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, God's treasures of wrath hath 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, Rom. ii. 4, 5.

(2.) Where have been the fruits of faith in London? How hath unbelief abounded, the great Gospel sin, more dangerous than any other, and more heinous in London than in any other place! O the thick vail of unbelief which hath hid Gospel mysteries, and things afar off from the eyes of this people! O the evil heart of unbelief, which hath shut the door against the Lord Jesus Christ, who hath knocked so long for entertainment! O the sottishness of London, to believe no more, when truths have been so plain and clear; when promises have been made known, so great and sure; when Christ hath been preached and tendered; and when heaven hath been revealed and proffered; and when all have such need, for the most to shut the eye, and ear, and heart, and through unbelief to refuse; to give God the lie, and turn upon him the back; to give Christ a wound, and tread his blood under foot; to give the spirit a repulse, and send him away grieved from the heart, as men do by their unbelief: this sin doth provoke the Lord to great displeasure.

(3.) Where have been the fruits of love in London? O the want of love to God, and one to another! The grace of love is necessary and sweet, and hath been much pressed, but little

exercised in London; there hath been much love of the world, but little love of the Father; hatred of the brethren hath abounded, but there was little brotherly love; burning anger there hath been, little burning love; burning lusts, little burning love; inordinate carnal love, little true spiritual love; carnal love hath exceeded the bounds, but spiritual love hath been in a very low degree; and when love in London hath waxed cold, is it a wonder if God's anger hath waxed so hot, and broken forth into such flames, as we have seen?

(4.) Where have been the fruits of new obedience in London and expression of love to Jesus Christ, by keeping of his commandments, though his commandments are not grievous?

3. A third sin of London, is hypocrisy in the profession of religion. This sin exceedingly prevailed in the late times, when profession of religion was grown into fashion: religion was near in the mouths of most, but far from the reins: there was a general face of religion, but it was no more than skin-deep; it was seated in the coun tenance, not rooted in the heart; how many painted sepulchres had we in London, outwardly fair and beautiful, inwardly full of rottenness and wickedness; how much sounding brass had we then in our streets: a great noise and stir hypocrites did make, but they were hollow at heart; our gold was most of it counterfeit; water we had instead of wine, and dross instead of silver.

O how was religion abused! some made it a stirrup to get up by into the seat of honour; others made it a cloak to cover their covetous

practices; many base and wicked designs were carried on under pretence of religion.

It would take too much time to set forth hypocrites in all their shapes, and to paint hypocrisy in all its colours. London hath formerly abounded with hypocrites, and more lately it hath not been free. If hell-fire be the portion especially of hypocrites hereafter, Matt. xxiv. 51, no wonder then if God be angry with a place, and punish it with plague and fire for this sin here.

4. The fourth sin of London is, formality and lukewarmness in the worship of God. There was much formality when there was no form; and I suppose that forms have not quickened unto more loveliness; there was a face of worship indeed in London; and was there only, or little more, than a face in most places? God is holy and jealous, "a great king, and his name is dreadful," Mal. i. 14. "God is a Spirit, and they that worship him, must worship him in spirit and in truth," John iv. 24. But hath his worship been accordingly in London? hath there been that spiritual worship which he requires? Let London seriously reflect upon their carriage towards God in their devotions. Have they had a due awe and dread of the great name of God upon them, when they have seemed to draw near unto him? have they worshipped him with reverence and godly fear? Outward reverence some have used, more than he hath required, in bowing at names and before places; but have they had inward reverence and fear of God upon their hearts? have they clothed themselves with

humility, when they have come into his presence? hath there been inward fervour and delight accompanying their outward acts of worship?

Alas! how formal hath London been, especially of late in God's worship; they have prayed, but what kind of prayers have they been? could they deserve the name of prayers? were those prayers likely to prevent judgment, or turn away wrath? Some confessions of sin have been made, but so general and formal, that they have been very unlikely to work up the heart to sorrow and repentance; and where some have been more particular, hath not much formality cleaved to them? Where hath hearty grief for sin and sorrow been to be found? would not a small vial hold all the tears that have dropped from the eyes of great assemblies, even in the day of their solemn humiliations? hath not sin been rolled under the tongue when confession of sin hath been at the end of it? have not the confessions of many been such, as if they came to ask leave to commit sin, rather than humbly to bewail it? at least, have they not taken leave, whatever their confessions have been? Petitions have been made for pardon, and grace, and sanctification, but hath it not been lip-prayer, without hearty desire? hath it not been in such a manner, as if they did not much care whether they did speed or no? as if they could make shift well enough without a pardon? as if they had no need of grace and holiness: "but they must say something for form and custom. Hath there not been an enmity in the hearts of many against that which they have seemed to desire with their lips? who

have stirred up themselves to lay hold on God? Who have wrestled in prayer, with fervent desires, with faith, and importunity? Hearing

there hath been in London, but how little believing; how little relishing the word, and receiving it with love! Singing there hath been, but how little joy and melody of the heart in the Lord!

O how formal and luke-warm have Londoners been; how much of the Laodicean temper have they had in all ordinances! And might not God. say to London, as he did of old to Jerusalem. Isa. i. 11, 12, 13, 14, "To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me?" &c. Such services are to no purpose; they are vain worship, and do not attain the end thereof, either to profit him that offereth him them, or to please him unto whom they are tendered. Can such

formal services be effectual to procure pardon or peace? can they bear up the spirit in a day of trouble? will not the morning cloud and early dew of such righteousness flee away and vanish upon the approach of the sun? will not such spiders' webs be broken to pieces by a stormy wind? How do formalists behave themselves, as if they had no religion, when they fall into troubles! when God thunders by his judgments, what can a cold, formal, empty prayer do? when Death appears before them with a grim countenance, what comfort can such reap by reflection on such services? what evidences for heaven can they gather from any of their outside devotions?

And are not they to as little purpose in regard