Londons Resurrection, Discourse 33
DISCOURSE XXXIII.
That to be deeply affected with the hand of God in burning the City is one good way to have it built again.
TO be affected with the burning of the City is one thing, and to be affected with the hand of God in burning it is another. They may lament the City with a great lamentation; who take no notice at all of the hand of God, that was ſtretched out againſt it, but altogether cry out upon men, as if evil inſtruments could have burnt ſuch a City, without the great God concerning himſelf in it more or leſs. Whereas the truth is, if men were inſtruments in the burning of it (which for me ſhall reſt upon proof) yet God had the principle hand in it; for wicked men are but Gods hand, and ſword, Pſ. 17.14. Deliver my ſoul from the wicked which are thy ſword, from men which are thy hand.
Now God would that his hand ſhould be taken notice of, for he loves to be acknowledged as the authour of thoſe judgments that are inflicted by him. Who gave Jacob for a ſpoil, and Iſrael to the robber: did not the Lord? Iſa. 42.24. Is there any evil in the City and the Lord hath not done it? Amos 3.6. That paſſage Iſa. 26.11. ſheweth us that God cannot indure to be overlooked when he ſmiteth. Lord, when thy hand is lifted up they will not ſee, but they ſhall ſee, and be aſhamed, yea the fire of thine enemies ſhall conſume them.
That we may be duly affected with the burning of the City, there are ſeveral things to be taken notice of, beſides that which I have ſuggeſted in the firſt place, viz. that God did it. Now that ſuch a God, ſhould burn ſuch a City, a God ſlow to anger, gracious, merciful, long ſuffering, abundant in goodneſs, I ſay that ſuch a God, ſhould burn ſo antient, ſo famous, ſo profeſſing a City, is a very affecting conſideration.
Another is this, viz. that God did never burn any City but when he was greatly angry. God did never burn a City in cool blood (if I may ſo ſpeak of him after the manner of men.) Iſa. 42.25. He hath poured upon him the fury of his anger, and it hath ſet him on fire round about, yet he knew not, and it burned him, yet he laid it not to heart. I knew a good gentlewoman, who beholding the flames of London (by which ſhe loſt not one pounds worth of her eſtate, did thereby receive ſo great an impreſſion of the wrath of God againſt he City, (as her ſelf told me) that ſhe preſently fell into a languiſhing diſtemper (though before of a healthful, chearful conſtitution) and in deſpight of all the remedies which her loving husband, one of the moſt eminent Phyſicians in England, could ſupply her withall (which the bills I have ſeen have aſſured me to have been as effectual as could be uſed) ſhe out-ran her husband to the grave, whoſe many infirmities made it probable he would have arrived there many years before her. If ſhe were too much affected with the manifeſtation of Gods wrath, I doubt that moſt others are but too little.
Another affecting conſideration is this, that God is never angry without a cauſe, nor yet above the cauſe given, or more than he hath cauſe for. There is never anger on Gods part, but there is provocation on ours, and provocation proportionable to that anger, Pſ. 107.17. Fools becauſe of their tranſgreſſion and becauſe of their iniquity are afflicted. If we can ſlight their anger who will be angry for nothing, and they know not why themſelves? to be ſure his anger is not to be ſlighted, who is never diſpleaſed but there is a juſt cauſe, and a good reaſon for it.
God would that we ſhould be more affected with that wrath of his which is the cauſe of judgments, than with thoſe judgments which are the effects of his wrath. As Joab doubtleſs was not ſo much troubled for the loſs of his corn, as for the diſpleaſure of Abſalom, which was intimated thereby. Surely David was grieved at Sauls throwing his javelin at him, though it hit him not, becauſe it did betoken the diſpleaſure he had againſt him. David doth not deprecate chaſtiſement, but anger. Pſ. 6.1. Rebuke me not in thine anger, chaſten me not in thy hot diſpleaſure, and it is ſaid Be ye afraid of the ſword for wrath bringeth the puniſhment of the ſword, Job. 19.29. as if the wrath of God were the very edge of the ſword, but for which we ſhould have no cauſe to fear it.
God ſendeth judgments on purpoſe to make his anger known, againſt ſin, and ſinners, therefore ſaith the ſcrip. God is known by the judgments which he executeth, Pſ. 9.16. and Rom. 1. it is ſaid, The wrath of God is revealed from Heaven againſt all ungodlineſs of men. Judgments are the revelations of Gods wrath, and as ſuch they are moſt of all to be taken notice of.
How angry was God think you when he burnt our City? It is an expreſſion that importeth much wrath, when the anger of God and his jealouſy is ſaid but to ſmoke againſt a man, Deut. 29.20. But in this caſe it did not only ſmoke againſt London, but flamed out. Now to be ſenſible of the fury of Gods anger, which hath ſet us on fire round about, and to lay it to our hearts more than any thing elſe, (like ingenious children who are more troubled at their parents frowns; than at the ſmart of the rod,) I ſay thus to do, might conduce very much towards the building of our City. For ſaith the ſcripture, Humble your ſelves under the mighty hand of God that he may exalt you in due time, 1 Pet. 5.6.