,the ,sacred ,theory of the ,earth ,illustration3 ,the ,sacred ,theory of the ,earth4 ,illustration3 ,effigies ,authoris4 ,the ,sacred ,theory of the ,earth ,containing an ,account of the ,original of the ,earth1 ,and of all the ,general ,changes which it hath already undergone1 or is to undergo1 till the ,consummation of all ,things4 ,in ,two ,volumes4 ,the ,two ,first ,books ,concerning the ,,deluge ,,and ,concerning ,,paradise ,the ,two ,last ,books ,concerning the ,burning of the ,,world1 ,,and ,concerning the ,new ,heavens and ,new ,earth ,with a ,,review of the ,,theory1 and of its ,proofs2 especially in reference to ,scripture4 ,the ,sixth ,edition4 ,to which is added1 ,the ,author's ,defence of the ,,work1 from the ,exceptions of ,mr4 ,warren1 and the ,examination of ,mr4 ,keil4 ,,and ,an ,,ode to the ,author by ,mr4 ,addison4 ,,london3 ,printed for ,j4 ,,hooke1 at the ,flower-de-,luce against ,st4 ,dunstan's-,church in ,fleet-street4 ,,mdccxxvi4 ,ad ,insignissimum ,virum ,d4 ,,tho4 ,,burnettum1 ,sacr ,theori ,telluris ,autorem4 ,non usitatum carminis alitem1 ,,burnette1 poscis1 non humiles modos3 ,vulgare plectrum1 languidque ,respuis officium camn4 ,tu mixta rerum semina conscius1 ,molmque cernis dissociabilem1 ,terrmque concretam1 latentem ,oceanum gremio capaci3 ,dum veritatem qurere pertinax ,ignota pandis1 sollicitus parm ,utcunque stet commune vulgi ,arbitrium popularis error4 ,auditur ingens continu fragor1 ,illapsa tellus lubrica deserit ,fundamina1 compage fract ,suppositas gravis urget undas4 ,impulsus erumpit medius liquor1 ,terras aquarum effusa licentia ,claudit vicissim3 has inter orbis ,reliqui fluitant prioris4 ,nunc recluso carcere lucidam ,balna spectat solis imaginem1 ,stellasque miratur natantes1 ,et tremul simulacra lun4 ,qu pompa vocum non imitablis6 ,qualis calescit spiritus ingen6 ,ut tollis undas6 ut frementem ,diluvii reprimis tumultum6 ,quis tam valenti pectore ferreus ,ut non tremiscens timido pede ,incedat1 orbis dum dolosi ,detegis instabiles ruinas8 ,quin hc cadentm fragmina montium ,natura vultum sumere simplicem ,coget resingens1 in priorem ,mox iterum reditura formam4 ,nimbis rubentem sulphureis ,jovem ,cernas2 ut udis svit atrox ,hyems ,incendiis1 commune mundo ,et populis meditata ,bustum6 ,nudus liquentes plorat ,athos nives1 ,et mox liquescens ipse adamantinum ,fundit cacumen1 dum per imas ,saxa fluunt resoluta valles4 ,jamque alta cli mnia corruunt1 ,et vestra tandem pagina 7proh nefas67 ,,burnette1 vestra augebit ignes1 ,heu socio peritura mundo4 ,mox qua tellus1 mox subitus viror ,ubique rident3 ,en teretem ,globum6 ,en lta vernantis ,favon ,flamina1 perpetusque flores6 ,o pectus ingens6 ,o animum gravem1 ,mundi capacem6 si bonus auguror1 ,te1 nostra quo tellus superbit1 ,accipiet renovata civem4 ,jo4 ,addison1 ,coll4 ,magd4 ,oxon4 #afii4 ,,an ,,ode ,to the ,,learned ,dr4 ,thomas ,burnet1 ,,author of ,the ,sacred ,theory of the ,,earth4 ,i4 ,no common ,height the ,muse must soar1 ,that wou'd thy ,fame in ,numbers try2 ,nor dare in humble ,verse adore1 ,but rise with ,thee above the ,sky3 ,you ask a bold and lofty ,strain1 ,and what we meanly sing1 disdain4 ,,ii4 ,you ,nature's early ,birth explore1 ,her disunited ,frame disclose1 ,from what mix'd ,cause1 and jarring ,power1 ,the ,infant ,earth to ,being rose3 ,how1 in her circling ,bosom sleep ,th' imprisoned ,seas1 and bounded ,deep4 ,,iii4 ,resolv'd great hidden ,truths to trace1 ,each learned ,fable you despise2 ,and1 pleas'd1 enjoy the fam'd ,disgrace1 ,to think1 and reason singly wise3 ,each ,tale reject by ,time allow'd1 ,and nobly leave the erring ,crowd4 ,,iv4 ,hark6 from her weak ,foundations tore1 ,the bursting ,earth asunder flies1 ,and1 prop'd by yielding ,seas no more1 ,the dreadful ,crack alarms the ,skies3 ,whose ,arches rent1 their ,weight forego1 ,and plunge in opening ,gulphs below4 ,v4 ,now rushing from their watry ,bed1 ,the driving ,waves disdain a ,shore2 ,and with resistless ,force o'erspread ,that ,orb1 which check'd their ,rage before3 ,while scatter'd o're the foamy ,tide1 ,all ,nature's floating ,ruins ride4 ,,vi4 ,new ,heavens disclos'd1 the silver ,train ,the ,,sun beneath their ,waves admire2 ,and gliding thro' the enlight'ned ,main1 ,gaze at each ,star's diminish'd ,fire1 ,well pleas'd1 the ,,moon's bright ,orb survey1 ,trembling along their azure ,play4 ,,vii4 ,how strong each ,line1 each ,thought how great1 ,with what an ,energy you rise6 ,how shines each ,fancy8 with what ,heat ,does every glowing ,page surprize8 ,while spouting ,oceans upward flow1 ,or sink again to ,caves below4 ,,viii4 ,as ,nature's ,doom you thus impart1 ,the moving ,scene we scarce endure2 ,but1 shrinking1 ask our anxious ,heart1 ,if on our ,earth we tread secure8 ,whose ,fate1 unmov'd1 as you persue1 ,we start and tremble but to view4 ,,ix4 ,yet these ,remains we now behold1 ,which tow'ring once in ,hills arose2 ,shall from a new and fairer ,mould ,a new and fairer ,earth compose3 ,which to her ,fate shall owe her ,bloom1 ,and rise more lovely from her ,tomb4 ,x4 ,yet see ,this beauteous ,fabrick end1 ,this second ,pride of ,fate expire2 ,while gushing from the ,clouds descend ,the burning ,storm1 the liquid ,fire2 ,where ,worlds and ,men consuming lie1 ,and in one bright ,confusion die4 ,,xi4 ,their naked ,tops the ,hills admire1 ,no longer white with fleecy ,dew2 ,and as they moan the spreading ,fire1 ,add to the ,flames dissolving too2 ,while ,rocks from melting ,mountains flow1 ,and roll in ,streams thro' ,vales below4 ,,xii4 ,and now the kindling ,orbs on high ,all ,nature's mournful ,end proclaim2 ,when thy great ,,work1 7,alas67 must die1 ,and feed the rich victorious ,flame3 ,give ,vigour to the wasting fire1 ,and with the ,world ,,too ,,soon expire4 ,,xiii4 ,once more her ,bloom the ,earth renews1 ,smooth'd into ,green1 eternal ,vales2 ,her ,glebe still moist with fragrant ,dews1 ,her ,air still rich with balmy ,gales3 ,no ,change her flow'ry ,seasons breed1 ,but ,springs retire1 and ,springs succeed4 ,,xiv4 ,oh say1 ,thou ,great1 ,thou sacred ,name1 ,what ,scenes ,thy thoughtful ,breast employ1 ,capacious as that mighty ,frame ,you raise with ,ease1 with ,ease destroy8 ,each ,world shall boast thy ,fame2 and ,,you1 ,who charm'd the ,,old1 should grace the ,,new4 ,,to ,,the ,,king's ,,most ,excellent ,majesty4 ,,sir1 ,new-found ,lands and ,countries accrue to the ,prince whose ,subject makes the first ,discovery2 and having retriev'd a ,world that had been lost for some thousands of ,years1 out of the ,memory of ,man1 and the ,records of ,time1 ,i thought it my ,duty to lay it at your ,majesty's ,feet4 ',twill not enlarge your ,dominions1 'tis past and gone2 nor dare ,i say it will enlarge your ,thoughts2 but ,i hope it may gratify your ,princely ,curiosity to read the ,description of it1 and see the ,fate that attended it4 ,we have still the broken ,materials of that first ,world1 and walk upon its ,ruins2 while it stood1 there was the ,seat of ,paradise1 and the ,scenes of the ,golden ,age2 when it fell1 it made the ,deluge2 and this unshapen ,earth we now inhabit1 is the ,form it was found in when the ,waters had retir'd1 and the dry ,land appear'd4 ,these things1 ,sir1 ,i propose and presume to prove in the following ,treatise1 which ,i willingly submit to your ,majesty's ,judgment and ,censure2 being very well satisfied1 that if ,i had sought a ,patron in all the ,list of ,kings1 your ,contemporaries1 or in the ,roll of your ,nobles of either ,order1 ,i could not have found a more competent ,judge in a ,speculation of this ,nature4 ,your ,majesty's ,sagacity1 and happy ,genius for natural ,history1 for ,observations and ,remarks upon the ,earth1 the ,heavens1 and the ,sea1 is a better ,preparation for ,inquiries of this kind1 than all the dead ,learning of the ,schools4 ,,sir1 ,this ,theory1 in the full ,extent of it1 is to reach to the last ,period of the ,earth1 and the ,end of all ,things2 but this first ,volume takes in only so much as is already past1 from the ,origin of the ,earth1 to this present ,time and ,state of ,nature4 ,to describe in like manner the ,changes and ,revolutions of ,nature that are to come1 and see thorough all succeeding ,ages1 will require a steady and attentive ,eye1 and a ,retreat from the ,noise of the ,world2 especially so to connect the ,parts1 and present them all under one ,view1 that we may see1 as in a ,mirror1 the several ,faces of ,nature1 from first to last1 throughout all the ,circle of ,successions4 ,,your ,majesty having been pleas'd to give ,encouragement to this ,translation1 ,i humbly present it to your gracious ,acceptance4 ,and 'tis our ,interest1 as well as ,duty1 in ,disquisitions of this ,nature1 to address our selves to your ,majesty1 as the ,defender of ,philosophick ,liberties1 against those that would usurp upon the fundamental ,privilege and ,birthright of ,mankind1 ,the free ,use of ,reason4 ,your ,majesty hath always appear'd the ,royal ,patron of ,learning and the ,sciences2 and 'tis suitable to the ,greatness of a ,princely ,spirit to favour and promote whatsoever tends to the ,enlargement of human ,knowledge1 and the ,improvement of human ,nature4 ,to be ,good and ,gracious1 and a ,lover of ,knowledge1 are1 methinks1 two of the most amiable ,things in this ,world3 ,and that your ,majesty may always bear that ,character in present and future ,ages2 and after a long and prosperous ,reign enjoy a blessed ,immortality1 is the constant ,prayer of ,your ,,majesty's ,most ,humble and ,most ,obedient ,subject1 ,,thomas ,,burnet4 ,,preface ,,to ,,the ,,reader4 ,having given an ,account of this whole ,work in the first ,chapter1 and of the ,method of either ,book1 whereof this ,volume consists1 in their proper ,places1 there remains not much to be said here to the ,reader4 ,this ,theory of the ,earth may be called ,sacred1 because it is not the common ,physiology of the ,earth1 or of the ,bodies that compose it1 but respects only the great ,turns of ,fate1 and the ,revolutions of our natural ,world2 such as are taken notice of in the ,sacred ,writings1 and are truly the ,hinges upon which the ,providence of this ,earth moves2 or whereby it opens and shuts the several successive ,scenes whereof it is made up4 ,this ,english ,edition is the same in ,substance with the ,latin1 though1 ,i confess1 'tis not so properly a ,translation1 as a new ,composition upon the same ,ground1 there being several additional ,chapters in it1 and several new-moulded4 ,as every ,science requires a peculiar ,genius1 so likewise there is a ,genius peculiarly improper for every one3 ,and as to ,philosophy1 which is the ,contemplation of the ,works of ,nature1 and the ,providence that governs them1 there is no ,temper or ,genius1 in my ,mind1 so improper for it1 as that which we call a mean and narrow ,spirit2 and which the ,greeks call ,littleness of ,soul4 ,this is a ,defect in the first ,make of some ,mens ,minds1 which can scarce ever be corrected afterwards1 either by ,learning or ,age4 ,and as ,souls that are made little and incapacious cannot enlarge their ,thoughts to take in any great ,compass of ,times or ,things2 so what is beyond their ,compass1 or above their ,reach1 they are apt to look upon as fantastical1 or at least would willingly have it pass for such in the ,world4 ,now as there is nothing so great1 so large1 so immense1 as the ,works of ,nature1 and the ,methods of ,providence1 ,men of this ,complexion must needs be very unfit for the ,contemplation of them4 ,who would set a purblind ,man at the ,top of the ,mast to discover ,land8 ,or upon an high ,tower to draw a ,landskip of the ,country round about8 ,for the same ,reason1 short-sighted ,minds are unfit to make ,philosophers1 whose proper ,business it is to discover and describe in comprehensive ,theories the ,phnomena of the ,world1 and the ,causes of them4 ,this ,original ,disease of the ,mind is seldom cur'd by ,learning1 which cures many others2 like a ,fault in the first ,stamina of the ,body1 it cannot easily be rectified afterwards4 ',tis a great ,mistake to think that every sort of ,learning makes a ,man a competent ,judge of ,natural ,speculations3 ,we see unhappy ,examples to the contrary amongst the ,christian ,fathers1 and particularly in ,st4 ,austin1 who was unquestionably a ,man of ,parts and ,learning2 but interposing in a ,controversy where his ,talent did not lie1 shew'd his ,zeal against the ,antipodes to very ill purpose1 though he drew his ,reasons partly from ,scripture4 ,and if within a few ,years1 or in the next ,generation1 it should prove as certain and demonstrable that the ,earth is mov'd1 as it is now1 that there are ,antipodes2 those that have been zealous against it1 and engag'd the ,scripture in the ,controversy1 would have the same ,reason to repent of their ,forwardness1 that ,st4 ,austin would have now1 if he was alive4 ',tis a dangerous thing to engage the ,authority of ,scripture in ,disputes about the ,natural ,world1 in ,opposition to ,reason2 lest ,time1 which brings all ,things to ,light1 should discover that to be evidently false which we had made ,scripture to assert3 ,and ,i remember ,st4 ,austin1 in his ,exposition upon ,genesis1 hath laid down a ,rule to this very purpose1 though he had the ,unhappiness1 it seems1 not to follow it always himself4 ,the ,reason also1 which he gives there for his ,rule1 is very good and substantial3 ,for1 saith he#a1 if the ,unbelievers or ,philosophers shall certainly know us to be mistaken1 and to err in those things that concern the ,natural ,world1 and see that we alledge our 7,sacred7 ,books for such vain ,opinions1 how shall they believe those same ,books when they tell them of the ,,resurrection of the ,dead1 and the ,world to come1 if they find them to be fallaciously writ in such things as lie within their certain ,knowledge8 ,we are not to suppose that any ,truth concerning the ,natural ,world can be an ,enemy to ,religion2 for ,truth cannot be an ,enemy to ,truth1 ,god is not divided against himself2 and therefore we ought not upon that ,account to condemn or censure what we have not examin'd or cannot disprove2 as those1 that are of this narrow ,spirit we are speaking of1 are very apt to do4 ,let every thing be try'd and examin'd in the first ,place1 whether it be ,true or ,false2 and if it be found false1 'tis then to be consider'd whether it be such a ,falsity as is prejudicial to ,religion or no4 ,but for every new ,theory that is propos'd1 to be alarm'd1 as if all ,religion was falling about our ,ears1 is to make the ,world suspect that we are very ill assur'd of the ,foundation it stands upon4 ,besides1 do not all ,men complain1 even these as well as others1 of the great ignorance of ,mankind8 how little we know1 and how much is still unknown8 and can we ever know more1 unless something new be discover'd8 ,it cannot be old when it comes first to light1 when first invented1 and first propos'd4 ,if a ,prince should complain of the ,poorness of his ,exchequer1 and the ,scarcity of ,money in his ,kingdom1 would he be angry with his ,merchants1 if they brought him home a ,cargo of good ,bullion1 or a ,mass of ,gold out of a foreign ,country8 and give this ,reason only for it1 ,he would have no new ,silver2 neither should any be current in his ,dominions but what had his own ,stamp and ,image upon it3 ,how should this ,prince or his ,people grow rich8 ,to complain of ,want1 and yet refuse all offers of a ,supply1 looks very sullen1 or very fantastical4 99 99 99 99 99 ,i might mention also upon this occasion another ,genius and ,disposition in ,men1 which often makes them improper for ,philosophical ,contemplations2 not so much1 it may be1 from the ,narrowness of their ,spirit and ,understanding1 as because they will not take ,time to extend them4 ,i mean ,men of ,wit and ,parts1 but of short ,thoughts and little ,meditation1 and that are apt to distrust every ,thing for a ,fancy or ,fiction that is not the ,dictate of ,sense1 or made out immediately to their ,senses4 ,men of this ,humour and ,character call such ,theories as these philosophick ,romances1 and think themselves witty in the ,expression2 they allow them to be pretty ,amusements of the ,mind1 but without ,truth or ,reality4 ,i am afraid if an ,angel should write the ,theory of the ,earth1 they would pass the same ,judgment upon it2 where there is ,variety of ,parts in a due ,contexture1 with something of surprizing ,aptness in the ,harmony and ,correspondency of them1 this they call a ,romance2 but such ,romances must all ,theories of ,nature and of ,providence be1 and must have every ,part of that ,character with ,advantage1 if they be well represented4 ,there is in them1 as ,i may so say1 a ,plot or ,mystery pursued thro' the whole ,work1 and certain grand ,issues or ,events upon which the rest depend1 or to which they are subordinate2 but these ,things we do not make or contrive our selves1 but find and discover them1 being made already by the great ,author and ,governor of the ,universe3 ,and when they are clearly discover'd1 well digested1 and well reason'd in every ,part1 there is1 methinks1 more of ,beauty in such a ,theory1 at least a more masculine ,beauty1 than in any ,poem or ,romance2 and that solid ,truth that is at the ,bottom gives a ,satisfaction to the ,mind1 that it can never have from any ,fiction how artificial soever it be4 ,to enter no further upon this ,matter1 'tis enough to observe1 that when we make ,judgments and ,censures upon general ,presumptions and ,prejudices1 they are made rather from the ,temper and ,model of our own ,spirits1 than from ,reason2 and therefore1 if we would neither impose upon our selves1 nor others1 we must lay aside that lazy and fallacious ,method of censuring by the ,lump1 and must bring things close to the ,test of ,true or ,false1 to explicit ,proof and ,evidence2 and whosoever makes such ,objections against an ,hypothesis1 hath a ,right to be heard1 let his ,temper and ,genius be what it will4 ,neither do we intend that any thing we have said here should be understood in another ,sense4 ,to conclude1 ,this ,theory being writ with a sincere ,intention to justify the ,doctrines of the ,universal ,deluge1 and of a ,paradisiacal ,state1 and protect them from the ,cavils of those that are no ,well-wishers to sacred ,history1 upon that ,account it may reasonably expect fair ,usage and ,acceptance with all that are well-dispos'd2 and it will also be1 ,i think1 a great ,satisfaction to them to see those ,pieces of most ancient ,history1 which have been chiefly preserv'd in ,scripture1 confirm'd anew1 and by another ,light1 that of ,nature and ,philosophy2 and also freed from those ,misconceptions or ,misrepresentations1 which made them sit uneasie upon the ,spirits even of the best ,men that took ,time to think4 ,lastly1 ,in things purely speculative1 as these are1 and no ,ingredients of our ,faith1 it is free to differ from one another in our ,opinions and ,sentiments2 and so ,i remember ,st4 ,austin hath observ'd upon this very ,subject of ,paradise2 wherefore as we desire to give no ,offence our selves1 so neither shall we take any at the ,difference of ,judgment in others2 provided this ,liberty be mutual1 and that we all agree to study ,peace1 ,truth1 and a good ,life4 ,footnote #a3 ,gen4 ad lit4 lib4 #a4 c4 #ai4 ,plerumque accidit ut aliquid de ,terr de ,clo1 de cteris hujus mundi elementis1 c4 ,cm enim quenquam ,christianorum in e re quam optim nrunt1 errare deprehenderint1 vanam sententiam suam ex nostris libris asserere1 quo pacto illis libris credituri sunt de ,resurrectione ,mortuorum1 spe vit terne regnoque clorum1 quando de bis rebus quas jam experiri vel indubitatis numeris percipere potuerunt1 fallaciter putaverint esse conscriptos8 ,,contents ,,of ,,the ,,chapters4 ,the ,,first ,,book4 ,,chap4 ,i4 ,the ,introduction3 ,an ,account of the whole ,work1 of the ,extent and general ,order of it4 444 ,page #a ,,chap4 ,,ii4 ,a general ,account of ,noah's ,flood4 ,a ,computation what ,quantity of ,water would be necessary for the making of it2 ,that the common ,opinion and ,explication of that ,flood is not intelligible4 444 #aj ,,chap4 ,,iii4 ,all ,evasions concerning the ,flood answer'd2 ,that there was no ,creation of ,waters at the ,deluge1 and that it was not particular or national1 but extended throughout the whole ,earth4 ,a ,prelude and ,preparation to the true ,account and ,explication of it4 ,the ,method of the first ,book4 444 #be ,,chap4 ,,iv4 ,that the ,earth and ,mankind had an ,original1 and were not from ,eternity2 prov'd against ,aristotle4 ,the first ,proposition of our ,theory laid down1 viz4 ,that the ,antediluvian ,earth was of a different ,form and ,construction from the present4 ,this is prov'd from divine ,authority1 and from the ,nature and ,form of the ,chaos1 out of which the ,earth was made4 444 #dg ,,chap4 ,v4 ,the second ,proposition is laid down1 viz4 ,that ,the ,face of the ,earth before the ,deluge was smooth1 regular and uniform2 without ,mountains1 and without a ,sea4 ,the ,chaos out of which the ,world rose is fully examin'd1 and all its ,motions observ'd1 and by what ,steps it wrought it self into an habitable ,world4 ,some things in ,antiquity relating to the first ,state of the ,earth are interpreted1 and some things in the sacred ,writings4 ,the divine ,art and ,geometry in the ,construction of the first ,earth is observ'd and celebrated4 444 #ga ,,chap4 ,,vi4 ,the ,dissolution of the first ,earth3 ,the ,deluge ensuing thereupon4 ,and the ,form of the present ,earth rising from the ,ruins of the first4 444 #hi ,,chap4 ,,vii4 ,that the ,explication we have given of an universal ,deluge is not an ,,idea only1 but an ,account of what really came to pass in the ,earth1 and the true ,explication of ,noah's ,flood4 ,an ,examination of ,tehom-,rabba1 or the great ,abyss1 and that by it the ,sea cannot be understood1 nor the subterraneous ,waters as they are at present4 ,what the true ,notion and ,form of it was1 collected from ,moses and other sacred ,writers4 ,observations on ,deucalion's ,deluge4 444 #ajc ,,chap4 ,,viii4 ,the particular ,history of ,noah's ,flood is explain'd in all the material ,parts and ,circumstances of it1 according to the preceding ,theory4 ,any seeming ,difficulties remov'd1 and the whole ,section concluded with a ,discourse how far the ,deluge may be lookt upon as the ,effect fect of an ordinary ,providence1 and how far of an extraordinary4 444 #abi ,,chap4 ,,ix4 ,the second ,part of this ,discourse1 proving the same ,theory from the ,effects and the present ,form of the ,earth4 ,first1 by a general ,scheme of what is most remarkable in this ,globe1 and then by a more particular ,induction2 beginning with an ,account of ,subterraneous ,cavities and ,subterraneous ,waters4 444 #adf ,,chap4 ,x4 ,concerning the ,channel of the ,sea and the ,original of it2 ,the ,causes of its irregular ,form and unequal ,depths3 ,as also of the ,original of ,islands1 their ,situation and other ,properties4 444 #agb ,,chap4 ,,xi4 ,concerning the ,mountains of the ,earth1 their ,greatness and irregular ,form1 their ,situation1 ,causes and ,origin4 444 #ahh ,,chap4 ,,xii4 ,a short ,review of what hath been already treated of1 and in what manner4 ,all ,methods1 whether philosophical or theological1 that have been offer'd by others for the ,explication of the ,form of the ,earth1 are examin'd and refuted4 ,a ,conjecture concerning the other ,planets1 their ,natural ,form and ,state compar'd with ours2 especially concerning ,jupiter and ,saturn4 444 #bjf ,the ,,second ,,book4 ,,chap4 ,i4 ,the ,introduction and ,contents of the ,second ,book4 ,the general ,state of the ,primval ,earth1 and of ,paradise4 444 #bce ,,chap4 ,,ii4 ,the great ,change of the ,world since the ,flood1 from what it was in the first ,ages4 ,the ,earth under its present ,form could not be ,paradisiacal1 nor any ,part of it4 444 #bea ,,chap4 ,,iii4 ,the ,original ,differences of the ,primitive ,earth from the ,present or ,postdiluvian4 ,the three ,characters of ,paradise1 and the ,golden ,age1 found in the ,primitive ,earth4 ,a particular ,explication of each ,character4 444 #bfd ,,chap4 ,,iv4 ,a ,digression concerning the ,natural ,causes of ,longvity4 ,that the ,machine of an ,animal consists of ,springs1 and which are the two principal4 ,the ,age of the ,antediluvians to be computed by ,solar1 not ,lunar ,years4 444 #bgg ,,chap4 ,v4 ,concerning the ,waters of the ,primitive ,earth3 ,what the ,state of the ,regions of the ,air was then1 and how all ,waters proceeded from them4 ,how the ,rivers arose1 what was their ,course1 and how they ended4 ,several things in sacred ,writ that confirm this ,hydrography of the first ,earth1 especially the ,postdiluvian ,origin of the ,rainbow4 444 #cjg ,,chap4 ,,vi4 ,a ,recollection and ,review of what hath been said concerning the ,primitive ,earth1 with a more full ,survey of the ,state of the ,first ,world1 ,natural and ,civil1 and the ,comparison of it with the present ,world4 444 #cbi ,,chap4 ,,vii4 ,concerning the ,place of ,paradise2 ,it cannot be determin'd from the ,theory only1 nor from ,scripture only2 ,what the ,sense of ,antiquity was concerning it1 as to the ,jews and ,heathens1 and especially as to the ,christian ,fathers4 ,that they generally plac'd it out of this ,continent1 in the ,southern ,hemisphere4 444 #cde ,,chap4 ,,viii4 ,the ,uses of this ,theory for the ,illustration of ,antiquity2 ,the ,chaos of the ,ancients explain'd2 ,the ,inhabitability of the ,torrid ,zone2 ,the ,change of the ,poles of the ,world2 ,the ,doctrine of the ,mundane ,egg2 ,how ,america was first peopled2 ,how ,paradise within the ,circle of the ,moon4 444 #cfc ,,chap4 ,,ix4 ,a general ,objection against this ,theory1 viz4 ,that if there had been such a ,primitive ,earth1 as we pretend1 the ,fame of it would have sounded throughout all ,antiquity4 ,the ,eastern and ,western ,learning consider'd1 the most considerable ,records of both are lost2 what ,footsteps remain relating to this ,subject4 ,the ,jewish and ,christian ,learning consider'd1 how far lost as to this ,argument1 and what ,notes or ,traditions remain4 ,lastly1 ,how far the ,sacred ,writings bear witness to it4 ,the ,providential ,conduct of ,knowledge in the ,world4 ,a ,recapitulation and ,state of the ,theory4 444 #cgi ,,chap4 ,x4 ,concerning the ,,author of ,,nature4 444 #dja ,,chap4 ,,xi4 ,concerning ,,natural ,,providence4 ,several ,incroachments upon natural ,providence1 or ,misrepresentations of it1 and false ,methods of ,contemplation4 ,a true ,method propos'd1 and a true ,representation of the ,universe4 ,the ,mundane ,idea1 and the universal ,system of ,providence4 ,several subordinate ,systems4 ,that of our ,earth and sublunary ,world4 ,the ,course and ,periods of it4 ,how much of this is already treated of1 and what remains4 ,conclusion4 444 #dcb ,,the ,,theory ,,of ,,the ,,earth4 ,,book ,i4 ,concerning the ,deluge1 and the ,dissolution of the ,,earth4 ,,chap4 ,i4 ,the ,,introduction4 ,an ,account of the whole ,work2 of the ,extent and general ,order of it4 ,since ,i was first inclin'd to the ,contemplation of ,nature1 and took ,pleasure to trace out the ,causes of ,effects1 and the ,dependance of one thing upon another in the visible ,creation1 ,i had always1 methought1 a particular ,curiosity to look back into the ,sources and ,,original of ,things2 and to view in my ,mind1 so far as ,i was able1 the ,beginning and ,progress of a ,,rising ,,world4 ,,and after some ,essays of this ,nature1 and as ,i thought1 not unsuccessful1 ,i carried on my ,enquiries further1 to try whether this ,rising ,world1 when form'd and finish'd1 would continue always the same2 in the same ,form1 ,structure1 and ,consistency2 or what ,changes it would successively undergo1 by the continued ,action of the same ,causes that first produc'd it2 and1 lastly1 what would be its final ,period and ,consummation4 ,this whole ,series and ,compass of ,things taken together1 ,i call'd a ,,course ,,of ,,nature1 or1 a ,,system ,,of ,,natural ,,providence2 and thought there was nothing belonging to the external ,world more fit1 or more worthy our ,study and ,meditation1 nor any thing that would conduce more to discover the ,ways of ,divine ,providence1 and to shew us the ,grounds of all true ,knowledge concerning ,nature4 ,and therefore1 to clear up the several ,parts of this ,theory1 ,i was willing to lay aside a great many other ,speculations1 and all those dry ,subtilties with which the ,schools and the ,books of ,philosophers are usually fill'd4 ,,but when we speak of a ,rising ,world1 and the ,contemplation of it1 we do not mean this1 of the ,great ,universe2 for who can describe the ,original of that vast ,frame8 ,but we speak of the ,sublunary ,world1 this ,earth1 and its ,dependencies1 which rose out of a ,chaos about ,six ,thousand ,years ago4 ,and seeing it hath fallen to our ,lot to act upon this ,stage1 to have our present ,home and ,residence here1 it seems most reasonable1 and the ,place design'd by ,providence1 where we should first employ our ,thoughts1 to understand the ,works of ,god and ,nature4 ,we have accordingly therefore design'd in this ,work to give an ,account of the ,original of the ,earth1 and of all the great and general ,changes that it hath already undergone1 or is hence forwards to undergo1 till the ,consummation of all things4 ,for if from those ,principles we have here taken1 and that ,theory we have begun in these two first ,books1 we can deduce with ,success and ,clearness the ,origin of the ,earth1 and those ,states of it that are already past2 following the same ,thread1 and by the ,conduct of the same ,theory1 we will pursue its ,fate and ,history thro' future ,ages1 and mark all the great ,changes and ,conversions that attend it while ,day and ,night shall last2 that is1 so long as it continues an ,earth4 ,by the ,states of the ,earth that are already past1 we understand chiefly ,paradise and the ,deluge2 ,names well known1 and as little known in their ,nature4 ,by the future ,states we understand the ,conflagration1 and what new ,order of ,nature may follow upon that1 'till the whole ,circle of ,time and ,providence be compleated4 ,as to the first and past ,states of the ,earth1 we shall have little help from the ,ancients1 or from any of the ,philosophers1 for the ,discovery or ,description of them3 ,we must often tread unbeaten ,paths1 and make a ,way where we do not find one2 but it shall be always with a ,light in our ,hand1 that we may see our ,steps1 and that those that follow us may not follow us blindly4 ,there is no ,sect of ,philosophers that ,i know of1 that ever gave an ,account of the ,universal ,deluge1 or discover'd1 from the ,contemplation of the ,earth1 that there had been such a ,thing already in ,nature4 ',tis true1 they often talk of an ,alternation of ,deluges and ,conflagrations in this ,earth1 but they speak of them as ,things to come2 at least1 they give no ,proof or ,argument of any that hath already destroyed the ,world4 ,as to ,paradise1 it seems to be represented to us by the ,golden ,age2 whereof the ,ancients tell many ,stories1 sometimes very luxuriant1 and sometimes very defective3 ,for they did not so well understand the ,difference betwixt the new-made ,earth and the present1 as to see what were the just ,grounds of the ,golden ,age1 or of ,paradise2 though they had many broken ,notions concerning those ,things1 as to the ,conflagration in particular4 ,this hath always been reckon'd one amongst the ,opinions1 or ,dogmata of the ,stoicks1 ,that the ,world was to be destroyed by ,fire1 and their ,books are full of this ,notion2 but yet they do not tell us the ,causes of the ,conflagration1 nor what ,preparations there are in ,nature1 or will be1 towards that great ,change4 ,and we may generally observe this of the ,ancients1 that their ,learning or ,philosophy consisted more in ,conclusions1 than in ,demonstrations2 they had many ,truths among them1 whereof they did not know themselves the ,premises or the ,proofs3 ,which is an ,argument to me1 that the ,knowledge they had1 was not a ,thing of their own ,invention1 or which they came to by fair ,reasoning and ,observations upon ,nature1 but was delivered to them from others by ,tradition and ancient ,fame1 sometimes more publick1 sometimes more secret3 ,these ,conclusions they kept in ,mind1 and communicated to those of their ,school1 or ,sect1 or ,posterity1 without knowing1 for the most part1 the just ,grounds and ,reasons of them4 ',,tis the ,sacred ,writings of ,scripture that are the best ,monuments of ,antiquity1 and to those we are chiefly beholden for the ,history of the first ,ages1 whether ,natural ,history or ,civil4 ',tis true1 the ,poets1 who were the most ancient ,writers among the ,greeks1 and serv'd them both for ,historians1 ,divines1 and ,philosophers1 have delivered some ,things concerning the first ,ages of the ,world1 that have a fair resemblance of ,truth1 and some ,affinity with those ,accounts that are given of the same ,things by ,sacred ,authors1 and these may be of ,use in due ,time and ,place2 but yet1 lest any thing fabulous should be mix'd with them1 as commonly there is1 we will never depend wholly upon their ,credit1 nor assert any ,thing upon the ,authority of the ,ancients which is not first prov'd by natural ,reason1 or warranted by ,scripture4 ,,it seems to me very reasonable to believe that besides the ,precepts of ,religion1 which are the principal ,subject and ,design of the ,books of ,holy ,scripture1 there may be providentially conserved in them the ,memory of ,things and ,times so remote1 as could not be retrieved1 either by ,history1 or by the ,light of ,nature2 and yet were of great ,importance to be known1 both for their own ,excellency1 and also to rectify the ,knowledge of ,men in other ,things consequential to them3 ,such ,points may be1 ,our great ,epocha1 or the ,age of the ,earth1 ,the ,origination of ,mankind1 ,the ,first and ,paradisiacal ,state1 ,the ,destruction of the old ,world by an ,universal ,deluge1 ,the ,longevity of its ,inhabitants1 ,the manner of their ,preservation1 and of their ,peopling the second ,earth2 and lastly1 ,the ,fate and ,changes it is to undergo4 ,these ,i always look'd upon as the ,seeds of great ,knowledge1 or ,heads of ,theories fix'd on ,purpose to give us ,aim and ,direction how to pursue the rest that depend upon them4 ,but these ,heads1 you see1 are of a mix'd ,order1 and we propose to our selves in this ,work only such as belong to the natural ,world1 upon which ,i believe the ,trains of ,providence are generally laid2 and we must first consider1 how ,god hath order'd ,nature1 and then1 how the ,occonomy of the ,intellectual ,world is adapted to it2 for of these two ,parts consist the full ,system of ,providence4 ,in the mean ,time1 what ,subject can be more worthy the ,thoughts of any serious ,person1 than to view and consider the ,rise and ,fall1 and all the ,revolutions1 not of a ,monarchy or an ,empire1 of the ,grecian or ,roman ,state1 but of an entire ,world8 ,,the ,obscurity of these ,things1 and their ,remoteness from common ,knowledge1 will be made an ,argument by some1 why we should not undertake them2 and by others1 it may be1 the very same ,thing will be made an ,argument why we should4 ,for my ,part ,i think ,there is nothing so secret that shall not be brought to ,light1 within the ,compass of our ,world2 for we are not to understand that of the whole ,universe1 nor of all ,eternity1 our ,capacities do not extend so far2 but whatsoever concerns this ,sublunary ,world in the whole ,extent of its ,duration1 from the ,chaos to the last ,period1 this ,i believe ,providence hath made us capable to understand1 and will in its due ,time make it known4 ,all ,i say1 betwixt the first ,chaos and the last ,completion of ,time and all ,things temporary1 this was given to the ,disquisitions of ,men3 ,on either ,hand is ,eternity1 before the ,world and after1 which is without our reach3 ,but that little spot of ,ground that lies betwixt those two great ,oceans1 this we are to cultivate1 this we are ,masters of1 herein we are to exercise our ,thoughts1 to understand and lay open the ,treasures of the ,divine ,wisdom and ,goodness hid in this part of ,nature and of ,providence4 ,,as for the ,difficulty or ,obscurity of an ,argument1 that does but add to the ,pleasure of contesting with it1 when there are ,hopes of ,victory2 and ,success does more than recompense all the ,pains4 ,for there is no sort of ,joy more grateful to the ,mind of ,man1 than that which ariseth from the ,invention of ,truth2 especially when 'tis hard to come by4 ,every ,man hath a ,delight suited to his ,genius1 and as there is ,pleasure in the right ,exercise of any ,faculty1 so especially in that of ,right-,reasoning2 which is still the greater1 by how much the ,consequences are more clear1 and the ,chains of them more long3 ,there is no ,chace so pleasant1 methinks1 as to drive a ,thought1 by good ,conduct1 from one end of the ,world to the other2 and never to lose ,sight of it till it fall into ,eternity1 where all things are lost1 as to our ,knowledge4 ,,this ,theory being chiefly ,philosophical1 ,reason is to be our first ,guide2 and where that falls short1 or any other just ,occasion offers it self1 we may receive further ,light and ,confirmation from the ,sacred ,writings4 ,both these are to be look'd upon as of ,divine ,original1 ,god is the ,author of both2 he that made the ,scripture made also our ,faculties1 and 'twere a ,reflection upon the ,divine ,veracity for the one or the other to be false when rightly used4 ,we must therefore be careful and tender of opposing these to one another1 because that is1 in effect1 to oppose ,god to himself4 ,as for ,antiquity and the ,testimonies of the ,ancients1 we only make general ,reflections upon them1 for ,illustration rather than ,proof of what we propose2 not thinking it proper for an ,english ,treatise to multiply ,citations out of ,greek or ,latin ,authors4 ,i am very sensible it will be much our ,interest1 that the ,reader of this ,theory should be of an ingenuous and unprejudiced ,temper1 neither does it so much require ,book-learning and ,scholarship1 as good natural ,sense to distinguish ,true and ,false1 and to discern what is well prov'd1 and what is not4 ,it often happens that ,scholastick ,education1 like a ,trade1 does so fix a ,man in a particular ,way1 that he is not fit to judge of any thing that lies out of that ,way2 and so his ,learning becomes a ,clog to his natural ,parts1 and makes him more indocile1 and more incapable of new ,thoughts and new ,improvements1 than those that have only the ,talents of ,nature4 ,as ,matters of ,exercise had rather take a ,scholar that never learn'd before1 than one that hath had a bad ,master2 so generally one would rather chuse a ,reader without ,art1 than one ill instructed with ,learning1 but opinionative1 and without ,judgment2 yet it is not necessary they should want either1 and ,learning well plac'd strengthens all the ,powers of the ,mind4 ,to conclude1 just ,reasoning and a generous ,love of ,truth1 whether with or without ,erudition1 is that which makes us most competent ,judges what is true4 ,and further than this1 in the ,perusal and ,examination of this ,work1 as to the ,author1 as much ,candor as you please2 but as to the ,theory1 we require nothing but ,attention and ,impartiality4 ,,chap4 ,,ii4 ,a general ,account of ,,noah's ,flood2 a ,computation what ,quantity of ,water would be necessary for the making of it2 that the common ,opinion and ,explication of that ,flood is not intelligible4 ',,tis now more than five ,thousand ,years since our ,world was made1 and tho' it would be a great ,pleasure to the ,mind1 to recollect and view at this ,distance those first ,scenes of ,nature2 what the ,face of the ,earth was1 when fresh and new1 and how ,things differ'd from the ,state we now find them in1 the ,speculation is so remote1 that it seems to be hopeless1 and beyond the reach of human ,wit4 ,we are almost the last ,posterity of the first ,men1 and fallen into the dying ,age of the ,worlds2 by what ,footsteps1 or by what ,guide can we trace back our ,way to those first ,ages1 and the first ,order of ,things8 ,and yet1 methinks1 it is reasonable to believe1 that ,divine ,providence1 which sees at once throughout all the ,ages and ,orders of the ,world1 should not be willing to keep ,mankind finally and fatally ignorant of that part of ,nature1 and of the ,universe1 which is properly their ,task and ,province to manage and understand4 ,we are the ,inhabitants of the ,earth1 the ,lords and ,masters of it2 and we are endow'd with ,reason and ,understanding2 doth it not then properly belong to us to examine and unfold the ,works of ,god in this part of the ,universe1 which is fallen to our ,lot1 which is our ,heritage and ,habitation8 ,and it will be found1 it may be1 upon a stricter ,enquiry1 that in the present ,form and ,constitution of the ,earth1 there are certain ,marks and ,indications of its first ,state2 with which if we compare those ,things that are recorded in ,sacred ,history1 concerning the first ,chaos1 ,paradise1 and an ,universal ,deluge1 we may discover1 by the help of those ,lights1 what the ,earth was in its first ,original1 and what ,changes have since succeeded in it4 ,,and tho' we shall give a full ,account of the ,origin of the ,earth in this ,treatise1 yet that which we have propos'd particularly for the ,title and ,subject of it1 is to give an ,account of the primval ,paradise1 and of the ,universal ,deluge1 those being the two most important things that are explained by the ,theory we propose4 ,and ,i must beg leave in treating of these two1 to change the ,order1 and treat first of the ,deluge1 and then of ,paradise3 ,for though the ,state of ,paradise doth precede that of the ,flood in ,sacred ,history1 and in the ,nature of the ,thing1 yet the ,explication of both will be more sensible and more effectual1 if we begin with the ,deluge2 there being more ,observations and ,effects1 and those better known to us that may be referr'd to this1 than to the other2 and the ,deluge being once truly explain'd1 we shall from thence know the ,form and ,quality of the ,ante-diluvian ,earth4 ,let us then proceed to the ,explication of that great and fatal ,inundation1 whose ,history is well known2 and according to ,moses1 the best of ,historians1 in a few ,words is this---- ,,sixteen ,hundred and odd ,years after the ,earth was made1 and inhabited1 it was over-flowed and destroyed in a ,deluge of ,water4 ,not a ,deluge that was ,national only1 or over-run some particular ,country or ,region1 as ,judea or ,greece1 or any other1 but it over-spread the ,face of the ,whole ,earth1 from ,pole to ,pole1 and from ,east to ,west1 and that in such ,excess1 that the ,floods over-reacht the tops of the highest ,mountains2 the ,rains descending after an unusual ,manner1 and the ,fountains of the ,great ,deep being broke open2 so as a general ,destruction and ,devastation was brought upon the ,earth1 and all ,things in it1 ,mankind and other living ,creatures2 excepting only ,noah and his ,family1 who by a special ,providence of ,god was preserved in a certain ,ark1 or ,vessel made like a ,ship1 and such kinds of living ,creatures as he took in to him4 ,after these ,waters had rag'd for some time on the ,earth1 they began to lessen and shrink1 and the great ,waves and ,fluctuations of this ,deep or ,abyss being quieted by degrees1 the ,waters retir'd into their ,channels and ,caverns within the ,earth2 and the ,mountains and ,fields began to appear1 and the whole habitable ,earth in that ,form and ,shape wherein we now see it4 ,then the ,world began again1 and from that little ,remnant preserv'd in the ,ark1 the present ,race of ,mankind1 and of ,animals1 in the known ,parts of the ,earth1 were propagated4 ,thus perish'd the ,old ,world1 and the present arose from the ,ruins and ,remains of it4 ,,this is a short ,story of the greatest ,thing that ever yet hap'ned in the ,world1 the greatest ,revolution and the greatest ,change in ,nature2 and if we come to reflect seriously upon it1 we shall find it extreamly difficult1 if not impossible1 to give an ,account of the ,waters that compos'd this ,deluge1 whence they came1 or whither they went4 ,if it had been only the ,inundation of a ,country1 or of a ,province1 or of the greatest part of a ,continent1 some proportionable ,causes perhaps might have been found out2 but a ,deluge overflowing the whole ,earth1 the whole ,circuit and whole ,extent of it1 burying all in ,water1 even the greatest ,mountains in any known ,parts of the ,universe1 to find ,water sufficient for this ,effect1 as it is generally explained and understood1 ,i think is impossible4 ,and that we may the better judge of the whole matter1 let us first compute1 how much ,water would be requisite for such a ,deluge2 or to lay the ,earth1 consider'd in its present ,form1 and the highest ,mountains1 under ,water4 ,then let us consider whether such a ,quantity of ,water can be had out of all the ,stores that we know in ,nature3 ,and from these two1 we will take our ,ground and ,rise1 and begin to reflect1 whether the ,world hath not been hitherto mistaken in the common ,opinion and ,explication of the general ,deluge4 ,,to discover how much ,water would be requisite to make this ,deluge1 we must first suppose enough to cover the plain ,surface of the ,earth1 the ,fields and lower ,grounds2 then we must heap up so much more upon this1 as will reach above the tops of the highest ,mountains2 so as drawing a ,circle over the tops of the highest ,mountains quite round the ,earth1 suppose from ,pole to ,pole1 and another to meet it round the middle of the ,earth1 all that ,space1 or ,capacity1 contain'd within these ,circles1 is to be fill'd up with ,water4 ,this ,i confess will make a prodigious ,mass of ,water1 and it looks frightfully to the ,imagination2 'tis huge and great1 but 'tis extravagantly so1 as a great ,monster3 ,it doth not look like the ,work of ,god or ,nature3 ,however let's compute a little more particularly how much this will amount to1 or how many ,oceans of ,water would be necessary to compose this great ,ocean rowling in the ,air1 without ,bounds or ,banks4 ,,if all the ,mountains were pared off the ,earth1 and so the ,surface of it lay even1 or in an equal ,convexity every where1 with the ,surface of the ,sea1 from this ,surface of the ,sea1 let us suppose that the height of the ,mountains may be a ,mile and a half2 or that we may not seem at all to favour our own ,opinion or ,calculation1 let us take a ,mile only for the perpendicular height of the ,mountains4 ,let us on the other side suppose the ,sea to cover half the ,earth1 as 'tis generally believ'd to do2 and the common ,depth of it1 taking one ,place with another1 to be about a quarter of a ,mile1 or #bej ,paces4 ,i say1 taking one ,place with another1 for though the middle ,channel of the great ,ocean be far deeper1 we may observe1 that there is commonly a ,descent or ,declivity from the ,shore to the middle ,part of the ,channel1 so that one comes by ,degrees into the ,depth of it2 and those shory ,parts are generally but some ,fathoms deep4 ,besides1 in ,arms of the ,sea1 in ,straits and among ,islands1 there is commonly no great ,depth1 and some ,places are plain ,shallows4 ,so as upon a moderate ,computation1 one ,place compar'd with another1 we may take a quarter of a ,mile1 or about an hundred ,fathoms1 for the common ,measure of the ,depth of the ,sea1 if we were cast into a ,channel of an equal ,depth every where4 ,this being suppos'd1 there would need four ,oceans to lie upon this ,ocean1 to raise it up to the top of the ,mountains1 or so high as the ,waters of the ,deluge rise2 then four ,oceans more to lie upon the ,land1 that the ,water there might swell to the same height2 which together make eight ,oceans for the ,proportion of the ,water requir'd in the ,deluge4 ',,tis true1 there would not be altogether so much ,water required for the ,land as for the ,sea1 to raise them to an equal height2 because ,mountains and ,hills would fill up part of that ,space upon the ,land1 and so make less ,water requisite4 ,but to compensate this1 and confirm our ,computation1 we must consider in the first ,place1 that we have taken a much less height of the ,mountains than is requisite1 if we respect the ,mediterraneous ,mountains1 or those that are at a great distance from the ,sea2 for their ,height above the ,surface of the ,sea1 computing the ,declivity of the ,land all along from the ,mountains to the ,sea-side 7and that there is such a ,declivity is manifest from the ,course and ,descent of the ,rivers7 is far greater than the ,proportion we have taken3 ,the height of ,mountains is usually taken from the ,foot of them1 or from the next ,plain1 which if it be far from the ,sea1 we may reasonably allow as much for the ,declension of the ,land from that place to the ,sea1 as for the immediate ,height of the ,mountain3 ,so1 for ,instance1 the ,mountains of the ,moon in ,africa1 whence the ,nile flows1 and after a long ,course falls into the ,mediterranean ,sea by ,egypt1 are so much higher than the ,surface of that ,sea1 first1 as the ,ascent of the ,land is from the ,sea to the ,foot of the ,mountains1 and then as the ,height of the ,mountains is from the bottom to the top3 ,for both these are to be computed when you measure the ,height of a ,mountain1 or of a mountainous ,land1 in respect of the ,sea3 ,and the ,height of ,mountains to the ,sea being thus computed1 there would be need of six or eight ,oceans to raise the ,sea alone as high as the highest ,inland ,mountains3 ,and this is more than enough to compensate the less ,quantity of ,water that would be requisite upon the ,land4 ,besides1 we must consider the ,regions of the ,air upwards to be more capacious than a ,region of the same ,thickness in or near the ,earth1 so as if an ,ocean pour'd upon the ,surface of the dry ,land1 supposing it were all smooth1 would rise to the ,height of half a quarter of a ,mile every where2 the like ,quantity of ,water pour'd again at the ,height of the ,mountains would not have altogether the same effect1 or would not there raise the ,mass half a quarter of a ,mile higher2 for the ,surfaces of a ,globe1 the farther they are from their ,center1 are the greater2 and so accordingly the ,regions that belong to them4 ,and1 lastly1 we must consider1 that there are some ,countries or ,valleys very low1 and also many ,caverns or ,cavities within the ,earth1 all which in this ,case were to be first fill'd with ,water4 ,these ,things being compar'd and estimated1 we shall find1 that notwithstanding the ,room that ,hills and ,mountains take up on the dry ,land1 there would be at least eight ,oceans required1 or a ,quantity of ,water eight times as great as the ,ocean1 to bring an ,universal ,deluge upon the ,earth1 as that ,deluge is ordinarily understood and explained4 ,,the ,proportion of ,water for the ,deluge being thus stated1 the next thing to be done1 is to enquire where this ,water is to be found2 if any part of the ,sublunary ,world will afford us so much3 ,eight ,oceans floating in the ,air make a great ,bulk of ,water1 ,i do not know what possible ,sources to draw it from4 ,there are the ,clouds above and the ,deeps below1 and in the ,bowels of the ,earth2 and these are all the ,stores we have for ,water2 and ,moses directs us to no other for the ,causes of the ,deluge4 ,the ,fountains 7he saith7 of the great ,abyss were broken up1 or burst asunder1 and the ,rain descended for ,forty ,days1 the ,cataracts1 or ,floodgates of ,heaven being opened4 ,and in these two1 no doubt1 are contain'd the ,causes of the great ,deluge1 as according to ,moses1 so also according to ,reason and ,necessity2 for our ,world affords no other ,treasures of ,water4 ,let us therefore consider1 how much this ,rain of ,forty ,days might amount to1 and how much might flow out of the ,abyss1 that so we may judge whether these two in conjunction would make up the eight ,oceans which we want4 ,,as for the ,rains1 they would not afford us one ,ocean1 nor half an ,ocean1 nor the tenth part of an ,ocean1 if we may trust to the ,observations made by others concerning the ,quantity of ,water that falls in ,rain4 ,mersennus gives us this ,account of it1 ,cog4 ,phys4 ,mech4 p4 #bba4 8,it appears by our ,observations1 that a ,cubical ,vessel of ,brass1 whereof we made use1 is fill'd an ,inch and an half in half an ,hour's ,time2 but because that sucks up nothing of the ,moisture as the ,earth doth1 let us take an ,inch for half an ,hour's ,rain2 whence it follows1 that in the ,space of ,forty ,days and ,nights ,rain1 the ,waters in the ,deluge wou'd rise1 at four ,feet in #bd ,hours1 #afj ,feet1 if the ,rains were constant and equal to ours1 and that it rain'd at once throughout the ,face of the whole ,earth40 ,but the ,rain of the ,deluge1 saith he1 should have been #ij times greater than this1 to cover1 for ,instance1 the ,mountains of ,armenia1 or to reach #ae ,cubits above them4 ,so that according to his ,computation1 the ,forty ,days ,rain would supply little more than the hundredth ,part of the ,water requisite to make the ,deluge4 ',tis true1 he makes the ,height of the ,mountains higher than we do2 but1 however1 if you temper the ,calculation on all ,sides as much as you please1 the ,water that came by this ,rain would be a very inconsiderable part of what was necessary for a ,deluge4 ,if it rain'd ,forty ,days and ,forty ,nights throughout the ,face of the whole ,earth1 in the ,northern and ,southern ,hemisphere all at once1 it might be sufficient to lay all the lower ,grounds under ,water1 but it would signify very little as to the overflowing of the ,mountains4 ,whence another ,author upon the same ,occasion hath this ,passage1 ,auct4 cat4 in ,gen4 #g4 #d4 8,if the ,deluge had been made by ,rains only1 there would not have needed ,forty ,days1 but ,forty ,years ,rain to have brought it to pass40 ,and if we should suppose the whole middle ,region condens'd into ,water1 it would not at all have been sufficient for this ,effect1 according to that ,proportion some make betwixt ,air and ,water2 for they say1 ,air turn'd into ,water takes up a hundred times less ,room than it did before4 ,the ,truth is1 we may reasonably suppose1 that all the ,vapours of the middle ,region were turn'd into ,water in this ,forty ,days and ,forty ,nights ,rain1 if we admit1 that this ,rain was throughout the whole ,earth at once1 in either ,hemisphere1 in every ,zone1 in every ,climate1 in every ,country1 in every ,province1 in every ,field2 and yet we see what a small ,proportion all this would amount to4 ,,having done then with these superior ,regions1 we are next to examine the inferior1 and the ,treasures of ,water that may be had there4 ,moses tells us1 that the ,fountains of the great ,abyss were broke open1 or clove asunder1 as the ,word there us'd doth imply2 and no doubt in this lay the great ,mystery of the ,deluge1 as will appear when it comes to be rightly understood and explained2 but we are here to consider what is generally understood by the great ,abyss1 in the common ,explication of the ,deluge2 and 'tis commonly interpreted either to be the ,sea1 or subterraneous ,waters hid in the ,bowels of the ,earth3 ,these1 they say1 broke forth and rais'd the ,waters1 caus'd by the ,rain1 to such an ,height1 that together they over-flowed the highest ,mountains4 ,but whether1 or how this could be deserves to be a little examined4 ,,and in the first ,place1 the ,sea is not higher than the ,land1 as some have formerly imagin'd1 fancying the ,sea stood1 as it were1 upon a heap1 higher than the ,shore2 and at the ,deluge a ,relaxation being made1 it overflow'd the ,land4 ,but this ,conceit is so gross1 and so much against ,reason and ,experience1 that none ,i think of late have ventured to make use of it4 ,and yet on the other ,hand1 if the ,sea lie in an equal ,convexity with the ,land1 or lower generally than the ,shore1 and much more than the ,midland1 as it is certainly known to do1 what could the ,sea contribute to the ,deluge8 ,it would keep its ,channel1 as it doth now1 and take up the same ,place3 ,and so also the subterraneous ,waters would lie quiet in their ,cells4 ,whatsoever ,fountains or ,passages you suppose1 these would not issue out upon the ,earth1 for ,water doth not ascend1 unless by ,force4 ,but let's imagine then that ,force us'd and apply'd1 and the ,waters both of the ,sea and ,caverns under ,ground drawn out upon the ,surface of the ,earth1 we shall not be any whit the nearer for this2 for if you take these ,waters out of their ,places1 those ,places must be fill'd again with other ,waters in the ,deluge2 so as this turns to no ,account upon the whole4 ,if you have two ,vessels to fill1 and you empty one to fill the other1 you gain nothing by that1 there still remains one ,vessel empty1 you cannot have these ,waters both in the ,sea and on the ,land1 both above ,ground and under2 nor can you suppose the ,channel of the ,sea would stand gaping without ,water1 when all the ,earth was overflow'd1 and the tops of the ,mountains cover'd4 ,and so for subterraneous ,cavities1 if you suppose the ,water pumpt out1 they would suck it in again when the ,earth came to be laid under ,water2 so that upon the whole1 if you thus understand the ,abyss1 or great ,deep1 and the breaking open its ,fountains in this manner1 it doth us no ,service as to the ,deluge1 and where we expected greatest ,supply1 there we find none at all4 ,,what shall we do then8 ,whither shall we go to find more than seven ,oceans of ,water that we still want8 ,we have been above and below2 we have drained the whole middle ,region1 and we have examined the ,deeps of the ,earth2 they must want for themselves1 they say1 if they give us any2 and1 besides1 if the ,earth should disgorge all the ,water that it hath in its ,bowels1 it would not amount to above half an ,ocean1 which would not at all answer our ,occasions4 ,must we not then conclude1 that the common ,explication of the ,deluge makes it impossible8 ,there being no such ,quantity of ,water in ,nature as they make requisite for an universal ,deluge4 ,yet to give them all fair ,play1 having examined the ,waters above the ,earth or in the ,air1 the ,waters upon the ,earth1 and the ,waters under the ,earth2 let us also consider if there be not ,waters above the ,heavens1 and if those might not be drawn down for the ,deluge4 ,moses speaks of ,waters above the ,firmament1 which though it be generally understood of the middle ,region of the ,air1 yet some have thought those to be ,waters plac'd above the highest ,heavens1 or ,super-celestial ,waters2 and have been willing to make use of them for a ,supply1 when they could not find ,materials enough under the ,heavens to make up the great ,mass of the ,deluge4 ,but the ,heavens1 above1 where these ,waters lay1 are either solid or fluid2 if solid1 as ,glass or ,crystal1 how could the ,waters get through them to descend upon the ,earth8 ,if fluid1 as the ,air or ther1 how could the ,waters rest upon them1 for ,water is heavier than ,air or ther8 ,so that ,i am afraid1 those pure ,regions will prove no fit ,place for that ,element1 upon any ,account4 ,but supposing these ,waters there1 how imaginary soever1 and that they were brought down to drown the ,world in that vast ,quantity that would be necessary1 what became of them1 when the ,deluge ceased8 ,seven or eight ,oceans of ,water1 with the ,earth wrapt up in the middle of them1 how did it ever get quit of them8 ,how could they be dispos'd of when the ,earth was to be dry'd1 and the ,world renew'd8 ,it would be a hard ,task to lift them up again among the ,spheres1 and we have no ,room for them here below4 ,the ,truth is1 ,i mention this ,opinion of the ,heavenly ,waters1 because ,i would omit none that had ever been made use of1 to make good the common ,explication of the ,deluge2 but otherwise1 ,i think1 since the ,system of the ,world hath been better known1 and the ,nature of the ,heavens1 there are none that would seriously assert these ,super-celestial ,waters1 or1 at least1 make use of them so extravagantly1 as to bring them down hither for ,causes of the ,deluge4 ,,we have now employ'd our last and utmost ,endeavours to find out ,waters for the vulgar ,deluge1 or for the ,deluge as commonly understood2 and you see with how little ,success2 we have left no ,corner unsought1 where there was any ,appearance or ,report of ,water to be found1 and yet we have not been able to collect the eighth part of what was necessary upon a moderate ,account4 ,may we not then with ,assurance conclude1 that the ,world hath taken wrong ,measures hitherto1 in their ,notion and ,explication of the general ,deluge8 ,they make it impossible and unintelligible upon a double ,account1 both in requiring more ,water than can be found1 and more than can be dispos'd of if it was found2 or could any way be withdrawn from the ,earth when the ,deluge should cease4 ,for if the ,earth was encompass'd with eight ,oceans of ,water heapt one upon another1 how these should retire into any ,channels1 or be drain'd off1 or the ,earth any way disengag'd from them1 is not intelligible2 and that in so short a time as some ,months3 ,for the ,violence of the ,deluge lasted but four or five ,months1 and in as many ,months after the ,earth was dry and habitable4 ,so as upon the whole ,enquiry1 we can neither find ,source nor ,issue1 ,beginning nor ,ending1 for such an excessive ,mass of ,waters as the vulgar ,deluge required2 neither where to have them1 nor if we had them1 how to get quit of them4 ,and ,i think ,men cannot do a greater ,injury or ,injustice to ,sacred ,history1 than to give such ,representations of things recorded there1 as make them unintelligible and incredible2 and on the other ,hand1 we cannot deserve better of ,religion and ,providence1 than by giving such fair ,accounts of all things proposed by them1 or belonging to them1 as may silence the ,cavils of ,atheists1 satisfy the ,inquisitive1 and recommend them to the ,belief and ,acceptance of all reasonable ,persons4 ,,chap4 ,,iii4 ,all ,evasions answered2 ,that there was no new ,creation of ,waters at the ,deluge3 ,and that it was not ,particular or ,national1 but extended throughout the whole ,earth4 ,a ,prelude and ,preparation to the true ,account and ,explication of it3 ,the ,method of the first ,book4 ,,though in the preceding ,chapter we may seem to have given a fair ,trial to the common ,opinion concerning the ,state of the ,deluge1 and might now proceed to ,sentence of ,condemnation3 ,yet having heard of another ,plea1 which some have us'd in its ,behalf1 and another way found out by recourse to the ,supream ,power1 to supply all ,defects1 and to make the whole matter intelligible1 we will proceed no farther 'till that be consider'd2 being very willing to examine whatsoever may be offer'd1 in that or any other way1 for resolving that great ,difficulty which we have proposed1 concerning the ,quantity of ,water requisite for such a ,deluge4 ,and to this they say in short1 that ,god ,almighty created ,waters on purpose to make the ,deluge1 and then annihilated them again when the ,deluge was to cease2 and this1 in a few ,words1 is the whole account of the ,business4 ,this is to cut the ,knot when we cannot loose it2 they shew us the naked ,arm of ,omnipotency2 such ,arguments as these come like ,lightning1 one doth not know what ,armour to put on against them1 for they pierce the more1 the more they are resisted3 ,we will not therefore oppose any thing to them that is hard and stubborn1 but by a soft ,answer deaden their ,force by degrees4 ,and ,i desire to mind those ,persons1 in the first ,place1 of what ,st4 ,austin hath said upon a like ,occasion1 speaking concerning those that disproved the ,opinion of ,waters above the ,heavens 7which we mention'd before7 by natural ,reasons4 8,we are not1 saith he1 to refute those ,persons1 by saying1 that according to the ,omnipotence of ,god1 to whom all things1 are possible1 we ought to believe there are ,waters there1 as heavy as we know and feel them here below2 for our ,business is now to enquire according to his ,scripture1 how ,god hath constituted the ,nature of ,things1 and not what he could do or work in these ,things by a ,miracle of ,omnipotency40 ,i desire them to apply this to the present ,argument for the first ,answer4 ,secondly1 ,,let them consider1 that ,moses hath assign'd ,causes of the ,deluge2 ,forty ,days ,rain1 and the ,disruption of the ,abyss2 and speaks nothing of a new ,creation of ,water upon that ,occasion4 ,those were ,causes in ,nature which ,providence had then dispos'd for this extraordinary ,effect1 and those the ,divine ,historian refers us to1 and not to any ,productions out of nothing4 ,besides1 ,moses makes the ,deluge increase by degrees with the ,rain1 and accordingly makes it cease by degrees1 and that the ,waters going and returning as the ,waves and great ,commotions of the ,sea use to do1 retir'd leisurely from the ,face of the ,earth1 and settled at length in their ,channels4 ,now this manner of the ,beginning or ,ceasing of the ,deluge doth not at all agree with the instantaneous ,actions of ,creation and ,annihilation4 ,thirdly1 ,,let them consider1 that ,saint ,peter hath also assign'd ,causes of the ,deluge1 #b ,pet4 #c4 #f4 namely the particular ,constitution of the ,earth and ,heavens before the ,flood2 by reason whereof1 he saith1 the ,world that was then perish'd in a ,deluge of ,water2 and not by reason of a new ,creation of ,water4 ,his ,words are these3 8,the ,heavens and the ,earth were of old1 consisting of ,water1 and by ,water2 whereby1 or by reason whereof1 the ,world that then was1 being overflowed with ,water1 perished40 ,fourthly1 ,they are to consider1 that as we are not rashly to have recourse to the ,divine ,omnipotence upon any ,account1 so especially not for new ,creations2 and least of all for the ,creation of new ,matter4 ,the ,matter of the ,universe was created many ,ages before the ,flood1 and the ,universe being full1 if any more was created1 then there must be as much annihilated at the same time to make ,room for it2 for ,bodies cannot penetrate one another's ,dimensions1 nor be two or more within one and the same ,space4 ,then1 on the other ,hand1 when the ,deluge ceas'd1 and these ,waters were annihilated1 so much other ,matter must be created again to take up their ,places4 ,and methinks they make very bold with the ,deity1 when they make him do and undo1 go forward and backwards by such countermarches and retractions1 as we do not willingly impute to the ,wisdom of ,god ,almighty4 ,,lastly1 ,i shall not think my ,labour lost1 if it be but acknowledg'd1 that we have so far clear'd the ,way in this ,controversy1 as to have brought it to this ,issue2 that either there must be new ,waters created on purpose to make a ,deluge1 or there could be no ,deluge as it is vulgarly explained2 there not being ,water sufficient in ,nature to make a ,deluge of that kind4 ,this1 ,i say1 is a great step1 and1 ,i think1 will satisfy all ,parties1 at least1 all that are considerable2 for those that have recourse to a new ,creation of ,waters1 are of two sorts1 either such as do it out of ,laziness1 and ,ignorance1 or such as do it out of ,necessity1 seeing they cannot be had otherwise2 as for the first1 they are not to be valued or gratified2 and as for the second1 ,i shall do a thing very acceptable to them1 if ,i free them and the ,argument from that ,necessity2 and shew a way of making the ,deluge fairly intelligible1 and accountable without the ,creation of new ,waters2 which is the ,design of this ,treatise4 ,for we do not tie this ,knot with an ,intention to puzzle and perplex the ,argument finally with it2 but the harder it is ty'd1 we shall feel the ,pleasure more sensibly when we come to loose it4 ,,it may be1 when they are beaten from this new ,creation of ,water1 they will say1 the ,element of ,air was chang'd into ,water1 and that was the great ,store-house for the ,deluge4 ,forty ,days ,rain we allow1 as ,moses does1 but if they suppose any other ,transelementation1 it neither agrees with ,moses's ,philosophy1 nor ,st4 ,peter's2 for then the ,opening of the ,abyss was needless1 and the ,form and ,constitution of the ,antediluvian ,heavens and ,earth1 which ,st4 ,peter refers the ,deluge to1 bore no part in the ,work2 it might have been made1 in that way1 indifferently under any ,heavens1 or ,earth4 ,besides1 they offend against ,st4 ,austin's ,rule in this ,method too2 for ,i look upon it as no less a ,miracle to turn ,air into ,water1 than to turn ,water into ,wine4 ,air1 ,i say3 ,for ,vapours indeed are but ,water made volatile2 but pure ,air is a ,body of another ,species1 and cannot by any ,compression or ,condensation1 so far as is yet known1 be chang'd into ,water4 ,and lastly1 if the whole ,atmosphere was turn'd into ,water1 'tis very probable it would make no more than #cd ,foot or thereabouts2 for so much ,air or ,vapours as is of the same weight with any certain ,quantity of ,water1 'tis likely1 if it was chang'd into ,water1 would also be of the same ,bulk with it1 or not much more3 ,now according to the ,doctrine of the ,gravitation of the ,atmosphere1 'tis found1 that #cd ,foot of ,water does counterballance a proportionable ,cylinder of ,air reaching to the top of the ,atmosphere2 and consequently1 if the whole ,atmosphere was converted into ,water1 it would make no more than eleven or twelve ,yards ,water about the ,earth2 which the ,cavities of the ,earth would be able in a good measure to suck up1 at least this is very inconsiderable as to our eight ,oceans4 ,and if you would change the higher ,regions into ,water too1 what must supply the ,place of that ,air which you transform into ,water1 and bring down upon the ,earth8 ,there would be little left but ,fire and ther betwixt us and the ,moon1 and ,i am afraid it would endanger to suck down the ,moon too after it4 ,in a ,word1 such an ,explication as this is both purely imaginary1 and also very operose1 and would affect a great part of the ,universe2 and after all1 they would be as hard put to it to get rid of this ,water1 when the ,deluge was to cease1 as they were at first to procure it4 ,,having now examin'd and answered all the ,pleas1 from first to last1 for the vulgar ,deluge1 or the old way of explaining it1 we should proceed immediately to propose another ,method1 and another ,ground for an universal ,deluge1 were it not that an ,opinion hath been started by some of late1 that would in effect supplant both these ,methods1 old and new1 and take away in a great measure the ,subject of the ,question4 ,some ,modern ,authors observing what straits they have been put to in all ,ages1 to find out ,water enough for ,noah's ,flood1 have ventur'd upon an ,expedient more brisk and bold than any of the ,ancients durst venture upon3 ,they say1 ,noah's ,flood was not ,universal1 but a ,national ,inundation1 confin'd to ,judea1 and those ,countries thereabouts2 and consequently1 there would not be so much ,water necessary for the ,cause of it1 as we have prov'd to be necessary for an ,universal ,deluge of that kind4 ,their ,inference is very true1 they have avoided that ,rock1 but they run upon another no less dangerous2 to avoid an ,objection from ,reason1 they deny matter of ,fact1 and such matter of ,fact as is well attested by ,history1 both ,sacred and ,prophane4 ,i believe the ,authors that set up this ,opinion were not themselves satisfy'd with it2 but seeing insuperable ,difficulties in the old ,way1 they are the more excusable in chusing1 as they thought1 of two ,evils the less4 ,,but the ,choice1 methinks1 is as bad on this ,hand1 if all things be considered2 ,moses represents the ,flood of ,noah as an ,overthrow and ,destruction of the whole ,earth2 and who can imagine1 that in sixteen or seventeen hundred ,years time1 7taking the lower ,chronology7 that the ,earth had then stood1 ,mankind should be propagated no farther than ,judea1 or some neighbouring ,countries thereabouts8 ,after the ,flood1 when the ,world was renew'd again by eight ,persons1 they had made a far greater ,progress in ,asia1 ,europe1 and ,africa1 within the same space of ,years1 and yet 'tis likely they were more fruitful in the first ,ages of the ,world1 than after the ,flood2 and they liv'd six1 seven1 eight1 nine hundred ,years a ,piece1 getting ,sons and ,daughters4 ,which ,longevity of the first ,inhabitants of the ,earth seems to have been providentially design'd for the quicker ,multiplication and ,propagation of ,mankind2 and ,mankind thereby would become so numerous within sixteen hundred ,years1 that there seems to me to be a greater ,difficulty from the ,multitude of the ,people that would be before the ,flood1 than from the want of ,people3 ,for if we allow the first ,couple at the ,end of one hundred ,years1 or of the first ,century1 to have left ten ,pair of ,breeders1 which is no hard ,supposition1 there would arise from these1 in fifteen hundred ,years1 a greater ,number than the ,earth was capable of2 allowing every ,pair to multiply in the same decuple ,proportion the first ,pair did4 ,but because this would rise far beyond the ,capacities of this ,earth1 let us suppose them to increase1 in the following ,centuries1 in a quintuple ,proportion only1 or1 if you will1 only in a quadruple2 and then the ,table of the ,multiplication of ,mankind1 from the ,creation to the ,flood1 would stand thus2 ,century #a-- #aj #b-- #dj #c-- #afj #d-- #fdj #e-- #befj #f-- #ajbdj #g-- #djifj #h-- #afchdj #i-- #feecfj #aj-- #bfbaddj #aa-- #ajdhegfj #ab-- #daidcjdj #ac-- #afgggbafj #ad-- #fgajhhfdj #ae-- #bfhdcedefj #af-- #ajgcgdahbdj ,this ,product is too excessive high1 if compar'd with the present number of ,men upon the ,face of the ,earth1 which1 ,i think1 is commonly estimated to be betwixt three and four hundred ,millions2 and yet this ,proportion of their ,increase seems to be low enough1 if we take one ,proportion for all the ,centuries2 for1 in reality1 the same ,measure cannot run equally through all the ,ages1 but we have taken this as moderate and reasonable betwixt the highest and the lowest2 but if we had taken only a tripple ,proportion1 it would have been sufficient 7all things consider'd7 for the ,purpose4 ,there are several other ways of computing this ,number1 and some more particular and exact than this is1 but which way soever you try1 you shall find the ,product great enough for the ,extent of this ,earth2 and if you follow the ,septuagint ,chronology1 it will still be far higher4 ,i have met with three or four different ,calculations1 in several ,authors1 of the ,number of ,mankind before the ,flood1 and never met with any yet1 but what exceeded the ,number of the ,people that are at present upon the ,face of the ,earth4 ,so as it seems to me a very groundless and forc'd ,conceit to imagine1 that ,judea only1 and some ,parts about it in ,asia1 were stor'd with ,people when the ,deluge was brought upon the old ,world4 ,besides1 if the ,deluge was confin'd to those ,countries1 ,i do not see but the ,borderers might have escap'd1 shifting a little into the adjoining ,places where the ,deluge did not reach4 ,but especially what needed so much ado to build an ,ark to save ,noah and his ,family1 if he might have sav'd himself and them1 only by retiring into some neighbouring ,country2 as ,lot and his ,family sav'd themselves1 by withdrawing from ,sodom1 when the ,city was to be destroyed8 ,had not this been a far easier thing1 and more compendious1 than the great ,preparations he made of a large ,vessel1 with ,rooms1 for the ,reception and ,accommodation of ,beasts and ,birds8 ,and now ,i mention ,birds1 why could not they at least have flown into the next dry ,country8 ,they might have pearch'd upon the ,trees1 and the tops of the ,mountains by the way to have rested themselves if they were weary1 for the ,waters did not all of a sudden rise to the ,mountains tops4 ,i cannot but look upon the ,deluge as a much more considerable thing than these ,authors wou'd represent it1 and as a kind of ,dissolution of ,nature2 ,moses calls it a destroying of the ,earth1 as well as of ,mankind1 ,gen4 #f4 #ac4 ,and the ,bow was set in the ,cloud to seal the ,covenant1 that he would destroy the ,earth no more1 ,gen4 #i4 #aa4 or that there would be no more a ,flood to destroy the ,earth4 ,and 'tis said1 ,verse #ac4 ,that the ,covenant was made between ,god and the ,earth1 or this ,frame of ,nature1 that it should perish no more by ,water4 ,and the ,rain-,bow1 which was a ,token and ,pledge of this ,covenant1 appears not only in ,judea1 or some other ,asiatick ,provinces1 but to all the ,regions of the ,earth1 who had an equal ,share and ,concern in it4 ,moses saith also1 the ,fountains of the great ,abyss were burst asunder to make the ,deluge2 and what means this ,abyss1 and the bursting of it1 if restrain'd to ,judea1 or some adjacent ,countries8 ,what ,appearance is there of this ,disruption there1 more than in other ,places8 ,furthermore1 ,st4 ,peter plainly implies1 #b ,epist4 c4 #e4 #f4 ,that the ,antediluvian ,heavens and ,earth perished in the ,deluge2 and opposeth the present ,earth and ,heavens to them1 as different and of another ,constitution2 and saith1 that these shall perish by ,fire1 as the other perished by ,water4 ,so he compares the conflagration with the ,deluge1 as two general ,dissolutions of ,nature1 and one may as well say1 that the ,conflagration shall be only ,national1 and but two or three ,countries burnt in that last ,fire1 as to say1 that the ,deluge was so4 ,i confess that ,discourse of ,st4 ,peter1 concerning the several ,states of the ,world1 would sufficiently convince me1 if there was nothing else1 ,that the ,deluge was not a particular1 or national ,inundation1 but a mundane ,change1 that extended to the whole ,earth1 and both to the 7lower7 ,heavens and ,earth4 ,,all ,antiquity1 we know1 hath spoke of these mundane ,revolutions or ,periods1 that the ,world should be successively destroyed by ,water and ,fire2 and ,i do not doubt1 but that this ,deluge of ,noah's1 which ,moses describes1 was the first and leading ,instance of this kind2 and accordingly we see that after this ,period1 and after the ,flood1 the ,blessing for ,multiplication1 and for replenishing the ,earth with ,inhabitants1 was as solemnly pronounc'd by ,god ,almighty1 as at the first ,creation of ,man1 ,gen4 #i4 #a4 with ,gen4 #a4 #bh4 ,these ,considerations1 ,i think1 might be sufficient to give us ,assurance from ,divine ,writ of the ,universality of the ,deluge2 and yet ,moses affords us another ,argument as demonstrative as any1 when in the ,history of the ,deluge1 he saith1 ,gen4 #g4 #ai4 ,the ,waters exceedingly prevail'd upon the ,earth1 and all the high ,hills that were under the whole ,heavens were covered4 ,all the high ,hills1 he saith1 under the whole ,heavens1 then quite round the ,earth2 and if the ,mountains were covered quite round the ,earth1 sure the ,plains could not scape4 ,but to argue with them upon their own ,grounds3 ,let us suppose only the ,asiatick and ,armenian ,mountains covered with these ,waters1 this they cannot deny2 then unless there was a ,miracle to keep these ,waters upon ,heaps1 they would flow throughout the ,earth2 for these ,mountains are high enough to make them fall every way1 and make them join with our ,seas that environ the ,continent4 ,we cannot imagine ,hills and ,mountains of ,water to have hung about ,judea1 as if they were congeal'd1 or a ,mass of ,water to have stood upon the middle of the ,earth like one great ,drop1 or a trembling ,jelly1 and all the ,places about it dry and untouch'd4 ,all liquid ,bodies are diffusive2 for their ,parts being in ,motion have no ,tie or ,connexion one with another1 but glide and fall off any way1 as ,gravity and the ,air presseth them2 so the ,surface of ,water doth always conform into a ,spherical ,convexity with the rest of the ,globe of the ,earth1 and every part of it falls as near to the ,center as it can2 wherefore when these ,waters began to rise at first1 long before they cou'd swell to the height of the ,mountains1 they would diffuse themselves every way1 and thereupon all the ,valleys and ,plains1 and lower ,parts of the ,earth would be filled throughout the whole ,earth1 before they cou'd rise to the ,tops of the ,mountains in any ,part of it3 ,and the ,sea would be all raised to a considerable height before the ,mountains could be covered4 ,for let us suppose1 as they do1 that this ,water fell not throughout the whole ,earth1 but in some particular ,country1 and there made first a great ,lake2 this ,lake when it begun to swell would every way discharge it self by any ,descents or ,declivities of the ,ground1 and these ,issues and ,derivations being once made and supply'd with new ,waters pushing them forwards1 would continue their ,course 'till they arrived at the ,sea1 just as other ,rivers do2 for these would be but so many ,rivers rising out of this ,lake1 and would not be considerably deeper and higher at the ,fountain than in their ,progress or at the ,sea1 ,we may as well then expect that the ,leman ,lake1 for instance1 out of which the ,rhone runs1 should swell to the ,tops of the ,alps on the one ,hand1 and the ,mountains of ,switzerland and ,burgundy on the other1 and then stop1 without overflowing the plainer ,countries that lie beyond them2 as to suppose that this ,diluvian ,lake should rise to the ,mountains ,tops in one ,place1 and not diffuse it self equally into all ,countries about1 and upon the ,surface of the ,sea2 in ,proportion to its ,height and ,depth in the ,place where it first fell or stood4 ,,thus much for ,sacred ,history4 ,the ,universality of the ,deluge is also attested by ,profane ,history2 for the ,fame of it is gone thro' the ,earth1 and there are ,records or ,traditions concerning it1 in all ,parts of this and the new-found ,world4 ,the ,americans do acknowledge and speak of it in their ,continent1 as ,acosta witnesseth1 and ,laet in their ,histories of them4 ,mart4 ,the ,chineses have the ,tradition of it1 which is the farthest part of our ,continent2 and the nearer and ,western part of ,asia is acknowledg'd the proper ,seat of it4 ,not to mention ,deucalion's ,deluge in the ,european ,parts1 which seems to be the same under a disguise3 ,so as you may trace the ,deluge quite round the ,globe in profane ,history2 and1 which is remarkable1 every one of these ,people have a ,tale to tell1 some one way1 some another1 concerning the ,restauration of ,mankind2 which is an ,argument that they thought all ,mankind destroy'd by that ,deluge4 ,in the old ,dispute between the ,scythians and the gyptians for ,antiquity1 which ,justin mentions1 they refer to a former ,destruction of the ,world by ,water or ,fire1 and argue1 whether ,nation first rose again1 and was original to the other4 ,so the ,babylonians1 ,assyrians1 ,phnicians and others1 mention the ,deluge in their ,stories4 ,and we cannot without offering ,violence to all ,records and ,authority1 ,divine and ,human1 deny1 that there hath been an universal ,deluge upon the ,earth2 and if there was an universal ,deluge1 no question it was that of ,noah's1 and that which ,moses describ'd1 and that which we treat of at present4 ,,these ,considerations1 ,i think1 are abundantly sufficient to silence that ,opinion1 concerning the ,limitation and ,restriction of the ,deluge to a particular ,country or ,countries4 ,it ought rather to be look'd upon as an ,evasion indeed1 than ,opinion1 seeing the ,authors do not offer any positive ,argument for the ,proof of it1 but depend only upon that negative ,argument1 ,that an universal ,deluge is a ,thing unintelligible4 ,this ,stumbling-stone we hope to take away for the future1 and that ,men shall not be put to that unhappy ,choice1 either to deny ,matter of ,fact well attested1 or admit an ,effect1 whereof they cannot see any possible ,causes4 ,and so having stated and proposed the whole ,difficulty1 and try'd all ways offered by others1 and found them ineffectual1 let us now apply our selves by degrees1 to untie the ,knot4 ,,the excessive ,quantity of ,water is the great ,difficulty1 and the ,removal of it afterwards4 ,those eight ,oceans lay heavy upon my thoughts1 and ,i cast about every way1 to find an ,expedient1 or to find some way1 whereby the same ,effect might be brought to pass with less ,water1 and in such a manner that that ,water might afterwards conveniently be discharg'd4 ,the first ,thought that came into my ,mind upon that ,occasion1 was concerning the ,form of the ,earth1 which ,i imagin'd might possibly at that ,time be different from what it is at present1 and come nearer to ,plainness and ,equallity in the ,surface of it1 and so might the more easily be overflow'd1 and the ,deluge perform'd with less ,water4 ,this ,opinion concerning the ,plainness of the first ,earth1 ,i also found in ,antiquity1 mention'd and refer'd to by several ,interpreters in their ,commentaries upon ,genesis1 either upon ,occasion of the ,deluge1 or of that ,fountain which is said1 ,gen4 #b4 #f4 to have watered the ,face of the whole ,earth3 ,and a late eminent ,person1 the ,honour of his ,profession for ,integrity and ,learning1 in his ,discourse concerning the ,origination of ,mankind1 hath made a like ,judgment of the ,state of the ,earth before the ,deluge1 that the ,face of it was more smooth and regular than it is now4 ,but yet upon second ,thoughts1 ,i easily see that this alone wou'd not be sufficient to explain the ,deluge1 nor to give an ,account of the present ,form of the ,earth1 unequal and mountainous as it is4 ',tis true this would give a great ,advantage to the ,waters1 and the ,rains that fell for ,forty ,days together would have a great ,power over the ,earth1 being plain and smooth2 but how would these ,waters be dispos'd of when the ,deluge ceas'd8 ,or how could it ever cease8 ,besides1 what means the ,disruption of the great ,deep1 or the great ,abyss1 or what answers to it upon this ,supposition8 ,this was assuredly of no less ,consideration than the ,rains2 nay1 ,i believe1 the ,rains were but preparatory in some measure1 and that the ,violence and ,consummation of the ,deluge depended upon the ,disruption of the great ,abyss4 ,therefore ,i saw it necessary1 to my first ,thought1 concerning the ,smoothness and ,plainness of the ,antediluvian ,earth1 to add a second1 concerning the ,disruption and ,dissolution of it2 for1 as it often happens in ,earthquakes1 when the exterior ,earth is burst asunder1 and a great ,flood of ,waters issues out1 according to the ,quantity and ,force of them1 an ,inundation is made in those ,parts1 more or less2 so ,i thought1 if that ,abyss lay under ,ground and round the ,earth1 and we should suppose the ,earth in this manner to be broken in several ,places at once1 and as it were a general ,dissolution made1 we might suppose that to make a general ,deluge1 as well as a particular ,dissolution often makes a particular4 ,but ,i will not anticipate here the ,explication we intend to give of the ,universal ,deluge in the following ,chapters2 only by this previous ,intimation we may gather some ,hopes1 it may be1 that the ,matter is not so desperate as the former ,representation might possibly make us fancy it4 ,,give me leave to add farther in this ,place1 that it hath been observ'd by several1 from the ,contemplation of ,mountains and ,rocks and ,precipices1 of the ,channel of the ,sea1 and of ,islands1 and of ,subterraneous ,caverns1 that the ,surface of the ,earth1 or the exterior ,region which we inhabit1 hath been broke1 and the parts of it dislocated3 ,and one might instance more particularly in several ,parcels of ,nature1 that retain still the evident ,marks of ,fraction and ,ruin1 and by their present ,form and ,posture shew1 that they have been once in another ,state and ,situation one to another4 ,we shall have occasion hereafter to give an ,account of these ,phnomena1 from which several have rightly argu'd1 and concluded some general ,rupture or ,ruin in the superficial ,parts of the ,earth4 ,but this ,ruin1 it is true1 they have imagin'd and explain'd several ways1 some thinking that it was made the third ,day after the ,foundation of the ,earth2 when they suppose the ,channel of the ,sea to have been form'd1 and ,mountains and ,caverns at the same time1 by a violent ,depression of some ,parts of the ,earth1 and an ,extrusion and ,elevation of others to make them ,room4 ,others suppose it to have come not all at once1 but by ,degrees1 at several ,times1 and in several ,ages1 from particular and accidental ,causes1 as the ,earth falling in upon ,fires under ,ground1 or ,water eating away the lower parts1 or ,vapours and ,exhalations breaking out and tearing the ,earth4 ',tis true1 ,i am not of their ,opinion in either of these ,explications2 and we shall shew at large hereafter1 when we have propos'd and stated our own ,theory1 how incompetent such ,causes are1 to bring the ,earth into that ,form and ,condition we now find it in4 ,but in the mean time1 we may so far make use of these ,opinions in general1 as not to be startled at this ,doctrine1 concerning the ,breaking or ,dissolution of the ,exterior ,earth2 for in all ,ages the ,face of ,nature hath provok'd ,men to think of and observe such a ,thing4 ,and who can do otherwise1 to see the ,elements displac'd and disorder'd1 as they seem to lie at present2 the heaviest and grossest ,bodies in the highest ,places1 and the liquid and volatile kept below2 an huge ,mass of ,stone or ,rock rear'd into the ,air1 and the ,water creeping at its ,feet2 whereas this is the more light and active ,body1 and by the ,law of ,nature should take ,place of ,rocks and ,stones8 ,so we see1 by the like ,disorder1 the ,air thrown down into ,dungeons of the ,earth1 and the ,earth got up among the ,clouds2 for there are the tops of the ,mountains1 and under their ,roots in ,holes and ,caverns the ,air is often detained4 ,by what regular ,action of ,nature can we suppose things first produc'd in this ,posture and ,form8 ,not to mention how broke and torn the inward ,substance of the ,earth is1 which of it self is an uniform ,mass1 close and compact2 but in the ,condition we see it1 it lies hollow in many places1 with great ,vacuities intercepted betwixt the ,portions of it2 a ,thing which we see happens in all ,ruins more or less1 especially when the ,parts of the ,ruins are great and inflexible4 ,then what can have more the ,figure and ,mien of a ,ruin1 than ,crags1 and ,rocks1 and ,cliffs1 whether upon the ,sea-shore1 or upon the ,sides of ,mountains8 ,what can be more apparently broke1 than they are8 ,and those lesser ,rocks1 or great bulky ,stones that lie often scatter'd near the ,feet of the other1 whether in the ,sea1 or upon the ,land1 are they not manifest ,fragments and pieces of these greater ,masses8 ,besides1 the ,posture of these ,rocks1 which is often leaning or recumbent1 or prostrate1 shews to the ,eye1 that they have had a ,fall1 or some kind of ,dislocation from their natural ,site4 ,and the same thing may be observed in the ,tracks and ,regions of the ,earth1 which very seldom for ten ,miles together have any regular ,surface or ,continuity one with another1 but lie high and low1 and are variously inclin'd sometimes one way1 sometimes another1 without any ,rule or ,order4 ,whereas ,i see no ,reason but the ,surface of the ,land should be as regular as that of the ,water in the first ,production of it2 and the ,strata or ,beds within lie as even4 ,this ,i am sure of1 that this ,disposition of the ,elements1 and the ,parts of the ,earth1 outward and inward1 hath something irregular and unnatural in it1 and manifestly shews us the ,marks1 or ,footsteps of some kind of ,ruin and ,dissolution2 which we shall shew you1 in its due ,place1 happen'd in such a way1 that at the same time a general ,flood of ,waters wou'd necessarily over-run the ,face of the whole ,earth4 ,and by the same fatal ,blow1 the ,earth fell out of that regular ,form1 wherein it was produc'd at first1 into all these ,irregularities which we see in its present ,form and ,composition2 so that we shall give thereby a double ,satisfaction to the ,mind1 both to shew it a fair and intelligible ,account of the general ,deluge1 how the ,waters came upon the ,earth1 and how they return'd into their ,channels again1 and left the ,earth habitable2 and likewise to shew it how the ,mountains were brought forth1 and the ,channel of the ,sea discover'd3 ,how all those ,inequalities came in the ,body or ,face of the ,earth1 and those empty ,vaults and ,caverns in its ,bowels2 which things are no less matter of ,admiration than the ,flood it self4 ,,but ,i must beg leave to draw a ,curtain before the ,work for a while1 and to keep your ,patience a little in suspence1 till ,materials are prepar'd1 and all things ready to represent and explain what we have propos'd4 ,yet ,i hope1 in the mean time1 to entertain the ,mind with ,scenes no less pleasing1 tho' of quite another ,face and ,order2 for we must now return to the ,beginning of the ,world1 and look upon the first ,rudiments of ,nature1 and that dark but fruitful ,womb1 out of which all things sprang1 ,i mean the ,chaos3 ,for this is the ,matter which we must next work upon1 and it will be no unpleasing thing to observe1 how that rude ,mass will shoot it self into several ,forms one after another1 'till it comes at length to make an habitable ,world4 ,the steady ,hand of ,providence1 which keeps all things in ,weight and ,measure1 being the invisible ,guide of all its ,motions4 ,these ,motions we must examine from first to last1 to find out what was the ,form of the ,earth1 and what was the ,place or ,situation of the ,ocean1 or the great ,abyss1 in that first ,state of ,nature3 ,which two things being determined1 we shall be able to make a certain ,judgment1 what kind of ,dissolution that ,earth was capable of1 and whether from that ,dissolution an ,universal ,deluge would follow1 with all the ,consequences of it4 ,,in the mean time1 for the ,ease and ,satisfaction of the ,reader1 we will here mark the ,order and ,distribution of the first ,book1 which we divide into three ,sections2 whereof the first is these three ,chapters past3 ,in the second ,section we will shew1 that the ,earth before the ,deluge was of a different ,frame and ,form from the present ,earth2 and particularly of such a form as made it subject to a ,dissolution and to such a ,dissolution1 as did necessarily expose it to an ,universal ,deluge4 ,and in this ,place we shall apply our ,discourse particularly to the ,explication of ,noah's ,flood1 and that under all its ,conditions1 of the ,height of the ,waters1 of their ,universality1 of the ,destruction of the ,world by them1 and of their retiring afterwards from the ,earth2 and this ,section will consist of the ,fourth1 ,fifth1 ,sixth1 ,seventh and ,eighth ,chapters4 ,in the ,third ,section we prove the same ,dissolution from the ,effects and ,consequences of it1 or from the ,contemplation of the present ,face of the ,earth3 ,and here an ,account is given of the ,origin of ,mountains1 of subterraneous ,waters and ,caverns1 of the great ,channel of the ,sea1 and of the first ,production of ,islands2 and those things are the ,contents of the ,ninth1 ,tenth1 and ,eleventh ,chapters4 ,then1 in the last ,chapter1 we make a general ,review of the whole ,work1 and a general ,review of ,nature2 that by comparing them together1 their full ,agreement and ,correspondency may appear4 ,here several collateral ,arguments are given for ,confirmation of the preceding ,theory1 and some ,reflections are made upon the ,state of the other ,planets compar'd with the ,earth4 ,and lastly1 what ,accounts soever have been given by others of the present ,form and ,irregularities of the ,earth1 are examin'd and shew'd insufficient4 ,and this seemeth to be all that is requisite upon this ,subject4 ,,chap4 ,,iv4 ,that the ,earth and ,mankind had an ,original1 and were not from ,eternity3 ,prov'd against ,aristotle4 ,the first ,proposition of our ,theory laid down1 viz4 ,that the ,antediluvian ,earth was of a different ,form and ,construction from the present4 ,this is prov'd by ,divine ,authority1 and from the ,nature and ,form of the ,chaos1 out of which the ,earth was made4 ,,we are now to enquire into the ,original of the ,earth1 and in what ,form it was built at first1 that we may lay our ,foundation for the following ,theory deep and sure4 ,it hath been the general ,opinion and ,content of the ,learned of all ,nations1 that the ,earth arose from a ,chaos4 ,this is attested by ,history1 both ,sacred and ,profane2 only ,aristotle1 whom so great a ,part of the ,christian ,world have made their ,oracle or ,idol1 hath maintain'd the ,eternity of the ,earth1 and the ,eternity of ,mankind2 that the ,earth and the ,world were from ,everlasting1 and in that very ,form they are in now1 with ,men and ,women and all living ,creatures1 ,trees and ,fruit1 ,metals and ,minerals1 and whatsoever is of natural ,production4 ,we say all these ,things arose and had their first ,existence or ,production not six thousand ,years ago3 ,he saith1 they have subsisted thus for ever1 through an infinite ,series of past ,generations1 and shall continue as long1 without first or last3 ,and if so1 there was neither ,chaos1 nor any other ,beginning to the ,earth4 ,this takes away the ,subject of our ,discourse1 and therefore we must first remove this ,stone out of the way1 and prove that the ,earth had an ,original1 and that from a ,chaos1 before we shew how it arose from a ,chaos1 and what was the first habitable ,form that it settled into4 ,,we are assur'd by ,divine ,authority1 that the ,earth and ,mankind had a beginning3 ,moses saith1 ,in the ,beginning ,god made the ,heavens and the ,earth4 ,speaking it as of a certain ,period or ,term1 from whence he counts the ,age of the ,world4 ,and the same ,moses tells us1 that ,adam was the first ,man1 and ,eve the first ,woman1 from whom sprung the ,race of ,mankind2 and this within the ,compass of ,six ,thousand ,years4 ,we are also assur'd from the ,prophets1 and our ,christian ,records1 that the ,world shall have an ,end1 and that by a general ,conflagration1 when all ,mankind shall be destroyed1 with the ,form1 and all the ,furniture of the ,earth4 ,and as this proves the second ,part of ,aristotle's ,doctrine to be false immediately1 so doth it the first1 by a true ,consequence2 for what hath an ,end had a ,beginning1 what is not ,immortal1 was not ,eternal3 ,that which exists by the ,strength of its own ,nature at first1 the same ,nature will enable to exist for ever2 and indeed what exists of it self1 exists necessarily2 and what exists necessarily1 exists eternally4 ,,having this infallible ,assurance of the ,origin of the ,earth and of ,mankind from ,scripture1 we proceed to refute the same ,doctrine of ,aristotle's by natural ,reason4 ,and we will first consider the ,form of the ,earth1 and then ,mankind2 and shew1 from plain ,evidence and ,observation1 neither of them to have been ,eternal4 ',tis natural to the ,mind of ,man to consider that which is compound1 as having been once more simple2 whether that ,composition be a ,mixture of many ,ingredients1 as most ,terrestrial ,bodies are1 or whether it be ,organical2 but especially if it be ,organical3 ,for a ,thing that consists of a multitude of ,pieces aptly join'd1 we cannot but conceive to have had those ,pieces1 at one time or another1 put together4 ',twere hard to conceive an eternal ,watch1 whose ,pieces were never separate one from another1 nor ever in any other ,form than that of a ,watch4 ,or an eternal ,house1 whose ,materials were never asunder1 but always in the ,form of an ,house4 ,and 'tis as hard to conceive an ,eternal ,earth1 or an ,eternal ,world3 ,these are made up of more various ,substances1 more ,ingredients1 and into a far greater ,composition2 and the living ,part of the ,world1 ,plants and ,animals1 have much more ,variety of ,parts and multifarious ,construction1 than any ,house1 or any other artificial ,thing3 ,so that we are led as much by ,nature and ,necessity1 to conceive this great ,machine of the ,world1 or of the ,earth1 to have been once in a ,state of greater ,simplicity than now it is1 as to conceive a ,watch1 an ,house1 or any other ,structure1 to have been once in its first and simple ,materials4 ,this ,i speak without ,reference to immediate ,creation1 for ,aristotle did not own any such thing1 and therefore the ,argument stands good against him1 upon those ,grounds and ,notions that he goes2 yet ,i guess what ,answer would be made by him or his ,followers to this ,argumentation3 ,they would say1 there is not the same ,reason for ,natural things1 as for ,artificial1 though equally compounded4 ,artificial ,things could not be from ,eternity1 because they suppose ,man1 by whose ,art they were made1 pre-existent to them2 the ,workman must be before the ,work1 and whatsoever hath any thing before it1 is not ,eternal4 ,but may not the same thing be said of ,natural things8 ,do not most of them require the ,action of the ,sun1 and the ,influence of the ,heavens for their ,production1 and longer ,preparations than any ,artificial things do8 ,some ,years or ,ages would be necessary for the ,concoction and ,maturation of ,metals and ,minerals2 ,stones themselves1 at least some sorts of them1 were once ,liquors1 or fluid ,masses2 and all ,vegetable ,productions require the ,heat of the ,sun1 to predispose and excite the ,earth and the ,seeds4 ,nay1 according to ,aristotle1 'tis not ,man by himself that begets a ,man1 but the ,sun is his ,coadjutor4 ,you see then 'twas as necessary that the ,sun1 that great ,workman of ,nature1 should pre-exist to ,natural things1 produc'd in1 or upon the ,earth1 as that ,man should pre-exist to ,artificial4 ,so that the ,earth1 under that ,form and ,constitution it now hath1 could no more be ,eternal1 than a ,statue or ,temple1 or any ,work of ,art4 ,,besides1 that ,form1 which the ,earth is under at present1 is in some sort preternatural1 like a ,statue made and broken again2 and so hath still the less ,appearance or ,pretence of being ,eternal4 ,if the ,elements had lain in that ,order to one another1 as ,aristotle hath dispos'd them1 and as seems to be their first ,disposition2 the ,earth altogether in a ,mass in the middle1 or towards the ,centre2 then the ,water in a ,spherical ,mass about that2 the ,air above the ,water1 and then a ,sphere of ,fire1 as he fancied1 in the highest ,circle of the ,air3 ,if they had lain1 ,i say1 in this ,posture1 there might have been some ,pretence that they had been ,eternally so2 because that might seem to be their ,original ,posture1 in which ,nature had first plac'd them4 ,but the ,form and ,posture we find them in at present is very different1 and according to his ,doctrine must be look'd upon as unnatural and violent2 and no violent ,state1 by his own ,maxim1 can be perpetual1 or can have been so4 ,,but there is still a more pressing ,consideration against this ,opinion4 ,if this present ,state and ,form of the ,earth had been from ,eternity1 it would have long ere this destroy'd itself1 and chang'd itself3 ,the ,mountains sinking by degrees into the ,valleys1 and into the ,sea1 and the ,waters rising above the ,earth2 which ,form it would certainly have come into1 sooner or later1 and in it continu'd drowned and uninhabitable1 for all succeeding ,generations4 ,for 'tis certain1 that the ,mountains and higher ,parts of the ,earth grow lesser and lesser from ,age to ,age2 and that from many ,causes1 sometimes the ,roots of them are weaken'd1 and eaten by subterraneous ,fires1 and sometimes they are torn and tumbled down by ,earthquakes1 and fall into those ,caverns that are under them2 and tho' those violent ,causes are not constant1 or universal1 yet if the ,earth had stood from ,eternity1 there is not a ,mountain would have escaped this ,fate in one ,age or other4 ,the ,course of these ,exhalations or ,fires would have reach'd them all sooner or later1 if thro' infinite ,ages they had stood exposed to them4 ,but there are also other causes that consume them insensibly1 and make them sink by degrees2 and those are chiefly the ,winds1 ,rains1 and ,storms1 and ,heat of the ,sun without2 and within1 the soaking of ,water and ,springs1 with ,streams and ,currents in their ,veins and ,crannies4 ,these two sorts of ,causes would certainly reduce all the ,mountains of the ,earth1 in tract of ,time1 to ,equality2 or rather lay them all under ,water3 ,for whatsoever moulders1 or is wash'd away from them1 is carried down into the lower ,grounds1 and into the ,sea1 and nothing is ever brought back again by any ,circulation3 ,their ,losses are not repair'd1 nor any proportionable ,recruits made from any other parts of ,nature4 ,so as the higher parts of the ,earth being continually spending1 and the lower continually gaining1 they must of necessity at length come to an ,equality2 and the ,waters that lie in the lower parts and in the ,channels1 those ,channels and ,valleys being fill'd up with ,earth1 would be thrust out and rise every where upon the ,surface of the ,earth2 which new ,post1 when they had once seiz'd on it1 they would never quit nor would any thing be able to dispossess them2 for 'tis their natural ,place and ,situation which they always tend to1 and from which there is no ,progress nor ,regress in a ,course of ,nature4 ,so that the ,earth would have been1 both now1 and from innumerable ,generations before this1 all under ,water and uninhabitable2 if it had stood from ,everlasting1 and this ,form of it had been its first ,original ,form4 ,,nor can he doubt of this ,argumentation1 that considers the ,coherence of it1 and will allow time enough for the ,effect4 ,i do not say the ,earth would be reduc'd to this uninhabitable ,form in ten thousand ,years time1 tho' ,i believe it would3 ,but take twenty1 if you please1 take an hundred thousand1 take a million1 'tis all one1 for you may take the one as easily as the other out of ,eternity2 and they make both equally against their ,supposition4 ,nor is it any matter how little you suppose the mountains to decrease 'tis but taking more time1 and the same ,effect still follows4 ,let them but waste as much as a ,grain of ,mustard-,seed every ,day1 or a ,foot in an ,age1 this would be more than enough in ten thousand ,ages to consume the tallest ,mountain upon ,earth4 ,the ,air alone1 and the little drops of ,rain have defac'd the strongest and the proudest ,monuments of the ,greeks and ,romans2 and allow them but time enough1 and they will of themselves beat down the ,rocks into the ,sea1 and the ,hills into the ,valleys4 ,but if we add to these all those other foremention'd ,causes that work with more ,violence1 and the ,weight of the ,mountains themselves1 which1 upon any occasion offer'd1 is ready to sink them lower1 we shall shorten the ,time and make the ,effect more sure4 ,,we need add no more here in particular against this ,aristotelian ,doctrine1 that makes the present ,form of the ,earth to have been from ,eternity2 for the ,truth is1 this whole ,book is one continued ,argument against that opinion2 shewing that it hath de facto chang'd its ,form2 both in that we have prov'd that it was not capable of an universal ,deluge in this ,form1 and consequently was once under another2 and also in that we shall prove at large hereafter throughout the ,third and ,fourth ,sections1 that it hath been broken and dissolv'd4 ,we might also add one ,consideration more1 that if it had stood always under this ,form1 it would have been under ,fire1 if it had not been under ,water2 and the ,conflagration1 which it is to undergo1 would have overtaken it long ere this4 ,for ,st4 ,peter saith1 ,the ,heavens and the ,earth that are now1 as oppos'd to the ,antediluvian1 and consider'd in their present ,form and ,constitution1 are fitted to be consumed by ,fire4 ,and whosoever understands the ,progress and ,revolutions of ,nature1 will see that neither the present ,form of the ,earth1 nor its first ,form1 were permanent and immutable ,forms1 but transient and temporary by their own ,frame and ,constitution2 which the ,author of ,nature1 after certain ,periods of ,time1 had design'd for ,change and for ,destruction4 ,,thus much for the ,body of the ,earth1 that it could not have been from ,eternity1 as ,aristotle pretended1 in the ,form it hath4 ,now let's consider the ,origination of ,mankind2 and that we shall find could much less be ,eternal than the other2 for whatsoever destroy'd the ,form of the ,earth1 would also destroy ,mankind2 and besides1 there are many particular ,marks and ,arguments1 that the ,generations of ,men have not been from ,everlasting4 ,all ,history1 and all ,monuments of ,antiquity1 of what kind soever1 are but of a few ,thousand of ,years date2 we have still the ,memory of the ,golden ,age1 of the first ,state of ,nature1 and how ,mortals liv'd then in ,innocency and ,simplicity4 ,the ,invention of ,arts1 even those that are necessary or useful to ,human ,life1 hath been within the ,knowledge of ,men3 ,how imperfect was the ,geography of the ,ancients1 how imperfect their ,knowledge of the ,earth1 how imperfect their ,navigation8 ,can we imagine1 if there had been ,men from ,everlasting1 a ,sea as now1 and all materials for shipping as much as we have1 that ,men could have been so ignorant1 both of the ,land and of the ,sea1 as 'tis manifest they have been till of late ,ages8 ,they had very different ,fancies concerning the ,figure of the ,earth4 ,they knew no ,land beyond our ,continent1 and that very imperfectly too2 and the ,torrid ,zone they thought utterly uninhabitable4 ,we think it strange1 taking that short ,date of the ,world1 which we give it1 that ,men should not have made more ,progress in the ,knowledge of these ,things2 but how impossible is it then1 if you suppose them to have been from ,everlasting8 ,they had the same ,wit and ,passions that we have1 the same ,motives that we have1 can we then imagine1 that neither the ,ambition of ,princes1 nor ,interest or ,gain in private ,persons1 nor ,curiosity and the ,desire of ,knowledge1 nor the ,glory of ,discoveries1 nor any other ,passion or ,consideration could ever move them in that endless time1 to try their ,fortunes upon the ,sea1 and know something more of the ,world they inhabited8 ,though you should suppose them generally stupid1 which there is no ,reason to do1 yet in a ,course of infinite ,generations1 there would be some great ,genii1 some extraordinary ,persons that would attempt things above the rest4 ,we have done more within the compass of our little ,world1 which we can but count 7as to this7 from the general ,deluge1 than those ,eternal ,men had done in their innumerable ,ages foregoing4 ,,you will say it may be1 they had not the ,advantages and ,opportunities for ,navigation as we have1 and for ,discoveries2 because the use of the ,loadstone1 and the ,mariners needle was not then known4 ,but that's the ,wonder1 that either that ,invention1 or any other should not be brought to light till t'other ,day1 if the ,world had stood from ,eternity4 ,i say this or any other practical ,invention2 for such ,things1 when they are once found out and known1 are not easily lost again1 because they are of daily use4 ,and 'tis in most other practical arts1 as in ,navigation1 we generally know their original and ,history2 who the ,inventors1 and by what degrees improv'd1 and how few of them brought to any ,perfection till of late ,ages4 ,all the ,artificial and ,mechanical ,world is in a manner new2 and what you may call the ,civil ,world too is in a great measure so4 ,what relates to ,government1 and ,laws2 to ,wars and ,discipline2 we can trace these things to their ,origin1 or very near it4 ,the use of ,money and of ,coins1 nay the ,use of the very ,elements2 for they tell us of the first ,invention of fire by ,prometheus1 and the employing of ,wind or ,water to turn the ,mills1 and grind their ,corn was scarce known before the ,romans1 ,plin4 l4 #g4 c4 #ef4 ,and that we may think nothing eternal here1 they tell us the ,ages and ,genealogies of their very ,gods4 ,the measures of ,time for the common uses of ,life1 the dividing it into ,hours1 with the ,instruments for those ,purposes1 are not of an unknown ,date3 ,even the ,arts for preparing ,food and ,cloathing1 ,medicines and ,medicaments1 ,building1 ,civil and ,military1 ,letters and ,writing1 which are the ,foundations of the ,world ,civil3 ,these1 with all their ,retinue of lesser ,arts and ,trades that belong to them1 ,history and ,tradition tell us when they had their ,beginning1 or were very imperfect2 and how many of their ,inventors and ,inventresses were deify'd4 ,the ,world hath not stood so long but we can still run it up to those artless ,ages1 when ,mortals liv'd by plain ,nature2 when there was but one ,trade in the ,world1 one ,calling1 to look to their ,flocks2 and afterwards to till the ,ground1 when ,nature grew less liberal3 ,and may we not reasonably think this the ,beginning of ,mankind1 or very near it8 ,if ,man be a ,creature1 both naturally sagacious to find out its own ,conveniencies1 and naturally sociable and inclin'd to live in a ,community1 a little ,time would make them find out and furnish themselves with what was necessary in these two kinds1 for the ,conveniencies of single ,life1 and the ,conveniencies of ,societies2 they would not have liv'd infinite ,ages1 unprovided of them4 ,if you say ,necessity is the ,mother of ,arts and ,inventions1 and there was no ,necessity before1 and therefore these things were so slowly invented2 this is a good ,answer upon our ,supposition1 that the ,world began but some ,ages before these were found out1 and was abundant with all ,things at first2 and ,men not very numerous1 and therefore were not put so much to the use of their ,wits1 to find out ,ways for living commodiously4 ,but this is no ,answer upon their ,supposition2 for if the ,world was eternal and ,men too1 there were no first ,ages1 no new and fresh ,earth2 ,men were never less numerous1 nor the ,earth more fruitful2 and consequently there was never less ,necessity at any time than is now4 ,this also brings to ,mind another ,argument against this ,opinion1 7viz47 from the gradual ,increase of ,mankind4 ',tis certain the ,world was not so populous one or two thousand ,years since1 as it is now1 seeing 'tis observ'd in particular ,nations1 that within the ,space of two or three hundred ,years1 notwithstanding all ,casualties1 the ,number of ,men doubles4 ,if then the ,earth had stood from ,everlasting1 it had been overstock'd long ere this1 and would not have been capable to contain its ,inhabitants many ,ages and ,millions of ,ages ago4 ,whereas we find the ,earth is not yet sufficiently inhabited1 and there is still ,room for some ,millions4 ,and we must not fly to universal ,deluges and ,conflagrations to destroy ,mankind2 for besides that the ,earth was not capable of a ,deluge in this present ,form1 nor would have been in this ,form after a ,conflagration1 ,aristotle doth not admit of these universal ,changes1 nor any that hold the ,form of the ,earth to be eternal4 ,but to return to our ,arts and ,inventions4 ,,we have spoken of practical ,arts and ,inventions useful in human ,life2 then for ,theoretical ,learning and ,sciences1 there is nothing yet finish'd or compleat in these2 and what is known hath been chiefly the ,production of latter ,ages4 ,how little hath been discover'd till of late1 either of our own ,bodies1 or of the ,body of the ,earth1 and of the ,functions or ,motions of ,nature in either8 ,what more obvious1 one would think1 than the ,circulation of the ,blood8 ,what can more excite our ,curiosity than the flowing and ebbing of the ,sea8 ,than the ,nature of ,metals and ,minerals8 ,these are either yet unknown1 or were so at least till this last ,age2 which seems to me1 to have made a greater ,progress than all ,ages before put together1 since the beginning of the ,world4 ,how unlikely is it then that these ,ages were ,eternal8 ,that the ,eternal ,studies of our ,fore-fathers could not effect so much as a few ,years have done of late8 ,and the whole ,mass of ,knowledge in this ,earth doth not seem to be so great1 but that a few ,ages more1 with two or three happy ,genius's in them1 may bring to light all that we are capable to understand in this ,state of ,mortality4 ,,to these ,arguments concerning the ,novelty of the ,earth1 and the ,origin of ,mankind1 ,i know there are some shuffling ,excuses made1 but they can have little ,effect upon those ,instances we have chosen4 ,and ,i would ask those ,eternalists one fair ,question1 ,what ,mark is there that they could expect or desire of the ,novelty of a ,world1 that is not found in this8 ,or what ,mark is there of ,eternity that is found in this8 ,if then their ,opinion be without any positive ,argument1 and against all ,appearances in ,nature1 it may be justly rejected as unreasonable upon all ,accounts4 ',tis not the bold asserting of a ,thing that makes it true1 or that makes it credible against ,evidence4 ,if one should assert that such an one had liv'd from all ,eternity1 and ,i could bring ,witnesses that knew him a ,sucking-child1 and others that remembred him a ,school-boy1 ,i think it would be a fair ,proof1 that the ,man was not ,eternal4 ,so if there be ,evidence1 either in ,reason or ,history1 that it is not very many ,ages since ,nature was in her ,minority1 as appears by all those ,instances we have given above2 some whereof trace her down to her very ,infancy3 ,this1 ,i think1 may be taken for a good ,proof that she is not ,eternal4 ,and ,i do not doubt1 but if the ,history of the ,world was writ ,philosophically1 giving an ,account of the several ,states of ,mankind in several ,ages1 and by what ,steps or ,degrees they came from their first ,rudeness or ,simplicity to that ,order of ,things1 both ,intellectual and ,civil1 which the ,world is advanc'd to at present1 ,that alone would be a full ,conviction1 that the ,earth and ,mankind had a ,beginning4 ,as the ,story of ,rome1 how it rose from a mean ,original1 by what degrees it increas'd1 and how it chang'd its ,form and ,government till it came to its ,greatness1 doth satisfy us very well1 that the ,roman ,empire was not ,eternal4 ,,thus much concerning the ,temporal ,original of the ,earth4 ,we are now to consider the manner of it1 and to shew how it rose from a ,chaos4 ,i do not remember that any of the ,ancients that acknowledge the ,earth to have had an ,original1 did deny that ,original to have been from a ,chaos4 ,we are assur'd of both from the ,authority of ,moses1 who saith1 that in the ,beginning the ,earth was ,tohu ,bohu1 without ,form and ,void2 a fluid1 dark1 confus'd ,mass1 without ,distinction of ,elements2 and made up of all ,variety of ,parts1 but without ,order1 or any determinate ,form2 which is the true ,description of a ,chaos3 ,and so it is understood by the general ,consent of ,interpreters both ,hebrew and ,christian4 ,we need not therefore spend any time here to prove1 that the ,origin of the ,earth was from a ,chaos1 seeing that it is agreed on by all that give it any ,origin4 ,but we will proceed immediately to examine into what ,form it first rose when it came out of that ,chaos2 or what was the primval ,form of the ,earth1 that continued till the ,deluge1 and how the ,deluge depended upon it1 and upon its ,dissolution4 ,and1 that we may proceed in this ,enquiry by such easy steps as any one may readily follow1 we will divide it into ,three ,propositions1 whereof the first is this in general2 that the ,form of the ,antediluvian ,earth1 or of the ,earth that rose first from the ,chaos1 was different from the ,form of the present ,earth4 ,i say1 different in general1 without specifying yet what its particular ,form was1 which shall be exprest in the following ,proposition4 ,,this first ,proposition we have in effect prov'd in the second ,chapter2 where we have shewn1 that if the ,earth had been always in this ,form1 it would not have been capable of a ,deluge2 seeing that could not have been effected without such an infinite ,mass of ,water as could neither be brought upon the ,earth1 nor afterward any way removed from it4 ,but we will not content our selves with that ,proof only1 but will prove it also from the ,nature of the ,chaos1 and the manifest ,consequences of it4 ,and because this is a leading ,proposition1 we think it not improper to prove it also from ,divine ,authority1 there being a pregnant ,passage to this ,purpose in the ,writings of ,st4 ,peter4 ,where treating of this very ,subject1 the ,deluge1 he manifestly puts a difference between the ,antediluvian ,earth and the present ,earth1 as to their ,form and ,constitution4 ,the ,discourse is in the second ,epistle of ,st4 ,peter1 the third ,chapter1 where certain ,deists1 as they seem to have been1 laught at the ,prophecy of the ,day of ,judgment1 and of the ,conflagration of the ,world1 using this ,argument against it1 ,that since the ,fathers fell asleep1 all things have continued as they were from the beginning4 ,all ,external ,nature hath continued the same without any remarkable ,change or ,alteration1 and why should we believe1 say they1 there will be any8 ,what ,appearance1 or what ,foundation is there of such a ,revolution1 that all ,nature will be dissolved1 and the ,heavens and the ,earth consum'd with ,fire1 as your ,prophecies pretend8 ,so from the ,permanency and ,immutability of ,nature hitherto1 they argu'd its ,permanency and ,immutability for the future4 ,to this the ,apostle answers1 that they are willing to forget1 that the ,heavens and the ,earth of old had a particular ,form and ,constitution as to ,water1 by reason whereof the ,world1 that then was1 perish'd by a ,deluge4 ,and the ,heavens and the ,earth that are now1 or since the ,deluge1 have a particular ,constitution in reference to ,fire1 by reason whereof they are expos'd to another sort of ,destruction or ,dissolution1 namely by ,fire1 or by an universal ,conflagration4 ,the ,words of the ,apostle1 ,chap4 iii4 v4 #e1 #f1 #g4 are these2 ,for this they are willingly ignorant of1 that by the ,word of ,god the ,heavens were of old1 and the ,earth1 consisting of ,water1 and by ,water2 or 7as we render it7 standing out of the ,water1 and in the ,water2 wherein the ,world that then was1 being overflow'd with ,water1 perish'd4 ,but the ,heavens and the ,earth that are now1 by the same ,word are kept in store1 reserv'd unto ,fire against the ,day of ,judgment4 ,we shall have occasion1 it may be1 hereafter to give a full ,illustration of these ,words2 but at present we shall only take notice of this in general1 that the ,apostle here doth plainly intimate some difference that was between the old ,world and the present ,world1 in their ,form and ,constitution2 or betwixt the ,antediluvian and the present ,earth1 by reason of which difference1 that was subject to perish by a ,deluge1 as this is subject to perish by ,conflagration4 ,and as this is the general ,air and ,importance of this ,discourse of the ,apostle's1 which every one at first sight would discover2 so we may in several particular ways prove from it our first ,proposition1 which now we must return to2 7viz47 ,that the ,form and ,constitution of the ,antediluvian ,earth was different from that of the present ,earth4 ,this may be inferr'd from the ,apostle's ,discourse1 first1 because he makes an opposition betwixt these two ,earths1 or these two natural ,worlds2 and that not only in respect of their ,fate1 the one perishing by ,water1 as the other will perish by ,fire1 but also in respect of their different ,disposition and ,constitution leading to this different ,fate2 for otherwise his fifth ,verse is superfluous1 and his ,inference in the sixth ungrounded2 you see he premiseth in the fifth ,verse as the ,ground of his ,discourse1 what the ,constitution of the antediluvian ,heavens and ,earth was1 and then infers from it in the sixth ,verse1 that they therefore perish'd in a ,deluge of ,water4 ,now if they had been the same with ours1 there had neither been any ,ground for making an ,opposition betwixt them1 nor any ,ground of making a contrary ,inference as to their ,fate4 ,besides1 in that he implies that the ,constitution of the antediluvian ,earth was such1 as made it subject to a ,deluge2 he shews that it was different from the ,constitution of the present ,earth2 for the ,form of that is such1 as makes it rather incapable of a ,deluge1 as we have shewn in the second ,chapter4 ,then we are to observe further1 that when he saith 7v4 #f47 that the first ,world perish'd in a ,deluge1 or was destroy'd by it2 this is not to be understood of the animate ,world only1 ,men and living ,creatures1 but of the natural world1 and the ,frame of it2 for he had describ'd it before by the ,heavens and the ,earth1 which make the natural ,world4 ,and the ,objection of the ,atheists1 or ,deists rather1 which he was to answer1 proceeded upon the natural ,world4 ,and lastly1 this perishing of the world in a ,deluge is set against1 or compar'd with the perishing of the ,world in the ,conflagration1 when the ,frame of ,nature will be dissolv'd4 ,we must therefore1 according to the ,tenor of the ,apostle's arguing1 suppose1 that the natural ,world was destroy'd or perish'd in the ,deluge2 and seeing it did not perish as to ,matter and ,substance1 it must be as to the ,form1 ,frame and ,composition of it1 that it perish'd2 and consequently1 the present ,earth is of another ,form and ,frame from what it had before the ,deluge2 which was the thing to be proved4 ,,lastly1 ,let us consider what it is the ,apostle tells these ,scoffers that they were ignorant of3 ,not that there was a ,deluge1 they could not be ignorant of that2 nor doth he tell them that they were4 ,but he tells them that they were ignorant that the ,heavens and the ,earth of old were so and so constituted1 after a different manner than they are now1 and that the ,state of ,nature was chang'd at the ,deluge2 if they had known or attended to this1 they had made no such ,objection1 nor us'd any such ,argument as they did against the future ,conflagration of the ,world4 ,they pretended that there had been no ,change in ,nature since the beginning1 and the ,apostle in answer tells them1 that they are willingly ignorant of the first ,constitution of the ,heavens1 and the ,earth1 and of that ,change and ,dissolution that happen'd to them in the ,deluge2 and how the present ,heavens and ,earth have another ,constitution1 whereby in like manner they are expos'd1 in ,god's due time1 to be consum'd or dissolv'd by ,fire4 ,this is the plain1 easy and natural ,import of the ,apostle's ,discourse2 thus all the ,parts of it are coherent1 and the ,sense genuine and apposite1 and this is a full ,confirmation of our first and general ,assertion1 ,that the antediluvian ,earth was of another ,form from the present ,earth4 ,this hath been observ'd formerly by some of the ,ancients from this ,text1 but that it hath not been generally observ'd1 was partly because they had no ,theory to back such an ,interpretation1 and make it intelligible2 and partly because they did not observe1 that the ,apostle's ,discourse here was an ,argumentation1 and not a bare ,affirmation1 or simple ,contradiction to those that rais'd the ,scruple2 'tis an ,answer upon a ,ground taken1 he premiseth1 and then infers1 in the fifth and sixth ,verses1 concerning the ,deluge2 and in the seventh1 concerning the ,conflagration4 ,and when ,i had discover'd in my ,thoughts from the ,consideration of the ,deluge1 and other natural ,reasons1 that the ,earth was certainly once in another ,form1 it was a great ,assurance and ,confirmation to me1 when ,i reflected on this place of ,st4 ,peter's2 which seems to be so much directed and intended for the same purpose1 or to teach us the same ,conclusion1 that though ,i design'd chiefly a ,philosophical ,theory of these ,things1 yet ,i should not have thought we had been just to ,providence1 if we had neglected to take ,notice of this ,passage and ,sacred ,evidence2 which seems to have been left us on purpose to excite our ,enquiries1 and strengthen our ,reasonings1 concerning the first ,state of ,things4 ,thus much from ,divine ,authority3 ,we proceed now to prove the same ,proposition from ,reason and ,philosophy1 and the ,contemplation of the ,chaos1 from whence the first ,earth arose4 ,,we need not upon this ,occasion make a particular ,description of the ,chaos1 but only consider it as a fluid ,mass1 or a ,mass of all sorts of little ,parts and ,particles of ,matter mix'd together1 and floating in ,confusion1 one with another4 ',tis impossible that the ,surface of this ,mass should be of such a ,form and ,figure1 as the ,surface of our present ,earth is3 ,or that any ,concretion or consistent ,state which this ,mass could flow into immediately1 or first settle in1 could be of such a ,form and ,figure as our present ,earth4 ,the first of these ,assertions is of easy proof2 for a fluid ,body1 we know1 whether it be ,water or any other ,liquor1 always casts it self into a smooth and spherical ,surface2 and if any ,parts1 by ,chance1 or by some ,agitation1 become higher than the rest1 they do not continue so1 but glide down again every way into the lower ,places1 till they all come to make a ,surface of the same height1 and of the same distance every where from the ,center of their ,gravity4 ,a ,mountain of ,water is a thing impossible in ,nature1 and where there are no ,mountains there are no ,valleys4 ,so also a ,den or ,cave within the ,water1 that hath no ,walls but the liquid ,element1 is a ,structure unknown to ,art or ,nature2 all things there must be full within1 and even and level without1 unless some external ,force keep them by ,violence in another ,posture4 ,but is this the ,form of our ,earth1 which is neither regularly made within nor without8 ,the ,surface and exterior ,parts are broken into all sorts of ,inequalities1 ,hills and ,dales1 ,mountains and ,valleys2 and the plainer ,tracts of it lie generally inclin'd or bending one way or other1 sometimes upon an easy ,descent1 and other times with a more sensible and uneasy ,steepness2 and though the great ,mountains of the ,earth were taken all away1 the remaining parts would be more unequal than the roughest ,sea2 whereas the ,face of the ,earth should resemble the ,face of the calmest ,sea1 if it was still in the ,form of its first ,mass4 ,but what shall we say then to the huge ,mountains of the ,earth1 which lie sometimes in ,lumps or ,clusters heapt up by one another1 sometimes extended in long ,ridges or ,chains1 for many hundred ,miles in length8 ,and 'tis remarkable1 that in every ,continent1 and in every ancient and original ,island1 there is either such a ,cluster1 or such a ,chain of ,mountains4 ,and can there be any more palpable ,demonstrations than these are1 that the ,surface of the ,earth is not in the same ,form that the ,surface of the ,chaos was1 or that any fluid ,mass can stand or hold it self in8 ,,then for the ,form of the ,earth within or under its ,surface1 'tis no less impossible for the ,chaos to imitate that2 for 'tis full of ,cavities and empty ,places1 of ,dens and broken ,holes1 whereof some are open to the ,air1 and others cover'd and enclos'd wholly within the ,ground4 ,these are both of them unimitable in any liquid ,substance1 whose ,parts will necessarily flow together into one continued ,mass1 and cannot be divided into ,apartments and separate ,rooms1 nor have ,vaults or ,caverns made within it2 the ,walls would sink1 and the ,roof fall in3 ,for liquid ,bodies have nothing to sustain their ,parts1 nor any thing to cement them2 they are all loose and incoherent1 and in a perpetual ,flux3 ,even an heap of ,sand or fine ,powder will suffer no ,hollowness within them1 though they be dry ,substances1 and though the ,parts of them being rough will hang together a little and stand a little upon an ,heap2 but the ,parts of ,liquors being glib1 and continually in motion1 they fall off from one another1 which way soever ,gravity inclines them1 and can neither have any ,hills or ,eminencies on their ,surface1 nor any ,hollowness within their ,substance4 ,,you will acknowledge1 it may be1 that this is true1 and that a liquid ,mass or ,chaos1 while it was liquid1 was incapable of either the outward or inward ,form of the ,earth2 but when it came to a ,concretion1 to a ,state of ,consistency and ,firmness1 then it might go1 you'll say1 into any ,form4 ,no1 not in its first ,concretion1 nor in its first ,state of ,consistence2 for that would be of the same ,form that the ,surface of it was when it was liquid1 as ,water when it congeals1 the ,surface of the ,ice is smooth and level1 as the ,surface of the ,water was before2 so ,metals1 or any other ,substances melted1 or ,liquors that of themselves grow stiff and harden1 always settle into the same ,form which they had when they were last liquid1 and are always solid within1 and smooth without1 unless they be cast in a ,mould1 that hinders the ,motion and ,flux of the ,parts4 ,so that the first concrete ,state or consistent ,surface of the ,chaos must be of the same ,form or ,figure with the last liquid ,state it was in2 for that is the ,mould1 as it were1 upon which it is cast2 as the ,shell of an ,egg is of a like ,form with the ,surface of the ,liquor it lies upon4 ,and therefore by ,analogy with all other ,liquors and ,concretions1 the ,form of the ,chaos1 whether liquid or concrete1 could not be the same with that of the present ,earth1 or like it3 ,and consequently1 that ,form of the first or primogenial ,earth which rose immediately out of the ,chaos1 was not the same1 nor like to that of the present ,earth2 which was the first and preparatory ,proposition we laid down to be prov'd4 ,and this being prov'd by the ,authority both of our ,reason and our ,religion1 we will now proceed to the second which is more particular4 ,,chap4 ,v4 ,the ,second ,proposition is laid down1 viz4 ,that the ,face of the ,earth before the ,deluge was smooth1 regular1 and uniform2 without ,mountains1 and without a ,sea4 ,the ,chaos out of which the ,world rose is fully examin'd1 and all its ,motions observ'd1 and by what ,steps it wrought it self into an habitable ,world4 ,some ,things in ,antiquity relating to the first ,state of the ,earth are interpreted1 and some ,things in the ,sacred ,writings4 ,the ,divine ,art and ,geometry in the ,construction of the first ,earth is observ'd and celebrated4 ,,we have seen it prov'd1 in the foregoing ,chapter1 ,that the ,form of the first or antediluvian ,earth was not the same1 nor like the ,form of the present ,earth4 ,this is our first ,discovery at a distance1 but 'tis only general and negative1 tells us what the ,form of that ,earth was not1 but tells us not expresly what it was2 that must be our next ,enquiry1 and advancing one step farther in our ,theory1 we lay down this second ,proposition3 ,that the ,face of the ,earth before the ,deluge was smooth1 regular1 and uniform2 without ,mountains1 and without a ,sea4 ,this is a bold ,step1 and carries us into another ,world1 which we have never seen1 nor ever yet heard any relation of2 and a ,world1 it seems1 of very different ,scenes and ,prospects from ours1 or from any thing we have yet known4 ,an ,earth without a ,sea1 and plain as the ,elysian ,fields2 if you travel it all over1 you will not meet with a ,mountain or a ,rock1 yet well provided of all requisite things for an habitable ,world2 and the same indeed with the ,earth we still inhabit1 only under another ,form4 ,and this is the great ,thing that now comes into debate1 the great ,paradox which we offer to be examined1 and which we affirm1 ,that the ,earth1 in its first ,rise and ,formation from a ,chaos1 was of the ,form here described1 and so continued for many hundreds of ,years4 ,,to examine and prove this1 we must return to the beginning of the ,world1 and to that ,chaos out of which the ,earth and all sublunary things arose3 ',tis the ,motions and ,progress of this1 which we must now consider1 and what ,form it settled into when it first became an habitable ,world4 ,,neither is it perhaps such an intricate ,thing as we imagine at first ,sight1 to trace a ,chaos into an habitable ,world2 at least there is a particular ,pleasure to see things in their ,origin1 and by what ,degrees and successive ,changes they rise into that ,order and ,state we see them in afterwards1 when compleated4 ,i am sure1 if ever we would view the ,paths of ,divine ,wisdom1 in the ,works and in the ,conduct of ,nature1 we must not only consider how ,things are1 but how they came to be so4 ',tis pleasant to look upon a ,tree in the ,summer1 cover'd with its green ,leaves1 deckt with ,blossoms1 or laden with ,fruit1 and casting a pleasing ,shade under its spreading ,boughs2 but to consider how this ,tree with all its ,furniture sprang from a little ,seed2 how ,nature shap'd it1 and fed it1 in its ,infancy and ,growth2 added new ,parts1 and still advanc'd it by little and little1 'till it came to this ,greatness and ,perfection3 ,this1 methinks1 is another sort of ,pleasure1 more rational1 less common1 and which is properly the ,contemplation of ,divine ,wisdom in the ,works of ,nature4 ,so to view this ,earth1 and this sublunary ,world1 as it is now complete1 distinguish'd into the several ,orders of ,bodies of which it consists1 every one perfect and admirable in its kind2 this is truly delightful1 and a very good ,entertainment of the ,mind3 ,but to see all these in their first ,seeds1 as ,i may so say2 to take in ,pieces this ,frame of ,nature1 and melt it down into its first ,principles2 and then to observe how the ,divine ,wisdom wrought all these ,things out of ,confusion into ,order1 and out of ,simplicity into that beautiful ,composition we now see them in2 this1 methinks1 is another kind of ,joy1 which pierceth the ,mind more deep1 and is more satisfactory4 ,and to give our selves and others this ,satisfaction1 we will first make a short ,representation of the ,chaos1 and then shew1 how1 according to ,laws establish'd in ,nature by the ,divine ,power and ,wisdom1 it was wrought by degrees from one ,form into another1 'till it settled at length into an habitable ,earth2 and that of such a ,frame and ,structure1 as we have described in this second ,proposition4 ,,by the ,chaos ,i understand the ,matter of the ,earth and ,heavens1 without ,form or ,order2 reduc'd into a fluid ,mass1 wherein are the ,materials and ,ingredients of all ,bodies1 but mingled in ,confusion one with another4 ,as if you should suppose all sorts of ,metals1 ,gold1 ,silver1 ,lead1 c4 melted down together in a common ,mass1 and so mingled1 that the ,parts of no one ,metal could be discern'd as distinct from the rest1 this would be a little ,metallick ,chaos3 ,suppose then1 the ,elements thus mingled1 ,air1 ,water and ,earth1 which are the ,principles of all ,terrestrial ,bodies2 mingled1 ,i say1 without any ,order of higher or lower1 heavier or lighter1 solid or volatile1 in such a kind of confus'd ,mass as is here represented in the first ,scheme4 ,illustration3 ,book #a ,figure #a4 ,a confused spherical ,mass of matter4 ,,let this then represent to us the ,chaos2 in which the first ,change that we should imagine to happen would be this1 that the heaviest and grossest ,parts would sink down towards the middle of it1 7for there we suppose the ,center of its ,gravity7 and the rest would float above4 ,these grosser ,parts thus sunk down and compress'd more and more1 would harden by degrees1 and constitute the interiour ,parts of the ,earth3 ,the rest of the ,mass1 which swims above1 would be also divided by the same ,principle of ,gravity into two ,orders of ,bodies1 the one liquid like ,water1 the other volatile like ,air4 ,for the more fine and active ,parts disentangling themselves by degrees from the rest would mount above them2 and having ,motion enough to keep them upon the ,wing1 would play in those open ,places where they constitute that ,body we call ,,air4 ,the other ,parts being grosser than these1 and having a more languid ,motion1 could not fly up separate from one another1 as these did1 but settled in a ,mass together1 under the ,air1 upon the ,body of the ,earth1 composing not only ,water strictly so called1 but the whole ,mass of ,liquors1 or liquid ,bodies1 belonging to the ,earth4 ,and these first ,separations being thus made1 the ,body of the ,chaos would stand in that ,form which it is here represented in by the second ,scheme4 ,illustration3 ,book #a ,figure #b4 ,concentric spheres of ,matter1 the heaviest nearest the center4 ,,the liquid ,mass which encircled the ,earth was not1 as ,i noted before1 the mere ,element of ,water1 but a ,collection of all ,liquors that belong to the ,earth3 ,i mean of all that do originally belong to it4 ,now seeing there are two chief kinds of ,terrestrial ,liquors1 those that are fat1 oily and light2 and those that are lean and more earthy1 like common ,water2 which two are generally found in compound ,liquors2 we cannot doubt but there were of both sorts in this common ,mass of ,liquids4 ,and it being well known1 that these two kinds mix'd together1 if left to themselves and the general ,action of ,nature1 separate one from another when they come to settle1 as in ,cream and thin ,milk1 ,oil and ,water1 and such like2 we cannot but conclude1 that the same ,effect would follow here1 and the more oily and light ,part of this ,mass would get above the other1 and swim upon it4 ,the whole ,mass being divided into two lesser ,masses1 and so the ,globe would stand as we see it in the third ,figure4 ,illustration3 ,book #a ,figure #c4 ,the concentric spheres with heavy matter inner-most1 with heavier and the lighter liquids in spheres above4 ,,hitherto the ,changes of the ,chaos are easy and unquestionable1 and would be dispatcht in a short time2 we must now look over again these two great ,masses of the ,air and ,water1 and consider how their ,impurities or grosser ,parts would be dispos'd of2 for we cannot imagine but they were both at first very muddy and impure3 ,and as the ,water would have its ,sediment1 which we are not here concern'd to look after1 so the great ,regions of the ,air would certainly