God's terrible voice in the city

13. A thirteenth sin of London is unmercifulness, another of Sodom's sins. Ezek. 16. 49. She strengthened not the hands of the poor and needy. I shall not blame the whole for this sin, for the charity of London hath sounded throughout the land, and throughout the world. But yet have not many of the great men of the City been guilty of unmercifulness, who though more able, yet have been less forward to contribute to the relief of such as have been in distress? It hath been the comfort of some who have lost much by the fire, that they had saved what before they had given to the poor, by putting it out of the reach of moth, or rust, or thieves, or flames of fire. But oh what marble bowels have some had towards the poor! so that they could, (whatever abundance they had by them beyond what themselves did make use of) as freely part with so many drops of their blood, as pieces of money, though to help some of the needy and distressed members of Jesus Christ: not considering that the Lord Jesus is the Heir of all things, and whatever estate they had, they were but his stewards; and that relief of the needy is a debt, which though man cannot require it of them, yet God can: and is it unequal if for want of payment of Gods debts (which they owed out of their estates, by virtue of Gods command, to the poor) the Lord hath disposest them of his houses, and burnt them with fire, and taken away part of the estates which he gave them because they have employed them no more for his glory.

13. A thirteenth sin of London is unmercifulness, another of Sodom's sins. Ezek. 16. 49. She strengthened not the hands of the poor and needy. I shall not blame the whole for this sin, for the charity of London hath sounded throughout the land, and throughout the world. But yet have not many of the great men of the City been guilty of unmercifulness, who though more able, yet have been less forward to contribute to the relief of such as have been in distress? It hath been the comfort of some who have lost much by the fire, that they had saved what before they had given to the poor, by putting it out of the reach of moth, or rust, or thieves, or flames of fire. But oh what marble bowels have some had towards the poor! so that they could, (whatever abundance they had by them beyond what themselves did make use of) as freely part with so many drops of their blood, as pieces of money, though to help some of the needy and distressed members of Jesus Christ: not considering that the Lord Jesus is the Heir of all things, and whatever estate they had, they were but his stewards; and that relief of the needy is a debt, which though man cannot require it of them, yet God can: and is it unequal if for want of payment of Gods debts (which they owed out of their estates, by vertue of Gods command, to the poor) the Lord hath dispossest them of his houses, and burnt them with fire, and taken away part of the estates which he gave them because they have employed them no more for his glory.