God's hand and providence to be religiously acknowledged in public calamities : a sermon occasioned by the great fire in Boston, New-England, Thursday, March 20, 1760 : and preached on the Lord's Day following ..

MiitcUm9,

FOR THECENTISEL.

[Ths foUo-.vinr^ Lir.ty was wrote aiiJ pr.blifl^eJ imrr.e-
♦iLiicly afte«' the jrrcMt fue, March 20> i ';6o, and is now
rei)ubiilhid as a;),>lickbie to the late Coaflagratiou.j

TME uncertainty of h'ltnan life, the tranfitory nature
and continual /iciriitudes olthis jiref^nt ftateof hei-ijj
rnul of all cnjoymsiils and poireliions in it, are truths fu
\vcll knTfv/n to every tljaug'tful pcrfi)n,an-i haveioofiea
been the fuhjeifls of j-.uliciduS u'j'itcrs in all ages, that the
rtronq;;;ft invention c.in perhaps fcarctfi 'id any thing nevv
Ff) otfir, and a m-^v'cll Mdfe wiih reluf^ance undertakes
ths 'chcTie : Vet f.ich is the frailty of human nature, that
\vi)cn a fuJden Cataftrophe furrbunwls us themmd is fuu-
. tercu' and difconc^rted, and does not r;:aJily collefl th.)fe
reflections fiiiiable to the ()ccafi.>n, (>r elle by Jibing
been ufed ro negie6l ^-.vi'i refiici'Vtons, froTi a con-oeption
that tiiey mud needs flo'.v natarally fiom fucllcr^laniities
a*. Ihnuld produce I hern, the rr.itid ttiroi^gh- tiifiife, may
not int^meJiateiy conceive them v/Iien v.-:intv-d. It is
tru;, llie voice of nature has always hstn rhe fame,
is continually foanuing, and ur.uerftond by all ; yet
.Aran29 to fay, what we he^r t!ic ofteneft, we attend to
the leaA. and wliat wc are fhe mod certain of, we give j
the Icafl: heed to j but there are times when g^'nl proti- I
dence fends a Insider fummons by, th:* flrnnles of nature^!
?^'^C\ prj';laim3 thc)rctruth<?, wluc.h though they could not *
opcrat;: by the importance of their nature, yet triay force ;
their tffcCk by ioizin;; the palHons ; but here frailty a- |
jTAia takes. place', from extreme tlioorbtleCneis, tl-.e paf- \
ilon? b ,ing rouzrd, wc n'Oi on to cotifufion and errof; !
\\-.<.t pilots -rowni-.carclcrs by a long caim,we ftesr by the i
gufl fvf paffinn, .iiiftjad of the comp.ifs of underftanding,
b.cediefs of the port of truth, and negiigent of thofe du-
ties to which the palli )ns were only di-ngr.ed to urre c , ,

To point foith and funilrnife tliefe tru'.li<jliasbeen tlie
well handled fuhjecfl of t!ie beft writeis ; but %^'hile na-
tars continjes to lum/non, and tljc wifdom of her voice
remains in any nienfu-.-e n.egleded, the tiienne cnnnot be
truly exhanft^d, nor the repetition of it neiJlef?.

Fur tliefe ends, this Eiriy is prefented to the public
vi nv, if it pafs u:ider the ju igment "f alik minds, tliey
will acfiuiefce in any truth, and at ler-.d rr.ny from hence
take a hint for nobler thouglitj^^ befidei, rlvcre is a fat-
ijfaftion we all feel in (jiving vent to the tijrnbbings of
the bofom,!iud in colledling to fomc ordVr, thofe t,ho':ghts
^vliicli float through t!ie mind on fuch occafitlns.

Let this then, be the apology; but if ftifl anyone
fh;nilJ cenfare m? for treading in this unaccuftom^d path
of v/riting, I rouft quit the difpute and fcreera mvfdf be-
neath the horrors ofthatnever to be forgotten nig;ht,^\hen
(he fiam3^ bro'ce loafe on our hcufe-^j and laid fo large a
part of our capital in ruins: I nra fcnfible that p.aintcd
terrors ill-become red fc;rrow, 2nd are never to be ufed
);ut when the pafTions r.:-e fluggifh ; and therefore Y^ZiU
, fmg oyer that ample fie';l for defcriptLon, vvhioh the late
unhappy cataflrophe afTords, foall confine myfelf to thofe
fiber f;i6ls vvhicli no bf)dy fhould be ifz;iorant of, and
with wliich every body muft needs be afJedtcd.

It was then in the firft watcUis of the morn'ng, v lien
onr l)r)dies were fift fettered v.icli fou;i(J;;ft flcep, that
the five vv'a> firil difcoverec!, and the town r.l.-^rmed ^vith
;.n oiit-cry ; the inlia')itants u-ere fpeedi'y colied^ed, and
though t!ie fire was f!)u:id in the cell.lr of a brick, [iouft^
yet it fo^jn eat tlirongh '.ts jirifon ; tlie wind hlowiiig
frelli iirgsd on the flames, and witii furprifing fury tliey
ravaged in fpite of all oppofition or means to fni^prefs
iham ; the cintkrs and burning ruins v/crc carried to the
IcewardmoO: part of the town, by means of vvhich fonie
who thought tliemfelves in noda.'<ger, vvere tlie fconeft
confumcd, and tlie inhabitants of tliem being gatlicreit to
flffin: at the he id of the fire,fuJtered the greatefliolTcs ?it
thsir own houfesj the like evil happened to numbers of
tradefmen, whofe fiiops werefo quick fuel fofthe flames,
tiiat their tools and ftock were nil confumed before they
conkl repair to them ; in fonie places we heard tlic
Ibrieks of mothers and children rouzed from their beds
hy the furroanding flimes, and no man to. help ; h*re
'wi micrht beliold th<? aged, the fick. and the bcd-rid, whofc
di(\-ancc fyom the feat of th.- fire gave them hopes of fe-
cr.rity^driven forth re the inchmcneies of the weather, not
knnvv'in; where to fnalter; there we might fee tliofs
whofe leaft tho.:v:hts were placed on their fubf^ance,
and whofe greatefi anxiety was to fave their lives : Thus
jMged tUi? fire, forcBig its way at the tvindows of brick
Iioufes, whofe fiat^d roofs were thought a A) jfi.-ient de-
fence, thui adding burning to burning, till it left no
building nnconfained wliere the wind would let it paf-;.
The natural horrors of the niglit added terror to this
cataftroph;?j and at once rendsied it more difnial to the
eye, mure grevious to be born, and more difRculc to be
fupreffed, till the odious nigJit wore put, and with it
vanifhed the height of our fc;ars ; but )iot f .♦ :iie reality
of our forrow, t'ne rifcn fun aiTuaged the glo»m of the
night, but gave us a difmal [n-ofpcfb of its Iiavock ; a
fpe6lacle Ihocking to fenfibility ! Like the blaftsd trees
of fammer» or the fkeleton of fome delightfui body ; yet
far left ungrateful to the fight than forrowful to be re-
f.^fled on. Take a fiirvey then of tliefe extended ruins ,
here once livej the loyal fubje(f>, the tender father,
the obliging friend, and a goad commonwealths-man ;
but their halntations, as with one fwsep .of a fcy:!ie, are
nil cut off, and they thrown on the cliarity of their
I'riends : And is this all } Alas thereaie ilill moreheari-
j)iercing fcer.es ; walk through the ruin?, and take a
n-.ore particular account ; here lived t!ie laborious tradef.
m.\n, on whofs daily imiuftry depended the fuftenance
t)f ."i i»iim3rous family ; there lived one wliofe ciicum-
Itances were flraitened with poverty, and diftruired by
ficknefs : her? 'iresi one jnfl en^cij^mg fvC>'Ti indigence,
atld reaplngthe firil fruits of honsfl indp.ury ; there livftd
thofc whofe comfoi table circumllances arvoided a refuge
for the needy; and an habitation for t!ie friendlefs ; here
lived th.'>fe whofe fabfiflence depended on their fituation
for bafuiefs ; rhere lived tliofe whofe all was ip their
houfes, and here thofe who are ftill unhappily anfwera-
*blc for all they toil j there lived, and there v/as the fub-
fiftencti of thtt ag<?d and infirm, whofe frugal indufcry in
youth, had procured them the merited fupport of eafy
Old age,whea tlie body unftrung for labor can no longer fup^
port itfelf — But all cutoff", their ii.duflry appears noinor^,
and the fatigues of youth overtakes them,whcn age ftiould
be at reft ; the children muft bdg, and tli^ indufliiuus
muil be dependent, t;ie forehanded repeat his toil anew,
^n^ the debtor lay at mercv ; the friendlefs mufl feek
for other patrons, and they who pitronizcd implore coin-
pafTi'on ; the afRuent a»,ed muft forget th?ir eafe, and
too foon lofe the benefit uf that fabllance which they
could not carry hence.

