Itwasnowmid—July,andtheplague,whichhadchieflyragedattheotherendofthetown,and,asIsaidbefore,intheparishesofStGiles,StAndrew's,Holborn,andtowardsWestminster,begantonowcomeeastwardtowardsthepartwhereIlived。Itwastobeobserved,indeed,thatitdidnotcomestraightontowardsus;forthecity,thatistosay,withinthewalls,wasindifferentlyhealthystill;norwasitgotthenverymuchoverthewaterintoSouthwark;forthoughtherediedthatweek1268ofalldistempers,whereofitmightbesupposedabove600diedoftheplague,yettherewasbuttwenty—eightinthewholecity,withinthewalls,andbutnineteeninSouthwark,Lambethparishincluded;whereasintheparishesofStGilesandStMartin—in—the—
Fieldsalonetheredied421。
Butweperceivedtheinfectionkeptchieflyintheout—parishes,whichbeingverypopulous,andfulleralsoofpoor,thedistemperfoundmoretopreyuponthaninthecity,asIshallobserveafterwards。
Weperceived,Isay,thedistempertodrawourway,viz。,bytheparishesofClarkenwell,Cripplegate,Shoreditch,andBishopsgate;
whichlasttwoparishesjoiningtoAldgate,Whitechappel,andStepney,theinfectioncameatlengthtospreaditsutmostrageandviolenceinthoseparts,evenwhenitabatedatthewesternparisheswhereitbegan。
Itwasverystrangetoobservethatinthisparticularweek,fromthe4thtothe11thofJuly,when,asIhaveobserved,therediednear400
oftheplagueinthetwoparishesofStMartinandStGiles—in—the—
Fieldsonly,therediedintheparishofAldgatebutfour,intheparishofWhitechappelthree,intheparishofStepneybutone。
Likewiseinthenextweek,fromthe11thofJulytothe18th,whentheweek'sbillwas1761,yettherediednomoreoftheplague,onthewholeSouthwarksideofthewater,thansixteen。
Butthisfaceofthingssoonchanged,anditbegantothickeninCripplegateparishespecially,andinClarkenwell;sothatbythesecondweekinAugust,Cripplegateparishaloneburied886,andClarkenwell155。Ofthefirst,850mightwellbereckonedtodieoftheplague;andofthelast,thebillitselfsaid145wereoftheplague。
DuringthemonthofJuly,andwhile,asIhaveobserved,ourpartofthetownseemedtobesparedincomparisonofthewestpart,Iwentordinarilyaboutthestreets,asmybusinessrequired,andparticularlywentgenerallyonceinaday,orintwodays,intothecity,tomybrother'shouse,whichhehadgivenmechargeof,andtoseeifitwassafe;andhavingthekeyinmypocket,Iusedtogointothehouse,andovermostoftherooms,toseethatallwaswell;forthoughitbesomethingwonderfultotell,thatanyshouldhaveheartssohardenedinthemidstofsuchacalamityastorobandsteal,yetcertainitisthatallsortsofvillainies,andevenlevitiesanddebaucheries,werethenpractisedinthetownasopenlyasever—Iwillnotsayquiteasfrequently,becausethenumbersofpeopleweremanywayslessened。
Butthecityitselfbegannowtobevisitedtoo,Imeanwithinthewalls;butthenumberofpeopletherewereindeedextremelylessenedbysogreatamultitudehavingbeengoneintothecountry;andevenallthismonthofJulytheycontinuedtoflee,thoughnotinsuchmultitudesasformerly。InAugust,indeed,theyfledinsuchamannerthatIbegantothinktherewouldbereallynonebutmagistratesandservantsleftinthecity。
Astheyflednowoutofthecity,soIshouldobservethattheCourtremovedearly,viz。,inthemonthofJune,andwenttoOxford,whereitpleasedGodtopreservethem;andthedistemperdidnot,asIheardof,somuchastouchthem,forwhichIcannotsaythatIeversawtheyshowedanygreattokenofthankfulness,andhardlyanythingofreformation,thoughtheydidnotwantbeingtoldthattheircryingvicesmightwithoutbreachofcharitybesaidtohavegonefarinbringingthatterriblejudgementuponthewholenation。
