God's terrible voice in the city by T.V.

SECT. V.

THe Plague so great, so lately, should not be forgotten; yet lest the fire more lately, and propotionably more great, and the amazing fears, which since have risen within us, should shuffle former thoughts out of our minds, and rase out the impressions, which by the Plague we had, and should labour to retain to our dying hour: there∣fore I shall give a brief narration of this sad judg∣ment, and some observations of mine own (who was here in the City from the beginning to the end of it) both to keep alive in my self and others, the memory of the judgment, that we may be the better prepared for compliance with Gods designe in sending the Plague amongst us.

It was in the year of our Lord 1665. that the Plague began in our City of London, after we were warned by the great Plague in Holland in the year 1664. & the beginning of it in some remote parts of our Land the same year; not to speak any thing whether there was any signification and influence in the Blazing-star not long before, that appeared in the view of London, and struck some amazement upon the spirits of many: It was in the moneth of May that the Plague was first taken notice of; our Bill of Mortality did let us know but of three which died of the disease in the whole year before; but in the beginning of May the bill tels us of nine, which fell by the Plague, just in the heart of the City, the other eight in the Suburbs. This was the first arrow of warning that was shot from Heaven amongst us, and fear quickly begins to creep upon peoples hearts; great thoughts and discourse there is in Town about the Plague, and they cast in their minds whether they should go if the Plague should increase. Yet when the next weeks Bill signifieth to them the disease from 9 to 3. their minds are something appeased; discourse of that subject cools; fears are husht, and hopes take place, that the black cloud did but threaten, and give a few drops; but the wind would drive it away. But when in the next Bill the number of the dead by the Plague is mounted from 3 to 14, and in the next to 17, and in the next to 43, and the disease begins so much to increase, and di∣sperse.

Now secure sinners begin to be startled, and

those who would have slept at quiet still in their nests, are unwillingly awakened. Now a great consternation seizeth upon most persons, and fearful bodings of a desolating judgment. Now guilty sinners begin to look about them, and think with themselves into what corner of the Land they might fly to hide them. Now the profane and sensual, if they have not remorse for their sins; yet dread and terrors, the effects of guilt, they could not drive from them; and if by com∣pany, and carousing, and soft pleasures they do intoxicate and smoothen their spirits in the day; yet we may guess what dread doth return upon them if they give but any room for retirement, and what hideous thoughts such persons have in the silent night, through fears of death which they are in danger of. Now those who did not believe an unseen God, are affraid of unseen arrows; and those which slighted Gods threatnings of eternal judgments, do tremble at the beginning of his execution of one, and not the greatest temporal judgment. Now those which had as it were challenged the God of Heaven, and defied him by their horrid oaths and blasphemies, when he begins to appear, they retreat, yea fly away with terror and amazement. The great Orbs begin first to move; the Lords and Gentry retire into their Countries; their remote houses are prepa∣red, goods removed, and London is quickly upon their backs: few ruffling Gallants walk the streets: few spotted Ladies to be seen at windows: a great forsaking there was of the adjacent places where the Plague did first rage.

In Iune the number increaseth from 43 to an 112. the next week to 168. the next to 267. the next to 470. most of which increase was in the remote parts; few in this month within, or neer the walls of the City; and few that had any note for goodness or profession, were visited at the first: God gave them warning to bethink and prepare themselves; yet some few that were choice were visited pretty soon, that the best might not promise to themselves a supercedeas, or interpret any place of Scripture so literally, as if the Lord had promised an absolute general immunity and defence of his own people from this disease of the Plague.

