A sermon preach'd on the second of September being the fast for the fire of London, at the cathedral church of St. Paul's, before the right honourable the Lord-Mayor, aldermen, and citizens of London / by W. Sherlock ...
         Sherlock, William, 1641?-1707.
      
       
         
           1699
        
      
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             A sermon preach'd on the second of September being the fast for the fire of London, at the cathedral church of St. Paul's, before the right honourable the Lord-Mayor, aldermen, and citizens of London / by W. Sherlock ...
             Sherlock, William, 1641?-1707.
          
           [2], 26 p.
           
             Printed for W. Rogers ...,
             London :
             MDCXCIX [1699]
          
           
             Reproduction of original in the Union Theological Seminary Library, New York.
          
        
      
    
     
       
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           Bible. -- O.T. -- Micah VI, 9 -- Sermons.
           Sermons, English -- 17th century.
        
      
    
     
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           A
           SERMON
           Preach'd
           on
           the
           Second
           of
           SEPTEMBER
           ,
           BEING
           THE
           Fast
           for
           the
           Fire
           of
           London
           ,
           AT
           THE
           Cathedral
           Church
           of
           St.
           
           PAUL's
           ,
           Before
           the
           Right
           Honourable
           the
           LORD-MAYOR
           ,
           ALDERMEN
           ,
           and
           Citizens
           of
           London
           .
        
         
           By
           
             W.
             SHERLOCK
          
           ,
           D.
           D.
           Dean
           of
           St.
           
           Paul's
           ,
           Master
           of
           the
           Temple
           ,
           and
           Chaplain
           in
           Ordinary
           to
           His
           Majesty
           .
        
         
           LONDON
           :
           Printed
           for
           
             W.
             Rogers
          
           ,
           at
           the
           Sun
           against
           St.
           
           Dunstan's
           Church
           in
           Fleetstreet
           .
           MDCXCIX
           .
        
      
    
     
       
         
         
         
           
             MICAH
             VI.
             9.
             
          
           
             
               The
               Lord's
               voice
               crieth
               unto
               the
               city
               ,
               and
               the
               man
               of
               wisdom
               shall
               see
               thy
               name
               .
               Hear
               ye
               the
               rod
               ,
               and
               who
               hath
               appointed
               it
               .
            
          
        
         
           WHEN
           the
           State
           of
           this
           World
           is
           happy
           and
           prosperous
           ,
           it
           is
           no
           wonder
           to
           see
           men
           indulge
           themselves
           in
           Ease
           and
           Luxury
           ,
           forget
           God
           ,
           or
           grow
           careless
           and
           formal
           in
           Religion
           .
           For
           though
           it
           might
           reasonably
           be
           expected
           that
           happy
           Creatures
           ,
           who
           rejoice
           in
           the
           Blessings
           of
           Heaven
           ,
           should
           be
           very
           devout
           Worshippers
           of
           that
           God
           from
           whose
           Bounty
           and
           Goodness
           they
           receive
           all
           ;
           yet
           Human
           Nature
           in
           this
           degenerate
           state
           is
           very
           fond
           of
           sensual
           Pleasures
           :
           And
           when
           an
           easy
           and
           plentiful
           Fortune
           puts
           it
           into
           mens
           power
           to
           enjoy
           as
           much
           of
           this
           World
           as
           they
           will
           ,
           there
           are
           but
           very
           few
           who
           can
           set
           bounds
           to
           their
           Enjoyments
           ,
           and
           taste
           the
           Pleasures
           of
           this
           Life
           ,
           without
           taking
           large
           and
           intoxicating
           Draughts
           of
           it
           ;
           
           and
           this
           sensualizes
           mens
           minds
           ;
           and
           
             a
             carnal
             mind
             is
             enmity
             against
             God
          
           ;
           saith
           unto
           God
           ,
           
             Depart
             from
             us
             ,
             for
             we
             desire
             not
             the
             knowledge
             of
             thy
             ways
             .
          
        
         
           Never
           any
           People
           had
           more
           sensible
           demonstrations
           of
           the
           Power
           and
           Presence
           of
           God
           amongst
           them
           ,
           and
           his
           particular
           Care
           of
           them
           ,
           than
           the
           Israelites
           had
           ;
           and
           yet
           Moses
           tells
           us
           in
           his
           Prophetick
           Hymn
           ,
           
             Iesurun
             waxed
             fat
             ;
             and
             kicked
             ;
             thou
             art
             waxen
             fat
             ,
             thou
             art
             grown
             thick
             ,
             thou
             art
             covered
             with
             fatness
             ;
             then
             he
             forsook
             God
             which
             made
             him
             ,
             and
             lightly
             esteemed
             the
             rock
             of
             his
             salvation
             ,
          
           32.
           
           Deut.
           15.
           
           And
           thus
           God
           complains
           ;
           1.
           
           Isa.
           2
           ,
           3.
           
           
             Hear
             ,
             O
             heavens
             ,
             and
             give
             ear
             ,
             O
             earth
             ,
             for
             the
             Lord
             hath
             spoken
             ;
             I
             have
             nourished
             and
             brought
             up
             childrem
             ,
             and
             they
             have
             rebelled
             against
             me
             .
             The
             ox
             knoweth
             his
             owner
             ,
             and
             the
             ass
             his
             master's
             crib
             ;
             but
             Israel
             doth
             not
             know
             ,
             my
             people
             doth
             not
             consider
             .
          
           And
           as
           much
           as
           we
           may
           despise
           and
           abhor
           the
           Ingratitude
           of
           the
           Iews
           ,
           this
           is
           the
           general
           state
           of
           Mankind
           ;
           and
           we
           may
           find
           too
           many
           Examples
           of
           it
           in
           all
           Times
           and
           Nations
           .
        
         
           But
           it
           seems
           much
           more
           unaccountable
           ,
           That
           
             when
             the
             judgments
             of
             God
             are
             abroad
             in
             the
             world
             ,
             the
             inhabitants
             thereof
             should
             not
             learn
             righteousness
             :
          
           Because
           Judgments
           are
           apt
           to
           awaken
           men
           ,
           and
           make
           them
           consider
           .
           When
           God
           speaks
           in
           Thunder
           and
           Lightning
           ,
           those
           must
           be
           deaf
           indeed
           ,
           who
           will
           not
           hear
           .
           This
           is
           the
           merciful
           
           design
           of
           Providence
           in
           sending
           such
           terrible
           Judgments
           on
           the
           World
           ,
           To
           make
           men
           consider
           their
           ways
           and
           their
           doings
           ,
           and
           to
           convince
           them
           that
           there
           is
           a
           God
           that
           judgeth
           in
           the
           earth
           .
           For
           Judgments
           have
           a
           Voice
           ,
           had
           we
           but
           Ears
           to
           hear
           :
           They
           proclaim
           the
           Power
           and
           the
           Majesty
           of
           God
           ;
           a
           terrible
           Majesty
           ,
           and
           irresistible
           Power
           ;
           they
           scourge
           and
           they
           threaten
           Sinners
           ,
           and
           call
           for
           Weeping
           ,
           and
           Mourning
           ,
           and
           Fasting
           :
           And
           how
           unthankful
           soever
           the
           Iews
           were
           to
           God
           for
           his
           great
           Mercies
           and
           Deliverances
           ,
           yet
           they
           were
           not
           so
           insensible
           of
           his
           Judgments
           :
           
             When
             he
             slew
             them
             ,
             then
             they
             sought
             him
             ,
             and
             returned
             and
             enquired
             early
             after
             God
             ,
             and
             remembred
             that
             God
             was
             their
             rock
             ,
             and
             the
             high
             God
             their
             Redeemer
             ,
          
           78.
           
           Psal.
           34
           ,
           35.
           
        
         
           This
           we
           are
           exhorted
           to
           in
           my
           Text
           ,
           
             To
             hear
             the
             rod
             ,
             and
             who
             hath
             appointed
             it
             :
          
           To
           consider
           for
           what
           reason
           those
           Evils
           which
           we
           at
           any
           time
           suffer
           ,
           are
           come
           upon
           us
           ,
           and
           what
           God
           intends
           by
           the
           Rod
           ;
           which
           is
           the
           only
           way
           to
           grow
           better
           by
           our
           Afflictions
           ,
           and
           to
           prevail
           with
           God
           in
           great
           Pity
           and
           Compassion
           to
           remove
           them
           .
        
