Earthquakes explained and practically improved occasioned by the late earthquake on Sept. 8, 1692 in London, many other parts in England, and beyond sea / by Thomas Doolittle ... Doolittle, Thomas, 1632?-1707. 1693 Approx. 174 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 85 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2008-09 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A36316 Wing D1883 ESTC R12441 12333449 ocm 12333449 59717 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A36316) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 59717) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 208:3) Earthquakes explained and practically improved occasioned by the late earthquake on Sept. 8, 1692 in London, many other parts in England, and beyond sea / by Thomas Doolittle ... Doolittle, Thomas, 1632?-1707. [17], 141, [3] p. Printed for John Salusbury ..., London : 1693. Advertisement: p. [1]-[3] at end. Reproduction of original in British Library. Imperfect: print blurred and difficult to read in places. Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford. Re-processed by University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. Gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. 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Copies of the texts have been issued variously as SGML (TCP schema; ASCII text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable XML (TCP schema; characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless XML (TEI P5, characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or TEI g elements). Keying and markup guidelines are available at the Text Creation Partnership web site . eng Earthquakes -- England. -- Early works to 1800. Earthquakes -- Jamaica. 2006-08 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2006-08 Aptara Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2007-06 Robyn Anspach Sampled and proofread 2007-06 Robyn Anspach Text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-02 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion Earthquakes EXPLAINED AND Practically Improved : OCCASIONED By the late EARTHQUAKE on Sept. 8. 1692. in LONDON , many other parts in England , and beyond Sea. By THOMAS DOOLITTLE M. A. Jamaica's Miseries shew London's Mercies . Both Compared . LONDON : Printed for John Salusbury at the Rising Sun over against the Royal Exchange in Cornhill . 1693. An Humble WARNING From the Presaging Earthquake Sept. 8. 1692. PLague , Fire , and Earthquakes are amongst the most terrible Judgments , whereby the great and holy God doth manifest his sore displeasure against a sinful People , and his indignation and hatred of their heinous and crying Sins . These three have befallen London . The first in the GREAT DYING Year , 1665. the second in the GREAT BURNING Year 1666. and the last in the GREAT TREMBLING present Year 1692. and the Month of September is remarkable in all these . The Plague ( as I remember ) being then at the highest , the great Fire began on Septemb. 2. and the Earthquake was on the Eighth of the same Month ; on which day of the Month Josephus de bel . Jud. lib. 7. cap. 18. writes thus ; Jerusalem was taken the second year of Vespasian 's reign , on the eighth day of September , and having been already five times before surprized , it was finally again destroyed . This was London's trembling , but ( through the great Power , Patience , and Mercy of God ) not its falling day . I call Earthquakes presaging for these Reasons ; what weight there is in them I leave to others to judge . 1. Because Christ did assert them to to be such : Luke 21. 5. to 12. as some spake of the Temple , how it was adorned with goodly stones , and gifts , he said , As for these things , which ye behold , the days will come , in which there shall not be left one stone upon another , that shall not be thrown down ; they asked , Master , When shall these things be ? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass . Then Christ gave ( amongst others ) Earthquakes as foregoing Signs of such future Ruins . 2. Because God hath made use of Earthquakes ( in former times ) as forerunners of great Calamities to come . So according to Christ's prediction , this Sign went before the destruction of the Temple . Josephus de bel . Jud. lib. 7. c. 12. Amongst the foregoing Signs of the destruction of Jerusalem , mentioneth an Earthquake : Vpon the Feast-day of Pentecost , at night the Priests going into the inner Temple to offer their wonted Sacrifice , at first they felt the place to move and tremble , and afterward they heard a voice , which said , Let us depart hence . 3. Because Christ saith ( as of other Judgments mentioned , so ) of Earthquakes , They are the beginning of Sorrows . If the beginning , must not others follow ? when an Earthquake is the beginning ( let not Scorners deride ) who knows what shall be the middle and the ending of those Calamities , that might take their beginning from an Earthquake , Matth ▪ 24. 7 , 8. 4. Because I judge ( if I err , let my mistaking thoughts be excused ) that this late Earthquake was from the immediate hand of God. And yet if it were not , God can use the alleadged Natural Causes of Earthquakes , to give warning , and to fore-run other following Miseries . But my reason is this , because it did extend it self so far , to so many places in England , and beyond the Sea ( according to the Account that I have heard ) not only on the same day , but at the same time of the day as in England , at London , Sheerness , Sandwich , Deal , Maidstone , Portsmouth , and many other places beyond Sea , at Paris , Marli , Versailles , and in Normandy , at Brussels , Cologne , and in most places of Holland and Flanders . Now if it did arise from Natural Causes , there must be exceeding great quantities of such Vapours in the Caves and hollow Places of the Earth , which striving all along so far to get out , it seems very strange they did no where with great fury break out , to the opening of the Earth , and overthrow of some places , where the Earth was weakest . If the quantity was less , taking its beginning in some certain place , and proceeding forward , seeking to get out , but could not , it would have required more time to travail under ground to such distant Towns and Cities , as in England , and so many places beyond Sea , and so could not have been at all , at the same time . And if it were from the immediate hand of God , was it not for some great end that God should do so great a work , which he doth more rarely do ? Is not the meaning of it , a warning to all that have been shaken by it , to forsake sin , and turn to God by repentance and reformation , or else look for some further stroke ? while we go on in a course of great provoking sins , when God hath shaken his Rod over us , might we not fear it will some time fall upon us ? But whether it were Natural or Supernatural , should not all places that trembled by it , without Reformation , fear and tremble at the Judgments that may follow it ? when God begins to punish , and Men not so much as begin to repent and turn , doth not he threaten he will go on to punish seven times more , and seven to that ? and many times seven more to that , when a People still walk contrary to him ? Lev. 26. 15. to 40. Some would fain deny the matter of Fact , but that there are so many Witnesses to testifie against them . Some that own it , make light of it , and do not at all think it portends any more Calamity to come ; even as the blinded Jews slighted all the Indications of more approaching Miseries , as Josephus writes concerning them ; saying , These miserable people were easily perswaded to believe Impostors who did bely God , yet would they not believe , nor give any ear or regard unto certain Tokens and Signs ( of which an Earthquake was one ) of the ruin of their City : but as it were blinded , neither having Eyes nor Souls , they counterfeited themselves , not to see what God foreshewed them . Tho' I dare not undertake to tell what particular Judgments ( which are at God's ordering ) this Earthquake doth presage , without Reformation ; yet may I not ask this sober Question , If this late Earthquake have not good effect upon our Hearts and Lives , may we not fear lest those Judgments may follow , which we read in Scripture God hath sent upon a People for those very sins which do raign amongst us ? as for prophaning his Sabbaths , for excessive Pride in Apparel , for profane Swearing , fulness of Bread , Drunkenness , Whoredoms , Robberies , Murders , Contempt of Religion , Hatred of Godliness , Divisions , and hating one another , neglect of Religious Education of Children , banishing the Worship of God from our Families , Blaspheming , and Cursing instead of Calling upon God , Lukewarmness , and a general Decay of the Power of Godliness , Leaving of our first Love , loss of the Spirit of Prayer , yea ( ah sinful Age ) deriding of it , Apostacies , and Worldliness , Selfishness , and abuse of God's holy Ordinances , prostituting them to Carnal Designs and Interests ; and many more . That Scripture ( amongst many Isai . 3. ) may serve for a Glass to see our sins , and what Judgments we may fear , if they be continued in ; which are sins that bring Kingdoms and Cities to ruin . Verse 8. For Jerusalem is ruined , and Judah is fallen , because their tongue and their doings are against the Lord , to provoke the eyes of his glory . O that Magistrates ( Nehemiah like ) would not any longer suffer the Sabbath to be openly profaned , or things exposed to Sale in Londons ( late trembling ) Streets , or Parts adjacent , nor in the Land. Where is Nehemiah's Courage ? Neh. 13. 15. In those days saw I in Judah , some treading Wine-presses on the Sabbath , and bringing in Sheaves , and lading Asses : as also Wine , Grapes , Figs [ and now in our Street-trade , Apples , Pears , Plumbs , &c. ] on the Sabbath-day : and I testified against them in the day wherein they sold Victuals . Verse 17. Then I contended with the Nobles of Judah , and said unto them , What evil thing is this that ye do , and profane the Sabbath day ? Did not your Fathers thus , and did not our God bring all this evil upon us , and upon this City ? yet ye bring more wrath upon Israel by profaning the Sabbath . — Verse 21. Then I testified against them , and said unto them , — if ye do so again , I will lay hands on you . From that time forth came they no more on the Sabbath day . O that after such shakings of the City , such things might be done no more on the Sabbath day . O that no more Oaths on other days might be heard in our Streets , and no more reelings by Drunkenness there , least the Earth reel under us again . O that there might be praying to , and praising of God in all Houses that did shake , and yet do stand . That all Men of all Ranks , Callings , Qualities , Rich and Poor , Magistrates and Subjects , Ministers and People , Parents and Children , Masters and Servants , might search their hearts and ways , see what is amiss , and mend it , what is good , and continue and grow therein , that God may be no more provoked , dishonoured , incensed against us , but glorified , pleased , feared by us , that his Anger might be turned away from us , that instead of Judgments and Wrath , his Blessings and Mercies might be poured upon us . Amen . THE CONTENTS . 1. The Preface , containing 1 The Suns miraculous 1. Standing still 2. Going back 3. Eclipse p. 2. to 8. 2 The Earths motion by Earthquakes The Copernican's Opinion of the constant motion of the Earth . p. 8. The Testimony of our Senses of its natural resting . p. 9 , 10. 2. The Parts of the Text. 1 The Earthquake . p. 12. 2 The greatness of it . 13. By 1. Shaking the Foundations of the Prison . ibid. By 2. Immediate opening of the Doors . 14. By 3. Loosing the Prisoners Bonds . ibid. 3 The Suddenness of it . 15. 3. Doctrines . I. God many times works wonders for the deliverance of his suffering Saints , in order to the propagating of the Gospel . 15 , 16 , 17 II. God needs not length of time to do the most great and wonderful works . The suddenness of the late Earthquake . 18 , 19 , 20. III. Tho' an Earthquake suddenly come , and quickly go , & nothing is destroyed thereby , yet it is , and may be truly called a Great Earthquake . 8 Questions to such as thought the late Earthquake small . 20 to 25 IV Tho' some Earthquakes have their natural Causes , yet some do arise from the immediate hand and power of God. 25. The Method . 26 , 27 , 28. Earthquakes are , either 1. Metaphorical . 28. to 32. 2. Literal and Real . These are 1 Supernatural . 9 Instances . An account of that miraculous Earthquake in the days of Uzziah , and for what sin . 32. to 47. Three Inferences . 47. to 52. 2 Natural . Their 1 Causes Material Efficient . 52. to 58. 2 Description . 3 Seven sorts . By others reduced to three . 58. to 61. 4 Six antecedent Signs . 62 , 63. 5 Effects . 1 Great Consternations . Several Reasons os it in Earthquakes . 64 to 79. 2 Precipitant flight . 79 , 80. 3 Openings of the Earth . ibid. 4 Subversion of houses &c. 81 , 82 , 83 5 The change of the Channel of the Sea. ibid. 6 Overthrow and removing of Mountains . 84. 7 Infectious Diseases . 84 , 85. 6 Adjuncts . In 8 Conclusions . 86. to 93 7 Inferences 12. for improving this great work of God. 93. to 119. Gods sparing Mercy to London , &c in the late Earthquake set forth ▪ 1. By 18 Instances of dreadful devastations made by Earthquakes in several places in former Ages . p. 119. to 123. 2. By the lamentable Ruins in Jamaica , the Effects of the late Earthquake there , described by Letters from thence . 123. to 129 A Letter from a Minister in Kent . giving some account of the late Earthquake there . 129 , 130. An Earthquake in England , An. 1580. much like to this so lately here . 131 , 132 , 133 The Religious Zeal of Queen Elizabeth moved by that Earthquake to publish an Order , commanding all Housholdders throughout the Realm to call together all in their respective Families , and to pray with them every Evening before they went to bed . 133. to 137. Three Years very remarkable for God's dealings with London in our days : 1665. for the Plague ; 1666. for the Fire , and 1692. for the Earthquake . 138. to the end . Earthquakes EXPLAINED AND IMPROVED . ACTS XVI . 26. And suddenly there was a great Earthquake , so that the Foundations of the Prison were shaken : and immediately all the Doors were opened , and every ones Bonds were loosed . WOnderful , many wonderful things are done by the Lord of Heaven and Earth , by reason whereof his People may in triumph , and the Wicked in terrour , say , Who is like unto thee , O Lord , amongst the gods ( or mighty ones ) who is like thee , glorious in holiness , fearful in praises , working wonders ? sometimes in the Heavens over our heads ; sometimes on and within the Earth under our feet : In both the works of God have been so amazing , that might fill the Inhabitants of Heaven above , and of the Earth beneath , with admiration of his Divine Perfections . First ; God's works have been astonishing in the Heavens over our heads , which because they are too high , and above our present Theme and Subject , I shall but briefly mention three of them , and those concerning the Sun , the great inlightener of this Earth whereof we are to speak . 1. The standing still of the Sun. It is the Doctrine of Aquinas , That Motion doth as much belong to the Nature of Heaven , as Immobility and Rest to the Nature of the Earth . The Earth is a setled , fixed Body , and therefore it is an act of mighty power in God to shake it , and to make it move ; but the Sun is as a Bridegroom coming out of his Chamber , rejoycing as a strong man to run a race , according to the ordinary Law of Creation and Government in continual motion , and therefore a mighty work of God alone to cause its motion to cease and stand still . The making of the Sun to stop , which naturally cannot but move , and causing the Earth to shake and move , which naturally cannot but stand still , is an effect of equal power . The command of God doth change the Earths station into motion , and the Suns motion into standing still . Josh . 10. 12. Than spake Joshua to the Lord in the day when the Lord delivered up the Amorites before the Children of Israel , and he said in the sight of Israel , Sun , stand thou still upon Gibeon , and thou Moon in the valley of Ajelon . Verse 13. And the Sun stood still , and the Moon stayed until the People had avenged themselves upon their Enemies . So the Sun stood still in the midst of Heaven , and hasted not to go down about a whole day . Verse 14. And there was no day like that , before it or after , that the Lord harkened unto the voice of a man , for the Lord fought for Israel . Where is observable , ( 1. ) That Joshua spake first to the Lord , and then to the Sun ; for it was not Joshua's voice , but God's power that put a check to the motion of the Sun. ( 2. ) God hearkened to the voice of Joshua , praying that the Sun might stop its motion . ( 3. ) Then the Sun hearkened to the voice of Joshua , so that by God's commanding voice , in answer to Joshua's praying voice , the Sun stood still : If all the men on Earth with one concurrent voice , should say to it , Sun stand thou still , it would still go forwards in its motion : so that its cessation from motion demonstrated the mighty , amazing work of God. 2. The Retrograde motion of the Sun ▪ or its going backward , is no less a wonderful work of God in the Heaven than its standing still . The motion of the Sun is naturally progressive , or going forward , and if it should make more haste by many degrees in its diurnal Motion , it must be by power Divine , and not Humane ; yet in the apprehension of men , it is a greater thing , that it should go backward , and would cause more their observation of its motion , and admiration of God's power . Isai . 38. 7. This shall be a sign unto thee from the Lord , that the Lord will do this that he hath spoken . Verse 8. Behold , I will bring again the shadow of the degrees which is gone down in the Sun-dial of Ahaz ten degrees backward . So the Sun returned ten degrees , by which degrees it was gone down . Hezekiah prayed , God promised gives him a sign for his assurance of the performance , and the sign ( tho' miraculous ) was effected , and ●●ne mercy asked , was bestowed : God caused the Sun to go backwards to confirm the faith of his People in his Promise that his work for their deliverance should go forwards . 3. That at and from high noon-day till three in the afternoon , the Sun should give no light , but darkness should be at the usual time of its inlightening the Earth , was the hand and power of God. Ordinary Eclipses are not miraculous , yet there was one that was not according to the course of Nature . When the Lord of Glory , the Sun of Righeousness was crucified , the Sun hid its face , and the Heavens put themselves into mourning at his death . Matth. 27. 45. Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the Land until the ninth hour . This was an extraordinary and miraculous work of God , upon the Reasons usually alleadged . ( 1. ) Because it was the full of the Moon , which caused a great Philosopher to cry out , Either the God of Nature suffers , or the Frame of Nature dissolves . ( 2. ) Because ( as some affirm ) it was universal , over all the World. Or ( 3. ) according to others , because it was only over the Land of Judea , all other parts of the World having the benefit , and enjoying the light of the Sun at that time ; which some judge to be the more strange : that as when Israel had light in Goshen , the Egyptians were under the Plague of Darkness ; so at the crucifying of Christ , Israel which dwelt in Judea should be under darkness , when the World besides enjoyed light . Thus it is manifest that God doth great things in Heaven above , the Sun moves or standeth still , goes backwards or forwards , shines not , to give light at noon day , and for some hours together unto the Earth at all , or else makes light in one part , when it doth not in another ; and all this at the pleasure of the great God. But our present Task is to observe one extraordinary work of God , on and in the Earth . Secondly ; There is the amazing , mighty work of God on and within the Earth , which in the Text that suits the occasion , is God's shaking of , and making it to tremble before him , and under men that dwell upon it . This moving of the Earth is far different from that constant motion that some Philosophers ascribe unto it ; for amongst the several Systems of the World which Astronomers have invented , three are more famous , one by Ptolomy , the other by Copernicus , and the third by Tycho Brache . Copernicus following the Pythagoreans , asserts the motion of the Earth , and the Sun to be in the Center of the World , without motion ; that the Earth hath two motions , one Diurnal , which is performed about its own Axis in the space of 24 hours , and from this motion do arise our days and nights : the other Annual , whereby it is carried about the Sun , from the West towards the East , according to the succession of Signs of the Zodiack . Where then is the miracle ▪ of the Sun 's standing still in Joshua's days , if it stand still in all Ages ? where is the wonder of the Earths moving , if it whirl about every 24 hours with so swift a motion ? why cannot all People discern this constant motion of the Earth , that do perceive its shaking for a few minutes , and are so much affrighted at it ? Are the Pillars of the Earth turned into Wheels ? Some have denied all motion , some affirm too much : but as when all motion was denied , a Philosopher to prove it , rose up and walked ; so when the constant , daily , and yearly motion of the Earth is asserted , we may know by our Senses that it stands still ; but these great men of reason ( so they are ) will , give you this presently for an Axiome , Sensibus non est fidendum , you must not believe , nor trust your Senses : which yet for the sake of the Doctrine of Transubstantiation , I should not readily receive ; but knowing that my Senses cannot err about their proper object , when it is presented at a due distance , through a right disposed , a Papist shall not perswade me that the Bread after Consecration is not Bread , and that the Wine is not Wine , nor a Copernican that the Earth doth naturally move , when in the one , by my Senses I discern it to be Bread and Wine , and not real Flesh and Blood carnally and corporally taken , and in the other , that the Earth stands fast and still , so much confidence I will put in my Senses : a drunken man that by excess hath disturbed his head , might conceit the Earth turns round , and the room where he is doth move , when the motion and turning is in his Brains , and when he hath slept himself sober will perceive , what he thought before did move , doth then stand still . But it being not proper , nor profitable to this Assembly to debate Philosophical Controversies , I shall dismiss them , and retain you with what may be more advantageous for your Souls , in treating of this amazing work of God which you so lately did discern , and then were so much astonished at , and affected with , viz. God's shaking of the Earth under your feet , and the Houses over your heads ; that you did think the one did reel under you , and the other would fall upon you . History is full , and your own Experience can give an instance of God's terrible shaking of the Earth . Some you have heard of , and one you have seen and felt . Earthquakes ! some you have read , and have been told you , by which Multitudes have been destroyed . Earthquakes ! one you have seen , and yet are preserved . Earthquakes ! in some God's wrath hath been poured out , and in some his grace and mercy hath been shewn forth : some ending in destruction , and some in the conversion of sinners . Oh! that this you have seen with your own eyes might have the like issue and effect on you , as that you hear of from this Text had upon the Jaylour , stir you up with fear and trembling , to go to your Ministers , as he did to the Apostles , saying , asking , Sirs , what must I do to be saved ? that by the Word of God following this mighty work of God , you may be awakened to repent and believe on the Lord Jesus , you and your House , as the Jaylour did , and all his House . In the Text you may observe these parts : 1. The motion or shaking of the Earth . That which according to the course of Nature stands still , the extraordinary workings of Providence causeth it to quake . The Earth hath neither life , nor sense , nor motion in it , yet God can make it tremble . As the Sun that moves , stands still at God's command ; so the Earth , that stands still , shall move at his voice and pleasure : and yet men that have life , and sense , and reason , disobey God's commands , and will not hearken to his voice , and do not tremble at the thoughts of his Soveraign Power and Infinite Majesty . When sinners upon Earth do not , the Earth under them may quake and tremble : and if while the Earth trembles under them , they then tremble upon it , yet when the Earth stands still again , they run as fast to sin again as they did before : when the Earth ceaseth its trembling , they do not cease their sinful motions . The great Pillar that supports the Earth , whereby it stands so fast , is the power of God , for he hath hanged it upon nothing , Job 26. 7. Yet sinners supported by the Earth , without fear and trembling , do abuse the mercy and the patience of God , tho' if he should remove that supporting Pillar , the Earth would sink under them : but tho' he keeps it up , yet sometimes he makes it shake , There was an Earthquake . 2. The greatness of this motion , or shaking of the Earth : There was a great Earthquake . It s greatness is set forth by the greatness of its Effects and Consequents here named : As , 1. The shaking of the foundations of the Prison . The strongest Prisons , the most impregnable Places , Houses built with brick and stone , being founded on Earth ; when the one doth quake , the foundations of the other must needs be shaken : In exceeding strong winds and tempestuous storms , the tops of Houses may shake , and rock to and fro , while the foundations stand firm and are not moved ; but when the Earth it self , on which they stand , doth quake , their foundations are also shaken , and tho' your Houses then stood , yet they stood trembling , foundations , floors and roofs together . 2. The immediate opening of the doors . Prison doors , especially upon a strict charge given to the Jaylour for the securing of his Prisoners , are fast locked , securely barred and chained ; but God did cause such an Earthquake , that no Locks could hold them fast , no Bars nor Chains could keep them shut ; for at the arising of this Earthquake , immediately all the Prison doors were opened . 3. The loosing of the Prisoners bands . Paul and Silas were fast bound , shut up in a Prison within the Prison , and their feet made fast in the Stocks , so that they could not stand in the Prison , nor the ground stand still under them , but the Earthquake came , and was their Goal-delivery . These be the great Effects of this great Earthquake . 3. In the words are expressed the suddenness of this Earthquake . An Earthquake is sometimes quickly caused , and quickly ceased at the pleasure and the will of God. God spake , and the Earth stood fast , Psal . 33 9. God speaks , and he makes it quake and tremble . Tho' it is one Doctrine chiefly intended to suit the occasion , yet I will briefly mention more , which will not be altogether alien from our design . Doct. I. God many times works wonders for the deliverance of his suffering Saints in order to the propagating of the Gospel . Paul and Silas were imprisoned because they did preach , God by an Earthquake sets open the Prison doors that they may go forth and preach . They by preaching did make the Devil's Kingdom shake ; they for preaching were fast bound in Prison ; the Earth where they did lie so bound , falls a quaking under them , as being weary of the burden of imprisoned Preachers ; and doth not rest , and could not stand still under them , till they were enlarged and set at liberty . God can do wonders for the deliverance of his suffering Servants , of this his Almighty Power is a proof . God can deliver his Sufferers after such a manner , as none other can , their Enemies being Eye-witnesses and Confessors of it . Dan. 3. 28. Then Nebuchadnezzar spake and said , Blessed be the God ofShadrach , Meshach and Abednego , who hath sent his Angel and delivered his Servants that trusted in him , and have changed the King's word , and yielded their bodies , that they might not serve , nor worship any God , except their own God. Verse 29. Therefore I make a decree , that every People , Nation and Language , which speaks any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach , Meshach andAbednego , shall be cut in pieces , and their Houses shall be made a dunghil , because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort . Darius put the question to Daniel in the Den ; Dan. 6. 20. When he came to the Den , he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel , and the King spake and said to Daniel , O Daniel , servant of the living God , is thy God whom thou servest continually , able to deliver thee from the Lions ? Verse 22. My God hath sent his Angel , and hath shut the Lions mouths , that they have not hurt me . Then follows Darius his Decree , Verse 26. I make a Decree , that in every Dominion of my Kingdom , men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel : his reason why ; for he is the living God , and stedfast for ever , and his Kingdom that which shall not be destroyed , and his Dominion shall be even to the end . Verse 27. He delivereth and rescueth , and he worketh signs and wonders in Heaven and in Earth , who hath deliveredDaniel from the power of the Lions . Behold ! God can , for he hath wonderfully delivered his Servants . Three in a fiery Furnance , that the fire did not consume , nor singe them . One , in the Lions Den , that they did not devour nor hurt him . Paul and Silas out of Prison , that they should be no longer confined there . He can make the fire not burn combustible matter . He can withhold Lions from what they might else have made their prey . And he can cause the foundations of a Prison by an Earthquake to be so shaken , that the doors might open , and his Servants may come forth . He can , he hath , and when he pleaseth , he still will , he hath delivered , he doth deliver , and we may trust to him according to the Promises that he hath made , that he will still deliver us , 2 Cor. 1 10. Doct. II. God needs not length of time to do the most great and wonderful works . Suddenly there was an Earthquake . God can make it move in an instant . When its said God in six days made this World , it 's not to be understood that he did need so many days to make it in . It was his pleasure to take that time to finish , beautifie and compleat it . When God did create the Earth , and brought it out of nothing , it was suddenly done He did but speak , Let it be , and it suddenly started out of Nothing into Being . Creation is an instantaneous action : he that did so suddenly and so easily make it , can as suddenly and as easily make it quake and tremble . How suddenly did God make the Earth to quake where London stood , and after his shaking of it , through his great mercy yet doth stand ! When men thought of no such thing , not the Student in his Study , nor the Trader in his Shop , nor the Workman at his Work , nor the Drunkard at his Cups , when none of these had any apprehension of it . Suddenly , The Student thought his Desk , on which he was writing , to be removing from him , and when he drew it towards him , it went back again , several times : the Trader suddenly seeth a motion in his Wares , and the Workman the moving of his Tools without hands , and the Drunkard thought indeed the Earth did stagger more than he : many suddenly felt their Chairs to move under them , and could not presently discern the reason , but thought some living Creature had been under their Seats , and did disturb them . Suddenly , many , most that I have spoken with , discerned a dizziness in their Heads , and in the instant thought ▪ the motion was there , not imagining any thing of the shaking of the Earth : Suddenly they feared the falling of their Houses ; but at first , particular persons thought there was some defect and fault in their own particular dwellings , till they did perceive the motion was general , and heard other say of their Houses as they found in their own : and all this was suddenly done . In a minute , in a moment . God can cause an unexpectected Earthquake . Men must have time to do the smallest , but God needs none to do the greatest work . Doct. III. Tho' an Earthquake suddenly come , and quickly go , and nothing is destroyed thereby , yet it is and might be truly called a great Earthquake . It is expresly said in the Text this Earthquake suddenly came , we do not read it lasted long , nor that the Prison-house , or Persons in it , were destroyed or hurt thereby , yet we read it was a great Earthquake . When many Houses are swallowed up , and many Men , Women and Children ( as this present year in Jamaica ) are destroyed , and go down alive into the Bowels of the Earth by opening of its mouth to eat them up as one morsel , then Men will call it a great Earthquake . But such a one as was so lately in London , &c. when not one House was destroyed , nor one Person consumed , seems to be so small ( especially now it is over and all safe ) as is not worth their observation , for People now are as little concerned already , as if it had not been , or they had quite forgotten that it was . But let such slighters of this la●e work of God , and regardless of this Judgment , and calling of it a little thing , tell me ▪ 1. Was not this a great Earthquake that made so many Houses as be in such a great City as this to move , and shake , and tremble , tho' they stood ? Is it not a great thing to make one of London streets , and the Houses therein so to quake ? much more two or ten , much more all and every one ? 2. Was it not a great Earthquake that did reach so far , and extended it self so many miles at the same instant of the same day to so many places in England , as we have heard ? 3. Yet more , was it not a great Earthquake when it did enlarge it self , and reached at the same time to so many Cities and Towns beyond the Sea ? Did God stretch out his Arm so far , and do you look upon it as a little thing , not worthy your observation , remembring , or spiritual improvement of it ? 4. If it were so small in your eyes . what made so many to be in so great a consternation ? why did so many run out of their Houses , and such as were sitting at their Tables hasten from their Dinners with their Napkins in their hands , to get into the Streets ? why did so many run from their Shops ? what was the reason of the sudden , common cry , by so many , one by one , My House is falling , and my House is falling , and my Children above will be distroyed , and yet I dare not go up to fetch them down . 5. How little do you know , if this late Earthquake had been a little more , and had lasted a little longer , a few minutes more , how near you and your Houses would have been to a subversion and total overthrow ? or how near the trembling Earth might have been to opening , and swallowed up both you and your Habitations ? For all that you know by this Earthquake you were upon the brink of ruine , a little more might have brought you down ; and yet will you slight this work of God , as if it were a small , a very little thing ? 6. As small a thing as you look upon it to be , could any man , or men , could all the mighty men upon the Earth have caused such a shaking and trembling of the Earth , and all upon it . Could all the mighty Captains , Lord Generals , Kings and Emperours , with all their Armies , have had such an Influence upon the Earth ? if they can batter down strong Walls , and Cities , and Castles with their Instruments of War , yet can any of them , or all of them , cause such a shaking of the Earth as that so lately was ? do you ascribe great things to Men , and call them so , that are far inferiour to this , and yet let this pass by with so little observation , as if it were a work so small ? 7. If men could shake the Earth and your Houses as God did , could they so securely have preserved them from falling , and you from hurt , as God did ? Was the shaking of your Houses , so much , and the preserving of them so shaken , so great a mercy , in it self , and yet so little in your eyes ? and last no longer with a due impression in your memories ? 8. While you look upon this Earthquake to be so small a thing , can you look upon your preservation to be so great a mercy as indeed it is ? whilst you lessen the work of God , the more you lessen the mercy of God ? did God shake you and your Houses , and not overturn you and them , and was not this great mercy ? Oh! take heed you do not diminish this work of God's power in your own apprehensions , and consequently your danger then , and God's mercy now in your safety . Lord ! Let London so tremble at thy Judgment with which thou hast so lately visited it , and account it great , that their Repentance , Reformation may be great . And tho' it suddenly came , and quickly ceased , and did no hurt , let not London account that work a small work , but thy mercy great mercy , vouchsafed in so great a Judgment , least in thy wrath yet greater , thou cause the foundations of it to shake and tremble more , and do that execution that should make all confess and say ( that deny this ) that suddenly there was a great Earthquake . Doct. IV. Tho' some Earthquakes have their natural causes , yet some do arise from the immediate hand and power of God without such causes . Paul and Silas were imprisoned ; in Prison they prayed , and sang Praises , in testimony that God heard their Prayers , he immediately causeth this Earthquake under the Prison . Judicious Expositors assert this Earthquake to be miraculous . In treating on this I shall take this course : I. Distinguish between Earthquakes figurative and metaphorical , and such as are proper and real : because both are spoken of in Scripture , this will be requisite to remove the ambiguity of the word , that one might not be taken for the other . II. Distinguish real Earthquakes into natural and supernatural . In respect of the Earth it self , whose nature is to rest and stand still , such shakings and motions may be termed contra-natural , but in respect of the second Causes in Nature , which sometimes produce such tremblings and quakings in the Earth are called natural , in contradistinction from those which are caused by God's immediate hand , without such causes , and are therefore supernatural . III. I shall give a short account what natural Philosophers assert to be the Causes of such Earthquakes . IV. Point at the several sorts or kinds of such Earthquakes , and give the names which Philosophers , and Divines from them , do call them by . V. Enumerate several antecedent Signs of Natural Earthquakes , as by observation Men have taken notice of to go before such ensuing Earthquakes , and so leave it to others to judge what to think of this late Earthquake in London , in other parts of England , and in forreign parts beyond the Sea , and all at the same time , whether they will call it a Natural , or Supernatural Earthquake . VI. Set down some Effects and Consequents of Earthquakes , whether produced by such Natural Causes , or by the Immediate Hand and Power of God. VII . Lay down some Conclusions by way of futher Explication of this mighty work of the great God , in causing the Earth thus to shake ; or shew its Adjuncts . VIII . Shew what use we should make of such tremendous works of God ▪ whereby many might have been buried under ground ; when this amazing work of God is already by many buried in Oblivion , and by few improved according to the greatness of the danger Men were in , or the greatness of the mercy in escaping that danger . Quest . I. What are metaphorical Earthquakes ? Earthquakes and movings of the Earth , are often taken metaphorically for great Commotions , alterations made in States , Kingdoms and Church , and for sore and heavy Punishments inflicted by God upon wicked and disobedient People . Isaiah 29. 