310 Profefor Witi1ams on Earthquakes, 
neca had feventeen hundred years ago for his, relative to comets ; 
but which has literally been fulfilled.* But leaving thefe things 
to the ages that are to come,— 
From contemplating thefe mighty works of nature, a phi- 
lofophic mind will naturally rife in admiration and reverence, to 
the Frst Great Cause or ALL! In all the works of 
nature, we find plain marks of that wifdom, power and good- 
nefs, with which the whole plan, frame and conftitution of it, 
was firft formed and adjufted. As all natural effects take place 
in confequence of caufes and laws derived at firft from Gon, 
true philofophy agrees with the holy fcriptures, in afcribing all 
fuch events to his agency. k was no doubt with a view z/ri- 
mately to moral purpofes, that the laws of nature were firft 
eftablifhed : and nothing can be better adapted than many of 
their operations, to awaken and dire& the attention of mana 
kind to the fupreme Governor of the world. By the operation 
of natural caufes, the Deity often * arifeth to (hake terribly the 
* earth’ < He looketh on the earth, and it trembleth : he 
< toucheth the hills, and they fmoke. < He removeth the 
* mountains, and overturneth them in his anger.’ * The pil- 
£ lars of heaven tremble, and are aftonifhed at his reproof.” 
. Amidft fuch convulfions of nature, {trong impreffions of the 
power and majefty of Gop, will naturally take poffeffion of 
the human mind, Mankind will fee and feel their dependence 
npon their Creator, —with the wifdom, benefit and advantage 
ds | of 
SA time, faid this excellent philofopher, * will come, when thofe things 
s which now Tie hid, will at laft be brought to light, by length of time and the 
* diligence of pofterity : for it is not one age that is fufficient to make fuch great 
* difcoveries.’ Seneca, Nat. Quek. lib. vii. chap. 25. May we not venture to fay 
the fame of earthquakes ? 