         
           But
           this
           is
           the
           great
           difficulty
           ;
           Who
           shall
           reveal
           this
           Secret
           to
           us
           ?
           How
           shall
           we
           distinguish
           between
           the
           Corrections
           of
           God
           ,
           and
           the
           Wickedness
           of
           Men
           ?
           How
           shall
           we
           understand
           the
           Language
           of
           the
           Rod
           ,
           and
           to
           whom
           it
           speaks
           ;
           
           for
           what
           Sins
           it
           strikes
           ,
           and
           who
           are
           those
           Achans
           that
           are
           the
           Troublers
           of
           our
           Israel
           ;
           and
           what
           God
           expects
           from
           us
           in
           such
           Cases
           ?
        
         
           I
           shall
           briefly
           explain
           these
           things
           to
           you
           ,
           and
           Apply
           it
           to
           the
           present
           Occasion
           .
        
         
           But
           I
           must
           premise
           ,
           That
           I
           only
           address
           my self
           now
           to
           those
           who
           believe
           a
           God
           and
           a
           Providence
           ;
           and
           that
           God
           hath
           revealed
           his
           Will
           and
           the
           Rule
           of
           his
           Providence
           in
           the
           Holy
           Scriptures
           .
           As
           for
           Atheists
           and
           Infidels
           ,
           who
           have
           neither
           Eyes
           nor
           Ears
           ,
           they
           can
           only
           feel
           the
           Rod
           like
           Bruits
           ,
           not
           hear
           its
           Voice
           like
           Men
           :
           Though
           
             the
             Lord's
             voice
             crieth
             unto
             the
             city
             ,
             it
             is
             only
             the
             men
             of
             wisdom
             that
             see
             his
             name
             .
          
        
         
           Now
           as
           for
           those
           who
           believe
           a
           God
           and
           the
           Holy
           Scriptures
           ,
           there
           are
           two
           very
           plain
           Interpreters
           of
           God's
           Judgments
           ;
           
             Natural
             Conscience
             ,
             and
             the
             Word
             of
             God.
          
           For
           the
           Judgments
           of
           God
           have
           not
           an
           Articulate
           Voice
           to
           acquaint
           us
           in
           plain
           and
           express
           words
           ,
           upon
           what
           Errand
           they
           come
           ;
           but
           they
           are
           Signs
           which
           speak
           by
           an
           Interpreter
           ;
           and
           if
           we
           carefully
           attend
           to
           the
           Dictates
           of
           Natural
           Conscience
           ,
           and
           to
           the
           Word
           of
           God
           ,
           we
           cannot
           mistake
           their
           meaning
           .
        
         
           1.
           
           As
           first
           ,
           No
           man
           who
           attends
           either
           to
           the
           Dictates
           of
           Natural
           Conscience
           ,
           or
           to
           the
           Word
           of
           God
           ,
           can
           doubt
           
             who
             it
             is
             that
             hath
             appointed
             the
             rod
             :
          
           This
           is
           the
           first
           and
           most
           natural
           question
           of
           
           all
           ;
           and
           yet
           a
           great
           many
           who
           profess
           to
           believe
           a
           God
           and
           a
           Providence
           ,
           seem
           not
           well
           satisfied
           in
           this
           Point
           :
           They
           allow
           that
           some
           Judgments
           are
           the
           Hand
           of
           God
           ,
           but
           are
           not
           willing
           to
           grant
           this
           of
           all
           ;
           especially
           when
           they
           see
           what
           the
           immediate
           and
           visible
           Causes
           of
           such
           Sufferings
           are
           .
        
         
           Some
           of
           the
           greatest
           Evils
           which
           either
           Private
           Men
           or
           Publick
           Societies
           suffer
           ,
           are
           manifestly
           owing
           to
           the
           Injustice
           and
           Wickedness
           of
           men
           ;
           and
           they
           can
           no
           more
           believe
           that
           it
           is
           the
           Will
           and
           Appointment
           of
           God
           ,
           that
           they
           should
           suffer
           such
           Evils
           ,
           than
           that
           it
           is
           the
           Will
           of
           God
           that
           others
           should
           do
           them
           :
           And
           all
           such
           Rods
           as
           are
           not
           appointed
           by
           God
           ,
           can
           teach
           us
           nothing
           but
           the
           Wickedness
           of
           those
           by
           whom
           we
           suffer
           ;
           for
           if
           God
           has
           not
           sent
           them
           ,
           they
           can
           bring
           us
           no
           Message
           from
           God.
           And
           yet
           most
           men
           are
           in
           some
           degree
           infected
           with
           this
           disease
           :
           We
           suffer
           many
           Evils
           which
           we
           are
           not
           willing
           to
           ascribe
           to
           God
           ,
           and
           then
           we
           learn
           nothing
           from
           them
           but
           a
           little
           Worldly
           Policy
           and
           Prudence
           ,
           to
           take
           better
           care
           of
           our selves
           and
           our
           Affairs
           ,
           to
           be
           jealous
           and
           distrustful
           of
           men
           ;
           or
           it
           may
           be
           ,
           to
           watch
           our
           Opportunities
           to
           revenge
           the
           Injuries
           we
           suffer
           ,
           and
           to
           return
           them
           with
           Interest
           :
           And
           yet
           we
           profess
           to
           believe
           a
           Providence
           ;
           though
           it
           were
           as
           honourable
           to
           God
           to
           deny
           his
           Providence
           ,
           as
           to
           deny
           
           his
           Sovereign
           Disposal
           and
           Government
           of
           all
           Events
           ;
           or
           rather
           ,
           they
           are
           both
           an
           equal
           Reproach
           to
           him
           .
           For
           a
           Providence
           which
           does
           not
           take
           care
           of
           Creatures
           ,
           is
           little
           worth
           ;
           and
           we
           cannot
           say
           that
           God
           takes
           care
           of
           his
           Creatures
           ,
           if
           any
           Evil
           befals
           them
           without
           his
           Will
           and
           Appointment
           .
        
         
           But
           Natural
           Conscience
           sees
           the
           Hand
           of
           God
           in
           all
           the
           Evils
           we
           suffer
           :
           Whatever
           the
           visible
           and
           immediate
           Causes
           and
           Instruments
           of
           our
           Sufferings
           are
           ,
           a
           guilty
           Conscience
           takes
           notice
           of
           the
           Divine
           Vengeance
           ;
           the
           Terrors
           of
           God
           take
           hold
           upon
           him
           ,
           and
           he
           trembles
           before
           his
           Judge
           ,
           though
           he
           do
           not
           see
           him
           ;
           he
           is
           afraid
           of
           God
           ,
           when
           he
           feels
           only
           the
           Hands
           of
           men
           .
           And
           what
           is
           the
           meaning
           of
           this
           ?
           What
           is
           the
           Language
           of
           these
           guilty
           Fears
           ,
           but
           that
           whatever
           the
           Rod
           be
           that
           strikes
           ,
           it
           is
           moved
           and
           directed
           by
           a
           Divine
           Hand
           ;
           that
           the
           Wickedness
           and
           Injustice
           ,
           the
           Wrath
           and
           Fury
           of
           Men
           ,
           is
           no
           other
           than
           the
           Vengeance
           of
           God
           ?
           For
           why
           should
           the
           Evils
           we
           suffer
           from
           men
           so
           terrify
           a
           guilty
           Conscience
           ,
           had
           we
           not
           a
           Natural
           Persuasion
           ,
           That
           all
           these
           Evils
           are
           sent
           by
           God
           ,
           whoever
           are
           the
           Instruments
           of
           them
           ?
        
         
           Thus
           it
           is
           natural
           in
           all
           such
           cases
           to
           fly
           to
           God
           for
           help
           .
           Atheists
           themselves
           cannot
           wholly
           prevent
           this
           ;
           but
           when
           they
           are
           surprized
           with
           any
           
           sudden
           Dangers
           ,
           Nature
           is
           too
           quick
           and
           too
           powerful
           for
           their
           Philosophy
           ,
           and
           surprizes
           them
           into
           an
           acknowledgment
           of
           God
           and
           a
           Providence
           ,
           which
           they
           must
           do
           Penance
           for
           when
           their
           Fright
           is
           over
           .
           Sinners
           who
           forget
           God
           in
           Prosperity
           ,
           fly
           to
           him
           in
           their
           Distress
           ;
           
             remember
             that
             God
             is
             their
             rock
             ,
             and
             the
             high
             God
             their
             Redeemer
             .
          
