their death and separation so there is a great difference between the carriage of their spirits at their death and upon their sick Bed Some wicked men are stupid and senseless and are given up to a judiciary hardness and dye in a sleep of carnal security out of which they are not awakened till they are awakned in the midst of flames others more sensible and considering what hath been and what is coming upon them are filled with unexpressible terrour through the roarings and tearings of a guilty accusing conscience and the fore-thoughts of that horrible unsupportable torment they are so neer unto Now scaring dreams do terrifie them and fearfulness of the bottomless Pit and the burning Lake below doth surprize them and some breaketh forth in the anguish of their despairing souls Who can dwell with devouring Fire who can inhabit everlasting burnings and however jovial and full of pleasure their life hath been yet at their latter end they are utterly consumed with terrours But mark the perfect man and behold the upright the end of that Man is peace whatsoever storms they have had in their passage through a rough Sea the wind blowing and the waves roaring and sometimes have been ready to sink through opposition and discouragement sometimes have been over-whelmed with grief and doubtings sometimes have been dasht upon the Rocks of terrour and perplexity yet now they are come to the haven of death the Winds are husht and still the Waves are smooth and silent the storm is over and there is a great calm upon their spirits they are past the Rocks and are out of the danger they feared when they are in the greatest danger of approaching death It was generally observed amongst us that Gods people who dyed by the Plague amongst the rest dyed with such peace and comfort as Christians do not ordinarily arrive unto except when they are called forth to suffer martyrdome for the testimony of Jesus Christ. Some who have been full of doubts and fears and complaints whilst they have lived and been well have been filled with assurance and comfort and praise and joyful expectation of glory when they have layn on their death-beds with this disease And not only more grown Christians who have been more ripe for glory have had these comforts but also some younger Christians whose acquaintance with the Lord hath been of no long standing I can speak something of mine own knowledge concerning some of my friends whom I have been withall I shall instance only in the house where I lived We were eight in Family three Men three Youths an old Woman and a maid all which came to me hearing of my stay in Town some to accompany me others to help me It was the latter end of September before any of us were toucht the young ones were not idle but improved their time in praying and hearing and were ready to receive instruction and were strangly born up against the fears of the disease and death every day so familiar to the view But at last we were visited and the Plague came in dreadfully upon us the Cup was put into our hand to drink after a neighbour Family had tasted it with whom we had much sweet society in this time of sorrow And first our Maid was smitten it began with a shivering and trembling in her flesh and quickly seised on her spirits it was a sad day which I believe I shall never forget I had been abroad to see a friend in the City whose Husband was newly dead of the Plague and she her self visited with it I came back to see another whose Wife was dead of the Plague and he himself under apprehensions that he should die within a few hours I came home and the Maid was on her Death-bed and another crying out for help being left alone in a sweating fainting fit What was an interest in Christ worth then what a priviledge to have a title to the Kingdom of Heaven But I proceed It was the Monday when the Maid was smitten on Thursday she dyed full of tokens on Friday one of the Youths had a swelling in his groin and on the Lords day died with the marks of the distemper upon him on the same day another Youth did sicken and on the Wednesday following he died on the thursday night his Master fell sick of the disease and within a day or two was full of spots but strangely beyond his own and others expectations recovered Thus did the Plague follow us and came upon us one by one as Iob's Messengers came one upon the heels of another so the Messengers of death came so close one after another in such dreadfull manner as if we must all follow one another immediately into the Pit Yet the Lord in mercy put a stop to it and the rest were preserved But that which was very remarkable in this Visitation was the carriage especially of those Youths that died who I believe were less troubled themselves then others were troubled for them The first Youth that was visited being asked by his Father concerning the provision he had made for his death and eternity told him he hop't if he died he should go to Heaven being asked the grounds of his hopes said the Lord had enabled him to look beyond the World and when he was drawing neer to his end boldly enquired whether the tokens did yet appear saying that he was ready for them and so a hopeful bud was nipt but let not the Father or the Mother weep and be in sadness for him he is I don't doubt