A29696:141
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.
Seventhly, To the loss of the world; for by their inordinate §7love of the world, they highly provoke God to strip them of the world. Ah, how rich might many a man have been, had he minded Heaven more, and the world less! When men set their hearts so greedily upon the world, 'tis just with God to blast, and curse, and burn up all their worldly comforts round about them.
Seventhly, To the loss of the world; for by their inordinate §7love of the world, they highly provoke God to st•ip them of the world. Ah, how rich might many a man have been, had he minded Heaven more, and the world less! When men set their hearts so greedily upon the world, 'tis just with God to blast, and curse, and burn up all their worldly comforts round about them.
Fourthly, Many in London were fallen under spiritual decays, §4witherings, and languishings in their graces, in their comforts, in their communions, and in their spiritual strength. They are fallen from their first love. The flame of divine 1love being blown out, God sends a flaming fire in the midst of them. Many Londoners were fallen into a spiritual Consumption, and to recover them out of it, God sent a fire amongst them. Many in London were withered in their very Profession: where was that visible forwardness, that zeal, that diligence in waiting upon the Lord in his Ordinances, that once was to be found amongst the Citizens of London? And many Citizens were withered in their Conversations and Converse one with another. There was not that graciousness, that holiness, that spiritualness, that heavenliness, that fruitfulness, that examplariness, that seriousness, and that profitableness sparkling and shining in their Conversations and Converse one with another, as once was to be found amongst them. And many were withered in their affections. Ah, what a flame of love, what a flame of joy, what a flame of desires, what a flame of delight, what a flame of zeal as to the best things, was once to be found amongst the Citizens of London! but how were those mighty flames of affection reduced to a few coals and cinders? and therefore no wonder, if God sent a flaming fire in the midst of them; and many were withered in their very Duties and Services,