Earthquakes Explained and Practically Improved, Letter 1 – Floating text
Port-Royal in Jamaica, June 20. 1692.
ON the 7th. day at Noon was a moſt terrible Earthquake: It came from the North, attacked the Town on the Harbour-ſide, … which ſide was a Wharf; the whole length of the place, where ſtood the King's Houſe, a Baſtion of 207 Guns, Carlile Battery of 119 Guns, and the Houſes of the greateſt Merchants; Al thoſe ſunk down in a moment of 3 to 5 Fatho… Water. In the Street next to the Wharf, the Earth opened, being wide and deep, and inſtantly iſſued out an Inundation of Water; ſo that ſeveral People were ſwallowed up alive in the ground, and were ſpewed up again: ſome we… funk in their Houſes, ſome were buried unde… the Rubbiſh, ſome were drowned, ſome who … got into clear Water, and could ſwim, we… carried away with drifts of Timber, and to… of Houſes, driven by a ſteering carrere, … there periſhed: Nothing elſe was ſeen, but the dead and dying; nothing heard but ſhrieks … cries. I my ſelf eſcaped to a Miracle, and w… an Eye-witneſs to the Deſtruction of the Tow… ▪ and the Diſtreſs of the miſerable People. It … impoſſible for Tongue to ſpeak, or Pen to wri… the ſorrows and terrors of that day. The living were covered with Wounds, Bruiſes, and Blood Some fled to part of the Town yet ſtanding, b… the Houſes ſhattered; ſome got on pieces of Timber, and others in Canooes and Boats, to ſav… their Lives. The Shipping rode ſafe at Anchor juſt by, and ſaw this ſad Tragedy; the Boats came out, but ſlow to our aſſiſtance, the Seamen being more diligent to take up drift-goods than People, by which baſeneſs many were lost, which could have been ſaved. In the Afternoon many Seamen, Engliſh and Spaniards, contented themſelves with what was floating on the Waters, tho' ſome inſtantly entred and rifled ſtanding Houſes. But the following night and day thoſe Villains were more ſavage and cruel than many Indians and Negroes: robbed all Houſes, broke in pieces all Scrutores, Boxes, Trunks, and Cheſts of Drawers, Cabinets, and made ſpoil of all that was of value in the Town; threatning to kill ſeveral of the Inhabitants, if any durſt be ſo bold to ſay, this Houſe was mine. Our Enemies could not have treated us worſe than the Seamen. The remainder of us now in the Town building little holes to ſhelter our ſelves from the Weather; for all the Buildings are thrown down in this Iſland, with the Sugar and Indico Works. God in Wrath hath Mercy, in ſending us very ſeaſonable Weather, which we have not had theſe three Years—The Earthquakes ſeveral times a day, tho' not ſo terrible, as in the firſt day; for then the Thunders roared over our heads, and the Earth trembled under our feet, and the Rocks and Mountains fell, and Fire-balls fell by day and night from Heaven, which my Eyes ſaw; ſo that the moſt hardened Atheiſt might have conſidered that there was a God, who governed the World.
A Letter, Dated Port-Royal, June 28. 1692. ſaith—
We have an Account from ſeveral parts of theſe Iſlands of the Miſchief done by the Earthquake. From St. Anns we hear of above a thouſand Acres of Wood-Land changed into the Sea, and carried with it whole Plantations; but no place ſuffered like Port-Royal, where whole Streets were ſwallowed up by the opening Earth, and the Houſes and Inhabitants went down together; ſome of them were driven up again by the Sea, which aroſe in thoſe Breaches, and wonderfully eſcaped. Some were ſwallowed up to the Neck, and then the Earth ſhut upon them, and ſqueezed them to death, and in that manner ſeveral are left buried with their Heads above ground, only ſome Heads the Dogs have eaten, others are covered with Dust and Earth by the People which yet remain in the place, to avoid the ſtench. The People tell me, that they hear great bellowings and noiſes in the Mountains, which makes ſome very apprehenſive of an Eruption of Fire; if ſo, it will, I fear, be more deſtructive than the Earthquake.—
Hath God been ſo severe with England, with London in the late Earthquake? do not your ſta…ding Houſes declare he hath not? that you are yet alive, doth not this manifeſt that in that Judgment God remembred Mercy? I had communicated to me a Letter ſent by a Miniſter in Kent to his Father in London, from which I will extract what concerns this late Earthquake, that you may ſee the different Dealings of God with divers People, and the Relation of this not like the former.
