Two Discourses Addressed to Young Persons, Sermon 3
EARTHQUAKES UNDER THE Divine Government. A SERMON Preach'd November 2. 1727. at the Lecture in Marblehead after the terrible EARTHQUAKE.
ISAIAH. XXIX.6.
Thou shalt be visited of the LORD of Hosts with Thunder, and with Earthquake, and great Noise, with Storm and Tempest, and the Flame of devouring Fire.
THO' the Prophet Isaiah be justly styled, an Evangelical Prophet, for his many, and clear Discourses of the Gospel State, and Times; which he Prophecies of, to encourage the People of God, & support their Minds, under the many Calamities they should meet withal, and to excite them to look with the more of Earnestness, and with the greater Preparedness for the Coming of the promised Messiah; Yet we find him often denouncing the heavy Judgments of God against the Jewish Nation, for the many provoking Sins that were to be found among them: and particularly in this, with the Two foregoing Chapters, he gives them Warning from God, what would be the sad Fruit of their Evil Ways, if they would not timely repent of their Wickedness, and turn unto the Lord.
IN the Beginning of this Chapter he foretels, the Babylonish Captivity that was hastning upon Ierusalem, whom he here stiles Ariel, as Ezekiel does the Altar of Burnt Offering, (Ezek. XLIII.15.) as denoting, that their nearest visible Relation to God▪ & their greatest Confidence in Him, should be no Security to them against the threatned Judgment, without a thorough Repentance, and Reformation.
BESIDES the Captivity that was approaching upon them, he …ets them know from God, that there were other desolating Judgments which God would inflict upon them, for their Incorrigibleness in their Evil Ways; as in my Text, Thou shalt be visited of the Lord of Hosts, with Thunder, and with Earthquake, and a great Noise, with Storm and Tempest, and the Flame of a devouring Fire.
HERE are Four terrible Judgments of God denounced against them, among which I shall select that of the Earthquake, for the Subject of my present Discourse; it being what we are all of us under the frightful Impressions of, from the Trembling of our Earth, and the great Noise that has accompanied it, in the Days that are past.
POSSIBLY the Earthquake, here spoken of, may be that which happened in the Days of Uzziah, King of Iudah, of which the Prophet Amos speaks, Amos I.1. and the Prophet Zechariah speaking of the taking Ierusalem, by the Chaldeans, says, Zech. X…V.5. Ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the Earthquake in the Days of Uzziah King of Iudah.
ISAIAH prophesied in the Reign of this Uzziah, as we may see in the Beginning of his prophesie; and it is recorded of Uzziah, that after he had greatly fortified and strengthned Ierusalem, his Heart was lifted up within him, and he would needs assume the Priests Office, & go himself into the Temple to burn Incense, upon the Altar of Incense, which it was not lawful for any but the Priest to do. Azariah, and Fourscore of the Priests withstood him, tho' a King; and when he attempted to force his Way to the Altar, in Opposition to the Priests, God smote him with Leprosie, & then they thrust him out, yea, he himself, convinced by the Judgment of God upon him of his Error, hasted to go out, as an unclean Person. The History whereof we have in, II. Chron. Ch. XXVI. At the same Time, as is supposed by some, the Earthquake happened that is here spoken of: and accordingly I…sephus the famous Jewish Historian tells us …hat when Uzziah grew Wroth, and in his Passion threatned to kill the Priests that withstood him, the Earth fell a Trembling, and the temple cleft in Twain, and the half of a Mountain, that stood to the Eastward, before the City, break and fell, and removed for the Space of four Furlongs, or half a Mile by which the Publick Ways were stopped up and Choaked, and the Kings Gardens of Pleasure were wholly ruined.
THUS the Lord visited them with an Earthquake and a great Noise; it was not a thing that happened by mere Chance and Accident, but it was from God, who sent it, as a Judgment upon them; the Direction thereof was from the Lord of Hosts.
FROM the Words I shall raise this Doctrinal Truth; viz.
DOCT. THAT when an Earthquake happens to any Place, it is the Lord of Hosts that visits the Place therewith.
IN speaking to this Doctrine, I shall
I. DISCOURSE a little upon the Nature of Earthquakes, their Causes, and Effects. And then
II. SHEW that when Earthquakes happen, it is the Lord of Hosts that visits a Place therewith.
I. I am to Discourse a little upon the Nature of Earthquakes, their Causes, and Effects.
HERE we may consider Earthquakes as Metaphorical, or Literal.
