[137_ many that died.were helpt in their preparations and through God's great mercies, multitudes that furvived, repented and became the feriuus feekers of a better world. The men that did this were moftly unmarried, and could eafilier ven- ture their own lives, than fuch as had families ; and force of them that had families, yet trufled God, and moil did (cape. We know but of one (pious Germane Minifter that died of the plague in the City (and one of another Difeafe, if not through want) and two that fled from it in the Country) And when God had blet thefe mens faithful labours with the converfion of many fouls (ef:ecially Apprentices and young pcople.) the experience fb engaged their mutual afè i-- ons, that the Minifiers refòlved that they would live and die in fuch fervice as God had fo blefl'ed and preferred them in; and their hearers re fol- ved that they would not forfake their Teachers And thus the dreadful Plague began that which fo much now offendeth men, as a dangerous Schifm. XVIII. And when force men out of execffive caution, were ready to think that when that Plague was ceafèd ( having killed about an hun- dred thoufand ) thè Minifters thould lay by that publick work, and retire again into fècret cor- ners, God confuted them by his next dreadful judgement,burning down the City the next year, 1666: So that there were neither Churches to go to, nor Minifters in the Parifh es to Preach, nor rich men to maintain them . And could any foul that hated not Chriff and mens falvatior., have wifhed the Nonconformifts then to defert the miferable people. When they newly came from
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