Shlohavot, or, The burning of London in the year 1666 commemorated and improved in a CX discourses, meditations, and contemplations, divided into four parts treating of I. The sins, or spiritual causes procuring that judgment, II. The natural causes of fire, morally applied, III. The most remarkable passages and circumstances of that dreadful fire, IV. Counsels and comfort unto such as are sufferers by the said judgment / by Samuel Rolle ...

MEDITATION XXI. Upon the coming of that most dreadful fire in so Ido∣lized a year, as 1666.

VVHen will men give over groundlesse pro∣phecying? When will they learn, not to be wise above what is written? Did not Christ say to his Disciples, It is not for you to know the times and seasons, which the Father hath put in his own hands. One said, That an Itch of disputing was in his time, the scab of the Church; and in our time, an Itch of prophecying hath been the same thing. According to the manifold prophesies, which have been concerning it, -66. should have been a year of Jubilee, I had almost said a time of the Restitution of all things, but, alas! Whilst men lookt for light, be∣hold darkness, whilst they cried Peace, peace, grea∣ter destruction then ever, was coming upon them. It is said, that God hath set one over against the other to the end that man should find nothing after him. Eccles. 7.14. If it be the glory of God to conceal a matter (as the Scripture saith, it is) why will men pretend to know what God intends to do? Who can tell, what the womb of a day, much more of a year will bring forth? If women that are with child know not what they go with, whether male or female, wise or foolish, who can tell what is in the womb of Providence? Such as pretend to foreknow future contingencies, are not more admired for their wis∣dom before the time be expired, than they are usu∣ally

condemned for their folly and presumption, when the event proves otherwise. We read in Jer. 23.28. There were prophets of the deceit of their own hearts. VVhich cause the people to forget the name of God by the dreams, which they tell every one to his neighbour. Therefore, saith God, The prophet which hath a dream, let him tell a dream, and he that hath my word let him speak my word saithfully VVhat is the chaff to the wheat? We say proverbially, Old Birds cannot be caught with chaff, yet a great many are with such chaff as the prophet speaks of, meaning false Predictions: many of which should by right have been written in Hebrew Characters, for that the event shews they were to be read backwards, like the presages of Almanack-makers concerning weather, who frequently tell us, it will be fair when it proves foul, and foul when it proves very fair.

The Devil himself is more tender of his credit than many men have bin of theirs: for it was always his manner to deliver Oracles in Ambiguous ex∣pressions, that, whatsoever the event were, he might not be charged with falshood; whereas men (that know less) have ventur'd to speak as plainly and positively as could be, touching things to come, which falling out quite contrary have filled their faces with shame. If that had been the worst, it had been no great matter: but, alas! men have not only wounded their own reputations by their da∣ring false prophesies, but by accustoming them∣selves and others, to believe and disbelieve again, have greatly propagated Atheism in the world, and made the abused credulity of many to end in in∣sidelity. They that have been often deceived, be∣come always jealous, and use to say, Alas! whom

or what can we trust? Though there be no reason in the world that men should suspect the Word of God because they have been frustrated by the dreams of men; I cannot deny but that there are and have been strong impressions from God upon the minds of some men concerning future things, but, as the Apostle saith in another case, Hast thou faith, have it to thy self before God: so in this case though they themselves cannot but believe the things which are so impressed upon them, yet let them keep that faith to themselves, and not expect others should believe the same things, unless by miracles they could prove themselves to be Pro∣phets sent of God; or till such time as the event shall shew they were not mistaken. A prophesie may indeed and in truth signifie much to him that utters it, which yet may signifie nothing at all to them that hear it, because he may have received it from God, whereas others have received it but from himself. As to all the prophecies concerning great, good things, which should befall England in Sixty six, be it to themselves upon what grounds they have had such expectations; sure I am, nothing hath yet appeared that looks like a fulfilling of them, though the year be almost expired. He that foretold that Caesar should die upon such a day, Caesar sending him word the day was come, and he was yet alive, made answer that day was come, but it was not past & gone, and die he did upon that day; So some it may be will tell us that Sixty six is come, and far spent, but not quite past and gone. 'Tis very true, and so long as one day or hour of that year lasts, let them lengthen out their hopes. If it produce what they have foretold, I shall not envy them the honor of proving true Prophets: but if it

end as it hath begun, and held on hitherto; give me leave to say, that meer humane Predictions touching future Contingencies ought never to be trusted more; and that the frustrations of Sixty six, should abolish or prevent the credulitie of all after-ages.