1. THERE are Metaphorical Earthquakes often spoken of in the sacred Scripture. This means those shaking Dispensations of Divine Providence, which God brings upon Nations, and Kingdoms, and Churches, by which their Political, or Ecclesiastical State is made to Totter, and sometimes is dissolved in the Frame of it, and they are turned upside down, all things being thrown into Confusion among them. This the Psalmist seems to intend, when he says, Psal. XLVI.2, 3. Therefore will not we fear, th…' the Mountains be carried into the midst of the Sea; tho' the Waters thereof roar, and be troubled; tho' the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. By the Mountains, are meant the Princes, and great Men of a State; and by the Sea, is meant the Populace: tho' the Sea roars, tho' the People are in a Tumult, and the Noise of Divisions, Confusions, Seditions, Rebellions are to be heard among them; tho' the Mountains, the Princes and great Men are shaken out of their Places, and thrown down, by the prevailing Tumults of the People, yet will not we fear; God is our Refuge, &c. Thus the Prophet Isaiah says, Chap. II. ver. 13—The Day of the Lord of Hosts shall be upon the Cedars of Lebanon that are high, & upon all the Hills that are lifted up, that is the Chief Men of the Nation — and the loftiness of Man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of Men shall be made low,— and they shall go into the holes of the Rocks, — for fear of the Lord, and for the glory of His Majesty, when He ariseth to shake terribly the Earth. This does not intend a literal Earthquake, but such Judgments as God in His Providence would bring upon them, whereby their State should be greatly shaken and dissolved. Thus again, the same Prophet foretells the Desolations which God would bring upon the Jews, and the Nations round about them, in these strains, Isa. XXIV.18.— The Foundations of the Earth d… shake, the Earth is ut…erly broken down, the Earth is clean dissolved▪ the Earth is moved exceedingly the Earth shall reel to & fro, like a Drunkard, & shall be removed like a Cottage. And the Prophet Haggai prophecying of the same Times, and Changes, says, Hag. II.6, 7. Thus saith the Lord of Hosts, yet once, it is a little while, and I will s…ake the Heavens and the Earth, and the Sea, and the dry Land; and I will shake all Nations, and the Desire of all Nations shall come. Both of these Texts seem to be prophetick of one and the same thing, viz. the great Changes and Revolutions that should befall, not only the Jewish Nation, but all the Nations around them, before the coming of the promised Messiah, here stiled the desire of all Nations, and they were most sadly accompl…shed in the Concussions, and Desolations, brought upon the World, by Alexander, the Grecian, his Four Captains and their Successours, and then by the Romans making new Revolutions, and Changes, and Desolations in the Earth. Thus also our Blessed Saviour seems to intend Metophorical Earthquakes, when He mentions them as signs of His Coming, Mar. XIII.8. Nation shall rise up against Nation, and Kingdom against Kingdom, and there shall be Earthquakes in divers places. There shall be great Concussions of Nations and Kingdoms, by the Judgments of God upon them in their Wars and Tumults, and the like, before the Second Coming of our Lord, and as a Sign of the near approach of it. And thus to name no more, we are told that when the Spirit of Life should enter into the slain Witnesses, and they should ascend up to Heaven, as in a Cloud, that the same H…ur was there a great Earthquake, and the Tenth part of the City …ell, Rev. XI.13. Which seems only to be a Prediction of those mighty Concussions which should be given to the Antichristian Powers, at the time of the Resurrection of the slain Witnesses, whereby a Tenth part of the City, or possibly one of the Ten Kings that had given their Power to the Beast, shall utterly fall off from her, and renounce her Supremacy, and abhor her Tyranny and Persecutions. And possibly wherever we read of Earthquakes, in the Revelations, they intend Revolutions, and Changes, in the State, or in the Church.
2. THERE are Literal and real Earthquakes; when the Earth itself is truly moved & shaken. Such I suppose to be spoken of in my Text, and such I intend in my Doctrine, and of these I mean more particularly to speak. And here by Earthquakes, is not to be understood the general and constant motion of the Earth, by which, as is supposed, it performed it's daily round, upon its own Axis, or its yearly one in its assigned Orbit; but I mean particular Shocks given to some Part or other of the Earth, by which the Surface of it, here, or there, is put into an unusual and violent Motion; and that, either of Trembling, as a Person in a fit of the Ague; or a sort of progressive Motion, which is carried forward on the Surface of the Earth in an Undulating Manner, like the rolling Waves of the Sea; and sometimes, it may be, by a more direct motion from the Centre, by which the Earth heaves up, till it burst, and swallows what is near it, in the gaping Chasm. Of such literal Earthquakes I shall briefly hint at the Causes and Effects.
1. O… the Causes of an Earthquake; and these may be considered either as Natural or Supernatural. The Supernatural Cause is the immediate Hand of God, of which I shall speak under the Second General Head. The Natural Causes, or Secondary Means that bring about an Earthquake is what I shall take notice of under this Head. And I shall not enlarge, but only say; That it is very rational to suppose that there are Caverns and Hollownesses, some very large and extended, others of more contracted Dimensions, in the Body of our Earth, containing Wind, or Water, or both in them. Lesser ones we find in our Digging of Wells, from whence we are supplied with Water. And hence we read, of the Fountains of the great Deep being broke up, Gen. VII.11. And Prov. VIII.28. He strengthned the Fountains of the Deep. And Job 28.4. The Flood breaketh out from the Inhabitant †All of which are understood of the Waters in Subterraneous Caverns; and that place in Iob should rather be r…ndred, breaketh out against the Inhabitant: as Mer. in Locum..
