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To all sach of .the City who have seen the desolations of Ijtmdaa by the late" jndg. ments of Plague and Fire.

IT imghthane ieemei more smmmMe unto «^e, tfa fpork of ihk nature had come forih tmio mom more hnmediUUely after the somul of God^4 terrihie voice, and execution, at kaet, qf the but dreadful Judgment qf (lie fire; becauee if a man strikes mkUe tk^ iron is hot, U is likdy to make the usore deep impression; which, when it grawscool, grows hard and uamoUeaUe; and if the hammer of the word had been used, when London was newkf come forth of the furnace, some might think they would have yielded the more easily unto its strokes, and the better have received the fashion which this hammer would work them unto; and that, since the fresh and lively remembrance of the judgment is more worn off; it is to be feared that they are more cooled and hardened, and therefore in Uhelihood it will be more difficult to effect a due impression of the judgments, by the word, upon them: yet, besides that it was not in my thoughts to attempt this work, until the greatest part of the winter was spent; I may further add, that though a discourse concerning the plague would have been most seasonable under the judgment itself, when

TO THE READER.

people, who were generally taken off^ from their trading, had room and time for retirement and amiideratiotit more than ever they had in their lives before; and .therefore were more likely to lay to heart what might he spoken or written unto ihem^ on that subject; Yet the reason is not the same in the Judgment of the fire, which (however startling and astonishing), was so far from giving them retiring time for consideration, as the former judgment of the plague had done; that it did engage th4m unto more laborious works than ever they had, not only while London was bumping, in removing what they could save of their goods from the fire; but also since, in looking out new habitations, and fitting their houses and shops for trades^ which hath given them occasion for so much distraction, that I fear they could hardly settle their minds to read and consider so seriously as they should, what the Lord hath been doing with them, and speaking unto them by this Terrible Voice^ which hath sounded so loud in their ears; but by this time I hope that the most have attained to some kiiid of Settlement; at least, so much, as to give them leave to sit dotvu and ponder upon the meaning of God, in these strange and dreadful judgments of plague and fire in the city; and therefore this book may be more seasonable unto the most, than if it had been

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TO THE READER. Vlt

written and presented to them immediate^ after the Jire had burnt them out of their habitations* Friends, it is high time for all of you to retire yourselves, and bethink yourselves, and wisely to consider God's dealings with you; to open your ear, and labour to understand these speaking judgments, lest, if God be provoked by your deaf" ness and incorrigibleness to speak a third time, it be in your utter ruin and desolation. If these papers be any ways helpful to revive in your memories the judgments themselves, by the Historical Narration which here you have of them, to work your hearts to some sense of sin in discovery of the cause; and to persuade you to a ready compliance with Go^s design, in the declaring of what God now expects from you, after such dreatful executions; as yours will be the benefit, so I desire that God may have the whole glory; and that you would make this return for my help of you, to help me with your prayers, that I may be the more helpful to you in mine, who am

Your dearly affectionate Friend, and Servant in the Lord,

T.VINCENT. ^

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GOD'S TERRIBLE VOICE

THE CITY.

PsALii Ixv. part of the fifth vertex

' By terrible iking$ in righteouMnea tvilt thou answer us."

INTRODUCTION.

^Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and e people not be afraid ? Shall there be eril in the city, and the Lord hath not done it? The lion hadi roared, who will not fear? the Lord God hath spoken, who can but prophesy?*^ Amos ill. 6. 8. When the Pharisees spake to our Saviour to rebuke his disciples for their loud praises of the Lord with hosannas. He tells them, " If they should hold their peace, the atones would immediately cry out,** Luke xix. 39, 40. And we read in Habakku^c^ ^jlwp. ii. 1K

'' Of the ttone crying out of the wall. Rod the beam out of the timber making answer.** Cer-* tainly we in London have lately heard the cry of stones and walls, of timber and beams in their fall afid[ flajfivBs; 1 xn?#n in the iRtl? drf»dful fire, which hath laid our Jerusalem in heaps; or rather, we have heard the voice of God in this and other terrible things which have come upon us: let none then rebuke, if one so unfit, do make an attempt to 8pe«i)c lopiething of the meaning of London's fire, or of God's terrible voice in this and other judgments, when by the mouth of babes God can declare his will.

SECT^L

*' By terrible things in riglieousness will thou answer us J*

This whole Psalm breathes forth nothing but grace and goodness unto the people of Qod,. ftom the beginning of it,'to the ^nd; yea> ii^ t^ vcr^e of ijay t^xt w^re GiJ^ speal^a qiost t^iffibly. 9n4 rightepusly i^ th^ judgmepjts. and de$iru4iqn^if )#hhi? bri^getb upon their enemies, jet hie is c^lleci ijhe^.Qod of their solvation'; and tjty>se teNcri|>Ie things by vhich God speaks, ara not 9nly f^ righteous answer unto theii* enemies' ^ipi^, bvt.alsa^.gr^ciou^ uiswer.unto his people's myet^: b^ tej;:fible; things in righteousness wilt tlvou ajipwjBr ufl,

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mtMifted Btmrnt, m th^ b«fell i)ti)y the enetifSet vrf Qod's peewit, iiiid tile wklMd, wMst fb^ i%ht«Mi9 do escape', lihd it nmy he hereby at^ Imserved; iNit Aft they may befd! any {leople, not exolucKn^ God's people, whom the Lord may mnsvrcr by terriMe things iti WghteottMesa.

Two doctrini^ we mky otMrerye.

Duet. 1. THtft Gtd deih Mhetime$ tpehk nnio a people by lerrifjie Mngii.

Doet. S» fliai when Gorf dolk speak most ierri^ hfy. He doth answer moH figfUetmdy.

First. Thai God dtilh speak souutitna Un^d people by ierril}U things.

Here I shall show^

1. How Qod may be said io speah

^. What those terrihk ihingi are hjf which CM 'doth sometimes speak*

3. TTAy God doth Mometimes speak UHto a peopk by terrihU things ; and then apply,

1. Bow God ma^ he said (o speak.

God, being k Spirit, bath no mouth nor tongue ilroperly as men have^ \irfao have bodies; and therefore his way of speaking is not like ours (though somletihies he hath created A voice in is articulate a sound, as if it had proceeded fi'om the mouth of ttian, to declare his will,) but there are several ways in Which God hath spoken, and doth speak unto the children of men, by which he doth as really and eilectually make known his mind^ as if he qMike with man's vdiee*

1. God hath spokeli formerly unto men imme-

diately^ in extraordinary ways^ and that aome^ times more terribly; as when he gave the lav upon Mount Sinai^ when the Moimt burned with fire, and there was blackness, and darkness, and tempest, thunderings and lightnings, and the sound of the trumpet exceeding loud, and the voice of words so exceeding terrible, that it made the whole camp to tremble; and Moses himself said, ^* I exceedingly fear and quake/* Exod. xix. 16; Heb. xii. 18—21.

This way of God's speaking, the children of Israel were not able to bear; therefore they de» sired that Moses might speak unto them ^ but that God would not speak unto them thus any more, lest they should die, Exod. xx. 19.

At other times God spake with, a more still and gentle voice, and in i more mild way, as when he spake to Samuel in the night, he thought at first that it had been the voice of Eli, 1 Sam. iii. 4, 5. Thus God spake unto Abraham, unto jacqb, unto Moses, to whom It is said, ** He spake face to face, as a man speak« eth to his friend,'' Exod. xxxiii. 11.

God spake also in an extraordinary way to his prophets of old, when he made known unto them his counsel, that they might declare it unto the people; sometimes he spake unto them with an audible voice, which he created when no shape was seen; sometimes by angels, who appeared in bodies, which they laid down agam when they had delivered their message; sometimes by dreams and visions in the night; sometimes by Urim and Thummim; sometimes. by

ore secret inspirations of the Spirit.

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In die kM days of Gad*ii extnunrdinary qmfc^ ing, be spake by tbe most extraordinary peribn, mudelv, by his own most dearly beloved, and only liegotten Son, Heb. L I, 2; irhom he sent Ottt of bis boaoth to declare hiroielf, John i. 18; arid rereal what he had heard of the Father, Jdhn xy« 16> who brought IHb ind immorulity to light by the Gospel^ and made known God'a piirpoBe and grace in man's salvation; S Tin. L]9,10; and uttered audi things a^ were kept eecret finoni the foundation of ttie world, Matt ziii; 3$^. The Gospd b^n to b^ spoken of b^ the LorB Jeshs lildis^, and was ceniinued and confirmed.by bis Atkxrdcs, who ii^ere his wiU •es^ to wfaotti Gdd aisd did heir >#itaeaB with Qs, and wonders, and div^ers miracles, add I of the HMy Ghosts accdirdnig to hia #il],

ebr g. 8> 4i

2. And nd«f, dibiigh nbt do imnediatdlyi and in ifoch eitfatfrdinaiy ways> yet still God dotk iqpeak unto iUer children of men. There wx^ two wa^s o^ GodV s^iaking noW linto mln> namely, Idalaordandhls le^iljr.

1. Hia ihwi contiHntfd in tbe Scr^rea df the Old and New TeatitmArt^ which holy ineil #rote Uthey wert^ifxapit'ed by tbe Hdy Ohost^ t Fet. f. 2K And thua God spesketU either inftemOly by his word done, car int^naily with hia wdrd by his Spirit.

1. Goil 8i}teihet& abw unto men externaify by hii^ ^ord aionr, to' some more silently, unto whom hc^ gives his Scriptures only to be read, ahO brings to ifaeir view* his -v^rittea word alone, ;wMfoiit &i adVifntage of other ordinances, wbich

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win^ won pcMrarfiiflj dedart iintv^tfamiiiv

Witt.

Unto dlbeni be speaks mom audtUyi wInn dieGrospel doth'sound in their ears^ w/id wbh ih9 SeriptttresGod sendelh bis ministertto ptemik unto them. -'

God spesketb by his> mbustefs^ wbo em bn wetdaBtn, m Us'nametaivant the people of b« Indgenmls tempore! laid etemel, wiiidi in die Scriptures be hath threatened^ Exdc* ill 17> 1^ ifee.; baiab'lxii. 6» who ave the Loed's am-bttssador% 2 Cor. ▼• 20; horn whom they have acommissioirtD preadk the Ge^xd» and dodaie the gbd tidkigs of sd^atioa ootp aU ttteii as jrepeni^ and IMoft, and yidd op tibenadvos ttnlo tba obedienoa of tbtt word*

'Miaisters stand in thoroomof Chriat; tuidit is well fcMT US Aat Qod speaks onto na fa^ aaina-sterSf because we should not be able to endnro, dididd 'ho speak imto «e iiBnodialel|P by Mm-odf; 'shonld he speak unto us with an andiyo .Yoico* as he did to the .chikben of Iscad .on Mount Sinaiy when he gave the law^iibis worii be oo terrible, thai wftk ifaem we shonld desire io hcMT Mo6es»'8nd draoee mtnistera mtbn to apeak unto us; yea, if €hx»t Jeans hiosadf shottM 00000 dMm from heaven, however he mighkJiave ^faoon heard in his sCato of hmnlliatkin, when hia I)eity was so mudi veiled; yet if he diould now appear in the ^ory he hath wkh the Father, 4Mr as he appealed unto John his beloved dii^ .ciple, when liis*eyes were as a flmne o£ fire^ and his eottatenanee like the iron when it shined»in fta fuU^atienglh, and his: voice kke-the

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IK THB CITY*

mntfrmntmk : I aqr^if Chiiit tibmM t and preadi uDto us, such a dread and i ntttT w<Niid Ml vfon iia, that we <hodd fall domi'daad' at )m 1^ tm hk dkeiple iofan did^ Umm:i. 19*^17. Therafora it ia batter for ua ia this state of weakness, that God speakadi to «a hf nriniaten, men of like passions am infirmitiea vkkoarartrea, whomwenajbesdblato baar,and fAom ivorda, natwitlMtaoding' o«r weakiMBB, we Biay tie M» to hear.

f. Aid doth now also speak unto men inter* muO^, w!kb hie word by hia Spirft, when God sends hii %irit with hts word, Ibr oonvietion oniy» or abnea eomnon work: thus God calls open the winkedv whe^ait ander the pteaching of the wstd, moves and strives with theoi foj Ma Sporit^ bnt Ibaytresist die Spnit, slide eonvioiiom» and will BofciMMrlBsn t» hia adb and nMtnna, Gen. v& 5;

'•" fot espedalty God speaka with hia weed hjr hie Spiriti when he sendeth Ins %irit Ur ee»* Teraien, and to^feet a aairing ehenfe: thue God apedks iriien he calMi blind aiuMra o«t of dMrUaeia into his marvdlena light, 1 Fet« ii. 9; qnickeatttlr dead ainnera, ptHting ineo them a new- principle of spiritual liie, £phaa. ii« 1; reaeo^ etndaved miners oot of Satm'a snare; 9Tim^ n. e6; deltveiing them ftonr the power of the devil, and tfanslatii^ them into thrking-deea of Ids dear Son, €oL i* 13; when by his Spirit fardmweth sinners^ John vi« 44 ; and joina tlHHn''iintx> Jesus Christy 1 Cor. vL 17; God q)ettlsech nnto men with his word by luaSpffit, %]isii:<iK doth thne effis^oi^ly eidl them; and

he speaketh unto men also by hfs Spirit^ when he gradously visiteth them which are calledi when he teaeheth, naeheth^ warmeth, quickeneth^ strengtheneth^ and rdfreshfeth them by his Spirit^ as they sit under the inflaenee of his ordinances, when he speaketh peace unto their consciences^ sheweth them his recohbfled face, shedding abroad his lore in theh' hearts, and gfveth such sweet comforts, and ravishing joy as is nnspeak^* able, and full of glory, John vi. 45; John xiv. 2(i j Luke xxiv. 52; Psal* exliii. 11; Bphes. lii. l6; Actk iii. )9; Psahn Ixxxv. S; Rom« v. 5; Psklm xdv. 19; 1 Pet. i. d.

2. God speaketh unto men by his ttorh; and that either by his work« of creation^ or Jby his works of providence.

1. God speaketh by his works ofofeaiionf: and havens have a voice, and dedate God^s glotyi Psalm xix. 1; and the earth hath n6t only ah e«r to ear, Isa. U ft I but alsb a tongue, as it were, to apeak God^s praise. We read of A4 seas roaring, and the floods clapping fheir hands; of fhe mounUiins sinking, and the trees of the wood sounding fbrth their joyful aeclamatidns; yeai beasts and all cattle, creeping things^ and flying fowl, dragons and all deeps; firej bati/ snow, rain, and stormy wind, as they ful^ his word, so diey speak, and in their Way declare what their Maker is; or rather in tUem, and Dy them God doth speaky and make kno^n somc^' thing of hiniself, Psal. cxlviit. 7^ 8^ 10, Ste.

We read of the voice of the Lofd hi powe^; the voice of the Lord ill Migesty, the Voice of the Lord upon the, waters, the iroide of tUe Lord

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dmding the flames of fire, the voice of the Lord shaking the wilderness of Ksdesh, breaking the cedars of Lebanon, and the like, which is the voice of the Lord in the terrible nmse of thunder^ PsaL xxix. S—8.

And there is no one work of the Lord (dioiigh not with such a noise) whidi doth not with a loud voice, as it were, in the name of the Lord, proclaim onto Uie children of men how great and glorious the Lord is, who hath given it its being, and use, and place in the world; espe-dally the work of God in the make of Man, his body, the memb^v and senses; his soul (its powera and Acuities) doth wiUioul a tongue speak the praise of that God who corioosly framed the body in the womb, and immediately infused the living soul, Psal. cxxxiz. 14, 15; Zech. xiL 1.

2. God speaketh by his works of promdence, and that both merciful and afflictive.

1. God speaketh by his mereifid providences; by his patience, and bounty, and goodness. He calleth men unto repentance, Rom. iL 4. He giveth witness of himself^ in giving rain and fruitful seasons, Acts xiv. ] 7.

God's providing mercies, God's preventing mercies, God's preserving mercies, God's deliver* ing mercies; the number of God's mercies which cannot be reckoned; the order and strange method of God's mercies, which cannot be de* dared; the greatness of God's mercies in the kinds and strange circumstances which cannot be expressed^ do all with open mouth call upon men from the Lord to repent oC their sins whidi

ihey hsVe covmnitted against hltn, and to yMi ttll We, thankfulness, and obedience nnto faikh;

S. God siifeakc^li by lAr afflictive frovidehde^: there 18 k voice of God in hiis rod, as iveW as in his word, Mic. vi. 9. " Hear the rdd, atfd whd bath appointed it ;'* t^hen God «'cha^eneth» he leachetb," Ptehn xciv. 12. Wheh God llfteth Up his hand, and-strikes, he openeth his rti6oth also, and speaks; and sometimi^s openeth men*)! ears too, and sealeth their instraction^ Job xxxiii. 16.

Sometiilies God speaks by rods more mildly, by lesser dSlictions; sometimes Ood speaks by teorphnt riiore terribly, by greater jadgtnettts: whieh leads to the second pardeular.

SECT. IT.

Wlua are those terriBk things hf tohiek God doth sometkkes speakf

The word in the original is Nwaoth (iVom Jtm which signifieth, he feared;) terrible thiiigft art aiich great judgments of God, as do nsaally mlike a gener^ impression of fear upon the hearts of people.

Take some instances*

1. The fjktgHB is a terrible judgmerit hy iihiek Ood speaks unto men. It is a apeakitig jndg'^ insnt; where God sends the pla^oe, he spMkit, and he ^eaks terribly ( the plagae k «ftry terrible, as It effecteth terrors^^gtJiei^stilence which

wtU^e^ in di^k0e89» ia called die "tencr hp

mghu Fsakfii xci. 5, 6.

. The pkgae i« very terrible, in thaty

}• It is 80 poisfinous a diaeaae; it poiaona tbe blopd.i^rHi apirit9» bireeda a straoge kiaui of venom ip tim bo4y> wbkh. breaketh fotb awnrrirow in bQilmand Um^ and greet earbunelea; or else vorjka mere 4ajQgerouaty> wJben il prei^ib upon tb0 xitel;i msm iowardly.

9. It. ift «o i^fiiome e diaeaae; it tuma the good bumWa ioto putrefiiction* which putting forlli UmV. in. the ifpuea oC mnning aorei^ deth give a most noisome smell: auch. a diaaano for loaA^ooaf^ii^as.we^veadof* Paahnuxyiaa. £• 7» 11* ^' My wonndi, eilefc and ere eonrnpty my loine are fiJIed with a loathaome disease, and there ia no aoundneas in my fleah: my lovera and my frienda atand aloof off from my aove, and my kinwMn atand afar oft"

3» It if. so inftcUms a disease: it spreadeth* iliaelf ifofiethan, the lepre^ emeogat the Jews; it infecteth not^mly tfaoie.wbiah are veak, and ipfirm. in body, and full of ill humoura^ but alan l^bnie ji^aDs .young* tlrnng* heillbfiU, end of. Ui<^be4:ti»iiparatnre: aadlhaliSoeselinieeaeoDar ^<m;.otJbei:a« Tbe plague ia. iniSoetionat and greatly;^ i^feetiona* whele dtiea ,heve been depopulated through its spreading, mMiy whole lann-* lies have Deceived infection^ and death one finont afM^r thecahy: whifbis the thud thii^ that repdereth the plague so terrible* . •

4;*.\Iti9SQ deadly: it kills. where, it ce iK&t^fut^QB^ei^y ^.it kiUe (I he^ almesl;. aaifl

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tmoAj;) rerj 4m c^mci^,^ e^Mcidlly ttpw in 6nlt eotanoicef and before ito ma]%iiity be spemt; few are toudied by it, bnt diey are killed by it: and it kills ^uidatfy; ^is it giv«s bo warning befoi^itcoBies; aaddeolytbeanwwia^citwhi^ woundeth unto the beart; so it gives little time of preparation bafer* it brings to fibe grave: iicdar other diseases mea may Unger out many wesfca and months; under some divers yaan; but die plague usually ksHethwitbia a liimr days; aoae« times^ within a few bcHirs after its iirM; appvoaah^ Amagh the boOywere never so strong and free fromdisiBase befoee. >

The plagne is very terrible; ii is terfl»lefM» tfaem diat lurveit; iaaomodi wb itasnally comes with grim Death^.tbe king of tenors, in its hand*; and it is terrttxle to them wbidi haw it'«o^ beeause of ^tbeir - dangce of being inibcted hj^ it; the fear of which have made sadi an inpiessioR upon some, thatst faatb rased out of their hearts^ for the wli^, afi aiectioBs of love and'psty to their neasest^relatioM vumI deaiest friendsii a» tint when the disease bathfirstseized upon tbeni> and'they have had the gireatest need of«> —e eotw ^ they.have left-their friends in (distress^'and ^flown away from them, as if they had been their e nam iefc

2. j| dduge'k^ mater u^ a ternUe yjudgmemiit There baw been several floods whioh we read of in hhlorieay that have suddenly bneken'in vfim aome places, andovetvhelmedhabitalians' and inhabitants logetheiv

But God never did, and never willispeakao terribly by a deluge.of water, aabj ^« gs^>«^

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Mn^-kk^^em'Jkfs «^NMh, wImi the

«illMiMrttr^w«foi»8^ I Adi fit it MfaM yooreyei^mtof Gen. vii. from the 11th ywm«» ttewd «f 4iM}«lunt6r« ^Intlia«lh ImumInMi ywr •f MiNih'0 i)Hb» in Hie tint ggwe uumitL • dity 4if Ae i daffweweUtiw: fewrtMnn of the

toiuid ^Kt to ithe gnat fon^eo tint tkei covered the earth as they did at the hepnni^^t *tqBiil«tie mmdtm% of heaven iveie opened/ out of 'ipfaidii'God;.h»eiL0d &rth.w eager vpon the Midiy and pouradibrlh a "^ vial of hie wrath/? caoehig k to min '£(utf days and faty nighia in«lrei^kftd afaowers, aceooBpiBnedy ee is pfehable» witii'etomiy wiilde, andiudeaos tempeets, .vhkh patiitfiewBHdineeaftightandeaBBScnienft; when Idle lAtmeRt of air o ee med to be changed into wttter^ «ad nich a torrent£owed in upoA them on eveiy Ade^ w» may gueet whatfear theyweee oveewMnied w«lhal9 bnt Noah and hiafinaly

Xinto tiM arfc^ and die Loid <' abet them

iiry M if kiH the wnlers kvcreaied^ and here op the aiii^amd>ut'wei'lift'up above tlie eavth> and the waters *fnoM*aed, and))fevaikd ^greatly npon the earthy end the ark went upon the face of: the wfltere^vo^fthat all the* high hilla and monntaine were covered fifteen cubiti: then all fleehdied^ Umli aipd'ORttle, and heast^ and every Uiing diat eeeepedor moml oft.:threa«lfa| and every.man; and Noah only remained alive, and they that

yfiik hiob in A0 uk." God t^tkft tben iBnibljr indeed wiD die widfad w^fli by the flood) iniiidi devwiffd tlMm ,alt»gislh in ibe imdiit o£ tkftir «eminlf and mb ; bttt God bath ~i Imrvnlineirer qp^akIhifii, by-.water aay

jRiiiv M <nalter:l0TJUe lAfh^ ivAerciff God \kmi( ta j i haari i» ootUeni with a mfdpeo" fki ¥hm ia verifrrdraadfidl irheoi it/hath a^^iammiif ■m^fi^em Qod, aiid'.»Hcft'vritb>>Dtadiaaaibi9^-bia iaBtlflr» and prniailawitboatYafisttiQce* God wpidwieanb}tyby .§u9immttkSsii GoiQoiqratb

when he xlHiied £ra «nd brfan^tona an tbose iMf^ and coBMiiajed.theab Site Cren. xia. fraao^ the Mth Taneto Iba Sfitb. ** TM L<«rd rained £fe and brimatona out of hearoi^ and a¥evtbraw. lbo«e aitiea and the inbabilanta togelber; and when Afamfaam looked tmraid Sadwn .and Gmi^onabt and iheJand aS tha f^mf he aaw tha amoka of tfaa eiHmtiy gaiuplfkathe smakeaf a faisaoa,"

God apaka tarribly, tben^hi nol ao/tamb^« 4e JUarosaieaiy when ha fiafianed. their city to be act ottifire by the Babykmiana^aBd their tenij^e toba btnmttathagronad. SaaJee^lii. 3S, i$. .-.

Bat the mart fearful imtannaa of God'&Jtereihk aoioebyfimara yettaeameftihtta'God wiUtifieak by fire, unto apintuid Babylon, which may easily be proved to be I^ma, from Rav. xvii4 lf« She then b^ig tbe^rcateit^jr, whiab reigoad^yer tba kinga of the earth.. Baby kin's burning with fire you may read. Bar. xviii. 8-i-«10, &c^ " Thar^ £aca i^idl bar ]^^^ea come m one, ^$^^ death and moarning, and faraina, and ahe ahall be iitttrly burnt witih §ge ; teatiang ia theliprd God

wiMjttdgethlier: «ndl«hekiiigt ofdieenthiriM hk^e tfonmiitled iUvfealiatt, amK Ihwd delicimit^ with her, ^hall be«rml btr, and Inniwit for hm, when thi^ shall see the aiDolie of ber bttrmiig; itandlng «fer o# ibr -fter of btr tofnwnt, n^iagv Alas, that great city Babylon! that mighty tkft ior 4n one hour ia thy jik^nKntoanc^" See.

God siiake terrMy by ire when Loadon waa ifl flanaaes, of whkh in the afipKeation; but be witt sjfeak far man terribly wben Babyion sbatt be in ftsiAes; and not only in part, but • wbol^> aad trtterly, and irfeparahly butnly and tnnied into ashes: when not only Ao city shall be co»> aomeit, but also the Whoee heraetf ''shall be bsfted aktd maide desolate, and deaoaeed with icn by tho kings of the earth/' Rev. xvii. 10*

The last instanee of God's speaking teniUy by fifO will be Hie ioH i/oy, wheii the Lord Jesaa drrist, the jod|^ of 4fmsk and dead» shall oonw down fi^em heaven in iaming'firet to take vet>» geoMce oil an tlM^se* that knaw net God, and obey n6t tfhe Oospel,^ t Tlieas. L 7, 8. And the Apostle Peter tells us, that '^tbe beavensand the earth are reserved in aCore for fire agamat this daiy; wfae«t the heavens shall paaa away with a great noise, end the ehaneats melt with ferveat belit, and the earth'and all the works therein shall be burnt up/' 2 Pot. iii. 7-—10. Then God wfll l^enk telriblj by lire, and above all, most terribly 16 the fifngodly workl; when he will sentonee tfiefn unto, anid cast them into the fire of hell, where they must' dwell with devouring fire, and inhabit ev^rlattdng burnings*

41 Tke mord u a ^teadfid Judgment, wksreby

Gbd speaks sometimes ^ery ierribfy: espedalfy when he draws it forth against his owit and his people's enemies. Hear how terribly God speaks in Deut. xxtii. 39-^-4^. *' See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no God with me; I kill and I make aKve ; 'I woand, and I heal; neitfaier is there any that can deliver out of my hand: For I lift tip my hand to heaven, and aay/ I live for ever. If I whet my glittering swovd, and my hand take hold on juf^ment, I will render vengeance to mine enenues, and reward them tlMt hate me: I will make mine arrows dmnk with blood (and my sword shall devour flesh)-end that with the blood of the sidn, and of the captives, from the beginning of revenges upon the ene^ mies/'

Wfaen-pod ftirbiihedi his swerd^, and wh^sft; when God girdisth his sword upon ki&thigh^ and marcheth against his enemies; when he dmweth his sword, and maketii slaughter with itf$ when his sword devoureth much flesh, and is made drunk with the blood of the slain; when Ood ^ves commission to the sword, ssying, ** Sword, go through such a land;" as Esek. xiv. 17. And ** pours out his fbry on the land ia blood ;** as verse 19. So that the sword is bethed in blood, and garments'are rolled in bldod, and the land is soaked in blood; when blood is poured forth like water, and dead bodies are cast Ibrth into the open field without burial; and GofX makes an invitation to all (bathered fowl «o gather themselves together, and feast themselves upon the carcases of the slain; as Esek. -luuiix* 17—20. When God comes niihtLdied garments

Ami BmhA,'' b^IxiiL I. '«Wbcn he gathcrelb the nations, and brings tbem into the valley of J«h^bapha|» and thither causeth hi« mighty ones to come down againit them/' Joel iii. 2. 11. When the day of Ood'a imiignation doth come, mad he makes sncfa a slaughter amongst his ene-miea, that the '* earth doth stink wiSi their car* casesy and the mountains do melt with their ll)#od," Isa, xxxiv.ft, S. When God '* treadeth the wine-press of his wrath without the city, and <illii» hkied-ooneaoutof the wine-press« even to the bovtes" bridles^'' Rev. ziv. ^0. In a word, when dps Laed shaU come forth upon his white ** horse" laixh bis armies | and shall destroy the beast, and all the powers of the earth that take part' with him; as Pev, six* from the llth vene to the end: tlien €Uxl will speak terribhr indeed againsl his enemies by the sword, then he will '* roar out of Zioi^ and utter his voice from Jeruialem,'' and that in such a manner, as will '' make both the beavens and the earth to tremble," Joel iii. l6^'

And Indeed God speaks with a terrible voioe, wherever he sends the sword, and makes the alarm of war lo be heard; as sometimes he sends it! amongst bis own people for their sin, 1 Kings viii. 3^*

When God brings into a land a people ef another langunge aiKl religion, of a fierce oounte* nattcean4 cruel disposition; and gives them power to prevail, and bring the land under their feeftf'SO that the mighty men are cut off by them, and-Ae men of vidour crushed in the gate; the yonag men fly and fall before them, and there is ) tomke any msistancei wh^fjie^^e^ in

upon dties, plunder boujBes, raviah. weaM» .^nd inaids^ strip and spoil, and put «U U> the awoed» the young with, the grey hei^d, fmrveUy/ ri(ft 4ip women with child^ and without any pity ooJitfcliit infants, dash them i^ainst .the 9tonet. . Gad speaks more terribly, by such &j«itigiiiiiiit, tkoa bf plague or fire. t

5. The/amine is 4i dreadful Judgmetii, wheKeb^ God speaks samelimes unto a people very Jerr**^ hbf; when God ,'* «tretche$h. upoa a.pface the lines of confusion^ and the stones of emptiii^ss,'^ asi Isa. xxxiy. 11. . When God seodeth.detaoflss of teeth into cities^ as Amosiv,.?. WhMft.Ood shooteth into a land the. evil arrows.of Amine* and it becomes exoeediog sose; ithis is onetef-the most dreadful of all judgisieotsinthiB world*—-far beyond plsjgue, or fire, or sword. S«e faonr pathetically the famine amongst the Jews:is .de* scribed^by Jeremiah in his LamentatioDs» chap. iv« from the 4th verse to the 12tb. '' The tongne of the sucking phild deavc^r to the roof ef iiia mouth for thirst; the.young chiUren ask ior bread, and no man breaketh it unto tbem- Tht^ that fed delicately are, desoiate in the straels. They thi^ were brought up ia scailei embmoe dunghills. For the punishment of the iniqui^ of the daughter of my people is gisater than the punishment of the sin ot* Sodom,, that wafteiec" thrown in a moment^ and no. bands stayed ton IkOL Her Nazarites were purer than snow ; whiter tfaaa milk ; they were more ruddy in body than ffubkii; their polishing was of sapphire; their via^gria blacker than a coal; they are Aot known injthe streeU; their.skia<;Uavddi to.their bones; il is

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wftherod^it Ss beeMie lifc^ a stidc. They that be slaMfr with the vironi, are better than they which b^alain withhimger; for these pine away stricken through £ot want of the frutto of the earth. The bands of the pitiful women have sodden their own chiidMiK they wete their meat in the destruction of the daughter of my people. The Lord hath aeooaipysb^ his fury, he hath poured out hia fierosi aoger."

■6* The sixtk t&ribk judgment u a famine ef the Wm^mhich. \b threatened, Amosyiii 11,12. " Behold* the days eome, saith the Lord, that I wdlli aeml a famine in the land; not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but (»f hearing the worda«f the Lord: and they shall wander from sea to-sea, and from the north even to the east, and^they shall run to and iro to seek the word of the Loud, and shall not find it.**

A famine of the Word is a worse judgment than Ji famine of bread! Indeed few do really think so, because the most judge according to sense; but that it is so, is evident to a man of faith' and consideration: for as the soul Is more' exeellebit than the body; and the concernments of the other Hfe, far beyond the concernments of this .life: 801 the provisiona finr the aonl are morti exoellent than the provisions for the borly, and thoLineaaa of getting eternal life, to be preferred beficve the nwaos of preserving temporal lif^; and thorcftnre by consequence the death and scarcity of.paoiviflioBa for the soul, must needs be a greater judgveat dian a aearcity of provisions for the bo^. t Unlw whteh I might add, that the famine of tbm .Wind dotb usually bring Krjg^^l many

teinporal judgmtntt; the beming of Iht tam^t at Jepusalenoy und the failiiig of vuum wm acomi** paniecl with skughtar by the swofd^ and taplMtf of the land.

7. And lastly, God wptmki nmt Hrnhly-umt^a fmofk when he tendt dmen of then judgmeaU iCKfeiher, as Lam. i. 80% '' Abroad the awcMd b»' naavelh, at home there is death ;*' ivheo caeimea without, plague and famine within* Qod ^Moka terriblj, wfc^n fire and sword go tc^etber, or sword and iaminey or fimrine and pleg«e^ of femlne of bread/ aad finmne of the Word.

These are some of the terrible thiiigs by which (jod doth sometimea q^eak.

SECT. III.

Why is it that the Lord doth speak unto a people by such terrible things ?

Tm reason is^ because fieopla do not heerkea unto him, speaking any other way. " Gods|ieaki* eth once, yea, twioe» bot men peroaive it not," Job xxidii. 14. God's gentle voice is not heaid or minded, therefoce he speaks more loudly, and terribly, that people might be awakened to hear< Particularly God speaks thais tenihly,

8. B€aau3epeapl$ do noi hmrhen iQ the vofcc ^ Aw Word ai9d meneHgerMi,g§^j^^ audibly

t»|mmii«tor8» and wKrni they are nut reftarded, he apeeki more feelin^y by judgments; he tpnke first ^'threalemnge, end when they ere slighted^ be speaks by executions. God first lifts up hie vcnee^and warns by his Werd, before he liftsiip bis an»r afid strikes with his rod: when men grow thick ofkeeriag the sweet calk of the Gospel, God is even Ibrced to thdmderj that he may pierce their esar: when God speaks to the ears and they are shat^ God speaks to the eyes and other senses, that his mind may be known; especially when men obstinately refuse to hear, God is exceedingly provoked to execute his terrible judgments upon them. See Zech. viii. i 1> 12. '< Bntthey refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears that they should not hear: yea, they made their hearts like an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the Lord of Hosts had sent in his Spirit by the former prophets: therefore came there a great wrath from the Lord of Hosts." So also when God gave up Jerusalem to desolation and ruin, see the-sin which provoked the Lord hereunto, 2 Chron. xxxvi. ] 6. '* They mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused bis prophets, until the wrath of the Lord, arose against bis people, till there was no remedy. S. Because they do not hearken io the wAce of ki^ goodnese and mercies. The goodness and forbeenmce of God, doth speak unfo men from him, and call upon them to forbear sin for shame; to repent and return to him, Rom. 1. 4. But when men despise the riches of his goodness, and deaim their ear unto the language of his mercies.

and trample bis patience imcl^r ibot, (Uiougfa ffrdd hath appointed a day of wruth hereafter, wfaereili he will reckon with the whole ungodly world together, and give them the jost demerit of ih^ sin;) yet sometimes his patience is turned hereby into fury, and his anger doth break forth into a flame, and consumes them by the blow of dreadful temporal judgments.

S. Because ihey mil not hearften to Ihif ^t^ of lesser afftidians: When Ood's word Js not heard, he Speaks b;^ his rod; when his rod is not heard, be snoots with his arrows and strikes wltJi his swonl; and if lesser aflKctiokid be Yiot nritt^M, then God speaks by more dreadful Kwakenrrfg judgments: as the kind of men do precede the judgments of God, so ttsually lesser judgments do precede greater judgments; and as there are degrees and steps which men usually do md^e before they arrive to a great height in lAn, N^efM repents Jil lurpissimuSy to there are degi^ees aild steps which God usually doth take, in fnfliefting his judgments for sin. Look itito one phttidt all, which shews how God doth proceed from less to greater judgments, Levi xxvi. from tile i5th verse to the 40th. "When his *• statates ate despised, and covenant broken;" ftrst he thteatf-eneth to send upon them ^ consumption and a , burning ague;** then he threatened that '*thf€y shall fall before their enemies f and if ** they wltt not hearken to his voice" in these judgmeirts, fte threateneth to " punish them seven timerrooie ' for their sins;** and to ** make the heavens m iron, and the earth as brass/' and *f seild H | dearth amongst them.*' And if they wffl not ♦* yei I

bemHaen^" he tbmtoieUi to '* send wild heuU, which should devour their cfaildxeQ and cattle." An4 i^ they would not he reformed by these things, but still *' would walk contrary unto him/ he threateneth <'to walk contrary unto them, and to punish them yet seven times more for their sins:'' he threateneCh to bring a *' sword upon them, to avenge the quarrel of his covenant; and when they should be ^tbered together in their cities, to *^ send the pestilence amongst them: and hereunto to add the ** £pmine.* And if they would not yet ** hearken unto God, but still wsU^ contrary unto him," he threateneth " that he wlU walk contvary to them in fury, and make them eat the Sesh of Uieir.sons and their daughters^ and lay waste their cities, and make their aimcftiiaiies a desolation: and upon them that are left .idive," he threateneth *' to send such faint* ness of heart, that they should flee at the sound 'of a shaken leaf^ and fall when none pursued itbem 1. and that they should pine away in their Hii(|iiities in the land of their enemies. Thua 'Gq^ proceeds by steps and degrees, in the execution, af his.fierce ai^er upon a rebellious people; mhea God speaks by ordinary diseases and is not heard* then sometimes be sends a plague: and if after a phgue, people wiU not return to him that amiteth them, nor seek to pacify God's anger which is kmdled against them; but walk so much theycKtr^contrary upto him, he will walk con-twy tO' them in fury^ and send fire into their eities to devpur their habitations. And if the .vonoe o£ the fire be not heard, be hath other judg-I ui itp9^ijxm^i awiordy famine, and the like.

Atod if temporal jiid^ents be nbtlieedeif; he Will bring upon them eternal judgments.

God is not heard any other way, therelbre he doth speak by such terrible things.

SECT. IV. *

The Appucatiok.

God speaks swneimeB to a peopk by terfibk ihm^s.

THEsfi few kst years have given sad in8tlk»ces hereof in England, espetially the two iasty«ari in our city of LoHdon.

The voice of the Lord hath been in the city, it hath been loud and fbll of ten^! the Lord hath come forth against us with armed vengeaate* Frowns have been in fais hrow; death and dleso^ laftion in his looks; thunder hath been in his voice: iames of fire in his hand: *< the pestilence luttb gone before him, and burning coals at Ink i€et,'^Hd^. iii. 5. " He hath sent forth Iris l»<> TomBf which barve scattered us, and shot forth his lightnings which have discomfited us; the LonI fattth thundered in the heavens, and thtf highest gave his voice, hailstones and coals of fire," Psalm xvtti. <« The Lord halh visited Us with storm and tempeet, and greiit noise,'' f sa. icxbe. Yea, He «' hath oinsad hiis giorious totetf Ui be

hfird, and shewed the lighling down of his i widi the indignation of his anger, and with the flame of devouring fire, with scattering, and tempest, and hail-8tones,'' Isa. xzx. ** Then the fur^ rows of the earth were seen, and the foundations of the city were discovered, the earth also shook, because he was wroth, and the inhabitants of London trembled, because of his fierce anger; then the snares of death compassed us, and the fears of hell gat hold on us; and our hearts were moved within us, as trees when they are moved by the wind," Isa. vif• Dreadful have God's late judgments been in London, the noise of which hath gone forth, not only tlumighovt the land, but also unto the outermost parts of the world.

Three things we should remark in this terrible voipe of God's judgments. •

1. The judgments themselves.

2« Theca«aeof the judgments. > 5i^ Thedesignof the judgments.

Ia the fivsty we have the sound of the voice. In the tfwo last, the interpretation of the veiee. •

1* CoRO^rmi^ the judgment* ihi mid if m * Here I might speak of the judgment executed^ Af3lg^0i M» 166^^ when so many ministers were pill out of their places; and the judgasents ex^ eeoted, March 2^ \66t5, when somany rnkfiisteffe wem banished five miles from corporations; the former by way of introduction to.the plague whtdi scmie time after did spread in the land, but chiefly VBged in the city ; the latter byway of in-troduction to the fire, wluch quickly after did bum down London the i^eatest oorperatkm^ m

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£aglaDd. Thiue jn^Igaieilts hMwiag be^ ad ktely, and geneiral in the land; and I presame, 8o gencraHy known, witk ail their circumstances^ k ircwld be needless to give here a narration of them. Bat this i must 8ay> I oould wish tbej were as generally believed to be judgments, and accerdinglyUid to heart: for I feiMr that the grei^ ineensibSity, which.peofile have been nud«r of these jadgaiettt»,. because they have not reached the fleshy and feheiraattMi bieensideratipn of God's dreadfal dtspleaanre herein, hath> provoked .the Lord to and such judgments aa have eon»B nearer to sense ;-<-that they might perceive €ktiA was angry- indeed befoi^ aiaud that* hia gveaHer displeasucer in the fon»er xoig^t be known by his more sensible displeasure in the lattec

Let I^ondon seriously oon^d^ whether her Goipel^prwileges were not her b^t de&nce against temporal eaiamitieft; and whether, since her idighting, abuse, and forfeitune, and God's seizure and stripping- her so much of^ these» she hath not been laid ^abed to those heavy stix>kes of CKlvacffdinary jadgments which, she hath laiely roaeived*

London had the Gospel cNrdioanceSi. powerful, {wrei phntiful; ministers exQ&Uently qualified and rarely famished' with ministerial abilities: London i»d as nMUiy burning and shming lights aa aay ooetsacb spot of growd under the oppe ofhemn.

Not to speidc of their alMlities for preaching Mid defence of thetrodi: auchgifts.of prayer LoBtdttniwiiiislcim had^ which- were no small de-

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IN TKE ClTf. n

fhice €ft the dtj, as I believe noeity in the werld conid parallel.

O what prayers have there fbnuerly been in London pulpits, espedaMy on days ok' tolenm humiHatfon! How -have the spirits of ministers been carried forth sometimes in prayer for several hours together, {without tautologies aad vain repetitions) in sueh variety of affectionate em» largements, and with such raisedness and trane* ports of spirit, as if they bad bean just leaving the body, and going to Hve and abide with God, and would converse no more with men or woridfy diihgs!

In their confessions of sin, how have they rak^ into the dunghill of a rotten heart, and Idddbfisukdiu inward ^hhineas! How have tbsy traeed the foot-steps of its deceitfulness, thww|^ the mase and wilderness of its aaany windings and turnings I How have they pierced into the very bowelcrof em, andript^npasit were to the back-bone, bringing fordi its very entraHs to open view 1 How hat« Uiey anatomised as it were the ** bddy of death" in ill the parU and mcMbers of it* discovering witfad, the several diasases of every part, with their cause and manner of working 1 and nil'this in such patbctical catting expressions, accom{)amed with suchbrokenness and bleeding of heart, as no fbm can imitate or effioct*

In thdr supplications for the pardon of sin, for Bpfritnal and heavenly rtehes; O with what feeling and fervoar did they express dierasclvee! O with what faith and imp^unity did they wrestle and plead at the throne of grace for eneh (kvonri^ beyond the impqrtan^j^ jf jf^priaooeii

S8 GOD*8 TEKBIBLE VOICE

throogii tlie grates, or poor b^gars at the dodnt, when they are most earnest for relief! Yea, bow did they besiege God as it were, and seem" aa if they wotild scale the walls of heaven itself, and take the kingdom of heaven with violence* and force }** How have they even pressed in upon God with the dint of argtiment, artd laid bold on him with the hand of faith, resolving not to let him go without a blessing!

In their supplicatrons fdr the chnrch atid land, they have behaved themselves as if they had no private concernments. Bat bow did they bear London upon their hearts when they cametotbe throne of grace f What yearning bowels bad they towards, and for the city f How many tears have they shed in bewailing her sins I How have they stood in the breach, when the Lord hath been coming forth against this place! How have they held bis arm when it hath been lifted up to strike! How have they stood *' weeping between the porch and the altar, crying, spare'thy people^ O Lord, and do not destroy London!" and many times have they pf^vailed to appease God^n wrath, and turn away his fierce anger which bath been kindled against us. Gospel-ordinances^ and Gospel-ministers were the safeguard of London, the glory and defence. But when the ordinances were slighted, and the ministers were mocked and misused by some who called themselves professors, and both were fallen so much, in the esteem of the most; and London did not yield the fruit which God looked for under such dressing (of which more when I come to speak of London's sins,) God is provc?|f^ |i,9J^,gf^y to aiU

aoRM^of bU iMiieDgea bome to liintel^ k»t alf9 te^.fKi^^tb» fctt which vere mom conadentioiiai t^ betbcust into i^onieiv.

