A27548	----	A dreadful account of a most terrible earthquake which lately happened in Italy wherein thirty seven great cities and towns were totally destroy'd, and one hundred and twenty thousand of men, women, and children perished, 8c. : in a letter / from the consul of Messina's secretary. W. B. 1693 Approx. 5 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 1 1-bit group-IV TIFF page image. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2009-10 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A27548 Wing B207B ESTC R38565 17762428 ocm 17762428 106601 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A27548) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 106601) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 1626:39) A dreadful account of a most terrible earthquake which lately happened in Italy wherein thirty seven great cities and towns were totally destroy'd, and one hundred and twenty thousand of men, women, and children perished, 8c. : in a letter / from the consul of Messina's secretary. W. B. 1 broadside. Printed by W. Downing ..., London : 1693. Signed at end: W.B. Reproduction of original in the Harvard University Library. Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford. Re-processed by University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. Gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. EEBO-TCP is a partnership between the Universities of Michigan and Oxford and the publisher ProQuest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by ProQuest via their Early English Books Online (EEBO) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). The general aim of EEBO-TCP is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic English-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in EEBO. EEBO-TCP aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the Text Encoding Initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). The EEBO-TCP project was divided into two phases. The 25,363 texts created during Phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 January 2015. Anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. Users should be aware of the process of creating the TCP texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. Text selection was based on the New Cambridge Bibliography of English Literature (NCBEL). If an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in NCBEL, then their works are eligible for inclusion. Selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. In general, first editions of a works in English were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably Latin and Welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. Image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. Quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in Oxford and Michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet QA standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. After proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. Any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. Understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of TCP data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. Users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a TCP editor. The texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the TEI in Libraries guidelines. Copies of the texts have been issued variously as SGML (TCP schema; ASCII text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable XML (TCP schema; characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless XML (TEI P5, characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or TEI g elements). Keying and markup guidelines are available at the Text Creation Partnership web site . eng Earthquakes -- Italy. Natural disasters -- Italy. Italy -- History -- 17th century. 2008-07 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2008-09 SPi Global Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2008-10 John Pas Sampled and proofread 2008-10 John Pas Text and markup reviewed and edited 2009-02 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion A Dreadful Account of a most Terrible Earthquake , Which lately happened in ITALY , Wherein Thirty Seven great Cities and Towns were totally Destroy'd , and One Hundred and Twenty Thousand of Men , Women , and Children Perished , &c. In a Letter from the Consul of Messina's Secretary . Loving Brother , THE Subject of my present Writing carries that Horrour and Amazement , as puts a Trembling into the very Hand that guides the Pen : The sad Relation I have to make you , perhaps hath not hitherto been equalled in any Records or History of the World , and I hope never will , the Calamity indeed being unexpressable . 'T is true , we have had very melancholy Narratives of the late Dismal Earthquakes in Jamaica ; but , alass , that Visitation has been infinitely Inferior to the much severer Hand of Heaven felt amongst us in this Part of the World. As to the Earthquakes that gave you some small Fright in England and Flanders , those were so inconsiderable , as to be scarce Shadows , little more than a Name . For Instance , at a City call'd Cattana about 60 Miles from Rome , and not far from the Mount Aetna , on the first Instant there happened an Earthquake so Violent , that not one House has been left standing in the whole City , but , together with the Churches and Covents of Fryers and Nuns , all levelled to the Ground , and buried in one Heap of Rubbish , in which near 20 Thousand People perished , there remaining not above 1500 Souls alive , and those not all intirely Escaping , for above one third of the Number were either miserably Torn and Mangled , or otherwise Hurt and Damaged . The City Seragusa Angusta has participated in the like bitter Vial of God's Judgment , being in like manner intirely and utterly Destroyed , with an equal Fatality and Destruction of the miserable Inhabitants , having only Five Hundred and odd People saved out of above 22000. A great many other Town and Villages have proportionably groaned under the same destroying Vengeance : Nay , the very Rocks throughout the whole Island have been all Torn in sunder , and such dismal Marks are left behind , that the whole Face of the Country is little less than one continued Chaos and Confusion . In fine , it is altogether so hideous a Scene , that no Words can express nor Pen describe it . To sum up our general Misery and Desolation , the greatest part of those Remains of us , that God in his particular Mercy has been pleased to Spare , are forced to lie abroad out of the Towns and Cities ( as no longer capable to shelter them ) in Hutts and Booths somewhat like your Bartholomew Fair. But in all these deplorable Objects before our Eyes , and the still frightful Remembrance behind us , we have Reason to bless God that the least Portion of this Misery fell to our Share in this City Messina , compared with the more hideous Ruines and suffering Neighbours round about us ; for we had that particular Providence to have only about 40 Houses intirely destroyed , and about 30 People Killed , though indeed we have scarce a House in the whole Town that has not in some Measure been Shattered and Torn . After the Violence of our Consternation was so far abated , as to give us leave to examine and compute the universal Loss , we have had a List of 37 Cities and Towns which have been wholly Ruined by this Earthquake , and above 120000 People perish'd ; besides several Thousands al Languishing , Maimed and Cripples . But to quit so deplorable a Theme , and Return Thanks to Heaven for my own Preservation , Il shall conclude , by telling you , that God willing , I shall be very speedily with you , this whole Island being now so ruined a Place , that I shall esteem my self Happy in my Deliverance from so Dismal and Desolate a Wilderness , &c. Messina , Jan. 20. 1692 / 3. In Italy . Your ever Loving Brother W. B. POSTSCIPT . THis abovesaid Account was sent in a Letter , from the Secretary to Mr. Thomas Chamberlin , Consul for Their Majesties of Great Britain at Messina . And if any Person desires any further Satisfaction , let him Repair to the Printer of this Relation , in whose Hands is the Original Letter . London , Printed by W. Downing in Great St. Bartholomew-Close , 1693. 
A07913	----	A most true relation of a very dreadfull earth-quake with the lamentable effectes thereof, vvhich began vpon the 8. of December 1612. and yet continueth most fearefull in Munster in Germanie. Reade and tremble. Translated out of Dutch by Charles Demetrius, publike notarie in London. 1612 Approx. 34 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 15 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2008-09 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A07913 STC 18285 ESTC S103115 99838872 99838872 3262 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A07913) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 3262) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1475-1640 ; 1211:11) A most true relation of a very dreadfull earth-quake with the lamentable effectes thereof, vvhich began vpon the 8. of December 1612. and yet continueth most fearefull in Munster in Germanie. Reade and tremble. Translated out of Dutch by Charles Demetrius, publike notarie in London. Demetrius, Charles. [28] p. [By T. Snodham] at the signe of the White gray-hound, Printed at Rotterdame in Holland [i.e. London] : [1612?] Signatures: A⁴(-A1) B-D⁴(-D4). Actual place of publication and printer's name from STC; Publication date conjectered by STC. With woodcut title vignette. Running title reads: Feareful newes, from Munster in Germany. An English translation, by Charles Demetrius, from the Dutch original. Title page cropped at foot. Reproduction of the original in the Bodleian Library. Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford. Re-processed by University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. Gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. EEBO-TCP is a partnership between the Universities of Michigan and Oxford and the publisher ProQuest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by ProQuest via their Early English Books Online (EEBO) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). The general aim of EEBO-TCP is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic English-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in EEBO. EEBO-TCP aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the Text Encoding Initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). The EEBO-TCP project was divided into two phases. The 25,363 texts created during Phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 January 2015. Anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. Users should be aware of the process of creating the TCP texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. Text selection was based on the New Cambridge Bibliography of English Literature (NCBEL). If an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in NCBEL, then their works are eligible for inclusion. Selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. In general, first editions of a works in English were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably Latin and Welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. Image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. Quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in Oxford and Michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet QA standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. After proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. Any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. Understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of TCP data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. Users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a TCP editor. The texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the TEI in Libraries guidelines. Copies of the texts have been issued variously as SGML (TCP schema; ASCII text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable XML (TCP schema; characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless XML (TEI P5, characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or TEI g elements). Keying and markup guidelines are available at the Text Creation Partnership web site . eng Earthquakes -- Muenster (Germany) -- Early works to 1800. 2006-09 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2006-09 Apex CoVantage Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2007-08 Taryn Hakala Sampled and proofread 2007-08 Taryn Hakala Text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-02 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion A Most true Relation of a very dreadfull Earth-quake , with the Lamentable effectes thereof , Which began vpon the 8. of DECEMBER 1612. and yet continueth most fearefull in Munster in Germanie . READE AND TREMBLE . Translated out of Dutch by Charles Demetrius , Publike Notarie in London . And Printed at Rotterdame in Holland , at the Signe of the White Gray-hound . depiction of comet sighting A MOST TRVE Relation of a very dreadfull Earth-quake , with the lamentable effects thereof , which began vpon the eight of December this present yeare 1612. and yet continueth most fearefull in Munster in Germanie . HOw happie was Adam ( our Father ) to haue the world ( then vnspotted ) his Kingdome , Paradise his Pallace , all creatures vpon Earth his Subiects , God himselfe his Protector , good Angels his councellors , Sunne , Moone and Starres his Bookes of contemplation , and Eden his Garden of plentie and pleasure , where hee had all things that were good , and was in daunger of nothing that was euill . But how wretched was hee for disobeying his Creators commandement , to loose all this happinesse , and in that Treason of his to condemne all his posteritie ? How miserable are the Sonnes become by the Fathers fall ? How blessed had they beene , if hee had stood ? For reckon vp their losses : the World that should haue beene their Paradi●e is now their Prison . Mans protector ( God ) hath giuen him ouer : Angels ( that then were his equals ) are now farre aboue him , All creatures that were his Subiects , rebell at their Lord and Master ▪ a little Bee dares sting him , the smallest Gnatte is ready to choake him : The earth brings foorth Bryers and Brambles to scratch him , poysons to kill him , Serpents to deuour him , yea the heauens themselues emptie their ful Quiuers of dreadful vengeance , shooting tempests of Hayle , Ice , Snowe , Waters , Windes , Thunder and Lightning , vpon his miserable and sinfull head . That which hath a Sunne placed in it to giue him heate , foode and life , powres vppon him her Vyols of wrath : That which was made firme for his footing , and to beare vp Kingdomes , Cities , and all the creatures in the World , now shakes , and opens her entrailes to swallow him in that wombe , where first hee was begotten . Shall I drawe before your eyes a liuely Picture , to make you see these things ? Alacke ! we write our passed punishments vpon the brest of Time , and when his backe is turned , it is like Childrens bookes clasped vp , wee forget what lessons we reade there . We are all like Zenophantus , that could doe nothing but laugh : yea , our escaped miseries are but our mockeries ; for ( as dull beasts doe ) we feele stripes to day , but forget the smarting to morrow ; growing fat with afflictions as Asses doe with blowes , and the more beaten , the harder our hearts are , like yron , lying vnder the hammer . Since then we neuer feare Ship wracke , but when we see our Vessels ready to Split vpon Rockes , and that wee thinke neuer to fall , but when the Axe is laide to the roote ; Since no rodde can terrifie but what is presently held ouer vs ; O yee Worldlings , ( vnlesse your bosomes bee as cold as your Charitie is ) I shall melt you all into Water , and startle your Soules out of their deadly slumbers , vnlesse they bee as dull and heauie as your sinnes are , by ratling in your eares the Thunder of Diuine vengeance , whose noyse doth now at this very instant terrifie vs your disconsolate Neighbours . The Earth-quake in Munster , with other fearefull Prodigies seene in the Ayre . MVnster is a Citie , situate in Westphalia , a part of the lower Germany : It stands vpon a hill , fauoured by Heauen for sweete and wholesome ayre , and wanting nothing which the Prouinces , adioyning to it , doe plentifully enioy . It is rich in people , and the people rich in pleasures , and therefore in sinne , no windes being able to wey downe the full eares of their pride , but the breath of his nosethrils which can make Princes to bow beneath his foot stoole . In this Citie ( swelling with the abundance which her owne wombe beares and brings forth : ) when her head lay in the soft lappe of ease , when Peace sate at her Gates , Freedome walked in her Streetes , and when securitie laide all the Inhabitants vpon their wanton Pillowes . Behold , the Reuealer and Reuenger of all close and hidden impietie suddenly snatched out his Sword , and ( smiting at them ) made their loftiest Pinnacles to tremble . For vpon the eight day of December ( now last ) a vniuersall Earth-quake shooke the deepest foundations of the strongest buildings ; Churches and Steeples reeled in the Ayre like Shippes ( in stormes ) beaten vpon the Waues , and in a moment , their highest Battlements came tumbling to the Earth . Towers of Flint & Marble cannot resist this batterie . The wrath of ten thousand Canons cannot confound so quickly , for whole streetes of Houses stand tottering ▪ and whole streetes of Houses fall . Safetie hath no Walles to dwell in , no corner to flie to . Men , Women and Children are with the terror throwne to the Earth , and as there they lie , their owne Buildings fall on them , and grinde them into dust . If any haue so much heart left , as to lift vp his hands to Heauen , he is presently struck dead by Thunder and Lightning , which rage with such terrible furie , ouer all the poore desolately ruined Citie ▪ As if GOD in anger had swore to make this an example to other places of his Judgement , as hee did his holy Citie Jerusalem , not to leaue one stone standing vpon another . Armies of fiery clouds thus fight against these wretched people in the Ayre : thunder frights their soules , and astonisheth their hearing , the ground trembles vnder them , and because euery Sence should be punished , according to his offences , the eye that once scorned to looke vp so high as heauen , is now forced full of teares , from thence to begge one droppe of mercy , but in stead of that , it beholdeth a blazing & direfull Comet : The Stars that are the glorious Scutcheons of the Creator , and stucke as candles in heauen to light man in the night , becaus● he should worke no wickednesse in darknesse , are now changed into prodigious , dreadfull , and fiery Meteors . They are out of that celestiall order which the Great Generall aboue placed them in : And like a Kingdome in ciuill vprores threaten nothing but plagues , mischiefe to the world and confusion . Misery is euer borne with a twinne . These prodigies come not alone , but other strange and horrid apparitions flie vp and downe the Ayre : No time being free , as if night and day contended together , which of them should afflict and insult ouer a wretched downe-trodden Citie , with sharpest tyrannie : For the Earthquake , with Thunder and lightning doth twice euery day ( at distinct times ) shake , disioynt , and beate to the ground the howses , and kill the people , and when night should lend them rest to their calamities , they are kept waking by these second allarms in the Element . Not farre from Munster standeth a Castell called Bileuelt , strongly built vpon a mightie rocke , and this Fort ( for all it seemed to be impregnable ) hath beene shaken by the battry of this Earthquake , and such a breach made into the very Rocke it selfe , that the Castell is sunke beneath his setled and first foundation more than the depth of two mens height : That which remaineth vndeuoured in this stony and craggy Gulfe , aboue ground , ●eeling , wauing , and tottering too and fro , as easily ( when the blow is giuen ) as you see standing corne shaken by some mightie wind . Thus the poore people liue in this citie , thus they perish : but leauing them a while . Into whose bosome shall I poure the riuer of my teares ? Into my countries ? she is ouerwhelmed already in the torrent of her owne sorrowes : Shall I sigh my lamentations vp into Ayre ? She is frighted with the vnusuall prodigies which the wrath of her Maker stickes vpon her beauty : will men heare me ? Sinne hardens their hearts , and they are more senselesse than Rockes : to the Rockes , Mountaines , and Hilles then breath I out my Tragicall condolements : Alas , they tremble too , as readie to feele the generall dissolution : Let me open therefore the mangled booke of thy Ruines onely ( O thou my inexpressibly dilacerated countrey ) because in these leaues are written the blotted Stories of thy downefall . Why art thou ( aboue all thy fellowes ) marked out and drawne to the slaughter ? Is it because thy iniquities exceede the rest , as thy punishments do ? Or is it because God is but angrie as a father , ( chastising any one that is next his hand ) not in a particular quarrell to that one , but to make these stripes giuen to him , startle all the rest , and so to keepe them in feare of correctiō . Or shal I let flie none of these arrowes but shooting at Rouers in another bow , shal I with the Naturalist & searcher of secrets , conclude that these Earth frauers haue their shakings from the ordinarie distemperature of Winds , stealing into the bowels of the earth , and there ( with rombling , tossing & stragling to acquire vent & passage ) they open that Cauernes of the massie foundation , and so tumble down all waightie matter that compresseth their violence ? Shall these Crutches serue for my beliefe to leane vpon ? No , let the Lame & halting Heathen ( that neuer trode in y● right path of his Creation ) hold vp his knowledge by that weak staffe . Let him suppose that the wheeles of this great Vniuerse are set a going by the subtile workemanship of Nature , & that their motions shall grow flow , and weaken according as she her selfe waxeth old and decaying . But if I ( that am a Christian ) can read that there is a God ( who controlles Nature , ) a God that made the Sunne to shine by day , a Moone by night , with Starres in the firmament not so much to beautify that Roofe , as to serue the vse of man. And that those officers of light , ( those celestial torchbearers ) are appointed to keep a decent , setled & vnchangeable orderly course , if I can also read that the same Omni-sufficiently-skilfull Enginer , is at all times furnished with Thunder , Lightning & Tempest , ( the Artillerie of his vengeance : ) The naturall Philosopher shall pardon me , if I thinke ( and so wish all Christians to bee of this opinion ) that as in our Earthly or Lunarie bodies , accidentall violent diseases are fore-runners of languishing Sicknes , or Imminent Death , So when those heauenly bodies are out of tune , distempered , & distracted , they are predictions of some fatall , fearefull , & portentious calamities , assuredly threatning some particular Nation , not shot from an ordinarie , but a supernaturall hand . And I doe farther thinke that if the omnipotent Thunderer could locke vp sufficient store of Waters to drowne all the world , as by his word ( giuen since ) he hath sworn to destroy it with fire , sure it is that his opening of the same Sluces now ( which ouer-flow and swallow vp our corne fields in their mercilesse inundations ) are but to shewe vs the old whip which hee then held in his hands , when first he gaue correction , as these tearings of the Element , with fires darted from his lightning vpon one especiall citie , are meere Items to put vs in minde of that dreadfull last blow , which shall pash the world in pieces in her vniuersall consummation . No no , It is an extraordinarie Finger , that points out where such Tempests shall fall . The Lord of Hostes hath some great Battle to bee fought , and hée doeth now but leuie his forces : The Judge of all Kingdomes is to arraigne the sinnes of some one people , and these are now but the summons sent from his court to warne their appearance . You neuer shall see these gentle Lashes vppon the outward flesh of a few , but bee assured they are Flagella Dei , his Rods which hee ties vp in bundels against some more terrible execution . I should here weepe mine eyes into Inke , to set downe the deplorable condition of my countrey , if I saw her onely tyed to the Stake of these afflictions ? But is Germanie in a flame , and doe other Nations stand a loofe off , warming their handes by her fires ? Not so , Denmarke our next neighbour , with France , England , Scotland , Ireland , and many other Maritime Kingdoms , haue eaten of this sowre Grape as well as Germanie : they ( as we ) sit still on the weather beaten shores , increasing the wrathfull Seas with Waters showring from their eyes , for their fresh bleeding and neuer to be forgotten Irrecuperable losses . Awaken therfore ( O you seuenteene daughters of Belgial ) you that are rich in Possessions , glorious in beautie , princely in ornaments , leaue listning to the charms of your light and wanton instruments , and let the cries of vs your poore Neighbors force you to lift vp your eyes to heauen . Thinke not , though you stand higher than vs , that you stand snrer , for the same Arme that hath shooke our strong Battlements , can as suddenly crumble yours into dust , your amendement may sue out our generall Pardon . Looke vpon your feete then and blush ( for all your gay Fethers ) at your deformitie . Your ancient and noblest vertues haue you turned into Sordid and most ugly abhominations , Peace hath made you proude , pride hath made you ambitious , ambitiō warlike , and Warre bloudie and insolent . Your industrie so admired throughout the World , and so commendable at home , is now like a Spiders Loome , curiously wrought but to no good purpose . Sloth sits in your gates , and wantonnesse lies dallying in your chambers : temperance in diet is growne to surfeting , and those surfets breed oathes and quarrels . All your good deeds may be ingrauen within a ring of gold , but your bad-ones stretch beyond all dimension . These are the trees of your glories : but note I pray how the fruits haue beene blasted . The Spaniard hath marched with swords of fire , vpō the harts of your proudest cities , your marriage-beds haue suffered deturpation , and felt the hot lust of strangers , your fairest Froes haue beene rauished of their honours by the mercenary souldier : yea the Dutch themselues haue ( like Vipers ) eaten out the belly that brought them forth , Inhabitants of cities haue made their owne cities desolate , and beaten downe those walles that should haue defended their families : Fathers haue murdered sons , sonnes fathers , and kinred made triumphes at the deflowring of their Neeces . Your goodly streets ( O you Belgians ) haue beene turned into Church-yards , and your sumptuous State-Houses into shambles and graues , yet these Drummes cannot wake you . O would to God therefore ( you my countrimen the Dutch Nation , ▪ as you are now held valiant & warlike both by seas & land that you had in you lesse courage , for it is only boldnesse that makes man wicked . Or would to God that as you haue drawne your swords against the bosome of your country , you had likewise vnsheathed them against the sins of your country , thē happily had not we drunk of this bitter cup of calamities , then happily ( which heauen auert ) God will not phisicke you with the same strong potion . But because our fals may make you looke to your footing , Behold how your country lies once more bleeding , strucke by the same hand of heauen . Other fearefull Examples , vpon some swallowed ( in their Cups ) within the bowels of the Earth : with other terrible and ashonishing Accidents . THE first part of this Germaine-Tragedie is acted , the second ( full of Bloud and Horror ) shall now be plainly shewed . It beginnes with a Marriage , but ends in Murder : Banquets , and full Cuppes of Wine lay the Cloath , but shrikes and dismall crying take away the Table . Know therefore , that in a Towne of Germany called Sybellen , a rich young man , ( of the age of two and twenty yeares ) called by the name of Antiochus , hapned to be marryed to a Gentlemans Daughter of the same towne . The Nuptiall being ( according to the custome of the Country ) orderly celebrated in the Church , home the marryed couple come , accompanyed with kinsfolke , friends , and acquaintance , who are all inuited to the solemnization of so happy a day . The knot being now tyed , which to Louers is so welcome , Musicke is called for , to stirre vp their bloud and youthfull Spirits . Daunces hauing wearyed them , they all sit downe at the Bridall-Table , where Plentie her selfe could not haue inuented one dish more to furnish out the feast . At the table ( after the Dutch fashion ) they sit long , and drinke hard , and being cloyed with Glasses of Sugar and Rhenish , whose poyson goes downe smoothly , they fall againe to their Lauoltaes : and in ths manner doe they for three or foure dayes together , renew good cheere , their carowsing , and their dauncing . And ( as it commonly happens at such meetings ) it being famed abroad that two wealthy persons were marryed , a number of poore and aged people swarmed about the gates of the Bride-house : But whether it were the couetousnesse of the Parents , the pride of the Bridegroome and Bride , or the neglect of Seruants , or whether it was Gods will to harden all their hearts , onely to shew some punishment on such as are vncharitable , to expresse his detestation of that sinne : or else whether hee suffered them to drowne themselues in Wine , Belly-cheere and Pleasures , of purpose to lay his iudgement vpon sensuall and luxurious Diues , whilst he suffered poore Lazarus to begge crummes at his Gate ▪ yet to haue none : but sure it is , that commandement was giuen , that no meates which came from the Wedding-Table , should not onely not be giuen to the Beggars , but that rather they should be all beaten with cudgels from the gates , which was done accordingly . And so the Beggars being as vncharitable in their prayers , as the other were cold in their almes , went away with hungry Bellyes , but their mouthes full of curses , which they sp●tefully spit forth against the House , the Owners , the Bridegroome , Bride , Seruants , and Guests . But their ▪ breath had no power to hurt them , it was God that was to take the quarrell in hand , not for any loue to such wicked and licentious idle Caterpillers , against whom he often hardens peoples hearts , to punish their abhominable liuing , but to reuenge himselfe vpon them , who in their fulnesse despise those poore members that begge bread in the Name of his Sonne Jesus Christ . Yet he strikes them not presently , because they should haue time giuen them to bethinke themselues , and to remember the needy . But the hearts of them all being frozen vp , and pitty not enduring in so colde and comfortlesse a lodging : Behold , all at their plenteous and Epicurean voluptuous tables , fall to drinking , swilling , and carowsing deepe healths , which swimme from lip to lip in oaths , in cursing and in quarrels : the Wine ( ordayned by God for mans nourishment ) washing the ground , the earth being made drunken with her owne fruits : and the delicate meates ( whose scraps the hungry beggar would haue beene glad of ) were throwne in sinfull meriment , in one anothers faces , and then spitefully trodden in mockery vnder their feete . At this impiety the fire of Gods indignation being kindled , he made the earth to cleaue , and to swallow those that deuoured the blessings of it : her wombe opened like an insatiable Graue , and in the same were they ( All ) buryed aliue . The terror of this strucke them halfe dead with astonishment that escaped the blow : yet afterwards euen they accounted them happy that were so taken away , when they felt the sharpnesse of those miseries which presently Heauen threw vpon them . For sodainely , the Day lost his light , the Sunne hid his head , as ashamed , or rather detesting to looke vpon such wretches : and in stead of his comfortable brightnesse , a melancholy , pitchie , glutinous , and stincking , misty darknesse couered all the place : fearefull to behold , and yet the more fearefull , because nothing could be seene . And this blacke Image of Hell and Night stood before them by the space of fiue dayes . At whose end ( albeit no man thought that God would euer haue said once more , Let there be Light ) yet the Light appeared : but how ? Not to cheere vp their afflicted Spirits , but as it did to Adam , to discouer both their Sinne , their Shame , and a further Punishment . For the Day was onely showne to them to vexe them the more with sight of so deare a losse , and to make them know how powerfull he was that could take it from them . And againe , to manifest that power , he strucke the Heauens blinde againe , and in stead of light to glad them , rayned downe showres of Fire mixed with Bloud . And then to shake the World with beliefe and feare , that her last and most dismall day was come , an Earthquake ( no lesse dreadfull then the former ) both increased their miseries ▪ and ended them : for God ( according to his diuine promise and property ) being neuer angry long , was satisfied with this their punishment , and restored vnto them that which they were in despaire neuer to haue seene , that is to say , light and life . Onely let not this be vnremembred , that as the Land felt the strength of his arme and trembled , so did the waters , for the storme of his wrath powred downe it selfe vpon the neighbouring Seas , so that many ▪ Shippes were vtterly cast away , the Goods lost , and the People in them drowned : No Pilot in the World ( how skilfull soeuer ) being able to ouercome a Tempest , when Hee who once made all this World an Ocean , commaunds the Waues to execute his displeasure . Of which Tragicall fury of the Billowes this is one memorable and notorious proofe , ( to be lamented in more wordes then I set it downe in letters ) that amongst those numbers of dead carkases which the Sea ( as vnwilling to beare such vnnaturall and ignoble Burdens ) paide backe againe vpon the Shoare , a dead Woman was one , about whose body were found tyed ( as it seemed in the heat and height of the Tempest ) seauen Children , she her selfe being great with the eight . Thus haue you heard a true report of the Almighties Anger and his Mercy , his Power both by Sea and Land : let vs therefore ( whose liues and possessions he might haue confiscated in his iust indignation , yet hath spared them ) fall vpon our knees with thanks for his deliuerance , and bringing vs safe through this Red ▪ Sea of troubles , in which ( if it had pleased him ) we might with the rest haue beene for euer confounded . For our hearts ( made so by our sinnes ) are hardened , ( not onely one against another , but against him ) as much as theirs were , or euer Pharaohs was . Open the Closet of euery mans conscience , and you shall finde a Booke there , all blotted , and written full of impieties , blacker then the incke : yet so marble-breasted are we , that ( like fooles going laughing to the stockes ) we are insensible of our owne harmes . The Vine ( vntimely cut ) weepes away her strength at the wound , but no misery that cuts vs ( earely or late ) can make vs weepe for our sinnes . Sinne and we are as inseparable as trechery is from the Soule of a Turke , or blackenes from the cheekes of an Ethiope . Wee feele the smarting paine of a slight blow , it angers vs : nay , the losse of a little bloud makes vs cry out , and almost starke mad for the feare of approaching death : but if our soules be buffeted , we laugh at it : if they be shattered in pieces , rent , and ruined , we stirre not at that : Her ill dayes we write downe in no Kalender , for we thinke there are not any can hurt her . Swallowes would not come within Thebes , because the wals were so often ▪ besieged : but wretched man puts on wings to flye to those Cities , which are most shaken with vices . The more rotten the hart of this Worlds Kingdome is , by feeding on sweet and bewitching pleasures , the more we dote ( like fond Louers ) vpon it . To set downe our sinnes , is as infinite a taske as to paint our thoughts : it is a chaine reaching downe as low beneath vs , as the glories of heauen are aboue vs. To set downe our sinnes at full , we had need to study a new Arithmeticke : to be as long-liude as the Hart when we sit to doe it : to turne the Sea into Incke when we write the Figures : to binde vp a Booke with as many Leaues as are rent by Autumne : and to haue the Sands of the Ocean for Compters , yet all these helpes are not able to cast vp the Summe . For we are still at difference with God , yet is he loath to fall out with vs : we owe him Millions , yet pay him not a Mite : He loues vs as the Apple of his Eye , yet we cast his loue at our feete : he sings sweet Notes of mercy in our Eares , and they make vs presume : he then shakes his Iron Mace of Justice at vs , and then wee despaire . So that his patience and our wickednesse , our prouocation and his tender-hartednesse , are no more tunable together then Lute-strings of a Wolfe and a Lambe , which neuer agree in Musicke . If then the number of our bad deeds swels to a heape so great , how can wee at Gods hands but looke for as great , and as many punishments ? If a debter owe vs money , we looke to haue all , we spare not him , we vexe him , we plucke out his throate for our owne : Why should not God ( then ) handle vs so ? Yet he reckons seldome , and forgiues much : when he sees vs wasting the Talents he trusts vs with , and too too lauishly consuming them , then , then , we must be sure to pay for all . Euery man hath by himselfe an accompt to make vp : euery Nation runnes in Arerages , yea , the World it selfe is behinde hand with his Lord and Maker . The Audit day is set downe in his euerlasting Reportary , ( knowne to man that it must come , but knowne to the King of Heauen onely when it shall come : ) for when eyther we ( by our selues ) personally , or any Nation particularly , or the world in generally is to be summoned to make his rest euen , lyes hid in a Booke which none can vnclaspe . All of vs therefore had neede to be in readines because the hower is vncertaine when he will call . How vnspeakable then is the Mercy of our Sauiour ? how indemensiue is his bounty ? that our offences being as innumerable as the torments of hell , and our least deseruing them all , yet he whips vs but with silken rods , and giues vs fillops when he might dash vs in pieces ? We are all his flocke , and all haue gone astray , yet he strikes but one to warne the rest . For the Diuell ( like the Teumesian Foxe ) ouer takes and teares all that he hunts , but he that saued the Prophet in the belly of the great Leuiathan of the sea , can and doth deliuer vs when we are held fast betweene his pawes . O my deare Country of Germany , this is not the first warning that thou hast had from Heauen to amend thy wickednesse . Many a Trumpet haue the Angels from aboue sounded in thine Eare to awake thee : but seeing thou wilt not listen to the song of the Larke , thou art inforced to hearken to the hoarsnesse of the Screech-owle . Thou hast longed for the flesh-pots of Egypt , when thou feddest vpon Quailes and Manna : and that is the cause that thou art worthily afflicted , and compelled in stead of rich Wines , to drinke thine owne teares : and for thy full banquets , to eate the bread of thine owne , and thy childrens sorrow . Least therefore that this thy present calamity be but vnto thee as a fearefull dreame , and least thou shouldst write this fresh and bleeding misery in water , when it is most fit to be engrauen in leaues of Adamant , or rather printed in the palmes of thy hands to be euer in thine eyes , I intreate thee to looke backe vpon the woes which thou hast borne in ages past : Remember some sorrowes of thy younger dayes : though the wounds be closed vp , yet behold the scars , and in beholding them , weepe that thou shouldst so incense Heauen to strike , and yet reioyce that the punishment is so gentle . Amongst many therefore of the rods , with which thou hast beene beaten , I will onely shew thee three , and these are they . In the yeare 1346. ( vpon the Regall of S. Catharine ) the Citie of Basill , being one of the noblest buildings in Germany , and for the brauery of it called Regnopoli ( the Kingly Citie ) was ( as Munster is at this present ) shaken with an Earth-quake : which was so violent , that by force thereof a great part of the Cathedrall Church ( or Summum Templum ) fell downe : and a magnificent Palace adioyning to that Temple drowned her loftiest Pynnacles in the Riuer Rhyne , vpon which that renowned City stands . And againe in the yeare 1356. on the day of S. Luke , another Earth-quake did not onely shake and search the foundations of all Germany , but ( for many times one after another ) tossed the foresaid Citie of Basill , casting downe her Towers , Churches , Palaces , and Wals , and murdring in their ruines , aboue one hundred persons , and with the fall of stones and timber , striking infinite numbers lame . Yet the rage of it was not satisfied thus : for by the shaking in pieces of houses that had fires in them , a lamentable destruction fell vpon the whole Citie : insomuch ( the flames being exceeding great , and not able any wayes to be quenched ) men , women , and children stood afarre off , wringing their hands , to see their riches , their dowries , and patrimonies swallowed vp in flames , which burned day and night , and in their greedy and mercilesse fury consumed ( besides the Citie of Basill ) these places also : viz. Schouuenberg , Vuartenberg , Reichenstein , Angenstein , Berenfelss , Pleffingen , Scholberg , Froburg , and many others , as by a Letter sent to Sebastian Munster , ( by Bonif : Amerbachius ) is to be seene in his description of Germany . The same Authour sets downe likewise , the sad remembrance of a misery which fell in August 1545. vpon Mechlyn in Brabant , where God thundred first so terribly on the buildings and the sinnes of the people , that Mechlyn shooke and trembled to her very foundations . That dreadfull voice of Thunder being quiet , a darknesse followed , with a most horrible stench of Brimstone , more terrifying the Inhabitants then the Thunder did . And that misery being likewise remoued from them , as bad or worse succeeded : for the Clouds opening their reuenging bosomes , threw downe such fearefull Lightning , that men expected when the whole frame of Heauen would haue melted . And ( to increase that terror ) the flashes brake into a Tower that was stored with eight hundred Barrels of Gun-powder , which taking fire , blew vp a great part of the Tower in a moment : Stones , Timber , and mens quarters flying vp into the Ayre , and many whole carkases found dead the next morning . No Church stood vndefaced , no house vnruined , no man but vndone by it . At the same time three men sitting at Cards were strucke dead , whilst the woman that went into the Cellar to fetch them drinke escaped aliue : yet dismayed no doubt , but not so much terrified as he was , who in the heate of those diuine punishments , fled and hid himselfe in a caue by the space of three dayes : from whence being driuen out by Famine ( for no force else could haue made him aduenture to the light ) he with faint voyce , and trembling ioynts asked aloud , If the world stood still or not . Thus Munster . And thus farre hauing led thee backe to looke vpon thy ancient ruines , I wish thee the full fruit of all those Prayers , which the Country round about , ( terrified by thy miseries , and pittying them ) doe daily poure out in their Churches , commanded thereunto by their Rulers . And with their Prayers doe I mingle mine , that it would please God to deliuer not onely this our Country from his heauie punishments laid vpon it for the sinnes of the people in it : but also that he would call home those angry messengers of his wrath , whose stormy rage hath afflicted England , France , and other neighbouring Nations , to the vndoing of thousands , in their goods , and leauing many Widowes and fatherlesse children , by losse of their husbands liues . FINIS . 
A63960	----	The earth-quake of Jamaica describ'd in a Pindarick poem / by Mr. Tutchin. Tutchin, John, 1661?-1707. 1692 Approx. 10 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 5 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2008-09 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A63960 Wing T3373 ESTC R20574 12293630 ocm 12293630 58951 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A63960) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 58951) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 196:4) The earth-quake of Jamaica describ'd in a Pindarick poem / by Mr. Tutchin. Tutchin, John, 1661?-1707. 8 p. Printed, and are to be sold by R. Baldwin ..., London : 1692. First ed. Cf. BM. Reproduction of original in Harvard University Libraries. Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford. Re-processed by University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. Gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. 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Copies of the texts have been issued variously as SGML (TCP schema; ASCII text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable XML (TCP schema; characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless XML (TEI P5, characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or TEI g elements). Keying and markup guidelines are available at the Text Creation Partnership web site . eng Earthquakes -- Jamaica. Jamaica -- History -- Earthquake, 1692. 2007-06 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2007-07 Apex CoVantage Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2007-08 Jonathan Blaney Sampled and proofread 2007-08 Jonathan Blaney Text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-02 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion THE EARTH-QUAKE OF JAMAICA , Describ'd in a Pindarick Poem . By Mr. TUTCHIN . — namque Diespiter Igni corusco nubila dividens Plerumque per purum tonantes Egit Equos volucremque currum , Quo bruta Tellus & vaga flumina , Quo Styx , & invisi horrida Toenari Sedes , Atlanteusque finis Concutitur . Valet ima summis Mutare , — Horat. lib. 1. Ode 34. LONDON , Printed , and are to be sold by R. Baldwin , near the Oxford-Arms in Warwick-lane , 1692. THE Earthquake of Jamaica Describ'd in a POEM . I. WEll may our Lives bear an uncertain date ; Disturb'd with Maladies within , Without by cross Events of Fate , The worst of Plagues on Mortals wait , Pride , Ignorance and Sin. If our ancient Mother Earth , Who gave us all untimely Birth , Such strong Hysterick Passion feels ; If Orbs are from their Axles torn , And Mountains into Valleys worn , All in a moments space , Can humane Race Stand on their Legs when Nature Reels ? Unhappy Man ! in all things cross'd , On every giddy Wave of Fortune toss'd : The only thing that aims at Sway , And yet capricious Fate must still Obey ; Travels for Wealth to Foreign Lands , O're scorching Mountains , and o're desart Sands , Laden with Gold , when homeward bound , Is in one vast impetuous Billow drown'd : Or if he reaches to the Shoar , And there unlades his Oar , Builds Towns and Houses which may last and stand , Thinking no Wealth so sure as firm Land ; Yet Fate the Animal does still pursue ; This slides from underneath his Feet , and leaves him too . II. Environ'd with Ten Thousand Fears we live , For Fate do's seldom a just ▪ warning give ; Quicker than Thought its dire Resolves are made , And swift as Lightning flies , Around the vast extended Skies : All things are by its Bolts in vast Confusion laid . Sometimes a Flaming Comet does appear , Whose very Visage does pronounce , Decay of Kingdoms , and the Fall of Crowns , Intestine War , or Pestilential Year ; Sometimes a Hurricane of Fate , Does on some great Mans Exit wait , A murder'd Cornish , or some Hercules , When from their Trunks Almighty Jove , Who breaks with Thunder weighty Clouds above , To Honour these Large Pines and Oaks does Lop , And in a Whirlwind lays 'em upon Oeta's Top. E're this vast Orb shall unto Chaos turn , And with Consuming Flames shall burn , An Angel Trumpeter shall come , Whose Noise shall shake the Massie Ground , In one short moment shall express , His Notes to the whole Universe ; The very Dead shall hear his Sound , And from their Graves repair , To the impartial Bar , Those that have been in the deep Ocean drown'd , Shall at his Call come to receive their Doom . III. But here , alas ! no Omens fly , No secret Whisper of their Destiny Was heard ; none cou'd divine When Fate wou'd spring the Mine : Safe and secure the Mortals go , Not dreaming of a Hell below ; In the dark Caverns of the gloomy Earth , Where suffocating Sulphur has its Birth , And sparkling Nitre's made , Where Vulcan and his Cyclops prove ▪ The Thunderbolts they make for Jove ; Here Aeolus his Winds has laid , Here is his Windy Palace , here 't is said His Race of little puffing Gods are bred , Which serve for Bellows to blow up the Flame , The dire Ingredients are in order plac'd , Which must anon lay Towns and Cities waste . Strait the black Engineer of Heaven came , His Match a Sun-beam was , He swift as Time unto the Train did pass , It soon took Fire ; The Fire and Winds contend , But both concur the Vaulted Earth to rend ; It upwards rose , and then it downwards fell , Aiming at Heaven , it sunk to Hell : The Neighbring Seas now own no more , The sturdy Bulwarks of the Shoar , The gaping Earth and greedy Sea , Are both contending for the Prey ; Those whom the rav'nous Earth had ta'ne , Into her Bowels back again Are wash't from thence by the insulting Main . IV. The Old and Young receive alike their Doom , The Cowards and the Brave , Are buried in one Grave ; For Fate allows 'em all one Common Tomb. The Aged and the Wise Lose all their Reason in the great Surprise . They know not where to go , And yet they dare not stay , There 's Fire and Smoak below , And the Earth gaping to receive the Prey : If to the Houses Top they Crawl , These tumble too , and downwards fall : And if they fly into the Street , There grizly Death they meet ; All in a hurry dye away , The wicked had not time to pray . The Soldier once cou'd teach grim Death to kill , In vain is all his Skill , In vain he brandisheth his Steel : No more the Art of War must teach , Bnt lyes Fates Trophy underneath the Breach : The good Companions now no more Carouse , They share the Fate of the declining House , Healths to their Friends their Bumpers Crown'd : But while they put the Glasses round , Death steps between the Cup and Lip , Nor would it let 'em take one parting Sip. V. The Mine is sprung , and a large Breach is made , Whereat strong Troops of Warring Seas invade ; These overflow ; Where Houses stood and Grass did grow , All sorts of Fish resort : They had Dominions large enough before , But now unbounded by the Shoar , They o're the Tops of Houses sport . The Watry Fry their Legions do extend , And for the new slain Prey contend ; Within the Houses now they roam , Into their Foe , the very Kitchen , come . One does the Chimney-hearth assail , Another flaps the Kettle with his slimy Tail. No Image there of Death is seen , No Cook-maid does obstruct their Sway , They have entirely got the day . Those who have once devour'd been By Mankind , now on Man do Feed : Thus Fate decides , and steps between , And sometimes gives the Slave the Victors meed . The Beauteous Virgins whom the Gods might love , Cou'd not the Curse of Heav'n remove ; Their goodness might for Crimes Atone , Inexorable Death spares none . Their tender Flesh lately so plump and good , Is now made Fishes and Sea-monsters Food ; In vain they cry , Heav'n is grown Deaf , and no Petition hears , Their Sighs are answer'd like their Lovers Pray'rs , They in the Universal Ruin lye . VI. Nor is inexorable Fate content To ruine one poor Town alone ; More Mischief by the Blow is done : Death 's on a farther Message sent . When Fate a Garrison does Sack , The very Suburbs do partake Of Martial Law , Its Forces draw To every Mountain , Field and Wood , They Ravage all the Neighbourhood . Worse than the weak Assaults of Steel , Its Instruments of Death all places feel . They undiscover'd , like fell Poison kill , Its Warriours fierce , The Earth , the Air , and Men do pierce ; And mounted , fight upon the winged Winds . Here a great Mountain in a Valley's thrown , And there a Valley to a Mountain grown . The very Breath of an incensed God , Makes even proud Olympus Nod. Chang'd is the Beauty of the fruitful Isle , And its fair Woods lopp'd for its Funeral Pile . The moving Earth forms it self in Waves , And Curls its Surface like the Rowling Seas ; VVhilst Man ( that little thing ) so vainly Raves ; Nothing but Heaven can its own VVrath appease . VII . But Fate at length thought fit to leave its Toil , And greedy Death was glutted with the Spoil . As weary Soldiers having try'd their Steel , Half drown'd with Blood , do then desist to kill . More Ruin wou'd a second Deluge make , Blot out the Name of the unhappy Isle . It fares with her as when in Martial Field , Resolv'd and Brave , and loath to yield , Two num'rous Armies do contend , And with repeated Shouts the Air do Rend . VVhilst the affrighted Earth does shake , Some large Battalions are entirely lost , And VVarring Squadrons from the mighty Host : Here by a Shot does fall Some Potent General ; And near to him , Another loses but a Limb. Part of the Island was a Prey to Fate , And all the rest do ▪ s but prolong its date , 'Till injur'd Heav'n finds , Its Bolts a Terror strike on humane Minds ; Sure we may hope the Sinners there Repent , Since it has made their lewdest Priest Relent . FINIS . 