IT is also undoubted, That there are Subterraneous Fires in the Bowels of the Earth, since we have many Instances of their Eruption in diverse Parts of the World.
Now these Subterraneous Fires approaching near to those Caverns, filled with Wind or Water, must necessarily give a vehement Agitation to them; as the fired Gun-powder does to the Wind in the Gun, and as the Fire under a Pot sets the Water a Boyling in it: and because the Wind and Water thus rarifyed and put into violent Motion, by the approaching Heat, naturally seeks a Vent, or Room to expand themselves, therefore that Part of the Earth, which lies nearest to the Cavern, in which they are closely pent, is naturally and necessarily put into a strong and violent Motion to make Room for their Expansion; and because of the Continuity of the Parts of the Earth, from the Surface to those Caverns, therefore the Surface of the Earth also is necessarily thrown into Motion▪ according to the Direction of the Stroke, or first Shock that is given to the Concave of the Vault below; and is either made to tremble, as the force of the Motion of the pent Wind, or Water is less violent, or Cleaves and Rends asunder its Parts, as the Motion is more strong and vehement. In some such Method we may rationally suppose Earthquakes are generated of Natural Causes.
2. I shall hint at the Effects of Earthquakes; and they are so numerous that I may not enlarge upon them. Sometimes we find Houses greatly shaken by the force thereof, and …eel too and fro, or tremble like a Leaf shaken with the wind: while at the same Time, the Vessels upon the Waters feel the Shock as tho' they were running upon a gravelly Bottom, and their sides quiver, as if some floating Rafts had s…ddenly rushed against them. And how often does History give us an account, of Houses being overthrown from their Foundations, and the Inhabitants of whole Towns buried in the Ruins. A m…st sudden, surprizing and awful Death! Sometimes we are told of Mountains & Hills that have been put into motion, by an Earthquake, and carryed at a great Distance from the place where they formerly stood. History acquaints us also, That the Channels of Water, the Rivers, have been diverted from their usual Course thereby, and a new path has been marked out for them. At other Times the Earth has opened her Mouth, and whole Towns, and their Inhabitants have su…k down in the mighty Chasm, which has quickly closed upon them, and buried them in o…e …ommon Grave. Sometimes a mighty Roaring Noise has accompanied an Earthquake, and an amazing rumbling sound has been heard passi…g thro' a Land. And some have thought, that an Earthquake gives vent to certain venemous subterraneous Fumes, which have infected the Air, and produced pestilential Diseases, as the Natural Effects thereof.
AND how great are the Effects of an Earthquake, both upon the Bodies, and Minds of Persons? Their Bodies are put into a fit of Trembling, a cold chilness seizes upon them, Faintness enters into their Bowels, the Joynts of their Loins are loosed, and their Knees are ready to smi…e one against another: and what Fear and Consternation suddenly rushes into their Minds? Astonishment taketh hold of them, they are even at their Witts End, and know not what to do, nor where to go; the apprehensions of a Sudden, U…usual Death, in their full Strength, and in so Terrible a manner, fills them with Amazement, and they c…y out, with the Psalmist, O Lord, our Flesh tremb…es for fe…r of The…, and we are afraid … Iudgments. Thus it is said of them, in the T…me of an Earthquake. 1 Sam. XIV.15. There … 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. Thus much may suffice to have spoken to the Nature of Earthquakes, their Causes, and Effects. I pass to say.
II. THAT when Earthquakes happen, it is the Lord of Hosts that visiteth a Place therewith. They come not of themselves, nor by mere Chance and Accident, nor purely by the Force of second Causes; but they are sent by the Lord of Hosts, who has the sole Direction and Government thereof. And this is Evident.
1. IN that sometimes God visits a place with an Earthquake from the more immediate Influenc… of His own Almighty Power. Tho' there may be sometimes Natural Causes of an Earthquake, yet there are some Earthquakes, that we may well say of them, that they have no Natural Cause, but God Himself, by His own immediate Hand, shakes the Earth, and it trembles, and is greatly moved. We have several Instances hereof upon Sacred Record.
