The Burning of London, Part 3 · Meditation 31
MEDITATION XXXI. Upon proventing the beginning of Evils.
HOw good is it to take things in time, to meet a Diſeaſe, as the Poet phraſeth it; Venienti occurrere morbo: How many complain, at firſt, of nothing but a Cold; that cold turns to a Feaver; that feaver from Benigne to Malignant; and, that Malignity ends in Death. Sometimes the ſcratch of a Pin, not ſeaſonably lookt after, Feſters and Gangrenes, and doth coſt men their Lives. Moſt Men think, that, if ſo effectual means, as were uſed at Iaſt, had been known at firſt, at leaſt-wiſe conſidered; or rather, if not only known and conſidered of, but alſo reſolved upon, and proſecuted; that Fire, which, at laſt, carried all before it, had been ſtiſled, as it were, in its Cradle. But alaſs! for poor Man-kind, it is generally one aggravation of their miſeries, that ſome way was made for their eſcape, and they were not ſenſible of it till it was too late: Not incountring a danger at the firſt, ordinarily ſprings from deſpiſing of it; which to do, is a very evil and an impolitick thing: For uſually, the greateſt things have but ſmall beginnings; and that Cloud, which at firſt is no bigger than a hand-breadth, may ſpread, till it cover all the face of heaven. How great a flame doth a little fire kindle, as the Holy-Ghoſt ſpeaks by St. James. It is ill preſuming, that things will conſtantly ſucceed ſo well as generally they do; Fires have ordinarily been quenched without blowing up of Houſes, but it would not be ſo in this caſe.
Therefore it is good to ſuſpect, and provide againſt the worſt, as careful Women do for a Quinſey, and give a remedy againſt it, when their Children have but a fore-throat; though many ſore-throats never end in a Quinſey. Abundans cautela non weet: If we prepare for the worſt, and it prove otherwiſe, the beſt will help it ſelf. I ſhall live in hope, that after ſo great a Warning given, none will hereafter be Epimetheus, or offer to play an after-Game; but will apply themſelves to the remedying of Evils at their firſt coming. Solomon ſpeaking concerning Anger, ſaith, The beginning of ſtrife i… as when one letteth out water; therefore leave off ſtrife before it be medled withal, Prov. 17.14. When Waters have begun to make a breath in thoſe Banks which ſhould have kept them in; there is like to be ſuch an inundation as will bea… down all before it; which Compariſon is applicable to many more evils beſides ſtrife and contention. Remedies too late applied, (like letting off blood in a Feaver, when the time for it is paſt,) do more hurt than good. For Citizens, to forbear currying out their Goods, that they might attend upon quenching the Fire, when it was paſt quenching, by any thing that they could do, (how well ſoever intended,) was but to ſtay, and look on, whilſt their Goods burnt, and, to increaſe the …lames, as well as their own gri… and loſſe by the burning of them. I ſay again, Let men hence learn to take things in time; Remember Eſ…u, of whom we read, Heb. 12.17. How that afterward, when he would have inherited the bleſsing, he was rejected, for he found no place of repentance, (viz. in his father, for having given it away from him,) though he ſought it carefully with tears. In the ſame words that Chriſt lamented Jeruſalem, give me leave to lament London, and ſay, O that thou hadſt known, in this thy day, the things that had concerned thy Peace: yea, let me add, Whenſoever another day of Grace, and for prevention of evil, ſhall come, (as indeed the preſent time, though in a more ſpiritual ſenſe, is ſuch a Day,) May we then know the things that concern our peace, before they be hid from our eyes.