our flourishing City was laid wast by devouring flames The Depositions given before Magistrates concerning the hands of the Papists set on work herein are not forgotten the principles of the Papists which will allow them to murder Princes blow up Parliaments Massacre people burn Cities if they be Hereticks as they call them are not altered The attempts of late to set houses in the City on Fire in several places have been made evident and I wish that there be no cursed design now on foot amongst such vile persons to burn our City and Massacre our persons together it is not amiss for us to think what may be the may be of a house's falling down upon our head in the street and being crushed thereby to pieces as some have been should put us upon continual preparation for death and much more when we are in danger of death many other ways If you should hear a cry at Midnight the Papists are come that Fire-balls are flying about the street that Fires are kindled in several parts of the City at the same time and that bloody cut throats stand ready to Butcher a naked people as they come forth of burning Houses with their goods If you should hear the groans and shreeks of your Neighbours whilst they are cruelly Massacred by the hands of merciless villains and when they approach your doors and you see no way of escaping but inevitable ' â—…ath is before you if you should then be found unprepared for death when you have no time to prepare how would you be surprized how would you be affrighted It is good to provide for the worst that when ever death doth appear in whatever shape it may not prove a King of Terrours How happy are those who have made their Peace with God when some men will not be at peace with them how little reason have those to fear the wrath of any here who are delivered from the wrath to come how safe is that treasure which is laid up in Heaven far beyond the reach of Thief or Rust or Flames of Fire get clear evidence of these things if you be delivered out of the snare of the Devil you need not be affraid of the snares of Men if you be not in danger of Hell ye need not be affraid of Death if you have well-grounded hopes to escape everlasting flames and to attain evealasting joys through your Intrest in Christ and his purchase you may smile at the flames of your Houses and laugh at destruction when it cometh But I hope if there be such a design which I neither do nor can affirm that the Lord will prevent the effusion of our Blood and Destruction of our City which too many may desire and that if ever they should attempt such a Massacre as in Paris or Ireland and to mingle our Blood and Fire together that the Lord will so spirit all true Protestants and Englishman to stand up so in their own defence which the Law of God and Nature will allow as by them to bring that Destruction upon themselves which they may endeavour against against all Justice and Law to bring upon Gods people Secondly Aetna's burning should lead us to the consideration of the Burnings which will be There are three great burnings that certainly will be 1. The Burning of Rome 2. The Burning of the World 3. The Burning of Hell CHAP. IX Concerning the burning of Rome First WE may be minded hereby of the Burning of Rome which certainly will be of which this Eruption of Aetna so near may be a Prognostick and Fore-runner it being of common observation amongst them that the extraordinary eruptions of this Mount are ominous especially unto Rome That Rome is the Babylon threatned with destruction and Fire will be evident if you look into the Description Rev 17. 1 2 3 4 5 6. And there came one of the seven Angels which had the seven Viols and talked with me saying unto me come hither I will shew unto thee the Iudgement of the great Whore that sitteth upon many Waters with whom the Kings of the Earth have committed Fornication and the Inhabitants have been made drunk with the Wine of her Fornication So he carried me away in the spirit into the Wilderness And I saw a Woman sit upon a Scarlet-coloured Beast full of names of Blasphemy having seven Heads and ten Horns And the Woman was arrayed in Purple and Scarlet colour and deâ—…ked with Gold and Precious Stones and Pearls having a Golden Cup in her hand full of Abomination and Filthiness of her Fornication And upon her Fore-head was a name Written Mystery Babylon The Great The Mother of Harlots and Abominatioâ—… of the Earth And I saw the Woman drunken with the Blood of the Saints and with the Blood of the Martyrs of Iesus That this Decription is applicable unto the Papacy of Rome and to no other is evident from every part thereof as it is explained by the Angel in this same Chapter and fulfilled as to every particular in the Popedom We are not to understand it of one particular Pope but of the whole Race and Succession of them who are called the great Whore sitting upon many Waters with whom the Kings of the Earth committed Fornication c. signifying the spiritual Fornication committed by them with her or the Idolatry which she draweth them unto the practice of The Waters are the People which she hath under subjection The Scarlet-Coloured Beast she sitteth upon having seven Heads and ten Horns is the great City of Rome and the state thereof the seven Heads signifie seven Mountains on which Rome was built therefore called Septi-collis Roma Seven-hill'd Rome Moreover the City is described to be the City which then Reigned over the Kings of the Earth which was the City of Rome the Emperial Seat at that time the ten Horns signifie the Kings of the Earth which give their power to the Pope for his support This Whore is called Babylon the great the Mother of Harlots who maketh the Nations drunk with the Wine of her Fornication and who her self is drunk with the Blood of Saints and Martyrs And to whom can this be applyed but unto the Pope who doth intoxicate so many Nations as with Wine or potions whence it cometh to pass that they wallow in the Filthiness of Spiritual Fornication and who hath shed so much of the Blood of Saints for the Testimony of Jesus against the Romish Superstition and Idolatry I should digress too far to apply all the parts of this description with other descriptions in the Revelations and of Anti-Christ in the Thessalonians unto the Pope of Rome as I might do and prove by unanswerable Arguments that the Pope is the Anti-Christ and Rome Spiritual Babylon That which here chiefly we should mind is the Judgement of this great Whore It is said Ver. 6. The ten Horns which thou sawest upon the Beast shall hate the Whore and shall make her desolate and naked and shall
certain danger which all unbelieving sinners are in of Hell Fire and because such as are most concern'd in the danger are hardly brought to conceive but most hardly induc'd to consider this Fire it being so far remov'd at present from sense therefore by way of introduction unto the discourse concerning the burning of Hell I shall treat first of the fire and brimstone which formerly was rained from Heaven upon the wicked Cities of Sodom and Gomorrah Secondly of the fire and brimstone which more lately issued forth of the bowels of the Earth in the last years eruption of Mount Aetna that hereby I may both facilitate the conception and entice unto the consideration of the fire and brimstone in Hellâ—… which eternally shall burn the wicked whose portion that dreadful place is appointed to be CHAP. II. The Historical Introduction unto the Iudgement of Sodom DReadful were the showers of fire and brimstone which came down from Heaven upon the wicked Cities of Sodom and Gomorrah Admah and Zeboim the History whereof we have recorded in the Scriptures the most ancient and most certain of all Histories where only this record is originally to be found But before I speak of this judgement I shall give the Historical Introduction to it shewing what the Scripture relateth concerning the places and people and some transactions before it's last ruine and desolation by Fire from Heaven The first notice we have of Sodom is in the 13th Chapter of Genesis It was in the early yeers of the World that Sodom flourished the sinners of Sodom were coâ—…emporary with Abraham the Father 〈◊〉 the Faithful none was like Abraham upon the Earth for goodness and none were like the Sodomites â—…on the Earth for wickedness the Text saith they â—…re sinners before the Lord exceedingly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 We read that Abraham had upon the 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 â—…r saken his Fathers House and Kindred â—…d camâ—… iâ—… Canaan with Lâ—…t his Brother 〈◊〉 Son who so journed together for a while in 〈◊〉 Land which God promised to give unto tâ—… Pâ—…sterity of Abraham for a possession here the wealth and substance the Flocks and Herds â—…th of Abraham and Lot through God's blessings wâ—…re encreased greatly insomuch as they could not longer live well together because of the abundance of their Cattel and some strife which did arise between their Herdmen therefore Abraham that all occasions of contention might be avoided desires Lot to devide and separate himself with his Cattel and chuse either the right hand or the left and himself would take that way which he should refuse Lot complyeth with this motion and reasonable proposition and lifting up his eyes beholdeth the Plains of Iordan that they were well watered even as the Garden of the Lord and therefore making choice of these Plains for his Cattel he journeyeth East-ward towards Sodom one of the Cities of the Plains where himself did take up his habitation It was not long after Lot's sojourning in the wicked City of Sodom that Wars break forth and they are invaded by four great Kings namely Amraphel Arioch Chedarlaomer and Tidal because of their Rebellion against Chedarlaomer whom they had served twelve yeers before The history of which Wars with the event thereof we have in the 14th Chapter of Genesis Against which Army of the four Kings were gathered together the five Kings of the Cities of the Plain and their people who joyned together in battel with their enemies in the Vale of Siddim But the four Kings were too mighty for the five and smiting them obtained Victory over them Whether the Army of the four Kings were too numerous or more Warlike and expert in battel or whether the guilt of the people under the five Kings weakened their hands and enfeebled their Spirits it is not said but this we may reasonably judge that their sins were the cause of their overthrow and that God did hereby warn them to repent and turn from the evil of their doings lest a worse evil should overtake and utterly destroy them The four Kings having conquered and dispersed the Army of the five Kings they sack the Cities of Sodom and Gomorrah and amongst other captives they take Lot with his goods and depart