THUS when Israel pass'd over the Red Sea, or the River Iordan, there seems to have been an Earthquake produced by the immediate Hand of God, which the Psalmist commemorates, Psal. CXIV. When Israel went out of Egypt,— the Sea saw it, and fled, Iordan was driven back; the Mountains skipped like Rams, the little Hills like Lambs. What ailed thee, O thou Sea, that thou fledest? thou Iordan, that thou wast driven back? ye Mountains, that ye skipped like Rams? ye little Hills like Lambs? Tremble thou Earth, at the Presence of the Lord, at the Presence of the God of Iacob. To which Moses also may possibly allude, when he says, Exod. XV.12. Thou stretchedst out thy Right Hand, the Earth swallowed them. A very remarkable Insta…ce we have of this, in the Earthquake that swallowed up Corah, and his Companions. Num. XVI 30.—33. If the Lord make a new thing, and the Earth open her mouth, and swallow them up, with all that appertaineth unto them, and they go down quick into the pit, then ye shall understand that these men have provoked the Lord. 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, and the Earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their Houses, and all the Men that appertained unto Corah▪ & all their Goods; and they, and all that appertained to them, went down alive into the Pit, and the Earth closed upon them, & they perished from among the Congregation.
THUS when God gave the Law, upon Mount Sinai, 'tis said, Exod. XIX.18. Mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the Lord descended upon it in Fire, — and the whole Mount quaked greatly. This shaking of Sinai was from the more immediate Power of God, as the Psalmist observes, Psal. LXVIII▪7. O God, when thou wentest before thy People, the Earth shook — Sinai itself was moved at the presence of the God of Israel.
THUS the Earthquake that happened at the Crucifixion of our Lord, recorded, Mat. XXVII.51. and That at His Resurrection, mentioned, Mat. XXVIII.2. were evidently from the immediate Power of God, and not from the natural Operation of Second Causes.
AND to add no more; when Paul and Silas sang the Praises of God in Prison, at Mid…gh…, we read, Act. XVI 26. Suddenly there was a great Earthquake. All of which shews, that sometimes God by His own immediate Almighty Power, in a Supernatural way, visits a Place with an Earthquake. But,
2. WHATEVER be the Second Causes producing an Earthquake, still it is the Lord of Hosts that visits a Place therewith. And this is evident,
1. IN that the Lord of Hosts has the absolute Government of all Second Causes. This is but agreable to the Style, The Lord of Hosts; He is Lord of all the Hosts of Heaven and Earth; He has the Supremacy & Government of all things, whether Rational, or Irrational, Animate, or Inanimate; He is the Lord of them all, for He hath made them all; and He doth what He pleaseth, in Heaven, Earth, and Sea, and all Deep Places †Psal. CXXXV 6.. His Dominion extends to the Bowels, as well as to the Surface of the Earth. The Deepest Caverns, and whatsoever of Wind, or Water, or Fire may be lodged in those dark Receptacles, they are all at His Command. So that supposing there are Second Causes that are productive of Earthquakes, yet it is the Lord of Hosts that visits a Place therewith, because He has the absolute Government of those Second Causes. He endows them with their Power of Motion and Action, and He can increase and suspend *Dan. III.2….their Power as He pleases. He supports them in the Exercise of their Power, and Attention to the Laws of Motion; and without the Concurrence of His Providence, Rule, and Government, they cannot exert themselves, but immediately loose all their Vertue, and Efficacy. So that as He holds the Winds in our Atmosphere in His Fist, so He does those in the deepest and most retired Caverns; as He stilleth the Raging of the visible Ocean, and sets Bounds thereto, so He does to the hidden Waters under the Earth; as He kindles or suspends the Influences of the Fire upon the Earth, so He does those in the Vaults below. Whence it is, that no Second Causes, which by their natural Virtue, and Operation may be adapted as fit Means to bring on an Earthquake, can produce such an Effect, without His Almighty Arm, to set those Causes on work, to uphold them in their Operations, to give Efficacy to them, & accomplish the Affect by them. So that because God has the absolute Government of Second Causes, therefore whenever an Earthquake befalls any Place; it is the Lord of Hosts that visits them therewith.
2. THE Lord of Hosts limits and sets Bounds to every Earthquake. This plainly follows upon the former Head; for because He has the absolute Government of Second Causes, therefore He limits and sets Bounds to their Operations, and Effects. And this He does to every Earthquake. He limits it as to the Time of it; that a People shall be visited therewith at such a Time, and no other, even as He giveth the Snow, and the Rain from Heaven when He pleaseth. He limits them as their Ex…ep…, that they shall shake this Town, or that City, or shall roam more extensively thro'out a whole Country, and He says to them, as He does to the proud Waves of the Sea, hitherto shall ye come, and no further †Job XXXVIII.11.. He limits them as to their Duration, that they shall continue so many Minutes, or Seconds, or so many Hours, or Days; that they shall give just so many Shocks to a Place, and return upon them so often, and no more. He limits them also as to their Measure and Degree, and sets Bounds to their Effects, and they are either stronger, or weaker, more or less hurtful and destructive, as seemeth good unto Him. In all these things God acts as a Sovereign, establishes His own Counsel, and fulfilleth His own Pleasure, and it is out of the reach of Second Causes to disappoint, or controul Him ‖Isa. XLVI.…0..
