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

Sixthly, Has the fire of London been as a pillar of fire, to §6lead you Canaan ward, Heaven-wards? Has God by burning ¹up the good things of this world, caused you to set your hearts and affections more than ever upon the great things of another world? If so, then 'tis a hundred to ten, but that the Lord will make up all your losses to you. But,

1. 1Exod. 13. 21, 22.

Seventhly, Are your hearts under this fiery dispensation, §7brought into such a quiet submission to the good will and pleasure of God, as that you can now be contented, to be at ¹Gods finding, at Gods allowance? Can you now be contented, to be rich or poor, to have much or little, to be high or low, to be something or nothing, to have all again, or to have nothing but necessaries again? Are you now willing, that God shall choose for you? Can you sit down satisfied with Gods allowance, though it be far short of what once you had? Content is the Deputy of outward felicity, and supplies the place where its absent. A contented frame of heart, as to all outward occurrences, is like Ballast to a Ship, which will help it to sail boldly and safely in all waters. When a mans mind is conformable to his means, all is well. One brings in God rebuking a discontented Christian thus, What is thy faith? Have I promised thee these things? What wert thou made a Christian, that thou shouldst flourish here in ²this world? 'Tis an excellent expression, that Bellarmine hath in his Catechism, Suppose (saith he) a King having many children of several ages, should apparel them in Cloth of Gold: now he that is sixteen years old hath more Gold in his Robe, than the Child that is but five or six years old; yet the child would rather have his own garment than his elder Brothers, because 'tis fitter for him. Surely the fittest estate, is the best estate for us. Look, as a great Shoe fits not a little foot, nor a great