A discourse concerning earthquakes. Occasioned by the earthquakes which were in New-England, in the province of Massachusetts-Bay, June 16. and in Conecticot-Colony [sic], June 22. 1705. : Also, two sermons, shewing, that sin is the greatest evil; and, that to redeem time is the greatest wisdom. / By Increase Mather.

There shall be Great Earthquakes before the Lords Coming.

Luk. XXI. II.

Great Earthquakes shall be in diverse Places.

IF we compare Lukes Gospel with that written by Matthew, we shall find that our Lord Jesus Christ signified to His Disciples that the Temple should be subverted, the Jewish Nation made the subject of Divine Vengeance, and that this world should come to an End. They privately enqui|red of Him, what should be the fore-run|ning sign of His coming to accomplish the things which He had thus Predicted. In answer to that Enq••iry, Christ men|tions several Signs of His coming.

1. One is the rising of False Chri••ts, in the Eighth Verse of this Chapter. The Jews rejected the true Messiah, for which cause they were punished and plagued with False Christs, which proved a sore Judg|ment to that sinful People.

2. Another Sign mentioned is that of Commotions, in the Ninth Verse; by which intestine Seditions may be meant. The Histories of those Times, inform us that the Galileans took up Arms against the Samaritans, in which Mutiny no less than Twenty Thousand men were Slain. This Commotion caused a great Consterna|tion throughout the Land.

3. The Lord tells them, that Nati|ons and Kingdoms should rise up one a|gainst another, Verse the Tenth. The Jewish Nation rose up against the Roman Nation. Distinct Provinces are called Kingdoms. Those in Syria and in Judea rose up one against another. These were Signs of fatal Calamities hastening, on the Jews, and did indeed make way for it.

4. A Fourth Sign of the Lords Coming is that in the words before us to consider of, viz. Great Earthquakes, and this in diverse Places.

Wherefore the DOCTRINE now to be Discoursed on, is,

That Earthquakes are Signal Works of GOD, of which there will be Great Ones, and this in diverse Places before the Lords Coming.

The Doctrine may be Opened and Con|firmed in several Propositions.

PROPOSITION I.

An Earthquake is the Work of God. There is not the least thing comes to pass with|out His Providence. Christ said to the Disciples, Not a Sparrow falls to the Ground without your Father, Mat. 10. 29. Then we may be sure so great a thing as an Earthquake is not without His Provi|dence. The Earth cannot shake it self; and it is beyond all the Power of all the men in the world to make an Earthquake. But God who made the Earth, can make it tremble when and where He pleaseth: Job 9. 6. He shakes the Earth out of its place, and the Pillars thereof tremble. There have been Earthquakes which were Su|pernatural Miraculous Works of God: So was that on Mount Sinai, when the Lord Descended upon it in Fire, and the

whole Mount Quaked greatly; Exod. 19.18. And that which swallowed up Corah and his Company with all their Houses, Numb. 16. 32. And that which hapn••d in the days of Vzziah, which put the People of Jerusalem into a great Consternation. Of this the Prophet Zechary takes notice, Zec. 14. 5. Ye shall flee like as you fled from before the Earthquake in the dayes of Uzzi|ah King of Judah. The Jewish Historian reports, that a great Mountain before Jerusalem was removed and broken in pieces by that Earthquake, and that all the High-ways were stopped by the fall of it, and the Kings Gardens of pleasure ruined thereby. Some Interpreters con|ceive that then Amos his Prophecy was fulfilled; Amos 3. 15. I will smite the Win|ter house with the Summer house, and the house of Ivory shall perish. And those Earthquakes which were at our Saviours Passion and Resurrection, were Supe••|natural. So was that which ha••••ed when Paul and Sitas Prayed and ••ang Praises unto ••od, when they were in Prison; Suddenly there was a great Earthquake, so that the Foundations of the Prison were sha|ken, and all the Doors were opened, and every ones Bands were loosened; Act. 16. 26.

