ABout three of the clocke in the af­ternoone of the aforesaid Sun­day, in a large Garret, being the vppermost, and from the ground the third storie of an high building of Stone and Bricke, were assembled a multitude of people, Men and Women, of diuers ages and conditions, amoun­ting [Page] to the number of two or three hun­dred persons, to heare a Sermon there to be preached by one Master Drury, a Romish Priest, and Iesuite of name, and speciall note. To this Garret or Galle­ry, (being situated ouer the Gate-house of the French Ambassadors house) there is a leading passage by a doore close to the vtter gate of the said house, but without it, open to that street: By which passage many men and women vsed to haue daily recourse to the English Priests chambers there.

There is also out of the said Lord Ambassadors with-drawing Chamber, another passage meeting with this, and both leading into the said Garret. Which Garret was within the side walls, about seuenteene foot wide, and fortie foot long: at the vpper end whereof was a new partition of slit Deale, set vp to make a priuate roome for one of the Priests, which abated twelue foot of the [Page] length. About the middest of the Gal­lery, and neere to the wall, was set, for the Preacher, a Chaire, raised vp some­what higher then the rest of the floare, and a small table before it. In this place the Auditorie being assembled, and some of the better sort hauing chaires and stooles to sit on, the many standing in throng, and filling the roome to the doore and staires, all expecting the Prea­cher, hee came forth out of an inner roome, clad in a Surplice, which was girt about his waste with a linnen girdle, and a Stole of Scarlet colour hanging downe before him from both his shoul­ders. Whom a man attended, carrying in one hand a Booke, and in the other an Houre-glasse. An Embleme not vn­fit to suggest to him, his Auditorie, and vs all, that their, and our liues, not one­ly passe away continually with the de­fluxion of that descending motion of the Sand; but also, euen in such times [Page] and places, may possibly fore-runne the same, and bee ouerturned before that short hourely Kalender should come to recourse.

Master Drury the Priest, as soone as he came to the Chaire, kneeled downe at the foot of it, making by himselfe in priuate some eiaculation of a short prai­er, as it seemed, about the length of an Aue Marie. Then standing vp, and tur­ning his face toward the people, hee crossed himselfe formally: premising no vocall audible prayer at all, (neither before his Text, nor vpon the diuision of it) wherein the people might ioyne with him, for the blessing and sanctify­ing an action of that Nature. Which omission, whether it were a lapse of me­morie in him, or a priuiledge of cu­stome belonging to those supereminent instructors, I dispute not; but leaue it to the conscionable iudgement of euery Christian.

[Page] Immediatly he tooke the Booke, be­ing the Rhemists Testament, and in it read his Text, which was the Gospel ap­pointed for that Sunday, according to the institution of the Church of Rome; which day now fell vpon the fift of Nouember by the Gregorian Kalender, current ten daies before ours, and ac­compted by the Romanists the onely true Computation. Whereupon some goe so farre as to make a numerall in­ference of a second reflecting Tragedy. But, for my part, I surrender all such iu­diciarie calculation into the hands of the Highest, who according to his pro­uidence disposeth of times and seasons, and of all euents befalling in them.

The said Gospell in the Rhemists tran­slation, is as followeth in these words: Therefore is the Kingdome of Heauen like­ned to a man being a King,The Gospell vpon the 21. Sunday after Pentecost. that would make an account with his seruants. And when hee began to make the account, there [Page] was one presented vnto him that owed him ten thousand Talents. And hauing not whence to repay it, his Lord commanded that he should bee sold, and his wife and children, and all that he had, and it to bee repaied. But that seruant falling downe, besought him, saying, Haue patience to­ward me, and I will repay thee all. And the Lord of that seruant moued with pitie, dismissed him, and the debt he forgaue him. And when that seruant was gone forth, he found one of his fellow-seruants that did owe him an hundred pence: and laying hands vpon him thratled him, saying, Re­pay that thou owest. And his fellow-ser­uant falling downe, besought him, saying, Haue patience toward mee, and I will re­pay thee all. And he would not: but went his way and cast him into prison, till he re­payed the debt. And his fellow-seruants see­ing what was done, were very sorie, and they came, and told their Lord all that was done. Then his Lord called him: and hee [Page] said vnto him, Thou vngracious seruant, I forgaue thee all the debt because thou be­soughtest me: oughtest not thou therefore also to haue mercy vpon thy fellow-seruant, euen as I had mercy vpon thee? And his Lord being angry, deliuered him to the tor­menters, vntill he repayed all the debt. So also shall my heauenly Father doe to you, if you forgiue not euery one his brother from your hearts.