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a'l V/h-re fnall Ihe mifer beftow his hoar^«6r tlie ex- I
tortioner his ill gotten g-^ins, or I^ow fhall ffie worKHy f
man fecurc his happinefs when flanifs furrouml hem ? ,
The huf;eni!lt.rsof fir.cak which v>-e Dsheia^fioat.ng to
the Ikv were at onceemU .n a irnl of our poheffions ;uul
dechM-:.tivec;f their loft>: But wl.at fny thefe mighty vu-
im ' they ihew ir. r.t how uncertain atenure we hold oar
e.-.jnyments, foi" next ur/aer a fovereign prov.dence we
feem indent-' J even to the ftahility of the wind that it d,d
not v.ry nnd roll the fiames over tlie whole town. W uU j
how much eafe then can we fhifc the fcene ana fuppofe
ourklves in the fituation of the prefent d.ftrcned ; v.'.u,
iloareoKlnefs, orvi&ilaoce that protcaccMis Andi
being d.ftrovcd, we ([umh\ have f^l^. <^^>™' ',^'^"','^'2 [^
narrou ly favcd can we fail tc meU ^vith fympathy ? and
if ever the gohlan rule was capable of a benevolent appii-
catinn the moll infenfiblc muft now feci it, aud the n.oit
hardened put it in pr-aaice ; and he who on this occa-
fum docs hot beftow bonatifnlly to the relief of the immc-
I diate fufferers, mufl eitherflatter himfelf with fome pe-
culiar infaU.ble protcaion, or being defnerate in
RidJinefs, bid a bold defiance to all calamity. Nor
can any one, though nut immediately expofed to this
dearu^ion, r:rino' ciiftant frcm this capital, furmifethat
they have no p:m in its general admonition ; 'tis nature's
voice that well known herald of the Almighty which
tho' It be rvaw uttered here, yet echoej every where ; 'tis
but onel.ilhofthaiamazin- fcourge, branthfhed by the
hand of vcngoancr, agair.ft a guilty world ; the fame f^re
may parch uo that land which it does not coniumc, and
e-^uhqaakes'make iis defolation vVorfc than t!ie prefent;
if theiefore we are common tenants of a flate vanegatejl
with joy nnd forrow, merhiaks '^is natural we Ihould m
f^^,.' m^^(utc Ihare the good of it. which we all want,
feeing we are equally expofed to the evils of it, under
'\ which we all dcfue to be i cUeycd. _

&' rry fc/al, whnta t!iou?ht arifes ! can it v/ith truth be
;' faidV thaany in luirnHn lliare, though their d^Uy lupport
,' were robbery, ftould lurk for thr confuGonot a public calam-
'" iiy, and plunder the property of the difeelled ; or^that any

fter cool deliberation, upon wh;itloevei- pretence

ci-

;it"vr pirblichlyorFrivrit I'y difcountenance that relief to the
M diftrelTed vhich we rr.av all at fo.ne time want.and which hu-
k inanity fuggefts ? forbid it hcav:n ! .

i\ Alas, wefojourn inavdcqf fears, forrovv on every lici.
r; furroundsus, and tails f.-)r thofe duties xvhich v/e feci im-
'"''preffed in out natures, daties fo endehably engraven, th>t a
heathen faid, " m nothing do we mors imrr.iiate the inlnior-
tal Gods, than in doing adls of Irindnefs," tlu voice of reve-
(htion is ftill more explicit, and (o plain, that be who run?
'ra^yread. PofTcffions take to themfelves win?s ; to what
purpolc is it then, that we dillrefs, perplex and corrupt nur
minds in i^etting wealth, the pofTcfnon of which is fo preca-
rions ? With what face can ws fwell with the conceit of riches
.and aifumc airs of importance, difdain, opprefs, ind lyran-
'i nire over lhr>lc bcp.eaih us (perhaps only) in lortunc, vvhen a
few hours may fet us all on a level ? Hew much does it become
11^ while in sfRuence to demean ouiielvej with liH.h honelty,
humanity and beneficence, as that if calamity Oiould over-
take u-;, v/e may ftand ccnfcfTcdly the worthy ob-edts of nc«d-
: ful relief? Mcthinks this cntaikophe is big with inftru<ftion,
1 cou.d any rne (?.tihe. dire havock produced from lo fmall a
1 f.rc, and not feel the obligatioRS we owe to the community jn

IUur-.:n:-omy of this neceltary but.devourine elem-nt, and o.f
\erery thing that is ept fuel for the fa.r>e ? for as our pof-
if-lTior^s are net fccuicd by ourowr finzle carelulnefc, the duty
...Ithcrclore becomes general j and may I be permitted to take -a
ijbint from Ihi: dreadful defolation, and point it forth as an
[.(emblem of that di^lruaion, which the pajions whcs Ir.l Icofc
[Jprod'.'.ce in hun^an minds 5 when the firft cy.cefs is not (up-
Inreffed, like the htt f re :hcy ravage, incre vie by runninp,and
Jmay dcrtroy everv t^ .g valudblc in the mind ; m-y entirely
I drip us of that real v :afurc which only can ftand us in itead
llvvhen a greater conflagration (hall fciic this earth, when wc
1 {Irall be as little anxin i<; to fave our lives, s.s many Utcly
I were to favc their wcrHly poiTe(t]ar.s.

"■ ' / ^ ^

god's Hand and Providence to be reli-

gioufly acknowledged in public Calamities,

SERMON

Occasioned bv

The Great Fire

IN

BOSTON,NEW.ENGLAND,

Thurfday March 20. 1760*
And preached on the

LORDVDAY following.

By

JONATHAN MATHETF, D. D.

Paftor of the WiST-Church in Boston.

\ -

BOSTON:

Printed by Richard Draper, in Newbury-Streec,'
Edes and Gill, in Queen-Street, and Thomas
and John Fleet, in Cornhill. 1760.

-i-^

A Sermon occafioned
by the Fire in Boston,

MARCH 1760.

AMOS III. 6.

SHALL there he evil in a city^

and the LORD hath not done it P

WHAT devaftation have we lately feen made
in a few hours I How many houfes, and
other buildings, fuddenly confumed I How
much wealth deftroyed I How many un-
happy families, rich and poor together, left deftitute
of any habitation, except thofe which cither private
friend fhip, or public charity fupplied ! What diftrefs
in every face ; lome mourning their own unhappy lot,
others tenderly fympathizing with them ; and none
knowing when, or where, the wide defolation would
germinate !

«* AFFLICTIOje

6 A Sertnon occajtoned by the

** Afflxction Cometh not forth of the duft, nei#
" ther doth trouble fpring out of the ground •/' to be
fure, not fuch trouble and affliflion as this ; a calami*
ty, fo great and extenfive ! This is a vifitation of pro-
vidence, which demands a ferious and religious con-
fideracion. And it is with a view to lead you into
fome proper reflexions on this melancholy occafion,
that I have chofen the words read, for the fubjcft of
my difcourfe at this time : *' Shall there be evil in a
city," faith the prophet, " and the LORD hath not
" done it ?"

It is to be obferved, that altho' thefc words bear
the form of a queftion, the defign of them is ftrongly
to aflert, that there is no evil in a city, which theLord
hath not done. Interrogatory forms of expreffioa,
are often to be thus underftood : I mean, as the moft
peremptory, and aniaiated kind of affirmations. Thus,
for example, when it is demanded — " Can a man take
" fire in his bofom, and his cloaths not be burnt ?" i*
Every on.e underftands this, as equivalent to aflerting
the impoflibility hereof in the ftrongeft terms. So,
when it is afked, '* Can a man be profitable unto
" God ? — Or is it gain to him, that thou makeft thy
" ways perfed ? Will he reprove thee for fear of
" thee.^"* A peremptory denial of thefe leveral
things, is univerfally underflood by thofe queftions.
As if it had been faid. Verily, a man cannot be profita-
table unto God ! Sec. And when, after a reprefenta-
tion of the great wickednefs and depravity of the
Jcwifh nation, it is immediately fubjoined, " Shall I
*^ not vifit for thefe things ? fakh the Lord : Shall
** not my foul be avenged on fuch a nation as this?*'1l
It is equivalent to a pofitive denunciation of the divine
vengeance againfi; that finful people : and evert more
exprefTive, than if it had been faid directly ^— I will V*-

fiC

t Prov. VL 27. * Job KXII. 7, 3, ^, I J-r. V. 29.

Fire in Bofton, March 1760, f

ik for thefe things : My foul fiiall be avenged on
fueh a nation as this. This would have been com-
paratively a cold, unanimated way of fpeaking ; far'
Icfs adapted to make an imprcflion on the reader or-
hearer, than the other.

'The manner of exprefiion in the text, is obvioufly
the fame with that, in the paffages quoted above; be-
ing more forcible than a fimpie affirmation would have-
been, without fome note of afleverarion preceeding.
It is as if it had been faid. Verily, or, furely, there \%
no evil in a city, and the Lord hath not done it.