TAJft ^d preaage Lcm4on'« near approaching lWB'>aod daaolation, though &w did betievt it; nod- b^csaivae th«¥ did not believe it, aad were in* awaiW^ of God!i .wrath in hia judgneDta there* £l»iw (th«ic danger waa the gveater of the other judgments which have Gome upon, them: when f^^nany atakea w^re plucked out, no wander if the, hedjKe he broken; when ao many pillara weae fopowi^ no wonder if the building UunUe to the ground.

Sutl proceed to.give a narration of the latter ju^gmnta 4)f plague and five.

SECT, V,

Tm; PJfllgoe ao great» $o lately» should not be fingiptteA; yet lest the Fire nu>rc lately, and pro-ppirtionaijiy, more grcati 4nd the amaaing fearsp whichJunce have .riaen within ua, should shuffle Cornier l^puffhts out of our minds, and raae out tbie iinpf^cisatoQiy which hsy the plague we had, an4r diould Jaboiir to retain to our dying hour: thenpfore I shall give a brief n^orration of this sad ji^dgpnent,. and soai« observations of mine own (w^.was. here in the c^y from the beginning to ^ end of it) both to keep alive in myself and ptbcr^, the ni^emory of the judgment, that we mav be^the better ppepared for compliance with Cod s design in senoing the; plague amongM ua.,

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JO GOD*S Ti!)RRlBl4£ A'OICE

' It was in Ihe ywr of 0at Lord lfi66rAB,UAk P)ague bega,9 in our cUy of Loodon^ cftvrNimr iK^9 warned by the great Flagii«. in Holland, m the jear 1664« and Si^ begmiiiig of it. in totne reipcite iMurta^of our land the same yean; not to apeak any thing, whether tb^e waa any rignifi*' eatioa.and infiuencein the Uaaung stars notlottg' befpre,^ that apipeaved in the view, of LondoBy simI s^uck fi«me anaaement on the apirita of raanj. It was in the month of May that the Pkgne waafiral taken notioe.of; our bill of quertali^ didlat!iis know* but of three, wbteh diad of the diaeaae in the whole year before; but in the beginning «f May the bill tells us of nint>, which fetl b(y tbe pjague, one in the Jbeart of .tbe dty^ the otlifnr eight in the suburbs. This was th^ first aripv of warning that was ahotihom heaven amongst us^ and fear quickly begins to creep upon, people's hearts; great thoughts and dbcourse there is tn town al^ut the plague, and they cast in their minds whether they sbatt go if iba pl^i^e shonUL increase. Yet whmi the next week's bill signifieth t9 them the decrease from nina to tbfee» 'tbcia mioda are something appeased; diaoonrsa of tbal* subject cods; fears are hushed> and hopes take place* that the black cloud did but thmttati^ and give a Jew drops; but tke wind wonkl difvek away* But whcya in the next bill the number of the dead by the plague is amounted fron'three to fourteen, atui m the next to seventeen^ and ia the next to forty-three, and the disease begiaaap much to increase, and disperse*

Now secnre sinners begin to: be startled^ and thpfc who would have slept at quiet itiU inihcit

nolts; ate «»f#ilt1t^ly owikeiMli Ncrfr a ptat c wwU M t iatitfii ■ B«weui upon ttioM penons, and terfoltbodingi of a iesiAaldtig judgment Now gVB^tf itbffert bc^to look al^t tbem, and think ytkh thanaalvea into what comer of the land they m^hfiUjT'to hide the«i/ Now the profane and sen* 8tii^- if ^ey ha?e not remorte far their siot^ yet d»e«d and'terrors, the effects of g«ih« they oould not drive fbom them; and if by company, and ean»anng, and boft pieasores they do intoxicate and rtmiodtheit .tJbeip spirits in the day; vet we may goesa what dread doth return upon them, if they give'font any rooAi fot retirement; and what hiiMooi tliou^hta «ueh persons^ have in the silent nighty thvbugh fbarn of death which they are in di^er df^ Ndw those who did not believe an unaeerL.!G^j are afraid of onseen arrows; and tboMs '^bieh sighted- Go&n threatenings of eternal * jwdgtnentv clo' tMoible at the beginning oft Ma ^efteeation of one, and- not the greatest toi^poral'jfVHiginent*' Now those which had as it wdfe^dmllenged the God c£ Heaven, and defied hinaliy tbtir horrid oaths and blasphemies, when haBbe^»'-to appear/ ih^ retteat, yea fly away wid^:^ tenror and amaeement. The great orbs bligisi.ftfm^ to^ move; the lords and goiby retire iiiia?<theii<^ooittitries; their remote houses are ptepttreil) goods removed, and London is quickly uponitheir>backs: fe^ ruffling gallants walk the stoe^at^ few spotted ladies to be seen at windows: a>great forsakhig there was of the adjacent phcea where the plague did first rage.

lin- J«n^ the nmti'ber ineneaseth from 45 to 1)1^ p^he nei^t week lo l69,1^ next to «67> the

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as GODS TRaEIULE VOICE

iWKt 10^470, moeit of which JncseMi^ .nwi ii)>Ae semote puta: £^w ia this mouth wijbhw or n^ar-the walls of the dtj; and few. that had any iMfee &r. goodness or pro&ssion,. .were visited at the^ fiirst: God gave them warning.to bethink and prqpare thmaelves; yet sone few that wer» choice were visited pretty sooi^ that the beat might not promise themselves aaupersedeaa, or interpret any place.of Scripture so literally, aa if the Lord had promised.an absolute general imi munity and defence of his own people &om diift disease of the plague^

. Now the dticens of London are put toa stap> in the career of their trade; they begin to fear wham they converse withal, and deal withal, le^ lliey should have come out of injected.plfosa. Now Jioses and other sweet flowers wither in the gardenia ^are disregarded in the markets^ and people dare not offer them to thdr noses leat with their aweet savour, that which ia infeotioos Aottld be attracted: rue and wormwood are taken into the hand: myrrh and aedoary inta the mouth; and without some antidote Jew star ainoad in the .morning. Nnw many houses.ar« shut up where the plague comes, and the inha^ bitants dmt in> lest coming abroad they should wread infection* It was yery dismal to behold the red ctosses, and read in gieat letters, Lonm HAV£ MEECY UPON US, on the doors, and.watch.*' men standing before them with halberts; and such a aditi^ about those places, and peofrie passing by them so gingerly, and with such fearful locks as if they h^ been lined with ene« mies in ambuah^ that waited to destroy them.

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Nov rich tradesmen provide themselTes to d^ part; if they have not country'houses, they seek lodgings abroad for themselves and families, and the poorer tradesmen, that they may imitate the rich in their fear, stitch themselves to take a country journey, though they have scarce where-withal to bring them iMck again. The ministers also (many of them) take occasion to go to their country-places for the summer time; or (it maj be) to find oat some few of their parishionert that were gone before them, leaving the greatest part of their flock without food or physic, in the time of their greatest need. (I don't speak of all ministers, those which did stay out of choice and duty, deserve trae honour.) Possibly they might think God was now preaching to the city, and what need their preaching } or radier did not the thunder of God's voice affrighten their guilty consciences and make then fly away, lest a bolt from heaven should fall upon them, and spoil their preaching for the futme; anddierefore they would reserve themselves till the people had less need of them. I do not blame any citizens retiring,' when there was so little trading, and the presence of all might have helped forward the increase and spreading of the infection; but how did guilt drive many away, where duty would have engaged them to stay in the place? Now the highways are thronged with passengers and goods, and London doth empty itself into the country; great are the stirs and hurries in London by the removal of so many families; fear puts many thousands on the wing, and those

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thmk themselves mofst safe, that can fly furthest da fVotn the city.

In July the plague increaseth, and prevaildth exceedingly, the number of 470, which died in one week by the disease, ariseth to 725 the next week, to 1089 the next, to 184^ the next, to 2010 the next. Now the plague compasseth the walls of the city like a flood, and poureth in upon it. Now most parishes are infected both without and within; yet there are not so many houses shnt up by the plague, as by the owners forsaking of them for fear of it; and though the inhabit-ants be so exceedingly decreased by the departure of so many thousands, the number of dying persons increaseth fearfully. Now the countries keep guards, leslt infectious persons should ffom the city bring the disease unto them; most of^the rich are now gone, and the middle sort will itot stay behind: but the poor are forced (thr'ob^h poverty) to stay, and abide the storm. Now most faces gather paleness, and what dismal apprehensions do then fill their minds, what dreadful fears do there possess the spirits, especially of those whose consciences are fbll of guilt, and liave not made their peace widi God ? The old drunkards, and swearers, land unclean persons hte brought into great straits; they look on the right hand, and on the left, and death is marcfaingMD(5-wards them from every part, and they know^ncU; whither to fly that they may escape it. No^ ^ftte arrows begin to fly very thick about their eaf^t^sA they see many fellow sinners fall before theii< *J.%tt,

expecting every hour themselves to be sni^ illWi

u*

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and tbe reiy aidciug fears tbey hnire bud of ih# fkg!ae, hftth brought the plague and death upon maiij; some by the sight of a coffin ia the streets, have iaUen iato a shiverkigf and immediately the disease faath assaulted them^ and Serjeant Death halji arrested them» and dapt to the doors of thieir hpuses upon theni, from 'whenee they have come forth no more, till they have been brought forth to their graves^ We may imagine the hideous thoughts^ and hornd perplexity of mind, th(B trfaftblings, joonfusioos^ and anguish, of spirit, vhicb some awakened sinners have had, when tbe^ plagi^ hath broke in upon their hpus^, and ssi^ed ufpn neav relations, wbcee dying groem^ sounding in their ears, have warned them to pre* Mie; when their doors have been shut up and fas^n^on the outside with an inseijjptiani *< JLord hajire mefn:j upon us," and none sufltered to come in but a nurse, whom they have been more afraid 9f tbe^ the plague itself; when lovers, and friends, afl4 oompanions in sin have stood aloof, and not dsyred to. oome nigh the door of the house, lest death'Should issue forth from tbenoe upon them; especially when the disease hath invaded them-•dves, and first began with a pain and dizziness in their bead, then tren^bling in their other members; when they have felt, boils to wrise under d^eir arms, and in their groins, and seen blains ^o eooie forth in oth^ parts; when the disease hatJi wirought in them to that height, as to ^send forth those ^Dots which (most think) are the certain tokens of near approaching death; and now they ha^e received the sentence of death within thenv-s^lvea,aad have certsiuly concluded,, tbu within

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Sfi GOD*S TERRIBLE VOICE

a few hours they mast go down into the dnst, «nd their naked souls, without the case of their body, must make its passage into eternity, and appear before the highest Majesty, to render their accounts and receive thcfir sentence. None can utter the horror which hath been upon the spirits of such, through the lashes and stings of their guilty consciences, when they have called to mind a life of sensuality aAd profaneness, their nncleanness, drunkenness, injustice,oaths, curses, derisions of saints and holiness, neglect of their own salvation; and when a thousand sins have been set in order before their eyes, with another aspect than when they looked upon them in the temptation; and they find God to be irreconcilably angry with them, and that the day of grace is over, the door of mercy is shut, and that pardon and salvation (which before they slighted) is now unattainable: that the grave is now opening its mouth to receive their bodies, and hell opening its mouth to receive their souls; and they appre^ hend that they are now just entering into a p^aoe of endless woe and torment, and they must now take up their lodgings in the inferior regions of utter darkness, with devils, and their f^low«> damned sinners, and there abide for evermore in the extremity of misery, without any hopes or ^^sossibility <if «« release; and that they have foolishly brought themselves into this condition, and be^ the cause of their own ruin; we may guess that the despairful agonies and anguish cf such awakened sinners, hath been of all thttigs the most unsupportable; except the very future miseries themselves^which th^y |f^(i^a&aM^.

2010, the number amounts up to ^17 m one week; and thence to &^S0 the nest; thence t9 4237 the next; then^ lo 6J0S the M«t; and aU these of the plagye» besides other diseases*

Now the cloud is very blaeki-and the storm GQDies down upon us very sharp. Now Death ridas triumphantly on his pale hovse through our streets; and breaks into evMy house alBHMt» wbttre any inhabitants ace to be .found. Now people fall as thick as leaves from the trees lA autttmn« when they are shaken by a mighty wind* Now theise is a dismal solitude in London's street^ every day looks with the face of a Sabbath day* observed with greater solemnity than it used to b^in the city. Now sbops are shut an^ people ssfo imd very few that walk about* insomuch that th^^ass begins to i^ing up in some places^ and a deep silence almost in every place, especially witJiin the wails i no rattling eeaehes^ no pranciug lior^ef^ no calling in customers^ nor offering wi^res; no Lond<m Cries sounding in the ears: If tmy voice be haard, it is the groans of dj^ing per* sons,.breathing forth their last: and the funeral kpells of them thi^t Bie ready to be carried to theix: graves. T Now shutting up of visited-houses (there being so many) is at an end, and most of the well |H*e minted among the sick^which other« wise would haye got no help. Now in some jdaees where the people did generally stay, nol^ chic Itottse ui a hundred but is injected; aiid in many houses half the family is swept away; in some the whole, firom the eldest to the youngest; few escape wiUi the death of but one or two; never

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^Kd so nrnny liu^bandd and wives cRe together; never dfd so matry parents cany tbeir children trith them to the grave, and go together into the same house under earth, who had lived together in the same house upon it Now the nights are too short to bury the dead; the long summer days are spent from morning unto ibe twilight in conveymg the vast number of dead bodies unto the bed ^ their graves.

Now we eould hardly go forth, but we? should meet many eoffins, and see diseased pei*sons witfx sores and limping iii the streets; amongst other sad spectacles, methought two were very afl^-^ ing: one of a woman oonring alone, and weeping, by the doOr where I lived (Which tras m the midst of infbction) with a little coffin tinder her arm, carrying it to the new church-yard t I dM judge that it was the mother of the child, and that all the family besides was dead, and she wa» ferced to coffin up, and bury with her x)Wi!i hands, this her last dead child. Another, was of a man at the corner of the Artillery wadl, llhat, as I judge, through the dieisiness of his head withih^ disease, which seized upon him there, had dashed his fkce against the wall, and trhen I cttme by, he lay hanging with hiffblood^face over the* rails, and bleeding upon the gtound; and arl came back, he was remoted under a tre^ in Modrfiiilds, and lay upon his back; I went and spsketohim ; he could make me no answer, l)Ut rattled in tfie tliroat, and, as I was infbrmed, within half an hour died in the place.

It would be endless to speak #bat we have and hfeard of some ,J||,, |||^j^i^reniy.

IV THK CITY. $9

rujng out 4>f their bec|f» and leaping about tbe^ jooms; otheiB crying and roaring at their windows; some coming forth almost naked, and running into the streets: strange things have others spoken and done when the disease was upon them; but it was very $ad to hear of one who being sick alonei, and it is like frantic, burnt himself in his bed. Now the plague had broken in much amongst my acquaintance; and of about sixteen or. more wbo«e faces I used to see every day in our house, within a litde while I could find but four or six of them alive ; scarcely a day passed over my head, for I think a month or more together, but Isbould hear of the death of some one or more that I knew. The first day, that they were smitten, the next some hopes o£ recovery, and the third day, that they wejce dead.

In. September, when we hoped for a decrease, because of the season, because of the number gon^,.and the number already dead; yet it waa not come to it& height, but from 6*102, whidi died by ther plague the last week of Augustj the nnmbejr is augmented to 698S in the first week in September; and when we conceived some little hppes in the next week's abatement to 6544, o^r hi^es were quite dashed again, when the next week it did rise to 7165, which was the highest bill, and a dreadful bill it was! and of the 130 parishes in and about the city, there were but four parishes which were not infected; and in.those, few people remaining that were not gone into the country,

. ,^ow the grave doth open its mouth without measure; multitudes! nu'.ltitudes! in^^^he^valley of

the shadow of deaUi thronging daily into eternity • the church^yards now are so stuffed with dead corpses, that they are in many places swelled two or three feet higher than they were before; and new ground is broken up to bury the dead.

No w " Hell from beneath is moved" at the nnm-ber of the guests that are received into its chambers ; the number of the wicked which have died by the plague, no doubt, hath been far the greatest, as we may reasonably conclude, without breach of charity; and it is certain^ that all the wicked which then died in sin were turned into hell; how then are the damned spirits now in« creased ! some were damning themselves a little before in their oaths,. and God is now damning their souls for it, and is passing the irreversible sentence of damnation upon them* Spme were drinking wine in bowls a little bef<»re, and strong drink without measure ^ and now God hath pat another cup into their hands, a cup of red wine, even the wine of the wrath and ijerceness of the Almighty. Some were a little before feasting their senses, pleasing their appetite, satisfying the desires of the flesh, and being past feelings had given themselves up to lasciviousness, to work all iincleanness with greediness; but now their laughter is turned into mourning, and their joy into howling and woe; and they have recovered their feeling again, but instead of the pleasures which they felt, and their sen;:;ual delights, which took away the feeling of their consciences, th^ are made to feel the heavy hand of God; and to endure such anguish and horror, through the sense of God's wrath, &? no tonsue can express

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Now the atheists believe there is a God, and the anti-scripturists are convinced of the truth of God*s wordj by the execution of God*8 threaten-in^s in the Word upon them. Now the covetous and unjust, the malicious and cruel, the scoffers and profane, begin to suffer the vengeance of eter« nal tire: and the ignorant person with the civil, who are acquainted with Jesus Christ, are not excused; yea, the hypocrites, with all impenitent and unbelieving persons, are sent down to the place of weeping: and surely Hell wonders to see so many come amongst them from such a city as London, where they have enjoyed such plenty of such powerful means of grace; and place is given to them, even the lowest and hottest, where Judas and others are of the chiefest note.

Yet Hell doth not engross all that die by the visitation; some there are (though not the first or most) who have room made for them in the mansions which are above. The plague makes little difference between the righteous and the wicked, (except the Lord by a peculiar providence do shelter some under his wing, and compass them with his favour, as with a shield, hereby keeping off the darts that are shot so thick about them,) yet as there is little difference in the bodies of the righteous, and of others; so this disease makes little discrimination, and not a few fearing God are cut off amongst the rest; they die of the same distemper with the most profane, thqy are buried in the same grave, and there sleep together till the morning of the resurrection; but as there is a difference in their

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spirits whilst they live, so there is a difference* and the chiefest difference, in their place and state after their separation from the body. Dives is carried to hell^ and Lazarus to Abraham's bosom, though he died with his body full of sores: devils drag the souls of the wicked after they have received their final doom at the bar of God, into utter darkness, where there is weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth; but angels convey the souls of the righteous into the heavenly paradise, the New Jerusalem which is above, where God is in his glory; and the Lord Jesus Christ at his right hand, and thousand thousands stand before him, and ten thousand times ten thousand administer unto him, even an innumerable company of angels; and where the spirits of all just men and women made perfect, were before gathered; where there . is fulness of joy, and rivers of eternal pleasures running about the throne of God, the streams of which do make glad all the inhabitants of New Jerusalem. Now the weak prison-doors of the body are broken down, and the strong everlasting gates of their Father's palace are lifted up, and the saints are received with joy and triumph, into glory; and they come with singing into Zion, and everlasting joy in their hearts, and all sorrow and sighing doth fiy away like a cloud, which never any more shall be seen. Now the veil is rent, and they enter the Holy of Holies, where God dwells, not in the darkness of a thick cloud, as in the temple of old, but in the brightness of such marvellous light and dory, as their eyes never did behold, neithet

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could enter into their heart to coneeiTe; there they have the vision of God's face without any eclip.^e upon the light of his countenance: there they have the treasures of God's love opened, and his arms to receive them with deareU and sweetest embracements; which kindles in their hearts such a flame of love, so ravishing and delight&l, as Words cannot utter: there they are entertained by the Lord Jes^us Christ, whom in the world they have served; and he that showed them his grace, which they had wondered at when they were in the body, doth now show them his glory, which they wonder at much mcHre. There they are welcomed by angels, who rejoice, if at their conversion, much more at their coronation, there they sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of their Father: there they find Moses, and David, and Samuel, and Paul, and all the holy martyrs and saints, . which have died before them, amongst whom ihey are numbered and placed, who rejoice in their increased society.

And as there is a great difference between the condition of the souls of the righteous and the wicked, who died by the same disease of the plague, after their death and separation ; so there is a great difference between the carriage of their spirits at their death, and upon their sick-bed. Some wicked men are stupid and senseless, and are given up to a judiciary hardness, and die in a sleep of carnal security, out of which they are not awakened, till they are awakened in the midst of flames: others more sensible, and con-•sidering what hath been, and what is coming

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.upon them, are filled with inexpressible terror, through the roarings and tearings of a guilty accusing conscience, and the fore-thoughts of that horrible unsupportable torment they are so near unto. Now scaring dreams do terrify them, and fearfulness of the bottomless pit, and the burning lake below, doth surprise them; and some breaketh forth in the anguish of their despairing souls, " Who can dwell with devouring fire, who can inhabit everlasting burnings?" and however jovial and full of pleasure their life hath been, yet at their latter end they are utterly consumed with terrors. But mark the perfect man, and behold the upright, the end of that man is peace; whatsoever storms they have had in their passage through a rough sea, the wind blowing, and the waves roaring, and sometimes have been ready to sink through opposition and discouragement, sometimes have been overwhelmed with grief and doubtings, sometimes have been dashed upon the rocks of terror and perplexity ; yet now they are come to the haven of death, the winds are hushed and still, the waves are smooth and silent, the storm is over, and there is a great calm upon their spirits; they are past the rocks, and are out of the danger they feared, when they are in the greatest danger of approaching death.

It was generally observed amongst us, that God's people who died by the plague amongst the rest, died with such peace and comfort, as Christians do not ordinarily arrive unto, except when they are called forth to suffer martyrdom for the testimony of Jesus Christ. Some who

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have been full of doubts and fears, and complaints whilst thej have lived and been well, have been filled with assurance, and comfort, and praise, and joyful expectation of glory, when they have lain on their death-beds by thifl disease. And not only more grown Christians, who have been more ripe for glory, have had these comforts, but also some younger Christians, whose acquaintance with the Lord hath been of no long standing,

I can speak something of mine own know ledge concerning some of my friends whom I have been withal: I shall instance only in the hoQse where I lived. We were eight in family, three men, three youths, an old woman, and a maid, all which came to me, hearing of my stay in town, some to accompany me, others to help me. It was the latter end of September before anj of us were touched; the young ones were not idle, but improved their time in |[>raying and hearing, and were ready to receive instruction, and were strangely borne up against the fears of the disease and deaths every day so familiar to the view. But at last we were visited, and the plague came in dreadfully upon us; the cup was put into our hand to drink, after a neighbour family had tasted it, with whom we had much sweet society in this time of sorrow. And first our maid was smitten, it began with a shivering, and trembling in her flesh, and quickly seized on her spirits; it was a sad day, which I believe I shall never forget; I had been abroad to see a frtend in the city, whose husband was newly dead of the plague, and she herself visited

with it; I came back to see another whose vifr was dead of the plague, and he himself under apprehensions that he should die within a few hours: I came home, and the maid was on her death-bed, and another crying out for help, being left alone in .a sweating fainting fit* What was an interest in Christ worth then ? What a privilege to have a title to the kingdom of heaven ?—

But I proceed. It was on the Monday when the maid was smitten; on Thursday she died full of tokens: on Friday one of the youths had a swelling in his groin; and on the Lord's day died with the marks of the distemper upon him: on the same day another youth did sickea» and on the Wednesday following he died : on the Thursday night his master fell siclf. of the disease, and within a day or two was full of spots, but strangely beyond his own, and others expectations, recovered. Thus did the plague follow us, and came upon us one by one; as Job's messengers came one upon the heels of another, so the messengers of death came so close one after another, in such dreadful manner^ as if we must all follow one another immedia^ly into the pit. Yet the Lord in mercy put a stop to it, and the rest were preserved. But that which was very remarkable in this visitation, was the carriage especially of those youths that died, who I believe were less troubled themselves, than others were troubled for them. The first youth that was visited, beiog asked by his fiither concerning the provision he had made for his death and eternity; told him, h^^Ji^i^^^f he died^

be thoold g6 to he«v«n; beitig ask^ die grounds of his hopeSf said, the Lord had enabled him to look beyond the world; and when he was drawing near to his end, boldly inqnired whether the tc^ens did yet appear, saying, that he was ready for them, and so a hopeful bud was nipped: but let not the father or the mother weep, and be in sadness for him^, he is, I do not doubt, with their father, and his heavenly Father, which may be their comfort. The other aiso was a Tery sweet hopeful youth, so loving and towardly, that it could not choose but attract love from tho«e that were acquainted with him; but the gra^ he had gotten in those years, being I sup-^ pose ttnder seventeen, did above all beautify him, And stand him in the greatest stead; in his sickness he had much quiet and serenity liipott'his spirit, and lay so unconcerned at the thoughts of approaching death, that I confess I marveHiedtoseett; the sting and fear of death were strangely taken out, through the hopes inhUii he had of future glory; yet once he told hismdflier he could desire to live a little longer, if it were the will of God. She asked him why he deired It? He told her he desired to live tin fik*e and faggot came; and above all, he Would finn die a martyr. She said, if he died no#, he should have a crown: he answered, but if he died a martyr, he should have a moref ^loDrious crown; yet he was not unwilling to re-ceii^e bis crown presently; and went away with great peace and sweetness in his looks, to his Futber^s house; and I could not blame the moUier's grief for the loss of ^|^|^ ii|,|^ son;

but to be do immoderate^ was not well: now I am sure it is time to dry up tears, and lay aside sorrows for the loss of bim who hath been so long filled with joys in the heavenly mansions.

I might speak of the carriage of the master in his sickness, under the apprehensions of deaths when the spots did appear on his body, he sent for me, and desired me to pray with him; told ilie he was now going home,, desired me to write to his friends, and let them know, that it did not repent him of his stay in the city, though they had been so importunate with him to come, away; but he had found so much of God's pre* sence in his abode here, that he had no reason to repent: he told me where he would be buried, and desired me to preach his funeral sermon on Psalm xvi. ult. '* In thy presence is fulness of joy, and at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.'* But the Lord raised him again beyond the expectation of himself, friends, or physician. Let him not forget Crod^s mercies, and suffer too much worldly business to crowd in upon him, and choke the remembrance and sense of God's goodness so singular; but let him show by his singularity in meekness, humility, selfodenial and love, zeal, and holy walking, that the Lord hath been singularly gracioua unto' him. But when I speak of home con-eernments, let me not forget to look abroad.

The plague now increaseth exceedingly, and fears there are amongst us, that within a while there will not be enough alive to bury the dead, and that the city of London will now be quite depopidated by this plague^,,, ^.y^uc^iL

Now scmie ministers (ibrtnerly pat out of their places, who did abide in the city» when most of ministers in places were fled and gone from the people, as well as from the disease, into the countries) seeing the people crowd so fast into the grave and eternity, who seemed to cry as they went, for spiritual physicians; and perceiving the churches to be open, and pulpits to be open, and finding pamphlets flung about the streets, of palpits to be let, they jadged that the law of God and nature did now dispense with, yea, command their preaching in public places, though the law of man (it is to be supposed in ordinary cases) did forbid them to do it. Surely if there had been a law that none should practise physic in the city, but such as were licensed by the College of Physicians;' and most of those, when there was the greatest need of them, should in^Uie time of the plague have retired into the country, and other physicians who had as good skill in physic, and no license, should have stayed amongst the sick, none would have judged it to have been.rbreach of law, in such an extraordinary case, to endeavour by their practice, though without a license, to save the lives of those who by good care and physic were capable of a cure; and they could hardly have freed themselves from the guilt of murder of many bodies, if for a nicety of law in such a case of necessity, they should have neglected to administer physic. The case was the same with the unlicensed ministers which stayed, when so many of the licensed ones were gone, and as the need of souls was gre^t|| t|i^^,^e need

of bodies, the sickness of the cMie being move universal and dangerous than the sickness of the other; and the saving or losing of the soul, being so many degrees beyond the preservation or death of die body; so the obligation upon ministers was stronger, and the motive to preach, greater; and for them to have incurred the guilt of soul-murder^ by their neglect to administer soul-physic, would have been inore heinous and unanswerable: that they were called by the Lord into public, I suppose that few of anj seriousness will deny^ when the Lord did so eroi« nently own them, in giving many seals of their ministry unto them.

Now ^they are preaching, and every sermoa was unto them, as if they were preaching their last. Old Time seems now to stand at the head of the pulpit, with its great scythe; saying with a hoarse voice, work while it is called to-day> at night I wiU mow thee down. Grtm. Death seems to stand at the side of the pulpit^ with its sharp arrow, saying, do thou shoot Gods arrows, and I will shoot mine. The grave seems to lie open at the foot of the pulpit, with dust ia her bosom, saying,

Louden thy cry

To God,

To men,

And now falfil Uiy triut: Here thou nuiat lie,

Mouth fltdpp'd,

Breath gone,

And silent in the dnst.

Ministers now had awakening calls to serious-Digitized "vj<.ju^ it:

and iervoitr in their roiniiterial work; to preach an the aide and brink of the pit, into which thousands were tumbling; to pray under soch near views <>£ eternity, into which many passengers were daily entering, might be a means to stir up the sjnrit more than ordinary.

Now there is such a vast concourse of people in the churches where these ministers are to be fonndy that they canoot many times come near the pnlpit doors for the press, but are forced to climb over the pews to them: and such a face is now seen inr the assemblies, as seldom was seen before iii London; such eager looks, such open ears, such greedy attention, as if every word woaid be eaten which dn^ped from the mouths ofthemiiristers.

if yon ever saw a drowning man catch at a rope^ yon may guess how eagerly many people did catch at the Word, when they were ready to be ^overwhelmed by this overflowing scourge, which wa» passing through the city; when death waa knocking at so many doors; and God was crying aloud by his judgments; and ministers were noW' sent to knock, cry aloud, and lift up their voice like a trumpet: then, then the people began to open the ear and the hearty which were fast shut and barred before. How did they then hearken as for their lives, as if every sermon were their last, as if death stood at the door of the church, and would sei:$e upon them so soon as they came forth; as if the arrows which flew so thick in the city would strike them before they could get to their houses; as if they were immediately to appear before the J^r^^,,j|^^t God,

S2 GOD*S TEREIBLB VOICE

who hy his ministers was now speaking unto them! Great were the impressions which the • Word then made upon many hearts, beyond the power of man to effect, and beyond what the people before ever felt, as some of them have declared. When sin is ript ■ up and reproved ! O the tears that slide down from the eyes, when the judgments of God are denounced. O the tremblings which are: upon the conscience* when . the Lord Jesus Christ is made known and proffered ! O the lonpng desires and openings of heart unto him, when the riches of the Grospel are displayed^ and the promises of the covenant of grace are set forth and applied! O the inward burnings and sweet flames which were in the af-fections! Now the net is cast, and many fishes are taken, the pool is moved by the angel, and many leprous spirits^ and sin^siek souls/ are cured; many were brought to the bir^« and I hope not a few were born again, and bmught forth: a strange moving there was upon the hearts of multitudes in the city; and. I am persuaded that many were brought over effectually unto a closure with Jesus Christ; whereof some died by the plague with willingness and peace ; others remain steadfast in God's ways unto this day; but convictions (I believe) many hundreds had, if not thousands, which I wish that none have stifled, and ''with the dog returned to their vomit,'' and with the sow, '* have wallowed agam in the mire" of their foinmer'sins. The work was the more great, because the instruments made use -of were more obscure and unlikely; whom the Lord did make chcHce of the nii^^^df^t the gpbry

by niniateri and pe<^ might be ascribed in full unto himself*

About the beginning of these ministers preach* ing, especially after their first Fast together, the Lord begins to remit and turn his hand» and cause some abatement of the disease.

From 7165 iivhich died of the plague in one week^ there is a decrease to 5538 the next, which VTBB at the latter end of September; the next week a farther decrease to 4929, the next to 4327i the next to &665, the next to i421,the next to 1031 ; then there was an incr^se the first week in November to 1414, but it fell the week after to 1050, and the week after to 652, and the week after that to S3S; and so lessened more and moVe to the end of the year. Then we had a bill of 97,306 which died of all diseases, which was an increase of more than 79»000, over what it was the year before; and the number of them which died by the plague was reckoned to be 68,596 this year; when there were but 6 which the bill speaks of who died the year before.

Now the citizens, who had dispersed themselves alM'oad into the countries, because of the contagion, think of their old houses and trades, and begin to return, though with fearfulness and trembling, lest some of the after-drops of the storms should fall upon them; and O that many of them had not brought back their old hearts and sins, which they carried away with them! O that there had been a general repentance and refor-mation, and returning to the Lord that had smitten the dty! The l^rd gave them leisure and TBcation from ^ir trades for the one pecessary

thing; which had they improved, and genendljr mourned for sin, which brought the plague upon the city, had they humbly and earnestly sought tlie Lord to turn from his fierce anger, which was kindled against London, it might have prevented the desolating judgment by fire: but alas ! how many spent their time of leisure in toys and trifieSf at best about feeding and preserving their bodies, but no time in serious minding the salvation of their souls; and if some were a little awakened with fear, whilst the plague raged so greatly, and they looked upon themselves to be in such danger; yet when they apprehended the danger to be over^ they dropped asleep faster than before: still they are the same or worse than formerly: they that were drunken, are drunken still; they that were filthy, are filthy still; and they that were unjust and covetous, do still persevere in their sinful coarse; cozening, and lying, and swearing, and cursing, and Sabbath breaking, and pride, and envy, and flesh-pleasing, and the like God-displeasing, and God-provoking sins (of which in the catalogue of London sins) do abound in London, as if there were no signification in God's judgments by the plague; some return to their houses, and follow their worldly business^ and work as hard as they can to fetch up the time they have lost, without minding and labouring-to improve by the judgment, and God's wonderful preservation of them; others return, «nd sin as hard as they can, having been taken off for a while, from those opportunities and free liberties for ^in, which they had before ; raost began now to sit down at rest in their houses

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IN THE CITY. &S

when the summer was come, and the p\apie did not return^ and tfaey bring back all their goods they had carried into the country because of the plague; they did not imagine they should be forced to remoTe them again so soon.

Thus concerning the great Plague in London.

SECT. vr.

I PROCEED next to give a narration of the judgment of the Fire; in which I shall be more brief^ it being dispatched in fewer days, than the plague was in months*

It was the 2d of September 1666, that the anger of the Lord was kindled against London, and the fire began: it began in a baker*s house in ' Pudding Lane, by Fish-street Hill: and now the Lord is making London " like a fiery oven in the time of his anger," Psal. xxi. 9, and in his wrath doth devour and swallow up our habitations. It was in the depth and dead of the night, when most doors and senses were locked up in the city, that the fire doth break forth and appear abroad; and like a mighty giant refreshed with wine, doth awake and arm itself, quickly gathers strength, when it had made havock of some houses, rusheth down the hill towards the bridge^ crosseth Thames Street, invadeth Magnus Church at the Bridge-Foot, and though that

churdi vere so great, yet it was not a sufiideiit barricado against this conqueror; but- having scaled and taken this fort, it sbooteth flames with so fDUch the greater advantage into all places round about; and a great building of houses upon the bridge is quickly thrown to the ground; then the conqueror being stayed in his course at the bridge, marcheth back towards the .city again, and runs along with great noise and violence through Thames Street, westward, where^ having such combustible matter in its teeth, and such a fierce wind upon its back, it prevails with little resistance, unto the astonishment of the beholders.

My business is not to speak of the hand of man, which was made use of in the beginning and carrying on of this fire. The beginning of the fire at such e^ time, when there had been so much hot weather, which had dried the houses, and made them the more fit for fuel; the beginning of it in such a place, where there were so many timber-houses, and the shops filled with so much combustible matter; and the beginning of it just when the wind did blow so fiercely upon that ewner towards the rest of the city, which then was like tinder to the sparks; this doth smell of a popish design, hatched in the same place where the Gunpowder-plot was contrived, only that this was more successful. The world sufficiently knows how correspondent this is to popish principles and practices; those, whocoold intentionally blow up king and parliament by gunpowder, might (without any scruple of their kinds of ooasdence) actuidly bjii^f^^^ heretical

dtj (as they count it) into ashet: fer betides tbe dispensations they can have from his Holiness, (or rather his Wickedness) the pope, for the most horrid crimes of murder, incest, and the like; it is not unlikely, bat they count such an action as this meritorious, (in their kind of merit) which, in tbe issue, they will find to merit the flames of eternal fire, instead of a crown of glory, which I wonder that in their way they can have the least hopes of: I believe that the people will how take more heed of them and Uieir ways; and instead of promoting their cause, I hope that a contrary effect is prcduced; and thai the before indifferency of a generation more newly sprang up, who did not know them, is now turned into loathing and detestation of such a religion, as can allow of such practices* My work is not to declare what hath been proved against the papists before the honourable committee of parliament appointed to enquire into their insolencies; and the proofs which have been given in, concerning the fire, and who have been accessary thereunto.

No; I would rather endeavour to turn people's eyes from men to God; for whoever were the instruments, God was the aoth<Nr of this evil, which hath come upon us; there being no evil in the city (that is, evil of punishment) which the Lord as a righteous, and the supreme Judge, doth not inflict. And surely more of the extraordinary hand of God, than of any men, did appear in the burning of the City of London. God could have prevented men, by discovering their plots (as he did that ^ thj^^g^gipowder.

treason) before tbey had taken effect. Ood could have directed and given a blessing unto means for the qcraiching of it when it was first kindled. God, who hath the wmds in his fist; could have gathered in the wind^ and laid it asleep; or so tamed it the other way, that it should have been a defence to the city: or Ood, who hath the clouds at his command, and the bottles of heaven in his hand, could have gathered his thick clouds together, and squeezed them; opened his bottles, and poured down rain in abundance upon the city; so that if the wind had blown as it did, it should have blown water upon the fire, which would quickly have put it out. But the heavens at that time were brass, no showering clouds to be seen: the fire begins, is quickly taken notice of, though in the midst of the night; fire, fire, fire, doth resoand the streets; many citizens start out of their sleep, look out of thdr windows, some dress themselves, and run to the place. The Lord Mayor of the city comes with his officers, a confusion there is, counsel is taken away; and London, so famous for wisdom and dexterity, can now find neither brains nor bands to prevent its ruin. The hand of God was in it; the decree was come fbrth: London must now fall; and who could prevent it? No wonder when so many pillars are removed, if the building tumbles; the prayers, tears, and faith, which sometimes London hath had, might have quenched the violence of the fire; might have opened heaven for rain, and driven back the wind: but now the fire gets mastery; and bums dreadfully: and God with his

gre$t beUowfl blows upon it» whidi inakct it spread quickly» and go od with such £irce and rage, overturnii^^ all so furiouily, that the wb<^e city is brought into jeopardy of desolation. That night most of the Londoners had taken their last sleep in their houses; they little thought it would be so when they went into their becU; they did not in the least suspect, when the doors of their ears were unlocked, and the casements of their eyes were opened in the morning, to hear of sudi an enemy's inwKiing the city, and that thcj should see hira, with such fury, enter the doora of their houses, break into every room, and look out of their casements with such a threat^* ening countenance; as it is said. Lament, iv* 12. ** The inhabitants would not have believed that the adversary should have entered the gatea of Jerusalem:'' »o the inhabitants of the city, would not have believed that the fire should have entered and prevailed to bum London to the ground.

That which made the ruin the more dismal, was, that it was begun on the Lord's day morning; never was there the like Sabbath in London; some diurches were in flames that day; and God seems to come down, and to preach himself in them, as he did in Mount Sinai, when the Mount burned with fire; such warm preaching those churches never had; such lightning dreadful sermons never were before delivered in London. In oUier churches ministers were preaching their farewell sermons, and people were hearing with quaking and astonishment: instead of a holy rest, which Christians have t^fp^vPPi |feis day.

there is a tumultuous hurrying about the streets towards the place that burned, and more tumultuous hurrying upon the spirits of those that sat still, and had only the notice of the ear, of the quick and strange spreading of the fire.

Now the train-bands are up in arms^ watching at every quarter for outlandish men, because of the general fears and jealousies, and rumours that fire-balls were thrown into houses by several of them, to help on and provoke the too furious flames. Now goods are hastily removed from the lower parts of the city; and the body of the people begin to retire, and draw upwards, as the people did from the tabernacles of Corah, Dathan, and Abiram, when the earth did cleave asunder and swallow them up: Numb. xvi. 27. 31 > 32, or rather as Lot drew out from his house in Sodom before it was consumed by fire from heaven, Gen. xix. Yet some hopes were retained on the Lord's day, that the fire would be extinguished, especially by them who lived in the remote parts; they could scarcely imagine that the fire a mile off should be able to reach their houses.

But the evening draws on, and now the fire is more visible and dreadful: instead of the black curtains of the night, which used to be spread over the city, now the curtains are yellow, the smoke that arose from the burning parts, seemed like so much fiame in the night, which being bloivn upon the other part^ by the wind, the whole city at some distance seemed to be on fire. Now hopes begin to sink, and a general consternation seizeth upon the spirits of people: little sleep is taken in London this night; the amaze*

ment, whicb the eye and ear doth effect upon the spirit, doth either dry up, or drive away the vapour which used to bind up the senses: some are at wcnrk to quench the fire with water, others endeavour to stop its course, by pulling down of houses; but all to no purpose: if it be a little allayed, or beaten down, or put to a stand in some places, it is but a very little while; it quickly recruits and recovers its force; it leaps and mounts, and makes the more furious onset, drives back its opposers, snatches their weapons out of their hands, seizes upon the water-houses-and engines, bums them, spoils them, and makes them unfit for service. Some are upon their knees in the night, pouring out tears before the Lord, interceding for poor London, in the day of its calamity; but alas, I fear there were too few weeping Jeremiahs at the throne of grace, too few Moseses to stand in the gap; too few Jacobs to wrestle with the Lord, and hang about his arm. London's sins were too great, and God's anger against the city was too hot, so easily and presently to be quenched and allayed; and if by the intercession of some, a mitigation be obtained, so that the Lord doth not stir up all his wrath, utterly to destroy the place as he did Sodom and Gomorrah; yet none can prevail to call back that wrath, and reverse that decree which is gone forth against the city : the time of London's fall is come ; the fire hath received its commission from God to burn down the city, and therefore all attempts to binder it are in vain.

On the Lord's day night the fire had run as far as Garlick^hithe, in ThameMtr(^t^j and had

crept up into Cannon^street, and levelled it with the ground, and still is making forward by the water side, and upward to the brow of thehiUy on which the city was built.

On Monday Gracechurch-street is all in flames, with Lombard-street on the left hand, and part of Fenchurch-street on the right, the fire working (though not so fast) against the wind that way: before it were pleasant and stately houses, behind it ruinous and desolate heaps. The burning then was in fashion of a bow, a dreadful bow it was, such as mine eyes never before had seen; a bow which had God's arrow in it with a flaming point: it was a shining bow, not like that in the cloud, which brings water with it, and withal signifies God's covenant, not to destroy the world any more with water: but it was a bow which had fire in it, which signified God's anger, and his intention to destroy London with fire.

Now the flames break in upon Comhill, that huge and spacious street; and quickly cross the way by the train of wood that lay in the streets untaken away, which had been puUed down from houses to prevent its spreading, and so they lick the whole street as they go ; they mount up to the top of the highest houses; they descend down to the bottom of the lowest vaults and cellars; and march along on both sides of the way, with such a roaring noise, as never was heard in the city of London; no stately building so great as to resist their fury ; the Royal £x<£ange itself, the glory of the merchants, is now invaded with much violence; and when once the fire was entered, how j^g^hf^did it run

iroutkA thef galleries, filling ttiem witfa flames; then desc^ndetb the stairs, oompasseth the walks, giving forth flaming volleys, and filled the court with sheets of fire; by and by, down fall all the lyings upon their'faces, and the greatest part of the stone building after them, (the founder's statue only remaining) with such a noise, as was dreadful and astonishing.

Then, then the city did shake indeed, and the inhabitants did tremble, and flew away in great amazement from their houses. Test the flames should devour them. Rattle, rattle, rattle, was the noise which the fire struck upon the ear round about, as if there had been a thousand iron chariots beating upon the stones; and if yon opened your eye to the opening of the streets, where the fire was come, you might see in some places whole streets at once in flames, that issued forth, as if they had been so many great forges from the opposite windows, which folding together, were united into one great flame throughout the whole street, and then you might see Ae houses tumble, tumble, tumble, from one end of the street to thie other with a great crash, leaving the foundations opMi to the view of the Heavens.

Now fearfulness and terror doth surprise the citizens of London ; confusion and astonishment doth fall upon them at this unheard of, un-thought of judgment. It would have grieved the heart of an unconcerned person, to see the rueful looks, the pale cheeks, the tears trickling down from the eyes, (where the greatness of sorrow and amazement could'give leave for such a vent,) the smiting of the breast; the wringing of the

hands; to hear the sighs and groans, the doleful and weeping speeches of the distressed citizens, -when they were bringing forth their wives, (some from their child-bed) and their little ones (some from their sick-bed) out of their houses, and sending them into the countries, or somewhere into the fields with their goods. Now the hopes of London are gone, their heart is sunk; now there is a general remove in the city, and that in a greater hurry than before the plague; their goods being in greater danger by the fire, than their persons were by the sickness. Scarcely are some returned, but they must remove again, and not as before, now without any more hopes of jcver returning, and living in those houses any jnore.

