileſs flames ſpreading themſelves every way, in four dayes time laid the main of our (once glorious) City in aſhes: a Judgement ſo rem…kable and paſt preſident; that he that will not ſee the hand of the Lord in it, may well be reckoned amongſt the worſt of Athe…ſts. But,

Sixthly, Conſider the impartiality of it. It ſpared neither 6Sinners nor Saints, young nor old, rich nor poor, honourable nor baſe, bond nor free, Male nor female, buyer nor ſeller, borrower, nor lender: God making good that word, Iſa. 24. 1, 2. Behold the Lord maketh the earth empty, and maketh it waſte, and turneth it upſide down, and ſcattereth abroad the inhabitants thereof. And it ſhall be as with the people, ſo with the Prieſt: (or with the Prince, for the Hebrew word ſignifies both) as with the ſervant, ſo with his Maſter, as with the maid ſo with the Miſtris, as with the buyer ſo with the ſeller, as with the lender ſo with the borrower, as with the taker of uſury, ſo with the giver of uſury to him. In the day of the Lords wrath that was lately upon us, all orders, ranks and degrees of men ſuffered alike, and were abaſed alike: the furious flames made no difference, they put no diſtinction between the p. 24Ruſſet Coat and the Scarlet Gown, the Leathern Jacket and the Gold Chain, the Merchant and the Tradeſman, the Landlord and the Tenant, the Giver and the Receiver.

There is no difference, Fire hath made,

Equal the Scepter and the Spade.

Ezek. 20. 47. Behold I will kindle a fire in thee, and it ſhall dev…ur every green Tree in thee, and every dry Tree: the flaming fl…me ſhall not be quenched, and all faces from the South to the North, ſhall be burnt therein. (I have in the former part of this Treatiſe given ſome light into theſe words) The fire, the flames in the Text, takes hold of all ſorts of people, rich and poor, Lord and Lad, high and low, great and ſmall ſtrong and weak, wiſe and fooliſh, learned and ignorant, Commanders and Souldiers, Rulers and ruled. So did the late lamentable fire in London take hold of all ſorts and degrees of men, as the Citizens have found by ſad experience. The fire like the Duke of Parma's Sword, knew no difference 'twi… Robes and Rags, 'twixt Prince and Peaſant, Eccleſ. 9. 1, 2.Eccl 9:1Eccl 9:2'twixt honourable and vile, 'twixt the righteous and the wicked, the clean and the unclean, 'twixt him that ſacrificed and him that ſacrificed not, 'twixt him that ſweareth, and him that ſeareth an oath. The Judgement was univerſal; the blow reacht us all: the flames brake into every mans houſe; ſuch a dreadful, impartial, univerſal fire, eyes never ſaw before, nor ears never heard of before, nor tongues never diſcourſed of before, nor Pens never writ of before. Beloved, you know, that 'tis our duty to take ſerious notice of the hand of the Lord in the leaſt Judgement, and in every particular Judgement: Oh how much more then dos it highly concern us, to take ſerious notice of the hand of the Lord that has been lifted up againſt us, in that late dreadful, impartial, univerſal fire, that has burnt us all out of our habitations, and laid our City deſolate. But,

Seventhly, Conſider the greatneſs of it, the deſtructiveneſs 7of it. Oh the many thouſand families that were deſtroyed and impoveriſhed in four dayes time! Of many it p. 25might have been ſaid the day before the fire, who ſo rich as London was the Lady-City where the Riches of many Nations were laid up. I would rather be bound to weep over London, than be bound to ſumm up the loſſes of London by this dreadful fire.theſe? and the very next day it might have been ſaid of the ſame perſons, who ſo poor as theſe? as poor as Job; yea, poor to a Proverb, Jer. 21. 13, 14. Behold I am againſt thee, O inhabitant of the valley, and rock of the plain, ſaith the Lord; which ſay, who ſhall come down againſt us? or who ſhall enter into our habitations? But I will puniſh you according to the fruit of your doings, ſaith the Lord. And I will kindle a fire in the forreſt thereof, and it ſhall devour all things round about it. Some by the Forreſt, underſtand the fair and ſumptuous buildings in Jeruſalem, that were built with wood that was hewen out of the Forreſt of Libanon, and ſtood as thick as Trees in the Forreſt. Others by the Forreſt, underſtand the whole City of Jeruſalem with the Countrey round about it, that was as full of people, as a Forreſt is full of Trees. Others by Forreſt underſtand the houſe of the Lord, and the Kings houſe, and the houſes of the great Princes, which were built with excellent matter from the Wood of Lebanon. Jeruſalem was 2 Sam. 5. 6.2 Sam 5:6ſo ſtrongly d…fended by nature, that they thought themſelves invincible, as once the Jebuſites did: they were ſo confident of the ſtrength of their City, that they ſcorned the proudeſt and the ſtrongeſt enemies about them. But ſin had brought them low in the eye of God, ſo that he could ſee nothing eminent or excellent among them; and therefore the Lord reſolves by the Chaldees, to fire their magnificent buildings in which they gloried, and to turn their ſtrong and ſtately City into a ruinous heap. Though Jeruſalem Pſalm 125. 2.Ps 125:2ſtood in a Vale, and was environed with Mountains, yet the upper part of it, ſtood high as it were upon a rocky riſing hill. Now the Citizens of Jeruſalem truſted very much in the ſcituation of their City: they did not fear their being beſieged, ſtraitned, conquered or fired: and therefore they ſay, Who ſhall come down againſt us? Who ſhall enter into our habitation? Where is the enemy that has courage or confidence enough to aſſault our City, or to enter into our habitations? but God tells them that they were as barren of good fruit, as the Trees of the Forreſt were barren of good fruit; and therefore he was reſolved by the hand of the Chaldeans p. 26to hew them down, and to fire their moſt ſtately Structures, and to turn their glorious City (in which they greatly truſted and gloried) into a ruinous heap. All which accordingly was done (not long after) by Nebuzaradan and his Army; as you may ſee in Jer. 52. 12, 13, 14, 15. How often hath the Citizens of London been alarm'd with the cry of fire; which hath been as often extinguiſhed before they could well know where it was, and how it began? but all former fires were but ſmall fires, but Bon-fires to this dreadful fire that has been lately amongſt us.

