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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A58144	The earth twice shaken wonderfully, or, An analogical discourse of earthquakes its natural causes, kinds, and manifold effects : occasioned by the last of these, which happened on the eighth day of September 1692, at two of the clock in the afternoon : divided into philosophical theorems, pick'd out of many famous, modern, and ancient treatises, translated into English : with reference to that unusual one that happened in Queen Elizabeth's reign, on the same day, 8th of September 1601 ... : with an account of many stupendious and wonderful events in Germany, Italy, and other kingdoms ... / by J.D.R., French minister.	J. D. R., French minister.	1693 (1693)	Wing R37; ESTC R4234	44,661	64

the Oriental F●iezla●d We have been eye Witnesses of th●●●●su●●●●creasing of the River Neker which overflowed in December and J●●m●●y with a considerable damage How the Rome hath oversloved the Inhabitants know to their own forrow and loss where ●●at unus●a● Inundation proceeding from the River and Rivulets in December between Strab●ang and Sp●re● as it was fard to several persons so among the rest 〈◊〉 the head of an Ancient Family 65. Lastly Barrenness is the consequent of an Earthquake because of the envenomed Vapoars which while they p●rm●ace the pores of the ●●arth leave behind them their Venemou● Footsteps and 〈…〉 Qualiti●● both on the Earth it self and also 〈…〉 the enlivening Power sit for the production of Corn is 〈…〉 Wonderful and different were the Sentiments of the co●m●● 〈◊〉 People after the late Earthquake a● is usual and Husband 〈…〉 every where heard interpreting this Earthquake as a Joyful O●n●●n●● a singular future Fertili●y But this Conjecture is easily ●esuted by the consideration of Natural Causes especially since History 〈…〉 the contrary For in the Year 315. from the building of Rome so great a Scarcity and Barrenness so lowed an Earthquake th●● Li●y mentions it as remarkable that many threw themselves into Tiber where they made at one another to devour themselves In the Year of our Lord 542 an universal and most grievous Famine ensu●d upon an Earthquake that was it self almost universal as 〈◊〉 Paul Diaco●● lib. 16. The same happened in the Year 1326. and again●●n 〈◊〉 But as Plagu● and Inundation do not follow a● Earthquake 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so neither do B●●renu●●s and Fam●ne For as the Subterrancous Spirit● are not alway equally disposed so sometimes they are les● en●●omed ●nd destruct●u● and more subtil that they ethale sooner neither do they so easily imprint on the Ground any quality no 〈◊〉 to the Fr●it wh●en that we may experience in this Earthquake the next Harvest let him a●one who is able to crown the Year with his B●●ssing gram 66. And a this Earthquake was not only natural but or kind to a miraculous one so also see us to contain in it the Presages and Porten a of some wonderful and extraordinary Change among Mankind I said before that God add●d a Supernatural for●● and degres o the Natural Causes of this Earthquake And God doth nothing in vain but direct all to some certain end and s●op● so that 't is necessary something should be in this Earthquake more than could proceed from the power of Nature alone 67. But as Co●nets do not o● themselves and their own nature cause or denounce any Change in Kingdoms and any other Hamane A●fai●● so neither do Earthquakes but such events hap●●a in these wonderful and secret Works of Nature from the disp●●●d and Ordinations of God partly exciting Me●s Minds and p●om ●ng them partly terrifying them with those sear of Fu●uriti●s The Rainbow of its own Nature can neither be a surety for nor confirm the Grace and Covenant of God to the World that there shall be no more an universal Flood but it doth engage for and confirm it by a supernatural Revelation which the gracious Counsel of God imposed on this work of Nature The same must be determined of Earthquakes Comets Chasins and other wonderful Meteors in Nature 68. But what change in Europe doth this Earthquake presage This neither I nor any body else can easily tell He