that before the last day of this worlde there shall be Earthquakes which are foretokens of vniuersall woes to come vpon all the worlde and specially vpon the wicked whose torments shall be excéeding sharpe and gréeuous And thus we are taught euen out of Gods worde that Earthquakes happening vnto vs not simplie of custome but of purpose do signifie somewhat to insue denounce against vs the wrath of almightie God therewithall admonishing vs to amende our euill life to reforme our wicked conuersation to be renewed in the spirite of the inwarde man and to be heauenly minded otherwise such sorrowes are like to light vpon vs as shall turne to our most miserable ouerthrowe and lamentable destruction and here vpon it came to passe that when our Lord Jesus Christ was crucified the earth quaked and trembled But of what sorrowes to come are Earthquakes foretokens First to beginne of warres whereby it is most certaine pestilence and famine are ingendered pestilence by the aire poisoned with the stinch of dead carcasses lieng vnburied famine by reason of husbandrie when plough landes lie vnmanured besides other calamities full of feare horror and desolation Uerie religiously haue the Saints of God alwaies thought of Earthquakes albert the wisedome of this worlde which is foolishnesse before God dreame of naturall causes And surely such as are well affected and haue in them any féeling or taste of Gods gratious spirit after the happening of an Earthquake will say with the Prophet Dauid Come and behold the workes of the Lord acknowledging in heart that the blessings of God follow the righteous as peace and plentie tranquillitie of minde with other his good graces contrariwise his curses pursue and chase the wicked as warre and scarsitie horrour of conscience and infinite tribulations We sée that the rainebow appeareth in the cloudes euery yeare at diuerse times touching the generation whereof reasons I grant may be giuen but we knowe that the rainebowe being appointed by the ordinance of God hath continued euer since it was first made as a witnesse to the world that God will neuer destroy it againe with water for the trueth of which worde and promise he hath left vs the rainebowe Of Eclipses we know there may be naturall causes alledged but let vs remember that he which in their creation made them glorious in token of his mercie by their defection and losse of light what else doeth he thunder against vs but his iustice and vengeance For the good works of GOD are made as it were to mourne for our sakes who being wilfully blinde cannot sée how néere the day of our visitation approcheth Againe the woordes of our Sauiour are true The Sunne shall be darkened and the Moone shall not giue her light and the starres shall fall from heauen and the powers of heauen shall bee shaken With which wordes of our Sauiour Christ the saiengs of the Prophets accord The starres of Heauen and the Planets thereof shall not giue their light the Sunne shall be darkened in his going forth and the Moone shall not cause her light to shine Another Prophet saith in the person of God I will couer the Sunne with a cloude And a third Prophet saith The Sunne Moone shal be darkned the starres shall withdrawe their light Of Earthquakes also and other visions of fire there may naturall reasons be brought but as the controuersie can be decided by no wiser moderator than Christ our Sauiour and the Prophetes his forerunners so is it our partes to take their authoritie for truth and not to hunt after the vaine speculations of Philosophie Before the end of the world come saith Christ iniquitie shall abound there shalbe rumors of wars there shalbe Earthquakes there shalbe famine troubles all which if they be but the beginnings of sorrowes alas what calamities will followe The Prophet saith that Before the great and terrible daie of the Lord come wonders shalbe seene in the heauens and in the earth bloud and fire pillers of smoke the Sunne darkened and the Moone turned into bloud c. So that béelike Nature hath litle to doe in such secrete maters and as for the counsels of God men ought rather to wonder at them than presumptuously to scan vppon causes supernaturall with whose foolishnes I end this confirmation aduising them to take héede how they meddle in Gods high mysteries least they be destroied by the power of his Maiestie ¶ What mischiefes and euils Earthquakes threaten and denounce Chap. 7. THat the case standeth as we haue alreadie saide yée shall vnderstand by a fewe circumstances which wée haue found and proued partly by vse and experience partly by studie reading Did not I pray you after Earthquakes and tempests which Mardochaeus the sonne of Iaer saw in a dreame all nations rise in an vprore to make warre among themselues and did there not followe a day of darknes danger of tribulation and anguish of sorrow and heauines besides an excéeding great feare ouer the earth Did not likewise the earth tremble and shake out of measure when Ozia the king of Iuda in the pride of his mind had taken vpon him the