A65565	----	A full account of the great and terrible earthquake in Germany, Hungary and Turky Which was one of the greatest and most dreadful earthquakes that ever was in the world. With a most exact and particular account of the terrible eruptions of fire, conflagration of mountains, devastation of whole towns and villages. As also a learned discourse of the nature, causes and kinds of earthquakes: with a view of all the several opinions of the most eminent philosophers in the world, as well ancient as modern. To which is annexed, Some reflections and probable conjectures of the consequents and significations of this calamious accident. Written in Dutch by the excellent pen of Leopold Wettersteint de Hodenstein: and translated into English by Rich. Alcock Gent. Wettersteint, Leopold, de Hodenstein. 1673 Approx. 19 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 11 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2006-06 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A65565 Wing W1523A ESTC R222588 99833742 99833742 38220 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A65565) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 38220) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 2068:14) A full account of the great and terrible earthquake in Germany, Hungary and Turky Which was one of the greatest and most dreadful earthquakes that ever was in the world. With a most exact and particular account of the terrible eruptions of fire, conflagration of mountains, devastation of whole towns and villages. As also a learned discourse of the nature, causes and kinds of earthquakes: with a view of all the several opinions of the most eminent philosophers in the world, as well ancient as modern. To which is annexed, Some reflections and probable conjectures of the consequents and significations of this calamious accident. Written in Dutch by the excellent pen of Leopold Wettersteint de Hodenstein: and translated into English by Rich. Alcock Gent. Wettersteint, Leopold, de Hodenstein. Alcock, Richard. 8 p. printed for R.C. in Little Britain, London : 1673. Imperfect; British Library copy cropped at foot affecting imprint; pages are stained affecting legibility. University of Illinois (Urbana-Champaign Campus) Library copy cropped at head affecting pagination. Reproductions of the originals in the British Library and the University of Illinois (Urbana-Champaign Campus). Library. Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford. Re-processed by University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. Gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. EEBO-TCP is a partnership between the Universities of Michigan and Oxford and the publisher ProQuest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by ProQuest via their Early English Books Online (EEBO) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). The general aim of EEBO-TCP is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic English-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in EEBO. EEBO-TCP aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the Text Encoding Initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). The EEBO-TCP project was divided into two phases. The 25,363 texts created during Phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 January 2015. Anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. Users should be aware of the process of creating the TCP texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. Text selection was based on the New Cambridge Bibliography of English Literature (NCBEL). If an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in NCBEL, then their works are eligible for inclusion. Selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. In general, first editions of a works in English were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably Latin and Welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. Image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. Quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in Oxford and Michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet QA standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. After proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. Any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. Understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of TCP data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. Users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a TCP editor. The texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the TEI in Libraries guidelines. Copies of the texts have been issued variously as SGML (TCP schema; ASCII text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable XML (TCP schema; characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless XML (TEI P5, characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or TEI g elements). Keying and markup guidelines are available at the Text Creation Partnership web site . eng Earthquakes -- Germany -- Early works to 1800. Earthquakes -- Hungary -- Early works to 1800. Earthquakes -- Turkey -- Early works to 1800. 2006-02 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2006-02 Aptara Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2006-03 Andrew Kuster Sampled and proofread 2006-03 Andrew Kuster Text and markup reviewed and edited 2006-04 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion A FULL ACCOUNT Of the Great and Terrible EARTHQUAKE IN Germany , Hungary and Turky . Which was one of the greatest and most dreadful Earthquakes that ever was in the World. WITH A most exact and particular Account of the Terrible Eruptions of Fire , Conflagration of Mountains , Devastation of whole Towns and Villages . AS ALSO A Learned Discourse of the Nature , Causes and Kinds of Earthquakes : With a View of all the several Opinions of the most Eminent Philosophers in the World , as well Ancient as Modern . To which is annexed , Some Reflections and Probable Conjectures of the Consequents and Significations of this Calamious Accident . Written in Dutch by the excellent Pen of Leopold Wettersteint de Hodenstein : And Translated into English by RICH. ALCOCK Gent. Felix qui potuit rerum cognoscere causas . London , Printed for R. C. in Little Britain . 1673. A Full Account of the great and terrible Earthquake in Germany , Hungary and Turky . THat tremendous Earthquake which in March last past began in Germany , and run through a good part of Turky , was not only formidable to us Christians , but dismal and dreadful to the Turks and Mahometans : For in Germany , and part of Hungary , the Earth trembled only , without bringing any considerable damage to the Christians ; but in the further parts of Hungary and Turky , 't was more impetuous and violent . Oh! How were the Rocks rent , and the Mountains torn in sunder ? What dire Convulsions of Nature ? what hideous noises ? what openings of the earth ? what belching out of fire and flame ? how many Villages , and how many of the Infidel and wretched Inhabitants were absorpt and swallowed up in this calamity , and carried headlong to their Eternal home ? — Quis talia fando Myrmidonum Dolopun●●e aut duri miles Ulyssis Temperet à lachrymis ? — My design at present is to give the world a full and satisfactory account of this dreadful Accident , with a true and just relation of its beginning , continuation and end : as also briefly to discourse of the causes and several kinds of Earthquakes , with a brief survey of the Opinions and Sentiments of all the eminent Philosophers , as well ancient as modern . An Account of the Earthquake . IN Hodenstein in Germany , and the circumjacent Countrey near the Confines of Hungary , the winds had been exceeding high , and the weather tempestuous ; so that by the violence of those blasts the Countrey men were much incommoded , some of their houses were uncovered , and many trees torn up by the roots . These fierce winds had not continued above a fortnight ; but on the 10 of March , about eleven of the clock , the winds were laid on a sudden , and there was a wonderful calm : but notwithstanding this sudden calm , the Sun appeared not all that day . About 12 at night we all perceiv'd the Earth to move , tremble and shake , and this trembling continued all night , and until 10 of the clock the next morning , and then it ceas'd . This movement of the earth did exceedingly terrifie and consternate the whole Village , and I dare safely avouch it upon my oath , that there was not one person in the whole Town , but his fears and apprehensions of danger caus'd him to rise and betake himself to his prayers . On the next day , which was March the 11. the winds were quiet and still , and the Sun shew'd not himself all that day , and at nine in the evening the earth began to tremble again , and continued so all night until morning . The next day the Sun appear'd most splendidly , which remov'd our fears and apprehensions , and added new life to our consternated souls . But we are certainly inform'd upon the Attestations and Depositions of several credible and worthy persons , who were publickly examin'd about the truth of this matter , that this Earthquake went by degrees and successively as far as Buda in Hungary ; where on March 15. 't was somthing more violent than with us , but still without any considerable mischief to the inhabitants . The discourse of this Earthquake began now to be laid aside , and every one now forbore any further to discourse of it , until the third of April , when his Imperial Majesties Envoy ( who had some months before been sent to the Ottoman Court with an express concerning some important Affairs of the Empire ) return'd , who gave a more particular and fuller account of the progress , continuation and end of this Earthquake , as also of the vehemency and dismal effects of it , as he had carefully remark'd them in his travels from Constantinople to Vienna in Germany . This worthy Personage affirm'd , that about six miles on this side Adrianople , there was a little Village on the side of a hill , call'd by the Turk Imrest , which was wholly absorpt and swallow'd up in the dreadful hiatus or opening of the earth , caus'd by the violence of the Earthquake , and that still there comes forth great quantity of smoak , and in the night flames , to the great terror and astonishment of the inhabitants round about . This noble Person had not pass'd half a days journey further , but he heard more dismal news of the dire effects of this vehement Earthquake . Here he saw multitudes of people , men women and childring , wandring about in a most desolate and sad condition , bemoaning bitterly their hard fortune , and the loss of their estates and houses which were consum'd by fire which broke out of the earth , and part of the houses were absorpt and swallow'd up by the opening of the ground . Here was about seven small Towns wholly consum'd together , the chief of which is call'd by the Turks Ingelters . The poor inhabitants had timely notice of the ensuing calamity , for above three days together before they deserted the Villages , the Sun was obscur'd and darken'd , there was continual thundring , most dreadful concussions and commotions of the earth , by the vehemence whereof most of the houses were pitiously defac'd and shatter'd . The Mahometans being apprehensive of the bad consequents which might follow these terrible signs , quitted their houses , and betook themselves to the open plains : and it was well they did so , for the very night following Madam Nature fell again into a most terrible Convulsion , her very bowels were rent asunder by Subterranean fire , smoak and most impetuous blasts of wind ; fire was vomited up , and such a continual and huge quantity of smoak , that for some days together it almost wholly obscur'd the Sun. As this Person of Honor pass'd along towards Belgrade , he saw no more considerable mischief produc'd by this Concussion of the earth , until within almost a days journey of Belgrade , upon the plains of Siusdt , where there was a vast Chasma or aperture of the ground , caus'd by the impetuous eruption of these Subterraneous blasts : but here was no belching up of flames , no smoak , or any other dismal effect , besides a vast hiatus , or opening of the ground only . Neither the Envoy nor any of his Attendants were so hardy as to approach this Chasma to look into it , or give us any further account of it . In several Towns & Villages the houses were much shatter'd in all his journey along to Buda . But from Buda to Germany the effects of the Earthquake were very inconsiderable , the earth only trembling and shaking , but not so much as one house ruin'd . It is evident by what we saw with our own eyes at Hodenslein , and what this Imperial Envoy remark'd in his voyage from Constantinople to Vienna , that this was all one Earthquake , and that 't was caus'd by an impetuous spirit or blast of wind included in the bowels and caverns of the earth , which run so many hundreds of miles through the blind caverns of the earth , before it could get vent . You may find a parallel example of the like continuation of an Earthquake , even from Hungary to Constantinople , reported by the noble and learned Aug. Gislenius of Busbeck ( vide Busbequii Epist . 3. de Legat Turcic . pag. 147. ) which was about 100 years ago in the reign of Solyman the Magnificent , to whom Busbequius was sent by this Court as Ordinary Ambassador . Thus much concerning matter of fact , and concerning the late great Earthquake in Germany and Turky . Now I intend briefly to lay down the Sentiments and Opinions of Philosophers concerning the nature , the different species , and the several causes of Earthquakes in general . Seneca in his Natural Questions ( lib. 6. ) and Pliny in his Natural History ( lib. 2. cap. 79. ) unanimously conclude , that an Earthquake is the very same thing in the earth , that a Thunderclap is in the clouds , and that the hiatus and rupture is caus'd when the tumultuous blast or spirit impetuously breaks forth and gains its liberty . And this is partly the Sentiment of Aristotle , and the whole School of Peripateticks , as is evident in their Works and Writings , who generally conclude , the efficient cause of Earthquakes to be subterranean and tumultuous blasts of winds , included in the bowels and caverns of the earth , and violently forcing a passage out . Thales Malesius that ancient Philosopher affirm'd , that water was the cause of Earthquakes . This man , as Seneca reports of him ( Natur. Quest . lib. 6. c. 6. ) did assert , that water was the first principle of all things , and that the whole earth did float up and down upon the Ocean like a huge Vessel or Ship , and that an Earthquake was nothing else but a violent agitation or tossing of the earth upon the Sea. The chief reason which mov'd Thales to embrace this opinion , was , because in many great Earthquakes there is an eruption of new springs , fountains and rivers . See more of this opinion in the fore-cited place of Seneca . Seneca in the ensuing Chapter , tells us of some other Philosophers who affirm'd , that water was the efficient cause of Earthquakes ; but not after the same manner as Thales maintain'd . These men were of opinion , that in the bowels of the earth there was an immense quantity of water , vast lakes , and ponds , and navigable rivers ; and that this Subterranean water was the material cause of the eruption and perpetual emanation of springs and fountains in divers parts of the world : and that these Subterranean waters by their perpetual motion and course , did by degrees eat away and consume their banks , and undermine the pillars and foundations of the earth ; so by consequence that when these pillars of the earth fall , there necessarily follows a sinking , collapsion or concussion of the earth : and thus they say Earthquakes are caus'd . Seneca in his 9 Chapter tells us , that some of the Ancients affirm'd , Subterranean fire to be the cause of Earthquakes : which by burning , wasting and consuming the inward parts of the earth , causes a falling or sudden sinking down of some parts of the Earth . So that by these mens reckoning the Subterranean fire doth cause an Earthquake , ruina & collapsu partium , by the sudden fall or subsidence of the earth , when its props and pillars are consum'd by sire . And they endeavour to make this opinion probable by alledging and instancing , that in several Earthqukes there has been great and terrible eruptions of fire , flame and smoak from out of the Chasmata and apertures of the earth . The same Author in the 14 Chapter of his sixth Book of Natural Questions tells us , that there were some Philosophers who held , that the earth was a living Creature , endu'd with a rational soul , and consequently with sense and motion , so that an Earthquake was nothing but a sudden Qualm or Trembling of this huge Animal ; or rather a Convulsion Fit , or Madam Nature oppress'd with the Fit of an Ague . And this opinion was embrac'd and defended by many of the Pythygorean , Platonick and Stoick Philosophers , who generally held the earth to be a living Creature . Callisthenes a learned man , and an intimate Companion to Great Alexander , has writ a whole Treatise on this subject . This learned man says , that vapors and winds do insinuate into the blind caverns of the earth , which afterwards being pent in , and finding no egress , cause a violent concussion and shaking of the earth : and this he says happens most frequently to maritime Countreys . And probably it is from hence that Homer calls Neptune 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , i.e. Concussor terrae , the Shaker and Mover of the Earth . Among modern Authors , Cardanus a learned Physician of Milan in Italy denies ( in his Book de Subtilitate , lib. 2. ) all these opinions of the Ancients , and thinks that neither Air , Earth or Water are the efficient causes of an Earthquake , but he asserts , that 't is caus'd by Fire ; i. e. by Brimstone and other Subterranean Minerals , that participate of the nature of Gunpowder ; and when these are set on fire , there presently ensues a horrid concussion and rupture of the Earth . Cardanus instances in Pioneers who dig and undermine Castles and Town-walls , and blow them up with Gunpowder , and by this instance he manifestly concludes and confirms his opinion . Reflections and probable Conjectures of consequents and significations of this great Earthquake . THis Earthquake , as has been already related , began on March last past at Hodenstein , a Town in Germany , and near the confines of Hungary ( the place of my present abode : ) It began , I say , in Germany , and in a matter of 14 or 15 days ran through the blind caverns and passages of the earth even to the very heart of the Turkish Empire : the Subterranean spirit forbearing to break forth or vent its malice upon Christians , but reserving its most prodigious fury for the wretched Mahometans . When I reflect upon these things , why may we not conclude , that this portends good and prosperous success to Christians , and that the powes of Hell are kept in , and not permitted to vex or disquiet Christendom ? If this Subterranean spirit was forcibly kept in , and not suffer'd to break forth upon Christians , but fain to run so many hundred of miles before it could force its passage out of the bowels of the earth , and then to bring such desolation and calamity to the miserable Turks , why may we not conclude , that this does plainly signifie , that the infernal powers shall be converted and turn'd against one another , and that the miscreant Turks by intestine wars and divisions shall tear the very heart of the Ottoman Empire in sunder ? Again , if the Subterranean spirits and Infernal powers afflict and persecute the Turk , why may we not also conclude , that the Celestial powers , and the Stars in their courses shall assist Christians , & fight against this Siser● , this enemy of the Lord of hosts ? For my part , although I pretend to no gift of Prophecy , yet methinks by these great commotions of the earth it does evidently and manifestly appear that this Luciferan Emperor of the Turks is suddenly to be humbled and brought down . He that has hitherto been invincible , and proudly insulted over Christian Kings and Princes , now the very earth ( the lowest , basest and vilest of all Creatures ) scorns to bear him , and begins to shake him off . Now ( good Christian Readers consider ) now , I say , when the very earth , the lowest , the basest and dullest of all Creatures , does with such vigour , and so much animosity denounce open war against this great Enemy of Christianity , why do Christian Princes sit still , and not conjoyn their forces in this very nick of time ? Now when the Subterranean spirit makes a passage through the blind caverns of the earth , and travels so many hundreds of miles under ground , that he may majori impetu with more fury atsacque the very heart of the Ottoman Empire Why do Christians sit still , and not come from the uttermost parts of Christendom to assail this proud Tyrant ? So let the Enemies of the Lord perish . FINIS . 
A68203	----	Motus Medi-terraneus. Or, A true relation of a fearefull and prodigious earthquake which lately happened in the ancient citie of Couentrie, and some other places of the Kingdome, to the great amazement of the inhabitants. With a touch of some other occurrences, as well forraine as domestique. Holland, Henry, 1583-1650? 1626 Approx. 18 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 11 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2009-10 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A68203 STC 13585.5 ESTC S119151 99854358 99854358 19775 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A68203) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 19775) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1475-1640 ; 1443:14) Motus Medi-terraneus. Or, A true relation of a fearefull and prodigious earthquake which lately happened in the ancient citie of Couentrie, and some other places of the Kingdome, to the great amazement of the inhabitants. With a touch of some other occurrences, as well forraine as domestique. Holland, Henry, 1583-1650? [20] p. Printed [by B. Alsop and T. Fawcet] for He: Holland, [London] : 1626. By Henry Holland. Place of publication and printers' names from STC. There is an anagram on Holland's name on C3v--STC. Running title reads: A true relation of an earthquake. Signatures: A-C⁴ (-A1, C4). Formerly STC 5885. Identified as STC 5885 on UMI microfilm. Reproduction of the original in the Bodleian Library. Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford. Re-processed by University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. Gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. EEBO-TCP is a partnership between the Universities of Michigan and Oxford and the publisher ProQuest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by ProQuest via their Early English Books Online (EEBO) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). The general aim of EEBO-TCP is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic English-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in EEBO. EEBO-TCP aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the Text Encoding Initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). The EEBO-TCP project was divided into two phases. The 25,363 texts created during Phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 January 2015. Anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. Users should be aware of the process of creating the TCP texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. Text selection was based on the New Cambridge Bibliography of English Literature (NCBEL). If an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in NCBEL, then their works are eligible for inclusion. Selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. In general, first editions of a works in English were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably Latin and Welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. Image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. Quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in Oxford and Michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet QA standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. After proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. Any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. Understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of TCP data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. Users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a TCP editor. The texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the TEI in Libraries guidelines. Copies of the texts have been issued variously as SGML (TCP schema; ASCII text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable XML (TCP schema; characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless XML (TEI P5, characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or TEI g elements). Keying and markup guidelines are available at the Text Creation Partnership web site . eng Earthquakes -- Early works to 1800. 2008-11 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2008-12 SPi Global Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2009-01 Scott Lepisto Sampled and proofread 2009-01 Scott Lepisto Text and markup reviewed and edited 2009-02 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion MOTVS MEDI-TERRANEVS . OR , A TRVE RELATION OF A FEAREFVLL AND PRODIGIOVS EARTHQVAKE , WHICH LATELY HAPPENED IN THE ANCIENT Citie of COVENTRIE , and some other places of the Kingdome , to the great amazement of the Inhabitants . With a touch of some other occurrences , as well Forraine as Domestique . LVKE 21. & 11. Great Earth-quakes shall bee in diuers places , and Famine , and Pestilence , and fearefull things , and great Signes shall there bee from Heauen . Printed for HE : HOLLAND . 1626. To THE WORSHJPFVLL MY worthy Freind , T. S. Esquire , of B. in Hertford-shire . SIR , IT is not many Moneths since you accepted from my hands , at the second hand , my mournefull Meditations compiled in the late memorable Mortalitie of the Plague : And heretofore for this good while , I haue constantly sent , and imparted vnto you , all manner of Forraine Newes and Nouelties of moment ; whereof you haue beene , and are desirous and studious , and the rather because of your sedentarie life at home , and seldome or never stirring abroad , for divers yeeres past ; So now , I pray , giue me leaue to impart vnto you this domestique Newes , and most true Relation of a fearefull Earthquake , which happened lately in the Citie and place of my Nativitie : within a few dayes after I had been there , to visite nay neerest and dearest friends ; who now are witnesses of the same , from whom ( as also from others ) I haue the certaine information of it . I doubt not but you received the severall Pamphlets I lately sent you by your trustie servant R. H. And , it being your condition now to be so farre remote from London , ( in a fresh Aire and sweet soyle , ) where Novelties are the more welcome vnto you ; It hath rather induced mee to Inscribe vnto you , at the first hand , this small Pamphlet of a prodigious Accident : For other matters , I hope I shall not forget still to send you , knowing your earnest desire after them : and I cannot mervaile thereat , considering , Est natura hominis Novitatis avida : I must leaue to enlarge my selfe further vnto you by way of Epistle , because the thing it selfe is , I say , but a Pamphlet : Only , With your pleasant situated Place , I wish and pray for your health and welfare in soule and body : And so I take my leaue . HALLELVIAH . To the Reader . SIR , If you bee courteous , you will giue me the publisher hereof thankes for my paines , and thinke your two pence or three pence , at the most , well bestowed : But if you be censorious , you will haply object at the Introduction , and say , it is larger than the Relation it selfe : If not with the introduction , then haply you will finde fault with the Enlargement , application , and conclusion : To both which , I must before-hand answer you ; It hath beene the laudable custome in all Ages , vpon the publishing of any Prodigie , or extraordinarie worke of God , not to let it passe without Introduction and Application , to the end , that men may bee stirred vp the better , to make good vse of the Almighties handy-workes : which are neuer sent , but for our Instruction , And for the truth of the Relation it selfe , I trow no vnderstanding man can , or will make any question , when he hath read the Contents . And so farewell . A TRVE RELATION of a fearefull and prodigious Earthquake , &c. OF the naturall causes of Earth-quakes many Philosophers , both ancient and moderne haue written largely and learnedly : and of those latter Writers , the Paire of most learned Germanes , viz. Bartholomew Keckerman and Iohn Magirus , in my judgement ( yea , it is the judgement of the learned ) haue written best & most profoundly : and therefore it shall suffice me to write but a word for the better vnderstanding of the common reader , as followeth : In the caues and concauities of the Earth there is some times conceiued and bred , a vaporous Winde , which searching to breake forth , doubtlesse is the first naturall cause of Earthquakes , &c. But our Saviour Christ ( TRVTH it selfe , ) in the Gospell , vvhen he speaketh of the Signes before the last judgement Day , and better informing vs than all the Philosophers in the world haue done , He tells vs , Wee shall heare of Warres and Seditions ; Nation shall rise against Nation , and Kingdome against Kingdome : and with Famine and Pestilence , and other fearefull things and signes from Heauen , he tells vs plainely wee shall haue great EARTH-QVAKES , and those in diuers places , &c. Now , that wee that liue in this latter and sinfull Iron-Age of the World may a little awaken and rouse vp our selues from the Cradle of Securitie , wherein wee haue beene long rocked asleepe : hath not God caused the whole Christian World to ring a lowd Peale of Warres and Rumours of Warres ? witnesse fertile France , spacious Germanie , the Netherlands , Bohemia , Italy , Valtolin , Switzerland , Sauoy , and what Countrie , Kingdome , or State witnessing not the same ? Yea , and though wee in this facrie Iland , through the admirable blessing and long-suffering of God , haue not the sounding of the Trumpet , and beating vp of the Drum in our eares , further than for ex●…cise and preparation : and blessed bee God for his Mercie our Peace , and his Lieutenant , our gracious King and Peace-maker . Yet , we are not I say without those Rumours of Warres abroad , and haue a fellow-feeling of our Neighbouring Countries Calamities therein , and wee are alreadie engaged in their just Quarrells , for our owne better securitie and safetie . Amongst other signes and fore-runners of the latter day , I remember our Sauiour tells vs of false Cprists , false Prophets , and Heresies that shall arise , where , without doubt hee includeth , false Professors of CHRIST : And are wee without such ? how comes it then to passe , that each Head of the Hydra-headed balefull Beast of Heresies , and Schisme striueth , of late , so much for superioritie ; amongst vs here in this Nation , to goe no further than our owne : Certes , the vgly Head of Papisme hath striven for place ; the rotten Head of Arrianisme hath also striven for place , the mis-shapen and ill-lookt Heads of old Pelagianisme & new Arminianisme haue laboured to be reconciled , & Ianus-like , to be joyned together , & so to take place : It is not my purpose to meddle with the small Heads of Schisme , they being easily suppressed : They are those foure Heads before-named , that trouble the Peace of the Church : the two former ; they doe openly disclaime the Doctrine of the Church ; the two latter , a little more cunningly ; they ( forsooth ) would intrude themselues into our Church , that so they might the better afterwards bring in the whole body of the BEAST her selfe : But leauing these Heads of Heresies to be suppressed , cut off and damned , by GOD , and the King , with the helpe of his Reuerend Orthodox Clergie-men : And not to enlarge my selfe further in the Introduction to a small Relation , heare and vnderstand as followeth : About the middest and Centre of this Land , is situated and standeth the ancient Citie of COVENTRIE , a Countie of it selfe , though within the compasse of Warwickshire : And in this Citie , on Munday the twentie seuenth day of March last past , 1626. about one of the clocke after dinner , vnlookt for , and on a sudden , happened this fearefull and prodigious shocke of Earth-quake , to the great amazement , and almost astonishment of the Inhabitants ; which was sensiblie felt and obserued throughout the Citie , shrewdly shaking the Houses , making the glasse windowes about the houses , the Pewter and other materialls in the Houses to clatter : the Beds ( wherein some lay sicke ) to shake vnder them , and all in a most terrible manner ; and to make it more strange , fearefull , and prodigious , it yeelded forth at the instant an hideous noise and roaring , as it were , in the Aire : which noise and roaring was like betwixt the noise of Thunder , and the roaring of the Sea : The Inhabitants and beholders hereof , ( especially the better sort ) betaking themselues to their best meditations and devotions , and humbly submitting themselues vnder Gods hand and handie-workes : Though , blessed be Almightie God , there was no great hurt done thereby throughout the whole Citie : albeit therin are many goodly Houses and buildings , two large and faire Churches about the heart of the Citie , and with those Churches two loftie Pyramidall Spire-steeples of stone-worke , and not farre from them a Crosse of stone also in the Market-place : either of which three Monuments will hardly yeeld inferioritie to any others in the Kingdome . Now , that this Earth-quake or Prodigie , did not containe it selfe in Coventrie alone , but by credible information , it was also sensibly obserued in diuers other places of the Countrie , euen as farre as Bristoll : And what this prodigious Accident may portend , in the Counsell of GOD , I must leaue it : But thus much I dare bee bold to say , and pray , GOD grant vs quietnesse vpon the Land , for doubtlesse the Earth was much shaken within . If any list to bee so censorious , as to make question of the truth of this fearfull Earth-quake , let them repaire vnto the publisher and printer hereof , who hath diuers Letters from sundrie graue , learned , religious , and judicious people , for confirmation thereof : which shall be produced , if need require : And if this late Earth-quake seeme strange or incredible vnto them , I wish them haue recourse vnto that more admirable worke of the Omnipotent , euen in ours and our Fathers remembrance , in Hereford-shire : and recorded by our best Historiographers : when as , In the yeere of Christ Iesus , 1571. Marcley Hill in the East of the shire , rowzed it selfe out of a dead sleepe , and with a roaring noise remoued from the place where it stood , ( for ought wee know , from the Creation , or the Deluge at the least , ) and for three dayes together trauailed from her first Site , to the great amazement and feare of the beholders . It began to journey vpon the seuenth day of Februarie , being Saturday , at sixe of the clocke at night , and by seuen in the next morning had gone fourtie Paces , carrying with it Sheepe in their coates , hedge-rowes and Trees ; whereof some were ouerturned , and some that stood vpon the Plaine , are firmely growing vpon the Hill , those that were East are turned West ; and those in the West , were set in the East : In which remoue , it ouerthrew Kinnaston-Chappell , and turned two High-wayes neere a hundred yardes from their vsuall Paths formerly trod . The ground thus trauelling , was about twentie six Acres , which opening it selfe with Rockes and all , bare the Earth before it , for foure hundred yardes without any stay , leauing that which was Pasturage in the place of Tillage , and the Tillage ouerspread with Pasturage . Lastly , ouerwhelming the lower parts , mounted to an Hill of twelue fathomes high , and there rested her selfe , after three dayes trauell : remaining His Marke that so laid his hand vpon this Rocke , whose Power hath poysed the Hills in His Ballance . But leauing Hereford shire and Marcley Hill , where God hath now placed it , and not to speake of diuers other inferiour Eearth-quakes ; which since and before , wee and our Fathers may remember , and our Chronicles make mention of them : And to come more neere to these present times , ( though somewhat further from home , ) Wee may remember , that about the very time of the Apparition of that most memorable Comet or Blazing-Starre , which appeared in Aarctophylax , Anno 1618. In Italie , a Towne called Pleurs , was by a fearefull and prodigious Earthquake , ( the ground opening it selfe , ) cleane swallowed vp , Houses , Inhabitants and all : not one soule in it left aliue , nor so much as any Monument of it remaining to be seene : And a while after the subuersion of it , diuers neighboures that repaired thither , would needs attempt to digge into the ground , that they might see what they could finde : Among other things that they found , GOD directed them to a Stone , which when they had taken vp , they saw something written vpon it in Hebrew Letters , as if ( like the Tables of Stone that were giuen to MOSES in Mount Sinay ) it had beene grauen with Gods owne singer . Miraculous it was : and the writing this ; ( Read and tremble ; Reade and wonder , ) Thus saith the LORD ; My Word is like fire , and like an hammer breaking the Rockes : Goe out of Babylon , and euery one looke to the sauing of his owne soule . Let none winke at his sinnes , for the vengeance will come , and all shall be rewarded according to their wickednesse . Immediatly after that most memorable Prodigie , followed the Death of Great Princes and Potentates ; to wit , the Emperour MATTHIAS and Empresse his wife ; his two Brethren , both Arch-Dukes of Austria ; then , Queene ANNE of Great Britaine , his Sacred Maiesties Mother , ( of famous Memorie : ) then PHILIP the third , King of Spaine , ( and since that , King IAMES , of blessed Memorie : ) then also began the Broyles and Warres in Bohemia , the Palatinate , and other places , the wofull Consequences whereof wee daily see and heare of ; In so much , as that wee haue I say , ( as our Sauiour Prophesieth ) Warres , Seditions , and almost nothing but Rumours of Warres ; Yea , I may further say the RED HORSE of WARRE , hath and doth trample all ouer Christendome , with a fearefull and most lamentable hauocke , embrewing his feet especially in the blood of Saints , the professours of the Gospell : And to passe from Warre : Hath not God caused the BLACK HORSE of PESTILENCE to play his part more neere vs ? yea , euen here amongst vs in and about this famous Citie of London , where hee hath trampled to death since this time twelue-moneth aboue 55000. soules , besides what haue died in other Cities , Townes , and places in this Kingdome : And now for the LEANE and Pale HORSE of FAMINE , although wee must thankfully confesse , that God hath wonderfully restrained him , yet other Countries haue felt and doe feele his weight , with cleanenesse of Teeth and emptinesse of Belly : yea , and wee our selues haue had a fearefull Glympse of Him : and how soone God may permit him further to appeare amongst vs , for our manyfold sinnes , wee know not , but may doubt , and ought to pray against Famine . To draw to a conclusion ; If Warres and Seditions , Pestilences , Famines , and Earth-qvakes , bee speciall Signes and Fore-runners of the last Iudgement , as our Sauiour CHRIST hath prophesied they are : and certes , Heauen and Earth shall passe , but his words shall not passe : It behoueth vs , except we will be wilfully blinde and stupid , to take the Premisses into consideration , and not slightly to passe by without observation , and good vse making of this Earthquake ; such , being I say ( once againe ) one of our blessed Saviours Signes of his comming to judgement . And however , hee in his wisedome haue concealed that Yeere , day , and houre ; that hee will come , ( though some too to pragmatically and petulantly haue gone about to define the Yeere , to bee nigh at hand : ) yet it much behoueth vs to meditate thereon ; and prepare therefore , that so wee may take all these fore-runners to be so many fore-warners of vs particularly to turne to God by a true Conversion : whereupon will ensue all other Graces needfull for Salvation : And the rather wee ought to take all Gods judgements to bee warnings vnto vs of the last Day ; because , be it whensoever it shall please God , every particular mans death is vnto him as the day of Iudgement ; for as wee die , so shall wee rise : Now , what is more certeine than Death ? and what more vncertaine than the day of Death ? and it being so , what manner of men ought wee to bee ? Good Lord , therefore giue vs grace to turne vnto thee by true Repentance , that so we may say ingenuously , and heartily wish , Thy will be done ; And , Come Lord Iesu , Come quickly . HALLELVIAH DEO VNITRINO GLORIA . Amen . FINIS . Notes, typically marginal, from the original text Notes for div A68203-e330 Keckerman de Terrae motu . Magiri Phys : Luke 21. Matth. 24.6 . Tit. 3.11 . S. Michaels Trinitie Speed , in his Geography . pag. 49 Iob 28.9 . Isay 40.12 . 1619. Gallobelgieus B. of Londons Sermon at the Crosse . I. Leech his Militarie Sermon . Maximilian . Albertus . Matth. 24.35 . 
