of the gospel'? Luke i. 5, 6. When old Barzillai had lost his taste and hearing, he cared not for David's feasts and music, 2 Sam. xix. 35. There were many within and without the walls of London that had lost their spiritual taste and h(^ring, and so cared not for gospel ministrations, for gospel ordinances. There were many who, under a pretence of living above ordinances, lived below ordinances, and made light of ordinances ; yea, who scorned, vilified, and contemned the precious ordinances of Christ. ' Thou art to them as a lovely song,' saith the prophet, Ezek. xxxiii. 31, 32. In the Hebrew it runs thus, ' Thou art to them as one that breaks jests.' The solemnity and majesty of the word was but as a dry jest unto them. Ordinances were but as dry jests to many within and without the walls of London ; and therefore no wonder if God hath been in such good earnest with them who have made but a jest of those precious ordinances, that are more worth than heaven and earth. Many came to the ordinances too much like the Egyptian dog, which laps a little as he runs by the side of Nilus, but stays not to drink. But,
[3.] Thirdly, Such as are weary of tlie gospel, such slight the gospel, such contemn the gospel. Never were the Israelites more weary of manna, than many wdthin and without the walls of London were weary of the plain and powerful preaching of the gospel. Num. xi. 6 ; Amos viii. 5. We were better have a biting gospel than a toothless mass, said blessed Bradford. But were there not some that had rather have a toothless mass than a biting gospel ? Were there not many that were willing to let God go, and gospel go, and ordinances go, and all go, so they might be eased of their burdens and taxes, and greaten their relations, and have peace with all nations, and enjoy a sweeping trade, and every one sit under his vine and under his fig- tree, eating the fat, and drinking the sweet, and enjoy liberty to dis- honour the Lord, to gratify their lusts, to damn their own souls, and to bring others under their feet, so weary were they of the blessed gospel ?
[4.] Fourthly, Such as have but a loiv and mean opinion of the gospel, such are slighters and contemners of the gospel. Such as j)refer every toy, and trifle, and fashion, and sinful custom, and base lust above the light of the gospel, the power of the gospel, the purity and simplicity of the gospel, the holiness and sweetness of the gospel, such are slighters and contemners of the gospel, 1 Cor. i. 23. Though it be better to present truth in her native plainness than to hang her ears with counterfeit pearls, yet there were many that set a greater price upon the arts, the parts, the gifts, the studied notions and seraphical expressions of their ministers, than they did upon the gospel itself ; and what was this but to prefer the handmaid before the mistress, the servant before his lord, the flowers about the dish before the meat that was in the dish, the chaff before the wheat, and pebbles before the richest pearls ? The gospel is the field, and Christ is the treasure that is hid in that field ; the gospel is a ring of gold, and Christ is the pearl in that ring of gold ; and yet how many were there within and without the walls of London that put no considerable price or value upon the gospel ! But,
[5.] Fifthly, Such as ivilfully disobey the gospel, and live and ivalk
86 London's lamentations on [Isa. XLII. 24, 25.
in ways quite cross and contrary to the r/osjjcl, such are slifjhters and contemners of the gospel, and accordingly the Lord will deal ivith them. Take one text for all, 2 Thcs. i. 7-9, ' And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know nut God, and that obey not the gosi)el of our Lord Jesus : who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power.' This is a more terrible text against all such as are either ignorant of the gospel or that disobey the gospel, than any is to be found in all the Old Testament. In the last day Christ will take vengeance in flaming fire on them that disobey his gospel, and that walk contrary to the rules of his gospel ; and therefore no wonder if before that day he lays their habitations desolate by a flaming fire, whose lives give the lie to his glorious gospel. These men above all others expose the gosi)el to the derision and contempt of the basest and vilest men. When some of the heathens have looked upon the loose lives of professors, they have said, Aut hoc non est cvangeliicm, aut hi non sunt Christiani, Either this is not the gospel, in which there is so much goodness, or these are not Christians, in whom there is none at all. Did you never hear nor read of one who, eyeing the loose conversations of i)rofessors, cried out, Sit miima mca cum jjhilosojjhis, Let my soul be rather with the honest philosophers — who were heathen — than with these wicked lewd men that are called Christians ? Now were there none within nor without the walls of London that did wilfully disobey the gospel, and that walked in ways quite cross and contrary to the gospel ? Surely there were ; and therefore at their doors we may safely lay the burning of London. ]3ut,
[G.] Sixthly and lastly, Such as slighted, scorned, and contemned the faithful, sincere, sei'ious, gracious, and conscientious ^wofessors of the gospel, stwh slighted, scorned, and contemned the gospel itself. When the Jews were in pros})erity, it was the manner of the Samari- tans to repute themselves their nearest cousins. Wlien the Jews were in a thriving and flourishing condition, then the Samaritans could de- rive their pedigree from Ephraim and Manasseh, the sons of Josei)h ; but when tlie Jews were in any great affliction, or under persecution, then they would deny all acquaintance with them and all relation to them.i When profession was in fashion and religion was in credit, how many were there within and without the Avails of London that did pretend to be kin, to be cousins to the serious, conscientious, and sincere professors of the gos])el, who since the day of their alfliction have not only denied all acquaintance with them, and renounced all relation to them, but also are turned slighters, scorners, and con- tenmers of them ! If these may not be reckoned among the slighters, scorners, and contemners of the gospel, I do not know who may. To sum up all, I have shewed you that slighting, scorniug, and contemn- ing of the gospel, isa sin of that high nature that it provokes tlie Lord to Liy cities desolate. I have shewed you the greatness of that sin, and the ])ersons that are guilty of it ; so that now you may point with • a finger to those persons that have laid London in ashes.
* Joseph. Antiq., lib. xi. cap. 8.
ISA. XLII. 24, 25.] THE LATE FIERY DISPENSATION. 87