And behold the Vail of the Temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom, and the Earth did quake, and the Rocks rent. And the Graves were opened, and many Bodies of Saints which flept arofe, and came out of the Graves after his Refurrection, and went into the Holy City and appeared unto many. Now when the Centurion and they that were with him watching Jefus, faw the Earthquake and those things that were done, they feared greatly, faying, Truly this was the Son of God.

And these prodigious effects that were produced upon our Saviour's Crucifixion, were acknowledged and attefted as well by Heathens as Christians. At the time of his Death a very great darkness happened in the Day time, which continued from fix a Clock till nine, and yet there was no Eclipfe of the Sun, for it was at a full Moon; fo that it was Miraculous, and contrary to the Order of Nature, and only by the immediate Power of God, who deprived the Sun of its Light for that fpace of time. And therefore Dyonifius the Areopagite being that Day in Athens, and feeing the Sun fo darkned, and alfo knowing, as a Man learned in the courfe of the Heavens, that fuch an Eclipfe muft needs be contrary to the Rule of Nature, fpake with a loud voice, faying, Either the World is at an end or the God of Nature Suffers.

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We likewise read of another Supernatural Earthquake at the Refurrection of Christ, St. Matthew 28. In the end of the Sabbath

as it began to dawn toward the first day of 'the Week, came Mary Magdalen and the 'other Mary to fee the Sepulchre. And behold there was a great Earthquake; for the Angel of the Lord defcended from Heaven, ' and came and rolled back the Stone from the Door, and fate upon it, His countenance was like Lightning, and his Rai'ment white as Snow. And for fear of him 'the keepers did shake, and became as 'dead Men. This was in the Year of the World 4036.

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XIV. Laftly, We read of two Earthquakes in the Acts of the Apoftles, which can be attributed to no other cause but that of the Power of God, for the confirmation of the Gofpel, and the Refurrection of hs Son Jefus Chrift our Lord. The first in Acts 4. 31. And when they had rayed 'the Earth was fhaken where the Apoftles were affembled together, and they were 'all filled with the Holy Gloft, and they fpake the Word of God with boldness. The fecond is in Acts 17. And at Midnight Paul and Silas Prayed and Sang 'Praises to God, and the Prifoners heard them. And fuddenly there was a great Earthquake, fo that the Foundations of the Prifon were fhaken; and immediately all the Doors were opened, and every ones Bands

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Bands were lofed. And the Keeper of the Prifon_awaking out of his fleep, and feeing the Prifon Doors open, he drew out "his Sword and would have killed himself, fuppofing that the Prifoners had been fled. But Paul cried with a loud voice faying, Do thyfelf no harm; for we are all here. Then he called for a Light, and sprang ' in and came trembling and fell down be"fore Paul and Silas. And brought them

out and faid, Sirs, what muft I do to be 'faved? and they faid believe on the Lord Jefus, and thou fhalt be faved and thy Houfe. And they fpake unto him the ' word of the Lord, and to all that were in his Houfe. And he took them the fame hour in the Night, and washed their ftripes, and was baptized he and all his traightway. And when he had brought them into his House, he fet meat before then, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his Houfe. This was in the 55th year after ur Saviour's Incarnation.

XV. The are all the Earthquakes that we find mentioned in Holy Scripture, to have actually happened, but there are others fpoken of, which may be termed Metaphorical Earthquakes, and may fignify great Alterations and Commotions in the feveral States and Kingdoms of the World; wherein, by the fhaking, moving, removing, breaking down and diffolving the Earth,

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we may understand the Inhabitants of the Earth, and the Punishments that God would inflict upon them for their repeated Sins and Provocations; fuch as these we find Ifaiah threatning the Nation of the Jews withal, in the 29th Chapter of that Prophecy. Thou shalt be vifited of the Lord of Hofts with Thunder, and with Earthquakes, and great noife, with Storm and Tempeft, and the flame of devouring Fire. And in Chapter 24. And it fhall come to pafs, that he who fleeth from the noise of 'the fear fhall fall into the Pit: and he that cometh out of the midst of the Pit fhall be taken in the fnare, for the Windows 'from on hih are open, and the Foundati'ons of the Earth do fhake. The Earth is utterly broken down, the Earth is clean 'diffolved,the Earth is moved exceedingly, The Earth fhall reel too and fro like a Drunkard, and fhall be removed like a Cottage, and the tranfgreffion thereof 'fhall be heavy upon it, and fhall fall and not rife again.

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XVI. And our bleffed Saviour foretelling the deftruction of the Temple, and what great Earthquakes fhall be before it, and of the Signs of his coming to Judgment. St. Mat. 24. he fays; And yea fhall hear of 'Wars and Rumours of Wars, For Nation 'fhall rife against Nation, and Kingdom ' against Kingdom; and there fhall be Fa'mines

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mines, and Peftilences, and Earthquakes in divers places, and the Sun fhall be darkned, and the Moon fhall not give her Light, and the Stars fhall fall from Heaven, and the Powers of the Heavens fhall be shaken. And then fhall appear the Sign of the Son of Man, and he thall fend his Angels with a great found of a Trumpet, and they fhall gather together his Elect from the four Winds, from one end • of Heaven to the other.

XVIL Such Metaphorical Earthquakes are thofe thought to be, which are Prophefied of in feveral places of the Revelations, as Chapter 6. And I beheld when the Lamb had opened the fixth Seal, and lo, there was a great Earthquake, and the Sun became black as Sack-cloth of Hair, and the Moon became as Blood. And the Stars • of Heaven fell unto the Earth, even as the Fig tree cafteth her untimely Figs, when fhe is fhaken of a mighty Wind. And the Heaven departed as a Scrowl when it is rolled together, and every Mountain and Ifland were moved out of their places. And the Kings of the Earth, and the great Men, and the rich Men, and the chief Captains, and the mighty Men, and every • Bondman, and every Freeman hid them

felves in the Dens, and in the Rocks of 'the Mountains; And faid to the Moun'tains and Rocks, Fall on us, and hide us 'from the Face of him that fitteth on the • Throne,