The Burning of London, Part 3 · Meditation 1

The Burning of London · Part 3 · Meditation 1

p. 1MEDITATION I. Of the Weight of Gods Hand in the late deſtruction of London by Fire.

REmarkable are thoſe expreſſions of Job, cap. 6. ver. 2. & 3. O that my grief were thoroughly weighed and my calamity laid in the Ballances together; for now it would be heavier than the ſand of the Sea: therefore my words are ſwallowed up, and ver. 4. For the Arrows of the Almighty are within me, and the poiſon thereof drinketh up my ſpirit: the Terrors of God do ſet themſelves in array againſt me. How fitly may the people of England, but eſpecially the late Inhabitants of London, take up the ſame expreſſions? How juſtly may they wiſh that their Calumities were weighed by others, as well as felt by themſelves? But as it is is impoſſible to find Ballances able to contain the ſands of the Sea, ſo is i… next to impoſſible to find any, in which the Calamity of London may be weighed, or any thing able to weigh againſt them (ſuch is the heavineſs thereof) beſides the ſands of the Sea: Yea, i… Jo…s particular grief and miſery were heavier than thoſe ſands, may not the like be ſaid of what hath now befallen thouſands, all whoſe loſſes and croſſes put together (though not any of them ſingly) are certainly heavier than his either was, p. 2or could be. I think it is ſo far from being a ſin to put the judgements of God, as it were, into a ſcale, that we may learn how heavy they are (ſo far as we can attain) that I queſtion not but it is a duety, and am ſure it was the practice of that ſenſible Prophet holy Jeremiah, Lam. 4.6. The puniſhment of the Iniquity of the Daughter of my People, is greater than the puniſhment of the ſin of Sodome, &c. There we ſee he layes the puniſhment of Sodome in one ſcale, and that of Jeruſalem in another, and weighing them againſt each other, concludes the latter to have been the heavier of the two: Yea, indeed the whole Book of Lamentations is, as it were, a pair of Ballances hung up, into which the Prophet is caſting in the ſeverall miſeries of Ieruſalem parcell by parcell (as he could take them up) till he had thrown in all; that he and others might underſtand to what weight the whole ſum did amount. Though there are ſome that are ready to faint under the chaſtiſements of the Lord, yet more are apt to deſpiſe them, eſpecially after ſome time, and when the ſurprize is over, and in caſe they themſelves are not ſo immediately, or ſo deeply concerned in them as others are. Then are they ready to ſay to others in reference to their loſſes, as the chief Prieſts and Elders did to Iudas, in reference to the trouble of his mind, Mat. 27.4. What is that to us? look thou to that: Or to ſhew themſelves Gallio like of whom we read, that when the Greeks took Softhenes the chief Ruler of the Synagogue and beat him before the Judgement-ſeat, Gallio cared for none of thoſe things. Though he ſaw a Perſon of Quality and of Integrity unjuſtly beaten in a publike way, he regarded it not. Let the p. 3Gallio's of this Age read what I am now to write us touching the miſeries of poor London, and be perfectly unconcerned if they can, or exempt themſelves, if it be poſſible, from having any ſhare in that Calamity which they ſeem to ſlight, as if it were nothing to them, or as if the late fire had not ſo much as ſinged one hair of their heads, neither would, at the long run. I dare warrant them, that gray hairs of miſery are upon them alſo (and upon that account,) though they know it not.

When I enter upon the Meditation of Londons deſtruction, I had need to fortifie my ſelf with thoſe words of Solomon, viz. that It is better to go to the Houſe of mourning, than to the Houſe of feaſting, Eccleſ. 7.2. For ſuch a diſcourſe can be no other, than as it were a Houſe of mourning, yea, As the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the Valley of Megiddon, Zach. 12.11. And now methinks the Book of Ieremy called Lamentations doth ſo wonderfully ſuit the preſent caſe of London, as if it had been calculated for the Meridian of that City, rather than of Ieruſalem, or as if God had ſtretched out upon London the ſame line of confuſion, as he did upon Ieruſalem, or as if thoſe divine thunder bolts, which were ſhot againſt both thoſe famous Cities, had been made in one and the ſame mold, or as God ſpeaks, Amos 4.11. I have overthrown ſome of you, as God overthrew Sodome and Gomorrah. So, as God overthrew Ieruſalem in like manner, and with many the ſame circumſtances hath he deſtroyed London. Our ſins were much what the ſame with theirs (as I have ſhewed, when I ennumerated the procuring cauſes of fire) and it is but juſt, that our plagues and puniſhments ſhould be the ſame likewiſe. p. 4Now where ſhall I begin my diſcourſe of Londons calamity? Or how can I do it without premiſing thoſe words of the Prophet, Jerem. 9.11. Oh that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, &c. If my eyes be not a fountain my heart muſt needs be a Rock, and Lord ſmite thou that Rock, that waters may guſh out, whil'ſt I mention thoſe things that ſhould be bewailed, even with tears of blood.

