BEloved people, when I first heard of that de­vouring Fire, how could I be otherwise affected than Nehemiah was, Chap. 1.4, when he heard Jerusalem lay waste and burnt? He was astonished, wept and prayed to the God of Heaven. And oh that my prayers may be as effectual and successful for you, as his were for them; then Wem would be built again, as Jerusalem was; the glory of whose second Temple exceeded that of the first, as did also their own Houses and habitations, Hag. 1.4.

But is Wem burnt indeed? What, Wem! the place that God hath blessed, and where he hath as signally manifested his [Page 2] power, goodness, forbearance, and mer­cy, as in any place you or I ever knew? And is this lot and fate at last befallen Wem? What! to come down so wonder­fully! and in a little more than an hour, for her beauty to be turn'd into Ashes! Sure this Fire (who ever kindled it here) like that of Sodom came down from the Lord out of Heaven, it was so fierce and unquenchable.

Therefore if other great and stupen­dious providences have passed as unre­garded by us, this must not, if we mean to prevent the flaming vengeance of God, next upon our selves. O Wem, thou wast a Town saved by the Lord from Pestilence, when (you do remem­ber) God shot his Arrow in Shrewsbury on one hand, and Whitchurch on the o­ther; but the impression of this quickly wore off, and yet the long-suffering of God still waited, (the holy and righte­ous God is slow to wrath) and he was long a coming to Wem, expecting still his Gospel preached there might find bet­ter acceptance, and prevail more to the amendment of their lives. In the mean [Page 3] time he visited other places, and uttered his voyce in dreadful flames in Drayton, the sound whereof, had it not been for a general and moral deafness, would have been shrill in your ears; crying, Wem, look upon Drayton, and learn to be wise in time; in this thy day, know the things that belong to thy peace and safety. God called, but Wem would not answer; yet still Gods bowels wrought strongly towards Wem (as of old toward Ephraim) how shall I give thee unto the flames? Make thee as Admah (Hos. 11.8.)? I'le practise in like manner upon another place also; it may be then they will hear and fear, and do no more wickedly; so a Fire, and that a dreadful one was in Newport: Now God said as in Zeph. 3.7, Surely they will fear me in Wem, and break off their sins which are greater, some circumstances considered; so ini­quity should not be their ruine: But behold, no returning yet, such as God looked for; and though divine Justice cryed, Wem is incorrigible, let it utter­ly perish; yet mercy triumphs further over justice: No, saith God, I will not [Page 4] destroy it utterly yet, as I did Sodom: there are righteous in it, who though they be sleepy, yet the firing of one little house, [this happened March 76.] almost out of harms way, may awaken them, if others would not hear; being come home to them to contend like­wise by Fire, this might well be recei­ved as a strong Alarm at the Gate. But at this time God repented, and therefore Wem repented not: yet after all this, [Five Months after,] God would Fire one Beacon more in the highest place, in the heart of the Town; and if he must be put to quench it himself with the Clouds, because they did it not with their Tears, the next shall be an unquenchable Fire: [which was March 3. —76.] I would not have made mention of those neighbour Towns upon whom the hand of the Lord was heavy; but that I feared, then I should lose my chief design, which is to advance the infinite riches of Gods forbearance, to aggravate your sin, and to make way the better for your deeper humiliation and repen­tance; but especially, though your hou­ses [Page 5] be in Ashes, that you might put your mouths in the dust, and justifie God in all his righteous proceedings against you: that you may have nothing to say against God, but to turn your com­plaints against your selves, as the People of God in like cases always have done. And if this was the effect, at present, of this dreadful stroke, I hope you will experience another hereafter, which is to do you good in the latter end.

Of two evils God would chuse the least for you; he would burn yours, but not you: he knew that Tophet would be a worse place for burning, than Tabora, Numb. 11. If a people were set upon sin, so that there was no saving them but by Fire, if they were not burnt, they might be damn'd; if their houses were not deso­late, their salvation was endangered; if they would not so carefully look for a House in Heaven, so long as they had where to lay their heads here on earth, he must cure by burning. And my dear Friends, you are not the first that God practised this way upon; his own People the Jews were consumed by [Page 6] Fire and other horrible judgments; at last sent packing away to Babylon (your suffering not the one half of theirs) and yet all was for their good, Jer. 24.5. And therefore my dear Friends, give me leave to tell you, that now under this stupendious providence, is your day. Now is your critical time for ma­king or marring, for Body and Soul: hear, and your Souls shall live; repent, and your Town shall be built, and you, and not others shall inhabit it.