Abraham hath notice quickly by one that had escaped of these sad tidings and what had befallen Lot and though he could not muster up so great force as to match these four great Kings in number yet because of the great love which he did bare unto Lot who for his sake had come forth from amongst their own Kindred into Canaan with him and being filled with courage having as little black guilt within to appale his spirit as any man alive he armeth his three hundred and eighteen trained servants and without any other help only Aner Escol and Mamre which were confederate with him he pursueth these Kings laden with their rich booty and in the night when they were drowned it may be with sleep and security he devideth his little company and assaulteth them which being so sudden and unexpected and at such time when the Host of these Kings were unready and unprepared they are struck with dread and amazement and without any great resistance which we read of they confusedly flee before Abraham who maketh a great slaughter amongst them and pursueth them to Hoba Thus Abraham rescueth Lot and the other captives out of their Enemies hand and recovereth all the goods which they had taken away In Abraham's return with the spoils of these great Kings the King of Sodom who had escaped in the battel cometh forth to meet him who maketh proffer unto him of all the goods which he had recovered the persons only excepted but Abraham what ever he had deserved yet would not accept of so much as the worth of a thred or shoe-latchet of what had before belonged unto so wicked a people as the Sodomits were fearing possibly that such goods mingled with his own might prove like a Moth unto them however he would not give the King occasion to say or any to think that Sodom's goods had made Abraham rich This bringing back of the Sodomits from captivity and reinstalling the King of Sodom beyond what he could have lookt for by such unlikely means was a wonderful work of God and laid a great obligation upon the Sodomites not only to respect Lot upon whose account Abraham had thus ventured himself but 〈…〉 of â—…heir sins against God who 〈…〉 Abraham for this work and delivereâ—… 〈…〉 â—… their enemies into his hands as 〈◊〉 King of Salem and Priest of the High God who came forth to meet Abraham acknowledgeth with praise and thanksgiving how little the Sodomites did answer their obligation either unto God or Man will appear in the 19th Chapter of Genesis where their sin and punishment is set forth But before this in the 18th Chapter we read that Abraham having entertained three Angels he afterwards bringeth them forward on their way which lay towards Sodom
his right hand did lay hold on them that hated him and took no heed to his Laws and making Sodom and Gomorrah as a fiery Oven in the time of his anger he swallowed up all the Sinners of those Places in his Wrath and devoured them with this unquenchable fire the Place now is like a fiery Oven or like a great fiery Furnace the smoke of whofe flame was so great that far and near it might be seen concerning the horror of the Sodomits when compassed about with Flames I shall speak more under the third particular only here add these things which were remarkable in in this judgement First The strangeness of it Secondly The suddenness and unexpectedness of it Thirdly The dreadfulness of it First This Judgement was very Strange It is the nature of Fire to ascend towards Heaven but here Fire and Brimstone together do descend from Heaven this is very strange the Sodomits had an unnatural Fire within them and they have an unnatural Fire sent upon them they lust after strange Flesh Iud. 7. And God punished them with strange Fire Iob 31. 3. Is not destruction to the wicked and a strange punishment unto the workers of Iniquity But of all strange punishments this is one of the most strange never such a thing was heard of before or hath been known since as I may apply what Moses speaketh on another occasion Deut. 4. 32. Aske now of the days which are past which were before since God Created Man upon the Earth and ask from one side of Heaven unto the other whether there hath been such a thing as this great thing or hath been like it that God should Rain Fire and Brimstone from Heaven to punish wicked Cities We read of Fire sent down from Heaven by the Lord upon the request of Elijah which consumed his Sacrifice although he had drenched it often and surrounded it with Water all which was licked up by the fire unto the wonder and astonishment of the People whereby the Lord discovered his power beyond Baal whose Priests could not by all their prayers and cutting themselves prevail with their God to effect any such thing 1 Kings 18. 26 28 37 38. And we read of Fire sent down from Heaven which destroyed two Captains and their fifty's upon the request of the same Prophet these things were exceeding strange but the rain of Fire and Brimstone from Heaven which consumed several Cities and all their Inbitants together was far more strange Fire hath come from Heaven but never so great Fire Fire hath come down from Heaven but never Fire mingled with Brimstone Fire and Brimstone hath come forth of the bowels of the Earth of which in the second discourse but never did Fire and Brimstone come down from Heaven either before or since Secondly This judgement was sudden and unexpected It was like the Flood to the old World which was drowned or like the coming of Christ to the Sinners on Earth which shall be damned when the greatest judgements are most near the Sinners which shall be destroyed thereby are most secure and thus it was with the Sinners of Sodom the day before there was no appearance of any such destruction near there was no sign in the Earth or in the Heavens of any such thing the night before also was like other nights no fire beginning in any place only the fire of lust which burned and raged in the hearts of that wicked people but they had no apprehension of danger from those flames when the morning was come it was like other mornings there were no fiery dews or fore-drops of the fiery rain to give them warning of what would follow The shaddows of the night were chased away by the beams of the morning Sun there was no appearance of the shaddows of the night of Death ready to stretch forth themselves upon all the Inhabitants of Sodom and Neighbour Cities together But so soon as Lot was entered into Zear the Lord rained Fire and Brimstone on Sodom and Gomorrah and brought such a sudden destruction upon them as they could not escape Even as it will be ere long with Babylon Rev. 18. 7 8. So it was with Sodom she lived deliciously and securely and in one day death and mourning came upon her and she was utterly burnt with Fire Could the Sodomits have foreseen and certainly foreknown what destruction would have befallen their City that day they would have hastened out of the place the day before at furthest they would have delayed no longer than that morning when Lot did depart they would have flocked about him old and young from every quarter and have departed with him they would not have vallued houses of goods so that they might have but sav'd their lives But the Sodomits did not in the least apprehend their destruction to be so near The Angels knew it but they discover the thing unto Lot only if they had made it know unto the Sodomits it is most likely they would not have believed it any more than Lot's Sons in Law did believe Lot when from their mouth he did declare it The Sodomits are jovial and secure as if their life and mirth should continue many a year when neither of them were a days standing longer Thirdly This judgement was most dreadful we read in the Scriptures and have seen with our eyes very great judgements but none so dreadful all things considered as this of Fire and Brimstone from Heaven Indeed the Flood which devoured the whole old World together Noah and his Family excepted did strike the most universal dread upon the children of men of any judgement that ever hath been since the Worlds Creation yet the Fire and Brimstone from Heaven which devoured Sodom and Gomorrah with all their Inhabitants Lot only and his Family excepted had more of particular dread in it in as much as death by Fire is more painful than death by Water especially such Fire as came down from Heaven It was a terrible day to the old World when they saw the Windows of Heaven opened and Water to come forth from thence in such great abundance as to swell into a Flood and that so great a Flood as drowned all Man-kind which were not found in the Ark But it was a more terrible day to the Sodomits when they saw the Windows of Heaven opened and Fire to come forth from thence Fire mingled with Brimstone and Gods fiery indignation which falling upon their Houses and heads put all into flames this last judgement as it had more strangeness in it so it did strike more terrour into the hearts of those which did endure it When the ground clave asunder and the Earth opening her mouth swallowed up Corah Dathan and Abiram with all that appertained to them when they went thus down alive into the pit and the Earth closing upon them again they perished from the Congregation Num. 16. vers 32. 33. This was a very feaful judgement but the opening