Now carts, and drays, and coaches, and horses, as many as could have entrance into the city, were loaden, and any money is given for help; £5. JEiO. £20. £30. for a cart, to bear forth into the fields some choice things, which were ready to be consumed; and some of the countries had the conscience to accept of the highest price, which the citizens did then offer in their extremity; I am mistaken if such money do not burn worse, than the fire out of which it was raked. Now casks of wine, and oil, and other commodities are tumbled along, and the owners shove as much of their goods as they can towards the gates: every one now becomes a porter to himself, and scarcely a back, either of man or woman, that hath strength, but had a burden on it in the street; it was very sad to see such throngs of poor citizens coming in and going forth froig^^^f^ unbumt

purls, heavy loaden with some pieces of their goodsj but more heavy loaden witli weighty grief and sorrow of hearty so that it is wonderful they did not quite sink under these burdens.

Monday night was a dreadful night» when the wings of the night had shadowed the light of the heavenly bodies, there was no darkness of night in London, for the fire shines now round about with a fearful blaze, which yielded such light in the streets as it had been the sun at noon-day.

Now the fire having wrought backward strangely against the wind to Billingsgate, &c. along Thames-street eastward, runs up the hill to Tower-street, and having marched on from Grace-church-street, making further, progress in Fen-church-street, and having spread its wing beyond Queen-hithe in Thames-street westward, mounts up from the water side through Dowgate, and Old Fish-street into Watling-street: but the great fury of the fire was in the broader streets; in the midst of the night it was come down Comhill, and laid it in ^e dust; and runs along by the Stocks, and there meets with another fire, which came down Threadneedle-street; a little further with another, which came up from Wall-brook : a little further with another, which comes up from Bucklersbury; and all these four joining together, break into one bright flame at the corner of Cheapside, with such a dazzling light, and burning heat, and roaring noise by the fall of so many houses together, that was very amazing; and though it was something stopt in its swift course at Mercers' Chapel, yet with great force in a while, it conquers the place, and bums

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through it, and then with great rage proce«^edi forward in Cheapside.

On Tuesday was the fire burning up the very bowels of London; Cheapside is all in a light fire in a few hours time; many fires meeting there, as in the centre; from Soper-lane, Bow-lane, Bread-street, Friday-street, and Old-change, the fire comes up almost together, and breaks furiously into the broad street, and most of that side of the way was together in fiames, a dreadful spectacle! and then partly by the fire which came down by Mercers' Chapel, partly by the fall of the houses across the way, the other side is quickly kindled, and doth not stand long after it. Now the fire gets into Blackfriars, and so continues its course by the water, and makes up toward Paul's church, on that side, and Cheapside fire besets the great building on this side, and the church, though all of stone outward, though naked of houses about it, and though so high above all buildings in the city, yet within a while doth yield to the violent assaults of the conquering fiames, and strangely takes fire at the top ; now the lead melts and runs down, as if it had been snow before the sun; and the great beams and massy stones, with a great noise fall on the pavement, and break through into Faith Church underneath, and great fiakes of stone scale and peel off strangely from the side of the walls. The conqueror having got this high fort, darts its fiames round about; now Paternoster-row, Newgate-market, the Old Bailey, and Ludgate-hill have submitted themselves to the devouring fire, which, with wonder-

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Ful speed rusheth down the hill into Fleet-street* Now Cheapside fire marcheth along Ironmonger* lane. Old Jury, Lawrence-lane, Milk-street* Wood-street. Gutter-lane, Foster-lane; now it runs along Lothbury, Cateaton-street, &c. From Newgate-market, it assaults Christ-church and conquers that great building, and bums through Martin's-lane towards Aldersgate, and all about so furiously, as if it would not leave a house standing upon the ground.

Now horrible flakes of fire mount up the sky, and the yellow smoke of London ascendeth up towards heaven, like the smoke of a great furnace : a smoke so great, as darkened the sun at noon-day, (if at any time the sun peeped forth^ it looked red like blood,) the cloud of smoke was so great, that travellers did ride at noon-day some miles together in the shadow thereof, though there were no other cloud beside to be seen in the sky.

And if Monday night was dreadful, Tuesday night was more dreadful, when far the greatest part of the city was consumed : many thousands who on Saturday had houses convenient in the city, both for themselves, and to entertain others, now have not where to lay their head; and the fields are the only receptacle, which they can find for themselves and thair goods; most of the late inhabitants of London lie all night in the open air, with no other canopy over them, but that of the heavens. The fire is still making towards them, and threateneth the suburbs; it was amazing to see, how it had spread itself several miles in compass; ^d.s^ongst other

things that night, the sight of Guildhall was a fearful spectacle, which stood the whole body of it together in view, for several hours together, after the fire had taken it, without flames, (I suppose because the timber was such solid oak) in a Dright shining coal, as if it had been a palace of gold, or a great building of burnished brass.

On Wednesday morning, when people expected that the suburbs would be burnt, as well as the city, and with speed were preparing their flight, as well as they could, with their luggage into the countries, and neighbouring villagea; then the Lord hath pity on poor London; his bowels begin to relent, his heart b turned within him, and he '^ stays his rough wind in the day of the east wind;" his fury begins to be allayed: he hath a remnant of people in Xiondon, and there shall a remiiant of houses escape; the wind now is hushed; the commission of the fire is withdrawing, and it bums so gently, even where it meets with no opposition, that it was not hard to be quenched, in many places with a few hands: now the citizens begin to gather a little hearty and encouragement in their endeavours to quench the fire, A check it had at Leaden-hall, by that great building; a stop it had in Bishopsgate-street, Fenchurch-street, Lime-street, Mark-lane, aqd towards the Tower ; one means under God, was the blowing up of houses with gunpowder* Now it is stayed in Lothbury, Broad-street, Coleman-street; towards the gates it burnt, but not with any great violence; at the Temple also it is stayed, and in Holbom, where it had got no freat footing; and when once the

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£re WAS got under^ it was kept under, and on Thnnday the flames were extinguished.

But on Wednesday night, when the people late of London, now of the fields, hoped to get a little i«8t on the ground» where they had spread their beds, a more dreadful fear falls upon them than they had before^ through a rumour that the French were coming armed against them to cut their throats, and spoil them of what they had saved oat of the fire; they were now naked and weak, and in an ill-condition to defend them-selves, and the hearts, especially of the females, do quake and tremble, and are ready to die within them; yet many citisens having lost their houses, and almost all that they had, are fired with rage and fury ; and they begin to stir up themselves like lions, or like bears bereaved of their wbelps, and now Arm, arm, arm, doth resound the fields and suburbs with a great noise. We may guess at the distress and perplexity ot the people this night, which was somethii^ alle-viaited when the falseness of the alarm was per-ceived.

Thus feU great London, that ancient city! that populous city! London! which was the queen city of the land, and as famous as most cities in the world; none so famous for the gospel and zealous profession of the reformed religion. And yet how is London departed like smoke, and her glory laid hi the dust! How is her destruction come, which no man thought of, and her desolation in a moment! How do the nations about gaze and wonder! How doth the whole land tremble at the noise of her fall! How

.70 god's terrible voice

do h^r citizens droop and b^g down their heads; her women and virgins weep, and .$it in the dust! Oh, the paleness that now sits upon the cheejks! the .astonishment and confusion that covers the face^ the dismal apprehensions that arise in the minds of.piost concerning the.dipead-ful consequences which are likely to be of this fall of London! How is the pride of London stained, and beauty spoiled, her arm broken,^ and strength departed, her riches almost gope, and treasures so much consumed I The head now is sick, and the whole body hint; the heart is wounded, and every other part is sensible of its ^stroke; never was England in greater danger of being made a prey to a foreign power, thap a^ice the firing and fdl of this city, which had .the strength and treasure of the nation in it. . Hiaw is London ceajsed, that rich city! that Jojpos city! One comer indeed is left; but more tbap ^ many houses as were within the walls, are turned into ashes*

The merchants now have left the Royal ISj^ change; the buyers and sellers have now for-saken the streets: Gracechurch-street, Coirohill, Cheapside, Newgate-market, and the like places, which used sometime to have throngs of traffickers, now are become empty of inhabitants; and instead of the stately houses which stood there last summer, now they lie this winter in ruinous heaps. The glory of London is now .fled away like a bird, the trade of London is shattered and .broken to pieces, her delights also are vanished, and pleasant things laid waste; now no chaunt-ing to the sound of the viol, and dancing to the

sweet music of other instruments; now no drinking wine in bowls, and stretching upon the beds of last: now no excess of wine and banquettings; no feasts in halls and curious dishes; no amorous looks, and wanton dalliances; no ruffling silksj and costly dresses; these things in that place/ are at an end. But if houses for sin alone weire sunk, and fuel for lust only were consumed, it would not be so much: but the houses also for Ood's worship, (which formerly were a hnU wnrk against the fire; partly through the walla about dieni, partly through the fervent prayers within them,) now are devoured by the flames, and the habitations of many who truly fear God, have not escaped: and in the places where God hath been served, and his servants have lived, now nettles are growing, owls are screeching, thieves and cut-throats are lurking: a sad fkoe there is nkyw in the ruinous part of London, and territde hath the voice of the Lord been, which hath heati <^ing, yea, roaring in the city by these dreadful judgments of the plague and fire, irhitii be hath brought upon us.

Thus yOu have the narration of the ju^pttents tiiem)»^es.'

^■1 ' —-

SECT. VIL

Omceming the Cause of these judgments; rvhg hath the Lord spoken by such terrible things in the dty (^London ?

In giving an account hereof, I shall make use of the second Doctrine observed from the words:

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iyoct.2. TkiUfvhen God speaks most ierri^fy he doth answer most righteously.

They are God's judgments, and therefore they must needs b& righteous judgments: can there be unrighteousness in God? No, in no wise; for how then could he be God? How then ** could he judge the world ? Let God be true, and every man a liar/' Rom. iii. 5, 6. Let God be righteous, and all the world unrighteous ; for light may more easily depart from the sun^ and heat be separated from the fire, and the whole creation may more easily drop into nothing, than. God cease to be just and righteous, in the severest judgments which he doth inflict upon the. diildren of men.

If any profane mockers do reply against God, and reflect upon his righteousness and goodness towards his own people, because these judgments have fallen so sore upon London, the glory of the land, yea, of the world, for the number of godly persons (as in scoflF they call them) which dwell in it: if God were so righteous and favourable to the godly, would he bend his bow and shoot 90 many arrows amongst them as he did in the visitation by the plague, whilst he i^uffered so. many notoriously wicked persons to escape? Would he send the fire to consume so many habitations of the godly, whilst the houses of the most vicious and vile were preserved? . I shall labour to stop the mouths of such who are ready to open them against the King of heaven, by proposing to consideration these following particulars.

1. ** That God's way is sometimes in tlie sea,

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and htft paths- in the ^rreat water»; and his footsteps are not known,'' Psal. IzxTii. ig. ** That his judgments are unsearchable, and his vrays past finding out/' Rom. xi. 33. And that even then *' he is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works/' Psal. cxlv. 17* " And when clouds and darkness are round about him, righ* teousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne^'' Psal. xcvii. 2. And when '' his judgements are a great deep, his righteousness is like the great' mountains/' Psal. xxxvi. 6. We do not understand all the mysteries of nature, neither are we acquainted with all the mysteries of state; and if there be some mysteries in God's way of governing the world, and distributing temporal mercies and judgments, which we da not apprehend in every thing the meaning of, and cannot so fully trace God's righteousness and goodness therein, let us say it is because our eyes are shut« and that we are covered with darkness; therefore let us shut our mouths too^ and seal up our lips with silence, not daring in* the least to utter any thing which may derogate from these attributes in God, which are as in« violable and unchangeable as his very being: this might be said, if .the reason were more abstruse* Uum it is.

2. But secondly, the reason of God's judgments and righteousness therein, wtth the salve of hia' goodness towards his own people, may be appre--bended, if we consider.

First, that these judgments of plague and fire, are both of them national judgments.

1. The judgment of the plague was national;.

klasmuch as Londmi wns the chief city; kiastnach as the King's court was here, and most connlnes had relations here: and all countries had covi-cernments here: moreover the plague was not only in London and Westminster, and places near adjacent; but it was dispersed into the countries at a £irther distance, as Cambridge, Norwidi, Colchester, and other towns, where it raged either the same or the next yeat^ as much proportionably as it did in London.

2. The judgment of the fire, whkh biirned down only the City, and left Westminster and the suburbs standing, and did not roach into the countries, yet was a national judgment, because London was the metropolis of the land ; because the beauty, riches, strength^ and glory of the whole kingdom lay in London; and it was not the inhabitants of the city who alone did suffer by this fire, but the whole land, stiore or less, do and will feel the smart hereof.

Secondly, These judgments then being national, it is not unreasonable to say, that national sins have been the cause of them; and if so, we may readily find a reason of God's righteousness in these proceedings, when the sins of the land are so obvious and so heinous. He is a great stranger in England that doth not know, how wickedness hath abounded in these later years; his eyes must be fast shut, who doth not see what a deluge of profaneness and impiety hath broken in like a mighty torrent, and overflowed the land; that hath not taken notice of those barefaced villanies which have been commuted amongst us, which is a gr^edquestion whether

mj agM bafibre iis could pinUel: we Mid in ScvifKtnre of Sodom and Gomorrah, and the wickedness sometime of Jerusalem: profane his* tones and travellers make mention of Rom^ Venioe, Naples, Paris, and other places venr widied; but who can equal England, which calls itself Christian and Protestant, for such desperate and audacious aflrants and indignities which have been ofierod to the highest A&jesty by the gal« lanta (as they are calkd) of our times? How waa«hdll, as it were, bi^e loose; and how were mmk worse than those which, in our Saviour's timer were possessed with devils, who cut them** sdlvea with stones, and tore their own flesh; even such who went about like so many heU« hounds and incarnate devils, cursing and banning, eimeariog and blaspheming, inventing new oaths# and glorying tbemn, delisting to, tear the name of God, and to spit forth theic rancour and map lice in his very face? And can we then be at a loss fcNT a reason of God's righteousness in his thua punishing Etigland, by b^^inning thus fun* ously with London ? When were there so many athflfti^. about London, and in the land, who de* nied the very being of God; when so many gentlemen (who looked upon it as one piece of their breeding to cast off all sentiments of a Deity) did walk our streets^ and no arguments would work th^m to a persuasion of the truth of God's bdyag, shall we wonder, if the Lord aippeats in a terrible way, that he might be known by the ludgments which he executeth? When so many desmd the Divine authority o£ the Scriptures, ^e very foundation <rf our (^r|ft^,|l|th, and

Fedboned diemselv^s; by tbeir |irmciples» Turks, Pagans, and other infidds, however, Uftty called themselves Christians, and heveby pot auch an affront upon >tiie Lord Jetos Chxist, ^tiie only Son of the Most High God; is it starai^e that the Lord should speak so terribly, to shew his indignation ? When there was such blowUig at, and endeavours to put out that light vhifih would shew men the way to heaven; such halved and opposition against the poiKerof godliaeoa^ when the name of a saint was matter of derinsn and scorn I when there was soth wallowii^ in filthy fornication and adultery, in swinish drunkenness and intemperance ; when sudi opr pression, bribery, such malice, cruelty,sachtmr heard of wickedbiess, and hideous impietyy gfomn to such a height in the land, may we not f«e« sonably think that such persons as were thne guilty, being in the ship, were a great cauae of &e stonatof God's anger, which hi^ made such a shipwreck ?

. The plague indeed, when it was come, made little discrimination between the-bodies of the righteous and the bodies of Uie wicked; no more doth grace; the difference is more inward and deep; it is the soul begins to be glorified hcveby ; and hath the seed of eternal life put into it^ w^en it doth pass the new birth; but'the body ia not changed with the soul; the body remains.aa-tt was, as frail, and weak, and exposed to diseases and death, as before, and. as the body of «By wicked person; and therefore the infection^ disease of the plague ccnning into a populous city, the bodies of the rigfateou^. jp|g|i^||^ the rest*

I llie eontegioii, and tbcgr All in the oon-i cfldamky s thate is a difference in the maoner of tfaeirtleitihy and a differenoe io their place and ataiie after death* as hath been spoken of befiwe, bat thm kind of death if theaame.

Sb the fiie dotb make no diacrimination be« tiftia the houaeaof the-ffedly^ and the houses of theoagodlj; theyareallmsdeof theeamecem-Iboetible matteri and are eokiadied as bodies in* feetad^Ane by- anodier: indeed the godlj have G40k to be their haUtatian, and they are citiaena eft the New Jeeusalenif irhich ia above; a city wbic^ faatk foandations, whose bnilder and maker is Chid; an abi<Hng Gity, which the fire cannot reach*; and their persons are secured from the #MBew of eternal &e in hell; but thej have no pMMoiae nor security for the preservation of their houses ^rem fire here in this world. The jQdg« aienla-ef the fiagae and fire being sent» work ao» eoidiii{^MSo ^bcir naiare> without diatingiushing the righteous.

But if we farthee enquire into the reason. Why the-pbgnewaa^vnt the last year, and such a^pit^neas hi^ not beenknown these forty yeara; l»lnch raged an eoraiy, wdien there waa nosuch suhttSueris of weather (aa in other years) to ii^ creese it;- and why the fire was sent this year, and sooh u fire as neither-we^ nor our forefathers ever knewv neither do we read of in any history of any so great in any place in time of peacer whet shall we say was the cauae of theae extra* ordinary national judgmenta, butthe cxtraordi« nary- national' sins. It was an extraordinary hMd ofC^ whidi brought the plague^ of which

h2

no tmtttral cause csn be ass^ed why.k tliiNilil be BO great that year more tluin iir former years, but tbit sm was grown to greater beif^; and that a fire should prevail against all attempts to quench it, to burn down the city, and thai judg-m«[it just following upon the heels of the. other; what reason can be assigned, bus that Englaad's sins, and God's displeasure have been oxtraor-dinary; God is a God of patience, and it is not a light thing wtU move hua; he is slow to anger, it must needs b^ then sssne great provocation which makes him so furious.; ho is faigUy o^ fended, before he lifts up his hand; and. hoxis exceedingly incensed, before his anger breaks forth into such a flame. For my part^ I verily tfiink, if it had not been fer the crying abomiBa* tioDS of the times, which are not c&fly to be limited to the city of London; and if themeans of God's prescription, aocotding to the rule of bis Word, wln<^ England sometivie couildv bad by England been made use of, that both plagiia and fire bad been prevented* ' Thirdly, moraover, it may be said that aome particular persons, by some more peculiar and notorious sins in the city, may ba've^provdbsditbe Lord to bring pumshment upon.the whole .jibes, if the land were not so generaUy profime and wicked. The heatfaenoould say, ^' A whole city Biay be punished for the wtokedoessof;oneixian^'* yea, we read of David, though so good a min, yet when he numbeied the people (asmdlsin in eomparison with the sins of some oShersin our days) God was peovoked to send such a dnadiid nlaguc^ not on himad^ but ^m^ ?««*, Aat

tfaere dkd 70,009 UMii by It in diree 6aj9; and Dwvid aadf '' i have tinned and done wickedlj; bat tiwae sheep what have they done V S Sam* xxiv. 10, 18.

Foarthly» if it be enqnired how Clod's mercy to fa» people doth appear, when theee judgments faavie fjdlen to heavy upon many of them ?

I sntwer,

K Thoee of God's own piBople who have falkn hy.tkm pht^VLe, are received to greater gtace and mefeyin heaven, than here tl^y were capable of; and they are moreover delivered from evil to come, wiiich hath einee, and may further come upon'US.

ft, Those whose booses have lallen by the fire, the Lord ooald, and confident I am, the Lord hath made them greater gainers another wayr ihef. ihasfB lost, it may be, much in temporal things; but they are, or may be (if they be not wimtitig to themselves) gainers of spiritual things, vhiebfaYe of a* higher and more excellent nature. I have known and heard of many of God's people whoae* houses ate bnmt and goods spoiled, who bsfie taken^ the loss-with so much cheerfnlness, hmaility, ^mfcfeness^ patience, contentment, and ihaiikifaltiess, that any thing was saved, if it were onfy'lheir lifvesy tthatift hath been my wonder and joy.; jIo igain sucb a. spirit, hath more €^ good, tbsBB'tfae klu e£ all external enjoyments hath of enlr .

$i FiHther, If these judgments have fallen upon Godls^XMiopk, we most know that ^ey have their sinsy wiikh have deserved them; poastUy some hate bemm to eomnlj with the wid^ed in thm

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tnoktd wajTs: it raajr bt they wtie gnmn more locMe in tbkt waiking> and focttial iathttfaerriee oiGod, and their hearts mate set on the world; of whidi sins more largdj, when I oometo speek of the sins of the citj: and the sins of God's peufile have more htinons aggmvationa than the sins of. the ;wicked». being eonmitted agsinsft dearer lights dearer loire^ sweeter merciea» stioDger obligaticns, and therefore profeke God the num to.waads; therefore'he thivateneiii his own people^ especially, to ponisfa them when tkegr transgress, Amos iii. S: <' You(on}y have I known of all the families of the earth, and. therefore I will punish you for your iniquities/'

4. Besides, they havoneed of awakening jn^flT* ments to rouse them, and'humble them for. sin; to loosen and weaa them from the world; and it is in love and foithfulness, that God doth inflict sudi judgments upon them.

5. We must remember that it is God's usual course to begin with his own housorl Pet. iv. 17. <' Judgment b^nsat the house of Ged.''

Fifthly, To esnclude^ Do any of the nngndly question God's righteousness, because in. these common calamities they h«^ thMiertD j uif vi ved ttideseaped?

i.i It is but an ill reqnitel, and ill use wfamh they make of God's padenee and goodness, which heihatfa exercised towaids them, that.hereby he might lead them unto repentance, Rom» ii» 4» fi.

S» Let them stay awhile, and God will answer them himself and give them an expeifraeatsl' ^enviotion of his ri^rteo«s.judgments, 1 Betw

tM THB CITY. SI

ir; T7) 19^ ''*lf judgment begfn at the home <if Ood, what shaM the end be of theitt that obey not the Gospel? and if the righteont scarcely be saved, nliere shall the ang<xUy and sinneri ap« pear?" We read^ Psaln Ixav. 8. *«Of a cup of red wine in the hand of the Lord;" he may give bis people to drink the top of it; bot the most bitter nod draggish part^ which is at tfie bottomi the wicked shaU wrnig forth and drink; if Gkid whip bis children with rods, he wfll scourge ins enemies with soorpiona*

I am persuaded that the notoriously ungodly of thia generation^ will not go out of thia world without some mnarkadble temporal judgment; and' that the Lard will make them feel something evm here, what an evil thii^ and a bittar it ia 8o aadaciously to fly in the face of the great God, by their hideous oaths and blasphemies; by their horrid wickedness and abominations; wherel^ they do^ as it were, challenge God to do his worst against them; and when Ood deth draw forth bis glittering sword, and make ready his diorp :airow upon the string; when God de^ clothe himself wKh fury as with a garment^ and4f» band doth take hold onvengeanoe: when their iniquities are grown fully ripe, and the day of tfaeir visitation and reoompence is come, how then will these sinners of England be afiraid^ and what amazing terror will tliere then sur« prise this vile generation ? '^ Can their hearts en* dare, or their hands be strong in the day that the Lord-shall deal with them ?" Ezek. xxii. 14. Then the. Lord will roar from his holy habitation with sudta terrible voice, as; shall make their ears to

tingle, their hearts to qvake imd tremble; Im will roar like a lioo, and tear them in pieeea^ when there shall be none to deUver* If the shaking of his rod hath moved them, and the bc^nnin^ of his judgments, which, he hath executed upon others, hath affiighted them, what. wUl their behaviour be wiien the aooorge is laid ufmi tbdr own-backs, and judgment shall falLiupeia their own heads! Sorely the judgments intended IHH^ posdy for the most ungodly, are. not yetrconw; yet, as they are like to be ^Eoeeding great» be* cause mete 6E pure and unmixed wmth will .ac-txanpany them; so they are like to be very near, because they are filling up the measure of their wickedness so fast, and they seem to be arsived even.to the uttermost of sin; surdy their judg-ment doth neither linger nor ^lumberi but iaii|MB the wing, hastening towards ihem;.surely the arm of the Lord as awakened, and lifted up on high; and though infinite patience dotk huUtt up a Istde while, to try whether the judgments sdU ready executed upon othera, before, their ^pea will work any good ^ect upon thmn, so jMrte awaken them and stop them, and turn them from their evil ways; yet, if th^ pB6ceed in their'sinful course, his arm, I am persuaded, will come down with such fonce and Airy upon litem, that their destruction shall be remarkable to all , that are round about them: and I have mndi of j that persuasion, that the Lord will, as it were, hang up many of the villains of our times, who j have been guilty of such treachery and rdbdUon against the great King of heaven, as it were in ciiain% and make their punishment here as no*

ttitt&m as liiftir nw liavv hem, duit the whok world imy hear and fear, and take haed of todi vile paacticet. I suppcwa thej maj not now ex* peet'k, nor ftar it, any more than the whole w<Hrld did their drownttig^ or Sodom and Qo*^ morrtth did thenr baming, beeanae deeeitful tin halii haadened their hearts; long custom in sin, iriA knponitjr^ hath seated their consoMnees aa widi n hot iron; but then diey are in the great* est danger, when they sleep with the grsatest securf^: when men grow desperatdy hardened against often and all reproofst by word and rod toOy what foUews but sadden destmction, and that without remedy? Prov. xiiz. 1. ''And when men cry peace and safety, then sudden desCruetsen cometh upon them, ss travail open a woatMn with child, and they shall not escape,'' I Thess* ▼• 3* And if someof this untoward and wiched gener a t i on do drop away widiout a re* markable temporal destruction, Oad will make his righteousness evident to them in the othor worid» when he daps up their souls dose prisoners in the lowest dungeon of hdl, appointing fohuck devfls to be their gaolers, flames of fire to be their dothing, Indeous terrors and woe to be their fobd; Cain, Judas, and other damned tonnented spirits to be their companions, where they must lie bound in the chains of dark-^ nest, till the judgment of the great day: and when the general assise is come, and the angels have blown the last trumpet, and gathered the elect to the right hand of Christ, then they will be sent with the keys of the bottomless pit, and the prison will be opened for §,MW§m^ like

80 many rogdes in chains^ tliey ahitlU to pattor with all their fellow sinners, be brought forth, and find out the dirty flesh of their bodies, which, like a nasty rag, they shall then put ^on, and with raost rueful looks, and trembling joints, and horrible shrieks, and inexpressible conSfiisioii and terror, they shall behold the Lord Jesua Christ, whom in life-time they dei^ised and «f*» fronted, come down from heaven in flaming fire* to take vengeance upon thfm; who will sentenee them to the flames of eternal fire, and drive tfiem from his throne and presence, into utter darkness, where they must take up their lodging ^r evermore. Then, then the^e will be a dear rev«-* lation of the righteous and dreadful judgnenfta of this great God unto the worki, and upon jtbis accursed generation.

But more fully to clear up the reason of London's judgments, and the righteousfliess of Ood? herein, God hath, indeed, spoken yery terrthly, but he hath answered us very righteouslfF. London was not sp godly, as soipe speak by nay of scoff. No \ if London had been more genmlly godly, and .more powerfully godly, these |tt%* ments might have been escap^, and the. riitn of the city prevented: No! it was the ungodliness of London which brought the plague, and fire^ upon Ijondon. There was a gen^»l plagaie vq^on^ the heart, a more dangerous iolection* and <leiwl]y plague of sin, before there was sent a plague upon the body ; there was a fire of divers lust^ which was enkindled, and did burn in the bosom: sometimes issuing out flames at the doer of the m^ttjth* and at the windows of tbe#{e|e^^t^^ml^

before the fire vnm kindled in the city, which swallowed up so many habitations. We have fallen (thousands of persons) into the grave by the plague; thousands of houses^ as a gretii monument upon them, by the (he; and whence is it ? '' We are idltn bv our iniquities/' Hosea xir. 1. ** The crown is fallen from our heads:" and what is the reason? ^'because we have sinned against the Lord/' Ijam.T. l6. God hath spoken terribly; but he hath answered righteously; as he gives great and especial mercies in answer unto prayer, so he sendeth great and extraordinary judgments in answeir unto sin; there is a voice and loud cry, especially in some sins, which **entereth into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth^" James v. 4. When God speaks by terrible things^ he makes but a righteous return to this cry.

And though these judgments of plague and fire are national judgments, and may be the product of national sins, and 1 verily am per* suaded, that God was more highly provoked by some that dwelt out of the city, than with those which- dwelt in it; I mean the profane and ungodly generation, who chiefly did inhabit more remotely; and that God, being so provoked, was the more ready to strike, and let his hand fall so heavy upon London: yet, since many of the un* godly crew were got into the city itself, and most in the city, that were not of them, and did not dare to commit their impieties, yet made them* selves guilty, by not mourning for them, and labouring in their place what they could after a ledress; and since London iUelf hath been guilty of so numy crying sins (as I ^b^^i^^^^^our to

diew), God*8 T^hteousneas in tile tenibfe things of LoDdon wiD be evident^ espedtHj if we consider^

1. Thai God hoik pmmsktd Lomdtm mo more iham ikeir imigMHies have deserved.

2. Thai God hoik ptaasked London less than ikeir iniqmiiies have deserved,

1. God hath pradshed London no more than thdr iniquiiies deserved. Great sans deserve great plagoea, and have not the sins of London been great ? Let us make an enqany alter London's sins.

Here I shall offer some sins to con^deration, and let London judge whether she be not gniHy, and whether the Lord hath not been plaguing her^ and burning her, and possibly, yea, probably, will bring utter ruin and desolation upon her, except she see, and mourn, and turn the sooner. It is out of dear and tender love to London (with whom I could willingly live and die) that I write these things to put them in mind of their sins, that they might take some speedy course for a redress and turning away the fierce anger of the Lord which is kindled against them lor sin, lest he next proceed to bring utter ruin upon them: surely they have not more reason to tmnk that God's anger is turned away since the lire, than they had to think it was turned away isfter the plague; but rather they may conclude,' that though the fire of the city be quenched, yet the fire of God's anger doth bam still more d7tad> fully than the other fire, and that his hand is stretched out still to destroy. Therefbre, 0 all ye inhabitants about London, open youreye^

and ears, and hearts* and suffer a word of reproof, for your sins; and deal not with this catalogue of your sins* as Jehoiachim did with Jeremiah's roll, who burnt it in the fire* not being able to bear his words; but do with it as John did with bis little book* eat it* and digest it; though it be bitter in the mouth* as well as in the belly, it is bitter physic, bufnecessary for the preservation of a sick, languishing city* which is even ready to give up the ghost

And here I shall begin with more gospel sins* which* though natural* conscience is not so ready to accuse of, yet in the account of God are the most heinous sins. And I would have a r^ard not only to latter* but to former sins* which* possibly* may now be more out of view* and forgotten* and which some may be hardened in* because the guilty have not been so particularly and sensibly punished* (though God's sparing of them* hath been in order to their repentance) or their punishments in some kind hath been accounted by them no punishments, or, their punishments have been mistaken* and their, hearts have swelled against instrumenta made use of by God therein* instead of accepting of the punishment of their iniquity, and bumbling themselves deeply before the Lord* I aay* I would call to remembrance former sins* as well as latter, which are more visible now* and apparent; for as God* being so slow to anger* hath not been quickly moved to such indignation ; but, as we have reason to think* that his wrath hath been a long time boiling in his breast before it was raised to this height as to

boil over, and pour down plague and fire upcm the city of London; so we may reasonably infer, that sins committed by London long ago» were the fuel put under, that caused this boiling of his anger, which, because other judgments have not wrought the kindly effect of repentance, the Lord hath been provoked to express this way, which hath been more feeling and dreadful. Moreover, when I reckon up Londmi's sins, I would not reflect alone upon any one party, inasmuch as all parties have sinned; and 1 believe the Lord hath been offended with all, as in his judgments he hath made no difference, that all might be awakened to see their faults with sorrow and shame. And if it were fit, I would begin here with myself, being persuaded that my sins, more than thousands of others, have helped to fill up the vial of God's anger: but as I go along, I shall endeavour, by the grace of God, to apply to myself the.sins which conscience will accuse of, that I may bewail and amend: and I will beseech every one of you that cast your eyes upon these lines, to do the like, and to compare them with those lines which are written in the book of your consciences : and where you find a transcript, read and read again; consider and lay to heart; get to your knees, confess, and labour to drop at least some tears into the bottle, which, if this little book might help gather from your eyes, and you could be persuaded to pour forth such waters before the Lord, they might help to quench the | violence of the fire of God's anger, which we ' have reason to fear is still burnir\g^^|j^(nst us. I

IH THE CITY.

SECT. VIII.

A Catalogue of Lend(nCs Stns, which have ptxh voked the Lord to speak tvith so terrible a Voice in the City,

1. The first sin of London is slighting of the Gospel. Ilie Gospel in England hath above this hundred years shined forth out of the clouds of Popery and Antichristianism, which before did overspread the land; and in no place of England hath the Gospel been preached with greater power and purity than m London; and what entertainment hath it found ? hath it been valued according to its worth and excellency; hath it been received as if it had come down ^om the God of heaven, expressing his love and good-will towards the children of men, as if it had brought such good news and tidings, as salvation by Jesus Christ?

Read the eulogium which the Apostle Peter gives of the salvation made known by the Gospel, 1 Pet. i. 10—12. " Of which salvation the prophets have enquired, and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you; searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them, did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow; unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us, they did minister the things which

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are now reported unto you, by them that have preached the Gospel unto you, with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven, which things tJie angels desire to look into.'' The prophets of old did enquire and search, but did not so clearly understand the Gospel, as now it is revealed: our Saviour tells his disciples, Luke x. 24, that " many prophets and kings have desired to see the things which they saw, and. had not seen them; and to hear the things which they did hear, and had not heard them; for indeed this mystery was hid from ages and generati<Mis, which God then made manifest unto the saints," Col. i. 26*. And the Apostle Paul tells us, that '^ though the ministration of the law were glorious, insomuch that it made the face of Moses to shine," unto whom the law was revealed upon the Mount, ''yet that it had no glory, in comparison with the ministration of the Gospel, whose glory did so far excel," 2 Cor. iii. 7—10: the mysteries of God's wisdom and love revealed in the Gospel, being so glorious, surely are worthy of acceptation and esteem, especially when the angels, who are not so much concerned, desire to look into these things, unto whom it is said, Eph. iii. 10, *' Is made known by the church, the manifold wisdom of God.'' And yet these great things, which have been reported by them, who have preached the Gospel, with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven, have been undervalued in London. The Gospel hath been slighted m London; and though some have been more notoriously guilty; yet who can altogether excuse diemselves from this sin ? Now that the convic-

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tion may be more fuil» 1 shall charge the sin more particukrly.

> 1. The ignorant persons in London have been guilty of &is sin, the light of the Gospel hath ^tned aboat them; but they have muffled up themselves in darkness, and suffered Satan to keep them hoodwinked, lest the light of the glorious Gospel should enter, and lead them out of his snare; thousands in the city have been affededly ignorant: though they have had means of knowledge, so near, and so easy to come by ; multitudes have perished oat of London, and multitudes still remain in their ignorance. O the neglect that there hath been of learning catechisms! and how few have endeavoured to acquaint themselves with the principles of the Christian religion, that they might have the more full and clear understanding of the Gospel?

2. The vicious and profane have been guilty of slighting the Gospel; how many such persons have there crowded, and are still crowding out of London into hell, when the light of the Gospel shiaed upon them, which would have guided them in the way to heaven; because this light hath been too troublesome in its discovery, and reproof of their dear and sweet sins, they have hated it, and endeavoured to fly as far as they could from it, or to shut their eyes as hard as they could against it*

3. The civU persons also have been guilty; there have been many sober citizens, and matrons, civil yonths^ and virgins, who have been free from the gross ^pdlotions which are in the world

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through lust; who have been dUigent in their calling, just in their dealings, courteous, and sweet-natured in their demeanour, and yet without the least degree of the power of godliness, without which it is impossible they should be saved. Alas! neneof these have given any warm welcome unto the Gospel in their hearts, which hath been so long preached in the city: the kindness of a friend hath been esteemed by them ; but the kindness of God hath not been regarded* If a messenger had come and told them how they might save their estates, when in danger of loss, or how to save their relations when in danger of death, O how welcome would such a messenger and tidings have been ! but when ministers have preached the Gospel unto them, which tells them how they should save their souls, in danger of death and hell, such tidings have had no.relish with them, as if they had no souls, or were in no danger: the light hath shined belbre them, but there hath been a cloud in their eye, they could not discern it; ot they have looked upon it afar of, they have not drawn near, and brought it home, and set it up in their bosoms, that they might order themselves, and whole conversations, according to its guidance and direo-tion.

4. The hypocrkes have been guilty of this sin; these have drawn nearer to this light, than any of the former;, so near that they have seemed to be clothed with its beams, they have lighted their lamps hereby, and have shined forth in a glorious blase of anoutwiird profession; yet thoe hath bem/ even in these, an inward secret dUs«

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i«l»h of the Gospel, especially of some things in it: there have been some secret rooms in their hearts^ into which they would not suffer the hght to enter, lest it should discover those beloved Delilahs, which there they have nourished and brooffht up; they have been rotten at the core, and have had some unmortified lust within, which the world hath not taken notice of; so that if the Gospel hath been received by them, it hatb been only in the outward form, not in the in* ward power; if the light hath been received, it hath been without its heat and life. Hence it bath oome to pass, that some of these hypocrites, who seemed to be stars of the first magnitude, have proved only blazing stars and comets, which in a short time have fallen and sunk into wild opinions, or fearful apostacy.

5. The erroneous have been guilty of this sin ; some, and not a few, in London, under this glorious sunshine of the Gospel, which hath come from heaven, have lighted a candle at the fire of hell, and laboured to set it Up in opposition to the true light of the Gospel, crying out. New light, new light! Satan himself hath appeared in London like an angel of light, and employed his emissaries and wicked instruments (who have seemed to be ministers of righteousness, but have had a wolfish ravenous heart under the dresa and clothing of the sheep) to vent many damnable and destructive opinions in our church, undev pretence of new, discoveries and revelations of the Spirit; and through this false and taper-light Could never abide the test, and put forth any beuns of convincing truth; butj^^^«^fd and

disappeared upon the approach of the sun, vfa^e it shined in its power; yet too many whose eyea were too sore to look upon the glorious beams of the sun, and yet withal their hearts too fearful to remain wholly in the dark, without any shew of light, did withdraw themselves from the former, and sought after the latter in dark comers, where alone such rotten wood could seem to shine, and such candles could give forth any light; and choosing night rather than day, they followed these false wandering fires, though they were led by them into many a precipice.

It is sad to remember, and seriously to consider what errors and strong delusions have abounded and prevailed in our Gospel days* How many false teachers have there been among us, which have crept on unawares; how many Jesuits aii4 Priests sent from Rome and other places, to rend and tear our Protestant church to pieces, that they might make way for the introduction of popery ; at least to cast a disgrace upon Protestantism, and delude many of us with the opinions they have broached, and to confirm their own in their delusions. Thus many cunning and learned Jesuits have disguised themselves in the habit of tailors, shoemakers, and of other mechanical tradesmen, that they might seem to the people to have been taught those things by the Spirit, which have been the product of much study: thus these cursed villains, "of old ordained to condemnation, have privily brought in damnable heresies;'' some calling themselves Quakers, others Ranters, others Seekers, others Antino-mians, others Brownists, others Anabaptists:

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putting themselves into Any shapes, that they might mislead, and the better ''lie in wait to deceive" poor souls : some ** denying the Lord that bought them/' setting up the fancy of a Christ within them for their Saviour; others denjring the foundation, undermining the divine authority o£ the Scriptures: others Ubouring to overthrow the doctrine of justification, and striking at most fundamental doctrines of the Christian faith; and all of them endeavouring to undermine the ministry of Christ's institution and sending, calling them Antichristian, Baal's Priests, false prophets, doing what they could to bring them and their ministry out of esteem, that they might the more efiectually prevail with the people to receive their false doctrines, and arm them hereby against an undeceivement; and sweetening their poison '* with good words, and fair speeches, they have deceived the hearts of the simple, so that many did follow their pernicious ways, by reason of whom the way of truth hath been evil spoken of;" and whatever good words they had, they were but " feigned words, whereby they made merchandize of souls, whose judgment now a long time lingereth not," and whose damnation slumbereth not,'' 2 Pet. ii. 1,2,3-

These the Apostle calls '* spots and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings; wells without water, clouds carried about with a tempest, raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame, wandering stars, unto whom is reserved blackness of darkness for ever," 2 Pet. ii*

IS*—"17 5 JUUel*, Digitized by VjUU^ It:

^ god's TERllIBLfi VOICE

And yet many of these were hearkened untd, and adhered unto, by too many in London, rather than the true Gospel ministers, commissioned by the Lord Jesus Christ himself, and ordained ac-xrording to the prescription of his word.'

Then many laymen, some gifted, (who would 4iave given a better account of their gifts at Uie great day, had they kept their station) and some without gifts, but with a great measure of ignorance and confidence, did step up sometimes into pulpits, often took upon them to preach in private, invading the ofBce, and intruding into the work of Christ's ambassadors^ which he hath appointed a peculiar office for, and which he hath set a hedge about more than any other -office we read of in Scripture; but they ventured to break over the hedge, I am confident, to the affronting and displeasing of the great King, whose representatives in the world his ambassadors are; and not only silly women were -led captive by the deceivers, which crept in when so many took liberty to preach, but also men who profbssed themselves to be wise, and to have attained to a degree of light above the vulgar ; yet, forsaking the ministry and ordinances of Jesus Christ, appointed to continue unto the end of the world, for the instructing, perfecting, and establishment of saints in knowledge and faith, they became fools, and '' children, tossed to and fro with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men,'* which led them aside, £ph. iv. 11—14.

Now all these persons have been sligfaters of the Gospel of Jesns Christ, the ignorant, the profane, the hypocrite^ and the erroneous; and

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tf yoD pla6e tbem all in one company, how few will there remain in London, that have sincerely. and heartily embraced the truth as it is in Jesus, and upon whom the Gospel hath made a powerful and saving impression ! And even amongst those that have been affected and converted by the preaching of the Gospel, and had it greatly in esteem at first hearing and believing; how was their esteem of the Grospel fallen, and their affection cooled 1 Did not Gospel-ordinances begin to lose their worth and excellency, and grow tedious and wearisome unto them? 0« how generally unthankful was London for Gospel privileges and. liberties 1 Yea, many began to be very nice and wanton, and the Gospel was not relished, unless it were served up with such neat«p. Besses and dresMugs, in which some ministers possibly did too much endeavour to please themselves and the people; and then the sauce waa more relished than the food itself, and the appe^ tite of many was so spoiled, that plain, wholesome, soul-saving truths, would not go down with them. Londoners began to be glutted with the Gospel; apd like the Israelites in the wilderness, their souls began to loath the manna which came down from heaven. A strange curiosity there was in spiritual palates; which in many turned to a loathing of the food, insomuch that the Gospel became a burden unto them, and thence it was ^^ that many tmed away their ears from the truth, and were turned into errors; and they could not endure to hear sound doctrine, but having itching ears, heaped up unto themselvea

K

teadiera aooordingp to tbtir' lasts,'' £ Tim« ir. 3,4.

And those thatcontiiitied steadfast in the truth, did not duly prize the Gospel, noue of them according to its dignity and worth. No vonder then if God growa angry at such contempts and affronts as were hereby offered unto faini> and easeth Aem maeh of Uieir burden; and withdraws tlie food so much, whiok they grew so weary of: no wonder that he suflfers so numy of their teachers to. be thrust into comers, and so much withdraws the beams of that light which was so much abused; and when they are not sensible of his displeasure in this, no wonder if he sends the plague and fire, to awaken them unto a sensibilily.

When the ^* King sent forth his servants to eall the guests to ^e wedding-feast, and they make light of it, and excused themselves, and went away^ one to his farm, another to his merchandize, and the remnant took his servants and entreated them spitefully, and slew them; the king was wrotb, and sent forth his armies to destroy those murderers, afid bum their city," Matt. xxii. 1 to 8. God hath sent forth his servants to call Londoners to this feast; how many invitations have they had to oome unto Christ, to accept of him to save them, and to feed upon him, from whom alone they can get any spi- ' ritual noariiAiment. But bow many in .Ix>ndon I have had their excuses; they have -b^en fol- I lowing their merchandize and other business, | and could not come; and what entertahunent |

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his servants bath had, the Lord knows* I do

not say that London hath entertained them de* spitefully, and slain them; bnt has not their message been slighted by London ? and is it a Tvonder then if the king that sent them be wroth, and send A fire to bam down the city? No greater favour could be shewed, no greater pri* Tilege could be enjoyed, than rtor have the Gospel powerfiilly preadied, and ordinances purely administered; bnt hath it been generally so ac* counted in London? Hath not merchandise, add thriving in the world, (which yet they have not Uirived in) been preferred before this, by many thousands in the dty? When God hath bden at siich an oip^nse to work out a way for man's salvation; when he hath discovered such wonders of astonishing love in sending his only begotten Son out of heaven to clothe himself in our flesh, that therein he might purchase life and salvadaa for us who were sunk so low from our primitive state by sin, and were exposed to death and wrath, and unavoidable endless misery in hell; and hath sent his ambas-sadors of peace to bring unto os the glad tidings hereof, and in his name to make known the thing, the author, the terms, the way: and to eiitreat us that we would accept of life and reconciliation to God, who without any injury to himself could ruin us everlastingly, and get himself a name thereby; and yet, when the Gospel is preached, that we should undervalue and slight both messenger and message; surely this hath been an afiront unto the Lord, who hath sent bis ambassadors on this errand, and doth

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icariy with it such ingratitude as cannot be paralleled.

