London's lamentation, or, A serious discourse concerning the late fiery dispensation that turned our…

That such are under a high mistake, that ascribe the burning of London, so to second causes, as that they will allow no more Judgement of God in it, than that which accompanies common casualty, I shall sufficiently evidence, before I have finished this first Use. But I hope the prudent Reader will make it his business to see the signal hand of God in this late fiery dispensation, and to remember, that the Scribe is more properly said to write, than the Pen; and he that maketh and keepeth the Clock, is more properly said to make it go and strike, than the Wheels and Poises that hang upon it; and every Workman to effect his work, rather than the tools which he useth as instruments. So the Lord of Hosts who is the Chief Agent and Mover in all things, and in all actions, may more fitly and properly be said, to effect and bring to pass all Judgements, yea, all things that are done in the earth, than any inferior or subordinate causes; seeing they are but his tools and instruments which he rules and guides according to his own Will, Power and Providence. At this some of the more civilized Heathen hath long since hammered, viz. That the same power dispenseth both comforts and crosses, when they painted Fortune in two forms, with two faces of contrary colours, the foremost white, the hindermost black, to signify that both good and evil came from the Goddess Fortune. When 'twas told Prince Henry, that delitiae generis humani, that darling of mankind, That the sins of the people caused that affliction that was upon him: O no, said he, I have sins enough of mine own to cause that. So should we all confess, that though God take occasion by another mans sin, or by another mans hand to fire my house; Yet the cause is just that it should be so, and that I my self have deserved it, whatsoever the occasion, or the instrument be. God had matter enough against the seventy thousand that died of the Plague, though Davids sin were the occasion, yet the meritorious cause was in them. Certainly there is no man that hath been a sufferer by this late dreadful Fire, but upon an easy search into his own heart and life, he may ⟨p. 5⟩find matter enough to silence himself, and to satisfy himself that though God has turned him out of his habitation, and burnt up all his comforts round about him, yet he has done him no wrong.

That such are under a high mistake, that ascribe the burning of London, so to second causes, as that they will allow no more Judgement of God in it, than that which accompanies common casualty, I shall sufficiently evidence, before I have finished this first Use. But I hope the prudent Reader will make it his business to see the signal hand of God in this late fiery dispensation, and to remember, that the Scribe is more properly said to write, than the Pen; and he that maketh and keepeth the Clock, is more properly said to make it go and strike, than the Wheels and Poizes that hang upon it; and every Workman to effect his work, rather than the tools which he useth as instruments. So the Lord of Hosts who is the Chief Agent and Mover in all things, and in all actions, may more fitly and properly be said, to effect and bring to pass all Judgements, yea, all things that are done in the earth, than any inferiour or subordinate causes; seeing they are but his tools and instruments which he rules and guides according to his own Will, Power and Providence. At this some of the more civilized Heathen hath long since hammered, viz. That the same power dispenseth both comforts and crosses, when they painted Fortune in two forms, with two faces of contrary colours, the foremost white, the hindermost black, to signifie that both good and evil came from the Goddess Fortune. When 'twas told Prince Henry, that delitiae generis humani, that darling of mankind, That the sins of the people caused that affliction that was upon him: O no, said he, I have sins enough of mine own to cause that. So should we all confess, that though God take occasion by another mans sin, or by another mans hand to fire my house; Yet the cause is just that it should be so, and that I my self have deserved it, whatsoever the occasion, or the instrument be. God had matter enough against the seventy thousand that died of the Plague, though Davids sin were the occasion, yet the meritorious cause was in them. Certainly there is no man that hath been a sufferer by this late dreadful Fire, but upon an easie search into his own heart and life, he may