of the Heavens and it 's showring down Fire and Brimstone which swallowed up Sodom and Gomorrah with all the Sinners therein this judgement was far more fearful Death by the Sword and death by the Pestilence or by any other disease hath nothing of that dread in it as death by Fire especially by Fire from Heaven by Fire mingled with Brimstone No Fire have we ever seen that carried so much dread in it as the Fire that burnt down our City of London but London's Fire was nothing in comparison with Sodoms Fire this will appear if we compare them together First The Fire of London began only in one place which awakened all the Inhabitants about to prepare and secure themselves and their goods but the Fire of Sodom began in all piaces together there was fire without the City and fire within fire in every street and in every house at the same time the Sodomits were compassed about with fire on all sides Secondly The Fire of London consumed but a part although it were the greatest part of the City within the Walls but the Fire of Sodom consumed the whole City turned all into ashes and not one house therein did escape the fury of the flames Thirdly The Fire of London though it devoured the houses yet much of the wealth and the best goods of the City were preserved but Sodoms fire consumed all their Wealth their Gold and Silver was melted all their apparel and rich houshold furniture was burnt and what ever provisions they had made for their flesh what ever fuel they had laid up for their lusts became fuel for this Fire Fourthly The Fire of London though it burnt much of the goods as well as houses which could not so easily and quickly be removed yet few very few of the Inhabitants perished they had time and warning to withdraw themselves before the fire reached so far as their habitations but Sodom's Fire burnt persons as well as houses and not one person in the whole City escaped after the Fire was begun such as went forth of doors were consumed by the Fire from Heaven such as remained within were consumed by the Fire of their houses Fifthly The Fire of London was an Earthly fire although the contrivement of it might be first in Hell and hellish Instruments made use of in the beginning and carrying of it on but the Fire of Sodom and Gomorrah was from Heaven and if the one did expresse more of the wrath of the Devil and Devilish men the other did expresse more of the wrath of the Sin-revenging God which is ten thousand times more dreadful Sixthly The Fire of London at length was extinguished since which time the City is like to be rebuilt and doth now lift up it's head with more beauty and lustre than before it was turned into ashes but Sodom's Fire did make an desolation of that place and since the Conflagration of that City Sodom never was and never will be again rebuilt neither is the place capable now of having any building erected upon it inasmuch as the Mare mortuum the dead Sea doth now cover the place where once the Sodomits had their habitation CHAP. V. Concerning the Persons that were consumed and how they were affected 3 COncerning the Persons on which this judgement was inflicted and how they were affected The persons were all the wicked Inhabitants of the Cities of Sodom Gomorrah Admah and Zeboim Great was the horrour hinted before which we may imagine these persons were in when the Fire and Brimstone came down from Heaven upon them and there was no way for them to escape The noise and scorching heat of this dreadful Fire we may conclude did quickly awaken some out of their sleep of Intemperance and all out of their sleep of security What tongue can utter the horrible perplexity of the Sodomits on this day when they opened their doors and windows in the morning and looking up to Heaven saw them open and fire coming down thence to devour them when the Tempest of Fire and Brimstone beat upon them so sorely and suddenly when there was such a dreadful burning heat by the Fire and such a stinking noisom suffocating smoke by the Brimstone when there was a little kind of Hell in that place both for torment and Sin O the dread of the Sodomits O the confusion they were in when such an unthought of such an unheard of and such an unavoidable ruine was come upon them how were they amazed how were they distressed some it may be cursed the day of their birth wishing that they had been abortive issues that they had never liv'd to see the light of the Sun that so they might not have liv'd to see and feel the fire of this day others it may be cursed themselves and the Sinners of the place who had provoked God to send this dreadful judgement upon them others it may be cursed God because of the Fire and great heat like those Rev. 16. 8 9. Who being scorched with great heat blasphemed the name of God who had sent down the Fire upon them O what a horrible out-cry was there in Sodo when the City began to be in flames O what weeping and wailing and wringing of hands The men roar the woman shreek the children weep and cry and cling about their Parents yea all of them weep and cry out most hideously The Sodomits have tears now in abundance but none of their tears could quench the Flames about them or aswage the sorrow and anguish within them tears before for their Sins might have prevented these flames and their fruitless mourning in the midst of them but none more impenitent than they in the time of their prosperity and therefore their cries and tears are to no purpose in the time of their adversity they weep and God laughs at their calamity they are grieved and afflicted and God is comforted in the execution of his vengeance upon them for their Sins In this extremty the Sodomits know not what to do nor which way to turn they dare not go forth that they might consult one another because the air is all in a light fire abroad and there are streams of Fire and Brimstone which overflow in the streets all the shelter they have is for a little while in their houses but the Fire invadeth them there and hemmeth them in on all sides and very quickly the Fire creepeth in at their windows and breaketh thorow their doors nothing being able to withstand it's force We may conceive how the poor Sodomits when the Fire was coming into their houses did run from room to room being pursued where ever they went by the devouring flames and when the fire was come at their persons and the flames began to seise on them then they sweat and fry their hair is singed their cloths are set on fire about them their Sinneves shrink their hands and feet loose their use and they are in horrible pain all over without any
FIRE AND BRIMSTONE From Heaven From Earth In Hell OR Three Discourses I. Concerning the burning of Sodom and Gomorrah formerly II. Concerning the burning of Aetna or Mount Gibel more lately III. Concerning the burning of the Wicked Eternally with Fire and Brimstone By Thomas Vincent sometime Minister of Maudlins Milk-street London Rev. 21. 8. But the fearful and unbelieving and Abominable and Murderers and Whore-mongers and Sorcerers and Idolaters and all Lyars shall have their part in the Lake which burneth with Fire and Brimstone which is the second Death London Printed for George Calvert and Samuel Sprint and are to be sold at the Golden Ball in Duck-Lane 1670. To the Reader THe occasion of my Writting these few Sheets concerning these three great Burnings was the breaking forth of such Flames and Streams of Fire the last Year at the Mouth and sides of Aetna or Mount Gibel being willing to take hold of any occasion especially so sutable as this to awaken Sinners that they might endeavour their escape from the future and everlasting burnings of Hell and this I thought the rather to do because in the Relation given us of those stupendous burnings of Aetna the hand of the Lord was not in the least minded his Name not once mentioned and no improvement thereof at all attempted by him or them that drew up the Narrative which to me seemed a shame and quickned me when others who might have done it better were silent in my endeavours to make some advantage of this Providence for the good of Souls The chief of what I had drawn up was several Months since which I purposed to Preach upon in the course of my Ministry as an Appendix unto the Doctrine of Contrition but being diverted from that Subject by some sevearer and threatning Providences I looked upon my self as called at that time rather to Preach upon such Subjects might tend to the support of Gods people under those sufferings which they were like to undergo if they would perseveer in his ways Thus my Papers were laid aside and laid asleep and I did think to bury them in my Closet and never to suffer them to come forth into the light But since the Fires which have broken forth of late in the City and Suburbs and Southwark and the general impression of fear of Fire upon the Sptrits of London's Inhabitants I thought it might be seasonable at this time to treat of Burnings that so I might prevail with all in danger especially the Inhabitants in and about London that if they should not escape the burnings of their Houses here for the preventing of which all diligence should be used yet that they would above all things endeavour to escape the burning of their Persons in the everlasting flames of Hell If this little Book be made use of by the Lord to keep any of you out of Hell give God all the praise and be mindful at the Throne of Grace of him who prayeth for the Salvation of all your Souls Thomas Vincent Fire and Brimstone from Heaven in the burning of Sodom and Gomorrah Psalm 11. 6. Upon the wicked he shall rain Snare Fire and Brimstone and an horrible Tempest this shall be the portion of their Cup. CHAP. I. The Text opened and a general Doctrine observed THe Lord is known by the judgements which He executeth whereby he giveth Sinners to understand even in this World that as he is patient and long-suffering merciful and gracious and ready to be reconciled so that he is Holy and jealous just and righteous and that he can be angry and expresse his anger in furious rebukes when by sin he is exceedingly provoked hereunto And as the anger of the Lord in the height and feirenesse of it is compared unto Fire unto a flaming Fire which devoureth round about Lam. 2. 3. So his most dreadful judgements the expressions of his anger are by Fire especially by Fire mingled with Brimstone Such showers of Fire and Brimstone God doth threaten to rain upon the wicked in the Text Upon the wicked he shall rain Snares Fire and Brimstone and an horrible Tempest this shall be the portion of their Cup. In this Psalm is set forth first the â—…hatred and indignation of the wicked towards the righteous which is expressed both in their scoffing at them and their preparing the bow and arrow to shoot and destroy them Ver. 1. 2. 2. the hatred and indignation of God towards the wicked which is expressed in his threatning to rain Snares Fire and â—…mstone and an horrible Tempest upon them to devour them Ver. 5. 6. Upon the wicked that is upon all the wicked who go on still in their trespasses especially such as are haters and persecutors of the righteous He shall rain Snares that is God will entangle and hold them so fast even like Birds under the snares and nets of the Fowler that they shall not be able to fie from and escape the destruction which he will bring upon them Fire and Brimstone and an horrible Tempest No Tempest is more horrible than a tempest of Fire and Brimstone which God will rain on the wicked this hath an allusion unto the real Fire and Brimstone miraculously Created by God and rained down from Heaven upon the wicked Cities of Sodom and Gemorrah something like unto this God threatneth in his destructions of other places Isa. 13. 19. And Babylon the glory of Kingdoms the beauty of the Caldees excellency shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah Amos 4. 11. I have overthrown some of you as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah And if the wicked do escape real Fire and Brimstone and any temporal judgement like it on Earth be sure the Lord will rain an horrible Tempest of fire and brimstone upon them in Hell This shall be the portion of their Cup. The Lord hath received a portion and prepared a Cup for all the children of Men he hath a portion of good things for the righteous and he will give them the Cup of blessing and Salvation but he hath laid up a portion of evil things for the wicked and will put into their hands the Cup of his Wrath and Curse he hath reserved ruine and destruction for them by Fire and Brimstone Hence observe Doct. That an horrible Tempest of Fire and Brimstone God threatneth to rain on the wicked as their deserved portion I shall not here speak concerning all the dreadfull temporal judgements of God upon the wicked which may have some similitude unto destruction by Fire and Brimstone But treat concerning fire and brimstone it self and the destructions of it both what hath been and what shall be My chief design is as the Lord shall enable to set forth Gods vengeance on the wicked which shall be hereafter by Eternal fire and brimstone in Hell in order to the awakening of sleepy sinners out of their carnal security there being no greater awakening consideration in the whole Christian Religion than this of the
