Page:The Philosophy of Earthquakes, Natural and Religious.djvu/96

30 We may readily enough preſume, that the contact between the electric, and the non-electric, which gives the ſnap, and the ſhock, muſt come from without, from the atmoſphere. Perhaps by ſome meteor that crouds the ethereal fire together: which then flies off with that immenſe force that cauſes the earthquake. In the point of contact on the earth’s ſurface, the ſame thing is done, perhaps, another time, by a ſhower of rain. Our thoughts upon this matter muſt needs be as immature, as they are novel. But we may readily conclude, that tho’ the original ſtroke comes from the atmoſphere, yet the atmoſphere has no further concern in it: no aereal power, or change therein, can propagate itſelf ſo inſtantaneouſly, over ſo vaſt a ſurface, as 4000 miles ſquare. Therefore the impetuous ruſhing noiſe in the air, accompanying the ſhock, is the effect, and not the cauſe. And all this is ſtrongly confirm’d by this obſervation, that the barometer and thermometer receiv’d no change upon the earthquakes.

But ſurely, there is not a heart of fleſh that is not affected with ſo ſtupendous a concuſlion! let a man eſtimate his own power, with that which cauſes an earthquake; and he will be perſuaded, that ſomewhat more than ordinary is intended by ſo rare and wonderful a motion. That great genius Hippocrates, makes the whole of the animal œconomy to be ,