This was Miraculous. Not only Christian, but some Heathen writers, inform us that when Julian the Apostate, out of his hatred of Christ, Encouraged the Jews to Rebuild the Temple, an Earthquake overturned what they had begun to Build, and Fire breaking out of the Ground consumed all the Work-mens tools, which caused them to desist from that Enter|prize. Supernatural Earthquakes are Effected either by the Almighty Power of God alone, or, by Angels as the In|struments of His Providence; Mat. 28. 2. There was a great Earthquake; for the An|gel of the Lord descended from Heaven•• But many times, Earthquakes proceed from Natural causes. This Earth on which we stand, is not a continued substance of Earth; for then it would be impossi|ble that ever there should be an Earth|quake, without a Miracle. But there are in the bowels of the Earth great Caverns or hollow places, and mighty Lakes and Rivers, which wash away the Earth, and sometimes wash it away so far as that it sinks with its own weight; and then both Men and Houses are swallowed up: and from thence it is that great Rains and Floods do sometimes produce Earth|quakes,

and that which before was dry Land, is turned into a lake of Water. There are also subterraneous Fires, and bituminous, sulphurous Exhalations, which are like fired Gun-powder within the Earth, causing it to shake and tremble. But notwithstanding there are Natural causes of some Earthquakes, nevertheless, they are awful Works of God. Prodi|gious Storms have Natural causes, yet those Stormy winds fulfill the Word of the Lord, Psal. 148. 8. As we have formerly from the Scripture largely Discoursed. Thunder and Lightning proceeds from Natural causes, yet is it the Lords voice, Psal. 29. 3, 4. The Voice of the Lord is upon many Waters, the God of Glory Thund••eth, the Voice of the Lord is Powerful, the Voice of the Lord is full of Majesty. So an Earthquake is the Voice of the Lord, Ver 8. The Voice of the Lord shakes the Wilderness, the Lord shakes, the Wilderness of Kade••h. There never happens an Earthquake but God speaks to men on the Earth, by it: And they are very stupid, if they do not hear His Voice therein.

PROPOSITION II.

Earthquakes are Signal. They are Pro|vidences which deserve to have a Remark

set upon them. Wherefore the Prophet Amos Expressing the date of his Prophecy, which was in the Reign of Vzziah, he sayes, It was two Years before the Earthquake, Amos 1. 1. Implying that that was a Re|markable Providence, and which ought not to be forgotten. Especially when there are Great Earthquakes or 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in diverse Places, the Providence of God therein is Signal. Indeed all E|minent Providences are so. They do Signare, they declare and signify some|thing that is notable, either as present or as to come Eminent Judgments are Signal. The Ten Plagues which came upon Egypt were so. They are called Tokens, Psal. 135. 8. Who sent Tokens in the midst of thee, O Egypt, upon Pharaoh and upon all his Ser|vants. And Eminent Deliverances are Signal. When the Jews demanded that Christ should give them a Sign of His be|ing the Promised Messiah, He answered them, That no Sign should be given to them, but the Sign of the Prophet Jonas, Mat. 10. 39. Since Jonas was kept alive in the Whales belly three Dayes, and then cast alive on the shore to Preach to the Ninivit••s, that was a Sign that God sent him; so since our Saviour after He had been three

Dayes in the Grave, was raised from thence, that was a sure Sign of His being the Messiah whom God had promised 〈◊〉〈◊〉 send into the world. Remarkable Pro••vidences are Signal. So are Earthquakes.

It will be said, But what are they Sign of?

〈◊〉〈◊〉. They are not alwayes a Sign of the same thing. Nor does God alwayes send them on the same design. Only there is one thing which they are always a Sign of; They are always•••• a Sign o•• the Power of the Great GOD. As the Earths abiding in its place is from the Power of God. For what is there besides. His Hand to uphold it? Job 26. 7. He stretches out the North over the empty place and hangeth the Earth upon nothing. The Arm of Divine Omnipotence is the Pillar which keeps the Earth from falling; Psa•• 65. 6. By His Strength He sets fast the Mountains. Whereby it appears that He is Girded with Power. So His making the Earth to shake is an Effect of His Great Power. He is Mighty in Strength; and it is manifest in that He Removeth the Mountains, and Shakes the Earth, making the Pillars thereof Tremble. Job 9. 4, 5, 6.

But to speak more Particularly.