3. THE Lord of Hosts accomplisheth His own Ends and Designs by Earthquakes. Tho' the natural Causes of an Earthquake are Inconscious, and know not their End▪ yet the Lord of Hosts over-rules and Governs them to accomplish those Ends and Designs which He aims at by them. Hence Iob said, Job. IX.4.— He is wise in Heart, —which removeth Mountains and they know not, which overturneth them in His Anger; which shaketh the Earth out of her place, and the Pillars thereof tremble. Sometimes God aims at the Manifestation of the Glory of His Majesty by them, and convince all the World that His Name al…ne is Jehovah; as by the Earthquake which was at the giving of the Law upon Mount Sinai. S…metimes God may send an Earthquake to give Confirmation to His Truths; as by those at the Crucifixion, and Resurrection of our Lord. Sometimes He may aim at the manifesting of His gracious and favourable Presence with His People; as when Peter and Iohn, were assembled together with the Disciples in Prayer; 'tis said, Act. IV.31. When they had prayed the place was shaken where they were assembled together, and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost. And sometimes God has caus'd an Earthquake in Mercy unto His Servants, that by it He might work wondrously for their Deliverance; as when Paul and Silas were Imprisoned, and fastned in the Stocks there, that there might be no way left for their Escape, we are told, Act. XVI.26. 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 Bands were loosed. Thus was Deliverance wrought for His Servants.
BUT most usually Earthquakes are sent in Judgment, and as a Punishment upon a Nation or People. Thus 'tis threatned as a Judgment upon Jerusalem in my Text. Hence also we find God threatning them, (which whether it be understood of a Literal or Metaphorical Earthquake it amounts to the same thing,) Ezek. XXXVIII.19, 20. In my Iealousy, and in the Fire of my wrath have I spoken, surely in that Day there shall be a great Shaking in the land of Israel, so that —all the Men that are upon the face of the Earth shall shake at my Presence▪ & the Mountains shall be thrown down, and the steep places shall fall, and every Wall shall fall to the Ground. Thus also we are told Psal. XVIII.7. The Earth sh…ok & trembled, the Foundations of the Hills also moved & were shaken, because He was wroth. The Lord of Hosts visits a Place with an Earthquake to manifest His Displeasure at the Inhabitants thereof, & to let them see, and know that He is Angry; and by this He accomplishes His Designs of Judgment upon them. And who is there of us, that knows any thing of an Earthquake, and has felt the Earth trembling under us, or our Houses rocked and tottering over our Heads, that does not with Fear and Trembling, look upon it as a sore and terrible Judgment of God.
BUT these things may suffice to Illustrate and Confirm the Doctrine, I pass now to make some Improvement of what has been said.
USE. I. DOES the Lord of Hosts sometimes visit a Place with Earthquakes, See then and adore the Mighty Power of our God. Who is a God like unto Him, or who hath an Arm like God? Is any Man in Strength so great, or can the united Force of all Mankind, produce such an amazing Effect, as the Shaking the Pillars of the Earth, and making them to Tremble? Alas! How weak & feeble is all their Strength? But the Lord of Hosts is able to shake the Earth out of its Place when He pleaseth. He need but touch the Mountains, and they smoke, and the Hills, and they are moved at His Presence. He that by a Words speaking gave Being to the Earth, and put it into its natural Motion, can easily by an other Word of Command, give an unusual and Extraordinary Motion to it.
How should the Consideration hereof raise in our Minds, the most High, and adoring Thoughts of the Almighty Power of God?
How should this Thought fill us with an holy Fear and Reverence of Him? Fear before Him all the Earth. He can shake all the Earth; and shall not the Heart of Man tremble at His mighty Power? What Sinner so great and mighty as to stand before this All-powerful God? Who ever hardened themselves against Him, and prospered? Wilt thou then provoke the Lord to Jealousy? Are you Stronger than He? Can He not in a Moment, when you least think of it, and are sleeping securely in your Beds, shake your Houses down over your Heads, and crush you to pieces? Or can He not cause the Earth to open her Mouth, and swallow you up, that you should go down quick into the Pit? And will you not then Fear to Sin against Him, and provoke Him to Anger? O, let the Dread of the most High fall upon you, and His Excellency make you afraid.