That which firſt preſents its ſelf is the conſideration of what London was, nor can it be better expreſſed than in thoſe words, Lam. 1.1 The City that was Great amongſt the Nations, and Princeſſe amongſt the Provinces. Sure I am London was the glory of England, yea the glory of Great Britain, yea the glory of theſe three Nations, if not in ſome ſenſe the glory of the whole World. But as the Prophet ſpeaks of Ieruſalem, ver. 9. She came down wonderfully, the ſame may be ſaid of London. But alas! What is London now, but another Sodome lying in aſhes? What is it but a heap of duſt and rubbiſh? The greateſt part of it ſeems to be convered into ſo many Church-yards, as conſiſting of nothing, but the Reliques of Churches, with waſte ground round about them, full of open Vaults or Cellers, like ſo many uncovered Graves, and fragments of houſes like ſo many dead mens bones ſcattered on every ſide of them: I had almoſt called it another Smithfield (…alluding to the uſe that place was put to in the Marian dayes) for that every houſe was a kind of Martyr ſacrificed to the flames: and that (as is vehemently ſuſpected) by men of the ſame Religion, with thoſe that burnt the Martyrs in Queen Maries dayes: Witneſs that Frenchman that was convicted and executed upon his own acknowledgement of having p. 5begun the Fire in London, whoſe confeſſion tels us that he was inſtigated by Papiſts (one or more) and the choice of his Confeſſor, that he was one himſelf. We can now no longer ſay of London Here it ſtands, but Hie jacet (as we ſay of one that is dead and buried) Here it lies; not that here it is, but that here it was.

May we not go on with thoſe words of Ieremy Lam. 1.1. How doth the City ſit ſolitary, that was full of people? How is ſhe become as a Widow? Where are thoſe multitudes that inhabited London a few moneths ſince? How are they diſperſed and ſcatte…ed into corners, ſome crowded into the Suburbs, others gone into the Country, diſabled in all likely hood, from ever returning again, to ſettle as before; Who complains not that they ſcarce know where to find any body, even thoſe that they had wont to converſe and trade with, for that their former places know them no more, yea they hardly know the places again, where they dwelt formerly, or can find where thoſe houſes ſtood, which they inhabited many years together. To ſee a populous City ſo wofully depopulated in a few dayes time, and the late Inhabitants driven away as ſtubble before the wind; Whoſe heart would it not cauſe to bleed? How oft have I heard men ſay ſince the Fire we have occaſion to uſe ſuch and ſuch tradeſmen, that uſe to work to us but know not were to find them, we ſhould ſpeak with ſuch and ſuch Friends, but know not what is become of them, or whether they are gone. How many thouſand houſes (that were lately ſuch) do not now contain one Inhabitant, nor are ſit to do it. This alſo ſhould be for a lamentation. Did the Egyptians mourn, when p. 6but one was miſſing in every houſe, and ſhall not we when multitudes of whole houſholds and houſes are ſwept away all at once?

Why ſhould I doubt to ſay, that a great part of the ſtrength and defence of all England, yea, of all the three Kingdomes, is loſt and taken away, in and by the deſtruction of London? Was not that great City able to have raiſed a mighty force in a ſhort time, wherewith to have oppoſed an invading Forreigner? Was it not a Mine of Treaſure, able to ſupply vaſt ſummes of monie for the uſe of King and Kingdome, at a ſhort warning: and found as willing as able to do it? If a vaſt and ſtately Ship, as moſt that ſwim in the Ocean had been loſt, how ſoon could, and did that famous City build ſuch another? Surely, London was the ſinews and the very right hand of all great and publick undertakings; and that they knew full well, that ſaid in their hearts, Raſe it, Raſe it to the very ground. Are we not now like Sampſon when his hair was cut, and ſhould we go out to ſhake our ſelves as he did, Judg. 16.20. ſhould we not preſently find it? Yea, are we not become like the men of Sechem, when they were fore, preſently after their being circumciſed, whom Simeon and Levi flew, Gen. …4.25. Who can be a friend to England, or have any true Engliſh blood running in his veins, and not lament, to ſee ſo much of the ſtrength of the Nation taken away at once? As Jerem…, ſpeaking of what God had done to Jeruſalem, (as in his own perſon) ſaith, He hath made my ſtrength to fall, Lament. 1.14. and then adds, He hath delivered me into their hands, from whom I am not able to riſe up: That is not our caſe as yet, but how ſoon may it be, our preſent weakneſſe p. 7and obnoxiouſneſs conſidered?

