A
DISCOVRSE
OF
THE
SEVERAL
Kindes
and
Causes
of
Lightninges
.
WHen
the
Lord
Almighty
,
doth
any
where
shew
extraordinary
tokens
of
his
iudgementes
,
it
behoueth
such
as
neere
dwellers
to
resort
to
the
place
,
and
not
only
to
take
view
of
the
punishment
,
but
also
to
lay
it
deepely
to
their
heartes
.
For
there
are
some
punishments
,
which
in
Greeke
are
called
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
,
punishmentes
of
vengeance
,
there
are
some
which
are
termed
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
,
punishments
of
correction
,
and
means
to
draw
vs
to
amendment
of
life
,
and
some
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
,
punishments
of
triall
,
to
trie
our
faith
and
patience
.
The
consideration
whereof
moued
me
this
present
weeke
to
visite
the
towne
of
Blechingley
,
being
a
towne
not
onely
neare
vnto
me
,
but
also
hauing
such
inhabitants
,
as
vnto
whome
for
many
yeeres
,
for
sundrie
kindnesses
I
am
much
beholden
,
when
I
came
,
I
found
their
case
to
be
equall
(
if
not
worse
)
then
the
rumor
or
report
,
which
was
before
published
.
I
found
that
by
the
lightning
(
which
came
with
the
terrible
thunder
on
Munday
,
being
the
17.
day
of
this
instant
Nouember
,
about
ten
of
the
clocke
in
the
night
)
the
Spire
steeple
of
the
said
Bleachingley
,
hauing
beene
lately
new
couered
to
the
great
charges
of
the
parrish
in
three
howers
space
,
was
vtterly
consumed
with
fire
.
The
steeple
was
but
about
twelue
fadome
high
aboue
the
battlements
of
the
square
stone
worke
:
but
it
was
a
steeple
spreading
downeward
very
large
in
circumference
.
The
stone
worke
which
bare
it
(
being
also
about
twelue
fadom
high
)
is
a
long
square
of
one
&
twenty
feet
one
side
,
and
eighteene
feete
the
other
side
.
It
is
thought
by
good
workemen
,
that
two
hundred
loades
of
timber
will
not
suffice
for
the
erecting
of
such
a
steeple
,
as
that
stone-worke
did
lately
beare
.
I
found
also
the
belles
(
being
before
a
sweet
ring
,
and
so
large
,
that
the
Tenor
waighed
twenty
hundred
waight
)
partly
melted
into
such
fragmentes
,
as
may
perhappes
bee
melted
againe
,
and
partly
burnt
into
such
cinders
,
or
intermingled
with
such
huge
heapes
of
cinders
,
as
it
will
neuer
hereafter
serue
to
the
former
vses
thereof
.
These
grieuous
losses
are
by
diuerse
sortes
of
people
in
sundrie
wayes
interpreted
.
Some
do
account
of
them
as
a
particular
iudgement
of
God
against
the
sins
of
the
inhabitantes
of
that
towne
of
Blechingley
.
But
I
am
not
of
their
opinion
,
partly
,
because
,
as
I
cannot
excuse
the
inhabitantes
of
the
said
towne
of
sundrie
grosse
abuses
,
so
am
I
fully
perswaded
,
a
number
of
townes
neare
adioyning
to
them
,
are
in
the
like
iniquities
,
nothing
inferiour
to
them
,
and
partly
,
because
in
the
extremitie
of
this
fire
vpon
the
church
,
the
towne
and
townesmen
were
miraculouslie
preserued
.
The
church
standeth
in
the
East
ende
of
the
towne
,
and
the
winde
(
though
it
somtimes
changed
)
yet
it
still
kept
neare
the
west
point
,
&
droue
the
flame
frōward
from
the
houses
:
A
thatched
barne
,
and
certaine
poore
houses
neere
adioyning
to
the
Church
,
were
so
wonderfully
preserued
,
that
we
must
needes
confesse
and
acknowledge
,
that
in
the
middest
of
iudgement
there
shined
mercie
.