have their ,sediment too2 for the ,air was as yet thick1 gross and dark1 there being an abundance of little ,terrestrial ,particles swimming in it still1 after the grossest were sunk down2 which1 by their ,heaviness and lumpish ,figure1 made their way more easily and speedily4 ,the lesser and lighter which remain'd would sink too1 but more slowly1 and in a longer time2 so as in their ,descent they would meet with that oily ,liquor upon the ,face of the ,deep1 or upon the watery ,mass1 which would entangle and stop them from passing any further2 whereupon mixing there with that unctuous ,substance1 they compos'd a certain ,slime1 or fat1 soft1 and light ,earth1 spread upon the ,face of the ,waters2 as 'tis represented in the fourth ,figure4 ,illustration3 ,book #a ,figure #d4 ,the liquid layers have rearranged by heaviness and oilyness4 ,,this thin and tender ,orb of ,earth increas'd still more and more1 as the little earthy ,parts that were detain'd in the ,air could make their way to it4 ,some having a long ,journey from the upper ,regions1 and others being very light would float up and down a good while1 before they could wholly disengage themselves and descend4 ,but this was the general ,rendezvous1 which sooner or later they all got to1 and mingling more and more with that oily ,liquor1 they suckt it all up at length1 and were wholly incorporate together1 and so began to grow more stiff and firm1 making both but one ,substance1 which was the first ,concretion1 or firm and consistent ,substance that rose upon the ,face of the ,chaos4 ,and the whole ,globe stood in this ,posture1 as in ,figure the fifth4 ,illustration3 ,book #a ,figure #e4 ,the tiny ,earthy parts from above have settled down out of the ,air1 the rings marked #a1 #b1 and #c from outside to in4 ,illustration3 ,book #a ,figure #f4 ,another view of the ,rings4 ,,it may be1 you will say1 we take our ,liberty1 and our own time for the ,separation of these two ,liquors1 the oily and the earthy1 the lighter and the heavier2 and suppose that done before the ,air was clear'd of earthy ,particles1 that so they might be catcht and stopt there in their ,descent4 ,whereas if all these ,particles were fallen out of the ,air before that ,separation was made in the liquid ,mass1 they would fall down through the ,water1 as the first did1 and so no ,concretion would be made1 nor any earthy ,crust form'd upon the ,face of the ,waters1 as we here suppose there was4 ',tis true1 there could be no such ,orb of ,earth form'd there1 if the ,air was wholly purg'd of all its earthy ,parts before the ,mass of ,liquids began to purify it self1 and to separate the oily ,parts from the more heavy3 ,but this is an unreasonable and incredible ,supposition1 if we consider1 the ,mass of the ,air was many thousand ,times greater than the ,water1 and would in ,proportion require a greater ,time to be purify'd2 the ,particles that were in the ,regions of the ,air having a long way to come before they reach'd the watery ,mass1 and far longer than the oily ,particles had to rise from any ,part of that ,mass to the ,surface of it4 ,besides1 we may suppose a great many degrees of ,littleness and ,lightness in these earthy ,particles1 so as many of them might float in the ,air a good while1 like ,exhalations before they fell down4 ,and lastly1 ,we do not suppose the ,separation of these two ,liquors wholly made and finish'd before the ,purgation of the ,air began1 tho' we represent them so for ,distinction sake3 ,let them begin to purify at the same time1 if you please1 these ,parts rising upwards1 and those falling downwards1 they will meet in the middle1 and unite and grow into one ,body1 as we have describ'd4 ,and this ,body or new ,concretion would be increas'd daily1 being fed and supply'd both from above and below2 and having done growing1 it would become more dry by degrees1 and of a ,temper of greater ,consistency and ,firmness1 so as truly to resemble and be fit to make an habitable ,earth1 such as ,nature intended it for4 ,,but you will further object1 it may be1 that such an ,effect as this would indeed be necessary in some ,degree and ,proportion1 but not in such a ,proportion1 and in such ,quantity1 as would be sufficient to make this ,crust or concrete ,orb an habitable ,earth4 ,this ,i confess appear'd to me at first a real ,difficulty1 till ,i consider'd better the great disproportion there is betwixt the ,regions of the ,air and the ,circumference of the ,earth1 or of that exterior ,orb of the ,earth1 we are now a making2 which being many thousand times less in ,depth and ,extent than the ,regions of the ,air1 taken as high as the ,moon1 tho' these earthy ,particles we speak of were very thinly dispers'd thro' those vast ,tracks of the ,air1 when they came to be collected and amass'd together upon the ,surface of a far lesser ,sphere1 they would constitute a ,body of a very considerable ,thickness and ,solidity4 ,we see the ,earth sometimes cover'd with ,snow two or three ,feet deep1 made up only of little ,flakes or ,pieces of ,ice1 which falling from the middle ,region of the ,air1 and meeting with the ,earth in their ,descent1 are there stop'd and heap'd up one upon another4 ,but if we should suppose little ,particles of ,earth to shower down1 not only from the middle ,region1 but from the whole ,capacity and ,extent of those vast ,spaces that are betwixt us and the ,moon1 we could not imagine but these would constitute an ,orb of ,earth some thousands of times deeper than the greatest ,snow2 which being increas'd and swoln by that oily ,liquor it fell into1 and incorporated with1 it would be thick1 strong1 and great enough in all respects to render it an habitable ,earth4 ,,we cannot doubt therefore but such a ,body as this would be form'd1 and would be sufficient in ,quantity for an habitable ,earth4 ,then for the ,quality of it1 it will answer all the ,purposes of a ,rising ,world4 ,what can be a more proper ,seminary for ,plants and ,animals1 than a ,soil of this ,temper and ,composition8 ,a finer and lighter sort of ,earth1 mix'd with a benign ,juice1 easy and obedient to the ,action of the ,sun1 or of what other ,causes were employ'd by the ,author of ,nature1 for the ,production of ,things in the new made ,earth4 ,what sort or disposition of matter could be more fit and ready to catch ,life from ,heaven1 and to be drawn into all ,forms than the ,rudiments of ,life1 or the ,bodies of living ,creatures would require8 ,what ,soil more proper for ,vegetation than this warm ,moisture1 which could have no ,fault1 unless it was too fertile and luxuriant8 ,and that is no ,fault neither at the beginning of a ,world4 ,this ,i am sure of1 that the ,learned amongst the ,ancients1 both ,greeks1 gyptians1 ,phnicians1 and others1 have described the primogenial ,soil1 1 or the ,temper of the ,earth1 that was the first ,subject for the ,generation and ,origin of ,plants and ,animals1 after such a manner1 as is truly express'd1 and ,i think with ,advantage1 by this ,draught of the primogenial ,earth4 ,,thus much concerning the ,matter of the first ,earth4 ,let us reflect a little upon the ,form of it also1 whether external or internal2 both whereof do manifestly shew themselves from the manner of its ,production or ,formation4 ,as to the external ,form1 you see it is according to the ,proposition we were to prove1 smooth1 regular and uniform1 without ,mountains2 and without a ,sea4 ,and the ,proof we have given of it is very easy3 ,the ,globe of the ,earth could not possibly rise immediately from a ,chaos into the irregular ,form in which it is at present4 ,the ,chaos being a fluid ,mass1 which we know doth necessarily fall into a ,spherical ,surface1 whose ,parts are equi-distant from the ,center1 and consequently in an equal and even ,convexity one with another4 ,and seeing upon the ,distinction of a ,chaos and ,separation into several ,elementary ,masses1 the ,water would naturally have a superiour ,place to the ,earth1 'tis manifest1 that there could be no habitable ,earth form'd out of the ,chaos1 unless by some ,concretion upon the ,face of the ,water4 ,then lastly1 seeing this concrete ,orb of ,earth upon the ,face of the ,water would be of the same ,form with the ,surface of the ,water it was spread upon1 there being no ,causes1 that we know of1 to make any ,inequality in it1 we must conclude it equal and uniform1 and without ,mountains1 as also without a ,sea2 for the ,sea and all the ,mass of ,waters was enclos'd within this exterior ,earth which had no other ,basis or ,foundation to rest upon4 ,,the ,contemplation of these things1 and of this ,posture of the ,earth upon the ,waters1 doth so strongly bring to ,mind certain ,passages of ,scripture1 7which will recur in another ,place7 that we cannot1 without ,injury to ,truth1 pass them by here in silence4 ,passages that have such a manifest ,resemblance and ,agreement to this ,form and ,situation of the ,earth1 that they seem visibly to point at it3 ,such are those ,expressions of the ,psalmist1 ,god hath founded the ,earth upon the ,seas4 ,and in another ,psalm1 speaking of the ,wisdom and ,power of ,god in the ,creation1 he saith1 ,to him who alone doth great wonders2 to him that by ,wisdom made the ,heavens2 to him that extended or stretched out the ,earth above the ,waters4 ,what can be more plain or proper to denote that ,form of the ,earth that we have describ'd1 and to express particularly the ,inclosure of the ,waters within the ,earth1 as we have represented them8 ,he saith in another ,place1 ,by the ,word of the ,lord were the ,heavens made2 he shut up the ,waters of the ,sea as in ,bags1 7for so the ,word is to be render'd1 and is render'd by all1 except the ,english7 and laid up the ,abyss as in ,store-houses4 ,this1 you see1 is very conformable to that ,system of the ,earth and ,sea1 which we have propos'd here4 ,yet there is something more express than all this1 in that remarkable place in the ,proverbs of ,solomon1 where ,wisdom declaring her ,antiquity and ,existence before the ,foundation of the ,earth1 amongst other things saith1 ,prov4 viii4 #bg4 ,when he prepared the ,heavens1 ,i was there3 ,when he drew an ,orb over the ,surface of the ,abyss2 or when he set an ,orb upon the ,face of the ,abyss4 ,we render it in the ,english1 a ,compass1 or ,circle1 but 'tis more truly render'd an ,orb or ,sphere2 and what ,orb or ,spherical ,body was this1 which at the ,formation of the ,earth was built and plac'd round about the ,abyss1 but that wonderful ,arch1 whose ,form and ,production we have describ'd1 encompassing the ,mass of ,waters1 which in ,scripture is often call'd the ,abyss or ,deep8 ,see ,fig4 #e4 p4 #gh4 ,this ,orb is represented by the ,circle #a4 and the ,abyss by the ,region #b4 ,lastly1 ,this ,scheme of the first ,earth gives ,light to that ,place we mention'd before of ,st4 ,peter's1 where the first ,earth is said to consist of ,water1 and by ,water2 and by reason thereof was obnoxious to a ,deluge4 ,the first ,part of this ,character is plain from the ,description now given2 and the second will appear in the following ,chapter4 ,in the mean time1 concerning these ,passages of ,scripture1 which we have cited1 we may truly and modestly say1 that though they would not1 it may be1 without a ,theory premis'd1 have been taken or interpreted in this ,sense2 yet this ,theory being premis'd1 ,i dare appeal to any unprejudic'd ,person1 if they have not a fairer and easier1 a more full and more emphatical ,sense1 when apply'd to that ,form of the ,earth and ,sea we are now speaking of1 than to their present ,form1 or to any other we can imagine4 ,,thus much concerning the external ,form of the first ,earth4 ,let us now reflect a little upon the internal ,form of it1 which consists of several ,regions1 involving one another like ,orbs about the same ,center1 or of the several ,elements cast circularly about each other2 as it appears in the fourth and fifth ,figure4 ,and as we have noted the external ,form of this primval ,earth1 to have been mark'd and celebrated in the ,sacred ,writings2 so likewise in the ,philosophy and ,learning of the ,ancients1 there are several ,remains and ,indications of this internal ,form and ,composition of it4 ,for 'tis observable1 that the ,ancients in treating of the ,chaos1 and in raising the ,world out of it1 rang'd it into several ,regions or ,masses1 as we have done2 and in that ,order successively1 rising one from another1 as if it was a ,pedigree or ,genealogy4 ,and those ,parts and ,regions of ,nature1 into which the ,chaos was by degrees divided1 they signified commonly by dark and obscure ,names2 as the ,night1 ,tartarus1 ,oceanus1 and such like1 which we have express'd in their plain and proper ,terms4 ,and whereas the ,chaos1 when it was first set on ,work1 ran all into ,divisions and ,separations of one ,element from another1 which afterwards were all in some ,measure united and associated in this primogenial ,earth2 the ,ancients accordingly made ,contention the ,principle that reign'd in the ,chaos at first1 and then ,love3 ,the one to express the ,divisions1 and the other the ,union of all ,parties in this middle and common ,bond4 ,these1 and such like ,notions1 which we find in the ,writings of the ,ancients figuratively and darkly delivered1 receive a clearer ,light1 when compar'd with this ,theory of the ,chaos2 which representing every thing plainly1 and in its natural ,colours1 is a ,key to their ,thoughts1 and an ,illustration of their obscurer ,philosophy1 concerning the original of the world2 as we have shewn at large in the ,latin ,treatise1 ,lib4 #b4 chap4 #g4 ,,there is another ,thing in ,antiquity1 relating to the ,form and ,construction of the ,earth1 which is very remarkable1 and hath obtain'd throughout all learned ,nations and ,ages4 ,and that is the ,comparison or ,resemblance of the ,earth to an ,egg4 ,and this is not so much for its external ,figure1 tho' that be true too1 as for the inward ,composition of it2 consisting of several ,orbs1 one including another1 and in that ,order1 as to answer the several ,elementary ,regions of which the new made ,earth was constituted4 ,for if we admit for the ,yolk a ,central ,fire 7which tho' very reasonable1 we had no occasion to take ,notice of in our ,theory of the ,chaos7 and suppose the ,figure of the ,earth ,oval1 and a little extended towards the ,poles1 7as probably it was1 seeing the ,vortex that contains it is so7 those two ,bodies do very naturally represent one another1 as in this ,scheme1 which represents the interior ,faces of both1 a divided ,egg1 or ,earth4 ,where1 as the two inmost ,regions 7,a1 ,b17 represent the ,yolk and the ,membrane that lies next above it2 so the exterior ,region of the ,earth 7,d7 is as the ,shell of the ,egg1 and the ,abyss 7,c7 under it as the ,white that lies under the ,shell4 ,and considering that this ,notion of the ,mundane ,egg1 or that the ,world was ,oviform1 hath been the ,sense and ,language of all ,antiquity1 ,latins1 ,greeks1 ,persians1 gyptians1 and others1 as we have shew'd elsewhere1 ,tell4 ,theor4 ,sac4 lib4 #b4 c4 #aj4 ,i thought it worthy our ,notice in this ,place2 seeing it receives such a clear and easy ,explication from that ,origin and ,fabrick we have given to the first ,earth1 and also reflects ,light upon the ,theory it self1 and confirms it to be no ,fiction3 ,this ,notion1 which is a kind of ,epitome1 or ,image of it1 having been conserv'd in the most ,ancient ,learning4 ,,thus much concerning the first ,earth1 its ,production and ,form2 and concerning our second ,proposition relating to it2 which being prov'd by ,reason1 the ,laws of ,nature1 and the ,motions of the ,chaos2 then attested by ,antiquity1 both as to the ,matter and ,form of it2 and confirm'd by ,sacred ,writers1 we may take it now for a well establish'd ,truth1 and proceed upon this ,supposition1 ,that the antediluvian ,earth was smooth and uniform1 without ,mountains or ,sea1 to the ,explication of the ,universal ,deluge4 ,,give me leave only1 before we proceed any further1 to annex here a short ,advertisement1 concerning the ,causes of this wonderful ,structure of the first ,earth4 ',tis true1 we have propos'd the natural ,causes of it1 and ,i do not know wherein our ,explication is false or defective2 but in ,things of this kind we may easily be too credulous4 ,and this ,structure is so marvellous1 that it ought rather to be consider'd as a particular ,effect of the ,divine ,art1 than as the ,work of ,nature4 ,the whole ,globe of the ,water vaulted over1 and the exterior ,earth hanging above the ,deep1 sustain'd by nothing but its own ,measures and ,manner of ,construction3 ,a ,building without ,foundation or ,corner-stone4 ,this seems to be a ,piece of ,divine ,geometry or ,architecture2 and to this1 ,i think1 is to be referr'd that magnificent ,challenge which ,god ,almighty made to ,job1 ,job xxxviii4 #d1 #e1 #f1 #g1 c4 ,where wast thou when ,i laid the ,foundations of the ,earth8 ,declare if thou hast ,understanding4 ,who hath laid the ,measures thereof1 if thou knowest8 ,or who hath stretched the ,line upon it8 ,whereupon are the ,foundations thereof fastned8 ,or who laid the ,corner-stone thereof8 ,when the ,morning ,stars sang together1 and all the ,sons of ,god shouted for ,joy4 ,moses also1 when he had describ'd the ,chaos1 saith1 ,the ,spirit of ,god mov'd upon1 or sat brooding upon1 the ,face of the ,waters2 without all doubt to produce some ,effects there4 ,and ,st4 ,peter1 when he speaks of the ,form of the antediluvian ,earth1 how it stood in reference to the ,waters1 adds1 ,by the ,word of ,god1 1 or by the ,wisdom of ,god it was made so4 ,and this same ,wisdom of ,god1 in the ,proverbs1 as we observed before1 takes ,notice of this very piece of ,work in the ,formation of the ,earth4 ,when he set an ,orb over the ,face of the ,deep1 ,i was there4 ,and lastly1 the ancient ,philosophers1 or at least the best of them1 to give them their due1 always brought in ,mens or ,amor1 1 as a ,supernatural ,principle to unite and consociate the parts of the ,chaos2 which was first done in the ,composition of this wonderful ,arch of the ,earth4 ,wherefore to the great ,architect1 who made the boundless ,universe out of nothing1 and form'd the ,earth out of a ,chaos1 let the ,praise of the whole ,work1 and particularly of this ,masterpiece1 for ever with all ,honour be given4 ,,chap4 ,,vi4 ,the ,dissolution of the first ,earth3 ,the ,deluge ensuing thereupon4 ,and the ,form of the present ,earth rising from the ,ruins of the first4 ,,we have now brought to light the antediluvian ,earth out of the dark ,mass of the ,chaos2 and not only described the ,surface of it1 ,see ,fig4 #e1 #f4 pag4 #gh1 #hg4 but laid open the inward parts1 to shew in what ,order its ,regions lay4 ,let us now close it up1 and represent the ,earth entire1 and in larger ,propositions1 more like an habitable ,world2 as in this ,figure1 where you see the smooth ,convex of the ,earth1 and may imagine the great ,abyss spread under it2 as at the ,aperture1 which two are to be the only ,subject of our further ,contemplation4 ,illustration3 ,book #a ,figure #g4 ,the smooth ,sphere of the ,earth1 with an ,aperture into it4 ,,in this smooth ,earth were the first ,scenes of the ,world1 and the first ,generations of ,mankind2 it had the ,beauty of ,youth and blooming ,nature1 fresh and fruitful1 and not a ,wrinkle1 ,scar or ,fracture in all its ,body2 no ,rocks nor ,mountains1 no hollow ,caves1 nor gaping ,channels1 but even and uniform all over4 ,and the ,smoothness of the ,earth made the ,face of the ,heavens so too2 the ,air was calm and serene2 none of those tumultuary ,motions and ,conflicts of ,vapours1 which the ,mountains and the ,winds cause in ours3 ',twas suited to a golden ,age1 and to the first ,innocency of ,nature4 ,,all this you'll say is well1 we are got into a pleasant ,world indeed1 but what's this to the ,purpose8 ,what ,appearance of a ,deluge here1 where there is not so much as a ,sea1 nor half so much ,water as we have in this ,earth8 ,or what ,appearance of ,mountains or ,caverns1 or other ,irregularities of the ,earth1 where all is level and united3 ,so that instead of loosing the ,knot1 this ties it the harder4 ,you pretend to shew us how the ,deluge was made1 and you lock up all the ,waters within the ,womb of the ,earth1 and set ,bars and ,doors1 and a ,wall of impenetrable ,strength and ,thickness to keep them there4 ,and you pretend to shew us the ,original of ,rocks and ,mountains1 and ,caverns of the ,earth1 and bring us to a wide and endless ,plain1 smooth as the calm ,sea4 ,,this is all true1 and yet we are not so far from the ,sight and ,discovery of those ,things as you imagine2 draw but the ,curtain1 and these ,scenes will appear1 or something very like 'em4 ,we must remember that ,st4 ,peter told us1 that the antediluvian ,earth perished1 or was demolished2 and ,moses saith1 the great ,abyss was broken open at the ,deluge4 ,let us then suppose1 that at a ,time appointed by ,divine ,providence1 and from ,causes made ready to do that great ,execution upon a sinful ,world1 that this ,abyss was open'd1 or that the ,frame of the ,earth broke and fell down into the great ,abyss4 ,at this one stroke all ,nature would be chang'd1 and this single ,action would have two great and visible ,effects3 ,the one ,transient1 and the other ,permanent4 ,first1 an ,universal ,deluge would overflow all the ,parts and ,regions of the broken ,earth during the great ,commotion and ,agitation of the ,abyss1 by the violent ,fall of the ,earth into it4 ,this would be the first and unquestionable ,effect of this ,dissolution1 and all that ,world would be destroy'd4 ,then when the ,agitation of the ,abyss was asswag'd1 and the ,waters by degrees were retir'd into their ,channels1 and the dry ,land appear'd1 you would see the true ,image of the present ,earth in the ,ruins of the first4 ,the ,surface of the ,globe would be divided into ,land and ,sea2 the ,land would consist of ,plains and ,valleys and ,mountains1 according as the ,pieces of this ,ruin were plac'd and dispos'd3 ,upon the ,banks of the ,sea would stand the ,rocks1 and near the ,shore would be ,islands1 or lesser ,fragments of ,earth compass'd round by ,water4 ,then as to subterraneous ,waters1 and all subterraneous ,caverns and ,hollownesses1 upon this ,supposition those things cou'd not be otherwise2 for the ,parts would fall hollow in many ,places in this1 as in all other ,ruins3 ,and seeing the ,earth fell into this ,abyss1 the ,waters at a certain ,height would flow into all those hollow ,places and ,cavities2 and wou'd also sink and insinuate into many ,parts of the solid ,earth4 ,and though these subterraneous ,vaults or ,holes1 whether dry or full of ,water1 would be more or less in all ,places1 where the ,parts fell hollow2 yet they would be found especially about the ,roots of the ,mountains1 and the higher ,parts of the ,earth2 for there the ,sides bearing up one against the other1 they could not lie so close at the ,bottoms1 but many ,vacuities would be intercepted4 ,nor are there any other ,inequalities or ,irregularities observable in the present ,form of the ,earth2 whether in the ,surface of it1 or interior ,construction1 whereof this ,hypothesis doth give a ready1 fair1 and intelligible ,account2 and doth at one view represent them all to us1 with their ,causes1 as in a ,glass3 ,and whether that ,glass be true1 and the ,image answer to the ,original1 if you doubt of it1 we will hereafter examine them ,piece by ,piece4 ,but in the first ,place1 we must consider the general ,deluge1 how easily and truly this ,supposition represents and explains it1 and answers all the ,properties and ,conditions of it4 ,i ,,think it will be easily allow'd1 that such a ,dissolution of the ,earth as we have propos'd1 and ,fall of it into the ,abyss1 would certainly make an ,universal ,deluge2 and effectually destroy the old ,world1 which perish'd in it4 ,but we have not yet particularly prov'd this ,dissolution1 and in what manner the ,deluge follow'd upon it3 ,and to assert things in gross never makes that firm ,impression upon our ,understandings1 and upon our ,belief1 as to see them deduc'd with their ,causes and ,circumstances2 and therefore we must endeavour to shew what ,preparations there were in ,nature for this great ,dissolution1 and after what manner it came to pass1 and the ,deluge in ,consequence of it4 ,,we have noted before1 that ,moses imputed the ,deluge to the ,disruption of the ,abyss2 and ,st4 ,peter1 to the particular ,constitution of that ,earth1 which made it obnoxious to be absorpt in ,water1 so that our ,explication so far is justified4 ,but it was below the ,dignity of those ,sacred ,pen-,men1 or the ,spirit of ,god that directed them1 to shew us the ,causes of this ,disruption1 or of this ,absorption2 this is left to the ,enquiries of ,men4 ,for it was never the ,design of ,providence1 to give such particular ,explications of natural ,things1 as should make us idle1 or the ,use of ,reason unnecessary2 but on the contrary1 by delivering great ,conclusions to us to excite our ,curiosity and ,inquisitiveness after the ,methods1 by which such things were brought to pass3 ,and it may be there is no greater ,trial or ,instance of natural ,wisdom1 than to find out the ,channel1 in which these great ,revolutions of ,nature1 which we treat on1 flow and succeed one another4 ,,let us therefore resume that ,system of the antediluvian ,earth1 which we have deduc'd from the ,chaos1 and which we find to answer ,st4 ,peter's ,description1 and ,moses's ,account of the ,deluge4 ,this ,earth could not be obnoxious to a ,deluge1 as the ,apostle supposeth it to have been1 but by a ,dissolution2 for the ,abyss was enclos'd within its ,bowels4 ,and ,moses doth in effect tell us1 there was such a ,dissolution2 when he saith1 ,the ,fountains of the great ,abyss were broken open4 ,for ,fountains are broken open no otherwise than by breaking up the ,ground that covers them4 ,we must therefore here enquire in what ,order1 and from what ,causes the ,frame of this exterior ,earth was dissolved1 and then we shall soon see how1 upon that ,dissolution1 the ,deluge immediately prevail'd and overflow'd all the ,parts of it4 ,i ,,do not think it in the power of human ,wit to determine how long this ,frame would stand1 how many ,years1 or how many ,ages2 but one would soon imagine1 that this kind of ,structure would not be perpetual1 nor last indeed many thousands of ,years1 if one consider the ,effect that the ,heat of the ,sun would have upon it1 and the ,waters under it2 drying and parching the one1 and rarefying the other into ,vapours4 ,for we must consider1 that the ,course of the ,sun at that time1 or the ,posture of the ,earth to the ,sun1 was such1 that there was no ,diversity or ,alternation of ,seasons in the ,year1 as there is now2 by reason of which ,alternation1 our ,earth is kept in an ,equality of ,temper1 the contrary ,seasons balancing one another2 so as what ,moisture the ,heat of the ,summer sucks out of the ,earth1 'tis repaid in the ,rains of the next ,winter2 and what ,chaps were made in it1 are fill'd up again1 and the ,earth reduc'd to its former ,constitution4 ,but if we should imagine a continual ,summer1 the ,earth would proceed in ,driness still more and more1 and the ,cracks would be wider1 and pierce deeper into the ,substance of it3 ,and such a continual ,summer there was1 at least an ,equality of ,seasons in the antediluvian ,earth1 as shall be prov'd in the following ,book1 concerning ,paradise4 ,in the mean time1 this being suppos'd1 let us consider what ,effect it would have upon this ,arch of the exterior ,earth1 and the ,waters under it4 ,,we cannot believe1 but that the ,heat of the ,sun1 within the ,space of some hundreds of ,years1 would have reduc'd this ,earth to a considerable degree of ,driness in certain ,parts2 and also have much rarefied and exhal'd the ,waters beneath it3 ,and considering the ,structure of that ,globe1 the exterior ,crust1 and the ,waters lying round under it1 both expos'd to the ,sun1 we may fitly compare it to an olipile1 or an hollow ,sphere with ,water in it1 which the ,heat of the ,fire rarefies and turns into ,vapours and ,wind4 ,the ,sun here is as the ,fire1 and the exterior ,earth is as the ,shell of the olipile1 and the ,abyss as the water within it2 now when the ,heat of the ,sun had pierced thro' the ,shell and reach'd the ,waters1 it began to rarefy them1 and raise them into ,vapours1 which ,rarefaction made them require more ,space and ,room than they needed before1 while they lay close and quiet4 ,and finding themselves pent in by the exterior ,earth1 they press'd with ,violence against that ,arch1 to make it yield and give way to their ,dilatation and ,eruption4 ,so we see all ,vapours and ,exhalations inclos'd within the ,earth1 and agitated there1 strive to break out1 and often shake the ,ground with their ,attempts to get loose4 ,and in the ,comparison we us'd of an olipile1 if the ,mouth of it be stop'd that gives the ,vent1 the ,water rarefied will burst the ,vessel with its ,force3 ,and the ,resemblance of the ,earth to an ,egg1 which we us'd before1 holds also in this ,respect2 for when it heats before the ,fire1 the ,moisture and ,air within being rarefied1 makes it often burst the ,shell4 ,and ,i do the more willingly mention this last ,comparison1 because ,i observe that some of the ,ancients1 when they speak of the ,doctrine of the ,mundane ,egg1 say1 that after a certain ,period of ,time it was broken4 ,,but there is yet another ,thing to be considered in this ,case2 for as the ,heat of the ,sun gave ,force to these ,vapours more and more1 and made them more strong and violent2 so on the other ,hand1 it also weaken'd more and more the ,arch of the ,earth1 that was to resist them2 sucking out the ,moisture that was the ,cement of its parts1 drying it immoderately1 and chapping it in sundry ,places4 ,and there being no ,winter then to close up and unite its ,parts1 and restore the ,earth to its former ,strength and ,compactness1 yet grew more and more dispos'd to a ,dissolution4 ,and at length1 these ,preparations in ,nature being made on either side1 the ,force of the ,vapours increas'd1 and the ,walls weaken'd which should have kept them in1 when the appointed time was come1 that ,all-wise ,providence had design'd for the ,punishment of a sinful ,world1 the whole ,fabrick brake1 and the ,frame of the ,earth was torn in ,pieces1 as by an ,earthquake2 and those great ,portions or ,fragments1 into which it was divided1 fell down into the ,abyss1 some in one ,posture1 and some in another4 ,,this is a short and general ,account how we may conceive the ,dissolution of the first ,earth1 and an ,universal ,deluge arising upon it4 ,and this manner of ,dissolution hath so many ,examples in ,nature every ,age1 that we need not insist farther upon the ,explication of it4 ,the generality of ,earthquakes arise from like ,causes1 and often end in a like ,effect1 a partial ,deluge or ,inundation of the ,place or ,country where they happen2 and of these we have seen some ,instances even in our own ,times3 ,but whensoever it so happens that the ,vapours and ,exhalations shut up in the ,caverns of the ,earth by ,rarefaction or ,compression come to be straitned1 they strive every way to set themselves at ,liberty1 and often break their ,prison1 or the ,cover of the ,earth that kept them in2 which ,earth upon that ,disruption falls into the subterraneous ,caverns that lie under it3 ,and if it so happens that those ,caverns are full of ,water1 as generally they are1 if they be great or deep1 that ,city or ,tract of ,land is drown'd4 ,and also the ,fall of such a ,mass of ,earth1 with its ,weight and ,bulk1 doth often force out the ,water so impetuously1 as to throw it upon all the ,country round about4 ,there are innumerable ,examples in ,history 7whereof we shall mention some hereafter7 of ,cities and ,countries thus swallowed up1 or overflow'd1 by an ,earthquake1 and an ,inundation arising upon it4 ,and according to the manner of their ,fall or ,ruin1 they either remain'd wholly under ,water1 and perpetually drown'd as ,sodom and ,gomorrha1 ,plato's ,atlantis1 ,bura and ,helice1 and other ,cities and ,regions in ,greece and ,asia2 or they partly emerg'd1 and became dry ,land again2 when 7their ,situation being pretty high7 the ,waters1 after their violent ,agitation was abated1 retir'd into the lower ,places1 and into their ,channels4 ,,now if we compare these ,partial ,dissolutions of the ,earth with an ,universal ,dissolution1 we may as easily conceive an ,universal ,deluge from an ,universal ,dissolution1 as a ,partial ,deluge from a ,partial4 ,if we can conceive a ,city1 a ,country1 an ,island1 a ,continent thus absorpt and overflown2 if we do but enlarge our ,thought and ,imagination a little1 we may conceive it as well of the whole ,earth4 ,and it seems strange to me1 that none of the ,ancients should hit upon this way of explaining the ,universal ,deluge2 there being such frequent ,instances in all ,ages and ,countries of ,inundations made in this manner1 and never of any great ,inundation made otherwise1 unless in maritime ,countries1 by the ,irruption of the ,sea into ,grounds that lie low4 ',tis true1 they would not so easily imagine this ,dissolution1 because they did not understand the true ,form of the antediluvian ,earth2 but1 methinks1 the ,examination of the ,deluge should have led them to the ,discovery of that3 ,for observing the ,difficulty1 or ,impossibility of an ,universal ,deluge1 without the ,dissolution of the ,earth2 as also frequent ,instances of these ,dissolutions accompanied with ,deluges1 where the ,ground was hollow1 and had subterraneous ,waters2 this1 methinks1 should have prompted them to imagine1 that those subterraneous ,waters were universal at that time1 or extended quite round the ,earth2 so as a ,dissolution of the exterior ,earth could not be made any where but it would fall into ,waters1 and be more or less overflow'd4 ,and when they had once reach'd this ,thought1 they might conclude1 both what the ,form of the antediluvian ,earth was1 and that the ,deluge came to pass by the ,dissolution of it4 ,but we reason with ,ease about the finding out of ,things1 when they are once found out2 and there is but a thin ,paper-wall sometimes between the great ,discoveries1 and a perfect ,ignorance of them4 ,let us proceed now to consider1 whether this ,supposition will answer all the ,conditions of an ,universal ,deluge1 and supply all the ,defects which we found in other ,explications4 ,,the great ,difficulty propos'd1 was to find ,water sufficient to make an ,universal ,deluge1 reaching to the ,tops of the ,mountains2 and yet that this ,water should be transient1 and after some time should so return into its ,channels1 that the dry ,land would appear1 and the ,earth become again habitable4 ,there was that double ,impossibility in the common ,opinion1 that the ,quantity of ,water necessary for such a ,deluge was no where to be found1 or could no way be brought upon the ,earth2 and then if it was brought1 cou'd no way be remov'd again4 ,our ,explication quite takes off the ,edge of this ,objection2 for1 performing the same ,effect with a far less ,quantity of ,water1 'tis both easy to be found1 and easily remov'd when the ,work is done4 ,when the exterior ,earth was broke1 and fell into the ,abyss1 a good part of it was cover'd with ,water1 by the meer ,depth of the ,abyss it fell into1 and those ,parts of it that were higher than the ,abyss was deep1 and consequently would stand above it in a calm ,water1 were notwithstanding reach'd and overtop'd by the ,waves1 during the ,agitation and violent ,commotion of the ,abyss4 ,for it is not imaginable what the ,commotion of the ,abyss would be upon this ,dissolution of the ,earth1 nor to what ,height its ,waves would be thrown1 when those prodigious ,fragments were tumbled down into it4 ,suppose a ,stone of ten thousand ,weight taken up into the ,air a ,mile or two1 and then let fall into the middle of the ,ocean1 ,i do not believe but that the dashing of the ,water upon that ,impression would rise as high as a ,mountain4 ,but suppose a mighty ,rock1 or heap of ,rocks to fall from that ,height1 or a great ,island1 or a ,continent2 these would expel the ,waters out of their ,places with such a ,force and ,violence1 as to fling them among the highest ,clouds4 ',,tis incredible to what ,height sometimes great ,stones and ,cinders will be thrown1 at the ,eruptions of fiery ,mountains2 and the ,pressure of a great ,mass of ,earth falling into the ,abyss1 though it be a ,force of another kind1 could not but impel the ,water with so much ,strength1 as would carry it up to a great ,height in the ,air2 and to the top of any thing that lay in its way1 any ,eminency1 high ,fragment1 or new ,mountain3 ,and then rolling back again1 it would sweep down with it whatsoever it rush'd upon1 ,woods1 ,buildings1 living ,creatures1 and carry them all headlong into the great ,gulph4 ,sometimes a ,mass of ,water would be quite struck off and separate from the rest1 and toss'd through the ,air like a flying ,river2 but the common ,motion of the ,waves was to climb up the ,hills or inclin'd ,fragments2 and then return into the ,valleys and ,deeps again1 with a perpetual ,fluctuation going and coming1 ascending and descending1 'till the ,violence of them being spent by degrees1 they settled at last in the ,places allotted for them2 where ,bounds are set that they cannot pass over1 that they return not again to cover the ,earth1 ,psalm4 civ4 #f1 #g1 #h1 #i4 ,,neither is it to be wondred1 that the great ,tumult of the ,waters1 and the ,extremity of the ,deluge lasted for some ,months2 for besides1 that the first ,shock and ,commotion of the ,abyss was extreamly violent1 from the general ,fall of the ,earth1 there were ever and anon some secondary ,ruins2 or some ,parts of the great ,ruin1 that were not well settled1 broke again1 and made new ,commotions3 ,and 'twas a considerable ,time before the great ,fragments that fell1 and their lesser ,dependencies could be so adjusted and fitted1 as to rest in a firm and immoveable ,posture3 ,for the ,props and ,stays whereby they lean'd one upon another1 or upon the ,bottom of the ,abyss1 often fail'd1 either by the incumbent ,weight1 or the violent ,impulses of the ,water against them2 and so renewed1 or continued the ,disorder and ,confusion of the ,abyss4 ,besides1 we are to observe1 that these great ,fragments falling hollow1 they inclos'd and bore down with them under their concave ,surface a great deal of ,air2 and while the ,water compass'd these ,fragments1 and overflow'd them1 the ,air could not readily get out of those ,prisons1 but by degrees1 as the ,earth and ,water above would give way2 so as this would also hinder the ,settlement of the ,abyss1 and the retiring of the ,water into those subterraneous ,channels1 for some ,time4 ,but at length1 when this ,air had found a vent1 and left its place to the ,water1 and the ,ruins both primary and secondary were settled and fix'd then the ,waters of the ,abyss began to settle too1 and the dry ,land to appear2 first the tops of the ,mountains1 then the high ,grounds1 then the ,plains and the rest of the ,earth4 ,and this gradual ,subsidency of the ,abyss 7which ,moses also hath particularly noted7 and ,discovery of the several ,parts of the ,earth would also take up a considerable ,time4 ,,thus a new ,world appear'd1 or the ,earth put on its new ,form1 and became divided into ,sea and ,land2 and the ,abyss1 which from several ,ages1 even from the beginning of the ,world1 had lain hid in the ,womb of the ,earth1 was brought to light and discover'd2 the greatest part of it constituting our present ,ocean1 and the rest filling the lower ,cavities of the ,earth3 ,upon the ,land appear'd the ,mountains and the ,hills1 and the ,islands in the ,sea1 and the ,rocks upon the ,shore4 ,and so the ,divine ,providence1 having prepar'd ,nature for so great a ,change1 at one stroke dissolv'd the ,frame of the old ,world1 and made us a new one out of its ,ruins1 which we now inhabit since the ,deluge4 ,all which ,things being thus explain'd1 deduc'd1 and stated1 we now add and pronounce our ,third and last ,proposition2 ,that the ,disruption of the ,abyss1 or ,dissolution of the primval ,earth1 and its ,fall into the ,abyss1 was the ,cause of the ,universal ,deluge1 and of the ,destruction of the old ,world4 ,,chap4 ,,vii4 ,that the ,explication we have given of an ,universal ,deluge is not an ,idea only1 but an ,account of what really came to pass in this ,earth1 and the true ,explication of ,noah's ,flood2 as is prov'd by ,argument and from ,history4 ,an ,examination of ,tehom ,rabba1 or the great ,abyss1 and that by it the ,sea cannot be understood1 nor the subterraneous ,waters1 as they are at present4 ,what the true ,notion and ,form of it was1 collected from ,moses and other ,sacred ,writers2 ,the frequent ,allusions in ,scripture to the opening and shutting the ,abyss1 and the particular ,stile of ,scripture in its ,reflections on the ,origin4 ,and the ,formation of the ,earth4 ,observations on ,deucalion's ,deluge4 ,,we have now given an ,account of the first great ,revolution of ,nature1 and of the ,universal ,deluge1 in a way that is intelligible1 and from ,causes that answer the ,greatness of the ,effect3 ,we have suppos'd nothing but what is also prov'd1 both as to the first ,form of the ,earth1 and as to the manner of its ,dissolution2 and how far from that would evidently and necessarily arise a general ,deluge2 which was that1 which put a ,period to the old ,world1 and the first state of ,things4 ,and tho' all this hath been deduc'd in due ,order1 and with ,connexion and ,consequence of one thing upon another1 so far as ,i know1 which is the true ,evidence of a ,theory2 yet it may not be sufficient to command the ,assent and ,belief of some ,persons1 who will allow1 it may be1 and acknowledge1 that this is a fair ,idea of a possible ,deluge in general1 and of the ,destruction of a ,world by it2 but this may be only an ,idea1 they'll say2 we desire it may be prov'd from some collateral ,arguments1 taken either from ,sacred ,history1 or from ,observation1 that this hath really been exemplified upon the ,earth1 and that ,noah's ,flood came to pass this way4 ,and seeing we have design'd this first ,book chiefly for the ,explication of ,noah's ,deluge1 ,i am willing to add here a ,chapter or two extraordinary upon this occasion2 to shew1 that what we have delivered is more than an ,idea1 and that it was in this very way that ,noah's ,deluge came to pass4 ,but they who have not this ,doubt1 and have a ,mind to see the ,issue of the ,theory1 may skip these two ,chapters1 if they please1 and proceed to the following1 where the ,order is continued4 ,,to satisfy then the ,doubtful in this ,particular1 let us lay down in the first place that ,conclusion which they seem to admit1 viz4 ,that this is a possible and consistent ,explication of an ,universal ,deluge2 and let's see how far this would go1 if well consider'd1 towards the ,proof of what they desire1 or towards the ,demonstration of ,noah's ,deluge in particular4 ,it is granted on both ,hands1 that there hath been an ,universal ,deluge upon the ,earth1 which was ,noah's ,deluge2 and it is also granted1 that we have given a possible and consistent ,idea of an ,universal ,deluge3 ,now we have prov'd ,chap4 ,,ii4 and ,,iii4 that all other ways hitherto assign'd for the ,explication of ,noah's ,flood are incongruous or impossible2 therefore it came to pass in that possible and competent way which we have propos'd4 ,and if we have truly prov'd1 in the foremention'd ,chapters1 the ,impossibility or ,unintelligibility of it in all other ways1 this ,argumentation is undeniable4 ,besides1 we may argue thus1 as it is granted that there hath been an ,universal ,deluge upon the ,earth2 so ,i suppose it will be granted that there hath been but one3 ,now the ,dissolution of the ,earth1 whensoever it happen'd1 would make one ,universal ,deluge1 and therefore the only one1 and the same with ,noah's4 ,that such a ,dissolution as we have describ'd would make an ,universal ,deluge1 ,i think1 cannot be question'd2 and that there hath been such a ,dissolution1 besides what we have already alledg'd1 shall be prov'd at large from natural ,observations upon the ,form and ,figure of the present ,earth1 in the ,third ,section and last ,chapter of this ,book2 ,in the mean time we will proceed to ,history1 both ,sacred and ,prophane1 and by comparing our ,explication with those1 give further ,assurance of its ,truth and ,reality4 ,,in the first ,place1 it agrees1 which is most considerable1 with ,moses's ,narration of the ,deluge2 both as to the ,matter and ,manner of it4 ,the ,matter of the ,deluge ,moses makes to be the ,waters from above1 and the ,waters from below2 or he distinguishes the ,causes of the ,deluge1 as we do1 into ,superior and ,inferior1 ,gen4 vii4 #aa4 and the ,inferior ,causes he makes to be the ,disruption of the ,abyss1 which is the principal ,part1 and the great ,hinge of our ,explication4 ,then as to the manner of the ,deluge1 the ,beginning and the ,ending1 the ,increase and ,decrease1 he saith1 ,verse #ag1 #ah1 #ai1 #bj4 ,chap4 viii4 #c1 #e4 it increas'd gradually1 and decreas'd gradually1 by going and coming2 that is1 after many repeated ,fluctuations and ,reciprocations of the ,waves1 the ,waters of the ,abyss began to be more compos'd1 and to retire into their ,channels1 whence they shall never return to cover the ,earth again4 ,this agrees wholly with our ,theory2 we suppose the ,abyss to have been under an extream ,commotion and ,agitation by the ,fall of the ,earth into it1 and this at first encreas'd more and more1 till the whole ,earth was fallen2 then continuing for some time at the height of its ,rage1 overwhelming the greatest ,mountains1 it afterwards decreas'd by the like degrees1 leaving first the ,tops of the ,mountains1 then the ,hills and the ,fields1 'till the ,waters came to be wholly drawn off the ,earth into their ,channels4 ,,it was no doubt a great ,oversight in the ,ancients1 to fancy the ,deluge like a great standing ,pool of ,water1 reaching from the ,bottom of the ,valleys to the ,tops of the ,mountains1 every where alike1 with a level and uniform ,surface2 by reason of which mistaken ,notion of the ,deluge1 they made more ,water necessary to it than was possible to be had1 or being had1 than it was possible to get quit of again2 for there are no ,channels in the ,earth that could hold so much ,water1 either to give it1 or to receive it4 ,and the ,psalmist1 vid4 ,st4 ,austin in loc4 speaking of the ,deluge1 as it seems to me1 notes this violent ,commotion of the ,abyss1 ,psal4 civ4 #h1 #i4 ,the ,waters went up by the ,mountains1 came down by the ,valleys unto the ,place which thou hast founded for them4 ,i know some interpret that ,passage of the ,state of the ,waters in the ,beginning1 when they cover'd the ,face of the whole ,earth1 ,gen4 i4 #b4 but that cannot be1 because of what follows in the next ,verse2 ,thou hast set a ,bound that they may not pass over1 that they turn not again to cover the ,earth4 ,which is not true1 if the preceding ,words be understood of the ,state of the ,waters at the ,beginning of the ,world2 for they did pass those ,bounds1 and did return since that time to cover the ,earth1 namely at the ,deluge3 ,but if these ,words be referr'd to the ,time of the ,deluge1 and the ,state of the ,waters then1 'tis both a just ,description of the ,motion of the ,abyss1 and certainly true1 that the ,waters since that time are so settled in their ,channels1 that they shall never overflow the ,earth again4 ,as we are assur'd by the ,promise made to ,noah1 and that illustrious ,pledge and ,confirmation of it1 the ,rainbow1 that the ,heavens also shall never pour out so much ,waters again2 their ,state being chang'd as well as that of the ,earth1 or ,sea1 from what they were before the ,deluge4 ,,but before we leave ,moses's ,narration of the ,deluge1 we must examine further1 what is1 or can be understood by his ,tehom-,rabba1 or great ,abyss1 which1 he saith1 was broken up at the ,deluge1 ,gen4 vii4 #aa4 for this will help us to discover1 whether our ,explication be the same with his1 and of the same ,flood4 ,and first we must consider1 whether by the ,tehom-,rabba1 or ,mosaical ,abyss1 can be understood the ,sea or ,ocean1 under that ,form we see it in at present2 and 'tis plain1 methinks1 that the ,sea cannot be understood by this great ,abyss1 both because the ,sea is not capable upon any ,disruption to make such an ,universal ,deluge2 and because the ,narration of ,moses1 and his ,expressions concerning this ,abyss1 do not agree to the ,sea4 ,some of the ,ancients indeed did imagine1 that the ,waters of the ,sea were much higher than the ,land1 and stood1 as it were1 on a heap2 so as when these ,waters were let loose1 they overflow'd the ,earth1 and made a ,deluge4 ,but this is known to be a gross ,mistake2 the ,sea and the ,land make one ,globe1 and the ,waters couch themselves1 as close as may be1 to the ,center of this ,globe in a ,spherical ,convexity2 so that if all the ,mountains and ,hills were scal'd1 and the ,earth made even1 the ,waters would not overflow its smooth ,surface2 much less could they overflow it in the ,form that it is now1 where the ,shores are higher than the ,sea1 the ,inland ,parts than the ,shores1 and the ,mountains still far above all3 ,so as no ,disruption of the ,sea could make an ,universal ,deluge1 by reason of its ,situation4 ,but besides that1 the ,quantity of ,water contain'd in the ,sea is no way sufficient to make a ,deluge in the present ,form of the ,earth2 for we have shewn before1 ,chap4 ii4 that eight such ,oceans as ours would be little enough for that ,purpose4 ,then as to the ,expressions of ,moses concerning this ,abyss1 if he had meant the ,sea by it1 and that the ,deluge was made by the ,disruption of the ,sea1 why did he not say so8 ,there is no mention of the ,sea in all the ,history of the ,deluge3 ,moses had mention'd the ,sea before1 ,gen4 i4 #aj4 and us'd a ,word that was common1 and known to signify the ,sea2 and if he had a ,mind to express the same thing here1 why should he not use the same ,word and the same ,term8 ,in an ,historical ,relation we use ,terms that are most proper and best known2 but instead of that he useth the same ,term here that he did1 ,gen4 i4 #b4 when he saith1 ,darkness was upon the ,face of the ,abyss1 or of the ,deep1 as we render it2 there the ,abyss was open1 or cover'd with ,darkness only1 namely1 before the exterior ,earth was form'd2 ,here the same ,abyss is mention'd again1 but cover'd1 by the ,formation of the ,earth upon it2 and the covering of this ,abyss was broken or cloven asunder1 and the ,waters gush'd out that made the ,deluge4 ,this ,i am sure is the most natural ,interpretation or ,signification of this ,word1 according as it is us'd in ,moses's ,writings4 ,furthermore1 we must observe what ,moses saith concerning this ,abyss1 and whether that will agree with the ,sea or no2 he saith the ,fountains of the great ,abyss were broken open2 now if by the great ,abyss you understand the ,sea1 how are its ,fountains broken open8 ,to break open a ,fountain1 is to break open the ,ground that covers it1 and what ,ground covers the ,sea8 ,so that upon all ,considerations1 either of the ,word that ,moses here useth1 ,tehom-,rabba1 or of the thing affirmed concerning it1 breaking open its ,fountains2 or of the ,effect following the breaking open its ,fountains1 drowning of the ,earth2 from all these ,heads it is manifest1 that the ,sea cannot be understood by the great ,abyss1 whose ,disruption was the ,cause of the ,deluge4 ,,and as the ,mosaical ,abyss cannot be the ,sea1 so neither can it be those subterraneous ,waters that are dispers'd in the ,cells and ,caverns of the ,earth2 for as they are now lodg'd within the ,earth1 they are not one ,abyss1 but several ,cisterns and ,receptacles of ,water in several ,places1 especially under the roots of ,mountains and ,hills1 separate one from another1 sometimes by whole ,regions and ,countries interpos'd4 ,besides1 what ,fountains1 if they were broken up1 could let out this ,water1 or bring it upon the ,face of the ,earth8 ,when we sink a ,mine1 or dig a ,well1 the ,waters1 when uncover'd1 do not leap out of their ,places out of those ,cavities1 or at least1 do not flow upon the ,earth2 ',tis not as if you open'd a ,vein1 where the ,blood spirts out1 and riseth higher than its ,source2 but as when you take off the ,cover of a ,vessel1 the ,water doth not fly out for that3 ,so if we should imagine all the subterraneous ,caverns of the ,earth uncover'd1 and the ,waters laid bare1 there they would lie unmov'd in their ,beds1 if the ,earth did not fall into them to force them up4 ,furthermore1 if these ,waters were any way extracted and laid upon the ,surface of the ,ground1 nothing would be gain'd1 as to the ,deluge1 by that1 for as much ,water would run into these ,holes again when the ,deluge begun to rise2 so that this would be but an useless ,labour1 and turn to no ,account4 ,and lastly1 ,these ,waters are no way sufficient for ,quantity to answer to the ,mosaical ,abyss1 or to be the principal ,cause of the ,deluge1 as that was4 ,,now1 seeing neither the ,sea1 as it is at present1 nor the subterraneous ,waters1 as they are at present1 can answer to the ,mosaical ,abyss1 we are sure there is nothing in this present ,earth that can answer to it4 ,let us then on the other ,hand compare it with that subterraneous ,abyss1 which we have found in the antediluvian ,earth1 represented2 ,fig4 #b4 p4 #gg4 and examine their ,characters and ,correspondency3 ,first1 ,moses's ,abyss was cover'd1 and subterraneous1 for the ,fountains of it are said to have been cloven or burst open2 then1 it was vast and capacious2 and thirdly1 it was so dispos'd1 as to be capable of a ,disruption1 that would cause an universal ,deluge to the ,earth4 ,our antediluvian ,abyss answers truly to all these ,characters2 it was in the ,womb of the ,earth2 the ,earth was founded upon those ,waters1 as the ,psalmist saith2 or they were inclos'd within the ,earth as in a ,bag4 ,then for the ,capacity of it1 it contained both all the ,waters now in the ,ocean1 and all those that are dispers'd in the ,caverns of the ,earth3 ,and lastly1 it is manifest its ,situation was such1 that upon a ,disruption or ,dissolution of the ,earth which cover'd it1 an universal ,deluge would arise4 ,seeing then this answers the ,description1 and all the ,properties of the ,mosaical ,abyss1 and nothing else will1 how can we in ,reason judge it otherwise than the same1 and the very ,thing intended and propos'd in the ,history of ,noah's ,deluge under the ,name of ,tehom-,rabba1 or the great ,abyss1 at whose ,disruption the ,world was over-flow'd8 ,and as we do not think it an unhappy ,discovery to have found out1 7with a moral ,certainty7 the ,seat of the ,mosaical ,abyss1 which hath been almost as much sought for1 and as much in vain1 as the ,seat of ,paradise2 so this gives us a great ,assurance1 that the ,theory we have given of a general ,deluge is not a mere ,idea1 but is to be appropriated to the ,deluge of ,noah1 as a true ,explication of it4 ,,and to proceed now from ,moses to other divine ,writers2 ,that our ,description is a ,reality1 both as to the antediluvian ,earth1 and as to the ,deluge1 we may further be convinc'd from ,st4 ,peter's ,discourse concerning those two ,things1 #b ,epist4 iii4 #f4 ,st4 ,peter saith1 that the ,constitution of the antediluvian ,earth was such1 in reference to the ,waters1 that by reason of that it was obnoxious to a ,deluge2 we say these ,waters were the great ,abyss it stood upon1 by reason whereof that ,world was really expos'd to a ,deluge1 and overwhelm'd in it upon the ,disruption of this ,abyss1 as ,moses witnesses4 ',tis true1 ,st4 ,peter doth not specify what those ,waters were1 nor mention either the ,sea or the ,abyss2 but seeing ,moses tells us1 that it was by the ,waters of the ,abyss that the ,earth was overwhelmed1 ,st4 ,peter's ,waters must be understood of the same ,abyss1 because he supposeth them the ,cause of the same ,deluge4 ,and1 ,i think1 the ,apostle's ,discourse there cannot receive a better ,illustration1 than from ,moses's ,history of the ,deluge4 ,moses distinguishes the ,causes of the ,flood into those that belong to the ,heavens1 and those that belong to the ,earth2 the ,rains and the ,abyss3 ,st4 ,peter also distinguisheth the ,causes of the ,deluge into the ,constitution of the ,heavens1 in reference to its ,waters2 and the ,constitution of the ,earth1 in reference to its ,waters2 and no doubt they both aim at the same ,causes1 as they refer to the same ,effect2 only ,moses mentions the immediate ,causes1 the ,rains and the ,waters of the ,abyss2 and ,st4 ,peter mentions the more remote and fundamental ,causes1 that ,constitution of the ,heavens1 and that ,constitution of the ,earth1 in reference to their respective ,waters1 which made that ,world obnoxious to a ,deluge3 ,and these two1 speaking of ,noah's ,deluge1 and agreeing thus with one another1 and both with us1 or with the ,theory which we have given of a general ,deluge1 we may safely conclude1 that it is no imaginary ,idea1 but a true ,account of that ancient ,flood1 whereof ,moses hath left us the ,history4 ,,and seeing the right understanding of the ,mosaical ,abyss is sufficient alone to prove all we have deliver'd concerning the ,deluge1 as also concerning the ,frame of the antediluvian ,earth1 give me leave to take ,notice here of some other ,places of ,scripture1 which we mention'd before1 that seem manifestly to describe this same ,form of the ,abyss with the ,earth above it1 #b ,esdr4 xvi4 #eh4 ,psal4 xxiv4 #b4 ,he founded the ,earth upon the ,seas1 and establish'd it upon the ,floods4 ,and ,psal4 cxxxvi4 #f4 ,he stretch'd out the ,earth above the ,waters4 ,now this ,foundation of the ,earth upon the ,waters1 or ,extension of it above the ,waters1 #b ,esdr4 c4 vi4 doth most aptly agree to that ,structure and ,situation of the ,abyss and the antediluvian ,earth1 which we have assign'd them1 and which we have before describ'd2 but very improperly and forcedly to the present ,form of the ,earth and the ,waters4 ,in that second ,place of the ,psalmist1 the ,word may be render'd either1 he stretch'd1 as we read it1 or he fix'd and consolidated the ,earth above the ,waters1 as the ,vulgate and ,septuagint translate it3 ,for 'tis from the same ,word with that which is used for the ,firmament1 ,gen4 i4 ,so that as the ,firmament was extended over and around the ,earth1 so was the ,earth extended over and about the ,waters1 in that first ,constitution of ,things2 and ,i remember some of the ,ancients use this very ,comparison of the ,firmament and ,earth1 to express the ,situation of the ,paradisiacal ,earth in reference to the ,sea or ,abyss4 ,,there is another remarkable ,place in the ,psalms1 to shew the ,disposition of the ,waters in the first ,earth2 ,psal4 xxxiii4 #g4 ,he gathereth the ,waters of the ,sea as in a ,bag1 he layeth up the ,abysses in ,store-houses4 ,this answers very fitly and naturally to the ,place and ,disposition of the ,abyss which it had before the ,deluge1 inclos'd within the ,vault of the ,earth1 as in a ,bag1 or in a ,store-house4 ,i know very well what ,i render here in a ,bag1 is render'd in the ,english as an ,heap2 but that ,translation of the ,word seems to be grounded on the old ,error1 that the ,sea is higher than the ,land1 and so doth not make a true ,sense4 ,neither are the two ,parts of the ,verse so well suited and consequent one to another1 if the first express an high ,situation of the ,waters1 and the second a low one4 ,and accordingly the ,vulgate1 ,septuagint1 and ,oriental ,versions and ,paraphrase1 as also ,symmachus1 ,st4 ,jerom1 and ,basil1 render it as we do here1 in a ,bag1 or by ,terms equivalent4 ,,to these ,passages of the ,psalmist1 concerning the ,form of the ,abyss and the first ,earth1 give me leave to add this general ,remark1 that they are commonly usher'd in1 or follow'd1 with something of ,admiration in the ,prophet4 ,we observ'd before1 that the ,formation of the first ,earth1 after such a wonderful ,manner1 being a ,piece of divine ,architecture1 when it was spoken of in ,scripture1 it was usually ascrib'd to a particular ,providence2 and accordingly we see in these ,places now mentioned1 that it is still made the ,object of ,praise and ,admiration3 ,in the cxxxvi4 ,palm 'tis reckon'd among the ,wonders of ,god1 ,verses #d1 #e1 #f4 ,give ,praise to him who alone doth great ,wonders3 ,to him that by ,wisdom made the ,heavens3 ,to hime that stretched out the ,earth above the ,waters4 ,and in like manner1 in that xxxiii4 ,ps4 'tis join'd with the ,forming of the ,heavens1 and made the ,subject of the ,divine ,power and ,wisdom3 ,verses #f1 #g1 #h1 #i4 ,by the ,word of the ,lord were the ,heavens made1 and all the ,host of them by the ,breath of his ,mouth2 ,he gathereth the ,waters of the ,sea together1 as in a ,bag1 he layeth up the ,abyss in ,store-houses4 ,let all the ,earth fear the ,lord2 ,let all the ,inhabitants of the ,world stand in awe of him2 ,for he spake1 and it was2 he commanded1 and it stood fast4 ,namely1 all ,things stood in that wonderful ,posture in which the ,word of his ,power and ,wisdom had establish'd them4 ,david often made the ,works of ,nature1 and the external ,world1 the ,matter of his ,meditations1 and of his ,praises and ,philosophical ,devotions2 reflecting sometimes upon the present ,form of the ,world1 and sometimes upon the primitive ,form of it3 ,and tho' poetical ,expressions1 as the ,psalms are1 seldom are so determinate and distinct1 but that they may be interpreted more than one ,way2 yet1 ,i think1 it cannot but be acknowledg'd1 that those ,expressions1 and ,passages that we have instanc'd in1 are more fairly and aptly understood of the ancient ,form of the ,sea1 or the ,abyss1 as it was inclos'd within the ,earth1 than of the present ,form of it in an open ,channel4 ,,there are also in the ,book of ,job many noble ,reflections upon the ,works of ,nature1 and upon the ,formation of the ,earth and the ,abyss2 whereof that in ,chap4 xxvi4 #g4 ,he stretcheth out the ,north over the empty ,places1 and hangeth the ,earth upon nothing1 seems to parallel the ,expression of ,david2 ,he stretched out the ,earth upon the ,waters2 for the ,word we render the empty ,place is ,,tohu1 which is apply'd to the ,chaos and the first ,abyss1 ,gen4 i4 #b4 and the hanging the ,earth upon nothing is much more wonderful1 if it be understood of the first habitable ,earth1 that hung over the ,waters1 sustain'd by nothing but its own peculiar ,form1 and the ,libration of its ,parts1 than if it be understood of the present ,earth1 and the whole ,body of it2 for if it be in its ,center or proper ,place1 whither should it sink further1 or whither should it go8 ,but this ,passage1 together with the foregoing and following ,verses1 requires a more critical ,examination than this ,discourse will easily bear4 ,,there is another remarkable ,discourse in ,job1 that contains many ,things to our present ,purpose1 'tis ,chap4 xxxviii4 where ,god reproaches ,job with his ,ignorance of what pass'd at the beginning of the ,world1 and the ,formation of the ,earth1 ,verses #d1 #e1 #f4 ,where wast thou when ,i laid the ,foundations of the ,earth8 ,declare if thou hast ,understanding4 ,who hath laid the ,measures thereof1 if thou knowest8 or who hath stretched the ,line upon it8 ,whereupon are the ,foundations thereof fastned8 or who laid the ,corner-stone8 ,all these ,questions have far more ,force and ,emphasis1 more ,propriety and ,elegancy1 if they be understood of the first and antediluvian ,form of the ,earth1 than if they be understood of the present2 for in the present ,form of the ,earth there is no ,architecture1 no ,structure1 no more than in a ,ruin2 or at least none comparatively to what was in the first ,form of it4 ,and that the exterior and superficial ,part of the ,earth is here spoken of1 appears by the ,rule and ,line applied to it2 but what ,rule or ,regularity is there in the ,surface of the present ,earth8 ,what ,line was us'd to level its ,parts8 ,but in its original ,construction1 when it lay smooth and regular in its ,surface1 as if it had been drawn1 by ,rule and ,line in every ,part2 and when it hung pois'd upon the ,deep1 without ,pillar or ,foundation-,stone1 then just ,proportions were taken1 and every thing plac'd by ,weight and ,measure3 ,and this1 ,i doubt not1 was that artificial ,structure here alluded to2 and when this ,work was finish'd1 then ,the ,morning ,stars sang together1 and all the ,sons of ,god shouted for ,joy1 ,verse #g4 ,,thus far the ,questions proceed upon the ,form and ,construction of the first ,earth2 in the following ,verses 7#h1 #i1 #aj1 #aa47 they proceed upon the ,demolition of that ,earth1 the opening the ,abyss1 and the present ,state of both4 ,or who shut up the ,sea with ,doors when it brake forth1 as if it had issu'd out of a ,womb8 ,who can doubt but this was at the breaking open the ,fountains of the ,abyss8 ,gen4 vii4 #aa4 when the ,waters gush'd out1 as out of the great ,womb of ,nature2 and by reason of that ,confusion and ,perturbation of ,air and ,water that rose upon it1 a thick ,mist and ,darkness was round the ,earth1 and all ,things as in a second ,chaos1 ,when ,i made the ,cloud the ,garment thereof1 and thick ,darkness a ,swadling-band for it1 and brake up for it my decreed ,place1 and made ,bars and ,doors4 ,namely1 7taking the ,words as thus usually render'd7 the present ,channel of the ,sea was made when the ,abyss was broke up1 and at the same ,time were made the shory ,rocks and ,mountains1 which are the ,bars and ,boundaries of the ,sea4 ,and said hitherto shalt thou come1 and no further2 and here shall thy proud ,waves be stay'd4 ,which last ,sentence shews1 that this cannot be understood of the first ,disposition of the ,waters1 as they were before the ,flood1 for their proud ,waves broke those ,bounds1 whatsoever they were1 when they over-flow'd the ,earth in the ,deluge4 ,and that the ,womb which they broke out of was the great ,abyss1 the ,chaldee ,paraphrase in this ,place doth expresly mention2 and what can be understood by the ,womb of the ,earth1 but that subterraneous ,capacity in which the ,abyss lay8 ,then that which followeth is a ,description or ,representation of the great ,deluge that ensued1 and of that ,disorder in ,nature that was then1 and how the ,waters were settled and bounded afterwards4 ,not unlike the ,description in ,psalm civ4 ver4 #f1 #g1 #h1 #i4 ,and thus much for these ,places in the ,book of ,job4 ,,there remains a remarkable ,discourse in the ,proverbs of ,solomon1 relating to the ,mosaical ,abyss1 and not only to that1 but to the ,origin of the ,earth in general2 where ,wisdom declares her ,antiquity and ,pre-existence to all the ,works of this ,earth1 ,chap4 viii4 ,verse #bc1 #bd1 #be1 #bf1 #bg1 #bh4 ,i was set up from ,everlasting1 from the ,beginning ere the ,earth was4 ,when there were no ,deeps or ,abysses1 ,i was brought forth2 when no ,fountains abounding with ,water4 ,then in the #bgth ,verse1 ,when he prepared the ,heavens1 ,i was there2 when he set a ,compass upon the ,face of the ,deep or ,abyss4 ,when he established the ,clouds above1 when he strengthned the ,fountains of the ,abyss4 ,here is mention made of the ,abyss1 and of the ,fountains of the ,abyss2 and who can question1 but that the ,fountains of the ,abyss here are the same with the ,fountains of the ,abyss which ,moses mentions1 and were broken open1 as he tells us1 at the ,deluge8 ,let us observe therefore what ,form ,wisdom gives to this ,abyss1 and consequently to the ,mosaical2 ,and here seem to be two ,expressions that determine the ,form of it1 ,verse #bh4 ,he strengthned the ,fountains of the ,abyss1 that is1 the cover of those ,fountains1 for the ,fountains could be strengthned no other ,way than by making a strong ,cover or ,arch over them4 ,and that ,arch is express'd more fully and distinctly in the foregoing ,verse1 ,when he prepar'd the ,heavens1 ,i was there2 when he set a ,compass on the ,face of the ,abyss2 we render it ,compass1 the ,word signifies a ,circle or ,circumference1 or an ,orb or ,sphere4 ,so there was in the ,beginning of the ,world a ,sphere1 ,orb or ,arch set round the ,abyss1 according to the ,testimony of ,wisdom1 who was then present4 ,and this shews us both the ,form of the ,mosaical ,abyss1 which was included within this ,vault3 ,and the ,form of the habitable ,earth1 which was the outward ,surface of this ,vault1 or the ,cover of the ,abyss that was broke up at the ,deluge4 ,,and thus much1 ,i think1 is sufficient to have noted out of ,scripture1 concerning the ,mosaical ,abyss1 to discover the ,form1 ,place1 and ,situation of it2 which ,i have done the more largely1 because that being determin'd1 it will draw in easily all the rest of our ,theory concerning the ,deluge4 ,i will now only add one or two general ,observations1 and so conclude this ,discourse3 ,the first ,observation is concerning the ,abyss2 namely1 ,that the opening and shutting of the ,abyss1 is the great ,hinge upon which ,nature turns in this ,earth3 ,this brings another ,face of things1 other ,scenes1 and a new ,world upon the ,stage3 ,and accordingly it is a thing often mention'd and alluded to in ,scripture1 sometimes in a natural1 sometimes in a moral or theological ,sense2 and in both ,senses1 our ,saviour shuts and opens it as he pleaseth4 ,our ,saviour1 who is both ,lord of ,nature and of ,grace1 whose ,dominion is both in ,heaven and in ,earth1 hath a double ,key2 that of the ,abyss1 whereby ,death and ,hell are in his ,power1 and all the ,revolutions of ,nature are under his ,conduct and ,providence2 and the ,key of ,david1 whereby he admits or excludes from the ,city of ,god1 and the ,kingdom of ,heaven whom he pleaseth4 ,job xi4 #aj1 #ab1 #ad4 ,apoc4 i4 #ah4 xx4 #a1 #b1 #c4 xxi4 #a4 ,apoc4 iii4 #g4 ,isa4 xxii4 #bb4 ,of those ,places that refer to the shutting and opening the ,abyss in a natural ,sense1 ,i cannot but particularly take ,notice of that in ,job1 ,chap4 xii4 ver4 #ad1 #ae4 and ,chap4 xi4 #aj4 ,god breaketh down1 and it cannot be built again3 ,he shutteth up ,man1 and there can be no opening3 ,behold1 he withholdeth the ,waters1 and they dry up2 also he sendeth them out and they overturn the ,earth4 ,tho' these ,things be true of ,god in lesser and common ,instances1 yet to me it is plain1 that they principally refer to the ,deluge1 the opening and shutting the ,abyss1 with the ,dissolution or ,subversion of the ,earth thereupon2 and accordingly they are made the great ,effects of the divine ,power and ,wisdom in the #acth ,verse of ,chap4 xii4 ,with ,god is ,wisdom and ,strength1 he hath ,counsel and ,understanding2 ,behold1 he breaketh down1 c4 ,and also in the ,conclusion 'tis repeated again1 ,verse #af4 ,with him is ,strength and ,wisdom2 which ,solemnity would scarce have been us'd for common ,instances of his ,power4 ,when ,god is said to build or pull down1 and no ,body can build again1 'tis not to be understood of an ,house or a ,town4 ,god builds and unbuilds ,worlds2 and who shall build up that ,arch that was broke down at the ,deluge8 ,where shall they lay the ,foundation1 or how shall the ,mountains be rear'd up again to make ,part of the ,roof8 ,this is the ,fabrick1 which when ,god breaketh down1 none can build up again4 ,he withholdeth the ,waters1 and they dry up3 ,as we shew'd the ,earth to have been immoderately chap'd and parch'd before its ,dissolution4 ,he sendeth them forth1 and they overturn the ,earth4 ,what can more properly express the breaking out of the ,waters at the ,disruption of the ,abyss1 and the ,subversion or ,dissolution of the ,earth in consequence of it8 ',tis true1 this last ,passage may be applied to the breaking out of ,waters in an ordinary ,earthquake1 and the ,subversion of some ,part of the ,earth1 which often follows upon it2 but it must be acknowledg'd1 that the ,sense is more weighty1 if it be referr'd to the great ,deluge1 and the great ,earthquake which laid the ,world in ,ruins and in ,water4 ,and philosophical ,descriptions in sacred ,writings1 like ,prophecies1 have often a lesser and a greater ,accomplishment and ,interpretation4 ,i ,,could not pass by this ,place without giving this short ,explication of it4 ,we proceed now to the second ,observation1 which is concerning the ,style of ,scripture1 in most of those ,places we have cited1 and others upon the same ,subject4 ,the ,reflections that are made in several ,parts of the divine ,writings1 upon the ,origin of the ,world1 and the ,formation of the ,earth1 seem to me to be writ in a ,style something approaching to the ,nature of a prophetical ,style1 and to have more of a divine ,enthusiasm and ,elocution in them1 than the ordinary ,text of ,scripture2 the ,expressions are lofty1 and sometimes abrupt1 and often figurative and disguis'd1 as may be observed in most of those ,places we have made use of1 and particularly in that ,speech of ,wisdom1 ,prov4 viii4 where the #bfth ,verse is so obscure1 that no two ,versions that ,i have yet met with1 whether ancient or modern1 agree in the ,translation of that ,verse4 ,and therefore1 tho' ,i fully believe that the ,construction of the first ,earth is really intended in those ,words2 yet seeing it could not be made out clear without a long and critical ,discussion of them1 ,i did not think that proper to be insisted upon here4 ,we may also observe1 that whereas there is a double ,form or ,composition of the ,earth1 that which it had at first1 or till the ,deluge1 and that which it hath since2 sometimes the one1 and sometimes the other may be glanc'd upon in these ,scripture ,phrases and ,descriptions2 and so there may be in the same ,discourse an ,intermixture of both4 ,and it commonly happens so in an enthusiastick or prophetick ,style1 that by reason of the ,eagerness and ,trembling of the ,fancy1 it doth not always regularly follow the same even ,thread of ,discourse1 but strikes many times upon some other ,thing that hath ,relation to it1 or lies under or near the same view4 ,of this we have frequent ,examples in the ,apocalypse1 and in that ,prophecy of our ,saviour's1 ,matth4 xxiv4 concerning the ,destruction of ,jerusalem1 and of the ,world4 ,but notwithstanding any such ,unevenness or ,indistinctness in the ,style of those ,places which we have cited concerning the ,origin and ,form of the ,earth1 we may at least make this ,remark1 that if there never was any other ,form of the ,earth but the present1 nor any other ,state of the ,abyss1 than what it is in now1 'tis not imaginable what should give ,occasion to all those ,expressions and ,passages that we have cited2 which being so strange in themselves and paradoxical1 should yet so much favour1 and so fairly comply with our ,suppositions4 ,what ,i have observ'd in another ,place1 ,tell4 ,theor4 lib4 #b4 c4 #f4 in treating of ,paradise1 that the ,expressions of the ancient ,fathers were very extravagant1 if ,paradise was nothing but a little ,plot of ,ground in ,mesopotamia1 as many of late have fancied1 may in like ,manner be observ'd concerning the ancient ,earth and ,abyss2 if they were in no other ,form nor other ,state than what they are under now1 the ,expressions of the sacred ,writers concerning them are very strange and unaccountable1 without any sufficient ,ground1 that we know1 or any just ,occasion for such uncouth ,representations4 ,if there was nothing intended or referr'd to in those ,descriptions1 but the present ,form and ,state of the ,earth1 that is so well known1 that in describing of it there would be nothing dark or mysterious1 nor any occasion for ,obscurity in the ,style or ,expression1 whereof we find so much in those4 ,so as1 all ,things consider'd1 what might otherwise be made an ,exception to some of these ,texts alledg'd by us1 viz4 that they are too obscure1 becomes an ,argument for us3 ,as implying that there is something more intended by them than the present and known ,form of the ,earth4 ,and we having propos'd another ,form and ,structure of the ,earth1 to which those ,characters suit and answer more easily2 as this opens and gives ,light to those difficult ,places1 so it may be reasonably concluded to be the very ,sense and ,notion intended by the holy ,writers4 ,,and thus much1 ,i think1 is sufficient to have observ'd out of ,scripture1 to verify our ,explication of the ,deluge1 and our ,application of it to ,noah's ,flood1 both according to the ,mosaical ,history of the ,flood1 and according to many occasional ,reflections and ,discourses dispers'd in other ,places of ,scripture concerning the same ,flood1 or concerning the ,abyss and the first ,form of the ,earth4 ,and though there may be some other ,passages of a different ,aspect1 they will be of no ,force to disprove our ,conclusions1 because they respect the present ,form of the ,earth and ,sea2 and also1 because ,expressions that deviate more from the common ,opinion1 are more remarkable and more proving2 in that there is nothing could give ,occasion to such1 but an ,intention to express the very ,truth4 ,so1 for instance1 if there was one ,place in ,scripture that said the ,earth was mov'd1 and several that seem'd to imply1 that the ,sun was mov'd1 we should have more regard to that one ,place for the ,motion of the ,earth1 than to all the other that made against it2 because those others might be spoken and understood according to common ,opinion and common ,belief1 but that which affirm'd the ,motion of the ,earth1 could not be spoken upon any other ,ground1 but only for ,truth and ,instruction-sake4 ,i leave this to be apply'd to the present ,subject4 ,,thus much for the sacred ,writings4 ,as to the ,history of the ancient ,heathens1 we cannot expect an ,account or ,narration of ,noah's ,flood1 under that ,name and ,notion2 but it may be of use to observe two ,things out of that ,history4 ,first1 that the ,inundations recorded there came generally to pass in the ,manner we have describ'd the universal ,deluge2 namely1 by ,earthquakes and an ,eruption of subterraneous ,waters1 the ,earth being broken and falling in3 ,and of this we shall elsewhere give a full ,account out of their ,authors4 ,secondly1 that ,deucalion's ,deluge in particular1 which is suppos'd by most of the ancient ,fathers to represent ,noah's ,flood1 is said to have been accompanied with a gaping or ,disruption of the ,earth4 ,apollodorus said1 ,bibl4 lib4 #a4 that the ,mountains of ,thessaly were divided asunder1 or separate one from another at that time3 ,and ,lucian 7,de ,dea ,syria7 tells a very remarkable ,story to this purpose1 concerning ,deucalion's ,deluge1 and a ,ceremony observ'd in the ,temple of ,hieropolis1 in ,commemoration of it2 which ,ceremony seems to have been of that ,nature1 as imply'd that there was an opening of the ,earth at the ,time of the ,deluge1 and that the ,waters subsided into that again when the ,deluge ceas'd4 ,he saith1 that this ,temple at ,hieropolis was built upon a kind of ,abyss1 or had a bottomless ,pit1 or gaping of the ,earth in one ,part of it2 and the ,people of ,arabia and ,syria1 and the ,countries thereabouts1 twice a ,year repair'd to this ,temple1 and brought with them every one a ,vessel of ,water1 which they pour'd out upon the ,floor of the ,temple1 and made a kind of an ,inundation there in ,memory of ,deucalion's ,deluge2 and this ,water sunk by ,degrees into a ,chasm or opening of a ,rock1 which the ,temple stood upon1 and so left the ,floor dry again4 ,and this was a ,rite solemnly and religiously perform'd both by the ,priests and by the ,people4 ,if ,moses had left such a religious ,rite among the ,jews1 ,i should not have doubted to have interpreted it concerning his ,abyss1 and the retiring of the ,waters into it2 but the actual ,disruption of the ,abyss could not well be represented by any ,ceremony4 ,and thus much concerning the present ,question1 and the true ,application of our ,theory to ,noah's ,flood4 ,,chap4 ,,viii4 ,the particular ,history of ,noah's ,flood is explained in all the material ,parts and ,circumstances of it1 according to the preceding ,theory4 ,any seeming ,difficulties remov'd1 and the whole ,section concluded1 with a ,discourse how far the ,deluge may be look'd upon as the ,effect of an ordinary ,providence1 and how far of an extraordinary4 ,,we have now proved our ,explication of the ,deluge to be more than an ,idea1 or to be a true ,piece of natural ,history2 and it may be the greatest and most remarkable that hath yet been since the ,beginning of the ,world4 ,we have shewn it to be the real ,account of ,noah's ,flood1 according to ,authority both divine and human2 and ,i would willingly proceed one step further1 and declare my ,thoughts concerning the ,manner and ,order wherein ,noah's ,flood came to pass2 in what ,method all those ,things happen'd and succeeded one another1 that make up the ,history of it1 as ,causes or ,effects1 or other ,parts or ,circumstances3 ,as how the ,ark was born upon the ,waters1 what ,effect the ,rains had1 at what ,time the ,earth broke1 and the ,abyss was open'd2 and what the ,condition of the ,earth was upon the ending of the ,flood1 and such like4 ,but ,i desire to propose my ,thoughts concerning these ,things only as ,conjectures1 which ,i will ground as near as ,i can upon ,scripture and ,reason1 and am very willing they should be rectified where they happen to be amiss4 ,i know how subject we are to ,mistakes in these great and remote ,things1 when we descend to ,particulars2 but ,i am willing to expose the ,theory to a full ,trial1 and to shew the way for any to examine it1 provided they do it with ,equity and ,sincerity4 ,i have no other ,design than to contribute my ,endeavours to find out the ,truth in a ,subject of so great ,importance1 and wherein the ,world hath hitherto had so little ,satisfaction3 ,and he that in an obscure ,argument proposeth an ,hypothesis that reacheth from ,end to ,end1 tho' it be not exact in every ,particular2 'tis not without a good ,effect2 for it gives ,aim to others to take their ,measures better1 and opens their ,invention in a matter which otherwise1 it may be1 would have been impenetrable to them3 ,as he that makes the first way thro' a thick ,forest1 tho' it be not the streightest and shortest1 deserves better1 and hath done more than he that makes it streighter and smoother afterwards4 ,,providence that ruleth all things and all ,ages1 after the ,earth had stood above sixteen hundred ,years1 thought fit to put a ,period to that ,world2 and accordingly it was revealed to ,noah1 that for the ,wickedness and ,degeneracy of ,men1 ,god would destroy ,mankind with the ,earth1 7,gen4 vi4 #ac47 in a ,deluge of ,water2 whereupon he was commanded1 in order to the preserving of himself and ,family1 as a ,stock for the new ,world1 to build a great ,vessel or ,ark1 to float upon the ,waters1 and had ,instructions given him for the ,building of it1 both as to the ,matter1 and as to the ,form4 ,noah believed the ,word of ,god1 tho' against his ,senses1 and all external ,appearances1 and set himself to work to build an ,ark1 according to the ,directions given1 which after many ,years ,labour was finish'd2 whilst the incredulous ,world1 secure enough1 as they thought1 against a ,deluge1 continued still in their ,excesses and ,insolencies1 and laught at the ,admonition of ,noah1 and at the ,folly of his ,design of building an extravagant ,machine1 a floating ,house1 to save himself from an imaginary ,inundation2 for they thought it no less1 seeing it was to be in an ,earth where there was no ,sea1 nor any ,rain neither in those ,parts1 according to the ordinary ,course of ,nature2 as shall be shewn in the second ,book of this ,treatise4 ,,but when the appointed ,time was come1 the ,heavens began to melt1 and the ,rains to fall1 and these were the first surprizing ,causes and ,preparatives to the ,deluge3 ,they fell1 we suppose1 7tho' we do not know how that could proceed from natural ,causes7 throughout the ,face of the whole ,earth2 which could not but have a considerable ,effect on that ,earth1 being even and smooth1 without ,hills and ,eminencies1 and might lay it all under ,water to some ,depth2 so as the ,ark1 if it could not float upon those ,rain-,waters1 at least taking the ,advantage of a ,river1 or of a ,dock or ,cistern made to receive them1 it might be afloat before the ,abyss was broken open4 ,for ,i do not suppose the ,abyss broken open before any ,rain fell2 and when the opening of the ,abyss and of the ,flood-gates of ,heaven are mention'd together1 ,i am apt to think those ,flood-gates were distinct from the common ,rain1 and were something more violent and impetuous4 ,so that there might be preparatory ,rains before the ,disruption of the ,abyss3 ,and ,i do not know but those ,rains1 so covering up and enclosing the ,earth on every side1 might providentially contribute to the ,disruption of it2 not only by softning and weakning the ,arch of the ,earth in the bottom of those ,cracks and ,chasms which were made by the ,sun1 and which the ,rain would first run into1 but especially by stopping on a sudden all the ,pores of the ,earth1 and all ,evaporation1 which would make the ,vapours within struggle more violently1 as we get a ,fever by a ,cold2 and it may be in that struggle1 the ,doors and the ,bars were broke1 and the great ,abyss gush'd out1 as out of a ,womb4 ,,however1 when the ,rains were fallen1 we may suppose the ,face of the ,earth cover'd over with ,water2 and whether it was these ,waters that ,st4 ,peter refers to1 or that of the ,abyss afterwards1 ,i cannot tell1 when he saith in his first ,epistle1 ,chap4 iii4 #bj4 ,noah and his ,family were sav'd by ,water2 so as the ,water which destroyed the rest of the ,world was an ,instrument of their ,conservation1 in as much as it bore up the ,ark1 and kept it from that impetuous ,shock1 which it would have had1 if either it had stood upon dry ,land when the ,earth fell1 or if the ,earth had been dissolv'd without any ,water on it or under it4 ,however1 ,things being thus prepar'd1 let us suppose the great ,frame of the exterior ,earth to have broke at this time1 or the ,fountains of the great ,abyss1 as ,moses saith1 to have been then open'd2 from thence would issue upon the ,fall of the ,earth1 with an unspeakable ,violence1 such a ,flood of ,waters as would over-run and overwhelm for a ,time all those ,fragments which the ,earth broke into1 and bury in one common ,grave all ,mankind1 and all the ,inhabitants of the ,earth4 ,besides1 if the ,flood-gates of ,heaven were any thing distinct from the ,forty ,days ,rain1 their ,effusion1 'tis likely1 was at this same time when the ,abyss was broken open2 for the sinking of the ,earth would make an extraordinary ,convulsion of the ,regions of the ,air1 and that ,crack and ,noise that must be in the ,falling ,world1 and in the ,collision of the ,earth and the ,abyss1 would make a great and universal ,concussion above1 which things together must needs so shake1 or so squeeze the ,atmosphere1 as to bring down all the remaining ,vapours2 but the ,force of these ,motions not being equal throughout the whole ,air1 but drawing or pressing more in some ,places than in other1 where the ,center of the ,convulsion was1 there would be the chiefest collection1 and there would fall1 not ,showers of ,rain1 or single ,drops1 but great ,spouts or ,cascades of ,water2 and this is that which ,moses seems to call1 not improperly1 the ,cataracts of ,heaven1 or the ,windows of ,heaven being set open4 ,,thus the ,flood came to its height2 and 'tis not easy to represent to our selves this strange ,scene of ,things1 when the ,deluge was in its ,fury and ,extremity2 when the ,earth was broken and swallowed up in the ,abyss1 whose raging ,waters rise higher than the ,mountains1 and fill'd the ,air with broken ,waves1 with an universal ,mist1 and with thick ,darkness1 so as ,nature seem'd to be in a second ,chaos2 and upon this ,chaos rid the distress'd ,ark1 that bore the small ,remains of ,mankind4 ,no ,sea was ever so tumultuous as this1 nor is there any thing in present ,nature to be compar'd with the ,disorder of these ,waters2 all the ,poetry1 and all the ,hyperboles that are used in the ,description of ,storms and raging ,seas1 were literally true in this1 if not beneath it4 ,the ,ark was really carried to the ,tops of the highest ,mountains1 and into the ,places of the ,clouds1 and thrown down again into the deepest ,gulphs2 and to this very ,state of the ,deluge and of the ,ark1 which was a ,type of the ,church in this ,world1 ,david seems to have alluded in the name of the ,church1 ,psal4 xiii4 #g4 ,abyss calls upon ,abyss at the ,noise of thy ,cataracts or ,water-spouts2 all thy ,waves and ,billows have gone over me4 ,it was no doubt an extraordinary and miraculous ,providence1 that could make a ,vessel so ill mann'd1 live upon such a ,sea2 that kept it from being dash'd against the ,hills1 or overwhelm'd in the ,deeps4 ,that ,abyss1 which had devoured and swallow'd up whole ,forests of ,woods1 ,cities and ,provinces1 nay the whole ,earth1 when it had conquer'd all1 and triumph'd over all1 could not destroy this single ,ship4 ,i remember in the ,story of the ,argonauticks1 ,dion4 ,argonaut4 l4 #a4 v4 #dg4 when ,jason set out to fetch the ,golden ,fleece1 the ,poet saith1 all the ,gods that ,day look'd down from ,heaven to view the ,ship2 and the ,nymphs stood upon the ,mountain-tops to see the noble ,youth of ,thessaly pulling at the ,oars2 we may with more ,reason suppose the ,good ,angels to have look'd down upon this ,ship of ,noah's2 and that not out of ,curiosity1 as idle ,spectators1 but with a passionate ,concern for its ,safety and ,deliverance4 ,a ,ship1 whose ,cargo was no less than a whole ,world2 that carry'd the ,fortune and ,hopes of all ,posterity1 and if this had perish'd1 the ,earth for any thing we know had been nothing but a ,desart1 a great ,ruin1 a dead heap of ,rubbish1 from the ,deluge to the ,conflagration4 ,but ,death and ,hell1 the ,grave and ,destruction have their ,bounds4 ,we may entertain our selves with the ,consideration of the ,face of the ,deluge1 and of the broken and drown'd ,earth1 in this ,scheme1 with the floating ,ark1 and the ,guardian ,angels4 ,illustration3 ,book #a ,figure #h4 ,the ,sphere of the ,earth has developed mountains and valleys4 ,,thus much for the ,beginning and ,progress of the ,deluge4 ,it now remains only that we consider it in its ,decrease1 and the ,state of the ,earth after the ,waters were retir'd into their ,channels1 which makes the present ,state of it4 ,moses saith1 ,god brought a ,wind upon the ,waters1 and the ,tops of the ,hills became bare1 and then the lower ,grounds and ,plains by degrees2 the ,waters being sunk into the ,channels of the ,sea1 and the ,hollowness of the ,earth1 and the whole ,globe appearing in the ,form it is now under4 ,there needs nothing be added for ,explication of this1 'tis the genuine ,consequence of the ,theory we have given of the ,deluge2 and whether this ,wind was a descending ,wind to depress and keep down the ,swellings and ,inequalities of the ,abyss1 or whether it was only to dry the ,land as fast as it appear'd1 or might have both ,effects1 ,i do not know2 but as nothing can be perpetual that is violent1 so this ,commotion of the ,abyss abated after a certain time1 and the great ,force that impell'd the ,waters decreasing1 their natural ,gravity began to take ,effect1 and to reduce them into the lowest ,places1 at an equal ,height1 and in an even ,surface1 and level one ,part with another3 ,that is1 in short1 the ,abyss became our ,sea1 fixt within its ,channel1 and bounded by ,rocks and ,mountains3 ,then was the decreed ,place establish'd for it1 and ,bars and ,doors were set2 then was it said1 hitherto shalt thou come1 and no further1 and here shall thy proud ,waves be stopt1 ,job xxxviii4 #aj1 #aa4 ,and the ,deluge being thus ended1 and the ,waters settled in their ,channels1 the ,earth took such a broken ,figure as is represented in those larger ,schemes1 p4 #ajj4 ,and this will be the ,form and ,state of it till its great ,change comes in the ,conflagration1 when we expect a new ,heaven and a new ,earth4 ,,but to pursue this ,prospect of ,things a little further2 we may easily imagine1 that for many ,years after the ,deluge ceas'd1 the ,face of the ,earth was very different from what it is now1 and the ,sea had other ,bounds than it hath at present4 ,i do not doubt but the ,sea reach'd much further in-land1 and clim'd higher upon the ,sides of the ,mountains2 and ,i have observ'd in many ,places a ,ridge of ,mountains some ,distance from the ,sea1 and a ,plain from their ,roots to the ,shore2 which ,plain no doubt was formerly cover'd by the ,sea1 bounded against those ,hills as its first and natural ,ramparts1 or as the ,ledges or ,lips of its ,vessel4 ,and it seems probable1 that the ,sea doth still grow narrower from ,age to ,age1 and sinks more within its ,channel and the ,bowels of the ,earth1 according as it can make its ,way into all those subterraneous ,cavities1 and crowd the ,air out of them4 ,we see whole ,countries of ,land gain'd from it1 and by several ,indications1 as ancient ,sea-ports left dry and useless1 old ,sea-marks far within the ,land1 ,pieces of ,ships1 ,anchors1 c4 left at a great ,distance from the present ,shores2 from these ,signs1 and such like1 we may conclude that the ,sea reach'd many ,places formerly that now are dry ,land1 and at first ,i believe was generally bound in on either ,side with a ,chain of ,mountains4 ,so ,i should easily imagine the ,mediterranean ,sea1 for instance1 to have been bounded by the ,continuation of the ,alps through ,dauphine and ,languedoc to the ,pyreneans1 and at the other ,end by the ,darmatick ,mountains almost to the ,black ,sea4 ,then ,atlas major1 which runs along with the ,mediterranean from gypt to the ,atlantick ,ocean1 and now parts ,barbary and ,numidia1 may possibly have been the ancient ,barrier on the ,africk ,side4 ,and in our own ,island ,i could easily figure to my self1 in many ,parts of it1 other ,sea-bounds than what it hath at present2 and the like may be observ'd in other ,countries4 ,,and as the ,sea had much larger ,bounds for some ,time after the ,deluge1 so the ,land had a different ,face in many ,respects to what it hath now2 for we suppose the ,valleys and lower ,grounds1 where the ,descent and ,derivation of the ,water was not so easy1 to have been full of ,lakes and ,pools for a long ,time2 and these were often converted into ,fens and ,bogs1 where the ,ground being spungy1 suck'd up the ,water1 and the loosen'd ,earth swell'd into a soft and pappy ,substance2 which would still continue so1 if there was any ,course of ,water sensible or insensible1 above or within the ,ground1 that fed this moist ,place3 ,but if the ,water stood in a more firm ,basin1 or on a ,soil1 which for its ,heaviness or any other ,reason would not mix with it1 it made a ,lake or clear ,pool4 ,and we may easily imagine there were innumerable such ,lakes1 and ,bogs1 and ,fastnesses for many ,years after the ,deluge1 till the ,world begun to be pretty well stock'd with ,people1 and human ,industry cleansed and drained those unfruitful and unhabitable ,places4 ,and those ,countries that have been later cultivated1 or by a lazier ,people1 retain still1 in ,proportion to their ,situation and ,soil1 a greater ,number of them4 ,,neither is it at all incongruous or inconvenient to suppose1 that the ,face of the ,earth stood in this ,manner for many ,years after the ,deluge2 for while ,mankind was small and few1 they needed but a little ,ground for their ,seats or ,sustenance2 and as they grew more numerous1 the ,earth proportionally grew more dry1 and more ,parts of it fit for ,habitation4 ,i easily believe that ,plato's ,observation or ,tradition de ,leg4 li4 #c4 is true1 that ,men at first1 after the ,flood1 liv'd in the ,up-lands and ,sides of the ,mountains1 and by ,degrees sunk into the ,plains and lower ,countries1 when ,nature had prepar'd them for their ,use1 and their ,numbers requir'd more ,room4 ,the ,history of ,moses ,gen4 xi4 tells us1 that some ,time after the ,deluge1 ,noah and his ,posterity1 his ,sons and his ,grand-children1 chang'd their ,quarters1 and fell down into the ,plains of ,shiner1 from the ,sides of the ,hills where the ,ark had rested2 and in this ,plain was the last general ,rendezvous of ,mankind2 so long they seem to have kept in a ,body1 and from thence they were divided and broken into ,companies1 and dispers'd1 first1 into the neighbouring ,countries1 and then by degrees throughout the whole ,earth2 the several successive ,generations1 like the ,waves of the ,sea when it flows1 over-reaching one another1 and striking out farther and farther upon the ,face of the ,land4 ,not that the whole ,earth was peopled by an uniform ,propagation of ,mankind every ,way1 from one ,place1 as a common ,center2 like the ,swelling of a ,lake upon a ,plain3 ,for sometimes they shot out in length1 like ,rivers1 and sometimes they flew into remote ,countries in ,colonies1 like ,swarms from the ,hive1 and settled there1 leaving many ,places uninhabited betwixt them and their first ,home4 ,sea-shores and ,islands were generally the last ,places inhabited2 for while the ,memory or ,story of the ,deluge was fresh amongst them1 they did not care for coming so near their late ,enemy2 or at least1 to be inclos'd and surrounded by his ,forces4 ,,and this may be sufficient to have discours'd concerning all the ,parts of the ,deluge1 and the ,restitution of the ,earth to an habitable ,form1 for the further ,union of our ,theory with the ,history of ,moses2 there rests only one ,thing in that ,history to be taken notice of1 which may be thought possibly not to agree so well with our ,account of the ,deluge2 namely1 that ,moses seems to shut up the ,abyss again at the ,end of the ,deluge1 which our ,explication supposeth to continue open4 ,but besides that half the ,abyss is still really cover'd1 ,moses saith the same ,thing of the ,windows of ,heaven1 that they were shut up too2 and he seemeth in both to express only the ,cessation of the ,effect which proceeded from their opening3 ,for as ,moses had ascrib'd the ,deluge to the opening of these two1 so when it was to cease1 he saith1 these two were shut up2 as they were really put into such a ,condition1 both of then1 that they could not continue the ,deluge any longer1 nor ever be the ,occasion of a second2 and therefore in that ,sense1 and as to that ,effect were for ever shut up4 ,some may possibly make that also an ,objection against us1 that ,moses mentions and supposes the ,mountains at the ,deluge1 for he saith1 the ,waters reached fifteen ,cubits above the ,tops of them2 whereas we suppose the antediluvian ,earth to have had a plain and uniform ,surface1 without any ,inequality of ,hills and ,valleys4 ,but this is easily answer'd1 it was in the ,height of the ,deluge that ,moses mention'd the ,mountains1 and we suppose them to have risen then1 or more towards the ,beginning of it1 when the ,earth was broke2 and these ,mountains continuing still upon the ,face of the ,earth1 ,moses might very well take them for a ,standard to measure and express to ,posterity the ,height of the ,waters1 though they were not upon the ,earth when the ,deluge began4 ,neither is there any mention made1 as is observ'd by some1 of ,mountains in ,scripture1 or of ,rain1 till the ,time of the ,deluge4 ,,we have now finish'd our ,account of ,noah's ,flood1 both generally and particularly2 and ,i have not wittingly omitted or conceal'd any ,difficulty that occurr'd to me1 either from the ,history1 or from abstract ,reason2 our ,theory1 so far as ,i know1 hath the ,consent and ,authority of both3 ,and how far it agrees and is demonstrable from natural ,observation1 or from the ,form and ,phnomena of this ,earth1 as it lies at present1 shall be the ,subject of the remaining ,part of this first ,book4 ,in the mean time ,i do not know any ,thing more to be added in this ,part1 unless it be to conclude with an ,advertisement to prevent any ,mistake or ,misconstruction1 as if this ,theory1 by explaining the ,deluge in a natural ,way1 in a great ,measure1 or1 by natural ,causes1 did detract from the ,power of ,god1 by which that great ,judgment was brought upon the ,world in a providential and miraculous ,manner4 ,,to satisfy all reasonable and intelligent ,persons in this ,particular1 ,i answer and declare1 first1 ,that we are far from excluding divine ,providence1 either ordinary or extraordinary1 from the ,causes and ,conduct of the ,deluge4 ,i know a ,sparrow doth not fall to the ,ground without the ,will of our ,heavenly ,father1 much less doth the great ,world fall in ,pieces without his good ,pleasure and ,superintendency4 ,in him all ,things live1 move1 and have their ,being2 ,things that have ,life and ,thought have it from him1 he is the ,fountain of both4 ,things that have ,motion only1 without ,thought1 have it also from him3 ,and what hath only naked ,being1 without ,thought or ,motion1 owe still that ,being to him4 ,and these are not only derived from ,god at first1 but every ,moment continued and conserv'd by him4 ,so intimate and universal is the ,dependance of all ,things upon the ,divine ,will and ,power4 ,,in the second ,place1 they are guilty1 in my ,judgment1 of a great ,error or ,indiscretion1 that oppose the ,course of ,nature to ,providence4 ,st4 ,paul says1 7,acts xiv4 #ag47 ,god hath not left us without ,witness1 in that he gives us ,rain from ,heaven2 yet ,rains proceed from natural ,causes1 and fall upon the ,sea as well as upon the ,land4 ,in like manner1 our ,saviour1 ,mat4 vi4 #ba4 makes those ,things ,instances of ,divine ,providence1 which yet come to pass in an ordinary ,course of ,nature2 in that ,part of his excellent ,sermon upon the ,mount1 ,luke xii4 #bd4 that concerns ,providence1 he bids them consider the ,lilies how they grow1 they toil not1 neither do they spin1 and yet ,solomon in all his ,glory was not array'd like one of these3 ,he bids them also consider the ,ravens1 they neither sow nor reap1 neither have they ,store-house nor ,barn1 and ,god feedeth them4 ,the ,lilies grow1 and the ,ravens are fed according to the ordinary ,course of ,nature1 and yet they are justly made ,arguments of ,providence by our ,saviour2 nor are these ,things less providential1 because constant and regular2 on the contrary1 such a ,disposition or ,establishment of second ,causes1 as will in the best ,order1 and for a long ,succession1 produce the most regular ,effects1 assisted only with the ordinary ,concourse of the first ,cause1 is a greater ,argument of ,wisdom and ,contrivance1 than such a ,disposition of ,causes as will not in so good an ,order1 or for so long a ,time produce regular ,effects1 without an extraordinary ,concourse and ,interposition of the first ,cause4 ,this ,i think is clear to every ,man's ,judgment4 ,we think him a better ,artist that makes a ,clock that strikes regularly at every ,hour from the ,springs and ,wheels which he puts in the ,work1 than he that hath so made his ,clock that he must put his ,finger to it every ,hour to make it strike3 ,and if one should contrive a ,piece of ,clock-work1 so that it should beat all the ,hours1 and make all its ,motions regularly for such a ,time1 and that ,time being come1 upon a ,signal given1 or a ,spring touch'd1 it should of its own accord fall all to ,pieces2 would not this be look'd upon as a ,piece of greater ,art than if the ,workman came at that ,time prefix'd1 and with a great ,hammer beat it into pieces8 ,i use these ,comparisons to convince us1 that it is no ,detraction from divine ,providence1 that the ,course of ,nature is exact and regular1 and that even in its greatest ,changes and ,revolutions it should still conspire and be prepar'd to answer the ,ends and ,purposes of the divine ,will in reference to the moral ,world4 ,this seems to me to be the great ,art of divine ,providence1 so to adjust the two ,worlds1 human and natural1 material and intellectual1 as seeing thro' the ,possibilities and ,futuritions of each1 according to the first ,state and ,circumstances he puts them under1 they should all along correspond and fit one another1 and especially in their great ,crises and ,periods4 ,,thirdly1 ,besides the ordinary ,providence of ,god in the ordinary ,course of ,nature1 there is doubtless an extraordinary ,providence that doth attend the greater ,scenes and the greater ,revolutions of ,nature4 ,this1 methinks1 besides all other ,proof from the ,effects1 is very rational and necessary in itself2 for it would be a ,limitation of the divine ,power and ,will so to be bound up to second ,causes1 as never to use1 upon ,occasion1 an extraordinary ,influence or ,direction3 ,and 'tis manifest1 taking any ,system of natural ,causes1 if the best possible1 that there may be more and greater ,things done1 if to this1 upon certain ,occasions1 you join an extraordinary ,conduct4 ,and as we have taken ,notice before1 that there was an extraordinary ,providence in the ,formation or ,composition of the first ,earth1 so ,i believe there was also in the ,dissolution of it3 ,and ,i think it had been impossible for the ,ark to have liv'd upon the raging ,abyss1 or for ,noah and his ,family to have been preserv'd1 if there had not been a miraculous ,hand of ,providence to take care of them4 ,but 'tis hard to separate and distinguish an ordinary and extraordinary ,providence in all ,cases1 and to mark just how far one goes1 and where the other begins4 ,and writing a ,theory of the ,deluge here1 as we do1 we were to exhibit a ,series of ,causes whereby it might be made intelligible1 or to shew the proximate natural ,causes of it2 wherein we follow the ,example both of ,moses and ,st4 ,peter2 and with the same ,veneration of the divine ,power and ,wisdom in the ,government of ,nature1 by a constant ordinary ,providence1 and an occasional extraordinary4 ,,so much for the ,theory of the ,deluge1 and the second ,section of this ,discourse4 ,,chap4 ,,ix4 ,the second ,part of this ,discourse1 proving the same ,theory from the ,effects and present ,form of the ,earth4 ,first1 by a general ,scheme of what is most remarkable in this ,globe1 and then by a more particular ,induction2 beginning with an ,account of subterraneous ,cavities and subterraneous ,waters4 ,,we have now finished our ,explication of the universal ,deluge1 and given an ,account1 not only of the ,possibility of it1 but 7so far as our ,knowledge can reach7 of its ,causes2 and of that ,form and ,structure of the ,earth1 whereby the ,old ,world was subject to that sort of ,fate4 ,we have not begged any principles or ,suppositions for the ,proof of this2 but taking that common ,ground1 which both ,moses and all ,antiquity present to us1 viz4 ,that this ,earth rose from a ,chaos3 ,we have from that deduc'd1 by an easy ,train of ,consequences1 what the first ,form of it would be2 and from that ,form1 as from a nearer ,ground1 we have by a second ,train of ,consequences made it appear1 that at some ,time or other that first ,earth would be subject to a ,dissolution1 and by that ,dissolution to a ,deluge4 ,and thus far we have proceeded only by the ,intuition of ,causes1 as is most proper to a ,theory2 but for the ,satisfaction of those that require more sensible ,arguments1 and to compleat our ,proofs on either hand1 we will now argue from the ,effects2 and from the present ,state of ,nature1 and the present ,form of the ,earth1 prove that it hath been broken1 and undergone such a ,dissolution as we have already describ'd1 and made the immediate ,occasion of the ,deluge4 ,and that we may do this more perspicuously and distinctly1 we will lay down this ,proposition to be prov'd1 viz4 ,that the present ,form and ,structure of the ,earth1 both as to the ,surface and as to the interior ,parts of it1 so far as they are known and accessible to us1 doth exactly answer to our ,theory concerning the ,form and ,dissolution of the first ,earth1 and cannot be explain'd upon any other ,hypothesis yet known4 ,,orators and ,philosophers treat ,nature after a very different ,manner2 those represent her with all her ,graces and ,ornaments1 and if there be any ,thing that is not capable of that1 they dissemble it1 or pass it over slightly4 ,but ,philosophers view ,nature with a more impartial ,eye1 and without ,favour or ,prejudice give a just and free ,account1 how they find all the ,parts of the ,universe1 some more1 some less perfect4 ,and as to this ,earth in particular1 if ,i was to describe it as an ,orator1 ,i would suppose it a beautiful and regular ,globe2 and not only so1 but that the whole ,universe was made for its sake2 that it was the ,darling and ,favourite of ,heaven1 that the ,sun shin'd only to give it ,light1 to ripen its ,fruit1 and make fresh its ,flowers2 and that the great ,concave of the ,firmament1 and all the ,stars in their several ,orbs1 were design'd only for a spangled ,cabinet to keep this ,jewel in4 ,this ,idea ,i would give of it as an ,orator2 but a ,philosopher that overheard me would either think me in ,jest1 or very injudicious1 if ,i took the ,earth for a ,body so regular in it self1 or so considerable if compar'd with the rest of the ,universe4 ,this1 he would say1 is to make the great ,world like one of the ,heathen ,temples1 a beautiful and magnificent ,structure1 and of the richest ,materials1 yet built only for a little brute ,idol1 a ,dog1 or a ,crocodile1 or some deformed ,creature placed in a ,corner of it4 ,,we must therefore be impartial where the ,truth requires it1 and describe the ,earth as it is really in it self2 and though it be handsome and regular enough to the ,eye in certain ,parts of it1 single ,tracks and single ,regions2 yet if we consider the whole ,surface of it1 or the whole exterior ,region1 'tis as a broken and confus'd ,heap of ,bodies1 plac'd in no ,order to one another1 nor with any ,correspondency or ,regularity of ,parts3 ,and such a ,body as the ,moon appears to us1 when 'tis look'd upon with a good ,glass1 rude and ragged2 as it is also represented in the modern ,maps of the ,moon2 such a ,thing would the ,earth appear if it was seen from the ,moon4 ,they are both in my ,judgment the ,image or ,picture of a great ,ruin1 and have the true ,aspect of a ,world lying in its ,rubbish4 ,see ,fig4 in ,chap4 ,,xi4 ,,our ,earth is first divided into ,sea and ,land1 without any ,regularity in the ,portions1 either of the one or the other2 in the ,sea lie the ,islands1 scatter'd like ,limbs torn from the rest of the ,body2 great ,rocks stand rear'd up in the ,waters2 the ,promontories and ,capes shoot into the ,sea1 and the ,sinus's and ,creeks on the other hand run as much into the ,land2 and these without any ,order or ,uniformity4 ,upon the other ,part of our ,globe stand great ,heaps of ,earth or ,stone1 which we call ,mountains2 and if these were all plac'd together1 they would take up a very considerable part of the dry ,land3 ,in the rest of it are lesser ,hills1 ,valleys1 ,plains1 ,lakes and ,marshes1 ,sands and ,desarts1 c4 and these also without any regular ,disposition4 ,then the ,inside of the ,earth1 or inward ,parts of it1 are generally broken or hollow1 especially about the ,mountains and high ,lands1 as also towards the ,shores of the ,sea1 and among the ,rocks4 ,how many ,holes and ,caverns1 and strange subterraneous ,passages do we see in many ,countries8 ,and how many more may we easily imagine1 that are unknown and unaccessible to us8 ,,this is the ,pourtraicture of our ,earth1 drawn without ,flattery2 and as oddly as it looks1 it will not be at all surprizing to one that hath consider'd the foregoing ,theory3 ,for 'tis manifest enough1 that upon the ,dissolution of the first ,earth1 and its ,fall into the ,abyss1 this very ,face and ,posture of ,things1 which we have now describ'd1 or something extreamly like it1 would immediately result4 ,the ,sea would be open'd1 and the ,face of the ,globe would be divided into ,land and ,water3 ,and according as the ,fragments fell1 some would make ,islands or ,rocks in the ,sea1 others would make ,mountains or ,plains upon the ,land2 and the ,earth would generally be full of ,caverns and ,hollownesses1 especially in the mountainous ,parts of it4 ,and we see the ,resemblance and ,imitation of this in lesser ,ruins1 when a ,mountain sinks and falls into subterraneous ,water2 or1 which is more obvious1 when the ,arch of a ,bridge is broken1 and falls into the ,water1 if the ,water under it be not so deep as to overflow and cover all its ,parts1 you may see there the ,image of all these things in little ,continents1 and ,islands1 and ,rocks under ,water3 ,and in the ,parts that stand above the ,water1 you see ,mountains1 and ,precipices1 and ,plains1 and most of the ,varieties that we see and admire in the ,parts of the ,earth4 ,what need we then seek any further for the ,explication of these things8 ,let us suppose this ,arch of the ,bridge1 as the great ,arch of the ,earth1 which once it had1 and the ,water under it as the ,abyss1 and the ,parts of this ,ruin to represent the ,parts of the ,earth3 ,there will be scarce any ,difference but of lesser and greater1 the same things appearing in both4 ,but we have naturally that ,weakness or ,prejudice1 that we think great things are not to be explained from easy and familiar ,instances2 we think there must be something difficult and operose in the ,explication of them1 or else we are not satisfied2 whether it is that we are ashamed to see our ,ignorance and ,admiration to have been so groundless1 or whether we fancy there must be a ,proportion between the ,difficulty of the ,explication1 and the ,greatness of the thing explain'd2 but that is a very false ,judgment1 for let ,things be never so great1 if they be simple1 their ,explication must be simple and easy3 ,and on the contrary1 some things that are mean1 common1 and ordinary1 may depend upon ,causes very difficult to find out2 for the ,difficulty of explaining an ,effect doth not depend upon its ,greatness or ,littleness1 but upon the ,simplicity or ,composition of its ,causes4 ,and the ,effects and ,phnomena we are here to explain1 though great1 yet depending upon ,causes very simple1 you must not wonder if the ,explication1 when found out1 be familiar and very intelligible4 ,,and this is so intelligible1 and so easily deducible from the forementioned ,causes1 that a ,man born blind1 or brought up all his ,life in a ,cave1 that had never seen the ,face of the ,earth1 nor ever heard any ,description of it1 more than that it was a great ,globe2 having this ,theory propos'd to him1 or being instructed what the ,form of the first ,earth was1 how it stood over the ,waters1 and then how it was broke and fell into them1 he would easily of his own accord foretel what ,changes would arise upon this ,dissolution2 and what the new ,form of the ,earth would be4 ,as in the first place he would tell you1 that this second ,earth would be distinguish'd and checker'd into ,land and ,water2 for the ,orb which fell being greater than the ,circumference it fell upon1 all the ,fragments could not fall flat and lie drown'd under ,water2 and those that stood above would make the dry ,land or habitable part of the ,earth4 ,then in the second ,place1 he would plainly discern that these ,fragments that made the dry ,land could not lie all plain and smooth and equal1 but some would be higher and some lower1 some in one ,posture and some in another2 and consequently would make ,mountains1 ,hills1 ,valleys and ,plains1 and all other ,varieties we have in the ,situation of the ,parts of the ,earth4 ,and lastly1 a blind ,man would easily divine that such a great ,ruin could not happen but there would be a great many ,holes and ,cavities amongst the ,parts of it1 a great many ,intervals and empty ,places in the ,rubbish1 as ,i may so say2 for this we see happens in all ,ruins more or less2 and where the ,fragments are great and hard1 'tis not possible they should be so adjusted in their ,fall1 but that they would lie hollow in many ,places1 and many unfill'd ,spaces would be intercepted amongst them2 some gaping in the ,surface of the ,earth1 and others hid within2 so as this would give occasion to all sorts of ,fractures and ,cavities either in the ,skin of the ,earth1 or within its ,body4 ,and these ,cavities1 that ,i may add that in the last ,place1 would be often fill'd with subterraneous ,waters1 at least at such a ,depth2 for the ,foundations of the ,earth standing now within the ,waters1 so high as those ,waters reach'd they would more or less propagate themselves every way4 ,,thus far our blind ,man could tell us what the new ,world would be1 or the ,form of the ,earth upon the great ,dissolution2 and we find his ,reasonings and ,inferences very true1 these are the chief ,lineaments and ,features of our ,earth2 which appear indeed very irregular and very unaccountable when they are look'd upon naked in themselves2 but if we look upon them through this ,theory1 we see as in a ,glass all the ,reasons and ,causes of them4 ,there are different ,genius's of ,men1 and different ,conceptions1 and every one is to be allow'd their ,liberty as to things of this ,nature2 ,i confess1 for my own part1 when ,i observe how easy and naturally this ,hypothesis doth apply it self to the general ,face of this ,earth1 hits and falls in so luckily and surprizingly with all the odd ,postures of its ,parts1 ,i cannot1 without ,violence1 bear off my ,mind from fully assenting to it3 ,and the more odd and extravagant1 as ,i may so say1 and the more diversify'd the ,effects and ,appearances are1 to which an ,hypothesis is to be apply'd1 if it answers them all and with ,exactness1 it comes the nearer to a moral ,certitude and ,infallibility4 ,as a ,lock that consists of a great deal of ,workmanship1 many ,wards1 and many odd ,pieces and ,contrivances1 if you find a ,key1 that answers to them all1 and opens it readily1 'tis a thousand to one that 'tis the true ,key1 and was made for that ,purpose4 ,,an eminent ,philosopher of this ,age1 ,monsier des ,cartes1 hath made use of the like ,hypothesis to explain the irregular ,form of the present ,earth2 though he never dream'd of the ,deluge1 nor thought that first ,orb1 built over the ,abyss1 to have been any more than a transient ,crust1 and not a real habitable ,world that lasted for more than sixteen hundred ,years1 as we suppose it to have been4 ,and though he hath1 in my ,opinion1 in the ,formation of that first ,orb1 and upon the ,dissolution of it1 committed some great ,oversights1 whereof we have given an ,account in the ,latin ,treatise1 ,c4 #g4 lib4 #b4 c4 #d4 however he saw a ,necessity of such a ,thing1 and of the ,disruption of it1 to bring the ,earth into that ,form and ,posture wherein we now find it4 ,,thus far we have spoken in general1 concerning the ,agreement and ,congruity of our ,supposition with the present ,face of the ,earth1 and the easy ,account it gives of the ,causes of it4 ,and though ,i believe to ingenuous ,persons1 that are not prejudic'd by the ,forms and ,opinions of the ,schools against every thing that looks like a ,novelty or ,invention1 thus much might be sufficient2 yet for the ,satisfaction of all1 we will1 as a farther ,proof of our ,theory1 or that part of it which concerns the ,dissolution of the ,earth1 descend to a particular ,explication of three or four of the most considerable and remarkable things that occur in the ,fabrick of this present ,earth2 namely1 ,the great ,channel of the ,ocean2 subterraneous ,cavities and subterraneous ,waters2 and lastly1 ,mountains and ,rocks4 ,these are the ,wonders of the ,earth as to the visible ,frame of it2 and who would not be pleas'd to see a rational ,account of these1 of their ,origin1 and of their ,properties8 ,or who would not approve of an ,hypothesis1 when they see that ,nature in her greatest and strongest ,works may easily be understood by it1 and is in no other way1 that we know of1 intelligible8 ,,we will speak first of subterraneous ,cavities and ,waters1 because they will be of easier ,dispatch1 and an ,introduction to the rest4 ,,that the ,inside of the ,earth is hollow and broken in many ,places1 and is not one firm and united ,mass1 we have both the ,testimony of ,sense and of easy ,observations to prove3 ,how many ,caves and ,dens and hollow ,passages into the ,ground do we see in many ,countries1 especially amongst ,mountains and ,rocks2 and some of them endless and bottomless so far as can be discover'd8 ,we have many of these in our own ,island1 in ,derbyshire1 ,somersetshire1 ,wales1 and other ,counties1 and in every ,continent or ,island they abound more or less4 ,these ,hollownesses of the ,earth the ,ancients made ,prisons1 or ,store-houses for the ,winds1 and set a ,god over them to confine them1 or let them loose at his ,pleasure4 ,for some ,ages after the ,flood1 as all ,antiquity tells us1 these were the first ,houses ,men had1 at least in some ,parts of the ,earth2 here rude ,mortals shelter'd themselves1 as well as they could1 from the ,injuries of the ,air1 till they were beaten out by wild ,beasts that took ,possession of them4 ,the ancient ,oracles also us'd to be given out of these ,vaults and ,recesses under ,ground1 the ,sibyls had their ,caves1 and the ,delphick ,oracle1 and their ,temples sometimes were built upon an hollow ,rock4 ,places that are strange and solemn strike an ,awe into us1 and incline us to a kind of superstitious ,timidity and ,veneration1 and therefore they thought them fit for the ,seats and ,residences of their ,deities4 ,they fancied also that ,steams rise sometimes1 or a sort of ,vapour in those hollow ,places1 that gave a kind of a divine ,fury or ,inspiration4 ,but all these ,uses and ,employments are now in a great measure worn out1 we know no ,use of them but to make the ,places talk'd on where they are1 to be the ,wonders of the ,country1 to please our ,curiosity to gaze upon and admire2 but we know not how they came1 nor to what purpose they were made at first4 ,,it would be very pleasant to read good ,descriptions of these subterraneous ,places1 and of all the strange ,works of ,nature there2 how she furnisheth these dark neglected ,grotto's2 they have often a little ,brook runs murmuring thro' them1 and the ,roof is commonly a kind of petrefied ,earth1 or icy ,fret-work1 proper enough for such ,rooms4 ,but ,i should be pleas'd especially to view the ,sea-caves1 or those hollow ,rocks that lie upon the ,sea1 where the ,waves roll a great ,way under ,ground1 and wear the hard ,rock into as many odd ,shapes and ,figures as we see in the ,clouds4 ',tis pleasant also to see a ,river in the ,middle of its ,course throw itself into the ,mouth of a ,cave1 or an ,opening of the ,earth1 and run under ,ground sometimes many ,miles2 still pursuing its ,way thro' the dark ,pipes of the ,earth1 till at last it find an ,out-let4 ,there are many of these ,rivers taken ,notice of in ,history in the several ,parts of the ,earth1 as the ,rhone in ,france1 ,guadiana in ,spain1 and several in ,greece1 ,alpheus1 ,lycus1 and ,erasinus2 then ,niger in ,africa1 ,tygris in ,asia1 c4 ,and ,i believe if we could turn ,derwent1 or any other ,river1 into one of the ,holes of the ,peak1 it would groap its ,way till it found an ,issue1 it may be1 in some other ,country4 ,these subterraneous ,rivers that emerge again1 shew us that the ,holes of the ,earth are longer and reach further than we imagine1 and if we could see into the ,ground1 as we ride1 or walk1 we should be affrighted to see so often ,waters or ,caverns under us4 ,,but to return to our dry ,caves2 these commonly stand high1 and are sometimes of a prodigious ,greatness3 ,strabo ,geo4 l4 #af4 mentions some in the ,mountains towards ,arabia1 that are capable to receive four thousand ,men at once4 ,the ,cave of ,engedi #a ,sam4 xxiv4 #c1 #d4 hid ,david and six hundred ,men1 so as ,saul1 when he was in the ,mouth of it1 did not perceive them4 ,in the ,mountains of the ,traconites there are many of these vast ,dens and ,recesses1 and the ,people of that ,country defended themselves a long time in those strong ,holds against ,herod and his ,army3 ,they are plac'd among such craggy ,rocks and ,precipices1 that1 as ,josephus ,ant4 ,jud4 l4 #ad4 ch4 #bg4 tells us1 ,herod was forced to make a sort of open ,chests1 and in those by ,chains of ,iron he let down his ,soldiers from the ,top of the ,mountains to go fight them in their ,dens4 ,i need add no more ,instances of this ,kind3 ,in the natural ,history of all ,countries1 or the geographical ,descriptions of them1 you find such ,places taken notice of1 more or less2 yet if there was a good ,collection made of the chief of them in several ,parts1 it might be of use1 and would make us more sensible how broken and torn the ,body of the ,earth is4 ,,there are subterraneous ,cavities of another ,nature1 and more remarkable1 which they call ,volcano's1 or fiery ,mountains2 that belch out ,flames and ,smoke and ,ashes1 and sometimes great ,stones and broken ,rocks1 and ,lumps of ,earth1 or some metallick ,mixture2 and throw them to an incredible ,distance by the ,force of the ,eruption4 ,these argue great ,vacuities in the ,bowels of the ,earth1 and ,magazines of combustible ,matter treasur'd up in them4 ,and as the ,exhalations within these ,places must be copious1 so they must lie in long ,mines or ,trains to do so great ,execution1 and to last so long4 ',tis scarce credible what is reported concerning some ,eruptions of ,vesuvius and tna4 ,the ,eruptions of ,vesuvius seem to be more frequent and less violent of late2 the ,flame and ,smoke break out at the ,top of the ,mountain1 where they have eaten away the ,ground and made a great ,hollow1 so as it looks at the ,top1 when you stand upon the ,brims of it1 like an ,amphitheatre1 or like a great ,caldron1 about a ,mile in ,circumference1 and the burning ,furnace lies under it4 ,the ,outside of the ,mountain is all spread with ,ashes1 but the ,inside much more2 for you wade up to the ,mid-leg in ,ashes to go down to the ,bottom of the ,cavity and 'tis extremely heavy and troublesome to get up again4 ,the ,inside lies sloping1 and one may safely go down1 if it be not in a raging ,fit2 but the middle ,part of it1 or ,center1 which is a little rais'd like the ,bottom of a ,platter1 is not to be ventur'd upon1 the ,ground there lies false and hollow1 there it always smoaks1 and there the ,funnel is suppos'd to be2 yet there is no visible ,hole or ,gaping any where when it doth not rage4 ,naples stands below in fear of this fiery ,mountain1 which hath often cover'd its ,streets and ,palaces with its ,ashes2 and in ,sight of the ,sea 7which lies by the ,side of them both7 and as it were in ,defiance to it1 threatens at one time or other to burn that fair ,city4 ,history tells us1 that some ,eruptions of ,vesuvius have carry'd ,cinders and ,ashes as far as ,constantinople2 this is attested both by ,greek and ,latin ,authors2 particularly1 that they were so affrighted with these ,ashes and ,darkness1 that the ,emperor left the ,city1 and there was a ,day observ'd yearly for a ,memorial of this ,calamity or ,prodigy4 ,,tna is of greater ,fame than ,vesuvius1 and of greater ,fury1 all ,antiquity speaks of it2 not only the ,greeks and ,romans1 but as far as ,history reacheth1 either real or fabulous1 there is something recorded of the ,fires of tna3 ,the ,figure of the ,mountain is inconstant1 by reason of the great ,consumptions and ,ruins it is subject to2 the ,fires and stuations of it are excellently describ'd by ,virgil1 upon ,occasion of neas's passing by those ,coasts4 ---- ,horrificis juxta tonat tna ruinis2 ,intendumque atram prorumpit ad theranubem1 ,turbine fumantem piceo candente favilla2 ,attollitque globos flammarum sydera lambit2 ,interdum scopulos1 avulsaque viscera montis ,erigit eructans1 liquefactaque saxa sub auras ,cum gemitu glomerat1 fundoque exstuat imo4 ,fama est ,enceladi semustum fulmine corpus ,urgeri mole hac1 ingentemque insuper tnam ,impositam1 ruptis flammam expirare caminis4 ,et fessum quoties mutet latus1 intremere omnem ,murmure ,trinacriam clum subtexere fumo4 ----tna1 whose ,ruins make a thunder2 ,sometimes black ,clouds of ,smoke1 that rowl about ,mingled with ,flakes of ,fire1 it belches out3 ,and sometimes ,balls of ,flame it darts on high1 ,or its torn ,bowels flings into the ,sky4 ,within deep ,cells under the ,earth1 a ,store ,of ,fire-materials1 molten ,stones1 and ,ore1 ,it gathers1 then spews out1 and gathers more4 ,enceladus1 when ,thunder-struck by ,jove1 ,was bury'd here1 and tna thrown above2 ,and when1 to change his wearied ,side1 he turns1 ,the ,island trembles and the ,mountain burns4 ,,not far from tna lies ,strombolo1 and other adjacent ,islands1 where there are also such ,magazines of ,fire2 and throughout all ,regions and ,countries in the ,west-,indies and in the ,east1 in the northern and southern ,parts of the ,earth1 there are some of these ,volcano's1 which are sensible ,evidences that the ,earth is incompact and full of ,caverns2 besides1 the roarings and bellowings that use to be heard before an ,eruption of these ,volcano's argue some dreadful ,hollowness in the ,belly1 or under the ,roots of the ,mountain1 where the ,exhalations struggle before they can break their ,prison4 ,,the subterraneous ,cavities1 that we have spoke of hitherto1 are such as are visible in the ,surface of the ,earth1 and break the ,skin by some gaping ,orifice2 but the ,miners and those that work under ,ground meet with many more in the ,bowels of the ,earth1 that never reach to the ,top of it2 ,burrows and ,channels1 and ,clifts and ,caverns1 that never had the ,comfort of one ,beam of ,light since the great ,fall of the ,earth4 ,and where we think the ,ground is firm and solid1 as upon ,heaths and ,downs1 it often betrays its ,hollowness1 by sounding under the ,horses ,feet and the ,chariot ,wheels that pass over it4 ,we do not know when and where we stand upon good ,ground1 if it was examin'd deep enough2 and to make us further sensible of this1 we will instance in two ,things that argue the ,unsoundness and ,hollowness of the ,earth in the inward ,recesses of it1 tho' the ,surface be intire and unbroken2 these are ,earthquakes and the ,communication of subterraneous ,waters and ,seas3 ,of which two we will speak a little more particularly4 ,,earthquakes are too evident ,demonstrations of the ,hollowness of the ,earth1 being the dreadful ,effects or ,consequences of it2 for if the ,body of the ,earth was sound and compact1 there would be no such thing in ,nature as an ,earthquake4 ,they are commonly accompanied with an heavy dead ,sound1 like a dull ,thunder which ariseth from the ,vapours that are striving in the ,womb of ,nature1 when her ,throws are coming upon her4 ,and that these ,caverns where the ,vapours lie are very large and capacious1 we are taught sometimes by sad ,experience2 for whole ,cities and ,countries have been swallow'd up into them1 as ,sodom and ,gomorrah1 and the ,region of ,pentapolis1 and several ,cities in ,greece1 and in ,asia1 and other ,parts4 ,whole ,islands also have been thus absorpt in an ,earthquake2 the ,pillars and ,props they stood upon being broken1 they have sunk and fallen in as an ,house blown up4 ,i am also of ,opinion1 that those ,islands that are made by ,divulsion from a ,continent1 as ,sicily was broken off from ,italy1 and ,great-,britain1 as some think1 from ,france1 have been made the same way2 that is1 the ,isthmus or ,necks of ,land1 that join'd these ,islands with their ,continents before1 have been hollow1 and being either worn by the ,water1 or shak'd by an ,earthquake1 have sunk down1 and so made ,way for the ,sea to overflow them1 and of a ,promontory to make an ,island4 ,for it is not at all likely that the ,neck of ,land continued standing1 and the ,sea overflow'd it1 and so made an ,island2 for then1 all those ,passages between such ,islands1 and their respective ,continents1 would be extremely shallow and unnavigable1 which we do not find them to be4 ,nor is it any more ,wonder if such a ,neck of ,land should fall1 than that a ,mountain should sink1 or any other ,tract of ,land1 and a ,lake rise in its ,place1 which hath often happened4 ,plato supposeth his ,atlantis to have been greater than ,asia and ,africa together1 and yet to have sunk all into the ,sea2 whether that be true or no1 ,i do not think it impossible that some ,arms of the ,sea1 or ,sinus's1 might have had such an ,original as that2 and ,i am very apt to think1 that for some ,years after the ,deluge1 'till the ,fragments were well settled and adjusted1 great ,alterations would happen as to the ,face of the ,sea and the ,land2 many of the ,fragments would change their ,posture1 and many would sink into the ,water1 that stood out before1 the ,props failing that bore them up1 or the ,joints and ,corners whereby they lean'd upon one another3 ,and thereupon a new ,face of ,things would arise1 and a new ,deluge for that part of the ,earth4 ,such ,removes and ,interchanges1 ,i believe1 would often happen in the first ,ages after the ,flood2 as we see in all other ,ruins1 there happen lesser and secondary ,ruins after the first1 'till the ,parts be so well pois'd and settled1 that without some ,violence they scarce change their ,posture any more4 ,,but to return to our ,earthquakes1 and to give an ,instance or two of their ,extent and ,violence3 ,pliny mentions one in the ,reign of ,tiberius ,csar1 that struck down twelve ,cities of ,asia in one ,night4 ,and ,fournier gives us an ,account of one in ,peru1 that reach'd three hundred ,leagues along the ,sea-shore1 and seventy ,leagues ,in-land2 and level'd the ,mountains all along as it went1 threw down the ,cities1 turn'd the ,rivers out of their ,channels1 and made an universal ,havock and ,confusion3 ,and all this1 he saith1 was done within the ,space of seven or eight ,minutes4 ,there must be dreadful ,vaults and ,mines under that ,continent that gave ,passage to the ,vapours1 and ,liberty to play for ,nine ,hundred ,miles in length1 and above two ,hundred in breadth4 ,asia also hath been very subject to these ,desolations by ,earthquakes2 and many ,parts in ,europe1 as ,greece1 ,italy1 and others4 ,the ,truth is1 our ,cities are built upon ,ruins1 and our ,fields and ,countries stand upon broken ,arches and ,vaults1 and so does the greatest ,part of the outward ,frame of the ,earth1 and therefore it is no ,wonder if it be often shaken2 there being ,quantities of ,exhalations within these ,mines1 or cavernous ,passages1 that are capable of ,rarefaction and ,inflammation2 and1 upon such ,occasions1 requiring more ,room1 they shake or break the ,ground that covers them4 ,and thus much concerning ,earthquakes4 ,a second ,observation that argues the ,hollowness of the ,earth1 is the ,communication of the ,seas and ,lakes under ,ground4 ,the ,caspian and ,mediterranean ,seas1 and several ,lakes1 receive into them great ,rivers1 and yet have no visible ,out-let3 ,these must have subterraneous ,out-lets1 by which they empty themselves1 otherwise they would redound and overflow the ,brims of their ,vessel4 ,the ,mediterranean is most remarkable in this ,kind1 because 'tis observ'd1 that at one ,end the great ,ocean flows into it through the ,straits of ,gibraltar1 with a sensible ,current1 and towards the other ,end about ,constantinople the ,pontus flows down into it with a ,stream so strong1 that ,vessels have much ado to stem it2 and yet it neither hath any visible ,evacuation or ,out-let1 nor overflows its ,banks4 ,and besides that it is thus fed at either ,end1 it is fed by the ,navel too1 as ,i may so say2 it sucks in1 by their ,channels1 several ,rivers into its ,belly1 whereof the ,nile is one very great and considerable4 ,these ,things have made it a great ,problem1 ,what becomes of the ,water of the ,mediterranean ,sea8 ,and for my ,part1 ,i think the ,solution is very easy1 namely1 that it is discharged by subterraneous ,passages1 or convey'd by ,channels under the ,ground into the ,ocean4 ,and this manner of ,discharge or ,conveyance is not peculiar to the ,mediterranean1 but is common to it with the ,caspian ,sea1 and other ,seas and ,lakes1 that receive great ,rivers into them1 and have no visible ,issue4 ,i know there have been propos'd several other ,ways to answer this ,difficulty concerning the ,efflux or ,consumption of the ,waters of the ,mediterranean2 some have suppos'd a double ,current in the ,strait of ,gibraltar1 one that carry'd the ,water in1 and another that brought it out2 like the ,arteries and ,veins in our ,body1 the one exporting our ,blood from the ,heart1 and the other re-importing it3 ,so they suppos'd one ,current upon the ,surface1 which carry'd the ,water into the ,mediterranean1 and under it at a certain ,depth a ,counter-,current1 which brought the ,water back into the ,ocean4 ,but this hath neither ,proof nor ,foundation2 for unless it was included in ,pipes1 as our ,blood is1 or consisted of ,liquors very different1 these cross ,currents would mingle and destroy one another4 ,others are of ,opinion1 that all the ,water that flows into the ,mediterranean1 or a ,quantity equal to it1 is consumed in ,exhalations every ,day3 ,this seems to be a bolder ,supposition than the other2 for if so much be consumed in ,vapours and ,exhalations every ,day as flows into this ,sea1 what if this ,sea had an ,out-let and discharg'd by that1 every ,day1 as much as it receiv'd8 ,in a few ,days the ,vapours would have consumed all the rest2 and yet we see many ,lakes that have as free an ,out-let as an ,in-let1 and are not consum'd1 or sensibly diminish'd by the ,vapours4 ,besides1 this ,reason is a ,summer ,reason1 and would pass very ill in ,winter1 when the ,heat of the ,sun is much less powerful3 ,at least there would be a very sensible ,difference betwixt the ,height of the ,waters in ,summer and ,winter1 if so much was consum'd every ,day1 as this ,explication supposeth4 ,and the ,truth is1 this ,want of a visible ,out-let is not a ,property belonging only to the ,mediterranean ,sea1 as we noted before1 but is also in other ,seas and great ,lakes1 some lying in one ,climate and some in another1 where there is no ,reason to suppose such excessive ,exhalations2 and tho' 'tis true some ,rivers in ,africk1 and in other ,parts of the ,earth1 are thus exhal'd and dry'd up1 without ever flowing into the ,sea 7as were all the ,rivers in the first ,earth7 yet this is where the ,sands and parch'd ,ground suck up a great part of them2 the heat of the ,climate being excessively strong1 and the ,channel of the ,river growing shallower by degrees1 and it may be1 divided into lesser ,branches and ,rivulets2 which are ,causes that take no ,place here4 ,and therefore we must return to our first ,reason1 which is universal1 for all ,seasons of the ,year and all ,climates2 and seeing we are assur'd that there are subterraneous ,channels and ,passages1 for ,rivers often fall into the ,ground1 and sometimes rise again1 and sometimes never return2 why should we doubt to ascribe this ,effect to so obvious a ,cause8 ,nay1 ,i believe1 the very ,ocean doth evacuate it self by subterraneous ,out-lets2 for considering what a prodigious ,mass of ,water falls into it every ,day from the wide ,mouths of all the ,rivers of the ,earth1 it must have ,out-lets proportionable2 and those ,syrtes or great ,whirlpools1 that are constant in certain ,parts or ,sinus's of the ,sea1 as upon the ,coast of ,norway and of ,italy1 arise probably from subterraneous ,out-lets in those ,places1 whereby the ,water sinks1 and turns1 and draws into it whatsoever comes within such a ,compass2 and if there was no ,issue at the ,bottom1 tho' it might by contrary ,currents turn ,things round within its ,sphere1 yet there is no ,reason from that1 why it should suck them down to the ,bottom4 ,neither does it seem improbable1 that the ,currents of the ,sea are from these ,in-draughts1 and that there is always a submarine ,in-let in some part of them1 to make a ,circulation of the ,waters4 ,but thus much for the subterraneous ,communication of ,seas and ,lakes4 ,,and thus much in general concerning subterraneous ,cavities1 and concerning the hollow and broken ,frame of the ,earth4 ,if ,i had now ,magick enough to shew you at one ,view all the ,inside of the ,earth1 which we have imperfectly describ'd2 if we could go under the ,roots of the ,mountains1 and into the ,sides of the broken ,rocks2 or could dive into the ,earth with one of those ,rivers that sink under ,ground1 and follow its ,course and all its ,windings till it rise again1 or led us to the ,sea1 we should have a much stronger and more effectual ,idea of the broken ,form of the ,earth1 than any we can excite by these faint ,descriptions collected from ,reason4 ,the ,ancients ,i remember us'd to represent these hollow ,caves and subterraneous ,regions in the ,nature of a ,world under ,ground1 and suppos'd it inhabited by the ,nymphs1 especially the ,nymphs of the ,waters and the ,sea-,goddesses2 so ,orpheus sung of old2 and in ,imitation of him ,virgil hath made a ,description of those ,regions2 feigning the ,nymph ,cyrene to send for her ,son to come down to her1 and make her a ,visit in those ,shades where ,mortals were not admitted4 ,duc age1 duc ad nos1 fas illi limina ,divum ,tangere1 ait3 ,simul alta jubet discedere late ,flumina1 qua juvenis gressus inferret1 at illum ,curvata in momis faciem circumstitit unda1 ,accepitque sinu vasto1 misitque sub amnem4 ,jamq2 domum mirans genetricis humida regna1 ,speluncisque lacos clausos1 lucosque sonantes1 ,ibat1 ingenti motu stupefactus aquarum ,omnia sub magna labentia flumina terra ,spectabat diversa locis2 ,phasimque ,licumque1 ,et ,thalami matris pendentia pumice tecta1 c4 ,virgil4 ,come lead the ,youth below1 bring him to me1 ,the ,gods are pleas'd our ,mansions he should see2 ,straight she commands the ,floods to make him ,way1 ,they open their wide ,bosom and obey2 ,soft is the ,path1 and easy is his ,tread1 ,a watry ,arch bends o'er his dewy ,head2 ,and as he goes he wonders1 and looks round1 ,to see this new found ,kingdom under ,ground4 ,the silent ,lakes in hollow ,caves he sees1 ,and on their ,banks an ecchoing ,grove of ,trees2 ,the ,fall of ,waters 'mongst the ,rocks below ,he hears1 and sees the ,rivers how they flow3 ,all the great ,rivers of the ,earth are there1 ,prepar'd1 as in a ,womb1 by ,nature's ,care4 ,last1 to his ,mother's ,bed chamber he's brought1 ,where the high ,roof with ,pumice-stone is wrought1 c4 ,if we now could open the ,earth as this ,nymph did the ,water1 and go down into the ,bosom of it2 see all the dark ,chambers and ,apartments there1 how ill contriv'd1 and how ill kept2 so many ,holes and ,corners1 some fill'd with ,smoak and ,fire1 some with ,water1 and some with ,vapours and mouldy ,air2 how like a ,ruin it lies gaping and torn in the ,parts of it2 ,we should not easily believe that ,god created it into this ,form immediately out of nothing3 ,it would have cost no more to have made ,things in better ,order2 nay1 it had been more easy and more simple3 ,and accordingly we are assured that all ,things were made at first in ,beauty and ,proportion4 ,and if we consider ,nature and the ,manner of the first ,formation of the ,earth1 'tis evident that there could be no such ,holes and ,caverns1 nor broken ,pieces1 made then in the ,body of it2 for the grosser ,parts of the ,chaos falling down towards the ,center1 they would there compose a ,mass of ,earth uniform and compact1 the ,water swimming above it2 and this first ,mass under the ,water could have no ,caverns or ,vacuities in it2 for if it had any1 the earthy ,parts1 while the ,mass was liquid or semi-liquid1 would have sunk into them and fill'd them up1 expelling the ,air or ,water that was there2 and when afterwards there came to be a ,crust or new ,earth form'd upon the ,face of the ,waters1 there could be no ,cavities1 no ,dens1 no ,fragments in it1 no more than in the other2 and for the same general ,reason1 that is1 passing from a liquid ,form into a concrete or solid1 leisurely and by degrees1 it would slow and settle together in an entire ,mass2 there being nothing broken1 nor any ,thing hard1 to bear the ,parts off from one another1 or to intercept any empty ,spaces between them4 ',,tis manifest then1 that the ,earth could not be in this cavernous ,form originally1 by any ,work of ,nature1 nor by any immediate ,action of ,god1 seeing there is neither ,use nor ,beauty in this kind of ,construction4 ,do we not then1 as reasonably1 as aptly1 ascribe it to that ,desolation that was brought upon the ,earth in the general ,deluge1 when its outward ,frame was dissolv'd and fell into the great ,abyss8 ,how easily doth this answer all that we have observ'd concerning the subterraneous ,regions8 ,that hollow and broken ,posture of ,things under ,ground1 all those ,caves and ,holes1 and blind ,recesses1 that are otherwise so unaccountable1 say but that they are a ,ruin1 and you have in one ,word explain'd them all4 ,for there is no sort of ,cavities1 interior or exterior1 great or little1 open or shut1 wet or dry1 of what ,form or ,fashion soever1 but we might reasonably expect them in a ,ruin of that ,nature4 ,and as for the subterraneous ,waters1 seeing the ,earth fell into the ,abyss1 the ,pillars and ,foundations of the present 7exterior7 ,earth must stand immers'd in ,water1 and therefore at such a ,depth from the ,surface every where1 there must be ,water found1 if the ,soil be of a ,nature to admit it4 ',tis true1 all subterraneous ,waters do not proceed from this ,original1 for many of them are the ,effects of ,rains and melted ,snows sunk into the ,earth2 but that in digging any where you constantly come to ,water at length1 even in the most solid ,ground1 this cannot proceed from these ,rains or ,snows1 but must come from below1 and from a ,cause as general as the ,effect is2 which can be no other in my ,judgment than this1 that the ,roots of the exterior ,earth stand within the old ,abyss1 whereof1 as a great ,part lies open in the ,sea1 so the rest lies hid and cover'd among the ,fragments of the ,earth2 sometimes dispers'd and only moistning the ,parts1 as our ,blood lies in the ,flesh1 and in the ,habit of the ,body2 sometimes in greater or lesser ,masses1 as the ,blood in our ,vessels4 ,and this ,i take to be the true ,account of subterraneous ,waters1 as distinguish'd from ,fountains and ,rivers1 and from the ,matter and ,causes of them4 ,,thus much we have spoke to give a general ,idea of the inward ,parts of the ,earth1 and an easy ,explication of them by our ,hypothesis2 which whether it be true or no1 if you compare it impartially with ,nature1 you will confess at least1 that all these ,things are just in such a ,form and ,posture as if it was true4 ,,chap4 ,x4 ,concerning the ,channel of the ,sea1 and the ,original of it2 ,the ,causes of its irregular ,form and unequal ,depths3 ,as also of the ,original of ,islands1 their ,situation and other ,properties4 ,we have hitherto given an ,account of the subterraneous ,regions1 and of their general ,form2 ,we now come above ,ground to view the ,surface of the ,globe1 which we find ,terraqueous1 or divided into ,sea and ,land3 ,these we must survey1 and what is remarkable in them as to their ,frame and ,structure1 we must give an ,account of from our ,hypothesis1 and shew to be unaccountable from any other yet known4 ,,as for the ,ocean1 there are two things considerable in it1 the ,water and the ,channel that contains it4 ,the ,water no doubt is as ancient as the ,earth1 and cotemporary with it1 and we suppose it to be part of the great ,abyss wherein the ,world was drown'd2 the rest lying cover'd under the ,hollow ,fragments of ,continents and ,islands4 ,but that is not so much the ,subject of our present ,discourse as the ,channel of the ,ocean1 that vast and prodigious ,cavity that runs quite round the ,globe1 and reacheth1 for ought we know1 from ,pole to ,pole1 and in many ,places is unsearchably deep3 ,when ,i present this great ,gulf to my ,imagination1 emptied of all its ,waters1 naked and gaping at the ,sun1 stretching its ,jaws from one ,end of the ,earth to another1 it appears to me the most ghastly thing in ,nature4 ,what ,hands or ,instruments could work a ,trench in the ,body of the ,earth of this vastness1 and lay ,mountains and ,rocks on the side of it1 as ,ramparts to enclose it8 ,,but as we justly admire its ,greatness1 so we cannot at all admire its ,beauty or ,elegancy1 for 'tis as deform'd and irregular as it is great4 ,and there appearing nothing of ,order1 or any regular ,design in its ,parts1 it seems reasonable to believe that it was not the ,work of ,nature1 according to her first ,intention1 or according to the first ,model that was drawn in ,measure and ,proportion by the ,line and by the ,plummet1 but a secondary ,work1 and the best that could be made of broken ,materials4 ,and upon this ,supposition 'tis easy to imagine1 how upon the ,dissolution of the ,primval ,earth1 the ,channel of the ,sea was made1 or that huge ,cavity that lies between the several ,continents of the ,earth2 which shall be more particularly explain'd after we have view'd a little better the ,form of it1 and the ,islands that lie scatter'd by its ,shores4 ,,there is no ,cavity in the ,earth1 whether open or subterraneous1 that is comparably so great as that of the ,ocean1 nor would any appear of that ,deformity if we could see it empty4 ,the ,inside of a ,cave is rough and unsightly2 the ,beds of great ,rivers and great ,lakes1 when they are laid dry1 look very raw and rude1 the ,valleys of the ,earth1 if they were naked1 without ,trees and without ,grass1 nothing but bare ,ground and bare ,stones1 from the tops of their ,mountains1 would have a ghastly ,aspect2 but the ,sea-,channel is the ,complex of all these2 here ,caves1 empty ,lakes1 naked ,valleys are represented as in their ,original1 or rather far exceeded and out-done as to all their ,irregularities2 for the ,cavity of the ,ocean is universally irregular1 both as to the ,shores and ,borders of it2 as to the uncertain ,breadth and the uncertain ,depth of its several ,parts1 and as to its ,ground and ,bottom and the whole ,mould3 ,if the ,sea had been drawn round the ,earth in regular ,figures and ,borders1 it might have been a great ,beauty to our ,globe1 and we should reasonably have concluded it a ,work of the first ,creation1 or of ,nature's first ,production2 but finding on the contrary all the ,marks of ,disorder and ,disproportion in it1 we may as reasonably conclude1 that it did not belong to the first ,order of ,things1 but was something succedaneous1 when the ,degeneracy of ,mankind1 and the ,judgments of ,god had destroyed the first ,world1 and subjected the ,creation to some kind of ,vanity4 ,,nor can it easily be imagin'd1 if the ,sea had been always1 and the ,earth1 in this ,terraqueous ,form1 broke into ,continents and ,islands1 how ,mankind could have been propagated at first thro' the ,face of the ,earth1 all from one ,head and from one ,place4 ,for ,navigation was not then known1 at least as to the ,grand ,ocean1 or to pass from ,continent to ,continent2 and ,i believe ,noah's ,ark was the first ,ship1 or ,vessel of ,bulk1 that ever was built in the ,world2 how could then the ,posterity of ,adam overflow the ,earth1 and stock the several ,parts of the ,world1 if they had been distant or separate then1 as they are now1 by the ,interposal of the great ,ocean8 ,but this ,consideration we will insist upon more largely in another ,place2 let us reflect upon the ,irregularities of the ,sea-,channel again1 and the possible ,causes of it4 ,,if we could imagine the ,channel of the ,sea to have been made as we may imagine the ,channel of ,rivers to have been1 by long and insensible ,attrition1 the ,water wearing by degrees the ,ground under it1 by the ,force it hath from its ,descent and ,course1 we should not wonder at its irregular ,form2 but 'tis not possible this ,channel should have had any such ,original2 whence should its ,water have descended1 from what ,mountains1 or from what ,clouds8 ,where is the ,spring-head of the ,sea8 ,what ,force could eat away half the ,surface of the ,earth2 and wear it hollow to an immeasurable ,depth8 ,this must not be from feeble and lingring ,causes1 such as the ,attrition of ,waters1 but from some great ,violence offer'd to ,nature1 such as we suppose to have been in the general ,deluge1 when the ,frame of the ,earth was broken4 ,and after we have a little survey'd the ,sea-,coast1 and1 so far as we can1 the ,form of the ,sea-,channel1 we shall the more easily believe that they could have no other ,original than what we assign4 ,,the ,shores and ,coasts of the ,sea are no way equal or uniform1 but go in a ,line uncertainly crooked and broke2 indented and jagg'd as a thing torn1 as you may see in the ,maps of the ,coasts and the ,sea-charts2 and yet there are innumerable more ,inequalities than are taken ,notice of in those ,draughts2 for they only mark the greater ,promontories and ,bays2 but there are besides those a ,multitude of ,creeks and ,out-lets1 ,necks of ,land and ,angles1 which break the ,evenness of the ,shore in all manner of ,ways4 ,then the ,height and ,level of the ,shore is as uncertain as the ,line of it2 'tis sometimes high and sometimes low1 sometimes spread in sandy ,plains1 as smooth as the ,sea it self1 and of such an equal ,height with it1 that the ,waves seem to have no ,bounds1 but the meer ,figure and ,convexity of the ,globe2 in other ,places 'tis rais'd into ,banks and ,ramparts of ,earth1 and in others 'tis wall'd in with ,rocks2 and all this without any ,order that we can observe1 or any other ,reason than that this is what might be expected in a ,ruin4 ,,as to the ,depths and ,soundings of the ,sea1 they are under no ,rule nor ,equality1 any more than the ,figures of the ,shores2 ,shallows in some ,places1 and ,gulphs in others2 ,beds of ,sands sometimes1 and sometimes ,rocks under ,water2 as ,navigators have learn'd by a long and dangerous ,experience3 ,and tho' we that are upon dry ,land1 are not much concern'd how the ,rocks and the ,shelves lie in the ,sea1 yet a poor ,shipwreckt-,mariner1 when he hath run his ,vessel upon a ,rock in the middle of the ,channel1 expostulates bitterly with ,nature1 who it was that plac'd that ,rock there1 and to what purpose8 ,was there not ,room enough1 saith he1 upon the ,land1 or the ,shore1 to lay your great ,stones1 but they must be thrown into the middle of the ,sea1 as it were in spite to ,navigation8 ,the best ,apology that can be made for ,nature in this ,case1 so far as ,i know1 is to confess1 that the whole ,business of the ,sea-,channel is but a ,ruin1 and in a ,ruin ,things tumble uncertainly1 and commonly lie in ,confusion3 ,tho' to speak the ,truth1 it seldom happens1 unless in narrow ,seas1 that ,rocks1 or ,banks1 or ,islands1 lie in the middle of them1 or very far from the ,shores4 ,,having view'd the more visible ,parts of the ,channel of the ,sea1 we must now descend to the ,bottom of it1 and see the ,form and ,contrivance of that2 but who shall guide us in our ,journey1 while we walk1 as ,job saith1 ,chap4 xxxviii4 #af4 in the search of the ,deep8 ,or who can make a ,description of that which none hath seen8 ,it is reasonable to believe1 that the ,bottom of the ,sea is much more rugged1 broken and irregular than the ,face of the ,land4 ,there are ,mountains1 and ,valleys1 and ,rocks1 and ,ridges of ,rocks1 and all the common ,inequalities we see upon ,land2 beside these1 'tis very likely there are ,caves under ,water1 and hollow ,passages into the ,bowels of the ,earth1 by which the ,seas circulate and communicate one with another1 and with subterraneous ,waters2 those great ,eddies and infamous ,syrtes and ,whirpools that are in some ,seas1 as the ,baltick and the ,mediterranean1 that suck into them and overwhelm whatever comes within their reach1 shew that there is something below that sucks from them in ,proportion1 and that drinks up the ,sea1 as the ,sea drinks up the ,rivers4 ,we ought also to imagine the ,shores within the ,water to go inclin'd and sloping1 but with great ,inequality2 there are many ,shelves in the way1 and ,chambers1 and sharp ,angles2 and many broken ,rocks and great ,stones lie rolled down to the ,bottom4 ',,tis true these things affect us little1 because they are not expos'd to our ,senses2 and we seldom give our selves the trouble to collect from ,reason what the ,form of the invisible and inaccessible ,parts of the ,earth is2 or if we do sometimes1 those ,ideas are faint and weak1 and make no lasting ,impression upon our ,imagination and ,passions2 but if we should suppose the ,ocean dry1 and that we look'd down from the ,top of some high ,cloud upon the empty ,shell1 how horridly and barbarously would it look8 ,and with what ,amazement should we see it under us like an open ,hell1 or a wide bottomless ,pit8 ,so deep1 and hollow1 and vast2 so broken and confus'd1 so every way deform'd and monstrous4 ,this would effectually waken our ,imagination1 and make us enquire and wonder how such a thing came in ,nature2 from what ,causes1 by what ,force or ,engines could the ,earth be torn in this prodigious manner8 ,did they dig the ,sea with ,spades1 and carry out the ,molds in ,hand-baskets8 ,where are the ,entrails laid8 and how did they cleave the ,rocks asunder8 ,if as many ,pioneers as the ,army of ,xerxes had been at ,work ever since the ,beginning of the ,world1 they could not have made a ,ditch of this ,greatness4 ,nor is it the ,greatness only1 but that wild and multifarious ,confusion which we see in the ,parts and ,fashion of it1 that makes it strange and unaccountable2 'tis another ,chaos in its kind2 who can paint the ,scenes of it8 ,gulphs1 and ,precipices1 and ,cataracts2 ,pits within ,pits1 and ,rocks under ,rocks1 broken ,mountains and ragged ,islands1 that look as if they had been ,countries pull'd up by the ,roots1 and planted in the ,sea4 ,,if we could make true and full ,representations of these things to our selves1 ,i think we should not be so bold as to make them the immediate ,product of ,divine ,omnipotence2 being destitute of all ,appearance of ,art or ,counsel4 ,the first ,orders of things are more perfect and regular2 and this ,decorum seems to be observ'd1 that ,nature doth not fall into ,disorder till ,mankind be first degenerate and leads the way4 ,monsters have been often made an ,argument against ,providence2 if a ,calf have two ,heads1 or five ,legs1 straight there must not be a ,god in ,heaven1 or at least not upon ,earth2 and yet this is but a ,chance that happens once in many ,years1 and is of no consequence at all to the rest of the ,world3 ,but if we make the standing ,frame of ,nature monstrous1 or deform'd and disproportion'd1 and to have been so not by ,corruption and ,degeneracy1 but immediately by divine ,creation or ,formation1 it would not be so easy to answer that ,objection against ,providence4 ,let us therefore prevent this ,imputation2 and supposing1 according to our ,theory1 that these ,things were not originally thus1 let us now explain more distinctly how they came to pass at the ,deluge1 or upon the ,dissolution of the first ,earth4 ,,and we will not content our selves with a general ,answer to these ,observations concerning the ,sea-,channel1 as if it was a sufficient ,account of them to say they were the ,effects of a ,ruin2 there are other things to be consider'd and explain'd beside this ,irregularity1 as the vast ,hollowness of this ,cavity1 bigger incomparably than any other belonging to the ,earth2 and also the ,declivity of the ,sides of it1 which lie shelving from ,top to ,bottom3 ,for notwithstanding all the ,inequalities we have taken ,notice of in the ,channel of the ,sea1 it hath one general ,form1 which may1 though under many ,differences1 be observed throughout1 and that is1 that the ,shores and ,sides within the ,water lie inclin'd1 and you descend by degrees to the deepest ,part which is towards the ,middle4 ,this1 ,i know1 admits of many ,exceptions2 for sometimes upon a rocky ,shore1 or among rocky ,islands1 the ,sea is very deep close to the ,rocks1 and the deeper1 commonly the higher and steeper the ,rocks are4 ,also where the ,descent is more leisurely1 'tis often after a different ,manner1 in some ,coasts more equal and uniform1 in others more broken and interrupted2 but still there is a ,descent to the ,channel or deepest ,part1 and this in the deep ,ocean is fathomless2 and such a deep ,ocean1 and such a deep ,channel there is always between ,continents4 ,this1 ,i think1 is a ,property as determinate as any we can pitch upon in the ,channel of the ,sea1 and with those other two mention'd2 its vast ,cavity1 and universal ,irregularity1 is all one can desire an ,account of1 as to the ,form of it2 we will therefore from this ,ground take our ,rise and first ,measures for the ,explication of the ,sea-,channel4 ,,let us suppose then in the ,dissolution of the ,earth1 when it began to fall1 that it was divided only into three or four ,fragments1 according to the ,number of our ,continents2 but those ,fragments being vastly great could not descend at their full ,breadth and ,expansion1 or at least could not descend so fast in the ,middle1 as towards the ,extremities2 because the ,air about the ,edges would yield and give ,place easily1 not having far to go1 to get out of the ,way2 but the ,air that was under the ,middle of the ,fragment could not without a very swift ,motion get from under the ,concave of it1 and consequently its ,descent there would be more resisted and suspended2 but the ,sides in the mean time would continually descend1 bending the ,fragment with their ,weight1 and so making it of a lesser ,compass and ,expansion than it was before3 ,and by this ,means there would be an ,interval and ,distance made between the two falling ,fragments1 and a good ,part of the ,abyss1 after their ,descent1 would lie uncover'd in the ,middle betwixt them2 as may be seen in the annex'd ,figure1 where the ,fragments ,a4 ,b4 bending downwards in their ,extremities1 separate as they go1 and after they are faln1 leave a good ,space in the ,abyss betwixt them altogether uncover'd3 ,this ,space is the main ,channel of the great ,ocean1 lying betwixt two ,continents2 and the inclining ,sides shew the ,declivity of the ,shores4 ,illustration3 ,fragments are starting to break into ,continents4 ,illustration3 ,the ,fragments have ,fallen like double ,doors4 ,,this we have represented here only in a ,ring or ,circle of the ,earth1 in the first ,figure2 but it may be better represented in a broader ,surface1 as in the second ,figure1 where the two ,fragments ,a4 ,b4 that are to make the two opposite ,continents1 fall in like double ,doors1 opening downwards1 the ,hinges being towards the ,land on either ,side1 so as at the ,bottom they leave in the ,middle betwixt them a deep ,channel of ,water1 a4 a4 a4 such as is betwixt all ,continents2 and the ,water reaching a good ,height upon the ,land on either ,side1 makes ,sea there too1 but shallower1 and by degrees you descend into the deepest ,channel4 ,illustration3 ,the great ,disorder in the ,chasm between the ,fragments4 ,,this gives an ,account of two ,things that we mention'd to be consider'd and explain'd as to the ,sea1 how the great ,cavity of its ,channel was made1 and how it was made in that general ,form of ,declivity in its ,sides from the ,land3 ,the third ,thing was the ,irregularities of it1 both as to its various ,depths1 and as to the ,form of the ,shores and of the ,bottom4 ,and this is as easily and naturally explain'd from the same ,supposition as the former two2 for tho' we have hitherto represented the ,fragments ,a4 ,b4 as even and regular after their ,fall1 because that was most simple1 and there was no occasion then to represent them otherwise1 yet we must suppose1 that as soon as in their ,fall they hit upon the ,top or ,bottom of the ,abyss1 that great ,force and ,weight with which they descended broke off all the ,edges and ,extremities1 and so made innumerable ,ruptures and ,inequalities in the ,shores1 and as many within the ,sea1 and at the ,bottom2 where the broken ,rocks and ,lumps of ,earth would lie in all imaginable ,disorder2 as you may conceive from the third ,figure4 ,for when the ,motion came on a sudden to be obstructed1 the ,load of the ,fragment still pressing it forwards1 such a ,concussion arose1 as made thousands of lesser ,fragments1 of all ,shapes and ,magnitudes1 and in all ,postures and ,forms1 and most of them irregular4 ,and by these ,fractions and secondary ,ruins the ,line of the ,shores was broken1 and the ,level of them too3 ,in some ,places they would stand high1 in others low1 sometimes rough1 and sometimes even1 and generally crooked1 with ,angles and ,in-lets1 and uncertain ,windings4 ,the ,bottom also by the same ,stroke was diversify'd into all ,manner of ,forms1 sometimes rocky with ,pits and ,gulphs1 and sometimes spread in plain ,beds1 sometimes shallow1 and sometimes deep2 for those ,differences would depend only upon the ,situation of the secondary ,fragments2 and so it might come to pass1 that some ,places near the ,shore might be excessive deep when a ,rock or ,rocks stood in a steep ,posture1 as 7,figure #c47 b4 b4 b4 and1 on the contrary1 sometimes ,places much more advanc'd into the ,ocean might be less deep1 where a ,fragment of ,earth lay under ,water1 or one bore up another1 as c4 c4 c4 but these ,cases would not be very frequent4 ,to conclude1 ,there are no ,properties of the ,sea-channel1 that ,i know of1 nor ,differences or ,irregularities in the ,form of it1 which this ,hypothesis doth not give a fair ,account of3 ,and having thus far open'd the ,way and laid down the general ,grounds for their ,explication1 other things that are more minute1 we leave to the ,curiosity of particular ,genius's2 being unwilling to clog the ,theory at first with things that may seem unnecessary4 ,we proceed now to the ,consideration of ,islands4 ,,we must in the first ,place distinguish between ,original ,islands and ,fictitious ,islands3 ,those ,i call fictitious1 that are not of the same ,date and ,antiquity with the ,sea1 but have been made some at one time1 some at another1 by accidental ,causes1 as the ,aggestion of ,sands and ,sand-beds1 or the ,sea leaving the ,tops of some shallow ,places that lie high1 and yet flowing about the lower ,skirts of them2 these make sandy and plain ,islands1 that have no high ,land in them1 and are but ,mock-,islands in effect4 ,others are made by ,divulsion from some ,continent1 when an ,isthmus1 or the ,neck of a ,promontory running into the ,sea1 sinks or falls in1 by an ,earthquake or otherwise1 and the ,sea entring in at the ,gap passeth through1 and makes that ,promontory or ,country become an ,island4 ,thus the ,island ,sicily is suppos'd to have been made1 and all ,africa might be an ,island1 if the ,isthmus between the ,mediterranean and the red ,sea should sink down4 ,and these ,islands may have ,rocks and ,mountains in them1 if the ,land had so before4 ,lastly1 ,there are ,islands that have been said to rise from the ,bottom of the ,sea2 ,history mentions such in both the ,archipelago's1 gan and ,indian2 and this seems to argue that there are great ,fragments or ,tracts of ,earth that lie loose at the ,bottom of the ,sea1 or that are not incorporated with the ,ground2 which agrees very well with our ,explication of the ,sea-,channel4 ,,but beside these ,islands1 and the several ,sorts of them1 there are others which ,i call ,original2 because they could not be produc'd in any of the forementioned ,ways1 but are of the same ,origin and ,antiquity with the ,channel of the ,sea2 and such are the ,generality of our ,islands2 they were not made of ,heaps of ,sands1 nor torn from any ,continent1 but are as ancient as the ,continents themselves1 namely1 ever since the ,deluge1 the common ,parent of them both4 ,nor is there any ,difficulty to understand how ,islands were made at the ,dissolution of the ,earth1 any more than how ,continents were made2 for ,islands are but lesser ,continents1 or ,continents greater ,islands2 and according as ,continents were made of greater ,masses of ,earth1 or greater ,fragments standing above the ,water1 so ,islands were made of less1 but so big always1 and in such a ,posture1 as to bear their ,tops above the ,water4 ,yet tho' they agree thus far1 there is a particular ,difference to be taken notice of1 as to their ,origin2 for the ,continents were made of those three or four primary ,masses into which the falling ,orb of the ,earth was divided1 but the ,islands were made of the ,fractures of these1 and broken off by the ,fall1 from the ,skirts and ,extremities of the ,continents3 ,we noted before1 that when those great ,masses and primary ,fragments came to dash upon the ,abyss in their ,fall1 the sudden ,stop of the ,motion1 and the weighty ,bulk of the descending ,fragment broke off all the ,edges and ,extremities of it1 which ,edges and ,extremities broken off made the ,islands2 and accordingly we see that they generally lie scatter'd along the ,sides of the ,continents1 and are but ,splinters1 as it were1 of those greater ,bodies4 ',tis true1 beside these1 there were an infinite ,number of other ,pieces broke off that do not appear1 some making ,rocks under ,water1 some ,shallows and ,banks in the ,sea2 but the greatest of them when they fell either one upon another1 or in such a ,posture as to prop up one another1 their ,heads and higher ,parts would stand out of the ,water and make ,islands4 ,,thus ,i conceive the ,islands of the ,sea were at first produc'd2 we cannot wonder therefore that they should be so numerous1 or far more numerous than the ,continents2 these are the ,parents1 and those are the ,children2 nor can we wonder to see along the ,sides of the ,continents several ,islands1 or ,sets of ,islands1 sown1 as it were1 by ,handfuls1 or laid in ,trains2 for the ,manner of their ,generation would lead us to think they would be so plac'd4 ,so the ,american ,islands lie scatter'd upon the ,coast of that ,continent2 the ,maldivian and ,philippine upon the ,east-,india ,shore1 and the ,hesperides upon the ,africk2 and there seldom happen to be any towards the ,middle of the ,ocean1 tho' by an ,accident1 that also might come to pass4 ,lastly1 ,it suits very well with our ,explication1 that there should be ,mountains and ,rocks1 sometimes in ,clusters1 sometimes in long ,chains1 in all ,islands2 7as we find there are in all that are true and original7 for 'tis that makes them high enough to appear above the ,water1 and strong enough to continue and preserve themselves in that high ,situation4 ,,and thus much may suffice for a summary ,explication of the ,causes of the ,sea-,channel and ,islands1 according to our ,hypothesis4 ,,chap4 ,,xi4 ,concerning the ,mountains of the ,earth1 their ,greatness and irregular ,form1 their ,situation1 ,causes1 and ,origin4 ,,we have been in the ,hollows of the ,earth1 and the ,chambers of the ,deep1 amongst the ,damps and ,steams of those lower ,regions2 let us now go air our selves on the ,tops of the ,mountains1 where we shall have a more free and large ,horizon1 and quite another ,face of ,things will present it self to our ,observation4 ,,the greatest ,objects of ,nature are1 methinks1 the most pleasing to behold2 and next to the great ,concave of the ,heavens1 and those boundless ,regions where the ,stars inhabit1 there is nothing that ,i look upon with more ,pleasure than the wide ,sea and the ,mountains of the ,earth4 ,there is something august and stately in the ,air of these things1 that inspires the ,mind with great ,thoughts and ,passions2 we do naturally1 upon such ,occasions1 think of ,god and his ,greatness3 ,and whatsoever hath but the ,shadow and ,appearance of ,,infinite1 as all ,things have that are too big for our ,comprehension1 they fill and over-bear the ,mind with their ,excess1 and cast it into a pleasing kind of ,stupor and ,admiration4 ,,and yet these ,mountains we are speaking of1 to confess the ,truth1 are nothing but great ,ruins2 but such as shew a certain ,magnificence in ,nature2 as from old ,temples and broken ,amphitheatres of the ,romans we collect the ,greatness of that ,people4 ,but the ,grandeur of a ,nation is less sensible to those that never see the ,remains and ,monuments they have left2 and those who never see the mountainous ,parts of the ,earth scarce ever reflect upon the ,causes of them1 or what ,power in ,nature could be sufficient to produce them4 ,the ,truth is1 the ,generality of ,people have not ,sense and ,curiosity enough to raise a ,question concerning these things1 or concerning the ,original of them4 ,you may tell them that ,mountains grow out of the ,earth like ,fuzz-balls1 or that there are ,monsters under ,ground1 that throw up ,mountains as ,moles do ,mole-hills2 they will scarce raise one ,objection against your ,doctrine4 ,or if you would appear more ,learned1 tell them that the ,earth is a great ,animal1 and these are ,wens that grow upon its ,body2 this would pass current for ,philosophy2 so much is the ,world drown'd in ,stupidity and sensual ,pleasures1 and so little inquisitive into the ,works of ,god and ,nature4 ,,there is nothing doth more awaken our ,thoughts1 or excite our ,minds to enquire into the ,causes of such ,things1 than the actual ,view of them2 as ,i have had ,experience my self1 when it was my ,fortune to cross the ,alps and ,apennine ,mountains2 for the ,sight of those wild1 vast1 and indigested ,heaps of ,stones and ,earth did so deeply strike my ,fancy1 that ,i was not easy 'till ,i could give my self some tolerable ,account how that ,confusion came in ,nature1 ',tis true1 the ,height of ,mountains compar'd with the ,diameter of the ,earth is not considerable1 but the ,extent of them and the ,ground they stand upon bears a considerable ,proportion to the ,surface of the ,earth2 and if from ,europe we may take our ,measures for the rest1 ,i easily believe1 that the ,mountains do at least take up the ,tenth ,part of the dry ,land4 ,the ,geographers are not very careful to describe or note in their ,charts the ,multitude or ,situation of ,mountains2 ,they mark the ,bounds of ,countries1 the ,site of ,cities and ,towns1 and the ,course of ,rivers1 because these are ,things of chief ,use to ,civil ,affairs and ,commerce1 and that they design to serve1 and not ,philosophy or natural ,history4 ,but ,cluverius1 in his ,description of ,ancient ,germany1 ,switzerland1 and ,italy1 hath given ,maps of those ,countries more approaching to the natural ,face of them1 and we have drawn 7at the end of this ,chapter7 such a ,map of either ,hemisphere1 without marking ,countries or ,towns1 or any such artificial ,things2 distinguishing only ,land and ,sea1 ,islands and ,continents1 ,mountains and not ,mountains2 and 'tis very useful to imagine the ,earth in this ,manner1 and to look often upon such bare ,draughts1 as shew us ,nature undrest2 for then we are best able to judge what her true ,shapes and ,proportions are4 ',,tis certain that we naturally imagine the ,surface of the ,earth much more regular than it is2 for unless we be in some mountainous ,parts1 there seldom occur any great ,inequalities within so much ,compass of ,ground as we can at once reach with our ,eye2 and to conceive the rest1 we multiply the same ,idea1 and extend it to those ,parts of the ,earth that we do not see1 and so fancy the whole ,globe much more smooth and uniform than it is4 ,but suppose a ,man was carried asleep out of a plain ,country amongst the ,alps1 and left there upon the ,top of one of the highest ,mountains1 when he wak'd and look'd about him1 he wou'd think himself in an inchanted ,country1 or carried into another ,world2 every ,thing wou'd appear to him so different to what he had ever seen or imagin'd before4 ,to see on every ,hand of him a ,multitude of vast ,bodies thrown together in ,confusion1 as those ,mountains are2 ,rocks standing naked round about him2 and the hollow ,valleys gaping under him2 and at his ,feet1 it may be1 an ,heap of frozen ,snow in the midst of ,summer4 ,he would hear the ,thunder come from below1 and see the black ,clouds hanging beneath him2 upon such a ,prospect it would not be easy to him to persuade himself that he was still upon the same ,earth2 but if he did1 he would be convinc'd1 at least1 that there are some ,regions of it strangely rude1 and ruin-like1 and very different from what he had ever thought of before4 ,but the ,inhabitants of these wild ,places are even with us2 for those that live amongst the ,alps1 and the great ,mountains1 think that all the rest of the ,earth is like their ,country1 all broken into ,mountains1 and ,valleys1 and ,precipices2 they never see other1 and most ,people think of nothing but what they have seen at one time or an other4 ,,these ,alps we are speaking of are the greatest ,range of ,mountains in ,europe2 and 'tis prodigious to see and to consider of what extent these ,heaps of ,stones and ,rubbish are2 one way they over-spread ,savoy and ,dauphine1 and reach thro' ,france to the ,pyrenean ,mountains1 and so to the ,ocean4 ,the other way they run along the ,skirts of ,germany1 thro' ,styria1 ,pannonia1 and ,dalmatia1 as far as ,thrace and the ,black ,sea4 ,then backwards they cover ,switzerland and the ,parts adjacent2 and that ,branch of them which we call the ,apennines strikes thro' ,italy1 and is1 as it were1 the ,back-bone of that ,country4 ,this must needs be a large ,space of ,ground which they stand upon2 yet 'tis not this ,part of ,europe only that is laden with ,mountains1 the ,northern ,part is as rough and rude in the ,face of the ,country1 as in the ,manners of the ,people2 ,bohemia1 ,silesia1 ,denmark1 ,norway1 ,sweedland1 ,lapland1 and ,iseland1 and all the ,coasts of the ,baltick ,sea1 are full of ,clifts1 and ,rocks1 and ,crags of ,mountains3 ,besides the ,riphean ,mountains in ,muscovy1 which the ,inhabitants there use to call the ,stone-girdle1 and believe that it girds the ,earth round about4 ,,nor are the other ,parts of our ,continent more free from ,mountains than ,europe1 nor other ,parts of the ,earth than our ,continent2 ,they are in the ,new ,world as well as the ,old2 and if they could discover two or three ,new ,worlds or ,continents more1 they would still find them there4 ,neither is there any ,original ,island upon the ,earth1 but is either all a ,rock1 or hath ,rocks of ,mountains in it4 ,and all the dry ,land1 and every ,continent1 is but a kind of ,mountain2 tho' that ,mountain hath a ,multitude of lesser ones1 and ,valleys1 and ,plains1 and ,lakes1 and ,marshes1 and all ,variety of ,grounds4 ,,in ,america1 the ,andes1 or a ,ridge of ,mountains so call'd1 are reported to be higher than any we have1 reaching above a ,thousand ,leagues in ,length1 and ,twenty in ,breadth1 where they are the narrowest4 ,in ,africk the ,mountain ,atlas1 that for its height was said to bear the ,heavens on its ,back1 runs all along from the ,western ,sea to the ,borders of gypt1 parallel with the ,mediterranean4 ,there also are the ,mountains of the ,moon1 and many more1 whereof we have but an imperfect ,account1 as neither indeed of that ,country in the remote and inner ,parts of it4 ,asia is better known1 and the ,mountains thereof better describ'd3 ,taurus1 which is the principal1 was adjudg'd by the ,ancient ,geographers the greatest in the ,world4 ,it divides ,asia into two ,parts1 which have their ,denomination from it3 ,and there is an ,anti-,taurus the greater and the less1 which accordingly divide ,armenia into greater and less4 ,then the ,cruciform ,mountains of ,imaus1 the famous ,caucasus1 the long ,chains of ,tartary and ,china1 and the rocky and mountainous ,arabia4 ,if one could at once have a ,prospect of all these together1 one would be easily satisfied1 that the ,globe of the ,earth is a more rude and indigested ,body than 'tis commonly imagin'd2 if one could see1 ,i say1 all the ,kingdoms and ,regions of the ,earth at one view1 how they lie in broken ,heaps2 the ,sea hath overwhelmed one half of them1 and what remains are but the taller ,parts of a ,ruin4 ,look upon those great ,ranges of ,mountains in ,europe or in ,asia1 whereof we have given a short ,survey2 in what ,confusion do they lie8 ,they have neither ,form nor ,beauty1 nor ,shape1 nor ,order1 no more than the ,clouds in the ,air4 ,then how barren1 how desolate1 how naked are they8 ,how they stand neglected by ,nature8 ,neither the ,rains can soften them1 nor the ,dews from ,heaven make them fruitful4 ,i have given this short ,account of the ,mountains of the ,earth1 to help to remove that ,prejudice we are apt to have1 or that ,conceit1 that the present ,earth is regularly form'd4 ,and to this ,purpose ,i do not doubt but that it would be of very good ,use to have natural ,maps of the ,earth1 as we noted before1 as well as civil2 and done with the same ,care and ,judgment4 ,our common ,maps ,i call ,civil1 which note the ,distinction of ,countries and of ,cities1 and represent the ,artificial ,earth as inhabited and cultivated3 ,but ,natural ,maps leave out all that1 and represent the ,earth as it would be if there was not an ,inhabitant upon it1 nor ever had been2 the ,skeleton of the ,earth1 as ,i may so say1 with the sight of all its ,parts4 ,methinks also every ,prince should have such a ,draught of his own ,country and ,dominions1 to see how the ,ground lies in the several ,parts of them1 which highest1 which lowest2 what respect they have to one another1 and to the ,sea2 how the ,rivers flow1 and why2 how the ,mountains stand2 how the ,heaths and how the ,marshes are plac'd4 ,such a ,map or ,survey would be useful both in time of ,war and ,peace1 and many good ,observations might be made by it1 not only as to natural ,history and ,philosophy1 but also in order to the perfect ,improvement of a ,country4 ,but to return to our ,mountains4 ,,and this ,view of the ,multitude and ,greatness of them1 may help to rectify our ,mistakes about the ,form of the ,earth2 so before we proceed to examine their ,causes it will be good to observe further1 that these ,mountains are plac'd in no ,order one with another1 that can either respect ,use or ,beauty2 and if you consider them singly1 they do not consist of any ,proportion of ,parts that is referable to any ,design1 or that hath the least ,footsteps of ,art or ,counsel4 ,there is nothing in ,nature more shapeless and ill-figur'd than an old ,rock or a ,mountain1 and all that ,variety that is among them1 is but the various ,modes of ,irregularity2 so as you cannot make a better ,character of them1 in short1 than to say they are of all ,forms and ,figures except regular4 ,then if you would go within these ,mountains 7for they are generally hollow7 you would find all things there more rude1 if possible1 than without3 ,and lastly1 if you look upon an ,heap of them together1 or a mountainous ,country1 they are the greatest ,examples of ,confusion that we know in ,nature2 no ,tempest or ,earthquake puts ,things into more ,disorder4 ',tis true1 they cannot look so ill now as they did at first2 a ,ruin that is fresh1 looks much worse than afterwards1 when the ,earth grows discolour'd and skinn'd over4 ,but ,i fancy1 if we had seen the ,mountains when they were new born and raw1 when the ,earth was fresh broken1 and the ,waters of the ,deluge newly retir'd1 the ,fractions and ,confusions of them would have appear'd very ghastly and frightful4 ,,after this general ,survey of the ,mountains of the ,earth and their ,properties1 let us now reflect upon the ,causes of them4 ,there is a double ,pleasure in ,philosophy2 first1 that of ,admiration1 whilst we contemplate ,things that are great and wonderful1 and do not yet understand their ,causes2 for tho' ,admiration proceeds from ,ignorance1 yet there is a certain ,charm and ,sweetness in that ,passion4 ,then the second ,pleasure is greater and more intellectual1 which is that of distinct ,knowledge and ,comprehension1 when we come to have the ,key that unlocks those ,secrets1 and see the ,methods wherein those ,things come to pass that we admir'd before3 ,the ,reasons why the ,world is so or so1 and from what ,causes ,nature1 or any ,part of ,nature1 came into such a ,state2 and this we are now to enquire after1 as to the ,mountains of the ,earth1 what their ,original was1 how and when the ,earth came into this strange ,frame and ,structure8 ,in the ,beginning of our ,world1 when the ,earth rose from a ,chaos1 'twas impossible it should come immediately into this mountainous ,form2 because a ,mass that is fluid1 as a ,chaos is1 cannot lie in any other ,figure than what is regular2 for the constant ,laws of ,nature do certainly bring all ,liquors into that ,form3 ,and a ,chaos is not call'd so from any ,confusion or ,brokenness in the ,form of it1 but from a ,confusion and ,mixture of all sorts of ,ingredients in the ,composition of it4 ,so we have already produc'd in the precedent ,chapters1 a double ,argument that the ,earth was not originally in this ,form1 both because it rose from a ,chaos1 which could not of it self1 or by any immediate ,concretion1 settle into a ,form of this ,nature1 as hath been shewn in the fourth and fifth ,chapters2 as also because if it had been originally made thus1 it could never have undergone a ,deluge1 as hath been prov'd in the second and third ,chapters4 ,if this be then a secondary and succedaneous ,form1 the great ,question is1 from what ,causes it arises4 ,,some have thought that ,mountains1 and all other ,irregularities in the ,earth1 have ,rise from ,earthquakes1 and such like ,causes2 others have thought that they came from the universal ,deluge2 yet not from any ,dissolution of the ,earth that was then1 but only from the great ,agitation of the ,waters1 which broke the ,ground into this rude and unequal ,form4 ,both these ,causes seem to me very incompetent and insufficient4 ,earthquakes seldom make ,mountains1 they often take them away1 and sink them down into the ,caverns that lie under them2 besides1 ,earthquakes are not in all ,countries and ,climates as ,mountains are2 for as we have observ'd more than once1 there is neither ,island that is ,original1 nor ,continent any where in the ,earth1 in what ,latitude soever1 but hath ,mountains and ,rocks in it4 ,and lastly1 what ,probability is there1 or how is it credible1 that those vast ,tracks of ,land which we see fill'd with ,mountains both in ,europe1 ,asia and ,africa1 were rais'd by ,earthquakes1 or any ,eruptions from below8 ,in what ,age of the ,world was this done1 and why not continu'd8 ,as for the ,deluge1 which they alledge as another ,cause1 ,i doubt not but ,mountains were made in the ,time of the general ,deluge1 that great ,change and ,transformation of the ,earth happen'd then1 but not from such ,causes as are pretended1 that is1 the bare rolling and agitation of the ,waters2 for if the ,earth was smooth and plain before the ,flood1 as they seem to suppose as well as we do1 the ,waters could have little or no ,power over a smooth ,surface to tear it any way in ,pieces1 no more than they do a ,meadow or low ,ground when they lie upon it2 for that which makes ,torrents and ,land floods violent1 is their ,fall from the ,mountains and high ,lands1 which our ,earth is now full of2 but if the ,rain fell upon even and level ,ground1 it would only sodden and compress it2 there is no possibility how it should raise ,mountains in it4 ,and if we could imagine an universal ,deluge as the ,earth is now constituted1 it would rather throw down the ,hills and ,mountains1 than raise new ones2 or by beating down their ,tops and loose ,parts1 help to fill the ,valleys1 and bring the ,earth nearer to ,evenness and ,plainness4 ,,seeing then there are no ,hopes of explaining the ,origin of ,mountains1 either from particular ,earthquakes1 or from the general ,deluge1 according to the common ,notion and ,explication of it2 these not being ,causes answerable to such vast ,effects3 ,let us try our ,hypothesis again2 which hath made us a ,channel large enough for the ,sea1 and ,room for all subterraneous ,cavities1 and ,i think will find us ,materials enough to raise all the ,mountains of the ,earth4 ,we suppose the great ,arch or ,circumference of the first ,earth to have fallen into the ,abyss at the ,deluge1 and seeing that was larger than the ,surface it fell upon1 'tis absolutely certain1 that it could not all fall flat1 or lie under the ,water3 ,now as all those ,parts that stood above the ,water made dry ,land1 or the present habitable ,earth1 so such ,parts of the dry ,land as stood higher than the rest1 made ,hills and ,mountains2 and this is the first and general ,account of them1 and of all the ,inequalities of the ,earth4 ,but to consider these ,things a little more particularly3 ,there is a double ,cause and ,necessity of ,mountains1 first this now mention'd1 because the exterior ,orb of the ,earth was greater than the interior1 which it fell upon1 and therefore it could not all fall flat2 and secondly1 because this exterior ,orb did not fall so flat and large as it might1 or did not cover all the ,bottom of the ,abyss1 as it was very capable to do2 but as we shew'd before in explaining the ,channel of the ,ocean1 it left a gaping in the ,middle1 or an ,abyss-channel1 as ,i should call it2 and the broader this ,abyss-channel was1 the more ,mountains there would be upon the dry ,land2 for there would be more ,earth1 or more of the falling ,orb left1 and less ,room to place it in1 and therefore it must stand more in ,heaps4 ,,in what ,parts of the ,earth these ,heaps would lie1 and in what particular manner1 it cannot be expected that we should tell2 but all that we have hitherto observ'd concerning ,mountains1 how strange soever1 and otherwise unaccountable1 may easily be explain'd and deduc'd from this ,original2 we shall not wonder at their ,greatness and ,vastness1 seeing they are the ,ruins of a broken ,world2 and they would take up more or less of the dry ,land1 according as the ,ocean took up more or less ,space of our ,globe3 ,then as to their ,figure and ,form1 whether external or internal1 'tis just such as answers our ,expectation1 and no more than what the ,hypothesis leads us to2 for you would easily believe that these ,heaps would be irregular in all manner of ways1 whether consider'd apart1 or in their ,situation to one another4 ,and they would lie commonly in ,clusters and in ,ridges1 for those are two of the most general ,postures of the ,parts of a ,ruin1 when they fall inwards4 ,lastly1 ,we cannot wonder that ,mountains should be generally hollow2 for great ,bodies falling together in ,confusion1 or bearing and leaning against one another1 must needs make a great many ,hollownesses in them1 and by their unequal ,applications empty ,spaces will be intercepted4 ,we see also from the same ,reason why mountainous ,countries are subject to ,earthquakes2 and why ,mountains often sink and fall down into the ,caverns that lie under them2 their ,joints and ,props being decayed and worn1 they become unable to bear their ,weight4 ,and all these ,properties you see hang upon one and the same ,string1 and are just ,consequences from our ,supposition concerning the ,dissolution of the first ,earth4 ,and there is no surer ,mark of a good ,hypothesis1 than when it doth not only hit luckily in one or two ,particulars1 but answers all that it is to be apply'd to1 and is adequate to ,nature in her whole ,extent4 ,but how fully or easily soever these things may answer ,nature1 you will say1 it may be1 that all this is but an ,hypothesis2 that is1 a kind of ,fiction or ,supposition that ,things were so and so at first1 and by the ,coherence and ,agreement of the ,effects with such a ,supposition1 you would argue and prove that they were really so4 ,this ,i confess is true1 this is the ,method1 and if we would know any ,thing in ,nature further than our ,senses go1 we can know it no otherwise than by an ,hypothesis4 ,when ,things are either too little for our ,senses1 or too remote and inaccessible1 we have no ,way to know the inward ,nature1 and the ,causes of their sensible ,properties1 but by reasoning upon an ,hypothesis4 ,if you would know1 for ,example1 of what ,parts ,water1 or any other ,liquor consists1 they are too little to be discern'd by the ,eye2 you must therefore take a ,supposition concerning their invisible ,figure and ,form1 and if that agrees and gives the ,reason of all their sensible ,qualities1 you understand the ,nature of ,water4 ,in like manner1 if you would know the ,nature of a ,comet1 or of what ,matter the ,sun consists1 which are ,things inaccessible to us1 you can do this no otherwise than by an ,hypothesis2 and if that ,hypothesis be easy and intelligible1 and answers all the ,phnomena of those two ,bodies1 you have done as much as a ,philosopher or as human ,reason can do4 ,and this is what we have attempted concerning the ,earth and concerning the ,deluge4 ,we have laid down an ,hypothesis that is easy and perspicuous1 consisting of a few things1 and those very intelligible1 and from this we have given an ,account how the old ,world was destroy'd by a ,deluge of ,water1 and how the ,earth came into this present ,form1 so distinguish'd and interrupted with ,sea and ,land1 ,mountains and ,valleys1 and so broken in the ,surface and inward ,parts of it4 ,,but to speak the ,truth1 this ,theory is something more than a bare ,hypothesis2 because we are assured that the general ,ground that we go upon is true1 namely1 ,that the ,earth rose at first from a ,chaos2 for besides ,reason and ,antiquity1 ,scripture it self doth assure us of that2 and that one ,point being granted1 we have deduc'd from it all the rest by a direct ,chain of ,consequences1 which ,i think cannot be broken easily in any ,part or ,link of it4 ,besides1 the great ,hinge of this ,theory1 upon which all the rest turns1 is the ,distinction we make of the antediluvian ,earth and ,heavens from the ,postdiluvian1 as to their ,form and ,constitution4 ,and it will never be beaten out of my ,head1 but that ,st4 ,peter1 #b ,epist4 chap4 iii4 #e1 #f4 hath made the same ,distinction sixteen hundred ,years since1 and to the very same purpose2 so that we have sure footing here again1 and the ,theory riseth above the ,character of a bare ,hypothesis4 ,and whereas an ,hypothesis that is clear and proportion'd to ,nature in every ,respect1 is accounted morally certain1 we must in ,equity give more than a moral ,certitude to this ,theory4 ,but ,i mean this only as to the general ,parts of it2 for as to ,particularities1 ,i look upon them only as problematical1 and accordingly ,i affirm nothing therein but with a ,power of ,revocation1 and a ,liberty to change my ,opinion when ,i shall be better inform'd4 ,neither do ,i know any ,author that hath treated a ,matter new1 remote1 and consisting of a ,multitude of ,particulars1 who would not have had occasion1 if he had liv'd to have seen his ,hypothesis fully examin'd1 to have chang'd his ,mind and ,manner of explaining ,things in many material ,instances4 ,,to conclude both this ,chapter and this ,section1 we have here added a ,map or ,draught of the ,earth1 according to the natural ,face of it1 as it would appear from the ,moon1 if we were a little nearer to her2 or as it was at first after the ,deluge1 before ,cities were built1 ,distinctions of ,countries made1 or any ,alterations by human ,industry4 ',tis chiefly to expose more to view the ,mountains of the ,earth1 and the ,proportions of ,sea and ,land2 to shew it as it lies in itself1 and as a ,naturalist ought to conceive and consider it4 ',tis true1 there are far more ,mountains upon the ,earth than what are here represented1 for more could not conveniently be plac'd in this narrow ,scheme2 but the best and most effectual ,way of representing the ,body of the ,earth as it is by ,nature1 would be1 not in plain ,tables1 but by a rough ,globe1 expressing all the considerable ,inequalities that are upon the ,earth4 ,the smooth ,globes that we use1 do but nourish in us the ,conceit of the ,earth's ,regularity2 and tho' they may be convenient enough for geographical ,purposes1 they are not so proper for natural ,science1 nothing would be more useful in this ,respect1 than a rough ,globe of the largest ,dimensions1 wherein the ,channel of the ,sea should be really hollow1 as it is in ,nature1 with all its unequal ,depths according to the best ,soundings1 and the ,shores express'd both according to ,matter and ,form1 little ,rocks standing where there are ,rocks1 and ,sands and ,beaches in the ,places where they are found2 and all the ,islands planted in the ,sea-channel in a due ,form1 and in their solid ,dimensions4 ,then upon the ,land should stand all the ,ranges of ,mountains1 in the same ,order or ,disorder that ,nature hath set them there3 ,and the in-land ,seas1 and great ,lakes1 or rather the ,beds they lie in1 should be duly represented2 as also the vast ,desarts of ,sand as they lie upon the ,earth4 ,and this being done with ,care and due ,art1 would be a true ,epitome1 or true ,model of our ,earth4 ,where we should see1 besides other ,instructions1 what a rude ,lump our ,world is1 which we are so apt to dote upon4 ,illustration3 ,the ,eastern ,hemisphere4 ,illustration3 ,the ,western ,hemisphere4 ,,chap4 ,,xii4 ,a short ,review of what hath been already treated of1 and in what ,manner4 ,the several ,faces and ,schemes under which the ,earth would appear to a ,stranger1 that should view it first at a ,distance1 and then more closely1 and the ,application of them to our ,subject4 ,all ,methods1 whether ,philosophical or ,theological1 that have been offer'd by others for the ,explication of the ,form of the ,earth1 are examin'd and disprov'd4 ,a ,conjecture concerning the other ,planets1 their natural ,form and ,state compared with ours4 ,,we have finish'd the three ,sections of this ,book1 and in this last ,chapter we will make a short ,review and ,reflexion upon what hath been hitherto treated of1 and add some further ,confirmations of it4 ,the ,explication of the universal ,deluge was the first ,proposal and ,design of this ,discourse1 to make that a ,thing credible and intelligible to the ,mind of ,man3 ,and the full ,explication of this drew in the whole ,theory of the ,earth2 ,whose ,original we have deduc'd from its first ,source1 and shew'd both what was its primval ,form1 and how it came into its present ,form4 ,the ,sum of our ,hypothesis concerning the universal ,deluge was this2 ,that it came not to pass1 as was vulgarly believ'd1 by an ,excess of ,rains1 or any ,inundation of the ,sea1 nor could ever be effected by a meer ,abundance of ,waters2 unless we suppose some ,dissolution of the ,earth at the same time1 namely1 when the ,great ,abyss was broken open4 ,and accordingly we shewed1 that without such a ,dissolution1 or if the ,earth had been always in the same ,form it is in now1 no ,mass of ,water1 any where to be found in the ,world1 could have equall'd the ,height of the ,mountains1 or made such an universal ,deluge4 ,secondly1 ,we shewed that the ,form of the ,earth at first1 and till the ,deluge1 was such as made it capable and subject to a ,dissolution3 ,and thirdly1 ,that such a ,dissolution being suppos'd1 the ,doctrine of the universal ,deluge is very reasonable and intelligible2 and not only the ,doctrine of the ,deluge1 but the same ,supposition is a ,key to all ,nature besides1 shewing us how our ,globe became terraqueous1 what was the ,original of ,mountains1 of the ,sea-channel1 of ,islands1 of subterraneous ,cavities2 things which without this ,supposition are as untelligible as the universal ,flood itself4 ,and these things reciprocally confirming one another1 our ,hypothesis of the ,deluge is arm'd1 both ,breast and ,back1 by the ,causes and by the ,effects4 ,,it remains now1 that1 as to confirm our ,explication of the ,deluge1 we shew'd all other ,accounts that had been given of it to be ineffectual or impossible1 to confirm our ,doctrine concerning the ,dissolution of the ,earth1 and concerning the ,original of ,mountains1 ,seas1 and all ,inequalities upon it1 or within it1 we must examine what ,causes have been assign'd by others1 or what ,accounts given of these things3 ,that seeing their ,defectiveness1 we may have the more ,assurance and ,satisfaction in our own ,method4 ,,and in order to this1 let us observe first the general ,forms under which the ,earth may be consider'd1 or under which it doth appear accordingly as we view it more nearly or remotely2 and the first of these and the most general is that of a terraqueous ,globe4 ,if a ,philosopher should come out of another ,world out of ,curiosity to see our ,earth1 the first ,discovery or ,observation he would make would be this1 that it was a terraqueous ,globe3 ,thus much he might observe at a great ,distance1 when he came but near the ,borders of our ,world4 ,this we discern in the ,moon1 and most of the ,planets1 that they are divided into ,sea and ,land1 and how this ,division came would be his first ,remark and ,inquiry concerning our ,earth2 and how also those ,subdivisions of ,islands1 or little ,earths which lie in the ,water2 how these were form'd1 and that great ,channel that contains them both4 ,,the second ,form that the ,earth appears under1 is that of an uneven and mountainous ,globe4 ,when our ,traveller had got below the ,circle of the ,moon1 he would discern the bald ,tops of our ,mountains1 and the long ,ranges of them upon our ,continents4 ,we cannot from the ,earth discern ,mountains and ,valleys in the ,moon directly1 but from the ,motion of the ,light and ,shadows which we see there1 we easily collect that there are such ,inequalities3 ,and accordingly we suppose that our ,mountains would appear at a great ,distance1 and the shady ,valleys lying under them2 and that this curious ,person that came to view our ,earth1 would make that his second ,enquiry1 how those ,mountains were formed1 and how our ,globe came to be so rude and irregular8 ,for we may justly demand how any ,irregularity came into ,nature1 seeing all her first ,motions and her first ,forms are regular1 and whatsoever is not so1 is but secondary1 and the ,consequence of some ,degeneracy1 or of some ,decay4 ,,the third visible ,form of our ,earth is that of a broken ,globe2 and broken throughout1 but in the outward ,parts and ,regions of it4 ,this1 it may be1 you will say1 is not a visible ,form2 it doth not appear to the ,eye1 without reasoning1 that the ,surface of the ,earth is so broken4 ,suppose our new ,visitant had now pass'd the middle ,region of the ,air1 and was alighted upon the ,top of ,pic ,teneriffe for his first resting ,place1 and that sitting there1 he took a ,view of the great ,rocks1 the wide ,sea1 and of the ,shores of ,africk and ,europe2 for we'll suppose his piercing ,eye to reach so far2 ,i will not say that at first ,sight he would pronounce that the ,surface of this ,globe was broken1 unless he knew it to be so by ,comparison with some other ,planet like to it2 but the broken ,form and ,figure of many ,parts of the ,rocks1 and the ,posture in which they lay1 or great ,portions of them1 some inclin'd1 some prostrate1 some erected1 would naturally lead him to that ,thought1 that they were a ,ruin2 he would see also the ,islands tore from the ,continents1 and both the ,shores of the ,continents and their ,inland ,parts in the same ,disorder and irregular ,situation4 ,besides1 he had this great ,advantage in viewing the ,earth at a ,distance1 that he could see a whole ,hemisphere together1 which1 as he made his ,approaches thro' the ,air1 would have much what the same aspect and countenance as 'tis represented within the great ,scheme1 p4 #bjc4 ,and if any ,man should accidentally hit upon that ,scheme1 not knowing or thinking that it was the ,earth1 ,i believe his first ,thought of it would be1 that it was some great broken ,body1 or ruin'd ,frame of ,matter2 and the ,original1 ,i am sure1 is more manifestly so4 ,but we'll leave our strange ,philosopher to his own ,observations1 and with him good ,guides and ,interpreters in his ,survey of the ,earth1 and that he would make a favourable ,report at his ,return home1 of our little dirty ,planet4 ,,in the mean time let us pursue1 in our own ,way1 this ,third ,idea of the ,earth a little further1 as it is a broken ,globe4 ,nature ,i know hath dissembled and cover'd this ,form as much as may be1 and ,time hath help'd to repair some of the old ,breaches1 or fill them up2 besides1 the ,changes that have been made by ,art and human ,industry1 by ,agriculture1 ,planting1 and ,building ,towns1 hath made the ,face of the ,earth quite another ,thing from what it was in its naked ,rudeness4 ,as ,mankind is much alter'd from its pristine ,state1 from what it was four thousand ,years ago1 or towards the first ,ages after the ,flood1 when the ,nations liv'd in ,simplicity or ,barbarousness2 so is the ,earth too1 and both so disguis'd and transform'd1 that if one of those primitive ,fathers should rise from the ,dead1 he would scarce know this to be the same ,world which he liv'd in before4 ,but to discern the true ,form of the ,earth1 whether intire or broken1 regular or disorder'd1 we must in the first ,place take away all those ,ornaments or ,additions made by ,art or ,nature1 and view the bare ,carcass of the ,earth1 as it hath nothing on it but ,rocks and ,mountains1 ,deserts and ,fields1 and hollow ,valleys1 and a wide ,sea4 ,then secondly1 ,we must in our ,imagination empty this ,channel of the ,sea1 take out all the ,waters that hinder the ,sight of it1 and look upon the dry ,ditch1 measure the ,depth and ,breadth of it in our ,mind1 and observe the ,manner of its ,construction1 and in what a wild ,posture all the ,parts of it lie2 according as it hath been formerly represented1 ,chap4 #aj4 ,and lastly1 we must take off the ,cover of all subterraneous ,places and deep ,caverns1 to see the inside of the ,earth2 and lay bare the ,roots of ,mountains1 to look into those ,holes and ,vaults that are under them1 fill'd sometimes with ,fire1 sometimes with ,water1 and sometimes with thick ,air and ,vapours4 ,the ,object being thus prepar'd1 we are then to look fixedly upon it1 and to pronounce what we think of this disfigur'd ,mass1 whether this exterior ,frame doth not seem to be shatter'd2 and whether it doth more aptly resemble a new-made ,world1 or the ,ruins of one broken4 ,i confess when this ,idea of the ,earth is present to my ,thoughts1 ,i can no more believe that this was the ,form wherein it was first produc'd1 than if ,i had seen the ,temple of ,jerusalem in its ,ruins1 when defac'd and sack'd by the ,babylonians2 ,i could have persuaded my self1 that it had never been in any other ,posture1 and that ,solomon had given ,orders for ,building it so4 ,,so much for the ,form of the ,earth3 ,it remains now that we examine what ,causes have been assign'd by others1 of these ,irregularities in the ,form of the ,earth1 which we explain by the ,dissolution of it2 what ,accounts any of the ,ancients have given1 or attempted to give1 how the ,earth swell'd into ,mountains in certain ,places1 and in others was depress'd into low ,valleys1 how the ,body of it was so broken1 and how the ,channel of the ,sea was made4 ,the ,elements naturally lie in regular ,forms one above another1 and now we find them mix'd1 confounded and transpos'd1 how comes this ,disturbance and ,disordination in ,nature8 ,the ,explications of these ,things that have been given by others1 may be reduc'd to two general ,sorts1 ,philosophical or ,theological1 and we will try them both for our ,satisfaction4 ,,of ,philosophers1 none was more concern'd to give an ,account of such ,things than ,epicurus1 both because he acknowledged the ,origin of the ,earth to have been from a ,chaos1 and also admitted no ,causes to act in ,nature but ,matter and ,motion3 ,yet all the ,account we have from the ,epicureans of the ,form of the ,earth1 and the great ,inequalities that are in it1 is so slight and trivial1 that methinks it doth not deserve the ,name of a ,philosophical ,explication4 ,they say that the ,earth and ,water were mix'd at first1 or rather1 the ,earth was above the ,water1 and as the ,earth was condens'd by the ,heat of the ,sun and the ,winds1 the ,water was squeez'd out in certain ,places1 which either it found hollow or made so2 and so was the ,channel of the ,sea made4 ,then as for ,mountains1 while some ,parts of the ,earth shrunk and sunk in this ,manner1 others would not sink2 and these standing still while the others fell lower1 made the ,mountains4 ,how the subterraneous ,cavities were made according to them1 ,i do not find4 ,,this is all the ,account that ,monsieur ,gassendi 7who seems to have made it his ,business1 as well as his ,pleasure1 to embellish that ,philosophy7 can help us to1 out of the ,epicurean ,authors how the ,earth came into this ,form2 and he that can content himself with this1 is1 in my ,mind1 of an ,humour very easy to be pleas'd4 ,do the ,sun and the ,wind use to squeeze ,pools of ,water out of the ,earth1 and that in such a ,quantity as to make an ,ocean8 ,they dry the ,earth1 and the ,waters too1 and rarify them into ,vapours1 but ,i never knew them to be the ,causes of pressing ,water out of the ,earth by ,condensation4 ,could they compress the ,earth any otherwise1 than by drying it and making it hard8 ,and in ,proportion1 as it was more dry1 would it not the more imbibe and suck up the ,water8 ,and how were the great ,mountains of the ,earth made in the ,north and in the ,south1 where the ,influence of the ,sun is not great8 ,what sunk the ,earth there1 and made the ,flesh start from the ,bones8 ,but 'tis no ,wonder that ,epicurus should give such a mean ,account of the ,origin of the ,earth1 and the ,form of its ,parts1 who did not so much as understand the general ,figure of the ,body of it1 that it was in some ,manner ,spherical1 or that the ,heavens encompass'd it round4 ,one must have a blind ,love for that ,philosophy1 and for the ,conclusions it drives at1 not to see its ,lameness and ,defects in those first and fundamental ,parts4 ,aristotle1 though he was not concern'd to give an ,account how the ,earth came into this present ,form1 as he suppos'd it ,eternal2 yet upon another ,consideration he seems obliged to give some ,reason how the ,elements came into this ,disorder2 seeing he supposeth1 that1 according to the ,order of ,nature1 the ,water should lie above the ,earth in a ,sphere1 as the ,air doth above the ,water1 and his ,fire above the ,air4 ,this he toucheth upon in his ,meteors1 but so gently and fearfully1 as if he was handling hot ,coals4 ,he saith the ,sea is to be consider'd as the ,element1 or ,body of ,waters that belongs to this ,earth1 and that these ,waters change ,places1 and the ,sea is some ,ages in one ,part of the ,globe1 and some ,ages in another2 but that this is at such great ,distances of ,time1 that there can be no ,memory or ,record of it4 ,and he seems willing to suppose that the ,water was once all over the ,earth1 but that it dry'd up in certain ,places1 and continuing in others1 it there made the ,sea4 ,,what a miserable ,account is this8 ,as to his ,change or ,removal of the ,sea-channel in several ,ages1 as it is without all ,proof or ,probability1 if he mean it of the ,channel of the great ,ocean1 so 'tis nothing to the ,purpose here2 for the ,question is not why the ,channel of the ,sea is in such a ,part of the ,earth1 rather than in another1 but why there is any such prodigious ,cavity in or upon the ,earth any where4 ,and if we take his ,supposition1 that the ,element of ,water was once higher than the ,earth1 and lay in a ,sphere about it1 then let him tell us in plain ,terms how the ,earth got above1 or how the ,cavity of the ,ocean was made1 and how the ,mountains rise2 for this ,elementary ,earth which lay under the ,water1 was1 ,i suppose1 equal and smooth when it lay there2 and what reason was there1 that the ,waters should be dry'd in one ,part of it1 more than another1 if they were every where of an equal ,depth1 and the ,ground equal under them8 ,it was not the ,climates made any ,distinction1 for there is ,sea towards the ,poles1 as well as under the quator2 but suppose they were dry'd up in certain ,places1 that would make no ,mountains1 no more than there are ,mountains in our dry'd ,marshes3 ,and the ,places where they were not dry'd1 would not therefore become as deep and hollow as the ,sea-channel1 and tear the ,earth and ,rocks in pieces4 ,if you would say that this very ,elementary ,earth1 as it lay under the ,waters1 was unequal1 and was so originally form'd into ,mountains and ,valleys and great ,cavities2 besides that the ,supposition is altogether irrational in itself1 you must suppose a prodigious ,mass of ,water to cover such an ,earth2 as much as we found requisite for the vulgar ,deluge1 namely1 eight ,oceans2 and what then is become of the other seven8 ,upon the whole1 ,i do not see that either in ,epicurus's way1 who seems to suppose that the ,waters were at first within the ,earth2 nor in ,aristotle's way1 who seems to suppose them upon the ,earth1 