No Conscience can be so stupid, but must conclude that as this dreadful stroak, by all circumstances, was from an angry God in Heaven; so from thence it brings this errand, Now or never repent; you did burn lately, you must turn presently. I tell you, this Providence admits no delay; you must sin no more, lest a worse fire come, or you come to a worse fire. God says to you, as well as to his People burnt out of old, Consider your ways, Hag. 1.5. O would to God you were (my dear friends) so come to your selves, as the Prodigal was, to run and cry, Father, we have sinned against Heaven, [Page 7] else the Heavens would not so furiously have blown the flames that did con­sume us. [The Town consumed in little more than an hour!] O that the People of Wem were like the men of Issachar, who understood the times, and knew what they ought to do. Then I would comfort you who have lost your Hou­ses, you should instantly have a House without hands, made sure to you in Heaven for ever. Would not that be a bonefire indeed that consumed your lusts (that ye might be meet to dwell in that brave House) though it burnt your earthly tabernacles together? That wind did blow you good indeed, if the Spi­rit of God was in it, consuming, the while, your sins, and purifying your Souls; were your Houses built to day, and burned again to morrow, you might afford to bear it, if Christs Fa­thers House in Heaven, by the Spirit of adoption, be sealed securely unto you; which then it would be.

Now my Brethren, having this house I have been speaking of, in hope, if you do repent, which this present Providence [Page 8] crys and calls aloud to you to do (if it had been done sooner, your houses might have stood; if it be not done now, your houses may never be re-built; if they be, you may not live to dwell in them: and where shall ye dwell then? Oh the houses in Hell are woful houses): will you without delay obey this voice? Oh that while I am writing, I could be assured you are repenting, that some good man or other would come to me with good tidings: The people of Wem are much changed and refined by the Fire; there are like to be more new crea­tures among the poorer sort, than new cottages: the Church is burnt, yet the people passionately say, Come let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob, weeping as they go. I will not despair, I hope God will hear prayers, and give you repentance unto life.

After Gods voice, I beseech you, by the mercies of God, let the voice of his, and sometime your unworthy Minister be heard; repent and amend your lives. I need not go to particulars to press this repen­tance; the sad Providence of God hath [Page 9] wrought so, I hope, as to save me this la­bour, and brought your sins fresh to your remembrance. Though I cannot, yet sure God doth hear your own Consciences peaching you, viz. Ah, this is for my going prayerless to bed: if our houses had been Churches, and we spiritual Priests to offer morning and evening Sacrifices un­to God, of broken and contrite hearts, this would, this might never have been; but I did rise early, and made more haste than good speed out of my own house, that I might be in the Ale-house; rise early to follow strong drink, (follow it indeed, when I stand at it the whole day); I came thither a man, but I went thence a brute. Shall I mention burn­ing my house? 'tis the infinite mercy of God I my self am not burning in Hell: Yonder, yonder stood the house where I consumed so much precious time; where I spent most of that which cost me so much sweat and labour, where I was drinking and debauching my self while my family at home wept and sighed for want of bread, or something else.

This fire was for our profanation of [Page 10] the Sabbath, a Judgment particularly threatned for this sin, Jer. 17.27. God threatneth, Zach. 5.4. to burn houses for swearing and forswearing; and was it not a wonder of mercy my house stood so long! O, the Scripture sure is the Word of God; I'le go no farther, than the fulfilling of it, for a proof.

O my folly, my folly, saith this, and twenty men more, whose hearts ran after their covetousness. I have cared, and laboured, plotted, and contrived with all my might a whole age, for that which thieves might have stolen, which fire hath utterly consumed in one hour: How shall I answer God, who gave me so long time, since I have nothing left now, to shew what I did all this while: I have little knowledg of the things of God to shew: I have few good works to shew: I was a true lover of the Mam­mon of unrighteousness, it was in my heart; so that I was an Idolater, and sa­cralegious person all that while. What, have I employed a soul, a precious and immortal Being, about things, that it could never have content in? And [Page 11] are these now gone in an hours time? Look yonder, all that I laboured for, and loved above my soul, is now some carts full of rubbish, and a few handfuls of ashes. I have spent my time well, that am now level'd with the poor man, that could arrive to no more than to see a little meat in his cubbard! My Hea­ven hath took Wings, and fled from me; and what a Heaven now shall I have! Lord shew me my folly, or I am undone. The House of God is burnt, saith another: And now if God should reckon with me for all the sins I have been guilty of there; What a fire did I deserve to feel? Here stood my seat where I slept so much: while I waked, my ears were stopt, because my mind was devising evil devices, and was prejudiced against the Preacher and his Doctrine both, especially the Application.

I do now wonder, and wonder a­gain at my self, that while I heard there the glad tidings of the Gospel sounding in my ears, I should be no more affected than the pillar I leaned unto. There I was invited to the marriage-supper; yea, [Page 12] I was promised in case I would consent, my Maker would be my husband, and if I would be for him, he would be for me, Matth. 18. But I made light of it, and disdainfully said, I pray have me ex­cused; though that while, I had no other sutors than the Devil, the World, and the Flesh, whose motions I embraced, though my early vow in baptism en­joyned me by the Command of God up­on greatest penalties, to forsake them all.

There, we call to remembrance, the Minister cited and applied the words of Moses to the two Tribes and half, Numb. 32.22, Behold you have sinned against the Lord, and be sure your sin will find you out.