Is it not worth taking notice of, that the beauty and ſplendor of England is defaced and loſt by the deſtruction of London? How deformed is a body without a head? and was not London the head of England, in that ſence that Damaſcus is ſaid to have been the head of Syria, and the head of Ephraim to have been Samaria, Iſa. 7.8. That is the head City, for we acknowledge a head Superiour to that, yea, Supreme under God, viz. our Sovereign, as it is, ver. 9. the head of Ephraim is Remaliahs Son. As the face is to the body, ſo was London to England, viz. the beautifulleſt part of it, and look how men reckon it a great prejudice to their bodies when their faces are marred by any great deformity, ſo is it to the whole Land (which is to be conſidered as one body, and all the parts of it as members of each other) when ſcarce any thing of that is left which was the very face of it. They that ſaw only the other parts of England ſaw (as I may allude with reverence) but it's back parts. Was not London as it were the Throne of the Kings of England ſucceſſively, and other places in compariſon of it, but as it were their Footſtool? (you know to what I allude.) Now London is gone may we not write Icabod upon the Nation, for that the honour of it is departed? Now who can be a true Engliſhman and unconcerned for the honour of his Nation, and not troubled to ſee it lie in the duſt? How is the honour of a Nation inſiſted on? How many wars are commenced and continued in the world to vindicate the honour of particular Nations? How hard is it for Nations to recede from the very punctillio's of their honour? Now if God hath diſgraced us and weakned our p. 8reputation (as certainly he hath done) by taking away the great City, ſurely it ſhould be for a Lamentation? If our Father hath ſpit in our face, as Moſes ſaid to Mariam, ought we not to be aſhamed ſeven dayes, yea, ſeven years we had need for ſuch a ſpitting of fire in our face, as hath befallen us? Jeremy puts it amongſt his Lamentations, Lam. 1.6. From the Daughter of Zion all her beauty is departed. We proceed.

