the World say of us, but that we are a People of a base and ungrateful Genius, whom no Goodness can endear or oblige? And what may we expect from God, but that, as a juft Retribution for our black Ingratitude, he fhould make us feel the fmart of all thofe barbarous Tyrannies andOppreffions which hitherto we have unjustly complained of? Wherefore, unless we intend to render our felves both infamous to Men, and odious to God, let us chearfully comply with this great Precept of our Religion, Let every Soul of us be Subject to the higher Powers, forasmuch as the Pomers that are, are ordained of God. ASER A SERMON PREACHED Before the Right Honou rable the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Citizens of London, at Saint Mary le Bow, Sept. 2. 1686. S John V. 14. Behold, thou art made whole, fin no more, left a worse thing come unto thee. T HESE Words are the Advice of our Saviour to the impotent Man, whom he miraculously cured after he had long waited to no purpofe at the Pool of Bethesda: And feriously when I confider the miferable State to which this ancient City was reduced by the late ftupendious Fire, and the fince glorious Recovery of it out of its mighty Heap of Ruins, it seems to me an exact Emblem of this poor Patient in my Text. With him, not long ago, it was reduced to a wretched impotent Condition; its goodly Piles lay Bed-rid in their own fad Ruins, almoft defpairing of Recovery, and the utmoft that humane Prudence could hope, was that the next Age might fee their Refurre Єtion. S 2 259 Єtion. But by the miraculous Courage and Industry with which God inspired their former Inhabitants, behold they are raised again within a few Years more Glorious and Magnificent than ever; and we that faw their Defolations, and were almost ready to give them over for irreparable, have lived to fee them rife again in State and Splendor out of their Ashes. And now that our City is revived again, and flourishes in perfect Health and Vigour, methinks I hear the God of Heaven befpeak her, as our Saviour did his recovered Patient in the Text, Go thy way, and fin no more, left a worse thing come unto thee. In which words you have, I. A Caution, Sin no more. 1. Behold, thou art made whole. I. I begin with the first of these, Sin no more. Which words plainly imply that he had been a Sinner heretofore; and that because he had so, therefore he was reduced to that wretched |