Some
do
descant
vpon
the
day
,
because
the
Bells
did
thus
perish
in
that
seuenteenth
day
of
Nouember
,
wherein
for
so
many
former
happie
yeares
they
had
ioyfully
sounded
for
the
raigne
of
good
Queene
Elizabeth
.
But
let
such
know
,
that
there
needeth
no
other
Bell
,
but
onely
a
noble
fame
to
sound
out
the
vertues
of
such
a
learned
and
religious
Queene
:
and
that
fame
(
maugre
the
despite
of
all
aduersaries
)
must
and
will
ring
out
her
praises
,
euen
vnto
the
endes
of
the
world
.
If
the
Bells
had
beene
cast
in
our
late
Queenes
raigne
,
then
might
the
Papists
picke
occasion
to
take
some
collour
of
aduantage
.
They
might
say
,
that
the
Bels
were
neuer
christened
and
hallowed
,
as
by
their
lawes
they
should
haue
beene
,
and
that
therefore
the
lightning
preuailed
against
them
.
But
the
Bels
were
all
auncient
Bels
,
the
eldest
man
in
the
parish
cannot
remember
the
casting
of
any
of
them
,
the
third
bell
onely
excepted
.
All
the
rest
,
as
they
were
framed
in
time
of
Poperie
,
so
(
no
doubt
)
they
had
the
blessing
and
baptizing
at
that
time
vsed
,
and
were
hallowed
by
that
praier
in
the
Masse
booke
.
Omnipotens
sempiterne
Deus
tu
hoc
tintinnabulum
coelesti
benedictione
perfunde
,
Almightie
euerlasting
God
,
besprinckle
this
bell
with
thy
heauenly
blessing
,
that
at
the
sound
thereof
,
the
fierie
darts
of
the
enemie
,
the
striking
of
lightnings
,
the
stroke
of
thunderbolts
,
and
hurts
of
tempests
may
farre
be
put
to
flight
.
The
cause
indeede
why
the
lightning
at
this
time
did
preuaile
both
against
bels
and
steeple
,
was
because
it
was
the
good
pleasure
of
God
,
thus
to
shew
his
omnipotent
power
to
stirre
vp
as
wel
the
inhabitants
of
the
said
town
,
as
vs
all
,
to
feare
him
,
&
to
giue
vs
some
taste
of
his
iudgments
,
to
summon
vs
all
to
true
repentance
.
The
Philosophers
Aristole
,
Plinie
,
Seneca
,
and
others
,
do
point
out
many
naturall
causes
of
lightenings
,
but
when
they
consider
the
wonderfull
effects
thereof
,
they
are
compelled
to
acknowledge
a
diuine
power
,
farre
aboue
the
reach
of
all
humane
reason
.
2.
Natur.
quaest.
As
Seneca
saith
,
Mira
sunt
fulminis
si
intueri
velis
opera
,
nec
quicquam
dubii
relinquentia
,
quin
diuina
insit
illis
&
occulta
potentia
.
The
operations
of
lightnings
(
if
you
behold
them
)
are
wonderfull
,
and
do
leaue
no
doubt
,
but
that
there
is
in
them
a
diuine
and
secret
power
.
Scinditque
vritque
&
longo
serat
aera
hiatu
.
One
is
a
renting
lightning
,
another
a
burning
,
and
the
third
doth
cut
through
the
aire
with
a
long
dispersing
.
The
lightning
which
is
scattered
more
generally
thorough
the
aire
,
is
of
lesse
and
weaker
force
,
but
that
which
is
gathered
into
a
lesser
compasse
,
is
of
greater
strength
,
and
according
to
the
seuerall
effects
hath
sundry
diuers
names
giuen
vnto
it
.