We were told there, over and over, that we had God to serve, souls to save, death to pay, an account to give, a sen­tence to receive, and eternity to live in. But these things did not move us, so as to stop our running to all excess, and committing iniquity with greediness; as if we could not soon enough provide fuel, not only for this fire which hath [Page 13] consumed us, but for a worse, which, if God be not infinitely gracious to us through Jesus Christ, will be consu­ming of us for ever.

And now methinks, I hear you sigh and cry: Men of God help us, what shall we do? The wrath of the Lord is gone forth, the fire of his indignation hath begun upon our houses: what must be done to quench it, that it might not reach our souls, that we may not suf­fer the vengance of eternal fire?

Christs Counsel to the impotent man, John 5.14, Sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee, is proper and seasonable for me and you. My friends, come let us return unto the Lord, for he hath torn us, and he will bind us up; he hath burnt you, and he will then build you up: Knowing the terror of the Lord, sure this Exhortation will ob­tain, Burnt children will dread the fire: O tell thy lusts that have been as dear as thy right hand and eye unto thee, I'le be revenged. This month you have made me lye down in sorrow, and if you live, I am sure you will make me [Page 14] dye, and live in sorrow for ever. I have seen and felt, and therefore dread the terrible God, who taketh vengeance on those that will go on in sin, though this voice by Word and Rod cry never so loud: Wherefore I abhor my self in dust and ashes, I will forsake my sins. This, this is that, my friends, you must do, or else you will be undone worse, a second time; at death you will be ut­terly undone. It is not enough to go up and down in the Ruines, looking wistly, sighing deeply, and saying, Alas! alas! so the friends of that mystical Sodom and Babylon shall do, Revel. 18.10. But you must say, By the grace of God, and in the strength of Jesus Christ, we will a­mend our lives for time to come; 'tis time, 'tis high time: we have received the first, but we will take heed of the worst fruits of sin. We will never love that more, which hath done more hurt in one hour, than it did us good all the days of our life. Strong drink will burn: the colour of it in the glass shall tempt me no more: A Christian beast will be a Monster in my account for ever: And [Page 15] therefore I will never put my bottle more to my Neighbour, to make him drunken, no never, after God hath put such a cup of his fury into my hands, and made me drink up the dregs there­of (Oh that God would say as Isa. 51.22, thou shalt no more drink it again); I did swear and blaspheme, and my tongue was set on Fire of Hell: 'Tis true, I was the more emboldned through the weakness of the Law, wanting execu­tion; but God hath now required the penalty, and by his grace I'le forfeit no more, his Law is holy, just, and true; He will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. If God should say, the next Oath thou swearest, I'le burn thy house; I hope notwithstanding my house should stand for my posterity after me to dwell in. I am of another mind now; I shall never more think that they who will wickedly and commonly swear, can serve God with reverence and godly fear: If God will hear my prayers, and grant me his grace, I'le have other imployment for my tongue for time to come; I'le pray, and out of [Page 16] my mouth shall proceed blessing; bu [...] I will curse and swear no more. It i [...] said one fire will fetch out another poor man! who hast broken the third Commandment, may be more than a hundred times a day, How happy wouldest thou be, if God should make the firing of thy house a remedy to fetch the fire of Hell out of thy tongue▪ O, I will boldly come into thy company for time to come, when I shall be sure not to hear the language of Hell. When I shall comfortably converse with a man, a Christian, and not with a Devil incar­nate.

My friends, my friends, these are hea­venly resolves, to drink and swear, and sin no more. I pray God that these thing [...] thou bindest thy self to, may be bound in Heaven, for your help herein stand [...] in the name of the Lord; through him alone, who must strengthen you, you can do these and all things.

Were I among you, since this awaken­ing Providence, I am perswaded I should have much such like work as John the Baptist had (if I was able to do it), e­very [Page 17] one ran unto him, after he had preached cuttingly, Luk. 3.9, saying, Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit, shall be cut down and cast into the fire: His Ax was so keen, that it divi­ded between the marrow and the joynts, and made them cry out, what shall we do then? Publicans and Soldiers, yea, all sorts came with their sores. John tells them what must be done, but to be sure he refers them farther, to one that came after him, yet was before him, who had the Balm that never failed; and shed wherewith to make a playster, that would never fall off without effect­ing the cure: So after this loud preach­ing of God in flaming fire, many of your Consciences are scorched: Here say you, was a fire indeed, which put us in mind to purpose of the fire of Hell; great were our frights, and fears, by that; but to tell you the truth, we are afraid of our souls, if they should burn also, that would be worse than the burning of the whole world, because our souls are better than the world. It is true, we are convinced, and our sins do [Page 18] trouble us, but the fire is not out, for our pain and anguish still continues; What shall we do?

Truly I should be glad of such com­pany, and such complaints too; sure this work pleased John; and so Ministers of Christ work gladly all days of their lives, and have joy in hope, that this greatest recreation will be at the end of their work also: as it was at the end of John's preaching in the place before mentioned.