           And
           if
           this
           be
           a
           Natural
           Acknowledgment
           of
           Providence
           ,
           as
           it
           certainly
           is
           ,
           it
           owns
           the
           Hand
           of
           God
           in
           our
           Sufferings
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           his
           Power
           to
           save
           ;
           for
           both
           equally
           belong
           to
           the
           Supreme
           and
           Sovereign
           Lord
           of
           the
           World
           ;
           and
           it
           is
           not
           merely
           his
           Power
           to
           help
           ,
           which
           makes
           Sinners
           fly
           to
           God
           in
           their
           distress
           ,
           but
           a
           sense
           of
           his
           Anger
           in
           what
           they
           suffer
           :
           They
           do
           not
           fly
           to
           God
           as
           men
           do
           to
           a
           powerful
           Patron
           ,
           but
           as
           Criminals
           do
           to
           the
           Mercy
           of
           a
           provok'd
           Father
           or
           Prince
           :
           When
           they
           fly
           to
           God
           ,
           it
           is
           to
           implore
           his
           Mercy
           as
           humble
           Penitents
           ,
           to
           appease
           his
           Anger
           ,
           that
           he
           may
           remove
           his
           Judgments
           ;
           and
           when
           we
           fly
           to
           the
           Mercies
           of
           God
           to
           remove
           the
           Rod
           ,
           it
           is
           an
           acknowledgment
           that
           it
           is
           he
           that
           strikes
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           he
           alone
           that
           can
           save
           .
        
         
           And
           that
           Conscience
           judges
           right
           in
           all
           this
           ,
           however
           some
           men
           may
           attribute
           it
           to
           a
           Superstitious
           Education
           ,
           is
           evident
           from
           Scripture
           ,
           which
           expresly
           tells
           us
           ,
           
             That
             God
             doth
             whatsoever
             
             pleaseth
             him
             both
             in
             heaven
             and
             in
             earth
             .
          
           That
           none
           
             can
             stay
             his
             hand
             ,
             or
             resist
             his
             will
             ,
          
           or
           
             say
             unto
             him
             ,
             What
             doest
             thou
             ?
          
           That
           
             there
             is
             no
             evil
             in
             the
             city
             ,
             which
             the
             Lord
             hath
             not
             done
             .
          
           If
           Iob
           be
           stript
           of
           all
           his
           large
           Possessions
           in
           a
           day
           ,
           it
           is
           
             the
             Lord
             that
             gave
             ,
             and
             the
             Lord
             that
             taketh
             away
             .
          
           If
           the
           mighty
           King
           of
           Assyria
           invade
           Israel
           ,
           and
           lay
           waste
           their
           Cities
           and
           Countrey
           ,
           he
           is
           
             the
             rod
             of
             God's
             anger
             ,
             and
             the
             staff
             in
             his
             hand
             is
             his
             indignation
             ,
          
           10.
           
           Isa.
           5
           ,
           6.
           
           
             Affliction
             cometh
             not
             forth
             of
             the
             dust
             ,
             neither
             doth
             trouble
             spring
             out
             of
             the
             ground
             ,
             but
             God
             is
             the
             judge
             ,
             he
             putteth
             down
             one
             ,
             and
             setteth
             up
             another
             ,
             75.
             
             Psal.
          
           7
           ,
           8.
           
           This
           shews
           us
           ,
           that
           whatever
           our
           Sufferings
           are
           ,
           it
           is
           God
           that
           appoints
           the
           Rod
           ,
           and
           then
           it
           must
           nearly
           concern
           us
           ,
        
         
           2dly
           .
           To
           hear
           the
           Rod
           ,
           what
           and
           to
           whom
           it
           speaks
           .
           Now
           in
           this
           case
           also
           ,
           Conscience
           and
           the
           Word
           of
           God
           are
           the
           best
           Interpreters
           of
           God's
           Judgments
           .
           The
           Rod
           teacheth
           another
           way
           ,
           but
           teacheth
           the
           same
           thing
           that
           Conscience
           and
           Scripture
           teach
           us
           ;
           that
           is
           ,
           it
           proclaims
           aloud
           the
           Evil
           of
           Sin
           ,
           and
           God's
           Anger
           and
           Displeasure
           against
           it
           ,
           and
           calls
           us
           to
           Repentance
           ,
           and
           Reformation
           of
           our
           Lives
           .
        
         
           When
           the
           Judgments
           of
           God
           are
           upon
           us
           ,
           Conscience
           knows
           their
           Errand
           ,
           and
           calls
           all
           our
           sins
           to
           remembrance
           ,
           and
           sets
           them
           in
           order
           before
           us
           .
           Nothing
           but
           Guilt
           makes
           us
           afraid
           of
           
           God
           ;
           and
           how
           quiet
           and
           secure
           soever
           Sinners
           are
           at
           other
           times
           ,
           the
           Judgments
           of
           God
           will
           awaken
           their
           guilty
           Fears
           ;
           and
           if
           men
           will
           hearken
           to
           the
           Voice
           of
           an
           awaken'd
           Conscience
           ,
           it
           will
           certainly
           tell
           them
           why
           God
           strikes
           ;
           and
           we
           cannot
           take
           a
           safer
           course
           ,
           than
           to
           reform
           those
           Sins
           of
           which
           our
           Consciences
           then
           accuse
           us
           .
        
         
           All
           the
           Threatnings
           of
           Scripture
           are
           against
           Sin
           ,
           and
           all
           the
           Judgments
           there
           recorded
           ,
           especially
           Publick
           and
           National
           Judgments
           ,
           were
           inflicted
           for
           the
           Punishment
           of
           Sin
           ;
           and
           these
           are
           to
           be
           our
           Examples
           ,
           as
           they
           are
           the
           standing
           Rules
           and
           Measures
           of
           Providence
           .
           God
           never
           punishes
           but
           for
           Sin
           ,
           though
           he
           may
           exercise
           particular
           good
           men
           with
           difficult
           Trials
           ;
           and
           therefore
           when
           bad
           men
           and
           a
           wicked
           Nation
           suffer
           ,
           they
           may
           certainly
           know
           the
           Cause
           ;
           they
           have
           sinned
           ,
           and
           God
           is
           angry
           ,
           and
           summons
           them
           to
           Repentance
           ;
           
             for
             this
             is
             the
             fruit
             of
             all
             ,
             to
             take
             away
             sin
             .
          
           The
           Voice
           of
           Judgments
           is
           the
           same
           with
           the
           Voice
           of
           Conscience
           ,
           and
           the
           Voice
           of
           God's
           Prophets
           ;
           
             Wash
             ye
             ,
             make
             ye
             clean
             ,
             put
             away
             the
             evil
             of
             your
             doings
             from
             before
             mine
             eyes
             :
             Cease
             to
             do
             evil
             ;
             learn
             to
             do
             well
             ;
             seek
             judgment
             ,
             relieve
             the
             oppressed
             ,
             judge
             the
             fatherless
             ,
             plead
             for
             the
             widow
             ,
          
           1.
           
           Isa.
           16
           ,
           17.
           