Whoſe heart would it not grieve, to think what precious fuel went to feed that pernicious fire? Goodly Houſes, noble Halls, belonging to ſeveral Companies, ancient and worthy Hoſpitals, affording relief to multitudes of poor and diſtreſſed people, magnificent Churches built (and ſome of them but lately repaired) at a very great charge, places of Judicature, and for the honourable reception of Magiſtrates, as Guild-hall, and others, Common places (as I may call them) of Trade and Tradeſmen, ſuch as Blackwell-hall, and the Royal Exchange, (the onelyonly ſanctuary that I hear of, to it's own Founder,) uſeful and eminent Schools, as Pauls, and others, one famous receptacle of Divines, by the name of Zion Colledge, another for Civilians, one Cathedral, for largeneſs and ſtatelineſs of building, exceeding all that I have before mentioned. All theſe are well known to have been fuel to that fire; yea, all theſe were but a part of it's fuel. There were other things, which though they did not as to bulk equalize thoſe I have mentioned, yet in worth and value did far exceed them. In ſome places you might have ſeen rich wines, it may be Sack and Hippocras, burning for no bodies uſe, elſwhere coſtly Oils ſwimming about the ſtreets, and afterwards p. 9converted into flames. Was not the fire fed in ſome places with rich houſholdſtuffe, and dear furniture, in others with ſhop-goods and wares of great value, as fine clothes, and ſuch like, which their owners wanted opportunity to ſend away? How many precious druggs, and odoriferous ſpices went up in thoſe flames, as ſo much incenſe? How many wholſome Medicines, and powerfull Antidotes, and great Cordials, ſuch as Mithridate, Treacle, Spirituous Liquors, Bezoardick Powders, Confection of Alchermies, Chymical Oils, and Spirits, were in great quantities conſumed by that fire, as if they had been good for nothing, or as if nothing had been too good for it. And above all other loſſes, What Scholler, (that is ſo indeed,) can with drie eyes mention the ineſtimable loſſe of books that was ſuſtained by that mercileſſe fire, to the undoing of many Bookſellers, in one ſence, and of many more Schollers in another. How many learned and uſefull Authors in ſeveral Languages, Arts, and Sciences, Divines, both Pol…mical, and Practical, Fathers, Schoolmen, Phylicians, Phyloſophers, Lawyers, Hiſtorians, Antiquaries, Mathematicians, and others, beſides many precious manuſcripts (till then preſerved, like ſo many leaves of the Sybils) were then burnt to aſhes, as if our enemies the Papiſts, had been then diſarming us of ſome of our beſt weapons, wherewith we ſhould defend our ſelves againſt them? Yea, the very Sword of the Spirit, which …s the word of God, the Bible it's ſelf, as to many hundred Copies of it, was then taken from us and burnt (as if it had been a piece of hereſie, or had fallen into Popiſh hands, who brook it not in our genuine tranſlations.) And this were more to be p. 10lamented than all the reſt, if that ſacred book, that book of books, might not more eaſily be reprinted, than many others that are of greater volume, and of which there are but few Copies extant. But as for our Biblia Polyglotta, midwived into the world at a vaſt charge, and by the unſpeakable induſtry of many learned and famous men, to the great renown of themſelves and of this Nation, how many of them were conſumed, as if they had been ſo much waſte paper, and who is able to repair the loſſe? Theſe things, as I ſaid before, were the fuel that fed the flames of London, Quis talia fando Temperet a lachrymis? Who can think of ſuch things as theſe, and not draw waters and poure out before the Lord, as the Iſraelites did at Mizpah? To have made, or fed as many bonefires, as are uſuall upon great ſolemnities, with meer Musk and Ambergreaſe, (if ſo much could have been had) had not been ſo great a charge and loſſe, as were all thoſe materials which went to foment the diſmall fire of London. Thoſe flames were higher fed (all things conſidered) than Cleopatra was, when, as it is ſtoried of her, ſhe drank diſſolved Pearls. How angry was the Almighty with us, when he would rather fling all this treaſure into the fire than ſuffer us to enjoy it? How unworthy did he proclaim us, when, in fact, he ſaid, better the fire ſhould have it than we?

But where did all this loſſe light? Was it upon LONDON only? Were few or none ſufferers but the Inhabitants of that City? Yea, doubtleſs, it was a terrible blow to the whole p. 11Nation or to the greateſt part of it. Who had any conſiderable intereſt in England, and none in London more or leſſe? As all Rivers run into the Sea, and all the lines of a Circumference meet in one Center, ſo did the intereſt of moſt conſiderable Engliſhmen, in London. Who had not ſome ſhare in that great ſhip, as I may call it, which is now blown up? They that had no immediate and perſonall intereſt in London, Had they not Relations Brothers or Siſters, yea it may be Sons or Daughters, or if not ſo, Kindred more remote, that were great ſufferers by this fire, and whoſe loſſes they ſhould lay to heart. Nero is ſaid to have wiſhed that Rome had had but one Neck, that he might cut it off at a blow. In reference to England, London was next to that one Neck, and hath not this fire cut it off at one blow? His Majeſty hath told us that his loſſe in the City was greater than any other mans, and what good Subject would not bewail that? But ſurely Reader it is thy loſſe, if thou art an Engliſh Proteſtant, as truely, though not as much as his. The loſſe was Catholick (that is univerſall) in the conſequences, as well as Roman Catholick in the Cauſes of it. But is this all that can be ſaid of the loſſe of London? Surely no, Read but the Book of Lamentations and you will find many more expreſſions applicable to the Caſe of London, beſides thoſe which I have taken notice of already, Lam. 1.4. There ſaith the Prophet, The wayes of Sion mourn, becauſe none come to the Solemn feaſts, her gates are deſolate. All theſe their calamities are come upon us at once. Our Gates are laid waſte, our ſelemn Aſſemblies both Religious and Civil in moſt places of that p. 12which was called London, are unavoidably at an end, and if our wayes do not mourn, that is, if they have not a ſad and a ghaſtly appearance let all that paſſe by them Judge. Surely London is now the ſaddeſt ſpectacle that is this day in England.