No doubt but this sin of slighting the Gospel is a prime sin, which hath provoked God against London, to come forth in such fury ; and if London do not repent ere long, and labour to recover its relish and esteem of the Gospel, and make more evident demonstrations of it, I fear the Lord willx^uite remove the Gospel from them; and then nothing is like to follow but desolation and wok, God doth not remove his glory at once, but by 6tfeps; 'first,' " the glory of the Lord de^ parts from the inner court, to the threshold of the house,'' Ezek. x. S, 4; *^ from the threshold of the house to the door of the east-gate,^' verses IS, 19, " then it goes from the midst of the city, and standeth upon the mountain," chap. xi. S3* The Gospel is the glory of London, and hath the glory of the Lord made none of these removes? IS it not come forth of the inner c6urt ? Hatb it not left the threshold ? is not a departing of it quite from the city threati^ned ? Will any thing recover it, if we do not recover our appetite, and prize, and cry after it ?

If the Gospel go, God will go; the Gospel being the sign and means of his special presence ; and '* woe be unto us when God shall depart from us," Hos. ix. 12. And if God depart with the Gospel, farewell peace and prosperity in England ; nothing, I dare be confident, but temporal misery and ruin will be t&e consequence: if the eclipse bring such misery, what will the quite darkening of the sun do ?

2> The second sin of Londcn is unfiruitfulnest

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M suck a fertile 9oiL This ain luUh been an attendant upon, and a consequent of the former.

London was not only a Goshen, but an Eden; God chose out London to be hia garden, he hath hedged it, planted, watered, pruned and mannred it; no place in the world hath bad more plenty of the means of grace; God hath given the former and the latter rain; and sweet dews of heaven, both morning and evening, did fall upon this place: in the morning seed was sown, and in the evening the hand was not withdrawn; plentiful and powerful hath preaching been in London, in season and out of season, on the Sabbath-day, and on the week-day ; but hath London answered all God's care and cost? Hath not God come for many years together, seeking fruit, and found nothing but the leaves of profession ? Hath he not often threatened to cut down the unfruitful trees, and not suffer them to cumber his ground any longer ? and when, through the intercession of the vine-dresser, he hath spared them this year, and another year, hath not the same un« fruitfulness still remained? What could the Lord have done more to his vioeyard than he ha^ done? wherefore then, when he locked for grapes, brought it forth only leaves or wild grapes? And is it tl^n to be wondered at, if the Lord pluck down the hedge thereof, that it might be eaten by the wild boar and beast of the field, if be break down the wall thereof, and make it waste and desolate ? Is it to be wondered at, if he withhold the clouds that they rain not on it, and suffer briars and thorns to .spring up in it, wher^ the phmts did gsow ?

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The vsie; when it is unfruitful^ k the nost un-useful of all trees, Luke xiii.; laa. v. 4, 5, 6, Ste,; £zek. XT.; it is fit for nothing but the fire ; and the Lord hath threatened to gather the unfruitful branches, and to cast them into the fire and bum them, John xy. 6; and the earth which drinketh in the rain that often falleth upon it, and instead of herbs, meet for the use of him by whom it is dressed, bringeth forth nothing but briars and thorns, God r^eeteth and curseth, and in the end bumeth^ Heb. vi. 7- <

O the unfroitfttlness of London! > O the briarv and thorns which have flourished itt'thta ground, whereby the seed of the word hath beea choftked I O the hemlock, the thistle, and the. wormwood, that have sprung up in the furrows of the Md\ O the tares that have abounded and overtopped the wheat, and how little good com hath there been brought forth 1 O the wild olive-trees which have grown up in God's ^rdeo> and wild figs and wild grapes, which the fig-trees and vines ol* God have yielded unto him I O the leanness ^of his sheep in such fiit pasture !• O*the barrenness 1 the barrenness of London^ under such plentiful showers of the word 1 ** Instead of the fruits of righteousness, which are to the praise and gkfy of God," there have been the ^ fruits of unrigfa* teousness, and wickedness, which afe tot G<k1's dishonour t instead of the firuita of the Spirit^ which are love, joy, peace, gentleness, meeknessy temperance, goodness, faith;" there have been the '* works of the fleshy fornication, unolemw * pess, ksciviousness, hatred, variance^ emulaikions^ wraths, strifes^ seditions, hereaies> envyings^ miuNi

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derst dmnkainetv, revellitig«, and tnch Kke;^ of which the Apostle tells us, '' that they which do such things shall not hiherit the kingdom of God/' Philip, i. 11 ; Gal. v. 19—24.

And those who have- not ahonnded in the grosser works of the flesh, very few of them have been very fruitful in good works. London hath had the means of grace» and yet most of tfiem without gTBce, few of them have much grace. Lcmdon bath had powerfbl ordinances^ but what powerful effect have they produced? what have they to shew ijf all their prayers, and sermons, and sacraments? Have they attained unto a great measure of mortification ? Is grace grown up to a gnat height ? what evidences, what experiences have the best got, which they might have got, had they been more diligent ?

Give me leave a little more particularly to in* stance the unfhiitfalness of Lrnidon in regard of repentancci faith, love, and new obedience, the froit wliich God bo much kx^eth for, and so much ddighteth in. ''

(}.) Where have been the fWiits of repentance iff London? Calls there bave been to repentance, frequent, fbrvent: reason for repentance, sins nomeroUB, heinous: need of repentance, that judgmenu temporal, eterrfcil, might be diverted, that pardon, happiness, 'might be obtained; and yet, O the tmpenitency and hard-heartedness of London! fbw bleeding hearts under the sharp sword of the Word; little tenderness under die most melting dtscocii<ses; few converts and pent-^' tent persons did the most powerful pi^eaching^ (especlaUy before ^ Gofljpd's'^lipse) bring. fortfi»

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in London; converting work was at m great stand, though there were so many unconvetted persons in the city; and by the impenitency and hardness of heart in London, God's treasures of wrath hath been filled up, which, in some measure, be hath opened in tliese late judgments that he hath inflicted, and yet the great day of his wrath is still to come, Rom. ii. 4, 5.

(2.) Where have been the fruits of fakh in London ? How hath unbelief d[>ounded, the great Gospel sin, more dangerous than any odier, and Qoiore heinous in London than in any other place! O the thick vail of unbelief which hath hid Gospel mysteries, and things afar off fh>m the eyes of this people! O the evil heart of unbelief^ which hath shut the door against the Lord Jesus Christ, who hath knocked so long for entertainment I O the sottishness of London, to believe no more, when truths have been so plain and clear; when pro* miaes have been made known, so great and sure; when Christ hath been preached and tendered; and when heaven hath been revealed and'proffered; and when all have such need,^for the most to shut the eye, and ear, and heart, and through unbelief to refuse; to give God the lie, and turn upon him the back; to give Christ a wound, and tread bis blood under foot; to give the spirit a repulse, asad send him away grieved iVom. the heart, as men do by their unbelief: this sin doth provoke the Lord to great displeasure.

(3,) Where have been the fruits of low in Lod« don? O the want of love to God, and one to another! The grace of love is necessary and sweety and hath been nmcb pressed, but little

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exercised in London; there hath been mudi love of the worlds but little love of the Father; hatred of the brethren hath abounded, but there was little brotherly love; burning anger there hath been, little burning love; burning lusts, little buminff love; inordinate carnal love, little true spirituu love; carnal love hath exceeded the bounds* but spiritual love hath been in a very low degree | and when love in London hath waxed cold, is it a wonder if God's anger hath waz^ ao hot, and broken forth into such flames, as we have seen ?

(4.^ Where have been the fruits of ««fPo6ecUbice in London ? and expression of love to Jesus Christ, by keeping of his oommandmentSi though his commandments are nol grievous?

3. A third sin of London, it hypocruy in the profession of religion. This sin exceedingly pre* vailed in the late times> when profession of re« ligion was grown into fashion: religion was near m the mouths of most, but far from the reins: there was a general face of religion, but it was no inore than skiU'-deep; it was feated in the coua* • tenanpe, not rooted in the heart; how many

Eainted sepulchres had we in London, outwardly lir and beautiful, inwardly full of rottenness and wickedness; .how much sounding brass had . we then in our, street^: a great noise and stir hypocrites did make^ but they, were hollow at heart; our gold was most of it counterfeit; water we had instead of wine> and dross instead of silver.

O how was religipn abused! some made it a stirrup to get up by into the seat of honour; others made it a cloak to covfr Uif^^ l^ovetous

practices; many base and wicked designs were carried on under pretence of reli^'on.

It would take too much time to set forth hypocrites in all their shap^^ and to paint hypocrisy in all its colours. London hath formerly abounded with hypocrites, and more lately it hath not been free. - if hell-fire be the portion especially of hypocrites hereafter^ Matt. xziv. 51, no wonder then if Qod be angry with a place, and ponish it with plague and fire for this sin here.

^ 4. The fourth sin of London is, formality and btkewarmmss in the fporship of God, There was much formality when there was no form; and I suppose that ^orms have not quickened unto mdre loveliness; there was a face of worship indeed in London; and was there only, or little more, than a face in most places ? God is holy and jealous, ** a great king, and his name is dreadful," MaL i. 14. '< God is a Spirit, and they that worship him, must worship him in spirit and in truth/^ John iv. 24. But hath his worship been accordingly in London ? hath there been that spiritual wmhip which he requires ? Let London sariously reflect upon their carriage towards God in their devotions. Have they had a due awe and dread of the great name of God upon them, when they have seemed to draw near unto him ? have they worshipped him with reverence and godly fear? Outward reverence some have used, more than he hath required, in bowing at names and before places; but have they luid inward reverence and fear of God upon ^heir hearts? have they clothed themselves with

hamilityi when they have oome into hfs pretence ? bath there been inward fetroor and delight a^ companying their outward acts of worship?

Alas! how formal hath London been, espe* cially of late in God's worship; they have prayed, but what kind of prayers have they been? could they deserve the name of prayers ? were those prayers likelj to prevent judgment, or turn away wrath ? Some confessions of sin have been made, hut so general and formal, that they have been very unlikely to work up the heart to sorrow and repentance; and where some have been more particular, hath not much formality deaved to them? Where hath hearty grief for sin and sor** row been to be found ? would not a small vial hold all the tears that have dropped from the eyes of ^reat assemblies, even in the day of their solemn humiliations? hath not sin been rolled under the tongue when confession of sin hath been at the end of it ? have not the confessions of many been such, as if they csme to ask leave to commit sin, rather than humbly to bewail it ? at least, have they not taken leave, whatever their confessions have been ? Petitions have been made for pardon, and grace, and sanctification, but hath it not been lip-prayer, without hearty desire ? hath it not been in such a manner, as if they didrtot-mfich care whether they did speed or no? as if they could make shift well enough without a pardon ? as if they had no need of grace and holiness: but they must say something for form and custom. Hath there not been an enmity in the hearts of many against that which they have seemed to desire with their lips ? who

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have stirred up themsalvef to ky hdk! atiGi^d} Who have wrestled in prayer, with fervent desires, with faith, and importunity? Hearing^ there hath been in London, but how little be* lieving; how Ht^e rdishtng the word, aiii^d re-* oeiving it with love! Singing there hath B^en, but how little joy and melody of the heart in the Lord!

O how formal and luke-warm have Londoners been; how much of the Laodicean tenif:fer bave they had in all ordinances i And mighft not God say to London, as he did of old io Jerasalein4 Isa. i. Hi 12, 13, 14, '* To what purpose is the multitude of your, sacrifices unto' me?"&c. • Such services are to no purpose; they are vain worship, and do not attain the end thereof, either to profit hioi that oifereth him them, or to plesae him unto whom they are tendered. Can' suoh formal services be efl^ectual to procitre pardon^ or peace? can thefy bear tip the spiritin a day of trouble ? wtli not the morning cloud and eariy dew of such righteousness flee away and yaaish upon the approach of the ' sun ?. will not ^ch spiders' webs be, broken to pieces by a stDrmy wind ? How do formalists behave themselves, as if they had no religion, when they fall into tren<-l>lesl when God thunders by his judgments, what can a cold, fornial, empty pvayer do?' when Death appears before them with a gtim cotidte-nanee, what comfort can such reap by reflection on such services? what evidences iot' heaven can they gather from any of their outside devotions?

And are not they to as little purpose in resard

of Crod ? May not God ray nnto them of their fastings aiid prayers, ** Did yoa fast unto me ? did you pray at all unto me ?'' Zech. vil. 5. Or, as here to the Jews, that he was full of their serriees^ eren to a loathing; that he took no delight in them; and ** who hath required these things at your hands to tread my courts ? Bring no more oblations, incense is an abomination unto me ; I cannot away with your assemblies, my soul hateth them; they are a trouble to me, I am weary to bear diem.^ The Lord is much o^ fended with ibrmal, hypocritical services; hereby they flatter and mock him, and is he taken with flatteries? Such services are like a dead, cold, black, mangled, rotten, stinking carcase, without the soul and spirit, which must needs be very unsavoury and displeasing; they are like the lame, blind, halt, sick cattle, which were not fit to be oiiered up in sacrifice under the law, Mai. i. 8. " If ye ofier the blind tor sacrifice, is it not evil P and if ye ofier the lame and sick, is it not evil? Ofier it now unto thy governor, will he be pleased with thee?" And willOod then be pleased? Such persons, while they seem to serve God with their outward man, they serve the devil, and their own lusts with'their inward man: God hath the form sometime?, the devil hath the powers God hath the show,^ the devil hath the substance; God hath the bark, the rind, the shell, the devil hath the kernel; God hath the cabinet, the devil gets the jewel; they give Gfod the devil's leavings, and refuse, as it were, of their own lusts; for they spend the strength and vigour of soul an^ |^,,jg^^8erving

the devil, and gratifying their own lusts; and then think to put God off with any thing;

fiving him only some dead^ cold^ faint, empty, eartless, lifeless, outward services ; and even in them they are swayed by some carnal motives, which are the secret spring to the wheel of all external services. And O how abominable is all such worship in the sight of God I Hath not formality in worship been one sin of London which hath helped to fill up the Ephah? When the means God hath appointed for the turning away of his anger, is used in such a manner, that itself becomes a provocation, no wonder if his wrath break forth without remedy,

5. AJifth sin of London is division amongst pr4h fessors. Different persuasions have made wide bfeaches and divisions in London, and through divisions have arisen great animosities and contentions, unto the shame of Christianity and the Protestant religion; and hath .not God been provoked to anger hereby? Hath not he contended with professors, and by the coaunon scourge he hath brought upon them, called aloud unto them for a union, and more hearty accord and affection than formerly they h^ve had ? And hath not he given them liberty an4.qppof(unity, had tbey minded and cared to make use of it, for meeting together in order uuto healing? but havfl professors of different parties been sensible of God's meaning in the scourge upon their backs? have they hearkened unto God's,call? have they laid hold of and improved opportunities for dosingp their wide breaches? I hope some closing iif*5ftflfcction there hath been amonsst

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some ; but how rarely hath it been to be found; and when there are such breaches still amongst us^ is it not just with God to make further breaches upon us, as he hath done by his judg* ments.

6. A sixlh sin of London, is neglect of refor^ mation, — Neglect of^ 1. Person^, 2, Fatnily, 3. City, 4. Church — Reformation*

(1.) Neglect o£ personal reformation in heart and life.

Who in London have seriously and very diligently endeavoured the reformation of their hearts? when so unclesin and [Polluted, who have laboured to get them washed ? When sudti roots of bitterness have been springing forth, and such weeds of lust have been growing there, who hath endeavoured to pluck them up ? Outward neatness there hatH been in London, washing and rinsing, rubbing and scouring; but O the inward sluttishness! they who have had clean bouses and dean garments, and dean facfi,$ and hands, have had foul hearts. Who have. taken care every day to rinse and scour their inside ? to bring their hearts to the fountain set opep for sin and uncleanness; and to cleanse themipelves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit, that they might arrive every day unto greater perfecti^ in hoUness? they who have been careful to oress their bodies every day, have been very c^mless in dressing their hearts, neglecting to put on the white robes of Christ's righteousness, which alone can cover their spiritual nakedness and deformity; and to get the jewels of gnce, which

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alone can adorn the soul, and render it aimatxle in the sight of God.

Heart'Tvork is hard-work; smd it is so hard, that most have let it alone; they have been discouraged with the difficulty; the opposition of Satan and lust to this work, hath been so strong, ^at they have been quickly overpowered^ upon their first attempts and endeavours afler a change and rectifying of the disorders which they have perceived.

Hearl'tvork is secrei-fvorh Many have employed themselves in the more open work of religion, few have taken pains with their hearts in secret; many take heed to their tongues what they speak> and before whom; to their honds^ what, they do; to their feet, whither they go; but few take heed to their hearts; murder, adultery^ theft, and the like sins Have been committed in the heart by many, who would have been afraid and ashamed of the outward acts.

O the unwatchfulnes3 there hath been in London over the heart! Citizens have watched their gates, and watched their streets, and watched their houses; hut how few have watched their hearts, what cometh in, and what goeth forth; how few have set a watch before the door of their lips, and ears, and other senses, which are the inlets of sin, and upon their hearts, from whence are the issues of sin! How few have kept their hearts with ^11 diligence; how few have laboured to govern their. thoughts, to rule their passions, to subjugate their wills to Christ; and to delivfsr up all Uu^ affections to his dispose and obe-

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dienqs! Heart-reformation hath been much

neglected.

Who in London have endeavoured llfe^i^ formation as they should ? How few have there been effectually persuaded to put away the evQ of their doings, from before the eyes of the Lordj to cease from evil, and learn to do welL How few have broken off their sins by repentance, and thoroughly amended their ways, measuring out ffaeir actions by the rule of the word! How few have got the law of God written in their hearts, and the transcript thereof in their lives, exemplifying the precepts thereof in their conversa-tioQs ! How few in London have been like so many Epistles of Christ, in whom the will and grace of their Master might be read! Who have trodden in Christ^s steps, walking as he walked, and followed him in the way of obedience and self-denial? Who have shined like so man^ lights in dark places and times, adorning their profession, and living as becometh the Gospel ?

Great irregularities there have been in tha lives of most Londoners; little Gospel-reformation; little making religion the business; little holy exact living. If a stranger bad looked into our city, and observed the lives of the most, and not known them to have had the name of Chris-tians^ would not we have judged them tp be heathens^ yea many of them in their dealing tq be worse than Turks and Infidels? Thus personal reformation hath been neglected.

(2.) A great neglect there hath been of/a--mily reformation in London. How few have^ with Joshua, resolved, and accordingly endea-

Youml, tint tii^ and iheir homes ihoald i the Lord I How few have tet up veligiond Wdtf-ship in thbix fiimiUesl. Have not niany hundred houses in the city been withtot faniify prayer in them from one end of the week jto.die other ? and is it strange that th)& LordihathtJofcunled . down those houses wherein the inhabttaats madd not vouchsafe to worship him? And vdieie there hath bden some prayer in many &raHie^ it was bat once a day, and that so late at n^bt, and when the body hath been so tired aiid sleepy, «nd the sodl so dull and unfit for God*s service, that the prayers hare been no pmyers, ta^ lost prayers, such wfaidi, instead of pleasing him, have provoked him to anger? Hour few did labour to instruct their families, catechiae their children and servants; to bring them'np in the nurtore and admonition cf ^e Lord. Hath not God threatened to pour out hfs wrath spoQ; irreligious families ? Jer. x. 05.

(3.) liegiect of cittf re/onnaiion. Have Aot the magistrates of London been fauhy hewh^ Let them ask tlieir <oi^n consciences^ whether ta^fae uttermost of their power, acoordin]^ tothertrost and opportunity tite Lord hath put into their hands, they have endeavoured thei relbrmatioa of the city ? Whedier» acf God's uiiidelr->offieers, tiifey have improved their interest for the promotion of religion iln the flealous exercise, pf it ? yea, nehe-'ther they have put the laws made io execution against sabbath^breaker^ swtarers, drunkards, endeaVoiurii^g to find out and punish such offdb-ders?

(4.) Neglect of ckureh ?-|ffCi|»^^-Aad is

theneliia Uame to* be laid upon charch olBcert?

Hath ^kivt becfi tlwt aesl for, tmd faithftil exe*

cution of dutt'ch discipline, aocording to the

rules *of tte wofd? Hath ii6t the Lord JeMis

Chvkt been affroiiteci hi hit kmgly office, by sane

iwfaO'liiard impodedptveepts of their own upon

itum's oooBdefices, instead of viforoasly endes-

vodring the execution of his; and taken the

fHDWer of thekeys oot of the hands of those unto

.ibv^om'the Lord hath entrusted it, hereby ren-

■dering the Execution of discipline impossible, ac-

.oordt^ to the lavs of Christ? Have not the

tender and most conscientious lain nnder the

censures of some, rather than die openly profane,

:ahd scandalously wicked ?

^: Neglect of refomuitkm am I speaking of?

N^y> have not many who call themselves minis-

.tcrs; ehdearoared vather the overthrow than the

pronuition bf it? Have they not had sneers in the

pulpits at holiness and zealous profession, which

ifoey have seconded by a conversation of disso-

kilteness^ maliitioils opposition, and persecution of

<tli08^ espedajly, who have been the most reli-

<gioo»P Sad neglects there, have been of relbr-

mUtionJn' London, and that when London lay

<«nlie^ snck'obligations to Reform 3 as Christians,

4hfa!y were obiigedi by ^baptismal and renewed

•Tows^^ as • Protestants of the Reft>nned religion,

tbsy were' dbHged to endeavour a reformation;

iiyintereies they were obliged; and have they

been'onder no other obligatioiis ? And hath not

the negkct of relbrmation, notwithstanding all

obligations, rendered them guilty of disinge-

noity, infidelity, yea, of perjufyeitelfi% J verily

believe this is the great sin God is scourging London for; God is contending for a. refonna-tion, and if they do not endeavour it more vigorously, the sooner^ I fear^ he will bring desolation upon them.

7. A seventh sin of London^ is fearful aposiacu, and a spirit of compliance with the sins of the times. How many in London, who formerly were great professors, have discovered themselves to be rotten hypocrites; who, casting off the sheep's clothin<r, and laying aside all profession^ have given themselves up to dissoluteness and licentious living. Formerly they have seemed true penitents, and to "be washed from their iniquities;*' but they ** have returned with the dog to the.vomit, and with the sow that is washeol to the wallowing in the mire," 2 Pet. ii. ult. Formerly they have been swept a little within, and garnished outwardly with a fair profession; ** but the unclean spirit hath returned/'and without any great difficulty *'hath entered with seven worse spirits, and defiled them more than before, and made their last state worse than their first," Matt. xii. 43, 44, 45. I speak not so much of those who worship God in this mode, or that mode, and of alterations herein ; but of those, who sometimes professed religion, and now do not worship God in any mode at all; but wholly addict themselves to their lusts, and are ashamed to be called or thought to be religious.

They would not now look like a saint, or speak like a saint^ much less live like a saint. Thus have many, in our days, cast off all fear of God, and devoted themselves, with the bell-

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hoaficb of the times, to the serviee of the devil; resolving to do what in them lies, to promote the interest of his kingdom. And if some are a little more awkward in his service, and not altogether 80 like him, and such apt scholars presently, as others whose education hath been in his school ^m their childhood, jet they learn very fast, and wonderful is their proficiency in a short time; and in regard of apoStacy, they come nearer the image of the devil than those that have been always tutored by him.

Now, for any in London to forsake God, that they mi^ht serve the devil; to draw off from the ways of holiness, that they might walk in the ways of wickedness, doth cast a great slur upon God and his ways: they do, in effect, say, that the devil is a better master than God; and that the way bf sin, that leadeth to hell. Is more eligible than the way of holiness, which alone can bring to heaven. The Lord threateneth, ** that his soul shall have no pleasure in such" apostates, Heb. X. 38.' It is a Meiods, and we are to understand, that the Lord is highly displeased with such persons.

See how God pleads with apostatizing Israel,' Jer. ii. 9* 10,. &c. Wherefore I will yet plead with you, saith the Lord. Pass ye over to the isles of Chittim, and see, and send unto Kedar, and' diligently consider if there be any such thing. Hath any nation changed their gods, which yet are no gods? But my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit ! fie astonished, O ye heavens, at this, and be ye horribly afraid; be ye v^uJ^i^^, aaith

the Lord ; (bt mj peeple baTe.€omniltccl- two great «vils; they have forsakeitme, the fountain of living watera, and have hewn out unto'themselves broken cisterns that can hold no water.'' And hence Mlofwa, ver. 15, " The young lions risared and yelled upon him, and laid his land waste; lik cities are burnt without inhabiikant;" and v«r. 17, '' iThou hast procured these.things unto tfayarif, because thou hast forsaken the Lord tliy God:" and ver. 19* '^ Thy own widcednesa shall correct thee^ and thy badcslidings shall reprove thee; know, therefore^ and see that it ia an evil thing, and bitter, that thou hast fossaken the Lord thy God, and thait my fear is not in thee» saitli the Lord God of Hosts." And nay not God thus plead with the apostates of London^ and-punkfa Ibem as he did his people of Israel?

8. The eighth ns of London is deafenmg ike ear against all GodV caUs. The Leni haA called upon London by hia ministers^ bat they have been like the deaf adder, which will not hear** ken to the voice of the charmer; they have slopped the ears,. and turned away their shoulder, and made their heart like an adamant stone. God hath called by hie mercies; but this voice bath been too low, and they have slept the mere securely in sin. God^ after other means, hath called, by afflictions, first lighter, then heavier; and yet how many in London have, and still do walk contrary unto God, and will not return ta him that hath smitten them. They have been incorrigible under all God's correcting rods. When God spake by the pli^ue, they were a little awakened, but quickly^ |b<opt asleep again;

when mos i^a^newst a Httiv ofyer, liiey Moni to.theirtrades «gain, to thtir sins again^ tmt they do oat return unto the Lord. And when the judgment of the plague waa ao much loat, and incfiectttal far their good, this, no doubt, hath pravoiced God so quickly and unexpeeiedly td torn ^hts hand opoa them^ and bring the jodg-mmtf of ibe fire ; and if they will atill walk con-trasy to Gad» they nmst exfieet diat God will walk eontrary to ^ie», until ha have consumed

tiMIS.

9k. A niiUb sin qf London-it profmneneit, and a ioose^and frothy -^spirit^ MM&iatfy m the ifoidh and springing gener^Uion. J do Hat tax all; for I am eanfident tlicre is a eelneiss and a godly yonfth growing u|a. 'But • O that there were not reason to say* that the generality of yoath ie pr0f«id>>and wkked/ aa well as those who are gnKftn. note mature in wickedness 1 And this prolanenesa hath shewed itself in 1. Profane using GkhTs name; 2« Profane Inreaking of God's Auy ; S^ Proiisie soefflng at God's people*

1. Jn frtfeute uiing qf (j&ts name. How grossly iiafth the thud cammaiidment been broken in ^he city. How hath, the great and dreadlnl Banack of the Lord God, which diould make men td;itremble, in^ the mention of it, and eomrnamd their sj^its into awe and reverence, been vainly taken by many> and used to £11 up the sentence o€-their lordinary discoarse. And not only so, bnt.jhow hath the name of Ged been tossed in the- black mouths of the children of darkness, ai^dt'oven torn. in pieces by their hideous oaths andL.eaei^Ktioos. .What a he|i8|i^^jp5Q^|e hath

the iound of fUWraanthed oA^i i in the streets, enough toi make the hair stand on end, of one who hath a sense of the greBtile8at>f that majesty upon his spirit, which heveb^r m so audaciously affronted. Oh the swearing tinli hath been used hj Londoners - in bujing-and sdling I Many psrenis have been so iKldi^ed>to this sin in their families, that Uieir litde cilillilf» have no sooner learned to speak, but. they haTe also learned of them to swear liy, the .name of God, which hath been all the teaching of*iGod that they have given them; a deviMsh' tnwchiiig indeed, which hereafter diey wittcoraeand hiMiri them for in hell I

But if you sheuld hare laid your ears nnto tiie taverns, and ale-houses, and .whoreJasoseSy #nd other deyiUhousesy onee standing in London^-land hearkened, to die apeeches of nnny of the devil's imps, in: their drinking and gaming, asld other lewd practices, especially when a little croaaad and veied> O what Iwiguage- of vbittr ori^t haire been heard!. How, have those cukeedi idl» lains^ in the^heiAi.of their.wiine land^angervriiat vollies of Dittha in the face-nf the;iSod dfittea* Yen! and whetdng tfaeirttoagaeBi hkc' 8«-nhar|» siiotd, they lunre not feared to wonnd (tb^^i^mtm of God, when they have received any' inyor)r iran men. O what poison of asps faath' tfacrefibtoi' under thdr lips! but a worse poison lof< siniiin their heaitSv from the evB. treasure and attlin* dance of >whieh these oaths and faAasphenfieeiua^ proceeded.

But who can find, words to set fortii the-evil>of this sin, which hath not the temptation of plea-

sim^ wivantige, or honour, m other iint havoi and tiwrefore is a great argumeiH of a moostroua wicked hart? And who ean express God's dis-pdeasars'ibr this sin, for which he makes some-tiBics a whole land to mourn P And hath not this sin provoked die Lord to utter his angry YfAoe in plaguing and hurning the city, that they ingitt fbar tb abuse* his name any more }

(fiu) Jn profane breaking of Gott* tUof. Sab-bath^brcaking was an ordinary sin in London. I 8Sy not, it was so mudi broken m doing the ordbnry woriis of the particular callings, but in that which was worse: how many did spend the Sabbath in eating to excess and drinking ttli they w>ei« drunk, in'deeping, in walking into the fields, in sports, and recreations. Many wholly n^leoted the worship of God on that day; and instead of that did the devil more service on the Loid's day, than all the days of the week be* fltoes*-

IW many weeks of Sabl»ths which London had in the time of the plague, methinks did reprove London for their profaning of the weekly Sabbath: add the great fire, (1 will not call it hoi»«&:e, because so destructive to London) whkh woe begun in the city on die Lord's day, did re*-ptove London for those lesser fires, (I wUl not edlthem bon^^res, becduse so offensive to God) which not long before w^e kindled in the streets en that day, which called for ether kind of work; Not to spcttk any thing, whether there were any just occasion for those fires and ringing of bells, (meat of which were melted before they were

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rang 60 generally again) anid such a flhew of miBth and rejoicing at that time.

The citiemis carrying forth their goods, and lying in the fidds with grief and • &ar» wght put them in mind how often diey liad valked oat into those fields ^n the Lotd'« day for their recreation! when they should rather have been hearing the word preached, or if that wetv o«ar» cepeating it in their own fiuniiies, giving .and receiving instruction, or in their closets At the throne of grace, or employed in meditati(»i». As God delights in those that ca)l ^' his Sabbaths a delight/' and miUces sweet promises-to thena; so be is highly displeased wi^ Sabbatb«bieakerB» and hath denounced severe threatenings against them, Jer. xvii. S7* ** If you will net h«irken to mo'to hallow the Sabbath-day; I will kindle a fire in the gates of Jerusalem which shall devour the pakces thereto, and shall not be quenched.''

5. In pn^hne Meoffing at GocPs peopk,^ The name of a saint, and godly msny halb'besn ridiculous to many profane spirits in London^ and used by them in a way of «eproach. How have God^s people^ especially the more atiiot and aealotts, been made the drunkard'a. aang^ and laughed at in the streets. Horrid impietjr i as if it were matter of mors shame to be Hike the hdy God, than to be like the fi>ul devil i and to be employed in the work of angels, dun to drudge ia Satan's chains*

No wonder if God k apgry with such »^aot^ whire such yip&ts have bad thdr abode; pv»-

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iinisness is a great sin that hath broiight niia upon us.

10. A ienih tin of londcn i$ pride. This sin beng' so odious to God ; so destnictiye where it Sibfllimds; and so vnivenal in London; I shaQ speak of it the more krgrij, both in regard of the inward workings* aad the outward exprts* siene of ifr: iduch, when opened, I believe there are none that wiU be aUe to say they are wholly free from it«

{l.^Ixregmrd pf the vuvard workings afpridek Oh! bow haUk the poison of this sin enTenonied the sponlbi of the meat in a very high degree. How mkny self^admirers have there been in Jjcm^^sm, rriko have been puffbd up with an over* weening ooncseit of liieir own csicelleneies; whaiJiJgh, toweringi swelling thoughts have they had of themselves. What secvet self-pleamg, and lifting up themselves in their own esteem* Some esteeming themselves for that which is matter of shame; admiring themselves for their own wit and fMurts, when they have lain fallow* and not been employed for God» or when they hovie been employed to his dishonour; when they have been wis^ but it hath hten to do evil; when they have been men of understanding, but it faatk been to practice ini^oity; when they have had cunning craftiness^ hut it. hath been to de* ceive^ to defraud, and ctver-Teacb/or to plot and coirtrive others' mischief; when thev have had a ripe wit, quick understanding, rich nmcy» fluency of speech: but the employment hath been about toys and drifles, or that which is worse, when the vent bath been in foolish^ ei^j^v^^ompli*

tnents and courtship^ jesting with ^oripttire, scoffing at the rellgiousj or in dirty and obscene discourses.

Others have admired themselves, for -that which really they never had, but only iti theSr own imagination. Some fbr their parts and learning; thinking themselves great sehdkfs when none have thought so but themselves: others for their grace and godliness, wbed thev silver hath been dross; and their grace either counterfeit in whole, or so mixed with nnper-ceived corruption, that upon examination diey might find themselves very poor, in that whic^ they thought themselves so much enricbed with; and if they looked to the root and prindpfe of their actions, they might find great flaws, and deficiency in those things which they had tlie highest conceit of.

How many in London have had very faonourid>le esteem of themselves; preferring thetxiseHes above others, yea, above the whole world. Pew have measured themselves by the rtfle, but measured themselves by their owir ifo'tides, or by other men's esteem. How matiy have tboo^ht themselves to be something, when they have been nothing, and rejoiced in their actions as excellent and admirable, not fVom their own proof and trial of thfem by the word ; but from others' acceptation and commendations, and by comparing them with the actions of othef men, whom they have conceited themselves to exceed. O how have some lifled up themselves above others, looking upon themselves as far more worthy, without any real grourndj^ Aeir eye hath

been upon their own good things, overlookhig the secnet evil, because it cannot be seen b^ men: and their eye hath been upon others* evil thiMga» overlooking the good which hath been outtof ready view: their eye hath been upon their oH^n best things^ and upon others' worst things, aggipavating their faults, and extenuating their owth , TbiuB they have in thehr thoughts brought otbors down tbrovgh uncfaaritablenes^ and lifted up Abemselvea upon the ruins,. which their un-charitableness hath made in others' worth: and when they have had greater esteem because of tf)eir greater show, wis opinion of themselvea hath h^ea confirmed; whereas, in truth, others who made less show, and had less esteem, have had more siqcerity, and secret hidden excels lency^

I might further trace the inward workings of pride in the self-love which it hath effected; what a marvellous affection have proud persons had towards themselves, notwithstanding their ugliness and spiritual deformity, the rottenness ^nd corruption within them, and many lusts of their hearts; all which pride hath covered, and a thousand &ults in themselves, as charity doth coyer a thousand faults in others; pride hath put a fdir gloss and varnish upon all, and represented men to themselves as very lovely and amiable. Pride also hath chosen for such, their friends, -wfho have been loved, not according to the worth which those persons have had; but according to the estimation those persons have had of their winrth, which, if those have fallen in estimation, thme h»ve.£men in affection*

I m%bt shew the wcwkings of pride, in the hatred, anger, spite, revenge, which it hath efiected, when it hath met with disesteem ac slighting: the grief at the subtraction of its fuel and provision; the solicitous thoughts mad cares concerning, and eager progging, and pursuit after others' commendations; tl^ stocm of obbs* motion and disturbance which this wind hath raised, when the tide of applause hath nm-another way; the complacency and delight it hath yielded in drinking out of a full stream c£ others' esteem, in chewing the cud, and revolving in the mind the praise of men* But. so mu(£ concerning the inward workings of pride*

(S.) Concerning the outward exjpretsms of pride, and that,

1. In the speech: London hath been grossly gviity. in boasting and vain glory. What conspany could you come into alsaost, but ytiu ahouli fi£id maay boasting spirits ? som«lbaming ontthe shame cf their own pfaise in high eYprestions>> attd ^direct self-oemmendiitioria^ (without any r^ardtoO«d'« glory« self-vindtQatiotoy ^aople^ oroe^toment; in which cfliaea, modestly and spark^ly to do it» may be lawful and a dtttyi) iMt they hav^.doBtf. it only to be well i^hought on». asd-admired; others dri^elting out tteiroiirn .>fH*aises:more jdily-and indirectly ;^but aChrtstiaikofeycisaiid'bmnsy might eAsily .perceive that the drift, and scope of the diaoQtrse^hath. been self, and a tacit ^SB^'^ ^^ • good opbiion. As if one sh/ooM say, " Pray friends, think a little better of me.; pray havome higher in yoor esteemt for.lo say the truth, by this I give you to undecstttid that

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I am a very i^dtthy person.^ Maoy we shall find very forward to ** declare their own goodness^ bat few ftkhftir in speaking forth the jftfaises of Qod; yea, many there have been, wte have discommended themselves, not that they might fall, but rise in esteem. Thus some rotteiihhearted hypocrites, as full of pride' aa they can hold, and some sincere in the main, yet too much like them, have spoken so meanly of tiiemselves, and so mneh against themselves, as none other would do; and what hath been the'design ^ even that they might be accounted hamble 3 and therefore they have taken care in their self^commendations, to speak of nothing but common infirmities, concealing their more gross faults; and those common infirmities, ki a mourning and complaining way, as if they were very sennble of them, as if afi^ected, alBicted, md burdened wHh them (as the bumble^ sincere @kriatian is indeed) that they might be esteemed fbr> aeniability oftanall finulta; and then they faa>eUkin eare't» tkf^, not to those that are mbrerigid^ severe^ aapd^iek^stghted Christkms, that ^eald qerickly have smelt out dieir^pride; bivt-uato'tho6^, which they have looked upon as^tbe most tender, charitable persons, who are i^ady heKby-to advwnee them higher in esteem; or weaker Christians, who are ready to confbsa mere evil of thfemsfelves. And when they have tbvs spoken against themselves, they have not i^ly tbooght so, but tlie contrary ;> but they have s^ken so, that they might be bontradicted, and oommend^d to their faces; if they thought thev should have falkn in esteem by such words,

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atiBf wmftd bwe beU tiieir peaee;; kn%, boc^lise tboy iuppoeed dM^omooiendalicHi migbt in«st eSec* toidiy proimote tlwrn, and (k<iw.out,ii gocMJlv^nd^ therefore tbey 2M«ve patd it. Pf oud bypioc^tes speak ill ot tbew^el^es.tbat Ihey may be m^ counted .humble; ..they cannot .^d»re to ,be iiwnble; liiey care aot for* the gcac^^ yei» <b^ hate it; yet th^. woald be-thought to.bafe i% be«aw8e it doth pr<^mote ^esteem; they love^^the. reward^of bttiiftiUty» but they care not for humility itaelf; they love humility in others, beeau«e aucb persona will stoop to them; but tb^ love not hamility in themselves, for tbey wiU stoop to none.

Thus some alsQ> out of a secret design of priiie» have discommended others behind their backs» that they might be thought to exceed th^a^i whom they could correct, and find fault withal; tti€^ have laboured to brin^ down others, that they might set up themselves. And the awoae design of pride they have had in commendifig Uhevs to their faces, and exalting them io^ wmtcU aboye themselves, not from a real esteem which they have had of i^m above themselves; .bqt only that they might draw &rth a commiindatioQ &om them; such expressions of pride have been to be found in professors, and have bee^ m^ve .latent.

2. Pride in clothes hath been mor^'gvm* emd o^n, and general in tj^e city* We read of the pride of the daoghtersof Jerusalem, Isaiah iii. Ifi, &c» '' They were haughty, an4 walked with stvetehed £a«ib n^oks, and wanton eyea^ walking ^d mincing as thqy irientr ^d n)aki|ig atinkUog

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witbilleir feet;** and what it ivm Ihey wera pi^d of^ see from rer. 18 to ver. 25. '' Their omoiiients, their caals, their tires, their chaint, their bracelets, their mofflers, their tablets, their head-bands, their rings, their iewels, their change*-able suits of apparel/' and the like. Aiid hsth there not been this pride in Ijondon? Were not th» daughters of London like the daughters of Zion for pride and haaghtiness ? Was there any plaee in England that ooold shew such pride of appartel as London could shew, which not only the female sex were guilty of ^ Were there any fashioos, though never so aatiek and apish, which London did not presently imitate ? Who can count the cost which hath been lavished out in dothing and rich apparel; some pinching their belHes and laiaiHes to lay it out on thto lust«

This pride of apparel is very shameful and ab9inrd> clothes being Uie badge of apostacy, which were not made use of till after the fall» therefore the word Baged, which signifies clothings comes from Bagad, he prevaricated ; atid it is as if a thief' should be pnoud of his shackles, or any malefactor of his mark of disgrace: at least the gaudy attire of many persons hath signified theemptine^ and fiwthy mind within ; and l^at they have had nothing to set them forth^ bat their clothed.

I might also add, the pride, which the daogh* ters of London have had cyf their beauty, though It be but skin-deep, and the body but a skin-full of dirt, and the choicest beauty without discretion, like a jewel hanged at the e»^or nose of a

swine: and the Loid kno^m whai; inon^tixHU, and defiled, and deformed iimides, the 111O0C of those have had, who have been so fisiir and adorned outwardly. Many in London have been pfovid of their fine clothes, and fair faoes; and oitbe)» ef their fair sh<^, and stately houses: piide has hung about the neck like a chain,, and covei?ed them like a garment,, instead e€ Ae clothing and ornament cf humility, whieh btfote God is of so great price.

Now God is highly ofiended with the .mi of pride, "God resisteth the proud," 1 Pet* v. 5; he doth, as it were, set himself in battle array against them. "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty i^irit before a fall," Proir. mm, 19^ Pride was one of Sodom's sinsi which city was burnt with fire from heaven, Etsefc. xyL 4^ The Scriptures speak of three cities that were burnt for this sin of pride amopg other sins, namely, Sodom, Jerusalem) and Babykm: aind may not London come in far a fourth? The botches, and blanes, and loathsome sot^s in the bodies of many, when the plague was in Lofidan; and the burning of so nmch fiiel of pride, l^y^tbe fire, methinks were averj' load reproof and rebuke of London for this sin.

11. An elevenlhisin vf LonioHt u firings of bread, or inUmperanoe u^ etfOng} tbia waa anothet of the sins of Sodom^ God did feed London with the finest of the wheat, and gave* plenty of com, and fiesh, and other provisions; but how have they abused plenty by their intemperance and luxury. O the excessive feasting in halls, and private houses, of them wl^ose estates have beei

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»'pleiltiiM! Wlkat indolgitkg hath there been to the Appetite, as if self-denial in regard of the appetite were no duty, or an enemy, and with thepeor to be shut out of doors! What curiosity of palate and daintiness have many in London hadv »o that air, earth, sea, must be ransacked to please them, and all would not do i what lolling have they had of ordinary food 1 Many good creatures of God must be cut, and mangled, and spoiled, to make them new dishes; which; however {^easing, have but sp^nled their stomachs, and brfed diseases in their bodies. Some have not eaten much, but they have been so choice, that scarce any food hath pleased them; and that not through sickness of body, but wanton* neeir of mind: others have been pleased with their food, and over-pleased, and all their pleasure hath been therein; all /'whose God,'' as the s^MMlle speaks, Phil. iii. 19, ** hath been their b«l)y/' Soch, like the rich man, Luke xvi. 19, '* have fitfed sumptuously and deliciously every day;^'0 the excessive cost that some have bestowed upon their tables daily! O the excessive ^antity of meat that some have devoured! O the ekoesrive liae that hath been wasted in pampering the flesh! What rioting and banqueting bi^ there been daily in London, many feeding tbeiKlsrives without fear, as if glpttony were not any sin at all. How many have been like fed hones in the city, or like fatted oxen, who, as the Apostle James speaks, "have lived in plea-surest amd been wanton, and nourished themselves as ia a day of slaughter,^' James v. 5. And as Ho»< xiii» 6. « According to their pasture, ac

were they filled; they were fiHed, and their faevrt was exalted, therefore have they forgotten me.^ .

This kind of intemperance hath bo strangely 1>rutified many, that they have been evco d^ generated into beasts, only that they have beefei more unuseful; for hereby they have unfitlied themselves for all kind of service, as if they were bom only to eat: but withal, they have prepared themselves for those ruining and slaughteting judgments which have come upon the city.

12. A twelfth sin of London is idUness* A consequent of the former; '^ only that idleness" hath been more general: this was ako « atnof Sodom; I will not say but many citizens' •f London were diligent in their callings but how many idle vagrant persons were there in the city ^ What idleness in many of the youth, if* not h^ in the more strictly; and some breaking foidi, and lavishing awny stolen time, whicb wiis not at thehr own- disposal, whatever* strietness was used! Moreover, what an ill esMBfAo for idle* ness did many governors themselves give to their children and servants! When masters wero idle abroad, no wonder that servants were idid at home; when mistresses were idle in their cham* bers, no wonder if the kitchen did imitate.

