The Burning of London, Part 3 · Meditation 36
MEDITATION XXXVI. Upon the Suburbs coming into more requeſt then ever, ſince the fire.
HOw much more conſiderable are the Suburbs now, than they lately were? Some places of deſpicable termination, and as mean account, but a few moneths ſince, ſuch as Hounds-ditch, and Shorditch, do now contain not a few Citizens of very good faſhion. Philoſophers ſay, that Corruptiounius eſt generctio alterius: ſo was the marring of the City, the making of the Suburbs. What rich commodities cannot the Suburbs now ſupply us with, which heretofore could be had onelyonly within the walls. Time was that rich Citizens would almoſt have held their Noſes, if they had paſt by thoſe places where now it may be they are conſtrained to dwell: they would hardly have kept the dogs of their fl…ck (to uſe Jobs words with ſome variation) where now they are forced to keep themſelves. Had London been ſtanding; in the places where ſome of them do now inhabit, Zijim and Ochin… might have dwelt for them, and the Satyrs might have danced there (to allude to Iſa. 13.21) In how great requeſt at this day, is poor Piedmont as I may call it (Southwark I mean) which lay ſubmiſsively at the feet of London, like an humble valley at the foot of a high mountain? What multitudes of Citizens have flockt to it, as glad to be free amongſt thoſe that were not free themſelves, the fire having as it were broken down the partition-wall, betwixt thoſe that were Free-men of London, and thoſe that were not.
If the Suburbs had been burnt, VVhither would the Inhabitants have ſled? Trade within the VValls they might not, as Citizens may without; which liberty they having now taken, (as it is their due;) What are the Suburbs now becon…, but as it were the in-ſide of the late-Famous City, carried and placed without the Walls? London its ſelf (by a kind of foreign) the Soul of the City, being now tranſlated into the Body of the Suburbs: So that he, who would now look for London, muſt look for moſt of it, not within, but without the Walls. How eaſie is it with God to pull down one and ſet up another? To pluck the mighty from their ſeat, and to exalt the poor and needy? VVe read, though in another ſenſe, that every Valley ſhall be exalted, and every Mountain and Hill ſhall be made low. VVho can but think of …ann…h's words, ſhewing, how God turns the VVorld up-ſide-down like a VVheel, the uppermoſt Spoke whereof is quickly down, and the loweſt at the top, 1 Sam. 2.5. They that were full have hired out themſeives for bread, and they that were hungry have ceaſed: So that the barren have …orn ſeven, and ſhe that hath many children is waxen fe…ble: And Verſ. 7. The … makes p…or, and maketh rich; he bringeth low, and liſteth up. It is good counſel that an excellent man gives, viz. That we ſhould deſpiſe no mans preſent condition, ſeeing we do not know his Deſtiny. It ſhould ſeem, the poor deſpiſed Suburbs were deſtin'd to hold up their heads more than ever, when the noble City ſhould lie in duſt and aſhes, as now it doth. Let L…ndoners not think much of it, that the providence of God hath caſt them without the Gates and VValls of London; but, rather conſider of ſuch expreſſions as thoſe, Heb. 13.12, 13, 14. How that Chriſt ſuffered without the Gate; Let us go therefore to him without the Camp, bearing his reproach. For here we have no continuing City. I ſay, Let them think of thoſe words, and prepare for another-guiſe ſuffering without the Gate, than as now they do; and bearing another-guiſe-reproach than now they bear, for this is next to none; it being more proper to ſay, and think, That they have made the Suburbs honourable; than, That the Suburbs have made them deſpicable.