6. Thou shalt be visited of the Lord of Hosts with Thunder , and with Earthquake , and with great Noise , with Storm and Tempest , and the Flame of devouring Fire . A figurative description of God's Anger against Jerusalem ; as much as to say , Heaven and Earth shall concur to their ruine ; yet some Expositors say , this Earthquake may be understood according to the letter . Isaiah 24. 18. The foundations of the earth do shake . Verse 19. The earth is utterly broken down , the earth is clean dissolved , the earth is moved exceedingly . Verse 20. The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard , and shall be removed like a cottage , and the transgression thereof shall be heavy upon it , and it shall fall and not rise again . By the Earth here so often mentioned , understand the Inhabitants of the Earth , and properly those Countreys wherein the Jews and their Consederates lived in those times : by the shaking , moving , removing , breaking down , and dissolving the Earth , understand the Punishments that should befal that People from an angry and provoked God. So another expounds it , he doth not mean the natural Earth , on which Men tread , but the People that tread upon the Earth ; or that Commonwealth wherein People are united and governed ; these shall be shaken , broken down , and reel to and fro , and be removed like a Cottage ; as if he had said , You thought your State and Kingdom was setled like a strong Castle , but I will take it down , as a Man takes down a little Cottage : the strongest Kingdoms and Bulwarks of the Earth are but as thatcht Cottages , when God takes them in hand . Rev. 11. 19. And the Temple of God was opened in Heaven , and there was seen in his Temple the Ark of his Testament , and there were Lightnings , and Voices , and Thundrings , and an Earthquake , and great Hail Some say , by the opening of the Temple in Heaven , is most conveniently understood the glorification of the Church it self in Heaven , and by the Ark of his Covenant , the glorious beholding of Christ our Mediator in it , whereof the Ark was a Type ; and by Thundrings , Lightnings , and Earthquake , the tokens of his wrath against Unbelievers . Some say , the Vision of the opened Temple in Heaven , signifieth the freedom given to the Gospel against Persecutors and Corrupters , and the pure preaching and profession of it , and God's owning his Covenant and Church by his eminent blessing , and the Lightnings and Earthquake signifie the great Manifestation of Christ's Power for his Church , in the commotions and changes in the World , and his judgments on their Enemies . Rev. 16. 18. And there were voices , and thundrings , and lightnings , and there was a great earthquake , such as was not since men were upon the earth , so mighty an earthquake and so great . Some understand this litterally , and that it is past , others that it is yet to come before Antichrist's fall , and say others , before the Day of Judgment ; some say , hereby were represented the great Commotions which went to those great changes and subversion of the Heathen Powers . By these and such like Texts of Scripture it appears there are metaphorical Earthquakes to be distinguished from litteral . Quest . II. Which are Earthquakes supernatural ? Real and proper Earthquakes are either such as are caused by God's immediate Hand and Power , or such as have their Causes in Nature ; tho' these also are appointed , and ordered and ruled by the powerful Providence of God , and do not come ( as some call it ) by chance . Tho' the finger of God be in those Natural Causes , yet such as have been without them must be wholly and only from God. And I shall gather these out of the Scripture , that we might learn to fear and tremble before this great God that needs no winds and vapours , nor any kind of Creature to make the Earth to shake and tremble . And they are these : 1. The shaking of the earth at God's giving of the Law to Moses , and the Children of Israel . Exod. 19. 18. And Mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke , because the Lord descended on it in fire : and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace , and the whole Mount quaked greatly . That this quaking of the Mount was litteral and not figurative , Rivet argues , because it is joyned with the smoke , and Thunders and Lightnings properly to be understood , and saith , That the causes of the moving of the Earth , and of the Mountain as it were leaping at the presence of God , are not to be searched for in Nature , nor should we dispute concerning Physical Reasons of this Commotion , for when all things done here are miraculous , the glory of God is obscured , if where he acts immediately and in an extraordinary manner , and that altogether Divine , we enquire after second Causes , which in such events are none . Psal . 68. 7. O God! when thou wentest forth before thy people ; when thou didst march through the wilderness Selah . Verse 8. The earth shook , the heavens also dropped at the presence of God ; even Sinai it self was moved at the presence of God , the God of Israel . 2. Such a Supernatural Commotion of the Earth is also recorded Psal . 114. per tot . When Israel went out of Egypt , &c. The Sea saw it and fled ; Jordan was driven back . The Mountains skipped like Rams , and the little Hills like Lambs . The Sea was divided . Jordan driven back , the Mountains and Hills moved . All litterally understood . This asserted . Then the Question is propounded , What ailed thee , O thou Sea , that thou fleddest ; what ailed thee , O Jordan , that thou wast driven back ? What ailed them ? did not God by his mighty power , without natural causes that could not have such influx upon the Sea and Jordan to divide them , produce those Miracles in the Sea and Jordan ? When again it is asked , what ailed ye , ye Mountains that ye skipped like Rams , and what ailed ye , ye little hills , that ye skipped like Lambs ; must not the same answer be returned , as to the former . The same immediate power of God that caused the division of the Waters , caused also the motion of the Hills and Mountains . 3. A most tremendous miraculous moving of the Earth , caused by the Lord himself , is largely described , Numb . 16. 23. to 35. Verse 30. If the Lord make a new thing , and the earth open her mouth and swallow them up , with all that appertain to them , and they go down quick into the pit , then shall ye understand that these men have provoked the Lord. Verse 31. And it came to pass as he had made an end of speaking all these words , that the ground clave asunder that was under them . Verse 32. And the earth opened her mouth , and swallowed them up , and their houses , and all the men that appertained unto Korah , and all their goods . Verse 33. They , and all that appertained to them , went down alive into the pit , and the earth closed upon them , and they perished from among the Congregation . Iosephus relating Moses his prayer at large , records , that whilst he spake those words , and intermixed them with tears , the Earth instantly trembled , and shaking began to move ( after such a manner , as when by the violence of the wind a great billow of the Sea floateth and waltereth ) hereat were all the People amazed : but after that , a horrible and shattering noise was made about their Tents , the Earth opened , and swallowed up both them , and all that which they esteemed dear , which was after a manner so exterminate , as nothing remained of theirs to be beheld : whereupon in a moment the Earth closed again , and the vast gaping was fast shut , so as there appeared not any sign of that which had happened . Thus perished they all , leaving behind them an example of Gods Power and Judgments And this Accident was the more miserable , in that there were none , no not of their Kinsfolks or Allies , that had compassion of them ; so that all the People whatsoever , forgetting those things that were past , did allow God's Justice with joyful Acclamations , esteeming them unworthy to be bemoaned , but to be held as the Plague and the Perverters of the People . — After this he relates how Two hundred and fifty were consumed by fire , when suddenly so great a fire shone , as neither the like was kindled by man's hand , nor usually breaketh from the bowels of the burning Earth , neither was ever quickne●● in the Woods , split and born down in the Summer time by a Southern brize , but such a one as seemed to be kindled in Heaven , most brightsome and flameing , by the force and power whereof those Two hundred and fifty ( together with Core ) were so consumed , that there scarce appeared any relicks of their Carkasses . Only Aaron remained untouched , to the end it might appear that this fire came from Heaven . Surely this might serve for strong conviction , that as God sent down fire by his own immediate power , that was not of any Creatures kindling , to the consumeing of one Company ; so he did as immediately shake and open the Earth without second Physical Causes for the swallowing up of the other . Let Atheists either contradict this History and Matter of Fact , or believe the existence of a Deity . And all Men fear and tremble to provoke such a just and terrible God. 4. That there are Earthquakes sometimes caused by the immediate hand of God , without those Natural Causes asserted by Philosophers , will be clearly evidenced by the miraculous Victory over the Host of the Philistines obtained by two Men , Jonathan and his Armour Bearer , related 1 Sam. 14. where to demonstrate the immediate workings of God might be considered , 1. The great number of the Host of the Philistines . 2. The situation of their Camp or Garrison . Josephus describing it , saith , That the Philistines had pitched their Tents on an high pointed Rock , which extended it self in length with three Angles , and was each way begirt with a Bank , as it were a Wall , and Fortification against the Incursion of their Enemies . The place was fortified by Nature , so that no Man might ascend or assail them , but with disadvantage . And Sacred Scripture records that Jonathan climbed up upon his hands and his feet , and his Armour Bearer after him . 3. That there were but these two Men that invaded their Camp , who at first slew about Twenty of them within ( as it were ) about half an Acre of Land , which filled their whole Army with terrour and amazedness , who ( as Josephus writes ) casting away their Weapons , fled amain : some other being ignorant , which were either their Friends or Foes , invaded one another as Enemies : for imagining with themselves that only two Hebrews durst never ascend and enter their Camp , they addressed themselves to their mutual Murder and Slaughter ; so that some of them were slain , others fled to escape the Sword , and fell head-long down the Rocks . 4. In this exploit of Jonathan , God did miraculously work , in causing the tremblings that fell out that day , expressed 1 Sam. 14. 15. And there was trembling in the Host , in the Field , and among all the People : the Garrison and the Spoilers they also trembled , and the Earth quaked , so it was a very great trembling . Who made all the Philistines Host to tremble , the Garrison and the Spoilers to tremble , only Jonathan and his Armour Bearer ? was it not God ? and was it not the same power of God , that then made the Earth to quake , that made the other tremble ? To put all out of doubt , the last words declare the true cause of all ; 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and it was a trembling of God. The reason why the Translators rendred it a very great trembling , is , because the word [ God ] is added oftentimes to set forth the greatness of things ; as great Mountains , great Ceders , great Fire , in Hebrew are said to be Mountains of God , Cedars of God , a Fire of God. But this is but the secundary and consequent signification of it ; the Name of God added to any thing primarily and properly denotes that God is the efficient Cause of that to which it is added . It was a trembling of God , that is a trembling sent and caused by God ; the trembling of the Philistines , and the trembling of the Earth , was from God : So the Heathens were wont to attribute that fear and trembling , of which no Cause did appear , nor could be alledged , to some of their Gods , as to Pan , whence came the expression of a Panick fear . This trembling then of the Philistines , and this trembling and quaking of the Earth , was from the immediate hand and mighty power of God. 5. From the immediate hand of God was that terrible Earthquake that was in the days of Vzziah : Amos 1. 1. The words of Amoz — which he saw concerning Israel , in the days of Uzziah King of Judah — two years before the Earthquake : This is mentioned Zach. 14 — The Earthquake in the days of Uzziah King of Judah . Concerning this amazing Providence , I will take in these Particulars . 1. That Uzziah greatly provoked God by going into the Temple to burn Incense upon the Altar of Incense . 2. Azariah the Priest , and Fourscore Priests of the Lord ( valiant men ) went in after him , and withstood him , saying , It appertains not unto thee , Uzziah , to burn Incense to the Lord , but to the Priests the Sons of Aaron , that are consecrated to burn Incense . 3. Uzziah's wrath against the Priests was greatly incensed . 4. While he shewed his anger against the Priests , the Lord by his own immediate hand smote him with a Leprosie , which appeared in his Forehead . 5. Upon this all the Priests thrust him out from thence ; yea , he himself hasted also to go out , because the Lord had smitten him , 2 Chron. 26. 16. to 22. 6. At the same time , and for the same sin was this Earthquake in the days of Uzziah . And why may not the Earthquakebe attributed to the immediate hand of God , as well as his being smitten with Leprosie . That this was at the same time , and for the same sin , and so from the same hand of God , Iosephus in his History doth make plain : who writeth thus ; Uzziah upon a certain solemn Feast-day , wherein all the People were assembled together , he attired himself in the High Priests Vestments , and entred into the Temple to offer Sacrifice unto God upon the golden Altar , which notwithstanding the High Priest Azariah ( accompanied with fourscore Priests ) inhibited him the same , telling him that it was not lawful for him to Sacrifice , in that it was only allowed in those that were of the Posterity of the High PriestAaron . Whilst after this manner Azariah expostulated with him , commanding him to go out of the Temple , and not to contradict the Ordinances of God ; the King waxed wroth , and threatned to take his Life from him , except he kept himself quiet . Whereupon there fell a great trembling and Earthquake , and the Temple cleft in twain , and a great Light of the Sun entred thereunto , and reflected on the King's face in such manner , that all his Body was instantly covered with a Leprosie , and before the City ( in a place called Eroge ) the half of a Mountain ( that stood to the Eastward ) brake and fell , and rowled and removed for the space of four Stadia ( or Furlongs ) towards the Oriental Mountain , where it rested : so that the publick ways were shut up , and choked , and the King's Gardens of Pleasure were wholly ruinated and disfigured . When the Priests beheld the King's face covered with a Leprosie , they told him what inconvenience had happened to him , and enjoyned him to depart out of the Town , according to the custom of Men that were polluted . Whereupon , he ( wholly confused at so grievous an accident , and having no more audacity to speak ) obeyed the Commandment that was given him , enduring a pitiful and lamentable punishment , for being elate and proud , more than became humanity ; and for that he committed such impiety against God. Finally , he died through grief and discontent — and was only buried in his Garden . This Earthquake came , and this Leprosie was inflicted on him for that sin ; the Leprosie is expresly said in Scripture to be from the Lord ; why not also then the Earthquake ? By the way , let this be observed by many , that in our days , without the way appointed by God in his Word , in the pride of their hearts and self-conceit , thrust themselves into Sacred Functions , which is not lawful but for those that are competently qualified and duly called thereunto , lest for such doings by so many , God make the Earth to quake under us , as he did for one Uzziah's intrusion in former time . 6. Amongst the many Miracles at the Death of Christ , an Earthquake must be acknowledged to be one : all of which were Testimonies , not only of his Innocency , but also Demonstrations of his Deity . The whole Creation groaned and travailed in pain , when the God of Nature , ( he that was God as well as Man ) tho' not as God , died a shameful , cursed , and painful Death ; Miracles wrought in Heaven above , in Earth beneath ; all Creatures sympathizing with a suffering Christ , except Man , for whom alone he suffered . The Sun was darkened , the Vail of the Temple was rent in twain , from the top to the bottom , and the Earth did quake , and the Rocks rent , and the Graves were opened , and many Bodies of the Saints which slept , arose , and appeared unto many , Matth. 27. 45 , 51 , 52 , 53. Writers do affirm , that by this Earthquake not only Golgotha , but the whole City , and the Regions near were terribly shaken ; and some , that in Bithynia , and in Thracia , certain Towns were overthrown ; but how far this Earthquake was extended is uncertain . 7. Amongst these also must be ranked the Earthquake at the Resurrection of Christ ; Matth. 