office charge of another wherwith it became him not to meddle and then insued the iust vengeance of God against him wherof there was a foretoken geuen by the said Earth quake when he was smitten with a leprosie growing ouglie loathsome was compelled to resigne vp his royaltie and in the end miserably dieng he was buried but in a homelie place euen in the field apart by himselfe from the sepulchres of his predecessors the kings of Iuda and this was his rewarde for dealing so vnreuerently in Gods seruice and Temple The accurssed Iewes in like manner euen to their great smart haue fealt what meaning there should be in Earthquakes yea they haue tried by their owne miserie most worthie of memorie what calamities are like to follow after earthquakes the subuersion of the renowmed citie Hierusalem herein giuing proofe the destruction whereof was so lamentable that no penne can expresse it nor tongue declare it to the purpose Of which their ouerthrow they were oftentimes warned as with many strange sights and wonders so among the rest with Earthquakes that they might be sorie for their sinnes by repentance escape the rod which because they neglected to do neither beléeuing that the plagues woulde come vpon them whereof those wonders were foretokens nor redressing themselues in that wherin they were awrie but returning to the filthines of their vomit and of wilfull blindnes and obstinancie setting Gods threatenings from Heauen at naught therefore were they ouertaken with the bitter day of their sharpe visitation What I pray you was foretold to Lucius Martius and Sextus Iulius Consuls of Rome by an Earthquake Euen that notable warre without controuersie which tooke the name to be called ciuill than the which warre a more dangerous and deadlie was
subiect and foretold them by certeine signes and tokens as namely by their water and other excrements For Physicians as we our selues haue also prooued by obseruation of Starres and Planets can attaine vnto the foreknowledge of diseases in the bodies of men be they either present or be they to come and that without superstition they can also prognosticate and foretell by the inclination of complexions and dispositions of bodies by the set seasons and foure quarters of the yeare they can I say foretell of health and sicknesse For séeing the condition and qualitie of the aire which compasseth our bodies rounde about is verie much altered and changed by the Sunne drawing néere or going farre from vs by the increasing and diminishing of light in the Moone it commeth to passe that hauing rule ouer our bodies there may be coniectures made of many thinges which shall happen vnto vs and which they by their influences together with the aire may worke in these our bodies Herevpon they giue counsell to open the veines and let bloud when the Moone increaseth at which times our naturall abilities are more strong and liuelie and the state of our bodies replenished with more good moisture and iuice they forbid boxing least because it violently draweth and sucketh the humors of the bodie abounding and spreading throughout all partes at the beginnings of Monethes more matter may be voided than behooueth c. And thus I say may Physicians foretell something to come not to any maner of person but to such as haue not their perfect health but are euill affected and apt to fall into one or other strange infirmitie and sickenesse Euen so by Ephemerides or calculations manie things are foretold concerning the qualities of seasons touching the Eclipses of the Sunne and Moone howbeit none otherwise than when such causes woorke their force in the aire wherewith we are incompassed and according to the inclination whereof be it good be it bad be it wholesome be it noysome will we nill we we are ruled and ordered Many prognostications of Physicians both of Arabia and Graecia may be reduced and brought for the proofe of these causes and not a fewe notes out of Aristotles Problemes By the state conditions or qualities of mens bodies also may tokens of life and death bée gathered all which or the greater part of them agrée in this point that looke what they sée in the sicke lieng in his bed that maketh a deade corps hideous ghastly it is a signe of death drawing on Contrariwise if they perceiue in the diseased such séemelinesses as set foorth the state of a sounde man they are coniectures of recouerie and health The like we may read in the particular prognostications of Hippocrates and in the seconde booke of Cornelius Celsus intreating of Physicke For Hippocrates to make the Physician cunning in foreknowing and also foretelling of such issues in the sicke counselleth them to marke diligently the face and countenance For if their eyes bée hollow their eares colde and shroonke together their foreheade drie and withered their colour gréene leaden or blacke their courage calme and consumed their spittle abounding heir knées and limmes fainte and féeble their heate more feruent vehement than was woont to bée their sléepes heauie their dreames troublesome and