N01064:34
A discourse concerning earthquakes. Occasioned by the earthquakes which were in New-England, in the…
A discourse concerning earthquakes. Occasioned by the earthquakes which were in New-England, in the province of Massachusetts-Bay, June 16. and in Connecticut-Colony [sic], June 22. 1705. : Also, two sermons, showing, that sin is the greatest evil; and, that to redeem time is the greatest wisdom. / By Increase Mather.A discourse concerning earthquakes. Occasioned by the earthquakes which were in New-England, in the province of Massachusetts-Bay, June 16. and in Conecticot-Colony [sic], June 22. 1705. : Also, two sermons, shewing, that sin is the greatest evil; and, that to redeem time is the greatest wisdom. / By Increase Mather.
Boston: printed by Timothy Green for Benjamin Eliot, 1706
Title page typeset from the transcription.
There shall be Great Earthquakes before the Lords Coming. › Application 1: USE I.
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.
USE I.
How ought the Children of Men to Fear and Tremble before that Almighty GOD, who makes the Earth to Tremble under them? The thought of His Dreadful Power should make all Mortals to stand in awe of Him. When God manifested His Power in a miraculous Deliverance of the Prophet Daniel, the greatest man then living, made a Decree that in every Dominion of his Kingdom, men should tremble and fear before the God of Daniel, Dan. 6. 26. How Dreadful is His Power who with His Voice can make the Earth to shake? As when the Law was given, His Voice then shook the Earth, Heb. 12. 26. Such is His Power as that if He does but touch the Earth with His Foot, or with His Finger, or but cast an angry Look upon it, presently it falls a Trembling: Psal. 104. 32. He looks on the earth and it ⟨p. 21⟩trembleth, He toucheth the hills and they smoke. When an Earthquake comes what does it say? It does like the Angel in the Revelation, It says with a loud Voice, Fear GOD, for you know not but that an hour of Judgment is near unto you. The thought of Earthquakes should make men walk in the Fear of God continually: And the rather for that, there is no place has assurance of not being visited therewith. It is true, that Earthquakes have been oftener in some parts of the world than i• other places; but there is no Land totally free or exempt. I may tell you, that places which were once Famous for the Religion which •hined in them, have afterwards perished by Earthquakes. The City of A•ttoch was that in which the Christian Name was first heard of, which City has been Destroyed by Earthquakes. In Smyrna there was an Holy Church▪ Our Saviour reproves most of the Churches in Asi, but the Church in Smyrna is not at all blamed, yet Smyrna has been Rined by Earthquakes. Therefore let us not be High-minded, but Fear: Not with a Slavish but with an Holy Fear. When God rds an Earthquake with a Commission to Destroy, it is the formidablest