A29696:115
London's lamentation, or, A serious discourse concerning the late fiery dispensation that turned our…
London's lamentation, or, A serious discourse concerning the late fiery dispensation that turned our (once renowned) city into a ruinous heap also the several lessons that are incumbent upon those whose houses have escaped the consuming flames / by Thomas Brooks.
London: printed for John Hancock and Nathaniel Ponder, 1670
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Well, Sirs, you had not long since many outward comforts to live upon, but the Lord has now burnt them up, that so he might lead you forth to live in a daily exercise of grace upon himself, upon his power, upon his all-sufficiency, his goodness, his faithfulness, his fullness, his graciousness, his unchangeableness, his promises. And if this fiery Dispensation shall be so sanctified to us, as to work us to a further activity of grace, and to a further growth and increase of grace, we shall be happy Citizens, though we are burnt Citizens. But,
Well, Sirs, you had not long since many outward comforts to live upon, but the Lord has now burnt them up, that so he might lead you forth to live in a daily exercise of grace upon himself, upon his power, upon his all-sufficiency, his goodness, his faithfulness, his fulness, his graciousness, his unchangeableness, his promises. And if this fiery Dispensation shall be so sanctified to us, as to work us to a further activity of grace, and to a further growth and increase of grace, we shall be happy Citizens, though we are burnt Citizens. But,
Thirdly, By severe Providences and by fiery Trials, God designs the growth of his people in grace. Usually the graces of the Saints thrive best when they are under a smarting §3Rod. Grace usually is in the greatest flourish, when the Saints are under the sorest trials. The snuffing of the Candle makes it burn the brighter. God beats and bruises his links to make them burn the brighter; he bruises his spices 1to make them send forth the greater aromatical savour. Fiery trials are like the Tezel, which though it be sharp and scratching, it is to make the cloth more pure and fine. God would not rub so hard, were it not to fetch out the dirt and spots that be in his people. The Jews were always best when they were in their lowest condition. Well-waters arising from deep Springs, are hotter in the Winter then they are in the Summer▪ Stars shine brightest in the darkest nights; and so do the graces of the Saints shine brightest in the darkest nights of affliction and tribulation. God will sometimes more carry on the growth of grace by a Cross then by an Ordinance; yea, the Lord will first or last, more or less, turn all fiery