1. Earthquakes are sometimes, and indeed usually, a Sign that Men have Sinned, and that God is Angry. Certain it is, that if men had never Sinned, they had never been terrified with Earthquakes. There|fore at the time when God caused the Law to be Proclamed there was anEarth|quake; signifying His Holy anger against those that should Transgress that Law. The Scripture often speaks of Earth|quakes as a sign of the Wrath of God b••rning against a sinful world. He over|turns the Mountains in His Anger, Jo••. 9▪ 5▪ At His Wrath the Earth shall Tremble. Jer. 10. 10. The Mountains Quake at Him. Who can stand before His Indignation? His Fury is poured out like Fire, and the Rocks are thrown down by Him, Nah. 1. 5, 6. God therefore threatens to Visit men with Earthquakes as a terrible▪ Judgment; Isa. 29. 6. Thou shalt be Visited of the Lord of Hosts, with Thunder and with Earthquake, and with great Noise: And there 〈◊〉〈◊〉 awful instances Recorded in the Script••••e of horrendous Earthquakes, which were the Effects of Divine indignation for the Sins of men. It was Thunder and Light|ning and an Earthquake which Destroyed ••he Sinners in Sodom & Gomorrha, causing

all their houses as well as themselves to sink down into an horrid Lake. They were Prodigious Sinners, therefore a Pro|digious Earthquake brought upon them Eternal Desolation. So when Corah and his wicked Crew by means of an Earth|quake, went down alive into Hell; it was because they had highly provoked the Lord by Sinning against Him: Numb. 16. 30. If the Earth opens its mouth & swallow them up with all that appertain unto them, and they go down quick into the Pit, then you shall understand that these men have provoked the Lord. When there was a formidable Earthquake in the Dayes of King Vzziah, the Jewish writers tell us, that it hapned at that very time when he was presumptuously offering Incense in the Temple, contrary to the Comma••d|ment of God, for which he was also smitten with an incurable Leprosy. Yea, sometimes Earthquakes have been a sign of the Displeasure of God, when the Earth has only trembled without destroy|ing any person. So was that Earthquake which hapned at the time when our Sa|viour CHRIST was Crucified, Mat. 27. 51. I know some Ecclesiastical writers say, that Earthquake destroyed several Towns

in other Lands, but none in the Land of Judea. Nevertheless, it came as a Sign of Divine Anger kindled against the Jews, for their Crucifying the Son of God, which was such a Sin as the Earth trem|bled under it. Surely then if dismal De|solations are caused by Earthquakes, the Anger of God is written in legible Cha|racters, for all the world to read and tremble. Whole Towns (as anon you shall hear) far greater than Boston, with all the People in them, Men, Women and Children, have in less than half a quarter of an Hour after the Earth has begun to shake, gone down alive into the Pit. Would such a thing be, if God were not infinitely displeased by the Sins of men?

2. Sometimes Earthquakes in a Literal sense, are Prognosticks of Earthquakes in a Metaphorical sense. They are a Sign of State-quakes, of Church-quakes, of King|dom-quakes, of Province-quakes, Great Changes and Revolutions in the world, are in the Scripture called Earthquakes. The mighty Changes to be brought on the Jewish Church and Nation, first by the Babylonians, and after that by the Romans, are Predicted by the Prophet, saying, The Foundations of the Earth do shake, the

Earth is utterly broken down, the Earth is clean dissolved, the Earth is moved exceed|ingly, Isa. 24. 18, 19. That wonderful Revolution when the Roman Empire, of Pagan became Christian, is doubtless in|tended by the Great Earthquake under the sixth Seal, Rev 6. 12. When Con|stantine was established in the Imperial Throne, there was a sudden and very astonishing Change of affairs, which is fit|••y compared to a Great Earthquake. For that changeth the po••iture of the Earth, by Exalting Valleys and Depres|sing Mountains, and turning the course of Rivers, that they run another way; and sometimes are wholly absorp't there|by. Thus it was when that good Em|peror was settled in the Throne. Pagans who had been the only men in Authori|ty, were removed from their high places, those Mountains were levelled; and Christians who were like low Valleys be|fore, were put into Chief places of Power and Trust. The Civil Government was altered with Religion. Officers and Go|vernours were new moulded throughout all the Provinces in that Empire. This was a great Earthquake. Notwithstan|ding the Empire was become Christian,

God was resolved to destroy it; to avenge the Blood of the Martyrs, which had been shed under the Heathen Emperors. Those Wars which brought mighty de|va••tations and alterations on the Empire, are denoted by the Trumpets spoken of in the Revelations, which were to cause Earthquakes, Rev. 8. 5, 6. The first of those Trumpets did (according to the judgment of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Interpreters,) be|gin to Sound in the Year of our Lord Three Hundred Sixty Five, when also there was in a Literal sense the greatest Earthquake that ever had been known in the world; and this as a Sign of those Calamitous Changes which were ha••tning on the Earth.

