.-,'fW H.-i* '\W ^^/ J. >-<:^^i ^ 7 \ ■ i^^^. r i-*^ L :^C.T>o sjy;^' s LAMENTATIONS- OR, A ferious Difcourfe concerning that late fiery DifpeDfatioQ that turned our f once renown- ed) City into a ruinous Heap. Alfo the feveral Leffons that are incumbent upon thofc whoCc Houfes have cfcaped the confuming Flames. ^y THOMAS BROOKS^ Uu Freacbxr of the mrd at S. Margarets Nerv^F^Jh-Jireet^ where that Fatal Fire firft be- gan that turned London into a ruinous Heap.- llaa dies intcrefl inter magnam Civitatem^ nullam. There if hut the dijiance of one day betxveen a great City and none, faid Semca when a greac City was burnt to Aflics. Come, behold the fVorkj of the Lgrdy what Vifolations he hath made In the Earth. Pfal. 4<^. 8 . LONDON, Printed (or ^tkn ^rfncoc^and Nathaniel Ponder, and arc to be fold at th< firft Shop In Fo;>(?/ Head-ABe/m Cornhilt at the Sign of the Three Bibles f or at his Shop in B'l/hopfgate-Jireety and at the Sign of the Peacocli^ in Chancery lane. 1670. TO THE Right Honourable Sir WILLIAM TVRNER Knight, Lord Mayor of the City of Lendon, Right Honoarable, II is not my defign to blazon your Worthy or write a Pa^ negyrkk^ of your Praifes ; your brighter Mame fiands not in need of fuch a Jhadotp as mens Af^laufe to ma\e ' it mor e renotvned in the World '^ native ff^ort^ is more reJptCfed than adventitious Glory : your orvn ivarkj praife you in the gates; It is London's Honour and Hafpimfi^ Tranquility and Frc^erity to have fnch a Magifirate that hears not the Swerd of Jnjiice in vain^ and that hath not brjndijhed the Srpord of JujHce in the defence of the friends of Baal, Balaam, er Bacchus. My Lor d^had your Sword of Ju, (lice bein a Sroord of Trotcdien to de^erate Srvearers^ or to cruel Opprcjfjrs^ or to deceitful Dealers ^ er to roaring Drunkards, cr to cnrftng Monflers^or to G(^il-dejpifers^ or to Chrijl.contemners ^ &c. might not London have laid in her A(hes to this very day ? \jea, mi^ht not Gsd have rained Hell out of Heaven upon thofe I Farts if the City that vpere Jianding Mmuments ofCodimercy^, as once he did upon Sodom and Gomorrah ? Wo to ihatfvpord that is a devouring [word to th. righteow^ to the meek, , to the upri^ht^ and to the peaceable in the land, happy Sword I under which all forts and ran\s of men have wor (hipped God in peace ^ and lived in peace, and rejied in peace ^ end traded in pcace^ and built their habitations in peate, and have grown up in peace, Sir^ every man hath fit under your Sword as under A 2 his- Pror.31. 31. Rom. 13.4, Gen. 19. Pfal. 35.19, 20, 40SC49 The Epiftlc Dedicatory. his ervn Vine and Fig-tree in peace* Words are too n>ea\ to exprtjl hotv great a mercy this bath been to Londen, yca^ I may fay to Englan-d. 7he Ancients fit forth all their gods with Harps in thdf hands ^ the ^Hieroglyphic]^ of Peace, The Gre- cians bad the Statue of Peace Vfiih Pluto the Gcd oj "Riches in her arms. Some of the Ancients rrere rvont to paint peace in the h.rm of a Woman n>ith a hern of plenty in her bands ^ viz. all HiJJings, Ihe Orator hit it pphm he faid^ Dulcc nomen pad? :he very name of Pea-ce is ftveet. No (^'ity fo happy at that rvherein the chief Magi(}rate has been as eyes to the blind^ hos 10 the hme, ears to the deaf a father to the fatherUji^ a hmband tnihervidvvp^ aliVfer to the rigbtecof, and aTerrour to the irkk^d. Certain'y Rulers have no better fritnds than fncb as mak^ ovfdence of their ways ; for none can be truly loyal, but fttch IS are truly religiow, mtmji Moles, Jofdph, Daniel, and the hree Children. Sincere Chri[hans are as Lambs amongf} Lyons, as Sheep amengji Wolves^as LiUies amongjl Thorns ',they ire cxpojed more to the rage, wrath, and malice of wicked men, hy reafon of their holy Profffton^ their gracious Principles, and Fra&ices, than any other men in all the world. Now did not lod raife up Magifirates, and fiirit Magifirates to owne them, to land by them^ and to defend them in all hone^ and juji ways, how foon would they be devoured and dejirnyed ? Cei tainly the '^word of theMagijirate is to be drawn forth for the natural good^ md civil go^d,Mid moral good, and Jpiritua/ good of all that live foberly and quietly under i I ^tobxustellsusofa Pcrfian Law^ that after the death of their King evtry mm had five days li. 'Hrty to do what he p leafed, that by beholding the wickedncfs md dtforder of thofe few days, they might prize Gcve^nment the better all iheir days gfter. Certainly had fome hot-headed, 2nd litiU'Wiited, and fiercc-jpirited men had but two or three days liberty to have done n hat they pleafed in this great City during your Lcrdfhjps Mayoralty, they would have made fad rvorl{ in the midji of us. When a righteous Government fails, hen, I, Order fails, 3. Religion fails, 3. Trade fails, 4. Juflice fails, 5. Projptrity fails, 6. Strength and Power fails, .J, Fame and Honour fails, 8. ff^ealth and Riches fails , 9. Peact Job sir The three things which God minds moft,& lores bcft below Heaven, are It is Truth, his Worfhip, and his- People. ^obsusferm. T- ^' The Epiftle Dedicatory. 9. Peace and ^iit fai/Sy 10. jiU humane Conver ft and So- ciety fails, 7o tak^ a righteous Government out of the vpor Id- is to tak^ the Sua out of the Firmanent^ and have it no more a Kofiilfy <* beautiful Strudute^ hut a ^aU) <» confufed Heap, In JH h Towns ^ Cities^ and Kingdoms whae righteius Govirn- mem failf^ there ivery mans hsnd will be quick/y (ngaged again/} his brother. the fins^ the forr.ws^ the defolations and dejlruUions that will unavoidably breaks in like a Flood upon fucb a People. PubHck,PrfonjJhou/d have publick^SpiutSy their gifts and goodntfs fhjuld diffufe themfelves for the good of the whole. It is a bufe and ignoble Spirit to pity Catalinc more than to pU) Rome, to pity any particular fort of mm more than to pity thi whole • it is ciuelty to the good to juliifie the bad • it is wrong tf the Sheep to animate the fi'jlves • it is danger (if not dtathj to the Lambs not toreftrain or chain up the Lyons : bnt^Sir^ from this ignoble Spirit God has delivered you. 7 he Ancitnts were wont to place the Statues of their Princes by their Fountains, in. timatin^ that they were (or at leafl fljould be) Fountains of the puhlick^Good. Sir^ had not you been fuch a Fountain , men would never have be n fo warm for your continuance. Ad, L'^rdy the great Gid hath made you a Kotvh diyA^h^ a public^ Goody a publicly Bl ejfing '^ and this hath made your Nume pre- ciQUS^ and your Government defraile^ and your Per fan honrura- ble in the thsughtSy hearts^ and ejes of all people* Mam {ma) I not fay mofl") of the Rulers of this JV< rid areitf Pliny J^t../f fo narrrn a Souly that he knew not how to lo.k^ or live abvvi himflf^ b'u own intends and concernments* 7 he great care if every /ii a- gijhate (hould be to promote the publirk^ Jntertft more than their ewUy as you may fee by cowparini the Scriptures in the Marcim together, 'Jwjs Caefars high commendation^ that he never had himfilf after the f For Id had him for a Governour 5 his mind rv m fo jet on the. I ublick , that that he forgot his twn prii-te Af- "jirs. The Stars have tbtir brightnefSy not for tbtr^.'ehes, G(n.26. 12. There is a great truth in that old Ma- xim, Magi- ftratui virum indJcat. In my Epi- ftle to my TrfatifecallM A Cabinet »f Choice Jewelfy the ingenious Reader may find fix Argu- ments to en- courage Ma- giflrates to be men of pub- lick Spirits. r Exod. 32. ic,v II. 72. j Nehein.5.5. to 19. I Pral.iia.5,(5.-1 1 409049 The Epiftle Dedicatory. Curnenies, A riftotlCy Socra tesy &c. Ihe Roman Orator hath long (inceob- ferved, that the force of jufticeisfuch, and fo great, that even Thieves and Robbers both by Sea arki Land, who liv^ upbri in- jufticeand ra- pine, yet can- nothveupon their Trade without feme pradice of it among them felves. Clcohulus one of the feven Sages was \sont to fay, that medio- crity was without com- pare. T'.ie rery Heathen could fet fo much divine glory in the face of a Ma- i^iflrate, chat hefty led him )t V 9«!i rhe living 'fmage of thccver- iiVingGod. hnt for the fife of others. The ^f plication is ea/ts. iJHy Lo'^d, fiveral Fhihfophers have made excellent and Ug.xm Oratiovs in the praife of Jttj}ice : tke) faj that AllVeV' *fies are compreker.ded i» the difiribntign of jufiice. fHfiice, faith Arkiotl.', is a Synopfts and Epitome of all Vertttes, All I jhall fay is this, the world is a Ring-i and juflice is the Din- mond in that Ring ; the rvorld is a hodjf^ andjnflice is the foul ff that body, h is wellkjiorv-a that theconftitntion of a meats body IS beft kj^o^vn by his pulfe • if it fiir not at all, then we :i>iow he is dead ; Ifitjlir violently, then we k»(>rphint to be m a Fever \ if it kjep an (^ualfiroke^ then we l^orv he is founds n'slly And whole : So the eflate a^dcF- (Citation of a City^ Kmg- iomyor Cowrrtcn-weal is hefi kjo'twti by the mannn of execH- ting juflice tkereta '•) for j$fflice is the pnife of a City^ King- \ dom^ or Common- weal ; if jttfiice be violent^ then the City^ Kitigdom^ or Con^mon-wial 'ts in a Fever , in a very bad ejiaie ; // it flir not at all , then the City^ Kingdom, or Common wealth ii dead : but if it hath An e^nal firokj, if It be luflly and dnely admini fired-, thc's the Ciry^ Kingdom^ or Qemmon-wcal is in a aood^ a f^fe^ A>id a found coKdit ion. iVhtn Vcfpaii?.D eu^ what was the CRufe of Nc- roes rnine^he anfiViredy that Nero conld tune the hiarp well, hut in Government he did always winde np the firings too htgh,^ or let them doxvntao iow. Ex (reams in Governn/Cnt ^re the ready w.iy to ruite all. 7hs Ro n -ns htd their Rods for lejfer faults y and their Ax for capital crimes. Ext reATti rlgh t often proves extream wfong : he that will always go to the utmofi of what the L.^w allows-, will tos too often do more than the L^.tv requires, j4 rigid fever iiy often mars all: Stjwty is fiill to be pteferrtd before extremity. To iy.fli^ S/^^^ penalties and heavy cenfures for light (jfcnces^ this is to ^///^ flyttipona mans forehead with a Beetle. The great God hath put his oyyn i^ame hpon /Hagfirates, PiM. 826. I faici [^a^ ye-uc gods Tet it muft be granted that yon an gods in a fmaller letter^ mortAl godsy gods that mv.fi dje iil^e men ; allthe fonscf Id") ire fans of S.6im, Mc-^giflra'.es mufi da jtiflice impartially ; for as I hey are called Gods, fo in this they mttfi be like to Gody rvho is no accepur of perfons^ Diur. i. 17. Levit. ig. 15. He The Epiftle Dedicatory. He accepts not of the rich maahecuHfe ef his Rekes^ neithtr doth he rejeli thefoer wan hecaufe of his Rags. The Ai^^gi firates ejes Are to be alvfAj/s upon canfesj and not npan perfons. Both the Staiues if the Thcban Judges and the Statues of the Egyptian Judges were made wlthottt ha^ds r.nd without ejis^ to iutimate totUtthat m judges jkoft/d have no h^r.ds to le- celve Bribes^ fo they Jhou/d htve no eyes to fee a friend from a foe, or A brother from a ^range^ m judoment. And ic irat^ the OAth of the Heathen Judge/, 44 the Orator re Lues I Audi- am accufatorcm , & reuni line .{T;ctibus, &• perlcn run rcfpeilionc ; / will he^r the P/aindff and the Defendant with an eejHAlmindi without affeEiiok and r(ffeSi of perfons, Ir the twelfth /Vin/r/o/JuHinian, you may read cf a» O^ith im fofed upon Judges and Juflicss againfi tHcli^iing or addi^hng themfelves to either party • yea^ they put thentfehes under a deep and bitter execration and curfe in cife of parti a/uy, im- phringGodin fuch language 04 this: Let we have my part »;Vib Judas, and let the Leprofie of Gzbtzi cleave to we, and the trembling of Qtvn come upon me, and wkintfoever e/fe m>iy afionijk and difmay a man^ if 1 am partial in the adm'tnifira tioft of jufiice. The Poet m the (GreekJ^ Epigram taught the filver jix of jujiice that was carried before the Rom in Magi firates to proclaim ^ If thou be an offender^ let not the fiver flatter thee \ if an innocent^ let not the Ax affright thee. The A.lh^T\hn Judges judged in the night, when the faces of men eeuld not he feen, that fo they might be impartial in judg mem. My Lordy your impartiality in the adminijlratlon oj jnftice in that high Orb wherein Divine Providence hath p/.i ted you, is one of thofe great things that hath made you high and honourable in the eyes and hearts of all that are true lovers of impartial jufiice. Some fVr iters fay, that fomefVaters iyi Macedonia being drunk, by blacky fheep, change their fleece into white : Nothing but the pure and impartial adminifiration of jufiice and judgment can transform bUck^ mouthed, blacky handed^ and black-hearted men i/,to white. There is nothing that fweetensy fatisfieSy ardfileffces all forts of men like the adminiftration of impartial jufiice : the want of this brwght defolation upon] tiuiikm', and the whole Land of Jury, ^nd I iipn Magiflratcs arc (as Na:^^- an^en expref- fes it)Pidurcs drawn* ofGod. Every Magi- ftrate, though in never fo low a place, bears the I- mage of God ', a Penny bears the Image of the Prince as well as a Shil- ling. Magi- flratcs are not immortal Dei- ties, neither have they c- verlafting God heads. Thofe gods,3S they had a be- ginning, fo they muft have an end. Qnicquid ori- tur y moritur. Thereisayj/e/jf Meneon them, their days are numbred, their rime is computed. Henules his Pillar ftands in their way. ^on datur ul- tra. Ifa. i.ij, 24. A The Epiftlc Dedicatory. Augufl. de Ci- vitate Vei, lib. lo. cap. 21, ffj-c. lib.^. cap. 4. Lipfii*4 decon- ftan.l.z.c.i%. I Sam. 8. 9, Sec Numb. 25.11. 2 Sam. 21,14. God is very fpecdy and fwift in the execution of Tuftice. Joel. 9. 4. Gen. 19. Numb. I #. Ezra 7. 2©. In this as in o- ther things it becomes Ma- ^iftratestobc like to God. Hpo^ rHAKjf Other flour ijh'iKg Klrgdoms a»d ^i7««fnVj, as All knorf (hat havf bit read any thing of Serif tare or Hiftory, S' Aullin pUiffly denies that ever the Rom, n T^olitsc ccttldl>e called proper// a ComnK^n-weal h^ upon thu ground thar, Ub .* or /« Lipfius his lan- ^«^^^, Cong -riis, Confuho, Ttir'oa : *tu hut an abnfe of the ivord KcfpubWc a,C owmoU'W.a/th^where the puhlic k^Good is not \ corfnltedby an trnpArtial pffiice ^indrgunj-, ^(isbut aconfufed heap^aroutofmtn; or if wervill call it fo at prefe.itj itwili not Ipc ftf loKg tv.thom impirtly hec^^fe injujiice .ind opprejfion makes the muliitHde tu 01 alt how, and fil'.s the peoples heads with danger cm defignt.. ai •?« ma/ fte by compa- ring thi Scriptures in tin Maro^'me together ^ avd v.trilf b^caufe It lays a Nation open and obkioxiotu to the vrath ■? ■> i^KgeaKce of Godf M might eafily be n?sdi g'jod by [cores t>'' "icnp^ures. fmp^rtial jujiice is the bcfl eflnbl (hmeKt .f K- -^Joms a*fd Common- wealths. The King by j.i ^gnetic t p"lS' Tiedek, Tfedel:, jufiice, jujlice fl?altthm follorv, that is t allmar.r.er of Jt^fi'ice thoH jh^lt folloxVyandKothirsgbut jujiice fhult thou folhrv, and thou {halt follow jnfiice [i^cerely out of love to jufiice^ a>!d thoufhjilt follow jujlice exaUly with- out tHrnir^g to the right hund or the left 5 and thou jh^lt follow jujlice rejolutely in Ifiie of the world, thefiejh, and ihe Devil j A»dthou]halt follow jnftlce ffeedily without delays or excnfes, A Magiflrate that htis the (word of jufiice in his hand^ mufi never fleady there is a Ljon in the way. My Lord, this wilt be y9ur Honour while you live, and youy Comfort when you come to dje^ that whilji the Svford wot in your handy you did jufiict fpeedi/y as well as impartially : Ton did Jujlice in the morning, and jttjlice at ncon^ and juJlice in the afterneoUy and juflice at night ; what has been your whole Mayoralty^ but one continued day of jujlice f Who can fum up the many thoufand Caufes that you have heard and determined, and the muny thonfand di^ertncci that you i^ave fweetly and friendly eorf^- ^ fofed and ended ? If thf\t^vpj^i rs pleafe but tO' ffsak^ out^ tf.ef mujl imgenuofijly tonfefs 'that your Lordjhip haseajedthemof a great deal of work^ t^MfLord^ as it it the Hgnour and Glory of a Magijlrate to do jujlice f pee dily , fo it is the Honour and Glory of a iHngi- (hatetodo jujlice refolutely, couragioujly^ valiantly, It i* obfrrvfible, that gs foon as ever J oihu» came into the ^Jf^e-of Magijlracy^ Codchurges hir» no lefi then three times (/« breath as it were ) to be very couragiotu, A Magijlrate that is timoroHiy will quickly be treacherota. A Magiftrate that k fearful-i can never be faithful, Solomons Throne was fufportedvpith Lyons, tofhewthat Magijlrat.es fbould bs. mten ^f metal and courage, 7i6r Athenian Judges fate ;'« hftirs ___________^____ J^reet:^ The Epiftlc Dedicatory. fireet^ lojhsiv ihut they had Martial hearts^ and that ihcy vfere nit>i of courage and metal. The G^i^ckns placed jufiict he.- trfiUt Leo ffcnlties and dif- ceuragements that have rifett up before you. (JMy Lord, once more give me leave to fajy that in a Aiagi- Jirate jufiice andmercy, juftice and clemency ought to go hand in hand* Prov.20. 28. Mercy and truth prefcrve the K ng, sni his Tbrcni is upholden by mercy. All jufiice willno^ preferve the Kingy nor all mercy will not preferve the King^ there mufi be 4 mixture both of jufiice and mercy to preferve the King^ and to uphold his Throne ; andtejhew that mercy is more reejuifite then jufiice, the word Mzucy is doubled in the Text. Jufiice without mercy turns into rigour^ and fe be- comes hateful : Mercy without jufiice turns inia fo>idpi:y-> a 2 ai^id Chap. ij. 14. Truth In Scri- pture is fre- quently put for Jufticc. The Epiftle Dedicatory. King John thought to ftrcngthcn himfelf by ga- thering a great deal of money together, but neglefting the exercifc of mercy and ju- ftlce, clemen- cy and lenity, he loft his peoples affc- dioHs, and fo after many endlefs tur- moyls, he • came to an unhappy end. pral.^S. i8. Pfal. 103. 13* 14- Hofea II. f. Vide Aug* de eivit.VeiJ. $. , cap. itf. Or(ftH4 lib. ?• cap. 34. ^»d fo becomes eontemptthlc. Look^ as the Rod of Ait en and the Pot of Af anna were i^^ Gods own Com7»and /aid up m the fame Ark^ ; fo mnfi mercy and jufiice he frefervrd Intire tn che bafom of the fame Aiagijhate : mercy and 'juflice^ miid- yiefs And righteoufnefs^ Icnhy ar.d fddliy area fafer at;d a (iroHgtr Gu^rd to Princes and pcpp/e then rich rite after th.n fair Copy thitysH have fet thetn^ which will be their Honour^ Lon don's Happinefj^ and Englands Intcrefl. Pluiarch [aid oj Dcmofthencs, thaths rvat excellent at praifing the worthy ACfs fhij Ancejiors Jbut not fo at imitating them,! he Lord grant that ihij may never be made good of any that Jhall fucceedyour Lord" fhip.Ctivm the £mVerours Motto »?^,Bonus Dux,bonus Comes, A good Leader makes a good Follower. The complaint is an- cient in Seneca, that commonly men live not ad rationcm, but ad fimilitudincnr. Pra^cepta decent, exemgla movent, Pre- cepts may infirttd^ but Examples do perfwade. Stories Jpeai^ of fome that could not /Jeep when they thought of the Trophies of other Woithies that -went befere them : the higheji Examples are very quickping and provoking, that by all that (hallfncceed your Lsrdjhip in the Chair, we may yet behold our City rifing more and more out of its Afhes^ in greater jplendour and glory then ever yet our eyes have feen it^ that all fober Citizens may have eminent caufe to call them the Repairers of the Breaches^ andRejiorersofourCity to dwell in. Concerning Jcrufalcm burned and laid wajie by the Aflyrians, Dnmc\ foretold that the greets and the walls thereof Jhould ht rebuilded^ even in trou- ble fom times. Though the Aflyrians have laid our Jerufalem wajie^yet even to a wonder^ how have the Buildings been carried on this lafl year ? My Lord, the following Tr-eatife which I humbly dedicate te your Lordjhip, hof been drawn up fome years : the Reafons why it hof been buried fo long in oblivion^ are not here to he inferted-^ the Difcourfe is fober and of great importance to all that have been burnt up^ and to all whofe Houfes have efcaped the furious Flames. Whilfl the remembrance of London's Flames are k,ept alive in the thoughts and hearts of men, this Treatife will be ofufe in the world. My Lordy I do not dedicate this Tra- ^aie to your Lordjhip, M if it flood in need of your Honours Pa~ (tronnge ; / jtidge it to be of Age both to plead for it felf, and to defend it felf againjl all Gain-fayers, Veritas vincir, Ve- ritas The Epiftle Dedicatory. ritas flat in apcrto campo. Zcno, Socrates, Anaxarchu?,; &c. fealcd the lean and barren truths of PhilajofhJ vp'ub the cKpence of their deareji blood, at you may fee in the Heathen fdartyrologie. how much more fhould rve be ready to feal all divine Truihs with our dearefl bloody when God jhall call Ui forth to fuch a Service ! My Lord, I humbly lay this Ireatife at your Lordjhifs foot^ to tejUfiethat Love and Honour that 1 have in my heart for you (both ufs'n the account of that intrin- fical IVorth that is in you^ and upon the account if tbi man) good thinrf and great things that bive been done hy you) and publickjytottlhfie my ackforvhdgment of yiur Lordjhips unde- ferved Favours towards nrc. My Lordy of right this Ireatijt fhould have bten in your hands fever al months fmce^afid in that it was not J it is wholly from others^ and not f rem me. If your Lordfhip pltafe but to favour the Author fofar as to read it ona over for his fjkie, he doubts not but that your Lordfhip will oftner read it over for your own Souls fah^, and for Eternitiei fak^y and for London's Jake atfo» My Lord^ by reafon of my being remote from the City fever al week/, I have had the ad- vantage but of reading and correding two or three fheets ; and therefore mufl beg your Lordfhips pardon as to all the negleds and efcapes of the Prefi. A fecond Impreffion may fet all right ajidfiraight^. -.,..._ -. -■- Afy Lordy that to your dying day you may he famous in your Generation^ and that your precious and immortal Soul may be richly adorned with all faving Gifts and Graces^ and that you may daily enjoy a clear^ clofcj high, and (landing Communion with Gdd, and that you may he filled with all the fruits .of Kighteoujhefs and Holinefs^ and that your Soul may be bound up in the bundle of Life, and crowned with the higheft Glory in tbafpiher JVorld^ in the free, full, con^ant. and uninterrupted Enjoyment of that God who is the Heaven of Heaven^ and the Glory ofGhry, is^ and (by divine Affijiancejfhdll be the earnefi prayers of him who is, Tour Honours in all humble and dm Obfervance^ Thomas ' Brooks. My Lord,rome facrifice their labours co great Mace- n Bold Wretches ! mufl your Fire thus antedate The General Voom^ and give the World its Fate ? Mujl Heh Edi^ (to blend this Globe mth Fire J Be done at your grave Nodf^ when you require ? The THE TABLE. A. Of ftnngc Apparel. OF the Vanity of {hangi ^fparel^ Page 5^3 5 7? The firft Part of the Book. Of Athcifin. Gro^ Atheifm^ pr apical Atheijtn brings defolating Judgmmts npnayeopU, pag. ^7. *FourKeafnns vfhyiheimprijonmtut ef the Saints is attributed \ iotke Dev'il^ pag. i^J, 148, lifpv The firftPart of thfe I Application. g«e/?. What are the Duties that arc incumbent upon them that have been burnt up ? Anfw. Firjl^ to fee the hand of the Lord itt this late dreadful I f i^'Ci pag. 131, 132, 135. The firft Part of the Appfica- ! tion. ' ... Secondly^ lojujiifiethe Lordin alltbatbe h^s done y^ig.i ^^^ 1 54, 1-3 5. The firft Part ofthe Application. Thirdly^ In patience to pnfftfthdr orvn Souls ^ pag. l66^ I67, 168. The firft Part ofthe Application. Fourthly y To ft up the Lord in a mor^ tmihent degree then . ever Oi ihe great ObjeB of tbiir fear^ pag. i68y i6p, 17c. The firft Part of the Application. Fifthly^ lohe'*cnntevt with their prefent cmdition^ pag, 1 70, 171,172 173. ThefiiftPartof the Application. Sixthly^ To Ije hup, ta k^ep hwnble under tiil dreadful fud^~ ment offire^ under the mighty hand ofCnd^ pag. 173^,174 175, 17^. The firft Partof the Application. Seventh- The Table. Seventhly, 7o encourage themfelves in the Lord their Cod, pag. 176, 177. The firft Part of the Application. Eighthly, To k^ep in their hearts a conjiant remembrance efthe late dreadful Conflagration • eight Arguments to encourage to this, pag. iSij 182, 183, The firft Part of the Ap- plication. ninthly, to fee the vanity, mutability, and uncertainty of ali worldly comforts and enjoyments^ and accordingly to fet loofe from them, pag. 184, 1 8 j, 1 8(5, 187. The firft Part of the Application. Tenthly, lo be very importunate with God to taJ^ away thofe fins that have laid our City defo/ate^ pag. 217, jiS, 21^, 220. The firft Part of the Application, The eleventh Duty, is to prepare and fit for greater troubles and tryjls, pag. 220, 221, 222.. The firft Part of the Appli- cation. The twelfth Duty^ is to fecure the everlajling welfare of their precious and immortal Souls ^ pag. 2223223,224. The firft Partof the Application* The thirteenth T>uty, if to get a God for their portion^ pag. 2 24, 225, 225. The firft Part of the Application, The fourteenth Duty, is to make God their habitation^ tomaj^ God their drvelling-place, pag. 226, 227, The firft Part of the Application. Ihe fifteenth Duty, is to mak^ fure an abiding City, a City thai hath foundations^ whofe Builder and Mak^r is God, p. 227, j ot pag, 252, Thcfirft Part of the Application. j Thefixteenih Duty, is for the bur72t Citizens to fanHifie the Sabbath, andto h^ep it holy all their days, pag. 232. to 263, The firft Part of the Applicat ion. g«e(?. What are the Duties that arc incumbent upon thofe Habitations arc yctftanding as Monuments of divine VVifdoffl, Power, and Grace ? Anftv, Thcfc eight aj follow. Firfi, ' To tak^ heed of thofe fins which bring the fiery Rod, pag. 263,264. The firft Part of the Application. , Secondly, Not to th'mk^ thofe greater fjTimrs then your felves^ whofe Habit atims have been laid in AJhes, pag. 2^4, 2-6 5.; ^ 2 The I. ?• 6. 7. 8, The Tabic. : The firft Part of the Application. thirdly^ To he much in biting of God, pag. 265; Fourthly, To ta\e bad of fecurity ^ do not fay thi bitHrmfi of death is ^a^i, pag. 3^5, 266. Fifthly, lofljewmuch love^ pity, and companion to thofe nho are burnt up and turned out ^ all, pag, 266, 26 j* Sixthly^ To lift up a prayer for ail thofe K>ho are fallen under the heavy ■judgment of fire, pag. 2(^7, 268. Seventhly, Seriopfl^ to canfider that fome mtns efcaping of vary great judgments is net properly a prefervation^ but a refcrva~ iion id fome greater dejirudion, pag. 2^8,2695270. Eighthly^ Not to rejoyce or glory in your Neighbours ruineSj pag. 270,271. Eternal; Svery thing thai is conducible to the termeuts of the damned is eternal : this is proved five waySy pag. 105, I05, F. Of Fire. How the n>drd Fire is ufedinScripture^ pag. 10, 11, 12. The firft Part of the Book. Firfi, Confider the intemperate heat before the Fire, pag. 5,6, 7. The firft Part of the Application. Secondly, Confider the fuddennefs and unexpe^ednefs of the Fire, pag. 7. to pig. 12. Thirdly, Confider the force, violence, vehemency, and irtefijla" bleneiofity pag. 12, 13, 14. Fourthly, Confider the frviftnefSofit, it fletv upon the mngs of the wind, pag. 14, 15, 15, 17. Fifthly, Confider the extenfiventfi of the Fire, pag. 22,23; sixthly, Conftderthe impartiality of the Fire, pag. 23, 24. Seventhly, Confider the greatneflofit, pag. 24, 2^,26, 27,28. Eighthly, Confider the terrihlenif! of it, pag. 28, 29, $0, 31, 32. Ninthly^ The Table. Ninth fy^ Conftder the tmt whiH the Fire firji began^ pag-S 2^ 33j 34> 355 S^' The firfl- Part of the Application. Temhlyy Cenfider the Fire^ the burfiing of London is a Natic nal judgment^ pag. 36, 37, 38, That the Fire of London n>M not fc> great nor fo dreadful afire as that of Sodom and Gomorrah^ is proved by five Argtt- w.w^/, pag. 885 8p,?Oj9I» Of the fin ofHeHi pag. io2j 103, 104, 105, 106, Four Arguments to prove that *tis very probable that there /> material Fire in HeO^ pag. ig6^ 107, 108, ghj(^. If it be material Fire, then it may be qucncht, &c. Five Jnftvers to this Obje^i^n^ pag. 1 08, 1 09, i lO, l ll. Six differences between pur cemrmn Fire and Hell^fire^ pag. 112. to 125. Obje^. How wilHt (land with the unfpottcd Holincfsju- ftice, and Rightcoufncfi of God to punifli a temporary! offence with eternal puniftimcnts, with eternal firc> &c.- Ibis Obje^ion is anfimered fevm waysy pag. 1 25 . /(7 1 3 1. , i F. Of Fornication; Fornication is a fin that brings the Judgment of Fire^ pag. 128.^0132. The firft Part of the Book. Several Keap)nf to prove that this fin of Fornication cannot _ groundedly be charged upon any of the precious Servants of the Lord that did truly fear him in the City 0/ London, p. 132. ihefe Expreffjons of giving themfelves over to Fornication and going after grange fle/h^ implies fix things^ pag»i34» I3S> 1365 137.' G. Of God. ^is Cad notes three things^ pag. iy6. The firft Part of the Application. 7here are three things in God to encourage Chriflians under aU their fiery tryals^ pag. 178, I7p. OftheGofpel. Tfee flighting of the Gojpel brings defolating judgments^ pa 5. 100. to 104, The firft Part of the Book; Six p. 10. The Table. Six fortsofflightersoftheGo^el, pag. 104.(0108. Saints nsjligbters of the Gojpel ofGrace^ and of the Graces ofth Saints, f roved b) feven Argument fy pag. io8.*«7 112, God by fiery tryals defigns the reviving^ quick^ingj and recover' ing of the decayed Graces of his people^ pag. 41, 4 2, 4 j; I God by fiery tryals defigns a further exercift of his Childrens Graces^ pag. 45, 44,4^,46. God by fiery tryals defigns the growth of his peoples Graces, pag. 45, 47j 48, 49- God by fiery tryals defigns the tryal of his peoples Graces, and the difcovery of their fmcerity and integrity to the world^ pag. Mjwji Chrijiians Graces in London rpere mtherhg before the fiery Vilfenfation, pag. 61^62: H. Of Hcavcii. Heaven is a ^ity thai is built upon a fivefold foundation^ pag. 2285 22p. The firft Part ofthc Application. The refemhlance betwixt Heaven and a City holds in nine re- Hand. See the Hand of fhe Lord in this^ late fiery Dljpenfation, 7m Argtftnmts to vpork^you to this, pag. I. to 38. Of Holincfs. In thefe days of the Gcjpely aH Holimfiof places is ta\en avpaj^ pag. 141. ^0 146, I. Of Intemperance. Intemperance brings defelaiing judgments, pag. 75,76577, 78. The firft Part ofthc Book. 'Six things Intemperance robs men of, pag, 78. to 84, Of Ju^gnwnts. In eight nf^Ss ^reat '-judgments art /% to fire, -j, 8, p. The ends dfGod in ivfii^ing the late judgment of Fire in re^ed of the w'lch^d^ are feven^ pag. 12 /(? ^T, The The Tabic. The ends of God in infilling the late judgment of Fire in rejpe£l of the klgkttoM4y tire at large dlf covered, pag. 31 ft? 53. The Svford is a worfe judgment then that of Fire ^ pjg. pi, 5)2, The firtt Part of the Application. Famine fs a more drendful judgment then that of Fire, pjg, P2.93.P4»P5« 'Dreadful Earth- ^uakjs are a more terrible judgment then that of Fire, pjg. 9$, pd, py, p8. That judgment that hfelKoTzby Dathan, and Abiraoij^j more terrible judgment then that which bef^l the burnt Citixjens^ pag. 98, pp. Thai judgment that came «/<»» Sodom ^», pag. 43? LoodOH • dreadju [London r \ 42.4s, fLondon 1 44 4^. The Table. London w^ the Buhark^y the firong Hold of the Nathft^ p?gv45,45,47,48. London rvas a Fomtftin^ a SanBuary-^ a City of Refnge to the foory ajfli^ed, and impoverifhed people of God, pag. 48, 49. London wof a City compM, a City advaMagiottJly fituaud for Trade AndCommerce^ pag. 49, $0. EngUnds worji Enemies re Joyce and triumph in London'il AJhes, pag. 50. London was once the City of onr folemn Solemnities, pag. 50,51,51. Hubert confefi the faB of firing the firfi hottfe in London, P«g'S3,s3, S4,55»S^)57♦ Of Loffey. Seven great lojfes an inordinate love to the world will exfofe a man to. pag. 59, 60, 61 . The firft Part of the Book. Eight ipfays yvherehy the hnrnt Citiz.ens may kjtovf whether in this VPOtldVodtviU make up their lojfes hy the late Fire or n$, pag. 76, 77,78, 79, 8o» The firft Part of the Applici- tion. There are ten choice Jewels that a Chrifiiatt can never hfe in r^ty wijr/fl?, pag. 1 56, 1 57, 1 58, 1 59. Of Luke-warmnefs. There was much Luk^'warmnefs among many Frofeffors in London, pag. 57, 58. Of Lying. A trade or conrfe of Lying brings the judgment of FirCf pag. 112,113. The firli Part of the Book. The School- men reduce all forts of Lyes to three, pag. 113, 114, I15, ii5. The greatnefs of the (in of Lying expreft in four particulars, pag. ii5. ?b 123. Eight Arguments to prove that this trade^ this courfe of Ly- ing cannot by any clear evidence be charged upon thofe that truly feared the Lord, whofe Habitations were once within the fyalls of Londox\i pag, 123. fp 128. or The Tabic. M. Of Mercy? Ip wM M vtry great mercy to fix [arts af men that they had their lives far a frey when London vfoe in finmeSf pag. 60 to -JO, O. Objcdkions; Ohjefi, I would fay cbe Lord is righceouf, Buc by this fiery DifpcfiratioB I tm turned out of houfe lad home, jiftfvf. Fonrvfaysy pag. 135 to 148. ObjeQ. I would ju(liHc the Lord, buc I hive loflmy all as to tljis world. Seven Anfwen yon have from pag. 150^0 Objeii. I would juOifie the Lord, though I am turned out of all, but this is that which troubles me, that I have noc an E()ate to do that good which formerly I have done. -IFonr Answers you have from pag. i $p, 1 5o, 161 » ObjeS, 1 would juOiHe the Lord, chough he bath turned me out of all, but God hath puniflied the righteous with the wicked; this Hery Rod hath fallen heavier upon many Saints then upon many (inners:: How then can I fay chat the Lord is righteous ? Six Anfwers are given ta thie Ob- je^on, pag. i5i r0 166, P. Of Puniflimcnr. .gjjwy?. How will it fiand with the unfpotted Holinefj, Ju- liicc, and Rightccufncfs of God topuni(h a temporary cflfeoce with eternal punishments ? Seven Anfwerstotbis ^?/?/ff«, pag..i25 rtf 131. c Quefl, The Table. a Qnefl, Whtt are thofc fins that bring the fiery DifpcBftti- oo upon Ci[ie9, Nacioos, aod Countries ? Aufw^ From pag. 55 t9 i68. The firft Partofthe Book. Qttefi* Wbtc liDs were there among the profefTiDg people in London that might bring down the fiery Rod upon them ? Anfw. Seven, pag. 55 fo 5 J. Quefi. Four Quettions propofed, pag. dj, 64. S. Of the Sabbath. Prophaftdtiofiofthe SdHMth bringt the judgment efFlret pig. ig7, 138, igp. . Twelve Arguments to prove that God hath heen very jnfi and righteous in iKfliUing the late dreadfnl JHdgment of Fire Hpon thofe that prophaned his Sul^aths in LundoBy pag. 139 ?• 149. Six Argnments to proite that this ahominahle ftn of frophaning the Sabhtfih fdnnot with any clear evidence he charged upon the people of God that did trnlj fear him vtithin or mthont the Walls 0/ London, pa^ . 1 5 o Burnt Citi9.ens Jhould fani^ifie the Sahbatb all their days^ pag. 232. Tbefirft Part of the Application. Fonrteen iv^ys we Jhould fan^ifie the Sabbath^ pag, 2^^ to 263." Of the Sins of the profeffing people of London. There -were feven fins among the prefejfing people in London that ought to work, them to jufiifie the Lord^ though he hath burnt them upt and turned them out of all, pag, 55 to 6^» The firrt Part of the Book. Of ihefeveral Sins that bring the fiery Judgmenc upon Cities and Countries. Firfti GrojS Atheifm , praSical Atheifm brings defoUting judgment Sy pag* 67^^75. Secondly-, htemperancey pag. 75 to 84. thirdly^ The Table. Ihirdly, 'Ibefim that were to be futrnd in the Citizms CaOingf^ pag. 84:3 92, foHtihiy^ Venerate tncorrigiblencfi and unreformedneji under former r»afiin^ and dejinjing Jttdgmeats^ brings the Judg- ment of Fire upon a people^ pap^. 92, 95, 94. fifthly^ Infolent and crnel opprejjing of the poor brings defolam tinfi Judgments upon a people^ pag.p^ to 100, Sixthly y KejeGing the Goj^el, centemning the Gojpely andflightm inf the free and gracious offers of Chrifl in the Gcjpely brings thefitrjDi^enfaiion uponapeopk^ pag, lOO/o 104. Seventhly y A courfe ef Lyings a trade of Lying brings defolating Judgments upon Cities and people^ pag. 112/0128. The ei^thfm that brings the Judgment of Fire^ is mens giving tbemfelves sver to fornicatim and going after ftrange fitflj^ pag. 128 «(7 133. Jbe ninth Jin that brings the Judgment of Fire upon a pefiple^ is profanation of the Sabbath^ pag. 157*0 151, Tenthly^ i he prophanenep^ levodnefs^ blindnefs^ and tvickfdnefs of the Clirgie^ brings the Judgment of Fire, pag. 1 5 1 > 1 52, Eleventhly^ Sometimes the fins of Trinces and Kulers bring the Judgment of Fire upon perfons and places y pag. 153. Ttpelfthly^ Ihe abufmgj mockjng^ and dej^ifing of the Meffen- gers of the Lord, brings the fiery Dijpenfation upon a people, pag. 153, 154. Ihirtemthty, Shedding of the blood of the juji is a crying fin that brings the Judgment of Fire, and lays aUdefolate, pag, 154*0168. Of Sin, and of Gods Peoples Sin?; By fiery trjals God mil maj^ a fuller difcovery of bis peoples fins, pag. 34, 35' By fiery iryals God defjgns the preventing of fin, pag. 35, By fiery trials God defigns the imbittering of fm to his people, pag-5<55 37,38. c 2 B? The Tabic. By ftr) tryalj God defigns the mortifying and purging avpoy of bis ptopUs (ins, pag. 38, 39, 40. 41. Sin in the general brings the judgment of Fire upon a people^ pag. 64, ^5, 66, 67. IvPtlve obfervable things about fm^ pag. 2 iS, 3ip» The firft Pare of the Application. Thirteen Supports to bear up their hearts who have either loft ail,^ or much, or moft of what they had in this World., The frji fupport is this^ the great Godmight have burnt up ally he might not have left one houfe fianding^ pag. 57 to 60. The fecond fupport is this^ viz. ihat God hat given them their lives for a prey, pag. 60 to -70. The third fupport is this, viz. This has betn thi Common- Let^ the common Cafe both of fmners and Saints^ pag. 70, 71, Thi fourth fupport is tbisy viz That though they have lofi much as they are men^ as they are Citizens, Merchants^ Iradefmen^ yet they have loft nothing as they are Chriftians^ as they are Saints^ as they are the Called of God^ pag. 7I, 72, 73. T.he fifth fupport is this^ viz, That the Lord mil certainly one rvjy or another make up all their loffes to them,pa.z,j^^yfi'y6. The fixth fupport is this^ vizi That by fiery Vi^enfations the Lord rvill maks xvay for the new Heavens and the new Earthy he tvill makf xvay for the glorious deliverance of his people^ pag. 8o> 81, 82. The feventh Jupport is thiSj viz. That by fiery Di^enfations God will brin^ about the ruine and dtftruUim of his and his peoples enemies y pag. 82^ 83. Tht eighth fupport is this^ viz. That all fhall end welly all fr?j/l work^ for good ^ pag. Sj, 84, 85. The ninth fupport is thiiy viz. That there was a great mixture of mercy in that dreadful judgment ef Fire that turnedhon- don into a ruinous heapy pag. 85, 85, 87, 88, 8p, gOy ^l. The tenth fupport is thisy viz. That there arc^worfe judgments ^ then the judgment of Fire^ which Cod might but has net in- flided •MMMMMMaMMaM The Table. filled uf on the Citizens §f London j this it mude g»od fivt^ vfAjSyfrompi%.git$gg, The eleventh fuffort u thu, viz. Tour outward eondition u not vporfe then Chrifls vfMy when he WM in the wor/dy pig. ppt 100, xoi. The twelfth fuffort is thisyyii. That your outvtsird eonditioH in thii werld is not vorfe then theirs was of whnm this world was not worthjTy pigtioitl 01. The thirteenth fuffort //, viz. There is 4 w§rfe fir* then tht^t- tvhich hdt turnedLondoninto 4 ruinofu teap^y'iz, the firt\ of Hell, which Chrtfi hatfretd Btlievtrs from^ pig. 102 /^ 125. Ti Of thcTexr.. The Text ofened, pag. i, 2, 3, 4, J. The firft Pirt of the Book. Of Tfainkfulneft. Six Arguments to encourAge ChriJUans to thankfnlnefs and cheerfulnefs under the late defolating Judgment of FirCj ?*t>' 1 79i 1 80, J 8 1 • The firli Part of the Application. W. Of Divine Wamingj, and the dagger of fl-ghting them. Ten Arguments tp worl^men to take heed of /lighting Divine fVarnings^ pag. 2^ to 28, The firit Pare ot the Book, Of the Wicked. The H'lckfd 4ire cos>t fared to four things in Scripture, pag. 82, 8 3 » The fif li Part of the Applicaiioa. O; The Tabic. p£ cbe World, ind the Vnoicy of it, tod of a worldly Spir '• TheVmty of thtWtrrU difcovertd, pag. 184, iSjug^i 187. Te» Ariuments u prove that 4 vtorUly^lrh fiill hangs upon the burm Cit'iz,enSt pag. 1 87 to ig^ Ton Maxims for the bttrvt C*tiz^^s feriou/h and frequently to dwell Hfofty as they wonld have their tiffcEiiont moderated to the things of this fVorld, ptg. 1 9 3 ro 2 1 5. How we may lawfully dsftre the things of the World, exprefi in three Particnlarsy pag. 2 1 6, 2 1 7 . There was a great deal of fVorldlinefs among the prof effing peo- ple o/London, pag. 58 , $p. The firft Pare of t he Book. An inordinate love to the World will expofe a man to feven great lofeSf pig, S^i 60, 6i, -Is AT AH 42, 24, 25. Whogdz'e Jjcob to the Jpoil^ andlfraelto ^he Kohbers ? d/d not I the Lord ? he agairifl ^^hom we have finned ^ 'for they wonld not valk^ in hhways^ net titer were they obedient to his Law. therefore he hath foHredufonhim the fury of his anger ^ and the flrength of battel ; and it hathfet him on fire round about ^ yet he I^new not \ and it burned bim^ yet he^ laid it not to heart* l^lJUIJ^IfHE Lord in this Chapter, by the Prophet m — — •-■ •'^ — f — J ~j — I ^/vjf, doth foretell heavy things againft the ptoplc, and by the way marks the Lords dealings ; he ever give& warnings before he fends any plagues ; he lightens before he thunders, that the people mi^'ht not fay, they ^i^ not hear of it, and that the wicked might be tjie more incxcu(able, and that the godly mightmake an Ark (ofave thcmfclvcs in. Thefc words contain in them five fcveral thing?, i. The Author ofrhi? Deftrti^ion or Judg- ment. 2. The Caufes of it. 3. The Judgment it feJf, . 4, Who they were on whom- this Judgment was inflifted. 5. TheEffefts of it. Now by Divine perroiffion I will open theft word <^ in order to you. For the firft, the Author of it. Now this is laid down by Qucftion and Anfwcr. ' Who gave Jacob to tht ^dil, and B Ij'r^el I. i,^aiiii-.vi^ London*s Lamentations on Deut 7.8. lo, I 2. Deur.32. 1, 12. iGen. ^'H. Ijrad to the Kobhers ? there's the Qneftion ; Did not I the Lord> thcreMhc Anfwen God is rhe-Auihor of all the Plagues and Judgments that bcfal a Nation. Secondly, 7 he Caufcs why the Lord did this to a people that he had chofcn to be a fpecial people unro himfclf, to a people upon whom he had fct his lovCj to a people that he had pwncd for his portion, and that he had formerly kept ^as the Apple of his Eye, and carried as.upon Eagles wings. Wow the caufcs^ re fct down, fir ft more generally in th^fe words, Becaufe they have finned aga'ivji the Lord. Secondly^ more particularly in thefe word?. For' ih^y rvould not n^jl\ in hit vfiays^ neither were they ebedient to his Laiv, The third thing obfcrvable in the words, is the dreadful Judgments themfelves that God infiii^ed upon his finful peo- ple, his finning people, and thefe you have in verf. 25. Therefore he hath poured upon him the fury of his anger • ^ not only his anger, but the fury of his anger, to fheW the grcatnefs of it, the extremity of it* Mark, he doth not fay, that God did drop down his anger, but he pouted down hi; anger and indignation. This Phrafc \^hc poured ottt~j is an alluHon to the clouds pouring down of water violently all at once, in an inftant, as they do many times in the LcvantSeas, in E^yf>tj at the Indies, and in fevcral other parts of the world • as they did in the Deluge, when the windows of Heaven were broke open- Now by this fimilitudc, the Lord fhews the dreadfulnefs, the grievoufnefs the fudden- nefs, and the vchcmency of the Judgments that were fallen upon them. ^nd the jirength of Battel.'] Thfe Lord appears in Arms againft them in the greatnefs and fiercencfs of his wrath, he feht in a very powerful Enemy upon them, that with fire and fword over-ran them and their Country , and deftroycd them on every fide, as you may fee by comparing the 2 Kings 23. ^^.ult. with the 24 and 25. Chapters following. Jnd hath fet him on fire round about J That is (fay fbme) all the Countries, CiticS) and Towns roundabout Jerufalem werefcton fire. : yethekperprntt"] Thoagh God had burnt them uj^ tti every I T^-r ihelate fiery D iff en fation. T)io4oruiSicu- Itts wrfresjthat in /¥.thiopia rhere is fuch a fottifh infenfi- blc people, that if you Cut rhem v?ich a drawn fwcrd, or flay thc/'r wives and children be- fore their f a- ces> tl)ey are not at all af- tcded witli it, nor moved at it. Such brutes were tlicfe Jews, every hand, yet they took no notice ont,thcy regarded it not they were not at all affcftcd with the fiery Difpenfations of God. O the dulnef?, the infenfiblencf?, the fottifhncfs of the Jews under the mol^ awakning and amazing Judgments of God / C And it burned him,) This fome apply to the City o( JerufalemhCcK: God did rot only fire the Cities and Towns round about Jfrw/i/fw, but he alfo (ti JernfaUm'n fclf into aflame. JeruJalem^^iiQh was beautiful for fitl«*f tion, the joy of the whole Earth, the Paradifc and WonqS of the world, is turned into afhes. (Jet be laid it not to heatt) or upon his heart, as the Original runs. O the monftrou5 ftupidity, infenfiblcnefs , and blockifhnefs of this people/ Though Cod had brought them low, thowgh ihcir Crown was fallen from their head, though their glorious City wa? turned into afhes, and though they were almoft dsftroyed by many fraarting mifcrics and dreadful calamities ; yet they were not afFcfted with the ftupcndious Judgments of God, they were not awakned by all the flames that God had kind. led about their ears, they did not lay the Judgments of God to heart, nor they would not lay the Judgments of God upon their hearts. The fourth thing obfcrvablc in the words i ■, the perfons, the people that were fpoiled, dcftroyed, and confumed by fire, and they were Jacob and Ifrad ; Who gave Jacob for a j^oi/^ and Ifrael to the Robbers ? They were a praying people, a profefling people, a fafiing people, a peculiar people, a pri- viledges! people, and yet for their fins they became a dcflroy- cd people, a confumed people, a ruined people. The fifth thing obfcrvablc in f he words is,thc littlcEfFcft (he Judgments of God had upon them, Now they were under fuch monftrous ftupidity, that they were not all aWakned, nor af- j^y^^'^^^^''- fcftcd with the Judgments of God, they regarded them nor, (bTJmT^nlfc they laid them not to heart. And as ftupid and fcnfelefs were /of blood and they when Titus Ve^afan had laid their City defolate by fire andfword, and fold thirty ofthem for one piece of lilver, aF Jofephus and other Hiftorians tell us. O Sir?,lincc their cru- dfying of the Lord of Glory, they have never laid their fin- ger upon the right forc,to tliis very day they wo'nt acknow- , _^ B 2 _ ledge Ifa. 58. 2. Zach. 7. 5. Exod. ip, 5. of all kind of barbarifms, and now their fo renowned City, their Temple, London's hamerjtations on ^ nnd SanVtum San^orum fo fam'd all the wof Id over, was turned in- to-«(hes, and laid level to t^>c ground. Judaica, cap. Atnps 2 6, ledge their [in in crucifying of the Lord of Glory. They confcfs they have fmncd more then ever, and thtreforc 'Hs ihxt God hath n^orc forclyafflifted them then ever ; but their cruelty to Chrift, th:ir crucifying of Chrift, which Uihcrcd in.the totalruinc of « heir City and Country, ihcy cannottc brought to acknowledge to this very day, though the Lord hath burnt them up on every hand, and hith feat- hered thcirv as dung all over the earth to^ tins very day. A Learned' Writcrtelk us, that they.-call Chflft Bar- ehozah^ the Son of a Lye, a Baftard,. and his G.orpcl Aven Giiaion^ the Volume of Lyc", or the Volume of Iniquity, and us Chriftians Goiim, that is. Gentiles, Edomltej 5 when they falutc a Chri- ftian, th:y call him Sbed^ thit i«, Devil. They hate all Chri- llians, but none Co much a? thofe that are converted from Ju- daifm tcGbriftiinky, and all thi^ a'tcr fo great a burning and dcfolation that the Lord has madj? in the midft of them, 'Tis trur, the length of thofe heavy* Judgm:nts under which they ^roan to this very day, hath o^tcn piizlcd the Intellcftu- jjls of their Rabbic?, and hzth many times put them to a (land, and lomctimes to break out into a kind of confeflion, That furely their Judgments could not laft (b long, but for crucifying of one that was more then a man* There was one Rabbi Samttcl^ who fix hundred years fincc. Writ a Traft in form of an Epiftle to Rabbi Jfaac, Maftcr of the Synagogue of the Jew?, wherein he doth excellently difcufs the caufc of heir long captivity and cxtreani mifcry. And after that he had proved it wasinflided for feme grievous Cia^ he (heweth that fin to be the fame which Amos fpeaks of P'or three tranf- ^rcffions oHjratl^ and for four, I will not turn away the pu- nifhment.thcreof, bccaufc they fold the righteous for filver. Fhe felling of Jofefh he makes the fijil. fin, the worshipping of the Calf in Hortb the fccond fin, the abofir>g and killing of Gods ProphctS'thc third fin, and the felling of " Jefus Chrift ihc fourth fin.. For the firft they fcryed four hundred years in •E^j/'/j for the fecond, they wandrcd forty years in the wilderncfi j for the third, they were Captives (cventy years m Babylon-- and for the fourth, they are held in pitiful Cap- dvity, even till this day. 'Tis certain, that the bod ^ of that people the late fery Difpsttfation. people arc under woful blindncfs and hardncfs to this very day. And thus much for the opening of the words. Thc25.verfe is the Scripture that I do intend to fpcak (bmething to, as the Lord fhall affift. Now the Propofition which Lonly intend to infift upon, is this. Viz, That God is the Author or Efficient<;aufc of all the great Calamities and dreadful Judgnncnts that arc infli5kcf«/c- ronofiij/^ with that ij^QfEzekjdy from verC 13/ to verf, 22. That God is the Aiuhor or Efficient caufe of this di eadful Judgment of Fire that is at any time infliftcd upon-Gities and ,Countri€«y will fufficiently appear in theft following Scri- ptures, /^/ww 3..^. Shall a Trumpet be blatfn in the Citj^ and the people not be afraid ? JhaH there be evil in the Ciiy^ and the ''Lord hath Ttotdone it .-?_ This is to be underftood of the evil ofpunifhment, and not of the evil of Rth Amos ^,i\. J have overthrown fome of yon a^God Qverthretv Siutom-and Go^ morrahj and ye vcere as AJlreJjrand pluckf oat of the burnings, yet have ye not returned unto rr.e^ faith the Lord, Here (I) is emphatical and exclufive, as if he fliould (ay, I, and I alone. Amos I, 14. But J vein kindle a fire in the n>aJ} of Kabbah (that is, in the Metropolis or chief City of the Ammonites) and it JhaJl devour the Pal aces -'th:reof, Kabbah ihtir head- City, was a cruel, bloody, covetous, and ambitious City, verfi 13* -And therefore, rather than it ftiould cfcapc divine vengeance, God will kindle a fire in the wall of it, and burn it with his own hands. Eze\,io. 47. And fay to thcforrcft of the South, (that i«^ to Jerjtfalem, that did lye South- wards from Chaldea) hear the Word of the Lord; Thus^ faith the Lord God, Behold, Lwill kindle a fircintheej and it- (hall devour every green tree in thee, and every dry tree, the fla- ming flames ffaall not be quenched, and all fuel from the South to the North (hall be burnt therein, v.erf« 4S.. And all flcfh DtSf. You will find this Scripture fully opened in the follow- ing Difcourfe. London's Lamentations on <■■ flcfh (hall fee that I the Lord have kindled ir, it fliall not be quenched. Men (hall fccthat 'twas God that kindled the fire, and not man, and therefore 'twas beyond mans dull or pow- er to quench it, or to ovcr-mafter it, J^r. 7. 20. Therefore, thus faith the Lord God ^ Behold, mine anger and my fury (liall be poured out upon this place, upon man, and upon bcaft, and upon the trees of the field, and upon the fruit of the ground, and it fhall burn, and (hall not be quenched. The Point being thus proved for the further opc-ning of it, prcmife with me thefc things. I. Firft, That great affliftion?, dreadful Judgments, arc likened unto fire in the blcffed Scriptures, t'j'al. 66, 12. We went through fire and water. Jer, 4. 4. Circumcifc your felves to the Lord, and ta|?c away the forc-sl-fins.of your heart, ye men of Judah, and Inhabitants of Jemfahm • left my fury come forth like fire, and burn, that none can quench it, becauft of the evil of your doings. Jer. 21.12, O houfe of Vavid 5 thus faith the Lord, execute Judgment in the morning, and deliver him that is fpoiled out o( the hand of the oppreiTor, left my fury go out like fire, and burn, that none can quench it, becaufc of the evil of your doings. L In thcfc fcven rcfpeds ihey are like unto fire, Firft, Fire i3 very dreadful and terrible to mens ihoughtSj fpirits, and apprchenfions ; how dreadful was the fipc of Sodom, and the fire of London to all that were near it, or fpc- datorsofit / Tisobfcrvable, that fomc arc fctout in the blcffcd Scriptures as Monuments of moft terrible and dread- ful VengeancCjWhom the Kings o( Babylon roaftcd in the fire; of them, 'tis faid, fhall be taken up a curfe; when any impre- cated (ore vengeance from the Lord upon any one, 'tis faisl^ The Lord make thee like j^hab and Zedel^iah , whom the Kings of B^^>'/ow roafted in the fire, *Tis very dreadful and terrible for a man to have the Icaft member of his body frying in the fire ; but how terrible and dreadful muft it be for a mans whole body to be roafted in the fire ! Co arc the Judgments of the Lord very terrible and dreadful to the children of men. My flefh trembleth for fear of thee, and I am afraid of thy Judgments. Hab, ^, 16. When 1 heard, my belly trembled, my lips quivered at the voice : rottenneis entrcd into my Ijonep, and I trembled in my fclf, that I might reft in the day of trouble. But, Secondly, Fire is very painful and tormenting (in which refpe6ts Hell-torments are compared to fire) Co arc great Af- fliftions and Judgments, they are very painful and torment ing, they put a Land into fore travel ; next to the pangs of Gonfcicncc, and the pangs of Hell , there are none to thofc pangs that are bred and fed by terrible Judgments. But, Thirdly, Fire is of a difcovering'nature, it enlightens mens eyes to fte thofe things that they did not fee before ; Co do the terrible Judgments of God enlighten mens minds and 'rcv, ,^,.^ undcrftandings ibmetimes to know the Lord, Hence 'tis, Ezek. 2'i.V, that after Judgments thfcatncd, God doth fo often tell them, • 4, 5, 6,7. that i PfaL 11^.120. 2. Ift. 25.17,18; •atn^r^mm^f I M . « and who fhall ftand when he appeareth > for he i? like a refiners fire,and like fullers fope. And fometimcs fire is attributed to theHoly Ghoft,A/-'/.3 11. r indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but he that coracth after me, i? mightier then !, whofc fnocs I am not worthy to bear, he (hall baptize you with the Holy Ghoft and with fire, that i% with that fiery Holy Ghoft, that Spirit of Judgment and of burning wherewith the fihh of the Daugh- ter oiZion is waffled away, Ifa. ^. 4. But, Thirdly, Prcmifethis withmc; the word T'trt in Scri- pture is fometimes ufcd by the Holy Ghoft to fct forth fin by, Ifa^ 9. 18. For wickednefs burneth as the fire, it fhall devour the bryars and thorns, and ftiall kindle in the thickeft of the forreft, and they fhall mount up like the lifting up ot fmoak : So the burning luft of unckanncfs, Kom,i.2y. They burned in luft one towards another r So i Cor. 7. 9 Its better to marry then £0 burn. And Co S^dom was G^({[ in aflame of burn- ing Igfts before it was burnt with fire from Heaven ; But this is hot the fire that is here meant in the piopofition that wc are upon. But, Fourthly, Premife this with me j fire is (bmetimes taken for the bkffed Angel?, pfal. 104 4. Who raaketh his An- gels Spirits, his Minifters a flam'ng fire. Kence it is, that the Angels arc called Seraphims, which fignifies burning or flaming ones, and they arc fet forth by this name, to note their irrefiftabic power; for as there is fio withfi^anding of the furiou^ flamcs/o there is no withftanding of thefe burning or flaming ones* Jerom, Mufculuf^ and fcveral others arc of opinion, that the Angc! that deftroyed of S innacheribs Heft a hundred and fourfcore and five thoufand in one night, that he did it by fire, burning their bodies, their garments being untoucht. But the fire in the Propcfition cannot be andcr- ftood of the blcflcd Angels, foB fcveral reafons not here to be allcdgcd. But, ^ Fifthly, ihelate fiery Difpenfatiorr. If Fifthly, Premifc this with me ; fitc in Scripture is fome- tim« taken for Wars. The fire of thine enemies (that is, the Wars that flull be amongft thcNatiensJ fliall devour them. Thou flialc be vifited of the Lord with a flame of devouring fire ; but the Nations that fight againft the Altar, (hall be a dream. Now fire in this fcnfe is not to be excluded out of the Propofition. Bur, Sixthly, Premifc this with mc J) fire fomctimcs notes the fpccial prefcnce of God in a way of fpecial love and favour to his people in j JExod. 5. 2. you read how the Lord uppearcel unto Mofes in a flame of fire our of the midil of a Bu(h ; and he looked, and behold, the bufli burned with fire, and the bufti was not confumcd : here was a reprefentation of the Churches afflifticn that was then in Egypt^ a houfc of bon- dage, in thcmidft of a fiery furnace : But now the Lord was in the bufli, while the bufh (the dry bufii, or the Bramble- bufli, as-thc Hebrew word iignifie' J was in a flaming fire. In that I>e«f. 53. i5» you read of the good will of him that dwelt in the bufh, God was there in a way t)f merciful prote- 1 ftien and prcfervation ; they were in the fire, but the Lord 1 was with them in thefircj in all their fiery tryals God did j bear them company. But, Seventhly, Premife this with me ; in the blcflcd Scriptures we read of fupernal firc,of-firc that came down from above, and that, i. as a fign of Gods anger : fo fire came down from Heaven on Sodom and Gomorrah^ Gen, ip, 24, Alfo fire came down from Heaven on them that offered incenfe in the confpiracy of Kerah, And fo fire came down from Heaven on the two Captains and their Fifties. Secondly, we read of fire that came down from Heaven as a fign and token of Gods favour. And fo fire came down fromHcavcn on the Sacrifice of Solomon^ and on the Sacrifice of Eliab. God in thofc times did delight to fhew his fpecial love and favour to his precious ftrvams by fire from Heaven ; But in the Pro- 1 pofition wcarc to undcrftand not fupernal, but material fire, But, Eighthly and laftly, Premife this with me j fire is fome- . C » time* rfais^^, 11,112.1 Chap. r9,<$,7. t 6. Dcuc. 4. 20. :Seneh. Numb. 1^.35. 2 Kings I. lo, II, 12. 2 Chron. 7. 1. 2 Kings 18. 58. na lL(miSki[nh]LaHff&ntit^mmcan See i ChrOiJ. 36.19. 2 Kings 19.18. Chap. 21. 6. Pfal. 74 7. Dcuc. 13. 16. times tai{ en literally for that matcriarfircthat conrumeSjHcu- fcs^Towns, Cjtie. this is nothing but forrow of heart ; then I was very fore afraid., and faid unto the King, Let the King live for ever, why (liould not my countenance be fad, when the City,, th: place of ray fathers fepulehrcs lycth waftc, and the gates thereof are confumed with fire > Now this ma- I tcrial fire is the fire that is meant in thc.Propofiiion. O Sirs .' God is as much the Author or Efticientcaufc of this Judg- ment of fire, as he is the Author or Effi:ient caiife of Sword, Faminc,and Peftiicncc. This I have in part proved already 5 biit (kill more abundantly make it good in fhat which follows. But you will fay, Sir, we kno w very ivell that God is the Author or Efficient caufe of this dreadful Judgment of Fire, as well as he is the Author or t fficient caufc of any other Judgment that we have either felt or feared : But We carneft- ly defire to knoiT what the ends of God fhould be itv infli.ft- ifig this (ore and heavy Judgment of Fire upon his- poor peo- pie, andiTi turning their glorious City into aftcs. This we arc furc of, that whoever kindled the fire, God did blow the coat, and therefore w'eihall not now confidcr what there wa? of mans treachery concurring with (Jods fcverity in that dreadful Calamity by Fire • but rather inquire after the 'ground', reafbn?, or ends that God aims at* by that fiery Difpenfatioh that has lately paftupon us. ■ Now here give me leave to Gy, that fofafas the la«c Fire was a heavy Judgment of God upon the City, yea, upon the wholcNation,thc ends of God in inflicting that Judgmert,arc I doubt ifheiate 'fiery ^'tff^nfat ion. '>'^- doubtlefs fuch as rcfpcft both iinncrs and Saint?, the righ (coiis and the wicked, the prophanc and tlic holy, the gco i and the bad. Now fnch as refpcft the wicked and ungodly, 1 take to be thefe that follow. Firft, That he may evidence his Sovcraignty,and that they may know that there is a God. The prophanc Atheift fai h in his heart, there is no God j but God by his terrible Judg. mentsftartlesand awakens the Atheift, and makes him unfay what he had faid in his heart. When God appears in flamc- of fire, devouring and dcftroying all before him, then the proudcft and the ftouteft Atheifts in the world will confeff, that there i a Cjod ; yea, then ihcy will bow and trcmbk under a fcnfe of the Sovcraignty of God. The Soveraignty of God is that golden Scepter in his hand, which he will make all bow to, either by his Word or by his Works, by hi^ Mercies or by his Judgments. This Scepter muft be kift and fubmittcdto, or elle fire and fwoid, defohtion and dcftru- fticn w 11 certainly follow, ^fr. 18. 2, 3, 4. 6. Arife, and go down to the potters houlc, and there will 1 caufc thee to hear my word. Then 1 went down to the potters houfc, and behold, he wrought a work on the wheels. And the veiTcl that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter, fo he made it again another veflcl that feemcd good to the potter to make ir. O houfc o£ Ifrae/, cannot I do with you as the potter > faith the Lord. Behold, as the clay is in the potters hand, foareye in my hand, O houfc of IfraeU The Jews were fo ftupid and fottifh, that verbal teaching without ligns would not work upon them, and therefore the Lord (cm Jtrcmiah to the potters houfc, that he might fee by what the potter did , that though he had made them a People, a Nation, a Church, a State; yet he could as cafi'y unmake them and mar them, as the potter marred the vcfTel that he had made. God would have ihif people to know, that he had as much power over them, and all they had, as the pot- ter had power over the clay that he works upon ; and that he had as much both might and right alfb to difpofe of them at his plcaCurc,asthc potter had over his clay to difpoft of it as he I. Pfal. 14. 1. Pfal. 10. 4,$. Pfal 50 21. Eccle. 8.11. Pfal. 24. 1. Dan. 6.25, 26, 27. Ifa. 45.9. Pfal. 2. 9, 10, II, 12. Hof. 2.8, 9. London^s Lamentations on God hath j/ft ad omnia y jus in omnibui, a right to all things, a right in all things. Ifa. ^4. 8. Jcr. 2.31. Dan. 4. JO* Lam. 4. 12. Exod. 5. 2. he judged mccr. Nay, Bclovedj the potter has not fuchan abfolutc power over his pots and clay, as the Lord has over the Sons of mcDj to make them, and break them at his plca- fure • and that partly, becaufc that the clay is none of hi5 creature; and partly, becaufc without God give him ftrength he has no power to make or break one vcfTd. God by the Prophet would have the Jews to know that 'twas mcerly by his good plcalure and grace, that they came to be fo glorious and flourifhing a Nation as they were at this time ; yea, and further to know, that they were not fb great, and rich, and flouriftiiug5andfetlcdjand built, but that he could as eafily break them and mar them, as the potter could the veflcl that was under his hand. Ah, Sirs, God, by that dreadful fire that has dcftroyed our houfcs, and burnt up our fubftancc, and baniflied us from our habitation?, and levelled our ftately Monuments of Antiquity and Glory even with the ground, has given Us a very high evidence of his Soveraignty both over our perfons and all our concernments in this world. Ah, Lo»^ow 1 Z-o«!^(?n/ were there none within nor without thy Walls that did deny the Soveraignty of God, that did belye the Soveraignty of God, that did flight the Soveraignty of God, that did make head againft the Sove- raignty of God > Were there none within nor without thy Walls that did fay, We are Lords, and we will come no more unto thee ? That did fay, Is not this great Babylcn (1$ not this ^YC^t London) that wc have built > That did fay, (he Kings of the Earth , and all the Inhabitants of the World would not have believed, that the adverfary and the enemy (the flaming and confuming fire ) fliould have cntred into the gates of Jernfalem ( into the Gates of Lendon,) That did fay. Who is the Lord, that we Qiould obey his voice/ That did advance a worldly Soveraignty above and againft the Soveraignty of God and Chrift > Ah, London \ London ! if there were any fuch within or without thy Walls, then never wonder, that God has in a flaming and confuming fire, proclaimed his Soveraignty over thee, and that he hath given fuch Atheifts to know from woful experience , that Ijoth fhcmfclvesand all their concernments arc in the hands of the I Lord J the late iiery Dijfenfation. 1-5 Lord, as the clay is in the hands of ihc potter; and that thc| ^^ forcft Judgments that any City can fall under, arc but the Ifa. 5.15. dcmonftrations of his Sovcraign Prerogative. Pfal. 9. 16. The Lord is known by the Judgments which he exccuteth 5 the Power, Juftice, and Sovcraignty of God Chines moft glo- rioufly in the execution of his Judgments upon the world. Secondly, God inflifts great and fore judgments upon the Son'; of men, that the world may ft'and in awe of him, and that thdy may learn to fear and tremble before him ; when he appears asA confuming fire, heexpefts that the Nation fhould tremble, and that the Inhabitants fhould' fear before him. \ S»m,\6. ^. knd S amud did that which the Lordfpake, and came to Bahkhem^ and the Elders of the Town trembled at his coming, and faid, comcft thou peaceable ? Shall the Elders of Bethlehem tremble for fear that Samuel came to de- nounce (bmc grievous Judgment againft them ? and (hall not wc tremble when God has executed his terrible Judgments upon ui ? Shall Ahab tremble and humble himfelf, and faft and lye in fackcloth, when Judgments arc but threatned ? and fliail not wc tremble and fear before the great God, who has aftually inflifted upon us his three great Judgments, Pcftilence, Sword, and Fire > Shall the Ninevitef^ both Prin- ccjt. Nobles, and people tremble and humble themfclves in fackcloth and afhcs, when God doth but threaten to over- throw their great, their rich, their populous City > and fhall not we tremble and lye low before the Lord, when we fee great London, rich and populous London laid in afiies before our eyes > When the ban*! of the Lord was ftretched out 3i^a.mA ths Egyptians y the Dukes of Edom were amazed, and the mighty men of Moab' trembled . Ah, how fevcrely has the hand of the Lord been ftretched out againft London and all her Inhabitants ! and therefore what caufc have we to be amazed, and to tremble before that God who has appeared in flames of fire againft us I Lck,ro/to his heart, that he went home a penitent : it wrought to.a.fcvere and pious reformation of his life, and he lived and dyed a preciou? man. Though Pbjraoh was not a pin the better for all the heavy Judgments -that God irifliftcd upon him ; yet Jethro raking notice of thole dreadfijl Plagues and Judg- ment? that fell. upon. P/^jr jo/? and upon his people, and Ijke- wifcupon the Amjlekjtes^ was thereby converted and. became a Profclytc^ as,RdZ?/?i 5c/f);wfl» notcth.upon that 19. of Prov, 2^. The world is fo yntraftable, that frowns will do more with rhem then fmiJcs. That Cod maykccp wicked men in 1WC and in fubjcf^ion to him, he fees it very needlul to bring common, and genera', and ovcr-fpreadinc; Judgments upon hem. Ret'. 15. ^ Who (l]all not fear thee, Q Lord, and ■^lorific thy Name > for thou only art holy ; for a 1 Nations (hall come and worftiip before thee • for thy Judgrr^enrsarc mademanifcft 0,.Sir«, when the Judgments of the lord come to be made manifcft, then it, highly concci:ns all ranks and the late fiery Uifpinfation. »7 and forts of men tn fear the Lord, and to glorific his Name* How manifcft, how vifiblc has the raging Peftilencc and the bloody Sword, and the devouring Flames of London been in the midft of us / and, O that our fear, and dread, and awe of God were as manifcft and as vifiblc as his Judgments have been and ftill are 1 for his hand to this very hour is ftrctchcd out againft us, Ifa. p; i2» But, Thirdly, God inflifts great and fore Judgments upon the Sons of men, and upon Cities and Countries, to exprcfs and make known his Power, Juftice, An^er, Severity, and In- dignation againft finners and their finful courfcs, by which he has been provoked. Veut.^z.ig* And when the Lord faw it,he abhorred them, bccauft of the provoking of his fCns and of his daughters, p^erf. 21. They have provoked me to anger whh their vanities, and I will provoke them to anger with a foolifh Nation. Verf, 22. For a fire is kindled in my anger, and fhal! burn unto the loweft Hell, and flsall confumc the earth with her incrcafc, and (ct on fire the foundations of the mountains. Verf, 24. They (hall be burnt with hunger, and devoured with burning heat for with burning coals) and with bitter dcftruftion. There is a knowledge of God by hisWorksas wellasby hisWord, and by his Judgments as well as by his mercies. In his dreadful Judgments every one may run and read his Power, his Juftice, his Anger, his Seve- rity, and his Indignation againft fin and finners : Tis irrevo- cable fins that bring irrevocable Judgments upon finners ; whilftmcn hold on in committing great iniquities, God will hold on in inflifting anfwcrable fcveritles. VVh':n God can- not prevail with men to dcfift from finning, men ftiall not prevail with God to defift from deftroying of them, rheir habitations, and all their pleafant things. Jer. 2. 15. The young Lions roared upon him, and yelled, and they made his Land wafte ; his Cities are burnt without Inhabitants^ Verf, 17, Haft thou not procured this unto thy fclf, in that thou haft forfakcn the Lord thy God, when he led thee by the way ? When Nicephorus VhoiOi had built a. mighty ftrong Wall about his Palace for his owa fecuriry , in the pight time D he 3. See Jer. 14. Lam. 4. ir. Jer. 4. 15. to vcrfe 19. i8 London's Lamentations on \ he heard a voice crying out unto him, » ^cktimv w4»3gue^ frvord^ famine^ and fire to devour j and dejlrsy, and to lay all in afhes f The Anfwcr is. For the griatmfi of thine iniquity. Gpd will in flames of fire difcovcr his an- Hrodttui. ?>^^^^^ indignation againft fin and finner?. The Heathen Hiftorian obftrvcs in the ruinc of Troy , that the fparklcs and afhes of burnt Troy fcrved for a lading rronumcnt of Gods great anger and difpleafure againft great finncrs. The burning of Troy fervcd to teach men, that God punifhcth great finner* with great plagues ; and certainly Londons be- ing laid in afhes, is a high evidence that God knows how to be angry with finners, and hoW to punifh fin with the forcft of Judgments. The Gods of the Geritiles were fenfclefs flocks and ftones, not able to apprehend, much Icfs to revenge any injury done unto them. Well therefore might- the Philo- fopher be bold with Hercules to put him to nis thirteenth labour, in fcething of his dinner ; and Martial with Triafw^ inthreatning him to throw him into the fire, ir he looked not well to his Trees. A child may play at the hole of a dead Afp, and a filly woman may ftrike a dead Lyon ; but who dare play with a living Serpent > who dare take a roar- ing Lyon by the beard > OthatChrif^iansthen would take heed how they provoke the living God, for he is a confuming fire, and with a word of his mouth, yea, with the breath of hismouth) he is able to throw down> and to burn up the whole the late fiery Difpenfation. 19 whole frame of Niture, and to dcftroy all Creatures from the ficc of the Earth. Some Heathen PhiloropberSithought anger an unfecmly Attribute to afcribe to God. And fome Here- ticks conceived the God of the New Itftament void of all anger. They imagined two Gods 5 the God of the Old Tcltament was in their account Dens ]uiim^ a Deity fcvere and revengeful : But the God of the New Teftament was Dt w bonus, the good God, a God made up all of mercy, they would have no anger in him : but Chriftians do know, that God proclaim* this Attribute among his Tides of Honour. Nihem i . 2. God is jea/out^ and the Lord revengeih^ and U furioufy he referveth tvrathfor hU enemies * 'Tis the high- way to Atheifm and Prophanenef?, to fancy to our felves a God made up all of mercy, tothink that God cannot tell how to beanpryand wroth with thcfbnsof men. Surely they that havcfecn L(;w^.?; in flames, or believe that 'tis now laid in aflies, they will believe that God knows hov; to be angry, and how to fix the tokens of his wrath upon u'. But, Fourt^^'y, God inflifts great and fjre Judgments upon the Tons of men, and upon Cities and Countries, that they may ceafe from fin, receive inftruftlon, and reform and re- tiirn to the moft High ; as you may evidently fee by compa- ring the Scriptures in the Marginc together. Gods corrcfti- ons fhould be our inftruftions, his laflies fliould be cur UC- fon.', his fcourgcs (hould be our School. mafter?, his chaftifc- mcntsftiould be our advcrtifcm^nts: And to note this, the Hebrews and the Greeks both exprefschafti ling and teaching by onc& the fame word(lDlQ Mafar^^aiXeia. /'ui^/ew)bccaufe the latter is the true end ot the former, according to that in the Proverb, S'w^r/ makes w'lt^and vexation gives under fiandinq. Whence Luther fitly calls affliftion, Theologiam Chriflianorum^ The Chrifiian mans Divinity. Jer. 6. Si Be thou inflru£fed, Jerufa/em^ lefl my pul depart from thee ; le(i I ma\e thee dijo- late^aland not inhabited. Zeph. 3. 6, 7.- / have cut ojf tht nations^ their toxvers are defohte^ J made their fire ets rvalie that none pjjfed hy ^ their cities are defiroyed^ fo that there ii no man^ that there is no inhabitant. J jaid. Surely thou rvilt fear me-: thou wilt reteive inliruBion^ fo their drvellings Jhould D 2 not JCs, 16. p. Pfal. P4. 12. Prov.3.12,13. Chap. d. 23. Jobg6 8,9, 10. and chap. Levit. 26. Deut. 28. 2 Chron, 7. 1^,14. Amos 4. 6. to verfe 12. r/a.p. 13. Jer. 5. 3. Jer. 5. 29, JO. Ezek., 33, 25,' 26, 27. I I ao London's Lamentations on Deut. 5i2 14, ]cr. 5.7, 8, 9, 10. Pfal. 73. 1- 10, Judg. 8.1^. Mich. 6. 8. ' am. ? ^2,53^ Ifa. 28.21. Schola crucif, fchoU luck. not be cut off, nowtvet I ■pumjhed them ^ hut they rofe early ^ and corrupted all their doings. By all the dcfo aiion? that God had made before their eyes, he deligned their inftrufti- on and reformation. From thofc words, Judg. 3, 20, I have a meffage from God unto thee, O King^ ffaid Ehud) Lo, hij Ponyard was Gods ineflage ; from whence one well ob- fervep, That not only the vocal admonitionsj but the real jud^'.ments of Cjod are his Errands and inftruftions to the world. God delights to win men to himfelf by favours and mercies ; but *tis rare that God this way makes a conqueft upon then?. Jer. 22. 21, J Jp-tks unto thee in thy proj^:rity f faith God) but thou faidji^ IwiUnot hear : and therefore 'tis rhat he delivers them over into the hands of fevere Judg- ments, as into the hands of fo many curft School-maftcrs (as Bufu rpeaks ) that fo they may learn obedience by the things hey fufFcr, as the Apoftle fpeak-. It is faid of Gideon^ he took Sryars and thorns, and with them he taught the men of '^uccnth. Ah poor London \ hew has God taught fhccwiih. Sf yars and thorns, with Sword, Pcftilcnce, and Fire, and I'lbecaufe thou wouldft. not be taufht by profperity and mercy, to do juftice, to love mercy, and to walk htjmMy with hy God. God delights in tha^Reformation of a Nicion j |but he doth not delight in the defolation of any Njiion, ■rods greateft feverity, is to prevent utter mine andmifery. If God will but make Londons deftruftion^ Englands'm^] u- 6Vion, it may favc the Land from a total defolation. Ah London \ London \ 1. would willingly hope, that this fiery Hod that has been upon thy back, has been only to awaken fhee, and toinftruft thee, and to refine thee, and ro reform chee, that after this fore defolation, God may delight to build thee, and bcautifie thee, arwl make thee an eternal cx- cellencjr, a joy of many generations. But, Ifa. 6b. 1 5. Fifihly, Godinflifts fore and great Judgments upon the fons of men, that he may try them, and m ike a more full df- covery of themfelves to themfclves. Wicked men wiL never believe that their lufts arc fo ftrong, and that their hearts arc fo bafc, as indeed they arc. 2 Kings 8.12,13. A'/idHiZjel faid^ the late fery Difpenfation. 11 [aid. Why tvetftth my Lord ? and he anfrvered^ Bccaufe I knot» the evil that thou wilt do unte the Children of Ifrael'^ their (irong holds tpilt than fit on fire^ and their youngmen wilt thouflty with the [word, and wilt dajh their children^ and rip »/> their women with child. And Hazaelfaidy But what, is th^ fervent a dog^ that he fhould do thit great thing ? And Elijhn anfwcred^ The Lord hath Jhewed me that thm Jhalt be King over Syria. Hazael could not imagine that he fhould be as fierce, cmcl, murderou?, and mercilefs as a dog, that will tear all in pieces that he can come at. It could never cntcrinto his thought?, that ever hcfhould do fuch cruel, barbarous, horrid, and inhumane aft', as the Prophet fpoke of ; but he did ro: know the depth of his own corruption,nor f he defpcratencfs, nor deccitfu'nefs of his own heart. Jfa. 8;- 2 r . And theyJh^iU pa^ through it hardly bejiead and hungry : and itJhaV come to pafi^thjt when they jhaJl he humry-i they /hall fnt themfdvef, and curfe their King^ and their God ^ and look^ upward. VV-hcn Judgments arc upon them, then their wicked, ncfs appears rampant.Thcy (hall curfe their own Kin^ for nor defending, proteftin^, or relieving of them ; they (hall look upon him a« the caufc of all their wants, forrows, and fuf-_ ferings .* and as men overwhelmed wirh mifery, and full of indignation, they (hall fall a curfing of him. And they (hall curfe their God, as well as their King, that is, fay fomc, the true God, who defervedly broi'ght thefe plagues upon them. Their God, that is, fay others, their Melch'^m to whom they had farri (iced) and in whom chey fee now that they vainly trufted. So tho(c defperate wretches under the Bed cities rvhich are not inhabi- ted, and rnany nations fhallfa^ hj this citj, and they Jhall fay every man to his neighbour^ Wherefore hath the Lord done this unio this great City ? Then Jhall they anfncjr, Becaufe they have forfak^n the Covenant of the Lord their God^ and tpor/hipped other gods ^ and fervtd them. God puniflieth one City, that all others Cities may take warning. There is no Judgment of God, be it Sword, Peftilencc, Famine, or-Fire upon any Peo- ple, City, Nation, or Country, but what is fpeaking and teaching to all others, had they but eyes to fte, ears to heary and hearts to underftand. Thus ^}ruf fhall be devofircd with fire, faith the Prophet ; Ajhkelcn {\\^\\ fee it and fear j Gaza and Ekron (hall be very forrowful. When AJhkelony Gaza^ and Ekrcn fhall fee the dcftrufticn of Tyre by fire, it fhall make them afraid of the like Judgment : they fhall be a little more concerned then fbmc were at the Siege of Rhodes^ and then others were at theRuine and Defblation of 7roj) by fire. London's fuffering": fhould warn others to take heed of London* j fins. London! s Conflagration fhould warn others to take»heed of London s abon^inations j it fhould warn ofhers to ftand and wonder at the patience, long-fuflPcrin?, gentlcnefs, and goodncfs of God towards them who havedefcrvcd as hard things from the hand of God, as London have fc!t in 16(55. and i^^^* It ftiould warn others to fearch their hearts, and try their ways, and break ofi" their fins, and turn to the Lord, left his anger (hould break forth in fl imesof fire ar^ainft them, and none fhould be able to deliver them. It fhould warn others to fear and tremble before that Power, jufticc, Severity, and Sovcraignty that fhines in Gods fiery "Difpenfations toward^ . -- - - - u?. Mich. 6. 9. Zach.9. 4,$. Rom. 2.4,5. Lam. 3. 40. 24 London's Lamentatiens on Exod. 15. 15, 16. Ifa. 13. (5, 8. 14, 7> Ifa. 26.8, 9. us E2;ei^. 30. 7, 8, 9. -^«<^ they Jhall be defolate in the midft of the countries that are defolate^ and her Cities (meaning Egyp')(haU he in the midji of the Cities that are Vfafled, Arid they jhall hpovp that I am the Lord, vpken I have fet a fire in Egypt, In that day Jhall mejfengers go forth p-om me in (hips ^ to ma\e the carele^ Ethiopians afraid^ and great pain Jhall tme upon them^ as in the day of Egypt ^ for lo^ it.cometh. God by his fccrct Inftinft and Providence would Co order the matter, as that the news of the Chaldeans inrode into Egypt ( laying all their Cities and Towns waftc by fire and fword ) fliould be carried over into Ethiopia • and hereupon the fccurc Mthiopians (hould fear and tremble, and be in pain as a wo- man if that is in travel t, or as the Egyptians were, when they were deftroycd at theRed^fca 5 or as they were, when the Lord fmote their firft-born throughout the Land of Egypt, Now (hall the Ethiopians, the poor blind Heathens fear and tremble, and be in pain, when they hear th^t Egypt is laid waftc by fire and fword ? and (hall not Chriftians all the world over fear and tremble, and be in pain, when they, fhall hear that London is laid waftc, thatLow^on is deftroyed by fire > What though Papifts and Aiheifts have warmed |themfelves at th? flames of Lowiow, faying. Aha, Co would we have it ; yet let all that have the Name of God upon them, fear and tremble, and take warning, and learn rightc- oufnc(s by his lightcous Judgments upon dcCohtc London, London's murdering- piece (houk^ be Englands warning-piece to awaken them, and to work them to bethink themfelves, and to turn to him, who is able by a flaming fire quickly to turn them out of all. The Jews have a faying, That if war be begun in another Country, yet they (hould faft and mourn becaufe the war is begun, and becaufe they do not know how foon God may bring it to their doors, O Sirs / London is burnt, and it highly concerns you to faft and mourn, and pray, and to take the Alarm; for you do not know how foon a fire may be kindled in your own habitations. Now God has made the foncc famous) City of London a flaming Beacon before your eyes, he cxpefts and looks that yow (hould lall fear before him. Secure your incercft in him , walk * humbly the late fiery Difpenfation, 35 humbly with him, and no more provoke the eyes ot .his jea- loufic and gfory. The dciign of . Heaven by this late dread- ful Fire, if not to be confined to thofc partictilir pcrfons up- on whom it hath fallen heavielt ; but \is to awaken all, and warn a)!. When a Beacon is fired, it gives warning as much to the whole Country, as to him who fets it on fire ; or as it docs to him on whofc ground the Beacon ftands. We can neither upon the foot of Reafon or Pveligion, conclude them robe the prearcftfinncrs, who have been the grcateft fuffer. cr'; for many time? we find, that the greateft Saints have rj^ ^ been the greateft fijfFcrers both from God and men. Job ^^^^ ' * ' was a non-fi'ch in hi? day for holincfs, uprightnefs, and the fear of the Lord, and yet by ihc wind and fire from Heaven on the one hand, and by the Sabeans and Chaldeans on the other hand, he i? ftript of all his children and ofa fair eftatc in one day: fo that in the morning it mi|^hthavc beenfaid, Who fo richas jFo^> and in the evening, Who fo poor as Job > Job was poor even to a Proverb. Look as wicked men arc very incompetent Judges of divine favours and mer- cie% Co they arc very ir.competent Judges of divine tryals and fcveritics ; and whatever they may think or fay, I dare conclude, that they who have drank deepeft of this Cup of forrows f of this Cup of defolation and fire in Io«^ that is imaginable. The ingenuous child eaiily takes warning, and to an ingenuous Chriftian every divine warning'is as the hmd. writing upon the wall. Sixth y , Slighting ofdi vine warnings, provokes God many times to^ give up men to be their own Executioners, their cwn de- ftroyer?. Saul had many warnings, but he flighted and nc- clefted them all 5 and at laft God leaves him to fall on his own fword. Chrift caft Hell-fire often into Jw-^/^ his face Thou haft a Devil • and wo to that man by whom the Sent ot Man (hall be betrayed ; it had' been good for that man that he had never been born ; But Judoi flights all thefc warnings, and betrays his Lord and Mafter, and then goes forth and hangs himfe f. It w.is a ftrange conceit of the Cerimhians iha.t honoured Judas the Traitor as fome divine and fuperthumane power, and called hisTreafon a blcfled piece of Serv'cc, and that he knowing how much the death of Chriftwou'd profit m,ankind, did therefore betray him to death to fa^e the race of mankind, and* to do a thing pleafing to God. Judm withftood all divine warnings from within and without, and you know how the Tragedy ended ; he dyed amiferablc death, he perilbed by hi- own hands, which were the moft infamous hands in all the world : he went and handed himfclf. And as Luke hathir, he fell head-long and burft afunder in the midftj and all his bowel? the late fiery Difpenfation. 