THE
PHILOSOPHY
OF
EARTHQUAKES,
Natural and Religious.
OR
An Inquiry into their Cause, and theirPurpose.
O Vita philosophia dux, virtutum indagatrix, expultrixque vitii!
Cicero.
By WILLIAM STUKELEY, M.D. Rectorof St. George's, Queen-Square: Fellow of theCollege of Physicians and Royal Society:
The SECOND EDITION.To which is added, PART II. on the same Subject.
LONDON:Printed for C. Corbet over-against St. Dunstan's
Church, Fleetstreet.
MDCCL.
To the Reader.
The substance of the philosophical part ofthis discourse was delivered at twiceto the Royal Society, on March 15, and 22: Thetheological, in my own church. I could notrefuse the solicitation of my friends, hearersin both places, to print it. I wish my intention,in the compliance, may any ways provesuccessful; to show, how vain, and unmeaning,are all our philosophical inquiries, when destituteof their true view; to lead us into themore engaging paths of religion. That, fromspeculation of material causes, we may becomeadepts in that wisdom which is from above.Otherwise, like Epicurus, and the ancient heathenphilosophers, we barter away our immortalpart, for a curiosity, that amuses us to no goodpurpose. Mean are these objects of our sensesto be accounted, in comparison of our spiritual[1004]natures, to which our principal regard is due!For we must rightly say with Job: Lo, theseare parts of God's ways, but how little a portionis heard of him? and the thunder of hispower, who can understand?
TO
Martin Folkes, Esq; LL.D.
President of the Royal Society.
March 26, 1750.
When so great and unusual a phenomenon,as an earthquake, and thatrepeated, happens among us; itwill naturally excite a serious reflectionin everyone that is capable of thinking.And we cannot help considering it, both in aphilosophical and a religious view. Any mindwill take the alarm when we perceive a motionthat affects the earth, that bears the wholecity of London, and some miles round it.And at the same time while it gives us so sensiblea shake, so gently sets us down again; withoutdamage to any buildings, and without alife lost.
'Tis hard to say, which is the greater wonder.But alas in the works of nature, thereare no degrees of great, and little; comparisonsare incompatible. We indeed are more affectedwith what seems great in our own apprehensions:I wo