28. 2. And behold there was a great Earthquake . 8. Of the same Nature was that , when the Apostles were praying , the place where they were , was shaken , God giving them , by this Miracle a Testimony that their prayers were heard : Acts 4. 31. And when they had prayed , the place was shaken where they were assembled together . The Greek word properly signifies to be moved up and down , like the Waves of the Sea , and is the same with that in the present Text , where it is said , by the Earthquake the foundations of the Prison were shaken , which also I reckon to be of the number of those that are caused miraculously and immediately by God , without those Causes that others are produced by . What may be inferred and learn'd from this ? 1. May we not learn the certain Existence of the Deity ? Doth it not follow there is , and must be a God ? if we may argue from an Effect to a Cause , when there is an Effect that cannot be ascribed to any Creature , must there not be a Being that is , and is no Creature ? when things are done , that are not done by finite power , must there not be an infinite power by which they are done , when there is no medium betwixt that which is finite and that which is infinite ? when any thing is effected , of which no natural Cause can be named , must there not be a supernatural ? Aaron at God's command stretched out his hand with his Rod , and smote the Dust of the Earth , and it became Lice in Man and in Beast ; all the Dust of the Land became Lice throughout all the Land of Egypt ; and when the Magicians did so with their Inchantments to bring forth Lice , and could not , did not these Magicians themselves say unto Pharaoh , This is the finger of God ? Exod. 8. 17 , 18 , 19. When there have been such shakings of the Earth that no Man can say , and prove what he saith , that they were done by second Causes , may not , should not every Man say , in these was the finger of God ? If you cannot gather there is a God by what he doth by Creatures , cannot you conclude there is a God , when things are done , and not by Creatures ? 2. May we not learn that this God never wants means to effect whatsoever he pleaseth ? What he doth not do by second Causes , he can do without them . Jonathan ( when one of these Earthquakes happened ) said , It is all one with God to save by few or by many , 1. Sam. 14. 6. So it is all one with God to save by few or none ; and to do what he will with means , or without them . When he doth not shake the Earth by Causes got into its Bowels , he can and hath shaken it without . And indeed , if he brought it out of nothing without any instrumental Cause ( for in Creation there can be none ) why may he not , when it is created , shake it till it tremble without any instrumental Cause ? cannot he that doth the greater , do the less ? 3. Hath God made the Earth to tremble without any Natural Causes , have not ungodly Men cause to tremble even then , when there is no visible sign , no reason from any Natural Causes to fear punishment and ruine ? Is not their own sin as meritorious of God's Wrath and sore Displeasure , with the thoughts of God's infinite hatred of it , and his Almighty Power to punish it , a sufficient reason why they should fear , and quake and tremble ? what tho' they live in such places and parts of the World that are not so subject to Earthquakes as some other places are ? Will they say First , We live upon that part of the Earth that is only stony and hard , and not soft and tender , and therefore no fear the Earth should quake and tremble under us ? Secondly , Will they say we dwell upon that part of the Earth that hath not those Caverns , in which those Vapours that cause Earthquakes are generated , therefore we are in no danger ? In the Body of Man winds and vapours are sooner and more stirred in the bowels and hollow parts thereof , than in the hands , and bones , and more close and solid Members : In subterraneous Caverns , rather then in close and rocky places , is the matter of an Earthquake ; but such is not that part of the World where we inhabit . Thirdly , Will they say we live in Inland Towns , and not near the Sea , which are most obnoxious to such Earthquakes , because such places are more easily filled with Vapours , therefore we need not fear ? Fourthly , Will they say , Let them live in fear of Earthquakes where the Earth they live upon is both soft and full of Caverns , and near the Sea , as most liable thereunto . Let them quake , when the Earth doth not , because it is so subject in such places to such trembling fits ; but our Habitation is on hard and rocky solid places , without such Concavities , and in the midst of the Land remote from Sea , and therefore secure enough . Did you speak true before you were aware , when you said , you were secure ? Yes ; and let me add , your heart seems to be more stony , and rocky , and hard than the place you boast you live upon ; as if God's Arm were so short , he could not reach you ; as if your Mountain stood so strong , it could not be moved nor shaken . Do not you know , have you not heard , that God hath shaken the Earth by his own immediate hand , without those Natural Causes , and Rocks and Mountains too . Fear to sin , cease to provoke the Eyes of his Glory , for he can reach you with his own hand , and shake your strongest Tower by his own might , without other Causes . Quest . III. What are the Natural Causes , material and efficient , of an Earthquake and how may it be described ? I. Concerning the Material Cause there are divers Opinions amongst Philosophers . Seneca in his sixth Book of Natural Questions reckons up many : Some say the Cause is from Water , some from Fire , some from the Earth it self , and some from Spirits [ not Immaterial ] some , in more of these , and some in all of them . Some of these Seneca doth confute , and establisheth : his own Opinion concerning Spirits . That you may not mistake the word [ Spirit ] in this place , which is taken otherwise than in Divinity , as the Souls of Men and Angels are called Spirits ; let those that are not acquainted with the Philosophical Physical acceptation of it ; take this Explication of it , according to Regius . Exhalations [ or risings up ] are either from water , and then they are called Vapours ; or from the earth , either which hath a fat or oiley moisture , and then are called fumes , or sharp , tart , moisture and volatile Salts , and these they call Spirits . And then saith , That from these Vapours , fat or oily Fumes , and Spirits , which being shut up in the deep and large Caverns of the Earth , in great abundance , and by some cause or other , once , or oftner kindled , in one or more places , ariseth an Earthquake , once , or often at several times , which according to the variety of its cause , maketh the Earth to tremble , or to open , whereby sometimes whole Cities and Countreys are either overturned or swallowed up . Rohault in the third part of his Physicks , gives this account : If an hollow Place or Vault under ground should be filled with Exhalation very gross , not much unlike to that which ariseth from a Candle newly put out , and at once take fire , by the spreading and dilating of it self , it would raise and lift up the Earth above it , much like to Gunpowder put into digged places , that lifts up the Earth above it , but afterwards , when the Exhalation is scattered , that which was lifted up , by reason of its own weight , must necessarily fall down : and hence are these tremblings of the Earth : yea , it might so happen , that many shakings may follow one foregoing , if there be more hollow places that are near each other , or any manner of way are so joyned as to make the one partake of what the other hath , and the Exhalations filling them , may successively take fire . Yea , there may be an hollow place under ground so large , and the fall of the Region above it ( being like an Arch or a Vault ) so great , that it might cleave asunder in the midst , and gape , whereby the adjacent parts are depressed , and made much lower than they were before , whence it appears how whole Cities by one only Earthquake might be swallowed up . Aristole Lib. 2. Meteor . proves that Exhalations are the cause of the Earthquake . 1. From a similitude taken from Mens Bodies , in which there are sometimes such Convulsions , Shakings and Tremblings , that many Men can scarce hold such a one , the cause whereof are Spirits hot and dry . In like manner , when the vast Body of the Earth is moved , it is to be referred to Exhalations , which are hot and dry . 2. Before an Earthquake there is something discerned , as an ascending Fume , resembling a long Line , which Fume is the thinner Exhalation , which begins to get forth : but the rest of the Exhalations , by reason of their greater density and straightness of the Passages , are restrained within the bowels of the Earth , from whence an Earthquake doth arise . 3. He saith in his time there were some Earthquakes in Pontus , before which the Earth did swell , and at last did burst , or was broke asunder ; which was a certain sign of Exhalations shut up and seeking their way out . Derodon judgeth it more probable that Earthquakes do arise from a sudden inflammation of sulphureous [ Brimstone-like ] and bituminous [ something like Pitch , or fat Slime ] Vapours which are kindled in the Caverns and hollow Places under ground , not much distant from the Surface of the Earth , which according as the Caverns are , and as the matter of the Flame is more or less , do variously operate ; for the most part they effect nothing , if the Earth be more loose , and hath breathing holes a● which they may get out : sometimes they move it more gently , and make it tremble , if the bulk above it be greater , that this subterraneous Flame can assay , attempt and do no more against it sometimes they shake and overturn , by reason of their greatness , and resistance of the parts of the Earth . Zanchy , although he embraceth Aristotle's Opinion , yet saith it cannot be denied , but that many Earthquakes have been caused by Fire shut up in the Caverns of the Earth , seeking a passage out , and he instanceth , there was in the Mountain Vesuvius ; and another Mountain , from which in his time fire brake out , before which , many days there were great and many fore-going Earthquakes . He denyeth not , but that also they may arise from Air shut up in the Earth , seeking a passage out , but cannot find it . II. The Natural Efficient cause is the vehement striving of such Vapours in the Caverns of the Earth , that they may get forth , whereby they are carried upwards and downwards , one while this way , another , that . Besides , what is said before , an Earthquake is commonly thus described : An Earthquake is a Meteor arising from abundant Exhalations shut up in the bowels of the Earth , which while they seek a passage out that they may ascend , but cannot find it , cause the Earth to shake . Quest . IV. What are the several sorts or kinds of Earthquakes ? There is difference amongst Philosophers in this point , some making two sorts or kinds of Earthquakes , as Possidonius and Aristotle ; some three , as Seneca and Zanchy . Some seven , which last they thus distinguish and nominate . 1. An Earthquake of one sort is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , or an Inclining Earthquake , when the Earth is caused to incline one way , like a Ship upon the Sea , or a Boat on the River , when laden more on one side than the other , leans that way only , where the greater weight and burden is laid . In this kind of Earthquake a Room seems to be lifted up on one side , and sink down or depressed on the other . 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , An Earthquake lifting the Earth upright , and by and by letting it down again , after the manner of boyling Water , or waxing hot . 3. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , Earthquakes causing Chasmes , Chinks , Openings of the Earth , making Breaches in it , and tearing one part from another . 4. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , Earthquakes , which by force break their way , and the Vapours and Winds do get out of the bowels of the Earth , which sometimes take with them Rocks , or Mud , or open a flowing Fountain , where there was none before . 5. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , Earthquakes , which by one motion , inforcing , or thrusting , overthrow , overturn whatsoever they come upon , or rush against . 6. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , Earthquakes which make the Earth , and things upon it to incline sometimes one way , and then another back again , without falling any way , like the rocking of a Cradle , by reciprocal motion or turning . 7. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , Earthquakes that come with a great noise , roaring , and bellowing , much like to the lowing of Kine , and sometimes like the vehement and fierce crying of Women . Others reduce these to three . 1. There is a trembling Earthquake , when the Earth quivers like a man in a fit of an Ague . This kind of Earthquake is when the Vapour in the Earth is not much . 2. There is an Earthquake which moves the Earth upwards , and then again downwards . This by Aristotle's followers is called Pulsus , like the beating of a man's Pulse . 3. There is an Inclining Earthquake , when the Earth is so shaken , that the Houses may be discerned sometime to lean one way , and then to return back again , moving side-long to and fro . Zanchy relates , that this kind he saw at Ravenna ; when the Walls of the Chamber in the upper part of the House were moved out of their place , and did so lean one way , that they seemed as if they would fall , but again they returned to their own place . Oh this is ( saith he ) the great and wonderful Providence of God. Seneca's Remark , that in the Trembling Earthquake there is not so much danger , as in the shaking or moving it upwards and letting it down , nor so much danger in this as in the Inclining Earthquake , because except the motion be speedily made back again from the side to which it leans to the other , the fall and ruine will necessarily follow . And these Earthquakes of these different and divers motions , must proceed from different and divers causes . Quest . V. What are the usual Antecedent Signs os an approaching Earthquake given by Natural Philosophers , which by Observation and Experience they commend unto us ? If these signs of Natural Earthquakes be sure and constant , let it be considered , and let us reflect whether any such were taken notice of by any , before the late Earthquake in London , and in other places ; if not , either these Philosophers are under a mistake , or we must judge , that this late shaking of this City was from the more Immediate Hand of God ; if there were , yet the presence and working of second and natural causes , ought not to take us off from the minding and observing of the first , for as much as all the second are at the Command , Ordering , and Disposal of the first , and are all under the Government of the Providence of God , and the Voice and Call of the first and second Causes is , that we should Repent and turn from those sins that have provoked him to such sore Displeasure , to so great Wrath and Anger , as to make the Earth to shake and tremble under us . 1. One fore-going sign of an Earthquake , they teach , is , a certain troubling of Waters in the deepest Wells , and in Fountains , having then a Tincture of a Sulphureous taste , and an infected and stinking savour : Because from the subterraneous commotions the Waters in the Wells must needs be troubled . Therefore it is reported of Pherecides the Philosopher , that by Water drawn out of a Well , he fore-discerned and foretold the Lacedaemonians the Ruin of the City by an Earthquake . 2. When the Sea doth suddenly swell , not being caused so to do by Winds and Waves , when the Air is still and calm , and no blasts of Winds , yet on a sudden the Sea swells , and the Ships thereon do shake : The reason is , because then the Earth in the bottom of the Sea is moved . 3. When Birds sit trembling on the ground , forsaking Trees , because they perceive a certain trembling , shaking the Trees and the Roots thereof . 4. When there are great and terrible sounds in the Earth , and roarings and noises in the Caverns of the Earth . 5. Dimness of the Sun for some days going before the Earthquake . 6. Long and thin strakes of Clouds , sometimes sooner in the day , but chiefly after the setting of the Sun , the Weather in other respects being clear . But of all that I have discoursed with , about the late Earthquake , I have not met with one , nor heard of any one that hath , that spake any thing of any of these Signs , before it happened , nor that by recollecting of themselves , do say since that they remember any such fore going sign , that gave to them the least intimation of it ; and the general surprize of all by it , generally acknowledging that the moment before they had not a thought of such a shaking to be so very near . I leave to all to judge , and to their own thoughts , whether this Earthquake did arise from Causes in Nature , or from the Immediate Power and Working of God , the Lord of Nature . And if we see the Immediate Mighty Finger of God in it , to study and pray to know his Mind and Will by it , or be moved by the moved Earth to conform move unto his Will revealed in his Word . Quest . VI. What are the Effects and Consequents of Earthquakes , which make them exceeding dreadful where they come ? Reason may dictate to us what terrible Effects , what dismal Work Earthquakes , when they have a full Commission from God to execute his Wrath , do make . Our Ears have heard the Miseries of multitudes of Persons , the overthrow and ruine of Towns , and Cities , and Countries : But those that have seen them would speak of them more sensibly , and set them forth more fully . It might make our flesh to tremble to hear of the woful devastations that the trembling , shaking , and opening of the Earth hath caused in many Ages , in many places ; but such as did see , and feel , and suffer by them , have contended with the Earth , whether it or they should tremble most . Oh , the Cries and Shriekings ! Oh , the doleful Lamentations ! Oh , what bitter Complaints have been poured out , and wishes in vain have have been uttered in the time and places of devouring and desolating Earthquakes ! When we shall hear some of these effects ( tho' not written of according to the fulness of the Terror wherewith they are done ) let us sympathize with the poor miserable People ( yet left ) in Jamaica , and pray that their Judgment might not come over to London , nor Travel further to other places . First , Earthquakes cause great Consternation in the minds of Men , and fil● their hearts with fear . When God makes the Earth to shake under them , he makes their hearts to tremble within them . When the Earth shakes and moves they cannot stand upon it without sear . One Earthquake causeth many thousand Heart-quakes . Did not many thousand People in London in its late Earthquake ( tho' through God's great Mercy so short ) feel great tremblings within themselves when they felt the Earth to shake under them , and saw their Houses move this way and that way over them , and could not te● whether they would stand or fall ; nay when so many thought and said , them Houses would not stand but fall ? Were you not then under great Consternation when you thought those Houses yo● had slept in , you must not only s● quickly dye in , but be buried in them too : That the Houses you had buil● or rented to shelter you from Storms and Tempests , should bring that Destruction upon you , which many Storms and Tempests had not done ? Have not you of late years heard terrible and roaring Thunderings , God thundering with a Voice which none can imitate ? Have you not seen great Flashings of Fire and Lightnings , which made the Night like Day , that you said you could see to take up a small thing from off the ground , and were not you then glad you had an House over your head ? But when this late Earthquake was , were not you afraid because you had an House over your head , when you thought it would fall upon your head and whole body ? And when this Earthquake was , did you not make as much hast to get out of it , as in Storms and Tempests you ever did to get into it ? Is this already forgotten ? What! so soon ! It is hard to express the fears that many then were filled with , and it is sad to see how little God is feared since by many that then did fear so much . Besides your own late Experience , Sacred Scripture , as well as Historical Writers , do Record the fears of Men in times of Earthquakes . 