Selected quad for the lemma: water_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
water_n	air_n	earth_n	world_n	4,916	5	4.9346	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A65565	A full account of the great and terrible earthquake in Germany, Hungary and Turky Which was one of the greatest and most dreadful earthquakes that ever was in the world. With a most exact and particular account of the terrible eruptions of fire, conflagration of mountains, devastation of whole towns and villages. As also a learned discourse of the nature, causes and kinds of earthquakes: with a view of all the several opinions of the most eminent philosophers in the world, as well ancient as modern. To which is annexed, Some reflections and probable conjectures of the consequents and significations of this calamious accident. Written in Dutch by the excellent pen of Leopold Wettersteint de Hodenstein: and translated into English by Rich. Alcock Gent.	Wettersteint, Leopold, de Hodenstein.; Alcock, Richard.	1673 (1673)	Wing W1523A; ESTC R222588	5,303	21

shatter'd in all his journey along to Buda But from Buda to Germany the effects of the Earthquake were very inconsiderable the earth only trembling and shaking but not so much as one house ruin'd It is evident by what we saw with our own eyes at Hodenslein and what this Imperial Envoy remark'd in his voyage from Constantinople to Vienna that this was all one Earthquake and that 't was caus'd by an impetuous spirit or blast of wind included in the bowels and caverns of the earth which run so many hundreds of miles through the blind caverns of the earth before it could get vent You may find a parallel example of the like continuation of an Earthquake even from Hungary to Constantinople reported by the noble and learned Aug. Gislenius of Busbeck vide Busbequii Epist 3. de Legat Turcic pag. 147. which was about 100 years ago in the reign of Solyman the Magnificent to whom Busbequius was sent by this Court as Ordinary Ambassador Thus much concerning matter of fact and concerning the late great Earthquake in Germany and Turky Now I intend briefly to lay down the Sentiments and Opinions of Philosophers concerning the nature the different species and the several causes of Earthquakes in general Seneca in his Natural Questions lib. 6. and Pliny in his Natural History lib. 2. cap. 79. unanimously conclude that an Earthquake is the very same thing in the earth that a Thunderclap is in the clouds and that the hiatus and rupture is caus'd when the tumultuous blast or spirit impetuously breaks forth and gains its liberty And this is partly the Sentiment of Aristotle and the whole School of Peripateticks as is evident in their Works and Writings who generally conclude the efficient cause of Earthquakes to be subterranean and tumultuous blasts of winds included in the bowels and caverns of the earth and violently forcing a passage out Thales Malesius that ancient Philosopher affirm'd that water was the cause of Earthquakes This man as Seneca reports of him Natur. Quest lib. 6. c. 6. did assert that water was the first principle of all things and that the whole earth did float up and down upon the Ocean like a huge Vessel or Ship and that an Earthquake was nothing else but a violent agitation or tossing of the earth upon the Sea The chief reason which mov'd Thales to embrace this opinion was because in many great Earthquakes there is an eruption of new springs fountains and rivers See more of this opinion in the fore-cited place of Seneca Seneca in the ensuing Chapter tells us of some other Philosophers who affirm'd that water was the efficient cause of Earthquakes but not after the same manner as Thales maintain'd These men were of opinion that in the bowels of the earth there was an immense quantity of water vast lakes and ponds and navigable rivers and that this Subterranean water was the material cause of the eruption and perpetual emanation of springs and fountains in divers parts of the world and that these Subterranean waters by their perpetual motion and course did by degrees eat away and consume their banks and undermine the pillars and foundations of the earth so by consequence that when these pillars of the earth fall there necessarily follows a sinking collapsion or concussion of the earth and thus they say Earthquakes are caus'd Seneca in his 9 Chapter tells us that some of the Ancients affirm'd Subterranean fire to be the cause of Earthquakes which by burning wasting and consuming the inward parts of the earth causes a falling or sudden sinking down of some parts of the Earth So that by these mens reckoning the Subterranean fire doth cause an Earthquake ruina collapsu partium by the sudden