Jacobs ladder, or, The devout souls ascention to Heaven, in prayers, thanksgivings, and praises in four parts ... : with graces and thanksgivings : illustrated with sculptures / by Jo. Hall.

Vpon the Dreadful Pestilence in 1665.

ON the great City of this Sinful Land, London, with Wealth, and Folk a∣bounding, and With sin, the cause of woe too, God first pour'd The brim full Vial of his wrath, and showr'd His ireful Judgments; There his Angel drew, The sword of Vengeance, and that people slew, At first by Tens, which soon to Hundreds come; Then Thousands weekly sent to their long home. The frighted Citizens, begin to fly, From house and habitation, lest they dye. A wrathful day, a dismal time, wherein Thousands receive the wages of their sin. Now might you see, Red Crosses there great store,

And Lord have Mercy, upon many a door. The Knells of death, continually do ring, And that same doleful sound of Buryers, Bring Your dead out. Mortal ears with Terror Pierce! And now a Cart becomes too many a Hearse: Now might you see all faces blackness gather; The son lamenting, for his dying Father; The wife for her deceased husband crying; And parents, mourning for their Children dying. And some who did in stately houses dwell, Now gladly creep into a Country Cell. And others wandering up and down the Fields, No Town, or Village, them admittance yeilds. Thus from the Rod of God, poor sinners fly; Not from their Crimes, for which they smart, and dye. Had you your selves forsaken, when at home. You need not thus about the countrey rome. Had you fled from your sins before as fast, You need not from the Plague, have made such hast.

There have been three great Plagues in London, within these sixty years; and how much greater this last was then the former, may appear by this Comparison:

In the year 1625.
Buried of all Diseases	54265
Whereof of the Plague	35417
In the year 1636.
Buried of all Diseases	23359
Whereof of the Plague	10400
In the year 1665.
Buried of all Diseases	97301
Whereof of the Plague	68586