UPON this extraordinary Occaſion you have doubtleſs all of you already heard proper Leſſons and Admonitions from the Pulpit. Yet I think it meet to ſtir you up, by putting you in Remembrance; and hope it will be a word in Seaſon, eſpecially ſince it is as it were an Addreſs to the whole Province together, in our honorable Rulers, and Repreſentatives met at this time in a new Aſſembly.

AND I beſeech you, Brethren, ſuffer the Word of Exhortation, which ſpeaks to you in the Pſalmiſt's Language; The LORD is a great GOD, and a great King above all Gods: In his Hand are the deep Places of the Earth,— To day if ye will hear his Voice, harden not your Hearts as in the Provocation, and in the Day of Temptation in the Wilderneſs.

IN the Words we have firſt a Propoſition laid down, In his Hand are the deep Places of the Earth. And then an Exhortation leading us into a proper Improvement of that general Truth, To day if ye will hear his Voice, harden not your Hearts. Which is enforced by the awful Conſideration of the Fall and Deſtruction of the unbelieving Iſraelites in the Wilderneſs, who tempted and provoked the moſt high GOD, ſo that He was wroth with his Inheritance, and abhorred his People.

IN diſcourſing on the Text, I ſhall proceed in the Order & Method of the Pſalmiſt: Firſt, I ſhall ſay ſomething to illuſtrate the Truth he aſſerts here: Secondly, I ſhall inculcate the Duty he exhorts to. And finally preſs the Motive taken from the Example of the Iſraelites that ſinned and fell in the Wilderneſs.

I ſhall begin with the Pſalmiſt's Pro poſition, which you may take for the Doctrine or Ground of my Diſcourſe,

IN the LORD'S Hand are the deep Places of the Earth.

THE Meaning is, That the whole Earth is the LORD'S, and even from it's Centre, and in all it's Parts, is ſupported and govern'd by a Divine Power and Influence. GOD has the Propriety, and the Diſpoſal of all.

(1.) HE has a Propriety every where, and even the deep Places of the Earth are his Poſſeſſion.

THIS appears the Meaning in part from what follows; The Strength of the Hills is HIS alſo; The Sea is HIS, and He made it; and his Hands formed the dry Land.

IT was GOD that originally gave Being to the Earth; 'Twas the Product of his mighty Power, the Contrivance of his Wiſdom, and Efflux of his Goodneſs. The holy Scriptures every where aſcribe the Creation of the Earth to GOD, and mention it in many elegant & lofty Deſcriptions of the great Creator and Sovereign of all Things, as a marvellous Diſplay of his adorable Perfections; a glorious Piece of divine Workmanſhip Pſal. 102 35 & 104.5. Iſa. 51.13. Jer. 51 15.. Yea we find the Almighty challenging it as his peculiar Glory Iſa 44 24. Iſa. 48 12, 13. Job 38 4,-7..

NOW therefore, if GOD created the Earth, He muſt needs have an indiſputable Right of Propriety in it. Hence the Scriptures do frequently aſſert his Title. Thus, Deut. 10.14. Behold, the Heaven and the Heaven of Heavens is the Lord's thy God, the Earth alſo with all that therein is. Pſal. 24.1. The Earth is the Lord's, and the fulneſs thereof; the World, and they that dwell therein. And ſo our Text, In his hand are the deep Places of the Earth: the ſubterraneous Springs and Mines; the abundance of the Sea, and the Treaſures hid in the Sand. Yea He tells us, Job 41.11. Whatſoever is under the whole Heaven is mine.

INDEED it is ſaid, GOD hath given the Earth to the Children of Men: but it means only, That he has lent or let it out to them: Given it them for a Poſſeſſion to occupy for the preſent. We are but Tenants: He is the Landlord, and has reſerv'd to Himſelf the whole Property. Even our very Houſes, with all their Furniture, and our Lands, with all the Improvements upon them; all the Produce upon the Surface, and all the Riches within the Bowels of the Earth, are the LORD'S. All the Ends of the Earth, and all the ſecret Places of it; even the Regions that are out of all human Sight and Reach, They and their rich Contents are His: Not only under his Eye, but in his Hand, poſſeſſed by him as much as any other parts of the World.

THIS ſhows the unſearchable Riches & Greatneſs of GOD. Agreably the Pſalmiſt ſays, Great is the Lord: In his Hand are the deep Places of the Earth. Surely none of the great Men of the Earth, that truſt in their Wealth, and boaſt themſelves in the Multitude of their Riches, can vie with GOD. However large their Poſſeſſions, tho' they have added Houſe to Houſe, and Field to Field, and extended their Purchaſes or Conqueſts ſo far that they ſeem to be placed almoſt alone in the Earth; yet they cannot compate with GOD: for He is Lord of the whole Earth; the utmoſt parts of the Earth, and the deep places of it, are his Poſſeſſion; while the Richeſt of Men poſſeſs only ſome ſmall ſpots of the upper Strata. Let this Reflection teach Men Humility.—And let it teach us to admire the Condeſcenſion of GOD in accepting the Alms & Devotions of his People. 1 Chron. 29.14. But who am I, and what is my people, that we ſhould be able to offer ſo willingly after this ſort? for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee. Surely He is not miniſtred to by Men's Hands, as tho' He needed any thing, ſeeing that He is Lord of Heaven and Earth. Hence He put a ſlight upon the legal Sacrifices, in thoſe Terms, Pſal. 50.12. If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the World is mine, and the fulneſs thereof.

Further, THIS teaches us the Bleſſedneſs of Them that have an Intereſt in the LORD as their GOD! Behold, Happy is the Man whoſe Hope is in the Lord. They that have Him for their Portion may be ſaid to poſſeſs all Things: Things preſent and Things to come, all are theirs, 1 Cor. 3.22. Hence Pſal. 89.11, 12, 15. The Heavens are thine, the Earth alſo is thine: as for the World, and the fulneſs thereof, thou haſt founded them. The North and the South thou haſt created them: Tabor and Hermon ſhall rejoyce in thy name. Bleſſed are the People that know the joyful ſound: they ſhall walk, O Lord in the light of thy Countenance.

In a word, THIS Reflection affords a Motive to Obedience; becauſe GOD is able out of his rich Stores abundantly to reward us. Exod. 19.5. Now therefore, If ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my Covenant, then ye ſhall be a peculiar Treaſure unto me above all People: for all the Earth is mine. Particularly it is a ſtrong Incentive to Charity & Bounty, in all thoſe Inſtances which GOD requires of us. For all the Store that we have prepared cometh of his Hand, and is all his own. He juſtly therefore expects that we honour Him with our Subſtance: and in ſpecial by willingly expending upon pious and charitable Uſes, the Proportions which he hath out of our Eſtates and Incomes ſeparated to ſuch Ends. We are ſolemnly charged to give, every Man as he is able, according as GOD hath proſpered him Deut. 16.17. 1 Cor. 16.2. And if we withhold more than is meet, He charges us with Stealth and Injuſtice. Mal. 3.8. Will a Man rob God? yet ye have robbed me: but ye ſay, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes & offerings. Wherefore as we wou'd not incur the Guilt of Injuſtice, as well as Ingratitude, let us ſee to it that we be ready to diſtribute, willing to communicate. To do Good and to communicate, forget not: for with ſuch Sacrifices GOD is well pleaſed. Render to all their dues, Tribute to whom Tribute is due, Honour to whom Honour, Charity to whom Charity. Bring ye all the Tithes into GOD'S Store-houſe, and prove me now herewith, ſaith the Lord, if I will not pour you out a Bleſſing, ſo that your Barns ſhall be filled with Plenty, and ye ſhall dwell in a delightſome Land, ſaith the Lord of Hoſts, the moſt High GOD, Poſſeſſor of Heaven and Earth.

I paſs now to ſay,

(2.) ANOTHER Thing imply'd may be, That GOD Upholds the Earth in it's Being, and continues it's ſeveral Virtues, Riches and Ornaments.

THE Earth, and all it's deep Places, He holds in his Hand, and keeps from Deſolation. Should He withdraw His ſuſtaining Influence but for a moment, the Earth wou'd immediately return to it's primitive Chaos, or relapſe into Nothing. By his Almighty Fiat the Earth, with it's immenſe Stores and Treaſures, ſtarted into Being; and He upholds all Things by the ſame Word of his Strength. No Creature has a Power of Self-preſervation; nor can one preſerve another: but all depend upon the Firſt Cauſe, and equal is the Efficiency of the Almighty, in the Suſtentation of the Earth, as in it's original Creation.

THE upholding and preſerving of this viſible World is every where in holy Scripture declar'd the Work of his omnipotent Arm, and celebrated as one of the high Glories of infinite Majeſty. Jer. 51.15. He hath made the Earth by his Power; He hath eſtabliſhed the World by his Wiſdom.— When He had created the Earth, He fixed this vaſt Globe on it's Centre, and ſettled the Orders and Uſes of all Things therein. Hence we read, Pſal, 104.5. Who laid the Foundations of the Earth, or as it is in the Margin, Hath founded the Earth upon her Baſes. This vaſt Terraqueous Globe has no viſible Foundations to ſupport it, no Pillars to reſt upon, nor Axletree on which it hangs; but is ſuſpended in the Air, pois'd with it's own weight, we know not how. A Myſtery this is, celebrated by all Philoſophers as one of the inſcrutable Arcana of Nature, and the Reſult of Divine Power & Wiſdom. Job mentions it with wonder, Chap. 26.7. He ſtretcheth out the North over the empty Place, and hangeth the Earth upon Nothing. When GOD ſpake to Job out of the Whirlwind, among other Challenges, He made that, Chap. 38.5, 6. Who hath laid the meaſures thereof, if thou knoweſt? or who hath ſtretched the line upon it? Whereupon are the Foundations thereof faſtned? or who hath laid the Corner-ſtone thereof? "The vaſt Bulk of the Earth is model'd as regularly as if it had been done by Line and Meaſure": And retains to this Day the ſame Figure & Dimenſions that it had at firſt; continued by the Power of GOD, who laid the Corner-ſtone thereof, which preſerves the Parts of it in a juſt Conſiſtence, and ſaves them from crumbling into Confuſion. And He alſo faſten'd the Foundations, ſo that this prodigious Weight has kept thro' many Ages it's primitive Situation, which gives it ſtill the Advantage of the Atmoſphere, and the heavenly Orbs round about it. This is the Work of GOD. His ſtrength ſetteth faſt the Mountains, and He is the Confidence of all the Ends of the Earth. He comprehendeth the Duſt of the Ground in a meaſure, and weigheth the Hills in a Balance. He viſits the dark Caverns of the Earth, and preſerves it's Bowels from guſhing out. He guards the Earth from the Violence of the Sea, and continues the ancient Diviſion of the Waters from the dry Land. He ſets Bars to the Ocean, and holds the mighty Abyſs in the Hollow of his Hand. He poiſes this terraqueous Globe ſo equally on every ſide; maintains a juſt Proportion of the Elements, and the convenient Diſtribution of ſolid and fluid Bodies.

