The Burning of London, Part 3 · Meditation 32
MEDITATION XXXII. Upon the Blowing up of Houſes.
MEthinks that ſaying concerning Babylon is very diſmall: Happy is he that ſhall take thy children and daſh their brains againſt the ſtones. Next to the dolefulneſs of that time, ſeems to be the miſery of that ſad ſeaſon in which men roſe up & called them bleſſed, who would do that good office, as to blow up their houſes, leſt they and many more ſhould periſh together. Did we ever think that a time would come, when men would beg, and intreat that not only their neighbours houſes might be blown up, but their own alſo, and count themſelves beholden to them that would do it? God's ways in Judgements, as well as Mercies, are above ours, as far as the heavens are above the earth. I cannot but think, what a name that way of Blowing-up-houſes hath gotten; how much it is applauded and how much men lament that it was either not conſidered or not permitted ſooner. We are thankful to men that do us good, though by harſheſt remedies, and why ſhould we not be ſo to God, when he is pleaſed to teach us obedience to himſelf, though it be by briars and thorns (as Gideon taught the men of Succoth); when he prevents or abates our pride, though it be by ſending a meſſenger of Sathan to buffet us. But how quickly was a great and ſtately Houſe, firſt blown up, and then laid flat upon the ground? It was but as it were a flaſh of lightning, then a clap of thunder, then one jumpt upwards (as if it had been that it might take the greater Fall); then a great ſmoak, and preſently all was in the duſt. Scarce could a ſtrong hand have ſooner ſhuck in pieces the rotten branches of an old worm-eaten tree; yea, ſcarcely could it have made the over-ripe fruit of a tender plant (as it might be the Vine) to fall ſooner to the ground then many goodly Fabricks by the irreſiſtible force of Gun-powder were ſhaken to pieces, and preſently laid in the duſt.
How eaſie is the diſſolution of any earthly thing? The way of making things is as it were up-hill; men puff and blow at it, and are out of breath, and muſt take time. But deſtruction is a precipice. Things no ſooner begin to tumble from the top, but they are preſently at the bottom of that hill. Gun-powder it's ſelf is the moſt eaſily ruined, and deſtroyed of any thing; Thouſands of Batrels if they lie together may be blown up by means of one ſpark, and yet no earthly creature ſo able to deſtroy as is Gun-powder; ſo that it ſhould ſeem nothing, is more Paſſive, and yet nothing more active then that. So have I obſerved amongſt men that none are ſo apt to ruine others as thoſe that are moſt apt to ruine or be ruined themſelves. As deſtructive a thing as Gun-powder is, did we not owe the preſervation of what was preſerved to that under God, and to them that had the courage to uſe it, more then to any thing elſe. Sometimes there is no way to ſave the moſt but by deſtroying a part; ſo that high Prieſt propheſied, that it was of neceſſity that one ſhould die for the people; though other-whiles if you deſtroy any, you can ſave none, as Paul told them that were with him, Except theſe abide in the ſhip you cannot be ſaved. Men skilful to deſtroy, if they knew when to uſe their faculty, and when to forhear it, might be very ſerviceable; foraſmuch, as deſtruction in part, is ſometimes the only way to deliverance; as there is no way to ſave the life of a man that hath a Gangered-Limb, unleſs you cut it off.
But, Why was this way of blowing up Houſes no ſooner thought of, (being ſo effectual as it is)? nothing could be more obvious; but God is wont to blind thoſe whom he intends to ruine. Quos Jupiter perdere vult, dement…t; We read, that The men of might have not ſ…nd their hands, Pſal. 76.5. and, if not their hands, what could they find? But, Was this way timely thought of? Was it motioned, and would it not be hearkned to? That is more than I know: But, if it were ſo, the cauſe was either vain Commiſeration; thinking, What pity it was, to Blow up here and there a Houſe; not conſidering, How much better it was to do ſo, than to let the whole City periſh: Better one Jonas be thrown over-board, than the whole Ship be caſt away. Thus, ſome Phyſicians deſtroy their Patients, by not admitting of more generous, though more venturous Medicines; when the Diſeaſe is ſuch, as will not be played, or dallied with. Or, Timerouſneſs might be the cauſe; They might fear to be called in queſtion for giving way to the Blowing up of Houſes: But, Magiſtrates ſhould overlook private-Concerns, when they are ſatisfied what will be for publick-Good. Some perhaps do judg, it proceeded from Covetouſneſs, that r…ot of all evill: But, Who is ſo covetous, as to let a Ship and all …s Fraught be loſt, rather than throw a part of its Lading into the Sea, whereby to ſecure the reſt? More attribute it to careleſsneſs, ſecurity, and pre…mption; as thinking thoſe ſlames much more eaſily extinguiſhable than indeed they were; and that they might draw waters enough … their own Giſterns (to allude to Prov. 1.15.) wherewith to put it out; which is a modeſter phraſe then is ſaid to have been uſed in the caſe: It is a very weak Cordial, that ſome, it may be, do comfort themſelves …; viz. That, if ever London be firſt Built, and then F…d again, in any part of it, they will not fail to Blow up Houſes in good time: Now the Steed is ſtoln, be fure to ſhut the Stable-door. But, I ſhall conclude this Meditation with my beſt wiſhes; That, if the will of God be ſo, we may never hear more the ſound of the Trumpet, and the Alarm of War. nor yet (which is to many more dreadful than the former) the doleful noiſe of Blowing up of Houſes.