3. Sometimes Earthquakes come as a Sign both of great Judgments to the World, and of signal Mercy to the Church of God. Thus when the Children of Israel were brought out of Egypt, altho' Moses does not mention any thing of an Earthquake, yet nevertheless, it is evident from other Scriptures that there was one then. For the Psalmist speaking of Gods bringing His People out of Egypt, by the hands of Moses and Aaron, sayes, The Earth trem|bled and shook, Psal. 77. 18. That proved

an happy Earthquake to the Children of Israel, but it presaged ruine to Pharaoh and the Egyptians. So in Joshuahs time, when the River Jordan was dried up, there was doubtless an Earthquake; as is intimated, Psal. 114. 5. 6, 7. What ailed thee, O thou Sea, that thou fleddest? Thou Jordan, that thou wast driven back? Ye Mountains, that ye skipped like Rams, and ye little Hills like Lambs? Tremble thou Earth at the presence of the Lord. That Earth|quake was a Sign of Gods Presence with His People, and a Presage of Destruction to their Canaanitish Enemies. It seems also, there was an Earthquake when the Children of Israel were in the Wilder|ness, and ready to take possession of the Land of Canaan, which struck the E|••omites and other Enemies with a great Terror. This we gather from a passage in Deborahs Song, Judg. 5. 4. When thou ••entest out of Seir, when thou marchedst out of the field of Edom, the Earth trembled. And when Jonathan surpriz••d the Gar|rison of the Philistins, There was trembling in the Host, the Garrison trembled, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Earth quaked, so that it was a very great Trembling. This was a Sign of Gods Fa|vour to Jonathan, and of Ruine to the

Philistins. We read that when the A|po••tles had Prayed, the place was shaken where they had assembled together, Act. 431. Which was a sign of Gods gracious Presence with them, that their Prayers was heard, and that by their Preaching the Gospel, there would be great shakings in the world, and changes for the better. But the happiest Earthquake that ever was, was that when Christ Rose from the Dead; signifying that He had con|quered Death, and that by vertue of His Resurrection, all true Believers on His Name, shall have a Resurrection to Eter|nal Life.

PROPOSITION III.

Before the Lords Coming there will be Great Earthquakes, and this in diverse Places. Our Lord Himself mentions Earthquakes as a sign of His coming near at hand. We are to consider that there are several Comings of Christ spoken of in the Scrip|ture.

1. There is His Providential Coming. When He Executes Judgments upon men then He comes to them in the way of His Providence. And this coming is firstly (tho' not ultimately) intended in the words before us. Our Saviour having

intimated to the Disciples that He would come to Execute Vengeance on the Jewish Nation, and to put an end both to their Civil and Ecclesiastical State, they prayed Him to tell them what would be the Signs of His coming to do it; He answers, Great Earthquakes in diverse places, will be one sign of it. Accordingly we find in Histories, that it was thus. In Neroes Reign (which was not long before the Destruction of Jerusalem,) Twelve Ci|ties were Destroyed by Earthquakes at one time, and Thirteen Cities at another time, in which Cities many Jews perish|ed, and on that account the warning was the more solemn to those that dwelt in the Land of Judea. And but Six years before the Destruction of Jerusalem, Three of the most Famous Cities in Asia, were overthrown by Earthquakes. Thus were the words of Christ dreadfully Verified. The Lord seldom visits any Town or Countrey with Desolating Judgments, put He first giveth them warnings of it by one means or other, and many times by Earthquakes. A Roman Historian ob|serves, that the City of Rome never felt an Earthquake, but some terrible Judg|ment soon followed. In the Scripture

before us, it is said, There shall be Earth|quakes in diverse places, the next words are, And Famines, and Pestilences. Earth|quakes sometimes are Prodromous of those other Judgments.