In the twentieth year of the Reign of William the firſt, ſo Sir Richard Bakers Chronicle, p. 31. 47.great a fire happened in London, that from the Weſt-gate to the Eaſt-gate, it conſumed houſes and Churches all the way. This was the moſt grievous fire that ever happened in that City, ſaith my Author. And in the Reign of King Henry the firſt, a long tract of buildings, from Weſt-cheap in London to Aldgate, was conſumed with fire. And in King Stephens Reign there was a fire that began at London Stone, and conſumed all unto Aldgate. Theſe have been the moſt remarkable fires in London. But what were any of theſe, or all theſe, to that late dreadful fire that has been amongſt us? London in thoſe former times was but a little City, and had Eccleſ. 9. 14.Eccl 9:14but a few men in it in compariſon of what it was now. London was then but as a great Banqueting-houſe, to what it was now: Nor the conſumption of London by fire then, was Can. 2. 4.nothing proportionable to the conſumption of it by fire now. For this late lamentable devouring fire hath laid waſte the greateſt part of the City of London within the walls by far, and ſome part of the Suburbs alſo. More than fourſcore Pariſhes, and all the Houſes, Churches, Chappels, Hoſpitals, and other the great and magnificent buildings of Pious or Publick uſe, which were within that circuit, are now brought into aſhes, and become one ruinous heap. This furious raging fire burnt many ſtately Monuments to powder; it melted the Bells in the Steeples; it much weakned and ſhattered the ſtrongeſt Vaults under ground. O what Age or Nation hath ever ſeen or felt ſuch a dreadful viſitation as this hath been. Nebuzaradan General to the King of Babylon, p. 27firſt ſets the Temple of Jeruſalem on fire, and then the Joſ. A…t. p. 255. A. M. 3356.Kings Royal Palace on fire, and then by fire he levells all the houſes of the great men; yea, and all the houſes of Jeruſalem are by fire turned into a ruinous heap, according to Jer. 52. 12, 13, 14.Jer 52:12Jer 52:13Jer 52:14what the Lord had before foretold by his Prophet Jeremiah. Now this was a lamentable fire. Some hundred years after the Roman Souldiers ſackt the City, and ſet it on fire, and Joſ. A…t. p. 741. A. M. 4034.laid it deſolate with their Temple, and all their ſtately buildings and glorious monuments. Three or four Towers and the Wall that was on the Weſt ſide they left ſtanding as monuments of the Romans valour, who had ſurpized a City ſo Joſ. A…t. p. 745.ſtrongly fortified. All the reſt of the City they ſo plained, that they who had not ſeen it before, would not believe that it had ever been inhabited. Thus was Jeruſalem one of the worlds wonders, and a City famous amongſt all Nations, Luke 19. 41, 42, 43, 44. Tacit. A…. 15.Luke 19:41Luke 19:42Luke 19:43Luke 19:44made deſolate by fire, according to the prediction of Chriſt, ſome years before. There was a great fire in Rome in Nero's time, it ſpread it ſelf with that ſpeed, and burnt with that violence, till of fourteen Regions in Rome, there were but four left entire. I know there are ſome, who would make the world believe, that this fire began caſually, (as many now would perſwade us, that the late fire in London did) but I rather joyn iſſue with them, who conclude that Nero ſet Rome on fire, and when he had done, he laid it upon A…no 64.the Chriſtians, and thereupon grounded his Perſecution: as all know, that have read the Hiſtory of thoſe times. Anno 80. Rome was ſet on fire by fire from Heaven (ſay ſome) it burned three dayes and nights, and conſumed the Capitol, with many other ſtately Buildings and glorious Monuments; it burnt with that irreſiſtible fury, that the Hiſtorian concludes, that it was more than an ordinary fire. And in the time of Commodius the Emperour, there happened ſuch a dreadful fire in Rome, as conſumed the Temple of Peace, and all the moſt ſtately Houſes, Princely Palaces, glorious Structures and rare Monuments that were in the City.

