some of his messengers home to himself, but also to suffer the rest which were more conscientious, to be thrust into corners.

This did presage London's near approaching ruin and desolation, though few did believe it; and because they did not believe it, and were insensible of God's wrath in his judgment, therefore their danger was the greater of the other judgments which have come upon them: when so many stakes were plucked out, no wonder if the hedge be broken; when so many pillars were removed, no wonder if the building tumble to the ground.

But I proceed to give a narration of the latter judgments of plague and fire.

THE Plague so great, so lately, should not be forgotten; yet lest the Fire more lately, and proportionably more great, and the amazing fears, which since have risen within us, should shuffle former thoughts out of our minds, and raze out the impressions, which by the plague we had, and should labour to retain to our dying hour: therefore I shall give a brief narration of this sad judgment, and some observations of mine own (who was here in the city from the beginning to the end of it) both to keep alive in myself and others, the memory of the judgment, that we may be the better prepared for compliance with God's design in sending the plague amongst us.

It was in the year of our Lord 1665, that the Plague began in our city of London, after we were warned by the great Plague in Holland, in the year 1664, and the beginning of it in some remote parts of our land the same year; not to speak any thing whether there was any signifi cation and influence in the blazing stars not long before, that appeared in the view of London, and struck some amazement on the spirits of many. It was in the month of May that the Plague was first taken notice of; our bill of mortality did let us know but of three which died of the disease in the whole year before; but in the beginning of May the bill tells us of nine, which fell by the plague, one in the heart of the city, the other eight in the suburbs. This was the first arrow of warning that was shot from heaven amongst us, and fear quickly begins to creep upon people's hearts; great thoughts and discourse there is in town about the plague, and they cast in their minds whether they shall go if the plague should increase. Yet when the next week's bill signifieth to them the decrease from nine to three, their minds are something appeased; discourse of that subject cools; fears are hushed, and hopes take place, that the black cloud did but threaten, and give a few drops; but the wind would drive it away. But when in the next bill the number of the dead by the plague is amounted from three to fourteen, and in the next to seventeen, and in the next to forty-three, and the disease begins so much to increase, and disperse.

Now secure sinners begin to be startled, and those who would have slept at quiet still in their

nests, are unwillingly awakened. Now a great consternation seizeth upon most persons, and fearful bodings of a desolating judgment. Now guilty sinners begin to look about them, and think with themselves into what corner of the land they might fly to hide them. Now the profane and sensual, if they have not remorse for their sins, yet dread and terrors, the effects of guilt, they could not drive from them; and if by company, and carousing, and soft pleasures they do intoxicate and smoothen their spirits in the day; yet we may guess what dread doth return upon them, if they give but any room for retirement; and what hideous thoughts such persons have in the silent night, through fears of death which they are in danger of. Now those who did not believe an unseen God, are afraid of unseen arrows; and those which slighted God's threatenings of eternal judgments do tremble at the beginning of his execution of one, and not the greatest temporal judgment. Now those which had as it were challenged the God of Heaven, and defied him by their horrid oaths and blasphemies, when he begins to appear, they retreat, yea fly away with terror and amazement. The great orbs begin first to move; the lords and gentry retire into their countries; their remote houses are prepared, goods removed, and London is quickly upon their backs: few ruffling gallants walk the streets; few spotted ladies to be seen at windows: a great forsaking there was of the adjacent places where the plague did first rage.

In June the number increaseth from 43 to 112; the next week to 168, the next to 267, the

next to 470, most of which increase was in the remote parts; few in this month within or near the walls of the city; and few that had any note for goodness or profession, were visited at the first: God gave them warning to bethink and prepare themselves; yet some few that were choice were visited pretty soon, that the best might not promise themselves a supersedeas, or interpret any place of Scripture so literally, as if the Lord had promised an absolute general immunity and defence of his own people from this disease of the plague.

Now the citizens of London are put to a stop in the career of their trade; they begin to fear whom they converse withal, and deal withal, lest they should have come out of infected places. Now roses and other sweet flowers wither in the gardens, are disregarded in the markets, and people dare not offer them to their noses lest with their sweet savour, that which is infectious should be attracted: rue and wormwood are taken into the hand: myrrh and zedoary into the mouth; and without some antidote few stir abroad in the morning. Now many houses are shut up where the plague comes, and the inhabitants shut in, lest coming abroad they should spread infection. It was very dismal to behold the red crosses, and read in great letters, LORD HAVE MERCY UPON US, on the doors, and watchmen standing before them with halberts; and such a solitude about those places, and people passing by them so gingerly, and with such fearful looks as if they had been lined with enemies in ambush, that waited to destroy them.

Now rich tradesmen provide themselves to depart; if they have not country houses, they seek lodgings abroad for themselves and families, and the poorer tradesmen, that they may imitate the rich in their fear, stretch themselves to take a country journey, though they have scarce wherewithal to bring them back again. The ministers also (many of them) take occasion to go to their country-places for the summer time; or (it may be) to find out some few of their parishioners that were gone before them, leaving the greatest part of their flock without food or physic, in the time of their greatest need. (I don't speak of all ministers, those which did stay out of choice and duty, deserve true honour.) Possibly they might think God was now preaching to the city, and what need their preaching? or rather did not the thunder of God's voice affrighten their guilty consciences and make them fly away, lest a bolt from heaven should fall upon them, and spoil their preaching for the future; and therefore they would reserve themselves till the people had less need of them. I do not blame any citizens retiring, when there was so little trading, and the presence of all might have helped forward the increase and spreading of the infection; but how did guilt drive many away, where duty would have engaged them to stay in the place? Now the highways are thronged with passengers and goods, and London doth empty itself into the country; great are the stirs and hurries in London by the removal of so many families; fear puts many thousands on the wing, and those