HE alſo preſerves the different Natures of Things, their eſſential Qualities, and original Inſtincts, or Tendencies to the various Ends & Uſes they were adapted and deſign'd for. The Laws of Gravitation and Magnetiſm, and the Law of Inſtinct, thoſe myſterious Contrivances of His infinite Wiſdom, are eſtabliſh'd in the Word by his Almighty Hand; by which Means the ſeveral Parts of the Earth afford their various Productions for the Support & Service of it's Inhabitants, in their innumerable Species, and with a moſt ſurpriſing Harmony all Things conſpire to ſerve the particular Purpoſes they were made for, which terminate in the Benefit of the Univerſe and Glory of the Creator. Well may we make thoſe Reflections, with the devout Pſalmiſt Pſal. 104.24.—119.90, 91.—74.16.17., O Lord, how manifold are thy Works! In Wiſdom haſt Thou made them all: The Earth is full of thy Riches; ſo is the great and wide Sea: wherein are Creatures innumerable. Theſe wait all upon Thee. Thou preſerveſt Man and Beaſt. Thy Faithfulneſs is unto all Generations: Thou haſt eſtabliſhed the Earth, and it abideth. They continue this Day according to thine Ordinances: for all are thy Servants. The Day is thine; the Night alſo is thine.— Thou haſt ſet all the Borders of the Earth: Thou haſt made Summer and Winter.

O let us ſtand up and bleſs the Lord our GOD for ever and ever; whoſe glorious Name is exalted above all Bleſſing and Praiſe. And let all the Earth fear the Lord: let all the Inhabitants of the World ſtand in Awe of Him: for He ſpake, and it was made: He commanded, and it ſtood faſt Pſal 33.8..

In a word, LET the People of GOD improve this Conſideration to confirm their Faith, and invigorate their Hope in the Covenant of Grace, that it ſhall ſtand faſt for ever, even as the Covenant of Nature. So GOD himſelf has taught his People to reflect and argue, Jer. 31.35, 36, 37. Thus ſaith the Lord, which giveth the Sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the Moon and of the Stars for a light by night; which divideth the Sea when the Waves thereof rore; the Lord of hoſts is his name. If thoſe ordinances depart from before me, ſaith the Lord, then the ſeed of Iſrael alſo ſhall depart from being a Nation before me forever. Thus ſaith the Lord, If Heaven above can be meaſured, and the Foundations of the Earth ſearched, out beneath, I will alſo caſt off all the ſeed of Iſrael, for all that they have done, ſaith the Lord. So Chap. 33.20, 21, 25, 26.

IT may be added now in the laſt place,

(3.) GOD not only preſerves, but alſo governs the Earth, and all Things that are therein.

THIS Act is imply'd in the former, and the Right of Dominion is juſtly founded thereon. Neh. 9.6. Thou, even Thou art Lord alone: Thou haſt made the Heaven, Earth & Seas, and all that is therein; and Thou preſerveſt them all.— So the Pſalmiſt, The Lord is a great God, a great King above all gods▪ In his Hand are the deep Places of the Earth.

THE Government is in his Hand; His right Hand, and his holy Arm governs the Wheels of univerſal Nature. In his Hand is Power & Might, and He reigneth over all. Heaven is his Throne, and the Earth his Foot-ſtool.

HE governs the Rational World; doth what He pleaſeth among the Armies of Heaven above, and amongſt the Inhabitants of the Earth below. The Kingdom is the Lord's, and He is the Governor among the Nations. In his Hand it is to make great, or bring low; to make rich, or poor. The Lord is the Judge: He putteth down one, and ſetteth up another. For the Pillars of the Earth are the Lord's, and He hath ſet the World upon them. He governs in all Societies, and rules over all Individuals; reſtraining, guiding, puniſhing, or bleſſing, as He pleaſeth. He ruleth by his Power for ever: His Eyes behold the Nations: let not the Rebellious exalt themſelves. But rejoyce in the Lord ye Righteous. The Lord reigneth: GOD is my King of old, working Salvation in the midſt of the Earth.

HE alſo preſides over the Natural World. He extends his Care and Influence to all his Creatures, both ſmall and great. None are ſo little as to eſcape his Notice: Nor any too big for Him to manage. Whatſoever the Lord pleaſeth, that doth He in Heaven and in Earth, in the Seas & all deep Places, Pſal. 135.6. Nature is not left to govern it ſelf; is not reſign'd to the wild Steerage of blind Chance: But GOD ſitteth upon the Circle of the Earth, as a wiſe & powerful Director, influencing all natural Cauſes, and diſpoſing all Effects & Accidents, Periods, Revolutions, and Succeſſions of Things.

THE glorious Orbs of Light, that roll over our Heads, are preſerv'd by Him in their Beauty & Order, and directed by Him in all their Motions and Effects. The Earth alſo under our Feet, and the Air we breathe in, are under his abſolute Dominion.

HE made the Elements, and He governs them: directs their natural Powers, and orders all their Influences & Operations; ſuſpending, or enlarging, as He will. Men are indeed ſometimes apt to imagin, that the Elementary World is under no Direction, that a wild Looſe is given to natural Cauſes, and that they act with an unbounded Liberty. But verily in the midſt of all the Confuſion and Impetuoſity that is ſeen at any time, GOD inſpects, reſtrains, and over-rules, to make every thing ſubſerve his own bleſſed Purpoſes. Hence that of the Pſalmiſt, Pſal. 148.7, 8. Praiſe the Lord from the Earth, ye Dragons and all Deeps, Fire & Hail, Snow & Vapour, and ſtormy Wind, fulfilling his Word.

IN the Depths as well as Heights, GOD ſhews his Power and Dominion. He ſendeth forth his Commandment upon Earth; His Word runneth very ſwiftly Pſal. 147.15.: and none can reſiſt his Will, countermand his Orders, or retard their Execution.

THIS earthly Globe is continually paſſing under Changes and Revolutions. There are perpetual Removes & Alterations, Increaſes & Decays, viſible on the Face of the Earth; and doubtleſs the like in it's interiour Parts. There is a kind of Circulation among natural Principles; a Revolution of the Elements. Thus the terreſtial Matter waſh'd off the Earth by Floods, is a great part of it exhal'd up into the Atmoſphere with the daily aſcending Vapours, and reſtored to the Ground by Rain, Snow & Hail. Again, The Waters which by various methods of Conveyance are ſent forth upon the Earth, are return'd back to the Seas. And ſo the Elements of Fire & Air mutually loſe & gain, by frequent Condenſations & Rarefactions. Inſomuch that all theſe ſublunary Things are in a perpetual Flux & Change: even the moſt conſiſtent Parts not exempted. The Earth feels terrible Convulſions in it's very Boſom many times, ſo that it groans and trembles: and were it not for the Spiracles or Vulcanoes, thoſe awful, yet merciful Contrivances of Divine Wiſdom, which ſerve to extract & evaporate the ſubterraneous Fumes; innumerable Miſchiefs, greater and oftner than is now known, wou'd befall the World, by Earthquakes, Damps, &c.

NOW, in the midſt of all theſe Viciſſitudes of Nature, GOD preſides; directing the moſt ſecret and diſtant Cauſes, and ordering all their Effects, by his Power and Wiſdom. —Indeed in all the Revolutions of the World, we may ſuppoſe there wou'd be no proper Tumult or Confuſion, were it not for the Permiſſion of Divine Providence. For the GOD of Nature hath ſo equally poiſed the Earth on every ſide, and formed all Things in Number, Weight & Meaſure, in ſuch Order & Harmony, with thoſe Inſtincts which fit and diſpoſe them to the particular Uſes & Deſigns they were made for, and ſo to be ſubſervient to one another, that we may reaſonably conclude our Globe wou'd be free from all thoſe Violences it ſometimes feels, were it not for the Will & Power of Divine Providence.

THE Almighty Hand of GOD reaches the very Centre of our vaſt Globe, and equally governs in the inward Parts, and the ſuperficial: So that it is liable to no Accidents whatever, without his active Concurrence, who worketh all things according to the Counſel of his own Will.

IN his Hand are the deep Places of the Earth, ſays my Text. And therefore all Events in the habitable World muſt be the Reſult of his Efficiency: For the ſubterranean Kingdom gives Law to the World we dwell in. The upper Stratum of the Earth yields us no other Comforts, but what depend upon the Regularity & Influence of the deep Places beneath, which are the common Magazines of all Riches.

THE ſmall Fiſſures & wider Cavities in the low Places of the Earth, as well as the high Hills and rocky Mountains, appear the Work of Counſel, and are of indiſpenſable Uſe to the World. We have not only our Treaſures of uſeful Minerals and Metals, and Salts from below: but from hence alſo we have our Supply of Springs & Rivers. From hence aſcend the Vapours, the watry and fiery Steams, which exhal'd by the Sun, form our Clouds, and diſtil in Rain, Snow & Dew, that refreſh the Earth, and make it Fruitful. From hence likewiſe ariſe the Winds, which fan our Air, and purify the Atmoſphere that ſurrounds us, from thoſe noxious mineral Exhalations, that tend to breed peſtilential Fevers, and threaten the Health and Lives of Men.

IN a word, All the Seaſons of the Year, and the ſeveral Circumſtances of them, are very much govern'd by the ſubterraneous Regions. Our Wealth and the valuable Comforts of Life, are moſtly of a ſubterraneanean Extract. Job obſerves not only that Iron is taken out of the Earth, & there are the Veins of Silver & Gold: But he adds, As for the Earth, Out of it cometh BREAD. The vegetable Productions of Nature, the orderly Returns of Seed-time & Harveſt, Cold and Heat, in their due Seaſon, and in a juſt Proportion, depend very much upon a regular State of Things in the Mineral Kingdom, and dark Retreats of the Earth below us.

WHAT follows then, if in GOD'S Hand be the deep Places of the Earth, but that He muſt be the ſupreme Moderator and Diſpoſer of this univerſal Globe! And conſequently we learn from our Text theſe two important Leſſons:

Firſt, THAT GOD muſt have the Praiſe of all the beneficial & beautiful Appearances in the Kingdom of Nature.

AND then,

Secondly, THAT in all terrible & evil Events, we muſt ſee his Hand, and acknowlege his Providence.

AGREABLY the Scriptures every where teach us to conſider GOD as the Author of all thoſe Benefits and Salvations, which the Earth and it's Inhabitants do experience. They tell us that He is the Father of Lights and Fountain of Living Waters. He giveth unto all Life and Breath and all Things. He feeds the Fowls of Heaven, which neither ſow nor reap, and he giveth the Beaſt his Food. And He provideth Bread for Man. It is He that proſpers a People in their Trade abroad and Buſineſs at home: makes Zebulun to rejoyce in his goings forth, and Iſſachar in his Tents: and giveth them Power to get Wealth; to ſuck of the abundance of the Sea, and the Treaſures of the dry Land. He cauſeth his Sun to riſe, and giveth the Rain in it's Seaſon; making the Ground to yield it's Increaſe, and the Trees their Fruits; and He reſerveth to us the appointed Weeks of the Harveſt. When he uttereth his Voice, there is a multitude of Waters in the Heavens, and He cauſeth the Vapours to aſcend from the Ends of the Earth: He maketh Lightnings with Rain, and bringeth forth the Wind out of his Treaſures, by which he preſerves our Air from ſtagnating, and prevents the innumerable Miſchiefs that otherwiſe wou'd be done by poiſonous Steams out of the Earth; and by which alſo He carries our Ships to the deſired Haven. By his Skill & Power the Depths are broken up, and the Dew & Clouds formed, which gently diſtill to refreſh the thirſty Ground. He cauſeth the Bud of the tender Herb to ſpring forth; maketh the Graſs to grow, filleth the Trees with Sap, and prepareth the Corn; ſo that the Mountains rejoyce, and the little Hills on every ſide; the Valleys break forth into Singing, and all the Fields & Orchards clap their hands for joy. He alſo preſerveth the Fruits of the Faith; gives a ſutable Time for Ingathering, and crowns the Year with his Goodneſs. Thus He governs the Spring, and Summer, and Autumn.