27 bowels gurtied our. In every paiTagc of his death wc may rake notice of divine Jiiftice, and accordingly take heed of flighting divine warnings. It was but juft that he fhould hang in the a'r, who for his fin was hated both of Heaven and Earth, and that he fhould fall do An jjeach- long, who was fallen from (lich a height of honour, as >bc was fallen from; and that the Hahcr (hould ftrangic that throat, through which the voice of Treafon had founded ; and that his bowels fhogld be loft, who had loft the bowels of all pity, piety, and compaflion ,• and that his Cjhoft fihould have his paffagc out of his mid ft ( He burft afimder in the midft, faith the Text ) and notour of his lips,becaufe with a kifs of his lips he had betrayed our Lord Jtfus. Butfevcnthly, By flighting divine warnings, you will arm both vifible and invilibic Creatures againft you. Fkaraob flights divine warn- ings, and God arms the winds againft him to his deftruftion Sifera flights divine warnings, and theStars in their Courfe fought againft Sifera, Sennacherib flights divine warnings, and an Angel of the Lord deftroyed a hundred fourfcorc and five thoufand of his Army in one night. Eighthly , By flighting of divine warnings, you will tempt Satan to tempt yDur fouls; he that daresflight divine warnings, will ftick at nothing that Satan fhall tempt him to ; yea, he does to the utmoft what lyes in him to provoke Satan to follow him with the blackeft and forcft temptations. Ninthly, He that flights divine warnings, dams up all the fprings of m:rcy, and turns ihc ftreams of loving-kindnefs and favour ano- ther way. Tenthly and laftly, Slighting of divine warn- ings, willbe the Sword that will wound you, and the Ser- pent that will fting you, and the Worm that will be ftilj gnawing upon you ; cfpccially, 'i. When your confcicnccs arcawakncd, 2 When you fhall lye upon a dying bed. 3. When you fhall ftand befurc a Judgment-feat. Fourthly and laftly. When you fhall awake with cvcrlafting flames about your cars. Upon all ihcfe confidcrationF, take heed of flighting the warnings of God that you arc under this day. But, Seventhly and laftly, God inflifts great and fore Ji'dg- El ments 2 Kings 6; 8, 9, lOjir. 16. Exod. 14. Judg.5.19,20. Ifa.57.7,8, 9.36. Pfal 8i.ir. to the end. Jer.7.23,24, 25,25,27, 28, 29. 34. Ifa. 13.14,15, 1 5. / J a8 L^ondon's LametitatJo?2s on Eccle. 12.13, 14. Exod 20. 18. Heb. 12. 18, 19,20, 21. mcntsupon Pcrfons, Cicic?, and Countries, to put the world in mind of the General Judgment. VVho can think upon the Conflagration of our late glorious City, and not call to mind the great and ttrnblc day of the Lord ? Pfj/. fo. 3 Oitr G,id (hall come^ and (kali not l^eep ftience • a fire JIj ^V devour befere him^ and it' fhall be very tempi jiuaMif round about him. As God give h's Law in fi e, fo when he comes to Judg- ment, in tire he will require ir, to (hew himfelf a Judge and Flevcnger of it, and to bring the world to a drift accoun-t for their breaking of it. In the promulgation of the Law a Aiming fire was only on Mount Sinji ; but when Chrift flnall come to execute verageancc on the tranfgrfflbrs of it, al the world fhaH become a Bonfire. In the promulgation of the Law there was fire, fmoak, thunder, and an earthquake 5 but when Chrift (hall come in flaming fire to revenge the brcachcsofir, the Heavens fliaJI be diflblved, and the Ele- ments (hall melt with fervent heat, fo that not only a few Cities and Kingdoms, but all this lower World (hall be of a flame ; and therefore if any of the wicked fhould be I'o weak as to think to fecurethemfelves by creeping behind the Lord, they will but deceive thtmfclves ; for the fir<: (hall not only devour before him, but it (hall al(o devour round abour jhim. When an unquenchable fire (I12II be kindled above the finncr, and below the (inner, and round about the linner, how is it pr (fible that he(hould cfcape, though he (hculd cry out totheRock'^ a' d the Mountains to fall upon him, and to cover him from the wrath of the Lamb? lfj.66. 15,16. For biboldy the Lord will come mih fire^ and vcith his charivti lil^e a whiritvind^ to rmdcr his anger nnthfury^ and his rebnke with flames if fire.. For bj fire and by his fvoord will the Lord plead rvith all fiejh : and thiflain of the Lord jhall be many. There is nothing more fearful or formidable either toman or bcaft then fire. Now when God comes to execute his Judgmcnt-s and to take vengeance on the wicked in this fife fas fome curry the wordsj or in the other life (as others cur. ry.ihc wordsjhe will ccme in the moft terrible and dreadful manner imaginable, he will come with fire, and he will rcn. dcr his rebuke with flames of fire, or with fiery flames, as fome Rcv.5. i$,i6, 17. Jer. 5.14. the late fiery Difptnfation, 19 fomcfay 5 or with flaming fire, as others fay 2 7bej\ 1 7,8. Andto ycu who nt trouhkd^rc\i K>ith uSj n>hen the Lord 'Jefui (hall be revealed from heaven^ voiih hit mighty Angels 172 filming fire^ takins^ vengean.e en them that kpofv not God, and that obey not the Gofpd of our Lord JtJMChrili. BclovcJ, [hat Chrift will come to Judgment in flaming fire^ is no Politick inven- tion found out to friiiht men from their pleafures ; nor no En^',inc of State devifed to keep men tame and quiet under the Civil powers ; nor no Plot of ihe Minifter to make men melancholy, or to hurry them into a blind obedience j but it is the conft mt voice of God in the blefled Scripture?, 2 Pet. 3. 10—12. But the day of the Lord will come as a thitf in the nighty in the vchich iht heavens (hall paji an>ay with a great noife^ and the elements jhall melt with fervent heaty the earth aljo and the vporks that are therein jhall be burnt up. Looking for and hajiing unto the coming of the day of Cod , wherein the heavens being en fire^ JJjall be dijfolved^ and the elements jhdll melt with fervent heat, Parew is of opinion, that that P areus in Rev. fire that fliall fet all the world in a flame, at laft will be kind- 1 6. j 8. led and cheriflied by lightning from Heaven. The Earth being fmitten with lightning from Heaven, fhall be fliaken and torn into ten thoufand piece?, and by fire utterly confij- med ; now the Earth (liaJl quake, the Sea roar, the Air ring, and the World burn. New you fhall look no way, but you (hall fee fire 5 you fliall fee fire above you, and fire below you, and fire round about you. Chrift.' fit ft coming was at- Lukea.S.to tended with a general peace, and with Carols of Angels ; he verf. 1 ^ came as rain upon the mown grafs, filently, fwcctly into the Pfal. 71.^. world ; then a babe cryed in the manger, but now Judahs Lyon will roar and thunder in the Heavens : Then he came riding on an Afles Colt, but now on the Clouds : Then he was attcn'ied with twelve poor defpifed Apoftles, but now he fliall be waited on with miny fcorc miljions of Angels. Ac his fir ft coming he freely cflf.-red grac*, and mercy, and U Thcf. i. 7. pardon to finners ; but now he will come in flames of fire ^o execute wrath and vncc a nee upon finnerf, and 'twill be j '>o finall honour to Chrift, nor no fmall eomfort to the ,^aim«j n<:>r no fmall iorra:nt to the wicked for Chiift to come 3< London's Lament atiotJs on Afts22.8. Mark<5. \6. I Sam. 2 1- 9. Numb. 7.10. Dan. $. $. Hellingfheds Chron. Holcot. in lib. Sap* Mat. 2^ 41. to verf. 46. come in flames of fire when he comes to Judgment. Saul wasaftonidied when he heard Jefus of Nazareth but calling unto him out of Heaven. Herod was affrighted when he thought thait John BaptijivfSLS rifen again. The philijHnes were afraid when they faw Davids Sword. The Ifrselitesl were ftartlcd when they faw Aarens Rod : And Juda was) aftiamed when he Cdivr Th a mars R^net and ftaff: and BeU jhazzar was ama2cd when he (aw the hand- writing upon the Wall, The Carthaginians were troubled when they faw Scipio*s Sepulchre : ;and the Saxons were terrified when they Czvi CadvpalloT^s Image. Oh how terrified, amazed, and confounded will wicked men be when ihcy (hall fee that hrift whom they have rejcftcd, betrayed, crucified , fcorn- ed, oppofed, and perfccuted, come in flames of fire to pafs an eternal Doom upon them ! I have read a ftory of two Soul- dierfjthat coming to the Valley of Jehofaphat in Judea, and one faying to the other. Here in this place fliall be the gene- ral Judgment, wherefore I will now take up my place where I will then fit ; and (b lifting; up a flone, he fate down upon it, as taking pofTrflion before hand : but being fate, and ''iooking up to Heaven, fuch a quaking and trembling fell up- on him, that falling to the earth, heremcmbred the day of Judgment with horrour and amazement ever after. The cafe of this Souldier will be the cafe of every wicked man, when Chrift fhall appear in flames of fire to pafs an eternal Sentence of Condemnation upon all the Goats that fhall be found on the left hand. It is flrange in this fo ferious a bu- finefs of the day of Judgment, arid of Chrifts appearing in flanging fire, which fo nearly concerns the fons of men, how mens wits will bufie thcm!"elves in many nice inquiries ( ye may meet with many fuchqucftions in the School-men ) as, it. How long is Jtto'the day of Judgment? 2. In what place of the world fhall the Judgment-day be held .? 3, What kind of fire (hall then be burning > 4. Whether GhrifKhallcomc with a Crofs carr'rd "before him? As if Malefaftors in the Gaol (hould fall a reafoning and debating what weather it W^ould be at the day of Affifes ? or of the Judges habit'and retinue, and never bethink ih-cmfelves how I ' to I the late jiery Diffenfaf'ton, to anfwer their Indiftmciu,that they may cfcipe condemna- tion, Low^oAiV flames (hould put us in mind of Chrifts co- ming in flames of fire • and the burning of London fliould put us in mind of the burning of the world, when Chrift ftiall come to judge the fens oT men accordirg to their worksj and the terror and dread of that fire, and mens endeavours to cfcape it, fliould put us upon all thofe holy ways and means whereby we may efcape the fury of theft dreadful flames thatfliall never be quenched : And the Houfes and Kftates .that were confumed by the devouring fire in London-^vctts, fliould put us upon fecuring a houfe not made with hands^ but one eternal in the Heavens, and upon fecuring durable richeff, and an inheritance that fadcth not away, and upon laying up for our felves treafiircs in Heaven, where neither moth nor ruft, ncr thieves (and let me adde, nor flamesj can break through, corrupt, or fteal, or burn. The more gene- ral any Judgment i«, the more it fliculd put us in mind of the General day of Judgment. Now the burning o{ London was a general Judj.menf, a Judgment that reaches from. one end of the Land to another fas I fiiall more fully evidence before I clofe up this Difcourfe) and therefore it fliould re- mind us of the univerfal Conflagration of the whole World and the works thereof. And thu« you fee the ends that God has (in rcfpcft of the wicked) in infli6ling great and (ore Judgments upon Per(cns, Cities, and Countric, But pray. Sir, what are thofe high and holy ends, in re- fpcft of the people of God, that God aims at by his infl'ft. ing of geat and fore Judgments upon Per fons. Cities, and Ccun:ries ? I fuppofc they are fuch as follow. Firfl, To bring about thofe fpecia' favours and mercies Ai[n\ thatGod intends them. By the dreadful Judgments that Go<:i infllfted upon /'/j.^rjc/?, and npon !ii^ people, and upon his Country, God brought about the freedom and liberty of his people to worfhip him according to his own prtfcriptionf. The grpatdiffcrcnce and contefl between God and Thar^ih was, who flicuId have their w/ills ; God would have his peo- ^ pie 2 Cor. 5. ij2. Prov. 8. 1 8. 1 Pet. 1. 4- Mat. 6. 19, 20, 21. ^/f/?. 32 London's Lamentations on Eijod. 5, I, 2. Exod.7.16. Exod. 8. 8. 20 a^27•29• Exod. 9.1. 15 Exod. 10.3. 7.8. 11.24. Exod. 12. 31. Jer. II.4- Dan. 9. 1 2- J Turn to Oba- diah^ind read from verf. 1 1 . to the end of the Chapter. Here was Lex talionis obfcr- ved; they that invaded the inheritance of others, had«. their own in- vaded by nlc to woifhip him . ccording to his own mind • tut Pha. raoh was rcfolvcd to venture his all before ihcy (hould have their freedom and liberty to fcrvc their Cod. Upon this God follows him wiih plague upon plague, and never leave? • pending of his plagues upon him, till he had overthrown him, and through his ruinc brought about the freedom and 'iberty of his poor people. The Babylonians were cruel ene- mies to Gods poor Ifrael^ and kept them in bondage, yea, in a fiery furnace fevenry years : At laft Cod ftirs up the fpirit of Cjrtiffor hi? Churches fake, and he by fire and fword lays Babylon wafte, and takes thsm Captive, who had he'd his people in a lo-^g Captivity. Now he by breaking the Babylonians in pieces like a potters vcflTcl, brought about ( as as inftrument in the hand of God J the freedom and liberty of Gods poor people, as you miy fee by comparing that 45. of /p. I, 2, 3, 4j 5, 6, with that i. Chapter ci £zra. God itirsup the fpiiic of Cyrus to put forth a Proclamation for Liberty for the Jews to goto their own Land, and to build the Houfe of the Lord God of //r^e/5 and then he gracioufly ftir? up thefpirics of the people wifely and foberly to improve (he liberty he had proclaimed. J^er, 49. i. Concerning the 4mmonites^ thus faith the Lord^ Hath Ifrad no fans > h.Jth he no heir ? why then doth their King inherit Gad^ and his people dwell in his Cities > When the ten Tribes were carried away captive, the Ammonites who dwelt near the Tribe of Gad, intruded into if, and the Cities of it j but mark what God faith inyeife 2. Therefore bthold the d.tys co-ne^ jatih the Lordy that / n>ill caufe on altrm of war to be heard in Kab^ bihofthi AnJmonites (ihalrviii i heir chief City) avd it Jhall be a depilate hejp, and her daughters f that is kffcr Towns ^ (hall be burnt with pre, then (hall Ifr^el he heir unto them that xvtre his heirs , faith the Lord. God by fire and fword would lay dcfolate the chief City of the Ammonites, and her Towns and Villages that did be'ong to her: and by thefc dreadful Difpenfations he would make way for his people, not only to poflTcts their own Land, bur the Ammonites Land al/b.l will kuve the prudcni Pleader to make theApplication We have been under greater and dread lullcr Judgments then ever the late fiery Difpinfation. 33 ever this poor Nation hath groaned under in forracr times j and who can tell but that the Lord by thefe amazing Judg- ments tjwy bring about greater and better mercies and blcf- fings then any yet wc do cn-Joy > The Kabins fay of Civil Liberty, that if the Heavens were Parchment, the Sea Ink, and every pile of Grafs a Pen, the praifcs of it could not be comprircd nor exprcffed : May we not fay more of a holy Liberty > Liberty to fervc and worftiip tRcLord according to hisownprefcriptionsanddircftlons laid down inhisblefJTcd Word ( by which all werlhip and worftiippers rauft be tryed at laft ) is a pearl of price that none can fufficicntly value. Jujlinits the fccond Emperors Motto was, Libertat rei in£jiu mabilkj Liberty is unvaluablc. The Lord give his people holy, wife, prudent, fober, humble , and underftanding heart.?, that they may know both how to prize and bow to improve thofc liberties and mercies that he has handed to them through terrible Difpen(ations. Bur, Secondly, God inflicts great Tryals and (ore Judgments upon Perfbns and Places, that he may awaken his own peo- ple out of that dtcp fccurity that oftentimes Cclzeth upon them. What deep fccurity had feizcd upon Vavid^ (o that God was forced to make ufc of the bloody Sword and of the fwecping Pcftilehcc to awaken him f Jonah wa^ a Pro- phet, he was a Servant ©f the Lord, he was a Type of Chrift, i he was a good man $ his name Jonah fignifies a Dove , though he had but little of theDove in him,being as paflionate amanofan honcftman, as you have lightly heard of, faith Luther, Now Jonah having cent rafted guilt upon his con- fciencc by afting quite contrary to Gods royal Call, what a dcfpcrate, fenfclefi ftupidity and fecurity had feized upon him / what a fpiritual lethargy was poor Jonah in I not much unlike that of the Smiths Dog, whom neither th.^ ham- mers above him, nor the fparks of fire falling round about him can awake. Jonah was not in a flumber, but in a found, heavy, deep, and dead flcep ; and what a wonder, what a prodigic was here, that in all this ftir, and tumult, and dan- ger, the winds whittling and roaring, thcSea ,w But my hope and prayer is, that the Lord has, and will more and more gracioufly and effcftually awaken all the wife flumbring Virgins upon whom this fiery Difpcn. fation has paft. And therefore. Deut. 8t 2. Thirdly, In refpeft of his peoples fins, God has feveral fpecial ends that he aims at by all the fiery Tryals and fmart Providences that he exercifes them and others with. As, Fird, God by thefe means defigns a further and a fuller difcovcry of their fins. In flanding waters you cannot fee the mud that lyes at the bottom of the Pool or Pond 5 but when once the water is drawn away, then it appears. In times the late fiery Difpenfation. 35 times of profpcrity there is a great deal of mud , a great deal of Atheifm, unbelief, difcontent, murmuring, impatience, pa/Hon, pride, &c. that lyes at the bottom of mens hearts iindi(covered. Oh but when God ftall once empty them of their Eftate8,angl burn up all their outward comforts, and ftt them with Jo^ upon the dunghil, then the mud appears, then a whole army of lufts difcover themftlvc?, as we fee in many this day, whom you fhall rarely find without tears in their eyes, fighs in their hearts, and complaints in their mouths; Severe Providences are pills made purpofcly to clear the eyerfighti i Kings 17. 1 8. And jhe faidunto E.. lt\ah^ TFhathave J to do mthtbee^ O ibou man of God f art thoH come unto me to caU my (m to rtmtmhrance^ and to [lay my [on ? If God had not taken away her fon, her fin had not been brought to remembrance. O Sirs ! if God by thi? late dreadful Fire had not taken away your houfts, your goods, your eftates, your trades, many of your fins had not been brought to your remembrance, though now you have loft moft or all. You may (ay with the Pfalmift, Afy fms an ever before me : my pride is ever before me, my un- belief is ever before nw, my frowardnefs is ever before me, ray murmuring is ever ieforc me, mydifcontent is ever be. fore me, and my impatience is ever before me, &c. Good men never come to know how bad they arc, till they come to be cxerci(ed with (cverc Providences and fmart Tryals It wasthefpeechof a Holy man in a great ficknefs. In tfci difeafe I have learned how great God is, and what the evil of fin if; I never knew topurpofe what God was be- fore, nor what fin was before. Affliftions are a Chriftians Glafijin which they may run and read the greatncfs of God, ,and the vilenefsoffint But, Secondly, By fevere Providences and fiery Tryals, God Jdefigns the preventing of fin. faul was one of the holicft men on earth, called by fome an earthly Angel, and yet he ireeded a thorn in the flcfh to prevent pride. 2 Cor, la. 7. And Isfl I Jhould be exalted above meafure through the abun- dance of the revelatiensy there voas given to me a th^rn in the ■__ F 2 fiefh^ Pral.51.3. Turn to the Scriptures, Gen. 42. 21. Jon. 4. 8, 9. ]ct.9,T,Hlr. ■ { 36 London's Lamentations on Job^^. 19-17. Chap. 34. ^i, lob 40. 4, $. . Hof. a. 6,7. flejhy the meffengtr of Satan to buffet we, Uji I Jhould be exalted above meafure^ Paul was in very great danger of being ex- alted above meafurc, witnefs the doubling of thofc words in oncverfc, Leii I Jhonld be exalted^ Lefh 1 Jhonld be exalted. Prudent Phyluians fomciimcs give Phyfick to prevent dirca-' fes ; and fo docs the Phyfitian of Soul?, as you may fee by comparing the 'Scriptures in the Margine logctbcr. The burnt child dreads the fire. Sin is but a bitter-fw^et, '^tis an evil worfc then Hell it felf. Salt brine prcfervc* from putrcfaftionj and fait Marftes keep the fheep from rot- ting; and fo fbarp Tryals, fevere Pcovidenccs prefervc the Saint? from fpiritual putrefying, and from fpiritual rotting. The Rabbins^ to keep their Scholars from fin, were wont to tcll ibem, that fin madeGods head ake; and Saints under fiery tryals do find by experience, that fin makes not only their heads, but alfo their hearts ake; and by this means God preferves his people from many fins, which otherwifc they would certainly fall intOr Beloved. God by his fiery Difpcnfations has deflroycd many, or moik of your outward comforts ; but little do you know the horrible fins that by this means the Lord hasprefcrved you from. A full Lftate lays men moft open to the grcatefl: fin?, the worft of fnares, and the deadlicft temptation?. Thebeftofmcn have fallen fculcft \mdcr ihcir hi^iheft worldly enjoyments, witnefs Va vidy Solomon^ Hezekjah ^SicUndcr your outward fulncfs, how low was your communion with God > how languifhing were your Grace? ? how lean were your Souls > and how was your fpring of inward Comforts drycd up> How little had God of your thoughts, your hearts, your time, your ftrength > O Sirs ! how bad would you have been by this time, if God had not removed thofc things that were but fuel to your liifls, and quench-coals to your grace > Well, often think of this ; 'tis a greater mercy to be preferved from fin, yea from the leaft fin,.thcn 'tis to enjoy the whole world . Bur, ,, . Thirdly, By ftvcr^ Providences, and by fiery Tryalj, God- dcfigns the imbittcring of fin to his people. When God (hall come and burn up mens comforis round about . ; them, the late fery Difpinfation. 37 them, then they will cty out. Ah, what a bitter thing is fin 1 that puts God upon burning work j then they will fpcak that language to their own Souls, that the Prophet once fpake to the Jews, Jet, 2. i 5. They made bit land jvajh : hh cities are burnt with fire, Verf, 17. Haji thou not procttred thefttbingstothy felf ?- Verf. 19. Thine orvn wick^dmfi jhsU correS tbee^ and fhy backrjlidingj (haU reprove tbee : k^ow there, fore and fie, that it pi an evil thing and bitter ^ that thou haji farfaken the Lord th) God, and that my fear U not in tbee^ faith the Lard God of Hojh. So Chap, 4.18. Thy tvjy and thy doings have prccurtd thefe things unto thee: this is thy tvick^dnej!^ becaufe it is bitter, becaufe it reacheth unto thy heart Yea, now they will fay,that fin is bittcrRcflcs in the abftraft, and in the plural number alfb, according to that of the Pro- phet Hofea, Hof. 12. 14. Ephraim provoked him to anger mofl bitterly, or with bitterneffes, as the Hebrew has it. Relations and friends may tell us, that fin is a bitter thing, and con fcicnce may tell us, that fin is a bitter thing, and good book;- may tell us, that fin is a bitter thing, and men under tcrrours and horrours of fpirit may tell uS, that fin is a bitter thing, and the fore and heavy Judgments of God upon others may tell u«, that finfis a bittcrthing, and the Spirit by his fecrct whifpcrs may tell u?, that fin is a bitter thing, and Minifter^ may lellu?, that fin is a bitter thing ; they may tell you. that 'tis bitter to God, it being the only thing in all the world that he has revealed iiis wrath from Heaven againft- and that is contrary to the Nature of God, the Law of God; the ^cingof God, the Glory of God, and the grand Dcfigns of God. They may tell you, that 'tis bitter to Chrifi, wit ncft his crying out in the bitternefs of his Soul, My God, my God, why haji thou for fak^n ^^Ie /* ■ and witncfs thcforrows and heavinefsof his Soul, and his fwcating clods of blcod. When he hung upon the Crofs, they gave him gall and vine- gar to drink ; but no gall was (6 bitter to him as your fin5. They may tell you, that fin is bitter to the Siriirit of God 5 for nothing grieves him, and provokes hiih, and vexes him but fin. They may tell you, that' fin is bitocr to the good Angels; ever^finihat.you c^minit is isa'dagger at their- ^:, . hearts :• G«fl. 6. 3. ;Eph. 4..^«s>. 38 Londpn'^ Lm^ntations on Judc 6, Gen. g. 10. Math. 27. Gen. 4. i;. Rom. 9, 20, 21,23.. hearts: there is nothing in all the world To bitter to them, as to fee their Lord and Maftcr daily, yea hourly crucified by finncrs fins. They may tell you, that fin is bitter to the evil Angels, it being the only thing for which they were ba- nifhcd the Court of Heaven, and turned down to the loweft HcJl, where they arc kept in chains of darknefs to the Judg- ment of the great day. They may tell you, that fin is bitter to the tvor ft of men, mtncisAdjmj hidingof himfelf, and Judoi his hanging of himfclf, and Cains crying out, Mj burden is greater then I am able to bear. They may tell you, that 'tis bitter to the Creatures, who ^«roan under their bur- dens , and who long to be delivered from that bondage that the fin of manhathfubjcfted them to i and yet for all thi?, wcwill not feelingly, affeftionatcly, experimentally (ay, that fin is bitter, till God comes and burhs us up. Lam. 4. II. And gives Htgali and wormwood to drin^. Chap.3.ip, 20. B-emetpbringmine affl'Mion^ and my mifery, the vpormwood and the gall. My foul hath them [tiU in remembrance^ and is bumbled in me, O Sirs .' how bitter fhould fin be to you, who have CccnLondon all in flamcs>CertainlyGod by burning •Jp your fwect, plcafanr, and delightful things, would teach you to tafte a greater bitternefs in fin then ever. O happy Fire, that (hall render God and Chrilt, and Heaven, and Promifes, and Ordinances more fwect, and fin more bitter to poor finners Souls .' Dpubtlcfs one of Gods great dc- ifignsby this late Judgment of Fire, is toimbitterfin to all forts of men. When Judgments imbitter our fins to ur, then ?hey work kindly, powerfully, cffeftually, and then wc may conclude, that there was a hand of love in thofe Judgments, and then we (hall juftifie the Lord, and fay with the Church, Lam. 1.18. Ihe Lord is righteous ', for I have rebelled againft him : or as the Hebrew runs, Becauje I have imhittf^ed bim^ he is righteous in aUthe [tire judgments thai he bath ir.fiiBed ttp- on me ; for I have imbittered him again^me by my moji hitter fins. But, Fourthly, By fcvcre Providences and fiery Tryals, Cod dcfignsthe mortifying and purging away of his peoples fins. /fa, 1 . 25, And I mil turn my hand upon thee (to wit to cor- rea the late fery Diffenfation. 39 reft or chaftifc thcc) and pttrelj purge atvay thy drefi (ot drof- fcs) and take avoaj all thy tin ( or tins in the plural number.) Some by drofi undcrftand grofs iniquity ; and by tibj glit- tering hypocrificFor as tin is very like unto filvcfjfb is hypo- crific very like unto piety .Others by dfofi underftand perfons that are openly prophane ; and by tin fuch as are inwardly unfound. The words are a Metaphor taken from them that try metals in the fire, purging from precious filver ail drof and tin. The Jews who were once filver, were now turned into drofs and tin ; but God by fiery tryals would burn up their drofi and tin, their enormities and wickedneflcs, and make them as (hin'ng Cferiftians in grace and holincfi, as ever they were. So Ifa. 27. 9. By this therefore jhall the ini' quity of Jacob be purged : and this is all the fruit^totakf atvaj his fm, God by the B ahylonijh Cz'^lWny viould as by fire purge away the iniquity 01 Jacob ; and to (hew the certainty of it, he inftanccthin their darling-fin, viz. Idolatry : when he maketh all the ftones of the Altar as chalk-ftoncs, that arc beaten in fiinder, the Groves and the Images (hall not ftand up. Idolatry was the great fin for which God ferit them' into Captivity. NoW how they were purged from this fin after their return out of Captivity, appears by their Hiftory : take one inftance for all Vilate being by Ttberius to be Governor over the Jews, caufed in the night-time the Statue of Cafar to be brought into JerufaUm covered, which thing within three days after caufed a great tumult among the jews ; for they who beheld it, were aftonlfhed and moved, as though now the Law of their Country were prophaned ; For they hold it not lawful for any Pifture or Image to be brought into the City. At their lamentation who were in the City, there was gathered together a great multitude outj of the fields adjoyning, and they went prefcntly to PilateJ then at Cafarea^ befteching him carncftly, that the Images; might be taken away out of J ernfalemy and that the Laws of* their Country might remain inviolatcd. When Pilate de- nied their Suit, they proftrated thcmrdves before hi? houfej and thcrercmaincd lying i^brithMr faccsf^t'fi^e^ day's and! mghii never moving. Aftcfifrards'/i/tf^litti'rig' ifi 'mi^ti4 bunal' pan. 11.3$. MaJ. 3. 1,2,5. Gods fire is in Zitn, and his furnace in /(P- rufalem. Ifa. 31. 9* Jofephtu, pag. tf 1 7. The Jews hated and feared Idola- try as much as the burnt child dreads die fire. 40 London's Lamentatmts on -Dan.3, £3}24. bunal-fcat, was very careful to call all the Je^vs together be- fore him, as though there he would have given them an An- fwcr ; when upon the fudden a Company of armed Souldiers (for fo it was provided J compaCTcd the Jews about with a triple rank : the Jews were hereat amazed, feeing that which theyexpefted not; then dilate told them, that except they would receive the Images of Gefar^ he would kiH them all : and to that end madeafign to the Souldiers to draw their Swords. The Jews, as though they had agreed thereto, fc'l all down at once, and offered theirnccks to the ftrokeof the Sword, crying out, that they would rather loCc their lives, then fuffer their Religion to be prophaned. Then Pilate admiring the conftancy of the people in their "Religion, pre- fently commanded the Statues to be taken out of the City of Jerufalem, All the hurt the fire did the three Children for rather Champions ) was to burn off their cords. Our lufts are cords of vanity, but by fiery tryals God will burn them up, Zecha, 13. 9, And Iwillbrtng the third part threttgh the fire^ and will refae them^ at filver is refined, and mil try them Of galdis trjed. Thebeft of men are but men at the beft, they have much corruption and drofs in them, and they need efining ; and therefore God by fiery tryals will refine them, out not as drofi or chaff which are burnt up in the fire, but IS filver and gold which sre purified in the fire : he will fo refine them, as that they fhall leave their dregs and drofs behind them. Look what the fire is to the gold, the file to che Iron, the fan to the wheat, the fope to the cloaths, the fait to the fleft], that (hall fiery tryals be to the Saints ; But what fhall be the fruit of their refining > Anfitf. They (hall call on my Name, and I will hear them. I will fay, it is my people, and they fhall fay, the Lord is my God. By fiery tryals God will purge out our drofs, and make vertuefhine." \\\ the fiery tryals that befal the Saint?, fhall be as a potion to carry away ill humors, and as cold frofts to dcftroy the vermine, and as a tcmpeftaous Sea to purge the wine from its lees, and as the North wind that dryeth up the vapours, that purges the Wood, and that quickens the fpirits, and as a (harp CoFrofive to eat out the dead flefli. The great thing that fliould the late fiery Difpinfation. 41 (liould bcmoftincvcry burnt Citizens eye, and heart, and prayers, and deiire?, is, that the Fire of London may be fo fanftificd^ as to iflue in the burning up of their lufts, and in the purging away of the filth of the Daughter of7AonJfa.^.^, Jerom reports of Plato^ how he left that famous City of ffjgrgf,j„ Athens^ and chofc to live in a little ancient Village z\mo^ trajovinian. overturned with tempefts and earth- quakes, that being often lib. 2. ' minded therein of his approaching defolation, he might get more power over his ftrong lufts, and learn to live a more vertuous life then ever he had lived before. O Sirs ! if God by this fiery Difpcnfation (hall make you more victorious over your ftrong lufts, and help you to live more vertuous lives, you will have caulc to blefs him all your days, though he has turned you out of houfe and home, aad burnt up all your comforts round about you. But, Fourthly, By fcvere Providences and ]i?ryTryal«, God dcfigns thcfe four things, in rcfpeft of hisCbildrens Graces. Firft, He defigns the reviving, quickning, and recovering of their decayed graces ; By fiery tryals he will inflame that love that was even key. cold, and raifc that faith that was ^^y, ^ tallen afleep, and quicken up thofe hopes that were larguifti- jani.i ing, and put life and fpirits into thofe joys and comforts that 2 Cor. were withering; and dying. God under fiery tryals lets his poor children fe.e how that by their fpiritual decays he has beendifhonoured, his Spirit grieved, Religion fhamed, the mouths of the wicked opened, weak Saints ftaggcred, ftrong Saints troubled, Confciencc wounded, and their Souls and Graces impaired 5 and by theft difcoveries he engages them tothculc of all thofe holy and heavenly helps, whereby ihtir decayed graces may be revised and recovered. Many crea* turcs that have been frozen, and even dead wich cold, have been revived and recovered by being brought to the fire. | God by fiery tryals will unfreeze the frozen graces of his people, and put new life and fpirits into them . As the Air is fometimcs clear, and fometimes cloudy ; and as the Sea is fometimes ebbing, and fometimes flowing ; and as the iree that divine fire into a perfeft flame; he will caufc their hid praces to revive as the Corn, ^nd grow as the Vine, and bicffbmas the Lilly, and fmell as the Wine of Lf^^wcw, Ho/. 14 5,6,7. O Sirs .' how many Chriftians were there amongft us, who were much decayed and withered in their graces, in their duties, in there con- verfes. r^ the late fiery Diffenfation. 43 veiTcSjin their comforts^in their fpiritual cnjoymcnt«,in their comiTJunions with God, and with one another • and yet were not fcnfible of their decays, nor humbled under their decays, nor induftrious to recover thcmfelves out of their withering and dying condition > and therefore novvondcr, if the Lord to recover them and raifc them, hath brought fiery tryals upon ihcm. But, - Secondly, Cod by fevere Provider^ts and by fiery Try- als, defigns a further exercifc of his Childrcns graces ; flccpy habics bring him no glory, nor do us no good. All the ho- nour he has, and all the advantage we have in this world, is from the aftivc part of grace ; confult the Scriptures in the Marginc* There is little difference ("as to the comfort and fwcet of grace) between grace out of exercifc, and no grace at all.A man that has million?,but has no heart to ufe what he has, wherein is he better ( as to the comfort and fweetnefs of his life) then a man that hath but a few mites in the world ? EccU. 6* 1,2-4. ^^^K^o. How is it that you have no faith f faith Chrift to his Difciples ) when they were in a dreadful ftorm,and in danger of drowning, and Co ftood in moft need ofthcir faith ? yet they had then their faith to fcek, they had faith in the habit, but not in the exercifc, and therefore Chrift looks upon their faith as no faith : How is it that you have no faith > what ij the (heath without the knife > the fcabbard without the fword > the Musket without the match ? the Cannon without the bullet > the Granado without powder ? no more arc all your graces when not in cxercife. The ftrongeft Creature the Lyon, and the fubtlcft Creature th,e Serpent, if they are dormant, are as eafily furprifed and deftroyed as the weakeft worm : So the ftrongeft Saint?, il grace be not in cxercife, are as eafily furprifed and captivated by Sin, Satan, and the World, as the weakeft Saints arc. O Sirs .' if Chriflians will not ftir up the grace of God that is in them, if they will not look to the daily exercift of grace, God by fbmc (cverc providence or other, by fome fiery Dif- pcnfation or other, will ftir up their graces for them. Ah fl'uggifh, {lumbering Chriftians, who arc cardefs as to the G 2 cxercif^ As a man may [ take infefti- on, or get fome inwsrd bruife, or fpringa vein, and yet not know of it. 2. Job 15.3. 2 Chron. ao. Jam. 1.4. Chap. 5. ir. Hab. 2. 3,4. Mich.7.7,8,9. Rev. 13. 10. compared with Chap. 14.12. Jonah I, ^. 44 London's Lamentations on Lam. 1. 1^. Hof.^12 .14. cxcrcifc of your grace?, how fadly, how forcly do you pro- voke the Lord to let Satan loofe to tempt you, and corrupt-i- OHS grow ftrong to weary you, and the world grow crofs to vex you, and friends turn enemies to plague you, and the fpirit withdraw to difcomfit you, and fiery tryals to break in to awaken you ! And all this to bring you to live in a daily excrcife of grace. God was fain to be a Moth, a Worra, a Lyon, yea, a young Lyon to Ephraim and Juduh^ before he :ould bring them up # an cxercife of gt^ce ; but when he was all this to them, then they fall roundjy upon a lively ex* -rcife of f!;race. H^J.6, i^ZjJ. Come^lct m return twto the Lord • for he b .th torn^ and be rviU heal m ; he hath fmitten^ ind he fpill bind us up. After tveo dajs he ve'ill revive m^ in the third day he wil} raife us upy and vee (hall live in hU fjght. Then ^' out of the holy Land, as it did Mtj/ej and -^dr his ^«r- pnfe. OSirs! all the power of Heaven ft^nds ingiged to make good this promife to you : And if you would but live if! the daily aftings of faith upon this blelTcd promife, you would then be able to bear up bravely under all the troubles jmd tryals, croflCes and lofTcs that you meet with in this world; and you would then experience the truth of Sam- fans Riddle, Out of the eater came meat^ and out of the \hong fvoettn<^. What Paul faid of hf? fiery tryals, viz. Iknorv that this JhaU turn to my falvation -^ that may you fafely. fay of afl your firry tryals, Wc know that they (hall work for our good, wc know that they (hall turn to ourfalvation : Thoug|i wfckecl Heb. 12. 10. J^m. I. 3, 4. »Hcc. 1.6,7. Heb. 12. II. Gen.42.g6. But yet as old, zi Jacob was, he lived to fee all thofe things work for his good, which he concluded were againft him Judg. 14. 14. Phil. I. 19. JU 48 London's Lament atiens on Tfal. 10$. 17, Gen. 50, 20. Chap. 41. 40, wicked inftrumcnts might dcfign our dcftruftion ; yet the wife God that fits at the Helm, will turn all into our Salva- tion. Thofe fevere Providences which for the prefent may fcem very prejudicial, in the iffue (hall prove very beneficial. Jofephj Brethren threw him into a pit, afterwards they fell himjthen he is falfcly accufedjandas unjuftly caft into prifbn, and laid in cold Iron : Yet all this iflucd in his good ; his abafcmcnt made way for his. advancement ; for his thirteen jicars imprisonment he raigned fourfcorc years like a King. David you know had (even years banifiimcnt, yet it ended in a glorious Raign of forty years continuance. Job loft all that ever he had in one day, he was a man under great calamity, he was a fpcftacle of the highcft mifery, he abounded only in boils and fores, and rags 5 but all thisiffued in the tryal of his graccjin the difcovery of his grace, and in the improve- ment of his grace, and in the clofe God did compenfatc his very great loffcs, by giving him twice as much as ever he had before. Dear friends, that by all fcverc Provi- dence? and fiery Tryals, God will turn your fpark of grace into a flame, your mites into millions, and your drops into Seas, is, and ftiall be the hearty dcfire of my Soul. O Sirs .' if Chrift be even raviftied with one of his Spoufe? eyes, and with one chain of her neck, with the Icaft grains and drams of true grace ; how will he be taken with abundance of grace > how will he be raviftied with the flourifbing cftatc of your Souls in grace > Well, remember this, the more under all your fiery tryals grace is increafcd, the more God is ho- noured. Religion adorned, the mouths of the wicked flop- ped , the hands and hearts of weak Saints ftrcngihned 2nd encouraged, the fmarting Rod fweetncd, and threatned Judgments prevented. O that thofe two Prophefies might be made good in power upon all the burnt Citizens oi'Lon- don ! That ^2,Ifa. 15. Vntil the Spirit be poured upon us front on highland the mldernefi be a fruitful field. And that 3$. Ifa» I, 2. 7he mldermfi and the folitary place Jh all be glad for them : and the defart Jhall rejoyce^ and b/ojfom as the rofe, Itjhall blojfom abundantly^ and rejoyce even mth joy and fmg- ing^ the glory of Lebanen Jhall be givtn unto it ^ the excei^ lency the late fiery Difpenfalion. 49 Uficf of CfT^mil And Sharon , they JfjjU fee the glory of the Lardy and the excellency ofDMr God, Thrice happy will the burnt Citi2ens oi London be, if under all their eroilcs and hC- fes they grow into a more deep acquaintance with God, the worId,and their own hearts; with God and his holincfs, with the world and its vanity, mutability, impotcncy, and uncer- tainty 5 and with their own hcartF, and the deceit fulncfs, vilencfs, bafenefi, and wretchcdncfs of them. If under fiery Olfpenfations wc grow more holy then ever, and more hum- ble then ever, and more heavenly then ever, and more meek and lowly then ever, and more tender and compaffionatc then ever, and more faithful and fruitful then ever, and more patient and contented then ever, then we may be confident that the grand dcfign of God in bringinfi; all that evil that he has brought upon us, was his glory and our own internal & eternal goodjand accordingly we may rcjoycc in the Lord, ! though wc have nothing elfc to rcjoyccin, Bak^, 17, 18. Bur, 4. Fourthly and laftly, By (cvcrc Providences and by fiery Tryals, God doth dcfign the cryal of his peoples graces, and thediftrovcry of their Sincerity and integrity to the world. Veut, 8, 2. And tbou fioalt remember all the vciy x»hich the Lord thy God led thee thefe forty years in the n^ildernej^^to hum. hie thee^ and to prove thee^ to h^oiv what was in thine hearty whether thou wnttld(i }{eep hit Commandments or «,?. God knew them well enough before, without any experimental tryal of them ; but that he might the better make a difcovery of themfclves to thcmfelves and to other?, he led them up I and down in the Wilderncfs forty years. Yfal, 56. 10,11,12. For thoUyOGod, hali proved Uf^ thtu.haji irycd tti Oi filvtr is tryed 5 thou ha(i brought us into tBe net • thou haft laid afflidi^ on upon our loyns ; thou haji cay fed men to ride over our heads : rve went through fire and through water.Cod proves his people, not thereby to better his own knowledge of ihcm, but to bring them to a better knowledge both of their own vices and graces. It is not known what Corn will yield tifl it ccmc to the flail, nor what Grapes will yield till they come to the prefs. Grace is hid in Nature as fwcct water in Rofe- H leaves ^ PiinjfpeAs of a golden Vine which never wither- cth} but is al- ways flouri/h- ing. Oihat this might be the mercy of all thofcChri- ftiais who have been burnt op! I Pec. 1.5, 7. Rev, 3. 18. S 50 London's Lamentations on Joh. 6, 26. Jobi. 9. leaves ; but fiery tryals will fetch it out. Fire and vmcer are mercilefs Elements, and they note variety of (barpcf^ try- als. Now thrcHTgh thcfe God led his people, that Co he might difcovcr to them and othsrs both the ftrcngth of their grace?, and the ftrcngth of their fins. God many tiroes cxcr- d(cs his dearcft Children with fiery tryal ■, that he may dif- covcr the fincerity and integrity of his people to the uorld. The prophaneAtliciftical world arc apt very boldly and con- fidently ro conclude, that the people of Gcd are a pack of Hypocrites and Diflcmblcrs, and that they fcrve God for a Livery, for loaves, and not for love ; and that they are Merce- nary in all they do, having more in their eye, the hedge that he has made about them, and the gold and filver that he has bcftowcd upon them, then the honour and glory of the great God. Juft as the Devil objcftcd againft Job, Now God to convince thefe men, thefe monfters, of the integrity and fincerity of his people, he breaks down the hedge that he had made about them, and turns the wheel upon them, and" breaks them with breach upon breach; he ftripes them of all, Job 20. 21. and turns them out of houfe and home, as he did Job • and yet thispcoplc, with jFoi>, will ftill worfbip tlie Lord, and blcfs a taking God, as well as a giving God : They will ftill keep clofc to the Lord and his ways, whatever God doth with themor againft them. Tfal, 44, 17, 18, 19, All this is come upon us ("tis a terrible ^//, as you may fee from the p. to the 17. verfej yet have tve net forgotten ibee^ neither have n>e dealt falfely in thy Covenant ; our heart is not turned bacl^y neither have Qurfieps declined from thy n>ay^ though thou haji [ore broken ut in the place of dragons^ and covered us with the fhadovp of death. In fpite of all the wrath and rage of Amio- chus Epiphanes^ that cruel and bloody Perfecutor of the Saints, thefe Servants of the Lord ftiew their fincerity by their conftancy in keeping clofe to the Lord and his ways in the face of the greateft oppofition and hottcft pcrfccution that HiJi.Tripart. they met withal. When the Emperor fent toBafl to fi.ib. lib, 1, cap. -^6. fcribe to the y4rri Now God by burning yp their fybftance, and by turning them out of houfc and home, and deftroying ail their plcafant things, doth certainly delign to give thoft that have fo deeply ccn- (lircd them., a proof of their integrity and finccrity, by letting them fee, that all the changes that have paft upon them, can never work them to change their Maftcr Chrift, nor to change his ways for the way? of Cir,-, nor to change his Wor fhipfor the Worfhipofthe world, nor to change their Reli- gion for the Pvcligion of Rome, Certainly thofe that love H 2 thw Dan. 3. a 5. Ads 16. 17. Joh.i. 47. 5^ London's Lamentations on Jofh. 24. 1$. Math. 19. 27. Rev. 14. 4,5. 1 Pet. §. 1 5 Chap. 2. 12. ip//!/«i' proper- ly fignifici to muzzle, or halter, or tye up, or to but- ton up their mouths, as we fay. the Lord, that delight in the Lord, and that highly prize the Lord for ihofc infinite Pcrfcftions, Beauties, Glories, and Excellencies that arc in him , they will ownc him , and cleave to him, and follow after him when they have little, as when they had much, yea, when they have nothing of the world, as when they had all the World ; and by fo doing, they put a Pad-lock upon the lying lips of fuch, they butliwi up the mouth* of fuch who afpcrfc and calumniate them as a Generation that only fcrvc God upon the account of a worldly intereft. There is nothing that doth more amufe, amaze, and aftonifh wicked men, then to fee the people of God keep clofc to him and his ways, when they are in a fuf- Fering eftatc ; yea, when they have loft all but their God and their intcgriry. The fire try s the gold, as well as the touch ftonc, anddifeafestry the skill of the Phyfitian, and tcmpcfts try the skill of the Pilot; and fo do fiery tryals try both the truth and the ftrcngthof a Chriftians graces. Fart" linns NohnWj when his City was taken by the Barbarians^ prayed thus to God i Lord, let me not be troubled at the lofs of my Gold, Si.vcr, Honour, City, &c, for thou art all, and much more then all thefc to me. Here was an Hereick Spi- rit, here was grace in ftrcngth, yea, in triumph. The fpirits of the men of the world ufually fink under, their loflcs. Mc' nippm of Vhenicia having loft his goods, ftrangled himfelf. DinarcM Phiton at a certain lofs cut his own throat to favc the charge of a Halter. Another being turned out of his Eftate, ran out of his wits. And another for the death of his Son, threw himfelf head-long into the Sea, Jngujlus Cafar (in whofc time Chrift was born) was fo troubled and afto- niftied at the relation of a Foyl and Overthrow from VarM^ chat for certain months together he let the hair of his beard and head grow ftill, and wore it long ; yea, and other- whiles he would run his head againft the doors, crying out, ^intilius Varus^ deliver up my Legions again ; ^imiliuj Varus^. deliver up my Legions again. Henry iheW. fwho was none of the beft of PrinCcs) hearing that his City Mtntz was taken, ufed this blafphemous fpcech, 1 fhall never ((aith he) love God any more, that fuffcrcd a City (b dear to mc, to Satttnius. the late fiery Difpsnfation. 53 Phil. 2 2 Tim. , 2. 2.25. to be taken from me. Now by all thcfc inftanccs you may clearly and plainly fee the difFerent temper and carriage of wicked men under their Icflcs, croflcs, trjals, and fufferings, from the people of God. When they arc under fiery tryal?, what an evil fpirit, what a defperate fpirit, what a fullcn ^ir^t, what a proud fpirit, what a Satanical fpirir, what a hellifla fpirit do they dilcover ! they tell all the world, that they arc under the power and dominion of the God of thij World. But when the people of God arc under fiery tryals, they make confcicnce of carrying of it fb as that they may convince the world, that God is in them of a truth, and that they arc finccrc and upright before the Lord, however they arc judged and ccnfured as Hypocrites, Deceivers, Diffcmblcrs, and what not. O that all that are fLflfcrers by this fiery Difpenfation, would make it their bufinefs, their work, their Heaven, fo to carry it under their prefent try- al?, as to convince all gain-fayers of the fincerity, integrity, and uprightnefs of their hearts, both towards the Lord, his people, his ways, his Ordinances, bis intereft, and all his concernments in this world. And thus much for the graci- ous Ends that God aims at in all thofe fevere Providences and fiery Tryals, that of late he has excrcift^ his people with. The next thing we arc to inquire after, i% thofe fins for which the Lord inflifts fo heavy a Judgment as this of Fire upon the Sons of men. Now for the opening of thif, give mc leave to propofc this Qjeftion. Viz^ What arc thofe fins that bring the fiery Difpenfation, that bring the Judgment of Fire upon Cities, Nations, and Countries > Now that I may pive a full and fair Anfwcr to this neceffary and important Q_ifftion, will you pleafe to premife with mc thefe four things ? Firft, We need not qucftion but that fbmc of all fort?, ranksj and degrees of men (in and about that once great and glorious City^ did eminently contribute to the bringing iown of that dreadful Judgment of Fire that has turned that renowned ^''/?. 54 London's Lamentations on 2. Math. 25. a I, 22. Lam. 5 Jofliaa7. 40- - Jer.8.6. Math. 7. 1, 2; 3>4' Augtiflinf. renowned City into Aflies ; doubtlers Superiors and Infe- riors, Minifters and People, Husbands and Wives, Parents and Ghlldren, Maftcrs and Servants, Rich and Poor, Ho- nourable and Bafe, Bond and Free, have all had a hand in the bringing down tha-t Judgment of Fire that has turned London into a ruinous heap. But, Secondly, Prcmife this with me, viz. That'dsa greater Argument of humility, integrity, anJ holy ingenuity j-to fear our fclves, and to be jealous of cur felves rither then other?, asthc DifcipIesofChriftdid, A/^/. 25. 21,22. And as they dideat^ he faid^ Verily I fay unto joh ^ that one of you pall betray we» And they wire exceeding farrowful^ andbegjn eve- ry one of them to fay unto him^ Lord^ U it I ? ' Fis better for every man to do hisbeft to ranfack and fearch his own Soul, and to find out the Achan^ the accurfed thing in his own bo- fom that has brought that dreadful Judgment of Fire upon u?, then for men (without any Scripture- warrant) to fix it upon th.is party and that, this fort of men and that. There is no Chriftian to him that fmires upon his own heart, his own breaft , his own thigh, faying, What have I done? The neglcftof this duty the Prophet long fincc has com- plained of. No man repents himfetf of his wick^dm^y f<*y^gt What have I done /* that is, none comparatively ; So how rare is it to find a burnt Citizen repenting himftlf of his wickcdnefs, and faying, What have I done? Moflmenarc ready to blame others more then themfclves, and to judge others rather then themfclves to be the perfons that have brought down this Judgment of Fire upon us. Twas a good Saying of one of the Anc'ents : Amat Veus feipfns ju. dicantes,nen judicare • God loves to judge them that judge others raflily,bnt not thofc that judge thcrafelvcs rcligioufly. But, Thirdly, Prcmife this with mc; in times of common Judgments, common Calamities, and Mifcries, other of the Saints and Servants of Cod have lookt upon their own fins IS the procuring. caufcs of the common Calamity : Thus Djz;;^^ did in that 2 5'aw. 24. 15. So the Lord fent a pe(li. Una the late fery Dijpenfation. 55 Itnce upon Ifracl front the morning even to the time appointed^ and there dyed of the people from Van eventoBeer-Jheba feven* ty thoufand rrnn : but mark the 17, verfe, And Vavid f^ak^ unto the l,crd^ vphmhefutv the Angel ih.*tjhiote the penple^and faid, Lo^ I have fwned^ and I hxve dme ivkk^dly ; but thefe jheep^ what have they dam ? ht thy hand, J pray thee^ be a^ainji me and againji my fathers hmfe. And thus did good ISlihe- miahy Nehem.i,^ 6,7. And they faid unto me^lhe remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province^ are in great afU'i^isn and reproach^ the rvjll of Jerufalem alfo it broken dorvn^ and the gates thereof burnt rrhh fire. Both I and my fathers houfe havefnned, rve have dealt very corruptly again/} tbee^ and have not kept thy commandments^ nor theflatutes^ nor the judg- ments rvhich thou commsndeji thy jervant Mfes, Now cer- tainly 'tis as much our glory as our duty to write after thcfe blcflid Copies, that thefe Worthies have fct before us. >4/£x- ander had fomcwhat a wry neck, and his Souldicrs thought it an honour to be like him ; How much more fliould we count it an honour to be like to David and Nihemiah in fuch a praftice as is honourable to the Lord, and advantagious to our felves > But what Plutarch faid of Demejihenes^ That he was excellent at praifing the worthy Afts of his Anccftors, but not fo at imitating them, is applicable to the prcfcnt cafe, and to many who have been burnt up in our day. But, Fourthly and laftly, Prcmlfc this with me ; there were many fins amongft them that did profcfi to fear God in that great City, which may and ought to work them to juftific the Lord, and to fay, that he is righteous in his fiery Difpcn- fations. I may well fay to the burnt Citizens of London^ what the Prophet O^e^ to them in that 2 Chron. 2S. 10. But are thert not jviihyou^ even Vfiith you^ fins again\l the Lord your God? But you will fay. What fins were there among the pro- feffing people in LWow, that may and ought to work ihcm to juftifie the Lord, and to fay, that he is juft and righteous, and that he has done them no wrongs though he has burnt them up, and turned them out of all > '- ^ I jnfwcr. 5« London's Lamentations on Anfw, I. ffa. 38. \6. Ifa. 38. 24,25, 26, I anfwcr^ That there were thcfc fcven fin?, among othcrsj to be found amongft many of them ( I (ay not amongft all of ihcm^ all which call aloud upon them to lye low at the foot of God J and to fubfcribc to the Righteoufncfsof God, chough he has turned them out of houfe and home, and burnt up their fubftancc on every hand. Firft, There was among many Proftffjrs of the Gofpcl in Londm^^oo great a conformity to the fafhconsc^thc world • how many profcffing men in that great City were drcft up like fantaftical Amicks, and women like Bartbolomtw-hdhics^ to the diftionour of God, the (hame of Religion, the bard- ningof the wicked, the grieving of the weak, and the pro- voking of divine Jufticc > When Varm changed thefafiiion of his Scabbard from the Pfr/?u» manner into the Mode of the Greeks, the Chaldean Aftrologiers prognofticated that the Perjian Monarchy (hould be tranflated to th^m whofe fa(hion he counterfeited. Certainly that Nation may fear a fcourge from that Nation or Nations whofe fafliions they follow. Zepha, I. 8. And it (hall come to pajiin the day of the Lards Sacrifice^ that J wiU punijh the Princes and the Kings children^ and all fuch cu ate chathed veith Jiran^e apparel. This is a dinging and a flaming check againft ail Fa (hion* mongers, j againft all fuch as feem to have confultcd with Frenchy ha Itan^ Perftan, and all Outlandifh Monfters to advife them of all their feveral modes and fafhions of vice, and that arc fo dextrous at following of them, that they are more compleat in them then their patterns Certainly , if ever fuch Wantons be faved, 'twill be by fire; Strange apparel is part of the Old man, that mufl; be put off, if ever men or women intend to go to Heaven. VVhat dreadful things are thun- dred out againft thofe proud curious Dames diJetHfalem^y the Prophet Ifaiah, who being himfelf a Courtier, inveighs as punctually againft the noble vanity of Apparel, as if "he had even then viewed theLadie? Ward-robes > And thofe va- nities of theirs brought defblating and deftroying Judgments upon them. And it Jh all come to pafs^ that inliead of fjveet fmeUtherefhallbe a ^ink^y andinflead of a girdle a rent^ and \ inffead\ -ilt the late fiery Difpenfation, 57 inffead of nxO^fet hair baldnefi, andinfiead of a ftontacher a girding of fack-eloth^ and burning of injiead beauty, Ihj men fhrU fall by the ftvord, and thy mighty in the war, And her gat«s (hall lament andmourn^ and Jhe being dt folate^ JhaJl fit upon the ground. As light and flight as many make of vain Ap- parel • yet Cyrian and AugujVtne draw up this Conclufion, That fupcrfluoHS Apparel is worfc then Whoredom, bccaufc Whoredom only corrupts Chaftity, but this corrupts Nature. Seneca complained, that many in his time were more follici- tous of their attire then of their good behaviour, and that they had rather that the Common-wealth (hould be troubled then their Locks and fet look?. 1 have read of the Greeiav/^ that when they wiffaed a curfc upon their cncmie?, it was this, That they fhould pleafe thcmfclvcs in bad cuftoms. There are many who lift their heads high, who fcem to be under this curfe this day. Why doth the Apoftlc fay ( faith one of the AncicntsJ Above all things fwear not ? Is it wor(c to fwear then to fteal, worfe to fwear then to commit adul. tcry, worfe to fwear then to kill a man ? No, But the Apo- ftle would fortifie us as much as he could againft a pcdilcnt cuftom, to punifli the peftilent cuftoms and fafhions that were amongft us. God (cnt the Pcftilcncc in i66$* and the fiery Judgment in 1666. And the Lord grant that the bloody Sword (in the hands of cruel Cut- throats that arc brutifh and skilful to dcftroy ) be not fent amongft us (bme other year to punifti the fame iniquity. O Sirs / what was more common among many Profcffors in London then to be cloathed in ftrange Apparel, A la mode de France. Mark thofe that afFcfted the Babylonian Habit, were fcnt Captive? to Baby/on, They that borrowed the faftiions of the Egypti- ans may get their bolls and botches. Ccr rainly fuch as fear the Lord ftiouldgoin no Apparel, bur, Firft fuch as they arc willing to dye in. Secondly, to appear before the Ancient of days in, when his Judgements are abroad in the earth. Third- ly, to ftand before a Judgmcnt-fcat. But, Au^in. Jam. 5. 12. Secondly, Thdrfc was among many Profcffors of the GoA pel in London much lukc- warmncfs and coldncfs in the things 1 of Ezek. 21. 31. Ezck. 23. 15, Ifa. 26. 8, 9, 10. 2. ?8 London's Lamentations on Rev.j. 16,17, Math. 24. 12, Jonah 4. I- lings 9. 19^ ijoh. J. 7. l<:cle. I. a. of Godj the City was full of luke-warm Laodictam. The love of many to God, to hi? people, to his wayi, and to his inftituted VVorfhip, was cold, very cold, ftarkcold. God dcftroyed the old World by water tor rhc heat of their lufts, and God has dcftroyed the City of London by fire for the coldncfs of their love that dwelt therein. I have read of AnajUtim the Emperor, how God fhot him to death wi h a fhundcr-bolt, bccaufc of his luke-warmnefs and formality. Bur, Thirdly, There wa? a great deal of world linefs and carthly-mindedncfsjand covetoufncfs amon^ft theprofcfling people of Lw Many of the Profeflbrs of London visre great Worfhippers of the golden Calf, and therefore God is juft in turning their gold- en Calf into aftic?* The world may well be refemblcd to the fruit that undid us all, which was fair to the fightjfmooih in handling, fweet in taftc, but deadly in effcft and opera- tion. The world in all its bravery is no better then the Cities which Sokmon gave to Hlram^ which he called Cabttly that is, difpleafing or dirty. The whole world is circular, the heart of man triangular, and we know a Circle cannot fill a Triangle. If the heart of man be not filled with the three Perfnns in Trinity, it will be filled with the world, the flcfh,and the Devil. Riches, like bad fervantSy never ftay long with one maftcr ; what certainty is there in that which one ftorm at Sea, one treacherous friend, onefalfe cath, one ball of fire, yea, one fpark of fire may ftrip us of? O Sirs / if you can gather grapes of thorns , and figs of thlftles, then go on, and dote upon the world ftill. All the things of this world arc vain things, they arc vanity of vani- ties. the late fiery Difpenfation. tic<', all in Heaven count them v«in, and all in Hell count them vain : a Ja^cobw piece is but as a chip to them, Pcarh are but as rcbbles in their eyes. Lazarus was a P rcacher, as Come conceive, and Vives a Lawyer : furc I am, that Laza- rm in Heaven is now rich enough, and happy enough ; and Dives in Hell is now poor enough, and mifcrable enough. He who makes his world his God while he is in the world, what will he do for a God whew he goes out of this world > Well, Sirs, remember this inordinate love to the world will expofc a man to feven great loflcs, y'tz, Firft, To the lofs of many precious opportunities of grace. Pcich Felix had no Icifure to hear poor PjhI^ and Martha buficd about many things, had no time to hear Chrift preach, though never man preacht as he preachr. Men inordinately in love with the world, have fo much to do on earthy that they have no time to look up to Heaven* Secondly, Tothelof? of all heavenly benefit and prcfir by the Miniftry of the World ; nothing will grow where | gold grows ; where the love of the world prevails, there the Miniftry of the Word will not prevail. If the love of the world be too hard for our hearts, then theMiniflry of the Word will work bwt little upon our hearts. ^h Thirdly, To the Jofsofthcficeand favour ofGod. God doth not love to fmile upon thofe who are ftill fmiling upon the world, and ftill running after the world . The face and favour of God Jire Pearls of price that God bcftows upon none but fuch iwhofeconvcrfation is Heaven, and who have the Moon ^viz, all things that are changeable as the MoonJ iindcr their kex. God never loves to lift up the lieht of hi' countenance upon a dunghil-fpirited mar/- od hides his face from none fo much and fo long, as from thofe who are ftill longing after more and more of tlje world. Fourthly, To the lo(s of Religion, and the true Worfhip pnd Service of God, as you may fee by comparing of the _____^^ ^ 1 ?._,.... _.^_ Scripture Pral. go. 6. Ifa. 57. 17, Phil. 3. 20. Rev. 12. 1,2. 6o London's Lamentations on 2 Tim. 4. 1 o. I Tira. 6. 10. Jcr. 5. 7. Deut. 92. If. Hof. 4 7. Hof. 15.6. Deut. 8. 10, II. Jer.2.31. Chap. 22.21. Pfal.144. 15. Regit, p. 78. 6. Math. 1 6. 26. 1 1 Tim. 6.9. Scriptures in the Marginc together. Many World ings deal with Religion as Mafonsdcal with their Ladders, when they have work to do, and to climb, &c> O then how ihcy hug and embrace the Ladder, and carry it on their aAnsand on (heir (boulders / but thtn when ihcy have done climbing, they hang the Ladder on the Wall, or throw it into a cor- ner. O Sirs 1 there is nolofs to the lofs of Religion; a man were better lofc his name, hlseftate,. his limbs, his li- bcny, his life^ his all, then lofe his Religion, Fifthly, To the lofs of Communion with God, and Ac- quaintance wi(h God, A man whofe Soul is converfant with God, (hall find more pleafure, delight, and content in a dcfart, in a den, in a dungeon, and in death, then in the Pa- lace of a Prince. Mans ftimmum bonnm ftands in his Com- munion with God, as Scripture and Experience evidences; nay,^God and I are good company, (aid famous Doftor Sibs. Mjceden'ius the Hermit, retiring into the Wilderncfs, that he might with more freedom enjoy God, and have his Con- verfation inHeavcn J upon a time there came a young Gen* pieman into the Wildernefs to hunt wild beafts, and feeing he Hermit, he rode to him, ajkinghim, why he came into that folitary place > hede(iredhc might have leave to ask him the (ame qucflion, why he came thither > I came hither to hunt, faid the young Gallant, and (b do 1, faith the Her- mit, Veum venor meum^ I hunt after my God : they hunt beft who hunt moil after Communion with God. Vrbanm ^fgi«/ having one days converfewith Z««/i! Nowaninordiiaate lovcof the world will eat out all a mans Communion with God. A man cannot lookup to Heaven, and look down upon the Eai th at the fame time. But^ Sixthly, Tothelo(8 of hi< precious and immortal Soul Sbemei by fccking his (crvant, loft his life $ and many by an eager feeking after this wx)rld, lofe their precious and immor- the late fiery Difpenfation. 6i i mmortal Souls, Many have fb much to do on Earth, that they have no time to look up to Heaven to honour their God, ro fecurc their Intercft in Chrift, or to make furc work for their Souls. But, Seventhly, To the lofs of the world j for by their inor- dinate love of the world, they highly provoke God toftrip them of the world. Ah, how rich might many a man have been, had he minded Heaven more, and the world lefs ! When men fct their hearts fo greedily upon the world, 'tis jud with God to blaO, and curfe, and bum up all their worldly comforts round about them. Fourthly, Many in London were fallen under fpiritual de- cays, witherings, and languifliings in their graces, in their comforts, in their communions,and in their fpiriiual ftrengih. They are fallen from their firft love. The flame of divine love being blown out, God fends a flaming fire in the midft of them. Many Londoners were fallen into a fjnritual Con- fumption, and to recover them out of it, God fcnt a fire amongft them. Many in London were withered in their very ProfclTion : where was that wfibic forwardnefe, that zeal, f tharfJiligencc in waiting upon the Lord in his Ordinances, that cncc was to be found amongfl the Citizens of Londoni And many Citizens were withered in- their Convcrfation? and Converfc one with another. . There was not that gra- cioufiicfs, that holwefp, that fpiritualners, that heavenlinefs, that fru!tfulncC«, that examplarinefs, that (crioufneft, and that profitablcnefs fparkling and fhining in their Convcrri- 7. tions and Converfc one with another, a« once was to be found j^"° ^ h amongft- them-. And many were withered in their afftfti- inthcPCTfe? ^cv.2.4. The Nutmeg- tree makes barren all the ground about '\t ; fo doth the fpiceof world- and therefore o wondcfj if God fcnt a flaming fire inthcmidftof them 5 and maivy were withered in their very Duties and Services, how cution m Queen Maries days. 6i London's Lamentations on Math. II. 12. Job^.^. howflijhr, hew formal, how cold, howcarclcf«, how re- mlfs, how ncglcftivc were many in their Familic?, in their Clofcts, and in their Church^commiinions, who heretofore were mighty in praying and wreftlirg with God , and mighty in lamenting and mourning over fin, and mighty in their groaning? and longings after the Lord ; and who of old would have taken the Kingdom of Heaven by violence > There were many in that great City that h;ad loft their fpi- 2 Sam. 19. 35. 1 ritual taftc, they could not taftc that fweetnefs in Promifcs, in Ordinances, in Sabbaths, and in the Communion ot Saints, that once they had taftcd and found. In fpiritpal thingsmany Citizens could taftc no more fweetnefs then in the white of an Egg. Many in that great City had loft their fpiritual appetite, they had loft their ftomachs, they did not hunger and thirft after God and Chrift, and the Spirit and Grace, and the Light of Gods Countenance, and pure Ordi- nanccj, and the Fellowfhip of the people of God, as once fhcy did. Now is there any thing more contrary to the Nature of God, the Works of God, the Word of God, the Glory of God,thcn fpiritual decays > Oh, the prayers and the praifts that God Ipfts by decayed Chriftians .' Ah, how do decaj^d Chriftians grieve the ftrong, and ftumble the weak, and ftrcngthen the hands of the wicked, and lay themfiiJvcs open to divine difplcafurc/Many in London did like Mandro' bttlm in LucUn^ who offered to his God the firft year gold, the fecond year filvcr,and the third year nothing-, and there- fore no wonder, if God fent a fire amongft them. Butj Fifthly, Their non-improvement of the m But to prevent miftakcs, and that 1 may lay no heavier a load upon the people of God, that truly feared him, and that had and have a faving intereft in him, then is meet ; and that I may give no advantage to prophanc pcrfbns to father the burning of the City of Lendon wholly, mainly, or only upon the fins of the people of God : give me leave therefore to propound thefe four Q^ericf, Firft, Whether all thcfe fcvcnfins lafl: cited, or moft of them, can be juftly charged upon the body of thofc finccrp Chriftians, who lived then in London^ and wfeofe habitations are now burnt up > Secondly, Whether thofc of the people of God, upon whom any of the fore-mentioned fins arc chargeable, have not before the City was burnt, daily lamented, bewailed, and mouf ncd over thofe fins that might have beert (-barged upon them, cither by their own confeicnccs or others > Thirdly, Where and how it doth appear by the bleflcd .: — Scripture?, Cant, 2. i<5. 7- Amos 6, 6* I. t. ^4 London's Lamentations on 4» Job I. John 9. I Scriptures, that ever God fcnt fo great a Judgment of Fire (as was poured out upon London ) upon rhe account of the linsof thofe that truly feared him • be it thofc feven that have been already fpecificd J or any others that can be now clearly and juftly proved againft them f Fourthly, Whether there are not fomc other mens fins, upon whom in the clear evidence of Scripture-light, this heavy Judgment of Fire may be more clearly, fafely, and fairly fi\t, then upon the fins of thofc, who had fetupGod as the great Ob j eft of their fear > Now in Anfwcr to this laft Q^iery , give mc leave to fay .* Firft, That fin in the general brings the dreadful Judg. tnent of Fire upon a people ; mark?, perlbnal affliftions, and tryals may come upon the people of God for tryal, and to ftiew the Soveraignty of God, as in the cafe of Job^ whofe afflrftions were for tryal, and not for fin : the fame may be Hiid of the man that was born blind. But general Judg. ffleqts, fuch as this fiery Difpenfation was, never comes upon a people, but upon the account of fin. This is evident in my Text, 1^.42.24,25. God fet Jacob dnd Ifrael on fire y and burnt them round about ^ but Uwas becaufe thej would not tfall^ in hit tvaj/r, neither tvere they obedient unto bit Law, Jer. 4. 4.' Citcumcife your [elves to the Lordy and taks away the foremsk^nvf your hearty ye men of Judahy and inhabitants of Jerufalenty /eji my fury come forth Hk^ fire, and burn^ that none can quench ity because of the evil of your doings » So P(al. ro7. 33, 34. He turnetb rivers into a wi dermjly and the waterm firings into dry groundy a fi-u'ttful land into barrenmfiy for the tvlek^dnefs of them that dwell therein. The very Country of 7«0», as Travellers report, which fl )wed once with milk and honey, is now for fifteen miles about Jer ufal em y like a Defart, without grafs, tree, or ftrub. Ah, what ruines doth fin bring upon the moft renowned Countries and Ci- ties that have been in the world ./ fuch is the dcftruftive na- ture of fin, that it will £rft or laft level the richeft, the ftrongeft, and the moft glorious Cities in the world. So he Prophet .4m»s telkius, that Ms fin that brings Gods foreft the late fiery Difpenfation. ^5 forcft puni(hm:nrs upon his people , Amos i. 3. for three tranfgrtfficns efVamafcm ^by which wc arc to underftand.^ the grcatncfs of their iniqiiiric«J and for ftur ( by whrch wr are to undcrftand the multitude of their tranrgrcllions^ I will not turn avpay the punijhment thereof : the (amc is (aid of Caza^ verfc 6. and of T>r«f, verff 9. and of E^^w, vcrfc 1 1 . and of ^wmowj vcrfe 13. and of Moab^ Chap, 2. i, and of Judah^vcrCc 4. and of >/m/, verfe 6. Now 'tis very ob- servable of every one of th efc, that when God threatens to punidi rhcm for the ereatnefsof their iniquitie?, and for the multitude of thdf tranfgreflions, he doth particularly threat- en roicnd a fire among them, to confume the houfcs and the Palaces of their Cities ^ fohe doth to Vamafcus, Amos i. 4. But I rviU fend a fre into the houfe of Hazae/^ which jhuU de- vour the Valdces of Bm-hadadz $0 he doth to Caza^vcvCc J, But I xpiU fend a fire on the Wall of Gaza^ n>hich (hall devour the Palaces thereof: So he doth to7)r«f, verfe 10. But I will fend a fire on the Wall ofTyrtts^ which fhall devour the Palaces thereof : So he doth to Edom^ verfe 1 2. But I will find a fire upon Teman^ which fhall devour the Palaces of Boz- rah : So he doth to Ammon^ verfc 14, But I will hjndle a fire in the Wall of Kabbah^ and it fhall devour the Palaces there- of, with jhouting in the day of battel^ with a tempefi in the day of the whirlwind ; So he doth tD Ml7<»^, Chap.2. verf 2. But I will find a fire upon Moab^ and it Jh all devour the Palaces of Kir loth y and Mab jhall dye with tumult, with Jhouting^ and with the found of a trumpet : So he doth to Judah, verf y. Bull will fend a fire upon Judah, and it Jhall devour the ^palaces fif Jerufjlem. By all thefe remarkable Inftances tis evident, that God by his fi ry Difpenfations tells all the world, that the fin? of that people are great and many, upon whom the dreadful Judement of Fire is inflifted in its fury, and therefore Ms high folly and madncfs in many men that makes rhcm impute this heavy Judgment of Fire to any thing rather then to their fin«. O Sirs ! *ci? fin that Kirns I'p our habitationFj and that turn? flame? of love into a confunun!? fire» And this ihe Parl'ament in their Aft for thr Rebuild- ing o f the City o{ London, well obfcrvcs ; the CUufc of the K Aft 66 London's Lamentations on I Aft is this : ' And that the faid Citizen?, and their Succeflbrs Jj for a'l the time to come, may retain the Memorial of fo(ad wa defoJation, and rcQcft ferioufly upon their manifold ini- ' quitics, which arc the unhappy caufcs of fuch Judgments. Be it further Enaftcd^ That the Second of September f un- Icfs the fame happen to be Sunday ; and if Co, then the next ' day following j be yearly for ever hereafter obfcrved as a ' day of publick Fafting and Humiliation within the faid City and Liberties thereof, to implore the mercies of Al- ' mighty God upon the faid City, to make devout Prayers ' and Supplications unto him, to divert the like Calamity for * the time to come. So Sir Edward Turner Knight, in his Speech to the King upon the Prorogation of the Parliament, ' We muft (faith he) for ever with humility acknowledge the ' Jufliceof God in punifhingthis whole Nation by the late ' dreadful Conflagration of London. We know they were Luke 13. 4. ^ not the grcatcft finners on whom the Tower of Siloam fell, ' and'doubtlcfs all our fins did contribute to the filling up ' that meafure, which being full, drew down the wrath of * God upon that City; So much the King in his Proclama. tion for a General Faft on the Tenth of Ohober obferves. The Words of the Proclamation arc thcfe. ' His Majcfty iherc- * fore of out a deep and pious fenfe of what Himfclf and all * His People now fuffcr, and with a Religious care to prevent ' what may yet be feared , unlefs it (hall pleafe Almighty ' God to turn away his ane:er from us, doth hereby Publifh ' and Declare His Royal Will and Pleafure, That fFednefdaj being the Tenth of OHober next eofuing, flaall be fct apart, and kept, and obfervcd by all His Majcfties Subjcfts of * England^ and Wales, and the Town of BfrB-icJ^ upon Twfc^, * as a day of folemn Fafting and Humiliation, to implore ' the mercies of Godj that it would pleafe him to pardon the ' crying fins of this Nation , thofe efpecially which have * drawn down this laft and heavy Judgment upon us, and to ' remove from us all other his Judgments which our fins have ' defcrved, and which we now either feel or fear. Thus you (cc that not only the blcfied Scriptures, but alfo King and Parliament do roundly conclude, that 'twas for our finsy, cur the late fiery Difpenfathn. 67 our manifold iniquities, our crying fins, that God has fen: this heavy Judgment upon u% His Majcfty alfo WcJl ob- fcrves, that there arc fomc fpccial crying fins that bring down the fiery Judgment upon us. Now this Royal Hint leads me by the hand to fay : Secondly, That though fin in the general, lays pcop'c un- der the fiery Difpenfations of God ; yet if we will but dili- genily fcarch into the bleffcd Book of God, which never fpokc Trcafbn nor Sedition, we fiiall find that there arc (evera) fins that brings the heavy Judgment of Fire upon Cities and Countries. As, Firft, Grofs Atheifm, praftical Atheifin, is a fin that brings defolating and deftroying Judgments upon a people, 'Z^t^h. I, 1 2, And it Jhall come to pafi, at that time that / mil fearch JerufaUm rvith candles, and puni/h the men that are fttled upon their lees, that fay in their hearty the Lord mil not do goody neither vpill he do evil. What horrid Blafphemy, what grof? Atheifin is here > How dothefc Atheifts ungod the great God > How do they deny his Omnipotency and Omnifcicncy > What a God of Clours, what an Idol-god do they make' the great God to be, when they make him to be fuch a God as will neither do good nor hurt > Epicurius de- nied not Cods Eflcnce, but only his Providence; for he granted that there was a God, though he thought him to be (uch an one as did neither good nor evil ; but certainly Goc! fits not idle in Heaven, but has a (harp and fcrious Eye upon all that is done on the Earth ; and this both Saints and fin- ncrs fiiall find by experience, when in fhe great day he (hall diftributc both his rewards and punifhments according "tc what they have done in the fl^fh. Atheifm is the maindif. cafe of the Soul, not only pcftilent to the pcrfcn in whom it 1 harboured, but alfo to the whole Land where '(is praftifed and permitted. Atheifm is worfc then Idolatry ; for Ido- latry only robs God of his Worfhip, but Athr ifin robs God both of his Attributes and Being, and therefore mark what follows, vcrfci3. Therefore their God Jhall become a bojty^ md their hottfes a d folation^ they pall alfo build houjes^ but K 2 n t 2» I. Atheifm deni- ech God in ei- [thcr, I. ino- pinion, faying, there is no God i or, 2. in affection, vvifliing there were no God j or, ^. in con. verfation, li- ving as if there were no God. Rev. 22.12. f 68 London's Lamentations on Pfal. 14. 1. not inhabit them ; and they JhaS plant vineyard^ but nst drinks He VPim thereof. So Ezck. 2o. 47, 48,49. And fay to the foreji of the Souih^ Hear the Word of the Lord^ thus jaith the Lord God^ Bihold^ I TviU kindle a fire in thee^ and it fh^'J dt. ^'our every green tree in thee^ and every dry tree^ the filming fl /me fhall not he quenched^ and all facts from the South to the North fhall be burnt therein. And all fitfh (hail jee that I the Lord have kindled it, it (hall not be qttenched Jhen faid /, Ah^ Lord God, they fay of me, doth he not ^eakf arables. Here wasapackof Athcifts that did mock and fcofF at the Pro- phet aud his Parables ; they told h'lm, .that he ta'kc like a madman, and that he fpokc of fuch things that nehher himfcif nor others undcrftood ; for he talkt of the South, andof thcforeftof the South., and of fire, and of flaming fire, and of green and dry tree?, and that aJI thcfe things were dark and of obfcure to them : they put off all the Pro- phet fpokc as Allegorical, as Myftical, and ai ^nigmaiical, and as dark viiions, and as dreams, and imaginations, and divinations of his own brain, and therefore they needed not much mind what he faid. Now mark ihcfc Athcifts, what do they do ? they provoke the Lord to kindle a fire, a univerfal fire, an unquenchable fi'e, an incxtijiguifhabie fire in the midft ofjerufalem, which is here termed a Forcft, by reafon of its barrenncfs and unFruitfulnefr, and the multi. tudcsthat were in it ; and becaafc it was fit for noih'ng but chc Ax and the fire. Athci»m is a fin that has tlrought the c^reatcft woes, miferie? , dcftriiftion?, and defulation: imaginable upon the nicft flouriffcing K'ngdcms, and moll elorious Cities in the World. Holy Mr. Gree?:ham w;is wont to fay, that he feared rather Aihcifm then Popery would b Enghnds ruinc. O Sirs / were thcrf none within the Wail? of London that faid in their hearts mihVavidj Athciflical fool, Thfre is no God ? Caligula the Emperor was fiich a one : and Candiui thought himfclf a God, till the loud Thunder affrip.hted him, and then heWd hin^fclfjand crycd, Claudius n'n elf Veui, Claudius h not a God. Le^rheX. f/i/^tTZ>ru»(^theMdi'ician,aod Alexander the Vl. dind Juiiu^ the II. were all moft wretched Atheifts, and thought that what- the late fery Difpenfation. 69 whatever was faid of Chrift, of Heaven, of Hell, of the day of Jiidgmcntjandofthc immortaliry of the Soul, were but dreams, impoftiires, toys, and*old wives fables. Pope faul^' the HI. at the time of his death, faid, he (hoald now be re- (olved of three Qjieftions that he had doubted of all his life. 1. Whether the boul was immortal or no > 2. Whether there were a Hell or no > 3. Whether there were a God or no > And another grand Atheift faid, I know what I have here, but I know not what 1 (hall have hereafter. Now were there no fuch Athcifts within the Walls of London before it was turned in afhcs. The Atheift in P fa/, 10. i i.fay. He veill mvet fie : and in flat. 94. 7. they rife higher, they fay, Ihe Lord fhall not fce^ neither Jhall the God of ^acob regard it. They labour to lay a Law of rcftraint upon God, and to caft a mift before the Eye of his Providence ; And in Ifa. ap. 15. they (ay , ffho feeth us ? who krioweth us ? And in Ezel{. p. p. they (ay, thi Lord hath forfak^n the earth, and the Lord feeth not. Thcfc Atheift* (hut up God in Heaven as a blind and ignorant God, not knowing, or not {regarding what is done on the Earth ; they imagine him to be a forgetfulGod, cc a God that feeth not. Pfal, 73. 1 1. they fay, Hqtv doth Cod Iqnrv ? and is there knoroledge in the wo(} High ? Thu' they deny Gods Omnifcicncy , and Gods Qmniprefcncy, which to do, is to ungod the great God as much as in them lye?. Now were there no fiich Atheifls wrthm the Walls of Lon- don brfore it wjs dtft.oyed by {Tre> O how did praftical Atheifm abound in L-?2a(3?// How many within thyWailf, 0-L^n4on\ did profefs they knew God, but in their work^ did deny hlm,bein|: abominable and ujfobcdient, and unto Tuus 1. 1^. every good work fCj:>robaic > O Sirs ! feme there are that live loofcly under theGofpel, that run into all cxc;;rs of riot, and that in the face of all promiles and jhreatninjis mercies and Ji.'dgmcnts, yea, in the very face of life and death, of Heaven and H-ll'.* and others there are thit fio freely in (ccret, that can be drunk and filthy in the dark, when the eye of man is not upon them. Ccrtaiojy thofc mens hearts are very Atheiltical, th>it dare do that in ibt: i^ghtofGod, which they tremble to do before ttic eye? of men. 7^ London's Lamentations on Gen. 4. I Sam. 18.^. 