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LIBRARY OF THE THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY
PRINCETON, N. J.
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Citlfe 0\mf,
Marti s decimo [exto die Septemb. 1(^84. Annoque Kegni Regis Caroli Secmdi Angliaj, &c. trigefimo [exto.
THis Court doth deiire Dr. Qalamy to Print his Sermon Preached at '^o^)~ Church on the Second of September In- ftant, (being the Day of Humiliation for the Great Fire in the Year \666) before the Lord MaYor, and Aldermen, and Citizens of this City.
WAGSTAFFE.
•^■^
SERMON
Preached betore che Riglu Hcniourablc
The Lord Mayor,
ALDERMEN,
AND I
CITIZENS of L 0 N D 0 Nj_
At the Church ofSt.Adary le Boiw September the Second, 1^84.
BEING THE
Anniverfary Fail
DREADFUL FIRE
In the Year 1666.
By BENJAMINTALAMT D. D.
Vicar of St. Laurence Jewry ^ and one of His MAJESTY'S Chaplains in Ordinary.
LONDON,
Printed for Walter Kettilly at the Etjho^s Head in
St. Pauh Church-yard. 1685.
Affl
T O T H E
RIGHT HONOURABLE
Sir Henry Tulfe
LORD Mi^YOR
O F T H E
City of London,
And to the Honourable
COURT of A L D E R M E N,
Right Honourable,
IN Ohedience to Tour Lord/hips Commands I have publifljed this following Sermon, and now himhl] present it to lour favour ahle Acceptance. The Difiourfe was fuited to the Day, plain and ferioiis ^ the Subjecl Matter of it or-- dinar) and common, hut highly ufefd andjeafonable.
And
The Dedication.
And if any of the Inhabitants of this great City are hy the reading of it perfuaded to, or better ejlahlifted in the jlriB FraBife of their Religion in all Its fever aihuties, which refpe^ either God or Man, I have obtained my whole Defign both in the Preaching and Fri?iting of it.
I beg Tour Lordjhips Far don, if I take this Op^ port unity to renew my mo[i thankful Acknowledge^ ments of thofe many particular Favours 1 have received fromTour Lordjhip, by which lam bound ever to remain
Tour moft Obedient
and Humble Servant,
Benjamin Calamy.
I)
SERMON
Preached before
The Lord Mayor,
On Septemkr the Second, 1^84.
ISAIAH LVII. 21. There is no peace, faith my God, to the wicked.
IT is not to be imagined, that the Defign of this Anniverfiry Faft js barely to call to mind rhofe difmal Days wherein this Famous City was laid in Afhes, and to hear the dokful Relation of that amazing Providence 5 but it was intended as an Oppor- tunity for the Exercifc of ferious Repentance : and to that purpofe we are now met, to lament our Sins, and humble our Souls in God's prefence, and to renew our
B Refolucions
(2)
Refolations agiinfl; all thofc Coui'fes which once pluck- ed down fiich remarkable Judgments upon diis Placer and will, unlcfs we reform them, at laft prove our utter Ruine ; And to improve the Confideration of that dreadful Calamity to the fame pious purpofes, is my prefent Dcfign, from the Words now read unto you.
In the Verfes immediately foregoing my Text the Prophet endeavours to revive the drooping Spirits of thofe amongfl: the Jews, now in Bahylonijh Captivity, who v/ere truly penitent for their part: Sins, and there- fore called, z^. 15. the humble and contrite ones^ with the Promife of God's Mercy to them, in bringing them back at laft to their Native Country 3 affuring thofe who pit their irujl in God, that, tho' now flir banidied from it, yet they {hould again pofefs th^ir land, and in- herit the holy Mountain. For God will not contend for ever, V. 1 6. ?ieither will he he always wroth. He knoweth our wcaknefsi and how unable we are to ftand before him, when he is angry. He obfcrved therefore their Repen- tance, V. 18. and how they amended their ways, and , would heal them, and condud them (afely to their own Land, with abundance of Joy and Peace.
But if, after fo fignal deliverance, they (hould again fall back to their old Courfes 5 if, forgetful both of thofe fore Evils God had inflidled on them for their Difobe- dience, and of his wonderful Mercy (hewn in redeem- ing them from their Captivity, they (hould wantonly reti^irn, when reflored, to their former Provocations, he
tells
(3) tells them, that they (hould by fid Experience find, that the fameEfFeds would (till follow the fame Qiufes, that Sin and Irreligion would again deftroy their Peace, and bring down God's fcvcrcr Vengeance againfl them : fo that they fhould be Ul<e the troubled \e a, which cannot reft, V. 20. always unquiet and unfetled, in continual diftradion and confufion. And now, that they might not m the lead: doubt of the trudi of all t!i:s, he con- firms it by the Authority of God himfclf, There is no ■peace^ faith my God, to the wielded. They muft never look to be an happy, flouriniing People, as long as their Lives and Manners were fo corrupt and degenerate. This fome Learned Men take to be the ftricl meaning o-f the Words, and thus I (hall now underftand them.
Under this Word Teace in Scripture is often compre- hended all manner of outward Happinefs and Profpe- rity 5 and taking it in this large fenfe, the Words do not then refpect wicked men confidered fingly by them- felves, but as they are joyned together in Society and Community 5 to whom the Prophet declares, from the Moiith of God, That there is nothing fo deftrudtive of the Political Happinefs or Welfare of any People, as pre- vailing Vice and Wickednefs. Religion doth not one- \y fecure the inward Peace and Tranquillity of our Minds, and provide for our future Felicity in the other World, but doth mightily promote the temporal Pro- fperity of any Kingdom or City in this : And, on the contrary , Vice and Wickednefs , efpecially where it
B 2 abounds,
abounds, and is become fafliionable and credicable,and hath infected all Sorts and Ranks of Men, doth certain- ly undermine, and will by degrees overthrow the Peace and Happinefs of any Society or Community. There is ?w peace, faith my God, to the wick§d.
