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
haue contemned it is not Succot-benoth nor Tartak whome we haue renounced finally it is not any abhomination of the idolatrous Gentiles whom wée haue displeased we abhorre and vtterly detest all such fornication and vncleannesse of the Heathen But it is thou O almightie GOD whose seate is the Heauen and whose footestoole the earth against whome wée haue transgressed thy lawes wée haue violated and not liued within the compasse of thy cōmandements Our bodies wée haue defiled with the filthines of concupiscence euery member and part of it hath béene accessarie to the committing of many an outragious sinne our very souls also O Lord we confesse are defaced and haue lost their glorie through the staines of our infinite transgressions so that both within and without we are polluted poisoned and like to perishe except the Mithridatum of thy mercy which is a present souereigne salue against all sores preserue vs from this peril Thou O most mercifull Father as tendering the estate of vs thy children hast vouchedsafe by sundrie signes and wonders as foretokens of thy plagues prepared for our punishment to call vs to repentance Our forefathers haue not wanted these warnings and we are not without them so meruellous is thy mercie From Heauen thou vouchsafedst to visit vs and hast commanded the earth to call vpon vs visions of fire haue declared thy iudgements blasing Starres thine indignation mortall plagues thy vengeance Our progenitors haue lien groning vnder the yearks of thy sharpe rod that we their posteritie by their chastisement might be drawne to amendement O the vnmeasurable mercie of thée our almightie God! O thy long sufferance O thy fatherly kindnes O thy vnspeakable pitie patience Thou hast forborne vs euen in our wilfull offences and hast spared vs when we deserued iustly to be smitten Thou hast powred plentie vpon vs and prolonged our peace and yet vngratious children we will not obey thy voice O Lord beare with our imbecillitie we beséech thée for thou knowest we are but dust and ashes fraile and féeble vnconstant and variable corrupt and mortall It is not in vs to direct our owne waies but the working of thy spirit in vs and therfore we acknowledge our owne vilenesse and falling flat before the throne of thy presence submit our selues both bodies soules to thy good pleasure and will O Lorde looke vpon our humilitie behold our submission regard our heauines despise not our contrition hearken to our praiers and ponder our supplications which we powre foorth before the throne of thine incomprehensible Maiestie And though wée haue béene startbackes though we haue béene stubberne though we haue béene rebellious though we haue béene merciles though we haue béene couetous though we haue béene murtherers though we haue béene deceiuers though we haue béene hypocrites though we haue béene contemners though we haue béene liers though we haue béene blasphemers though we haue béene riotters though we haue bene wantons though we haue béene dronkards though we haue béene irreligious finally though we haue béene neuer so bad as we cannot bragge of one sparkle of good in this lumpe of fraile flesh yet we beséech thée to cast an eie vpon our accurssed case and vouchsafe to raise in vs the vertue of repentance of true and vnfeigned repentance of sincere and hartie repentance of Christian and perfect repentance that we may sobbe sigh at the sight of our sins which are so many so gréeuous that the remembrance of them striketh vs downe into desperation vnlesse thy mercie shine from Heauen vpon vs sinners sore distressed and minister due consolation O Lorde God most mightie most gratious most bountifull most righteous the giuer of all good gifts the welspring of all felicitie the treasure of euerlasting blessednes create in vs a new heart and plant in vs a right spirit reforme that which is amisse in vs and make vs that are carnall spirituall lighten our minds with the lampe of thy grace that we may through repentance which we most humbly beséech thée to establish in our harts for sake our former conuersation and beginne to lead a new life both we our families wiues children and seruants endeuouring by the good gouernement of thy spirit to bridle the wildnesse of our wandering desires that they excéede not the limites of thy lawe to amend our manners to put off our olde disguised garment of vncleannesse and to cloth our selues with a suite of new raiment namely of regeneration whereby being renewed we may honour thée our Lord GOD almightie Christ thy Sonne equall with thée in deitie and the holie Ghost the thirde person in Trinitie obey our gouernours reuerence thy preachers loue our neighbours succour the comfortles helpe the widowes maintaine the orphanes offer no wrong but deale iustly in all our affaires that by our conuersation thus reformed we may be reconciled vnto thée O our good God againe and escape the plagues which thou hast denounced against vs by strange signes and wonders We are fraile fleshly corrupt sinfull and without the assistance of thy spirit vnable to bring forth the