Fire and brimstone from heaven, from earth, in hell, or, Three discourses I. Concerning…

First, Consider the Burnings which may be: our dear and beloved City of London may be burnt again with fire, and that not only •he Suburbs and Southwark, and remaining Timber houses, which the last Fire spared; but also the New-built Houses of Brick, many of them have been tried that they can burn, for no Building on Earth is a sufficient defence against Fire; I don't think we are in danger of any such Fire as that of Aetna, to break forth ⟨p. 75⟩from under our feet out of the bowels of the Earth; but we may be in danger of a Fire Forged in Hell, I mean some Devilish wicked men may be contriving again the burning of the City. It is not long since this our flourishing City was laid wast by devouring flames.

First, Consider the Burnings which may be: our dear and beloved City of London may be burnt again with fire, and that not only •he Suburbs and Southwark, and remaining Timber houses, which the last Fire spared; but also the New-built Houses of Brick, many of them have been tryed that they can burn, for no Building on Earth is a sufficient defence against Fire; I don't think we are in danger of any such Fire as that of Aetna, to break forth ⟨p. 75⟩from under our feet out of the bowels of the Earth; but we may be in danger of a Fire Forged in Hell, I mean some Develish wicked men may be contriving again the burning of the City. It is not long since this our flourishing City was laid wast by devouring flames.

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,