Many and weighty are the Arguments by which men may be moved to Repentance and Amendment of Life. There is no Capacity we can be confider'd in, no Rela- tion we can ftand in, but Religion is of mjghty ufe and advantage to us in it 5 and, on the contrary, Sin and Wickednefs infinitely prejudicial and mifchievous. But I cannot think any Conlideration more proper to this Aflembly, or to the Occafion of this Solemnity, than what my Text fuggefts to us, vi:^ the ferviceablencfs of True Religion to the Pciblick Good and Intereft, and the malign Influence that Vice and hnpiety hath'upon any Kingdom, City, or Body Pohtick 5 whence we may learn, to whatCaufcs ought to be imputed that dread- ful Judgment of Fire, which once laid this City wafte^ as alfo, what is the moft fuccef^fui Expedient to pre- fer ve this City, and the whole Kingdom, from any fuch Publick Calamity for the time to come.
In the profecution of this Subject, I (hall firft de- monftrate the Truth of what is here affirmed, and then make fuch particular Application to our felvcs,as may be mod fuitable to the Occafion of our meeting at this day.
in order to the proving of this, That Wickednefs
' doth
doth obftruft the Peace and Happincfs of any People or Society, I (hall infift on thefe three Arguments.
1. The natural tendency of Vice and Wickednefs.
2. The Confideration of God's Providence, and his righteous Government of the World.
3. The Experience ot all Ages.
I. How contrary Vice and Wickednefs is to the Temporal Peace and Profperity of any Kingdom or City, will appear from the natural tendency ot Sin and Irreligion, which neceflarilv^ produceth many Publick Mifchicfs, which we can no ways avoid, but by leaving thofe Sins which are the natural Caufes of them : and, on the other fide, the true Fear of God, and hearty Obe- dience to his Laws, do in their own nature, and diredt confequence, conduce to the Publick Intereft.
Moft of the Dunes of Religion are fo abfolutdv ne- ceffiry to the good O/der, Quiet, and Peace of Socie- ties, that Men have found it h.ghly expedient to oblige one another to the obfervance of than by Civil Sanati- ons and Humane Laws: and fhould the wifeit Men, the greatetl Politicians on Earth, fetthemfelvesto find out the beft and motl ufet'ul Rules of Living, for thefecu- ring the Piiblick Peace and Happinefs of Kingdoms or Cities, they could pitch on no other but tliole very fame Precepts which God hath given us, of doing to all as we would be done unto, of ir.utual Love and Chari- ty^ of Itndtjuflice andTemperance,of Faithfiilnefs.and Mecknels, and Patience. And left Men fhould not be
fufiiciently
fufficiently moved by the Divine Thrcatnings, the wi- feft Governments have always added Temporal Punifh- ments, to reftrain Men within thofe Bounds which Re- ligion hath prefcribed to us^ without which all Hu- mane Societies would prefently fly in pieces, and the World be over-run with Diforder and Confufion.
It is a common Obfervation, That even Societies of wicked, lawlcfs Men, who combine together to do mif- chief and injury to others, yet are forced to bind them- fwlvestothe pradife of fome Vertues, without which they cannot hold together. TWcves and Robbers pro- mife to be jufi: and faithful to each other 5 and the very Powers of Darknefs take care to preferve Order and Unity amongft their mifcrableSubjefts, without which, our Saviour tells us, the Devil's Kingdom cannot (land.
But what EfFedl Religion hath upon Societies, will better be underftood, if weconfider di{lin(5tly,firft,the Principles of Religion, and then the Duties and Offices of it, and fliew what Influence they both have upon the Publick Peace and Safety.
I. As for the Principles of Religion, the Belief of a God, and a Future Life, thefe are the very Bafis and Foundation of all Society, without which it can never fubfift. This is fufficiently acknowledged even by Atbe- ifts themfclvesjwhiht they affirm^as Tully exprefles \t,the whole Opinion of the Gods to have beenjeigfiedby wife Men, for the fake of the Commonwealth, that fo Religion might engage thofe to their Duty, whom Reafon could not. They * would
T^'ould fufpcd allReligion to have been a Politick Con- trivance of Civil Sovereigns and crafty Law-makers, by the Fears of an Invifible Power to keep Men in av/e and order. There w^s a time c:t firjl^ as they teil us, vphe?i Me?is Lives were difcrJer/y and brutijh, ami the Will of the firoriger vpas the ciiely Law : Ajter which they corifcntec/aml agreed together to ?7ta/:e Civil Laws, that [o tbeDiforderly might be pinijhed. But Teinpcral Pevalties tiot being fuf- ficievt to deter Men fro7?i fecret Injuries, at la ft when Man- kindhapiedto be under one Vniverfal Monarch, there arofe a mighty [agacious and prudent Prince or Mini ft er of State, the Author of a further Invention, to [care Men from pri- vate as well as fro?n open Injuries 5 and that was, by feigti- ing a GoJj Immortal and Omnipotent, who hears, and fees, and takes notice of all thing'; : and from hence the ?ioife of a God came to ri?igover the whole World ^ and to fill all Places with Temples arid Altars, Thus they would re- prefent Religion as a meer Engine of State, and Myfte- ry of Government, to poffefs the Minds of the Vulgar with the Belief of a God, and a Life to come, thereby to render them more tame and gentle, fubmilllve and obedient : And this alone hath continued the Cheat in the Woild to this day, becaufe this Device hath pro- ved fo flrangely fuccelsfiil for the Ends of Govern- ment, to ferve which it was firft invented 3 and hence it became the Intereft of States and Kingdoms to main- tain and cherilh fuch Apprehcnfions in thofe fubjed to them.
I have
I have not time now to confute or expofe this wild
Suppofition, for which there is not the kail Ground or Evidence 3 but I think I mpcV draw thefe three Conclu- fions from this Atheillical Suggeftion, which will be not a little to my prefcnt nurpofe. As,
1. That by the Confcflion of the greateft Enemies and Haters of Religion, the Principles of ic are very ufefiil and beneficial to Mankind. Admitting all they fay for true, yet it is great pity that Religion hath not Its Foundation in Nature and Rcafon, it being fo ad- vantageous to Government, and it laving fucl?ftron<y Obligations upon People to quiet and orderly living, that without it the Earth would be but one vaft howl- ing Wildernefs, and Men fo many Bcafts of Prey, con- tinually worrying and devouring one another.