vnquiet they shall bée signes that the patient will either be extreme sicke and so escape verie narrowly or else that there is no way with him but one euen death To applie this to our purpose when wée sée such wonders in the worlde as are strange and fearefull when we sée them often in such maner as hath not béene in former times it is an vndoubted token that the worlde is not well but infected with certein sore sicknesses and like shortly to die or else to fall into great daunger so much the rather because signes and wonders monstrous appearances and strange sightes haue their generation herehence either because particular nature faileth or through the default of the matter it selfe which resisteth or else by reason of the weaknesse of the agent or worker Which is thought to be a token that the worlde is sicke after the maner of a man who is therefore called a little worlde Herevnto may be also added that woonders of this sort specially such as appeare frō heauen or to speake plainer that are meteors and impressions doe happen when nature is somewhat disordered as when the generation of cattell the fructifieng of trées the coniunctions and moouings of starres come to passe but not altogether at their due and ordinarie times neither doe these impressions kéepe alwaies one and the selfe same place nor yet holde one proportion still in respect of the patient as I may say the matter wherof they are made happening to and fro By that therefore which we haue already declared it is doubtlesse that such signes and wonders as we haue last named doe prooue vnto vs that straunger and rarer sightes appearing haue their significations namely the sicknes of this world and the néerenesse thereof to death and to be tokens so much the rather of these things by how much more often they happen As truly we sée in these times of oures which in the Scriptures are therefore called The last daies wherin shall be the end of this worlde foretold by signes and wonders to be at hand by the deadly diseases which they denounce to the worlde as meanes to bring vpon it the last consummation finall end For it cannot be denied that such signes haue béen séene euer since the creation of the world almost in sundrie countries nations of diuerse people either to the destruction of some or to the ouerthrowe of all euen as many as viewed them with their eies In time the whole world by reason of the partes thereof crasie and ill at ease began day by day to be sicker and sicker because of the miserable maladies and pittifull issues which followed after the sight of such straunge wonders so that by litle and litle it is like to faile to decay and the whole bodie thereof in short space to perish séeing that there are but a fewe members or partes thereof beside the heart but haue both felt and séene the calamities and ruines which haue come to passe after the appearing of certeine straunge signes and wonders in all places not onely in our forefathers daies but also within the compasse of our memorie The case standing thus we must néedes graunt this when all the members of the bodie are smitten with sicknes that the heart being the principall parte is like to be in daunger which when it once faileth the whole bodie sinketh downe and consequently the vniuersall worlde the destruction whereof to be nie these so many and horrible wonders chancing in our age doe certeinly foreshew For the truth it selfe by a foreknowledge of things to come speaketh of these and the like signes prophesieng
A BRIGHT Burning Beacon forewarning all wise Virgins to trim their lampes against the comming of the Bridegroome Conteining A generall doctrine of sundrie signes and wonders specially Earthquakes both particular and generall A discourse of the end of this world A commemoration of our late Earthquake the 6. of April about 6. of the clocke in the euening 1580. And a praier for the appeasing of Gods wrath and indignation Newly translated and collected by Abraham Fleming The summe of the whole booke followeth in fit place orderly diuided into Chapters Matth. 25 6. And at midnight there was a crie made Behold the Bridegroome commeth goe out to meete him c. ¶ TO THE RIGHT VVorshipfull Sir VVilliam Cordell Knight Maister of her Maiesties rolles as much health wealth and happinesse as heart woulde wishe TWo yeares right worshipfull and somewhat more are now expired since I vpon the appearing of a blasing Starre in the South west the 10. of Nouember 1577. presented vnto you a generall doctrine touching that matter Which worke if it shall please you at your leasure to conferre with the euents that haue insued you will say that the translation was necessarie and the publishing not vnprofitable A learned and expert man commorant and abiding in this Citie comparing the effects following that Comet with the significations aforegoing finding them strange wonderfull and memorable thought it not amisse to commit a matter of such importance to the consideration of his natiue Countrie in a breefe treatise called by the name of A view of