God's terrible voice in the city

But more fully to clear up the reason of London's judgments, and the righteousness of God herein; God hath indeed spoken very terribly, but he hath answered us very righteously. London was not so godly, as some speak by way of scoff: no! If London had been more generally godly, and more powerfully godly, these judgments might have been escaped, and the ruins of the City prevented; No! it was the ungodliness of London, which brought the Plague and fire upon London. There was a general Plague upon the heart, a more dangerous infection, and deadly Plague of sin, before there was sent a Plague upon the body; there was a fire of divers lusts which was enkindled, and did burn in the bosom, some t•mes issuing out flames at the door of the mouth, and at the windows of the eyes of the inhabitants, before the fire was kindled in the City, which swallowed up so many habitations. We have fallen, thousands of persons into the grave by the Plague, thousands of houses, as a great monument upon them, by the fire; and whence is it? we are fallen by our iniquities. ⟨p. 84⟩Hosea 14. 1. the Crown is fallen from our heads; and what is the reason? because we have sinned against the Lord. Lam. 5. 16. God hath spoken terribly, but he hath answered righteously; as he gives great and especial mercies in answer unto prayer: so he sendeth great and extraordinary judgments in answer unto sin; there is a voice and loud cry, especially in some sins which entereth into the ears of the Lord of Sabbath. 1 Sam. 5. 4. When God speaks by terrible things, he makes but a righteous return to this cry.

But more fully to clear up the reason of London's judgments, and the righteousness of God herein; God hath indeed spoken very terribly, but he hath answered us very righteously. London was not so godly, as some speak by way of scoff: no! If London had been more generally godly, and more powerfully godly, these judgments might have been escaped, and the ruins of the City prevented; No! it was the ungodliness of London, which brought the Plague and fire upon London. There was a general Plague upon the heart, a more dangerous infection, and deadly Plague of sin, before there was sent a Plague upon the body; there was a fire of divers lusts which was enkindled, and did burn in the bosome, som tmes issuing out flames at the door of the mouth, and at the windows of the eyes of the inhabitants, before the fire was kindled in the City, which swallowed up so many habitations. We have fallen, thousands of persons into the grave by the Plague, thousands of houses, as a great monument upon them, by the fire; and whence is it? we are fallen by our iniquities.