ThefaceofLondonwas—nowindeedstrangelyaltered:Imeanthewholemassofbuildings,city,liberties,suburbs,Westminster,Southwark,andaltogether;forastotheparticularpartcalledthecity,orwithinthewalls,thatwasnotyetmuchinfected。Butinthewholethefaceofthings,Isay,wasmuchaltered;sorrowandsadnesssatuponeveryface;andthoughsomepartswerenotyetoverwhelmed,yetalllookeddeeplyconcerned;and,aswesawitapparentlycomingon,soeveryonelookedonhimselfandhisfamilyasintheutmostdanger。Wereitpossibletorepresentthosetimesexactlytothosethatdidnotseethem,andgivethereaderdueideasofthehorror'thateverywherepresenteditself,itmustmakejustimpressionsupontheirmindsandfillthemwithsurprise。Londonmightwellbesaidtobeallintears;themournersdidnotgoaboutthestreetsindeed,fornobodyputonblackormadeaformaldressofmourningfortheirnearestfriends;butthevoiceofmournerswastrulyheardinthestreets。Theshrieksofwomenandchildrenatthewindowsanddoorsoftheirhouses,wheretheirdearestrelationswereperhapsdying,orjustdead,weresofrequenttobeheardaswepassedthestreets,thatitwasenoughtopiercethestoutestheartintheworldtohearthem。Tearsandlamentationswereseenalmostineveryhouse,especiallyinthefirstpartofthevisitation;fortowardsthelatterendmen'sheartswerehardened,anddeathwassoalwaysbeforetheireyes,thattheydidnotsomuchconcernthemselvesforthelossoftheirfriends,expectingthatthemselvesshouldbesummonedthenexthour。
Businessledmeoutsometimestotheotherendofthetown,evenwhenthesicknesswaschieflythere;andasthethingwasnewtome,aswellastoeverybodyelse,itwasamostsurprisingthingtoseethosestreetswhichwereusuallysothrongednowgrowndesolate,andsofewpeopletobeseeninthem,thatifIhadbeenastrangerandatalossformyway,Imightsometimeshavegonethelengthofawholestreet（Imeanoftheby—streets）,andseennobodytodirectmeexceptwatchmensetatthedoorsofsuchhousesaswereshutup,ofwhichI
shallspeakpresently。
Oneday,beingatthatpartofthetownonsomespecialbusiness,curiosityledmetoobservethingsmorethanusually,andindeedI
walkedagreatwaywhereIhadnobusiness。IwentupHolborn,andtherethestreetwasfullofpeople,buttheywalkedinthemiddleofthegreatstreet,neitherononesideorother,because,asIsuppose,theywouldnotminglewithanybodythatcameoutofhouses,ormeetwithsmellsandscentfromhousesthatmightbeinfected。
TheInnsofCourtwereallshutup;norwereverymanyofthelawyersintheTemple,orLincoln'sInn,orGray'sInn,tobeseenthere。Everybodywasatpeace;therewasnooccasionforlawyers;
besides,itbeinginthetimeofthevacationtoo,theyweregenerallygoneintothecountry。Wholerowsofhousesinsomeplaceswereshutcloseup,theinhabitantsallfled,andonlyawatchmanortwoleft。
WhenIspeakofrowsofhousesbeingshutup,Idonotmeanshutupbythemagistrates,butthatgreatnumbersofpersonsfollowedtheCourt,bythenecessityoftheiremploymentsandotherdependences;
andasothersretired,reallyfrightedwiththedistemper,itwasameredesolatingofsomeofthestreets。Butthefrightwasnotyetnearsogreatinthecity,abstractlysocalled,andparticularlybecause,thoughtheywereatfirstinamostinexpressibleconsternation,yetasIhaveobservedthatthedistemperintermittedoftenatfirst,sotheywere,asitwere,alarmedandunalarmedagain,andthisseveraltimes,tillitbegantobefamiliartothem;andthatevenwhenitappearedviolent,yetseeingitdidnotpresentlyspreadintothecity,ortheeastandsouthparts,thepeoplebegantotakecourage,andtobe,asImaysay,alittlehardened。Itistrueavastmanypeoplefled,asIhaveobserved,yettheywerechieflyfromthewestendofthetown,andfromthatwecalltheheartofthecity:thatistosay,amongthewealthiestofthepeople,andsuchpeopleaswereunencumberedwithtradesandbusiness。Butoftherest,thegeneralitystayed,andseemedtoabidetheworst;sothatintheplacewecalftheLiberties,andinthesuburbs,inSouthwark,andintheeastpart,suchasWapping,Ratcliff,Stepney,Rotherhithe,andthelike,thepeoplegenerallystayed,excepthereandthereafewwealthyfamilies,who,asabove,didnotdependupontheirbusiness。