2. If the Principles of Religion were all falfe, if thev be all Impofture and Cheat, yet it is beft for Men to be kept ignorant of this Secret,the Belief of them being of fo great confequencc to the Welflire of all Kingdoms and Societies. It we are impofed upon in the Matters of Religion, yet it is againfl our Interefl to be undeceived.
3. It follows further, That they are the greateft Ene- mies of Mankind, and of the Nation or City they live in, and ought to be looked upon, and avoided as the moft dangerous Difturbers of the Piablick Peace, and the very Pefls of Humane Society, who go about to root this Belief out of the Minds of Men, and to fet them free from thofe Fears which Religion propounds
to
to them 5 this being the readicft and Ihortcft way to diffolve all Government, and disband all Societies.
Take away the fenfe of Religion, and the Confidera- tion of a Super iour Invifible Power, who takes notice of all we do, and will one day call us to a llrift account, and Men have no other Rule left to guide themfelvcs by, but their own Will and particular Intcreft. All Fen- ces are then broken down ; Every Man may do any thing he can fafely, and nothing is unlawful to be done by him who hath but Power enough to juftifie it, and can defend himfelf when he hath done ic : There can be no Security to Governours, no Confidence one in another 5 there is nothing we can call our own, no Ob- ligation to ftand to our Promifes and Covenants, or to obey the Laws of the Society we are Members of, any further than we fee it is for our own private Benefit5and of this then every Man is Judge for himfelf. So true is that excellent Saying of Pint arch, T\\2it a City might be as well built in the Air^ without any Earth to ftand upon ^ as a Commonwealth can be either conftituted or preferveJ with- out tbe fupport of Religion.
2. If we confider the Offices and Duties of Religion, we (hall find mofl of them plainly fubfervient to the Publick Peace and Happinefs 5 and, on the contrary. Irreligious Pradifes do naturally lead to Difordcr and Confufion, fo that there is hardlv any Vice, but what bnngcth fome notable Damage to the Publick. So faith St. James^ c. 4. i. Whence come wars and fightings anmigd
C J'0«?
(to) you^ are they not hence^ even from your lufls^ which war in your members ?
Unbounded Avarice and Ambition, implacable die- fire of Revenge,unmeafurable coveting of what is other Mens, iin juft Opprcflion of thofe whom we have at any advantage, thefe are the fruitful Parents of Pubhck Di- liurbances and Confufions. Luxury, and Senfuality, and Prodigality confume the Wealth and Treafure of a Nation. Idlenefs, Intemperance, and untamed Luft, effeminate and enfeeble the Minds of Men, deftroys th^ir Courage and Spirit, and fo lays them open to the Aduilts of their Enemies.
Irreligion and Prophanenefs break in pieces the Bands of Community 5 and they, who make nothing of thofe Obligations which God's Laws have laid upon them, will not be held by any that Men can make 5 and their Allegiance to their Earthly Sovereign is always to be fufpedted, who have caft off all Subjection to the Lord of Heaven and Earth.
Lying,. Falfhood, Injuflice, Uncharitablenefs , and contempt of an Oath, (which is the certain EfFedt of vain Swearing in common Difcourfe) thefe deftroy all mutual Good-will, and Faith, and Truft amongft Men, which are the great Joynts and Ligaments by which the Members of any Body Politick are knit and faftned to- gether.
Unreafonable Appetites and Paflions make Men un- cafic and troublefom one to another, and are the necef-
Ciry
(ll)
tary Cades of Enmity, Divifion, Strife, and every Evil work 5 and by difuniting of Men one from another, they apparently make way for the diflblution of any Society.
Pride and Difcontent naturally make Men Fadlious and Unpeaceable, difpofe Men to endeavour Changes and Alterations, in hopes of bettering themfelvcs 5 and the Sin of Schifm, and unneccff iry breach of Chriftian Commuraon, even as a Phyfical Caufc, doth ulher in the Ruyie of the State, as well as of the Church.
Thus I might run over all manner of Sins, and (hew how they all, more or Icfs, weaken the Sinews and Strength of the beft-conftituted Government, where they are commonly pradlifed. So that fhould God Al- mighty {land Neuter, and not concern himfelf in the Affairs of this lower World 5 had he left Mankind, as the E-picureans thought, wholly to their own Counfel and Condud, and (hould never trouble himfelf to inflicT: any Evils upon us for our Difobedience to him 3 yet the natural Confequences of our own Sins, the ill Eflfcfts they have upon the Kingdom or City we live in,would be no little Punifliment for them. And this we learn from the Mouth of God himfelf, Deut.t^.2^. 0 that there were fuch an heart in them^ that they xvouU fear vie^ and keep all my commandments, alirays, that it might be well with them, a7id with their children fcr ever ! Where God is pleafed to reprcfent it, as a Learned Man cbferves on that Place, as a thing een quite out of his own porrer, to make it well with an impious people: 0 that they wcrtdd
C 2 fear
(12)
fear me, that fo it ?mght be well with them ! as if it were iiTipoilible, from the very Nature of the thing, for God to make a People happy, whift they continued vicious and unreformed: So necejfary, fo imlifpenfible are Fietj and Vertue to the E(tablilhment of a Nation.
Rehgion infpirits Men with all thofegood Qualities and Difpofitions that tend to Peace and Unity, which is the Life and Soul ot all Society : It extirpates all thofe Vices and Paffions which are the Caufes of Enmity and Divifion 3 teacheth every Man to keep his own Rank and Place, to mind his proper Duty, to give to every one his Due, and to prefer the Publick Good before his own Private Advantage. It inclineth and obligeth Men to all mutual Offices of Love and Kindnefs. It mak^th Magiftrates juft and merciful , Subjedls faithful and obedient, out of Confcience, for God's fake. It fecureth every Mans Intereft,and Fortune, and Reputation, eve- ry Man m his particular Station contributing his bcft to the Common Welfare.