HE maketh alſo the Winter, and governs all the Affairs and Circumſtances of it. He ſaith to the Snow, Be thou on the Earth, and bringeth the Cold out of the North. By the Breath of GOD, Froſt is given, and the Breadth of the Waters is ſtraitned. He caſteth forth his Ice like Morſels; ſcattereth the Hoar-froſt like Aſhes, and giveth Snow like Wool: So He covereth the Earth as with a Garment, to cheriſh the Soyl, that it may give Seed to the Sower, and Bread to the Eater. Moreover, He provides our Fuel; furniſhes our Table, preſerves our Health, and maketh our Garments warm upon us, in this difficult Seaſon of the Year: Elſe who cou'd ſtand before his Cold? In a word, He returns the Heats and Thaws of the Spring. He ſendeth out his Commandment, and the frozen Surface of the Ground melts and ſoftens. He quieteth the Earth by the South-Wind: and by the gradual Increaſes of the Day and Advances of the Sun, He revives univerſal Nature, and ſtrips it of it's Winter-Complexion. He ſends forth his Spirit (his warm and animating Breath) and renews the Face of the Earth.

HENCE then let us give all the Glory to GOD, and celebrate his Wiſdom and Power, his Goodneſs and Mercy to us from Year to Year, with Thanksgiving and Praiſe. O how unworthy are we of the leaſt of his Mercies! Yet He crowneth the Year with a Variety and Plenty of Bleſſings. What but infinite Goodneſs cou'd ſo triumph over the Unworthineſs of ſinful Creatures; and be kind to the Evil and Unthankful! Verily the Earth is ſatisfied with the Fruit of his Works, and is full of his Riches. All our Senſes preſent us with numerous Inſtances of Divine Goodneſs. We taſte and ſee that the Lord is gracious: Our Ears alſo have heard the Fame thereof. O let us awake up our Glory, to ſing and give Praiſe! Let the Heaven and Earth praiſe the Name of GOD; the Seas alſo, and every thing therein. O come let us ſing unto the Lord (ſays the Pſalmiſt in the Context) let us make a joyful Noiſe to the Rock of our Salvation. Let us come before his Preſence with Thanksgiving, and make a joyful Noiſe unto Him with Pſalms. For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods: In his Hand are the deep Places of the Earth. He is our God, and we are the People of his Paſture.

BUT yet the Lord has not left us altogether unpuniſhed. He has been correcting us with Stripes from Year to Year: and this Year in a particular manner, He hath been alarming us by a Variety of awful Diſpenſations, which call for our ſolemn Obſervation and Remembrance. Our Text teacheth us to look above natural Cauſes, and aſcribe to a Divine Hand all the evil Accidents which happen in the Earth. The ſovereign GOD controuls and commands all Things here below, ſo as to make them even forget their particular Inſtinct, act contrary to their native Tendency, and deſert their proper Place, according to his abſolute Will and Pleaſure. Who is a ſtrong Lord, like unto HIM, whom Fire, and Wind, and Seas obey; who looketh upon the Hills and they tremble! All Meteors and Elements are obſequious to Him, who gave Nature it's Laws, and directs it's Motions as He pleaſeth. His Way is in the Whirlwind, and in the Storm, in the Thunder and Lightning, in the Flame of Fire, in the ſtifling Damp, and tremendous Earthquake▪— All which, and other Judgments, we have this Year been viſited with. O let us ſee the Hand of GOD lifted up, and tremble at his repeated loud Reproofs.

IN this Town particularly, how has GOD been calling to contend by Fire once and again! Tho' in his great Mercy He has ſet Bounds to this wild Element, and ſoon extinguiſh'd the threatning Flames.

IN the Beginning of the Year what uncommon Colds & Sickneſſes (occaſion'd by noxious Vapours out of the Earth) prevail'd every where: And what a Mortality ſince in ſeveral Towns! Tho', bleſſed be GOD! It has been in general a healthy Year.

WHAT repeated awful Inſtances have we ſeen of very ſudden Death! And one GREAT Inſtance, which has put the whole Britiſh Dominions into univerſal Mourning, by the Bereavement of our late glorious KING; of happy Memory! Tho' bleſſed be GOD the Judge, who in as ſudden a manner fill'd the Throne with another Proteſtant King, and is incircling Him with Glory and Happineſs, in a fruitful VINE by the ſides of his Houſe and flouriſhing Olive-Plants around his Royal Table.

IT has been a Year fill'd with a Variety of ſtrange Accidents, and ſurpriſing Mortalities, whereby we have been alarm'd from time to time. In particular, becauſe of it's obvious Reference to my preſent Subject, I wou'd mention the awful Inſtance of the fatal Damp, by which two Men periſh'd almoſt in the ſame Moment in one Well In Boſton, July 19. this ſurpriſing Accident happen'd. The Well had not been open'd for many Years before: and in going down to examin it, the Maſter & Servant ſucceſſively were both ſmother'd; by ſome mineral Exhalation, or other ſuffocating Vapour, they were immers'd in. And a Third eſſaying to follow them, with a Rope laſh'd about him, had not deſcended two Yards before he felt his Breath expiring: but being inſtantly drawn up, he ſoon recovered.— Surely every Man at his beſt Eſtate is Vanity. LORD, make me to know how frail I am! .

WHAT an uncommon Summer have we had, for Heat, the moſt extreme, and of long Continuance! By which GOD appointed over us Terror, and ſeem'd to intimate his firy Indignation. Yet notwithſtanding the extraordinary Drought, which threaten'd us, He hath in his great Goodneſs allow'd us a plentiful Harveſt of many Fruits of the Earth.

MOREOVER, How has the LORD of Hoſts been frequently uttering his Voice from the Skies in very dreadful Accents of amazing Thunder, and ſhooting out his incenſed Arrows from above: Whereby ſeveral received Damage in their Subſtance One and another had their Buildings hurt, and their Beaſts kill'd. And ſome Perſons were ſtruck, but I think none given over to Death.; tho' thro' the ſparing Mercy of GOD, no human Life has been loſt.— Once in particular how did He ſet the Heavens over our Heads on a Blaze, in a moſt unuſual and ſurpriſing manner; bright Streams of Fire darting inceſſantly in every part: So that we tho't we ſaw ſome Reſemblance of the Day of GOD, when the Lord JESUS ſhall be reveal'd from Heaven in flaming Fire; and many were ſore afraid! His Lightnings illuminated the World; the Earth ſaw and trembled.

Again, HE prepared the Stormy Wind, and blew upon us with an horrible Tempeſt. He ſent forth the Blaſt of his Mouth, and cauſed the Rain of his Strength to come down. So that univerſal Nature ſeem'd to be out of Courſe; the Foundations of the World breaking up, and the Pillars of Heaven falling down. It was a very diſtreſſing Seaſon, both on the Sea & Land. And all the People (as they in Ezra's Time) ſat trembling for the great Rain. This Storm was on Sept. 16. "By it great Damage was done to our Wharves & Shipping; as alſo to the Fruits of the Earth, and to many Buildings. Great Numbers of Trees were torn up by the roots, and ſeveral Chimneys blown down. A Kitchen-Chimney falling, beat in the Roof; kill'd a Child, and very much wounded ſeveral.— The Storm laſted till Midnight: And it was very awful the next Morning to ſee the Deſolations that were made in the Earth. Yet the Proſpect was brighten'd by a very fair Rainbow in the Heavens; a Sign of the Covenant of GOD, that the Waters ſhou'd no more become a Flood to deſtroy all Fleſh.

AND in a few Weeks after, GOD has been pleas'd to viſit us in another and more unuſual Form, by EARTHQUAKE, and great Noiſe, which may be call'd Subterranean Thunder; a Thunder-Storm under ground, in the deep Places of the Earth. This I ſhall take Notice of with a little more of Enlargement.

PHILOSOPHY teaches us to ſuppoſe that the Earth is not a perfectly ſolid Body, but has mighty Caverns within it, and innumerable leſſer Veins and hollow Spaces; where are Fountains of Water, or Treaſures of Winds & Vapours. And the whole Globe is filled with vaſt Stores of Fire and combuſtible Materials. Theſe appear to be the Proviſions in Nature for thoſe terrible Convulſions the Earth is ſometimes thrown into.

BUT the Lord of Hoſts is the grand EFFICIENT. All the Power and Skill of Men can't produce an Earthquake. It muſt be ſaid of it, This is the Finger of GOD. There have been ſome Inſtances, wherein it's thought phyſical Reaſons have been wanting, and the Commotion of the Earth intirely miraculous, the immediate Effect of a ſupernatural and divine Influence, without any Preparations in Nature: as that at the giving of the Law, when the Lord deſcended upon Sinai, and the whole Mount quaked greatly. So thoſe at the Death and Reſurrection of CHRIST; and others mention'd in Scripture.

HOWEVER, doubtleſs in ordinary Caſes at leaſt, there are natural Cauſes of this Phaenomenon. But yet the moſt critical Inquirers into Nature are at a loſs how to account for the generating of the Earthquake, and the Operations of it, without aſcribing a great deal to the more immediate Influence of ſome ſupernatural Power. Naturaliſts agree in this general Conceſſion, That the Earthquake is not any regular Motion of Nature, but a Violence to it, and throws the Earth into a praeternatural State. They confeſs it is contrary to the eſtabliſh'd Laws of the Creation, and reſults from ſome mighty Obſtruction to the ſtated Order and Courſe of Things.—But what that Obſtruction is, or what the particular Principle & Ground of it, remains yet an Inquiry that the moſt penetrating Philoſophers are to this Day perplex'd & divided about. Some derive it's Origin from this natural Cauſe, and others from that. One aſcribes it chiefly to that Element, and another to this. They mutually oppoſe one another's Sentiments: And the moſt that is ſaid upon this myſterious Appearance is but Conjectural.

IT ſeems truly to be a more immediate Act of Providence, than moſt other Events. It muſt be look'd upon as a more ſpecial Work of GOD; viſibly out of the Courſe of Nature: produc'd and govern'd by the great Creator, who has all the Wheels of the Univerſe under his arbitrary Command. He gathereth the Wind in his Fiſts; bindeth the Abyſs in a Garment; reſtraineth the ſubterraneous Fires; and eſtabliſheth all the Ends of the Earth. His Eye and Hand reach the profoundeſt Caverns; and his Footſteps are not known. If the Lord our GOD did not govern the Elements in our Favour, how wou'd they perſecute a guilty World, by Fire, and Tempeſt, Plague, and Famine! How ſoon wou'd the Heavens diſſolve and fall upon us in Cataracts of Vengeance: And the Earth and Sea combine to deſtroy all their Inhabitants! Why does not the Earth ſink into the mighty Deep, on the face of which it is ſtretched out Pſal. 136.6.? Or what Hand confines and rules the flaming Fires in it's ſpacious Cavities? What power viſits one City or Country with the deſolating Earthquake, and not another? Verily the ſame DIVINE Power, which in the Days of Korah created that new Thing, when the Earth open'd, and Multitudes together went down alive into the Pit.