10. Job? I. 54. Phil. g. 19. Amos 6, Math. 23. men. How many arc there that put the evil day far from ^lem, that flatter thcmrdvcs «n their fins, that with A^age conclude, furcly the bitterncfs of death i? paft, and that Hell and wrath is paft, and that they arc in a fairway for Heaven, when every ftep they take, is towards the bottomlcfs pit > And divine vengeance hangs over their heads, ready every moment to fall upon them. Are there nor many that fcl- dom pray, and when they do, how cold, how cardcfs, how dullj how dead, how hcartlcfs, how irreverent arc they in all their addrcffcs to the great God > Arc there not many fuch Athcifts, that ufe no prayer, nor Bible, but make Lucian their Old Tcftamenr, and Muchiavel their New > Arc there not many tkat grant there is a God, but then *tis fuch a God as is made up all of mercy, and thereupon they think, and fpeak, and do as wickedly as they plcafe > And arc there not fomc that look upon God as a fin- revenging God, and there- upon wifli that there were no God, or clfe that they were above him, as Spira did ? And are there not others that have very odd and foolifti conceptions of God, as if he were an old man, fitting in Heaven with royal Robes upon his back, a glorious Crown upon his head, and a Kingly Scep- ter in his hanej, and as if he had all the parts and proportion of a man, asthePapids areplcafcd topifturchim? Some there are that are fb drowned infcnfual plcafurcs, that they fcarce remember that they have a God to honour, a Hell to efcapc, a Heaven to (ecu c. Souls to favc, and an Account to give up. And others there arc, who when they find confci- encc begin to accufc and terrifie them, then with Cairiy they go to their building', or with Saul to their mufick, or with the Drunkards to their cups, or with thcGameftcrs to their fports. Some there are that make their gold their God, as the Covetous • others make their bellies their God, as the Drunkard and the Glutton. Some make Honours their God^ as the Ambitious ; and others make plcafurcs their God, a,s the Voluptuous. Some make religious Duties their Cod, as the carnal Gofpcllers • and others make their moral vertues jtheir God , as the civil honcft man. Now what abundance of fuch Athcifts were ^therc within and without the the late iiery Difpenfation. 7* the Walls of Z.(?Wo» before the fiery Judgment paft upon it, f The Scripfurc attributes the ruine of the old world to Gen. tf. Atheifm and Prof hancnefs • aqd why may not I attribute the rujne and deflation of London to the fame. Praftical Atheifts arc enough to overthrow the nioft flouriftiinp Na- tions , and the moil flouriHiing Cities that are in all the World. • But to prevent all miftakes in a buHnefs of fo great a con- cernment, give me leave to fay, That if wc fpeak of Atheifts in a ftrift and proper fcnfc, as meaning fuch as have fimply and conftantly denied all Deity, then 1 muft fay, that there was never any fuch creature in the world as fimply and con- ftantly to deny that there is a God. It is an inviolable principlej and indelebly ftampt upon mans nature, that there isaGud. They that ftiall deny that there is a God, muft extinguifh the very Light of Nature, by which the very Heathen in all the Ages of the World, have acknowledged a fuprcam divine Being. Bionof Borijknefa was a very great Atheift all his life time, he denied the Gods, dcfpifed their Temples , and derided their Worftiip • yet when death came, he would rather have endured the greateft torment, then to have dyed, and that not fo much for fear of a natural death, but for fear of what followed after, left God whom he had denied, ftiould give him up into the hand of the De- vil whom he had fcrvcd ; and therefore at the time of his death he put forth his fund, crying. Salve, Tlnta, falve. Welcome, Devil, welcome, fooliftily thinking to pacific the Devil by thi.^ flattering falutation. And TuHj obftrves of Eficurim^ that though no m:n feemcd more to contemn both God and death ; yet no man feared more both the one and the other. The Philofophers did with one confent affirm. That there is a God,and they called him. Nomine Veum.na'- tura SpiritHm^ nrdine Motoremfrimum, but knew him not. He that ftiall deny there is a God, fins with a very high hand againft the light of Naxure • for every Creature, yea, the leaft Gnat and Fly, and the meancft worm that crawls upon the (? round, will confute and confound that man that difpuies 'whether there be a God or no. T he Name of God is writ- ten 'f.fien. The ftourcft Atheifts that ever lived, cannot refo- Jucely and iconftantly be- lieve there is rio Godjhence Heathens have condemned fome to death Ithac denied there was a pod. 72 London*s Lamentations on Jameiz.ip. ten in Toch full, fair, and fhining Charaftcrs upon the whole Creadon, that all men may run and read, that there is a God. The Notion of a Deity is Co ftrongly and deeply im- preft upon the tables of all mens hearts, that to deny a God, is to quench the very Principles of common Nature • yea, 'tis formally Deicidium, a killing of Gad as much as in the Creature lyes. There are non^f tHcfe Athcifts in Hell ; for the Devils believe and tremble. The Greek word ^eia^ufi, that is here ufed, fignifics properly the roaring of the Sea, it implies fuch anextream fear, as caufcth not only trembling, but alfb a roaring and Wrecking out, A'fark^S. J^p, A^j i6, 2p. Ttie Devils believe and acknowledge four Articles of our Faith, Mat. 2,29. Firft, they acknowledge God. 2. ( hrift. 3, The day of Judgment. 4. That they ftall be tormented then : So that he that doth not believe that there is a God, is more vile then a Devil • to deny there is a Cod, is a fort of Atheifm that is not to be found in Hell, On Earth are Athei(fs many. In Heltibere is not any. /^«j^K/?z;7erpeakingof Atheifts, faith. That albeit there be (bmc who think, or would perfwade themfelvcs that there is no God ; yet the moft vile and defpcratc Wretch that ever lived would not fay, there was no God, Seneca hath a re- markable fpeech, Mentiuntur qtii dicunt fe non [entire Vatm ejfe : nam etji tibi affirmant inter dik^ notiu tamen duhitant : They lye, faith he, who fay they perceive not there is a God • for although they affirm it to thee in the day-time, yet by night they doubt of it. Further (faith the fame Author ) I have heard of fomc that have denied that there was a God ; yet never knew the man, but when he was fick he would feek unto God for help : therefore they do but lye that fay, there is no Cod ; they fin againft the light of their own confcicn- ces, they who moft ftudiouQy go about to deny God, yet cannot do it, but fome check of confcience will flye in their faces, lull) would fay. That there was never any Nation under Heaven fo barbarous as to deny that there was a God. Ihavc (een a City wittiout Walls, but never any City but acknow- the late fiery Difpenfation. 73 acknowledged a God, G^lcquid meleSy& qukquid mn vides, Vtus eft : whatfocvcr thou fccft, and whatfocvcr thou fccft not, is God > that is, all things vifiblc and invifibic do cx- prcfs unto thee a Deity, and lead thee as by the hand tortm- tcmplaic heavenly, fpiritual, and eternal things. God is known by his cfFefts, though not by hi^ EflTcnce. The Crea- tion of the World is a glafs wherein ( faith Paul') wc may ^^^ ^ behold his eternal Power and God-hwd, which that divine Poet hath well obferved. Dm Ban, The Warl(Cs a S chicly where In a general Jiorj God alivay reads dumb Lt^nra of bit ghrj, Auflin having gone round all the Creatures, and feeing in StUloquiit, them the Chara6):ers of the God-head imprinted, and fcriouf- ly inquiring of them for God, not one or two, bat all made him this Anfwer with an audible voice, Non [urn ego^ fed per ipfum fum ego quern qtt£rif inrne ' I am not he, but by him i am whom thou fcckcft in mc.I have hcard((aith my Author^ of fbmc learned A thcifts, met together to difcourfc of the power of Nature, to prove there was no God • a poor fhcp- herd prcfenr, asked ho»v the rain came then > they bid him look upon a ftijl, and he might know, that vapours were drawn up by the Sun, and let fall againjss moifture in a ftill ; he replied, 1 never yet could fee a ftill work, unlefs fomc man put fire to it. This fo wrought on one in the company, that he gave glory to God, and forfook his Companions. 1 think Zena hit the mark, when he fiid, to hear and fee an Atheift dye, will moredcmonftrate that there is a God, thcr» all the Learned can do by all their Arguments. That Epi- taph which was written upon Sennacheribs Tomb, may well Hendot. be written upon every Atheift • He that looks upon uty let him believe there is a God^ and learn to fear him. In all the Ages of the World God has given X moft (cvcre tcftlmony againft Athcifts. That Ajfyrian that bragged at a Feaft, that he did never offer Sacrifice to a God, was eaten up of Lice. And Lucian a great Atheift, going to Supper abroad , left his Hounds faft when he went, and as he returned home, having railed againft God and bis Wopd, his dogs fell mad , met . L him. Mr. Franck Taylor on Pro. 6.7. 74 London's LamentaUdns vn I hinij and tore him in pieces, who being at Sea in a I have read of fome Heathem, vci y dangerous ftorm, where they were like to be caft away, they began every one apart lo ex- amine ihcmfdvcs, what (faould be the reafon of fo dreadful a ftorm ; and after that they had all caft up their accounts by querying with thcmfclves. What have I done, faid one^and, What have J done, fiid another, that has occafioncd this ftorm> At laft it iiliicd thus ; they remcmbrcd that they had Viagorat the Atheifton Board, and rather then they would all perifh for that Athcifts fake, they took him by the heels, and hurled him ovcr-board, and then the ftorm ceafed, and the Sea was quier. It will be hard to name an Atheift, cither inihc holy Scripture, or inEcclcfiafticalH'ftorics, or in Heathen Writing§, which came not to fome fearful end ; and therefore no wonder, if /^«/?i» would not be an Atheift for half an hour for the gain of a million of worlds, becaufc he knew not but God might in that time make an end of him, I have been the longer upon this Hcad,becau(c Atheift and Athcifm did never fo abound in this Land as it hath done thefe laft ycsrs* And that you may the clearer fee who they are that have brought that fad Judgment of Fire upon that once gJorious City of London ^ Ah London^ Lon- don I 'twas the grofs Atheifm and the praftical Atheift that was within and without thy Walls, that has turned thee into a ruinous heap, Mark, I readily grant, that there is the feed?, reliques, ftirring, and moving of Athcifm in tht bcft and holicft of the Sons of men : but then, i. They difallow of it, and dif- tountenance it. 2. Tis lamented and bewailed by them. 9. They oppofc it, and conflift with it. 4. They ufc all holy and confcientious means and endcavouys to betid of it. y. By degrees they get ground againft it, and therifforc God never did, nor never will turn Cities or Kingdom? into fiame?, for thole feeds and remains of Athcifm that are to be found in the beft of Saints : 'tis that Athcifm that is ram- pant, that raigns in the hearts and lives of finncrs, a< a Prince raigns upon his Throne, that brin-ps dcfolating and dcftroy- ihg Judgments iipon the tfioft flouriffeing Kingdoms and *hc| the late fiery Difpenfation. 75 the moft glorious Cities that arc in the World. But, Secondly, Luxury and Intemperance bring de(blating and deftroying Judgments upon Places and Perfbns. Joel f, 5. Avffak^e^ ye drtink^rds^ and r^etp and hovel aU ye drinkers of mne^ becattfe of the nen> wine^ for it U cut off from your month, Vcrfe 19. O Lordy to thee K>iU I cry^ for the fire hath devoured the pajlMrej of the mlderm^y and the flames have humt aU the trees of the field, Verfe 20. The beafis of the field cry unto thee • for the rivers of the vpatir are dryed ttpy and the fire hath devoured the pajiures of the wildermfi. Luxury is a fin that brings both famine and fire upon a people 5 it brought the Chaldeans upon the Jews» who by fire and fword laid all wafte. The Horles of the Caldees dcftroyed their Paftures, Vine?, F'iR;-tree.«, Pomegranate?, &c. which grew in many places of the Land, and their Souldicrs fet their hou- feson fire, and fo brouj^ht all to ruine* yimoj 6» i. ff^o to them that are at eafe in Zion. Vcrfc 3. That put far away the evil day. Verfe 4. That lye upon beds of ivory , and firetch shemfelves upon their couches^ a?td eat the lambs cut oftbeflock^y and the calves out of the midfi efthefi^U, Verfe 5 . That chant ta the found of the vIjI, and invent to themfehes inflruments ef mujick^liks Vavid, Verfe 5. That drin\ wine in boxvls^ and\ anoint themjelves rvith the chief oyntments , but they are not ^risved for th« afftiSion of Joffh* Vcrfcy. Therefore now (hall tbeyga captive with thefirfi that ^0 captive, and the banquet of them that ^retched tbemfelves, fhaV be removed, Verfe 8. The Lord Cod hath fworn bj himfelf faith the Lord God of Hofis, 1 abhor the excellency of J acob, and hate hit palaces^ therefore will I deliver up the city with all that is therein Verftli. For, beheld, the Lord eommandeth, and he will fmite the great honfe with breaches, and the little houfe with clefts. Luxury is a fin that forfeits all a mans enjoyments, that turns him out of houlc and home. Saw aria was a very glorious City, and a very ftrong City, and a very rich City,, and a very populous City, and a very ancient City, &c. and yet Luxury and Intemperance turned it into aftics, it brought defolating and deftroying Judgments upon it. The rich Citizens q{ Samaria were given up to mirth and mufick, to ^ L 2 Luxuries, 2* In Ecdefiafti- cai Hillory you may read of one Drunk- ard, who be- ing^ toucht with his fin, wept himfelf blind; bac I the Drunkards of ©urdays are more ape to drinkthem- fclrcs blind, then to weep thcmfclves blind. 7« London's Lamentations on Gen. 18. Xenophen. If*. $.S2. H^b- 2. 17. Luxuries andcxccffcs, to riotoufncfi and cirunkcnncf«, to feailing and caroudng, and by thefe vanities and debauche- ries, they provoked the Lord to command the Chaldeans to fallen, and tofpoil them of their riches, and to lay their glorious City in a(hcs : So 'twas Luxury and fntcmpcrance ihat provoked the Lord to rain Hell cut of Heaven upon Sodom and Gomorrah j Luxury turned thoft rich and populous Cities into ruinous heaps. Ah, Lmdonl London! the Lu. xurics and exccffcs, the riotoufnefs and drunkennefir, the mad fcafting and caroufing that have been within and with- out thy Walls, that have been within thy great Halls, Ta- vern?, and oihcr great Houfes, hath turned thee into allies, and laid thy glory in the duft. O you burnt Citizens ot London ! whatThameful fpewing hath been in fbme of your Fcaft?, as if Sardanapalus^ Apiciufy and Heliogabalus VSctc ftill alive.' How often have many of you poured into your bodies (uch intoxicating drinks, as hath many times laid you aflcep, ftript you of your reafon, took away your hearts, robbed you of your fclves, and laid abcaft in your room ? Drunkcnneft is Co bafe, Co vUc a fin, that it transforms the Soul, deforms the body, bereaves the brain , betrays the ftrength, defiles th: affcftions , and mctamorphofcth the whole man ; yea, it unmans the man Cyrus the Perfian Monarch, being demanded oi his Grandfather Afyagts^ why he would drink no wine, anfwered. For fear left they give mc poyfon ; for ( faith he ) yefterday when you celebrated your Nativi(y, 1 judged that fbme body had poyfoncd ail the wine they drunk, becaufc at the taking away of the Cloth, not one of all tho(c that were prefent attheFcaft, arofe in his right mind. Hath it not been thus with many of you > \{ it hath , lay your hands upon your mouths , and fay, the Lord is righteous, though he hath laid yourhoufef inafhes. Anachatfes\iCtAioCzy^ that the firft cup of wine Was for thirft, the fecond for nourifhment, the third for mirth, and the fourth for madnefe ; but what would he have faid, had he lived within or without the Walls of Lon<^(j» thefe laft fix years > Ah, London ! London \ were there none within nor without t4iy Walls, that were ftrong to drink, and the laie fiery Vifpenfatidn. 77 and that gave their neighbour drink, and that put the bottle to them to make ibcm drunk, that they might look on their nakcdncfs > Were there none within nor widiout thy Walls that with Marcus AntoniHSy Varias, Alexander the Great, &c. did boaft, and glory, and pride thcmfelves in their great abilities, to drink down any that (hould come into their Company ? Were there none within nor without thy Wall?, O London I that cryed out, jf you take away our liquor, you take away our lives ? An^in brings in the Drunkard, fayiag, MaUe fe vitam qnam vinttm eripi j He had rather lolc his lite then his wine. And Amhrofe fpeaks of one Theotimus^ who being told by his Phyfiiians, that much quaffing would make him blind, anfwered then , Valt lumen amkum , farcwel fweet Hght, farcwei fweet eyes ; if ye will not bear wine, ye are no eyes for mc. Were there none within nor without thy ^ i\hiO Londen ! that did abufe the good Creatures of God fo profofcly, fo prodiga'ly, (b prodigioufly, as if they had been fcnt into the world for no other end, but thus to abufe thcmfelves, reproach their Maker, and deftroy thofe choice blcflings which God had given for more noble ends, then to be fpcwcd againft the walls for thefe laft fix years ; a drunken health (like the conclufion in a Syllogifm) muftjnot upon any terms be denied, efpcciaily in the company of fuch Grandees, whofe age, whofe place, who(c office ffiould have taught them better things; yea, thecoftom of high drink- ing hath been thefe la ft fix years fo great within and without thy Walls, O London I that 'ris no wonder, if the Lord for that alone has laid thy glory in the duft ; yca,and that (hamc- ful fpewing is upon all thy glory, confidering what fiiamc- ful fpcwing have been in thy Streets, Tavern?, Ha'ls, Ale- houfe?, and other great Men^ hoiifcs, where Temperance, Rightcouffjef^, Jufticc, and Holrocfs (hould have dwelt in glory and triumph. Ah, LWo« / how many wiihin and without thy Walls have'been drinliing wine in bowl?, when they (hould have been rpourningovcr their fins, and grieving for the affliftions of Jofepb^ and fighing over thofe diftreflcd Chriftians, whofe drink was nothing but forrow, and blood, and tears > Thefe arc the men that have kindled a burning iBpcm all thy glory. O Sirs ! Hab. 2. i5. wittSKImmm- 78 London*s Lamentations on I Cor. «. 19. when JiYid- tm heard a |clock ftrike, ' he would fay, I have one hour more to anfwer for : fo precious a Je- wel was time inhiscy*. 2 Cor. 6. 2. |fa. 49. 8. O Sirs / that you would for ever remember, that Intern* pcrance. Luxury is a fin, an enemy that Firft, Robs God of bis glory, it denies him all fcrvice and obedience. Intemperate perfons are neither fit for praying to God, nor praifing of God, nor receiving from God, In- temperance turns the Temple of the holy Ghoft into a ScpuU- chre, a Kitchin, a Hog ftyc ; and what glory then can God have from an intemperate perfcn > But, Secondly, It robs both God and man of much precious time • time is a precious Jewel , more worth ihen all the world. One called his friends Thieve?, becaufe they ftole time from him i and certainly there are no worfc thieves then intemperance ; for that robs men of their hearing- times, and their praying-times , and their reading-iimcs. There is fo much precious time fpent in the Tavern and in the Tipling-houft, that the intemperate perfon cannot be at leifure to fpend any time in his Family or in his Clofet, &c to (ave his own or others Souls : but there will come a time, either in this or the other world, wherein all intemperate perfons will with that they had fpent that precious time in ferving of God, and in faving their own and others Souls, which they have fpent in Luxury and exccfs, caroudngand drinking* but all too late, all too late. Time is not only the fruit of Gods indulgence, but alfbthe fruit of Chrifts purchafe. That Doom paffed upon Adam, In the da.) then eateft theneof^ thou /halt dye the death Cjr djing^ thoujhajt dye) had been put in execution immediately, had not Chriftin- tcrpofed immediately between mans fin and Gods wrath. What can there be of more weight and moment then Eter- nity > It is the Heaven of Heaven, and the very Hell of Hell, without which neither would Heaven bz Co defirable, nor Hell fo formidable. Now this depends upon time. Time is the Prologue to Eternity; the great weight of Eternity hangs upon the fmall wire of time : our time, whether it be longer or (horter, is given us by God to provide for our everlafting condition : wc have Souls to favc , a Hell to • cfcape, the late pery Difpeafalion. 79 efcape, a Heaven to make furc, our pardon to fuc out, our intercft in Chrift to make good 5 and all this muft be quick- ly done, or wc undone, and that for ever. Mans eternal weal or wo depends upon his well or ill improvement of that inch of time that is allotted to him. Now what a dreadful account will fuch give up at laft, who have wafted away their precious time in Luxury and Exccfs. Bur, Thirdly, Luxury, Intemperance , it robs men of their names, Bomfm, a beaftly drunken Emperor, was called a Tankard, and Tiberius was firnamcd Biberiur for his tipling, and Erajmus called Eccius Jeccius for the fame caufe, and Viotimttf of Athens was called a Tun-difti, and young Cic€r§ a Hogs-head. But, Fourthly, Luxury, Intemperance , it robs men of their health ; for how many arc there, that by drinking other mens healths, have deftroyed their own > Many more pcrifli by Intemperance then by violence. Intemperance is the fource and nurfc of all difeafcs ; more pcrifti by furfeiting then by fufFcring : every intemperate perfon digs his own grave with his own mouth and teeth, and is certainly a fclf- tormenter, a felf-deftroyer, a felf-murthercr. I have read Radnlpb. of a Monk at *Prtf^« 'j who having heard at (hrift the Con- Ftrneriwy fcflions of many Drunkards, wondred at it, and for an expc- /^'f^« ^'*' ?• riment he would needs try his brain with this fin, fo accord- ingly he ftolc himfclf drunk. Now after the vexation of three days fickncfi, to all thatconfefled that fin, he cnjoyned no other penance but this. Go and be drunk again 5 intima- ting thereby, that there was no punifhmenr, no fornicnt that could be infliftcd upon a Drunkard, fo great as that, Go and be drunk again; Bcfides all other plagues that attend thisfin,drunkenneftlsa wo to it felf. Temperance is the bcft and noblcft Phyfick, and they that ufcit, commonly arc moft long-Iiv'd, But, Fifthly, Intemperance robs men of their Eftates, it rob? the Wife many times of her Dowry, and ihcGh'tldrcn of their Portion, and the Husband of hif Inheritance, his Trade, his all. The very word «fV«)7i«t Luxury; properly figiufies the r 80 London's hatnentations on Prov. 23. 21. 6. Gal. 5.19,20, Luke 1(5. 19. to the 26. Numb. f. Judg. 12. Chap 7. Deut. 23. Math. 21. 3 1) 32. Luke 23. 43. Eom.16. 10. I the not preventing or keeping of the good which at t hcpre I fitnt wc enjoy. Solomon hit the mark, when he faid. The drunkard and the. ^Ittttonjhallcomt to foverty. The full cup makes an empty purfe, and a fat diih makes a lean bag; he that efraws thee wine out of the Pipe, puts thy money into his own pocket ; and this Diogenes the Philofophcr well under- ftood, when he askt of the frugal Citizen but a penny, but begged of the Prodigal a Talent j and being askt the reafon of his praftice, he anfwered, Becaufe of thjf one he thought he might beg often, but of the other who fpent fo faft, he was !ike to receive but once. Mr. Livius^ when he had fpent a ijrcat Eftate in luxurious living, jcftin^ at his own folly, he faid, that he had left nothing for his Heir more then air and m«rf» Vhilif King oiMacedon making War upon the Perfianj^ underftood that they were a luxurious people, he prcftnt- ly withdrew his Army, faying, it was nccdlcfs tomakc War upon them, who by their Luxury would fhortly overthrow thcmfclves. But, Sixthly, Intemperance robs men of everlafting happinefs and blcflcdnefs ; it (huts them out from all the glory of that upper world, and tumbles them down to the lowcft Hell, ^^ you may fee in that great inftance of luxurious Dives, The intemperate mans table proves a fnarc to his Soul; fulncfs breeds forgctfulncfs, wantonncfs block! (hncfs and ftupidiiy; and therefore no wonder, if God (huts the gates of glory againft intemperate pcrfons. Look as no Leper might be in the Camp of Jfratl^ and as no Gi/eadite might pa(s over Jor- dan, and as no fearful man might enter into the wars of Af'u ^ii»», and as nobaftard might enter into theSanftuary; So no luxurious perfon (hall enter into Heaven. Of all forts of iinners, the luxurious (inner is moft rarely reformed ; the Adulterer may become chaft, the Thief may become an ho. ncftman, the Swearer may obtain a fanftificd tongue : But how rare 's it to fee a luxurious pcrfbn repent, break off his (ins, clofe with Chrift, and walk to Heaven > Luxurious per. fons eat and drink away their Chrift ; yea, they eat and .drink away their Souls, nay, they cat and drink away their own f alvatjon. They that ferve their own bellies, ferve not the Lord the late fiery Difpeitfation. Si Deut. 32. 1 24. Lord Jcfus Chrift, and therefore they ftiall never raign wUhj him in the other world. Certainly that man that makes ^ Phil.}. 19, his belly his God, (hail be for ever feparatcd from God. All Bclly.gods (hall at laft be found in the belly of Hell : tlic j intemperate pcrfon hath his Heaven here, his Hell is to come.) Now he has his fwectcups, his merry cups, his pleafant cups : Oj but there is a cup of (hamc and forrow, and this fiiall be I - their portion for ever and ever ! The intemperate pcrfon j • • hath been a gulf to devour many mercies, and therefore he (hall at laft be caft into a gulf of cndlcfs mi(cric8. In a word. Intemperance is another fin, abreedinsfin, *tisa(in that is an inlet to all other fins ; we may well call it Gad^ for be- hold, a Troop comcthi O the pride, the bpprcilion, the cruelty, the fecurity, the uncleanncf^ the filthinefs, the pro- pharienefs that comes trooping after Intemperance ! And therefore Arijiotle concludes, that double punifhmcnts arc' due to Drunkards • firft for their drunkcnncfs, and then for other fins committed in and by their drunkcnncCs. Now feeing that Intemperance and Lnxury is fo great a fin, is it any wonder to fee divine Jufticc turn theme ft glorious Ci- ties in the world into a ruinous heap, when this fin of Intem- perance is rampant in the midft of them > Ah^ London \ Lsn- don\ the Intemperance and Luxury that has been whhin and without thy Walls^ has brought the dcfolating Judgment of Fire upon thee, that has laid all thy glory in a(hcs and Rub- .bifh. How many great houfcs where there once within and without thy Walls, that ftiould have been publick Schools of Piety and Vcrfue, but were turned into mcer Nurfcrics of luxury and Debauchery > How have the Rules of the Per fan Civility been forgotten in the midft of thee ? How many within and without thy Walls did make their belly their God, their Kitchin their Religion, their Drcffcr their Altar, and their Cook their Minifter, whofc whole felicity did Jyc in eating ai^ddrinking, whofc bodies were as fponges, and whofe throats were as open (cpulchres to take in all preciou? Liquors, and whofc bellies were a*; graves to bury all Gods Creatures in > And how have many men been forced to un- [manthcmfclVes, cither to plcafcfbme, or to avoid the anger 9., Eft. 1.5,7. M or 82 London's Lamentations on prov.23.a9, 30. 3i>32>5?. Salvianttfdc Gratia Dei, M4» or wrath of Other?, or clfc to gain the honourable Charaftcr of being a high Boy, or of one that was ftrong to drink among other*, or to drink down others? O the drunken Matches that have been within and without thy Walls, O. London ! the Lord has fecn them, and been provoked by them to kindle a fire in the midft of thec.Luxury is a fin that never goes alone, it hath maey other great fins attending and waiting on it; it is asthcNivein the wheel, which turn- ing about, all the Spokes turn with it. Idlenefs, fighting, quarrelling, jcwling, whoring, clicating, ftealing, robbing, arc the hand- maids that wait on Luxury ; and therefore no wonder, if God has appeared in flames of fire againft it. I have been the longer upon this Head, becaufc Luxury, In- , temperance is one of the great Darling-fins of our Age an4 1 day, 'tis grown to Epidemical, not only in the City, but in ' the Countries alfo, and 'cis a very God-dfflionouring, and a God-provoking, and a Soul- damning, and a Land-deftroy- ingfin: and, O that what 1 have writ, might be fo bicft, as to put fome effcftual flop to thofc notorious publick Exccffes and Luxuries that have been, andftill arc rampant in moll Partsof the Land, But now. Beloved, this fin of Luxury and Intemperance I cannot charge with clear and full evidence upon the people of the Lord, that did truly fear him, and fincercly ferve himj whofe habitations were once within or without the Walls of London ; nayjthis I know,that for this very fin among others,' their Souls did often mourn before the Lord in (ccret. And! truly of fueh Chriftians that live and wallow in Luxury and Intemperancc,jf we compare their lives and Chrifts Laws to- gether, I think we may confidently conclude, /iut h where arc thofc Rules ofGodlincf < which they do learn 1 7 hey read the holy Cofpcl, and yet arc unelean ; they hear the Apoftles Writing?, and yet are drunk : they follow Chrift, and yet difobcy Chrift : they profefs a holy Law, and yet do kad impure lives* And ?o. normitan having read the 5, 6, and 7 Chapters of Mathfpp^ and comparing the loofc and luxurious lives of Chriftian? with thofc Rulcsof Chrift, concluded, that cither that waj no Gofpcl, or the people no Chriftian?. The loofc and lu- xurious lives of many Chriftian?, was ( as LaUantitu de- clares) made by the Heathen, the reproach of Chrift himfclf (G^omodo bonus magijkr cuJM tarn pravoj vidimus difcipttloj i ) How can we think the Maftcr to be good, whofe Difcij les wc fee to be fo bad > Epiphanm faith, that in his days many fli«ii»J thcfocicty of the Chriftians, bccaufe of the loofhcfs and luxurioofnefs of their live'. And Attgttdin confeffeth, that in his time the loofe and luxurious lives of many who profcft I the Chriftian Religion, gave a great advantage to the Mani- r''^' ^4 chets to reproach the whole Church of .God, and the ways of God. The Manichees were a fort of people who affirmed, that there were two principles or beginnings of things,wz. a fummum bonum^ and a fummum malMm. A fummum bonum. from whence fprang all good ; and a fuwmttm malum ^ from whence ilTucd forth all evil. Now the loofe and luxurious lives of fuch as had a profcflion upon them, hardncd thcfe in their crrours, and caufcd them with open mouth greatly to reproach and deeply to ccnfurc the fihccrcft Saints. And Chrjfo(lom preferred brute bcafts before luxurious perfbns > for they go from belly to labour, when the luxurious perfon gQcs from belly to bed, or from belly to Cards or Diccj if nor, to fomcthing that is worfc. And Augu^im well ob ferves, that God hath net given to man talons and claws to rent and tear in pieces, as to Bears and Leopards 5 nor horn« to pufh, as to Bulls and Unicorns ; nor a fting to prick, as to Wafps, and Bees, and Serpents ; nor a bill to ftrikc, as to Eagles and Oftriches* nor a wide mouth to devour, as to Dogs and Lyons, but a little mouth, to fhew that man fhould be very temperate, both^ in his eating and drinking. How M a applica- AugHfl. dema- ribHj Ecclefia, 84 l,Ofiidon*s Lamentations on Prov. 28. 20. 22. Sec Jofh. 7. 15. 21. 24.25. HcCfaith Chry- foftom ) that locks up ill- gotten riches in his count- ing-houfe, . locks up a Thief in his countenancci which will carryall away, and if he look not the better to it, hi* pre- cious SotU al< fo. 'applicable (ftcrV€tith an eiil covctoufwfi to hU houfe, that he may fst hU ne(i on higb^ that he may be ddivered f-gm tbepotrer if eviL 'Verfc 11. for the fione JhaJl cry out of the waU^ the beam out of the timber (haS anfwtr it, Vcrfc 13. Behold^ if it not of the Lord of Hfls that the people fhall labour in the very fircy and the people JhaV mearj themfelves for very vanity. They had got great hftatcs by an evil covctoufnefs, and God was '•clblved that he would make a bon- fire of all their ill gotten e;oods ; and though they ftiould venture their lives to> favc chcir goods, and quench the flames • yet ali (hould be but labour in vain, according to that word,. Jer. 51. 58. Thus faith the LordofHuJls, the broad walls of Babylon fhall beutm terly brok^n^ and her high gates jh all be burnt with fre^ and the peapleJhaUlabnur in vaiv^ and the folk^in the fire^ and ikey /hall be votary. Though Babylon was a City of great fame, and ftatc, and riche?, and dcfervedly accoimted one of , the worlds the late fery Difpsnfatidn. 85 worlds nine wonders ; though thccompaGof the Walls was 365 furlongs (or 46 miles ) according to the number of the days in the year, and the hcighih 50 cubit?^ and of To great a brcdih, that Carts and Carriages might meet on the top of them ; yea, though it was fo great and vaft a City, that Ari^oth faith, that it ought rather to be called a Country thcnaQity, adding withal, that when the City was takcn^ it was three days before the furthcftpart of the City could take notice of it. Yet at laft (according to the Word oM^ie Lord) it was fee on fire ; and though the Inhabitants did weary and tire out thcmfclves to quench the flames, and to favc their (lately houfes and ill-gotten riches ^ yet all was labour in vain, and to no purpofe. In the days of Pliny u was an utter dcfolatiun, and in the time o(Hierom h was turned into a Park, in which the King of Ferfra did ufc to hunt. So Ezel^. 28. 18. Ibon hajl di filed thy S an^uarits by the multitude of thine iniquities^ by the iniquity of thy traffick^: therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midji of thee, it (hall devour thee, and Irvill bring thee to ajhes upon the earth in iki fight of all them that behold thee. Vcrfc ip. All they that I kpopp thee among the people (hall be ajiunijhed at thee, thou jhalt btaterrour, and never fijalt thju be an) more, Tyrtu among the Sea-bordering Citic?, wasmoft famous and renowned for Mcrchandifc and Trade ; for ihithcr rcfortcd the Merchants of all Countries forTrafiick of IjUfiina^Syria^ ^^^Fs ^*^^fi^-> 'and AJfyrij, They o( Tarfiiif brought ihichcr Iron, I>cadj Brafs, and Silver. The Syrians brought thither Carbun- clcs, Purple, broidcrcd Work, fine Linncn, Coral, and Pearl. The Jews brought thither their Honey, Oyl, Treacle, Callja, and Calamu'. The Arabians brought thither Lambs, Mui- tonj, and Goats.' The Sabeans brout^ht thither their cxqui- (itc Spices and Apothecary. ftufF, with Gold and precious Stones. Now by fraud and deceit they ^rew exceeding rich and wealthy, which in the clofe IfTued in their total ruine, according to that of the Prophet, Zacha. 9. :^, ^. And lyrtts did build her felf afirong hold^ and heaped upfilver m the dujf, and fine gold as the v^ire of the fir eels. Behold^ the Lord rvili call her out^ and be, veill fmite her power in the Jea, and (he ^ %6 London's Lamentations on Curtruf, lib' 4. (fyr Diod.SicH- lusylib. 17. Ezek. £7. Ifa. 2?. 5, 6, Jonah %. L {hall be devonred rvith fre, ThcT^rhnf did hold thcmfclvw invincible, bccaufcof their fit uation, being round abcut en* vironcd by the Sea ; but yet the Prophet tells them, that though they were compaffcd about with deep waters, yet they fliould be dcftroycd by fire, which was executed by Alexander the Great, as Hiftorians teftifie. 'Tis not the rtrcngth, nor riches, nor fituation. nor trade, norlionour, nor fame, nor antiquity of a City that can prefcrve it, when God before -hand has by fire determined the dcilrwftion of it. Tj/rtu was a City of the greateft Merchandiiing, 'twas a City of mighty Trade, they were fct upon heaping up of .riches by hook or by croolf : So riches came in, though it i ere at the door of opprcflion, violence, or injufticc, all was well. The Traffick ofTjrttt was great, and the fins that at- tended that Traffick were very great, and for theft God Cent a devouring fire amongft them, which dcftroycd their Palaces and Treafuries, and reduced their glorious City to aflie?. By the iniquity of their Trafiick they had built Palaces and ftatc- !y Houles, and filled their Shops, and Ware-houfcs, ^nd Cel- lars with rich and choice Commodities ; but when God brought Nebuchadnezzar upon them, what the Chaldeans .could not dcftroy by the Sword, they confumcd by fire, 'urning all their glorious Palaces, and ftatcly Buildings, and coftly Shops and VVare-houfcs into afiies, as Hiftorians tefti- fie ; So Ninh^ for grcatnefs, riches, and antiquity, was one of the TJoWcft Cities in the world, 'twas the Capital and chief ity of thc/^j(nri'«"Empire:and thoughGod upon their repen- tance & humiliation did fparc them for a time^yet afterwards (he returning to her old trade of robberies, covctoufiiefs, ex- tortions, fraud, deceitful dealings, &c. God delivered her up as a prey into the hands of many of hcrcn:niies, who wonderfully fpoi led and pillaged her ; and at laft God gave her into the hands of the yl/fa/?;/w J Nahum 2. 10. She is empty^ and void ^ md wajie^ and the heart melteth, and the h^ees fm'itt together ^ ind much pain is inaUloyns^ and the faces of them all gather l?lac\n(fl ( that is, fuch blackncfs as is on the fides of a pot, ) Vcrfc the late f.ery Difpefif^tiorj, «7 Vecfc 13. Bibold, Jama^infl tbee^ faith the Lord of Hofis^ fiid I tpiU burn her chariots in the fmeakc The like Judgment \ fell upon Sidon^ and upon that rich and renowned City of Corinth^ which through the commodioufncfs of the Haven, was the moft frequented place in the world for the Eater-' courfc of Merchants out of Afia and Ettrope, and great and many were their fins about their Trade and Traffick ; and for thcfc (he was finally dcftroyed, and turned into cinders 4ukl aibes by \hc Romans. ;(i ^ccalfo Chap. 3. 12, 13-1 5* Sabel, So Bribery isa lin that bring? dcfolating and dcftroying Judgments both upon Perfons and Places. Amos 5, 10, 11. For Of much therefore as your treading is upon the poor ^ and ye takf from him burdens of wheat ; ye have built houfes of hirven\ iiones, but ye [hall not drpell in them ^ ye have planted pleafanti vineyards^ but ye fhall not drinj^tvine of them ; for I k^oxvyfittr: manifold tranfgnQions and your mighty fms : they affiiCl the jtiji^ tbey take a bribe, and they turn afide the poor in the gate from their right. Bribery is one of thofc mighty fins, or one of thofcbony or big-boned fin?, as the Hebrew hath it ; forj which God threatens to turn them out of houfc and home.l Bribery isa bony lin, a huge fin, a hainoiisfin, anionftrous: fin, a fin that is capable of all manner of aggravations ; and therefore the Lord punifiicth it with dcfolating Judgracjit\ Job i<. 34. And fire fhsll confumethe tabernacles of bribery^ {or the reciivers of gifts, as both the Hebrew and the Septra- gint may be read. ) When wicked men build their hcufcyjj their Tabernacles by pilling and polling, by bribery, cheat- In^y defrauding, or over-reaching others, 'tis a righteous thing withGod tofct their houfes on fire about their car.«.Thui'k^ts thereof divine for money, Ihcrefore. (hall 88 London's Lamentathns on Jcr. 7. 4> J. Luke I p. 49} 44. Pror. 17. 23. Pfal. 26. 10. I Sam. 8. 3. Hof.4.18. Micha. 7. 3. Prov. 28. 21. Prov. 30.15. 'hull Zion for your fakg hi flowed at afeld, and Jerufalem (hall become heaps ^ and the mountain of the houfe but he that receivetb gifts (^or bribes j over, throws it. Ahj London I London ! were there none within nor with- out thy Walls, that did take a gift out of the bofom, to per vert the ways of Judgment > were there none whofc right hands were full of bribes > were there none like Samuels Son.f, who turned afidc after lucre, and took bribes, and per- verted Judgment in thc midft of thee > were there no Ru- 'cts nor others within nor without thy Walls, that did love to fay with fliame, Give ye ?'or that asked for a reward > or that with Gehazi, run after rewards ?or ihit were not ready to tranfgrefs for a piece of bread > or that were not like the Hoiflccchesdaughter,ftill crying our, give, give? Jhsmljia. c/c/caufed a brand of infamy to be fet u^on At bmiuf his children, and all his poftertty after him, bccaufe he brought eold from thc King of Per/zfj to corrupt, bribe, and win the Grecians. If all that were within and without thc Walls of London, that received bribes, and run after rewards, *had a brand th^ late fiery Difpenfation. 8p brand of infamy fct upon them, I am apt to think many oT' them would be afhamcd to walk the ftrectF, who have once cjrricd it wich at very high hand. Ah, London ! London ! were there none within nor with- out thy Wall?, that had the ballance of deceit in their hands, and that loved to opprefs • falfifyingthc ballanccs by deceit, and that had inthcir bags divers weights, that did fell by one mcafurc, and buy by another, that had wicked ballances, and the bag of deceitful weights in their hands, their Houfes, their Shops, their Ware- hou(es> Well, fuppofc there were many fuch within and without the Walls o{ London^ what of that > why, then I would fay, Firft, Such run countcr-crofs to divine Commands, Ltvit. 19. 35, 36. Tejhsll do no unrighieoufnejiin judgment^ in mete- yard^ in weighty or in meafurt, Juji ballances, ju(i tpeights, a \ttfi Ephah, and a juji hin Jhall je have. Ezck. 45. 10. Te jhall have jufi ballances^ and a jnliEfhahy and a juft bath, pcut. 25. 15, 14, i^* ThoH /halt not have in thy bag divers tveightSy a great and a fmall. But thou Jhalt have a perfeU and j»(i weighty a'perfe^ and juji meafure jhalt thou have, that thy days may be lengihned in the land which the Lord thy God fiiveththee. Wc have a common Saying, Weight and mea- fure is Heavens trcafure. But, Secondly, Such perfbns and fuch prafticcs arc an abomi- nation to the Lord, Vetit. 25. 16. For all that do fuch things, and all that do unrighieoufmji^are an abomination anto the Lord thy God. Prov, 1 1 . i. A falfe ballance is abomination to tbt Lord. Prov. 20. 10. Divers weights and divers m^afures, both of them are alike abomination to the Lord, and a falfe baU lance is ^ot good. Now mark, the very weights and mcafurcs are an abomination to the Lord, how much more the men that make ufc of them > Bur, Thirdly, Such aft countcr-crofs to Gods delight, Trov, II. 1. A juji weight is his delight. Prov. 16. 11. ^ jufl i voeight and ballance are the Lords. They are commanded by the Lord, and commended by the Lord, and they arc the de- light of the Lord. But, - N ^^ Fourthly, Hof. 12. 7. Amos 8, $. Dcut.25. 15. M:icha. 5. II. I. Levir. 19. 13. Mark 10. 19. I Cor. 7. 5. po London's Lamentations on 4. Ezek. 1 8. and Chap. 35. 17. 20. 39. Math. 7.12. 6, Fourthly, Such aft countcr-crofs to his Nature , which is holy, juft, and righteous, and to all his adminiftraiions, which arc full of righteoufnefs, Jufticc, and equity. But, Fifthly , Such aft countcr-crofs to the very Light and Law of Nature, by not dealing by others, as they would have others deal by them. They are the very botches of the Land, and enemies to all Civil Society. But, Sixthly, Suchftirup the anger and indignation of God againft thcmfelvcs, Ezc^. 22. 13. Behold j therefore I have fniitten mine hand at thy dijhonefi gain tfhich thou hajl made^ or at thy covet oitfnefl(jis fbme render the Hebrew word) or at thy money gotten by fraud and force-, and over-reaching and cheat, ing of others (as others render it. ) God is here (aid to finite his hand? at their diftioneft gain, to note the greatnefs of his anger, wrath, and indignation againft t4icm; and his readi- ncf? and refolvcdncfs to take vengeance on them, by anima- ting, irftigating, encouraging, and ftirringup the Chaldeans to dcftroy their perfons by the Sword, and to confume their riches and houfcs by fire. Chap. 21.17. ^°^ ^^' ^ ^^^ to fmite J but this is fpoken after the manner of men, who oftentimes cxprefs the greatnefs of their wrath and rage by fmiting their hands one againft another. God to (hew the greatnefs of his fpleen and rage (in a holy (cn(c) againlt them for their difhoncft gain, cxprcffcs it by the fmiting of his hand?. 1 Thef. 4. 6, That no man go beyond or dtfraud hU brother in any matter y becaufe that the Lord is the avenger af all fuch 5 fir^ or lafi vengeance tviH reach them^ tt>h§ maks it their bftfimfi, their trade to ovit'reacb'ethers. But, Seventhly , Such aft counter-crofs to the Examples of the moft eminent Saintr. To the Example of Mofes^ Numb, 1 6. 1 5. I have net tak^nan aji from tbem^ neither have I hurt om of them. Of Samuel, i Sam. i2. 3, 4, 5. Of Zaehariat and Elizabeth y Luke !♦ J, 6* Of T*a»l\, Aft^ 24. 16. yea, to the Examples of all the Apoftlcs (Judoi excepted) 2 Cor, I. 1 2» Chaff 7. 2. 'B.eceive us, vre have v^ronged no man, we havt \ the late fiery Diffenfation. P' have cvrrnpted no man^ Vft have defrauded no man. But, Eighthly and laftly, Such aft countcr-crofi to their own cvcrlarting happincfs and blcffcdncfs, iCor. 6.8,9. Niy, you do wrong and defraud, and that your brethren : Kno» ye not, that the unrighteous /hall not inherit the Kingdom of Heaven > Unrighteous pcrfbns may hear much of Heaven, and talk much of Heaven, and fct their faces towards Heaven . but they ftiall never inherit the Kingdom of Heaven. Cod himfclf has lockt faft the gate of blcflcdnefi againft the un righteous ; and therefore all the world fhall never be able to open it. Heaven would be no Heaven, but a Hell, if the un- righteous ftiould inhabit there. To fum up all ; If ftieh perfons run countcr-crofs to Gods commands, if their perfbn? and practices «re an abomination to the Lord, if they aft countcr-crofi to Gods delight and to his Nature ; yea, to the very Light and Law of Nature, to the bcft Examples, and to their own happinefs and blcffednefs, is it any wonder then to fee divine Juftice fctfuch mens houfes on Bre about their ear5,| and to fee the flames confume fuch Eftates as were got either by fraud or force, by craft or cruelty, &c. Now the gaining, of the things of this world by hook or by crook, or by fiich wicked courfes and curfed praftices that wc have been difcourling on, I cannot charge upon the people of God, that did truly fear him, whofe habitations were o ce within or without the Walls of London , becaufe fuch praftices would neither ftand with Grace, nor with the Ho. nour o^Qo<^^ nor with the Credit of Religion, nor with the Law of God, nor with the Law of Nature, nor with thr Peace of a Saints Soul, Bcfides, 'tis very obftrvable to me, thit thofe that have the ballanccs of deceit in their hand, arc called Caananites in that 12. ofHofy, He is a merchant^ the batlanctJ of deceit an in his band^ he loveth to •pprefs^ Heb. He is Canaan^ that is, a mcer natural man, that hath no com- mon honefty in him, a money-merchant, one that cares nor how he comes by it, Co he may have it ; one that counts all r,ood fi(h that comes to hi« net, though it be through cunning contrivances or violent praftices. Bur, . N 2 Fourthly, 92 London's Lamentations on Levit. 26. Deuc. 28. Turn to that Jcr. 50. 23, 24. Fourthly, Dcfpcratc incorrigiblcncfs and iinrcformcdncfs under wafting and dcftroying Judgments, brings the dcfola- ting Judgment of Fire upon a people, y/i. 42. 24, 2^. ff'ho gave Jacob for a ^oil^ andlfrael to the robUerJ ^ did not the Lord^he agaiuji tvbom we have finned / For they rceuld not tvalk^ in his tpaySj neither Vfere they obedient unto his JL'^rP' Therefore he hath poured upon hint the fury of his anger , and the firength of battel^ and it hath fet him on fre round ahottty yet hek^etvnot • and it burned hint ^ yet he laid it not to heart, Lcvit. z6» 27, 28. 31,32,35. And if ye mD not for all this hearken unto mejbut rvalk^contrary unto me, ihen mil I rvalk^ con*- trary ttnto you alfo in fury ; and /, even I^ will ehajiife you feven times for your fmt. And I mU makfi your Cities wafle, and bring your Sanciuaries unto defolations. And I mil bring the Land into defolation, and your enemies which dwell therein^ (hall be ajionifhed at it. And I will fcatter you dntong the Hea. then, and will draw out a fword after you • and yeur Land (hall bedefoJate^ and your Cities wafle, Ifa. !♦ 5.7,8. Whj (hould you bejirick^en any m§re ? ye will revolt more and more 5 the whole head is Jtcl{^, and the whole heart faint 5 your Country is defolate, your Cities are burnt with fire-: pur Land, {hangers devour it in your prefence, and it is defolate^ as ever, thrown bj fir anger Si And the daughter of Zion is left as a cot. tage in a vineyard, as a lod^e in a garden of cucumbers, as abe- fieged City, Amos 4. 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 1 1 . And 1 alfo have gi- ven you cleannefs of teeth in all your Cities, and want of bread irt all your places • yet have ye not returned unto we, faith the Lord, And alfo I have withholden the rain from you, when there were yet three months to the harveft, and I caufedit to rain upon one City, and eaufed it not to rain upon another City, one piece was rained upon, and the piece whereupon it rained not withered. So two or three Cities wandred unto one City to drink^ water, but they were not fatisfed ; yet have ye not returned unto me, faith the Lord. I have fmittenyou rvith blapng and mil- dew ^when your gardens, and ysur vineyards y andyeur fig-trees, and your olive-trees increafed, the palmer-tvorm devoured them : yet have ye not returned unto me, faith the Lord. J have ftnt among you thepefiilence after the manner of Egypt ; your young men the late fiery Difpenfation. 93 men have IJlammtb the fpoord^ and have tak^n ax9iy your horJeSy and 1 have made tkejUnk^ of your camps to come np unto your nofiih : yet have ye not returned unto me, faith the Lord. I have overthrown fame of you ^ as Gad overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah^ andyewer^^ a fire-brand pluckt out of the burning:, yet have ye not returned unto me^ faith the Lord, By all thefc Scriptures 'tis moft evident, that dcfperatc incorrigiblcncfs and unrcformcdncfs under wafting and deftroying Judg* mcnts, brings the fiery Difpenfations of God upon a people hh^ London ! Lgndon! how long has the Lord been ftriving with thee by his Spirit, byhisWord^ byhisMcffengcrs, by his Mercies, and by Icflfcr Judgments, and yet thou haft been incorrigible, incurable, and irrecoverable under all? God lookt that the Ague?, Fevers, fmall Pox, ftrange rickncffcf , want of Trade, & Poverty that was coming on like an armed man upon thee, with all the leffcr Fires that have been kind- led in the midft of thee, (hould have awakncd thee to repen- tance ; and yet under all, how proud, how ftout, how hard, how obdurate haft thou been.> God lookt that the blood)^ Sword that the Nations round hath drawn againft thee, (hould have humbled thee, and brought thee to his foot ; and yet thou haft rcjcftcd the remedy of thy recovery. God lookt that the raging devouring Pcftilence that in 16^5. de- ftroyed fo many ten thoufands of thy Inhabitants, ftiould have aftonifhcd thee, and have been as a Prodigy unto thee, to have affrighted thee out of thy fins, and to have turned thee to the moft High ; But yet after fo ftupcndious and amazing^Judgments, thou waft hardned in thy fin?, and re-; fufeft to return. By all thefc divers kinds of Judgmtms, how little did God prevail with thy Maglftracy, Miniftry, or Commonalty to break off their fin«, to repent, and to abhor, thcmfelves in duft and aftics ? Hath not God fpent all his Rods in vain upon thee > were not all forts of men generally feven times worfe after thofc wafting Judgments then they Were before > and therefore thou haft caufc to fear that this is that which hath kindled fuch a devouring Fire in the midft of thee, and that hath turned thy glory intoftiamc, thy Riches, Palaces, and ftately Houfcs into afhcs. When after the Jcr.24.2,3. 94 London's Lamentations on Hon$. 12.14. ihc raging Pcftilcncc men returned to the City, anrf to ttieir Eftatc?, and Trades, &c. they returned alfo to their old (ins, ^nd as many followed the world more greedily then ever 5 fo many followed their lufts, their finful courfcs more violently then ever : and this has uihcred in thy dcfolationj O Lcnion, The Phy/ician when he findcth that the po cion which he hath given his Patient will not work, he (c- conds it with one nwrc violent ; and thus doth the Chi \ urgion too ; if a gentle plainer will not (crve, then he applies ^hat which is more corroding 5 and to prevent a gangrene, he makes ufe of his cauteriEing knife, and takes cfF the joynt or member that is fo ill affcftcd : So doth the great God j when m^n are not bettered by Icffer Judements, lie fends greater Judgments upon them. God was firft as a moth to Epbraim, which confiimed him by little and little ; but when that would not better him, and reform him, then the Lord comes as a Lyon upon him, and tore him all to pieccs.If the drofs of mens fins will not come off, be will throw them into the melting-pot again and again, he will crufti them harder and harder in the prcfs of his Judgments , and lay on fuch Irons as fhall enter more deep into their Souls. If he ftrike'-', and they grieve not ; if he ftrlkcs again, and they tremble not . if he wounds, and they return not, then Ms a righteous thing with God to turn men out of houfe and home, and to burn up their comforts round about them. Now this has been thy cafe, O Lmdm^ and therefore God has laid ihcc def^late in the eyes of the Nations. Now this defperatc incorrif»iblenefs and unreformednefs undtr Wafting and deftroying Judgments, I cannot groundcd- ly fix upon thofe who did truly fear the Lord within and without the Walls of London^ bccauft they made it their bur iinefs ( according to the different meafures of grace they had •'cceived) to mourn under wafting Judgments, and to lament •fter the Lord under wafting Judgment?, and to. be bet. ered and reformed ander walling Judgments, and not oriiy o underftand, but jflfb to obey the voice of the Rod. Their carneft prayers, ftrong crys, bitter tears, fad li' h% and hea- vy groans under wafting Judgments, may fufficiently evi. dence .2^ the late jtery Difpenfation. 9'y dcnce that they were not incorrigible under wading Judg* mcnts. But, Fifthly, lofblcnt and cruel opprelTing of the Poor, is a fin that brings dcfolating and deftroying Judgments upon a people. God fcnt ten wafting Judgments one after another upon Fharaoh his People and Land, to revenge the cruel op- preflion of his poor people, frov, 22. 22, 23. Rob not the p»or becaufe he is pooTy neither opprtfs the affliBed in the gate. For the Lord mil plead their caufe. To rob and opprefi the rich i? a great fin ; but to rob and opprefs the poor is a great- er ; but to rob and oppreG the poor5bccaurc he is poor, and wants money to buy Juftice, is the top of all inhumanity and impiety : To opprefs any one is a fin ; but to opprefs the op- preifed, is the heighth of fin. Poverty, and want, and mi- fery ftiould be motives to pity ; but opprcffors make them the whet-ftones of their cruelty and feverity, and therefore the Lord will plead the cauft of his poor oppreflcd people againft their opprcffors without fee or fear ; yea, he will plead their caufe with peftilence, blood, and fire. Gog was a great opprcffor of the poor, Ezc^. 38. 8, 9, 10, 1 1, 12. i^, 14, And God pleads againji him tvith pejlilencey bloody and fire, Ver(c22. And I will plead againjh him with pelHlence and with bloody and I will rain upon him^ and upon his bands ^ and upon the many people that are with him ^ an overflowing rain^ and great haiUftones^ fire and brimfione, Swch as opprefs a man and his houfc, even a man and his heritage,, they take thefureft & the readied way to bring ruine upon their own houfes, Jfa, 5. 8. Wo unto them that joynhoufe to houfe^ and field to fieldy till there he noplace^ that thiy may be placed alone in the mid^ of the earth. Bur mark what follows, verfe 9, In mine ears^ faid the Lord of Hofii^ of a truth many bottles Ptall be defolate^ even great and fair ^without inhabitants, of a truth many houfts Jhall he defolate. This is anEifiphaiical form of fwearing, 'tis as if the Lord had ftid,. Lee me not live, or let me never be owned or accounted aGodjO^ let me never be looked upon as a God of truth,a God of my word . let me never be believed nor trufted more for a God , if I do not lay defolate the houfcs of oppreffors, the great hou- fcs Exod. 3. 9. Mich. a. I, 2^ ^6 London's Lament Ations on fes of opprcffbr?, the fair houfcs of opprcflbrs j yea, the mul- titude and variety of the houfcs of oppicflTors. io Amos j. 9, »0j I r. Fitbtijh in the palaces at Afhdod^ and in the palaces >n the Land of i^g}ft^ and jay^ Ajj'itnhU your [elues upon the mountains cj Samaria : and behold the great tumults in th£ midji thereof^ and the oppreffed ( or opprejfir.ns ) in the midji thereof. For they k^iovp not to do right ^ J'aith the Lordy tvhff jiore up violence and robbery in their palaces. Therefore^ thm faith the Lord Cod^ an adverj'arj there jhall he, even round a- bout the Landj and he Jhall bring donn thy jirength from thee^ md thy pa/jces fhall be jpoiled. Now mark the i y. vcrfc, And I mil fmite the winter-houfe^ with the jumtner houfe^ and the houfes of ivory Jhall peri/h^ and the great houfes (halt have an endf faith the Lord, In their Palaces, and in their Winter and Summcr-houfts they ftorcd up all the riches, preys and fpoils that they had got by opprcflion* But God tells them, that their Palaces (hould be fpoiled, and that he would fnniitc the Winter, houfe upon the Summcr-houfc (fo the Hebrew runs ) God was refblvcd that he would dafh one houfe againft the other, and lay them all on heaps. Though their Palaces and houfes were never Co rich, and ftrong, and (late- ly, and pompous, and glorious, and decked, and adorned, and enamelled, and checkered ; yet they (bould all down to- gether. So Ztf«^. 7, 10, II. r4. Opprtji not the vpidovenor the fatherlejiy the (ir anger y nor the poor ^ and let none of you ima- gine evil againji his brother in your heart. But they refufed to heark^n^ and pulled away the (houlder^ and flopped their ears, that they Jhould not hear. Well now, mark what follows, vcrfc 14. But I fcattered them with a Pfihirltvind among all the niftions pphomthey fytew^not : thus the landwoi defolate after them^ that no manpafjed thororv^ nor returned ; for they laid the pleafant landQor as the Hebrew has it,the fccond Land of dc- (irt)de folate, Palejiine was a very pleafant Land, aLand which flowed with milkand honey, a Land which was the glory of |iU Lands * God had made it as his Paradife, and enriched it with all plenty and pleafurc, and above all with his prc- (encc and refidcncc in his City and Temple ; but they l^ oppreifing the poor, the widow, and the father lefs, laid all defolate. the late fiery Difpenfation. 97 dcfolatc, Jer* 12. i2. O hottfe of David ^ thus Jaitb the Lord J execute judgment in the morning^ and deliver him that is j^oiled out of the hand of the oppreffor^ ie(i my fury go out likg fire^ and burn that none can quench it, Opprcffion lays a peo- ple open to Gods fury, it provokes the Lord to turn their all into unquenchable flames. Pfal. 12. <^. For the opprfjfion of the poor ^ for the ftghing of the needy: now will larife (faith the Lord) Iw'dlfet him infafety from him that pajfeth at him. Up- on thefc words, Chryfo(i»m (aith • 7im?te qiticunque pauperem injuria afficitis : habttis vos potentiam & opes, & judicum be. mvolentiam • fed hahent illi arma omnium validijpma^ luUui & ejulatas^ qu£ a cxlis auxilium attrahunt, Huec arma domm effodiunt^ fundamenta evertunt, hxe integras nationes fubmer- 2um : Fear ye, whofocvcr ye be, that do wrong the poor, you have power and wealth, and the favour of the Judges ; but they have the ftrongeft weapons of all, fighings and groanings, which fetch help from Heaven for them. Theft weapons dig down houfes, throw up foundations, overthrow whole Nations. Thus you (ce by all thcfe clear Scriptures, that opprcfllon is a fin that brings wafting and dcftroying Judgments upon a people. Ahj London I London ! was there ho opprc(fion and cru- elty to be found within and without thy Walls ? "EccU, 4. i. So I returned^ and conftdered all the oppreffions that are done un. ^ der the S unhand behold^ the tears of fuch at were opprejfedj and they had no comforter : and on the fide of their opprejfors then- tViis power • but they had no comforter. And behold the tears of fuch M were oppreffed. The original word (ignifies lachry- mam, non lachrymas, a tear, not tears ; as if the opprcfTed had wept fo long, and v^ept Co much, that they could weep no longer, nor weep no more, having but only one tear Icit them. Were there not, O London I many of thy poor op- prefled Inhabitants that wept Co long, that they could weep no longer • and that wept fo much, that they had but one tear left > O thecrys and tears of the opprcfTed within and without thy Walls, did fo pierce Gods ears , and fb work upon his heart, that at laft he comes down in flames of O fire Chryf in Pfal. 12. 98 London's Lamentations on Were there none within ncr without thy Waif?, O London! that ufed his neigh- bour without wages, and gave him no reward for his work, that kept back the hire of the 'labourer, and that were the poor labour- ers purfe- bearers, and Cofferers, whether they would or no, that fleeced the poor to feather their ownnefts ? Deut. 24.14, Exod, 22.22, a?. 2eph. 1. 5. fire to revenge the opprcffcd. Were there no rich Citizens that did wrack theirTcnantSjand grind the faces of the poor, that took an advantage from their neccflities to beat down the price of their Conimodities , that fo they might raife fhemfelvcs on the poors mine > Were there no fall'c weights, t'alfc ware^talfc light?, falfe meafures to be found within and without thy Walls, by which the poor has been cheated, cozened, and opprcfTcd > O how did the rich work upon the nccrflitics of the poor, bringing them to fuch under- prize?, as hath L:ndone both them and their making good that word, Amos 8 4. They Jwal'erv up the needy^ and wal^e the poor of the land to fail, O the heavy burdens that have been laid tipon the poor by their Mgypt'ian Task.mafters I what over- reaching of the poor , and what over- rating of the poor have been within and without thy Walls, O London! Thy poor, O London ! did rife early, and go to bed late ; they did fare hard, and lye hard, and work hard ; and yet by reafon of the cruelty, oppreflion, and unmercifulncfi of many of thy wealthy Citizen", they were hardly able to make any convenient fupplies for themfelves and their families. Op- preflion turns Princes into roaring Lyons, and Judges into evening Wolves : 'tis an unnatural fin, *tis a fin againft the light of Nature, No creatures do opprefs them of their own kind. Look upon the Birds of prey, as upon Eagles, Vul- ture?, Hawks, and you lliall never find them preying upon their own kind. Look upon the wild Beafts of the Forcft, as upon the Lyon, the Tyger, the Wolf, the Bear, &c. and you (hall find them favourable to them of their oun kind ; and yet men unnaturally prey upon one another, like the fifh in the Sea, the great fwallowing up the fmall. 'Tis a fin againft that great and common Rule of Equity, Math. 7.12. AH things whatfoever ye vpould that men (heuld do vnto you, do yt even [0 to them. Now no man in his wits would have ano- ther to wrong and opprefs him in his Eftate, Name, or Con- fcience - and therefore he fliould not wrong or opprefs others in their Eftates, Name?, or Confeiences ; and therefore no wonder, if God punifties this fin with flames of fire. 'Tii thy opprcffors, O London ! that has turned thy glory into afhcF. Now the late fiery Difpenfatioji^ p^ Nowthis infolcntopprcfllngof the poor, is a fin that I cannot make good againft the people of God, that did truly fear him in that great City. Tis a fin they have often be- wailed and lamented before the Lord in their folemn Ad- drcflcs to God. Where this fin is rampant, where it rules as a Prince upon the Throne, 'tis a clear evidence that the fear of the Lord is not in fuch mens hearts, icfit. 25. 17. Tejhallnot opprtji I'm another y but thou jhalt fear thj God, Now this lyes fair in the words, viz. That fiich as do opprefs others, they do not fear God : and (uch as do fear God, they will not oppreftothers, y^maleck, wis a great Opprcf- (br of the poor people of God, and the Holy Ghoft haih (et this black brand of infamy upon him, that he feared not God. Had AmaUck^ feared the Lord, he would have been fo far from opprcffing the poor people of God, that he would have comforted thcni, and fuccoured them , and relieved them in the midft of their neccffiiies, raifcrics, and diftreflcf. The Jews opprcffing one another, is attributed to their not fearing of God, Nehem. 5, 9. Opprclfion is fo crying a fin j againft the Law ©f God, the Law of Grace, the Law of Na- ture, and the Law of Nations ; that certainly it cannot be juftly charged upon (uch, as have Cct up Cod in their hearts as the great Objcft of their fear. The word for opprcflion in the Hebrew is Mijpach, which fignifies a Scab, a Wound a Leprofic.Now opprefljon is fuch a fcab. a wound, a leprofic as is not to be found upon thofe that have fellowfhip with the Father and the Son. Opprcffors may boaft of their profcf- fion , and call thcmfelves Saints or the people of God ; but God accounts themworfc then Scythians^ wltncfs thofe dreadful woes that God has denounced againft them in the blc fled Scriptures, Zeph. 3. i. Ifoto the opprtfingCity^ Jcr 22.13 ^0 unto him that buildith hit houfe by unrishteouf. fteffy and his chambers by wrong : that uf.th his neighbours Jcr- vice vpithnut fffae^es^ and givetb him not for his warl^. Ifii. 10 I -.3. ff^o unto tbtm that decree unrighteous decrees. To turn afide the needy from ]ndgment, and to take atvay the right from the poor of my people^ that widows may be their prey ^ and that they may rob the fatherltfs. And what will ye do in the day vf O '2 vifita- Deut. 2$. 18. Oppreflbrs are perfons dtiW- ture of the fear of God, and the want of the fear of theLordisthe fpring and fountainof the worft of fins, and that a- gainft which the Lord will come near in Judgment. Mala. 3.5. 100 London's Lamentations on 6, Calvin, Chry- foftom. lifa. 25.8,9.. Prov 9- i> 2, 5,4,5,6. Ifa. $5.1,2^3. vifitation, and in the dijolat'ton which JhaJl come from far^ to vphom poill je flee for help / and where will ye leave your glory / Mich. 2 1,2. ff^o to them that devife iniquity^ and work^ evil upon their beds : when the morning is light they pa^ij'e it^ be- caufe it is in the fewer of their hand. And they covet field/, andtake them by violence : and houfes^ and taf^etbimawjy ; Jo they opfrefs a man and his houfe^ even a man and his heritage. Now by all thcfc dreadful woes 'tis further evident, that this horrid fin of infolent oppreflion cannot be charged upon the Called and Chofcn of God ; for where do you find In all the Scriptures the Vcffcls of Glory under thofe woes that are denounced againft the ungodly ? But, Sixthly, Rejecting the Gbfpcl, contemning the Cofpel, and flighting the free and gracious offers of Chrift in the Gofpel, brings the fiery Dirpcnfation upon a people, and cau- fes the Lord to lay their Cities defolate. Math. 22, 2, 3, 4, ^, tJj 7. The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain King^ which made a marriage for his Son, And he fent forth hit fervants to call them that were bidden to the wedding : and they would not come. Again he fent forth other fervants, faying^ tell them which are bidden^ Behold^ I have prepared my din- nn : my oxen an J my fat lings are killed, and all things are ready i come unto the marriage. But they made fight of it^ ind went their ways^ one t) his farm^ another te his merchan-, 'iize. And the remnant took^ his fervants^ and intreatid than (piteful/y^ and (It w them. But wht n the King heard thereof^ he was wroth : and jent forth his armie.'^ and dejiriyed thofe murr dererSj and burnt up their City.ln this Parable the Vocation of the Gcntrlc?, and the Rtjeftion of the Jcw5, i.*^ fct forth. The Jews have the honour lobe firft called to the Marriage-fezft ■ they arc invited by the Prophets, and afterwards by the Apoftlcs to partake of Chrift and of all his royal Benefits and Favours which are difplaycd in the Gofpel. God the Fa- ther was very willing and dcfirous to make vp a match- be- twcen Chri ft and the Jews, and between Chrift and the Gen • tifcs : and he is here called a King, to declare his divine Ma. jcfty, and to fet forch the ftatclinefs and magnificence of the Feaft. the late fery Difpenfation, lol Fcaft, Marriagc-fcafts that arc ufually made by Kings, are full of joy, and full of ftate, full of fplcndor and glory • who can fum up the variety of diflics and dainties that then the Guefts are feaded with > The variety of the glorious excel- lencies, favours, and mercies of Chrift that are difcovered and tendered by God in Gofpel-offcrs, in Gofpel-ordinan- ces, is the Wcdding-fcaftto which all forts of iinncrs are in- vited ; but here you fee they flight, and fcorn, and contemn both Matter of the feaft, and the matter of the fcaft, and aU thofc fervants that were fent to invite them to the fcaft ; and hereupon the King was wroth, and fent forth his armies ( the Romans^ as moft Interpreters do agree) and deftroyed thofc murderers, and burnt up their City, About forty years after the death of Ghrift, the Lord to revenge the blood of his Son, the blood of his fervants, and the contempt of his Golbcl upon the Jews, brought his Armies,rhe Romans ^ againft Jerufalem, who by fire demolilhcd their Temple and City, and by fword and famine deftroyed eleven millions of men, women, and children ; and thofc that efcapcd fire, fword, and famine,werc (old for flaves, and fcattcred among all the Nations. Ghrift and the way of Salvation by him, is the fubjcft matter of the Gofpcl ; The worJ *EvA'/yi~ x/oo iha^ is rendered Gofpcl, fignifics glad Tydings, good News ; and certainly Salvation by Ghrift is the bcft ntw^'iis the greatcft and the gladeft tydings that ever was brought to finncrs cars. What the Pfalmift had lon^ before faid of the City of God, Glorious things are Jpok^n of ihee^ that I may trulyfay of the bklTcd Gofpcl, Glorious thing.'! are fpokcn ofthec. Othou Gofpd of^God. The Gofpcl is called the gloriou? Gofpcl of the blcfTed God. TTie Gofpcl is a glori- ous Gofpcl in rcfpcd of the Author of ir, and in rcfpcft of thePii-menoFir, The Bible, faith Luther^ is the only Book, all the books in the world are but wafte paper to it ; fo highly did heprizs it, and fo dearly did he love it. Con- rempt of the Gofpel is a great indignity caft upon the great God , and a great indignity caft upon Jefus Chrift • for chough the Law was delivered by Mojes^ yet the Gofpel was deliver- the late fiery Difpenfation, 103 delivered by Jefus Chrift. And if they cfcapcd not who de- fpifed him that Tpake from earth, of how much forer punfh- fflcnt arc they worthy that contemn him that fpcaks from Heaven 1 If the Book of the Law happen to fall upon the ground, the Jews cuflom is prcftntly to proclaim a Faft. O Sirs .' what caufe then hfvc wc to faft and mourn when we fee the glorious Cofpclof God fallen to the ground, fcorned, dcfpifcd, contemned, and tramp'ed upon by all forts of fin- ners > Contempt of the Gorpcl is a fin of the greatcft ingra* titudc. In the Gofpel God offers himfclf, his Son, his Spi- rit, his Grace, his Kingdom, and all the Glory of another World. Now for men to defpifc and contemn thcfc offers, is the higheft ingratitude and unthankfulnefs imaginable ; and therefore nowonderjvif God burn fuch men up, and turn them out of houfc and home .* Such juftly deferve the worft of Judgments, who defpifc the beflof mercies. The ftrongeft and the fwecteft wine always makes the fharpeft vi- negar ; the frecfljthc richefl,and the choicefl offers of mercy, if flighted and contemned, turn into the greatcft fury and fcverity. Divine wrath fmoaks and burns againft none fo fiercely, as it doth againft thofc who arc dcfpifers of Gofpel- mcrcics. When gold is offered, men care not how great or how bafe he is that offers it ; neither is it material by whom the Gofpel is brought unto us, whether it be brought unto us by Ifaiah^ as fome think, a Prophet of the blood Royal, or by Amoi from amongfl the Herd men of lek^a. Let the hand be more noble or more mean that brings it, if it be flighted and contemned, provoked Jufticc will revenge it. Such as flight the Gofpel, and contemn the Gofpel, they fin with a high hand againft the remedy, againft the means of their recovery, Thi? Is the condemnation, this is that dcfperaeefin that haft^ns Judgment? upon Cities and Coun- tries, as J^rji ^fi<^i Bohemia^ and other parts of the world havc.fadly experienced. He that hath cat poyfon, and fhaU defpifc the meam of his recovery, muft certainly dye for it. He who when he hath committed Trcafbn aeainft his' Prince, fhallnotonlyrcfufe, but'fcom and flight bis jPrinces favour and pardon, and fling it from him with difdaln, isaffuredly paft Heb. 2.g. Chap. 10.28, 29. ffierom reports hisfhoulder was fhrunk up and vvicherc d j he carted the Ark when he fhould have carried it on his flioulder : therefore that part was branded for it. Joh.3. 19. 04 London's hamentations on r^Joh. 5. 19. Math. 4. 1 5. I. Mith. 23.57. Luke 1 0.1 5. 2. paft all help and hope. Sins ag^inft the Gofpcl arc (ins of a greater fizc, of a louder cry, and of ill deeper dye, then fins igainft thcLaw arejand accordinglyGod fuits his Judgment?. Where the Gofpel (hines in power, it will either mend a peo- ple, or mar a people : it will either better them, or worftn chcm ; it will cither fit them for tht greatcft good, or it will bring upon them the greareft evils -' Where it doth not re-, form, there it will dcftroy. And this London hath found by woful experience. Slighting and contemning of the offers of grace in the Gofpel, is a fin that is not chargeable upon the greateft part of the world, who lyeth in wickednefs, and who (it in darknef?, and in the region and (hadow of death • yea, 'tis a fin that is not chargeable upon the Devils themfelvcs, and therefore the more fevcrcly will God deal with thofc that are guilty of it. The Gofpel hath for above this hun- dred years fhined forth cut of the dark and thick clouds of Popery and Antichriftianifm which had over-fpread the Na- tion. And in no part of the Land hath the Gofpel been preached with more cicarnefs, fpiritualncfs, life, power, and purity then in London, And Oh thgit I had not caufe to fay, chit there was no part of the Nation where the Gofpcl was more undervalued, flighted, and contemned by many then in London I For, FirfV, Where the faithful and painful Minifters of the Gofpel arc flighted and contemned as Minifters of the Gof- pel, there the Gofpel is flighted and contemned. Now were there none within nor without thy Walls, O London \ that did flight, fcorn, reproach, and contemn the Embailadors of Chrift, who were faithful to their Light, their Lord, their Confcicncc?, and the Souls of their Hearers >• But, Secondly, Where the Miniftrations of the Gofpel, where the Ordinances of the Gofpel are flighted and contemned, there the Gofpel is flighted and contemned 5 yea, where any oncOrdinancc of theGofpel is flighted and contemned, there the Gofpel is flighted and contemned. Where Baptifm is flighted and contemned, there the Gofpcl is flighted and contemned. Where the Lords Supper is flighted and con- temned) the late fiery Difptfjfation, 105 there the Gofpcl is flighted and cohtcmncd ; where the offers of (he Gofpel arc flighted and contemned, there the Gofpel »s flighted and contemned • where the commands of the Gof- pcl are flighted and contemned, there the Gofpcl is flighted and contemned ; where the threatnings of the Gofpel are flighted and contemned, there the Gofpel is flighted and con- temned • where the promifesof the Gofpel arc flighted and contemned, there the Gofpcl is flighted and contemned ; and where the comforts of the Gofpcl arc flighted and contemn- ed, there the Gofpel i£»flightcd and contemned. Now were there none within nor without thy Wall?, O London^ that did flight and contemn the Miniftrations of the Gofpel, the Ordinances of the Gofpel > When oldBjrziHaihzd loft his tafte and hearing, he cared not for Davids Feafts and Mu- fick. Thprc were many within and without the Walls of London that had loft their fpiritual tafte and hearing, and fo cared not for Go(pel-miniftrations, for Gofpcl-ordinanccf, There were many, who under a pretence of living above Or- dinances, Hved below Ordinances, and made light of Ordi- nances ; yea, who (corned, vilified, and contemned the pre- cious Ordinances of Chrift, Thou art to thtm at a lovely fong^ faith the Prophet: in the Hebrew it runs thus. Thou art to theni Oi one that break/ jefii. The Solcir nity and Ma jcfty of the Word was but as a dry jcft unto them • Ordinances were but as dry jcfts to many within and without the Walb of London, and therefore no wonder if God hath been in fuch good earneft with them who have made but a jcft of thofe precious Ordinances, that avc more worth then Heaven and Earth. Many came to the Ordinances too much like the Ejz^yp- tian Dog, which laps a little as he runs by the fide of Nilm, but ftay? not to drink. But, Thirdly, Such as are weary of the Gofptl, fuch flight the Gofpel, fuch contemn the Gofpcl. Never were the Ifraelitu more weary of Manna, then many within and without the Walls of London were weary of the plain and powcif il preaching of the Gofpel. We were better have a biting Gcf pel then a toothlef* Mais, faid blcfl^cd Bradford. But were there not fomc that had rather have a toothlcfs Mafs then a P biting jA man upon whom the Gofpcl hath i wrought fa- j vingly,hc will, I I. prize all I the Ordinan- ; CCS, 2. pra- : ftife all the Ordinances, 5. praife the Lord for all the Ordinan- ces. Luke I. 5,5. 2 Sam 19.;$. Ezck, 33. 31, 32. Numb. \\,6. Amos 8. 5. io6 London's Lamentations on 1 biting Gofpel > Were there not many ihat were willing to let God go, and Gofpel go, and Ordinances go, and all go, fo they might be ealed of their burdens and taxef, and greatcn their relations, and have peace vvith all Nations, and enjoy a fweeping trade, and every one fit under his vine and under his fis;-trce, eating the fat, and drinking the fweet, and enjoy liberty to diftionour the Lord, to gratifie their lufts, to damn their own Souls, and to bring others under their feet, fo weary were they of the bleflcd Gofpel > '^ 4- 1 Cor. I. a^. Fourthly, Such as have but a low and mean opinion of the Gofpel, fuch are (lighters and contemners of the Gofoelj fuch as prefer every toy, and trifle, and falhion, and fanful cu- ftom, and bafe Iwft above the li^ht of the Gofpel, the power of theGofpeljthe purity and fimplicity of theGofpel,the ho- liness and fweetnefs of the Gofpel , fuch are (lighters and contemners of the Gofpel. Though it be better to prcfcnt truth in her native plainnefs, then to hang her cars with counterfeit Pearls ; yet there were many that fet a greater price upon the arts, the parts, the gifts, the (ludied notions and Seraphical cxprcflions of their Minifters, then they did upon the Gofpel it felf : and what was this but to prefer the Handmaid before the Miftrefs, the Servant before his Lord, the flo««rer8 about the di(h before the meat that was in the difh, the chaff before the Wheat, and Pebbles before the richcft Pearls > The Gofjpel is the field, and Chrift is the Trcafure that is hid in that field ; the Gofpel is a Ring of gold, and Chrift is the Pearl in that Ring of gold ; and yet how many were there within and without the Walls of Lon- don^ that put no confiderable price or value upon the Gofpel > But, Fifthly, Such as wilfully difobcy the Gofpel, and live and walk in ways qnitc crofs and contrary to the Gofpel, fuch are flightersand contemners of the Gofpel, and accordingly the Lord will deal with them : Take one Text for all, 2 Thtf. I. 7,8, 9. And to you n>ho are tronbled reft tv'itb us when the Lord Jefm (hall be rtveakd from heaven vpith hit mighty Angels in flawing fire^ takjng vengeance on them that h^ovp the late fiery Difpenfation, 107 krioppfiotGod^ and that obey not theGof^el of our Lord Jefus, fVho flfsll be pnnijhed vpith everlaji'mg dejlruliion from the pre- fence of the Lordy and from the glory of hit potver. This is a more terrible Text againft all fuch as are cither ignorant of the Gofpd, or that difobey the Gofpcl, then any is to be found in all the Old Tcftanicnt. In the laft day thrift will take vengeance in Baming fire on them that difobey his Gof- pcl, and that walk contrary to the Rules of bis Gofpel ; and therefore no wonder, if before that day he lays their habita- tions defolate by a flaming fire, whofc lives give the lye to his glorious Gofpel. Tbcft men above all others, expofe the Golpel to the dcrifion and contempt of the bafeft and vileft men. When fomc of the Heathens have lookt upon the looft lives of Profeffors, they have faid, Ant hoc non eft Evangefium^ aut hi non fttnt Chrifiiani , Either this is not the Gofpelj in which there is (b much goodnefs, or thcfe are not Chriftians, in whom there is none at all. Did you never hear nor read of one, who eying the loofe convcrfaticns of Profeffors, crycdout. Sit anima mea cum Pbilofophis^ Let my Soul be rather with the honeft Philofbphers ( who were Heathen ) then with the(e wicked lewd men that are called Chriftians ? Now were there none within nor without the Walls of London that did wilfully difobey the Gofpel , and that walkt in ways quite crofs and contrary to the Go(pel ? (urely there wcre,and therefore at their doors we may (afcly lay the burning of London, Bur, Sixthly and laftly, Such as flighted, fcorncd, and con- temned the faithfu), (incere, (crious, gracious, and confcien- tious Profcflbrs of the Gofpcl, fuch flighted, fcorncd, and contemned the Gofpcl it fdf. When the Jews were in pro* fperity, it was the manner of the Samaritans to repute them- fclves their nearr ft Coufins. When the Jews were in a thri vin^ and flouriftiing condition, then the Samaritans could derive their Pedigree from Ephraim and Manaffis^ the Son? ofjoftph : but wheft the Jews were in any ^rcat afBift'on, oT under perfccution, then they would deny allacqnaintancq with them, and ali relation to them. When Profclfion was; P 2 6. Jofeph. Antiq. lib, 11, cap. 8 I m io8 London's Lamentations on I Thef. i.$, Aftsa^.iB. I. EZek.p. 4. 