Some Breathings forth on London's late ruines by Fire.
COme call for such as skilful are to weep:
Tears can't exceed, nor sighs be here too deep;
Nor though our heads of waters fountains were,
What might exhaust and draw them dry is here:
For of our City sin an heap hath made,
Isa. 25.2.
Our famous City yea in ruines laid,
And that by Fire which alate befel,
But such as Stories scarce can parallel.
Methinks it was some semblance of that Fire,
Which Sodome God consum'd with in his ire.
Methinks I am as one even quite dismay'd;
Methinks yet that should not be true that's said.
The former Fire was not quenched quite,
Pestilence.
Before another Fire breaks forth with might:
The former that did much consume our men;
Another dreadful Fire cometh then,
And that consumes our houses and our goods,
And nothing leaves but rubbish where they stood:
And thus out of one Fire go do we,
Ezek. 15.7.
And with another Fire devour'd we be.
Oh what distress▪ Oh what perplexity!
What fears and frights surpriz'd all suddenly!
How did all faces gather paleness, and
All knees wax feeble, each hangs down his hands.
Hearts fail for fear, all full of consternation,
As if it was the general conflagration.
Men are amaz'd: the Engin [...]s to those flames
Are but a s [...]o [...] nor waters can them tame;
But still they rage and roar yea run along
With a furious fiercenese as they first begun.
What Adamantine [...] could but relent
To hear what dismal cryes and shrieks up went;
Such as even pierct the Heavens, yea, and might make
The very Earths Foundations for to shake.
Some cry, My children, Oh are they secure?
And are none left i'th house still are you sure?
Others, my Father, some, my Mother cry;
Another sayes, he can't his wife espy.
One cryes, come help, O let's get out this chest;
Another cryes, first get out this, as best;
Another cryes, Oh help to save my Plate;
Another calls, a Cart at any rate;
A third, he comes and sayes, it is too late,
You can't for rubbish pass unto the Gate:
Oh cryes another, I am quite undone;
To help to save my goods, I can get none.
Thus all are in an hurry, and some take
From others straits advantage, gain to make.
The Judgment is so sore, so far extends,
That none are able it to comprehend:
Somthing thereof at present we do see,
And every day will more appear to be.
Our Body Politick's wounded at heart,
And all the Members, each do feel the smart.
The Mother of our Israel is undone,
And all her Daughters languish every one.
The very Fountain of our Trade's drawn dry,
And all her Rivulets exhaust do lye.
Oh what a change a few dayes here have made!
How soon when these things flourish do they fade!
How solitary does that City sit,
(Lam. 1.1.)
Which so much people had alate in it!
But as a Widow she is now become,
Her Glory stain'd, and all her beauty gone,
It is departed, and she's so o'rethrown,
That where her streets were scarce it can be known:
Her wayes do mourn, her Gates are sunk, and she
Hath made her dwellers elsewhere seek to be.
How many lately rich are now made poor?
How many empty which alate had store?
How many harbourless which houses had?
How many that were joyous now are sad?
How many that to others succour gave,
Have need themselves now succour for to have?
How many late at ease are now perplext,
Waiting what dismal things may follow next,
Fearing least these their sorrows but begin,
And are still soarer things but ushering in.
Oh London, glorious things were spoken of thee,
But oh what sad things now reported be!
But what do words to such a devastation,
That does so far exceed even all relation?
Such as go up and do behold it, see
Far more than e're they heard it for to be.
Come now Jehovahs works behold, and see
What desolations he hath made to be!
(Ps. 46.8.)
Such as amaze, and even astonish; and
These made i'th' Mother City of our Land,
Yea, that was chief among the Nations that
Among the Provinces as Princess sat.
But see how on a sudden wondrously
She is come down, and now in dust doth lye:
The Lord hath brought down them that dwelt on high,
The lofty City low hath made to lye;
(Isa. 26.5, 6.)
Yea he hath laid it low, even to the ground,
And now with very dust its equal found,
So that the foot may now it tread upon,
The foot o'th' poor, the steps o'th' needy one.
Now as the Lord his work hath done, even so
Our work likewise let us now also do.
Oft warn'd we were before, but we took none;
O that by this now warn'd might be each one,
And let these losses not be lost in vain,
Nor let them be but turned into gain;
Out of the Eater let there come forth meet.
And out o'th strong some sweetness let us get.
God would us teach by that which he hath done.
And severall lessons learne would have each one;
Some of those lessons here behold and see,
And lets be sure them well take out do we.