However, to prevent a dangerous error here, it
muft be particularly remember'd, that by " evil " in
the text, is not meant moral evil, or fin ; but only
natural, viz, pain, afflidion and calamity. It cannot
be fuppofed, that the prophet intended to attribute any
other evil to God, as the author of it, befides the lat-
tser. ** Far be it from God^ that he (liould do wick-
** edly •, and from the Almighty, that he fhould per*
" vert judgment !'* Nor can the finful and evil anions
of men, properly be attributed to him ; or to any
over-ruling providence of his, confidered as their im-
pulfivc caufe, or as making them become neceflary.
*^ Let no man fay [therefore] when he is tempted,
** 1 am tempted of God : for God cannot be tempted
•* with evil, neither tempteth he any man. But every
** man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own
•* luft, and enticed. Then when luft hath conceived,
'* it bringcth forth fin.'*-t* This is the account which
the apoftle gives of the origin of fin, or m^ral evil ;
beyond which, if we pretend to go, in the w^y of fpe*
culation and refinement ; we fhall probably, at befl:,
only amufe ourfelves, and perhaps not be innocent.
If God is not properly faid, even to " tempt *' men

to
t James I. 13, 14, i^.

8 A Sermon occajioned hy the

to do evil ; much lefs can it be truly faid, that he
compels them to do it, by any fecret energy, or ope-
ration, of his. We are doubtlefs, therefore, to under-
ftand the prophet as fpeaking here, only of natural
evil, in contradiflindlion from moral : So that it will
amount to this, that God is the author of all thofe
calamities and fuflPerings, which at any time befal a
city, or community. They are not to be looked on
as the efFe(fks of chance, or accident 5 which are but
empty names ; but as proceeding ultimately from
him, the fupreme governor of the world ; and this,
even tho' they are more immediately and vifibly ow-
ing to the folly, or vice and wickednefs, of men.

To fay, In this fenfe, that there is no evil in a city,
which the Lord hath not done, is indeed no more, in
efFedt, than to aflert the univerfal government and
providence of God •, which, I fuppofe, we all believe,
whatever difficulties may attend our fpeculations on
the fubje(5l. If God is the fupreme ruler of the world,
and exercifeth luch a univerfal government over it, as
the fcriptures every where fuppofe and teach, and as
nothing but folly or impiety can deny ; he mufl, in
fome fenfe, either mediately or immediately, be the
author rf whatever events come to pafs in it. We
cannot fuppofe that there are any evils, or calamities,
whether public or private, in the production whereof
he has no concern, and which he did not defign, with-
out a partial denial of his dominion and providence.
For if any events come to pafs, contrary to, or befide
his defign, or without, and independently of him ; his
dominion is not an univerfal dominion, nor does his
kingdom rule over all, as the fcriptures aflert. Thefe
events, if any fuch there arc, are plainly exceptions to
the univerfality of his government ; being, according
to the fuppofition itfclf, fuch as were neither done, nor

ordered

Fire In Bofton, March 1760.

ordered by him. But furely no man but an athiefl,
cr at lead one who difbelieves the holy fcriptures, can
think there are really gny fuch events. It is not Icfs
a diiflate of reafon, than it is a do(5tfine of fcripture,
that as all things have one common Creator, they are
all Iubje6l to one common Lord, and under one fu-
preme adminiftration •, fo that nothing doe?, cr caa
come to pafs, but in conformity to his will, either pofi-
tive or permifTive. The denial of which mufl: termi-
nate, not merely in the denial of a univerfal fuper-
intending providence, but of one or other of God's
attributes i either his omnifcience, or his omnipotence,
if not of both.

Some public calam/ities are indeed, as was intimated
above, more immediately and vifibly the Lord's do-
ings than others. He is, how^ever, to be acknowledg-
ed as the author of them all in general ; not excepting
thofe which are brought upon us by the inftrumen-
tality of fubordinate agents. Thefe are all fubjedt to
his dominion and controul, and dependent upon him
in their various operations ; at leaft fo far that they
can do us no harm, but by his will and confent.

It may be thought indeed by feme, that God is
more properly faid only to permit, than to be himfelf
the author of thofe evils, whether public or private,
which are brought upon us immediately by inferior
agents ; or thro* the wicked devices and practices of
men. It is not worth while to difpute this point,
which is rather a quel^ion of words and names, than
of things. For it muft be obferved, that when the
word permiflion is ufed in this cafe, it implies in it a
w"'ll and defign, that the things permitted fliould ac-
tually come to pafs. When God is faid to permit
any thing, the meaning hereof is not merely this, that

10 A Sermon oCcofiomd hy the

he does not prevent it ; for in this fenfc, we alfo might
be ftid to permit whatever happens thro'ought the
univerf:*, tho' it were not in our power to prevent
it : The impropriety of which way of fpeaking,
would be obviour^ to all. When we fpeak of God's
permitting things, we mean that he does fo, knowingly
and Voluntarily, having at the fame time power to
prevent them, if he pleafed. He might doubtlefs, if
he pleafed, prevent them by an immedate interpofi-
tion ; or he might have originally predifpofcd and or-
dered things otiierwife, and in fuch a manner, that
thefe partic'jlar events fhould never have come to
pifs. For which reafon, God's permitting them,
ieems to amount to a pofitive will, or determination,
that they fhould conie to pafs \ or at lead, not to differ
very materially herefrom.

- Bur not to enter into any niceties upon a fubjecfV,
fo intricate in its nature \ I (hall content my felf with
obferving here, that, in the language of fcripture,
God is not faid to perm/it, but to do, thofe things in
general, which come to pafs under his government,
evil as well as good. " I am the Lord, faith he, and
*' there is none elfe : I form the light, and create
*' darknefs : I make peace, and create evil •, I the
" Lord do all thefe things."t The fcriptures do
not fpeak of God as an unconcerned, or inaflive
fpeftator, of any events \ but as the author of them •,
and particularly the author of all the calamities whifh
befal manliind. Only we are to take heed, that we
do not fo conceive of his over-ruling providence, as
to make him the author, or approver, of mens finful
a(5lions. We are to afcribe to him the nioft univerfal
dominion and agency, confident with this ncceffary
caution, or limitation. I fay, confident with this •, left
Ave fliould be chargeable with blafpheming God, un-
der
t ffai. XLV. 6. 7.

Fire in Boflon, March 1760. 1 1

der the fhew and appearance of doing honor to him.
And fome there are, who could not perhaps eafily
acquit themfelves of this charge, in refpe^t of the man-
ner in which they exprefs themfelves on the fubje(5t
of God's providence and decrees.

But to wave every thing of a controverfial nature,
for which this is not, to be fure, a proper occafion ;
let me here jufl: mention a few of thofe many pub-
lic calamities, which God brings upon mankind from
age to age. For the ways are numerous, in which
he manifefls his righteous difpleafure againfi;
finful nations ; and many the evils which he brings
on wicked cities and communities, from one gene-
ration to another. He fitteth upon the circuit of
the earth ; and all nations] are before him lefs than
nothing and vanity. All things are fubjeft to his
controul ; and he makes ufe of them in various ways,
to accompliih the defigns of his providence. Fire
and hail, fnow and vapour, and ftormy winds, fulfil
his pleafure : and the ftars in their courles, at his
command, fight againft his enemies.

God fometimes lays cities defolate by the fword
of their enemies. Numberlefs inftances hereof are
parncularly recorded in facred flory. And this is
one of the ways, in which God has often threatncd
to chaftize a wicked and rebellious people. This
threatning was executed in a moft terrible manner,
even on his chofen people Ifrael, after thay had
filled up the meafure of their iniquities : when Jeru-
falem v/as turned into an heap of ruins by the Ro*
mans, whom he armed and fent againfi it.

At other times God manifefls his righteous dif-

pleafiire againft wicked cities and countries, by fa-

B z mine.

7 2 A Sermon occafmied by the

riiine. Thus he reminds his people Ifrael, for their
warning, of what he h d formerly done againft thera
in this way ; and reproves them for their (lubborn-
nefs under his afHi£liag hand. *' I have given you
** cicannefs of teeth in all your cities, and want of
'* bread — I have wiihholden the rain from you, when
*' there were yet three months to the harveft : And
*^ I caufed it to rain on one city, and caufed it not
*' to rain on another city — Lhave fmitten you with
*' blaPiing and mildew. When your gardens and
'' vineyards, and your fig-trees, and olive-trees in-
'' creaied^ the palmer- worm devoured them : yet ye
" have not returned unto me, faith the Lord |"

The peRilence Is another of thofe terrible judg-
ments, by which God fometimes lays cities and coun-
tries dcfolate. The Ifraeiites were often puniflied
for their fins in this way, as they had been before
threatned. '' I have fcnt amongfl: you the pefti-
*' lencc", faith God to them, " after the manner of
" Kgypt — and have made the (link of your camps
''' to come up unto your noflrils : yet have ye not
'' returned unto me."

Many cities have been deflroyed by terrible earth-
quakes ; fbme intirely ; and others fo far, as to be
1 ailing mo uments of God's righteous difpleafure.

