Londons Resurrection, Discourse 7
DISCOURSE VII.
Of its being intended that the new Buildings ſhould be more magnificent then were the old.
WHerewithall ſhall I excuſe what I know be deſigned, viz. That the City now to be built ſhould be more ſtately, and ſumptuous, then that which was lately burnt? The ſecond Temple, for matter of outward ſplendor, was not comparable to the firſt, which made the old men weep that had ſeen them both. Is this to humble our ſelves under the mighty hand of God? is this to accept the puniſhment of our iniquity? is this to lay our mouths in the duſt, if there may be hope? or is not this to ſay we will have beauty for aſhes, we will build our neſts on high; though God hath laid us lower then ever, or is not this to do like the Jews of old, who when called of God to weeping, mourning, baldneſs, and To girding with ſackcloath, fell to ſhaying of Oxen, killing of Sheep, drinking wine, &c. Iſa. 22.12, 13. Which iniquity God ſaid ſhould not be purged from them till they died: that is, were deſtroyed, v. 14.
Were this ſaid in the pride, and ſtoutneſs of our hearts, that we would have another City more beautiful then the former (as they of Samaria are challenged by God to have ſaid in the pride of their hearts) The bricks are fallen down, but we will build with ſtone, Iſa. 9.10. There were no excuſing it, yea ſome great Judgment might be exſpected to inſue it, but the greater ſtatelineſs of the new City then of the old, I take to be rather finis operis then finis operantis, that is to ſay, the effect of ſome other, and more neceſſary thing, which was primarily, if not only deſigned, then any thing contrived, by and for its ſelf.
I have ſaid already, that the law for building only with brick, was in order to greater ſecurity, and indemnity from fire. Then, as for making ſeveral ſtreets broader then they were before, that the great, and many inconveniences, which were formerly found in and by the narrowneſs of Thames Street, and ſome others, may ſatisfie any man, was but expedient, and neceſſary. And whereas ſome may think the new houſes carry, and are appointed to carry, their heads too high, and riſe up to a greater altitude, then doth become them, after ſo humbling a judgment, good reaſon may be aſſigned for that, viz. That it was enacted they ſhould do ſo in order to the gaining of more room, and that ſo much the rather, becauſe a great deal of room hath, and will be loſt otherwiſe, by the new model of the City, and particularly, by widening of the ſtreets, thoſe Latitudinarian ſtreets (if I may ſo call them) inforcing as it were altitudinarian houſes.
Now from the three forementioned cauſes, viz. The buildings being of brick, the breadth of the Streets, and the height of the houſes greater then formerly: thence I ſay principally, if not only, will ſpring that beauty and luſtre, which the new City, or the major part of it, is like to have above the old, all which things being neceſſary for other reaſons, and having been done upon their account, ought at no hand to be found fault with.
As men may faſt and mourn and yet not disfigure their countenances whereby to appear to men to faſt, but may anoint their heads (that day) and waſh their faces: and Chriſt commendeth ſo doing, as beſt, Mat. 5.16. So may the outward viſage of our City be handſome, and beautiful, and yet we our ſelves nevertheleſs truly ſenſible both of our ſins and miſeries.
I Should think a City of London, outwardly more ſplendid then ever, might in ſome reſpects increaſe our humiliation, rather then inflame our pride, even as a poor man, clad in a rich habit, might from thence have more ſad, and frequent reflections upon his poverty, as thinking with himſelf how unſutable the fineneſs of his outward garb, is to the meanneſs of his condition, and how much otherwiſe it is really with him, then by his habit ſtrangers would take it to be.
But that a ſtately City, raiſed in a ſhort time out of a ruinous heap, might conduce to ſtirr up in us more of thankfulneſs, and admiration of Gods goodneſs, I ſee not who can deny: with this ſtaff (ſaid Jacob) paſſed I over Jordan, and now the Lord hath made me two bands, Gen. 32.10. Which ſurely he acknowledged, with more thankfulneſs, and wonder, then he would have done; if God had made him but one band, no bigger then either of his two
Moreover another London more magnificent then the former, how great an eye ſore would it be to the enemies of that City; who moſt barbarouſly rejoyced at its flames, and triumphed at its funeral, and would (if they knew how) have rolled ſo great a ſtone over its grave, that it ſhould never have been capable of riſing again? I ſay when thoſe envious perſons, ſhall come to ſee two ſtaffes in the hand of London, viz. Beauty and Bands (that is State, and Strength) alluding to Zech. 11.) neither of which they exſpected: how will that ſight abate their pride, confront their malice, and confound their devices.
Laſtly a ſtately City ſhould methinks provoke the inhabitants to a generous emulation, of being ſo wealthy, and ſubſtantial, as by it they ſeem or make ſhew to be. If ſo goodly a City be to Londoners, at the firſt erecting of it, like a garment that is much to big for him that weareth it, yet may it put them upon indeavouring to grow ſo faſt, that it may be fit for them, if it be to them, as raiment of needle work, or of wrought gold; ſuch as the Kings Daughter is ſaid to be, Pſ. 45.13. may it not ſtirr them up to be like her all glorious within: that their inſide and outſide may well agree together?
Now, Lord, though it may be it was not out of pride, or affectation of pomp, that we have deſigned to build ſo fine a City; yet poſſibly we may be proud of ſo fine a City when it is once built, and if ſo Lord humble us for that our pride, but deſtroy us not again, and if like thoſe times of which it was ſaid they had golden challices but wooden Prieſts, it may be ſaid of us we have a rich City but poor inhabitants, we ſhall in that reſpect have great cauſe to be humble, and Lord do thou make us as humble, and lowly as we have cauſe to be.