        
         
           This
           is
           plain
           enough
           ,
           and
           sufficiently
           known
           ,
           if
           it
           were
           but
           sufficiently
           laid
           to
           heart
           ;
           and
           this
           
           is
           all
           that
           ▪
           we
           are
           concerned
           to
           know
           of
           the
           Judgments
           of
           God.
           The
           secret
           and
           hidden
           ▪
           Designs
           of
           Providence
           ,
           which
           many
           times
           surprize
           the
           World
           with
           unexpected
           Events
           ,
           are
           the
           Care
           of
           God
           ,
           and
           belong
           not
           to
           us
           ,
           till
           the
           Scene
           opens
           ,
           and
           we
           see
           what
           part
           is
           allotted
           us
           in
           it
           .
           Whatever
           God
           be
           a-doing
           ,
           we
           have
           nothing
           to
           do
           but
           to
           amend
           our
           Lives
           ,
           which
           will
           remove
           the
           Scourge
           from
           us
           ,
           and
           entitle
           us
           to
           the
           Care
           and
           Protection
           of
           Providence
           .
           Whereas
           to
           busy
           our selves
           with
           Politick
           or
           Prophetick
           Guesses
           at
           unknown
           Events
           ,
           to
           paint
           our
           Imaginations
           with
           black
           and
           frightful
           ,
           or
           with
           gay
           and
           charming
           Scenes
           of
           things
           ,
           as
           desponding
           Fears
           ,
           or
           sanguine
           Hopes
           inspire
           the
           Prophet
           ,
           can
           do
           us
           no
           good
           ,
           but
           may
           do
           a
           great
           deal
           of
           hurt
           to
           our selves
           and
           the
           World.
           This
           is
           not
           the
           Voice
           of
           the
           Rod
           ,
           which
           makes
           no
           new
           Revelations
           to
           us
           ,
           but
           only
           awakens
           the
           Convictions
           of
           Conscience
           ,
           and
           enforces
           the
           Reproofs
           and
           Threatnings
           of
           the
           Word
           ,
           with
           such
           sensible
           and
           smarting
           Proofs
           of
           the
           Evil
           of
           Sin
           ,
           and
           God's
           Anger
           against
           it
           ,
           as
           will
           make
           all
           men
           consider
           ,
           who
           have
           not
           lost
           their
           Senses
           ;
           and
           many
           times
           restore
           Sense
           and
           Understanding
           to
           those
           who
           had
           lost
           them
           .
        
         
           But
           this
           to
           some
           men
           will
           seem
           a
           very
           dull
           Account
           of
           God's
           Judgments
           ,
           which
           will
           neither
           
           gratify
           their
           Curiosity
           nor
           Ill
           Nature
           ;
           nor
           ,
           which
           they
           think
           worse
           ,
           leave
           them
           any
           excuse
           to
           palliate
           their
           Hypocrisy
           .
        
         
           The
           Judgments
           of
           God
           declare
           God's
           Anger
           against
           Sin
           ,
           and
           call
           us
           to
           Repentance
           :
           This
           men
           will
           own
           ,
           but
           do
           not
           like
           to
           hear
           .
           it
           express'd
           in
           such
           general
           Terms
           ,
           as
           if
           when
           God
           sends
           his
           Judgments
           amongst
           us
           ,
           he
           were
           angry
           with
           us
           for
           all
           our
           sins
           ,
           and
           called
           us
           to
           repent
           of
           them
           all
           :
           This
           they
           think
           hard
           ,
           that
           they
           must
           part
           with
           all
           their
           Sins
           ,
           to
           remove
           these
           Judgments
           ;
           nay
           ,
           this
           they
           think
           can't
           be
           the
           Truth
           of
           the
           Case
           ,
           because
           the
           World
           is
           always
           very
           wicked
           ,
           and
           yet
           the
           Judgments
           of
           God
           are
           not
           always
           abroad
           in
           the
           World
           :
           And
           therefore
           they
           suppose
           ,
           that
           when
           God
           does
           execute
           Judgments
           ,
           it
           is
           not
           Sin
           in
           general
           ,
           but
           some
           particular
           Sins
           ,
           which
           so
           highly
           provoke
           him
           ;
           and
           could
           they
           learn
           what
           they
           are
           ,
           and
           reform
           them
           ,
           they
           might
           see
           happy
           Days
           again
           :
           And
           this
           sets
           men
           at
           liberty
           to
           favour
           what
           Sins
           they
           please
           ,
           to
           reproach
           and
           accuse
           each
           other
           ,
           and
           to
           charge
           all
           the
           Evils
           and
           Calamities
           they
           suffer
           upon
           one
           another
           ,
           without
           thinking
           of
           reforming
           themselves
           .
        
         
           Thus
           to
           be
           sure
           it
           always
           is
           ,
           when
           there
           are
           differing
           Parties
           and
           Factions
           in
           a
           Nation
           ,
           who
           judge
           very
           differently
           of
           Good
           and
           Evil
           :
           They
           will
           all
           confess
           they
           are
           great
           Sinners
           ;
           and
           ,
           it
           may
           
           be
           ,
           too
           many
           of
           all
           Parties
           are
           guilty
           of
           the
           same
           Sins
           ;
           but
           those
           Sins
           which
           are
           common
           to
           them
           all
           ,
           must
           pass
           for
           nothing
           ,
           because
           so
           far
           they
           are
           all
           agreed
           .
           But
           then
           there
           are
           peculiar
           Party-Sins
           ,
           which
           every
           Party
           dislikes
           in
           each
           other
           ;
           and
           what
           they
           dislike
           ,
           they
           conclude
           God
           dislikes
           too
           ;
           and
           to
           these
           they
           attribute
           all
           the
           Evils
           they
           suffer
           :
           As
           if
           the
           Judgments
           of
           God
           were
           not
           to
           reform
           the
           World
           ,
           but
           to
           decide
           some
           Party-Quarrels
           ,
           which
           will
           never
           be
           decided
           this
           way
           ,
           when
           every
           Party
           will
           expound
           Judgments
           in
           favour
           of
           themselves
           .
        
         
           But
           all
           men
           see
           that
           this
           is
           to
           judge
           by
           a
           false
           and
           partial
           Rule
           :
           This
           is
           neither
           Conscience
           nor
           Scripture
           ;
           for
           Conscience
           equally
           condemns
           all
           Sin
           ,
           and
           so
           does
           the
           Scripture
           too
           .
           I
           grant
           ,
           tho
           there
           is
           always
           a
           great
           deal
           of
           Wickedness
           committed
           in
           the
           World
           ,
           God
           does
           not
           always
           inflict
           Publick
           Judgments
           ,
           which
           are
           commonly
           executed
           when
           Wickedness
           and
           Impiety
           is
           grown
           publick
           too
           ;
           when
           publick
           Government
           is
           remiss
           in
           punishing
           Wickedness
           ,
           or
           the
           Numbers
           and
           Power
           of
           Sinners
           are
           grown
           too
           great
           for
           the
           Correction
           of
           Publick
           Justice
           :
           But
           we
           shall
           always
           find
           in
           Scripture
           ,
           that
           when
           God
           did
           inflict
           Publick
           Judgments
           ,
           he
           called
           for
           a
           general
           Repentance
           and
           Reformation
           ;
           and
           if
           this
           were
           not
           so
           ,
           no
           man
           could
           understand
           the
           Voice
           of
           the
           Rod
           without
           
           a
           Spirit
           of
           Prophecy
           .
           But
           this
           deserves
           a
           more
           particular
           Consideration
           ,
           both
           with
           respect
           to
           those
           Sins
           for
           which
           God
           most
           commonly
           sends
           his
           Judgments
           ,
           when
           he
           sees
           fit
           to
           execute
           a
           Publick
           Vengeance
           ;
           and
           the
           necessity
           of
           an
           universal
           Reformation
           ,
           when
           the
           Judgments
           of
           God
           are
           upon
           us
           .
        
         
           1.
           
           The
           most
           general
           account
           the
           Scripture
           gives
           us
           of
           Publick
           Judgments
           ,
           is
           an
           universal
           Corruption
           of
           Manners
           .
           Thus
           the
           Prophet
           describes
           the
           state
           of
           the
           Iewish
           Church
           ,
           when
           God
           threatned
           his
           Judgments
           against
           them
           :
           
             Ah
             sinful
             nation
             ,
             a
             people
             laden
             with
             iniquity
             ,
             a
             seed
             of
             evil
             doers
             ,
             children
             that
             are
             corrupters
             ;
             they
             have
             forsaken
             the
             Lord
             ,
             they
             have
             provoked
             the
             Holy
             One
             of
             Israel
             ,
             they
             are
             gone
             away
             backward
             .
          