Which when he had read, hee sat downe in the chaire, and put vpon his head a red quilt cap, hauing a linnen white one vnder it turned vp about the brimmes: and so vndertooke his Text; first shewing in plaine and familiar stile the occasion of our Sauiours deliue­ring this parable, then distributing the whole into parts, as they depended one on the other; out of which he chose three principall points of doctrine, which he propounded to insist vpon in that Sermon, viz.

1 The debt which man oweth to [Page] God: and the accompt which he is to make vnto him of that debt.

2 Gods mercy in remitting this great debt.

3 Mans hardnesse of heart, and fro­wardnesse, both towards God and to­wards his brethren: together with the remedies, which man may vse for the procuring of Gods mercy, and curing himselfe from this contagious disease of ingratitude.

Mans debt he amplified in regard of our creation, and redemption, the spi­rituall and temporall benefits, which we enioy in this world, and in Gods Church, &c.

Vpon the following parts hee dis­coursed with much vehemency, insi­sting especially vpon those words, I for­gaue thee all thy debt, shouldest not thou al­so haue had compassion on thy fellow, euen as I had pitie on thee? And thence extol­ling the infinite mercy and goodnesse of God, whereby he doth not only giue [Page] vs all that we haue, but forgiues vs all our trespasses and offences, be they net uer so deepely stained with the scarle▪ dye and tincture of our guiltinesse Which mercifull bounty of our hea­uenly Father is here parabolized vn­to vs by a certaine man that was a king, &c.

Two or three of that auditory auow with ioynt testimony, that, in the pro­cesse of the latter part, which he hand­led, he earnestly laid open the terrors and burthen of the heauy debt of pu­nishment, which we are to pay at the last iudgement, if the debt of sinne be not acquitted before. Declaring with­all the mercy of God in prouiding meanes to cancell this debt, by the Sa­craments ordained in the Catholique Church, in speciall by the Sacrament of Penance; and therein by Contriti­on, Confession, and Satisfaction. And thence inferring in what miserable case [Page] Heretiques are, who want all such meanes to come out of this debt, be­cause they are not members of the Ca­tholique Church.

But whatsoeuer the matter, or man­ner of his last speech was, I doe not cu­riously enquire, as making interpretati­on of Gods iudgement in stopping the currant of his speech at that instant. Lest in ouer forward censuring the same, we should be deemed as vncharitable, as our Aduersaries, especially the Iesuits, are against those Churches and persons that admit not the Papacy.

Most certaine it is, and ouer manifest by lamentable euidence, that, when the said Iesuite had proceeded about halfe an houre in this his Sermon, there be­fell that Preacher and Auditorie the most vnexpected and suddaine calami­tie, that this age hath heard of to come from the hand, not of Man, but God, in the middest of a sacred exercise, of what [Page] kinde or religion soeuer. The floare, whereon that assembly stood or sate, not sinking by degrees, but at one in­stant failing and falling, by the brea­king asunder of a maine Sommier or Dormer of that floare; which beame, together with the Ioyces and Plancher thereto adioyned, with the people there­on, rushed downe with such violence, that the weight and fall thereof, brake in sunder another farre stronger and thicker Sommier of the Chamber situa­ted directly vnderneath: and so both the ruined floares, with the people ouer­lapped and crushed vnder, or betweene them, fell, (without any time of stay) vpon a lower third floare, being the floare of the said Lord Ambassadors withdrawing Chamber; which was supported vnderneath with Arch-work of stone, (yet visible in the Gate-house there) and so became the bundarie or terme of that confused and dolefull [Page] heape of ruines, which otherwise had sunke yet deeper by the owne weight and height of the downfall: the di­stance from the highest floare, whence the people fell, to the lowest, where they lay, being about two and twentie foot in depth.