Though eating, and drinking, and dotbng were necessary, and called for some time; yet the excess of time spent about these thniga, if not worse, was no better than idle time. Many, especially of the females in the dty, have spent so much time in the morning in their beds, if not in sleeping, at least in idle foolish fimeies, and so much time after in neat and curioos

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dnmCnfMiiv bodKt»i^ Am% tbey have liad no time M6r^ dinner f«r prayer or reading, no tsme'to dren their soub; and the afternoon beinf^ fkf spent in eating and drinking, and the reat of Ae time hath run away mther in visittpge or entennnaents, wherein, (if not worse) Yain, idle« onprofitahlb things have bem the chief* if not the only subject of their diaoourse: and by that time they heve ag«n refreshed them with food at night, they have been too sleef^ and unfit for prayer, and the serrioeof God. And thus many cnelees women in the city have lived in ease and idleness from one end of the week, and one end of the year» unto another. But methinka the (Lord hadi, by ba» terribfe things in London^ spoken tinto thnn much in the same Iwguage as he did, Yea* soxii. dT*<>ll. ** Rise up, ye women that are at ease^ hear my Toioe ye careless daughters, 'gtve ear to my speech, many days and yean nhrf] ye'be tronbled, y careless womens ttenable ye women: that are at ease, bar troubled ye oaeeless ones, sftrip ye, snake ye bare, and gird sackdoth npon yourloins."

B^ I would not.charge this sin of idleness only upon the ftmale sex t many men have been more sfaaueftdly gutky, especially those who have nia^qpent ao mudi time in gaming, (not to speak of dressings eating and drinking, and other tiado-Gonsnnnngsios, whidi are reproved in their pr<^Mr place.) O the time that: many have spent in gaasing I Some recreations^ wherein the body is exerci^d, may be lawful and necessary at some tinK8<; so tiiey do not steal away too much of thehr time and affectioDSi btt|,ii»f ^g^fl^ilo flit a^

N

gtm^ as hard as ^scholars at their books, what rational plea can be used for such wicked idleness ? Thus silver and gold^ and great estates have been consumed; and O the golden, hours, die days and nights, and predoos time, that have been lost in gaming! Thus some have run out of all| itod resboved into die counti^y to hide their shame, after their high port iti the city; tome have gone into the high-ways, not to beg, but to do that which is far wbrse, which iri some hath had a dreadffal conclusion. And not only this kind of idleness hath brought poverty, but also that heedless, slothful sph-it, Which mai^y of the dty have had in their callings; which hath made them blemislies to the city, and hith been an helper on of our Tuih.

* 13. Aihirteentk hin ef Ltxndon is unmerdftd" ne^k, another of Sodom's- sins, Ezdk; xvi. 49. ** She strengthened not the hands of the poor and needy." I shall Dot blame the whole for tfhis sin, for the charity of London hath soittaded Ihrou^out the land, and throughout the world. But yet have not manjr of the great men of the dty been guiky of unmadfblness, who^ thottgh more able, yet have been ites forward to o6n«« fribute to thfe i^lief of such as have been in distress? It hath been the comfort of snme who have lost much by the fire, that they had saved what before they had given to the poor, by putting it out of the reach of moth, or rust, or thieves, or flames of fire. But O, what marble-bowels have some had towards the poor! so that they could, (whatever* abundance they had by l3iem beyond what thems^l^'fi 4ii()t^|git) sor that

thcjr wotfld as soon givo so vuiiiy drops of disir blood, as pieces of money, tbough to help soma of tb^ needy ^nd distressed nembers of Jesua Christ: not considering that the Lord Jesus is th# heir of all things* and whatever estate they had, they were but his stewards; and that relief of the needy is a debt, which, though nan cannot require, it of them, yet God can; and it is un-equals if for want of payment of God's debts (which th^ owed out of their estates, by virtue of Gpd's command, to the poor) if the Lord hatfi diapossessed them of his bouses, and burned them with fire, and tak«n away part of the estates which he gave them, because they have employed them no mora fyr his gloiy.

14. A faufieenth mn qf Umdm is undeait-ness, another sin of Sodom; their sin indeed was unnatural upckannessr I would hope that this sin hath been little known and piactised in the city. But fornication and adultery have been too common. Indeed, there hath net been that boldness and impudence in this sin as elsewhenea there hath not been that whoreVforehead so generally in London, and dedariog the iniquity like Spdotn: but lot Uie consciences of many Londoners speak, whether they have not been secretly guijUy of this sin ? Wpuld it not be a sbi^me to tell of the qhsmbering^ and wantonness, and privy lewdness which bath beisn committed in LopdoB? Suppose that in all the remaining churches the sin of ^ undeanness should be re* proved.; and al\, bath men and women, that have b^ti actually guilty of it» should be forced by ail, inwvd sting of con^cas|iwJf^ formerly

those were upon the "wotdt of our 8irt!oaf;^lmt acemed the woman taken in adultery)' ifMI<e-diale]y to j^ forth oot of the place: what a stir would there he in some churches; what an emptying of some pews; what a clearing of some aisles; ahd how few Woiild there he reirrafiithig in some places!

Suppose a visMe mark were put hy God upcm ifie foreheads of all the adulterers in the dty '6f London, as God put a mark upon Cain 'afler he had been guilty of murder; would not mAny, who walk now very demurely, and with iMueh seeming innocency, walk with blushes ib ^eir cheeks? would not many keep house and 'hide their face, and not' stir abroad except'Iri the night? 'or if in the day; would they-not shuffle through the streets,'and hate the fashion of Mttie hats, and the court modeof weatmg them behiud their head; and rather get such wiiose brims are of a larger size; which might the more eon« vcniently cover their brtyws? And w^Mild' not many unsuspected and seevftingly modebt women also, stain their cheats with a vermilibn''dye upon their husbands' or friends' search into Iheir countenance? would not many of them walk with thick hdods, and wear continurily-deep forehead-dotbes, as if they were troubled with a perpetual' headach, diat they might hide ^leir shame from the view of man ?

This sin Is so nasty and filthy, thatwhatever swini^ pleasure is found in the comnrission of it, usually those that are guilty (unless the brc>w be brftss) are ashamed that it should be known: the hdy and jealous eye of GoN^J^^^seen them

i^ihj^.HUbineas; their secret •ins are set in the li^t of his pountenaoce, which above all should iltal^e them ashamed; ** Whoremongers and adulterers Cod \^ill judge," Heb. xiii. 4, which above aU should make them afraid.

1 have heard of Smithfield hauiitf> and Moor-field walks, whither there hath been too great a r<;9prt from the city under the shadow of the wiqg3 of the night, about these deeds of dark« ness; the words and signs which such lewd perspns bave used to signify their minds one to aaother I am unacquainted withal: the many whore^houses, under the name of ale-houses, about London, by report, have had too many customers: and if the constables had been 9S jealous at other times, as they were when the strict press was in the city, to disturb those conventicles, thev might possibly have found more of that coait, ana tribe^ who should have given better example.

If there have not been public stews in London, ^ in other cities in the world; yet have not some made their own housei^ little better, some men bringing in their wbprea in little better than public view; and of the other sex some by the open wear of naked breasts^ and their light attire ^nd carri^e, hav^ enticed the eye and courtship, and afler, basely prostituted their bodies to the lusts of filthy ruffians. O the boiling,. burning lusts that have been in London 1 O the wanton eyes and looks! the speculative undeanness, and secret self-pollutions! the obscene and filthy j^peeches ( the toying.and lustful dalliances! and the fiross actual uncleanness which God hath

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been w&ft«98 td efexy day'in Londmt TSxhrsim of uQcleannefts dotb (MMase Ibe spbit; mdde «t. first after Go4'« owo ima^; dk;filei- bbth sodL «iii -body, which fhoold be the tempte of the ^Hiily : Ghost; «i»d renderB men unfit ^ /ooinaitnit]a> with an holy God, Y/k^ is of' such pare eiye^tha^ he caanot approve of th^ leasb idiqilityV'niu^ less of this, wbidi ia so grbas;' and'not only m,' but 4oth exceedingly provoke him iu^tomngptmod . jealoaey. - *

This may be one sin that hath brought down sueb fearful jiidgnkents upbn the city; wisreadof twenty«andrfourr^hot»sand men that fbU.inone day by jthe pl^ud^ for the sin of fomaaiitidtty -Numb. XV. 9* And have not many thouaatid inhabitants and habilatioils of Londoti fallen fdr this sin ?. It i| said of the laraelftes^ Hoi. vh. 61 *< They have made ready ^ir heart like.an ovnen'; whjUe they lie- in wait; their iMker ^eepeth All night; in .the morning it bopnjsth aa.a^Aaibing fire." ' JEiave not the hearts ^f many in lioiBdon been 'like im <oiteo £ot lutt» And thisms^ves like bakers putting fbel into it, .and ts^rnng k'u|r; ar»$tif whilst they have} laiii in wait^j and^h&ve: notr^had present ,opfH»rtteity £oV' satis€i)3feion of iheir'iists, they have* seemed to'be'a^leep^ no sooner !hat^ ihe morning It^t^fs fitotcasion offered itself to'their'adukerois ey«s> but tthehr adulterous!iheiHts ^have hitn)dd'#idyn ttien^ and. broken forth into a fiamihg Ifire^ in tte aotiial commis^ohtyf thesio. ' ■'

And hath tbis'lDieea the praotEee «nly of the court, and'of Westminster side? ' Hatfa not the cursed leaVen of this cortimopjP5,.^f^l*e

s]niead.^belf jiUd in the city 7 Therefore the LfcRTcMilso h«tb made nadf his wrath aa in on h6tiove»; and though like a haker he hath seemed ia-M^p t^hSe he lay in wait, and delayed to ex« eente liit'judgnenU | yet in the morning of his gtfealt pmnrooation, hy this and other sins, his anger hadi: broke forth like a Gaining fire^ from whence that fire hath been kindled which hath bamt the greatest part of London down to the ground, Jer. V. 8, 9. When " the Israelites were like fed herees in the morning, every one neighing after hks heighbar*8 wife;" the Lord speaks to them in his wrath, ** Shall not I visit for these things? Sfaail not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this r

%^, A fifleemh ^in ef London is drunkenness. This sin hath been more visible and apparent; I believe that scarcely any nation under heaven hath proportionably more taverns and ale-houses tlKOt England, and no pYace in England so many as Dondbn/aiid its adjacent parts r and of all the xasctef tfaousBndi^ of these houses, I believe there hstk been scaeee'any font oould give many instances of this'sin^ besides^ the many private hitases' iwfaer^ ^is' sin haith' been practised. How have men '^ risen ^mlj in the morning, to Ibllow * Strang drink, and Continued onto night, till wine inflamed them," isa. v. 11. "Come ye, say they, and I will ^tbh wine, and we will fill our-sdlvefei iwith strong drink, and to-morrow shall be as this day, and much more abundant,'' Isa* Ivi. Pi^^ The iDomeiss and. beds fall of vomit, the reefings about the streets, the contentions and wranglings, ^* the wounds witlj|U|5§|^^|he red-

nesaof the eyes/'.aijKi such like, hivv.e li^p M>o evident a demonstration of mep!s '^ tarryipg tqo long at the wine/' and distempering, themselves with excessive drinking, Prov. xxiii. 29* 30^ To be overtaken with drunkenness is a. great ain> which makes men more brutish than their very horses, who will not exceed their measure in drinking, except they be forced to it by barnacles : and if none in the , city had yielde4 to receive the drench of a cup beyond th^ measure, without barnacles upon tbe^ npses, } suppose, that with their horses they, would have beep ipore

. sober; and hereby prevented many distempers of body, and worse distempers of mind; apd, which

, is wprst of all, much dishonour of God^ a» well as of themselveSji which excels in this kind bath been the cause of: but for men to follow after this sin, and i9.ake it their trade and common practice, to delight in it^ and seek for their Qod and chief happiness in a cup of wine or ale, and to, grow men of might in drinking; to exceed the bounds by many degrees without reeling, to entice others to it, yea^ to force them to drink healths (that ungodly practice) which .could not in the least promote another's health, but was likely to destroy their own, throvgh the exjce$s which such |>ractlce# do introduce; to take pleasure in drinking down others under their feet, and after to glory in their ^hame and wickedness; this is a sin that doth so far exceed brutish, that it becomes devilish,, and doth highly provoke the Lord to pour forth his fury like water upon the places where such sins are committed.

And hath not L,ondon been euijty.of this sin of

ifi^ui^K#6ne8S^ with thu aggrtvadott of it? Hsve h6i -tiome 6f London'^ ixidgistrates been g^uiltj, wh6 shoaki h&te punished this sin; and too ihaxry ministers, who should have reproved it both by word and e)enmple of sobriety ? And for such'to Be ieeti drank and reeling in the rtreets, ^1^^ Tery shamefut, and a great provocation. Rifiv^ not the late judgments in some sort p<yrnted out thife sin? the dizziness of head and reeling of persons that have been smitten wMi the'^lague; the flafming of the heart of the city, iidlS reeling of the houses, and tumbling of them to the ground by the fire, methinks were a re* |h^f dT the dizziness and reeling about the streets and houses of such persons as had inflamed &tih dlstempened themselves with exeessive drink* ing.

16. J sixteenth rin cf London it perverting of judgment. This is a God providing sin: " when none calleth for justice, nor any pleadeth for tfuth; whto men make to themselves crooked patli's, and there is no judgiteeht in their goings; yea, when judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth n,fkr off, «id (futh is fallen 16''the Streets, and equity cannot enter; when trii^h faileth, and he that departeth' from evil rakketh himself a prey,** Ac. as the'prophet speaks, Isa. Irx. 4, &c When magistrates are ''lovers of gifts, and followers after rewards; when'they judge not the fatherless, neither doth ake cause of the widow cotne unto them ;** then th^ Ldrd crieth, ** Ah! I will ease me of mine adversaries, and avenge me of mine enemies," Isa. i. 1 3, 24. I cannot charge l.^]^^f^^\y with

this sin; not having been myself present mad) in their courts of judicature; and I would hope that justice hath taken place here^ as much as in most cities in the world: but when I read what the Lord saith concerning Jerusalem^ Jer. v. 1, *^ Run ye ijo and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and see now and know, and seek in ihe broad places thereof, if ye can Gnd a man, if there be any that executeth judgment, that se^« eth the truth, and I will pardon it:" and when wiUud I consider' the dreadtiil judgments of God upon the city of London, whereby the glory of the magistracy and government of the ^ity is 9f^ much stained; I would submit it to enquiry, whether there hath not been a failure and per<» verting of judgment in the city ? whether bribes and rewards have not blinded the eyes, and th^ e^ge of the law hath not been tumied against wdl-doers, instead of evil-doers? whether the fatherless and the widow have pof been seni weeping to their heavenly Father to complain of injustice ? It is not a time to cover ibults, but to confess and leave them; least unavoidable ruin come upon us when it will be too late.

IT> A seventeenth sin of London is ,covetouS' ness. How universally hath this sin reigned in the city; so that it may almost be said of London,, as it was of Jerusalem, Jer, vi. 13, " From the least of them even xinto the greatest of themj every one is given %o covetousness." Tho$e lyhp have been free from gluttony, drunkenness, adultery, and the like expensive sins, have on. the other hand, addicted themselves to the sio of. CQVi^usness. I do not charge all, but O, how

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almost universal hath this sin amonj; tradesmen been; which has evinced itself both in. their getting and keeping riches!

(1.) In gelling. What eager desires after the worlds and the obtaining an estate by their trades! What studies and consultations, what facking the brains, and torturing the wits, to find out the best way of thriving in the world ! What earnest prosecutions have there been, and laborious endeavours, rising up early, and sitting up late, and wearying the body, and the roind all the day, eating the bread of carefulness, and mingling the drink with solicitousness, crowding up the whole time with worldly business, so that their own health hath been disregarded, as well al8 the Worship of God neglected in the families of these worldlings, and all to scrape a little worldly riches together, which some have missed o£, not* withstanding all their endeavours; and if they have obtained, yet they have remained more poor in contentment, than when they were more poor in their estates; for as their estates have increased, so their desires have increased, and been farther off from satisfaction ; as they have enlarged their shops and trades, and wealth bath flowed in upon them; so they have enlarged their desires like hell, and, like the grave, have never said. It is enough : when they have added bag to bag, and house to house, the more cares and fears, and sometimes piercing sorrows have accompanied their gains; but far have they been from finding the contentment and comfort in their riches that they looked for.

(2.) This covetousness hath ^ppf^g^Jf^ *«^/?2«'^

J, I «fff, fyt^^mt-

dhovgliln iwniMj Mill, whaftdwyluiveMi)^ loee^: tiief luive had wmMi, but tile'iii^'iitf ir tiwjriuiivnotluid; it faatlibeefi to diem lik^(& tranoie in a chest, ^ vliidi Uny iNid* ¥oA fl^ key; or like anodM mra's nioiie/Hn ttwh: iMo^ ing,^HuditlMyiniistMotiBeddlewiliiali> ^jVk»^ ever lAMiiidMiee they havelMid in the biigi miliW the coffer, their famifiee bive been in W«nt I- 'th«; table hath been penurioos, the back and'blBfljr hmre been pinched; they have llted tft a Ineifeaer rata than those that have been of a meftubr degree. The poor might starve at tiieii' d6oi«r;' no pity towards oChera in want and iniset^y) ksA the kaat pi^ towards themsetveg; whiM'th^J^ have saved, for (ear least afterwards th^'dUMM want, they haveaO akmg wanted, Whikt me)r fcii^ been saving; and it may bent his^ th^/.Wr«1dM what they have been keeping, to the iAestpreflitW grief, and it may be, breaking of th^ll^; hfeamii which have been so set npen llies^lliilings. •' ^'^'• This sin of covetousness in some hlatll 4}lid deepei^ rooting, in most bath bad too n^A'^f^ ing; and in all hath been v^ henioas' iitid ^M»*^ minable before God. This sm is termed UiAtkty in Scripture, and the covetous are "^^^icua^&i with the name of iddaters, Colos. iii. 5p. Exiles. v. 5. It is heart^idolatry forbidden -hi thtf "fiMt commandment. Thut thing we mttke A' God ti» ourselves, which .w« chiefiy rfffcct,- if^'itibfe'tfei? world, then we make the world our Gdd^'^Whic^ is inoonststent witb ^ tree love of G^ the Fathte, the only true God. 14^)(8i[4fg^J 5r»l-ftve

not the worid, neither the things that are in the woMi if aay man love the worn the love of the Father it not in him." Thi^ tio of eoveCottioeel is hateful to Ood And pfo9r6kea,lus wrath» Isa. ivit,.17^ ** for the iniquifi;^ of his covetoosnesa was I wiothj and amote him.^ Hath not God smitten London with the plaguy and 6re, among other iniquities^ for this iniquity of eoTetousness^ When "Laadon was eagerly pursuing after the vorld» and all miadiug ankd sedciog thdr own iBterest> without any regard to the interest of God's gloiy and kingdom^ or care of their soid* interest and salvation, which their worldly buai* nesa would not allow tine for; did not the Lord send a.plague, to put a stop to their trade; and give them time to seek him» and to make dieir peace with him in their retirements^ which they eonld noti or rather would not And hefore? And when they returned widi more eagerness to their tiudfiSy 4iftar the.plaf^ue was n little over» that ths^ might fetch up, if they could, what they had missed hy that intermission, did not the Lord send m. foe to consume much of that which they had set Iheii; hearts upon, and in large legible letters write vanity 4ipon this idol, whu^ so many bad worshipped f Let London consider, ami lay to heart this sin of oovetousness*

18. The eighicaUh sin cf London is ejOortkm* Thus covetouaness hath expressed itself more grossly in some* I shall not here discourse con-* ceming usury; but the extorting use, which some have Uken of those who have been in want; the taking use upon use, and grinding the faces of the poor in their distress, no doubt is a great sin*

* Digitized by VjUUgT*::

And ^efjf «|9^siv9 to <Socl How wm ^tar4 11011^9 &v^ tliere been in Loodon, HKbolmte iui* jricb^d tbemselves by icopoverishii^ of>4xtfae;rs; y who, pABtiog «fter thq dust of the earth <m the head of the poor," haye lent nKHiey to thcmi Pot for theM belp^but to qatcb tfaeoLat aiti«draQt4^ Ibat 9o» without qaorcyi tb^y tmgfattea|cb.4iwa.y all that tb^y b^« .not levying tbem so ofucb ^s a 4^ to, lie.oii? Thus aome have been like liona fop: cicactHy* wd like evening wol«ea» unto tbe ppQP^t " l^rii^g their flesh from their bopefl^ fnd rcise^ving theii; very bonea toigoaw in the mqrni* 13^' 88 the Prophet spefJ^i Zeph*.iit. 3^ XbU ain of e^tPftion. waa one oi tbe.ahominatioRi tH^onedi ^p by the prophet Esckid^.lbaf wiMx GoA yir^.aq big^y offended, with Je pya aigni, ebapn.sxilr2^; «' Thou hast taken nsury andbt? orep^e^ and ha3t greedily gained of thy neigbbonf ky i^JkUiftimi and baait forgotten »•:". &r ibia and qtlier sins, there nientioned> it is aaid» ver* 3, ^' 'Tbt^relbrehaye I pnnredout.my indignaticniufNin them; I bave.conauwed them with the ftraof my wr4tb," Unio this ain of e^Ltort^on I nu^ adi ee^eral other ways,, that many in the city bave b«d of getting eatatea^ whieh some nmy diapnte l^r. th^ lAwfttTn^as oS, and becaose ao oommo9 and gainful, the. ain ia bttkt beedied; but wl^ the ^d hath been contending with the iidiole eity* and bath inflicted a general stroke, upon tradesiyM»,. yei^, one atroke upon another^ an^ hath t^onden their trade, under bia feet, sm aeiamt in|^ to be offended with something thernin; rjacn^ ^inkatbey should be awakened^ and open their 9y^, aw) imiMliaUy a^aceh^ iud^ J^^r t«^^

IN TB» CttY. HI

ent'iHiiftever it is that dotli offimd fcfttii Mmevet sekkaiag ^wadrmttttge may eoiAe to them thereby: And If tliby ^ill not hearken, Qod can take alray Ihe rfen mir ider, aa he hath dotie a great port, and so force them to a aenae of their ain. ' OM' ahrfcd way of getthig eatateSy $xtA, I atn peraoaded; iItf]|^l«B»iiig to OSk, in tngrosnng and mmpolkhg of oomMfditks, which foatiy hi Loitdoii liare done, that; hat^g all th^ cotaimo^ dities of that kind in their handa^ they migM make their own tnark^, and aet their o^n price upon them; wMch» if they abld aa cheap a8 othihrwiae they would do^ or aa othera do w1m« this]r «re abared into many himda, (aa poaaibly aonie'Biigfat^) I could not condemn the thing: btit when/ by getting the whole intollleir handd, they hoist and nitae the price beyond the jost wdue; which thfy neoesaitate people to give, and that only that they might enrich themselves; this i dare t?onMently affirm to be unlawllilr ahd my reason is, because hereby they preftr k le^ael^ l^ood^ before a greater; namely^ the enriching of Uiema^ver, mS their Aunffies, befbre the mbrl pnbfic'good of making the commodity nlbre cheap to liie cohmionwealth. If they say, the iniory whidi they who buy of it, will atriitftin^ fthey beiti^ ao many) wiH b^ veiy small »lid iiicOh« siderable; but the good they shall get hereby wHI be greit, and they may be in A better cajia* city of doing good^ I anr^er, that noiiD ought td do llie least injury for the reaping df the greatest advantage: it bteing albfeolotely unhwful '^todd ei^, diat good may confe thereby, and fhb damnation of such will be just,'* Horn. Mi. i, ^s^

cufi8C(|(iouuy ft ^Tester injury will ^dne* tollttlth* selves, than to ^ose whom they injofe; yekytlike injury will be greater than the good wbfk& they obtain. And as for their being in a <ca|Mici<y of doing more good; I believe that such persohSj if they do spend such gains^ are more forward to spend them on their lusts, than to lay iHem ^ut in charitaUe uses: I have not heard that Ane greatest monopolisers in London have beM^iUfc aoost charitable persons. >

If I were more acquainted with the mysCerves of trades in the city, I fear I might ^find ^ more than one mystery of iniquity amsAg'them; If the Lord would put into the hearti of inagift« trates and citizens to look into tracks, 'and to consider the equity that thef beMr, and take Semo-course for rectifying abuses in diemi It might be <»ie way to obtain a more ftvbuMible aspect irom heaven; and the Lord might revive again the trade of London, whidl now is dynig and sinking to the ground.

19. A nineleeiUh sin of London it I^g* *ll is •aid of Nineveh, Nah. iii. 1, that it was ^ a dty full of lies.'^ O the lies that have been in Lon^ don I who can reckon them ? Lies in the streets, loud Kes, which have been cried, fidse n^ws which We daily hear. Lies in tlie chambers, secret lies, privy ^se tales, which are whispered in the Mrs. Lies in the shop, trading lies, lies told Stit 1l>ay9ng and selling. Officious lies, which some te)l4:0'do their frieikU a kindness. Mischievous lies, whidi some tell to do another an injury. We reald of some, <^that bend their tongue like their bow for U^^ that wiU not speak thegiJ^ J^^|^ .teach dieii

tlmfn^- io^fjfieak Im^^ Jet. vu S, 5« H#w mny Um haFB di€M boifi in Xiondoa? What tif 14 ffefl.fiMvn .ihU sin^ The childr^a baye lemed W Ufii M iooa aa tbcy have learned to apealu What honae bath beeo fbeo? How havo tradc»> mem^ hmm guUt^p of lyings wbidiaoiae acoount a Beceflfaiy adjunct to their trader without whick' tbftj cnmld not live 1 How maoy aenuoU liave eixmedoneatiotbeKi and theoMelveay whcnth^ have oommitted faults, wilh their lieel Biit4iiC kU 'Uea^r.pHMhievauB )im have been the wof8t> whichr iio«i» hfve wrented to do aa iiffbry !• thpjp tofvlgbbouri aneh Uea aie leoie inunediatefcvi ht^jfidten by. the devil, the father of iiee^asd mm U9ar$sM^ hie laoat i^eiae efiprii^.. B«$ aU liee m,^ $m9s ejpe miaehievoils Iwe; they Me mie* fbieeeue to the fiayty that tells them j ^ve» tbe oflieiiHia. liar .oaanot do eo nueb hfa dn eai to We fiipeM hf hM Ue>( as he doth injury to hiMselltt WhiKt! Witt a mat) elab biamdf, to de biaHrieod*: courtesy } He that weunde his. coBseievee deCh' woiBe; bo ibot gffiiia in his trade by* Ue lie^ bwetb more than he gains: a bag of gold ieael to be'ikwjpared with inward feeee, and the Uh now of God (better than Itfe), which, JbytUs ma, it lost. Sui^y tiie Letdy bei^ a God of tmth» is.4n9ek,effeniMi with tfcia m of lyii^. ^ CM deligbtB," saith Sohwaoo^ '* in then that deal: tt^f^^ui lying lipaase an abominotieiM tohini/ Brov'^mJ^ hymg was one am of J^rael, ibv whinh ''their land c)id tmowm/' Hes^ xiv^ 2,9. And God threateneth to give '^ all hers their part in that lake wbkb bon^tb with ^e and brim^ mWi^ fcv. Mi. 8. . MetWnks ths« e^^^ ph«ce

o

this one am which some pro&s^Qrs ako in Ibe «ity. b«Te been goilty of, to the abasM of.'Uieir pvofeg^QQ; for which Um .Lofd b«th sfot 4he fipQ to b«ra down the cUyt to awken iMNtoJie fiwn thi» Ain, iu» we would eaoape tho fittuse ito ofhcU?

.. so. Another sm of London^ is- Ofrnmn^- mA 4efr4Mding9 This sin hsth b&oi the produQfcirf ^T«toMsii«08, and the oonapanion of lyiw^;^pni bow ordinary hath it been among- tn^Summu which ma^y have been so aoeuatoixwd tio» Aftf it bath been as.ea^ to {lenuade tb9.i£thMt>itD^ change hi» akisy as to persuade them to leaT^jrfT tbfiir ^ozcsnipig ? Tim they have losfced upen m exapdiewential to their tinde, at least as neoBasaiy totbeiir gf^ns j yea> aoK&e have pleaded a mwd^ aity theceofs. to get a livelihood for thevaeelyes ana famlieSf BiH theie is. no neoeaaity of eny tii^;^ duties are necesaary^ but sins jure neter il^Qffsary^- and the gain which is ipotte» boF m, laUkft the gm .of a garment, whiebifaatli^itiwi pjb^gue.m )t» which^ if it bring warmlfc £(Nl}lhe focftfm^if quickly iiW infty bi^ siekneaa (and 4^atfi^. a»d if oo^wng brings tgaift iaiMii ita putfii^.i^ presently brin|^a,the pl«^iie .intptlhet hfaw^la'aadiQMi^ly ^wiU br^nj^tbe painiafidi pwoi^tt^ in^ptofML / 5 .

t. Xo defiraud another in de^ling^ is bua a^taorai ^ipwaift w»y of Jitealing, and it is a$ l»wAd toi tytke a.iwcjetiipw the bighwi^,i as.to take.ar dialling by fraud in the shop; the diffevenee-lka. ofoJy in the degree^ the nature of tboisia, !wbidi. ia theft, is the wieiR,botl|K,J^^

intliAlb ^^remlfy ftiHbidden thit sin, to be hsth tiiMMiteded to urenge it, 1 Tbegt. iv. <(• ** That ao tAaAi g<» beyond or deftaud his brother (not only i«ca gveater diing bat) in any matter, be* oauso the hotd b the avenger of all such." llie tevevttl wayB ^vriifeh tradesmen have had of defrauding, would be too large for me to speak of, Mlh^ aim I so tkWM as to understand. The UkMfif^g^ of weights and measures is gross, a iifVJpraeiised ^flSIlong the Jews of old, which God thftatens' to punish them for, Hos. xii. 7-*^ ^^raim is a merefaant, the balances of deceit »e'in< Ms imnd." And beth then- sin mA God^ anger are set forth, Mic. vi. 10*-1S. «< Are tii^ tyet tbe treasures of wickedness in the hottieS'itf die wicked, and the etent measure wiiieh' is abominable? rtmll I count them pure witlpidle lirieked balances, and with the bag c^ ckNseitAlt weights f Per the rich men thereof are Ml Df vteieneey Aid the inhabitants thereof have s^m Mes> aad their tongue is deceitful in their weuiftlt'tberefiMre also will I msfke thee sick in smitiihg llMse^ ifa snaking thee desolate, beeattse ofiliysin^'^ And was( it not thus with London ^ BM lAkf nst^fahify weighte end measeres, and AMfy'«tnait]od{tieS|' and speak fUselj^ concern* it^ehe?]inee <ef Uienei, and take nneensrctfomible gains, and yet profess kind usage of their ette» tfMners^ whbiia thef did most exact tipoh^ But i^I cMAildi l^should not opett the euimifig ways whkh 8oi]ie4i»vefeiutid out, ofdefhioding and o!f«ir-4«aohtng, lest Any should iei^^ and be eihitided to pmetiee themn by tfa^vei^ reproof oT iVae I have hettrd some hate ^jite^Ouu^iL

vf^Mk bj defiriHKling and ov«iwy^a9hNig< thm,

th« devil, tbat veiy fe«r 4wer gel ont^b^:«jrft^ <taigged bybim ibmb^riAWb^s bQ^iifieitU' not faaro gnaynig fot tfwi w, «iri»ch is jn^qmmf) ta.fthe ^ibc^iiig ^f « purdfla; hut^ 9e4titwtim<W( Doeesiacy j-tbey mu»t irefuad^. tb^; nHUt.rwlonf^ eitfteK tov the .parlies ihemiebrQ^i dV: t» ttiQipaoik' i?^t ibay hav<!». gf»iftio wmnffoUjn^ if Ibejfi Jw^ abk.; if juitii as^ 111110b as ^y Jbavc^ oAf^Pwm tb^ eaBiHvt> bi^ aajved^ No^ 8alivati^i,4yup9«^,:t9^ Sucflhetatill h^,iil»9ir«ti9t¥ed.uptQiirrrlstiAtit^^' ifbit be bed mengibUy gaUied» jLnfc^ «i«. 9^ 9^\ <« «bd seMtas:bi4 b«nd at dinbenest gidn/' .Seef^, xiit,>l% aiid tbia.i»oiie;8ip 'vtfbieb klielmaiwisl hatbsmitten l^ndwifoe^ . *>. ^^ .

jtpii%«ii^ emd pr0fms -sp0itding^ Soam^bm^ sp«UMd> toa mmb tbrougb cui^immemj olb#n, hive spftil^lxie miicfc ihKOi^bpKiid4falily»t,>&4ii^ i»ijty>ia af^reii^ virt«e»<#Ad biiiioiafti)j^tivil|yM^^ etuMmi §mce^, whieb I«oiidon that^ ^ot^iticink MTttbemt;. bttt piedigf^y<ia a gieat $ini«^ /Tb^ia-some bav« spent abova tbeir .df^grei^ l^risbiiiigj oiiiitbeii^€4tataa on t|iw tabl^s*^ oiiibebribov^es, dM<ibatrc\eftb9i»; bi^ tba: wcaat pto^iiffiit^lmfik hukn^m ilbat iiAifihuGaQi^fbajvft kyi9bad<>iHA.iai tiia isatiafitctiaa ef' tbeiit hiata^ in drOfdc^Heas^ gflfeaiag, ^bofilig^ and .tdhe like; mid ^apactatty^ tbcMe^.^wbaibava^speiHL profbAaiy tbaft irbicb bath been jiane «i£>.their ewn^ but what tbey hmnf Uktic^^ fmi\mfAt aS .otbefs,^ haiw been. ^^meiy Quiay 01 aw wwr D'gitizedbyO.<.xj^it

AM HkuK&thh^^ of proXgiMty aAd proTo^ neii»,' l-tatty refinr the iin of exoessite minh atid }<»lHty^ ti^hfeh hath been in LoDdon. Tber» ia'ft hiinhyi»ifli«th^ which is lawful; and there is^'ft' efRyitiilil cheerMnew, which h the doty of ChHstkmft; though in tifaes of great tin, and afflietiM of God's people, sackcloth and inoulti« iiigi'doth-becofxke Chmtians; and some expres-^ sions of joy whieh are more carnal, thonld be mtiefa forborne; bat I am speaking of the mirth of Bfieb; who have had the least ground for mirth of any^ namely tJie wicked, nnto whom no peace nidr joy in that'estate deth belongt tethemio b^ 80 exeessvrely imerry, and jovial, and-frolie^ espredsing it in their profkne, obsoene, and sMo^ilocte jesting; in thefar mnsle; singing,-and dancing; in their ranting, roaring, and catotta^ ing; ^ many wasteful and profuse waya of sj^^iitg^ when the church is in Mdcdbtht aitd'Hes a bleeding; as too many in London-ba^ done: sorely <yod hath been offended with thie, And bath be«n provoked to send down Uv jadgmentfe, ta alter the cheer of Lendon, miA bttnsby to put'them into mourning, which they^ ntfie 80 tt!vei«e unto. '

Had: they foreseen the piiH^ue^ and hoiv nfafvy of them' should have Mien 1^ it, smdy it wonkl have damped their mirth; hiid diey fd#eseenlAi»^ boming of lihe city of London, and tlM their hoQsee should have fallen by the five, eiively> theiF langhter would have been turned into heaviness. These judgments they oeold not fiitetee; bat^lMre ^dgment, far mere dreadful, they might have foreseen, w^fii^^Atil^ have

)54 god's T^ElHBtE VOICE

0Md« an im^ptmmm ^t lorrair iqpon. item^ if poftsibly by x^pentonce tt^y flight «void m4 «^Qipp itt, '' Be «fliuitad, loict moam, and We^ let jpoinr la^btar be tiemed into ipoefniof, ml y4)ur joy into heiivines8»'' Jeoiee it, 9w •Seek iQ0i^^(iiQg» if Cpt sin* mgbt be a inetDt to fiitwre iwerici^ ei^ elemel woe tgadwrnprngt oibere tbey have jsQeeani €e SMiini finr Iheie miserifewbich will come.upon dienw <^0»lo of^Wp ye rich men* ^eep and bowl» finr Ihe mmne9 that duJl come upon yoii»'' JiHoate v^ 1# But for pfofiine wicked pfreeiis to (siog, aniA rigoiee upep the bxink of die giave and hdl^ ie very migeemneWe, and an aggravatiaa«f their other fline*

g^, Th^ Upmi^'Hm/d m of Lmdm ja ^in^ t^Mi|^ And this m waa to be foood not edy in women> which envied otliert thet e mecc ded tkcM in beauty of body* in elothei^ and dreeNA^, and eueh like toys; but alio in raen^ who envied tbw who were of the atome ttadby wiueh bad bettor hmmt^ and. sbopSimoRecoatoiaand weiMi»' then tbema^lvea. Yea» this envying wna to*fae foiled among many mipifltersi who aiEiried echere that had bettor perte^ and mote leemingf gfeaier eiiplaii9a> end moire Mditore tbair theoMelWM. Therf wa& a ^'spirit anongniis whioh tnatod to envy," Jemee iv,.5« whMi^ besidea the great tor* ment thaf:> it bringe to the apint wbcae it reignB, m a very great prpveeation to the Lord.

g3* ■ Th^ ifvent^kird mn of Ltuukm n J ing and b§tckbititig% whioh hath been the quent of die foiiner« The nindi 4 halh bean eiLoeedingly brol^ i^J^g^on, espe.

CmQjP' ill A (JI'ltMS W§y iOf iMMIffl^ fiilw WRn6&9 igftinit th« iiu%bb<Nir, aitd Wounding hii reptr^i ttlMn by a 'sUmeixMis ton^e, some ittvefitiTig l^wnAtmmg ihtidefv, whieh they ht^e in theif (MMMideiKes knowit to be iUse; others taking op flfaiMfoMiTeadiljr bdieting ^m without any jtt^ ve|^0iii#ll. Tfait tinyda^tt^e Mt forth w?(h a tMt^ tiiia^ta like htsd of- s«rh perMMs, Jer. ix. 4, 5. Loaden hath t>eeii iiill of backbiCen and ta1e« bMveray atiA to* many proflMsord haire been pakf 9i^ ibk ain r few have etHertaii^ed back« bfiiati with an angfy coantenance, wfaich^ as the wind dbiveth away nAtt, woald have driven them ^t of ffglili I iDJjght here add the h«tr^ ol one another that hath been in London (much thi^omgh-^aadars), the eoMilation that faalh risen Ffooi hatred, the imdh tiiaf hath risen ft6m etan* Mk»; aid the wrttfa of €rod, whieh hath arisen finm these end ether worice of the ^h, spoken «^ Gal ▼* 1^9* Ml

d4. n& tnmi^^famih sin of Lmdm is rnttf^ tmring; end that net only in want, and tindef loslea and eroases^ baC idso in fbiness and plaB^« Many Iknners in the country have miir« mured at the {^enty and cheapness of eomr vasrn^ tradesman in the elty bate nnmntired at the pien^ of Ihe eomrnoditri^s whicb dley fcnvb dcete inr< beaause^ however snd^ plasty is a piibUe and tmsfkeBkable ttfercy, y«t fAiey have had the less private advaMagv, whicb bAtfa been .ehtefly tegardad by them. Tea^ sonie, in ttieir nnrmv^ngs have wished ibr i» plegue^ that, tlhs snrvlvoas might have die better trade*; and. I have heard that a drf-fjti^ bad beei»

wished Ibr^ to take off €tm plestgr of siidl otyn^ modities, that the reoiainder wiA^ bear the higher rate« Is it a wonder^ th^i, if GnmI h««t sent plague and fire, which senis have called fo by sueh murtmiriiig speeches ? The tnveUtes in the wilderness weve f^agned ft>rlheir mttrmmilig^ and the murmuring company of Corah, thiA were not swallowed up with him^ were oonswncd by a fire from heaven,

25. The twadyffth and ktH sm of LomAm fvhieh I shM speak ^« is carnal eecurUy^ another of Sodom*s sins. It is said of the 8odoiiilM» Luke xvii. 88, 29* '' In the days of Lot, they did eat^ they dnuik, diey bought, they sold, th^ planted, they builded: but the sane di^ that Lot went out of Sodom, it sained fire ^d brfatt-atone from heaven, and destroyed tliuem eSkJ* When Jjondon had provoked God so highly by so many sins, yet how secwe were they betoe his judgments broke forth upon them;- they ate and drank, they bought ffld seidi tew Hiey sat at ease, and put far from them the evil day; as, Amos vi. 1, 3., they were still and at rest, litde expecting such changes as have come upon them, and took little care to prevent them: they were secure and trusted in aim^ of flesh, broken reeds, which have always fiiiled. And I might add here, as a cause of the security of some, the presumptuous confidences of future evmits, which belong only to God to foreknow, which some have taken upon them so absolutely to determine, as if they had looked Into the book of God's decrees, or had an infidlible revelation from him of whst ahoold come to pass. O the good days that i

Ud no gmmd fat. Gr«tt ey;pect«i|ioiis. maif JT bftdiolMibc ffiUi4aif .Anfticbri^t and Babyloa in the yoaf, ljg66^- ^jind xothef eveAU» limiting timet, ifkkb Cid butti not dewij rovofded* which is «9 ,«|)ftv»mhjog upon Cod's pr^migativ^And I bo«> }ieve;«(grfiiut«c provocation than 9uch persons are ^ir0x»ii^ , This JEoay be one reason why London is fallen instead of Babylon, in thia.yew of such ejipe^tion jmd |>Eesmnption. i i^ntWs^ time, it may be, the. reader may be nwm^d with reading* as I am with thinlaog and mgi^iag of XK)Bdon's sins* But how hath the lK)rd jy^iveariod with.the bearing of them! how hath ht h^m iMT^sed with the weight of th^uh, A& a 4enll;ia.pt^Aed that is full of sheaves! Amosii. Ji3» ,j;&.';whiwi;you. have read of Lo^don judg-^epirts withi|l»yoa eoo^idev London's ii^^oi^tioii^ >y^*bi^^l>^S4ictoowledge tha^ God is righteous, ^ith9tJ^«.hAtb..puoisbed London no mose thao ithlijr h wpi> desfaryed. for thene aiui. *

IJ J..

SECT: fX.

^Si^^'tigWemimts^ iMfufifler appear; iff»e UW-' sidertftttf ke hath puftisked London ksi-ikan ' '\^'Mqttithigi6strf)ed: ' •• '

*^. ik.QpDimigbt h^vie punished Londpn deservedly .•with..more dreadful iudgments here, .and. that >iiQth ii) jthe iiame and, another kiA4* , ^ . .

Digitized by VjUM^ It:

1. In tbe judgtn«nt ttf* the "plugtte. It >^iifi a Areftdfttl pUj^de itid^d; httt "Gcd Could hiive Iftmde ittn\)re drMtdftik m^rehefiihdtdk)eortow, Im'niight'hiive ilhi>t dn hmtfdred t hevishedtUiUiy ISttiailtfcs, he knight have vMt^d ^vefy family^ and ttwept fewry hou^ mtMi the besMn bf destfulction. Though M> many fell, yet I belltfve th&t ^ve parts in six of the inhaliita(nt« df London Irene pre-HermA. God might hate taken away the five ]NutS) and have left hut one alire; y^a, it tt^ht nare beien said of Londmi, ^s it was 6f Israel, AtnhMY. 2, S. "The virgin df fcrael U fellcn, «he riiAll rise nt> nofe; the city that went out by a thousand shall have an hundred/' God tnight bave trebled thehimdi^edis thMdiedbythet^lague; he might htfve sent out his arrowis after idl the inhtrt^itantte of London thlit were gone into fhe ieountiy, and smitten them wheresoever *he found them; or he might have met widi them upon their return home, and given commission to Death to lay hold on them as soon as they entered into their doors. He might have depopulated the dty of London by the plague; so that every house should'htave hod <lead corpses lying, and none to bury them. He might have made 4Mir plague wonderllil, fettrfulvand of kng con-timianee.

We that have survived so great a mortaKty, have reason to say, that deserv^ly it might have been greater} drat we deserved as mudh ortnore to fall ibr our more heinous sins, than thousands ♦Hat are gone down ittto the pit: surely " it is rf

thii L^» mw^ iiM we 4M opt cmvimed:'' be WHS loerciful ia spvUig of u9; ke w/oiild huva been, r^bte9iia if he had dtiUpyed us,

Thiojt; with yainiejLyfiii» you tW are allye, and penw «mp€idf how foarfi4 would U>e pU^poo hAv^ he«n.if ijt had opmt homo tp yooi; bopaea: you were afraid to hear of others' housea visiledi afl4 abul u|b what would yoi» have been if it had entered your doors? Yoi| wero «fnkid when otbuera wore struck with the disease, what would you. haMe hetejok if you bad be^n struck yourselves? SiuEiers, what woutd you havo done if the anow* bad {ueroed through your Uv«», if, undor suck guik and wi;atb» yoi) k^A ba«i| smitteo ? When, you had such a pUi|^ rf aui. iei your hearts* ^ yoii* should have h#d the plague of pestUenoc) in yoiiv bodies; if wb^n you wore so roiti^n andr QOrrupty 4M;id defiled iowavdly^ you should havor bad boiU* and blatn% and ruwiog sores outvn wardtyj if when oqb^quco waa so filled wUh guilt, your bodies should have boeu filled witb tfaiadi#ei»so: io^a wofdj if, when you hadtbo msAs qf heU and dawination in your soul^ you should' have h^ tho niarks of inavitaUe death in your bodjeib O the dread that would have sdaad upon Jim 1 The j^dg^mMii of tho plague n^ight have been worse to you; you might have spent abnvearyoar in hell by this timaaiiiongdevils and damned- spirks; you might by this time have boen inuiped to those torments which yet you could npl^ havic ondw;ed» Jb»it must hav4 endured, without anyf possibility* of deliveranoe'for ever.