—You have heard already (perhaps) of the Earthquakes being in Kent, on Thurſday last, as well as at London, and at other places, but this may confirm you that it is true, that it hath been here, as we have been all Eye-witneſſes: and this particular true Account I can give you. It ſhook Leeds Caſtle (which is but half a mile from me) ſo violently, that all in the Caſtle, even the Lady her ſelf, went out of it, and expected its falling. One of my Acquaintance was out in a Field at that time, the ground ſhook ſo under him, that he could not ſtand, and being forced to lie down on the ground, was ſo toſſed up and down, that he received ſeveral bruiſes. It was very much at Maidſtone, the People generally leaving their Houſes, fearing they would fall upon their heads; and it hath been in moſt places of the County, which puts us all into a great Conſternation, but it laſted not above a quarter of a… hour.—
But here is no downfal of Houſes, not of one. Here is no Perſons killed, no, not one. No openings of the Earth, no breakings in of Waters, turning dry Land into a Sea. Do not you ſee your Mercy in the late Judgment? do you ſay or think, God could not do to you as he hath done with others heretofore, or to Jamaica of late? inſtead of praiſing the Name of God, do not blaſpheme it.
God's gracious proceedings with England, and therein with London, ſhould melt our hearts, whilſt his terrible dreadful Strokes beats others to pieces; and finding one inſtance of an Earthquake in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth ſo much in gentleneſs like to this in our days, ſhewing from Age to Age his Mercy to this Land, as if loth to dedeſtroy it, if Mercy may melt us, mixt with Judgments to awaken us, I ſhall add this before I do conclude, in the words and ſyllables with which I find it publiſhed, thus:
On Eaſter-Wedneſday, being the ſixth of Arpil, 1580. ſomewhat before ſix of the clock in the Afternoon, happened this great Earthquake whereof this Diſcourſe treateth. I mean, not great in reſpect of long continuance of time, for (God be thanked) it continued little above a minute of an hour, rather ſhaking God's rod at us, then ſmiting us according to our deſerts: nor yet in reſpect of any great hurt done by it within this Realm; for altho' it ſhook all the Houſes, Caſtles, Churches, and Buildings every where as it went, and put them in danger of utter ruin, yet within this Realm (praiſed be our Saviour Chriſt Jeſus for it) it overthrew few, or none, that I have yet heard of, ſaving certain Stones, Chimneys, Walls and Pinacles of high Buildings, both in this City and divers others places. Neither do I hear of any Chriſtian People that received bodily hurt by it ſaving tw… Children in London, a Boy and a Girl, being at Sermon among a great number of People in Chriſt's Church by Newgate-Market, of whom the Boy named Thomas Gray, was ſlain out of hand, with the fall of a Stone ſhaken down from the Roof of the Church: and the Girl (whoſe name was Mabel Everite) being ſore hurt there, at the ſame preſent by like caſualty, died within few days after. But I term it great, in reſpect of the univerſalneſs thereof almoſt at one inſtant, not only within this Realm, but alſo without, where it was much more violent, and did far more harm: and in reſpect of the great terrour which it then ſtruck into all mens hearts where it came, and yet ſtill ſtriketh into ſuch as duly conſider howjuſtly God may be offended with all Men for ſin, and eſpecially with this Realm of England, which hath moſt abundantly taſted of God's Mercy and moſt unthankfully neglected his Goodneſs, which yet ſtill warneth us by this terrible wonder, what for more terrible puniſhments are like to light upon us e're long▪ unleſs we amend our ſinful Converſation betimes.
This Earthquake made that Impreſſion on the Minds of thoſe that then lived, that an Order of Prayer, and a godly Admonition concerning it, was appointed to be read for the turning of God's Wrath from them, threatned by that terrible Earthquake, by order given from the Queens Majeſty's moſt honourable Privy Council, to be uſed in all Churches and Houſholds throughout the Realm.
Becauſe this might ſerve for a Conviction of many prayer leſs Families amongſt us, that were ſo before the late Earthquake, and are ſo ſtill; that are more fearleſs of God's diſpleaſure, then thoſe that lived in times of leſſer Light, I ſhall inſert ſo much of it as concern'd the Earthquake.
A Prayer to be uſed of all Houſeholders, with their whole Family, every evening before they go to bed, that it would pleaſe God to turn his Wrath from us threatued in the laſt terrible Earthquake.
Set forth by Authority.