6. !n fafhion, and Religion was in credit , how many were chcre within and without the Walls of London^ that did pretend to be kin, to be Coufins to thcferious, confcientioiis, and finccre Profcffors of the Gofpcl, who fince the day of their afftiftion, have not only denied all acquaintance with them, and renounced all relation to them, but alfo arc turn- ed (lighters, fcorners, and contemners of them > ifthefemay not be reckoned among the flighters, fcorners, and contem- ners of the Gofpcl, I do not know who may. To fum up all, I have (hewed you that flighting, fcorning, and contemning of the Gorpcl, i a fin of that high nature, that it provokes r he Lord to lay Cities defolatc. I have (hewed you the greatncfs of that fin, and the pcrfons that arc guilty of it ; fo that now you may point with a finger to thofc pcrfons that have laid London in afbcs. But before I clofc upthfe Particurar, give me Ieav« to fay, That this fin of flighting, (corning, and contemning of the Gofpcl, I dare not charge upon thofc that truly (bar the Lord, and that have found the Gofpcl to be a Gofpcl of power upon their own Souls, turning them from darkncfs to light, and from the power of 5atan to Jcfus Chrift. And 1 thall freely give you my Reafon?, that you may be the better fatisficd, that 'cwas not fo much their fins as your own, that has brought down that heavy Judgment of Fire upon the City, wherein once you and they had your rcfpcftive habi- cations. My Rcafbns are thefc. Firf^, Thofc that did truly fear the Lord, and- that had -xpcricnccd the power of the Gofpcl in a faving way upon rheir own Souls, they did frequently before the Lord be- wail and mourn over ( both together and apart ) that hai nous fin cf flighting, (corning^ and contemning of the Gofpcl wh'ch many were guilty of, whofc habitations Were then fome within, and others without the Walls of Low^/ew. The Jews have a Law which cnjoyns them to take up any paper which they fee lying on the ground, and the reafon if^, Icll happily the Name of God be written in the paper, and igno. rantly rantly trodden under foot. Though Chriftians ought to be free from fuch fupcrftitious curiofities ; yet they ought to be very careful, that the leaft tittle of the Gofpel, the Icaft com mand of the Gofpel be not trod under foot. Now the Saints who once lived within and without the Walls of London^ who through grace have experienced the (aving power of the Gofpel upon their own Souls, how have they mourned and lamented to fee that glorious Gofpel of Chrift trod under foot, which they have laycn fo near their hearts / and thereforcl cannot fairly charge this fin upon them. But, Secondly, Slighting , fcorning, and contemning of the Gofpel, is a great ftep towards the fin againft the holy Ghoft, and a fin of fo great a cry, and fo deep a dye, that Icannot at prefent find where 'ciy in Scripture charged upon (iich as truly fear the Lord ^ and that have really experienced the power of the Gofpel in a faving way upon their own Souls : and therefore I cannot fairly charge thii fin upon them. Thirdly, N^xt to God, the Gofpel is the mofl fwcct and delightful dhingin all the world to gracious Souls, who have experienced the faving power of it upon thcmfelves. Lpither found fo much fwcetncfs in it, that it made him (ay, that he would not live in Paradtfe if he might without the. Word (at cum Verba etiam in inferno fitcile ej} vivere ) but wit4l the Word he could live in HjH it felf. Dolphins, they fay, love Mufi^k, and fo do gracious Souls love the Mofick of the Gof- pel. The Gofpel is like the ^onc Garamantides^ that hath drops of gold within it felf, enriching all that will embrace ir, and conform to it : and this the Saints have found by experience, and therefore they cannot but delight in ir, and draw fwcetnefi from it. AglutHidoi never relifted any difh better then what was diflafted by others : So do thrSaints relifh that Gofpel belV that others diftafle moli ; and there- fore I cannot charge this fin fairly upon ihcra. But, Fourthly, There arc none that do fo highly prize the Gofpel^ andthat fct fo high a value upon the Gofpel, as thofc do Heb. 2. ?. Chap. 10.28, 29. Pfal. 1 9. 1 o, II. Pfal. 119.72. 103. 127. Job2g. \2, Aufiin crjs, a- way w i:h our writings, that room may be made for the Book of God. lio London's Lamentations on Rev. I2.it. Rev. 2.12,13. Heb. U.33, 38. Luther (f tA- ingoftheGof- pel, faith, that the fhortcfl line and the leaft letter thereof is more then all Heaven and Earth. Terml. Apl. cap. 5. do who have experienced the favirag power of the Gofpcl up- on their own Souls j fuch prefer the Gofpel before all their ncarcft and dcareft concernments and enjoyments that they have in this World : As might be made evident from their praft ice in the primitive time?, and in the M<2rwn day s^ and in thoCelate years that are now paft over our heads. The Tabernacle was covered over with red (and the purple Fea- thers tell us, they take that habit for the fame intent ) to note, that we muft defend the truth of the Gofpel, even to the cffufion of blood;and this they have made good in all the Ages of the World, who have found the faving power of the Gofpcl upon their own Souls. TertuVian concludes, that the Gofpcl muft needs be a,precious thing, becaufe Nero hated it ; and indeed it was Co precious to the Saints in his days, that they very willingly and chearfully laid down their lives for the Gofpel fake. Now the fame Spirit refts upon the Saints in our days, and therefore upon this ground I cannot charge that horrid fin of Qighting, fcorning, and contemning of the Gofpel upon them. Jfrael had three Crowns (as the lalmttdohCeryes) i. of the King, 2. ofthePrieft, 3. of he Law ^ but the Grown of the Law, that was the chief of he three. Fifthly , Who were Co ready and free to countenance the Gofpel, and to maintain the Golpel, and toencourage the 'aithful and painful Preachers of the Gofpel, as thofc that Kad found thefweet of the Gofpel, andllic faving power of the Gofpcl upon their own Souls, They like well of Reli- gion without expcnce in Bafl, and a Gofpel without charge in Nazianzene • but if it grow coftly,'tis no commodity for their money. Now this was the very frame and tejr»pcr of many thoufandsiniWoB, who never experienced the faving work of the Gofpel upon their poor Souls : but they were of mother frame and temper of fpirit in London^ upon whom be Gofpel was fallen in power ; and therefore I may not charge upon them this odious fin of flighting, fcorning, and :!ontemning the Gofpel. But, 6. Sixthly, Who were there within or without the Walls of Londotiy the late jiery Dij pen fat ion. Ill London, that wcrc fo much in a hearty and fcriousble flings prailing, and admiring of the Lord and his goodncfs, for bringing them forA in Gofpcl-timcF, as thofc that had a fa- ving work of the Gofpel upon their own Souls > When JUx^ ander viishorn^ his Father Philip blcflcd fuch Gods as he had, not fo much that he had a Son, as that he had him in Arijioties days ; he was thankful for natural and moraldif- covcrics. The clcarcft, the choiccft, the fuUcft, and the fweetcft vifions and difcoveries that we have of God on this fide Eternity, we have in the Gofpel, and this they frequent- ly experience, who have found the Gofpel falling in power open their Souls ; and therefore they cannot but always have Harps in their hands, and Hallelujahs in their mouths upon this very account, that they have lived under the warm Sun-ftiinc of the Gofpel ; and therefore I ftall not charge this vile fin of flighting, (coming, and contemning the Gof- pel upon them who above all other men were moft excrcifcd in a ferious and hearty blcHing and praifing of God for his glorious Gofpel. Some there were that bleft God for their yearly incomes j and others there were that blcft Cod for their profperous relations and friends : and many there were that blcft God for their deliverance from various perils and dangers. Butthofc that had the Gofpel working in power upon them, they made it their bufinefs and work above all to blcfs the Lord for the Gofpel ; and therefore who dare charge upon them the contempt of the Gofpel ? But, Sevehthly and laftly. There were none within nor with- out the Walls of London, that have fuffcred fo many things, and foch hard things for the enjoyment of the Go(pcl in its power and purity, as they have done who have found the powerful and faving work of the Gofpel upon their own Souls : (iich have been as figns and wonders in Jfraei^ in London. Now what folly and vanity would it be to charge them with flighting, fcorning, and contemning of the Gof- pel, who have been the only fuff^rcrs for the Gofpel fake. And thus much for the twelfth fin that brings the fiery DiC penfation upon Cities and People. The Rev. 14 3.4- Chap. I to ?crf. .1,2. 9.1. 8» ^ i Ifa. 8. iS. 112 London's Lamentatiens on I Sam, 2^.7. 1 Kings 4. 13. 2 Chron. 8. 5. Chap. 14.7. Jer.49. 31. and Chap. 51. 30. Lam. '2. 9. Amos I. 5. JcMS.s?. The fin that brings the firry Difpenfation upon a People, and that provokes the Lord to lay their Cities defolatCj is a courfc, a trade of lying, Nahum 31. IVo to the bloody City^ it U all full ef lyes. Vcrfc 7. /4nd it jhaHcivnt tepjfiy that ali they that look^upon thee^jhall flee from tbet, and fay 'I'^ineveb U laid wajh^ who mil bemoan her ? whence Jhall I fuk^comfarten for thee ? Vcrfc 13. Behvld^thy people in the midji of fh.e are tvonteni the gates of thy land (hall be fet tv'ide open io thine enemies : the fire Jhall devoHr*hy bars, thit'iS, thy j^rcns; holds y for fo the word bars is frequently rakcn, as you may Ccc by comparing the Scriptures in the Margine together. Nineveh was a great City, a rich City, a populous City, a trading City ; 'twas a City that was wholly made up of fraud and falfiiood ; it was all full of lyes, or it was f 1 11 of al! forts of lyes: there was no truth to be found either in her private contrafts, or in her publick tranfaftions and capitulations with other Nations ; and therefore the Lord rcfolvcs to lay her defolate, and to confume her with fire* So Jer. 9. 3. And they bend their tongues Uk^ thtir how for lyes, Vcrfc 5. And they will deceive every one hU neighbour^ and will notjpeak^ the truth : they have taught their totigne tojpeak,lyes^and weary themfelves to commit iniquity, Veric 9 Shall I not vifit for thefe things ? faith the Lord : Shall not my foul be avenged on fuch a national thps ? Vcrfc 10. ¥or the mountains will I ta\e up a weeping and wailing^ and for the habitations of the wilder- ne^a lamentation, becaufe they are burnt up : fo that none can pafi through them^ neither can men hear the voice of the cattel, both the fowl of the heavens, and the beafis are fled, they are gone, Verfe 1 1 ,j4nd J will maJ^e Jerufalem heaps(3iS London is this day) and a den of dragons, and I will ma\e the cities of JudahdefolatCy without an inhabitant, Vcrfc 1 2. ^ho is the wife man that may underfiand thjs elUth therein hall lun ttifh, mth the beajis of the field^ and with the fowls of hkavm J yei, the fjhes if the fea alfo (hall he fallen away. This people made it their commm prafticc to lye, they were ^i- ven up to a courfe, a trade of lying, which God here threat- en* to punifh with an cxtream and univerfal dcrolation. A lyc is a voluntary and wilful telling of an untruth, with a aurpofc to deceive ; Co that three things are required to the nature of a lye. i. There rruft be an untruth and falfenefs in the thing. 2. This untruth muft be known to be fo, he muft be confcious to himfelf that it is falfc* 3 He muft have an intent and purpofc to utter this falfliood with a defire or defign to deceive another by it. AugHJiine makes eight forts of Lyes • but the School-men reduce all to three- i. Is joc^j- Zw/w, the (portingLye. 2. Is officiofttm^ the helpful Lyc. 3. Is ^erniciofum^ the pernicious a(Wl hurtful Lyc. Firft, There is mendacium jocofuniy the fporting Lyc j and this is when men will lyc and tell untruths to make men Tport, to make men merry. Of this fin the Prophet //o/c<3 complains, C^^/*. 7. 3. They make the King glad with their wickeidncfiy and the Princes with their lyes. Courtiers frame fidions, and tell ridiculou? ftorics to delight Prince?, Among many Courtiers loud lyes arc cfteemcd ornaments and ele- It is a recei- ved opinion in thefe days. !yes : out lucn iviirtn- monger? and lYiirtn-maKers may well to remember, that fuch kind of mirth will bring bitter- ncfs in the end. If for every idle word that men (hall fpeak, they muft give an account in the day of Judgment, then furc- ly much more for every lying word. And if foolifti talkin? jand jcfting be condemned, then furely lying talking, and ' CL jcfting Math. 12. 35, Phil. 5.4. m 114 London's Lamentations on jcftingfliall be much more condemned, if not herc^ yet in the great day, when all lying Jcftcrt {hall hold up their hands at ChriftsBar. Now were there none within nor without the Walls of Londouy that were guilty of merry lye?, of fporting lyes > But, 2. Exod. 1. 15. to the 20. Jofh. 2. 1, to verf. 9, 1 Rings 13. 14.1027. Gea 27. 19* Romv^.9. J©bi3.7» Secondly, There is mendactum offjciofttm^ the officious lye, the helpful lye ; and that is when a man lyes to help him- fclf or others at a pinch, at a dead lift. When men lye either to prevent fome danger they fear, or elfe to bring about Come good they defire, then they tell an cfficicus lye. Thu? the Egyptian Midwives lyed, and thus Kahab lyed, and thus the old Prophet lyed, who contrary to the command of God, perfwaded the man of God to go back and eat bread with him under the pretence of a divincRevclation.And thus Jacob told his father an officiou5(threefoId)lye5but he hardly ever had a merry day,a good day after it ; for God followed him with variety of troubles, and hisforrow?, like Jobs MeC.) (cngers, came pofting in one after another, even to his dying day, that both himfelf and others might fee what bittcrnefs i.' wrapt up in officious Iyes» Solon reproving Thesis (the Poet) for lying, Ihe^is anfwered Mhi, that it was not material, feeing it was but in fport 5 then Solon beating the ground with his ftafT, faid. If we commend lying in fport, wefhall find it afterwards In good earneft. In all our bargains and dealings, let us make it our wifdom and our work to remem- ber, 'that jx>e rnnft not do ev'il^ that good may come ; yea, we muft not tell a lye to fave all the Souls under Heaven. 7 he Frijciallanifis in Spain ( a moft pcftilcntious Scft ) taught in. AugMfiines time. That it was lawful to lye for the helping of a good caufc, and for the propagating of the Cofpel, and for the advantage of Religion. But Augu^im confuted them, and ftoutly affcrts in two Books, That we are not to tell an officious lye, to tell a lye for no hurt, but for good, though it were to fave all the world. Will ye j^ea\ n>icked. ly for Ged^ and talk, deceitfully for him ? faith Job to his friends > A man may as well commit fornication with the /^otfti*«todraw them toourReligionj or fteal from the rich the late fiery Difpenfation. "5 rich to give to the poor, as lye to do another man a good turn. N(poj rcportcth of Epam'mondtK , a noble man of Thebef, and a famous Warrionr, that he would never lye in jcft nor in earneft, cither for his own or anothers pain Thi refined Hcrathcn will one day rife in Judgment aeainft fucb kind of Chriftians, who take a great plcafure in offici»ius lye^. Now were there none within nor without the Walls ol London^ that delighted themfclvcs !n officious lyes ? But, Thirdly, (and to come clofer to our work ) There is mendacium ferniciofum^ the pern'.cious and hurtful Lye j and this of all lyes is the worft. When men will lye out of a dcfi^n to hurt, to cheat, to defraud, or to make a prey of thofc they deal with : this is the foreft of all lyes. Now how rampant was this (brt of Lying among all forts of Citizens before London was in flame* > What a common trade of ly- ing did many (\ (ay not all^ drive in their buying and fel- ling > The trade of lying was got into every Trade, as if there had been no living but by lying? Many Sellers had their lyes to fet off their Commodities : it is good, it is very good, it's (pecial good, it's the beft of its kind • when 'twas naught, very naught, yea, ftark naught; of this fort rhere are none fo good in the City, when their con(cienccs told them, that they had much better in their own Shops; that their Commodity coft them fo much, and that they could not abate, nor would not abate any thing of that price they had pitcht, though it were to their own father or mo- ther ; and yet rather then they would lo(c a good Cufto- mer, they prefently agree at a lower price. And fo when poor Workmen came to their Shop?, and offered their ConT- modities to fell, being forced thereunto for the relief cf themfclves and their miferable families, they flighted their Commodities, telling them, that they had no need of them, and that they had much of thofc Commodities upon their hands already, tnd that they had no way to vend them ; and all tobeat down the price, and to make a prey of tbcirpref- fing ncccfSty • and all this when they wanted thofe very Commodiiies, and had more vend for them then they knew O 2 how *! V - - 1 ^ — Gen. 59. 13. to the ao. a Kings J. 22, 2l' il6 London's hamentatiofis on X. ^' how to fupply. Now as the Seller abounded wlih his lyes, fo the Buyer had his lyes too 5 and all to bring dotvn the price; it's naught, ii*s naught, it's very naught, faith the Buyer, I will not give you your price, and yet gives ic be- fore he goes out of die Shop or Ware houfe. 1 have boughr as good, yea, better for a lower price then what I offer you (faith the BuyerJ when yet he had nevtr bought of that Comtnodity befo- e. Ufc ok well (faith the Buyer) and you fhal! have my cuftom another rime, when in his heart he re- folvcs never to come iito the Sellers Shop more. Ah, Lon- don ! London! 'tis thcfe Lyes and Lyars that have made theedefolarc, and that have laid, thy glory in the duft. O Sirs / a man-were better be a lofcr then a lyar, a manve put off the old man with his d^eds. Cods Commands arc not like thofc that arc eaiily reverfcd, but they are like thofc of the Medes^ that cannot be changed. To aft or run crofs to Gods cxprcfs command (thoi?gh under prercnce of Rcve- lacion from God ) is as much as a mans life is worthy as you may fee in that fad ftory, i Kings 13. Tis a dangcrou thing for a man to neglcft one of his commands, wha by another is able to command him into nothing, or into Hell. What God commands mud be put in fpecdy execution, with- out denying, or delaying, ordifputing the difficulties that attend it. The great God will not endure to be called to an account by the poor Creature concerning his Roya! Commands ; but expcfts that with all rcadinefs and chcar- fulnefs we (hould obey what he requires, even when the rca- fonof our obedience is hid from our eyes ; for thcn.grac< fhincsmoft tranfparcntly atxl giorioufly. I have read of oik Johannes Ahboi^ who being commanded by h'S Confrflor ft go romemilc: every day towitcr a dry ftick, which he ac- cordingly did out of a purcrcfpcft to the command of h'v Superior, without difputing the reafon of it. Oh, how mixh more then ih.iuld wc readily obey divine commands,' which arc all holy; f^iritU'il, juft^and good, coniidcring,(he Au(ho. rity,§overaignty,and Wajtrty of thcgreatGod,withc:ut dif- puf^n^, the reafuns of or obedience ; 'for let a mans rjafom, though i)wver fo n>.my and weighty, be put into one fcalc anti (jod? abfolute comniand wd;.'hcd aj^ainft them in. the other, the man m.iy well write T E K E L, h'hey an weighed in thi ballmt;^^ ttndijoifnit too light, O Sirs / the Angels th t exec Dan. 6. Obrdjentia non difcutit Dei mandat'dy fe,i, facft. Pro- fpcr. Gen. 22. Cafuxrus I 4, c.f]>. 24. • ban. 5. 27. Pfaj. i'Cj. 20. ii8 London's Lamentations on Dcut.?5.4- Ifa.65.1^- Pfal. gi. 5- PfaL86. 1$. Rom. 3.4 Gen. 1. Chap. 6, 2. excel in ftrcngth do his Commandments ; and (hall the Pca- fant fcorn that work in which the Prince himfcU is engaged > The Commands of God, both in the Old andNcwlcfta- mentj lye fair and full againft lying ; and therefore no won- der, if God revenge the habitual breach of them in Hamcs oi fire. The Holy Ghoft in the Hebrew tongue callcth a Lye Avcn^ which alfo lignificth Iniquity ; implying that all lyes are iniquity, and that al iniquity is after a fort included in a !yc, which doth fufficicntly evidence, that lying is nolmali fin. I might further argue thus, That which'ls contrary to God, who is the choiccft and the chicftft good j yea, who is goodncfs and truth it felf, that muft needs be the grcatcft evil : but lying is contrary to the Nature, Eff;ncc, and Being of God, witnefs the defcription that he gives of hinifelf both I in the Old and New Tcflament. And the Lord p-'lfed by ^e- fore him^ andproclaimtd^ the Lord^ the Lord Gody n^ercifui and ffracious^ long-suffering, and abundant in goodnifi and truth. So Mofes in his Song : He is a God of truth, and without ini- quity^ juji and right is he. So Efay : He who bUjftth bimjtlj in the earthy Jhall bUfi himfelfin the God of truth j and he that fvpeareth in the earth, jhaU fwear bj the God of truth* So the Pfalmift : 7hoH hajl redeemed me^ Lord God of truth. h^iin, Jhou^ O Lord, art plenteeuf in mercy and truths So in the New Teftament : Let God be true, and every man a lyar. Again,T^c; themfelves jhew how ye turned to God from Idols ^ to ferve the living and true God, Though God can make a world with a word of his mouth, and mar a world with a word of his mouth 5 yet he can neither dye nor lye. litm I. 2. In hope of eternal life y which God that canmt lye, promi- fed before the world bee^an : yea, it is impofllble for God to lye. Heb.6k 18. 7hatby two immuuhle things , in which it fvof impojftblf for God to lye. N"»w by al! thefc plain pregnant Texts 'tis moft evident, that lying is mofl oppofife and con- trary to the very Nature, Eflcnce, and Bcinp of God 5 and hcrcfore no wonder, if the anger and wrath of God rifcs high againft it. But, Secondly, Confidcr tbi?, that pernicious Lyes andLyars arc the late jiery Diffenfation. Up are very dcftnifHve to all humane Societies, Kingdoms, and Common- wealths.Lying dcftroys all Socicty,all Commerce, and Converfe among the Sons of men. Man ( as the Philo- fophcr obfcrveth ) is J&or 9r«MTixd|r, a fbciabJc Creature. Speech is the means whereby men have fociety and commerce one with another. Now lying perverts that order which the God of truth hath appointed to be among the Sons of men, *Tis the will and plea(urc of God, that the Sons of men converfing together, fhould by their words and fpecches and di^courfes Impart and communicate their minds, de. (igns, intentions, and meanings one to another, for the mutu. al good of one another, and for the profit and benefit of the whole. Now if there be nothing in mens words, but lying, deceit, and fraud inftead of truth, what can follow but con- fulion and defolation > Whenthelanguageof men was con- founded, Co that one could not tell what another (pake, then prefently followed the diflolution of their combination ; for the Lord fcattered them abroad from thence, upon the face of all the Earth, and they left off to build the City; when one asked brick (faith a Kabbtm) another brought clay, and then they fell together by the cars, and one dafticd out the others brains ; and by this means their communion was dif* (blvcd, and God brought on them the evil which they fought to prevent, vttf, 4. But furely a lying tongue is a far worfe enemy to Society then an unknown tongue : and much bet- fcventy Nati ter it fs for a man to have no fociety at all, then wiih fuch a;- [ ons with fe- hc cannot believe what they (ay; or if he do, he Ihallbc '^^"^y^^ndry furc to be deceived by them. Concerning fuch, we may well Gen."!?,^^ takeupthc words of J^co^ ; my foul ^ come not thou w'o ffaj*, ^q thtir fecret^ unto their ajfembly • mine honour^ be not thou uni' I Jcr. 9. i itd. And pray with David : Deliver my joul^ Lord^ from the 6, lying Up^ and from a deceitful tongue. Jeremiah did fo loath and abominate the fociety of Lyars, that he had rather live in a Wildernefs, then live among them, or have any thing to do with them. Lyars dcftroy that Communion and Society that by the Law ciFCod, Nature, and Nations they ought to prcftrve and maintain. Lying difTolves that mutual truft that wcfliould have with one another j for hereby all Con- ______^ traftsj Gen. 1 1 . 7, 8. A. sal. The Hebrew Dolors fay, that at this difperfion there were 2. CO I 20 London's Lawentatiens on Mendax hoc lucratur^ ut cum vera d't- iterit. ei mn cnda:ur. Titus I. 2. i._ tra£t<', Covenants, and Intercourfcof dealings between man and man, wh cli is ( as ir were ) ihc life of the Kingdom or Oommon. wealth, arrc quite overthrown. When men make loco.dcience of lyinp^toi of keeping their word any further hen cither fear of lofs, or force of Law compellcth them, n Civil cotnmunion is at an er(d. There can be no truft vhcre there is no truth, nor no Commerce with thofe that cannot be truftcd. The Scythians had a Law, that if any 'Tian did (duo -peccata contorquere ) bind two fins together, a ye and an oarh, he waF to lofe his head, bccaufe this was the vay to take away all faith and truth among men. Had this ^aw been put in rvrcution in London^ I have reafon enough to tear that many Cit'zens would have loft their heads long be- fore they had luft their houfcs by the late dreadful Fire. Now freing that pernicious lying, a courfc, a trade of lying, is (6 'cftrudive to humane Society, why (hould wc wonder to fee the Lord appear in flaming fire againft it ? But, Thirdly, Confider, that lying is a fin that is moft odious and hateful to God ; yea, a fin that makes men odious and hareful to him. Lying is repugnant unto God ; for God is a.4ivJ'ti(y one that cannot lye. He is "iUW Th^ the God of truth, and therefore lying cannot but be odious to him. God is faid not only to forbid a lye, but to hate a lye. A lye, 'tis an abomination. Now we abominate that which is contra- ry to our natures. Amongft thofe things that are an abomi- nation to the Lord, a lying tongue is reckoned, Prov.6, 16, 1 7. T'hefe fix things do th the Lord hate^ yea^jeven are an abo. -nination to him, A fraud loo\^ tf /)if«g *o«^»e, or as the He- brew runs, a tongue of lyings that is, a tongue that hatji learn- ed the trade, and can do it artificially ; a tongue that is ac- cuftomed to lying, a tongue that is delighted in lying. So V^rfe 19. Afalfe vpitmfs that fpeah^th lyes^ and him that fotVm ah difcord among brethren. Among thetc feven things abo- minated by God, lying is twice repeated, to note how great ?n abomination lying is in the eye and account of God-jfrov. 12.22. Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord • not only offcnfivc or odious, but abominable. Lyars pervert the end for the late fiery Difpenfation, 121 for which God cpcatcd fpccch, which was to give light to the notions of the mindj and therefore the Lord loaths them, and plag^ucsthcm in this life with great fcverity, as you may fee in thofc fad inftanccs oiGebazi, whofe lye was punifticd with a perpetual Icprofie upon himfclf and his pcftcrity • and of An aniof and Sapphira, who for their lying were punifhed with prefent and fliddcn death j and of Haman^ who flan- dcring Mordecai and the Jews, and by his lyes plotting their mine, was taken in the fame fnare that he had laid for them, and both he and his Sons hanged upon tlie fame Gal* lows which he had made for innocent Mordecai. The (amc Lyar that wasfeafting with the King one day, was made a feaft for Crows the next day. Dreadful are the ihrcatnings that the great God has given out againftlyars, Pf 6. TboH Jhalt deflroy them that jpeak. ^'^f^^g' Such as lye in jeR, will without repentance go to Hell in earneft. ffal. 1 2.3. The Lord fhaU cut off aU flattering lipj^ and the tongue that ^eal^eth proud things. God by one Judgment or another, in one way or another, will cut off all flattering lying lip?, as a rotten member is cut off from the body, or as a barren tree that is flocked up, that it may cumber the ground no more, Pfal, 120. 2,3,4. ^^'^^f'" f^y fi**^, Lor d^ from lying lips and from a deceitful tongue ! WhatJhaH be given unto thee ? or what (hall be done unto thee^ thou falfe tongue ? (harp arrows of the Mighty \GoA will retaliate fharp for ftiarp ) with coals of ;«- niper. The coals of Juniper burn hot, and laft long (fome fay, a month and more ) and fine.l fweet. Now upon thcfe coals will God broil lying lips, and a deceitful tongue, plea- ling himfclf and others in the execution of his wrath upon a lying tongue, Yrov^ ip. ^. Afalfewhnefs (haV not be unpu^ nijhed^ and he that fpiaketh IjesJhaU not efcape. Though men fomctimcsby lying miy efcape the difpleafure of men ; yet they (hall never by lying efcape the wrath and difpleafiirc of God. Wrath is for that man, and that man is for wrath, who hath taught hisron,euc the trade of lying, Hf, 12. r. Ephraim daily increjfeth lyes and defolation, Defblation is the fruit and confcquent of lying j fin and punilhment are infeparable companions ; they who heap up lyes^ haftcn de- R (blacion 2 Kings 5. 20. to the end. Ads 5. 5. to the II. Efth.3.8,9, 10, II. Chap. 7. 9. And Chap. 9, 13,14. 121 London's Lamentations on Arifi. Ethic, lib. j^, cap,'}. folation both upon thcmfelves and the places where they live. Now if Ijingbeafin fo hateful and odious to God, no wonder, if God appears in Baming fire againil it. But, Fourthly and laftly. Lying is a fin aga'nft the Light and Law of Nature, it is a fin againfl natural Confciencc ; and therefore Ms that a little chiJd will blufli many times when he tells a lye. It was obfcrved of Pomponius Atticus, Ciceroes great Friend, that he never iifed lying, neither could he with patience lend his ear to a Lyar. lennerthtSon oiCyr- nttt (who was wordiipped as a God ) was fo ftrifi: in judg- ment, that becaufed an Ax to be held over the witneffes head to execute them out of hand, if they were taken with fa'fhood or a lye. Among the Sc)th'ians^ when their Priefts foretold an untruth, they were carried along upon hurdles full of heath and dry wood drawn by oxen, and roanaclflri hand and foot, and burnt to death. Arijiotle fiitb^ by the light of natural Reafon, that a lye is evil in in felf, and can- not be difpenfed withal, it being contrary to the Order of Nature. For (faith hcj we have tongues given us to exprefi our minds and meanings one to another by Now if our tongues tell more or Icfs then our minds conceive, it is againft Nature. It is faid o^Epaminon/fas a Heathen, that he abhor- red mtndacium jocofum a jefting lye. Flutarch calls Lying a Tinkcrly fin, a fin that is both hateful and {hamefuL Euru pedes faith, that he is unhappy, who rather ufcih lyeF,t hough fecmingly good, then truths when he judgeth them evil. To think the truth, faith Plato^h honc^, but a filthy and difho- ncft thing to lye. I could (faith my Authorj both figh and fmile at the fimplicity of fomc Pagan people in /^werfc=/,who having told a lye, ufcd to let their tcngues blcod in expiation thereof. A good cure for the Squinancy, but no fati'faftion for lying. Thcfe Heathens will one day rife in Judgment againft fuch amongfl us as make no confcience of lying. To bring things clofe^ thofethat lived within and without the Walls of London^ that were given up to a trade, a courfi: of lying, thofe pcrfons finned with a high hand, not only agiinft the Light of Nature, but alfo againft as clear, as glorious at Gofpel- 1 the late fiery Diffenfation. 1^3 Gofpd-light, as ever (hincd round a people fince Chrift was upon the Earth ; and therefore no wonder, if God hath laid their City in aflics. He that Qiall feripiifly dwell upon thefc four thing?, viz, i. That lying is a very great fin. 2. That Lyes and Lyars are very dcftruftivc to all humane Societies , Kingdom?, and Common- wealths. 5. That Lying is a fin moft hateful and odious to God. 4. That Lying is a fin agaifift the Light and Law of Nature; he will fee caufe enough to jaftific the Lord in that late dreadful Fire that has thu^ been amongft us. But before I clofc up this Particular, give rtc leave to fay, That this trade, this courfe of Lying that brings that fore Judgment ofFire upon Cities and Countries, I cannot charge with any clear evidence upon thofc that djd truly fear the Lord, whofe habitations were once within or without the Walls of London^ before it was turned into a ruinous heap j and that upon thefe grounds. Firft, Becauft a trade, a courfi: of Lying is not confiftcnt with the truth or ftate of Grace, A trade, a courfe of drun- kcnnef% of whoring, of fwcaring, of curfing,is as inconfiftcnt with a ftate C(f Grace, as a trade, a courlc of Lying is. I know Jacob lyed,and David\ycd^ and Peter lyed ; but none of thcfc were ever given up to a trade of lying, to a courfe of lying. The bcft Saints have had their extravagant motions, and have fadly mifcarricd as to particular actions : but he that (hall judge of a Cferiftians eftate by particular aft?, though notorious bad, will certainly condemn where God ;»cquit?. We muft always diftinguifh between (bmefinglc evil aftions and a ferious courfe of evil aftions. It is not thi' or that particular evil a6V5on, but a continued courfe of evil aftions that denominates a man wicked. As it is not this or that particular good aft, but a Continued courfe of holy afti- ons that denominates a man boly. Every man is as his courfe is ; if his courfe be holy, the man is holy ; if his courfe be wicked, the man is wicked. There i^. a Maximc in Loglck^vzz. That no general Rule, can be cftabliftied upon a particular Inflance. And there is another Maxithe in Legick, ^iz. That Pral.139.25, 24. 1 Joh. 3. 6, 7, 8,9,10. VnuaBio non denominat. 124 l,ondon's Lamentations on 2. I Kings 22.22. Gen. 5, no particular Inftancc can overthrow a general Rule* So here, look as no man can (afcly and grounded ly conclude from no better premifcs then from fome few particular a£l:i. ons (chough inthcmfclvcs materially and fubftantially good) that this or that mans fpiritual cftatc is good ; (b on the othci- hand, no manought to conclude becaufc of fome particular (infulaftions and extravagant motion'', that this or that mans Tpiri/ual cftate is bad. A trade of Lying can never ftand with a trade of Holinefi, acourfc of Lying can never ftand with a courfe of Godlincfs. Though the Needle of the Sea- mans Compaft may jog this way and that way ; yet the bent of the Meedlcwill ft II be Northward : So though ^ijacob^ a Vavidy a Peter nwy have their particular finful joggings this way or that way • yet the bent of their hearts will ftill be God. wards, Chrift^wards, Heaven^ wards, and Bolinefs- wards. Bur, Secondly, Such as did truly fear the Lord within or with- out the Walls of London,Cuch did in their folemn AddrcfTcs to [he Lord, both together and apart, lament and bewail that trade, that coucfe of lying that was predominant among man^y that day ; and therefore I dare not charge the trade, the courfe of lying upon their fcores. But, Thirdly, A lye draws its Pedigree from the Devil, and fuch as make a trade of lying , fuch arc certainly Satan? children, Joh.% 44, Te are of your father tht devil^andthe lup of yoHr father ye tviU do ; hewoi a murtberer from the bt" '^inning^ and abode not in the trutb., hcaufe there is no truth in him. When he fpcakcih a lye, he fpcaketh of his own ; for he is a lyar, and the father of it. Satan is the father of all (im, as well as the father of lyes ; but here he is faid to be a Lyar and the Father of ir, becaufe by lying he fir ft brought (in into the wprld". Satan began his Kingdom by a lye, and :by lyes hcftilMabours to uphold it. He is the Invcntcr and \uthorof all the lyes that be in the world. The Devils •breafts, fays. L»ikr, are v^ry fruitful with lyes. Lyars are the Devils children by imitation ; there arc none that rcfcm -ble him fo much to the life as tyars do : they are as like him,^ -'■ - •• as the late fery Difpetffation, FC15 as if they were fpit out of tine very naouth of him. Lying is a part of the Devils Image. Oihcr fins make men lil^e bcafts ; but this of lying makes men like Devil?. Leo fptaking of Ly- ing, faith : lotam vim fuam in mfndacio diabolta collocavit^ omniaq-^ deceptianttm genera de hoc vtnenatijfimo artU jite fonte produxit : The Devil hath placed his whole ftrength in lying, and from this moft poyfoncd fountain of his craft, hath he brought forth all kinds of deceit. Now upon this account alfo, I dare not charge the trade of lying upon fuch who feared the Lord within or without the Walls of London. Though many that make a profcffion of Chrift, are no more like Chrift then Michoh Image of Goats hair was like David -^ yet all fuch as arc really united to Chrift, they are like to Chrift, they bear upon them the Image of Chrift, they re- fcnible him to the fife, Jcfus Chrift is fuch a fountain, in which whofbever bathes, and of which whofoever drink;;, they ftiall be furc to be changed into the fame likenefs from glory to glory ( that is, from a lower degree of grace, to a higher degree) even as by the Spirit of the Lord.. Such as truly fear the Lord, have an Image of Righteoufnefs and Holinefs ftampt upon them, and do more refemble Chrift then Satan ; and therefore the trade of lying may not be charged upon them. But, Fourthly, Have they not chofen rather to fuflJr, then by lying cither to free themfc Ives from fuffcrings, or to fccurc themfclvcs againft fufFcrin^s ? Jerom writes of a brave Wo- man, that being upon the Rack, bad her Perfccutor^ do theii worft J for (lie was refolved rather to dye then to lye. Has not much of this fplrit been upon them ; and therefore Ldare not charge the trade of lying upon them ? Bur, Fifthly, Such as truly fear the Lord , they hate lying, ^fti. 119 163. / haie and abhor lying. David hated lying as he hated Hell it CcM* So prov, 1 3 5. /4 rightum nun ha. teth lying. Lying is a noifom ftinking weed, and therefore a righteous man abhors to touch it, lie hates to come near it, and canby no means endure the fcent at it in other?, leaft ol ; alU Leo de Sloe- mof. firm. 4. Job. I i5. 2 Cor. 3.18. Phil.4. 23,24. 126 London's Lamentations on fuftin Mart)r Apol.2. pro Chriftianis. 6- 7« Col. 3. 9. all in himfelf. J ttfl in Martyr^ fyc^k'mg^ of the pcrfccuted Chriftnns, haih this memorable Saying {^ In nofira eji pete- iUie^ut quum inquirimur negen:tis ^ fed vivere noluvus menda citer quicquam loquentes ) It is in our power, when WC arc fought for and examined, to deny what wc arc, what wc be- lieve ; but wc will not live fpcaking any thing untruly* Thcfc blcllcd Souls fo hated and abhorred lying, that they would rather dye then lye, A lye, fakh Flato^ is odious not only to the Gods, but alfo to every wife man. Cleobulm^ another Heathen, affirmeth, that every wife prudent man haieth a lye. Erafnijtt had fuch an Antipathy agamft lying, (hat from his youth he would ufually tremble at the light of a noted Lyar. Now upon thi' account alfo, I dare not charge the trade of lying upon their (core that truly fear the Lord. But, Sixthly, Lying is that fad Charaftcr and black Brand that the Lord hath only put upon wicked and ungodly men, P/^/. 4. 2. Oje/o«/o/lmc« (ye Grandees who arc potent at Court) hovp longv&tll ye turn my glory into jhame ? hon> long rviU ye love vanity and fetk^ after leafing ? Plal. 58. 3. Ihi nficksd are fflranged from the rvomb^ they go afiray M foo» as they be born fpeaklng lyes^ no fooner could they do any things but thi'y were doing evil^ l^Jpifig out tyes even at foon as they were horn, 1(3,30 8, 9. Notp gOy write it before them in a tablet and note it in a boo\^ that it may be for the time to ceme^for ever and ever. Why, what muft he write > mark verf. p. That thU is a rebiliiotu people^ Iji^Z children^ children that xplll mt hear the law of the Lord, Now upon this account alfb, f dare not charge the trade of lying upon them that feared the Lord in that great City before it was laid in allies. But, Seventhly, A trade of lying is inconfiftent with the Rela- tion of Chilc^fjn, Ifa.6^, 8. Surely they are my people, children that will not lye^ fo he was their Saviour. God makes this the ear-mark of his people, that they are children that will not lye. When the Heathen Philofopher was askt, in what things Imcn were moft like unto God, he anfwered. In their (peak- ing of truth. Not lying is one of the choice Charafters by _«______ which the late jiery Difpenfation. 127 which the Lord doth difference and diftinguifti his own pe Culiar people from other men, Zepba, 3. 13. 7 he remnant of Ifraei Jhall do no Iniquity ^ nor Jpeak^lj/es: neither (hatl a de. ceitfttl tongue be found in their Mouth, In the primitive timcf this was a common Saying : Chriftianm e/?, mn mentittur^ He is a Chriftian, he will not lye. Kev, 14. 5, And in their mouth vpos found no guile : far they are without fault before the Throne of God, Now upon this account alfo, I dare not charge the trade of lying upon thofe gracious Souls that feared the Lord within or withou^the Walls of London^ before it was turned into a ruinous heap. Bur, Eighthly and laftly, Lyars are reckoned amoragft the ba- fcft and the worft of finners that you read of in alj the Book of God, Lcvit. ip.ii. Tejhillnot (ieal^ neither deal falfe- ly^ neither lye one to another. Prov. ^. 16,17, ^8,19. Ihefe fix things doth the Lord hatty yea^ fevenare an a'wmination to him, Afroudlook^^ a lyingtongue^ and hands that Jhed inno- cent blood. An heart that devifeth tvick^d imaginatienSj feet that be fmft in running to tnifchitf, A falje tvitnejithat fpeakr etblyes^ and him that fowitb difcord ammg brethren. So the Apoftle Paul fctting down a Catalogue of the bafcft and worft of finners, he ranks lyars in the rcrc of them, i Titn. I. 9, 10. Knomng tbis^that the latvisnot mide for a rii^htcrtts man^ but for the /jrplefs and difobedient -^ for the ungodly and for finners, for unholy ani prophane^ for murderers of fathers, and murderers of mothirs^ for man-fliyirs. # For vphoremnngers^ for them that defile themfelves ppith mankind^ for mtn-fieahrs^ for lyars, for perjured perf^ns. So J,;hn numbers them amongit thcdam.ned crew, Rev. 21.8. Thit (hjllbe fent tohell^ and that maji pcrij}} for ever. Rev. 21.8, But the fearful and unbelieving^ and the abominable^ and murthertrs-, andn^hore- mongers^ and forcerers^ and idolaters^ a)jd all lyars (hill have their part in the lake vokieh burnelh with fre and brim(iofte^ which is the fecond death; In thrs Catalogue of the damned crcWj the fearful arc placed in the Front, and ihe lyarftinthe Rcre. Sec once more how the Holy Ohoft couples lyars, Kfv, 2Z 15. VormttKut are dogs ^ and for cerers^ and mur- thertrs^ 8. 128 London's Lamentatiens on therers.^ and whoremongers, and idolaters , and vehofoever loveth and tnaksth a lye, Thus you fee in all thcfc Scriptures, that lyars arc nutnbrcd up among the rabble of the moft defpe- rate and deplorable Wretches that are in all the world •, and therefore upon this account alfo, I cannot charge the trade of lying -upon them that feared the Lord, whofc habitations were once within or without the Walls oi London, 8. I. Deut. 29.23. Hof.ii.8. Ezek. i^.'49, $0. 2. The eighth fin that brings the Judgment of Fire, is mens giving thcmfclvcs over to fornication ^and going after ftrange flcfti, Jude 7, Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the Cities about them yin Uk§ manner giving themfelves over to fornicatisn, and going after fir ange fit(h, are fei forth for an ex.^mple, Juf. feringthe vengeance of eternal fire* In thcfe Words there are thcfc three things obftrvable. Firft, The places puni-Qied, and they are Sodsm and Go' morrah, and the Cities about them, which were Admah and Zeboim, Egefippuf, and Stephanus fay, that ten Cities were de- ftroycd, and fome fay, thirteen Cities were dcfttoyed when Sodom was dcftroyed : but thefc things I ftiall not impofe upon you as Articles of Faith. The overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah, and the Cities about thcni was total, both in refpcft of the Inhabitant?, and the places the mftlves ^ their fin was univerfal, and their puni(hmcnt was as univerfaL That pride, idlenefs,and fulncfs of bread that is charged up- on them by the Propjict Ezekiel, did ufbcr in thofc abomina- ble wickcdncffcs that laid all waftc and defolate. Secondly, The fins that brought thcfc punifiimcnts, vit,. The giving themfelves over to fornication , and going after (irangejiejh : The firft is. Giving themfelves over to fornication. Now the word [Fornication'] is not to be taken properly and ftriftly for that aft of unclcannefs that is often committed between perfbns unmarried ; but it is here to be taken for all forts of carnal uncleannefi. The Heathen thought fornication no vice, and therefore they made it a common cufioro, and were wont to pray thus : 7 he Gods increafe the number of the Harlots, the late fiery Difpenfation. 129 Gen. 2.21, Hit. Rom. 1.25, 27. Harlots, The fccond fin that i& charged upon them is, Ihtir going after jirange fiffh ( ffa^Kif hisut another fljh^ as the words in the Original run.) The Apoftlc in ihis raodcft and covert exprcflion J Going after fhange fiifh, or other fi,fljf or another flifij^ doth hint to UJ their monftrous and unlawful lulls that were againft the Courfe, Light, arid Law of Na. turc ; they gave thcmfclves up to fuch.fiUhinef?, as is fcarcc to be named among meri ; they went after other flcfh then what Nature or the God of Nature had appointed. The great God never appointed that male and male, but only that male and female fhould be one fltfli ; ,!tis impoflible that man and man in that execrable aft (hould make one flcfti, as man and woman do. The flcfli of a male to a male muft needs be another flcfh. The Apoftlc F^«/ exprcffcth their Hithinefs thus. Fer even their rpomen did change the natnral ufe into that which if againd nature 9 and Ukewije alfo the men leaving the natural ufe of thetvomen^ burned inthdrluji one toward another : mm with men^ working that which is u?ifeem' I}. Chryfodom well obfirrves on thefe words^ that whereas by Gods Ordinance in lawful copulation by Marriage,' two be- came one flcfli, both Sexes were juyncd together in one j by Sodomitical uncleanncft the fame flc[h is divided into two, men with men working uncleannefs as with women of one Sex, making ^as it were) two. The Gen i es had left the God of Naturcj and therefore the Lord in his jiift Judgment left them to leave the order of Nature, and fo to caft fcorn and comccmpt upon the whole humane Nature. Again, There h another fort of pollution by ftrange fl^ fli, Lcvit. 18. _ and that is a carnal jpyniog of a man with a beaft, which isl prohibited: Neither jhaltt^pu lye with any heaj}. Oh, what a fink of fin is in the nature of man,the heart of man .' And as this pollution is prohibited, fo 'tis puniflicd with death. And[r\{^n ^o 1?. if a man lye with a beaji^ he jhill furely be put to death, and ye Jhal}(lay thi beafi. The Lord, to Ihcw tlie horridnefs and the hainoufnefs of this bcaftly (in, commands that even the poor, harmlefs, innocent beaft Cthat is neither capable of fin, nor of provoking or enticing man to fin^ muft be put toj S death.' 150 London's Lamentations on Gen. I. 27, 1 Sam. 15.22. 2 Chron. 7. 2. t KmgsS. I. death. Oh, how great is that pollution that pollutes the ve- ry bcafts, and that makes the unclean more unclean, and that doth debafe the beift bclowab^aft.' Now to this fort ot pollution the bcaftly 5t;^ow«fj had without doubt given up rhemfelvc?. The third thing obfcrvablc in the words, is the fevcrity of their puniftiipcnt, Snffmngtht vmgiana of eternal fir^. We cotHmonly (ay, that fire and water have no mercy, and we have frequently experienced the truth of that faying. When God would give the world a proof of hi« greatcft fcverity againft notorious iinncrsandnotoriouf fin", he doth it by in- flifting the Judgment of Fire ; when the Sodomites burned in their luftsonc cowards another. Then the Lord rained upon Sodom and Gomorrah hrimflone and fire^ from the Lord out of heaven. The Lord rained brimjicne and pre from the Letdy fthat is ) by an elegant Hebraifm, from himfelf} it being ufi.ai with the Hebrews to put the Noun for the Pronoun, as you may fee by comparing the Scriptures in the Marginc to- gether. Now this fiery vengeance came not from any infe- rior caufe, but from the fupream caufe, even God himfelf. This brimftone and material fire that was rained by the Lord out of Heaven, was not by any ordinary courfc of Nature, but by the immediate almighty power of God. Doubt- lefi it was the (iipernatural and miraculous work of the Lord, and not from any natural caufe, thatfuch (bowers, not of wa- ter, as whenthcOld world was drowned ; biit of material fire and brimftone, (hould fall from Hc^avcn upon Sodom and Gomorrah ('to which add Adama and Zeboim j for all thcfc four Cities were biirnt together J God rained, not fprinkled, yea, he rairtcd not fir; only, but fire and brimftone for the in- creafc of their torment, and that they might have a Hell above ground, a Hell on this fde Hell. They had hot fire for their' burning luftp, ^nd ftinking brimftone for their Oinkingbrii- tiftinefs. They burned with vile and unnatural lufts, and therefore againft the courfe of Nature fire fal!« down from Heaven, »nd devours them, and their ftinking abominable fihhincfs is punifticd with the ftendi of brimftone mingled W4ih fire. Thus God delights to fuit mens puni(hments to .:~ their the late fiery DifpenfatioH. n their fins- yea, that temporal fire that God rained out of Heaven upon Sodont and Gomorrah^ was but a fore-runner ol their evcrUfting puniftimcnt in that Lake which burns with fire and briraftonc for evermore; The temporal punifli- mcnt of the impenitent Sodomites^ did but make Way to their eternal puniftimcnt?, as Jndt tells ur. I readily grant, thaf the fire of Hell was typified by that fire which fell from Hca. ven upon i'oi/ow and Gomorrah : but I cannot conceive, thai the Apoftlc jFjr^e in the place laft-citcd, doth intend or dc. lign to prove that the Sodomites were dcftroyed by Hell- fire j for in the Hiftory of Genefis ( to which the Apoftle alludes ) there is no mention at all of Hell-fire or of Eternal fire ; and doubtlefs the example that (hould warn finncrs to repent of their fins, and to turn to the moft High, is to be taken from the Hiftory in Genefis, I cannot at prefent fee how Sodom and Gomorrah can be fet forth as an example to linners by flffcring the puniftimcnt of Hcll-firc, when the Hiftory is wholly filcnt as to any fuch fire. Some to moliifis the Teem- ing auftcrity of thatPhrafc which Jude u'cs, niz. Eternal fie, read the words thus : ff^ere made on example of eternal fire^ fuffering vengeance ; by which conftriift ion they gather, that the fire which haih irreparably dcftroyed Sodom and Gomorrah ^ was a type and fip,ure of that fire of Hell, of that Eternal fire that is rcferved for wicked men, and by rt^hich firtnerso ght to be warned,- Others bv eternal fire under- ftarid the duration^of the cffifts of the firft tcmporalpuriifti. mcnr, the foil thereabout wearing the marks of divine dif- Rev. 21.8. Jude7, pJeafure to this very day. Several Authors write, that the Air there is (b infcftious, that no crcarure an live there ; and though the Apple! and other fruit that grow there fcem ■plcafant unto the eye 5 yet if you do but touch them, they prefcntly turn into cinders and a(hcs. The ftinkingLake of A^haiies near to Sodomy is left as a perpetual Monument of Gods Vengeance, killing t 11 fifli that fwimmeth in it, and fowls that flyc over it. Others by eternal fire undcrftand an utter dcftruftion, according td^bat 2 fet, 2. 6^ ^nd turning the citiis of Sodom and Gomorrah into afhes^ cotidemmd thim tgith au o'j'.rthrovp ( that i", utterly dcftroyed them ) making ^ S 2 them 7ofephufy Tertul/ian, A»guftinet 132 London's Lamentations on 1. thtm an enfample unto tbofe that after Jhonld live ungodly, God hangs them ip in Gibbets, as it were, that others might hear and tear, and not dare to do wickedly as they had done. What though it be faid, that the fire wherewith ihcfe So. domttes were deftroycd was eternal ; yet there is no ncccfllty toundcrftand it of Hell- fire: for even that very fire which confumcd thofc Cities may be called Eternal, becaufe the pu* niftiracnt that was infliftcd on Sodom and Gomorrab by fire, was a puniftiment that fhould laft as long as the world lafted, God rcfolved thofe Cities (hould never be rebuilt , but remain perpetual deiblations in all generations. Now in this fcnfe the word [^EternaQ is often ufcd in the Scripture. Again tkc fire and brimltone that fell upon Sodom and Go. monah^ was a type and figure of that eternal fire or thofe eternal torments that ftiall be inflifted upon all impcnirent itnncrs for ever and ever. The fum of all is this, that the Sodomites by giving themfclves over to fornication, and by going after ftrange flcfh , did provoke the Lord to rain Hell out of Heaven upon them : they did provoke the Lord to rain material fire and brimftcne both upon their pcr/bn? and their habitations. Now ^ive me leave to fay, that doubrlcfs the body of the inhabitants of that famous City which is now laid in a(lie=, were as free from giving themfclves over to for nication, and going after ftratige Qcfh, as any in any part of the Nation ; yea, more free therTmany in feme parrs of the Nation: yea, give me leave to fay, that I cannot fee how thefe fins ttiat are charged upon the Sodomites^ can be clearly or groundedly charged upon any of the precious Servants of the Lord, that did truly fcaj:,|)}m in that renowned City : And ray R.ci(bnsarcthcleji;o\( But, Fourthly, Thefe expreffions of giving thcmfclvcs over to fornication, and going after firange flcfh, implies, Firft, Their making conftant provifions for their bafc lufl?, O the time, the pains, the coft, the charge that fuch ire at to make provifion for their unfatiable lufts ! Secondly, It implies an exccflive violent fpcnding of their ftrength beyond all meafurc and bounds in all lafcivioufncfs ind WojwiVzW uncleannefs, ?Unj tells of Co^neliut Callus ■ ind ^Eleriuf^ two Roman Knights, that dyed in the very iftion of filthinefs. Theodebert the eldcdSon of Glotharins dyed amongft his Whores ; Co did Bertram Ferrier at Bace^ 'em in Spain '^ Giachet Geneve of ^j/«ce/, who had both wife ind children of his own, being carnally joyned with a young womai, was fuddenly fmitten with death •, his wi^c and -hildrcn wondring why he flayed fo long in his Study, when It was time to go to bed called him, and knockt at his door very hard, but when no anfwer was made, they broke open the doors that were locked on the inner fide, and found him lying upon the woman flark dead, and her dead alfo* Clau^ dus of -^ff^j Counfcllor of the Parliament of Parit (a defpe- ratc the late fery Diffenfation. •35 rate Pcrfccuror of the Protcftants ) whilft he was in the very aft of committing fihhincfs with one of his waiting Maid?, was taken with an Apoplexy, which immediately after made an end of him. Many other inftanccs raight be producccf, but let thefe fuffice. Thirdly, It implies their impudcncy and fhamclcrnefs in 3. their fihhincfs and uncleannefi ; they had a Whores fore- head 5 they proclaimed their laftivioufncfs before all the Jf/' 5* ^' world; they were not afhamcd, neither could thty blufti : ifa'^'^o''^' hence 'ti?, that the men oi Sodom are faid to be finncrs before ' oen. 1 3. 1 3. the Lord ; that is, they finned openly, publickly, and fhame- 1 lefly, without any regard to the eye of God at all. Bring Gen. 19. 5. them out to us^ that we may \nowthem. O faces hatcht with impudency! they fiirowd not their fins in a mantle of fccrccy, but proclaim their filthinefs before all the world, they had out-finn*d all fiiamc ; and therefore they gloried in their fhamc : they were fo arrogant and impudent in finnirg, that they proclaimed their filthinefs upon the houfe.top. Butj Fourthly, It implies their rcfolvcdncfs and obftinacy in finning in the face of all the terrible Warnings and Alarms that God had formerly given them by a bloody War, and by ! Gen. 14 thefpoUing an?! plundering of their Cities, and by taking" away of their viftuals (firlnefsof bread was a part of their fin, and now cleanncfsof teeth is made a piece of their pu- nifhment in Gods |uft Judgment ) and by Lots admonition ^'"' *-^ ^*' and rriJd oppofition. It isobfcrvabkjthat when they were fmitten with blindncfs, they wearied thcmfclvcs to find the door. God fmote them wiihblindnef', both of body and mind • and yet they continued groaping to fir d the door, being highly refolvcd upon buggery and bcaftiality, though they dyed for it* O the hideous wickcdncfi and prodigicu? madnefs of i\\c{c Sndomites, that when divine yuftice had ftruck them blind, their heart? (hould be (b defpcrately fet upon their lifts, a« to weary thcmfelvcs to find the door/ But what will not Satans bond.flavcs and fire- brands of Hell do? Sottifti and befotted finncrs will never tremble when Phil. 2. i>2.. God ftrikcs. Biit, * Fifth lo, 1<2. 1^6 London's Lamentations on 5- Rom. 1.32. Id. 66. ?. 2 Thef,2. 12. 2 Pec. a. 13. 6- Gen.*. Gen. 19. 14. Fifthly, Thcfc cxprcfljons of giving themfclvcs over to fornication, and going after ftrangc flcfli, implies the de light, plcafurc, content, and fatisfaftion that they took in hofe abominable prafticcs.^ Thej have chaftn their ot tva)s, and their feuls delight iti their abominations. Jhey bad pleafttre in unrighteoufmji. Luiher tells us of a certain Gran- dec in his Country, that was To bcfottcd with the fin of Whoredom, that he was not afharacd to fay, that if he might ever live here, and be carried from one Whore- houfe to another, there to fatijfic his lufts, he would never defirc any other Heaven. This fihhy Grandee did afterwards breathe out his wretched Soul betwixt two notorious Har- lots. All the pleafurc and Heaven that thcfe filthy Sodomites loc k after, was to fatisfic their bruiiflb lufts. Hark, Scholar f faid the Harlot to ApuUius') it is but a bittcr-fwcet that you ire fo fond of 5 and this the Sodomites found true at the long run, when God (howrcd down fire and brimftrnc upon them. But, Sixthly and laftly, Thcfe words of giving the mfelves over to forn'cation, and going after ft range flcfti, implies their fi;reat fctlcd fectirity in thoft brutifti praftices. The Old world was not more fecure when God fwept them away with a Flood, then the Sodomites were fecure when God rained fire and btimftone out of Heaven upon them. Mer^ cury could not kill Araus till he had caft hS^ into a fleep, and with an inchantcd Rod clofcd his eyes : No more could (he Devil have hurt thcfe SodomittSy if he had not firft luli'd chem afleep in the bed of fecurity. Carnal fccurity opens [he door for all impiety to enter into the Soul, ^gmpey, when he had in vain affaulted a City, and could not take it by force, devifed this Stratagem in way of agreement, he told them he would kavc the Siege , and make Peace with them^upon condition that they would let in a few weakjfick, and wounded Souldiers among them to be curcd.They let in rheSouldierSj and when the City was fecure, the Souldiers let in Pompejs Army. A carnal fetled fecurity will let in a whole Army of lufts into the Soul ; and this was the Sodo. mites cafe. To fum up all, thofe exprcffions in J»de^ vtrf, 7. of I thi late fiery Difpenfalion. 37 of giving thcmfclvcs over to forDication, and going after ftrangc flcfh, do imply or take in 'tl«rc fix things laft men- tioned, which things will not ftand with the truth of Grace or ftatc of Grace ; and therefore thofc fins that arc fpccificd by Jude cannot be charged with any clear, fair, or full evi- dencc upon the people of God, vfho did truly fear him with" in or without the Walls of London. But (hould this Trca- life fall into any of their hands, who have given themfelves over to fornication, or to go after ftrangc fle(h, then I would fay, that it very highly concerns all fuch pcrfons to lay their hands upon their loyns, and to fay, we arc the very men, the finners, the monftcrs that have turned a rich and populous City into a ruinous heap. But, tU».', The ninth fin that brings the fore Judgment of Fire upon a People, is prophanation of the Sabbath, Jer. 7. ult. tut if you w'lU not heurkcff Hnto me^ to haUorv the Sabbatb-daj^ and not bear a burdeti, even enirin^ in at the gates of Jerufahm on the S ihbath-day, fhcn voiU I kjndle a fire in the gates thereof ^ ^nd it {hull devour the palaces of Jerufalem^ and it JhaO not he quenchid. In tkis memorable Scripture you may obfcrve. I. A fpccification of the Judgment that God will punifti Prophancrs of his Sabbath with, and that is fire. 2. The fpecification of theobjeft that this fire (hall fall upon, viz, a City, not a Town, a Village, or any other mean place, but a City, a ftatcly City, a populous City, a trading City, a fc- curc City. 3. Here is the fpecification of the City, viz. not every City neither, but Jtrufalem^ the City of Cities, the beft of Cities, the beloved City, the joyous City, the glori- ous City, the renowped City, the crowned City, the Metro- politan City, the City of God, the wonder of the World, the joy of the whole Earth ; yet Gcd threatens to deftroy th\s Jerufalem with fire and flames for prophaning of his Sabbath, But did God only threaten 'jemfalem ? No, for he executed his ihreatnings upon it, as you may fee in that 2 Kings 25. 85 9, 10. Afid in the fifth month^ en t'he feventh day of the month (which it the nineteenth fear of'7)lebuckadneZ' Pful. 74 4 zar King of BabjUny came Nebuzar'ada» captain cf' the ^^7)8, T gttardy ' Ifa. 52. 1. Pral.48. I- Pfal. 87. 3. Jer.22. 3. So 2 Chron. 36.17,18,19. 5> 1^8 London's Lamentaiions on Thofc Chd- deans that fet Jerufalem on fire> came from literal Babjlon, and whether thofc Chaldeans ihzt firfl fet London inflameSjCarae not frommy- ftical Babylon^ Iflial not here enquire nor difpucei Exod. 31. 13. 17. Xguavd^ a fervdnt rfthe King ofSakjianto Jerufalem, dwi hi '■■ burnt ihe honft of the L(»dr..and.ti:ie Kingrboufty and aH the', boufes'of Jerttfalcttty afid-every great motis huji burnt he nirth f.re^'"- And altthe army of the Chaldtei that pjere mth the cap- pjin [f the guard y hrak^ down the rvalls of 'jerufalem ronnd about. The fame you have Jer. ^2. 12, 13, 14. The Jews were great prophaners of. the Sabbath. liihtm. 1^, t^, 16, 17, xgi-'ifc/ thsfe 'duys Jattf £ in fudah fo^e tfeadin^ mn«- prejfss-. iij tfit fdbha*b, arid '^bringing in (Jjeaves^ and lading ■affeij af\ilfotvim,gfapej^ and figs, and allmarmer of burdens^ rxh'ch they brought into Jerufalem on the Jabbath-day :< and I teliified agauaji them in the day irherein they fold tnCiiijl', There dwelt men of lyre alfo therein^.phich broUghi ffij^ and ill manner of ware, and fold on the fabbath unto the children nf Juduh, ind mftYtifafem. Then / contended nit h the ncm hies ofjndalr, and. faidhnto them^ What evil thing id this that je do, and prorphane the fabbath- day ? Did ti'>t your fathers thuf ? and did not our God bring all this evil upoti Hf^ and up- on tiii city^'iy^ye hrina; more noraih ttp&n- JfrJtl by prrphane» ingthe^ fabhatih. Now this i.« obfcrvabfe, (bat as they hid prophaned tire Sabbath, (b Nebuzdradon fet their Temple on fire, and their Noble mens hcafcs on fire, and all the conlide- rable mens houfes in Jtrtifalem on fire on their Sabbarh day I know Jerfw; faith , it was en the tcnthday, Jer. 52. 13. ivhich fevcral of the Learned thus reconcile, viz. That on ciic fevcn'th day,' which wis their Sabbath, NibtizjrddonWnd.' led a fire in thcir'hibitalions, and burnt them air<]iiite down (>n the tenth. Now Ct^/riwupcn iheText gives thcfe R-ea- , fons of Gods fcverity 3gaii->ft them for prophaning his Sab- tbath. Firft, bccaufc it wa^an eafie'Precept toGeafe from ijaboiireneday'in feven ; and therefore they that would not I herein obey, W5e fruit, at Bee -fife the Sabbath was a fi.S'n cf ; Gods people by h-fm pecuHarly ch^fcn ,' and thercfordnct to reft now, was a grofa nrdc£t'or upholding' the mcrrioria! of thef/eatrft'Privl^e^'^'tha't ieverv/3(*'bcft*^wed upon iViortal' men. ^.^i^' BcdJufc ?hc iord'ivbtlldby thch-'kceping of a reft ...*... -^ ^- ^ .- v" — -/ -^ r -- ^ - - - — HOW frcm fervile «*©rk», draw therh^to i reft from thefcrvilc work the late fiery Pfffenf^^oii. 13? works of (in, as he rcftcdfrom^hework^of CrQatioji. To which others add a fourth, viR. Thati; mjght always be re mcmbrcd, that the whole WorJd wa$;C,cf,atcd tyOod, that we might acknowledge his infinite Power and Wifcjc^m here- in appearing. And others add.a fifth, viz. Bccaufe by keep- ing the Sabbath-day (it -being the day wherciaall religious Duties were done) all the cxcrcifes of Religion is meant, which if it had been purely upheld, both Pnnces, Nobles, Pricfts and People fliouid have fiouri(iicd for ever, and never have known what 'twas-to have their hoyfcsfet on fire about tbcir ears. Now is not famous London the fad Counterpane o{dcCohtc J ernfa /em > a fore and unqiitnchable Fire hath turned EngUnds_ Metropolis irjto afkcs and rubbish. But, That the Lord may appear moft juft and rlghteoiis in ih- fliftlng this dreadful Judgmefllof Fire upon thofe that pro- phancd his Sabbaths in Loudony conlider fcriopfly wiih me thefc twelve things. ctorc with God all the fix^lays, as thofe that keep clofcfttp God on the fevcnthday. In the doc obfervation of thi' Command, obedlifnce toall the reft iscomprifcd 5 and parti ^..,,=:^^-.^... _ rz ■ IV I. Philo Juddus faith, that thq' fourth Com- \ mandmcnt is a famous Pre- cept, and prcj. fi table to ex-' cite men td a^l kind of vertue and piety. iaa^B«wi.i> ] 140 l^ondons Lamentations on 2* ly^bccaiift tiiis Command has Icaft light of Nature to dfrcft us tothcobfervationof it t and partly, becaufc the forget- ting of this Duty, and prophaning of this Day, is one of the greateft fins that a people can be guilty of; it is a violation of all the Decalogue at once ; it is a iin againft all the con- cernments and Commandments of God at OEce. But, Secondly, It is delivered both negatively and affirmative- ly, which no other Command is, to ftiew how ftrongly it binds us to a holy obfcrvation of if. Thirdly, It hath more Reafons to enforce it, then any other Precept, riz. its equity, Cods bounty, his own Pat- tern^ and the Days bencdiftion. Fourthly, It is put in iheCiofe of the firft, and begin ningof the Second Table, to note, that the obfei vation of both Tables depends much upon the (anftificanon of ibis Day. itL..: ; : ' ■ ;.^t;"^1i Fifthly, It is very confidcrablc alfo, that this Command is more frequently repeated, theh others of the Command.' are, Exod, 20. 31. Exod. 14. 34. Exod. 24. ^5. Ltvit,ic^ 3, Liv'it. 28. 30. God would have Ifrad know in ihcfc scriptures laft cited, that their bufieft time«, as earing and harvcft ; yea, and the very building of the Tabernacle murt give way to this Precept. Secondly, ConGder that God is highly plcafcd and de- lighted with the fanftifkation cf his Sabbaths, J(r. 17 24, 2 J. Now in this promife he fticw?, that the flouri(hing cftatc both of Church and State, depends greatly upon the fanftifi- cationof this day. Two things are obfervablc in this pro- mife. Firft, the duty unto which the promife is made, and that is in verf. 24. 2. Obfervc the reward that is promifed, and that is twofold, i. The. firft concerns the Common, wealth and Civil State, wr/;;25. as if he ftiould fay, 1 wjl maintain the honour and dignity, the wealth and ftrength, -rhc peace and fafety of this Nation. The fccand blcfling that is the late fery Difpenfation. 141 Is promifcd, concerns the Church and ftate of Religion, ver 26. As if. he {hoLild fay, myfukmn Aflcmblics fhall bcducly frequented, and I will conrinuc my own Worlhip in the pu- rity, liberty, and power of it. Bur, Thirdly, Conlider that all publick Judgments and com- mon Calamities that evcrbefcl the people of God, arc im- puted by the Holy Ghoft to nafin more then to the propha nation of the Sabbarh , 2C^rw, 36. 17, 18, 19,20,21. turn to it ; ^oNihtm 13. 15, 16—18. Ezel^ 22.26-- ^i Her Priejls have violated my lavp^ and have prophaned tnj holj things t they have put no difference bet xvcen the holy and pro phane^ neither have thej (hevptd difference between the umleu/i and the clean^ and have hid their eyes from my fabbaths^ and lam prophaned among them. Therefore have I poured out my indignation upon them^ 1 have confumed them voith the fire oj my rvrath : their own wjy have J recompenfed upon their cwn heads ^ faith the Lord God. Levit. 26. 31, 32,33. And J wiUmak^ your ^'ities wjjie^ and bring joar Santluaries unto defolativn^ and wiUnot jmcU the favour of jcur frveit odmrs. And 1 rpill briftg the land into difulationy and yritr tnemies which dwell therein Jhall be ajionijhed at it. And I wiU fcatter you among the Heathen^ and will draw out a fword after you : and your land Jhall be defolate^ and your cities wafie. ' \ but what is the rcafon, why God biiM^s thofc two terrible Judg- ments of Fire and Sword upon them ? The rcfolution ot thi."^ Q^cftion you have in verf. 54. 3 ^. Ihen fhall the hnd. en- '■joyher fabbaths as h>ngiK it lyeth dejoLte^ and ye he in your enemies land ^ even ihtn jhall the hndrtll and enjoy her fab baths. As lenz Oi it lyeth defi/laie it (hall rtf}^ becaufe it did not rtfi in your fabbaths when ye dwelt upon it. 7he land did notrcji in your fjbbaths^ faith the Lord^ when ye d^elt upon it; But when 'tis cafed from- the wicked weight of fuch Inhabi- tants, which brought upon it heavy cuffc?,, and toylcd, and tyred it out with continual tilUiie, it H-iall then reft, and be ,at c^uier. Recording to tht Law of God the Land fliould Ihavcrcfted every fcvcnch year, Levit,2^^-^3ut t.bey got outtbi very heart of the land to^\nd,on their lujis ."but. jaith GW, / will Prophaners of the Sabbath were to be piit to death, they were to be cut off. Exod.31. 14, •5- This Scripture includes not only death m- tiifted by the Magtftrate,ac' cordir.g to that Numb. 35. 56. but alfo the ioi- mcdiate ftrokcof God vvhen.that was ►neglefted. If you turn to that Ezek.20. i3.2i.)oufhaI find that God threatcnsSab- bath-propha- nation with ill's confuming fire. Now what Cityj Gates, Palaces, Rate-i ly ScruftureSi Hrong Holds can ft»nd bc' • fore divine fury ? ;' < 14.2 London's Lamentations on Lam. I. 7. \vpilleafe the land of fuch inhabitants^ and then it pall in a manner take its recreation^ then it fhallrejly and takf its etvn pkafnre. Where there is not a rcfting from fin, there Sab-, baths are not truly kept. Prophaning the Sabbath brings moft dcfolating and dcftroying Judgments upon a profcffing peo- ple. The firft blow given to the German Churches was on} the Sabbath-day. For on that day Prague was loft 5 the Sabbaths were wofully prophancd amongft them : their No- bifity thought it was for their not trimming and beawtifylng oftheir Churches ; but better and wifermcn concluded, it was for their prophaning of the Lords day. Some arc of opinion , that the Flood began on the Lords day , from that Gen, 7. they being grown notorious prophancrs of the Sabbath. The Covmcxlo^ Matif can m France attributed the irruption of the Goths and Vandals to their propha'nation o^ the Sabbath. But, Fourthly, Confider there are fingular blcflSngs which the Tanftifying of the Sabbath will crown us with, Eze^. 20. i 2. Moreover alfo I gave them my fahbaths to be a fign betrreen me xnd thew^that they maj \non> that I am the Lord that fanSifie them. The fingular blcflings that the rifjht fanftifying cf the Sabbath will bring upon us, arc, i. Spiritual; they that confcicntiouflyfanftific the Sabbath, they (hall fceanditnow the work of God, the work of Grace upon their own Souls, rherc are many precious Chriftians that have a work of God, a work ofGrace upon their own Souls, who would give ten choufand world? (were there Co many in their hands to give) to fee that work, to know that work. Oh, but now they that fanftifie the Sabbath , they fball both fee and know the work of God upon their own Souls. And they fhall find he Lord carrying on the work of Grace and Holinefs in their Souls ; they (hall find the Lord dcftroying their fin?, and tilling their hearts with joy, and with a b!effcd affurance of his favour and love, Ifa. 55. (5, 7. Aljo the fons of the ftran. ier thatjojn themfelves to the Lord t9 ferve him, and to love the Name of the Lord, to he his fervants: Every one that l^efeth hhe fabhath from polluting it^ and taJ^eth hold on my Covenant, Even I the late jiery Difpenfatiott. «43 Even them vfitl J bring to my holy myuntain^ and make them ]oy. f'ttl in my bonfi of prayer : their bHrnt offirings and their facri- ficesJhaH be accepted upon my Altar • for -mine hotife (hall be cal- led an hoitfe of prater for all people. So I/^z. 58. I 3, 14. // thoK turn away thy foot from the fabbath^ from doing thy plea- lure on my holy day^ and call the fabbath a delight^ the holy of the Lord^ honourable^ artdJhaJt hmour him, not doing thine own waySy nor pnding thine n^n pUafure^ nor j^.^king thine on>n words : then fhalt thoU delight thy f If in the Lird. Now in the fccond place, the other bkffinj^? that the righifanftifyirg of the Sabbath will invert us with, arc temporal biclTinijp • for fo they fol!(^winthe- Scripture ]a(} cited. /Ind I nill caufe thee to ride upon the high places cf ih: earth, here is ho- nour, and cfteetn, and fafety ; and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father. Now the Land of Canaan was the In- heritance wh'ch God promifcd to Jacob. Hereby is noted that comfortable provifion that Cod would make for them that fanftificd hi^ Sabbaths : Such a^make the Sabbath their delight, they (hall never want proteftlonnor provifion, God will be aVVallof fire about them, and d.CanaaniQiVitm. But, :. • -7 ..•,'. Fifthly, Confidcr that our Lord Jcfus-^ who vs ihc lord of the Sabbath, and whom the Lav; it fclf commands us to hear, did alter it from the feventh day to the firft day of the week, which we now keep : For the holy Fvangeliils note, that our Lord came into the mid ft of the Aflcmbly on the two fi'ft days cf the two weeks immediately following hi? Refurreftion, and then blelled the Church, breathing "on them the Holy'Ghc'ft, Job, -20. ig-- 26, Then thi fame day at evenings being the firji djy cf the jvff/;, rvhin the doors rvere Jfmt vphire the difciples nxre afjembled- for fear cf the. Jews, came Jffut and flood in the mid(} ^ and faith unto them ^ Peace be unto you. And after (i(iht days^ again his difciphs were wuhin^ and Thomai ivith tkrm^ ih(n came JcfuSj the doors being fhut.^ and jhod iti-lhe mldji^ and faid^ Peace he W7tn >v». Lock as Chrift v;a« forty days in[lru(!^inij; Mfes In Sinai^ what he niculci reach, at»d how he (hould govern the Church under the Law : fo he continued forty days teaching •• his Gen. 28. 15. AndChap.48. 4. Math. 12. 8. Deuc. i8. 18, 19. 44 London's hamentatiens on 6. 3- his Difciplcs what they (honld preach, and how they (hould govern the Church under the Gofpel, ACfj i. j, 3. Vmil he day in vchich he tvat tah^n up^ after that he through the Holy Ghoji had given commandments unto the Apojlles xvhom be had chofen. To whom alj'o he Jheved himfelf alive after his Pafjion by many infallible proofs^ being feen sf them forty days^ and jpeaking of the things pertaining to the Kingdom of Cod. And it is not to be doubted, but that within thofc forty days he likewifc ordained, on what day they (hould likcwifc keep the Sabbath ; and 'tis obfervablc, that on this firft day of the week, he Cent down from Heaven the Holy Ghoft upon his Apoftlcs, Alls 2. 1 — 4. And ff hen the day of th^tentecoft tvas fully come^ they rvtre all rvith one accord in one place. And they w.re all filed vpith the Holy Ghoji^ and began tojpea}^ rvith other tongues^ m the Jpirit gave them uttirance. So that on that Hay they firft began, and ever after continued the publick cx- crcifc of their Miniftry. Chrift who was Lord of the Sab- bath, Mark^z. 28. had a foveraicn right to change and al- ter it to what day he pleafed. But, ^ijithly, Confider that according to the Lords mind and Commandment, and the direftion of the Holy Ghoft, the Apcftlcs in all the Chriftian Churches ordained, that they lliould keep the holy Sabbath upon the firft day of the week, I Cor^ 16, I, 2. Nfftp concerning the colle£licnfor the Saitxts^of I have given order to the Churches of Galatia, Even fo do ye up9n the fir(iday of the n^eek,^ let every one of you lay by him in fiore^ a§ God hath pro^ered him, that there be no gathering tvhen Icome,. In which words you may obfervc thcfc five things. Firft, That the Apoftles ordained this day to be kept holy, therefore 'tis of a Divine inftitution* Secondly, That the day is named the firft day of the week, therefore not the Jewifh fevcnth, or any other. Thirdly, Every firft day of the week, which ftieweth its perpetuity. Fourthly, That it was ordained in the Chui^chcs of Gala, tia^ as well as oiCorinthy and he (ctlcd one Hniform in all the the late fiery Difpenfatioit. 4? the Churches of the Saints, therefore it was univerfal, i Cor. 14.23. For God is not the Author of cdnfufion^ but of peace^ as in au Churches of the Saints, Fifthly, That there Qiould be collcftions for the poor on that day, after the other Ordinances were ended. Now why (hould the Apoftles require colleftions to be made on the firft day of the week > but bccaufe on that day of the week the Saints aflTemblcd themfelves together in the Apoftles time. And in the fame Epiftlc he protefteth, that he delivered them rtoochcrOrdinanccor Doftrine, but what he had received from the Lord, i Cor. 11.23. For I hive received of the Lord that which alfo I delivered unto yoUy that the Lord^fus^ the fame night in tphich he rvM betrayed^ took^ bread » iX^or. 14, ij. If any man thinks himfelf to be a Prophet^ or j^iritual^ let him acfyotpledge that the things that I tvrite unto yoUy are the Commandmenu tfthe Lerd.Now mark, he wrote to them, and ordained among them to keep their Sabbath on the firft day of the week; therefore to keep the Sabbath on that day, is the very Commandment of the Lord. But, Seventhly, Confider, the Apoftles on that day ordinarily difpcnfed the holy Ordinances, J oh. 20. 19- -26* A3s 20,7. And upon the firji day of the weekly when the difciples came to- gether to break^bready Paul preached unto them^ ready to depart on the morrowyand continued his Jpeeeh until midnight^ i Cor. 16. 1,2. I Cor. II. 23. Bur, Eighthly, Confider, fuch things as are named the Lord? in Scripture, arc ever of the Lords inftitution. As the Word of the Lordy i Tim. 6. 3. The Cup of the Lord, 1 Cor. 1 1.27, The Supper of the Lord^ i Cor. 1 1. 20. And fo the Lords Day J Rev. i. 10. I was in the Spirit on the Lords day. Now why does John call it the Lords day > but becaufc it was a day known to be generally kept holy, to the honour of the Lord Jcfus ( who rofc from death to life upon that day ) throughout all the Churches which the Apoftles had planted, which St. John calls the Lords day, that he might the better ftir up Chriftians to a thankful remembrance of their Re- _^________ V demption 8. ■ijt i/\.6 London's Lamentations on dcmption by Chrifts Rcfurrcftion from the dead* Bur, Ninthly, Conlider, that a right fanftifying of the Sabbath is one of ihe bcft figns in the Bible, that God is our God, and chat his fanftifying work is paft in power upon us, £zel^ 20, 20. And ballew my fabbathf, and they fljuU be a fign betrveen me andjoH^ th^t ye maykporr> that I am the Lord your God, So Epcod, 31. 13. SpeaJ^ thou alfo unto the Children of Ifrael^ fay- ing^ Verily my fabbaths ye Jhall l{eep : for it is a fign betwetn me and you^throughout your generations ^ that ye may kpovpthat I am the Lord that doth fanliifeyou. Look as Circumcifion and the Paflcover were figns that the Jews were in Covenant with God* fo likcwifc was the Sabbath, £ze/^. 31. 13. and bccaufclrwas a fit!;n of the Covenant between God and them. Verf. 16. (whereforeiheCbildrenofJfrad jhall l^eep the fabbathy to obferve tbe fabbath throughout their generations for a perpetual Cove?iant.')God tells them, that they muft obfcrvc it for a perpetual Covenant ; and hence it was , that when they violated the Sabbath, God accounted it the violation of the Covenant between him and them. The fanftifyingof the Sabbath in the primitive times, was the main Charaftcr by which fincere Chriftians were differenced from others ; they judged of mens fanftity by their fanftifylng of the Sabbath. And indeed as there cannot be a greater argument or evi- dence of a prophanc heart then the prophaning the Sabbath : fo there cannot be a greater argument or evidence of a graci- ous heart then a right fanftifying of the Sabbath. But, When the pri» mitive Chri- ftiars had this qucftion put to them, Ser- vafti Domini- cKW2?Haft thou kept theLords day ? anfwer- ed Chrifiiams fum, omittere nonpojjum, I am aChrifti- an, I cannot but keep it. 10. Tenthly, Confider,a right fanftifying of the Sabbath will be a moft fureand certain pledge, pawn, and earncft cf i ur keeping of an evcrlafting Sabbath with God in Heaven, Heb. 4. 9. There remaineth therefore a nfi to the people cf Cod, Gr. a fabbatifm^ an eternal re/?, a fabbath that bjth no evening Now mark, if this Sabbath be a fign and pledge of Heaven, then we muft keep it till we come there. For if we iofc the pledge of a benefit , we lofe the evidence of that benefit whereof it is a pledge. A man that isin the Spirit on theLords day, Rev. I. 10. he is in Heaven on the Lords day : there cannot be a more lively rcfcmblancc of Heaven on this iidc Heaven,! the late fery Diffenfatiou. Heaven, then the (anftifyingof the Sabbath in a heaven!} manner. What is Heaven, but an eternal Sabbath > And what is a temporal Sabbath, but a fliort Heaven , a little Heaven on this fide Heaven ? Our delighting to fanftific Gods Sabbath on Earth, gives full aiTurancc to our faith grounded upon Gods infallible promlfc, that wc fiiall enter into Gods eternal R.cft in Heaven ; for (o runs the promife, Ija. 58. ?///. Thenjhalt thou delight thy [elf in theLord^ and /will catife thee to ride upon the high places of the earthy and feed thee rvith the heritage of Jacob thj father ; fir the mouth of the Lord hathjpoken it. The former part of the vcrfe re- lates to earthly bleflings : but thefc words, / wiV feed thee rvith the heritage of Jacob thy father^ that is, with a heavenly inheritance ; for what is the heritage of Jj^oZ', but Camfun in the Type, and Heaven it felf in the Anj^pe ? But (hould I thus fan^ifie the Sabbath, fhould 1 be furc of going to Hea- ven ? yes, for Co it roundly follows in the next words ^ Jhe mouth of the Lord hath^ok^n it. But, Eleventhly, Confidcr, that of all days God hath put the higheft honour upon his Sabbaths, by appointing his preci- ous Ordinances in a fpccial manner to be ufed on thofc days. The Sabbath is a gold Ring, and the Ordinances arc as fo many coftly fparkling Diamonds in that Ring : All the work? of the newCreation are commonly wrought on this day ; this is the joyful day wherein ordinarily God gives fpiritual fight to the blind, and fpiritual ears to the deaf, and fpiritual tongues to the dumb, and fpiritual feet to the lame. That Exod. 12. 42. ishtre applicable. It is a night to be much observed to the Lord, for bringing them out from the Land of Egypt^ this is that night of the Lord to be obfcrvcd of all the Children of Ifrael in their generation. Thofe that are new-born, are commonly new-born on this day • and there- fore 'tis a day to be much obfcrved to the Lord. Thofc that arc converted, arc ordinarily converted on this day ; and therefore *tis that day of the Lord that ought to be obfcrved by all the converted Ifrael oS. God. Thofe that are edified, are commonly moft edified on this day, O the fwcet com- V 2. n^imion, II. 48 London's Lamentations on 12. Rev. 2.1 o. munion ! O the choice convcrfc / O the (Tngular difcovcries .' O the blcffcd manifeftations/O the excellent enjoyments that Chrift vouchfafes to his people on this day .' O the difcovc- ries of Grace ! O the exercife of Grace ! O the increafe of Grace, the progrefs in. Grace ! O the comforts of Grace that God vouchfafes to his Chofen on this day ! Experience (hews that the right fandifying of the Sabbath, is a powerful means under Chrift to fanftific us, and to increafe our faith, and raifc our hope, and inflame our love, and to kindle our 2eal, and to enlarge our dcfires, and to melt our hearts^ and to weaken our fins* Bur, Twelfthly and laftly, Confider this, that a right fanfti-^ fy!hgof the Sab^h will crofs Satans grand dcfign, it will fpoil his plot, hisroaftcr-piecc. Satan is a deadly enemy to the right fanftifying of the Sabbath, witnefs the many tem- ptations that many Chriftians arc more troubled with on thii day, then they arc on any other day in the whole week ; and witnefs the many vain, wandring, and diftrafting thoughts that many precious Chriftians are more afflifted with on this day, then they arc on all the days of the week belidc ; and witnefs that high and hot oppolition that he in his inftru- ments makes againft the ftriftcft obfcrvers of that day ; and witnefs his conftant prompting and fpurring fuch on to the prophanation of the Sabbath, whofe examples arcmoft dan- !Zcrou«, and encouraging to wicked men, as Magiftratcs, Mi- nifter?, Parents, anrf Matters, Sec. and witnefs his ftrong en- deavours, conftant attempts, crafty device?, and deep poli- cies that he has made ufe of in all the Agrt of the World, to keep people off from a religious obfervation of the Sabbath ; yea, and to make them moie wicked on that day, then on any other day of the week ; May I not fay then on all other days of the week ? I have been the longer upon this ninth Particular, partly becaufe of the weighti»icfs of ir, and ptrdy How did the wrath and rage of Ki -g AhafuerM fmoak againft Hu- man^ when he apprehended that he would have put a force upon the Queen > And why then (hould we wonder ro fee the wrath of the Lord break forth in finoak and flames againft fuch a generation, that put a force upon his day, thatpro- phancd his day, the Qjeen of days ? Ah Sirs ! you have greatly prophancd and abufcd the day of the Lord ; and therefore why (hould any marvel, that the Lord has greatly dcbafed you, and laid your glory in diifi: and a(hcs > In thefc late year?, how has prophanencfs, like a flood, broke in upon , us on the Lords day > and therefore if highly concerns all the prophancrs of the day of the Lord, to lay their hands upon their hearts, and to and therefore ]tt u? not think it (trangc, that fuch a fire was kindled on that day, as has re- duced all to a(hcs. W hat Antick habits did men and women The Sabbatli- day differs as muchfrom the reft of the days, as the wax doth to which a Kings Great Seal is put, from or- dinary wax. Efth. 7. 