at that time with the Children of Ifrael.) And it came to pafs that while Saul talked unto the Prieft, that the noise that was in the Hoft of the Philiftnes went on, and increafed; and Saut faid unto the Prieft, 'withdraw thine hand. And Saul and all 'the People that were with him affembled 'themselves, and they came to the Battle: ⚫ and behold every Mans Sword was against his fellow, and there was a great discomfiC ture. Moreover the Hebrews that were with the Philiftines before that time, which went up with them into the Camp from 'the Country round about, even they alfo • turned to be with the Ifraelites that were with Saul and Jonathan. Likewife all the Men of Ifrael which had hid them⚫ felves in Mount Ephraim when they heard that the Philiftines fled, even they alfo followed hard after them in the Battle. So the Lord faved Ifrael that day: and the • Battle paffed over unto Beth-haven. This was about the Year of the World, 2940. And Jofephus thus defcribes this Battle; The Philiftines had pitched their Tents on a pointed Rock which extended itself in length with three Angles, and was on each fide begirt with a Bank, like a Wall or Fortification against the incurfion of their Enemies; The place was fortified by Nature fo that no Man might afcend or attack them without much hazard; yet only Jonathan and his Armour-bearer, climbing upon their Hands

+

Hands and Feet invaded their Camp, and flew about twenty of them which filled their whole Army with terror and amazednefs, who throwing away their arms fled amain, Others being ignorant who were their Friends or Foes, invaded one another as Enemies, for imagining with themselves that only two Hebrews. durft never afcend and enter their Camp, they addrest themfelves to their mutual murder and flaughter, fo that fome of them were flain, others fled to escape the Sword, and fell headlong down the Rocks; The terrible trembling and quaking of the Earth at the fame time, being doubtless very contributary to their deftruction.

XII. A fourth terrible Earthquake happened from an immediate Divine Power, in the days of Uzziah King of Judah, of whom we read in, the 2 Chronicles 26. (and this Earthquake is likewife mentioned by the Prophets Amos and Zachariab) And Uz ziah did that which was right in the fight of the Lord. And he fought God in the days of Zechariah who had Understanding in the Vifions of God, and as long as he fought the Lord, God made him to prof per. And he went forth and Warred against the Philiftines, and God helped him against them, and against the Arabians; and the Ammorites gave him gifts, and his Name fpread abroad even to the entring in of Egypt, for he ftrengthned

himfelf exceedingly. Moreover Uzziah had an Hoft of fighting Men, and the whole mumber of the Fathers of the mighty Men 1 of valour, were two thoufand and fix hundred. And under their hand was an Army, three hundred thoufand, and feven thousand: and five hundred, that made War with mighty power to help the King against the Enemy. But when he was ftrong his Heart was lifted up to his deftruction, for he tranfgreffed against the Lord his God, and went into the Temple of the Lord to burn Incenfe upon the Altar of Incenfe. And Azariah the Prieft went in after him, and. 'with him fourfcore Priests of the Lord that were valiant Men: and they withstood Uzziah the King, and faid unto him, It appertaineth not unto thee Uzziah to burn Incenfe unto the Lord; but to the Priests the Sons of Aaron that are confecrated to 'burn Incense: Go out of the Sanctuary, 'for thou haft trefpaffed, neither fhall it be 'for thine honour from the Lord God. Then 'Uzziah was wrath, and had a Cenfer in his hand to burn Incenfe, and while he was wrath with the Priefts, the Leprofy even rofe up in his Forehead before the Priefts in the Houfe of the Lord from be'fide the Incenfe Altar. And Azariahthe 'Chief Prieft, and all the Priests looked upon him, and behold he was Leprous in his 'Forehead and they thruft him out from

thence

thence, yea he himself hafted alfo to go ' out because the Lord had fmitten him. "And Uzziah the King was a Leper unto the Day of his Death.

Now though here is no mention made of the Earthquake that happened in his Reign, which is recorded by Amos and Zachariah as aforefaid, particularly by the laft in Chap ter 14 And ye fhall flee like as ye fled before the Earthquake in the days of Uzziah; yet Jofephus in his Hiftory of the Jews makes it very evident that it was at this time, and upon this occafion; Uzziah, fays he, upon a certain folemn Feaft day, wherein all the People were affembled together, attired himself in the High Prieft's Vestments, and entred into the Temple to offer Sacrifice unto God upon the Golden Altar, notwithstanding the High Priest Azariah, accompanied with fourfcore Priests prohibited the fame telling him, that it was not lawful for him to Sacrifice, fince it was only allowed to thofe that were of the Pofterity of the High Prieft Aaron, whilst after this manner Azariah expoftulated with him, commanding him to go out of the Temple, and not to invade the Ordinances of God; The King waxed wrath, and threatned to take his life from him, unless he kept himfelf quiet. Whereupon there fell a great Trembling and Earthquake, and the Temple cleft, in twain, and a great light of the Sun entred thereinto, and reflected

on

on the King's Face in fuch manner that all his body was covered with a Leprofy: And before the City, in a place called Eroge, the half of a Mountain that ftood to the Eaftward brake and fell, and rolled and removed for the space of four Furlongs, toward, the Oriental Mountain where it refted; So that the Publick ways were ftopt and choak-"

ed up, and the Kings Gardens of Pleafure were wholly ruinated and disfigured. When the Priests beheld the Kings Face covered with a Leprofie, they told him what inconvenience had happened to him, and enjoyned him to depart out of the City, according to the cuftom of Men that were polluted; Whereupon he wholly confufed at fo grievous an accident, and having no farther courage to reply, obeyed the Commandment that was given him, enduring a pitiful and lamentable punishment for being proud and prefumptuous, in committing fuch impiety againft God. Finally he died through grief and discontent, and was Buried in his own Garden. In the Year of the World 3194.

XIII. The next Earthquake that we read of, is that which happened at the Death of our bleffed Lord and Saviour, and was a very convincing demonftration of his Deity and that he was the Son of God. As we find in St. Matthew 27. Now from the 'fixth hour there was Darkness over all the 'Land until the ninth hour. Jefus when ' he had cried again, gave up the Ghoft

And