Mwy of you who haye effcsped* h^ve your families nnhroken, when other ^J^^^f^ are

swept away. Suppose thy dear wife had fsRen, or thy hopeful children had been nipt by death in the very bud, and your families had been maimed^ the judgment would have been much sorer on you. None can say but God might have righteously punished London more seVelrely by the plague.

(2.) God might have punished London also more severely by flie jfire. The greatest part of the city, is fallen; it might have been the whole: most of the city within the walls is consumed; die flames might have issued forth at all the ^ates, and consumed all the suburbs too: all the goods might have been burnt with the houses, aiid all the inhabitants with the habitations.

The fire, though it burned dreadfully, yet it began at one end, and came on so slowly, that inost of the inhabitants of London had time to remove themselves and the choioefst of their goods: some livelihood was left, and materids for a future trade.

Suppose the fire had been so sudden, or had been kindled in so many places, that there had been no possibility of removing any fhtn^, ex6^ the persons themselves. Suppose all the sily^^ and gold, and rich pkte of the city Tiad f^^m^ melted by this fire; that all the wares and'tfie)"-chandize, all the garmehts, beds, and househdfd goods had been turned into ashes, and^ nj^y thousand families that had been turned but'df house, had been turned out of all, and quite bereaved of all their substance, so that nothing had remained to them for necessary use ; this would have been very sofe. ., ...^uu^i.

A}m^ Yb«t wpi^. ^^ hftv« ^one ? Whliher Wj9u}4 t)iey liave gone for relief? Would Ibe coi^t lu|Y^ Siifiplied tbem ? Co^ld the couBlry h4^e be)p^4 <Vi4 pviintain^ bo many^ when ao nVAoh i(9{H»veins|^ theoi^lves, that in many places they are hardly 9bh to liy^? Could they have hoped for relief Cfom iSbreign nations ? Are not 9Ji. the \m>fld «lmo«t qht ^nen^ ? la charity so i^^rm 4bro£|d ? AUjs 1 iiphat would they have doi9^? Mn^ not inany of thf^m h^ye pined away ivi t^elr w.ant^ 9»A &^vfd und^r hedges, for l^cjk of suitable provisipQ^ t This would have befipi. 4re44f4 inde^ i

Of imppos^ th^y h^ l4g0?d their goods oiit of London fr^m ijie fire, a|id the whol? city had been \jflxm\ d^w^n with aU the. subi^bs^ and Wk habitatipqa lef^ standing hereshouts; vhal woM theyMve dop^wiU) th^ir goods? wher^ would th/$y ^ave dispoiSjNl oif them? How could they aQj w^9 haVe. cQqtiny^ thek trades? Wh^l:e could they hai^ di^pos^ of theif pj^ona.?-HqiK opioid they have liyed this cold winter sea^fin f CoiAld t^y hay« sixuck u^ \^optha pre-senj^y, fit fo^ thewdvea ta abide b^, whkh wo^^ bavet sheltered th^ from the ii^jury of the weatjic!^ ? Whe^e would th^y ha^e. had n)ateriala> wh^ all was. K^Mnit i

^il^li ¥fhat wouM they have done? mus^ niat their giMids. hav§ been sftoiled* by lyivg abroad ? V9ul4 fiypt tbey^ t;h^^n^}ves» wbp bad been used to ^ fi^ch teiidernesaf have qi^icVly grawft sick^ an4. <ti94 ip. ^ fields ? ^oald w>% t^ujsarida have starved foij qold? and wha* p^oyisi<*w cowU. th^ hav« had f^ food apd olh^ nsc^saarie^?

■^ * Digitized ^Vg^^XJ^lt^

Besides, wobM they not hare been a pttf to thieves and cut-throats? Would not many of their enemies, who laughed at the fall of the city, have r^oieed much more, and taken advantage, to come upon them in their nakedness^ and butchered them without mercy.

But, suppose the fire that begun at one eomer, had been kindled in every gate at the same Ume, when all the inhabitants had been asleep in their houses, and they had been inclosed with flames, and no possibility of escape, how dreadful would the fire have been then ? If, when they awakened in the morning, they had seen the smoke ascending round about them, and the fine drawing near to them; if both ends of a street had been on fire together, and they in the midst, and had heard, with the roaring of the fire, a greater roaring of the people that were buming with tibe houses: O the rueful looks I Oh the humble shrieks by women and cfaildrcti 1 Oh the' dvftadiiii amazement and perpleodty which (woukk have heea in such a place and oaaef To be bumt^tfliVe, isdtfeadful; but think what tsntiires'would liave beeK in.the sfpidts of guilty siniN»*Sf who.^ad not made their peace -mtk God, that had slept out the harvest and day- of grace, thaft had- made no proYisioQ for death and eternity 1 Th^ nbise and roaiing without, would have bden nothiiig to the laahes and tearings within them; tbe'^fire in their houses would have bemi bolt small, in oomptfison of the fire in their censciefiees,' and the fiamas of hell'^ne, which, if awakened, they would have seen just befiwe them*

This jndgmeoii.of libe fire might have been

Digitized by Vjmj*^ It:

lofe drtadfel than it was; persons are eseaped;

:oods and wealth much saved; houses standing

o receive them; trade going on: God inight

nave panished London more sorely in the same

kind.

2. God might have punished London more severely in other kinds of judgments.

(1.) He might have brought upon them, and upon the wh^e land, the s%vord of a foreign enemy, as he did upon Jerusalem, and the land of Judea, for their sins; which being so pathetically set forth by the prophet, Jer. iv. 16 to the end, I shall represent to the eye.

*' A voice dedareth from Dan, and publisheth afflictkna from Mount Ephraim. Make ye mention to the nations; behold, publish against Jerusalem, that watchers come trom a iB^r country, and' give out their voice against the cities of Judah; as keepers of the field they are against fafir iwuiid about, because she hath been reb^ous .fl^ost me» saith the Lord. Thy way and tby doings.huure procured these things onto theer tU$ .18 thy wjdkedoess, because it h bitter, because it reaoheth unto thine heitf t. My bowels, my bawebl I am pained at my very heart, my heart maketli a noise within me; I cannot hold my peace, because thou host heard^ O my soul, the' aouAd - of the trampet^* the akrm of war, I>eatruction upon destrui^ion is cried, for the whole land is spoiled, xod ray- curtains- in a mom^oti Hew long shall I see the staBdard> and bear the sound of the trumpet. I beheld, and all the cities were broken down at the presence of the Loed^oid by his fittce ammrs for thus hath

the Lord swd, Tb0 vhol# hwA %h9^lH^,4mif*^ for Una shall ti\e Uuxd moiic^ ^d tix^^h^xi^^A, above be h]fick- Tli€( wbfd^ city 9b«lL A^>» foiC the noise of the hQrseBi^9> wA th« lK^ivie«k{ Ib^ shall go into the thickets^ and climb up ijfKW ttie Foqks; eyery city §ball be.f^i^eu^ aod.^ot a man dwell therein; and wb^^n ibq^ afl ^p^ited^ what wilt thoud^? Though tWi ek>lb^ 4yr-aelf with crimson, though thou d^es^ tnj^lf with ornaments of goM,, tJb^U tlum r^^t^ Iby face with painliug: m vam ^bAlt thoQ m^^ t^s^lf f|dr; thy.loy^rs shall de^is^ tho^ ti^y wUl seek thy life; fgr I h^VQ heAjra ^ jcif^^^ak lOiC a womai^ in trav^lj, Wild th^, aoguist^ aji. of. ber that bringeU) for^ hec first cbud: U^ct x^itsf «£ th^ daughter of ZioR*. \hat h^w^iteti^ ^^^ that spreadeth forth he? hands, saying. Woe i^ me 9QWa for nay soul is. w^ari^d tDfeQq^se..p^ mvor der^FS." Tljis might baye, be^n th^ i|I^OTM?flfc. ^d thes^ th# Qprqplaipt^ of liqadm 4nd M^l (iW j. i^hich would fiiive be^ii woi^q than j^agu^ q^, . fi]^. The plague reached ipany, |>iU thi& vH^^ might have reaped aU; the fir? devoured hou4f;3> but the sword mght, have devoused thei inhabitants. The Wd ipight have brought a fomg^ sword, and ppen invasion; or he migbt h^vc^ given up London to a «iore private, sud^pn. btttqhery mid fmma(re by the hai^ds of criiel Papists, 9S was feared; which would have Wea more dreadful thaa the massacre of the Prolc»-> tants by the Papists in Paris; becau^^ our aqpbq* bers. do so far exc^ thcMse which w^:? in that city. If bloody Papists bad como into ow boKsea ia

Digitized by VjUU^ It:

IN THE CITT. \65

die'dead df tlie night, with such kitidg of knives in their bands as were found after the fire in barr^s; and having set watch at every street's end; had sufTered none to escape, but cruelly, slaughtered the husband with the wife, the parents and the children together, ripping up women with child, and not sparing either silver haira^ or the sticking babe; if there had been a cry at midnight, " They are come V but no possibility of flying from them, or making resist* ance against them; if, instead of heaps of stones and bricks in the top of every street, there had been beaf^s of dead bodies, and the kennels had been made to run down with gore-blood; sure thhi judgment would have been more dreadful thon the plague or fire, which have been among na.

(2.) God might have punished London with famine, which is a greater judgment than the plague or sword; if the Lord had broken the whole staff of bread, and cut off all provisions of -fbod from the many thousand souls that lived in^atrd about the city; how dreadful would this have been ! If a famine had been so sore in L<mdon, that people should have been forced to eat <?ne another, and their own flesh,-as it was in'.'Samiria and Jerusalem ; if, instead of houses in liOndon, God should have made the people as'Ybt^ 6f the fire in this judgment, as is threatened, Irfa. ix. 19, 20. ''Through the wrath of th^X^d of Hosts is the land darkened; and the people shall be as the fuel of the fire; no man shall spare his brother; and he shall snatch on his right hand, and be hungry; and he sh^^^

name, and GocTs hand, diat liadi binrataetdWL forth upon London. TiMjHUMnrllMitbotbphgtve and fire have had their conmittMn^fom tfcerGod Y>f heaven, otherwise Ibey coohl astliavtt «ffoiig)it irith sach force and powetf. •' i xr. >•

They see God's " name," that is, ihe ghirioos attributes of his name displayed. GodpfcxiriBitd his name, before-Moses, when he ckused UsgnM-ness to pass befcnre him, and disoovered hinielf to be '' the Lord, the Lord God; i^imoBs antl merciful, slow to anger, abundant in loving kindness, goodness, and truth,* Exod. xxxiv. 6. And God hath proclaimed his name before London, in causing his judgments to come upon the city, and hath declared himself to be <' the Lord, the Lord God, :holy and jealous, - a God that can be aiilpry when much prov<^ed,'and yet nghteonain the severest judgments which he doth inflict.'** A man of wisdom may see God's name in Ix)ndon'8 judgments ; and as he may sc^ powvrand vightteoos-ness in God's name, so he mHy see grae»*4Bid ffoodness in the name of G«dy wbkh hatk pwMed before the city; he maysee^attd kwrar^ th^food bath a gracbtis meanings and <design/«f fgaiiA to London in these jndj^ents?; he oiaptase Grid's name, and hear God's vciesyeBd whatiti^liiiihe speaketh by the itid. • -^ - . ». j. •i->iif'j »-

Oh that London w^^re -dni^'WiBetlu^dtivAey would open i^^ir eyes and see God-suame b.ijod's Band so jo^t and righteous; as alsojopin ebeir ears, and'hear Gotd^ voice, and understand 43<id's clesign, so gradous a<nd somuch^fo thdir^gned! O that God would ofi^en-l^e eafs«f Londoi^T«nd i bend them to tl^ diadpliifi ,fCJli^JisdgiM^

tiMt widtAt hm of ftiendt moA nkddnt by the piaftte, and cf iumits and goods by the fire^ they may not lote tha gpood of thew judgments too, thoogli of anolher modp yet of far greater value, whidi God intends then*

The enquiry then is-~what meaneth the Lord by tiie ph^pie and by the fire in the city? what doth lie adl iat by this terrible voice, and look IbriiK London, that these judgments may turn to tbeir advantage?

SECT, XL

Tke dmlk» fokkh God ezpecU from London after suek dnokiioni igf ike Plagu€ and Fire, are 4keae*

i* Ck>ni expeets. tbat X4>ndon should awake. Lonrioa halh. been adeep; both the foolish and ihoiwiso virgios have been asleep; and when sttcb Mt voice hstli come down in these judgments, whscb iiave been sevealed irom heaven^ crying in she midniglit of their oamal secerity, " Behold, the. great God ia cooBie forth from his place, and is entered into London in fary:" surely all should awake and erise^ and iHwpaie to m^et him, seeing none can flee fiom him. God hath seemed to be aalsep, while be exercised so much patience towards London; his arm slept in his bosom; but BOW the Loid hath been awakened with the loud cry of England and L<Hidon's sins; his arm hath awdted, and put on sUwgth ^d veng^ce.

ejeB; dnm thj ovtsiiis^ coiiwteA of tbylM^ look out of tky viiicknra. Apfrtntioiis! kfij^ xaums! itrange a^gfalB te be ieMU BiriKMr heaven is opened, and Qod ie eoaie' ;fa«ili Hfsdir earih^ dethedwii^ gvmeaeB 49f iiffatniMf rJQod 18 ODBi^ dawn m 1& nu^cBtji 41^ locte* tk^ptm Leodm witk a lefiMe coonieiirtkA: BbUM the amaaaigr temar of God iai the ktte MMbgiT and prodigioiis judgmenti. Whati de««;ithM^«>€ see him? Swdy tbiHi art fiwt asleepeiillt tUifilr eyes are closed; the rcS is before then.

Awake! London, awake! opeO'tUn^ eitfs. Haak I O the tnmpet tikat Hath been UMinding^ from heaven over tibe dSj earaecdiug leud'!^^ O the thoadeiio^s ef the tenible lM»>'k^><lM angry Gedl the voioe of t)ie Lord hiittii|Meii powerful and veiy dreadful. What! canM^lftfoa sleep under such a noiae ? surety thou art dead asleep, dead in sm and aebueitjir. imuit ^iHIl awaken thee if the judgments do ««! «w«dEeii thee ? If a sMll and londifompct dw aot^pieiiMr thine e$f6^ wiU soft nfruak enter ? if the soond^if eannons be net henrdrcaaany expect tiiat pMcfts should? If^ when the lion roaleth la tUncr eertf^ theu oam^ sleep still, wHl sofb wfaa^)tr&^«Wahcif thee ? 'What will awaken thee if the -lewl' ^«yiik« of these vadgttMttte d» Mi awaken thert -Me Lord eelled upoft thee before bf hk' mlniBiiM^ by bis mereie?: now he hsdi shoiitedtinuthhli esrs by bis jedgmentsi • ' '^^'

Awake I l^MHtOB) awdkef! Thoe bail ^beeft roused QUI 4»f. thine babitalieftr metUnWithWi shouMest bei roused out of lfe|> e^iglf^^ Wtm^

9M»|lt wfc«i ^Bfbmi iifmg by ikm pkigoe, and tm^k^mg mto tiie gnvel Wbatt sleep when hwipiiiDg! .fctwimig bj the fre, and tumbling m0MC|«aiiUtieiri Wfa«ll deepmsttornil wheft wiodf mmMomrngt nd vmves reaiing, $ea etkm tmag, aod ship stnkiiig 1 ** What meanest thoa, O a^par r Could Ihe heathen eblpfiDaafeer my, ia #iwii a OMe, iitit» Jonah, ehap« I. 6, 6, mbm h0. hf' 4il aaleep in the eUea of the shipi <'Ariaa> icattupoa Ihy Ood; if God viil think u|Miii.u0i .thar-Mw peaiflb nei:'' and may not f say, WhatAManeatthoB^ O sleepy London ; hast than Jiofeiparccavfd die sterai that hath beaten so fieretl^.oQ tfadiJiead? doat tfaeu not petcehre diat thy shi^.is AaUamd miSi bpsken^ and the sea is comngiin-immn^ and thon art fai danger of sink* iQgrJmd'thiit'qiiitkfy^ unlesaaome speedy ooane be.tsjcfnifer pteTentionl And y^ eansl thou slfiiapfStiU^Pt^A'vidbe.i arise} call ttponthy Ged; if m beilie vill Mak^mpam us, Ihat we perish hea;

GqdiCiUJattipon ikefo^ stnner* to awake. -Sep' poi^'f ou.^ose an^ the power of cmel enemies, that 'b^d kilted your husbands, op wi^s^ op dear cyUMa^ aDdiriands,aadyaa knea» not bi^w soon they mil^rfaH tiptmyoa^ and out your throats; Goald jHiti^rieeprBecureiy in the samohotiBe with 8uobpet»MHB^

;)f4u la-eiHtider'the poven of tyromdcal'krtts, wbi^sb 4im ;fai mane eneeoies? yen ai»e under the reig^aaig power, of sin, which hath bponj^ht the plague into the city, and wherdby «onie ^f you h&Y0 (been deprived of these rriatibns, and ydu know nal boar soon sin inay bving death upon yaamUass^ not only Ae fint^^MkJMnl^f^

deatli f not col^ tempofB], Imt olenxn 'chttni ^ and deprive jwl not only of IHb, bat htippteess, and all hopes of the leiist shaxe in it ibr 0ver. And jet ean jon sleep seenrety with "m kr f&ax hearts; with sach an eneni j^ with such a Ttptt, m your bosoms ? -

When the fire was in Lond<m, I betieTte ftw of yoa coald take macfa sleep for divers nights together: when tiie fire was bomiiig in jrour streets, and bamingdown yoor houses, yon ootald not deep m yoor houses, lest the fire should have burned jonr persons too: and nrfien the 'fire of Inst is wkhin 3^00, and burning withinyou ; when the fire of God's anger is kindled abo^'prou, and homing over you; and the ^rt of 1i^;so dreadful and unextinguishable, is b«irh!n]|;' be« neath yon; and yon vrt hanging orer die bumhig kl» by a twine^thread, which, ere' lai^,"Vili mitwine of itself, and may, ere you'are! aw^ire, and suddenly, be cut or snapt asutide^, atid thai yoU' must dtop into the mid^t of fiaifnas^i<9ih you rieq> undbr the guilt and power of shi^ wfaeO yoa are in such danger ^

Awakd! sinners, awake \ Odd dbdi ^ btoi you presently, but warns you firs/t;'hbbhrtel^)rour houses, that you might awake, ahd e^pe ^more dreadful fife; Awake! sirfnei^, ^heti will Vou ttWake 1 how dften, how long; how Idbd'Aall ^od citU ttpofa'yoabcfor*»y6u will aris^? 'Ejihi^^i*, <* Awake thou that sle^p^st, ahd krise ffbnti the dead, and Jesus Christ shall gi^ tbbe lif^/-

'^ A Kttle sleep, a little slumber, a little fbldhig of the'hands to i^st." What! can' yotk sleep ^tiiy longer nbw > Was ta^fl; J^ jjHif tone long

^gfkiMkm J0n w^re imdft lh« otUs «f the void ? oih) U it tlJMi sansf) under the rod too? What will ftlKah^li you? oi wh^ do you think yoq abidl be 99fA^Wii» if st^U you Ue dewn ia the b«4 of «ficvirit|[* «nd l^vQ ^ slumhsr upon the Up of pleasure, and after a little 8tartle> ilee|» faster itifm before?

. Jlini^eiii hate preached* iiiid jroii haveslep^ uj^^. il^it se]npa9Qa; bMt when God hath pvfMh* ^ iQ^hinks you should awake* When Paul pi^eacbi^d to FelU 4 sermon of judgpientiy Felix tc/wh)iKi« Qad hath preaahed oi)e« ai^t (wo lu^mc^n qf judgfnen^ and that vsora feelingly than Paul could ; methinks you should awake^ and

,n(i^.4nH[) a4eep so'tMHHi, be^^t^e God gi^w yoe a ijttil^ fe^Wite to lanicn his seviPQili befere he pcei^h ^her.thir^ 9<^iWQn« which tmy, be your la^t apd j^inipg; ^r^noov If you da J^ awake^ by* 4he aqm^ Qf )^i« jodgn^ents before fm$ ym aMI .^)Y^ by ^b^ sepfe pf his judg¥9ent« upim yflu*. If H)^.P%«LfiA^ %e9f L<nid9n de iiei^aWken you, yea. ahaU baaw«^ened b|y the plagues end fire of hell, which you shall see aed feel. hu| not ^.aUf tp flef. freo^* aal^e yw wight, do^ if pre*

. ,^d (?ell^:i^iK>n .^li^py sinners te a9i^ake,.aiid Qo4 qidU nppn 4«:f)fv^ <Ntt>4ts |o awaka; aini. was tfeefei^g^eal^ed? ii^e^eiu^ ^4f«tth».fw>a down 4p(o the.sidea »£ the^ ship,, and teing on piU^ipf? Were noli the wi^ yixgm UMmifig foolisl|« sleepii\g with the pe^t, uiiKftrimi^ed. i^d uadr^ed ? Eiad then? W^ oiMtp a slra^ge tor« pof ^ b^umnediv^ss <«i^,up(^ the spirits <rf. Qpd'a. QF^ .peerte? -^fSeM ^^'^

Q2

vigour tfnd aotiioly^ winA ones thejrUaAtm^liHP wa^is of wondiip of God, milcliiJMEted aad^^f: ctyed before these jadgincnti< came'upvm ijBiUli;^ *

Aw$ket tben^ yedtowsj jalnts, ttwatei<piiti on yoiur gsrmente wbkh job hav» hod flsklesl ioi the-diaoorery of your nidkedncas-; shake y6up« selves fipom the dust wfaieh heth oovened end «id^ lied your fkces, and loosen the bands of sleop*. God faafth been thttoderkig) your Father hath ibtnt' angry^ and displeased with 3rou as well jb widf others. Yonr God hodi spoken in hie jcalouqrv and he hath spoken in bis fary ; ke batb apeken with a loud voice in rightebusness and in jucig^ ment. ....,-,

Awake! ye children, yourFktber is ^tvii^ and knocking^ andcallfng 3 yea, hekatk-eilteaMt your chamber, and smitten you on this tn&e and' that; and yet wfli ymt ilot imse I He hatb b^ien ciying' in yoqr eavs, now be is looking and beatQt:«' eniog' wb^ker you will ory in hir, mad whMb ytMt wiitt say and do for the prevention of'the rtiki of England, w4iidh he seenittto be thvetttentmf/' ^^ is lUgh time to awake out of deep,! Ar now ie tike' utter deatruction of .the city afidf nation ife*rer,' it may be> than you bdieveor kAagmeJ' ' Awakle; then» put off yonr elbthes of night end darkwaM, in> irhieh you have been eleepmg, and^utoil your garineKta of liglitr' ckthe yourselves wMtbbi mility, and begitt ytou wi^ ail 3rour gVaces^'aild^ get you to C^-s knee; hatig aboiit Mis atib, pot yourselves in the breadi; "Itmay be^tfae Lord may think upon us, that we perish not/^*^ '

^. The Lord doth now, afler his speaking ^ terrible tkmigp, expect thai i^^f^.f^^ elir«r

in &»imiqf*kim» God^s lodgments nukid this im-' pratoiMi upon David, PsaL 119» 1^0, '' My flesh trcflMctk for ftar of thee, and I am afraid of tbyjuilptneiits* And fee bow the prophet Ha-bakkiik'bdiared hmuelf, when God spake with a tenable voke^ cbap«iii« it, &c. '* O Lord, I have hekrd'tiiy speech, and was afraid: when God came down Irom Teman, the Holy One from Momit Paran, Selah; when the pestilence went before liim» and burning coals went forth at hit feet; when the nations were drove asunder, the everlasting momitanis were scattered, and the peqtetual hills did bow; when the tents of Cushan were in affliction, and the curtains of the land of Midian did tremble: when God did ride upon horsesy and his bow was made quite naked; wlieB the sun and moon did stand still in their habitations, at the light of his arrows that went forth* al the shining ^ his glittering spear; when God did march through the land in indignation^ and walk through the sen with his horses^ and did wound the head out of the bo«se of the w«efced> and did strike through habitations^ with his staves s at tbis» the prophet is afraid, his beUf ttemhMt his lips qnivered at the voice, • rotlQWWB^ entered into his bones," &a Ami! when God Juithconie down front heaveh, the Hol^ Obo froraiBnreiitSien, Selah. When the ptstilenoe bath gone ^fti f liJ > *ui V.and burning* coab at bis feet; when the l^rd drovi^* J^mdon asundei!, scattered the inhabttimts, and matletW stately buildings to bow and fall, whose rearinfr' up none can remember; when the tents of Lo* don have been in aSiCtion, an4|||^^l^^8 of t

city have treiaMcd: i»b«ii deMb lui4 bMl lifllltft u^on horses, and his bpw hath be^ iD4d<»- qwt^t naked; when the heavens hiiv^ b^en 4i8Wiii4iil4 at God's judgmentt, aod the sun md vmmklwff^ hid their heads in thdir liabtt|iti(9ii|y M (he ^huung of his glittering spear: whe^ tki hof(^ hf^ inarched through tbe ettf in hi^ tndifiiaMmt hffik wounded the beadaof so aiany mjgkfA ^itb^. arrows, and struck thsongh 8«^ wnvf hfi^iUfJiffm^ with his staves. Oh 1 bm hsmdmnhoMld U^r lAe and quiver, and atancl in awe o€ thjua ^oKouyi Majesty, at the voiee i^ these le9i«U^ju40nim^^

Read^ and apply what die lK>rdi. silaq^eUi ,]py. the prophet Imah^ chap, ya^nm* H, \4^. '' FUar ye that are afor off, what 1 Mve dpiMbi aQ4 yf ^^ are near, acknowledge my tnight Tbatmneiai of Sion are afraid, feo?ftiliies# hatibauinri^d.(ha hypocrites; who nmoiig tis ah^ dwell with dei^ vouring fire? who among ua sbal} 4n2^bit &f$n^ lasting burnings f" ver« 18. '< Tbipe heart ^bltt meditate terror: where is the aovib^? wbero^ia the receiver? where ie be that.<^ufited> the towers?"

MetHinkf the ^aem wm hi L<9Mleiiu«boii)4 be afraid, and feiufulnesa abould 8uip{iie,.tbe j^r pocrites; when God hath B^nt40 fnany of tbi^r number ista tbe ttverlasting, barwi)tl^ pf Ml bj the plague, i^iid by each a dev^riog &j^ bn^ eonsumed so niap§^bahitatibna*

Tren|ble;>ye linnevf, at* this, i^id be yi^ hoi^-ribly siGnad, all ye wqrkers of iniquity 1 fiq^ faath come down wiih a ahout* the Lord witb.^e

und of a tnunpet. He haKh taken hja wjeapms

hie handy and hath .tifiiie^gped in (^ond^mi^

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IMoufl^ «ftany; slkNild »ot this Hodfte tl^ tiiinem in the city to qfiakc, and strike a dread upon the spmt» of the tebellioas? When the Lord hadi spoken tboa, and done thna, becauae of our sins, ^oidd not bandon, yea, all England, ^* bear and itst, and do no more so wickedly."

Becauae Qod was patient lbrnierly» you |pre-stttned, £ccles« viii. 11. Beeause sentence against yoinrevil works was not speedily executed; there* fore yoor hearts were hardened and jreaolTed io yonr e^ ways* Because the Lord kept silence, yoft thought he was altogether sudi an one as your-selves, I^. 1. You thougfat^^ it may be, that he took uo more aotioe of you than yoi^ did of himt or that you had no more reason to fiMur^him tbaA he had to fear von« Yon thoaght^lt aaay b«t that 6bd had Ibrsaken the earth, or had hidden his &ce, and would never see your, wickedness* And chf how bold have yon beeny how audacious aiid fearless in sin! You were afraid to offend man, though a worm, and<yet yon have not been a(hud to offend God, the King of the whcle world. Men's laws have kept you from sins^ but the laws of God have not put upon you the least restraint. Yon have lived* and sinned as if there were no God; or as if he hadbeen 90 gen* ^h, and mildi and mereifnl, that yoa might do any iUttg to him, and he not *be dieplcaaed with you ; or, as if though he -wete dis^^ased^-yiet his displeasure were not to bo regwrded, aod thst he had Ho power to execute vengeanoe upon you^

But now God's patience hath, i& a great mea^ sure, been- turned Into fury. : Now, sinnens, you may perceive a Uttk that God can be angry ;

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and when his Bager is kindltd but a litit1e» S. it doth express itself so dreadfuHy, what dreadful expressions will Aere be of it, when it breaths forth into an open flame? If his anger be sudiin the day of some lighter, temporal judgnaeiit^ what will it be in the dinr of the revelation jof the tKasuresof k, upon all the wicked, at the appear** — -i of Jesus Christ ?

But God's vengeance now in these judgB^snt^ dioald work your hearts to a fear and awe of this righteous Judge, who bath done such exeeo^ tiena in the city; it should bridle and stay you ii|.. that ^Murless course of sin, in which you wef^i rushing^ mi, as Uie horse rusheth into the battle*

When Balaam's ass saw the angel stand in the... w^ with a drawn ^word, he was afraid, and would not go forward, thoagh spurred on, and beaten by Ms master. And when God stands in. Aa way with his sv<Hrd of judgment, which hath made such s^gfater already, and is lifted up

r'd to strike you, ihethinks you should he d and torn back. It is the way to hdB that Ood stands hit by his Judgments $ and will yao hresk throogh all into those flames ? Oh stand in awe, and sin firot, commune with your own aeaits«^ Cooiider'What halii been doing in London, fnd who faalh done these things. You Havq neai^ly escaped',- it may be, with your lives;.oh tearj^ito fear die glorious and feamil name of the,j6<H^ God kithlssedreadftif judgments. ■ -^ '

^ And aa God doUi expect that tiie wodd find hia enemies flftionld st^na in awe of him; so also much more, that the righteous and his people «hoakL Some, it ttitiy be, when God gavQ them

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€ne aecess to him^ and admitted unto familiarity with him^ ^lid encouraged them to boldness ood MiSdenct^ and strewed their path with nothtag but ihercies; such might abuse his goodoesa* BtSi"R}rget to mingle faith and lave with d«e i«^t^ce and respect; and begin to be too saoegr irftfa Qody and peremptory; and did not eoiiiid«r ^eir onginal distance, but fotgU the 6ev«rity ^lifdr they deserved for sin. Therefore God appears in the way of these judgments with sucli temHfe rebukes, that his own people nughtbe brbuglk unto a due awe and fear of his name; thaf, if they love bim, they may fear him too? if they priiy with boldness, they may pray also #ith r^^r^nce; if they rejoice in bis goodaese, th^y may tremble also at his judgments.

9.' God doih expect that London should mm settrvh nnd try their ways. When God had ptmidied Jerusalem with dreadful judgmente^ in the lamentation of which the projdiet Jawooiah doA filjpend a book, see what use and improwdx inent be calls upon the people to make beree^ Lodi. ill. 40. ^ Let us search and try our W8|ir8f and turn ikgain unto.the Iiord.''. This was tha p itf eti ce f of David in the day of his> trouble^ Fsal» kxvil. 0. *' I communed with mine own hearty and my spirit made diligent search^" Itheth befn a '<^d^ '6f God's wrath ia Lofidon^ a day ^f treble and di^ess, a day of wasting anid desolation^ a siay of darkness and gloominess, a d^f of oiomls aad thiidst darkness,*" as it was in Jerusaleoaf'^Zepb^i^ 15. There have been dark and thick cloHda ovev London, which in part havebrokefi imto4readfiil storms, and amazing tempes^ pf J?^'^ anger,

mtpxmmd^ in.Uie late judguaeptar'^^hd tSt^gfd been the product of i»ondon*s«1ns,;whidB1" ppoduee far iworse effects. Ifondon Is tli upon with a loud voice to search and' tboeo^itts, which have been the troubHr 4aty. I sjui^Qse that true citizens -v^dt/MT* be fcrwanl to.^earch after those persbtis'tbAl(1IM8% hand in tiie fyt$t kindlinff ana cafrjring'' db^ttb •im^-.wihicbteEned thpirh^Itatiohs to Ihe )^nifiAI4. €riv)e am kave, ^nd | shall make ^'d{st^6v^^f IjAiKba'a incendiaries, how jou may Bm' file • igufwrn, horn you may tr^e their /botsttp^; ^*H^t narka they beiu> lyhat; their ni^mes are^ kml' \vhl^ fMn iibode;, a^d need X lead yoii ftr W i!!e ieofch f . Th« ainners, the sinners of Loi^doitVRd Inndle tbe-fice.of London; it was ^ti Ared the ficst honse, axid sin was like (fH^ vpon the flai^es, which pMt such furf'(^1 tiutlnenecoiad withstand until the l^i^ited^ jMrt of. the city w^ f;41en and turned into a^h^i^'tiie x«rtearttrf, tha Sab)>ath-breakers^ the' kdulteiia^ ^ihcrdrunkardSf the unrighteous^ the pt6'&Di^*ihd ll^likt sinners liay« been Lpndon^s inctocHms, . *aiid had a hand in.p^IIIn^ ^own thisj6idMler jodgnaaftlaupon the place where ih^jHMf'^fid ia 1* 'htird t^-find out these personisTt^ iiS^toey fon» i»f ff^m the place.of their fbrnf^'atM^? iThe«Aitt«'of London are remaining/ktfB if^a tun» i^l^skirt8»or turn your eye uhd^tRnn, ^ bok i«yu> the houses standing abottf tH(J*dty,

ma^.you, not find numy of these' per^dtfr;'\i^ vile tiniMirs inhabiting, who are still liKV^ig Hawd at the £ra of Gcd's anger^ and pidlfii^lterd with cords of vanity and dbyfor fb^^ft^g-

m^oltmf 8earch> London, search, and find o«t ihfne epwnies, thy dettroyera; haat not tlNm do* at^ed thyself? Search, and find out tbjr aina, i«rhiab have brought such miachfefe and nriiia wow tbee,

Sinners, enter into your doaeta, ralbe into ^oiii|Bflvea, take the canidle of the Lord, and kMk mio. your inner rooms; make a strict aearah into

air hearts, find out those fiKby Insts wbiah g^ in dark comers, and bring themANrthlo ba slain; read over the old records cf yonr lifcfe^

.p90su)t the register of yonr consdencea, wvolve in lyout minds your former sins t take the^giaaa .of the word, and look upon your ftoea in k,

• aod af» how many spots it will disoo^rer wbidi fff^ never before did perceive; not beauty-apota, .baft apqts of deformity, plague-spots, dcadi-i aw^ks, hell-tokens, such as will bring upon ysau ippvitAbl^ misery, unless they be wiped ^; take

. the rule of the Word, and measure yeinr aeliima by .it, and you mav quickly perceive how noiiii they have mien short, how crooked they -hase bteoy. Rectum est index ^i et obHquif tMrnpare yoyf actions with' the straight rule 4)f CM's lawt and you may find out many ir^qgiJajitiaa; if you do not find out your sins, your aina will ipli you out, and God's judgments wyifind you out;-and if yoii be found outinyiMiraina, woe l!>a tpyou. O the horror which wIM be upon

^puc consciences when nunihg jadjg^ntB are ^iflict^ upon you particularly, and you cannot i^lCflipe; when deadi looks yon ito the ftce;, and eomes with the sting of sin in its mouth to ikvro^r VQU. But, O the hofror ytm will be

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vader hereafter, if you be taken vw$^ in foor -aina; when your souls shall be summoned^, imaw-diately after their separation, unto the bar of God, where you will be searched, aadtiied, And condemned to everlasting torment, by an incfi* table and irreversible sentence of the Jsdge himself: O therefore hearken to the vaioe of fiod hi these temporal judgments on.thecifty, (after whidi you still remain alive» throi^^b anfinite patience) which calls upon you to search and try your ways, that you may escape nua:«^ftefiil -judgments which may be preparing fov foobx labour to find out your sins, which art the cane of 1^1 judgments, temporal.and eternal; andSo help yon in your search after sin, read the catalogue I have given you of LondfloJs sws, rind examine yourselves thereby; be vefjr aernas^ and thorough, and impartial, in thb aefadi siequester yourselves often from all oonpany ease your mind of the load of worldly, bunneas leave the carriages at the bottom of the hiU strive against temptations mad indiq^oaitiioaa (to the work; set yOurselveain. the presencepf the heart-searching God; begthe help.of hiaSfsnt to discover to you what.hath displeased wad provoked him; search after ain as Qflbnaive in God, and as destrucstive to yenrsehpes, jm iFonr worst enemy, as the cause of plagium andrAie in Londbn, and as that whieh wiU.<bri«f 4he 'plagues and iine of hell upon you^ if teibe jiot found aai^ iind subdued. • .^^ .

4. God duih expect ikat Lomdon skmild mdakm* iedse their uns unto binu When the BrephiBt had direeted the people to search MMl lay ^their

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WK^, after tbe execution of audi jadgmentt. upon them. Lam. iii. 40, see the following direc-tion» Tenes 41, 43« '' Let us lift up our hearta vitk ouAhmda unto God in the heavens: we bav0.. tsaiM^eased, and hare rebelled/' &c* Thua the prophet doth confess the sins of J6run. aslmtit cb^. I. 8, 9. " Jerusalem hadi greatly sinned^ tjimfore she is removed. Her filthinesA is in^ her akirtsy she remembered not her last aid» tbeiefore the came down wonderfoUy.^ And^ tihua tb^ daughter of Zion» as ahe bewaileth her. afiiictiffli^ ao she aefciipwledgeth her transgression, ven^ 17* 1B» SO. '' Zion spreadetfa^ forth her handi^ ayid them is-none to comfort her. The. Lood is ngb|;e9ua» for I have rdbelled against his cam«|iffiidm0nik. Behold^ O Lord, for I am ia distress^ «^ bolveb are troubled/ mine heart is turned witim me, for I have grievously rebelled*^ Ihwi Dwid, «|ler dreadful iudgmento, maketh a confeasion of the ains of the {»eople of Israel, chafK ix^ 4» 5{ 6» '* I prayed unto the Lord, and made my oenfeasion, and said O Lord, the, gseift aad dreadful God, we have sinned and comaMtted iniquity, and have done wickedly, and hwrm rebailed, €ven by departing ftom thy precepts and thy judgments: neither have we heair]^<eiMKl unto thy servants tiie Prophets, which spake in Uvy name to our kings, our princes, and < oar fothers, and to til the people of the land,'* and ver. 11, 12. ** Yea, all Israel have transgressed thy law, by departing, that they ta^gjkA not obey thy voice; therefore the curse ia poai^ttpan as, and the oath, that is written in the law of Maaes, the aervafat^f <^c((|,^^use

]84 GOD*S TERRIBLE VOICE

Hf^ have tinned against him: and he b^ili fpn-firmed his word which he spake against ua, and against our judges that judged us> by bringing upon us a great evil t fw under the whok heaven ^th it not been done, as it hath been done upon Jerusalem,"

God doth expect that London should find out Ibttr sins, and having found them, that thej ^Ottld make confession of them. O &at the profane imd uagodly generation in London^ whose eina hmre been enumerated in the eataWu?» woald be persuaded tp get alone by ihm^ivis, and ooauder 'their evil W4^s, and what t&e cop-aeqaenee ef 4heir sins have been in bringing dowa temporal judgments; what the consequence «f their sins is Uke to be» even the •bringing upcm them eternal judgments, and that they would faD dowu apd prostrate themselves at God's foot, and cover»gtheir cheeks with shame and^bloah-iiig» beeause of their filtbiness and foul sins under the view 4>f so holy an eye; tha( .they would acknowledge their transgressions untabun, not only ia general, but also particularly^with their Jheinous aggravations! O . that witft an inward deep sense, with a bleedings broken b«art) <th^ wtauld- (fill their mouths wi(b eonfessiop; Ihat they would take to then)selvea w^rds/and sayi ^' We have rebelled against the^ O Iiord, and donewiekedly, and grievously offended thee; •o fooUsh have we been, and ignorant of thee, we liave been worse than beasts before thee: the ox aoknowledgeth his owner, and the ass his master; but, ^ugh we are thy creatures, and Uve upon thy bounty, ipj^f^^aily at thy

findixu;:,^ jet we have not aeknoirledgfd tbee» £ni 'Bave.liad le$$ considomtioii than tbeie creator^, who bav^ had no reaion; we have hhrn^mtx] peo^le^ laden with ini^uitjr, a WBitA of ^11 dffevB, children that have hem oonvpten^ wHd have forsaken the^, and by our wiekedneif jproyoked.the^ to anger. We have been stobbom tftp^dis^bedient, ^rving thine enemiesi the devil a^d^OQf\pwn lusts; but have negleoted, yea» f^lised to serve and worahip thee in our Ibmiliea and closets, livmg as if there had been m» GmA hi fhe wprldp We have sddom, if evWi taken thy n^e intp our mouths^ unless it hath been fix Vain, unless in our oaths and curses* We have profaned thy Sabbaths, and defiled tbi?? ordinances, and have often been more wicked pii't^e Lord's-day, than any day of the week bedi49^ When we were childreo« we disobeyed our .parents, but disobeyed thee eauch mere* whotdidst command us to honour them: wheqi we were children in years, we were grown mei^ an^ wpmen jn sin; when we were weidc in bo(^» W^ were strong in spirit \o commit iniquity; we learned the ti^e of sin before any ciher, a^ad wer^ apt scholars in the sebool of the devil, when dull apd blockish to learn wiyithing wUeh was good: w^ were wise \o dp evil, wh^n tp 49

«' ood >re h^ no understanding; our Mq|ui|i^8 aV^ incrf^sed over our heads, faster tluuiour y^firs oaV^ dox^e; since we have been govevnorp of,otner^, ^^e have had no government upon ou|r own spirits, and hs^ve endeavoured to.leiid those unHer our charge with us in the way to hell» Instead of labouring to draw ihem into the way

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0f lieavfai> by our ffXBxmph, cDnunandrandr^^eft* suMioos-; ami* w« have filkd up §il 'oar icla* IUN3B 'vith ttii} iii8t<Niil of fiUiBg dkeniMtp^ iMth duty. If we tiAve not iB»rdeml >l»y wjftb^oi^ handy we have n)urd«re«l many wibh guc ^aogmt; •fvordahave been^m our Kps^ itod bitter reirS&ig •peecbes in oiht sM>iii(h«;bearl>-tiitird«r;ivttbfty^ been guilty oft O tbe anerdinale anger lh«tf batk boiled in onr. faaactal* O the. envy:.and.ftnaUee wbieb hftfe gnawed oui^ spirtta^ and 4)een;W0rkf-ing daily wiihin uel -and espceii^' Ibnse^ pct-aons have been nio9l bated by o% nrlbCK ftava had thine image npon them, and bainebe^ hast beloved by tl^; we have jkem^' tiung^and looked upon them B9 raeaRHipirited peopla^ mfe have •eparated them from our oovipany>*ea.fthoae who damp and spoil our mirth l:^'tlk)siE weadt and lookt of reproof a yea^ we have peracmrtad them, as. sediliaus and factiona peiaou) i^thtA tn truths it was their hoUnesa and cpntcnlatioQ that did eonttadteC and tcondeint roar* wibkiML praetieesi whidi did stir np ^oair adger isgafarat them ; we have scoffed at them, who*h»i%>prayed €» uv and. we have looked 'upon .theol»- mid dei^t with thena as onr enemies^ beGntlae.<a9 tii our luslsi who were the host friends -td^'out souU> eod* above all- things desiattd-our aaWatioB* Thout bast-giy^n <m oorni and vriot, and* dS^ and plentiful previsions for our hedy# 'hnft* are have> abused ^by metfA^ by our intaniperanoe and luxury: we have been guih^ of deunkcliMss and gluttony; we have induced oar «fleah and sensual appetite | wie have hved tn plessureiand been wanton; we walloived Idee so manj swioe.