did run into But the Sodomits slight all Lot's sayings they deafen their ears against his reproofs and will be led by none of his example nothing prevails with them to repent The second aggravation of the Sodomits Sins was thâ—…ir Incorrigibleness As it was said of the Jews aftâ—…rward Ier. 5. 3. So it might have been said of the Sodomits then Though God had stricken them yet they did not grieve though God had consumed them yet they refused to receive correction They did not take warning by lesser judgements so as to be corrected and amended thereby They were smitten before their enemies their City not long before had been sackt their goods taken away and themselves were led into Captivity with their Wives and Children and yet they were insensible of their Sins the cause of all this evil that came upon them and were so far from being bettered hereby that they grew worse than they were before The third aggravation of the Sodomits Sins was their Ingratitude They were not only ungrateful unto Lot upon whose account Abraham did deliver them out of the hands of their enemies which not only laid an obligation of respect to Lot upon them as long as they liv'd but chiefly they were ungrateful unto God the Author of this deliverance by Abraham and who moreover had been very bountiful unto them in giving them such a place of plenty and pleasure for their habitation that it was like unto the Garden of the Lord for fruitfulness the greater Gods Mercy and Bounty to them the greater was their ingratitude and the more highly aggravated were their Sins The fourth aggravation of the Sodomits Sins was the Universality of their Sins There were no righteous persons amongst them except it were Lot and his Family they were generally corrupt they were all dross and no Gold all Water and no Wine all wicked when Lot was departed As the Earth of old was filled with violence so Sodom then was filled with Filthiness which was very offensive unto the pure and Holy Eyes of God and provoked him to destroy them The fifth aggravation of the Sodomits Sins was their Shamlesness What was spoken of Israel Ier. 6. 5. Might have been said of Sodom were they ashamed when they had committed abomination nay they were not at all ashamed neither could they blush When the Prophet would set forth the shamlesness of Iudah's Sins he compareth them unto Sodom Isa. 3. 9. The shew of their countenance doth witnesse against them they declare their Sin like Sodom they hide it not None had more reason to blush and be ashamed than such filthy Sinners as they and yet none were so little ashamed instead of being ashamed of their Sins they gloried in their shame The sixth aggravation of the Sodomits Sins was their Security They eat they drank they bought they solde they planted they builded until the the judgement did overtake them Luke 17. 28. They were generally secure though they had so greatly sinned and by their Sins so highly provoked the Lord to take vengeance upon them They put the evil day far from them Lot's Sons in Law although foretold and forewarn'd by their Father would not believe it was so near much lesse did the rest of the Sodomits believe any such thing who had no intimation thereof given unto them they little thought what a day would bring forth their impunity for a while did encrease their security and their security under the guilt of such Heaven-dareing Sins did aggravate their Sins exceedingly And now the lusts of the Sodomits having conceived and brought forth such Sins and their Sins so aggravated do arrive unto perfection and they bring forth death Their iniquities now are full and the Viols of Gods wrath also are full and he poureth them down upon their heads which leadeth unto the next particular to speak of the judgement it self inflicted upon Sodom and Gomorrah CHAP. IV. A particular description of Sodom and Gomorrah's burning by Fire and Brimstone from Heaven COncerning the judgement it self which was inflicted on Sodom and Gomorrah It was Fire and Brimstone which was rained down from Heaven upon those Cities The morning was clear when Lot went forth of Sodom and the Sun was risen upon the Earth when he entered into Zoar But then a strange darkness did quickly fill the face of the Heavens and hide the Sun from the view we may conceive that the fashion of the Heaven was altered and that the clouds which carried this horrible Tempest of Fire and Brimstone in their Bowels were of another shape than those which carry in them ordinary storms of Rain or Hail of Thunder and Lightning It was over Sodom and Gomorrah that these dreadful clouds were gathered which upon the command of the Lord brake asunder and it is likely with fearful lightening accompained with great cracks and amazing noise as if Heaven and Earth and Hell had been coming together let down these flaming showers which strangely turned the Air into Fire and with such irresistible violence beat upon the Houses of the Sodomits that they were foreed to yield unto the fury of these devouring flames This Rain probably was not in small drops like that which falling upon the tender Grass causeth it to spring forth and flourish but in great flakes of of scalding Sulphurious matter enkindled by the breath of God great sheets of Fire it is likely came down from Heaven like the Flying Roll spoken of Zach. 5. 2 3 4. the length whereof was twenty Cubits and the bredth thereof ten Cubits which entered into the House of the Thief and False-swearer and consumed the Timber thereof and the stones thereof So did these sheets and rolls of fire fly about the Cities of Sodom and Gomorrah and entered into the houses of the unjust and profane the filthy and unclean smiting and consuming Inhabitants with their Habitations This storm of Fire and Brimstone coming down with a commission from God to destroy the whole Place doth arm it self with unexpressible rage and fury and first smiting the heads and tops of all the houses in the City setteth them on fire together which mounting a great flame upward and that mingling with the sulphurious fire which came downward was exceedingly the more enraged and we may conceive that from thence came such horrid blazes to the eye and such dreadful roarings to the ear as awakened all the wicked Inhabitans of the City out of their sleep and security and filled them with unconceiveable horrour and perplexity when they saw inevitable ruine so near unto them Then the streets of the City were filled with flames and the Rain from Heaven likely did raise Floods and Streams of burning Brimstone which poured into the houses on every side such fire as no Water could quench no Stone Walls nor Iron Bars or Gates could resist or defend any of the Inhabitans from being devoured thereby thus Gods hand did find out all his enemies in these wicked Cities together
help or relief refuge faileth them and there is no escaping no enduring of this pain and yet they must endure it until extremity of pain doth take away all sence of pain The terrour of the Sodomits through apprehensions of their present and unavoidable death before them was great but surely the way and manner of it namely by Fire from Heaven did cause greater terrour If it had been an ordinary Fire of which some natural cause might have been assigned it had not been so much but when it was a miraculous fire from Heaven created on purpose by the Lord to destroy those Cities surely their dread was extraordinary they could not chuse but see the more immediate hand of God in it and withall his frown and dreadful displeasure with the Fire â—… Brimstone which fell down from Heaven upon their houses and bodies they had scalding drops of Gods wrath â—…ch fell down upon their consciences we may think what impressions they had of the wrath of the Sin-revenging God on their spirits which caused a greatâ—… horror within than the bare apprehension of death in any shape could of it self effect when the guilt of so great Sins and the apprehensions of so great wrath did meet together in their consciences and they had no time nor way to get the guilt of Sin removed and the wrath of God appeased when conscience before asleep was awakened in the midst of flames when there was a Fire above the Sodomits the Fire of Gods anger Fire about and upon the Sodomits the fire which came down from Heaven Fire beneath the Sodomits the fire of Hell and fire within the Sodomits the fire kindled in their consciences O the horrour when Hell was already begun within them in the flashes and sparks of it words cannot utter the horrible anguish which then they had upon them CHAP. VI. Concerning the Persons that escaped 4 THe persons that escaped this dreadful judgement were Lot and his Family Like as it was in the Old World Noah was an upright man in his generation when the whole world besides were wicked and God provided an Ark wherein he saved Noah and his Family when all the kindreds and Nations of the world besides were drowned in the Deluge of Waters which was brought upon the Earth so also Lot being the only upright and righteous man in Sodom when all the City together with the neighbouring Cities were wicked God provided a Zoar for Lot whilst he brought a Deluge of fire upon those wicked Cities which consumed them and all the wicked together which dwelt in them 2 Pet. 2. 5 6 7 8. When the destroying Angels were sent unto Sodom God remembred righteous Lot and a mark for preservation was set upon his forehead because he did sigh and cry out for the abominations which were committed in the midst of the City And God remembred Abraham his Friend who had made intercession for Lot therefore he sent him out of the midst of the overthrow when he overthrew the City wherein Lot dwelt CHAP. VII Concerning the Spectators of Sodom's burnings 5 COncerning the Spectators of this Judgement Abraham however remote his habitation was had a plain prospect of this Fire and burning of Sodom We read Gen. 19. 