           And
           
             the
             whole
             head
             is
             sick
             ,
             and
             the
             whole
             heart
             faint
             .
             From
             the
             sole
             of
             the
             foot
             unto
             the
             head
             ,
             there
             is
             no
             soundness
             in
             it
             ;
             but
             wounds
             ,
             and
             bruises
             ,
             and
             putrifying
             sores
             :
             they
             have
             not
             been
             closed
             ,
             nor
             bound
             up
             ,
             nor
             mollified
             with
             ointment
             ,
          
           1.
           
           Isa.
           4
           ,
           5
           ,
           6.
           
           And
           in
           verse
           10.
           he
           calls
           them
           ,
           
             The
             rulers
             of
             Sodom
             ,
             and
             people
             of
             Gomorrah
             .
          
           When
           Wickedness
           is
           grown
           universal
           ,
           and
           hath
           infected
           all
           Ranks
           and
           Orders
           of
           men
           ,
           such
           a
           Nation
           is
           ripe
           for
           Judgment
           ;
           but
           it
           adds
           greatly
           to
           the
           Guilt
           and
           Provocation
           ,
           when
           men
           are
           not
           contented
           to
           be
           wicked
           ,
           without
           bidding
           open
           
           defiance
           to
           God
           and
           to
           all
           Religion
           .
           
             Wo
             unto
             them
             who
             draw
             iniquity
             with
             cords
             of
             vanity
             ,
             and
             sin
             as
             it
             were
             with
             cart-ropes
             .
          
           Who
           deride
           all
           the
           Threatnings
           of
           God
           ,
           and
           even
           dare
           his
           Power
           and
           Justice
           :
           
             That
             say
             ,
             Let
             him
             make
             speed
             ,
             and
             hasten
             his
             work
             ,
             that
             we
             may
             see
             it
             ;
             and
             let
             the
             counsel
             of
             the
             Holy
             One
             of
             Israel
             draw
             nigh
             ,
             and
             come
             ,
             that
             we
             may
             know
             it
             .
          
           Who
           mock
           at
           the
           differences
           of
           Good
           and
           Evil
           ,
           and
           value
           the
           Reputation
           of
           their
           Wit
           and
           Philosophy
           too
           much
           to
           be
           cheated
           with
           such
           empty
           Names
           .
           
             Wo
             unto
             them
             that
             call
             evil
             good
             ,
             and
             good
             evil
             ,
             that
             put
             darkness
             for
             light
             ,
             and
             light
             for
             darkness
             ,
             that
             put
             bitter
             for
             sweet
             ,
             and
             sweet
             for
             bitter
             .
             Wo
             unto
             them
             that
             are
             wise
             in
             their
             eyes
             ,
             and
             prudent
             in
             their
             own
             sight
             :
          
           Who
           having
           first
           destroyed
           the
           eternal
           and
           essential
           differences
           of
           Good
           and
           Evil
           ,
           change
           their
           Names
           too
           at
           pleasure
           ,
           and
           think
           themselves
           the
           only
           Wise
           Men
           in
           the
           world
           for
           doing
           so
           .
           This
           takes
           off
           all
           Restraints
           ,
           and
           gives
           the
           Reins
           to
           their
           Lusts
           ,
           and
           they
           live
           just
           as
           they
           believe
           ,
           without
           making
           any
           difference
           between
           Good
           and
           Evil.
           
             Wo
             unto
             them
             that
             are
             mighty
             to
             drink
             wine
             ,
             and
             men
             of
             strength
             to
             mingle
             strong
             drink
             ;
             who
             justify
             the
             wicked
             for
             a
             reward
             ,
             and
             take
             away
             the
             righteousness
             of
             the
             righteous
             from
             him
             .
             Therefore
             as
             the
             fire
             devoureth
             the
             stubble
             ,
             and
             the
             flame
             consumeth
             the
             chaff
             ,
             so
             their
             root
             shall
             be
             as
             rottenness
             ,
             and
             their
             blossom
             shall
             go
             up
             as
             the
             dust
             ,
             because
             
             they
             have
             cast
             away
             the
             law
             of
             the
             Lord
             of
             hosts
             ,
             and
             despised
             the
             word
             of
             the
             Holy
             One
             of
             Israel
             ,
          
           5.
           
           Isa.
           18
           ,
           &c.
           The
           like
           account
           we
           find
           in
           the
           other
           Prophets
           .
           And
           when
           the
           state
           of
           a
           Church
           and
           Nation
           is
           so
           corrupt
           ,
           we
           need
           not
           enquire
           for
           what
           particular
           Sins
           God
           strikes
           ;
           but
           yet
           there
           were
           some
           Sins
           which
           God
           expressed
           a
           severer
           Indignation
           against
           ,
           and
           seldom
           delayed
           to
           punish
           ;
           such
           as
           their
           Idolatry
           ,
           and
           Contempt
           of
           the
           God
           of
           Israel
           ,
           of
           his
           Word
           and
           Prophets
           ;
           a
           Prophanation
           of
           his
           Worship
           ;
           Atheistical
           Notions
           of
           Providence
           ,
           and
           of
           Good
           and
           Evil
           ;
           or
           their
           abominable
           Hypocrisy
           ,
           in
           committing
           all
           the
           Lewdness
           and
           Villanies
           which
           men
           could
           commit
           ,
           and
           sheltering
           themselves
           in
           an
           external
           Form
           and
           appearance
           of
           Religion
           ,
           which
           the
           Prophets
           every
           where
           complain
           of
           .
           To
           these
           Causes
           is
           owing
           the
           universal
           Corruption
           of
           Manners
           ;
           for
           it
           is
           impossible
           any
           Nation
           should
           so
           universally
           degenerate
           ,
           till
           they
           have
           either
           corrupted
           their
           Religion
           by
           Superstition
           and
           Hypocrisy
           ,
           or
           lost
           all
           sense
           of
           it
           ;
           and
           therefore
           this
           calls
           for
           a
           speedy
           Vengeance
           .
        
         
           As
           for
           what
           more
           particularly
           concerns
           the
           Christian
           Church
           ,
           we
           may
           learn
           from
           the
           Epistles
           to
           the
           Seven
           Churches
           of
           Asia
           ,
           what
           it
           is
           provokes
           our
           Lord
           either
           severely
           to
           punish
           us
           ,
           or
           to
           remove
           the
           Gospel
           from
           us
           .
           The
           Church
           of
           
           Ephesus
           ,
           though
           she
           had
           acquitted
           her self
           well
           in
           many
           things
           ,
           yet
           
             had
             left
             her
             first
             love
          
           ,
           had
           abated
           very
           much
           of
           her
           Zeal
           and
           Fervour
           for
           the
           Name
           and
           Religion
           of
           Christ.
           The
           Church
           of
           Pergamus
           is
           threatned
           for
           suffering
           those
           among
           her
           who
           taught
           Idolatrous
           Worship
           ,
           and
           fleshly
           Lusts
           :
           And
           the
           Church
           of
           Thyatira
           likewise
           for
           suffering
           the
           Woman
           Iezabel
           to
           commit
           Fornication
           ,
           and
           to
           eat
           things
           sacrificed
           to
           Idols
           .
           The
           Church
           of
           Sardis
           made
           a
           glorious
           and
           pompous
           Profession
           of
           Religion
           ,
           but
           without
           the
           true
           Life
           and
           Spirit
           of
           it
           ;
           
             she
             had
             a
             name
             to
             live
             ,
             but
             was
             dead
             :
          
           And
           the
           Church
           of
           Laodicea
           grew
           very
           cold
           and
           indifferent
           even
           in
           the
           Profession
           of
           Religion
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           in
           the
           Practice
           of
           it
           ;
           she
           was
           neither
           
             hot
             nor
             cold
             ,
             but
             lukewarm
             .
          
           All
           these
           our
           Saviour
           summons
           to
           Repentance
           ,
           and
           threatens
           to
           punish
           or
           destroy
           them
           if
           they
           did
           not
           ,
           Chap.
           2
           ,
           and
           3.
           of
           the
           Revelations
           .
        
