The Depositions given before Magistrates▪ concerning the hands of the Papists set on work herein, are not forgotten; the principles of the Papists, which will allow them to murder Princes, blow up Parliaments, Massacre people, burn Cities, if they be Heretics as they call them, are not altered. The attempts of late to set houses in the City on Fire in several places, have been made evident, and I wish that there be no cursed design now on foot, amongst such vile persons, to burn our City, and Massacre our persons together; it is not amiss for us to think what may be; the may be of a house's falling down upon our head in the street, and being crushed thereby to pieces, (as some have been)▪ should put us upon continual preparation for death, and much more when we are in danger of death many other ways. If you should hear a cry at Midnight, the Papists are come, that Fire-balls are flying about the street, that Fires are kindled in several parts of the City at the same time, and that bloody cut throats stand ready to Butcher a naked people, as they come forth of burning Houses with their goods. If you should hear the groans and shrieks of your Neighbours, whilst they are cruelly Massacred by the hands of merciless villains, and when they approach your doors, and you see no way of escaping, but inevitable '•ath is before you; if you should then be found unprepared for death, ⟨p. 76⟩when you have no time to prepare, how would you be surprised? how would you be affrighted? It is good to provide for the worst, that when ever death doth appear, in whatever shape it may not prove a King of Terrors. How happy are those who have made their Peace with God, when some men will not be at peace with them? how little reason have those to fear the wrath of any here, who are delivered from the wrath to come? how safe is that treasure, which is laid up in Heaven, far beyond the reach of Thief or Rust or Flames of Fire? get clear evidence of these things; if you be delivered out of the snare of the Devil, you need not be afraid of the snares of Men; if you be not in danger of Hell, ye need not be afraid of Death; if you have well-grounded hopes, to escape everlasting flames, and to attain everlasting joys through your Interest in Christ and his purchase, you may smile at the flames of your Houses, and laugh at destruction when it cometh.
The Depositions given before Magistrates▪ concerning the hands of the Papists set on work herein, are not forgotten; the principles of the Papists, which will allow them to murder Princes, blow up Parliaments, Massacre people, burn Cities, if they be Hereticks as they call them, are not altered. The attempts of late to set houses in the City on Fire in several places, have been made evident, and I wish that there be no cursed design now on foot, amongst such vile persons, to burn our City, and Massacre our persons together; it is not amiss for us to think what may be; the may be of a house's falling down upon our head in the street, and being crushed thereby to pieces, (as some have been)▪ should put us upon continual preparation for death, and much more when we are in danger of death many other ways. If you should hear a cry at Midnight, the Papists are come, that Fire-balls are flying about the street, that Fires are kindled in several parts of the City at the same time, and that bloody cut throats stand ready to Butcher a naked people, as they come forth of burning Houses with their goods. If you should hear the groans and shreeks of your Neighbours, whilst they are cruelly Massacred by the hands of merciless villains, and when they approach your doors, and you see no way of escaping, but inevitable '•ath is before you; if you should then be found unprepared for death, ⟨p. 76⟩when you have no time to prepare, how would you be surprized? how would you be affrighted? It is good to provide for the worst, that when ever death doth appear, in whatever shape it may not prove a King of Terrours. How happy are those who have made their Peace with God, when some men will not be at peace with them? how little reason have those to fear the wrath of any here, who are delivered from the wrath to come? how safe is that treasure, which is laid up in Heaven, far beyond the reach of Thief or Rust or Flames of Fire? get clear evidence of these things; if you be delivered out of the snare of the Devil, you need not be affraid of the snares of Men; if you be not in danger of Hell, ye need not be affraid of Death; if you have well-grounded hopes, to escape everlasting flames, and to attain evealasting joys through your Intrest in Christ and his purchase, you may smile at the flames of your Houses, and laugh at destruction when it cometh.