One
is
called
fulmen
scindens
a
cutting
or
renting
lightening
,
because
by
the
aboundance
of
spirits
and
drines
it
is
so
swift
in
operation
,
that
it
renteth
before
it
can
inflame
:
of
that
the
phophet
Dauid
speaketh
when
,
he
saith
The
voyce
of
the
Lord
breaketh
the
Cedar
trees
,
yea
the
Lord
breaketh
the
Cedars
of
Libanus
.
An other
lightening
is
called
penetrans
,
a
pearcing
lightening
,
because
by
the
puritie
of
the
flame
,
it
pearceth
thorough
such
outward
parts
as
haue
powers
of
passage
,
&
worketh
his
forces
inwardly
▪
of
that
Pontanus
speaketh
It
pearceth
thorough
the
outward
pores
of
the
body
and
slayeth
the
vitall
parts
within
.
So
it
killeth
the
child
in
the
mothers
wombe
,
leauing
the
mother
safe
:
and
it
melteth
the
siluer
in
the
purse
,
the
purse
sustaining
no
damage
.
This
penetrant
lightening
is
of
such
force
,
that
it
pearceth
oftentimes
bodies
which
can
hardly
be
accompted
transpirable
,
as
when
it
corrupteth
wine
and
beare
,
be
the
vessels
neuer
so
strongly
made
,
or
be
the
orifices
thereof
neuer
so
strongly
stopped
There
is
also
a
lightening
infuscans
,
which
maketh
blacke
,
but
by
reason
of
the
subtillitie
and
thinnesse
it
flieth
away
before
it
can
burne
,
of
that
Pontanus
speaketh
.
Non
faciem
non
ora
hominum
non
corpora
noris
.
The
body
from
the
foote
to
face
,
With
blacknesse
it
doth
quite
disgrace
.
An other
lightning
is
termed
vrens
,
a
burning
lightning
,
It
hath
much
earthly
matter
,
it
breaking
thorough
the
clouds
doth
fall
downe
,
and
doth
burne
,
melt
or
spoile
,
those
bodies
vpon
which
it
descendeth
.
Some
lightnings
are
prodigious
,
so
surpassing
the
reason
of
man
,
that
no
natural
cause
can
be
rendered
therof
:
as
Eutropius
sheweth
a
history
of
a
maid
of
Rome
,
who
trauayling
to
Apulis
,
was
killed
with
lightening
(
no
haim
outwardly
appearing
in
her
body
)
and
at
the
same
instant
her
garments
were
also
shaken
off
without
any
rent
,
and
her
horse
also
killed
,
and
his
bridle
and
girthes
shaken
off
without
any
breach
.
Of
such
lightenings
Pontanus
writeth
.
Oft
from
the
horse
(
O
wonder
great
)
it
shaketh
of
the
iron
locke
,
The
stead
still
at
the
cratch
doth
eate
,
and
nothing
harmed
by
the
knocke
.
That
lightening
should
shake
iron
fetters
from
the
the
feet
of
horses
,
and
nothing
hurt
the
hoofe
,
this
doth
Pontan
.
call
a
miraculous
lightning
.
The
causes
of
the
greiuous
harmes
which
are
often
caused
by
lightnings
,
are
of
three
sorts
,
the
first
iudicial
,
the
second
instructtiue
:
and
the
third
fatidicall
.
The
iudiciall
cause
is
,
when
the
Lord
doth
by
it
execute
vengeance
vpon
some
notable
offenders
,
as
vpon
blasphemers
,
vpon
sorcerers
,
vpon
ambitious
men
,
bloudsuckers
,
Carthage
,
he
blasphemed
the
blessed
Trinity
,
he
had
by
the
iudgment
of
God
his
body
suddenly
burnt
with
lightning
.
So
Sabellinus
sheweth
a
history
of
one
Prester
the
sonne
of
Hippomanes
,
who
blaspheming
God
was
stricken
with
a
thunderbolt
and
perished
.
