Londons Resurrection, Discourse 12
DISCOURSE XII.
Of the help that may, and is meet to be afforded towards the rebuilding of London.
SHall the aſhes of London upbraid rich men both in City, and country, with their unkindneſs towards it: (thoſe I mean that have no immediate concernment of their own) ſhall they cry with a loud voice; how long ſhall London lye in the duſt, for want of men or moneys, ſo long as all England can afford them? Or is England ſo drained, and exhauſted of either of theſe (even of money it ſelf) that there is not enough to ſpare for the reedifying of London. Though a great part of the Nation be impoveriſhed at this day, doubtleſs many have wealth enough, and to ſpare. Some have great Eſtates and no Children, others have great Eſtates and Children; but not worthy to be intruſted with ſuch Eſtates; ſome have been great gainers by the late revolutions, yea ſome by thoſe very judgments which have of late befallen us, even by the fire it's ſelf (which did not only ſpare their houſes, but much advance their rents) though thouſands may have need to ſell what they are poſſeſſed of, yet ſome hundreds (I believe) are ready for conſiderable purchaſes, and have ſuch perſons as I have named, nothing to ſpare, for, and towards, the rebuilding of ſuch a City? are they like to give any thing to any good uſes (living, or dying) who will give nothing to this. If mens gold and ſilver lye cankered by them: whilſt there is ſuch an occaſion to lay it out, ſhall not the ruſt thereof be a witneſs againſt them, and eat their fleſh as it were fire, James. 5.33. Who wonders not (as the caſe now-ſtands) to ſee any rich man dye, and leave nothing to London in his will? many places that are burnt down, were built by charity at the firſt, and muſt be ſo again if ever they be reſtored; and many perſons are by the fire become the objects of charity, who were not ſo before, but rather the ſubjects, and diſpenſers of it: many that had wont to give, are now forced to receive: many that kept good houſes, have now no houſes to keep; nor wherewith to build them any. To build for their ſakes were moſt charity; but if you, will not do ſo, build for your ſelves (I mean for your own profit, in conjunction with a publick good) and let them to whom you pleaſe. Build with regard to a noble City (now deſolate) if you will not do with reſpect to indigent, and impoveriſhed Citizens.
Had London been the tail of all the Cities of England, it had been pitty to have always loſt it; but much more pitty it would be in regard it was the head We read how the people lift up their voices and wept, that there ſhould be one tribe lacking in Iſrael; and yet that tribe was but little Benjamin, Judg. 21.3. Had it been Judah (and was not London as it were our Judah) would not their lamentation have been yet greater? As they ſtudied to repair that loſt tribe, ſo ſhould all Engliſh-men endeavour to repair this: It will chiefly concern rich men to do it, but ſurely the poor are not quite exempted. As in repairing the high wayes, our laws have provided, that they who do not or cannot hire others, ſhould work at it themſelves, ſo many dayes: So methinks it ſhould be in repairing of this great breach. It is a common good, and therefore ſhould be done at a common charge, though moſtly at theirs who have moſt intereſt in & benefit by it. They that had not gold, and ſilver to bring for the building of the Tabernacle, were to bring Goats hair, or Badgers skins, or the like, Exod. 25.5. And would it not in like manner become every body, to offer ſomething towards this work, even poor widdows to caſt in their mites? All rivers as well ſmall as great, pay tribute to the Sea, to the Sea whence they came, thither they return again, ſaith Solomon, Eccleſ. 1. and are not other parts of England to London as rivers to the main Ocean? If the light of the Sun were extinguiſhed, all the ſtars were they intelligent, would help to reinkindle it; for though the Sun doth obſcure them, yet it brighteneth the firmament, and there can be no day without it; ſo all places & parts of England ſhould contribute to reſtore London, though obſcured by it: becauſe without it England its ſelf would be obſcure, and as it were benighted.
I am deceived, if moſt families in England, have not ſome relation to London, either by deſcent or alliance, more immediate, or more remote, and ſhall they ſee this worthy relation of theirs lye in the duſt, and not do what they can to help it out.
When we have forts to build, is not the country round about commanded in, to aſſiſt in that work? what is London but the great fort, and bulwark of England (in more ſenſes than one) and being ſo, every mans aſſiſtance, & contribution therunto, may well be expected. They that have noble woods ſhold rather cut down every Tree, than let London want Timber; they that have Iron, ſhould rather empty all their mines, than let the City lye waſt for want of that commodity: if you be Engliſh men London is yours, that is, you have great intereſt in it, though you be no Londoners.
How naturally doth a mans hand lift up its ſelf when his head is ſtruck at, and offer to take the blow? how naturally do bloud, and ſpirits come from where they were, and reſort to that part which is wounded, though inferiour to thoſe parts whence they came? Doth not even nature it ſelf teach us, by ſuch things as thoſe, what ſhould be done in the caſe of London? London is the head, and therefore ſhould be relieved with both hands (that is with as many as England hath, though it were with danger to themſelves.
All England is but one political body, whereof London is (as I ſaid before) the head. Now all members of the ſame body, ſhould not only ſympathiſe with, but ſuccour one another in a time of diſtreſs; but the principal members, eſpecially ought to be ſuccoured by the reſt: when, and as need requireth. London then ſhould be helpt by all Engliſh-men, either their perſons, pains, parts, purſes, prayers, ſome or all of them, and whatſoever elſe they have to be helpful with.
It will paſs for a demonſtration amongſt our forreign neighbours, that England is ruined, and not able to help its ſelf, if London be not rebuilt.