A36314	----	A sermon occasioned by the late earthquake which happen'd in London and other places on the eighth of September, 1692 / Preached to a congregation in Reading by Samuel Doolittle. Doolittle, Samuel. 1692 Approx. 70 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 19 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2008-09 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A36314 Wing D1880 ESTC R32821 12770533 ocm 12770533 93655 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A36314) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 93655) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 1033:21) A sermon occasioned by the late earthquake which happen'd in London and other places on the eighth of September, 1692 / Preached to a congregation in Reading by Samuel Doolittle. Doolittle, Samuel. 36 p. Printed by J.R. for J. Salusbury ... London: 1692. Reproduction of original in the Bodleian Library. Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford. Re-processed by University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. Gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. 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Copies of the texts have been issued variously as SGML (TCP schema; ASCII text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable XML (TCP schema; characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless XML (TEI P5, characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or TEI g elements). Keying and markup guidelines are available at the Text Creation Partnership web site . eng Earthquakes -- Religious aspects. 2006-10 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2006-10 Aptara Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2007-10 Taryn Hakala Sampled and proofread 2007-10 Taryn Hakala Text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-02 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion A SERMON Occasioned by the Late Earthquake Which happen'd in LONDON , And other Places On the Eighth of September , 1692. Preached to a CONGREGATION in READING . By SAMUEL DOOLITTLE . ISAIAH ii . 19. And they shall go into the holes of the rocks , and into the caves of the earth , for fear of the Lord , and for the glory of his majesty , when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth . LONDON , Printed by J. R. for J. Salusbury , at the Rising-Sun near the Royal Exchange in Cornhil , 1692. To the Reverend , and his Honoured Father , Mr. THOMAS DOOLITTLE . Honoured Sir , A Late Providence equally surprizing and sad ; a Providence , which they must be great Strangers in this our Jerusalem , who have not heard of it ; gave birth to this following Discourse . To perpetuate the Memory , and assist my Neighbours in making an improvement of it , was the design of its being first preacht , and now publisht . I know that a Critical Eye may observe some blemishes ; and I perswade my self an envious one will find more : But I am the less solicitous , because I hope , I rather designed to do good to others , than gain applause to my self . I would rather that Men would praise God , ( whose I am , and whom I desire to serve with my Spirit , in the Gospel of his Son ) than blow the Trumpet at my door . Though this Discourse hath the ill fate , to come forth in an Age when the Love of many is waxed cold : Yet I hope some will have that charity for it and the Author too , which hideth a multitude of faults . If some shall find fault with the stile as not being acurate , and polisht ; let them know , it was preacht to a Congregation in the Countrey , who mind more that the form of Words delivered to them be wholesom and sound , than gay and eloquent : And that so sad and awful a Providence called for something more , than flourishes of wit. Perhaps some that are got into the chair of the scornful , will deride it ; but I hope that they , who have their sences exercised , to discern both good and evil ; will find I have prepared savoury meat for them , and that God brought it to me . To justifie the making so plain a discourse , thus publick ; I neither can , nor care , to use that Stale Complement ; of its being extorted from me , by the irresistible importunity of them that heard it : Neither will I stuff this Epistle with those trifling Apologies , which are as easily answered as they are commonly used . It is a time , when not only the foolish Virgins ; but the wise too slumber and sleep . Oh what a Spirit of slumber is faln upon most of the Protestant Churches , at this day ! And must none of the Watchmen of Israel sound the Trumpet , and give them an Alarum ! If the abounding of Iniquity , and the frequent repetition of the same sins ; and those too , that are of a crimson colour , and scarlet dye : If the general declension of Faith , Love , Zeal , and other Christian Graces , which is too notoriously visible among all Parties ; that profess the Protestant Religion ; or which is all one , the faith which was once delivered to the Saints : If the ill symptoms which are upon us at home ; and our Brethren abroad : If former , and later warnings of Providence , be not sufficient to excuse , nay , to justifie my calling men to repentance and reformation ; I must , ay , and I am willing for once , to bear the blame , of having done an unnecessary work . These my first fruits , Sir , I offer to you ; to whom I owe all I can do of this kind . If they are not so fully ripe ; yet because they bear that Character let them find acceptance with you . I hope the discourse , together with the occasion of it , may do good : And if it may contribute to the repentance and reformation of the nation ; or any particular Number of Sinners in it , my great end is attained : That it may be accompany'd with that divine , with that all-mighty power , which can shake , and open the heart of the most obdurate sinner ; as well as that of the earth , let your prayers meet mine at the throne of grace . I am , Honoured Sir , Reading Sept. 29. 92. Your most dutiful , and most obedient Son , SAMVEL DOOLITTLE . A SERMON Preached upon the Late Earthquake , Which happen'd in LONDON , And other PLACES On the Eighth of September , 1692. ISAIAH xxix . 6. Thou shalt be visited of the Lord of hosts with Thunder , and with Earthquake , — THough almighty God hath been shooting one flaming arrow after another , against a sinful and provoking People ; his quiver is still full . Though desolating judgments ( the messengers of divine anger ) have been like the waves of the Sea ; which come rolling and tumbling one upon the neck of another : The treasuries of Gods wrath are not yet emptied . When one fire is out , how easily and suddenly may another be kindled ? Every Creature , from the highest Angel to the lowest worm , stands ready armed with a sting to avenge its makers quarrel . Not only Angels those Courtiers of Heaven , but all Creatures in this lower World are ready to do the Pleasure , and execute the Will of their great and common Lord , They need not to be prest , for they are Volunteers in this Service . In every part of the Elemental World , an angry God can find instruments of his vengeance ; the winds and waves , which no man hitherto could tame ; readily obey him . There is no Creature , though at first made for the use and service of innocent Adam , but may be a rod and a sword in the hand of an offended God to lash , wound , and kill his guilty children . If God have a mind to drown the Old World : He can gather the Waters together ; and the continually weeping clouds ; shall turn the dry land into a sea . If God have a mind to burn Sodom and Gomorrah , he can on a sudden rain showers of fire and brimstone from Heaven : Turn those Cities into ashes and rubbish ; and they shall experience a temporal , before they drop into an eternal Hell. If God will fight against , the enemies of his Church : He hath the whole Militia , and all the Artillery of Heaven at his command ; on a sudden , in a moment unthought of , he can discharge the Cannon of Heaven , scare them with his Thunder , and scatter them with his Lightning . If God will take a speedy vengeance , on Corah and his wicked accomplices ; or on any other company of rebel creatures ; at his command the closely compacted earth , shall open her mouth , swallow up , and bury them alive ; become their coffin , and grave too . What God of this kind can do , we may learn , from the mouth of two witnesses , viz. a late Providence , and the Text I have now read . Thou shalt be visited by the Lord of hosts with thunder and earthquake : In which words , we have these three things . 1. The Visitant , the Lord of hosts , the Lord , that is great in strength and mighty in power . Jehovah , to whom nothing is impossible or hard : The Lord of hosts , who is general of all the forces , in Heaven , Air , and Earth , Lo ! This is he who shall visit . Sometimes , we read of man's visiting God : Sometimes of one man's visiting another : hers , of God's visiting man. 2. The visited , Thou . To whom is it , the Lord of hosts makes this visit ? To Jerusalem , v. 1. called Ariel , the city where David dwelt : Jerusalem though the place , where the Temple stood , and the Worship of God was performed : Jerusalem , the Metropolis , the head City of the Jews must be visited . Thou , even thou , O Jerusalem , the City of David , and the City of God too , shalt be visited . 3. The visitation it self ; with thunder and earthquake : Sometimes , God visits man in a way of Grace and Mercy ; when he comes to make a visit , he bringeth many presents and love-tokens along with him : And oh ! Blessed are they , upon whom , the great God bestoweth such visits as these . Of such visits you read 1 Sam. 2. 21. Psalm 65. 9. and the greatest Mercy , God ever vouchsafed to this wicked , and apostate World of ours is called by this name , Luke 1. 68. Blessed be the Lord God of Israel , for he hath visited , and redeemed his people . Sometimes the Scene is changed ; and God visits in a way of Judgment : Not in Love , but in Wrath ; not as a Friend , but as an Enemy , not as an Indulgent Father , but as a Revenging Judge . In these visits , not Mercy , but Justice is his attendant , Psal . 89. 32. Then will I visit their transgression with the rod , and their iniquity with stripes . Jer. 5. 9. Shall I not visit for these things ? saith the Lord , and shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this ? Hos . 9. 7. The days of visitation are come , the days of recompence are come , and Israel shall know it . And in this manner must Jerusalem the holy , and once beloved City , be visited by the Lord of hosts . God threatens them more generally , v. 1 , 2. Wo to Ariel , to Ariel , the city where David dwelt : Add ye year to year ; let them kill sacrifices . Yet I will distress Ariel , and there shall be heaviness and sorrow , and it shall be to me as Ariel . q. d. Notwithstanding your formal , customary worship ( in which you confide so much ) both City and Temple shall be brought into great straits : Both City and Temple shall be like the Altar , filled with the Bodies of dead men ( instead of slain beasts ) sacrificed to my Justice , and the threatned evil is more particularly exprest in the Text ; thunder and earthquake . From the words , these three Doctrines may be raised . Doct. 1. Gods executing of Judgments on a sinful people , is his visiting of them . A day of calamity is a day of visitation . Great Persons have their set times for visiting : And so hath the great God. Men have their time of sinning ; and the Lord of hosts will have his time of visiting , Amos 3. 13 , 14. Hear ye , and testifie in the house of Jacob ; saith the Lord God , the God of hosts , that in the day that I shall visit the transgression of Israel upon him , I will also visit the altars of Beth-el ; the time of punishing Moab , is called the year of visitation . Men sin boldly , and impudently affront the Majesty of Heaven and Earth : They provoke him day , after day , year , after year , and God seems to take no notice : Nay , notwithstanding the frequent repetition of their crimes ; he gives them many blessings , but a visiting time will come . Therefore now go lead the people , unto the place of which I have spoken unto thee . Behold mine angel , shall go before thee . Nevertheless in the day when I visit , I will visit their sin upon them . Poor Sinner , thou goest on in thy Rebellions , addest new sins to thy old ones , and God defers his anger : But I may say , the day of the visitation com●th ; and when it cometh , God will make thee such a visit , as shall cause thy countenance to change , thy spirit to sink , thy courage to fail , and thine heart to tremble . It will be a troublesome and unwelcome visit indeed . Let me ask thee the same question holy Job askt himself ; when he visiteth , what shall I answer him ? What wilt thou answer ? When God shall visit thee for all thy oaths , and curses ; for all thine intemperance and excess ; thine extravagant mirth , and drunken-bouts , for all thine omission of duties , for all thy formality , and hypocrisie in them , for all thine injustice , and oppression ; for all thy contempt of his goodness , and abuse of his patience ; for all thy slightings of his Grace , and trampling on the Blood and Bowels of his dear Son ; for all thy resisting , grieving , quenching , and vexing of his Holy Spirit ; when God shall visit for these things , What wilt , What canst thou answer him ? Answer him ! Alas ! Like the man that came to the marriage feast without a wedding-garment , thou wilt be speechless . Gods angry visits bring guilty Creatures , to a defenceless silence . O Sinner , when the living , dreadful , and eternal God shall dispute the matter with thee ; with frowns in his brow , and a drawn Sword in his hand , thou wilt be forct , to lay thine hand upon thy mouth ; and thy mouth in the dust ; for thou wilt neither be able to resist nor answer him . Doct. II. Even those places , where the worship of God is fixt ; even those people , who enjoy the greatest Church-Priviledges , and abound in the external performance of holy duties ; may be visited of the Lord of hosts , in a very dreadful and terrible manner . Was Sodom and Gomorrah visited of God ? Ay , so was Jerusalem too . Church-Priviledges , though of the highest kind ; a multitude of formal , and liveless Prayers , a thousand Sacrifices laid on the Altar ; if our lusts be not sacrificed too ; won't keep off the day of visitation . Thou , even thou ; O Jerusalem , shalt be visited . You only have I known of all the families of the earth ; therefore will I punish you for all your iniquities . London in respect of others , may be called the Holy City , the Religious City , in it God hath much people ; in it there are many that fear and worship God ; in that City there is frequent praying , and much hearing ; for Spiritual Priviledges and the Worship of God it is another Jerusalem : And yet London , ( oh how impartial is the Judge of the whole Earth ! ) hath had its years of visitation ; in the year 1665 , God visited London with a devouring Plague , insomuch that that year was called the Visitation , and a dreadful year it was , for God , and Death visited both at once : The next year 66 God visited London again , and when God made this visit , a fire went before him , and a mighty flame followed after ; he went through the City in clouds of smoak . A little more than a Week ago , in the same Moneth of September , God visited London a third time , he walkt through the Streets of London , and the earth shook , and trembled under him : And if two such Cities , as Jerusalem and London have been thus visited by the Lord of hosts ; what number of Sinners can hope to escape ? In the Name of God , Sirs break off your Sins by Repentance ; or you shall be visited too . If God doth not visit the whole Land , he may visit a particular Town ; if not a whole Town , a particular Family ; if not a whole Family , a particular Person ; God may visit thee with languishing Sickness , torturing Pains , with an hasty Death , however sooner , or later in this World , or in the next , if thou remain impenitent , ( as the Lord lives ) thou shalt be visited . If God do not visit thee on Earth , he will in Hell , and oh what a long , as well as troublesome visit will that be ! Doct. III. As the Lord of hosts visits a sinful people with other calamities ; so sometimes with the particular one of an Earthquake . In speaking to this Doctrine , I shall observe this Method . I. I shall lay down some propositions concerning an Earthquake , wherewith God sometimes visits the Children of Men. II. Enquire what are the properties of this visit . III. Make the application , assisting you in making an improvement of the Text , and the late startling Providence . I. I shall lay down some propositions concerning an Earthquake wherewith God doth sometimes visit the Children of Men ; and they shall be these three . Prop. 1. An Earthquake is taken either in a metaphorical , and borrowed , or else in a literal , and proper sense ; as taken in a metaphorical sense , it denotes those hurries and confusions , those turnings and overturnings that are in the World : Those Commotions and Concussions that happen at any time in Church or State. Rev. 8. 5. And the Angel took the censer , and filled it with fire of the altar , and cast it into the earth : and there were voices and thundrings , and lightnings , and an earthquake , Rev. 6. 12. And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal , and lo , there was a great earthquake , i. e. a great change in the State of Affairs , the Publick Religion of the Empire being changed , from Paganism to Christianity by Constantine . The Kingdom of God is from Everlasting to Everlasting , fixt and stable ; but the Kingdoms of this World are mutable , like the Moon subject to many changes ; they not only shake and totter , but tumble too . The Body Politick , as well as the Body Natural , may be afflicted with an Ague , and dye with Convulsions . All things are turned upside down as they are in an Earthquake ; and in this sense there have been many and great Earthquakes in the World ; the four Famous and Renowned Monarchies have felt them . But an Earthquake is taken in the litteral and proper sense , when the Earth shakes and trembles under us , when the foundations quake , and the Pillars of it totter , 1 Kings 19. 11. And after the wind an earthquake . When the Earth it self , that is the Basis of this lower World , and at other times firm and setled , moves , trembles , and shakes , like a Man in an Ague ; or reels to and fro like a drunkard . Prop. II. The sending of an earthquake is Gods act , he is the author and efficient cause of it . This is plainly asserted in the Text. All Penal Evils and Afflictive Calamities come from God. Shall there be evil in a city , and the Lord hath not done it ? If a Famine starve us , It is God that stops the Bottles of Heaven , and locks up the Womb of the Earth : If a Pestilence kill at Noon-day , it is God that shoots those poysoned and flaming Arrows . If a fire burn and turn our houses into ashes , it is the breath of an angry God that kindles , and blows up the flame , if the Earth have its Convulsions , move , and shake , quake , and tremble under us , it is because God touches it . That mighty God , that hangs this Earth of ours upon nothing ; with a touch of his Finger , hurles it hither and thither ; he looketh on the earth , and it trembleth ; he toucheth the hills , and they smoke . The mountains quake at him , and the hills melt . He removeth the mountains , he overturneth them in his anger ; he shaketh the earth out of her place , and the pillars thereof tremble . I don't deny , but God may make use of the Ministry of Angels , good , and had , I don't deny , ( what Natural Philosophers tell us ) that Air , Vapours , and Exhalations , shut up in the Bowels of the Earth , forcing their way out , may contribute to its shaking : Yet the Scripture affirms it is a work of God , and though we may own and acknowledge second Causes ; there is no reason we should exclude the first : It is my Meat that preserves my Health ; my Physick that recovers me , when sick ; but yet Religion and reason too bid me own it is God that nourishes me by the one , and restores me to health by the other . To do these things , God claims as his Prerogative , I form the light , and create darkness : I make peace , and create evil : I the Lord do all these things . If concerning the late Calamity , it be askt , who hath done this ? God will answer , I shook the Earth ; I the Lord do all these things . Prop. III. An earthquake is usually sent by God in judgment , and inflicted as a penal evil . If sometimes , it be an Act of God , only as the God of Nature , concurring with second Causes : Yet many times it is an Act of God , as Judge , punishing those that rebel against him ; it is not only the effect of his power , as a God ; but the fruit of his anger , as an offended Judge . The earth shook and trembled , the foundations also of the hills moved , and were shaken , because he was wroth . It is spoken of as a judgment , inflicted for Sin. Though Thunder , Lightning , and Earthquake may sometimes come in the course of Nature , in the way of a common and general Providence : Yet sometimes we may , and must look upon them as Messengers of Divine anger , as notices of Gods displeasure , against us for our Sins . Men are wilfully blind , and won't see that God is displeased ; and the trembling and shaking Earth , with open mouth , tells them he is so . Though Men who are leaven'd with the Principles of Atheism , and whose Consciences are stupified , to a wonder , with that benumming opium , look upon such things only as fortuitous events that happen in this mutable State , as the product of a blind , and fatal necessity : Yet Men that have their eyes open'd will acknowledge they come from God as the efficient , from Sin as the impulsive and deserving cause , and that the Errand they come upon is to correct and reform Sinners . And I think it is too evident , it is a Judgment , when the Sins of a people have been many , and great , numerous , and hainous , and when there are more than usual remarks of Terrour set on the Calamity : If a short fit of trembling , if one Minute or two's shivering , if the shaking of the Earth in one particular place only , be not an Argument of Gods Anger ; yet when the Earth shall open her Mouth , and become the Grave of living Men ; when the Earth shall shake for many Miles together , nay in Countreys at a very great distance ; when ( as our Saviour saith ) there are Earthquakes in divers places , I know no reason why we should not conclude it hath something of the Nature of a Judgment in it . II. The Second thing proposed , is to shew the properties of this visit . To enquire what kind of visit it is God makes , when he visiteth with an Earthquake . This enquiry shall be dispatcht in these six following particulars . 1. When God visiteth with an Earthquake , it is a sudden and surprizing visit . Sometimes God is a long time in preparing his Arrows , and bending his Bow ; there is some considerable space of time , between the Sentence and the Execution : But this Judgment of an Earthquake comes suddenly , and in a moment . In many other judgments God sends his Heralds to proclaim his coming ; in this he cometh upon a poor People , like a Thief in the Night ; suddenly and unexpectedly : Alas ! They have no warning till they find themselves past help . An Earthquake is like an Arrow secretly shot ; like an Arrow flying in darkness , that wounds and kills before it is espyed . God visits before they have any notice he is so near at hand : He enters into the City without so much as knocking at the Gates . Oh! how sudden and surprizing was the late Earthquake ! On Thursday Morning the Citizens of London little thought of such a visit in the Afternoon : Even when some were trading in their Shops , others walking in the Streets , some trafficking at the Exchange , others sitting at their Tables , even while the meat was in their mouths ; They were visited by the Lord of host with an Earthquake : In the midst of their worldly business , and secular Affairs , the great God makes a visit to them . In a moment ( oh what a surprizing visit was this ! ) their Houses tottered , their Walls of Brick and Stone trembled , and the foundations of their City were shaken . 2. When God visits with an Earthquake , it is a dreadful and terrible visit . In this , as well as in other Calamities the suddenness adds a sting to , and augments the horrour of it ; The more surprizing any evil is , the more afflictive and frightful to Nature it is . When an Evil cometh slowly , step by step , we have some time to fortifie our selves against , and prepare our selves to encounter it : But when it comes unlookt for , it finds us unarmed and naked , and therefore strikes with the greater dread and terrour . Is not this a terrible visit ? When the surface of the Earth is rent and torne ; and breaches made in the strongest Walls : Is it not terrible , when Houses tremble like the leaves of a Tree , shaken with a mighty Wind ; and whole Towns , Villages and Cities are swallowed up at once ? Is it not a terrible visit when frighted Creatures can run no where for shelter , when they can take Sanctury , neither in their highest Turrets , nor in their lowest Cellars ; when they can go no whither but they run to meet Destruction and Death ? Is it not a terrible visit , when Men , Women , and Children are buried in the belly of the Earth , as Jonah was in the Whales , before they have a time to dye ? It is sad , ( and we can hardly behold it without a floud of Tears , and volleys of Groans ) to see the Earth open her bosome , to receive the Bodies of our Deceased Relatives : But oh ! How much more dreadful is it to see the Earth open her Mouth wide , and swallow up Thousands , not of Dead , but Living Men and Women ? Oh! How terrible a visit is this ! When the Earth openeth her Mouth , and now sends forth a flood of Waters to drown , and anon vomiteth up flames of Fire to burn ; when the Loving Husband cannot help his distressed and affrighted Wife , when neither Father nor Mother can help their poor , scared , and crying Children , though willing to redeem the Lives of their dear Children , with the loss of their own : When all that the dearest Friends can do one for another , is to go down to the Pit together , and accompany one another into Eternity . Good God! What a terrible visit is this ! When here one may see a Leg , and there an Arm , here a Head , and there a Trunk , here some vomiting Blood , and yonder multitudes , with their brains dashed out . Here some dead , and yonder some groaning forth this melancholly wish , Would God I were dead ; my Pains and Tortures are worse and more intolerable than the pangs of Death ; would to God I were dead : Here some poor Babes hanging on the breasts of their dead Mothers , and yonder many Infants fetching their last Breath , and giving up the Ghost in the Arms of their weeping Mothers ; who with yearning Bowels cry out ; alas ! For thee my poor Babe , alas ! For thee my dear Child ! These are sad sights , dismal spectacles ; when God visits with an Earthquake , he maketh a terrible visit indeed . This is a terrible visit , witness , what I have now said , and what your Ears have heard concerning the Earthquake that happen'd in Jamaica : And though God was more favourable when he thus visited London , yet they found it frightful and terrible enough ; their running out of their Houses , their shutting up their Shops , their tremblings , and fears , spoke how much dread and terrour there is in such a visit . 3. It is , ( especially as to us in these parts of the World ) a rare and unusual visit . Other Judgments are more common , this more rare . Judgment is said to be Gods stange work : And this whereof I am now speaking , evidently beareth that Character . In other Countreys Earthquakes are more frequent ; in ours more seldom : God hath not visited us in England , in this manner , so oft as he hath others , and if there be not the same reason in Nature for it here , as in other places ; we should take more notice of it , acknowledge the finger of God in it , and think of it with an awful trembling : Our Sins have been many and great , our provocations high and daring , and the Lord of hosts might have visited us year after year with an Earthquake : Though we are more securely siituated than the rest of our Neighbours ; yet that God , who is God of the Hills , as well as of the Valleys , of the Plains as well as of the Mountains , could have visited us with Earthquakes , as often as he hath visited others . It hath not been an every days , an every weeks , no , nor an every years visit . God hath visited England with Mercy year after year , but it hath been but now and then , he hath visited this Land of ours with an Earthquake . Our Mountain hath stood strong , while God hath touched others , and made them shake and tremble : The Earth in other places hath again and again opened her Mouth , and swallowed up her Inhabitants : But God hath been sparing of making such visits to us . In History you may read of some Earthquakes that have been in England ; but the Earth , for a long time hath had rest from these inward Convulsions and tremblings . 4. When God visiteth with an Earthquake , his visit is sometime short ; and sometimes of a longer continuance . These visits are not alwaies of a length ; as they differ in the dread and terrour : So they do in the duration , and continuance of them . Some of them may be but for a Minute , or two , others may last longer ; sometimes the Earth doth but shake and shiver , and at another time , it is tossed , like a Ball to and fro ; and these inward Convulsions in the Bowels of the Earth hold a long time . In this respect it differs from many other Calamities . When God visits with a Famine , a Plague , or with a Sword , there are none , no , none of our Prophets know how long : It may be a great while before the Earth yield her increase again , and bring forth Herb , to be Meat for Man and Beast ; it may be many Moneths before a Plague be stopt , the infected Air be purged , and Death give over following its prey ; it may be many years before the slaughtering Sword be sheath'd , and Peace established : It is with People in these judgments , as with Persons in Chronical Distempers ; it is a long time before they are recovered : But this Judgment of an Earthquake is as sharp , so usually but short ; like an acute Disease , from which the Patient is soon recovered ; or of which he quickly dies . The shaking of the Earth , like the changing of those who shall be found alive at the last day , is done in a moment , in the twinkling of an eye . These tremblings of the Earth are like the sits of an Ague , quickly over , though some hold longer than others . In this case God hath done his visit in a short time . 5. This visit is sometimes particular , sometimes more general . Sometimes God makes this visit in one particular Countrey , and in one part and corner of it only ; he visits one County and not another ; one City , and not another ; This Town , or that , and not the next : But sometimes God in making this visit takes a larger compass , his circuit like that of the Suns is from one end of the Earth to the other . He visits many People , and many Countreys , and those that are at a great distance at once . The Earthquake that happen'd when Paul and Silas were in Prison , was a particular one , reacht no farther than the Confines of the Prison . But the Earthquake that was among the solemnities that attended the Crucifixion , and Death of our Blessed Lord , was more general ; some think the whole Earth was then shaken , however it is agreed , it reacht a long way . The Earth for a great way ( as if it were more sensible than those Men that acted their part in that bloody and unparallel'd Tragedy ) trembled and shook , the Sun blusht and would not behold : The Earth was filled with horrour at the vile indignities that were done to the Son of God , and Saviour of the World. And in this that lately happen'd , God visited not only the City , but the Suburbs , not only London , but the Country , not only one or two , but many did the Lord of hosts visit with an Earthquake ; not only England , but other parts beyond the Seas : In this visit God marcht from City to Country , from Town to Town , nay , though the Sea was in his way , he passed the mighty Ocean , and vifited them , that dwell on the other side of it too . This Earthquake seemed to have the fame Command , Abraham once had , to walk through the land in the length thereof , and in the breadth thereof . Though it was not in all , yet it was in many places , and those very remote and distant too . God held his visitation in Countreys very distant , and in many Countries at one and the same instant of time . Oh how far can God go , when he hath a mind to visit ! 6. This is a warning , and a presaging visit : And it ought to be a startling , and an alarmning one . This visiting with an Earthquake is very often , ( God help the drowsie Inhabitants of England to consider and lay it to heart ) the fore-runner of some dreadful calamity that is near at hand . It hath been like a flaming Beacon set on Fire , to give notice an Enemy is approaching . Thus according to our Saviours prediction , Earthquakes were among the fore-runners of Jerusalems destruction ; an Earthquake to them was like the shooting off of a warning , before the murdering Peece is discharged . Some think it is among those things , that presage the dissolution of the World ; and shall usher in the day of the great and final Judgment . Though the Book of Providence be very mysterious , and dark , and cannot be unriddled , till time be the interpreter ; events are the best Comments on Providences , as well as Prophesies : Though in these volumes of Providence , as well as in St. Pauls Epistles , There are some things hard to be understood ; yet a modest and humble conjecture is not unlawful . If God gives us Signs in the Heavens , and Signs in the Earth too , if God put Nature into a fright , we ought , it is our Duty and Wisdom to take the warning these things suggest . Perhaps the Earthquake being over , Men are apt to say with Agag , surely the bitterness of death is past , when these tremblings and shakings of the Earth may be but the melancholy Presages of what is yet behind . When I consider what Sins and Impieties this Nation of ours hath been guilty of , how we are rendred worse rather than better by those late signal Deliverances , which evidently carry the superscription of God upon them ; I think it is not rashness to say , I am afraid God hath not yet done visiting of England . Earthquakes have been the fore-runners of heavy Judgments , and extraordinary Calamities , and instead of prophesying , I pray God this that hath lately happened , do not bode some ill to us , and the Neighbour Nations . Lord ! grant it may not . Amen . III. The third and last thing I undertook , is to make some practical Improvement both of the Text and Providence ; and that shall be done in speaking to some Inferences , very easily deducible from both . Inference 1. Doth the Lord of Hosts sometimes visit with an Earthquake , and hath he of late done so ? Then with what awful attention and heed should we take Notice of such a visit as this ! All Gods visits are worthy of our Notice , and deserve a particular remark : Divine Providences ( especially those that have more than ordinary Signatures and Characters imprinted on them ) should be attended to , and seriously considered by us . If God visit us in Mercy , we should take notice of the Time , Manner , Frequency , Seasonableness , and other Circumstances . If God visit in Anger , as he hath lately done , with an Earthquake , we should regard and consider it ; with Mary the Mother of our Lord we should keep all these things and ponder them in our hearts . An heavy wo is denounc'd against those that follow their Cups and carnal Mirth , but regard not the works of the Lord , neither consider the operation of his hands . God a-while ago visited Jamaica , with an Earthquake , and a Terrible one too ; we heard of it , we made it our Coffee-House Talk , we entertained our selves with it as we do with a peice of Common News ; but we did not , ( ah stupid sinners that we are ! ) we did not take that awful notice of it , as we ought to have done . We heard of the Earth's opening her mouth , and swallowing up those poor sinful wretches in great Numbers ; but we did not consider it as the nature of the Calamity did require ; and when God had done visiting of them , he came over , and visited us too ; and what is the Language of such a Providence but this ? Drowfie England , sleepy England , takes no notice of what I have done , thus have I overturn'd , overturn'd this place , and London doth not regar ; and though they think their Mountain stands strong , and are ready to say it shall not be moved , I will go over and shake England , I will visit with an Earthquake their Me 〈…〉 opolis , their chief City , and perhaps then they will consider and take notice . There are three things we should take notice of and remember , and yet ( the Lord pity us ) we are apt to forget them all . The first is our Sins , to keep us Humble : The second , Gods Mercies , to make us Thankful : The third is Gods Judgments , or angry Visits , that we may be in the fear of the Lord , not only all the day , but all our life long . This , oh ! this is a Visit the Citizens of London , the Inhabitants of England , should not slightly pass over , should not forget . The Eighth of September 1692. the day of Gods Visiting with an Earthquake , should be remembred : Write it not in your Note-books , but in your Memories ; Record it not only in your Memories , but engrave it , on your very Hearts ; in those fleshly Tables , let this visit of the Lord of Hosts be written . 2. How great is the Misery of wicked Men , who have their portion in this World and no Treasure but what is laid up upon Earth ! Oh how uncertain , how unconstant is their All ! A Treasure laid up upon Earth ! How uncertain ? When moth and rust may corrupt , or thioves break through and steal : How uncertain and unconstant ! when God hath founded the earth upon the Seas , and established it upon the Floods ? If your portion ly in Silver and Gold , Oh! how soon can your riches make themselves Wings and fly away ; and you be no more able to stop them than a Bird upon the Wing , that is as free and unconfined as the Air it flies in ? If your portion lie in Houses ( though built with stone and brick ) how soon can a fire make them burn as an oven , and the devouring flame feed upon them ; how soon can God with his breath , I mean some stormy Wind overturn them ? If your Estate ly in Land , and though then ( silly men ! ) you think it is secure , oh how soon can the Lord of Hosts destroy you and all your substance ? If God doth visit you in Anger , send an Earthquake , of a few hours , Nay , of a few Minutes long your Houses Reel , Totter , and Tumble about your ears ! The Earth may open her Bosom , and you and your Possessions may be buried and entombed together . He that hath not one foot of Land , at such a time , hath as much benefit as he that hath many Acres , a whole Mannour , and many Lordships ; for both of them , the rich Landlord , and the toiling Tenant , make their grave together . The Earth is a firm and solid part of the Creation , but God in a few Minutes can shake and overturn it . Lord ! what a slippery , uncertain and short-liv'd Happiness have the Men of this World ! 3. What , and how great , is the happiness of holy Persons ; and how comfortable may they be , even when God shakes the Heavens , and the Earth too ! An Earthquake , may make an Heart-quake in every impenitent Sinner : ( and what a wonder is it it doth not ) but the righteous may be bold as a Lyon , and full of Comfort ; when the World is in an hurry without them , all may be quiet and peaceable within : When there is a threatning and terrifying storm without , there may be a sweet and blessed calm within . They who can truly say , God is our refuge and strength , a very present help in trouble ; may boldly say , we will not fear , though the earth be removed , and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the Sea ; though the waters thereof roar and be troubled , though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof . The Earth is firm , and the Mountains the most solid and steddy part of it ; and yet God with a Touch can make them smoke , shake and tremble ; but even then , ( oh who would not be of that happy Number ! ) the Lord will be the hope of his people , and the strength of the Children of Israel . Oh! what is the happiness of Gods people , that they have something more lasting and durable , more constant and fix'd than Earth it self ; that they have received , and are Heirs of a Kingdom that cannot be shaken . It is a Kingdom , men cannot shake , Devils cannot shake , and God will not . This Earth of ours may be hurled hither and thither ; but heaven ( and that 's the place where the Believers Happiness is laid up ) is firm , permanent , and remains for ever unshaken . The Walls of yonder City , the new Jerusalem that is above cannot Totter , and the Foundations shall never be torn up . Oh what Comfort , amidst all the Commotions and Concussions that are in this lower World , may holy Souls derive from their Title to that Kingdom which cannot be shaken ; and at which in a little time they shall arrive ! 4. How careful should all that have either heard of , or felt the late Earthquake be , to improve to Spiritual purposes this visit of the Lord of hosts ! It is an evil not to improve the Visits of our Fellow-Creatures , of those wise , holy and good Men we converse withall ; but it is doubly Criminal , not to improve , and get advantage by God's Visits . Peradventure here you will ask me , How should we improve it ? I Answer . 1. Would you improve this late Visit of the Lord of Hosts ? Then let it confirm and strengthen you in the belief of his Power . In these Visits , God gives evident proof of his Almighty power . It was his hand that formed , and it is his Arm that shakes the Earth ; oh how great is his power ! and who hath an arm like God! when we see the Earth trembling , and Rocks rending , and Mountains shaking , it is very seasonable to cry out with Admiration , and holy Wonder , oh what a powerful God is this ! Doth God shake the earth , then what is it he cannot do ? Doth he turn the World upside down , doth he turn the Earth with his Finger , as a door is turned upon its Hinges , and doth this great God , this mighty Lord , want power to crush such a worm , to destroy such a peice of warm and breathing clay as thou art ? Oh thou impenitent Sinner , how soon can this mighty Lord God of Hosts , that shakes the Earth , lay thee on a bed of sickness , throw thee into a cold , dark and frightful grave , and hurl thee into an hot , flaming and eternal hell ? Dost thou dis-believe the power of God ? Do you , even you , oh ye Worms of the Earth think you are fit Match for God ? Do you think he is not able to destroy a whole World of such weak Creatures as you are ? Oh think how Mountains shake , the Earth trembles when he doth but look upon them ; and believe he can do this , and more than this . You have heard that power belongs to God ; let this late Visit perswade you to believe it , to give a more firm assent to the first Article of your Creed , I believe in God the Father Almighty — 2. Would you improve this Visit ? Then let it excite and maintain in you an holy aw , and fear of God. This naturally follows from what hath been said of Gods power ; and from this very Topick our Saviour perswadeth men to fear God , fear him who is able to cast both body , and soul into Hell. And the observation and memory of Gods Judgments should cherish this fear : This made Holy David cry out , my fresh trembleth for fear of thee , and I am afraid of thy Judgments . Shall the Earth tremble , and shall not Sinners much more ? Such Visits as these should fill us with a filial Fear , and an awful dread , of the great God. When God shook the Earth , methinks , he said as to them of old , Fear ye not me , saith the Lord , will ye not tremble at my presence ? God shook the Foundations of London , and said , Will ye not fear me O ye Citizens of London , will ye not tremble at my presence ? God hath visited the World with one Earthquake after another , and cry'd , O ye Children of Men will ye not fear me ? Such amazing and awfull Providences as these , should excite and cherish a regular Fear of God. Good God! how sad is it , That the Earth , Mountains , Hills and Rocks , and every thing else should tremble at the Presence of the Lord , and Men should not ! Oh Fear God and Sin , more than ever : Fear God , for he is able to destroy ; fear Sin , for that , and only that , provokes him to do so . 3. Would you improve this late Visit of the Lord of Hosts ? Then visit your selves , in order to your Repentance and Amendment of Life . At such a time we should Visit our own Hearts , search and try our ways ; and this should be in order to our turning to God. The Repentance and Reformation of a sinful People , is God's design in punishing ; this is his end in thus visiting particular Persons , or whole Societies . What was the Language of the late Earthquake but this ? Repent , Repent , O England , Repent . Lord ! give us Ears to hear , and Hearts to obey , these loud , solemn , and repeated calls to Repentance . Sin is a Burden , alas ! it is a very heavy burden ; God himself is prest with and weary to bear it : It maketh the whole Creation groan ; it hath lately made the Earth to tremble , and won't you cast it off ? Do , for the Lords sake do , or this burden will sink you , not only into the Belly of the Earth , but into the Bowels of Hell too . The Earthquake prepared the Gaoler for Conversion , it made him come trembling to the Apostles , crying out , Sirs , What must I Do to be Saved ? Oh! that this late Earthquake , might put you , and many more upon considering with your selves , and enquiring of others what you must do to be saved ; and in order to this , let it put you upon a speedy Repentance ; for God's visit is not answered , without the Sinners amendment . Inf. V. Doth the Lord of Hosts sometimes Visit with an Earthquake , and hath he of late done so ? Then how heartily should we bless God , he hath done so no oftner ! Oh! what thanks and praise is due to the God of Heaven , there hath not been a more frequent repetition of this Calamity ? We might have had one Earthquake upon the heels of another , shake after shake , till God had shook us and our dwellings too into the Dust : But though God hath visited England with an Earthquake , we are bound ( and O Sirs call up your Drowsie Souls , and awaken all within you ) to praise God , this Judgment hath been executed no oftner . An Earthquake is a very grievous and sore Evil ; an astonishing and amazing Calamity ; an Evil against which no Resistance can be made . If a Fire take hold on our Houses , we may use means to quench the devouring Flame : If a Pestilence be among us , we may do something to prevent the Infection : But if an Earthquake come , we wholly ly at the Mercy of it , and can do nothing to help our selves . An Earthquake is a Judgment that carries all the Ensigns of Horror , and beareth all the frightful Characters of dread and Terror . Oh what a Mercy is it they have been so rare , and what a Tribute of Thanks is due to Heaven ? O England , England ! What a Sacrifice of Praise shouldst thou lay on Gods Altar ? How heartily should we bless God he hath not again and again , often and frequently visited us with this Judgment , at the thoughts of which we may justly tremble , as the Earth did when God shook it ! Inf. VI. How Affectionately should we praise God , this late Visit of his was so favourable , and had such a mixture of Mercy in it ! Though the Foundations of London shook , they were not overturn'd ; though the Earth quak'd and trembled , she did not open her Mouth to swallow up living Men and Women : Though the Houses reeled , they did not tumble ; though the Walls parted and gaped , they did not fall . Surely our God in the midst of Judgment , remembred mercy ; and we in the midst of our Fears , and dangers should not forget to give Thanks . In this late Dispensation of Providence , you may see both the Severity and Goodness of God. London quak'd and trembled , behold the Severity , London was not swallowed up , behold the Goodness of God. In this Angry and Terrible Visit God hath shewn much Mercy and Goodness , ay , the Riches of his Goodness ; and for this do you bless the Lord , and let all breath praise his holy Name . Now to quicken you to , and in this seasonable Duty , I shall briefly suggest these three Considerations . 1. Consider , What God had lately done in another place ; I mean in Jamaica . He Visited them in a terrible manner indeed . His Anger was hot , it burnt like Coals of Fire ; his Arm was strong , and threw down all before him : What Desolations did the Earthquake there make ! Suppose you could with safety have stood by , and seen the Earth moving and shaking , the Houses first reeling to and fro and then sinking : And the frighted Inhabitants almost at their Wits end : The distracted Wife hanging about the Neck of her dear Husband ; the tender Infants hanging on the Breasts of their Mothers , and both ready to drop into the Pit together . Had you seen poor scared Children , running up and down , seeking their Parents , one Friend with their last breath crying to another , help , help , for the Lords sake , help , and all at last ; after many fruitless attempts , and vain wishes , tumbling alive into the common Grave . If you had heard their miserable Cries , their doleful groans , and piercing Shrieks , being half buried , and half unburied , would you not have thought Englands Mercy a very great Mercy ? I am perswaded you would have returned with your Mouths filled with Songs of Praise : Let a Melancholy Phansie represent some of the Terrours of that Visitation ; and let a thought of this fill you with thankfulness , and give a sprightful accent to all your Hallelujahs . Oh how should a sober thought of this cause your Sacrifices of Praise to ascend to Heaven in a purer , and brighter Flame ! 2. Consider our sins , have deserved as great an overthrow as theirs . When I consider those words of my Saviour , being told by some of the Galileans , whose Blood Pilate had mingled with their Sacrifices , Luke 13. 2. Suppose ye that those Galileans were sinners above all the Galileans , because they suffered such things ? I can hardly perswade my self , they of Jamaica were greater Sinners than we in England , because they drank deeper of the Cup of trembling than we did . If our Sins are not of the same kind , I am sure they admit of more aggravating Circumstances than theirs . Londons , Englands Sins are of a more Crimson Colour , and Scarlet Die than Jamaica's : If ours should be laid in the ballance of the Sanctuary with theirs , I am afraid the former would weigh down the latter : Oh what a Mercy was it God should shake such a People , and not destroy them ! Oh what an instance of Divine goodness was it , that the Earth should tremble under a Company of Atheists , and Scoffers at Religion ; Men that question the very being , and deny the Providence of God : Under a Company of Drunkards , and Swearers , Adulterers , and filthy Harlots , Sabbath-breakers , and Hypocritical Worshippers , and not swallow them up ! Mercy that is so constant a Friend , to the miserable Creature : And so powerful an Advocate in Gods bosom , mitigated the stroke ; and therefore Mercy ought to have the praise . 3. Consider the easiness of a total destruction . All things are alike easie to Almighty Power . What is it omnipotence cannot effect ? This God can amaze the whole Creation , unhinge the World ; shake the Heavens , and rend the Rocks , put universal Nature into a fright ; with one turn of his hand , one word of his mouth , one frown of his brow , one glance of his angry Eye ; yea , with the smallest breath of his Nostrils ; that angry , that mighty God that shook , could with the same touch have overturned the City : By what was done God gave an evident proof of what he could further have done . There is no Mountain stands so strong ; but God can shake it : No Foundation fo firmly laid , but God can tare it up ; no City so well built , but God can , even with the breath of his Nostrils overturn it : It is not Brick and Lime , Walls of Stone , no , nor of Brass neither , can either blunt , or turn back those sharp-pointed Arrows , God shooteth against a sinful people . With one shake God could have levelled all with the Dust . Could God easily and suddenly have destroyed us , and did he not ? Could he have inlarged the Commission granted to the Earthquake , and did he not ? Were we on the very brink of destruction , and are we not destroyed ? Were we intangled in the Snare ; and are we yet escaped , and should not a warm thought of this , should not such a deliverance as this increase our thankfulness ? Let all who have survived this Visitation bless the Lord ; and may all praise this good God , not only with their Lips , but in their Lives ! Inf. VII . Doth the Lord of hosts sometimes visit with an Earthquake ; and hath he of late done so ? Then how loudly doth this visit call upon men , upon the citizens of London ; upon you and all the inhabitants of England , to be more frequent in visiting God! When God is visiting us , it is time , time alas ! It is high time for us to visit him . Had the Inhabitants of England , the Citizens of London been more frequent in visiting God : They might not have had such a day of Visitation as this was ; my meaning is , had they prayed more , they might have been punisht less : But ( oh what a shame and reproach are we to the Christian Name ! ) Prayer hath been cast out of many of our Families ; and would to God there were not reason to say , out of many of our Closets too : And this among other things called upon God to visit in that terrible and unthought of manner he hath lately done . And now when God visits us with afflictions , We should visit him with Prayer , Isa . 26. 16 Lord , in trouble have they visited thee , they poured out a prayer when thy chastning was upon them . The Rod drove them to a Throne of Grace , and affliction made them pray ; ay , and it made them pray errnestly too . Afflictions , fears , and dangers drive many to the Gates of Heaven , who would never come thither before ; they are like some moross and ill-natur'd People , who will never visit their friends , but when they stand in need of them . I make no doubt , but during the time of Gods visiting , the terrours of the Earthquake forc't from many , ( and perhaps from such as were wont to restrain Prayer , ) that short and usual Petition ; LORD HAVE MERCY ON US : The shaking and trembling Earth caused many to lift up their Eyes to Heaven , and implore the Mercy of that God that dwelleth there . But now God hath done visiting them , I am afraid they have done visiting him : Now the Earth hath done trembling , they have done praying , but my brethren these things ought not so to be : Our visits should be frequent , and oft repeated . Three things are very wonderful . 1. It is very wonderful , That the great God will visit us . God is King of the Universe , sways the Scepter in both Worlds , and exerciseth an unlimited , and uncontroulable Authority , not only over the meaner works of his hands below ; but over all the bright and Coelestial Orders above too . He sits upon a Throne that is encircled with myriads of Holy , Mighty , and Glorious Angels , who minister unto him , and stand before him in the quality and humility of his Servants , ready to receive his Commands , and fly upon Wings to execute them : And doth he visit Man , who is but breathing Dust , a lump of Clay moistned and coloured with Blood ? Astonishing kindness ! It is to be admired he will vouchsafe a look , a short glance of his Eye : But that he should make stated visits , and so many of them accents the kindness , and increaseth the wonder . The Royal Psalmist , David , though a King , though he swayed a Scepter , managed a Kingdom , and wore a Crown , could not think of Gods visiting Man without Extasie and Rapture : Though he sate among the Gods upon earth ; yet he is swallowed up with amazement at the thought of the condescension of the God of Heaven . Lord ! ( saith he ) When I consider thy heavens , the work of thy fingers , the moon and stars which thou hast ordained ; What is man that thou art mindful of him ? and the son of man that thou visitest him ! Holy David having studied the Heavens in which Volumes the Power , Wisdom , and Majesty of God are written in Capital Letters , and Golden Characters : Cryes out with admiration , Lord what is man that thou visitest him ! How fit are all Gods visits to be the subject of a devout , and silent admiration ! Doth God visit this mean , this contemptible Creature , Man ? Wonderful Grace ! 2. It is wonderful that Men , sinful Men , guilty Men may visit God : That we are allowed the liberty of making a visit to Heaven : God might scorn us , and our visits too ; he might lock up himself in Heaven , and deny access into his Presence to such undutiful , and disloyal Creatures as we have been . This great King , this mighty Lord might not suffer such dead dogs as we are to lie at his door . But ( oh condescending goodness ! ) He invites us to give him a visit ; and the oftner we visit him , the more welcome are we : He blames us for our seldom , but he never upbraids us with our often visits . Oh who would not visit , and often visit such a God as this ? May Men and Sinners visit the God of Heaven , the High , and the Holy One : Do his Gates continually stand open , and may Indigent Creatures come daily for an Alms ? Invaluable Mercy ! 3. It is wonderful , that Men should be so backward to visit God. How necessary and excellent ! How sweet and comfortable ! How profitable and advantagious a Duty is this ! To visit God is equally our Duty and Priviledge ; while we do so we share with Glorious Angels in that which is the top of their Happiness ; beholding the face of our Father which is in heaven . Now , if ever , do Holy and Devout Souls anticipate their future happiness , in partaking of that fullness of joy which is in Gods Presence ; and in drinking large draughts of those rivers of pleasure that are at his right hand for evermore . How oft have Holy Men come from this Mount with their faces shining ! How oft have they received support under all their burdens , encouragement against their fears , an answer to their doubts , and a sufficiency of strength to encounter difficulties , performe Duties , to endure the fiery tryal , and quench the fiery darts of the evil one , to conflict with their Corruptions , and overcome the World ! How oft , ( even in the time of their visiting ) hath God wiped Tears from their weeping Eyes , refresht their drooping and revived their fainting Spirits ; cleared up their evidences for Heaven , and inabled them to see their Names written there , spoken comfortably to their hearts , assured them of their Covenant Relation to him , and their Interest in his special love and favour ! Oh how oft have they come away with their Pardon Sealed , their fears , ●cattered , their mournful complaints husht and silenced , their Consciences pacified , and those Clouds that darkned their Souls , dispersed with that breath of God ; Son be of good chear , thy sins be forgiven thee ! How oft , and how heartily have they been welcomed by the Holy and Blessed Trinity , Father , Son , and Spirit ! Yet notwithstanding all this , Men will not ( oh ! fatal degeneracy of Humane Nature ) visit God. Some are Atheistical and Prophane and ( hopeless Wretches ! ) they fall under that black and hellish Character , God is not in all their thoughts : Some are ignorant and stupid , without any sense and feeling ; and what is their unspeakable Misery , is their voluntary choice too , to be without God in the world . Some are voluptuous , given to pleasure : Nay , they carry that Death-mark in their foreheads , written in such legible Characters , That he that runs may Read , lovers of pleasure , more than lovers of God : Pleasures charm , and vain delights captivate their Souls ; they being sensual , and having not the Spirit , are constant Guests in the house of Feasting ; but utter strangers in the house of Prayer . Among the vast multitudes of Men and Women that croud and throng the World ; there are some few , who from a principle of a good Education , the Remains of Natural Light , and the urgent calls of an awaken'd Conscience , do something of this kind ; but it is rather out of meer complement , than real Friendship ; Thus it is with most ; and is it thus indeed ? Tremble thou Earth , be astonished O ye Heavens at this , and be ye horribly afraid . How justly may God use that sharp and stinging Expostulation he did of old ? O generation , see ye the word of the Lord ; have I been a wilderness unto England ? a land of darkness ? Wherefore say my people , we are lords , we will come no more unto thee ? Though Men live altogether upon the Alms of Heaven ; yet they seldom visit God , stupendous folly ! This late Earthquake should put Men upon visiting God oftner , and when you do , remember to make these two following requests : 1. Pray that God would visit you , and all his people in mercy , this was one notable Petition , Holy David , that Man of Prayer put up to God , O visit me with thy salvation ! These visits how welcom and blessed , how refreshing and desirable are they ! Oh beg of God for more of them ! Go to God , and say , Lord , Thou hast visited thy People , O visit them still with thy Salvation ! Lord ! Let not these visits of thine which are so much for thy Glory , and the Creatures good ; be rare and seldom , but frequent and oft repeated . 2. Pray that God would visit no more in anger : And methinks when there is so much dread , and terrour in the visits of an angry God , Men should earnestly deprecate them . If God visit with a Plague , Death becomes triumphant , and Men fall heaps upon heaps into the Grave . If God visit with a Famine , our beauty faileth , our strength consumeth , and the Man becomes a walking Ghost before Death turns him into a Corps . If God visit with an Earthquake , Men are at their Wits-end , and this beautiful World is turned into a confused Chaos . O beg of God , England may have no more of these terrifying and desolating visits . If you won't pray , the next shake may be your overthrow . If you will not for all this visit God , the Lord of hosts may visit with an Earthquake a second time ; and his second visit may carry more dread and terrour with it than the first did . Turn the Text into a Prayer , and say , Oh that England , Oh that London may no more be visited of the Lord of hosts with Thunder and Earthquake ! Lord grant it may not , Amen . FINIS . Notes, typically marginal, from the original text Notes for div A36314-e160 Rom. 1. 9. Heb 5. 14 Gen. 27. 4 ver . 20. Matth. 25 5. Jude ver . 3. Notes for div A36314-e580 Jer. 48. 44. Psal . 50. 21. Exod. 32. 34. Mic. ● . 4. Job 〈◊〉 . 14. Matth. 22. 12. Job 40. 4. Am. 3. 2. Is . 24. 2● . Am. 3. 6. Psal. 〈…〉 Isah. 〈…〉 5. Job 〈…〉 Is . 45. 7. Psal . 18. 7. Am. 4. 1. Mat. 24. 7. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . Ps . 78. 30. Is . 28. 21. P● . ●4 . 9. 〈…〉 P● . 1● . 6. Acts 16. 26. Marth . 27. 51. Gen 13. 17. Luke 21. 9 , 11. Mat. 24. 2 , 7 , 8. 2 Pet. 3 16. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Sam. 15 32. Luke 2. 19. Is . 5. 11 , 12. Prov. 23. 17. 1 Cor. 3. 3. Ps 17. 14. Matth. 6. 19. Ps . 22. 2. Prov. 23. 5. Mal. 3. 1. Prov. 28. 1. Psal . 46. 1. Ver. 2. Ver. 3. Si fractus illabatur orbis impavidum serient ruinae . Hor. Car. lib. 3. od . 3. Joel . 3. 16. Heb. 12. 28. Colos . 1. 5. Ps . 62. 11. Mat. 10. 28. Psal . 119. 120. Jer. 5. 22. La. 3. 40. Acts 16. 26. ver . 30. Ez. 9. 13. Job 15. 4. Ja. 3. 10. Dan. 7. 10 Ps . 82. 1. Psal . 8. 3. ●er . 4. 1 Sam. 24. 14. Mat. 18. 10. Ps . 16. ult . Mat. 9. 2. 〈…〉 Eph. 2. 12 2 Tim. 3. 4. Jude 1 , . Jer. 2. 31. Ps . 106. 4. Judg 15. 16. 
