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