N00296:136
An essay for the recording of illustrious providences
An essay for the recording of illustrious providences: wherein, an account is given of many remarkable and very memorable events, which have happened in this last age; especially in New-England. / By Increase Mather, teacher of a church at Boston in New-England. ; [Six lines of Scripture texts]
Boston: printed by Samuel Green, 1684
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Men commonly tremble at the dreadful crack when as, if they hear any thing, the danger useth to be past as to that particular Thunder-clap; though another may come and kill them before they hear it. The Nitre in the Lightning may likewise be esteemed the natural cause of its being of so penetrating and burning a nature. For there is not the like fiery substance in the World again as Nitre is. Many have been of the Opinion that there is a Bolt or Stone descending with the Thunder, but that's a vulgar Error, The Fulmen or Thunder-bolt is the same with the Lightning, being a Nitro-sulphurous Spirit. It must needs be a more subtle and spiritual body than any Stone is of, that shall penetrate so as these Meteors do, Its true that our Translation reads the words in Psal. 78.41. He gave their Flocks to hot Thunder-bolts: But the Original Word [Greek or Hebrew] Translated Thunderbolts, signifieth Burning Coals; so that Lightning is thereby intended. Avicenna ⟨p. 113⟩doth indeed say, that he saw a Thunder-bolt which fell at Corduba in Spain, and that it had a Sulphurous smell, and was like Ammoniac. It is possible that not only Sulphurous and Bituminous but stony substances may be generated in the Clouds with the Lightning. George Agricola writeth that near Lurgea, a mass of Iron being fifty pound in weight, fell from the Clouds, which some attempted to make Swords of, but the fire could not melt it, nor hammers bring it into form.
Men commonly tremble at the dreadful crack when as, if they hear any thing, the danger useth to be past as to that particular Thunder-clap; though another may come and kill them before they hear it. The Nitre in the Lightning may likewise be esteemed the natural cause of its being of so penetrating and burning a nature. For there is not the like fiery substance in the World again as Nitre is. Many have been of the Opinion that there is a Bolt or Stone descending with the Thunder, but that's a vulgar Error, The Fulmen or Thunder-bolt is the same with the Lightning, being a Nitro-sulphurious Spirit. It must needs be a more subtile and spiritual body than any Stone is of, that shall penetrate so as these Meteors do, Its true that our Translation reads the words in Psal. 78.41. He gave their Flocks to hot Thunder-bolts: But the Original Word 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 Translated Thunderbolts, signifieth Burning Coals; so that Lightning is thereby intended. Avicenn