The Burning of London, Part 3 · Meditation 22
MEDITATION XXII. Upon the great pity that ought to be extended to Londoners ſince the fire.
PIty, is an affection that ſhould ſcarcely be withheld from any that are in great diſtreſs and miſery; but yet is much more due to ſome, then to others. Where no miſery is, there is no room for pity, and where there is nothing but miſery to beſpeak it (as in reference to that Prodigal, who by riotous courſes brought himſelf to husks) there is no cauſe for much. But where merit and miſery go hand in hand, the greateſt yearnings of our moſt tender bowels are called for. God will not take it ill that we pity thoſe whom he thinks fit to puniſh; becauſe one of his great ends in puniſhing ſome, is that he might excite pity and compaſſion in others towards them: I have read that Sir Thomas Moor not long before his Execution was deſired to cut his locks, for no other end, as is believed, than leſt his Venerable hoary Fleece ſhould ſtir up too much compaſſion in thoſe that were to be ſpectators at his death. But ſo far is the great God from that, that he had rather we ſhould number the grey heirs of miſery which are upon the heads of men, in order to our pitying of them. To tell, Why the late Inhabitants of London are objects of Royal pity, or to move to it, were to diſcourſe, why children under great ſufferings ſhould be compaſsionated by their Parents (For Kings are Fathers, and Subjects their Sons and Daughters). Whereas the Scripture ſaith, Can a mother forget her child, that ſhe ſhould not have compaſſion on the child of her womb? and though it adds, yea, ſhe may, yet it inſinuates that they ſeldom do or can. What reaſon Courtiers have to pity Citizens, were eaſie to alledge; For, Have not Citizens, ſometimes had ſo much pity for them, as that they ſeemed to have none for themſelves? Why ſhould not Citizens be a little in Courtiers books, if ſome Courtiers have been and are, a great deal in theirs? It is but ingenuity to afford them pity who have given them credit. As for thoſe that lead a Countrey life they know full well that Citizens had wont to be their beſt Chapmen, and to give them a good price for thoſe commodities, and proviſions which they thought too good for themſelves, and withall to furniſh them with the beſt things which they ſtood in need of.
Had Londoners been the worſt of people the depth of their preſent miſery, compared with the height of their former proſperity had challenged pity and compaſſion from their very enemies: but if it may be made appear that they were generally as Civil as Religious, as Charitable, and in many other reſpects as commendable as moſt people in the world, none but ill natur'd perſons can refrain commiſerating them, much more rejoyce and triumph in their ſufferings. The worſt enemies they have in the world muſt needs confeſs that no people were generally more Civil and Moral then they. As for Religion, I know there are ſeveral ſtandards by which men meaſure, and judge of that (though indeed, and in truth there is but One, whereby to judge of it, to wit, the Word of God) but if conformity to the duties both of the firſt and ſecond Table, if love to God and to our neighbours (ſo far as men can diſcern) may denominate perſons Religious (as ſurely it is that muſt do it) pure Religion and undefiled did as much abound in London, as in any place whatſoever. I meddle not with charity in point of judging (Cenſuring is every where too common) but as for Charity in giving and miniſtring to thoſe that are in want, both of one perſwaſion, and of another, if that be a virtue (as doubtleſs it is) London hath been as eminent for it in all times in which ſeveral parties have taken their turns in ſuffering as any place I know. In the ſpace of twenty years and upwards that England hath been diſſetl'd by War, it may be thouſands that by the unhappines of the times have been brought to ſtraits and exigences, they and theirs had periſhed, but for the charity of London, more than of all other places, whilſt ſome have taken care of the Diſciples of Paul, others of Apollos, others of Cephas, others of Chriſt without reſpect to any of thoſe diſtinctions (which beſt became good Chriſtians); and ſo all have been taken care of, more or leſs, by thoſe poor Citizens who are now many of them themſelves become the objects of Charity. London will not want for pity, if it be pitied by no more then all, and only thoſe, that firſt and laſt have been pitied and relieved by it, and that now and hereafter will dearly miſs it.
I would not it ſhould grate upon the minds of honeſt Citizens, undone by the fire, to think or ſuſpect that a great many have no pity for them: All good people have, and they that are otherwiſe, have no pity, ſo much as for their own ſouls. I obſerve they uſe to have moſt pity from God, who have leaſt from men, being withall ſuch as deſerve it. When Penninah did ſorely vex Hannah to make her fret, becauſe God had ſhut up her womb, Hannah throve the better for it; for God lookt upon her affliction, and opened her womb, when her Rival had ſhut up her bowels towards her, 1 Sam. 1.5. When Shimei curſed David being at that time under trouble from Abſalom, David ſaid, It may be the Lord will requite me good for his curſing this day, 2 Sam. 16.13. Such as triumph in your miſeries may do you a greater kindneſs then they are aware of, according to that in Prov. 24.18. Rejoyce not when thine enemy falleth, leſt the Lord ſee it, and turn away his wrath from him. They that will not look upon you as the objects of their pity, are indeed the objects of yours; For ſo are all they that ſhew themſelves to be neither Chriſtians nor Men: and it is a good preſage, you ſhall not always want pity for that you cannot have it from a great many people whilſt you want it. Pity is that virtue which Engliſhmen are famous for, and therefore every Engliſhman that is void of it, wants the common virtue and character of his Countrey; and he that hath none to beſtow upon this occaſion, ſeems to have none at all. I know not that man that would not be loath the world ſhould think that he had no commiſeration for the preſent caſe of London; and why is it, but, becauſe it would thence follow, that he were of a marvellous ill nature, and unworthy of any pity to be ſhewed to himſelf, even in the greateſt extremity that could befall him. One ſaith, the reaſon why, they that have children are uſually more affectionate, than thoſe that have none, is, becauſe their bowels are often called upon. By that reaſon they that have no pity, now when that Affection in men is ſo much called upon are never like to have any. But a pity like that charity which S. James ſpeaks of, J…m. 2.15. Is not worth half the words I have uſed. If a brother be naked and deſtitute of daily food, and one ſay unto him, Depart in peace, be you warmed and filled; Notwithſtanding, he gives him nothing, &c. I ſay a pity like that charity, which yet is more then ſome men have, is little worth. But would men ſhew themſelves truly compaſſionate, toward that deſolated City, and the late miſerable Inhabitants of it, if they have intereſt in heaven, let them pray for the reflouriſhing both of it, & them; if they have intereſt on earth, let them promote it; if they have parts let them adviſe and contrive how it may be effected; if they have Purſes, let them contribute towards it; if they have all of theſe, let them further it all, and every of theſe ways. Call your ſelves Papiſts, Frenchmen, Hectors, any thing, but true Engliſhmen, true Chriſtians, true Proteſtants, if you have no pity for the deſolations of London. I doubt not but there are ſome Turks and Jews that have, or would have had, if they had known London in it's proſperity, and ſhould now ſee it in it's aſhes. O Lord, If men will not pity the miſeries of London, the matter is not great; poſſibly if they did, it might not ſignifie much: onelyonly let Thy bowels yearn towards, and thy repentings be kindled within thee, and Thou (who haſt ſpoken concerning it, to pluck up, and pull down) ſpeak in thy due time, to build, and to plant it.