alone knows who endowed the Earthquake with the signification of Futurities who encreased and augmented the Power of Nature and lastly who hath at his own dispose both the Causes and their Effects 69. The Scripture as far I could observe speaks of Earthquakes after a three fold manner 70. Sometimes as of the Sign and Symbol of the present Grace of God already held forth As was that Earthquake by which the Apostles and other Members of the Primitive Church were confirmed against the intermediate As●aults of their Enemies by the hearing and the presence of God from Heaven of which Acts 4. v. 31. But when they had prayed says Luke the place in which they were Assenbl●d was shaken and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost To which is to be referred that Earthquake that happened at the Resurrection of Christ the Angel of the Lord descending from Heaven and Rowling away the Stone from the mouth of the Sepulchre of which Matt. cap. 98. vers 2. makes mention To the number of these Earthquakes doth also belong that which is mentioned Acts 16. ve●s ●6 But in the middle of the night Paul and Sil●s were Fraying and Singing of Psalm● when on a sudden there was a great Earthquake so that the Foundations of the Prison were shaken and the Doors were oppened and all their bonds were ●●●sed 71. But as such Earthquakes are soldom so they are meerly Mira●●o●● and such Examples are not easily to be found either in the E●●tory of our own or former Times For the Sins of Men dese●ve o●h●rwise 72. But the Scripture often speaks of an Earthquake as of the Messenger and Witness of the Divine Wrath and the presage of Punishment to certain Kingdoms and Provinces for the Publick and Private Sins of the eminent Ones The Scripture scarcely over speaks more frequently of any presage of the Wrath of God and in pending Punishments than of an Earthquake as the 2d of Sam. 22. vers 8. Psalm 18. vers 8. The Earth is shaken and m●ved because his Wrath is Kindled Job 9. vers 5 6. Who remove● Mountains so as he is not observed who overturns them in his Wrath who moves the Earth out of its place So that the Pillars thereof shake So Eccles 39 32. There are Winds created for punishment in the consummated time they pour out the strength and fury of him that made them And the like places in Joel 2.1 Na. 1.5 Amos 1. 1. Zac. 14. Numb 10.21 And God was pleased to promulgate his Laws by an Earthquake Exod. 19.18 That he might testifie that that punishment was ready for the breakers of them To which must be referr'd that Earthquake which happened whilst Christ suffered Matt. 27.51 The Earth says he was moved and the Rocks were split which was also a Testimony of Christ's Innocence John in the Revela denouncing the Wrath of God and the punishments which are to be poured forth on the later days makes often mention of an Earthquake cap. 6.12 Cap. 8.6 cap. 2.13 There was says he in that hour a great Earthquake and the tenth part of the World fell and there were kill'd in the Earthquake 7000 men and the rest was terrified and gave Glory to the God of Heaven cap. 16.18 There was a great Earthquake such as never was since Men were on the Earth an Earthquake says he so great Which sayings although they have an Allegorical interpretation yet they may be taken properly or at least they will lead us to this that the Scripture doth commonly

the Caverns of the Earth is mingled with the Subterraneous Vapours and so conjoyntly with them shakes the Earth when it could never separately and by it self To this I will add that those that attribute Earthquakes to internal flatus differ in their Opinions for some say that the Earth being void of all Life and Sense hath some Spiritus engendred together with it which Opinion is constantly defended by Aristotle But there were others formerly who attributed such a Life and Spiritus to the Earth as in the bodies of Plants and vital and animal Spirits as there is in Animals which Opinion is espoused by one of the Physical Writers all other Philosophers that I have seen are of Aristotles's Opinion as being most constant to reason and experience For seeing the Earth is a Principle and Element of all mixt bodies consequently