get the general Confternation, that seized our Metropolis, on Occasion of the late Earthquake? And not without Reafon. For, of all divine Visitations, this is the most terribly vindictive. The Whirlwind is flow in its Progress; War is gentle in its Affaults; even the raging Peftilence is a mild Rebuke; compared with the inevitable, the all-over-whelming Fury of an Earthquake. When it begins, it also makes an End *. Puts a Period, in a few Minutes, to the Work of Ages. Ruins all, without Distinction; and there is no Defence from the deftructive Stroke.

Should almighty Vengeance ftir up again those fierce fubterranean Commotions: fhould the most high GOD bid strong Convulfions tear the Bowels of Nature, and make the Foundations of the World tremble like a Leaf: What, O ye careless ones †, What will You do? Whither will You fly? -See! the Pavement finks under your Feet. Your Houses are tottering over your Heads. The Ground, on every Side, cracks and opens like a gaping Grave; or heaves and swells like a rolling Sea. A Noife of Crashing is heard from without, occafioned by the rending Streets, and falling Structures. Thunders, infernal Thunders |, bellow

1 Sam. iii. 12.

+ Ifai. xxxii. II. Zeph. i. 10. Before the Overthrow of Catania by an Earthquake, a Noife was heard, vast and horrid, as if all the Artillery in the World was difcharged at once.

bellow from beneath; mingled with despairing Shrieks, and dying Groans from those wretched Creatures, who are jammed between the clofing Earth, or going down alive into the horrible Pit *-Where now will You fly? To your

* Very memorable, and equally tremendous, is the Account of the Earthquake, that vifited Sicily, in the Year 1693.

It shook the whole Island. The Mischief it caused, is amazing. Fifty-four Cities and Towns, befide an incredible Number of Villages, were either demolished, or greatly damaged. Catania, one of the most famous and flourishing Cities in the Kingdom, was intirely deftroyed. Of 18,914 Inhabitants, 18000 perished.

Another Earthquake almoft as dreadful, and in the fame Year, fpread Defolation through the Colony of Jamaica. In two Minutes Time, it shook down, and laid under Water, nine Tenths of the Town of Port-royal. In lefs than a Minute, three Quarters of the Houses, and the Ground they stood on, together with the Inhabitants, were quite funk: and the Jittle Part left behind, was no better than Heaps of Rubbish.

-The Shake was fo violent, that it threw People down upon their Knees, or their Faces, as they were running about for Shelter. The Ground heaved and fwelled, like a rolling Sea; and several Houfes, ftill ftanding, were shuffled fome Yards out of their Places. The Earth would crack and yawn; would open and fhut, quick and faft. Of which horrid Openings, two or three hundred might be feen at once. In fome whereof, the People went down, and were seen no more. In fome they defcended, and rofe again in other Streets, or in the Middle of the Harbour. Some swiftly clofing, feized the miferable Creatures, and preffed them to Death; leaving their Heads, or half their Bodies above Ground, to be a Spectacle of Terror, and a Prey to Dogs. Out of others would iffue whole Rivers of Water, fpouted to a great Height in the Air, and threatening a Deluge to that Part, which the Earthquake fpared.-Scarce a Planting-houfe or Sugar-work was left ftanding in all the Inland. Two thousand Lives were loft, and a thousand Acres of Land funk. The whole was attended with frightful Noifes,

your strong Towers? They are shattered in Pieces. To the ftronger Rocks? They are thrown out of their Place.To the open Fields? They are a frightful Gulph, yawning to devour You.-Where-ever You fly; in the Wildness of your Distraction, where-ever you feek for Shelter; It fhall be, as if a Man fled from a Lion, and a Bear met Him; or went into the Houfe, and leaned his Hand upon the Wall, and a Serpent bit Him*.

Yet, there is one Place of Refuge, which will prove an inviolable Sanctuary, and a perfect Security. I mean, the great, the gracious, the adorable REDEEMER's Righteousness. Hither let Us betake ourselves. Now, before the Day of Defolation cometh, let us betake Ourselves to this Strong-hold. Then, shall We have no Reason to fear, though the Earth be moved, and though the Hills be carried into the Midft of the Sea. For thus faith GOD, the omnipotent and faithful GOD; The Sun and the Moon fhall be darkened, and the Stars fhall withdraw their Shining. The LORD alfo Shall roar out of Sion, and utter his Voice from Jerufalem. The Heavens and the Earth fhall Shake; but the LORD JESUS CHRIST, will

be

with brimftone Blafts, and offenfive Smells. The noisome Vapours belched forth, corrupted the Air, and brought on a general Sickness; which swept away more than three thoufand of thofe, who escaped the Fury of the Earthquake. See Chamb. Dict. on the Word Earthquake.

* Ames V. 19.

be the Hope of his People, and the Strength of the Children of Ifrael *.—Or, if the true Believer is involved, in the fame undiftinguished Ruin with the Ungodly; even this fhall turn to his Gain. It fhall exempt Him from the lingering Pains, and the melancholy Solemnities of a dying Bed. Like Elijah's fiery Chariot, it fhall speedily waft his Soul to the Bofom of his SAVIOUR. While the hideous Cavern, that whelms his Body in the Center, fhall be its Chamber of Reft, till the beloved BRIDEGROOM comes, and the Day of Refurrection dawns.

We lift up our Eyes, and behold the radiant Colours, which flufh the Forehead of the Morning: We turn, and gaze upon the no lefs beautiful Tinges, which impurple the Cheek of Evening. We throw around our View, and are delighted with numberless Forms of Fertility, that both decorate and inrich our Plains. Whereas, other Countries are over-run with immenfe Swarms of Locufts: which intercept, where-ever they fly, the fair Face of Day; and deftroy, where-ever they alight, the green Treafures of the Ground.

Ah! what avails it, that the laborious Hind fows his Acres; or the fkilful Husbandman prunes his Vineyard? That Spring, with her prolific

* Feel iii, 16, 17.

prolific Moisture, fwells the Bud; or, with her delicate Pencil, paints the Bloffom? Nor Grain, nor Fruit, can hope for Maturity; while these rapacious and baleful Creatures infeft the Neighbourhood. They ravage the Gardens. They ftrip the Trees, and fhave the Meadows. Scarce a fingle Leaf remains on the Boughs, or fo much as a fingle Stalk in the Furrows. A Fire devoureth before them, and behind them a Flame burneth: the Land is as the Garden of Eden before them, and behind them a defolate Wilderness: yea, and nothing can escape them*.

Now, let the dreadful Artillery roar from all its iron Throats, and difgorge the heaviest Glut of mortal Hail. Now, Ye Sons of Slaughter; Men skilful to destroy+; now hurl the fulphureous Globes, which kindle into a Hurricane of Fire, and burft in ragged Inftruments of Ruin. To no Purpose. The linked Thunderbolts are turned into Stubble; the bursting Bombs are accounted as Straw. Thefe Armies

of

* A Fire devoureth before them, and behind them a Flame burneth. Joel ii. 3. This is one of those bold and expressive. Metaphors, in which the Hebrew Language delights, and by which it is eminently distinguished. It fignifies a total Devaftation of the vegetable Produce. Such as must ensue, if a raging and refiftlefs Fire attended the Progrefs of these pernicious Animals: burning with fuch vehement Impetuosity, that None could quench it; fpreading fuch extenfive Havock, that nothing could escape it.

↑ Ezek. xxi.

31,