A38593	----	Geologia Norvegica, or, A brief instructive remembrancer concerning that very great and spacious earthquake, which hapned [sic] almost quite through the south parts of Norvvay upon the 24th day of April, in the year 1657 also physical, historical, and theological grounds and reasons concerning the causes and significations of earthquakes / written in the Danish tongue by Michael Peterson Escholt ... ; and Englished by Daniel Collins. Geologia Norvegica. English Escholt, Michel Pedersøn, d. 1666. 1663 Approx. 105 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 53 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2007-10 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A38593 Wing E3252 ESTC R15886 13147888 ocm 13147888 98081 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A38593) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 98081) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 416:4) Geologia Norvegica, or, A brief instructive remembrancer concerning that very great and spacious earthquake, which hapned [sic] almost quite through the south parts of Norvvay upon the 24th day of April, in the year 1657 also physical, historical, and theological grounds and reasons concerning the causes and significations of earthquakes / written in the Danish tongue by Michael Peterson Escholt ... ; and Englished by Daniel Collins. Geologia Norvegica. English Escholt, Michel Pedersøn, d. 1666. Collins, Daniel, 17th cent. [14], 93 p. Printed by J.H. for S. Thomson ..., London : 1663. Translation of: Geologia Norvegica. Errata on p. 93. Reproduction of original in Cambridge University Library. Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford. Re-processed by University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. Gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. EEBO-TCP is a partnership between the Universities of Michigan and Oxford and the publisher ProQuest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by ProQuest via their Early English Books Online (EEBO) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). The general aim of EEBO-TCP is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic English-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in EEBO. 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Keying and markup guidelines are available at the Text Creation Partnership web site . eng Earthquakes -- Norway. 2006-07 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2006-07 Aptara Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2006-10 Mona Logarbo Sampled and proofread 2006-10 Mona Logarbo Text and markup reviewed and edited 2007-02 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion Imprimatur , Dan. Nicols R. P. D. Arch. Cant Capel . Domesticus . Ex aedibus Lambethanis , Martij 21 o 1662 / 3. Geologia Norvegica . Or , a brief instructive REMEMBRANCER , Concerning that very great and spacious EARTHQUAKE , Which hapned almost quite through the South parts of NORVVAY : Upon the 24 th . day of April , in the year 1657. Also Physical , Historical , and Theological Grounds and Reasons concerning the causes and significations of EARTHQUAKES . WRITTEN In the Danish Tongue , by Michael Peterson Escholt , sometimes Minister of Ackers-house Castle in Norway . And Englished by DANIEL COLLINS . London , Printed by J. H. for S. Thomson at the Bishops-head in St. Pauls Churchyard . 1663. MVNIFICENTIA REGIA . 1715. GEORGIVS D. G. MAG . BR . FR. ET HIB . REX F. D. portrait of Geroge I blazon of Cambridge University Library To the worthy Company of Merchants Trading into the Kingdom of Norway . D. C. wisheth much happiness . Honoured Friends , THis small ensuing Treatise falling into my hands in Norway some time since , after a serious perusal , I thought it not amisse to spend a little time in the translation thereof : and as an acknowledgement of the civilities you have been pleased to shew me : do offer it to your acceptation ; knowing , that as your abilities can judge of my endeavour to do the Author no injury , in rendring his sense ; so your ingenuity and Candor will excuse such failings , as herein possibly you may observe to have escaped him who is Yours to be commanded DAN . COLLINS . To the Reader . ALthough the publication of this little Translation , may seem superfluous unto many : whose knowledge gained by their study of , and search into , the wonderful works of God and nature , may very well make it so to them : yet I am apt to beleeve that others ( not so learned ) may receive some satisfaction hereby . It having been originally written in the Danish tongue by a Divine of Norway , reputed eminent for his Piety and parts , ( upon an occasion of the proper subject whereof it discourseth , which I think is not very common , as having not seen the like , yet resembling a little the cause of its being Englished ) and was well accepted of by the people there ; I doubt not but it may find indifferent , if not the like entertainment here ; however if any benefit do accrue unto any hereby , my pains will be recompensed . The judicious Reader is desired to understand it in the best sense it containeth ; in case the relish of the Danish dialect should any where make it ingrate to the sincerer pallate of his judgement , or the Historical part thereof , should seem to Hyperbolize . In confidence of which favour it is left to his mild censure , By the Cordial wisher of his welfare , DAN . COLLINS . The Preface . FOr the right and more perfect understanding of this speculative Discourse concerning Earthquakes , the Reader may have especial respect unto it under these following Heads or particulars , viz. 1. The Qualities and Properties of the Earth , its wonderfull , yet natural operations within it self . 2. The Fire which is found to be below in the Earth , its wonderfull nature , and powerfull effects . 3. The several Minerals , Mettals , and Substances in and under the Earth , and how they are wrought and changed . 4. The Air and Wind which is inclosed in the earth , and how it doth occasion great and terrible Earthquakes . 5. The Physical Description of Earthquakes , with their Species , Operation , and Natural Effects . 6. Historical Relations , what by Experience hath been commonly observed to follow after such great and remarkable Earthquakes . 7. A Theological Conclusion and Instruction out of the Holy and Infallible Word of God , what Earthquakes do signifie and teach unto us . Unto the Consideration of all which , and for the common Benefit of others , I was moved to compose this little Memorandum , by occasion of that very remarkeable and spatious Earthquake which happened in the South parts of Norway , the 24th . of April , in this present Year 1657. about a quarter of an hour before 12 a Clock at Noon , when the Sun was in the 15th . Degree of Taurus , and the Moon above the Earth in the first Degree of Aquarius , and the same day hapned also the Planetary Aspect , Quadratus Saturni & Veneris , and the following night , about 3 or 4 a Clock in the Morning another particular Earthquake began afresh , but was not so great as the former . Concerning the Earthquake which began in the day , I have true and certain Intelligence , That it stretched North and South , from Oasterdale , Sollewer , Totten Wallyers , Ringer Rick , the upper and lower Rummerick , down all along the Land , and through all Weeken , almost to Bawhouse , above 160 Miles in Length . And also from the Borders of Sweden that lie Eastward of Norway , thwart over all the Land Westward as far as Lindesnesse , being about 40 Miles more , and it carried such a noise and sound along with it , that the people at first knew not but it was the noise of Thunder , until they perceived the Houses shook , and all their Moveables , as Beds , Tables , and Benches , to totter , and as it were dance with shaking . As yet , I have not had a further Relation concerning it , but possibly it might have stretcht ▪ it self much farther both in breadth and length . Now this Earthquake was so strong and powerful , that it shook the very Islands in the Sea , and the great and small Rocks in the fresh Lakes ; and by the very great concussion and trembling did much amaze and terrifie those that were upon the water , and was more especially seen by such as were upon the great English and Hollands Ships , then here , as also upon other Vessels , Hoyes and small Boats. Yet it hath not done any remarkeable harm ( that is yet known ) any where in the Countrey ; either to Houses , Walls , or other Buildings , for which we ought to be very thankful to God , and to receive it as an especial Token of his Grace and Mercy , as not signifying unto our Countrey too very great Calamity or Destruction . But nevertheless in regard that this same Earthquake was of such a length and breadth , namely 160 miles in length , and as much in breadth , contrary to the Nature of all those Earthquakes that I ever read of , we need not doubt but that it doth fignifie some especial and remarkable Change and Alteration . And this puts me in mind of what the ancient Historiographer Herodotus hath recorded in his Lib. 6. That when any remarkable change or common calamity approaches , or is impendent over any Land , or people , it is commonly made plainly known by some such unusual preceding Signes and Tokens . And this may be more clearly verified by Examples out of the Scriptures ; for before the Canaanites and their bordering Neighbours were subdued and expelled by Joshua and the Israelites , this strange Sign was seen , That the water of Jordan contrary to its nature , stood still above , and ran out below , and gave the Israelites a free passage through upon dry ground , Josh . 3. 16. And likewise before the 5 Kings of the Amorites were conquered , and their Countrey possest by the People of Israel , the Sun and the Moon stood still each in his Celestial station , about the space of a whole Day , and a Night , Josh . 10. 13. Also before the Moabites were subdued by the Kings of Judah and Israel , the Moabites Water was turned into bloud , 2 Kin. 3. 22. I will not now speak of the many Signs and Tokens that preceded the Desolation and Destruction of the hardned Egyptians , and Jerusalem , because it would be too tedious to recite here : But I do averre , that when such unusual signs and tokens do happen , especially when such a Mountanous and Rocky Land , even from its Foundation upwards , with its Seas , Streams , and Rivers , shall for the space of so many Miles together , tremble and quake , we ought not in any case to slight , or think lightly of it Wherefore without any longer Delay , I will now enter upon my proposed Discourse . CHAP. I. Concerning the Qualities and Properties of the Earth ; its wonderfull , yet natural , operations within it self . WHen we seriously weigh and consider the inward and outward nature and properties of the earth , which God Almighty hath given unto it for the benefit of Mankind ; not only that we should have our being and habitation upon it , but also receive our natural lives support and maintenance from it : Then we may very well say with great Joy and Admiration , as the Kingly Prophet David did in Psalm 8. O Lord our Lord , how wonderful and glorious is thy name in all the earth . For we do in truth experimentally find , That the earth is in every kind like unto a loving and serviceable Mother , or Nurse unto us , and therefore is justly termed by that great Teacher of the Oeconomicks , namely Sirach , The Mother of us all , Chap. 40. v. 1. For when we are born into the world , the Earth entertaines us , and as long as we live in the world , by her plenty and liberality she nourishes and sustaines us , and finally , when we shall at last depart from hence again , she like a tender Mother , receives us , as it were into her Bosom , or Lap , and preserves us from all that evil whereof this world is full , and lets us rest within her self in peace , until the last day ; when she shall make such perfect restitution of us again , that she shall not suffer the least Joynt or Member of us , to be lost or perish ; no not a hair , or one drop of Bloud , wherewith Job comforteth himself in his great misery , in the 19th . Chap. of the Book of his Patience , V. 27. And besides this , we can never sufficiently conceive and apprehend what rich Treasure and precious Jewels the Earth retaineth within it self , partly hidden , and partly discoverable , some whereof she yearly distributeth to her Inhabitants . None of the four Elements is more constantly near us , or a more faithful , and continual Assistant unto us then the Earth . For the Elements of Water and Ayr do often much damnifie and endanger us ; the Element Fire is too high for us , or else might do us good by its warmth and operation , yet sometimes by Thunder and Lightning doth sufficiently affright and hurt us . But the element of Earth only , as a faithful Nursing Mother , never forsakes us , so long as the world endures , but without cessation doth constantly assist us in Life and Death , in Prosperity and Adversity , so that we are never forsaken of her in this World , no not after Death . And who can sufficiently conceive or express the wonderful Operations and Labours which the Earth yearly undergoes and performes , night and day for our sakes ? She hath never any rest , neither outwardly nor inwardly . Outwardly she produces and provides grass and Hay for those Creatures which are appointed by God to cloath and feed us ; and also several fruitful Trees , each according to his kind , in great numbers : Likewise divers sorts of Herbs , as well for our delight , as Food , Physick , and preservation of our healths . Besides great variety of Corn , as wheat , Rie , Barley , Pease , Oates , and divers other sorts of Grain , which afford us necessary Maintenance and Subsistence . Inwardly she workes and produces for us many kinds of Minerals , Metals , and precious Stones , which those that labour in the Mines know well how such her Treasure to search for , find , and get , out of the depth of her Bowels , and bring them to light and use . So that we may sufficiently see and observe that God Almighty hath his especial Laboratorium , or Work-house , even in the deepest and most bottomless places , not only to cause wholsom waters , warm Baths , Springs and Rivers to arise , but also to make and produce Gold , Silver , Copper , Tin , Iron , Lead , Brass , &c. And Multitudes of precious Stones . But now , when this Laboratorium or Work-house of the Lord , with all its Treasure and Glory , shall quake , tremble and shake , contrary to its Creators solid fixation , Psal . 89. 11. & 2 Pet. Ch. 3. v. 5. Then certainly there must be something out of order somewhere , that doth signifie some especial and unusual thing . Moreover touching such things as Nature doth so work and produce in the innermost parts and bowels of the Earth , they do partly shew themselves openly above the earth , and do often break out both to the greatest admiration , and terrour of men : Such are Meteors , that is , Fogs , Mists , bright burning Damps , like a flame that flies about , which the Vulgar in Denmarke call the Lanthorn-man , and also Rings about the Sun and Moon , and a certain moveable Light in the Heavens , which often shewes like Souldiers fighting , Ships sayling , two or three Sunnes together , and the like ; All which is caused partly by only earthish , and partly by earthish and waterish Mixtures and Damps together , proceeding from the wonderful workings of Nature within the earth . And this we may be assured of , that there happens no such admirable and powerful effects of Nature above the Earth , but that there is far greater , and more wonderful operations below and within the earth , by the various workings and Concoctions of Nature , partly by subterraneous water , and partly by subterraneous fire . Concerning the subterraneous waters , you shall have better Information in the Second and Fourth Chapters , how they may be the Cause of Great Earthquakes ; but we must speak somthing here concerning the subterraneous Fire , which doth also cause great motion and powerful stirrings in the Earth , and doth often help to the production of Earthquakes , and shall be handled in the Following Chapter . CHAP. II. Concerning Fire which is found to be below in the Earth , its wonderful Nature and powerful Effects . THe Learned and wise Searchers and Inspectors into Nature deny not , but that such substances , as the waters in the innermost parts of the Earth have their course through , and do cover , steep and soak , do give the same waters several and distinct vertues , smels , qualities , tasts , and colours . As for example ; The water that runs through , steeps , soakes , or covers Brimstony or Victrillish earth , hath a far different nature , vertue , tast , and colour , from that which runs through Salt-Peterish , Allomish , or Limish earth ; but they will by no meanes grant that Brimstone Bitumen , or other such stuffe which easily and suddenly takes fire above the Earth , should so heat those seething hot Springs within the earth , which do arise in several places thereof , because the fire is not after such a manner secretly contained and hidden in them , as it is in a Flint , Steel , or in Calce viva , that is , unslak't Lime ; for assoon as the Flint and Steel is forcibly struck together , they do presently produce apparent fire . And when water toucheth , or is cast upon unslak't Lime , it kindles it self , and presently discovers the secret nature of the fire that is in it , and that so plainly , that it will quickly set any thing a fire that will be kindled by fire . And therefore we must not think that either the heat of the Sun , or motus continui , strong and perpetual motions , which do otherwise occasion great heat here on earth , and sometimes produces fire in Nature , or the inward Warmth of the earth , or any other substance which the subterraneous waters have their course through within the earth , can be the cause of the said waters being so boyling hot , as it is in the hot Bathes , and in many other places of the Earth where it springs up ; but it must be the subterraneous fire it self , to which it only and properly belongs in altissimo Caloris gradu , to heat it in so high a degree . Which fire without doubt is kindled in several parts of the earth , when the subterraneous water forceth it self per subterraneos meatus , or the subterraneous passages and pores of the Earth , where Calx viva , or other such kind of inflameable matter is , as aforesaid . And it is here to be observed , That Bitumen ( by us called Jewes Lime ) will burn in the water , without having any ayr , but then it must first be set on fire above the water in the open Ayr , and when it is kindled , it will not be quenched by water , no more then burning Pitch or Tarre will ; but the more water is cast upon it , the fiercer it burnes . There is also a Stone called Gagates , that will burn vehemently in the water ; which Galen did so much admire , that only to find and see it , he sail'd with great danger of his Life round about Lycia . Now Brimstone is a substance found in the Earth , which is easily kindled when it is above the Earth , but it will not burn except it have Ayr , whence it may readily be observed , that it is not Brimstone , but Bitumen , or Calx viva , or some other substance yet unknown , which is the thing that so burneth in the subterraneous waters , and from whence they receive such their extraordinary heat , that in many places of the Earth they spring up so extream boyling hot , that one may scald Swine , Fowle , or the like in them , and that so suddainly , that a man can scarce dip them into those warers before the hair and feathers come off : and if one hold them never so little in , their very flesh will be boyled from the bones , like some hot Springs in Island , and in Germany : as Thermae , Badenses , and the like . Of this sort of hot springs , called in Latine Thermae , and by us commonly called hot Baths ; There are enough to be found in several countreys and kingdoms , but especially in Germany : as Leuker Bath in Wallissen Land by the Alpes of Poeninas , Thermae , Badensis in Hegoja , the Wild Bath in the Land of Wittemberg , Wiss-Bath in the Land of Hessen : one by Elbogen in Bohemia , and another at Achan in Brabant . And that there is a great and dreadful fire in the innermost parts of the earth ; a man may apparently see and understand by those Mountains that do perpetually flame and burn without cessation , giving a terrible prospect , and yearly casting up vast quantities of Brimstone , Pumistone , and other burnt stuff like that of a Smiths Forge , which the earth works and casts up of it selfe , through such open hiatus or holes , by the heat and force of the subterraneous fire , where the said fire hath ( as I may say ) its breathing places . Such a Mountain there is in Island called by Cosmographis Mons Heckla , and by the Inhabitants Hecklefield : the same Mountain burns continually with a blue brimstone-like and most dreadful flame , casting up , and bestrowing the fields round about with such great quantities of Brimstone , that divers Ships may yearly be loaden off with it ; and it oft times strews the Land with so many ashes and other burnt stuff , that the Countrey for the space of ten miles round about , can yield no profitable increase ; and when it burns with greatest vehemence ( for it burns sometimes more fiercely then others ) it makes a terrible rumbling , like the noise of loud Thunder , and a fearful crackling and tearing , that may be heard a long way off by the Inhabitants , and such as sail by it . The fire of this same Mountain is of a strange quallity and nature , it can burn and consume water , but cannot set on fire or consume Tow. Saxo Gramm . in praefatione . Anno 1626. did this mountain of Heckfield break out with such a flame , that it cast terrible & unusual pieces of fire out , which flew round about a great way , and burnt up many Houses , and did irrepairable mischief to the Land : and according to intelligence , the ashes of that fire flew about certain hundreds of miles : and was also seen in the Norther most parts of Norway , which seems to be impossible : yet it is related for certain that it was so . The late Historiographers do write very strangely cerning such things as do yearly happen by , and about this mountain . In Campania hard by Neapolis there is also a burning mountain called Vesuvius , or as some call it , Vesevus , which also burns continually without cessation . This mountain hath several times bestrewed the Land thereabouts with so many ashes , that they have cover'd the tops of the trees in the adjacent woods . In the time of Titus Vespatian . And Fl. Domitian , the same mountain cast up such a fire , that two Towns were burnt by it , and also caused such a mighty and thick smoak , that it wholly deprived the Sun of its light all over Italy , so that the day there was as dark then as the darkest night ; And it also bestrew'd the whole Countrey with such an infinite and incredible quantity of ashes , that it was cover'd over as with a great Snow : which ashes were so blown and carried about by the winds , that they flew to Africa , Egypt and Syria . Munster lib. 2. de Italia . In the 16 th year of the Reign of Constantine the 5. the said Vesuvius did very great harm . And in the year 1538. it broke out fresh again with a terrible and dangerous fire , and an Earthquake , and made a fearful deep hole in the earth , in plain and even ground , and round about the same hole cast up a mighty deal of earth like unto a great mountain . Munster ibidem . Pliny that great Naturalist , when he endeavouring to profound the nature of this burning mountain , went too neer the mouth of the hole in the top of it , was choakt by the smoak and damp of the said fire , and lost his life . In Sycillia there is also such a Mountain called Etna , which in old time was , and is yet much spoken of for its continual casting up of fire and brimstone : whose fire is only seen at nights , and nothing but smoak a days , except when it breaks out very vehemently : then the fire may be seen day and night . In the year 1537. the same Mountain cast up a great piece of burning Brimstone into the Air , which fell down again in several places in pieces , and spoiled the adjacent Countreys , Woods and Villages . The precedent year , namely 1536. the 22. of March , did this Mountain of Etna begin to cast out a most terrible fire , so that the whole Countrey was amazed and trembled at it : and there was such a dreadful Earthquake , with a crackling and ratling noise , that many dyed for very fear ; and the ashes which that same fire cast up , cover'd over not only Sycillia , but also Calabria ( a Province in Italy ) like a great Snow . The Learned Philosopher Empedocles was choak't and destroy'd by this mountains fire and smell : when he to satisfie his curiosity concerning the nature and qualities thereof , went too neer the hole . Philosophers give the reason and cause of such wonderful and continual burnings to be this , viz. That the Earth is hollow in many places within it selfe , ( as shall be further declared in the fourth chapter ) and is full of Brimstone , Bitumen , and other kind of substances , which can feed the fire ; As also unslakt Lime and Water , by which the subterraneous fire is easiest and oftnest kindled ; Now the fire cannot burn except it have Air , or , ( as we may say ) a breathing place : And therefore it is thought that Therma or those hot Baths that are found in several Countreys , must be certain Spiracula , or breathing holes , by which the subterraneous fire doth in some kind get air unto it : and when the air , by what means soever it be , gets into the hollow places in the earth where the fire is ; Then that fire increaseth into a flame and maketh burning coals , or living Embers as it were , even in the innermost parts of the earth . Therefore it cannot be doubted , but there must needs be great and wonderful , yet natural Meatus , ways or passages , in , and under the earth , through which the heat and flame of the oft named subterraneous fire , hath in several places its passage , until it gets an open Spiraculum or breathing hole through such flaming mountains . Here it is to be noted that those flaming mountains do not burn always alike outwardly , but sometimes more , and sometimes lesse for such reasons as this : When the Hiatus or hole which is above in the mountain is stopt with any kind of stuff , so that the fire is smother'd and cannot have its free air or breathing-place , then it goes out , though not quite , but burns notwithstanding below in the earth ; and only sends forth some few sparkles or small flame , and sometimes nothing but only smoak , and a stinking burnt damp smell above the earth , which sheweth that the fire below in the earth is not dead or wholly quenched , but burns and works faintly under the earth , as long , as till either the former hole opens again , or it cannot break through and make another Hiatus , or breathing hole , and then breaks out afresh again with so much the greater power and vehemence , not without doing great mischief and dammage to the adjacent places , as is afore declared . Now from hence may any man sufficiently understand and observe , that by the power , operation , and force of such fire , in , and under the earth , there must needs be a boyling , working , distilling , and changing of several Minerals and Metals : especially considering that the Sun , with the rest of the Planets , have also their influence , and do work effectually under the earth : and this must needs be no small cause of great and terrible Earthquakes . How Minerals and Metals are wrought , decocted and prepared by nature under the Earth , shall be handled in the following chapter . CHAP. III. Concerning several Minerals , Metals , and substances , in , and under the earth , and how they are wrought and changed . TOuching Minerals which are wrought by nature below in the earth , it is according to Physical judgement thus . When any dry substance , in , and under the earth , mixeth it selfe with any wet or moist substance , by what means soever it hapneth ; whether by the Airs , Fires , or Waters passage under the earth : and the same mixture either by the powerful influence of the Planets , or by the heat of the oft named subterraneous Fire and warm waters , is decocted and well boiled together : then there is produced a Mineral according to the nature of the substances which are mixt together . Also when the subterraneous waters in their several passages or courses under the earth , do happen to cover over , soak or steep , any kind of mettal so long , that they do contract & gather a thickness to themselves from it , and become like unto troubled waters above the earth : and the same waters ( afterwards ) comes where the fire is ; or the heat of the subterraneous fire doth penetrate and force it selfe through to the same waters , then there is boiled of that water a certain moist substance or matter , which in time comes to be a hard and solid Mineral , according to the nature of that mettal which the waters did so cover , soak , or steep ; and from which it had gathered its quality or thickness under the earth . Moreover , when such thick , troubled , and changed subterraneous waters continue long in a place without motion : then that quality with which it is so thickned , mixt , or changed , settles it self to the bottom , ( as any thick and troubled water naturally doth ) where it remains ; and when the water gets any kind of passage out , it runs away ; and that which is left behind in the bottom is dryed and hardned by the power and influence of the Sun and Planets , and also by the subterraneous air or heat wrought into a Mineral , suitable to the nature and quality of that , from whence the subterraneous waters that are run away , had gathered and received its thickness . And this may now be more easily apprehended and understood by the following examples . When the waters have their courses and passage through that earth which is full of Copper and such like Ore , and covers , soaks , or steeps it so long and often , that it becomes thick and muddy , and its nature throughly altered and changed , or infected by the quality thereof . And the same waters afterward by the heat of the fire , or the power and influence of the Planets , is boyled and distilled in the earth : then it becomes a Succus or natural green moist substance , whereof being dryed , comes the Mineral called Chrysocolla , ( that is Mountaingreen ) and Virdigrease . In like manner when the subterraneous waters covers over , soaks , or steeps pyriten aerosum & friabilem ▪ that is a rusty Firrstone , which is easily ground to pieces , and is called in High-Dutch Kys : then it becomes a bitter Succus , which afterwards turns to Victril , and Alumen liquidum , that is Allom. Likewise where the subterraneous waters , or liquid substances have their courses and passage thorough , or into Gold and Silver Ore : then it becomes Lithargyrium Aureum & Argenteum , that is Litharidge of Gold and Silver . Nor must we think that all Minerals are produced in the earth after this manner now spoken of ; but some after this manner , and some otherwise , by the influence of the Planets and other occult natural causes , which ought to put us in mind of the omnipotency of God , who by nature worketh the rough and unshapen earth , and earthish liquid substances , into such several , very necessary , and precious Minerals and Mettals , for the great benefit and good of Mankind . And it is also found by experience that many Minerals are so perfectly decocted and wrought below in the earth , that they do afterwards spring up of themselves thorough the Clefts and Cranies of the Rocks , like a pot that seeths and runs over . As touching Mettals , they are by nature wrought and produced below in the earth , after divers secret and incomprehensible ways and manners , yea even amongst and within the hard stones and mighty mountainous Rocks by which in like manner we have cause given to consider the omnipotency and bounty of God , whereby he in so wonderful and inconceivable a manner , doth change earth and stone into Gold , Silver , Iron , Copper , Tinn , Lead , and other very necessary Mettals for the profit and benefit of man. And as the Fish is never so deep in the main Sea and other great waters & streams , but it is brought up for the food and sustentation of man ; in like manner is Gold , Silver , Iron , Brass , Tinn , Lead , &c. never so deep below in the earth , nor so hard fastned in , and between the hard rocks under it ; but that by the Almighty power of God , and the Art and Labour of those that work in the Mines , it is brought up to light , for the use and great benefit of Man. Concerning which , Job in his 28 chap. 1 , 2 verses , writes thus . The Silver hath its secret passage , and the Gold its place , Iron is taken out of the earth , and Stone is melted into Copper . Such favour hath the goodness and omnipotency of God shewed now in these last times of the world , unto this Land and Kingdom of Norway , especially since the year 1623. when that rich and famous Silver Mine in Sanswerd , and since that , time after time , the rich Copper-Mine in Ewster-dale , and Gulbrands-dale as well as the excellent Iron-Mine in Hedemarken , and other places , were found out & improved to the great and profitable advancement of Trade . And here is especially to be noted , that Mettals are not discovered and brought to light and use in all places alike soone , but some in one seculo or century of years , and some in another . After two , three , or more hundred years time : and the reason is , because they are not ripe all alike soone , or perfectly wrought and prepared ; as the fruits of Trees or Herbs of the field , are some of them sooner , and some later ripe ; and that because some Metals are so deep below in the earth , that they cannot so soon grow up , and show themselves above , or upon the earth ; nor can be perfectly wrought and prepared so soon as those Metals that are placed higher up in the earth ; and it is also partly because many Countreys and places that are full of Ore , and metallish substances do yet lie so far from the Suns and Planets Courses which principally works and prepares them : yea even in the deepest and innermost places of the earth , that they cannot come so soon to maturity , or be discovered and brought to use so soon , as those Mines that are in the Southern Countreys , either neerer , or under the Suns and Planets courses . And hence it is that the Mines in these Northern Countreys , especially here in Norway and Sweden , ( whose Southermost borders lie not above 34. degrees from the Artick or North-pole , but the Northermost reaches up to 71. degrees of North Latitude ) lying far from the Sun and the other Planets courses and operations , have not so soon come to maturity , as those Mines in the South countreys , and also in the East and West Indies , which lye but 30 or 40 degrees from the Equinoctial on both sides : from whence great quantities of Gold and Silver hath been , and is now yearly brought into these Norther Countreys . For the heat of the Sun , and the power of the Planets , by their presence there , have a far greater force and influence in their operation , then they have here with us , where they never come so neer : and besides their power and influence is much obstructed by that natural frost and cold which is here so neer under the Pole. It is therefore well worth the notice , that when any Ore-Mine is found here in Norway , ( as happens often , and in many places ) which upon tryal is found to yield good and fine Metal , or Ore , though not so rich as to defray all charges ; that therefore such Mines ought not to be wholly neglected and slighted , but diligently registred , and taken notice of , for the benefit of our posterity : because the Ore sheweth that there is good and fine Metal preparing in that Mine ; and possibly being deeper searcht into , would be found rich enough : but if it should not then be able to bear the charges ; it is because the Metal so found , is not yet ripe enough , and come to perfect maturity , which in time may be ; wherein Nature , and the Planets may do very much in halfe a hundred , or a hundred years ; so that what is not yet ripe enough , and come to full perfection in our time , may be more ripe , and come to better maturity , in processe of the time of our posterity , to the great profit , benefit , and advantage of these Kingdoms hereafter . Now when Metals are thoroughly prepared and come to their maturity , and perfection under the earth , then they do discover themselves above the earth ; ( like as the fruits of trees , when they are ripe enough , fall down of themselves , ) shewing thereby that they are now ripe , or fit to be digged up and used . And it is related amongst us , that the rich Silver-Mine in Sanswerd by Dram , did discover it selfe , by shewing , and putting forth its Ore through the cracks , and clefts of the stones in that rocky Mountain , in the year 1623. And it happens often , that when the Countrey people here , do burn the wood off from such great places where they intend to sow Corn , that the force and vehemence of the fire reaches into the Rocks , and makes them glowing hot , and then the melted Ore or Metal , runs out of their clefts and cracks , whereby they are often discover'd , and in time improved . It is also to be admired how wonderfully nature doth prepare and produce several sorts of Ore in strange forms , and shapes : such as are whole pieces of pure Silver , or Copper , in the shapes of Men , Women , Horses , Fowls , Fishes , Dragons , Trees , and the like : which have been really found both in the Silver and the Copper-Mines here in Norway , and are safely reserved by such as are partners in the Mines , as miracles of nature . It is likewise certain , that there are divers Spirits found in many of the Ore Mines : amongst which some do the workmen no harm at all , but otherwise wander up and down below in the Mines , and seem to imitate the Labourers in the Mine , in doing all kind of work after an Apish , Antick fashion ; some seem to hew the Ore loose , some to fill that which is hewen , into tubs , and to wind it up : some seem to hasten the rest to follow their work , and yet they do nothing at all , but only mock the Labourers in the Mines ; and these are most frequently seen in those Mines where much Ore is shortly after found . But some of these Spirits are so dangerous and pernitious in some places , that they do destroy and kill the Laborers in the Mines , infesting and expelling them , so that they are forced wholly to give over , and forsake the Mines , and repair to other places , as it hapned at Anneberg in Elsatz in Germany , at a M●ne-pit then called Corona Rosacea , or , Rosen Crown . And here is to be observed that nature doth often , yea , for the most part , mix more sorts then one together , as Gold , Silver , and Copper ; as also Silver , Copper , Tinn , and Lead , one with another ; from whence this word Metal derives its name from the Greek , quasi 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , the one mixt with the other . And moreover , besides this , Nature doth sometimes work and produce Metals below in the earth , that are found to be hard , tight , and solid : as if they had been cast , or wrought with the hammer , but sometimes , and most commonly it is found growing in , and mixed with stone : so that the Ory stones must be beaten with pestles as in a morter , and then the Ore-power melted in Furnaces , and afterwards refined from the drosse , before any necessary thing can be made of it . And this may suffice to be spoken concerning several Minerals and Metals , and how wonderfully they may be wrought and changed , within , and under the earth , and do help to the production of great Earthquakes . CHAP. IV. Concerning Air , and Wind , that is inclosed in the Earth , and how it doth occasion great and terrible Earthquakes . IT is an universal Axiome , and Physical rule ; non datur vacuum in rerum natura ; that is , there is nothing found empty in Nature ; whence it follows that all things over or under the earth , must of necessity be full , or filled with something , especially with one or more of the four Elements ; which be , Fire , Air , Earth , and Water ; and where none of the visible Elements are , there the Air is present , being a thin , subtile , and invisible body , that fils up all places and things every where , which seem to our eies to be empty ; the which we may easily try and experiment , by putting a hollow Reed , Straw , or Feather , into Wine , Beer , Water , or other liquid stuff ; yea , though it were Sand , or loose Earth ; and afterwards strongly sucking out , and drawing to us the Air that is in the hollow reed or straw ; we do presently see , that before the reed , or straw will be empty , the heavy stuff that is below , will come up into and fill the hollow place in it , until it can recover its lost air again ; the same may be perceived when one drinks Tobacco : for when the Air is suckt out of the pipe into the mouth , then before the hollow of the pipe will be empty , the smoak is forced as it were by the power of nature , to forsake the fire that is in the tobacco , to fill up the hollowness of the pipe , least it should be empty . Now the earth within , is not generally close and tight , but cleft and parted one piece from another in many places . And there are also many Rocks , and great stones below in it , that have their Clefts , Cracks , and Cranies , which are wide and large , and as it were hollow and empty ; besides , the earth in many places is sunk down from the Corners , Angles , and uneveness of those Rocks , and Stones , which makes many great , hollow , and as it were , empty places within the earth . And besides this , the earth is on all sides environed with water , and is with several Seas , and running streams , both salt and fresh , enterlac't , and filled , as the body is with veins : and is also with great and long Rains often wet and moistned , by which means she is soakt thorough with water : and the same water in time gets into those hollow places below in the earth , but being hindred in its course to such places , doth again spring up in certain places of the earth , as may by several Springs be perceived and observed ; And besides all this , there must needs be a wonderful great water in the innermost parts of the earth , which Moses , that man of God , the writer of the creation of the worlds foundation , calls the fountains of the great deep , Gen. 7. chap. 11. ver . and 8. chap. 2. ver . which springs up in many places so abundantly , both hot and cold : that it makes great and rapid streams above the earth . Now where such great waters under the earth , cannot break forward , and force themselves thorough to those hollow places in the earth : there the Air being a more thin and subtile body than the water , forceth it selfe through , and fils them . For as the moisture , humours , and spirits do often force themselves through the Pores of a mans warm body , or a horse that sweats , through whose thick hide , the humours and moisture so pierces , that the Horse seems to smoak again with reek . In like manner the Air goes about to and fro below in the earth , seeking to fill those hollow and empty places , according to the appointment of nature , which suffers nothing to be empty , as is before mentioned . Now when such hollow places are filled with subterraneous water , or with other stuff , then is the inclosed Air , expelled , and forced thence : comming up out of those holes , and appearing above the earth , as a thick fogg , mist , or smoak : which in Latine is called halitus , exhalationes , evaporationes : but we here in Norway , call it a mist , whereof some are thicker then others , and of different colours , according as the said Air so arising and expelled , hath contracted its thickness and colour from that moisture below in the earth , with which it was mixed and inclosed . And then if the earth be so close , Tight , and solid , that the Air cannot so suddainly get passage to depart away , it breaks out by force ; and when this conflict and breach betwixt the subterraneous Air and Water happens : then the earth ( as the seat of this warr ) must certainly quake , tremble , shake , and be moved ; and this is called Terrae motus , that is an Earthquake : whereof the following chapter more plainly and particularly discourseth . And that there is no little Air , or Wind in the hollow places of the earth , we may apparently perceive , when it breaks forth in Earthquakes : for then we see that it can cast great stones up into the Air , and lift up the earth : yea great Mountains , and make such a terrible quaking of the earth , that mighty Citys and Towns , Castles Fortresses , high Towers , and Walls , great Churches and Buildings , have been thereby utterly overthrown , sunk , and lost ; as it is Recorded concerning the great and mighty City of Antioch in Asia : which in the year of Christ 528. was wholly destroyed by an Earthquake , and there was 4870 persons killed by the fall of its Towers , Spires , Walls , and Buildings . Likewise in the year of Christ 1509. the 14th of September , the City of Constantinople was very much defaced and spoiled by a dreadful Earthquake , which continued 18 days : for it overthrew that long , thick , and strong wall , which stood along by the water-side , and all the houses that stood neer it , to the ground , and fill'd up the Motes and Ditches without the walls , with Rubbish , Stones , and Chaulk , that one might have gone dry-shod over them ; The same Earthquake shook down that part of the Grand-Signiors Pallace where the Treasury was : and five great and strong Towers quite and clean ; and besides all the mischief that it did by Sea and Land , which could not be repaired for many Tun of Gold : it killed and destroyed 13000 persons . Munster lib. 4. Likewise in the year 1517. the 16th of June . There hapned a terrible Earthquake at Norlingen , 40 miles from Nuremburg in High - Germany , which overthrew St. Emerania's Church to the ground : and 2000 houses besides within and without the City , for about the space of eight miles ; and the same Earthquake did also overthrow many great trees both in Orchards and Woods . Munster lib. 3. de Suevia . CHAP. V. Concerning the Physical description of Earthquakes , with their species , operation , and natural effects . THere are certain Divines , which will by no means grant , that Earthquakes should proceed from natural causes : but only from the particular power , appointment , and dispensation of God , according to the Testimony of Job , chap. 9. ver . 5 , 6. He removeth Mountains , and they know not , He shaketh the earth out of her place , and the pillars thereof do tremble . These I do in equity allow , the retention of their received opinions . But other Divines do acknowledge that Earthquakes have also their natural causes , by which God Almighty doth occasion their production ; and to speak Physically to this : Naturalists do describe it thus . An Earthquake , is a violent , moving , stirring , shaking , or quaking of the earth : occasioned by the subterraneous , salt-peterish moisture and damps inclosed together , with the Air , or wind , in the hollow places of the earth . Now when such damps and moistures grow so great , strong , and thick , by length of time , that they cannot continue with the subterraneous Air any longer in one hole together : then they do forcibly expell the subterraneous Air from thence : which by nature always giveth way to solid , and thicker bodies : and then there is a kind of civil conflict between them , which of them shall give way , and depart from those hollow places in the earth : if the earth then be poreous , sandy , or loose , the inclosed Air and Wind gets out thorough those Pores or sweating holes , and is seen above the earth like a smoaky Fogg or Mist , as is touched before in the last preceding chapter . But if the earth be so hard , close , and tight , that the inclosed Damps and Air , cannot by its thinnesse and subtilty penetrate , exhale , and force it selfe thorough the pores and sweating holes of the earth : then it breaks thorough the earth violently by its natural force and strength : and thereby causes the earth to shake , and quake , until it can split and burst assunder in some certain place , to give them room . And hence it is , that such Earthquakes do seldom happen in those countreys or places , where the earth is porous , loose , or sandy : because there the inclosed air , damps , and moistures , can easily penetrate , and force themselves through the earth , and make their way without the shaking or moving of the earth , which cannot be where there is close , tight , and solid earth round about them . Now as touching the several kinds and species of Earthquakes it is certain truth , found by experience . That all Earthquakes do not happen after one and the same , but after divers kinds and manners . Aristotle in libello de mundo , reckons up , and describes seven sorts of Earthquakes , each by its particular properties and fashion , according to the strength or weakness of the subterraneous contest of Nature . 1. Amongst which , by some Earthquakes , whole Citys and Mountains , with Houses , and People , sink quite down into the earth : as Pliny writes , lib. 2. cap. 48 ▪ That in Asia , in the time of the Reign of the Emperor Tiberius , there sunk twelve great Citys , and principal Towns , quite and clean down in one night by an Earthquake . Eusebius in Chronic. ad Annum Christi 33. Nicephorus lib. 1. cap. 14. do suppose that this was the great Earthquake that hapned at the time of Christs death , which was in the 18th . year of the Reign of the Emperour Tiberins . 