Itmustnotbeforgotherethatthecityandsuburbswereprodigiouslyfullofpeopleatthetimeofthisvisitation,Imeanatthetimethatitbegan;forthoughIhavelivedtoseeafurtherincrease,andmightythrongsofpeoplesettlinginLondonmorethanever,yetwehadalwaysanotionthatthenumbersofpeoplewhich,thewarsbeingover,thearmiesdisbanded,andtheroyalfamilyandthemonarchybeingrestored,hadflockedtoLondontosettleinbusiness,ortodependuponandattendtheCourtforrewardsofservices,preferments,andthelike,wassuchthatthetownwascomputedtohaveinitaboveahundredthousandpeoplemorethaneveritheldbefore;nay,sometookuponthemtosayithadtwiceasmany,becausealltheruinedfamiliesoftheroyalpartyflockedhither。Alltheoldsoldierssetuptradeshere,andabundanceoffamiliessettledhere。Again,theCourtbroughtwiththemagreatfluxofpride,andnewfashions。Allpeopleweregrowngayandluxurious,andthejoyoftheRestorationhadbroughtavastmanyfamiliestoLondon。
IoftenthoughtthatasJerusalemwasbesiegedbytheRomanswhentheJewswereassembledtogethertocelebratethePassover—bywhichmeansanincrediblenumberofpeopleweresurprisedtherewhowouldotherwisehavebeeninothercountries—sotheplagueenteredLondonwhenanincredibleincreaseofpeoplehadhappenedoccasionally,bytheparticularcircumstancesabove—named。AsthisconfluxofthepeopletoayouthfulandgayCourtmadeagreattradeinthecity,especiallyineverythingthatbelongedtofashionandfinery,soitdrewbyconsequenceagreatnumberofworkmen,manufacturers,andthelike,beingmostlypoorpeoplewhodependedupontheirlabour。AndIrememberinparticularthatinarepresentationtomyLordMayoroftheconditionofthepoor,itwasestimatedthattherewerenolessthananhundredthousandriband—
weaversinandaboutthecity,thechiefestnumberofwhomlivedthenintheparishesofShoreditch,Stepney,Whitechappel,andBishopsgate,that,namely,aboutSpitalfields;thatistosay,asSpitalfieldswasthen,foritwasnotsolargeasnowbyonefifthpart。
Bythis,however,thenumberofpeopleinthewholemaybejudgedof;and,indeed,Ioftenwonderedthat,aftertheprodigiousnumbersofpeoplethatwentawayatfirst,therewasyetsogreatamultitudeleftasitappearedtherewas。
ButImustgobackagaintothebeginningofthissurprisingtime。
Whilethefearsofthepeoplewereyoung,theywereincreasedstrangelybyseveraloddaccidentswhich,putaltogether,itwasreallyawonderthewholebodyofthepeopledidnotriseasonemanandabandontheirdwellings,leavingtheplaceasaspaceofgrounddesignedbyHeavenforanAkeldama,doomedtobedestroyedfromthefaceoftheearth,andthatallthatwouldbefoundinitwouldperishwithit。Ishallnamebutafewofthesethings;butsuretheyweresomany,andsomanywizardsandcunningpeoplepropagatingthem,thatIhaveoftenwonderedtherewasany（womenespecially）
leftbehind。
Inthefirstplace,ablazingstarorcometappearedforseveralmonthsbeforetheplague,astheredidtheyearafteranother,alittlebeforethefire。Theoldwomenandthephlegmatichypochondriacpartoftheothersex,whomIcouldalmostcalloldwomentoo,remarked（especiallyafterward,thoughnottillboththosejudgementswereover）thatthosetwocometspasseddirectlyoverthecity,andthatsoverynearthehousesthatitwasplaintheyimportedsomethingpeculiartothecityalone;thatthecometbeforethepestilencewasofafaint,dull,languidcolour,anditsmotionveryheavy,Solemn,andslow;butthatthecometbeforethefirewasbrightandsparkling,or,asotherssaid,flaming,anditsmotionswiftandfurious;andthat,accordingly,oneforetoldaheavyjudgement,slowbutsevere,terribleandfrightful,aswastheplague;buttheotherforetoldastroke,sudden,swift,andfieryastheconflagration。Nay,soparticularsomepeoplewere,thatastheylookeduponthatcometprecedingthefire,theyfanciedthattheynotonlysawitpassswiftlyandfiercely,andcouldperceivethemotionwiththeireye,buteventheyheardit;thatitmadearushing,mightynoise,fierceandterrible,thoughatadistance,andbutjustperceivable。