with their Father and his Heavenly Father which may be their comfort The other also was a very sweet hopefull Youth so loving and towardly that it could not choose but attract love from those that were acquainted with him But the grace he had gotten in those years being I suppose under seventeen did above all beautify him and stand him in the greatest stead in his sickness he had much quiet and serenity upon his spirit and lay so unconcerned at the thoughts of approaching death that I confess I marvelled to see it the sting and fear of death were strangely taken out through the hopes which he had of future glory yet once he told his Mother he could desire to live a little longer if it were the will of God she asked him why he desired it he told her he desired to live till fire and faggot came and above all he would fain die a Martyr she said if he died now he should have a Crown he answered but if he died a Martyr he should have a more glorious Crown yet he was not unwilling to receive his Crown presently and went away with great peace and sweetness in his looks to his fathers house and I could not blame the Mothers grief for the loss of such an only Son but to be so immoderate was not well now I am sure it is time to dry up tears and lay aside sorrows for the loss of
is envying And this sin was to be found not only in Women which envied others that exceeded them in beauty of body in cloaths and dressing and such like toyes but also in men who envied them who were of the same trade which had better houses and shops more custome and wealth than themselves as Hesiod 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Yea this envying was to be found among many Ministers who envied others that had better parts and more learning greater applause and more auditors than themselves There was a spirit among us which lusted to envy Jam. 4. 5. which besides the great torment that it brings to the spirit where it reigns is a very great provocation to the Lord. 23. The twenty third sin of London is slandering and backbiting which hath been the consequent of the former The ninth commandment hath been exceedingly broken in London especially in a private way of bearing false witness against the neighbour and wounding his reputation by a slanderous tongue some inventing lyes and raising slanders which they have in their consciences known to be false others taking up slanders readily believing them without any just proof This sin you have set forth with a caution to take heed of such persons Ier. 9. 4 5. London hath been full of backbiters and tale-bearers and too many professours have been guilty of this sin few have entertained backbiters with an angry countenance which as the wind driveth away rain would have driven them out of sight I might here add the hatred of one another that hath been in London much through slanders the emulation that hath risen from hatred the wrath that hath risen from emulation and the wrath of God which hath arisen from these and other works of the flesh spoken of Gal. 5. 19 20. 24. The twentyfourth sin of London is murmuring and that not only in want and under losses and crosses but also in fulness and plenty Many Farmers in the Countrey have murmured at the plenty and cheapness of Corn many tradesmen in the City have murmured at the plenty of the commodities which they have dealt in because however such plenty is a publick and unspeakable mercy yet they have had the less private advantage which hath been chiefly regarded by them Yea some in their murmuring have wished for a Plague that the survivers might have the better trade And I have heard that a Fire also hath been wisht for to take off the plenty of such commodities that the remainder might bear the higher rate Is it a wonder then if God have sent Plague and Fire which some have called for by such murmuring speeches The Israelites in the Wilderness were plagued for their murmuring and the murmuring company of Corah that were not swallowed up with him were consumed by a fire from Heaven 25. The twenty fifth and last sin of London which I shall speak of is Carnal security another of Sodoms sins It is said of the Sodomites Luk. 17. 28 29. In the days of Lot they did eat they drank they bought they sold they planted they builded But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from Heaven and destroyed them all When London had provoked God so highly by so many sins yet how secure were they before his judgements broke forth upon them they eat and drank they bought and sold c. They sate at ease and put far from them the evil day as Amos 6. they were still and at rest little expecting such changes as have come upon them and taking little care to prevent them they were secure and trusted in arms of flesh broken reeds which have alwayes failed And I might add here as a cause of the security of some the presumptuous confidences of future events which belong only to God to foreknow which some have taken upon them so absolutely to determine as if they had looked into the book of Gods decrees or had an infallible revelation from him of what should come to pass O the good dayes that some have looked for upon the presumption of what they had no ground for Great expectations many had of the Fall of Antichrist and Babylon in the year 1666. and other events limiting times which God hath not clearly revealed which is an entrenching upon Gods prerogative and I believe a greater provocation than such persons are aware of This may be one reason why London is fallen instead of Babylon in this year of such expectation and presumption By this time it may be the Reader may be wearied with reading as I am with thinking and writing of Londons sins But how hath the Lord been wearied with the bearing of them how hath he been pressed with the weight of them as a Cart is pressed that is full of Sheaves Amos 2. 