8, 9, to. I50 London's Lamentations on Prov. 10. 5. Prov. 17. 1 5, Ifa. 2$.<^. M3.th. 5. 47. Exod,Ji9. 18: puc on, on this day > what frothy, empty, airy difcourfcs and intemperance was to be found at many mens Tables this day> How were Ale-hou(cs, Stews, and Mosr^fieids filled with de- bauched finncrs this day > No wonder then, if London be laid dcfolatc. Now this abominable fin of open prophaning the Sabbaths of the Lord , I cannot with any clear evidence charge upon the people of God, that did truly fear him with-^ in or without the Walls of London, For firft, they did la- ment and mourn over the horrid prophanation of that day. Secondly, I want eyes ( at prefent ) to fee how it will ftand either with the truth of Grace, orftate of Grace, for fuch as arc real Saints to live in the open prophanation of Gods Sab- bath-. Th'rdly, becaufc an ordinary prophaning of the [.ords Sabbaths, is as great an Argument of a prophane heart, as any that can be found in the whole Book of God. Fourthly, becaufc Sabbath-days arc the Saints Market-days, chc Saints harveft, days, the Saints fummer-days, the Saints feed-days, and the Saints feafting-days', and therefore they will not be fuch fools as to fleep away ihofc days, much lefs will they prcfume to prophane thofe day?, or ro toy and trifle away thofe days of Grace. Fifthly, what lingular thing do they more then others, if they arc not ftrift obfervers and confcicntious fanftifiers of the Lords day. Sixthly and laftly, of all the days that pafsovcr a Chriftians head in this worldj there arc none that God will take fuch a ftrift and cxaft ac- count of, as of Sabbath-days • and thcreforeit highly con- cerns all people to be ftrift obfervers and ferious fanftifiers of that day. Now upon all thefe accounts, I cannot charge fuch diroughout Saints as lived within or without the Walls of LondoTiy with that horrid prophanation of the Sabbath as brought the late fiery Difpenfation upon us. and that turned I glorious City into a ruinous heap. Whatever there was of the hand of man in that dreadful-Conflagration, I Ihall not now attempt to divine, but without a pcradventurc, it was Sabbath'guilt »vhich threw the firft Ball that turned Low^on into flames and allies* When fire andfmoaking was on Mount Sinai ^ God was there 5 but when London was in flames andfmoak. Sabbath- guilt was there. Doubtlcfs all the the late ^ery Dijfenfatioti. iSi chc power of Konn and Hell fhould never have put London in- to flames, had not Londens guilt kindled the firft coal. But, Wc come now to the life and Application of this impor- tant Point. Tcnthly, The prophanenefs , lewdncfs , blindncfs , and wickcdncfs of the Clergy, of them in the Miniftry, brings the Judgment of Fire, and provokes the Lord to lay all wafte before him, Zeph. 3, ^..6. Her Prophets are light and trea. cheroHS perforjjj her Friejis have polluted the San^itary^ thejhav,e done violence t^he larv^ I have cnt cjf the nations^ their tcrvers are defelate^ I have made thtir (ireet rpjjfe^ that nme pajfah bj^ their cities are dejireyed^ fo that there U no man^ that there is none inhabitant. Their Prophets and Priejh were rafh^ bcady^ and unjiable perfons^ they were light ^ faithhfi men (or men of faithlefnefij as the Hebrew runs ) They were neither faithful to God, nor faithful to their own Soul«,nor faithful to others Souls ; they invented and feigned Prophefies of their own, and then boldly maintained them, and impofed them upon their Hearers : they were prophanc and light in their car- riages, they fitted their Doflriraes to all fancies, humours, parties, and times ; they betrayed their truft, they beri*ayed the lives of men into the hand of divine Juftice, and the Souls of men into the hands of Satan; thsy polluted the Sanftuary. they polluted the Holy things of God, by managing of hi-: VVorfhlp and Service in a prophane carnal way, and with a light, flight, perfidious fpirir, and by perverting the true fenfcof the Law in their ordinary teaching of "the people. They did violence to the Law, or they contemned, removed, or caft away the Law, as the Original rin- : the Hebrew word here ufcd, fignifics alfbto ravifh. Their Prophets and Pricftsdid ravifh the Law of God by coriupting the Law, and by putting falfeglcffcsupon ir. and by turn'ngof it into fiich (hapes and fcnfcs as would beft fuit the tines, and plcafc the humours of the people. Now for thefe abominations ot their Prophets and Pritft", God denounces a dreadful Wo againft the City of Jerufalfm in verf. i . f^To to her that is fil- thy and polluted, to the opprejjlng city^ Lam. ^.11.-13. '^^' Lorr. 10. Pfa!. 50. r 152 London's Lamentatiens on Mich. 2. 1 1. Ifa. 30. 10,11. Jer. 5.K/^ Hof. 4. 9- Ifa. 9. 16. Lam. 2 14. Ezek. 5. 18. Seneca de vita be at ay cap, i. Lord hath accomflijhed his fury ^ he hath poured out hit ferce Mger^ and hath kjndled a fire in Zion^ and it hath devoured the foundation thereof. For the [tns of her Prophets and the iniquity of her Prie^s^ that have Jhed the blood of the juft in the midfl of her. God fcnt a confuming flame into Jerufalem^ which did not only burn the tops of their houfes, but alfo the foundations thcmfclvcs, leaving no mark whereby they might know where their houfcs ftood, nor any hopes of building 'hem up again. But why did God kindle fueh a devouring tire in j^er«/a/f m^which was one of the Worlds wonders, and a City that was notonly ftrongin iituation an(i building, and deemed impregnable, but a City that was Gods own Seat, the Palace of his Royal refidcnce 5 yea, a City that the Lord had for many years, to the admiration of all the world,pow- :rfully and wonderfully protected againftall thofe furious (Taults that were made upon her by her raoft potent and mighty Adverfarics > Anftv, For the fins of her Prophets, ind the iniquities of her Pricfts, as God himfclf tcftifics, who can neither dye nor lye. You may fee this further confirm- ed, if youpleafebut ferioufly to ponder upon thcfc tctu ptures, Eze^. 22. 25, 26. 31. J(?r. 23: il. I4>i$» 39540. Look as the body Natural, fo the body Politick cannot be long in a good conftirution, whofe more noble and elfential parts are in a confumpfion. The enormities of Minifters have the ftrongcft influence upon the (bnls and lives of men, CO makjp them mifcrabic in both worlds. Their falls will be chc fall and ruinc of many ; for people are more prone to live by Examples then by Precepts, and to mind more what the Miniftcr docs, then what he fays: Tracepta docent ^ eximpla movent^ Precepts may inftruft, but Examples do pcrfwade. The Complaint is ancient in Seneca^ That commonly men live, not ad rationem, but ad fimilitudimm. The people commonly make the Examples of their Minifters the Rules of ihcirAftions; and their Examples pafi as current among them, as their Princes Coyn, The Common-people arc like tempered Wax, cafily receiving imprcffions from the Seals of their Minifters vices. They make no bones of it to fin by prefcription, and to damn thcmfelves by following the lewd -^ Examples the late fiery Difpeafation. 'S3 Examples of ihcir Minifter?. The Vulgar unadvifcdly take up crimes on triift, and pcrifli by following of bad Kxam- pics. I will leave the fcrious Reader to make fuch Applica- tion as in prudence and confcicnce he judges meet. But, Eleventhly, Sometimes the fins of Princes and Rulers bring tJie fiery Difpcnfations of God upon Perfons and Places, Jer. 3S. 17, 18, 2:5. 7ben [aid Jiumiah unto Zedek^ah\ Thus fjith the Lfrd theGodof HojiSt the God of Ifrady iftbou wilt 'Jffiredlj go forth unta the Kin^ ofBabjlons PrWce/i*hen thj foul JhaH live^ and this ciiyP^all not be burnt with fire, a^d thou Jhalt live and thine houfe* But if thou wilt not go forth to the King of Babjlons Frincei^ then Jhall this citj be given into the hands of the Chaldeans^ and they pill burn ittvithfire^ and thou (halt not tfcape out of their hand^ hut (halt be tak^cn by the hand of the King of Babylon^ and thou Jhalt taufe this city to be burnt vpiih fire : Or as tSe Hebrew runs, Ihou (halt burn this city with /?'•? J that is, thou by thy obftinacy wilt be the means to pro- cure the burning of this City, which by a rendition of thy fclf, thou mi|;htcft have faved. So Jer. 34. 2. 8, 9, 10, 1 1. compared with Chap, 37, 5 to verf 22. Judges and Magi- ftrates arc the Phyfitians of the Stitc ( faith B, Lah^ in his Sermon on Ezr^ ) and fins are the difeafes of it ; what skills ir, whether a Ganercne begins at the head or the heel, feeing both ways it will kill, except this be the difference, that the h:ad being nearer the heart, a Gangrene in the head will kill fooner then that which is in the heel : Even fo will the fins of great Ones overthrow a State fooner then thofc of the raean- cft fbrr, 2 5jw, 24 9. to verf 18. But, Twelfthly, Thcabufing, mocking, and defpifing of the MeflTcngers of the Lord, is a fin that brings the fiery Difpen- fation upon a People, 2 C'hfon. ^6. 15, i5, 17, 18, 19 Math, 23. 34. 37, 38. Behold your houfe is left unto you defo. late. Here is ufcd the prefcnt for the future, to note the cer- tainty of the dcfolation of their City and Temple, and their own utter ruine?: and about forty years after tht Romans came and burnt their City and Temple, and laid all wafte before X them. II. It is a flrange faying in £//>• fiut, vi^. That the names of all good Prin- ces may eafi- ly be engra- ven or writ- ten in a fma4I Ring. Lipfde Conftanti.^, lib, 2. cap, 2 J . 12. Turn to thefe two pregnant Texts, and ponder feri- oufly upon them i for they (peak clofein the cafe. >54 London's Lamentations on Aftsa^. 15, 16, 17,18. Dan. 12,3. James $. 1 ^, 17,18. The fTrft on ^e 24. of ^K- f M^, and the other on the 2.oiSe}tem- ber. SeeEzek. 21. 28. }i, g2. AndChap.25< them. They had turned the Prophets of the Lord out of all, and therefore the Lord rcfolves to turn them out of all. O Sirs/ will you pleafe fcrioufly to confidcr thcfe fix thing*. Firft, that all faithful, painful, confcientious Miniftcrs or McffcngcrsoftheLord, are great Inftrumcats in the hand of the Lord for fto pping or fteming the tide of all prophane- nefs and wickednefs in a Land, which bring all dc(oIating and dcftroying. Judgments upon Cities and Countries. 2. For converting Souls to God, for turning poor finners from darknefs to light, and from the power of Satan to Jefus Chrift. 3. For promoting of Religion, Holinefi, and God- linefs in mens hearts, houfcs, and lives, which is the only way under Heaven to render Cities,Countries,and Kingdoms fafe, happy, and profperous. 4. For the weakning of the King, dom of Satan and AntichriA, the weakning of whofe King- dom is the glory, fafety, and fecurityoftheLand. 5, For the turning away of wrath, eii her felt or feared. 6* For the bringing down of the grcatcft, wcighticft, and noblcft of temporal favours and blcflings upon Cities and Countries, * as might be proved ftom (cores of Scripture, And therefore never marvel, if God revenges the abuftsdone to them ia flames of fire. It was on a Sabbath that the publick liberty of the painful, faithful Minifters of London was terminated and came to ait end, and it was on a Sabbath that London was burnt. Thirteenthly, Shedding of the blood of the Juft, is a cry» ing fin that brings the Judgment of Fire, and lays all dcfo late, Ezekf 35.4) 5» ?• ^^'^ ^ *h *'"^^ tvajie^ and tboH jh^lt be defglate^ and thou Jhaltkpon> that lam the Lord. Be- cattfe thou hafi had a perpetnal hatred ( or hatred of old ) and ha(i Jhed the biood of the children of Jfraelby the force of the [word in the time of their calamttj, in the time that their iniqui- ty had an end, Thm will Imak^ mount Seir mejl defolate^ and cut of from it him that pa(fith out^ and him that returnetb. VerC 10. Becatife thou hafi [aid thefe tveo nations and thefe two countries fijall he mine^ and ve will p (Jifiity whereas the Lord vpos^ere. Verl^i'i. Therefore^as I live, faith the Lord Ged^ 1 will even do acc$rdittg to thine attgery and according to thine envy mhich\ the late fiery Diffenfation. «55 pobich thon bsfl nfed out of thy hatred againjl them : and I mil maf^e my felf h^own among them when I have judged thee, VcrC 12. And thou Jha/t kpopp that I am the Lord ^ and that I have heard all thy bhj^hemies vphich thou hafi fiokgn againfi the monntains of Ifraety faying^ They are laid defolate^ they are given us to confume (or devour S) VcrH 1 3. thus mth ymr mnttb you have boajied again^ me, and have multiplied your words againfi me, I have heard them, Vcrf. 14. Ibut faith the Lord God, when the whole earth rejoycetb I mil makji thee defalate, VcrH 1 5. Af thou didfi rejojice at the inheritance of the hntfe of Ifrael, beeaufe it rvof defolate, fo mil I do unto thee. Thou /halt be defolate, mount Seir, and all Jdumea, even all of it, and they Jhall kpow that I am the Lord, The Edomites were deadly enemies to the Ifraelites, thdr hatred was old and ftrong, and aftivc againft them 5 and they took hold on all occafions wherein they might exprefs their rage and cru- elty againft them, both in words and works. And there- fore when the Babylonians took Jerufalem, thcy crycd, Rafc it, Rafe it, even to the foundation thereof. When the Ba- bylonians cntred Jerufalem, many of the Jews fled to the Edomites for (uccoufj they being their brethren 5 but inftead offlieltring thenij they cruelly deftroyed them, and greatly infiilted over thcm,and were glad of all opportunities wherin they might vent all their rage and malice againft them, that (b they might the better ingratiate thcmfclvcs with the Baby^ lonians. Now for thcfe cruel prafticcs and barbarous feve- ritics of theirs towards the poor, affli^ed, and diftre^d Ifrael of God, God is refblved to bring utter dcfolation up» J)nthem. Verf ^. Thus faith the Lord God, Behold, mount Seir, I am again ^ thee^ and Ivpill flretch out my hand againfi thee, and J mllmakf thee mofidefolate : Or as the Hebrew is, Shemamah Vmejhammab , defolation and defolation. Now this doubling of the Hebrew word (hews the certainty of their ddblation, the fbecdinefi of their defolation, and the great. nefs and throughnels of their defolation, Jer, i6. 141 15- As f«r me, behold, 1 am in your hand, do with me at feem- etb good and meet untvyom. But kpow ye for certain, that if yon put me to deaihy p (hall furely bring innocent blood upon __________ X 2 yo*tr Pfal. 137.7. See verf. 8, 9.11. 155 London's Lamentations on Rev. 16. 6. Rev. 17.6. Rev, 19 2, Rev. iB. 24. yonr ftlveiy and upon thii city^ and upon the inhabitants thereof. That was good counfcl, which TertuHian gave Scapula a Pagan Pcrfccutor. God will furcjy make Inquilnioii lor our blood, therefore (faith he) if thou wilt not Ipare u-j yet fpare thy felf; if not thy fclf, yctfparc thy Country, which muft be rcfponfibic when God comes to viiit for blood. So Lam, 4, 1 1 . 1 2j 1 3. The Lord hath accompiiJh\:d his fury , be hath poured out hit fierce anger^ and haih l^indkd a pre in Zion^ and it hath devoured the foundations thereof. Ihe Kings of the earthy and all the inhabitants of the voorld tvould not have believed that the adverjary and the ene^ty fhjuld have entred into the gates of Jerufalem. For the fins of her prophets^ and the iniquities of her Priefisy that havefhed the blood ofthejufi in the midji of her. The Prophets and the Pri efts enraged- the people againft thcrrij and ingagcd the Civil Power againft the jult and the innocent, to the (hcdding of their blood. But this innocent blood could not be purged away but by fire. To (hcd the blood of the Juft is a rnoft crying fin, and that for which God has turned the moft glorious Cities in the World into aftie', Jerom upon the Text faith, that the Prophets and Priefts fhcd th: blood of the Juft in*hc midftof Jerufa^ lem^ by drawing them into trrour, whch is to the dcftrufti- en of the Soul. But Calvin upon th; Text well obfervcs fhls cannot ftand, bccaufe juft mm arc not fo dcftroycd j but the w ckcd only that take no heed to their falfc teaching. There- fore ( faith he ) the true Prophets ol God are meant by ihe juft, for whom they had Prifons, Dungeons, and Stocks to put them into; and fbmetimcs ftcnine, or other wife, tu- mult?, which they ftirrcd up among the pcopkjWhcreby their blood was flicd. ..xi.^ s- ..; \ r. • ' ,' \—,f,t-...^ ; •■., Kowe has much of the blobd of' the Saints upon her Fkirts, and for this very fin (he (ha'l be urterly burnt wiih fire, as you may feeatljrge, if you will plcafe to read the iS.Clj^p-*. tcrof ihz Revelations ac your Icifure. Though 7v./7we was a Cage of unclean Birds, and ftill of all manner of abominati- ons ; yet the fin that ftiall at laft burn her to afti s, is the blood of the Saints : mark, though the people pf Cjod\acc,ifi Babylon^ and may partake of her Piaguc?, and fall und^j: tl\c fiery I ll the late fery Difpenfatidn. '57 fiery Difpcnfatioft t^ith her ; it is not the fins of the Saints but the firts of Babylon that bring the Judgment cf Fire upon Eabylon, Mark, the people of Qoi\ may live in a City that may be burnt to allies, and yet their lins may not be the pro- curing caufes of that Judfmenr. Lf>t lived in Sndom^ and bad his failings and inf;rrrities a«^wcIJ as other Saints j but it was not his. fiiisi that browp.ht the Judgment of Fire upon that City, but the fins of the Citizens, as the Scripture affurcj us. But yofi may fiiy, Pray, Sir, why is God fb fevcrc as to turn (lately Cities, rich and populous Cities, great and glc rious Cities into a ruinous heap, for (hcdding the blood of the Juft > Anfvp* Bccaufc next to the blood of Chrifl, the blood of the Jufl is the mod precious blood in all the world. Mark, tbcrc arc thcfc nine things that fpeak out the prcciouf- ncGof the blood of the Juft. Firft, Clearand plain Scriptures fpeak out the blood of the Saints to be p*rccious. He jhdl redeem their foul from de. ceitandviolencey and prccu>m fhall their blood he in hU fight. And fo PJal, it6. i^» PrecieUf in the fght of the Lord is the death of hit Saints, Bur, Secondly, The cry of their blood reaches as high as Hca- ven, and this fpeaks it out to be precious blood, Gm.4 1 0,1 1 . ThtblGod^of one ABilhid fo many tongues as drops, and icv?ry.di*opa voiccto cry for vengeance, and the cry of hi> "blood did ftrongly ingage ihejufticeof God to punifh jr. 'Kev. 16.6, Give them blood to drin\^ jor they are yparthy j Tbifdly*,* Goc^s curfirvsf their bit ffing'! who have fh-rd.rhe Jbloiod of his isaints, fpeaks out ihcir blood to be prccTOU? |b;Ood, Gen. 4. ih, ii.< And .mK> art tKu cur fed- from the- ir arth^ which hdth ofmcd her moMth to receive thy brothers blood from th) hsnd. Now^this is added by the way. i. To ag;- jgravafc the fit? offCah. 2. Taihe\y the fimefeof fhcpuni/h- mcnr : 'tis a? if he bad faid, rhc earth did, as it^wefe,'in com- panion receive into herbofom th»t blood whidh thyn d^vift .Cruelly and wickedly (bed ; and therrforc'oue of the earth I . ^ (which Gen. 19. 7. :Pfal.72. 14. jCrying is a. faibcd to blood by a fi. guracive ,fpeech. .58 London's Lamentations on Ifa.43.4,5' Exod. 14. XCi, 37. 3^. Efth. p. ("which hath fucked in by the pores thereof thy brothers blood J (hall fpring a curfc that (hall plague thee for Qiedding that blood. The earth which was created for thy blc(ring and (crvicc, (hall execute this curfc again ft thee in vengeance, not yielding thee the fruits which otherwi(e it would have done. As is exprcffcd in verf, 1 2. When thou tilUfi the ground^ hjhall not benciforth jkld unt9 thee her ftrength . (Hcb. // flfall not go> on to give thee its ability. J This was a (econd curfe, whereby the earth became wor^ for C aim &n then it was for Adams. Now if this curfe were not general ; yet doubtlefs it was a particular curfe upon Caint portion : Co that wherc(bcver, or whenfoever he (hould till the earth as a Husbandman, the earth by its barrenncG (hould upbraid him as a Murderer. But. Fourthly, Gods pouring out of the blood of the wicked as water is poured out upon the ground, to prevent the efEi- fion of his Children! blood, fpeaks out their blood to be pre- cious blood. At the Red-fea God made way, not only through the Sea, but alfo through the bloodfof the Egyptians to prefer ve the blood and lives of his poor people. God, to preferve the lives and blood of his people, deftroys a hundred four-(corc and five thou(and of Zenacberibs Army by the hand of his Angel in one night. And you know in Eflhers time, how God made way for the prefervation of the lives and blood of his people through the blood of Haman his Sons, and the re(l of their enemies that hated them. I might ^ive you twenty other Scriptures to the fame purpose , but enough is as good as a Fea(i. But, Fifthly, The ftrift Inquilition that God has made after the blood of the Ju(t in all Ages of the World, argucf the pre- cioufnefs of their blood, Pfai, 9,11. Whenbe makjtthinqnif- tionfot bhedyhe remembretb tbemjheforgetteth not the cry of the humble. Did not Pbaraob^ Ababy Jezabel^ Haman^ Hirod, Amalek^y Maab^ Ammon^ Zenacherib, &c. find by wofu*' ex^ perience, that God did make a ftri^ fnqui(ition after the blood of the Juft. And fo did tho(cmen of violence, who Oied the blood of the Juft in the primitive times, &c. But, .. Sixthly, the late fiery Diffenfaiion. «59 Sixthly » The fpccdy and dreadful Vengeance of God up- 1 oniuch ashavefhed the blood ofthe JuH, fpeaksout their I blood to be precious in his eyes, ffaU 55. 23. Bttt thou^ O Gody Jhalt bring them down into the fit of deftruliioH^ bloody and deceitful men JhaH not live out half their dap, Pfal. p^, 21—23. ihey gather themfehe J together (Hcb. Kun by troops at thieves do) againfi the foul of the righteous^ and andemn the innocent blood : he JhaH bring upon them their oncn iniquity, and fhall cut them off in their own wickednefl-, yea, the Lord our GodjhatcMt them off, Kich ar d iht {\\. and Q^Mary were cruel Prkicc?, and fhcd the blood of the Juft, and they had the (hortcft Reign of any fince the Conqucft. C^/ir ; the Gown he was in ( as the fame Aiithor relates) was a Gown of Silver wonderfully wrought, and-the beams of the Sun rcflcftins; upon it, made fo it ^lifter, that it dazledthceyes of the Beholders, and when he had made an Y /cn'd Aftsia. ^ofepb. Antiq, ^3. 19, caf.j. I i6a London's Lamentations on AAsI2. 21, 22, 33. fofepb. Antiq. Ei^eB. Hift. Enftb^mfi, lib, 3* cap. 7. end of his (larched Oration in this his Bravery, his Flatterers extolled him as a God, crying out, */ii the voice of a God^ and not of a man '. Whereupon he was prcfcntly fmitten by the Angel of the Lord, and fo dyed with worms that cat up his entrails ; the blow the Angel gave him was an inward blow, and not fo viiible to others ; and his torments more and more increafing upon him, the people put on fack.cloth, and made fupplication for him, but all in vain j for his pains and tor- ments growing ftronger and (Irooger every day upon him, they Separated his wretched foul from his loathfom body within the coropafs of five days. Caiaphas the high Pricft, who gathered the Counccl, and fuborned falfe Witncfs againft the Lord Chrift, was fhortly after put out of his Office ; and one Jonathm fubftituted in his room, whereupon he killed himfelf. Not long after fontiut pi/ate had condemned our Lord Chrift, he loft his Dcputiftiip, and Cafart favour 5 and be- ing fallen into difgrace with the Roman Emperour, and bani- (hcd by him, he fell into fiich mifcry, that he hanged himfelf. Oh the dreadful Judgments that were infliftcd upon the chief Aftors in the Ten Perfecutions ! Shall 1 give you a brief account of what befel them t Nero that Monfter of men, who rai(cd the firft bloody Pcr- (ccution (to pick a quarrel with the ChriftiansJ he fct the Ci- ty of Kome on fire, and then charged it upon them ; under which pretence he expofes them to the fury of the people, who cruelly tormented them, as if they had been common burners and dcftroycrs of Cities, and the deadly enemies of mankind ; yea, Nero himfelf cauftd them to be apprehended and clad in wild bcafts skin?, and torn in pieces with Dog>, others were crucified, feme he made Bonfires of to light him in his night** (ports : To be fhort, fuch horrid cruelty he ufcd towards them, as caufcd many of their enemies to pity them. But God found out this wretched Pcrfecutor at latt 5 for being adjudged by the Senate an enemy to mankind, he was con- demned the late fiery Difpenfation, 65 dcmncd to be whipt to death, for the prevention whereof he cut his own throat. Domitian the Author of the fccond Pcrfccution againft the Chriftianp, having drawn a Catalogue of fuch as he was to kill, in which was the name of his own Wife and other friends : upon which he was by the confcntof his Wife flain by his own Houfiiold-fcrvants with Daggers in his Privy- Chamber ; his body was buried without Honour, his Memo- ry curfed to pofterity,and*his Arms and Eniigns were thrown down and defaced. Trajan raiftd the third Perfcaition againft the Church ; he was continually vexed with Seditions, and the vengeance of God followed him dole. For firft, he fell into a Palfie, then loft the ufe of his fenfes ; afterwards he fell into a Drop- He, and dyed in great anguiQi. Adrian being vexed with great and perpetual Commoti- ons in his life, dyed with much anxi( ty. Afaximinus being declared an Enemy by the Senate, was killed in his own Tent. Vecius by the Gothr fin their firft Invafion of the Empire^ with his whole Army was cutoff. yaUrianm was overcome by the Ptrfxans^ and made ufe of by Safor, as a Stirrup for his foot, when he went to take Horfe. Julian in his height of contempt againft Chrift, was dead- ly wounded in Battel againft the PerfianSf and throwing his blood in the Air, dyed with that defperate exprcfHon in his mouth, P'icil^i tandem GaliU-e. yaUntimoem^ a great Favourer of the Arrianf, and a great Pcrftcutor of the Orthodox ( the Arrianf exceeding the Heathens in crueltyj was in Battel againft the Gcths in Thra^ cia wounded, and being carried to a houfe that was near, ft was fet on fire by the Enemy, in which'he miferably perifhed. Mjxmtim and his^hief Officers being put to flight on the other fide of the FViverTjfkr by Confiamine^was neccflitated to return by a Bridge whereupon he had made devices in a fccret WajcohaTc cirowned Confiantim^ by which he and thofe that Y > were lib. 9. cat, 8. TheChnftians compared his deflruftion in the water to Pharaoh^ drowning in the Red Sea. 164 London's Lamentations on ^ were with him were drowned in ihe River : upon which oc- cafion the Chriftians took occafion to fing that word, Pfal,^. 16. The Lord is k^onpnby the jttdgmems which he exccuteth the rvick^d is fnared in the work, of his own hand : And that word, Pfal. 7. 1 5. Hi made a fit and digged it ^ and he him- j elf is fallen into it, Dioclefan being fcnt for by Confiamine upon fufpicionj chofc rather to poyfon himfdf then to fee bim. Maximianus Herculem endeavouring again to recover his Authority, was difcovered in his defign by his Daughter Con. (Idntines Wife : whereupon he was purfiied and bcfirgcd by Confiantiney and was either killed, or during the Siege hang- ed himfelf, as h divcrfly reported by feveral Writer?. Maximintts Jovius through intemperance becoming corpu- lent, was fmittcn with boils in the fecret part?, out of which iffucd abundance of verminc •, his Phyfitians were cither fuffo- cated by the odious fmell of his loathfom difcafe, or cUc they were killed by him, becaufe they could not cure him. One of his Phyfitians told him, that it was Gods Judgment on him for perfecuting the Chriftians, wh'ch no man could cure. At laft he fell under fuch conviftions, as forced him to confef«, that the wrongs and injuries that he had done to the people of God, were the caufe of that plague ; and therefore being ftruck with terror and horror, gave out Edifts,that the Perfe- cution (liould ceafe 5 and that Churches fhould be builded 5 and that in their Meetings prayers (hould be put up for him, as formerly ufed to be : which Edift is to be found in Enfe- Eufeb. Hifi. bita. The other Tyrant in the Eaft ( to wit Maximinm who lib,l,eaf.2^, was called C he was fir ft accufed of Treafon, and then condemned, and at laft beheaded. Judge Morgan was a great Perfccutor of the people ofGod^ but (hortly after he had paff:d the Sentence of Condemnation upon that vertuous Lady, the Lady J^/r^e ^''(7) he fell mad, and in his mad raving fits, he would continually cry our, Takeaway xhcLidy Jam ^ take away the Lady Jane (vom me: and in that horror he ended his wretched life. Drabomiza^ after the death of Her H'J>band, ufurped the Government of Bohemia^ and was a cruel i^crfecuror of the people of God 5 but by a rijghrcoushand of God itfbfell our, that on rhar vcj;y place where the Miniftcrs bones lay unburi- ed, the earth opened of it fclf, andfwallowed her up alive with hcrCharfot, and thofe that were in it ; which place i? now to be fecn before the Caft e of Prague. There is no end of Inftaneesofalaterdate.. Bur, Seventhly, The ftrangc, miraculous, and wonderful pre- fervatior 1 66 London's Lamentations on ffefiod (peaks of thirty thou- fend Demi- Gods thatvvere keepers of men; but what are (o many thou- fand Gods to that one God that neither numbers nor riceps, but day and night keeps his peo- ple as the ap- ple of his eye, 2eph. $. 8. As his Jews, Mai. ?. 17. that keeps them in his Pavilion, as a Frincc his Fa- vourite, Tfal. gi.2o. 8. Cicert, Confcitnce is jGods Preachy Icrinthcbo- fom. Confci- ence is mille teftesy a thou- fand wknefTes for or againft a man. Con- fcience hath a good mcmo- Ty. fcrvat'fon of the lives and blood of the Juft, fpcaks out their blood to b: precious blood. Who can fum up the many Mira» clcs of divine Love, Power, Wifdonij and Care, &c. that God manifeftcd in the prefervation of Jo/pp^ in the Prifon, Jere- miah in the Dungeon, Viniel in the Dc i, and the three Chil Jrcn in the fiery Furnace, and not fay, furely the blood of the Saints is very precious in the eyes of the Lord > [ have read of a certain Witch that fenther Spirits to WiW Ambrofe ; but they returned her this Anfwer, That God liad hedged him in as he did ]ob^ and therefore they could not touch him , they could not hurt him. Another came with a drawn Sword to his Bed-fide to have killed him, but he could not ftir his hand, till repenting, he was by the prayer of Ambrofe rcftored to the ufe of his hand again. For Ijuther (faith my Author) a poor Fryar to ftand it out againft the Pope and all the Power of Rowe,v93LS a great miracle, and chat he fhould prevail againft all that Power,was agreater, and that after all, he (hould dye in his bed, was the grcateft of all. There are many thoufand Inftanccs more of the like nature^ but enough is as good as a Feaft. Eighthly, The fpiritual Judgments that God hath given fuch up to, )Who have fhed the blood of the Ju(}, fpeaks out their blood to be precious blood. Oh the dreadful horrors ind amazing terrors of confclence that (lich have been gi- ven up to •' Take a few Inftances among the many that might be given. The Vaivod that had betrayed Zegedm a godly man, profcffed to Ze^edine, that he was Co haunted with Ap- paritions and the Furies of his own Confcicnce, that he could not reft day nor night. Dionyfiuf a cruel Tyrant, a bitter Ene- my to all good men and good things, was Co troubled with fear and horror of confcicnce, that not daring to truft his bcft friends with a Rafor,he ufcd tofindgc his beard with burnirc coals A (leepy confcicnce, when awakned, is like a (leepy Lyon, when he awakes he roars and tears his prey. It Is like Prometheus Vultur, it lyes ever gnawing. Sin brings a ftain and a fting. Horror of confclence meets a man in the dark, and makes him leap in the night, and makes him quake in hi<: Qeep, and makes him ftart In every comer, and makes him ' think the late fery Difpenfation, 167 think every bulh is a man, every tnan a Devil, and every Dc vil a MefTenger to fetch him quick to Hell. By this Iheodo- rick^ faw the face of a man in the mouth of a fi(h. Niffiu heard the noife of murthcr in the voice of birds. Saundes ran di- Ika^cd over the lri(h Mountain?. Th:s made Cain wander, Sanl ftab himlelf, Juian hang hin^fcif. Arm empty his bow- els ac the ftool, Ltiromw cry defperatcly, he was damned, he was damned, and Julian confcf*, that he was conquered. It makes man, the Lord of al), to be Slave to all. Lord, what if man > Certainly 'tis better with Evagrim to lye fccurc on a bed of ftraw, then to have a turbulent confcience on a bed of Doune, having Curtains emboflcd with Gold and Pearl. Bur, Ninthly and laftly. The (hcdding of the b!ood of the Juft, is a fin of fo high aery, and fo deep a dye, that for it Ciod is refolved fcxccpt men repent J that he will ftiut them out of the higheft Heaven , and caft th"em down to the loweft Hell, as you may fee by comparing the Scriptures in the Marginc together j and therefore certainly the blood of the }uft is moft precious blood. Now feeing that the blood of the uftis fuch precious blood , who will wonder, if God fcts fuch Cities, and Towns, and Countries into a flame about their ears, upon whofc skirts the blood of the Juft is to be found? Joftphm fpcaking of the dcfolation oi JerujaUm^ faith, Bccaufe they have finned againft the Lord God of their Fathers in (hcdding the blood of juft men and innocents that were within thee, even in the Temple of the Lord, therefore are our forrowful fighings mulciplicd , and our weepings daily increafcd. Twas the blood of the juft, the blood of the innocents that turned Jerufahm into aftjes. I have read of one Kabhi Samuel^ who tix hundred years fincc writ a Traft in form of an Epiftle to Kabbi Jfasc Mafter ofthc Synagogue of the Jews, wherein he doth excellently, difcufs the caufc of their long Captivity and extrcam mi- fcry, and after that he had proved, that it was infliaed for fomc grievous fin, heflieweth that fin to be the fame which Amos fpcaks of. ¥or three tranjgnfioni of ifrael, and for ______________^^^^^^ four Gal. $.21. ReT.2i. 8. Rev. 22. 15. 1 joh. 3. 1 5, Math. 22. 7. 68 London's Lamentations on speeds Ghro- niclein Queen Mary, four J rviU not turn away the punijhment thereof^ becaufe they fold the righteous for ftlver^ and the poor for a pair ofjhoes. The felling of Jofeph he makes the firft fin, the worfliipping of the Calf in Horeb the fecond fin , the abufing of Gods Prophets the third fin , and the felling of Jefus Chrift the fourth fin. For the firft, they ferved four hundred years in l^gyp i for the fecond, they wandred forty years in the Wildernefsj for the third, they were Captives feventy years in Babyicn ; and forthe fourth, they are held in pitiful Cap- (iviiy even till this day. When Fhoc4i^ that bloody Cut-throat, fought to fccure tiimfdfby building high Walls, he heard a voice from Hea- ven telling him, That though he built his Bulwarks never fb high ; yet fin within (blood within) would fbon undermine all. Shedding the blood of the Juft, is a fin that hath under- mined the ftrongcft Bulwarks, and that hath blown up, and burnt up the raoft glorious Cities that have been in the World. And who can tell but that the blood of the Jult chat was flicd in the Marian days, might now come up iftto remembrance before the Lord ? For in four years of her Reign there were confumed in the heat ofthoft flames two hundred feventy fcvcn perfons, viz. Five Bifhop?, one and twenty Miniftcrs, eight Gentlemen, eighty four Artificers, one hundred Husbandmen, Servants, and Labourers, fix and twenty Wives, twenty Widows, nine Virgins, two Boys, and two Infants. I fay, who can tell but that the blood of thefc precious Servants of the Lord hath crycd aload in the cars of the Lord for vengeance againft that once glorious, but now defblate City? Menofbrutiftifpirits, and that are skil- ful to deflroy , make no more of fhcdding the blood of the Juft, then they do of (bedding the blood of a Swine j but yet this hideous fin makes fb great a noife in the ears of the Lord of Hofts, that many times he tells the World by his fiery Difpenfations, that it cannot be purged away but by fire. And thus much for the fins that bring the fiery Judgment ; our way now to the Application is plain. Ufe i'\ V? V V w * T T ■ V ■ VV V Y VVVvV^ ■ r www THE FIRST PART OF THE Application. 1. To fee the Hartd of the Lord in it. Ten Con f derations to tvok^ to this. 2. To mourn under the ftnfe of fo great a 'judge- \ went, E come nowtotheUfc and Application of this imporfant Point. The Expli^ cation of a Dodrine, is but the drawing of the Bow : the Application is the hit- ting of the Mark, the white, &c. Is it fo, that God is the Author or Ef- ficient caufeof all the great calamities and dreadful Judgements that arc in- Aided upon Cities and Countreys i and in particular of that of Fire ; then, Firft,Let us fee thehand of the Lord in this Utc dreadful File that hath been upon us: for certainly God is the Au- thor ( permitCvcly at leaft ) he is tht great Agent in all thofe A a . terrible Vfe. London's Lamentations on Ruth. 1. 1 9 21. Plalm 99. p. 'I Sam. 318. 1 he SouWiers Fire-brand by which was fired the fa- mous Tempi? offcrufalcm. wascommifl'i- oaared by a Divine Ccm- mini. Matih.l, y.ii. Whatever Mifcreami made the Fire- Balls, yet God did blow tlic fire, andfo turned Londo^i irro a Rui- nous heap. Cercaiaiy there was much of Ceds hand, what- ever there was ofmtns heads in this fetal Fire, tcriibk Judgements that befall Pcrlons, Cities and King- dotrs. Whofoever or whailbever be the Rod, its his hand (hat gives iheftrokc. The power of bringing Judgements upon Cities God challcngeth to himfelf, Amos 3. 6. Shall there he evilin aCity^ and the Lord hath not dom it? What- ever the Judgement be that falls upon a City, God is the Au- thor of it j he a(^s in it, and orders it according to his own good picafurc. There is no Judgement that calually falls lipon any perfon, City or Countrcy ; Every Judgement is in- filled by a Divine Power and Providence. The Chaldtons could never have burnt JerufaUm, if the Lord had not grant- ed them a commiflion. Hence faith the Pf ophet, Evii c^me down from the Lord^ unto the gale o/Jerufalcm, Muh, 1. 12. 'Twas a (ore evil, thtt J erufakm ( which was one of the worlds wonders J (hould be denroyed by Hre i but this evil was determined at the Counfcl -board in Heaven. Jerufa- Urn was burnt by a Commiflion (igncd m Heaven, both when the Chaldeans under Nebuchadnezzar, and when the Romans under Titus Vejpafian laid it in A(heff. All forts of Judge- ments are more at the beck of God, and under the command of God, than Servants are under the commands of their Maftcrs, or Souldiers under the commands of their General, or Children under the cooamand of their Parents. What- ever Judgement God commands to deAroy a Pcrfon, a Ci- ty, or Countrey, that Judgement (hill certainly and efTc- diually accompli(h the command of God, in fpite of all that creatures can do. God as he is our Creator, Preferver, and Soveraign Lord, has an abfolute power both over our per- Tons, lives, eflates and habitations : and when we have tranigrc/fed his righteous Laws, he may do with uf, and all we have as he pleafcs : he may turn us out of houfe and home, and burn up all our comforts round about us, and yet do us no wrong.Thore things which feem accidental and cafual un- to us, are ordered by the wife CounccI, Power and Provi- dence of God. InOruments can no moie Oir till God gives them acommi(Tton,than the Axe or the Knife can cut of it (clf without an hand- Job eyed G )d m the fire that fell from Heaven, and in all the ficny tryals that befell him. And the late pery Vijpenfation, Job I. 20^ 11. Levit. 10- I, Htb.n.z5ji6. Ifa.Io.f.r«*o. And therefore, as one oblcrvcs,hc doth not fay.thc Lord gave, Au[li e. and the Devil took away i nor the Lord gave, and the Chaldeans AT\dS abeam took away i but the Lord hath given, and the Lord ^ and many inl^rumcnts that he fmites us with. God makes ufe of what fecond cau(es he pleafcs for the cxe cation of his pleafurc. And many times be mikes the worft of men the Rod of his indignation to chaliife his people with. Witnefs Pharaoby Abab^ Hamany Herod, and the AJ]) rian Kings, withfcoresof other inlUnces that the Scripture affords. And all Hiliories abound in nothing more than in In(iinccs of this nature, as all know that have read any thing of Hiftory. The Conclave of Rome, and t he Conclave of Bell cando nothing without a commiilion fromH:avcn They can*t make a Loufe, nor burn a Houfe , nor drown a Pigg, without a commidion under the Broad Seal of Hea ven. A Sparrow lights not upon th« ground , nor a hair falls not from our heads, no nor a bri(Ue from a Sow's back, C faith TertuUian ) but by a Divine Providence. All created creatures both in that upper,and in this lower world depend upon God for their being, motion, and fevcral adi vitics. Now in that God did not exert his Power, neither to prevent, nor check thofe furious flames, which he knew without his interpofure, would lay all in aflies > 'tis evi dent that it was his Divine pleafure, that London (hould be turned into a ruinous heap. Gods not hindering the defo- ^ Aa 2 lationl Exod. §. iS. Jer. 21.10. Matth. 8. 32. Chap. 10.30. Luke II. 18. London's Lamentations on lation of London was atacit commilfioningof the flames to burn down all that flood in their w*y. That fuch are under a high miftakc, that afcnbe the burning of LWr?a, fotofe- cond caufcs, as that they will allow no more Judgement of God in it, than that which accompanies common cafuahy, I (hall fufficiently evidence, before I have finifhcd this fir(t life. But I hope the prudent Reader will make it his Bufi- nets to lee the (ignal hand of God in this late fiery difpenfa- tion, and to remember) that the Scribe is more properly faid CO write, th&nthePeni and he that makcth and ke^peth the Clock, is more properly faid (o make it go and firike, than the Wheels and Poizes that hang upon it j and every Workman to cffc^ his work, rather than the tools which he ufcth as inftruments. So the Lord of Hofls who is the Chief Agent and Mover in all thingi, and in all adtions, may more fitly and properly be faid, to cffc(^ and bring to pafs all Judgements, yea, all things that are done in the earth, than any inferiour or fubordinate c^ufes > feeing they are but his tools and inftruments which he rules and guides according to his own Will, Power and Providence. At this fome of the more civilized Heathen hath long (ince ham- mered, t/i^s. That the fame power difpcnfeth both comforts and croffes, ^vhcn they painted Fortune in two forms, with two faces of contrary colours, the forcmoft white, the hin- dermoft black, toHgnifie that both good and evil came from ^hc Goddefs Fortune. When 'twas told Prince Henrj, that ddit'i* generk humani, that darling of mankind , 7hat the fins of tht people caufed that affi^ion that tvof upon him : «i/ci' and Jftno. God only can make the Heavens as Bra(s,and the Earth aslron^and restrain theCele- (lial influences. Can man bind the fifeet inflnences of Pleiades .** or loofe the bends of Orion /' Can any but God forbid the Clouds to drop fatntfs > Surely no. Beloved, drought and fcantnefs of water, upon a Land, a City, &c. is a Judgement of God. 'Tis no fmall mifery to have the Hreams dried up, when i he fire isat our doors, Jer. 50.38. A drought is ttponher wa- ters^ and they JhaO be dried up : for it is the Land of Graven Images^ and they are mad upon their Idolsy Jer. 5l- 35, 36. The violence done to me and to my fltfhj be uponBdhyloii^jhall the in- habitant of Z\on fay j and my blood upon the inhabitants fl/Chal- dea, /;« // Jerufalcm fay. Therefore thus faith the Lord^ Behold I VPill -plead thy cauje^ and tak^ vengeance for thee '■, and Iff ill dry up hir Sea, and ma)\e her Springs dry. Now mark what fol lows, ver. 37. And Babylon fljall become heaps , a drvellittf place for Vragons, an aftonijhmenty andanhiffing without an in habitant. When God comes to plead the caufc oiZion, z^iwf\Bab)lon--, rot by words, but by deed?, by blowcs, by terrible Judgtmentf. When hc«omes toburn up the inha- bitants of Babylon, and to turn them out of houfe and home i he fiift diyes up her Sea, and makes her Springs dry, Haggai 1 II, And I called for a drought upon the Laud, and up: n the Mountains^ and upon the Corn, andupon the nevp Wine, and upon the Oyl, and upon that which the ground bringeth forth, and upon Men, and upon Cattel, and upon all the labour of the bands, 'Tis God that brings droughts and rain, and that opens and ftops ( the Oouds ) the bottles of Hcaren at his plcafure. the late fiery Vtjpenfation. plcafurc, Jcr. 14. 2, 3, 4. Judah mdurmth » and the gates thereof langui/k^ they art blacky nnta the ground^ and the cry 0; Jeru(alcm it gone up. And their Noblei have pnt their lutle ones to the waters^ they came to the pitTy and found no rvater^ they re turned ppitb their vejfelt empty t they were afhamed and confound edy they covered their heads. They muffk^d up their heads and faceSy as a tok^n of great grief and forrow as cltfe mourniri do with us. Becaufe the ground is chapt^ for there tras no rain in the earth ^the V Invpmen were ajhamedythey covertd their heads .Thcrt are many calamities that are brought upon us by humane means that arc alfo avoidable by humane helps > but drought and want of water^cfpeciaily when a devouring Hre is kindlcc^ in themidOof a people,is no fmall judgement of Heaven upon that people, to want water when the hou(c is all m flimes is a high evidence of Divine difpleafure. We had no ram a long time before the Hre, and the Springs were low, and the Water- works at the Bridge foot which carried water into that part of the City that was hrft in Humes were burnt do wr> the hrft day of the Hre. And was there not wrath from Heaven in this ; Surely yes. Look as 'tis a choice mercy to have God at hand, and the creatures at hand when wi mo(l need them : So *tis a (ore Judgement, to have God at a diftance, and the creatures remote, when they (hould be oi moft fcrvicc and u(c unto us. Certainly Gods arming of tht Element of Hre againft us« and his denying at the fame timt water unto us, cannot but be a 6gnal of his great indignati> on againli us. And therefore it highly concerns us, to fee th. hand of the Lord in that late lamentable Hrc that has bcci amongi^ us. But, Secondly, Coniider the fuddennefs and unexp6<^ednc(s of this Judgement. Who among all the burnt Citizens, dir ever expe<^ to fee London laid in a(hcs in four dayes timr > Gods Judgements many times feize upon mens perlbns houf s and c(iatcs, as the Souldeis did Archimedes^ whiiA he was bu- He in drawmg lines m the duA. I(a> 64. 3. When thou dtdfi terrible things which we looked not for. When the Citizens fa w London in flames, they might truly have (aid, This is a terri ble thing which we looked not for ; we were minding our 2. London's Lamentations on Bjb}l9;i bore it feltbold uj'O.i the fevcnry years provjfion laid up before IvanJ, to '"land out a Sic^c, and upcn it* Ihcngth and riches, bu: for all this 'twas taken by Cy/us. iKing.8.37,58. ira.j?. ij, 14. 15- Jer. 8. 6. I Si:::, 15.31. our buiincfs, our Shops,our trades, our profits, our plcafurcs, (>ur delights •, yvc were ttudying, and plotting, and contrive ing how to make our felvcs and our children great and rich, *nd high and honourable in the earth i and it^cvcr entered info our thou]ghts, that the dcrtrudion of Lmdon by fire, was fo near at hznd, as now we have found it (o be, Ifa. 47. 7, 8, thU, thott that art given to pleafures, that dpffeHeji carekjly i that fayeji in thine hearty lam^ and none dfe befide's me. J fikaSnot fit as a rvidow^ neither JhaS I k^otp the lop of children. But thefe trvo things (fjaU come to thee in a moment^ in one day i the lofi ofChildnn and Widowhood^ theyJhaS come upon thee in their perfeGion, 'Evil (hall come upon thee, and thcu /halt not k^ow from whence it rifeth 1 and mifchief Jh^U fall upon thee^ thou (halt not be abkio put it fff: and defolation Jkall come upon thee fuddenly , which thoufnalt not kpjw. Was not London the Lxdy City of our Land ? Did the inhabitants of L^^^ow lay thofc Judgements of God to heart that they either felt or feared ? Did Londm remember her latter end ? Were not moii of the inhabitants of Lijnt^aw given to finful pleafurcs and delights? Dd they not live care'cfly ar.dfccurely ? Were they ever fo fecurc and inapprchcnfive of their danger, than at this very time when the flames broke forth in the mtdft of them > They had newly efcapcd the moft (weeping Plague, that ever was in the City and Suburbs : but inlkad of finding out the plague of their hearts, and mourning over the Plague of their hearts , and repenting of the evil of their doings , and returning to the Moft High, they letuirncd to their fins and their Trades together i from both which for a time the Piague had frighted them \ concluding in themfelves, that furcly the bitternefs of death was pift. They thought that the worft was part, and that after fo dreadful a ftorm they fhould have a bleffed calm > and dreamed of nothing but peace,and quiet,and fafety,and Trade > ftriving with all tht\t might (0 make up thdfe loffes, that they had fuftainedby i the the late fiery VSenfatioiu the Pcftilcncc. They hiving cfcaped (he Gravc^when fo ma- ny fcorc thoufands were carried to their long homes, were veryfccurci they never thought, that the City, which had been fo lately intecSed by a contagious Plague, was fo near being buried in its own ruines: they never imagined, that the whole City fhould be put in flames, to purge that Air that their fins had infcdcd. And therefore no wonder if dc- folatton came upon them (uddenly, in a mom<:nt, in one day. No marvail that fo great a Fire was kindled in ih: v;:ry heart of the City, and they not fee the hand that kindled it, iior have no hands nor hearts to quench it. Jutfgenrjencs are never fo n4^5 4i343'44- had a hanfel of Hell on this fide Hell i they paA through hrc and brimiione here,to an eternal tire in Hell^as Jude fpeaks.So chc Jcvvswerc deadly (ecure before the HrQ and latter dc- ftruttion both of their City and Countrey by fword and fire. All the woild could not perfwade them, that their Teitiplc and City fhould be hid inAHies^tjll the Cbaldeani at one time, and the Romanr at another, had fct both their City and Temple in a flame before their eyes. Now mark fuddcn and unexpected Judgements doalwayes carry a great deal of the anger and ievtrity of God in them, Dcut. 7. 4. Se will the anger of the Lord bi kindled againfi jou^ and dejiroj tkeefuddenlj, God being greatly angry with Jerufaltm.Jfj. 29 i, 2, 3,4. He tells her, that her Judgement (hould be at an inj\ani^ fud- denly, ver. 5. P/i/. 64. 7. But Godjhall Jioot at them with an arronpy fuddtnlyfhtU they be wounded. Hab. 2.7. Shall they not. rife up fuddenly that Jhall bite thee, and atvjke that jhall vex thee, and thottjhaltbe for booties unto them? Prov. 6. 14, 15. FrotPardmfj it in his heart, he devifetb mifcbief continuaUy, he fitveth difcord. Therefore Jhall his cahmitj come fuddenly \ jitd- denlj Jhall he be brokfn without remedy. Here is a difmal doom j not bruifcd, but broken i yea, fuddcnly broken, when they Icaft dream or dread the danger. And this without remedy, chcrc (hall be no pcdlbility of piecing them up again, or put- ting them into a better condition, Chap. 24. 22. Their ca- lamity Jljall rife fuddenlyt when they think that they have made all cock fure, then ruine and defolation lyes at their door. Certainly there are no judgements fo dreadful and amazing, as thofe which come moft (uddenly and unexpe^edly upon thcfons of men : for thefecut off all hopcj they hinder the cxercife ofreafon i they cloud mens minds •, they dtflrcfs mens fpirifs -> they marr mens councils, and they weaken mens courage v and they daunt mens hearts fo, that they can neither be ferviceable to themfclves, nor their friends, nor the publick i all this was evidently fccn upon the body of the Citizens, when Lmdon was in flames. The more eminent cauft have we to take notice of the hand of the Lord, in that late Hery difpenfation that has pafl upon us. The year 16^6. ;ceivcd itscommiflion under ihc Eroad Seal of Heaven, to b'Jrn down the City, and to turn It into a ruinous heap j and therefore it defied and con tcmned all remedies, and Icorncd to be fuppreft by humane attempts. Whoever kindled this fire, God blew the coal , and therefore no arts, counfcis, or endeavours of men were able to quench it. It God commidion the Sword to walk abroad, and to glut itfelf with blood, who can command if into the Scabby r J again ? No art, power or policy can cauft that Sword to he Hili, that God has drawn in the Nations round us, untillit hath accomplifhed the er.ds for which he has drawn if. As to our prcfcnt cafe, when I weigh things in the baliance of right reaibn, I can't but be of opinion, that had Magiftratcs and People vigoroufly and confcicncioufly difcharged their duties, much oi London ( by the bleHing ot God upon their endeavours ) that is now ruined, might hap- pily have been prcfcrved. When in a ftorm the Ship ard all the vid trcafure that is in it, is in danger to be lof^, ^is fad to fee every Officer and Marriner to mind more, and endea- vour more the prefcrvation of their Chcfls, Cabins and par- ticular interetis, than the prefcrvation of the Ship, and the vaft tieafure that is in it. Now this was juft our cafe : Ci- cerd in his time laughed at the folly of thofe men, who con- ceited that their Filh- ponds and places of plcafure, (hould be fafe when the Common- wealth was loft. And we may well mourn over the folly and vanity of thofc men, who were (o amazed^ confounded, diftraded, befotted and infatuated Cifnotworfc) as not to improve all heads, hands, hearts, councils and offers, that were made for the prefcrvation ol the City. This is, and this muft be for a lamentation, thar in the midflof publick dangers, all ranks and forts of men (hould take more care for the prefer vation of their (rifling ("^ardels y ( for fo is any particular mans eflate , though never fo great, when compared with the riches of a Rich, Trading, Populous City ) than they do for the prefcrvation of the publick good. That there might have been rational and probable anticipations of thofe dreadful conflagrating pro- gtcfTcs, Ifuppofe all fobei men will grant : thit thefc were Bb '3 either Lii}. i.Ep. ly. iid A'ticim, H London s Lamentations on 1 fofefhus. m either hid from fomcmcns eyes, and fccn by others, and not improved, was Londons wo. When London was almoft dc- ftroyed, then fome began to blow up fomc houfcs for the .prtfervation of that little that was left, and God bicft their I endeavours -, but h»d fomc had cncouragcmeftt, who long ; before were ready for that work, and who offered thcno- ifelvcs in the cafe, 'lis very frobible that a great part of 1 London might have b:cn preicrved. Bat what (hall I fiiy, ; Divinejuftice dos ascmincnily fpirkUandfliire in the fliut- ! tirg of mens eyes, and in the (topping of mens ears, and in i the hardning mens hcarcs, againlt the vlfible and probable [means of their outward prcfcrvatioti, as in any one thi'rg. j This we rau(t ferioudy confider , and then lay our hands upon our mouths, and be filent before the Lord. The force and violence of this tire wis fo great, that many that removed their goods once, twice, thrice, yea, and(bmeoft- ncr, yet loft all at h(t. The fire followed them fo dofe from place to place, that fume favcd but litfle, and others loft all. Now how well dos it become us, in the rage and fury of the flames, to fee the hand of the Lord, and to bow before him, as this fire bang like Time , which de- vours all before it. JtrufaUm was the gloiy ai;d beauty of the whole Earth i and the Temple was one ofthcwoilds wonders ; but when TitHs Vefpafians Souldiers had fet it on Hre, It burnt with (hat rage and fury, that all the induftiy and skill that ever could be ufcd, imagined , or thought on, could notqutnchit, though Jituf would gladly have prcferved it, as a matchlefs monument. They threw both water and the blood of the (lain into it , but it burnt With that violence, that iK)thing could cxtinguifh it. King Hired (or eight years together, before the ruine of it, had imployed ten thoufand men at work to beautifie iti but when once 'twas on fire, it burnt with that fiercenefs, that there was no prefervin§ of it, the Decree of Heaven been gone OQtagainftitjC^c. But, Fourthly, Confider the fwiftnefs of it. It flew upon the wings of the wind, that it might the fboner come to its journiesend: It ran along like the 6re and hail inMgypt^ deftroYi'"^ the late fiery Dij^enfation. »5 dclhoyjng and confuming all before it. The Ayoiiic James fpcaks of fierce winds. The wind was fo boiftrous, that it fcattcred and carried the fire, the flames fomctimes one way, (bnnctinnts another, in dcfpite of all the reHraints, refinances and limits, that the atrazcd Cinzens could have fet to it. I (hall not trouble you with the various notions of Philofo- phers concerning the wind, partly bccaufc thty will-do;noi"er- vicc in the prefcnt cafe i and partly bccaufc our work is to look higher than all natural caufes. All that either is or caabe (aid of the Wind, 1 fuppofc may be thus fummed up that it IS a creature thatmjy b: x.Felt : 2 Heard / and Little underftood. Very wonderful is the lice of the Winds \ when it is To calm and dill upon the Seas, thit fcar^e a breath of air is perceival>le, upon a fudden the wind is heic an4 there, and every where, Ecclcfi-^. Ihi mind gcetb tojvurdthe Southy and turncth about unietht North ^ it rohirktb about continuaVyy and the rvind rtturmth again according to hit circuits^ VCi\. 135-7. He bringeth the veindout of bis treaju' rief. But what thofe trcafuries arc, and where they are, no man on earth can certainly tell us. TheWindisonc of the great wonders of the Lord, in which, and by which the Lords Name is wonderfully magnified , Pfal. 107. 24, 25. They that go doivn to the Sea^ fee the tvcrkj of the Lordy and his rvendcrt in the <^p/>.What wonders ? He commandcth and raif- eth the (tormy wind i although fome thing miy bck no wn of this creature in the natural caufes of it > yet it is a wonder above all, that we can kno«v of it. What the Wind is, and from whence it comes, and whither it goes none can tell. God is the great General ifllmo and Soveraign Commander of the Winds, fo that a blaftofwind cannot pafs without his leave, licence and cognizance, Jonah i. 4. But the Lord fent ^ a great vpind into the Sea^ and there tvai a mighty Temppft in* the Sea. The winds are Gods Poltsi they are fometimcs ' mf(rcnger5 of mercy, and fometimcs me(rengers of wrath. Pfal. 147. 18. Hecaufetb his wind to blow. The winds are at Gods command, to come and go, and go and come at his plcafure. When there is nothing but afweet, (moothand lilvcr calm on the Seas, if God dos but giv« forth a word of pralin 18. 10. Exod.5j.ag,24. Janirsj. 6. a. Ths Winds art ihe Fjnof Na'urc ro ccol and purge the A:r. But at rlus tjmc God brout;ht the winds out of hiv Trea- fiiry, to flatter the flames of his indignati- on, that {ij London niioht become a de- fo'ation. cnmmand. John 1 . 8. Mat. 8. 27. Nam. 1 1. 5 1. Ifa. 27. 8. Num. II, ij. Gen. 8. Exod. 1. 10. Chap. 13. x6 London's Lamentations on pfal. 1 8. 10. 2 Sam. 22. II, Pfal. 104. 5. ExoJ. 15. 10. Exod. 14. 21. Prov. ^0. 4. command, how iojn are they thrown into HjUs and Moun- tains, and how dreadfully do the waves dafli and daft one agamft another? Pfal. 148.8. Fire and Htilj Snow andVa- poursy \hrmy TFiud fulfiuing his xvord. Sometimes the word' that God has to fulfill, is afaving word » and (bmcrimcs'tis a dcftroyirg word, a drowning word, a finking word. Now according to the word that God has to fultill, (odo the wincsalvv4ycsblow. The Lord hath the winds at com- mmd, to be his Executioners and adminiflraiorsi cither of dcftrudion or prcdivation. Whit are ftormy winds at Sea or a Shore, but the utttriags of Gods voice in wrath and judgcmrnf. Somet'.njts God is faid to flj upon the wings of the wind: an'i fome times he is fjid to fide upon the wings of the wind: and fometimos hi', is fadro wslk, upon the wings of the wind. Now th-^f; things arrlpoken after the manner of men, to llicw that th: winds arc continually adJed and go- verned by a Divine Power. God flies upon the wings of the tcmpeUuous winds ipecdily to execute the vengeance written: and he rides and wali(s upon the wings of the morefcfr, eafie and gentle gales of the wind, that he may make good the mercies promifi d No creatures in Heaven or on'Earth, hath the winds at cotrjmsnd, but God folely and properly. Every wind that blows, has a comm)(fiou under the Great Seal of Heaven to bare it out in ailitdos. If the winds (hould be examined, queftioncd and requireJ, to give in a full and exa^ account, of the many tho'_ and Marriners that they have drowned, and of the many rhou- fand Ships that they have fpoyled and dtftroy-d, andoithv many ten ihoufand houfts that they have blown dow-^ at fome times, and of the many fcorc thoufand houtcs, th^t (when the fire has been kindled^ they have helpt to con fume and reduce to aflies at other times, they would llicw you the hand and fealof Heaven for all they have 'doiic. The Soveraignty and greatnefs of God doth eminently fliinc and rparklc in this, that the winds are originally in his hand. He gatheretb the wind in hit fji. God keeps tbc royahie of all the creatures in his own hand. The winds are greater 01 leffer, of a longer or (hortcr continuance, ac- - cording the late fiery Dijpenfation. 17 cording to the will and pleafure of the great God i an J not according to the workings of (econd caufcs. Th: more civilized Heathens had this norion amongU them, thjt the xvinds tvere under the Dominion of one Supream Porva j and therefore dividing the world among fundiy Gods, they give the honor of the Winds to JEolus^ whom they ignorintly fuppofe, had a power to lock them faft, or to let them loofe at his pleafure. Thcfe poor befottcd Heathens thought, that their feigned God JEiltts had power to govern and bridle the winds, and to turn them this way and that way, as a man governs the Chariot in which he ridtth. And many ignorant Atheiflical wretches when the winds are boifterous and violent, they arc ready to fay, that there is conjuring abroad, and that the D;;vil is at work i but they muft know, that the Devil has not power of himfclf, to raiie one blafiofwind, no nor Co much wind as will (tir a fea ther. I know that the Devil is the Prince of the power of the air, and that when God will give him leave to play Rex for ends beft known to himfclf, he can then raife fuch ftorms and tempers, both at Sea and a Shore , as (hill da(h the AouteA Ships in pieces, and remove Mountains, and make the moft glorious Cities in the world a ruinous heap, he cin eadly and quickly raze the foundations of the fairefl, the Tichc(l, the iirongcft, and the renowne(i, and the oldeA build ings in.the woild, if Go J will but permit him But without Divine pcrmirtion, no Angel in Heaven, no D:vil in Hell, nor no Witch on Earth, can raife or continue the winds one moment. Satans power over the wind is only a derivative power, a pcrmiflive power i but the Lords power over the wind, is a lupream power, an abfolute power, anindepen- dant power. Now O what eminent caufc have we to fee the hand of the Lord in that boificrous wind that continued four dayes and nights, and that carried the Hre to all points of the Compafs, to all parts of the City, ( if I may fb fpeakj till our glorious City was laid in A(he> / Oh how great were the tins of that people .' Oh how great was the angei of that God, who united two of the moft dreadfulleif ele- tnentsFire and Wind, to dcftroy our City, and lay our glo- Cc ry Ephef. 2.2. Job I. 19' i8 London's Lamentatiom on /fi/phiis A-t- 'i<2- 1' 7. c. :S PageTsB. ryintheduft ! When the Romans put fire to the Walls of jeruplem, at firft the Norfh Wind blew it furioufly upon the Homjns themfclvcs i but fuddenly (he wind changing and blowing from the South, ( as it were by Gods Pfovidcncc, ind that our prefent ruine, is but the produ<^ of incenfed Jultice, &c. When the Lord hath any fcrvice for the wind to do, it ii prefently upon the march, to run and difpatch his errands, whether of indignation or of mercy. If the Lord General of Heaven and Earth, the greaf,the fupream Commander of the winds, will have them to deftroy a people, and to help on (he de(iru(5lion of their houfes,when the flames are kindled > OK to break and da(h in pieces their Ships at Sea, k (hall foon be accomplilhed, 2 Chron. 20 37. Becaufe thou haji joyned thy frlf ipjth khiihh, the Lord hath brok^en thy vporJ^T, and the Ships tvere broken, that they fvere not able to^ go to Tarfliifh, Boiftcrous winds at Sea or a (hore, are the arrows of God (hot out of the bended bow of his difplcafure > they are one of the lower tier of his indignation, that is fired upon the children of men, Nihum. i. 3. The Lord hath hie tvay in the vtfhtrle ppind^ and in the jhrmy and in the clouds are tbeduji of his feet. The great Spanifh Armado that came to invade our Land in 88. were broken and fcattered by the winds : So that their the late fiery Vijpenfation. •9 dice gtmes were fruftratrc], and they Cent into the bottom of : the Sea, if not into a vvoifebottonn. And when Charles the V. had beiiegcd Algicr (that Pen of Thieves J both by Sea and by Land, andhadalmoft taken it, by two terrible Tempelis, the grcateft part of his great Fleet vvcrc dcllroycd, as they did lye in the Harbour at Anchor. Ships, Houfes, Trees, Stetpics, ' Rocks, Mountains, Monuments can't rtand before a tempcU:- OUS wind, i Kings 19. 1 1. A great Jirong wind rent the Maun-' tainfj and brak^ in pieces the rock/. What more ftrong than^ Rocks and Mountains ? and yet they were too wcak(o Aandi before theflrcngthof a ttmpeftious wind. Oh the terrible! execution that God doth many times by the winds both at Sea and aftiore. Pial. 18. 7. The earth Jhool^attd trembled, the\ foundations of the HiUs ntjvcd and were Jhak^n^ becauje he WiiS' wroth. ver.S.lhere wentup a [mo]^ out of his nojlrils^ and\ fire out of his mouth devoured • coals were handled by it ^ ver. I0;i He rode upon a Cherub^ and did file-, yea^ he did flie upon the wings of the wind. ver. 12. Hu thic\ Clouds pajfed hailjionesl and coals nf jirt. verft 13. Jhe Lordalfo thundred in the Hea-\ venSy and the higbeji gave his vdice i hail-fioms and coals of fire^ &c. The tire in London carried the noifc of a whirle- wind m it : and that made it fo formidable and terrible to all that brheld it, efpecially thofc that lookt upon it as a fruit of Gods difpleafure. The wind was comm;(Iionated. by God tojoyn iffuc with the raging fire, tohythc Ciry defolate. I think the like dreadful in(^ance can't be given in any age of the world. Wc can't fay of the wind that blew when London was in flames, that God was not in the Wind i as 'tis faid in that, 1 Kings i p. u. For alTurcdly, if ever God was in any wind, he was remarkably in this wind , witnefs thedifmals effc^s of it amongft u| to this very day. Had God been pleafed to have hindered ^he conjan^ion of theic two Elements, much of London might have bee n land- ing, which now lyes buried in its own ruines. I grant that 'tis probable enough, that thofe that did fo long before pro- pheiic and predi^tbe burning of London^ before it was laid in alhcs, were the prime contrivers and furthcrers of the filing of it : but yet when they had kindled the (ire, that 1 Cc a God rai. Max. Chyijii.tr. p. tiny.. 20 Gen. lilt. Pfalm ij. $. Mark 4. 3^. Gen. 711. Exod. 14. 24. i ^onah 1 . 4 Chap. 4. 8. London's Lavuntattons on God by the bellows of Heaven, (hould Co blow upon it, as to make it fpread, and turn like ihc flaming Sword inPira- dii'c every way ■■, till by its force and fury, it had dctiroyed above two third parts in the midft of the City ; asthcphrafc IS, Ezf;^. 5. 2. This is^andtbis muji be for a fore lament at ian. God wbo holds the winds in his fill, who is the trcie JE^AuSy could cither have lockt them up in his trcafures, or have conaminded them tobeftilli or clfc have turned them to \u\c been a defence to the City. God who holds the bot- tles of Heaven in his hand, could ealily have unftopt them i he could with a word of his mouth have opened the win- dows of Heaven, «nd have poured down fuch an abundance of rain upon the City, as would quickly have quencht the violence of the flames, and £0 have made the conqueft of the fire more cafie. But the Lord was angry, and the Dj- cie^ was gone oaf, chat Z^wii^^n Qiould be burnt, and who could prevent it } Toclofeup this particular, confider much of the Wif- dom. Power and Juliice of God (hines in the variety of the motions of the wind. Ecclcf. i. 6. 1h ppindgoah totvardtbt Souths and turmth about unto the Nurth, it xphirktb about con- tinuaUy^ and the wind returneth again according to hit circuitf. The wind hath its various circuits appointed by God : when the wind blows Southward , Northward , Weftward, or Eaftvvard, it blows according to the Orders that are iifucd out from the Court of Heaven. Sometimes the wind be- gins to blow at one point of the Compafs, and in a (hort time whirks about to every point of the Compafs, till it comes again to the fame point where it blew at the firft i yet in all this they obfetve their circuits, and run their com- pifs, according to the Divine appointment. As the Sun, fo the winds have their courfcs ordered out by the wife Providence of God. Divine WiWom much fparkles and (hinc* in the circuits of the winds i which the Lord brings out of his treafure, and makes them ferviceabU, fometimes to one part of the world, and at other times to other parts of the world. 'Ts the great God that appoints where the winds (hill blow, and when the winds (hall blow. and how long the winds w LV- m mmt s x r ^ the late fiery Vtjpenfatwn. 21 winds (hall blow: and with what force and violence tht winds (hall blow. • The winds in fome parts of the world, have a very regular and uniform motion in fome moncihs of the year, blowing confiandy out of one quarter^ and in otheis out of another. In fonne places of the world (where Ihavebcen) the noot ions of the wind are tkady and con Itanr, which Mjirintis call ihcir Trade- wind. Now by fhe% ftated or fctled wind.*, D:vine Providence dos very greatly fcivc the intcreft of the children of naen. tut now in oiher parts cf the world , the win«23 ic was more angry with us, than he was with his Difciples, who were in danger of drowning •, or eifc he would as ccr- ainly have faved our City fronn burning, by rebuking the winces and the flamcs,as he did his Difcipks from drowning, by rebuking the winds and the Seas. I have been the longer upon this fourth particular, that you may the more eafily run and read the anger of the Lord inthofe furious flames, and in that violent wind that has laid our City dcfolatc. 'Tistrue Aflrol ;gcrs afcribe the motions of the winds to fpecial Planets : The Etft wind they afcribe to the Sttn^ the Weft wind to the Moon, the South wind to M^r/, and the North wind to jFw/'i/er, but thofe that are wife in heart, by what I have (a:d concerning the winds i may fafely and and grouridcdly conclude, that God alone hath the Supream power of the winds in his own hand : and that he alone or- ders, direds, and commands all the motions of the winds. And therefore let us look to that terrible hand of the Lord that was lifted up in that fierce wind, that did fo exceed- ingly contribute to the turning of out City into a ruinous heap. But, Fifthly, Confider the extenfivcnefs of it. How did this dreadful Hre fpread it felf, both with and agatn(i the wind, till it had gained fo great a force, as that it defpifed all mens attempts ? It quickly fpread it fclf from the Eaft fo the Weft, to the deftrudtionof houfcsof State, of Trade, of Pubiick Magiftracy, befides Mynes of Charity •, it fpread it fclf with that violence, that it foon crumbled into aihcs our moft ftatc- !y Habitations, Halls, Chappels, Churches, and famous Mo- numents. Thoft Magnificent Strufturcs of the City that formerly had put flops, and given checks to the furious flames, falls now like ftubble before the violence of a fpread- ing fire. This fire like an Arm of the Sea, or like a Land- flood broke infuddenly upon us i and foon fpread it felf all manner of wayes amongft us : it ran from place to place like the fire and hail in -^^gypt i now 'twas in this Strcet,and anon in that : Now this Steeple is on fire, and then that : Now this place of Judicature is laid in afhes, and then that : Now this Hall is in flames, and then that ; Now this Parifli IS the late fiery Dijpenfation, 23 is burnt down to the ground, and then that : Now this Ward is turned into a ruinous heap, and then that : Nowth- Qjartcr of the City is level with the ground, and then thar . Now this Gate of the City is dcmolilhcd and confun-.eJ and then that. The adverjarj bath fpread out his hand u^oc all her pleafant things ^ faith the Prophet lamcntingly i and and^vemayfay fighingly, the hrc hath fpread out its hand uponal! our pleafant things, upon all our plcafant H )ufe!. Shops, Trades, Gardens, Walks, Temples, 6\. The Pbgui the year before, did fo rage and fprctd, that it enapticd many thoufand houfes of perfbns j and now this dreadful fire hatti (b fpread it fcif, that it has not left houfcs enough for many thoufands of perfons to dwell m, there b;ing more than 13000. houfcs dehroycd by the furious flimes. Sin is ol a fprcading nature, and accordingly it hid fpread it fcIf over all parts of the City i and therefore the Lord (who delights to fuit his Judgements to mens fins ) fent a fpreading firt in the midlt of us. The merciless flimcs fpreadiag them- felves every way,in four dayes time laid the main of ourConce glorious ) City in alhcs : a Judgement fo remarkiblc and paft ptefidcnt > that he that will not fee the hand of the Lord in it, may well be reckoned amongft the worft of Athe- lOs. But, Sixthly, Confidcr the impartiality of it. It fparcd neither Sinners nor Saints, young nor old, rich nor poor, honourable norbafe, bond nor free, Male nor female, buyer nor feller, borrower, nor lender: God making good that word, Ifa. 24. r, 2.- Behold the Lord mak^tb the earth etttptj^ and mak^ib it vpjfii^ and turneth it upfide dovpn^ and fcattereth abroad the in habitants thereof. And it ^aU be as xvith the people^ fo with the PrieJ} : ( or with the Frince^ for the Hebrew word figni- fiesboth) asvpttb the fervanty fo noith his MaJieVy as vpith the maid Jo with the Mifiris^ as xvitb the buyer fo n>ith the filler^ as with the lender fo with the borrower^ as with the tai^r of ufury^ fo with the giver of ufury to him. In the day of the Lords wrath that was lately upon us, all orders, ranks and degrees of men fuffi^red a\ike,and were abafed alike:the furious flames made no difference, they put no di(fin6^ion between the RufTct Lnm. I. 10. 6. H London s Lamentations on 'I RufTct Coat »nd the Scarlet Gown, the Leathern Jacket and ihc Gold Chtin, the Merchant and the Tradtfman, the Land- lord and the Tenant, the Givci and the Receiver. Th(re is no difference^ Fire bath made. Equal the Sctfter and the Spade. Ezek. 20. 4.7. Bebsld IrviUkjndle a fire in thee ^ and itJ^aUde- V ur every green Tne in f ibf c, aytd every dry Tree : the filming fl me fnaH not he qw-tiched^ and all faces from the Sottth to the Norths jhal be burnt therein, (I have in the former part of this Trettifc givcD fome light into ihcfi: words ) The fire, the flames in the Text, takes hold of all forts of people, rich ard poor, Lord and Lad, high and low , great and fmall, rtrong and weak, W)(c and fooliOi, learned and ignorant, Commanders and Souldicrs, Rulers and luled. So did the late Umentable fire in London take hold of all forts and de- grees oi men, as the Citjiens have lound by fad experience. The fire like the Duke of Parma's Sword, knew no diffi- Ecclef.j?.ij2. rcnce'twixt Robes »r.d Rags, 'twixt Prince and Pcaiant, "twixt honourable and vile, 'twixt the righteous and the wicked, the dean and the unclean, 'twixt him that facrificed and him that facrificcd not, \wixt him that fwearcth, and him that feareth an oath. The Judgement was univetfal i the blow reacht us all : the flames brake into every mans houfe \ fuch a dreadful, impartial, univerfal Are, eyes never faw before, nor cars never heard of before, nor tongues ne- ver difcourfed of before, noi Pens never writ of before. Beloved, you krow, that 'tis our duty to take fcrious no- tice of the hand of the Lord in the Icafl: Judgement, and in every particular Judgement : Ob how much more then dos it highly concern us, to take fcrious notice of the hand of the Lord that has been lifted up againfl us, in that late dreadful, impartial, univerfal Hre, that has burnt us all out of our habitations, and laid our City defolate. But, Seventhly, ConGderthe greatncfs of it, the dcftru^ive- nefsof it. Oh the many thoufand families that*were dc- flroyedand impoveriflicd in four dayes time.' Of many it the late fiery Dil^enfation. ^5 might have been fatd the day befoic the fire, who Co rich as| thcfe } and the vciy next day it might have been faid of the fame pcrfons, who fo poor as fhcfc ? as poor as Job j yea, poor to a Proverb, Jtr. 21. 13, 14. Behold I am agaiuft tbecy inhabitant cfthivalky^ and roc}^ ef the plain^faitb tbe Lord\ which fajy who fbaU come down againfk us ? or who jhaU enter into our habitations ? ButJwillpitmfiyoH accordingto the fruit of yew dotngfy faith the Lfird. And I will handle afire in the forrtji thereof^ and it fiall devour all things round about it. Some by thcForre(), undetftand the fair and fumptuous buildings in Jerufalem^ that were built with wood that was hcwcn out of the Forreft oiLibanony and ftood as thick as Trees in the Forrctt. Others by the Forreft, underlhnd (he whole City of J erufalemvf ith the Countrcy round about it, that was as full of people, as a Forreft is full of Trees. Others by For- reft undeiftand the houfe of the Lord, and the Kings houfe, and the houfes of the great Princes, which were built with excellent matter from the Wood oiLebanon. Jerufakm was (b ftrongly defended by nature, that they thought thcm- fclvcs invincible, as once the Jebufites did : they were fo confident of the ftrength of their City, that they fcorned the' proudeft and the ftrongeft enemies about them. But (in had brought them low in the eye of God, fo that he could fee nothing eminent or excellent among them » arrd there- fore the Lord refolves by the Chaldeety to fire their magni- ficent buildings in which they gloried, and to turn their ftrong and ftately City into a ruinous heap. Though Jeru- \falem ftood in a Vale, and was environed with Mountains, yet the upper part of it, ftood high as it were upon a rocky lifing hill. Now the Citizens of Jerufakm truftcd very much in the Icituation of their City ; they did not fear theirbeing beHeged, ftraitned, conquered or fired : and therefore they fay. Who fliall comedown agtinft us? Who ftiall enter in- to our habitation > Where is the enemy that has courage or confidence enough to aftault our City, or to entev into our habitations ? buC andjheccfoie he wasiefblved by the hand of the Chal' Dd deans London was the LaJy-City where the Riches of m::- ny Nations were laid up. I would ra- ther be bound CO weep over Londoity than be bound to rumm up the loflesof Lon' don by this dreadful tire. 2 Sam. ^ 6. tfalm 12^ i. i6 London's Lamentations on Sir Riclwd Baiters Chro- nicIe,/'-3i.47" jEcclef. 9. Can. a. 4- M- deans to hew them down, and to tire their mUi ftatcly Stiu- <^ures, and to turn their glorious City ( in which they greatly trufkd and gloried )in(0 a ruinc^us heap. All which accordingly was done ( not longafccr ) by NebuZtraiian^ud hisArrcyi as you may fee in 7''"' 5^* **> '3^ H» i5' ^ow often hach the Citizens of Low^ynbccnalaim'd with the cry of firci which hath been as often extinguifhed before they could well know where it was, and how it began ? but all former Hres were but fmali fiics, but Bon-Hrcs to this dread- ful hrc that has been lately among(l us; In the twentieth year of the Reign ofiFt/Z/jw the firft, fo great a fire happened inLmdon, that from the Wtft gttc to the Eaft-gate, it confumed houfes and Churches all the way. This was the mult grievous fire that ever happened in that City, faith my Author. And in the Reign of King Henrj the /ir/f, a longtra(^of buildings, from ff^eji cheap in London to AldgatCy was confumed with fire. And in King Stephens Reign there was a fire that began at Lmdon Stonet and con- fumed all unto Aldgate. Thefc have been the raoft remark- able fires in London. But what were any of thefc, or all thcfc, to that late dreadful fire that has been amongft us ? London in thofe former times was but a little City, and had but a few men in it incompaiifon of what it was now. Lon- don was then but as a great Banqucting-houfe, to what it was now ; Nor the conlumption oi London by fire then, was nothing proportionable to the confumption of it by fire now. For this late lamentable devouring fire hath laid waQc the grcattft part of the City of London within the walls by far, and lome part of the Suburbs alfo. More than fourfcoie Pa- rishes, and all the Houfes, Churches, Chappels, Hofpitals, and other, the great and magnificent buildings of Pious or Pub- lick ufe, which were within that circuit, are now brought into aftits,: and become one ruinous heap. This furious raging fire burnt many ftately Monunnents to powder i it melted the &ells in the Steeples i -it much we^kned and fhat- rcrcd the ftrongeft Vaults underground. O what Age or Nation hath ever fcen or fclr fach a dreadful vifitatioivas (his hath been. . Nehftx^iradan General to the King of Baifi- lon^ the late fiery Vij^enfation. ^7 lon^ firltfcts (he Temple of Jirufjlem on fire, and then the Kings Royal Palace on fire, and then by firchclcvclls all the houfcs of the great nnen i yea, and all the houfcs o(Je- rufiUmvct by fire turned into a ruinous heap, according to what the Lord had before foretold by his Prophet Jeremiah. Now this was a lamentable fire. Some hundred years after the R<7mj« Souldiers fackt the City, and fet it on fire, and laid it dcfolate with their Temple, and all their ftately build - ings and glorious monuments. Three or four Towers and the Wall that was on the Weft fide they left ttanding as mo- numents of the Romans vilour, whp had (urpizcd a Ciry f» ftrongly fortified. All the reft of the City/they (b plained, that they who had notieen it before, would not believe that it had eve* been inhabited. Thus wis Jer«/d/em one of the worlds wonders, and a City famous amongfi all Nations, made dcfolate by fire, according to the prediction of Chrift, fbme years before. There was a great fire in Rome in Ni- ro*s time, it fpread it felf with that fpeed, and burnt with that violence, till of fourteen Regions in Rome, there were but four left entire. I know there arc fomc, who would make the world believe, that this fire began cafually, ( as many now would perfwadc us, that the late fire in Lo«^y« did ) but I rather joyn ifTuc with them, who conclude that Nero fet Rome on fire, and when he had done, he laid it upon the Chriftians, and thereupon grounded his Pcrfecution: as all know, that have read the Hifiory ofthofe times Annj 80. Rome was fet on fire by fire from Heaven (fay fomej it burned three dayes and nights, and xronfumed the Capitol, with many other ftately Buildings and glorious Monuments i it burnt with that irretiftible fury, that the Hiftorian con- cludes, that it was more than an ordinary fire. And in the rime o( Commodiut the Empcrour, there happened fuch a dreadful fire in Romey as confumcd the Temple of Peace, and all the moft ftately Houfes, Princely Palaces, glorious Stru- ctures and rare Monuments that were in the City. In the Reign ofAchmat the eighth Empcrour of the Turkj, about the beginning of Navember^ a great fire arofc at Con- 'antinopki wherein almoft five hundred Shops of Wares, Dd 2 with A.M. il^6. Jcr. 52.12, 13.14. Joj.Ait.p.T^i. A.M. 4034. Jo[Ant.p.j4^. Luke 19. 