27 28. And Abraham gat up early in the morning unto the place where he stood before the Lord and he looked towards Sodom and Gomorrah and toward all the Land of the Plain and beheld and lo the smoke of the Countrey went up as the smoke of a Furnace Abrahams heart did misgive him that those wicked Cities would not escape destruction what ever conditional promise the Lord had made unto him of their preservation therefore it is likely he arose and came to this place that he might see what became of the Cities and quickly he 〈◊〉 them to be all in flames by the great smoke which mounted up from them what his thoughts were is not mentioned but it is likely he was more than ordinarily affected with this more than ordinary Judgement such an appearance of God in the World clothed with such wrath and vengeance might well make even Abraham himself whatever Interest he had in God to quake and be astonished When he looked up to Heaven he saw God all in flames of anger when he looked down to the Earth he saw Sodom and Gomorrah all in flames of Fire He knew that Lot did dwell there and he did not know it may be but that Lot with his Family might be burning there and this might cause him to lift up his voice and weep be sure he knew that the wickedness of the Sodomits was very great and that the righteous of the place were very few if any when the Lord had promised him to spare the whole City for the sake of Ten righteous persons could they there have been found Ah Lord thought he what a wicked place is Sodom that it should not yeild Ten righteous persons O what an evil thing and a bitter is it to Sin against God and hereby to provoke him unto anger and what a fearful thing is it to fall into the hands of the living God when his anger is stirr'd up and doth burn thus like fire And if Abraham could so clearly discern the burning of Sodom and Gomorrah the Inhabitants of Zoar who dwelt so near might more clearly discern it An allarm they have in the morning which doth startle and awaken them they are called forth out of their houses to see this dreadful and tremendous sight The noise of Fire Fire Fire doth sound in their ear Fire from Heaven Fire in the Air Fire on the Earth Sodom on Fire Gomorrah on Fire Admah and Zeboim on Fire every place near them on Fire this they hear this they see the flames all about are very visible and very terrible O with what ruful countenances do they look upwards towards Heaven from whence the Fire did come and forwards towards Sodom and Gomorrah where the Fire was kindled they see all the Cities together in flames which being all cituated upon the Plain without any Mountain or Hill between they might in the Fields or on the tops of their houses have an easie prospect of And surely the Sinners of Zoar are now affraid and fearfulness doth exceedingly surprize the guiltâ—… surely their consciences now are awakened â—…nd do cause a trembling within them when they see God's vengeance executed in flaming fire upon their fellow-sinners before them Alas wo be to us who can endure such devouring fire who can bear such horrible burnings Hath Sodom and Gomorrah provoked God to destroy them with Fire from Heaven what then will become of us who have shared with them in the same guilt and have deserved the same punishment O whether can we flee to hide us from the wrath of God and shelter us from his fiery indignation Lot also who though he did not look back as his Wife did before he got into Zoar yet from thence no doubt
but he looked with a sorrowful countenance and more sorrowful heart upon the wretched Cities as they burned especially on Sodom the chief City and where his habitation had been O the tears that now run down his Cheeks O the grief that doth fill his heart when he seeth such a strange shower of Fire and Brimstone rained down from Heaven upon that sinfull and now wofull place he was vexed at the Sins of the Sodomits before and now he is grieved at their misery he thinks of his Sons-in-Law and laments their folly that notwithstanding his warning would stay there to be burned which he knew that now they lamented much more he thinks of this Neighbour and that Neighbour how they are weeping and crying whilst they are melting and frying in the flames But Lot doth not abide long in Zoar for such fear as well as grief did possesse him that he did not think himself safe there and therefore fleeth to the Mountain whither he was warned at first to go by the Angels and there dwelleth in a Cave with his two Daughters Gen. 19. 30. CHAP. VIII Application to the Ungodly WE have here set before us an example and that both of the Sodomits burning and of Lot's escaping These things are recorded for our example The former is an example to the Ungodly the later is an example to the Righteous I. The Sodomits burning is an example to the Ungodly 2 Pet. 2. 6. And turning the Cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes condemned them with an overthrow making them an example unto those that after should live Ungodly This example is set forth both to reprove the Ungodly and to warn the Ungodly 1. It reproves the Udgodly and that for the practice of such Sins as were the cause of Sodom's ruine Such as First Pride and Haughtiness I believe many in our age and Nation will vye with any of the Sodomits of old for Devilish Pride and haughty spirits if we may guesse at the pride of the heart by the garbs the look and the speach there are some and those not a few who seem to have outgone all former generations and may well be stiled the First-born of the Devil for this Sin although they have been brought forth at the later end of the World What shall we say when men of the higher rank do so generally without need disguise and hide their heads in others hair and that of the womanish length and for the most part of another colour than their own and when woman disguise and hide the natural colour of their faces with painâ—… and patches what shall we think of the flanting apparel the Antique and Apish fashions of the ruffling Gallants in our Nation not to speak of the excessive cost bestowed in their changeable raiment more being spent upon one suit worn by some but a few days then would be sufficient to cloth the backs and fill the bellies of some scores of poor Christians nor to insist upon the excessive time spent or rather mispent in dressing wherein some do consume near half the time which they spare from the bed and sleep What shall we say of the taunting language the scornful and reproachful speeches which some do fill their mouths withall and which they spit forth upon the people of God and that because of their holinesse and likenesse unto God whereby they despise not only them but also him whose image they bear what shall we think of the stately building the excessive showes and flourishes without and expensive furniture within and that when those houses are newly risen out of their ashes and when the Church lyeth wast and so many poor Families are brought to a morsel of Bread what do these things with many more which I might mention signifie but that pride doth compasse such persons about like a chain whereby they are enthralled and captivated and let me say this that the Devil hath hold of the end of this chain and is thereby dragging them downwards as high as they look towards the lowest Hell And here I could wish that professors of Religion themselves and many that in other regards do fear God could acquit themselves from the guilt of many gross outward demonstrations of inward prevailing Pride I will not say that all who have false hair have false hearts some I know are true-hearted and want a covering there and that all who are very curious in decking their outside according to the fashion are wholly untrim'd and unadorn'd within yet I could wish that the art of Periwig-making had never been found out and that the French modes had never been brought into our Nation and this I will say that plain apparel and dresses do very well become persons of great honour especially professors of Religion that it is very unsutable to the times for any to bestow much cost on ornaments when many of Christ members want necessaries and it is very unsutable to the Christian profession to bestow much time in adorning the body when the soul hath more need in the washing and adorning of which the time and pains will be best bestowed But I retire to the reproof of the Ungodly for other of their Sodoms Sins Secondly Fulness of Bread or intemperance in eating and drinking was another sin which Sodom was charged withall And how many are there in our days which may be charged with the same who come behind none in this Sin we read of the Prodigal Luke 15. 13. who wasted his substance with riotons living If we look abroad we may find too too many of these every where whose belly is their God who pamper the flesh indulge and enslave themselves unto their appetite and give themselves leave to exceed all bounds in their riotous practices spending their whole time and substance in their profuse living See how the Apostle setteth forth riotous persons 2 Pet. 2. 12 13. This reprove the excesse in drinking a Sin more in use amongst us then that of excesse in eating What is more common than this Sin of drunkenness both in City and Countrey how many are there that guzzle and swill in drink without measure that drench and soak themselves with Ale other strong liquors besot and drown their natural parts and gifte wasts their time in rambling up and down to Taverns and Ale-houses consume their wealth distemper their bodies and provoke God to destroy their souls Wo be to such persons Isa. 5. 11 12 13. Prov. 23. 29 30. Thirdly Abundance of Idleness was the third Sin of Sodom and when did this Sin more prevail then in our licentious age Idleness is a constant companion of intemperance yea rather the Mother that brings it forth at least the Nurse that brings it up How many golden sands of time do the most suffer to run waste how many golden seasons do they let slip wherein they might make provision for eternity did but they know the worth of time especially of the harvest tâ—…e the Summer-day