fruits of the Gospell In consideration whereof we exaue at thy handes O heauenly father the gift of thy grace which may sanctifie our soules and purifie our bodies that both our soules and bodies may be made acceptable and swéete smelling sacrisices to offer vnto thy diuine Maiestie Put away from vs by the fruitfull preaching of thy worde all kind of enormities vnséemely for our vocation and as nothing is vnpossible vnto thée vouchsafe that this our age vpon whome the endes of the worlde are warranted by vndoubted forewarnings to be come may sée those happie daies which haue béene prophesied by the mouths of thy messengers that the Woolfe should dwell with the Lambe and the Leoparde lie with the Kid the Lion and the Calfe kéepe together the Cow and the Beare be at agréement the sucking Infant play vpon the hole of the Aspe and the wained Childe put his hande into the Cockatrice nest that thy spirit reforming vs and knitting our hearts with the knot of mutual charitie we may liue in loue without dissembling fauour ech other without grudging casting off all cruell affections which transforme men into monsters in whome thou O God hast vouchsafed to expresse the image of thy Maiestie The end of all is this which we beséech thée O mercifull father to establish in vs namely the fearing of thy name and the kéeping of thy commandements for herevpon dependeth the whole dutie of man knowing that thou O Lorde wilt bring euery worke vnto iudgement and euerie secrete thing euen our verie thought whether it be good or euill to account These blessings we beséech thée O gratious God grant vs with the increase of thy loue and fauour for his sake in whom thou art well pleased Jesus Christ the iust to whome with thée O Father and the holie Ghost thrée persons and one immortall
of England Ireland and Scotland from the time of William Conquerour to the reigne of our souereigne Ladie and gratious Queene Elizabeth c. Also a commemoration of our late generall Earthquake the 6. of April about 6. of the clocke in the Euening 1580. Chap. 12. HAuing waded thus farre in the due description of Earthquakes their generation their instant and consequent operations and yet not sufficiently persuaded that this my present and vnpolished treatise will answere the expectation of the Reader if I leaue it lame and halting vpon one legge I haue determined in this twelfe Chapter which shalbe the conclusion to leaue forein countries and their wonders and comming néerer home to offer vnto the view of the inhabitants of this land the horrible Earthquakes that haue happened as well in particular places of this Realme as generallie through the whale region that wée may sée how the Lorde from age to age hath giuen testimonies to the world of his omnipotencie And because admonitions which consist but in wordes vttered either by voice or expressed by penne preuaile not so much as were to be wished in this wicked worlde as doe examples which are liuely representations of the heauie chaunces whereunto our predecessours haue béene subiect neither yet the threatnings of God in his wrath by the mouthes of his Prophets terrifie the hearts of euill liuers as do the dreadfull signes and wonders which hée vouchethsafe to giue as tokens of his hot indignation herevpon as sorie that we which haue so long liued vnder grace should become gracelesse and vtterly voide of that spirit which shoulde conduct euerie Christian I haue vndertaken to recapitulate or rehearse vnto you according to my promise purpose the times when and the places where Earthquakes haue happened as I find them truly recorded in Chronicles which I haue searched diligently to report iustly to the people of this land that God hath spoken vnto vs manie yeares past euen by such meanes as of late he vsed wherein his long sufferance appeareth vpon the which I counsell no man ouer boldly to presume by securitie in sinning least iudgement and confusion fall vpon him suddenly And first we will beginne at London the Metropolis of this land by degrées of yeares procéede to declare what Earthquakes haue chaunced in other cities and shires of this our natiue countrie It is recorded in the Scottish Chronicles that in the reigne of king Eugenius it rained bloud at Yorke that in sundrie places trées were blasted and thereby withered and died but O wonder that the market place or rather Cheapeside in London did open and gape so that a great hole appearing in the earth manie houses were swallowed vp and sunke neither is it to be thought that no harme in such an excéeding daunger happened to the inhabitants Thinke we the same God who wrought that wonderful worke in this Citie was not able with the late Earthquake to haue done the like here in London Yes yes his almightinesse is perpetuall his will remaineth vnchangeable his arme is not shortened Againe in the time of king William the Conqueror in the yeare after the birth of Christ 1077. there hapned in March a generall Earthquake throughout all England and in April next immediately following a terrible blasing starre appeared to the horror of the beholders Although this Earthquake now