Now the Citizens of London are put to a stop in the carrier of their trade; they begin to fear whom they converse withall, and deal withall, least they should have come out of infected places. Now roses and other sweet flowers wi∣ther in the Gardens, are dis-regarded in the Markets, and People dare not offer them to their noses, lest with their sweet savour, that which is infectious should be attracted: Rue and Wormwood is taken into the hand; Myrrhe and Zedoary into the mouth; and without some antidote few stir abroad in the morning. Now many houses are shut up where the Plague comes, and the inhabitants shut in, lest coming abroad they should spread infection. It was very dis∣mal to behold the red Crosses, and read in great letters, Lord have mercy upon us, on the doors, and Watchmen standing before them with Halberts, and such a solitude about those places, and people

passing by them so gingerly, and with such fear∣ful looks, as if they had been lined with enemies in ambush, that waited to destroy them.

Now rich Tradesmen provide themselves to depart, if they have not Country-houses, they seek lodgings abroad for themselves and families, and the poorer tradesmen, that they may imitate the rich in their fear, stretch themselves to take a Country journey, though they have scarce where∣withall to bring them back again. The Mini∣sters also many of them take occasion to go to their Country places for the Summer time; or it may be to find out some few of their Parishio∣ners that were gone before them, leaving the greatest part of their flock without food or phy∣sick, in the time of their greatest need. (I don't speak of all Ministers, those which did stay out of choice and duty, deserve true honour) pos∣sibly they might think God was now preaching to the City, and what need their preaching; or rather did not the thunder of Gods voice affrigh∣ten their guilty consciences, and make them fly away, lest a bolt from Heaven should fall upon them, and spoil their preaching for the future: and therefore they would reserve themselves, till the people had less need of them. I do not blame many Citizens retiring, when there was so little trading, and the presence of all might have hel∣ped forward the increase and spreading of the infection; but how did guilt drive many away, where duty would have engaged them to stay in the place? Now the high waies are thronged with passengers, and goods, & London doth emp∣tie it self into the Country; great are the stirs

and hurries in London by the removal of so many families; fear puts many thousands on the wing, and those think themselves most safe, that can flie furthest off from the City.

In Iuly the Plague encreaseth, and prevaileth exceedingly, the number of 470. which died in one week by the disease ariseth to 725 the next week▪ to 1089 the next, to 1843 the next, to 2010 the next. Now the Plague compasseth the walls of the City like a flood, and poureth in upon it. Now most Parishes are infected, both without and within; yea there are not so many houses shut up by the Plague, as by the owners forsaking of them for fear of it; and though the Inhabitants be so exceedingly decreased by the departure of so many thousands, yet the number of dying per∣sons doth increase fearfully. Now the Coun∣tries keep guards, left infections persons should from the City bring the disease unto them; most of the rich are now gone, and the middle sort will not stay behind; but the poor are forced through poverty to stay and abide the storm. Now most faces gather paleness, and what dis∣mal apprehensions do then fill the minds, what dreadful fears do there possess the spirits, espe∣cially of those whose consciences are full of guilt, and have not made their peace with God? the old drunkards and swearers, and unclean per∣sons are brought into great straits; they look on the right hand, and on the left, and death is marching towards them from every part, and they know not whither to flie that they may e∣scape it. Now the Arrows begin to flie very

thick about their ears, and they see many fellow-sinners fall before their faces, expecting every hour themselves to be smitten; and the very sin∣king fears they have had of the Plague, hath brought the Plague and death upon many: some by the sight of a Coffin in the streets have fallen into a shivering, and immediatly the disease hath assaulted them, and Sergeant Death hath arrested them, and clapt too the doors of their houses upon them, from whence they have come forth no more, till they have been brought forth to their graves; we may imagine the hideous thoughts and horrid perplexity of mind, the tremblings, confusions, and anguish of spirit, which some awakened sinners have had, when the Plague hath broke in upon their houses, and sei∣zed upon neer relations, whose dying groans sounding in their ears have warned them to pre∣pare: when their doors have been shut up and fastned on the outside with an Inscription, Lord have mercy upon us, and none suffered to come in but a Nurse, whom they have been more afraid of, then the Plague it self: when lovers and friends, and companions in sin have stood aloof, and not dared to come nigh the door of the house, lest death should issue forth from thence upon them; especially when the disease hath invaded themselves; and first began with a pain and diziness in their head, then trembling in their other members; when they have felt boiles to arise under their arms, and in their groins, and seen blaines to come forth in other parts: when the disease hath wrought in them to that height as to send forth those spots which (most think)