We cannot poflibly frame in our Minds the Idea of a more happy State of things, than would prefently be, if the Fear ot God, and Love of Rightcoufnefs,and ge- neral Praftice of Religion, did every where prevail amongft us. There would be then no Difcontents, nor Complaints heard in our Streets,noJcaloufies or fright- ful Sufpicions, no Sidings, or Parties, or divided Inte- refts, no Separations and opprobrious Nick-names of Diftinftion, which are the n^ortal Difeafes of the Body
, Politick,
ri3) Politick, and the never- failing Symptoms of a decaying State. How i^ifely and pleafanth' fhould we all live ! A Kingdom or City blefs'd with fucli Inhabitants, what would it be but an Heaven upon Earth ? And tho it is hardly to be hoped that everfuchan happv Change fhould be found amongd us, that Religion Ihould gain fuch an univerfal Conqueft over the Klinds of all Men, yet let me fay. That to thofc fmall Rcliques of Vertue and Piety which arc yet to be found amongft us, it is chiefly owing that Mankind live together in any tole- rable Peace and Security.
Thus Sin hath a natural tendency to make not onely the Sinner himfclf miferable, but the Society alfo of which he is a Member 5 whiltl, as Solomon tells us, Frov, \\^ -7^^. Righteousness exalteth a nation, raifeth it to the highert degree of Profcerity and Glor\'. To which I ihall onely add the Obfervation of that great Roman General Scifio,^\\2il it was inipofjihle for any State or City to be happy, Jiantibus 7nce?iihus, ruentibus moribus^ tho their Walls were never \o firm and good ^ if their Manners were decayed and corrupted. But this is not all,
2. We muft conCder, that God Almighty is no idle and indifferent Spectator of the Actions of Men. He is no fuch foft and delicate Being, (as fome have imagi- ned himj) taking his own Eafeand Repofe within the fpacious Circuits of Heaven, whilll:, unconcerned at the Affairs of Mortals, he lets this lower World go as it will. No, his careful Providence is extended even to the
meanert
(14)
incaneft thing which his Power created 3 much more it is converfant about whole Kingdoms, Cities, and great Societies of Men : And this is the feded Courfe and Method of his Government.
Tho' he often fufFers fome particular Men to thrive and flouriih in their Sin and Impiety, and doth not al- ways call firigle Perfons to an Account in this Life, but referves them for the future Vengeance 5 yet he dealeth otherwife with Bodies Politick ; He will not permit them ordinarily to pafs unpunilhed in this State, this Life being the onely time wherein he can reckon with Men as jovn d together in Civil Societies 5 and there- fore, befides all the Evils Men bring upon themfelves by their Wickednefs, the Great Sovereign of the World dothby way of Exemplary Juftice inflid:fore and de- folating Calamities, fuch as Plagae,Fire, Sword, Famine, and the like, as the due Reward of their incurable Ob- ftinacy in Sin and Difobedience. Prevailing and crying Sins of a Nation or City, without timely Repentance, never fcapc Publick Judgments.
And indeed, it is in a manner heceflary for the Go- vernment of the World, and prefer ving fomc good Order in it, and keeping up in Men the awe of an Invi- fible Power, upon high and publick Provocations, when Men infolendy bid open Defiance to the Laws of God 5 I fay, it is necelTiry that God fliould manifcft his Power and Difpleafure, by fomc remarkable Funiihments, in- flided on Places generally infamous for their foul In- gratitude
(15) gratitude towards, and horrid Contempt of his Divine Majefty.
When Sn and Irrcligion mightilv abounds^and hath gained reputation amongft fooHfh people, and, like a great Flood, carries all before it 3 when it hath once got an Head, and formed a Itrong Partr, and Men of all Conditions and Qiialiries are engaged on the fide of Vice and Profaneners,all Reafon and Argument fhall at fuch a time be eafily run down, and the fofi voice can- not then be heard : God muft appear in a great Storw, with Thunder and Lightning, ns he did of old to the Jfra^ elites, if he would have the Inhabitants of the Earth look up to him, or would convince them of their Folly and Danger.
Such pubhck Judgments are rightly compared to publick Executions, which are fometimes necelBry for the Support of the Government, and ma king People to ftand in dread of the Laws. They ferve efpccialiy to ex- cite in the generality of Mankind a more quick and hvcl\^ fLnfe of God's Power over,and Prelence with them, to roufe Men out of that Stupidity and<lull Lethargy, which long and profperous continuance jn Sin betrays them into. Ivrill cai^feyou to pafs under the rod, faith Cjod by the Prophet, and then jhall you^zw^ all that hear and fee it, k2iovp, that lam the Lord.
Thus, did not that miferable Tate, Avhich befcl Sodcni aad Goworr^,lervcto awaken rhe neighbouring Cities &: Countries,wliendiey beheld the bright Flames to aicend
towards
(i6) towards Heaven, to inquire into tneCaufes of fuch Se- verity, and to examine themfelves, whether they were guilty of the fame Sins, which had fo highly incenfed God ? And would not they have been glad to have been at good terms and at peace with that Almighty Being, who hath fuch dreadful PuniOiments in ftore for the Refradory and Impenitent ?
And was it not thus with us, at the the time of the late terrible Conflagration, which we are this day more particularly to call to our minds ? I appeal to all amongft you, that were then prefent at it : Did you not then hurnbly acknowledge the Hand of God in it ? Did you not then accufe your felvcs.and did not your Con- fcicnces loudly charge you with thofe Sins, that you could not but think did fully deferve fo fevere Venge- ance ? Did net feme of you blame your Covetoufnefs, and niggardly hoarding up thofe many Goods, which now fuddenly periihed in the mercilels Flames > Did not others of you curfe your Injuftice, and Falfenefs in your Trades ? others, your Intemperance and Riot ? and ma- ny in this Guy, their odious Hypocrifie, and bafe pro- ftituting Religion to unworthy Ends, which, with other Sins, provoked God to fo great Anger? Did you not then make many ferious Promifes of better living,{hould you any ways efcape, or ever recover fo great a Cala- mity > What would you not then have undertook,nay, -)erformed,onely to have been affured, that in fo ihort a time you ftiould be again reftored to your Dwellings,
. Trades,
Tradcs,and PoffelTionb/that this City (hould fo foon rife out of its Rubbifh and Afiies,and all of us return to live in greater fplendour and eafe than wc did before r And O had we lived anfwerably to thofe Vows and Promifes which this furprifing Providence did then extort from us in the day of our Fears, what an holy, what an hap- py City had this been !
