A WARNING TO THE INHABITANTS OF ENGLAND, AND LONDON In particular: For so it rise often in my Heart to write, even a WARNING, that the Inhabitants might hear and fear the Judgements of the Lord, that are ready to fall upon this Nation speedily, unless they Repent of the Evil of their Do, and Return from their Iniquities, that God may yet show Mercy upon this poor Nation.  
By M. A  
Printed in the Year, 1676.   

A WARNING to the Inhabitants of England, & London in particular.  
OH! consider, I beseech you, how long the Lord hath waited upon you in his Tender Mercy, because he would not have you perish in your Sins, and so your Souls come to perish eternally. Consider how many Warnings he hath sent, and yet you have not taken Warning; but run on in Sin, Drunkenness, Whoredoms, Swearing, Cursing, Lying and all manner of Sports & Plays, and spending your precious Time in Vanity, not considering your End, and the Preciousness of your Never dying Souls, that must live to all Eternity, either in eternal Bliss and Happiness, or in Eternal Woe and Misery.  
Oh! how hath the Lord signified his sore Displeasure against this Nation and London, in sending forth his Plagues and Pestilence, Sword, Fire (and Famine hath been also threatened) in which Judgements Thousands were cut off? Oh! what little notice is taken of these things, so as to amend your Lives? Oh! consider what will be the End of this, if you do not Repent with Speed: Do you not know your Lives are compared to very small things, even a Bubble in the Water, which is soon up and soon down; and to a Weaver's Shuttle, that soon is shut; to a Thread, that is soon snapped asunder. When the Sense of the Shortness of Man and Woman's Life have been set before me, it hath made me tremble, and with Pity have I beheld what a great Bustle Men make to get a little perishing Things in this World; when all is done, it is but Vanity and a Lie, even all your Pride, Pomp and Vainglory; and your Souls in this state stand in Danger of Everlasting Ruin: Oh! that you would consider it well, before the Thread of your Lives be snapped asunder; and consider the many Sins that are committed in one day, and such as are of a scarlet dye, as, grievous Oaths, Blasphemies and Lying is very frequent with many people in their Buying and Selling, which none can do who abide in the true Fear of God; and it is plainly said in the Scriptures of Truth. Those who love and make a Lie, shall not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven: Then what do you think will become of your poor Immortal Souls, when this Life is ended, and all your Jollatry is at an End? Oh! that you would but enter into a serious Consideration, and think within yourselves, If God should take away my Life this Night, or this Hour, what will become of my Soul? We see daily how that many pass away, and do not return again: so it must be with us, and we cannot resist the Messenger of the Lord. Therefore hearken to the Voice of the Lord, for thus saith the Lord of Hosts, Consider your Ways; ask, and you shall have; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: for every one that seeks truly and sincerely, findeth; he that asketh, receiveth; and him that knocketh, it shall be opened unto him: for the Lord giveth liberally, and upbraideth not, if thou wilt but Repent, and forsake thy Sins, that would ruin thy Soul. Therefore good is the Lord, who would not have any to perish, but would have all to come unto him, and be saved: For this End he hath sent forth his Servants to preach the Everlasting Gospel, which is the Power of God, to preserve thee from Sin, if thou wilt obey the Motions of his Grace, even in thy Heart, which shows thee thou shouldst not be drunk, Swear, Lie nor Defraud any, but do to all as thou wouldst they should do to thee: So this is the Will of the Lord, even our Sanctification, to be washed in the Water of Regeneration; and he hath promised, They who Repent, and forsake Sin, shall find Mercy. And the Blood of Christ cleanseth from all Sin those who do obey his spiritual Light, which shi●es in their Hearts, and reproves them for Sin; for without him we can do nothing. So Life and Death is set before all people, that they may choose Life, and forsake vain Pleasures and Death; and my Soul's Desire is, that People may choose Holiness, and live. For, without Holiness none can see the Lord; and if we cannot see him, how shall we live with him forever? for No Unclean thing can enter into the Kingdom of Heaven: And so, as we turn to the Lord, he will turn his Judgements from this Nation, which otherwise he hath determined to bring upon this Nation and London, by reason of Sin: For, often I have been waked out of Sleep with Sorrow and Pain upon my Heart, my Spirit being under a Sense and Burden because of these things; it lay upon me to declare the Judgements of the Lord, as it hath been signified to me by Visions; and it hath laid with very much weight upon my Spirit, Night and Day concerning these things, That unless you Repent, the Lord will send yet more Plagues, Sudden Deaths, and other Miseries, and Great Mortality's. When Jonah warned the King and People of Nineveh, they did not Beat him, and put him in Prison; but they Repent, and the Lord beheld it, and he had Mercy, and turned away his Judgements: And so he will do to this Nation, if you will Repent, and Turn from your Sins, and do the things that be Just; for the Lord is an All seeing God, you cannot do any Sin in the secret place but he sees it, whether it be in Thought, Word or Deed. And thus in Mercy he first sends his Warnings before his Judgements, and if ye will take Warning, he will send Mercy, and not Judgement; for to that End he sent forth his Servants, to turn People from Darkness to Light, and from the Power of Satan to the Power of the Living God.  
This by one who hath felt great Affliction, but now hath obtained Mercy, as I am brought into the Obedience of the Will of God, M. A.   


OH LONDON I once more to thee do speak,  
Because thy Pride has made my Heart to ache,  
To see thy Pride and eke Abomination,  
Which causeth the Lord to send such Visitations,  
As Plague and Pestilence, Fire and Sword,  
Because thou wilt not hearken to his Word,  
Which cut off Thousands in a little time,  
Methinks it should not so soon be out of mind;  
Also the great Fire, which raged up and down  
Throughout the City, till 'twas almost consumed,  
That Thousands were left without Habitations;  
Oh! do not forget the Lord in such great Visitations:  
I must confess the Judgements were very great,  
But to what End I to you must relate,  
That you should see by those his Visitations  
Your horrid Sins and great Abominations.  
What Pride and Pleasures are found in this great City,  
With Oaths and other great Abominations, which make me pity  
To see the Sad and Deplorable State thou art in,  
Which will cause the Lord more Plagues on thee to send.  
What Sins were found in Sodom and Gomorrah,  
Also the Great Cruelty of Pharaoh,  
That is not found in this Wicked Generation?  
Therefore Repent with speed, lest it prove your Damnation.   
M. A.