EndofPart1
Part2
Isawboththesestars,and,Imustconfess,hadsomuchofthecommonnotionofsuchthingsinmyhead,thatIwasapttolookuponthemastheforerunnersandwarningsofGod'sjudgements;andespeciallywhen,aftertheplaguehadfollowedthefirst,Iyetsawanotherofthelikekind,IcouldnotbutsayGodhadnotyetsufficientlyscourgedthecity。
ButIcouldnotatthesametimecarrythesethingstotheheightthatothersdid,knowing,too,thatnaturalcausesareassignedbytheastronomersforsuchthings,andthattheirmotionsandeventheirrevolutionsarecalculated,orpretendedtobecalculated,sothattheycannotbesoperfectlycalledtheforerunnersorforetellers,muchlesstheprocurers,ofsucheventsaspestilence,war,fire,andthelike。
Butletmythoughtsandthethoughtsofthephilosophersbe,orhavebeen,whattheywill,thesethingshadamorethanordinaryinfluenceuponthemindsofthecommonpeople,andtheyhadalmostuniversalmelancholyapprehensionsofsomedreadfulcalamityandjudgementcominguponthecity;andthisprincipallyfromthesightofthiscomet,andthelittlealarmthatwasgiveninDecemberbytwopeopledyingatStGiles's,asabove。
Theapprehensionsofthepeoplewerelikewisestrangelyincreasedbytheerrorofthetimes;inwhich,Ithink,thepeople,fromwhatprincipleIcannotimagine,weremoreaddictedtopropheciesandastrologicalconjurations,dreams,andoldwives'talesthanevertheywerebeforeorsince。Whetherthisunhappytemperwasoriginallyraisedbythefolliesofsomepeoplewhogotmoneybyit—thatistosay,byprintingpredictionsandprognostications—Iknownot;butcertainitis,booksfrightedthemterribly,suchasLilly'sAlmanack,Gadbury'sAstrologicalPredictions,PoorRobin'sAlmanack,andthelike;alsoseveralpretendedreligiousbooks,oneentitled,Comeoutofher,myPeople,lestyoubePartakerofherPlagues;anothercalled,FairWarning;another,Britain'sRemembrancer;andmanysuch,all,ormostpartofwhich,foretold,directlyorcovertly,theruinofthecity。Nay,someweresoenthusiasticallyboldastorunaboutthestreetswiththeiroralpredictions,pretendingtheyweresenttopreachtothecity;andoneinparticular,who,likeJonahtoNineveh,criedinthestreets,'Yetfortydays,andLondonshallbedestroyed。'Iwillnotbepositivewhetherhesaidyetfortydaysoryetafewdays。Anotherranaboutnaked,exceptapairofdrawersabouthiswaist,cryingdayandnight,likeamanthatJosephusmentions,whocried,'WoetoJerusalem！'alittlebeforethedestructionofthatcity。Sothispoornakedcreaturecried,'Oh,thegreatandthedreadfulGod！'andsaidnomore,butrepeatedthosewordscontinually,withavoiceandcountenancefullofhorror,aswiftpace;andnobodycouldeverfindhimtostoporrest,ortakeanysustenance,atleastthateverIcouldhearof。Imetthispoorcreatureseveraltimesinthestreets,andwouldhavespokentohim,buthewouldnotenterintospeechwithmeoranyoneelse,butheldonhisdismalcriescontinually。
Thesethingsterrifiedthepeopletothelastdegree,andespeciallywhentwoorthreetimes,asIhavementionedalready,theyfoundoneortwointhebillsdeadoftheplagueatStGiles's。
Nexttothesepublicthingswerethedreamsofoldwomen,or,I
shouldsay,theinterpretationofoldwomenuponotherpeople'sdreams;andtheseputabundanceofpeopleevenoutoftheirwits。
Someheardvoiceswarningthemtobegone,forthattherewouldbesuchaplagueinLondon,sothatthelivingwouldnotbeabletoburythedead。Otherssawapparitionsintheair;andImustbeallowedtosayofboth,Ihopewithoutbreachofcharity,thattheyheardvoicesthatneverspake,andsawsightsthatneverappeared;buttheimaginationofthepeoplewasreallyturnedwaywardandpossessed。
