MiitcUm9, FOR THECENTISEL. [Ths foUo-.vinr^ Lir.ty was wrote aiiJ pr.blifl^eJ imrr.e- ♦iLiicly afte«' the jrrcMt fue, March 20> i ';6o, and is now rei)ubiilhid as a;),>lickbie to the late Coaflagratiou.j TME uncertainty of h'ltnan life, the tranfitory nature and continual /iciriitudes olthis jiref^nt ftateof hei-ijj rnul of all cnjoymsiils and poireliions in it, are truths fu \vcll knTfv/n to every tljaug'tful pcrfi)n,an-i haveioofiea been the fuhjeifls of j-.uliciduS u'j'itcrs in all ages, that the rtronq;;;ft invention c.in perhaps fcarctfi 'id any thing nevv Ff) otfir, and a m-^v'cll Mdfe wiih reluf^ance undertakes ths 'chcTie : Vet f.ich is the frailty of human nature, that \vi)cn a fuJden Cataftrophe furrbunwls us themmd is fuu- . tercu' and difconc^rted, and does not r;:aJily collefl th.)fe reflections fiiiiable to the ()ccafi.>n, (>r elle by Jibing been ufed ro negie6l ^-.vi'i refiici'Vtons, froTi a con-oeption that tiiey mud needs flo'.v natarally fiom fucllcr^laniities a*. Ihnuld produce I hern, the rr.itid ttiroi^gh- tiifiife, may not int^meJiateiy conceive them v/Iien v.-:intv-d. It is tru;, llie voice of nature has always hstn rhe fame, is continually foanuing, and ur.uerftond by all ; yet .Aran29 to fay, what we he^r t!ic ofteneft, we attend to the leaA. and wliat wc are fhe mod certain of, we give j the Icafl: heed to j but there are times when g^'nl proti- I dence fends a Insider fummons by, th:* flrnnles of nature^! ?^'^C\ prj';laim3 thc)rctruth firil difcoverec!, and the town r.l.-^rmed ^vith ;.n oiit-cry ; the inlia')itants u-ere fpeedi'y colied^ed, and though t!ie fire was f!)u:id in the cell.lr of a brick, [iouft^ yet it fo^jn eat tlirongh '.ts jirifon ; tlie wind hlowiiig frelli iirgsd on the flames, and witii furprifing fury tliey ravaged in fpite of all oppofition or means to fni^prefs iham ; the cintkrs and burning ruins v/crc carried to the IcewardmoO: part of the town, by means of vvhich fonie who thought tliemfelves in noda.', the tender father, the obliging friend, and a goad commonwealths-man ; but their halntations, as with one fwsep .of a fcy:!ie, are nil cut off, and they thrown on the cliarity of their I'riends : And is this all } Alas thereaie ilill moreheari- j)iercing fcer.es ; walk through the ruin?, and take a n-.ore particular account ; here lived t!ie laborious tradef. m.\n, on whofs daily imiuftry depended the fuftenance t)f ."i i»iim3rous family ; there lived one wliofe ciicum- Itances were flraitened with poverty, and diftruired by ficknefs : her? 'iresi one jnfl en^cij^mg fvC>'Ti indigence, atld reaplngthe firil fruits of honsfl indp.ury ; there livftd thofc whofe comfoi table circumllances arvoided a refuge for the needy; and an habitation for t!ie friendlefs ; here lived th.'>fe whofe fabfiflence depended on their fituation for bafuiefs ; rhere lived tliofe whofe all was ip their houfes, and here thofe who are ftill unhappily anfwera- *blc for all they toil j there lived, and there v/as the fub- fiftencti of thtt ag-e Dsheia^fioat.ng to the Ikv were at onceemU .n a irnl of our poheffions ;uul dechM-:.tivec;f their loft>: But wl.at fny thefe mighty vu- im ' they ihew ir. r.t how uncertain atenure we hold oar e.-.jnyments, foi" next ur/aer a fovereign prov.dence we feem indent-' J even to the ftahility of the wind that it d,d not v.ry nnd roll the fiames over tlie whole town. W uU j how much eafe then can we fhifc the fcene ana fuppofe ourklves in the fituation of the prefent d.ftrcned ; v.'.u, iloareoKlnefs, orvi&ilaoce that protcaccMis Andi being d.ftrovcd, we ([umh\ have f^l^. <^^>™' ',^'^"','^'2 [^ narrou ly favcd can we fail tc meU ^vith fympathy ? and if ever the gohlan rule was capable of a benevolent appii- catinn the moll infenfiblc muft now feci it, aud the n.oit hardened put it in pr-aaice ; and he who on this occa- fum docs hot beftow bonatifnlly to the relief of the immc- I diate fufferers, mufl eitherflatter himfelf with fome pe- culiar infaU.ble protcaion, or being defnerate in RidJinefs, bid a bold defiance to all calamity. Nor can any one, though nut immediately expofed to this dearu^ion, r:rino' ciiftant frcm this capital, furmifethat they have no p:m in its general admonition ; 'tis nature's voice that well known herald of the Almighty which tho' It be rvaw uttered here, yet echoej every where ; 'tis but onel.ilhofthaiamazin- fcourge, branthfhed by the hand of vcngoancr, agair.ft a guilty world ; the fame f^re may parch uo that land which it does not coniumc, and e-^uhqaakes'make iis defolation vVorfc than t!ie prefent; if theiefore we are common tenants of a flate vanegatejl with joy nnd forrow, merhiaks '^is natural we Ihould m f^^,.' m^^(utc Ihare the good of it. which we all want, feeing we are equally expofed to the evils of it, under '\ which we all dcfue to be i cUeycd. _ &' rry fc/al, whnta t!iou?ht arifes ! can it v/ith truth be ;' faidV thaany in luirnHn lliare, though their d^Uy lupport ,' were robbery, ftould lurk for thr confuGonot a public calam- '" iiy, and plunder the property of the difeelled ; or^that any fter cool deliberation, upon wh;itloevei- pretence ci- ;it"vr pirblichlyorFrivrit I'y difcountenance that relief to the M diftrelTed vhich we rr.av all at fo.ne time want.and which hu- k inanity fuggefts ? forbid it hcav:n ! . i\ Alas, wefojourn inavdcqf fears, forrovv on every lici. r; furroundsus, and tails f.-)r thofe duties xvhich v/e feci im- '"''preffed in out natures, daties fo endehably engraven, th>t a heathen faid, " m nothing do we mors imrr.iiate the inlnior- tal Gods, than in doing adls of Irindnefs," tlu voice of reve- (htion is ftill more explicit, and (o plain, that be who run? 'ra^yread. PofTcffions take to themfelves win?s ; to what purpolc is it then, that we dillrefs, perplex and corrupt nur minds in i^etting wealth, the pofTcfnon of which is fo preca- rions ? With what face can ws fwell with the conceit of riches .and aifumc airs of importance, difdain, opprefs, ind lyran- 'i nire over lhr>lc bcp.eaih us (perhaps only) in lortunc, vvhen a few hours may fet us all on a level ? Hew much does it become 11^ while in sfRuence to demean ouiielvej with liH.h honelty, humanity and beneficence, as that if calamity Oiould over- take u-;, v/e may ftand ccnfcfTcdly the worthy ob-edts of nc«d- : ful relief? Mcthinks this cntaikophe is big with inftrue ? for as our pof- if-lTior^s are net fccuicd by ourowr finzle carelulnefc, the duty ...Ithcrclore becomes general j and may I be permitted to take -a ijbint from Ihi: dreadful defolation, and point it forth as an [.(emblem of that di^lruaion, which the pajions whcs Ir.l Icofc [Jprod'.'.ce in hun^an minds 5 when the firft cy.cefs is not (up- Inreffed, like the htt f re :hcy ravage, incre vie by runninp,and Jmay dcrtroy everv t^ .g valudblc in the mind ; m-y entirely I drip us of that real v :afurc which only can ftand us in itead llvvhen a greater conflagration (hall fciic this earth, when wc 1 {Irall be as little anxin i<; to fave our lives, s.s many Utcly I were to favc their wcrHly poiTe(t]ar.s. "■ ' / ^ ^ god's Hand and Providence to be reli- gioufly acknowledged in public Calamities, SERMON Occasioned bv The Great Fire IN BOSTON,NEW.ENGLAND, Thurfday March 20. 1760* And preached on the LORDVDAY following. By JONATHAN MATHETF, D. D. Paftor of the WiST-Church in Boston. \ - BOSTON: Printed by Richard Draper, in Newbury-Streec,' Edes and Gill, in Queen-Street, and Thomas and John Fleet, in Cornhill. 