euents c. wherin he deciphereth such issues within the compasse of one yeare namely from Nouember 1577. to Nouember 1578 as are not superficially but aduisedly to be noted Which woorke of his worthie the reading because I am sure your worshippe hath seene and perused as no booke can escape your hands if it sauour of learning and iudgement I passe ouer with a bare remembrance So Right Worshipfull the late Earthquake which happened the 6. of April about 6. of the clocke in the Euening 1580. to the astonishment of the inhabitants of this Citie dispersed in sundrie places for their recreation set me as many more a musing and tossing a thousand thoughtes in my head I founde in my selfe a quicker inclination to wonder at Gods workes than to write the opinions of mans wit Staied neuerthelesse at last it was my lucke looking among such bookes as I haue not manie in number nor great in value to light vpon a discourse so fit for the time that I thought I should highly honour God and doe great good to this lande if I vndertooke the translation of the same Persuaded herevnto in the ende I did mine endeuour with all diligence to bring my businesse about and still finding as I went forwarde the worke both weightie and worthie besides that so apt for this our age as if it had bene penned of purpose vpon our late Easter Earthquake I lost no labour and spent no time till I had done my taske which growne to some bignesse as your worship seeth I finished in fewe daies space and procured the same to be presently printed Perfourmed therefore I am bolde vpon hope of your wonted fauour to make it dedicatorie vnto your worship the rather because the generall doctrine of Blasing stars of my rude translation was published two yeares past vnder your protection and this of Earthquakes of the same Authours penning and my homely Englishing doth not craue choice of a newe Patrone Which that it will please you to accept with no lesse encouraging countenance than you haue vouchsafed my former trauelles though I suspect not the contrarie yet to beseech you it is my bounden dutie Praieng almightie God to lengthen your worships life with increase of health strength wealth worship whatsoeuer may make you fortunate and when the date of your dwelling here on earth is don to garnish you with the garland and garment of glorie in heauen his owne habitation where you may to the fulfilling of all perfect happines behold the face of Iesus Christ by whose bloud all true beleeuers are put in possession of that vnspeakable blessednesse Your Worshippes by dutie bounde Abraham Fleming ¶ The Contentes of this treatise set downe in a summarie as they lie orderly in euery Chapter 1 THat our Ancients doubted of the cause of Earthquakes disagreed in opinion Chap. 1. 2 Wherevpon Earthquakes ingender and growe for certeintie Chap. 2. 3 What inconueniences and mischiefes do follow after Earthquakes Chap. 3 4 Where and when Earthquakes do commonly happen how long they last Chap. 4. 5 That there are differences of Earthquakes Chap. 5. 6 What thinges Earthquakes doe prognosticate and signifie 6. 7 What mischiefes euils Earthquakes threaten denounce Chap. 7. 8 How long wonders and strange appearances deferre put off those effects wherof they are significations tokens Ch. 8. 9 Why more strange wonders appeare in these latter daies than haue done in other former times Chap. 9. 10 At what day and houre the end of this world shall certenly be as some hold opinion Ch. 10. 11 What all and euery one ought to doe seeing the end of this world approch Chap. 11. 12 A contemplation of wonderfull accidentes and principally of Earthquaks as well particular as generall which haue happened in the realms of England Ireland Scotland from the time of K. William the Conquerour to the reigne of our souereigne Lady and gratious Queene Elizabeth c. Ch. 12. 13 A praier for repentance being the onely thing that must mitigate the wrath and indignation of God which how hot and heauie it is the signes and wonders aboue mentioned are forewarnings Chap. 13. The writers names whose reportes of our late Easter Earthquake c. are printed and published 1 Francis Schackleton 2 Arthur Golding 3 Thomas Tvvine 4 Thomas Churchyard 5 Richard Tarleton 6 Iohn Philippes 7 Robert Gittins 8 Iohn Grafton 9 Abraham Fleming ⧠That our ancients doubted of the cause of Earthquakes and disagreed in opinion Chap. 1. WHat contrarietie of opinions sprang among the old Philosophers touching earthquakes there néedeth no discourse to testifie séeing that one only place of the Poet wherein he reckoneth vp in a rowe certein particulars of Philosophie as it were in a table doeth not altogether passe ouer the question of Earthquakes in silence saieng But first all other things aboue Yee Muses whom I serue and feare And wonne with an exceeding loue Your balmd oblations boldly beare Vouchsafe my senses vp to reare And shew to me the waies of Heauen The course of Starres Planets seauen The lacke of light which dims the Sunne The labours of the Moone likewise In their Eclipses when they runne And of what causes Earthquakes rise What thing such forces doth comprise To make the Sea with calmenesse still And streight with storms the same to fill This said the Poet both learnedly and skilfully as all things else which he wrote