         
           The
           Application
           of
           all
           this
           to
           our selves
           is
           so
           obvious
           ,
           that
           I
           need
           not
           multiply
           words
           about
           it
           :
           We
           are
           that
           very
           Nation
           wherein
           all
           these
           Evils
           meet
           ;
           it
           is
           hard
           to
           name
           any
           Vice
           which
           is
           not
           openly
           committed
           amongst
           us
           without
           Fear
           or
           Shame
           :
           Nay
           ,
           things
           are
           come
           to
           that
           pass
           ,
           that
           to
           be
           a
           modest
           Sinner
           ,
           to
           boggle
           at
           any
           Wickedness
           ,
           or
           to
           blush
           at
           it
           ,
           is
           as
           great
           a
           Reproach
           as
           to
           be
           Virtuous
           :
           And
           though
           some
           men
           
           are
           ashamed
           to
           own
           themselves
           Atheists
           ,
           yet
           to
           believe
           in
           Christ
           ,
           and
           to
           own
           any
           Reveal'd
           Religion
           ,
           or
           to
           talk
           seriously
           of
           Providence
           ,
           of
           God's
           governing
           the
           World
           ,
           and
           punishing
           Cities
           and
           Nations
           for
           their
           Wickedness
           ,
           is
           thought
           a
           Jest
           ;
           and
           I
           wish
           it
           were
           a
           Jest
           only
           among
           vile
           and
           mean
           People
           ,
           of
           no
           Fortune
           or
           Education
           ;
           whereas
           we
           often
           see
           that
           their
           Condition
           makes
           them
           modest
           ,
           and
           untaught
           Nature
           teaches
           them
           better
           ,
           till
           they
           are
           corrupted
           by
           the
           Examples
           of
           Men
           of
           Wit
           and
           Figure
           in
           the
           World.
           And
           as
           for
           those
           who
           pretend
           to
           Religion
           ,
           it
           is
           a
           very
           melancholy
           Prospect
           ,
           to
           observe
           how
           little
           of
           the
           true
           Life
           and
           Spirit
           of
           Christianity
           there
           is
           among
           them
           .
           There
           is
           indeed
           Noise
           ,
           and
           Zeal
           ,
           and
           Faction
           enough
           among
           some
           People
           ,
           and
           that
           makes
           others
           as
           cold
           and
           indifferent
           :
           The
           Tempers
           of
           the
           Church
           of
           Sardis
           and
           Laodicea
           ,
           the
           one
           that
           had
           a
           Name
           to
           live
           ,
           but
           was
           dead
           ,
           the
           other
           that
           was
           lukewarm
           ,
           make
           much
           the
           greatest
           Parties
           among
           us
           ;
           and
           the
           very
           best
           men
           ,
           I
           fear
           ,
           are
           too
           much
           inclined
           to
           the
           state
           of
           Ephesus
           ,
           which
           had
           
             left
             her
             first
             Love
          
           ,
           those
           great
           Passions
           and
           Ardors
           of
           Devotion
           which
           ought
           to
           inspire
           the
           Minds
           of
           Christians
           .
        
         
           Let
           us
           then
           hear
           the
           Rod
           and
           tremble
           :
           See
           how
           God
           dealt
           with
           the
           Iewish
           Church
           for
           these
           Sins
           ;
           see
           what
           our
           Lord
           hath
           done
           to
           the
           
           Churches
           of
           Asia
           ;
           and
           though
           we
           cannot
           say
           what
           God
           will
           do
           to
           us
           ,
           because
           we
           know
           not
           what
           wonderful
           Designs
           are
           in
           the
           Womb
           of
           Providence
           ,
           yet
           we
           know
           what
           we
           do
           ,
           and
           how
           God
           hath
           dealt
           with
           those
           who
           have
           done
           as
           we
           do
           ;
           which
           is
           too
           just
           reason
           to
           fear
           that
           he
           will
           deal
           so
           by
           us
           too
           ,
           unless
           we
           repent
           and
           reform
           ,
           which
           they
           did
           not
           .
           For
           ,
        
         
           2dly
           .
           When
           the
           Judgments
           of
           God
           are
           upon
           us
           ,
           the
           Reformation
           must
           be
           universal
           too
           :
           It
           concerns
           every
           man
           to
           reform
           himself
           ;
           for
           a
           Nation
           can
           never
           be
           reformed
           ,
           but
           by
           the
           Reformation
           of
           particular
           men
           ,
           who
           make
           up
           the
           Nation
           ;
           and
           therefore
           when
           we
           are
           summoned
           to
           Repentance
           ,
           as
           the
           Judgments
           of
           God
           summon
           us
           all
           ,
           every
           man
           must
           examine
           himself
           what
           he
           has
           to
           repent
           of
           ,
           and
           reform
           himself
           .
           But
           yet
           there
           is
           great
           difference
           between
           a
           National
           and
           Personal
           Repentance
           and
           Reformation
           ,
           and
           they
           serve
           very
           different
           Ends.
           
        
         
           A
           Nation
           may
           be
           said
           to
           be
           reformed
           ,
           and
           God
           may
           in
           great
           Mercy
           remove
           his
           Judgments
           ,
           tho
           (
           what
           is
           never
           to
           be
           expected
           )
           every
           particular
           man
           do
           not
           repent
           and
           reform
           himself
           :
           But
           then
           such
           a
           National
           Reformation
           requires
           the
           Execution
           of
           Publick
           Justice
           against
           Publick
           Wickedness
           ,
           to
           make
           Sin
           publickly
           infamous
           ,
           and
           to
           teach
           the
           greatest
           and
           most
           powerful
           Sinners
           Modesty
           :
           
           To
           banish
           ,
           if
           not
           Sinners
           ,
           yet
           Sin
           out
           of
           our
           Courts
           ,
           and
           out
           of
           our
           Streets
           ,
           and
           to
           make
           it
           once
           more
           seek
           for
           Night
           and
           Darkness
           for
           a
           Covering
           ;
           that
           Virtue
           may
           no
           longer
           blush
           in
           Company
           ,
           or
           need
           Apologies
           ;
           nor
           Vice
           dare
           to
           brave
           it
           at
           Noon-day
           .
        
         
           There
           has
           indeed
           of
           late
           been
           some
           Care
           taken
           by
           Publick
           Laws
           and
           Royal
           Proclamations
           ,
           to
           punish
           the
           Prophanation
           of
           God's
           Name
           by
           accursed
           Oaths
           ;
           but
           yet
           in
           most
           cases
           men
           may
           be
           as
           vile
           as
           they
           please
           ,
           and
           as
           publickly
           so
           as
           they
           please
           ,
           and
           little
           or
           no
           notice
           taken
           of
           them
           ;
           nay
           ,
           they
           may
           talk
           and
           write
           what
           they
           please
           against
           God
           and
           Religion
           ,
           ridicule
           the
           History
           of
           Moses
           ,
           and
           the
           Gospel
           of
           our
           Saviour
           ,
           and
           the
           Mysteries
           of
           the
           Christian
           Faith
           ,
           and
           gain
           Credit
           and
           Reputation
           by
           it
           .
           I
           hope
           there
           are
           not
           many
           Christian
           Nations
           in
           the
           World
           ,
           which
           in
           so
           publick
           a
           manner
           permit
           these
           things
           .
           We
           have
           talk'd
           of
           Liberty
           of
           Conscience
           ,
           and
           Reformation
           ,
           to
           good
           purpose
           ,
           if
           the
           only
           effect
           of
           it
           be
           a
           liberty
           of
           ridiculing
           the
           Christian
           Faith
           ;
           which
           might
           make
           one
           suspect
           that
           all
           the
           Zeal
           some
           men
           have
           express'd
           against
           Popery
           ,
           was
           at
           the
           bottom
           of
           it
           a
           Zeal
           for
           Atheism
           and
           Irreligion
           ;
           which
           the
           Discipline
           of
           Popery
           ,
           as
           bad
           a
           Religion
           as
           it
           is
           ,
           would
           not
           endure
           ;
           it
           is
           indeed
           well
           fitted
           to
           make
           Atheists
           and
           Infidels
           ,
           but
           
           will
           make
           men
           have
           a
           care
           how
           they
           profess
           it
           .
           And
           it
           is
           to
           be
           feared
           ,
           that
           this
           Scepticism
           ,
           and
           Infidelity
           ,
           and
           Contempt
           of
           Religion
           ,
           will
           prove
           a
           Back-door
           to
           let
           in
           Popery
           again
           upon
           us
           .
        
