The Burning of London, Part 3 · Meditation 33
MEDITATION XXXIII. Upon thoſe Miniſters whoſe Churches were burnt.
THere was cauſe to fear ſome years ſince that Churches might be demoliſhed, not generally by fire (for of that there was no miſtruſt), but by thoſe whom the Scripture compares to water, viz. A rude multitude, I mean of deluded and ſick-brain people, who pretended that all Miniſters, and their legal Maintenance were Antichriſtian, Churches places of Spiritual whoredom; and could as willingly have pulled them down, as if they had been ſo many Brothel-houſes. Was it any thing but a pretence? could they think as they ſpake? I ſhould hardly believe men could be ſo miſtaken, but that Chriſt foretold ſome would think they ſhould do God good ſervice, even in killing his Prophets: and Paul tells us, that when time was he verily thought he ought to do many things againſt Jeſus of Nazareth. They that thought it their duty to oppoſe and vilifie the places called Churches, would probably have taken it for as great an honour to have demoliſhed them themſelves, as others might to have burnt them; but he that ſits in heaven would not gratifie their ambition, but put that work into the hand of the fire to do, which could no ways glory or triumph in it when it was done. But that which I am now to diſcourſe of, is not, by whom but upon whom this Calamity came, viz. Concerning the Miniſters whoſe Churches were burnt. Now far be it from me and others to think that they were greater ſinners then other Miniſters whoſe Churches ſtand to this day. I cannot forget what Chriſt ſaith, Luk. 13.4. Suppoſe ye that thoſe upon whom the tower of Siloam fell, and ſlew them, were ſinners above all men that dwelt at Jeruſalem; I tell you nay, but except you repent you ſhall all likewiſe periſh. Had theſe Miniſters made Cock-pits of their Pulpits (as ſome elſewhere have done); had they, like thoſe toes of the cloven foot, which conſiſted partly of Iron, and partly of clay, (to allude to Dan. 2.4.) come thither to trample upon Magiſtracy and Miniſtery, in ſuch railing Language as ſome that I have heard; had they thence, like mad men, caſt firebrands, arrows and death, Prov. 26.18. truly, for that time, their Churches might have been ſpared; but ſuch were the labours of ſeveral of them, as will certainly be miſſed.
Neither can I chuſe, but reflect how dearly ſome of them (as is probable) will miſs their Livings, ſuch I mean as have Wives and Children, and little or nothing to live upon, but what came in that way; Few men make a worſe ſhift in the world than Schollars, eſpecially Miniſters when put out of their courſe; They that have lived as it were out of the world, can worſt of all skill how to live in it. Swords may be beaten into Ploughſhares, ſo cannot Books; Moreover the liberalneſs, and ingenuouſneſs of the Education of Schollars makes them greater objects of pity than many others are, when poverty overtakes them. It is pity, that they who deſire to live, that they may ſtudy, ſhould be put upon ſtudying little elſe, but how to live. One half years time, without the help of a Living, may ſo pinch ſome honeſt Miniſters, who have great Families, as that they can ſcarcely bear it. They may have hope, the graſs will grow again, but they fear, leſt mean time the Steed ſhould ſtarve. What ſhall be done for thoſe Miniſters whom only the fire hath ſequeſtred? How ſhall they be provided for? There is a ſaving of Chriſt in Luk. 3.11. which, Analogically applied and practiſed, might go a great way, and it is this, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none, & he that hath meat let him do likewiſe.
But that which I have more hope of, is, that the Nobility and Gentry of England, who either have or ſhortly may have good Livings to diſpoſe of, will lay to heart, how many worthy Labourers ſtand idle in the Market-place ſince the Fire, becauſe there is none to ſet them on work; and will uſe their beſt indeavours that they may be ſent forth into Gods Vineyard. What God ſaith of Joſhu…h the High-Prieſt, Zach. 3.2. Is not this a brand pluckt out of the Fire? is, me-thinks applicable to thoſe Miniſters whoſe Churches were burnt, and themſelves ſpared; (for what is a …and, but a ſtick partly burnt, and partly unburnt); Now, as God was pleaſed to adde concerning Joſhu…, … away the filthy garments from him, and I will clothe him with change of reiments. Some ſuch thing in a Moral ſenſe, ſhould the ſeveral Patrons in England, reſolve to do for thoſe able Miniſters, whoſe Churches were conſumed, viz. To inveſt them with Livings worthy of them, and ſuffer them no longer, as it were, to were ſackcloth, and to lie in aſhes. The Statutes of ſome Colledges have wiſely provided, that when there is any competition for places of preferment, caeteris …, they that have moſt need of it, ſhould be firſt choſen, they that have leaſt wealth ſhould carry it, if they have as much worth. May Patrons go by the ſame Rule, viz. To prefer the pooreſt firſt, which to do is as I may call it Simony inverſed, or the juſt oppoſite to baſe Simony: for where Simony takes place, they that have moſt (and are moſt free to part with it) do always carry it; but where Charity bears ſway, the lot falls upon thoſe that have leaſt. I ſee how you may exerciſe a threefold Charity in one, viz. Charity to unimployed and impoveriſhed Miniſters, Charity to the places where and people amongſt whom you live, (For ſome Miniſters do not more want good places, then many places do want good Miniſters): Yea, & Charity to your ſelves and families, to whom honeſt and able Miniſters would be no ſmall bleſſings: Let me therefore beg for ſuch Miniſters, as the Italians uſe to beg for themſelves, by ſaying to our Honourable Nobility, and Gentry, as they to thoſe of whom they ask, Pray remember to be good to your ſelves.