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 XXVII. Upon the Inducements unto re-building of London, and some wayes of promoting it.

THat London should be re-built, is so much the concern of England, both in point of Honour and of Trade, as hardly any thing can be more. Whilst that lieth in the dust, our Glory lieth with it. Our Enemies rejoice to see it where it is: but should we let it lie there long, Oh! how would they scorn us for it, and conclude, it were because we had not wherewithall to build it up again. They know, as well as we, that there is no part of England situate so commodiously for Trade as London is; which name is said to signifie in the Lan∣guage of the Britains (it's first Inhabitants) Ship∣ton, or a Town of Ships; in regard, that the famous River which runs by the side of it, is able to en∣tertain the greatest Ships that can ride upon the Sea, which thing hath made it so famous a Mart; those Ships bringing in all the rich commodities the world can afford. Hence London for so many Ages past, hath held it's Primacy over all other parts of England, and none hath been thought fit to succeed it in that dignity, though the shifting of Trade from one City to another, and an alternate Superlativeness hath been frequent in other parts of the world, where one place hath been as com∣modious as another. But London never had rival that did, or could pretend it's self as fit to make the great Emporium and Metropolis of England as was it's self. The River of Thames made it so at first; and that, under God, will and must make it so

again. It perished by fire, and must be saved by water; for, that, if any thing, will make it once a∣gain what it was before, as Job saith of a Tree, onely the Root whereof is left in the ground, that thorough the scent of water, it will sprout again. How venerable is London, were it but for its Anti∣quity, of which Ammianus Marcellinus reports, that it was called an ancient City in his time, which was above twelve hundreds years ago; and Corneli∣us Tacitus seems to do the like, three hundred years before him, telling us, that, for multitudes of Merchants and Commerce, London was very re∣nowned, fifteen hundred years ago: nor can we suppose it to have presently arrived at that perfe∣ction. Who would not assist the building of ano∣ther City in that place, hoping it may continue as many Ages as the other did, and longer too, if God be pleased to prevent the like disaster. I confess, I love not to hear men boast at such a time as this what they will do, or what shall be done, as to the building of London more glorious than ever. The Inhabitants of Samaria are blamed for saying, The Bricks are fallen down, but we will build with hewen Stones; the Sycamores are cut down, but we will change them into Cedars. We are but putting on our har∣ness, as to re-building; let us not boast, as if we were putting of it off: This is not a time in which to say much, though it becomes us to do all we can. If we may see but such another City it will be a great mercy, but one more glorious than that we may scarce expect till we see it. Alas! how many difficulties is that work clogg'd with? How scarce and dear are all materials? How poor are many that desire to build? How hard, and almost im∣possible will it be, to satisfie the Interest of all

proprietors? Amongst all the Models that are pre∣sented for that purpose, How hard will it be to know how to pitch upon that which may be most convenient? If we build every where, as before, it will be incommodious for Passage, dangerous for Fire; if by a new Platform, it is hard not to be in∣juxious to multitudes of People, whose Houses stood inconveniently, as to the Publick: Lord, Give our Senators double and treble wisdom, that they may be satisfactory-Repairers of so great breaches.

But, How shall Moneys be Levied for the re-building of London, where the Estates of persons concerned do fall short? Two Expedients for that I have propounded already; One was, by the Mercy and Charity of those persons who have lost little or nothing by the fire; and, who have some∣thing they could well spare: The other is, By the Justice and due Repentance of all those persons, Carters, Landlords, and others, who have raised uncoscionable gains to themselves, by means of the late Fire; whose duty it is, to restore, not only the principal of what they have unlawfully got∣ten by the fire, but some certain over-plus, as was provided under the Law, in cases of Restitution: When that is done, I wish there were a certain Pole-fine, or Mulct, set upon the head of every common sin, not made capital; which additional-Pole, levied upon all persons that are able, when once convicted of Drunkenness, Swearing, Couse∣nage, Cursing, yea Lying its self, might be for, and towards the re-building of London: I speak of an Additional pecuniary Punishment for those Crimes, both for that the former and present Mulcts have not been sufficient to restrain Men; as also, for that great summs are still in arrear to

Justice; because those kind of Penalties have been but seldom inflicted, possibly not one time in a hun∣dred that they ought to have been. To do this, were not to build London upon the sins of the People, (as some will object;) but upon the punishment of Sin, and due execution of Justice, which would be a glorious foundation. If but one shilling ex∣traordinary were levied upon men toties quoties; that is, so often as they are, or might be, convicted for any of the fore-mentioned sins: How noble a City might those Fines build, if men should conti∣nue so bad as now they are? Whilst some particu∣lar persons, (and those able enough to pay for it) stick not to swear hundreds of Oaths in one day, besides all the Execrations and Lies they become guilty of in one day. But, if men had rather re∣form themselves, than by their Crimes help to re-build the City, the former shall be as welcom as the latter; and, the latter may, in one sense, be pro∣moted by the former. But, if that way of raising Money be so happily prevented, possibly so soon as God shall please to turn our Swords into Plow-shares, and our Spears into Pruning-hooks: The Wis∣dom of our Governors may think fit to make some coercive-levy, for once, towards the relieving of friends, as they have formerly done; for, and to∣wards the humbling of Forraign-Enemies: and, as the Ruin of London is a National-Calamity, so, Who knows whether our Rulers may not please to make the re-building of it somewhat of a National-Charge? as it would certainly be an honour, and an advantage to the whole Nation: But, remem∣bring what is said, Ps. 127.1. Except the Lord build the house, (and so the City,) they labour in vain that build it; I cannot but further consider

what words we should take unto our selves, where∣with to plead with God, that London, (if it so seem good to him,) may be built again: And, May we not plead thus? O Lord, How many hundred Families are there, whose livelihoods seem to de∣pend upon the re-building of that City? What hard shift do they make in the mean-time, dwel∣ling many of them like the Israelites, in Tents or Bothes? Were not many of these good and merci∣ful men? And, Hast thou not said, That with the Merciful thou wilt show thy self Merciful? How ma∣ny are there, whose bowels yearn, and whose hearts bleed over the desolations of London? Shall Men pity them, and will not God much more, who is of infinite compassions? What strong affections have these poor hearts for the place where that City sometimes stood? How do they cleave, as it were, to the Ruins of it? How loth are they to remove at any distance from it, as if they could settle to no business any where else, no more than Irish-Kine, which, as they say, cannot give down their Milk, unless their Calves, or something in their likeness stand by their sides: How do their Enemies, yea, and thine also, insult and triumph, whilst poor London lieth in ashes; saying, Aha, Aha, so would we have it? Shall London be alwayes a Ruinous Heap, whilst Rome, and Paris, continue flou∣rishing Cities? Hast thou not a greater Controversie with them than with it? Dost thou suffer them to stand? (not that we beg the destruction of any place,) Wilt not thou permit London to rise again? Shall England never be like its self again? or, How can it be so, if London be no more? Was ever the REstauration of a City more prayed for, and shall all those Prayers fall to the ground? Lord,

What joy will there be, when the re-building of London shall be once finished? How will the top-Stone be laid with Acclamations of Grace, Grace, Psal. 71.20. Thou, who hast showed that place and People great and sore troubles, vouchsafe to quicken them again, and bring them up again from the depths of the Earth: Increase their greatness, and comfort them on every side.