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tK T«» city; l%i

h[>#iiiqBBil«'Uidndlingi<0f'Miki0>iMtliy aifir, *t^liidl it is w ahtttte'tD %p«ak *of;' we iMve Ind eyes lind' faints' Ml 4if Mate ^nA adultery, and hftv« biokMf"foiA into'MMli Vile tfMtial'%inft of'uii* c^mftaasmBf m vtouM nim blobhes in inodeit )|hditks^t» hettT'lmt tbe tft^ntiM of: wt h«ve keMk wjw^ioidiiffvighteo^i kiotirdMiliiig, h«te mrdajged md d«llNuid«d'€iw neighbour, though tfatMV'faiMthreMentd to he lSfehgeA'x>n all scm^ fiin<Miif4' O Ump li«li -we hMVe^spokfen, theblMidefc-<m» bnddilitiiig'spestbM that we have uttercKlf O diejfiacoBtenioietit, mu^maring, enyyh\g, «rH 0iMica|mbenea>9 inonikiMe affbetloD, and wicked dfstesqietl whiob luiv« tieen in our npirita! And thoii^iwfl ba«te bratenaH fhy law», and at« 9iaStoy^C«oeb'«0tOMOiisakis, yet, O tbeimpenU Umcy andrhp^dfk^asioif'^uif'b«art»! though no talfstiOT is sttaJimU^ but by Chfiat, wh^ h fteiUy tendoMd vmUf us, yet Otht nnbelief of oor <heflrCi) and a«|^t of yyur'townadtnlfon! Wif Inivrwnnei, ^we 'have sinned ftginint thee; tod' vbflt ahallfiwe>4o unto thee, O thou {it^ iermerfofwenr ^

r - €rQd 'etpeeia! thttt London ehonld makecon-^ feaienidf'their etn, Kttd 'ireMildbewtsfaed'tlidt London wwaW j4itir togetherHke t^e m&tfin tb^ wwkr'but if thnr^ft;annot be, atid' ^tkef Wafit cbmdMm vMnth^tv opeff'tbeiitiliettrtfl MdMsitis befo^e'lhe LcidwpatticMbn'CdKMsdion; letev^ff ooejxi^ thenar be a daooith' td kiteseH^' «id' gk iato<i»e deeet/ end tbereecktidWledge beeidon^ iine: end if thoea wbor are 'tto^t ' gi^lty, die mgjeot this work, let God's peopl^'il^ife iti fhei^ rocwi aiMl:ooDfese^n««'#tily thek ownakis/but;'

T^ G0D*8 TBmiU»l}« VOICl^

rfso file Am tff tile |pK»Gm iNid i^iol^^ they ttr^j, «»d HMtr Mt mi^ b9mmf(mnSh

of being milled bf. the n^iv^M )f4U)^jfi^ alfaen. - ^ ^.' . i ,..

ihtih^M uniir these jtidgmvUM* :Q^ .,. jodgments en tke AUAmBfAHm^el Wt^h^ ^ neds, ''* to humU^Hhtiv/' DiiMlV)TOU|6i

brRi^iiifrpe«fte«ito fer iMr^iinf^ 4ft;] his covenant, " if their uneircttmciaed huisabled/^ Leviki zkfi^ .40hHW». Y«%v.^ flro* misedi to eimit such jo due tUnc^ '^^ w^o tuifnfc^

Odd^ laighty head faeth b^m strffto^i^ fp9|b tipon London; God «speot9 ibitt.bw^^iv. jdifi^ behttmbler he haA, biioiMedtthem by bi^ j/91^-tsetate, be eftpects tb«t tbfQr Amid. hWple tiieoiselves binder hit ju|^pi^nl9^. QodhA»lli itttiied the pride.^ lionde*, be ^xpfota,:^ tiiey idioold let down (heir plunw;,lie hffii broiu^t diem dowh, and be exfiM^ tb|i.t.4i^ ihottld lie^ \mf; be failh bfwight .po^e^tyiiipea ttmny of thc«i in Mgetd. of l;bf ir «iiiM(e|H,iiDrt. ?»o expeetS' tbtO; all of .them ^dipuld. be i^oor .ia. c^fW^ of Aeir epinis: he haA mude many <^ H^ sn^lfi k regard ^of their ODoriition* lend tlftrfif-' peets thut dMirtdiapetitigo^ 4ed aipctwuti^fmd be aeeordkig^gr.. Qipd bBib kid f9my* Pf»^«W« in the d«at%ithefiliii«e, nmd |i# JMith Uid le^fipy hooaee H^ theduat 1^ the fire, and h^ iipqp^ that ibcne which-enridiiie and renuiin afte^.f;^^ judgpl(»k%«boaUilay.thmi4elve94R4i« duil^^

mifMi^. ' HuMleHfyidf Hke^ O London, Scmibfer %!fe]f befoM Cbe Lonl; lick tbfi doftt ij^Pllfil'feH* put off (hy ornaments^ and gird the9 ^th isackdoth, dothe tbyielf with kumility,. God bath spit in thy face; wilt thou be proud of tfify beauty again } he hadi burnt the city with firfd^ wilt thmi be proud of thy haildings and st^tjAy edifices any more? he hath oenMUDod ihiiCh of the fael of thy pride, and he expects fli^t thy pride should be absled, and that thou i^Vnirddit abase thyself, and humUe thyself be* Kire nitb* *

'. %. 0otF dkh eespecl that Londm ihouU ao^ep$ qf Ihe punishment cf iheh- vaqui^. Levit. TKiij. ^0^-4S. ''If my people sbsll oonfess thdir Iniquity, and the iniquity of their father% a^id'be humbled, and aceepft die punishe^ent-of diehr iniquity; then will I remember ray oevenaol, dnd remember the liMl/' God expects that Lipindon should justiff him in theeevsesast jud|^ misbts which he hadi inffioted upon them'; as tfa^ should acknowledge tfieir sinet isp Uiey should acknowledge tiietr demerit^ and thet the liitrd hath punished them no mora, yea, that be hath pohisfaed them less than thriv iniquities have desenr^: as thi^ should bring a bill of indictment against themselves, so they ahoald bring a bill of acquHtanoe of Gad;. God expe<^ that they should say, as Kdi. ix.. d3» ''Then titt just in all that ii9 brovglit upon us ( for thou hast done right, but we have done wickedly." Or as Dan. ix. 7, S« '* O Lord, righteousness belongeth unto thee, but unto us confusion of faces, because we have sinned against thee."

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Let not London munrntr or repine, let i|ofc ftOfin don find fault and oomplam of God, becuiviol his judgments^ Lam. iii. 39* '* ^^' ^^^ ^ living man complain^ a man for the pumahroen^. of hift siti f* God hath opened, his poott^ afid spoken terribly; but let London shut h^ UMJUlh^^ bteause God hjath spoken liglv^eouatj^.;^. f}^ halfc spoken with b loud voice^ let Lond^W in deep silence; *' I was dumb, I of»enedf:iio^' vfiy tnouth, saith Davids because thoi^ didst ix,^ Plal. xx^ix. 9. When Nadaband Abiba,.tha( two sons of Aaron, were consumed with ftw from hea'ten, fbr offering strange fine: bAfibra tiio Lord, it is said, that Aaron held his pe^cei». Lev^ z. I'-^S, So when God hatk consumed tbarilgc of London with fire, for the sins of t])G.»ihaliJA taints, let theip hold their peaqe, because tfacfl have deserved it. Let London, be. efSXit aid know that God is righteous; let London.I^.hi« hand upon her mouth, and her mouth iathe dvuj;; let London clpse up her lips, and seal tbwd ufi^ wttii siknce ; or if she Q|>eii them^ let her mcwih. be fiHed with confessions, npt with compiainldi or, if sh6 complain, let her complaio- ta 09^ but let heir not complain of him^ if tbi^4aw^

Elain, let hor cobiplain against hensel^ but^ilel ei^ not complain against God; let^ her oomf^liQ of het own sin and wickedness, but not, of^^ioA*^ jttdjgni^t^ so righteous. Let London i^cstd^ il is no wbrse with her, when both her sin anil b^ dittiger was iso great; let her wond^, ivheo G^ was so ancpy,. that he should put sj^j. se^traaai upon it; that when wrath was come ford|, tll^ pi^oceeded no farther; let her woaderth^t Ite

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4iligtt6 'AH Hbt' q^uite depopulate hev, let her wbtider it is so well with her, that she is not made a desolation, and say, " It is of the Lord's idetcies that we are not consumed/' Lam. iii. 22. 7. ^lod doth expect that London should vumm fot- her sins. We read, Jer. iii. 21, "A voice ma lieard upon the hijgh places', weeping md suppltotions of the house of Israel." When the teirfible Voice of Ood^ls judgments hath been heard in London, God doth hearken for the voioe of "W^e^ng atid supplications; this God's voice d^fi eall for: when breaches were made in iba cfiy^ of David, Isa. xxii. 9. '' Then did the Lard of Hosts call to weepingi and to mbuminijr, to baldfteas, and to girding with saekclotb/' ver. 11. And when instead hereof there waa " joj aad gk^iiesB, eating Hesh, mA drinking wine,'' the Lord is.ao angry, that'he threateneth, '^ surely thta iniquity shall mot be purged from you till yott die,'' ver, iS, 14. See fdso what the Lord caXh ibr to the daughter of Zion under her jud|^ meiiiCs, Lam. ii. 18,19, *' Let tears run down like a Hver <ky and ni^ht; give thyself no rest, let not'the apple of thine eye cease: arise, cry in the-^bight; in the b^ginnitoff of the watcW pour ovft thine heart like water before the face of tl^ L^/^ God doth not only expect that *' l^ mi-niat^aod priests should weep between .th«;|Kxrch and theaitar,** whep sore judgments are upou^this laiml, asJoel ii. 17; but also that tfie people should wefe^ too, *^ that the bridegroom fiboi^d go fort)i of Ilia €hamber, and the' bride out of her> closet/' as -irer. 16; that pe€|>le should be <* affli«l;ed^ ukomui wid weep, that tiieir laughter should be

turned into moaMikig^ mill dteiv • joy^ inilcKfieatifi 1Mb; Smam iv. g. > He cxpeets thettUoie iHiHii eseupe hk jildgmentt ^ sboold fo&'licd doinM upon the ttowKiiiw,' erery one movmiin^ Ibi^Ui «iiqttities,'''«9Gnek.TL l6. LdndonnniajralMita ibr h«r jftdg^oienti whioh hAve beeft^MxidvtedUiiti but Ood espectstheytfihoDld'iBoaili mdreiAvfhll ilettore, mkkik hath foeto .the^dnult 9f:/th«Bl jfiflimlt;'imdpiiost0f attfor theidiMti8;<wUdi ave been the caaae of «fait diapkaBwre*^' •. tooiHtn ITtfep London^ weep%ft)tf thy aiiii^;#liUbMiye bten M>iMuiy Aid|iit>yoldvfrl^Ani^ey^hfljfMt 4^lfie han't; when thoo looke^titttakthjr Vm^liif ']da^e;>aM ibinhdst btnr; mady of ithjyv,{Mfopte 'have-Utely tlieM taheit op thfir habrtinrieiirfciil should dhwr teara: from dime e3retitv.thuik eMby wnns, i?hieh. opened the< deoff» 06 thbse'lodgjnui 'dntd>theaat methifiksywhaithoHlHuiteilttbchiigh thy minouB faaUtMaoiify md aeest.lfae.h^apvHdr •fltiDnes at the top of thy stneta^ieten thoii'-vieweftt thy bal^-ehuvchee, end bare lieepies, Mtal h^mN waU8,-«Kl opai vanlts* aild/thedkdieltelitMdp in thoieplaott^ wfaidt dot'long^agb wfit«lh(l of people^ it ehotdd fin tbide heart ^*itii Miovfor <i3iyafai^ wfaidk bave-kiUdled aneh angi^flq the toeasrof God, as to aend* tk» l^terdmdblfiit, niiiebhadiiiutdeaiichdetdiidobs; ^'1^ \.i r. b* .-V A i whi , -LondoBy mounii put on laaekl:9eA; tbou-ecestin part vbat-an evil and bittar'fcUl^ it «r toiofttid a beiy and jealoua God: *tiie eflnM ef «» be» are* fearful eoBBetivMip whet.«va b there m m^tbm, wUch is the caaaeef liqrVaiai* God looka novrifaat tfie oDMri of LondkntaheaU ifeeoHie Bwamerat wereadofftUMriE whUi'Wii

#hfl9li 'did; tuiiMbn ta»jl' trj out for tim itomififi* tinriitlMi wsJ'e donfl in the dmklsl) theneoCir i«d lU^(4^«ini<n(inratiid^ from* tiwifNirnl 4egtanictiwi» wimhr wAsibvobght^upcm tite ifaat, Eicelu ix« 4> 6* IBM)i«toth>iM* laknark upon thooi' tb^ snowm aft &dndiiiBifbD die«n§ of Londin; and, howereiv hv'inijp «hud with lAwtn^ m regard pf tecnpoNl dabbritinv be. mnro' bo irali separate tima, 9m4 preserve thoK^toiv eitenihl destviietion. ^ Mofhiik8lbofaUio£Loiidi»calblbramauni-lai^iliiEo>te ttiminungof HadadrhniMa in the " ~l0| whei

MogUio^ where Joasph fell in htM^ 2oobiTzikilt. Amd there shonld not oa^ he )pubiio MMyming, but also privats inoiurDtDg» and fdMrt biotRviii^; fanifiiics apart» and peraotis wptirtT *it bbcdmoB Christians now, after snch 4liwieetdf Gfld's wrath, Co keep secret faste^to l»ew|alfLeiidoSi'sruiii8» especkUy to bewail L^oti-ston'ar-sfaiS'^ ^tbeir 07*8 should weep- in seerat fktmm, >Ar the ebominitioin eommitled in the dfU^^ •nA'iiedew Ood^s feet with their tears, that, if Ijiebaibiv, tbsy might «usn away ins displeabufe. >t9yc4W dStir4r ititptct 4lmt Lmtbm skouU iahowr #^ fmctfiMs'Umget. Vikm God ifareataDed to sailditto^vdpood,' ami tb eat off fr<te> *« Israel the head and the Uil> therbrianchtaiiA the tush iniNie .dli^<«^V«Hd to send tbe^nniije soi'Sdre, sbaitiiey :aMlhh'f^ieat eieiy nati the ^csh of hac^m lamf' :^tt it is aaid^ << For «Il this> hdi anger is ndt'tutneil awi^r hot hie hasid ia atralched but asittT^''^^ ^^1 ^T,^^i ^1« AndnowGod hmh OMMiated his jodgments <if ybigwo and fire in 2jonAoil,^ hnse not we reason te leae that his

s

ang^r i8 tiot yet tuitied away, fcut fife' bund ia stretched out still? When the houses ofLondMi lurere consumed, which w^e the fuel to tile late fire^ then the fire quickly went out; axidif tlie sins of London had heen consumed wif& the houses, if the inhabitants of the city h^ iM t>rought forth their sins, when they wer« ftifce#td leave their goods behind utrto the flatnea/ fhati we should hive reason to think that ih^fi^Cff God*s anger was govHd oot^ and his wrAth tmVMd away from the escaped iretaihant of LMdtoi'Sn-aomuch as the sitis of London have beeii ^ tiie fuel« as it were, to this dreadful fire ^tWI whten ao much sin, afi^r such judgnients, is stt^^iiih^, untouched^ and unmortified: when the f^iAg&e^ sin doth rage so much after the plaguti i£'p0SA' ience is removed; and the fire of lust dMh hwn BO much, when the other fire is extingmalkMl: when Londoners, who have tdtfhfi iiew hMaes, have brought into them Iheir old hearti^ and*Hve i|i the practice of their old 8ins;*whenthlrsw«aM8 and profanef^ the drunkards and unctean, the covetous, uhright^us, and loose Hvers, s^'fieN severe ]n.tl)eir wicked courses, and ub jtKt|^ittent will put a stdp to thekn, but tbey gro#"tad#«'&air-dened and inconigjbl^; when, as it l^ibidli'iFer. \ ^, the Lord haUi «' sti^idfcen them fiM'«^,^Biit they are not ^ev^d, cbnstmied them, blft liley refuse to tecefve cori-eotion, making theu^'tffcfcs harder than a tock, at^U teflise to rettkrn^^'#iMit can we cohcJude, but th^t God's angei^ deOifwill remain^ yefi, i^ more enra^d by this ^griiw66n of their *wicl^neds, and that he is sChetl^iig fonh his hand to'giveUiem another Udw. ''-/- .

G^d dotk expect that London should use some jBBeaiw to pacify his anger, and he givea them time &>r it l^y the pauses which he makes he* t^meesi' his judgments, being still slow to anger^ mtid anwilliuA, if he be not even forced unto it, i^tteidy to. destn^y this place, where his name bailb >bee^ called upon. O that London would be pcftvuadsd.vpoDtlus duty, which doth so much QOMem theur< safety and happiness 1 When the fii^was in.l40qdop, and it burned so furiously ao4 d^^fully on the -Monday and Tuesday, ^.^nd^mers! hearts were sunk within them, having UlUe bc^s of getting victory over this ccmqueror, wUcb^^aMrobed'through their streets; and there-fiNTQ little rasiitance was made, but all were busily eno^oi^ed in flying from him^ with their goods; but mhvik the fury qf die fire was something tbefto^ ODi the Wednesday, and they began to epnceive any liopes that it might be extinguished, then ftbey^ {duck up their spirits, and join thcdr f#r«ec» and maay tbouaand hands are at work in dfawi^ waters, amd pouring them upon the A^aifl9^^nd their pains, through God's blessing, wUMJiot^uosuc^sstuL The fire of God's wrat&, iwjlicb,sbvll.d^v0ur tba wicked* 9^d burn, them (av^ri^^^gl^, wiU be.so furious and dreadful, that ,t^elieai;jts ^thedamned wiQ sink, ui^er it witb-r^ ,^ ]^^ |ufp^ of ever extinguishing this Ama^ or %ing from it, when it hath oncegot .iMoidtif theiu»* and therefore they will nolt attempt, but'tel^aloneall leudeav^urs {or ever to turn away Ggd'^displeaaure^ and to put out the unquenchable fire <rf hell: but.the fire.of GjodV^atb and anger her9«m«y be p^tie^ty^ap4ythe iUmes of bis

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mijgnr. may.be tufnecl. isto ftunesiofi kMci JGlidfs aoger, which hath l>een ^9 hvC agaiiu^ LoMod^ may be cooled* bit WMth aUeviat^/ndillm^diBJ-l>le4U9ure removed: thete ia hope an Israeli eob* .cerning this thing. God. is not yee yroHvar- «e luripua that he iiriU not lae appk^i onto; fae^is «afly to be entreated, and Itfa^efore Leaden ^imiy be encouraged in. theiir eodeaJnoento^paqiQrfl^ anger. Let them net aay^ as > Israel lofiJiaid^ J[er< ii* S4^y " There is ma fanpe^ do, itor-'I tetie loved 8tren^er8> And «Aer them w31- i' ^^ Though God's ai^er be not yet turned awayv^yet it nsiay be tamed a«»y; and dim^'jone ianid 1^ atretched outto destroy you, yetrtheijal^ hand is stretched forth to save you; '* fee -the stretchetb forth his hand all/ the <% Ieti|r^ to a disobedient and gainsaying peop^ej''.B0Di4 fec.^1. O labour then to pacify God's ^anger,. to qoeach this fire J arise and gild yourselves withiiaMiility^ pluck vup y^mt apirito, lund stir up ft^nti^bfevtt lay.hold on God^ «(id slop him in the VBaedrof his judgments; bring fortli'yourJbqckets^ dMb ^ater»and pour it,fonhbeibittrthe>Lorsb74ee«jfibulr c^es be. like fotintaiils of tbare;. the <Toioex«f M^epping» and mourning fer^ain :dolh tuaovGoBDi bo!wele wthin biin, Jen 'X3ai..lS4t<M)..r.i'liMre surely h«ard Epbitoim bdannaang'biBaeelfv'l^irkOtt hast phaeitiaii4 mi^ end I ivas chsBtise^'^ ift^, aM ivl^n he repented rfter sucb'ehiksdSe«ieiiUi;^euMl ivas ashamed of.his sin* God:dBthr'reltot,>'iai^lfi8 bowel/s are ineved for him; ** Is 'Epbraim asy dear soo^? is he a pieastotchiki^ fme sinds^ i spake .s^inst bim« I earnestly rememfaer 'Him >ill^ therefore my bewds wee troubled lor Jmiii:(

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itiitf iwsHi*niel7'hMe'tMRl)r'U|Niti Mm, Audi the bofMkV ( l£ Loiidim would be diMlided, and re* 9iivm1hhimpnadmmof )gtAfff and shattie fbr tiheir 4m bjTRlheMijud^eatsy God*i bowvk would be AioTad^ <eiid) hie fievce^ anger would be changed intoitendfe coaqunaon; and-theugh he hath ^jpdkfKklUanilAj agaiast London, yet fee ireuSd ilffwiriqMakiecaiifaetaddy «ittlo'*her; he'would ear* MetlxreMcnbeKiher^ anflftniakeher glad aceor^* dhi^ tothe'idajs-whieMn he bath afflicted- bcn% aa4 ^be yters wbceein ehe hath seen eytl. Thert i«|iicr4aQaUeiiti¥irttte iw'tli^ teera of tree lepen^ taiic^^ ^aocotupaiiied* witb the Mood of ChrisC, 9f^^&si\by feitk tofqileneh tbe tire of Oodl9

SiemMiy Cbd'isangrjt with yoa, Paalih ^i. 11, '"^God ia aUgry.wiili the wielDad ettoy day," and H)ie rffoBieto have .God angty with you than all theiti»e«da;the world; his ihvouf is better than U|s# Wb'diwpleaeanBJts'Wvrsethan death; to hev^ Qpd <eai||ry!whh yoti,<who i« ao loit and jealoUf; wihuK ia^Bo fMtent and iiirioa8> is* very dreadful; 2f.^die> .'weath'ofiian' eaethly king* be like the lwriDg«ef ft-lioit»tadiat(i8 the wmth of the King oTbe^vatt^ lAoidwhentiieaoger'UMiiii'edup t^ jf^mshBfAmd falowir.into.a <iiattie/and break)» foriii;iti(>9a yeai^ whaliwitt yondo? You cannot

e|ro>^ilLiiot'^iid yoj^ j^yauf diniyel * fly iarto - any idaeewheieMealiNBlahedJfeRh ^rm'wW tiot reach yotti; ]nnncB|iiiofegatfaer<8tich utreirglh 0fS^io)ttttik^^ head^igaiMt him, and delbttd yoaHeWes ftom the stroke* <£ hia vengeanoei ^ who^ can sland' iri hia^akfatwhaii'OnaB bciaraiM<iy y^'Paaimkxvur*

ftdm hkn, O 'HiMi-'flyiuieoiilmis yon ousttDt flttt^ in hfk^mgbt when ht is-angry; QiJdi^iKjfiiU down at hid feet, milM pmceiwiiliifaiv/adreannif, %yh!lM' y<m' iirt» opon %h« Wfty^i)«fiiBe lie ildntr

t>i9«bt< df tell. ''■*''• '■■'■ ' i-^' '« .M i^iij/j' -. -''Bmneifs; G(»dV |NrfAHie»'dbtb'BSi/;pet WMicJ^s

attd he ihvkes y^tt toniik^ your peace-«^i9di>inn» fM. :i[xvii. 4, 5; ^< Who wookl sH; lfae>bri0ni.«ad thoniB agakiM tne in btttdii ? I would'90 through them^ I wodld born' ^bma tagmhrnr^n^tuhBijAiai take h(>Id (M tny sti^tigcbj'and make fNaceiieiih -me, and he 6htdl make peace witb me.^ai Ydu will 1)e like bilei-g andtlMinis^whittb wiU faadly take fit^/and'qdtokly^ii^'eoMiimed'iii'tlieijliBe of Cfdd^ ai^er; and if brier* andthamsiiinLdfer to conterid with' dfetroii#ing^^to^ Jiriiat/vdtt i^ie tte is^itie, btittbe%urning*idiem iip^iarithoiiairanidir? Yif^ iHtt^^d^'il «hairp>an4 ttbinOil^iopfnuifjM, if yocr kfck'againttt the prieka^ yoodtfiU dnhawt ydurbi^iniB, if'jminmTmirilHiKl'ji^aiDat ^mstk, «>ra%rteen'wttl)it Mtieever hardonedithenQiifaes a^lMfOMl^ imd pvoapeMd TJinpne mat(if«a^t againeft thi»^'€k)d?0f Mavaii by thekiaiBs.vbdtMtey W«ii«'woUndedyaiiMltiniithevnd jdbatiHiy^daifb Wh^ it' iirifitt«sfa«d^^b«iii^;elb:r&ttbid^ttl^iibd ^m^tH,iMd^l8»rytfbi^crrer* .^O ttite^iflgr^hiMvon G^d!^ dMeitfgth{ a1i«l>«ial» ,p»d* witkobimaidain to MM',<4tilh» held ofitbe: aeaptnliif ^sfhtmupd i«^n(en&ti«w;'Whkhi»4itikbtetfaittii*B(f»tt|iild&e Kold'O^hk 'aMa^tand |ikiBl>witfa<liimidrflus'cy; UkeheW of Mb Son, vO^b^jof^^^fm^mixQ |

Am MftrfbtChrtobet praiiitiirtMi.ftr %h9 ^»mimaa

•«ffBiD8 which am piuHt^ tbrdugb the fbrbaiuranc^wof

Ood^£<iiii. Hu S5j «« y^ God balb lorbwne

.pm^ «B ydb 7«u 'are en ifak-eid^ ofihe go^vs,

«nlnheill; ami tbcMi ia a pofaibility of taroiog

: aMMfiGaH^ 9n§Vpmhv^ ia kkiflUad i^iiat yov,

of flying from that wrath which ia.|»QjRsiuogr/of

ybifc^W aaoapaDg}tkofl^>»«efiefl> which ara -pre-

jparfag l(Mr.yon ;'«fd t h aygfare lay hfld on Cba»t

wdio b fredyteadMed unto you^/wbo iaafak af>d

"wallhig^<toMBaiF« yon> and. laake your paace with

tha^BaihaiViflod to pnieure a.pardon for yiw.

Aiid ftirtdber to)»H»va yot^i you are not only ofiRerad

peace >and raconoiiiatio»y but yo« «jre entreatad

ta^ be ncottciied; lainiBtera cmtceat yna; yaa,

/ Chad hiiwd^ awA JaaiM Ohtist by us, doth aniraat,

aod-fkay)^ani<faeatach yoo^ that you would aorept

it£* irigonrtliariiin# a > Cor, r. SO. Be astoniahod,

O yteheavfin»,ADdfWondarj0.ye'a|]^a! Beasto-

nUiedTnuiah noiwi ya.ainnerB I and> bo wrapt np

'witbrndraimtiiOB^ iQ Jiotrebrial the King «f glofy>

ijigdfaiat lAibbrnvyon Juivo r»be)kd» a«id ,v«bo ooaid

'iBKoak jyoiL:aoraaiily(withiant ai>^ injuvy.to bUn*

' aGtfa|iis>iii»tjen^.-wiUta|^4orlagr a^ido^m^aivger^biit

• i^aai estreatprTiroa ;^ .aaoapt. .oC i^wnoiUation:

fafllEiftflgr.^eiBbtada dettia'.€&ri«t..i}pow^bia own

tamiiymdr:l)ketWHrkwi]lba»dooeit otbaicwijM^Ibe

ftiryiaf^liie'UrdwiUba 8ajimfb«fihe mova piro-

.yUwi,4Bkd^tiifirite of:U8tang#9^WAll>bKe#|(.l4|th

. intP'radck.'iar Sm^, aa isonai ^bftU^be. ak4^^to

^aiela; ntlmnifka tkil7L<»rd>livill b«i^Wi^k,^e

^^maringiandidBvaftMMig liaii»<aa likecatbqair be-.fCftfed af.bcr wtaJ|i9^.ai4 if|*,jb^^

8faBU)bt.jMine to dMw^J'- Hattt>niL<9^^'S';>BiBB»'

nultdh • iWMl pnittiaettDdflr.tiMidrtedbil^ivl^'. roeoti of fiuame «r fwtlikaof, JnhichtciMiiriiimii : he amdclh «|Mm )m poi^^ lbritkiiii'inBar|u¥ if^ mil pto|p]e» vbickArefCattid bjifiunnr^aU ln*i»4<. bl^'thflpiMLvQa^ aiHl pinj* anl akId my ifaee, ^liiidt tum'^nom. xktm widwd wajni^ thcn^mttilr failtni fr«n beavyn, jnd ib^gi¥»4h^ff/fiiBi( ami iieiltii^' their land*" God dolh' im* i»i1$^ esfiMftf <thetv Leodeoers dtouU nov.iackM«r]edf» tfateir. 8W%.-and fa«nUe Ihem^vetwand moiiM for tfieurMra^ bttfe «lso tbm tbej skMiiikl turn from thmlyfitbeim wiae iMurdoD, and l>eelMif, endhia <Mroiir,a«i<ni* ■ to be ebtabed* nether «x» ftpthepijudgiBimter. lil^elj' U> be: paevented ; they tn^st. i*^ can£u4<mA : far«di« tbair atni, tf.th«^ meakli %aAvm9i^'' Prav« laviiu 18^ the.wicked nnwb'fofaake^lbtiv v^ oCeiiv and (urn auto tbeLori^iaadftheifete' will have mercyy and abundantly n ptapdeaj^ lflahiLri7»; • QedvChrvetancrii itO'-goKeeiTtiariMiBMi such as go on to tran«grea»( Ptalm budti; Al, ^*i^ will w^eund- the btad<£ hie eiieaw9» end ibeikaiiBr scalp Mrf'<eu(ditoeafg»'e9»<taiin thcfar^lrasiieaseai^irrn JBfemkiyaffi dieRii^yk>or siM>faif :rf|^ente»Qi(^;;(UMi.> Gael ivnuyaUyomt^irsiiigreaBioni' fesiaiyeitf^pal -airi^!theimli«f yaiar dimgf ffwm hatew the>lv>lysr: and. jeaimNfi^fl^ree ^ef Ged; cease 4o do evibh, d^aewe yeurcbmiclsyiyoii sifuiei^ and piutfy^ywt* heevts» jfie wifikedl.y*;iniiided i waah'ydttcielvlMtia thexfiraotaia «ft Ciuwtca blaik^ set>iuMit tm^Mau

" Digitized by Vj<.fL:»*^ If • ^ '

tk*>9atMivftMiy hm deioscd from att iltliiMis of floh «ttd spirit, aad be paruktrs tof holiness^ and the divine nature; deny'all ungodliness and wcoUlylttste; i^Mtain from flesh«>p1eBsinf sins, wlMBhiwar kigaiast tlie soul; and be not c o nfbnned U>-^ molwd cosUjom of wicked men; neither folfaim:this>ungodly gefteratssn to do evil; muoh leis -ruiv vith them to the Same esoessof riot; buttlsei yei tnms&imied by thrvenewing of your ni|]idB,r«nd live soberly, righteoosly^ and godly in4iiis presesit evil world; Mid let the time pass ofii>yciuff "lives' be siifikfent wherein you have wledgbt^Ae will of tfae flesh, and served divere lufto, and cast • Mot upon the profession q§ CbnsSianfty;'new be blameless, smd harmless, and iinrebitJuble in the midst of « cveoked and pdtovene nation; cast off the works 4^ darkness | layttasidr your night^vail of ignorance ; put on th»>Bob«i of light'; w^dk honestly, as^n the day, shio^ as Jights where you live; forbear iA weriifr of'darkness and sin; «nda8 he which liaUi c^^- ytevia heiyf la be ym holy in all nsamMRr of con woisat i o n./ ...

rfiinncrs, turn from ywr evil waysy otherwise lability lidll be ymir rain^

-ji^^Drukkardf, ttumfiem i^onrevil mi^i overcharge not youfMives with ixttm^ where God al-lo^ts-yon^eiiooglb for: use* << Look viot upon the wteewhottit is red, whenit gtvesh its eoloor in thf ciip, wlitn it sparitleth «nd moveth itself arigbtt at Iset it i)iteth like a* serpent^ and stingelh Hke an adder,-' Prov, xxiii. 81, 9^; Wjsmids and woe are the issue of exoessrve drinking, ver, 29. This sm if^ l»^,?p«t and

pleuinig^ to Um eye and appetite io tketiolpte-tion; Irat it will wound and sting the oonsatetooe^ W4ir8e tiMB an adder or satpeot era do* the^SHldy, m theieiectien ; CSod faatk pot bittemeaa into4lie cop by hie jadgnenta, and will you drink^ aa<4ecp aa b^re? are yon i e adve d to taste Um rifi^ that lie at die botten ? Tbe cup/haftb poMteirJB k, Ibal poison, and wiH yen dlridb eft k^ atilb tbough you mofder. attd destroy * your ttoBlMiie emrby^tWa sin? Tbe oop^bath wiath tin-iMlii Wfftfth of an angry Ged; and as k goadiferyoa to drink of tbe wine bi Ged's wialb? • DtariN fcemess bath been your sioy Bndii^yam'gfMH^ Godtineateqeth thaA'drankeanesaahak^be ifoar pQnisbment^ Jee. 9v. 1%, ''8ptokiunlo^tbee«lhis word, Uiiis saith tbe Lord, every bdttle-'abatt'lis filled with wine:'' drunkards iiksibis iwty-weH$ tbey are Very wettf^sased that thek bottdaa dbU be iXM with ^rine^ that libey anyleiBptff jdhcn^ bat uoderdtiind tbernKantog^'rerjl^/M.'^.ThMi aakh tbeLofd, 1 wffl filallAhs iaUbititets^4be knd'Wkb dmikenMaa} and i wiU<dtob'Aemfans agaimt anolber, even th6 fadiers ttndrtbh tons tegeibepv I wfll >iiet pity, nosiepMls, ^ntotf lave mercy, but destroy them." Drunkards, yiNfefaol and fali a a|ne ti aneB.witk yourain.9 CM^MrJU o^e ymiteeL and fettby bis jodgmcnts^'aiidrdailb |mi oHe iipon another ^ y^a, dash^ youf/inrfMfeefltJffnd destaay^jottiwidMHift pifty/of aaevcjirj Wfliyoftiftbt tebcar (yaof' eupsf and evdesaes^ . €od ir01 tMiM CMp of trambkng imd' aatonishraent ilnto ^^rai* band; h^.wdlpotgaUrAndw«iwwoodfinUte|KiK c^<aiidr«iake|nDu taste tbe«biUer effeata^.ibis kw if be: (to tto*r8evctoelDr,<80ourg0 yoi^ Jk HhiB

8flii|fan»pie wUl be mre te txvment 3^u fartfaii

''Wrny ye drunkardsk from jowe evil wayt; YiMnittup your sin by re^eatMxwB; weep and i|9okn &r all'your sinful mirth cndjolHty; and ^tiiietd of fetttfniiig with the dog, andilckiBg m^A^momiti ndiioh you hare disgorged* Anad thtf^eceatiooe o£ this.sin; sbmi the company of aick ae^ve been your tmapim; take hQed<of «iHQajtag«nti04lie plaote where you faavelMeit dnema in 40 4)oaaaDit it; make a oevetumt mth yamr €ub^ «h«lvtfiey may- never lead you tMUl of the mmy of ^SMi^iatttO'snchiplaBeay wlMreyea have becii<ae oAeti utertakeB; CMrb and'reiliiain yoor eppdbite; tiitoe^seiyelDiBKiof holy venenge vpoa yeuiiieUea; aUby^'younehieff aome things .which are liuwfuliii tUeaitffliNrsf heeaiise ooeaslofis of sis oirto yen^ attft iaiBBd ^ fiUing yonrselites^ with wine,«r atvQi% dmk unto droilikeiiiiesa and etoess^ Jab<Rir «e:be filled^th>^ Spiiili and by the Spirit to tnoAiff thia and lall •other deeda of the body ;ami t«ahe»>leC «he ^vicked wonder afrjoa, and spedi «ei4 of yow lor yotnr aobrieqr»thaikXSDd hate yoiif ati«l beifig.deMpruetion fOfqn you lor yoitr f

'fAi^ Mukei^s^iurn from.yoit^ mil mag^tf Gonae iM| ofi the'ttndean bed; iitaUew)iiol:any logger Sfl'tliiyibeiiiieaNDg mtaei Areyeafidfen*«|Kta«the dftA^I 'ge« 1^1 -Mid eoflie foith wHh aq^eedM«Ad ^ash yoor garmenfts &oao the apota^- whidi they IttrttpfteeimM^t areyiHft takenintbeoet, and|CB*-aiuif«d' - its '• edMineiotta > emiv'MJi^cnts I deliver yelif<»el««s iike'it)noe>froiii theni^tof «liehumfeer, attd dike a bird^atoue^ tbet^sitan ef-the fowier. I^ not after the beauty and enjoyment of adu

m^omwammp krt Ml the mH^m^d goaye of thtir lifNi ^ti«e yo*^ mr th^i«|Mft&ln% QMlions of tbeir oyos: ioflailo yoo*^ f»l wt i|i Mrto yo>r boaom^ <ip44>ke JtaeA ot wofciny nfia burningCMltj why will fm»iammmf»fomtbitf, •ad tine, and aobstaM*^ wkAAhmmi^ bmtih dbcmed ? Whir will ^ou bpi«g i^jOM'jrdoiMMi A wouad and dulMio«r^<wlMoh -oannoti te ipipii oC Why. will' ymx be liko oiwil wl|iobuf«i^|i tho daughlev^oBd be aneh ftok aoHto- hi im^lipi fOuraekrasdMlniolicxi?. . : <: ni iiii^

Ttim from your oyiI wajai dair>«il»l» gii'ft*-fiofd in tbatwi^ wUdi IqMUv tMrtod o mfato diwM. <^lia»3a§o 10 bonoiMblfc utM^mmk di« tad Mm defiled, bat whow i o ng cra and fldailnfti*> CM «illjiii^6^"Heb. miii.4« God hidlabotlMiaii^ vaiart into thecity, and wounded aoaa^ aiialMMi lor tbio ain, that 4iad baJbre^deitedand^waiButafl theiwelvea by it; and witt yoo gm ^mnUkm^tm piaraa thioagb your lifar? .Xba^giawing- ofi tbe abi ia «woat,i like boncy* but wHiMt ihaiaiMbba morabktarlbaniroraiiood? andif ft'ttHlMiMt flatawaof tha flcA boaa dat ir idd gy irah a o tubp. eaUreme eiidkaa pafai ii vfll •omditte I Uo ? Can yoo ba.oootant Uyhm «) aa of yoaia^ undar tbe bomMe m at ami/b i<i nJ^ttfe pKMtnt saoBttat A%bl^^twfaiabv; f«lapod^caB*ii'yMd jroit aatblbrtioni^ 4airj§B#oit t»«dl imoitba oroaa of an miftiMommmmm^ andiaitt it^nat bo bitter, yaa, ^ a-iwRM^jtbiair^ &U into the hands of the living God ?*'i«obb« SI. espaeiaUy wban^h* ie immmmmhUf^MMmrj, Anw^flioaMHHF tMHM aUaaflao'ai^^tfH WMOBHiOH^Hf

ath burnt down the city, how dreadful it was;

lb* tmt^^ Iwt wftMu fott hi worw, tnd ^m iiii^f^iidl fa — uA yavt, wfaieh is prepariiig fo f*^«fid «iitawtii«li^ hjpthit mn, jrou ire hasten^ ^9J9'm4btmmtn4kMdnHm dreftdfttl, (cyf whidi i0«i*^«nMy>)r«»dy«lwiHyoiigoonP Otam linmar yoiir«4ufaMiii8 wivfi; eoine not turn tht d^^ w i of in h ^ l M n^ i/^licre yoti have had inoni«^ '^m^ tm' kMrt» and eppoirtwsMea fbr audi lewd ffiramitfla; ihainr a edvenant with yt>ur ey^, the i y»iAL J»eattght at ^ eye; not eiily Awbi il, b^ also by it; the spark that, fallhig upon the tinder «f^«i|i adtflfenwMr hearty putt it mto a fame; do Mih^'iBtpmahefBOMi or w^naii, that you oiay wm iMhkt damot tUnfc, Hwt yon may not )dst; 'ddbot^toodithaft yoa tMqrwt deaire to'tailxf; 4# ndt tef, fast ypa be caug^; do not came too Mar- the brink/lest yeu fitll into the stream 'Mtoit'jKm art aware; take heed of speeolative usiel a rarnn ass , aa you would be kept firom aetoal «ttda^piMas;,laka heed of sf^poUatioM aa yoa ^otddba'kepHlroHi tekilUnpy^ith otherr; i^eid ' sc^ toi a ns of tUr ain, ^mw not into Mch eoni-yauiy arid plmiaa where yo» may have oppertmiity ^'^consmil -it? Bm jmAM lusts whldi w«r Hfsihsifhaaaul; keep yt wrmhida pore and chaste; viaiil^e'firstsaneatloiistolftlssin; qt»iiehthe t^*mh^ Whe(fim to kkidie; loaktvthe issut immI eans^quaata of tiiia ain: rei

\ cons^quaata of itik ain; rem uMdwr that the i i o ly 'eye of Ckidle upon^oii^ isi yiMir most secnft let^ettsetits, xn^ he wBl, ere feaf , edl yoo^to w aoaintiit; • - •

i^yrSmtoMr^ tttrw fnm yom^ fvit waga. ^ Re-the tlBid coBttnsiidflsest; xBBBt» which' a ; of •! Qod^rdMDfh^ goi^

^^ god's X^9>1UMl.E yoicB

B^jfmtH^ ]||xiii,tMl|f)Bak«r91|«»«&^ J^HQlifjI^T.

Pod la vain» fpr the l^ofd wiU not^ l)iM hm Sm^ }fiH that taketh hj^ mme in vi^bu" Th# ytry VMf f^ U>§ ni^pe of iQod iri]^^f;)^y» ji a hm^^ri

fljvjbM^ j^ it^^isop^ G%i higWy>^ ao i^ viU ]i»|iv /Wicl^miatkt^ qer^i^ly Mppn ^ ISi^^* %lUo 110^ rej^jflt^api. /(pdiear, W^ ^^ j^.iqi4e Vm. W^th*, aod ^v^ 2f^ .(QugVep ta fpmk jbis praJ3e» which men are your glory, i9^ili.y4Ai {»»faiM9 tbe/^ap^ilf ,th^ Qpd^ «|iiditi;^IMlt^y ^ gmy of A^dj jl^vvt al^ fo^pmf^ g^s v^ jj|^a\e,^d diaho^€|ur, .m^ jt^^X ipr^^ you,J^9 Dot U^. nm^tive aqd ioiqeiQiJIiiyi^ Jto ^e^fai^tei^iiw

Xt geU tb^e Dotbii^, and haj^ bo .exfj^se: . . , Last and .wine plead a'pleasiir^^ av^ice gain: Bntthe elieap shearer, through hii open shitce

iUU tHaBMil nm §of nmi^ atft^le fearliii;?

,W«Mi«9.q[MWrr»JiOQi^d|iate#)!l^«M. . .

f^qok iato Pept xjf^viii.,58,j59. whiit;thKe«lb«i^ .^^9 t)]e L9r4 dp^ Aum^t^ ther«MfMA|t,4ii^ l« do .4K^,fe«r bis B^if^; ^nd «DXel¥,it is if^tmMi of frv tWwJ.^we of Gpd'a.yai^, Jj^t ffl^^ifi^^fp bpld as to swear by it, 9r '|a)^9 lit jfi .juip ^ /f ,U ,tkm wit m^t.fear tMi^lor^S aW fej^lid iipBae, 11^ I^jd tby Mod) then the Itord .will jwfe^j^ pli^ufls wi^derfttlii and the plagues of tby.^vidi .«veq gnei^ Bkg»^9 4Pd of ifmg |i}0^ ims » w» Wd.jsor© fiw^kiii^a9es, a^^^ Ijm;^ ,co|itii^fm^f &c, mth notXjod plagued jp.d^^^ the city

of LonMn, ambngst dthbt Mtts, tAt itiiB 6f sWeaf^ mg, and. yet will y^ sw^i* ^H, uid ptt>voke the Lotd to fuMbe# ^mtli, iHito y6ti baVe b^w, in Mfft, how fearfbl the nMin« of God is, in t!w jtidgJMneMs wtiieh he htttb e«#eihted * "mil you go on still to tytofancrhit naibe? Do yM tiol fea^ fatat« jodgmeiittf wiU not the name of God be di^pbyed mart divadAiBy iMftite yttii; iHphenp he op^mft the treasoteB of hlir "WraMi, and aende 1^ SMi itl dandng fii»e to tidce vengeance UpcM iintt^fevP ind y«t will net yoto fear this natni OfGdd?

Sti^Ak'eifi^y^R^th what etiti^&ttHM ean yon pt«f t^ Getf r what hdpecAfi yotf hate, when yoU os^ G^a fi'imefift ptAfer, that yon shall have th^ teMf aiidieni^ or aetf^catiek, when you abuse hid ilame so mnch, and cast such dishonour upon It; by y«or oaths ^ If yon do not prtiynow^ as swearers seldom db, wHl you nevet' be driven to your knees } will you never be brought to such extreraitieBy that no creature, shall be Me to give you any rtKef ? and with what feee can you, then> look up to ^od ? Will not your callings upon the niMsto^ef'Odl^'be ItittAh, Hb youliaV^taket^ hia tiattfelfl vtfffl? Win SUM Gdd iMlgh atyom^ €ttlMfhit^?' kind thoagb yte er/^d Hhokt, wfll M>tHe i/tmt ottt ytrar ftkfer, and hta^HHt dbor di

(»««^«r^^; tufnf fWan yonr sin ; niiA;e a c^ei l|«At>#ith ylDUt^ Btidulh: M^ a wAteh h^fyfe the do^i^-of yout HpB j ulie<>od*snfi«ie in pMyet^^ and rtrf«f«M)y in discourse i &o nut sw^al" hf it) oy tld0i>ittfi viiln«§fiynJore;< gei^«enawei^ihiaiuun«

Digitized by VjUU^ It:

upon joav bmrls, wbicb wBlhe^iai «(|X9Ua>t means to keep you from this sin.

4« JJarSy ium from your eoU wigfs. We read AcU V. at the beginpujg, <^ Ananias and Sapphirsy who were smitten with sudden 4eadi for the sin of Ijing; it is said, '^ they &11 down at the apostles' feet, and gave up jthe ghc^*" And hath not the sin of lying been one ingredient . in the meritorious cause of the fall of so many persons and houses by the plague and fire in the cityofLiondon? This sin of lying the apostle doth especially caution the Colossians imd Epbesiaos against, after the wonderful grace of God in the renovation of them according to his- imager Col. liL 9, *' Lie not one to another, seeing ye have put off the old man« with hk de<p<]|i> and have put on the new man/' &c. Epb. iv. 2^.^. " Having put on the new man> which,.after Grod is created in righteousness and true holiness. Put away lying, and speak every man truth to his neighbour. And this sin I may.caution Londoners against, after the dreadful anger, of God expressed in the desolations which h^ hath made amongst them by his late judgments ; .lie not one to another any more, but meak every onej^th tp his neighbour* . The Lord is a Gpd of tru^, and be cannot lie. The devil is the fatheir of lies and liars« John viii. 44, i^nd which lis ropst eligible, to be children of God* or children of tbe devil ? A lying tongue is one of the seven abqmjnations which the Lord hateth, Prov. vi. 16,1.7^ And is there l^ly good you can get by your lying,, comparable to the evil of renderij^g yourselves bate*-

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flit ktli abomifiaUe iit tftte feiglit bf GcMl'? h it n^edfiil for jon tt>flnetiiffes to tpeik liesp I«it tiot ft tbotiettfidfdftl mofe needftll ibr you always tb'speak tiriith ? Are yon likely to ^n to tntich by tbe fbrmer as by the hitter F What is a little ouWatrd et&oluinent in oomnarison with inwattl peace'?' Are you likely to lose iso much by the lattet as by (tie former? What is the loss of exte'm^ temporal things, in comparison with the loss of yotir sonle and happiness ibr ever? Is it needful to He that you may excuse your fknits ? this makes them double.