WHEN the Order of Nature is ſubverted, the Rule of natural Cauſes violated, and praeternatural Commotions happen, all muſt be ultimately reſolv'd into an higher Principle, than any ſecond Cauſes, even the Providence of GOD. When Things move and act either againſt or above their own Nature, a ſuperior Power is to be acknowleg'd: And in ſome Inſtances eſpecially, the Earthquake conſider'd in it's extraornary Circumſtances and Effects, muſt be aſcribed to the more immediate Hand of GOD, as in a ſenſe his alone Work.— Whatever ſubordinate Means & Inſtruments GOD may ſee fit to make uſe of in this ſtupendous Event; yet his terrible Majeſty appears imprinted upon it in very peculiar Characters. It has a bright Stamp of Divinity on it's Face; Men behold in it thoſe clear Impreſſes of Divine Power, Sovereignty and Greatneſs, as irreſiſtibly carry up their Eyes to the Firſt Cauſe; and they cannot but apprehend the Inviſible GOD therein diſplaying his Perfections to the World. The Lord as it were comes down, & at his Preſence the Earth ſhakes & rores. That is the Language of this Providence, Give Ear, O Heavens; and hear, O Earth! I will publiſh the Name of the Lord: Aſcribe ye Greatneſs unto God. Theſe awful Shocks and Rumblings are deſign'd (as the Thunder and Shakings of the Heavens Deut. 4 35, 36. & Exod 9 29 are) to let us know that the Univerſe is the LORD'S, and to magnify Him in the Eyes of his intelligent Creatures. Thus it is ſaid Ezek. 38.19— 23, In that day there ſhall be a great SHAKING in the Land of Iſrael; So that the Fiſhes of the Sea, and the Fowls of the Heaven, and the Beaſts of the Field, and all the Men that are upon the face of the Earth, ſhall ſhake at my Preſence, and the Mountains ſhall be thrown down, and the ſteep Places ſhall fall, and every Wall ſhall fall to the Ground; &c. Thus will I magnify my ſelf, — and I will be known in the Eyes of many Nations, and they ſhall know that I am the LORD.— The Earthquake that Elijah 1 Kin. 19.11. ſaw, was to ſhew him the Glory and Majeſty of GOD.

WE may further obſerve,

AS the Earthquake is an eminent Demonſtration of the Divine Power and Preſence: So it is uſually a Token of Wrath kindled againſt a Place for the Wickedneſs of them that dwell therein.

SOMETIMES indeed it has been a Teſtimony of the gracious Preſence of GOD with his People, and his Approbation of them. An Inſtance you have, Acts 4.31. And when they had prayed, the Place was ſhaken where they were aſſembled together; and they were all filled with the holy Ghoſt, and they ſpake the word of God with boldneſs. So the Earthquake that deſtroy'd Korah and his rebel Crew, was a Divine Teſtimony to Moſes & Aaron the Servants of GOD. And that at the Reſurrection of CHRIST was deſign'd, not only as a Signal to give Notice of that great Event, but alſo as a Teſtimony from Heaven to the Majeſty & Glory of his Divine Perſon.—Sometimes Earthquakes have been ſent to work Salvation for the Servants of GOD, by deſtroying their Enemies. The Skies have pour'd down Righteouſneſs; the Earth alſo hath open'd, and brought forth Salvation. When Joſhua compaſſed Jericho, we are told, at the Sound of the Trumpet, and the Shout of the People, the Walls ſuddenly fell down flat Joſh. 6.20., and ſo the City given up into the Hand of Iſrael. It's thought it was by an Earthquake.— We read, when Jonathan and his Armour-bearer aſſaulted the Philiſtines Garriſon, there was a Trembling in the Hoſt; the Garriſon trembled, and the Earth quaked; which ſtruck a Terror upon all the People, and threw them into the utmoſt Confuſion; ſo that the Multitude melted away; for they went on beating down one another 1 Sam. 14.15, 16.. All imagining each other to be Enemies. I might mention alſo the Earthquake, which was the Means of the Apoſtles Deliverance out of Priſon, and a Teſtimony from GOD to their Innocence and Divine Miſſion. Acts 16.25, 26. At Midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and ſang praiſes unto God: and the Priſoners heard them. And ſuddenly there was a great Earthquake, ſo that the foundations of the Priſon were ſhaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were looſed, &c. Thus ſometimes the Earthquake is in Token of the Divine Favour to GOD'S People.

BUT uſually it is a Viſitation in Diſpleaſure: a Sign of Wrath gone out from the Lord. Hence it is made the Subject of a Divine Threatning. As you may ſee, if you conſult the Texts in the Margin Iſa. 13.13. So Chap. 24.17, &c. Amos 1.2..— And hence the dreadful Effects of Earthquakes are declared in Scripture the Tokens of GOD'S Wrath. Iſa. 5.24, 25. Becauſe they have caſt away the Law of the Lord of Hoſts, therefore the Anger of the Lord is kindled againſt his People; and He hath ſtretched forth his Hand and ſmitten them; and the Hills did tremble, and their Carcaſſes were torn in the midſt of the Streets. This might be the Earthquake that Zechary ſpeaks of, in the days of Uzziah King of Judah Zech. 14 5.. Which tho' the Scriptures give no particular Account of; yet 'tis probable it was a very awful and deſtructive one. Hence this Prophet ſays, Ye ſhall flee like as ye fled from before the Earthquake in the Days of Uzziah. Amos dates his Prophecy two Years before the Earthquake, which in all probability was the ſame: And he ſaid, The Lord will roar from Zion; the Habitations of the Shepherds ſhall mourn, and the Top of Carmel ſhall wither. Hear ye, ſaith the Lord; In the day that I ſhall viſit the Tranſgreſſions of Iſrael upon him, I will alſo viſit the Altars of Bethel, and I will ſmite the Winter-houſe with the Summer-houſe, and the Houſes of Ivory ſhall periſh. I ſaw the Lord ſtanding upon the Altar, and He ſaid, Smite the Lintel of the Door, that the Poſts may ſhake, &c. This was the Threatning and Burden of the Lord by the Prophet Amos. Now Iſaiah & Zechariah, who were younger Prophets, may hint to us the woful Accompliſhment of it in the forequoted Paſſages Joſephus, the celebrated Jewiſh Hiſtorian, informs us of ſome awful Circumſtances of this Earthquake in the Days of Uzziah. It happen'd upon Occaſion of the King's going into the Temple to burn Incenſe upon the Golden Altar. Azariah and the Prieſts oppos'd him, ſaying, It appertaineth not to thee, Uzziah, but to the Prieſts. This kindled the King's Wrath, and he bid them be quiet upon the Peril of their Lives. Immediately on this Menace there follow'd a terrible Earthquake, which rent the Roof the Temple; and tore down great part of a Mountain at ſome ſmall diſtance from the Town, which rolling along choak'd up the high-ways, and cover'd the King's Gardens all over with Rubbiſh. [L' Eſtrange's Joſephus, p. 570.] Very probably it was then GOD ſmote the Winter-houſe and Summer-houſe, and the Bodies of Men were torn to pieces in the midst of the Streets, while they fled from the falling Mountain. — So we are told, in the Earthquake in Sicily, (which happen'd in the Year 1693,) Great Rocks were thrown down from the Mountains every where, and great Numbers of People periſh'd in the Houſes, which were beaten down by them in their way, as they rolled along. And in the terrible Earthquake at Jamaica, which is freſh in the Memory of many among us, we are told, The Mountains were ſo thrown in Heaps, as to deſtroy the Roads; and one of them ſplitting, and falling down into level Land, drove all the Trees before it, intirely ruin'd a Plantation, and bury'd the Inhabitants. — Lowthorp's Philoſoph Tranſact. Vol. 2. p. 407, .413..

IT is a ſurprizing Account we have of the Execution done among the Iſraelites in the Wilderneſs by an Earthquake. Numb. 16.31, 32, 33. And it came to paſs as he had made an end of ſpeaking theſe words, that the ground clave aſunder that was under them: And the Earth opened her mouth, and ſwallowed them up, and their Houſes, and all the Men that appertained unto Korah, and all their Goods. They and all that appertained unto them; went down alive into the Pit, and the Earth cloſed upon them: and they periſhed from among the Congregation. Awful Inſtances there have ſince been of the like Deſtruction. The Earth has cleav'd and ſwallow'd Men up, and cloſed it's Bars upon them In the Jamaica-Earthquake, it's reported, That in many places the Ground wou'd crack, and open & ſhut quick and faſt Of theſe ſmall Openings, ſeveral Report, they have ſeen 2 or 3 hundred at a time; in ſome whereof many People were ſwallow'd up: Some the Earth caught by the middle, and ſqueez'd to Death: others had their Heads only appearing above-ground, many of which the Dogs made their Food. — Lowthorp p. 415. Doolittle of Earthq. p. 50..

SOMETIMES Earthquakes have ſhook down Men's Houſes over them, and bury'd Multitudes of Perſons in the Ruins Joſephus ſpeaks of a terrible Earthquake in Judea, in the Reign of Herod (but a few Years before the Birth of Chriſt) which ſhook the whole Land in a more grievous manner than had been ever before known, and deſtroy'd about Thirty Thouſand of the Inhabitants in the Ruins of the Houſes, which it overthrew.— Prideaux Connect. Part II. p. 577..

SOMETIMES the Earth has open'd, and ſpued forth vaſt Quantities of Sand or Aſhes, in which many Houſes have been overwhelm'd.

In the Lucrine Lake near the City of Puteoli, in Italy, (Anno 1538.) there was an aſtoniſhing Eruption of a new Mountain; which with a hideous roaring Noiſe vomited ſuch Store of Earth and Cinders, as overwhelmed all the Buildings thereabout, ſmother'd many Cattle, and did a great deal of Miſchief.— Gen. Hiſt. of Earthq. p. 59.

Some Idea of that terrible Eruption we may form, by thoſe which we have ſeen in the late Earthquake among our ſelves. At Newbury, in 5 or 6 Places, were ſmall Openings of the Earth, at which have been thrown up conſiderable Heaps of Cinereous Matter (upwards of an Hundred Cart-loads) by the force of the ſubterraneal Ferment.

SOMETIMES there have been Eruptions of Fire, like melted Glaſs, or burning Brimſtone: which has ſpread its Flames abroad, and devour'd all before it. In the late dreadful Earthquake at Palermo, we are told, Great Deſolations were made by firy Torrents, which broke out with great Fury. Many Buildings took Fire, and were conſum'd; beſides innumerable others that were thrown down by the violent Shocks of the Earth, and reduced to Heaps of Rubbiſh. Many Hundreds of the Inhabitants periſhed in the Ruins.— And other parts of Sicily, have frequently felt amazing Effects of theſe firy Eruptions. Many fruitful Villages have been deſtroy'd, and populous Cities laid in the Duſt. In particular Catania, one of the moſt ancient and magnificent Cities of the whole Kingdom, was entirely demoliſh'd and loſt in an Earthquake; that there hardly remains any Footſteps of it to be ſeen. A vaſt Deſtruction there was of the numerous Inhabitants. In the Ruines were heard nothing but Cries, Shrieks, and dying Groans. Eighteen or Twenty Thouſand are ſaid to have periſh'd in that amazing Tragedy; which happen'd in the Year 1693. And in other parts of the Iſland a vaſt Number more. [Lowthorp, Vol II. p 402 Dr. I. Mather, of Earthquakes, p 26]— So the Country round about the City of Naples in Italy has ſuſtain'd great Damages by frequent Eruptions. About the Year 1631. there was a dreadful Eruption, when Floods of Fire ran in aſtoniſhing Streams from the burning Mountain into the Sea, many Villages were deſtroy'd, and above Thirty Thouſand Perſons, with an infinite number of Cattle, periſhed. — [Mill Geograph. p 248.] — One reports, the Mountain burnt ſo violently, that by the beſt of his Obſervation, it caſt up the Rocks three Miles into the Air.— Lowth II. p 400.

