Philosophical Historical and Theological Observations of Thunder, Table of contents – List of authors cited
THE CONTENTS.
TWo Obſervations raiſed from Job 26.14.
Obſer. 1 That the higheſt operations & moſt excelent works of GOD cannot be reached by Mans understanding.
The Reaſons 7.
Reaſon. 1 Mans darkneſſe and ſloath ſince the Fall. Ubi, of the groſſe errors of Philoſophers: Of our want of Reading, Travelling, Meditation: Of the Brevity of Life.
Reaſon. 2 The variety of Species and Individuals.
Reaſon. 3 The infinite wiſdome of God, which is ſtamped upon all his works. Ubi, of imperfect, falſe Deſcriptions of Gods works: Of ſome Rarities in Nature, for which no reaſon can be given.
Reaſon. 4 Gods Power and Wiſdome is diſplayed in GREAT and SMALL creatures. Ubi, of the Whale, Elephant, and Precious Stones.
Reaſon. 5 Men are admired who have any thing well IMITATED Gods Works.
Reaſon. 6 A Maſs and multitude of wonders do attend the viſible Heavens.
Reaſon. 7 PROVIDENCE is very myſterious, and is a kinde of continuall Creation.
The Inferences follow, which are four.
Inference. 1 See their preſumptuous folly and madneſſe, who pretend to know GOD and all his works.
Inference. 2 See the neceſſity of Ʋniverſities & Learning. Ubi, of unwearied diligence in ſtudy. Philoſophy a faire Hand-maid to Theology.
Inference 3 Read what you can of GOD in the Volumn of Creation and Providence.
Inference. 4 Comfort for Saints; In heaven we ſhall know more of GOD and his works. Heaven the rareſt of Gods Works; It hath been long preparing for us.
Obſer. 2 The terrible Meteor of THƲNDER, is a moſt lively manifeſtation of the LORDS greatneſſe and power; The trumpet of his glorious Majeſtie and matchleſſe Perfections.
Four enquiries in the opening of this Truth.
Enquiry. 1 How this expreſſion in holy Job may be taken and underſtood? Anſw. 3 wayes.
Enquiry. 2 What Thunder is? Ubi, of it's Name, Nature, Effects. Alſo of the Thunder-bolt, Tempeſts, Lightnings, Earth quakes, Haile great and fearefull.
Of violent Thunders and Lightnings mentioned in our Chronicles, with dreadful effects.
Enquiry. 3 If any other then GOD be the Author, Instruments of theſe things?
Anſw. 1. GOD, the efficient cauſe of Thunder, which is his VOICE. A Digreſſion of ſpeech, and how many wayes GOD is ſaid to ſpeak to us. How the voyce of Man hath been loud, terrible, and perſwading. Stopping our eares in time of Thunder, proved to be a SIN.
Anſw. 2. There be other Inſtrumentall cauſes of Thunder. Good, and Evill Angels chiefly.
Enquiry. 4 In what caſes eſpecially or occaſions God hath manifeſted, or will diſcover his power and glory by ſupernaturall and moſt terrible Thunder.
Anſwer 1 At the caſtigation or overthrow of his and the Churches enemies in battell or otherwiſe: Divers of Gods enemies have been routed and deſtroyed by Thunder and Lightnings.
Anſwer 2 When the moral Law was delivered on Mount-Sinai: Of which 8 reaſons are given.
Anſwer 3 At the Promulgation of the Goſpel. A Digreſſion of Miracles under the Goſpel; and why none wrought 800 yeares before Chriſt.
That the Goſpel was confirmed by Thunder, is proved by divers Scriptures, and ſome other Authors, alſo by teſtimonies from the Goſpels Enemies.
Four Reaſons why the Goſpel was confirmed thus.
Anſwer 4 There will be dreadful Thunder and Lightnings at the day of judgement: Proved
1 By divers Scriptures, 4 full places for for it.
2 By foure Arguments or Reaſons why it will be ſo.
A Digreſſion of the unknown Time.
The Inferences follow; which are four.
Infer. 1 This Doctrine of Thunder is in travaile with terrour to all the enemies of God, and his people. Thunder proves a Deity.
Infer. 2 Reproof to ſuch as out-brave Thunder: Ubi, of ſuch as have preſumed either to ſlight or imitate this worke of God. That Sodome was burnt with ſulphurious Lightning, proved out of Tertullian.
Next, Infer. 3 matter of admonition to ſix duties, viz.
Firſt, when you heare it Thunder, feare before the great Jehovah. 'Tis a marvail how ſinners dare go to ſleep when it thundreth.
Secondly, Follow right meanes to provide for your ſafety, by getting into the arms of Chriſt: For,
1 Some repair to the ſtrongest places and buildings for ſhelter: The vanity of this ſhield.
2 Others will aſcribe rare Qualities to the Eagle, Seal-skin, Fig-tree, Bay-tree, and ringing conſecrated and baptized Bells. The folly and ſuperſtition thereof.
3 Some few in the time of much Thunder apply themſelves to Prayer holy conference: Ubi, of laying aſide our Recreations when it thundreth.
Thirdly, when the Thunder is over, be not afterwards ſecure; but cheriſh a filiall awe of God upon your hearts; that the graces of his Spirit, may, like Swans eggs, be hatched with Thunder.