fall or subsidence of the earth when its props and pillars are consum'd by sire And they endeavour to make this opinion probable by alledging and instancing that in several Earthqukes there has been great and terrible eruptions of fire flame and smoak from out of the Chasmata and apertures of the earth The same Author in the 14 Chapter of his sixth Book of Natural Questions tells us that there were some Philosophers who held that the earth was a living Creature endu'd with a rational soul and consequently with sense and motion so that an Earthquake was nothing but a sudden Qualm or Trembling of this huge Animal or rather a Convulsion Fit or Madam Nature oppress'd with the Fit of an Ague And this opinion was embrac'd and defended by many of the Pythygorean Platonick and Stoick Philosophers who generally held the earth to be a living Creature Callisthenes a learned man and an intimate Companion to Great Alexander has writ a whole Treatise on this subject This learned man says that vapors and winds do insinuate into the blind caverns of the earth which afterwards being pent in and finding no egress cause a violent concussion and shaking of the earth and this he says happens most frequently to maritime Countreys And probably it is from hence that Homer calls Neptune 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i.e. Concussor terrae the Shaker and Mover of the Earth Among modern Authors Cardanus a learned Physician of Milan in Italy denies in his Book de Subtilitate lib. 2. all these opinions of the Ancients and thinks that neither Air Earth or Water are the efficient causes of an Earthquake but he asserts that 't is caus'd by Fire i. e. by Brimstone and other Subterranean Minerals that participate of the nature of Gunpowder and when these are set on fire there presently ensues a horrid concussion and rupture of the Earth Cardanus instances in Pioneers who dig and undermine Castles and Town-walls and blow them up with Gunpowder and by this instance he manifestly concludes and confirms his opinion Reflections and probable Conjectures of consequents and significations of this great Earthquake THis Earthquake as has been already related began on March last past at Hodenstein a Town in Germany and near the confines of Hungary the place of my present abode It began I say in Germany and in a matter of 14 or 15 days ran through the blind caverns and passages of the earth even to the very heart of the Turkish Empire the Subterranean spirit forbearing to break forth or vent its malice upon Christians but reserving its most prodigious fury for the wretched Mahometans When I reflect upon these things why may we not conclude that this portends good and prosperous success to Christians and that the powes of Hell are kept in and not permitted to vex or disquiet Christendom If this Subterranean spirit was forcibly kept in and not suffer'd to break forth upon Christians but fain to run so many hundred of miles before it could force its passage out of the bowels of the earth and then to bring such desolation and calamity to the miserable Turks why may we not conclude that this does plainly signifie that the infernal powers shall be converted and turn'd against one another and that the miscreant Turks by intestine wars and divisions shall tear the very heart of the Ottoman Empire in sunder Again if the Subterranean spirits and Infernal powers afflict and persecute the Turk why may we not also conclude that the Celestial powers and the Stars in their courses shall assist Christians fight against this Siser● this enemy of the Lord of hosts For my part although I pretend to no gift of Prophecy yet methinks by these great commotions of the earth it does evidently and manifestly appear that this Luciferan Emperor of the Turks is suddenly to be humbled and brought down He that has hitherto been invincible and proudly insulted over Christian Kings and Princes now the very earth the lowest basest and vilest of all Creatures scorns to bear him and begins to shake him off Now good Christian Readers consider now I say when the very earth the lowest the basest and dullest of all Creatures does with such vigour and so much animosity denounce open war against this great Enemy of Christianity why do Christian Princes sit still and not conjoyn their forces in this very nick of time Now when the Subterranean spirit makes a passage through the blind caverns of the earth and travels so many hundreds of miles under ground that he may majori impetu with more fury atsacque the very heart of the Ottoman Empire Why do Christians sit still and not come from the uttermost parts of Christendom to assail this proud Tyrant So let the Enemies of the Lord perish FINIS