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The Prophetic Faith of Our Fathers, vol. 3 - Contents
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    CHAPTER ELEVEN: Lisbon Earthquake and the Celestial Signs

    I. Significance of Lisbon Earthquake Recognized

    When the vivid descriptions of the terrors and havoc of the Lisbon earthquake of November, 1755, reached America, a number of treatises appeared immediately stressing the prophetic aspect, similar to those before noted of England. 1See Volume 2 of Prophetic Faith. Thus the Boston Weekly News-Letter for January 9, 1756 (no. 2792), in folio size, issued an extra “Postscript” page giving the comprehensive eyewitness account of Captain Joseph Inches. Sig nificantly enough, on the back side of the sheet appear advertise ments of four Biblical treatises on the earthquake by American clergymen. Even a poem, “The God of Tempest and Earth quakes,” was listed along with them. These were indicative of the familiarity of New England with the phenomenon, and of the pointed expositions of prophecy current.PFF3 187.1

    Detailed descriptions appeared in The London Magazine for November and December, 1755, with even a drawing of the city. The extent of the area affected was noted, and the centering of the disaster in Portugal and Spain, with Lisbon, once the richest city in the world, as the “particular mark of divine displeasure.” 2The London Magazine, December. 1755, p. 586. The time of the catastrophe was stressed, as it was at the very time appointed for the celebration of the auto-da-fe, when the “convicts of the inquisition go in procession thro’ the city, and frequently Protestants and others are burnt by the sentence of that infernal tribunal.” 3Ibid., p. 587 n.PFF3 187.2

    The February, 1756, issue prints a communication from “S.T.” with the appeal:PFF3 188.1

    “Tremble then ye nations, ye inhabitants of a fallen world, repent, and turn unto the Lord your God, in sackcloth dust, and ashes, that ye may be saved, saved from the wrath to come.” 4Ibid., p. 67.PFF3 188.2

    Appealing to Protestant England, he continues:PFF3 188.3

    “O London, art not thou pained for the report? And wilt thou sing as an harlot, and take the harp to make sweet melody, sing many songs, and turn to thy hire (without either feeling or repenting) and commit fornication with all the kingdoms of the world? Why will you, amidst all this general calamity, ruin, and distress, put on a lace of wanton gaiety, and smiling affluence, and live too, even without God in the world? Are not these the signs of sad approaching desolation, ruin, what not? Not signs only, but the very causes too?” 5Ibid.PFF3 188.4

    We now note three American contemporary writers on the significance of the Lisbon earthquake.PFF3 188.5

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