1760. -i-^ A Sermon occafioned by the Fire in Boston, MARCH 1760. AMOS III. 6. SHALL there he evil in a city^ and the LORD hath not done it P WHAT devaftation have we lately feen made in a few hours I How many houfes, and other buildings, fuddenly confumed I How much wealth deftroyed I How many un- happy families, rich and poor together, left deftitute of any habitation, except thofe which cither private friend fhip, or public charity fupplied ! What diftrefs in every face ; lome mourning their own unhappy lot, others tenderly fympathizing with them ; and none knowing when, or where, the wide defolation would germinate ! «* AFFLICTIOje 6 A Sertnon occajtoned by the ** Afflxction Cometh not forth of the duft, nei# " ther doth trouble fpring out of the ground •/' to be fure, not fuch trouble and affliflion as this ; a calami* ty, fo great and extenfive ! This is a vifitation of pro- vidence, which demands a ferious and religious con- fideracion. And it is with a view to lead you into fome proper reflexions on this melancholy occafion, that I have chofen the words read, for the fubjcft of my difcourfe at this time : *' Shall there be evil in a city," faith the prophet, " and the LORD hath not " done it ?" It is to be obferved, that altho' thefc words bear the form of a queftion, the defign of them is ftrongly to aflert, that there is no evil in a city, which theLord hath not done. Interrogatory forms of expreffioa, are often to be thus underftood : I mean, as the moft peremptory, and aniaiated kind of affirmations. Thus, for example, when it is demanded — " Can a man take " fire in his bofom, and his cloaths not be burnt ?" i* Every on.e underftands this, as equivalent to aflerting the impoflibility hereof in the ftrongeft terms. So, when it is afked, '* Can a man be profitable unto " God ? — Or is it gain to him, that thou makeft thy " ways perfed ? Will he reprove thee for fear of " thee.^"* A peremptory denial of thefe leveral things, is univerfally underflood by thofe queftions. As if it had been faid. Verily, a man cannot be profita- table unto God ! Sec. And when, after a reprefenta- tion of the great wickednefs and depravity of the Jcwifh nation, it is immediately fubjoined, " Shall I *^ not vifit for thefe things ? fakh the Lord : Shall ** not my foul be avenged on fuch a nation as this?*'1l It is equivalent to a pofitive denunciation of the divine vengeance againfi; that finful people : and evert more exprefTive, than if it had been faid directly ^— I will V*- fiC t Prov. VL 27. * Job KXII. 7, 3, ^, I J-r. V. 29. Fire in Bofton, March 1760, f ik for thefe things : My foul fiiall be avenged on fueh a nation as this. This would have been com- paratively a cold, unanimated way of fpeaking ; far' Icfs adapted to make an imprcflion on the reader or- hearer, than the other. 'The manner of exprefiion in the text, is obvioufly the fame with that, in the paffages quoted above; be- ing more forcible than a fimpie affirmation would have- been, without fome note of afleverarion preceeding. It is as if it had been faid. Verily, or, furely, there \% no evil in a city, and the Lord hath not done it. However, to prevent a dangerous error here, it muft be particularly remember'd, that by " evil " in the text, is not meant moral evil, or fin ; but only natural, viz, pain, afflidion and calamity. It cannot be fuppofed, that the prophet intended to attribute any other evil to God, as the author of it, befides the lat- tser. ** Far be it from God^ that he (liould do wick- ** edly •, and from the Almighty, that he fhould per* " vert judgment !'* Nor can the finful and evil anions of men, properly be attributed to him ; or to any over-ruling providence of his, confidered as their im- pulfivc caufe, or as making them become neceflary. *^ Let no man fay [therefore] when he is tempted, ** 1 am tempted of God : for God cannot be tempted •* with evil, neither tempteth he any man. But every ** man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own •* luft, and enticed. Then when luft hath conceived, '* it bringcth forth fin.'*-t* This is the account which the apoftle gives of the origin of fin, or m^ral evil ; beyond which, if we pretend to go, in the w^y of fpe* culation and refinement ; we fhall probably, at befl:, only amufe ourfelves, and perhaps not be innocent. If God is not properly faid, even to " tempt *' men to t James I. 13, 14, i^. 8 A Sermon occajioned hy the to do evil ; much lefs can it be truly faid, that he compels them to do it, by any fecret energy, or ope- ration, of his. We are doubtlefs, therefore, to under- ftand the prophet as fpeaking here, only of natural evil, in contradiflindlion from moral : So that it will amount to this, that God is the author of all thofe calamities and fuflPerings, which at any time befal a city, or community. They are not to be looked on as the efFe(fks of chance, or accident 5 which are but empty names ; but as proceeding ultimately from him, the fupreme governor of the world ; and this, even tho' they are more immediately and vifibly ow- ing to the folly, or vice and wickednefs, of men. To fay, In this fenfe, that there is no evil in a city, which the Lord hath not done, is indeed no more, in efFedt, than to aflert the univerfal government and providence of God •, which, I fuppofe, we all believe, whatever difficulties may attend our fpeculations on the fubje(5l. If God is the fupreme ruler of the world, and exercifeth luch a univerfal government over it, as the fcriptures every where fuppofe and teach, and as nothing but folly or impiety can deny ; he mufl, in fome fenfe, either mediately or immediately, be the author rf whatever events come to pafs in it. We cannot fuppofe that there are any evils, or calamities, whether public or private, in the production whereof he has no concern, and which he did not defign, with- out a partial denial of his dominion and providence. For if any events come to pafs, contrary to, or befide his defign, or without, and independently of him ; his dominion is not an univerfal dominion, nor does his kingdom rule over all, as the fcriptures aflert. Thefe events, if any fuch there arc, are plainly exceptions to the univerfality of his government ; being, according to the fuppofition itfclf, fuch as were neither done, nor ordered Fire In Bofton, March 1760. ordered by him. But furely no man but an athiefl, cr at lead one who difbelieves the holy fcriptures, can think there are really gny fuch events. It is not Icfs a diiflate of reafon, than it is a do(5tfine of fcripture, that as all things have one common Creator, they are all Iubje6l to one common Lord, and under one fu- preme adminiftration •, fo that nothing doe?, cr caa come to pafs, but in conformity to his will, either pofi- tive or permifTive. The denial of which mufl: termi- nate, not merely in the denial of a univerfal fuper- intending providence, but of one or other of God's attributes i either his omnifcience, or his omnipotence, if not of both. Some public calam/ities are indeed, as was intimated above, more immediately and vifibly the Lord's do- ings than others. He is, how^ever, to be acknowledg- ed as the author of them all in general ; not excepting thofe which are brought upon us by the inftrumen- tality of fubordinate agents. Thefe are all fubjedt to his dominion and controul, and dependent upon him in their various operations ; at leaft fo far that they can do us no harm, but by his will and confent. It may be thought indeed by feme, that God is more properly faid only to permit, than to be himfelf the author of thofe evils, whether public or private, which are brought upon us immediately by inferior agents ; or thro* the wicked devices and practices of men. It is not worth while to difpute this point, which is rather a quel^ion of words and names, than of things. For it muft be obferved, that when the word permiflion is ufed in this cafe, it implies in it a w"'ll and defign, that the things permitted fliould ac- tually come to pafs. When God is faid to permit any thing, the meaning hereof is not merely this, that 10 A Sermon oCcofiomd hy the he does not prevent it ; for in this fenfc, we alfo might be ftid to permit whatever happens thro'ought the univerf:*, tho' it were not in our power to prevent it : The impropriety of which way of fpeaking, would be