every mixt body would live yea the Earth would be no longer an Element if it had life for living bodies have received their last complection and perfection which cannot be asserted of Elements which are designed by Nature for the constitution of fuller bodies as the Principles of all mixt bodies But let us see how the Earth is moved supposing it lives as in the Body of Man say those who are of that Opinion when 't is well the Veins through which the Blood and Spiritus pass are not disturbed but when 't is not well they never leave panting so the Earth when 't is in its natural situation Vapours are quickly diffus'd through its Veins is obnoxious to no Earthquakes but when it hath not its own situation and the Vapours intangled with Ruin and Mud find not a free passage through the Veins then there must necessarily happen a shaking of the Body of the Earth so the Earth is therefore moved by them because 't is in a Feaver Sene. lib. 6. natur quaest thus attacks that Opinion If says he the Earth like an Animal is moved from this Cause it will all feel vexation for a Feaver in us doth not more moderately impel some parts and others more quickly but runs through all with an equal degree But Physicians will think this reason of Seneca's weak for one Member of an Animal may be infested 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with a trembling or palpitation so that if we grant the Earth lives part of it may tremble and be shaken alone for altho' it hath not either Nerves or Muscles yet it hath Veins and as it were Pipes on every side sill'd with Spirits 6. Whether Subterraneous Exhaltations are generated by the Sun Beams Aristotles constant Opinion is they are generated partly by the heat of the Sun influecing them from above partly by the heat of Subterraneous fire every where dispersed through the Caverns of the Earth as he speaks lib. 2. Meteor cap. 8. The Earth of it self says he is dry but it receives great moisture from Rains which growing hot by the Sun and the heat in the Earth begets much Vapours both without and within the Earth which Opinion is therefore disaproved of by Geor. Agricol lib. 2. de ortu Subter pag. 25. because the Sun draws all the Vapours it begets out of the Earth But Aristotle will easily answer That some Vapours are therefore heated by the Sun that they may be drawn out but some are engendred so deep within the Earth that they cannot be drawn out I confess heat draws moisture to it self doth not drive it away but it doth not draw out all its draws to it Neither doth that presently obtain the end that acts for an end The Refiners of Metals and Mines fetched out of the Veins of the Earth must needs says Agricola To hew a Ditch on the Earth under the Crucible to draw thither all dampness for fear lest otherwise the strength of fire drawing out the moistness of the Earth into the Crucible it would grow swelled and burst to pieces with sudden loss and squandering away of the Metal If the heat doth draw to it self the moistness much more can it put in a motion an Exhalation and draw to it a Vapour which is of the same kind with it self This is true yet they do not evince that which they were to prove that the heat of the Sun doth draw out presently that Exhalation and set it at freedom which it draws to it that 's not altogether in the power of the Sun there are these things that detain that Exhalation engendred within the Earth that it cannot fly whither it is drawn 7. Whether Aristotle for any certain Reasons appoints more solemn times ●o● Earthquakes We noted before in the 28 Theorem that Arislotle wa● of opinion that Earthquakes commonly happen about the Equinox in Spring and Autum but the accurate Searcher of Subterraneous things Geor. Agric. pag. 29. is of another opinion where he says Wh●n I examine his Reason● why Earthquakes happen oftner in Spring and Autumn than in Summer and Winter by night than day in the night time at the breaking of the day oftnest in the day ●ime at noon I find them weak and of little force for he attributes all to the Sun which he doth because if it be without this the Earth at all times of the year would have the same disposition in it The Sun says