In the Reign of Achmat the eighth Emperour of the Turks, Knol… 's General Hiſtory of the Turks. pag. 1275.about the beginning of November, a great fire aroſe at Conſtantinople, wherein almoſt five hundred Shops of Wares, p. 28with many other fair Buildings were deſtroyed by fire; ſo that the harm that was then done by fire, was eſteemed to amount to above two Millions of Gold. But alas, what was this fire and loſs to the fire of London, and the loſs of the Citizens in our day!

In Conſtantinople in A. D. 465. in the beginning of September, there brake forth ſuch a fire by the water ſide, as raged with that dread, force and fury, and violence four dayes and nights together, that it burnt down the greateſt part of the City, the ſtrongeſt and the ſtatelieſt houſes, being but as dried ſtubble before it. It bid defiance to all means of reſiſtance; it went on triumphing and ſcorning all humane helps, till it had turned that great and populous City (once counted by ſome the wonder of the world) into a ruinous heap. This of all fires comes neareſt to the late fire of London: but what is the burning of a thouſand Romes, and a thouſand Conſtantinoples, or the burning of ten thouſand Barbarous Cities, to the burning of one London? Where God was as greatly known, and as dearly loved, and as highly prized, and as purely ſerved, as he was in any one place under the whole Heavens! O Sirs, 'tis our duty and our high concernment, to ſee the hand of the Lord, and to acknowledge the hand of the Lord in the leaſt fires: how much more then does it become us, to ſee the hand of the Lord lifted up in that late dreadful fire that has laid our City deſolate. But,

Eighthly, Conſider how all ſorts, ranks and degrees of 8men were terrified, amuſed, amazed, aſtoniſhed and diſpirited in the late dreadful fire that was kindled in the midſt of us. When men ſhould have been a ſtrengthning of one anothers hands, and encouraging of one another hearts, to pull down, and blow up ſuch houſes, as gave life and ſtrength to the ſurious flames, how were their hearts in their heels, every one flying before the fire, as men flye before a victorious enemy? What a Palſie, what a great trembling had ſeized upon the heads, hands and hearts of moſt Citizens, as if they had been under Cain's curſe, moſt men were unman'd and amazed? and therefore no wonder if the furious p. 29flames received no check. In former fires, when Deut. 28. 65. 1 Sam. 13. 7. 14, 15. Acts 1: 12: Why ſtand ye gazing? O the feebleneſs, the frigh…s, the tremblings, the diſtractions that was then in every houſe, in every heart When a Ship is ſinking, 'tis ſad to ſee every man run to his Cabin, when every one ſhould be at the Pump, or a ſtopping of Leaks.Deut 28:651 Sam 13:71 Sam 13:141 Sam 13:15Acts 1:12Magiſtrates and People had reſolved hearts and active hands, how eaſily, how quickly were thoſe fires quenched? But now our Rulers minds were darkned and confuſed, their Judgements infatuated, their ſouls diſpirited, and their ears ſtopped, ſo that their Authority did only accent their miſery: and this filled many Citizens hearts with fear, terror, amazement and diſcontent; theſe things being done, the City quickly was undone. Had the care and d…ligence both of Magiſtrates and People, been more for the ſecuring of the publick go…d, than 'twas for ſecuring their own private intereſt, much of London by a good hand of Providence upon their endeavours, might have been ſtanding, that is now turned into a ruinous heap. Troy was loſt by the ſloth and careleſneſs of her inhabitants; and may I not ſay, that much of London was loſt, by the ſloth and careleſneſs of ſome, and by the fears, frights, and amazement of others; and by others endeavouring more to ſecure their own Packs and Patrimonies, than the ſafety of the whole. When London was in flames, mens courage did flag, and their ſpirits did fail; the ſtrong helpers ſtood helpleſs: Some ſtood loking on, others ſtood weeping and ſhaking their heads, and wringing their hands; and others walkt up and down the Streets like ſo many Ghoſts, Pſal. 76. 5. The ſtout hearted are ſpoiled (or as the Hebrew runs, the ſtout hearted have yielded themſelves up for a prey: which the Rabbins thus expound, They are ſpoiled of their underſtandings and infatuated) and none of the men of might have found their hands: (or as ſome read the words, none of the men of riches, that is, rich men, have found their hands) or as others carry the words, God took away their courage, and their wonted ſtrength failed them. So when London was in flames, how were high and low, rich and poor, honorable and baſe, ſpoiled of their underſtanding, and infatuated? The Lord took away all wiſdom, courage, counſel and ſtrength from them: So Judges 20. 