any rational or tolerable ,account can be given of the present ,form of the ,earth4 ,,wherefore some ,modern ,authors1 dissatisfied1 as very well they might be1 with these ,explications given us by the ,ancients concerning the ,form of the ,earth1 have pitch'd upon other ,causes1 more true indeed in their kind1 and in their degree1 but that fall as much short of those ,effects to which they would apply them4 ,they say that all the ,irregularities of the ,body of the ,earth have risen from ,earthquakes in particular ,places1 and from ,torrents and ,inundations1 and from ,eruptions of ,fire1 or such like ,causes1 whereof we see some ,instances more or less every ,age2 and these have made that havock upon the ,face of the ,earth1 and turn'd things upside down1 raising the ,earth1 in some ,places1 and making great ,cavities or ,chasms in others1 so as to have brought it at length into that torn1 broken1 and disorderly ,form in which we now see it4 ,,these ,authors do so far agree with us1 as to acknowledge1 ,that the present irregular ,form of the ,earth must have proceeded from ,ruins and ,dissolutions of one sort or other2 but these ,ruins they make to have been partial only1 in this or in that ,country1 by piece-meal1 and in several ,ages1 and from no other ,causes1 but such as still continue to act in ,nature1 namely1 accidental ,earthquakes and ,eruptions of ,fires and ,waters4 ,these ,causes we acknowledge as readily as they do1 but not as capable to produce so great ,effects as they would ascribe to them2 the ,surface of the ,earth may be a little changed by such ,accidents as these1 but for the most part1 they rather sink the ,mountains1 than raise new ,ones3 ,as when ,houses are blown up by ,mines of ,powder1 they are not set higher1 but generally fall lower and flatter3 ,or suppose they do sometimes raise an ,hill1 or a little ,mount1 what's that to the great ,mountains of our ,world1 to those long and vast ,piles of ,rocks and ,stones1 which the ,earth can scarce bear8 ,what's that to strong-backt ,taurus or ,atlas1 to the ,american ,andes1 or to a ,mountain that reacheth from the ,pyreneans to the ,euxine ,sea8 ,there's as much ,difference between these1 and those factious ,mountains they speak of1 as betwixt them and ,mole-hills4 ,,and to answer more distinctly to this ,opinion1 as before in speaking of ,islands we distinguish'd betwixt factitious and original ,islands1 so1 if you please1 we may distinguish here betwixt factitious and original ,mountains2 and allowing some few1 and those of the fifth or sixth ,magnitude1 to have risen from such accidental ,causes1 we enquire concerning the rest and the greatest1 what was their ,original8 ,if we should suppose that the seven ,hills upon which ,rome stands1 came from ,ruins or ,eruptions1 or any such ,causes1 it doth not follow that the ,alps were made so too4 ,and as for ,mountains1 so for the ,cavities of the ,earth1 ,i suppose there may be ,disruptions sometimes made by ,earthquakes1 and ,holes worn by subterraneous ,fires and ,waters2 but what's that to the ,channel of the ,atlantick ,ocean1 or of the ,pacifick ,ocean1 which is extended an hundred and fifty ,degrees under the quator1 and towards the ,poles still further8 ,he that should derive such mighty ,things from no greater ,causes1 ,i should think him a very credulous ,philosopher4 ,and we are too subject indeed to that ,fault of ,credulity in ,matter of ,philosophizing3 ,many when they have found out ,causes that are proper for certain ,effects within such a ,compass1 they cannot keep them there1 but they will make them do every ,thing for them2 and extend them often to other ,effects of a superior ,nature or ,degree1 which their ,activity can by no ,means reach to4 tna hath been a burning ,mountain ever since1 and above the ,memory of ,man1 yet it hath not destroy'd that ,island1 nor made any new ,channel to the ,sea1 tho' it stands so near it4 ,neither is ,vesuvius above two or three ,miles distant from the ,sea-side1 to the best of my ,remembrance1 and yet in so many ,ages it hath made no ,passage to it1 neither open nor subterraneous4 ',tis true1 some ,isthmus's have been thrown down by ,earthquakes1 and some ,lakes have been made in that ,manner1 but what's this to a ,ditch nine thousand ,miles broad8 ,such an one we have upon the ,earth1 and of a ,depth that is not measurable2 what ,proportion have these ,causes to such an ,instance8 ,and how many thousand ,ages must be allow'd to them to do their ,work1 more than the ,chronology of our ,earth will bear8 ,,besides1 ,when were these great ,earthquakes and ,disruptions1 that did such great ,execution upon the ,body of the ,earth8 ,was this before the ,flood or since8 ,if before1 then the old ,difficulty returns1 how could there be a ,flood1 if the ,earth was in this mountainous ,form before that ,time8 ,this1 ,i think1 is demonstrated impossible in the second and third ,chapters4 ,if since the ,flood1 where were the ,waters of the ,earth before these ,earthquakes made a ,channel for them8 ,besides1 where is the ,history or ,tradition1 that speaks of these strange ,things1 and of this great ,change of the ,earth8 ,hath any writ of the ,origins of the ,alps8 ,in what ,year of ,rome1 or what ,olympiad they were born8 ,or how they grew from little ones8 ,how the ,earth groan'd when it brought them forth1 when its ,bowels were torn by the ragged ,rocks8 ,do the ,chronicles of the ,nations mention these things1 or ancient ,fame1 or ancient ,fables8 were they made all at once1 or in successive ,ages8 ,these ,causes continue still in ,nature1 we have still ,earthquakes and subterraneous ,fires and ,waters1 why should they not still operate and have the same ,effects8 ,we often hear of ,cities thrown down by ,earthquakes1 or ,countries swallow'd up2 but who ever heard of a new ,chain of ,mountains made upon the ,earth1 or a new ,channel made for the ,ocean8 ,we do not read that there hath been so much as a new ,sinus of the ,sea ever since the ,memory of ,man3 ,which is far more feasible than what they pretend4 ,and ,things of this ,nature being both strange and feasible1 excite ,admiration and great ,attention when they come to pass1 and would certainly have been remembered or propagated in some ,way or other1 if they had ever happen'd since the ,deluge4 ,they have recorded the ,foundation of ,cities and ,monarchies1 the ,appearance of ,blazing ,stars1 the ,eruptions of fiery ,mountains1 the most remarkable ,earthquakes and ,inundations1 the great ,eclipses or ,obscurations of the ,sun1 and any thing that look'd strange or ,prodigy-like1 whether in the ,heavens or on ,earth3 ,and these1 which would have been the greatest ,prodigies1 and greatest ,changes that ever happen'd in ,nature1 would these have escap'd all ,observation and ,memory of ,men8 ,that's as incredible as the ,things themselves are4 ,,lastly1 ,to comprehend all these ,opinions together1 both of the ,ancient and ,modern ,authors1 they seem all to agree with us in this1 ,that the ,earth was once under another ,form2 otherwise why do they go about to shew the ,causes how it came into this ,form8 ,i desire then to know what ,form they suppose the ,earth to have been under before the ,mountains were made1 the ,channel of the ,sea1 or subterraneous ,cavities8 ,either they must take that ,form which we have assign'd it before the ,deluge1 or else they must suppose it cover'd with ,water1 till the ,sea-channels were made1 and the ,mountains brought forth2 as in ,fig4 #b4 p4 #gf4 ,and no doubt it was once in this ,form1 both ,reason and the ,authority of ,moses assure us of it2 and this is the ,test which every ,opinion must be brought to1 how the ,earth emerg'd out of that watry ,form8 ,and in particular1 as to that ,opinion which we are now examining1 the ,question is1 how by ,earthquakes1 and fiery ,eruptions1 subterraneous ,waters1 and such like ,causes1 the ,body of the ,earth could be wrought from that ,form to this present ,form8 ,and the ,thing is impossible at first ,sight2 for such ,causes as these could not take place in such an ,earth4 ,as for subterraneous ,waters1 there could be none at that ,time1 for they were all above ,ground2 and as for subterraneous ,exhalations1 whether fiery or aery1 there was no ,place for them neither2 for the ,earth1 when it lay under the ,water1 was a solid uniform ,mass1 compact and close united in its ,parts1 as we have shewn before upon several ,occasions2 no ,mines or hollow ,vaults for the ,vapours to be lodg'd in1 no ,store-houses of ,fire2 nothing that could make ,earthquakes1 nor any sort of ,ruins or ,eruptions3 ,these are ,engines that cannot ,play but in an ,earth already broken1 hollow and cavernous4 ,therefore the ,authors of this ,opinion do in effect beg the ,question2 they assign such ,causes of the present ,form of the ,earth1 as could not take ,place1 nor have any ,activity until the ,earth was in this ,form3 ,these ,causes may contribute something to increase the ,rudeness and ,inequalities of the ,earth in certain ,places1 but they could not be the original ,causes of it4 ,and that not only because of their ,disproportion to such ,effects1 but also because of their ,incapacity1 or ,non-existence at that time1 when these ,effects were to be wrought4 ,,thus much concerning the ,philosophical ,opinions or the natural ,causes that have been assign'd for the irregular ,form of this present ,earth4 ,let us now consider the ,theological ,opinions1 how ,mountains were made at first1 and the wonderful ,channel of the ,sea3 ,and these ,authors say1 ,god ,almighty made them immediately when he made the ,world2 and so dispatch'd the ,business in a few ,words4 ,this is a short ,account indeed1 but we must take heed that we do not derogate from the ,perfection of ,god1 by ascribing all ,things promiscuously to his immediate ,action4 ,i have often suggested that the first ,order of ,things is regular and simple1 according as the ,divine ,nature is2 and continues so till there is some ,degeneracy in the moral ,world2 ,i have also noted upon several ,occasions1 especially in the ,lat4 ,treat4 ,chap4 #aa4 the deformity and ,incommodiousness of the present ,earth2 and from these two ,considerations we may reasonably infer1 that the present ,state of the ,earth was not ,original1 but is a ,state of ,subjection to ,vanity1 wherein it must continue till the ,redemption and ,restitution of all ,things4 ,,but besides this general ,consideration1 there are many others1 both ,natural and ,theological1 against this ,opinion1 which the ,authors of it1 ,i believe1 will find unanswerable4 ,as first1 ,st4 ,peter's ,distinction betwixt the present ,earth and the ,antediluvian2 #b ,ep4 ,chap4 iii4 #e1 #f4 and that in ,opposition to certain profane ,persons1 who seem to have been of the same ,opinion with these ,authors1 namely1 ,that the ,heavens and the ,earth were the same now that they had been from the beginning1 and that there had been no ,change in ,nature1 either of late1 or in former ,ages2 ,these ,st4 ,peter confutes and upbraids them with ,ignorance or ,forgetfulness of the ,change that was brought upon ,nature at the ,deluge1 or that the ,antediluvian ,heavens and ,earth were of a different ,form and ,constitution from the present1 whereby that ,world was obnoxious to a ,deluge of ,water1 as the present is to a ,deluge of ,fire4 ,let these ,authors put themselves in the ,place of those ,objectors1 and see what ,answer they can make to the ,apostle1 whom ,i leave to dispute the ,case with them4 ,i hope they will not treat this ,epistle of ,st4 ,peter's so rudely as ,didymus ,alexandrinus did1 an ancient ,christian1 and one of ,st4 ,jerome's ,masters2 he was of the same ,opinion with these ,theological ,authors1 and so fierce in it1 that seeing ,st4 ,peter's ,doctrine here to be contrary1 he said1 this ,epistle of ,st4 ,peter's was corrupted1 and was not to be receiv'd into the ,canon4 ,and all this1 because it taught1 that the ,heavens and the ,earth had chang'd their ,form1 and would do so again at the ,conflagration2 so as the same ,world would be triform in ,success of ,time4 ,we acknowledge his ,exposition of ,st4 ,peter's ,words to be very true2 but what he makes an ,argument of the ,corruption of this ,epistle1 is rather1 in my ,mind1 a peculiar ,argument of its ,divine ,inspiration4 ,in the second ,place1 these ,writers dash upon the old ,rock1 the ,impossibility of explaining the ,deluge2 if there were ,mountains from the ,beginning1 and the ,earth then in the same ,form as it is in now4 ,thirdly1 ,they make the ,state of ,paradise as unintelligible as that of the ,deluge2 ,for those ,properties that are assign'd to ,paradise by the ,ancients1 are inconsistent with the present ,form of the ,earth3 ,as will appear in the ,second ,book4 ,lastly1 ,they must answer1 and give an ,account of all those ,marks which we have observ'd in ,nature 7both in this ,chapter1 and the ,ninth1 ,tenth1 and ,eleventh71 of ,fractions1 ,ruins1 and ,dissolutions that have been on the ,earth1 and which we have shewn to be inexplicable1 unless we admit that the ,earth was once in another ,form4 ,,these ,arguments being premis'd1 let us now bring their ,opinion close to the ,test1 and see in what manner these ,mountains must have been made according to them1 and how the ,channel of the ,sea1 and all other ,cavities of the ,earth4 ,let us to this ,purpose consider the ,earth again in that transient1 incompleat ,form which it had when the ,abyss encompast the whole ,body of it1 ,fig4 #b4 p4 #gg4 we both agree that the ,earth was once in this ,state1 and they say1 that it came immediately out of this ,state into its present ,form1 there being made by a supernatural ,power a great ,channel or ,ditch in one ,part of it1 which drew off the ,waters from the rest1 and the ,earth which was squeez'd and forc'd out of this ,ditch1 made the ,mountains4 ,so there is the ,channel of the ,sea made1 and the ,mountains of the ,earth2 how the subterraneous ,cavities were made according to these ,authors1 ,i do not well know4 ,this ,i confess seems to me a very gross ,thought1 and a way of working very un-,god like2 but however1 let's have ,patience to examine it4 ,,and in the first ,place1 if the ,mountains were taken out of the ,channel of the ,sea1 then they are equal to it1 and would fill it up if they were thrown in again4 ,but these ,proportions upon ,examination will not agree2 for though the ,mountains of the ,earth be very great1 yet they do not equal by much the great ,ocean4 ,the ,ocean extends to half the ,surface of the ,earth2 and if you suppose the greatest ,depth of the ,ocean to answer the ,height of the greatest ,mountains and the middle ,depth to the middle sort of ,mountains1 the ,mountains ought to cover all the dry ,land to make them answer to all the ,capacity of the ,ocean2 whereas we suppos'd them upon a reasonable ,computation to cover but the tenth ,part of the dry ,land2 and consequently neither they nor the ,sea-,channel could have been produc'd in this manner1 because of their great ,disproportion to one another4 ,and the same thing appears1 if we compare the ,mountains with the ,abyss which cover'd the ,earth before this ,channel was made2 for this ,channel being made great enough to contain all the ,abyss1 the ,mountains taken out of it must also be equal to all the ,abyss2 but the ,aggregate of the ,mountains will not answer this by many ,degrees2 for suppose the ,abyss was but half as deep as the deep ,ocean1 to make this ,calculus answer1 all the dry ,land ought to be cover'd with ,mountains1 and with ,mountains as high as the ,ocean is deep1 or double high to the ,depth of the ,abyss1 because they are but upon one half of the ,globe4 ,and this is the first ,argument against the ,reciprocal ,production of ,mountains and the ,sea1 their ,incongruency or ,disproportion4 ,,secondly1 we are to consider that a great many ,mountains of the ,earth are far distant from any ,seas1 as the great ,in-land ,mountains of ,asia and of ,africk1 and the ,sarmatick ,mountains1 and others in ,europe2 how were these great ,bodies flung thorough the ,air from their respective ,seas1 whence they were taken1 to those ,places where they stand8 ,what ,appearance is there in common ,reason or ,credibility1 that these huge ,masses of ,earth and ,stone that stand in the middle of ,continents were dug out of any ,seas8 ,we think it strange1 and very deservedly1 that a little ,chapel should be transported from ,palestine to ,italy over ,land and ,sea1 much more the ,transportation of ,mount ,atlas or ,taurus thorough the ,air1 or of a ,range of ,mountains two or three thousand ,miles long1 would surely upon all ,accounts appear incongruous and incredible3 ,besides1 neither the hollow ,form of ,mountains1 nor the stony ,matter whereof they commonly consist1 agrees with that ,supposition1 that they were press'd or taken out of the ,channel of the ,sea4 ,,lastly1 we are to consider1 that the ,mountains are not barely laid upon the ,earth1 as a ,tomb-stone upon a ,grave1 nor stand as ,statues do upon a ,pedestal1 as this ,opinion seems to suppose2 but they are one continued ,substance with the ,body of the ,earth1 and their ,roots reach into the ,abyss2 as the ,rocks by the ,sea-side go as deep as the ,bottom of the ,sea in one continued ,mass3 ,and 'tis a ridiculous ,thing to imagine the ,earth first a plain ,surface1 then all the ,mountains set upon it1 as ,hay-cocks in a ,field1 standing upon their flat ,bottoms4 ,there is no such common ,surface in ,nature1 nor consequently any such ,super-additions3 ',tis all one ,frame or ,mass1 only broken and disjointed in the ,parts of it4 ,to conclude1 ',tis not only the ,mountains that make the ,inequalities of the ,earth1 or the ,irregularity of its ,surface1 every ,country1 every ,province1 every ,field1 hath an unequal and different ,situation1 higher or lower inclin'd more or less1 and sometimes one way sometimes another1 you can scarce take a ,mile's ,compass in any ,place where the ,surface of the ,ground continues uniform2 and can you imagine1 that there were ,moulds or ,stones brought from the ,sea-channel to make all those ,inequalities8 ,or that ,earthquakes have been in every ,country and in every ,field8 ,the inner ,veins and ,lares1 the ,beds or ,strata of the ,earth are also broken as well as the ,surface4 ,these must proceed from universal ,causes2 and all those that have been alledg'd1 whether from ,philosophy or ,theology1 are but particular or topical4 ,i am fully satisfied1 in ,contemplation of these ,things1 and so ,i think every unprejudic'd ,person may be1 that to such an irregular ,variety of ,situation and ,construction1 as we see every where in the ,parts of the ,earth1 nothing could answer but some universal ,concussion or ,dislocation1 in the ,nature of a general ,ruin4 ,,we have now finish'd this first ,part of our ,theory1 and all that concerns the ,deluge or ,dissolution of the ,earth2 and we have not only establish'd our own ,hypothesis by positive ,arguments1 but also produc'd and examin'd all ,suppositions that have been offer'd by others1 whether ,philosophical or ,theological1 for the ,explication of the same things2 so as nothing seems now to remain further upon this ,subject4 ,for a ,conclusion of all1 we will consider1 if you please1 the rest of the ,earths1 or of the ,planets within our ,heavens1 that appertain to the same common ,sun2 to see1 so far as we can go by rational ,conjectures1 if they be not of the same ,fabrick1 and have undergone the like ,fate1 and ,forms with our ,earth4 ,it is now acknowledged by the generality of learned ,men1 that the ,planets are opake ,bodies1 and particularly our next ,neighbour1 the ,moon1 is known to be a terraqueous ,globe1 consisting of ,mountains and ,valleys as our ,earth does2 and we have no ,reason to believe1 but that she came into that ,form by a ,dissolution1 or from like ,causes1 as our ,earth did4 ,mercury is so near the ,sun1 that we cannot well discern his ,face1 whether spotted or no1 nor make a ,judgment of it4 ,but as for ,venus and ,mars1 if the ,spots that be observ'd in them be their ,waters or their ,sea1 as they are in the ,moon1 'tis likely they are also terraqueous ,globes1 and in much what a like ,form with the ,moon1 and the ,earth1 and1 for ought we know1 from like ,causes4 ,particularly as to ,venus1 'tis a remarkable ,passage that ,st4 ,austin 7,de ,civ4 ,dei1 lib4 #ba4 c4 viii47 hath preserv'd out of ,varro3 ,he saith1 ,that about the ,time of the great ,deluge there was a wonderful ,alteration or ,catastrophe happen'd to the ,planet ,venus1 and that she chang'd her ,colour1 ,form1 ,figure1 and ,magnitude4 ,this is a great ,presumption that she suffer'd her ,dissolution about the same time that our ,earth did4 ,i do not know that any such ,thing is recorded concerning any of the other ,planets1 but the ,body of ,mars looks very rugged1 broken1 and much disorder'd4 ,saturn and ,jupiter deserve a distinct ,consideration1 as having something particular and different from the rest of the ,planets2 ,saturn is remarkable for his ,hoop or ,ring1 which seems to stand off1 or higher than his ,body1 and would strongly induce one to believe1 that the exterior ,earth of that ,planet1 at its ,dissolution1 did not all fall in1 but the polar ,parts sinking into the ,abyss1 the middle or equinoctial ,parts still subsisted1 and bore themselves up in the ,nature of an ,arch about the ,planet1 or of a ,bridge1 as it were1 built over the ,sea of ,saturn4 ,and as some have observ'd concerning the ,figure of ,jupiter1 that it is not wholly ,spherical1 but a ,spheroid1 protuberant in the ,equator1 and depress'd towards the ,poles3 ,so ,i should suspect ,saturn to have been much more so1 before his ,disruption3 ,namely1 ,that the ,body of that ,planet1 in its first ,state1 was more flat and low towards the ,poles1 and also weaker and thinner2 and about the ,equator higher1 fuller and stronger built3 ,by reason of which ,figure and ,construction1 the ,polar ,parts did more easily fall in1 or were suckt in 7as ,cupping ,glasses draw in the ,flesh7 when the ,abyss below grew more empty4 ,whereas the middle ,parts about the ,equator1 being a more just ,arch and strongly built1 would not yield or sink1 but stood firm and unbroken1 and continues still in its first ,posture4 ,planets break in different ways1 according to the ,quality of their ,matter1 the manner of their ,construction1 and the ,nature of the ,causes that act upon them4 ,their ,dissolutions are sometimes total1 as in our ,earth1 sometimes partial2 and both of these may be under great ,variety4 ,in partial ,dissolutions1 the middle ,parts sometimes stand1 and the ,polar are broke2 or the ,polar stand and the ,middle are broke4 ,or one ,hemisphere1 or part of an ,hemisphere may be sunk1 the rest standing4 ,there may be ,causes and ,occasions for all these ,varieties and many more1 in diversifying the ,phnomena of an immense ,universe4 ,but to return to ,saturn4 ,,that this present uncouth ,form of ,saturn was not its ,original ,form1 ,i am very well satisfied1 if that ,planet rose from a ,chaos1 as ours did4 ,and if this be an adventitious ,form1 ,i know no ,account can be given of it with more ,probability1 than by supposing it the ,effect of some ,fraction or ,disruption in the ,polar ,parts4 ,neither do ,i know any ,phnomenon hitherto observ'd concerning ,saturn1 that does disprove this ,hypothesis or ,conjecture4 ,,as to ,jupiter1 that ,planet without doubt is also turn'd about its ,axis1 otherwise how should its four ,moons be carried round him8 ,and this is also collected from the ,motion of that permanent ,spot 7if it be found to be so7 that is upon its ,body4 ,which ,spot ,i take to be either a ,lake or a ,chasm and ,hiatus into the ,abyss of the ,planet3 ,that is1 part of the ,abyss open or uncover'd1 like the ,aperture we made in the ,seventh ,figure1 ,c4 #f4 p4 #ahd4 ,and this might either have been left so by ,providence1 at first1 for some ,reasons and ,causes fitting that ,earth3 ,or it may have fallen in afterwards1 as ,plato's ,atlantis1 or as ,sodom and ,gomorrah1 for some ,judgment upon part of that ,world4 ,,to conclude1 seeing all the ,planets that are plac'd in this ,heaven1 and are the ,foster-,children of this ,sun1 seem to have some ,affinity one with another1 and have much what the same ,countenance1 and the same general ,phnomena2 it seems probable1 that they rise much what the same way1 and after the like manner as our ,earth1 each one from its respective ,chaos2 and that they had the same ,elementary ,regions at first1 and an exteriour ,orb form'd over their ,abyss3 and lastly1 ,that every one of them hath suffer'd1 or is to suffer its ,deluge1 as our ,earth hath done4 ,these1 ,i say1 are probable ,conjectures according to the ,analogy of ,reason and ,nature1 so far as we can judge concerning ,things very remote and inaccessible4 ,,and these things being thus1 and our ,theory of the ,deluge1 and the ,dissolution which brought it1 having such a general ,agreement both with our ,heavens and our ,earth1 ,i think there is nothing but the ,uncouthness of the ,thing to some ,men's ,understandings1 the ,custom of thinking otherwise1 and the ,uneasiness of entring into a new set of ,thoughts1 that can be a ,bar or ,hindrance to its ,reception4 ,but it may be improv'd1 ,i doubt not1 in many ,respects1 and in some ,particularities rectified4 ,the first ,attempts in great ,things are seldom or never perfect3 ,such is the ,weakness of our ,understandings1 and the want of a full ,natural ,history4 ,and in assigning ,causes of such great ,effects1 fair ,conjectures are to be allow'd1 till they be displac'd by others more evident and more certain4 ,accordingly ,i readily submit to these ,terms1 and leave this1 and all other ,parts of the ,theory1 to further ,examination and ,enquiries4 ,,the ,,theory ,,of ,,the ,,earth4 ,,book ,,ii4 ,concerning the ,primval ,earth1 and concerning ,paradise4 ,,chap4 ,i4 ,the ,introduction and ,contents of the ,second ,book4 ,the general ,state of the ,primval ,earth1 and of ,paradise4 ,we have already seen a ,world begin and perish2 an ,earth rais'd from the ,rudiments of a ,chaos1 and dissolv'd and destroy'd in an ,universal ,deluge4 ,we have given also an imperfect ,description of that ,primval ,earth1 so far as was necessary to shew the ,causes and ,manner of its ,dissolution4 ,but we must not content our selves with this2 seeing that ,earth was the first ,theatre upon which ,mortals appear'd and acted1 and continu'd so for above sixteen hundred ,years2 and that with ,scenes1 as both ,reason and ,history tell us1 very extraordinary and very different from these of our present ,earth1 'tis reasonable we should endeavour to make a more full ,discovery and ,description of it2 especially seeing ,paradise was there2 that ,seat of ,pleasure which our first ,parents lost1 and which all their ,posterity have much ado to find again4 ,,in the ,first ,book we so far describ'd this new-found ,world1 as to shew it very different in ,form and ,fabrick from the present ,earth2 there was no ,sea there1 no ,mountains1 nor ,rocks1 nor broken ,caves1 'twas all one continued and regular ,mass1 smooth1 simple and compleat1 as the first ,works of ,nature use to be4 ,but to know thus much only1 doth rather excite our ,curiosity than satisfy it2 what were the other ,properties of this ,world8 ,how were the ,heavens1 how the ,elements8 ,what ,accommodation for ,human ,life8 ,why was it more proper to be the ,seat of ,paradise than the present ,earth8 ,unless we know these ,things1 you will say1 it will seem but an easy ,idea to us2 and 'tis certain that the more ,properties and ,particularities that we know concerning any thing1 the more real it appears to be4 ,,as it was our ,chief ,design therefore in the precedent ,book1 to give an ,account of the ,universal ,deluge1 by way of a ,theory2 so we propose to our selves chiefly in this ,book1 from the same ,theory1 to give an ,account of ,paradise2 and in performing of this1 we shall be led into a more full ,examination and ,display of that first ,earth1 and of its ,qualities4 ,and if we be so happy1 as1 by the ,conduct of the same ,principles and the same ,method1 to give as fair an ,account1 and as intelligible of the ,state of ,paradise in that ,original ,earth1 as we have done of the ,deluge by the ,dissolution of it1 and of the ,form of this ,earth which succeeded1 one must be very morose or melancholy to imagine1 that the ,grounds we go upon1 all this while1 are wholly false or fictitious4 ,a ,foundation which will bear the ,weight of two ,worlds without sinking1 must surely stand upon a firm ,rock4 ,and ,i am apt to promise my self that this ,theory of the ,earth will find ,acceptance and ,credit1 more or less1 with all but those that think it a sufficient ,answer to all ,arguments1 to say1 it is a ,novelty4 ,,but to proceed in our ,disquisition concerning ,paradise1 we may note in the first ,place1 two ,opinions to be avoided1 being both extreams2 one that placeth ,paradise in the extra-mundane ,regions1 or in the ,air1 or in the ,moon2 and the other that makes it so inconsiderable1 as to be confin'd to a little ,spot of ,ground in ,mesopotamia or some other ,country of ,asia1 the ,earth being now as it was then4 ,this offends as much in the ,defect1 as the other in the ,excess4 ,for it is not any single ,region of the ,earth that can be ,paradisiacal1 unless all ,nature conspire1 and a certain ,order of ,things proper and peculiar for that ,state4 ,nor is it of less ,importance to find out this peculiar ,order of ,things1 than to find out the particular ,seat of ,paradise1 but rather pre-requisite to it3 ,we will endeavour therefore to discover and determine both1 so far as a ,theory can go1 beginning with that which is more general4 ',,tis certain there were some ,qualities and ,conditions of ,paradise that were not meerly topical1 but common to all the rest of the ,earth at that ,time2 and these we must consider in the first ,place1 examine what they were1 and upon what they depended4 ,history1 both ,sacred and ,profane1 must tell us what they were1 and our ,theory must shew us upon what ,causes they depended4 ,i had once1 ,i confess1 propos'd to my self another ,method1 independent upon ,history or ,effects2 ,i thought to have continued the ,description of the ,primitive or antediluvian ,earth from the ,contemplation of its ,causes only1 and then left it to the ,judgment of others to determine1 whether that was not the ,earth where the ,golden ,age was past1 and where ,paradise stood4 ,for ,i had observ'd three ,conditions or ,characters of it1 which ,i thought were sufficient to answer all that we knew concerning that first ,state of ,things1 viz4 ,the ,regularity of its ,surface2 ,the ,situation or ,posture of its ,body to the ,sun2 and the ,figure of it3 ,from these three general ,causes ,i thought might be deduc'd all the chief ,differences of that ,earth from the present1 and particularly those that made it more capable of being ,paradisiacal4 ,,but upon second ,thoughts ,i judg'd it more useful and expedient to lay aside the ,causes at present1 and begin with the ,effects1 that we night have some sensible ,matter to work upon4 ,bare ,ideas of ,things are look'd upon as romantick till ,effects be propos'd1 whereof they are to give an ,account2 ',tis that makes us value the ,causes when ,necessity puts us upon ,enquiry after them2 and the ,reasons of ,things are very acceptable1 when they ease the ,mind1 anxious and at a loss how to understand ,nature without their help4 ,we will therefore1 without more ado1 premise those ,things that have been taken ,notice of as extraordinary and peculiar to the first ,ages of the ,world1 and to ,paradise1 and which neither do1 nor can1 obtain in the present ,earth2 whereof the first is a perpetual ,spring or ,equinox2 the second1 the ,longvity of ,animals2 and the third1 their ,production out of the ,earth1 and the great ,fertility of the ,soil in all other ,things4 ,,these ,difficulties guard the way to ,paradise like the flaming ,sword1 and must be remov'd before we can enter2 these are general ,preliminaries which we must explain before we proceed to enquire after the particular ,place of this ,garden of ,pleasure4 ,the ,ancients have taken ,notice of all those in the first ,ages of the ,world1 or in their golden ,age1 as they call it2 and ,i do not doubt but what they ascribe to the golden ,age1 was more remarkably true of ,paradise2 yet was not so peculiar to it1 but that it did in a good measure extend to other ,parts of the ,earth at that ,time4 ,and 'tis manifest that their golden ,age was contemporary with our ,paradise2 for they make it begin immediately after the ,production and ,inhabitation of the ,earth 7which they1 as well as ,moses1 raise from the ,chaos7 and to degenerate by degrees till the ,deluge2 when the ,world ended1 and begun again4 ,,that this ,parallel may the better appear1 we may observe1 that as we say that the whole ,earth was1 in some ,sense1 ,paradisiacal in the first ,ages of the ,world1 and that there was1 besides1 one ,region or ,portion of it that was peculiarly so1 and bore the ,denomination of ,paradise2 ,so the ,ancients1 beside their golden ,age1 which was common to all the ,earth1 noted some ,parts of it that were more golden1 if ,i may so say1 than the rest1 and which did more particularly answer to ,paradise2 as their ,elysian ,fields1 ,fortunate ,islands1 ,gardens of ,hesperides1 ,alcinous1 c4 these had a double ,portion of ,pleasantness1 and1 beside the ,advantages which they had common with the rest of the ,earth at that ,time1 had something proper and singular1 which gave them a distinct ,consideration and ,character from the rest4 ,,having made this ,observation1 let us proceed1 and see what ,antiquity saith1 concerning that first and ,paradisiacal ,state of ,things1 upon those three ,heads forementioned2 ,first1 that there was a perpetual ,spring1 and constant ,serenity of the ,air4 ,this is often repeated by the ancient ,poets1 in their ,description of the golden ,age4 ,non alios prima crescentis origine mundi ,iluxisse dies1 aliumve habuisse tenorem1 ,crediderim3 ,ver illud erat1 ,ver magnus agebat ,orbis1 hybernis parcebant flatibus ,euri4 ,virgil4 ,such ,days the new-born ,earth enjoy'd of old2 ,and the calm ,heavens in this same ,tenor rowl'd3 ,all the great ,world had then one constant ,spring2 ,no cold ,east-winds1 such as our ,winters bring4 ,for ,i interpret this in the same ,sense with ,ovid's ,verses of the golden ,age3 ,ver erat ternum3 ,placidiq2 tepentibus auris ,mulcebant ,zephyri natos sine semine flores4 ,the ,spring was constant1 and soft ,winds that blew1 ,rais'd without ,seed1 ,flow'rs always sweet and new4 ,,and then upon the ,expiration of the golden ,age1 he says1 ,jupiter antiqui contraxit tempora ,veris1 c4 ,when ,jove begun to reign1 he chang'd the ,year1 ,and for one ,spring four ,seasons made appear4 ,,the ,ancients suppos'd1 that in the ,reign of ,saturn1 who was an antediluvian ,god1 as ,i may so call him1 ,time flow'd with a more even ,motion1 and there was no ,diversity of ,seasons in the ,year2 but ,jupiter1 they say1 first introduc'd that1 when he came to manage ,affairs4 ,this is exprest after their way1 who seldom give any severe and philosophical ,accounts of the ,changes of ,nature4 ,and as they suppos'd this perpetual ,spring in the ,golden ,age1 so they did also in their particular ,elysiums2 as ,i could shew largely from their ,authors1 if it would not multiply ,citations too much4 ',tis true1 their ,elysiums respected the new ,heavens1 and new ,earth to come1 rather than the past2 but they are both fram'd upon the same ,model1 and have common ,properties4 ,,the ,christian ,authors have no less celebrated the perpetual ,spring and ,serenity of the ,heavens in ,paradise2 such ,expressions or ,descriptions you will find in ,justin ,martyr1 ,s4 ,basil1 ,damascen1 ,isidore ,hispalensis1 ,de ,grat4 prim4 hom4 and others1 insomuch that ,bellarmine1 ,i remember1 reflecting upon those ,characters of ,paradise1 which many of the ,fathers have given in these ,respects1 saith1 ,such ,things could not be1 unless the ,sun had then another ,course from what he hath now2 or which is more easy1 the ,earth another ,situation4 ,which ,conjecture will hereafter appear to have been well grounded4 ,in the mean ,time1 let us see the ,christian ,poetry upon this ,subject1 as we have seen the ,roman upon the other4 ,alcimus ,avitus hath thus describ'd ,paradise in his ,notes upon ,genesis3 ,non hic alterni succedit temporis unquam ,bruma1 nec stivi redeunt post frigora ,soles2 ,hic ,ver assiduum ,cli clementia servat4 ,turbidus ,auster abest1 semperque sub aere sudo ,nubila diffugiunt1 jugi cessura sereno4 ,nec poscit ,natura loci1 quos non habet1 imbres1 ,sed contenta suo dotantur gerrmina rore4 ,perpetuo viret omne solum1 terrque benign ,blanda nitet facies3 ,stant semper collibus herb1 ,arboribusque com1 c4 ,no ,change of ,seasons or ,excess was there1 ,no ,winter chill'd1 nor ,summer scorch'd the ,air1 ,but with a constant ,spring1 ,nature was fresh and fair4 ,rough ,winds or ,rains that ,region never knew1 ,water'd with ,rivers and the ,morning ,dew2 ,the ,heav'ns still clear1 the ,fields still green and gay1 ,no ,clouds above1 nor on the ,earth decay2 ,trees kept their ,leaves and ,verdure all the ,year1 ,and ,fruits were never out of ,season there4 ,and as the ,christian ,authors1 so likewise the ,jewish have spoken of ,paradise in the same manner2 they tell us also that the ,days there were always of the same ,length throughout the whole ,year2 and that made 'em fancy ,paradise to lie under the ,equinoctial2 as we shall see in its due ,place4 ',tis true1 we do not find these ,things mention'd expresly in the ,sacred ,writings1 but the ,effects that flow'd from 'em are recorded there1 and we may reasonably suppose ,providence to have foreseen1 that when those ,effects came to be scan'd and narrowly look'd into1 they would lead us to a ,discovery of the ,causes1 and particularly of this great and general ,cause1 that perpetual ,equinox and ,unity of ,seasons in the ,year1 till the ,deluge4 ,the ,longevity of the ,antediluvians cannot be explain'd upon any other ,supposition1 as we shall have ,occasion to shew hereafter2 and that you know is recorded carefully in ,scripture3 ,as also that there was no ,rainbow before the ,flood2 which goes upon the same ,ground1 that there was no ,variety of ,seasons1 nor any ,rain3 ,and this by many is thought to be understood by ,moses's ,words1 ,gen4 ii4 #e1 #f4 which he speaks of the first and ,paradisiacal ,earth4 ,lastly1 ,seeing the ,earth then brought forth the ,principles of ,life and all living ,creatures 7,man excepted7 according to ,moses1 ,gen4 i4 #bd4 we must suppose that the ,state of the ,heavens was such as favour'd these ,conceptions and ,births1 which could not possibly be brought to ,perfection1 as the ,seasons of the ,year are at present4 ,the first time that we have mention made in ,scripture of ,summer and ,winter1 and the ,differences of ,seasons1 is at the ending of the ,deluge1 ,gen4 viii4 #bb4 ,henceforward all the ,days of the ,earth1 ,seed-time and ,harvest1 ,heat and ,cold1 ,summer and ,winter1 ,day and ,night shall not cease4 ',tis true these ,words are so lax1 that they may be understood either of a new ,course of ,nature then instituted1 or of an old one restor'd2 but seeing it doth appear from other ,arguments and ,considerations1 that there was at that time a new ,course of ,nature constituted1 it is more reasonable to interpret the ,words in that ,sense2 which1 as it is agreeable to ,truth1 according to ,reason and ,antiquity so it renders that ,remark of ,moses of far greater ,importance1 if it be understood as an ,indication of a new ,order then settled in ,nature1 which should continue henceforwards so long as the ,earth endur'd4 ,nor do ,i at all wonder that such things should not be expresly and positively declar'd in ,scripture2 for ,natural ,mysteries in the ,holy ,writings1 as well as ,prophetical1 are many times1 on set ,purpose1 incompleatly deliver'd1 so as to awaken and excite our ,thoughts rather than fully resolve them3 ,this being often more suitable to the ,designs of ,providence in the ,government of the ,world4 ,but thus much for this first common or general ,character of the ,golden ,age1 and of ,paradise1 a perpetual ,serenity and perpetual ,equinox4 ,,the second ,character is the ,longevity of ,men1 and1 as is probable1 of all other ,animals in ,proportion4 ,this1 methinks1 is as strange and surprising as the other1 and ,i know no ,difference betwixt the ,antediluvian ,world and the present1 so apt to affect us1 if we reflect upon it1 as this wonderful ,disproportion in the ,ages of ,men2 our ,forefathers and their ,posterity3 ,they liv'd seven1 eight1 nine hundred ,years and upwards1 and 'tis a wonder now if a ,man live to one hundred4 ,our ,oaks do not last so long as their ,bodies did2 ,stone and ,iron would scarce outwear them4 ,and this ,property of the first ,ages1 or their ,inhabitants1 how strange soever1 is well attested1 and beyond all ,exception1 having the joint ,consent of ,sacred and ,profane ,history4 ,the ,scripture sets down the precise ,age of a ,series of ,antediluvian ,patriarchs1 and by that measures the ,time from the beginning of the ,world to the ,deluge2 so as all ,sacred ,chronology stands upon that bottom4 ,yet ,i know some have thought this so improbable and incongruous a ,thing1 that to save the ,credit of ,moses and the ,sacred ,history1 they interpret these ,years of ,lunar ,years or ,months2 and so the ,ages of these ,patriarchs are reduc'd to much what the same measure with the common ,life of ,man at this ,time4 ,it may be observ'd in this1 as in many other ,instances1 that for want of a ,theory to make ,things credible and intelligible1 ,men of ,wit and ,parts have often deprest the ,sense of ,scripture2 and that not out of any ill ,will to ,scripture or ,religion1 but because they could not otherwise1 upon the ,stock of their ,notions1 give themselves a rational ,account of ,things recorded there4 ,but ,i hope when we come to explain the ,causes of this ,longevity1 we shall shew that it is altogether as strange a ,thing that ,men should have such short ,lives as they have now1 as that they had such long ,lives in the first ,ages of the ,world4 ,in the mean time there are a great many collateral ,reasons to assure us that ,lunar ,years cannot be here understood by ,moses1 for all ,antiquity gives the same ,account of those first ,ages of the ,world1 and of the first ,men1 that they were extreamly long-liv'd4 ,we meet with it generally in the ,description of the ,golden ,age2 and not only so1 but in their ,topical ,paradises also they always suppos'd a great ,vivacity or ,longevity in those that enjoy'd them4 ,and ,josephus1 speaking upon this ,subject1 ,book ,i4 ,c4 iv4 ,jew4 ,ant4 saith1 the ,authors of all the learned ,nations1 ,greeks1 or ,barbarians1 bare witness to ,moses's ,doctrine in this ,particular4 ,and in the ,mosaical ,history it self1 there are several ,circumstances and ,marks that discover plainly1 that the ,years of the ,patriarchs cannot be understood of ,lunar ,years2 as we shall have ,occasion to shew in another ,place4 ,we proceed in the mean time to the third and last ,character1 ,the extraordinary ,fertility of the ,soil1 and the ,production of ,animals out of the new made ,earth4 ,,the first part of this ,character is unquestionable2 ,all ,antiquity speaks of the ,plenty of the ,golden ,age1 and of their ,paradises1 whether ,christian or ,heathen4 ,the ,fruits of the ,earth were at first spontaneous1 and the ,ground1 without being torn and tormented1 satisfied the ,wants or ,desires of ,man4 ,when ,nature was fresh and full1 all things flow'd from her more easily and more pure1 like the first running of the ,grape1 or the ,honey-comb2 but now she must be prest and squeez'd1 and her ,productions taste more of the ,earth and of bitterness4 ,the ancient ,poets have often pleas'd themselves in making ,descriptions of this happy ,state1 and in admiring the ,riches and ,liberality of ,nature at that ,time2 but we need not transcribe their ,poetry here1 seeing this ,point is not1 ,i think1 contested by any4 ,the second ,part of this ,character1 concerning the spontaneous ,origin of living ,creatures out of that first ,earth1 is not so unquestionable2 and as to ,man1 ,moses plainly implies1 that there was a particular ,action or ,ministry of ,providence in the ,formation of his ,body2 but as to other ,animals1 he seems to suppose that the ,earth brought them forth as it did ,herbs and ,plants4 7,gen4 i4 #bd4 compar'd with the #aath ,verse47 ,and the ,truth is1 there is no such great ,difference betwixt ,vegetable and ,animal ,eggs1 or betwixt the ,seeds out of which ,plants rise1 and the ,eggs out of which all ,animals rise1 but that we may conceive the one as well as the other in the first ,earth2 ,and as some ,warmth and ,influence from the ,sun is required for the ,vegetation of ,seeds1 so that ,influence or ,impregnation1 which is necessary to make ,animal ,eggs fruitful1 was imputed by the ,ancients to the ther1 or to an active and pure ,element which had the same ,effect upon our great ,mother the ,earth1 as the ,irradiation of the ,male hath upon the ,female's ,eggs4 ,tum ,pater ,omnipotens fcundus imbribus ther ,conjugis in gremium lt descendit4 ,in fruitful ,showers of ther ,jove did glide ,into the ,bosom of his joyful ,bride4 ',,tis true1 this ,opinion of the spontaneous ,origin of ,animals in the first ,earth hath lain under some ,odium1 because it was commonly reckon'd to be ,epicurus's ,opinion peculiarly2 and he extended it not only to all ,brute ,creatures1 but to ,mankind also1 whom he suppos'd to grow out of the ,earth in great ,numbers1 in several ,parts and ,countries1 like other ,animals2 which is a ,notion contrary to the ,sacred ,writings2 for they declare1 that all ,mankind1 though diffus'd now through the several ,parts and ,regions of the ,earth1 rose at first from one ,head or single ,man or ,woman2 which is a ,conclusion of great ,importance1 and that could not1 ,i think1 by the ,light of ,nature1 have ever been discover'd4 ,and this makes the ,epicurean ,opinion the more improbable1 for why should two rise only1 if they sprung from the ,earth8 ,or how could they rise in their full ,growth and ,perfection1 as ,adam and ,eve did8 ,but as for the ,opinion of ,animals rising out of the ,earth at first1 that was not at all peculiar to ,epicurus3 ,the ,stoicks were of the same ,mind1 and the ,pythagoreans and the ,egyptians1 and ,i think1 all that suppos'd the ,earth to rise from a ,chaos4 ,neither do ,i know any harm in that ,opinion1 if duly limited and stated2 for what ,inconvenience is it1 or what ,diminution of ,providence1 that there should be the ,principles of ,life1 as well as the ,principles of ,vegetation1 in the new ,earth8 ,and unless you suppose all the first ,animals1 as well as the first ,man1 to have been made at one ,stroke1 in their full ,growth and ,perfection1 which we have neither ,reason nor ,authority sufficient to believe2 if they were made young1 little1 and weak1 as they come now into the ,world1 there seems to be no way for their ,production more proper1 and decorous1 than that they should spring from their great ,mother the ,earth4 ,lastly1 considering the innumerable little ,creatures that are upon the ,earth1 ,insects and creeping ,things2 and that these were not created out of nothing1 but form'd out of the ,ground2 ,i think that an ,office most proper for ,nature1 that can set so many ,hands to work at once2 and that hath ,hands fit for all those little ,operations or ,manufactures1 how small soever1 that would less become the ,dignity of ,superior ,agents4 ,,thus much for the ,preliminaries1 or three general ,characters of ,paradise1 which were common to it with the rest of the ,primval ,earth2 and were the chief ,ingredients of the ,golden ,age1 so much celebrated by the ,ancients4 ,i know there were several other ,differences betwixt that ,earth and this2 but these are the ,original2 and such as are not necessary to be premis'd for the general ,explication of ,paradise1 we reserve for another ,place4 ,we may in the mean time observe1 how preposterously they go to work1 that set themselves immediately to find out some pleasant ,place of the ,earth to fix ,paradise in1 before they have consider'd1 or laid any ,grounds1 to explain the general ,conditions of it1 wheresoever it was4 ,these must be first known and determin'd1 and we must take our ,aim and ,directions from these1 how to proceed further in out ,enquiries after it2 otherwise we sail without a ,compass1 or seek a ,port and know not which way it lies4 ,and as we should think him a very unskilful ,pilot that sought a ,place in the new ,world1 or ,america1 that really was in the old2 so they commit no less an ,error1 that seek ,paradise in the present ,earth1 as now constituted1 which could only belong to the former1 and to the ,state of the first ,world3 ,as will appear more plainly in the following ,chapter4 ,,chap4 ,,ii4 ,the great ,change of the ,world since the ,flood from what it was in the first ,ages4 ,the ,earth under its present ,form could not be ,paradisiacal1 nor any ,part of it4 ,,the ,scheme of this ,world passeth away1 saith an ,holy ,author3 the ,mode and ,form both of the ,natural and ,civil ,world changeth continually more or less1 but most remarkable at certain ,periods1 when all ,nature puts on another ,face2 as it will do at the ,conflagration1 and hath done already from the ,time of the ,deluge4 ,we may imagine how different a ,prospect the first ,world would make from what we see now in the present ,state of ,things1 if we consider only those ,generals1 by which we have describ'd it in the foregoing ,chapter1 and what their ,influence would be upon ,mankind and the rest of ,nature4 ,for every new ,state of ,nature doth introduce a new ,civil ,order1 and a new ,face and ,oeconomy of ,human ,affairs3 ,and ,i am apt to think1 that some two ,planets1 that are under the same ,state or ,period1 do not so much differ from one another1 as the same ,planet doth from it self in different ,periods of its ,duration4 ,we do not seem to inhabit the same ,world that our first ,fore-fathers did1 nor scarce to be the same ,race of ,men4 ,our ,life now is so short and vain1 as if we came into the ,world only to see it and leave it2 by that ,time we begin to understand our selves a little1 and to know where we are1 and how to act our part1 we must leave the ,stage1 and give ,place to others as meer ,novices as we were our selves at our first ,entrance4 ,and this short ,life is employ'd in a great ,measure to preserve our selves from ,necessity1 or ,diseases1 or ,injuries of the ,air1 or other ,inconveniences2 to make one ,man easy1 ten must work and do drudgery2 ,the ,body takes up so much ,time1 we have little ,leisure for ,contemplation1 or to cultivate the ,mind4 ,the ,earth doth not yield us ,food1 but with much ,labour and ,industry2 and what was her free-will ,offering before1 or an easy ,liberality1 can scarce now be extorted from her4 ,neither are the ,heavens more favourable1 sometimes in one ,extream1 sometimes in another2 ,the ,air often impure or infectious1 and1 for a great ,part of the ,year1 ,nature her self seems to be sick or dead4 ,to this ,vanity the external ,creation is made subject as well as ,mankind1 and so must continue till the ,restitution of all ,things4 ,,can we imagine1 in those happy ,times and ,places we are treating of1 that ,things stood in this same ,posture8 ,are these the ,fruits of the golden ,age and of ,paradise1 or consistent with their ,happiness8 ,and the ,remedies of these ,evils must be so universal1 you cannot give them to one ,place or ,region of the ,earth1 but all must participate3 ,for these are ,things that flow from the ,course of the ,heavens1 or such general ,causes1 as extend at once to all ,nature4 ,if there was a perpetual ,spring and perpetual ,equinox in ,paradise1 there was at the same ,time a perpetual ,equinox all the ,earth over2 unless you place ,paradise in the middle of the ,torrid ,zone4 ,so also the long ,lives of the ,antediluvians was an universal ,effect1 and must have had an universal ,cause4 ',tis true1 in some single ,parts or ,regions of the present ,earth1 the ,inhabitants live generally longer than in others1 but do not approach in any ,measure the ,age of their antediluvian ,fore-fathers2 and that degree of ,longevity which they have above the rest1 they owe to the ,calmness and ,tranquillity of their ,heavens and ,air2 which is but an imperfect ,participation of that ,cause which was once universal1 and had its ,effect throughout the whole ,earth4 ,and as to the ,fertility of this ,earth1 though in some ,spots it be eminently more fruitful than in others1 and more delicious2 yet that of the first ,earth was a ,fertility of another kind1 being spontaneous1 and extending to the ,production of ,animals1 which cannot be without a favourable ,concourse from the ,heavens also4 ,,thus much in general2 we will now go over those three fore-mention'd ,characters more distinctly1 to shew1 by their ,unsuitableness to the present ,state of ,nature1 that neither the whole ,earth1 as it is now1 nor any ,part of it1 could be ,paradisiacal4 ,the perpetual ,spring1 which belong'd to the golden ,age1 and to ,paradise1 is an ,happiness this present ,earth cannot pretend to1 nor is capable of1 unless we could transfer the ,sun from the ,ecliptick to the ,equator1 or1 which is as easy1 persuade the ,earth to change its ,posture to the ,sun4 ,if ,archimedes had found a ,place to plant his ,machines in for removing of the ,earth1 all that ,i should have desir'd of him1 would have been only to have given it an ,heave at one ,end1 and set it a little to rights again with the ,sun1 that we might have enjoy'd the ,comfort of a perpetual ,spring1 which we have lost by its ,dislocation ever since the ,deluge4 ,and there being nothing more indispensably necessary to a ,paradisiacal ,state than this ,unity and equality of ,seasons1 where that cannot be1 'tis in vain to seek for the rest of ,paradise4 ,,the spontaneous ,fruitfulness of the ,ground was a thing peculiar to the ,primigenial ,soil1 which was so temper'd1 as made it more ,luxuriant at that time than it could ever be afterwards2 and as that rich ,temperament was spent1 so by degrees it grew less fertile4 ,the ,origin or ,production of ,animals out of the ,earth depended not only upon this vital ,constitution of the ,soil at first1 but also upon such a ,posture and ,aspect of the ,heavens1 as favour'd1 or at least permitted ,nature1 to make her best ,works out of this prepar'd ,matter1 and better than could be made in that manner after the ,flood4 ,noah1 we see1 had ,orders given him to preserve the ,races of living ,creatures in his ,ark1 when the old ,world was destroy'd2 which is an ,argument to me1 that ,providence foresaw that the ,earth would not be capable to produce them under its new ,form2 and that1 not only for want of ,fitness in the ,soil1 but because of the ,diversity of ,seasons which were then to take place1 whereby ,nature would be disturb'd in her ,work1 and the ,subject to be wrought upon would not continue long enough in the same due ,temper4 ,but this ,part of the second ,character1 concerning the ,original of ,animals1 deserves to be further examin'd and explain'd4 ,,the first ,principles of ,life must be tender and ductile1 that they may yield to all the ,motions and gentle ,touches of ,nature2 otherwise it is not possible1 that they should be wrought with that ,curiosity1 and drawn into all those little fine ,threads and ,textures1 that we see and admire in some parts of the ,bodies of ,animals4 ,and as the ,matter must be so constituted at first1 so it must be kept in a due ,temper till the ,work be finish'd1 without any ,excess of ,heat or ,cold2 and accordingly we see that ,nature hath made ,provision in all sorts of ,creatures whether ,oviparous or ,viviparous1 that the first ,rudiments of ,life should be preserv'd from all ,injuries of the ,air1 and kept in a moderate ,warmth4 ,eggs are enclos'd in a ,shell1 or ,film1 and must be cherished with an equal gentle heat1 to begin ,formation and continue it1 otherwise the ,work miscarries3 ,and in ,viviparous ,creatures1 the ,materials of ,life are safely lodg'd in the ,female's ,womb1 and conserv'd in a fit ,temperature 'twixt heat and cold1 while the ,causes that ,providence hath employ'd are busy at work1 fashioning and placing and joining the ,parts in that due ,order which so wonderful a ,fabrick requires4 ,,let us now compare these ,things with the ,birth of ,animals in the new-made ,world1 when they first rose out of the ,earth1 to see what ,provision could be made there for their ,safety and ,nourishment1 while they were a making1 and when newly made2 and though we take all ,advantages we can1 and suppose both the ,heavens and the ,earth favourable1 a fit ,soil and a warm and constant ,temper of the ,air1 all will be little enough to make this way of ,production feasible or probable4 ,but if we suppose there was then the same ,inconstancy of the ,heavens that is now1 the same ,vicissitude of ,seasons1 and the same inequality of ,heat and ,cold1 ,i do not think it at all possible that they could be so form'd1 or1 being new-form'd1 preserv'd and nourish'd4 ',tis true1 some little ,creatures that are of short ,dispatch in their ,formation1 and find ,nourishment enough wheresoever they are bred1 might be produc'd and brought to ,perfection in this way1 notwithstanding any ,inequality of ,seasons2 because they are made all at a ,heat1 as ,i may so say1 begun and ended within the compass of one ,season4 ,but the great ,question is1 concerning the more perfect kinds of ,animals1 that require a long stay in the ,womb1 to make them capable to sustain and nourish themselves when they first come into the ,world4 ,such ,animals1 being big and strong1 must have a pretty ,hardness in their ,bones1 and ,force and ,firmness in their ,muscles and ,joints1 before they can bear their own weight1 and exercise the common ,motions of their ,body3 ,and accordingly we see ,nature hath ordain'd for these a longer ,time of ,gestation1 that their ,limbs and ,members might have time to acquire ,strength and ,solidity4 ,besides1 the young ones of these ,animals have commonly the ,milk of the ,dam to nourish them after they are brought forth1 which is a very proper ,nourishment1 and like to that which they had before in the ,womb2 and by this means their ,stomachs are prepar'd by degrees for coarser ,food2 ,whereas our ,terrigenous ,animals must have been wean'd as soon as they were born1 or as soon as they were separated from their ,mother the ,earth1 and therefore must be allow'd a longer ,time of ,continuing there4 ,,these ,things being consider'd1 we cannot in ,reason but suppose1 that these ,terrigenous ,animals were as long1 or longer1 a ,perfecting1 than our ,viviparous1 and were not separated from the ,body of the ,earth for ten1 twelve1 eighteen1 or more ,months1 according as their ,nature was2 and seeing in this ,space of ,time they must have suffer'd1 upon the common ,hypothesis1 all ,vicissitudes and ,variety of ,seasons1 and great ,excesses of ,heat and ,cold1 which are ,things incompatible with the tender ,principles of ,life1 and the ,formation of living ,creatures1 as we have shewn before2 we may reasonably and safely conclude1 that ,nature had not1 when the ,world began1 the same ,course she hath now1 or that the ,earth was not then in its present ,posture and ,constitution3 ,seeing1 ,i say1 these first spontaneous ,births1 which both the ,holy ,writ1 ,reason and ,antiquity seem to allow1 could not be finish'd and brought to ,maturity1 nor afterwards preserv'd and nourish'd1 upon any other ,supposition4 ,,longevity is the last ,character to be consider'd1 and as inconsistent with the present ,state of the ,earth as any other4 ,there are many ,things in the ,story of the first ,ages that seem strange1 but nothing so prodigy-like as the long ,lives of those ,men2 that their ,houses of ,clay should stand eight or nine hundred ,years and upwards1 and those we build of the hardest ,stone1 or ,marble1 will not now last so long4 ,this hath excited the ,curiosity of ingenious and learned ,men in all ,ages1 to enquire after the possible ,causes of that ,longevity2 and if it had been always in ,conjunction with ,innocency of ,life and ,manners1 and expir'd when that expir'd1 we might have thought it some peculiar ,blessing or ,reward attending that2 but it was common to good and bad1 and lasted till the ,deluge1 whereas ,mankind was degenerate long before4 ,amongst ,natural ,causes1 some have imputed it to the ,sobriety and ,simplicity of their ,diet and manner of ,living in those ,days1 that they eat no ,flesh1 and had not all those ,provocations to ,gluttony1 which ,wit and ,vice have since invented4 ,this might have some ,effect1 but not possibly to that ,degree and ,measure that we speak of4 ,there are many ,monastical ,persons now1 that live ,abstemiously all their ,lives1 and yet they think an hundred ,years a very great ,age amongst them4 ,others have imputed it to the ,excellency of their ,fruits1 and some unknown ,virtue in their ,herbs and ,plants in those ,days2 but they may as well say nothing1 as say that which can neither be prov'd nor understood4 ,it could not be either the ,quantity or ,quality of their food that was the ,cause of their long ,lives1 for the ,earth was said to be curst long before the ,deluge1 and probably by that time was more barren and juiceless 7for the generality7 than ours is now2 yet we do not see that their ,longevity decreas'd at all1 from the ,beginning of the ,world to the ,flood4 ,methusalah was ,noah's ,grandfather but one intire ,remove from the ,deluge1 and he liv'd longer than any of his ,fore-fathers4 ,that ,food that will nourish the ,parts1 and keep us in ,health1 is also capable to keep us in long ,life1 if there be no ,impediments otherwise2 for to continue ,health is to continue ,life2 as that ,fewel that is fit to raise and nourish a ,flame1 will preserve it as long as you please1 if you add fresh ,fewel1 and no external ,causes hinder3 ,neither do we observe that in those ,parts of the present ,earth1 where ,people live longer than in others1 that there is any thing extraordinary in their ,food2 but that the ,difference is chiefly from the ,air and the ,temperateness of the ,heavens2 ,and if the ,antediluvians had not enjoy'd that ,advantage in a peculiar manner1 and differently from what any ,parts of the ,earth do now1 they would never have seen seven1 eight1 or nine hundred ,years go over their ,heads1 though they had been nourish'd with ,nectar and ,ambrosia4 ,,others have thought that the long ,lives of those ,men of the old ,world proceeded from the ,strength of their ,stamina1 or first ,principles of their ,bodies2 which if they were now as strong in us1 they think we should still live as long as they did4 ,this could not be the sole and adequate ,cause of their ,longevity1 as will appear both from ,history and ,reason4 ,shem1 who was born before the ,flood1 and had in his ,body all the ,virtue of the antediluvian ,stamina and ,constitution1 fell three hundred ,years short of the ,age of his ,fore-fathers1 because the greatest part of his ,life was past after the ,flood4 ,that their ,stamina were stronger than ours are1 ,i am very ready to believe1 and that their ,bodies were greater2 and any ,race of strong ,men1 living long in ,health1 would have ,children of a proportionable strong ,constitution with themselves2 but then the ,question is1 how was this interrupted8 ,we that are their ,posterity1 why do not we inherit their long ,lives8 ,how was this ,constitution broken at the ,deluge1 and how did the ,stamina fail so fast when that came8 ,why was there so great a ,crisis then and ,turn of ,life1 or why was that the ,period of their ,strength8 ,,we see this ,longevity sunk half in half immediately after the ,flood1 and after that it sunk by gentler degrees1 but was still in ,motion and ,declension till it was fixt at length before ,david's time1 ,psal4 xc4 #aj4 7call'd a ,psalm of ,moses17 in that which hath been the common ,standard of ,man's ,age ever since3 ,as when some excellent ,fruit is transplanted into a worse ,climate and ,soil1 it degenerates continually till it comes to such a degree of ,meanness as suits that ,air and ,soil1 and then it stands4 ,that the ,age of ,man did not fall all on a sudden from the ,antediluvian ,measure to the present1 ,i impute it to the remaining ,stamina of those first ,ages1 and the ,strength of that pristine ,constitution which could not wear off but by degrees4 ,we see the ,blacks do not quit their ,complexion immediately1 by removing into another ,climate1 but their ,posterity changeth by little and little1 and after some ,generations they become altogether like the ,people of the ,country where they are4 ,thus by the ,change of ,nature that happen'd at the ,flood1 the unhappy ,influence of the ,air and unequal ,seasons1 weaken'd by degrees the innate ,strength of their ,bodies1 and the ,vigour of their ,parts1 which would have been capable to have lasted several more hundreds of ,years1 if the ,heavens had continued their ,course as formerly1 or the ,earth its ,position4 ,to conclude this particular1 if any think that the ,antediluvian ,longevity proceeded only from the ,stamina1 or the meer ,strength of their ,bodies1 and would have been so under any ,constitution of the ,heavens1 let 'em resolve themselves these ,questions3 ,first1 ,why these ,stamina1 or this ,strength of ,constitution fail'd8 ,secondly1 ,why did it fail so much and so remarkably at the ,deluge8 ,thirdly1 ,why in such ,proportions as it hath done since the ,deluge8 ,and lastly1 ,why it hath stood so long immovable1 and without any further ,diminution8 ,within the compass of five hundred ,years they sunk from nine hundred to ninety2 and in the compass of more than three thousand ,years since1 they have not sunk ten ,years1 or scarce any thing at all4 ,who considers the ,reasons of these ,things1 and the true ,resolution of these ,questions1 will be satisfied1 that to understand the ,causes of that ,longevity1 something more must be consider'd than the ,make and ,strength of their ,bodies2 which though they had been made as strong as the ,behemoth or ,leviathan1 could not have lasted so many ,ages1 if there had not been a particular ,concurrence of external ,causes1 such as the present ,state of ,nature doth not admit of4 ,by this short ,review of the three general ,characters of ,paradise and the ,golden ,age1 we may conclude how little consistent they are with the present ,form and ,order of the ,earth4 ,who can pretend to assign any ,place or ,region in this terraqueous ,globe1 ,island or ,continent1 that is capable of these ,conditions1 or that agrees either with the ,descriptions given by the ancient ,heathens of their ,paradises1 or by the ,christian ,fathers of ,scripture ,paradise8 ,but where then1 will you say1 must we look for it1 if not upon this ,earth8 ,this puts us more into ,despair of finding it than ever2 'tis not above nor below1 in the ,air or in the subterraneous ,regions2 ,no1 doubtless 'twas upon the ,surface of the ,earth1 but of the ,primitive ,earth1 whose ,form and ,properties1 as they were different from this1 so they were such as made it capable of being truly ,paradisiacal1 both according to the forementioned ,characters1 and all other ,qualities1 and ,privileges reasonably ascrib'd to ,paradise4 ,,chap4 ,,iii4 ,the ,original ,differences of the ,primitive ,earth from the present or post-diluvian4 ,the three ,characters of ,paradise and the ,golden ,age found in the ,primitive ,earth4 ,a particular ,explication of each ,character4 ,,we have hitherto only perplex'd the ,argument and our selves1 by shewing how inexplicable the ,state of ,paradise is1 according to the present ,order of ,things1 and the present ,condition of the ,earth4 ,we must now therefore bring into ,view that ,original and ,antediluvian ,earth1 where we pretend its ,seat was1 and shew it capable of all those ,privileges which we have deny'd to the present2 in virtue of which ,privileges1 and of the order of ,nature establish'd there1 that ,primitive ,earth might be truly ,paradisiacal1 as in the ,golden ,age2 and some ,region of it might be peculiarly so1 according to the receiv'd ,idea of ,paradise4 ,and this1 ,i think1 is all the ,knowledge and ,satisfaction that we can expect1 or that ,providence hath allow'd us in this ,argument4 ,,the ,primigenial ,earth1 which in the first ,book 7,chap4 #e47 we rais'd from a ,chaos1 and set up in an habitable ,form1 we must now survey again with more ,care1 to observe its principal ,differences from the present ,earth1 and what ,influence they will have upon the ,question in ,hand4 ,these ,differences1 as we have said before1 were chiefly three2 the ,form of it1 which was smooth1 even1 and regular2 the ,posture and ,situation of it to the ,sun1 which was direct1 and not as it is at present1 inclin'd and oblique2 and the ,figure of it1 which was more apparently and regularly ,oval than it is now4 ,from these three ,differences flow'd a great many more1 inferior and subordinate2 and which had a considerable ,influence upon the moral ,world at that ,time1 as well as the natural4 ,but we will only observe here1 their more immediate ,effects1 and that in reference to those general ,characters or ,properties of the ,golden ,age and of ,paradise1 which we have instanc'd in1 and whereof we are bound to give an ,account by our ,hypothesis4 ,,and in this respect the most ,fundamental of those three ,differences we mentioned1 was that of the right ,posture and ,situation of the ,earth to the ,sun2 for from this immediately follow'd a perpetual quinox all the ,earth over1 or1 if you will1 a perpetual ,spring3 ,and that was the great ,thing we found wanting in the present ,earth to make it ,paradisiacal1 or capable of being so4 ,wherefore this being now found and establish'd in the ,primitive ,earth1 the other two ,properties of ,longevity1 and of spontaneous and vital ,fertility1 will be of more easy ,explication4 ,in the mean ,time let us view a little the ,reasons and ,causes of that regular ,situation in the first ,earth4 ,,the ,truth is1 one cannot so well require a ,reason of the regular ,situation the ,earth had then1 for that was most simple and natural2 as of the irregular ,situation it hath now1 standing oblique and inclin'd to the ,sun or the ,ecliptick3 ,whereby the ,course of the ,year is become unequal1 and we are cast into a great ,diversity of ,seasons4 ,but however1 stating the first aright with its ,circumstances1 we shall have a better ,prospect upon the second1 and see from what ,causes1 and in what ,manner1 it came to pass4 ,let us therefore suppose the ,earth1 with the rest of its fellow ,planets1 to be carried about the ,sun in the ,ecliptick1 by the ,motion of the liquid ,heavens2 and being at that