But, alas/ do not the fame Vices, to fay no worfe, reign amongft us, which did before Sixty fix ? So that we have great caufe to fear, tho' 1 am loth to fpeakit, that it is e'en now time for God to think of fome more fmarting Puniftiment, more grievous than any we have yet felt, which may give fome check to the overflowing Atheifm and Wickedncfs of this Age. And doubt not, but he will do it in his due time,unlefs we flop his Hand by a general Reformation.
God doth not take any delight in fuch Severities. It is no pleafure to him to make fuch havock in the World. This is \\\sftra72ge work^: He is very loth to be brought to it. He doth not willingly gritve any particular Man 5 much lefs doth he love to exercile his Power in laying whole Cities and Kingdoms wafte ; But onely , when he is concerned m Honour to vindicate his Authority, his Laws,his Name,from bold Profanations, and open bare- fac'd Affronts, then neither our Wealth, nor Power, nor Policy, can fecure us from the Omnipotent Arm of Di- vine Juftice. And indeed, it is very great Impudence for XiS'to^xpe<5t or hope, that God (hould blefs or proteft cyadui, ^ D th.it
(i8) that People who live in open RebeUion againft him.
By all this it appears, that Vice and Wickednefs is not onely by its own Malignity apt to deftroy us ^ but alfo, where it prevails and abounds, doth, as it were, neceffi- tate God Almighty to vifit fuch a People, efpecially when they are irreclaimable by any gentler Methods, with fuch fignal and remarkable Judgments, as may keep the World in fome awe of him, and make them confefs, That there is a God who jucfgeth the earth.
Whereas the general Practice of Religion recom- mends and intitles us to the Almighty's Protedion, en- * gages him on our fide, fecures to us the conftant Suc- cours and Aids of Divine Providence. God will watch over our Cities and Houfes, will blefsour Land with Increafe,will deliver us from all our Enemies,and think nothing too much, or too good for us. Seekye the king- dom of God, and the righteoufnefs thereof, in thefirft place, and all thefe things fhall be added to you.
3. In the lad place, 1 appeal to the Experience of all Ages, 5 and we (hall certainly find the State and Condi- tion of any Kingdom or Society to have been more or lefs profperous, according to the Manners that have prevailed amongfl them : Which was of old acknow- ledged by the Orator, in that known Saying, Omnia pro- fpera eveniunt colentihus Deos, adverfa fpernentibus -, The People that have a care of Religion, are always fuccefsful^ but unhappy, when they are Irreligious.
God indeed may defer pouring forth his Wrath tor
awhik,
a while, to give Men time and fpace of Repentance 5 butatlaft5when their iniquities are full, [diS the Scripture exprelTcth it) Divine Vengeance hath overtaken them, which hath commonly been fo much the forer, the lon- ger it hath been delaied. If we look therefore upon any- one whole Kingdom, or great City, as joyned together in one Societv,we (hall generally find,that according as Vertue, Juftice,Temperance,Sincerity, and Fidehty hath flourilhed amongft them, fo long have they thrived, grown Great, Powerful, and Wealthy, and abounded with all Good things 5 and never hardly were there any Times or Places famous for Publick Prophanenefs, De- baucheries, and Contempt of Things Sacred, but they alfo remarkably bore the fad Tokens of the Divine Difplcafure.
There is nothing more evident than this in the whole Story of the Jews, that as long as they continued conftant to the Worihip of the True God, in that man- ner he hadprefcrib'd to them,they either lived in Peace, or their Arms were always fuccefsful, and their Land flowed with Milk and Honey : But when at any time they fell into Idolatry, it was always attended with fome mortal Difeafe,or the devouring Sword,or a long Captivity. Their Sins would poyfon their Air, blait their Corn, weaken their Hands in the Day of Battel, till at length, after many various Diljpenfations of Mer- cy and Judgment, when they refufed to be amended by the Preaching of the Son of God hinifclf,their City was
D 2 facked
(20)
ficked and burnt by the Rowan Legions, their glorious Temple demQiiflKi their Polity diffolved, and their whole Nation involved in one common Ruine.
But bccaiife it is ufually objeded m this Cafe, That God hath not dealt fo with other People and Nations, as he did with the Jews, whofe Political Sovereign and Governour he was after a more peculiar manner 5 and that we are not to argue from Gods fpecial Providences towards them, nor draw his Proceedings with Jemfakm into a Prefident to other Kingdoms andCities3 we may therefore fearch into profane Hiftories, and ev^ry Age will give in fome Teftimony to tliis Truth.
It we inquire into the Caufes of the Dillolution of thofe Potent Empires and States which once were fo fa- mous in the World, or of the Deftruftion of thofe • great and populous Cities, of wh*ch the bare Names onely now remain, and we can hardly find out the Pla- ces where they once flood, we (hall fee abundant rca- fon to impute their Ruine to their own Follies and Wickednefs. Either they fell into Parties and Divifions, and fo crumbled into Pieces , or their Strength and Wealth being wafted by Eafe and Luxury, they were expofed to the Fury of a Foreign Enemy 3 or elfe by the Cry of their enormous Sins provoked God to over- throw rhcm by Inundations, Earthquakes, Fire^or fome fuch dt populating Judgments. This is particularly ob- ferved by almoft all that treat of this Argument, con- .cqrmng thpfp ixiighty , Revolutiions which hapned. m
the
( 21 J
the Four firft Monarcbies.zs they are cominonly called That which gave occafion to the enlarging the Ba~ hylonian Monarch^^ and made it foread fo fall and wide, was neither their own Courage nor Counfel, but the Tranfgrefllons & Provocations of the Eartcrn Nations, which moved God to give them over as a Prey to the King oi Ajfyria^ w horn he calls by the Prophet the tod of b'ps anger^ and made ufe ot to dejhoy and cut ojf nations not a few. And when the Lord by him had performed his whole Work, and the Sins of Babylon were ripe for Vengeance, then did God raife up Cyri^, who at a time of a great Feail, in the midtt of their Jollity and Securi- ty, entred into that City, and fulfilled all thofe Threat- nings which God's Propliets had often denounced againft that People.