But are you scorch'd indeed? doth the sore of your sin, since the Fire, run especially in the night? that you weep, when ye used to sleep? Are you truly troubled with the greatness and number of your sins, which the light of this Fire, through the grace of God, hath made discovery of? O then come away, make haste, linger not; the Gospel is an Hos­pital (the great Rabbi and Master of it calleth thee) where all sort of such may­med ones have lain: The door is open day and night for all such, the worst have been cured without money, and without price: Thy case thou sayst is [Page 19] sad: thy case I say is not desperate: I would not venture my soul rashly for a world; but I would pawn it this once, if thou be truly penitent, and canst look unto Jesus, and hast faith to say as Mary and Thomas did, Rabboni, My Lord, and my God; Though thy sins were as scar­let, they shall be as white as snow. Christ bids thee look unto him, and be saved: as sure as they that were stung with the fiery Serpents, when they looked upon the brazen Serpent, were healed, Numb. 21.9. So thou that look­est with a mournful, craving, steady, and believing eye, on Christ, the truth of that which was his type, thou shalt as cer­tainly be saved. But then as they that were stung, did beware of the veno­mous teeth of the fiery Serpents ever after; So when thou art made whole, thou must sin no more, watch and pray continually, that thou enter not into temptation. I say, watch and pray, this counsel was never so seasonable as now. Satan knows Gods expectations from you, now after this sweeping Judgment, are high; he knows if such [Page 20] opportunities of breaking the league with sin, and making peace with God, be lost, nothing more kindles the wrath of God, to leave you for ever, that you may dye in your sins: this may make him swear in his wrath, I would have puri­fied thee: I hearkned, and heard, this Sabbath, and that Sermon, by former and latter calamities; when shall it once be? never, if not after this fire. They shall be smitten no more; they shall be a­wakened no more; sleep on now; but this know, your damnation sleepeth not. I called far and near; lowder, and low­der; all to no purpose. I'le hold my peace till the day I say, Go ye cursed into everlasting fire.

I hope, my dearly beloved Friends, you will take the course before pre­scribed, to prevent this sentence, and to escape that punishment; but if not, know assurely the fire of Wem was purposely to make the fire of Hell hotter than else it would have been. Can you bear with my using this sharpness? will ye indeed bear with me? I use it, because of my hearts desire unto God, that you [Page 21] may be saved. I love you, therefore you will bear with me; and therefore I warn you, saying, Miss the wise im­proving of this hour of fire, this firy try­al, and it may be as much as your im­mortal souls are worth.

Good sirs, good sirs, Do not return to folly again, lest Satan should beguile you of this golden opportunity, to work out your salvation with fear and trembling. O should I hear or see, that Wem, which hath been a boyling-pot over so fierce a fire, yet still doth retain her scum to mix and settle again; I should cry out, beware, there is death in the pot: Should I live again among you, though I should see goodlier houses, yet I would lye in ashes, if those that owned them did not more own Religion, and the good ways of God, than for some years before the fire they have done; if they did not return from their sins to the Lord, after they had so fallen by their iniquity. In the mean time, God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you, (till God open a door, that I might teach you the good and the right [Page 22] way) 1 Sam. 12.23, that the greatest sense of this dismal Fire may continue upon you, lest you come under the same condemnation with them, Psal. 28.5, They regard not the works of the Lord, nor the operation of his hands, there­fore we will destroy them. I need not tell you again, there is a worse Fire yet; the Fire that burns souls, is a thousand times worse than yours; yea, than that which must burn the World.

Let your fire put you in mind of that: Did you run to and fro in the streets, while the flame did fly as fast on the top of your houses, sighing, sobbing, and at last swooning? What Town so miserable as ours, for behold in one hour we are poor, and miserable, and naked? Was there at once a common screeking-cry? O my house is burnt, the cruel flames are eating quite up my habitati­on: All is gone, saith another; I am as poor as Job, saith a third; all undone, all undone. What a dreadful time and cry will that be then, when the whole world shall be burnt up? O what weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth will there [Page 23] be then, when the Lord shall come from Heaven in flaming fire, and render ven­geance to them that know him not, and obey not the Gospel of his Son; burning the World first, and then the Throne for Judgment shall be set (God knows where), that the wicked and unbeliev­ing inhabitants of all the earth, may be doomed and burnt with everlasting fire? Yours was a sad cry; at the general con­flagration it will be sadder; but the sad­dest, loudest and killing screek of all, will be at the pronouncing upon Reprobates that dreadful sentence, Go ye cursed into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.