Agricola cannot be the Cause much less the Moon 's Ecclipse because if the presence of the Sun conduced to this more Earthquakes would happen in Summer than in the Spring or Autumn more in day time than in the night and if its absence be influential there would be more at midnight than at break of day in Winter than in the Spring or Autumn Aristotle observed not that the scorching of the Sun heating the Earth draws those Vapours out of the Earth not shats them in it that were neither generated by it or were touched by internal heat after their generation But this is that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of which we disputed in the preceding Problem The Sun engenders Exhalations which when they fly into the Air of their own accord are said to be drawn and extracted by the Sun but I do not grant that speaking properly the Sun draws forth Exhalations But let us speak as the custom is that the Sun doth draw Exhalations towards it does it therefore draw them out of the Earth Agricola excepts There is no stopping says he that h●nders those which the Sun produces for it would not engender them unless its vertue could pierce into the upper part of the Earth and the Sun excites the Exhalations out of the Earth by the same way the power of the Sun penetrates into the ●arth and so doth not imprison them within the Earth The Reader sees how ready an Answer is for Aristotle The Sun says Agricola would not beget Exhalations unless it could bring them forth out of the Earth yea it begets many not to extract them but to afford matter for the generation of Metals within the Earth as Gold Silver and

especially adapted for Earthquakes So Aristotle in the forecited place says there are more and greater Earthquakes in the Night and adds 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 especially in the Morning And Pliny in the forecited place says the Morning and Evening Earthquake are very great but at the approach of day they are frequent for the heat of the day dissolves and dissipates their matter Natural cold contracts and binds it 30. The consequent effects also do Evince that the Power of Nature was present 31. For ●o●ses and fragors issuing out of the Caverns of Earth were heard about that time in the Neighbourhood which is a certain discovery of the Spirits and Winds agitated in the Cavities of the Earth and as it were there striving reciprocally If but a little Wind blows in●o a V●ssel a sound and as it were a bellowing is heard One from whence may conclude what happen in so spacious Caverns as those o● the ●arth Hence it is that Aristole says The Spiritus ma●es a●n●ise under the Earth as the Air being beaten up sou●●s variously for there is no difference between this Spiritus and the Ai●● as to the effect of the sound fo● this Spiritus verberati●g upon every thing is it self verberat●d upon And Pliny lib. 2 cap. 8 says There goes before and accompanies them a terrible noise othe●wise a murmuring like to bellowing or the cry of Men and the sound fragou● of clashing of Arms according to the quality of the Matter receiving it and the form either of Ca●●n or ●uniculus through which it permeates c. 32 〈◊〉 g●●at Win is have ra●●● after an Earthquake when a Ca●● has immediately p●eceded it This is also witnessed by experience and by Ari●●●tle and Pliny in the forecited places that Winds 〈◊〉 after an ●●●thquak●● because those Winds which 〈◊〉 befor● sh●t in the Eart● do brake out of it into the Air. A●d 〈…〉 do assert the same concerning the Calm to wit that it common●y goes before an Earthquake In a Calm towards 〈…〉 ●a●y ●ays Aristotle there happen very many and very great Earthquakes because most of the Matter of the Winds is so restrained in the Caverns of the Earth that it cannot more the Air Yet we must not deny that even sometimes in windy Weather Earthquakes have happened because all the Matter of them doth enter into the Caverns of the Earth together And even at the time of our Earthquake about three hours before it was observed to be somewhat r●en and I will not here make any tedious dispute with Geor. Agric. who says lib 4. de Na●ura eorum que ef●luant●e terra That Aristotle when he mentions the