The Burning of London, Part 3 · Meditation 15
MEDITATION XV. Upon the Burning of Saint Pauls Church: the unconſumed Body of Biſhop Brabrook.
HOw long was this goodly Cathedral in building? How leaſurely did it proceed? Inſomuch that it became a Proverb, when men did any thing ſlowly, That they made Pauls-work of it: But ſo did not the fire, when it came to deſtroy it, but conſumed it preſently, as if it had been but Jonas his gourd, which ſprang up in a night. Dying Perſons are oft-times very reſtleſs, they ſhift from one ſide of their beds to the other, and talk much of removing to other places. So, have I obſerved, this noble Structure, not long before its fatal period, to have ſhifted often. Firſt it was a Church, then a Stable (as ſome were pleaſed to make it) within theſe few years (but the argument was far fetcht, if, they think, that becauſe Chriſt himſelf did ſometimes lie in a Stable and in a Manger, that therefore, one and the ſame place might well ſerve, both for brutiſh and for ſacred uſes) Otherwhile (if not at the very ſame time) it was made a Court of Guard (without any intention, as I believe, to make it an Emblem of the Church Militant, or to exhibit any other religious myſtery.) And then of late, it wheel'd about again to its Primitive uſe, to be a place appropriated to Divine Worſhip. Few expected it would continue long a Stable, or a Court of Guard (for great alienations, like ſtrong ſticks that are much bent, do quickly ſtart back again) but, when it became once more a Church, they that conſidered it had ſtood above five hundred years, from its firſt Erection (yea, and Conflagration) which latter was in 1087. after which it was ſoon built again, and did obſerve it to bear its years well, (as if it were at moſt but of a middle age) ſaw no cauſe to doubt, but it might laſt as much longer. But alas! How were they deceived? and How was its deſtruction at the very door! Surely Papiſts are deceived, in thinking Crucifixes to carry a ſafeguard and protection with them, conſidering, that this Cathedral was built in the figure of a Croſs, and yet, when Fire did appreach, had no relief by it. It had been a comfortable ſight, to have beheld the firſt erection of that ſtately Church, conſidering the Scituation and Dedication of it, that whereas before, in the ſame place, ſtood a Temple Dedicated to Diama (and as is ſuppoſed, a Wood and Grove about it, devoted to her uſe) there was then another in the room of it; the name whereof might ſpeak the place alienated from heatheniſm to Chriſtianity, from the ſervice of a falſe goddeſſe, to the ſervice of the true God, and of his Son Jeſus Chriſt. Twice hath that famous Structure been fired before (at leaſtwiſe part of it) both times by lightning, and thereunto expoſed by the tranſcendent height of its Steeple. One of thoſe times it burnt a great part of the City of London (if I miſtake not;) and now, the City, by a kind of unintended retaliation hath helpt to burn it. Great pity it is to ſee ſo noble a building in the duſt, and yet it is likely ſome will but little pity it, if not rejoyce in the ruins of it (eſpecially its diſaffected neighbours, whoſe houſes that had wont to lean to the ſides of it (like Vines climbing upon a wall) had at leaſtwiſe received ſentence to be pulled down.) But ſhould not men regard the honor of their Nation, whatſoever became of private intereſts?
One ſtrange and remarkable paſſage that did relate to this Cathedral, I cannot but reflect upon, viz. The unheard of continuance of a certain dead Body, viz. the Body of one Dr. B…aybro…k, ſometimes Biſhop of London, and Lord Chancellor of England, which was there interred above two hundred years ago, and, as ſeveral that have ſeen it do inform, was taken up ſince this fire, and found to retain much of it's manly ſhape, and moſt of it's external parts, to the amazement of ſuch as beheld it, and did withall believe it to be indeed the Body of the ſaid Biſhop. I ſhall not diſpute, whether the dignity of his Perſon, as he was ſometimes a Biſhop, or as he was ſometimes Lord Chancellor, or as he was both at once, were that which did conſign over his Body to ſo long an incorruption, (as if Corruption and Worms had been afraid to claim kindred of him, as of others): but, I think, rather than either, that this came to paſſe to ſhew the power of God, as to preſerving Bodies from Corruption in the Grave, as well as thoſe of the three Children, from being conſumed in the fiery Furnace; and that of Daniel, from being devoured by the Lions, when he was in their Den.
But whilſt this paſſage miniſtreth great wonder to all that ſee and hear of it, What is himſelf the better for it? For, had his Body been eaten by Cannibals, thoſe Cannibals by Fiſhes, thoſe Fiſhes afterwards by Men, thoſe Men by Worms, yet, ſhould it have been brought forth as perfect, at the Reſurrection of the Dead, as now it is; yea, as it was then, when it was firſt committed to the Grave.
Now, as for re-building of that Cathedral, when I conſider, how many Sons that Mother hath had, who in all Ages have been as kind and bountiful to her, as could be deſired; I doubt not, but the ſame principles and affections which led them to it in her proſperity, will prevail with them to be the ſame, now ſhe lieth in the duſt; commiſeration towards her, and conſideration of the honour of England, ſtepping in as further incentives thereunto. May England (if the will of God be ſo) enjoy ſo much peace and plenty, and all the living Temples of God be ſo well provided for, that none may grudge that coſt and charge, which is neceſſary to re-building Churches; not onelyonly ſuch, and ſo many, as may ſerve for indiſpenſable uſe, but neither that alſo, which may rear up others, not only for uſe, but ſuch as may be alſo, an outward honour and ornament both to the Church and Nation.