are the certain tokens of neer approaching death; and now they have received the sen∣tence of death within themselves, and have cer∣tainly concluded, that within a few hours they must go down into the dust; and their naked souls, without the case of their body, must make its passage into eternity, and appear before the highest Majesty, to render their accounts, and receive their sentence: None can utter the hor∣rour, which hath been upon the spirits of such, through the lashes and stings of their guilty consciences, when they have called to mind a life of sensuality, and profaneness, their unclean∣ness, drunkenness, injustice, oaths, curses, deri∣sion of Saints, and holiness, neglect of their own salvation; and when a thousand sins have been set in order before their eyes, with another as∣pect, than when they looked upon them in the temptation; and they find God to be irrecon∣cileably angry with them, and that the day of grace is over, the door of mercy is shut, and that pardon and salvation (which before they slighted) is now unattainable; that the grave is now opening its mouth to receive their bodies, and hell opening its mouth to receive their souls; and they apprehend, that they are now just en∣tring into a place of endless wo and torment, and they must now take up their lodgings in the infe∣riour regions of utter darkness, with devils and their fellow damned sinners, and there abide for evermore in the extremity of misery, without any hopes or possibility of a release; and that they have foolishly brought themselves into this condition, and been the cause of their own ruin;

we may guess that the dispairful agonies, and anguish of such awakened sinners hath been of all things the most unsupportable; except the very future miseries themselves, which they have been afraid of.

In August how dreadful is the increase? from 2010 the number amounts up to 2817 in one week; and thence to 3880 the next; thence to 4237 the next; thence to 6102 the next; and all these of the Plague, besides other diseases.

Now the cloud is very black, and the storm comes down upon us very sharp. Now death rides triumphantly on his pale horse through our streets, and breaks into every house almost where any inhabitants are to be found. Now people fall as thick as leaves from the trees in Autumn, when they are shaken by a mighty wind. Now there is a dismal solitude in London-streets, every day looks with the face of a Sabbath day, obser∣ved with greater solemnity than it used to be in the City. Now shops are shut in, people rare and very few that walk about, in so much that the grass begins to spring up in some places, and a deep silence almost in every place, especially within the walls; no ratling Coaches, no pran∣cing Horses, no calling in Customers, nor offering Wares; no London cries sounding in the ears; if any voice be heard, it is the groans of dying perions, breathing forth their last, and the fune∣ral knells of them that are ready to be carried to their graves. Now shutting up of visited houses (there being so many) is at an end, and most of the well are mingled among the sick which other∣wise would have got no help. Now in some

places where the people did generally stay; not one house in an hundred but is infected; and in many houses half the family is swept away; in some the whole, from the eldest to the youngest; few escape with the death of but one or two: never did so many husbands and wives die toge∣ther; never did so many parents carry their chil∣dren with them to the grave, and go together into the same house under earth; who had lived together in the same house upon it. Now the nights are too short to bury the dead, the whole day though at so great a length is hardly suffici∣ent to light the dead that fall therein into their beds.

Now we could hardly go forth, but we should meet many coffins, and see many with sores, and limping in the streets; amongst other sad specta∣cles, methought two were very affecting: one of a woman comming alone, and weeping by the door where I lived (which was in the midst of the infection) with a little Coffin under her arm carrying it to the new Church yard; I did judge that it was the mother of the childe, and that all the family besides was dead, and she was forced to coffin up and bury with her own hands this her last dead childe. Another, was of a man at the corner of the Artillery-wall, that as I judge through the diziness of his head with the disease, which seised upon him there, had dasht his face against the wall, and when I came by he lay hanging with his bloody face over the rails, and bleeding upon the ground; and as I came back he was removed under a tree in More-fields, and lay upon his back; I went and spake to him;

he could make me no answer, but ratled in the throat, and as I was informed, within half an hour died in the place.