time perfectly uniform and regular1 having the same ,center of its ,magnitude and ,gravity1 it would by the ,equality of its ,libration necessarily have its ,axis parallel to the ,axis of the same ,ecliptick1 both its ,poles being equally inclin'd to the ,sun4 ,and this ,posture ,i call a right ,situation1 as oppos'd to oblique or inclin'd2 or a parallel ,situation1 if you please4 ,now this is a ,thing that needs no ,proof besides its own ,evidence2 for 'tis the immediate result and common ,effect of ,gravity or ,libration1 that a ,body1 freely left to it self in a fluid ,medium1 should settle in such a ,posture as best answers to its ,gravitation2 and this first ,earth whereof we speak1 being uniform1 and every way equally balanced1 there was no ,reason why it should incline at one ,end1 more than at the other1 towards the ,sun4 ,as if you should suppose a ,ship to stand ,north and ,south under the ,equator1 if it was equally built and equally ballasted1 it would not incline to one ,pole or other1 but keep its ,axis parallel to the ,axis of the ,earth2 but if the ,ballast lay more at one ,end1 it would dip towards that ,pole1 and rise proportionably higher towards the other4 ,so those great ,ships that sail about the ,sun once a ,year1 or once in so many ,years1 whilst they are uniformly built and equally pois'd1 they keep steady and even with the ,axis of their ,orbit2 but if they lose that ,equality1 and the ,center of their ,gravity change1 the heavier ,end will incline more towards the common ,center of their ,motion1 and the other ,end will recede from it4 ,so particularly the ,earth1 which makes one in that ,ary ,fleet1 when it scap'd so narrowly from being ,shipwreckt in the great ,deluge1 was however so broken and disorder'd1 that it lost its equal ,poise1 and thereupon the ,center of its ,gravity changing1 one ,pole became more inclin'd towards the ,sun1 and the other more remov'd from it1 and so its right and parallel ,situation which it had before1 to the ,axis of the ,ecliptick1 was chang'd into an ,oblique2 in which skew ,posture it hath stood ever since1 and is likely so to do for some ,ages to come4 ,i instance in this1 as the most obvious ,cause of the ,change of the ,situation of the ,earth1 though1 it may be1 upon this followed a ,change in its ,magnetism1 and that might also contribute to the same ,effect4 ,,however1 this ,change and ,obliquity of the ,earth's ,posture had a long train of ,consequences depending upon it2 whereof that was the most immediate1 that it alter'd the ,form of the ,year1 and brought in that ,inequality of ,seasons1 which hath since obtain'd3 ,as1 on the contrary1 while the ,earth was in its first and natural ,posture1 in a more easy and regular ,disposition to the ,sun1 that had also another respective train of ,consequences1 whereof one of the first1 and that which we are most concern'd in at present1 was1 that it made a perpetual ,equinox or ,spring to all the ,world1 all the ,parts of the ,year had one and the same ,tenor1 ,face and ,temper2 there was no ,winter or ,summer1 ,seed-,time or ,harvest1 but a continual ,temperature of the ,air and ,verdure of the ,earth4 ,and this fully answers the first and fundamental ,character of the ,golden ,age and of ,paradise2 and what ,antiquity1 whether ,heathen or ,christian1 hath spoken concerning that perpetual ,serenity and constant ,spring that reign'd there1 which in the one was accounted ,fabulous1 and in the other ,hyperbolical1 we see to have been really and philosophically true4 ,nor is there any ,wonder in the ,thing1 the wonder is rather on our side1 that the ,earth should stand and continue in that forc'd ,posture wherein it is now1 spinning ,yearly about an ,axis1 ,i mean that of the ,equator1 that doth not belong to the ,orbit of its ,motion2 ,this1 ,i say1 is more strange than that it once stood in a ,posture that was streight and regular2 as we more justly admire the ,tower at ,pisa1 that stands crook'd1 than twenty other streight ,towers that are much higher4 ,,having got this ,foundation to stand upon1 the rest of our ,work will go on more easily2 and the two other ,characters which we mention'd1 will not be of very difficult ,explication4 ,the spontaneous ,fertility of the ,earth1 and its ,production of ,animals at that time1 we have in some measure explain'd before1 supposing it to proceed partly from the ,richness of the primigenial ,soil1 and partly from this constant ,spring and ,benignity of the ,heavens1 which we have now establish'd3 ,these were always ready to excite ,nature1 and put her upon ,action1 and never to interrupt her in any of her ,motions or ,attempts4 ,we have shew'd in the fifth ,chapter of the first ,book1 how this primigenial ,soil was made1 and of what ,ingredients2 which were such as compose the richest and fattest ,soil1 being a light ,earth mix'd with unctuous ,juices1 and then afterwards refresh'd and diluted with the ,dews of ,heaven all the ,year long1 and cherish'd with a continual ,warmth from the ,sun4 ,what more hopeful ,beginning of a ,world than this8 ,you will grant1 ,i believe1 that whatsoever degree1 or whatsoever kind of ,fruitfulness could be expected from a ,soil and a ,sun1 might be reasonably expected there4 ,we see great ,woods and ,forests of ,trees rise spontaneously1 and that since the ,flood 7for who can imagine that the ancient ,forests1 whereof some were so vastly great1 were planted by the ,hand of ,man87 why should we not then believe that ,fruit-trees and ,corn rose as spontaneously in that first ,earth8 ,that which makes ,husbandry and human ,arts so necessary now for the ,fruits and ,productions of the ,earth1 is partly indeed the ,decay of the ,soil1 but chiefly the ,diversity of ,seasons1 whereby they perish1 if care be not taken of them2 but when there was neither ,heat nor ,cold1 ,winter nor ,summer1 every ,season was a ,seed-time to ,nature1 and every ,season an ,harvest4 ,,this1 it may be1 you will allow as to the ,fruits of the ,earth1 but that the same ,earth should produce ,animals also1 will not be thought so intelligible4 ,since it hath been discover'd1 that the first ,materials of all ,animals are ,eggs1 as ,seeds are of ,plants1 it doth not seem so hard to conceive1 that these ,eggs might be in the first ,earth1 as well as those ,seeds2 for there is a great ,analogy and ,similitude betwixt them2 especially if you compare these ,seeds first with the ,eggs of ,insects or ,fishes1 and then with the ,eggs of viviparous ,animals4 ,and as for those ,juices which the ,eggs of viviparous ,animals imbibe thorough their ,coats from the ,womb1 they might as well imbibe them1 or something analogous to them1 from a conveniently temper'd ,earth1 as ,plant-,eggs do2 and these ,things being admitted1 the ,progress is much what the same in ,seeds as ,eggs1 and in one sort of ,eggs as in another4 ',,tis true1 ,animal-,eggs do not seem to be fruitful of themselves1 without the ,influence of the ,male2 and this is not necessary in ,plant-,eggs or vegetable ,seeds4 ,but neither doth it seem necessary in all ,animal-,eggs1 if there be any ,animals sponte orta1 as they call them1 or bred without ,copulation4 ,and1 as we observ'd before1 according to the best ,knowledge that we have of this ,male influence1 it is reasonable to believe1 that it may be supplied by the ,heavens or ther4 ,the ,ancients1 both the ,stoicks and ,aristotle1 have suppos'd that there was something of an thereal ,element in the ,malegeniture1 from whence the ,virtue of it chiefly proceeded2 and if so1 why may we not suppose1 at that ,time1 some general ,impression or ,irradiation of that purer ,element to fructify the new made ,earth8 ,moses saith there was an ,incubation of the ,spirit of ,god upon the ,mass1 and without all doubt that was either to form or fructify it1 and by the ,mediation of this active ,principle2 but the ,ancients speak more plainly with express mention of this ther1 and of the ,impregnation of the ,earth by it1 as betwixt ,male and ,female4 ,as in the ,place before cited2 ,tum pater omnipotens fcundis imbribus ther ,conjugis in gremium lt descendit2 omnes ,magnus alit magno commixtus corpore ftus4 ,which ,notion1 ,i remember1 ,st4 ,austin saith1 ,de ,civ4 ,d4 lib4 iv4 c4 #aj4 ,virgil did not take from the ,fictions of the ,poets1 but out of the ,books of the ,philosophers4 ,some of the gravest ,authors amongst the ,romans have reported1 that this ,virtue hath been convey'd into the ,wombs of some ,animals by the ,winds1 or the ,zephyri2 and as ,i easily believe that the first fresh ,air was more impregnated with this thereal ,principle than ours is1 so ,i see no reason but those balmy ,dews1 that fell every ,night in the ,primitive ,earth1 might be the ,vehicle of it as well as the ,malegeniture is now2 and from them the teeming ,earth1 and those vital ,seeds which it contain'd1 were actuated1 and receiv'd their first ,fruitfulness4 ,,now this ,principle1 howsoever convey'd to those ,rudiments of ,life which we call ,eggs1 is that which gives the first stroke towards ,animation2 and this seems to be1 by exciting a ,ferment in those little ,masses1 whereby the ,parts are loosen'd1 and dispos'd for that ,formation which is to follow afterwards4 ,and ,i see nothing that hinders1 but that we may reasonably suppose that these ,animal ,productions might proceed thus far in the ,primigenial ,earth4 ,and as to their ,progress and the ,formation of the ,body1 by what ,agents or ,principles soever that great ,work is carried on in the ,womb of the ,female1 it might by the same be carried on there4 ,neither would there be any ,danger of miscarrying by ,excess of ,heat or ,cold1 for the ,air was always of an equal ,temper and moderate ,warmth2 and all other ,impediments were remov'd1 and all ,principles ready1 whether active or passive2 so as we may justly conclude1 that as ,eve was the ,mother of all living1 as to ,mankind1 so was the ,earth the ,great ,mother of all living ,creatures besides4 ,,the third ,character to be explain'd1 and the most extraordinary in ,appearance1 is that of ,longevity4 ,this sprung from the same ,root in my ,opinion1 with the other2 though the ,connexion1 it may be1 is not so visible4 ,we shew'd in the foregoing ,chapter1 that no ,advantage of ,diet1 or of strong ,constitutions1 could have carried their ,lives1 before the ,flood1 to that wonderful ,length1 if they had been exposed to the same ,changes of ,air and of ,seasons that our ,bodies are3 ,but taking a perpetual ,equinox1 and fixing the ,heavens1 you fix the ,life of ,man too2 which was not then in such a rapid ,flux as it is now1 but seem'd to stand still as the ,sun did once without ,declension4 ,there is no ,question but every thing upon ,earth1 and especially the ,animate ,world1 would be much more permanent1 if the general ,course of ,nature was more steady and uniform2 a ,stability in the ,heavens makes a ,stability in all ,things below2 and that ,change and ,contrariety of ,qualities that we have in these ,regions1 is the ,fountain of ,corruption1 and suffers nothing to be long in quiet3 ,either by intestine ,motions and ,fermentations excited within1 or by outward ,impressions1 ,bodies are no sooner well constituted1 but they are tending again to ,dissolution4 ,the ther in their little ,pores and ,chinks is unequally agitated1 and differently mov'd at different ,times1 and so is the ,air in their greater1 and the ,vapours and ,atmosphere round about them3 ,all these shake and unsettle both the ,texture and ,continuity of ,bodies4 ,whereas in a fix'd ,state of ,nature1 where these ,principles have always the same constant and uniform ,motion1 when they are once suited to the ,forms and ,compositions of ,bodies1 they give them no further ,disturbance2 they enjoy a long and lasting ,peace1 without any ,commotions or ,violence within or without4 ,,we find our selves sensible ,changes in our ,bodies upon the ,turn of the ,year1 and the ,change of ,seasons2 new ,fermentations in the ,blood and ,resolutions of the ,humours2 which if they do not amount to ,diseases1 at least they disturb ,nature1 and have a bad ,effect1 not only upon the fluid ,parts1 but also upon the more solid1 upon the ,springs and ,fibres in the ,organs of the ,body1 to weaken them and unfit them by degrees for their respective ,functions4 ,for though the ,change is not sensible immediately in these ,parts1 yet after many repeated ,impressions every ,year1 by unequal ,heat and ,cold1 ,driness and ,moisture1 contracting and relaxing the ,fibres1 their ,tone at length is in a great ,measure destroy'd1 and brought to a manifest ,debility2 and the great ,springs falling1 the lesser1 that depend upon them1 fall in ,proportion1 and all the ,symptoms of ,decay and old ,age follow4 ,we see by daily ,experience1 that ,bodies are kept better in the same ,medium1 as we call it1 than if they often change their ,medium1 as sometimes in ,air1 sometimes in ,water1 moistned and dry'd1 heated and cool'd2 these different states weaken the ,contexture of the ,parts3 ,but our ,bodies1 in the present ,state of ,nature1 are put into an hundred different ,mediums in the ,course of a ,year2 sometimes we are steep'd in ,water1 or in a misty foggy ,air1 for several ,days together2 sometimes we are almost frozen with ,cold1 then fainting with ,heat at another time of the ,year2 and the ,winds are of a different ,nature1 and the ,air of a different ,weight and ,pressure1 according to the ,weather and the ,seasons3 ,these ,things would wear our ,bodies1 tho' they were built of ,oak1 and that in a very short ,time1 in ,comparison of what they would last1 if they were always encompass'd with one and the same ,medium1 under one and the same ,temper1 as it was in the ,primitive ,earth4 ,,the ,ancients seem to have been sensible of this1 and of the true ,causes of those long ,periods of ,life2 for wheresoever they assign'd a great ,longevity1 as they did not only to their golden ,age1 but also to their particular and topical ,paradises1 they also assign'd there a constant ,serenity and ,equality of the ,heavens1 and sometimes expresly a constant ,equinox2 as might be made appear from their ,authors4 ,and some of our christian ,authors have gone farther1 and connected these two together1 as ,cause and ,effect1 for they say that the ,longevity of the ,antediluvian ,patriarchs proceeded from a favourable ,aspect and ,influence of the ,heavens at that ,time2 which ,aspect of the ,heavens1 being rightly interpreted1 is the same thing that we call the position of the ,heavens1 or the right ,situation of the ,sun and the ,earth1 from whence came a perpetual ,equinox4 ,and if we consider the present ,earth1 ,i know no ,place where they live longer than in that little ,island of the ,bermudas1 where1 according to the ,proportion of ,time they hold out there1 after they are arriv'd from other ,parts1 one may reasonably suppose1 that the ,natives would live two hundred ,years1 and there's nothing appears in that ,island that should give long ,life above other ,places1 but the extraordinary ,steadiness of the ,weather1 and of the ,temper of the ,air throughout the whole ,year1 so as there is scarce any considerable ,difference of ,seasons4 ,,but because it would take up too much ,time to shew in this ,place the full and just ,reasons why1 and how these long ,periods of ,life depend upon the ,stability of the ,heavens3 ,and how on the contrary1 from their ,inconstancy and ,mutability these ,periods are shorten'd1 as in the present ,order of ,nature2 we will set apart the next ,chapter to treat upon that ,subject2 yet by way of ,digression only1 so as those that have a mind may pass to the following1 where the ,thread of this ,discourse is continued4 ,in the mean ,time you see1 we have prepar'd an ,earth for ,paradise1 and given a fair and intelligible ,account of those three general ,characters1 which1 according to the ,rules of ,method1 must be determin'd before any further ,progress can be made in this ,argument4 ,for in the ,doctrine of ,paradise there are two things to be consider'd1 the ,state of it and the ,place of it2 ,and as it is first in ,order of ,nature1 so it is much more material1 to find out the ,state of it1 than the ,region where it stood4 ,we need not follow the ,windings of ,rivers1 and the ,interpretation of hard ,names1 to discover this1 we take more faithful ,guides3 ,the unanimous ,reports of ,antiquity1 sacred and profane1 supported by a regular ,theory4 ,upon these ,grounds we go1 and have thus far proceeded on our way2 which we hope will grow more easy and pleasant1 the nearer we come to our ,journey's ,end4 ,,chap4 ,,iv4 ,a ,digression concerning the natural ,causes of ,longevity4 ,that the ,machine of an ,animal consists of ,springs1 and which are the two principal4 ,the ,age of the ,antediluvians to be computed by ,solar1 not ,lunar ,years4 ,,to confirm our ,opinion concerning the ,reasons of ,longevity in the first ,inhabitants of the ,world1 it will not be amiss to deduce more at large the natural ,causes of long1 or short ,periods of ,life4 ,and when we speak of long or short ,periods of ,life1 we do not mean those little ,differences of ten1 twenty1 or forty ,years1 which we see amongst ,men now-a-days1 according as they are of stronger or weaker ,constitutions1 and govern themselves better or worse2 but those grand and famous ,differences of several hundreds of ,years1 which we have ,examples of in the different ,ages of the ,world1 and particularly in those that liv'd before and since the ,flood4 ,neither do we think it peculiar to this ,earth to have such an ,inequality in the ,lives of ,men2 but the other ,planets1 if they be inhabited1 have the same ,property1 and the same ,difference in their different ,periods3 ,all ,planets that are in their ,antediluvian ,state1 and in their first and regular ,situation to the ,sun1 have long-liv'd ,inhabitants2 and those1 that are in an oblique ,situation1 have short-liv'd2 unless there be some counter ,causes that hinder this general ,rule of ,nature from taking ,place4 ,,we are now so us'd to a short ,life1 and to drop away after threescore or fourscore ,years1 that when we compare our ,lives with those of the ,antediluvians1 we think the ,wonder lies wholly on their ,side1 why they liv'd so long2 ,and so it doth popularly speaking2 but if we speak ,philosophically1 the ,wonder lies rather on our side1 why we live so little1 or so short a ,time8 ,for seeing our ,bodies are such ,machines as have a ,faculty of nourishing themselves1 that is1 of repairing their lost or decay'd ,parts1 so long as they have good ,nourishment to make ,use of1 why should they not continue in good ,plight1 and always the same1 as a ,flame does1 so long as it is supplied with ,fewel8 ,and that we may the better see on whether side the ,wonder lies1 and from what ,causes it proceeds1 we will propose this ,problem to be examin'd1 ,why the ,frame or ,machine of an human ,body1 or of another ,animal1 having that ,constriction of ,parts1 and those ,faculties which it hath1 lasts so short a ,time8 ,and tho' it fall into no ,disease1 nor have any unnatural ,accident1 within the ,space of eighty ,years1 more or less1 fatally and inevitably1 decays1 dies1 and perisheth4 ,,that the ,state and ,difficulty of this ,question may the better appear1 let us consider a ,man in the ,prime and ,vigour of his ,life1 at the ,age of twenty or twenty four ,years1 of an healthful ,constitution1 and all his ,vitals sound2 let him be nourished with good ,food1 use due ,exercise1 and govern himself with ,moderation in all other ,things2 the ,question is1 ,why this ,body should not continue in the same ,plight1 and in the same ,strength1 for some ,ages8 or at least1 why it should decay so soon and so fall as we see it does8 ,we do not wonder at ,things that happen daily1 though the ,causes of them be never so hard to find out2 we contrast a certain ,familiarity with common ,events1 and fancy we know as much of them as can be known1 though in ,reality we know nothing of them1 but ,matter of ,fact2 which the vulgar know as well as the ,wise or the ,learned4 ,we see daily ,instances of the shortness of ,man's ,life1 how soon his ,race is run1 and we do not wonder at it1 because it is common2 yet if we examine the ,composition of the ,body1 it will be very hard to find any good ,reasons why the ,frame of it should decay so soon4 ,i know 'tis easy to give general and superficial ,answers and ,accounts of these ,things2 but they are such1 as being strictly examin'd1 give no ,satisfaction to an inquisitive ,mind2 ,you would say1 it may be1 that the ,interiour ,parts and ,organs of the ,body wear and decay by ,degrees1 so as not performing so well their several ,offices and ,functions1 for the ,digestion and ,distribution of the ,food and its ,juices1 all the other ,parts suffer by it1 and draws on insensibly a ,decay upon the whole ,frame of the ,body4 ,this is all true2 but why1 and how comes this to pass8 ,from what ,causes8 ,where is the first ,failure1 and what are the ,consequences of it8 ,the inward parts do not destroy themselves1 and we suppose that there is no want of good ,food1 nor any ,disease1 and we take the ,body in its full ,strength and ,vigour1 why doth it not continue thus1 as a ,lamp does1 if you supply it with ,oil8 ,the ,causes being the same1 why doth not the same ,effect still follow8 ,why should not the ,flame of ,life1 as well as any other ,flame1 if you give it ,fewel1 continue in its ,force without ,languishing or ,decay4 ,,you will say1 it may be1 the ,case is not the same in a simple ,body1 such as a ,lamp or a ,fire1 and in an organical ,body2 which being variously compounded of ,multiplicity of ,parts1 and all those ,parts put in ,connexion and ,dependance one upon another1 if any one fail1 it will disorder the whole ,frame2 and therefore it must needs be more difficult for such a ,body to continue long in the same ,state1 than for a simple ,body1 that hath no ,variety of ,parts or ,operations4 ,i acknowledge such a ,body is much more subject to ,diseases and ,accidents than a more simple2 but barring all ,diseases and ,accidents1 as we do1 it might be of as long a ,duration as any other1 if it was supply'd with ,nourishment adequately to all its ,parts3 ,as this ,lamp we speak of1 if it consisted of twenty ,branches1 and each of these ,branches was to be fed with a different ,oil1 and these ,oils could be all mix'd together in some common ,cistern1 whence they were to be distributed into the several ,branches1 either according to their different ,degrees of ,lightness1 one rising higher than another2 or according to the ,capacity and ,figure of the little ,pipes they were to pass thro'2 such a compounded ,lamp1 made up of such ,artifices1 would indeed be more subject to ,accidents and to be out of ,order1 by the ,obstruction of some of the little ,pipes1 or some unfit ,qualities in the ,oils2 but all these ,casualties and ,disorders excepted1 as they are in our ,case1 if it was supply'd with convenient ,liquors1 it would burn as long as any other1 tho' more plain and simple4 ,,to instance yet1 for more ,plainness1 in another sort of ,machine2 suppose a ,mill1 where the ,water may represent the ,nourishment and ,humours in our ,body1 and the ,frame of ,wood and ,stone1 the solid ,parts2 if we could suppose this ,mill to have a ,power of nourishing itself by the ,water it receiv'd1 and of repairing all the ,parts that were worn away1 whether of the ,wood-work or of the ,stone1 feed it but with a constant ,stream1 and it would subsist and grind for ever4 ,and 'tis the same ,thing for all other artificial ,machines of this ,nature1 if they had a ,faculty of nourishing themselves1 and repairing their ,parts4 ,and seeing those natural ,machines we are speaking of1 the ,body of ,man1 and of other ,animals1 have and enjoy this ,faculty1 why should they not be able to preserve themselves beyond that short ,period of ,time1 which is now the ,measure of their ,life8 ,,thus much we have said1 to shew the ,difficulty propos'd1 and inforce it2 we must now consider the true ,answer and ,resolution of it2 and to that purpose bring into ,view again those ,causes which we have assign'd1 both of the long ,periods of ,life before the ,flood1 and of the short ones since4 ,that there was a perpetual ,equinox and ,stability of the ,heavens before the ,flood1 we have shew'd both from ,history and ,reason2 neither was there then any thing of ,clouds1 ,rains1 ,winds1 ,storms1 or unequal ,weather1 as will appear in the following ,chapter2 and to this ,steadiness of ,nature1 and universal ,calmness of the external ,world1 we have imputed those long ,periods of ,life which ,men enjoy'd at that ,time3 ,as on the contrary1 when that great ,change and ,revolution happened to ,nature at the ,deluge1 and the ,heavens and the ,earth were cast in another ,mould1 then was brought in1 besides many other new ,scenes1 that ,shortness and ,vanity in the ,life of ,man1 and a general ,instability in all sublunary ,things1 but especially in the animate ,world4 ,,it is not necessary to shew more than we have done already1 how that primitive ,state of ,nature contributed to long ,life2 neither is it requir'd that it should actively contribute1 but only be permissive1 and suffer our ,bodies to act their ,parts2 for if they be not disturb'd1 nor any ,harm done them by external ,nature1 they are built with ,art and ,strength enough to last many hundreds of ,years4 ,and1 as we observ'd before1 concerning the ,posture of the ,earth1 that that which it had at first1 being simple and regular1 was not so much to be accounted for1 as its present ,posture1 which is irregular2 so likewise for the ,life of ,man1 the ,difficulty is not why they liv'd so long in the old ,world2 that was their due and proper ,course2 but why our ,bodies1 being made after the same manner1 should endure so short a ,time now4 ,this is it therefore1 which we must now make our ,business to give an ,account of1 namely1 how that ,vicissitude of ,seasons1 ,inconstancy of the ,air1 and unequal ,course of ,nature1 which came in at the ,deluge1 do shorten ,life2 and indeed hasten the ,dissolution of all ,bodies1 animate or inanimate4 ,,in our ,bodies we may consider three several ,qualities or ,dispositions1 and according to each whereof they suffer ,decay3 ,first1 ,their ,continuity2 ,secondly1 ,that ,disposition whereby they are capable of receiving ,nourishment1 which we may call ,nutribility2 and ,thirdly1 ,the ,tone or tonick ,disposition of the ,organs1 whereby they perform their several ,functions4 ,in all these three respects they would decay in any ,state of ,nature1 but far sooner and faster in the present ,state1 than in the ,primval4 ,as for their ,continuity1 we have noted before that all consistent ,bodies must be less durable now1 than under that first ,order of the ,world1 because of the unequal and contrary ,motions of the ,elements1 or of the ,air and ther that penetrate and pervade them2 and 'tis ,part of that ,vanity which all ,things now are subject to1 to be more perishable than in their first ,constitution4 ,if we should consider our ,bodies only as breathing ,statues1 consisting of those ,parts they do1 and of that ,tenderness1 the ,air which we breathe1 and wherewith we are continually incompast1 changing so often 'twixt moist and dry1 hot and cold1 a slow and eager ,motion1 these different ,actions and restless ,changes would sooner weaken and destroy the ,union of the ,parts1 than if they were always in a calm and quiet ,medium4 ,,but it is not the gross and visible ,continuity of the ,parts of our ,body that first decays2 there are finer ,textures that are spoil'd insensibly1 and draw on the ,decay of the rest2 such are those other two we mention'd2 that ,disposition and ,temper of the ,parts whereby they are fit to receive their full ,nourishment2 and especially that ,construction and ,texture of the ,organs that are preparatory to this ,nutrition4 ,the ,nutribility of the ,body depends upon a certain ,temperament in the ,parts1 soft and yielding1 which makes them open to the ,blood and ,juices in their ,circulation and ,passage thro' them1 and mixing intimately and universally1 hold fast and retain many of their ,particles2 as muddy ,earth doth the ,parts of the ,water that runs into it and mixeth with it3 ,and when these nutritious ,particles retain'd are more than the ,body spends1 that ,body is in its ,growth2 as when they are fewer1 'tis in its ,decay4 ,and as we compar'd the ,flesh and tender ,parts1 when they are young1 and in a growing ,disposition1 to a muddy ,soil1 that opens to the ,water1 swells and incorporates with it2 so when they become hard and dry1 they are like a sandy ,earth1 that suffers the ,water to glide through it1 without incorporating or retaining many of its ,parts2 and the sooner they come to this ,temper1 the sooner follows their ,decay3 ,for the same ,causes1 that set ,limits to our ,growth1 set also ,limits to our ,life2 and he that can resolve that ,question1 why the ,time of our ,growth is so short1 will also be able to resolve the other in a good ,measure1 why the ,time of our ,life is so short4 ,in both ,cases1 that which stops our ,progress is external ,nature1 whose ,course1 while it was even and steady1 and the ambient ,air mild and balmy1 preserv'd the ,body much longer in a fresh and fit ,temper to receive its full ,nourishment1 and consequently gave larger ,bounds both to our ,growth and ,life4 ,,but the third thing we mention'd is the most considerable1 the ,decay of the ,organick ,parts2 and especially of the ,organs preparatory to ,nutrition4 ,this is the ,point chiefly to be examin'd and explain'd1 and therefore we will endeavour to state it fully and distinctly4 ,there are several ,functions in the ,body of an ,animal1 and several ,organs for the ,conduct of them2 and ,i am of ,opinion1 that all the ,organs of the ,body are in the ,nature of ,springs1 and that their ,action is tonical4 ,the ,action of the ,muscles is apparently so1 and so is that of the ,heart and the ,stomach2 and as for those ,parts1 that make ,secretions only1 as the ,glandules and ,parenchymata1 if they be any more than merely passive1 as ,strainers1 'tis the ,tone of the ,parts1 when distended1 that performs the ,separation3 ,and accordingly in all other active ,organs1 the ,action proceeds from a ,tone in the ,parts4 ,and this seems to be easily prov'd1 both as to our ,bodies1 and all other ,bodies2 for no ,matter that is not fluid1 hath any ,motion or ,action in it1 but in ,virtue of some ,tone2 if ,matter be fluid1 its ,parts are actually in ,motion1 and consequently may impel or give ,motion to other ,bodies2 but if it be solid or consistent1 the ,parts are not separate or separately mov'd from one another1 and therefore cannot impel or give ,motion to any other1 but in virtue of their ,tone2 they having no other ,motion themselves4 ,accordingly we see in ,artificial ,machines1 there are but two general ,sorts1 those that move by some fluid or volatile ,matter1 as ,water1 ,wind1 ,air1 or some active ,spirit2 and those which move by ,springs1 or by the ,tonick ,disposition of some ,part that gives ,motion to the rest3 ,for as for such ,machines as act by ,weights1 'tis not the ,weight that is the active ,principle1 but the ,air or ther that impels it4 ',tis true1 the ,body of an ,animal is a kind of mix'd ,machine1 and those ,organs that are the primary ,parts of it1 partake of both these ,principles2 for there are ,spirits and ,liquors that do assist in the ,motions of the ,muscles1 of the ,heart1 and of the ,stomach2 but we have no occasion to consider them at present1 but only the ,tone of the solid ,organs4 ,,this being observ'd in the first ,place1 wherein the ,force of our ,organs consists1 we might here immediately subjoin1 how this ,force is weaken'd and destroy'd by the unequal ,course of ,nature which now obtains1 and consequently our ,life shorten'd2 for the whole ,state and ,oeconomy of the ,body depends upon the ,force and ,action of these ,organs4 ,but to understand the ,business more distinctly1 it will be worth our ,time to examine upon which of the ,organs of the ,body ,life depends more immediately1 and the ,prolongation of it2 that so reducing our ,inquiries into a narrower ,compass1 we may manage them with more ,ease and more ,certainty4 ,,in the ,body of ,man there are several ,compages1 or ,sets of ,parts1 some whereof need not be consider'd in this ,question2 there is that ,system that serves for ,sense and local ,motion1 which is commonly call'd the ,animal ,compages2 and that which serves for ,generation1 which is call'd the ,genital4 ,these have no ,influence upon long ,life1 being ,parts nourished1 not nourishing1 and that are fed from others1 as ,rivers from their ,fountain3 ,wherefore having laid these aside1 there remain two ,compages more1 the ,natural and ,vital1 which consist of the ,heart and ,stomach1 with their ,appendages4 ,these are the ,sources of ,life1 and these are all that is absolutely necessary to the ,constitution of a living ,creature2 what ,parts we find more1 few or many of one sort or other1 according to the several kinds of ,creatures1 is accidental to our ,purpose3 ,the ,form of an ,animal1 as we are to consider it here1 lies in this little ,compass1 and what is superadded is for some new ,purposes1 besides that of mere ,life1 as for ,sense1 ,motion1 ,generation1 and such like4 ,as in a ,watch1 beside the ,movement which is made to tell you the ,hour of the ,day1 which constitutes a ,watch2 you may have a ,fancy to have an ,alarm added1 or a ,minute-,motion1 or that it should tell you the ,day of the ,month2 and this sometimes will require a new ,spring1 sometimes only new ,wheels2 however1 if you would examine the ,nature of a ,watch1 and upon what its ,motion1 or1 if ,i may so say1 its ,life depends1 you must lay aside those secondary ,movements1 and observe the main ,spring1 and the ,wheels that immediately depend upon that1 for all the rest is accidental4 ,so for the ,life of an ,animal1 which is a piece of ,nature's ,clock-work1 if we would examine upon what the ,duration of it depends1 we must lay aside those additional ,parts or ,systems of ,parts1 which are for other ,purposes1 and consider only the first ,principles and ,fountains of ,life1 and the ,causes of their natural and necessary ,decay4 ,,having thus reduc'd our ,inquiries to these two ,organs1 the ,stomach and the ,heart1 as the two ,master-,springs in the ,mechanism of an ,animal1 upon which all the rest depend1 let us now see what their ,action is1 and how it will be more or less durable and constant1 according to the different ,states of external ,nature4 ,we determin'd before1 that the ,force and ,action of all ,organs in the ,body was tonical1 and of none more remarkably than of these two1 the ,heart and ,stomach2 for though it be not clearly determined what the particular ,structure of these ,organs1 or of their ,fibres is1 that makes them tonical1 yet 'tis manifest by their ,actions1 that they are so4 ,in the ,stomach1 besides a peculiar ,ferment that opens and dissolves the ,parts of the ,meat1 and melts them into a ,fluor or ,pulp2 the ,coats of it1 or ,fibres whereof they consist1 have a ,motion proper to them1 proceeding from their ,tone1 whereby they close the ,stomach1 and compress the ,meat when it is receiv'd1 and when turn'd into ,chyle1 press it forwards1 and squeeze it into the ,intestines2 and the ,intestines also partaking of the same ,motion1 push and work it still forwards into those little ,veins that convey it towards the ,heart4 ,the ,heart hath the same general ,motions with the ,stomach1 of opening and shutting1 and hath also a peculiar ,ferment1 which rarifies the ,blood that enters into it2 and that ,blood1 by the ,spring of the ,heart1 and the particular ,texture of its ,fibres1 is thrown out again to make its ,circulation thro' the ,body4 ,this is1 in short1 the ,action of both these ,organs2 and indeed the ,mystery of the ,body of an ,animal1 and of its ,operations and ,oeconomy1 consists chiefly in ,springs and ,ferments2 the one for the solid ,parts1 the other in the fluid4 ,,but to apply this ,fabrick of the organick ,parts to our ,purpose1 we may observe and conclude1 that whatsoever weakens the ,tone or ,spring of these two ,organs1 which are the ,bases of all ,vitality1 weaken the ,principle of ,life1 and shorten the natural ,duration of it2 and if of two ,orders or ,courses of ,nature1 the one be favourable and easy to these tonick ,principles in the ,body1 and the other uneasy and prejudicial1 that ,course of ,nature will be attended with long ,periods of ,life1 and this with short4 ,and we have shewn1 that in the ,primitive ,earth the ,course of ,nature was even1 steady1 and unchangeable1 without either different ,qualities of the ,air1 or unequal ,seasons of the ,year1 which must needs be more easy to these ,principles we speak of1 and permit them to continue longer in their ,strength and ,vigor1 than they can possibly do under all those ,changes of the ,air1 of the ,atmosphere1 and of the ,heavens1 which we now suffer yearly1 monthly1 and daily4 ,and tho' sacred ,history had not acquainted us with the ,longevity of the ,antediluvian ,patriarchs1 nor profane ,history with those of the ,golden-,age1 ,i should have concluded from the ,theory alone1 and the ,contemplation of that ,state of ,nature1 that the ,forms of all ,things were much more permanent in that ,world than in ours1 and that the ,lives of ,men and all other ,animals had longer ,periods4 ,i confess1 ,i am of ,opinion that 'tis this that makes not only these living ,springs or tonick ,organs of the ,body1 but all artificial ,springs also1 tho' made of the hardest ,metal1 decay so fast4 ,the different ,pressure of the ,atmosphere1 sometimes heavier1 sometimes lighter1 more rare or more dense1 moist or dry1 and agitated with different ,degrees of ,motion1 and in different ,manners6 this must needs operate upon that nicer ,contexture of ,bodies1 which make them tonical or elastick2 altering the ,figure or ,minuteness of the ,pores1 and the ,strength and ,order of the ,fibres upon which that ,propriety depends2 bending and unbending1 closing and opening the ,parts4 ,there is a subtle and thereal ,element that traverseth the ,pores of all ,bodies1 and when 'tis straiten'd and pent up there1 or stopt in its usual ,course and ,passage1 its ,motion is more quick and eager1 as a ,current of ,water1 when 'tis obstructed1 or runs thro' a narrower ,channel2 and that ,strife and those ,attempts which these little active ,particles make to get free1 and follow the same ,tracts they did before1 do still press upon the ,parts of the ,body that are chang'd1 to redress and reduce them to their first and natural ,posture1 and in this consists the ,force of a ,spring4 ,accordingly we may observe1 that there is no ,body that is or will be tonical or elastick1 if it be left to it self1 and to that ,posture it would take naturally2 for then all the ,parts are at ease1 and the subtle ,matter moves freely and uninterruptedly within its ,pores2 but if by ,distention1 or by ,compression1 or by ,flexion or any other way1 the situation of the ,parts and ,pores be so alter'd1 that the ,air sometimes1 but for the most ,part that subtiler ,element1 is uneasy and compress'd too much1 it causeth that ,renitency or ,tendency to ,restitution1 which we call the ,tone1 or ,spring of a ,body4 ,now as this ,disposition of ,bodies doth far more easily perish than their ,continuity1 so ,i think1 there is nothing that contributes more to its perishing 7whether in natural or artificial ,springs7 than the unequal ,action and different ,qualities of the ther1 ,air1 and ,atmosphere4 ,,it will be objected to us1 it may be1 that in the beginning of the ,chapter we instanc'd in artificial ,things1 that would continue for ever1 if they had but the ,power of nourishing themselves1 as ,lamps1 ,mills1 and such like2 why then may not natural ,machines that have that ,power last for ever8 ,the ,case is not the same as to the ,bodies of ,animals1 and the ,things there instanc'd in1 for those were springless ,machines1 that act only by some external ,cause1 and not in ,virtue of any ,tone or interior ,temper of the ,parts1 as our ,bodies do2 and when that ,tone or ,temper is destroy'd1 no ,nourishment can repair it4 ,there is something1 ,i say1 irreparable in the tonical ,disposition of ,matter1 which when wholly lost cannot be restor'd by ,nutrition4 ,nutrition may answer to a bare ,consumption of ,parts2 but where the ,parts are to be preserv'd in such a ,temperament1 or in such a ,degree of ,humidity and ,driness1 ,warmth1 ,rarity or ,density1 to make them capable of that ,nourishment1 as well as of their other ,operations1 as ,organs1 7which is the ,case of our ,bodies7 there the ,heavens1 the ,air1 and external ,causes will change the ,qualities of the ,matter in spite of all ,nutrition2 and the ,qualities of the ,matter being chang'd1 7in a ,course of ,nature1 where the ,cause cannot be taken away7 that is a ,fault incorrigible1 and irreparable by the ,nourishment that follows1 being hindred of its ,effect by the ,indisposition or ,incapacity of the ,recipient4 ,and as they say1 a ,fault in the first ,concoction cannot be corrected in the second2 so neither can a ,fault in the ,prerequisites to all the ,concoctions be corrected by any of them4 ,i know the ,ancients made the ,decay and ,term of ,life to depend rather upon the ,humours of the ,body1 than the solid ,parts1 and suppos'd an ,humidum radicale and a ,calidum innatum1 as they call them1 a radical ,moisture and congenit ,heat to be in every ,body1 from its ,birth and first ,formation2 and as these decay'd1 ,life decay'd4 ,but who's wiser for this ,account1 what doth this instruct us in8 ,we know there is ,heat and ,moisture in the ,body1 and you may call the one ,radical1 and the other ,innate if you please2 this is but a sort of ,cant1 for we know no more of the real physical ,causes of that ,effect we enquir'd into1 than we did before4 ,what makes this ,heat and ,moisture fail1 if the ,nourishment be good1 and all the ,organs in their due ,strength and ,temper8 ,the first and original ,failure is not in the ,fluid1 but in the solid ,parts1 which if they continued the same1 the ,humours would do so too4 ,besides1 ,what befel this radical ,moisture and ,heat at the ,deluge1 that it should decay so fast afterwards1 and last so long before8 ,there is a certain ,temper1 no doubt1 of the ,juices and ,humours of the ,body1 which is more fit than any other to conserve the ,parts from ,driness and ,decay2 but the ,cause of that ,driness and ,decay1 or other ,inability in the solid ,parts1 whence is that1 if not from external ,nature8 ',tis thither we must come at length in our ,search of the ,reasons of the natural ,decay of our ,bodies1 we follow the ,fate and ,laws of that3 ,and ,i think1 by those ,causes1 and in that ,order1 that we have already describ'd and explain'd4 ,,to conclude this ,discourse1 we may collect from it what ,judgment is to be made of those ,projectors of ,immortality1 or ,undertakers to make ,men live to the ,age of ,methusalah1 if they will use their ,methods and ,medicines3 ,there is but one ,method for this1 to put the ,sun into his old ,course1 or the ,earth into its first ,posture2 there is no other ,secret to prolong ,life2 our ,bodies will sympathize with the general ,course of ,nature1 nothing can guard us from it1 no ,elixir1 no ,specific1 no ,philosopher's ,stone4 ,but there are ,enthusiasts in ,philosophy1 as well as in ,religion2 ,men that go by no ,principles1 but their own ,conceit and ,fancy1 and by a ,light within1 which shines very uncertainly1 and for the most ,part leads them out of the ,way of ,truth4 ,and so much for this ,disquisition1 concerning the ,causes of ,longevity1 or of the long and short ,periods of ,life in the different ,periods of the ,world4 ,that the ,age of the ,antediluvian ,patriarchs is to be computed by ,solar or common ,years1 not by ,lunar or ,months4 ,,having made this ,discourse of the unequal ,periods of ,life1 only in reference to the ,antediluvians and their fam'd ,longevity1 lest we should seem to have proceeded upon an ill-grounded and mistaken ,supposition1 we are bound to take ,notice of1 and confute that ,opinion which makes the ,years of the ,antediluvian ,patriarchs to have been ,lunar1 not ,solar1 and so would bear us in ,hand1 that they liv'd only so many ,months1 as ,scripture saith they liv'd ,years4 ,seeing there is nothing could drive ,men to this bold ,interpretation but the ,incredibility of the ,thing1 as they fancied2 they having no ,motions or ,hypothesis whereby it could appear intelligible or possible to them2 and seeing we have taken away that ,stumbling-,stone1 and shew'd it not only possible but necessary according to the ,constitution of that ,world1 that the ,periods of ,life should be far longer than in this2 by removing the ,ground or ,occasion of their ,misinterpretation1 we hope we have undeceiv'd them1 and let them see that there is no need of that ,subterfuge1 either to prevent an ,incongruity1 or save the ,credit of the ,sacred ,historian4 ,,but as this ,opinion is inconsistent with ,nature1 truly understood1 so is it also with common ,history2 for besides1 what ,i have already mention'd in the first ,chapter of this ,book1 ,josephus tells us1 7,lib4 i4 ,jew4 ,ant4 ,chap4 iv47 that the ,historians of all ,nations1 both ,greeks and ,barbarians1 give the same account of the first ,inhabitants of the ,earth2 ,manetho1 who writ the ,story of the gyptians2 ,berosus1 who writ the ,chaldan ,history1 and those ,authors that have given us an ,account of the ,phnician ,antiquities1 besides ,molus and ,hestius1 and ,hieronymus the gyptian2 and amongst the ,greeks1 ,hesiodus1 ,hecateus1 ,hellanicus1 ,acusialus1 ,ephorus and ,nicolaus3 ,we have the ,suffrages of all these1 and their common ,consent1 that in the first ,ages of the ,world ,men liv'd a thousand ,years4 ,now we cannot well suppose that all these ,historians meant ,lunar ,years1 or that they all conspir'd together to make and propagate a ,fable4 ,,lastly1 ,as ,nature and profane ,history do disown and confute this ,opinion1 so much more doth sacred ,history2 not indeed in profess'd ,terms1 for ,moses doth not say that he useth ,solar ,years2 but by several ,marks and ,observations1 or collateral ,arguments1 it may be clearly collected1 that he doth not use ,lunar4 ,as first1 because he distinguisheth ,months and ,years in the ,history of the ,deluge1 and of the ,life of ,noah2 for ,gen4 vii4 #aa4 he saith in the six hundredth ,year of ,noah's ,life1 in the second ,month1 c4 ,it cannot be imagin'd that in the same ,verse and ,sentence these two ,terms of ,year and ,month should be so confounded as to signify the same ,thing2 and therefore ,noah's ,years were not the same with ,months1 nor consequently those of the other ,patriarchs1 for we have no ,reason to make any ,difference4 ,besides1 what ground was there1 or how was it proper or pertinent to reckon1 as ,moses does there1 first1 second1 third ,month1 as so many going to a ,year1 if every one of them was a ,year8 ,and seeing the ,deluge begun in the six hundredth ,year of ,noah's ,life1 and in the second ,month1 and ended in the six hundredth and first ,year1 7,chap4 viii4 #ac47 the first or second ,month1 all that was betwixt these two ,terms1 or all the ,duration of the ,deluge1 made but one ,year in ,noah's ,life1 or it may be not so much2 and we know ,moses reckons a great many ,months in the ,duration of the ,deluge2 so as this is a ,demonstration1 that ,noah's ,years are not to be understood of ,lunar4 ,and to imagine that his ,years are to be understood one way1 and those of his fellow-,patriarchs another1 would be an unaccountable ,fiction4 ,this argument therefore extends to all the ,antediluvians1 and ,noah's ,life will take in the ,postdiluvians too2 for you see ,part of it runs amongst them1 and ties together the two ,worlds3 ,so that if we exclude ,lunar ,years from his ,life1 we exclude them from all2 those of his ,fathers1 and those of his ,children4 ,,secondly1 ,if ,lunar ,years were understood in the ,ages of the ,antediluvian ,patriarchs1 the ,interval betwixt the ,creation and the ,deluge would be too short1 and in many ,respects incongruous4 ,there would be but #afef ,months from the ,beginning of the ,world to the ,flood2 which converted into common ,years1 make but #abg ,years and five ,months for that ,interval4 ,this perverts all ,chronology1 and besides1 makes the ,number of ,people so small and inconsiderable at the ,time of the ,deluge1 that destroying of the ,world then was not so much as destroying of a ,country ,town would be now3 ,for from one ,couple you cannot well imagine there could arise above five hundred ,persons in so short a ,time2 but if there were a thousand1 'tis not so many as we have sometimes in a good ,country ,village4 ,and were the ,flood-gates of ,heaven open'd1 and the great ,abyss broken up to destroy such an handful of ,people1 and the ,waters rais'd fifteen ,cubits above the highest ,mountains throughout the ,face of the ,earth1 to drown a ,parish or two8 ,is not this more incredible than our ,age of the ,patriarchs8 ,besides1 ,this short ,interval doth not leave ,room for ten ,generations1 which we find from ,adam to the ,flood1 nor allows the ,patriarchs ,age enough at the ,time when they are said to have got ,children4 ,one hundred twenty-seven ,years for ten ,generations is very strait2 and of these you must take off forty-six ,years for one ,generation only1 or for ,noah1 for he liv'd six hundred ,years before the ,flood1 and if they were ,lunar1 they would come however to forty-six of our ,years2 so that for the other nine ,generations you would have but eighty one ,years1 that is1 nine ,years a-piece2 at which ,age they must all be suppos'd to have begun to get ,children2 which you cannot but think a very absurd ,supposition4 ,thus it would be1 if you divide the whole ,time equally amongst the nine ,generations2 but if you consider some single ,instances2 as they are set down by ,moses1 'tis still worse2 for ,mahaleel and his ,grandchild ,enoch are said to have got ,children at sixty five ,years of ,age1 which if you suppose ,months1 they were but five ,years old at that time2 now ,i appeal to any one1 whether it is more incredible that ,men should live to the ,age of nine hundred ,years1 or that they should beget ,children at the ,age of five ,years4 ,,you will say1 it may be1 'tis true these ,inconveniences follow1 if our ,hebrew ,copies of the ,old ,testament be ,authentick3 ,but if the ,greek ,translation by the ,septuagint be of better ,authority1 as some would have it to be1 that gives a little ,relief in this ,case2 for the ,septuagint makes the ,distance from the ,creation to the ,flood six hundred ,years more than the ,hebrew ,text does1 and so give us a little more ,room for our ten ,generations3 ,and not only so1 but they have so conveniently dispos'd those additional ,years1 as to salve the other ,inconvenience too1 of the ,patriarchs having ,children so young2 for what ,patriarchs are found to have got ,children sooner than the rest1 and so soon1 that1 upon a ,computation by ,lunar ,years1 they would be but meer ,children themselves at that time8 to these more ,years are added1 and plac'd opportunely1 before the time of their getting ,children2 so as one can scarce forbear to think1 that it was done on purpose to cure that ,inconvenience1 and to favour and protect the ,computation by ,lunar ,years4 ,the thing looks so like an ,artifice1 and as done to serve a ,turn1 that one cannot but have a less ,opinion of that ,chronology for it4 ,,but not to enter upon that ,dispute at present1 methinks they have not wrought the ,cure effectually enough2 for with these six hundred ,lunar ,years added1 the ,sum will be only one hundred seventy three common ,years and odd ,months2 and from these deducting1 as we did before1 for ,noah1 forty six ,years1 and for ,adam1 or the first ,generation1 about eighteen1 7for he was two hundred and thirty ,years old1 according to the ,septuagint when he begot ,seth7 there will remain but one hundred and nine ,years for eight ,generations2 which will be thirteen ,years a piece and odd ,months2 a low ,age to get ,children in1 and to hold for eight ,generations together4 ,neither is the other ,inconvenience1 we mention'd1 well cur'd by the ,septuagint ,account1 namely1 the small ,number of ,people that would be in the ,world at the ,deluge2 for the ,septuagint ,account1 if understood of ,lunar ,years1 adds but forty six common ,years to the ,hebrew ,account1 and to the ,age of the ,world at the ,deluge1 in which time there could be but a very small ,accesion to the ,number of ,mankind4 ,so as both these ,incongruities continue1 though not in the same degree1 and stand good in either ,account1 if it be understood of ,lunar ,years4 ,thirdly1 ',,tis manifest from other ,texts of ,scripture1 and from other ,considerations1 that our first ,fathers liv'd very long1 and considerably longer than ,men have done since1 whereas if their ,years be interpreted ,lunar1 there is not one of them that liv'd to the ,age that ,men do now2 ,methusalah himself did not reach threescore and fifteen ,years1 upon that ,interpretation2 which doth express them not only below those that liv'd next to the ,flood1 but below all following ,generations to this ,day2 and those first ,ages of the ,world which were always celebrated for ,strength and ,vivacity1 are made as weak and feeble as the last ,dregs of ,nature4 ,we may observe1 that after the ,flood for some ,time1 'till the pristine ,crasis of the ,body was broken by the new ,course of ,nature1 they liv'd five1 four1 three1 two hundred ,years1 and the ,life of ,men shorten'd by ,degrees2 but before the ,flood1 when they liv'd longer1 there was no such ,decrease or gradual ,declension in their ,lives4 ,for ,noah1 who was the last1 liv'd longer than ,adam2 and ,methusalah1 who was last but two1 liv'd the longest of all3 ,so that it was not simply their ,distance from the beginning of the ,world that made them live a shorter ,time1 but some ,change which happen'd in ,nature after such a ,period of ,time2 namely at the ,deluge1 when the ,declension begun4 ,let's set down the ,table of both ,states4 ,a ,,table of the ,ages of the ,antediluvian ,fathers4 ,adam #icj ,seth #iab ,enos #ije ,cainan #iaj ,mahaleel #hie ,jared #ifb ,enoch #cfe ,methusalah #ifi ,lamech #ggg ,noah #iej ,a ,,table of the ,ages of the ,postdiluvian ,fathers1 from ,shem to ,joseph4 ,shem #fjj ,arphaxad #dch ,salah #dcc ,eber #dfd ,peleg #bci ,reu #bci ,serug #bcj ,nahor #adh ,terah #bje ,abraham #age ,isaac #ahj ,jacob #adg ,joseph #aaj ,from these ,tables we see that ,mens ,lives were much longer before the ,flood1 and next after it1 than they are now2 which also is confirm'd undeniably by ,jacob's ,complaint of the ,shortness of his ,life1 in ,comparison of his ,forefathers1 when he had liv'd one hundred and thirty ,years1 ,gen4 xlvii4 #i4 ,the ,days of the ,years of my ,pilgrimage are an hundred and thirty ,years2 few and evil have the ,days of the ,years of my ,life been1 and have not attained unto the ,days of the ,years of the ,life of my ,fathers4 ,there were then1 'tis certain1 long-liv'd ,men in the ,world before ,jacob's ,time2 when were they1 before the ,flood or after8 ,we say both1 according as the ,tables shew it4 ,but if you count by ,lunar ,years1 there never were any1 either before or after1 and ,jacob's ,complaint was unjust and false2 for he was the oldest ,man in the ,world himself1 or at least there was none of his ,forefathers that liv'd so long as he4 ,,the ,patrons of this ,opinion must needs find themselves at a loss1 how or where to break off the ,account of ,lunar ,years in sacred ,history1 if they once admit it4 ,if they say that way of counting must only be extended to the ,flood1 then they make the ,postdiluvian ,fathers longer liv'd than the ,antediluvian2 did the ,flood bring in ,longevity8 ,how could that be the ,cause of such an ,effect8 ,besides1 if they allow the ,postdiluvians to have lived six hundred 7common7 ,years1 that being clearly beyond the ,standard of our ,lives1 ,i should never stick at two or three hundred ,years more for the first ,ages of the ,world4 ,if they extend their ,lunar ,account to the ,postdiluvians too1 they will still be intangled in worse ,absurdities2 for they must make their ,lives miserably short1 and their ,age of getting ,children altogether incongruous and impossible4 ,nahor1 for ,example1 when he was but two ,years and three ,months old must have begot ,terah1 ,abraham's ,father3 ,and all the rest betwixt him and ,shem must have had ,children before they were three ,years old3 ,a pretty race of ,pigmies4 ,then their ,lives were proportionably short1 for this ,nahor liv'd but eleven ,years and six ,months at this ,rate2 and his ,grandchild ,abraham1 who is said to have died in a good old ,age1 and full of ,years1 7,gen4 xxv4 #h47 was not fourteen ,years old4 ,what a ridiculous ,account this gives of ,scripture ,chronology and ,genealogies8 ,but you'll say1 it may be1 these ,lunar ,years are not to be carried so far as ,abraham neither2 tell us then where you'll stop1 and why you stop in such a ,place rather than another4 ,if you once take in ,lunar ,years1 what ,ground is there in the ,text1 or in the ,history1 that you should change your way of computing at such a ,time1 or in such a ,place8 ,all our ancient ,chronology is founded upon the ,books of ,moses1 where the ,terms and ,periods of ,times are exprest by ,years1 and often by ,genealogies and the ,lives of ,men2 ,now if these ,years are sometimes to be interpreted ,lunar1 and sometimes ,solar1 without any ,distinction made in the ,text1 what ,light or certain ,rule have we to go by8 ,let these ,authors name to us the ,parts and ,places where1 and only where the ,lunar ,years are to be understood1 and ,i dare undertake to shew1 that their ,method is not only arbitrary1 but absurd and incoherent4 ,,to conclude this ,discourse1 we cannot but repeat what we have partly observ'd before1 ,how necessary it is to understand ,nature1 if we would rightly understand those ,things in holy ,writ that relate to the natural ,world4 ,for without this ,knowledge1 as we are apt to think some ,things consistent and credible1 that are really impossible in ,nature2 so on the other hand1 we are apt to look upon other ,things as incredible and impossible that are really founded in ,nature4 ,and seeing every one is willing so to expound ,scripture1 as it may be to them good ,sense1 and consistent with their ,notions in other ,things1 they are forc'd many times to go against the easy and natural ,importance of the ,words1 and to invent other ,interpretations more compliant with their ,principles1 and1 as they think1 with the ,nature of ,things4 ,we have1 ,i say1 a great ,instance of this before us in the ,scripture-,history1 of the long ,lives of the ,antediluvians1 where1 without any ,ground or ,shadow of ,ground1 in the ,narration1 only to comply with a mistaken ,philosophy1 and their ,ignorance of the primitive ,world1 many ,men would beat down the ,scripture ,account of ,years into ,months1 and sink the ,lives of those first ,fathers below the ,rate of the worst of ,ages4 ,whereby that great ,monument1 which ,providence hath left us of the first ,world1 and of its ,difference from the second1 would not only be defac'd1 but wholly demolish'd4 ,and all this sprung only from the seeming ,incredibility of the ,thing2 for they cannot shew in any ,part of ,scripture1 new or old1 that these ,lunar ,years are made use of1 or that any ,computation1 literal or prophetical1 proceeds upon them3 ,nor that there is any ,thing in the ,text or ,context of that ,place1 that argues or intimates any such ,account4 ,we have endeavour'd1 upon this ,occasion1 effectully to prevent this ,misconstruction of sacred ,history for the future2 both by shewing the ,incongruities that follow upon it1 and also that there is no ,necessity from ,nature1 of any such ,shift or ,evasion1 as that is3 ,but rather on the contrary1 that we have just and necessary ,reasons to conclude1 ,that as the ,forms of all ,things would be far more permanent and lasting in that primitive ,state of the ,heavens and the ,earth1 so particularly the ,lives of ,men1 and of other ,animals4 ,,chap4 ,v4 ,concerning the ,waters of the primitive ,earth3 ,what the ,state of the ,regions of the ,air was then1 and how all ,waters proceeded from them2 ,how the ,rivers arose1 what was their ,course1 and how they ended4 ,some ,things in sacred ,writ that confirms this ,hydrography of the first ,earth2 especially the ,origin of the ,rainbow4 ,,having thus far clear'd our ,way to ,paradise1 and given a rational ,account of its general ,properties2 before we proceed to discourse of the ,place of it1 there is one ,affair of ,moment1 concerning this primitive ,earth1 that must first be stated and explain'd2 and that is1 ,how it was water'd2 from what ,causes1 and in what ,manner8 ,how could ,fountains rise1 or ,rivers flow in an ,earth of that ,form and ,nature8 ,we have shut up the ,sea with thick ,walls on every ,side1 and taken away all ,communication that could be 'twixt it and the external ,earth2 and we have remov'd all the ,hills and the ,mountains where the ,springs use to rise2 and whence the ,rivers descend to water the ,face of the ,ground3 ,and lastly1 we have left no ,issue for these ,rivers1 no ,ocean to receive them1 nor any other ,place to disburden themselves into4 ,so that our new-found ,world is like to be a dry and barren ,wilderness1 and so far from being ,paradisiacal1 that it would scarce be habitable4 ,i ,,confess there was nothing in this whole ,theory that gave such a ,stop to my ,thoughts1 as this ,part of it1 concerning the ,rivers of the first ,earth2 how they rose1 how they flow'd1 and how they ended4 ,it seem'd at first1 that we had wip'd away at once the ,notion and whole ,doctrine of ,rivers1 we had turn'd the ,earth so smooth1 that there was not an ,hill1 or ,rising1 for the ,head of a ,spring1 nor any ,fall or ,descent for the ,course of a ,river3 ,besides1 ,i had suck'd in the common ,opinion of ,philosophers1 ,that all ,rivers rise from the ,sea1 and return to it again1 and both those ,passages1 ,i see1 were stopt up in that ,earth4 ,this gave me occasion to reflect upon the modern and more solid ,opinion concerning the ,origin of ,fountains and ,rivers1 ,that they rise chiefly from ,rains and melted ,snows1 and not from the ,sea alone2 and as soon as ,i had demur'd in that ,particular1 ,i saw it was necessary to consider and examine how the ,rains fell in that first ,earth1 to understand what the ,state of their ,waters and ,rivers would be4 ,,and ,i had no sooner apply'd my self to that ,inquiry1 but ,i easily discover'd1 that the ,order of ,nature in the ,regions of the ,air would be then very different from what it is now1 and the ,meteorology of the ,world was of another sort from that of the present4 ,the ,air was always calm and equal1 there could be no violent ,meteors there1 nor any that proceeded from ,extremity of ,cold2 as ,ice1 ,snow1 or ,hail2 nor ,thunder neither2 for the ,clouds could not be of a ,quality and ,consistency fit for such an ,effect1 either by falling one upon another1 or by their ,disruption4 ,and as for ,winds1 they could not be either impetuous or irregular in that ,earth2 seeing there were neither ,mountains nor any other ,inequalities to obstruct the ,course of the ,vapours2 nor any unequal ,seasons1 or unequal ,action of the ,sun1 nor any contrary and struggling ,motions of the ,air3 ,nature was then a ,stranger to all those ,disorders4 ,but as for watry ,meteors1 or those that rise from watry ,vapours more immediately1 as ,dews and ,rains1 there could not but be ,plenty of these in some ,part or other of that ,earth2 for the ,action of the ,sun in raising ,vapours was very strong and very constant1 and the ,earth was at first moist and soft1 and according as it grew more dry1 the ,rays of the ,sun would pierce more deep into it1 and reach at length the great ,abyss which lay underneath1 and was an unexhausted ,store-house of new ,vapours4 ,but1 'tis true1 the same ,heat1 which extracted these ,vapours so copiously1 would also hinder them from condensing into ,clouds or ,rain in the warmer ,parts of the ,earth2 and there being no ,mountains at that ,time1 nor contrary ,winds1 nor any such ,causes to stop them1 or compress them1 we must consider which way they would tend1 and what their ,course would be1 and whether they would any where meet with ,causes capable to change or condense them2 for upon this1 'tis manifest1 would depend the ,meteors of that ,air1 and the ,waters of that ,earth4 ,,and as the ,heat of the ,sun was chiefly towards the middle ,parts of the ,earth1 so the copious ,vapours rais'd there1 were most rarified and agitated2 and being once in the open ,air1 their ,course would be that ,way1 where they found least ,resistance to their ,motion2 and that would certainly be towards the ,poles1 and the colder ,regions of the ,earth4 ,for ,east and ,west they would meet with as warm an ,air1 and ,vapours as much agitated as themselves1 which therefore would not yield to their ,progress that ,way2 but towards the ,north and the ,south1 they would find a more easy ,passage1 the ,cold of those ,parts attracting them1 as we call it1 that is1 making way to their ,motion and ,dilatation without much ,resistance1 as ,mountains and cold ,places usually draw ,vapours from the warmer4 ,so as the regular and constant ,course of the ,vapours of that ,earth1 which were rais'd chiefly about the ,equinoctial and middle ,parts of it1 would be towards the extream ,parts of it1 or towards the ,poles4 ,,and in consequence of this1 when these ,vapours were arriv'd in those cooler ,climates1 and cooler ,parts of the ,air1 they would be condens'd into ,rain2 for wanting there the ,cause of their ,agitation1 namely1 the ,heat of the ,sun1 their ,motion would soon begin to languish1 and they would fall closer to one another in the ,form of ,water4 ,for the ,difference betwixt ,vapours and ,water is only gradual1 and consists in this1 that ,vapours are in a flying ,motion1 separate and distant each from another2 but the ,parts of ,water are in a creeping ,motion1 close to one another2 like a ,swarm of ,bees when they are settled2 as ,vapours resemble the same ,bees in the ,air1 before they settle together4 ,now there is nothing puts these ,vapours upon the ,wing1 or keeps them so1 but a strong ,agitation by ,heat2 and when that fails1 as it must do in all colder ,places and ,regions1 they necessarily return to ,water again4 ,accordingly therefore we must suppose they would soon1 after they reach'd these cold ,regions1 be condens'd1 and fall down in a continual ,rain1 or ,dew1 upon those ,parts of the ,earth4 ,i say a continual ,rain2 for seeing the ,action of the ,sun1 which rais'd the ,vapours1 was 7at that ,time7 always the same1 and the ,state of the ,air always alike1 nor any cross ,winds1 nor any thing else that could hinder the ,course of the ,vapours towards the ,poles1 nor their ,condensation when arriv'd there2 'tis manifest there would be a constant ,source or ,store-house of ,waters in those ,parts of the ,air1 and in those ,parts of the ,earth4 ,,and this1 ,i think1 was the establish'd ,order of ,nature in that ,world1 this was the ,state of the ,antediluvian ,heavens and ,earth2 all their ,waters came from above1 and that with a constant ,supply and ,circulation2 for when the ,croud of ,vapours rais'd about the middle ,parts of the ,earth1 found ,vent and ,issue this ,way towards the ,poles1 the ,passage being once open'd1 and the ,channel made1 the ,current would be still continued without ,intermission2 and as they were dissolv'd and spent there1 they would suck in more and more of those which followed1 and came in fresh ,streams from the hotter ,climates4 ,aristotle1 ,i remember1 in his ,meteors speaking of the ,course of the ,vapours1 saith1 there is a ,river in the ,air1 constantly flowing betwixt the ,heavens and the ,earth1 made by the ascending and descending ,vapours3 ,this was more remarkably true in the primitive ,earth1 where the ,state of ,nature was more constant and regular2 there was indeed an uninterrupted ,flood of ,vapours rising in one ,region of the ,earth1 and flowing to another1 and there continually distilling in ,dews and ,rain1 which made this aerial ,river4 ,as may be easily apprehended from this ,scheme of the ,earth and ,air4 ,illustration3 ,the ,earth1 with ,clouds of ,vapour ,descending from ,above4 ,,thus we have found a ,source for ,waters in the first ,earth1 which had no ,communication with the ,sea2 and a ,source that would never fail1 neither diminish or overflow1 but feed the ,earth with an equal ,supply throughout all the ,parts of the ,year4 ,but there is a second ,difficulty that appears at the ,end of this1 how these ,waters would flow upon the even ,surface of the ,earth1 or form themselves into ,rivers2 there being no ,descent or ,declivity for their ,course4 ,there were no ,hills1 nor ,mountains1 nor high ,lands in the first ,earth1 and if these ,rains fell in the ,frigid ,zones1 or towards the ,poles1 there they would stand in ,lakes and ,pools1 having no ,descent one ,way more than another2 and so the rest of the ,earth would be no better for them4 ,this1 ,i confess1 appear'd as great a ,difficulty as the former1 and would be unanswerable for ought ,i know1 if that first ,earth was not water'd by ,dews only 7as ,i believe some ,worlds are7 or had been exactly ,spherical2 but we noted before1 that it was ,oval or ,oblong2 and in such a ,figure 'tis manifest the polar ,parts are higher than the equinoctial1 that is1 more remote from the ,center1 as appears to the ,eye in this ,scheme4 ,this affords us a present ,remedy1 and sets us free of the second ,difficulty2 for by this ,means the ,waters1 which fell about the extream ,parts of the ,earth1 would have a continual ,descent towards the middle ,parts of it2 this ,figure gives them ,motion and ,distribution2 and many ,rivers and ,rivulets would flow from those ,mother-,lakes1 to refresh the ,face of the ,earth1 bending their ,course still towards the middle ,parts of it4 ',,tis true1 ,these ,derivations of the ,waters at first would be very irregular and diffuse1 till the ,channels were a little worn and hollow'd2 and tho' that ,earth was smooth and uniform1 yet 'tis impossible1 upon an inclining ,surface1 but that ,waters should find a ,way of creeping downwards1 as we see upon a smooth ,table1 or a flag'd ,pavement2 if there be the least ,inclination1 ,water will flow from the higher to the lower ,parts of it1 either directly1 or winding to and fro3 ,so the ,smoothness of that ,earth would be no ,hindrance to the ,course of the ,rivers1 provided there was a general ,declivity in the ,site and ,libration of it1 as 'tis plain there was from the ,poles towards the quator4 ,the ,current indeed would be easy and gentle all along1 and if it chanc'd in some ,places to rest1 or be