DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70303#0072
56 GREAT EARTHQUAKE AT JAMAICA, IN 1692.
knowledged it more like a prophecy than a sermon. I had,
I confess, an impulse on me to do it; and many times I
have preached in this pulpit things, which I never preme-
ditated at home, and could not, methought, do otherwise.
4C The day when all this befel us was very clear, and
afforded not the suspicion of the least ev.il; but in the space
of three minutes, about half an hour after eleven in the
morning, Port-Royal, the fairest town of all the English
plantations, the best emporium and mart of this part of the
world, rich, plentiful of all good things, was shaken and
shattered to pieces, sunk into, and covered for the greater
part of the sea ; few of the houses are left whole, and every
day we hear them fall.
ci I came on board this ship in order to return home ; but
the people are so importunate with me to stay, that I know
not what to say to them. I must undergo great hardships,
if I continue here, the country being broke all to pieces and
dissettled ; but it looks very unnatural to leave them in their
distress ; and, therefore, whatever I suffer,' I would not have
such a blame lie at my door ; so that I am resolved to stay a
year longer.”
SECOND LETTER.
June 28, 1692.
£f Ever since that fatal day, the most terrible that ever Ihad.
in my life, I have lived on board a ship ; for the shaking of
the earth returns every now and then. Yesterday we had
a very great one ; but it seems less terrible on ship board
than on shore ; yet I have'ventured'to Port-Royal no less
than three times among the shattered houses, to bury the
dead, pray with the sick, and christen the children. Sun-
day last I preached among them in a tent, the houses which
remain being so shattered, that I durst not venture in them.
The people are overjoyed to see me among them, and wept
bitterly as I preached. I hope, by this terrible judgment,
God will make them reform their lives ; for there was not
a more ungodly people on the face of the earth.
knowledged it more like a prophecy than a sermon. I had,
I confess, an impulse on me to do it; and many times I
have preached in this pulpit things, which I never preme-
ditated at home, and could not, methought, do otherwise.
4C The day when all this befel us was very clear, and
afforded not the suspicion of the least ev.il; but in the space
of three minutes, about half an hour after eleven in the
morning, Port-Royal, the fairest town of all the English
plantations, the best emporium and mart of this part of the
world, rich, plentiful of all good things, was shaken and
shattered to pieces, sunk into, and covered for the greater
part of the sea ; few of the houses are left whole, and every
day we hear them fall.
ci I came on board this ship in order to return home ; but
the people are so importunate with me to stay, that I know
not what to say to them. I must undergo great hardships,
if I continue here, the country being broke all to pieces and
dissettled ; but it looks very unnatural to leave them in their
distress ; and, therefore, whatever I suffer,' I would not have
such a blame lie at my door ; so that I am resolved to stay a
year longer.”
SECOND LETTER.
June 28, 1692.
£f Ever since that fatal day, the most terrible that ever Ihad.
in my life, I have lived on board a ship ; for the shaking of
the earth returns every now and then. Yesterday we had
a very great one ; but it seems less terrible on ship board
than on shore ; yet I have'ventured'to Port-Royal no less
than three times among the shattered houses, to bury the
dead, pray with the sick, and christen the children. Sun-
day last I preached among them in a tent, the houses which
remain being so shattered, that I durst not venture in them.
The people are overjoyed to see me among them, and wept
bitterly as I preached. I hope, by this terrible judgment,
God will make them reform their lives ; for there was not
a more ungodly people on the face of the earth.