Andnowonder,iftheywhowereporingcontinuallyatthecloudssawshapesandfigures,representationsandappearances,whichhadnothinginthembutair,andvapour。Heretheytoldustheysawaflamingswordheldinahandcomingoutofacloud,withapointhangingdirectlyoverthecity;theretheysawhearsesandcoffinsintheaircarryingtobeburied;andthereagain,heapsofdeadbodieslyingunburied,andthelike,justastheimaginationofthepoorterrifiedpeoplefurnishedthemwithmattertoworkupon。
SohypochondriacfanciesrepresentShips,armies,battlesinthefirmament;
Tillsteadyeyestheexhalationssolve,Andalltoitsfirstmatter,cloud,resolve。
Icouldfillthisaccountwiththestrangerelationssuchpeoplegaveeverydayofwhattheyhadseen;andeveryonewassopositiveoftheirhavingseenwhattheypretendedtosee,thattherewasnocontradictingthemwithoutbreachoffriendship,orbeingaccountedrudeandunmannerlyontheonehand,andprofaneandimpenetrableontheother。Onetimebeforetheplaguewasbegun（otherwisethanasIhavesaidinStGiles's）,IthinkitwasinMarch,seeingacrowdofpeopleinthestreet,Ijoinedwiththemtosatisfymycuriosity,andfoundthemallstaringupintotheairtoseewhatawomantoldthemappearedplaintoher,whichwasanangelclothedinwhite,withafieryswordinhishand,wavingitorbrandishingitoverhishead。Shedescribedeverypartofthefiguretothelife,showedthemthemotionandtheform,andthepoorpeoplecameintoitsoeagerly,andwithsomuchreadiness;'Yes,Iseeitallplainly,'saysone;'there'stheswordasplainascanbe。'Anothersawtheangel。Onesawhisveryface,andcriedoutwhatagloriouscreaturehewas！Onesawonething,andoneanother。Ilookedasearnestlyastherest,butperhapsnotwithsomuchwillingnesstobeimposedupon;andIsaid,indeed,thatIcouldseenothingbutawhitecloud,brightononesidebytheshiningofthesunupontheotherpart。Thewomanendeavouredtoshowitme,butcouldnotmakemeconfessthatIsawit,which,indeed,ifIhadImusthavelied。Butthewoman,turninguponme,lookedinmyface,andfanciedIlaughed,inwhichherimaginationdeceivedhertoo,forI
reallydidnotlaugh,butwasveryseriouslyreflectinghowthepoorpeoplewereterrifiedbytheforceoftheirownimagination。However,sheturnedfromme,calledmeprofanefellow,andascoffer;toldmethatitwasatimeofGod'sanger,anddreadfuljudgementswereapproaching,andthatdespiserssuchasIshouldwanderandperish。
Thepeopleaboutherseemeddisgustedaswellasshe;andIfoundtherewasnopersuadingthemthatIdidnotlaughatthem,andthatIshouldberathermobbedbythemthanbeabletoundeceivethem。
SoIleftthem;andthisappearancepassedforasrealastheblazingstaritself。
AnotherencounterIhadintheopendayalso;andthiswasingoingthroughanarrowpassagefromPettyFranceintoBishopsgateChurchyard,byarowofalms—houses。TherearetwochurchyardstoBishopsgatechurchorparish;onewegoovertopassfromtheplacecalledPettyFranceintoBishopsgateStreet,comingoutjustbythechurchdoor;theotherisonthesideofthenarrowpassagewherethealms—housesareontheleft;andadwarf—wallwithapalisadoonitontherighthand,andthecitywallontheothersidemoretotheright。
Inthisnarrowpassagestandsamanlookingthroughbetweenthepalisadoesintotheburying—place,andasmanypeopleasthenarrownessofthepassagewouldadmittostop,withouthinderingthepassageofothers,andhewastalkingmightilyeagerlytothem,andpointingnowtooneplace,thentoanother,andaffirmingthathesawaghostwalkinguponsuchagravestonethere。Hedescribedtheshape,theposture,andthemovementofitsoexactlythatitwasthegreatestmatterofamazementtohimintheworldthateverybodydidnotseeitaswellashe。Onasuddenhewouldcry,'Thereitis;nowitcomesthisway。'Then,'Tisturnedback';tillatlengthhepersuadedthepeopleintosofirmabeliefofit,thatonefanciedhesawit,andanotherfanciedhesawit;andthushecameeverydaymakingastrangehubbub,consideringitwasinsonarrowapassage,tillBishopsgateclockstruckeleven,andthentheghostwouldseemtostart,and,asifhewerecalledaway,disappearedonasudden。