         
           But
           to
           leave
           these
           Thoughts
           with
           those
           whose
           proper
           Care
           and
           Business
           it
           is
           ;
           whether
           a
           Nation
           will
           be
           reformed
           or
           not
           ,
           it
           concerns
           every
           particular
           man
           to
           hear
           the
           Rod
           :
           The
           Judgments
           of
           God
           warn
           us
           of
           his
           Anger
           and
           Displeasure
           against
           Sin
           ,
           that
           we
           may
           fly
           from
           the
           Wrath
           to
           come
           ;
           and
           we
           do
           not
           hear
           the
           Voice
           of
           the
           Rod
           ,
           nor
           improve
           Judgments
           to
           their
           true
           end
           ,
           if
           we
           do
           not
           so
           repent
           and
           reform
           ,
           as
           to
           save
           our
           Souls
           ;
           and
           this
           to
           be
           sure
           must
           be
           a
           Personal
           and
           an
           Universal
           Reformation
           .
           And
           yet
           even
           with
           respect
           to
           present
           Judgments
           ,
           a
           Personal
           Repentance
           and
           Reformation
           is
           of
           great
           use
           ;
           for
           when
           the
           Judgment
           is
           Publick
           and
           National
           ,
           God
           many
           times
           makes
           a
           remarkable
           distinction
           between
           persons
           :
           
             Say
             ye
             to
             the
             righteous
             ,
             it
             shall
             be
             well
             with
             them
             ,
             for
             they
             shall
             reap
             the
             fruit
             of
             their
             doings
             :
             Wo
             unto
             the
             wicked
             ,
             it
             shall
             be
             ill
             with
             him
             ,
             for
             the
             reward
             of
             his
             hands
             shall
             be
             given
             to
             him
             :
          
           Which
           is
           spoke
           with
           respect
           to
           Publick
           Judgments
           ,
           3.
           
           Isa.
           10
           ,
           11.
           
           Which
           is
           a
           sufficient
           Encouragement
           for
           particular
           men
           to
           repent
           ,
           and
           reform
           their
           Lives
           ,
           whatever
           others
           do
           .
        
         
         
           But
           it
           is
           time
           to
           apply
           what
           I
           have
           now
           discoursed
           ,
           to
           the
           Particular
           Occasion
           of
           this
           Day
           's
           Solemnity
           ;
           though
           possibly
           some
           may
           think
           that
           this
           Application
           comes
           too
           late
           ;
           it
           might
           have
           been
           very
           seasonable
           One
           or
           Two
           and
           thirty
           Years
           ago
           ,
           while
           the
           Marks
           of
           this
           Terrible
           Vengeance
           were
           fresh
           and
           visible
           ;
           when
           the
           Ruins
           of
           our
           Houses
           and
           Churches
           could
           only
           tell
           us
           where
           London
           stood
           ,
           and
           shew
           us
           its
           Funeral
           Pile
           ,
           where
           its
           Glory
           lay
           in
           the
           Dust
           :
           When
           so
           many
           Thousand
           Families
           felt
           the
           smart
           of
           their
           Ruined
           Fortunes
           ,
           and
           were
           either
           forc'd
           to
           begin
           the
           World
           again
           ,
           or
           sunk
           irrecoverably
           under
           it
           .
           This
           Fiery
           Vengeance
           had
           a
           Voice
           then
           ,
           and
           a
           very
           Terrible
           Voice
           ,
           enough
           to
           awaken
           the
           most
           stupid
           and
           Lethargick
           Sinners
           .
           But
           when
           we
           see
           our
           City
           rebuilt
           more
           beautiful
           than
           ever
           ,
           as
           the
           little
           poor
           Remains
           of
           the
           Old
           one
           witness
           :
           When
           our
           Riches
           and
           Glory
           are
           increased
           beyond
           the
           Example
           of
           most
           former
           Ages
           ,
           it
           seems
           too
           late
           to
           lament
           over
           the
           Ashes
           and
           Rubbish
           of
           our
           Fired
           City
           ,
           when
           there
           are
           no
           visible
           Remains
           of
           these
           Ruins
           to
           move
           our
           Pity
           or
           Sorrow
           :
           And
           indeed
           were
           this
           the
           only
           design
           of
           this
           Annual
           Fast
           ,
           it
           were
           high
           time
           to
           put
           an
           end
           to
           it
           ,
           or
           to
           turn
           it
           into
           a
           Thanksgiving
           Festival
           :
           For
           it
           is
           in
           vain
           to
           expect
           ,
           that
           after
           Three
           and
           thirty
           Years
           ,
           the
           return
           of
           this
           Day
           should
           
           revive
           and
           renew
           our
           Sorrows
           and
           Lamentations
           ,
           when
           our
           Ruins
           are
           removed
           ,
           our
           Losses
           repaired
           ,
           and
           those
           frightful
           Impressions
           which
           the
           sight
           of
           that
           devouring
           Fire
           made
           on
           us
           ,
           forgot
           ;
           and
           little
           left
           to
           put
           us
           in
           mind
           that
           our
           City
           was
           burnt
           ,
           but
           the
           Inscription
           upon
           the
           Monument
           ,
           and
           the
           sight
           of
           a
           New
           City
           ,
           with
           the
           several
           Dates
           of
           its
           Resurrection
           ;
           which
           must
           needs
           qualify
           all
           melancholy
           and
           sorrowful
           Reflections
           on
           what
           is
           so
           long
           past
           .
        
         
           But
           though
           the
           Design
           of
           this
           Solemnity
           is
           not
           to
           represent
           and
           act
           over
           again
           a
           new
           doleful
           Scene
           of
           Horror
           ,
           Confusion
           ,
           and
           Amazement
           ,
           which
           neither
           Nature
           nor
           Art
           can
           imitate
           ,
           as
           we
           saw
           it
           once
           on
           this
           day
           ,
           without
           such
           another
           amazing
           Sight
           ,
           which
           God
           grant
           we
           may
           never
           see
           again
           till
           the
           General
           Conflagration
           ;
           yet
           it
           is
           of
           great
           use
           to
           keep
           up
           a
           lively
           sense
           of
           such
           Judgments
           upon
           our
           Minds
           ,
           which
           become
           the
           subject
           of
           Reason
           ,
           of
           cool
           Thoughts
           ,
           and
           wise
           Consideration
           ,
           when
           the
           Terror
           and
           Frightfulness
           of
           them
           is
           over
           .
        
         
           Judgments
           could
           never
           make
           a
           lasting
           Reformation
           in
           the
           World
           ,
           were
           we
           concerned
           to
           remember
           them
           no
           longer
           than
           we
           feel
           their
           smart
           ;
           but
           they
           are
           intended
           both
           for
           Punishment
           and
           Instruction
           ;
           the
           Punishment
           ends
           with
           the
           smart
           ,
           and
           that
           puts
           an
           end
           to
           all
           whining
           and
           tragical
           
           Complaints
           ;
           but
           this
           alone
           is
           the
           discipline
           of
           Fools
           or
           Bruits
           :
           The
           Instruction
           is
           for
           Men
           ,
           and
           this
           is
           to
           last
           as
           long
           as
           Memory
           ,
           and
           Thought
           ,
           and
           Reason
           last
           .
           What
           could
           the
           Fire
           of
           London
           teach
           us
           Thirty
           three
           Years
           ago
           ,
           which
           it
           does
           not
           teach
           a
           wise
           man
           still
           ?
           And
           what
           Thoughts
           and
           devout
           Passions
           became
           us
           then
           ,
           which
           are
           not
           still
           on
           this
           Day
           the
           proper
           Exercise
           of
           our
           Devotion
           ?
        
         
           When
           we
           saw
           our
           Churches
           and
           Houses
           in
           Flames
           ,
           when
           we
           saw
           those
           furious
           Torrents
           of
           Fire
           rowling
           down
           our
           Streets
           ,
           and
           despising
           all
           the
           Opposition
           that
           Human
           Art
           or
           Strength
           could
           make
           ,
           as
           if
           they
           had
           known
           by
           what
           a
           Divine
           and
           Irresistible
           Commission
           they
           acted
           ;
           there
           were
           few
           men
           to
           be
           found
           ,
           who
           did
           not
           express
           a
           great
           Fear
           and
           Reverence
           of
           the
           Power
           ,
           and
           Justice
           ,
           and
           terrible
           Majesty
           of
           God
           ;
           who
           did
           not
           see
           and
           own
           the
           Hand
           of
           God
           ,
           and
           the
           visible
           Tokens
           of
           his
           Displeasure
           ,
           and
           begin
           in
           good
           earnest
           to
           think
           of
           reforming
           their
           Lives
           ,
           and
           making
           their
           Peace
           with
           God
           ,
           who
           had
           now
           taken
           the
           Rod
           into
           his
           own
           hand
           .
        