2. By some Earthquakes , the earth is swoln , and heaved up high above its natural shape and proportion , so that great Mountains and Hills are made there , where before it was plain and even ground . Freeburgum Brisgojae was destroyed by such an Earthquake , in the year 1509. And there are many great Islands and places incompassed with water , often thus made ; for when this kind of Earthquake happens under the waters , it heaves , and raiseth up the earth sometimes , and in some places so high , that it reaches up above the water , and there it remains , and in time is changed , and comes to be an inhabitable Island . It is Recorded that the Island Delus , Rhodus , Alone , Thera , and Therasia &c. came up so , and also the Islands of Echinades , were so lifted up out of the River Acheloo : and certain others in Egypt , out of the River Nilus , as Pliny witnesseth . lib. 2. cap. 87. 3. Some Earthquakes do raise and lift up the earth very high above its natural shape : but assoon as the Earthquake is past , it presently sinks and settles down , and recovers its former natural shape again , and doth not much hurt . 4. By some Earthquakes the earth is torn and divided assunder in a certain place , so that there is a horrible great Hiatus , or open hole made , as it hapned in Moses his time ; when such a Hiatus , rending , or opening of the earth , swallowed up Moses seditious adversarys : such were Korah , Dathan , and Abiram : with certain other men of the children of Israel , 250 Princes of the Assembly , famous in the Congregation , and men of renown : with their Houses , Goods , and all the men that appertained to Korah , sunk alive down into Hell , with all that they had , and the earth closed upon them , they perishing from amidst the Congregation . Concerning which , we may read in the 19 Chapter of Numbers , ver . 2 , 31 , 32 , 33. 5. Some Earthquakes make the earth to sink lower down then it was before : and it never riseth up again , but remains always such a low and sunken Land. 6. In some places , especially by the Sea , and sides of great Rivers and Streams ; the earth carries away Houses , Trees , Pastures , and Meddows into the Sea , and Rivers ; and such particular Earthquakes do often happen here in Norway , chiefly in the South parts thereof . 7. In some places the Earthquake carries a great rumbling sound and noise along with it , like unto the noise of Thunder ; and so did this , that was now amongst us : for at first we knew not otherwise , but it was Thunder , before we saw the houses and moveables apparently to totter and shake . 1. Now where such Earthquakes as these do happen , there commonly follows storms and tempestuous winds , with an unusual smell , which ariseth with the Earthquake out of the earth . And such an ensuing storm we had here , in , and about Christiana , upon the second Whitsun-holyday , which was the 24th day after the Earthquake was past , when we poor sinners , ( especially in Ackers Church , ) were fain to get out in all hast , fearing least the Church should have fallen down upon us : the violence of which storm or whirlwind , continued about a quarter of an hour . 2. And Earthquakes do use to cause drought , and burning heat in the air , which we also were aware of certain days and weeks time : to the no small dammage of the fruits of the earth . 3. The Pestilence also , and other poysonous diseases , do commonly follow after great Earthquakes according as the Air and Damps , which in such Earthquakes break out of the hollow places of the Earth , was poysoned under it , and afterwards poysons the Air above the Earth , and doth naturally produce pernicious and poysonous diseases . But God by his mighty power can graciously divert all these things ; what otherwise usually ensues after Earthquakes , is shown in the following Chapter . CHAP. VI. Historical Relations , what by experience , hath commonly been observed to follow after such great and remarkable Earthquakes . THat which is Recorded concerning Comets , viz. That they are never seen in the Air or Heavens , without signifying some great and remarkable judgements and alterations ensuing ; we may well and truly both say and write , concerning such remarkable and great Earthquakes , that they do signifie extraordinary great mutations : for Histories do show cleerly , even from the beginning of the world ; that when any such great and remarkable Earthquake hath hapned in Nature , there hath followed great and notable accidents , and changes upon the earth in several Countreys and Kingdoms . Concerning those Earthquakes which are Recorded to have hapned before the birth of Christ , I will not speak at this time , but only commemorate certain of the most notable that have hapned since , and what ensued afterwards in divers places . In the year of Christ 62. There was a terrible Earthquake in Rome : and the year following , that cruel Tyrant Emperour Nero , caused the City of Rome to be set on fire , of purpose to have burnt it quite down , thereby to delight himselfe with seeing after what manner the lamentable destruction of the ancient and famous Citie of Troy was . And when the fire of the City burnt with greatest violence : he went up to the highest Tower , or Terret of his Pallace , and caused the destruction of Troy to be plaid , upon several Musical instruments , and sung before him ; that fire continued six days and seven nights . In the year of Christ , 80. there was a great Earthquake in Cypris , upon which followed a great Plague , which also reacht to Rome , and there increased mightily . Thereupon ensued a great and destructive warr against the Romans : for Diurepaneus the King of the Goths , advanced with the power of Gothland over the River Danubius , and held a bloody battle with Opius Sabinus , General of the Romans , giving him and his Army a total defeat , and killing all , so that there scarcely escaped a man that could carry the Romans any certain intelligence concerning it . In the year of Christ 104. there hapned a terrible Earthquake in Syria , for certain days together , whereby many stately buildings were demolished , and many people were kill'd and destroy'd ; and it followed thereupon , that the Emperour Trajanus fell into Armenia with a great power , and vanquish'd it ; marched afterwards into Arbella , and subdued the Parthians , and advanced forward in such a manner , as if he had purposed to have conquer'd the whole World : having great fortune and success at the first ; but afterwards the Jews rebelled against the Romish power , and would by no means be any longer subject to them : wherefore under the conduct of Artemone their Leader , killed and destroyed in Cyprus 240000 men , and slew all the Romans that they could find or surprize every where . And after this the Emperour Trajanus raised a great and puissant Army , under the command of Marcus Turbonus , and Lucius Quietus : and sent them into Jewry , and the Countreys thereabouts , which took and destroy'd all that came before them : and did conquer and subdue Hiberos , Sarmatia , Agarenos , Arabia , Bosphorum , Colchos , and also Saleuciam , Ctesiphont , and Babylon . Dion Ammianus lib. 14. And after the aforesaid Earthquake , the third general persecution began against the Christians , under the Emperour Trajanus ; some writers do relate , that it was as impossible to number the sand in the Sea , as to compute the number of those that were most miserably Butcher'd and Martyr'd in this persecution , for the confession of the faith of Christ . In the year 111. when that wicked Emperour lay in his Winter quarters at Antioch : there hapned a terrible Earthquake again : so that the Emperour Trajanus , caused himselfe to be carried out at a window , and remained under the open Heavens , till the Earthquake was past , not daring to trust himselfe in any house , or under any roof , for a long time after ; and thereafter followed such a lamentable drought , exceeding hot Air , mis-growth of the Fruits of the earth , Famine , and poysonous Pestilence , and a loathsom Stink from the earth : as if all the Elements had conspired and plotted together , to revenge the blood of those multitudes of innocent Christians , so lamentably butcher'd and destroy'd by that in humane Emperour . In the year 151. there was much harm done in many places of Italy by Earthquakes , and thereupon ensued a fearful Plague , which encreased so mightily there , that it left many Towns wholly desolate ; and terrible inundations of Water did also spoyle many fair Cities ; and a multitude of Grashoppers devoured all the fruits of the earth , almost all over Italy . In the year 240. there hapned another terrible Earthquake in Italy : whereby many Cities , and much people did perish by the opening of the earth ; whereupon there was appointed , ( ex libris Sybillinis , ) that general burnt offerings should be made to the Gods : not only in Rome , but all over the Romish Empire ; And thereafter followed that very great & destructive warr , between the Persians and the Romans on the one hand , and the Goths and Romans on the other hand : to the great weakning and spoyling of the Romish Empire . In the year 256. there sunk down many fair buildings , people and all ; especially in Italy : whereupon there followed terrible distempers all over the Romish Empire , that all the Provinces of it were full of warrs and uproars : and there was such a mighty Plague at Rome , and in Achaia , that there dyed at Rome in one day 5000 people , all of the plague . And the year after , did arise the Sect of the Samosatenians , by Paul Samosatenus a Bishop of Antioch , which did much prevail , and caused very great disturbance in the Church of God In the year 345. there hapned a destructive Earthquake , in , and about Antioch : whereby many Towns were spoiled and destroyed , and it continued almost a whole year : sometimes ceasing , and presently beginning again . Thereupon followed a great warr between the Emperor Constantine , and his Brother Constantem , for the Emperial Monarchy , wherein Constantine was beaten , and overthrown by AnAnquileja , and afterwards cast into the flood Alsa , where he had his burial . And after the same Earthquake , did also happen fearful Schisms and differences in Religion : for the Emperour Constantem , himselfe turn'd Arian , and caused an universal Synod to meet at Laodicea : in which those holy Fathers of the Church , and Bishops ; namely , Athanasius of Alexandria , Eusebius of Vercelis , Dionisius of Meiland , Hillarius of Pictavia , Paulinus of Trier , and many other Bishops , and at last Pope Julius himselfe were deposed from their offices and places , and banisht . And presently after that , did the Socinian Heresie arise by Photinus Praesbiterius Sirmienses , which filled the Church of Christ with much trouble and confusion . About this , there was a great Synod of Divines met at Sardis in Illyrico , wherein were Assembled 376 Bishops , at which time the Church of Christ was wretchedly distracted and divided ; for although 300 of the Bishops remained constant to the true Christian faith and Religion : yet the 76 Eastern Bishops fell from it , and became Arians . But the Sect of the Socinians was condemned by both sides . In the year 348 , there hapned a great Earthquake in Campania , and Italy : whereby Dyrachium was wholly destroyed , and Rome shook and trembled for the space of three days and nights ; In Campania were many towns quite spoiled : & thereupon there followed again great distractions and disturbances both in Church and State ▪ For the Emperour Constantem caused two general Synods of Divines to be Assembled , one in Armenia in Italy , in which the Catholick Christian faith was confessed and maintained by more then 400 Fathers of the Church , and the other at Saleucia in Isauria : wherein the Arian Heresie , was by a hundred and fifty Bishops approved , justified , and acknowledged for good . And in the temporal state , there followed a long and destructive warr between the Emperour Constantem and Magnentius , with unspeakable efusion of bloud on both sides . In the year 366. there hapned terrible Earthquakes all over the world ; the Sea broke through in divers places , doing much harm ; At Constantinople it Hailed such great stones , that they destroyed many People , and much Cattle ; Nicaee was wholly demollished to the very ground : the Romish Empire was fill'd with warrs and uproars in all places . The High Dutch rob'd and plunder'd in France : Sarmatae , that is the Polanders and Muscovites on the one side , and Quadi , that is the Silesians on the other side , invaded Hungary . The Saxons on the one side , and the Scots on the other side , fell upon England : the Goths did what they listed in Panonia , and overcame Scythia , and Thracia ; the Persians subdudued and took Armenia : so that the Romish Empire was lamentably imbroyled : and it proved Earthquake sufficient to the Inhabitants of those Countreys and Kingdoms . In the year of Christ 400. There hapned a very great and dangerous Earthquake in High Germany ; and the Heavens lookt like a burning flame for divers days together . Thereupon it followed , that King Snie of Denmark , waged a destructive warr against King Biorn of Sweden , in which warr he lost his own life ; and the Lombards , together with a great resort of several other Nations , marched out of the Countrey of the Vandals 300000 strong , over the Rhine into France , and plunder'd it quite through ; from thence they advanced into Spain , where they did the like , and continued there a long time . The Hunnes also at that time , made an unspeakable warr upon the Romans : lost in one battle 125000 men , but slew 210000 of the Romans ; shortly after this , they had another battle again , wherein the Hunnes lost 40000 men . In the year 406. there hapned several Earthquakes in High Dutchland : especially by the River Rhine . Thereupon King Rorick of Denmark fell into High Dutchland the year following : vanquished , subdued , and possest himselfe of the Countrey round about ; went over the River Rhine , and destroyed Mentz , Worms , Spire , and Trier : ruin'd and destroyed all the adjacent Towns : so that the Inhabitants , yea , even nature it self seemed to be amazed , and to tremble at his approach . For , ( which is strange ) when he came before the City of Metis , ( that is Metz : ) and laid siege unto it ; a great part of the City walls fell down to the ground by an Earthquake : so that without any resistance , or striking a stroak , he took the City . In the year 412. there hapned many Earthquakes both in Asia and Europe . Whereupon ensued a great plague of pestilence in most Countreys ; and also a most terrible famine and scarcity , by means of the great mis-growth of the fruits of the earth . Also fearful Tempests , Storms , and Hail , that many Hailstones weigh'd eight pound . Alaricus , the King of the West Goths , fell into Italy , and almost utterly destroyed the City of Rome , purposed to have destroyed Italy , and called Rome by the name of Gothia . And after these Earthquakes , did also arise the Pelagian heresie , by Pelagius , an English Heretick : against which was holden an universal Synod at Carthage , consisting of 270 Bishops : amongst which especially was St. Jerom , and St. Augustine ; also Attilla the King of the Hunnes , began to tyrannize cruelly in Europe , having great and wonderful fortune and success . In the year 488. there hapned great and terrible Earthquakes in the Romish Empire , for a moneths time together : whereby many Mountains , Castles , and Cities , were destroyed and overthrown , and many people perished . And it ensued thereupon , that Odoacer of Saxony , by open Hostility invaded Italy , and was defeated three times by King Diderick of Bern : so that he was forced to flye for refuge to Ravennam , and was besieged there by the Goths three years together . In the year 544. there hapned ( as is Recorded ) several terrible Earthquakes , almost all over Europe : but especially at Rome , and in Italy . Whereupon it followed , that Totillas the King of the East Goths , besieged Rome so straightly , that the Inhabitants were forced to eat Dogs and Cats for hunger . Afterwards he took the City , broke down the Walls , Fortresses , and places of strength , plundered , and destroyed all that came before him , sparing none , and set the City on fire : so that for the space of forty days , no body could be there for fire and smoak . Thus was Rome utterly destroyed by the Goths , according to the prediction of Scipio of Carthage , who had prophesied it with tears 700 years before , when the Romans burnt and destroyed Carthage . Two years after , the same King Totillas , besieged the City of Placentia , so long , and hard , that the Inhabitants were fain to eat one another , and at last were forc't to surrender up the City to him . In the year 591. there was such a dreadful Earthquake in Antioch , that more then 60000 persons perished thereby ; and thereupon followed an extraordinary hot , and dry Summer ; after which , ensued a most fearful famine and a plague : and the Lombards with much blood-shed did reform the old Lombards gross Barbarism to the Christian faith . In the year 832. there was a terrible Earthquake in Italy , whereby certain Citys and Hills were quite swallowed up ; Thereupon arose a destructive warr , between the Emperour Lodovicus Pius , and his three Sonns , who sought by open warr , raised against their Father , to deprive him of his Government ; these three sonns made a League with Gregory the 4th , Pope of Rome , who threatned to depose the Emperour Lodowick . But the German Bishops stuck close to the Emperour , and said that if the Pope came thither to excommunicate , he should depart thence excommunicated . The year following , namely , 834. The Emperour Lodowick advanced with a great Army into Alsatz , to reduce his seditious and rebellious sonns to obedience and submission , but was surprized in the battle of Lugenfield by Basell , and Lotharins . whom Lodowick fully impowred to mannage the Government , together with himselfe , carried his Father prisoner a long time about with him , as a spectacle of wonder . At this the Princes of Germany were highly displeased , and desired his Sons , Lodowick and Pipin , that they either by good means , or by force , would procure their Lord and Father's enlargement , if they expected to find any faithful friendship from the High Dutch , whereupon the Emperour was set at liberty again . In the year 868. there was a great Comet seen in the Air : after which followed many Earthquakes , and after that , a great plague : and there did arise a terrible warr between the three Brothers , the sons of the Emperour Lodowick , which of them should get and enjoy the Empire alone . The Danes sail'd over and invaded Scotland , and there with sword , fire , and plundering put all things into confusion : went afterwards into England , and took Edmund the King of England prisoner in a Church , drag'd him out , and hang'd him up on a tree , and shot his body full of Arrows , the 20th day of November in the year 870. as Matthew Westmonster writes . And King Harrald Haarfager waged a furious warr in Norway , for the space of ten years ; subdued , and expelled all the petty Kings , and turned the Government into a Monarchy , in the year 878. In the year 882. the 29th of December , there hapned a fearful . Earthquake in Germany : whereby many fair houses and buildings in Worms were destroyed . Thereupon it followed , that the Normen and Danes under the conduct of Godfrid their King , marched to the River Rhine , rob'd and plunder'd all wheresoever they came , demolisht and destroyed to the very ground , Camerich , Tornai , Arras , Tarren , and Gent : burnt up Lowen , Utrecht , Lurich , Neus , Coln , Achen , and Gulich . Whereupon the Emperour Carolus Crassus was sent for cut of Italy , by the French and German Princes , to defend his own Countrey against the tyranny of the Normen ; but he could not prevail by force of Arms , and therefore concluded a peace with them , and delivered into their possession the Province of Newstria in France , to be their own free inheritance : which is called by them now at this day , Normandia , or Normandy . In the year 983. there was a most terrible Earthquake in Italy , whereby Beneventura and Capua were destroyed . Thereupon followed an extraordinary drie Summer , and burning drought , which occasioned a great scarcity , and a fearful plague . In the year 990. there hapned terrible Earthquakes in many places : and thereupon ensued fearful , and incredible inundations of water all over Europe ; upon which followed an extraordinary hot and dry Summer , that burnt up the fruits of the earth : which occasioned a great scarcity and famine every where . In Saxony , there rained F●sh out of the Air ; and in Albania , there rained Corn from Heaven , but unfit for the use of man. The Sunn was wholly Eclipsed , and a great piece of fire fell down out of the Air , and burnt upon the earth ; after which , followed a most terrible plague : so that the living which bare the dead ( to their graves ) fell down dead themselves , and were buried together ; and there came much fire from the River of Rhine also , by which many of the adjacent Towns and Villages were wholly burnt up . In the year 1085. there hapned a fearful Earthquake in England : whereby many houses were overthrown , and much harm done ; and it followed thereupon , that King William of England , caused all his Subjects annual Profits , Estates , and Incomes , of every kind , both of Corn-land , Medows , Woods , Pastures , Cattle , and Sheep , and every thing they had to live upon , to be Registred : and accordingly required great contribution of the Countrey : which caused danger ous civil tumults , uproars , and discontents in the Land ; and there followed also a very unfruitfull year . In the year 1085. there hapned a terrible Earthquake in Lorain ; whereupon there followed a fierce plague , and suddain death of people . And the same year , there was unspeakable harm done in the Netherlands , by great and unusual inundations of water , both to people and Cattle . In the year 1126. there was another terrible Earthquake in Italy which lasted 40 days . Thereupon followed a lamentable mis-growth of the fruits of the earth , and a most miserable famine , as also a destructive and bloody warr between the Emperour Lotharius , and the German Princes : and between the Bohemians , and Conrad , Duke of Frankenland . In the year 1135. there were several terrible Earthquakes heard of , both in England and in Germany ; whereby many houses were thrown down ; the fire also burnt fearfully out of the earth , for certain days together , and could not be quenched by water , nor by any other kind of thing . And besides that , there was very great mischief done in many places of Germany by other fire : Mentz and its Cathedral was burnt : in the Cities of Spire , and Strasborg , many Churches and Cloysters were laid in Ashes : Ausburg was almost quite burnt up , and a third part of Goslar ▪ Hall in Saxony , flew up into the air in a smoak : and the next year following , there was such an extream hot , and dry Summer , that the waters in great Rivers , Channels , and streams , contrary to Nature , did so diminish , that men might have gone dry-shod over , where great Ships used to sail ; the Wells and Springs also became dried up in many places , that many men fainted and dyed of thirst , as well as Cattle : yea many Buildings and countrey Villages were set on fire by the heat of the Sun , and it caused a terrible famine in Europe . In the year 1155. there fell many houses down in Burgundy , and thereafter followed a great dissention between the Emperour Frederick Babarosa , and the Pope of Rome : which continued many years with much efusion of blood : until the Emperour was openly excommunicated out of the Romish Church , and suffer'd himselfe to be publikely absolved in St. Marks Church in Venice ; where Pope Alexander was not therewith contented , that the Emperour went bare-leg'd to the Church , and there kneeled on his bare knees , with Prayer and Fasting , for his offence committed against him : but the Pope also shamelesly trode upon his neck with his feet . In the year 1194. there was a great Earthquake in Denmark , and it followed thereupon , that the Vandals fell from the Danish Crown , forsook their Christian faith , and returned to the former idolatrous worship again ; whereupon King Knute of Denmark raised all the power of his Countrey , caused the Schleswickers to prepare 130 Ships , the Reepers 120 , the Wendsussellers 50 , the Fyeners 100 , the Sealanders 120 , the men of Skone 150 , in all 670 ships : and therewith fell upon Knute , King of the Vandals : who destroyed and kill'd all that came before them , and carried away much plunder of Goods and Cattle out of the Countrey . In the year 1300. there hapned a fearful Earthquake almost all over Europe ; thereupon followed an unusual dry Summer , with extraordinary heat : so that in Denmark , and the small Islands , men scarcely knew where to find any fresh water in any place . And in Italy there arose such a fearful civil warr and dissention between two Princely Families , called the Guelphs , and Gibilines , that it had neer ruin'd whole Italy . It will be needless to write any thing more out of History , concerning Earthquakes , and what remarkable things have always ensued ; for from those many that are Recorded , it may sufficiently be seen , that Earthquakes signify no great good to Countreys and Kingdoms : but God , by his Almighty power , can divert much evil . A Theological conclusion , with some instructions out of the Holy and infallible word of God : what Earthquakes do signifie and teach unto us . NOw when we enter into the Sanctuary of God : that is , into his Holy and infallible Word , and there seek and enquire diligently for right instructions concerning Earthquakes : then we shall receive this information . viz. That God did create the world at first , that it should be , and remain fixt and unmoveable : concerning which , the Scripture giveth this testimony . 1 Chron. 16. 30. Fear ye the Lord all the earth , the world also shall be stable , that it be not moved . And also Psalm 89. 12. and 102. 25. In fundasti terram , Thou hast laid the foundation of the earth , and all that is in it . Also Psalm . 104. 5. Who laid the foundations of the earth , that it should not be removed for ever . Also Prov , 3. 19. The Lord by wisdom hath founded the earth . And Isai . 48. 13. Mine hand also hath laid the foundations of the earth . From whence , and other the like Oracles of the wholly Scripture , we may cleerly discern and understand , that God did not create the earth so loose and unfixed in the beginning , that it should shake , tremble , and quake , but always to remain steady , and unmoveable . 2 Pet. 3. 5. But when the Earth , contrary to the fixed nature of its Creation , shall tremble , quake , and shake ; then there must certainly be some extraordinary and important causes : of it whereof the Holy Scriptures more especially intimateth two ; which moveth God to permit and produce such great and terrible Earthquakes ; namely . First , When the wickednesse of men is great upon the earth , and the earth is corrupt , and filled with violence , Gen. 6. 5 , 11 , 13. Then is the Righteous and just wrath of God provoked to move the earth himselfe , and cause her to tremble , thereby to destroy men , yea even the earth it self also . Gen. 6. 13. By removing the Mountains , and they know not , which he overturneth in his anger , when he causeth the earth to be shaken out of its place , that the pillars thereof do tremble , as Job speaketh , chap. 9. 5 , 6. Concerning which , the Holy scriptures do give this further testimony , Exod. 15. 12. when thou strechedst out thy right hand the earth swallowed them . Psal . 18. 7. The earth shook and trembled , the foundations also of the Hills moved , and were shaken , because he was wroth . And Psal . 104. 32. He beholdeth the earth and it trembleth , he toucheth the Mountains and they smoak . And concerning such Earthquakes , the Prophet Isaiah teacheth thus , Chap. 13. 13. The earth shall be removed out of her place , by the fury of the Lord of Hosts , in the day of his fierce anger . And chap. 24. 18 , 19 , 20. The foundations of the earth do shake , the earth is utterly broken down , the earth is clean dissolved , the earth is moved exceedingly , the earth shall reel to and fro like a drunken man. And Isai . 29. 6. Thou shalt be visited of the Lord of Hosts with Thunder , and with Earthquakes , and with great noise : with storms and tempests , and with the flame of a devouring fire . Also Nahum 1. 5 , 6. The mountains quake at him , the hills melt , and the earth is burnt at his presence , &c. Now where God in his wrath hath thus shaken the earth , there her inhabitants might very well sigh deeply , and pray with David in Psal . 60. 2. O God thou hast made the earth to tremble , thou hast broken it , heal the breaches thereof , for it shaketh . Secondly , when God hath been about to do some extraordinary thing upon the earth , or make any remarkable alteration in Countreys and Kingdoms ; the Holy Scriptures do testifie , that it is made known by preceding Earthquakes , as by so many prodomos or Harbingers ; As for example , when God himselfe descended down after an especial manner upon mount Sinai , and there gave his wholly Law to the Isralites , for the direction of themselves , and of the whole world , Then did the whole Mount greatly quake , Exod. 19. 18. And when God brought his people out of Egypt , ( though Moses hath not recorded that any Earthquake hapned then , ) yet the Holy Scriptures do show , that it was not done without a notable Earthquake : by which the red Sea was divided in that place that the children of Israel went through , and was so dry for the space of about sixty miles , as the Tables of Cosmography do shew , that the Israelites could go thorow dry-shod , Exod. 14. 21 , 22. As Deborah the Prophetesse and Judge , and Barack the son of Abinoam the Captain , do testifie concerning this in their song of praise , Judg. 5. 4 , 5. when the Lord went out of Seir , and marched out of the fields of Edom , the earth trembled , and the mountains melted from before the Lord. And with this agreeth that of Asaph , one of King Davids chief Musitians , Psal . 77. 16 , and 18. The waters saw thee O God , the waters saw thee and were afraid , &c. the voice of thy Thunder was in the Heavens : thy Lightning lightned the world , the earth trembled and shook . And that none should doubt that this hapned at the very same time when the children of Israel came out of Egypt . Asaph concludeth the aforesaid Psalm with these words in the last verse , Thou leddest thy people like a flock , by the hand of Moses and Aaron . Moreover , when God would in an especial manner , appear unto that precious man of God , the Prophet Elias upon mount Horeb , and there verbally instruct him , what he in the Lords behalf should do in several Kingdoms ; Then there hapned a great Earthquake before , but the Lord was not in the Earthquake , as we may read in 1 Kin. 19. 11. It is also Recorded by the Prophet , Amos , that there hapned in Jewry a great Earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah , and of Jeroboam the son of Joash king of Israel ; and Amos was called by God two years before the said Earthquake , from amongst the Heardsmen of Tekoa , to preach and reprove sharply the great and manifold fins which did then abound in all the Countreys thereabouts : as we may read in the first chapter of Amos , ver . 2. &c. and in the following Chapters . And that this same Earthquake was no small one , we may sufficiently understand by that prophetical Doctrine , which the Prophet Zachary preached unto his Auditors certain hundreds of years after : when he putteth the remnant of the people of Israel that were returned home from their 70 years Babylonish captivity , in mind : and did then cause them plainly to understand , that the said Earthquake , was a great , terrible , and dreadful one ; for the Prophet writes thus , Zac. 14. 5. ye shall flee , like as ye fled from before the Earthquake in the days of Uzziah King of Judah . As for the new Testament , therein do the Holy Evangelists make mention , concerning several Earthquakes that hapned in those times . The Evangelist St. Matthew in chap. 27. 51. and forward ; writes , that at the time of the death of Jesus Christ , the vail of the Temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom , and the earth did quake , and the rocks rent , and the graves opened : So that the Centurion , and those that were with him watching Jesus , when they saw the Earthquake , and those things that were done , feared greatly . By this Earthquake , doubtlesse the Lord for his part did show his fierce wrath against those that had dealt so unmercifully with his only beloved son : and on the other side , Christ himself did also show his enemies , how easily he could have caused the earth in that Earthquake , to have opened under them , and suffered them altogether , like the seditious Korah , Dathan , and Abiram , in former time , with all their retinue , wives and children , to have sunk down alive into Hell , Numb . 16. But our most Gracious and patient Saviour , was not come then to destroy , but to redeem and deliver mankind from the wrath and righteous judgements of God Luk 9. 56. And therefore not one Jew of the enemies of Christ perished in this Earthquake , but the long suffering of God did hereby yet seek to draw them to repentance , Rom. 2. 4. Also at the time of our Lord Jesus Christ his Resurrection : there hapned a great Earthquake again , concerning which , the above named Evangelist St. Matthew writeth thus , chap. 28. 2 , 4. Behold there was a great Earthquake , &c. and the keepers did shake , and became as dead men . Concerning this Earthquake , Divines a●e of several opinions : for some think that this Earthquake hapned , sub descensu Christi ad inferos , when Christ descended into Hell , or to the lowermost , or innermost parts of the earth , as St. Paul writeth , Eph , 4. 9. And then presently did a mighty great conflict begin , between the Prince of darkness ( the Devil ) on the one side , that would have preserved his Pallace , and kept what he had in peace , Luk 11. 21. And the Prince of life , and Lord of Glory , the Lord Jesus Christ , on the other side , that is called a stronger then he , that came upon him to overcome him , Luk 11. 22. And by this great and powerful conflict , Christ redeemed mankind , and took away the power from him that had the power over death , ( that is the Devil ) and delivered them , who through fear of death , were all there life time subject to bondage , Heb. 2. 14. 15. wherein the Devil with all the powers of Hell , strived mightily to oppose him , but Christ gets the victory at last , having spoiled the principalities and powers , he made a shew of them openly , triumphing over them in it . as St. Paul writes , Collos . 2. 15. and that according to his own prophesie by the Prophet Hosea , chap. 13. 14. where he in time of old speaketh thus , O death I will be thy plagues , O grave I will be thy destruction . Now at such a mighty contest , hapning in hell , or the innermost parts of the earth : could not the earth contein it self , but was forced thereby to shake , tremble , and quake , so that the Evangelist might well say : Lo there was a great Earthquake . Concerning this , Luther writes thus . Annotante D. Johanne Gerhardo Homil. Sacr. parte 2. super Feria , pasch . 1 Concione 3. in hoc terrae motu , Christus ad inferos descendit , Satanam ligavit , captivam duxit captivitatem , infernum destruxit , claves abstulit , morti praedam , eripuit , &c. That is , in this Earthquake Christ descended into Hell , bound Satan , took captivity captive , spoyled hell , and carried away the keys , and took away the prey of death from him . Other Divines , especially those that are preachers , are of this opinion ; that this Earthquake hapned at the time of Christs Resurrection , which was upon Easter-day in the morning ; thereby shewing , that as the earth at the time of Christs death , did quake and tremble in compassion of the bitter pain , and innocent death of its Lord and Creator ; so by a particular great Earthquake , she did now rejoyce again at his Resurrection : and did leap and dance , for joy of the victory and conquest obtained by Jesus Christ : and as it were with both hands ( to speak after the fashion of men ) delivered her Lord and Creator from her , which now she had inclosed in her to the third day . Each of these Divines opinions do I allow to be worthy and Godly : forasmuch as neither of them do in the least oppose the Holy Scriptures . But besides this , the Evangelist St. Luke Recordeth , that when Peter had preached that excellent Sermon in Jerusalem , in the great festival of Whitsontide , concerning the death of Christ on the one side , and his glorious and victorious Resurrection from the dead on the other : and then by the same Sermon converted about 5000 men to the faith and confession of Christ , Act. 4. 4. After the same Sermon , with the unanimous , and earnest prayers , supplications , and thanksgiving of the faithful were ended ; it is mentioned in the 31 verse of the afore named Chapter , that the place was shaken wherein they were assembled together , and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost , and spake the word with boldness . And again , when Paul and Silas were cast into prison in Philippi , the chief City of that part of Macedonia Act. 16. 12. and they then in the prison prayed and sang praises to God , there was suddenly a great Earthquake , so that the foundations of the prison were shaken , and immediately all the doors were opened , and every ones bands were loosned . ibid. ver . 26. so that the Keeper and all his house were thereby converted to the faith of Christ , and were baptized , ver . 33. &c. I will not now speak concerning what the Evangelist St. John Records in his Book of the Revelations , chap. 6. 12. 8. 5. 11. 13 , 19. and 16. 18. Because generally Divines , and the faithful Teachers of the Christian Church do expound those things Allegorically : and do understand thereby , the great and terrible persecutions and efusion of blood , which the Church of Christ hath partly suffered , now lyeth under , & hereafter shall suffer by means of divers Heretiques , false Teachers , and Tyrants which will assist them , towards the end of the world : from whom the Lord in mercy preserve these Countreys and Kingdoms for Jesus Christ his sake . But that most serious prophesie which Jesus Christ the foundation and mouth of Truth , as a true Prophet , did prophesie and leave unto his Church , concerning such Earthquakes as should really happen before his last Glorious appearance , ought by no means to be here forgotten or omitted . And Christ himselfe hath prophesied concerning Earthquakes toward the end of the world , after this manner , Mat. 24. 7. and there shall be famines , and pestilences and Earthquakes in divers places . And Mar 13. 8. there shall be Earthquakes in divers places , famines and troubles . Also Luk 21. 11. And great Earthquakes shall be in divers places , and famizes , and pestilences , and fearful sights , and great signs , shall there be from Heaven . From whence it may be concluded , that when God Almighty now in these last times of the world , doth permit such great and spacious Earthquakes , so many miles in length to happen ; men ought not lightly and carelesly to slight them , and think no more of them : but to regard and receive them , as signifying partly , some certain new , and unusual accident impending , or approaching . And partly as the infallible prodomos , or forerunners of the last day : yea , and the creatures earnest expectation that waiteth for the glorious manifestation of the sons of God ; Forasmuch as the creature is made subject to vanity against its will. And the creature groaneth , and travaileth in pain together with our selves to be delivered from the bondage of corruption , as Paul teacheth , Rom ▪ 8. 19 , 20 , &c. Now therefore mark attentively , and consider well with thy selfe , O thou intelligent Reader : that if the sencelesse and dead creatures , such as Earth , Rocks , Seas , Islands , and the like ; that have neither mouth nor tongue , brain , nor heart , can so quake and tremble : yea , as it were , bewaile and condole themselves , when their Lord and Creator is angry , or intendeth to visit Countreys and Kingdoms , with any uncouth or strange thing ; how much more ought the hearts of men whilst they live , and in time too : to be amazed , and to tremble and quake for fear of the wrath of God , and his impendent judgements . And if so be they will not do it now in the time of Grace , then may we justly cry out , and complain upon them , with that Holy and reverend Father of the Church Saint Ambrose . O hominum pectora Saxis duriora . Oh thou heart of man , that art harder , and more insensible than the Rocks and Stones : for they can quake , but the heart of man not ; yea then we may well complain with the Prophet Jeremy , chap. 5. 3. Thou hast stricken them , but they have not grieved , thou hast consumed them , but they have refused to receive correction : they have made their faces harder then a Rock , they have refused to return . And also with the Prophet Zachary in chap. 7. 12. Yea , they have made their hearts as and Adamant stone , therefore came a great wrath from the Lord of Hosts . O man , man ! consider now well with thy selfe in time , that if thou canst not now be moved to tremble and quake for that God , that can so move the earth , and cause her to tremble and quake : then thou maist justly fear , that when the Lord Almighty will so move the earth , that the Heavens shall pass away with a great noise , and the Elements shall melt with fervent heat , the earth also , and the works that are therein shall be burnt up , 2 Pet. 3. 10. that it will be then too late for thee to tremble and quake . And if any now may be moved to great fear and amazement by these small Earthquakes , which do no very great harm ; what kind of anguish and terrour thinkest thou , will at that time fall upon all ungodly and incorrigible men , that here would never fear such a God ? Truly then the Kings of the earth , and the rich men , and the chief Captains , and the mighty men , and every bondman , and every free-man , shall hide themselves in the Denns and in the Rocks of the mountains : and say to the mountains and Rocks , fall on us , and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the Throne , and from the wrath of the Lamb : for the great day of his wrath is come , and who shall be able to stand ? Oh Jesus Christ , thou Rock of Salvation , and precious corner-stone of Zion , do thou mollifie our hard and stony hearts , and according to thy promise , give us hearts of flesh , Ezek. 36. 26. That we may now in the time of Grace , be amazed and tremble at our bloudy sins , and their well deserved and impendent punishment , that so the punishment may be either graciously mittigated , or wholly diverted , according to thy Divine will , for thy great mercies sake , Amen . Now he that can give any better , or more perfect instruction or information , concerning Earthquakes , and yet will not do it : committeth a great sin , inasmuch as he concealeth such wonderful works of the Lord. FINIS . Errata . In the 3 page of the Preface , line 19. for 40. read 160. page 18. line ult . for cannot read ca● . Notes, typically marginal, from the original text Notes for div A38593-e580 Meaning here Norway . Notes for div A38593-e3790 Note , that this must doubtlesse be by an Earthquake . Notes for div A38593-e7030 Suspirium 