O.MiTTiN'G innumerable other calamities and judg-
ment?, by vv'l^ich God makes known his vi-rath againft
wicked cities; I fliall here only fubjoin that of defo-
lating fire. Tlras God threatned the king of Baby-
Ion of old. '' Behold, I nm againfl thee, O thou
^' moft proud, faith the Lord God of hoHs : for
*' thy day is come, and the time that I will vific
^' the — And I v.ill kindle a fire in his cities, and it

\^ fhall

f Amos Ch:ip IV.

Fire in Bodon^ March 1760. 13

" fhall devour round about liimf. " How many
cities have been thus laid in ruins ? fome by fire
from heaven, or mighty tempefts of thunder and
lightning, as Sodom and Gomorrha : Of which cities
it is faid, that they are '^ fet forth for an example,
" fuffering the vengeance of eternal fire ; called
eternal, becaufe thofe cities were never rebuilded, buc
remained to all generations the monuments of God's
wrath. But thofe fires by which God deilroys, -or
forely chafiizes, proud and wicked cities, are not
always thus kindled from heaven, as it v/ere imme-
diately by the breath of God. They are more fre-
quently lighted up by other means ; either by treach-
erous intelline enemies with d^fign, or accidentally
by other perfons. But by whatever means it comes
to pafs, it is not done but by the will and appoint-
ment of God, who over-rules all thefe events, and
has, doubtlefs, important ends to accompliih by
the til. *

Alas 1

t Jer. L. 3i> 32.

* One of the greatelt and mod terrible fires known, was that
of London in the reign of Charles II. A. D. 1666. Of
which the reader may pieafe to take the following account,
extracted from Dr. Smoliett'sGompleat Hiitory of England.

" About this period, fays be, London was expofcd to a ter-
rible difafter from a conflagration which broke out on the third
day of September, in the houfe of a baker. The flames, aug-
mented by a flrongly eafterly wind, raged with furprifing vio-
lence. They deUroyed fix hundred ftreets, including eighty-
nine churches, many hofpitals and public edifices, and thirteen
thoufand two hundred private houfes. The ruins comprehen-
ded four hundred and thirty-fix acres of ground. The con-
fligraiion coutinued three days, notwithftanding all the endea»
voars that could be ufed to (top its progrefs, the king and
duke afTuling perfonally on horfe-back, from the firft alarm to
its total ceffation. At length, when all hope had vaniflicd, and
sh3 wretched inhabitants were overwhelmed with conftcrnation

and

14 A Sermon Qccaftoned by the

Alas ! "We need not go to didant countries for
examples of calamities of this kind. This capital of
the province has feveral times fuffeied feverely by
means of ^\^q : Particularly about fifty years ago,
when a coniiderable part of the tov/n was reduced
to ruins f . Since which there have been divers de-
flruftive iires in the town, tho' all of them far lefs
extenlive and ruinous. All of them, I mean, except-
ing that of the laft week, which was doubtlefs by
far ..the moO: terrible vifitation of the kind, that ever
it experienced j whether we confider the number of
the buildings, the value of the effefls confumed,
or the multitude of people reduced to v/ant and
mifery hereby. Some perfons of eafy, comfortable
fortunes, arc brought at once into a itate of depen-
dence but little better than that of beggary : Some,
of large and affluent ones, have loft the greater part
of what they poflelled : Whilfl others of the poorer
fort have loft all ; and are, for the prefent, deprived
of all means of getting a fubfiftence ; fo that they muft
either periili, or become a public charge.

Some

and defpajr, it fuddcnly ceafcd, and was intircly extingulfhed*
after having reduced many thoufand families from affluence to
mifery, and the mod fiojrillsing city in Europe to a deplorable
heap orrubblfh. Nevertheiefs the fpirit of the people did not
iink under this calamity. London foon rofe more beautiful
from its afhes. The king — • regulated the plans

of the new flreets, fo as to render them more fpacious and
convenient than thofe which had been burned- And he pro-
hibited the ufe of lath and tiniber, as materials for the con-
flruftion of the houfes. The narrownefs of the ftrects had
not only fabjecled them to cafualtics of this nature, but alfo
prevented a free circalation of air, which being impregnated
with animal vapors, was apt to psurify, and produce infedious
diftempers, infomuch that London was fcarce ever free from a
contagion ; whereas no fjch diftemper has appeared fiace the
city was rebuilt. '*

4- T

Upward? of An lv!r>dr^d !.>'v,!difi2''> were then confamed.

F/r^ />; Bofton, March 1760, 15

Some circumllances preceeding and attending this
great difafter, are not unworthy of our particular no-
tice. Fires have been more frequent in the town of
late, than perhaps they have ever been in times pafi:.
It is but three or four months fince a conliderable fire
happened, whereby many perfons were great fuficrers.i-
A few weeks after this, another fire broke out ; by
which, tho' not fo many dwelling-houfes v/ere con-
famed, yet perhaps as much damage was fuftained. *
And for three days fuccefiively before tliis ia{l:,and moft
terrible conflagration happened, the town was alarmed
by fire. The firft of thefe fires broke out at a very
fmall diftance from this place ; [j it got to a great head,
and threatned to lay wade this part of the town, together
with this houfe of prayer, the houfe of God, whereia
we are nov/ alTembled j on v/hich the fire had a£lually
taken hold. But, thro' the good providence of God,
this very dangerous flame v;as happily extinguiftied,
without the intire confumption of any one dwelling-
houfe : and v/e are again permitted, contrary to the
expectation of many, to affemble ourfelves for the wor-
fhip of God, as ufual, in this place. So that we have,
in this refpeft, caufe to fing of mercy, while, in others,
we fing of judgment.

The alarm on the next day, viz. on tuefday, was
very great, and not without fufficient reafon : When,by
fome means, thel.aboratory of the royal train of artillery
here took fire, and was blown up -, when the adjoin-
ing buildings took the fire alio, which was in imminent
danger of being communicated to the king's (lores, in

v/hich,

f At Oli^ei'sdock; abcut 12 or ij fdmlllcs being then burnt
out. ,

* At the weflerly part of the town ; when two rope-*va!ks,
with their apparatus, were dertroyed ; and other effcs^ts to
the value of fame thoufands of pounds.

1; On Monday, March 17th.

x6 A Sermon occajioned by the

which, it is faid, a large quantity of powder, charged
ihelJs, &c. were repofited. The apprehenfion of the
fire's making its way to thefe (tores, and of the fatal
confequences that might thence enfiie, put the town
into a general confternation. It was fome lime before
people thought it prudent, or advileable, to approach
the fire, fo as to ufe any methods to extinguifh it. But
on further information, and a more exac^ knowledge
of the fituation and circumftances of things, they ap-
plied themfelves to the bufmefs with great alertnefs and
refolution. And thus this fire was extinguillied, when
it had done only a fmall part of the damage that was
apprehended from it j tho' in itfelf that was not in-
confiderable.

The day following,^ different parts'ofthe town, at
different times, were alarmed with the cry of fire. It
did not, however, then get to a confiderable head any
"where, fo as to become dangerous: Only as there is
always fome danger from a fire, tho' but fmall, in fuch
a town as this -jcfpecially in fuch a dry and windy time
as it was then.

By thefe fires was ufhered in, that far greater, and
more fatal one, which has left fo confiderable a pare
of the town in defolation and ruin. * And there
is one thing that deferves to be particularly men-
tioned with reference hereto •, as it may tend to lead
us into a proper confideration of the providence of
God in this affair. When this fire broke out, and for
fome time before, it was almoft calm. And had it
continued fo, the fire might probably have been ex-
tinguifhed in a fhort time, before it had done much

damage,

f Wednefday the 19th.

* It was difcovered between one and two o'clock on Thurfday
sioraing, the 20th,

Fire in Bcfton, March 1760. 17

damage; confidering the remarkable refolutlon and
dexterity of many people amongll us on fuc'a occali^ns.
But it feems that God, who had fpared us btfore be-
yond our hopes, was now determined to \^t loofc his
wrath upon us •, to " rebuke us in his anger, and
" chaften us in his hot difpleafure.'* In order to the
accompli fhing of which defign, fcon after the fire
broke out, he caufed his wind to blow •, and fuddenly
failed it to fuch an height, that all endeavours to put
a ftop to the raging ftames, were ineffeclual : Tho*
there feems to have been no want, either of any pains
or prudence, which could be expected at fuch a time.
The Lord had purpofed, and who fhould difannul it ^
His hand was ftretched out, and who fhould turn it
back. + " When he giveth quietnefs, who then can
make trouble ? and when he hideth his face, who then
can behold him ? whether it be done againfl: a nation,
or againfl: a man only."* It had been a dry feafoa
for fome time •, unufually fo for the time of year.
The houfes, and other things, were as fuel prepared
for the fire to feed on : And the flames were fuddenly
fpread, and propagated to diftant places. So that, in
the fpace of a few hours, the fire fwept all before it
in the diredion of the wind ; fpreading wider and wi-
der from the place where it began, till it reached the
water. Nor did it ftop even there, without the de-
ftrudion of the wharfs, with feveral veiTels lying at
them, and the imminent danger of many others.]! We
may now, with fufficient propriety, adopt the words
of the Pfalmift, and apply them to our own calamitous

C circum«

t rial. XrV. 37. * Job XXXIV. 29„

ji One large fliip, and eight or nine other ve^els were burnt i
One of which was loaded, or partly loaded, with the king's

' ordnance-flores, ready to fail. The South-battery on the
water's fide was alfo deftroyed ; when fome barrels of pow»
der taking fire, the explofion was heard, and even the ftiock
felt, at many miles diftance.