obviour^ to all. When we fpeak of God's permitting things, we mean that he does fo, knowingly and Voluntarily, having at the fame time power to prevent them, if he pleafed. He might doubtlefs, if he pleafed, prevent them by an immedate interpofi- tion ; or he might have originally predifpofcd and or- dered things otiierwife, and in fuch a manner, that thefe partic'jlar events fhould never have come to pifs. For which reafon, God's permitting them, ieems to amount to a pofitive will, or determination, that they fhould conie to pafs \ or at lead, not to differ very materially herefrom. - Bur not to enter into any niceties upon a fubjecfV, fo intricate in its nature \ I (hall content my felf with obferving here, that, in the language of fcripture, God is not faid to perm/it, but to do, thofe things in general, which come to pafs under his government, evil as well as good. " I am the Lord, faith he, and *' there is none elfe : I form the light, and create *' darknefs : I make peace, and create evil •, I the " Lord do all thefe things."t The fcriptures do not fpeak of God as an unconcerned, or inaflive fpeftator, of any events \ but as the author of them •, and particularly the author of all the calamities whifh befal manliind. Only we are to take heed, that we do not fo conceive of his over-ruling providence, as to make him the author, or approver, of mens finful a(5lions. We are to afcribe to him the nioft univerfal dominion and agency, confident with this ncceffary caution, or limitation. I fay, confident with this •, left Ave fliould be chargeable with blafpheming God, un- der t ffai. XLV. 6. 7. Fire in Boflon, March 1760. 1 1 der the fhew and appearance of doing honor to him. And fome there are, who could not perhaps eafily acquit themfelves of this charge, in refpe^t of the man- ner in which they exprefs themfelves on the fubje(5t of God's providence and decrees. But to wave every thing of a controverfial nature, for which this is not, to be fure, a proper occafion ; let me here jufl: mention a few of thofe many pub- lic calamities, which God brings upon mankind from age to age. For the ways are numerous, in which he manifefls his righteous difpleafure againfi; finful nations ; and many the evils which he brings on wicked cities and communities, from one gene- ration to another. He fitteth upon the circuit of the earth ; and all nations] are before him lefs than nothing and vanity. All things are fubjeft to his controul ; and he makes ufe of them in various ways, to accompliih the defigns of his providence. Fire and hail, fnow and vapour, and ftormy winds, fulfil his pleafure : and the ftars in their courles, at his command, fight againft his enemies. God fometimes lays cities defolate by the fword of their enemies. Numberlefs inftances hereof are parncularly recorded in facred flory. And this is one of the ways, in which God has often threatncd to chaftize a wicked and rebellious people. This threatning was executed in a moft terrible manner, even on his chofen people Ifrael, after thay had filled up the meafure of their iniquities : when Jeru- falem v/as turned into an heap of ruins by the Ro* mans, whom he armed and fent againfi it. At other times God manifefls his righteous dif- pleafiire againft wicked cities and countries, by fa- B z mine. 7 2 A Sermon occafmied by the riiine. Thus he reminds his people Ifrael, for their warning, of what he h d formerly done againft thera in this way ; and reproves them for their (lubborn- nefs under his afHi£liag hand. *' I have given you ** cicannefs of teeth in all your cities, and want of '* bread — I have wiihholden the rain from you, when *' there were yet three months to the harveft : And *^ I caufed it to rain on one city, and caufed it not *' to rain on another city — Lhave fmitten you with *' blaPiing and mildew. When your gardens and '' vineyards, and your fig-trees, and olive-trees in- '' creaied^ the palmer- worm devoured them : yet ye " have not returned unto me, faith the Lord |" The peRilence Is another of thofe terrible judg- ments, by which God fometimes lays cities and coun- tries dcfolate. The Ifraeiites were often puniflied for their fins in this way, as they had been before threatned. '' I have fcnt amongfl: you the pefti- *' lencc", faith God to them, " after the manner of " Kgypt — and have made the (link of your camps ''' to come up unto your noflrils : yet have ye not '' returned unto me." Many cities have been deflroyed by terrible earth- quakes ; fbme intirely ; and others fo far, as to be 1 ailing mo uments of God's righteous difpleafure. O.MiTTiN'G innumerable other calamities and judg- ment?, by vv'l^ich God makes known his vi-rath againft wicked cities; I fliall here only fubjoin that of defo- lating fire. Tlras God threatned the king of Baby- Ion of old. '' Behold, I nm againfl thee, O thou ^' moft proud, faith the Lord God of hoHs : for *' thy day is come, and the time that I will vific ^' the — And I v.ill kindle a fire in his cities, and it \^ fhall f Amos Ch:ip IV. Fire in Bodon^ March 1760. 13 " fhall devour round about liimf. " How many cities have been thus laid in ruins ? fome by fire from heaven, or mighty tempefts of thunder and lightning, as Sodom and Gomorrha : Of which cities it is faid, that they are '^ fet forth for an example, " fuffering the vengeance of eternal fire ; called eternal, becaufe thofe cities were never rebuilded, buc remained to all generations the monuments of God's wrath. But thofe fires by which God deilroys, -or forely chafiizes, proud and wicked cities, are not always thus kindled from heaven, as it v/ere imme- diately by the breath of God. They are more fre- quently lighted up by other means ; either by treach- erous intelline enemies with d^fign, or accidentally by other perfons. But by whatever means it comes to pafs, it is not done but by the will and appoint- ment of God, who over-rules all thefe events, and has, doubtlefs, important ends to accompliih by the til. * Alas 1 t Jer. L. 3i> 32. * One of the greatelt and mod terrible fires known, was that of London in the reign of Charles II. A. D. 1666. Of which the reader may pieafe to take the following account, extracted from Dr. Smoliett'sGompleat Hiitory of England. " About this period, fays be, London was expofcd to a ter- rible difafter from a conflagration which broke out on the third day of September, in the houfe of a baker. The flames, aug- mented by a flrongly eafterly wind, raged with furprifing vio- lence. They deUroyed fix hundred ftreets, including eighty- nine churches, many hofpitals and public edifices, and thirteen thoufand two hundred private houfes. The ruins comprehen- ded four hundred and thirty-fix acres of ground. The con- fligraiion coutinued three days, notwithftanding all the endea» voars that could be ufed to (top its progrefs, the king and duke afTuling perfonally on horfe-back, from the firft alarm to its total ceffation. At length, when all hope had vaniflicd, and sh3 wretched inhabitants were overwhelmed with conftcrnation and 14 A Sermon Qccaftoned by the Alas ! "We need not go to didant countries for examples of calamities of this kind. This capital of the province has feveral times fuffeied feverely by means of ^\^q : Particularly about fifty years ago, when a coniiderable part of the tov/n was reduced to ruins f . Since which there have been divers de- flruftive iires in the town, tho' all of them far lefs extenlive and ruinous. All of them, I mean, except- ing that of the laft week, which was doubtlefs by far ..the moO: terrible vifitation of the kind, that ever it experienced j whether we confider the number of the buildings, the value of the effefls confumed, or the multitude of people reduced to v/ant and mifery hereby. Some perfons of eafy, comfortable fortunes, arc brought at once into a itate of depen- dence but little better than that of beggary : Some, of large