第 13 节
作者:
雨来不躲 更新:2021-10-16 18:43 字数:3920
for reasons in nature to account for it by; and labour as much as they
will to lessen the debt they owe to their Maker; those physicians who
had the least share of religion in them were obliged to acknowledge
that it was all supernatural; that it was extraordinary; and that no
account could be given of it。
If I should say that this is a visible summons to us all to
thankfulness; especially we that were under the terror of its increase;
perhaps it may be thought by some; after the sense of the thing was
over; an officious canting of religious things; preaching a sermon
instead of writing a history; making myself a teacher instead of giving
my observations of things; and this restrains me very much from going
on here as I might otherwise do。 But if ten lepers Were healed; and
but one returned to give thanks; I desire to be as that one; and to be
thankful for myself。
Nor will I deny but there were abundance of people who; to all appearance;
were very thankful at that time; for their mouths were stopped; even the
mouths of those whose hearts were not extraordinary long affected with it。
But the impression was so strong at that time that it could not be resisted;
no; not by the worst of the people。
It was a common thing to meet people in the street that were
strangers; and that we knew nothing at all of; expressing their surprise。
Going one day through Aldgate; and a pretty many people being
passing and repassing; there comes a man out of the end of the
Minories; and looking a little up the street and down; he throws his
hands abroad; 'Lord; what an alteration is here I Why; last week I
came along here; and hardly anybody was to he seen。' Another man … I
heard him … adds to his words; 〃Tis all wonderful; 'tis all a dream。'
'Blessed be God;' says a third man; d and let us give thanks to Him; for
'tis all His own doing; human help and human skill was at an end。'
These were all strangers to one another。 But such salutations as these
were frequent in the street every day; and in spite of a loose
behaviour; the very common people went along the streets giving God
thanks for their deliverance。
It was now; as I said before; the people had cast off all
apprehensions; and that too fast; indeed we were no more afraid now
to pass by a man with a white cap upon his head; or with a doth wrapt
round his neck; or with his leg limping; occasioned by the sores in his
groin; all which were frightful to the last degree; but the week before。
But now the street was full of them; and these poor recovering
creatures; give them their due; appeared very sensible of their
unexpected deliverance; and I should wrong them very much if I
should not acknowledge that I believe many of them were really
thankful。 But I must own that; for the generality of the people; it
might too justly be said of them as was said of the children of Israel
after their being delivered from the host of Pharaoh; when they passed
the Red Sea; and looked back and saw the Egyptians overwhelmed in
the water: viz。; that they sang His praise; but they soon forgot His works。
I can go no farther here。 I should be counted censorious; and
perhaps unjust; if I should enter into the unpleasing work of reflecting;
whatever cause there was for it; upon the unthankfulness and return of
all manner of wickedness among us; which I was so much an eye…
witness of myself。 I shall conclude the account of this calamitous
year therefore with a coarse but sincere stanza of my own; which I
placed at the end of my ordinary memorandums the same year they
were written: …
A dreadful plague in London was
In the year sixty…five;
Which swept an hundred thousand souls
Away; yet I alive!
H。 F。
End