The Burning of London, Part 3 · Meditation 14
MEDITATION XIV. Upon the Burning of Writings; as Fills, Bonds, Evidences, &c.
HOw many had nothing to ſhow for all the Money they had lent out; for all the Debts that were owing them; upon any accompt: yea, for all their Intereſt in Lands and Honſes, to a great value; but only certain Papers, or Parchments, called Bonds, Shop-Books, Deeds, Conveiances, Leaſes, &c. Writings are the moſt compendious Treaſure in, and of the whole World: Of ſo many ſingle Sheets of Parchment, may it not be ſaid by ſome, This is my Money, (all I have in the World;) that is my Houſe; that is my Land; this is my Inheritance; that is my Jointer; this is my Patent for ſuch an Office, or for ſuch a Dignity; this is my D…ſcharge, for ſo much Money that I have disburſed for ſuch and ſuch; this is my. Account, for ſo many thouſands tha… I have been intruſted with: Oh the vaſt concernment of ſuch Papers and Parchments as theſe! What had not many rather have loſt than theſe? How many were honeſt and juſt in all their Accompts, who now want an opportunity to make it appear they were ſo? (and, Doth not that wound them ſorely?) How many dealt falſely and fraudulently in the truſt that was committed to them, and that cannot be proved neither? Doleful fire! that hath made honeſt men mourn, and knaves rejoyce. With what coſt and care were many of thoſe Writings drawn up at firſt? How oft were the owners at Counſel about them? and, With how much circumſpectneſs was every Clauſe put in? but, Did the ſire make any more of them then if they had been ſo much waſte paper? Deeds and Conveiances were no more to thoſe flames than chips, and ſtraw, and ſtubble: How ſlight is that Tenure, by which men do hold and enjoy all their Earthly Poſſeſſions? How ſoon may that, which ſhould defend their title, be ſtoln, or burnt, or otherwiſe loſt? and then, How liable are they to be claimed by thoſe that have no right? Was there ever ſuch a plucking up of Incloſines as this, whereby the Eſtates of many are, as it were, laid common, that is, obnoxious unto being invaded, and over-run by them that will.
It is well, a Chriſtians evidences for heaven are not ſo uncertain: It is true, that coppy of them which is within his own breaſt, may be loſt, or miſſing, at leaſtwiſe for a time; but then there is a counter-part of them kept in heaven, which can never be loſt: for, The foundation of God ſtands ſure, and he knoweth who are his. It is happy for us that uncertain things are thoſe of leſs value; but, that thoſe things which are moſt valuable, (though indeed only they) may be aſcertained and inſured in heavenly things. Sad was the loſs of Writings, as they were Evidences of mens Eſtates; but, methinks more ſad, as they were the Vouchers of mens honeſty: or, if by this meanes, either honeſt men become ſuſpected, or, thoſe that have been otherwiſe cannot be detected and diſcovered: But, methinks, where alwayes heretofore found faithful, it is but equal to admit no jealouſie of them upon this occaſion. No doubt, but he, that was faithful till the fire, will be faithfull after it, and not be worſe for that Purgatory (if I may ſo call it.) O Lord, Art not thou he that didſt find out a way to acquit thoſe chaſt Women that were ſuſpected of Adultery, Numb. 5.28? Art not thou he who didſt furniſh Solomon with wiſdom, to know which was the true Mother of the living child, to which two Women laid an equal claim, 1 Kings 3? Art not thou he that didſt direct Queen Emma and others to paſſe the hot plowſhares bare-foot and blind-fold, without hurting her ſelf; when, by that ardent fire, proof was to be made of her unſpotted chaſtity? Clear up. I beſeech thee, the integrity of thy innocent ſervants, whoſe Accompts and Acquittances this fire hath deſtroyed: but, as for others, ſearch out their wickedneſs till thou find none; or, as thou ſaidſt, thou wouldſt ſearch Jeruſalem with candles, Zeph. 1.12. What work hath this burning of Writings made for greedy Lawyers? What a barveſt are they like to have by that means? One ſire, I doubt, will beget another, viz. that of endleſs contention, and Law-ſuits: Now the ſire hath gotten mens Vintage; I wiſh, unjuſt Claimers on one hand, and Lawyers on the other, do not ſweep awar their Gleanings: They are newly leapt out of the fire, and, Moſt they preſently come into the frying-pan? Can the wiſdom of our Governors find out no way whereby to prevent vexations Suits, that will otherwiſe ariſe upon this occaſion, to preſerve the rights of honeſt men, now their Writings are gone; and, to prevent the unjuſt claims of thoſe that are diſhoneſt? If ever Magiſtrates needed a Prieſt (one, or more) to ask Counſel for them, after the Judgment of Urim, before the Lord, Num…. …7.20. (as Eleazar did for Joſhu…,) now is the time. Howſoever, thou, O Lord, who girdeſt up the wrath of men (or ſo much of it as will not turn to thy praiſe) vouchſafe to put ſuch a reſtraint upon the ſpirits of men, that thoſe, who were half-undone by the fire, may not be utterly ſo, either by mercileſs Lawyers, or by unrighteous Adverſaries, and unjuſt Claimers.