and affluent ones, have loft the greater part of what they poflelled : Whilfl others of the poorer fort have loft all ; and are, for the prefent, deprived of all means of getting a fubfiftence ; fo that they muft either periili, or become a public charge. Some and defpajr, it fuddcnly ceafcd, and was intircly extingulfhed* after having reduced many thoufand families from affluence to mifery, and the mod fiojrillsing city in Europe to a deplorable heap orrubblfh. Nevertheiefs the fpirit of the people did not iink under this calamity. London foon rofe more beautiful from its afhes. The king — • regulated the plans of the new flreets, fo as to render them more fpacious and convenient than thofe which had been burned- And he pro- hibited the ufe of lath and tiniber, as materials for the con- flruftion of the houfes. The narrownefs of the ftrects had not only fabjecled them to cafualtics of this nature, but alfo prevented a free circalation of air, which being impregnated with animal vapors, was apt to psurify, and produce infedious diftempers, infomuch that London was fcarce ever free from a contagion ; whereas no fjch diftemper has appeared fiace the city was rebuilt. '* 4- T Upward? of An lv!r>dr^d !.>'v,!difi2''> were then confamed. F/r^ />; Bofton, March 1760, 15 Some circumllances preceeding and attending this great difafter, are not unworthy of our particular no- tice. Fires have been more frequent in the town of late, than perhaps they have ever been in times pafi:. It is but three or four months fince a conliderable fire happened, whereby many perfons were great fuficrers.i- A few weeks after this, another fire broke out ; by which, tho' not fo many dwelling-houfes v/ere con- famed, yet perhaps as much damage was fuftained. * And for three days fuccefiively before tliis ia{l:,and moft terrible conflagration happened, the town was alarmed by fire. The firft of thefe fires broke out at a very fmall diftance from this place ; [j it got to a great head, and threatned to lay wade this part of the town, together with this houfe of prayer, the houfe of God, whereia we are nov/ alTembled j on v/hich the fire had a£lually taken hold. But, thro' the good providence of God, this very dangerous flame v;as happily extinguiftied, without the intire confumption of any one dwelling- houfe : and v/e are again permitted, contrary to the expectation of many, to affemble ourfelves for the wor- fhip of God, as ufual, in this place. So that we have, in this refpeft, caufe to fing of mercy, while, in others, we fing of judgment. The alarm on the next day, viz. on tuefday, was very great, and not without fufficient reafon : When,by fome means, thel.aboratory of the royal train of artillery here took fire, and was blown up -, when the adjoin- ing buildings took the fire alio, which was in imminent danger of being communicated to the king's (lores, in v/hich, f At Oli^ei'sdock; abcut 12 or ij fdmlllcs being then burnt out. , * At the weflerly part of the town ; when two rope-*va!ks, with their apparatus, were dertroyed ; and other effcs^ts to the value of fame thoufands of pounds. 1; On Monday, March 17th. x6 A Sermon occajioned by the which, it is faid, a large quantity of powder, charged ihelJs, &c. were repofited. The apprehenfion of the fire's making its way to thefe (tores, and of the fatal confequences that might thence enfiie, put the town into a general confternation. It was fome lime before people thought it prudent, or advileable, to approach the fire, fo as to ufe any methods to extinguifh it. But on further information, and a more exac^ knowledge of the fituation and circumftances of things, they ap- plied themfelves to the bufmefs with great alertnefs and refolution. And thus this fire was extinguillied, when it had done only a fmall part of the damage that was apprehended from it j tho' in itfelf that was not in- confiderable. The day following,^ different parts'ofthe town, at different times, were alarmed with the cry of fire. It did not, however, then get to a confiderable head any "where, fo as to become dangerous: Only as there is always fome danger from a fire, tho' but fmall, in fuch a town as this -jcfpecially in fuch a dry and windy time as it was then. By thefe fires was ufhered in, that far greater, and more fatal one, which has left fo confiderable a pare of the town in defolation and ruin. * And there is one thing that deferves to be particularly men- tioned with reference hereto •, as it may tend to lead us into a proper confideration of the providence of God in this affair. When this fire broke out, and for fome time before, it was almoft calm. And had it continued fo, the fire might probably have been ex- tinguifhed in a fhort time, before it had done much damage, f Wednefday the 19th. * It was difcovered between one and two o'clock on Thurfday sioraing, the 20th, Fire in Bcfton, March 1760. 17 damage; confidering the remarkable refolutlon and dexterity of many people amongll us on fuc'a occali^ns. But it feems that God, who had fpared us btfore be- yond our hopes, was now determined to \^t loofc his wrath upon us •, to " rebuke us in his anger, and " chaften us in his hot difpleafure.'* In order to the accompli fhing of which defign, fcon after the fire broke out, he caufed his wind to blow •, and fuddenly failed it to fuch an height, that all endeavours to put a ftop to the raging ftames, were ineffeclual : Tho* there feems to have been no want, either of any pains or prudence, which could be expected at fuch a time. The Lord had purpofed, and who fhould difannul it ^ His hand was ftretched out, and who fhould turn it back. + " When he giveth quietnefs, who then can make trouble ? and when he hideth his face, who then can behold him ? whether it be done againfl: a nation, or againfl: a man only."* It had been a dry feafoa for fome time •, unufually fo for the time of year. The houfes, and other things, were as fuel prepared for the fire to feed on : And the flames were fuddenly fpread, and propagated to diftant places. So that, in the fpace of a few hours, the fire fwept all before it in the diredion of the wind ; fpreading wider and wi- der from the place where it began, till it reached the water. Nor did it ftop even there, without the de- ftrudion of the wharfs, with feveral veiTels lying at them, and the imminent danger of many others.]! We may now, with fufficient propriety, adopt the words of the Pfalmift, and apply them to our own calamitous C circum« t rial. XrV. 37. * Job XXXIV. 29„ ji One large fliip, and eight or nine other ve^els were burnt i One of which was loaded, or partly loaded, with the king's ' ordnance-flores, ready to fail. The South-battery on the water's fide was alfo deftroyed ; when fome barrels of pow» der taking fire, the explofion was heard, and even the ftiock felt, at many miles diftance. 1 8 A 8er7non occafiohed hy the d.rcumuance?, " Come, behold the works of the Lord, " what defolation he hath made in the earth." So melancholy a fcene,occarioned by fire, was, to be fure, never beheld before in America •, at lead not in the Britiili dominions And when I add, God grant that the like may never be beheld again, I am fure you will all fay, Anieyi I In fliort, this mufl: needs be confidered, not only as a very great, but public calamity. It will be many yea.'s before this town, long burthened with fo grear, not to fay, difproponionate, a fhare of the public expences, will recover itfelf from the terrible blow. Nor will this metropolis only be affeded and prejudi- ced hereby. The whole province will feel it. For fuch are the dependencies and connexions in civil fcciety, regularly conftituted, that one part of a com- munity cannot be much hurt, without detriment to the red : As in the human body, if one member fufrer, all the other maembeis lulFer with it, Efpe- cially, if the HEAD be fick, or maimed, the whole body will foon feel the efTe<51s hereof, and partake of its fgfferings. And whatever feme weak, or envious perfons may imagine, the good of the province in general, is very ciolely conncded with the welfare, and flourifhing condition of this CAPITAL : So that if it Ihould fall into decay and ruin, the mod rem,ote parts of the country would very foon feel the bad cftefts of it. At whr.tever time this difafter had befallen us, it would have been a very great one : But it is particularly fo at prefenr, when both the town and country are lb much exhaufted by public taxes, efpecially the former : "When v/e have fuch a load of debt lying upon us *, a load ftill increafing, inftead of lelTening \ and when the Fire mBodon^ March 1760. 