ON the other hand; What a Foundation is here for our Hope, and Trust in the Lord of Host, who is able to do more for us than we can ask or think? He has all the Hosts of Heaven and Earth at Command, and can accomplish what Mercy He pleaseth for them that put their Trust in Him. He can work Salvation as well as Destruction, without the help of Second Causes, by the Strength of His own Arm; and can save by Many or by Few, or without any. How should the Thought of the Almighty Power of God displayed in an Earthquake, lead us to the most steady Trust and Dependance on Him, who is able to Wound, or to Heal, to save alive, or to Destroy; and who can, in wondrous, and unexpected ways, fulfil all the Mercy, He has promised to them that Love and Serve Him? Thus the Earthquake which we have felt, should teach us to adore the Almighty Power of our God, to ascribe Greatness unto Him who is known, by His Name JA…, and by His wonderful Works among the Children of Men.
2. THIS should teach us, to admire the Goodness and Mercy of God to us, in Sparing of us in the Time of an Earthquake. If it is the Lord of Hosts that Rules and Governs the Earthquake, and sets Bounds and Limits thereto, then unto Him do we owe the Glory of all the Preservations, of our selves, and our Habitations, when the Earth has been shaking under us. For it were easy with Him to have enlarged His Commission, and to have destroyed us, and our Dwellings together. Had the Earthquake, that so lately has passed under us, been but a little Stronger, or of longer continuance, who can say, how soon it might have levelled our Houses with the Ground, and have buried us alive in the mighty ruines? But thro' the tender Mercy of our God we are spared: and not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto Thy Name alone be all the Glory. How distinguishingly good, has our God been to us herein? That when He has bro't such Desolation upon so many parts of the World by terrible Earthquakes, as in Italy, & Sicily, and nearer hand in Iamaica upon the 7th of Iune, 1692, yet He has been graciously pleased to spare Thee, O New-England. Think not, that it was because we did not deserve to be destroyed thereby, as well as other places; for there are crying Abominations to be found among us. As our Blessed Saviour said, Luke XIII.4. Those Eighteen upon whom the Tower of Siloam fell, and slew, think ye that they were Sinners above all the Men in Ierusalem, I tell you nay; but except ye repent ye shall all likewise▪ Perish. Let then the sense of this distinguishing Goodness of God abide upon our Hearts, & influence us to make suitable Returns to the Lord our Preserver, and lead us to Repentance.
And therefore,
Lastly; OH! Let every Soul now be perswaded to hearken to the Voice of God, in the awful Providence, that He has been passing before us in. There is a Voice of God in all His Providences; but there is a peculiar loud Voice in such awful Providences, as that of being visited with an Earthquake, God has been visiting us with this tremendous Judgment this Week. How terrible and surprising was the first sudden shock thereof, the Last Lords-Day-Night, a little before Eleven, when the most of us were in our Beds, and were awaked with a most hideous Roaring, and terrified with the rocking of our Houses, the rattling of our Windows & Doors, and the Earth shaking under us? Into what a Maze and Fright were we thrown? How did our Flesh quiver, and our Joynts tremble, and our Hearts melt within us, because thereof? and how often has the shock been repeated, ever since, both Day and Night, tho' in lesser Rumblings? every one of which seemed a new to startle and confound us. And this has happened, not to a particular Town or Place, but so far as we can learn, to the whole Land, which has more or less felt the Trembling. And what is the Language of this sore Judgment? but that of the Prophet of old, Amos IV.12. Prepare to meet thy God, O Israel.
Wherefore,
1. LET us all set upon unfeined Repentance, and Reformation of all that is amiss among us. What is the procuring Cause of the Divine Judgments? but Sin; which provokes the Lord to Anger. And what is the special Voice of this Judgment? but, Repent, Repent, O every one of you▪ Therefore the Prophet Isaiah, when he is denouncing this, and other Judgments, from God upon the Jews; says, Isai. XXVII.9. By this shall the Iniquity of Iacob be purged, and the Fruit thereof is to take away Sin. This is what God expects, when He is coming so near unto us in Judgment, that every One should set himself to the Amending of One, that Iniquity may not prove our Ruin. O let us all then, do what we can to reform our Lives, and amend our Evil Ways. Think how your Sins stared you in the Face, when the tremendous Judgment of God surrounded you; and now unfeignedly put away those Evils from you, that they may not pull down the Divine Vengeance upon your Heads. Here suffer me plainly to mention some Sins, which I look upon very much to be the crying Sins of the Land, and of this Town in particular▪
First; Is not the Cry of Injustice exceeding great among us? Is it not too apparent, that a Worldly Spirit possesses the most of Men, and even of the high professors of Religion? Insomuch that generally Men will stick at nothing, which the Civil Law cannot take hold of them …or, to grasp, and gripe, and oppress, and defraud, and Couzen, and impose upon one another, that they may enrich themselves. False Weights! false Measures! false Wares! O how common, almost every where, are they to be found among us? Thus every one seeks his own, and not his Neighbours Profit and Advantage; few, or none walking by the Golden Rule, of doing as he would be done by. O let the cry hereof be no more heard among us; but let every Man thoroughly reform One.