SOMETIMES the Earth has ſunk down, and been overwhelmed with a Flood of Water. The Mountains have as it were been carry'd into the midſt of the Sea, and the mighty Waters have filled the Valleys. Houſes and Inhabitants have gone down together, and been cover'd with the prevailing Inundation. Whole Cities, yea Countries have been laid under an univerſal Devaſtation by this Means. The Scriptures inform us, That this intire Globe was once drown'd with a Flood, when there was probably (if ever) an univerſal Earthquake, and all the old World were deſtroy'd; ſave eight Souls preſerv'd by a Miracle in Noah's Ark. But after the Earth's Recovery, it pleaſed GOD to make a Covenant, that He would never again let the Waters return to deſtroy all Fleſh. Yet he has ſingled out ſome particular Countries, and made them Inſtances of the like deſtructive Vengeance. Sodom and the adjacent Towns for nigh fourſcore Miles were deſtroy'd in one day by Thunder & Earthquake, by Storm and the Flame of devouring Fire; and it became one mighty ſulphurous Lake: to which perhaps the Scriptures allude, when they ſpeak of impenitent Sinners being caſt into the Lake of Fire and Brimſtone. O what Innumerable Multitudes periſh'd in that dreadful Overthrow!— And other Parts of the World ſince have experienced the ſame terrible Effects of Earthquakes

A few Miles from Naples is Puteoli, once the moſt famous Port in all that Coaſt, and the delightful Retreat of the Roman Emperors, but now an inconſiderable Place: Earthquakes & Inſults of the Sea having almoſt reduced it to Nothing. When the Sea is turbulent, it throws out ſeveral Marks of the Magnificence of the ancient City, among which are oftentimes very precious Stones, Agats, Amethyſts, &c. [Atlas Geogr. Vol. II. pag 1595.] The Country about it has been miſerably torn in pieces by Earthquakes. The Sea has overwhelm'd a Multitude of Palaces; which may be ſeen at the bottom of the Water in a calm Day. — Hudſon's Travels, p. 16 •

In the terrible Earthquake at Jamaica, ſome Parts of the Iſland ſunk as Lead into the mighty Waters, which in a minute or two drown'd ſeveral hundred Families. The Streets roſe up in Waves, like the Sea, and immediately dropt down into Pits: Then Floods of Water broke in. Many of the Houſes were ſwallow'd up in an Inſtant: Multitudes of Corpſes were preſently ſeen floating on the Water over the Tops of Buildings. A large high Mountain was quite ſwallow'd up; and where it ſtood, there's a Lake of 4 or 5 Leagues over, &c. —[Atlas Geograph Vol. V. pag 561.]— Mr. Gordon obſerves of Jamaica, That Hurricanes & Earthquakes (ſo frequent in the Caribees) are ſeldom heard of there. And he makes this religious Reflection; "Whereupon we may juſtly impute that terrible Earthquake (Anno 1692.) rather to a Moral than a Natural Cauſe, viz the many and horrid Abominations abounding amongſt the Inhabitants, which did loudly call for Judgments from Heaven. Geograph Gram p. 393.

IN a word, Sometimes Earthquakes have occaſion'd great Sickneſſes, and peſtilential Diſtempers, by ſpreading abroad thoſe poiſonous Vapours which infect the Air, and by innumerable Accidents, which often fall out at ſuch Times. A very great Mortality follow'd the Earthquake at Jamaica. Vaſt Numbers that eſcaped that, ſoon after died of a malignant Fever; from Change of Air▪ Want of dry Houſes, of warm Lodgings, proper Medicines, and other Conveniences: They died miſerably in Heaps. Indeed there was a general Sickneſs (ſuppoſed to proceed from the hurtful Vapours belched out at the many Openings of the Earth, which filled the Air with ill Stenches, and made the Sky, that was clear & blue, now appear dull and reddiſh, like a red-hot Oven) all over the Iſland; ſo general, that few eſcap'd being Sick. And it's thought it ſwept away Three Thouſand Lives, Lowthorp, p. 411, 419] After our late Earthquake, I have been inform'd, the Atmoſphere was obſerv'd in one of our Towns to appear in an univerſal Flame, without any Thunder or Lightning, which might be the Effect of ſome extraordinary Steams out of the Earth. Tho' I hear not of any prevailing Sickneſs upon it..

THUS I have enumerated ſome of the principal Effects of Earthquakes. And now they muſt needs appear to us very terrible Judgments, being ſo fatal many times, and ſo extenſive in their injurious Influences. Surely theſe, if any Events at all, are manifeſt Indications of GOD'S holy Diſpleaſure. In the Caſe of the Iſraelites that periſh'd in the Gainſaying of Kore, the Earthquake was expreſly declared to be the Vengeance of GOD upon them. By this all Iſrael ſhou'd know that thoſe Men had provoked the Lord, (Numb. 16.30.)

I ſhall only add here, That Earthquakes may be Tokens of Divine Anger, when yet no Execution is done, no Injury receiv'd. It is not to be doubted but that was ſo, which attended the Crucifixion of our bleſſed LORD. The Scripture-Story informs us not of any Death or Damage occaſion'd by it to any Perſon among all the Multitude that ſurrounded the Croſs of CHRIST. Some Eccleſiaſtical Writers indeed ſay, That Earthquake deſtroyed ſeveral Towns in other Lands Near the City of Naples, ſome few Years ago, they dug up a great Piece of Marble, with ſeveral Figures & Letters engraven round it: which all Antiquaries agree is the Pedeſtal of a Statue erected to Tiberius, by the fourteen Cities of Aſia, which were flung down (according to the Opinion of many Learned Men) by the Earthquake that happen'd at our Saviour's Crucifixion. They have found in the Letters which are ſtill legible, the Names of the ſeveral Cities, and diſcover in each Figure ſomething particular to the City, of which it repreſents the Genius.— Addiſ. Trav., but none in the Land of Judea. Nevertheleſs it came as a Sign of Divine Anger kindled againſt the Jews, for their crucifying the Son of GOD; and it preſag'd the Deſtruction haſtening upon Jeruſalem. The Earth trembled, and the Rocks rent, at the accurſed Fact, to proclaim the Indignation of GOD. The Mountains quaked, becauſe He was wroth, and He threw down the Rocks in his Anger. He as it were ſmote his Hands at the wicked Deed, and rent his Garments at the deteſtable Blaſphemies that accompanied it. He exhibited Himſelf in the moſt lively Emblems of Horror & Diſpleaſure. The Sun hid it's head, and the Heavens put on Mourning: the Earth alſo was horribly afraid, and the very Stones cry'd out, as being burſt with Anguiſh, and flaming with Indignation.

IT is the current Opinion of Expoſitors, that King David perſonated the Meſſiah in ſeveral of his Pſalms: And ſome learned Men think he ſpake prophetically in Pſal. 18. Particularly in Ver. 6, 7. where he ſays, In my Diſtreſs I called upon the Lord, and cried unto my God: He heard my voice out of his Temple, and my Cry came before Him, even into his Ears. Then the Earth ſhook & trembled; the Foundations alſo of the Hills moved, and were ſhaken, becauſe He was wroth. It ſeems to be a prophetical Paſſage, pointing at the terrible Earthquakes that attended the Death & Reſurrection of CHRIST; and may comprehend the many Earthquakes that happen'd afterwards, by which GOD poured out his Vengeance upon the wicked Jews for murdering the Meſſiah. Tho' in the Verſes read, the Earthquake attending the Crucifixion of CHRIST, it's probable, may be more particularly refer'd to: and if you compare the Hiſtory with the Prophecy, you will find an admirable Harmony.

HAD our Saviour died a natural Death, we might have expected ſuch a Miracle wou'd accompany the Fall of ſo great a Perſon Hiſtory informs us, that Dionyſius the Areopagite, in Aegypt, ſeeing the Eclipſe which then happen'd (and perhaps feeling the mighty Earthquake) cried out with a loud Voice, "Either the World is diſſolving, or the GOD of Nature ſuffering. : and there might have been nothing of the Wrath of GOD expreſſed in it. But yet ſeeing they were wicked Hands by which JESUS CHRIST was crucified and ſlain, we muſt needs conclude, their Sin procured this terrible Appearance, as a Diſplay of the Anger of GOD at their Wickedneſs, by which the Earth was ſo defiled under it's Inhabitants, as it never was before. 'Twas a wonder the Earth did not inſtantly open and ſwallow them up. But GOD in his infinite Patience only warn'd and threaten'd them, without any preſent Execution. Yet we may well think Fury came up into his Face, when his Beloved SON was thus deſpis'd and rejected of Men: His Lips were full of Indignation, and he made his glorious Voice to be heard; tho' as yet He ſhewed not the lighting down of his holy Arm to deſtroy.

THIS then may ſerve to interpret to us the Language of Providence in the late awful Diſpenſation among our ſelves, and may convince us that GOD hath been in his Anger marching through our Land, crying to the City & Country, Alas for all the Abominations of the Houſe of Iſrael! By which they are crucifying to themſelves the Son of GOD afreſh, and putting Him to an open Shame!

WHEN we heard the Lord of Hoſts roring out of the Deep, In ſome of our Towns, it is ſaid, Once after they had felt a ſhock of the Earthquake, they ſaw the Sea riſe in furious Billows, and heard ſo hideous and uncommon a Roar of the mighty Waves, as made them afraid of a ſudden Deſtruction. , and felt Him ſhaking the Earth and our Habitations upon it; was the Lord diſpleaſed with the Sea? Was his Anger againſt the Land? Was his Wrath againſt our Houſes, when they ſaw Him, and trembled? No, but againſt the guilty Inhabitants. We may take up the Pſalmiſt's words, Pſal. 60.1, 2. O God! Thou haſt been diſpleaſed: Thou haſt made the Earth to tremble. He not only overturns the Mountains in his Anger, and kindles a Fire, or brings an Inundation, in his Wrath: But when there is merely a great Noiſe & Trembling, without any deſolating Effects, even ſuch an Earthquake is uſually the Viſitation of an angry Providence, and carries in it a loud Reproof of the Sins of a Land. It is a Sign 'tis a Land laden with Iniquity. Its Tranſgreſſions are heavy upon it; a Burden too heavy to bear. Therefore it groans, it quakes & reels, and is ready to ſink under the oppreſſive Weight. Places have trembled often, before they fell. Repeated ſmaller Earthquakes have gone before to warn the Inhabitants; but theſe being diſregarded, more calamitous ones have in time come upon them, wherein GOD has poured out his Fury like Fire; and it has overwhelmed them as a Flood Jeruſalem is an Inſtance, which was viſited with Earthquake and great Noiſe once and again without any conſiderable Deſolations: but they repented not, until at the laſt a Deſtruction to the uttermoſt came, which was partly accompliſh'd by terrible Earthquakes▪ as the Jewiſh Hiſtorian informs us. Jamaica is another Inſtance. They had Warning by a ſmaller Earthquake (like thoſe we have ſeen) 4 or 5 Years before that great Shock, which threw down all their Houſes, and ſunk ſo much of the Iſland..