Of the Gallery floare only so much fell, as was directly ouer a Chamber of 20. foot square, called Father Redyates Chamber, and being the vsual Massing roome for the English resorting thither. The rest of the Gallery floare, being not so full thronged, stood firme, and so was a refuge and safeguard to those of the Auditorie that had planted themselues at that end. From whence they beheld that most Tragicall Scene of their brethrens ruine; themselues also being not onely surprized with the stupifying passions of affright, and apprehension of that danger, which as yet they could not think themselues to [Page] haue escaped, but also, for the time, im­prisoned in the place it selfe; from whence there was no passage by doore, or otherwise, vnlesse they should ad­uenture to leape downe into the gulfe of their fellowes wofull estate. In this perplexity, dismay it selfe not bereauing them of counsaile, but rather admini­string strength to their trembling hands, they with their Kniues opened the Loame-wall next vnto them, and so making their passage thence into ano­ther Chamber, escaped that danger.

As for the rest (being the farre grea­ter part of this Assembly) who in a mo­ment all sunke downe to the lowest floare, their case, as it can scarce be pa­ralleled with a like example of calami­tie, so hardly be described with the due and true circumstances. Who can to the life expresse the face of Death, pre­senting it selfe in so ruefull and different shapes?

What eare, without tingling, can heare the dolefull and confused cries of such a troope, men, women, children, all falling suddenly in the same pit, and apprehending with one horror the same ruine? What eie can behold, with­out inundation of teares, such a specta­cle of men ouerwhelmed with brea­ches of weighty timber, buried in rub­bish, and smothered in the dust? What heart, without euaporating into sighes, can ponder the burthen of deepest sor­rowes and lamentations of parents, children, husbands, wiues, kinsmen, friends, for their dearest pledges, and chiefest comforts in this world, all be­reft and swept away with one blast of the same dismall tempest?

Such was the noise of this dreadfull and vnexpected downefall, that the whole city of London presently rang [Page] of it, and forthwith the Officers of the city (to whom the care of good order chiefly appertaineth) and in speciall Ser­geant Finch the Recorder, repaired thi­ther the same euening, carefully proui­ding for the safety of the said Ambassa­dors house and familie, and, for preuen­ting all disorders in such a confusion, that might arise by the confluence of the multitude, shut vp the gates and set guards vpon the passages. With all speed possible some were imployed for the releeuing and sauing such as yet struggled for life vnder this heauy load: Which could not so soone be effected, as they in charity desired; for that the ruines, which oppressed the sufferers, did also stop vp entrance to the helpers: who thereupon were faine to make a breach in through an vpper window of stone. From hence they hasted downe with pickaxes and other instruments, to force asunder, and take of, by peece­meale, [Page] the oppressing load of beames, ioyces, and bords. At the opening whereof, what a Chaos? what fearefull obiects? what lamentable representa­tions? Here some bruised, some dis­membred, some onely parts of men: there some wounded, and weltering in their owne and others bloud, other­some putting forth their fainting hands and crying out for helpe. Here some gasping and panting for breath, others stifled for want of breath. To the most of them being thus couered with dust, this their death was a kinde of bu­riall.

Haue the gates of death beene opened vnto thee? Iob. 38. 17. or hast thou seene the doares of the shadow of death? Verily if any man could looke in at those gates, and returne, he would report such a pour­trait as was this spectacle.

In this dolefull taske of withdrawing those impediments, laying forth the [Page] dead bodies, and transporting the mai­med, all that night, and part of the next day was spent, though charitie and skill did whet their endeuours with all dex­teritie and expedition.