Again; Is there not a Flood of Drunkenness prevailing among us; This was one of the Sins for which God denounced his sore Judgments, in my Text, and Context, as we may see, Isai. XXVIII.1, 7. Wo to the Drunkards of Ephraim: — they have Erred thro' Wine, and thro' st…ng Drink are they out of the Way; — all Tables are full of Vomit and Filthiness, so that there is no place clean. And alass! 'tis in vain to attempt to hide it; Drunkenness, and Error thro' strong Drink is become o…e of the crying Sins of this Land, and of this Town in a special manner. The multiplying of T…pling Houses, the amazing Con…mp…ion of strong Drink, the Reeling and Stagge…ing of many Persons, the Stammering of their Tongues, and the violence of the Passions of many more, are too plain Evidences against us. Well m…y God make our Earth to reel and stagger under us, when we are so given to reel and stagger upon it. I beseech you, as you love you… Lives, as you love your Souls, let there be a …peedy Reformation.
Again; ARE there not abominable Uncleannesses among us? This seems to be pointed at in my Context, when 'tis said, Isai. XXIX.15. Their Works are in the Dark, & they say, who seeth us? who knoweth us? Their Secret Uncleannesses were among their Works of Darkness. And is it not so among our selves? How many Instances of it multiply upon us? Have there not been incestuous Marriages among us? as well as adulterous ones? And how common is it for young Persons to have known one another before their Marriage together? These Things are Pollutions to the Town, and Land, and greatly Provoke the H…ly God, that He might well spew us out of His Mouth. O that the loud Call of Providence might be hearkened to, and that such things might be no more found among us.
Finally; How barefaced, and open is the Profa…ity of this People? This also was a prevailing Evil… Iudah, and therefore, tis here said, ver. 23. They shall Sanctify my Name, and Sanctify the Holy One of Iacob, and shall fear the God of Israel: Implying that they had not Sanctifyed … His N…m…. And alas! What … Profanations of the Name of God are to … among us, in the hideous, Cursing, and Swearing, that is become almost the common Language of too many among us? And how openly do we see Persons Profaning the Sabbath of the Lord, in their Sports, and Diversions, especially on the Lord's-Day Evening? Do we not see them walking in droves to serve the Devil, after they have been pretending to serve God? I am credibly informed, That the last Lord's-Day Evening was very remarkable for the Profanity of it; and that many of our People were caught, both abroad, and in their Houses, in the very Act of their Sinning, when the terrible Judgment of God came and shook the Earth under them, and their Houses over them. Verily the Profanation of the Lord's-Day is a crying Abomination; and because you will not let the Sabbath of the Lord enjoy its Rest, therefore God is so disresting you, and upon that very Day, as He has remarkably done the Summer past. I earnestly entreat you, That these Evils may be reformed; and that those, whose Business 'tis to help forward a Reformation, would in good Earnest apply themselves hereunto.
AND to our external Reformation, be exceeding careful to add a hearty and unfeigned Repentance, in a Godly Sorrow for your past Sins, and in subduing Iniquity in your Hearts, as well as in your Lives. Does not your Heart within you tremble at the Earthquake? and will you then dare to hug any thing there, that shall expose you to the Divine Anger?
2. NOW earnestly set your selves to seek the Lord. This is the Language of the awful Providence of God, seek ye the Lord, while He may be found; call ye upon Him, while He is near, Isai. LV 6. Seek the Lord, in a constant Observation of all His holy Commandments; by a diligent Attendance upon His Worship and Ordinances. Seek the Lord, by living and walking in the Fear of the Lord all the Day long; maintaining a holy Awe and Reverence of Him upon your Hearts continually. Seek the Lord, in the Exercise of all the Social Vertues, of Righteousness, Mercy, Love, Gentleness, Patience, Long-suffering, Meekness, and Charity. And seek the Lord, by your earnest Prayers, calling upon the Name of the Lord your God, that He would appear for your Help, and grant you His Salvation. When Ionah's Marriners were in a Storm, they said to him, Jon. I.6. What meanest thou, O Sleeper, arise and call upon thy God, if so be that God will think upon us, that we perish not. And will you be so sleepy and stupid, when God is sending an Earthquake among you, as not to arise and call upon Him, that you may not perish? O let there not be one Prayerless Person, not one Prayerless Family, from this Time forward to be found among us; but let your Fears drive you upon your Knees, and make you serious, earnest, importunate in your Supplications, Night and Day, unto the Lord of Hosts, that you perish not.
To have done,
3. NOW be exceeding careful what Bottom you stand upon. You see the common Earth, on which you tread, is but an uncertain Foundation, it totters under you, and may open its mouth to devour you, and all your Substance. And will you then be so unwise, as to found all your Hopes and Expectations upon the Things of this World, which may all be consumed in a Moment? O be perswaded now to make sure of that Good Part, which cannot be taken away from you, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain with you.