13. If when you have read of Londons judgements withall you consider Londons provocations you must needs acknowledge that God is righteous in that he hath punished London no more than they have deserved for these sins 2. GOds Righteousness will further appear if we consider that he hath punished London less than her iniquities deserved 1. God might have punished London deservedly with more dreadful judgements here and that both in the same and another kind 1. God might have deservedly punished London worse in the same kind 1. In the judgement of the Plague It was a dreadful Plague indeed but God could have made it more dreadful where he shot one arrow he might have shot an hundred he visited many families he might have visited every family and swept every house with the beesome of destruction Though so many fell yet I believe that five parts in six of the inhabitants of London were preserved God might have taken away the five parts and have left but one alive yea it might have been said of London as it was of Israel Amos 5. 2 3. The Virgin of Israel is fallen she shall rise no more the City that went out by a thousand shall leave an hundred God might have made every hundred that dyed by the Plague a thousand he might have sent out his arrows after all the inhabitants of London that were gone into the Countrey and smitten them wheresoever he found them or he might have met with them upon their return home and given commission to Death to lay hold on them assoon as they entred into their doors He might have depopulated the City of London by the Plague so that every house should have had dead Corpses lying and none to bury them He might have made our Plague wonderful fearful and of long continuance We that have survived so great a mortality have reason to say that deservedly it might have been greater that we deserved as much or more to fall for our more heinous sins than thousands that are gone down into the pitt surely it is of the Lords mercies that we are not consumed he was merciful in sparing of us he would have
powder suppose whilest you are breathing forth threatnings against any of Christs Disciples and are in the heat of your rage and furious persecution of them you should hear such a voice as Paul did from Heaven Sinners sinners why persecute you me would it not cool and stop you you may hear this voice if you will open your ear unto the word It is Christ you persecute in his Disciples it is Christ you wound thorow their sides you would do the same to him as the Jews did were he alive amongst you and you had the same power as sometimes was put into their hands against the Lord of life I will not charge London with and therefore need not warn them generally against the sin of persecution of Gods people because they have been a shelter to them when the times have frowned most upon them but are there none have need of this warning are there no Iudas's amongst them none of Pauls spirit before his Conversion Persecutors forbear this sin which makes you as like the Devil as any that I know and locks you fastest in his arms which is the very next door to the sin against the Holy Ghost which will bring upon you swift destruction which will sink you into the lowest parts of the bottomless pit which will lash and sting your Consciences with horrible scourges hereafter if they be not awakened with horrour here turn from this sin before it be too late Imitate Paul and become friends to them against whom you have expressed so much enmity and spight 8. Covetous persons turn from your evil wayes God hath smitten you for the iniquity of your covetousness do not go frowardly on in this sin he hath substracted much of the fuel of this sin and burnt it in the fire let there be a greater decay in your lust of Covetousness than there hath been in any of your estates Covetousness is one of the sins which the Apostle would not have so much as named amongst the Saints Ephes. 5. 3. It is a sin if it reign which is inconsistent with the truth of grace and power of Godliness because it is Idolatry Col. 3. 5. and the Apostle tells us expresly that Covetous persons shall not inherit the Kingdom of God 1 Cor. 9. 10. yea that the wrath of God shall come upon them Ephes. 5. 6. Covetous persons turn from your sin get this earthly member mortified get your hearts loosened from those things which you have hitherto made your God and in which you have sought for your chiefest felicity Have you little in the world be contented with the portion which God gives you you have as much as God seeth fit for you Heb. 13. 