19 the fcafon of the yearisjuft coming on, forprofccu- ting our military defigns and operations. This cala- mity could not well have befallen us at any time, or conjundure, wherein v/e fhould have been lefs able to bear up under it, and lurmount the difficulties oc- cafioned by it. But without any reference to thefe peculiar circumftances, which enhance the misfortune, the lofs or damage, confidered in itfelf, is fo great, that it, cannot be exactly computed in fo fhort a time as that fmce the calamity befell us. ji It highly concerns us rightly to improve this vifui- tation of providence, and to condud curfelves pro- perly under it. This will be, not only our wifdom, but our greateft fecurity againlt public calamities and difafters for the future, whether of this, or any other kind. We ihould neither defpife the chaftening of the Lord, nor faint when we are rebuked of him. C z Now JI In a vote which pafTed the Great and General Court on the faturday after the iate fire, it is faid to *' appear on the ** beft information that could in fo (hort a time be obtained, ** that there were confumed one hundred feventy-four ** dwelling-houfes and tenements, and one hundred feveniy- ** five warehoufes, fiiops and other buildings, with a great ** part of the furniture, befides large quantities of merchan- " dize, and the ftock and tools of many tradefmen ; that ** the lofs, upon a moderate computation, cannot be lefs ** than one hundred thoufand pounds flerling ; and ** that the number of families mhabiting the aforementioned '* houfes, was at lead tw0 hundred and twenty ; three ** quarters of whom are by this misfortune rendered inca- ** pable ofi^fubfifting themfelves, and a great number of ** them reduced to extreme poverty, and require, immediate ** relief. '* For which charitable purpofe three thoufand pounds currency, being about two thoufand two hundred, and fifty pounds (terling, was voted to be drawn out of the public trcafury ; and his Excellency the Governor dcfued to fend briefs throughout the province, rccommendino a rcr.c- ral contribution for the unhappy fuffcrers. •J D A Sermon occajiomd hy the Noyf/^ this being truly a public, as well as great ca- lamity, I fhall, in the First place, make iome re- Etxions upon it, which concern us all in common. Secondly, I fliall dired my difcourfe particularly to thofe amongft us, who have been more immediate fufferers therein. And Thjrdly, To thofe, whofe dwellings and fubftance have been prefcrved ; and '"^vho are not di redly involved in this calamity. First, It becomes us all in general, ferioudy to rfgarci the hand and providence ot God in this evil that has befallen us. This evil, this great evil, has not furely come upon us, but by his appointment, and according to his fovereign pleafure. Various conjec- tures have been made, and rumours fpread abroad, concerning the particular means, by which this raging i::nd deftfudive fire was fii ft kindled up. Which of them is right, or whether either of them be fo or not, I am not able to tell : Nor is this very material to my prefentdtfign. By whatevci means this calami- tous evQnt has come to pafs, wc are to look ftil! higher ; to the great Author and difpofcr of all things i For the Lord himfelf hath done it. We cuo;hc ulti- niately to regard liim therein, if there bcf^any fuch thing as a providence Superintending human affairs. " Except the L.ord keep the city, the watchman *'- waketli in vain : It is vain for us to rife up early, " or fit up late, to eat the bread of forrows. " And rhc iirfl: thing requifite, in order to a due improve- ment of this vification, is a fixed, firm perfwafion, that God's hand and counfel determined it to be done *, or that it is really a vifitation from him. We cannot proceed a ftep, in the way of religious reflexion upon itg unltfi we lay this down fiiil as a certain principle. ^ • . . We Fire in Bofton, March 1760. 21: We ought, in \ht next place, to acknowledge the jaftice and righteoufnefs of God, in bringing this fore calamity upon us : For the Lord is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works, Juftice and judgment are the habitation of his throne, not only when the light of his countenance is lifted up, and fhines upon us in our profperity % but alfo when clouds and darknefs are round about him, and we are overwhelmed with adverfity. God does not af- flid willingly, or grieve the children of men, even when they have incurred his juft difpleaiure : Much lefs does he wantonly punilh the innocent. We may alTure ourfelves, it is not without juft and fufiicient provocation, that he has appeared thus againft us. It becomes us therefore to be humble and fubmiflive under his chaftening hand \ under this great frown of his providence. For " wherefore fhould a living ^' man complain^ a man for the punifliment of his " fins 1 " This is a feafon, wherein it doubtlefs becomes us all ferioudy to examine our ways, in order to difcover, as far as may be, what are the fpecial grounds and reafons of God's difpleafure againft us, and of his con- tending with us in fo terrible a manner. Indeed this general confideration, that we are finful creatures in common with the reft of mankind, were plainly fufii- cient to juftify God's dealings with us, even tho' this calamity had been far greater than it is. However, the holy fcriptures give us reafon to think, that God feldom, or never, brings very great and public cala- mities upon a community, unlefs it is for fins of a very heinous and provoking nature. In which re- fpcdl, there feems to be a wide and material difference between the condud of providence towards nations, or communities, and towards particular perfons. For with 2 2 A Sermon occajioned by the with regard to the latter, this certainly will not hold true ; the bed men being often the greateft fufferers in this world. " All things come alike to all ; and *' there is one event to the righteous and to the " wicked, '* if we fpeak with reference to individu- als, in this prefent ftace : So that " no man knoweth ** either love or hatred from all that is before him ; " either by the profperity he enjoys, or the adverfity which he fuffers. Which feems not applicable to communities ; at lead, not eafily reconcileable with the fcripture account of God's condud towards them, to fay nothing of what wc are taught by experience. I PRETEND not to penetrate fo far into the views and defigns of providence, as to be able particularly and pofitively to determine, for what reafons it is that God has thus forely chaftized us. " His judgments are a great deep." We may, however, conclude in general, that whatever fins are mod prevalent amongft us, thefe are fins which have contributed moft to bring this great calamity upon us. In going thus far, there is no prefum prion. No particular fins, or finners, are indeed to be excluded, as not contributing to bring calamities upon a people, whenever God fends them. However, I fuppofe we are to look for the primary, or chief caufes of common calamities, not in a compara- tively fmall nimiber of particular perfons, however im- pious or profligate j but in the main body of a people. Common judgments muft ordinarily be fuppofed to to have fome common caufe. And are there not feme fins, with which we arc very generally chargeable ? If any one fliould ailert, that we were generally profane fwearers, whoremon- gers, drunkards, adulterers, thieves o|; li^rs, he would doubtlefa hinifejf deferve no better^ a chara^cr than that Fire in Bodony March 1760. 