It would be endless to speak what we have seen and heard of some in their frensie, rising out of their beds, and leaping about their rooms; others crying and roaring at their windows; some comming forth almost naked, and running into the streets, strange things have others spoken and done, when the disease was upon them: But it was very sad to hear of one who being sick alone, and it is like phrantick, burnt himself in his bed. Now the plague had broken in much a∣mongst my acquaintance; and of about 16. or more whose faces I used to see every day in our house, within a little while I could finde but 4. or 6. of them alive; scarcely a day past over my head for I think a moneth or more together, but I should hear of 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 pla∣ces 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 en∣creased? some were damning themselves a little before in their oaths, and God is now damning their souls for it, and is passing the irreversible sentence of damnation upon them. 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 fierce∣ness 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 reco∣vered their feeling again, but instead of the pleasures which they felt, and their sensual de∣lights, which took away the feeling of their con∣sciences, 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 ven∣geance 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 di∣sease 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 re∣surrection: 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 bo∣some, 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 con∣vey 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 innume∣rable 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 everlast∣ing joy in their hearts, and all sorrow and sigh∣ing

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 won∣der 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 so∣ciety.

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 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 consci∣ence, and the fore-thoughts of that horrible un∣supportable torment they are so neer unto. Now scaring dreams do terrifie them, and fearfulness of the bottomless Pit, and the burning Lake be∣low doth surprize them, and some breaketh forth in the anguish of their despairing souls; Who can dwell with devouring Fire, who can inhabit ever∣lasting 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 com∣plaints, 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 di∣sease. 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 in∣to our hand to drink, after a neighbour Family had tasted it, with whom we had much sweet so∣ciety in this time of sorrow. And first our Maid

was smitten, it began with a shivering and tremb∣ling in her flesh, and quickly seised on her spi∣rits; it was a sad day, which I believe I shall ne∣ver 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 thurs∣day night his Master fell sick of the disease, and within a day or two was full of spots; but strange∣ly beyond his own, and others expectations re∣covered. 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 Mes∣sengers of death came so close one after another, in such dreadfull manner, as if we must all fol∣low 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 remark∣able in this Visitation, was the carriage especi∣ally of those Youths that died, who I believe

were less troubled themselves, then others were troubled for them. The first Youth that was vi∣sited 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 hope∣full 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 se∣venteen, 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 desi∣red 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 glo∣rious Crown: yet he was not unwilling to re∣ceive

his Crown presently; and went away with great peace and sweetness in his looks, to his fa∣thers 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 him, who hath been so long filled with joys in the heavenly mansions.

I might speak of the carriage of the master in his sickness under the apprehensions of death; when the spots did appear on his body, he sent for me and desired me to pray with him; told me he was now going home, desired me to write to his friends, and let them know, that it did not repent him of his stay in the City, though they had been so importunate with him to come away: but he had found so much of Gods presence in his abode here, that he had no reason to repent: he told me where he would be buried, and desired me to preach his funeral Sermon on Psal. 16. ult. In thy presence there is fulness of joy; and at thy right hand there is pleasures for evermore. But the Lord raised him again beyond the expectation of him∣self, friends, or Physician. Let him not forget Gods mercies, and suffer too much worldly busi∣ness to croud in upon him, & choak the remem∣brance and sense of God's goodness so singular; but let him by his singularity in meekness, hu∣mility, self-denial, and love, zeal, and holy wal∣king, declare that the Lord hath been singularly gracious unto him. But when I speak of home concernments, let me not forget to look abroad; the Plague now increaseth exceedingly, and fears there are amongst us that within a while there

will not be enough alive to bury the dead; and that the City of London will now be quite depopu∣lated by this Plague.