When, in procefs of time, the Perfians had funk into the fame Vices for which God had deflroyed the Baby- lonrans, how eafily and fuddenly were they conquered and over-run by Alexander and his Grecians, to whom God gave Succefs vaftly beyond their own Hopes, greater than they themfelves could expert, cither from the Number or Strength of their Armies ?
After which, the Grecians themfelves, being foftned by Perfian Luxury, and infeded with the Vices of Afia, foon fiibmitted to the Romans 5 of whom the fore- named Cicero affirms,iVo7/ calliditate ac roboreJettPietate (5; Religione omnes gerites' nationefque fuperavilfe 3 That they overcame all the Nations, not by Force or Crafty but by piety and Religion, And
(22)
And of them it is commonly taken notice of in the 'Roman Hiftory, That whilft their Senators and People inviolably maintained that ftridt Juftice, Faithfulnefs, and Sobriety, that was fo remarkable in the firft Foun- ders of that great Empire, fo long they flouriflied, and enlarged their Dominions, till at laft they were them- lel ves enflaved to the Vices of all the Nations they had fubdued 5 and then how miferably were they harafs'd with Civil Wars ? and in the iflue became a Prey to Bar- barous People, God giving them up to be over-run by the Goths, and Vandals^ and Hunns, a cowardly and con- temptible People, if compared with the ifow^«5, whofe Succefs yet was fo ftrange and unaccountable, that it could not be attributed to any Second Caufes, but one- \y to the Hand of God, by them puniflhing the Chrifti^ ans of the Weft, then grown luxurious, and almoft in- corrigible by too much Felicity 5 as one of their Ge- nerats,^//i/^,ftiled bimkli Flagel/um Dei.God's Scourge to chaftife the Wickednefs of that People.
Should we go no further than our own Country, our own Hiftorians do all along obferve, Thatthofe great Defolations which have been made m this Ifland, either by Foreign Invafions, or Inteftine Divifions, or Infedious Difeafes, were always preceded by a notori- ous degeneracy and corruption of Manners. And againft this,! believe, there arc but few Exceptions 5 and where there are any^ fuch ffiigle Inftances are not ac- cording to God's ordinary clablifti'd Rule and Me- i thod,
( ^3 ) thod, according to which we ought to cxpcd he will always deal with us.
By this time, I hope, you arc all convinced of the evil nature of Vice and Wickednefs, where it prevails and abounds 5 how contrary it is to, and deftrudive of the Publick Peace and Profpcrity of any Kingdom or City. What remains, is to make fomc particular Appli- cation to our felvesj which I ihall do, by drawing thefe four Inferences.
I. Hence we may learn, what great difTervice they do unto, and what great difhonour they bring upon Religion, who make pretence of it to the embroiling and difturbance of Societies.and the breach of the Pub- lick Peace. Government and Society was fetled in the World from the very beginning of it, by the general Providence of God, as being abfolutely neceflary for our common Peace and Safety 5 and therefore nothing ought to be admitted, as any part of Revealed Religi- on, which is plainly inconfiftent with this Prime and Original Inftitution of God.
I (hould call that any thing rather than Religion, which makes Men Factious and Seditious, that prompts them to publick Outrages and Mifchiefs, that teaches them to burn Cities, and to make Stirs in a Kingdom, that infpirits Men with a ficrceZeal which tranfgrelTes , all Bounds, keegs no Place or Rank, obfervcs no Mean or Decorum, that is promoted by fecret Plots,and open Rebellion. If fuch a Religion could be fuppofed to come
from
^5
from Heaven, we might change the Words oiSt.Paul, and more truly fay,That God was the Author not of Peace, hut of Confufion. But in this !aft Age the fal fe Vifard and Mask of Religion hath been to often pulled off,and fuch deformed Vifagcs have appeared to have been difguifed under % that it is to be hoped, that the People of this Kingdom or City will not be eafily cheated again into a Belief of the Honefty or Good- meaning of any Perfons who joyn in a Party againft the Lawful Government they live under, let their Pretences be what they will.
It is otherwise with True Religion : It is quire of ano- ther Genius: It begets other Tempers and Spirits in Men. The wifdom that comes from abo'^e^ is fir ft -pure, then ■peaceable. Efpecially our Chriftianity is (o admirably fit- ted for the benefit and advantage of Societies, that were there no Obligation to the Practice of it from theCon- liderations of another Life, }^et all wife Men would think themfelves bound to the obfervance of the Chief Laws of our Saviour,were it onely out of refpcdt to our Peace and Security in this prefent World.
2. Since the Publick Welfare depends upon the Man- ners of Men, we may thence conclude, how much it is the Intereftjas well as Dut}^of all Governours and Ma- giilrates, in their feveral Places, to difcourage and pu- nifh all Vice and Wickednefs, and to countenance and promote True Religion, which is the great Inflrument of Political Happinefs. The more the rear of God,and .he Practice of Righteoufnefs,prcvails amongft the Peo-
pie, the moreeafie and fafe will the Government be 5 and therefore Religion doth fully reward the Civil Powers for all the Protcdlion they can give it. True Religion tends fo much to the Eftabliihment and Profperity of any Nation, that they whofe O^zz it is to look after the PublickGood, cannot do any thing better for themfelves, or for the Peo- ple committed to their Charge 5 for the fecuring their own juft Authorit;/, or maintaining the People in Peace and good Order, than by all means to preferve and increafe amongft them a Reverence and Obedience to Almighty God and his Laws.
This will keep them in firm fubjedion to their Superi- ours 5 this v/ill unite them one to another in Love and Charity 5 and, which is never to be forgotten, this will procure Gods Blefling both upon Governours and People.