Doth the circumſtance of time in which this fire befel us, add nothing to our affliction? Had we at the ſame time had many friends, and enemies but few or none, our miſery had been leſs: For then ſhould we have been much pitied, which had been ſome mitigation of our loſs: but did it not befal us at a time when we had few friends, but many forreign enemies round about us. This Jeremy lamented in reference to Jeruſalem, Lam. 1.2. Amongſt all her lovers ſhe hath none to comfort her, all her friends have dealt treacherouſly with her, they are become her enemies. Is it no aggravation of our miſery (ſurely it cannot be otherwiſe) to think how wretchedly our many enemies will triumph and inſult, becauſe of it, and cry, Ah, ah, ſo would they have it, Lam. 1.21. All mine enemies have heard of my trouble, they are glad that thou haſt done it. And Lam. 2.25. All that paſs by clap their hands, they hiſs, and wag their head, for the daughter of Jeruſalem, ſaying, Is this the City that men call the perfection of beauty, the joy of the whole earth, verſ. 16. All thine enemies ſay, This is the day that we looked for, we have found, we have ſeen it, verſ. 17. The Lord hath cauſed thine enemies to rejoyce over thee, he hath ſet up the horn of thine adverſaries. Alſo in Lam. 3.14, 45. You may ſee how much ſtreſs the prophet Jeremy did lay upon the inſultings of enemies, and how humbling a conſideration he took it for. When enemies congratulate our miſeries in p. 13ſtead of condoling them, it adds much. Surely France, but for ſhame, had rung bells, and made bonfires when the tidings of our fire did arrive there. God would that a people ſhould lay it to heart, when he expoſeth them to contempt. Jeruſalem hath grievouſly ſinned, therefore ſhe is removed (ſo is London) all that honoured her, deſpiſe her, becauſe they have ſeen her nakedneſs. He loves not his countrey that cares not how it is ſlighted, or who inſults over it.

What if it can be made out that there is no parallel at this day for London's calamity, ſhould not that be for a lamentation, that God ſhould ſo puniſh us, as if he would make us an example to all the world, or as if we had been the worſt people in the world? Ieremy took that circumſtance to heart in Jeruſalem's caſe, Lam. 2.13. What thing ſhall I liken to thee Oh daughter of Ieruſalem? What ſhall I equal to thee that thou maiſt be comforted? So Daniel 9.12. For under the whole heaven hath not been done ſo great evil, as hath been done upon Ieruſalem. If the like may be ſaid of London, (and indeed I have heard no man pretend the contrary at this day) its miſery muſt needs be great. If it be an unparallel'd ſtroke it muſt needs carry a great face of Divine wrath and diſpleaſure with it, and that doth add much, Lam. 2.1. How hath the Lord covered the daughter of Zion with a cloud in his Anger? and remembred not his footſtool in the day of his Anger. Ver. 3. He hath cut off in his fierce Anger all the horns of Iſrael.

Many things in this judgement ſeemed to carry with them a great face of Divine Anger, as namely, for that the Lord ſeemed to deſtroy London, ſo far as he went without any pity. Such a thing as this is p. 14bewailed, Lam. 2.2. The Lord hath ſwallowed up all the habitations of Iacob and hath not pitied, And verſe 17. The Lord hath thrown down and hath not pitied. If God had taken away the houſes of rich men that could have born their loſs, and mean time ſpared the houſes of ſuch as were poor, there had been pity in that, but he was pleaſed to take all before him, and with the ſame beſome of deſtruction to ſweep away the habitious of the pooreſt, as well as of the moſt rich. And did not God's turning a deaf ear to all the prayers and interceſsions that were made, as for the greateſt part of London whilſt the fire was, and going on to deſtroy notwithſtanding though they cried unto him day and night that he would ſtay his hand and ſpare the remainder, I ſay did not that ſpeak God exceeding angry. This was one of Ieremies complaints, L…m. 3.8. Alſo when I cry and ſhout he ſhutteth out my prayer, and verſe 44. Thou haſt covered thy ſelf with a cloud, that our prayers ſhould not p…ſs thorough. God did in effect ſay that, Though Noch, Daniel and Ioh ſtood before him, yet would he not be intreated for the City. When prayers can prevail no longer in ſuch a caſe as that was, it is a ſign God is exceeding angry. Moreover the fierceneſs of the judgement, and the mighty force it came with, and the quick diſpatch it made, intimates, as if God for that time had abandoned all pity towards London: For may not theſe words of Ieremy be applied to us, Lam. 3.10. He was unto me as a Bear or as a Lion he hath pulled me in pieces, he hath made me deſolate.