40. But when the flam…s began to ariſe out of the City with a pillar of ſmoke, the Benjamites looked behind them, and behold the flame of their City aſcended up to Heaven: and when the men of Iſrael …urned again, p. 30the men of Benjamin were amazed, for they ſaw that evil was come upon them. Theſe Benjamites were the very picture of o…r Citizens; for when they ſaw the flame began to ariſe out of the City with a Pillar of ſmoke, when they ſaw the flame of the City aſcend up to Heaven, O how amazed and conſounded were they! All wiſdom, courage and council was taken away, both from Magiſtrate and People; and none of them could find either heads, hands, or hearts to prevent Job 34. 19, 20, 24.Job 34:19Job 34:20Job 34:24Londons deſolation. In Pſal. 76. v. ult. God is ſaid, to cut off the Spirits of Princes: (or as the Hebrew runs, He ſhall ſlip off the Spirits of Princes, as men ſlip off a bunch of Grapes, or a Flower b…tween their fingers, eaſily, ſuddenly, unexpectedly, as he did by Senacheribs Princes) Princes uſually are men 1 Kings 19 36.1 Kgs 19:36of the greateſt ſpirits; and yet ſometimes God dos diſpirit them; he ſlips off their ſpirits, as men do a flower which ſoon withereth in their hand. How ſoon did God ſlip off the Spirit of that great, proud, debauched Monarch Belſhazzar, Dan. 5. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.Dan 5:1Dan 5:2Dan 5:3Dan 5:4Dan 5:5Dan 5:6who when he was in the midſt of his Cups, bravery and jollity (with all his great Princes, Lords, Ladies and Concubines about him) ſaw a hand writing upon the wall, which did ſo amaze him and terrifie him, that his countenance was changed and his thoughts troubled, and the joints of his loins looſed, and his knees daſhed one againſt another. But you may ſay, What was the reaſon that ſo great a Prince ſhould be ſo greatly aſtoniſhed. An. The Text tells you, he ſaw a hand: What hand? we the hand of a man: what could one hand of a man (ſaith One) terrifie and ſtartle ſo great a Monarch? Drexellius's School of Patience, p. 150, 151, 152.Had he ſeen the Paws of a Lion, or the Pawes of a Bear, or the Paws of a Dragon, there had been ſome cauſe of terror. But what need ſuch a Puiſſant Prince fear the hand of a man ſo much, at whoſe command and beck, an hundred Troops of Armed Horſe would preſently flye to his aſſiſtance? What terrible Weapons could that one hand wield or manage? none but a Pen with which it wrote. But will any man, much leſs a King, be afraid of a writing Pen? Had he beheld the three Darts of Joab, or the fiery flaming Sword 2 Sam. 18. 14. Gen. 3. 24.2 Sam 18:14Gen 3:24of the Cher…b, brandiſhed directly againſt him, he had then had ſome argument of aſtoniſhment: But one Hand, one p. 31Pen, one piece of Writing which he underſtood not; this was that which daunted him. Many Citizens were as much amazed, aſtoniſhed, terrified and ſtartled when they ſaw London in flames, as Belſhazzar was, when he ſaw the handwriting upon the wall. Ahab trembled like a ſhaken leaf, and ſo did his Grand ſon Manaſſeh, he that faced the Heavens, Iſa. 7. 1, 2. 2 Chron. 33. 11, 12.Isa 7:1Isa 7:22 Chr 33:112 Chr 33:12and that dared God in the day of his Proſperity, when troubles came thick, and his fears riſe high, he hides his hea… among the buſhes. Such a fear and trembling was up… many Citizens when London was in flames. Though Tu…liw Hoſtilius (the third King of the Romans) had a great warlike Spirit, as Lactantius notes, yet he carried in his boſom tw… new Gods, Pavorem and Pallorem, fear and paleneſs, which h… could not poſſibly ſhake off. Oh the fear that was in Citizens hearts, and the paleneſs that was upon Citizens cheeks when London was in flames! Now exceſſive fear fills the heart with all confuſion, they ſtrip a man of his reaſon and underſtanding; Till London was laid in Aſhes that effectual means of preſervation, viz. The blowing up of houſes was either greatly hid, or ſad…y gainſaid. When the Diſeaſe had killed the Pa…ients, than the Phyſitians agreed upon a Remedy. When the Ladder was turned, than the Pardon came.they weaken his hands, and they do ſo ſuddenly and totally diſpirit and unman a man, that he is not able to encounter with thoſe viſible dangers that threaten his utter ruine: and this the poor Citizens ſound by woful experience when London was in flames. At the ſight of this fire, how were the Citizens hearts melted, their hands feeble, their ſpirits faint, and their knees weak! Oh the horror, the terror, the amazement, the confuſion, that had now ſeized up on the ſpirits of all ſorts of Citizens! How were the thoughts of men now diſtracted, their countenances changed, and their hearts overwhelmed? O the ſad looks, the pale cheeks, the weeping eyes, the ſmiting of breaſts, and the wringing of hands that were now to be ſeen in every Street, and in every corner! What an univerſal conſternation did my eyes behold upon the minds of all men in that day of the Lords wrath! there is no expreſſing of the ſighs, the tears, the fears, the frights and the amazement of the Citizens; who