—WE moſt heartily and humbly beſeech thy fatherly Goodneſs to look down from the Throne of the Mercy Seat upon us moſt miſerable and ſinful Slaves of Satan, which with fearful and trembling hearts do quake and ſhake at the ſtrange and terrible token of thy Wrath and Indignation, appearing most evidently to us, by thy ſhaking and moving of the Earth, which is thy Footſtool, whereby (if we be not utterly deſtitute of Grace) we be warned, that thy coming down amongſt us, to viſit our ſins in moſt terrible manner, cannot be far off, ſeeing thou treadeſt ſo hard upon this thy Footſtool the Earth, which we most ſhamefully have polluted and defiled with our moſt wicked, ſinful, and rebellious Lives, notwithſtanding thy continual crying and calling upon us by thy Servants, the Prophets and Preachers, by whom we have learned to know thy will, but have not followed it: We have heard much, and done little▪ yea nothing at all; but like moſt perverſe and unthankful Children, have made a mock of thy Word, derided thy Miniſters, and accounted thy Threatnings trifles, and thy Warnings of no weight or moment: Wherefore we have juſtly deſerved to taſte most deeply of the bitter Cup of thy Anger and Vengeance by Wars, Famine, Peſtilence, yea, and Eternal Death if thou ſhouldst not temper the rigour of thy Juſtice with the mildneſs of thy Mercy.—Turn this Earthquake, O Lord, to the benefit of thine Elect, as thou didſt when thou ſhoo… edſt the Priſon, looſedſt the Locks, Fetters and Chains of thy Servants, Paul and S… las, and broughteſt them out of Priſon▪ and convertedst their Keeper; ſo gracious Lord, ſtrike the hearts of Tyrants with the terrour of this thy Work, that they may know that they are but Men▪ and that tho… art that Sampſon that for their mocking and ſpighting of thee, and thy Word, canſt ſhake the Pillars of their Palaces, and throw them upon the furious Philiſtines heads. Turn thy Wrath, O Lord, fro… thy Children that call upon thy Name, to the Converſion or Confuſion of thine▪ Enemies that defie and ab…or thy Name, and deface thy Glory. Thou haſt knocked long at their Doors, but they will not open to let thee in: burſt open therefore the brazen Gates of their ſtony hearts, thou that art able of ſtones to raiſe up Children to Abraham: and finally ſ… touch our hearts with the finger of thy Grace, that we may deeply muſe upon our ſinful▪ Lives, to amend the…, and call for thy Mercy to forgive and pardon them, through Chriſt our Lord, who liveth with thee and the Holy Ghoſt, three Perſons and one Eternal God, to whom be all Dominion and Glory with Praiſe and Thankſgiving for ever and ever. Amen.
Do not you ſee old Mercies to England in time of Judgment by that Earth…uake then, as freſh Mercy in the like Judgment mixt in this ſo lately? nay, this more mild then that; when by that two were killed, and not one by this (that yet I hear of.) And ſhould not the terrour of the Lord awaken us, as you ſee it did others in the like caſe heretofore? Should not every Houſe that hath been ſhaken be fill'd with Crys, Calls, and fervent Prayers unto God to turn away his Wrath from us, that elſe after this Earthquake might come upon us? Might not we …ear, as they then did, and pray every night before we go to Bed, as they were appointed and commanded by Authority to do? ſhould not the Judgment, and the Mercy in it, kindly work upon us? or ſhall we be more ſecure, becauſe God (in Judgment) is ſo merciful? Shall we deſpiſe the Riches of his goodneſs, and forbearance, and long-ſuffering, not knowing that the goodneſs of God leadeth us to repentance? or ſhall we, after our hardneſs and impenitent hearts, treaſure up unto our ſelves wrath againſt the day of wrath, and revelation of the righteous judgment of God? will not he render to every man according to his deeds? read and anſwer; Rom. 2. 4, 5, 6.
That I may conclude, I ſhall recommend to the Citizens of London a ſerious conſideration of three years (amongſt others) exceeding remarkable, always to be remembred and improved by all that have ſeen them all, and by thoſe that have been born ſince the firſt and ſecond of them, but have been told by others of God's dealing with this City then
1. Forget not the Dying year in this City in 1665. when God did viſit it with the Plague: Have you forgot, have you not heard how Death raged then? how it rode triumphant like a mighty Conquerour, that ſo many durſt not meet it in the Streets as were ſufficient to keep the Graſs from growing in Cheapſide? did it not ſlay heaps upon heaps, that the living were put to day-labour to bury their dead? ſo many thouſand in a week cut off, cut down, and changed time for eternity: ready or unready, muſt away. Death was then in ſuch haſte, in ſo ſhort time to ſlay ſo many, that if it did find unprepared perſons, it did not, it could not be prevailed with by ſighs and ſobs, by tears and groans, to ſtay till ſome made themſelves ready for another world. You that lived Then and Now, have cauſe to remember Gods Judgment to others (eſpecially if unconverted) that died, and his Mercy to you that live now.
2. Forget not that dreadful burning year 1666. when the tops of London's higheſt Houſes were brought down to fill their Cellars: when the devouring Flames marched without controul from Street to Street, drinking up the Water caſt upon them, and ſcorning all oppoſitions that could for ſome days be made againſt them, till God that ſet bounds to the proud Waves of the Sea, ſet limits to the inſulting Flames, ſaying, Hitherto ſhall ye go, and no further. Let the ſight of your new Buildings put you in mind your old were burnt.
3. The trembling year 1692. when your Houſes by an Earthquake trembled as if they would fall; and you in them then trembled for fear they ſhould fall. I have heard there were tremblings of the Earth in Jamaica ſome years more then once, before the great ſit of Convulſion came by which it was deſtroyed. Let us take warning by one. In the year 65, God by one Judgment ſwept away the Inhabitants, and left their Houſes: in 66 he deſtroyed your Houſes, and preſerved your Perſons: in 92 by an Earthquake he threatned both your Dwellings and your Perſons, but (in mercy) he ſpared both. Oh give praiſe unto the Lord that he ſpared you and your Houſes in this Earthquake, and pray that he would ſhake them ſo no more.
FINIS.