Fourthly, Be not unſenſible of the last Winters praeternaturall Thunder. Ubi, How it fools the Aſtrologers, preſuming to foretell Thunder in their Almanacks: and that ſuch ſhould not be tolerated in a Chriſtian State.
Fifthly, Learn to truſt in the great and all-powerful God, who is able to defend and deliver you.
Sixthly, Let Gods ſpirituall and myſticall Thunder by his Word and Boanerges, at length awaken us.
Where it is ſhewed,
1 That Miniſters ſhould thunder in their Doctrine, by earneſt, ſound, and powerfull preaching.
Caution: Place not good preaching in loud ſpeaking.
2 That the people ſhould labour to profit by powerfull Sermons, as ſo many Alarms from Heaven.
A Digreſſion; of profiting by the Word, though the Miniſter be not ſo holy as we could wiſh him.
Infer. 4 Laſtly, This Doctrine of Thunder comes yet with an Olive-branch of Peace and Conſolation to the Saints, from divers Scriptures, intimating that God is carefull of his people in time of Thunder and Tempeſts.
Comfort fetched in,
1 From Naturall conſiderations; As, That Thunder is from Natural cauſes, and oft produceth good effects in the Aire and Earth.
2 From ſpirituall Meditations, chiefly four;
Firſt, God of old was wont to reveal himſelfe by Thunder; Now in a ſoft and ſtill voice.
Secondly, Thunder and Lightnings are diſpoſed and ordered by the Lord.
Object. Then ſurely none of Gods children receive any prejudice by it?
Sol. 1. We may not vote all ſuch as ſuffer by Lightnings and Thunder-bolts to be Gods enemies.
2 The good being in bad places or employments may ſuffer with the bad.
3 It may be the wiſe God fore-ſeeth greater evills and tryals would befall them if they ſhould eſcape.
4 Hereby he doth warn the wicked what to expect.
5 God uſually doth preſerve his People in ſuch perills.
6 If they periſh by them, they are haſtned into Heaven, though in a fiery Charet, with Elijah.
Thirdly, Thunder & Lightning have been ſerviceable to the Saints. 1. By kindling the wood for ſacrifice. 2. By oppoſſng the Churches enemies, viz. 1. Such as are enemies to her Truth: Hereticks and other Noveliſts have been destroyed by Lightning and Thunder: An Item for Lay-Preachers. 2. Such as are Enemies to the Churches Peace, have alſo been ſubdued by Thunder.
4 There is yet another Conſolation for the Saints; No Thunder nor Lightning in Heaven; They can no more heare our Thunder, then we their Hallelujahs.
All cloſed with a Cautionary Advice to the Saints: Not to feare Thunder with a low and ſlaviſh Feare.
Indices Finis.
THE AUTHORS which are quoted in this TREATISE.
ABbot.
Abulenſis.
Aelian.
Ainſworth.
Albertus.
Clem: Alexandrinus.
Alſted.
Ambroſe.
Iſaac Ambroſe.
Andrews.
Annotations.
Tho: Aquinas.
Ariſtotle.
Auguſtine.
Avicenna.
Babington.
Bacon.
Du Bartas.
Baronius
Baſil.
Baxter.
Beda.
Bellarmine.
Bellonius.
Bernard.
Borrhaeus.
Dr. Brown.
Bullinger.
Anthony Burges.
Calvin.
Cambden.
Camerarius.
Joſeph Caryl.
Caſaubon.
Cauſſin.
Chryſoſtome.
M. T. Cicero.
Cyprian.
Day.
Deſpagne.
Empedocles.
Eraſmus.
Evagrius.
Euſebius.
Dr. Featly.
Feltam.
Ferus.
Gallen.
Dr. Gouge.
Gribaldus.
Hugh Grotius.
Biſhop Hall.
Dr. Hammond.
Heidfeldius.
Dr. Heyling.
Hilderſham.
Hez: Holland.
Hug de S. Vict.
Huart.
Jenkins.
Jerome.
Joſephus.
Iſidore.
Junius.
Juvenal.
Lactantius.
Cornelius a Lapide.
Lanquet.
Lawrence.
Leigh.
Lightfoot.
Lyranus.
Magirus.
Marlorat.
Martial.
Mead.
Melancthon,
Mendoza,
Seb: Meyer,
Henry Moor,
Mornaeus,
Muſculus.
Gregory Nazianz.
Nicephorus.
Nierembergius.
Samuel Oates,
Origen,
Oſiander,
Ovid,
Pareus,
Perkins,
Pierius,
Pignetus,
Philippus
Plato,
Pliny,
Plutarch.
Polanus.
Quintilian,
Sir W. Raleigh,
Ramus,
Dr. Reynolds.
Rivius.
Rupertus.
Rutherford.
Rueus.
Salvian.
Sands.
Scaliger.
Shepheard.
Diodorus Siculus.
Simler.
Solinus,
Sozomen,
Strabo,
Strigelius,
Stow,
Tacitus,
Tertullian,
Toſtatus,
Tremelius,
John Trap,
Vegetius,
Lud: Vives,
Voſſius,
Waterhouſe,
Watſon,
Weems,
Dr. Willet,
Yſtella,
Zanchius, cum aliis.
FINIS.