N00508:13
Earthquakes explained and practically improved
Earthquakes explained and practically improved: occasioned by the late earthquake on Sept. 8. 1692. in London, many other parts in England, and beyond sea. / By Thomas Doolittle, M.A. The author also of the treatise on the Lords-Supper. ; Jamaica's miseries show London's mercies. Both compared.Earthquakes explained and practically improved: occasioned by the late earthquake on Sept. 8. 1692. in London, many other parts in England, and beyond sea. / By Thomas Doolittle, M.A. The author also of the treatise on the Lords-Supper. ; Jamaica's miseries shew London's mercies. Both compared.
printed by Benjamin Harris & are to be sold, 1693
Introduction: An Humble WARNING From the Presaging EARTHQUAKE Sept. 8. 1692.
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.
2. Because God hath made use of Earthquakes (in former times) as forerunners of great Calamities to come. So according to Christ's prediction, this Sign went before the destruction of the Temple. Josephus de bel Jud. Lib. 7. c. 12. Amongst the foregoing Signs of the destruction of Jerusalem, mentioneth an Earthquake: Upon the Feast-day of Pentecost, at night the Priests going into the inner Temple to offer their wonted Sacrifice, at first they f•lt the place to move and tremble, and afterward they heard a voice, which said, Let us depart hence.
2. Because God hath made use of Earthquakes (in former times) as forerunners of great Calamities to come. So according to Christ's prediction, this Sign went before the destruction of the Temple. Josephus de bel Jud. Lib. 7. c. 12. Amongst the foregoing Signs of the destruction of Jerusalem, mentioneth an Earthquake: Vpon the Feast-day of Pentecost, at night the Priests going into the inner Temple to offer their wonted Sacrifice, at first they f•lt the place to move and tremble, and afterward they heard a voice, which said, Let us depart hence.
3. Because Christ saith (as of other Judgments mentioned, so) of Earthquakes, They are the beginning of Sorrows. If the beginning, must not others follow? when an Earthquake is the beginning (let not Scorners deride) who knows what shall be the middle and the ending of those Calamities, that might take their beginning from an Earthquake, Matth. 24.7, 8.
4 Because I Judge (if I err, let my mistaking thoughts be excused) that this late Earthquake was from the immediate hand of God. And yet if it were not, God can use the alleged Natural Causes of Earthquakes, to give warning and to fore-run other following Miseries. But my reason is this, because it did extend it self so far, to so many places in England, and beyond the Sea (according to the Account I have heard) not only on the same day, but at the same time of the day as in […], at London, Sheerness, Sandwich, Deal, Maidstone, Portsmouth, and many other places beyond Sea, at Paris, Mar, sailles, and in Normandy, at Brussels, Cologne, and in most places of Holland and Flanders Now if it did arise from Natural Causes, there must be exceeding great quantities of such Vapours in the Caves and hollow Places of the Earth, which striving all along so far to get out, it seems very strange they did no where with great fury break out, to the opening of the Earth, and overthrow of some places, where the Earth was weakest. If the quantity was less, taking its beginning in some certain place, and proceeding forward, seeking to get out, but could not, it would have required more time to travail under ground to such distant Towns and Cities, as in England, and so many places beyond Sea, and so could not have been at all, at the same time.