were now compaſſed about with flames of fire! O the cryes, the tumults, the hurries, and the hinderances of one another, that was now in every Street, every one ſtriving with his Pack at his back, to ſecure what he p. 32could from the rage and fury of the flames. Now one cries out, five pound for a Cart, another cries out, ten pound for a Dray; in one Street one cries out, twenty pound for a Cart, and another in the next Street cries out, thirty pound for a Cart; here one cries out forty pound for a Cart, and there another cries out, fifty pound for a Cart. Many rich men that had time enough to have removed their goods, their wares, their commodities, flattered themſelves, that the fire would not reach their habitations, they thought they ſhould be ſafe and ſecure; but when the flames broke in upon them, O then any money for a Cart, a Coach, a Dray, to ſave ſome of their Richeſt and Choiceſt goods! Oh what fear were many Parents now in, that their Children would either be now trod down in the preſs, or loſt in the crowd, or be deſtroyed by the flames! And what fear were many Husbands now in, concerning their Wives, who were either weak or ſick, or aged, or newly delivered! Words are too weak to expreſs that diſtraction that all men were under, when the fire went on raging and devouring all before it. And this was an evident token to me, that the hand of the Lord was eminent in the fire, and that the Decree was gone forth, that Dear London muſt now fall. But,

Ninthly, Conſider the time that the fire began. It began 9on the Lords Day (being the ſecond of September) about one or two of the clock in the morning. Our fears fell upon us on the Lords Day, on that day that ſhould have been a day Rev. 1. 10. Iſa. 58. 13, 14.Rev 1:10Isa 58:13Isa 58:14of joy and delight unto us. On this day our ſinging was turned into ſighing, our rejoycing into mourning, and all our praiſings into tremblings. O the fears, the frights, the diſtreſſes that men were now under! O the amazed ſpirits, the bedewed checks, the faint hearts, the feeble knees, the weak hands, and the dejected countenances that were now to be ſeen every where! O Sirs, the time when this fatal fire firſt began, was very ominous, it being at a time when moſt Citizens were but newly fallen into a dead ſleep, being wearied out in their ſeveral employments: Several dayes before, but eſpecially on Saturday (or the laſt day of the week) that being with very many the moſt bufieſt day in all p. 33the week. And of all mornings, moſt Citizens did uſually lye longeſt in Bed Sabbath Day mornings. Such as uſed to riſe early every morning in the week to gain the meat that Pſal. 127. 1, 2 John 6. 27.Ps 127:1periſheth, to make ſure and to treaſure up for themſelves and theirs the things of this world. Such commonly mad… moſt bold with the Lords Day, and would frequently be in their beds, when they ſhould have been either inſtructing of their families, or at prayers in their Cloſets, or elſe a waiting upon the Lord in his publick Ordinances. Fire in th… night is terrible to all, but moſtly to ſuch whoſe ſpirits and bodies were tired out in the preceding day. Waſting and deſtroying Judgements are ſad any day, but ſaddeſt when they fall on the Lords Day. For how do they diſturb, diſtreſs and diſtract the thoughts, the minds, the hearts and the ſpirits of men? So that they can neither wait on God, nor wreſtle with God, nor act for God, nor receive from God, in any of the duties or ſervices of his day. And this the poor Citizens found by ſad experience, when London was in flames about their ears. Certainly the anger and wrath of God was very high, and very hot, when he made his day of reſt to be a day of labour and diſquiet. When his people ſhould have been a meeting, hearing, reading, praiſing, praying. For the Lord now to ſcatter them, and to deliver them, their ſubſtance and habitations as a prey to the devouring fire; what dos this ſpeak our, but high diſpleaſure? That the fire of Gods wrath, ſhould begin on the day of his reſt and ſolemn Worſhip, is and muſt be for a lamentation. In ſeveral of thoſe Churches where ſome might not preach, there God himſelf preacht to the Pariſhioners in flames of fire. And ſuch who loved darkneſs rather than light, John 3. 19. Exod. 19. 16, 17, 18.John 3:19Exod 19:16Exod 19:17Exod 19:18becauſe their deeds were evil, might now ſee their Churches all in a flaming fire. What a terrifying and an amazing Sermon, did God preach to his people of old in Mount Sinai, when the Mount burned with fire? And ſo what terrifying and amazing Sermons did God preach to the Citizens on his own day, when their Temples and their habitations were all in flames. Inſtead of holy reſt, what hurries were there in every ſtreet, yea, in the ſpirits of men? Now inſtead of takeing p. 34up of Buckets, men in every Street take up arms, fearing a worſe thing than fire. The Jealouſies and Rumors that fire balls were thrown into ſeveral houſes and Churches (by ſuch that had no Engliſh tongues but out-landiſh hands, to make the furious flames flame more furiouſly) were ſo great that many were at a ſtand, and others even at their wits end. Now relations, friends and neighbours haſtened one another out of their houſes, as the Angels haſtened Lot out of Sodom. Gen. 19. 