And fince Chriftians are unhappily divided into fcveral Denominations and Communions, take that Church, I be- feech you, into }'^our efpecial Care and Patronage, whofe Principles do mod effedlually contribute towards Mens orderly and quiet living together in Societies. If you can find any Church or Body of Chriftians in the World, whofe Dodrines are more Loyal, whofe Government is better confiftent with Monarchy, whofe Praftices have been more peaceable at all times, than the Reformed Church oi England, I would e'en exhort you then to for- fake and renounce ours, and not onely tolerate, but cfta- bliih and fet up that Church amongft us. But in this cer- tainly our Church hath no Competitor. Peaceable and quiet living under the Civil Governnaent, always was,and
E is
(26)
is ft ill the Glory of the Church of England: This Praire Ihe (lands upon,and challcngeth as due to her $ and on this account doth Ihe with confidence recommend her felf, and all her true Members, to the Care and Protection of ihofe who are in Power and Authority, that they would be fo juft as to defend thatReligion,that Church,which doth belt defend and fupport the Publick State.
5. Hence we may learn the true Caufe of all thofe Pub- lick Evils and Calamities that have befallen this Kingdom or City of late Years. Our Sins have been the Natural Cau- fes of fome of them, the Meritorious Caufes of others. Some we have brought upon our felves, as the neceffary Effects of our own wicked Courfes^ others God in Juftice hath inflicted upon us, as the Punilhment of our Difobe- diencc.
I fhall not now undertake to give in a Catalogue of thofe many Sins that we in this City have been notonouf- ly guilty of. I had much rather leave that Work to your felves,for every Man to fmite upon his own Breafl,in which he will find a foithful Monitor, I mxan his Confcience, which will impartially tell him wherein he hath provoked God, and contributed to thofe Judgments and Diftracti- ons we have laboured under, if fo be he will but patiently attend to its Suggeflions, and give it leave and opportu- nity freely to fpcak unto him. I am fureit much more be- -comes us all this Day to give Glory to God, and to take Shame to our fel.ves, and to charge and accufe our felves, than wholly to ihift ofFall the Guile & Blame upon others.
We ace very apt indeed to impute thefe Publick Evils to t other
■^27) other Caufesj we are \ - y curious in guc/ling at the im- mediate Inftruments of them 3 and, which is worrt of all^ too many amongtl us have been on all occafions reaciv to lav all Publick Mifcarriages and Misforcunes at the Door of their Govcrnours and Superiours : whereas tlie true Caufe hath been from our felves^ wherein no one can ac- quit himfclf,tho' fome far more innocent than others. But I fliall rather chufe to (pcnd that little time your Patience can yet allow me, in perfuading you all to amend, than m ripping up the Vices of this Age, or City, or fcveral Parties of Men amonglt us, for which we may jjftly fuppofeGod hath vifited us with the Plague, this dreadful Fire, and (which was no Icfs punifhmenr ) thofe unnatural Divifions and Heats which of late fo violently broke out amongft us,and threatncd fudden Ruine both to Church and State. 4. And laltlyThis Dodtrinc, which I have now proved to you, teachedi us the bell Expedient to prevent fuch Judgments for d k future, and to fetde us in firm Peace 3 which is,a general Reformation of our Lives and Manners^ BlefTed be God, the Cafe is much mended with us fince the dreadful Burning of Lone/on. Our City hath been ma- ny Years re- built, and that more fplendid and glorious than before. We mifs not that number of Inhabitants who- were fwept away by the devouring Plague 3 nor hardlv now do we feel any of the difmal Effects of that terrible Fire. We feem to have weathcr'd out thofe fore Calami- ties. And tho' of late our inteftine Animofities arofe to- fuch an height, as that we all feared a woful Interruption of. our Peace, yet Godharhnot.as iiitherto deliveredusin-
E 2 to
(28)
to our own Hands, nor fufFered us to deftroy our felves. Nay, things tend at prefent towards an happy Settlement andCompofure,and we begin to entertain hopes of living in quiet and fafety, every man fitting under his own vine and. figtree. The Face of our Heavens is more clear and ferene and the black Clouds that prefag'd fo dreadful a Storm' fcem in fome meafure to be difperfed. Yet let us not deceive our felves, and rafhly conclude, that the bitternefs of death is ?iorv pa/i : For, as I faid at firft, the fame Caufes will al- ways produce the fameEffeas; and if the fame Sins ftill continue amongft us, they will foon be attended wjth the fame, or worfe Defolations and Confufions.
If this be the natural Elfeft of prevailing Atheifm Pro- phanenefs, and Contempt of Religion, of Hatred and Di- vifion, to weaken a Nation or People, to unfettle a King- dom, to unhinge the Government, and diffolve all Socie- ties,let us not fondly think,that God Almighty will always miraculoufly interpofe, and hinder thefe natural Confe- quences of Things. I fay, God will not by extraordinary ways preferve thofe who obftinately perfill in fuch CouiC ies which naturally lead to their own Deftruaion. , ^il^"^.^^^^ fhen can we exped amongft us, if, after all thefe Viciflitudes of Divine Providence towards us, we ftill continue unreclaimed ? When fo many not onely negledt Religion, as a thing full of trouble, but fcorn it, as unwor- thy of, and below them ; when they are afliamed to own their Belief or Fear of God, as if it were a fign of a vulvar Spirit and mean Parts ; when Men exercife their little ^Vits m abufing and deriding the moft ferious and facred
thingsj
things 5 What Villames or Treafons arenotfuch Men ripe for? What can oblige them, or tie their Hands?
What Peace can there be in a Land or City where fuch prodigious Debauchery reigns? where fuch liorrid Oaths and Perjuries abound ? where Men fin without fhame, nay, glory in it as an Accon:ipli(hment ? Shall not God vifit for thefe things ?
In (hort, What Peace can there be, as long as there re- main amongft us fuch bitter Envyings and Heart-burn- ings, fuch unchriftian Separations and Contentions, fuch Complaints and Difcontents under fuch happy Circum- ftances of Affairs, as that no Nation under Heaven is in the like? Thefe Vices and bad Djfpofitions do naturally tend to our Ruine, befides that they highly provoke God Almighty againft us.