darkness of the Sun the calmness of the Weather cold a thin Cloud extended in length did not intend to discover ●he signs of Earthquakes which Aristotle's Interpreters affirm but prove by those things which sometimes happen that W●●d is the Cause of Earthquakes But both may be asserted without ●bsurdity ●owi● tha● they are signs of Earthquakes to come and also evince that they are occasioned by Wind. But h●●e we do no● only acknowledge Nature but joyn with it a singular force of Divine Power neither ought we to sep●●●te Divine Operations even from those that are usual and often happen seeing t●e very Heathens believed that there was no Earthquake tho never so small but had something Divine in it as it is testified by Gellius lib. 2. cap 28 But ●s often as the Scripture speaks of Earthquakes which is often so often do they divert our minds from the consideration of Nature alone to the acknowledgment of the Omnipotent Power of the Lord as Psal 60 2. Thou had made the Earth to tremble thou had broken it and Psal 77.19 Psal 114 4 and 7. Tremble that Earth at the presence of the Lord at the presence of the God of Ja●●● Also Psal 10.32 He looketh on the Earth and it trembleth he toucheth the Halls and they smoke Job 9.6 Which shaketh the Earth out 〈…〉 place and the Pillars thereof tremble Nah●m 1.5 The 〈…〉 quake at him and the Hills melt 33. But what should be the next Natural Cause of so stupendious Effects to wit so great Latitude and so great Celerity in this Earthquake This I confess is difficulte to Trace but I hope I shall have leave to enquire diligently into it 34. Which that I may do I will first set down some Principles where one may have good assurance for o●e Credit 35 Seeing the Earth is round like a Globe it hath Lines drawn from the Center to the Circumference 36. These Line meet nearer about the Center then at the Circumference where they are farther distant 37. Therefore the nearer any thing is the Center of the Earth the mere closely is it contracted rashing violently from thence to the Circumference 't is extended farther and occupi●● mere r●om 38. The Spirit●●or V●pours are sometime● more deeply hid towards the Center of the Earth but sometimes and that more frequently they are generated in Caverns and Passages meatus near●r the Superficies of the Earth From the general Doctrine of Earthquakes in this place I presuppose the Earth is not otherwise moved then by Winds and Spirits engendred in its Cavitie● thence seeking an Exitus according to the quality of their Natures I know the Ancient Philosophers before Aristotle assigned other Causes of Earthquakes whose different Opinions concerning them are recited by Plutarch lib. 3. De Placitis Philosophorum cap. 2. Seneca lib. 6. Mat. quest Cap 4. Pliny lib. 2. Cap. 79. but especially Aristotle 2 Meteor cap. 7. But amongst modern Authors Joannes Franciseus Picus Mirandula lib. 1. examinis doctinae vanitatis gentium cap. 12. among which we must reckon Nicholaus Cusanu● who lib. 1. de Docta ignorantia is of opinion that the Earth is neither of an Oval form nor altogether Unmovable of it self But no Opinion is more evident from Nature and Experience than Aristotle who asserts that Winds and subterraneous Spirits are the Cause● of Earthquakes for the heaviest Bodies are only to be moved by that which hath the strongest Power to move But among all inferiour Beings the Wind or Spiritus is that which according to the qualifications of its own Nature hath in i● a Power more effective of Motion than any other body 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is expresly testified by Holy Writs when it assimilates Angels to the Winds Heb. 1.7 and many experiments do al●o evince it For with how great a force doth a little G●n-Powd●● diss●lv●d into Spirits by the heat of Fire burst out of the smallest Machines So we see the Spirit of new Wine when seething if the Fu●nell be stoped do penetrate the Vessels that they may break ●orth It is sufficiently known of what Power they are in our Bodies and what great Co●vul●o●● Symp●o●ns and Pains they are the causes of So that Aristotle use h● thi● Example chiefly to confirm his Opinion of the Cause of Earthquake 39.