Nothing can fieed a He; A ftiflt Whidrtieedk it vuMt, gr<mB two thereby.

" PJirents, warn your children against this sin of lyhig; do not spare the rod of correction where you find them guihy; pass by twenty 'other faults radier than this; lying is the first link in the chain of a thousand gross sins; rap off their fingers fjt'om the first link, lest the cham after grow too strong fbr you to bfeak«

Masters, indulge not your servants in 'this sin; the resolutfbn of David was, Psal. d. 7, ** He that woiketh deceit sh411 not dwell in my boose; he that telledi lies, fihall not txtry in my sight." Especijdly take teed of leading servants to this sin'by your example; above al^ of putting them updn ihis sin^ by yoUr persuAsrons or con)mands; for, besides the guilt of their sin, whioh'hereby you incur, your damage is like to be more than your advantage by their lies, ft you put'them ilpbn lyhtg for you, they^will put themselves' tifjbn lying to you; and if you deceive others in some

T 2

SiO G0D*9 TBRJtdlLft VOICE

UMbgft 'bjr ib^ tenowr /l4^ Jtre-^Kk^to

^pov, ^terrcdl^ym greotfnllii^saibv^the.kbttnh

> Yotang onet^ takv hcedof tifli;' (k»tilalAaag»ttt mayiit^ the^doiiki iindfcxqaM>ti£<il>Ue;eiad^ yoa<lie'<oi«rfdLen widb &$ .fioilty (never-^ily >^ .wiiBn eEOBBOttadf ^Imt) wifeh sQnrqv.acknDwlfHi^t ita9 jrott Mwnld gainifiproinv^nith'God amltiBUK Take liced lof idnsr ski JBetHne*; lay,«lde lyltig be£qM>ftl»':g]lBrasantara*OB«tfin^ whkk^vH^ hxoi. tokaTAi ,<Mdroiwi)bBeak>off:tfaiB8hi^i)eftibfr|ppa be^dnt^gao^bytltoi ch^of ^bkimiototbsBfiM cf licU, wbkh iff the tlli)eatancd)poiiiiteatMii(k tteiten^ Rev. nti. 8, B&nit too hasty ni ispecdi^ ketiliut .^dissue ibethiatthe^dkx>r (rf'y)tfiii^li|>s, hefiwetycm a»e awaze; speak always as ito^^tbe faearini^'of' God, iRho knowwlieth^r yiouarfJwe«El anal kmftab ogvee^- i|Ddti»ho<.iwiilo«ie ^h^ oatt jwtttotaiiiaocoustfot^^is mnj; an^evo^ftJ^^ytM wp^sAy^diiiahxjfim.fBr it seremlytinjdle luke^ fi»Hnd^hriaistinie^X ■ :*'-,/: n :-.j, -ii^-tL-o, •

siti of f^mAmg^^ xa» oi^ tlMi.?isentBaoatBJ<iif ^yiogi ilHii the iteethyo^sla»dater3i«vtciobai|pitipd la ^. spears ami airowsii and their ;^kofigaes ^to v flbaop aarardi^' Stah iMi 4f aiKliarileDftte^umi thdkfilaBdacai Oii^il'baiidilliaarlMMa; «i(^«itoo* lbciK|aar4Mra, ^jl vhftthehr^Mrtsd^^aildJvvfaaii^ ABTOiratiai dirare(patatioBio^ othei^tV^^dh'tl^efnaiidi bditi]d(toilwa«ica]»iyiii^caa(their om^ilbfiiL Imi M^MiShmileiieraatoff^fl^Mtiiess^^ ^Ao^hiyito liba dttif^joiiQtliartniaudiitfiinga^ail thiy:tklKi# not/ ^arfixjtxy. II7 tho}^ are^lkiia^wfaoftasDFm piecaa 4hoc:god(lTBMiiDB/<ofi>Qthen) they^^liseiitee* *(rant8>;whoseisaQvibar&tttfigB^

faami;^thfif are. copafrnwl 1» '* niiub, and swffixby B&d jluir|» arnMia^" ProT. axr. 1&; jiea, thqgiiBra like'*' mad many v]la caak ahoai iire-brMdsy and anrowa, md death," Prov. loivi. IB. By thtt.8ii»,'you woond odiars^ aad are guilty of %^tiga»*^maad€Vf but yvtu wcnnxl ymntaivet moraE, I flieaa your eonsdcDOBs, a&d are goUty of •alftmorder, of soulHiMBrder; and the {wison. of Kach ^echea is.not 8OJT0naaKm8.and doftdlyy kk regafd of yoor naighbaor'a good name, aait h m eegavd o€ your <>wn spirits^ whidk are ebT^Domed^ ai^ willbedealrQyad liereby, withont theapfdica* ttoo ef the Uood of Oiriat for pardcai and heating; ^landorevs, forbeiur'yaBr baekbitiDg^ dandanrnt afieedietj feisbear devoarii^ wards^ which >f«ial* low up the good name of your neighhours; let notyolur thsoatsbelike <ipen 8cpulofa:es, to ai»* tomb their J^eputatioa; tdie head your toognaa doiiQt utter alandeis and rapaoach^t deviaed bgr yourselves; be careful also that you da> not apread madx cahmmks A8.4idiet8 have devised*: Receive ]iot;a8^ aflcmsatiiiii. against year noD^hbaiurs with-* <wtig)Md:>pieof(; dtive away badLbittng tonguet with ^an,angry ^oadntanioiee; wkd if. yo^ must henRTiof odicr&ulta^ Jet loveeonccal tbamaa unidh aejirtAy>be Omm diftfcihniledgeiriB oftfaani; railhaf lEpea]&4;#>lbetik8eifn8?wfaatlyav ^Ma„m6mpiaof0^ Aai»' ^if ibe ;thiffga> be arBadahroi^wkh prudesfla^ love> anl^ispiritai'mediuessai .BaiwinihaF'the oammandy 'J^busdiL^e^r^^.fipeBkefft'dCsfDir-Buii^^ iknd take. haed>. of .^h&iinnfiii; pxaotinr af. the. wioraen dasexibed.rl^lramy^ 13w .^ Iliey leani teheiiUe, wandxttrngt abouiiiMPQ' house to hauaa^ audnotioolgL idl0bi^iattlei:aalsivaad?faiujpl;^od2Qa

gpmloiWf4Magi irWelillMy ¥9^\t% iioiu'\. )ft&m yoliF ^ongmiB k^re btfen insddmental t^^WouDil •titeci, M yottraelmi' w«tbal^ by sbiQ^e^iis •piwc iw >» make m$» of tbe «ame HvrtrifnOTi^.iar hct&ig; UxHif to-hcal yowselves bj-^omimfl^aD of yov «M tP God^ nd to he«l fli^«i» b^ •denoivlM^iig tMh^n the-wioiig jroa bave J)^ IfaMi^ UbourtoUck iviiola tb» fam^, ^^ goodiMrdotQ^MOiiioie their estaen^ wbich yoa luawin^aitly tokan amray. Labour for ao t^A knaitfQroBd brotharly love^aata be a&toiileqr «f Hk&g gaad namo^Bdl ftme as your owq*; jt^ k hwiBOi fo prefer them above-yoiirselvea, mhiA will vtaka.yott raa#y. to hide Aeir £uill^ and Iwap yoo lioin evil tunoiaes aad evil alawKferonis

& Jtoa <h Pi»?<»ra/»oJnya»r evil migs. 4R«y3Bif ^mdidaiideripf oAea go togetber^ «a prboeediiig ^botb^aitt.*4lM aanno-roet of vabce aad hatred; -ye^ Bfwwifiai€i» the njdice ia kept moredoee: -when war is in tbe faaart^ and Bduchief is u-wardfydaviaeAf attd tbeagpioaecleetly vrbonded wididUiiden>briiii|d the back,^tha-tooffue.dofli r#a«fter» flUid liko a heli^-ooai^ dotb drop not^i^ iMt onatft verdabtffofo'lhe face. The8m.<S|f re-mfliog ia ope», 'and spits Ibrth mncour ati41 tnlDithofaeerond btaaka fortbioto bitter ^ Ar-tiie-shame aad ^isgmca. of-such •a|pldnifc wbon tbey are spokea, Uioogb n^^ d M lftuui tlieioaal^s ttiore« by the weakness, «nd ill ^vdmOMntof spicscy whieh beial^ they discov^. .' tt^ribts^ refirain your angry bitter speeches; ^ri^^ biftieiaflM^^anil wrath, uA ^n|^, and damooT) and evil speakings ho pii|5«way itatcL

jaa^yfiA all malice," Eph. iv. 01 • Do not quarrel and contenci t do not break ibrtli into fnrawla and clamoars, and bitter reviling apeecbes^ 9g$anH ka<ch as give you no occasion, bat deabre to five at peace with you; and if others are angry, and qdarrel with yon, labour to pacify Uieir anger; do not stir up the coals by your bitter velorta? ** 'when yon are reviled, revile not agaui,'*^ fflie oar Saviour, 1 Pet. ii. 2S. *' Render not evS for evil, nor railing for railing, but contrariwisa^ blessing,** 1 Pet. iii. Q, The second blow breeds the quarrel, and the second revOing word breeds the strife; give to a hard speech the return of a soft answer, Prov. xv. 1. '^A soft answet tumeth away wrath, but grievous ifords stir up anger.'' And Prov. xxv. 15. *'Long fbrbe«^ anqe is of great persuasion and *' a soft tongue breaketh a bone.'^ Th^re is a nuurvdloua force in a meek reception of bitter speeches to appease anger, and mollify ihe spirits of those whidi aite most fierce; whereas grievous and bitter returns stir up unto greater contention. Revenge not yourseltes with the hand, neither revenge 3roor-sel ves with the tongue; revile not your enemies, but ''love them, and pray fbr them, mid do good to them ; feed and clothe them, and heap coals upon their head,** Matt. v. 44; Rom. xii. 19, 20. ^ Be ^ntle, shewing til meekness to idi men,** Tit. iii. 2. Especially, revile not your ftiends, take heed of stirring up strife in the house wfaercf you live; be of a peaceable disposidon: above all, take heed of reviling Christ's fHends, Ood*s children; revile not the saints: remember that no reyilers, especially such revtlers aa persevere in

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tbfii fitin, 'Vfiliiai.i&bedt ttie ki^cm dT Gda^" 1 Cor. vL Iq, And wbeo the Lord Jitsai ccAaOb id the W da^, '| He iirill execnte jOd^nfleiit upori the ungodly, for their hard ispeecbea ^idt: tbc^ tiaye,spoken against him, in apealuog a^fdiist>hiir peopije " Judf^ 15.

Eevuers^ govern jpur tongues* ** tf any ittan amoQg ypu seem tp 1^ religious^ andi>tidleUr^iHit his tongue, that n^ai^'a religion js vain»'' Jam. i^^ft W^uld you gpvem youraelves. weU^ acoovdiik^ <d scripture rules, bridle And goverii j^our tcM^es^ Jam, iii^ $,A. "Behold, we put bita tt^ llie ^p^ses* moutti^^ ^at they may ^ obey us^ an(l«i tun;i about their whde body^ Behold iif^ <ihe s^Pf,, yfhidtkf though they be so giefit^ J^)ave driven of fierce wikids, yet they ire ttirnedjLboui with a veiry small hblin, whmersoever tBe'|^ vernor listeth.'' Put a bit u^on this Iittte.itienflieiv aipdyou mav tlie better have all ^t i^si Bt'scis^ manc)« a|[|d,,keep yourselves iti, wben la&firmie vented' passions, likft wild horses witfkont rnoa;-i^ay cfu-ry yOu into n^any a.prtd^ub^r^titncn ott^^^wtse tiie ^erc^ gtonn)iof,ydur'milula\iBi^ break :^or]J^,an^ drive y6u upon red&Siuidshdves^ ahd.sU/^wr^ bqtb jsoul and bpdj^: t^^oiOttiu; '' Tnere u.a world oj^iniqui^y io t&a itongii8,nHiikifti defileth tne wbol^ bodyj the t^giiciifi!iii>finrv wbich setteth on fire the >bole course o^ listurep ^nd its^JT is set on fire of helU" t« & GH tbe^ former fire quenched, get the heatof your tsn^oes: cciole^, a£[ you W/0ul4 e^cap^ the Jailer: fiivf I nten the fir^ of h€^, &om whence the fdrmfir.firetdgth Pfoceed, and imtp which it will certaimly faring you. " Tbe tongue is full of deadly ^diasiii, it is

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^a pr^Ay cvil» ^irliich no niMi ean tame, when by att the iriidest beasts may and have been taxned/' yer« 7» 9- Others cannot tame yoor tongue^f, but you may get them tamed yourselves: pu^ them imder the jrovernment of Christ^ and he yfiO. tame them; get your passions tamed within, and you mav tame this member/^hich is the mstmment they make u8e o|f fb vent themselves in yoiur revilin^s: *keep ffoard femd sentinel before the jdoor of your lips, and watch your word's^ that yo^ p^end hot witn your tonguei.

7- Per9ecutor$f turn from your evil ways. Forbear persecuting the people of God, w6o d^irie ^fjovx good, and are the beH safemiard and defence^ by t&eir jprayers and faith, ot the places'wher^ theylive, from miseries and dditnietion. Is it good for you to hew at the bough on whidi you sjtaiid over such a deep, into which, if you should fally it win be impossible for you to red)veif yonrselv;es again ? Is it good for ybutb puU at the pillars cif the house, which, if you pluck down, will bring the house upon you, hnd bury ^ou in i|^ w^m} Is it {good, to put yourselves undeir the faurtbeosome sMle which will grind voti t^ powder ^' Sappbs^, whilst you are breathing forth IbmiiteQii^ agaitKjtany of Christ's disciples, an<]l are |p ibe bent of yotir rage and furious persecution ^laf tfaem^ you bhoftld hear such a voice as Paid liid from heaven, ** Sinners,'8iftners,whv pei^ecute yoq me>" Would it not cod, ahd/stop yott^ ' -Y^u may faear this voice, if you will open vQtir ear'iinto the word; it is Christ yon persecute m bis'disomies; it is Christ you wound'through their i^ides; .^^ would do the same to bim as roe

Jews did« were he alive amongst you, and you bad the same power as sometimes wasv^at into their hands against the Lord of Life. I will not charge London with, and therefore need not warn them generally against, the sin of persecution of God's people, because they have been a shelter to them, when the times have frowned most upon them: but are there none have need of this waiTiing? Are there no Judas's amongst them, none of Paul's spirit before his conversion ?

Persecutors, forbear this sin, which makes yoa as like the devil as any that I know, and locks you fastest in his arms; which is the very next door to the sin against the Holy Ghost, which will bring upon you swift destruction; which will sink you into the lower parts of the bottomless pit; which will lash and sting your consciences with horrible scourges hereafter, if they be not awakened with horror here; turn from this ain before it be too late ; imitate Paul, and become frieuds to them against whom you have expressed so much enmity and spite,

8. Covelotu persons^ turn from your evil ways, God hath smitten you for the iniquity of your covetousnessyvdo not go frowardly on in this sin; he hath subtracted much of the fuel of this sin, and burnt it in the £re; let there be a greater decay in your lust of covetousness than there hath been in any of your estates. Covetousness is one of the sins which the apostles would not have *' so much as named amongst the saints,** Ephes. V. 3. It is a sin if it reign, which is inconsistent with the truth of grace, and power of godliness,, because it is idolatry, Col. iii; Sa And the apos«

I

tie tells us expressly, that " covetous persons shall not inherit the kingdom of God/' 1 Cor. ix, 10. Yea, that "the wrath of God shall come upon them," Ephes. v, 6.

Covetous persons, turn from your sin, get this earthly member mollified: get your hearts loosened from those things, which you have hitherto made your God, and in which you have sought for your chiefest felicity.

Have you little in the world ? Be contented with the portion which God gives you; you have as much as God seeth fit for you," Heb. xiii. 5. " liCt your conversation be without cotetousness, and be content with such things as you have." Covetousness will not heal your poverty, any more than riches can heal your covetousness.

Have you much in the world ? do your riches increase? set not vour heart upon them: make use of what God hath given you without such pinching and self-denial, which the Lord Jesus never commanded in his precepts of Uitit kind. God never gave riches to save, but to use; take heed ci exceeding the bounds in spending, and do not spare the moderate use of what you have, for fear of future wanting; use part of your estates for yourselves in what is needful iot the body» and suitable to your degree and quality; lay ande part for vour posterity; and lay out part in the help of those in necessity, for relief of the poor, whereby ** you' will lay up fat yourselves a good foundation f<^ the time to come; and, at last« lay hold on etern^ life," 1 Tim. vi« IS. 19.

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9. Unrightemu penoms, inm from ifour epil ways. God hath been righteous in hia jud^ ments, because you have been unrighteous ia your dealings; and as his judgments are a reproof of your sin, so are they a warning to yon to leave it. Unrighteous gains will yield you little advantage in the issu^: see what the Apostle James qpeaks of the wealth which men get in such a way* chap. v. 2—4t. " Your riches are corropted, and your garments moth-eatKi: your gold and silver is cankered, and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, aad shall eat your flesh, as it were fire: ye have heiqied treasures together lor the last days; behold the hire of your labourers, which have rei^d down your fields, which is of you, kept backbjjr firaud, crieth, and the caries have ent^ed into the ears of the Lord of Sabeoth/' The cane of God goeth along with unlawful, anrif^teons gainsr; and is like moth and rust to corrupt and canker them; they bring a fire into the flesh isnd booesi which will eat and torment; they pieroe* men through with many sorrows, and at the laKttfr end utterly consume them with terrors, if their conscience be awakened; unrighteous persona do not heap up such treasures of wealthy as by «1» they heap up treasures of wrath against the lant day: the wrongs which they do to others, ciy with a loud voice to God, and the Lord -wiU* be the avenger of all such as are d^Qrauded. •; list them that have been unrighteous then he ttl&* righteous no more: you canncH; wrong otb^raso much by this sin, as you wrong yourselves:

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lahake your bands of dishonest gains; make resti-tmion of what jou have defrauded others, as you «xp«ct salvation, non remUlitur jieccatum, nisi tesiituaiuT ablatum. This is a bard saying to flome, who have no other wealth but what they have gained in a dishonest and unrighteous way; \mA will it not be harder to suffer the vengeance of eternal fire for this sin ? is it not better to impoverish yourselves, that you may be just and honest whilst you live, dian to be damned and thirst into a place of torment when yon die? You mmt leave what you have: if God do not taike away what you have by some temporal ^calamity before^ be sure death will strip you of all 7 and is it not better for you to part with it yoiutielves to the just' owners, when this is the ivay t» obtain pardon and peace, and an inheri* 4anee, wlnoh is of a thouattid-foki more value? A&^ Ao not &ar but God will make provision lor you whilst you abide in the world, if you restllve to be hone^, and put your trust in him, who hath the disposal of Uie earth and the fulness thereof. Be righteous for the future; do not swe#ve a batr irom the nile of right. " What ^oa if^ould tba(t othera should do unto you, do uitlo ^lem:" this is K prindipie inscribed upon the heart by nature, and <' tiiis ia the law and tbe prophets," Matt. vii. Ig.

10. Hypocritesf turn ye from y&ar evil rvaife, M^thinks the terrible voice of God should afvighten 3^u, under your hypoorital shows, atid outside devotionir; methinks you should now bend your hearts to please the Lord, and approve

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yourselves chiefly to hii»« who h«tl^ exprowd 80 much displeasure against siuners^ and i» most highly offended with hypocrites. What good ipnji a form do you, without the power of godHnesa? what good wUl shows do yoa, wkhmit sinoeie and substantial service? what bmiefit will yon get by counterfeit graces, if your graces be not real? If your repentance^ and faiSi^ and lov^ and the like, be feigned, how inefiectual will tbty be to procure pavdoo, and peace, and salvation I Are you conteat to lose aQ your bodSy esenisey and to have all your heartless lifeless dotiea iise up one day in judgaaent against you? Wbst advantage will you get by a base profesuoe of religion, especially in such tioAes when protesion, if it be strict, is disoountenanoed, and profo a o ea ^ if their lamp shine with any brightness, «m1 they carry any great tail, expose thenuriwe to danger? And if you have not sincerity, iNhiA alone can yield you the true and sweet firMita of religion, you are like to lose all, and of a&olhen to make yourselves most miserdi>le; you muf suffer from men because you have a pro fo eoi eo ^ and you will suffer from God, because you htM no more than a profession: what then» should you cast off your professioii 2 No; so yoa would turn apostates, and may fidl into the atil against the Holy Ghost, which will bring u^sit you inevitable damnation; but iBf ikside yevr hypocrisy, and become sincere: be that in trilth» which yoa are in show; labour lor sincas^y in regard of your state, and labour for nnoccitgp in regard of your duties*

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Sinners, God calls upon all of jou to turn from fmr'^^fL w«y» ly^Histhiindering voice. '^•i'Tithj presenify: let the time past be sufficient M4iere{n you have fulfilled the desires of the fiesh ati#)^iaiifd t go'Hot a step forward in the way \l^4in, 'lest JOU meet with destruction suddenly, aiHl pet^sh without remedy. ' Ttorn urmerstdly ; say nofe of any sin, as Lot idM ofZoar, *' It is a little one;" cast away all your transgressions, and let no iniquity have d^telnion over you ibr the fttture.

• T#m heartilif, from an inward principle of hatr^ to sin, and love to God; and not from 4Mitward considerations, and merely upon the «c6lkiot of sin's dreadful cdhsequents:

*'T^ttti C9nstantfy, and with full purpose of heart ^im§F^ife¥Sim unto your evil ways of sin any

- 1^. The Lord dotk expect, after such Judgments, Skai London skordd seek Mm; that they should hot-only turn from their evil-ways, bat also'that fhey should ''turn unto him that hath smitten A«in, and seek the Lord of Hosts,'' Isa. ix. 15. «We relKl,' Amos v. 2. ** The virgin of Israel is felieny she in forsaken, and none to raise her up :'*" wihereupon God caRs this duty, ver. 4—8. '* Thti4 seith the Lord to'the house of Israel^ 8eek ye me, and ye shall live; but seek not Wft^j^li &e. Seek the Lord, and ye shall live, IttsI 4ie break forth like fire in the house of Joseph^ atid devour, and there foe none to quench; seek him^h^ made the seven stars^ and Orion, and ttirKicilhlbcf shadow of ^eath into the morning, &c. the Lord is his name:^' and it follows.

mer. 15* ** 1% maj he the LenltwiU berifiaciHifl imto the remnant o£ Joseph/^ And idbeiitllfis duty h negleoted^ aee the thieirteiihig» rewi, 16. «'Wailing riiaU be in aU ttPtets; aad theif shall eaj in all the ht^ ways, Alas, alasf and'they ihall eall the hosbandtnen to maannngy aikd adiHi as are skilful of lamentation, to wwling/^ And now London is fallen, dotfa not tiie Lord call upon them, that they would call upon him? aiid aa they would torn away his anger, and premmt their utter ruin, that tiiey would seek iitm wiio can turn the shadow of deatih into the moiniBg, and the blackest night of affliction into a day of pro^rity and rejotdng.

London, seek the Loord, that ye nay Uve^^^t there may be a reviring after the years lof atfch death and ruins; seek the Lord» beforethedecree . bring forth some other judgment, and ye pats nway like chaff before the whirlwind, in-tlie day of the Lord's fierce anger; it may be the Lord will be gracious to the remnant of this gnsst city* God expects that London shooM now pray at another rate than heretofore they hsBt^e done. It is said, Don. ix. IS. " All thai .evil is come upon ea, yet m^e we not enr ^simyer unto the Loid our God s'' and when «God had oonsttmed Israd, because of their iniquiUes,. the .prophet compHlnS) Isa« xltr. 7* " Thane is inane -that. ealletb epon thy namei, that stirffeth'sp himself to take hi^d of thee;'' Bad the pmyers ef London beeA such as they shoKild have^ been, fiuchas tfiey have been, the desolationsef Londea might have been prevented: God es|seete>that JLeudon^. uadcv aud^chastisemeiiita'ahoiild »^>Mur

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mtptsyen hethn him," Ita. nvi. 16. God hath spoken terribly uiito tbem^ he expects that ihejr Bhovld erf might^y onlo him. God expects ttet London should meet hitn in die waj of his judgments, not only with weepings ^r their sins^ timt they have provoked him unto so great dis* pleasure, but abo with supplications for his naereies* When Jacob was devoured, and his dwelling place laid waste, P^aL Ixxix. 7> you have their prayer, verses 8, 9, Ssc, *^ O remem* Iwr not against us former iniquities; lot thy tender mercies speedily prevent us, for we are bfoaght very low t Help us, O Lord God of our salvation, for the glory of thy name: deliver us, and purge away our sins for thy name's sake." And the church, under desolating jqdgments, doth in^ pr&y^T express herself very pathetically, Isa. Ixiii. 15, &c. *'Look down from heaven, and foeboid from the habitation of thy holiness, and thy glory: where is thy zeal, and thy strength, the sounding of thy bowels? and thy mercies, are tbey restrained? Doubtless, thou an our Faaher, &c. We are thine ( return for thy servants' sake, &c. and chap. Ixtv. 9. ** Be not wroth Tery sore> O Lord, nmtlier remember iniquity for ever; behold, see, we beseech thee, we are all thy people.^ God hath been pleading and contending with Lemlon by his judgments, mnd God doth lools that London i^onld plead with hm in prayer for his mercies.

London^ seek the Lord of Hoits> who hath dome forth egainistt you in battle^ and woiin^d yeu'with* his sharp arvowsi, a(nd y€ft hath not laid cioivni'hie'weaMiie; get 10 your knees; hahg

about God's feet and arms; fill your mouths with arguments to stay him in the course tsf^lt judgments; let not the apple of yxmr eye cei^ from weeping, that you have displeased Itiitt; and let not your tongue'cease'Drom humble and eai^est entreaties, that ^le would pardort you, stlid remove his displeasure from you.

Seek the Lord humblt/; pot youf raontWht' the dust, if so be there may be any hope*- XJbif hears the cry f if the humble, and will not des^?8^ their prayer, Psal. x. 17; Psat. cii. 17. ' '

Seek the Lord th/rgefOiy ; he hath promts^'to be fbund of aH them that diligently seek him,. Heb. xil 6. God looks for earnest, hearty, fervini prayer r there h a sweet promise which Gfod m^Afes-to his people^s prayers after his sore- judgments' which he hai brought upon them, Jer. *itfetv 11—IS. "I know the thoughts, that I tWhk towards you, saiththe Lord, thoughts ci'i^t^iice, and not of evil, to give you an expected ettd. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye sball go; and pray unto ine^ and 1 will hearken onto' you: and ye shall seek me and find me,' when ye shall search for me with all 3four' heart*" ' Seek the Lord heUcmngly ; mingle your prayers with faith, and make use of- the medtslion of Ghrtst; tliat you may prevail.

'II. God caUsnpon London^ bif the i3oic&^ Mst Judgment, to prepare Jbt greater trmthtft^* Tlie face of'God seems to threaten greater trou^bles; d)ere* is little sign that God^s brow is smootbeiied noNv, more than it was before the fire; ther^is IHtle evidence of th<> appeasement of Gild's >g0r; the fkce of ihe timts seems ^thMrten

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gnater tEouULea: the doud over Londcm and England is still very black, and seems to be thid^er than it was before.

(1.) Gocf4 onfnveople are like to undergo greater troubles: som^ of them have endured mudb, but they are like to endure much more: tome of them have suffered deeply, but they are like to nsfier greater things more generally: they have been brought low by affliction, but not so low as others be; when others of God's people are strip! of all, they enjoy a comparative proa*-perity ; they ace not so low as they deserve to be; their Gospel^reproaching sins deserve te greater severitiea: they are not so low aa thej may have need to be; they may need greater troubles, to unite them more one to anomer in their affeetions, to further their sanctification, to wean and loosen them more from the world; to hoipbfe them for, and purify them more from sin ; to exercise and hrighti»i more their graces: tbqr are not so low as poasib^ they must be bef<sre they be exalted; the night is the darkest before the day breaks; the storm ia the fiercest many times in its last blast; and the afflictions 6i God's people are the sorest before God gives them deliverance; God lays his people most Ipw, when he intends their highest exaltation: surely, the expected shock is not yet over, and God's peopk's most dreadful sufferings seem most iminediately to be. thneatened, they seem to be near, v^ry near, even at the doors. The intent of the late judgments by plague and fire, seems plainly ||;o be tor the fitting and preptudng of them for more smart and heavy strokes. If God

had permitled those expeetetd sufiemigs tcr haw eome upon them more suddenly, they might ha've found them more unready; God hath given them time to prepare, and awakening warnings to prepare ; and when will they be ready to suffer like ChriatianSy like Protestanta, if now they be not ready?

(2.) The profane cmd wicked generaiion itt ikt land, are like to endure greater troubles^ as halh been shown, page 96—98, and when the storm of God's anger 4loth break down upon tbem, are there no drops likely to fall c^on London? It not the whole hnd likely to be in dainger of mini when God dodi deid with the un|podly.and wtdced crew, whom he. spaces £br some time,, whflat he puniaheth so severely the more righteous ? The troubles of London have been great, bist medunki it is evident, that London ia in dmger oi greater troubles; ther^re they hav«e need tO: make pre* paration, which they have bad such awakening calls unto. Some possibly may think the. bitter* aess. of London's troubles is over, because their troubles have been so bitter; that die dbiurp winter cold is gone, wheait.waa soshaap imrtfae midst of winter, and the sua had got tonaome height; but Matxh^can bring in as oold nipping frost as. December and January dtdii and when the spring of prosperity is expected h^. «ome, they may find the sliarpest part-of the wkiter of troubles to be behind^ PreqMUte^ therefore^ London, for greater troubles,

12. God doth expect thai Lottdon shmld^Artut no vwre in arms ^ flesh, biU iu hmoe^^ obame. By these judgments God hath aheaim toLoBdm

Uie'We^kneM and insiifBciency of arms of fitA, what broken reeds they are. Some put their trofit in men, and their great expectation of relief and comfort hath been from their friends; by tiM plague God hath ^ewn, how frail and weak man is^ how Hke grasd^ or a flower, that quickly withereth, or is cut down; how like glass, or a bul^ie, which is easiiy broken and vanisheth: many have lost^ by the plague, their chief frienda upon whom they have had all their dependanoe; and the Lord hath shewn how insufficient a foundation man is for any one's trust and confidence ; therefore he calleth aloud to London, to ** cease from mmi, whose bi«ath i»in his nostrils, for wherein is he to be accounted of?" Isa. ii. M, not to trust in *' any of the sons of men, in whom Uiere is no help;" and the reason is, be^ cause *' t^eir breath goet^ forth, and they return to their dust; in tiiat very day all then* dioughts periidiy" Psal* cxlvl. 3, 4. Scwne put their trust in their wealdi and riches, Pror. xviii. IK ''Hie rich man's weahh is his dty, and a high wall is bis own conceit." God hath by the fire, which hatii consumed so much of the wealth of the dty, shewn how insufficient a foundadon wealth is ibr any mm's confidence ^ be*bath made it evtdent tiwt riehes are unoartain, and that they fly away walh eagles' wifigs, sometinoea whilst the owners are looinng on: isray not that which is ttireatened; Psal. lii« 5, 7> bespoken of many in London, that God hath rooted some of them by the plague out of the land of the living, plucked and forced o^Mira out of dieir habitations by the foe, and taken away their nUy luid prop* fVom them; of

St8 god's T«ltBtB&8 VOICE

wtatki il nqp b«. nid, «^Jjo^ A«te a»^ Ihey duit made Mt God tlim strengdi, biife* tnnted.m^be atoodance of their ridM8» and strengAcnad thematlvas in their wideeilBeia«"

London^ tmst no more in amu ofJitsh^Jiat trait IB Ood aloM: «' It ie better to trust in the Lord, than to put cenfidepee in men-; it is Wtter to troet in the Lord, than to |mt eonfidenoe in prinoet," PsaL cxviii. B» 9* Gnd Is kaoeksng off yeor lingers from all tUi^ here bdow; hie will 18 that yon shonid pnt yenr trust in him i wluch is ene promised effect of great deeolatieoe and afflieiions, that you should kbour after; Zepb. vi.1%, ''IwiUalspkaireinthenNdstoftbaean affiicted and poor people, and they shall troat in the naoMof the Lord/' You were not sofi»rwaid to trust in the Lord when you had greater abundance; endeavour to trust in him^ neW you are brought into greater penrerty and afflictioii z his infinite power, wisdom^ loving klndnesSy hiBpm-mise, truth, «id iaithfulness ate a stteng beetom fiMr your trust and confidcBce in God* Jmet iii Wm at all times* in the worst of tamesMriien your denoer is greatest, he will be your *.' bdp and sUeld/' Psal. obv« 1; he will be ywar raAige under o pp w assi en, and " present help ixk time of tMuble/' Psal. xhn.1 f he w»U be your fluek end ibrtress, your hi^ tower to defend you, ov yeUr deUvevsr t» i^adeeaa you out o€ aU your, jtmublss. ^ Trust us Ood ahme «M^^All Shioeai if yoa^nrtik^ use of creatures, do not lean and stay upm tbem, feif thc(y wslLdip from usriuift y(iu> but ttey yourselves en^God^ Qt the peaoa. aud^et W^idi 4his- will yield in shakiugbr tnHibles0iQ«

«nd BTC ma^ed lake Imvcs upcn tbe afiproMh cf *• You diall not be «fraid of evil tidingi,

but have your hearts fixed, tnistii^ in tbe Loed^'^ Pttd. exii. 7.

IS. God doth egped that lAmdan shoM kmfe dtaih in contnaud rmnembnmc e. This Ood ex* poets horn the jndgaMnts of tbe plsgae, tbe deslh of so many thousands a week in Londeut gave flitch a spectade of mortality, and preadied sueb a sermon in tbeeky, as should bring the remembrance of death into their adnds every day of tbehr lives; llie death, if it were but of one or two, should put you in mind of your latter end; but when you have seen so many go do¥m into the pit before you, it should inscribe the iwnem-bninoe of death more deeply upon your mincb, the record of whieh you ahould look daily into. The gates of tbe city, in the jFcar oS the plague, seemed to have this inscription upon them, ''All fleili is grass;" let that wiird sound every day in your ears, and remember your bodies are exposed to the' stroke of death every darjr: -and though you have ont-lived the plague, that yet -death hath you in die chase, tmd wSl ^ore long, (yoti know not how seen), overtake you: remember jFour glass is runaing, and will quioUy be run out; md thetfefere ** 2Ui.tlie.days of tyom* appointed time^'^ t^ yoo sboidd femembevv m. you should ** prepare ibr your great cfaaoge/' Job, xiv. 14.

Crod expeets that the remaining inhabitants of London riiould be prepsMd weU te death noar, wheh they have had deirtiisomQoh in their vssw;

9ome d yoo lunnr been mk 0ft the ^plugut»4nd brought to the very r brink of the gti»re; ftU,«of yott have been in danger of the pli^ue^ when the dueaae was so sore and ragimg; I feax oioB^of you were unprepared lor death at that timcbi and had yott died then, that-it would hav« been with horror; aad I helieye,th^.these are few<of yott bttt did,; in the time„ of yeur fears and dfingvr^ make vows and proaaisesy if> thek Lord- WooU shelter you from the arrows which flew about you, and spare your lives then, that, you would lead new lives, and be more careful to> prepare for your change, so that death should not take yon so unprovided any .laore: God ezpeeta 4he iblfiUing ofyour promises; and that you .should live up to the vows, which you made in the time of your distress; and so provide yourselves whilst you ave well, that (he messetigev ofdeath may have a welcome reception, whenever he snmmoneth you to leave this world*

14. God expects that London eiumld^ reimiu great impreisions of eiemky* You have had the door of eternity set wide open in' yoisr ;¥iew, when so many were throngung jn at the door,anil I believe you had deeper apprehensions of:etcr!> nity in those days, than ever you had in your lives; take heed* that those impressiona do not wear off> and that you. lose not those apprehensions, especially when you are drawii^ every day nearer and nearer thereunto. Think often of the vast ocean of eternity, without bottom or bapk ooi the other side, into which the .whole.stream of time will empty itself; and how quickly the small riyulet of your appointed days may fall

hito k: Ihii^ trfbn «f tfaeuiwHerdliie itete <if )oy or miserf^ which y<Mi mcMt enDer into atthd •tid df yoor courte: think how Uiin and short the ploasures of si» are in this lifb, in eompanson df*the'hon*ibl« ind endless torments of hell; and how ** light «nd meinentftry the affliolions of GocUs people are here, in comparisoa witbthe eoDceeding and eternal Weight of glory peepavsd fiDrtheoi in heaven/' 2 Cor. xli. 7*

15. Qffd doik call upon LomUm by- ik€\fift which burnt dMim ihe oitgf to seoure ihemsdveg mgofttst theJifeofheiL London's fire was dread* M, but tlie fire of hell' will be a thousand-Md. Htere di«idfttk > The fii« of London was kindled by man; be sare some -second eause was made tf se of herein; but the fire of hell will be kindled hf God himself, Isa. xxx« 35. *< Tophet is or* :^utied of old, for the king it is prepared, he hath fliade it ideep and large; the pile thereof is &te and much wood, and the breath of the Lord, like a stk-eam of branstone, doth kisdle it." The fit% of London burnt the houses of the oity, and eonsumed much of the gobds; but the hm -of he41 will burn the peraons of the widsed, Matt. xr.4l, " Depart, ye cursed, ineto everlasting fire/' The fire of London-did bum most, but not all, Ito Houses' in the city; eoliie: ave yet remainuig, toot thefireiof hell will bam all the persons of the widced, not one of them slMdl escape and ro>* Alain. The fire of London was extisigat^ed« and did last but four days; but* the fire of hell will be unextinguishable, it will burn for ever; it is called everlasting fire, in which the damned

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muit lie and btirn eUmaUy, tritbdttft any po»* dbiUty of ever getting forth. If you bad known before of London's Sxe, wbeie it would be^^ and bow it would spread* and seise upon your bouses, sorely you would bave taken some ooorse fbrtheprerentionofit Yon know before of tbe fire of bell ;tbe word of God hath revealed it: O take some course for preventing of it» at least Ibr securing of yourselves against it» When tbe firei was baming in London you did fly from it» lest it should have consumed your persons as well aa houses: O fly from the Are of bdl, into wbidi your persons will be thrown if you go on ki sin; fly from the wrath which is to come; fly imlo Jesus Christ, who alone can ddiver you.

16. God ddh call upon LondoBors by the-Jire^ io he like Grangers and piigrimi in Ae lOorkL God hath burned you out of your babitatioiiSy that he might lo6sen your afiections from hofaaea« and riches, and all things here below; thstt he might unsettle yon, unhmge» unfix you, that yon might never tUnk of rest and settlement in the creatures, as long as you live. God etlh upon yon by this judgment, to take off your hMrts from ^is worid, which is so very uncertain^ aind to be like stran^^rs and pilgiims upon the eardv who are to take up your lodging here but a few days and nights m your passage to the other world. God expects you shouM live aa these who have here no certain dwelling-place; and therefore that yon should not lavuh away too much of your thoughts, and affecdona, and timet about these uncertain things, whkh are.of so

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IW TUB CIST. %83

sbmt a' oonHiQUince^/atid -with ivthick jpou caiioat hate a loiij^ abode* God hath by his judgments orocified the world Tery much before you, and he expects that the woiid should be crucified in you. Ood hath poured contempt upon the world, and set a €nark of disgrace thereon: he hath cast dirt upon the face, where you fancied before so much beauty to lie; and he expects that you should faH in esteem, and grow out of }ove with the world, aud never go a whoring from him to the (»«atures any-more.

17* G^ ocUk upon Loudon to make* him ikeir hiMiaUon; Psalov xc. 1> '^Lord, thou hast been dar dwelliiig^^laoe in all. generations." God is the hiding'piace^ and he is the dn>eUing*place oi his* pecipie; you have lost your dwelling by the fife, make God your habitation, and dwell in htm, to whom you may have constant resor£, and in wlii0m you may have a sure abode. Get pos« session oi this bouse by your union to God thvoughi his Sen; and when you are in, keep pessession) abide in this houses do not wailder fnMS him, and turn yonrselves out of doors, by In^eaking of his household laws: make God yoiur home, and labour to be much acquainted at home; spend your time vdth God, and give your hearts to him: rest and repose yousselves in God daily; look for all youc provi£»ions in him, ai¥l from him; walk in him, and with him. Make God your habitation.

18. God oaiUlh upon Loudon U) nek after an abiding city^ Heb. xitL 14, .*' We have no con-tinuing^yji but ¥ce jefitonevtQ.come«" . Londott

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hgrti mmm U^ajtOm bmam^ Ihwr fwi icttJaBaJB doibektter. Yau^lmw mMxlkm^iSa^Mlhj^ fiie» Mek After a dty whitthiialk HUie. i Matiug ' fippndatimigy «nd is oif Mich t^mmg buttdkqivlfait neiUier tune cao wear 4iid i»CBlicn» nor flaniBft^ fire reocb and copw u ne* I mean the Hww Jobb^ sa&em, whidi is sbore^ the h —gsp iy cily, »haw buUder end msker is God; thsse are msMesniy abiding places fi>r the 8aHils^J«linjnv«^ Hbklm the wicked will caste fiam traaWngi^; and Abe weaijr will be at rsst: seek ater Aisci^, khpn §m. a title to it, ky iq» jroor tr«asure..iu.it,.get yuarsifecticas set upon it {idp^eati tewdei^tiaess. a Hade with hesveib which, in theisBiifl^.wiil yield you the best returns. 'j,^\ ai*^ *-

19* Gad4hA eaepeei ihak Imim shvuM Mto-to bitild iU 1ms0* The a^ect^iGe^hwiisev IJbeUevf, hath beea a gicat.«MMQ.oi tiiefid^al sa^nea^y hcsisssin tinfrcsly by firer .GadicwfaalB. that IMW ym^ should eadaaviNir tbrbiiildi^af his bouse; otherwifM^ I io nol ithiafci dMt Oedb nfiil baild agqfo f om: hoiMesk .Ymi iji IwtiiiiSi: Aotxxf Parliatpent for bniiding. the^tyyiychirt workflMn abou(it^blKt imfesiMSnd dmwm^tibit^f the buildiag will ntnrer gOKifoiwaii^; nalssssiWr build die<»l8^ ^ werkMsa^wilUabpwiiwlvpn; Bead and eeasider lbs p fef i ho s y o£.Hiyifcr^A<. aboat the woijk of 4PiffWWStieii?iinssanrigMitwMlyi especially; in the hinse and wefahip4if ^lady^ iy:*t

2a God dMk e9f^ iie^ LamUmmm^JmOkUb^ ffttffifff ^AssiiSJvAt' Aatl YawaiMf .an^o^ JUsi^ ^r Hbu hnire bivikm y#iir baptimaal nnd 4 Go4ha|hi ~

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ioBAtHty; now mn^vt yom vowt, gitetrf^ yovtt*-aehievto God^ atKMieh him to be your God, and ayooeh jnMmelveB ta be his people, and lire ao^ ooniiogljr* Take up Joshda'a resolution, that whateiwr others in the land do, that yon and your £unillea will eerve the Lord« - Make it yoar only bannees in the world to serve God; let religion lunne ao influence upon aH your actions; do netfaing without the warrant of God's precept; let your conversation be such as beconieth the Goqiel; govern your families in the fear of Oed; fill att your relatioiis with duty; learta more righteousness by God's judgments, and be qaiiekeBed by them unto a more holy and strict walking.

JIOKd if you 3rield such fhtits as these, which G«d expeoto after bis }doughing and harrowing of you; if you open your ear to the *' Terrible veiee of the LonT/' whieh ha^ uttefed itself* iir the sity*^ and with full purpose of' heart aet about tiw piuctice of the duties he expecte and ciHslar; liMn you asay h<^ that be wvU yet baild JOB up, and plant yoU^ that he will cleitf ywir breaebe% sKid 9me up your iwinottflr fauliilalBiHi; that he ^11 make you glad aecor-* diagte the years whevein he hsui aflicted you, aadEgieeyuu to see geod days, instead of those eyii uducb you have seen and fcitrthen the Lord wU xefDieB ever you tedo you good; and mdie London like Mouitt Zien, where he will piorit hia taiit^ end take igp Uahat^tstlon: then be will eanpa« you dbout wiffa the bulwark of jouL peevent iboee fiutber utieriy de*

solatitig judgments ndiich you are in danger of; yea, the Lord will be as a *' wail of fire'' round about you, and the glory in die midst of Ix>ndon, from whence his praise and your fame shall sound throughout the whole world.

Fims.

Seii Deo Gloria.

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