HENCE then how ſeverely are they to be reprov'd, who are nothing affected with the awful Diſpenſation this Land is under!— We can ſcarce believe what is reported; That ſome are ſo harden'd as to treat this Providence with no ſerious Regard at all, but rather make light of it, and laugh at the ſuperſtitious Weakneſs of Thoſe who entertain it with any thing of Surprize, and a trembling poſture of Spirit.— O amazing Stupidity! The very heathen Soldiers and Crucifiers of our Lord, ſhall riſe up in Judgment with theſe pretended Chriſtians, and ſhall condemn them: for They, when they ſaw the Earthquake, and the terrible Appearances that accompany'd the Death of CHRIST, are ſaid to fear greatly, and to glorify GOD. Yet theſe Chriſtians are not afraid! O their Stupidity! 'Tis worſe than heatheniſh, even brutiſh, yea worſe than brutiſh: for the very Beaſts tremble at an Earthquake We are told, In the time of the great Shock of our Earthquake, Some who were then abroad, obſerv'd that the Brute Creatures ran roaring about the Fields in the greateſt Fright and Agony. . But theſe Men (if they may be allow'd the Name, who have ſo ſhamefully forfeited it) are inſenſible, as if they had transform'd themſelves into very Stocks or Images. Give Ear, O Heavens! Hear, O Earth! And be aſtoniſh'd, yea be horribly afraid. And let theſe ſottiſh Creatures hear, and be aſhamed. Go to the Brutes, ye fearleſs Wretches, and learn of them to fear GOD. Hear now this, O fooliſh People, which have Eyes and ſee not, which have Ears, and hear not. Fear ye not me, ſaith the LORD! Will ye not tremble at my Preſence; who have placed the Sand for the Bound of the Sea, and tho' the Waves thereof toſs and rore, yet they cannot prevail!— Receive ye the Pagan Mariners Reproof to ſtupid Jonah; What meaneſt thou, O Sleeper! Ariſe, call upon thy GOD, if ſo be GOD will think upon us, that we periſh not.

SHALL a Trumpet be blown in the City, and the People not be afraid? Shall there be Evil in a City, and the Lord hath not done it? Seek the Lord, leſt He break out like Fire; and there be none to quench it. Boaſt not thy ſelf of to morrow: for thou knoweſt not what a Day may bring forth. Be ye not Mockers, leſt your Bands be made ſtrong! My Son, Deſpiſe not the Chaſtening of the Lord. It will be the Madneſs of Folly in you, not to regard the Operations of the Lord. Whoſo is wiſe will obſerve theſe Things. The Man of Wiſdom will ſee his Name, and tremble at his Rod.

SURELY they act a reaſonable Part, who are fearing greatly becauſe of the Earthquake. 'Tis but a juſt Comportment with the Voice & Call of Providence. The Diſpenſation in it's own Nature has a powerful Tendency to work on the Minds of Men by way of Conviction and Terror, and to beget a trembling frame of Spirit, from the apprehenſion of an inviſible Almighty Hand ſhaking the Earth. And it is what GOD expects, that we tremble at his Preſence, and fear his Wrath at ſuch a time. He ſays now unto New-England, "Surely thou wilt fear Me; Thou wilt receive Inſtruction: So thy Dwellings ſhall not be cut off.

HENCE we may look upon it as a Token for Good, that ſuch extraordinary Impreſſions are made upon the Hearts of many by this awakening Diſpenſation. For by the Terrors of the Lord Men are often perſuaded and prepared to turn unto GOD, and believe on the Name of JESUS. The Evangeliſts tell us, That all the People which came to ſee the Crucifixion of our Lord, when they ſaw the Earthquake, and the awful Things that came to paſs, ſmote on their Breaſts and returned — ſorrowful and in a very penſive frame, deploring the wicked Fact, which had been committed, and trembling for fear of the dreadful Judgments they cou'd not but apprehend were coming upon them. Thus their Hearts were in a manner ſoften'd, and made ſuſceptible of the Impreſſions of ſanctifying Grace. It's thought the Convictions they now were under, prov'd happy Preparatives to the good Work which was afterwards wro't upon them, when ſeveral Thouſands together were converted by Peter's Preaching.— So in the Caſe of the Jaylor, (Act. 16.26, &c.) the ſudden and terrible Earthquake which open'd the Priſon-Doors, and ſet looſe his Priſoners, was the Occaſion of his Awakning and Repentance.

AMONG ourſelves, it is a hopeful Symptom of the Spirit's co-operating with Divine Providence▪ that we hear ſo many, in great fear & concern for their Souls, crying out with the Jaylor, What muſt I do to be ſaved? Hitherto the awful Diſpenſation we are under, ſeems to have been in Mercy unto Many, to bring them to Repentance In many Towns and Congregations conſiderable Numbers have been awakened; ſo that ill Cuſtoms are broken off in a great meaſure: Family-Worſhip ſet up in prayerleſs Houſes: the Table of the Lord more deſired, and throng'd. Great Additions have been made to one Church and another. The Lord grant they may be of ſuch as ſhall be Saved!— Now we live, if they ſtand faſt in the Lord. . It's like Abſalom's firing the Field, to bring Joab to him.

IT affords a happy Opportunity for Perſons in Places of Authority and Influence, to endeavor a Reformation of Manners, and the Revival of dying Religion.

O that Heads of Families may be excited to walk in their Houſes with greater Exemplarineſs, & Circumſpection, and to counſel, inſtruct, reprove and warn their Children and Servants! Now GOD hath been terribly ſhaking our Houſes, and has preſerv'd them from falling into Ruins, let us every one take up David's pious Reſolutions, Pſal. 101. I will Sing of Mercy & Judgment: unto Thee, O Lord, will I ſing. I will behave my ſelf wiſely in a perfect way. I will walk within my Houſe with a perfect Heart. I will ſet no wicked thing before mine eyes.— He that walketh in a perfect way, ſhall ſerve me: But he that worketh Deceit ſhall not dwell in my Houſe. He reſolv'd to ſet an Example in his Houſe of Family-Order and Worſhip. Let us go and do likewiſe. O that from henceforth there may no more be any prayerleſs, irreligious and diſorderly Houſes among us: leſt GOD ſhou'd be provoked to come forth in his Wrath, and pour out his Fury upon the Families that call not upon his Name!— O that Heads of Families may be excited to look to the ways of their Houſehold, and command all under their Charge to worſhip, fear and ſerve GOD: leſt the Lord ſwear in his Anger concerning our Houſes, as in the Caſe of Eli, 1 Sam. 3.13. I will judge his Houſe for ever, for the Iniquity, which he knoweth; becauſe his Sons made themſelves vile, and he reſtrained them not.

AND O that our Civil RULERS may be awaken'd by the late awful Diſpenſation, to a greater Application, Activity & Zeal in the performance of their reſpective Truſts: to ſtand up for GOD, againſt the workers of Iniquity; and ſet themſelves to be a Terror, not to good Works but the evil! As the LORD has ariſen, and lifted up his Arm, to take hold on Vengeance: So let our Magiſtrates be Imitators of GOD, in taking Hold on Judgment, and not bear the Sword in vain. Trim your Lamps, to ſearch out all puniſhable Iniquity: and whet the Weapons of Juſtice, not only to brandiſh them over the heads of Sinners, but to execute Wrath upon him that doth Evil, without partiality or connivence. You are GOD'S Miniſters, and he requires you to be attending continually upon this very thing. Let none content themſelves with the Honour of being in Authority; but let all make Conſcience of diſcharging the Duties of their Poſt, to preſerve Peace and Order, and promote Virtue in the midſt of us. We beſeech you, Sirs, in the Name of CHRIST, that in the firſt place you will every one labour to ſet the brighteſt Example of all Morality and Religion, (and bleſſed be GOD, we have at this day ſo many worthy Examples in the Magiſtracy) that you may drive away Iniquity with the Rebukes of your grave Countenances, and in your unblemiſh'd Lives ſpeak Conviction and Terror to bold Tranſgreſſors. O let there never be Reaſon for Complaints, that any of thoſe who make the Laws, or that are ſolemnly Sworn to maintain them, do themſelves put a ſlight upon them in any Inſtance, and ſo expoſe their Authority to the Contempt of others. Particularly as your faithful Monitor this Day I will take Leave to exhort and intreat, that thoſe in places of Power and Rule will carefully avoid all Tavern-Clubs, or unneceſſary Reſort to Public Houſes; as you wou'd not have Fellowſhip with the unfruitful Works of Darkneſs: and even as you wou'd pay a juſt Regard to the good Laws of the Province; which as they exclude Town-Dwellers the Tavern after nine o' Clock in the Night, and forbid them to ſit drinking idly there at any time; ſo they likewiſe do forbid all (except Travellers and Perſons upon Buſineſs or ſome extraordinary Occaſions) even to continue there above the ſpace of one Hour: and whoſoever continues there above the Space of one Hour (other than as aforeſaid) is liable to a Fine, or to be ſet in the Stocks Law-Book, Chap. 8..— Now then, my Fathers and Brethren, after our own Laws have thus put ſuch Diſcountenance and Diſgrace upon all unneceſſary frequenting public Houſes, will any in the Magiſtracy, claim as a Privilege, the Indulgence of being there One Hour, upon any pretence whatever! Let it not be!

BUT then as you are to be Examples of all Virtue and good Order, ſo you ought to employ all the Powers of your reſpective Offices to promote the ſame in all Places where you come: and being your ſelves Patterns, you may do this with the better grace and advantage.

O let us beſeech you, Sirs, to ſtir up your ſelves and call upon one another to bear Teſtimony againſt Vice and Immorality, in a faithful, zealous, and reſolute Attendence to the Law, in all it's important branches. By the wiſdom of the Legiſlature, we have a Body of Laws excellently calculated to the publick Weal: Let it not be complained that they are not put in Execution.

MAY the Terror of the Earthquake immediately awaken all in places of Power, from an affecting view of the great Neceſſity of a Reformation, to labour the Subduing of the many provoking Evils, which make the Land tremble!

MUST it not be ſaid to thee, O Boſton! to thee O New-England! as the Prophet ſaid to Judah and Jeruſalem, Ezek. 16.49. Behold, this was the Iniquity of thy Siſter Sodom: Pride, Fulneſs of Bread, and Abundance of Idleneſs was in her and in her Daughters. And can there be nothing done to correct the Extravagance of the Times, to reform the Idle and Diſſolute! Surely the Judgments of GOD call this People to lay aſide their vain Ornaments, to retrench the Superfluities of their voluptuous Tables, and to awake out of that criminal Sloth & indolent trifling way of ſpending their precious Time, which Multitudes are guilty of.

IS it not ſaid, Wo to the City that is filthy and polluted!— Now are there not abominable Fornicacations and Adulteries committed in this Land? And might not more be done for the Reſtraint of this growing Wickedneſs!

IS it not ſaid, Wo to the oppreſſing City! And is there not much of Oppreſſion, Extortion, and unrighteous Dealing practiſed among us? May it not be complain'd, All the foundations of the Earth are out of Courſe! And is it not the Language of Providence, How ye down Trees, and caſt a Mount againſt Jeruſalem: This is a City to be viſited; She is wholly Oppreſſion in the midſt of her! GOD ſeems to be ſmiting his Hands at our diſhoneſt Gain. May not the Earthquake, which came as a Thief in the Night, put us in mind of the Couſenage and clandeſtine Villanies (as well as the ſecret Impurities) which are practiſed by ſo many!