1 Sam. 14. 15. There was trembling in the host , in the field , and among all the people : the garison and the spoilers , they also trembled , and the earth quaked : so it was a very great trembling . Behold ! a quaking Earth , and therefore a trembling People . Behold ! Valiant Men of War , that are not afraid of Swords and Bullets , but with undaunted Courage assault their Enemies , and when many lie dead on both sides , fight on with boldness , that fear not so much the shaking of Spears and Pikes , as the shaking of the Earth ; the Host trembled , the Garison trembled , and the Spoilers themselves did also tremble . Spoilers tremble ! What! those that had spoiled so many upon the Earth , they tremble lest they should be spoiled by the quaking Earth . The Host , the People , the Garison , the Spoilers , and Earth did tremble , surely it was a very great trembling . Mat. 27. 54. When the Centurion , and they that were with him , watching Jesus , saw the Earthquake , they feared greatly . Captains , Men of great Spirits , at the quaking of the Earth are filled with great fear . Mat. 28. 2. Behold , there was a great Earthquake . 4. For fear of him ( the Angel , whose Ministry God used to cause that Earthquake ) the Keepers did shake , and became as dead men : An Earthquake is so terrible , causing such frights and fears , that makes Men ( as the saying is ) look like Death . Acts 16. 26. And suddenly there was a great Earthquake . 29. He ( the Jaylor ) called for a light , and sprung in , and came trembling . The Gaol trembled , and the Jaylour trembled . When the Keeper saw he could not keep the Prison-doors shut , but when he had shut , and lockt , and made them fast , the quaking of the Earth did open , he could not keep himself from trembling . An Earthquake will make even a Jaylour to tremble . But why such fear and trembling in Men , when such-shaking and trembling in the Earth ? 1. In some , it may arise from apprehensions of the terrible Wrath of an angry God. There have been some Earthquakes that were Tokens of God's Grace and Favour ; as the Earthquake shaking the Foundations of the Prison , in favour to Paul and Silas , testifying that God had heard their Prayers made in Prison , and that by it he would deliver them , as he did . And that in Acts 4. 31. the Apostles prayed , and at their Prayers the place was shaken ; the shaking of the place made them stand the faster in their Faith in God , and trusting to him . But usually Earthquakes are indications of God's Wrath and sore Displeasure . When Men run on in sin against God , to shew his Indignation against it and them , he sometimes will not suffer the Earth to stand still and quiet under them . Psal . 18. 7. The Earth shook and trembled ; the foundations also of the Hills moved and were shaken , because he was wroth . When Men apprehend that God is provoked , and they may apprehend it , when God in such a terrible manner doth shew it , knowing they are no more a Match for God , than a Worm is to an Angel , or a Child to a Giant ; it may put them into such amazing Frights and Fears , saying , God is angry , what shall we do ? The Omnipresent God is angry , whither shall we go ? The Just and Holy God is angry , with what can we appease him ? He doth shew his Anger , and we do see it , and how shall we escape ? God is wroth , and the Earth trembles before him : God is wroth , and is come down in sore displeasure , and the Earth quaketh at his Presence ; our Heads are giddy , but not with Wine ; we reel , but not with strong Drink . O stay your selves , and wonder ; cry ye out , and cry , they are drunken , but not with wine , they stagger , but not with strong drink , Isa. 29. 9. 2. Consciousness of their own guilt : When the Earth did quake , it did not only wake the Jaylour out of his natural sleep , but also out of his spiritual slumber ; Conscience was alarm'd , as he was affrighted ; his Eyes were opened to see a terrible God above him , Conscience was awakened to see his sins within him , and that had been committed by him , an angry God above , an accusing Conscience within , and the quaking Earth under him , filled him with fear and trembling . When Men do prosper upon Earth , they can swill , and swear , and sin in all their ways , and Conscience holds its peace , is quiet and still , doth not reprove , accuse , judge or condemn them ; but when Judgments come , an hardened Pharaoh will cry out , I have sinned ; a wicked Saul will confess and say , I have sinned : and when an Earthquake comes , is not he an hardened , seared Wretch , whose Conscience ( though bad yet ) is quiet within him , when the Earth is not quiet under him ? and whose Conscience is not moved and troubled for his sin , when the Earth is moved , as being restless under the burden of such sinners ? but if Conscience then doth stir , when the Earth doth tremble , the sinner trembles ( for the time ) considering God's anger , remembring his sin , that did provoke him to it . 3. If neither apprehensions of God's wrath against them , nor sense of sin committed against him , doth fill them with fears at the quaking of the Earth , yet apprehensions of death at that time might make them tremble . Death is the King of Terrors , Job . 18. 14. Shall not that which is ( 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ) the most terrible , when it is approaching in so terrible a manner , make the stoutest heart to quake ? If they have no thoughts of Hell and Damnation , yet Death by the trembling of the Earth presents it self unto their thoughts : and though they would not think of it , yet they must ; though they would divert their minds from it , yet they cannot ; they cannot send these thoughts away till another season : tho' many go to Hell without fear of Hell , and seldom think of it till they feel it , yet when Death seems to be coming to them by an Earthquake , it almost kills them with the terrour of it , being ready to die with fear of such a death . There are these Circumstances in this Case that fill men with these amazing fears upon the account of Death . 1. The sudden surprizal . An Earthquake comes suddenly in a minute ; many times without notice and warning , as this in London lately did ; and it seems to bring Death with it , and often doth ; now an Evil that suddenly comes , doth the more amaze , when in a minutes time , there is not space for Men to recollect their thoughts , and fortifie themselves with actings of Reason , or Grace ( which alas ! are not so ready ) against advancing Death . In sickness Men have time to prepare and make ready for it , and to allay the fears thereof ; but in a moment to be in danger of Death , the fears are more raging and predominant , and less help against them . Fear without a remedy must be great fear . 2. The suddenness of Death , and the apprehended nearness of it . The danger did not only seize them on a sudden , but threatens to remove them suddenly . What! die so soon ! what , within a minute or two ? will Death stay no longer ? can it not a minute more be delayed ? what ! so soon step into Eternity ? so suddenly , must I hasten into another everlasting World ? I never did so suddenly remove from one House to another , and must I now so suddenly remove from one World into another ? from a temporal into an eternal World ? and yet not ready to leave this , nor to go into that ? It is hard to imagine the power and strength of fear that must invade and fill them in such distress . 3. The unavoidableness of Death apprehended in an overthrowing Earthquake augments their fears , or torments them with despair of Life . If a Man be sick , the means he useth keeps up his hope of Life , and the more he hopes he shall live , the less are his fears of Death . But in a desolating Earthquake , what hopes can Men have ? whither can they in a minute go to escape the ruine ? what present Friend can help them , when they and their Friends are in the same equal danger ? when one must not die without the other ? If they stay within doors they apprehend they may be killed with the fall of their Houses : if they run out , they know not but they may be destroyed with the downfal of their Neighbours . Will they hasten into the open Fields ? what ! in a minute ? alas ! they have not time allowed for such an escape , or if they had , there the Earth in an Earthquake might swallow them up . No where safe , every where in great fear . 4 Apprehensions of sudden , unavoidable Death , and this when they are in health and strong aggravates their case , and augments their fears . What! am I well , and yet must die ? strong , in health , and yet now must die ? hath Death forgot its old way of sending Harbingers before it , before it came it self ? did it use to send its Serjeants to arrest , before it cast Men into the Prison of the Grave , and must I be haled away without Summons ? Some have been weaned from the love of Life , and made weary of it by long and languishing Sickness , by wracking and tormenting Pains , and must I in my Youth , or in middle Age , under no pain , with my strength firm , yield to Death ? All this doth fill with greater fear . 5. This unusual way of dying makes it the more terrible . Others , in other cases , first die and then are buried , first expire and then are carried to their Graves ; but in an Earthquake must I be buried alive ? first buried and then die ? others are carried from their house , when dead , unto the grave , and must mine own house be my grave , and that while I do live ? Behold ! the Earth quakes under me , my House trembles over me . Oh! what if my trembling House should fall , and I in it ? what if the Earth should sink under me ? what if this quaking Earth should open its mouth , and eat me up alive ? what if it should cleave asunder ( as in its shaking it hath sometimes done ) and swallow me up as it hath done thousands of others ? when others die another way , doth this loving Mother lay their dead Bodies in her bosom , must I die this way , and go down alive into her bowels ? did I live in my Mothers womb before I was born , and must I live ( awhile ) in this common Mothers bowels , after I am therein buried ? This being not the common death of all Men , makes it more terrible to those that apprehend in an Earthquake they must not die as others do . All laid together , shews that Earthquakes cause great consternation of mind , perplexing ▪ fretting fears , which is the first Effect thereof . Secondly ; Another Effect of Earthquakes is speedy and precipitant flying , if possibly Men might hasten from the danger thereof . Tho' they leave their Gods behind them in their Houses , they will attempt to fly to save themselves . Numb . 16. 32. The Earth opened her mouth and swallowed them up , and their houses , and all the men that appertained to Korah , and all their goods . Verse 34. And all Israel that were round about them fled at the cry of them : for they said , lest the Earth swallow us up also . Zach. 14 ▪ ●5 . And ye shall flee to the valley of the Mountains — yea , ye shall flee like as ye fled from before the Earthquake in the days of Uzziah King of Judah . These were particular Earthquakes , and some by flight escaped from them ; but when it shall be more general , or fall out in the place where you dwell , and some miles about you , when it comes in a minute , whither will you flee ? or to what place will you hasten , or in so little time how will you get thither ? however , Men shall endeavour to flie , tho' it should be in vain ; when the Earth so moves , they cannot , they will not stand still to be devoured and swallawed up , if by flight they might escape , which they will try , tho' they be overtaken with it . Overtaken ! alas ! in such a Judgment , you may sooner run into it , than run from it ; you may think to leave the danger behind you , and still it is before you ; you running away from it , may run to meet it . But the Danger is so dreadful , the Death so formidable , the Misery so great by Earthquakes , that Men will flee from them if they can , that they might not perish in them . But better repent , reform , and turn from sin to God to prevent them , than to continue in the sins that do procure them ; for when they come , you will find it hard to flee from them . Thirdly ; Another Effect is the cleaving asunder of the Earth , and devouring and swallowing up many Persons in a short time . In other Judgments People die one after another , in this by multitudes . When Death by sickness puts a period to Life , each one hath his own Grave ; in this opening the Earth by Earthquakes , one great Grave is made for many , Numb . 16. 31 , 32 , 33. Fourthly ; Another Effect is the subversion of Houses , Towns , and Cities , with the destruction of their Inhabitants together . History abounds with many sad and grievous Examples hereof . When Trajan was at Antioch , there hapned a most terrible Earthquake that destroyed many Cities and People , which extended it self very far . Great and terrible Lightnings were before it , then great and unusual storms of Winds , then arising a great and sudden Noise , the Sea wrought , the Waves swelled , the Earth was shaken , Buildings trembled , some did burst asunder , and others first lifted up , fell down . A great and horrible Noise was heard , Walls by contrary motions driven sometimes this way , sometimes that were broken and fell , the Sea with boisterous storms did mount and toss to and fro ; the Earth , where no Buildings were , was greatly moved : such a thick dust was raised , and so great a darkness upon all , that that they could not see one another , nor speak , nor hear one the other , and by reason of the violence of the Wind , and greatness of the dust , could scarcely breathe . Trees pluckt up by the roots were cast down upon the ground , many , very many were covered with the overthrow of Houses and Walls , many falling upon one another died , if any hurt by wood or stone , went away thus with their torn and wounded Bodies , they were more miserable than the rest , forasmuch as they could not live long , nor yet quickly die : of multitudes of Men scarce any escaped without some hurt . One might be seen to flee with his Shoulder broke , another with his Arms lost ; many laid dead with their Heads separated from their Bodies ; some with their bruised Breasts vomited Blood. Still the Earth continued to shake both by Night and Day : in this great Calamity they could find no remedy , nor way of escape : those that were hurt with the fall of Houses died in many places , and tho' by the benefit of Vaults and roofed Places some were preserved , yet , the Earthquake continuing , they perished by hunger and famine , before any succour could be brought to them . When the Earthquake ceased , some went upon the Ruins , where they heard a Womans voice , and the crying of an Infant ; the Ruins had covered both the Mother and the Child ; it was wonderful how the Mother should have Milk to nourish her Child ; but Mother and Child were taken safe out . But whilst the dead Bodies and fall'n Houses were more diligently searched , another Infant was found sucking the Breast of its dead Mother : But Life was a grief to all that had escaped Death , when they beheld the lamentable fall of the City , and so many People destroyed . Fifthly ; The change of the Channel of the Sea. In the time of Valens the Emperour there hapned another terrible Earthquake , whereby an hundred Cities were destroyed in Crete : then also the Sea leaving its place , so overflowed certain grounds , which before were plowed , became navigable ; and in other places where Men failed , the Sailers in their Navigation were found upon dry Land where before they Sea was . Sixthly ; Another Effect of Earthquakes hath been the Convulsion of Mountains , their sinking down , their clashing and transportation or removal to a great distance from the places where before the stood . Instances of these History do afford many , but I will only mention one , because more remarkable , how God doth miraculously sometimes preserve praying People , and may mo●e Persons , whose Houses after shaking by an Earthquake stand , to pray therein . In the Year 1584. one Mountain by a● Earthquake violently removed , destroyed a Town consisting of ninety Families , and threw down all , excepting ha● of one House , where the Master of th● Family , with his Wife and Children ▪ kneeling upon their Knees , were prayin● and calling upon God. Seventhly ; Infectious Diseases , Plage and Pestilence are sometimes the Effect● of Earthquakes : For the matter 〈◊〉 Earthquakes is pestilential , because subterraneous , or under ground , wanting wind and motion to purifie it ; this therefore when it doth exhale and breath out , or break forth , doth infect the Air , and Men by taking in that infected Air , are insected by it . Seneca shewing the Pestilence to be an Effect and Consequent of an Earthquake , mentions how that after an Earthquake in Campania , six hundred Sheep died of an Infectious Disease . Wonder not at this , saith he , for after great Earthquakes the Pestilence doth use to follow , the Air being corrupt thereby , and Sheep holding down their heads so continually so near the ground , and taking in the poisonous Air that is so near the Earth , are infected with it . This also would have been hurtful unto Men , if a greater quantity of it had come up out of the Earth , but the largeness of a more free and purer Air purgeth that before it rise so high as to be drawn in by Men. In Scripture Earthquakes and Pestilence are set down together , as sore and heavy Judgments ; God grant that London , England , and all places that have been shaken by this late Earthquake , might so fear and tremble before this Great , Almighty God , as to Repent and turn from sin to God , at this his Call so lately , powerfully , and mercifully given , that after the Earthquake the Plague and Pestilence might not follow . Quest . VII . What are the Adjuncts of Earthquakes , which may further inform us concerning this Mighty Work of God : What I shall add concerning this , may be laid down in these following Conclusions . First Conclus . An Earthquake is not Vniversal ; not of the whole Earth a● once , but in part This is the Doctrin● of Learned Men , both Philosophers ad● Divines , asserting in Universal Earth● quake yet never hath been ; but fall out in divers places , but not in all universally at the same time Mat. 24. 