2. There is the Lords Personal Coming. He will come in Person to Judge the World at the Last day. The same Signs are mentioned of His Providential Coming to Judge the Jews, and of His Personal Coming to Judge the Earth, because the former was to be a Type of the latter, and as sure as that Has been, the other Shall be. And without doubt a little before the Day of Judgment, Earthquakes will be multiplied, and other Prodigious Signs more than ever since the world began. This Age has seen more of such awful Providences than the former Age did. And the next Age (if Christ does not Himself come to Judge the Earth before this Generation is passed away) is like to see more of such tremendous Works of God, than ever we have done. And when the Great Day is come indeed, there will be the greatest Earthquake, both in a Literal and in a Mystical sense, that ever was since the world began. For then the last Vial of the Wrath of God

will be poured on the Earth, and then there is a Great Earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the Earth, so M••gh|ty an Earthquake, and so Great, Rev. 16, 18.

We proceed to the APPLICATION of the Doctrine, which has been Opened and Confirmed.

USE I.

How ought the Children of Men to Fear and Tremble before that Almighty GOD, who makes the Earth to Tremble under them? The thought of His Dreadful Power should make all Mortals to stand in awe of Him. When God manifested His Power in a miraculous Deliverance of the Prophet Daniel, the greatest man then living, made a Decree that in every Dominion of his Kingdom, men should tremble and fear before the God of Daniel, Dan. 6. 26. How Dreadful is His Power who with His Voice can make the Earth to shake? As when the Law was given, His Voice then shook the Earth, Heb. 12. 26. Such is His Power as that if He does but touch the Earth with His Foot, or with His Finger, or but cast an angry Look upon it, presently it falls a Trembling: Psal. 104. 32. He looks on the earth and it

trembleth, He toucheth the hills and they smoke. When an Earthquake comes what does it say? It does like the Angel in the Reve|lation, It sayes with a loud Voice, Fear GOD, for you know not but that an hour of Judgment is near unto you. The thought of Earthquakes should make men walk in the Fear of God continually: And the rather for that, there is no place has assurance of not being visited therewith. It is true, that Earthquakes have been oftner in some parts of the world than i•• other places; but there is no Land totally free or exempt. I may tell you, that places which were once Famous for the Religion which ••hined in them, have afterwards perished by Earthquakes. The City of A••ttoch was that in which the Christian Name was first heard of, which City has been Destroyed by Earthquakes. In Smyrna there was an Holy Church▪ Our Saviour reproves most of the Churches in Asi••, but the Church in Smyrna is not at all blamed, yet Smyrna has been R••i|ned by Earthquakes. Therefore let us not be High-minded, but Fear: Not with a Slavi••h but with an Holy Fear. When God ••••rds an Earthquake with a Commission to Destroy, it is the formi|dablest

Judgment which men in this world are subject unto. Partly in respect of the Extent of it. For not only whole Towns, but whole Countreys have been swallowed up at once by this devouring Judgment. Historians tell us, that the Country called Bojano sunk with an Earth|quake, & is now a standing Lake of Water, in which Disaster there Perished Thirty Thousand persons. The Land where Sodom and Gomorrha stood, is sunk for the compass of Eighteen miles in breadth, and about Eighty miles in length; so that all that delicious Country is become a sul|phurous Lake, which bears the name of, the Dead Sea. Also, in respect of the Suddenness and the Unavoidableness of it. Oftententimes miserable Mortals have been surp••ized with it, when they had not the least thought of any such thing. Men may more easily escape the Destruction of other Judgments, than of this: When the Pestilence comes, they may possibly escape by a timely Removal to another place: Or when Enemies come, by getting into Garrisons or strong Holds. But when a sudden Earthquake comes, there is no escaping. And if it finds men in their Sins, their immortal Souls