AND see to the Foundations of your Hope for Eternity. If you had perished in the late Earthquake, O what would have become of the greatest Part of you, thro'out Eternal Ages? Had you any comfortable Grounds to Hope, that your Sins were Pardoned, and that your Souls would have been saved? Or, did not your Sins fly in your Face, and your Consciences terrify you, and tell you plainly that God was Angry with you? What would you then have given, for an Interest in the Sin-pardoning Blood of Jesus Christ? What would you then have given, to have had the comfortable Hopes of going to Heaven? O let this loud Call and Alarm of Providence, mind you of the approaching Judgment, and quicken you, to give all Diligence to make your Calling and Election sure, by working out your own Salvation with Fear and Trembling. Let it drive you to Christ, the Rock of Ages, the Everlasting Strength, that abideth sure, and stedfast; and whosover is built upon Him shall not be ashamed, nor confounded, World without End. Our Blessed Saviour has assured us, Mat. VII.24. Whosoever heareth my sayings, and doth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, that built his House upon a Rock; and the Rain descended, and the Floods came, and the Winds blew, and beat upon that House, and it fell not, for it was founded upon a Rock. That Rock is Christ. If you are in Him, you are safe from all Storms, and Tempests, and Earthquakes; none of them all shall be able to overthrow your Hope of Eternal Life; because He will preserve all that are founded upon Him, thro' all the Revolutions of Time, and thro' the Horrors of Death itself, to His Kingdom and Glory If you are built upon Him, and have a Title …o Heaven, thro' the Merits of His Blood, … need … not Fear, tho' the Mountains be … the midst of the Sea, tho' the Earth …ake, …d the Pillars thereof Tremble; b… you may safely, and comfortably leave it with God, to take His own Time, and Way, to f…ch you out of this, to that Be…ter World, whe… is your Hope▪ and your Treasure▪ Well the… make sure of this, as the one thing needful, that Christ be in you the Hope of Glory. This will be the best Preservative against the Fear of Death, because a suitable Preparation for it; and then the Dissolution of the Earthly House of this Tabernacle, tho' attended with the Terrors of the Earth dissolving under you, will be but the fetching of you away to the Building of God, the House not made with Hands, Eternal in the Heavens.
O Let the loud call of Divine Providence be unto you a strong Motive, and Excitement to all of this. And now seriously consider the manner of God's Dealings with us, and the many Terrors He has been passing before us in, the Summer past. He has visited us with the roaring Thunder, and the flashing Lightning, in an unusual and awful manner; and come very near to us, in the Effects of the Explosion, particularly on the second of Iuly last. He has visited us also with the Storm and the Tempest, with such an Hurricane of Wind, as our Fathers have hardly known before us, and we felt some of the sad Effects of it to our Cost, the Sixteenth of September last in the Evening. And now He has been visiting of us with the Earthquake, and a great Noise, upon the Twenty ninth of October, and several Days following †After the first great Shock, the Rumbling Noise of the Earthquake was heard, for about 30 Times, to the Seventh of November, about a quarter after Eleven, A. M. which is the last certain account I have of it.. O let the Twenty ninth of October be a Night much remembred by us, and never be forgotten. Those things have all of them happened upon, or near to the Sabbath, ‖The Thunder, which did some Damage, Iuly 2. about 5. h. p. m. Lords-Day; The Tempest on 16 of September was on Saturday Evening, the Effects whereof were heavy …on us the next Lords-Day▪ and the Earthquake began on Lord's-Day Night, between 10. & 11. h.to mind us of our Sabbath Sins, and excite us to Sabbath Duties. And if we will not be reformed by these things, who knows what a Flame of devouring Fire the Lord may next kindle among us; or what other sore, and desolating Judgments He hath reserved in store for us. Remember the awful Words, Lev. XXVI.27, 28. If ye will not for all this Hearken unto me, but walk contrary unto me; then I will walk contrary unto you also, in Fury; and I, even I, will chastise you seven times for your Sins.
[Since the Writing of this, the Noise of the Earthquake has been heard often, as, Nov. 9. at 20 m. after 10. The 11th. it was h…ard twice last Night, about 11. and just about Day. The Twelfth again. The 14th. last Night. The 19th. at 9 h. 20 m. A. M. The 20th it was heard strong. The 27th. about 9 h. 20. m. A M. Dec. 6th. heard last Night. The 7th. heard again last Night. The 8th. between 10 & 11. to Day It was considerably loud. The 12th it was heard about 50 m. after 8 this Evening.
It is said that it has been heard every Day more or less, upon some part or other of Merrimack-River: But these are the Times of it's being heard among us. Nor do I know of it's being heard since the 12 Instant.]
Marblehead, Dec. 23.
FINIS.