A36316	----	Earthquakes explained and practically improved occasioned by the late earthquake on Sept. 8, 1692 in London, many other parts in England, and beyond sea / by Thomas Doolittle ... Doolittle, Thomas, 1632?-1707. 1693 Approx. 174 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 85 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2008-09 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A36316 Wing D1883 ESTC R12441 12333449 ocm 12333449 59717 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A36316) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 59717) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 208:3) Earthquakes explained and practically improved occasioned by the late earthquake on Sept. 8, 1692 in London, many other parts in England, and beyond sea / by Thomas Doolittle ... Doolittle, Thomas, 1632?-1707. [17], 141, [3] p. Printed for John Salusbury ..., London : 1693. Advertisement: p. [1]-[3] at end. Reproduction of original in British Library. Imperfect: print blurred and difficult to read in places. Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford. Re-processed by University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. Gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. 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Copies of the texts have been issued variously as SGML (TCP schema; ASCII text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable XML (TCP schema; characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless XML (TEI P5, characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or TEI g elements). Keying and markup guidelines are available at the Text Creation Partnership web site . eng Earthquakes -- England. -- Early works to 1800. Earthquakes -- Jamaica. 2006-08 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2006-08 Aptara Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2007-06 Robyn Anspach Sampled and proofread 2007-06 Robyn Anspach Text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-02 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion Earthquakes EXPLAINED AND Practically Improved : OCCASIONED By the late EARTHQUAKE on Sept. 8. 1692. in LONDON , many other parts in England , and beyond Sea. By THOMAS DOOLITTLE M. A. Jamaica's Miseries shew London's Mercies . Both Compared . LONDON : Printed for John Salusbury at the Rising Sun over against the Royal Exchange in Cornhill . 1693. An Humble WARNING From the Presaging Earthquake Sept. 8. 1692. PLague , Fire , and Earthquakes are amongst the most terrible Judgments , whereby the great and holy God doth manifest his sore displeasure against a sinful People , and his indignation and hatred of their heinous and crying Sins . These three have befallen London . The first in the GREAT DYING Year , 1665. the second in the GREAT BURNING Year 1666. and the last in the GREAT TREMBLING present Year 1692. and the Month of September is remarkable in all these . The Plague ( as I remember ) being then at the highest , the great Fire began on Septemb. 2. and the Earthquake was on the Eighth of the same Month ; on which day of the Month Josephus de bel . Jud. lib. 7. cap. 18. writes thus ; Jerusalem was taken the second year of Vespasian 's reign , on the eighth day of September , and having been already five times before surprized , it was finally again destroyed . This was London's trembling , but ( through the great Power , Patience , and Mercy of God ) not its falling day . I call Earthquakes presaging for these Reasons ; what weight there is in them I leave to others to judge . 1. Because Christ did assert them to to be such : Luke 21. 5. to 12. as some spake of the Temple , how it was adorned with goodly stones , and gifts , he said , As for these things , which ye behold , the days will come , in which there shall not be left one stone upon another , that shall not be thrown down ; they asked , Master , When shall these things be ? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass . Then Christ gave ( amongst others ) Earthquakes as foregoing Signs of such future Ruins . 2. Because God hath made use of Earthquakes ( in former times ) as forerunners of great Calamities to come . So according to Christ's prediction , this Sign went before the destruction of the Temple . Josephus de bel . Jud. lib. 7. c. 12. Amongst the foregoing Signs of the destruction of Jerusalem , mentioneth an Earthquake : Vpon the Feast-day of Pentecost , at night the Priests going into the inner Temple to offer their wonted Sacrifice , at first they felt the place to move and tremble , and afterward they heard a voice , which said , Let us depart hence . 3. Because Christ saith ( as of other Judgments mentioned , so ) of Earthquakes , They are the beginning of Sorrows . If the beginning , must not others follow ? when an Earthquake is the beginning ( let not Scorners deride ) who knows what shall be the middle and the ending of those Calamities , that might take their beginning from an Earthquake , Matth ▪ 24. 7 , 8. 4. Because I judge ( if I err , let my mistaking thoughts be excused ) that this late Earthquake was from the immediate hand of God. And yet if it were not , God can use the alleadged Natural Causes of Earthquakes , to give warning , and to fore-run other following Miseries . But my reason is this , because it did extend it self so far , to so many places in England , and beyond the Sea ( according to the Account that I have heard ) not only on the same day , but at the same time of the day as in England , at London , Sheerness , Sandwich , Deal , Maidstone , Portsmouth , and many other places beyond Sea , at Paris , Marli , Versailles , and in Normandy , at Brussels , Cologne , and in most places of Holland and Flanders . Now if it did arise from Natural Causes , there must be exceeding great quantities of such Vapours in the Caves and hollow Places of the Earth , which striving all along so far to get out , it seems very strange they did no where with great fury break out , to the opening of the Earth , and overthrow of some places , where the Earth was weakest . If the quantity was less , taking its beginning in some certain place , and proceeding forward , seeking to get out , but could not , it would have required more time to travail under ground to such distant Towns and Cities , as in England , and so many places beyond Sea , and so could not have been at all , at the same time . And if it were from the immediate hand of God , was it not for some great end that God should do so great a work , which he doth more rarely do ? Is not the meaning of it , a warning to all that have been shaken by it , to forsake sin , and turn to God by repentance and reformation , or else look for some further stroke ? while we go on in a course of great provoking sins , when God hath shaken his Rod over us , might we not fear it will some time fall upon us ? But whether it were Natural or Supernatural , should not all places that trembled by it , without Reformation , fear and tremble at the Judgments that may follow it ? when God begins to punish , and Men not so much as begin to repent and turn , doth not he threaten he will go on to punish seven times more , and seven to that ? and many times seven more to that , when a People still walk contrary to him ? Lev. 26. 15. to 40. Some would fain deny the matter of Fact , but that there are so many Witnesses to testifie against them . Some that own it , make light of it , and do not at all think it portends any more Calamity to come ; even as the blinded Jews slighted all the Indications of more approaching Miseries , as Josephus writes concerning them ; saying , These miserable people were easily perswaded to believe Impostors who did bely God , yet would they not believe , nor give any ear or regard unto certain Tokens and Signs ( of which an Earthquake was one ) of the ruin of their City : but as it were blinded , neither having Eyes nor Souls , they counterfeited themselves , not to see what God foreshewed them . Tho' I dare not undertake to tell what particular Judgments ( which are at God's ordering ) this Earthquake doth presage , without Reformation ; yet may I not ask this sober Question , If this late Earthquake have not good effect upon our Hearts and Lives , may we not fear lest those Judgments may follow , which we read in Scripture God hath sent upon a People for those very sins which do raign amongst us ? as for prophaning his Sabbaths , for excessive Pride in Apparel , for profane Swearing , fulness of Bread , Drunkenness , Whoredoms , Robberies , Murders , Contempt of Religion , Hatred of Godliness , Divisions , and hating one another , neglect of Religious Education of Children , banishing the Worship of God from our Families , Blaspheming , and Cursing instead of Calling upon God , Lukewarmness , and a general Decay of the Power of Godliness , Leaving of our first Love , loss of the Spirit of Prayer , yea ( ah sinful Age ) deriding of it , Apostacies , and Worldliness , Selfishness , and abuse of God's holy Ordinances , prostituting them to Carnal Designs and Interests ; and many more . That Scripture ( amongst many Isai . 3. ) may serve for a Glass to see our sins , and what Judgments we may fear , if they be continued in ; which are sins that bring Kingdoms and Cities to ruin . Verse 8. For Jerusalem is ruined , and Judah is fallen , because their tongue and their doings are against the Lord , to provoke the eyes of his glory . O that Magistrates ( Nehemiah like ) would not any longer suffer the Sabbath to be openly profaned , or things exposed to Sale in Londons ( late trembling ) Streets , or Parts adjacent , nor in the Land. Where is Nehemiah's Courage ? Neh. 13. 15. In those days saw I in Judah , some treading Wine-presses on the Sabbath , and bringing in Sheaves , and lading Asses : as also Wine , Grapes , Figs [ and now in our Street-trade , Apples , Pears , Plumbs , &c. ] on the Sabbath-day : and I testified against them in the day wherein they sold Victuals . Verse 17. Then I contended with the Nobles of Judah , and said unto them , What evil thing is this that ye do , and profane the Sabbath day ? Did not your Fathers thus , and did not our God bring all this evil upon us , and upon this City ? yet ye bring more wrath upon Israel by profaning the Sabbath . — Verse 21. Then I testified against them , and said unto them , — if ye do so again , I will lay hands on you . From that time forth came they no more on the Sabbath day . O that after such shakings of the City , such things might be done no more on the Sabbath day . O that no more Oaths on other days might be heard in our Streets , and no more reelings by Drunkenness there , least the Earth reel under us again . O that there might be praying to , and praising of God in all Houses that did shake , and yet do stand . That all Men of all Ranks , Callings , Qualities , Rich and Poor , Magistrates and Subjects , Ministers and People , Parents and Children , Masters and Servants , might search their hearts and ways , see what is amiss , and mend it , what is good , and continue and grow therein , that God may be no more provoked , dishonoured , incensed against us , but glorified , pleased , feared by us , that his Anger might be turned away from us , that instead of Judgments and Wrath , his Blessings and Mercies might be poured upon us . Amen . THE CONTENTS . 1. The Preface , containing 1 The Suns miraculous 1. Standing still 2. Going back 3. Eclipse p. 2. to 8. 2 The Earths motion by Earthquakes The Copernican's Opinion of the constant motion of the Earth . p. 8. The Testimony of our Senses of its natural resting . p. 9 , 10. 2. The Parts of the Text. 1 The Earthquake . p. 12. 2 The greatness of it . 13. By 1. Shaking the Foundations of the Prison . ibid. By 2. Immediate opening of the Doors . 14. By 3. Loosing the Prisoners Bonds . ibid. 3 The Suddenness of it . 15. 3. Doctrines . I. God many times works wonders for the deliverance of his suffering Saints , in order to the propagating of the Gospel . 15 , 16 , 17 II. God needs not length of time to do the most great and wonderful works . The suddenness of the late Earthquake . 18 , 19 , 20. III. Tho' an Earthquake suddenly come , and quickly go , & nothing is destroyed thereby , yet it is , and may be truly called a Great Earthquake . 8 Questions to such as thought the late Earthquake small . 20 to 25 IV Tho' some Earthquakes have their natural Causes , yet some do arise from the immediate hand and power of God. 25. The Method . 26 , 27 , 28. Earthquakes are , either 1. Metaphorical . 28. to 32. 2. Literal and Real . These are 1 Supernatural . 9 Instances . An account of that miraculous Earthquake in the days of Uzziah , and for what sin . 32. to 47. Three Inferences . 47. to 52. 2 Natural . Their 1 Causes Material Efficient . 52. to 58. 2 Description . 3 Seven sorts . By others reduced to three . 58. to 61. 4 Six antecedent Signs . 62 , 63. 5 Effects . 1 Great Consternations . Several Reasons os it in Earthquakes . 64 to 79. 2 Precipitant flight . 79 , 80. 3 Openings of the Earth . ibid. 4 Subversion of houses &c. 81 , 82 , 83 5 The change of the Channel of the Sea. ibid. 6 Overthrow and removing of Mountains . 84. 7 Infectious Diseases . 84 , 85. 6 Adjuncts . In 8 Conclusions . 86. to 93 7 Inferences 12. for improving this great work of God. 93. to 119. Gods sparing Mercy to London , &c in the late Earthquake set forth ▪ 1. By 18 Instances of dreadful devastations made by Earthquakes in several places in former Ages . p. 119. to 123. 2. By the lamentable Ruins in Jamaica , the Effects of the late Earthquake there , described by Letters from thence . 123. to 129 A Letter from a Minister in Kent . giving some account of the late Earthquake there . 129 , 130. An Earthquake in England , An. 1580. much like to this so lately here . 131 , 132 , 133 The Religious Zeal of Queen Elizabeth moved by that Earthquake to publish an Order , commanding all Housholdders throughout the Realm to call together all in their respective Families , and to pray with them every Evening before they went to bed . 133. to 137. Three Years very remarkable for God's dealings with London in our days : 1665. for the Plague ; 1666. for the Fire , and 1692. for the Earthquake . 138. to the end . Earthquakes EXPLAINED AND IMPROVED . ACTS XVI . 26. And suddenly there was a great Earthquake , so that the Foundations of the Prison were shaken : and immediately all the Doors were opened , and every ones Bonds were loosed . WOnderful , many wonderful things are done by the Lord of Heaven and Earth , by reason whereof his People may in triumph , and the Wicked in terrour , say , Who is like unto thee , O Lord , amongst the gods ( or mighty ones ) who is like thee , glorious in holiness , fearful in praises , working wonders ? sometimes in the Heavens over our heads ; sometimes on and within the Earth under our feet : In both the works of God have been so amazing , that might fill the Inhabitants of Heaven above , and of the Earth beneath , with admiration of his Divine Perfections . First ; God's works have been astonishing in the Heavens over our heads , which because they are too high , and above our present Theme and Subject , I shall but briefly mention three of them , and those concerning the Sun , the great inlightener of this Earth whereof we are to speak . 1. The standing still of the Sun. It is the Doctrine of Aquinas , That Motion doth as much belong to the Nature of Heaven , as Immobility and Rest to the Nature of the Earth . The Earth is a setled , fixed Body , and therefore it is an act of mighty power in God to shake it , and to make it move ; but the Sun is as a Bridegroom coming out of his Chamber , rejoycing as a strong man to run a race , according to the ordinary Law of Creation and Government in continual motion , and therefore a mighty work of God alone to cause its motion to cease and stand still . The making of the Sun to stop , which naturally cannot but move , and causing the Earth to shake and move , which naturally cannot but stand still , is an effect of equal power . The command of God doth change the Earths station into motion , and the Suns motion into standing still . Josh . 10. 12. Than spake Joshua to the Lord in the day when the Lord delivered up the Amorites before the Children of Israel , and he said in the sight of Israel , Sun , stand thou still upon Gibeon , and thou Moon in the valley of Ajelon . Verse 13. And the Sun stood still , and the Moon stayed until the People had avenged themselves upon their Enemies . So the Sun stood still in the midst of Heaven , and hasted not to go down about a whole day . Verse 14. And there was no day like that , before it or after , that the Lord harkened unto the voice of a man , for the Lord fought for Israel . Where is observable , ( 1. ) That Joshua spake first to the Lord , and then to the Sun ; for it was not Joshua's voice , but God's power that put a check to the motion of the Sun. ( 2. ) God hearkened to the voice of Joshua , praying that the Sun might stop its motion . ( 3. ) Then the Sun hearkened to the voice of Joshua , so that by God's commanding voice , in answer to Joshua's praying voice , the Sun stood still : If all the men on Earth with one concurrent voice , should say to it , Sun stand thou still , it would still go forwards in its motion : so that its cessation from motion demonstrated the mighty , amazing work of God. 2. The Retrograde motion of the Sun ▪ or its going backward , is no less a wonderful work of God in the Heaven than its standing still . The motion of the Sun is naturally progressive , or going forward , and if it should make more haste by many degrees in its diurnal Motion , it must be by power Divine , and not Humane ; yet in the apprehension of men , it is a greater thing , that it should go backward , and would cause more their observation of its motion , and admiration of God's power . Isai . 38. 7. This shall be a sign unto thee from the Lord , that the Lord will do this that he hath spoken . Verse 8. Behold , I will bring again the shadow of the degrees which is gone down in the Sun-dial of Ahaz ten degrees backward . So the Sun returned ten degrees , by which degrees it was gone down . Hezekiah prayed , God promised gives him a sign for his assurance of the performance , and the sign ( tho' miraculous ) was effected , and ●●ne mercy asked , was bestowed : God caused the Sun to go backwards to confirm the faith of his People in his Promise that his work for their deliverance should go forwards . 3. That at and from high noon-day till three in the afternoon , the Sun should give no light , but darkness should be at the usual time of its inlightening the Earth , was the hand and power of God. Ordinary Eclipses are not miraculous , yet there was one that was not according to the course of Nature . When the Lord of Glory , the Sun of Righeousness was crucified , the Sun hid its face , and the Heavens put themselves into mourning at his death . Matth. 27. 45. Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the Land until the ninth hour . This was an extraordinary and miraculous work of God , upon the Reasons usually alleadged . ( 1. ) Because it was the full of the Moon , which caused a great Philosopher to cry out , Either the God of Nature suffers , or the Frame of Nature dissolves . ( 2. ) Because ( as some affirm ) it was universal , over all the World. Or ( 3. ) according to others , because it was only over the Land of Judea , all other parts of the World having the benefit , and enjoying the light of the Sun at that time ; which some judge to be the more strange : that as when Israel had light in Goshen , the Egyptians were under the Plague of Darkness ; so at the crucifying of Christ , Israel which dwelt in Judea should be under darkness , when the World besides enjoyed light . Thus it is manifest that God doth great things in Heaven above , the Sun moves or standeth still , goes backwards or forwards , shines not , to give light at noon day , and for some hours together unto the Earth at all , or else makes light in one part , when it doth not in another ; and all this at the pleasure of the great God. But our present Task is to observe one extraordinary work of God , on and in the Earth . Secondly ; There is the amazing , mighty work of God on and within the Earth , which in the Text that suits the occasion , is God's shaking of , and making it to tremble before him , and under men that dwell upon it . This moving of the Earth is far different from that constant motion that some Philosophers ascribe unto it ; for amongst the several Systems of the World which Astronomers have invented , three are more famous , one by Ptolomy , the other by Copernicus , and the third by Tycho Brache . Copernicus following the Pythagoreans , asserts the motion of the Earth , and the Sun to be in the Center of the World , without motion ; that the Earth hath two motions , one Diurnal , which is performed about its own Axis in the space of 24 hours , and from this motion do arise our days and nights : the other Annual , whereby it is carried about the Sun , from the West towards the East , according to the succession of Signs of the Zodiack . Where then is the miracle ▪ of the Sun 's standing still in Joshua's days , if it stand still in all Ages ? where is the wonder of the Earths moving , if it whirl about every 24 hours with so swift a motion ? why cannot all People discern this constant motion of the Earth , that do perceive its shaking for a few minutes , and are so much affrighted at it ? Are the Pillars of the Earth turned into Wheels ? Some have denied all motion , some affirm too much : but as when all motion was denied , a Philosopher to prove it , rose up and walked ; so when the constant , daily , and yearly motion of the Earth is asserted , we may know by our Senses that it stands still ; but these great men of reason ( so they are ) will , give you this presently for an Axiome , Sensibus non est fidendum , you must not believe , nor trust your Senses : which yet for the sake of the Doctrine of Transubstantiation , I should not readily receive ; but knowing that my Senses cannot err about their proper object , when it is presented at a due distance , through a right disposed , a Papist shall not perswade me that the Bread after Consecration is not Bread , and that the Wine is not Wine , nor a Copernican that the Earth doth naturally move , when in the one , by my Senses I discern it to be Bread and Wine , and not real Flesh and Blood carnally and corporally taken , and in the other , that the Earth stands fast and still , so much confidence I will put in my Senses : a drunken man that by excess hath disturbed his head , might conceit the Earth turns round , and the room where he is doth move , when the motion and turning is in his Brains , and when he hath slept himself sober will perceive , what he thought before did move , doth then stand still . But it being not proper , nor profitable to this Assembly to debate Philosophical Controversies , I shall dismiss them , and retain you with what may be more advantageous for your Souls , in treating of this amazing work of God which you so lately did discern , and then were so much astonished at , and affected with , viz. God's shaking of the Earth under your feet , and the Houses over your heads ; that you did think the one did reel under you , and the other would fall upon you . History is full , and your own Experience can give an instance of God's terrible shaking of the Earth . Some you have heard of , and one you have seen and felt . Earthquakes ! some you have read , and have been told you , by which Multitudes have been destroyed . Earthquakes ! one you have seen , and yet are preserved . Earthquakes ! in some God's wrath hath been poured out , and in some his grace and mercy hath been shewn forth : some ending in destruction , and some in the conversion of sinners . Oh! that this you have seen with your own eyes might have the like issue and effect on you , as that you hear of from this Text had upon the Jaylour , stir you up with fear and trembling , to go to your Ministers , as he did to the Apostles , saying , asking , Sirs , what must I do to be saved ? that by the Word of God following this mighty work of God , you may be awakened to repent and believe on the Lord Jesus , you and your House , as the Jaylour did , and all his House . In the Text you may observe these parts : 1. The motion or shaking of the Earth . That which according to the course of Nature stands still , the extraordinary workings of Providence causeth it to quake . The Earth hath neither life , nor sense , nor motion in it , yet God can make it tremble . As the Sun that moves , stands still at God's command ; so the Earth , that stands still , shall move at his voice and pleasure : and yet men that have life , and sense , and reason , disobey God's commands , and will not hearken to his voice , and do not tremble at the thoughts of his Soveraign Power and Infinite Majesty . When sinners upon Earth do not , the Earth under them may quake and tremble : and if while the Earth trembles under them , they then tremble upon it , yet when the Earth stands still again , they run as fast to sin again as they did before : when the Earth ceaseth its trembling , they do not cease their sinful motions . The great Pillar that supports the Earth , whereby it stands so fast , is the power of God , for he hath hanged it upon nothing , Job 26. 7. Yet sinners supported by the Earth , without fear and trembling , do abuse the mercy and the patience of God , tho' if he should remove that supporting Pillar , the Earth would sink under them : but tho' he keeps it up , yet sometimes he makes it shake , There was an Earthquake . 2. The greatness of this motion , or shaking of the Earth : There was a great Earthquake . It s greatness is set forth by the greatness of its Effects and Consequents here named : As , 1. The shaking of the foundations of the Prison . The strongest Prisons , the most impregnable Places , Houses built with brick and stone , being founded on Earth ; when the one doth quake , the foundations of the other must needs be shaken : In exceeding strong winds and tempestuous storms , the tops of Houses may shake , and rock to and fro , while the foundations stand firm and are not moved ; but when the Earth it self , on which they stand , doth quake , their foundations are also shaken , and tho' your Houses then stood , yet they stood trembling , foundations , floors and roofs together . 2. The immediate opening of the doors . Prison doors , especially upon a strict charge given to the Jaylour for the securing of his Prisoners , are fast locked , securely barred and chained ; but God did cause such an Earthquake , that no Locks could hold them fast , no Bars nor Chains could keep them shut ; for at the arising of this Earthquake , immediately all the Prison doors were opened . 3. The loosing of the Prisoners bands . Paul and Silas were fast bound , shut up in a Prison within the Prison , and their feet made fast in the Stocks , so that they could not stand in the Prison , nor the ground stand still under them , but the Earthquake came , and was their Goal-delivery . These be the great Effects of this great Earthquake . 3. In the words are expressed the suddenness of this Earthquake . An Earthquake is sometimes quickly caused , and quickly ceased at the pleasure and the will of God. God spake , and the Earth stood fast , Psal . 33 9. God speaks , and he makes it quake and tremble . Tho' it is one Doctrine chiefly intended to suit the occasion , yet I will briefly mention more , which will not be altogether alien from our design . Doct. I. God many times works wonders for the deliverance of his suffering Saints in order to the propagating of the Gospel . Paul and Silas were imprisoned because they did preach , God by an Earthquake sets open the Prison doors that they may go forth and preach . They by preaching did make the Devil's Kingdom shake ; they for preaching were fast bound in Prison ; the Earth where they did lie so bound , falls a quaking under them , as being weary of the burden of imprisoned Preachers ; and doth not rest , and could not stand still under them , till they were enlarged and set at liberty . God can do wonders for the deliverance of his suffering Servants , of this his Almighty Power is a proof . God can deliver his Sufferers after such a manner , as none other can , their Enemies being Eye-witnesses and Confessors of it . Dan. 3. 28. Then Nebuchadnezzar spake and said , Blessed be the God ofShadrach , Meshach and Abednego , who hath sent his Angel and delivered his Servants that trusted in him , and have changed the King's word , and yielded their bodies , that they might not serve , nor worship any God , except their own God. Verse 29. Therefore I make a decree , that every People , Nation and Language , which speaks any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach , Meshach andAbednego , shall be cut in pieces , and their Houses shall be made a dunghil , because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort . Darius put the question to Daniel in the Den ; Dan. 6. 20. When he came to the Den , he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel , and the King spake and said to Daniel , O Daniel , servant of the living God , is thy God whom thou servest continually , able to deliver thee from the Lions ? Verse 22. My God hath sent his Angel , and hath shut the Lions mouths , that they have not hurt me . Then follows Darius his Decree , Verse 26. I make a Decree , that in every Dominion of my Kingdom , men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel : his reason why ; for he is the living God , and stedfast for ever , and his Kingdom that which shall not be destroyed , and his Dominion shall be even to the end . Verse 27. He delivereth and rescueth , and he worketh signs and wonders in Heaven and in Earth , who hath deliveredDaniel from the power of the Lions . Behold ! God can , for he hath wonderfully delivered his Servants . Three in a fiery Furnance , that the fire did not consume , nor singe them . One , in the Lions Den , that they did not devour nor hurt him . Paul and Silas out of Prison , that they should be no longer confined there . He can make the fire not burn combustible matter . He can withhold Lions from what they might else have made their prey . And he can cause the foundations of a Prison by an Earthquake to be so shaken , that the doors might open , and his Servants may come forth . He can , he hath , and when he pleaseth , he still will , he hath delivered , he doth deliver , and we may trust to him according to the Promises that he hath made , that he will still deliver us , 2 Cor. 1 10. Doct. II. God needs not length of time to do the most great and wonderful works . Suddenly there was an Earthquake . God can make it move in an instant . When its said God in six days made this World , it 's not to be understood that he did need so many days to make it in . It was his pleasure to take that time to finish , beautifie and compleat it . When God did create the Earth , and brought it out of nothing , it was suddenly done He did but speak , Let it be , and it suddenly started out of Nothing into Being . Creation is an instantaneous action : he that did so suddenly and so easily make it , can as suddenly and as easily make it quake and tremble . How suddenly did God make the Earth to quake where London stood , and after his shaking of it , through his great mercy yet doth stand ! When men thought of no such thing , not the Student in his Study , nor the Trader in his Shop , nor the Workman at his Work , nor the Drunkard at his Cups , when none of these had any apprehension of it . Suddenly , The Student thought his Desk , on which he was writing , to be removing from him , and when he drew it towards him , it went back again , several times : the Trader suddenly seeth a motion in his Wares , and the Workman the moving of his Tools without hands , and the Drunkard thought indeed the Earth did stagger more than he : many suddenly felt their Chairs to move under them , and could not presently discern the reason , but thought some living Creature had been under their Seats , and did disturb them . Suddenly , many , most that I have spoken with , discerned a dizziness in their Heads , and in the instant thought ▪ the motion was there , not imagining any thing of the shaking of the Earth : Suddenly they feared the falling of their Houses ; but at first , particular persons thought there was some defect and fault in their own particular dwellings , till they did perceive the motion was general , and heard other say of their Houses as they found in their own : and all this was suddenly done . In a minute , in a moment . God can cause an unexpectected Earthquake . Men must have time to do the smallest , but God needs none to do the greatest work . Doct. III. Tho' an Earthquake suddenly come , and quickly go , and nothing is destroyed thereby , yet it is and might be truly called a great Earthquake . It is expresly said in the Text this Earthquake suddenly came , we do not read it lasted long , nor that the Prison-house , or Persons in it , were destroyed or hurt thereby , yet we read it was a great Earthquake . When many Houses are swallowed up , and many Men , Women and Children ( as this present year in Jamaica ) are destroyed , and go down alive into the Bowels of the Earth by opening of its mouth to eat them up as one morsel , then Men will call it a great Earthquake . But such a one as was so lately in London , &c. when not one House was destroyed , nor one Person consumed , seems to be so small ( especially now it is over and all safe ) as is not worth their observation , for People now are as little concerned already , as if it had not been , or they had quite forgotten that it was . But let such slighters of this la●e work of God , and regardless of this Judgment , and calling of it a little thing , tell me ▪ 1. Was not this a great Earthquake that made so many Houses as be in such a great City as this to move , and shake , and tremble , tho' they stood ? Is it not a great thing to make one of London streets , and the Houses therein so to quake ? much more two or ten , much more all and every one ? 2. Was it not a great Earthquake that did reach so far , and extended it self so many miles at the same instant of the same day to so many places in England , as we have heard ? 3. Yet more , was it not a great Earthquake when it did enlarge it self , and reached at the same time to so many Cities and Towns beyond the Sea ? Did God stretch out his Arm so far , and do you look upon it as a little thing , not worthy your observation , remembring , or spiritual improvement of it ? 4. If it were so small in your eyes . what made so many to be in so great a consternation ? why did so many run out of their Houses , and such as were sitting at their Tables hasten from their Dinners with their Napkins in their hands , to get into the Streets ? why did so many run from their Shops ? what was the reason of the sudden , common cry , by so many , one by one , My House is falling , and my House is falling , and my Children above will be distroyed , and yet I dare not go up to fetch them down . 5. How little do you know , if this late Earthquake had been a little more , and had lasted a little longer , a few minutes more , how near you and your Houses would have been to a subversion and total overthrow ? or how near the trembling Earth might have been to opening , and swallowed up both you and your Habitations ? For all that you know by this Earthquake you were upon the brink of ruine , a little more might have brought you down ; and yet will you slight this work of God , as if it were a small , a very little thing ? 6. As small a thing as you look upon it to be , could any man , or men , could all the mighty men upon the Earth have caused such a shaking and trembling of the Earth , and all upon it . Could all the mighty Captains , Lord Generals , Kings and Emperours , with all their Armies , have had such an Influence upon the Earth ? if they can batter down strong Walls , and Cities , and Castles with their Instruments of War , yet can any of them , or all of them , cause such a shaking of the Earth as that so lately was ? do you ascribe great things to Men , and call them so , that are far inferiour to this , and yet let this pass by with so little observation , as if it were a work so small ? 7. If men could shake the Earth and your Houses as God did , could they so securely have preserved them from falling , and you from hurt , as God did ? Was the shaking of your Houses , so much , and the preserving of them so shaken , so great a mercy , in it self , and yet so little in your eyes ? and last no longer with a due impression in your memories ? 8. While you look upon this Earthquake to be so small a thing , can you look upon your preservation to be so great a mercy as indeed it is ? whilst you lessen the work of God , the more you lessen the mercy of God ? did God shake you and your Houses , and not overturn you and them , and was not this great mercy ? Oh! take heed you do not diminish this work of God's power in your own apprehensions , and consequently your danger then , and God's mercy now in your safety . Lord ! Let London so tremble at thy Judgment with which thou hast so lately visited it , and account it great , that their Repentance , Reformation may be great . And tho' it suddenly came , and quickly ceased , and did no hurt , let not London account that work a small work , but thy mercy great mercy , vouchsafed in so great a Judgment , least in thy wrath yet greater , thou cause the foundations of it to shake and tremble more , and do that execution that should make all confess and say ( that deny this ) that suddenly there was a great Earthquake . Doct. IV. Tho' some Earthquakes have their natural causes , yet some do arise from the immediate hand and power of God without such causes . Paul and Silas were imprisoned ; in Prison they prayed , and sang Praises , in testimony that God heard their Prayers , he immediately causeth this Earthquake under the Prison . Judicious Expositors assert this Earthquake to be miraculous . In treating on this I shall take this course : I. Distinguish between Earthquakes figurative and metaphorical , and such as are proper and real : because both are spoken of in Scripture , this will be requisite to remove the ambiguity of the word , that one might not be taken for the other . II. Distinguish real Earthquakes into natural and supernatural . In respect of the Earth it self , whose nature is to rest and stand still , such shakings and motions may be termed contra-natural , but in respect of the second Causes in Nature , which sometimes produce such tremblings and quakings in the Earth are called natural , in contradistinction from those which are caused by God's immediate hand , without such causes , and are therefore supernatural . III. I shall give a short account what natural Philosophers assert to be the Causes of such Earthquakes . IV. Point at the several sorts or kinds of such Earthquakes , and give the names which Philosophers , and Divines from them , do call them by . V. Enumerate several antecedent Signs of Natural Earthquakes , as by observation Men have taken notice of to go before such ensuing Earthquakes , and so leave it to others to judge what to think of this late Earthquake in London , in other parts of England , and in forreign parts beyond the Sea , and all at the same time , whether they will call it a Natural , or Supernatural Earthquake . VI. Set down some Effects and Consequents of Earthquakes , whether produced by such Natural Causes , or by the Immediate Hand and Power of God. VII . Lay down some Conclusions by way of futher Explication of this mighty work of the great God , in causing the Earth thus to shake ; or shew its Adjuncts . VIII . Shew what use we should make of such tremendous works of God ▪ whereby many might have been buried under ground ; when this amazing work of God is already by many buried in Oblivion , and by few improved according to the greatness of the danger Men were in , or the greatness of the mercy in escaping that danger . Quest . I. What are metaphorical Earthquakes ? Earthquakes and movings of the Earth , are often taken metaphorically for great Commotions , alterations made in States , Kingdoms and Church , and for sore and heavy Punishments inflicted by God upon wicked and disobedient People . Isaiah 29. 6. Thou shalt be visited of the Lord of Hosts with Thunder , and with Earthquake , and with great Noise , with Storm and Tempest , and the Flame of devouring Fire . A figurative description of God's Anger against Jerusalem ; as much as to say , Heaven and Earth shall concur to their ruine ; yet some Expositors say , this Earthquake may be understood according to the letter . Isaiah 24. 18. The foundations of the earth do shake . Verse 19. The earth is utterly broken down , the earth is clean dissolved , the earth is moved exceedingly . Verse 20. The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard , and shall be removed like a cottage , and the transgression thereof shall be heavy upon it , and it shall fall and not rise again . By the Earth here so often mentioned , understand the Inhabitants of the Earth , and properly those Countreys wherein the Jews and their Consederates lived in those times : by the shaking , moving , removing , breaking down , and dissolving the Earth , understand the Punishments that should befal that People from an angry and provoked God. So another expounds it , he doth not mean the natural Earth , on which Men tread , but the People that tread upon the Earth ; or that Commonwealth wherein People are united and governed ; these shall be shaken , broken down , and reel to and fro , and be removed like a Cottage ; as if he had said , You thought your State and Kingdom was setled like a strong Castle , but I will take it down , as a Man takes down a little Cottage : the strongest Kingdoms and Bulwarks of the Earth are but as thatcht Cottages , when God takes them in hand . Rev. 11. 19. And the Temple of God was opened in Heaven , and there was seen in his Temple the Ark of his Testament , and there were Lightnings , and Voices , and Thundrings , and an Earthquake , and great Hail Some say , by the opening of the Temple in Heaven , is most conveniently understood the glorification of the Church it self in Heaven , and by the Ark of his Covenant , the glorious beholding of Christ our Mediator in it , whereof the Ark was a Type ; and by Thundrings , Lightnings , and Earthquake , the tokens of his wrath against Unbelievers . Some say , the Vision of the opened Temple in Heaven , signifieth the freedom given to the Gospel against Persecutors and Corrupters , and the pure preaching and profession of it , and God's owning his Covenant and Church by his eminent blessing , and the Lightnings and Earthquake signifie the great Manifestation of Christ's Power for his Church , in the commotions and changes in the World , and his judgments on their Enemies . Rev. 16. 18. And there were voices , and thundrings , and lightnings , and there was a great earthquake , such as was not since men were upon the earth , so mighty an earthquake and so great . Some understand this litterally , and that it is past , others that it is yet to come before Antichrist's fall , and say others , before the Day of Judgment ; some say , hereby were represented the great Commotions which went to those great changes and subversion of the Heathen Powers . By these and such like Texts of Scripture it appears there are metaphorical Earthquakes to be distinguished from litteral . Quest . II. Which are Earthquakes supernatural ? Real and proper Earthquakes are either such as are caused by God's immediate Hand and Power , or such as have their Causes in Nature ; tho' these also are appointed , and ordered and ruled by the powerful Providence of God , and do not come ( as some call it ) by chance . Tho' the finger of God be in those Natural Causes , yet such as have been without them must be wholly and only from God. And I shall gather these out of the Scripture , that we might learn to fear and tremble before this great God that needs no winds and vapours , nor any kind of Creature to make the Earth to shake and tremble . And they are these : 1. The shaking of the earth at God's giving of the Law to Moses , and the Children of Israel . Exod. 19. 18. And Mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke , because the Lord descended on it in fire : and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace , and the whole Mount quaked greatly . That this quaking of the Mount was litteral and not figurative , Rivet argues , because it is joyned with the smoke , and Thunders and Lightnings properly to be understood , and saith , That the causes of the moving of the Earth , and of the Mountain as it were leaping at the presence of God , are not to be searched for in Nature , nor should we dispute concerning Physical Reasons of this Commotion , for when all things done here are miraculous , the glory of God is obscured , if where he acts immediately and in an extraordinary manner , and that altogether Divine , we enquire after second Causes , which in such events are none . Psal . 68. 7. O God! when thou wentest forth before thy people ; when thou didst march through the wilderness Selah . Verse 8. The earth shook , the heavens also dropped at the presence of God ; even Sinai it self was moved at the presence of God , the God of Israel . 2. Such a Supernatural Commotion of the Earth is also recorded Psal . 114. per tot . When Israel went out of Egypt , &c. The Sea saw it and fled ; Jordan was driven back . The Mountains skipped like Rams , and the little Hills like Lambs . The Sea was divided . Jordan driven back , the Mountains and Hills moved . All litterally understood . This asserted . Then the Question is propounded , What ailed thee , O thou Sea , that thou fleddest ; what ailed thee , O Jordan , that thou wast driven back ? What ailed them ? did not God by his mighty power , without natural causes that could not have such influx upon the Sea and Jordan to divide them , produce those Miracles in the Sea and Jordan ? When again it is asked , what ailed ye , ye Mountains that ye skipped like Rams , and what ailed ye , ye little hills , that ye skipped like Lambs ; must not the same answer be returned , as to the former . The same immediate power of God that caused the division of the Waters , caused also the motion of the Hills and Mountains . 3. A most tremendous miraculous moving of the Earth , caused by the Lord himself , is largely described , Numb . 16. 23. to 35. Verse 30. If the Lord make a new thing , and the earth open her mouth and swallow them up , with all that appertain to them , and they go down quick into the pit , then shall ye understand that these men have provoked the Lord. Verse 31. And it came to pass as he had made an end of speaking all these words , that the ground clave asunder that was under them . Verse 32. And the earth opened her mouth , and swallowed them up , and their houses , and all the men that appertained unto Korah , and all their goods . Verse 33. They , and all that appertained to them , went down alive into the pit , and the earth closed upon them , and they perished from among the Congregation . Iosephus relating Moses his prayer at large , records , that whilst he spake those words , and intermixed them with tears , the Earth instantly trembled , and shaking began to move ( after such a manner , as when by the violence of the wind a great billow of the Sea floateth and waltereth ) hereat were all the People amazed : but after that , a horrible and shattering noise was made about their Tents , the Earth opened , and swallowed up both them , and all that which they esteemed dear , which was after a manner so exterminate , as nothing remained of theirs to be beheld : whereupon in a moment the Earth closed again , and the vast gaping was fast shut , so as there appeared not any sign of that which had happened . Thus perished they all , leaving behind them an example of Gods Power and Judgments And this Accident was the more miserable , in that there were none , no not of their Kinsfolks or Allies , that had compassion of them ; so that all the People whatsoever , forgetting those things that were past , did allow God's Justice with joyful Acclamations , esteeming them unworthy to be bemoaned , but to be held as the Plague and the Perverters of the People . — After this he relates how Two hundred and fifty were consumed by fire , when suddenly so great a fire shone , as neither the like was kindled by man's hand , nor usually breaketh from the bowels of the burning Earth , neither was ever quickne●● in the Woods , split and born down in the Summer time by a Southern brize , but such a one as seemed to be kindled in Heaven , most brightsome and flameing , by the force and power whereof those Two hundred and fifty ( together with Core ) were so consumed , that there scarce appeared any relicks of their Carkasses . Only Aaron remained untouched , to the end it might appear that this fire came from Heaven . Surely this might serve for strong conviction , that as God sent down fire by his own immediate power , that was not of any Creatures kindling , to the consumeing of one Company ; so he did as immediately shake and open the Earth without second Physical Causes for the swallowing up of the other . Let Atheists either contradict this History and Matter of Fact , or believe the existence of a Deity . And all Men fear and tremble to provoke such a just and terrible God. 4. That there are Earthquakes sometimes caused by the immediate hand of God , without those Natural Causes asserted by Philosophers , will be clearly evidenced by the miraculous Victory over the Host of the Philistines obtained by two Men , Jonathan and his Armour Bearer , related 1 Sam. 14. where to demonstrate the immediate workings of God might be considered , 1. The great number of the Host of the Philistines . 2. The situation of their Camp or Garrison . Josephus describing it , saith , That the Philistines had pitched their Tents on an high pointed Rock , which extended it self in length with three Angles , and was each way begirt with a Bank , as it were a Wall , and Fortification against the Incursion of their Enemies . The place was fortified by Nature , so that no Man might ascend or assail them , but with disadvantage . And Sacred Scripture records that Jonathan climbed up upon his hands and his feet , and his Armour Bearer after him . 3. That there were but these two Men that invaded their Camp , who at first slew about Twenty of them within ( as it were ) about half an Acre of Land , which filled their whole Army with terrour and amazedness , who ( as Josephus writes ) casting away their Weapons , fled amain : some other being ignorant , which were either their Friends or Foes , invaded one another as Enemies : for imagining with themselves that only two Hebrews durst never ascend and enter their Camp , they addressed themselves to their mutual Murder and Slaughter ; so that some of them were slain , others fled to escape the Sword , and fell head-long down the Rocks . 4. In this exploit of Jonathan , God did miraculously work , in causing the tremblings that fell out that day , expressed 1 Sam. 14. 15. And there was trembling in the Host , in the Field , and among all the People : the Garrison and the Spoilers they also trembled , and the Earth quaked , so it was a very great trembling . Who made all the Philistines Host to tremble , the Garrison and the Spoilers to tremble , only Jonathan and his Armour Bearer ? was it not God ? and was it not the same power of God , that then made the Earth to quake , that made the other tremble ? To put all out of doubt , the last words declare the true cause of all ; 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and it was a trembling of God. The reason why the Translators rendred it a very great trembling , is , because the word [ God ] is added oftentimes to set forth the greatness of things ; as great Mountains , great Ceders , great Fire , in Hebrew are said to be Mountains of God , Cedars of God , a Fire of God. But this is but the secundary and consequent signification of it ; the Name of God added to any thing primarily and properly denotes that God is the efficient Cause of that to which it is added . It was a trembling of God , that is a trembling sent and caused by God ; the trembling of the Philistines , and the trembling of the Earth , was from God : So the Heathens were wont to attribute that fear and trembling , of which no Cause did appear , nor could be alledged , to some of their Gods , as to Pan , whence came the expression of a Panick fear . This trembling then of the Philistines , and this trembling and quaking of the Earth , was from the immediate hand and mighty power of God. 5. From the immediate hand of God was that terrible Earthquake that was in the days of Vzziah : Amos 1. 1. The words of Amoz — which he saw concerning Israel , in the days of Uzziah King of Judah — two years before the Earthquake : This is mentioned Zach. 14 — The Earthquake in the days of Uzziah King of Judah . Concerning this amazing Providence , I will take in these Particulars . 1. That Uzziah greatly provoked God by going into the Temple to burn Incense upon the Altar of Incense . 2. Azariah the Priest , and Fourscore Priests of the Lord ( valiant men ) went in after him , and withstood him , saying , It appertains not unto thee , Uzziah , to burn Incense to the Lord , but to the Priests the Sons of Aaron , that are consecrated to burn Incense . 3. Uzziah's wrath against the Priests was greatly incensed . 4. While he shewed his anger against the Priests , the Lord by his own immediate hand smote him with a Leprosie , which appeared in his Forehead . 5. Upon this all the Priests thrust him out from thence ; yea , he himself hasted also to go out , because the Lord had smitten him , 2 Chron. 26. 16. to 22. 