The
thunderbolt
commeth
of
the
viscous
&
sulphurous
matter
of
the
lightning
:
for
as
the
Gunners
wildfires
doe
flame
in
the
water
,
so
lightnings
(
being
much
of
the
same
nature
)
haue
beene
often
seene
to
burne
Fishers
nets
euen
vnder
the
water
.
And
as
meale
and
water
kneaded
together
and
baked
,
doe
grow
into
a
hardnesse
,
so
the
drie
and
viscous
exhalation
is
by
force
of
the
heate
in
thunder
hardened
into
a
stone
.
Tholotum
,
he
crept
from
chamber
to
chamber
to
seeke
where
he
might
bee
safest
:
but
nothing
would
preuaile
.
The
flashes
in
the
ende
ouertooke
him
,
and
he
perished
miserably
.
Israel
,
and
vpon
both
their
bands
of
man
,
and
destroyed
them
,
because
their
Lord
the
King
had
highly
displeased
God
,
when
in
the
time
of
his
sicknesse
he
sent
his
seruants
to
consult
with
Beelzebub
the
god
of
Ackron
.
Another
sinne
plagued
vsually
by
lightnings
,
1.
Antiq.
is
Pride
and
Ambition
.
Dionysius
Halicarnassaeus
sheweth
,
that
Alladius
an
auncient
king
of
the
Latins
(
who
raigned
before
Romulus
)
was
so
prowd
and
ambitious
,
that
he
counterfeited
thundrings
and
lightnings
about
his
palace
,
because
hee
would
bee
esteemed
as
a
god
amongst
his
people
.
But
at
the
last
,
his
Palace
was
set
on
fire
with
lightning
from
heauen
,
and
in
the
same
he
fearefully
perished
.
So
Diodorus
Siculus
writeth
of
a
king
of
Clide
,
4
▪
who
caused
himselfe
to
be
drawne
vp
and
downe
in
a
Chariot
,
wherein
were
deuises
of
Torches
and
squibbes
counterfeiting
thunders
and
lightnings
,
that
so
he
might
be
deemed
a
god
amongst
his
subiects
:
but
in
the
height
of
his
ambition
he
was
stricken
with
a
thunderbolt
from
heauen
,
and
came
to
a
most
wretched
end
.
This
then
is
one
cause
why
lightnings
doe
commonly
strike
the
highest
places
,
according
to
that
of
Horace
,
Feriuntque
summos
fulmina
montes
.
Lightnings
strike
commonly
the
hills
that
are
most
hie
.
Not
onely
because
the
highest
places
are
most
subiect
to
the
iniuries
of
the
clowdes
,
seeing
euery
agent
doth
worke
most
strongly
vpon
his
neerest
matter
(
as
the
Philosophers
giue
the
reason
)
and
because
euill
spirits
dwelling
in
the
aire
,
Ouid
:
Viue
tibi
,
quantumque
potes
praelustria
vita
,
Saeuum
praelustri
fulmen
ab
arce
venit
.
Liue
to
thy selfe
,
and
too
much
height
auoide
,
High
towers
are
by
lightninges
most
annoide
.
An other
sin
plagued
with
lightning
is
cruelty
,
and
blood-shed
,
that
so
iudgement
may
be
without
mercy
to
them
that
shew
no
mercy
.
Hatto
the
Bishop
of
Mentz
when
in
the
yeare
of
Christ
918
,
Core
,
Dathan
and
Abiram
:
the
sea
to
drown
Pharao
and
his
Armie
:
Dogges
to
licke
vp
Iezabels
bloud
,
beares
to
deuoure
them
that
mocked
Elizeus
:
the
canker-worm
and
Caterpillar
to
destroy
the
fruites
of
the
vngodly
,
yea
there
is
no
Creature
so
vile
and
base
,
but
it
is
a
part
of
the
hoast
of
God
to
punish
and
destroy
,
euen
the
mightiest
in
the
world
.
Herod
and
Antiochus
were
two
monstrous
tyrantes
,
yet
was
one
of
them
destroied
with
lice
,
and
the
other
with
worms
.