7. The● shall be Earthquakes in divers pl●●es ▪ The Scripture so speaketh of the stability of the Earth , as that by Natura● Causes there cannot be an Universa● shaking of it . 1 Chron. 16. 30. Fear before him all the earth : the world also shall be stable , that it be not moved . Isa . 45. 18. Thus saith the Lord that created the heavens , God himself that formed the earth and made it , he hath established it , he created it not in vain , he formed it to be inhabited . Psal . 93. 1. The world is established , that it cannot be moved . Psal 96. 10. Say among the heathen , that the Lord reigneth ; the world also shall be established , that it shall not be moved . Psal . 104. 5. Who laid the foundations of the earth , that it should not be removed for ever . Psal . 119. 90. Thy faithfulness is unto all generations , thou hast established the earth , and it abideth , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and it shall stand . 2. Conclus . Yet such is the greatness of the Power of God , that if he pleased he could remove the whole Earth out of its place . He that made it all , could make it all to tremble and quake ; yea , he that by his Word brought it into Being , can by his Power shake it into nothing . What cannot be done by Natural Causes , might be done by Supernatural Power . This is the meaning of Job's saying , Job 9. 6. Who shaketh the earth out of its place , and the Pillars thereof tremble . An Earthquake is the shaking of the Earth in its place , and causeth it to tremble upon the Pillars thereof . We have no instance that God ever yet removed the whole Earth out of its place ; but it is a Supposition , if the Lord will , he is able to do it . 3. Concl. How far an Earthquake may extend it self , cannot be determined . Men , if they can give an account of the extent of Earthquaks past , yet cannot limit the space of such as yet may be Tho' Senecasaith , an Earthquake never reached above two hundred Miles , yet others give instances of such as have far exceeded ; besides several others , it is recorded of one that was Anno 160● wherein Asia , Hungary Germany , France , and Italy trembled almost in the same moment . 4. Concl. Sometimes there may be an Earthquake in some particular place , and not in others near unto it . The Earthquake , which shaked the Foundations of the Prison where Paul and Silas lay , did not extend it self to other places . God that can cause the Rain to fall upon one City , and not upon another , can make one City shake when he doth not another . 5. Concl. The duration and continuance also of an Earthquake is uncertain . Sometimes it may last but a Minute or two , more or less ; sometimes it may continue Weeks , Months , Years , as some Writers do affirm . So some tremblings of the Earth continued after the great damage by the Earthquake in Jamaica in June last past . If the Vapours shut up in the Earth , be more gross , they do more slowly evaporate or get out , and more difficultly find their passage . If they be more cold , they are also more slow . If they be in greater quantity , the Earthquake may be of a longer continuance , for much is not so soon evaporated , as a little . The Nature of the place also wherein an Earthquake is , may cause the longer or shorter duration of it ; for if the surface of the Earth , in whose Caverns the matter of the Earthquake is contained and shut up , be more solid , close and lesser holes , chinks , and pores be in it , the Earthquake lasts the longer , by reason of the more slow and difficult evaporation of the matter that causeth it . 6. Concl. An Earthquake may in a few Minutes destroy and overturn multitudes of Houses , and sweep away thousands of People . Thus the Intelligence from Jamaica runs : On the 7th . of June , 1692. about 12 at Noon happened here [ Port-Royal ] a most terrible Earthquake : It was most violent on the Harbour-side , where the Houses all sunk down in a Minutes time , from the depth of three to five Fathom Water ; in the Streets next the Wharf , the Earth opened it self wide and deep , and instantly gushed out an Inundation of Water , so that many of the Inhabitants were drowned . Some People being ignorant of the Nature of an Earthquake , and what Destruction it may make in a few Minutes , set little by the Mercy of being preserved at such a time ▪ and soon wear off the sense both of the Judgment and the Mercy , because it lasted so short a space . But tho' London was some days in being consumed by Fire , when many Houses were preserved , yet by an Earthquake in a few Minutes it might have been all destroyed : The preventing whereof was the wonderful Mercy and Providence of God , never to be forgotten . 7. Concl. Sometimes an Earthquake may be once in some parts of the Earth , and not return again , sometimes it may repeat its course , and often put the same places into many trembling fits . When the shaking is over once , the bitterness of God's Wrath , and our Ruine might not be past ; if the shaking of London should be reiterated , the latter might be more grievous than the former . All these second Causes are ordered and over-ruled by the Providence of God : All the Natural Causes of Earthquakes are subject to God's Power , and are at his beck , command , and call ; therefore tho' London be safe after its late shaking , yet let it not be secure , for the same Hand and Power of God that did shake it once , can again , and throw it down . 8. Concl. As all Places are liable to be shaken by the Mighty Power of God , immediately , or by Natural Causes at his Command , so all , or any Seasons of the Year might subserve his Providence , and be the Season of an Earthquake's coming , whether Spring or Autumn , Winter or Summer , Night or Day , or hour of the Night or Day . Tho' Naturalists , that do eye the second Causes , say , they more usually happen in the Spring and Autumn , but especially in the Autumn ; and in the Night , and at Noon-day oftner than at other times . But let the Inhabitants of this Earth fear and tremble before the great God of Heaven and Earth , and not dare by their hainous and provoking sins to stir up his wrathful Indignation against them , who can by Earthquakes make the Earth to tremble , when and where he pleaseth . Quest . VIII . What Inferences may be drawn from this Doctrine , and what Vse should we make of it , and of this great Work of God , which we have lately seen and felt in shaking London ? &c. Vse . I. Earthquakes , when armed with the Wrath of God , and come with his Commission to destroy , are one of the sorest Judgments whereby he executeth his great Vengeance , and manifesteth his hot Indignation against sin and sinners upon Earth . Our Lord Jesus ranks these with the most dreadful and terrible Judgments and Punishments that befall the World. Luke 21. 10. Then said he unto them , Nation shall rise against Nation , and Kingdom against Kingdom . II. And great Earthquakes shall be in divers places , and Famines , and Pestilences , and fearful Sights , and great Signs shall there be from Heaven . Is War dreadful ? Ask those People whose Country is made the Seat of War. Is Famine a sore and heavy Evil ? What think you , when at such times , Mothers have boiled their own Children , and eat them . 2 Kings 6. 26. As the King of Israel was passing by upon the wall , there cried a woman unto him , saying , Help , my Lord , O King ▪ 28. And the King said unto her , What aileth thee ? And she answered , This woman said unto me , Give thy Son , that we may eat him to day , and we will eat my Son to morrow . 29. So we boiled my Son , and did eat him . Is the Plague a wrathful Visitation of God ? Those that are yet alive , that were in London in 1665. may remember the Terror of it . Is an Earthquake behind these for dread and horror ? Or doth it not in some respects go beyond them ? In War , strong Castles , Fortified places , and firm Walls may keep out a Besieging Enemy , which they cannot batter and overthrow in many Months , and these overturned by an Earthquake in a few Minutes . Doth the Sea rage , and is tempestuous ? Mariners have their Ships , and Men on Land have their Banks and Ports to secure them : but an Earthquake tears up their Ports , breaks down their Banks , and makes way for an overwhelming Inundation , and drowneth many . Doth a consuming Fire burn and turn many Houses into ashes , yet the Inhabitants by flight might save themselves . But in an Earthquake , whither will you run to escape the danger ? the fire on your House will not follow you into the street or fields , but there the Earthquake might meet you . Doth the Plague go through a City ? doth it go from House to House , doth it climb up in the Windows ? yet you have your Antidotes against it , and some escape , being not infected , and some infected , do recover : when it is most severe upon the People , it leaveth their dwellings behind them : when they fall into their Graves , their Houses stand upon their old foundation . But an Earthquake devours Houses and Inhabitants too : doth not take them by tens , or hundreds in a week , as doth the Plague , but sweeps all clean away in a few moments . Doth War make great Devastations , burn Towns and Cities , throw down Castles ? yet it leaveth Ruins , as Monuments , that such Towns , Cities , Castles once were there But Earthquakes sometimes swallow up all , and hide them in the bowels of the Earth , and leaves no tokens whereby it may be known , that such places that now are not , once were ▪ Doth War destroy great numbers in the field ? yet some escape , and none are buried till they are Killed : But in Earthquakes , they do not first die , and then are buried , but first are buried , and then they die . In Famine do People pine and languish ? This is most severe amongst the Poor , whose little Money , when things are excessive dear , will not last to supply their want of Bread , while the Richer sort , as long as any thing is to be had for Money , may get so much as to preserve Life , tho' not to satisfie them to the full : In Famine , if they die , they have longer time to think of Death , and to prepare for Eternity : But Earthquakes make no difference betwixt the Rich and the Poor , but swallows up all , and their Money too , and this in a few Minutes , and is not so long in destroying ●s the Famine is , nor gives that time for preparation for another World , but in a moment many go down into one common Grave . Vse II. Wo then to wicked Men , when God comes and shakes his Rod over ●hem , whereby he makes the Earth to shake under them , how sorrowful is your case ? how dreadful is your condition ? what comfort have you to support you in such terrour ? what refuge have you to flie unto , when God shall enter into such a Judgment with you , and contend with you by shaking the Earth under you , if he proceed thereby to make the Houses fall upon you , or the Earth to open under you ? which way will you look for help , or hope , or comfort ? above you ? behold ! there is an angry God , a provoked Lord , a righteous ●udge . Round about ? behold ! your tot●ering Houses , your moving Walls , threatning your Death by their fall . Will you look downwards ? behold ! the Earth trembles , its Pillars shake , as being weary any longer to bear the burden of ungodly Men that walk upon it ; and you fearing when it will cleave asunder and swallow you up . At such a time , had you an interest in God as your reconciled Father , in Christ as your Lord and Saviour , in the holy Spirit as your Regenerator and Sanctifier , what sedatenes● of Mind , what composure of Spirit , wha● stable hopes might you have of Heaven , when the Earth cannot stand still for trembling ? what comfort against your fears , what joy against your sorrows , what remedy against your misery ( against which their seems to be no remedy ) might you have from your special relation to God as reconciled to you , when he so terribly shews his anger unto others ? they are poor grounds o● consolation against the danger , fears and terrours because of an Earthquake , which Seneca prescribes , in comparison of those that the Scripture to holy Men doth give . Psal . 46. 1. God is our refuge and strength , a very present help in trouble . What then ? Verse 2. Therefore will not we fear , tho' the Earth be removed , and tho' the Mountains be carried into the midst of the Sea. Verse 3. Tho' the wa●ers thereof roar , and be troubled , tho' the Mountains shake with the swelling thereof . Selah . Verse 7. The Lord of Hosts is with us , the God of Jacob is our refuge . Selah . Verse 8. Come , behold the works of the Lord , what desolations he hath made in the Earth . Verse 11. The Lord of Hosts is with us , the God of Jacob is our re●uge . Selah . But alas ! this comfort in God's shaking of the Earth is none of yours , because God is none of yours ; your shaking Houses are yours , but what comfort have you in your Houses when you see them shaking ? Comfort ! they are then a terrour to you . Why ? because the Lord of Hosts is against you , the God of Jacob is not your Refuge ( in an Earthquake ) Selah . Vse III. Admire and thankfully acknowledge the goodness , greatness and power of God in the constant standing of the Earth ( except in Earthquakes ) that it remains stable and ( otherwise ) unmovable . If an Earthquake be so terrible , is not the usual steadfastness of the Earth the more comfortable ? if it did for the most part shake and tremble , and sometimes only stand firm and fixt , its standing still would be more observed , and God more praised upon that account , than now he is , when for the most part it stands unmoved , and but sometimes is shaken . How seldom hath this one ( tho' it be a great ) thing been in our Minds , and mentioned in our praises amongst the mercies God vouchsafed to the Inhabitants of the Earth ? when were our admiring thoughts imployed about this subject ? and yet if you saw a Ball stand in the Air not supported by , nor hung upon any thing ▪ would not you stand and gaze and wonder at it ? how much more when this huge and vast Body of the Earth , so weighty and ponderous in it self , and bearing such heavy burdens that are upon it , as vast quantities of Lead , Brass , Iron , Stones , &c. hangs upon nothing , Job 26. 7. And the Pillars of the Earth , spoken of in Scripture , are not to be understood of proper material Pillars ( for what should such Pillars stand upon ) but metaphorical ; whereas the true real Pillar of the Earth is the power of God. Psal . 65. 6. Which by his strength setteth fast the Mountains , being girded with power . So great a thing is done by his mighty commanding word . Psal . 33. 9. For he spake , and it was done ; he commanded and it stood fast . If a Feather ( light to a Proverb ) be held up and let loose in the Air , it sinks , and resteth not without it fall upon something to support it ; and yet this massie Body of the Earth , without any other support , than the power of God , is born up , stands fast , and fixt , and firm , and bears us , our dwellings , without those fears that in an Earthquake do surprize and fill us . Let this be thought on more , and the power of God admired in it . Vse IV. Such special and peculiar Earthquakes which God hath caused for special and peculiar ends , improve to the obtaining of those ends . All the Earthquakes in general do manifest the Glory of the power of God , and God in them doth speak to Men on Earth . They have a voice , and we should have an hearing ear ; let 's not be deaf to the Instructions that God is giving of us ; nor dull to take out the Lessons he is teaching us . Particularly some more observable upon more remarkable occasions , such as these . 1. The Earthquake there was at the Death of Christ . The Jews hearts were stony and hard , and did not fear no● tremble to shed the innocent and most precious Blood of the Son of God , but when it fell upon the ground , the Earth did shake and tremble to receive it . Abel's blood did cry to Heaven from the ground , and Cain was cursed , and the Earth was cursed to him for that bloody fact . Gen. 410. And he said what hast tho● done ? the voice of thy brothers blood crieth unto me from the ground . Verse 11. And now art thou cursed from the Eart● which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brothers blood at thine hand . Vers . 12. When thou tillest the ground , it shall no● henceforth yield unto thee her strength . A Fugitive and a Vagabond shalt thou be in the Earth . Was not the Blood of Christ of greater worth and value then Abel's , or of all Men , being the Blood of him that was God as well as Man , pure and spotless ; was not therefore the shedding of it by Men , a more heinous sin and barbarous fact ; and yet the shedders of it stupid , and not afraid to take away his life ? what doth the Earth under their feet , but shake and tremble at what they did not ? and what improvement did some then present make thereof ? and what conclusions did they draw from it ? Mat. 27. 51. Behold , the vail of the Temple was rent in twain , from the top to the bottom , and the Earth did quake , and the Rocks rent . Verse 54. And when the Centurion , and they that were with him , watching Jesus , saw the Earthquake and those things that were done , they feared greatly . And what did they say ? what did they gather and infer from thence ? what Conclusion laid they down as sure and certain ? they said , Truly this was the Son of God. Though you did not see it , as they did , yet you read it recorded by them that did see it , and do not you believe this matter of fact , and the recor● of it to be true ? and will not you say ▪ Surely that Christ , at whose Death the very Earth did quake , and other great Miracles done , was the Son of God , and love him , desire him , trust him , receive him , and consent to have him for your Lord and Saviour accordingly ? was the shaking of the Earth , and the rending or the Rocks , a testimony against the Impenitent , Unbelieving , and Rocky-hearted Jews , that neither before , for all the Miracles done by him in his Life , nor after they saw what was done at his Death , did own him for the Son of God ▪ nor receive him for their Saviour and Lord , but did still reject him , and do you hear of the same things that they saw , and yet be guilty of the same Unbelie● , Impenitency , and Rejecting of Christ as they were ? shall it not have the same effect upon you , as it had upon the Centurion , and those that were with him ▪ The Earth at his Death did quake ; do you fear and tremble , lest you be found a Rejecter of him . 2. The Earthquake at the Resurrection of Jesus Christ , ought to be improved by us to establish us in the Articles of our Faith of Christ's Resurrection , and our own , and to rejoice at the thoughts of both . And the more the Earth did tremble , the more stedfast let our Faith be . Matth. 28. 