are like to Perish with their Bodies. Was it not so with the Sinners in Sodom? An Earthquake swallowed up their Houses, and all the Bodies in them. But what became of their Souls? Does not the Scripture say, that they are suffering the Vengeance of eternal Fire? Jude 7. All these things considered, shall we not Fear GOD? Shall we that call our selves Christians be worse than the Heathen Ro|mans? of whom it is said, that when they law the Earthquake they feared greatly; Mat. 27. 54. Oh! The hardness of the Hearts of men. The senc••l••••s Earth will sooner. Tremble before the Power of God, than their Hearts will Tremble. Therefore the holy Prophets have some|times turned themselves from Men, to speak to the Stones & to the dead Earth, which would sooner be affected than they. Thus the Prophet that was sent to Je|roboam, 1 King. 13. 2. He Cry••d against the Altar in the Word of the Lord, and said, O Altar, Altar, Thus faith the Lord. And then the Altar was rent, but Jero|boams Heart Rent not. It was harder than the Stones of the Altar. So when Jeconiah was hardned in his Sins, the Pro|phet speaks to the Earth; which

would sooner hear the Word of the Lord than be; Jer. 22. 29. O Earth, Earth, Earth, Hear the Word of the Lord. Cer|tainly, if Earthquakes will not make men to Fear God, their Hearts are harder than the hardest Earth, yea, than the Rocks themselves, which Tremble before His Dreadful Power.

USE II.

If Great Earthquakes in diverse Places are fore-runners of the Lords Coming, we the•• have at this Day, reason to expect that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Notable Coming of the Lord is near at hand••▪ We may say, as in Zeph. 1. 14. The Great Day of the Lord is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly. For the Signs of it are ap|pearing more and more. And in special that Sign of Earthquakes in divers Places. In our Dayes there have been astonishing Earthquakes: Yea, God has been shaking the Earth in all Quarters of it. In Asi•• there have been terrible Earthquakes, as at Smyrna, and the places adjacent. And in the East-Indies, Five years ago. One writes from thence that which is Remar|kable. He sayes that there was a noise like Thunder heard in the Mountains a|bout Tangarouse, and that Seven Hills were sunk by an Earthquake in one place, and

Nine in another: That several Rivers were stopped, and their course altered; That the high Land between the Bata|vian and Tangaren Rivers, which were be|fore that a Wood, are by the Earthquake changed into an open Field, wholly de••ti|••••••e of Trees, the surface of the Ground being covered with Red Clay. This Earthquake was in January 1699. In the Year 1695, there were direful Earth|quakes in the Motucco Islands. One writes from thence to his Correspondent in Am|••erdam, that a Noise like the hardest Thunder was heard, and at the same time an Earthquake which blew up a Moun|tain▪ and that it seems evident, that in those Parts and Seas there are ••ubterra|••••ous Fires, which have a mutual commu|••••cation one with another, which he says may probably cause a sudden subversion of them, and consequently a notable al|••eration of the worlds Globe.

But especially in Europe, there have been 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Earthquakes in diverse Places: As 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Italy Eighteen Years ago, and since that, both there & in divers other Places. The Year 1692. is famous for the Earth|quakes in Europe. It was in that Year, (September 8th.) that God made the

Great City of London to shake, to the no little Amazement of the Inhabitants altho' the Earthquake lasted but for a minute, and thro' the Gracious Providence of God, no hurt was done thereby. It was in other Lands at the same time. And some write, that the Earth 〈◊〉〈◊〉 for the compass of Two Hundred and Sixty Miles square. In the latter end of that Year, was the great Earthquake i•• Sicily, the like where unto no History give•• us an account of. A Town there in which were Six Thousand People was over|thrown in a moment, and not one of the Inhabitants left to bring the tyding of what had befallen them. The Fa|mous City of Catania in which there was an University, and many Persons of Qua|lity, and about Twenty Four Thousand Inhabitants, was swallowed up in one minute, with a noise as terrible as if a Thousand Canons had been discharged at once. The number of Souls which Perished in those 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Earthquakes, supposed to be above an Hundred and Forty Thousand. The last Intelligence which we had out of Italy, gives an account of renewed Earthquakes in diverse place there. And the City of Rome it 〈◊〉〈◊〉

has been shaken, to the great Terror of the Inhabitants, who are mostly Eccle|siasticks, (and are not they the False Pro|phet mentioned in the Revelations?) so that the Pope has caused processions to be made for the averting the wrath of Heaven from that City; which I am perswaded will ere long be swallowed up with an Earthquake, like as Sodom was: For it is said, that the Beast and the False Prophet shall be cast alive into a Lake, Rev. 19. 20.

