strong Castle on the East side of the Town which is now all in Heaps and above 30 People buried alive in them In Cefamero a Village of above two hundred Houses near two hundred People perish'd in the Church whither they fled for Shelter to implore the Aid of St. Katherine of Sienne and some twenty in the Village In Santa Croce another Village about one hundred of the Inhabitants perish'd the rest having fled to the Fields without the Town In the little Town of Giamontano in the Quarter nearest the River about three hundred and fifty Persons perish'd and about forty more The Tower of Lacodia underwent near the same Fate all the Houses of Timber were overwhelmed by the Shake of the 11th and in them about three hundred of the Inhabitants Jaci a very big Town was greatly shatter'd especially in the Fall of two Churches on the 9th in the time of Divine Service Many of the Houses of the Town were overturn'd on the 11th together with two Convents particularly that of the Minimes where was kept St. Peter's Net in which he took that vast quantity of Fish mention'd in the Gospel By the Fall of the Houses and Churches there perished in all above two thousand People more than half died by the Fall of the two Churches La-motta a Village of about two hundred Inhabitants famous for the Retirement of the Citizens of Palermo there in the Summer-time was totally overturn'd on the 9th a salt Pool succeeding in its Place Messina a City of great Trade lofty Buildings and great Riches felt the Shake on the 9th and more than half the Inhabitants fled to the Fields the rest betook themselves to their Devotions in the several Churches the Archbishop ordered forty eight Hours of Prayer and several Processions to appease the Wrath of Heaven On the 11th twenty six Palaces were overturn'd and many Timber-Houses every body expected immediate Death and in vast Multitudes ran to the Cathedral where the Archbishop of Messina preach'd and said Mass and there after gave Absolution as did all the Priests through the rest of the City by the Archbishop's Command After this every one made the best of the ways they could to escape the common Danger and betook themselves to the Fields where they were not out of Hazard through the Violence of the Thunder Lightning and Rain that continued three Days together The Chappel of the Archbishop's Palace is overturn'd most of the Churches shatter'd but few People kill'd The Tide was higher on the 10th by three Foot than ever was known and such a violent Agitation of the Water that several Ships and smaller Vessels were drown'd all along the Coast of the Island and some even in the Harbours In short a more astonishing a more universal or a more swift Destruction was never known And Sicily that was one of the most beautiful rich and fruitful Islands in the World is now an Heap of Rubbish and a continued Desolation The Loss of Money Merchandize Houses and Lands may modestly be computed to six Millions of Ducats And it will take an Age to repair the Damages it hath made The number of Inhabitants perish'd may be safely reckon'd to an hundred and twenty thousand Souls and the bruised and like to die twenty thousand more Of the Earthquake at Malta ALL the Account we have yet of the further Effects of this Earthquake and the Extent of it to the Island of Malta is in a Letter from thence dated January 16. publish'd by Authority On the 9th Instant about ten at Night happened here an Earthquake and another on the 11th at three in the Afternoon The last was so violent and lasted so long that every body thought this City would have been quite destroyed The Roof of the Church of our Lady de Pelay was thrown down with part of that of St. Laurence The Church and College of the Jesuits also suffered very much but the Cathedral and the Church of la Gusmane received the greatest Damage and are so ruined that they can hardly be repaired Most of the Houses are extremely shatter'd and deserted by the Inhabitants who lie now in Grotto's and under Tents in the Fields The great Master of the Order was then abroad a hunting and he and all his Company were in great Danger by the falling of a Mountain near them We cannot yet tell the Particulars of the Loss this Island hath sustained but only in general that 't is very great and the Consternation of the Inhabitants inexpressible which hath received a new Addition by the sad Accounts we have from Sicily of the same Calamity that hath befallen their Island in a more terrible manner Whereof I have given the most particular Account yet extant And now upon the Perusal of this sad History who that will consider it as a Christian but may use the Psalmist's Expression Psal 119.120 My Flesh trembleth for fear of thee and I am afraid of thy Judgments GOD expects we should be affected and awed by such Providences Some Duties of Religion are always seasonable and of constant Obligation that must mix with all our Actions and be regarded in every step of our daily Walk There are others