Now some Ministers, formerly put out of their places, who did abide in the City when most of Ministers in place were fled and gone from the people, as well as from the disease, into the Countreys, seeing the people crowd so fast into the grave and eternity, who seemed to cry as they went for spiritual Physicians; and per∣ceiving the Churches to be open, and Pulpits to be open, and finding Pamphlets flung about the streets, of Pulpits to be let, they judged that the Law of God and nature did now dispense with, yea command their preaching in publick places, though the Law of man (it is to be sup∣posed in ordinary cases) did forbid them to do it. Surely if there had been a Law that none should practise Physick in the City, but such as were li∣cenc'd by the Colledge of Physitians, and most of those, when there was the greatest need of them, should in the time of the Plague, have retired into the Country, and other Physitians who had as good skill in Physick, and no license should have staid amongst the sick, none would have judged it to have been breach of Law, in such an extraordinary case to endeavour by their practise though without a license, to save the lives of those who by good care and Physick were capable of a cure; and they could hardly have freed them∣selves from the guilt of murther of many bodies, if for a nicety of Law in such a case of necessi∣ty they should have neglected to administer Phy∣sick: the case was the same with the unlicensed

Ministers which stayed, when so many of the li∣cenc'd ones were gone, and as the need of souls was greater than the need of bodies; the sick∣ness of the one being more universal and dange∣rous, than the sickness of the other; and the sa∣ving or losing of the soul being so many degrees beyond the preservation or death of the body: so the obligation upon Ministers was stronger, and the motive to preach greater, and for them to have incurred the guilt of soul-murther, by their neglect to administer soul-physick, would have been more hainous and unanswerable, that they were called by the Lord into publick: I sup∣pose that few of any seriousness will deny, when the Lord did so eminently own them, in giving many seals of their Ministry unto them.

Now they are preaching, and every Sermon was unto them, as if they were preaching their last. Old Time seems now to stand at the head of the Pulpit, with its great Sithe, saying with a hoarse voice, Work while it is called to day, at night I will mow thee down. Grim Death seems to stand at the side of the Pulpit with its sharp ar∣row, saying, Do thou shoot Gods arrows, and I will shoot mine. The Grave seems to lie open at the foot of the Pulpit; with dust in her bosome, saying,

Louden thy Cry To God, To Men, And now fulfill thy Trust: Here thou must lye, Mouth stopt, Breath gone, And silent in the Dust.

Ministers now had awakning calls to serious∣ness and fervour in their ministeriall work: to preach on the side and brink of the Pit, into which thousands were tumbling; to pray under such neer views of eternity, into which many passengers were daily entring, might be a means to stir up the spirit more than ordinary.

Now there is such a vast concourse of people in the Churches, where these Ministers are to be found, that they cannot many times come neer the Pulpit doors for the press, but are forced to climb over the pews to them: And such a face is now seen in the Assemblies, as seldome was seen before in London; such eager looks; such open ears, such greedy attention, as if every word would be eaten, which dropt from the mouths of the Mi∣nisters.

If you ever saw a drowning Man catch at a rope, you may guess how eagerly many people did catch at the Word; when they were ready to be overwhelmed by this over-flowing scourge, which was passing thorough the City; when death was knocking at so many doors; and God was crying aloud by his judgments; and Ministers were now sent to knock, cry aloud, and lift up their voice like a Trumpet: then, then the people be∣gan to open the ear and the heart, which were fast shut and barred before: How did they then hearken, as for their lives; as if every Sermon were their last; as if death stood at the door of the Church, and would seize upon them so soon as they came forth; as if the arrows which flew so thick in the City would strike them, before they could get to their houses; as if they were

