A discourse of earthquakes as they are supernatural and premonitory signs to a nation with a respect to what hath occurred in this year 1692, and some special reflections thereon : as also on that security and assurance of mind which is attainable in the light and power by the author of The fulfilling of the Scriptures.

THE PREFACE.

IT is sure that the great Intent of Reli∣gion, is to bring Men unto a near Com∣munion and Intimacy with God, whilst they are here on the Earth, both by his Word and Providences; and where this End is not designed, it is a very low Inte∣rest that can be made by the Profession thereof: For it may be evident, how the Intellectual Part of Man, when it is in a serious and true Exercise, must tend ei∣ther to their greatest Torment, or to an unexpressible Joy, when they cannot but see that their Good is not in their own Hand, but must every Moment be de∣pendent on an invisible Refuge and Sup∣port; since Men are no Statues, but in the solid use of Reason, must have deep Impressions, both as to fears and hopes of future Events, and how sad and

surprizing Changes may be near, in the Publick State of Nations and Cities, as well as of Persons, when all Humane Re∣fuges and Assistances will fail; yea, when then the great Lawgiver's Right and Au∣thority to a Passive Obedience, will be found indisputable in the way of Judg∣ment, over such, who would not ac∣knowledge the same by Active Obedi∣ence, under a Treaty of Grace. But yet, such is the tender Regard of the Majesty of God to Humane Race, and to the Work of his own Hand, that in the most severe, judicial Procedure with a People and Nation, he does not sur∣prize without previous Warnings before the Decree go forth, and hath a time of Patience herein, if so be, the Voice of threatned Judgment might be regarded; and whereby such Stroaks, as have at last made desolate, might have been prevent∣ed: Tho I find not either in Divine or Humane Record, that any Kingdom or People, did truly meet God in the way of his Wrath, to put a Stop thereto, upon extraordinary premonitory Signs, except

that one Instance of Nineve. I know it is no easie thing to understand Warnings from Heaven aright, and to have a clear Interpretation of such Providences, or to discern the Approaches of Divine Venge∣ance, when such tender Intervals of For∣bearance, as are usual betwixt one Step and another thereof, takes off all Fear of a greater Woe that may be to come. There are Two things which may occasion some deep and serious Thought about the same, with respect to this Juncture of Time we are now in: The First is, as to that Dif∣ference which is betwixt extraordinary Warnings in the way of a Treaty, and such astonishing Providences, as are of a predicting Nature, as presaging Signs, and as a Signal of Judgment in its near Approach to particular Places, which speaks the Certainty of what is signified thereby: This is a Subject that may surely cause matter of great Reflection upon what hath been both of late, and for some considerable time past, made visible by strange and un∣usual Discoveries of God this way, both from the Heavens, and the Earth be∣neath:

Nor can it be in the Dark, how such are become then portentous Signs and Prognostications of future Events; when they cease to affect and warn, or to work in a monitory way upon Mens Spirits; when the saddest of moral Signs does not awaken, nor tend to reclaim; when the Dread and Reverence of God does not accompany the most extraordinary Occur∣ences of Providence, but Men thus become rather more hardned; yea, when such unusual Signs meet in an extraordinary Season of Sin, and point as with the Finger thereat; which is a Conjunction of another kind, that hath a more dismal Aspect, than all that was ever pretended, or feared from the Planets: But oh! who shall live when God does this, and does cease to warn any more, after renewed and unusual Methods he hath taken with this Generation for this end? But there is a Second thing to be matter also of se∣rious Thoughts herewith, for what ends such extraordinary Signs may be direct∣ed, since they never be in vain, when now there seems no promising Efficacy or In∣fluence

therewith, on the Spirits of most, and are so easily past, as if they had no Commission from Heaven to discharge: But sure then is it that the Majesty of God will make known, he hath not forsaken the Earth; so that when his Word hath no Regard or Intercourse with Mens Souls, he will not yet leave them without some sensible Demonstration of himself, and of a Divine and Invisible Power above them; as this way he will also awake and put his People more on their Watch, and to be on a preparatory Work, whatever Storm may be to blow.

This Scripture on which the following Discourse is founded, does give a most singular Account, how far a Christian may be raised above his ordinary reach, by a special Faith, in the Power and Evidence thereof, when it can have no possible Rise from any natural Cause; yea, as there is a Supposal here made of such a prodi∣gious Concussion of the Earth, as if the Frame of Nature should be dissolved by some Earthquake, and is there literal∣ly to be understood; it did give a spe∣cial

Call to speak thereon in the first part of this Discourse, when such a concurrent Call was also in the way of Providence there∣to, and to offer some special Reflections on what hath in this last Year 1692 occurred. I know the Publishing thereof, might seem now too late, tho I hope it may be the more seasonable to revive the Sense and Remembrance thereof, after some others have, (I doubt not) with much Advan∣tage discours'd on the same Providence, tho I knew not thereof, when this was writ.

And I had not the least Thought to have touched any thing of that Additional Discourse which is in the Close, if (in the Blessed Disposal of the Lord) there had not then been some remarkable concurring Providence, which thus put me to some deep and serious Thoughts on such a Sub∣ject, and to have my Soul more nearly join'd in therewith, for keeping Sight of the way of the Lord, in such Steps there∣of, as needed his special Conduct and Teaching, in a more than ordinary way.