AND when we have felt the Earth tremble, and our Houſes reel to & fro like a drunken Man (as the Prophet gives us the elegant, but reprochful Compariſon) ſhou'd it not mind us of the wicked Intemperance, which threatens (among other fooliſh and hurtful Luſts) to drown us in Perdition, unleſs there be ſome ſpeedy and very powerful Stand made!

Furthermore, Is not Truth fallen in our Streets; and the Spirit of Falſehood reigning, to a ſcandalous degree among us? What Promiſe-breaking, Back-biting, Lying and Slandering, do Multitudes live in the practice of; who give their Mouths to Evil, and their Tongues frame Deceit!— Is there not alſo much of profane Swearing and Curſing; by reaſon of which the Land mourneth! How do Multitudes among us in the moſt impious and barefac'd manner rend and tear the ſacred Name of GOD! The Earth ſurely might well rore at this: and 'tis a wonder it was not rent; that it did not open it's mouth, and ſwallow up the profane Wretches; bury them alive in ſome dark Receſs, and ſo put their lying and ſwearing Lips to Silence.

Again, IF we reflect on the particular Seaſon, when GOD viſited us with the Earthquake, may we not ſee his Finger pointed at the great and growing Iniquity of Sabbath-breaking! O how is the Lord's Day polluted by Multitudes! Are there not many, who very frequently, if not habitually, do neglect the public Worſhip? Are there not many who proſtitute the Day (or part of it) to worldly Buſineſs or vain Recreations! How general a Cuſtom is it, for Men to continue exerciſing their Trades, or purſuing their Diverſions, till late in the Evening before the Sabbath, and to ſpend the Evening after in Idleneſs and Vanity: by which means our bleſſed LORD, the Lord of the Sabbath, is defrauded of a valuable Portion of holy Time, and the good Ends of ſacred Ordinances and Duties very much defeated! Well then may the Earth tremble, and the Heavens at this be aſtoniſh'd.— There are good and wholeſome Laws providing ſutable Remedies in theſe Caſes: But how little are they regarded, and what a Coldneſs in many to have them put in Execution!

Moreover Is there all due Care taken to encourage and ſupport the Miniſtry of the Goſpel in this Land, in ſome Towns eſpecially?— If GOD'S Altar be ſtarv'd, and there be a Robbing of GOD in Tithes and Offerings; has He not ſaid, I will even ſend a Curſe upon you! — Now if our Rulers perceive that the Portion of the Levites hath not been given them, have they not as much Power, as Nehemiah of old, and are they not equally concern'd & oblig'd to apply ſome effectual Remedy? — Neh. 13.11. Then I contended with the Rulers, and ſaid, Why is the Houſe of God forſaken? "Why are the Levites ſtarv'd out of it? Why did you not take Care, and prevent this? It is requir'd of Chriſtian Magiſtrates, that they uſe their Power to oblige Miniſters to do their Duty, and People to do theirs. And when they don't do what they can to encourage and ſupport the Worſhip of GOD, they will have a great deal to anſwer for. Henry in loc.

IN a word, Is there not a deplorable Neglect of Family-Order among us? How little is there of Religion and Government in many Houſes? And does not the late terrible Shaking of our Houſes admoniſh us of our Family-Diſorders and Neglects?— Shou'd not our Rulers then exert themſelves for the Reformation of theſe things! Might not ſome further publick Laws be enacted for that End; to oblige Parents and Maſters to keep better Hours and better Orders in their Houſes; and to reſtrain Children and Servants from many vile Practices!— Are there not ſome Houſes among us, that are mere Nurſeries of Lewdneſs and Debauchery, or Receptacles of Thefts and Robberies, or full of ſcandalous Strifes and Brawlings? And might not more Pains be taken to ſubdue and reform ſuch diſorderly vicious Families!

THUS I have mention'd ſome of thoſe Sins, which make the Times perillous, and expoſe the Land to ſhaking Diſpenſations. O that by the awful Hand of GOD ſtretched out, our Rulers may be excited to lay theſe things more to Heart; and not only as Chriſtians, to ſigh and cry in ſecret places for all theſe Abominations, but alſo as publick Miniſters of Juſtice, to be open and ſwift Witneſſes againſt them, both by Word and Deed! May our Magiſtrates put on Zeal, with Phinehas, and contend like Nehemiah, in this day of Degeneracy, that they may turn away Wrath from the Congregation!

AND O that the Miniſters of the Word may be quickened, directed, and aſſiſted of GOD, to improve their Opportunity! It ſeems to be a happy Seaſon for the Miniſtry of the Word. After Men have been ſo terrify'd by Earthquake and great Noiſe, what more likely to melt and charm their Souls, than the ſtill ſmall Voice of the preached Goſpel? The Lord make us wiſe to win Souls; give us the tongue of the Learned, that we may know how to ſpeak a word in ſeaſon to him that is weary: and make us faithful, that we may cry aloud in the ears of Sinners, and ſpare not; warning every Man, and reproving with all long-ſuffering! The Lord pour out his Spirit upon us, that we may give ourſelves wholly to theſe things, and unto Prayer!

AND O that the People of GOD in our ſeveral Churches may be rouzed and quicken'd to the Duties of Self-Examination, Humiliation and Prayer, Eccleſiaſtical Diſcipline, Brotherly Watch and Admonition, Peace and Union!

LET the Churches inquire into their State and Circumſtances; examine how they obſerve the Feaſts and Sabbaths of the Lord; whether they keep the Ordinances, as they have been delivered to them, and the Faith as it was once delivered to the Saints?— May not the Earthquake admoniſh us of the Spirit of Giddineſs and Wavering, that is to be found in Multitudes of Profeſſors! May we not ſpeak of them in the Language of the Prophet, They are drunken, but not with Wine; They ſtagger, but not with ſtrong Drink! — O look to your ſelves, that ye loſe not thoſe things which ye have gained. Be watchful, and ſtrengthen the Things which remain, that are ready to die. So ſtand faſt in the LORD, my dearly Beloved. Remember, O New-England, how thou haſt received and heard; and hold faſt & repent.

REMEMBER from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the firſt Works: Or elſe, ſaith the Lord, I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy Candleſtick out of it's place, except thou repent. Let us fall down upon our Faces in penitent Humiliations before GOD for all our Errors and Miſcarriages, for all our Impenitency, Unbelief, Ingratitude and unfruitfulneſs under the Goſpel; and let us beſiege the Throne of Grace with our ardent Cries, that GOD wou'd pardon all our Iniquities, and turn away from us the fierce Anger, which we have ſeen ſuch awful Tokens and Prognoſticks of.— And let the Churches ſtudy a Reformation of all that is amiſs among them. Purge out the old Leaven, that you may be a new Lump. Keep the Feaſt, not with the Leven of Hypocriſy, or the Leven of Malice, Hatred and Variance: for which things the Wrath of GOD cometh down upon a Land. Neither let any go in the way of Korah, with a ſpirit of murmuring and gainſaying; leſt the Earth open it's mouth for them alſo, while they are muttering Perverſeneſs againſt Moſes & Aaron the Lord's Servants.— But keep the Feaſt with the unleavened Bread of Sincerity & Truth. And let ſuch as neglect the Table of the Lord, ſpeedily prepare and come. Let a Man examin himſelf; and ſo let him eat of that Bread, and drink of that Cup. Let us judge our ſelves for our faulty Neglects, and our unworthy Receivings. If we would judge our ſelves, we ſhould not be judged.

IN fine, May all the People of the Land lay to heart the terrible Viſitation we are under! The ſurpriſing Earthquake and ſubterraneal Thunder was GOD'S Voice crying to the Town and Country. O let us hear attentively the Noiſe of his Voice, and liſten to the Sound that goeth out of his Mouth. The Lord hath ſpoken in his Holineſs: O hear ye the ſhaken Rod, and who hath appointed it. Hear ye now what the Lord ſaith: hear, O ye Mountains, the Lord's Controverſy, and give Ear, ye little Hills! for the Lord hath a Controverſy with his People, and He will plead with Iſrael.

SEARCH out the Leſſons writ upon the preſent Diſpenſation: and be inſtructed, O Jeruſalem, ſaith the Lord, leſt my Soul depart from thee; leſt I make thee deſolate, a Land not inhabited.

WE ſhou'd learn how great & terrible a GOD we have to do with; and therefore make Him our Fear and our Dread.— We ſhou'd learn our abſolute Need of an Intereſt in CHRIST; out of whom GOD is a conſuming Fire: To Him therefore we ſhou'd fly for Refuge, and plead his Sacrifice as the Atonement for the Congregation.— We ſhou'd learn our intire Dependence upon Divine Providence for Preſervation and all outward Comforts; and adore Him as the GOD of our Life.— We ſhou'd learn the Inſtability & Vanity of the World; how fooliſh it is to ſet our Affections on Things here below, and what an uncertain Foundation they ſtand upon, who build their Confidence on the Earth, and place their Happineſs in it's Entertainments.—We ſhould learn what a mutable World we live in, and how happy they that are got beyond the Reach of the Accidents of Time, and ſettled in a Kingdom which cannot be mov'd. — Moreover, We are admoniſh'd of a Day of Judgment coming, when our glorious Lord will ariſe to ſhake terribly the Earth; will riſe up ſuddenly, and by his immediate Hand diſſolve the whole Frame of Nature. And ſeeing we look for ſuch things, we ſhould give Diligence to make our Calling and Election ſure, that if that Day of the Lord ſhou'd haſten and come upon us ſuddenly, we may nevertheleſs have Boldneſs and not be affrighted at the Noiſe of a diſſolving World.

IN a word, We ſhou'd learn the Evil of SIN, which brings down Divine Judgments on the Earth, and throws Nature into the terrible Convulſions and Diſorders we behold. — We ſhou'd inquire, What meaneth the Heat of this Anger? We ſhou'd ſtudy the Grounds of GOD'S Contention with us: and endeavor that all provoking Evils may be put away from the midſt of us. We ſhou'd judge ourſelves for our Sins as the moral procuring Cauſes of the Earthquake, and be found repenting in Duſt & Aſhes.—We ſhou'd conſider how unworthy we are of the Earth for our Habitation, and admire the Riches of Divine Patience and Clemency in yet reprieving us from Death and Hell. Are we not as Brands pluck'd out of the Fire!

O let us realiſe the ſparing Mercy and preventing Goodneſs, mix'd with the awful Diſpenſation we are paſſing under. If GOD had pleas'd, He could have by his Earthquake ſhook down our Houſes, and bury'd Multitudes in the Ruins. He cou'd have cauſed the Earth to burſt open, in many Chaſms, and ſwallow Men up alive. He cou'd have kindled a Flame in his Anger, and pour'd out fatal Streams of liquid Fire to conſume us: or have made the Earth ſink under our feet, and drown'd us all in one moment under a deſolating Flood of mighty Waters: as He overthrew Sodom, and as He deſtroy'd the Cities & Villages of Sicily, Jamaica, and other parts of the World. —But He has only appointed over us Terror, without Conſumption: Bleſſed be his Name! — As great as the Miſeries we were expos'd to ſo great is our Deliverance. Sing, O ye Heavens, for the Lord hath ſpared his Inheritance: Shout, ye lower parts of the Earth: Break forth into Singing, ye Mountains, O Forreſt, and every Tree therein: for the Lord hath redeemed Jacob, and glorified himſelf in Iſrael.