I hope also by this Fire, you will be convinced as the people were, 1 Kings 18.38, 39. When the fire of the Lord fell, and consumed the sacrifice, with the wood, the stones, and the dust; took all, as yours did: They fell upon their faces, and said. The Lord, he is the God; the Lord, he is the God. So say you, verily there is a God that judgeth in the earth, that is long-suffering, but not ever suf­fering; who, if he be not sanctified by [Page 24] a people, will sanctifie himself upon that people. God will come and right him­self: although he may be slow, yet he will be sure; you have often heard by the hearing of the ear, that there is a great and terrible God; now your eye have seen, Oh fall down and kneel before everlasting burnings, and a consuming fire; the Lord of hosts, who hath all creatures of his Army to fight against them, that fight against him, will over­come when he judgeth. Fire and Wa­ter, Flies and Frogs, Men or Angels, good or bad, what Regiments he plea­seth to Muster and Commission, must and shall accomplish that whereto he send them. If God said to those Male-con­tents, Numb. 12.8, Were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses? one i [...] Commission under him: Well then must you be afraid to sin proudly and pre­sumptuously any more for ever agains [...] the Mighty God, and Lord of Hosts himself: Do not begin again to provok [...] him. I hope God hath put the sword up into the scabbard; and there it wil [...] rest and be still, if you do not draw it [...] [Page 25] [...] should be sorry, and tremble to hear [...]fter this fire, of any Flagrans peccatum, [...]. e. debauched practises to bear date af­ [...]er the 3d of March, 1676, [then that [...]ire was].

Upon your repentance you are purged from your old sins: God repents; and [...]s he repented, and said he would drown [...]he World no more; so if Wem thus sin [...]o more, then he will burn it no more. And therefore I beseech you prepare no fuel for a second burning; if you do, who knows the Power of Gods anger? he may second it with the second death. You must sin wickedly no more against a God that hath you at Command, to do with you in two Worlds what he will.

By the light of this Fire also you may see to write vanity and folly up­on all things in this life, and upon the [...]nordinate loving, caring, and seeking after them: that which did full your heads, and your hearts, imploy your hands, and six days in a week were too little for Body and Soul, to be extended to the utmost for them; but Gods day, [Page 26] and all must be taken in; the snatching flames have caught hold on, and they are yours no more. May not some Neighbours take one another by the hand, and bring them to their respective Ruines; and say, Neighbour, if that was a mans God he loved most, then here in this heap of rubbish and ashes lyes my God, to whom I did sacrifice, rising early, and lying down late: I see by this Fire my God was a dunghil God, and to the dunghil it must go. O the folly, the fol [...] of a mortal man, thus to busie an immortal soul, which is to stay in the body but a little while, and that a purpose to get grace, to make it meet for glory, to spend time and strength about that which is a heap of vanity; and which is worse, to purchase it with the hazard of everlasting happiness! Such a one is to purpose an Object of pity, whose riches are gone, but the sinful getting of them remains to be a witness against him, be­fore that Judg of quick and dead. For a man to get riches, and lose them, and after lose his soul for getting them, is desperate folly and madness, and the [Page 27] [...]orriblest cheat that the Devil can put [...]pon man; and therefore for time to [...]ome, I hope you will forsake him, and [...]ake the Scripture for your guide, for [...]eeking the things of this world, Matth. [...].33. John 6.27. To seek them for Gods sake, not for their own; because [...]e commands, and in the order he ap­points, giving them such estimations and [...]ffections, as he allows; and if you would do so my friends, and return in your du­ty and prime love to God, you would (had you little or much) live far hap­pier lives than if you should have for the future, much more than ever ye did possess.

I beseech you in dear compassion to your souls, take heed of chusing that way which makes the getting to Heaven so difficult, which is blockt up by the love and cares of this World.

I beseech you my dear Friends, joyn your earnest prayers with mine to God, to give you new hearts, that through his assisting grace, henceforward ye may seek the things that are above the fiery Region, things that ye cannot lose. [Page 28] You have lately experienced the sad di [...] appointment of laying up treasure [...] earth; the Scripture, when you have do [...] all, will prove your best counseller, [...] lay up your treasure in Heaven.

You have served a bad Master all th [...] while, Mammon hath put you all thi [...] while to drudg and labour in the Fire and now behold the fire hath devoure [...] your labour. I pray you now stedfast [...] resolve one by one, to change your Master, chuse God for your Master. Dot [...] not his word tell you, Him only mus [...] thou serve? This is your best Master return to him from whom thou hast ru [...] away ever since the Covenant thou mades [...] with him in baptism; pray him again to receive thee into his service, and thou shalt be sure of better work; yea, better and surer wages also. Is not this hi [...] Covenant with all his servants, not on­ly as Isa. 33.16. Thy meat shall be given thee, and thy drink shall be sure? But also to give thee grace and glory, and to withhold no good thing from thee: Do you not remember what hath been told you, and where, that God will be your [Page 29] Father, Christ your Saviour, the Holy Ghost your Comforter, Angels your Guardians, Saints your Companions, that Manna shall be your food, and like the Kings daughters, Psal. 45.13. Your cloathing shall be of wrought gold, the world shall be your servant, the Devil your slave, death shall be your friend, and heaven shall be your home? serve the King of Kings, and this shall be your [...]ire. Good sirs, will you with full pur­pose of heart resolve to serve a good God? It shall never repent you of his service, when you come to dye. O it [...]s brave resolving upon that which a man needs never repent of. I know it [...]rks you much, that you have risen early, [...]ayen down late to get something to­gether, which with bleeding hearts ye saw burning together. O foolish, and foolish again, have we all been, that our lusts should guide our lives, and order our labours! Now we see what's come on't, we were deaf to the word all this while, that cri'd, O ye fools, when will ye be wise? We hope through the blessing of God, this Fire was good to make us [Page 30] wise; and the Lord being with us, w [...] will make proof of it for time to come Now most amiable, true, and lovely Religion, the everlasting doors of our soul [...] are open to give thee entertainment We will set thee up, and thou wilt se [...] up our houses, or settle us in a house which we shall never go out of, after we are once in it. Now say one by one, let your souls say, I'le be servant to no creature on earth; I tell you I will serve the God of Heaven. My Maker shall be my Master, and then I am sure I am made for ever.