1 8 A 8er7non occafiohed hy the

d.rcumuance?, " Come, behold the works of the Lord,
" what defolation he hath made in the earth." So
melancholy a fcene,occarioned by fire, was, to be fure,
never beheld before in America •, at lead not in the
Britiili dominions And when I add, God grant that
the like may never be beheld again, I am fure you
will all fay, Anieyi I

In fliort, this mufl: needs be confidered, not only
as a very great, but public calamity. It will be many
yea.'s before this town, long burthened with fo grear,
not to fay, difproponionate, a fhare of the public
expences, will recover itfelf from the terrible blow.
Nor will this metropolis only be affeded and prejudi-
ced hereby. The whole province will feel it. For
fuch are the dependencies and connexions in civil
fcciety, regularly conftituted, that one part of a com-
munity cannot be much hurt, without detriment to
the red : As in the human body, if one member
fufrer, all the other maembeis lulFer with it, Efpe-
cially, if the HEAD be fick, or maimed, the whole
body will foon feel the efTe<51s hereof, and partake of
its fgfferings. And whatever feme weak, or envious
perfons may imagine, the good of the province in
general, is very ciolely conncded with the welfare,
and flourifhing condition of this CAPITAL : So that
if it Ihould fall into decay and ruin, the mod rem,ote
parts of the country would very foon feel the bad
cftefts of it.

At whr.tever time this difafter had befallen us, it
would have been a very great one : But it is particularly
fo at prefenr, when both the town and country are lb
much exhaufted by public taxes, efpecially the former :
"When v/e have fuch a load of debt lying upon us *, a
load ftill increafing, inftead of lelTening \ and when

the

Fire mBodon^ March 1760. 19

the fcafon of the yearisjuft coming on, forprofccu-
ting our military defigns and operations. This cala-
mity could not well have befallen us at any time, or
conjundure, wherein v/e fhould have been lefs able to
bear up under it, and lurmount the difficulties oc-
cafioned by it. But without any reference to thefe
peculiar circumftances, which enhance the misfortune,
the lofs or damage, confidered in itfelf, is fo great,
that it, cannot be exactly computed in fo fhort a time
as that fmce the calamity befell us. ji

It highly concerns us rightly to improve this vifui-
tation of providence, and to condud curfelves pro-
perly under it. This will be, not only our wifdom,
but our greateft fecurity againlt public calamities and
difafters for the future, whether of this, or any other
kind. We ihould neither defpife the chaftening of the
Lord, nor faint when we are rebuked of him.

C z Now

JI In a vote which pafTed the Great and General Court on the
faturday after the iate fire, it is faid to *' appear on the
** beft information that could in fo (hort a time be obtained,
** that there were confumed one hundred feventy-four
** dwelling-houfes and tenements, and one hundred feveniy-
** five warehoufes, fiiops and other buildings, with a great
** part of the furniture, befides large quantities of merchan-
" dize, and the ftock and tools of many tradefmen ; that
** the lofs, upon a moderate computation, cannot be lefs

** than one hundred thoufand pounds flerling ; and

** that the number of families mhabiting the aforementioned
'* houfes, was at lead tw0 hundred and twenty ; three
** quarters of whom are by this misfortune rendered inca-
** pable ofi^fubfifting themfelves, and a great number of
** them reduced to extreme poverty, and require, immediate
** relief. '* For which charitable purpofe three thoufand
pounds currency, being about two thoufand two hundred,
and fifty pounds (terling, was voted to be drawn out of the
public trcafury ; and his Excellency the Governor dcfued to
fend briefs throughout the province, rccommendino a rcr.c-
ral contribution for the unhappy fuffcrers.

•J D A Sermon occajiomd hy the

Noyf/^ this being truly a public, as well as great ca-
lamity, I fhall, in the First place, make iome re-
Etxions upon it, which concern us all in common.
Secondly, I fliall dired my difcourfe particularly
to thofe amongft us, who have been more immediate
fufferers therein. And Thjrdly, To thofe, whofe
dwellings and fubftance have been prefcrved ; and
'"^vho are not di redly involved in this calamity.

First, It becomes us all in general, ferioudy to
rfgarci the hand and providence ot God in this evil that
has befallen us. This evil, this great evil, has not
furely come upon us, but by his appointment, and
according to his fovereign pleafure. Various conjec-
tures have been made, and rumours fpread abroad,
concerning the particular means, by which this raging
i::nd deftfudive fire was fii ft kindled up. Which of
them is right, or whether either of them be fo or not,
I am not able to tell : Nor is this very material to
my prefentdtfign. By whatevci means this calami-
tous evQnt has come to pafs, wc are to look ftil!
higher ; to the great Author and difpofcr of all things i
For the Lord himfelf hath done it. We cuo;hc ulti-
niately to regard liim therein, if there bcf^any fuch
thing as a providence Superintending human affairs.
" Except the L.ord keep the city, the watchman
*'- waketli in vain : It is vain for us to rife up early,
" or fit up late, to eat the bread of forrows. " And
rhc iirfl: thing requifite, in order to a due improve-
ment of this vification, is a fixed, firm perfwafion,
that God's hand and counfel determined it to be done *,
or that it is really a vifitation from him. We cannot
proceed a ftep, in the way of religious reflexion upon
itg unltfi we lay this down fiiil as a certain principle.

^ • . . We

Fire in Bofton, March 1760. 21:

We ought, in \ht next place, to acknowledge the
jaftice and righteoufnefs of God, in bringing this fore
calamity upon us : For the Lord is righteous in all
his ways, and holy in all his works, Juftice and
judgment are the habitation of his throne, not only
when the light of his countenance is lifted up, and
fhines upon us in our profperity % but alfo when
clouds and darknefs are round about him, and we
are overwhelmed with adverfity. God does not af-
flid willingly, or grieve the children of men, even
when they have incurred his juft difpleaiure : Much
lefs does he wantonly punilh the innocent. We may
alTure ourfelves, it is not without juft and fufiicient
provocation, that he has appeared thus againft us. It
becomes us therefore to be humble and fubmiflive
under his chaftening hand \ under this great frown of
his providence. For " wherefore fhould a living
^' man complain^ a man for the punifliment of his
" fins 1 "

This is a feafon, wherein it doubtlefs becomes us
all ferioudy to examine our ways, in order to difcover,
as far as may be, what are the fpecial grounds and
reafons of God's difpleafure againft us, and of his con-
tending with us in fo terrible a manner. Indeed this
general confideration, that we are finful creatures in
common with the reft of mankind, were plainly fufii-
cient to juftify God's dealings with us, even tho' this
calamity had been far greater than it is. However,
the holy fcriptures give us reafon to think, that God
feldom, or never, brings very great and public cala-
mities upon a community, unlefs it is for fins of a
very heinous and provoking nature. In which re-
fpcdl, there feems to be a wide and material difference
between the condud of providence towards nations,
or communities, and towards particular perfons. For

with

2 2 A Sermon occajioned by the

with regard to the latter, this certainly will not hold
true ; the bed men being often the greateft fufferers
in this world. " All things come alike to all ; and
*' there is one event to the righteous and to the
" wicked, '* if we fpeak with reference to individu-
als, in this prefent ftace : So that " no man knoweth
** either love or hatred from all that is before him ; "
either by the profperity he enjoys, or the adverfity
which he fuffers. Which feems not applicable to
communities ; at lead, not eafily reconcileable with
the fcripture account of God's condud towards them,
to fay nothing of what wc are taught by experience.

I PRETEND not to penetrate fo far into the views
and defigns of providence, as to be able particularly
and pofitively to determine, for what reafons it is that
God has thus forely chaftized us. " His judgments
are a great deep." We may, however, conclude in
general, that whatever fins are mod prevalent amongft
us, thefe are fins which have contributed moft to bring
this great calamity upon us. In going thus far, there
is no prefum prion. No particular fins, or finners, are
indeed to be excluded, as not contributing to bring
calamities upon a people, whenever God fends them.
However, I fuppofe we are to look for the primary, or
chief caufes of common calamities, not in a compara-
tively fmall nimiber of particular perfons, however im-
pious or profligate j but in the main body of a people.
Common judgments muft ordinarily be fuppofed to
to have fome common caufe.

