God's terrible voice in the city

And those who have not abounded in the grosser works of the flesh, very few of them have been very fruitful in good works. London hath had the means of grace, and yet most of them without grace, few of them have much grace; London hath had powerful Ordinances, but ⟨p. 126⟩but what powerful effect have they produced? what have they to show of all their Prayers, and Sermons, and Sacraments? have they attained unto a great measure of mortification? is grace grown up to a great height? what evidences, what experiences have the best got, which they might have got, had they been more diligent?

And those who have not abounded in the grosser works of the flesh, very few of them have been very fruitfull in good works. London hath had the means of grace, and yet most of them without grace, few of them have much grace; London hath had powerfull Ordinances, but ⟨p. 126⟩but what powerful effect have they produced? what have they to shew of all their Prayers, and Sermons, and Sacraments? have they attained unto a great measure of mortification? is grace grown up to a great heighth? what evidences, what experiences have the best got, which they might have got, had they been more diligent?

Give me leave a little more particularly to instance the unfruitfulness of London in regard of repentance, faith, love and new obedience, the fruit which God so much looketh for, and so much delighteth in.

1. Where have been the fruits of Repentance in London? Calls there have been to repentance frequent, fervent: reason for repentance, sins numerous, heinous: need of repentance that judgments temporal, eternal, might be diverted, that pardon, happiness might be obtained: and yet O the impenitency and hard-heartedness of London! few bleeding hearts under the sharp sword of the Word; little tenderness under the most melting discourses; few converts and penitent persons did the most powerful preaching (especially before the Gospels eclipse) bring forth in London: converting work was at a great stand, though there were so many unconverted persons in the City: and by the impenitency and hardness of heart in London, Gods treasures of wrath have been filled up, which in some measure he hath opened in these late judgments, that he hath inflicted, and yet the great day of his wrath is still to come,