The next morning, according to the Lawes of our Land, which prouide that the Kings Maiestie should haue an ac­count of his Subiects dying Per infortu­nium, the Coroners Inquest was there impanelled vpon the dead corpses, that after their view of them, they might be buried with conuenient speed.

By the said Coroner, and Iury, especi­all care was taken to suruey the place, and materialls of the ruines with all di­ligence, for the finding out the imme­diate cause and manner thereof: the ra­ther for that it was giuen out by some presently vpon the mischance, that some Protestants, knowing this to be a chiefe place of their meetings, had secretly drawne out the pins, or sawed halfe a [Page] sunder some of the supporting Timber of that building. Which was found to be a calumny no lesse ridiculous, then malitious.

The most probable apparant cause of the suddaine failing of that floare, char­ged with such a weight of people, was iudged to bee in the maine Sommier thereof, which being not aboue ten inches square, had in the very place, where it brake, on each side a mortaise hole directly opposite the one against the other, into which were let the Te­nants of two great pieces of Timber, called Girders: so that betweene those Mortaises, there was left not aboue three inches of Timber. This Sommier was also somewhat knottie about that place, which, in the opinion of Archi­tects, might make it more brittle, and readie to knap in sunder. The maine Sommier of the lower roome, was a­bout thirteene inches square, without [Page] any such Mortaise; and brake, not (as the former) in the middest, but within fiue foot of one end, and more oblique­ly and shiuering then the other. No foundation, nor wall failed. The roofe of the Gallery with the seeling vpon it remaine yet intire; as also a small filling wall, fastned to the rafters, which yet hangeth where the floare is gone.

This downefall was not to al deadly: to some only frightfull, or in part hurt­full: who being thus taken vp out of the pit of horrible danger, nay plucked out of the very iawes of Death, as also those other of this Assembly, who (as before said) fell not at all, but yet stood in the verie brinke of this mortall ieo­pardie, haue all great cause neuer to for­get this day, but to enter it into their Kalender for a mercifull and miraculous deliuerance. Neither is it enough for them to lift vp their hearts in thanks­giuing to God (as I make no doubt they [Page] doe) for this vnexpected rescue from so great an vnsuspected death, but they are also to lay it to their hearts, whe­ther this sudden stroake and cracke be not the hand, and voice of God, to call them home from wandring after forraine Teachers, that lead the igno­rant people captiue and carry them hood-winked into the snares of danger, corporall, ciuill, and spirituall: that hereupon they may seriously consider what ground they haue to forbeare, or forsake our Church-assemblies, and to refraine from hearing so much as our diuine seruice, against which they haue no other exception, but this, that in hearing it they may heare, and vn­derstand, whereas in the Romish Ser­uice, euen in the Euen-song then inten­ded in this conuenticle, audientes audi­rent, & non intelligerent, videntes vide­rent, & non cernerent. The women, and common people might vnderstand as [Page] much as they doe this sentence in La­tine, taken out of the Prophet Isay, too truly prophecying of such.

Of those that fell, and escaped with­out any notable hurt, I heare of by name some persons of note, as Mistris Lucie Penruddock of a worthy family, who fell betweene two that then peri­shed, the Lady Webb and her owne maid seruant, yet was herselfe preserued aliue by the happy situation of a chaire, which falling with her, rested hollow ouer her, and so became to hir a shelter, or penthouse to beare off other ruines: also the Lady Webbs daughter, though falling neere vnto hir mother, and Elea­nor Saunders, who was couered with o­thers that fell vpon hir, yet by Gods mercy, recouered out of those bloudy ruines.