And are there not feme fins, with which we arc
very generally chargeable ? If any one fliould ailert,
that we were generally profane fwearers, whoremon-
gers, drunkards, adulterers, thieves o|; li^rs, he would
doubtlefa hinifejf deferve no better^ a chara^cr than

that

Fire in Bodony March 1760. 25

that of a falfe accufer, and iliamelefs calumniator.
There, are indeed, many fuch finners amongfi us ;.
but it is to be hoped their number is fmall, in com-
pariCbn of thofe who are guiltlefs of any of thefe
crimes. But fuppofe any one fliould fay, that pride
was a fin very generally prevalent amongft us, would
he merit the chara<^cr of a falfe accufer ? If another
were to aflert, that we were generally addi6ted to
luxury, would he be a calumniator ? If a third were
to tax us with being generally felfifh, and greedy of
gain, without a due and proportionate regard to the
welfare of the public, or of our neighbour ; could
we truly deny the charge ? If a fourth were to ac-
cufe us of formality in our religion, of laying too
great ftrefs on fome things of little or no importance,
and comparatively neglecting the weightier matters of
the law and gofpel, could we juftly deny this to be
our chara6ler ? I do not myfelf bring thefe general
accufations ; but it would not be amifs for us ferioufly
to confider, how far they might be jufl:. If there be
a real and fufEcient foundation for them, we need not
be at any lofs for fuch caufes of God's difpleafure^
as are common to us.

Nor would it be improper for us, on this occafion,
to inquire, whether we have been duly thankful to
God for the (ignal mercies and deliverances which
he hath vouchfafed to us in times paft. He has
jfhown great favour and kindnefs to us at fundry times,
and in divers manners. Tho' he has often contend-
ed with us by fire heretofore ; yet how often have
very threatning fires been feafonably extinguiflied ;
and not permitted to prevail againft us. Have we
generally been thankful, properly thankful, for thefe
favourable appearances of providence for us, in the
times of danger and fear ? If not^ our ingratitude in.

this

24 A Sermon occajioned by the

this refpe^t, may be fuppofed one fpecial reafon of
the late terrible calamity. God's defign may be,
to make us more fendble of former mercies, by the
greatnefs of the evil he has now brought upon us.

God has repeatedly vidted us with earthquakes,
the moft alarming in their nature of any of his pro-
vidential difpenfations. However [his goodnefs and
companion have dill fpared us in thefe times of
Gur diftrefs, when we had reafon to apprehend the
moft awful and fatal effe£ls of thefe vifitations ; par-
ticularly of one of them^ a few years fince : Tho'
about the fame time, the moft amazing defolations
were wrought by earthquake^ in fome other parts
of the world. Have we taken proper notice of his
dealings with us in this refpe£l ? If not, this may
be another reafon of the great calamity now brought
ttpon us.

Moreover : Our enemies, during the late and
prefent war, have been forming dangerous defigns
againft us, even againft this metropolis. But God
has repeatedly blafted their defigns ; and has lately
given us the moft remarkable fuccefs againft them -
So that our once juft apprehenfions from them, are
taniftied away ; and even turned into triumph over
them. Have we been duly thankful for thefe de»
Kverances and mercies ? If not, this may be one
eaufe, why he has now deftroycd by fire, what he
would not permit the enemy to deftroy.

Perhaps we have rejoiced with an unchriftian, and
inhuman joy, in the diftrelles and calamities lately
brought upon our enemies ; when great part of their
country was ravaged, their villages burnt, their ca=
pital dty befieged, and partly confumed by firec'

Fire in Bofton, Maich 1760. 25

If we have rejoiced in their mifery with an unrelenting-,
favage temper of mind, God may have been hereby
provoked to bring this great evil upon us ; which, in
its kind, bears fome refemblance to what^ they have
fuffered. Or if we have not rejoiced in the mifery
of our enemies with an unchrilfian, barbarous joy,
perhaps we have triumphed over them with unchrilli-
an pride ; and been vainly elated with the fucccfTes
God has given us, inftead of being humbly thank-
ful to him therefor. And if this be the cafe, God
doLibtlefs defigncd to check our pride by this vifita-
tion, and make us think more fobcrly of oiirfelves.

But if there are no particular fins, wiih which
we are chargeable in common ; yet are we not all
in general chargeable with fome P fome of us with
one vice, or mifdemeanour, and fome with another ?
If fo, this is a fufficient ground for our being thu^
chaflized by a common calamity. And we were
doubtlefs ripe for fome (ignal punifhment from ihs
hand of providence, when this great evil came upon
us. Many atrocious fms, and flac!;rant abominations,
are found in the midfi: of us. To what an amazing
pitch of wickednefs and impudence, fome pcrfons
amongfl us were arrived, is evident even from fome
tranfjflions at the time of the late terrible fire. For,
indead of being affefted with fo melancholiy a pro-
vidence, and charitably affifting people in faving their
effects, fome there were, (b hardened and fhamelefs,
as to take the opportunity of the general confufion,
to rteal and rifle their neighbours goods I One would
hardly have thought it poffible for people to be fo
wicked, impious and abandon'd. 1 hope, indeed,
there were not mr^ny fuch ; and that thefe were not
born and educated amongfl us, tho' I am not certain.
Bat wherever they were born and bred, they are
D certainly

2 6 A Sermon occaftomd by the

certainly a di (grace, not only to their own country,
but to the world itfelf, and to human nature.

It does not become us, even the beft of us, on
fuch an occafion as this, to juflify or excufe our-
felves ; or to attribute this public calamity wholly
to the fins of others. Probably none of us can in-
tirely acquit ourfelves of having contributed to it,
by our o.vn particular mifcarriages. And it highly
concerns us all, ferioufly to refle£l: upon our paft
conduct; and to humble ourfelves under the righteous
liand of God.

We may all learn fome very ufeful and important
Icflons from this vifitation, if we duly attend to it.
We are hereby more particularly reminded of the
vanity of worldly riches, and the folly of depending
on, or placing our chief happinefs in them. How
fuddenly do they rake to thcmfelves wings, and fly
away, as an eagle towards heaven, leaving the pof^-^
f llbrs of them deAitute, not only of iuperfluous
VveaJch, but even of thofe things which are needful
for the body ! This is one of thofe difpenfations of
providence, which give a particular force and energy
to thofe words of the apofile — '' Charge them that.
*' are rich, that they trufl not in uncertain riches,
'* but in the living God, who giveth us richly all
^' things to enjoy' \- And alfo to that more general
admonition of our Savioilr himfelf — '* Lay not up'
*' for yourfelves treaiures upon earth, where moth
'' and rufl do corrupt, and where thieves break thro*
'' and fleal ; but lay up for yourfelves treafure in
** heaven," &c.

To finilh thefe general refle6lions : We are all in
common admoniihed by this vifitation of providence,

to

Fire in Bofton, March 1760. 27

to confider and amend our wjays. Doubtlefs the end
of our being thus vifited and chafllzed, is our refor-
mation. Whatever ferious refle£lions we may at
prefent make upon this calamitous ^vent ; yet the
great defign of it will not be anfwered upon us, if
we continue unreformed. This is often the cafe,
Pharaoh and his people were in fome meafure hum-
bled, at the time when the plagues were upon them*
Bur they foon forgat the judgments of heaven ; and
became more hardened afterwards. This was fome-
times the cafe alfo with the people of Ifrael. ** Thou
" haft ftricken them", fays the prophet, " but they
" have not grieved ; thou haft con famed them, buc
'' they have refufed to receive corre£lion. They
'' have made their faces harder than a rock, they
*' have refufed to return". If we are nor reclaimed
from oar fms and vices by this calamity, we have
reafon to apprehend greater and heavier ones ; God's
anger will not be turned away; but his hand will
fhli be ftretched out againft us. O let us not,
by our impenitence and hardnefs of heart under
this correftion, provoke God to fmire us with greater
fe verity ; left, perhaps, we perifii under his hand,
while there is none to deliver ! But, on the other
hand, if we duly lay to heart this fore chaftifement,
and return to God, he v/ill doubtlefs return to us
m mercy. *' Come then, and let us return unto the
" Lord: For he hath torn, and he will heal us ;
'* he hath fmitten, and he will bind us up". Tho'
he hath vidted our tranfgreflions with a rod, and
our iniquities with flripes ; yet his loving kindnefs
will he not utterly take from us ; nor fuffer his faith-
fulnefs to faiL

But I was in the next place, '

• Seic^ondlT; To dire<f^ my difcourfe particularly
ID 2 *- to

2 8 A Sermon cccajioned by the

to thofe nmongO: us, who have been the more im>-
niediate fuficrers in this common calamity. My
brethrejT, 1 trufl: we all in general heartily fympa^
thize with you, and bear a part in your affli6lion.
But if it concerns us all in common, lerioufly to
qonfidcr the hand of God in this vifitation, allow
me to remind you, that it more efpecially concerns
you to do fo, on whom this great calamity, by his
appointment, has more immediately fallen. To us,
this providence more than whifpers ; to you it fpeaks
ftill louder, even in thunder. I would, however, be
very far from infmuating, that the unhappy perfons
who are the immediate fuhjedls of this calamity, are
in general more guilty in the (ight of God than others.
This would be at once uncharitable in itfelf, and a
plain violation of a rule, or maxim, which our Saviour
laid down on an occafion not altogether unlike to the
prefent. But dill you muft acknowledge, that airho'
the call and admonition of providence in this vi(irar
tion, be to all of us in common ; yet to you it is
more .dire<Sl: and immediate, as well as louder. You
are efpecially admonillied to examine your ways, in
this day of vifitation and trial. And if you ihould
difrcgard this providence, you would doubtlels be
more incxcu fable than others.