Well, my dearly beloved Friends, whose eternal happiness my soul indeed yearns after: you have resolved, now put your hands to the plow, and what your hearts find to do, do it with all your might; you must put your All to it, All is too little, yet the good God will graciously accept this little All. But let me tell you before-hand, there be some in the world that will give you discountenance and discouragement, that will think it strange that ye run not with them, as of old, to the same excess of [Page 31] [...]iot; that will persecute you by mock­ing (as Ismael did the Son by promise): What, you mean to grow pure after the Fire, do you? Thou that wast as honest a fellow as lived before, I know not what to make of thee now; I am afraid you will turn Changeling, and grow mad. I doubt you will not find me a false Prophet; you will, if you be real, be put to this test: you are permoniti, but are you permuniti? Do you know your posture and guard, if the sword of the tongue should make this pass upon you? Will you say, or to the same pur­pose thus: I did use to do so my self, time was; and that while, sure I was do­ing service under the Devil, whose great business in the World is to hurry some to Hell, and hinder others all he can from going to Heaven. But these things do not move me now, I thank God that ego non sum ego, here am I, but not the same. I am resolved to serve God if I dye for't; I shall dye the worst of deaths if I do not; I am sure there is none so wicked as to except against him, who said, Away from me, for I will keep the Commandments of [Page 32] my God; and why then against me, for saying with the same heart, the same words? jeer me for this, and jeer the Scripture, and none but Devils in the shape of men dare do so. Let men con­tinue to be godly, till I reproach them for their godliness, for time to come.

Well then, having this encourage­ment, I call you all together; and desire you to make profession what you will do to glorifie God and save your Souls. Shall one speak for all, and the rest say, Amen? He that speaketh for you, me­thinks says in the sincerity of his heart, as Paul, I was a blasphemer, I was a Persecutor, I was injurious, I was this and that, and what not? to demon­strate the heart of man to be deceitful above all things, and desperately wick­ed: but God in mercy did bring this late Fire to enlighten me: what he did upon mine, was but a means; his end was me: He would have me see one Fire, that I might never feel another. I thank God for ever, it was a good Fire for me; I find, (as Sampson's Rid­dle [Page 33] hath it) Judg. 14.14, out of the eater comes meat. The Fire, like Pha­roah's lean kine, did eat all the fat of my substance; but it made ready the Passover for me, and I have eaten the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the World. And now I will tell you what I will do for this God, who while I thought he was undoing me, hath done so much for me. I will re­ceive him into my heart, and walk wor­thy of him in my life; and if ever God send me a new house (if ever I have one, it must be of Gods sending; as Ahasuerus did command the Governors, Neh. 2.8, to supply Nehemiah, that he might build; so God must command his Almoners concerning Wem, that it be built also) I will dedicate it to the ho­nour of God, in my calling and rela­tion: What was Joshuah's resolution, shall be mine; As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord: My serving of God in his House, will be but a mock-service, if I do not serve him in my own. There will I pray and not be ashamed; I will rejoyce with singing, [Page 34] and this shall be the burthen of my Song, For his mercy endureth for ever. God might have said, Ashes to Ashes, House and Houshould burn together. [The Fire began at eight at Night] If it had kindled in the dead of the Night, we might have been presently in the chambers of Death. It is a night there­fore much to be observed to the Lord, a Night from which we may date our new life; there was nothing but this caused joy in the Morning, after hea­viness enduring all Night, but that we had our lives for a prey, when we saw no houses left; yet what cause of a­doring with thankfulness, that we were all alive before the Lord then our selves!

