Fire and brimstone from heaven, from earth, in hell, or, Three discourses I. Concerning…

Fire and Brimstone from Earth, in the burning of Aetna, or Mount Gibel.

CHAP. I▪ The Introduction.

The History of Sodom and Gomorrah's flames and destruction by Fire and Brimstone from Heaven may seem incredible unto some, who either are ignorant of the Infinite Power of God, whereby he can do whatever he pleaseth, as evidently appeareth in the mighty works thereof, which could not be effected without the hand of Omnipotency; and know not how fierce and hot his anger is, which burneth in his breast against Sinners, especially such Sinners as the Sodomites were, which would quickly put the whole world into flames, did not his infinite Patience restrain it for a while from breaking forth in it's rage and fury: or wh• give no credit unto the Divine Authority of the Scriptures▪ (of whom there are too many in our age and Nation,) which doth relate this judgement on those wicked Cities; which however, being indeed ⟨p. 50⟩the Word of God, (as might be proved by many unanswerable Arguments,) the record of them is undoubtedly true, and may as firmly be believed, as any thing may certainly be known, which is the object of sense, or demonstrable by reason: Even as the future flames of Fire and Brimstone in Hell are discredited by such Atheists, and Antiscripturists, and little effectually believed of the most, as appeareth by their secure walking in the broad way of Sin, which leadeth to this place of most dreadful and eternal burning:

THe History of Sodom and Gomorrah's flames and destruction by Fire and Brimstone from Heaven may seem incredible unto some, who either are ignorant of the Infinite Power of God, whereby he can do whatever he pleaseth, as evidently appeareth in the mighty works thereof, which could not be effected without the hand of Omnipotency; and know not how feirce and hot his anger is, which burneth in his breast against Sinners, especially such Sinners as the Sodomits were, which would quickly put the whole world into flames, did not his infinite Patience restrain it for a while from breaking forth in it's rage and fury: or wh• give no credit unto the Divine Authority of the Scriptures▪ (of whom there are too many in our age and Nation,) which doth relate this judgement on those wicked Cities; which however, being indeed ⟨p. 50⟩the Word of God, (as might be proved by many unaswerable Arguments,) the record of them is undoubtedly true, and may as firmly be believed, as any thing may certainly be known, which is the object of sence, or demonstrable by reason: Even as the future flames of Fire and Brimstone in Hell are discredited by such Atheists, and Antiscripturists, and little effectually believed of the most, as appeareth by their secure walking in the broad way of Sin, which leadeth to this place of most dreadful and eternal burning:

Therefore by way of Appendix unto Sodom's burning, and by way of Introduction unto the burning of Hell, I shall treat of Aetna, or Mount Gibel's burning with Fire and Brimstone out of the bowels of the Earth; especially in the eruption of it the last year; which being a thing so late, and so near, and so attested by eye-witness, and so easily disproved, yet not disproved, as it would have been by this time, had it been false; I suppose will find credit with the most, and may be of greater use than hath as yet been made of it, from the relation we have had so barely of the thing without any mention made of the name of God, or his hand, or the end which he may have in such wonderful and stupendous burnings.

Therefore by way of Appendix unto Sodom's burning, and by way of Introduction unto the burning of Hell, I shall treat of Aetna, or Mount Gibel's burning with Fire and Brimstone out of the bowels of the Earth; especially in the eruption of it the last year; which being a thing so late, and so n•ar, and so attested by eye-witniss, and so easily disproved, yet not disproved, as it would have been by this time, had it been false; I suppose will find credit with the most, and may be of greater use than hath as yet been made of it, from the relation we have had so barely of the thing without any mention made of the name of God, or his hand, or the end which he may have in such wonderful and stupendous burnings.

It is from the soul that the body hath it's life and motion, it's beauty and lustre, when the soul is separated, the body becomes a carcass breathless, lifeless, gha•y, and subject to putrefaction: The whole world is full of God: Praesentemque refert quaelibet herba Deum, every pile of Grass, yea the meanest thing which is the object of our eye, or any […] doth carry an Impress of God; especially ⟨p. 51⟩the greater works of Creation and Providence do bare large characters of the Deity, and have Praise unto the Lord, written more legibly upon them: and although God be not the Soul of the World as some have affirmed; yet the whole Creation hath it's beauty from him, and so far are any work truly admirable and great, as God is taken notice of in them. The Sun, Moon, and Stars, and the whole frame of the Heavens, are most great and illustrious, as by their brightness and motion they declare the glory of the Lord their maker and ruler. The Earth and Sea, and all things in both, as they set forth Gods infinite power and wisdom and goodness, so far they are most worthy our observation and admiration. All the good things we receive, are only so far truly good, to us, as we perceive them handed to us by God; and Gods hand in afflictions also doth sweeten them to us, when we are persuaded of the Author, and God's love and design for our good in them. To leave out God therefore in the consideration of any work, is to leave out that which is chiefly remarkable; without him we see but the carcass without the Soul, without the the life and beauty.