all swéete things be they neuer so toothsome by their often vse are made loathsome yet the reading of this with deliberation and the marking thereof with due aduisement shall increase desire to beginne againe when it is once passed ouer and a comfort to sée the iudgement of God poured out vpon a fewe that many might amende two speciall meanes to cut off the verie conceit of satietie and loathing The late casualties that haue béene séene and felt both in this citie and in sundrie places in this land villages and townes both East West North and South yea beyonde the Seas doe threaten vnto vs some heauie iudgement of God and tell vs that Our sinnes are written with the point of a Diamond and with a penne of iron It is no time now to go a gadding to the weather wise the season serueth not the reason suffereth not For nowe we ought all of vs to looke about séeing that God hath spoken vnto vs these many yeares so many wayes by the troubles of his Church by the slaughter of his Saints beginning correction at his owne house by monstruous birthes by strange shapes by inundations of waters by contagions of the aire by fire in the Element by forreigne warres abroad by tumults at home and now of late by an Earthquake at one instant shaking the whole Realme as may be coniectured by the report of trauellers to and from sundrie coastes of this land And not onely on this side but beyond the Seas as I haue heard reported this Earthquake hath happened with the very quiuering therof doing much harme and farre greater than any that hath chanced among vs. Séeing then this Earthquake so vniuersall for I beleeue the Lord did shake the foundations of the whole earth it was his mercie in that we were not all vtterly vndone I may conclude that it was supernaturall being supernaturall the more wonderfull For neither wind nor water could haue the force with a generall moouing of the whole land to terrifie the peoples hearts Let vs be resolued that there remaineth nothing now but the day of our visitation The Lord will come in his wrath to iudge and punish vs whom in mercie he spared and yet we the worsse For what should we looke for now but a terrible reuenger We haue had the Prophets of God we haue had his lawe we haue had his Sonne his Apostles his Euangelists and Disciples we haue had his Preachers we haue had the Elements we haue had euen dombe creatures preaching vnto vs repentance strange sicknesses sudden deaths and I cannot tell what chances wherevnto this changeable estate of ours is subiect haue forewarned vs to amend we neuerthelesse forsaking the waters of the well of life are contented to wallowe in the puddles of our owne pollusion and filthinesse and being lepers regard not to be clensed What remaineth in this case but that the Lord performe that in his seuere iudgement which he hath spoken in his wrath against Ierusalem saieng Who shall haue pitie vpon thee ô Ierusalem or who shall be sorie for thee or who shall goe to pray for thy peace Thou hast forsaken me and gone backwards therfore will I stretch out mine hande against thee and destroy thee For I am wearie with repenting The proofe wherof God graunt we auoid The effect of all is this that others destruction be our instruction ¶ How long wonders and straunge appearances deferre and put off those effectes whereof they are significations and tokens Chap. 8. BEcause we are taught by many proofes and trials that Eclipses for so they call the diminishing of light in the Sunne and the Moone happening at set times seasons and places appointed by nature when the Sunne by the interposition of the Moone and the Moone by the interposition of the Sunne are so couered and hidden that they are suddenly darkened prolong their effects and operations sometimes more sometimes lesse space herevpon riseth a question how long wonders are said and thought to deferre their effects and workings Unto which demand this answer may be made namely that it is at the will appointment of almightie GOD without whose commandement and sufferance those things come not to passe be they either by nature contrarie to nature or aboue nature For God by the same power wherewith he created all things by the selfe same power he gouerneth all things seing he is the author and maker of al things able by his omnipotencie either to hasten or delay all things according to the pleasure of his will For saith the Prophet he hath made all things whatsoeuer he would in Heauen and in Earth and in all deepes But now that same pleasure of Gods will touching the effects of wonders and their appearances are so hidden and vnknowne to vs that this is all we can doe nothing he houeth vs so well euen deuoutly to crie out with S. Paule ô the depth of the riches of the wisedome and knowledge of God! how vnsearchable are his iudgements