And doth not this lay an eternal ob­ligation to serve him, who was the preserver of us, our wives and little ones? After such deliverance as this given to us, shall we again provoke him? Can we expect to escape another time, if we should slight so great salva­tion? Make vows and pay them, serve God at home, and serve him in the Congregation, keep his Sabbath, be a­fraid [Page 35] because of the power, when the Magistrate shall contend with you, as Nehem. 14.17, and say, what evil is this that ye do, and profane the Sabbath? I am afraid Sabbath-sins have been a chief cause of consuming the Timber, with the Stones of thousands of goodly Houses in England within these few years. How many in Shropshire? where many Fires have been kindled and burning up­on the Lords day; so in the great City, and other great places in the Nation. Keep within (on the Lords day) your own, and Gods house, to keep out the flying Roll, and the burning Curse. O that all places round about might have a pattern of Universal Reformation, in Wem, as well as an instance of doleful Desolation! And therefore how much doth it stand our Ministers upon, to walk circumspectly, to preach powerfully, to preach, as if they would save themselves, and them that hear them? As they know they are directed by their Superiors to pray; so they must know it will be ex­pected one day from the great shepherd, that by Life and Doctrine they set forth [Page 36] Gods true and lively word. Thou that teachest another, teachest thou not thy self? Are such like to prevail with o­thers to bear heavy burthens, when they that bind them, will not touch them themselves? The Prophet Isaiah thought otherwise, and therefore would not give the people Precepts without joyning his own examples, Isa. 2.5, O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the Lord. Good Ministers say their people shall not go to Heaven a­lone, they will go with them, and be their leaders: that Church had but a name to live, whose Angel was dead. If the Minister be dead, how should the people be lively?

My beloved Friends, God sent this Fire to awaken us all; Three Fires in Wem, in three quar­ters of a year. Ministers and People, watch therefore against all sin, to all duty; you will say they are incorrigible offen­ders, who will commit iniquity to be punished by the Judges, after they are once burnt in the hand; What mercy can you expect from your Judg, who [Page 37] have been burnt thrice? God expects superlative sufferers, should be ever after incomparable reformers, and to have no more to do with the unfruitful works of darkness. We read in the Gospel, the last shall be first. Who knows but by the power and grace of God, scoffers of godliness, having now known the terrour of the Lord, may be the first to encourage and promote it! He that made so good a Paul, of so vile and wicked a Saul, can do this: when men have been melted in such a Fire, they may be moulded and fashioned by him who made all things, vessels of Honour fit for their Masters use. Could I see this, that one hours burning hath done more for con­viction and Reformation, than twenty years preaching, I would say, God spake to such out of the Fire indeed. By this Fire God hath laid a deep Foundation, and if you be not wanting to your selves, you may build high, and make Wem a place of Renown. If you would take my counsel, it should be this; presently get the start of all places about you, and set up the Staple-trade of practical god­liness; [Page 38] there is such a mystery in this Trade, that it would make you all pre­sently rich: you would have the blessings of the upper and nether springs, and your latter end like Job's, would be far better than your beginning. Wem hath ever wanted a good Trade; I am sure this course will bring one. Scripture rules and examples will direct you in this Practise of Piety; be much therefore in reading the sacred Book; other books may be of great use, but this is of infal­lible verity; let the word of Christ therefore dwell richly in you, in all Wis­dom, Teaching and Admonishing one another: Love as brethren and com­panions in Tribulation; let all bitterness, envy, and malice, be put away. Seek not your own things, but every one ano­thers good: grudg not brethren one against another: live in peace, and the God of peace be with you, Take heed in the last place of grudging and murmur­ing against God: God will not be cal'd in question for any of his works. All souls are his, and so are all houses to; let him do his pleasure to one or t'other, who [Page 39] shall say unto him, what dost thou? You must needs say he hath punished you less than ye do deserve, and then there is no wrong done; stand still and see the Pro­vision God will make for you: if you will vow to God, that when he shall again build your houses, you will write Holi­ness to the Lord, over your doors, God will delight over you to do you good. Wem shall flourish; and men did not so much marvel at its desolation, but they shall as much admire your restauration: But if you fulfill the Proverb, 2 Pet. 2.22, The dog is returned to his vomit, and the sow to the wallowing in the mire, I tremble to think what will befal you in the latter end; but I hope better things of you, things that accompany salvation.

I shall forbear (because my Letter hath gteaten'd beyond my first intention) to write to them whose Houses and Goods were preserved from being consumed by this dreadful Fire; because there is a book Printed in 67, called Counsel to the Afflicted, will give them better ad­vice than I can, which begins at pag. 293, [Page 40] which book some of their Neighbours can, and will willingly accommodate them with the reading of, and any others may have it, I suppose, at Mr. Parkhursts at the Bible and Three Crowns in Cheap­side, London.

And now my Friends, I commend you all to the grace of God, whom I beseech to comfort you under your present grievous Afflictions; which I doubt not of, if you will but hear his voice, which crys aloud unto you, Micah 6.9, Hear the rod, and who hath appointed it. And put in practise this Counsel given in much love to your souls, from the unworthiest of Christs Servants, sometime yours,

POssibly this Letter may come into more hands besides theirs, to whom [...] have particularly written, who have al­so suffered in like manner with them. Where ere it comes, I shall follow it with my Prayers, that it may contribute something to revive the sense in all places (which are not a few in England these [...]ate years) people had, when the heavy hand of God by Fire was upon them. Great judgments are to be kept in remem­brance, and to be improved for promo­ [...]ing repentance, and the fear of God all our days; yea, the memory of them should be conveyed to posterity after us; as Joel 1.3, Tell your children, and let your children tell their children. Men think unworthily of Gods Judgments, if they suppose they are only to be regarded a few days.