It becomes you to bear your lofTes, however
great,' with patience, and humble resignation to the
will of God : For he it is, you will remember, that
I.as. brought this evil upon you. Nor has he tnken
any thing from you. which he did not firfl: give ro
you. All ihar is in the heaven and in the earth, is
his ; both riches niul honor are of him -[-. And you
.ire fcnfjble that all his worldly and temporal gifts,
are gifts only during his*good pleafure : Not abfolure,

perpctv;al

I I Chorn. XXIX. u. 12.

Fire in Boflon, March \ 760. 29

perpetual grants ; but fuch as he has an indifputabfc
right to recall, at whatever time, and in whatever
manner, he fees fit. You have therefore no reafbna-
ble ground of complaint ; but ought meekly to ac*
quiefce in what he hath done. It were not amifs
for you on this occafion, to reile£i: on the much grea-
ter lodes and fufferings of Job; and on the manner in
which he condiK^edhimfelf under them. He *' fell
** down upon the ground, and worfliipped, and {aid,
'* Naked came I out of my mothers womb ; and
'' naked ihall I return thither : the Lord gave, and
" the Lord hath taken away ; bleded be the name of
'' the Lord. Li all which Job finned not, nor
*' charged God foolifhly"j.

God has doubtlefs wife and holy, and even gracious
ends, to anfwer by vifiting you in this manner. The
vifitation is particularly calculated to wean your affec-
tions from ihis evil world ; and excite you to feek,
with greater diligence, the true, fpiritual riches. Per-
haps your hearts have been heretofore too much {^i
upon the world ; and thofe riches which will not
*^ profit in the day of wrath." If this be the cafe,
God hath lliown you your error by this vifitation of
his providence ; and calls upon you hereby, for the
future to fet your affe(ftions only on thofe things that
are above, where Jefus Chrilf (itteth at his right hand.
It will be happy for you, if you make fo rcafonable
and wife improvement of your worldly lodes ; they
will then be the greateft gain to you in the end.
Any accedion to, or increale of your virtues, is of
far more benefit and importance to you, than thoU-*
funds of filver or of gold would be, or all worldly
riches. Thefe are corruptible and tranfitory : buc
that is a treafure that fadcth not away, incorruptible
aiid eternal. And a good man, in the language of
% Chap. I. the

3 o A Sermon occafioned by the

the apoflle, equally bold and beautiful, '' having
*' nothing, .poflefleth all things' 1

. Those whofe habitations and wealth have been
confumed by this defolatihg fire, have ftill great
caufeof thankfulnefs, that their Jiv€s have been pre-
ferved. " The life is more than meat, and the
'* body than raiment." Confidering the time when
this fire broke out, being the dead of the. night, when
people were in their beds, and fome of them on beds
of ficknefs ; confidering the violence of the wind,
aad the rapidity with which the flames fjiread, and'
catch'd from place to place ; the wide extent of them,
and the general confufion and confternation which
they occafion'd ; confidering thefe things, I fay, it
would not have been flrange, if many perfons had
p^riflied together with their fubflance, and mixed their
cwn aihes with that of their dwellings. But no life'
lyas loft. In this refpe£t, God remembered mer*
cy in the midil: of judgment ; which demands- our
grateful acknowledgments ; and particularly the^
thanks of thofe, who were in danger of being con-
fumed in their dwellings, as many of the unhappy
fyfferers were.

Besides : I take it for granted, that few, or none
of you, ray brethren and ufual hearers, have loflall
your worldly fubftance, as fome others are faid to
have done. Let me therefore exhort you to be
thankful toGod for what he has left you ftill poflcfled
of ; efpecially if that be fufficient for you to fubild
comfortably upon, in the way of honeft indufiry.
Tho' you ought not to defpife the chaftening of the
Lord in the lofTes you have fuftained j yet it becomes
you to acknowledge his goodnefs in what is left you.
It is not a greu deal that is neceiTary to the ends of

lif? ;

Fire in Bofton, March ly^o. 31

life : virtue, and moderate defines, are latisfied with
little ; and having food and raiment, you ought to be
therewith content. We brought nothing into this
world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out of
it, how much foever we pofTefs : Though if we co.uld>
it would be of no advantage to us. In heaven we
fhould not need, but defpife and negle£l it j and in
hell it would not alleviaie our torments.

But if any of you fhould have lofl all your
worldly fubflance by this calamity, you ought not,
however, to defpond under this trial, or to faint, being
thus rebuked of the Lord ; but ftill to place youf
hope and truft in him, wlio heareth the young ravens
when they cry. *' O fear the Lord, ye his faints ;
*' for there u no want to them that fear him. The
*' young lions do lack, and fufTer hunger ; but they
" that feek theLord ihali not want any good thing§',"
I reminded you above of the fuiferings and patienc6
of Job ; let me now remind you of the *' end of
the Lord" with refpc6l to him ; *' that the Lord is
*' very pitiful, and of tender mercy f.*' That goo4
man faw at length an happy ifTue of his troubles.
For " the Lord blefTed the latter end of Job more
than the beginning^". You may from hence take
fome encouragement : God is able to make all things
abound to you. And it is a circumftance not unwor-
thy to remind you of, for your confolation, that you
live in a country, at lead in a town, wherein there is
a general difpofltion in the people to afford neceflary
relief to the poor and afflided : So that you have
no reafon to be under any anxiety of mind refpe(5ling
a livelihood ; efpecially if you enjoy bodily health
and firength, with ability to exercife fome lawful
calling. But whatever be your condition in this

world,
5 Pfdlm XXXIV. 9, 10. t James v. n. * Chap.XUI. ver. 12.

32 A Sermon occajtoned by the

world, godllnefs with contentment will be, not only
your duty, but your greateft gain. You fliould en-
deavour to be prepared for whatever circumftances
God fhall order for you ; and to this end, befeech
him to give you the temper of the holy apoftle, who
faid, " 1 have learned in v/hatfoever (iate I am,
*' therewith to be content : I know both how to be
" abafed, and I know how to abound ; every where,
" and in all things I am inftru£led, both to be full
" and to be hungry, both to abound and to fuffer
" need f*'. Even the Son of man had not where
to lay his head, tho' the foxes have holes, and the
birds of the air have nefts. — And if the fame mind
be in you, which was in Chrifl Jefus, you will bear
the extremeft poverty without repining. Left there-
fore you fhould be weary or faint in your minds,
confider him, who '' tho' he were rich, yet for your
fake became poor": Learn of him to be truly
*' meek and lowly in heart ; and whatever be your
outward condition, you will then *' find reft unto
your fouls"; fuch reft as the greateft worldly prof-
perity cannot give !

Thirdly : Let me now turn my difcour fe to
thofe, whofe habitations and fubftance have been pre-
jerved in this time of defolation ; efpecially to thofe,
who have been in imminent danger of being fharers
with others therein. As this calamity is from God,
fo it is he who has diredled it where to fall, and
prefcribed its bounds and limits. You fhould there-
fore be fenfible, that he has been your preferver ;
and made this diftinflion between you and others.
If others ought to acknowledge his providence in the
calamity which has befallen them, certainly it is not-
iefs incumbent on us to acknowledge it in our own

prefervation.

t Plul. IV. II, 12.

Fire in Bbflon, March 1760. 33

prefervatlon. Had God, who commandeth the wind
when and where to blow, given a different direction to
ir, our habitations might have been confumed, while
thofe of the prefent unhappy fafTerers were preferved.
I mention this circumftance particularly, bccaufe it is
familiar and obvious ; plainly fhowing, that it is God,
and not man, who has made this difference ; an im-
portant truth, which might be evinced by other con-
fiderations alfo, were there tim.c and occalion for it.