and his waies past finding out For who hath knowne the mind of the Lord or who hath beene of his counsell or who hath giuen ought to him first and it shall be giuen and paide him backe againe Because of him and through him by him in him is all in all c. Nowe because it is manifest that many wonders haue their cause and originall euen of nature in such sort manner that the very course of nature doeth throughly teach as well the set seasons as also the appointed places of such wonders For it hath pleased GOD to leaue vnto this course of nature whose ministerie and seruice he vouchethsafe to vse oftentimes in naturall things her conditions qualities her operations and workings and hée suffereth nature to beare rule ouer naturall things and naturall thinges to incline and yéelde vnto nature himselfe winking thereat and looking vpon as it were through a lattesse Herevpon it is possible that a man may by certeine coniectures and ghesses gather or by certeine causes and reasons attaine vnto the knowledge both of the times and places when and where the effects of such and such things séeme they neuer so strange and wonderfull shall come to passe To confirme this I bring for example Astronomers skilfull and cunning in their profession who many times know before hand and forshewe likewise the seasons effects of Eclipses neuer failing in their prognostications and yet there are some that holde opinion that an Eclipse is a meruellous matter and such a thing in déede as is monstruous strange and contrarie to the common course of nature Howbeit there is no cause why wée should wonder thereat more than néedes as though it were a rare thing and not to be beléeued seing it is a plaine case that the very naturall eiesight of man doth behold and comprehend as well the causes as the signes appearing aboue him as hée doth the
bréefe cocker our selues too much become careles because the woes wherof we are forwarned will not come yet it will be long first ere they take effect For so did many vse to say of the floud in Noes time of the fire brimstone in Lothes time of the destruction of dust and ashes Doe you not thinke that they themselues if they were able to speake would say thus to vs Alas wretches what meane you to runne vp and downe from place to place after the vanities of this worlde Alas why doe you ouerwhelme your selues in the seas of sin and wickednes Looke vppon our bones and let your owne greedines greeue you your owne miserie make you affraid We were once as you be now and as we are so shall you be And therefore to returne thither from whence I haue straied let vs wey with carefull consideration and in weieng let vs tremble at the fearfull end of this world and hauing the day of our owne death continually before our eies let vs hasten as much as we may to amend our life missed Let vs not neglect the time because our good God forbeareth vs vile offenders and his anger commeth forth but slowly to take vengeance for this slownesse shalbe recompensed with gréeuousnes of punishment and his lame legge if I may so speake shall neuer leaue till it haue ouertaken the swift running sinner This is doubtles that how much the longer God looketh for amendement at our handes and we regard it not so much the more gréeuous shall his iudgement be against vs which to be so the Scripture by many examples hath not slenderly proued Now if we thinke which thought be farre from vs that it will be long ere the end of this world come and therevpon euery one of vs set at naught the consideration of our own falles who are more miserable Are we not I beséech you suddenly smitten with death and our soules taken out of our bodies we looking for nothing lesse whiles we very willingly and in the pleasure of our mindes are well content to tarrie in this forsaken worlde and determine with our selues of matters of long continuance But who are happie Euen they that alwaies haue before their eies either their owne death or the ende of this worlde and that make hast to be found in a readines when that houre commeth Let vs therefore be mindfull one with another that we walke in the middes of the snares of the Diuell and in consideration thereof let vs alwaies be prouided that whensoeuer the Lord laieth his commandement vpon vs being set frée from all blottes and blemishes of sinne wée may enter into his rest Let vs not persuade our selues that the time is long which we haue to weare out in this world For it may be that God will call vs vpon such a sudden that we shall not haue an houres respite giuen vs to repent Alas let vs remember the words of our Sauiour saieng Verily verily I say vnto you the houre is come when all that are in their graues shall heare the voice of the Sonne of God and they which haue done well shall come forth into the resurrection of life but they which haue done ill into the resurrection of iudgement Nowe therefore let vs take our choice determine with our selues what to doe in this life that according to our desertes we may either reioice with the godly or be tormented with the