Men and Brethren, who have suffered by so great and unusual Fires as have been in our Land: What were your thoughts when your eyes were sadly beholding those terrible flames? Were they not such [Page 42] as these? We have anger'd the great an [...] terrible God, whose fury hath broke [...] out in these terrible flames. Wo unto u [...] we must repent, or else our souls and bodies, as well as our houses and goods, wil [...] be also as dry stubble to this Consuming Fire. Lord what wilt thou hav [...] us to do? We will sin no more, but offe [...] our bodies and souls a living and acceptable sacrifice to God for ever.

It cannot be hurtful, it may be profitable, if I (the unfittest of those that mak [...] mention of the Lord), be your remembrancer of these promises made to God i [...] the day of your distress; the word is gon [...] out of your mouth, and recorded in Hea­ven, and ye cannot go back.

It is therefore your wisdom, and mus [...] be your chiefest care, that these bonds b [...] taken up; and that payment be made o [...] these vows, lest execution be taken out o [...] the Court of Heaven, and a worse thing come unto you, than the dreadful Fir [...] could procure; there can be no security against greatest fears and dangers, till Gods anger be turned away so long as his hand is stretched ou [...] [Page 43] still, past misery may be but the begin­ning of future sorrows.

As a Minister of the Catholick Church, I have Authority from Christ to speak, if I could, to the whole Nation, or where­ever he hath a Church in the World, be­ing call'd thereto; but if I had opportuni­ty, and power answerable to desire, I would chiefly, if not only, confine my self to put those places and people where the merciless Fire hath been so raging for a few years past, in remembrance, whether they have answered the call of God, when he cry'd then so loud. O Drayton, New-port, Marlborough, London, Northhampton, Southwark, with many other places of note in England, which have suffered the vengeance of fearful Fire; you were once in ashes, have you repented in dust and ashes?

I make no question, but your respective Ministers cryed aloud, calling you to re­pentance (the main Errand which my Letter goes on) as seasonably, but much more powerfully than I have done to the place and people I once belonged to.

But Men and Brethren, what answer [Page 44] and return? Methinks God hath pickt out these and other burnt places (the light of whose flames was seen all the Countrey over) to be the purest and visiblest pat­terns of Piety towards God, and sobriety towards men, of all places in this King­dom; and if they should not prove such, should I speak too hardly, if I did adven­ture to say, it shall be more tolerable in the day of Judgment for any other place in the Kingdom, than for these?

What can be said for these places, when Christ speaketh, saying, What could I have done more?

You would not be reasoned, which my faithful Ministers did wisely and earnestly attempt; no, nor be burnt out of your sins, which the power of my anger, and my out-stretched arm attempted also.

Beloved Christians, you have been pul'd out of the Fire, but were you puri­fi'd in the Fire? Have you testifi'd the truth of your repentance, for those sins that were the chief fuel for the fire which the wrath of the Lord did kindle? Have you testifi'd indeed the sincerity of this repentance, as the believing Corinthians [Page 45] did, 2 Cor. 7.11, as all the Saints recorded in Scripture, did by reformation of life?

This Nation is sick, and ready to dye for want of repentance and reformation. God hearkens, and hears; men look and enquire from one end of the Kingdom to another; who shall begin, be the first, and best example of this real, univer­sal, and effectual reformation; that Eng­land, though it droops, may not dye.

Sure these great places, who all had this loud call from Heaven, God calling out of the Fire unto them, are to be first. I am sure God expects and designs such so to be. Joel 2.3, 12. The Fire devoured before, and the voice of the Lord comes after, saying, Turn unto me with fasting, weeping, and mourning.

So when the Citys of Judah were burnt with Fire, the design of God was, that the filth of the daughter of Zion should be cast away, Isa. 1.7. God hath the same ex­pectations from you, O people, whom the Fire of the Lord hath destroyed, and laid waste. Hath God ever since waited for this? when shall it once be? O give not God occasion to speak of you, as he [Page 46] did of Judah, Amos 4.10, Ye were as a brand pluckt out of the burning, yet have ye not returned unto me.

Though Judah thus offended by being incorrigible, O let not cause be given for God to set this brand upon you! He had you in the Fire to melt you under his hand, to work you up to his good plea­sure; but you failed his expectation as much as they did, Zeph. 3.6, 7.

But I hope better things from these places who have passed through the Fire. I hope then they pray'd effectually, like David, O God create in us new hearts, that we might lead new lives, and walk in a perfect way in our new houses, that we might sin no more, that so we might be burnt no more. Which shall be the earnest prayer also of their souls well-wisher,