Lightning
hath
but
a
poore
and
base
beginning
of
exhalations
,
drawne
vppe
from
the
earth
,
yet
by
the
power
of
God
,
being
inflamed
&
gathering
force
in
the
aire
,
it
is
enabled
to
confound
whatsoeuer
doth
exalt
it selfe
against
God
his
diuine
Maiestie
.
An other
sinne
which
God
doth
punish
with
fire
from
Heauen
,
is
drunkennesse
and
whoredome
,
as
Ezechiel
cap.
16.
doth
shew
of
the
destruction
of
Sodom
,
that
it
was
for
their
fulnesse
of
bread
,
that
is
excesse
of
meats
and
drinkes
,
according
to
the
Hebrew
Phrase
,
and
for
their
committing
abhomination
,
that
is
,
for
their
filthy
and
damnable
lustes
.
Concerning
these
thinges
,
I
take
not
vpon
me
to
iudge
of
the
inhabitantes
of
the
towne
lately
punished
:
But
I
pray
God
,
that
euery
one
may
now
so
iudge
himselfe
,
that
hee
be
no
hereafter
further
iudged
of
the
Lord
.
The
second
cause
of
the
harms
done
by
lightnings
,
is
for
instructions
sake
,
that
others
may
learne
to
take
heed
and
to
feare
God
,
and
in
this
respect
God
dooth
sometimes
punish
his
dearest
seruantes
.
In
the
yeare
of
our
Sauiour
,
1551.
an
honest
Cittizen
of
Creutzburge
,
Iob
,
and
to
make
him
a
schoolemaister
of
Patience
to
all
posteritie
.
So
it
falleth
out
in
all
other
kindes
of
punishments
:
Doe
you
thinke
(
saith
our
Sauiour
Christ
)
that
those
Galileans
whose
bloud
Pilate
mingled
with
their
sacrifices
,
were
greater
sinners
then
all
other
Galileans
?
I
tell
yon
nay
,
but
except
yee
amend
your
liues
yee
shall
likewise
perish
:
or
thinke
yee
that
those
eighteene
vpon
whome
the
Tower
of
Siloam
fell
;
were
sinners
aboue
all
them
which
dwell
in
Ierusalem
?
I
tell
you
nay
,
but
except
ye
repent
,
yee
shall
all
likewise
perish
.
neither
for
his
owne
sinnes
,
nor
for
his
parents
sinnes
,
but
that
the
power
of
God
might
be
shewed
foorth
vpon
him
.
There
is
none
so
desperate
,
but
will
he
,
nill
he
,
shall
by
thunderinges
and
lightnigns
receiue
admonition
,
if
not
to
instruct
him
to
amendment
of
life
,
yet
at
the
least
wise
to
condemn
him
in
his
owne
guilty
conscience
:
we
reade
of
Caligula
the
Emperour
,
that
in
fearefull
thundering●s
hee
would
creepe
vnder
beddes
and
into
the-strongest
corners
of
his
howse
,
Whereof
came
this
,
but-that
he
vnderstood
there
,
by
that
there
was
a
God
in
heauen
,
whose
voice
he
did
then
heare
,
and
who
in
the
ende
would
assuredly
be
reuenged
of
his
ambitious
,
cruel
,
and
filthy
life
.
The
third
chiefe
cause
of
fearefull
lightnings
is
called
fatidicall
,
or
prognosticall
,
In
the
yeere
of
our
Lorde
God
.
653.
at
Frisazium
a
towne
of
Saxony
a
great
number
both
of
houses
and
people
were
destroyed
with
lightning
,
but
there
followed
afterward
a
greeuous
plague
grassant
ouer
the
whole
Country
.
So
in
the
yeere
653.
in
the
time
of
Constance
the
Emperour
a
fearefull
fier
fell
from
heauen
,
but
shortly
after
for
the
space
of
three
moneths
together
their
followed
a
most
greeuous
pestilence
vpon
all
the
places
adioyning
.