Ilookedearnestlyeveryway,andattheverymomentthatthismandirected,butcouldnotseetheleastappearanceofanything;butsopositivewasthispoorman,thathegavethepeoplethevapoursinabundance,andsentthemawaytremblingandfrighted,tillatlengthfewpeoplethatknewofitcaredtogothroughthatpassage,andhardlyanybodybynightonanyaccountwhatever。
Thisghost,asthepoormanaffirmed,madesignstothehouses,andtotheground,andtothepeople,plainlyintimating,orelsetheysounderstandingit,thatabundanceofthepeopleshouldcometobeburiedinthatchurchyard,asindeedhappened;butthathesawsuchaspectsImustacknowledgeIneverbelieved,norcouldIseeanythingofitmyself,thoughIlookedmostearnestlytoseeit,ifpossible。
Thesethingsservetoshowhowfarthepeoplewerereallyovercomewithdelusions;andastheyhadanotionoftheapproachofavisitation,alltheirpredictionsranuponamostdreadfulplague,whichshouldlaythewholecity,andeventhekingdom,waste,andshoulddestroyalmostallthenation,bothmanandbeast。
Tothis,asIsaidbefore,theastrologersaddedstoriesoftheconjunctionsofplanetsinamalignantmannerandwithamischievousinfluence,oneofwhichconjunctionswastohappen,anddidhappen,inOctober,andtheotherinNovember;andtheyfilledthepeople'sheadswithpredictionsonthesesignsoftheheavens,intimatingthatthoseconjunctionsforetolddrought,famine,andpestilence。Inthetwofirstofthem,however,theywereentirelymistaken,forwehadnodroughtyseason,butinthebeginningoftheyearahardfrost,whichlastedfromDecemberalmosttoMarch,andafterthatmoderateweather,ratherwarmthanhot,withrefreshingwinds,and,inshort,veryseasonableweather,andalsoseveralverygreatrains。
Someendeavourswereusedtosuppresstheprintingofsuchbooksasterrifiedthepeople,andtofrightenthedispersersofthem,someofwhomweretakenup;butnothingwasdoneinit,asIaminformed,theGovernmentbeingunwillingtoexasperatethepeople,whowere,asImaysay,alloutoftheirwitsalready。
NeithercanIacquitthoseministersthatintheirsermonsrathersankthanlifteduptheheartsoftheirhearers。Manyofthemnodoubtdiditforthestrengtheningtheresolutionofthepeople,andespeciallyforquickeningthemtorepentance,butitcertainlyanswerednottheirend,atleastnotinproportiontotheinjuryitdidanotherway;andindeed,asGodHimselfthroughthewholeScripturesratherdrawstoHimbyinvitationsandcallstoturntoHimandlive,thandrivesusbyterrorandamazement,soImustconfessIthoughttheministersshouldhavedonealso,imitatingourblessedLordandMasterinthis,thatHiswholeGospelisfullofdeclarationsfromheavenofGod'smercy,andHisreadinesstoreceivepenitentsandforgivethem,complaining,'YewillnotcomeuntoMethatyemayhavelife',andthatthereforeHisGospeliscalledtheGospelofPeaceandtheGospelofGrace。
Butwehadsomegoodmen,andthatofallpersuasionsandopinions,whosediscourseswerefullofterror,whospokenothingbutdismalthings;
andastheybroughtthepeopletogetherwithakindofhorror,sentthemawayintears,prophesyingnothingbuteviltidings,terrifyingthepeoplewiththeapprehensionsofbeingutterlydestroyed,notguidingthem,atleastnotenough,tocrytoheavenformercy。
Itwas,indeed,atimeofveryunhappybreachesamongusinmattersofreligion。Innumerablesectsanddivisionsandseparateopinionsprevailedamongthepeople。TheChurchofEnglandwasrestored,indeed,withtherestorationofthemonarchy,aboutfouryearsbefore;