41, 41,43544- Tii:lt. Afi.i 5. i Amo 6^', KjnoWi Gene- ral Hiftory of 18 London's Lantentations on with many other fair Buildings were deftroyed by fire i fo that the harm that was then done by fire, was cfteemed to amount to above two Millions of Gold. But alas, what was this fire and lof$ to the fire diLondon^ and the lof$ of the Citi- zens in our day ! In Confijntimpk in -^. D. 465. in the beginning of Septem- ber, there brake forth fuch a tire by the water fide, as raged with that dread, force and fury, and violence four dayes and nights together, that it burnt down the greatcft part of the City, the ftrongeft and the ftatelieft houfcs, being but as dried ftubble before it. It bid defiance to all means of rcfiftancc i it went on triumphing and fcomingall humane helps, till it had turned that great and populous City ( once counted by fome the wonder of the world ) into a ruinous heap. This of all fires comes nearcft to the late fire o( London : but what is the burning of a thoufand Romes, and a thoufand Conftant'mopleii or the burning of ten thoufand Barbarous Ci- ties', to the burning of one London? Where God was as greatly known, and as dearly loved, and as highly prized, and as purely fcrved, as he was in any one place under the whole Heavens / O Sirs, 'tis our duty and our high concern- ment, to fee the hand of the Lord, and to acknowledge the hand of the Lord in the leart fires: how much more then does it become us, to fee the hand of the Lord lifted up in that late dreadful fire that has laid our City defolate.- But, Eighthly, Confider how all forts , ranks and degrees of men were terrified, amufcd, amazed, aflonifhed and difpiritcd in the late dreadful fire that was kindled in the midft of us. When men (hould have been aftrengthningof oneanothers hands , and encouraging of one another hearts , to pull down, and blow up fuch houfes, as gave life and ftrength to the furious flames , how were their hearts in their heels, every one flying before the fire, as men flye before a vl<^o- rious enemy ? What a Palfie, what a great trembling had feized upon the heads, hands and hearts of mofl; Citizens, as if they had been under Gains curfe, moft men were un- man'd and amazed } and therefore no wonder if the fu- rious tlx late fieiy 'DMenfation. 1? fious flames received no check. In former fires, when Magiftratcs and People had rcfolvcd hearts and a<^ivc hands, howeafily, how quickly were thofe hres quenched ? But now our Rulers minds were darkned and confufed, their Judgements infatuated, their fouls difpiritcd, and their ears flopped, fo that their Authority did only accent their mifcry : and this filled many Citizens hearts with fear, ter- ror, amazement and difcontent j thefe things being done, the Guy quickly was undone. Hid the cate and d.Iigcncc both of Magiftratcs and People, been more for the fccuring of the publick good, than 'twas for fccuring their own private intercft, much o( London by a good hand of Providence upon their endeavours, might have been ftanding, tHat is now turned into a ruinous heap, Tr^ was loft by the floth and carclcfnefs of her inhabitants j and may I not fay, that much of London was loft, by the floth and carclefnefs of (bmc, and by the fears, frights, and amazement of others i jnd by others endeavouring more to fccure their own Packs and Pa- trimonies, than the ftfcty of the whole. When London wi$ in flames, mens courage did flag, and their fpirits did fail i the ftrong helpers flood helpleft : Some flood loking on, others flood weeping and Awaking their heads, and wringing their hands ', and others walkt up and down the Streets like fomanyGhofls, Pfil. 765. The jiottt hearted are fpoiled(oT as the Hebrew runs, the ft out hearted have yielded themfelves up for a pre)' : which the Rabbins tfeus expound. They are Jpoiled of their under ft andings and infatuated ) and none of the men of might have found their hands : ( or as fome read the words, none of the men of riches y that is, rich men, have found their hands ) or as others carry the words, Godtook^ away their cou- rage^ and their wonted ftrength jailed them. So when Londou was in flames, how were high and low, rich and poor, hono- rable and bafc, fpoiled of their undcrflanding, and infatua- ted ? The Lord took aWay all wifdom, courage, counfeland ftrength from them : So Judges 20. 40. But when the flames began to arife out of the City with a pillar of ffnal^ey the hcn)i- mites looked behind them^ and behold the flame of their City af cended up to Heaven : and when the men of \(iz6[ turned again, Ddj the Deur. 28. 6$, I Sam. ij. 7. 14. M- ^ A(fts i:ii. Why ftand ye gazing ? O the fecblenefsj thefrighs.the tremblings, the diftradi- ons that was then-in every houfcj in eve- ry heart U hen a Ship is finking 1 'tis fad to fee every man ruft to his Cabin J when every one (hould be at the Pump, or a (topping of Leaks. 3^ London's Lamentations . on Job54. ip, 20, 24. I Kings i5> 3'^. Dan. 5". I J 2, Drcxdiks's School of Pa- tience, p. IJOj 2 Sam. 18.14. Ger. 3. 24. the men o/Bcnjamin trrre amaztd^ for ihej faa? that evil tvof cfime upon them. Thcfc BeMJamites were tnc very pi(5tarc of o if Citizrnn i for when they fiw the flime brgan to arifc out oi the City wirh aPilUr of fmoke, when they faw the flame of the City afccnd up to Heaven, O how amazed and confounded wtre they / All wifdom, courage and council was taken away, both from Magiftrate and People •, and none of them coutd find cither heads, hands, or hcarrs to prevent Lon^f?^/ defolation. In ?/i/. 76. v. «/r God is faid, to c«/ /jg'" the Spirits of Princes : ( oras the Hebrew runs, He JhaV Jl'p (jfthe Spirits nf Princes, as men flip off a bunch of Grapes, or a Flower btwccn their fingers, eafily, fuddenly, unexpected- ly, Ai he did by Senacheribs.Fiinccs ) Princes ufually arc men Gi thcgreateft fpirits i and yet fomctimcs God dos difpirit themi he flips off their fpirits, as mm do a flower which fv)on withcreth in their hand. How Toon d'd God flsp off the Spirit of that great, proud, dcbiuched Monarch Beljhaz- ztr^ who when he was in the midft of his Cups, bravrry and jollify ( with all his.great Princes, Lords, Ladies and Con- cubines about him) (aw a hand writing upon the wall, which did Co amaz: him and terrific him, that his countenance rvji changed and his thotigbts trouble d^ and the joints ofhii loins loofed, and hif k^ees dsfhed cm againji another. Butyoumiy fay. What was the rcafon that fo^reat a Prince ftiould be Co greatly afioniflied. /^«. ThcTtxf tells you, hefatvahand: What hand ? we the hand of a man : what could one hand of a man ( faith One) terrific and ftartlc fo great a Mo- narch ? Hadhefecn the Paws of a Lion, or the Pawes of a Brar, or the Paws of a Dr»gon, there had been fomc caufc of terror. But what need fuch a Puiffant Prirce fear the hand of a man fo much, at whofe command and beck, an hundred Troops of Armed Horfc would prcfcntly flyc to his afTiftancc? What terrible Weapons could that one hand wield or ma- nage? none but a Pen with which it wrote. But will any man, much Icfs a King, be afraid of a writing Pen .«* Had hebchtld the three Darfs oijoab.^ or the fiery flaming Sword of the Cherfth, brandiftied dirtily againft him, he had then had fome argument of aftoniflimcnt ; But one Hand, one Pen, the late fiery D'tjpenjatloju Pen, bnc piece of Writing which he urdcrftood" not ', this was that which daunted him. Many Citizens were as much amazed, aftonilhcd, terrified and (tartkd when they faw Lm don in flimes, as Bdfhazzir was, when he faw (he hard writing upon the waII. Ahah trembled like a fh»kcn!eaf> ?nd fo did his Grand fon Manajfeh^ he that faced the Heavens, and that dared God in the day of his Profprrity, when trou bics came thick, and his fears rile h'gh, he hides his hear among the bulhes. Such a fear and trembling was up j. many Citizens when London was in flames. Though Tu lin- HLifiilius (the third K\r\g of the Romans) had a great warhkt Spirit, z^Ladantius notes, yet he carried in his bofom tw*. new Gods, P^t^orfw and P 18. 34 London s Lamentations on Gea 19. 16, 17- i?j Lam. 2. 2,3. IJ&.58. jng'flp of Backets, men in every Street take up arms, fearing a worfc thing than fire. The Jcaloufies and Rumors that ftrc balls were thrown intofcvcral houfesand Churches C by Tuch that had no Englifh tongues but out-landifli hands, to make the furious fi imes flame more furioufly ) were fo great (hat many were at a ftand, and others even at their wits end. Now relaf ions, friends and neighbours haftened one another out of their houfcs, as the Angels haftened Lot out of Sodom. Such were the fears, and flights, and fad apprehenfions that had generally (eizcd upon the Cit;zens. Not many Sab- baths before ( when men (hould have been inftru(^ing of their families ) what bonfires, what ringing of Bells, and what joy ard rejoycing was there in our Streets, for burning the Dtttcb Ships m their Harbour ( where many Engliflt and others, were highly concerned as well as the Vtitch ) little did they think, who were plcafing and warming themfclves at thofe leffcr fires, that the great God would in Co ftiort a time after,kindle fo great a tire m the midft of their Streets, as (hould melt their Bells, lay their habitations in afhes, and rnaHf^ their Srreets defolate : So that thofe that were fo jol> ly before, might well take up that fad lamentation of weep- ing Jeremiah. 7he Lord bath ffva2ou>ed up all the habitations (/Jacob, and hath not pittied : be bath throvcn dorvn in his wrath^ thtftrong holds of the daughter o/Judah : hi bath brought them doppn to the ground. He burned againji Jacob bk^ a flaming fi^e which devouretj) round about. May we not fobcrly gucfe. that there were as many ftri(ft obfervers and fandificrs oi the Lords Diy, who did turn away their feet from doing thcr plcafurc on Gods holy day, and that did call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, and honouiabk Within the Walls of LWon, as in a great part of the Nation befides. Now for the Lord of the Sabbath, to kindle fuch a devour- ing fire in fuch a City, and that on his own day/ O what extraordinary wrath and difpleafure dos this fpetk out) When God by his Royal Law, had bound the hands of his peo,'c from doing th.ir own works*, for him now tofal- upon his(i.ange work, and by a flaming confuming fire to turn » popul )us City, a pious City, an honourable City, and an the late fiery Vilpenfatm. ;5 I' CoHcil. Pxiis. lib. I. cap. fo. an Ancient CiJy into a tuinoas heap, what ind ignif iorr fo this} indignation.' O Sirs, it highly concerns us, to take notice on the Jut^gcmcnts of the Loid that fall upon us on any day, but especially thofc that fall upon us on his own day; b: caule they carry with them more than a Undiato ol Gods deep difplcafure. In the Council of Tariff every one labouring to pcrfwadc unto a more religious keeping of the Sabbath Day. When they had juftiy complained, that as many orher things, fo alfo thcobfervation of the Sabbath was greatly decayed, through theabufeof ChrJftian liberty, in that men too much fol- lowed the delights of the world, and their own worldly pLa fures, both wicked and dangerous. They further add^ For many of us have been eye witneflTes, many have infell'gencc of it, by the relation of others, that fome men upon this day, being about their husbandry, have been ttrucken with .Thunder i fome have been maimed and m^de lame •, fom have had their bodies ( even bones and all ) burnt in a mo ment with vifible hre, and have confumed to a(hes \ and ma ny other Judgements of God have been, and are daily inHi<^cd upon Sabbath Breakers. Stratfsrd upon Sluon was twice on the fame diy twelve moncth ( being the Lords Day ) alraoft confumed with fire, chiefly for prophaning the Lords Diy, and contemning his word in the mouth of his faithful Minilkr, Feverton in Ve- vonji'm (whofe remembrance makes my heart bleed, (aith my Author ) was oftentimes admonidicd by her godly Preachers, that God would bring fome heavy Judgement on the Town , for their horrible prophanation of the Lords Day, occafioned chiefly by their Market on the day follow- ing : Not long after his death, on the third ofAprili^^S. God in lefs than half an hour confumed, with a fuddcn and fearful fire, the whole Town, except only the Church, the Court- houfe, and the Alms-houfcs, or a few poor peoples dwellings > where a man might have feen four hundred dwclhng houfcs aft at once on tire, and above fifty prrions confumed with the flames. And on the hfch of ^m^m4 1612. ( fourteen ycaisiince the former iire ) the whole Town was E c a again 1 he Theatre of Gods Judgements. /'.i|.4lp,4io. ?6 London's Lamentations on 10. :\'9hen one member fft the natwrad 1 body fuflPevs, all the mem- b:rs of the body fufter : ' tis fo in the I'olitick bo- dy, &c. Look as all ilivers run into the Sea? and all the lines of the circumference meet in the a. nter : fo did cheinrercihof themoft emi- nent perfons in the wliole Nation meet in LDncio'i, &C. Now London is laid in afhes, we may write Icloabod upon poor EvgUnd. i3y the flames hat have "■een kindled n Lo ■^on, God hath fpit 'lie into the Face of f;?^- Liid. ^agiin ti .cd avid confumcd, except fome thirty houfcs of poor p:ofl^,, witK the School-houfc and Alms-houfcs. Now cct- itainl'/ fhey muft be much left of God, hardncd in fin, and blfided by Satan, whodo not, nor will not fee the dreadful ;ii7indofGod, that is lifted up in his fiery difpenfations upon itj iS own day. But, \ Tenthly, and laltly, Confider, That the burning of London lis a National Judgetnent. God in fnr)iting of London^ has rfnnittcn England round : the ftrokc of God upon London^ was an univerfal ftrokc. The fore (hokcs of God, which have lately fallen upon the head City ( London ) arc doubtlcfs de- iigncd by Hcaveo, for the paniftimcnt of the whole body. In the fuffcrings of I'On^on, the whole Lmd fuffcrs. For what City, County, or Town in England was there, that was not one way or other, tefrefticd and advantaged, if not enriched, with the (ilvcr ftrejms of Lmdon that overflowed the Land, as the Rivet Nilus doth the Land of jEgypt. Doubtltfs there jrc but few in the Land, but are more or lefs concerned in the burning of Lond:m. There are many thoufands that arc highly concerned in their own particulars ;, there are many thou^nds concerned upon the account of their inward friends and acquaintance : and who cm number up the ma- ny fcore thoufands imployed in ths Manufa and this the late fiery Dilpenfation. 37 this the Nation already feels, and rray yet feel more and more, if God in mercy dos not prevent the things ihar we have caiifc to fear. ' Tis true London is the back that is ("mitten : but what corner is there in all the Land, that harh not more or lefs, one way or another , contributed to the burning oi London. Not only thofc that lived in Jerufakm^ but alfo thofc that came up to Jerufjfem^ and that Traded with Jfrufalem, they even they did by their fins contribute to Jerufikf»f tiliS€, They are under a high miftakc, that think it was only the fins of the City which brought this (ore dcfolation upon her ; doubtlefs as far as the Judgement extends and reaches, fo far the fins extend and reach, which have provoked the Lord , to make poor Loftdm fuch an aftonithing example of his juftice. How are thceff.6ts of hondons ruinc already felt and fighcd under, all the Nation over. The blood and fpirits which this whole Nation, hath already loA by this late lamentable Are, will not be eafily norfuddenly recovered. The burning oi London^ is the Herald of God to the whole Nation, calling it to repen- tance and reformation j for the very fame fins that have laid London '\m^^s^ are rampant in all parts of the Nation i as' youmayeafily perceive, if you plcafcbut to compare that Catalogue that m this Book I put into your hands, with thoie fins that are moft reigning and raging in all places of the Laud : ly which you may alfo fee, that they were no; the greatcll finners in EnghndyU^on whom the fire ofLoHdon fell , no more than ihey were the grcaiell finners in Jeru- fd'.em, upon whom the Tower oiSilcam fell. That the burn^ ingof Loud n IS a National Judgement, is evident enough to every man that has but half an eye. But if any (hould doubt of it, or difpute it, the Kings Proclamation for a General Fat) on, that account, puts it b:yond all difpute. The words of the Proclamation that are proper to my pur- po(e, are thefe , A Fifuation fo dreadful ( fpcaking of the burning of Lon<^;M ) that [caret any Age or Nation hath ever f(en or felt the liksi rfhenin although the affli^ing hand of God fell more mmedtately upon ike inhabitants of this Citj/y and the parts adjacent i )it all men ought to lookjtpon it, as a Judgement E e 5 upon Luke i3.4>y- ?8 London's Lamentations on Vft 2. Luke 19.4^1 Pfalm pS. Loidoi! the ' Crown of E^gUnd, ha h ioft its Jewel of Wealth lud Beautv. Ifa 13.7,8 Chap. zj.i. the whole Nition^ and to htanpu tt^emjJveT accordingly. O Siis, you arc to fee, and obfcrvc, and acRnr.wh'^gc rhe hand of the Lord in every pcrfonal JudgcmcDr, ani m every Domcft Cil Judgcnnenr; O how nnucK more rhen, in every National Judgrmcnf that is infl dcd upon us ' And thus I have done with tho'e fen ContidcTarions, that (ho-ild nor only pro- VLkcus, but alfo previil with us, (o fee a,nd acknowledge (he hind of the Loid, in that late dreadful fire that has laic )Ur City dcfoUtc. ^ I The fecondUfc is a Ufc of Lamentation and mobtning. Is LW wlaid in a(hcs? Then let us all lament and rtourn that L W' « is laid dcfohte. Shall Chriftweep ovct Jtrufi- I'eWf when 'twa« ftanding in all ifsgloiy ( knowing that u would not be long before it was laid even with the ground ) and fli ill not wc weep over London^ whofc gloiy is now hid • n the d'. ft ? Who can look upon London^ as rhe Anfient and Noble Merrr;poljs o( England, and not lament and mourn, to lee it laid in a(hes ? It might have been faid not long tince, Walk about 9i(7«, (_ walk about London ) and go round about ner, ttli the Towers therfof, mark ye well her Bulwarks, confid r her Pilaces : look upon her ftatcly Houfcs, Halls ard Hofpitah, take notice of her Shops, and fair Ware- houfts, and RoyJ Exchange, &c. ard lo, the glory of all hcfe things, is now buried in a common f uinc ! O rhe in- credible change, that a devouring fire hath made in four daycstime within thy Walls, O ZWr/«! So that now we may laratntingly ( Alas foor Lmdnn ) Is this the'jyouf Citj. wbofe antiquity is of ancitnt dayts ? Is this the crowning Ci- ty, whufe Mcrchirts were Princes, and whofc Traffickers were the horourablc of the Earth? Wl,o can but weep, tc fee how the Lord hath nude a City an heapy and a ruine of a difnced Ciry, and a FaUace to be no City ? Who can look upon naked Steeples, and ufclcfs Chimneys, and pittiful fragments of ragged walls ? Who can bthold (lately Sfrudurcs, and noble Halls, and fair Houfcs, and fee them all liidinafhes, or turned into a heap of Rubbifb, without paying fome tear*, as due to the fadnefs of (b dreadful a fpe6taclc? Who can with the late fiery Dilpenfation, ^9 with dry eyes hear L'«^r;n thus fpeaking out of its rjincs, // it nothing to yoi*^ all ye that pjfs hj ? Bih)ld an^ifee, if there be any forrow lik^ untd tny fomrv^ xrhich is done nms w?, rvhere- vpith the Lord hath afflided me in the dsy of htsfi:rce anger. Who can look upon the Lord as miking Londm empty, as laying it waftc, as turning it uplide done, and as fcaftcring abroad the inhabitants thereof, and not mourn. B:lovcd under desolating Judgements, God dos cxpe<5t and look that his people (hould lament and mourn, Jcr. 4. 7^ 8. Tht Lion is come npfrom his thicket^ and the dejhroyer ef the dn- tiles is en his ivjy \ he is gone forth from bis place to make thy Land deflate^ and thy City jhall be laid waj}e^ without an inha- bitant. For this girdyott with Sackcloth^ lament and how! : for the fierce anger of the Lord is not turned bac\ from w. Under wafting Judgements, God expc^eth, not only inward, but alfo outward t^prcllims and dcmoflftralior.s offoirow and grief. Shall our enemies r< Joyce over thcRuinesof Lon- don., and (hall not we mourn ovei the Ruims of London ! Lam. I. 12. ira.;4. I. Sr.EiTV.Tu-.ii.r ill bH Speech ro the Kirgo. Fiidxy the 18. d;iV of JdL'lUX- ?7j hath thele w J rds, Thtf fiitd ('meaning the Par lu- men: ) )our Maj,.fty rtigag-J in. a. (hap and cofily n'ar, op' pofcd by Mighy Princes and States^ that an Shall they that are afat oif, lament over Londms didoUuon A ^^i,,fi us; thty and ftiall not we lament over Lmdons dcfolation, who arc ff'e mth fonorv every day a walking up and down in Lmdms Ruincs and ^^^'g^f^^";* f^'t Rubbifli .' O S rs, as ever you would fee LondoKS breaches re- paired, her Trading recovered, her beauty rtftored , her riches augmented, her glory advanced, and her inhabitants rcjoyced, make coiilcience of mourning over Ltmdons Ru- ints. Aiict J erttfj lem wis deflroyed by the K:)mans, ma- ny of the Jcws^ obtained leave of the Roman Emperois, oiice a year ( viz. on the tenth Q^Auguj}^ which WiS the day whereon their City was taken ) to enter into Jemfulem^ and bewail the dcftrudlion of their City, Tcniple and People, bargaining with the Souldicrs who waited on them, to give fo much for fo long abiding there, and it they exceeded the time they conditioned for, they were to firetch their purfcs to a higher rate : which occafioned Hierom to fay, 7hai they who bought Chrijis blaodt were then glad to buy their own tears, j O Sirs, what caufc have we, once a year, yea, often in a year, to bewail the dcfolation oi London I The Statue oi Apolio^ is faid CO (bed tears, fox the afflidions of ih.t Grecianty though he of yo:ir Murt- politai city buricii in afhis Jnfephu's, 40 London's Lamentations on Lev. 14. S! to V. 45, I. Rer. 6. 4, 8. Jof.phhs |).i 7385739- T he could not help them. Though wc could not prevent the burning of London^ yet let us weep over the Ruincs of Lon- \ don. The Lcprofie of the Citizens fins, h»d fo fretted into I Lindms Walls v that there was no cleanling of them, but by 'the furious flames of a confuming fire. In the Law you I know, that when the old fretting Plague of Leprolie, was jTo got into the houfc, and fpread in the Walls, that no [fcraping within or without, could clcinCc it away, then the jhouf^c was ;obc pullcd»down: thisfccmsto \it Londons cik. \ God by former Judgements, laboured to fcrape away the Le- prolie of Cm oMi oi London^ but that deadly leprofic was fo got into mens hearts and houfes, that there wasno getting of it out, but by pulling ihcm down. This is, and this muft be for a lamentation. Now the bsttcrto work you, to la- ment and mourn over the ruincs of London^ confider with mc thcfe ten following particulars. Firft, Who can look upon the burning of Lmdon^ as ufticred in by fuch fad Prodigief, and drcadtul foie runners as it was, and not lament and mourn over its ruincs? By what a bloody Sword, and by what a dreadful Plague, was this late Judgement of Hre ulhered in. Firlt God fends his Red Horft amongdus, t/iz. a cruel bloody War i and then he (ends his ?ak H(;r/c a mongft us, viz. a noilbm fwceping Pcftilencc. O the garments that were tolled in blood/O th: fcores of thou- fands, that were by the hand of the dtitroying Angel fent to their long homes,to their eternal homes ! Now in the rear of thefe Judgements, follows fuch a devouring fire, as hath not been known in any Ages part. Not long before Vefpjfian came ag*inH ferufjlem, there happened divers Prodigies : i. There was a Comet in form of a Fiery Sword, which for a year to- gether did hang over the City. 2. There was fcen a Star on the Temple fo bright , as if a man had fo many drawn Swords in bis hands. 3. At the fame time that this Star appeared, which was the Solemn Paffeover, that whole night the Temple was light, and clear as mid- day, and continued fo ftven daycs together. 4. At the fame time alfo, they brought a Heifer for a Sacrifice, which when (he was knock- ed down, (he calved a Lamb. 5. The inner Gate of the Temple the late fiery D'Senfation. 4' Temple on the eaft fide, being of Maffivc Brafs, that wa» never opened nor (huf, but twenty men had enough to do about if, this Gate wasfcenat the firft hour ofthcn'ghtj ro open of its own accord, and they' could not (hut if, till a great number joined their (Ircngth together. 6. There viras difccrncd on the San&nm SanQorumi a whole night long the face of a man very terrible. 7. At the (amc time, before (heSun-fct, there were fccn in the Air, Iron Chariots, all over the Countrey, and an Army in battel array, piffing along the clouds, and btgirting the City. 8. npon the FcalT Day called Pemeci7/f, at night the Priefts going into the In ncr Temple, to offer iheir wonted Sacrifice, at firft they felt the place to move ani tremble, and afterward they heard a man walking in the Temple, and Hying wich a great and wonderful terrible voice. Come Ui us go atvay out of thisTempfe, let us depart hence. But Ninthly and laftly, that which was moft wonderful of all, was this, that there was one Jndon^ firAby th« multitude of his mercies, bat afterwards by (he (cverity of his Judgements : witnefs the fweeping Pcfti- Icnce, and the devouring fire, that he fcnt amongA us. And as God was known in Judah ^ firA by lefler Judgements and then by greater i lot he fiift h(ht them with Rods, and then with Scourges, and at laH with Scorpions , fo God was hrQ known in London by lefTcr Judgements, witneG the Violent Agues, Orange Fcavours, Small Pox, and (mall fires F f 2 thtt Ifa. 23.?. 'T\s2.nltaliAt Pioverb> He who hath net [ttit Venice rvill not helkvt and hi who hath not lived fomctimc theycy do:hnot under- hand rvbat a City it is. I fhall leave the Application to the prudent Reader. 44 London's Lamentations on Pfal. loi. 8. ira.. 4. 6. that brpkc forth infeveral places of the City and Suburbs i butthelc having no kind, no tffc^ual operation upon usv God at laft madehimfdf known in themidft cfus, byfuch a Pcftilcnce,and by fuch a Fire, that the like was never known. in that City before. We were once the obj :ds of his noble favours, but we made our fclvis at laft, the fubjcit^s of his fury. And asthePhilofophcr tells us, corruptio optimi^ (jl pijjjma : or as wc find, that the fwcetcft Wines, become the tarteft Vinegar •» fo Gods heavenly favours and indul- gencies being long abufcd, they at lafi fumed into frorms of Wrath and Vengeance. What ErtgHJh man did look upon LondonyK the City of the great God,as a holy C»ty,as that Oty wherein God was as glorioufly made known , and wherein Chrift was as mucK cxilred, and Religion was as highly prized, as in any part of the world beHde i and not mourn over It, now 'tis laid defolate. Twas long fir.ce faid of Athens and S^artay that they were the eyes of Greece. Was not London the eyes oiEngland ? And who then can but weep, to fee thofc eyes put out ? Great and populous Cities, are is it were, the eyes of the Earth, and when thefceycs are loft, who can but (it down and (igh and mourn ! London^ was the joyous City of our Solemnities, it was the Royal Chamber of the King of Kings, it was the Mart of Nati- ons, it was the lofty City, it was the top gallant of all our glory. Now who can but (bed tears, to fee this City laid even to the ground i to fee this City, fit like a defolate Wi- dow in the duft. Such a fight made Jtremiah to lament; Hunf d-ith the City fit foUtary ( fpeaking of JzrufaUms ru- inc ) that n>af Jull of people ? Hove \s Jhe become as a n>i- doTV ? She that tfas great among the Nttions^ and Princes among the Provinces ? How is fie become tributary 1 Let prophane, ignorant, fuperftitious, ard Popi(h dcfamersof Low^r^Mfay, what they plcafe, yet doubtlefs God had more of his mourn- ing ones, and of his marked onesm that City, than he had in a great part of the Nation bcfide. There was a time, 'whenLo;7(/:ch •vere then drawn down to the Sea fiJc, mi sreat were the tears of many upon rha: a'Count. Remember the Gun- Pow- der Plot. Dan.ii.24,gy Gen.3i.2 4j*9. Chap.33. J, 4, 2 Kings 19. 97,28, 3*. Dan, S.J, 6. (houli it fccm impufliblc, that the Hrc in London^ fhould be tic effc^ of dcfpcratc dcligns and complotments from abroad, fccondcd and incouraged by male-conrents at home. Lmdon w«s the great Bullwark of the RcfoimecJ Rchgion, agamrt all the Bittcrics of Popery, Athcifm and Prophane- ncts > and therefore why (hould ai.y Englifij man wonder, if (hefc uncircumcifed ones, (ho^ld have their heads and their hands, and their hearrs engaged in the burning of London. Such whole very Principles, leads them by the hand, to blow up Kings, Princes, Parliaments, and Reformed Religion, to make way for their own Religion, or for the good old Re- ligion, as fomc are pleafed to call it ; fuch will never fcruplc to turn fuch Cities, fuch Bulwarks into a ruinous heap, that either flands in their way, or that might probably hinder their game. In all the Ages of the world, wicked men have detigncd the ruineand laying warte ofChriftians "Bulwarks and Strongholds, in order to (he rooangout of (he very name ofChriftians, as all know chat have read any thing of Scripture or Hillory, and therefore why fhould any men think it flrange, if that Spirit fhould ftill be at work. Was ever England in fuch eminent danger of being made a prey to forreign power, or of being rid, by men of a forraign Religion, and whofc Biinciples in Civil Policy are very dangerous both to Prince and People, as it hath been Gncc the firing of L Won, or tince that BuHwark has been turned into a ruinous heap? Had not the great God who laid a Law of Refiraint upon churlifh Lj^jii,and upon bloody £/ith child : He would dcliroy the very In- unfs in {he womb, that fo he might caafe to ccafe, the ve- ry name of Ifrael. Such Hjz:els as are rcfolurc by tire to lay our Cities and rtrorg Bullwarks defolatCt fuch will be ready enough to pra(^ilc the moft barbarous cruelties iina- gindblc upon our p?rfons and rtlaiions, when a fit opportu- Dcut- 2517 Hty (hill prcfenf. When 7/je/ was weary, and ^ainr, and 18, If?. feeble, then Amjlek^ ftll upon them. It WiS infinite mercy, 'hat the Amjlekjies of our day, did not fall upon the amiZcd and altoni(hcd Citizens, when they were feeble, and faint, and weary, and tired out with hard labour, and want of reft. O Sirs, (hall the Prophet EUpa weep, fore-fceing that ffj« if/ would fct //>tfe//[irong holds on fire-, and (hill not we weep, to fee LW(7«, our (Ironghold, our noble(f Bull- watk, turned mto a ruinous heap? So Lam. 2.2,5. "^^^ Lord hath frvaJJorrcd up all the habitation o/Jicob, and bath not pitud : he hith thrown down in his tvrath the ftrong holds ,f the daughter ^/Judah : he hath brought them d'lvn to the rround. The Lord was an enemy j be bath [wallowed up Ifrael, he hath fw allowed up all her Talaces : be bath deflroved hisjinng holds y and hath jncreafedin the daughter e/ Judah mournings md lament atitn. Thcfetwo words, mourning and !amc>v ration, are joyned together, to note the great and eminent lamentation of the Daughter otjudah^ upon the fight and icnfc ofGodsdcfiroymg, razing and levelling to the ground, ( by the hand of the Chaldeans^ &c. ) all the Strong holis and FortrcfTcs, that werc-built for the defence of thclfrae- lltes. Now (hall the Daughter of Judab greatly lament, to fee her (^rong holds laid defolatei and (hall not we at all lament, to fee Londou^ to fee our Strong holds, turned into a ruinous heap. But,, Fifthly, Who did eva look upon London as a fountain, as a Sanduary, I the late fiery Vijpenfation. 49 Sandairy,an(las a Cicy olr ner it may be the defigns of men fo deeply laid, as to its ru- ine. They that did look upon England as rich,could not but ilook on London^ as the Exchequer of it. But, 1 ^ Gg Seventhly, E Lam. 5, "id. Job z. 8, 9- I ChroH. 16. Pfal. t$. I. Seventhly, Who are they that have lookt upon London^ as a City, thii hath for many hundred, yea, fome thoufinds of years, been very ftrangely and wonderfully prefervcd, by the admirable wifdom, conftant care, and Almighty power of God ', notwithftanding all the wrath, rage, malice, plots and dcfigns of wicked men, to lay ic waftc, and to turn it into a ruinous heap i and not have a heart to weep over itsdefola- tion? The great prefervatioris, the fiiigular falvations, that God hath wrought for London, many hundred years toge- ther, renders thedefolation oi London, the more terrible. And accordingly, it concerns all that are well affe^cd, to weep over its a(hcs. But, Eighthly, Who can look upon the a(hcs of London , a> thoft afliei, in which Englands worft enemies, both abroad, and at home, do daily triumph and rejoice > and not v^cep over Lo«^(?«i dciblation ? Shall the vileft of men glory, that Eriglands ^oxy is laid in the dufl i and (hall not we lament, when our Crown 1$ fallen fronn our head ? The more wick- ed men rejoycein our mifery, the greater obligation lyes up- on as, to lye low and mourn at the foot of God. London^ like Jff^, liCS on its dung-hill. London, like the Jewes, lies in itsalhes, Eflher 4. 3. And therefore it highly concerns all L(j«^(7«er/, toput on (ackclothand ifhcs. Buf, Ninthly, Surely fuch as have lookt upon London^ is the Cky of their folemnitics •, fuch can't but weep, to fee the City of their Solemnities, laid defolate, lf«. 39. 20 Look^ up- o« Zion the City of ourJdlitnnitieT i or meetings. Zion is here called a City, b:caufe it flood in the midft of the City. The City ofjernfalem was very large, and Zion flood in the midft of it i and Miscalled a City of Solemnities, becaufe the peo- ple flacked thither, to hear the Law, to renew their Cove- nant with God, to call upon his name, and to offer Sacrifices. O SirSjWas not London the City of our Solemnities ? the City where we folemnly met to wait upon the Lord,in the beauty of Holinefs } the City, where we offered prayers and praifes ^ the City, whcjre we wor (hipped the Lord ii) Spirit and in truth? the City, \rhefcin God, iind Chrift, and the great things of eternity were revealed to us ? the City, wherein ._., . 'r. .. ;.,.., many. the late fiery Vij^mfatm. many thoufands were convated and edified •, walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comforts of the Holy Gholl ? the City, where we had the clcarelt, the choiceft, and the highcft enjoyments o( God, that ever we had in allour dayes.? the City, wherein we have fate down, under Chrifts (hadow with great delight \ his fruit has heenfiveet unto our tajie .? rhc City, in which Chiift has brought us to his banqueting houfe^ and his banner over «f, has been love ^ the City, in which Chrift has Staid us mthfiaggonsy and comforted us with Apples ? the City, in which Chrijis left hand hath been under our heads ^ and his right hand bath imbraced us f The City, wherein the Lord ofHofis hath made unto his people a feaji of fat things^ a feafi ofveines on the leeSy of fat things full of marrow^ of vp'ines on the lees well refined. London, the City of our Solemnities, is now laid defolate : and therefore for this, why (hould not wc be difconfolate, and mourn in fecret before the Lord ^ This frame of Spirit, hath been upon the people of God of old, Zcph. 3. 1 8. / voill gather them that^f^arejorrowful for the folemn affembly ^ v^ho are of thee, tatvhsm the reproach of it mat a hurdm. By Solemn Affemblies, are meant, their fcve- ral conventions at thofe fet times , which God had ap- pointed them i viz. on the weekly Sabbath, the new Moons, the ftated FeaOs and Fa{!s, which they were bound to ob- fervc. N :>w for the want, the lack, the lofs of thofe Solemn Aflcmblicsf fuch as did truly fear the Lord, were folemnly forrowfull. Of alUoffesifpiritual loiTes aremofi fadly refentcd by gracious fouls. When they had loft their hou(es, their eftates, their Trades, their relations, their liberties, and were led captive to Babylont which was an Iron Fornace, a fecond JEgypt to them i then the lofs of their Solemn Affcmblies, made deeper impreiTions upon their hearts, than all their outward loffes did. The Jews were famous Arti(^s > they (^andupoii record for their skill, cfpecially in Poetry, Ma- thematicks and Muiick ; but when their City was burnt, and their Land laid dtfolate, and their Solemn Affemblies broken in pieces, then they could fing none of the Songs of Ziom then they were more for mourning, than for mu- fick'> for fighing, than for Tinging j for lamenting, than for Gg 2 laughing. A 4> 6. lis. ij. 6. Deut. itf. Pfalm 157. I5 5^ I Sam- 4 17' i8. t Kings ly.s. N-h.1.5 Chap. 1. Jer. f 2. 12, Zech.7.3. 10. London's Lamentations on laughing. Nothing goes fo neir gfacious hearts, as ihc lofs of ihtir Solemn Affcmblies, as the lofj of holy Ordi- nances ) health, and wealth, and friends, aiid Tiadc, are but meet Icbjbodjy to the Saints Solemn Affcmblies, and to pure Ordinances. When the Ark was taken, Eli could live no longer ; bat whether his heart, or his neck, was fiiO broken upon that fad tydings, is not eafic to determine. When NeJbewzjJbunderftood, that the walls ofjerufjlem were bro- ken down, and that the Gates thereof were burnt with iirc, and that the whole City was laid deioUte by Nehttztradan^ and his Chaldean Army j he (its down, and weeps , and mourns, and faOs , and praycs , he did fo lay the burn- iog of the City oi their Solemnities to heart, that alt the fmilcs of King ^r/^XirxM, could not raifc him, nor rejoice him. It was on the tenth day of the Hfth moneth , that JerttfalemwAS burnt with Hrc v and upon that account, the Jcwes farted upon every tenth day of the fifth moneth. Now (hill the Jews folemnly fift and mourn on the tenth day of (he fifth moneth, ( during their Captivity ) bccaufe their City, and Temple, and Solemn AlTcmblics, were on that day buried in alhes -, and turned into a ruinous heapj and and (hall not we fa^Vand mourn, to fee the Guy of our So- lemnities, buried in its own ruine?. Buf, Tcnthly and ld(tly. That Incendiary , that mifchievous Villiin f/^i^erf, confcft (he ft ft, of firing the fir (^ houfc in Pudding Lam^ (tiougHhc would not co.fcfswho fct him at work ) and accordingly was cx^cated at Tyhnrn for it. Now who can look upon the dreadful confeq -tenets (the burning of a renowned City ) that followed upon the firing of the rixrt houfc i and not mourn over Londons defolations^? Hubert did conftfs to fcvenl pcrfons of note and repute, thathe wasaCathoIicki and did further declare, that he bcUcvcd confclUon to a Piieli, was nccciTary to his faivati- There were Tome Mini- fters, and fe- veral other lober prudenc Citizens, who did converfe again and again with Hubcrty and arCj^eadjr to atreft, that he was far from being mad j and that he was, not only very ratjonaj, bur alfo very cunning and fubtile, and (0 the fitter 'infirument for the Conclave of Romcy or fonie fubtle Jefuit to make ufe of, to bring about our common wo. It was ne- rer known, that Rsmi or Hell, did ever make ufe of mad men or fools, to bring about their Divilifh Plots. on. the late fieiy D'Senfation. 51 on. And being advifcd ( by a Chaplain to a per fon ofHo- nor ) to call upon God, he repeated his Ave Mirj/y which he confcft, was his ufual prayer. Fafhcr Hirvey co.iftft him, and inftrudtd him, and we need not doubf, but thirhe ab- folved him alfo , according to the cuftonri of the Romijh Church. H«i>.T/ dicJ in the profcflion of thi Komijh faith, {toutly alTcrtingjhat he was no Hugonite. I know that men of the Romijh Religion, and fuch who arc one in Spirit with them> woild make the world believe, that this Hnbtrt ( who by order of Law, was executed upon the account of I his own publick and private confcffions ) was mid, d;flra- ' (Sed, and what not. But what mad men, do thcfe make the Judge and Juiy to be ? for who but mad men, would con demn ( to fuch a (hamcful death) a mad man, forconfef fi.ag himfeU guilty of fuch a hainous and horrid fi(5t, which he had never committed ? Doubtlefs both Judge and Jury, were men of more wifdom, Jurticc and confcicnce, than to hang a mad man upon his own bare confcffion. The Ger- man Hiltories tell us, whit encouragement men of a Romijh faith have had from Kome, to make way for their Religion (hroughoul Germanj/yhy fire and fword : and when fomc of thofe Incendiaries have been taken in fetting houfs on fire, they have confeft, that there have been many more in com binttion with them, who by all the waycs they could, were to confumc Sikfia^ and other parts with firings. When the Spjnijh Armjdo came againft (his Nation, in 1588. with an Invincible Nivy f as they counted it ) they h«d two thou- find eight hundred forty three Great Ordnance, twenty eight thoufand eight hundred and forty Marriners, Souldicrs, and Slaves rowing in Gillies, with innumerable Firc-bjlls and Granado^s > in order to the making of E^*/jW d-folate by Fire and Sword. Did not F. Parfonjy Voleman^ and Holt the Jefuit, draw other Incendiaries into a combination, to fire the Royal Navy with wild-fire, in Q^cen Elizabeths Reign •, for which they were ftrctcht at TjWn.? A,V. 15 9$. on that very day, when King Jjwa was crowned, when the gene- rality of the people were intent upon that noble (pciSbade, five were fuborncd by thejefuits, to (tt London on fire in ' G g ^ fevcral LUC. Hifi. 520. 185. F. 1^4, SptCiis Hi(i^ p.ii',8. ^ Llic.Hifl. p, Luc.Hift.f. f 09,510, jii, W^^Ti'ii.. 54 London's Lamentations on Compl. Hifi. Roy. Favrnf". kom. Mr. IhMUUS. Gafpsr. Anno 1580. Miter. H'lji. dc rtb. Bdg. 1. 1 5. The feft of ; F(Z«a; was hor- rid and fan- guinary j and you know whofet him on work. Anno Tjyj. Calvi/t, fcvcf si places i but were fruftrated, as is evident upon Re* cord. Mr. Waddefwnrth did depofe, both in writing, and viva v(7ce,at the Lords Bar, that one Himy aiiis Francis Smithy %hgs Lloyd^ alias Riiers, alias i9imo«/, before the beginning oiF (he Scotch Wir?, did tell him in Norfolk^ (where he met him) That the Popljh Religion was not to he brought in here, by di- fptttiftg^ or Booi{s of Controverfie \ but with an Army, and with fire and f XT or d. Vope Martin the fifth fent Cardinal 'f^ltan ( who was name Gike,and near of kin to Julian tht Apoftatc^ with an Army of fourfcorc thoufand, lo root out HuJJites C or Protcttants ^ in B hernia, wheic they burnt up their Towns i and at the Gnnetiire, -(^/i'frfw/ his AlTiiiant, burnt up five hundred of their Villages. It was r;^iii3 the Second o( Spain, who faid, Ihat he had rather lofe a'U hir Provinces, than feem to grant, cr favour anything, which might be fr, judi- cial totbeCatholic\Religioa. It was Cardinal Granveilanufy who was wont tb fay, TW he would reduce the CathoHcl^Re- ligion in aU places, though one hundred thoufand men were to be burned in an hour. It was the Spanijh Miniftcrs of Sfate, who declared openly, in the Pacification oiColen, Thtt the Fro^ tejiants rvould be very weU ferved, if they were gripped of all their goods, and forced to go jeeknew Countrejs,like Jews andEgyftU ans, who wandtr up and down, lik^ Rogues and Vagabonds. The Duke of/^/i-j ( abloodyPapift ) fitting at his Table, faid. That he had tak^en diligent pains, in rooting out the tares ofHe- refies, having delivered eighteen thoufand men in the Jpace of f.x years only, to the hands of the Hang-man. From the begin- ing of the Jefuits, to 1580. ( being the fpace of thirty years ) there were almoft nine hundred thcufand Prottftants put to death, in Trance, Spain, Italy, Germany, England^ and other parts oi Chrifiendom. Men of that Religion, that burnt the Martyrs in Qoecn Maries daycs, are men cf fuch bloody, defpcrate Ptinciples, that they will flick at noshing, thai may be a means, to advance the Romiji Religion. Some men bcfidcsthe ilcwjn/, have pra<^i(ed moft prodigious thingS; and all to laife themfclves a name in the world. Serujius at Gqtiva, give all his goods to the poor, and his body to be! burnt) and allfor a name, for a little glory among men. ^21L^-^^....-..-^ ...: ■ _ _. _.. _ The the late fiery Vt^mfatton. 5? The Temple of the great Goddcfs Diana ( which was one of the worlds wonders ) wis fet on fiie when Alexander was born, by Herofiratus a bafe fellow » and this he did, Tbat^ he might be talkf of vphen he rt>as dead. So Judas and Sadoc, with their ftditious Se<^, burnt down the Temple of Jerw- falem, and all the beautiful Buildings in the City. And ar another time, ^hcn the Romans had kt the Temple on fire, Titm by entreaties and threatnings, did all he could, to per- fwide tHe Souldiers, to extinguilh the fire, but could not prevail with them. They (eeing the Gates of the inward Temple, to be Gates of Gold, thought that the Temple was full of money i and that they might have a rich bo^iy > and therefore regarded not their Generals commands, ft- tits did all he could to quench the Flames *, but a certain Souldier, fired the Pofts about the doors of the inward Tem- ple, and prefently the flime appearing within, litus and and his Captains departed \ and fo every one Oood looking upon it, and no man fought to extingui(h it. Thus the Temple was burnt by the hand of a finglc Souldier, againft litus his mind. One man that is of a cruel Spirit, and of cruel Principles, may do a worldof mifchicf. Take that in- ftanceofMro, who mtlitioufly raifed the firft Perfccution againft the Chriftians > pretending, that they were Incen- diaries, and Authois of the burning oi'Rome', whereas he himfclf, had moft wickedly done it : But this barbarous a^ of his, wat fithered upon the Chriftians > and accordingly they fuflfcrcd feverely for it. Another Author faith, Nito fucceeded Caligula in the Government, and in no Icfs fierce- nets and crucify, bccaufe he was a man in whom f ifpof- fible it might bw> j all the other cruelties were enclofcd, and all clfe that could ( by men ) be imagined, for withe)ut any regard of fandified things, or peifons f of Hke quali- ty ) private or publick, hecaufcd theCity of R««*«,^obc (ct on fire, with cxprcfs prohibition, not to quench it, or any man to make fafety of his otvn goods ; So the fire conti- nued feven dayes and fe ven nights, burning the City \ and he being on a high Tower, fomc fmall diftincc ofT, clapped his hands, and joyed, to behold this difnnal Ipe^aclt,' (bfar fof'phHS Ant. Lib. f.dc Bcllo JhL cd, 10. I' 111- Partus on the Revelation, paf. 1 10. The Treafury of Ancient and Modern times. page illy 3"' 5^ London's Lamentatwns on Ecckf. 9. 18. exceeding inhumanity. The wifcft Prince that ever fway- ed a Scepter, hath told us, That onefmmr dejiroyetb rr.uch good. Who can Tunnnn up the mifchief , that a few ill minded men may do in a lirtle lime? Thefimc Devil, the fame jlufls, the fame wrath, the fame rage, the fame revenge, the I fame ends, (he fame motivcs,that have put others upon burn- ing work informer times, may probably have put fomc, up- on the fame work in Our time. Burning work is fo odious and abonninablc, To dcftru His not London been as dreadful to her forraign foes, as the hand- writing upon the Wall, was to Beljhazzjr ? Was not London the great Mountain, that her enemies feared would be moA prtjudiciil to their pcrnieious dcdgns ? Was not Lmdon^ that great Rock, againft which, many have daflit thcmfelves in pieces ? Was not L ndon, as Briars and Thorns, as Goads and Gulfs, and two-edged Swords, to all her enemies more remote, and nearer home ? Had the Enncb invaded us, when London was in flimes C a* many feared they would ) or had fuch nfcn up at that time, in the bowels of the Nation, whofe very Principles lead them by fire and fword, to make way for their Religion i wha« doleful dayes had we fee n, and to what a low ebb might the Protcftant Intereft have then bcbrought ? What greater encouragement could be given, to French^ Vutchy Vine,, and all of the old Religion ( as they call it ) to make d'fpcrate attenipts upon us, than the laying of the City dcfblate bv fire? but \is the glory of Divine Power, to daunt and over-rule all hearts and counfels \ and to turn that to his peoples greatcft good , which their enemies dcfign to be the^r utter ruinc. We know PapiAs are no changelings : thcli)cruel, bloody, Hery Spirits and Principles, arc Oill the • fame : Dan. 5.5/- Zcch.4. 7. The Tnnch^ the Dutch, the DMe, the SpMia/d, &c. have at times experienced, what Londons Treafure and force, have been able to do, &c. Pfal.7^. ^jo. Cen. 31.Z4, Chap. 53 3,4. the late fiery Vij^enfatton. 57 fame : Both K.ing and Pirliament have taken notice, how vi- gilant and adtive they have been of lafc, by what hath been difcovered, confeffed, proved, printed, ^c. Is it not more than probiblc, that fome influenced from Rome, have kind- led and promored that dreadful Hrr, that hath laid our City dcfoUte ? The Statue of Apollo, isfaiJ, toflied teats for the affliftions o( the Grecians ^ though he could not help them. Though none of us could prevent the dcfolation of L,in(ion > yet let us all be fo ingenious, as to weep over the alhcs o( l^njjdoH. Who can \ook upon h'indons glory, as now facri- ficed to the flames, and made a burnt-offering, to appcafe the wrath and fury ( as many Gy ^ of a Popifl Conclave, and not mourn ? Sir, ff'e readily grant , that ^tis our duty, to lament and mourn over the rttines and defolations of London i yea, fame of Mt have fo lamented and mourned over Londons duji and a/hes, that tve have almnji reduced our felves to duji and afhis ; and therefore tvhat Cordials, tvbat Comfort/, what Supports can yoM band out to us, that may help to cheer up our spirits, and to bear up our hearts, fo as that we may not utterly faint, and fink^nei- ther under the fight of hoadons Kuines : nor yet under a deep feufe of our many great and fore Irffes. Now that I may be a little ferviceable and ufcful to you in the prcfent cafe , give me leave to offer to your moft ferious confideration, thcfe following particulars by way of fupport. Firft, Confider for your Support and comfort, that the great God might have burnt up all : he might not haVc left one houlc flanding, nor one ftone upon another. ' Fis true, the greatefl part of the City is fallen j but "(is rich mercy, that the whole is not confumed. Though moll of the City within the Walls, b^' dcftroycd •, yet 'tis Grace upon the Throne, that the Suburbs arc flanding. Had not God fparcd fome houfcs in the City, and the mam of the Suburbs, where would thoufands have had a livelihood ? How would any Trade have been maintained ? yea, how would the lives of Jft H h many The woful defolations thacthePo- pifh Party made by fire and fword, amongft the Protelllants in IiiUid, is writren with the Pen of a Diamond. Ob], Like 19.41. 44. 58 London's Larnentations on Z.ch. 3.2. Alac. 24. 1 J 2. c. 9, 10, 18. d.BcLfttd. ^ejt. An[w. Matth 25. 3S. Jofcph.llh. 15. Antiq.cap. 14. many thoufands l^avc been prcfeived ? 'Tis true,ihc tire was very dreadful, but God might have made it more dreadful i ic mig,ht have land every houfc UvcU he rr.ight havecon- iumcd all (hu goods and wealth, that was there treafured up i anrd he might have rtfufed, to have pluckt one man, oi a brand out of the jife. He might have ^M^atA London^ to have been as totally deftroycd, as Jerpffilem was, Mat, 24. 1,2. And Jcjuj went ont^ and departed from the Temple, and bis Dif cip es came to him, tojherp him the buildings of the Temple. And Jffus faiduitto them, fee ye not all theft things f Verily, I fay unt ) you^ there JhjU not be left here one jiom upon another^ that JhdS not be thrcrvn d von. In thefe words, Chiift doth fore- tell the utter dtftrudtion, and dcvaiUtion oi Jerufalem, which cam: to pafs by Titus and the Rom^n Army : wafting all with hrc and fword, and evening with the ground, that Magnificent Temple and Cify, which was the glory of the world. Though Titushy a ftrid Edid, at fir/t ftormingof che City, forbad the defacing of the Temple, yet the Soul- dieis burnt if, and the City. The Temple was burnt (Sty fomej Augufi; 10. when it had flood five hundred eighty nine years i and the City was barnr, ^epffwter 8. in the year of our Lord fcventy one. But ttphyddChrijifVifciplcsJhw him the buildings of the Temple, rphich they krierv rvere not unkji'rvn unto him .«* Tom)Vc him to TO rcy, and to moderate the feverity of that former fcntcncc, of leaving their houfes defolatc unto them. Herod hid been at a wonderful charge, in building and beautifying the Temple. Jofephns tells us , that for cij^ht whole years together, he kept ten thoufard men at work about it; and that for magnificence and (htclinefs, it ' xccedcd Solomons Temple. The D-fciples might very well wonder at thcfc (lately buildings, at thefe goodly, ftatcly fair Stoncf, which were ( as Jfepbus writcth ) fifteen cubits long, twelve high, and eight broad. Now the Difciples rondiy thought, that Chrilt, upon the full fight of thefc lately glorious buildings, C which^ fee laid wafte, was pi-' ^ ty), the late fiery Difpenfation. 59 ty J might have been fo workt upon, astorLVcrfc his for met fcntcnce, of laying all dcfolate. But here they were miftikenv for his thoughts n'as not as their thoughts. Of hers think, that the DJciplcs (hewed Chrift the ^Utdy buildings of the Temple, that upon a fcrious -coniideration of the ftrengfh, pomp, ftatelincfs, gteatnefs and magnificence of the buildings, he might be the more careful to prcfeive them from dcftrudion. Others think, that the Difciples fliewed him ihefeftrong and (lately buildings, to intinuate (ccretly thereby, how difficult, yea, impoflible, it was for them to be dcftroyed > efpecially confidering the ftrcngth of the Ci- ty alfo. And hence out Saviour, fcems to anfvver, See ye nut all thefe things '. Verily ^ I fay unto yat, thire fiaH not be left here one jionenpon another that Jhell not be throtvn dotvn^ Sec. But tvheu was this prediGion fulfilled^Jhat not one fionejhould be left upon another, tvhich (hould not bt thrown d)t»m ? 8cc. This was fulfilled, forty years after Chri(^$ Afcenfion, by Vejpaftan the Emperor, and his Son Jitus ; as Eufebius and fofephus do declare. Yea, this Prophecy was not only ac- complifbcd, in the dcltiu^ion of the old Temple, but then alfo, when in 7«»'ij!» the Apoftates time, the Jews ( tofpite the Chriftians J were by him encouraged, tobuild the Tem- ple at his charge i and they attempting it accordingly, were hindered from Heaven, by a mighty Earthquake, which caft down that in the night, which was built in the day: and befides, a fiic from Heaven, that confumed the work and work mens inftruments i which CyriUtu Bilhop of Jerufitem^ then feeing, applied unto that event, this ptedidil on of our Siv'toar^Therefljall not be leftone ftone upon another^ that JhaE not be throvpn dorpn. Ah London^ London, this might have been thy doom, that there (hould not have been o.ic houfe ftdnding, neither within, nor without thy wills i yea, this might have been thy doom, that there (hould not have bten one fioMe left upon another^ thatfhould not have been throtvn detvn. In that 'tis otherwife with thee, thou haft caufe, O Lmdon^ to cry Grace, Grace, to him that (its upon the Throne, and lis blc(rcdforcvcf,c^c. >_^ H h 2 Carthage ^Hefi, SiZ Anfa?, Sori-at.lib, 5. cap. If. 6o London's Lamentations on Onj. £utiiOp. 2. Carthage was a Noble City, Miitris of Africa^ and Para- gon to Koms. She made her pirt good againft Kotrn fof ma- ny years, but at length, by means of her own inward civil jarrs, (he was utterly deftroycd by them- For the inhabi- tants being not able to ftand any longer in their own de- fence, werccondraincd to yield themfelvcs to the mercy of chcir enemies : the Women, to the number of five and twenty thoufand, marching firft forth i and after them, the men in number thirty thoufand following, all which poor Captives, were fold for bond-flavcs, afew only of theprin- cipjl excepted : and then fire was pjt to the City, which burnt feventecn dayes without ceafing \ even till it was clean confumed. This might have been thy doom, O Lon- don^ but God in the midliof Jadgcmcnt hath remcmbred mercy. Athens wis once the moft famous flourishing City of Crreece, for her fair buildings, large Prccin^s, and multitude of inhabitants \ but cfpccially for her Philofophy, by means whereof, recouric was made from all parts to her, as the fountain and well- fpring of Arts, and the School and Uni- vcrfity of the wh^-le^ world. Whofe Policy and manner of Government, was fo much cftecmcd by ihtKomam^ that they drew from thence their Laws : bur now (he lies dead and buried in the afhcs of forgeffulneft, not carrying any of her former proportion or appearance. If (his had been thy doom, O London^ wc muft all have ict to our fcalts, that the Lord had been Righteous : butblclfed be the Lord, Londonis not, and I hope never fhill ( let Rome and Hell do their worftj be buried in the afhes of forget ful ne fs, e^c. But, The fecond Support, to bear up the hearts, and to cheer up the Spirits of all that has fmarted by the late fiery di- fpenfation, is this, vi«. that God has given them their lives for a prey. O Sirs, what a mercy is it, that though the fire has reacht your houfes, your fhops, your goods, your com- modities, your warehoufes, your treafure v that yet it has not reacht your lives, nor the lives of your iclations or friends } the late fiery Vijpenfation, friends ? though your habitations are confumed , and your lolTes have been great, yet that in the midft of fo many deaths and dangers by the Hames, and by the prefs of the people, and notwithftanding all the confufions, that was in ail parts of the City, you (hould have your lives for a prty, and be fnatcht as f) many fire-brands out of the hnrning. O how (hould this miraculous Providence of God, be owned and &d mired by yoa ! The Devil hit the mark, when he faid, Skin for sk^n; }ea^ all that a man hath, vpHI he give for his life, Job 2. 4. Mens eftatcs in thofe times, did lye molily in Cat- ttl. N)W faith Sitin, Job is a very great li(e lover, he is fond of life, and afraid of death > and therefore he will give skin upon skin, to fave his life; he will give many sains, abundance of skins \ yea, all his skins, to lave his life : he will give his Cattclsskin*, and his Servants skins, and his Sons skins, to fave himfelf in a whole skin. By this Pro vctbiilSpccchy Sk^infor skjn, e^c. Satan intimates, thit Job cared not for the lofsof his Cattel, nor for thelofsof his fcrvants, nor for thelofs of his children, fo he might fccure his own life. Job fet a higher price upon his own life, than he did upon all other hves: let othcis 6nkor fwim, fohe might escape, all was well. Natural life is a precious Jew- el > a man Will caft all over-board, when he is in danger of diowning, to fave his life. A man will hold up his arms, to fave his head i or fuffcrthe lofs of a limb, to fave his life. Men will bleed , fwcat, vomit , purge , part with an cftate i yea, with fomc of their limbs, to prcferve their lives. As he who crycd out , Give me any tiefor- mitj^ any torment , any mifery > fi you fpare my life. Where- fore doth a living man complain ( or murmur ) a man for the funijhment of his fin. Lam. 3. 39. O what a fimple, (enfdcfs, bruitifii, blocki(h thing is it, for a roan, a mortal man , a Qnful man> a man on this tide the grive , on this fide Hell, to complain, or murmur againft a holy and righte- ous God / He that is alive on this fide everlatting burnings, on this fide a devouring Hrev has no juftcaufe to complain, whatever his loflcs, crofles, orfuiF^rings are. He that has defcrved t hinging, if he e(capc with a whipping, has no H h 3 caufc IhePhilofo- pher faith, ihat a Flye is more excel- lent than the Heavens : bc- caufethe V\y has life, which the Heavens have not.. proximiS q:iij- qiicfiti: Every man is iicareft to hin-.felf. ira.33.14. dz London's Lamentations on • Lara. 4. 5. Chap, I. Chap. ^. p. Chap. 3. i2. Knollcs his General Hi- ftory of the Turi^Sj f. 1 244. caulc to compUm, or Hnurmur. Men that have dcfcrv.d a damning, ir they cicapc , wirh the lofs of houfc, goods, cftaics, &c. they have no caufc to complain, or murmur. Mark lit this tinnc j^er*pAm was burnt,' Ciry and Temple, ^ as laid in aflics, the Citizens were turned out of houfe and home, and ftiipt of all then comforts and contentments. Thej that did fied delicately^ were defolate in the Streets : they that were brought uf in Scarlet^ embraced dunghill J. They WirefcU- tered among the Heathen^ rvho did mock^ at their SMath^ and who trod their mighty wen under foot y yea^they f)U^ht their bread vp'tth the peril of their lives. And yet faith the Prophet, Why doth the living man com f lain? Though City, and Temple, and Goods, aid Eftates, were all confimed in the flames, y:t feme had their lives for a prey. Aid upon that very account, they ought not to complain. God might have turned them into a(hcs \ as he had turned their houfcs into aflics : and it was mcer Grace, that he did not : which the Church wifely and ingenioufly obCcrvcs, when fhe faifh, h is of the Lords mercy that ( u>e ) are not conjumed. She doth, not fay, 'tis of the Lords mercy, that our houfes are not confumed ; but 'tis of the Lords mercy that (' we J arc not confumed : nor (he do? not fay, 'tis of the Lords mercy that our goods are not confumed i but 'tis of the Lords mercy that C we J arc not confumd. The Church faw mercy, muchmtrcy, tender mercy, yea, bowels of mercy, ( as the word there imports ) that a remnant had their lives given them, when their City and Subftancc was turned intoaflies. O Sir?, others have loft thsir goods, and rheir lives together, and 'tis miraculous mercy, that you han^f, when mens wits were puzzd'd, their hearts difcouragcd, and their induftry tired out. When the wind was at the hightft, and the fire at thehottcft, and the hopes of moft at the lowcft: that then you fliould be as brands pluckt out of the fire, was glorious mercy, &c. In the Reign oiAchmit the eighth Emprror of thtlurkj^ a great firearofe in the City of Conjiamtinop/e^ wherein ma- ny, both men and women pcrifhed, with above five hun- dred Shops and Ware-houfes full of rich Merchandize, moft of .._ , — »,- ■the ktejiery 'DiJ^enfation. ^? of whtch belonged unto the Jews, of whom, almofi two hundred 4re faid to be burnt. Thcfc loft their goudsand their lives together, bat fo have not you : the greater obli- gifion lyes upon you, both to think well of G^d, and to fpcik well of God, and to lay out your lives to the uttcrmoft iot God. Certain Tartars at Conflantimpk in their infoiency, fet fire upon a certain Jews houfe •, whereof arofe fuch a terrible rirf, as bjrnt not only many hjufes', bjt a great mmy of the Jews themfclvcs. Bcre lives and e(htes went together. Though Out-landi(h hands have fct ourCiry, our houfeson fire, yet God has pr.lcrvcd our l;ve$ in the midft of the flames: and this is a mercy more worth, than all we have loft, &c There was a ftately Palace in Jerufik'm ^ that Sohmm had built, which joyned near to the Temple: this Palace chejcws abundantly anointed all over with Brimftone and Pitch, fo that when the K.ow<«»j purfucd thc]cws unto this Palace, they entered the Palace after the Jews, who went out again another way,' and (hut up the Palace, and fet fire on the Gates, which they had before anointed with Brimftonc and Pitch i and ftraight way, the fide walls of the houfe, and the whole building, began to be on a light fire : fo that the Romans had no way to cfcape, becaufe the fire com paflcd the houfe on every fide. The Jews alfo flood round about the Palace, with their drawn Swords, to cut off any that ftiould attempt to efcape the flimcs. Now there was two and twenty thoufand of the Romans dcftroyed in this fire. 21rV«i hearing the lamentable cry of the Romans^ that were compaffed »bout in flimrs of fire, made fpecd with all his Army, to come and rcicue themi but the fire burnt fo vehemently, that he could five none of them. Upon which, 7i/«/ and his Army wept bitterly. O Sirs, when L'^ndon was in flames, if men of a Romifh faith, had compaf- fed the City round about with their drawn Swords, that none ftiould have efcaped the furious flames, how dread- full wcmld fuch a ^ day have been. Whether fuch a thing w'as intended, or defigned , and by any ftrange ..-. , .--, ' P^tO»^dnantium a Cify in Spain, being beHeged by the Romam^ and after it had born the brunt of War along time, and nude many defperatc Sallies upon their enemies, and were almoft confumed with famine i rather than they would bow their necks to the Kow^n yoke, they barred their Gates, and (it all on fire, and fo burned therrifclves in the flames of their City, that fo they m'ght leave the enemy, nothing butafties for his prey and triumph. Here Cify and Citizens, ire de- ftroyed togctherj and 'tis infinite mercy,thit this was not the fate, the doom of the Citizens oi London. They and thcif Ci- ty, might have fallen together : but God was good, and a very preftnt help in time of trouble. O Sir$, if not only your houfes, your (hops, your goods, your wares, but alfo your pcrfbns, had been enclofcd with flames, and no poflTibility of cfcape > how dreadful would the fire have been then.' O what tongue can cxprels, or heart conceive, the figh?, the groans, the cryes, the tears, the gafhful looks, the horrible (hrieks, the dreadful amazement, and the matchlcfs aftonifhment, that would have been upon all forts, and ranks of people, that nad been compalTed round about with flames, and could fee no door of deliverance open to them! O what a mercy IS ir, that we are yet alive i though we are flript of many comforts and contentments, which formerly we have en- joyed ! Now here give me leave, to open my felf a little, in thefe following particulars. ' Firfl, What a mercy was this , to all unregeneratc and unconverted perfbns, that they have had their lives for a prey, when London was in flames ? Had God by theflimes, or any other accident, put an end to their natural dayes, they might at this time, have been a Rolling up and down »n unquenchable flames. Sinners,Sinners,the greateft weights, hang upon the fmalleft Wyars. Eternity, Eternity, depends upon your improvement of that time, that life, and thofc fcafons, and opportunities of Grace, that yet you do enjoy That Kalbi hit it, who faid, Nemo eft cut nonfuh^rafua: Eierj man hath his hour. He who over flips that fcafon, may ncvr^ri the late fiery Vifpenfation,^ 6$ never meet with the like again all hu daycJ. -O Sirs, to have a htflc more time to believe, to repent, to fecure your in- 1 tereft in Chrift, i changed nature, a fanditicd frame 6f hcatt : apaidoain the bofom, is a mercy more vvcth, than ten; thoufand worlds. To have a Iitde more time, to iftake your i calling and election furc, and to get the New Name, and White Stone, that none knows, but thofc that are the fa- vourites of Heaven. ! To have time, to make fure aCvty thaij hath foundations i' a Kmdgom, that (hakesnoti Riches that cortupt not \ an inheritance, that Fideth not away •, a hoiife not made with hands, but onecternal in the heav«nt. To have time, to make fare to your ftlves a Crown of Righte-; oufn&f5^ a Crown of Lite, a Crown of Gloryj a Crown ofj^ iimvnrtahty, arr mercies b.yond all the cxpricnitins ^ andl above all the valuations of the. Sons of men.- T-ne ^ets' paint Titnc with wings, to (hew the volubility and fwift-' ne(sof if. Sumptus fretiocijjimus tempuj : time it of preciouj coji, faith Iheophrajius. Know time^ Jofe nst a minute^ faith Pit-\ tacHi,. JElian. gives this teftimony of the Laadafnonunr^ That they vptrt hugely coveiouj .of their time ^ i fptnding. it tdl about Hecfjftrj thingf, and fufferlng nn Citizen^ eitbtr to be id^ or' play: littts Ve^afian having fpenta day, without doing ar>y roan any good, as he fate at Supper, hcutteicd this me moiabk and praifc- worthy Apothegme, Amid diemptrdidi^ My friends I have lofr a d^y, O Sirs, will not-thcfespoo* H'ea- theh^fifc'mijudgfment againfi;, all. thofe^ that trifle, ind fool, ^and!fi?l/iway their ipicciou^imef 15 Take heed of cry- ing cfjr, crj/, to Tnorrow, to morrow. ^O playnot the Cour- tier twith your precious fouls V theCourtfer arid goes tb bed lato, and repents Ut.e.> Remenn§ert)hat M*nnavD\3A be gs-thercid in the moorninj: TheOtient Piarti* ge»crac«a[ oii? fori- ouS'frame intoa mans Spixit, than toMtnow thc'worth ol' •his time. 'ris\v«ry dangerous f putting tv^^that^to anothci day^ which mu(^Tbi)donc to^daf; iOr elfeundonit' to 4lnor tow Nitmaut nunqnaniti Maw jar Nctxtr^ • Was th^ feyiflg of'-^ld,'! pojt done (jio>air, lit iray ncvctibt dcBai,:^^^ Ubenc^ildoiufoi 2 Pet 1. 1 o, Rey. 2. 17. Heb. n.io. Chap. 12. 18. 1 Pec. 1.4. ' iCor. J. !• j 2 Tim 4.8. Rev. i. 10. lames 1. 12. I Pec. 5.4. Sophocles^ Vhodlidts, Suetonius, li ever c- ! ,c 1 thi 66 jLondon's Lametttations on Be/oddus rpeaks of a Fool, who cried our, Oh Kcpcntance,R(~ peMtance, whoc a/lthoH, Tvhtii mthou Rcprn- tancc ? Heb. z. Hcb. 3. J- 18. 2. Judg. 14. JO ever. Eternity depends on this moiDcnt of time. What would not many a man give for a day, when it is a day loo late. WhiUt many bhnd Sodomircs have been groping, to find a door of hope, God has rained Hell out of Heaven upon them. The feaiont of Grace are not under your locks and keyes. Many thoufand poor tinners have loii their fca(bns, and their fouls together. Jtuias repented, and EJan mourn- ed , but neither timely nor truly i and therefore they periQi t&to all eternity. The damned in Hell miy wcep their eyes out of their heads, but they can never wcep fin out of their fouls j nor their fouls out o^ Hell, &c, O that the Ramcs of London might be fo fandified to every poor (inner, who have had their hves for a prey, in that dole- ful day, that they may no longer ncgled tho(e precious (et- fons, and oppoxtunirics of Grace, that yet are continued to them i left God fhould fwearin his wraih, that tbejjheuldm- ver enter into his reji. OSirs, yet you have a world of gra^ cious opportunities, and O that God would give you that heavenly wifdom, that you may never negled one gracious opportunity, though it were to gain a whole world. God ^y giving you y^ur lives in the m\dl\ of thofe furious and amazing flames, his given you time and opportunity, to fc- cure the internal and the eternal welfare of your preciojs and immortal fouli : which is a mercy that can never bj fufficiently prized or improved. But, Ji Secondly, What a mercy was this, to poor doubtii^ flag* gcring Ghiiftiam, that they have had their lives for a prey whcnLondonynsm^imes. For by this means, they have gained time to pray down their doubts, and to argue down I their doubts,ar¥d to wreiileand wcep down their doubts,e^. • I ChtiQ. afclendtd'to Heaven in a cloudy and the Angel k&end) ! JedtoHeaveiiuMn the flame of th^ Altar. 'Tn> ten to onr, Bt' this^had been tht cafe of niiny doubting, trembling Ichriftians, had they dyed wjicn London was inflames. 1 know 'tis ^ood getting to Heaven any way, though ir be ua a whirlrwind of adli Aipn, or in a. fiery: Chariot of tcror ^tiiiioii, or in- the flames of Perfecutiuoji; or in a cloud'df (i^arsi jdoybf$And i^iki;^ i-. but yel that man is morehtppy, 1 I that the late fiery Difj^enfatton. 67 chat gets to Heaven in a quiet calra of inward peacr, ano in the fair Sunlhinc of j "^y and afTurance. 'Tis a good thing for a man to get into a fafe Harbour , though it b: in a Winternight, and through many Storms and tempcfts, ha zardi, dangers, and deaths, with (he lo(s of Mills, Cablo and Anchors: but yet he is more happy, that gets into c (afe Harbour in a clear, calm, fair Sun -{hiny day, top anc top galUnr, and with Colours flying, and Trumpets found ing. The prudent Reader knows how to apply it. O that ai poor doubting Chr I (bans would ferioufly lay this to heart. viz.ThM. for them to have time, to have their judgements and underloadings enlightned,thcir doubts refolvcd, their objc(^i. ons aofwercd, their confciences fetled, and their fouls alfured, that all is well, and (hall be for ever well between God and them, is a mercy, more worth than all the world. Buf, . Thirdly, What a mercy was this, to poor languifhing, de •clinin^ and decaying Chriftians, that they have had theii lives for a prey when London was in Hames. There wer a great many in London^ who wcK fallen from their firji love, and whole Sun was fet in a cloud. There were many whoft Graces were languifliin^ , whofe comforts were declining, whole fouls were withered, and whofc communion with God was greatly impaired. Many within an when London was in flames/ Beloved, Ms ra< dying under a cloud > '(is fad dying, when he who (hou-c I i 2 com- rlie wiiol;; ■icripiure (CiitH Lutbcr J Joch princi- pally aim at tlus tJiingjthat we (hould not doubt but that we (hoiili rtopc, that ■vc ftiouW fruft, ani that ^e fhould be- lieve, thatGod ii a merciful, a bountiful, a gracious and patient God to his people. Rev. 1. 4. Judg. 16. 10, , 68 Lam. 1. 15. Pfil- 39. 13. Ifa. 38. 1,1,9. See more of th s, in my Mute Chritti- an, under the fmarting Rod f>^g. 179.304. Judg. l^. 18, 15)320,21. London's Lamerttations on Phil. 1. 21,25. comfort a mans foul, (Unds afiroflf. Some think , that tht face of God was clouded, when David thus prayed, fpare me^JhatJ may recover ftrength , before I go hcnee^ and be na ^or^. And fome think H^zekiahis Sun' was fct in a cloudy' |nd God had diawn a Curtain between Hczikjah and him-^ felf; when being under the fenrence of death, He turned bk face toward the rvall^ and frayed unto the Lord, and fjtd^ Re- member norVy Lord, I befetch thee^ hotv I bjve vpalh^d before thie in truths and vptib a ferfe& heart ; and have done tfjat rvhkh tvat good in tby fight : and Htzi-kiah wept fore : oi with great weeping, as the Hebrew runs. It is with ckwidcd and de- ferted Chnflians, as it was with Sampfon, when his locks were cut cff^hfi Jirengtb wax gone: and therefore though he thought to go out, and do wonders, as he hzd formerly done > yet by fad experience, he found himfG^f to be but as atiother tntn. So when God dos but withdraw, the beft of Saints have their locks cuti their -ftrength C which lyeth not in their hair, but in their head Chriii Jcfus J is gone, and they arc but like other men : "fliey think, they fpeak, they acS, (hey walk, like other men. Chrirtians under real difertions, commonly fall under fore temptations, great indifpoHtions, barrenncfs, flatnefsydulnefs and dead ncfs of Spirit. And is this a fit feafon, for fuch to die in ? Chriitians under a cloud ufuilly have their joyes edipfcd, their comforts damped, (heir evidences for Heaven blotted, their communion with God impaired, and their title to Heaven is by thcmfclves 4 in fuch a day) much queftioned. And is this a cafe for she m to die in? O clouded and deferred Chriritans , who nave had your lives for a prcy,in the midft oiL^ndons flames ! 4nd ever fince thofc flames , what a great, what a glorious obligation, has the bltfTcd God put upon you, to labour to tccovcr your fclves from under all clouds and dcfertions, and {q fpendyour dayes in a (erious and deep admiration of that ^ce, that rich; that infinite, and that Soveraign Grace that ip4rcd yr u, and that was adive for you, in that day when you ^ere compalfccl about with flames of firt on every hjnd. But, , Fifthly, What a mercy was this^ to poor folicited tempted phiiftians, that they have had their lives for a prey, when : Lotrdon the late fiery Dijpenjation, 69 See my Mate Chnpiirpag. i6o.to p. 171;. Our whole life IS nothing but a tempta- rioii, Taich LjTidon'Wis in flames? For by this* means, they have gained tioie ro ihengthcnthemrelves againit ail Satanstemptitions. The daily Bills that were given in, to pray for poor tennpfcd Churtians, did iufticicntly evidence, how adivc Satan was to dittfcls and perplex poor Chriliians with all Torts of hideous and blafphetnous temptations. Were there not many tempted to di(h-uft the power of Godjthe goodneisof God, the taithfulncfs of God ? Were there not many tempted to deny God, tobUfphcme God, and to turn their backs upon God ? Were there not many tempted to flight the Scrip cures, to deny the Scriptures, and to prefer their own fancies, notions and dclufions above the Scriptures. Were there not many tempted to have low thoughts of Ordinancts, and then to leave Oidmances , and then to vilifie Ordi- nances , and all under a pretence of living above Ordi- nances >\ Were there not many tempted, to prefume up- on the mercies of God i and others tempted (0 defpair of the Grace of God ? Were there not many tempted to dcftroythcmfelvts, and others tempted to derttoy their re- lations ? Were there no< many tempted to draw others to fin, and to uphold others in fin, and to encourage others in lin , and to be partners with others in fin > Were there not many tempted, to have hard thoughts of Chrift, and others to have low thoughts of Chrift, and others to have no thoughts of Chrirt. Now for thefc poor tempted fouls, to have their lives for a prey, and to have precious fcafoiisand opportunities, to recover thcmfelvcs out of the fiiarcs of the Devil, and to arm thcmfelves againft all hs fiery darts, is a comprchenfivemcrcy, a big-bellied mercy i a mercy that has many thoufand mercies in the womb of it. * But, Sixthly andlaftly. What a meicy was this, to all flumbc- ring, flothful, fluggith, laiy Chriliians, who had blotfed an3| Macth. zy. blurred theiir evidences for Heaver. } and who inftcad of run ing their Chritiian race, were either at a (tahd, or elfc did but halt in the way to Heaven, that they have had their lives for a r)Tey,whcn London was in flames, and that they have had time to clear up their evidences for Hcavcri, and to quicken up" their hearts, to run the waycsof 'Gads commatids. Sure- •'• _ !» ^ . ly 6. Hcb, la. I. Pfal. IT9' 3^. 70 London's Lamentations on The com- moimefs of our fufteringsj doth fomc- whac mitigate the (harpnefs of our fufle- rings, &c. John i^. u!t. ly^had all (he world been a lump of Gold^and in their hands^ to have b*endifpofed of i they would have given it, for a little time, to have brightned their evidences, to have got out oftheiriinfiil Rucnbcr, and to have fet all reckonings even between God and their poor fouls. And let thus muchdif- fice for this fecond fupport. The third Support to bear up the hearts, and to cheer up the Spirits of all that have fuffcrtd by the late fiery difpcn- fation, IS this, viz. that this has been the common lot, the common ca(e, both of Saints and linnets. God has dealt no more fcverely with you, than he has wuhmany others. Have you loft much? fohavc many others. Have you loft hall ,^ lb have many others. Have you loft all ? fo have many others. Have you loft your Trade ? fo h*ve many others. Have you loft yoour goods ? fo have many others. Havc you loft your credits ? fo havc many others. Have you loft many friends, who before the fire were very helpful to you and yours ? fo havc many others. H ivc you loft more than your all ? (b have many others. This very Cordial , the Apoftle hands out to the fuffering Saints in his time, i Cor. lO. 13. There hatb HO temptation tak^nynUy hut fuch as is com- m nto man. ( by temptation, he means affli^ion i as the wordisttfcd. Jam. 1.2. i Pet. 1.6.) that is, there hath no afHidion befallen you, but that which is incident, cither to men as men, or to Saints as Saints; or thus, there hath noafflidlion befallen you,but fuch as is common to man^ that is, there is no ifR\&ion that hath befallen you, but fuch as men may very well bear without murmuring or buckling un- der it. So I Pet. 5. 9. Knowing that the fame a^iSions art accompUjhed ( or rinilhed ) in jour brethren^ that are intke /World: or in your brother- hood, that is in the world. Af- flidions are the common lot of the Saints \ and who Qirugs, repines, complains, murmurs, or faints, under a common lot.its at the Sun becaufe it (corches.c^c.There are none of the brother-hood, but fiift or laft, they (hall know what the fieiy tryal, what the fiery fornacc means. Jerom writing to a tick friend, hath this cxpreflion, / account it a part of un- ■ H^f^i the late fiery Dijpenfation. 7» hjppinep, mt to kftovp advtrfrty. I judge you to be the more mi- ftrable^ hicaufeyon hsve not been miferabU i it being (he com- mon lof of the people of God, to bccxcrcifed wirhadvfr- liry and mifery. I think he hit it who faid, Impttnitaj fuu- ritatif mater ^ virtutum noverca^ religionii virus ^ tinea Saniii- tatis : i. e. freedom from punishment is the Mother of fcffu- rity, the Step- mother of Vcrtue, the poifon of Religion, the Moth of holincfs. Nihil eft infoelicius eo^ cuinil unquamcon- tigit adverfi. There is nothing more unhappy, than he who , never felt adverlity, faid the refined Heathen i and (hall not Grace rife as high as nature. The calamity has been com- mon, therefore wipe your eyes, and don't fay, there is no forrow to my forrow : no lofsito my loft : no ruine to my ruine. Under common calamities,men fbould neither groan nor grumble. Look, as no man may conclude, upon the account of common mercies, that he is really beloved of Godi fo no man may conclude, upon the account of com mon calamities, that he isreally hated of God. And therc- forfbear up fwecJly, bear up chearfully, under your pre fent trials. In the common calamity of the Plague, the de- (troying Angel perceiving the blood of fprinkling upon the pofts of your doors, and upon the doors of your hearts, pad you by i and faid unto you Live. But by the common calamity of the Fire, the Lord has turned you out of houfc and home, and burnt up your fubftance before your eyes. Now do but lay your hands fcrioufly upon your hearts, and tell me, whether you have not more caufe to admire at the mercy of God towards you in 65. than you have caufc to complain of the feverities of God towards you in 66. ? The fourth Support to bear upthc hearts, and to cheer up xhcfpirusof the pcofde of God , who hav€ been Cutfercrs,' deep fuifcrcrs, under the late fiery difpcnfaiion, is this, viz. That though they have lofl much, as they are men, as they arc Citizens, Merchants, Tradefmen i yet they have loft no- thing, as they are Chtiftians, as they arc Saints, as they are the called and diolen ofGod. Though they have loft their goods, yet they have not loft their God! Though they ' I -■ ' have Enriixr.t. Seneca. Lam. I. li. Ecclef. 9. 1:2. Exod. U. 7. I?- Rev. 17. 14. 7V London's Lamentations on I Pet 1.4. Pfil. 73. ^5- ^ll\.h. 6. 6. Gen 18. 25- havelofl their Shops and Cherts, yet they have not \oi\ their ChriU. Though they have loft their ou^ward comforrs, yet Joh.i4.T(^,26.[ they hivc not lort the comforts of the Holy Ghuli Thongh 2 Cor. 5. 1. 1 ,|^^y j^^yg loli their houfcs rrade with hards, yet thty have not lofl their houfe not made wi;h hands, eternal in the Heavens. Though thty have \oi\ their earthly mhcritafice, yet they have nc;t lolWheir heavenly inheritance. Tivough thty have loll their temp ;ral portions, yet thty have not ioii their eternal portions. Though they have loft their open Pviblick Trade, yet they have not loft their Secret Trade, their private Tridc to Heaven. I readily grant, that your ftitely houfcs, and your well furnilht Shops, arc turned into aftits i and thai your credit is gone, and your tradirg gone, a id your money gone, and you utterly undone f is to this world ) and yet in all this, God has done you no hurt , he has done you no wrong : and though this at firft fight, may fccmtobc a great Paradox, a very ftrangc Alfcrrion', yjet 1 ftiall thus evidence it to be an unqueftionable truth. Thc happinefs of man in this life conlifts i. In his Union vuith God : 2. In his Communion with God ; 3. In his Conformi- ty to God : and Fourthly and laftly, m his fpiritual fruition and erjr.yment of God. Now non? of thofe loffes, crolTcs, andafflidivc dirpcnfatrons that have paft upon yon, have, or can make any breach upon your hippintfs, or upon any one of thofe four things of which your happincfs is m^de .up. The top of mans happinefs in Heaven, lyes in his near \irJ(ot with God, and in the beatifical vifion of God, and in his fuU communion with God, and in his cxa(^ and perfect confor- mity toGod, and in his everlatting fruition and enjoyment of God. Now the more of thcfc things any Chriiiian en- joycs in this-world, the' more of Heaven he cnjoycs on khis tide Hciven, the more happin«fs he has on this fide happi- nefs i and therefore! would willingly know, how it is fK)f- fible for any outward troubles" df tryals, to make a breath upon a Chrjftians happincfs. Doubtlefs Jahwis as happy when he fate upon theDunghil mrhoat a rag^ on hisl^acky ora pen^y in hispurfc,ashe wafe wh^en he fate Chief,- »nd d Wek ^s a Ring in the Army- If God be . the tftoft perfc^ Beicg, Job 2. \}o\i9,ir- the late fiery Dijpenfation. 