1 See how we provoke the Lord to wrath,
That such a Fire amongst us kindled hath,
And how exceedingly we him incenc't,
That by no meanes no sooner could be quencht.
The Fire indeed it was exceeding sore,
But what it spake, Gods great displeasure, more.
2 Let's in these desolations Gods hand see,
And under it abas'd and humble be.
3 Before this God tremble and feare each one,
Who makes such dismal desolation!
And in thy works how terrible art thou,
S [...]y unto God, as we have seen thee now!
Oh of thine anger who the power doth know!
According to thy feare thy wrath is so.
Psa. 66 3, 5. Psal. 90.11. Psal. 76.7.
O thou! even thou art to be feared, and
Who when th'art angry in thy sight can stand?
4 In all that's done the Lord let's justify,
For heavier things by farr our sins did cry.
Lesse than our sins deserv'd punisht are we;
Our houses, not our selves, consumed be.
The City's burnt, the Suburbs are not so,
The Daughters yet do stand, though Mother low.
5 Let none no more boast of to morrow day,
For what a day may bring forth who can say?
Prov. 27.1.
6 See by these desolations what is sin,
Which them did carry on, and them begin.
7 How vaine and how uncertaine learne also,
All things are that we here possess below.
8 See no continuing City we have here;
One therefore that's to come let's seek elsewhere,
Heb. 13.14. Chap. 11.10.
A City which foundations hath, and's said
To be by God himselfe both built and made.
9 Learn for your selves to lay up treasures there,
Where neither loss nor desolations are.
Let God himself, Christ, Grace, our treasures be,
And then our treasures safe in Heaven ha [...]e we.
As a forerunner, by this Fire we 10
May of that conflagration minded be,
When th'earth and all things that therein be
Shall suddenly be burnt up utterly.
3 [...]ct 3 10.
What manner then of persons ought we be
In all holy converse and pietie;
That when the Heavens and Earth dissolv'd shall be
New heavens and new earth expect may we;
And let our care, looking for such things, be
Of him in peace without spot found to be.
That London is not spared, let all then see 11
Impartial in his Judgments God to be.
And London not escaping, that in sin 12
None that goe on escape shall punishing.
Our City, houses, and estates lie low,13
And now our hearts let them be low also;
Yea, let our sins and lusts be brought down low,14
That have our City brought for to be so.
Mens works even with the dust we level'd see:15
The devils works destroy'd let also be;
Let them also come down, no longer stand,
Which threaten further ruine to our land.
This Fire though so fierce, yet quencht we see; 16
O dread the Fire that never quencht shall be!
But is eternal, where all cast shall be
That still goe on to doe iniquity.
Mat. 13.40.
These desolations so behold doe we,17
As yet we pity those on whom they be,
And so as with their tears a part we bear,
And see that we for them lift up a prayer;
Yea, so their desolations let us see,
That succor and reliefe afford them we.
With what thou hast doe good without delay,18
For all thou hast may soon be swept away.
God for our house and portion let's assure,19
And then our house and portion shall indure.
Let all our springs i'th' Fountaine be, and we
When brooks and cisterns faile refresht shall be.
The main use.
Let by this Fire be purg'd iniquity,
And sin to take away, the fruit let be.
Let not the Lord so sorely smite in vaine;
But now forthwith to him let's turne againe,
From whom we have revolted, and amend,
Or certain ruine us will next attend.
Let not our sins a snare still to us be,
Except we meane all to consumed be.
These things are sad, but if in sin we shall
Persist, yet heavier things will on us fall;
And this will be to sin with a high hand,
And on such God will set a heavy brand,
As once on Ahaz, this is he or she
That still did add to their iniquity.
To those in the Suburbs and others yet escaped
You that are neare the City, and yet spar'd,
And with what others ruin'd were are scar'd,
Make others case your own, to them be kind,
Or judgment without mercy you will find;
Do not affliction to th' afflicted add,
Poor hearts so heavy doe not make more sad;
Than which I know no more provoking thing,
Nor likelyer heavier things on us to bring.
Doe not your selves less sinners think to be
Than those whom now so desolate you see.
Be warn'd, with speed repent, or be you sure,
Your sins will heavier things to you procure;
And though you have escapt the Fire past,
Into a far worse Fire they'l you cast.
Conclusion.
Lord sanctified let this sad stroak be,
And by it every one let's better'd be;
That we repenting, thou maist not goe on,
To make an utter devastation.
Amen, Amen.
FINIS.