The Burning of London, Part 3 · Meditation 7
MEDITATION VII. Upon the burning down of many Churches.
VVHen men are better informed, and leſſe under the power of prejudice, they will not be offended, at calling thoſe places by the name of Churches, where people meet together for the publick worſhip and ſervice of God, though the living Temples of God, (or, the faithful meeting together for ſuch ends and purpoſes) are in greateſt ſtrictneſſe and propriety of ſpeech called, the Church, or ſome part of the Church of Chriſt, which is his Body, each Believer a member of it, and himſelf the Head. There is a Figure in Rhetorick (and ſuch as we can hardly ſpeak without) which puts things containing, for the things contained; and if the Holy Ghoſt himſelf do uſe that Figure, I am ſure we ought not to quarrel with it. I know not who can aſſure us, that the Scripture doth not ſpeak by that Figure, when it ſaith, 1 Cor. 11.22. Have ye not Houſes to eat and drink in, or deſpiſe ye the Church of God? But not to contend about words, I look upon it as a great miſery, that the places called by that name, are ſo generally demoliſhed. He that ſhall look upon them, but as great ornaments to the places where they ſtood; or, as ſtrong and ſtately buildings, that might have been employed to many good uſes; or at moſt, but as places, where firſt and laſt, many fervent prayers have been offered to God, many religious aſſemblies have met together, many excellent and converting Sermons have been preached, if he be conſiſtent with himſelf, cannot but bewail, that they are now made a ruinous heap. Moſt ſober men do think, there were ſome good and uſeful lights, ſhining to the very laſt, in thoſe Candleſticks; and for their ſakes, I wiſh, (if the will of God had been ſo) that thoſe Candleſticks might yet have ſtood; as alſo for the hope I had, that God in his good time, might have thruſt forth many more faithful labourers into thoſe Vineyards (if I may ſo call them.) Where now within the walls of that, ſometimes famous City, can hundreds and thouſands meet together, to reap the benefit of one and the ſame Sermon? I ſay, in how few places can it now be done (as formerly) with convenience and ſafety? We read of three thouſand ſouls added to the Church, by one of Peters Sermons, Acts 2.14. But, where now could a fifth part of that number with freedome and allowance converſe together in order to ſuch a purpoſe? How many idle perſons are there like to be in fields and alehouſes on the Lords day, under pretence they have no Churches to go to? What a vaſt charge and trouble will it be, to rebuild thoſe Churches, or many of them, which, if ever London come to be it's ſelf again, and Religion in any requeſt (as God forbid it ſhould be otherwiſe) muſt, and will be done. How forlo…n would London have lookt, if all its Churches had been burnt, though all private houſes had been yet ſtanding? I dare not give thoſe reaſons, that ſome would do, why thoſe Churches were burnt; I dare not ſay, we may do as well without them as with them. What reformed Church is there in the whole world, that hath not ſuch places as thoſe for publick worſhip, and that is not careful to maintain and uphold them? I wiſh every private houſe were a Church, (as P…ul Salities the Church that was in their houſe, viz. in the houſe of Aquila and Priſcilla, Rom. 16.5.) and yet I wiſh there were Churches every where beſides thoſe in private houſes. What if the blind zeal of Papiſts did build many of thoſe Churches, were they not converted to a better uſe? I think they could no more infuſe evil into thoſe places, than others can real and intrinſical holineſs. The Cenſers of Korah and Dathan (howſoever they abuſed them) were not caſt out of the Sanctuary, but made into broad plates, as are vering for the Altar, Numb. 16.38. The deſtruction of Churches is pleaſing to few men, but thoſe who have outrun the ſobriety of Religion, and, who have made ſuch haſte out of Balylon, that, (as one ſaith) they are run beyond Jeruſalem. If ſome Miniſters, by the fire of their paſſion, or other provoking ſins, have helpt to burn the Churches, they did, or ſhould have preacht in over their heads; and if ſome, that were, or ſhould have been hearers, have done the like, the Lord forgive them, they know not what they have done. But may I, or mine (if God ſo pleaſe) live to ſee London rebuilt, Churches re-edified, by the zeal and piety of Proteſtants, every Congregation furniſhed with … faithful Paſtor, every Candleſtick filled with a burning and ſhining light, all divine Ordinances purely adminiſtred, all places for publick worſhip greatly and cheerfully frequented, all good Chriſtians united in the ſervice of God; then, though our new ſtructures ſhould never be ſo great and magnificent, as our old ones were, we ſhall eaſily acknowledge, that the glory of our ſecond Temples, is far greater than was that of our firſt.