But let us come back into America: Has not the Earth been shaken there too? In the Southern America, the City of Lima was Seventeen Years since totally overthrown with an Earthquake, not one House left standing, and many of the Inhabitants buried in the Ruines of the City. Nor has the Northern America been Exempted. Was not the Island of Antigua, visited with frightful Earthquakes Fifteen Years since? One then wrote to his Correspondent here, that the Earth was seen to heave, and rowle like the Waves of the Sea, that Rocks were thrown from the Mountains, Houses shattered, and some Points of Land were swallowed

up. And have we forgotten what God did in Jamacio Thirteen Years ago, when two Thousand People (Whites & Blacks) perished by the Earthquakes there? And now Behold, the Earthquakes are come into New-England; altho' through the great Mercy of God no hurt has been done thereby. We see then, that the Lord is shaking the Earth all the world over. And is there not some Great and Notable Day of the Lord at hand? More|over, there are at this Day, Great Earthquakes in a Metaphorical sense. Nations are shaking, mighty Kingdoms are shaking; yea, the greatest Kingdoms in Europe are so. The German Empire, (altho' it is not a full Fortieth part of what the Roman Empire once was,) is a great Dominion, but it is shaking. The Kingdom of France, the greatest in Eu|rope, is shaking. Is there not an Earth|quake in the bowels of that Kingdom? The Kingdom of Spain is shaking. And the Kingdom or Republick of Poland is shaking. Great Wars which shake Na|tions, are mentioned as Signs of the Lords Coming; Hag. 2. 6, 7. I will shake the Seas, and the dry Land, I will shake all

Nations and the desire of all Nations shall come. When there are great Sea-fights, the Lord shakes the Sea. Is it 〈◊〉〈◊〉 at this Day? When there are great Battles fought on the Land, the Lord shakes those Lands. Such things may raise our Ex|pectations, that the Day of Redemption draws nigh. It is foretold, that there shall be a Great Earthquake, in order to the Resurrection of the Witnesses, Rev. 11. 13. Is not that very Scripture now f••l|••illing? It is Prophesied, that in the latter Dayes there shall be a Great Shaking, that all the Men on the Earth shall shake at the Lords Presence, and Mountains shall be thrown down, Ezek. 38. 19, 20. That Day is coming, and not far off.

USE III.

Let us make a due Improvement of the Earthquakes, which the Lord has 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Vi|••••••ed us with. It would be great Atheism and Impiety to slight such awful Works of God. What does the Psalmist say of such Persons? P••al. 28. 5. Because they re|gard not the Works of the Lord, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the

Operation of His Hands, He shall Destroy them, and not Build them up.

QUESTION.

But what is the Improvement which we ought to make of this Providence?

ANSWER.

First. We should be very Thankful to God for His Mercy, in that this Earthquake did no harm. God has let us see His Power and His Goodness at the same time. Not any Person hurt, nor so much as one House overthrown! God that made the Earth to shake, could have made it to sink under us, or Houses to have fal|len, and proved the Graves of you that dwelt in them. But we see, that He is ••oth to make us as Admah, and set us as Zeboim, all our Sins notwithstanding. He has only given us Warning, without Striking so much as one Blow. It was Piously Expressed by a Great King, who being concerned at the appearance of a Blazing Star, when some said, We ought not to be dismayed at the Signs of Hea|ven,

replied, But we ought to Fear God, and to Admire His Goodness, who giveth us warning before He strikes us.

Secondly. This Earthquake should awaken us unto Prayer & Repentance. So it was with Christians in the Primitive Times; Earth|quakes set them a Praying. Eusebius has Recorded a memorable Letter of the Emperor Antoninus, to his Subjects, who were not Christians, as neither was he himself.

You (sayes he) would faign have me to Persecute and Destroy the Christians, whereas I understand there never happens an Earthquake, but they go and Pray to their God, that He would turn from His Wrath. And in that, they show more Religion than you do, why then should I to gratify you destroy them?

Thus that Emperor.