There was also a Scholler, (whom my selfe since saw and had speech with­all) who was the easier drawne to that [Page] Assembly, because he formerly was in­clining and warping to that side, as hath appeared by publike euidence. He was also inuolued in this common downe­fall, whereout he escaped beyond ex­pectation: being one of the vndermost in that heape, and lying vpon the very floare, and ouerwhelmed with the boards and timber, which lay vpon him, yet not so flat, and sad, as vpon o­thers, but somewhat hollow and shel­uing, by the leaning of some of the tim­ber against the wall. Out of this den of death he, with maine strength & much difficulty, wrought himselfe, by tearing the laths of the seeling, and creeping be­tweene two ioyces, from vnder the tim­ber to an hole where he espied light: & then one of the Ambas. family opening a doore releeued him being yet so asto­nished that he scarce was apprehensiue of the courtesie done to him. Who thus refreshed, presently returned and [Page] vsed his best strength to draw others out of that snare, which he himselfe had newly broken, without any other detri­ment than of his clothes; of which faire escape I hope, he will make good vse, & often call to minde our Sauiours caueat, (which since in my hearing hath beene rung in his eares) Vade & ne pecca am­plius, ne deterius conting at tibi.

There was also (as he reporteth) a young girle of the age of ten yeeres, or thereabout, who then crying said vnto him, O my Mother, O my sister, which are downe vnder the timber and rub­bish. But hee wishing her to be patient, and telling her that by Gods grace they should get forth quickly, the child repli­ed, that this would proue a great scan­dall to their Religion. A strange speech proceeding from a childe of so tender yeeres, who, euen in that perplexity, see­med to haue a deeper apprehension of publique scandall, then of priuate losse. [Page] A lesson fit for farre elder to learne, ex ore infantium, & lactentium, &c. Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast ordained strength.

Moreouer, one of the men that fell, then saying, O what aduantage will our aduersaries take at this; another of them replied thereto, If it be Gods will this should befall vs, what can wee say to it? A pious answer, and Christi­an resolution, borrowed, as it seemes, from the patience of the Prophet Da­uid, Tacui, Domine, quia tu fecisti. I held my peace, because thou, Lord, hast done it.

An hard taske it were to vndertake the giuing a particular account of the number and quality of those that any waies suffered in this fall, the diuersity of reports, according to mens priuate inclinations, enlarging or contracting the same. In generall most euident it is that of the people that fell, those that escaped best for bodily hurt, were, at [Page] [...] howsoeuer deeply stricken in their minds with affright and feare: others were bruised or wounded, but not mortally, receiuing only a gentle stripe from the mer­cifull hand of a chastizing father; others for the present came forth, or rather were carried out, with life, but enioyed it for a short time, yeelding vp the same in their se­uerall homes within a few daies, yea some not many houres, as by after-enformation to the Coroners Iury, yet depending, may appeare. But the greater number of those that fell neuer rose againe, nor shall, till the Elements shall melt with heat, and the ru­ines of a farre greater fabrique than that house, (euen of the whole earth with the workes thereof) shall awake them, and vs all, out of the bed of death, to giue account of what we haue done in the body.

Of these, whom it pleased God thus to call out of this world, the number is most currently estimated to be betweene 90. and 100. If any man, out of affection to them, or curiosity, enquire more exactly, of the [Page] Ambassadours house, was digged a great pit, (eighteene foot long, and twelue foot broad) in which were laied foure and forty corpses in order, piled one vpon the other, partners in the same bed, as a little before they were in the same passage to it. Vpon this common Graue, was set vp in the earth, a blacke Crosse of wood, about foure foot high, which on Tuesday in the afternoone, was by one of the Ambassadors seruants taken vp and carried into the house, lest (as it seemeth) any scandall should bee taken thereat by the people, that then, and after, came to that house to view the Stage of this mournfull Tragedy.

There was also another pit, (long twelue foot, broad eight foot) made in the said Am­bassadors Garden neere adioyning, where­in fifteene other were interred.

Beside these dispersedly here aboue num­bred, there are heard of vpon diligent enqui­rie of the said Iury and others, diuers more encreasing the list of this funerall troope, whose names follow in the Catalogue.

[Page] As for interpretation and applicati­on of this so remarkeable and dolefull an accident, our duty is first to enter­taine a Christian and charitable opini­on of their persons whose lot it was to become an example vnto others: and secondly to make a profitable vse there­of vnto our selues.