15, 16, 17.Gen 19:15Gen 19:16Gen 19:17Such were the fears, and frights, and ſad apprehenſions that had generally ſeized upon the Citizens. Not many Sabbaths before (when men ſhould have been inſtructing of their families) what bonfires, what ringing of Bells, and what joy and rejoycing was there in our Streets, for burning the Dutch Ships in their Harbour (where many Engliſh and others, were highly concerned as well as the Dutch) little did they think, who were pleaſing and warming themſelves at thoſe leſſer fires, that the great God would in ſo ſhort a time after, kindle ſo great a fire in the midſt of their Streets, as ſhould melt their Bells, lay their habitations in aſhes, and make their Streets deſolate: So that thoſe that were ſo jolly before, might well take up that ſad lamentation of weeping Jeremiah. The Lord hath ſwallowed up all the habitations of Jacob, and hath not pittied: he hath thrown down in his Lam. 2. 2, 3.Lam 2:2Lam 2:3wrath, the ſtrong holds of the daughter of J…dah: he hath brought them down to the ground. He burned againſt Jacob like a flaming fire which devoureth round about. May we not ſoberly gueſs▪ that there were as many ſtrict obſervers and ſanctifiers of the Lords Day, who did turn away their feet from doing their Iſa. 58. 13.Isa 58:13pleaſure on Gods holy day, and that did call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, and honourable within the Walls of London, as in a great part of the Nation beſides. Now for the Lord of the Sa…bath, to kindle ſuch a devouring fire in ſuch a City, and that on his own day! O what extraordinary wrath and diſpleaſure dos this ſpeak out! When God by his Royal Law, had bound the hands of his people from doing their own works; for him now to fall upon his ſtrange work, and by a flaming conſuming fire to turn a populous City, a pious City, an honourable City, and p. 35an Ancient City into a ruinous heap, what indignation to this indignation! O Sirs, it highly concerns us, to take notice of the Judgements of the Lord that fall upon us on any day, but eſpecially thoſe that fall upon us on his own day; becauſe they carry with them more than a tincture of Gods deep d…ſpl…aſure.

In the Council of Paris, every one labouring to perſwad… unto a more religious keeping of the Sabbath Day. When Concil. Paris. lio. 1. cap. 50.they had juſtly complained, that as many other things, ſo alſo the obſ…rvation of the Sabbath was greatly decayed, through the abuſe of Chr…ſtian l…b…rty, in that men too much followed the delig…s of the world, and their own worldly pleaſures, both wicked and dangerous. They further add, For many of us have been eye witneſſes, many have intelligence of it, b… the relation of others, that ſome men upon this day, being about their husbandry, have been ſtrucken with Thunder; ſome have been maimed and made lame; ſom… have had their bodies (even bones and all) burnt in a moment with viſible fire, and have conſumed to aſhes; and many other Judgements of God have been, and are daily inflicted upon Sabbath Breakers.

Stratford upon Sluon was twice on the ſame day twelve monethmonth (being the Lords Day) almoſt conſumed with fire The Theatre of Gods Judgements. pag. 419, 420.chiefly for prophaning the Lords Day, and contemning his word in the mouth of his faithful Miniſter. Feverton in Devonſ…ire (whoſe remembrance makes my heart bleed, ſaith my Author) was oftentimes admoniſhed by her godly Preachers, that God would bring ſome heavy Judgement on the Town, for their horrible prophanation of the Lords Day, occaſioned ch…efly by their Market on the day following: Not long after his death, on the third of April 1598. God in leſs than half an hour conſumed, with a ſudden and fearful fire, the whole Town, except only the Church, the Court-houſe, and the Alms-houſes, or a few poor peoples dwellings; where a man might have ſeen four hundred dwelling houſes all at o…e on …ire, and above fifty perſons conſumed with the flames. And on the fifth of Auguſt 1612. (fourt…en years ſince the former fire) the whole Town was p. 36again fired and conſumed, except ſome thirty houſes of poor people, with the School-houſe and Alms-houſes. Now certainly they muſt be much left of God, hardned in ſin, and blinded by Satan, who do not, nor will not ſee the dreadful hand of God, that is lifted up in his fiery diſpenſations upon his own day. But,

