Sermon Preached 3 September 1683, Imprimatur – Dedication
Pritchard Mayor, Jovis, ſexto die Septembr. 1683. Annóque Regni Regis Caroli Secundi Angliae, &c. XXXVto.
THis Court doth deſire Mr. Hopkins to print his Sermon preached before the Lord Mayor and Aldermen and Citizens of this City, at Bow-Church, on Monday laſt, being the day of Humiliation for the Diſmal Fire, anno 1666.
Wagstaffe.
A SERMON Preached before the RIGHT HONOURABLE THE LORD MAYOR, Aldermen and Citizens Of the CITY of LONDON, In the Pariſh Church of S. Mary le Bow, September 3. 1683.
Being the day of Humiliation for the late DREADFULL FIRE.
By William Hopkins, B.D. and Prebendary of Worceſter.
Ezra, IX. 13, 14.
And after all this is come upon us for our evil deeds, and for our great treſpaſs; ſeeing that thou, our God, haſt puniſhed us leſs than our iniquities deſerve, and haſt given us ſuch DELIVERANCE AS THIS:
Should we again break thy commandments— Wouldſt thou not be angry with us till thou hadſt conſumed us, ſo that there ſhould be no remnant nor eſcaping?
LONDON, Printed for Walter Kettilby, at the Biſhop's Head in St. Paul's Church-yard, 1683.
TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE Sir WILLIAM PRITCHARD, LORD MAYOR Of the CITY of LONDON, AND TO THE HONOURABLE COURT of ALDERMEN.
My LORD,
I Am ſufficiently conſcious that there is nothing in this plain Diſcourſe, but the honeſt deſign it proſecutes, worthy of that acceptance it found with the Honourable Audience before whom it was preached. Nevertheleſs, ſince it's your Lordſhip's pleaſure, that I ſhould make it more publick than I ever deſigned, I dare not diſpute your commands or doubt your Patronage. I am ſure I need it in a high degree, whether I conſider the weakneſs of the diſcourſe it ſelf, or into what an ill-natured and cenſorious World it adventures. But I am little concerned what reception will be given it by curious and critical Readers, who reade and hear Sermons, as they do Plays, merely for entertainment, and to ſhew what Judges they are. I was not ſo ſanguine either in the preaching or publiſhing of it as to expect it ſhould doe much good on that ſort of men.
But to perſons of Piety and Candour, who receive the Word of God into good and honeſt hearts, I hope it may not be unſerviceable. And if it may in any meaſure contribute toward the making us more truly penitent for what is paſt, or a more obedient people for the future, I ſhall think my ſelf happy, and thankfully adore him whoſe ſtrength was made manifeſt in my weakneſs.
To the Divine Protection and Bleſſing I humbly commend your Lordſhip, your Honourable Brethren and this great City which flouriſhes under your juſt and prudent Adminiſtration, and intreat your acceptance of this poor Teſtimony that I am in all humility,
My LORD, Your moſt obedient and faithfull Servant, William Hopkins.