Too well knowne it is to the world, how hardly our aduersaries conceiue, speake, and write, not onely of our Re­ligion, but also of our persons, dam­ning and tumbling downe all of vs without difference into the bottom­lesse pit of destruction, and throwing vpon our heads, not the ruines of one loft or house, but the whole mountaines of Gods wrath and hea­uiest iudgements. Such curses and edicts of damnation against vs their pulpits thunder out, their printing presses grone vnder, their pamphlets and libells proclaime; all wee are gi­uen [Page] gone for Cast-awaies, Miscreants, damned Heretiques; With vs no Church, no Faith, no Religion, no God.

If such a calamitie had befallen any flocke of ours in our Common prayer, or Sermons, all must haue gone quicke to hell: there would haue beene more inuectiue seuerall censures and bookes against vs than were here persons suf­fering. What exclamation of the down­fall of heresie, of the passing away of nouelties with a cracke, of receiuing a terrible blow, of the very beames in the wall crying out against vs, of the ruine of old wormeaten heresies, of the trash and rubbish of the new Gospell demo­lished. In such sort vpon lesse occasi­ons, are wee and our profession tradu­ced and slandered publikely beyond the seas, and priuately in corners at home. Nor is it maruell that such flashes to scorch vs in our good names, [Page] are cast forth out of that fiery Aetna of Romish zeale, which hath sent forth materiall flames to consume many of our liuing bodies, and some also of our dead. Hic liuor nec post fata qui­escit. And though this fire hath beene couered with ashes in these parts, for many happy yeares, yet of late a sparke thereof brake forth, euen in the middest of the bonfires kindled in London at the happy returne of our Prince; when as a certaine Roman Zelote,This party was one of the as­sembly, yet li­uing, and re­ceiued a marke of remēbrance there, by a peece of wood, who thus a lit­tle before took care for sauing wood. repining at the excessiue expense of fuell therein, said openly in the hearing of many that if such waste of wood were made, there would shortly be neuer a fagot left to burne heretiques.

But we haue otherwise learned Christ, who being reuiled, did not reuile againe, but committed his cause to him that iudgeth righteously; Et preces effudit pro ijs etiam, qui sanguinem eius effuderūt; and powred out prayers for those, that shed [Page] and powred forth his bloud, (as saith an ancient Father.) From him we learne not to insult ouer our enemies, or to re­ioyce at their ruine, but to weepe at their calamitie: not to enter into Gods secrets, but to tremble at his iudge­ments.

And therefore our dutie, in re­gard of their persons, is first to be ten­der and carefull how so much as in our inward thoughts we passe any particu­lar iudgement vpon them. For though the euent it selfe may seeme to offer a topicall inference from the fall of both the floores; namely, of the preaching and the Massing roome, that both their Doctrine and Sacrifice are weake­ly and slenderly supported, and that God was displeased as well with their Pulpits, as Altars; yet for the particular estate of those who were combined in that action, and enueloped in the same passion, it were most vncharitable and [Page] groundlesse from their temporall de­struction in this time and place, to col­lect their eternall confusion.

And howsoeuer our Aduersaries for the truth of their Church draw an Ar­gument no lesse vnnaturall than vn­charitable, from the supposed, sudden, and vnhappy ends, of some of those whom they call Heretiques, and to that end forge hideous fables of the death of Luther, Caluin, &c. and in particular, very lately some of them haue passed an heauy censure vpon Doctor Sutton, a learned and painefull Preacher, and solid Refuter of their errors, whom to the great losse of our Church,

Ouer whom they triumph, as if the deepe therefore swallowed him, be­cause he was vnworthy to tread vpon the earth, or breathe in the ayre; Yet we ought to be, and are farre from saying [Page] that the Plancher of that building would not beare these Romanists, be­cause they were more loaden with the weight of sinne, then others. Wee are taught by the Chapter appointed in the Kalender to bee read in our Churches the very next morning after this dole­full accident, to iudge otherwise. Luke 13. There were present at that season, some that told him of the Galileans, whose bloud Pilate had mingled with their sacri­fices. And Iesus answered, and said vnto them, Suppose yee that these Galileans were greater sinners then all the other Ga­lileans, because they haue suffered such things? I tell you nay.

