Londons Resurrection, Discourse 34
DISCOURSE XXXIV.
That greatly to bewail thoſe ſins, both of our own, and others which helpt to burn the old City, would help to build the new one.
WHat thoſe ſins were I have ſhewed at large in my Treatiſe concerning the burning of London, whereunto for the avoiding of Tautologies, I refer thee. Some it may be can cry not guilty, in their own perſons, as to ſeveral of them ſaying as he, I thank thee O God I am not ſo nor ſo, viz. no Idolater, no Adulterer, &c. but who can waſh his, or her hands, in innocency, as to every of them, or throw the firſt ſtone at another, as being himſelf without any ſin therein mentioned.
As the Prophet Oded ſaid to the men of Iſrael, who dealt ſeverely with their brethren of Judah, whom God for their ſins had delivered into their hands, … Chron. 28.10. And now ye purpoſe to keep under the …dren of Judah, and of Jeruſalem, for bondmen …d bondwomen to you: but are there not with you, … with you ſins againſt the Lord your God? ſo ſay I … any that ſhall think themſelves ſo righteous as …t they need no repentance: But are there not …ith you, even with you ſins againſt your God?
Let us then in the firſt place bewail our own ſins, … David did (that man after Gods own heart) ſay…ng as he, Pſ. 38.18. I will declare mine iniquity, I …ill be ſorry for my ſin, and doing as he, Pſ. 6.6. All … night make I my bed to ſwim, I water my couch with …y tears, viz. of repentance, for his ſins whereby …e had provoked that anger of God, which in the beginning of this Pſalm he deprecates
Let us in the next place bewail the ſins of others, …ch we were bound to do, though we had none of …ur own: much more being as it were brethren … iniquity with other men, having been partakers in the ſins of others, and made our ſelves by one means, or other acceſſary thereunto. This did not …ot, yet vexed he his righteous Soul from day to day with the filthy converſation of the wicked Sodomites, 2 Pet. 2.…. And as for David he tells us that he beheld the tranſgreſſ…rs, and was grieved, and in Pſ. 119.136. he ſaith, Rivers of waters run down mine eyes, becauſe they keep not thy law. Thus Ezra mourned for the ſin of the people in marrying Cananitiſh wives, Ezra. 9.1. (though he had done no ſuch thing himſelf.) And thus Nehemiah bewailed the ſins of all ſorts of men, Nehemiah 9.33. Thou haſt done right but we have done wickedly, neither have our Kings, our Prieſts, nor our fathers kept thy law, &c.
It is better than nothing to be affected with the judgments of God themſelves (not to be as if we were ſeared with a hot Iron, or paſt feeling) it is better than that to be affected with the diſpleaſure of God manifeſted in, and by thoſe judgments; but it is beſt of all, to be grieved at the cauſes of that diſpleaſure, whether in our ſelves or others, viz. our own and the ſins of other men. It is ſome ingenuity in a Child to reſent a correction, and to be aſhamed, when his Father hath as it were ſpit in his face, it is more to reſent his parents anger, and frowns, but it is moſt of all, to be troubled for his faults, unleſs it be more than that, to be troubled even for the faults of others, which ſhall never be laid to his charge. A child may be ſorry his father is offended, and yet not be ſorry for the fault (as ſuch) whereby he gave him the offence. Therefore to lament the cauſes of Gods anger (which I am now exhorting to) is more than to lament the effects, or the anger it ſelf.
But the queſtion is, how the doing of this would help to build our City? Now to that I anſwer, that our City (bleſſed be God is in a fair way to be built, if our ſins hinder not: neither ſhall they hinder it (how great ſoever our former provocations have been) if our hearts do but ſerve us duly to lament, our own abominations, and the abominations of one another, Ezek. 9.4. And the Lord ſaid unto him, viz. unto the man with the inkhorn by his ſide) Go through the midſt of the City, and ſet a mark upon the foreheads of the men that ſigh, and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midſt thereof. This mark was for preſervation, and deliverance, whilſt others were devoted to ruin and deſtruction; like that bloud which was ſprinkled upon the poſts of the Iſraelites, that their doors might be paſſed over, and the deſtroying Angel not come into their houſes, Exod. 12.23. Lot who vexed his ſoul with the …thy converſation of the wicked, had a Zoar, a …tle City provided for him and his, when fire …ame down upon the Zodomites, where in 1 Pet. 2.9. …e Apoſtle inferreth, The Lord knows how to deliver … godly, viz. from thoſe flames and calamities, …ich deſtroy others. Though the houſes of wicked …en, like theſe in Sodom, ſhould ſuffer the vengeance …eternal fire, that is, be condemned by God, al…ays to lye in the duſt (which yet is more diſtinction …an God doth ordinarily make in this world) yet doubt not but ſuch as mourn in Zion, ſhall have …ave to build the waſt places, and ſhall have beauty … their aſhes.
Now is Londons ſeed time, the City it ſelf is to …eſown. Sow in tears and you ſhall reap in joy. He … goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious ſeed, ſhall …btleſs come again with rejoycing, bringing his ſheaves … him, Pſ. 126.5, 6.