Tenthly, and laſtly, Conſider, That the burning of London 10.is a National Judgement. God in ſmiting of London, has ſmitten England round: the ſtroke of God upon London, was When one member in the natural body ſuffers, all the members of the body ſuffer: 'tis ſo in the Politick body, &c. Look as all Rivers run into the Sea, and all the lines of the circumference meet in the center: ſo did the intereſts of the moſt eminent perſons in the whole Nation meet in London, &c. Now London is laid in aſhes, we may write Ichabod upon poor England. By the flames that have been kindled in London, God hath ſpit fire into the face of England.an univerſal ſtroke. The ſore ſtrokes of God, which have lately fallen upon the head City (London) are doubtleſs deſigned by Heaven, for the puniſhment of the whole body. In the ſufferings of London, the whole Land ſuffers. For what City, County, or Town in England was there, that was not one way or other, refreſhed and advantaged, if not enriched, with the ſilver ſtreams of London that overflowed the Land, as the River Nilus doth the Land of Aegypt. Doubtleſs there are but few in the Land, but are more or leſs concerned in the burning of London. There are many thouſands that are highly concerned in their own particulars; there are many thouſands concerned upon the account of their inward friends and acquaintance: and who can number up the many ſcore thouſands imployed in the Manufacture of the Land, whoſe whole dependance (under God) was upon London. What Lamentation, mourning and wo is there in all places of the Land, for the burning of London, eſpecially among poor Tradeſmen, Inn-keepers, and others, whoſe livelihoods depended upon the ſafety and proſperity of London. Certainly he is no Engliſh man, but one who writes a Roman hand, and carries about him a Romiſh heart, who feels not, who trembles not under this univerſal blow. Many years labour will not make up the Citizens loſſes to them. Yea, what below the Riches of the Indies will effectually make up every mans loſſes to him? He ſhall be an Apollo to me, that can juſtly ſumm up the full value of all that have been deſtroyed by thoſe furious flames, that has turned the beſt (if not the richeſt) City in the world, into a ruinous heap. Now their loſs is a loſs to the whole Nation; and p. 37this the Nation already feels, and may yet feel more and more, if God in mercy dos not prevent the things that we have cauſe to fear. 'Tis true London is the back that is ſmitten: but what corner is there in all the Land, that hath not more or leſs, one way or another, contributed to the burning of London. Not only thoſe that lived in Jeruſalem, but alſo thoſe that came up to Jeruſalem, and that Traded with Jeruſalem, they even they did by their ſins contribute to Jeruſalems ruine. They are under a high miſtake, that think it was only the ſins of the City which brought this ſore deſolation upon her: doubtleſs as far as the Judgement extends and reaches, ſo far the ſins extend and reach, which have provoked the Lord, to make poor London ſuch an aſtoniſhing example of his juſtice. How are the eff…cts of Londons ruine already felt and ſighed under, all the Nation over. The blood and ſpirits which this whole Nation, hath already loſt by this late lamentable fire, will not be eaſily nor ſuddenly recovered. The burning of London, is the Herald of God to the whole Nation, calling it to repentance and reformation; for the very ſame ſins that have laid London in aſhes, are rampant in all parts of the Nation; as you may eaſily perceive, if you pleaſe but to compare that Catalogue that in this Book I put into your hands, with thoſe ſins that are moſt reigning and raging in all places of the Land: by which you may alſo ſee, that they were not the greateſt ſinners in England, upon whom the fire of London fell; no more than they were the greateſt ſinners in Jeruſalem, upon whom the Tower of Siloam fell. That the burning Luke 13. 4, 5.Luke 13:4Luke 13:5of London is a National Judgement, is evident enough to every man that has but half an eye. But if any ſhould doubt of it, or diſpute it, the Kings Proclamation for a General Faſt on that account, puts it beyond all diſpute. The words of the Proclamation that are proper to my purpoſe, are theſe, A Viſitation ſo dreadful (ſpeaking of the burning of London) that ſcarce any Age or Nation hath ever ſeen or felt the like; wherein although the afflicting hand of God fell more immediately upon the inhabitants of this City, and the parts adjacent; yet all men ought to look upon it, as a Judgement upon p. 38the whole Nation, and to humble themſelves accordingly. O Sirs, you are to ſee, and obſerve, and acknowledge the hand of the Lord in every perſonal Judgement, and in every Domeſt…cal Judgement: O how much more then, in every National Judgement that is infl…ct…d upon us! And thus I have done with thoſe ten Conſiderations, that ſhould not only provoke us, but alſo prevail with us, to ſee and acknowledge the hand of the Lord, in that late dreadful fire that has laid …ur City deſolate.