6. At the same time , and for the same sin was this Earthquake in the days of Uzziah . And why may not the Earthquakebe attributed to the immediate hand of God , as well as his being smitten with Leprosie . That this was at the same time , and for the same sin , and so from the same hand of God , Iosephus in his History doth make plain : who writeth thus ; Uzziah upon a certain solemn Feast-day , wherein all the People were assembled together , he attired himself in the High Priests Vestments , and entred into the Temple to offer Sacrifice unto God upon the golden Altar , which notwithstanding the High Priest Azariah ( accompanied with fourscore Priests ) inhibited him the same , telling him that it was not lawful for him to Sacrifice , in that it was only allowed in those that were of the Posterity of the High PriestAaron . Whilst after this manner Azariah expostulated with him , commanding him to go out of the Temple , and not to contradict the Ordinances of God ; the King waxed wroth , and threatned to take his Life from him , except he kept himself quiet . Whereupon there fell a great trembling and Earthquake , and the Temple cleft in twain , and a great Light of the Sun entred thereunto , and reflected on the King's face in such manner , that all his Body was instantly covered with a Leprosie , and before the City ( in a place called Eroge ) the half of a Mountain ( that stood to the Eastward ) brake and fell , and rowled and removed for the space of four Stadia ( or Furlongs ) towards the Oriental Mountain , where it rested : so that the publick ways were shut up , and choked , and the King's Gardens of Pleasure were wholly ruinated and disfigured . When the Priests beheld the King's face covered with a Leprosie , they told him what inconvenience had happened to him , and enjoyned him to depart out of the Town , according to the custom of Men that were polluted . Whereupon , he ( wholly confused at so grievous an accident , and having no more audacity to speak ) obeyed the Commandment that was given him , enduring a pitiful and lamentable punishment , for being elate and proud , more than became humanity ; and for that he committed such impiety against God. Finally , he died through grief and discontent — and was only buried in his Garden . This Earthquake came , and this Leprosie was inflicted on him for that sin ; the Leprosie is expresly said in Scripture to be from the Lord ; why not also then the Earthquake ? By the way , let this be observed by many , that in our days , without the way appointed by God in his Word , in the pride of their hearts and self-conceit , thrust themselves into Sacred Functions , which is not lawful but for those that are competently qualified and duly called thereunto , lest for such doings by so many , God make the Earth to quake under us , as he did for one Uzziah's intrusion in former time . 6. Amongst the many Miracles at the Death of Christ , an Earthquake must be acknowledged to be one : all of which were Testimonies , not only of his Innocency , but also Demonstrations of his Deity . The whole Creation groaned and travailed in pain , when the God of Nature , ( he that was God as well as Man ) tho' not as God , died a shameful , cursed , and painful Death ; Miracles wrought in Heaven above , in Earth beneath ; all Creatures sympathizing with a suffering Christ , except Man , for whom alone he suffered . The Sun was darkened , the Vail of the Temple was rent in twain , from the top to the bottom , and the Earth did quake , and the Rocks rent , and the Graves were opened , and many Bodies of the Saints which slept , arose , and appeared unto many , Matth. 27. 45 , 51 , 52 , 53. Writers do affirm , that by this Earthquake not only Golgotha , but the whole City , and the Regions near were terribly shaken ; and some , that in Bithynia , and in Thracia , certain Towns were overthrown ; but how far this Earthquake was extended is uncertain . 7. Amongst these also must be ranked the Earthquake at the Resurrection of Christ ; Matth. 28. 2. And behold there was a great Earthquake . 8. Of the same Nature was that , when the Apostles were praying , the place where they were , was shaken , God giving them , by this Miracle a Testimony that their prayers were heard : Acts 4. 31. And when they had prayed , the place was shaken where they were assembled together . The Greek word properly signifies to be moved up and down , like the Waves of the Sea , and is the same with that in the present Text , where it is said , by the Earthquake the foundations of the Prison were shaken , which also I reckon to be of the number of those that are caused miraculously and immediately by God , without those Causes that others are produced by . What may be inferred and learn'd from this ? 1. May we not learn the certain Existence of the Deity ? Doth it not follow there is , and must be a God ? if we may argue from an Effect to a Cause , when there is an Effect that cannot be ascribed to any Creature , must there not be a Being that is , and is no Creature ? when things are done , that are not done by finite power , must there not be an infinite power by which they are done , when there is no medium betwixt that which is finite and that which is infinite ? when any thing is effected , of which no natural Cause can be named , must there not be a supernatural ? Aaron at God's command stretched out his hand with his Rod , and smote the Dust of the Earth , and it became Lice in Man and in Beast ; all the Dust of the Land became Lice throughout all the Land of Egypt ; and when the Magicians did so with their Inchantments to bring forth Lice , and could not , did not these Magicians themselves say unto Pharaoh , This is the finger of God ? Exod. 8. 17 , 18 , 19. When there have been such shakings of the Earth that no Man can say , and prove what he saith , that they were done by second Causes , may not , should not every Man say , in these was the finger of God ? If you cannot gather there is a God by what he doth by Creatures , cannot you conclude there is a God , when things are done , and not by Creatures ? 2. May we not learn that this God never wants means to effect whatsoever he pleaseth ? What he doth not do by second Causes , he can do without them . Jonathan ( when one of these Earthquakes happened ) said , It is all one with God to save by few or by many , 1. Sam. 14. 6. So it is all one with God to save by few or none ; and to do what he will with means , or without them . When he doth not shake the Earth by Causes got into its Bowels , he can and hath shaken it without . And indeed , if he brought it out of nothing without any instrumental Cause ( for in Creation there can be none ) why may he not , when it is created , shake it till it tremble without any instrumental Cause ? cannot he that doth the greater , do the less ? 3. Hath God made the Earth to tremble without any Natural Causes , have not ungodly Men cause to tremble even then , when there is no visible sign , no reason from any Natural Causes to fear punishment and ruine ? Is not their own sin as meritorious of God's Wrath and sore Displeasure , with the thoughts of God's infinite hatred of it , and his Almighty Power to punish it , a sufficient reason why they should fear , and quake and tremble ? what tho' they live in such places and parts of the World that are not so subject to Earthquakes as some other places are ? Will they say First , We live upon that part of the Earth that is only stony and hard , and not soft and tender , and therefore no fear the Earth should quake and tremble under us ? Secondly , Will they say we dwell upon that part of the Earth that hath not those Caverns , in which those Vapours that cause Earthquakes are generated , therefore we are in no danger ? In the Body of Man winds and vapours are sooner and more stirred in the bowels and hollow parts thereof , than in the hands , and bones , and more close and solid Members : In subterraneous Caverns , rather then in close and rocky places , is the matter of an Earthquake ; but such is not that part of the World where we inhabit . Thirdly , Will they say we live in Inland Towns , and not near the Sea , which are most obnoxious to such Earthquakes , because such places are more easily filled with Vapours , therefore we need not fear ? Fourthly , Will they say , Let them live in fear of Earthquakes where the Earth they live upon is both soft and full of Caverns , and near the Sea , as most liable thereunto . Let them quake , when the Earth doth not , because it is so subject in such places to such trembling fits ; but our Habitation is on hard and rocky solid places , without such Concavities , and in the midst of the Land remote from Sea , and therefore secure enough . Did you speak true before you were aware , when you said , you were secure ? Yes ; and let me add , your heart seems to be more stony , and rocky , and hard than the place you boast you live upon ; as if God's Arm were so short , he could not reach you ; as if your Mountain stood so strong , it could not be moved nor shaken . Do not you know , have you not heard , that God hath shaken the Earth by his own immediate hand , without those Natural Causes , and Rocks and Mountains too . Fear to sin , cease to provoke the Eyes of his Glory , for he can reach you with his own hand , and shake your strongest Tower by his own might , without other Causes . Quest . III. What are the Natural Causes , material and efficient , of an Earthquake and how may it be described ? I. Concerning the Material Cause there are divers Opinions amongst Philosophers . Seneca in his sixth Book of Natural Questions reckons up many : Some say the Cause is from Water , some from Fire , some from the Earth it self , and some from Spirits [ not Immaterial ] some , in more of these , and some in all of them . Some of these Seneca doth confute , and establisheth : his own Opinion concerning Spirits . That you may not mistake the word [ Spirit ] in this place , which is taken otherwise than in Divinity , as the Souls of Men and Angels are called Spirits ; let those that are not acquainted with the Philosophical Physical acceptation of it ; take this Explication of it , according to Regius . Exhalations [ or risings up ] are either from water , and then they are called Vapours ; or from the earth , either which hath a fat or oiley moisture , and then are called fumes , or sharp , tart , moisture and volatile Salts , and these they call Spirits . And then saith , That from these Vapours , fat or oily Fumes , and Spirits , which being shut up in the deep and large Caverns of the Earth , in great abundance , and by some cause or other , once , or oftner kindled , in one or more places , ariseth an Earthquake , once , or often at several times , which according to the variety of its cause , maketh the Earth to tremble , or to open , whereby sometimes whole Cities and Countreys are either overturned or swallowed up . Rohault in the third part of his Physicks , gives this account : If an hollow Place or Vault under ground should be filled with Exhalation very gross , not much unlike to that which ariseth from a Candle newly put out , and at once take fire , by the spreading and dilating of it self , it would raise and lift up the Earth above it , much like to Gunpowder put into digged places , that lifts up the Earth above it , but afterwards , when the Exhalation is scattered , that which was lifted up , by reason of its own weight , must necessarily fall down : and hence are these tremblings of the Earth : yea , it might so happen , that many shakings may follow one foregoing , if there be more hollow places that are near each other , or any manner of way are so joyned as to make the one partake of what the other hath , and the Exhalations filling them , may successively take fire . Yea , there may be an hollow place under ground so large , and the fall of the Region above it ( being like an Arch or a Vault ) so great , that it might cleave asunder in the midst , and gape , whereby the adjacent parts are depressed , and made much lower than they were before , whence it appears how whole Cities by one only Earthquake might be swallowed up . Aristole Lib. 2. Meteor . proves that Exhalations are the cause of the Earthquake . 1. From a similitude taken from Mens Bodies , in which there are sometimes such Convulsions , Shakings and Tremblings , that many Men can scarce hold such a one , the cause whereof are Spirits hot and dry . In like manner , when the vast Body of the Earth is moved , it is to be referred to Exhalations , which are hot and dry . 2. Before an Earthquake there is something discerned , as an ascending Fume , resembling a long Line , which Fume is the thinner Exhalation , which begins to get forth : but the rest of the Exhalations , by reason of their greater density and straightness of the Passages , are restrained within the bowels of the Earth , from whence an Earthquake doth arise . 3. He saith in his time there were some Earthquakes in Pontus , before which the Earth did swell , and at last did burst , or was broke asunder ; which was a certain sign of Exhalations shut up and seeking their way out . Derodon judgeth it more probable that Earthquakes do arise from a sudden inflammation of sulphureous [ Brimstone-like ] and bituminous [ something like Pitch , or fat Slime ] Vapours which are kindled in the Caverns and hollow Places under ground , not much distant from the Surface of the Earth , which according as the Caverns are , and as the matter of the Flame is more or less , do variously operate ; for the most part they effect nothing , if the Earth be more loose , and hath breathing holes a● which they may get out : sometimes they move it more gently , and make it tremble , if the bulk above it be greater , that this subterraneous Flame can assay , attempt and do no more against it sometimes they shake and overturn , by reason of their greatness , and resistance of the parts of the Earth . Zanchy , although he embraceth Aristotle's Opinion , yet saith it cannot be denied , but that many Earthquakes have been caused by Fire shut up in the Caverns of the Earth , seeking a passage out , and he instanceth , there was in the Mountain Vesuvius ; and another Mountain , from which in his time fire brake out , before which , many days there were great and many fore-going Earthquakes . He denyeth not , but that also they may arise from Air shut up in the Earth , seeking a passage out , but cannot find it . II. The Natural Efficient cause is the vehement striving of such Vapours in the Caverns of the Earth , that they may get forth , whereby they are carried upwards and downwards , one while this way , another , that . Besides , what is said before , an Earthquake is commonly thus described : An Earthquake is a Meteor arising from abundant Exhalations shut up in the bowels of the Earth , which while they seek a passage out that they may ascend , but cannot find it , cause the Earth to shake . Quest . IV. What are the several sorts or kinds of Earthquakes ? There is difference amongst Philosophers in this point , some making two sorts or kinds of Earthquakes , as Possidonius and Aristotle ; some three , as Seneca and Zanchy . Some seven , which last they thus distinguish and nominate . 1. An Earthquake of one sort is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , or an Inclining Earthquake , when the Earth is caused to incline one way , like a Ship upon the Sea , or a Boat on the River , when laden more on one side than the other , leans that way only , where the greater weight and burden is laid . In this kind of Earthquake a Room seems to be lifted up on one side , and sink down or depressed on the other . 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , An Earthquake lifting the Earth upright , and by and by letting it down again , after the manner of boyling Water , or waxing hot . 3. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , Earthquakes causing Chasmes , Chinks , Openings of the Earth , making Breaches in it , and tearing one part from another . 4. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , Earthquakes , which by force break their way , and the Vapours and Winds do get out of the bowels of the Earth , which sometimes take with them Rocks , or Mud , or open a flowing Fountain , where there was none before . 5. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , Earthquakes , which by one motion , inforcing , or thrusting , overthrow , overturn whatsoever they come upon , or rush against . 6. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , Earthquakes which make the Earth , and things upon it to incline sometimes one way , and then another back again , without falling any way , like the rocking of a Cradle , by reciprocal motion or turning . 7. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , Earthquakes that come with a great noise , roaring , and bellowing , much like to the lowing of Kine , and sometimes like the vehement and fierce crying of Women . Others reduce these to three . 1. There is a trembling Earthquake , when the Earth quivers like a man in a fit of an Ague . This kind of Earthquake is when the Vapour in the Earth is not much . 2. There is an Earthquake which moves the Earth upwards , and then again downwards . This by Aristotle's followers is called Pulsus , like the beating of a man's Pulse . 3. There is an Inclining Earthquake , when the Earth is so shaken , that the Houses may be discerned sometime to lean one way , and then to return back again , moving side-long to and fro . Zanchy relates , that this kind he saw at Ravenna ; when the Walls of the Chamber in the upper part of the House were moved out of their place , and did so lean one way , that they seemed as if they would fall , but again they returned to their own place . Oh this is ( saith he ) the great and wonderful Providence of God. Seneca's Remark , that in the Trembling Earthquake there is not so much danger , as in the shaking or moving it upwards and letting it down , nor so much danger in this as in the Inclining Earthquake , because except the motion be speedily made back again from the side to which it leans to the other , the fall and ruine will necessarily follow . And these Earthquakes of these different and divers motions , must proceed from different and divers causes . Quest . V. What are the usual Antecedent Signs os an approaching Earthquake given by Natural Philosophers , which by Observation and Experience they commend unto us ? If these signs of Natural Earthquakes be sure and constant , let it be considered , and let us reflect whether any such were taken notice of by any , before the late Earthquake in London , and in other places ; if not , either these Philosophers are under a mistake , or we must judge , that this late shaking of this City was from the more Immediate Hand of God ; if there were , yet the presence and working of second and natural causes , ought not to take us off from the minding and observing of the first , for as much as all the second are at the Command , Ordering , and Disposal of the first , and are all under the Government of the Providence of God , and the Voice and Call of the first and second Causes is , that we should Repent and turn from those sins that have provoked him to such sore Displeasure , to so great Wrath and Anger , as to make the Earth to shake and tremble under us . 1. One fore-going sign of an Earthquake , they teach , is , a certain troubling of Waters in the deepest Wells , and in Fountains , having then a Tincture of a Sulphureous taste , and an infected and stinking savour : Because from the subterraneous commotions the Waters in the Wells must needs be troubled . Therefore it is reported of Pherecides the Philosopher , that by Water drawn out of a Well , he fore-discerned and foretold the Lacedaemonians the Ruin of the City by an Earthquake . 2. When the Sea doth suddenly swell , not being caused so to do by Winds and Waves , when the Air is still and calm , and no blasts of Winds , yet on a sudden the Sea swells , and the Ships thereon do shake : The reason is , because then the Earth in the bottom of the Sea is moved . 3. When Birds sit trembling on the ground , forsaking Trees , because they perceive a certain trembling , shaking the Trees and the Roots thereof . 4. When there are great and terrible sounds in the Earth , and roarings and noises in the Caverns of the Earth . 5. Dimness of the Sun for some days going before the Earthquake . 6. Long and thin strakes of Clouds , sometimes sooner in the day , but chiefly after the setting of the Sun , the Weather in other respects being clear . But of all that I have discoursed with , about the late Earthquake , I have not met with one , nor heard of any one that hath , that spake any thing of any of these Signs , before it happened , nor that by recollecting of themselves , do say since that they remember any such fore going sign , that gave to them the least intimation of it ; and the general surprize of all by it , generally acknowledging that the moment before they had not a thought of such a shaking to be so very near . I leave to all to judge , and to their own thoughts , whether this Earthquake did arise from Causes in Nature , or from the Immediate Power and Working of God , the Lord of Nature . And if we see the Immediate Mighty Finger of God in it , to study and pray to know his Mind and Will by it , or be moved by the moved Earth to conform move unto his Will revealed in his Word . Quest . VI. What are the Effects and Consequents of Earthquakes , which make them exceeding dreadful where they come ? Reason may dictate to us what terrible Effects , what dismal Work Earthquakes , when they have a full Commission from God to execute his Wrath , do make . Our Ears have heard the Miseries of multitudes of Persons , the overthrow and ruine of Towns , and Cities , and Countries : But those that have seen them would speak of them more sensibly , and set them forth more fully . It might make our flesh to tremble to hear of the woful devastations that the trembling , shaking , and opening of the Earth hath caused in many Ages , in many places ; but such as did see , and feel , and suffer by them , have contended with the Earth , whether it or they should tremble most . Oh , the Cries and Shriekings ! Oh , the doleful Lamentations ! Oh , what bitter Complaints have been poured out , and wishes in vain have have been uttered in the time and places of devouring and desolating Earthquakes ! When we shall hear some of these effects ( tho' not written of according to the fulness of the Terror wherewith they are done ) let us sympathize with the poor miserable People ( yet left ) in Jamaica , and pray that their Judgment might not come over to London , nor Travel further to other places . First , Earthquakes cause great Consternation in the minds of Men , and fil● their hearts with fear . When God makes the Earth to shake under them , he makes their hearts to tremble within them . When the Earth shakes and moves they cannot stand upon it without sear . One Earthquake causeth many thousand Heart-quakes . Did not many thousand People in London in its late Earthquake ( tho' through God's great Mercy so short ) feel great tremblings within themselves when they felt the Earth to shake under them , and saw their Houses move this way and that way over them , and could not te● whether they would stand or fall ; nay when so many thought and said , them Houses would not stand but fall ? Were you not then under great Consternation when you thought those Houses yo● had slept in , you must not only s● quickly dye in , but be buried in them too : That the Houses you had buil● or rented to shelter you from Storms and Tempests , should bring that Destruction upon you , which many Storms and Tempests had not done ? Have not you of late years heard terrible and roaring Thunderings , God thundering with a Voice which none can imitate ? Have you not seen great Flashings of Fire and Lightnings , which made the Night like Day , that you said you could see to take up a small thing from off the ground , and were not you then glad you had an House over your head ? But when this late Earthquake was , were not you afraid because you had an House over your head , when you thought it would fall upon your head and whole body ? And when this Earthquake was , did you not make as much hast to get out of it , as in Storms and Tempests you ever did to get into it ? Is this already forgotten ? What! so soon ! It is hard to express the fears that many then were filled with , and it is sad to see how little God is feared since by many that then did fear so much . Besides your own late Experience , Sacred Scripture , as well as Historical Writers , do Record the fears of Men in times of Earthquakes . 1 Sam. 14. 15. There was trembling in the host , in the field , and among all the people : the garison and the spoilers , they also trembled , and the earth quaked : so it was a very great trembling . Behold ! a quaking Earth , and therefore a trembling People . Behold ! Valiant Men of War , that are not afraid of Swords and Bullets , but with undaunted Courage assault their Enemies , and when many lie dead on both sides , fight on with boldness , that fear not so much the shaking of Spears and Pikes , as the shaking of the Earth ; the Host trembled , the Garison trembled , and the Spoilers themselves did also tremble . Spoilers tremble ! What! those that had spoiled so many upon the Earth , they tremble lest they should be spoiled by the quaking Earth . The Host , the People , the Garison , the Spoilers , and Earth did tremble , surely it was a very great trembling . Mat. 27. 54. When the Centurion , and they that were with him , watching Jesus , saw the Earthquake , they feared greatly . Captains , Men of great Spirits , at the quaking of the Earth are filled with great fear . Mat. 28. 2. Behold , there was a great Earthquake . 4. For fear of him ( the Angel , whose Ministry God used to cause that Earthquake ) the Keepers did shake , and became as dead men : An Earthquake is so terrible , causing such frights and fears , that makes Men ( as the saying is ) look like Death . Acts 16. 26. And suddenly there was a great Earthquake . 29. He ( the Jaylor ) called for a light , and sprung in , and came trembling . The Gaol trembled , and the Jaylour trembled . When the Keeper saw he could not keep the Prison-doors shut , but when he had shut , and lockt , and made them fast , the quaking of the Earth did open , he could not keep himself from trembling . An Earthquake will make even a Jaylour to tremble . But why such fear and trembling in Men , when such-shaking and trembling in the Earth ? 1. In some , it may arise from apprehensions of the terrible Wrath of an angry God. There have been some Earthquakes that were Tokens of God's Grace and Favour ; as the Earthquake shaking the Foundations of the Prison , in favour to Paul and Silas , testifying that God had heard their Prayers made in Prison , and that by it he would deliver them , as he did . And that in Acts 4. 31. the Apostles prayed , and at their Prayers the place was shaken ; the shaking of the place made them stand the faster in their Faith in God , and trusting to him . But usually Earthquakes are indications of God's Wrath and sore Displeasure . When Men run on in sin against God , to shew his Indignation against it and them , he sometimes will not suffer the Earth to stand still and quiet under them . Psal . 18. 7. The Earth shook and trembled ; the foundations also of the Hills moved and were shaken , because he was wroth . When Men apprehend that God is provoked , and they may apprehend it , when God in such a terrible manner doth shew it , knowing they are no more a Match for God , than a Worm is to an Angel , or a Child to a Giant ; it may put them into such amazing Frights and Fears , saying , God is angry , what shall we do ? The Omnipresent God is angry , whither shall we go ? The Just and Holy God is angry , with what can we appease him ? He doth shew his Anger , and we do see it , and how shall we escape ? God is wroth , and the Earth trembles before him : God is wroth , and is come down in sore displeasure , and the Earth quaketh at his Presence ; our Heads are giddy , but not with Wine ; we reel , but not with strong Drink . O stay your selves , and wonder ; cry ye out , and cry , they are drunken , but not with wine , they stagger , but not with strong drink , Isa. 29. 9. 2. Consciousness of their own guilt : When the Earth did quake , it did not only wake the Jaylour out of his natural sleep , but also out of his spiritual slumber ; Conscience was alarm'd , as he was affrighted ; his Eyes were opened to see a terrible God above him , Conscience was awakened to see his sins within him , and that had been committed by him , an angry God above , an accusing Conscience within , and the quaking Earth under him , filled him with fear and trembling . When Men do prosper upon Earth , they can swill , and swear , and sin in all their ways , and Conscience holds its peace , is quiet and still , doth not reprove , accuse , judge or condemn them ; but when Judgments come , an hardened Pharaoh will cry out , I have sinned ; a wicked Saul will confess and say , I have sinned : and when an Earthquake comes , is not he an hardened , seared Wretch , whose Conscience ( though bad yet ) is quiet within him , when the Earth is not quiet under him ? and whose Conscience is not moved and troubled for his sin , when the Earth is moved , as being restless under the burden of such sinners ? but if Conscience then doth stir , when the Earth doth tremble , the sinner trembles ( for the time ) considering God's anger , remembring his sin , that did provoke him to it . 3. If neither apprehensions of God's wrath against them , nor sense of sin committed against him , doth fill them with fears at the quaking of the Earth , yet apprehensions of death at that time might make them tremble . Death is the King of Terrors , Job . 18. 14. Shall not that which is ( 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ) the most terrible , when it is approaching in so terrible a manner , make the stoutest heart to quake ? If they have no thoughts of Hell and Damnation , yet Death by the trembling of the Earth presents it self unto their thoughts : and though they would not think of it , yet they must ; though they would divert their minds from it , yet they cannot ; they cannot send these thoughts away till another season : tho' many go to Hell without fear of Hell , and seldom think of it till they feel it , yet when Death seems to be coming to them by an Earthquake , it almost kills them with the terrour of it , being ready to die with fear of such a death . There are these Circumstances in this Case that fill men with these amazing fears upon the account of Death . 1. The sudden surprizal . An Earthquake comes suddenly in a minute ; many times without notice and warning , as this in London lately did ; and it seems to bring Death with it , and often doth ; now an Evil that suddenly comes , doth the more amaze , when in a minutes time , there is not space for Men to recollect their thoughts , and fortifie themselves with actings of Reason , or Grace ( which alas ! are not so ready ) against advancing Death . In sickness Men have time to prepare and make ready for it , and to allay the fears thereof ; but in a moment to be in danger of Death , the fears are more raging and predominant , and less help against them . Fear without a remedy must be great fear . 2. The suddenness of Death , and the apprehended nearness of it . The danger did not only seize them on a sudden , but threatens to remove them suddenly . What! die so soon ! what , within a minute or two ? will Death stay no longer ? can it not a minute more be delayed ? what ! so soon step into Eternity ? so suddenly , must I hasten into another everlasting World ? I never did so suddenly remove from one House to another , and must I now so suddenly remove from one World into another ? from a temporal into an eternal World ? and yet not ready to leave this , nor to go into that ? It is hard to imagine the power and strength of fear that must invade and fill them in such distress . 3. The unavoidableness of Death apprehended in an overthrowing Earthquake augments their fears , or torments them with despair of Life . If a Man be sick , the means he useth keeps up his hope of Life , and the more he hopes he shall live , the less are his fears of Death . But in a desolating Earthquake , what hopes can Men have ? whither can they in a minute go to escape the ruine ? what present Friend can help them , when they and their Friends are in the same equal danger ? when one must not die without the other ? If they stay within doors they apprehend they may be killed with the fall of their Houses : if they run out , they know not but they may be destroyed with the downfal of their Neighbours . Will they hasten into the open Fields ? what ! in a minute ? alas ! they have not time allowed for such an escape , or if they had , there the Earth in an Earthquake might swallow them up . No where safe , every where in great fear . 4 Apprehensions of sudden , unavoidable Death , and this when they are in health and strong aggravates their case , and augments their fears . What! am I well , and yet must die ? strong , in health , and yet now must die ? hath Death forgot its old way of sending Harbingers before it , before it came it self ? did it use to send its Serjeants to arrest , before it cast Men into the Prison of the Grave , and must I be haled away without Summons ? Some have been weaned from the love of Life , and made weary of it by long and languishing Sickness , by wracking and tormenting Pains , and must I in my Youth , or in middle Age , under no pain , with my strength firm , yield to Death ? All this doth fill with greater fear . 5. This unusual way of dying makes it the more terrible . Others , in other cases , first die and then are buried , first expire and then are carried to their Graves ; but in an Earthquake must I be buried alive ? first buried and then die ? others are carried from their house , when dead , unto the grave , and must mine own house be my grave , and that while I do live ? Behold ! the Earth quakes under me , my House trembles over me . Oh! what if my trembling House should fall , and I in it ? what if the Earth should sink under me ? what if this quaking Earth should open its mouth , and eat me up alive ? what if it should cleave asunder ( as in its shaking it hath sometimes done ) and swallow me up as it hath done thousands of others ? when others die another way , doth this loving Mother lay their dead Bodies in her bosom , must I die this way , and go down alive into her bowels ? did I live in my Mothers womb before I was born , and must I live ( awhile ) in this common Mothers bowels , after I am therein buried ? This being not the common death of all Men , makes it more terrible to those that apprehend in an Earthquake they must not die as others do . All laid together , shews that Earthquakes cause great consternation of mind , perplexing ▪ fretting fears , which is the first Effect thereof . Secondly ; Another Effect of Earthquakes is speedy and precipitant flying , if possibly Men might hasten from the danger thereof . Tho' they leave their Gods behind them in their Houses , they will attempt to fly to save themselves . Numb . 16. 32. The Earth opened her mouth and swallowed them up , and their houses , and all the men that appertained to Korah , and all their goods . Verse 34. And all Israel that were round about them fled at the cry of them : for they said , lest the Earth swallow us up also . Zach. 14 ▪ ●5 . And ye shall flee to the valley of the Mountains — yea , ye shall flee like as ye fled from before the Earthquake in the days of Uzziah King of Judah . These were particular Earthquakes , and some by flight escaped from them ; but when it shall be more general , or fall out in the place where you dwell , and some miles about you , when it comes in a minute , whither will you flee ? or to what place will you hasten , or in so little time how will you get thither ? however , Men shall endeavour to flie , tho' it should be in vain ; when the Earth so moves , they cannot , they will not stand still to be devoured and swallawed up , if by flight they might escape , which they will try , tho' they be overtaken with it . Overtaken ! alas ! in such a Judgment , you may sooner run into it , than run from it ; you may think to leave the danger behind you , and still it is before you ; you running away from it , may run to meet it . But the Danger is so dreadful , the Death so formidable , the Misery so great by Earthquakes , that Men will flee from them if they can , that they might not perish in them . But better repent , reform , and turn from sin to God to prevent them , than to continue in the sins that do procure them ; for when they come , you will find it hard to flee from them . Thirdly ; Another Effect is the cleaving asunder of the Earth , and devouring and swallowing up many Persons in a short time . In other Judgments People die one after another , in this by multitudes . When Death by sickness puts a period to Life , each one hath his own Grave ; in this opening the Earth by Earthquakes , one great Grave is made for many , Numb . 16. 31 , 32 , 33. Fourthly ; Another Effect is the subversion of Houses , Towns , and Cities , with the destruction of their Inhabitants together . History abounds with many sad and grievous Examples hereof . When Trajan was at Antioch , there hapned a most terrible Earthquake that destroyed many Cities and People , which extended it self very far . Great and terrible Lightnings were before it , then great and unusual storms of Winds , then arising a great and sudden Noise , the Sea wrought , the Waves swelled , the Earth was shaken , Buildings trembled , some did burst asunder , and others first lifted up , fell down . A great and horrible Noise was heard , Walls by contrary motions driven sometimes this way , sometimes that were broken and fell , the Sea with boisterous storms did mount and toss to and fro ; the Earth , where no Buildings were , was greatly moved : such a thick dust was raised , and so great a darkness upon all , that that they could not see one another , nor speak , nor hear one the other , and by reason of the violence of the Wind , and greatness of the dust , could scarcely breathe . Trees pluckt up by the roots were cast down upon the ground , many , very many were covered with the overthrow of Houses and Walls , many falling upon one another died , if any hurt by wood or stone , went away thus with their torn and wounded Bodies , they were more miserable than the rest , forasmuch as they could not live long , nor yet quickly die : of multitudes of Men scarce any escaped without some hurt . One might be seen to flee with his Shoulder broke , another with his Arms lost ; many laid dead with their Heads separated from their Bodies ; some with their bruised Breasts vomited Blood. Still the Earth continued to shake both by Night and Day : in this great Calamity they could find no remedy , nor way of escape : those that were hurt with the fall of Houses died in many places , and tho' by the benefit of Vaults and roofed Places some were preserved , yet , the Earthquake continuing , they perished by hunger and famine , before any succour could be brought to them . When the Earthquake ceased , some went upon the Ruins , where they heard a Womans voice , and the crying of an Infant ; the Ruins had covered both the Mother and the Child ; it was wonderful how the Mother should have Milk to nourish her Child ; but Mother and Child were taken safe out . But whilst the dead Bodies and fall'n Houses were more diligently searched , another Infant was found sucking the Breast of its dead Mother : But Life was a grief to all that had escaped Death , when they beheld the lamentable fall of the City , and so many People destroyed . Fifthly ; The change of the Channel of the Sea. In the time of Valens the Emperour there hapned another terrible Earthquake , whereby an hundred Cities were destroyed in Crete : then also the Sea leaving its place , so overflowed certain grounds , which before were plowed , became navigable ; and in other places where Men failed , the Sailers in their Navigation were found upon dry Land where before they Sea was . Sixthly ; Another Effect of Earthquakes hath been the Convulsion of Mountains , their sinking down , their clashing and transportation or removal to a great distance from the places where before the stood . Instances of these History do afford many , but I will only mention one , because more remarkable , how God doth miraculously sometimes preserve praying People , and may mo●e Persons , whose Houses after shaking by an Earthquake stand , to pray therein . In the Year 1584. one Mountain by a● Earthquake violently removed , destroyed a Town consisting of ninety Families , and threw down all , excepting ha● of one House , where the Master of th● Family , with his Wife and Children ▪ kneeling upon their Knees , were prayin● and calling upon God. Seventhly ; Infectious Diseases , Plage and Pestilence are sometimes the Effect● of Earthquakes : For the matter 〈◊〉 Earthquakes is pestilential , because subterraneous , or under ground , wanting wind and motion to purifie it ; this therefore when it doth exhale and breath out , or break forth , doth infect the Air , and Men by taking in that infected Air , are insected by it . Seneca shewing the Pestilence to be an Effect and Consequent of an Earthquake , mentions how that after an Earthquake in Campania , six hundred Sheep died of an Infectious Disease . Wonder not at this , saith he , for after great Earthquakes the Pestilence doth use to follow , the Air being corrupt thereby , and Sheep holding down their heads so continually so near the ground , and taking in the poisonous Air that is so near the Earth , are infected with it . This also would have been hurtful unto Men , if a greater quantity of it had come up out of the Earth , but the largeness of a more free and purer Air purgeth that before it rise so high as to be drawn in by Men. In Scripture Earthquakes and Pestilence are set down together , as sore and heavy Judgments ; God grant that London , England , and all places that have been shaken by this late Earthquake , might so fear and tremble before this Great , Almighty God , as to Repent and turn from sin to God , at this his Call so lately , powerfully , and mercifully given , that after the Earthquake the Plague and Pestilence might not follow . Quest . VII . What are the Adjuncts of Earthquakes , which may further inform us concerning this Mighty Work of God : What I shall add concerning this , may be laid down in these following Conclusions . First Conclus . An Earthquake is not Vniversal ; not of the whole Earth a● once , but in part This is the Doctrin● of Learned Men , both Philosophers ad● Divines , asserting in Universal Earth● quake yet never hath been ; but fall out in divers places , but not in all universally at the same time Mat. 24. 7. The● shall be Earthquakes in divers pl●●es ▪ The Scripture so speaketh of the stability of the Earth , as that by Natura● Causes there cannot be an Universa● shaking of it . 1 Chron. 16. 30. Fear before him all the earth : the world also shall be stable , that it be not moved . Isa . 45. 18. Thus saith the Lord that created the heavens , God himself that formed the earth and made it , he hath established it , he created it not in vain , he formed it to be inhabited . Psal . 93. 1. The world is established , that it cannot be moved . Psal 96. 10. Say among the heathen , that the Lord reigneth ; the world also shall be established , that it shall not be moved . Psal . 104. 5. Who laid the foundations of the earth , that it should not be removed for ever . Psal . 119. 90. Thy faithfulness is unto all generations , thou hast established the earth , and it abideth , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and it shall stand . 2. Conclus . Yet such is the greatness of the Power of God , that if he pleased he could remove the whole Earth out of its place . He that made it all , could make it all to tremble and quake ; yea , he that by his Word brought it into Being , can by his Power shake it into nothing . What cannot be done by Natural Causes , might be done by Supernatural Power . This is the meaning of Job's saying , Job 9. 6. Who shaketh the earth out of its place , and the Pillars thereof tremble . An Earthquake is the shaking of the Earth in its place , and causeth it to tremble upon the Pillars thereof . We have no instance that God ever yet removed the whole Earth out of its place ; but it is a Supposition , if the Lord will , he is able to do it . 3. Concl. How far an Earthquake may extend it self , cannot be determined . Men , if they can give an account of the extent of Earthquaks past , yet cannot limit the space of such as yet may be Tho' Senecasaith , an Earthquake never reached above two hundred Miles , yet others give instances of such as have far exceeded ; besides several others , it is recorded of one that was Anno 160● wherein Asia , Hungary Germany , France , and Italy trembled almost in the same moment . 4. Concl. Sometimes there may be an Earthquake in some particular place , and not in others near unto it . The Earthquake , which shaked the Foundations of the Prison where Paul and Silas lay , did not extend it self to other places . God that can cause the Rain to fall upon one City , and not upon another , can make one City shake when he doth not another . 5. Concl. The duration and continuance also of an Earthquake is uncertain . Sometimes it may last but a Minute or two , more or less ; sometimes it may continue Weeks , Months , Years , as some Writers do affirm . So some tremblings of the Earth continued after the great damage by the Earthquake in Jamaica in June last past . If the Vapours shut up in the Earth , be more gross , they do more slowly evaporate or get out , and more difficultly find their passage . If they be more cold , they are also more slow . If they be in greater quantity , the Earthquake may be of a longer continuance , for much is not so soon evaporated , as a little . The Nature of the place also wherein an Earthquake is , may cause the longer or shorter duration of it ; for if the surface of the Earth , in whose Caverns the matter of the Earthquake is contained and shut up , be more solid , close and lesser holes , chinks , and pores be in it , the Earthquake lasts the longer , by reason of the more slow and difficult evaporation of the matter that causeth it . 6. Concl. An Earthquake may in a few Minutes destroy and overturn multitudes of Houses , and sweep away thousands of People . Thus the Intelligence from Jamaica runs : On the 7th . of June , 1692. about 12 at Noon happened here [ Port-Royal ] a most terrible Earthquake : It was most violent on the Harbour-side , where the Houses all sunk down in a Minutes time , from the depth of three to five Fathom Water ; in the Streets next the Wharf , the Earth opened it self wide and deep , and instantly gushed out an Inundation of Water , so that many of the Inhabitants were drowned . Some People being ignorant of the Nature of an Earthquake , and what Destruction it may make in a few Minutes , set little by the Mercy of being preserved at such a time ▪ and soon wear off the sense both of the Judgment and the Mercy , because it lasted so short a space . But tho' London was some days in being consumed by Fire , when many Houses were preserved , yet by an Earthquake in a few Minutes it might have been all destroyed : The preventing whereof was the wonderful Mercy and Providence of God , never to be forgotten . 7. Concl. Sometimes an Earthquake may be once in some parts of the Earth , and not return again , sometimes it may repeat its course , and often put the same places into many trembling fits . When the shaking is over once , the bitterness of God's Wrath , and our Ruine might not be past ; if the shaking of London should be reiterated , the latter might be more grievous than the former . All these second Causes are ordered and over-ruled by the Providence of God : All the Natural Causes of Earthquakes are subject to God's Power , and are at his beck , command , and call ; therefore tho' London be safe after its late shaking , yet let it not be secure , for the same Hand and Power of God that did shake it once , can again , and throw it down . 8. Concl. As all Places are liable to be shaken by the Mighty Power of God , immediately , or by Natural Causes at his Command , so all , or any Seasons of the Year might subserve his Providence , and be the Season of an Earthquake's coming , whether Spring or Autumn , Winter or Summer , Night or Day , or hour of the Night or Day . Tho' Naturalists , that do eye the second Causes , say , they more usually happen in the Spring and Autumn , but especially in the Autumn ; and in the Night , and at Noon-day oftner than at other times . But let the Inhabitants of this Earth fear and tremble before the great God of Heaven and Earth , and not dare by their hainous and provoking sins to stir up his wrathful Indignation against them , who can by Earthquakes make the Earth to tremble , when and where he pleaseth . Quest . VIII . What Inferences may be drawn from this Doctrine , and what Vse should we make of it , and of this great Work of God , which we have lately seen and felt in shaking London ? &c. Vse . I. Earthquakes , when armed with the Wrath of God , and come with his Commission to destroy , are one of the sorest Judgments whereby he executeth his great Vengeance , and manifesteth his hot Indignation against sin and sinners upon Earth . Our Lord Jesus ranks these with the most dreadful and terrible Judgments and Punishments that befall the World. Luke 21. 10. Then said he unto them , Nation shall rise against Nation , and Kingdom against Kingdom . II. And great Earthquakes shall be in divers places , and Famines , and Pestilences , and fearful Sights , and great Signs shall there be from Heaven . Is War dreadful ? Ask those People whose Country is made the Seat of War. Is Famine a sore and heavy Evil ? What think you , when at such times , Mothers have boiled their own Children , and eat them . 2 Kings 6. 26. As the King of Israel was passing by upon the wall , there cried a woman unto him , saying , Help , my Lord , O King ▪ 28. And the King said unto her , What aileth thee ? And she answered , This woman said unto me , Give thy Son , that we may eat him to day , and we will eat my Son to morrow . 