named shooke the foundations of all this land yet in so much as there is no mention made that it chaunced in other countries therby we may gather that being inferiour vnto this our late Earthquake in vniuersalitie for so farre as I can vnderstand both by trauellers beyond the Seas and by strangers borne it is supposed that it was generall and that the whole frame of the worlde trembled therewithall farre greater harmes happening there than here the Lord be thanked it could not import or foreshew such a plague as this threatneth against vs nor include in it so secret a meaning The Lord in mercie deale with his people for in iudgement none shalbe able to abide his presence Againe in the time of the said king William the Conqueror in the veare after the birth of Christ 1084. there chanced an Earthquake which although it was but particular yet may it séeme to bée supernaturall For at such time as king William among all other cruelties executed vpon English men pulled downe whole townes villages churches and other buildings thirtie miles compasse to make thereof a forrest which at this day is called by the name of New forrest it pleased God beside the lamentable outcries of afflicted people ringing about the Tyrants eares to giue a token by the earth which at that instant shooke and rored of his indignation against that vnnaturall destroier for his accursed dealing As for him who by his power might presume somewhat further than a priuate man I thinke he was not so mercilesse a spoiler but that in this our age there may be founde millians I feare I would to God I did lie which excell him by many degrées For the worlde is growne vnto this abhomination in these dayes that the craftiest man is counted the wisest and he that hath most circumuentions in him to ouershoote his brother is had in estimation As for simplicitie and plaine dealing it is so little thought vpon as if it had neuer béene in the world No maruell then though God by vniuersall signes sent throughout all corners of the earth foreshewe the sharpnes of his sworde wherewith he meaneth to come girded wound vs in his wrath our iniquities are so outragious so manifold and detestable Againe in the reigne of King Henrie the first of that name in Ianuarie in the yeare of our Lord 1165. there hapned a meruellous Earthquake in the Isle of Elie in Northfolke in Suffolke and other places the vehemencie whereof was such that with the trembling of the same men had not the power to stand vppon their féete buildings also were sore shaken and stéeples so rocked that the belles knolled therewithall And in the reigne of King Henrie the second of that name at Oxenhale within the Lordship of Derlington in the yeare of our Lord 1179. the earth did lift vp it selfe on high like a mightie towre and continuing so from nine of the clocke in the morning till the euening it fell downe at length with a horrible noise swallowed vp with the sudden and violent sinking of the same left a déepe pit in place thereof as a witnesse to the posteritie of that strange wonder These documentes or lessons as they are not vsuall so ought they not negligently to be thought vpon and therfore woe to the wicked that are growne so senseles and voide of féeling that no iudgement of God can soften their stonie hartes To procéede in our examples for we meane to tell you of later Earth quakes some in the daies of our grandfathers our fathers and our owne On Monday
terribly as no man liuing yet no place can comprehend it that our posteritie if it please God to prolong their pilgrimage in this life may tell their ofspring what woonders GOD hath wrought in these times and that he is able when it is his blessed will to do greater things among the people and nations of the earth I will register this wonder To leaue London therefore as néedelesse to be named the falling of chimnies the cracking of houses the shaking of windowes the trembling of tables the quiuering of chanels the maruelling of men the wondering of women the astonishment of both the talking of Gods iudgements the fearing of his vengeance the suspecting of great daunger the prophesieng of Doomes day the confessing of sinne the blaming of all estates the complaining against pride the exclaming against enuie the crieng out against the abuse of the Sabbaoth day the finding fault with a thousand enormities for the peoples mouthes were full of common places at that instant but alas that sudden zeale being vehement could not be permanent deuotion died when daunger ceased and all was counted but a nine daies wonder the inueieng against diuerse disorders in these daies the wishing of all well some saieng Lorde haue mercie vpon vs some Jesus saue vs some praieng in the Church some plaieng in the fieldes some merrie at home some sporting abrode some busie about their affaires some looking ouer their accountes some leaping some dansing some tumbling some vawting some piping some singing some bowling some dicing some carding some shooting some wooing some surfetting some sléeping some eating some drinking some ieasting some gibing some scoffing some taunting some bralling some