N00508:85
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
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.
6. At the same time, and for the same sin was this Earthquake in the days of Uzziah. And why may not the Earthquake be attributed to the immediate hand of God, as well as his being smitten with Leprosy. That this was at the same time, and for the same sin, and so from the same hand of God, Josephus in his History doth make plain: who writeth thus; Uzziah upon a certain solemn F••st-day, wherein all the People were assembled together, he attired himself in the High Priests Vestments, and entered into th• Temple to offer Sacrifice unto God upon the Golden Altar, which notwithstanding the H•gh Priest Azariah (accompanied with fourscore Priests) […] him the same, telling him that it was not lawful for him to sacrifice, in that it was only allowed in those that were of the Posterity of the High Priest Aaron. Whilst after this manner Azariah expostulated with him, commanding ⟨p. 25⟩him to go out of the Temple, and not to contradict the Ordinances of God; the King waxed wr•t•, and threatened to take his Life from him, except he kept himself quiet Whereupon there fell a great trembling and Earthquake, and the Temple cleft on twain, and a great Light of the Sun entered thereunto, and reflected on the King's face in such a manner, that all his Body was instantly covered with a Leprosy, and before the City (in a place called Eroge) the half of a Mountain (that stood to the Eastward) brake and fell, and rolled and removed for the space of four Stadia (or Furlongs towards the Oriental Mountain, where it rested: so that the public ways were shut up, and choked, and the King's Gardens of Pleasure were wholly ruinated & disfigured. When the Priests beheld the King's face covered with a Leprosy, they told him what inconvenience had happened to him, and enjoined him to depart out of the Town, according to the custom of Men that were polluted. Whereupon, he (wholly confused at so grievous an accident, and having no more audacity to speak) obeyed the Commandment that was given him, enduring a pitiful and Lamentable punishment, for being elate and proud, more than became humanity; and for that he committed such impiety against God. Finally, he died through grief and discontent and was only buried in his Garden. This Earthquake came, and this Leprosy was inflicted on him for that sin; the Leprosy is expressly said in Scripture to be from the Lord; why not also then the Earthquake?