The ſecond Uſe is a Uſe of Lamentation and mourning. Ʋſe 2 Is London laid in aſhes? Then let us all lament and mourn, that L…nd…n is laid deſolate. Shall Chriſt weep over Jeruſalem, Luke 19. 41, 42, 43, 44.Luke 19:41Luke 19:42Luke 19:43Luke 19:44when 'twas ſtanding in all its glory (knowing that it would not be long before it was laid even with the ground) and ſhall not we weep over London, whoſe glory is now laid in the d…ſt? Who can look upon London, as the An…ient and Noble Metropolis of England, and not lament and mourn, to ſee it laid in aſhes? It might have been ſaid not long ſince, Pſalm. 98. 12, 13. London the Crown of England, ha…h …oſt its Jewel of Wealth and Beauty.Ps 98:12Ps 98:13Walk about Sion, (walk about London) and go round about …er, t…ll the Towers thereof, mark ye well her Bulwarks, conſid…r her P…laces: look upon her ſtately Houſes, Halls and Hoſpitals, take notice of her Shops, and fair Warehouſes, and Royal Exchange, &c. and lo, the glory of all …heſe things, is now buried in a common ruine! O the incredible change, that a devouring fire hath made in four dayes time within thy Walls, O London! So that now we may lamentingly (Alas poor London) Is this the joyous City, whoſe antiquity is of ancient dayes? Is this the crowning City, Iſa. 23. 7, 8Isa 23:7Isa 23:8whoſe Merchants were Princes, and whoſe Traffickers were the honourable of the Earth? Who can but weep, to ſee how the Lord hath made a City an heap, and a ruine of a defenced City, and a Pallace to be no City? Who can look upon Chap. 25. 2.naked Steeples, and uſeleſs Chimneys, and pittiful fragments of ragged walls? Who can behold ſtately Structures, and noble Halls, and fair Houſes, and ſee them all laid in aſhes, or turned into a heap of Rubbiſh, without paying ſome tears, as due to the ſadneſs of ſo dreadful a ſpectacle? Who can p. 39with dry eyes hear London thus ſpeaking out of its r…ines, Is it nothing to you, all ye that paſs by? Behold and ſee, if there Lam. 1. 12.Lam 1:12be any ſorrow like unto my ſorrow, which is done unto me, wherewith the Lord hath afflicted me in the day of his fierce anger. Who can look upon the Lord as making London empty, as Iſa. 24 1. Sr. Edw. Turner in his Speech to the King o Friday the 18. day of January, hath theſe words, They fi…d (meaning the Parliamen…) your Majeſty engaged in a ſharp and coſtly War, oppoſed by Mighty Princes and States, that are in conjunction againſt us: they ſ…e with ſorrow the greateſt part of your Metropolitan City buried in aſhes.Isa 24:1laying it waſte, as turning it upſide done, and as ſcattering abroad the inhabitants thereof, and not mourn. Beloved under deſolating Judgements, God dos expect and look that his people ſhould lament and mourn, Jer. 4. 7, 8. The Lion is come up from his thicket, and the deſtroyer of the Gentiles is on his way; he is gone forth from his place to make thy Land deſolate, and thy City ſhall be laid waſte, without an inhabitant. For this gird you with Sackcloth, lament and howl: for the fierce anger of the Lord is not turned back from us. Under waſting Judgements, God expecteth, not only inward, but alſo outward expreſſions and demonſtrations of ſorrow and grief. Shall our enemies rejoyce over the Ruines of London, and ſhall not we mourn over the Ruines of London! Shall they that are afar off lament over Londons deſolation, and ſhall not we lament over Londons deſolation, who are every day a walking up and down in Londons Ruines and Rubbiſh! O S…rs, as ever you would ſee Londons breaches repaired, her Trading recovered, her beauty reſtored, her riches augmented, her glory advanced, and her inhabitants rejoyced, make conſcience of mourning over Londons Ruines. Af…er Jeruſalem was deſtroyed by the Romans, many of the Jews obtained leave of the Roman Emperors, once a year (viz. on the tenth of Auguſt, which was the day whereon their City was taken) to enter into Jeruſalem, and bewail the deſtruction of their City, Temple and People, bargaining with the Souldiers who waited on them, to give Joſephus.ſo much for ſo lo…g abiding there, and if they exceeded the time they conditioned for, they were to ſtretch their purſes to a higher rate: which occaſioned Hierom to ſay, That they who bought Chriſts blood, were then glad to buy their own tears. O Sirs, what cauſe have we, once a year, yea, often in a year, to bewail the deſolation of London! The Statue of Apollo, is ſaid to ſhed tears, for the afflictions of the Grecians, though p. 40he could not help them. Though we could no… prevent the burning of London, yet let us weep over the Ruines of London. The Leproſie of the Citizens ſins, had ſo fretted into Londons Walls; that there was no cleanſing of them, but by the furious flames of a conſuming fire. In the Law you know, that when the old fretting Plague of Leproſie, was Lev. 14. 35. …o v. 46.Lev 14:35ſo got into the houſe, and ſpread in the Walls, that no ſcraping within or without, could cleanſe it away, then the houſe was to be pulled down: this ſeems to be Londons caſe. God by former Judgements, laboured to ſcrape away the Leproſie of ſin out of London, but that deadly leproſie was ſo got into mens hearts and houſes, that there was no getting of it out, but by pulling them down. This is, and this muſt be for a lamentation. Now the better to work you, to lament and mourn over the ruines of London, conſider with me theſe ten following particulars.