which the Providence of God doth particularly call us to at one time more than at another There is a time to weep and a time to laugh a time to mourn and a time to rejoice and every thing is beautiful in its Season Accordingly when God ariseth to shake terribly the Earth and punish the Inhabitants thereof for their Iniquities when he girds on his Sword to ride his Circuit by national Judgments when other Countries and People are made Examples and Warnings and the growing Atheism and Profaneness amongst us may make us justly apprehend the like Severity he expects that our Temper and Carriage should somewhat correspond and agree to his Works of Providence that when the Lion roars we should tremble when he stretches out his Hand and shakes his glittering Sword we should observe it and fear He expects that we should take the Warning he gives us by the Calamities of others that we should lie in the Dust throw off our Ornaments put on Sack-cloth and prepare to meet him in the way of his Judgments We are many Ways obliged to this in Conformity to the best Examples of holy Men in the like Case and by our Love to God and Duty to him who is displeased and provoked Our Sense of his Dishonour and due Apprehensions of his Displeasure require this Our Relation to those Places and Persons who have been already made Examples of Divine Severity our Love to our selves and to our Brethren in this part of the World who are yet preserved do all require this and call upon us to be found in such a Frame as the Psalmist here expresseth upon the like Occasion My Flesh trembleth for fear of thee and I am afraid of thy Judgments In the former Verse he endeavours to excite his Love to God and
he said shall be †Ezek. 5.15 an Instruction and an Astonishment unto the Nations round about So was Pharaoh warned by what had been done to the Proud Assyrian * Ezek. 31.3 Speak unto Pharaoh and to his Multitude Who art thou like in thy Greatness Behold the Assyrian was a Cedar in Lebanon with fair Branches c. In like manner he argues with Ninive from his Severity on No or Alexandria †Nahum 3.5 8. Behold I am against thee Art thou better than populous No that was situate among the Rivers The Punishment of One People or Person should be a VVarning unto All. The Greek ‖ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Matth. 1.19 word for Punishment doth signify Example VVith what Terror doth God threaten not to spare Israel because they continued in their Security and Rebellion (*) Amos 2.6 9. See Jerem. 44.2 7 9. Ezek. 23.5 31. though he had destroyed the Amorite before them May we not fear lest he say of us as Jer. 49.12 13. For thus saith the Lord Behold they whose Judgment was not to drink of the Cup have assuredly drunken and art thou he that shalt altogether go unpunished Thou shalt not go unpunished but thou shalt surely drink of it For I have sworn by my self saith the Lord that Bozrah shall become a Desolation a Reproach a Waste and a Curse and all the Cities thereof shall be perpetual Wastes God hath favoured us hitherto and we consider it not he hath loved Us and hated Others as he loved Jacob and hated Esau and yet we are ready to say Wherein hath he loved us * Malachi 1.2 3. Behold saith the Lord was not Esau Jacob 's Brother Yet I loved Jacob and hated Esau I laid his Mountains and his Heritage waste c. But however God may in Soveraignty deal with us as to publick Deliverance and Preservation and a Good and Speedy Issue of the present VVar whereas we hear of Another Earthquake in Sicily the last Month yet I have shewn in the last Chapter that no particular Person without Repentance shall long escape his Justice 1 Kings 10.17 They that escape the Sword of Hazael shall Jehu slay and they that escape the Sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay That is they shall perish in another World for the Prophet Elisha denounc'd Eternal Judgments on those who escapâ—d a Temporal Ruine if they continued in their Sins London May 26. 1693. J. S. THE CONTENTS INTRODUCTION AN Historical particular Account of the late Earthquakes which gave Occasion to this Discourse The Design thereof proposed from that Passage of the Psalmist My Flesh trembleth for fear of thee and I am afraid of thy Judgments pag. 1. CHAP. I. The Method of the following Discourse Instances of Divine Severity on Others are not to be overlook'd whether in former Times or of later Date on Strangers Neighbours Friends or Enemies They are proper to affect us with an awful Fear of God Earthquakes especially of all other Judgments The Terror of such a Judgment in part described that it is the Effect of Sin p. 35. CHAP. II. Such Instances of Divine Severity should teach us to reverence and adore the Divine Power and Providence should awaken us to Repentance excite most earnest Prayer occasion Thankfulness for our Preservation hitherto and call upon us to trust in God as our only Refuge and to secure his Favour p. 62. CHAP. III. We ought not to censure Others because