last of which the account followeth CHAP. III. Concerning the Antecedents of the late eruption of Mount Aetna IT was on Fryday night the eight of March 166â—… that a great noise and roaring was heard from the bowels and mouth of Mount Aetna which sounded far and near more loud and dreadful than that of great Guns in the Camps or Ships of enemies the roaring of the Sea in a storm when it lifteth up its Waves on high and dasheth them with violence upon great Rocks and lofty Shoars was nothing in comparison and it may be questioned whether the loud cracks of thunder when with the greatest fiercenesse it breaketh thorow the thickest cloud did ever sound so terribly although this hath some time caused great men full of guilt to run under their beds for fear as this roaring and bellowing of Mount Aetna did that night which being in the silent night when all things were hush and other noises asleep was heard with the greater plainnesse and astonishment This awakened the Inhabitants of Catania a City fifteen miles distant from the Mount especially those who lived upon the Borders and sides thereof whereby they were surprized with great fear possibly much as the wicked world shall be when they shall hear the sound of the last Trumpet summoning them to Judgement The roaring of the Mountain was accompained at the same time with a shaking and trembling of the Earth which must needs add to the trembling and horrour of the people who dwelt there about The City of Catania it self did feel the earth quake the houses whereof shoâ—…k so and danced as if they would immediately have tumbled from their foundations But the Earth-quake was most violent in the Countreys and Villages nearer unto and upon the sides of the Mountain where there was such a shaking and concussion that people could not stand upon their legs without holding one by the other but reeled and staggered too and fro as if they had been overcome with Drink and the houses of many were so cleft and torn that first shaking out their Inhabitants who with all speed hastned out of them they quickly tumbled to the ground The whole Town of Nicolosi was utterly ruin'd by the Earth-quake the Towns of Padara and Tre-Castager were the greatest part of them ruin'd and destroyed The sight of such ruines before the eye the feeling such motions and shakings under the feet the found of such roarings from the Mountain in the ear surely did strike those people with more terrour and amazement than was upon the Inhabitants of London when their houses were in flames before them and they forced to seek their lodgings in the Fields Besides this the fear of these perplexed people was encreased when they saw the ground to cleave in several places about them and the Earth to open its mouth as if it would have devoured them as formerly the Rebellions Corah Dathan and Abiram were swallowed up This put them upon the wing to fly with all hast from those parts who in great amazement with hair standing an end joints trembling distracted looks hardly able to speak brought the tidings of these things to the City of Cantania CHAP. IV. Concerning the Eruption it self of Fire and Brimstone from Mount Aetna AFter warning given by the voice of the Mountain and the shaking of the Earth unto people to fly from that place of danger and threatâ—…d ruine on Munday the 11th of March there were three great eruptions on the side of the Mountain besides the smoke and flames which issued forth of the mouth at the top thereof the breaches and clefts of the Earth were a half of a mile in compasse as afterwards gâ—…sed out of which an horrible burning flood 〈◊〉 come forth and more fiercely than any floods of Water could do ran down the sides of the Mount It was the fire contained before within the bowels of the Mountain too big and great to vent it self at the top that forced it's way thorow the sides and making doors for it self brak forth with such noise and rage as was terrible to hear and behold This fire in its first vent folding it self in great flames as if more than a thousand houses had been burning together mounted up towards Heaven not lesse as was judged than a hundred Yards in height which was accompained with such a roaring noise far beyond what was heard before at the mouth of the Hill like as if more than a thousand Canons or great pieces of Ordinance had been at once discharged and there withall vast stones were shot forth some of them three hundred pound weight which were mounted aloft very high in the Air and with great force were thrown many miles from the place this grew into a furious Tempest not of Rain or Hail but which was far more dreadful of burning coals and ashes and suffocating smoke which beat down upon the Countrey all about something like that rain of Fire and Brimstone which fell upon Sodom But that which was most notable in these eruptions was the stream and flood of fire which in liqued melted matter gushed forth at the breaches We read Isa. 30. 33. Of a stream of Brimstone kindled by the breath of God which runneth in burning Tophet Such was the stream of Fire and Brimstone which came forth of this burning Mountain the flames of it were blew like burning brimstone the coulour of it fiery red like melted brasse the motion of it like Quick-silver this stream wherein great stones were seem to swim of the bigness of an ordinary Table coming forth at the sides of the Mountain ran down like a mighty torrent and meeting with a Hill devided it self into two currents which spread themselves one of them in some places at least six miles in breadth and was judged to be fifteen yards in depth In its progresse this stream ran in upon a Lake of four fathem Water and four miles in compass which it both filled up and raised a Hill of ragged Stones and Rocks upon it The composition of this fiery stream was judged to be Sulphur Nitre Sal Armoniac Lead Iron Brass and other Metals melted with the vehement heat of the fire We have read of a Deluge and Flood of Waters which drowned the old World and other lesser inundations which have drowned particular places but I know not any History which giveth relation of a Deluge and Flood of fire such as this which devoured and destroyed whatever lay in it's way The late relation telleth us that wheresoever it passed it left large heaps of it's congealed matter with which it covered and burnt the Earth melting the Walls of Castles and Houses throwing down all before it nothing being found able to resist it's force or quench it's burning Water being observed rather to add to it's fury Where ever it hath passed it hath left dreadful marks behind it levelling some Hills and raising others so much changing the scituation that not the least trace of
any place or Town which was in it's way remains nothing being to be seen but confused heaps of ragged stones which yeilding a noisom fume strick terrour and astonishment in all that behold it The first breaking forth of this burning Flood of Fire was on the Munday tâ—…e 11th of March which in it's progress devided it self into several lesser streams and filled the whole Countrey therebout with Fire and Brimstone in many places where these streams did come great flames were seen to arise together with thick smoke as from the moâ—…ths of so many great Furnaces After the Flood of Fire was come down the Mountain and towards the foot which is not so steep it did not move with that swiftness as before yet nothing could divert it's course but it overturned and consumed all where ever it came The first streams continued their course for twelve days together and after hopes that the fury was now spent on Fryday the 22d of March the Mountain Aetna roared and thundered smoked and flamed again most hideously at the mouth shook trembled throughout most dreadfully unto the very foundations and cast forth such heaps of scinders stones and ragged Rocks out of it's bosom and bowels at those breaches before made in it's sides that they grew together and were raised into two large and high Hills and this acccompanied with another stream of it's liquid melted matter which overtook the former currents and thrust them forward with great fury But on the 25th of March the Mountain bellowed with a greater noise than ever before and was shaken with such violence and force that a large part of the head and top fell into the breast aâ—…d bowels and that the depth of half a miâ—…e as some do judge And then issued forth fiery streams in so great abundance that joyning forces with the former they made great havock and desolation destroying the habitations of no lesse than seven and twenty thousand persons the Towns of La Guardia Malpassa Campo Rotundo La Potielli Antonino Pietro Mosterbianco Monpileri Falicchi Placchi were wholy consum'd and ruin'd Yea the Image of the blessed Lady of the Annunciata â—…o highly reverenced by the Superstitious Papists unto which many resorted in Pilgrimage from remote parts was not spared whatever power the Intercession of that Virgin Lady hath with her Son in Heaven for persons here upon the Earth as the Papists ridiculously fancy yet nothing could now avail to secure her Image from being swallowed up by this devouring fiery stream whereby all may see that there was no difference between the stones of that Image and those of the other buildings in that place which equally felt the foâ—…ce of the fire Other places were ruin'd in part as Maâ—…calucia Giovanni de Galermo with many other and at length the burning streams do approach near unto Gates and Walls of the City Calania in their course destroying Fields Gardens Orchards and Vineards about it which filled the Inhabitants with such fear that far the greatest part of them removed themselves and their goods out of the City Yet what ever the danger and fear was the Lord preserved the City from being swallowed up by these devouring streams part of these streams were congealed on the Land one of them emptied it self under the Wals of the Castle into the Sea in four fathom Water which held it's current in the Sea two fathom high above it and to the astonishment of all spectatours burned in the Sea it self for a great while and making progress into the Sea a mile in length and a mile in bredth was not quenched by the water of the Sea until having spent it self it did of it self congeal CHAP. V. Concerning the Concomitants of the Eruption and burning of Aetna WHilst the Mountain of Aetna or Gibel did thus vomit flames of fire at the top and streams of fire at the side accompained with such horrid noise and cracking in the Air such dreadful trembling and shaking of the Earth other things also were very observable at the same time such as the swelling of the Sea unto a great and unaccustomed height with great raging and roaring Waves the Floods of Water did seem to lift up their heads to see this dreadful spectacle of the Floods of fire and the Waves of the Sea did lift their voice in great tumult as being amazed at the horrid aspect of the Waves and Streams of Flames and Brimstone The Winds also which raised this Tempest in the Sea were high having broken loose from their habitation and with great noise and blustring whirled about the Land in fierce blasts beating upon the houses and unsheltred people in the Fields as if they would contend for force with the raging and irresistable fire The Clouds were gathered thick in the Sky and arrayed the Heavens with black attire hiding the comfortable and refreshing beams of the Sun from the sight which if sometimes it deed peep thorow the Clouds it was with a pale countenance as if it had been struck with fear and dared not to appear in such a dismal place Storms of rain often powred down from the Clouds which seemed in compassion to weep to weep Floods of tears endeavouring thereby to contribute some help for the extinguishing of the flames but all the Rain which fell was so far from quenching or allaying that it did but the more encrease and exasperate the fury of the Fire which hereby burned so much the more feircely In the City there was danger of the Houses overthrow by the Winds and Earth-quak or their being devoured and swallowed up by the Deluge of Fire In the Fields and Countreys there was danger of being destroyed by Thieves and Robbers who took advantage of the peoples confusions to set upon them murdering many and spoiling them of their choicest things which they had saved out of their ruin'd houses Great was the dread and terrour which now did possess the hearts of the people Our Saviour foretells Luke 21. 