71 Being, then to enjoy him and rcfcmblc him, is our grcateli pcrfcdion. If God be the bcft of Beings, then our commu- nion with him, and fruition of him, muft be our greatcft glory and higheft felicity. Let whtt will befall our outward man, as long as our union and communion with God holds good, as long as our precious and immortal fouls are in a (afc and flourifhing condition i as long as the Springs of Grace, of holincfs, of comfort, ofaflurance, rifcs in our fouls, we are happy, and no outward mifcries can make us miferablc. There IS, (aith one, BonaThroni^ and there is Bona Scabeuij there is goods of the Thronc,as God.Chrift, thcSpirit,Grace,I the favour of God, pardon of fin, peace of confcience, &c. And there is goods of the foot(iool, as food, raiment, houfe, honors, riches, trade, credit , and all bodily convfnicncics and accomtRodations. Now it was not in the power of the flames, to burn up the goods of the Throne i they ftill remain fafe and fccurc to you : all that the flames could reach too, was only the goods of the footftool, the lumber of this world. And therefore what caufc have you to bear up cheerfully, quietly, fwcetly and contentedly, under all your croffcs and loiTcs, trials and troubles. 7'hiy which adorn themfelves vpith Gold ( faith one ) and thinly ihemfelves bettered thereby^ are tverft than Go!di and no Lords of if, ai aU Jhould be. He is poor ( faith Another ) vpbafe foul is void of Grace^ not vphofi coffirs are empty of money. By thefc fliort hints, you may clearly fee, that the people of God arc never the worfe, for all their lofTcsi they are as happy now they are houfelefs, monylefs, brcadlcfs, friendlefs, tradclefs, as ever they were, when they were raoft furrounded with all the comforts of this life. Wo, wo, would be to the people of God, if their happincfs (hould hang upon the comforts of this world, which like a Ball are toft from man to man ; a Ball of fire, a Oortn at Sea, a falfe Oath,a fabtle enemy, a treacherous friend, may eafily deprive a man of all his eartlily bleiTings at a clap. Now whofo miferable as that man whole blef- fednefs lyes in earthly blcflings. But, 0>n7i! boiilm, ufmimo boi'o. Augufl'm. Kk The Clmms AUx- andrinus. Gregory the Great. 74 Loji don's Lamentations on John 16. Heb.n. Ver.j,4« When God takes away Chriftians eftates in this world, Manet altera Caelo, he looks for a better in Heaven. The Fifth Support to bear up the hearts of the people ofGod under the late fiery difpcnfation, is this, viz. That the Lord will certainly one way or another mike up all their lolfcs to them. Sometimes God makes up his peoples outward lolTes, by giving them more of himfclf , more of his Son, more of his Spirit, more of his favour, more of his Grace, as he did by theDifciples of Chri(i. When God takes away your carnals , and gives you more fpirituals > your temporals, and gives you more eternals j yoCir outward loffes are made up to you. Now this was the very cafe of thoie believing Hebrews^ who were turned out of houfe and home j and who were driven to live in holes and caves,and dens of the earth, and who hid loA all their goods \ ( not having a Bed to lye on, or a Srool to lit on, nor a di(h to drink in, and who had loft all their Apparel, not having a raggtohangon their backs, and therefore cloathed them^ Clves in Sheep skins and Goat-skins. ) Thej took pyfuly the fpoiting of their goods ^ knowing in tbemfelves, that they bad in Heaven a better and an endaring fttbjiance. When under out- ward loifcs, God (hill (eal to his people a Bill of Exchange of better and greater things, than any they have loft i their loilcs then are made up to them.^ If a man (hould loofc-Te- veral baggs of Counters, and have a Billof Exchange fcalcd to him for the receiving of fo many biggs of Gold i would not his lofs be abundantly made up to him > When God takes away our earthly treafures, and Icals up in aur hearts a Bill of Exchange, to receive all again with intcreft upon in- tereft ineternaltreafures, then certainly our lofTcs are abun^ dantly made up to us. !f men (hould rake away your old cloathes, and give you new » your Raggs , and give you Robes ) your Chaff, andgiveyou Wheat > your Water, and give you Winci your Tinn, and gve you Silvery your Brafs, and give you Gold -, your PibbU , and give you Pearls , your Cottages, andgiveyou Royal PdUccsi certainly .you would have no caufc to complain -, you wojid havenocaufe to cry out undone, undone. IfGod tik.s away your houfes, your goods, your Tradcs,y our honors, and gives you more of the late fiery DMenJation. 75 of himfcif, and moie Grace, and more AflTurancc of Glory, he dos you no injury. It i$ an excellent change, to get eternals for temporals. If God takes away your earthly riches, and makes you more rich in Grace, in fpiritual comfoits, in holy experiences, in divine employments, then you arc no lofcrs, but ^reit gainers. What arc all the neccflary comforts ol this life, to union and communion with God, to infcreli in Chrilt, to pardon of lin, to peace of confcicnce,and to that loving kindneft, that is better than life, or better ( Chai'tm ) than]i\res, as the Hebrerv tuns. If you put many lives toge- ther, there is more excellency and glory in the leaft difcove- ry of divine love, thanin thtmall. Many a man has been weary of his life; but never was any man yet weary of the lovcand favour of God. The leaft drop of Grace, the leaft fmile from Heaven, the leaft caft of Chntis countenance, the leaft kifs of his mouth, the leaft embrace of his arm, the leaft hint of his favour, is more worth than ten thoufand worlds. That Chriftian cant be poor, that is rich in Grace , nor that Chriftian can't be miferable, that has God for his portion. That Chriftian can't be unhappy, who hath a man- iion prepared for him in Heaven ; though he hath not a cottage to hide his head in, in this world : nor that Chrifti- an has no caufc to complain of want of foad for his body, whofc (bul is feafted with Manna, with the dainties of Hea- ven, with thofe rarities, that are better than Angels food. He that hath but raggs to cover his nakednefs, if his foul be cloathed with the garments of falvation, and covered with the Kobe of Thrifts Rightcoufneft, he has no reafbn to com- plain. When Stilpo the Philofophcr, had hi» Wife, and Chil- dren, and Countrey, all burnt up before him, and was asked by Deme/ri«i, what lofs he had fuftaincd ; anfwered, Thjt he had loji nothing i for he cittnted that only his ovpn^ which none could tak^ from him \ to wit^ his virtufj. Shall blind Ni ture do more than Grace ? Shall the Heathen put the Chri- ftian to a blufli > Again, Sometimes God makes up his peoples outward lofics, by giving in greater outward mercies, than thofc were that he took from them i as you may fee, by comparing the Kk 2 firft Pral.^3 3. Cant. z. 3, 4, 556,7. Rev. 2. 8j 9. Lam. j. 24, John 14. 1, 2, Heb. 11,37, 38. Rev. 2. 1 7. J©hn4.33/}i.' Ifa. 6t. 10. 76 London's Lamentations on FliiUtrch. Qucft. Deut. 31. Hcf. 4. 7; James 4. 5 2. 15: ;hrll Chapter of7o/',andthc hit Chapter of Jtb togcthcri Job I had all doubled to him. I have read viVionjfius^ how he took away from one of his Nobles, almoft his whole eiiatc, and feeing him as cheerful and contented as ever , he gave hiin all that he had taken from him again, and as much more. God many times takes away a litt!e,that he may give more .* andfomctimeshe takes away all, to ihew h)S Sovc- raignty •, and then he givis thtm all back agim with inte- rclt upon interdi, to (hew his great liberality and noble bounty. That is a lovely loft, that is made up with fo great gain. But Sir^HorvfiiH we k^ow (or pohahlj conjeHure ) tehe- tber in this rvorld^ God nill mak$ up our worldly lojfet to us tr not.'' IfyoHpleaJe to fpeak^a little to this quejiion; itmay he\ manj TPOjes of uje unto us. Now that I, may give you a little light to the CL>.eftion, give me leave to put a few Qjeftions to fuch, who have been fufferers by the late fiery ditpcnfation. - Fiift, Did you make confcience of improving your cftates to the glory of God, and the good of others, when you did enjoy them > or did you only make them fubfcrvientto your lulls? If you have laid out your eftatcs for God, and for his childrens good > 'cis ten to one, but that the Lord, even in this world, will makeup your loffcs to you. But if you mif-improvcd your eftates, and turned your mercies into encouragements to fin, then you have more caufe to fear,that the Lord may farther blaO you ■•, than you have to hope.that God will make up your loiTcs to you. But, Secondly, Did you daily and fenoufly labour, to enjoy much of God in all thofe worldly enjoyments, which for- merly you were blcft withal ? If fo, 'tis very probable, that the Lord may make up all your loiTes to you: But ifyo>i made a God of your worldly enjoyments i if they had more of youi thoughts, and hearts,and time, than God himfclf had* then you have more caufe to fear a further curfe , than to ex- pe^ a future blclTing, Frov. 3. 33. Mai. 2. 2, But, Thirdly, the late fiery Vijpenfatm, 77 Thirdly, Did your hearts cojnnnonly, ordinarily, habitu- ally, lye low under your worldly enjoyments ? Jbrabjm un- der all his worldly cnjoymcntf, was bat (^Uji and j/he 1 1 and ^dcoi? under his, w^s lift tbjnth.UaJi of aHmcrcUf. And fo David under all Gods loyai favours his heart lyes low, P(al. 2 2. 6. But I am a voorm and no man. David in the Ara- iiic/^Tongue, fignifics a Worm, to which he fcems to allude. The word in the He/ren' for Worm, \sTolagnath^ which lig- nifies fuch a very little Worm, that a man can very hjrdly Ice it or perceive it. Thojgh David was high in the world, yet he was litt^ yei, very little in his own eyes. Was it com monly, moftly thus with you, when your comforts compaf (cd you round about? Ifib, then 'ds very probable, that the Lord in this world will make up all your loffcs to you. But if your blood did commonly rife with your outward goods, and if your hearts did ufu«lly Co fwell undei your worldly enjoyments, as to fay with Pbaraohy fVho is the Lord that IJhonldobey bis voice? or fo fay with Nebuchadntzzar^ ff^ho is that God that can deliver you out of mj bands ? or to fay with thofc proud Atheifts, Who is Lord over Mt ? or to fay with tbofc proud Monftcrs, We are Lords, tve rviH came no more unto thee, 6^. then you have great caufc to fear that God, that hath yet fjme further controvcrfie with you : and (except you repent J will rather firip you of what you en- joy, than multiply further favours or blcdings upon you. Bur, • ;i.fiA: Fourthly, Since God has burnt up ypur worldly gobdSi have you been fervent and frequent with God, that he woul4 burn up thofe lu(is, that have burnt up your comforts before your eyes ? H^ve you pleaded hard with God, that a Spirit of burning might red upon you, even that Spirit of bitfniiie which alone can burn up your Hns, your drofs. Since London hath been laid in aihes, have you made it your great butincfs, to treat, and trade with God, about the dcAiudion of thofc (ins, that have laid all dcfolate ? If lb, then you have caufe to hope, that God will turn your, captivity , and make up all your lolles to you, fob 4a..io. But, Fjfchiy, Since God has turned you oar.-oCa2l,areyaa tuiof __^ Kk g rd 3- Gen. i8. Clnp- jz '7- •10. Exod. S' '- Dan. 3. r Pfalm 12. Jer. z. 3. i Ifa. 5. z. Chap- 4- 78 London's Lamentat'tojis on Luke I y. 6. Exod. 13, 22. / Phil. 4. ill Aitgufi'm PfalmiJ upon cd nearer andcloftr to himlcll ? though you have been pro- digals, yet have you inthclight of L Wo»5 flimes, fcen and found your way to your Fathers houfc > then God will make up all your loffcs to you. When Judgcnncnts are fo fan- )u C fhat J have^ I can ufe : if not, I can want it. Same blame we, becJttfe I want many things \ and I blame them^ hecaufe they cafi- hot want. Now ftall Nature do more than Grace? Shall the poor blinded Heathen, outrtrip the knowing Chnftian ? OSirs, he that can iofc his will in the will of God, as to the things of this world i he that is willing to be at Gods allow- ance i he that has had nnuch, but can now be fatisfied with a little i he that can be contented to be at Gods finding \ he 45 of all men the moft likely roan to have all his loffes made fup to him. But, Eighthly and laAIy, Arc your hearts more drawn out, to have thishery dHpenfation fani^ified to you, than to have your lofTes made up to you ? Do you ftri ve moire with God, ro get good by this dreadful Judgement, than to recover your loft goods, and your loft tftates ? Is this the daily lan- guage of your fouls, Lord let this fiery calamity be fit) fan^ified , as that it may eminently iffuc in the mor- tifying of our fins , in the encreafe of our Graces , in the mending of our hearts, in the reforming of our lives, land in the weaning of our (buls from every thing be- 1 /W thee i and in the fixing of them upon the great things of Eternity } If it be thus with you,*tis ten to one but God even this world, will make up your loflcs to you. But, The fixth Support to bear up the hearts of the people of God, under the late fiery difpcnfatior, is this, viz. That by fiery difpenfatiors, the Lord will make way for the new Heavens and the new Earth : he will make way for the glorious deliverance of his people, Ifa 66. 1$. 16 22. For behold^ the Lord will come wi^h fire, and with his Chariots liks a wbirk'Wind, to render his anger with furj , and his rebuki tvith'jUfttit ofjirf: For by fifi, and by hit fword, ( or by his fword the late fiery Vtjpenfation. 8i fword of tire ) vcillthe L'^rd plead with all flejh^ and tbejlj'm of the Lord fkall be many. For as the new heavens ^ and the mw earth which I will mak^^ flj all remain before me^ faith the Lord, fo jhaHyottr feed and your nime remain. The great and the glorious things that God will do for his people in the h(^ daycs, are fct forth by new heivcns and new cirth > and thcfcGod will bring in by riry difpenfations. The glori ous dilate of the univerfd Ci^urch of] ws and Gentiles on eaith, isnolower an ertate, than that of a new hcivcn and a new earth. Now thts blcffed Church-Scate isufhertd into the world by fi.ry Judgements. By fitry difpenfations God wili put an end to the glory of thts old world, and bring in the new. Look as 9^d by a wa'-'ry Deluge made way tor one new world, fo by a fiery Deluge, in the laliof the Uft daycs, he will make way for anuthcr new world , wherein fljaU dwell righteoHfmfi, as Feter fpeaks. All men in coir.mon (peech, call a new great change, a new world. By Hcry di- fpenfations God will bring great changes upon the world, and make way for his So.iS reign, in a more glorious man- ner than ever he has yet reigned in the world. Kev, iS \Cb(fp. ig.Chap. 20. ind Chap. 21. The fumm of that I have in (hort to offer to your confidcration out of thefc Chapters is this. Babjlon the great is faBen, is fallen. How much fhe hath glorified her felf^ fo much forrow and torment Jhall be given her. Her plagues come in one day, death and mourning and fa- mine, and fhe fi} all be utterly burnt with fire. Rtpj/ce over her thou heaven , and ye holy Aperies and ProDhetSy for God hath avenged you on her. And after thefe things, 1 heard a great voice of much people, &c. Saying, AHeluiab, falvation, and glory, and honour, and power unto the Lord our God ', for true and rightt' ous are thy judgements, for he hath judged the great Whore that bath corrupted the earth, and hath avenged the blood of his Sjints. And again they faid Allduiah. And the four and twen- ty Elders faid Amen, Alleluiah. And I heard as it were the voyce of a great multitude^ and of the voyce of many waters, and as the voyce of mighty thunderings, fajiiuz,., Alleluiah % for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. And the Biajk and the falfe Frophet were cajiinto the la^ of fire : And the reji w*re jlain with the L 1 fwnrd* Ifa. 6^. 17. Joel 2. 1,2, J, Zeph. J. 8, u fee by the fevtral thing? to which wicked men jrecomo^ircd, that Goi by hery calsmities will bring rumt and d ftiudi on upon his and his peoples enemies. Such as ha\re burnt the people of God out of houfc and home , may in this world have burning for burning. G d loves to rctiliate upon his peoples enemies. Such as have clapt their hands at the fighf ot Londons flames, may one day lay their hands upon 'heir loim, when rhcy (hall find Divine J iftice appear- ing n, Ames of fire againft them.' Bur, The erghth (upport to b-ar up the hearts of the people of God urdr the late fiery difpenfation is this: viz Thar all (hall end well, all (hall work for good. God by this Hery difpmfation, will^o his people a great deal of gooi. God caft Jk^^/jj^ into an Iron furnace, into a fiery furnicc, but it was for their good , Jcr. 24. 5» Likg the fe, good figs ^ fo will J acknowledge them that are carried atv ay captive »f\\xAdh^ whom I have fent out of this place^ into the hand of the Chaldeans/flr their good. Pfalfn 1 19. 71. It it goodfer me, that 1 have been LI 2 ajfliaed. Judg. I. 6, 7. 8. Confult thefe Scriptures, Ifa. I. 15. Chap. 27,8, p, 10,11. Zech. 13. p, Heb. 12. 10. Hofea2.5. Afts 14. 2z, John 16. ult. jer. ip. II. 84 London's Lamentations on Deut.8.2.i ritual evils , or prcfervc them from fpiritual evils. Though the Elements arc of contrary qualities, yet Divine Power and Wifdom hath fo tempered them, that they all work in an harmonious manner, for the good of the Uni- vcrfe. So though fore afflidions, though tiery tiyals fecm to work quite croCs and contrary to the Saints Prayers and dcfires, yet they (hall be fo ordered and tempered by a skilful and omnipotent hand, as that they (hall all iffue in ;he Saints good. At the long-run by all forts of fiery tryals, the Saints (hall have their fins more wcakned, their Graces more improved, and. their experiences more multiplied, their evi- dences for Heaven more cleared , their communion with God more raifed, and their hearts and lives more. amend- ed. God by fiery tryals will keep off from his people more fry all : God loves by the Crofs to fecure his people from the curfe : and certainly *tis no bad exchange, to have a cro(s inOcad of a cuifc. God lead the Jfraelites about and 4bout in the Wildcrncls forty years together, but it was to humble them, and prove them, and do them good in their latter end. God lead them through fire and water, that is, hrough variety of fore and (harp afRid:ions, bat all was m order to his bringing them forth into a wealthy place. God ftript Job to his Shifr, but it was in order to his clothe- ingof him m Scarlet : he brought him low, but it was in or- der to his railing him higher than ever : he fct him upon a Dunghil, that he might the better fit him to fit upon a Throne. Jofspbis nat^and Simeon is not^ and yc will tai^ Benjamin atfay : all theje things are again^ mp, ftith old Jacob-, but yet as old as he was , he lived to fee all working for his g03d, before he went to his long home. Under all fiery di- fpcn(^tion&,God will make good that Golden PromifcrRow. 8. 28»^ And we kpotv that all things work^ together for good^ to them that love God. Mark, the Apofilc doth not fay, we fup- pofcjOr we hopc,or we con]edure,but we know. I know,and you know, and all the Saints know by daily experience, that all the late fiery Dij^enfation. 8^ all thcif fuffcfings and afflidions work together for their good; the Apoaic doth not f^y de fnturoy they (hill work, but deprtefentiy they do work. All fccond caufes work toge- ther with the tirft caufc for their good who loves God, and who are called according to his purpofc. The Greek word (Tvvtfyti ^ tpork^ together^ is a Phylical exprefflon. Look as fe- reral poironful ingredients put tog thcr, being well temper- ed and nnixcd by the skill and care of the prudent Apothe- cary, makes a Sovcraign Medicine, and woik together for the good of the Patient. So all the affli^ions and fuflferings that befall the Saints, they (hall be fo wifely, fodivt.icly tem- pered, ordered and fan(^ihcd by a hand of Heaven, as that they (hall really, and (ignally work for their good. Thofc dreadful Providences which fccm to be mo(i prejudicial to us, (hall in the \ff\ie prove mo() bencHcial to us. Look as veflfcls of Gold are made by rtrc , fo by fiery difpcn- fations , God will make his people VeflTels of Gold, vcflels of Honour. Commonly the moft afflicted Chri- (iians, are the moft golden Chriftians , Zcchary 13- p And I mil bring the third part through the firty and wilt refine them at fiber is refined ; andvpill try them as gold is tried i they (hall call on my name, andlvpill hear them : J will fay it is my people, and they jhall fay, the Lord is my Gad. The fire of Lo«- don was rather Phylick, than Poi^n > there was more of a Paternal chaftifcmcnt, than there was of an extirpating ven- geance in it : and therefore certainly it (hall work well, it Ihall ifllie well. The ninth Support to bear up the hearts of the people of God under the late fiery difpenfation, is this, viz. That there was a great mixture of mercy in that dreidful Judgement of fire that has turned London into a ruinous heap. At the fi- nal dcftru^ion of Jerufalem there was not one (lone left up- on another. This might have been thy cafe O London, had not mercy triumphed over Jui^ice, and over all the plots and dcfigns of men. Though many thouTand houfes are dcfiroyed, yet to the praife of free grace, many thoufand houfes in the City and Subusbs hare been ■ prefervcd from LI :; the Gen. 50. Z9. I Tim. 2. zi. 20, Luke 19. 41. 4^ i u Gen ip. London's Lamntations on pralmi3^.i3. Lam. I. 18. II. Ez;k. 25.1:; the rag^e and violence ol the flaaics. What a mercy WdS that, that Zoar {hould be Ihnding, when Sodom was laid in a(h :s } And what a mercy was this, that your houfes (hould be Aanding, when fo many thoufand houfes have been laid de- folate? Is more than a thijd part of the City deftroyed by fire? Why the whole City might have been deliroyed by fire, and all the Suburbs round about it. But in the mid(\ oi wrath, God has remenabred mcicy : ia the midft of great fc- verity God has cxcrcifed greatckmcncy. Had the fire come on with that rage, fury and triumph) as to have laid both City and Suburbs level i we mutt have fatd with the Church, The Lord is righteour. Had the three Children their Songs in the middot the fiery Furnace ? and why (hould not they have their Songs oi praife, whofe houfes by a miraculous Providence were prcfcrved in the mid H of Londons Jinxes. O Sirs, what a mixture of mercy was there in this riery ca- lamity that all yuur lives ihould be fpircd, and chit many of your houfes ihoulii be prcfcrved, and that much of your goods, your ware^, your commodities, ihou'd be fnatcht as Co many fire-b>ands out of the rirc. If ever there were an ob- ligatipn put upon a pcopl; , to cry Grace, Grace, Grace, the Lord has put one upon you, who have been (harcrs in that mixture of mercy, that God has extended to the many thou- sand fuffcrers by Lmdonj flames. Had this Judgement of tire been infiidkcd, when the raging Pcftilencc fwept away (bme thoufands every Week, and when the City was even Icftnakcd as to her inhabitants, and when the whole Nati- on was under a dreadful fear, trembling and difmayednefscf ipirit, might therenot have been far greater defoUtions both of houfes,goods and lives,in the midft of us ? Ha 1 God con Tended with Londonhy Pcftiltnce and fire at once, who would hive lodged your perfons in their bvds, or your goods in *ihe»r Barns? Hadthefctwo dreadlul Judgements mtt^Lon- V(7«frs would havQ met with but few fiiends in the world. Well, when I look \ upon Londo ft/ tins and defcrts on the on: hand, and upon the principles, old hatred, plots^ dcligns, rage and wrath of fome malicipu$ perfons , 019 lihe other hand, infiead of woodcring, (hat fp much of the City and Suburbs ti>eiiite jieryDi^enfatm. 87 Suburbs is deftroycd > I rather wonder, that ony one houfc I 'r^^^^i writing in the City 01 Suburbs is prefer ved. WhiUt London was inl<^f^''^-> ^^'^^ flaracs, and all m:n under a high diftridtion , and all things in a fad confufion, a ftcrct, iubcic, dcfigning, powerful ene- my m ght have rilcn up in themidli of you, that might have fpoiled your goods, ravi(h:d your wives, dcflourcd your daughters i and after all this have fliealhed their fwords jn all your bowels : and in that it fell not out thus, what caafc have Londoners to bow for ever before preventing and rcrtraining Grace. Since the creation of the world, God hasnevcrbcen fbfevcrc in the execution of his raoft dread- ful Judgcnnents, as not to remember mercy in the midft of wrath. When he drowned the old world fwho before were drowned in lufts and plcafurcs J he extended mt rcy to No<»ib and his family. When he rained H.ll out of Heaven upon Sodum and Gomorrah^ turning thofc rich and pleafant Cities into ruinous heaps, he gave Lot and his Daughters their lives for a prey. And when by fire and fword, he had made Jerufalem 2 dreadful fpe^tacle of his wrath and venge- ance, yet then a remnant did efcape. This truth weCui- n$ have experienced, or elfc we and our all, before this ay had been deftroyed. Every Citizen (hould have this Motto written in chara<^ers of Gold on his fore head, h is of the Lords mercies that tve are not conjumed. God might have made London like Sodom and Gomorrah > but in the day of his anger fome beams of his favour darted forth upon your London. By which means, the hopes of fome are fo far re- vived, as to expcft, that London yet may be re built and bleft, Thats a dreadful vrord^When he begins he will mal^e an end: and the fire of his rvrath Jhall burn^ and mm fltall quench it i Thefe eradicating Judgements had certainly fallen upon Len- don^ had not the Lord in the midft of his fury rcmembred mercy. 1/ the Lord had not been on our fide may London now fay, if the Lord had not been on our fide when the firerofe up againft us, then the fire had fwallowed us up quick, when its rage was kindled againfl us. Doubtkfs God ne- nevei mingled a cMp of wnth with mote mercy than this. - Though Scq'iitur cUdt On-iilb^s q:d:i uibl p:r via- k'ltixm ig'tium accifierif grx- z'ior a'q-^ atio- 'ior. A.-ra!. l:h. i^.p. - 91. It was rich m.rcy, that: ir was not fo wi.h Loidon. Gen. rp- Ifa. 6. r 1, 1 2, Jer. 5. 10. 18. Lam. 5. 21, I Sam. J. 12. Jer. 4. 4. Chap. 21. 12. Pfalm 124. 1 J 88 hondotis Lamentations on They finned aga n:^the light and courfc of na- ture ; and the:efore,they were deftroycd a^aintt the courfe of na- ture, by tire from HeaTcn. Though the iiic of London Wis a very great and dread- ful tire, yet it wis not fo great, nor Co dreadful a fire, as that of Sodom Md Gomorrah Wi$: for that fire of Sodom and G^- miTrah^ FirA, It was a tniraculous fire j a fire that was bcficies bc> yond and againft the courfc of Nature, Gen. 19.24. Then the Lord rained upon Sodom and Gomorrah brimjione^ and fire frr.m the Lord out of Hejven. Fire mingled with brimtione hath bren found, i. Mod ob:.oxious to the cyfs, 2. MM\ loathfomc to thefrntll. And 5. Moft fierce in burning He hit the mark, who fpcakin^ of tire and briralione, faid Fa- cillime incenditur^ firtinacifjim ftrvet^ &c. V'fficillime extin^^ guitur, Liseafily h^ndled^ vinUntly fudLd^ and hardly exiin- {uijhcd. Brimfton^ and all that vali q jantity of fulphureous fiery matter, by which thoie rich and populous Cr. ics were urncd into ruinous heaps, were never productd by natu- r.:! caufcs, nor after a natural rramer, ( no culinary fire be- ing (o fpecdy in its confumpiions ) but immediately by Gods own miraculous power and allmighty arm. Bur the fire that haslaid LoM^^t^nin aftics, wasnofuch miraculous or extraordinary fire, but fucha fire which Divine Providenc permitted, and fufiered to be kindKd and earned on, by fuc means, inOruments, and concurring circua.ftances, as hath buried our glory urdcr heaps of aChes. But, Secondly, The fire that fell upon Sodom trdGomsrrah^ confumed not only the greater part of thofe Cities, but the whole Cities : yea, and not only Sodom and Gomorrah, but all the Cities of the Plain (except Zoar which was to be a San 6t\iiry to Lot ) but the fire of LWo« has not dcftroy d the whole City of Lmdon. Many hundred ( may I not fay thou- findi^ houfcs are yet f^anding, as monuments of Divine Power, Wjfdom and goodnefs : and the greatcA part of the Suburbs are yet preferved i and all the reft of the Cities of England are yet compafTed about with loving kindncfs and mercy j and I hope will be referved C by a gracious Provi- dence ) as (helfcrs, as Sanduaries, and as hiding places to poor "England! difircffed inhabitants. But, Thirdly, The fire that fell upon Sodom and Gomorrah did confumc the late fiery Vij^enfatlofi. 89 fume not only places, but pcrfons i not only houfes, but inha- bitants j but in the oiidft of London/ ^imcSy God was a wall of fire about the Citizens, in that day of his fiery indig- nation,he wasvery tender of thclivcs of his people. Though the Lumber was burnt, yet God took care of his Trcafure, of his Jewels i to wit, the lives of his people. But having fpoken before more largely of this particular > let this touch now fuffice. Fourthly, Sodom and Gomorrah were deftroyed by fire fud- dcnlyand uncxpe(ftedly i they were dcflroyed by fire in a moment, Lam. 4. 6. tor thepumjhment of fbeimqttitj of the daughtir of mj ptiipky is greater than the punifhmint of the fin of Sodom, that n>as overt hrorcn as in a moment^ and no handj fiajedonher. Sodom and Gomorrah fuftained no long fiege from forreign forces, neither were they kept long in forrows and fufferings,in pains and mifcry,but they were quickly and fuddenly, and inftantly dispatched out of this world into ano- ther world. Men had no hand iq^ the dcAroying of Sodom , no mortal inArument did co-opetatc in that work. ' God fey his own immediate power, overthrew them in a mo- ment. Sodom was very Itrangely, fuddenly, and antxpt&cd- ly, turned upfide down, as in a moment, by Gods own hand, without the help of aimed Souldiers; Whereas the Chalde- ans Armies continued for a longtime in the Land of Judah^ itid in JerufaUm, vexing and plaguing the poor people of God. Now in this refpe^, the punilhmcnt of the Jews, was a greater puniftiment, than the punithment oiSodom^ that was overthrown as in a moment. But that fire that has turned London into a heap of afhes, was fuch a fire, that was carried oil gradually, and that la(kd four dayes. God giving the Citizens time to mourn over their fins, to rfepcnt, to lay hold on everlaftirgftrength, and to makepeace with God. But, Fifthly and laftly, Sodoms and Gcmorrahs Judgement, is termed Eternal fire-, virhich cxprcflion, as it refers to the places thcmfclves, do import, that they were irrecoverably deftroyed by fire j fo as that they (hall lye eternally wafte. Thofe tnonftrous finncrs of Sodom, had turned the glory of Mm God Zech. 2. J. The Juda,e- mensof God upon the Jews, Were fo (^rcat, that they exceeded all credit amongft their ne:ghbcur Nations. 5- Jude 7. 90 London's Lamentations on D;ut. 2 9. 23 Sffdbe, 'TacituSy 7ofph:iSj &c. Zcch. 12. 10. ira.(Ji. 3. Ifa. ^o. 1, 2. God into fhamtj and therefore God will turn them both into a Hell here, ard a Hell hcrtafccr. God will punifli unuTu- al finncrs with unufual Judgements. The punifhmcnt by this tlrp IS lafliiig, yea, evcrUliing: '(is a ftinding monu- ment of Gods high difpleifurc. Wencvei read, that ever God repented himfclfof the ovcrchrow of Sodom and Go- morrahi tho(e Cities arc under a perpetual deftiu(Sion \ and fo fhall continue (0 the end of the world, if we will give credit to Authors of great credit and reputation. It well becomes the wifcft and beft of Chriftians, fcrioufly to'con- fidcr, how God fetteth forth the deftrudtion of his Chuichcs enemies, Ifa. 34. 8, 9, 10, 11. For it is the day of theLords Vengeance^ and the year of recompences ", for the controverfie oj Zion. And the fireams thereof (haB be turned into Pitch, and the dufl thereof into Brimftone i and the Land thereof fhtU become burning Fitch. It fhaU not be quenched night nor day : the fmol^e thereof Jh all go up for iver : from generation to generation it/hall lye rva^e,. none (hall pafs thr^gugh it for ever and ever, Bttt the Cormorant and the Bittern fhall pjff^it i the Owle aljo and the Raven jhaJi drvell in it ■, and he fl) all ftretch oftt upon it the line of confufron, and the fiones of (mptin,jl. In thcfc words, you have a rhetorical dcfcription , of thit extream devaftation that God will bring upon the enemies of the Church, in way of allufion to the deftruiftion of Sodom and Gomorrah. But I hope Lindons doom is notfuch •, for God has given to thoufands. of her inhabitants a Spirit of Grace and Supplica- tion : which is a clear evidence, that at the long run, they (hall certainly carry the day with God. I have faith enough to believe, that God will give Lnndons mourners, beauty for aJheSy the oyie of joy for mourning , and the garment of praije, for the fpirit ofheavinejs. And that London may yet be called a City of righteoufnef, theplanting of the Lordy th^t he may be glorified. I hope that God will one day fay to Londm^ Arife,Jhiney for the light is come, and the ghry of the Lord is rijen upon thee, the Lord Jhall arife upon thec^ and his glory fhall be Jeen upon thee. By what has been faid, 'tis evident enough, that there has been a great mixture of mercy- in that fiery difpenfation, that has paft upon London* And there- the late fiery Dijpenfation. 9' therefore why (hould not this conlideration bear up the hearts of the people of God, from fainting and finking under their prcfcnt calamity and mifcry. Bat, The tenth Support to bear up the hearts of the people of God, under the late fiery difpenfation, is this, viZi That there are worfe Judgements, than the Judgement of fire, which God might, bat has not inflidcd upon you. Let me evidence the truth of this in thcfc five particulars. Firl^, The bloody Sword is a more dreadful Judgement, than that of fire. Fire may confume a mans houfc, and his eftatci but the Sword cuts off a mans life. Now at whit a poorrate, do men vilue the whole world, when it rtands in competition with their lives. He very well knew, that man was a very great life lover, who faid, Skjnforskjn ( or skin upon skin ) and all that a man hath^ will he give for his life. God might have brought upon England^ I, and upon London too, thcyS word of a forrcign enemy, as he did upon fe- rufalem ind the Land of JudeaAn that one only City oijerufa- lentj during the time ol the ficge by Ve^afiam Armies, which were made \),^ oiKomanty Syrians zr\d Arabians^ there died and were killed, a thoufand thoufand. At this time there were flain in all Judeay'm feveral places, to the number ol twelve hundred and forty thou(and Jews. The whole Ctty of J«r«/^/e»» flowed with blood, inlomuch that many parts of the City thst were fet on fire, were quenched by the blood of them that were flain. In feventeen years time the Carthaginian War only in I/j/y, Sfain and Sicily, confumed andwiftcd, fifteen hundred thoufand men' The Civil Wars between Tompey and C£fjr^ fwallowcd down three hundred thoufand men. Cairn C^far did confefs it, and gloried in it, that eleven hundred ninety and two thoufand men were killed by him in Wars. Tompey the great writ upon Mimr- va'f Temple, thathe had fcattered, chafed and killed twenty hundred eighty and three thoufand men. ^Fabius killed an hundred and ten thoufand of the Gauls. C. Marius put to the fword two hundred thoufand of the Cimbrians. Ae- tius in that memorable battle of Catalonia^ flew an hundred M m 2 fixty 10. I. Job z. 4. fojcpbus cle Bcllo. Jud. 5?2 London's Lamentations on 2. Gen. 45- 4<5. Joel I. 1. -I-: Chap. 2. 5. Jer. 24. 10. Ezck. d. II. 2 Sam. 21. I. Lam. 2.11312, Verfei5?. Vcrfe 20. ci^ip- 4.4,5 • ). fixty andtwo thoafand Hnnnes. Who can number up the many thoufands, that have fallen by the bloody fvvord m f^r-j^e, from the year 1620 to this year 1667. khLondon^ JLondon^ thy Streets might have flowed with the blood of the flain \ as once the Streets oi Jtrufikm^ Farit, and others have done. Whilft the fire was a dcvourinig thy ftatcly houfcs and Palaces, a Foricign Svv'ord might have been i de- i ftroying thmc rnhabitants. Whilft the furious flames were ' a confuming thy goods, thy wares, thy fubftance, thy riches, a clofc and fecret enemy, fpirited, counfclled, and animated fromRowe and H 11, might have rifcn up in the midft ofthefi that might have mingled together the blood of HiJ^bands and Wives, and th: blood of Pirents and Children , and.thc blood of Maftcrs and Servants, and the blood of rich and poor, and the blood of the honourable with the blood of the vile. Now had (his been thy doom, O London ( which many feared, and others cxpt^edjwhat a dreadful day would that have been! 'Tis better to fee our houfes on hre, then to (ce bur Streets running down with the blood of the (lain. But, Secondly, God might haveinfii^ed the Judgement of fa- mine upon L^w-^/o;? i which is a more dreadful Judgement, than that of fire. How fad would that day have b:en, O London, if thou hadft been (b forely put to it, as to have taken up that fad lamentation of weeping Jeremiah^ Mine eyes do fail n>ith tears : my bowels are troul led, my liver is poured upon the eartk^ for the dejfru&ion .tf the daughter of my people : becaufe the children and the fuckjings fwoun in the Jireets. They fay to their Mothers, where is corn and trine ^ vohen thty frvnoned as the rvottnded in the jinets of the City. When their foul was poured into tlfdr Mothers bofom. Arije, cry out in the night : in the beginning of the rvatches pjur out thine heart lik^ water before the face of the Lerd : lift up thy hands towards him, for the life of thy young children y that faint for hunger, in the top of every ftreet. Shall the woman eat her fruit, and children of afpan long. 7 he tongue of the fuelling child cleaveth to the roof of 'his mouth for thirfi : the young children Oik^ bread, and no man breal^th it unto them. They that did feed delicate^, are defolate ta m the late fiery Vil^enfation. 93 V;tf.- 9- Vei-fe lo. Chap. 5 Vcfre<5. Vtrfe 9 . tco. in thejireets : they that vpere brought up in sk^rUt embrace dun^,- hits. Her Nazarites rvere purer than fnnvp^ they rrere wobiter Verfe 7. than milk^^ they rvere more ruddj in the body than rubies : their pohfhing was QfSafh.r. Thihr vifage is bhckfr than a coj/; Veifcg, they are not k^orvn in the (ireets ', their skin cleaveth to their' - bones : it it withered^ it is become like a jficki 7 hey that be \ fain tvitb the fivord , are better than thrij, many of the Chrifiians ( in the Holy War ) through famine, devoured the dead bodies of the late flain enemus. At ihe Cie^c oi Scodra^ Horfcs were dainty meat •, yea, they were glad to eat Dog<, Cars, Rats, and the skins of beafts fod. A little Moufc, and Puddings made of Dogs guts, was fold at Co great a price, as exceeds all credit. When Hinnibal bcfieged CaJJiUnumy the famine was fo great, that a Moufe was fold for two hundred groats, that is, for three pound -i^ighteen (hillings and eight pence. That was a fore famine in Samaria ^ when an Affes head was. (old for eighty pieces of filver i that is, fay fome, for four or five pound : Others fay ten* for a (hekcl of filver was with the Jews, as much as two (hillings fix pence with us : by this account, an AfTcs head was (bid for ten pound fterling. In Edtvard the Seconds time , Anno 1316. There was fo gfcaf the late fiery Dilhenfation, 95 great a famine, that horfes, dogs, yea, men and children wcrt lioln for food , and rhc Thieves newly brought into the Gaols, were torn in p eccs, and citcn prt(cn:Iy, half ahvc by fuch aAhad been longer there. In War, Oppreilion, Cap i vity, and rainy other calinnitie?, much of the hand of man IS fobcfccn, but Famine is a deep, evident and app.r;nf Judgement, which God himfllf brings upon the (ons ol men, by his own high hand. Miny, or moi\ of thofc ca- lamities that are brought upon us by f umane means, are avoidable by humane helps : but famine is that compre- henfive Judgement, that the highcft power on earth cannot help Jgiir ft. If the Lord do mt help tbee^ whence pi'^ I help thee? out of the bafnflor^ or out of the ffineprep ? fa id the King of Ifad in the {^v[\\xxt q{ S armris. Ah hmdon^ London^ \\ the Lord had infli. 47. Ho: tan. St.Eicha'dBi- j^f^-jChrpno- See the Rela- tion in Print. Vokn. S.y,n/Xg. 841. Temples and houfcs were overthrown, with the lofs of ma- ny a man, the lofs amounting to forty hundred thoufand pounds. In the year 1171. there was fuch a mighty Earth-^ quake, that the City Tripolis^ and a gicat part oiVamafcus in Anticchia^ and H^lcipre^ the chief City in the Kingdom of Loradin^ and other Cities of the Saracenf, either perithed ut- terly, or were wonderfully defac.d. In the year 1509. in the moncth oi September, there was fo great an Earthquake at CoT2j}ahtimp!ey that there were thirteen thoufand men dc- Itroycd by it, and the City midrably (hattcred and ruined by ir. In the Rcignof Hmr^thcfirft, the earth moved with fo great a violence, that many buildings were (haktndown i and Mjlmesbury faith, That the houfe vpherein hejate, rrat lift- ed up with a double remove^ and at the third time fettled again in the proper place. Alfo in divers places it yielded forth a hi- deous noXe, and caft forth flames. In Low W^ there was an Earthquake, that continued forty dayes, and removed a Town from the place where it flood, a great way off. In the eleventh year of the Reign of King Henry the fccond, on the fix and twentieth day oi January, was fo great an Earth- quake, in Ely, Norfolk^ , and Suffolk^, that it overthrew, them that (food upon their feet, and made the Bells to ring in the Steeples. In the four and twentieth year of his Reign, in the Territory of Per//«^to», in the Biftiopwrick ofDnrhanty the earth lifced up her fclf in the manner of an high Tower, and fo remained unmoveable from morning till evening , and then fel] with fo horrible a noife, that it frighted the inha- bitants thereabouts, and the earth fwallowing it up, made there a deep pit, which is feen at this day : for a teftimony- whereof, Leyland faith, hcfaw the Pits there, commonly ai- led Hell- Kettles. Inthe year 1666. the City ofK:»^«zjwas overthrown by a moft dreadful Earthquake, and all the in habitants ( which were many thoufands J except a few hun- dred were deftroycd, and buried in the ruines of that City. At Bern, Anno 1584. near unto which City a certain Hill, carried violently beyond and over other Hills, is reported by Poianuj ( who lived in thofi: parts ) to have covered a whole Village that had ninety families in it, one half houfe only ex- ^ cepted, J~^ the late fiery t>l^enfation. 97 ccptcd, wherein the Maftcr of the family, with his Wife and Children, wcreearncftl^caUing upon God. Ohthcrerror of the Lord / and Oh rl^powcr of fervent prayer. At PUures in Khetia, Anno i6i8. Aug. 2'y. the whole Town was ovcr- covcrcd with a Mountain, which with its moi\ fwifr moti- on, oppreffcd fif.cen hunJrtd. Injht daycs o( Vzziah King of Jttdah, there was fuch a terribreBarthquake, that the peo- ple with fear and horror fled from h. Z:ch. 14. 5. Tea^ ye fhaU flit likfi as ye fled from before the Earthqual^e in the dajes of Uzziah King o/judah. The Jcwifli Dodors affirm, that this amazing Earthquake fell out, juft at that inftant time, when T^zz/jlb offered Inccnfe, and was thertfore fmittenwith a Leprojie : but this is but their conjedure. However this dreadful Earthquake was an horrible lign and prcfags o( Gods wrath to that finful people. Jnjefhus tells us, thai by it, half a great hill was removed out of its place, and car- ried four furlongs another way j fo that the High- way was obftru^ed, and the Kings Gardens utterly marred. The fame Author further tells us, that at that time, that C-e/lr and ^«*i>fl»)/ made try al of their Titles in the A^ian War, ( ard in the (eventh year of the Reign of King Herod ) there happened fueh an Earthquake in the Countrey o(Jud£j,thit never the like was fcen in any other place: fothat divers Bcafts were fliin thereby, and that ten thoufand men were overwhelmed and deftroyed in the ruines of their houfes. Thefame Author faith, that in the midft of the -^flwn War, about the beginning of the Spring time, there happened fo great an Earthquake, as flewan inHnitc multitude of Beafts, and thirty thoufand pfople : yet the Army had no harm, for it lay in the open Field. Upon the report of this dread- ful Earthquake, md the cfft<^s of it, the Arabians were fo highly, encouraged, that they entered into y«//«ej, fuppofirg that there were no men left alive to refift them, and that they (hould certainly conquer the Countrey : and before their coming, they flew the Embaffadors of the Jews that were fent unto them. Ah London^ London^ if the Lord had by fome terrible Earthquake utterly overthrown thee, and buried all (hy inhabitants under thy ruines ( as he hath Nn dealt ^/y?. Chrofioi: Amoii. i»i A :tiq. I. c. U. L. IS,C.7. Jofcphus c. 14- dc Judmo, lib. I. Bella 9? Londonts Lamentations on Such Virgins that had been defloured, the Heathen bu- ied a'ive, ac- counting that theforeliofall puniihments. ^ofiphns An- tiq.l.^c.^. dealt by mar.y C)tit5 and Citizens, both informer, and in rhcfe lifter times) how dreadful would thy cafe then have been, over what now it is. Cerrallly fuch Eirtbquakcs as ovir whelm both Cities and Citizens, arc far greater Judge- ments, than fuch a fire, or fires, that only confumcs mens houfes, bur never huits their perfons. God might have in- flidcd this f(5re Judgenijjjpit upon thee, O London^ but he has not j therefore it concerns thee to be Ihll a crying Grace, Grace. But, Fourthly, God might have infli fo as there appeared not any fign of that which had hapncd. Thus periChcd they all, leaving behind them an example of Gods Power and Judgements. And this accident was the more mifcrablc, in that there were no one, np not of their kinsfolks or allies that had compaG (ion of them : To that all the people whatfever, forgetting thofc things which , were, pift,. did allow Gods Juftice with the late fiery Dijpenfatmi. 99 joyful acclamations, tdtcming them unworthy to be b- moancd , but to be hdcfasihe pUguc and pervertersot the people. Owhat a dreadful Judgement was this, for pcrfons to be buried alive i for houfcs, and inhabitants, and all (h:ir goods, to b: (Widowed up in a nnomctit. What tonj^uc can cxprcfs, or heart conceive, the terror and aftonilhmcnt thai fell upon K^rah^ Vathan and Ahiram^ when the earth(which Sod had made firm, and cftablifhed by a p:rpctual Decree to ftand fali under mens feet, was weary ot bearing them, and therciore j opened her mouth and iwaliowed them, and a 1 thvir conccr imcnts up. Ah London^ Londtn^ If the earth had opened her mouth, and fw&llowcd up all thy houfcs and inhabitants, with all thy goods and riches in a moment ^ Would not this have been ten thoufa«d thoufand timts a greater Juigement, than that ti^ry difpcniation that has paii upon thee ? Bur, Futhly and laftly, God might have rained Hell out ot Heaven upon you, as he did upon Sodom and G^m^rrah : and this would have been a forer Judgement, than whit he his infliifted upon you. U God by raining fire and brimlionc from Heaven, had confumcd your pcrfons, houfcs, rich?s and relations, would not this havcbetn the hcighin ofjudgt- ment, and infinitely more terrible and dreadful toyou, than that fiery dtfpcnfation , thit has confamrd part of your eftatcs,and turned your houfcs into afhes ? Now by thtfc five things 'tis moll cvidcnUl^ Thit there arc worfc Judge- ments, than the Jad^emt-nt of fire , which God in Jufiicc might have infl dted upm you. But free- mercy has (o inter- pofcd, that God has not ihtttd up all his wrath ■-, and though he has (cvcrely punilhtd you,yet ir is Icfs than your miqaitics have defeivcd, Ezrag.i^. and therefore let this conlidera tion fupport and bear up your hearts under all your prcfent forrows and fuff:rings. Bur, Elevcntly, Though your houfcs arc burnt, and yourhib tations laid dcfoUtc , yet your outward condition is no worfe than Chiilts was whtn he was in the world. Thi crtatc and condition of Chrilt was low, yea, very low and N n 2 m an 5^ Gen- IS?. II. lOO London's Lamentations on Math. 8 io. Luke 2. 17. Chap. 8.3. Ma:;h. 17.27. Phil. z. 7. z Cor. 8. 9 Chrljli Pan- pitas Jfic- um efipatiimo- ■fiium. Ambros. John 13. 16. Matth. 10. 24,25. z Kings II. II mean in this world. Witncfs h.s own relation when he wis upon the earth ; 7hi Fcxet have hakP^ and the Bird/ of the air bavenejh^ ( or rc(^ing places where ihcy go to rcit, as under a Tcntjlikc as the Greek word propeily imports,)B«« the Son of man hatb not xvhere to lay bis i&efl<«r/.And what faith another. Some devout Pcrfonages caufed this Scripture to be writ in letters of Gold upon their Chim- ney-pieces. P. of Betty in P-an.re in his Draught of Eremitv. Gen 4. 17. Amos^. f. Tob. 21. 12. Dan. 5 25. Amos 6. 4, Tlis tvnrd Depart^ the Goats with horror hears. But thii word Cente^ the Sheep to joy appears. S 104 London's Lamentations on Heb.ii.iaji3. Ads zo. 38. Curlings now aje wicked mens Hymns ; but in Hell they {hall be their woes. . Rev. i6. 9. L (hort of this one^ to wi/, to be turned out of Godsprejince with a Non novi vosJ/^mow^o« not. What a grief were it,herc to be baniftit from the Kings Court with Abfolom^ or to be turned out of doors, with Hagar and IJmael, or to be caftoutof Godsprcfcncc with curfcd Cain. But what is all this, to a mins being excommunicated, and caft out of the prcfence of God, of Chrift, of the Angels, and out of the general AflTcm- bly of the Saints, and Congregation of the firit born ; to be fecluded from the prcfence of God , is of all mifcrics the greateft. The fcrious thoughts of this, midconcfay, Mj- nj do abhor tieU, but I efteem the fall from thjt gluTyy ^o be a greater funijhmcm than Heil it felfy "'tis better to endure tin thou f and Tbunder-clafi^ than be deprived of the beatifical vifi on. Certainly the tears of Hell arc not fufficient, to bewail the loft of Heaven. Ifthofc precious fouls wept bccaufc they (hould fee Pauls face no more i how deplorable is the eternal deprivation* of the beatifical vifion. Depart from me^is the firft and worfl of that dreadful fentencc, which Chrift (hall pa(s upon (inners at laft. Every fy liable founds horror and tenor, grief and forrow, amazement and aflonifhmcnt to all whom It doth concern. Te curjed : there is the malediction. But Lord if we muft depart, let us depart bleiTed. No, depart je cur fed: you have curfcd others, and now you (hall be curft your fclvcs j you (hall be cur(^ in your bodies, and curft in your fouls » you (hall be cur ft of God, and curft of Chrift, and curft of Angels, and curft of Saints, and curft of Devils, and curft of your companions. Yea, you (hall now curie your very felves, your very fouls, that ever you have dcfpifcd the Goipel, re- fufed the O'l let us go into feme good plicc : No, Depart ye into tverUjiing fire. There is the vengeance und continuance of it. You Ihill go into Hrc, into everlasting Hrc, th^t fhall neither con- fume It felf, nor confunnc you. Eternity ofcxtremity, is the Hell of Hell. The fire in H.Jl is like thit ftone in Arcadia, which being once kindled, coald never be quenched. If all the tires that ever Were in the world w,ic contra(ftwd »nco one hrc, how icinble would it be > Yet fuch a fire would be but as painted Etc upon the Wall, to the fire of Hel'. If it be fo fid a fpedaclc, to Othoid a mal.favSors flcfli con fumed by p.ece-mealcs in a lingering fire ■■, An, how fad,how dreadful would it be, to cxpcxicrcc, what it is to lie in un- quenchable hre, not fjr a day, a moncth, or a year, or a hundred, ur athoafand years, but for ever and ever. If .t werr, faith One, but for a thoufand years, I could b:arit : but ftcingit is for eternity, this amazcth and atfrightctU mc. I am afraid of Hell, filth Another, becaufe the Worm there nevetdics, and the fire ncv^r goes our. For to be torment cd without end , this is that which gots beyond all the bojfnds of dc(pcrarion. Grievous is the torment of the damned, for the bitternefs of thepuniChments, but it is more grievous, for the divcrlity of the puniftiments, but moft grievous for the eternity of the punilhments. To lye in evcrlalhng torments, to roir ^or ever for dif- quictutfsof heart -, to rage for cvet for madnefs of foul, to weep and grieve, and gna(h the teeth for ever, isamifcry beyond all exprcffion, BeSarmine out of Baroclus tells ot a learned man, who after his death appeared to his friend, complaining that he was adjudged to Hell torments, fwhich f faith he) were they to lift but a thou and fhoufind yean, I fhould think it tollcrable : bat alas, they are eternal. And it is called eternal firey Judcy. I have read of a Prifon among the Perfians^ wnich was deep, and wide, and dark, and oat of which the Pxifoners could never get i and there- fore it was called by them Lethe^ Forgetfulncfs : this Prifon wtsaParadicc to Hell. Mirk, every thing that iscondu- ciblc to the torments of the damnetl is etcrnii. i- God O thit Of this fire you had need of (bme De- vil, or accurl- ed Wretch to defcan', fajth Cnc. Cy-iU I/fdor. clar. Oiat. 12. D:on)f. in 18 Apoca')ff, Fol. 301. Matih 2j.u!t. Dc M/te mo- rl.ndi. io6 London's Lamentations on II Pet. ). 19. Lucida laithj thatic was the common •opinion among them, that the wicked were held in chains by Plitto ( fo they call the Prince of Devils j in chains, which cannot be toofed. Matth. y.zi. Chap. 13.40- that damns them is eternal, Ifa. 33. 14. Kom. 16, 26. a.The iiie that toimcnts them, is eternal, Ifa. 30. 33. Cap. 66. 24. Judtj. 3. The Priibn and Chains that holds them, are eternal, j^»^e6, 7, 13. iFet.z.ij. 4. The Worm that gnaws them is eternal, Mark^^. 44. Melandhm callsitaHcl- h(h fury. 5. The fcntence that (hall bepafled upon them, ihall be eternal, Mattb. 25. 41, 42. The fire of Hell is called a Burning Lake, R'.v. 20. 15* IVbofoever veat not found writ- ten in the book^ of life^jopas caji into the laks of fire. You (hall know, that fire is the molt tormenting Element. Oh the moit dreadful imprc(!ions, that it makes upon the fleih. The Schoolmen di(hngi(h thus of tire > they fay, there is ignis ardsris , fatorif^ & terroris , tire of heat, of (Jencb, and of terror ; of heat^ as in Mount Mtna i of fiench, as in Mount Heda j of terror and fear : as ignis fulguris^ the fire of lightning in America : All thcfe fires they fay are in Hell. But to let the Schoolmen pafs. It is di(puted among many of thelcarned. Whether there be material fire in Hell or no. That *tis vci y probable, that there is material fire in Hell, or that which is full as terrible, ox more terriblc> may I fuppofe, be thus evidenced. Firft, The fire of Hell is frequently mentioned in the blef- fed Scripture. IVbo jhall fay to bis Brother^ thou Fool^Jhall be in danger of HeU fire. At the day o( Judgement the tares are i>urnt in the fire. Info this fire offending members are caA, Mattb. iS. 18, 19. To this everla(ting fire the Goats are adjudged, M^i^i^. 25 41. In this fire, thofe that wor(hip the BeaO are tormented. Rev, 14. 10. And the Sodomites at this very day, fuffcr the vengeance of eternal htt^Judej. Into this fire (hall all barren and unfruitful Chriftians b: caft. Mattb, 5. I o. And now aljo the Ax is laid unto the root of the trees ^ therefore every tree tvhicb hringiib forth not good fruit is herpndotvn, and caJi into the fire. Negative goodnefs will never fecure a man either from the Ax, or from the fire. Yea, every Iman and woman under Heaven, that keeps off from Chri(l, jand that lives and dies out of Chr>(i, and that are never cn- jtcred into a marriage union with Chrid : they (halt all be caft linto this fire, John 15.6. Jfamati abide net in meyhe is , c^ the late fiery Vijpenfation, xoy eafi forth as a branch that is rvitheredy and men gather thtm^ and cafi them into thef^re^ and they are burmd. Tna* you fee, how the Scripture runs. Now you know, that 'tift lafctt for us, to adhere to the very letter of the Scripture, unlets evi- dent ftndneccifary occadon draw us from a literil interpre- tation of it. Bur, Secondly, To this fire is afcribcd Sulphur, flimes, wood, Ifa. 30. 33. for Tophet is erdaimd of old ( that v, HcU, thole terrible allufions to Topbet^ to thc(hrieksand yellings of thofc children that were facriticed there, are but dark reprcfcnta- tionsof the pain and mifcries of the damned^ yea^ for the King it is prepared (If Princes be wicked, 'tis neither their Power nor their Policy, their dignity or worldly glory, that can fecurc them from Topbet. ) he hath made it diep and large : the pile thereof is fire and much tvood, the breath of the %ordlik^ a jinam of brimfime^ doth kindle it. Now he (h*ll be an ApaSo to me, that can (hew mc, where the Lord in his Word gives fuch properties to immaterial fire, that are here ^iTcn in the Text. But yet remember this, that that God that makes the damned Jive without food, is able to maintain this fire without wood. Bur, Thirdly, Fire is the mod furious of all Elements -, and therefore the bodies of men can^t be more exquificcly tor- mented, than with fire. Theboiies that finned on earth, (hall be punifhcd and tormented in Hel). Now what can be more grievous and vexatious , more affiK^ing and tor- menting to the bodies of men, than material fire. Bilmy iht Martyr could not endure to hold his finger in the flame of a Candle for a little while, for a quarter of an hour, though he tryed to do it before he burnt at the f^ake. O then how will the bodies of men endure to dwell in unquenchable fire, to dwell in evcrlafiing burnings. The Brickkilns of JEgypty the Furnace of Bsbel are but as the glowmg fparkte, or astheblazeof aBrufhfiggot , to this Tormenting To ^i&ef, that has been prepared of old, to punifh the bodies of Bnners with. But, FourthIy,Scveral of the Fathers 8c Schools,generally agree, that the fire which fiiall torment the wicked in Hell, (hall be O 2 marec ial 2. iKing. zj.iS. Water doth only kill, but fire doth vex, ; territie and tortneni in killing. ACi. & Mon. io8 London's Lamentcitms on Zaich. Peter LumhiVd. To 9. Aq.i. Ob)c&. Exod. 3. i>3 rn*tcri»l Hn :but yet they f .y,nat this iratcrial hre (hall won- derfully exceed ours, both in degree of heat, and ficrccncfs of burning. Oar Elementary or Culinary fire is no inorc to be icompaicd wichthehre of Hdl, than fire painted upon the VVdll, is to be compared with hre burning m our Chimneys. Si igm dimnjlit nfrobos^ (juare Hon in igne cruciabii dant- «j/(7/, faycs one of the Antients, If he will judge the repro- bites in Hre, why not condemn them to tire. Bnt if it be material fire, then it may he quencht : befides we lee by common experience^ that material fire in a Jhjrt time rvill confume and f^end it felf. Neither can we fee hotp material fir^ can make impreffijns upon Spirits^ as the Devils and fouls of men are. Fiift, Don't we fiiid,that the Bu(h burned and was not con- fumed ^ Though all cloaths by daily experience wax old;; yet when iheljraelites were in their wildeinefs condition i their clothes did not vpax old, Dcut. 8. 4. Thy raiment waxed not old upon thte, neither did thy foot frvell thtfe forty years. Nch. 9. 41. ^ej, forty yean didji thou fufiain them in the WH- \ derneJSy fo that they lacked mthing -, thiir clothes waxed not old^ i and their feet fweSed not. Their clo.hcs were never the worfe ! 1 for wearing. Gji by his AUrnighcy Power kept their, clothes from waxing old : and fo G.id by his Ailmight/, Power can keep the fire of Hell unqaenchible. But, j S.condly,Sach asthusobjcdt, draw thing* to thefcant- I ling of their own Rcafon, which maybe many waycs of a [dangerous conftqacnce, both to thtmfclves and or hers. Cer- tainly fuch as g > about to make the fire of Hell only fpiritual tire, they go about to nnake it no fire at allj for it pafllth the natural fire, to be fpiritual. But, Thirdly, We fee in this hfc, that badily tortures work up- on the rpiritsin the fame bodies : And why may it not be ifoinHell? Djn'tmen by their daily experience find, that their fouls are frequently afflii^ed in, and under coipoxeal diAcmpers, difeafcs and weakoeiTes ? Doubtlefs God can by his Alifinighty Power infufe fuch power into material fire, as the late fiery Vifpenfat'ton. 109 as to mike it the inftrumcnt of his dreadful wrath and, ven- geance, to plague, puni(h, (corch tnd burn the fouls of damn- ed fmncfs. Bodies and fouls are co-parcncrs in the fame fins, and therefore G)d nnay make thvim co-partners in the Cicni puniftimenrs. Every creature is fuch, as the grcaf God will have it iobe,and comminds it to b; > and there- fore if the Lord (hill lay a comnnand up nthc HreofH.li to reach, and burn the fouls of damned finncrsi it (hill crr- tainly do it. God ts the God of Nature, as w. 11 as t'^c God of Grace : and therefore I can't fee, how the fire of Hell cm befaid, how to adagainftits own iiati rt, when it doi bu idt accoiding to the will and command of the God of Na ture. I readily grant, that if you confider infernal fire in it felf, or in its own nature, and Co it cannot have any power on fuch a fpiritual fubAancc as the foul of man is* but if you confider infernal fire, as an inlhument in an Allmighty hand, and fo it can a^ upon fuch Ipiritual Bcing«, as De vils and damned fouls aie, and make the fame dreadful and painful iroprcffions upon them, as it would do upon corporc al Beings. Though Spirits have nothing material in their nature* which that infernal fire (hould work upon , yet iuch IS the Almighty Pow.r of God, that he can make Spi tits molt fenlible of thofe fiery tortures and torments which he has declared and appointed for them to undergo. Let them tell us (faith One) how it is pofliblc, that the foul of man, which is an immortal fubltancc, (hould be truly wedded to the body* or mat-erial fubOance : and 1 (hall as ea lily anlwer ihcm, that it is as poffiblc, for the fame foul, to beasealily wrought upon by a material fire. It is much df(^ut. 3. lO Mat4k 5: 21. Muth. 25. 41. Svcondly, Becaufe the bodies finning again!) God, are to be vexed and tormented with corporeal pains. Secondly, They conclude, that the Devils are toxmeuted in that firci Bccaufe Chrift faith (b, Mjt.i'j.^J^ ^_^_^ O O 3 Depart '.II. c. 10. de Civitate Dei, Dr. Jack fo'h no London's Lammtat'tmis m \ Tho. Suppkm. 70. 3. Corp. Gng. Dial^. cap. 28, 25?. De«. ja. 15> iS, 30, 31. 2 Sam. 22. 47. I Cor. 10.4. Vtpsrt JTom mt yt cur fed ^ into everbfiing frtt prepared for the Devil and hit Angelr. Thirdly, It being demanded , how the Devils are tormented in thit Hre ? they anfwcr, they arc tormented, not only Firft, With the fight of it; or Second- ly, With an imiginary apprchcnfion thereof. But Third- ly, As an inftrument ordained of God for chat very end. And Fourthly, Vt locus loeatum contintm^ &c. cogens. Hell is a fiery Region, or a Region o( fire : and therefore the Devils being contained and included therein mufi needs be tormented thereby. Cum Vive/ ab igne patiatur^ quit neget^ ammns ig- nibui puniri. None muft queltion this truth ( faith my Au- thor J that fouls and fpintsarepuniihed by fire, (eeing our Saviour himfclf tcUcth us, thit Vives ( who was in Hell but in foul ) was tormented ia the flimcs , Luh^ 16. 24 But, Fouxthly, It is not fafe to leave ihe plain letter of the Scri- pture to Allegorize, and whether the opinion of Metapho rical fire in Hell, hath not been an introduction to that opi nion, that many have taken up in the(c daycs, viz,. That there is no other Hell, but what is within us i 1 (hall nor now ftand to determine. I know Calvin^ and fome others, are for the Allegory > and they give this for aReafon, that there is mention made of Wood, and of a Worm, as well as hre. Now thcfe are Allegorical ■■, and therefore the fire is Allegorical alfo. But by their favour, we find in the Scri- pture, that thofe things which are fpokcn together, are not alwayes taken in the fame nature and manner. As for ex- ample, Chrifi is called, the Kock^oj our fahation. Now the Rock is Allegorical, Is our falvation, therefore Allegorical Solikewife Luke 22. 30. Te fitalleMt and drinks ( faith our Savidiir ) at fti) Table in mj Kingdom : Eating and drinking is Allegorical-, is therefore the Kingdom Allegorical too> Allegories are not to be admitted, but whae the Scripture it fclfdoth warrant them: and commonly where an Alle- gory is propounded, there it is alTo expounded. As in Galat. 4. 24. f^hich things are an AHegory j for thefi are the two lejtamems. Many men have been too wanton with Allegories. Origin^ Ambrofey Hierom and feveral others of th late fie)') Vijpenfation, tit ol the Ancients, have been blamed for it by learned men. But, Fifthly and laAIy, I cannot tell but that the /ire by which the damned (hall be puniihcd, may be partly material, and partly fpiritual : partly material, to work upon the body > and partly fpiritual, to torment the foul. Dr. Gouge puts this Qucltion, Is it a material Hre, wherewith the damned ir. Hell are tormented ? and gives this anfwer, viz. This is too curious a point to retblve to the full i but yet this anfwer miy fafcly 'be returned. It is no wafting or confummg fire, but a torturing : and fj far corporal, as it tormcnteth the body : and fo far incorporeal, as it tormenteth the (bul. ^ocrjte/fpeaking of Hell, faith, 1 was never there my fclf, neither have 1 ever fpoke with any that came from thence. Suppofc, faith One, there be no fire m Hell, yet I iffiite thcc this, that thou (halt be fcorched with fire : the fire of Gods wrath (hall torment thee more, than bodily Hre can do : and therefore it will be your wifdom, not fo much to qucftion this or that about Hell (ire, as to make it your work, youi budnefs, not to come there. He gave good counfel, who faid. Let us go down to Hell while we are alive , that we may not go to Hell when we are dead. And (b did he, who fpeaking of Hell faid, Ne qu^ranui ubi fit, Jed qmmoda Warn fugiamuj. Let us not pek^ where it is., hut hew rvc Jh all avoid it. Thcfame Author gives this further counfel i viz. That at all Banquets, Fcafts, and Pablick Meetings, men (hould talk of Helli(h pains and totments, that fo their hearfsmay be over-awed, and they provoked to avoid them , and fe- cure thcmfdves again(l them. Doubtlefs the ferious thoughts of hclli(h pain while men live, is one blefT^d way to keep them from rhofc tormentc, when they come to die. Ano- ther gives this pious counfel. Let us earneftly importune the Lord, that this knowledge, whether the (ire of Hell be ma- terial or not, be never manifeded to us by experience. 'Tis infinitely better, to endeavour the avoiding Hell fiie, than cu- rioufly to difpute about it. Look, as there is nothing more grievous thin Hell : So there is nothing more profitable than the fear of it. But Dr. Gouge on Htb. lo. 2/. Seel. 5,8. Ml-. BonltOK. Bernard. Chryfojlomt. Ill London's LamentaUons m Obj. Anfw. Rev. 14. 10. Chap. II. 8. The fire in a Lanrsklp is but igiiii fucl.'iS a painted fire, and the fire of Purgatory is but»^3« fifiits, feigned lire. Now what are thcfe to H.-U fite ? Aljlcd, 2, ■1 ^ But what difference is there httrvun our common fire and Hcli . ;•;,..-■... J , I anfwer, a mighty difference, a Vift difference. Take it in thcfc fix particuLrs. Fiift, They differ in their heat : no heart can conceive, nor o tongue can exprtfs the cxquifircheat of infernal fiie, Were ill the fires under Heaven contia^ied into one firci yea, were all the C- Its, Wood, OyU, H<'mp, Fhx, Pcch, Tarr, Brimftone, and all other combuhiblts in the world, co >- trad^td into one flinie inro ont fire, yet one fpark of infernal fire would be more hot, violent, drcadtul, amizing, afto- ni(hing, f aging and tormenting, th»n all that fire that is ( fuppofcdly ) made up of all the combuftibUs the earth af- fords. To mans fenle there \% nothing more terrible and i^idtive, than fife : and of all fires, there is none fo fcalding and tormenting, as that of brimfione. Now into that lake which burns with fire and brirnttonc for ever and ever, (hill the wicked of the earth be ad. Infern4l ftre far exceeds ours f that arc on our Hearths, and in oar Chimncyes^ in degree of heit and ficrcencfs of burning. Our fire hith not thit terrible power to fcorcb, burn, torment, as the fire of Hell hath. Oar fire (as Po^icJTpus and others dy ) com- pared to H-11 fire, is but like pjinted fire upon the Wall. Now you know, a painted fire upon the W«ll will not hurt you, nor burn, nor afi.Tight you, nor torment you > bur the fire of Hell will beyond all your conccptinn and expreffion, hurt, bjrn, aff.ight and torment you. The fire of Hell fof digrccs of heat, and ficrcencfs of burning, murt wonderfully fuipafs our moU furi us fires, becaufe it is purpofcly created by God to lorment the creature, whicrcas our o'diaary fire was created by God, only for i,hc comfort of the creature. The greatcft and the hottcft fires that ^vcr were on caith, are but Ice in comparifon of the fire of Hell. S.condly, There arc unexprclUble torment^ in Hell, as well as unfpeakablc joycj in Heaven. Some who write of Purgatory, tell us, that the pains thereof arc more exquifirc f though the late fiery Dijperijation. 11 C though of (h)rtcr continuance J than the united torments thaf the earth can invent, though o[ longer duration, lithe Popes Kitchin be fo warrm, ho^ hot is the Dvivils Furnace } A Poccical Fi(9:'«on is but a Meiofuy when broug,ht to (h-^w the nacure of fhefc real- torraents : the luQics of Furies, arc but petty fcourgings, w.^n corr.pired to the (Iripes of a wounded confcicncc : Tjtiuf his Vulture, though feeding on his Liver, js bat a Flc:a-b;ting to that Worm, whick g^aw- cth th:ir hearts and dicth not. licimhis Wheel is a phce of reft, if compared with thofe Billows of Wrath, and that Wheel of Juftice, which is in HA\ brought over the ungod ly : the t^sk oiVjnaus his Daughter, is bat a fporf, com- pared to the tortures of thoft, whofe fouls arc filled with bittcrnefs, and within whom arc the arrows of the Almigh- ry, thcpoifon whereof dnth drink up their fpirits. Hell is called a Furnace of fire, which fpeaketh intolerable heat : i place of torment, which fpeakcth a total privation of eafe. APfitbn, whichfpeakethrcftraint. Gihenm f from the val- ley of Hzn^iere the unnatural Parents did facrificc the fruit ol their bodies, for the fin of their (buls, to (heir cncrcilefs Idols ) the which word, by a neighbour Nation, IS retained to Hgnifie a Rock, than the torture of which, what morecxq.iitite ? It iscallcd a LakcofFire and Britn- ftone, than the torment of the former, what more acute } tfian the fcnell of the latter, what more noifome > But, Secondly, Oar fire is made by the hand of man , and muft be maintained by continual fupplies of fuel : take away theCoals, the VVood, the combuliible matter, and the fire goes out : but the infernal fire ts created, and tempered, and blown by the hand of an angry fin revenging God. Ifa. 50. 55. For Tc'phet is ordained of old: yes^ for the King it if pre^aredy hehath mdde it deep and large: the pile thereof ia &e and much vpood^ and the breath of the Lardy lih^ a fiream of Brimjione^ doth kindle if. and therefore the breath of all the Reprobates in Hdl fhall never be able to blow it out. Our fire is blown by in aiery breath , but the infernal fire is blown by the angry breath of the great God, which bums farho:ter, than ten ^houfand, thouftnd Rivers of Brimftone. I Pd • • The RdU'-m. dt Pil'g.l.l.CA^ Bci'bnn. dc o^r./-. F/fJi. SMCi.l.LC.lU Match. 15. 4i. Luke 16. 28. Matrh. 5. 25-. 2. A Rirer of Brimftone is never coHfum- ed by burn- ing. 114 London's Lamentations on Mattb.25.41. The breath of Gods mourh, (hall be both Bellows and fuel to the infernal fire ; and therefore Oh how terrible and tor- turing, how fierce and raging will that fire be. If bat three drops ofBrinTjitone fliould fall upon any part' of the flcfh of i man, it would fill him (o full of torment, that he would not b: able to (o'.hzit roaring out, for pain and anguifh« Oh how dreadful and piinful will it be then, for damned fin- ners to fwimm up and down in a Lake or River of Fife and Brimftone for evei and ever. There is no proportion between the heat of our breath, and the fire that it blows. O then what a dreadful, what anamazing, what an aftoniih- ing fire mui\ that needs be, which is blown by a breath dif- folved into brimfione. Gods wrath and indignation (hall be anevetlafting fupply to Hells conflagration. Ah Sin- ners, how fearful, how formidable, how unconceivable will this infernal fire prove ! Surcly,thcre is no mifery,no torment to that of lying in a torrent ofburning Brimftone for ever and ever. Mirk this infernal fire is a fire prepared by Godhim- fclf, to punifli and torment all impenitent perfons and re- probate rebels: who fcomed to fubmit to the Scepter of Chrift. Depart from we, je cKrfedj into everlajiing fire^ pre- parcd for the Devil and his Angels. The wifdom of God hath been much exercifed in preparing and devifing the moft tormenting temper for that formidable fire, in which thc^ D<:vil and his Angels (hall be puni(hcd forever and ever Not as if it were not prepared alCo for wicked and ungod- ly men: bat it is faid to be prepared for the Devil and his Angels •> because n was firliiy and chiefly prepared for them. All impjnitent fi.iners, (hall have the Devil and his Angels for their conliant compinions : and therefore they (hall be fure to (hear with them in the cxtrcmiiy and inevitablene(s of their torments. But, Thirdly, Our fire when it burncth, it (hineth , itcafts a light. Oar fire burns, and in burning (hines, light is a natu- ral property of our common fire : 'tis fr jc, the elementary fire in its own fpherc (h riefh not , becaufe of its fubtilnefs, and the infernal fire of He 11 (hineth not, becaufe of its grof- nefi. Yet our ordinary fire (being of a mixt nature) hath light the late jiery T>Menfatlon. "5 light as well is heat in if, and thats our comfort. It harh light to (h:w it fcif to us, ind to our felvcs, and it hafh light to (hew others to us, and us to others, d^c. Some men can work, as wfill as talk by the light of the lire. Our fires have their beams and raycs, as well as the Sun : bur the hrc of Hell burns, but it dos not Ihine, it gives no ligSt at all Infernal fire hath no light, or brightnefj attending of ifi and therefore Chrili calls ir wter clirkriefs^ or outer darkncU that is, darknefs beyond a darkncl's. I have read of a young man vf\^ WiS very loofc and vain in his lift*, and was very fearful of being in the dark, who after falling fi-k, and could not lice.), cry ed out, Oi if this darknefs be (b terrib'c, what is eternal darknefs ! H II would not bs ib uncomfortable a Piifon, if it were not fo dirk a Ptifbn. Light is a blcfling that Ihall never (hine inro thit i ifcrnal pnlon. In Jude^ V.6, yovi^rcad of chains of darkne(s. Ic w.^uld be a little eafe, a little comfort to the damned in Hell, if they might have but light and liberty, fowalk up and down the infer- nal coaih, but this is too high a favour for them to en- joy i and therefore they (hall be chained and flaked down in chains of darknefs, and in blackne(s of darkne(s « that fo they may fully undergo the (corchmgs and burnings of Di- vine wrath and fury for ever and ever. laVerfe 13. you thus read, To whom is refervtd the hlack^eft of darj^efs fur ever. The words arcan Hebraifm, and figaific exceeding great darknefs. Hell is a very dark and difmal Region, and extream are the mifcries, horrors and torments which are there. The Poets defcnbcd the darknefs of Hell by the Cimmerian darknefs. There was a Territory in Italy betwixt Bai£ and C«m£ where (he Cimmerii inhabit, which was fo environed with Hills, and overshadowed with fuch hanging Promontories, that the Sun never comes at it. The dark- nefs ofMgypt^ was fuch a (irong and horrid thick darknefs, that it was palpable it might be felt. Even darkrtefs which maybe jtlt. The darkmfs that'is here threatncd, is called darknefs that may be f.lf , cither by way of an Hy- perbole , to fignihe what an exceeding grrat darkneG v ihould be : or clfe bccaufc the Air (hould be fo thicknec P p 2 with Mat-h. If 30. Chap. 8. 12. Ba^l fpeaking of Hell fire , CiithyJ'imcom- burindl reu>:cty Ulumina'tdi xmilit. Itre- ta.ns the pro- urty of burning : it ha:h lofi the aroperty of niinina[. Exod. 10. 21. ■The word s are figurativcj importing ex- traordinary bhck darkneis* xi6 London's Lammtations on „ with grofs mifts, and thick foggy vapours, that itrr.ightbc fdt •, or ellc becauU this extraordinary darkiiefs (hould be Ciuled by a withdriwrncnt of the light of the celciiial bo- dies, or by drawing a thick curtain of very black clouds betwixt mens eyes and ihtm. Yet this horrid darkuefs was nothing to the dirkncfsof Hell i the darkncfs ofjEg^ptwiS but as an over cading for three daye*, Exod. 10.22,23 Aftd there jvas a thicl{djrknefs in all the Land of £gypt three dayes. Jhejfjjv not oneamtlxr^mither rofe any from his -place three dayes. For three daycs they were deprived not oniy of the natural Itghtsand lannpsof Heaven, but of all artificial light alfo. ''Tjs poffiblethat the vapours tKight be To thick and rrioilUs to put out their Candles, and all other hghts that were kindled by them. Tis probable, that they had neither ligl t from Sun, Moon, or Stars above, nor yet from fire or candle below : fo ihat thty were as blind nr,en,that could not fee at all, and as latre rTicn,that could not move from their places: and fo they fare ftill as under the arreft of this darkners,becaufe they could not fee what to do, nor whither to go. God would teach them th^ worth of light, by the want of it. Sonne ihinik, that by that drcadft-il Judgement of thick datkncfs, they were (illcd with that terror and horror, that they durft not fo much as nnove from the places where they were late down. But after thtfc three d^yes of datkncfs were over, the Egypti- ans enjoyed the glorious light d the Sun again. O buf tinners are in Hell, when they arc in chains ol darknefs, when thty are in blackncfs of darkntfs, they (hall never fee light more. Hell is a houfe without light. Gregory ^wd i\\ other Authors that I have cart my eye upon, agree in this, that though our fire hath ligiit as well as heat •» yet the in fernalfiie hath only heat to bi-.rn hr.ners : It has no light to refrefh finncrs i and this will be no fmall addition to their torment. A Philofophtr being a' ked. Whether it were not a pkafant thing fo behold the Sun > anfwered, that that was a blind mans qud^ion. S irtly life wifhout l»ght^ is buti a liftlcfsl.fe. But, Fourthly, Our hrc burns and confumcs only the body, it reaches not , it torments not the precious and immortal foul i the late fiery Dijpenfcition. n? foulj bat jnfcmal fire burns and torments both body and foul. N jw the foul of pai.i, is the piin of the foul, Matih. iO. 28- And fear not thim which kill the body^ hnt are not ahU to kjil the fixl : bnt rather feair hint which is ahltto dt^roy hith hdyandfml it HS. If the Glutfon in the hilVorical PitA ble, vvho-had but onchalf of himf-If in Hell, viz. hi* Gnil, cried our, thit he wis horribly (oim;n'ei in thir flims W^at tongue can exprcfs, or heart conceive, how great the daroneds torments (hill be in Hell, when their bodies and fijuls in the great day (hill be rc-unired for torture. Bc- lovix^it is ajud and righteous thing vvich God, t'hat fuch] bodies and fouls that have linned ( innp:nitcntly ) toge- ther, (hould be tormented cv:rla(Hngly together. To this purpofe, the Hebrew Do(ftors have a very pretty Parable, viz. That a man planted an Orchard, and going from home, was careful to leave fuch Watchmen, as might b:)th keep it from ttrangers, and not deceive him them fdves: therefore he appoinrt'dpne blind, but ftrong ofhis limbs and the other feeing, but a Cripple. Thefe two in their Ma(krs abfcncc confpired together, and the blind took the lame on his (hould- crs, and fo gathered the fruit , their Malkr returning , and finding out thu fubtilty , punifhed them both togccher. Now (o (hall It be With thole two finful companions, the foul *nd the boiiy in the great diy of our Lord. Wi;h 5t- meomnd L?vi they have bt-xn brethren in iniquity, and fo ihall b: in eternal mifcry. A > body and foul have been one in (inning, fo rhcy fhill be one in fiffcnng. (only remem- ber :his, that as the (oul has been chief in tin, fo i: fliiU be jchicf in fulfering ) Bur O Sirs, if a conlumablc body, b. not able to endure burning flimes for a day", bow will an unconfumable (oul ard body, be able to endure the fcorch- ingflamrs of Ht:lUor eve:-. Bit, Fiuhly, 0;ir fire Warteth and confumcth whatibcver ij caft into it. It * urns fle(h into aihes, it turns all combijl^ibles into allies i bu. the fire of Hell is not of that nature j the iireofHell conlumrs nothing thsrt is ca(i into it: it rag s, but it dos rot w^(^e, cither bodies or fouls. Look as the Salamander iivcth in the fire, fo fha1l the wicked live in j ^ - P-P 3 the L,.:ke 16. 24. Pet. Mart. i Cor. <}. 10. 1 ThefT. ». 7, 3, 9, 10. 5 ii8 London^'s Lamentations on j Rev. 9. 6. Rev. 6.1(5,17. Mark 9. 44, Gen. 1- 16. Ifa. 27.11. Aug. This fire is ^c£,iii incon- fumpta. Jt'om. Numb. 1(5.5 5. z Kings I. 10, 11. HeH tormenrs punifb, but not Hrilh the bodies of men. Profpcr, 6. the fire of Hell for ever. Tbey Jhall feek^for death , but they fhaO not find it. They (hall defire to die, and death fliall fly from them. They (hall cry to the Mountains to tall upon them, and (o crufh them to nothing. They (hall dtlire that the fire that burns them, would confume them to nothing : That the Worm that feeds on them, would gnaw them to nothing: that the Devils which torment them, would tear them to nothing. They (hall cry to God who fir(t made I hem out of nothings to reduce them to that fir(^ nothing from whence thty came : But he that made them, voillnot have mercy on them > he thtt firmed thent^ will not flxw thim fomucb favour. Sin:per ccmburmtur ^ nunqmrn conJamentuT) (hey (hall al wayes b: burned, but never confumcd. Ah how well would it be with the damned, if in the tire of HJI they might be confumed to a(hes. But this is their mifcry, they ftiall be ever dying, and yet never dye : their bodies (hall be they are under thv vengeance of eternal firt: thty ite in blackpefs ef darl^^fr for ever. Ihefmok^ of their torment afandtd fortver andever^ an/i thy Jhall have no reji day nor night. Tnc datfincd in hcU would fain die, but they cannot > Mors Jtne money thty fhall be ahvayes dying, yet never dead i they fhall bcalwayes a confuming, yet never confumtd. The fmoak^cf their Fur- nace afc-nds j or ever and ever. JEt(rnii funientur panii.Thty (hall b: cvcrladingly punifhcd, faith Mc//€r«/ on Pfjl. p 17. And MufculHs on the fame Text faith, Animi impioruht cru ciaiibi*f d bitii apud inferos pftnieniur. The fouls of thcj n godly, fliill bs pu'n(hed in hell with deserved to/mciifs. Vbi per mi III milliJ annorum triicisadi^ mc in fec»lo feculorum libe- randi.^h'nh Au;^ult. Myriadcs of years (Jiall not determine or pot a period to their fuffcrings. Flato could fay, that who ever are not expiated, but prophinc-, (hjllgo infohtll to ht f i^rmcnrcd for their wickedncfs, with the greatcrt, the mofi bitter and terrible puni(hmcnt5, for ever in thatprifon of hell. And Trjitcgijius could fay. That foals going out of the body defiled, were toft to and fro with eternal punilh- ments. Yea, the very T»r/^/ fpcaking of the faoufe of per- dition, firom was out when he fiid^ . Ife,>i.'ifi mil eflcy nifi C9'i- Icii^tix ho.ri)-' rem. And Tully wa.9 our, who hejd.that there are no orh.T Hell fu- ries, than; he flings of con- fcicnce. Juds 7. 6. Rev. 14. II. O that wod Never, faid a poor defpAir- ing cre:^iure on his death- bed, breaks my heart. They are lying Hiltories that tell us, that 7]'.r/'iwwasde» liv.^red out of Hell, by the prayers of Gicgory j and Falcoi'Cila, by the prayers of TfcUcs, no London's Lamentations on \6:).