There was a considerable Earthquake in England, in the Year 1580. Altho' no considerable harm was done by it. The QUEEN who then swayed the Scepter, (our Famous Queen ELIZABETH,) and Her Council, did there upon call up|on all Her Subjects, throughout the Kingdom, to be instant in Prayer, that

the Wrath of God, which the Earth|quake was a sign of, might be averted from the Land. And as this should a|waken unto Prayer, so unto Repentance and Reformation, without which Prayer will not be acceptable. They that have Repented, should by such Providences be awakened to renew their Repentance. But, Oh! that Sinners would Repent and Turn to the Lord. As for some of the Elect of God, Earthquakes have occa|sioned their Conversion. They have cast away their Idols when they have seen God arising to shake terribly the Earth; Isa. 20. 20, 21. Thus it was with the Jaylor: An Earthquake made way for his Conversion, so as that he began to have serious Thoughts with himself, what he should do to be Saved, Act. 16. 30 Alas! That there are so many who need Conversion. There is one sin (I wish there were not more than one,) that is become a prevailing Iniquity, that more than a few are concerned in it, and had need Repent of it, and Turn from it; I mean, that sin of Excess in Drinking. The Scripture speaks of the Earths Reeling to and fr•• like a Drun|kard,

I••a. 19. 20. Justly may the Lord cause it to do so, then there are so many Drunkards Re••••ing to & fro upon it.

Thirdly. We should Endeavour that our Hearts may be taken off from the Earth, and set upon things which cannot be Sha|ken. The Earth is but a tottering Foun|dation to Build upon. That which men have been Lab••uring for many Years, an Earthquake may come and Destroy it all in one Minute. Our Houses may be shaken down thereby; but an House in Heaven cannot be sha|ken. That's a City which has Foun|dations, Heb. 11. 10. And an House there has Foundations; that is to say, it can never be overthrown. Nothing in this World is sure and stable. A man may have a Kingdom, and be shaken out of it; as Nebuchadnezzar was, and several in our Dayes have been. But they that have an Interest in Heaven, have a Kingdom which cannot be shaken, Heb. 12. 28.

Fourthly. We should be Prepared for whatever Changes may come upon us. We

know not what shall be on the Earth: It may be the Providence of God will shake our Foundations. Our Charters are the Foundation on which our Civil Liberties stand: What if the Lord should shake those Foundations, in this Province, and in the Neighbo••r Colony? For there have within these few Dayes past, been Earthquakes in both of them. And our Sins deserve such a Judgment; and there are Vipers in our Bowels, Endeavouring to bring such a Death upon us. We know not what Shakes may be near unto us. However, there is one Change, and a great one too, which is not far from us. Death brings a great Change along with it. And it may come suddenly. Therefore we should be alwayes Serving God, that so Death may not find us Unprepared. There was a Town in Switzerland De|s••royed by an Earthquake, only one House escaped. It so fell out, that the Good man of the House was Praying with his Family, when the Earthquake hapned. If Earthquakes, or any other unexpected Judgment should overtake us suddenly, let it find us Praying, or

doing something or other that shall be Pleasing to God.

Fifthly and Finally. Let us Labour to be such, as that no Earthquake shall be able to Hurt us. Is that possible? Yes it is, by making sure that it find us in CHRIST. And then if it Kill us, it 〈◊〉〈◊〉 not Hurt us, but rather hasten our Eternal Salvation. A Godly man may Perish in an Earthquake, as well as the Ungodly, but it shall not Hurt him. He will be in Heaven the sooner for it; and what Hurt is there in that? If we are Built upon CHRIST, we need not Fear any Earthquake in the World; Psal. 46. 2. We will not Fear, though the Earth be Removed, and tho' the Mountains be carried into the midst of the Sea.—Ver. 7. The Lord of Hosts is with us, the God of Jacob is our Refuge. Our Lord JESUS CHRIST is that Lord of Hosts, who is the King of Glory. He is the God of Jacob. It was He that Jacob Prayed unto say|ing, I will not let thee go, except thou Bless me. If by Faith we make Him our Refuge, we are safe Enough; we

need not Fear. If our Souls are Built upon Him, we are Built on a Rock, which cannot be shaken. All other Rocks may shake under us. I am told, that Two men who were on a Rock t'other Day, when the Earthquake hap|ned, felt it shake under them. But JESUS CHRIST is the Rock of Eter|nity. Let us make sure that our Souls are Built upon Him, then we are safe Forever. Then are we Wise Builders; and it is said of the Wise Builder, that be Built his House on a Rock, and the Rain descended, and the Floods came, and the Winds blew, and Beat upon the House and it Fell not, for it was Founded on a Rock.