2. And behold there was a great Earthquake . Verse 5. — Ye seek Jesus . Verse 6. He is not here , for he is risen . Verse 8. They departed quickly , with fear and great joy , and did run to bring his Disciples word . The Earth did quake , and they did believe ; the Earth did quake , and they did joy that Christ was risen . As the Earth did quake to drink up his Blood , so it did quake to detain his Body beyond the appointed time , and by its motion did congratulate the victory Christ had obtained over Death in its own Dominions . Improve this also to believe the power of Christ to raise our Bodies also , for if he give the word , if he utter his voice , Come forth ye dead , Awake , Arise , he will make the Earth to quake and tremble , to deliver up its dead . Rev. 20. 11. And I saw a great white Throne , and him that sate upon it , from whose Presence the Earth and Heaven fled away , and there was found no place for them . Verse 12. And I saw the dead , small and great , stand before God , and the Books were opened , and another Book was opened , which is the Book of Life ; and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the Books , according to their Works . The Earth did quake when Christ did die , and when he arose ; and so it shall when he shall come to raise the dead , and judge the World. 3. The Earthquake at the Prayers of the Apostles ( when the Gospel was opposed , and the Preachers of it persecucured ) that God would grant unto his Servants that with all boldness they may speak his Word , and for confirmation of their Faith , and satisfaction that their Prayers were heard , his Church and Kingdom should be propagated and preserved , the place was shaken where they were , Acts 4. 24. 31. He that can shake the Earth , can establish his Church ; he that can make Mountains quake , can and hath built his Church upon such a Rock , that no Power shall prevail against it . Vse V. Improve this mighty terrible Work of God in causing this late Earthquake , by making more hast to turn from sin to God by a speedy and sincere Conversion . Were you not afraid of Death , when your Houses did shake , and you feared , would fall upon you ? Were you prepared to die ? Were you fitted for Judgment and Eternity ? What if you had been destroyed then , where had your Souls been now ? Have any of you been more serious and earnest in enquiring after the way of Salvation ? Have you so much as with a concerned mind asked any Minister , what you must do that you may be saved ? How ! have you not ? What , will you be more stupid than the Earth under your feet ? Did it tremble , and not you ? Or did you then , and are become secure again ? Will you be more careless and hardened than the Jaylor ? He ! did not he , being moved by the motion of the quaking ground , make hast , and run to the Apostles , and on his knees begged , Sirs , what must I do to be saved ? If you know , tell me . I see the greatness and the power of your God , if he will have mercy on sinners , tell me , and what I must do , that he might have mercy on me , and save me , tell me ; if his Wrath be so great , how may I escape it ? I do not yet know , fain I would , but I do not ; O Sirs , tell me what must I do to be saved ? Hath this that you have felt and seen put you on to any greater diligence for your Souls Salvation , than you had before ▪ Careless before , and so still ? Impenitent before , and so still ? No minding of Conversion before , and none yet ? Indeed ▪ Shall this amazing Providence of God , whereby you were in so much danger of Death and Hell , pass away , and leave you as carnal , careless , and negligent as you were before ? What! after the Earth in its trembling might have opened its mouth and swallowed you up alive into its bowels , and from thence have gone to Eternal Torments ? From Pit to Pit ? From a deep Pit made by the Earthquake in the lower parts thereof , into a bottomless-Pit , prepared by a just and angry God to take Vengeance on Impenitent and Unconverted sinners to all Eternity ? Turn , sinner , turn , or this God that can and hath by Earthquakes overturned Towns , Cities , Mountains , will turn thee into Hell ; and now if thou wilt not fear to continue in a state of sin , there thou shalt feel his Wrath and Vengeance for thy sin . Vse VI. Evermore live in the fear of God , and walk with Circumspection , Care , and Conscience in all the parts and passages of your Life . Why so ? Because one way or other God may Suddenly call you out of one World into another , out of Time into Eternity . Death many ways might suddenly surprize you . Have not you seen how suddenly an Earthquake may be ? How many , alas ! how many at that time did the trembling Earth bear , and weary of bearing them , trembled under them , as a Porter under a Load too heavy for him ? How many did it find in a way of sin , Drinking to Excess , Swearing without shame or fear , and spending their precious time in Sports , and Plays , and Vanity ? What if God had commanded those Winds , or Fires , or Spirits , and Vapours ( if it were from such Natural Causes ) that made the Earth to quake , and your Houses tremble , to open the Earth and break out , where you at that time were sinning against him , and swallowed you up ? Seriously think , in what a woful case and practice it found you , and be more wary for time to come . You little thought of such a Work of God , till it suddenly came : Therefore where ever you are be careful to walk so holily , and circumspectly , as becomes those that know now how suddenly Danger , Death and Damnation too , else might come upon you . Vse VII . Let all and every one of us get and evidence our Title to a Kingdom that cannot be shaken . You see there is no place in this World that is so stable , but it may be shaken , even those Houses that you do not call moveable Goods , how moveable God can make them . When you build on Earth , you mind that your Foundation be good and firm , and not sandy , or unsound ; and if you built your House upon an earthly Rock , tho' when the Wind blows , and Rain descends and beat against it , yet it stands ; but if an Earthquake come , with a Commission from God to overturn , or sink it , your best Foundation cannot secure it . But there is a City above that hath [ unshaken ] Foundations , whose Maker and Builder is God : Secure an House there , not made with hands , for that will be eternal . There are Mansions above , which are perpetual : There are no Storms nor Tempests ; there are no terrible Thunderings and Lightnings , there are no Rendings nor Shakings ; all sedate and calm , all at quiet and rest , all secure and safe . No death , or darkness , no fears or tremblings , no threatning or amazing motions tending to interrupt the Joys and holy Pleasures , the Triumphant Songs of the Citizens of that City , of the glorious Subjects of that abiding Kingdom . Your House on Earth might be destroyed by War , by Fire , by an Earthquake ; but there are Mansions above not subject to be destroyed or spoiled by these or any other way : Set less by these on Earth , that have , and may be shaken , and more by that Kingdom , that never hath , nor shall , nor can be shaken . Heb. 12. 27. This word , once more , signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken , as of things that are made , that those things which cannot be shaken , may remain . 28. Wherefore we receiving a Kingdom , which cannot be moved , let us have grace whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear . Vse VIII . Celebrate the Power of God and his infinite Greatness , manifested in this his Work in shaking of the Earth . Can Man do it ? Can Kings and Nobles do it ? With their mighty Armies can they do that , which God by Winds and Vapours can at his pleasure do ? Job alledgeth this as an evident demonstration of his Power . Job 9. 4. He is wise in heart , and mighty in strength . 5. Which removeth mountains , and they know it not , which overturneth them in his anger . 6. Which shaketh the earth out of her place , and the pillars thereof tremble . And yet these Earthquakes that are so great , the great God doth them with a abundance of ease . Psal . 104. 32. He looketh on the earth , and it trembleth ; be toucheth the hills , and they smoke . O tremble before this God , who if he casts but an angry look upon the Earth , ●t falls a trembling , if he touch the Mountains , they smoke ; an angry look with his Eye , a displeasing touch with his Finger causeth the one to tremble , and the other to smoke . What shall sinners then do , when he shall lay upon them ●he heavy strokes of his Wrath and Vengeance to all Eternity ? Doth the Earth quake before him , and the very Devils tremble at his angry Presence , and shal● Mortal sinful Men be fearless of him ▪ The day will come , and it is hastning when fear , and terror , and trembling shall seize upon them , and they not be able to shake it off . Vse IX . God never wanteth ways and means to punish the Disobedience and Rebellion of sinners against him . He ca● make the Heavens above to punish the● by with-holding Rain from them , o● by pouring out immoderate Shower ▪ upon them : He can punish them by the Earth beneath . And if there be nothing visible to plague and destroy them , yet he hath his Armies and his ●●ghty Host under Ground , and in the bowels of the Earth , which he can Master at his word of Command , all stand ready to fight against them , which ca● slay them heaps upon heaps , and bury them first , and after kill them . Vse X. Make your Peace with God that shews his Anger by these Earthquakes When he takes such a Rod into h● hand , you might see displeasure in his face . Let this late Work of God in shaking London , and so many places in England , and parts beyond the Sea , be a warning to them all ; and oh that all would take this fair warning ! It is his Mercy that he doth warn before he strikes , that with his Rod he doth correct , before with his Ax he hews us down . Do you think this came by chance , and that by chance it did no more harm ? Did not God that gave Commission to it , to shake London , put into its Commission , make it shake , but not to fall ? And if God did send it , is it not a discovery of his Anger ? Read again Psal . 18. 7. Then the earth shook and trembled , the foundation of the hills moved and were shaken . Why ? Because he was wroth . O labour by Repentance , and Faith in Christ to turn away his Wrath , lest he overthrow you in his Anger . Vse XI . What may be some Security to a City against one Judgment , might not be any defence against another . When London had its old Houses built with Timber , consumed by Fire , to prevent such another desolation by devouring Flames , Men have built with Brick and Stone , that are not such combustible matter . But as you have built with other Materials than before , so God hath other ways to deal with you besides consuming Fire . God hath shewn you , he can make your strongest Buildings of firmest stone , even your Royal Exchange to shake and tremble , and Persons leave their Shops , and hasten down , and run crying home , through fears that it would fall . Let us never by such wilful , great , and hainous sins provoke God , because we cannot by any means strengthen our selves against him . For he that can shake Rocks and Mountains , and throw them down , can shake and cast down your strongest Buildings . Psal . 68. 8. The earth shook , the heavens also dropped at the presence of God , even Sinai it self moved at the presence of God , the God of Jacob. Psal . 114. 7. Tremble thou earth ( and ye sinners ) at the presence of the Lord. Vse XII . Admire the sparing Mercy of God to London , more than to many Places and Cities in the World. Indeed , by this late Earthquake many Towns and Cities besides London have been shaken , and are spared ; which doth not make Londons deliverance to be less : for God in sparing others , might have brought London down . But compare your Mercies ( for there are many in its preservation ) with the Desolations brought upon many Cities in former Ages , and upon Port-Royal in Jamaica , by Earthquakes , and acknowledge God's mercy and his power in his late visitation of it , his power in shaking it , his mercy in preserving of it . Consider this Providence seriously , suffer it not to pass without due observation , and think whether you may put a greater accent upon his Power or his Mercy in this Dispensation ; upon his Power in making it to tremble , or on his Mercy , that he did not make it sink or tumble down . Did God by an Earthquake shake London , and yet doth London stand ? God did shake it , behold his Power . It doth stand , behold his Mercy . Nay , do not you see his powerful Mercy , and his merciful Power ? his powerful Mercy in shaking it , as a warning to you , and his merciful Power in keeping it from falling when it was so shaken . O write upon your Walls , however engraven it on your hearts and memories , My House was shaken with a● Earthquake , and yet it stands . London sorely threatned , and yet is spared . It is by the distinguishing Providence of God , that you have been visited in the same way as others have , and yet are not overthrown , nor swallowed up in the same manner as others are . That you may be the more sensible of , and so more thankful for God's great Mercy in sparing you in the day of his Power , I will subjoin ( out of many ) some few Examples o● God's sore displeasure , and his severe punishing of others by Earthquakes , ( collected out of History ) whereby your Mercy might be magnified in your eyes . Josephus records , That about 29 years before the Birth of Christ there hapned such an Earthquake in the Country of Judea , that never the like was seen in any other place , so that divers Beasts were slain thereby , and many Men were overwhelmed in the ruins of their own Houses , and perish'd to the number of ten , ( others write thirty ) thousand . In the fifth year of the Emperour Tiberius , there fell out so dreadful an Earthquake , that thirteen Cities in Asia were destroyed and overthrown thereby . In the sixty sixth year after Christ there hapned such another Earthquake , as destroyed three other Cities of Asia , viz. Laodicea , Hierapolis and Colossus . Anno Christo 79. three Cities in Cyprus were overthrown by an Earthquake . Anno Christi 114. the City of Antioch was much defaced by an Earthquake , in which time the Emperour Trajan being there , escaped the danger with much difficulty : and Eusebius mentioneth another in the seventh year of Trajan , which destroyed nine several Cities in Asia , Greece and Calabria . About the year 182. the City of Smyrna came to ruin by an Earthquake , for the re-edifying whereof the Emperour remitted ten years tribute . Anno Christi 1456. there perished about Puel and Naples in an Earthquake forty thousand People . Anno Christi 1531. in the City of Lisbon about one thousand and four hundred Houses were overthrown by an Earthquake , and about six hundred more were so sorely shaken that they were ready to fall , and many of the Churches were cast to the ground . Anno Christi 1400. there was such a terrible Earthquake at Lurr in Persia as overthrew five hundred Houses : and 〈◊〉 Christ . 1593. there fell out such another as overthrew three thousand Houses ▪ quashing to death three thousand Men in their ruins ; yea , the Castle , tho' built upon the top of a solid Rock , groaned in the like affrighted downfal . Before the Peloponesian , or Civil Wars amongst the Grecians , one of their Islands called Delphos ( famous for the Temple of Apollo therein ) was wholly ruined by an Earthquake , which foreshewed those wonderful alterations which presently after befel Greece . Anno Christi 1618. Pleurs a Town in Rhetia , was in an Earthquake overwhelmed with an Hill , which with a most swift motion oppressed one thousand five hundred men . In the year 1509. there was a great and terrible Earthquake in Constantinople , and the Countries thereabouts , by the violence whereof a great part of the Walls of that City , with many stately Buildings , both publick and private , were quite overthrown , and thirteen thousand people overwhelmed & slain therewith , the terrour whereof was so great , that Bajazet himself , the great Turk , and the People generally forsook their Houses , and lay abroad in the Fields . It endured for a month together with very little intermission ; after which ensued a great Plague , whereby the City was for the most part unpeopled . A little before the Wars between the Lacedaemonians and the Ilotae , who were their Slaves and Bondmen in the Country of Laconia , there hapned in the City of Lacedemon the most wonderful and fearful Earthquake that ever was heard of : for the Earth in many places of the Country opened and fell in as into a bottomless pit : the Mountain Taygetum shook so terribly , that parts of Rocks fell down from it : and all the City of Lacedemon , with the violence of it , was thrown down to the ground , five hundred Houses only excepted . An. Christ . 1169. Febr. 4. there was such a vehement Earthquake all over the Island of Sicily , that it was perceived in Calabria , and the wealthy and stately City of Catana was so utterly destroyed by it , that there was not one House left standing ; and above fifteen thousand Men , Women and Children perished in the ruins thereof . In the year of Christ 1631. not long before the troubles of Naples , there fell out a terrible Earthquake in and about the City , and the Mountain of Soma , after many terrible bellowings , vomited out burning streams of fire , which tumbled into the Adriatick Sea , and cast out an huge deal of Ashes . The like happened the year following in the month of February , with so great hurt and loss to the circumjacent places , as well in Houses , Men , Women , Children , and Cattle , that it cannot be exprest . All these ( and there are many more ) are dreadful instances of God's great powerful wrath by Earthquakes against the sins of Men. But do not Men still continue in their disobedience and provoking sins , and doth not God continue to manifest his hatred and detestation of them ? For all this is his Anger turned away ? is not his Hand stretched out stiil ? have not we heard of the sad destruction of Jamaica by a most terrible Earthquake there this year ? Should not we sympathize with them , and by God's dealing with them tremble at the remembrance of our own sins , the procuring cause of all Calamities , especially since God so lately hath shaken this City , tho' it stands ? It s no argument the greatest sufferers are the greatest sinners . Luk 13. 1. There were some present at that season that told him of the Galileans , whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices . Vers . 2. And Jesus answering , said unto them , suppose ye that these Galileans were sinners above all the Galileans . because they suffered these things ? How doth Christ answer his own Question ▪ Vers . 3. I tell you , nay : but except ye repent , ye shall all likewise perish . Vers . 4. Or those eighteen on whom the Tower of Siloam fell , and slew them , think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem . Vers . 