immediately to appear before the Barr of that God, who by his Ministers was now speaking unto them. Great were the impressions which the Word then made upon many hearts, beyond the power of Man to effect, and beyond what the people be∣fore ever felt, as some of them have declar'd. When sin is ript up and reprov'd, O the teares that slide down from the eyes! when the judg∣ments of God are denounced, O the tremblings which are upon the conscience! when the Lord Jesus Christ is made known and proffer'd, O the longing desires and openings of heart unto him! when the riches of the Gospel are displayed, and the promises of the Covenant of grace are set forth and applyed, O the inward burnings and sweet flames which were on the affections! now the Net is cast, and many fishes are taken; the Pool is moved by the Angel, and many leprous spirits, and sin-sick-souls are cured; many were brought to the birth, and I hope not a few were born again, and brought forth; a strange moving there was upon the hearts of multitudes in the City; and I am perswaded that many were brought over effectually unto a closure with Je∣sus Christ; whereof some dyed by the Plague with willingness and peace; others remain sted∣fast in Gods wayes unto this day: but convicti∣ons (I believe) many hundreds had, if not thou∣sands, which I wish that none have stifled, and with the Dog returned to their vomit, & with the Sow, have wallowed again in the mire of their former sins. The work was the more great, be∣cause the instruments, which were made use of was more obscure, and unlikely, whom the Lord

did make choice of the rather, that the glory by Ministers and people might be ascrib'd in full unto himself.

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

From 7155 which dyed of the Plague in one week▪ there is a decrease to 5538 the next, which was at the latter end of September, the next week a farther decrease to 4929. the next to 4327. the next to 2665. the next to 1421. the next to 1021. then there was an encrease the first week in No∣vember to 1414. but it fell the week after to 1050 and the week after to 652. and the week after that to 333. and so lessened more and more to the end of the year: when we had a Bill of 97306. which dyed of all diseases, which was an encrease of more then 79000, over what it was the year before: and the number of them which dyed by the Plague was reckoned to be 68596 this year; when there were but 6 which the Bill speaks of who dyed the year before.

Now the Citizens, who had dispers'd them∣selves abroad into the Countries, because of the Contagion, think of their old Houses and Trades, and begin to return, though with fearfulness and trembling, least some of the after-drops of the storm should fall upon them: and O that many of them had not brought back their old hearts and sins▪ which they carryed away with them; O that there had been a general repentance and reformation, and returning to the Lord that had smitten the City: The Lord gave them leisure

and Vacation from their Trades; for the one ne∣cessary thing▪ which had they improved, and gene∣rally mourned for sin, which brought the plague upon the City, had they humbly and earnestly sought the Lord to turn from his fierce anger, which was kindled against London, it might have prevented the desolating judgment by Fire: But alas! how many spent their time of leisure in toys and trifles, at best about feeding and preserving their bodies, but no time in serious minding the salvation of their souls; and if, some were a lit∣tle awakned with fear, whilst the plague raged so greatly, and they lookt upon themselves to be in such danger; yet when they apprehended the danger to be over, they dropt asleep faster than before; still they are the same or worse than for∣merly: They that were drunken, are drunken still; they that were filthy, are filthy still; and they that were unjust and covetous, do still per∣severe in their sinfull course; couzenilng, and ly∣ing, and swearing, and cursing, and Sabbath-breaking, and pride, and envy, and flesh-plea∣sing, and the like God-displeasing, and God-provoking sins, (of which in the Catalogue of London's sins) do abound in London; as if there were no signification in Gods judgments by the Plague; some return to their Houses, and fol∣low their worldly business, and work as hard as they can to fetch up the time they have lost, without minding and labouring to improve by the Judgment, and Gods wonderfull preservation of them: others return, and sin as hard as they can, having been taken off for a while from those opportunities and free liberties for sin, which

they had before: most began now to sit down at rest in their houses when the Summer was come, and the Plague did not return; now they bring back all their Goods they had carried into the Country because of the Plague; they did not imagine they should be forced to remove them again so soon.

Thus concerning the great Plague in London.