God's terrible voice in the city

I can speak something of mine own knowledge concerning some of my friends, whom I have been withal; I shall instance only in the house where I lived. We were eight in Family, three Men, three Youths, an old Woman, and a maid: all which came to me, hearing of my stay in Town, some to accompany me, others to help me. It was the latter end of September before any of us were touched; the young ones were not idle, but improved their time in praying, and hearing, and were ready to receive instruction; and were strangely born up against the fears of the disease and death, every day so familiar to the view. But at last we were visited, and the Plague came in dreadfully upon us, the Cup was put into our hand to drink, after a neighbour Family had tasted it, with whom we had much sweet society in this time of sorrow. And first our Maid ⟨p. 45⟩was smitten, it began with a shivering and trembling in her flesh, and quickly seized on her spirits; it was a sad day, which I believe I shall never forget; I had been abroad to see a friend in the City, whose Husband was newly dead of the Plague, and she her self visited with it; I came back to see another, whose Wife was dead of the Plague, and he himself under apprehensions that he should die within a few hours; I came home, and the Maid was on her Death-bed; and another crying out for help, being left alone in a sweating fainting fit. What was an interest in Christ worth then? what a privilege to have a title to the Kingdom of Heaven?

I can speak something of mine own knowledge concerning some of my friends, whom I have been withall; I shall instance only in the house where I lived. We were eight in Family, three Men, three Youths, an old Woman, and a maid: all which came to me, hearing of my stay in Town, some to accompany me, others to help me. It was the latter end of September before any of us were toucht; the young ones were not idle, but improved their time in praying, and hearing, and were ready to receive instruction; and were strangly born up against the fears of the disease and death, every day so familiar to the view. But at last we were visited, and the Plague came in dreadfully upon us, the Cup was put into our hand to drink, after a neighbour Family had tasted it, with whom we had much sweet society in this time of sorrow. And first our Maid ⟨p. 45⟩was smitten, it began with a shivering and trembling in her flesh, and quickly seised on her spirits; it was a sad day, which I believe I shall never forget; I had been abroad to see a friend in the City, whose Husband was newly dead of the Plague, and she her self visited with it; I came back to see another, whose Wife was dead of the Plague, and he himself under apprehensions that he should die within a few hours; I came home, and the Maid was on her Death-bed; and another crying out for help, being left alone in a sweating fainting fit. What was an interest in Christ worth then? what a priviledge to have a title to the Kingdom of Heaven?