25 that of a falfe accufer, and iliamelefs calumniator. There, are indeed, many fuch finners amongfi us ;. but it is to be hoped their number is fmall, in com- pariCbn of thofe who are guiltlefs of any of thefe crimes. But fuppofe any one fliould fay, that pride was a fin very generally prevalent amongft us, would he merit the chara<^cr of a falfe accufer ? If another were to aflert, that we were generally addi6ted to luxury, would he be a calumniator ? If a third were to tax us with being generally felfifh, and greedy of gain, without a due and proportionate regard to the welfare of the public, or of our neighbour ; could we truly deny the charge ? If a fourth were to ac- cufe us of formality in our religion, of laying too great ftrefs on fome things of little or no importance, and comparatively neglecting the weightier matters of the law and gofpel, could we juftly deny this to be our chara6ler ? I do not myfelf bring thefe general accufations ; but it would not be amifs for us ferioufly to confider, how far they might be jufl:. If there be a real and fufEcient foundation for them, we need not be at any lofs for fuch caufes of God's difpleafure^ as are common to us. Nor would it be improper for us, on this occafion, to inquire, whether we have been duly thankful to God for the (ignal mercies and deliverances which he hath vouchfafed to us in times paft. He has jfhown great favour and kindnefs to us at fundry times, and in divers manners. Tho' he has often contend- ed with us by fire heretofore ; yet how often have very threatning fires been feafonably extinguiflied ; and not permitted to prevail againft us. Have we generally been thankful, properly thankful, for thefe favourable appearances of providence for us, in the times of danger and fear ? If not^ our ingratitude in. this 24 A Sermon occajioned by the this refpe^t, may be fuppofed one fpecial reafon of the late terrible calamity. God's defign may be, to make us more fendble of former mercies, by the greatnefs of the evil he has now brought upon us. God has repeatedly vidted us with earthquakes, the moft alarming in their nature of any of his pro- vidential difpenfations. However [his goodnefs and companion have dill fpared us in thefe times of Gur diftrefs, when we had reafon to apprehend the moft awful and fatal effe£ls of thefe vifitations ; par- ticularly of one of them^ a few years fince : Tho' about the fame time, the moft amazing defolations were wrought by earthquake^ in fome other parts of the world. Have we taken proper notice of his dealings with us in this refpe£l ? If not, this may be another reafon of the great calamity now brought ttpon us. Moreover : Our enemies, during the late and prefent war, have been forming dangerous defigns againft us, even againft this metropolis. But God has repeatedly blafted their defigns ; and has lately given us the moft remarkable fuccefs againft them - So that our once juft apprehenfions from them, are taniftied away ; and even turned into triumph over them. Have we been duly thankful for thefe de» Kverances and mercies ? If not, this may be one eaufe, why he has now deftroycd by fire, what he would not permit the enemy to deftroy. Perhaps we have rejoiced with an unchriftian, and inhuman joy, in the diftrelles and calamities lately brought upon our enemies ; when great part of their country was ravaged, their villages burnt, their ca= pital dty befieged, and partly confumed by firec' Fire in Bofton, Maich 1760. 25 If we have rejoiced in their mifery with an unrelenting-, favage temper of mind, God may have been hereby provoked to bring this great evil upon us ; which, in its kind, bears fome refemblance to what^ they have fuffered. Or if we have not rejoiced in the mifery of our enemies with an unchrilfian, barbarous joy, perhaps we have triumphed over them with unchrilli- an pride ; and been vainly elated with the fucccfTes God has given us, inftead of being humbly thank- ful to him therefor. And if this be the cafe, God doLibtlefs defigncd to check our pride by this vifita- tion, and make us think more fobcrly of oiirfelves. But if there are no particular fins, wiih which we are chargeable in common ; yet are we not all in general chargeable with fome P fome of us with one vice, or mifdemeanour, and fome with another ? If fo, this is a fufficient ground for our being thu^ chaflized by a common calamity. And we were doubtlefs ripe for fome (ignal punifhment from ihs hand of providence, when this great evil came upon us. Many atrocious fms, and flac!;rant abominations, are found in the midfi: of us. To what an amazing pitch of wickednefs and impudence, fome pcrfons amongfl us were arrived, is evident even from fome tranfjflions at the time of the late terrible fire. For, indead of being affefted with fo melancholiy a pro- vidence, and charitably affifting people in faving their effects, fome there were, (b hardened and fhamelefs, as to take the opportunity of the general confufion, to rteal and rifle their neighbours goods I One would hardly have thought it poffible for people to be fo wicked, impious and abandon'd. 1 hope, indeed, there were not mr^ny fuch ; and that thefe were not born and educated amongfl us, tho' I am not certain. Bat wherever they were born and bred, they are D certainly 2 6 A Sermon occaftomd by the certainly a di (grace, not only to their own country, but to the world itfelf, and to human nature. It does not become us, even the beft of us, on fuch an occafion as this, to juflify or excufe our- felves ; or to attribute this public calamity wholly to the fins of others. Probably none of us can in- tirely acquit ourfelves of having contributed to it, by our o.vn particular mifcarriages. And it highly concerns us all, ferioufly to refle£l: upon our paft conduct; and to humble ourfelves under the righteous liand of God. We may all learn fome very ufeful and important Icflons from this vifitation, if we duly attend to it. We are hereby more particularly reminded of the vanity of worldly riches, and the folly of depending on, or placing our chief happinefs in them. How fuddenly do they rake to thcmfelves wings, and fly away, as an eagle towards heaven, leaving the pof^-^ f llbrs of them deAitute, not only of iuperfluous VveaJch, but even of thofe things which are needful for the body ! This is one of thofe difpenfations of providence, which give a particular force and energy to thofe words of the apofile — '' Charge them that. *' are rich, that they trufl not in uncertain riches, '* but in the living God, who giveth us richly all ^' things to enjoy' \- And alfo to that more general admonition of our Savioilr himfelf — '* Lay not up' *' for yourfelves treaiures upon earth, where moth '' and rufl do corrupt, and where thieves break thro* '' and fleal ; but lay up for yourfelves treafure in ** heaven," &c. To finilh thefe general refle6lions : We are all in common admoniihed by this vifitation of providence, to Fire in Bofton, March 1760. 