To All Such of the City Who Have Seen the Desolations of London by the Late Judgments of Plague and Fire

It might have seemed more seasonable to some, if a work of this nature had come forth to view more immediately after the sound of God's terrible voice, and execution, at least, of the last dreadful Judgment of the Fire; because if a man strikes while the iron is hot, it is likely to make the more deep impression, which when it grows cool, grows hard and unmalleable; and if the hammer of the Word had been used, when London was newly come forth of the furnace, some might think they would have yielded the more easily to its strokes, and the better have received the fashion, which this hammer would work them to; and that, since the fresh and lively remembrance of the judgment is more worn off, it is to be feared, that they are more cooled and hardened, and therefore in likelihood, it will be more difficult to effect a due impression of the Judgments by the Word upon them. Yet, besides that it was not in my thoughts to attempt this work, until the greatest part of the winter was spent: I may further add, that, though a discourse concerning the Plague, would have been most seasonable under the Judgment itself, when people who were generally taken off from their trading, had room and time for retirement and consideration, more than ever they had in their lives before; and therefore were more likely to lay to heart, what might be spoken or written to them on that subject: yet the reason is not the same in the Judgment of the Fire, which (however startling and astonishing) was so far from giving them retiring time for consideration, as the former Judgment of the Plague had done, that it did engage them to more laborious works than ever they had, not only while London was burning, in removing what they could save of their goods from the Fire; but also since, in looking out new habitations, and fitting their houses and shops for trades; which has given them occasion for so much distraction, that I fear they could hardly settle their minds to read and consider so seriously as they should, what the Lord has been doing with them, and speaking to them by this terrible voice, which has sounded so loud in their ears. But by this time, I hope, that the most have attained to some kind of settlement, at least so much, as to give them leave to sit down and ponder upon the meaning of God, in these strange and dreadful Judgments of Plague and Fire in the City; and therefore this book may be more seasonable to the most, than if it had been written, and presented to them immediately after the Fire had burnt them out of their habitations. Friends, it is high time for all of you to retire yourselves, and think carefully about yourselves, and wisely to consider God's dealings with you, to open your ear, and labor to understand these speaking Judgments, lest if God be provoked, by your deafness, and incorrigibleness, to speak a third time, it be in your utter ruin and desolation. If these papers be any ways helpful to revive in your memories the Judgments themselves, by the historical narration which here you have of them; to work your hearts to some sense of sin in discovery of the cause; and to persuade you to a ready compliance with God's design in the declaring of what God now expects from you, after such dreadful executions; as yours will be the benefit: so I desire that God may have the whole glory; and that you would make this return for my help of you, to help me with your prayers, that I may be the more helpful to you in mine, who am

Your dearly affectionate friend and servant in the Lord. T. V.