It is from the soul that the body hath it's life and motion, it's beauty and lustre, when the soul is separated, the body becomes a carkasse breathless, lifeless, gha•y, and subject to putrefaction: The whole world is full of God: Praesentemque refert quaelibet herba Deum, every pile of Grasse, yea the meanest thing which is the object of our eye, or any 〈…〉 doth carry an Impr•sse of God; especially ⟨p. 51⟩the greater works of Creation and Providence do bare large characters of the Deity, and have Praise unto the Lord, written more legibly upon them: and although God be not the Soul of the World as some have affirm'd; yet the whole Creation hath it's beauty from him, and so far are any work truly admirable and great, as God is taken notice of in them. The Sun, Moon, and Stars, and the whole frame of the Heavens, are most great and illustrious, as by their brightness and motion they declare the glory of the Lord their maker and ruler. The Earth and Sea, and all things in both, as they set forth Gods infinite power and wisdom and goodness, so far they are most worthy our observation and admiration. All the good things we receive, are onely so far truly good, to us, as we perceive them handed to us by God; and Gods hand in afflictions also doth sweeten them to us, when we are perswaded of the Author, and God's love and design for our good in them. To leave out God therefore in the consideration of any work, is to leave out that which is chiefly remarkable; without him we see but the carkasse without the Soul, without the the life and beauty.

The design therefore of this Treatise concerning Aetna's late burning is to turn our eye upward towards God, that we take notice of him, and give him the glory of this work, which is the wonder of all, unto whom the notice thereof hath come.

There are six things under this subject, which •. shall briefly create of.

There are six things under this subject, which •. shall briefly creat of.

First, Concerning the Mountain of Aetna or Gibel in the general. ⟨p. 52⟩Secondly, Concerning the Antecedents of the late Eruption of this Mountain. Thirdly, Concerning the eruption of Fire and Brimstone it self from the Mountain. Fourthly, Concerning the concomitants of this eruption. Fifthly, Concerning the cause of this eruption. Sixthly, And lastly, concerning the use and improvement, which we should make of it.

First, Concerning the Mountain of Aetna or Gibel in the general. ⟨p. 52⟩Secondly, Concerning the Antecedents of the late Eruption of this Mountain. Thirdly, Corcerning the eruption of Fire and Brimstone it self from the Mountain. Fourthly, Concerning the concomitants of this eruption. Fifthly, Concerning the cause of this eruption. Sixthly, And lastly, concerning the use and improvement, which we should make of it.

CHAP. II. Concerning the Mountain of Aetna or Gibel in the general.

AETna is a Mountain in the Island of Sicily, which Island is environed round by the Tyr• Sea, but a small distance from Italy, in one part of it, up to which ancient Writers think it was joined by an […] or neck of Land, (like as Pelep•sus to Greece) unto the continent of Italy, but by the violent beating of the Sea upon that neck was divided asunder […] i•, so Justin. lib. 4. cap. 1. and others are of the s•me mind. The height and bigness of this Aetna or Mount G•b. is very great: some […] it to be ten […], others fifteen m•les distant from the head and top above, to the foot and plain […] •nd perpendicular in a strait line to be three or four miles. Towards it's head it is rocky and steep, and some part of it is always covered with Snow; towards the middle it is beautified with Trees and Woods, towards the bottom it is enriched with Corn and Vines, and exceeding ⟨p. 53⟩fruitful. The Hill hath two shoulders Eastward, and between both an eminent head in the middle, which may be seen at the distance of fifty leagues (as some affirm) by Sailors on the Sea. But that which hath rendered this Mountain most famous, hath not been so much the height and bigness of it, as the smoking head and flaming mouth thereof, of which both ancient and modern Authors have written. I shall instance in some few.

AETna is a Mountain in the Island of Sicily, which Island is inviron'd round by the Tyr• Sea, but a small distance from Italy, in one part of it, up to which ancient Writers think it was joyned by an 〈…〉 or neck of Land, (like as Pelep•sus to Greece) unto the continent of Italy, but by the violent beating of the Sea upon that neck was devided asunder 〈…〉 i•, so Iustin. lib. 4. cap. 1. and others are of the s•me mind. The heigth and bigness of this Aetna or Mount G•b. is very great: some 〈…〉 it to be ten 〈…〉, others fifteen m•les distant from the head and top above, to the foot and plain 〈…〉 •nd perpendicular in a strait line to be three or four miles. Towards it's head it is rocky and steep, and some part of it is always covered with Snow; towards the middle it is beautifyed with Trees and Woods, towards the bottom it is enriched with Corn and Vines, and exceeding ⟨p. 53⟩fruitful. The Hill hath two shoulders Eastward, and between both an eminent head in the middle, which may be seen at the distance of fifty leagues (as some affirm) by Sailors on the Sea. But that which hath rendered this Mountain most famous, hath not been so much the height and bigness of it, as the smoking head and flaming mouth thereof, of which both ancient and modern Authors have written. I shall instance in some few.

D•genes Laertius in his 8th. Book de viris Philosephorum maketh mention of Mou•t Aetna; into the […] mouth of which Em•edocles the Philosopher (he sai•) was •am'd to have thrown himself, that not […] found by his companions, they might think he was translated to Heaven, and made an immortal God; but the Fire of the Hill casting forth one of his brazen San•ls, the deceit was discovered, and so instead of purchasing to himself the repute of a God, he discovered himself in that respect to be beneath a man.

D•genes Laertius in his 8th. Book de viris Philosephorum maketh mention of Mou•t Aetna; into the 〈…〉 mouth of which Em•edocles the Philosopher (he sai•) was •am'd to have thrown himself, that not 〈…〉 found by his companions, they might think he was translated to Heaven, and made an immortal God; but the Fire of the Hill casting forth one of his br•zen San•ls, the d•ceit was discovered, and so instea• of purchasing to himself the repute of a God, he discovered himself in that respect to be beneath a man.

Horace also recordeth the same, lib. de Arte l'•etica.

Hora•e also recordeth the same, lib. de Arte l'•etica.

—Deus immortalis hal eri Dumb cupit Empedocles ardentem frigidus Aetnam Insiluit.—

—Deus immortalis hal eri Dum cupit Empedocles ardentem frigidus Aetnam Insiluit.—