of such Calamities as greater Sinners than those who escape much less should we pass a Judgment on their Eternal State because they are cut off suddenly by a temporal Judgment p. 84. CHAP. IV. What Fear of Evils to come is lawful how far a Duty and when sinful Of the Penal Fear of future Calamity Instances of it as a Divine Punishment What little Ground we have to expect a much longer Reprieve we have none for Security and Confidence The Doubtfulness of our Case should awaken our utmost Concern and Care to prevent Destruction p. 92. CHAP. V. Of God's Unwillingness to destroy a People Hosea 11.8 9. explained paraphrased and applied to our Nation and City How shall I give thee up Ephraim c. Abraham 's pleading with God for Sodom and Gomorrah Gen. 18. Moral Causes why we may expect and fear National and Publick Calamities p. 103. CHAP. VI. Earthquakes usually reckoned the Forerunners of other Calamities We have had many Signs and Warnings and a long Season of Divine Forbearance tho we are guilty of the like Sins as have brought destructive Judgments on other People The Land full of Sin Publick Societies only punish'd in this World p. 117. CHAP. VII Most slight such Warnings What was done in Jamaica had special Relation to us in this Island We in England have had divers Earthquakes formerly Their Wickedness was great so is ours Several Earthquakes have extended as far as ours Sept. 8th tho felt beyond the Seas near the same Time Other Instances of Earthquakes in Europe p. 128. CHAP. VIII Many Examples of Terrible Earthquakes in other Parts of the World formerly and of late p. 156. CHAP. IX God will yet preserve his Church and enlarge the Kingdom of Christ tho Particular Churches and Countries may be destroyed The Accomplishment of Scripture-Prophecies and Promises usher'd in by great Commotions and by Earthquakes Some Instances thereof p. 166. CHAP. X. Concerning the Fear of Divine Judgments and the Regulation of it What Fear of Evil God hath promised and we may expect to be delivered from and what not Counsels proper to obtain an Interest in those Promises and to experience the fulfilling of them p. 188. CHAP. XI Security a Presage of Temporal and Eternal Ruine to particular Persons whatever God may do as to the Nation in general p. 199. Practical Reflections ON THE Late Earthquakes In Jamaica England Sicily Malta c. Anno 1692. INTRODUCTION An Historical particular Account of the late Earthquakes which gave Occasion to this Discourse The Design thereof proposed from that Passage of the Psalmist My Flesh trembleth for fear of thee and I am afraid of thy Judgments THAT the late Earthquakes may be considered and improved to the best Purposes it will be proper to premise a short Narrative or Historical Account of them according to the order of Time wherein they happened And therefore I begin with that at Jamaica The last Year 1692. on the 7th of June there happened a dreadful Earthquake in the Island of Jamaica which made great Ruines and Devastations throughout the whole Country but especially in the Capital Town of Port-Royal which was almost swallowed up and overflowed by the sinking of the Earth and Irruption of the Sea Two Letters from the Minister of the Place published by Authority give a particular Account of it that it threw down most of the Houses Churches Sugar and Indigo-Works Mills and Bridges throughout the whole Island that it tore the Rocks and Mountains others tell us
of the first Sign they may yet hearken to the Voice of the second and the dismal Account since that of the Earthquake in Sicily makes a Third if that of Malta may not be reckon'd a Fourth We do not read of any Instance of Earthquakes before in that Island of Jamaica since it was under the English Power nor before while under the Spaniard But we have had several Instances of Earthquakes amongst Vs formerly in England and these Parts of Europe tho more seldom than in the East therefore it is not unreasonable for us to Expect and Fear the like 'T is true those Countries which are very hot or very cold are least subject to Earthquakes and therefore it hath been matter of Wonder in Egypt or in * Herodot 1.4 Scythia to have the Earth tremble Great Britain and Ireland are reckoned among those Parts of Europe least liable to violent Earthquakes and yet our Historians mention several as Anno Dom. 1081. April 6. in the time of †Matthew Paris Speed 's Chron. p. 446. King William the First or the Conqueror was an Earthquake here with a great Noise in the 15th Year of his Reign and followed within a few Years with many Calamities In Henry the First 's Time * Baker 's Chron. p. 43. the Earth moved with so great a Violence that many Buildings were shaken down and Malmesbury saith that the House wherein he sate was lifted up with a double Remove and at the third time settled again in the proper Place And in divers Places it gave forth a hideous Noise and cast forth Flames at certain Rifts many days together which neither by Water nor by