If any man that reads theſe things be yet inſenſible of the heavineſs of Gods hand in this ſtroke let him beſide; all that hath been ſaid, conſider p. 15how unexpected, and how Incredible a thing it was that London ſhould be almoſt totally conſumed by fire, ere this year were at an end? Now what, but the greatneſs of this judgement made it ſo incredible till it came? That ſome few houſes might have been fired in a ſhort time, we could eaſily have believed, but not that ſo many as the Prophet ſpeaks, Lam. 4.12. The kings of the earth, and the inhabitants of the world would not have believed that the enemy ſhould have entred into the gates of Jeruſalem. To think a judgement too great to be inflicted, and yet when it is inflicted to make light of it, are very inconſiſtant things, and mighty ſelf-contradictions. He that ſhould have come to a man worth eight or ten thouſand pound, a week before the fire, and told him that within ten days he ſhould not be worth ſo many hundreds, would he not have laugh'd at him, and ſaid in his heart, How can that be? Had all his eſtate been in houſes, ſome in one ſtreet, ſome in another, he would never have dream'd that they ſhould be all ſired together, or within a few days of one another: And yet it is well known to have been the caſe of many to have been worth a good eſtate one day, and the next day, by the fire to have been reduced almoſt to nothing. How are the words of Jeremy upon this occaſion revived, Lam. 4, 5. They that did feed delicately are deſolate in the ſtreets, they that were brought up in ſcarlet imbrace dunghils. Great and ſudden downfalls cannot but move compaſsion in any man that hath bowels. As Jeremy ſpeaks of the Nazarites, Lam. 4.6, 7. That they who were purer then ſnow, whiter then milk, their viſage was become blacker then any coal, ſo to think how they that lived in great port and faſhion, are many of them, as in the p. 16turning of a hand brought exceeding low, they and theirs, ſhould much affect us. The deſolation of ſo many houſes is a ſad ſight, but the ruine of ſo many families as this fire hath ruin'd, is yet a ſadder conſideration. Surely it hath fallen heavy, both upon rich and poor, rich men in the loſs of their eſtates, poor men in the loſs of their friends. The rich man hath loſt his talent, and the poor man hath loſt his ſteward that improved it for him in a way of relief and charity.

Is it not worth our adding, and throwing into the ballance, that this loſs by fire trod upon the heels of two other greater loſſes, viz. By war and peſtilence, the latter of which, not only diminiſhed our eſtates, but (which was worſe) deprived us of near and dear relations: yea, moreover that this judgement came before the other two were gone, or either of them, for is not the ſword yet drawn, and doth not the peſtilence ſtill devour? ſo that theſe three judgements have appeared together like three terrible Comets or Blazing-ſtars threatning utter deſtruction, and God hath come out againſt us riding as it were upon three ſeveral dreadful horſes, black, red and pale, to allude to what is ſpoken in the Revelations: And as for what concerns mens eſtates, it is well known that the ſword and peſtilence in ſeveral years hath not ſo much exhauſted them, as this fire did within a few days.

