Earthquakes Explained and Practically Improved, Table of contents

Earthquakes Explained and Practically Improved · Table of contents

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.

p. 1Earthquakes 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, p. 2and 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 p. 3an 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 p. 4Heaven, 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 p. 5the 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.

p. 63. 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 p. 7of 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.

p. 8This 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 p. 9its 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 p. 10it 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 p. 11can 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.

p. 12In 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 p. 13ſtands 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. Its 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 p. 14which 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 Goaldelivery. Theſe be the great Effects of this great Earthquake.

p. 153. 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 p. 16of 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 Nebuchadnezzarſpake 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 p. 17Daniel 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 p. 18hurt 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 anEarthquake 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 p. 19He 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 p. 18duplicate page p. 19duplicate page p. 20not 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 p. 21that 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 p. 22ſtreets, 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 p. 23falling, 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 p. 24ſtrong 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 p. 25you 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 p. 26God 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.

p. 27III. 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.

p. 28VIII. 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 p. 29may 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 p. 30if 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 p. 31and 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 p. 32Hand 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 p. 33Lightnings 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 p. 34Lambs. 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 p. 35and 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 p. 36up 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… p. 37in 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 p. 38God, 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.

p. 393. 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 p. 40Hoſt 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; foreign 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 p. 41that 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, p. 42to 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 ofUzziah. 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 p. 43the 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 Azariahexpoſtulated 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) p. 44towards 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?

p. 45By 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 p. 46was 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 p. 47down, 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 p. 48at 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 p. 49God 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 p. 50ſuch 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, p. 51becauſe 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 p. 52Cauſes, 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 p. 53Phyſical 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 p. 54Candle 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 p. 55by 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 p. 56which 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.

p. 57Zanchy, 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, p. 58but 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 foreign, 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. foreign, An Earthquake lifting the Earth upright, and by and by letting it down again, after the manner of boyling Water, or waxing hot.

p. 593. foreign, Earthquakes cauſing Chaſmes, Chinks, Openings of the Earth, making Breaches in it, and tearing one part from another.

4. foreign, 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. foreign, Earthquakes, which by one motion, inforcing, or thruſting, overthrow, overturn whatſoever they come upon, or ruſh againſt.

6. foreign, 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. foreign, 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.

p. 60Others 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 p. 61much 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 p. 62natural 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.

p. 632. 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 p. 64that 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, p. 65do 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 p. 66over 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… p. 67or 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 p. 68much. 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 p. 69great 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.

p. 70But 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 p. 71ſhaken, 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.

p. 722. 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 p. 73moved 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 (foreign) 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 p. 74away 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 p. 75fears 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 p. 76his 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 p. 77its 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 p. 78the 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 p. 79will 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 p. 80overtaken 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.

p. 81Fourthly; 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 p. 82reaſon 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 p. 83by 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 p. 84their 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, p. 85or 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 p. 86places 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 Ʋniverſal; 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… p. 87ſhaking 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, foreign 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 p. 88Cauſes, 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 p. 89not 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 p. 90cauſe 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 fromJamaica 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 p. 91Deſtruction 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 p. 92are 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 p. 93the Earth to tremble, when and where he pleaſeth.

Queſt. VIII. What Inferences may be drawn from this Doctrine, and what Ʋſe ſhould we make of it, and of this great Work of God, which we have lately ſeen and felt in ſhaking London? &c.

Ʋſe. 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, p. 94when 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 p. 95their 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 p. 94duplicate page p. 95duplicate page p. 96Caſtles? 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 p. 97Minutes, 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.

Ʋſe 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 p. 98weary 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 p. 99we 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.

Ʋſe III. Admire and thankfully acknowledge the goodneſs, greatneſs and power of God in the conſtant ſtanding of the Earth (except in Earthquakes) p. 100that 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 p. 101Pillars 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.

Ʋſe 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 p. 102in 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… p. 103henceforth 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 p. 104of 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▪ p. 105The 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 p. 106word, 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 p. 107Kingdom 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.

Ʋſe 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, p. 108and 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 p. 109you 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.

Ʋſe 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 p. 110an 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.

p. 111Ʋſe 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 p. 112ſecure 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.

Ʋſe VIII. Celebrate the Power of God and his infinite Greatneſs, manifeſted in this his Work in ſhaking of the Earth. p. 113Can 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 p. 112duplicate page p. 115duplicate page p. 114quake 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.

Ʋſe 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.

Ʋſe X. Make your Peace with God that ſhews his Anger by theſe Earthquakes When he takes ſuch a Rod into h… p. 115hand, 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.

Ʋſe XI. What may be ſome Security to a City againſt one Judgment, might not be any defence againſt another. When p. 116London 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.

p. 117Ʋſe 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 p. 118his 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 p. 119ſuch 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 p. 120came 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 p. 121ruined 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 p. 122their 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 p. 123out 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? Its no argument the p. 124greateſt 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 p. 125exceeding 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.