These Spirits being deep in the Earth and closeley contracted the nearer they arrive a● the Superficies of the Earth the more they are dissipated and scattered and so they ex●end further in length and breadth 40. And they more powerfully endeavour ●o extri●●e themselves and they ●ssu●●on● more s●vis●ly by now much he more they are deeply laid in the Earth and closely contracted Which may be proved by he experiment of Fire which when it is narrowly contracted b●eaks for h●●●e more violently man instant when it hath the opor●u●ity of in A●itu● to co●v●y i● se●f o●t which is apparent in Gun where the ig●●ou force of the Gun-Powder being sh●● in a nerrow room breaks out swifter than one can think or imagin 41. Which Principles being presupposed let us now shew the Cause of the Earthquake which we are treating of which extended so far and was ●o quickly caused 42. It was a Vapour or Spiri● subtilly disposed and bur●ed profundly toward the Center of the Earth or at least the Center of Europe or of those Countries that were shaken whence sallying out in great quantity and number it spread fare and near with wonderful Celerity Trembling in the Earth is nothing else but the Thunder in a Cloud says Pliny lib 2. cap. 79. As therefore some Thunder reache● further and issues out more violently than other both according to the different disposition of the Cloud and also according to the quantity and quality of the Spirit deeply ●●ried in the Cloud or approaching nearer to its Superficies so the greater or lesser Latitude and Celerity of Earthquakes is to be derived from the different disposition and s●ituation of the Spirits And that also which we asserted of the Center is easie to be understood For that which is placed in the middle of a Circle or Globe doth more easily move the whole Globe than that which recedes from the Center towards the side of the Globe which is well known by them who prepare Fireballs and throw them into the Air often to the great Admiration of the Spectators And I call that the Center of Eu●ope which is in the midst of that Circle which is drawn from one Extream o● Eu●ope to the other in that space of the Terrene Goble in which Eu●ope is contained 43. But whence comes it that this Spirit is so deep so subtil and so ●wist Partly from the first and partly from the second Causes 44. The efficacy of Celestical Bodies doth d●s●rvedly claim the first place among second Causes which rises from their different respect to one another or the mixture of their li●ht and rays S●ch is the ●ower of the Subject as is it self seeing therefore Heaven is the first che●●e●t greatest and swiftest of all Bodies its Force and Efficacy must need● be the first greatest and swiftest for Heaven is so closely connexed with inferiour Bodies that its virtue may be tr●ns●us●d into the Earth and communicated to it even in its most abstruse rece●●es Whither he efficacy of the solar Rays doth reach is evident from the generation of Metals and other subterraneous Bodies which i● no ways possible without the Sun and its Rays 45 The efficay and vertue of Saturn this very year was chefiest amongst the Planets whence it happened that Ma●ter and Fuel was afforded for cold Vapours both above and within the Earth 'T is an Astronomical Rule confirmed by experience that the Knowledge of the Earthquake is to b●der●ved from Saturn it being a Planet effective of cold and d●yne●s And the first matter of Vapours is cold and dry which being gathered together at first by the intervention of other Causes ●ro●●s hot an● is rar●fied To which may be added the Qu●●rate Aspect of Jupiter and Mars in July whereby cold Vapours are made hot and disposed for windy Temperament 'T is an old Opinion confirmed by Reasons drawn from the Nature and Pro●ert● of Planets and also from experience that the Power of the three Super our Planets Saturn Jupiter and Mars ●s most eminent in producing Earthquakes the first by his light doth ●ncrease cold Vapours which are made hot by the third and so tempered by the second that the heat being neither able to subdue nor b● subdued there are necessarily generated flatuous Vapours whereof we shall speak hereafter 47 And when the Earthquake happened the Sun was in the Sign of Virgo which is it self very much ad●pted for Earthquake 48. There happened in the foregoing Month of July two Eclipses the Moon on 〈…〉 th●●un's on the Nineteenth and no wonder 〈◊〉 that ●●me divers ●●po●●s were coll●●●ed within the ●arth so 〈…〉 R●ys of the 