29. So we boiled my Son , and did eat him . Is the Plague a wrathful Visitation of God ? Those that are yet alive , that were in London in 1665. may remember the Terror of it . Is an Earthquake behind these for dread and horror ? Or doth it not in some respects go beyond them ? In War , strong Castles , Fortified places , and firm Walls may keep out a Besieging Enemy , which they cannot batter and overthrow in many Months , and these overturned by an Earthquake in a few Minutes . Doth the Sea rage , and is tempestuous ? Mariners have their Ships , and Men on Land have their Banks and Ports to secure them : but an Earthquake tears up their Ports , breaks down their Banks , and makes way for an overwhelming Inundation , and drowneth many . Doth a consuming Fire burn and turn many Houses into ashes , yet the Inhabitants by flight might save themselves . But in an Earthquake , whither will you run to escape the danger ? the fire on your House will not follow you into the street or fields , but there the Earthquake might meet you . Doth the Plague go through a City ? doth it go from House to House , doth it climb up in the Windows ? yet you have your Antidotes against it , and some escape , being not infected , and some infected , do recover : when it is most severe upon the People , it leaveth their dwellings behind them : when they fall into their Graves , their Houses stand upon their old foundation . But an Earthquake devours Houses and Inhabitants too : doth not take them by tens , or hundreds in a week , as doth the Plague , but sweeps all clean away in a few moments . Doth War make great Devastations , burn Towns and Cities , throw down Castles ? yet it leaveth Ruins , as Monuments , that such Towns , Cities , Castles once were there But Earthquakes sometimes swallow up all , and hide them in the bowels of the Earth , and leaves no tokens whereby it may be known , that such places that now are not , once were ▪ Doth War destroy great numbers in the field ? yet some escape , and none are buried till they are Killed : But in Earthquakes , they do not first die , and then are buried , but first are buried , and then they die . In Famine do People pine and languish ? This is most severe amongst the Poor , whose little Money , when things are excessive dear , will not last to supply their want of Bread , while the Richer sort , as long as any thing is to be had for Money , may get so much as to preserve Life , tho' not to satisfie them to the full : In Famine , if they die , they have longer time to think of Death , and to prepare for Eternity : But Earthquakes make no difference betwixt the Rich and the Poor , but swallows up all , and their Money too , and this in a few Minutes , and is not so long in destroying ●s the Famine is , nor gives that time for preparation for another World , but in a moment many go down into one common Grave . Vse II. Wo then to wicked Men , when God comes and shakes his Rod over ●hem , whereby he makes the Earth to shake under them , how sorrowful is your case ? how dreadful is your condition ? what comfort have you to support you in such terrour ? what refuge have you to flie unto , when God shall enter into such a Judgment with you , and contend with you by shaking the Earth under you , if he proceed thereby to make the Houses fall upon you , or the Earth to open under you ? which way will you look for help , or hope , or comfort ? above you ? behold ! there is an angry God , a provoked Lord , a righteous ●udge . Round about ? behold ! your tot●ering Houses , your moving Walls , threatning your Death by their fall . Will you look downwards ? behold ! the Earth trembles , its Pillars shake , as being weary any longer to bear the burden of ungodly Men that walk upon it ; and you fearing when it will cleave asunder and swallow you up . At such a time , had you an interest in God as your reconciled Father , in Christ as your Lord and Saviour , in the holy Spirit as your Regenerator and Sanctifier , what sedatenes● of Mind , what composure of Spirit , wha● stable hopes might you have of Heaven , when the Earth cannot stand still for trembling ? what comfort against your fears , what joy against your sorrows , what remedy against your misery ( against which their seems to be no remedy ) might you have from your special relation to God as reconciled to you , when he so terribly shews his anger unto others ? they are poor grounds o● consolation against the danger , fears and terrours because of an Earthquake , which Seneca prescribes , in comparison of those that the Scripture to holy Men doth give . Psal . 46. 1. God is our refuge and strength , a very present help in trouble . What then ? Verse 2. Therefore will not we fear , tho' the Earth be removed , and tho' the Mountains be carried into the midst of the Sea. Verse 3. Tho' the wa●ers thereof roar , and be troubled , tho' the Mountains shake with the swelling thereof . Selah . Verse 7. The Lord of Hosts is with us , the God of Jacob is our refuge . Selah . Verse 8. Come , behold the works of the Lord , what desolations he hath made in the Earth . Verse 11. The Lord of Hosts is with us , the God of Jacob is our re●uge . Selah . But alas ! this comfort in God's shaking of the Earth is none of yours , because God is none of yours ; your shaking Houses are yours , but what comfort have you in your Houses when you see them shaking ? Comfort ! they are then a terrour to you . Why ? because the Lord of Hosts is against you , the God of Jacob is not your Refuge ( in an Earthquake ) Selah . Vse III. Admire and thankfully acknowledge the goodness , greatness and power of God in the constant standing of the Earth ( except in Earthquakes ) that it remains stable and ( otherwise ) unmovable . If an Earthquake be so terrible , is not the usual steadfastness of the Earth the more comfortable ? if it did for the most part shake and tremble , and sometimes only stand firm and fixt , its standing still would be more observed , and God more praised upon that account , than now he is , when for the most part it stands unmoved , and but sometimes is shaken . How seldom hath this one ( tho' it be a great ) thing been in our Minds , and mentioned in our praises amongst the mercies God vouchsafed to the Inhabitants of the Earth ? when were our admiring thoughts imployed about this subject ? and yet if you saw a Ball stand in the Air not supported by , nor hung upon any thing ▪ would not you stand and gaze and wonder at it ? how much more when this huge and vast Body of the Earth , so weighty and ponderous in it self , and bearing such heavy burdens that are upon it , as vast quantities of Lead , Brass , Iron , Stones , &c. hangs upon nothing , Job 26. 7. And the Pillars of the Earth , spoken of in Scripture , are not to be understood of proper material Pillars ( for what should such Pillars stand upon ) but metaphorical ; whereas the true real Pillar of the Earth is the power of God. Psal . 65. 6. Which by his strength setteth fast the Mountains , being girded with power . So great a thing is done by his mighty commanding word . Psal . 33. 9. For he spake , and it was done ; he commanded and it stood fast . If a Feather ( light to a Proverb ) be held up and let loose in the Air , it sinks , and resteth not without it fall upon something to support it ; and yet this massie Body of the Earth , without any other support , than the power of God , is born up , stands fast , and fixt , and firm , and bears us , our dwellings , without those fears that in an Earthquake do surprize and fill us . Let this be thought on more , and the power of God admired in it . Vse IV. Such special and peculiar Earthquakes which God hath caused for special and peculiar ends , improve to the obtaining of those ends . All the Earthquakes in general do manifest the Glory of the power of God , and God in them doth speak to Men on Earth . They have a voice , and we should have an hearing ear ; let 's not be deaf to the Instructions that God is giving of us ; nor dull to take out the Lessons he is teaching us . Particularly some more observable upon more remarkable occasions , such as these . 1. The Earthquake there was at the Death of Christ . The Jews hearts were stony and hard , and did not fear no● tremble to shed the innocent and most precious Blood of the Son of God , but when it fell upon the ground , the Earth did shake and tremble to receive it . Abel's blood did cry to Heaven from the ground , and Cain was cursed , and the Earth was cursed to him for that bloody fact . Gen. 410. And he said what hast tho● done ? the voice of thy brothers blood crieth unto me from the ground . Verse 11. And now art thou cursed from the Eart● which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brothers blood at thine hand . Vers . 12. When thou tillest the ground , it shall no● henceforth yield unto thee her strength . A Fugitive and a Vagabond shalt thou be in the Earth . Was not the Blood of Christ of greater worth and value then Abel's , or of all Men , being the Blood of him that was God as well as Man , pure and spotless ; was not therefore the shedding of it by Men , a more heinous sin and barbarous fact ; and yet the shedders of it stupid , and not afraid to take away his life ? what doth the Earth under their feet , but shake and tremble at what they did not ? and what improvement did some then present make thereof ? and what conclusions did they draw from it ? Mat. 27. 51. Behold , the vail of the Temple was rent in twain , from the top to the bottom , and the Earth did quake , and the Rocks rent . Verse 54. And when the Centurion , and they that were with him , watching Jesus , saw the Earthquake and those things that were done , they feared greatly . And what did they say ? what did they gather and infer from thence ? what Conclusion laid they down as sure and certain ? they said , Truly this was the Son of God. Though you did not see it , as they did , yet you read it recorded by them that did see it , and do not you believe this matter of fact , and the recor● of it to be true ? and will not you say ▪ Surely that Christ , at whose Death the very Earth did quake , and other great Miracles done , was the Son of God , and love him , desire him , trust him , receive him , and consent to have him for your Lord and Saviour accordingly ? was the shaking of the Earth , and the rending or the Rocks , a testimony against the Impenitent , Unbelieving , and Rocky-hearted Jews , that neither before , for all the Miracles done by him in his Life , nor after they saw what was done at his Death , did own him for the Son of God ▪ nor receive him for their Saviour and Lord , but did still reject him , and do you hear of the same things that they saw , and yet be guilty of the same Unbelie● , Impenitency , and Rejecting of Christ as they were ? shall it not have the same effect upon you , as it had upon the Centurion , and those that were with him ▪ The Earth at his Death did quake ; do you fear and tremble , lest you be found a Rejecter of him . 2. The Earthquake at the Resurrection of Jesus Christ , ought to be improved by us to establish us in the Articles of our Faith of Christ's Resurrection , and our own , and to rejoice at the thoughts of both . And the more the Earth did tremble , the more stedfast let our Faith be . Matth. 28. 2. And behold there was a great Earthquake . Verse 5. — Ye seek Jesus . Verse 6. He is not here , for he is risen . Verse 8. They departed quickly , with fear and great joy , and did run to bring his Disciples word . The Earth did quake , and they did believe ; the Earth did quake , and they did joy that Christ was risen . As the Earth did quake to drink up his Blood , so it did quake to detain his Body beyond the appointed time , and by its motion did congratulate the victory Christ had obtained over Death in its own Dominions . Improve this also to believe the power of Christ to raise our Bodies also , for if he give the word , if he utter his voice , Come forth ye dead , Awake , Arise , he will make the Earth to quake and tremble , to deliver up its dead . Rev. 20. 11. And I saw a great white Throne , and him that sate upon it , from whose Presence the Earth and Heaven fled away , and there was found no place for them . Verse 12. And I saw the dead , small and great , stand before God , and the Books were opened , and another Book was opened , which is the Book of Life ; and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the Books , according to their Works . The Earth did quake when Christ did die , and when he arose ; and so it shall when he shall come to raise the dead , and judge the World. 3. The Earthquake at the Prayers of the Apostles ( when the Gospel was opposed , and the Preachers of it persecucured ) that God would grant unto his Servants that with all boldness they may speak his Word , and for confirmation of their Faith , and satisfaction that their Prayers were heard , his Church and Kingdom should be propagated and preserved , the place was shaken where they were , Acts 4. 24. 31. He that can shake the Earth , can establish his Church ; he that can make Mountains quake , can and hath built his Church upon such a Rock , that no Power shall prevail against it . Vse V. Improve this mighty terrible Work of God in causing this late Earthquake , by making more hast to turn from sin to God by a speedy and sincere Conversion . Were you not afraid of Death , when your Houses did shake , and you feared , would fall upon you ? Were you prepared to die ? Were you fitted for Judgment and Eternity ? What if you had been destroyed then , where had your Souls been now ? Have any of you been more serious and earnest in enquiring after the way of Salvation ? Have you so much as with a concerned mind asked any Minister , what you must do that you may be saved ? How ! have you not ? What , will you be more stupid than the Earth under your feet ? Did it tremble , and not you ? Or did you then , and are become secure again ? Will you be more careless and hardened than the Jaylor ? He ! did not he , being moved by the motion of the quaking ground , make hast , and run to the Apostles , and on his knees begged , Sirs , what must I do to be saved ? If you know , tell me . I see the greatness and the power of your God , if he will have mercy on sinners , tell me , and what I must do , that he might have mercy on me , and save me , tell me ; if his Wrath be so great , how may I escape it ? I do not yet know , fain I would , but I do not ; O Sirs , tell me what must I do to be saved ? Hath this that you have felt and seen put you on to any greater diligence for your Souls Salvation , than you had before ▪ Careless before , and so still ? Impenitent before , and so still ? No minding of Conversion before , and none yet ? Indeed ▪ Shall this amazing Providence of God , whereby you were in so much danger of Death and Hell , pass away , and leave you as carnal , careless , and negligent as you were before ? What! after the Earth in its trembling might have opened its mouth and swallowed you up alive into its bowels , and from thence have gone to Eternal Torments ? From Pit to Pit ? From a deep Pit made by the Earthquake in the lower parts thereof , into a bottomless-Pit , prepared by a just and angry God to take Vengeance on Impenitent and Unconverted sinners to all Eternity ? Turn , sinner , turn , or this God that can and hath by Earthquakes overturned Towns , Cities , Mountains , will turn thee into Hell ; and now if thou wilt not fear to continue in a state of sin , there thou shalt feel his Wrath and Vengeance for thy sin . Vse VI. Evermore live in the fear of God , and walk with Circumspection , Care , and Conscience in all the parts and passages of your Life . Why so ? Because one way or other God may Suddenly call you out of one World into another , out of Time into Eternity . Death many ways might suddenly surprize you . Have not you seen how suddenly an Earthquake may be ? How many , alas ! how many at that time did the trembling Earth bear , and weary of bearing them , trembled under them , as a Porter under a Load too heavy for him ? How many did it find in a way of sin , Drinking to Excess , Swearing without shame or fear , and spending their precious time in Sports , and Plays , and Vanity ? What if God had commanded those Winds , or Fires , or Spirits , and Vapours ( if it were from such Natural Causes ) that made the Earth to quake , and your Houses tremble , to open the Earth and break out , where you at that time were sinning against him , and swallowed you up ? Seriously think , in what a woful case and practice it found you , and be more wary for time to come . You little thought of such a Work of God , till it suddenly came : Therefore where ever you are be careful to walk so holily , and circumspectly , as becomes those that know now how suddenly Danger , Death and Damnation too , else might come upon you . Vse VII . Let all and every one of us get and evidence our Title to a Kingdom that cannot be shaken . You see there is no place in this World that is so stable , but it may be shaken , even those Houses that you do not call moveable Goods , how moveable God can make them . When you build on Earth , you mind that your Foundation be good and firm , and not sandy , or unsound ; and if you built your House upon an earthly Rock , tho' when the Wind blows , and Rain descends and beat against it , yet it stands ; but if an Earthquake come , with a Commission from God to overturn , or sink it , your best Foundation cannot secure it . But there is a City above that hath [ unshaken ] Foundations , whose Maker and Builder is God : Secure an House there , not made with hands , for that will be eternal . There are Mansions above , which are perpetual : There are no Storms nor Tempests ; there are no terrible Thunderings and Lightnings , there are no Rendings nor Shakings ; all sedate and calm , all at quiet and rest , all secure and safe . No death , or darkness , no fears or tremblings , no threatning or amazing motions tending to interrupt the Joys and holy Pleasures , the Triumphant Songs of the Citizens of that City , of the glorious Subjects of that abiding Kingdom . Your House on Earth might be destroyed by War , by Fire , by an Earthquake ; but there are Mansions above not subject to be destroyed or spoiled by these or any other way : Set less by these on Earth , that have , and may be shaken , and more by that Kingdom , that never hath , nor shall , nor can be shaken . Heb. 12. 27. This word , once more , signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken , as of things that are made , that those things which cannot be shaken , may remain . 28. Wherefore we receiving a Kingdom , which cannot be moved , let us have grace whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear . Vse VIII . Celebrate the Power of God and his infinite Greatness , manifested in this his Work in shaking of the Earth . Can Man do it ? Can Kings and Nobles do it ? With their mighty Armies can they do that , which God by Winds and Vapours can at his pleasure do ? Job alledgeth this as an evident demonstration of his Power . Job 9. 4. He is wise in heart , and mighty in strength . 5. Which removeth mountains , and they know it not , which overturneth them in his anger . 6. Which shaketh the earth out of her place , and the pillars thereof tremble . And yet these Earthquakes that are so great , the great God doth them with a abundance of ease . Psal . 104. 32. He looketh on the earth , and it trembleth ; be toucheth the hills , and they smoke . O tremble before this God , who if he casts but an angry look upon the Earth , ●t falls a trembling , if he touch the Mountains , they smoke ; an angry look with his Eye , a displeasing touch with his Finger causeth the one to tremble , and the other to smoke . What shall sinners then do , when he shall lay upon them ●he heavy strokes of his Wrath and Vengeance to all Eternity ? Doth the Earth quake before him , and the very Devils tremble at his angry Presence , and shal● Mortal sinful Men be fearless of him ▪ The day will come , and it is hastning when fear , and terror , and trembling shall seize upon them , and they not be able to shake it off . Vse IX . God never wanteth ways and means to punish the Disobedience and Rebellion of sinners against him . He ca● make the Heavens above to punish the● by with-holding Rain from them , o● by pouring out immoderate Shower ▪ upon them : He can punish them by the Earth beneath . And if there be nothing visible to plague and destroy them , yet he hath his Armies and his ●●ghty Host under Ground , and in the bowels of the Earth , which he can Master at his word of Command , all stand ready to fight against them , which ca● slay them heaps upon heaps , and bury them first , and after kill them . Vse X. Make your Peace with God that shews his Anger by these Earthquakes When he takes such a Rod into h● hand , you might see displeasure in his face . Let this late Work of God in shaking London , and so many places in England , and parts beyond the Sea , be a warning to them all ; and oh that all would take this fair warning ! It is his Mercy that he doth warn before he strikes , that with his Rod he doth correct , before with his Ax he hews us down . Do you think this came by chance , and that by chance it did no more harm ? Did not God that gave Commission to it , to shake London , put into its Commission , make it shake , but not to fall ? And if God did send it , is it not a discovery of his Anger ? Read again Psal . 18. 7. Then the earth shook and trembled , the foundation of the hills moved and were shaken . Why ? Because he was wroth . O labour by Repentance , and Faith in Christ to turn away his Wrath , lest he overthrow you in his Anger . Vse XI . What may be some Security to a City against one Judgment , might not be any defence against another . When London had its old Houses built with Timber , consumed by Fire , to prevent such another desolation by devouring Flames , Men have built with Brick and Stone , that are not such combustible matter . But as you have built with other Materials than before , so God hath other ways to deal with you besides consuming Fire . God hath shewn you , he can make your strongest Buildings of firmest stone , even your Royal Exchange to shake and tremble , and Persons leave their Shops , and hasten down , and run crying home , through fears that it would fall . Let us never by such wilful , great , and hainous sins provoke God , because we cannot by any means strengthen our selves against him . For he that can shake Rocks and Mountains , and throw them down , can shake and cast down your strongest Buildings . Psal . 68. 8. The earth shook , the heavens also dropped at the presence of God , even Sinai it self moved at the presence of God , the God of Jacob. Psal . 114. 7. Tremble thou earth ( and ye sinners ) at the presence of the Lord. Vse XII . Admire the sparing Mercy of God to London , more than to many Places and Cities in the World. Indeed , by this late Earthquake many Towns and Cities besides London have been shaken , and are spared ; which doth not make Londons deliverance to be less : for God in sparing others , might have brought London down . But compare your Mercies ( for there are many in its preservation ) with the Desolations brought upon many Cities in former Ages , and upon Port-Royal in Jamaica , by Earthquakes , and acknowledge God's mercy and his power in his late visitation of it , his power in shaking it , his mercy in preserving of it . Consider this Providence seriously , suffer it not to pass without due observation , and think whether you may put a greater accent upon his Power or his Mercy in this Dispensation ; upon his Power in making it to tremble , or on his Mercy , that he did not make it sink or tumble down . Did God by an Earthquake shake London , and yet doth London stand ? God did shake it , behold his Power . It doth stand , behold his Mercy . Nay , do not you see his powerful Mercy , and his merciful Power ? his powerful Mercy in shaking it , as a warning to you , and his merciful Power in keeping it from falling when it was so shaken . O write upon your Walls , however engraven it on your hearts and memories , My House was shaken with a● Earthquake , and yet it stands . London sorely threatned , and yet is spared . It is by the distinguishing Providence of God , that you have been visited in the same way as others have , and yet are not overthrown , nor swallowed up in the same manner as others are . That you may be the more sensible of , and so more thankful for God's great Mercy in sparing you in the day of his Power , I will subjoin ( out of many ) some few Examples o● God's sore displeasure , and his severe punishing of others by Earthquakes , ( collected out of History ) whereby your Mercy might be magnified in your eyes . Josephus records , That about 29 years before the Birth of Christ there hapned such an Earthquake in the Country of Judea , that never the like was seen in any other place , so that divers Beasts were slain thereby , and many Men were overwhelmed in the ruins of their own Houses , and perish'd to the number of ten , ( others write thirty ) thousand . In the fifth year of the Emperour Tiberius , there fell out so dreadful an Earthquake , that thirteen Cities in Asia were destroyed and overthrown thereby . In the sixty sixth year after Christ there hapned such another Earthquake , as destroyed three other Cities of Asia , viz. Laodicea , Hierapolis and Colossus . Anno Christo 79. three Cities in Cyprus were overthrown by an Earthquake . Anno Christi 114. the City of Antioch was much defaced by an Earthquake , in which time the Emperour Trajan being there , escaped the danger with much difficulty : and Eusebius mentioneth another in the seventh year of Trajan , which destroyed nine several Cities in Asia , Greece and Calabria . About the year 182. the City of Smyrna came to ruin by an Earthquake , for the re-edifying whereof the Emperour remitted ten years tribute . Anno Christi 1456. there perished about Puel and Naples in an Earthquake forty thousand People . Anno Christi 1531. in the City of Lisbon about one thousand and four hundred Houses were overthrown by an Earthquake , and about six hundred more were so sorely shaken that they were ready to fall , and many of the Churches were cast to the ground . Anno Christi 1400. there was such a terrible Earthquake at Lurr in Persia as overthrew five hundred Houses : and 〈◊〉 Christ . 1593. there fell out such another as overthrew three thousand Houses ▪ quashing to death three thousand Men in their ruins ; yea , the Castle , tho' built upon the top of a solid Rock , groaned in the like affrighted downfal . Before the Peloponesian , or Civil Wars amongst the Grecians , one of their Islands called Delphos ( famous for the Temple of Apollo therein ) was wholly ruined by an Earthquake , which foreshewed those wonderful alterations which presently after befel Greece . Anno Christi 1618. Pleurs a Town in Rhetia , was in an Earthquake overwhelmed with an Hill , which with a most swift motion oppressed one thousand five hundred men . In the year 1509. there was a great and terrible Earthquake in Constantinople , and the Countries thereabouts , by the violence whereof a great part of the Walls of that City , with many stately Buildings , both publick and private , were quite overthrown , and thirteen thousand people overwhelmed & slain therewith , the terrour whereof was so great , that Bajazet himself , the great Turk , and the People generally forsook their Houses , and lay abroad in the Fields . It endured for a month together with very little intermission ; after which ensued a great Plague , whereby the City was for the most part unpeopled . A little before the Wars between the Lacedaemonians and the Ilotae , who were their Slaves and Bondmen in the Country of Laconia , there hapned in the City of Lacedemon the most wonderful and fearful Earthquake that ever was heard of : for the Earth in many places of the Country opened and fell in as into a bottomless pit : the Mountain Taygetum shook so terribly , that parts of Rocks fell down from it : and all the City of Lacedemon , with the violence of it , was thrown down to the ground , five hundred Houses only excepted . An. Christ . 1169. Febr. 4. there was such a vehement Earthquake all over the Island of Sicily , that it was perceived in Calabria , and the wealthy and stately City of Catana was so utterly destroyed by it , that there was not one House left standing ; and above fifteen thousand Men , Women and Children perished in the ruins thereof . In the year of Christ 1631. not long before the troubles of Naples , there fell out a terrible Earthquake in and about the City , and the Mountain of Soma , after many terrible bellowings , vomited out burning streams of fire , which tumbled into the Adriatick Sea , and cast out an huge deal of Ashes . The like happened the year following in the month of February , with so great hurt and loss to the circumjacent places , as well in Houses , Men , Women , Children , and Cattle , that it cannot be exprest . All these ( and there are many more ) are dreadful instances of God's great powerful wrath by Earthquakes against the sins of Men. But do not Men still continue in their disobedience and provoking sins , and doth not God continue to manifest his hatred and detestation of them ? For all this is his Anger turned away ? is not his Hand stretched out stiil ? have not we heard of the sad destruction of Jamaica by a most terrible Earthquake there this year ? Should not we sympathize with them , and by God's dealing with them tremble at the remembrance of our own sins , the procuring cause of all Calamities , especially since God so lately hath shaken this City , tho' it stands ? It s no argument the greatest sufferers are the greatest sinners . Luk 13. 1. There were some present at that season that told him of the Galileans , whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices . Vers . 2. And Jesus answering , said unto them , suppose ye that these Galileans were sinners above all the Galileans . because they suffered these things ? How doth Christ answer his own Question ▪ Vers . 3. I tell you , nay : but except ye repent , ye shall all likewise perish . Vers . 4. Or those eighteen on whom the Tower of Siloam fell , and slew them , think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem . Vers . 5. I tell you , nay : but except ye repent , ye shall all likewise perish . It is confest by some that write from Jamaica , that they were a very wicked People ; great Swearers , Drunkards , Unclean , &c. and are there not many such in England , yea , in and about London ? Is it not known ? is it not seen ? can it be denied ? and are there not such Circumstances that may make the very same sins to be more heinous and aggravated here , beyond what they be ( tho exceeding great ) in Jamaica O that God would set home those words of the Saiour of Souls , upon the Hearts and Con●ciences of such provoking sinners amongst us , Except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish Sin is the same , and God's ●wath is the same , and his power is the same , to punish one People , as well as another , tho' he is pleased to make a dif●erence , punishing sometimes some , when ●t the same time he doth not others ; yet this ought not to make us the more ●ecure , nor to set our hearts in us to do evil , because Sentence is not speedily ex●cuted ; but that sin may be hated , God ●eared , we reformed , and be more thankful to God for his sparing Mercy to London , and other places in England in the late Earthquake , having a borrowed Extract of a Letter from Jamaica , sent by an Eye-witness to his Friend in England , for the honour of God , who is known by the Judgments which he executeth , and warning to Men ( being told I may ) I will annex it in the very words . Port-Royal in Jamaica , June 20. 1692. ON the 7th . day at Noon was a most terrible Earthquake : It came from the North , attacked the Town on the Harbour-side , 〈◊〉 which side was a Wharf ; the whole length of the place , where stood the King's House , a Bastion of 207 Guns , Carlile Battery of 119 Guns , and the Houses of the greatest Merchants ; Al those sunk down in a moment of 3 to 5 Fatho● Water . In the Street next to the Wharf , the Earth opened , being wide and deep , and instantly issued out an Inundation of Water ; so that several People were swallowed up alive in the ground , and were spewed up again : some we●● funk in their Houses , some were buried unde● the Rubbish , some were drowned , some who 〈◊〉 got into clear Water , and could swim , we●● carried away with drifts of Timber , and to● of Houses , driven by a steering carrere , 〈◊〉 there perished : Nothing else was seen , but the dead and dying ; nothing heard but shrieks 〈◊〉 cries . I my self escaped to a Miracle , and w● an Eye-witness to the Destruction of the Tow● ▪ and the Distress of the miserable People . It ● impossible for Tongue to speak , or Pen to wri●● the sorrows and terrors of that day . The living were covered with Wounds , Bruises , and Blood Some fled to part of the Town yet standing , b● the Houses shattered ; some got on pieces of Timber , and others in Canooes and Boats , to sav● their Lives . The Shipping rode safe at Anchor just by , and saw this sad Tragedy ; the Boats came out , but slow to our assistance , the Seamen being more diligent to take up drift-goods than People , by which baseness many were lost , which could have been saved . In the Afternoon many Seamen , English and Spaniards , contented themselves with what was floating on the Waters , tho' some instantly entred and rifled standing Houses . But the following night and day those Villains were more savage and cruel than many Indians and Negroes : robbed all Houses , broke in pieces all Scrutores , Boxes , Trunks , and Chests of Drawers , Cabinets , and made spoil of all that was of value in the Town ; threatning to kill several of the Inhabitants , if any durst be so bold to say , this House was mine . Our Enemies could not have treated us worse than the Seamen . The remainder of us now in the Town building little holes to shelter our selves from the Weather ; for all the Buildings are thrown down in this Island , with the Sugar and Indico Works . God in Wrath hath Mercy , in sending us very seasonable Weather , which we have not had these three Years — The Earthquakes several times a day , tho' not so terrible , as in the first day ; for then the Thunders roared over our heads , and the Earth trembled under our feet , and the Rocks and Mountains fell , and Fire-balls fell by day and night from Heaven , which my Eyes saw ; so that the most hardened Atheist might have considered that there was a God , who governed the World. A Letter , Dated Port-Royal , June 28. 1692. saith — We have an Account from several parts of these Islands of the Mischief done by the Earthquake . From St. Anns we hear of above a thousand Acres of Wood-Land changed into the Sea , and carried with it whole Plantations ; but no place suffered like Port-Royal , where whole Streets were swallowed up by the opening Earth , and the Houses and Inhabitants went down together ; some of them were driven up again by the Sea , which arose in those Breaches , and wonderfully escaped . Some were swallowed up to the Neck , and then the Earth shut upon them , and squeezed them to death , and in that manner several are left buried with their Heads above ground , only some Heads the Dogs have eaten , others are covered with Dust and Earth by the People which yet remain in the place , to avoid the stench . The People tell me , that they hear great bellowings and noises in the Mountains , which makes some very apprehensive of an Eruption of Fire ; if so , it will , I fear , be more destructive than the Earthquake . — Hath God been so severe with England , with London in the late Earthquake ? do not your sta●ding Houses declare he hath not ? that you are yet alive , doth not this manifest that in that Judgment God remembred Mercy ? I had communicated to me a Letter sent by a Minister in Kent to his Father in London , from which I will extract what concerns this late Earthquake , that you may see the different Dealings of God with divers People , and the Relation of this not like the former . — You have heard already ( perhaps ) of the Earthquakes being in Kent , on Thursday last , as well as at London , and at other places , but this may confirm you that it is true , that it hath been here , as we have been all Eye-witnesses : and this particular true Account I can give you . It shook Leeds Castle ( which is but half a mile from me ) so violently , that all in the Castle , even the Lady her self , went out of it , and expected its falling . One of my Acquaintance was out in a Field at that time , the ground shook so under him , that he could not stand , and being forced to lie down on the ground , was so tossed up and down , that he received several bruises . It was very much at Maidstone , the People generally leaving their Houses , fearing they would fall upon their heads ; and it hath been in most places of the County , which puts us all into a great Consternation , but it lasted not above a quarter of a● hour . — But here is no downfal of Houses , not of one . Here is no Persons killed , no , not one . No openings of the Earth , no breakings in of Waters , turning dry Land into a Sea. Do not you see your Mercy in the late Judgment ? do you say or think , God could not do to you as he hath done with others heretofore , or to Jamaica of late ? instead of praising the Name of God , do not blaspheme it . God's gracious proceedings with England , and therein with London , should melt our hearts , whilst his terrible dreadful Strokes beats others to pieces ; and finding one instance of an Earthquake in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth so much in gentleness like to this in our days , shewing from Age to Age his Mercy to this Land , as if loth to dedestroy it , if Mercy may melt us , mixt with Judgments to awaken us , I shall add this before I do conclude , in the words and syllables with which I find it published , thus : On Easter-Wednesday , being the sixth of Arpil , 1580. somewhat before six of the clock in the Afternoon , happened this great Earthquake whereof this Discourse treateth . I mean , not great in respect of long continuance of time , for ( God be thanked ) it continued little above a minute of an hour , rather shaking God's rod at us , then smiting us according to our deserts : nor yet in respect of any great hurt done by it within this Realm ; for altho' it shook all the Houses , Castles , Churches , and Buildings every where as it went , and put them in danger of utter ruin , yet within this Realm ( praised be our Saviour Christ Jesus for it ) it overthrew few , or none , that I have yet heard of , saving certain Stones , Chimneys , Walls and Pinacles of high Buildings , both in this City and divers others places . Neither do I hear of any Christian People that received bodily hurt by it saving tw● Children in London , a Boy and a Girl , being at Sermon among a great number of People in Christ's Church by Newgate-Market , of whom the Boy named Thomas Gray , was slain out of hand , with the fall of a Stone shaken down from the Roof of the Church : and the Girl ( whose name was Mabel Everite ) being sore hurt there , at the same present by like casualty , died within few days after . But I term it great , in respect of the universalness thereof almost at one instant , not only within this Realm , but also without , where it was much more violent , and did far more harm : and in respect of the great terrour which it then struck into all mens hearts where it came , and yet still striketh into such as duly consider howjustly God may be offended with all Men for sin , and especially with this Realm of England , which hath most abundantly tasted of God's Mercy and most unthankfully neglected his Goodness , which yet still warneth us by this terrible wonder , what for more terrible punishments are like to light upon us e're long ▪ unless we amend our sinful Conversation betimes . This Earthquake made that Impression on the Minds of those that then lived , that an Order of Prayer , and a godly Admonition concerning it , was appointed to be read for the turning of God's Wrath from them , threatned by that terrible Earthquake , by order given from the Queens Majesty's most honourable Privy Council , to be used in all Churches and Housholds throughout the Realm . Because this might serve for a Conviction of many prayer less Families amongst us , that were so before the late Earthquake , and are so still ; that are more fearless of God's displeasure , then those that lived in times of lesser Light , I shall insert so much of it as concern'd the Earthquake . A Prayer to be used of all Householders , with their whole Family , every evening before they go to bed , that it would please God to turn his Wrath from us threatued in the last terrible Earthquake . Set forth by Authority . — WE most heartily and humbly beseech thy fatherly Goodness to look down from the Throne of the Mercy Seat upon us most miserable and sinful Slaves of Satan , which with fearful and trembling hearts do quake and shake at the strange and terrible token of thy Wrath and Indignation , appearing most evidently to us , by thy shaking and moving of the Earth , which is thy Footstool , whereby ( if we be not utterly destitute of Grace ) we be warned , that thy coming down amongst us , to visit our sins in most terrible manner , cannot be far off , seeing thou treadest so hard upon this thy Footstool the Earth , which we most shamefully have polluted and defiled with our most wicked , sinful , and rebellious Lives , notwithstanding thy continual crying and calling upon us by thy Servants , the Prophets and Preachers , by whom we have learned to know thy will , but have not followed it : We have heard much , and done little ▪ yea nothing at all ; but like most perverse and unthankful Children , have made a mock of thy Word , derided thy Ministers , and accounted thy Threatnings trifles , and thy Warnings of no weight or moment : Wherefore we have justly deserved to taste most deeply of the bitter Cup of thy Anger and Vengeance by Wars , Famine , Pestilence , yea , and Eternal Death if thou shouldst not temper the rigour of thy Justice with the mildness of thy Mercy . — Turn this Earthquake , O Lord , to the benefit of thine Elect , as thou didst when thou shoo●●edst the Prison , loosedst the Locks , Fetters and Chains of thy Servants , Paul and S●las , and broughtest them out of Prison ▪ and convertedst their Keeper ; so gracious Lord , strike the hearts of Tyrants with the terrour of this thy Work , that they may know that they are but Men ▪ and that tho● art that Sampson that for their mocking and spighting of thee , and thy Word , canst shake the Pillars of their Palaces , and throw them upon the furious Philistines heads . Turn thy Wrath , O Lord , fro● thy Children that call upon thy Name , to the Conversion or Confusion of thine ▪ Enemies that defie and ab●or thy Name , and deface thy Glory . Thou hast knocked long at their Doors , but they will not open to let thee in : burst open therefore the brazen Gates of their stony hearts , thou that art able of stones to raise up Children to Abraham : and finally s● touch our hearts with the finger of thy Grace , that we may deeply muse upon our sinful ▪ Lives , to amend the● , and call for thy Mercy to forgive and pardon them , through Christ our Lord , who liveth with thee and the Holy Ghost , three Persons and one Eternal God , to whom be all Dominion and Glory with Praise and Thanksgiving for ever and ever . Amen . Do not you see old Mercies to England in time of Judgment by that Earth●uake then , as fresh Mercy in the like Judgment mixt in this so lately ? nay , this more mild then that ; when by that two were killed , and not one by this ( that yet I hear of . ) And should not the terrour of the Lord awaken us , as you see it did others in the like case heretofore ? Should not every House that hath been shaken be fill'd with Crys , Calls , and fervent Prayers unto God to turn away his Wrath from us , that else after this Earthquake might come upon us ? Might not we ●ear , as they then did , and pray every night before we go to Bed , as they were appointed and commanded by Authority to do ? should not the Judgment , and the Mercy in it , kindly work upon us ? or shall we be more secure , because God ( in Judgment ) is so merciful ? Shall we despise the Riches of his goodness , and forbearance , and long-suffering , not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth us to repentance ? or shall we , after our hardness and impenitent hearts , treasure up unto our selves wrath against the day of wrath , and revelation of the righteous judgment of God ? will not he render to every man according to his deeds ? read and answer ; Rom. 2. 4 , 5 , 6. That I may conclude , I shall recommend to the Citizens of London a serious consideration of three years ( amongst others ) exceeding remarkable , always to be remembred and improved by all that have seen them all , and by those that have been born since the first and second of them , but have been told by others of God's dealing with this City then 1. Forget not the Dying year in this City in 1665. when God did visit it with the Plague : Have you forgot , have you not heard how Death raged then ? how it rode triumphant like a mighty Conquerour , that so many durst not meet it in the Streets as were sufficient to keep the Grass from growing in Cheapside ? did it not slay heaps upon heaps , that the living were put to day-labour to bury their dead ? so many thousand in a week cut off , cut down , and changed time for eternity : ready or unready , must away . Death was then in such haste , in so short time to slay so many , that if it did find unprepared persons , it did not , it could not be prevailed with by sighs and sobs , by tears and groans , to stay till some made themselves ready for another world . You that lived Then and Now , have cause to remember Gods Judgment to others ( especially if unconverted ) that died , and his Mercy to you that live now . 2. Forget not that dreadful burning year 1666. when the tops of London's highest Houses were brought down to fill their Cellars : when the devouring Flames marched without controul from Street to Street , drinking up the Water cast upon them , and scorning all oppositions that could for some days be made against them , till God that set bounds to the proud Waves of the Sea , set limits to the insulting Flames , saying , Hitherto shall ye go , and no further . Let the sight of your new Buildings put you in mind your old were burnt . 3. The trembling year 1692. when your Houses by an Earthquake trembled as if they would fall ; and you in them then trembled for fear they should fall . I have heard there were tremblings of the Earth in Jamaica some years more then once , before the great sit of Convulsion came by which it was destroyed . Let us take warning by one . In the year 65 , God by one Judgment swept away the Inhabitants , and left their Houses : in 66 he destroyed your Houses , and preserved your Persons : in 92 by an Earthquake he threatned both your Dwellings and your Persons , but ( in mercy ) he spared both . Oh give praise unto the Lord that he spared you and your Houses in this Earthquake , and pray that he would shake them so no more . FINIS . Books printed for John Salusbury in Cornhill . THE certainty of The Worlds of Spirits , fully evinced by unquestionable Histories of Apparitions and Witchcrafts , Operations , Voices , &c. Proving the Immortality of Souls , the Malice and Miseries of the Devils and the Damned , and the Blessedness of the Justified . The End of Doctrinal Controversies which have lately troubled the Churches , by reconciling Explication without much Disputing . Both by Mr. Richard Baxter . The Protestant Religion truly stated and justified , by the late Reverend Divine Mr. Richard Baxter : Whereunto is added by way of an Epistle , some Account of the Learned Author , never before published . By Mr. Matth. Sylvester and Mr. Daniel Williams . The Harmony of the Divine Attributes , in the contrivance and accomplishment of Man's Redemption by the Lord Jesus Christ . By William Bates D. D. The Changeabless of this World , with respect to Nations , Families , and particular Persons ; with a practical Application thereof to the various conditions of this Mortal Life . By Timothy Rogers M. A. The Christian Lover , or a Discourse opening the Nature of Participation with , and Demonstrating the Necessity of Purification by Christ . By T. Cruse . The Duty and Blessing of a Tender Conscience , plainly stated and earnestly recommended to all that regard acceptance with God , and the Prosperity of their Souls . By the same Author . Five Sermons on various Occasions . By the same Author . The Mirrour of Divine Love unvail'd , in a Paraphrase on the High and Mysterious Song of Solomon . By Robert Plemming . V. D. M. The Mourners Memorial , in two Sermons on the Death of the truly , 〈◊〉 Mrs. Susannah Some . With some 〈◊〉 count of her Life and Death . By 〈◊〉 Wright and Robert Fleming . V. D. M. A new Examination of the Acciden● and Grammar , in English and Latin wherein all the Rules of Properiquae ●●●ribus , Quae Genus , As in presenti , Si●t 〈◊〉 and Praesodia , are made plain and 〈◊〉 that the meanest Capacity may speed 〈◊〉 learn the Latin Tongue . The Christian's Converse with God ▪ 〈◊〉 the Insufficiency and Uncertainty Human Friendship , and the Improveme●● of Solitude in Converse , with God wit● some of the Author's Breathings a●● him . By Richard Baxter . Recommend●● to the Readers serious Thoughts wh● at the House of Mourning and Reti●● ment . By Mr. Matth Sylvester . A Rational Defence of Nonconform●●ty , wherein the practice of Nonconfo●mists in vindicated from the Charge , Dr. Stilling fleet Bp●of Worcester . Also 〈◊〉 Case of the present Separation truly u●ted , and the way to Union amongst Pr●●testants pointed at by Gilbert Rule D. D.