fighting c. that I thinke if the generall day of iudgement had come vpon vs as this was but a forewarning of it we had all béene founde no lesse vnprouided than were they in Noes floud we had all stoode in the state of condemnation and therefore exalt and magnifie Gods mercie which is aboue all his workes and endureth from generation to generation To be certein of this Earthquake how farre it was effectuall to what Countries it stretched what people it amazed I haue had conference with diuerse some saieng that it was generall some that it was extraordinarie some that it was in Cales Antwerpe and Brabant some that it was in sundrie places of Flanders some that it was in Northfolke and Suffolke some that it was at the Isle of Elie a soile as it were cut off from all the Countrie by reason of waters lieng round about it and yet comming thither it shooke all the townes and made a stone or two of great bignesse to fall from the Minster some that it was general some that it was supernatural some that the like was neuer séene and I am of that opinion some saieng this and some that according as they were mooued vpō the sudden chance Among a number that haue complained what hurts their houses haue susteined some that XX. poundes XXX poundes nay an C. poundes will not repaire the ruines of the same I cannot heare of one that lamenting the decay of conscience equitie righteousnesse honestie charitablenesse c. doeth one good déed towarde their restitution A strange ouersight or rather a senselesse securitie among men Here I coulde largely discourse vpon the particular enormities of this our wicked age as pride ambition couetousnesse extortion vsurie dissention oppression iniurie blasphemie slander fornication briberie subtiltie euill talking and worse walking of all degrées in their calling but because this point is alreadie touched in place conuenient and diuerse diuersly haue discoursed vpon this our late sudden Earthquake whose names are rehearsed in the beginning of this booke one among all sufficient to report the truth of so terrible a trembling but all iointly though many yet too too few by penne and inke to set out so maruellous a matter to the worlde that the hearing of Gods wonderfull workes might bréede a feare of his heauie iudgements I conclude with this praier following ¶ 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. O Almightie God thou iust iudge and seuere punisher of sinne which hast not spared thine owne people being the lot of thine inheritance but hast for their transgressions executed thy sharpe and bitter iudgements vpon them somtimes by sworde sometimes by samine somtimes by pestilence sometimes by captiuitie according as it pleased thée vnder whose rod of correction they often lay groning we the sinfull people of this realme of England perceiuing by most apparant tokens that thou art highly displeased with vs and by the remembrance of thy manifold visitations in times past called to an acknowledgment and confession of our sinnes our vile sinnes our abhominable sinnes our damnable sinnes beséech thée with all submission to haue mercie vpon vs and not to procéede in iudgement against vs for alas we are then vtterly vndone We are not able to answere in our owne behalfe for the least offence which wée haue committed there is no pleading before thy Maiestie for our excuse thou wilt admit no shift thou wilt allowe no proofe whereby to maintaine our owne cause for thou art righteous in thy iudgements vncorrupt in thy procéedings and vnuariable in pronouncing sentence Lo most mercifull Father wée wretches subiect vnto death damnation through sinne fall prostrate before thy face and being penitent and heauie for our misdéedes most humbly beséech thée to be fauourable vnto vs and vpon triall of our amendement by the assistance of thy spirit to withdraw the whippe of thy wrath wherewith thou forewarnest vs we are like to be scourged Wée haue kicked vp the héele against thée like vnbroken Coltes the Oxe hath knowne his maisters stall and the Asse his owners cribbe we haue not regarded thy waie but farre inferiour vnto them in due performance of seruice haue neglected all care of obedience to thy Maiestie Our vnthankfulnesse O Lord we confesse is wonderfull our contempt vnmeasurable and our securitie monstruous neuerthelesse thou that hast power to renew our secret cogitations and thoughts to make that streight which is crooked the hard soft the rough smooth the sowre swéete the sicke sound the dead aliue vouchsafe to turne this ingratitude and vnthankfulnes of ours into the contrarie vertue our contempt into obedience our securitie into carefulnes that séeing the signs of thy wrath and indignation kindled to consume vs we may be sorie for our sinnes and be saued It is not Adrammelech nor Anammelech whome we haue offended it is not Ashima nor Ashtaroth whome we haue dishonored it is not Baalim nor Chemosh whome wée haue prouoked it is not Dagon nor Milcom whome we haue despised it is not Molech nor Nergal whome we haue forsaken it is not Niohaz nor Nisroch whom we
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 *