I come not hither at this time to prophecy evil thincrs againft this City or Kingdom, nor would I amufe you with needlefs Fears. I know well this hath been the great Art ufed by the Enemies of our Peace to raife Difturban- ces amongft us, by poflTeffing the Peoples Minds with ftrange Jealoufies and Sufpicions, as if all things were run- ning to rume, and our Laws, Liberties, and Religion were all now at ftake, and in extreme hazard. The onel v thin^ I would earneftly defire you to confider, is, That the great- eft Danger we are in is from our fdves, and confequently, the way to prefcrve our Peace is to reform our felves.
And now at this time, when our moft Gracious Sove- reign,whom God long preferve,hath taken particular care of us in thisCity, and hai-i done what in Him lieth to pre-
vcnc
(3°) rent our unJomg ou^ iclves, by putting the Government
ot it into fife Hands, and m.iking fcveral Publick Refor- mations amongft us, let us all in our feveral Stations be prevailed upon to do our part, every Man to turn from the evil of his ways, to fear God, to honour the King, to love his Neighbour, and mind his own private Duty, and to carry himfclf as becomes a Chriflian, in all his fcveral Relations he (lands in to other Men, whereby we ihall make God our Friend, and become hearty Friends one to another.
Wife Men, by fubtle Policies andContrivances,may di- vert our Trouble and Danger for a while 5 but it will ne- ver be well long with us, till the true Chriiiian Spirit of Love, and Charity, and Meeknefs, and Submiffion, and Obedience,generally prevail amongft us. Then indeed we (hould foon fee happy Days, and be freed from thofe Fears and Difturbances that have fo long troubled our IfraeL This is thebeft Project for Infuring our new Houfes, and continuing thofe great and manifold Mercies, both Spiri- tual and Temporal, which we in this City yet enjoy above any other People, to us,and to our Pofterity after us. How quiet, how fctled a People (hould we be, if we would but give credit to the Word of God, and follow our Blefled Saviour's Diredtions !
And k t not any one now think this a mean and pitiful Contrivance, and that himfelf hath far better Models and Projedsfor our Settlement, with which his politick Head labours and is in pain, till he be delivered of them in all Companies , fince the State and Condition of Humane
Affairs
^30 Affairs is fo difpofed by God's wile Providence, that there can be no lafting Peace without the pradife of Vertue and Religion.
Nor let any one think, that by thus reforming himfelf, he being but one, and perhaps but of fmall Incereft or In- fluence in the City or Kingdom, it will be of very little concernment or advantage to the whole 3 for it is plain, that our Reformation muft begin from finglc Per- fons, and fo proceed by degrees. It hath fometimes indeed hapned, that there hath been a fudden general Reforma- tion of the Manners of Men throughout an whole Citv or Nation, as at Niitiveh upon the Preaching of Jonah^ upon fome great Fnght or extraordinary Judgment, when all the People, as one Man, have turned from the evil of their ways. But this is not our Cafe. Our Refor- mation muft be accomplilhed (to borrow an Illuftration) as this famous City of London was re-built 5 the Founda- tion of which was not all laid at the fame time, nor con- tinued Streets raifed at once^ but at firji here a Houfe, and there a Houfe, to which others by degrees were joynd 3 and every private Man took care to build his own Houfe, and Authority took care of Publick Buildings, //// at lafl fingle Houses were united into whole Streets^ whole Streets into this beautiful and glorious City. Thus our Reforma- tion mull take its beginning from fome few, from whom others may take Pattern and Encouragement, till at length it generally prevails 3 and why fhould not good Examples be as efFedual to reclaim this Age, as bad ones have been to debauch it ?
To
(3^)
To conclude all; Of all the great Arguments which our Reliction afiords us, to engage us to the leaving our Sins, and amending''our Lives, I have this day infified on this one, viz. That it Is the onely certain Way and Method offecuring the Peace and Happlnefs of this ci ty, and of our Native Country, There may bemany amonpft us whofe Minos are not confiderably aff^fted with^the Apprehenfions of fU- ture Rewards and Punifliments; yet fenfe of prefent Good or Evil ma- Ketli deep and ladmg Impreffions upon them ; Who, tho they feem to nave no regard for their everJailing Happinefs in the other World yet are ready to hazard their Lives, to expofe their Eftates and Fortunes, to i^cn^icQ all that Men ufually count dear, to the Service and Prefer- vation of their Country; and now one would think ft fhould not be altogether impo/Iible to perfuade fuch Perfons, for the fame Reafon to hye loberly nghteoufly, and godlily in this prefent World. Shall a .Man be ready at any time to venture and loofe his Life, and be loth to ieave his Sins for the Publick Good and Safety >
For your Countries fake therefore, as you value the Welfare and Prolperity of this Kingdom, and this great City,- as you defire the continuance of thofe many fingular Bleflings which yet thro' God's Patience we are poffefTed of. as you would avoid the repetition of thofe Judgments you have already fmarted under, or the infliaincr of new and greater; in the Name of God, I exhort- you all to repent and amend. Our Sins are many and great; they have (as I have {h^wn. you) a natural tendency to Ruine and Confufion; their Cry is gone up to Heaven agamft us. Delay not therefore to feek the Lord whillT:
u ^^ ^ M ' ^"^ ^° ^^^^ ^^ ^*^^ ^^^^ y^"^ who^e Hearts; and
then IhaH God be reconciled to us, and turn away his Wrath from us and prevent thofe Judgments we fear, and remove thofe we labour un- der, and blefs us with Peace, and Plenty, and Profperity. Happy are the people that are tn fuch a cafe, yea, happy are the people whofe God is the Lord, r r j
I onely add. That fuch a general Reformation of our own Tempers and Lives is vaftly more our Duty, infinitely more for our private Advantage, and the Publick Good of the whole Kingdom, than all our Heat and Zeal for Reforming ofPub]ickGrievances,or for amending me State, or other Men. There is no peace, faith my God, to the wickel
FINIS.
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