         
           When
           we
           saw
           our
           Riches
           make
           to
           themselves
           Wings
           and
           fly
           away
           as
           an
           Eagle
           towards
           Heaven
           ;
           when
           we
           saw
           all
           our
           Pride
           and
           Glory
           ,
           the
           Toil
           and
           Labour
           of
           our
           whole
           Lives
           ,
           the
           Food
           and
           the
           Instruments
           of
           our
           Lusts
           ,
           vanish
           into
           
           Smoke
           and
           Dust
           ,
           this
           effectually
           taught
           us
           the
           Uncertainty
           of
           all
           present
           things
           ,
           and
           made
           us
           seriously
           consider
           what
           an
           ill
           state
           those
           were
           in
           ,
           who
           had
           nothing
           to
           trust
           to
           but
           such
           vanishing
           Treasures
           ;
           and
           how
           reasonable
           our
           Saviour's
           Command
           is
           ,
           
             Not
             to
             lay
             up
             for
             our selves
             treasures
             on
             earth
             ,
             where
             moth
             and
             rust
             do
             corrupt
             ,
             and
             where
             thieves
             break
             through
             and
             steal
          
           ;
           but
           to
           
             lay
             up
             for
             our selves
             treasures
             in
             heaven
             ,
          
           which
           are
           not
           subject
           to
           such
           Casualties
           ;
           which
           will
           make
           us
           bear
           such
           Losses
           better
           when
           they
           come
           ,
           and
           secure
           our
           eternal
           Interest
           .
        
         
           When
           men
           saw
           their
           Riches
           and
           Treasures
           vanish
           in
           a
           Cloud
           ,
           it
           naturally
           made
           them
           consider
           how
           much
           of
           this
           they
           owed
           to
           the
           Poor
           ,
           how
           much
           they
           had
           spent
           upon
           their
           Lusts
           ,
           and
           how
           much
           they
           had
           unjustly
           got
           ;
           that
           is
           ,
           how
           much
           of
           what
           God
           had
           taken
           from
           them
           was
           not
           their
           own
           ,
           and
           how
           much
           they
           had
           abused
           the
           Gifts
           of
           God
           :
           Very
           Wise
           and
           Pious
           Thoughts
           ,
           had
           they
           lasted
           ;
           and
           yet
           too
           plain
           to
           be
           missed
           by
           those
           who
           thought
           at
           all
           ,
           when
           they
           saw
           these
           Lessons
           written
           in
           bright
           Characters
           of
           Fire
           .
        
         
           Now
           was
           all
           this
           ,
           do
           you
           think
           ,
           calculated
           only
           for
           
             Sixty
             six
          
           ?
           Is
           not
           God
           the
           same
           still
           ?
           A
           Just
           and
           Righteous
           Judge
           ,
           who
           is
           
             angry
             with
             the
             wicked
             every
             day
             ,
          
           though
           he
           do
           not
           every
           day
           
             bend
             his
             bow
          
           ,
           and
           let
           fly
           his
           Arrows
           ;
           though
           he
           do
           
           not
           every
           day
           
             make
             the
             earth
             tremble
             and
             quake
             ,
             and
             the
             very
             foundations
             of
             the
             hills
             to
             shake
             ,
             because
             he
             is
             angry
          
           ;
           though
           we
           do
           not
           every
           day
           see
           
             a
             smoke
             go
             out
             of
             his
             presence
             ,
             and
             a
             consuming
             fire
             out
             of
             his
             mouth
          
           ;
           though
           he
           do
           not
           upon
           every
           Provocation
           appear
           in
           his
           Terrible
           Majesty
           ,
           
             riding
             upon
             the
             Cherubins
             ,
             and
             flying
             upon
             the
             wings
             of
             the
             wind
             .
          
           Methinks
           one
           such
           Example
           might
           serve
           us
           for
           some
           Ages
           ,
           without
           expecting
           or
           desiring
           to
           be
           summoned
           again
           to
           Repentance
           by
           new
           Terrors
           .
           
             God
             is
             gracious
             and
             merciful
             ,
             slow
             to
             anger
             ,
             and
             of
             great
             kindness
             :
          
           He
           delights
           more
           to
           display
           his
           Glory
           in
           acts
           of
           Goodness
           and
           Bounty
           to
           his
           Creatures
           ;
           but
           Judgments
           are
           his
           
             strange
             work
          
           ,
           which
           makes
           the
           signal
           Execution
           of
           them
           so
           very
           rare
           ;
           and
           the
           way
           to
           have
           them
           rare
           ,
           is
           not
           to
           forget
           them
           ,
           to
           learn
           Righteousness
           by
           the
           things
           which
           we
           have
           suffer'd
           ;
           to
           fear
           and
           tremble
           before
           that
           God
           who
           is
           so
           
             terrible
             in
             his
             doings
             towards
             the
             children
             of
             men
             .
          
        
         
           But
           if
           the
           Fire
           of
           London
           was
           too
           long
           since
           to
           work
           upon
           our
           Fears
           at
           this
           distance
           ,
           (
           though
           I
           confess
           I
           wonder
           how
           any
           man
           who
           saw
           that
           Sight
           ,
           should
           ever
           forget
           it
           ,
           or
           remember
           it
           without
           a
           just
           Awe
           and
           Reverence
           of
           God
           )
           ;
           but
           I
           say
           ,
           if
           these
           Impressions
           of
           Fear
           and
           Terror
           are
           lost
           ,
           let
           the
           Beauty
           and
           Glory
           of
           our
           New
           City
           ,
           our
           Increasing
           Riches
           ,
           our
           Flourishing
           Trade
           ,
           our
           Ease
           
           and
           Plenty
           ,
           teach
           us
           to
           Love
           and
           Reverence
           ,
           and
           Worship
           and
           Praise
           that
           God
           ,
           who
           
             in
             the
             midst
             of
             judgment
             hath
             remembred
             mercy
          
           ;
           who
           hath
           
             pluck'd
             us
             as
             a
             firebrand
             out
             of
             the
             fire
             ,
          
           and
           hath
           not
           suffered
           our
           Enemies
           to
           triumph
           over
           us
           ;
           
             who
             said
             ,
             Down
             with
             it
             ,
             down
             with
             it
             ,
             even
             to
             the
             ground
             .
          
           This
           is
           the
           way
           to
           perpetuate
           our
           Prosperity
           and
           Glory
           ,
           if
           the
           Remembrance
           of
           past
           Judgments
           teaches
           us
           to
           Fear
           God
           ,
           the
           sense
           of
           his
           present
           Mercies
           to
           Love
           him
           ,
           and
           both
           to
           Obey
           him
           .
        
         
           
             Which
             God
             of
             his
             Infinite
             Mercy
             grant
             ,
             through
             our
             Lord
             Iesus
             Christ
             :
             To
             Whom
             ,
             with
             the
             Father
             and
             the
             Holy
             Ghost
             ,
             be
             Honour
             ,
             Glory
             ,
             and
             Power
             ,
             now
             and
             ever
             .
          
        
         
           Amen
           .
        
         
           FINIS
           .
        
      
    
     
       
         
         
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           Fathers
           concerning
           a
           Trinity
           in
           Unity
           .
           4to
           .
           Price
           5
           s.
           
        
         
           An
           Answer
           to
           the
           Animadversions
           on
           the
           Dean
           of
           St.
           
           Paul's
           Vindication
           of
           the
           Trinity
           .
           By
           
             I.
             B.
          
           A.
           M.
           Quarto
           .
        
         
           A
           Defence
           of
           the
           Dean
           of
           St.
           
           Paul's
           Apology
           for
           Writing
           against
           
             Socinians
             .
             Quarto
          
           .