25 26. That on Earth there should be distresse of Nations with perplexity the Sea and the Waves roaring and menâ—… hearts failing them for fear and for looking after those things which are coming upon the Earth Such was the distresse and perplexity of these people It is said in the Relation That people ran with cryes and lamentations about the City and Countrey expecting nothing but to be swallowed up or consumed by the Fire having no other apprehensions buâ—… of death and a general Conflagration Had the Christian religion taken place there in the purity and power thereof it might have born up the spirits of the sincere and established Christians against overwhelming fear and amazement in all those storms and danger If of the vertuous Man much more may it be said of the truely Religions Si fracitus illabatur orbis impavidum ferient ruinae though the frame of the Earth and World should crack and be dissolved yet such a one would be undaunted under it's ruines
such when the Mountain was dissolved and did melt with fervent heat into Floods of burning Fire might look upon Death the utmost the fire could bring upon them with an unappaled countenance yea with great considence and comfort because of their well-grounded hopes of rest and happiness in Heaven whose habitation prepared for them there is beyond the reach of any Earthly Fire to consume But no wonder if the blind Superstitious Papists whose worship is mingled with such vanity and Indolatry be filled with such dread and horrour especially the more notorious Sinners amongst them surely the consciences of the most are now awkened the stings and lashes whereof no doubt above all other things did at this time encrease their terrour But what course do they take for the diverting Gods anger which so visibly did break sorth in these Flames and Fire from the burning Mountain and for the prevention of the threatned ruine they do not betake themselves to their knees to Fasting and Prayer in any way of Gods prescribing they do not apply themselves by Faith unto the Blood of Christ to appease the wrath of the angry God No. The Relation telleth us that The Religious appeared every where with much devotion carrying in Procession their Reliques especially those of St. Agatha the famous Martyr of Catania in which they reposed no small confidence followed by a great multitude of people mortifying themselves with Whips and other signs of penance And at another time The Bishop of the place followed by the Clergy Secular and Regular and an infinite number of the people went in solemn Procession out of the City of Catania unto Monte de St. Sophia carrying out with greatest Devotion their choicest Reliques and upon an Altar erected in view of the Mountain exposed them where they celebrated Masse and used exorcismes accustomed upon such extraordinary occasions Thus blind and sottishly Superstitions these people are But is the anger of the Lord hereby appeased No it is so much the more encreased and they cannot charm the noise and flames of the Mountain with all their Exorcismes But all the while they continue in their Superstitious exercices It is said The Moantain ceased not as before with excessive roaring to throw up it's smoke and flames with extraordinary violence and abundance of great stones were carried thorow the air some of them falling within their view though as ten miles distant from the eruption This was an open rebuke of them for their Superstition â—…o odious and abominable in the â—…ight of God CHAP. VI. Concerning the cause of the Eruption of Mount Aetna THe Supreme cause of the flames and fiery streams which brake forth from the Bowels of Mount Aetna was the Lord who is not only Ens Entium the Being of Beings but also Causa Causarum the Cause of Causes whatever was the second God was the first cause all the works of Nature in the World being effected by him who is the God of Nature in and by him every thing hath as it 's being so also it 's vertue and operation It is said Iob 9. 10. He doth great things past finding out yea and wonders without number amongst the Mirabilia Dei the wonderful works of God this is none of the least In Miracles God doth work more immediately and in wonders God doth work more remarkably than in ordinary works Moreover this Eruption of Fire which made such a dreadful devastation of houses carried with it the plain face of a Judgement and every judgement it is from God as the Judge of the World God is in no wise the Author of Sin but he is the Author of all penal evil the anger of the Lord did not only smoke but break forth into a Flame it was the breath of the Lord that did kindle this Stream which overturned and swallowed up so many Habitations And surely the Inhabitants of the place had been blowing up the Coals of Gods anger before by their Sins It was not without cause from themselves that this judgement was brought upon them The distance of this Place from Rome is but little and the difference between them in Idolatry and all sort of wickedness is reported to be lesse Sicily hath drunk deep of the Cup of Fornication which is in the hand of the Romish Whore and God made some of them drink something of the Cup of his Wrath and Indignation yea Sodomy it self is of frequent practice in those parts and God brings ruine like unto that of Sodom upon their houses by Streams of Fire and Brimstone though through infinite patience their persons were preserved The cause under God of these dreadful Eruptions was the Fire in the Bowels of the Mountain which meeting with a large quantity of combustible matter and kindling it could not be contained in so streight room but with such noise and violence brake forth in such flames and streams at the mouth and sides When this Fire was first kindled is not known the burning of the Mountain being more ancient than any History can remember What the Poets feign concerning the War of the Gyants with the Gods and their casting down great Enceladus with Thunder and keeping him down with vast Mountains and this of Aetna being thrown upon his head that this Fire was kindled by his hot breath is as ridiculous as it is fabulous Some are of the opinion that there are Fountains of Fire under ground as well as of Water and that in the bosom and bowels of the Earth God hath layd up Treasures of this Element enclosing it in vast Caverns as in so many Store-houses which Subterranean Fire they assign to be the cause of hot Bathes and that Mount Aetna as also Vesuvius with other flaming Mountains which Geographers and Travellers tell us are to be seen in all the parts of the World are the breathing holes of this Fire but the Scripture is wholly silent of any such work of God there we read of the Earth and the gathering together of the waters and the Fountains of the great deep but nothing of any Fountains of Fire mingled with either of these Elements and the laying up of this Element in store in a place so low when naturally it tendeth upwards is not easie to conceive besides who ever hath descended into the depths of the Earth to search and find out these depths of Fire Iustin giveth other reasons of this Fire Lib. 4. Caâ—… 1. Est antem terra tennis fragilis cavernis quibusdam fistulisque ita penetrabilis ut ventorum tota ferme flatibus pateat nec non ignibus generandâ—…s nâ—…triendisque soli ipsius naturalis materia quippe intrinsecus stratum sulphure bitumine traditur quae res facit ut spiritu cum igne inter interior a luctante frequenter compluribus lâ—…cis nunc flammas nunc vaporem nunc â—…umum eructet Indo denique Aetnae montis per tot socula durat incendium The meaning in brief is this The earth in
eat her Flesh and burn her with Fre. And again Chap. 18. throwout we have the destruction and burning of Babylon or Rome set forth at large Ver. 2. Babylon the great is fallen is fallen Ver. 4. Come out of her my people that ye pertake not of her Plagues Ver. 7. As she hath glorifyed her self and lived deliciously so much torment and sorrow give her Ver. 8. Her plagues shall come in one day and she shall be utterly burnt with fire for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her The Kings of the Earth that committed Fornication with her and Merchants and Ship-masters shall bewail her when they see the smoke of her burning Ver. 9. But in Heaven there shall be joy The Lord will rejoice the Prophets and Apostles will rejoice and all the Saints will rejoice in the vengeance which shall then be taken upon Her Ver. 20. Rome was standing and did rejoice when London was burning and I hope London will be standing and much more rejoice when Rome is burning London was burnt but in part Rome shall be utterly burnt with Fire London after it's burning is rebuilt in a great measure but Rome shall never be rebuilt after this burning This Babylon when it falleth shall never rise more Ver. 21. And a mighty Angel took up a stone like a great Mile-stone and cast it into the Sea saying Thus with violence shall that great City Babylon be thrown down and shall be found no more at all As a great Mile-stone thrown into the midst of the Sea is overwhelmed with Water so shall Rome be overwhelmed with Fire and as a Mile-stone cannot be raised and drawn out of the Sea so Rome when burnt shall never be raised again out of it's ashes and ruines Dreadful will the destruction of Rome be when the time of her barning is come those which stand a far off for fear of her torment who have been friends to her shall lament what lamentâ—…tions then will there be by such as shall be found in the place it self when it shall be set on Fire about their eares when the Pope and Cardinals and the other Inhabitants of that Filthy and Abominably wicked City shall be consumed together as is likely in the midst of the flames O the hideous out-crys which then will be made in every street when they are surrounded with Fire on all sides and there is no way left for them to escape when their Houses and Wealth and Persons shall be consumed together by the devouring flames when God by such a dreadful fire on Earth shall convey them down to the more dreadful fire of Hell Then the Lord will avenge all the blood of his Saints which under the Anti-Christian tyranny hath been shed for so many generations then he will avenge all the Idolatry Pride Covetousness Oppression Blasphemy Filthiness Cruelty and Wickedness of Rome together When the Grape â— of this Vine are fully ripe the Angel with his sharp Sicle will cut it and throw it into the Winepress of Gods wrath where it shall be squiesed and crusht to pieces When their iniquities are full then their ruine shall come And surely the time is not far off I am much of the perswasion that this generation shall not passe away before God will accomplish what he hath threatn'd concerning Râ—…nes burning and destruction the last Sands of the hour of Gods Patience seem to be running the forty and two months seem to be expiring and the two witnesses civilly slain it may be are arising and then Rome will quickly be faâ—…ling CHAP. X. Concerning the burning of the World 2 BY the burning of Mount Aetna we may be minded also of the burning of the World I mean the last general conslagration of the World at the end thereof whether Aetna's burning be a Prognostick of Rome's burning is not so certain but that it is a Prognostic of the Worlds burning and dissolution by Fire may be proved from Scripture as Luke 21. 