Secondly, wee are to condole for them, and that in three respects. First, out of naturall humanitie, as they are men, of the same mould with vs, sub­iect all to the same passions, and liable [Page] to the same outward calamities, and dangers of this mortall life. In this consideration euery of vs is to say to himselfe, of himselfe and others.

Secondly, out of morall ciuilitie, as fellow-borne Country-men, and natu­rall Subiects vnto the same most graci­ous King, in whose eies the death of his meanest Subiects is precious. In this respect euery of vs, either presently viewing that Tragicall spectacle of so many bruised and battered carkases, so many smothered corpses, which yester­day breathed the same English aire with vs: Or shortly after hearing of so wo­full an Historie, is, with teares in the eye, and melting griefe in the heart, to deplore at least with some such Epi­taph, [Page] or funerall Elegie, as was vsed by a Lacedemonian.

Thirdly and principally, out of Chri­stian charitie, as towards those who professe the name of Christ, and deuo­tion in his worship, howsoeuer tainted with many errors and superstitions, of which their Leaders and Guides are more guilty than the simple obedient flocke misled by them. In this duty we are euery of vs to grieue for those that are gone, and to commiserate with the holy Apostle, the present estate of such other as remaine cap­tiuated in the same blindnesse of Ig­norance, Rom. 9. & 10. I have great heauinesse, and continuall sorrow in my heart, for my Brethren, my Kinsmen ac­cording to the flesh. Brethren, my hearts desire and praier to God for Israel, is that they might bee saued. For I beare them record, that they haue a zeale of [Page] God, but not according to knowledge.

This for our construction hereof, as we looke downe vpon others in their fall. Now for our instruction as this example reflecteth vpward vpon our selues. Wherein first our ingratitude is checked, and thankefulnesse awaked which we owe vnto God for our ma­nifold preseruations, as in other kindes perpetually, so not seldome in this. Surely if our heauenly Father should cease his care of preseruing vs, as we too oft giue ouer our due care of seruing him, nor field, nor house, nor Church it selfe should be safe vnto vs: carnall security and forgetfulnesse of God cree­ping into not only our chambers, halls, and receptacles of mirth and iollity, but too oft euen into the house of God it selfe: the Temple of our spirituall sacri­fices being not so reuerently frequen­ted as our duty and profession require. And yet, howsoeuer wee may obserue [Page] Gods hand sometimes to haue ouer­taken diuers of our brethren by down­falls vpon the earth, or into the water, and of late by the fearefull dint of fire darted from heauen with thunder, and other humane casualties, at home or abroad, yet haue our sacred assemblies (for ought I can remember) beene free from mortality by ruine. And whereas we haue many examples of the decay and sudden lapse of diuers our materiall Temples made with hands, yet hath God so disposed of the time or manner of such ruines, that none of the liuing Temples of the Ho­ly Ghost haue beene demolished there­by. Witnesse in London the Churches of Lothbury, of S^t. Butolfs, of S^t. Giles in the fields, and the Church it selfe of the Black-Friers: in all which the stones forbare their downeward motion, till the peoples absence. And most lately in the Towne of Netesherd in Norffolk, [Page] the beames of the Church roofe being by the fall of the steeple beaten downe among the people in time of Prayer, yet not one perished thereby. To these per­haps many reading and pondering this, can adde other examples of the like pre­seruations in other places of this land. The memory whereof must reuiue our hearty thanks to God, with praier for our future protection, especially in the houses of praier, wherein he is worshipped in spirit and truth by vs, and his word preached soundly and faithfully vnto vs.

