An essay for the recording of illustrious providences

But though it be true, that both natural Causes and Angels do many times concur when Thunder and Lightning, with the awful effects thereof, happen; nevertheless, the supreme cause must not be disacknowledged. The Eternal himself has a mighty hand of providence in such works. He thundereth with the voice of His Excellency. Among the Greeks Thunder was styled [Greek or Hebrew] And the Scripture calls it the Voice of the Lord. The God of Glory Thundereth. The Voice of the Lord is very powerful, the Voice of the Lord is full of Majesty, the Voice of the Lord breaketh the Cedars, the Voice of the Lord divideth the Flames of Fires: Lightnings are also said to be the Arrows of God, Psal.18.14. upon which account the Children of Men ought to dread the hand of the Highest therein. And the more for that all places in the habitable World are ⟨p. 131⟩exposed unto Dangers and Destruction by his Artillery of Heaven; though some parts of the Earth are naturally subject thereunto more than others. Acosta saith, that it seldom Thunders about Brazil: but such Lightnings are frequent there, as make the Night appear brighter than the Noon Day. Travellers report, that there are some Snowy Mountains in Africa, on which the Cracks of Thunder are so loud and vehement, as that they are heard fifty Miles off at Sea. In some parts of Tartaria, it will both Snow and Thunder at the same time. In the Northern Climates, there use to be vehement Thunders, and Men are often struck dead thereby; In the Province of Terravara in Spain, grows the Wood for the Cross, to which Superstitious Papists attribute a power to preserve Men from Thunder. So did the Gentiles of Old, vainly think to secure themselves from Heavens Gun-shot, by carrying those things about them, which they supposed would be as Amulets to defend them from all harm. The Tents of the old Emperors were made of Seal-Leather, because they imagined that the Sea calf could not be Thunder-struck. Tiberius wore a Crown of Laurel upon his Head, for that the Philosophers told him that the Lightning could not hurt the Bay Tree. R• diginus ⟨p. 132⟩affirms the like concerning the Figtree. But others declare that they have seen the Laurel smitten and withered with the Lightning: therefore the Conimbricensi•• Philosophers acknowledge this immunity to be fictitious.