27 to confider and amend our wjays. Doubtlefs the end of our being thus vifited and chafllzed, is our refor- mation. Whatever ferious refle£lions we may at prefent make upon this calamitous ^vent ; yet the great defign of it will not be anfwered upon us, if we continue unreformed. This is often the cafe, Pharaoh and his people were in fome meafure hum- bled, at the time when the plagues were upon them* Bur they foon forgat the judgments of heaven ; and became more hardened afterwards. This was fome- times the cafe alfo with the people of Ifrael. ** Thou " haft ftricken them", fays the prophet, " but they " have not grieved ; thou haft con famed them, buc '' they have refufed to receive corre£lion. They '' have made their faces harder than a rock, they *' have refufed to return". If we are nor reclaimed from oar fms and vices by this calamity, we have reafon to apprehend greater and heavier ones ; God's anger will not be turned away; but his hand will fhli be ftretched out againft us. O let us not, by our impenitence and hardnefs of heart under this correftion, provoke God to fmire us with greater fe verity ; left, perhaps, we perifii under his hand, while there is none to deliver ! But, on the other hand, if we duly lay to heart this fore chaftifement, and return to God, he v/ill doubtlefs return to us m mercy. *' Come then, and let us return unto the " Lord: For he hath torn, and he will heal us ; '* he hath fmitten, and he will bind us up". Tho' he hath vidted our tranfgreflions with a rod, and our iniquities with flripes ; yet his loving kindnefs will he not utterly take from us ; nor fuffer his faith- fulnefs to faiL But I was in the next place, ' • Seic^ondlT; To dire- niediate fuficrers in this common calamity. My brethrejT, 1 trufl: we all in general heartily fympa^ thize with you, and bear a part in your affli6lion. But if it concerns us all in common, lerioufly to qonfidcr the hand of God in this vifitation, allow me to remind you, that it more efpecially concerns you to do fo, on whom this great calamity, by his appointment, has more immediately fallen. To us, this providence more than whifpers ; to you it fpeaks ftill louder, even in thunder. I would, however, be very far from infmuating, that the unhappy perfons who are the immediate fuhjedls of this calamity, are in general more guilty in the (ight of God than others. This would be at once uncharitable in itfelf, and a plain violation of a rule, or maxim, which our Saviour laid down on an occafion not altogether unlike to the prefent. But dill you muft acknowledge, that airho' the call and admonition of providence in this vi(irar tion, be to all of us in common ; yet to you it is more .dire it would be of no advantage to us. In heaven we fhould not need, but defpife and negle£l it j and in hell it would not alleviaie our torments. But if any of you fhould have lofl all your worldly fubflance by this calamity, you ought not, however, to defpond under this trial, or to faint, being thus rebuked of the Lord ; but ftill to place youf hope and truft in him, wlio heareth the young ravens when they cry. *' O fear the Lord, ye his faints ; *' for there u no want to them that fear him. The *' young lions do lack, and fufTer hunger ; but they " that feek theLord ihali not want any good thing§'," I reminded you above of the fuiferings and patienc6 of Job ; let me now remind you of the *' end of the Lord" with refpc6l to him ; *' that the Lord is *' very pitiful, and of tender mercy f.*' That goo4 man faw at length an happy ifTue of his troubles. For " the Lord blefTed the latter end of Job more than the beginning^". You may from hence take fome encouragement : God is able to make all things abound to you. And it is a circumftance not unwor- thy to remind you of, for your confolation, that you live in a country, at lead in a town, wherein there is a general difpofltion in the people to afford neceflary relief to the poor and afflided : So that you have no reafon to be under any anxiety of mind refpe(5ling a livelihood ; efpecially if you enjoy bodily health and firength, with ability to exercife fome lawful calling. But whatever be your condition in this world, 5 Pfdlm XXXIV. 9, 10. t James v. n. * Chap.XUI. ver. 12. 32 A Sermon occajtoned by the world, godllnefs with contentment will be, not only your duty, but your greateft gain. You fliould en- deavour to be prepared for whatever circumftances God fhall order for you ; and to this end, befeech him to give you the temper of the holy apoftle, who faid, " 1 have learned in v/hatfoever (iate I am, *' therewith to be content : I know both how to be " abafed, and I know how to abound ; every where, " and in all things I am inftru£led, both to be full " and to be hungry, both to abound and to fuffer " need f*'. Even the Son of man had not where to lay his head, tho' the foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nefts. — And if the fame mind be in you, which was in Chrifl Jefus, you will bear the extremeft poverty without repining. Left there- fore you fhould be weary or faint in your minds, confider him, who '' tho' he were rich, yet for your fake became poor": Learn of him to be truly *' meek and lowly in heart ; and whatever be your outward condition, you will then *' find reft unto your fouls"; fuch reft as the greateft worldly prof- perity cannot give ! Thirdly : Let me now turn my difcour fe to thofe, whofe habitations and fubftance have been pre- jerved in this time of defolation ; efpecially to thofe, who have been in imminent danger of being fharers with others therein. As this calamity is from God, fo it is he who has diredled it where to fall, and prefcribed its bounds and limits. You fhould there- fore be fenfible, that he has been your preferver ; and made this diftinflion between you and others. If others ought to acknowledge his providence in the calamity which has befallen them, certainly it is not- iefs incumbent on us to acknowledge it in our own prefervation. t Plul. IV. II, 12. Fire in Bbflon, March 1760. 33 prefervatlon. Had God, who commandeth the wind when and where to blow, given a different direction to ir, our habitations might have been confumed, while thofe of the prefent unhappy fafTerers were preferved. I mention this circumftance particularly, bccaufe it is familiar and obvious ; plainly fhowing, that it is God, and not man, who has made this difference ; an im- portant truth, which might be evinced by other con- fiderations alfo, were there tim.c and occalion for it. Nor ought we to attribute our prefervatlon to any fuppofed merit, or fuperior goodnefs in ourfelves ; or the fufferings of our neighbours, to any greater guilt or demerit in them. Our Saviour feems to have de- figned a general caution againfi fuch imaginations, in a pafHge which was alluded to above. When certain perfons told him of fome Galileans, whofe blood Pilate had mingled with their facrifices, expeiSling, probably, that he would have attributed this to the great wicked- nefs of thofe Galileans in comparifon with others, his: reply was — '' Suppofe ye that thefe Galileans were " fmners above all the Galileans, becaufe they fuffered " fuch things ? I tell you, Nay — Or thofe eighteen,' *' on whom the tower of Siloam fell, and flew them ; *' think ye that they were fmners above all men that *' dwelt at Jerufalem ? I tell you. Nay : Bat except " ye repent, ye fhall all iikewife perilh." Oar Sa- viour's meaning here is not, that thofe Galileans^ and thofe Jews, were not finners ; or that they did not juftly fuffcr fuch things on account of their fins. Neither of thefe things can be fuppofed. But the obvious defign of this remarkable pafiage is, to teach us that God, in his providential government of the world, does not always fingle out the greatefl (inners, to make them the greateft fufTerers in the fight of nien j and, confequently, that we ought not to con* £ clud^ A Sermon Qccajioned by the elude ouiTclves more righteous ihaii others, me-rely be^raufe we at preient- e(cape thofe judgments which befal othfr:^. God will finally give to every man ac<:ording to his deeds, in weight and meafurc, and Q'Az.E!i proportion. But at prefent he acHis as a fovc- reign ; I mean, in the outward difpcnfations oF his providenco towards particular perfons ; agreeably to the obfervations of Solomon, mentioned in the for- mer -part of this Difconrfe, that *' all things come alike to al! ; tliat there is one event to the righteous and the wicked ; and that no man knowcih either love or hatred from all that is before him." A great- er^' than Solomon has confirmed thefe remarks on the condui5l of divine providence. We flwuld there- tore take heed, that we do not attribute to our own fupcrior piety ^or virtue, what we ought to afcribe iolely to the fovercign pleafure of God, and his diiliiigujfhing favour towards us. For to apply our vSaviour's language and reafoning above, to the me- Jancholly occaflon before ns: Suppofe -ye that thofe who have lately fufFered fuch things, were finners above all that dwell in Boston ? 