So
in
the
yeare
1062.
in
the
month
of
February
there
fell
terrible
lightnings
vpon
the
Citty
of
Constance
,
but
presently
vpon
it
an
infectious
plague
did
wonderfully
wast
that
Citty
.
God
of
his
infinite
mercy
graunt
vs
such
true
repentance
for
our
sinnes
and
such
vnfained
conuersion
from
our
vngodly
behauiour
,
that
these
his
iudgements
thus
threatned
vpon
vs
may
fauourably
be
turned
aside
.
And
the
Lord
graunt
that
in
all
his
iudgements
powred
out
vpon
our
neighbors
wee
may
rather
in
godly
wisedome
make
good
vses
of
them
to
our selues
,
and
in
charity
seek
to
relieue
such
as
be
in
distressē
,
then
either
by
pride
to
insult
vpon
their
losses
,
or
by
shutting
vp
our
bowells
of
compassion
to
augment
their
griefes
and
miseries
.
Sundry
are
the
remedies
which
are
described
by
sundry
writers
against
the
daungers
of
lightnings
,
some
of
them
are
philosophicall
,
Some
haue
taught
that
bay
trees
&
the
skins
of
seacalues
are
remedies
against
the
dangers
of
lightnings
.
Wherevpon
Suetonius
affirmeth
,
that
Tiberius
Cesar
would
crown
himselfe
with
bay
bows
,
&
couer
his
tents
with
the
skins
of
sea
calues
.
Vt
a
fulmine
tutus
esset
,
that
he
might
bee
safe
from
lightnings
.
The
onely
true
remedy
is
first
by
true
faith
,
If
wee
abide
vnder
shadow
of
the
Almighty
,
we
shall
not
be
afraid
of
any
feares
of
the
night
,
nor
of
the
arrow
that
flyeth
by
day
:
and
secondly
,
by
hearty
repentance
to
remoue
the
causes
of
Gods
heauie
iudgements
,
delighteth
in
Gods
commandements
,
and
is
mercifull
and
leudeth
and
will
guide
his
words
with
discretion
that
he
shall
not
be
afraid
of
any
euill
tidings
he
shall
surely
neuer
be
remoued
but
the
righteous
shall
bee
had
in
euerlasting
remembrance
.
These
graces
he
grant
to
vs
that
died
for
vs
euen
Iesus
Christ
the
righteous
,
to
whom
with
the
father
and
the
holy
ghost
as
well
for
iudgements
as
for
mercy
,
bee
all
honour
,
glory
,
praise
,
maiesty
,
and
thanksgiuing
now
and
for
euer
,
Amen
.
An
addition
of
the
Author
shewing
the
opinions
of
Philosophers
and
Astronomers
touching
Thundrings
and
Lightnings
.
THe
generall
naturall
cause
which
the
Phlo-sophers
doe
giue
of
Thunders
and
Lightenings
is
this
.
First
a
viscous
vapour
ioyned
with
a
hot
exhalation
is
lifted
vp
to
the
highest
part
of
the
middle
region
of
the
aire
,
by
vertue
of
the
Planets
:
then
the
waterie
vapour
by
the
coldnesse
both
of
place
and
of
matter
,
is
thickned
into
a
clowd
,
and
the
exhalation
(
which
was
drawne
vp
with
it
)
is
shut
within
the
clowd
,
and
driuen
into
straights
.
This
hotte
exhalation
flying
the
touching
of
the
cold
clowd
,
doth
flie
into
the
depth
of
the
clowd
that
doeth
compasse
it
about
,
and
courseth
vp
and
downe
in
the
clowd
,
seeking
some
passage
out
,
which
when
it
cannot
find
,
it
maketh
a
way
by
force
,
and
beeing
kindled
,
by
the
violent
motion
it
breaketh
through
the
clowde
.
If
the
sides
of
the
hollowe
clowd
be
thicke
,
and
the
exhalation
drie
and
copious
,
then
there
is
made
both
thunder
and
lightning
:
but
if
the
clowd
be
thin
,
and
the
exhalation
also
rare
and
thin
,
then
there
is
lightening
without
thunder
.
