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

such will never scruple to turn such Cities, such Bulwarks into a ruinous heap, that either stands in their way, or that might probably hinder their game. In all the Ages of the world, wicked ¹men have designed the ruin and laying waste of Christians Bulwarks and Strong-holds, in order to the rooting out of the very name of Christians, as all know that have read any thing of Scripture or History, and therefore why should any men think it strange, if that Spirit should still be at work. Was ever England in such eminent danger of being made a prey to foreign power, or of being rid, by men of a foreign Religion, and whose Principles in Civil Policy are very dangerous both to Prince and People, as it hath been since the firing of London, or since that Bulwark has been ²turned into a ruinous heap? Had not the great God who laid a Law of Restraint upon churlish Laban, and upon bloody Esau (and his four hundred bloody cut-throats) and upon proud blasphemous Sennacherib, laid also a Law of restraint upon ill-minded men, what mischief might they not then have done, when many were amazed and astonished, and many did hang down their heads, and fold their hands, crying alas, alas, London is fallen! and when many had sorrow in their hearts, paleness upon their cheeks, and trembling in all their joints! yea, when the flames of London were as ³terrible to most, as the hand-writing upon the wall, was to Belshazzar! How mightily the burning of London would have retarded the supplies, of men, money and necessaries ⟨p. 47⟩which would have been needful to have made opposition, against an invading enemy, had we been put to it, I shall not here stand to dispute. Whilst London was standing, it could raise an Army, and pay it when it had done. London was the Sword and sinews of War; but when London was laid in ashes, the Citizens were like Sampson when his hair was cut ⁴off, and like the Sechemites, when they were sore. Beloved, the People of God have formerly made the firing of their strong holds, matter of bitter Lamentation; as you may see in