5. Let your conversation be without covetousness and be content with such things as you have Covetousness may not heal your poverty any more than riches can heal your Covetousness Have you much in the world do your riches encrease set not your heart upon them make use of what God hath given you without such pinching and self-deniall which the Lord Jesus never commanded in his precepts of that kind God never gave riches to save but to use take heed of exceeding the bounds in spending and do not spare the moderate use of what you have for fear of future wanting use part of your estates for your selves in what is needful for the body and sutable to your degree and quality lay aside part for your posterity and lay out part in the help of those in necessity for relief of the poor whereby you will lay up for your selves a good foundation for the time to come and at last lay hold on eternal life 1 Tim. 6. 18 19. 9. Vnrighteous persons turn from your evil wayes God hath been righteous in his Judgements because you have been unrighteous in your dealings and as his Judgements are a reproof of your sin so are they a warning to you to leave it Unrighteous gains will yield you little advantage in the issue See what the Apostle Iames speaks of the wealth which men get in such a way Chap. 5. 2 3 4. Your riches are corrupted and your garments Moth-eaten Your Gold and Silver is cankered and the rust of them shall be a witness against you and shall eat your flesh as it were fire ye have heaped treasure together for the last dayes Behold the hire of your labourers which have reaped down your fields which is of you kept back by fraud cryeth and the cryes have entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabboth The curse of God goeth along with unlawfull unrighteous gains and is like Moth and Rust to corrupt and canker them they bring a fire into the flesh and bones which will eat and torment they pierce men thorow with many sorrows and at their latter end utterly consume them with terrours if their conscience be awakened Unrighteous persons do not heap up such treasures of wealth as by sin they heap up treasures of wrath against the last day the wrongs which they do to others cry with a loud voice to God and the Lord will be the avenger of all such as are defrauded Let them that have been unrighteous then be unrighteous no more you cannot wrong others so much by this sin as you wrong your selves shake your hands of dishonest gains make restitution of what you have defrauded others as you expect salvation non remittitur peccatum nisi restituctur ablatum This is a hard saying to some who have no other wealth but what they have gained in a dishonest and unrighteous way but will it not be harder to suffer the vengeance of Eternal fire for this sin is it not better to impoverish your selves that you may be just and honest whilest you live than to be damned and thrust into a place of torment when you die you must leave what you have if God do not take away what you have by some temporal Calamity before be sure Death will strip you of all and is it not better for you to part with it your selves to the just owners when this is the way to obtain pardon and peace and an Inheritance which is of a thousand fold more value And do not fear but God will make provision for you whilest you abide in the world if you resolve to be honest and put your trust in him who hath the dispose of the Earth and the fulness thereof Be righteous for the future do not swerve a hair from the Rule of Right what you would that others should do unto you do unto them this is a Principle inscribed upon the heart by Nature and this is the Law and the Prophets Matth. 7. 12. 10. Hypocrites turn from your evil wayes Methinks the terrible voice of God should affrighten you under your Hypocritical showes and outside Devotions Methinks you should now bend your hearts to please the Lord and approve your selves chiefly to him who hath expressed so much displeasure against sinners and is most highly
the death of some one or more that I knew The first day that they were smitten the next day some hopes of recovery and the third day that they were dead The September when we hoped for a decrease because of the season because of the number gone and the number already dead yet it was not come to its height but from 6102. which died by the Plague the last week of August the number is augmented to 6988 the first week in September and when we conceived some little hopes in the next weeks abatement to 6544 our hopes were quite dashed again when the next week it did rise to 7165. which was the highest Bill And a dreadful Bill it was and of the 130. Parishes in and about the City there were but 4 Parishes which were not infected and in those few people remaining that were not gone into the Country Now the grave doth open its mouth without measure Multitudes multitudes in the valley of the shadow of death thronging daily into eternity the Church-yards now are stufft so full with dead corpses that they are in many places swell'd two or three foot higher than they were before and new ground is broken up to bury the dead Now Hell from beneath is moved at the number of the guests that are received into its chambers the number of the wicked which have died by the Plague no doubt hath been far the greatest as we may reasonably conclude without breach of charity and it is certain