The
thunder
then
commeth
,
when
the
fierie
spirits
and
exhalations
beeing
(
as
it
were
)
shut
vp
in
prison
,
doe
by
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
wrastle
with
the
congealed
vapours
which
haue
imprisoned
them
.
The
like
we
see
in
al
moist
bodies
which
haue
a
hot
spirit
so
included
,
that
it
cannot
get
out
,
the
Chesnut
in
rosting
amongst
cinders
giueth
a
cracke
,
a
bladder
filled
with
aire
,
being
violently
broken
maketh
a
noise
.
When
greene
wood
is
burned
,
the
spirits
burst
out
with
some
little
crack
:
but
gun-powder
issuing
out
of
ordinance
maketh
afarre
greater
sound
.
The
clowdes
then
which
do
farre
exceed
the
greatnesse
of
mountaines
must
needes
giue
out
a
more
forcible
roaring
.
Especially
seeing
that
in
them
there
is
added
a
more
principall
operation
of
the
handie
worke
of
God
,
whereupon
thunder
in
the
Scriptures
is
called
the
thunder
of
God
,
Psal.
77.17
.
The
voice
of
thy
thunder
was
heard
round
about
.
And
Psal.
104.7
.
at
the
voice
of
thy
thunder
they
are
afraid
.
So
Psal.
18.13
.
The
Lord
thundred
out
of
heauen
,
and
the
most
highest
gaue
out
his
voice
,
hailestones
and
coales
of
fire
.
So
Iob.
38.25
.
Who
doth
diuide
the
spowts
for
the
raine
,
or
the
way
for
the
lightenings
of
the
thunder
?
as
if
he
should
say
:
none
can
doe
it
but
God
alone
.
The
Poet
saw
somewhat
by
naturall
reason
,
when
hee
said
,
Siquoties
peccant
homines
sua
fulmina
mittat
Iupiter
exiguo
tempore
inermis
erit
.
If
God
should
with
his
lightning
fight
As
oft
as
men
offend
,
In
little
space
of
time
he
might
His
weapons
wholy
spend
.
The
Astrologers
as
in
other
pointes
they
vary
,
so
in
their
predictions
,
by
thunderings
and
lightnings
they
do
greatly
disagree
.
This
lightning
on
mondy
the
17.
of
Nouember
did
not
onely
this
harme
in
Surry
,
but
also
it
afflicted
Sussex
and
diuers
other
places
.
It
was
very
strange
that
at
the
same
time
when
it
fiered
Bleachingley
steeple
it
entered
also
so
into
the
house
of
one
Stephen
Lugsford
of
Buckstead
in
Sussex
almost
twentie
miles
from
Bleachingley
and
melting
the
lead
of
his
glasse
windowes
did
with
great
violence
breake
through
and
rent
in
sunder
a
strong
bricke
chimney
:
the
man
is
of
honest
report
and
zealous
in
religion
,
we
must
not
therefore
iudge
of
men
by
those
outward
accidents
,
but
commit
all
iudgement
to
God
to
whom
it
doth
belong
.
If
lightnings
haue
any
predictions
,
they
haue
as
well
good
as
bad
.
The
mother
of
Hierom
Fracastorius
(
who
afterward
became
a
famous
scholer
)
carrying
the
said
Hierom
(
when
he
was
a
yong
infant
)
in
her
arms
was
stricken
with
lighning
and
slaine
,
whereas
notwithstanding
the
yong
child
was
vnhurt
and
vntouched
,
and
preserued
(
as
the
sequele
shewed
)
for
the
greater
good
of
the
common
wealth
.
Psal.
77.
vers.
13.
Who
is
so
great
a
God
as
our
God
?
thou
art
the
God
that
doest
wonders
,
thou
hast
declared
thy
power
among
the
people
.
FINIS
.