wicked worldes without end If rewardes will not win vs to béecome better let punishments make vs affraide to waxe worsse and if it be not in our power to despise this present world and to ceasse from the custome of sinning yet let vs at the least doe what we can to redresse our selues by righteousnes If we haue wandered like wantons in our youth let vs nowe repent and be reformed in our age and the euill déedes which wée haue done in sinning let vs renownce and forsake by amending For beholde how the world not by litle and litle but as I said altogether beginneth to come to ruine and decay yea it hath failed already many waies and at this present it draweth néerer and néerer to his last destruction as wée haue béen taught by many tokens al which with one consent agrée vppon that matter euery thing that wée sée vanisheth like a clowde passeth away like the euening shadow Behold the euents of things which were foretold vs long ago by the very trueth it selfe are nowe in these daies of oures more than apparantly perceiued All goodnesse as wée plainely sée is taken away and banished all mischéefe and euill day by day doth more and more abound in such sort manner that there is not a man able to open his mouth and so bold as once to gainesay that the last times are come vpon vs considering that the workes fruites of these dangerous daies are so rise among vs in cōtinuall vse practise For in the latter daies saith the Apostle shall be perillous seasons and men shall loue themselues they shall be couetous high minded proude blasphemers stubburne against their parents vnthankfull mischeeuous void of loue without peace faultfinders accusers dishonest vnkinde cruell traitors froward ambitious louers of pleasures more than of God hauing a shewe in deed of godlines but yet vtterly denieng the force and power thereof in their life Is not euerie place of the earth I pray you full of such men Doe not all corners of the worlde swarme with them in such maner that the wordes of the Lorde are more verified in vs of this latter age than of anie people of olde saieng All haue gone backe and started aside all are become vnprofitable there is not one that doth good no not one For now doubtlesse is that houre come according to the testimonie of eternall trueth wherein Iniquitie doeth abounde and the charitie of a great manie is waxed colde For which cause the Lord threateneth against vs his kindled wrath and indignation and foretelleth vs by horrible signes strange wonders maruellous visions monstrous shapes and such like fearefull appearances as it were by proclamations made from heauen that he is comming to iudgement and admonisheth vs earnestly to repent and amend still shaking his right hand of reuengement ouer vs but sparing to smite telling vs neuerthelesse that except we repent we shall all perish And God graunt that hauing so many warnings both in heauen and in earth by the voices and outcries of such strange wonders we woulde at length shake off slouth and awake not setting at naught the soundes of these trumpets these true proclamations from heauen heauie threatnings of God whereby we are called compelled to repent God grant we may so do to whom be all laude praise dominion power and maiestie now and euermore Amen ¶ A contemplation of wonderfull accidents and principally of Earthquaks as well particular as generall which haue happened in the realmes
inuisible incomprehensible only wise God be all laude praise honour power maiestie and dominion world without ende Amen Giue GOD the glorie FINIS 1580. OS HOMINI SVBLIME DEDIT ¶ Imprinted at London by Henrie Denham dwelling in Pater noster rowe at the signe of the Starre * By suppressing the Poets name it appeareth y t hee ouershot himselfe through vncertaintie But I thinke hee meaneth Palingenius in whose works I haue read y e like words in effect * The Heathen and Pagan people may teach vs what belongeth to our dutie The Translaters application of this Hethenish denotion for our instruction * The measure of our sinnes runneth ouer and crieth out for vengeance against vs. * Windes the cause of Earth quakes in what sort and manner * The generation of an Earthquake the effectes which it worketh at that instant * The opinion of some concerning the sudden trembling of the earth The Translators admonition vpoÌ„ these coniecturall reasons * The denial of Gods diuinitie insueth the derogitation of the propertie of his workes * The wit of man meere vanitie if it be not tempered with the deaw of Gods spirit * The effectes which haue followed after Earthquakes declared by examples * The Translatours illation vpon the particulars before going * We do after a sort iustifie our selues when we referre the signes of Gods iudgements to sinâ—ster causes * The presumption of man in seking after the secret counsels of God * This reason of contraries is certaine and infallible * For God vseth a mediocritie and proportion in the execution of his iudgements * The ceasing of windes in y â— hollow caues of the ground causeth Earth quakes to cease * The continuance of Earthquakes proued by experience * The Translators collection by the former doctrine * The sudden and short visitation of God sent vppon vs by an Earthquake forewarneth vs of sharper tribulations * By whome is meant all such as lay blockes in the way of the people to stoppe them from coÌ„ming vnto God * By these speeches of comparison the righteousnes and integritie of God in iudging all offenders is declared * Earthquakes some more dangerous dreadfull some lesse perillous and fearfull * Where he was Preacher at that instant before he was called to be Bishop * The Translators comparison inferred vpon the premisses for our priuate admonition * A particular example a general warning to beware * The sound of a watch word or AlaruÌ„ bell to all prophaners of Gods sacred Sabbaoth and specially to players plaiemakers and all such as fauour that damnable facultie * As much is God glorified in the pulling downe of polluted places as in the building vp of holie temples * Something is ment by the happening of Earthquakes though it passe our capacitie to comprise * Earthquakes are denuntiations and threatnings of gods wrath against vs. * Warres fimine and pestilence the effectes of Earthquakes * The Translatours confirmation of the wordes aboue written * Reasons of comparison to proue that Earthquakes are not alwaies to be referred to naturall causes * The creatures of God mourne ouer vs for our sinnes which deserue a heauie day of visitation * Earthquakes reckoned among y e number of signes that shall be seene before the end of the world * Particular examples drawne out of the Canonicall Scripture touching this necessarie doctrine of Earthquakes * Namely the Priestes whose charge it was only to burne incense Ozia taking y e office vppon him * Among all other warnings from God to the Iewes of their destruction Earthquakes was in y e number * Examples of later time setting forth the fearful effects of Earthquakes * This continued course of examples biddeth vs by others harmes to take heed * He posteth ouer many examples vntouched for y â— auoiding of tediousnesse * Little good followeth after Earthquakes as by the euents of them in times past hath bene obserued * All thinges come to passe either at the commandement of God or by his permission and sufferance * The profitable doctrine which we haue to gather by Earthquakes happening in former ages * Signes of the end of this world vttered by the mouth of our Sauiour Christ himselfe * The Translators exhortation touching the contemplation of the particular examples before specified * Repentance the meanes to appease Gods wrath conceiued against vs for our sins * The double profite that shall redound vnto vs by the diligent reading and considering of the premisses * The sundrie and manifold meanes which God from age to age hath vsed to put Englande in mind of her visitation * By which reason it is probable that this last earthquake in our time 1580 was generall thoroughout all this land and like inough vniuersal ouer the whole worlde * The neglect of Gods mercie is the hastening of his iustice * Applie this threatning O England to thy selfe and be ashamed and sorie for thy sinne * The definition or description of an eclipse either in the Sunne or the Moone * The effectes of signes and wonders at y e pleasure and appointment of God * We are taught hauing S. Paule for a paterne to stand rather amased at the wonders that God worketh than curiously to search out the reson of their being * God vouchethsafe to vse the ministerie and seruice of Nature in sundrie thinges y t come to passe * Some Astronomers faile not in the prognostication or foreteliing of things to come Starres discerne the seasons y e times the daies and the yeares so that vpoÌ„ them dependeth a necessarie doctrine * The Sphere of fire aire haue a contiguitie or neerenesse * Wonders supernaturall are wonders in deede and come not of causes naturall * Sometimes the effectes of wonders doe followe after sometimes they happen at the instant so y t their euent is doubtfull vncerteine this is proued by examples * The doctrine touching the time place where wonders worke their effects is doubtfull * More strange signes wonders neuer appeared in any age than now in these our daungerous daies the Lord haue mercie vpon vs. * Many wonders haue happened in the worlde which neuer came to our knowledge * A question why more signes are shewed vnto vs in these later times both from heauen vpon earth than haue bene seene in the daies of our forefathers * This worlde compared very fitly vnto a man whereby the state therof is liuely represented * The effectes denounced threatned by strange signes and wonders are the sicknesses y t shall wast and consume y e world * The aire altered semblably affected as the Sunne departeth from or draweth neere to vs. c. * The humors of our bodies abound and are spread through euery part member of our bodies at the beginnings of Monethes * The aire subiect to the influences or operations of y e Sunne Moone and Starres *