N00989:6
The voice of God, in stormy winds. Considered, in two sermons, occasioned by the…
The voice of God, in stormy winds. Considered, in two sermons, occasioned by the dreadful and unparalleled storm, in the European nations. Novemb. 27th. 1703. / By Increase Mather. ; [Five lines of quotations]The voice of God, in stormy winds. Considered, in two sermons, occasioned by the dreadful and unparallel'd storm, in the European nations. Novemb. 27th. 1703. / By Increase Mather. ; [Five lines of quotations]
printed by T. Green for Nicholas Buttolph, 1704
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
TO THE Reader.
THERE are some who would be esteemed the Wits of the world, that Ridicule those as Superstitious and Weak persons, which look upon Dreadful Tempests as Predromous of other Judgments. Nevertheless, The most Learned and Judicious Writers, not only of the Gentiles, but amongst Christians have Embraced such a Persuasion; their Sentiments therein being Confirmed by the Experience of many Ages. It may be, it will not be altogether Unedifying, for me on this occasion to mention some few Instances of unusual Storms, which have been the forerunners of greater Calamities immediately following them. That such tremendous Dispensations of Providence ⟨p. 4⟩have sometimes been Prognostics of a Storm of Persecution coming on the Church of God, there wants not Examples to induce us to believe. A. D. 375 There was a prodigious Tempest at Constantinople, which pro•'d fatal to more than a few persons. The next Year the Arian Persecution under the Emperor Valentinian was a terrible Judgment. A. D. 1620. There was a fearful Tempest throughout Switzerland, immediately upon which horrendous Popish Cruelties ensued. But it has more often been observed, that such Tempests have been the forerunners of most bloody Wars, and popular Commotions. I know not whether any History does mention a more dismal Storm than that which happened in the Low Countries, in the Year 1421 causing a Flood which overwhelmed Seventy Six Villages, and destroyed above an Hundred Thousand Persons; which Judicious and Learned men have judged to be Portentous of the dreadful Desolations which soon after that, were made in Europe by the Sword and Wars raging in many Nations. A prodigious Tempest in Milan A. D. 1510. preceded the coming of the French into