other Means could be suppress'd In Lombardy the same Year was an Earthquake that continued for 40 days and remov'd a Town from the Place where it stood a great way off An. 1133. Matthew Paris mentions a great Darkness in England and an Earthquake at the same time An. 1165. He mentions another Earthquake in the 11th Year of Henry the Second January the 26th in Ely Norfolk and Suffolk which threw down many Persons who were standing or walking and made the Clocks to strike and Bells to ring in the Steeples And in the 24th Year of his Reign in the Territory of Derlington in the Bishoprick of * Baker 's Chron. p. 58. Durham the Earth lifted up her self in manner of an high Tower and so remained unmoveable from Morning till Evening and then fell with so horrible a Noise as frighted the Inhabitants thereabouts and the Earth swallowing it up made there a deep Pit which is seen at this day The Pits in that Place are commonly called Hellkettles An. 1180. A great Earthquake threw down many Buildings amongst which the Cathedral Church of Lincoln was rent in pieces April 25th An. 1247. There was an †Matthew Paris Earthquake in April at London especially felt on the Banks of the River Thames which shook and threw down many Buildings and was the more terrible because these Western Parts are less accustom'd to Earthquakes And the same Year there was little Ebbing or Flowing of the Sea observable as at other times for about three Months An. 1248. The same Historian mentions another Earthquake which did a great deal of Mischief especially in the Diocess of Bath the Bishop whereof gave him an Account of it And this was the third which had happen'd within three Years on this side the Alpes one in some Parts of Savoy and two in England which was the more Terrible because the like not known before in these Parts He takes notice of another Earthquake in England afterward in the Year 1250. In the thirteenth Year of Queen Elizabeth a prodigious * Cambden 's Eliz. p. 158 159. Baker 's Chron. p. 399. Earthquake happened in the East Parts of Herefordshire near a little Town called Kinaston On the 17th of February at six a clock in the Evening the Earth began to open and an Hill with a Rock under it making at first a great bellowing Noise which was heard a great way off lifted it self up a great Height and began to travel bearing along with it the Trees that grew upon it the Sheepfolds and Flocks of Sheep abiding there at the same time In the Place from whence it was first moved it left a gaping Distance forty Foot broad and fourscore Ells long the whole Field was about twenty Acres Passing along it overthrew a Chappel standing in the way removed an Yew Tree planted in a Church-yard from the West unto the East with the like Force it thrust before it High-ways Sheepfolds Hedges and Trees made tilled Ground Pasture and again turned Pasture into Tillage Having walk'd in this sort from Saturday in the Evening till Monday Noon it then stood still An. 1588. The like Prodigy hapned in * Cambden 's Eliz. p. 244. Baker 's Chron. p. 400. Dorsetshire as in the Year 1571 in Herefordshire A Field of three Acres with the Trees and Fences in Blackmore moved from its Place and passed over another Field travelling in the High-way that goeth to Herne and there stayed In the 23d of Q. Elizabeth An. 1580. in the beginning of April about six in the Afternoon happened an †Cambden Ibid. p. 286. Earthquake not far from York which in some places struck the very Stones out of the Buildings and made the Bells in Churches to jingle The Night following the Earth trembled once or twice in Kent and again the first of May. This Earthquake was felt at London so as to give Occasion to an Order of Prayer and a Godly Admonition concerning it appointed ‖ Recited by Mr. D. Earthquakes Explain'd and Improv'd 8o. p. 134. to be read for the turning of God's Wrath from the Nation threatned by the Earthquake by Order of the Queen and her Privy-Council to be used in all Churches and Housholds throughout the Realm An. 1657. On the 8th day of July there was an * Heath 's Chronicle p. 395. Earthquake at Bickley in Cheshire Germany and France and the Netherlands have also felt Earthquakes In April 1640 all the Low Countries and a great part of Germany were shaken by a sudden Earthquake Which sort of Prodigy was very unusual saith †Cluverius p. 743. Cluverius in those Parts An. 1117. In the 17th Year of the Emperor ‖ Cluver ad An. 1117. p. 434. Henry the 5th the World was shook by terrible Earthquakes Cities Castles Villages and a multitude of People were swallowed up in the Caverns of the Earth Many at Liege or Luyk were destroyed by Thunder while they were paying their Veneration to the Saints for Safety Mountains were cleft Rivers dried up c. So lately as the Year 1660 France had experience of * Letters writ by a Spy at Paris Vol. 6. p. 58 67. an Earthquake which the Turkish Spy mentions who was then at Paris We have felt the Menaces saith he of a terrible Earthquake this