Work, and ſo confident in the Protection of Providence in Diſcharge of the great Duty of Charity, that they went about in perſon diſtributing Alms to the Poor, and even viſiting poor Families, tho’ ſick and infected in their very Houſes, appointing Nurſes to attend thoſe that wanted attending, and ordering Apothecaries and Surgeons, the firſt to ſupply them with Drugs or Plaiſters, and ſuch things as they wanted; and the laſt to lance and dreſs the Swellings and Tumours, where ſuch were wanting; giving their Bleſſing to the Poor in ſubſtantial Relief to them, as well as hearty Prayers for them.
I will not undertake to ſay, as ſome do, that none of theſe charitable People were ſuffered to fall under the Calamity itſelf; but this I may ſay, that I never knew any one of them that miſcarried, which I mention for the Encouragement of others in caſe of the like Diſtreſs; and doubtleſs, if they that give to the Poor, lend to the Lord, and he will repay them; thoſe that hazard their Lives to give to the Poor, and to comfort and aſſiſt the Poor in ſuch a Miſery as this, may hope to be protected in the Work.
Nor was this Charity ſo extraordinary eminent only in a few; but, (for I cannot lightly quit this Point) the Charity of the rich as well in the City and Suburbs as from the Country, was ſo great, that in a Word, a prodigious Number of People, who muſt otherwiſe inevitably have periſhed for want as well as Sickneſs, were ſupported and ſubſiſted by it; and tho’ I could never, nor I believe any one elſe come to a full Knowledge of what was ſo contributed, yet I do believe, that as I heard one ſay, that was a critical Obſerver of that Part, there was not only many Thouſand Pounds contributed, but many hundred thouſand Pounds, to the Relief of the Poor of this diſtreſſed afflicted City; nay one Man affirm’d to me that he could reckon up above one hundred thou-