that all the wicked which then died in sin were turned into Hell how then are the damned spirits now encreased some were damning themselves a little before in their oaths and God is now damning their souls for it and is passing the irreversible sentence of damnation upon them Some were drinking Wine in bowls a little before and strong drink without measure and now God hath put another cup into their hands a cup of red Wine even the Wine of the wrath and fierceness of the Almighty some were a little before feasting their senses pleasing their appetite satisfying the desires of the flesh and being past feeling had given themselves up to lasciviousness to work all uncleanness with greediness but now their laughter is turned into mourning and their joy into howling and woe Now they have recovered their feeling again but instead of the pleasures which they felt and their sensual delights which took away the feeling of their consciences they are made to feel the heavy hand of God and to endure such anguish and horrour through the sense of Gods wrath as no tongue can express Now the Atheists believe there is a God and the Anti-scripturists is convinced of the truth of Gods Word by the execution of Gods threatnings in the Word upon them Now the covetous and unjust the malicious and cruel the scoffers and profane begin to suffer the vengeance of eternal fire and the ignorant person with the civil who are unacquainted with Jesus Christ are not excused yea the hypocrites with all impenitent and unbelieving persons are sent down to the place of weeping and surely hell wonders to see so many come amongst them from such a City as London where they have enjoyed such plenty of such powerful means of grace and place is given to them even the lowest and hottest where Iudas and others are of the chiefest note Yet Hell doth not engross all that dye by the visitation some there are though not the first or most who have room made for them in the mansions which are above the Plague makes little difference between the righteous and the wicked except the Lord by a peculiar providence do shelter some under his wing and compass them with his favour as with a shield hereby keeping off the darts that are shot so thick about them yet as there is little difference in the body of the righteous and of others so this disease makes little discrimination and not a few fearing God are cut off amongst the rest they dye of the same distemper with the most profane they are buried in the same grave and there sleep together till the morning of the resurrection but as there is a difference in their spirits whilst they live so there is a difference and the chiefest difference in their place and state after their separation from the body Dives is carryed to Hell and Lazarus to Abrahams bosome though he dyed with his body full of sores Devils drag the souls of the wicked after they have received their final doom at the Bar of God into utter darkness where there is weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth but Angels convey the souls of the righteous into the heavenly Paradise the new Ierusalem which is above where God is in his glory and the Lord Jesus Christ at his right hand and thousand thousands stand before him and ten thousand times ten thousand administer unto him even an innumerable company of Angels and where the spirits of all just men and women made perfect were before gathered where there is fulness of joy and rivers of eternal pleasures running about the Throne of God the streams of which do make glad all the Inhabitants of new Jerusalem Now the weak prison doors of the body are broken down and the strong everlasting Gates of their Fathers Palace are lifted up and the Saints are received with joy and triumph into glory and they come with singing into Zion and everlasting joy in their hearts and all sorrow and sighing doth fly away like a cloud which never any more shall be seen Now the vail is rent and they enter the holy of holies where God dwells not in the darkness of a thick cloud as in the Temple of old but in the brightness of such marvelous light and glory as their eyes never did behold neither could enter into their heart to conceive there they have the vision of Gods face without any eclipse upon the light of his countenance there they have the treasures of Gods love opened and his armes to receive them with dearest and sweetest embracements which kindles in their hearts such a flame of love so ravishing and delightful as words cannot utter there they are entertained by the Lord Jesus Christ whom in the World they have served and he that shewed them his grace which they have wondred at when they were in the body doth now shew them his glory which they wonder at much more There they are welcomed by Angels who rejoyce if at their conversion much more at their coronation there they sit down with Abraham Isaac and Iacob in the Kingdome of their Father there they find Moses and David and Samuel and Paul and all the holy Martyrs and Saints which have dyed before them amongst whom they are numbred and placed who rejoyce in their increased society And as there is a great difference between the condition of the souls of the righteous and the wicked who dyed by the same disease of the Plague after