Londons Resurrection, Discourse 19
DISCOURSE XIX.
That our building ought to begin where the fire ended.
THe Fire made more ends than one, for that it burned both Eaſt and Weſt: but whereſoever it ended, there ſhould we begin to build. The method of fire, and of building, are quite oppoſite, the firſt is Analytical, the latter Synthetical, which method begins with the end of things: So one of the firſt queſtions in Theology is, what is the chief end of man? The fire went from the middle, (as it were) to the extremes, from Thame ſtreet towards Tower-ſtreet on one, and towards the Temple on the other hand; but every body knows, that it is better to proceed from extremes to the middle, for (in medio virtus) (and that is the method which I commend to be uſed in our building) viz. to build firſt at both ends, or extremes of the City, where the fire gave over deſtroying, and ſo to proceed to the middle, from the two poles (as it were) to the center; as they ſay, where the natural Phyloſopher ends, there the Phyſitian begins: ubi deſinit Phyſicus, &c. So where the fire ended, ought the builders to begin.
Now the reaſon of that advice is, becauſe when there are but few houſes in the new City, if they ſtand by themſelves, they will be unſafe, but if they be joyned to the old buildings, (and do ſtand cheek by joul with it) they will be as ſafe and ſecure as it ſelf.
Again, houſes ſo built, (I mean contiguous with the old City) will be more commodious for Trade, and that with reſpect both to buyers and ſellers: Buyers will not have far to go for their commodities, and ſellers (by that means) will have the more cuſtomers, more Chapmen.
Moreover, to joyn the new part of the City to the old, at both ends, and on both ſides of the way, would make it more ſpeedily to look like a City, even as a quarter of an hours diſcourſe upon new matter, joyned to half an hours repetition of that which is good, and old, paſſeth for a Sermon; whereas a quarter of an hours diſcourſe by it ſelf, would puzzle men what to call it, and be laught at for a ſhort come off. A new City joyned to the old, would be the Embleme of a ſober comprehenſion, mannaged to the beſt advantage of Church and State, and of all good men; whereas the ſcattering of houſes ſome here, ſome there, at ſome diſtance one from another, and all at a diſtance from the old building, would be more the Embleme of an univerſal tolleration taking in Papiſts, Quakers, and every body elſe, and which is beſt of the two, I leave to other men to judge; not to joyn the new and old together, were to make as if they were two diſtinct Cities, whereas indeed they are but two diſtinct parts of one and the ſame City, united under the ſame Governors and Government, and comprized within the ſame wall: Drunken men uſe to ſee things double, which are but ſingle, and it is an ill deſign to make things ſeem to be more than they are. I love unity, and that it ſhould be owned to be where it is, though I ſhall not curſe the number two (as one of the Ancients did) for firſt wording from it.
I have given my reaſons why what was laſt in the execution of the fire (burning both wayes) ſhould be firſt in the intention and proſecution of the builder: I will but moralize this head, and diſmiſs it. Sin, like the fire, hath made the greateſt havock in the midſt of us, I mean upon the middle part of our lives, not guarded by a harmleſs ignorance, as was our youth, nor yet by a preventing impotency, (as old age is.) Now the main work of a Chriſtian ſhould begin at the two ends of his life, (for ſo the two extremes may be called, and the phraſe of our latter end ſeemeth to imply a former end.) In matter of examination, confeſſion, &c. a Chriſtian ſhould begin at the beginning, or hither end of his life: In ſin was I born, Pſa. 51. but in point of meditation, it is good to begin at the further or latter end of our lives, (proceeding from thence to ſerious reflections upon the midſt, and worſt of them) as God ſpake by Moſes, Deut. 32.29. O that they were wiſe, that they underſtood this, that they would conſider their latter end.