11. Where our Saviour foretelling his Disciples what the signs should be of his coming and the end of the World amongst Wars Pestilences Earth-quakes doth reckon up fearful sights as one Fore-runner and I verily think there hath not been a more fearful sight since the days of our Saviour then this of the Eruption of Firâ—… and Brimstone from this flaming Mountain the Inhabitant of the place expected a general conflagration then but we may well say that this fearful sight is a Fore-runner of it foretold by Christ and therefore should put us in mind of it The notice of this great and universal burning of the World we have not from reason but from the Scripture the clearest and fullest place to prove this is 2 Pet. 3. 5 6 7. By the Word of God the Heavens were of Old and the Earth standing out of the Water and in the Water Whereby the World that then was being overflowed with Water perished But the Heavers and Earth which are now by the same Word are kept in store reserved unto Fire against the day of Iudgement and perdition of Ungodly men And Ver. 10. The day of the Lord will come as a Thief in the Night in the which the Heavens shall passe away with a great noise and the Elements shall melt with fervent heat the Earth also and the works that are therein shall be burnt up Here Note First That as the World of old was drowned by Water so that the World that now is shall be consumed by Fire as certainly as the former was sâ—… certainly the later shall be and as dreadful as the Flood was to Sinners on that day so dreadful and much more dreadful will the Fire be to Sinners on the last day Secondly It is by the Word of the Lord that this general Conflagration shall be effected by the Word of the Lord the World was made and by the Word of the Lord the World was Drown'd and by the Word of the Lord the world shall be burn'd In his word he hath foretold it and by his Word he will effect it Thirdly The Heavens and Earth are said to be reserved in store for fire when the Old World was drowned it was only the Earth and Inhabitants thereof the Heavens were untouch'd and the Earth also did remain undissolved and the same Earth did appear afterwards when the Flood was drawn off by God but at the last day the Heavens and Earth too shall be dissolved by Fire not by subterranean Fire as some imagine and that as when the World was drowned the Fountains of the great deep were opened and the Waters kept before in Store-houses were brought forth which overwhelmed the Earth so that there are Fountains of Fire in the bowels of the Eatth and that there it is kept in Store-houses all which then shall be opened and that the fire shall break forth in a more dreadful flame then ever was seen at Mount Aetna and set the whole Fabrick of the World on â—…ire For as
the Metaphor doth come far beneath the thing which it is used to set forth Others are of the judgement that Hell fire will be real Fire it being so positively so plainly and so frequently asserted to be Fire fire with flames fire which shall burn and because nothing will put to greater pain than fire and because it is proper for the body to be tormented with some real material substance and when the Holy Ghost telleth us it shall be fire why should he turn this fire into a Metaphor which may tend rather to weaken our conceptions of it's horrour than to highten them and therefore in answer to that great Objection that it is said to be prepared for Devils they are ready to say it shall be such fire as will not only torment the Soul but also Devils too God having power to make such a fire the other Metaphors are made use of but once this of fire is the almost constant expression in Scripture where Hell is described I confesse that I do not judge these answers to be fully satisfactory for however the souls of wicked men and women may by sympathy with the body be tormented by real Fire yet God having made Devils to be wholly Spirits which are wholly incorporeal I don't apprehend how any fire or bodyly substance can have any impression upon them but that Fire Air Earth or Water are all the same things to them and that they are incapable of suffering by any of them that as Water cannot drown them so neither can fire burn them that as Air cannot refresh them so neither can Fire afflict them Indeed were the opinion of some Ancients true that Devils have bodies but more pure and resined such as cannot be seen any more than the Air a real Fire might be made so pure by God as to torment the Devils but I am altogether of the Judgement that Devils are wholly Spirits the Scripture asserting it and many reasons I might give of it but that it would be too large a digression moreover the fire of Hell I believe will be such as immediately to afflict the souls of the wicked and not only by Sympathy with the body because otherwise the torture of the body would be greater from it's immediate object than the anguish of the soul by Sympathy when the Souls desert of punishment is greater being more highly guilty of Sin than the body which is made use of only as an instrument Yet I cannot be of the opinion that the fire of Hell wâ—…ll wholly be Metaphorical for the reasons before given therefore I judge that both the opinions may be reconciled with themselves and the truth by asserting that this fire of Hell will be partly Metaphorical and partly real First I conceive that the fire of Hell will be in part Metaphorical and that this also will be the most grievous and tormenting though not to the sense yet to the soul to the devils who can be tormented by no other fire my meaning is that the Fire which will be Metaphorical is to be understood of the feirce anger and wrath of the Sin-revenging God who himself is called a consuming Fire Heb. 12. 19. And whose anger is often expressed by the Metaphor of fire in the Scripture and so that everlasting fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels and for the souls of wicked men and women which will be accompained also with a real fire prepared for their bodies of which in the next particular is the everlasting wrath of God which he hath treasured up against the day of wrath when he will open and bring forth those treasures and make immediate impressions thereof upon all damned spirits which shall burn worse than Fire and cause greater anguish to the spirit than any fire can do â—…o the sense hence it is said Heb. 10. 31. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God and that because the immediate strokes of Gods vengeance which damned Spirits shall fall under when he takes them into his own hands to punish them in Hell will above all things be most intolerable The Apostle saith 2 Thess. 1. 8. That the wicked shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord ana from the Glory of his Power This is to be understood causally as if he should have said that the destruction of the wicked shall arise from Gods Presence and glorious Power which will pâ—…t forth it self so mightily as to glorifie it self in the punishment of them in Hell God will appear in Heaven to the Angels and Saints in a flame of Love and make immediate and most sweet impressions thereof upon them which will be their chief happiness and God will appear in Hell to Devils and damned Spirits in a flame of wrath as a consuming fire and make immediate impressions of his wrath upon them which will be their chief misery for Sinners to be taken thus into the hands of God and punished by the fire of his wrath will be more dreadful than if the most furious Creatures in the World were mustered up together and let loose upon them to tâ—…ar them in pieces and devour them if they were tormented with the most exquisite torments which can possibly proceed from any second causes it would be no more than the biting of a Flea or the Prick of a Pin in comparison with these immediate strokes of Gods vengeance and the burning under the fire of his indignation Secondly The Fire of Hell I believe will be in part real I mean that fire whereby the body shaâ—… be afflicted I judge that as the torture will be real so that the fire whereby it will be tortured will be real too of all senses the feeling is most capable of being cruciated and afflicted and of all the objects of this sense fire is most afflictive and painful and therefore God hath appointed fire to be for the punishment of the body indeed other senses will be afflicted too the ear with hideous noises shreeks and yellings of fellow damned Sinners the eye with fearful ghastly and horrible spectacles the smell with suffocating odious and nasty stench worse than of Carrion or that which cometh out of an open sepulchre but the feeling will be most afflicted by the devouring and eternally burning Fire which the wicked shall be thrown into I shall not dispute whether this real fire of Hell will be such as our culinary fire I mean that in our Chimneys which sometime creeps into Houses and is of so great force us to burn down Cities and seiseth upon all combustible matter before it and which will continue no longer than it is fed by such gross matter or whether it will be more purely Elementary fire such as Philosophers affirm to be between the upper Region of the Air and the lower Orb of the Heavens or whether it will be such fire as sometimes breaks forth out of the bosom of the Earth at the