And methought there were thunders and lightnings and an earthquake, such as never had been known before, denoting this vast change, (the greatest of any,) that now was by this means wrought in the world. And Rome being at this time of Honorius divided into three parties; one, heathen; a second, orthodox; a third, heretical, impure, (see note [c] ch. xvii,) wicked Christians; this brought in Alaricus, and by that means destruction on all heathen Rome. And thus was God's just vengeance executed upon them. And as it is ordinary for islands and hills to be removed by earthquakes, so now the maritime towns and strongholds were destroyed by this incursion of the Goths.