〈…〉 being weakned by their being 〈…〉 a●●sing from ram could not be 〈…〉 all which the m●eting of two Eclip●●s i● one Month ●s a pre●●ging Ev●nt That 〈…〉 by the Eclipses of the Sun and the Moo● is the 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 2 M●t●or c●p 8 and of Pliny 〈…〉 which is confirmed by ex●●●ience●●o● only 〈…〉 but 〈…〉 r●c●ss●s b●●n ●●ene rat●d ●y the heat 〈…〉 R●●●s ●es by a certain Spi●it are purged fro● th●● r●d n●●●● 〈◊〉 is which can●ot be when those l●●●ts are ●i●cl●p●d For 〈◊〉 s●p●● f●uot●s ●umouts abound and a●so the po●●s of th●●a●th wh●ch th● 〈◊〉 would otherwise op●n ar● shut up so that he Vap●u●s cannot regularly and convenientl● exhale So says Aris●otle 〈◊〉 M●t●or cap S. ●●●thqu●kes happen abo●t the time of ●clipses for 〈◊〉 the defect of ●i●ht ●n cessa●●●y ●n●u●s the d●se●● of ●eat which i● cau●ed by the Sun or 〈◊〉 on throughout the Air. Ne●●her do●h that A●●●● 〈◊〉 Rul● want its Found●t●on many ●●conv●mencies ensue to the Wo●ld upon the Obscu●atio● of b●th the ●um●●aries of Heaven in the 〈◊〉 M●nth I don't sp●ake h●re of that eff●●t of ●clip●es which is in Potentia and hath its reg●rd to futurities b●t of that which is in Actu and accompanies an ●clipse con●dered in it self 49. To which may be added that which is a ●earer Cause to wit 〈◊〉 Constitut●on of the Air which in the p●●c din● Summer was 〈…〉 ●●●apted for the ●en●ration of flatuo●s Vapours 50. Abou● th● beginning of Summer there was very hot Weather by which the Faith was prep●red and disposed to engender and receive Vapou●s 51. Which was foll●wed in the midst of Summer by continual 〈◊〉 by which the Earth being opened b●fore by the pr●c●ding 〈◊〉 ●as 〈◊〉 deeply w●tted that abundance of Humours must ne●●ssarily have b●●n ●●ored up Which c●n 〈◊〉 the R●●n is attested by A●istotle in the afor●said place 2. M●te●r 〈◊〉 says he happen in Spring and 〈◊〉 but ●sp●ci●●●● i●●●iny Weather because then th●re is a 〈◊〉 E●haltation which being in●●rcepted in the nar●o● passages of the E●●th is there th●t in because the Ca●ties of the Earth are full but when the Wind in contr●cted w●●hin a narrow place it 〈…〉 eff●●●ive of Mot●●n And there is a remark●ble place in the beginning of the Chapter where he says that the Earth is of it self dry yet but reason

represent destructful punishments and calamities by an Earthquake 73. For nothing seems to be a greater punishment and calamity to Mankind than an Earthquake 74. For all o●her fatal punishments are wont to ensue upon an Earthquake and we may sooner foresee War Famine and Pestilence and so take heed of and avoid them by preparing proper Remedies than we can foresee avoid and fly from an Earthquake seeing the Spiritus in the Earth is not restrained by any Humane force neither can we fly away from the Earth Hence it is that Experience witnesseth that Brute Beasts and Men are terrified by nothing so much as by an Earthquakes so we see that even the most savage and cruel Hearts of Tyrants that have their minds hardened most against God and Men have been terrified by Earthquakes There is extant in Josephus a memorable passage concerning this lib. 1. de bell Jud. cap. 14. and lib. 15. Autiq. Jud. Where Herod a despiser of God and Men thus Speaks to his Army Let not the Fear of inanimate things 〈◊〉 all terrifie you nor imagine that Earthquake is an 〈◊〉 of future dis●●●●ctio● for the defects of the Elements themselves ●●e Natural and infor ●o other los● than that which they cause so that when they d●●happen they are inded●●y their own greatness These Proph●●ne Speeches did the Tyrant then utter whilst he himself was so astonished in his own Mind that he offered Sacrifice for the appeasing of God as Josephus mentions in the same place The Heath●●●s being always terrined by Earthquakes began then in earnest to think of appeasing God and rightly of instituting their Sacrifices Hence it is that Pliny saith lib. 2. cap. 8● For there is not only in an Earthquake some simple evil and danger but an equal or greater Omen of something to come The City of Rome never t●●mbled yet it shook in the year 537. about fifty seven times but it was the Omen of some future Event Therefore that impious saying of Seneca is repugnant to the Sense and Conscience of Mankind The God● do nothing of these thing neither is the Heaven or the Earth shaken by the anger of the Deities So Gellius lib. 2. cap. 28. What is the Cause of Earthquake is not yet manifest Therefore the ●●●cient Romans when they either perceived or were told that