1 tell you, Nay ! Atf Jeaft, we have no reafon to think them fo, on thi-s account. Many who have cfcapcd this difafler, and perhaps we ourfelvcs, are as great, or greater iin^ers ; and except we repent, ibme '• worfe thing *' 'may come unto us ". \Vhat fliall v/e render unto the Lord for his dif- tinguifiiing goodnefs to us in this refpe(fl f* It becomes us to render praife to him; for " whofo offereth praifr, faii^h the Lord, glorifie'th mc." We fhould alfo (hew our gratitude to God, by devoting ourfelves, and all we- have, to his honor and fervice. His goodnefs and foibcarancc lead Us to repentance, while his righteous Ic^'critv is exercrfed towards others for-tiie fan>c general "^^ '- - end. Fire 171 Bofton, March 1760. 35 end. Us he draweth with the cords of love, while he fcourgech others, not more guilty, with the rod of af- flidion. And fha!l we defpife his goodnefs, forbear- ance and long-fuffering ! If there be any peculiar au- dacioufnefs, or prefumption, in defpifing the cbaften- ing of the Ivord •, there is certainly a peculiar bafenef^ and difingenuity, in defpifing his goodnefs. We and our fubftance, have been as it were plucked out of that fire, by which others have fuffered fo much. Let us therefore take heed, left we incur that heavy cenfure, Amos Chap. IV. " I have overthrown fome of you *' as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrha •, and YE •* were as a fire-brand plucked out of the burning ; *'• yet have ye riot returned unto me, faith theLord :**, Will it not particularly become us to fnew our gratitude to God for his diftinguilhing mercy to us, by chearfully imparting of our fubftance for the relief of our indigent brethren ? The government has alrea- dy done fomething for their prefent relief. But ther^ being fo many of thefe unhappy fjfferers, they will doubtlefs (land in need of farther fuccour and afTiftance, before they are in any method of fupporting themfelves. And God forbid, that any o\ us who have elcaped this calamity, fhould be backward to diftribute, or un- willing to communicate, as there nwy be occafion, and we have ability ! One reafon, we may well lup- pofe, why God has fpared our fubftance, is, that we might be in a capacity to relieve and afiifl: thofe, whom his holy providence has rendered obieds of our charity. It is partly for their fakes, not wholly for our own, that our fubftance has been preferved. Nor can I indeed doubt, but that the people of the town will be generally difpofed to liberality on this occafion.; efp:^C!ally when I reQefl, how iarg^l^ and chearfully E 2 diev ^6 A Sermon occafioned by the they contributed a few months fmce, on a fimilar occafion. f But it is time to draw to a conclufion of this dif- coiirfe. When God's judgments are abroad in the earth, it is then more elpecially incumbent upon the inhabitants thereof to learn righteoufnefs. It we do not regard the pad, or prelent, there may probably be other, and heavier ones, in ftore for us. At leaft it is certain, that the wicked fhall not finally efcape the righteous judgment of God. *' For behold the day *' Cometh that fhall burn as an oven, and all the proud , ** yea, and all that do wickedly, fiiali be as ftubble •, " and the day that cometh (hall burn them up, laith *' the Lord of Hofts, that it fliall leave them neither *• root nor branch.'** Such a fire as we have lately feen, f About a thoufand pounds lawful money was collcffled in the feveral religious afTemblics in the town, for the relief of the lufferers by the late fire near Oliver's dock : A large funj, conddering the impoverifh'd and declining rtate of the town, and the greatnefs of the public taxes. And tho' the difpo- fnion of the people be ftill the fame, and the prcfent oc- cafion much greater, ai\d more urgent than the former; yet it will naturally be rcmember'd, that our ability is now kfs than it was then. The mare the town then gave away, the lefs It now has to give : And many who, as we fuppofe, con- tributed largely on that occafmn, are fo far from being able to do the like now, that t!*ey need relief tbcmfclves. It is to be hoped therefore, that our friends and brethren who live in the country, where their fituation fecures them fo ef- ic'^ually againd calamities of this nature, will ferioufly cos- iider the prefent dilheffcd condition of the town ; and fhew their chndian benevolcr.cc on this occafion, agreeably to the /^r;>/"whicii his Excellency theGovernor has iifued out. And v.c are the more encouraged to eKpefl this, by refleding ivow chearfully fomc of them midc collc61ion3 for the poor aaiongf!: us, at the time of the laft general fmall-pox in the :o\vn.^ — --*' With fufch facrifices God is well plcafed.'' *• Mai. IV. X. Fire in Boftoh, March 1760. 37 Teen, efpecially in the nighr, drffufes' general- terror and diftrefs. What then will be the conlternation, how great the amazement, of a guilty world, when the Son of man iliall bs revealed from heaven in flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not his gofpel ! The old world perifhcd b/ water : But the heavens and the earth that now are, are refer ved unto fire, againft the day of judgment, and perdition of ungodly men. And even thefe lelTer fires and conflagrations, which (Irike us with fo much awe, may naturally remind us of that general, and far more awful one, which the prophets and apoftles have foretold ; when the earth itfelf, with the works that are therein, Ihall be burnt up, and the elements fhall melt with fervent heat. — ^* Seeing then that all *' thefe things ihall be difTolved, what manner of per- *' fons ought we to be, in all holy converfation and " godlineis ? looking for, and hafting unto, the com- *' ing of the day of God ! *' — To the wicked this will be a day of unutterable woe ; but to them that fear his name, and ferve him, a day of triumph and exul- tation. Happy are they who diligent^Iy prepare for it. But, alas ! there are many, who v/ill not be per- fuaded, that there is fuch a day approaching •, " fcof- " fers, walking after their own lulls, and faying, " Where is the promife of his coming ? For fince the *' fathers fell adeep, all things continue as they were " from the beginning.'* And many of thofe who profefs to believe it, do riot pradlically regard it, mind- ing only earthly things : and fuch as thefe will accord- ingly be overwhelmed with a fudden and remedilefs deftruftion. For " as it was in the days of Noah, " fo fhall it be alfo in the days of the Son of man. " They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they *' were given in marriage, until the day that Noah ^' entered into the ark : and the flood came, and de- *'- ftroyed -o 8 A Sermon occaJioTied by theFire^ Mc. " ftroyed them all Likewife alfo as it was in the " days of Lot *, they did eat, they drank, they bought, " they fold, they planted, they builded : But the " fame day that Lot went out of Sodom, it rained '' fire and brimftone from heaven ; and deftroyed *' them all : Even thus fhall it be in the day when *' the Son of man is revealed 1 "f fLukc XVII. 26-30. THE END, ^ ->|* ^ <>|f »|* ^ -^4 *f ♦ tf« *!♦ ^ ^ ^*T TJT ITT ^-1+ WT TJ^ "Wt ♦jT ♦tT '►K A *!♦ Vj* ♦f* 4|> -»|(' ^f* *|* ♦j*tlt*f Bojlon^ April I. 1760. In about a Fortnight will be Publiflied, And Sold hy R. Draper/;/ Newhury-Streety and Edes