Nor ought we to attribute our prefervatlon to
any fuppofed merit, or fuperior goodnefs in ourfelves ;
or the fufferings of our neighbours, to any greater guilt
or demerit in them. Our Saviour feems to have de-
figned a general caution againfi fuch imaginations, in a
pafHge which was alluded to above. When certain
perfons told him of fome Galileans, whofe blood Pilate
had mingled with their facrifices, expeiSling, probably,
that he would have attributed this to the great wicked-
nefs of thofe Galileans in comparifon with others, his:
reply was — '' Suppofe ye that thefe Galileans were
" fmners above all the Galileans, becaufe they fuffered
" fuch things ? I tell you, Nay — Or thofe eighteen,'
*' on whom the tower of Siloam fell, and flew them ;
*' think ye that they were fmners above all men that
*' dwelt at Jerufalem ? I tell you. Nay : Bat except
" ye repent, ye fhall all iikewife perilh." Oar Sa-
viour's meaning here is not, that thofe Galileans^
and thofe Jews, were not finners ; or that they did
not juftly fuffcr fuch things on account of their fins.
Neither of thefe things can be fuppofed. But the
obvious defign of this remarkable pafiage is, to teach
us that God, in his providential government of the
world, does not always fingle out the greatefl (inners,
to make them the greateft fufTerers in the fight of
nien j and, confequently, that we ought not to con*

£ clud^

A Sermon Qccajioned by the

elude ouiTclves more righteous ihaii others, me-rely
be^raufe we at preient- e(cape thofe judgments which
befal othfr:^. God will finally give to every man
ac<:ording to his deeds, in weight and meafurc, and
Q'Az.E!i proportion. But at prefent he acHis as a fovc-
reign ; I mean, in the outward difpcnfations oF his
providenco towards particular perfons ; agreeably to
the obfervations of Solomon, mentioned in the for-
mer -part of this Difconrfe, that *' all things come
alike to al! ; tliat there is one event to the righteous
and the wicked ; and that no man knowcih either
love or hatred from all that is before him." A great-
er^' than Solomon has confirmed thefe remarks on
the condui5l of divine providence. We flwuld there-
tore take heed, that we do not attribute to our own
fupcrior piety ^or virtue, what we ought to afcribe
iolely to the fovercign pleafure of God, and his
diiliiigujfhing favour towards us. For to apply our
vSaviour's language and reafoning above, to the me-
Jancholly occaflon before ns: Suppofe -ye that thofe
who have lately fufFered fuch things, were finners
above all that dwell in Boston ? 1 tell you, Nay !
Atf Jeaft, we have no reafon to think them fo, on
thi-s account. Many who have cfcapcd this difafler,
and perhaps we ourfelvcs, are as great, or greater
iin^ers ; and except we repent, ibme '• worfe thing
*' 'may come unto us ".

\Vhat fliall v/e render unto the Lord for his dif-
tinguifiiing goodnefs to us in this refpe(fl f* It becomes
us to render praife to him; for " whofo offereth praifr,
faii^h the Lord, glorifie'th mc." We fhould alfo (hew
our gratitude to God, by devoting ourfelves, and all
we- have, to his honor and fervice. His goodnefs and
foibcarancc lead Us to repentance, while his righteous
Ic^'critv is exercrfed towards others for-tiie fan>c general
"^^ '- - end.

Fire 171 Bofton, March 1760. 35

end. Us he draweth with the cords of love, while he
fcourgech others, not more guilty, with the rod of af-
flidion. And fha!l we defpife his goodnefs, forbear-
ance and long-fuffering ! If there be any peculiar au-
dacioufnefs, or prefumption, in defpifing the cbaften-
ing of the Ivord •, there is certainly a peculiar bafenef^
and difingenuity, in defpifing his goodnefs. We and
our fubftance, have been as it were plucked out of that
fire, by which others have fuffered fo much. Let us
therefore take heed, left we incur that heavy cenfure,
Amos Chap. IV. " I have overthrown fome of you
*' as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrha •, and YE
•* were as a fire-brand plucked out of the burning ;
*'• yet have ye riot returned unto me, faith theLord :**,

Will it not particularly become us to fnew our
gratitude to God for his diftinguilhing mercy to us,
by chearfully imparting of our fubftance for the relief
of our indigent brethren ? The government has alrea-
dy done fomething for their prefent relief. But ther^
being fo many of thefe unhappy fjfferers, they will
doubtlefs (land in need of farther fuccour and afTiftance,
before they are in any method of fupporting themfelves.
And God forbid, that any o\ us who have elcaped
this calamity, fhould be backward to diftribute, or un-
willing to communicate, as there nwy be occafion,
and we have ability ! One reafon, we may well lup-
pofe, why God has fpared our fubftance, is, that we
might be in a capacity to relieve and afiifl: thofe,
whom his holy providence has rendered obieds of our
charity. It is partly for their fakes, not wholly for
our own, that our fubftance has been preferved. Nor
can I indeed doubt, but that the people of the town
will be generally difpofed to liberality on this occafion.;
efp:^C!ally when I reQefl, how iarg^l^ and chearfully

E 2 diev

^6 A Sermon occafioned by the

they contributed a few months fmce, on a fimilar
occafion. f

But it is time to draw to a conclufion of this dif-
coiirfe. When God's judgments are abroad in the
earth, it is then more elpecially incumbent upon the
inhabitants thereof to learn righteoufnefs. It we do
not regard the pad, or prelent, there may probably be
other, and heavier ones, in ftore for us. At leaft it
is certain, that the wicked fhall not finally efcape the
righteous judgment of God. *' For behold the day
*' Cometh that fhall burn as an oven, and all the proud ,
** yea, and all that do wickedly, fiiali be as ftubble •,
" and the day that cometh (hall burn them up, laith
*' the Lord of Hofts, that it fliall leave them neither
*• root nor branch.'** Such a fire as we have lately

feen,

f About a thoufand pounds lawful money was collcffled in the
feveral religious afTemblics in the town, for the relief of the
lufferers by the late fire near Oliver's dock : A large funj,
conddering the impoverifh'd and declining rtate of the town,
and the greatnefs of the public taxes. And tho' the difpo-
fnion of the people be ftill the fame, and the prcfent oc-
cafion much greater, ai\d more urgent than the former; yet
it will naturally be rcmember'd, that our ability is now kfs
than it was then. The mare the town then gave away, the
lefs It now has to give : And many who, as we fuppofe, con-
tributed largely on that occafmn, are fo far from being able
to do the like now, that t!*ey need relief tbcmfclves.

It is to be hoped therefore, that our friends and brethren who
live in the country, where their fituation fecures them fo ef-
ic'^ually againd calamities of this nature, will ferioufly cos-
iider the prefent dilheffcd condition of the town ; and fhew
their chndian benevolcr.cc on this occafion, agreeably to the
/^r;>/"whicii his Excellency theGovernor has iifued out. And
v.c are the more encouraged to eKpefl this, by refleding
ivow chearfully fomc of them midc collc61ion3 for the poor
aaiongf!: us, at the time of the laft general fmall-pox in the
:o\vn.^ — --*' With fufch facrifices God is well plcafed.''

*• Mai. IV. X.

Fire in Boftoh, March 1760. 37

Teen, efpecially in the nighr, drffufes' general- terror and
diftrefs. What then will be the conlternation, how
great the amazement, of a guilty world, when the Son
of man iliall bs revealed from heaven in flaming fire,
taking vengeance on them that know not God, and
that obey not his gofpel ! The old world perifhcd b/
water : But the heavens and the earth that now are,
are refer ved unto fire, againft the day of judgment,
and perdition of ungodly men. And even thefe lelTer
fires and conflagrations, which (Irike us with fo much
awe, may naturally remind us of that general, and
far more awful one, which the prophets and apoftles
have foretold ; when the earth itfelf, with the works
that are therein, Ihall be burnt up, and the elements
fhall melt with fervent heat. — ^* Seeing then that all
*' thefe things ihall be difTolved, what manner of per-
*' fons ought we to be, in all holy converfation and
" godlineis ? looking for, and hafting unto, the com-
*' ing of the day of God ! *' — To the wicked this will
be a day of unutterable woe ; but to them that fear
his name, and ferve him, a day of triumph and exul-
tation. Happy are they who diligent^Iy prepare for
it. But, alas ! there are many, who v/ill not be per-
fuaded, that there is fuch a day approaching •, " fcof-
" fers, walking after their own lulls, and faying,
" Where is the promife of his coming ? For fince the
*' fathers fell adeep, all things continue as they were
" from the beginning.'* And many of thofe who
profefs to believe it, do riot pradlically regard it, mind-
ing only earthly things : and fuch as thefe will accord-
ingly be overwhelmed with a fudden and remedilefs
deftruftion. For " as it was in the days of Noah,
" fo fhall it be alfo in the days of the Son of man.
" They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they
*' were given in marriage, until the day that Noah
^' entered into the ark : and the flood came, and de-

*'- ftroyed

-o

8 A Sermon occaJioTied by theFire^ Mc.

" ftroyed them all Likewife alfo as it was in the
" days of Lot *, they did eat, they drank, they bought,
" they fold, they planted, they builded : But the
" fame day that Lot went out of Sodom, it rained
'' fire and brimftone from heaven ; and deftroyed
*' them all : Even thus fhall it be in the day when
*' the Son of man is revealed 1 "f

fLukc XVII. 26-30.

THE END,

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Bojlon^ April I. 1760.

In about a Fortnight will be Publiflied,

And Sold hy R. Draper/;/ Newhury-Streety and
Edes <!^' Gill /// ^een-Street.

PRACTICAL DISCOURSES delivered on
Occafion of the EARTHQUAKES in

November^ lySS. Wherein is particularly
lliown, by a Variety of Arguments,

The great Importance of turning our Feet
unto GOD's Teftimonies, and of making
Hafte to keep his Commandments ;

Together with the Reafonablenefs, the Ne-
ceffity, and great Advantage,of a lerious
Confideration on our Ways.

By JONATHAN MAT HEW, D. D,

Paftor of the W^Esx-Church in Boston,

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