God's terrible voice in the city

2. Who in London have endeavoured Life-Reformation as they should? how few have there been effectually persuaded to put away the evil of their doings from before the eyes of the Lord, to cease from evil, and have learned to do well? How few have broken off their sins by Repentance, and throughly amended their ways, measuring out their actions, by the Rule of the word? how few have got the Law of God written in their hearts, and the transcript thereof in their lives, exemplifying the precepts thereof in their conversations? how few in London have been like so many Epistles of Christ, in whom the will and grace of their Master might be read? who have trodden in Christs steps, walking as he walked, and followed him in the way of obedience and self-denial? who have shined like so many lights in dark places and times, adorning their profession, and living as becometh the Gospel?

2. Who in London have endeavoured Life-Reformation as they should? how few have there been effectually perswaded to put away the evil of their doings from before the eyes of the Lord, to cease from evil, and have learned to do well? How few have broken off their sins by Repentance, and throughly amended their ways, measuring out their actions, by the Rule of the word? how few have got the Law of God written in their hearts, and the transcript thereof in their lives, exemplifying the precepts thereof in their conversations? how few in London have been like so many Epistles of Christ, in whom the will and grace of their Master might be read? who have troden in Christs steps, walking as he walked, and followed him in the way of obedience and self-denyal? who have shined like so many lights in dark places and times, adorning their profession, and living as becometh the Gospel?

Great irregularities there have been in the lives of most Londoners, little Gospel-reformation; little making Religion the business; little holy exact living. If a stranger had looked into our City, and observed the lives of the most, and not known them to have had the name of Christians, would not he have judged them to be Heathens, yea many of them in their dealing to be worse then Turks and Infidels? Thus Personal Reformation hath been neglected.