IN former days this Land has felt the gentle Shocks of Earthquakes, one after another. GOD has viſited us once and again; but in Tenderneſs, remembring Mercy in the midſt of Wrath. The Language of his Providence is that, How ſhall I give thee up! How ſhall I make thee as Admah? How ſhall I ſet thee as Zeboim; which the Lord overthrew in his Anger and in his Wrath?— O let us conſider the great Deliverance we have receiv'd, and never forget the Hazards we have paſſed thorow. GOD hath ſhewn us the Riches of his Patience & Compaſſion, together with his Power and Majeſty. He hath ſhown us what He cou'd do, and hinted to us what we deſerve. O that by the Terrors of the Lord we may be perſuaded: and by his Goodneſs led to Repentance! Let us attend to the Voice of his monitory Rod: that his Long-ſuffering may be Salvation to us. As our Pſalmiſt exhorts, O come let us worſhip and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord our Maker. For He is our God, and we are the People of his Paſture & the Sheep of his Hand: To Day if ye will hear his Voice, harden not your Hearts.

O that Such as are ſecure may be awaken'd; and that ſuch as are under Convictions may be brought to a true Repentance! GOD has come, not to ſlay us, but only to affright us, and call our Sins to Remembrance. Let us reflect on the Motions and Thoughts of heart within us, when we were alarm'd by the Noiſe and Terror of the late melancholy Night. Did not Conſcience rouze up, and begin to do it's Office, in accuſing and condemning! O let us cheriſh the Impreſſions, retain the Thoughts of thoſe diſtreſſing Hours, and improve the ſame to a thorow Repentance and Reformation. Beware that you don't relapſe into Security: Quench not the Spirit. Satan and his Inſtruments will be buſy to cancel any good Impreſſions begun upon you: but reſiſt the Devil, forſake all vain Company, and fly the Inticements of an evil World. Strive to enter in at the ſtrait Gate. Diligently attend the Means of Grace. Watch & pray, that ye enter not into Temptation. And exhort one another daily, leſt any Man be hardned thro' the Deceitfulneſs of Sin. Often recollect the Vows, which your Lips uttered, in that tremendous Seaſon, when your Soul was in Diſtreſs: and fail not to perform your Vows.

AMEND now your Doings, ſaith the Lord: and truſt not in lying Words. Be not deceived: GOD is not mocked. Beware of Hypocriſy. It is a melancholy Account we have, Pſal. 78.34, 36. When he ſlew them, then they ſought him: and they returned, and enquired early after God. Nevertheleſs, they did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him with their tongues. And tho' we do the like, GOD may (as in their Caſe) yet have Compaſſion, and not ſtir up all his Wrath, ſpeedily to make an utter End of us. But verily his Patience will not laſt always. Abuſed Patience will ſooner or later turn into implacable Fury.— Know therefore this day, and conſider it in thine heart, that the Lord, He is GOD in Heaven above, and upon the Earth beneath: with whom is terrible Majeſty. The Earth ſhook & trembled; the Hills alſo moved & were ſhaken, becauſe He was wroth. He hath lifted up his Voice, and ſpoken to us from the inviſible Caverns below, in the moſt awful Accents of holy Diſpleaſure. Hear this, ye old Men, and give Ear, all ye Inhabitants of the Land: Hath this been in your days or even in the days of your Fathers? Tell ye your Children of it, and let your Children tell their Children, and their Children another Generation: that they may fear GOD, and not forget the Works of the Lord, but keep his Commandments, that it may be well with them.

THEREFORE alſo now, ſaith the Lord, Turn ye even to ME with all your Heart, and with Faſting, and with Weeping, and with Mourning; and rent your Heart, and not your Garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for he is gracious & merciful. Who knoweth if He will return, and repent Him of the Evil! Only acknowlege thine Iniquity, that thou haſt tranſgreſſed, O backſliding Iſrael! So I will not cauſe mine Anger to fall upon you, ſaith the Lord. Circumciſe therefore your Heart to the Lord, and be no more ſtiffnecked. O let us hear his Voice to Day, while it is called to day, and turn at his Reproof. — That's the Call of GOD; Repent and turn, leſt I come quickly, and ſmite the Earth with a Curſe, that ſhall devour the Inhabitants. O let us make Haſte to put far away all Iniquity from our Tabernacles, that our Houſes may be ſafe from Fear. Let us immediately labour to get Sin purged out of our Hearts and Lives, and let us cry mightily to GOD, that Salvation may be nigh to us, and Glory dwell in our Land. It is Time to ſeek the LORD, till He come and rain Righteouſneſs upon us. It is high time to awake out of Sleep. Awake unto Righteouſneſs, and ſin not.— So ſhall we in the moſt effectual way flee from the Earthquake, and obtain Lengthning out of our Tranquillity. But if by theſe things we will not be reformed; if we will not hear, and if we will not lay it to Heart, to give Glory to GOD, we have Reaſon to fear He will puniſh us yet ſeven times more, as He did his People Iſrael of old

THEREFORE our Text warns us in thoſe terms; To day if ye will hear his Voice, harden not your Hearts, as in the Provocation, and the day of Temptation in the Wilderneſs: when your Fathers tempted me; unto whom I ſware in my Wrath, that they ſhould not enter into my Reſt.—Agreably the Apoſtle obſerves, 1 Cor. 10.5, 6. But with many of them God was not well pleaſed: for they were overthrown in the wilderneſs. Now theſe things were our examples, to the intent we ſhould not luſt after evil things, as they alſo luſted. So the Prophet, Jer. 7.12. But go ye now unto my place which was in Shiloh, where I ſet my name at the firſt, and ſee what I did to it, for the wickedneſs of my people Iſrael. In like manner it may be ſaid, Go to Antioch; Go to Smyrna, and to Laodicea, and to Sardis; and ſee what an incenſed GOD has done to them for all their Wickedneſs. And let us fear the like Doom. Places they were once famous for the Chriſtian Profeſſion, but growing degenerate were finally deſtroy'd by terrible Earthquakes. O let not New-England be highminded, but fear: be zealous, and repent. To come nearer home, I might ſay, Go to Lima, in the Southern Part of America The Spaniards have met with terrible Blows in this City once and again by Earthquakes. Particularly in the Year 1687, it was totally overthrown; the Houſes were thrown down, and above a Thouſand of the Inhabitants periſh'd in the Ruins, or were drown'd in the Sea, which breaking over it's Banks overflow'd the Sea-port Towns round about; carry'd Ships three Leagues up within Land, and made great Havock every where. Vaſt Numbers of Cattel were drown'd, and Multitudes of People in one Town and another, beſides what periſh'd in the City. It's ſaid, Five Thouſand Corpſes were taken up at one place, after the retiring of the Waters: And doubtleſs many were carry'd out to Sea. Atl. Geogr. for America, p. 230. And Gen. Hiſt. of Earthq. p. 135.; or go to Jamaica, to Antego, and other Iſlands in the Northern Part About the Year 1690, happen'd an Earthquake, which affected almoſt all the Leeward Iſlands, and was very terrible at Antego, Nevis, St. Chriſtophers and Montſerrat. At Antego, it threw down many of their Houſes, Sugar-works, and Wind-mills. One then wrote to his Correſpondent here. That the Earth was ſeen to heave & roll like the Waves of the Sea, that Rocks were thrown from the Mountains, Houſes ſhattered, and ſome Points of Land ſwallow'd up. [Dr. I. Mather, of Earthq. p. 27.] — At Nevis, it made great Deſolations. It ruin'd moſt of Charleſtown. The Ground open'd in the Streets, and a hot ſtinking Water ſpouted out of the Earth to a great height. The Earth in many places broke open and ſwallow'd ſome Thouſands of great Trees, that were never more ſeen. At St. Chriſtophers, the Earth open'd nine foot wide in many places, bury'd ſolid Timber, Sugar-Mills, &c. And threw down the Jeſuits College, and all the other Stone-Buildings — This Earthquake broke off part of another Iſland, and threw it into the Sea, with a Noiſe like a Cannon, and ſent up a mighty Cloud of Duſt into the Air — Atl Geo. p. 514, 516, 517, 524.] It was alſo at Barbadoes; but did no Hurt there.— And we are now inform'd, That the late Earthquake which ſhook New-England, was at Barbadoes, on the Day before, about Noon; which is nigh two Thouſand Miles from Boſton. The Shake much as it was here in ſome Places: Their Houſes were in a great Convulſion; and the Streets roſe and fell like the Waves of the Ocean; ſo that they were afraid of the Earth's ſinking, and all ran down to the Wharves, to get into Boats & Ships for Security.: and conſider the Works of the Lord, how terrible He has ſometimes been in his Dealings with impenitent Chriſtians. And what Plea now has Boſton; what Plea has New-England to make for an Exemption, if we go on ſtill in our Treſpaſſes! GOD has once and again put into our Hands a Cup of Trembling: and we may expect He will make us to drink deep of his Vengeance, if we continue impenitent; even deeper than other places, in proportion to the Guilt & Demerit of our moſt aggravated Sins. GOD may cauſe the Calamity to riſe up a ſecond time, and then give it a Commiſſion to deſtroy; except we repent. Verily there is no Contending with GOD, as Job ſpeaks, Job 9.4, 5, 6. To day then if ye will hear his Voice, harden not your Hearts; leſt there come upon us ſudden Deſtruction without Remedy.

BUT if utter Deſolation haſten not upon the Land, by literal Earthquakes, and other the like Judgments; yet have we not Reaſon to fear ſad Revolutions, Church-quakes & State-quakes, that ſhall ſwallow up all our deareſt Privileges! Have we not felt repeated Shocks already, that have made the very Foundations tremble under us, and threatned a terrible Diſſolution! Are there not many that hate our Zion, who ceaſe not crying, Raſe it, Raſe it to the very foundations! And is not the Number of New-England's beſt Friends leſsning every day! How is the ancient Stock of pious praying Chriſtians, and faithful, active, zealous Servants of the Publick dying off apace? [Among others I wou'd here mention two late Inſtances, one in the Magiſtracy, and the other in the Miniſtry; the Honourable Col. John Otis, of his Majeſty's Council, and the Rev. Mr. Samuel Danforth, Paſtor of the Church in Taunton, who having in their various Stations faithfully ſerv'd their Generation, are now fallen aſleep in JESUS.] And of thoſe riſing up, how few are there poſſeſſed with with the firſt Spirit of New-England! Are we not daily degenerating from the Principles and Zeal of our primitive Times! Is not Apoſtaſy growing upon our Churches in regard of Faith, Worſhip, Diſcipline and Converſation! Are there not thoſe Sins abounding among us, which might juſtly provoke GOD to take away his Kingdom from us, to tear in pieces our happy CHARTER, and viſit us with Perſecution & Oppreſſion! And does not a Spirit of Contention & Perverſeneſs, the Love of the World, and licentious Cuſtoms, threaten to ruin us, in our beſt Intereſts, by a natural and powerful Efficacy!

O let theſe Reflections awaken all that love Jeruſalem, to tremble for the Ark of GOD, and to plead for the City of our Solemnities. Hear the Exhortation, with which I now conclude, Iſa. 62.6, 7. —Ye that make mention of the Lord, keep not ſilence; And give him no reſt, till he eſtabliſh, and till he make Jeruſalem a praiſe in the Earth.