the Earth s●ook commanded by their Edits that Holydays should be kept but in the publishing of them did not name the God ●●●●s usual for whom the same were to be kept and Marcus Varro says ●●was so observed by the Decide of the Priests because 't was ●ncertain whether the ●●●rth trembled by the Power of the Gods or Goddesses There is ext●nt in Rosinus the History of some Superstitious expiation lib. 4. pag. ●6 where he says That grievous La●th●●●●es ensued upon the Death of Valentinian Crete was vehemently shaken with all Peloponnesus and the rest of Greece except Athens and the Country thereof which they say was saved by this means N●storius the High Priest s●w in a Dream the Athenians advis'd to prefer the Hero Achilles to the highest Honnour 's for this would be ●●st advantagious he therefore being taught by Divine Speculations after having performed a solemn Sacrifice placed the ●ma●e of the ●e●o under A●in●●●'s so was Athen● and ●ll its Lard s●●e from the Earthquake There is a p●●●●lled place in Synesius Cyre Epis 61. of Devotion in the time of Earthquakes God often say● he caused an Earthquake in the day time and Men stood commonly upright whist they pray'd for the Ground w●s shaken wherefore thinking the S●a●●●● more severely shaker th●n the Land ●●an to the Heaven 〈…〉 Christian of the ●●●●●●ive Church●●s●d not to fly to any unkown God but to the true one that shake the Earth and implored his Grace and Mercy an Example of which pious Custom is related by Justinian the Emperour who when he heard that Antiochia was shaken by a grievous Earthquake in which a great number of Men had perished presently laid down his Diadem and Imperial Robes and put Sackcloth and published an Edict whereby he commanded his subjects to Fast and Pray for many days and to do all other things which testifie a serious repentance Sozomenus lib. 6. cap. 2. Stump lib. 7. cap. 28. There is extant also an Epistle of Marcus Aurelius Antoninus to the People of Asia wherein he exhorts them not to lay the Fault of the Earthquake upon the Christians but rather religiously to invoke after their fashion the Author of the Earthquake It will not be absur'd continues he to comfort your sorrow by a just warning for I have found out that in such occasions you do ascribe these ordinary Events to some motive of envy that the God whom they trust much to may have and whilst that you know not the Reasons thereof you do neglect every time the Worship of the other Gods and so you endeavour to put away and cast down the Worship of the immortal God whom the Christians do adore And there is no doubt but that many pious Men every where through Germany and other Countrys devoutly and religiously followed that pious Custom of the Ancient Church and stirr'd up themselves to serious Repentance and ardent invoking of God's name which effect if it hath not happened in all yet the thoughts of the Evils which have in all Ages ensued upon the Earthquakes ought still to stir them up and awaken them to true repentance seeing those effects have been observed by the most severe Writers of Earthquakes For it is not rash to say that commotions of the mind follow an Earthquake as a Shadow the Body Neither does it want its natural Causes for 't is certain that the Air we draw in have several change of alterations by Earthquakes and the Temperament and so the m●nners of Men are much affected with the temperateness or intemperatness of the Air and they are disposed by it if we believe the most kilful Physitians and our own experience Histories are full of Examples of which I will instance but one or two Delus trembled about the time of the Peloponnesian War which was called immoveable by Pindar as Seneca relate out of Callisthenes lib. 5. Nat. quaest Whilst Brenno was attacking the Del-phian Temple there happened so great an Earthquake and so great a Tempest mingled with Hail and Rain that the Gaulois Army were almost overwhelmed Earthquakes happened often in the Carthaginian War so that 't was said at Rome an Earthquake happened 57 times in the same year in which the Romans and the Carthagians fighting at the Lake Trasimenian were neither of them sensible of a great Earthquake which was there Flin lib. 2. cap. 4 and in the 83. he says That two Mountains ran against one another rising and retiring with a great noise by which concourse all the Towns were dash'd to peices and Cattle between kill'd which was in the year before the Social War and says he I know not but it may