&c. 10. AUn;\in. Md~ duion, do affirm, T;ut they who have turned Gods Grace vhnm. c. -i^.p. jn:(5 wjntonncfs, (hill ab;cc eternally in f he hre of hell, and there be crcmally torrntnfcd. A ccrcfcin Religious man go- 'irsg fo vifir 0!ympiHj\_ who iivtd cl oiftered up in a Monafttiy rear Jordan : and rir-ding him clojlUrcd up in a d eiernjil fi'-eofHeH: theje fl*jfcringi are but fhort^ but the fuffc- rings of h It are eternal Cert a nly ii.,fcrnal fire is neither ro Jcrablc nor terminable. The exfrtmicy and eternity of hti- lifh formcnts, is fct forth by the Worm that never dictb. Chr'n at the clofc of his Sermon make« a threefold repetiti- on of this Worm, Mark 9.44. Where their Worm diet h not. And again, vtr. 46. Wvere tk'Sr Worm dieth not. And again vcr. 40. Where their Worm dietb not^ and their fire goeth not out. Ccrrainly thofc-punifhrncnts are beyond all conception and cxprcflion, which our Lord Jcfus doth fo often inculcate within fo fmall apace. i4 Tntdo^'o. (tolor irfcrni. Vrudsr.tim the Poet. In H'l there's nothing heard^ hut yeh and crjcs : In Hel the Fire never J^jckj^ nor Worm never d^s. But vchere this HeS is pUc'd ( my Mufe ) flop thert. Lord fherv me xphat it iV, but never where. To Worm and Fire^ to torments then No term he gave, they csnnot wear. If afrer (I) many millions of years, as there be drops in the Ocean, there might be a deliverance out of hell \ This would yield a little cafe, a little comfort to the damned : O fcmt thi? word Eternity, Eterrnry, Eternity, this word Evcr- Ufting, Evcrlafting, Evcilafting, wjU even break the hearts of thedamncd in ten thoufand pieces. There isfcarccany pain or torment here oa earth, but there is ever fome hope of the late fiery Vijpenfation. 121 oCeafe, mitigaiijn,or intetmiflion, there is fomc hope of re- lief or delivery, but in hell the torments there, arc ail cafc- Icfs, remcdilcfs and cndlcfs. H^rc if one fall into the Hrc, he may like a brand be pulled out of it, and faved i but out' of that fiery Lake, there is no redemption. That Mijc(ty that the finncr haih offended and provoked, is an inhnitt Majcfty. Now there muft be fome proportion betwix* tht tinners fin, and his panifliment and torment. Now the (in- ner be ng a finite creature, he is not capable of bearing the weight of that punilhmcnt or torment that is intenlivcly infinite, bccaufc it would be his aboiiiliing or anmhiUtjng i and therefore he mull bear the weight oi that pumfhmcnt or torment that is cxtcnfively infinite i namely, dtiratiow infimta^ infinite in the continuance and endurance. What is wanting in toiment, xxwid be made up in time. Eveilaft- ing Fire and evcrUttirig pun)(hment in the New Teftamcnt, isdiredly oppofcd to eternal lifei to that bleffed ftatc of the righteous which will never have an end And therefore ac- cording to the Rules and Maximes of right reafon , doth neceflarily import a punifhment of the fame duration, that the reward is. Now the Reward of the Saints in that other world, is granted on all hands to be cverlafting, tobceter- nali and therefore the puniQimcnt of the damned, can\ be but cverlafting and eternal too. The Rewards of the Ele6t ftiall never be ended « therefore the puniftiment of the damned (hall never be ended : bccaufe as the mercy of God is infinite towards the deft, Co the Juftice of God is infinite towards the Rcprobite in hell : The Reprobate (hall have pu- nifhment without pity, mifery without mercy ,forrow with- out fuccour , crying without compalTion, mifchief without meafure, and torment without end. All men in mifciy com- fort themfclves with hope of an end ; The Pnfoncr, with hope of a Gaol-delivery : the Marriner, with the hope of his arrival in a fafe harbour : theSouldicr, with hopeofvi<&o-i ry : the Prentice, with hope of liberty i the Gally-flavc,i with the hope of ranfome : only the impenitent (inn r hath no hope in hell. He (hall have end, without end i death without death : night without day : mourning without . CLq mirth : Mattb. 2y. a ThefT 1.7, 8, 9, 10, &c. mdc Aiignft. i'Zl. C. 2]- & f. 24. dc cfvi- tau Di, Drcxcl. Pl 122 London's l,4mentations on There is not a Chriflian which doth not believe, the hre of heil to be evenalling ' Dr. y.icJfJO!i on ihc Creed, /. II. C.J3. If the fire of Hfcll were terminab'e, ii nnighc then be tolerable : but being endlefs, it mult needs be eafe'efi and lemedikfs. We may wcjI r»^ofit, jsonc doth, C kil- ling life, Oh immortsl death/; BdUr. i^e arte moricnd'i-) !. z . 3- mirth : forrow, wtthotrt folace : and bondigc, without li- berty. The damned Ihall live as long in hell, as God him- fclf (hall live in heaven .* thet impnronment in that Land of darkneG, in that bottoailcfs pit, is not art imprilbnmcnt during the Kings plcafure i but an impxifonmcnt during the cvcrlalling dUpleafure of the King of King?. Suppofe ( C%y fpmc^ that the whole world were turned to a Mountain of i Sand, and :hat a little Wrcnftiould come every thoufandth | year, and cany away from that heap one grain of fand, what an infinite nuETifcer of yiJ^enJatt07i. H. whole heap were fpcnt. Suppofc, (ay others, if one cfrhe dtmrtcd in htU niould wcepaUcr ihi« manner, viz That he rtiould only let. fall one tear in a hundred years i and thtf fhould be kept together, tillfucS timeai they (hould cq-j-l the drops of water in the Sea : how miny rnillions of agc^ would pafs, before they could make up one River, mucii rnprc a whole , and when that wire done, fhould he w-ep ag4in after tbefimc min^rr,tiU he hid fiUcd, fccond, a third, a fourth Sea , if fhcn there fhoali be an end of their miferies, there wi>uld be fomc hope, fora: ctimforf that they would end at lalh but that (hall never, never, never end. This is that which li ks them under the mort tormenting terrors and horio.s. Vrexeliug makes this OofcfVition from the words cf our Saviour, John 15.6. If a man alidt not in we, ht is cjfi forth as a hranzh^ and it u withered^ and mm gaher them, andcjji them into tiefi>e, and they are hurnrd. Where he obfervcth, that the words do not run in the Future Tcnfe, he (hall be ca(i forth, and fluU be ca(i into the firr, and burned : bu: all in the Pfcfent Tcnfe, he is caft forth, is withered i men caft 3ij3J^34>55- ;37- I Gcr. 3. ii, Chap. 15. 54> 55,56,57^58. iThcff.i.uit. Rev. io. 5,6. before ( the clear evidence of J ihofc fad and ferious tjuths, (hat I have now fcndcrtd to your confidcration. And thlis T have fhswcd you the difference between our Fire and Hdlfire. -r.-, J* Now O ye Ci'tiiens of London^ who truly fear the Lord, and who are united to Chrift by faith, know for your ever- lafting comfort and fupport, that Chrift has fecured you from infernal Fire, from evcrlafting Fire, from unquenchable Fire, frotn eternal Fire, and from the Worm that never dieth : as you-may fee clearly and fully, by comparing the Scriptures in the Mirgcnt tognhrr. Chrift by his blood hath quenched the violence of infernal flames , fo that they (hall never fcorch you, nor burn you, hurt you, nor harm you. Nihu- cbadmzzarj Fiery Furnice, was a Type of Hell ( fay €omc ) Now look as the three Children for rather Champions^ had not one hair of their heads lindged in that FieryFurnace, fo Hell Fire (hill never finge one hair of your heads. Your infcrtft in Chrift, is a noble and f efficient fecurity to you againft the flames of Hell. Plinj faith, that nothing in the world, will fo foon quench fire, as Salt and Blood : and thefcfore in many Countreys where they can get plenty of bleed, they will ufe fait and b'ood, rather than Water, to quench the Fire. If you caft water on the Fire, the Fire wili quickly work it out i but if you caft Wood upon if, it will damp itin a moment. O Sirs, Chrifts blood has fo quench- ed the flames of Hell, that they ftiall never be able tofcorch 01 burn ihofe fouls that arc intereftcd in him. The effu- fion of Chrifts blood is fo rich and available ( ftith my Au- thor) that if the whole multitude of captive finhers would believe in their Redeemer, not one ftiould be detained in the T) rants Chains. All thofe (pots that a Chriftian finds in his own heart, ftiall firft or laft, be waftied out in the blood of the Lamb. 1 John l. 7. The blocd of Jefus Cbrifi his Son clearjfeih ug fom all our fins. Now fuch as arc wafhed and cleanfed from their fins in the blood of Jcfu?, fuch fball ne- ver experimentally know, what evcilafting burnings, or a devouring Fire means. Such as are wafht* in Chfrifts blood, needs no pur fying by Hells flames. Flinj farth of Polium, thst Leo dtVaf. the late fiery Dilpenfation, '15 that it »s a prcfcrvativc againft Serpents. Sure ( am, that the blood of Chrirt is an effectual preservative agtinil all infernal S:rpcnt$ and infernal torments. You believir^ Citizens, who hftvcfct up God as the ob- jcft of your fear, and whofe hearts are enflimcd with love OD Chrift i know for your cvcrladmg rcfrclhment, that Chrillhjs freed you, and fccured you from cvcrlilUng Fire, from unquenchable Fire, from eternal Firci and therefore bear up Iwcctly, bear up cheerfully under that Fiery difpen fttion that has paft upon you. What i$ the burning of your houfes, and fubftance, to the burning of bodies and fouls m Hell ? What wis the Fire of Loudon , to infernal Fire ? What is a Fire of four orrtvcdjyes continuance, to that everlafting Fire, to that unqaenchable Fire, (o that eternal Fire that yoj have defcrvcd i and that free-Grace hath pre ferved you trom. A frequent and fcrious conlideration oi Hell Fire, ( as I have opened it unto you ) and of your happy deliverance from it, may very well bear and cheer up youi hearts under all your greatcft fuff-rmgsby that dreadful Fire, that has turned beloved London into a ruinous heap. Sir, You have been a difcourfing about hcllifti torments ■■, ! but for the further clearing up of the truth, we delirc your fcrious Anfwcr to this fad Q>Kftlon, viz. H)W rviU it (ijtid tvith the unjpotted HoUnefi^ Jujiice and Kightei^afhep of God, to punijh a temporary offence with eternal pu- niPtments f for the evil ofpunjjhment Jhould be but r.ommenfitrate to the evil of fin. Now what proportim is then betwixt finite and infinite ? Why fiould the finner lye in heUiJh torments for ever and ever, for finning but a fitort time^ a few years in this world ? I judge itverynece£&ry, tofay fomethingto this impor- |faniQueftion, before I come to difcourfc of ihdfe Duties that arc incumbent upon thofe Citizens whofc houfes are turned into a ruinous heap : and therefore take me tbus, X:ro ha J a Sliir: made of iSalimar.ders >kiu, focJucir he did waik through the rire in it, it would keep him from burning. O Sirs, Chrift is the true Sa- amanders '.kin, that will certainly keep -very gracious foul from jurning in -verlafling iiaaici . obj'.a. Anfw. \i6 London's Lamentations on T Tim. T. ij. Gen. i3 15 2, tq:i'n. ic //pccca'or ! Atcmum vi- ■ crc^ in letn- :<;npcccarct. . Pccrarc ft vdis ■ti' KtCirotiio-, >'i:iic ieqmm 1} te Dcum i i ■vterr.oj'iO. jirzoiy. I Pet. 3.20. Firit, Gods Will is the Rule of RiihreouC^fs. and there- fore what he do'h or (hall do, mu(\ nrcJs be righteous. He IS Lord of alii he hath a Sovcraign Right and an abfblurc Supremacy over the creature : he is the only Potentate^ King of Kings, aixl Lore! of Lords: he is the Jiidgc of the whole world. And jh ill • not the Judge of aB the (ortb dj r'lght ? Bur, S condly, I anfwcr. There is a Principle in man to fin efcrnally : and thcrefor^it is bur jaft with G^^d, ifhepuniQi liim c(crnally. The duration of torment, refpei^s the difprv lition of the dclinqiicnt. Po-r^e fmgul^rum ir'£qi^}Ies intenti- one.fce •£ omnlxn: £r,Hjks duration. If the (inner (hould live tver, re would d (honor God ever, and crucirtc the Lcrdof G'ory cver^ and grieve the Spirit of Grace ever, zx\d trarl- grcft a righteous Liw ever » and therefore 'tis Jli(\ with God fo pu-;i(h luch finncxs for ever. If the (inner m'ght livcercr- naly, he would (in-ctcrnally > if he might hve ftjil, he would i(in(iill. Thcnjgh thclinncr lofes his hfe, yet he dos not lo(c his will to fin. Sinners fin as much as they can, and as long jas they can i and did not the grave put a (top to their lulls, jthcir hearts would never put a flop to their lufts. The fin - intrfinsin his eternity, and God punilhes in his eternity. The finncr never lofirs his will to fin i his will to fin is evcr- lafting-, and therefore 'tis but JLi(\ with God, that hispu- ni(hment (hould b; ev^rk(ting. A will to fin is fin in God? account. God looks more at the will, thin at the deed i and therefore that boiog lafiing, the pani(hment mufi be fo. The mind and intention ofthcfinntr, is to fin cver- rartingly,ctcrnally: if the finner fhould Iivealwaye<, he would fin alwaycs j and therefore as one faith, ^i<» mens in hac vi- ta nunquamvoluit carerepeccato, jufium tjt, & nunquam caret \fnpj)!icio. Btcaufe the mind of man in this life, would rc- j vcr be without fin, it i^ juft that it (hould never be without punilhment in the life to come. Many of the men of the old world lived eight or nine hundred years , and ^ct fdith and repentance was hid from their eyes : that patience, for- bearancejlong-fuffering gentlcneft and goodne(s,which(hould jhave lead them to afpeedy repentance > to a fcrious re- pentance. *♦» the late fiery Dtj^ejifation. \17 :et^f of 0^ er^i) pkinnfjr it titer /1 D:i. M-ig-.li',::. The finn.T Jl'.vayes liunei in \\.i eccr- !iity,iht'refor: he liuil aN ^oys.'? be pu- ll !hcd inGods; pcntance, to a thorough tcpentarcf, to that rtpcntincc that was ncTcr to be repented ofi was only made ufe of to pa- tronize their Icwdnefs and wickedncfs. This is certain wicked men left fo thmnfclvcs, will never be weary of their fins, nornever repent cf their tins, and rhtrei'ore God will never be weary of plaguing thtm, nor never repent of pu niihing th m. Ttic (inner never leaves his (in, till fin iirfl leaves him : did not death put a (top to his tin, be would never ccaie from iin. Tnis may be illullratcd by 4 iimilitadc thus, A company of Gam.cfters rcfolvc to pUy all night, and accordingly they (it down to Chefs, Tables, orfcmeothcr Game, their Candle accidentally, or umxpe^edly goes our, or is put out, or burnt oaf, their Candle b.ing out, they arc forced to give ovrr their Game, and go to bed in the dark , but had the Candle Ufted all night, they would have play« cd all night. This Ij every finncrs cafe, in regard of tin, did not death put out the candle of life, the fjnner would (in (iill. Should the tinner hve for ever, h'-' would tin forever •>! and therefore it \% a righteous thing with God, to punifh him forever in hcUifh tortBcnts. Every impenitent finHCr would Iin to the daycs of eternity, if he might but live to the daycsi of eternity, pra).74. ^^ (^ God h-irv lofig jJjjS the adverjjry i^ rtfrojch ? Shall the enemy bljjpheme thy name for ever. For ever and evermore i orfoi ever and yet : ( for fo the He- brew loves tt)iX3gi^cra-e ) as if the (inner, the blafphemcr, j would fet a term of duration longer than eternity to (in in. The PUlmift implicitely fait h,Lord,if thou do(t biu let thf m I il<>ne forever, they w.ll certainly blafphd therefore he muft bear itextenfivcly. They have (ianed im- 1 -f - , penitently ! 128 London's Lamentations on Sinis^/j'^'i Ipenircntly agamft an infinite Majtity, and accoidingly their Dmn '4i "'« .'uniflimcnt muft be infinifc. Nowbeciufc it cannot be in- ni^iinn ail inHrirc Maje •T- C'v'tatc Dc'. ct As long as rhe guilt ot fin re- mains pu- niftimentsard torments will remain. linite, in rt gard of the degree, men being but finite creatures, ind (b no capsbleof infinite torments at ont tinnc; thcre- 'orc their puni(hment muli be infinite in the length and con- rinuancc of if. What is wanting in torment, muft be made up in time. Every fin is of an infinite nature, becaufe of • ne infinite digni;y of the perfon againft whom it is com- mitted i and therefore it dcfcrveth an infinite pun (hnr.ent \ •vhich b caufc it can'c be in'amic ffcundum irientioncm^ in the itention and grcatncli ofic It rcmaincth that it fliould be nfinirc, jecundum dHratlmem^ in r.fpedt of the duration and :ontinu2nce of the fame. Mark, all punifhmcnts ought to b: levied according to the dignity of him, againft whom the offence is committed. Words againft common pctfons, xar but common adions \ words againft Noble men , are fcandaU magnatum^ great fcardals i but words againft Princes, ire Treafon. So the dignify of the perfon againft whom fin IS committed, dos exceedingly aggr?.vare the fin. Toftrike an inferiour man, is matter of Arreft, but to ftnkc a King, s matter of death. Now what an infinite diftancc and difproportion, is there between the L'^rd ofHofisand fuch poor crawling Worms as wcare, he beirg holincfi, and we linfulncfsi he fulncfs,and we cmptincfs i he omnipotency, and we irapotency i he Majcfty, and wc vanity , he (* injiar omnium ) all in all, and wc nothing at all. Now to fin jgainft fiich an infinite glorious Mijefty, dcfervcs infinite pu- niflimcnt. Bur, Fourthly, I anfwer, Though the aft of fin be tranfient, yet it Icavcth fuch a ftainupon the foul, as is permanent, and continueth in it evermore, and evermore it difpofcth rhcfinncrunto fin Cifitbcnot pardoned and purged out by mercy and Grace ) and therefore it is but juft, that this perpetual purpofc of finning, ftiould be puniftied with per- petuity of pair. Theguilr a-nd ftain of fin, of itsown na- ture, and unpardored, endures eternally upon the(bul> and therefore what can follow, but eternal torments. Thelaft- ing continuance of fin, is remarkably defcfib;;d by the Pro- phet the late fiery Vtjpenfation, 129 phet Jiremiib^ Chap. 17. \. Ihefm «/Jatiah urvritten ivith a Pen of Jron^andrpttbthe point of a Diamond y it is graven upon the table of ibtir bc they -flighted inftnitc mercy, and defpifcd th( riches of Grace, and trode under foot the blood of the cvtrlafting Covenant, andfcorncd thcoifeis of eternal lajvatn.n i and theitforc 'lis but jufl, that thty ihould lye down in evcrlilt- ingforrows. How can. that ilnncr be fa^jed, that tiiii ic- tuks falvaiion ? How can mercy favchim; that will not be lAVfd by wetQf} :y^ who is derempfCorily refolvcd, that ' ■ ^- , he the late fiery Vifpenfation. 121 he will not go to Heaven. Sinners have boldly and daily refu fed eternal life, eternal m.rcy, eternil glory i and there- fore 'tis but juft, that th;y fhoiild endure eternal mifcry. And let thus much fuffice foranfwcrto the Obje^ion. Birt Sir^ pray what are tboje dunes that are incumbent up.m thofe that have ban burnt up, and xvboje habitations are mtv laid in its ajhis ? ' I anfwcr, They arc thcfe that follow. Firft, See the hand of the Lord in this late dreadful fire,3C- knowledgc the Lord to be the Author of all Judgements, and of this in pariicular. 'Tis a high point of Chriitian Prudence ^and Piety, to acknowledge the Lord to be the Author of all perfonal or National fuHTetings that bcfiU us, Jcr. f. 12. Who it the wije man that may underhand this ? for vphat the Land perijhtth, and is burnt up lil^ a WHderneJs that none psjpth through. It is very great wi dom to know from whom all our atHi^ions come j and (or what all oura^i6iion$ come upon us. God looks that we (hould obfcrve his hand in all our fufferings. Hear the fod^ and who bath appointed it. God challenges all forts of afflidions, as his own fpccial Ad- miniftration, Amos 3.6. Is there any evil in theCiiy, and the Lord hath not done it. f I form the Ught^ and create darkritfs \ I maks peace, and create evil^ I the Lord do all tbtfe things ^ Ifa. 45.7. God takes it very hainoufly, and looks upon it as a very great indignity that is put upon his Power, Pro- •vidcncc and Juflice , when men will neither fee nor ac- knowledge his hand in thofc fore afflidions and fad fuff:- rings, that he brings upon them : Offuchthe Prophet Ijai- ah complains, Chap. 26. 11. Ljrd tphen thy hand is lifted «/>, they will not fee. The hand, the power of the Lord was fo remarkable and confpicuous in the Judgements that w»rc infilled upon them, as might very well wring an acknow- ledgement out ofthem, that it was the Lord that had ftirred his wrath and indignation againft them : and /yet they wil- fuHy and defperately ihut their eyes ag«inli all (he ^verities R r 2 of Qjc(h Anfw. I. Lev. 26 41. Mich- 7- 9. Mich. 6. p. See this Text fiil]y opened in my firfl Epiftle to iny Trcacile ou Clofet Prayer. 'Hi p London's Lamentations on Gen. 45-. 7. Job 1.21. of God, and would not behold that dreadful hand of his that was ftrctched out againQ them. O Sirs, Goi looks up onhin.ftlf as reproached and fl«ndcrcd, by fuch who will not fee his hand m the amazing Judgcnnenfs that he inflicts upon thtm^ ]cr. 5. i2. Jhcjbave belied the Lord^ and faidit ii not he : or as the Hebrew runs, he is not. Such was the Athcifm of the Jews, that they flighted divine warnings, and dcfpifcd all thofe dreadful thrcatnings ( of the Sword, Fami»e and Fire } which (hould have lead them to repen- tance, and fo tacifcly faid, the Lord is not God : fuch who either fay, that God is rot omnifcicnt, or that he is not om- hipotenr, or that he is not fo j jft, as to execute the Judge- ments that he has thrcatned. Such belie the Lord, fuch de- ny him to b: God. Many feel the rod, that cannot hearit j and many experience thcfmart of the rod, that don't fee thehindthat holds the rod i and this is fad. How can the natural man without fauhsprofpe(^ive,look fo high, as to fee the hand of the Lord in wafting and deftroying Judge- ments. By common experience we find, that natural men are mightily apt to father the evil of all thcii fufferings up on fccondary caufes : fometimrs they cry out, this is from a didemper in nature > and at other tirnes they cry out, this is from a bad Air: Sometimes they cry out of the malice, Plots, envy and rage of men i and at other times they cry out of Stars , Chance and Fcrtunc , and fo fix upon any thing, rather than the hand of God, But now a gracious Chnftian under all his fuflferings, he overlooks allfrcondaiy caufis, and fixes his eye upon the hand of God. You know whit J ojeph Ci\d to his unnatural Brethren, who fold him foraflavcj Nonvos^ fedVeuSt ^Trrof vot yaUy hut God that f(nt nte into Mq^ypi. ^i;/? met with many fjre lolfesand fid crofles, but under them all, he ovtr-lookt all mftruments, att fecondary cauftsi he over looks ttie SabeatiSy and the Cfc^i/- the late fiery Vif^enfation. }5 all, and fixes his eye upon his fjthers hand. The cup which »tjf Father bath given me ^ JhaJJ 1 n)t drir\it. This cup was rhe cup of his fujferings. Now in all his fad fufferinos hi had ftill an eye to his lathers hand. Let us in all our fuf- fctings write afccr this Copy ihat Chnft his fet before us But of this I hivc fpokcn very largely already i and therefore let this touch fuffi:c here. Secondly, Labouf to juftific the Lord in all that he has done : S^y, the Lord is righteous, though he harh bid your City dcfolate. When Jerufalem was laid dcfoUte, and the Wall thereof broken down , and the Gates thereof were burnt with firCi Nibemiab juftitics the Lord, Chap. g. 33. Hovpheit^ thou art jufi in all that if brought upmuj^ for thou haji. done rights but we have done rvickedh. The fame Sp;rit Wa$ up ')n Jeremiah^ Lann. i. i»4, 8. Horp doth th^ City fu folitarj^ that rpm full of feifle ? H ve is fhe become as a JVi- doxv / She that veai great among the Nations^ and Princ(fi among the Provinces .? Haw is fl:e biCome tributary ? The rvajes of Zion domourn^ becauferone comt to the fjlemn feajfs: all her Gates are deflate y her TiKJisfighy her Virgins are afflMed^ and fhe is in hittermfs. 7he Lord is righteous^ for I have rebelled again^ his commandment. The fame Spirit w a-? upon Djy;^, Pfal. up. 75. I kfloiv, Lordy that thy Judgements are right ^ and that thou in faithfulntfi hajt ajfliQedme. So Pfal 145.17. The Lord Is righteous in aS his rvtyzs^ and hoiy in aH hn rporkj. This Maxim we muft live and dye by, though we don't alwaycs fee the reafon of his proceidm^s. 'Tis granted on allhands, that Wz<«frfj D bccaufcfrom his judgement there is no appeal. Abraham confidering the Nature and Juftxc of God, was confidently afTured, that God could not do cchcrwifc but right. Hith Rr ^ God John 1.9- II, Nch:m. 1.4. So Al.iui'cius che Empcroui ;uHified GoJ, when he faw His \^ife and Children butchered be - foiv his eyes by vhe Tray- ;or PbocaSy and knew that h mlelf fliould Toon after be i^cwed in his own Broth ; cryed out, f'tfi Oit than Lord, U'ldjuji •m all thy f'tdgernsits. Gen. iS. 2>. H London's Lamentations on IjGodturn'd you out ofhoufcand home, and marred all your pleafmt things, and ftript you raked as the day wherein you (were bom: yes. Why it he hath, he hath done you no i wrong : he can do you no wrong ; he is a Law to himfelf : I and his rightco.is Will is the Rule of all Jurtice. God can >s Coon ceife to b^, as he can ceafe to do that which is juft Zeph. I. i5. Lam* 3. 12. land right. So Pia.py.z.C/t/w*^/ and darknefs an round about bim\ pral.92.1r. Job 36. 23. Kigbteoujhifs and Judgement are the habitation of his throne. , Clouds and darkntfs, nofcs the tcrriblfnefs of Gods .xlinini- flrations : though God be very terrible in his tdminiBrati- ons, yet rightcoufnefs and jjdgcmcnt are the habitation of his Throne. It hath been a diy of Gods wrath in Lmdon, a day of trouble and diltrcfs, a day of wailing and dcfolati- on , a day of darknefs and gloomliufs, a day of clouds and thick darknefs, as it was ones in Jirujakm : yet rightc- oufnefsand jtKlgctticnt arc the habitation of his Throne: or as it may be tranllitcd, are the foundation of his Throne. Gods Scat of Judgenncnt, is alwayes founded in rightcoufncfs. So Daniel 9. 12. And he hath confirmed bis words ivhich he [pake againji uSy and againjiour Judges that judged ut^ by bring- ing ufmus a great evil: for under the rpbok he-aven hath not been done^ as hath hetn done upon Jerufalem. Vcr. i ^.yT^he Lord our God is righteous in all hit tvor^s which he doth \ for w>e obeyed not his voice. God is only righteous, he is pcrfedly righteous, he is cxcmplarily righteous, he is everlaftingly I righteous, he is infinitely righteous, and no unrighteoufneft dwdlsinhinn. There are four things that God can't do: I . He can't lie. 2. He can't die. 3. He ca'nt deny himfelf : Nor 4. He can't look upon in*iquity, and not loach it : he can^'t behold iniquity and approve of it, or delight ia it. God has aSovcrainty over all your pcrfons and concernments in this world i and therefore he may do With you, and all that is yours as he plcafeth : upon this account you ought to fay, The Lord is righteous, though he hath laid your habitati- ons defolate, and burnt up your houfrs before your eyes. Its tfue, God has dealt fevereiy with Lo/tdon ■■, but he might have dealt more fcverely with it: he might have burnt up every houfei and he might have confumed every inhtbitant in the late fiery "BMenfation. >35 Ezek, I J. 7, in Londsns flames. He might have made good that fad woid upon them, 7 hey /hall go jrom one fire ^ and another fse fhall devour them. The Citizens of London may fay with good Ezra^ God hath puni(hcd ui Icfsthan oar iniquities defcrvc : and theicfore it highly concefhs them to f^y, The Lord is righteoHJ. All that God doth is gODd: you know what H?- z^kjab faid, 2 Kings 20. 19. Good is the word of the L'^rd. Th»s was a hard word, a fad word,that all his trcalurc (h )uld be carried anto Babylon^ and his Sons alfo, and made Servants there: and yet he faith, GW t; tht word of the Lord. What ever God doth is good. God in that he is good,( faith One) can give nothing, do nothing, but that which is good iochtri do frequently^ he cannot poffibly. Upon this account ilfo It corccrns us to fay, The Lord is righteous, though our City be laid defolatc. 'Tis better to be under a tiery Rod, fhan to be wallowing in the mire of fin. *Tis better that Lj«i(?w(hould be laid defolate, than that God (hould fiy, England hx'^tW. Thats a Chrifttan worth G)ld, who can ftioufly, heartily and habitually fay," The Lord is righteous, hough all our pleafant things are laid defolatc. 1 would fay y the L^rd is righteous i but by this fiery dijpenfation I am iU' md out of boufe and home. Now in anfwcr to this Objc^ion, give me leave to en quire, Fjrtt, Whether your houfe was dedicated to the Lotd by faftmgand prayer, or'not ? If it were only dedicated to the fer vice of fin, Safan, or the world, no wonder if the Lord has turned it in.o a heap. But^ Secondly, Give jnc leave to enquire. Whether you had fet up Chrift, and holincfs, and holy orders in your houfe or no ? Did you in good earncrt refolve With Jojiua^ Ihatyou and ji'Mr bouje would ferve the Lord, Jofli. 24. i $. If not, no won- der, if the Lord has laid youi habitations defolatc. But, Thirdly, Give me leave to enquire, Whether you did la- bour an4 endeavour to the utmoA of what you were able, chat Chiift might have a Church in your houfe or no > Col I./ithr in I'falm 1 20. See more of this in my xMute cbi'Jtian. Obje6^. Anfw. Dcut. 20. •), 2. SeePfal. lOi- xi6 London's Lamentations on Sec Dr. Hitm. wo '^ on this Scripnne. Vd. B'lh.Djv PottoL Scultctns, Co^.4 1$. Salute the Brethren^ which are f« Liodicca, and Nymph-ts, and the Church which is in his houfe : that is, faidi Dx.Hjmmmd^ which m^cfs fog^thcr in his houte. i Cor. 16. 19. IheChurclm of k'CidiftlHte you. Aquila andVt\(c\\h ftlute yopt much in the Lrrd^ with the Church that is in their hoap. Philemon V. 2. y4nd to o»r behved Jk^pWiz, and Ar- chippus ^ur jiJUow Soaldifr^ and to the Church in thy houfe. Phi" /fwowj houfe was a publick mcering-houfc, where the faith- tul had rhcir AlTcmblics •, jnd Co continued for many years iUer^&iTheodoret and others witnefTcth. Some undcrihnd this lafiScripurc, of fhc Church which kept their AfTcm- blics in Vhilemnns houfe. 0;hers under ftand it of his houfi.- hold, which was 2$ a little Church in his houfe. Rom. 16. 5. Lik^tvije greet the Church that is in their houje, Chryfijlome by the Church in their hpufe, underftands their Chriftian Fa- mily i who faith he, were fo godly, as to maka their whole houie the Church. Origen intcrprcteth it, of the faithful and ready Minittry ofthcfefcrvantsof the Lord, in entertaining of the Saints in thtir hbuHr. 3. ThenfhylaH thinketh it to be called the Church in their houfe, b^caufe the fairhfull were entertained there. 4. But befide this, it fcemelh that their houfe was a place for the Saints to Affcmblc in : there the Congregation ufcd to come together. Mjrtyr. 5. The lali thing in their praiftf, was that they had a Church in their houfe : either, for that their family, for their godly order ob- fcrvcd init, fctmcd fo be a Church, orelfefor the faithful gathered^togcther in their houfe, to ccUbrate their AfTcmblies, for they might not have in moft places the free ufc of their Chriftiin Religion, through the malice of the Jewcf on the one hand, and the rage of the Gentiles on the other hand. Confult v^(5fi 1 3. and 14. Wtlfon. In this great City o[Rome there were divers Aflcmblics of Believer;, which were held in fome private mens houfes, where they might meet fafeft j the ftate then, and fome hundred years after, not permitting fhem any publick Temples or Auditories to meet in : as our Englifti Annotators obfervc upon the place. In each particu- lat family laft cited, there was a Church of Chrifi. Now have you burnt Citizens, made it your bufinefs, to ercd a Church of the late fiery Vil^enfation. \7 of ChriAin your particular ramiliesi if fo^ well it is withyou,] though you have loft all. If rot, do'nt wonder that God has laid your houfcs defolate. ' Adsm had a Church in his houfe : fo had Abrabantt and Jacob, and Jofhuah^ and Vavid^ and Cormlitts ■■> well governed BUnilies^ may in (omc fenfc be well reputed Churchcs.The houfe of Gforge Piince oi Anhalt^ for the good orders therein obferved^ is faid to have been, EcclffUjAcademia^Curia. Ah London^London^xX. may be, there might have been more houfes)ftanding within thy Walls, than now there is, if every particular houfe-had been as a parti- cular Church to Chrift. As for fuch houfes where there were no cxcrcifes of Religion i as for fuch houfes where idlenefs, cheating, lying.curling, fwearing, flandcring, game- ing, diunkenneis, unclcannefs and riotoufncfs were ram- pant i They were rather the Devils Chappel, than Chrifts Church j and therefore it was )uft with God to lay fuch ha- bitations defolate. But, Fourthly, Give me leave to enquire , whether you were friends ot enemies to Gods houfe. Now Gods houfe is his Church \ and his Church is his houfe : He^.3.5,6. And Mofes verily rvas faithful in all bis hottje^ as a fervant : Bnt Cbrijl as aSon^ovtr bis own hoptjei rvhoji bottfe are rpe. i Pet. 2.5. Te alfo as lively flones are built up a ffiritual boufe^ an holy Prieflboodi to offer up fpiritual Sacrifices acceptable to God by Jt- jits Cbriji» So i Tim. 3.15. That thou maijl k^otv horv thou OMghteJi to behave tbyfelfin the boufi of God, rvhich is the Church of the living God, the pillar and ground of tbetruth.Ptov.^.i. IVifdom hath huilded her houfe, /he bath hewen out her feven pil- lars. Wifdom, n"l03n chakjnotb, the Hebrew word is Plu- ral, wifdoms: Wifdomshath built her a houfe. By Wif- doms, Come underhand the Trinity of perfons, but moft conclude, that by wifdoms is meant our Lord Jefus Chri(i,i in whom are hid all the treafures of wifdom and know-; ledge. The word is Plural for honour fake. As Princes write, we command : the Lord Jefus Chrift is faid to be Wifdoms in the Plural number, to note, that he isthefove- raign and fuprcam wifdom, and that he is iaftead of all vvif- doms^ and comprehends all wifdoms in himfelf: all the S f world 2 Tim. 2. 20. Num. iz. 7. Joftl. I. 2. Col. 2: J. ■ 58 London's Lamentations on Gal. f. zijiS- I Pec. 1. 5- Zech. 12.1^5- 6, p. Luke 24. 33. See the Dutch Annotations. world being fools in corrparifon of him. Wifdoms hath builtlier a houfe. i. Some take this houfc to be the Hu- mane nature of Chriit i but that was not then built. 2. Others undett^and it of the work of Grace in mans foul: but this the Spirit commonl/ works ili this houfc, by the Miniftry of the word. 3. Others by this houfc, underftand Heaven, that upper houfe, that houfe of State, in which Chrift fiith there are mzny Manfions i but this can't, bccaufe the houfe in the Text, is fuch a houfe, to which Wifdom doth imme- diately invite,aDd call all her gucHs. But 4. and laiily, Others by houfe, underftand the Church of Chnft on earth, for the Church Militant, is a houfe built up of many lively ftones : and with thefe I clofc. Now by thcfe Scriptures, it is very plain, that Gods houfc is his Church, and his Church his houfe. Now if you were enemies to Gods houfc, if you hated his houfe , and defigned and endeavoured to pull dowa his houfc y no wonder that the Lord has laid your houfes defolate. Such who cry out conccrnitig his houfc, rafc it, rafe it, even to the foundation thereof, P/j/; 137. 7. may one day want a houfe to live in. It is obfervablc, that in private houfes, Chrift his Apoftles and particular Churches, and PrionitiveChriftians frequently ufcd to meet ( when the times were dangerous, (Joh.20.19. Then the Jame day at ivenlng^ being the firji day of the weei{^ when the doors were Jhttty where the Vifciples were ajfmbled for fear of the J&ws^ came fefus and flood in the midji^ and faith unto them, Peace be itnto you. Verfe 26, And after eight dayes, again his Vifciples were within^ and Thomas with them : then came Jifn^t the doors being fhut^ andfiood'in the midji^ andfaid. Peace be unto yott. This was the ufual manner of falutation amongthe Jews, whereby they wifhcd one another all hap- pincfsand profpcrity. The doors of the room where they were together were fliut,for the more fccrecy and fccurity, to avoid danger from the Jews , faith Dr. Hammond on the words, k^s 1. 13, 14. And when they were comein^ they went «|> into an upper room^ where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James ri^f 5o« o/Alpheus, and!S'imoiLi'Lz\oitsiwd . ,-1™ Judas- the late fiery Vtjpeufation. M? Judas the brother of ]imcs. The/e all continued rvith one ac' cord in^rajerandjupplication^ with the womcn^ andMity th. Mother o/Jcfus, and with hii~%rethren) Ads 20. 7. And upon the fir ji day oj the vpuk^^ whmthi VifcipUs came togethir i ' breaks bread, Paul preached tmi^them, ready to depart on th7 morrotPy and continuid his fpeech until midnight. VcifcS. And here rrere many lights ( Gr. many Limps ) in the upper cbam^ ber Tvhitherthey tvere gathered together. Vetle 9. And there fate in a tvindovp a certain young man named tutychus being fahn into a deepjieep : and Oi Pial was loHg preachings he funk^doivn withfleep, and fell down fram the third loft^ and was tak^en up dead. Vcifc lO. AttdPiul went down and feS onhim^ and em- bracing him [aid J trouble not your fives, for his life is in him. Vcrfe II. When he therefore was come up again, and had broken bread, and eaten, and talked almg while, even tiS breaks of day \ fo he departed, Vcrfc 12. And they hr ought the young man alive, and were no* a little comforted. Adls 5. 42. And daily in the Temple, and in every houfe, they ceafednot to teach and preach Jefuj Chfiji, ASts 12. 12. And when he bad confidered the things, he came to the houfe of Mary the Mother oj John, whofe furnamewas Maik, where many were gathered together praying. (or where many thronged to piay, as it runs in the Origi- nal ) Ads 20. 20. And hi>w I k^pt back^ nothing that was profitable unto you, hut have flewedyou, and have taught y>iu publickjy, and from bcufe to houfe. AdsiS. 30, 31. And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired houfe, and received all that came in unto him : Preaching the Kingdom of God, and teaching thefe things which concern the Lord Jefus Chrifi, with all confidence, no man forbidding him. Luke 10. 38, 3^. Now it came to pap, as they went, that he entered into a certain Vil lage , and a certain woman named Martha received him into her houfe. And fhe had a filler caVedMity, which alfo fate at Je- fus feet, and heard his ward. Beloved by thcfc Scriptures, (is mod evident and clear, that our Lord Jefus ChriQ, and his Diffttplcs and ApoAles, and thofe Chrifiians that lived in their times, did frequently meet in private houfes, and there per- formed ads of publick Wor(hip, viz. fuch as preaching, hearing, praying, breaking of bread, &c. How the primitive Sf2 Chriai- '^ee the Dutch Annotations :iiid Diodati- oii on Ads 10. 7, S, 9, 10, n, 12. See Dr. H.tm- mond on the words, &the Englifti An- notations* Fide Dr.Ham- mo'id of Afts 28.30,31, 140 London's Lamentations on Jam. 5.1 7, 1 8. Several hun- dred Scri- prures might be produced, to make good the Afleriian, Remember what cne i4cha?t didjand what one MAnajJch did, z Kings II. iij 11, " Ecclef. 9. 18. One {inner deftroyeth much good. O then what world of good, will a Rabble of fin- ncrs deflroy / Chrirtians in (hofc hot times of pcrlccution.mct in the nights, and m woods, and houfcs, and obfcurc places, they bcH un- dcrftand, who have r ad the writings of 7 ertulUan^C)prian, Chryfijiorne^ Iheodont^ AHfUriy Eufebius, Jufiin Martyr, Fli- ny, &c. But this to fome being an unplcifing Thcam, I (haU not enlarge my fcif upon it. Only remember this, that there was never yet anyTown,Ciry,Oi Country, KirgdonVjOr Com- mon-wealth, that did ever fire the worfe for an holy pray- ing people. Frequent ar.d fervent prayer, be it in publick or in private, in a Synagogue or in an upper Room, never did, nor never will bring mifery or mifchicf upon thofe places, where fuch exercifcs are kept up. Such Conventicles of good fellowftiip (i%Comc call ihemj where there is no- thing butfwcarir.gand curOng and carouHngand gaming, and all manner of iilchinefs and prcphanenefs, are the only Conventrclts that bring defolafing Judgements upon Princes, People and Nations, as is molt evident throughout the Scri- ptures. Take two texts for all ; 1 ■Sam.i2.25.Bwf ifyefhaUJiill do wick^dlj, yefliallbe conjUmcd^botbye and yaur Kings. When Princes and people continue to do wickedly together, then they (hall be confu me d together. Zeph. i. 12. ImUftarch ]n\iCd\tmtPithcandUr^ aitdfftmjh the men that are fettled on their lees i that fay in their heart, the Lord rvill not do good, nei- ther VPill he do evil. Verfe 1 3 . 'tkrcfore their goods (hall become a booty, and their houfes a defolation. Verfe 17. And I rvill bring dijlreji upon men, that they jhall tvalk^ like blind men, be- cauje thej fmned againji the Lord ; and their blood jhall be poured out as du\}, and their fie (h as the dung. Vciic iS- Neither their filver ncr their gold Jhall be able to deliver them in the day of tht Lords wrath v but the whole Land jhall be devoured by the fire of hisjealoujie : for he Jhall make even a fpeedy riddance of all them that dwell in the Land. Now if any of you wbofe houfcs arc laid dcfolate, have had your fpirits imbittered and engaged againft the poor people of God, for prac^iHng a?Chri(^and his Apoftles didi Then lay your hands upon your mouths, and fay, the Lord is righteous, though he has turned us out of houfe and home, and laid all our pleafant things dcfolate. Certainly all that legal and ceremonial ho- line fs "the late fiery ViJ^enfamn, 141 hncCsof places which we read of in the Old Teftamcnt did quire vinifli and expire with the Typci, when Chrift who is the (ub«*ance ( at which all thofe fhadows pointed jcamc into the world. I have neither faith to believe nor any rcafon to Tee, that thtre is in any Ctpitiltiot confecratcd places foi Divine Worlhip, any fuch legal or ceremonial kind of holi- ncfs, which renders Duties performed there, more accepta- ble unto God, than if performed by the fame perfons and in the like manner in any other places. DjabtlcCs Chrilt by his coming in the fltfli, hath removed all dilhndion of places through legal holinefs : this is clear by the Speech of our Saviour to the Samaritan woman, concerning the abo- lifhing of all diftindion of places for Worfhip through a ce- remonial holinefs, John 4. 2 1 . Jefut faith unto fc«r, woman believe me, the hour cometh rvhen ye Jhall neither in this Moun- tain^ nor yet at Jerufalem pporjhip the Father. The publick Worfhjpof God was now to b: refirained to no place, as formerly it was to the Temple at Jerufalem. That is to no place for its ceremonial holinefs, which may render the pirts ofDivine Worihip more acceptable to God, than if performed clfewhcre. Bccaufe thofe Types which fanc^ifi- ed the places formerly, were now to betaken away, when Chrifi the fubflance was come. And the body of the Cere- monial Worfhip, being now to expire, and the partition wall taken down, that the Gentiles might be admitted to worfhip God infpirit and in truth. It could not pofTibly be, for thefc Rcafons, That the true Worfhip of God fhould be tyed and fixed to any one fuch Temple as was ^x. Jerufalem any more. The Temple at Jerufalem was a mean of Gods Wor- fhip, and part of their Ceremonial Service, and a Type of Chrifi > but our Temples ( faith my Author )are not a part of the Worfhip^ of God, not Types of the body of Chrift. Neither ate we bound when we pray, to ict our faces to- wards them. They are called places of prayer only \ becaufe the Saints meet there : and if the Saints meeting were not in them, they were but like other common places. The Tem- ple of Jerufalem fandified the meetings of the Saints > but the m^ng of the faints, fan^tifies our Temples. Herods Sf 3 Temple Atcrc. '/iK.id. U)np fare. ivee'nes i. Vol. Ch/ft'an S)- nagngtic. p. 1 10. 142. London's Lament atioHs on 3f)dw. A-t'iq. Hcb. John 19. go. Gen. 47* ^9i Chap. 49. 29* Exod.?. 5. ]o{h. 5.t5. I Pet. 1. 18. Match. 4, f. Chap. 27. S3- Temple ar Jerufalem was fo fct on Hrc by Tiius his Souldicrs, that u could not be quenched by the induftry of man i and at thcCiaic t\mc ylpollo's Temple itVelpbi was utterly over- thrown by Earth- quakes, and Thunder- bolts, and neither of them could ever tincc be r^saircd. The concurrence of which two Miracles (faith mine Aurhor J evidently (hew- eth, that the time was then come, when God would put an end both to Jewirti Ceremonies, and H<;atheni(h Idolatry > that the Kingdom of his 5on might be the better cftibhfticd. The time of Chrifts death and pallion was the very time that God in his eternal counfd, had fet for the abrogation of the Ceremonial La w, and all cercm.onial holintfs of places. As foon as ever Chrift had faid. It ijfinijhed^ and had given up fheghoft, immediately the Vail of the Temple was rent from the top to the bottom : and from that very hour there was no more holinefs in the Temple, than in any other place. By the death of Chriii all religious differences of places is taken away : So that no one place is holier than another. Before the coming of Chrift, the whole Land of Canaan ( becaufe it was a Type of the Church of Chrift, and of the Kingdom of Heaven ) was eftecmed by Gods people, a belter and holier place, than any other in the world. And upon that ground among others, Jacob ^nd J ofephwcK fo defirous to be buried there. And in the Land ofCanaan, feme places are faid to have b:en more holy than others y viz. Such as wherein God did manifcft himfelf in a fpccial and fenfible manner. So the place where Chrift appeared to Mojes in the fiery Bufti, is called Holy Greund : and fb was that wherein he appeared to Jojhua. And the Mount whereon Chrift was transfigured, is called by Titer the Holy Mount, Bur thefe places were no longer accounted holy,than during the time of this fpecial prefence of the Lord in them. So Jerttfalem was called the Holy City : yea, at the very mo- ment of Chrifts death, it is called the Holy City i becaufe it was a City fet apart by God for a holy ufe, a City where he was daily worfhipped i a City'that he had chofcn to put his name upon. Though Jtrufalem was a very wicked City, yeathewickedft City in all the world ( counting tj^ means ^ they the late fiery Dtj^enfatton. '4? thcjr enjoyed ) yet 'ris called the H)ly City: and fo doubt- leU in rcfpe^ of reparation and dcdicarion, it was hoircr than any other Oty or place in the vvo/ld bclides. So the Temple in Jerufilem IS nine times called the Holy Temple ■, bccaufc It was a more holy place, than any other place injF^- rufikm. Now mark, though all the parts of the Temple were holy i yet fome places in it were holier than other (bme. This may be made evident three waycs. Firit, There was a place where the people flood fcparatcd from the Pric[is,X»'^£ I. 10. And this was foholy a place, thatChrilt would nor fuffcr any to carry any velTcl through it. Mar)^ 1 6. II. And Secondly, There was a place where the Priclts executed their MiniAry, which was holier than that that the people ftood in, and is therefore called the Holy Place, Lei/. 16.30. And Thirdly, There w^s a place which the High Pricli might only enter into, and that but once a year, and that IS called the Holy of Holies, the holic A place of all, Heb. 9. 3. But now (ince the death of Chrifl, there is no place in the world, that is holier than other. The prayer of faith is as powerful and asprevalent with God in one place, as in another F»rc offering : for my name (hall be great among the Heathen , faith the Lord oj Hojh. The poor blind befottcd Jews thought, that God was fo tycd to thenn i that if they did not woifhip him at Jeru- falan, he would have no fcrvice nor worfhip in the world. But God tells them, that they were under a very high mi- ftake, for he would take care of his own name and glory. For from the rifing of the Sun, even to the going dovon of the fame, my name jhall be great ( that is , the knowledge of it, and of the right worChip of it) among the Gentiles (this is an excellent Prophefic of the cutting off the Gentiles j and in every pace incenfe JhaB be offered unto my name. My Wor- ftiip, faith God, (hall not be confined to Judr he reigned ne:c: after this Book was wrirten, and was very cruel againft the Chriftians,de- livering them over ro pnfor.s and deat.^, and all to drive them through fear from the profeffion of Chrilt. 148 London's Lamentations on Oh], a. Anfjv. John 8. 44- Ru^it. other tormcats the people of God were excrcifcd with, as all know, that have read the lamentable flories of thofc (ad times. But you may f»y, i^hy then is the imprifirtment of the Saints f) aJeribedtotheVevil, as if it vpeteim.nediatelj aQed hj him. Behold, the Devil 'Jhallcaji Jume ofjou into prifon. 1. To (hew what influence the Devil hath in the ading of wicked men, fo tkat in effect their deed is his deed i they arc Co fubfcrvient to him. 2. It istoihew us, that the Author, Original and foun- tain from whence all the pcrfecutions of the Saints do flow, IS the Devil, who was a murder and a lyar from the be- ginning. 3 . It IS to aggrevatc the horriblencfs of this fin of perfecu- tion, as being a main piece of the Devils bulincfs, what ever the inlhuments arc. 4 It is to comfort and encourage the people of God to patience and conftancy in all their fufTcrings for Chrift, fee- ing that it is the Devil that is their grand enemy, and that makes ( in his inftrumcnts ) the higheli oppolition againii them. A gracious man in the midli of all oppofitions ( as Chrjfofiomt (aid of Peter ) is as a man made all of Hre walking in (bubble, he overcomes and confumcs all oppoiitions > all difficulties arc but whet- (tones to his fortitude. When Chri- Oians meet with great oppofers and great oppoiitions, they (bould fay as that noble bouldier Padarelus ( in Erafmus ) did to him that told him of a numerous and mighty Army which was coming againft him. ( Tanto plus gloria referemm qmniam eo plures fupirabimus ) The number of oppofers makes the ChriAians conque(^ the more illuOrious. It is very obfcrvable, that in Diockfians time, funder whom was the laA and wor A of the ten pcrfecutions ) When Chrifii«n Religion was more defperately oppofcd than ever , yet then it profpered and prevailed more than ever. So that Viodefian himfelf obfcrving, that the more he fought to blot out the name of ChriO, the more legible it became : and the more ht the late fiery Vijpenfation. '4? he laboured to block up the way of Chrift, the more p^lil- blc it brcimr. And what ever of Chrift he thought to root out, it rooted the deeper^ and rofi the higher: thereupon he refolved tij^cngage no further , but retired to a pri7ate life. All the oppolinons that the D.vil and hisindrumcnts had raifed agamft the Saints in all the ages of the world, hath not dimuiifh-d, but encreafcd their number. For the firft three hundred years after ChriH there wat amoliteri- Me pcrfecutioa. Hiliorians tell us, that by fot at them, but they fall hot down, wc wound them, hut do'nr kill them. See E:4oi. i. 10, 1 1, 11,13- Ads 8. & Ads 14. Tt3 Ippould Dati.zt ;4>}$- »5o London's Lament diiom on objca. 2. Anfvp. •I 3- The Scars which have leaf} circuit, are nearefi the Pole , and men that are Icaft perplex- ed with bufi- nefi, are common])' ncareft to God. / Would JHJlifii the Lord, 1 tpould fty he is right.'iuf^ though my hnufe he burKt up : hut Thave Ijjl my goods ^ I have lojl my cjiate i yejy I have lojl my aU as to this world : and horc then can I [fy the Lord is righteous ? how an I jttfiific that Gnd^ which his ( even ) fiript me as nsk^d^ as the day wherein 1 WAS born^ &c, ' To this lanTwer. Fitft, D»drt thou gain tfiiy cftatc by juft, nr unjjft wayes and means? If by unjuit way. s and means, then be filcnt bcfoic the Lord. If 6y jaft waycs and means, then know that the Lord will lay m that ofhimfclf, and of his Son, and of his Spirit, and of his Grace, and of Heavens glory, that fhall make up all thy lofTcs to thee. Bar, Sw-condly, Did you improve your cftatcsfor the glory of God, and the good of others, or cid you not ? If not, why do you compliin ? If you did, the reward thrt (hall attend you at the long run, may very well bear up your fpirits under all your loiTis. Confult tbefe Scriptures, i Cor. 1.15. 2C<7r.p.6. E:cUfll.i. GaL6.j^%. Ifj. ^2.20- If*- ")')» lOr Prov. II. 18. Kev. 22. 12. But, Thirdly, What Trade did you drive Chrift-wards and Heaven- wards, and Holinefsrwards ? If you did drive cither no Trade heaven-wards, or but a flcnder or inconftant Trade heavcD-wards, and holincfs-wards, never wonder that God by a fiery dirpenfation,has fpoiled your Civil Trade. Doubt- Icls there were manyCttizens who did drive a clofe fecret fin- ful Trade, who had their by wayes and back-doors i (bmc to uncleanncfs, others to merry meetings, and others to fe- cret Gaming. Now if thou wert one of them th»t dicfft drive a fecret Trade of fin ; never murmur becaufe thy houfe is burnt, and thy Trade deflroyed, but rather repent of thy fecret Trade of fin v and wonder that thy body is not in the grave, and that thy foul is not a burning in everlaAing flames. Many there were in Lo«<^w, who had fo great* Trade, fo full a Trade, fo corftant a Trade, that they had no time to mind ihc everlaf^ing concernments of their precious fouls, and the late fiery ViJ^enfation. '5' and the great things ot Eternity. Tbcy had (o much f( do on Earth, that they had no time to look up to Heaven \ as once the Duke of Alva told the King of Frj/jc?. %t. Tho- mas More faith, there is a Devil called negotium, bufincfs, that carricth more (ouls to Htli, ihm aU the Devils ii Hcil b.- {idc, M^ny Ciciz-^nj had Co many Irons in tl>e fire, and wcit cumbrcd itjout with fo many things, thit the/ wholly neg- lected the one thing ncceffiry : and therefore it WiS bat jultj with God, to viiit them with a fiery Rod. Look, as much earth puts our the fire i fo much worldly bulincis purs out the fire of heavenly affe(^ions. Look, as the earth fwa1- lowed up Korah, Vjtbtftj and Ahiram -, fo much worldly bu- linefs fwailows up fo much precious lime, that mmy men have no Icifure to fecure their intcreft in Chrirt : to make their calling and cle<5tion fure ; to lay up treafure in Hea- ven i to provide for eternity ; and if this have been any of your cafes who are now burnt up, it highly concerns you to juftifie the Lord, and to fay he \s righteous, though he has burnt up your habitations, and dertroytd your Trade ' Tis fad when a crowd of worldly bufinefs, (hill crowd God and Chrift, and Duty out of doors. Many Citizens did drive fo great a Publick Trade in their Shops, thit their private Trade to Heaven was quite laid by. Such who were fo bufie about their Farm and their Merchandife, that they had no Icifure to attend their fouls concernments, had their City fet on tire about their cars, Matth. 22.5, But they made light oj it Cthat is, of all the free, rich and noble offrs of Gr^ce and mercy that God had made to them ) and n-eni tbiir vpjyesy one to hi/ farm ^ another to hit Merchandife^ Ver. 7 But vphcn the King heard thereof^ he rvas vproth ; and hi fent firth bis Armies ( that is, the Romans ) and dejiroyed thofe mmdtrers^ andlmrnt up their City. It is obfcrvable, that the jews who were commanded fix dayes to labour, were alfo commanded to vifct Morning and Evening Sacrifice daily. They had their Morning Sacrifice when they entred upon thcirwork , and they had their Evening Sacrifice when they ended their work. Their particular callings did not (leal away their hearts from their general callings. The jews divickd There were many who f*- crihced their precious time either to Mor- 'hvis the ^\:- niftcr of Ibop; or to E.icchhS x\m God ot" Wirte, or co ^^t'liis the Goidefs c't" B.aucy •• is i*' a!i were due to the Bed, th; Tavern, and the Urothel- houfe. Numb. 22.31. 2 Pet 1. 10. See Lukei4» \6. ii. Exod. io. 9. ?S, 59. Numb. 28. 5. Dcut.^ 6,738. 151 London's Lamentations on H\mfe Mor. Law. p. 12 j. Compare the fil-ft and laft ■Chapters of fob together. Verfe i, 2, 3, 43 ^ divided the day into three parts, the (\il\ ad Tephilhy oratio. mm, to prayer : the fccond ad Torah^ legem, for the reading of the Liw » the third ad^MaUcha, opus^ for the works of their lawful callings. Although they were dayes appointed for work i yet they gave God his part, they give God a (hire of I them every day.^ God who is the Lord of all time, hath referved to hifTifclf a part cf our time every day. And thtrtfore mens particular callings ought to give way to their general calling. But alas, before Loadun was m flames, ma- ny mens ( Oh that I could not fay molt mens J pirticular .callings fwallowcd up their general callirg. The noife js Tuch in a Mill, as hinders all sntcrcourfc bctwcn man and man: So many of the burnt Citiztns, had fuch a multitude j of worldly butineffes lying upon their hands, and that made | fuch a noifc, as that all intcrcourO: between God and them' was hindered. Stntca one of the ir.olt rcfintd Heathens! could fay, I do riot give, but only lend Hty fclf to my bu- (incfs. I am afraid this Heathen will one day rife in Judge- ment againft thofe burnt Citizens, who have not lendcd themfdves to their bufinefs, but wholly given up thcmfclves to their buiincfs, as if they had no God to honour, no fouls to fave, no Hell to cfcape, nor no Heaven to make fure. Bur, Fourthly, 7 ii*^K^ft all, and recovered all again: he 1( ft a fair eliat'c , and God doubles his elhtc to him. So Vavid Lft all, and recovered all again, i Sam. 30. 18. And David recovered all that the Amalakjtes had carried atvay^ <2»^ David '\ nfcuedhii two wivis. Ver. 19. And there was nothing lacking to thcrHy neither [mall nor great^ neither Sons nor Daughters, nei- ther jpoil, nor any thing that they bad taken to them. Vavid recovend all, Kerc the end was better than the beginning \ but the contrary bsfeflthc Amalekites^ whoa little before had framed Comoedies out of poor Ziklags'Ttz^or man fay, Now I fee, that God may fcem to flccp, but can nev r dye If God has taken away all : yet remember, that God has a tlioufand thouland wayes to make up all rhy KifTrs fo thee, which tfiou knowtft no'^ofi thcrcforcdo'nr murmur, doii\ fntj do'nt faint, nor do'nt limit the H jly One ot Iffj?l. If thou madctt no improvement of thy houfr, rhy '(tare, i y Trade, then 'tis thy wifd^m and thy work, rithcr to be difpleafcd with thy Iclf for thy non improvcm nr ol mercies, • han to be difconrented at thar hand o< Heaven, thar hach deprived thee of thy mercies. Remember On ye burnt Citi zcns oi London^ that you are not he hrft that have 1ft your all. Befidcs the inftances already cited, you nrjuft remem- ber what they fuffered in the tenth and elcvcnrh Chapters of the Hebretvj ■■, and you muft remember that in the Ten Pcr- fecutions many thoufandsof the people of God were ifripr U u of Verfc 6. Remember that or zeno, who faid, he never failed better , than when he fulle- red ihipwrack. ^54 London's Lamentatms on 5- Gen. 21. ip. Luke 24. ^5. Efther 6. Judges 4- [ Sam. ij Fxod. 14. 3, Cha.15- >'iO' Ifaiah 37. Tobit. I. ii. of their all : and (o were very noany alio in the Marian dayes, who fhrugs or complains of a common Lot ? It was grace upon the Throne, that thou enjoycdli thy houfe, thy cftatc, thy Trade fo long, and therefore it concerns thee to be rather (hankful, that thy mercies were continued fo long unto thee, than to murmur bccaufc thou art now ftriptofall. But, Fifthly^Whcn all is gone, yet mercy may be near, and thou not (cc if. When Hjgars Bottle was empty, the Well of VVdtcr was near, though Ihe faw it not. Mercies many times are never nearer to us, than when with Hagar we fit oown and weep, bccaufe our bottle is empty, becaufe our ftreams of mercy are dried up. The Well was there before, but (he faw it not, till her eyes were opened. Though mercy be near, though it be even at the door, yet till the great God (hall irradiate both the Organ and the ob)c<^, we can neither fee our mercies, nor fuck the breafls of mercy. Chrjft the fpring of mercy, the fountain of mercy, was near the Difciplcs, yea, he talked with the Difciples, and yet they knew him nof. Look, as dangers arcncaieft to wicked men when they (ce them nor, when they fear them not : As Ha- manwis neareA the Gallows, when he thought himfelfthe only man that the King would honour. And fo when Si- prj dreamed of a Kingdom, Jael was near with her "Hammer and her Nail, ready to fafien him to the ground. And fo when Agag (aid. Surely the bittermfs of death is paft j Samuel Uood ready with his drawn Sword to cot him in pieces m GilgalbdoTC the Lord. So when Pharaoh faid. They are en- tangled in the Landy the JVildermfs hath Jhut them in j I will purfuey I will overtake, I will divide the fpoil^ my lu(t (hall be Satisfied upon them, I will draw my Sword, my hand (halJ dci\ioy them. But piefcntly God blows with his Wind, and the Sea covered them, and they Tank as Lead in the mighty Waters. Soon after Sennacherib had fent a Blafphemous Let- ter to King tkz:kjdht Jht Angel of the Lord went forth, and fmote in the Camp of the AtTyrians a hundred and fourjcore and five thoufand', and when they ar oft early in the mornings bihold thty rvire all dead corffe : and within five and HUy daycs ihit SennacheribhioikK Wis butchered by his own Sons. No (boner the late fiery 'Di^enUtion. •JJ fooncrhadthc people, as prophanc Sycophants applauded Herod, and given hioi the honour due to God i but he was fmitccn by the AngcI of the Lord, or eaten up of Woims, or with Vermin : with Lice, as his Grand-father Herod had been before him. Koff,nf%s had a Cardinals Hat fcnt him \ but his head was cut oflfbcfore it came : the A]c was nearer his head, than his Hat. The Heathen Hiftorian could not but oblcrve, that as foon as Alexander the Great, had fum- moned a Parliament before him of f he world, he was fum moned himfelf by death, to appear before God in the other world. Now as you fee by thcfe inftances, that dangers ate nearefl the wicked, when they fee them nor, when (hey fear them not i So mercies are very near to the people of God, when they fee them not, when they expc(S them not. The Ifraelitis found it fo in Afihis fime> and m Jehofapbats time > and in Pbaraots time > and in Htzekjabs time j and in Ejihers cimei and in tie time of the Judges, as is evident through- out the Book of Judges. When there wis but a handful of Meal in the £arrcl, and a little Oyl in the Cruze, fupply was at hand. Hei Birrd and Cruze had no bottom, who out of a little gave a little. In all the Ages of the world, God has made that word good, Ifa. 41. 17. PFben the poor and needy feek^ water, and there is none y and their tongue failetb for thirj^y I the Lord trill bear them, I the God of \(x*c\ will not forfajf? them. Verfc iS, I' will open Rivers in high places, and Fount aint in the midji of the VaSeys : / will mai^ the fVilderncJi a pool of water f and the dry land fprings of witer. Chryfejiome obfeives, Tnat 'tis very delightful 4o the Mother to have her breafis drawn. Oh how much more then is it dcli^^htfut to God, to have his breafis of mercy drawn! O Sirs, look as many times the Mothers breafis are drawn, and near the Child, though the Child fees them not : fo Oods brcalls of mercy are many times drawn, and near his people, and yet they fee them not. Geographers write, that the City oiSy racufe in Sicily, is (bcurioufly fciiuated, that the Sun is never out of fight. Certainly the mercies of God arc never out of fight, though fometimes the people of God arc fo cloud- ed and benighted, that they can't fee their mercies, chough Uu 2 they Aa.ii.ezjij Pfal. 125.2,5 2 Chron. 14. Chap. 10. Exod. 15. 2 Kings ip. EQher 6. 8. I Kings 17.12, f .5<5 London's Lamentations on 6. Pfa 7i.io,2i. .1 Sam. 25. :Gen. 24. 67. I Cor. I. 8. tukeii. 32. ihty are near them i yea, though they ftand before them. Bat, Sixrhly, I anfwer.That Gocl many times by taking away lomc outward mercies, comforts »nd contentments, dos but make way for greater and better mcrctcs to come in the room of thox hi; has taken away. He took from Dtft/i that is, that peace with God, and prace with confcience, that I have purchafcd with my blood, I give unto you. Men may with mc peace, but 'tis only Chrift that can give mc peace. The peace that Chrift givis, IS bottomed upon his blood > upon h;s imputed righ- teoufncfs j upon his Intercclfion, and upon a Covenant of Peace > and therefore it ir.uft needs be a lathing peace, an abiding peace. When a Tyranc thus threatned a Chri(tian, I will take away thy houfe : the Chriftian replyed, Thou canft not take away my peace. When the Tyrant threatned to break up his School, the Chriftun anf^^ered, I (hall ftill keep whole my peace. When the Tyrant threatned to con- fifcate all his goods, the Chriiiian anfwered, yet there is no premunire againii my peace. When the Tyrant threatned to bani(h him out of his own Countrey, the Chrifiian reply- ed, yet I (hall carry my peace with me. p.Thouflialt never lofe thy Title to Heaven, Luke 12.32. Fearnot little floel{\ ( i^iK^hv iroif.t.vioVi here are two DiminU' tive^ in the Original ; the word tranflated Flock, figniheth a Ltttle Flock \ but that the exceeding littlenefs of it might appear, ChriA adds another word : fo that the words in the fountain run thus, Fear not little little flock. And ir.dted in all the Ages of the woxld, the flock of Chrift have been but little in their own eyes, and little in the worlds eyes, and little in their enemies eyes, and but little in comparifon of that world of Wolves that hasflill furrounded them^ for it is your Fathers good pleafure to giveyeu the Kingd m. You need neither fear the loG of earthly things, or the want of earthly thmgs > for you have a kind, a tender, a loving Fa- thcr, whofepleafure'fis, togiveyou the Kingdom, that is, the Heavenly Kingdom, that is prepared and relerved for you. 10. and laftly, Thou (halt never lofe thy Crown of Life, thy crown of Glory, thy incorruptible crow^n, thy crown of righteoufnefs. 2 Tim. 4. 8. Henceforth is laid up for me a crown I the late fiery Vijpenfation. '59 cron>n of righteoufnefs^ fvhich the Lord the righteous Judge jhall give me at that day ■•, and not to meonly^ but unto all ttnm alj>, that love bis appearance. A Crown is the top ofRoyiliy. Here it notes that cvcrUfting glory t hit is hid up for the Saints. Now this Crown is caUcd a Crown of Rightcouf- nefsi partly, b^caufc'tis purchaftd by the rightcoufncfs ol ChrKU and partly, bccaufe he is righteous that hsth pro mlttd it> and partly, bccaufe it is a juft and righteous thing with God, to crown them with glory at laft, who have foi his honour been crowned with ihamc and reproach in this world i and partly, bccaufe they connc to this Crown, in the ufe of righteous wayes and means. And this Crown is faid to be laid up J to note our furc and certain enjoyment of it, as the Greek word 'A-jrox^Tai/, dos import. And let thu> much fuflice for Anfwer to this fecond Objection. I tvould jujlijie the Lordy 1 tvouldfay he is righteous , though my houfe he burnt up^ and I am turned out of all j but this trou- bles me, I have not an ejtate to do that good that formerly 1 have done. I vojs once juU^ but the Lord hath made me empty : 1 was once Naomi \ i. e. beautiful : but now God has made me M^rahj i.e. bitter y th Lord hath tejiif.ed againji me^ and tht Almighty hath afflGed me, and con fumed me on every hand. J have fed the poor ^ J have clothed the nak^d, I have received them that ppere in bonds : The blefjing of him that was ready to perijh came upon me i but now, I can do little or nothing for others j and this troubles me. I anfwer, Thy condition is no lower, thin was the con- dition of Chrirt and his Apoftles in this world. Silver and Gold have we none. A^s 3- 6. Sylvian fiith, thatChriftis Mendieorum maximus, the greatcQ Beggar in the world, as one that fhareth in all his Saints nccedities. Both ChriP and his followers when they were in this worJd , they were maintained by others. They had no Lands nor Lord- (hips, but lived upon others'cofis. But of this before j there- fore let this touch fufHce here. But, Secondly, God many times in this life, repairs his peoples charity Objeft. 3. Ruth I. ao, 21. Job 2^. 13. Anfw, 2. i6o London's Lamentations on M:.rth. 19,27,! 28j 29, 50. z.Cor. p. 6. to '4. Heb. 6. 10. Mattb. 10. 41. chanty with intcscH upon infcrcft. Their (cattcring is their encrcaiing : thtiir fpcnding is their lending: their layings our, ari butliyings up for thcmfrlves, Prov. 11. 24. There is thjtfcJtttreth, andytt mcreafeth. Vcrfc 25 The liberal foul fhallbt made fat : and he that mtereth ^ Jiall be watered alfo bimfdf. Iris fabltd ofMi//df, that what ever he touch- ed, he turned it into Gold. This 1$ moft tn'c of Charity •, what ever the hand of Charity touchcth, ir turntth it into Gold(be it but a cup of cold water ;nsy into Hcavm it k\i- i have read of one, who having given fomewhat to a poor nnan, and conlidaing wi-h himfelf, whether he had not m- jurcd himfelf, by ^,iving beyond his ability i prelently cor- re^eu hmflf with thofe thoughts, that hehadUnt it to one, that would pay wtll again-, and within an hour after, he had it rtftored above ftvnfold, in a way which he nrv^r thoug t'f. However God may cany it towards his peo- ple in this world, yet he will b: furc to repay their chanty m that other world. It i« ftoried ofoncE^^gfiK/ ( m Cz- drettus ) a rich maq who lying upon hjs cfcath-bed, and be- ing tiriporfuned by Sinefiusxht BiQiop, to give fomcthing to charitable ufcs, he yielded at laft to give three hundred pounds i but firft took Bond of the Biftiop, that u ftiould be payed hitn in another world ( according to the promi fc of our Saviour with a hundred fold advantage ) and ihc very next night after his departure, he appeared to the B (hop, dehveiing the Bond cancelled, and fully d (chatged •, thcrtby acknowledging, that what was promifed, was made gooJ. It is probable, that the relation is fabulous. Rut this is cer- tain, viz. That oncdayts being m Heaven, will make us a (ufficient rtconnpcnce for whatfocvci we have given, or do give, or (hall give in this world. But, Thirdly, If the conftant frame and difpofition of your hearts be, to do as much good as ever you did, or more good than ever you did, then you~may be confident , that the Lord accepts of your will for the deed, 2 Cor. 8. i z. tor if there be firji a vptding mind^ it it accepted according to that a manbathy and not according to that be hath mt. God prdcrs a willing mind, before a worthy work. God meafures all his . people A the late fiery Dijpenfation, 6i people, not by their works, but by their wills. When thi will is ftrongly cnclincd and byalTjd to works of charity, fo that a man would fam be a giving to the poor, and a fupply- ing the wants and necefHcies of the needy > but can*t foi want of aneftite> in this cafe God accepts of the will for the deed. I?<2t/ic/hada purpofe and a will to build God a houfc, and God took it (b kindly at his hands, that he di- fpatchcs an Embaffidour to him, to (ell him, how highly he refcntcd his purpofc and good Will, to build him a houfe The Widows will W4$ in her two mites which (he caftinto Gods Treafury > and therefore Chrid fersa more honourable value upon them, than he dos upon all the vA\ fumms that others caft in. Many Princes and Qijccns, Lords anc? Ladies are forgotten, when this poor Widow, who had a will to be nobly charitable, has her name written in letters of Gold, and her charity put upon record for all eternity Tne King of Pafia did lovingly accept of the poor mans handful oi water, becaufe his good will was in it, and put it into a Golden VcfTc), and gave the poor man the Vcflfcl of Gold. And do you think, that the King lA Kings will be out-done by the King ofFerfia .<* Surely no. But, Fourthly,and lallly, As there are more wayes to the Wood than onei fo there are more wayes of doing good to others than one, If thou canft not do fo much good to others a< formerly thou haft done, by thy Purfciyct thou maift do more good to others, than ever yet thcu haft done, by (hy Pcn,th> Parts, thy Prayers, thy Gifts, tiiy Graces, thy cxamphs Though thou art lefs fervicabL to their bodies y yet if thou art more fcrviccable than ever to their fouls. Thou haft no reafon to complain : there isnolovr, nocomp«flion,n(> pity, no charity, no mercy to that, which reaches immortal fouls, and which will turn moftto a mans account in the great day of out Lord ]cfus. I tvouJd jttfiifie ike Lord^ 1 would fay he is righteous, though my houfe be burnt m/>, and I am turned out of all « but Gnd ha* funifb'.dthe righteous with the wicked ( if not more than the wicked ). this fiery Kodbat fallen heavier upon many Saints^ than X X tjpon iChron. 6. 8 Mark '2. 41, 41.43,44. Obje 5* Ecclef. 9. 2. Communia efe vokit, &c. comma da pro- pbanis, &c. incommoda ■ (nit. Tertul. 2. Ffalm 77. i^~. Rom. II- 33. Pfalm 97. a. Pfalmje.d. upon manyfinnersy &c. Hotv then can I jufiifie God f How then cjn lf(ty^ that the Lord is righteous ? &c. In all the Ages of the world, Gods deareft children have oecn deep (harcrs with the wicked in all common calamities. Abraham 4nd his Fami'y were by Famine driven into Mgyp as well as others. And Ifaac and his Family, were by Fa- mine driven into the Pi[>i/i^i»/ Countrey, as well as other*. And Jacob and his Family,by Famine were driven mto Mgjft as well as others. And in "Davids time , there was a Fa- mine for three years : And in Elijahs time there was a fore Famine in Samaria. The difference that God puts between his own and others, are not feen in the adminiftration of thefe outward things. All things come alik^to all: there is one event to the righteous and to the wicked, to the good and to the clean, and to the unclean \ to him that (acrificeth, and to him that facriHceth not : as is the good, (bis the Gnner, and he that fweareth, as he that feareth an Oath } The pri- viledges of the Saints lye in temporals, but in fpiritua^s and eternals > clfcReligion would not be a matter of faith, but fcnfc : and men would ferve God, not for himfclf , but fot the gay and gallant things of this world. But, Secondly, There areas many My(^eries in Providences, as there are in Prophecics:and many Texts of Providence are as hard to upderAand,as many Texts of Scriptures are. Gods way is in the Sea,, his paths are in the great veatert , and his footjiepj are not kpown. His judgements are unjearcbabky and his ppayes are pafi finding out. And yet when clouds and darknefs arc round about him * righteoufnefs and judgement are the habitation of his Throne. When his Judgements arc a great deep v yet then his righteoufncls is like the great Moun- tains. There are many MyHeries in nature, and many my- fteries of State which we arc ignorant ofi and why then fliould we wonder, that there are many myfteries in Provi- dence, that we do not underftand. Let a man but fcrioufly coniider, how many podiblc deaths lurk in his own bowels, and the innumerable Holis of external dangers, which be- leaguers him on ev^ry fide > how many invilible ArroWs fly about the late fiery DiJ^enfation. m about his cars continually i and yet how few have hi; him and that none hitherto have mortally wounded him j and ir will doubtlcfs fo far affcdt his heart, as to work him to con dude, that great, and many, and myftcrious, arc the Provi dcnccs that daily attend upon him. Fives reports of a Jc^v, that having gone over a deep River on a narrow plancK in a dark night, and coming the next day, to fee what din ger he had cfcaped , fell down dead with altonifhiTicnt. Should God many tinncs but open to us, the mifterioufncfs of his Providences, they would be matter of amazement aid aftoniihment to us. I have read, that Marcia a Roman Prin- cefs being great with child, had the Babe in her killed wr^h lightning, (he her felf cfcaping the danger. What a my- Iterious Providence was this ^ Gods Providence towards his Servants, is as a wheel in the midft of a wheel > whofe mo- tion, and work^ and end in working, is not difcerned by a common eye. The agings of Divine Providence are many times fo dark, intricate and mylierious , that it will pofe men of the mof) raifcd parts, and of the choiceft experi- ences, and of the greateft Graces, to be able to difcern the wayesof Godin them. There are many my Series in the works of God, as well as in the word of God. But, Thirdly, Sometimes Gods own people fin with others, and therefore they fmart with others. Thus Mofes and /ia- ro» tinned with others, and therefore they were (hut out of Canaan^ and their C^rkalTcs fell in the Wilderncis as well as others. Pfal. io6. 35. Thejtpere mingkd among the Heathen^ and learned their tvorkj. Vcrfe 40. Iherefore was the wrath of the Lord kindled againji hii people^ infomuch^ that be abhorred bis inheritance. Jer. 9. 25,26. Behold the dajes come, jaiththe Lord, that I wiB punijh aU them which are circumcijed, with the ttncircumcijed. Egypt, that he may before all the world wip: off that reproach, which Atheifts and wicked men are apt to caft upon him, as if he were par- tial, at if he were a refpe^er of perfons y and as if his wayes were not jufland cquall. God to flop the mouth of iniqui- ty, the mouth of blafphemy, hath made his own people as defolate as others by that flcry calamity that has pafl uf^on them. Such men that have been eye witneiles of Gods impart ia] dealing with his own people in thofe dayes when Loudon was inflames, mufl fay, that God is, neither partial X x 9 nor Ter.i4. 1,2, ExoJ. 14. 20. i 6. E2ek. 18.25. 29. Chap. 33. 20. i \66 London's Lamentations on Luke II. ip. nor fond. And let thus much fufficc, by wdy ot Anfwer to this Objedion^ The third Duty that lyes upon thofc thit have been burnt up, is for them in patience to poffcfs their own fouls, and quietly to acquiefce in whdt the Lord has done. O Sirs, hold your peace, and bridle your paffions, and qaicrly Tub mit to the rtrokc of Divu^c Juliice. When Aarons Sons were devoured by fire, /^jr What were your houfcs to Aarons Sons ? All the houfcs in (he world, ar.: not fo near and dear to a man as his childr|n are. In this ftory concerning Aaron and his Sons, there are many things remarkable. As, \ Lev. 10. 1,}. The Hebrew vvord Danw?!, igniHes fi- lence, or ftil- lefs '• it figni- Hesa ftaying af the heart, a quietuig of the raiHcl. Aarons tnind was quiet and flill : all his unruly afFeftions and pafTiom, were (tilled and allayed, Gleafler obferves, that Jojhuab in fpeaking to the Sun Stand fiUl in Gibcon, ufeih the fame word CDT that is here ufed. fojhuaii. lo. So that this Phrafc, Aa on held hispeace, imports thus much. That ^d az Itood ftilljorftayed from further vexing, or troubling, or difquieting of himfelf 5 though at firft his heart was in a ftrangc violent motion, yet he recovers himfelf, and fiands fiill before the Loid. 1. That he had loft two of his Sons, yea, two of his eldcft Sons together at a clap. 2. Thcfe two were the moft honourable of the Sons of Aaron: as we may fee, Exod. 24. i. in that they only with their Father and the fevcnty Elders are appointed to come up to the Lord. 3. They were cut ofTby a fudden and unexpe^ed death, when neither themfelves nor their Father, thought their ru- ine had been fo near. Whatmifeiy to that of being fudden- ly furprizcd by a doleful death > 4. They were cut oiFby a way which might feem to te- ftifie Gods hot difpleafure againft them : for thty were de- voured by fire from God. They finned by fire, and they pe riOied by fire. Look, as fire came from the Lord before in mercy > fo now fire is fcnt from the Lord in Judgement. Certainly the manner of their death, pointed out the fia for which they were fmvCten. ' Now what Father ha^ not ra ,. .,„.,. -. - -.-' — -ther the late fiery Vifpenfation. 167 ther lofealihis children at once, by an ordinary Hroke of death, than to fee one of them deflroyed by Gods immcdi ate hand in fuch a terrible manner. 5. They were thus fmitten by the Lord on the very firft day of their cntring upon that high honour of their PiicHly F mdion* and when their hearts weire doubtkfs full of joy, now to be fuddenly thunder- ()ruck in fuch aSun-(hine day Gf cnercy, as this fecmed to be, muft needs add wcjght to thtii calamity and mifeiy. " 6. They were cut off with fuch great feverity for a very fmalluffence, if reafbn may be permitted to (it as Judge in the cafe. They were made monuments of divine vengeance only for taking fire to burn the Incenfe, from one place, when they fbould have taken it from another. And this they did (fay fume) not purpofcly, but through roiftike, and at fuch a time, when they had much work lying upon their hands, and were but newly cntred upon their new employment. Now notwithftandingall this y^^ruw held hii peace. It may be, at fiti\, when he faw his Sons devoured by fire, hif heart began to wrangle, and his paflions began to work : but when he confidered the righteoufnefs of God on the one hand, and the glory that God would get to him- fdf on the other hand > he prefcntly checks himfclf, and layes his hand upon his mouth, and ftands fliill and filent before the Lord. Though it be noteafie in great afflictions with Aaron^ to hold our peace i yet it is very advantageous: which the Heathens feemed to intimite, in placing the Image of Angeroniay with the mouth bound upon the Altar of VoIh- pia^ to (hew, that they do prudently and patiently bear, and conceal their troubles, forrows and anxietie.*, they (hall at- tain (0 comfort at laft. What the Apollle faith of the di< l^reffed Hthretvs^ zdct the fpoyling of theii goods, Te have need of fatience : the fame I may fay to you, who have loft your houfe*, your Shops, your Trades, yonr all : you have need ycj, you have great need of patience. Though thy mercies are few, and thy mifeiies are many ^ though thy mercies art fmall, and thy intfcries are great > yet look that thy fpirit be qaiet, and that thou doft fwcetly ^cquiefce in the will I " Heb. ro.34, i6S London's Lamentations on Pfalm 35?. 9. See my M'tc Chiift'aj^ un- der :he fmarc- inorod, where theexcellenc)' of patience & the evil of im- patience, is largely fet forth. Will of God. Now God h*ih laid his hcry Rod upon your backs, it will be your greateft wifdom to lay your hands upon yoar mouth?, and to fay with David^ I vpus dunth^ I opened not my mouthy becaufe thottdidji it. To be patient and iilent under the fharpcft Providences, and thcforcft Judge- ments.y. is as much a Ch'riitians glory, as it is his duty. The patient Chriltian feels the want of nothing. Patience will give contentment in the midli of want. No lofs, no croP, no affli(ftion wtll lit heavy upon a patient foul. Vionjfim faith, that this benefit he had by the iiudy of Philofophie, viz. That he bore with patience all thoie tlterations and changes that he met with in his outward condition. Now (hall Nature do more than Grace? Shall the ftudyofPhi- ofophy, do more than the ftudy ot ChriO, Scripture, and a mansown heart ? Bur, : ; The fourth Duty that lyes upon thofe who have been burned up, is to fet up the Lord m a more eminent degree than ever, as the great obj.tt of their fear. Oh how (hould we fear and tremble before the great God, whij^is able to turn the mo() ferviceable and u(cful creatures to us, to be the means of dcftroying of us , H<.b. 12. 28. Let ui have gracf whtreby tve mayjerve Gad acpeptjblyy ivitb reverence and godly fear. Vcrfe 29. For our God is a confuming fire. Here are two Arguments to work the Saints to fet up God as the great obje^ of their fear. Thc-fiift is drawn from (he tcrri- blencfs of Gods Majefly, He is aconjumingpe. The fccondis drawn from the relation which is between God and his p.o- plc, Ottr God. What a Orange Title is this of the great God, that we meet with in this place ? and yci th s it olc of the Titles of God, exprtffivg his nature, and n: which he glories, that he is calUd a confuming iire. Thcfe words Go^^ it a confuming ^re, are not to be taken properly, butmeta- phoric«lly. Fire we know, is a very terrible and dreadful Creature : and fo may very well ferve, tr/Tet forth to us the terriblcncfs and dreadfolnefs of God. Now God is here faid ^d^bc a confuming or devouring fire. . The word in th^ Oi j- ginal, Hirrtr^Aioxo^, is doubly coiBpoundcd, and fa the Signi- fication the late fiery Dijpenfatm, 169 SeePfal foj. Ifa. :?j. H- Deut. i8. J8, fication is augmented and encrcafed, to note to us the ex> cceding tcrriblencft of the fire that is hcrenmeanf. When God would fet forth himftlf to be moit terrible and dread- ful to the fons of men, he dos it by this rcfemblancc of fire, which of all things is moft terrible and intolcrabk , Deut. 4. 24. For the Lord thy God if a confumingjire \ even a jealnUf God. The Hebrew word •^'?3N that is here rendered con- /Wotw^, doih properly (ii^mdc devouring or eatings it comes from <5^, which lignirics to deveur and eat i and by a Meta- phor it figniiicth to conjitme ox dejiroy. God is a devouring Hre, a eating fire, and tinners, and all they have, is but bread and meat for divine wrath to feed upon, Deut: p. 3. Vndirjiand there/ere this day^ that the Lord thy Gcd is he^ which goetb before thee as a confumingfire : he (hall dejiroy them^and hejhallbring them dr>»n before thy fact : fo fhalt thou drive them out^ and dejiroy them qnick^^ as the Lord hathftid unto thee. What more violent, what more iirefiltible, what more ter- rible, than fire ? O how much therefore dos it concern us, to fet up that God, as the great objc