Secondly, forasmuch as some few of this Assembly were not in opinion Romanists, nor came thither out of af­fection to the Popish partie, but rather out of curiositie, to obserue their rites and manner of Preaching, especially vpon the [...]ame giuen out, and expecta­tion of then and there hearing a rare man, an admirable Iesuite, a Preacher [Page] Nonpareil, in comparison of whom the greatest Lights of the Protestant Mini­sterie are but Glowormes; this may be a speciall Caueat to such roauing wande­rers as only tasted of that Cup where­of others dranke the Dregs: they were some of them iustly stricken in body, though not mortally, but all in minde, with terror, amazement, and horrible consternation. And one, as is said, felt the vtmost of that stroke, and for compa­ny tooke part with those in death, with whom he consented not in life and opi­nion. Plinie the elder (as his Nephew re­ports of him) paid deare for the satis­faction of his curiositie, when, not content with Contemplation, and Relation from others, hee would needes in person approach neere, to behold with his eies the very flames of the burning hill Vesuuius in Italy, the sulphureous smoake and vapour whereof, presently stifled him. To [Page] come neerer to our selues, those Chri­stians escaped not much better, who (as both Tertullian and Cyprian ob­serue) when they were present at the Theaters and shewes, instituted to the honour of the Heathen gods, were sud­dainly surprised and vexed by the De­uill, who was nimble enough to main­taine his claime to them, by pleading Inueni in meo, I tooke them as I found them, vpon mine owne ground. What though the Romanists presume farre without warrant, and dare out-face our Lawes, which wholesomly pro­uide against such conuenticles, yet let euery obedient subiect and childe of our Church, beware how he put his foot into such snares: resoluing rather with the holy Patriarch, and saying in his heart, O my soule, enter not thou into their secret: Gen. 49. 6 vnto their assembly mine honour be not thou yoaked. In such cases the Prophets haue vsed and enforced [Page] from exorbitant examples argument, not of imitation, but auersation, and op­position. Though Israel transgresse, yet let not Iuda sinne.

Thirdly, for vs all, these dead corpses ought to bee a liuely mirror, wherein we are to behold what we may expect in that kinde, or some other, euen farre worse, if we doe not preuent and auert Gods iudgements by iudging our selues, and vnfeinedly repenting of our sinfull courses. Out of such examples our Sa­uiour readeth vs a double Lecture, not onely of charitie, in not censuring o­thers, but also of repentance, in censu­ring and condemning our selues, that we be not condemned of the Lord. Vn­lesse yee repent, Luke 13. 4. yee shall all likewise pe­rish. A vaine plea it will be, That wee haue cast out of our Churches Romish superstitions, if wee still reteine in our soules and bodies our predominant corruptions; that our faith & doctrine [Page] is most pure, if our liues remaine im­pure; that we haue faire leaues & blos­somes in our outward profession, if we bring forth no fruit in our practise and conuersation. Reatus impij pium nomen, saith the most religious Bishop Sal­uian. An holy Title and profession, if the life bee not sutable, is, not a plea, but a guilt, not a diminution of offence, but an improuement. Well said Tertul­lian of himselfe that, whereto euery of vs is to subscribe his owne name, Ego omnium notatorū peccator, nulli rei, nisi poe­nitentiae, natus. A sinner I am, marked with spots of all kinds, & born to no other end, thē to make my life a taske of repentance. We are all by profession bound apprentises to this Christian trade, nay borne vn­to a kinde of interest and propriety to it. Of all intelligent natures onely man is capable of that. God cannot repent, because he cannot sinne, nor erre: an Angell, though mutable in his owne [Page] nature, (and so liable to sinne) yet once falling by sinne, can neuer rise by re­pentance. Onely man, falling, both in the vniuersall ruinous estate of all his kinde, and daily in his actuall lapses, hath by the hand of Gods grace and mercy in Christ, the cords of loue rea­ched forth, and let downe into the pit vnto him, whereof by repentance and faith he taketh hold, thence to be rai­sed to newnesse of life, and so forward to eternall life, through the merits and passion of our blessed Redeemer, who came, not to call the righteous, but sin­ners to repentance.