There is a Text or two, which I suppose, many do build upon, who have great regard to humane prophesies. We read, say they, that the Secret of the Lord is with them that fear him, Psalm 25.14. But that must not be understood; as if God did make them that fear him acquainted with all his Secrets: for it is said of Christ himself, considered as man, that Of that day and hour, speaking of the day of Judgment, knows not the son of man him∣self. Moreover, say they, in Amos 3.7. it is written, Surely the Lord will do nothing, but he re∣vealeth his secrets unto his servants the Prophets. Yea, but where are such Prophets to be found in these dayes as were in those, viz. Approved of God a∣mongst men by miracles, signs, and wonders, as is said of Christ, Acts 2.22? Doth not Experience shew, that the Gift of prophecying (as thereby is meant the infallible predicting of things) is either wholly, or for the most part at an end, as well as several other Gifts, which were intended but for the infancy of the Church: If it be said, that it is written, In the last dayes, your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams, your sons and daughters shall prophesie, it is evident, from Acts 3.16. that that was fulfilled in the A∣postles time: for, saith Peter, when the Holy Ghost was poured out upon the Disciples, when they were filled with the Holy Ghost and spake with o∣ther Tongues, This is that which was spoken by Joel, I

will poure out my spirit upon all flesh, and they shall prophesie, &c. But, it is further said, that the pre∣dictions of some good men, have come to passe, they have hit right (as they call it). That may be too, and yet such as they may be no Prophets to us, that is, no such Prophets as we are bound to believe, till the Event have declared, that they themselves were not deceived.: It may not be al∣wayes from Divine Revelation, that men prophesie rightly concerning things to come: A man may draw a Bow at an adventure, and shoot at random, and yet happen to hit the mark, though he that shall do so, will misse it much oftner. Now, as one saith, Men mind when predictions hit, not when they misse, and that is the reason, they give so much heed to them: Whereas indeed, as in predicting of weather, when it shall be fair, and when it shall be fowl; so in other things, though menspeak but what comes next it is almost as hard to be alwayes out, as it is to be alwayes right.

How fain would I prevail with men not to lean upon the broken Reed of uncertain Prophecies? Whereon, if a man lean, it will go into his hand and pierce him (as was said of Egypt) Isa. 36.6. Pierce you they will, more wayes than one; as namely, With shame, when you see your considence disap∣pointed: With forrow, when you see your hopes frustrated: With reproach, when others shall de∣ride you, and say, Is this the good time you lookt for? Is this the Deliverance you expected? What now is become of all your Prophecies, touching what would be such and such a year? All this Reproach you might save, if you would believe no more than what the Scripture warrants you to believe:

Where doth that speak of the glorious things that shall be in the year 1666? or, give you to expect more from that, than from any other year? Are not Divine-Promises sufficient for your comfort, unless you eake them out with human Prophecies, (as the Papists do the Counsels of Scripture, with the Traditions of men:) It is well, if some do not derive more comfort from fallible Predictions, than from the infallible Word. Is not the Name of the Lord a strong Tower? Why then will you be∣take your selves to a refuge of lies? It is enough for poor deluded Jews to be alwayes comforting them∣selves with one vain Prophecy or other, (as they are observed to be seldom without:) but, it is be∣low Christians so to do, who have a sure Word of Prophecy; which they should take heed to, as to a light shining in a dark place. Be consident, Faith, and Credulity are very different things: The first builds upon a Rock; the last upon Quick-sands. Believe, but be not Credulous; many credulous people make many false Prophets, (as they say Receivers make Thieves:) There will never want people to make Prophesies, so long as there are enough to entertain them, and to trust upon them. Jer. 5.31. The Prophets prophesie falsely, and the People love to have it so. There are too many, that say in their hearts, Si populus vult decipi decipietur: If People will be deceived, they shall. Many small Prophets, in this, and other ages, seem Merchant-adventurers for a little credit; They will be the Authors of a Prediction right or wrong; it is fit it be pleasing, whether it be true or no: If it come to pass, they shall have a great deal of credit by it; and, in the mean time, it makes them to be some∣what more taken notice of; and, if it be frustrated,

they are not the first that were mistaken, there have been, and are many false Prophets besides them∣selves: When shall I see men so modest, as to tell their uncertain Predictions, as their Dreams, not as heavenly Dictates; in their own names, and not in the Name of God, saying, Thus saith the Lord: but rather, My mind bodes me so and so; Thus saith my imagination, and I cannot withstand it. At least∣wise when shall I see others so wise as to hearken to them, only as such, and upon no other account till experience have proved them to be more than to. It is time enough to believe a humane Prophesie when you see it fulfilled; and you pay it a sufficient respect, if, in the mean time, you suspend your judgment, and forbear to censure it. O Sixty-six! Thou center of human Prophesies! Thou Ocean, into which all the Rivers of Conject∣ural Predictions did run! If I live to see thee end, as thou hast continued hitherto; for thy sake, if for nothing else (yet, upon other considerati∣ons too,) if men will find confidence to make a thousand Prophecies, no wayes countenanced by Scripture, I shall not find Faith to believe one of them.