5. I tell you , nay : but except ye repent , ye shall all likewise perish . It is confest by some that write from Jamaica , that they were a very wicked People ; great Swearers , Drunkards , Unclean , &c. and are there not many such in England , yea , in and about London ? Is it not known ? is it not seen ? can it be denied ? and are there not such Circumstances that may make the very same sins to be more heinous and aggravated here , beyond what they be ( tho exceeding great ) in Jamaica O that God would set home those words of the Saiour of Souls , upon the Hearts and Con●ciences of such provoking sinners amongst us , Except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish Sin is the same , and God's ●wath is the same , and his power is the same , to punish one People , as well as another , tho' he is pleased to make a dif●erence , punishing sometimes some , when ●t the same time he doth not others ; yet this ought not to make us the more ●ecure , nor to set our hearts in us to do evil , because Sentence is not speedily ex●cuted ; but that sin may be hated , God ●eared , we reformed , and be more thankful to God for his sparing Mercy to London , and other places in England in the late Earthquake , having a borrowed Extract of a Letter from Jamaica , sent by an Eye-witness to his Friend in England , for the honour of God , who is known by the Judgments which he executeth , and warning to Men ( being told I may ) I will annex it in the very words . Port-Royal in Jamaica , June 20. 1692. ON the 7th . day at Noon was a most terrible Earthquake : It came from the North , attacked the Town on the Harbour-side , 〈◊〉 which side was a Wharf ; the whole length of the place , where stood the King's House , a Bastion of 207 Guns , Carlile Battery of 119 Guns , and the Houses of the greatest Merchants ; Al those sunk down in a moment of 3 to 5 Fatho● Water . In the Street next to the Wharf , the Earth opened , being wide and deep , and instantly issued out an Inundation of Water ; so that several People were swallowed up alive in the ground , and were spewed up again : some we●● funk in their Houses , some were buried unde● the Rubbish , some were drowned , some who 〈◊〉 got into clear Water , and could swim , we●● carried away with drifts of Timber , and to● of Houses , driven by a steering carrere , 〈◊〉 there perished : Nothing else was seen , but the dead and dying ; nothing heard but shrieks 〈◊〉 cries . I my self escaped to a Miracle , and w● an Eye-witness to the Destruction of the Tow● ▪ and the Distress of the miserable People . It ● impossible for Tongue to speak , or Pen to wri●● the sorrows and terrors of that day . The living were covered with Wounds , Bruises , and Blood Some fled to part of the Town yet standing , b● the Houses shattered ; some got on pieces of Timber , and others in Canooes and Boats , to sav● their Lives . The Shipping rode safe at Anchor just by , and saw this sad Tragedy ; the Boats came out , but slow to our assistance , the Seamen being more diligent to take up drift-goods than People , by which baseness many were lost , which could have been saved . In the Afternoon many Seamen , English and Spaniards , contented themselves with what was floating on the Waters , tho' some instantly entred and rifled standing Houses . But the following night and day those Villains were more savage and cruel than many Indians and Negroes : robbed all Houses , broke in pieces all Scrutores , Boxes , Trunks , and Chests of Drawers , Cabinets , and made spoil of all that was of value in the Town ; threatning to kill several of the Inhabitants , if any durst be so bold to say , this House was mine . Our Enemies could not have treated us worse than the Seamen . The remainder of us now in the Town building little holes to shelter our selves from the Weather ; for all the Buildings are thrown down in this Island , with the Sugar and Indico Works . God in Wrath hath Mercy , in sending us very seasonable Weather , which we have not had these three Years — The Earthquakes several times a day , tho' not so terrible , as in the first day ; for then the Thunders roared over our heads , and the Earth trembled under our feet , and the Rocks and Mountains fell , and Fire-balls fell by day and night from Heaven , which my Eyes saw ; so that the most hardened Atheist might have considered that there was a God , who governed the World. A Letter , Dated Port-Royal , June 28. 1692. saith — We have an Account from several parts of these Islands of the Mischief done by the Earthquake . From St. Anns we hear of above a thousand Acres of Wood-Land changed into the Sea , and carried with it whole Plantations ; but no place suffered like Port-Royal , where whole Streets were swallowed up by the opening Earth , and the Houses and Inhabitants went down together ; some of them were driven up again by the Sea , which arose in those Breaches , and wonderfully escaped . Some were swallowed up to the Neck , and then the Earth shut upon them , and squeezed them to death , and in that manner several are left buried with their Heads above ground , only some Heads the Dogs have eaten , others are covered with Dust and Earth by the People which yet remain in the place , to avoid the stench . The People tell me , that they hear great bellowings and noises in the Mountains , which makes some very apprehensive of an Eruption of Fire ; if so , it will , I fear , be more destructive than the Earthquake . — Hath God been so severe with England , with London in the late Earthquake ? do not your sta●ding Houses declare he hath not ? that you are yet alive , doth not this manifest that in that Judgment God remembred Mercy ? I had communicated to me a Letter sent by a Minister in Kent to his Father in London , from which I will extract what concerns this late Earthquake , that you may see the different Dealings of God with divers People , and the Relation of this not like the former . — You have heard already ( perhaps ) of the Earthquakes being in Kent , on Thursday last , as well as at London , and at other places , but this may confirm you that it is true , that it hath been here , as we have been all Eye-witnesses : and this particular true Account I can give you . It shook Leeds Castle ( which is but half a mile from me ) so violently , that all in the Castle , even the Lady her self , went out of it , and expected its falling . One of my Acquaintance was out in a Field at that time , the ground shook so under him , that he could not stand , and being forced to lie down on the ground , was so tossed up and down , that he received several bruises . It was very much at Maidstone , the People generally leaving their Houses , fearing they would fall upon their heads ; and it hath been in most places of the County , which puts us all into a great Consternation , but it lasted not above a quarter of a● hour . — But here is no downfal of Houses , not of one . Here is no Persons killed , no , not one . No openings of the Earth , no breakings in of Waters , turning dry Land into a Sea. Do not you see your Mercy in the late Judgment ? do you say or think , God could not do to you as he hath done with others heretofore , or to Jamaica of late ? instead of praising the Name of God , do not blaspheme it . God's gracious proceedings with England , and therein with London , should melt our hearts , whilst his terrible dreadful Strokes beats others to pieces ; and finding one instance of an Earthquake in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth so much in gentleness like to this in our days , shewing from Age to Age his Mercy to this Land , as if loth to dedestroy it , if Mercy may melt us , mixt with Judgments to awaken us , I shall add this before I do conclude , in the words and syllables with which I find it published , thus : On Easter-Wednesday , being the sixth of Arpil , 1580. somewhat before six of the clock in the Afternoon , happened this great Earthquake whereof this Discourse treateth . I mean , not great in respect of long continuance of time , for ( God be thanked ) it continued little above a minute of an hour , rather shaking God's rod at us , then smiting us according to our deserts : nor yet in respect of any great hurt done by it within this Realm ; for altho' it shook all the Houses , Castles , Churches , and Buildings every where as it went , and put them in danger of utter ruin , yet within this Realm ( praised be our Saviour Christ Jesus for it ) it overthrew few , or none , that I have yet heard of , saving certain Stones , Chimneys , Walls and Pinacles of high Buildings , both in this City and divers others places . Neither do I hear of any Christian People that received bodily hurt by it saving tw● Children in London , a Boy and a Girl , being at Sermon among a great number of People in Christ's Church by Newgate-Market , of whom the Boy named Thomas Gray , was slain out of hand , with the fall of a Stone shaken down from the Roof of the Church : and the Girl ( whose name was Mabel Everite ) being sore hurt there , at the same present by like casualty , died within few days after . But I term it great , in respect of the universalness thereof almost at one instant , not only within this Realm , but also without , where it was much more violent , and did far more harm : and in respect of the great terrour which it then struck into all mens hearts where it came , and yet still striketh into such as duly consider howjustly God may be offended with all Men for sin , and especially with this Realm of England , which hath most abundantly tasted of God's Mercy and most unthankfully neglected his Goodness , which yet still warneth us by this terrible wonder , what for more terrible punishments are like to light upon us e're long ▪ unless we amend our sinful Conversation betimes . This Earthquake made that Impression on the Minds of those that then lived , that an Order of Prayer , and a godly Admonition concerning it , was appointed to be read for the turning of God's Wrath from them , threatned by that terrible Earthquake , by order given from the Queens Majesty's most honourable Privy Council , to be used in all Churches and Housholds throughout the Realm . Because this might serve for a Conviction of many prayer less Families amongst us , that were so before the late Earthquake , and are so still ; that are more fearless of God's displeasure , then those that lived in times of lesser Light , I shall insert so much of it as concern'd the Earthquake . A Prayer to be used of all Householders , with their whole Family , every evening before they go to bed , that it would please God to turn his Wrath from us threatued in the last terrible Earthquake . Set forth by Authority . — WE most heartily and humbly beseech thy fatherly Goodness to look down from the Throne of the Mercy Seat upon us most miserable and sinful Slaves of Satan , which with fearful and trembling hearts do quake and shake at the strange and terrible token of thy Wrath and Indignation , appearing most evidently to us , by thy shaking and moving of the Earth , which is thy Footstool , whereby ( if we be not utterly destitute of Grace ) we be warned , that thy coming down amongst us , to visit our sins in most terrible manner , cannot be far off , seeing thou treadest so hard upon this thy Footstool the Earth , which we most shamefully have polluted and defiled with our most wicked , sinful , and rebellious Lives , notwithstanding thy continual crying and calling upon us by thy Servants , the Prophets and Preachers , by whom we have learned to know thy will , but have not followed it : We have heard much , and done little ▪ yea nothing at all ; but like most perverse and unthankful Children , have made a mock of thy Word , derided thy Ministers , and accounted thy Threatnings trifles , and thy Warnings of no weight or moment : Wherefore we have justly deserved to taste most deeply of the bitter Cup of thy Anger and Vengeance by Wars , Famine , Pestilence , yea , and Eternal Death if thou shouldst not temper the rigour of thy Justice with the mildness of thy Mercy . — Turn this Earthquake , O Lord , to the benefit of thine Elect , as thou didst when thou shoo●●edst the Prison , loosedst the Locks , Fetters and Chains of thy Servants , Paul and S●las , and broughtest them out of Prison ▪ and convertedst their Keeper ; so gracious Lord , strike the hearts of Tyrants with the terrour of this thy Work , that they may know that they are but Men ▪ and that tho● art that Sampson that for their mocking and spighting of thee , and thy Word , canst shake the Pillars of their Palaces , and throw them upon the furious Philistines heads . Turn thy Wrath , O Lord , fro● thy Children that call upon thy Name , to the Conversion or Confusion of thine ▪ Enemies that defie and ab●or thy Name , and deface thy Glory . Thou hast knocked long at their Doors , but they will not open to let thee in : burst open therefore the brazen Gates of their stony hearts , thou that art able of stones to raise up Children to Abraham : and finally s● touch our hearts with the finger of thy Grace , that we may deeply muse upon our sinful ▪ Lives , to amend the● , and call for thy Mercy to forgive and pardon them , through Christ our Lord , who liveth with thee and the Holy Ghost , three Persons and one Eternal God , to whom be all Dominion and Glory with Praise and Thanksgiving for ever and ever . Amen . Do not you see old Mercies to England in time of Judgment by that Earth●uake then , as fresh Mercy in the like Judgment mixt in this so lately ? nay , this more mild then that ; when by that two were killed , and not one by this ( that yet I hear of . ) And should not the terrour of the Lord awaken us , as you see it did others in the like case heretofore ? Should not every House that hath been shaken be fill'd with Crys , Calls , and fervent Prayers unto God to turn away his Wrath from us , that else after this Earthquake might come upon us ? Might not we ●ear , as they then did , and pray every night before we go to Bed , as they were appointed and commanded by Authority to do ? should not the Judgment , and the Mercy in it , kindly work upon us ? or shall we be more secure , because God ( in Judgment ) is so merciful ? Shall we despise the Riches of his goodness , and forbearance , and long-suffering , not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth us to repentance ? or shall we , after our hardness and impenitent hearts , treasure up unto our selves wrath against the day of wrath , and revelation of the righteous judgment of God ? will not he render to every man according to his deeds ? read and answer ; Rom. 2. 4 , 5 , 6. That I may conclude , I shall recommend to the Citizens of London a serious consideration of three years ( amongst others ) exceeding remarkable , always to be remembred and improved by all that have seen them all , and by those that have been born since the first and second of them , but have been told by others of God's dealing with this City then 1. Forget not the Dying year in this City in 1665. when God did visit it with the Plague : Have you forgot , have you not heard how Death raged then ? how it rode triumphant like a mighty Conquerour , that so many durst not meet it in the Streets as were sufficient to keep the Grass from growing in Cheapside ? did it not slay heaps upon heaps , that the living were put to day-labour to bury their dead ? so many thousand in a week cut off , cut down , and changed time for eternity : ready or unready , must away . Death was then in such haste , in so short time to slay so many , that if it did find unprepared persons , it did not , it could not be prevailed with by sighs and sobs , by tears and groans , to stay till some made themselves ready for another world . You that lived Then and Now , have cause to remember Gods Judgment to others ( especially if unconverted ) that died , and his Mercy to you that live now . 2. Forget not that dreadful burning year 1666. when the tops of London's highest Houses were brought down to fill their Cellars : when the devouring Flames marched without controul from Street to Street , drinking up the Water cast upon them , and scorning all oppositions that could for some days be made against them , till God that set bounds to the proud Waves of the Sea , set limits to the insulting Flames , saying , Hitherto shall ye go , and no further . Let the sight of your new Buildings put you in mind your old were burnt . 3. The trembling year 1692. when your Houses by an Earthquake trembled as if they would fall ; and you in them then trembled for fear they should fall . I have heard there were tremblings of the Earth in Jamaica some years more then once , before the great sit of Convulsion came by which it was destroyed . Let us take warning by one . In the year 65 , God by one Judgment swept away the Inhabitants , and left their Houses : in 66 he destroyed your Houses , and preserved your Persons : in 92 by an Earthquake he threatned both your Dwellings and your Persons , but ( in mercy ) he spared both . Oh give praise unto the Lord that he spared you and your Houses in this Earthquake , and pray that he would shake them so no more . FINIS . Books printed for John Salusbury in Cornhill . THE certainty of The Worlds of Spirits , fully evinced by unquestionable Histories of Apparitions and Witchcrafts , Operations , Voices , &c. Proving the Immortality of Souls , the Malice and Miseries of the Devils and the Damned , and the Blessedness of the Justified . The End of Doctrinal Controversies which have lately troubled the Churches , by reconciling Explication without much Disputing . Both by Mr. Richard Baxter . The Protestant Religion truly stated and justified , by the late Reverend Divine Mr. Richard Baxter : Whereunto is added by way of an Epistle , some Account of the Learned Author , never before published . By Mr. Matth. Sylvester and Mr. Daniel Williams . The Harmony of the Divine Attributes , in the contrivance and accomplishment of Man's Redemption by the Lord Jesus Christ . By William Bates D. D. The Changeabless of this World , with respect to Nations , Families , and particular Persons ; with a practical Application thereof to the various conditions of this Mortal Life . By Timothy Rogers M. A. The Christian Lover , or a Discourse opening the Nature of Participation with , and Demonstrating the Necessity of Purification by Christ . By T. Cruse . The Duty and Blessing of a Tender Conscience , plainly stated and earnestly recommended to all that regard acceptance with God , and the Prosperity of their Souls . By the same Author . Five Sermons on various Occasions . By the same Author . The Mirrour of Divine Love unvail'd , in a Paraphrase on the High and Mysterious Song of Solomon . By Robert Plemming . V. D. M. The Mourners Memorial , in two Sermons on the Death of the truly , 〈◊〉 Mrs. Susannah Some . With some 〈◊〉 count of her Life and Death . By 〈◊〉 Wright and Robert Fleming . V. D. M. A new Examination of the Acciden● and Grammar , in English and Latin wherein all the Rules of Properiquae ●●●ribus , Quae Genus , As in presenti , Si●t 〈◊〉 and Praesodia , are made plain and 〈◊〉 that the meanest Capacity may speed 〈◊〉 learn the Latin Tongue . The Christian's Converse with God ▪ 〈◊〉 the Insufficiency and Uncertainty Human Friendship , and the Improveme●● of Solitude in Converse , with God wit● some of the Author's Breathings a●● him . By Richard Baxter . Recommend●● to the Readers serious Thoughts wh● at the House of Mourning and Reti●● ment . By Mr. Matth Sylvester . A Rational Defence of Nonconform●●ty , wherein the practice of Nonconfo●mists in vindicated from the Charge , Dr. Stilling fleet Bp●of Worcester . Also 〈◊〉 Case of the present Separation truly u●ted , and the way to Union amongst Pr●●testants pointed at by Gilbert Rule D. D.