Meerly to avoid tediouſneſs I ſhall here add but two things touching London's loſs (though otherwiſe much more might be added) one is, that it is Invaluable, and the other that in the eye of reaſon it is Irreparable. It is in the firſt place Ineſtimable, namely, how great the loſs is for the preſent, but p. 17more eſpecially what ſad products & conſequences it may draw after it, for the future, whither the tayl of the Comet (as I may call it) may reach. It is a common, and I believe a true ſaying, amongſt the ſufferers by this fire, that they have loſt ſo much that they themſelves cannot tell what they have loſt. Only he that can tell the number of the Stars, and call them all by their names, doth know what the ſum total of this loſs is, and what are all the particulars of it, and what influence this Judgement may have upon the times to come; for certain it is the children which are yet unborn will in time fare the worſe for it. Who can eſtimate how great a dammage and confuſion will ariſe firſt and laſt from one branch of this loſſe viz. the burning of Bills, Bonds, Leaſes, Conveiances, Books of Debts, and Accompts, and other Writings of great conſequence, which was all that many men had to ſhew for the greateſt part of their Eſtates; what contention and confuſion this one loſs may produce no heart can conceive? who knows not that paper and parchment, ſuch as the contents thereof may be, may be of greater value than Pearls and Diamonds? How many had rather, yea had better have loſt thouſands of pounds, than ſome few ſheets of paper, that went to feed thoſe flames? O fire ineſtimably dear! O loſs unvaluable, Could this loſs be repaired the matter were not ſo great, but it either is or ſeems to be irrepairable …t leaſtwiſe in the memory of any man now living. So that we may here take up the ſame complaint which the prophet did, Lam. 2.13. Thy reach is great like the Sea, Who can heal thee? Or as he Jer. 30.15. Why crieſt thou for thine affliction, thy ſorr…w is incurable? I queſtion not the Omnipotency p. 18of God, but, according to what is uſual with God to do in the world, we can none of us expect to ſee that breach made up in many years, which was made upon London in a few dayes. Now put all theſe things together, and then tell me if his heart be not harder then the nether Milſtone, that can ſee what London hath ſuffered, and not mourn with a very great mourning. If ſo a mazeing a Judgement will not awaken men, they are like to ſleep in their ſecurity, till they come to wake in Hell, where none can ſleep; for the ſmoke of their torment aſcendeth continually, and they have no reſt day nor night.

But are there any that call themſelves Engliſhmen, that do not only not mourn over, but rejoyce and triumph in the deſtruction of London? Let them believe themſelves to be legitimate if they can; at leaſtwiſe let them not think, that others will ever believe that there is one drop of true Engliſh Blood running in their veins: Or let the parents of their Bodies be who they will, I am ſure that in another ſenſe they are of their Father the Devil, and his works they do. If there could have bin mirth in Hell there would have been rejoycing there at the firing of London, as there is in heaven at the Converſion of a ſinner. How worthy were they to have danced in thoſe flames, who (if any ſuch be) have ſung and danced at the remembrance of them?

But what if ſome not only rejoyce in this being done, but had the heart to do it? How long was it ere I could believe there was any ſuch Monſter in the World? till I heard of one convicted for the ſame, and that by his own ſenſible and perſevering Confeſſion. Lord, What miſchief p. 19have they done? Is there any ſacrifice for their ſin? One would think, if there were no Hell, God would prepare one on purpoſe, for ſuch miſcreants, to burn them in, who have burn't up the Eſtates and Livelihoods of ſo many thouſands. But, Lord, thou knoweſt it is not my deſire they ſhould, nor is it my opinion, that the blood of Chriſt, laid hold on by faith, is not able to ſave their ſouls. And oh! Though their bodies ſhould be given as meat to the fowles of the air, or fewel to temporal flames, yet that their ſouls might be delivered from the wrath to come! Let them rely upon no pardon from that triple crowned blaſphemer of Rome, who cannot ſo much as pardon his own ſins, and it is well the (light of ſuch men conſidered, and how they hold the truth in unrighteouſneſſe) if they be not unpardouable. He that cheats men into ſin, let him not cheat them into Hell, by cauſing them to reſt upon his mock indulgences, who is eaſie enough to pardon ſuch peccadilloes in his account, as are the burning of Proteſtant Cities, yea, can be willing to enroll them amongſt his Saints. I confeſs a red letter would do well before their names, but onelyonly in token of blood and cruelty. But, Lord, I deſire to look higher, than thoſe inſtruments of our late ſire, even unto thee. Thou haſt ſet us on fire round about, and oh that we could lay it to heart as becometh us. We would hold our peace, becauſe thou, Lord, haſt done it. If thou hadſt ſo pleaſed London might have been like the Buſh, which did burn, but was not conſumed, but thou didſt give it up to the flames: Lord, at what a rate hath London, yea England ſinne… that thou haſt thus puniſhed it? Thou doſt man… p. 20times puniſh men leſſe than their ſins deſerve, but never more. Which of us have not contributed by our iniquities, to this as well as to other judgements? Which of us have not cauſe to ſay, Lord forgive us, that by our ſins we have infected London and England with a devouring Plague, that we have helpt to embroil it in a conſuming War, yea, that we have had our hands as by way of demerit in kindling the late Fire, which burnt London to the ground.