stopt1 it would spread it self into a pleasant ,lake1 till by fresh ,supplies it had rais'd its ,waters so high as to overflow and break loose again2 then it would pursue its ,way1 with many other ,rivers its ,companions1 thro' all the temperate ,climates as far as the ,torrid ,zone4 ,,but you'll say1 ,when they were got thither1 what would become of them then8 ,how would they end or finish their ,course8 ,this is the third ,difficulty concerning the ,ending of the ,rivers in that ,earth2 what ,issue could they have when they were come to the middle ,parts of it1 whither it seems they all tended8 ,there was no ,sea to lose themselves in1 as our ,rivers do2 nor any subterraneous ,passages to throw themselves into2 how would they die1 what would be their ,fate at last8 ,i answer1 ,the greater ,rivers1 when they were come towards those ,parts of the ,earth1 would be divided into many ,branches1 or a ,multitude of ,rivulets2 and those would be partly exhal'd by the ,heat of the ,sun1 and partly drunk up by the dry and sandy ,earth4 ,but how and in what ,manner this came to pass1 requires a little further ,explication4 ,,we must therefore observe in the first ,place1 that those ,rivers1 as they drew nearer to the quinoctial ,parts1 would find a less ,declivity or ,descent of ,ground than in the beginning1 or former ,part of their ,course2 that is evident from the oval ,figure of the ,earth1 for near the middle ,parts of an ,oval1 the ,semi-diameters1 as ,i may call them1 are very little shorter one than another2 and for this ,reason the ,rivers1 when they were advanc'd towards the middle ,parts of the ,earth1 would begin to flow more slowly1 and1 by that ,weakness of their ,current1 suffer themselves easily to be divided and distracted into several lesser ,streams and ,rivulets2 or else having no ,force to wear a ,channel1 would lie shallow upon the ,ground like a ,plash of ,water2 and in both ,cases their ,waters would be much more expos'd to the ,action of the ,sun1 than if they had kept together in a deeper ,channel1 as they were before4 ,,secondly1 ,we must observe1 that seeing these ,waters could not reach to the ,middle of the ,torrid ,zone1 for want of ,descent2 that ,part of the ,earth having the ,sun always perpendicular over it1 and being refresh'd by no ,rivers1 would become extreamly dry and parch'd1 and be converted at length into a kind of sandy ,desert2 so as all the ,waters that were carried thus far1 and were not exhaled and consum'd by the ,sun1 would be suck'd up1 as in a ,spunge1 by these ,sands of the ,torrid ,zone4 ,this was the common ,grave wherein the ,rivers of the first ,earth were buried2 and this is nothing but what happens still in several ,parts of the present ,earth2 especially in ,africk1 where many ,rivers never flow into the ,sea1 but expire after the same ,manner as these did1 drunk up by the ,sun and the ,sands4 ,and one ,arm of ,euphrates dies1 as ,i remember1 amongst the ,sands of ,arabia1 after the ,manner of the ,rivers of the first ,earth4 ,,thus we have conquer'd the greatest ,difficulty1 in my ,apprehension1 in this whole ,theory1 ,to find out the ,state of the ,rivers in the primitive and antediluvian ,earth1 their ,origin1 ,course1 and ,period4 ,we have been forc'd to win our ,ground by ,inches1 and have divided the ,difficulty into ,parts1 that we might encounter them single with more ,ease4 ,the ,rivers of the ,earth1 you see1 were in most respects different1 and in some1 contrary to ours2 and if you could turn our ,rivers backwards1 to run from the ,sea towards their ,fountain-heads1 they would more resemble the ,course of those ,antediluvian ,rivers2 for they were greatest at their first setting out1 and the ,current afterwards1 when it was more weak1 and the ,channel more shallow1 was divided into many ,branches and little ,rivers2 like the ,arteries in our ,body1 that carry the ,blood2 they are greatest at first1 and the further they go from the ,heart1 their ,source1 the less they grow1 and divided into a ,multitude of little ,branches1 which lose themselves insensibly in the ,habit of the ,flesh1 as these little ,floods did in the ,sands of the ,earth4 ,illustration3 ,the ,earth1 with ,zones near the ,poles1 and ,rivers flowing from there towards the ,equator4 ,,because it pleaseth more and makes a greater ,impression upon us1 to see ,things represented to the ,eye1 than to read their ,description in ,words1 we have ventur'd to give a ,model of the ,primval ,earth1 with its ,zones or greater ,climates1 and the general ,order and ,tracts of its ,rivers3 ,not that we believe ,things to have been in the very same ,form as here exhibited2 but this may serve as a general ,idea of that ,earth1 which may be wrought into more exactness1 according as we are able to enlarge or correct our ,thoughts hereafter4 ,and as the ,zones here represented1 resemble the ,belts or ,fasci of ,jupiter1 so we suppose them to proceed from like ,causes1 if that ,planet be in an ,antediluvian ,state1 as the ,earth we here represent4 ,as for the ,polar ,parts in that first ,earth1 ,i can say very little of them1 they would make a ,scene by themselves1 and a very particular one2 the ,sun would be perpetually in their ,horizon1 which makes me think the ,rains would not fall so much there1 as in the other ,parts of the ,frigid ,zones1 where accordingly we have made their chief ,seat and ,receptacle4 ,that they flow'd from thence in such like ,manner as is here represented1 we have already prov'd2 and sometimes in their ,passage swelling into ,lakes1 and towards the ,end of their ,course parting into several ,streams and ,branches1 they would water those ,parts of the ,earth like a ,garden4 ,,we have before compar'd the ,branchings of these ,rivers towards the ,end of their ,course1 to the ,ramifications of the ,arteries in the ,body1 when they are far from the ,heart near the extream ,parts2 and some1 it may be1 looking upon this ,scheme1 would carry the ,comparison further1 and suppose1 that as in the ,body the ,blood is not lost in the ,habit of the ,flesh1 but strain'd through it1 and taken up again by the little ,branches of the ,veins2 so in that ,earth the ,waters were not lost in those ,sands of the ,torrid ,zone1 but strain'd or percolated thorough them1 and receiv'd into the ,channels of the other ,hemisphere4 ,this indeed would in some ,measure answer the ,notion which several of the ancient ,fathers make use of1 that the ,rivers of ,paradise were trajected out of the other ,hemisphere into this1 by subterraneous ,passages4 ,but ,i confess ,i could never see it possible how such a ,trajection could be made1 nor how they could have any ,motion1 being arriv'd in another ,hemisphere2 and therefore ,i am apt to believe that ,doctrine amongst the ,ancients arose from an ,entanglement in their ,principles3 ,they suppos'd generally1 that ,paradise was in the other ,hemisphere1 as we shall have occasion to shew hereafter2 and yet they believ'd that ,tygris1 ,euphrates1 ,nile1 and ,ganges1 were the ,rivers of ,paradise1 or came out of it2 and these two ,opinions they could not reconcile1 or make out1 but by supposing that these four ,rivers had their ,fountain-heads in the other ,hemisphere1 and by some wonderful ,trajection broke out again here4 ,this was the ,expedient they found out to make their ,opinions consistent one with another2 but this is a ,method to me altogether unconceivable2 and1 for my part1 ,i do not love to be led out of my ,depth1 leaning only upon ,antiquity4 ,how there could be any such ,communication1 either above ,ground1 or under ,ground1 betwixt the two ,hemispheres1 does not appear2 and therefore we must still suppose the ,torrid ,zone to have been the ,barrier betwixt them1 which nothing could pass either ,way4 ,,we have now examin'd and determin'd the ,state of the ,air1 and of the ,waters in the ,primitive ,earth1 by the ,light and ,consequences of ,reason2 and we must not wonder to find them different from the present ,order of ,nature2 what things are said of them1 or relating to them in ,holy ,writ1 do testify or imply as much2 and it will be worth our time to make some ,reflection upon those ,passages for our further ,confirmation4 ,moses tells us1 that the ,rainbow was set in the ,clouds after the ,deluge2 those ,heavens then1 that never had a ,rainbow before1 were certainly of a ,constitution very different from ours4 ,and ,st4 ,peter1 #b ,epist4 chap4 iii4 v4 #e4 doth formally and expresly tell us1 that the ,old ,heavens1 or the ,antediluvian ,heavens had a different ,constitution from ours1 and particularly1 that they were compos'd or constituted of ,water1 which ,philosophy of the ,apostle's may be easily understood1 if we attend to two things1 first1 that the ,heavens he speaks of were not the ,starry ,heavens1 but the aerial ,heavens1 or the ,regions of our ,air1 where the ,meteors are3 ,secondly1 that there were no ,meteors in those ,regions1 or in those ,heavens1 till the ,deluge1 but watry ,meteors1 and therefore1 he says1 they consisted of ,water4 ,and this shews the ,foundation upon which that ,description is made1 how coherently the ,apostle argues1 and answers the ,objection there propos'd3 ,how justly also he distinguisheth the first ,heavens from the present ,heavens1 or rather opposeth them one to another2 because as those were constituted of ,water1 and watry ,meteors only1 so the present ,heavens1 he saith1 have ,treasures of ,fire1 fiery ,exhalations and ,meteors1 and a ,disposition to become the ,executioners of the ,divine ,wrath and ,decrees in the final ,conflagration of the ,earth4 ,,this minds me also of the ,celestial ,waters1 or the ,waters above the ,firmaments1 which1 ,scripture sometimes mentions1 and which1 methinks1 cannot be explain'd so fitly and emphatically upon any ,supposition as this of ours4 ,those who place them above the ,starry ,heavens1 seem neither to understand ,astronomy nor ,philosophy2 and1 on the other hand1 if nothing be understood by them1 but the ,clouds and the middle ,region of the ,air1 as it is at present1 methinks that was no such eminent and remarkable ,thing1 as to deserve a particular ,commemoration by ,moses in his six ,days ,work2 but if we understand them1 not as they are now1 but as they were then1 the only ,source of ,waters1 or the only ,source of ,waters upon that ,earth1 7for they had not one ,drop of ,water but what was ,celestial17 this gives it a new ,force and ,emphasis3 ,besides the whole middle ,region having no other sort of ,meteors but them1 that made it still the greater ,singularity1 and more worthy ,commemoration4 ,as for the ,rivers of ,paradise1 there is nothing said concerning their ,source1 or their ,issue1 that is either contrary to this1 or that is not agreeable to the general ,account we have given of the ,waters and ,rivers of the first ,earth4 ,they are not said to rise from any ,mountain1 but from a great ,river or a kind of a ,lake in ,eden1 according to the ,custom of the ,rivers of that ,earth4 ,and as for their ,end and ,issue1 ,moses doth not say1 that they disburthen themselves into this or that ,sea1 as they usually do in the ,description of great ,rivers1 but rather implies that they spent themselves in compassing and watering certain ,countries1 which falls in again very easily with our ,hypothesis4 ,but ,i say this rather to comply with the ,opinions of others1 than of my own ,judgment3 ,for ,i think1 that ,suggestion about the ,supercelestial ,waters made by ,moses1 was not so much according to the strict ,nature and ,speciality of ,causes1 as for the ,ease and ,profit of the ,people1 in their ,belief and ,acknowledgment of ,providence for so great a ,benefit1 by what ,causes soever it was brought to pass4 ,,but to return to the ,rainbow which we mentioned before1 and is not to be past over so slightly4 ,this we say is a ,creature of the modern ,world1 and was not seen nor known before the ,flood4 ,moses 7,gen4 ix4 #ab1 #ac47 plainly intimates as much1 or rather directly affirms it2 for he says1 the ,bow was set in the ,clouds after the ,deluge1 as a ,confirmation of the ,promise1 or ,covenant1 which ,god made with ,noah1 that he would drown the ,world no more with ,water4 ,and how could it be a ,sign of this1 or given as a ,pledge and ,confirmation of such a ,promise1 if it was in the ,clouds before1 and with no ,regard to this ,promise2 and stood there1 it may be1 when the ,world was going to be drown'd8 ,this would have been but cold ,comfort to ,noah1 to have had such a ,pledge of the ,divine ,veracity4 ,you'll say1 it may be1 that it was not a ,sign or ,pledge1 that signified naturally1 but voluntarily only1 and by ,divine ,institution3 ,i am of ,opinion1 ,i confess1 that it signify'd naturally1 and by ,connexion with the ,effect1 importing thus much1 that the ,state of ,nature was chang'd from what it was before1 and so chang'd1 that the ,earth was no more in a ,condition to perish by ,water4 ,but however1 let us grant that it signifieth only by ,institution1 to make it significant in this ,sense1 it must be something new1 otherwise it could not signify any new thing1 or be the ,confirmation of a new ,promise4 ,if ,god ,almighty had said to ,noah1 ,i make a ,promise to you1 and to all living ,creatures1 that the ,world shall never be destroy'd by ,water again1 and for ,confirmation of this1 ,behold1 ,i set the ,sun in the ,firmament3 ,would this have been any strengthening of ,noah's ,faith or any ,satisfaction to his ,mind8 ,why says ,noah1 the ,sun was in the ,firmament when the ,deluge came1 and was a ,spectator of that sad ,tragedy2 why may it not be so again8 ,what ,sign or ,assurance is this against a second ,deluge8 ,when ,god gives a ,sign in the ,heavens1 or on the ,earth1 of any ,prophecy or ,promise to be fulfill'd1 it must be by something new1 or by some ,change wrought in ,nature2 whereby ,god doth testify to us1 that he is able and willing to stand to his ,promise4 ,god says to ,ahaz1 ,isai4 vii4 ,ask a ,sign of the ,lord2 ask it either in the ,depth1 or in the ,height above3 ,and when ,ahaz would ask no ,sign1 ,god gives one unask'd1 ,behold a ,virgin shall conceive and bear a ,son4 ,so when ,zachary1 ,luke #a4 was promis'd a ,son1 he asketh for a ,sign1 ,whereby shall ,i know this8 for ,i am old1 and my ,wife well stricken in ,years1 and the ,sign given him was1 that he became dumb1 and continued so till the ,promise was fulfilled4 ,accordingly1 when ,abraham ask'd a ,sign whereby he might be assured of ,god's ,promise that his ,seed should inherit the ,land of ,canaan1 ,gen4 xv4 #h4 ',tis said 7ver4 #ag47 ,when the ,sun went down and it was dark1 behold a smoaking ,furnace and a burning ,lamp passed betwixt the ,pieces of the ,beasts that he had cut asunder4 ,so in other ,instances of ,signs given in external ,nature1 as the ,sign given to ,king ,hezekiah1 ,isai4 xxxviii4 for his ,recovery1 and to ,gideon for his ,victory2 to confirm the ,promise made to ,hezekiah1 ,judge vii4 the ,shadow went back ten ,degrees in ,ahaz ,dial4 ,and for ,gideon1 his ,fleece was wet1 and all the ,ground about it dry2 and then to change the ,trial1 it was dry1 and all the ,ground about it wet4 ,these were all ,signs very proper1 significant1 and satisfactory1 having something surprising and extraordinary1 yet these were ,signs by ,institution only2 and to be such they must have something new and strange1 as a ,mark of the ,hand of ,god1 otherwise they can have no ,force or ,significancy4 ,accordingly we see1 ,moses himself in another ,place1 speaks this very ,sense1 when in the ,mutiny or ,rebellion of ,corah and ,dathan1 he speaks thus to the ,people1 ,if these ,men die the common ,death of ,men1 then the ,lord hath not sent me4 ,but if the ,lord make a new ,thing and the ,earth open her ,mouth and swallow them up1 c4 then you shall understand that these ,men have provoked the ,lord1 ,numb4 xxvi4 #bi1 #cj4 ,so in the ,case of ,noah1 if ,god created a new ,creature 7which are ,moses's ,words in the forecited ,place7 the ,sign was effectual3 ,but where every thing continues to be as it was before1 and the ,face of ,nature1 in all its ,parts1 the very same1 it cannot signify any thing new1 nor any new ,intention in the ,author of ,nature2 and consequently1 cannot be a ,sign or ,pledge1 a ,token or ,assurance of the ,accomplishment of any new ,covenant or ,promise made by him4 ,,this1 methinks1 is plain to common ,sense1 and to every ,man's ,reason2 but because it is a ,thing of ,importance1 to prove that there was no ,rainbow before the ,flood1 and will confirm a considerable ,part of this ,theory1 by discovering what the state of the ,air was in the old ,world1 give me leave to argue it a little further1 and to remove some ,prejudices that may keep others from assenting to clear ,reason4 ,i know 'tis usually said1 that ,signs like ,words1 signify any ,thing by ,institution1 or may be apply'd to any ,thing by the ,will of the ,imposer2 as hanging out a white ,flag is calling for ,mercy2 a ,bush at the ,door a ,sign of ,wine to be sold1 and such like4 ,but these are ,instances nothing to our ,purpose1 these are ,signs of something present1 and that signify only by ,use and repeated ,experience2 we are speaking of ,signs of another ,nature given in ,confirmation of a ,promise1 or ,threatning1 or ,prophecy1 and given with ,design to cure our ,unbelief1 or to excite and beget in us faith in ,god1 in the ,prophet1 or in the ,promiser2 such ,signs1 ,i say1 when they are wrought in external ,nature1 must be some new ,appearance1 and must thereby induce us to believe the ,effect1 or more to believe it1 than if there had been no ,sign1 but only the ,affirmation of the ,promiser2 for otherwise the pretended ,sign is a mere ,cypher and ,superfluity4 ,but a ,thing that obtain'd before1 and in the same ,manner1 7even when that came to pass1 which we are now promis'd shall not come to pass again7 signifies no more1 than if there had been no ,sign at all3 ,it can neither signify another ,course in ,nature1 nor another ,purpose in ,god2 and therefore is perfectly insignificant4 ,some instance in the ,sacraments1 ,jewish or ,christian1 and make them ,signs in such a ,sense as the ,rainbow is3 ,but those are rather ,symbolical ,representations or ,commemorations2 and some of them ,marks of ,distinction and ,consecration of our selves to ,god in such a ,religion2 they were also new1 and very particular when first instituted2 but all such ,instances fall short1 and do not reach the ,case before us2 we are speaking of ,signs confirmatory of a ,promise2 when there is something affirm'd de futuro1 and to give us a further ,argument of the ,certainty of it1 and of the ,power and ,veracity of the ,promiser1 a ,sign is given4 ,this1 we say1 must indispensably be something new1 otherwise it cannot have the ,nature1 ,virtue1 and influence of a ,sign4 ,,we have seen how incongruous it would be to admit1 that the ,rainbow appear'd before the ,deluge1 and how dead a ,sign that would make it1 how forc'd1 fruitless and ineffectual1 as to the ,promise it was to confirm3 ,let us now on the other hand suppose1 that it first appear'd to the ,inhabitants of the ,earth after the ,deluge1 how proper1 and how apposite a ,sign would this be for ,providence to pitch upon1 to confirm the ,promise made to ,noah and his ,posterity1 ,that the ,world should be no more destroy'd by ,water8 ,it hath a secret ,connexion with the ,effect it self1 and was so far a natural ,sign2 but however1 appearing first after the ,deluge1 and in a watery ,cloud1 there was1 methinks1 a great ,easiness and ,propriety of ,application for such a purpose4 ,and if we suppose1 that while ,god ,almighty was declaring his ,promise to ,noah1 and the ,sign of it1 there appeared at the same ,time in the ,clouds a fair ,rainbow1 that marvellous and beautiful ,meteor1 which ,noah had never seen before2 it could not but make a most lively ,impression upon him1 quickning his ,faith1 and giving him ,comfort and ,assurance1 that ,god would be stedfast to his ,promise4 ,,nor ought we to wonder that ,interpreters have commonly gone the other ,way1 and suppos'd that the ,rainbow was before the ,flood3 this1 ,i say1 was no wonder in them1 for they had no ,hypothesis that could answer to any other ,interpretation3 ,and in the ,interpretation of the ,texts of ,scripture that concern natural ,things1 they commonly bring them down to their own ,philosophy and ,notions3 ,as we have a great ,instance in that ,discourse of ,st4 ,peter's 7#b ,epist4 c4 iii4 #e47 concerning the ,deluge and the ,antediluvian ,heavens and ,earth1 which1 for want of a ,theory1 they have been scarce able to make ,sense of2 for they have forcedly apply'd to the present ,earth1 or the present ,form of the ,earth1 what plainly respected another4 ,a like ,instance we have in the ,mosaical ,abyss1 or ,tehom-,rabba1 by whose ,disruption the ,deluge was made2 this they knew not well what to make of1 and so have generally interpreted it of the ,sea1 or of our subterraneous ,waters2 without any ,propriety either as to the ,word1 or as to the ,sense4 ,a third ,instance is this of the ,rainbow1 where their ,philosophy hath misguided them again2 for to give them their due1 they do not alledge1 nor pretend to alledge any ,thing from the ,text1 that should make them interpret thus1 or think the ,rainbow was before the ,flood2 but they pretend to go by certain ,reasons1 as that the ,clouds were before the ,flood1 therefore the ,rainbow2 and if the ,rainbow was not before the ,flood1 then all things were not made within the six ,days ,creation3 ,to whom these ,reasons are convictive1 they must be led into the same ,belief with them1 but not by any ,thing in the ,text1 nor in the true ,theory1 at least if ours be so2 for by that you see1 that the ,vapours were never condens'd into ,drops1 nor into ,rain1 in the temperate and inhabited ,climates of that ,earth1 and consequently there could never be the ,production or ,appearance of this ,bow in the ,clouds4 ,thus much concerning the ,rainbow4 ,,to recollect our selves and conclude this ,chapter1 and the whole ,disquisition concerning the ,waters of the primitive ,earth2 we seem to have so well satisfied the ,difficulties propos'd in the beginning of the ,chapter1 that they have rather given us an ,advantage2 a better ,discovery1 and such a new ,prospect of that ,earth1 as makes it not only habitable1 but more fit to be ,paradisiacal4 ,the ,pleasantness of the ,site of ,paradise is made to consist chiefly in two ,things1 its ,waters1 and its ,trees1 7,gen4 ii4 and ,chap4 xiii4 #aj4 ,ezek4 xxxi4 #h47 and considering the ,richness of that first ,soil in the primitive ,earth1 it could not but abound in ,trees1 as it did in ,rivers and ,rivulets2 and be wooded like a ,grove1 as it was water'd like a ,garden1 in the temperate ,climates of it2 so as it would not be1 methinks1 so difficult to find one ,paradise there1 as not to find more than one4 ,,chap4 ,,vi4 ,a ,recollection and ,review of what hath been said concerning the ,primitive ,earth3 with a more full ,survey of the ,state of the first ,world ,natural and ,civil1 and the ,comparison of it with the present ,world4 ,,we have now1 in a good ,measure1 finish'd our ,description of the first and antediluvian ,earth3 ,and as ,travellers1 when they see strange ,countries1 make it part of their ,pleasure and ,improvement to compare them with their own1 to observe the ,differences1 and wherein they excel1 or come short of one another3 ,so it will not be unpleasant1 nor unuseful1 it may be1 having made a ,discovery1 not of a new ,country1 but of a new ,world1 and travell'd it over in our ,thoughts and ,fancy1 now to sit down and compare it with our own3 ,and 'twill be no hard ,task1 from the general ,differences which we have taken ,notice of already1 to observe what lesser would arise1 and what the whole ,face of ,nature would be4 ',,tis also one ,fruit of travelling1 that by seeing ,variety of ,places1 and ,people1 of ,humours1 ,fashions1 and ,forms of ,living1 it frees us by degrees1 from that ,pedantry and ,littleness of ,spirit1 whereby we are apt to censure every thing for absurd and ridiculous1 that is not according to our own ,way1 and the ,mode of our own ,country3 ,but if1 instead of crossing the ,seas1 we could waft our selves over to our neighbouring ,planets1 we should meet with such ,varieties there1 both in ,nature and ,mankind1 as would very much enlarge our ,thoughts and ,souls1 and help to cure those ,diseases of little ,minds1 that make them troublesome to others1 as well as uneasy to themselves4 ,,but seeing our heavy ,bodies are not made for such ,voyages1 the best and greatest thing we can do in this kind1 is to make a ,survey and ,reflection upon the antediluvian ,earth1 which in some ,sense was another ,world from this1 and1 it may be1 as different as some two ,planets are from one another4 ,we have declar'd already the general ,grounds upon which we must proceed1 and must now trace the ,consequences of them1 and drive them down into ,particulars1 which will shew us in most things1 wherein that ,earth1 or that ,world1 differed from the present4 ,the ,form of that ,earth1 and its ,situation to the ,sun1 were two of its most fundamental ,differences from ours3 ,as to the ,form of it1 'twas all one smooth ,continent1 one continued ,surface of ,earth1 without any ,sea1 any ,mountains1 or ,rocks2 any ,holes1 ,dens1 or ,caverns3 ,and the ,situation of it to the ,sun was such as made a perpetual quinox4 ,these two join'd together1 lay the ,foundation of a new ,astronomy1 ,meteorology1 ,hydrography and ,geography2 such as were proper and peculiar to that ,world4 ,the ,earth by this means having its ,axis parallel to the ,axis of the ,ecliptick1 the ,heavens would appear in another ,posture2 and their diurnal ,motion1 which is imputed to the ,primum ,mobile1 and supposed to be upon the ,poles of the quator1 would then be upon the same ,poles with the second and periodical ,motions of the ,orbs and ,planets1 namely1 upon the ,poles of the ,ecliptick1 by which ,means the ,phnomena of the ,heavens would be more simple and regular1 and much of that ,entangledness and ,perplexity1 which we find now in ,astronomy1 would be taken away4 ,whether the ,sun and ,moon would suffer any ,eclipses then1 cannot well be determin'd1 unless one knew what the ,course of the ,moon was at that time1 or whether she was then come into our ,neighbourhood3 ,her ,presence seems to have been less needful when there were no long ,winter ,nights1 nor the great ,pool of the ,sea to move or govern4 ,,as for the ,regions of the ,air and the ,meteors1 we have in the preceding ,chapter set down what the ,state of them would be1 and in how much a better ,order1 and more peaceable1 that ,kingdom was1 till the ,earth was broken and displac'd1 and the ,course of ,nature chang'd3 ,nothing violent1 nothing frightful1 nothing troublesome or incommodious to ,mankind1 came from above1 but the ,countenance of the ,heavens was always smooth and serene4 ,i have often thought it a very desirable ,piece of ,power1 if a ,man could but command a fair ,day1 when he had occasion for it1 for himself1 or for his ,friends2 'tis more than the greatest ,prince or ,potentate upon ,earth can do2 yet they never wanted one in that ,world1 nor ever saw a foul one4 ,besides they had constant ,breezes from the ,motion of the ,earth1 and the ,course of the ,vapours1 which cool'd the open ,plains1 and made the ,weather temperate1 as well as fair4 ,but we have spoken enough in other ,places upon this ,subject of the ,air and the ,heavens1 let us now descend to the ,earth4 ,,the ,earth was divided into two ,hemispheres1 separated by the ,torrid ,zone1 which at that time was uninhabitable1 and utterly unpassable2 so as the two ,hemispheres made two distinct ,worlds1 which1 so far as we can judge1 had no manner of ,commerce or ,communication one with another4 ,the ,southern ,hemisphere the ,antients call'd ,antichthon1 the opposite ,earth1 or the ,other ,world4 ,and this ,name and ,notion remain'd long after the ,reason of it had ceas'd4 ,just as the ,torrid ,zone was generally accounted uninhabitable by the ,ancients1 even in their ,time1 because it really had been so once1 and the ,tradition remain'd uncorrected1 when the ,causes were taken away2 namely1 when the ,earth had chang'd its ,posture to the ,sun1 after the ,deluge4 ,,this may be look'd upon as the first ,division of that primval ,earth1 into two ,hemispheres1 naturally sever'd and disunited3 ,but it was also divided into five ,zones1 two ,frigid1 two ,temperate1 and the ,torrid betwixt them4 ,and this ,distinction of the ,globe into five ,zones1 ,i think1 did properly belong to that original ,earth1 and primitive ,geography1 and improperly1 and by ,translation only1 to the present4 ,for all the ,zones of our ,earth are habitable1 and their ,distinctions are in a manner but imaginary1 not fixed by ,nature2 whereas in that ,earth where the ,rivers fail'd1 and the ,regions became uninhabitable1 by reason of ,driness and ,heat1 there begun the ,torrid ,zone2 and where the ,regions became uninhabitable by reason of ,cold and ,moisture1 there begun the ,frigid ,zone2 and these being determin'd1 they became ,bounds on either side to the ,temperate4 ,but all this was alter'd when the ,posture of the ,earth was chang'd1 and chang'd for that very purpose1 as some of the ,ancients have said1 ,that the uninhabitable ,parts of the ,earth might become habitable4 ,yet though there was so much of the first ,earth uninhabitable1 there remain'd as much to be inhabited1 as we have now2 for the ,sea1 since the breaking up of the ,abyss1 hath taken away half of the ,earth from us1 a great part whereof was to them good ,land4 ,besides1 we are not to suppose1 that the ,torrid ,zone was of that ,extent we make it now1 twenty three ,degrees and more on either side of the quator3 ,these ,bounds are set only by the ,tropicks1 and the ,tropicks by the ,obliquity of the ,course of the ,sun1 or of the ,posture of the ,earth1 which was not in that ,world4 ,where the ,rivers stop'd1 there the ,torrid ,zone would begin1 but the ,sun was directly perpendicular to no part of it but the middle4 ,,how the ,rivers flow'd in the first ,earth1 we have before explain'd sufficiently1 and what ,parts the ,rivers did not reach1 were turn'd into ,sands and ,deserts by the ,heat of the ,sun2 for ,i cannot easily imagine1 that the sandy ,desarts of the ,earth were made so at first1 immediately and from the beginning of the ,world2 from what ,causes should that be1 and to what purpose in that ,age8 ,but in those ,tracks of the ,earth that were not refreshed with ,rivers and ,moisture1 which cement the ,parts1 the ,ground would moulder and crumble into little ,pieces1 and then those ,pieces by the ,heat of the ,sun were bak'd into ,stone4 ,and this would come to pass chiefly in the hot and scorch'd ,regions of the ,earth1 though it might happen sometimes where there was not that ,extremity of ,heat1 if by any ,chance a ,place wanted ,rivers and ,water to keep the ,earth in due ,temper2 but those ,sands would not be so early or ancient as the other4 ,as for greater loose ,stones1 and rough ,pebbles1 there were none in that ,earth2 ,deucalion and ,pyrrah1 when the ,deluge was over1 found new made ,stones to cast behind their ,backs2 the ,bones of their ,mother ,earth1 which then were broken in ,pieces1 in that great ,ruine4 ,,as for ,plants and ,trees1 we cannot imagine but that they must needs abound in the ,primitive ,earth1 seeing it was so well water'd1 and had a ,soil so fruitful2 a new unlaboured ,soil1 replenish'd with the ,seeds of all ,vegetables2 and a warm ,sun that would call upon ,nature early for her ,first-fruits1 to be offer'd up at the beginning of her ,course4 ,nature had a wild ,luxuriancy at first1 which humane ,industry by degrees gave ,form and ,order to3 ,the ,waters flow'd with a constant and gentle ,current1 and were easily led which way the ,inhabitants had a ,mind1 for their ,use1 or for their ,pleasure2 and shady ,trees1 which grow best in moist and warm ,countries1 grac'd the ,banks of their ,rivers or ,canals4 ,but that which was the ,beauty and ,crown of all1 was their perpetual ,spring1 the ,fields always green1 the ,flowers always fresh1 and the ,trees always covered with ,leaves and ,fruit3 ,but we have occasionally spoken of these things in several ,places1 and may do again hereafter1 and therefore need not enlarge upon them here4 ,,as for ,subterraneous ,things1 ,metals and ,minerals1 ,i believe they had none in the first ,earth2 and the happier they2 no ,gold1 nor ,silver1 nor coarser ,metals4 ,the ,use of these is either imaginary1 or in such ,works1 as1 by the ,constitution of their ,world1 they had little ,occasion for4 ,and ,minerals are either for ,medicine1 which they had no need of further than ,herbs2 or for ,materials to certain ,arts1 which were not then in use1 or were supplied by other ways4 ,these subterraneous things1 ,metals and metallick ,minerals1 are fictitious1 not original ,bodies1 coval with the ,earth2 but are made in ,process of ,time1 after long ,preparations and ,concoctions1 by the ,action of the ,sun within the ,bowels of the ,earth4 ,and if the ,stamina1 or ,principles of them rise from the lower ,regions that lie under the ,abyss1 as ,i am apt to think they do1 it doth not seem probable that they could be drawn thro' such a ,mass of ,waters1 or that the ,heat of the ,sun could on a sudden penetrate so deep1 and be able to loosen them1 and raise them into the exterior ,earth4 ,and as the first ,age of the ,world was call'd ,golden1 though it knew not what ,gold was2 so the following ,ages had their ,names from several ,metals1 which lay then asleep in the dark and deep ,womb of ,nature1 and saw not the ,sun till many ,years and ,ages afterwards4 ,,having run through the several ,regions of ,nature1 from ,top to ,bottom1 from the ,heavens to the lower ,parts of the ,earth1 and made some ,observations upon their ,order in the antediluvian ,world2 let us now look upon ,man and other living ,creatures1 that make up the superior and animate ,part of ,nature4 ,we have observed1 and sufficiently spoken to that ,difference betwixt the ,men of the old ,world1 and those of the present1 in ,point of ,longevity1 and given the ,reasons of it2 but we must not imagine that this long ,life was peculiar to ,man1 all other ,animals had their ,share of it1 and were in their ,proportion longer-liv'd than they are now4 ,nay1 not only ,animals1 but also ,vegetables2 and the ,forms of all living ,things were far more permanent3 ,the ,trees of the ,field and of the ,forest1 in all ,probability1 out-lasted the ,lives of ,men2 and ,i do not know but the first ,groves of ,pines and ,cedars that grew out of the ,earth1 or that were planted in the ,garden of ,god1 might be standing when the ,deluge came1 7,ezek4 xxxi4 #h47 and see from first to last1 the entire ,course and ,period of a ,world4 ,we might add here1 with ,st4 ,austin1 7,civ4 ,dei1 lib4 #ae4 c4 #i47 another ,observation1 both concerning ,men and other living ,creatures in the first ,world1 that they were greater as well as longer-liv'd1 than they are at present3 ,this seems to be a very reasonable ,conjecture2 for the ,state of every ,thing that hath ,life is divided into the ,time of its ,growth1 its ,consistency and its ,decay2 and when the whole ,duration is longer1 every one of these ,parts1 though not always in like ,proportions1 will be longer4 ,we must suppose then1 that the ,growth both in ,men and other ,animals lasted longer in that ,world than it doth now1 and consequently carried their ,bodies both to a greater ,height and ,bulk4 ,and in like ,manner1 their ,trees would be both taller1 and every ,way bigger than ours2 neither were they in any ,danger there1 to be blown down by ,winds and ,storms1 or struck with ,thunder1 tho' they had been as high as the gyptian ,pyramids2 and whatsoever their ,height was1 if they had ,roots and ,trunks proportionable1 and were streight and well pois'd1 they would stand firm1 and with a greater ,majesty4 ,the ,fowls of ,heaven making their ,nests in their ,boughs1 and under their ,shadow the ,beasts of the ,field bringing forth their ,young4 ,when ,things are fairly possible in their ,causes1 and possible in several ,degrees1 higher or lower1 'tis ,weakness of ,spirit in us1 to think there is nothing in ,nature1 but in that one ,way1 or in that one ,degree1 that we are us'd to4 ,and whosoever believes those ,accounts given us1 both by the ,ancients 7,plin4 l4 #g4 c4 #b4 ,strab4 l4 #ag47 and ,moderns1 7,hort4 ,malabar1 vol4 #c47 of the ,indian ,trees1 will not think it strange that those of the first ,earth should much exceed any that we now see in this ,world4 ,that allegorical ,description of the ,glory of ,assyria in ,ezekiel1 ,chap4 xxxi4 by ,allusion to ,trees1 and particularly to the ,trees of ,paradise1 was chiefly for the ,greatness and ,stateliness of them2 and there is all ,fairness of ,reason to believe1 that in that first ,earth1 both the ,birds of the ,air1 and the ,beasts of the ,field1 and the ,trees and their ,fruit1 were all in their several ,kinds more large and goodly than ,nature produces any now4 ,,so much in short1 concerning the natural ,world1 inanimate or animate2 we should now take a ,prospect of the moral ,world of that time1 or of the civil and artificial ,world2 what the ,order and ,oeconomy of these was1 what the ,manner of ,living1 and how the ,scenes of humane ,life were different from ours at present4 ,the ,ancients1 especially the ,poets1 in their ,description of the golden ,age1 exhibit to us an ,order of ,things1 and a ,form of ,life1 very remote from any ,thing we see in our ,days2 but they are not to be trusted in all ,particulars2 many times they exaggerate ,matters on purpose1 that they may seem more strange1 or more great1 and by that ,means move and please us more4 ,a ,moral or ,philosophick ,history of the ,world1 well writ1 would certainly be a very useful ,work1 to observe and relate how the ,scenes of humane ,life have chang'd in several ,ages1 the ,modes and ,forms of ,living1 in what ,simplicity ,men begun at first1 and by what ,degrees they came out of that ,way1 by ,luxury1 ,ambition1 ,improvement1 or ,changes in ,nature2 then what new ,forms and ,modifications were superadded by the ,invention of ,arts1 what by ,religion1 what by ,superstition4 ,this would be a ,view of ,things more instructive1 and more satisfactory1 than to know what ,kings reign'd in such an ,age1 and what ,battles were fought1 which common ,history teacheth1 and teacheth little more4 ,such ,affairs are but the little ,under-plots in the ,tragi comedy of the ,world2 the main ,design is of another ,nature1 and of far greater ,extent and ,consequence4 ,but to return to the ,subject4 ,as the animate ,world depends upon the inanimate1 so the civil ,world depends upon them both1 and takes its ,measures from them2 ,nature is the ,foundation still1 and the ,affairs of ,mankind are a ,superstructure that will be always proportion'd to it4 ,therefore we must look back upon the ,model1 or ,picture1 of their natural ,world1 which we have drawn before1 to make our ,conjectures1 or ,judgment1 of the civil and artificial1 that were to accompany it4 ,we observ'd from their perpetual quinox1 and the ,smoothness of the ,earth1 that the ,air would be always calm1 and the ,heavens fair1 no cold or violent ,winds1 ,rains1 or ,storms1 no ,extremity of ,weather in any kind1 and therefore they would need little ,protection from the ,injuries of the ,air1 in that ,state2 whereas now1 one great ,part of the ,affairs of ,life is to preserve our selves from those ,inconveniencies1 by ,building and ,cloathing4 ,how many ,hands1 and how many ,trades are employ'd about these two ,things8 ,which then were in a manner needless1 or at least in such ,plainness and ,simplicity1 that every ,man might be his own ,workman4 ,tents and ,bowers would keep them from all ,incommodities of the ,air and ,weather1 better than ,stone ,walls and strong ,roofs defend us now2 and ,men are apt to take the easiest ,ways of ,living1 till ,necessity or ,vice put them upon others that are more laborious1 and more artificial4 ,we also observ'd and prov'd1 that they had no ,sea in the primitive and antediluvian ,world1 which makes a vast difference 'twixt us and them4 ,this takes up half of our ,globe1 and a good part of ,mankind is busied with ,sea ,affairs and ,navigation4 ,they had little need of merchandizing then1 ,nature supply'd them at ,home with all ,necessaries1 which were few1 and they were not so greedy of ,superfluities as we are4 ,we may add to these1 what concern'd their ,food and ,diet2 ,antiquity doth generally suppose1 that ,men were not carnivorous in those ,ages of the ,world1 or did not feed upon ,flesh1 but only upon ,fruit and ,herbs4 ,and this seems to be plainly confirm'd by ,scripture2 for after the ,deluge1 ,god ,almighty gives ,noah and his ,posterity a ,licence to eat ,flesh1 7,gen4 ix4 #b1 #c47 ,every moving ,thing that liveth shall be ,meat for you4 ,whereas before1 in the new-made ,earth1 ,god had prescrib'd them ,herbs and ,fruit for their ,diet1 7,gen4 i4 #bi47 ,behold ,i have given you every ,herb bearing ,seed1 which is upon the ,face of all the ,earth2 and every ,tree1 in the which is the ,fruit of a ,tree yielding ,seed1 to you it shall be for ,meat4 ,and of this natural ,diet they would be provided to their ,hands1 without further ,preparation1 as the ,birds and the ,beasts are4 ,,upon these general ,grounds we may infer and conclude1 that the civil ,world then as well as the natural1 had a very different ,face and ,aspect from what it hath now2 for of these ,heads1 ,food and ,cloathing1 ,building and ,traffick1 with that ,train of ,arts1 ,trades and ,manufactures that attend them1 the civil ,order of ,things is in a great ,measure constituted and compounded2 ,these make the ,business of ,life1 the several ,occupations of ,men1 the ,noise and ,hurry of the ,world2 these fill our ,cities1 and our ,fairs1 and our ,havens and ,ports2 yet all these fine ,things are but the ,effects of ,indigency and ,necessitousness1 and were1 for the most part1 needless and unknown in that first ,state of ,nature4 ,the ,ancients have told us the same ,things in ,effect2 but telling us them without their ,grounds1 which they themselves did not know1 they look'd like poetical ,stories1 and pleasant ,fictions1 and with most ,men past for no better4 ,we have shewn them in another ,light1 with their ,reasons and ,causes1 deduc'd from the ,state of the natural ,world1 which is the ,basis upon which they stand2 and this doth not only give them a just and full ,credibility1 but also lays a ,foundation for ,after-thoughts1 and further ,deductions1 when they meet with ,minds dispos'd to pursue ,speculations of this ,nature4 ,,as for ,laws1 ,government1 natural ,religion1 ,military and ,judicial ,affairs1 with all their ,equipage1 which make an higher ,order of ,things in the civil and moral ,world1 to calculate these upon the ,grounds given1 would be more difficult1 and more uncertain2 neither do they at all belong to the present ,theory4 ,but from what we have already observ'd1 we may be able to make a better ,judgment of those traditional ,accounts which the ,ancients have left us concerning these ,things1 in the early ,ages of the ,world1 and the primitive ,state of ,nature4 ,no doubt in these1 as in all other ,particulars1 there was a great ,easiness and ,simplicity1 in ,comparison of what is now2 we are in a more pompous1 forc'd1 and artificial ,method1 which partly the ,change of ,nature1 and partly the ,vices and ,vanities of ,men have introduc'd and establish'd4 ,but these things1 with many more1 ought to be the ,subject of a ,philosophick ,history of the ,world1 which we mentioned before4 ,,this is a short and general ,scheme of the primval ,world1 compared with the modern2 yet these things did not equally run thro' all the ,parts and ,ages of it2 there was a ,declension and ,degeneracy1 both natural and moral1 by ,degrees1 and especially towards the latter ,end2 but the principal ,form of ,nature remaining till the ,deluge and the ,dissolution of the ,heavens and ,earth1 till then also this civil ,frame of ,things would stand in a great ,measure4 ,and tho' such a ,state of ,nature1 and of ,mankind1 when 'tis propos'd crudely1 and without its ,grounds1 appear fabulous or imaginary1 yet 'tis really in itself a ,state1 not only possible1 but more easy and natural1 than what the ,world is in at present4 ,and if one of the old antediluvian ,patriarchs should rise from the ,dead1 he would be more surpriz'd to see our ,world in that ,posture it is1 than we can be by the ,story and ,description of his4 ,as an ,indian hath more ,reason to wonder at the ,european ,modes1 than we have to wonder at their plain ,manner of ,living4 ',tis we that have left the ,track of ,nature1 that are wrought and screw'd up into ,artifices1 that have disguis'd ourselves2 and 'tis in our ,world that the ,scenes are chang'd1 and become more strange and fantastical4 ,i ,,will conclude this ,discourse with an easy ,remark1 and without any particular ,application of it4 ',tis a strange ,power that ,custom hath upon weak and little ,spirits1 whose ,thoughts reach no further than their ,senses2 and what they have seen and been us'd to1 they make the ,standard and ,measure of ,nature1 of ,reason1 and of all ,decorum4 ,neither are there any ,sort of ,men more positive and tenacious of their petty ,opinions1 than they are2 nor more censorious1 even to ,bitterness and ,malice4 ,and 'tis generally so1 that those that have the least ,evidence for the ,truth of their beloved ,opinions1 are most peevish and impatient in the ,defence of them4 ,this sort of ,men are the last that will be made wise ,men1 if ever they be1 for they have the worst of ,diseases that accompany ,ignorance1 and do not so much as know themselves to be sick4 ,,chap4 ,,vii4 ,the ,place of ,paradise cannot be determined from the ,theory only1 nor from ,scripture only4 ,what the ,sense of ,antiquity was concerning it1 both as to the ,jews and ,heathens1 and especially as to the ,christian ,fathers4 ,that they generally plac'd it out of this ,continent1 in the southern ,hemisphere4 ,,we have now prepared our ,work for the last finishing ,strokes2 described the first ,earth1 and compar'd it with the present2 and not only the two ,earths1 but in a good ,measure the whole ,state and ,oeconomy of those two ,worlds4 ,it remains only to determine the ,place of ,paradise in that primval ,earth2 ,i say1 in that primval ,earth1 for we have driven the ,point so far already1 that the ,seat of it could not be in the present ,earth1 whose ,form1 ,site1 and ,air1 are so dispos'd1 as could not consist with the first and most indispensible ,properties of ,paradise3 ,and accordingly1 we see with what ill ,success our modern ,authors have rang'd over the ,earth1 to find a fit ,spot of ,ground to plant ,paradise in2 some would set it on the ,top of an high ,mountain1 that it might have good ,air and fair ,weather1 as being above the ,clouds1 and the middle ,region2 but then they were at a ,loss for ,water1 which made a great ,part of the ,pleasure and ,beauty of that ,place4 ,others therefore would seat it in a ,plain1 or in a ,river-,island1 that they might have ,water enough2 but then it would be subject to the ,injuries of the ,air1 and foul ,weather at the ,seasons of the ,year2 from which1 both ,reason and all ,authority have exempted ,paradise4 ',tis like seeking a perfect ,beauty in a mortal ,body1 there are so many ,things required to it1 as to ,complexion1 ,features1 ,proportions and ,air1 that they never meet all together in one ,person2 neither can all the ,properties of a terrestrial ,paradise ever meet together in one ,place1 tho' never so well chosen1 in this present ,earth4 ,,but in the primval ,earth1 which we have described1 'tis easy to find a ,seat that had all those ,beauties and ,conveniencies4 ,we have every where thro' the temperate ,climates1 a clear and constant ,air1 a fruitful ,soil1 pleasant ,waters1 and all the general ,characters of ,paradise2 so that the ,trouble will be rather in that ,competition1 what ,part or ,region to pitch upon in particular4 ,but to come as near it as we can1 we must remember in the first ,place1 how that ,earth was divided into two ,hemispheres1 distant and separated from one another1 not by an imaginary ,line1 but by a real ,boundary that could not be past2 so as the first ,inquiry will be1 in whether of these ,hemispheres was the ,seat of ,paradise4 ,to answer this only according to our ,theory1 ,i confess1 ,i see no natural ,reason or ,occasion to place it in one ,hemisphere more than in another2 ,i see no ,ground of ,difference or ,pre-eminence1 that one had above the other2 and ,i am apt to think1 that depended rather upon the ,will of ,god1 and the ,series of ,providence that was to follow in this ,earth1 than upon any natural ,incapacity in one of these two ,regions more than in the other1 for planting in it the ,garden of ,god4 ,neither doth ,scripture determine1 with any ,certainty1 either ,hemisphere for the ,place of it2 for when 'tis said to be in ,eden1 or to be the ,garden of ,eden1 'tis no more than the ,garden of ,pleasure or ,delight1 as the ,word signifies3 ,and even the ,septuagint1 who render this ,word ,eden1 as a proper ,name twice1 7,gen4 ii4 ver4 #h1 #aj47 do in the same ,story render it twice as a common ,name1 signifying ,pleasure1 7,chap4 ii4 #ae4 and ,chap4 iii4 #bd47 and so they do accordingly render it in ,ezekiel1 7,chap4 xxxi4 #i1 #af1 #ah47 where this ,garden of ,eden is spoken of again4 ,some have thought that the ,word ,mekiddim1 7,gen4 ii4 #h47 was to be render'd in the ,east1 or ,eastward1 as we read it1 and therefore determin'd the ,site of ,paradise2 but 'tis only the ,septuagint translate it so2 all the other ,greek ,versions1 and ,st4 ,jerome1 the ,vulgate1 the ,chaldee ,paraphrase1 and the ,syriack render it from the ,beginning1 or in the ,beginning1 or to that ,effect4 ,and we that do not believe the ,septuagint to have been infallible1 or inspir'd1 have no ,reason to prefer their single ,authority above all the rest4 ,some also think the ,place of ,paradise may be determined by the four ,rivers that are named1 as belonging to it1 and the ,countries they ran through2 but the ,names of those ,rivers are to me uncertain1 and two of them altogether unintelligible4 ,where are there four ,rivers in our ,continent that come from one ,head1 as these are said to have done1 either at the ,entrance or ,issue of the ,garden8 ',tis true1 if you admit our ,hypothesis1 concerning the ,fraction and ,disruption of the ,earth at the ,deluge1 then we cannot expect to find ,rivers now as they were before2 the general ,source is chang'd1 and their ,channels are all broke up2 but if you do not admit such a ,dissolution of the ,earth1 but suppose the ,deluge to have been only like a standing ,pool1 after it had once cover'd the ,surface of the ,earth1 ,i do not see why it should make any great ,havock or ,confusion in it2 and they that go that ,way1 are therefore the more oblig'd to shew us still1 the ,rivers of ,paradise4 ,several of the ,ancients1 as we shall shew hereafter1 suppos'd these four ,rivers to have their heads in the other ,hemisphere2 and if so1 the ,seat of ,paradise might be there too4 ,but let them first agree among themselves concerning these ,rivers1 and the ,countries they run thro'1 and we will undertake to shew that there cannot be any such in this ,continent4 ,,seeing then neither the ,theory doth determine1 nor ,scripture1 where the ,place of ,paradise was1 nor in whether ,hemisphere1 we must appeal to ,antiquity1 or the ,opinions of the ,ancients2 for ,i know no other ,guide but one of these three1 ,scripture1 ,reason1 and ancient ,tradition2 and where the two former are silent1 it seems very reasonable to consult the third4 ,and that our ,inquiries may be comprehensive enough1 we will consider what the ,jews1 what the ,heathens1 and what the ,christian ,fathers have said1 or determin'd1 concerning the ,seat of ,paradise4 ,the ,jews and ,hebrew ,doctors place it in neither ,hemisphere1 but betwixt both1 under the quinoctial1 as you may see plainly in ,abravanel1 ,manasses1 ,ben-,israel1 ,maimonides1 ,eben ,ezra1 and others4 ,but the ,reason why they carried it no further than the ,line1 is1 because they suppos'd it certain1 as ,eben ,ezra tells us1 that the ,days and ,nights were always equal in ,paradise1 and they did not know how that could be1 unless it stood under the quinoctial4 ,but we have shewn another ,method1 wherein that perpetual ,equinox came to pass1 and how it was common to all the ,parts and ,climates of that ,earth1 which if they had been aware of1 and that the ,torrid ,zone at that time was utterly uninhabitable1 having remov'd their ,paradise thus far from ,home1 they would probably have remov'd it a little further into the temperate ,climates of the other ,hemisphere4 ,,the ancient ,heathens1 ,poets and ,philosophers1 had the ,notion of ,paradise1 or rather of several ,paradises in the ,earth2 and 'tis remarkable1 that they plac'd them generally1 if not all of them1 out of this ,continent2 in the ,ocean1 or beyond it1 or in another ,orb or ,hemisphere4 ,the ,garden of the ,hesperides1 the fortunate ,islands1 the ,elysian ,fields1 ,ogygia and ,toprabane1 as it is describ'd by ,diodorus ,siculus1 with others such like2 which as they were all characteriz'd like so many ,paradises1 so they were all seated out of our ,continent1 by their ,geography and ,descriptions of them4 ,,thus far ,antiquity seems to incline to the other ,hemisphere1 or to some ,place beyond the ,bounds of our ,continent for the ,seat of ,paradise3 ,but that which we are most to depend upon in this ,affair1 is ,christian ,antiquity1 the ,judgment and ,tradition of the ,fathers upon this ,argument4 ,and we may safely say in the first ,place1 negatively1 that none of the ,christian ,fathers1 ,latin or ,greek1 ever plac'd ,paradise in ,mesopotamia2 that is a ,conceit and ,invention of some modern ,authors1 which have been much encourag'd of late1 because it gave ,men ,ease and ,rest1 as to further ,enquiries1 in an ,argument they could not well manage4 ,secondly1 ,we may affirm1 that none of the ,christian ,fathers have plac'd ,paradise in any determinate ,region of our ,continent1 ,asia1 ,africk1 or ,europe4 ,i have read of one or two ,authors1 ,i think1 that fancied ,paradise to have been at ,jerusalem2 but 'twas a mere ,fancy1 that no ,body regarded or pursu'd4 ,the ,controversy amongst the ,fathers concerning ,paradise was quite another ,thing from what it is now of late3 ,they disputed and controverted1 whether ,paradise was corporeal or intellectual only1 and allegorical2 this was the grand ,point amongst them4 ,then of those that thought it corporeal1 some plac'd it high in the ,air1 some inaccessible1 by ,desarts or ,mountains1 and many beyond the ,ocean1 or in another ,world2 and in these chiefly consisted the ,differences and ,diversity of ,opinions amongst them2 nor do we find that they nam'd any particular ,place or ,country in the known ,parts of the ,earth for the ,seat of ,paradise1 or that one contested for one ,spot of ,ground1 and another for another1 which is the vain ,temerity of modern ,authors2 as if they could tell to an ,acre of ,land where ,paradise stood1 or could set their ,foot upon the ,centre of the ,garden4 ,these have corrupted and misrepresented the ,notion of our ,paradise1 just as some ,modern ,poets have the ,notion of the ,elysian ,fields1 which ,homer and the ,ancients plac'd remote1 on the ,extremities of the ,earth1 and these would make a little green ,meadow in ,campania ,felix to be the fam'd ,elysium4 ,thus much concerning the ,fathers1 negatively2 but to discover as far as we can1 what their positive ,assertions were in this ,argument1 we may observe1 that tho' their ,opinions be differently exprest1 they generally concenter in this1 that the ,southern ,hemisphere was the ,seat of ,paradise4 ,this1 ,i say1 seems manifestly to be the ,sense of ,christian ,antiquity and ,tradition1 so far as there is anything definitive in the ,remains we have upon that ,subject4 ,some of the ,fathers did not believe ,paradise to be corporeal and local1 and those are to be laid aside in the first ,place1 as to this ,point2 others that thought it local1 did not determine any thing 7as most of them indeed did not7 concerning the particular ,place of it2 but the rest that did1 tho' they have exprest themselves in various ,ways1 and under various ,forms2 yet1 upon a due ,interpretation1 they all meet in one common and general ,conclusion1 that ,paradise was seated beyond the quinoctial1 or in the other ,hemisphere4 ,,and to understand this aright1 we must reflect in the first ,place1 upon the ,form of the primval ,earth1 and of the two ,hemispheres of which it consisted1 altogether incommunicable one with another1 by reason of the ,torrid ,zone betwixt them2 so as those two ,hemispheres were then as two distinct ,worlds1 or distinct ,earths1 that had no ,commerce with one another4 ,and this ,notion1 or ,tradition1 we find among ,heathen ,authors1 as well as ,christian2 this opposite ,earth being called by them ,antichthon1 and its ,inhabitants ,antichthones3 ,for those ,words comprehend both the ,antepodes and ,anci1 or all beyond the ,line1 as is manifest from their best ,authors1 as ,achilles1 ,tatius1 and ,csar ,germanicus1 upon ,aratus1 ,probus ,grammaticus1 ,censorinus1 ,pomponius ,mela1 and ,pliny4 ,and these were called another ,world1 and look'd upon as another ,stock and ,race of ,mankind1 as appears from ,cicero and ,macrobius1 7,somn4 ,scip47 ,but as the latter ,part was their ,mistake1 so the former is acknowledged by ,christian ,authors1 as well as others2 and particularly ,st4 ,clement1 in his ,epistle to the ,corinthians1 mentions a ,world1 or ,worlds beyond the ,ocean subject to divine ,providence1 and the great ,lord of ,nature as well as ours4 ,this ,passage of ,st4 ,clement is also cited by ,st4 ,jerome1 in his ,commentary upon ,eph4 ii4 #b4 and by ,origen ,periarchon1 7,lib4 #b4 c4 #c47 where the ,inhabitants of that other ,world are call'd ,antichthones4 ,i ,,make this ,remark in the first ,place1 that we may understand the true ,sense and ,importance of those ,phrases and ,expressions amongst the ,ancients1 when they say ,paradise was in another ,world4 ,which are not to be so understood1 as if they thought ,paradise was in the ,moon1 or in ,jupiter1 or hung above like a ,cloud or a ,meteor1 they were not so extravagant2 but that ,paradise was in another ,hemisphere1 which was call'd ,antichthon1 another ,earth1 or another ,world from ours2 and justly reputed so1 because of an ,impossibility of ,commerce or ,intercourse betwixt their respective ,inhabitants4 ,and this ,remark being premis'd1 we will now distribute the ,christian ,authors and ,fathers1 that have deliver'd their ,opinion concerning the ,place of ,paradise1 into three or four ,ranks or ,orders2 and tho' they express themselves differently1 you will see1 when duly examin'd and expounded1 they all conspire and concur in the foremention'd ,conclusion1 ,that the ,seat of ,paradise was in the other ,hemisphere4 ,,in the first ,rank then we will place and reckon those that have set ,paradise in another ,world1 or in another ,earth2 seeing1 according to the foregoing ,explication1 that is the same thing as to affirm it seated beyond the ,torrid ,zone in the other ,hemisphere4 ,in this ,number are ,ephrem ,syrus1 ,moses ,bar ,cepha1 ,tatianus1 and of latter ,date1 ,jacobus de ,valentia4 ,to these are to be added again such ,authors as say1 that ,adam1 when he was turn'd out of ,paradise1 was brought into our ,earth1 or into our ,region of the ,earth2 for this is tantamount with the former2 and this seems to be the ,sense of ,st4 ,jerome in several ,places against ,joviniam1 as also of ,constantine1 in his ,oration in ,eusebius1 and is positively asserted by ,sulpitius ,severus4 ,and lastly1 ,those ,authors that represent ,paradise as remote from our ,world1 and inaccessible2 so ,st4 ,austin1 ,procopius ,gazus1 ,beda1 ,strabus ,fuldensis1 ,historia ,scholiastica1 and others2 these1 ,i say1 pursue the same ,notion of ,antiquity2 for what is remote from our ,world1 7that is1 from our ,continent1 as we before explain'd it7 is to be understood to be that ,antichthon1 77 or ,anti-hemisphere1 which the ,ancients oppos'd to ours4 ,,another ,set of ,authors1 that interpret the ,flaming ,sword that guarded ,paradise to be the ,torrid ,zone1 do plainly intimate1 that ,paradise in their ,opinion lay beyond the ,torrid ,zone1 or in the ,anti-hemisphere2 and thus ,tertullian interprets the ,flaming ,sword1 and in such ,words as fully confirm our ,sense3 ,paradise1 he says1 by the ,torrid ,zone1 as by a ,wall of ,fire1 was sever'd from the ,communication and ,knowledge of our ,world4 ,it lay then on the other ,side of this ,zone4 ,and ,st4 ,cyprian1 or the ancient ,author that passeth under his ,name1 in his ,comment upon ,genesis1 expresseth himself to the same ,effect2 so also ,st4 ,austin and ,isidore ,hispalensis are thought to interpret it3 ,and ,aquinas1 who makes ,paradise inaccessible1 gives this ,reason for it1 ,propter vehementiam stus in locis intermediis ex propinquitate ,solis1 hoc significatur per ,flammeum ,gladium3 ,because of that vehement ,heat in the ,parts betwixt us and that1 arising from the ,nearness of the ,sun1 and this is signified by the ,flaming ,sword4 ,and this ,interpretation of the ,flaming ,sword receives a remarkable ,force and ,emphasis from our ,theory and ,description of the primval ,earth1 for there the ,torrid ,zone was as a ,wall of ,fire indeed1 or a ,region of ,flame1 which none could pass or subsist in1 no more than in a ,furnace4 ,,there is another ,form of ,expression amongst the ,ancients concerning ,paradise1 which if decyphered1 is of the same ,force and ,signification with this we have already instanc'd in3 ,they say sometimes1 ,paradise was beyond the ,ocean1 or that the ,rivers of ,paradise came from beyond the ,ocean4 ,this is of the same ,import with the former ,head1 and points still at the other ,hemisphere2 for1 as we noted before1 some of them fixt their ,antichthon and ,antichthones beyond the ,ocean2 that is1 since there was an ,ocean2 since the ,form of the ,earth was chang'd1 and the ,torrid ,zone became habitable1 and consequently could not be a ,boundary or ,separation1 betwixt the two ,worlds4 ,wherefore1 as some run still upon the old ,division by the ,torrid ,zone1 others took the new ,division by the ,ocean4 ,which ,ocean they suppos'd to lie from ,east to ,west betwixt the ,tropicks2 as may be seen in ancient ,authors1 ,geminus1 ,herodotus1 ,cicero de republica1 and ,clemens ,romanus1 whom we cited before4 ,st4 ,austin 7,de ,civ4 ,dei1 lib4 #af4 c4 #i47 also speaks upon the same ,supposition1 when he would confute the ,doctrine of the ,antipodes1 or ,antichthones2 and ,macrobius1 ,i remember1 makes it an ,argument of ,providence1 that the ,sun and the ,planets1 in what ,part of their ,course soever they are betwixt the two ,tropicks1 have still the ,ocean under them1 that they may be cool'd and nourish'd by its ,moisture4 ,they thought the ,sea1 like a ,girdle1 went round the ,earth1 and the temperate ,zones on either ,side were the habitable ,regions1 whereof this was called the ,oicoumene1 and the other ,antichthon4 ,,this being observ'd1 'tis not material whether their ,notion was true or false1 it shews us what their ,meaning was1 and what ,part of the ,earth they design'd1 when they spoke of any ,thing beyond the ,ocean2 namely1 that they meant beyond the ,line1 in the other ,hemisphere or in the ,antichthon2 and accordingly1 when they say ,paradise1 or the ,fountains of its ,rivers were beyond the ,ocean1 they say the same ,thing in other ,terms with the rest of those ,authors we have cited4 ,in ,moses ,bar ,cepha above-mention'd1 we find a ,chapter upon this ,subject1 ,quomodo trajecerint ,mortales inde ex ,paradisi terra in hanc terram4 ,how ,mankind past out of that ,earth or ,continent1 where ,paradise was1 into that where we are4 ,namely how they past the ,ocean1 that lay betwixt them1 as the ,answer there given explains it4 ,and so ,ephrem ,syrus is cited often in that ,treatise1 placing ,paradise beyond the ,ocean4 ,the ,essenes also1 who were the most ,philosophick ,sect of the ,jews1 plac'd ,paradise1 according to ,josephus1 beyond the ,ocean1 under a perfect ,temperature of ,air4 ,and that ,passage in ,eusebius1 in the ,oration of ,constantine1 being corrected and restor'd to the true reading1 represents ,paradise1 in like manner1 as in another ,continent1 from whence ,adam was brought after his ,transgression1 into this4 ,and lastly1 there are some ,authors1 whose ,testimony and ,authority may deserve to be consider'd1 not for their own ,antiquity1 but because they are professedly ,transcribers of ,antiquity and ,traditions2 such as ,strabus1 ,comestor1 and the like1 who are known to give this ,account or ,report of ,paradise from the ,ancients1 that it was interposito ,oceano ab ,orbe nostro vel a ,zona nostra habitabili secretus1 separated from our ,orb or ,hemisphere1 by the ,interposition of the ,ocean4 ,,it is also observable1 that many of the ,ancients that took ,tigris1 ,euphrates1 ,nile and ,ganges1 for the ,rivers of ,paradise1 said that those ,heads or ,fountains of them1 which we have in our ,continent1 are but their capita secunda1 their second ,sources1 and that their first ,sources were in another ,orb where ,paradise was2 and thus ,hugo de ,sancto ,victore says1 ,sanctos communiter sensisse1 ,that the ,holy ,men of old were generally of that ,opinion4 ,to this ,sense also ,moses ,bar ,cepha often expresseth himself2 as also ,epiphanius1 ,procopius ,gazus1 and ,severianus in ,catena4 ,which ,notion amongst the ,ancients1 concerning the ,trajection or ,passage of the paradisiacal ,rivers under ,ground1 or under ,sea1 from one ,continent into another1 is to me1 ,i confess1 unintelligible1 either in the first or second ,earth2 but however it discovers their ,sense and ,opinion of the ,seat of ,paradise1 that it was not to be sought for in ,asia or in ,africa1 where those ,rivers rise to us2 but in some remoter ,parts of the ,world1 where they suppos'd their first ,sources to be4 ,,this is a short ,account of what the ,christian ,fathers have left us concerning the ,seat of ,paradise2 and the ,truth is1 'tis but a short and broken account2 yet 'tis no wonder it should be so1 if we consider1 as we noted before1 that several of them did not believe ,paradise to be local and corporeal2 others that did believe it so1 yet did not offer to determine the ,place of it1 but left that ,matter wholly untouch'd and undecided3 and the rest that did speak to that ,point1 did it commonly both in general ,terms1 and in ,expressions that were disguis'd1 and needed ,interpretation2 but all these ,differences and ,obscurities of ,expression1 you see1 when duly stated and expounded1 may signify one and the same ,thing1 and terminate all in this common ,conclusion1 ,that ,paradise was without our ,continent1 according to the general ,opinion and ,tradition of ,antiquity4 ,and ,i do not doubt but the ,tradition would have been both more express and more universal1 if the ,ancients had understood ,geography better2 for those of the ,ancients that did not admit or believe that there were ,antipodes or ,antichthones1 as ,lactantius1 ,st4 ,austin1 and some others2 these could not join in the common ,opinion about the ,place of ,paradise1 because they thought there was no ,land1 nor any thing habitable 1 or beside this ,continent4 ,and yet ,st4 ,austin was so cautious1 that as he was bounded on the one ,hand by his false ,idea of the ,earth1 that he could not join with ,antiquity as to the ,place of ,paradise2 so on the other ,hand1 he had that ,respect for it1 that he would not say any thing to the contrary2 therefore being to give his ,opinion1 he says only1 ,terrestrem esse ,paradisum1 locum ejus ab hominum cognitione esse remotissimum3 ,that it is somewhere upon the ,earth1 but the ,place of it very remote from the ,knowledge of ,men4 ,,and as their ,ignorance of the ,globe of the ,earth was one ,reason why the ,doctrine of ,paradise was so broken and obscure1 so another ,reason why it is much more so at present is1 because the chief ancient ,books writ upon that ,subject are lost4 ,ephrem ,syrus who liv'd in the fourth ,century1 writ a ,commentary in ,genesin sine de ,ortu rerum1 concerning the ,origin of the ,earth2 and by those ,remains that are cited from it1 we have reason to believe that it contained many ,things remarkable concerning the first ,earth1 and concerning ,paradise4 ,tertullian also writ a ,book de ,paradiso1 which is wholly lost2 and we see to what ,effect it would have been1 by his making the ,torrid ,zone to be the ,flaming ,sword1 and the ,partition betwixt this ,earth and ,paradise1 which two ,earths he more than once distinguisheth as very different from one another1 7,cont4 ,marc4 lib4 #b4 c4 #b4 c4 #e47 ,the most ancient ,author that ,i know upon this ,subject1 at least of those that writ of it literally1 is ,moses ,bar ,cepha a ,syrian ,bishop1 who liv'd about #gjj ,years since1 and his ,book is translated into ,latin by that learned and judicious ,man ,andreas ,masius4 ,bar ,cepha writes upon the same ,views of ,paradise that we have here presented1 that it was beyond the ,ocean1 in another ,track of ,land1 or another ,continent from that which we inhabit3 ,as appears from the very ,titles of his #hth1 #ajth1 and #adth ,chapters4 ,but we must allow him for his mistaken ,notions about the ,form of the ,earth2 for he seems to have fancied the ,earth plain1 7not only as oppos'd to rough and mountainous1 for so it was plain2 but as oppos'd to spherical7 and the ,ocean to have divided it in two ,parts1 an interior1 and an exterior1 and in that exterior ,part was ,paradise4 ,such ,allowances must often be made for ,geographical ,mistakes1 in examining and understanding the ,writings of the ,ancients4 ,the rest of the ,syrian ,fathers1 as well as ,ephrem and ,bar ,cepha1 incline to the same ,doctrine of ,paradise1 and seem to have retain'd more of the ancient notions concerning it1 than the ,greek and ,latin ,fathers have2 and yet there is in all some ,fragments of this ,doctrine1 and but ,fragments in the best4 ,,we might add in the last ,place1 that as the most ancient ,treatises concerning ,paradise are lost1 so also the ancient ,glosses and ,catenae upon ,scripture1 where we might have found the ,traditions and ,opinions of the ,ancients upon this ,subject1 are many of them either lost or unpublish'd2 and upon this ,consideration1 we did not think it improper to cite some ,authors of small ,antiquity1 but such as have transcrib'd several ,things out of ancient ,manuscript-glosses into their ,commentaries4 ,they living however before ,printing was invented1 or ,learning well restor'd1 and before the ,reformation4 ,i add that also1 before the ,reformation1 for since that ,time the ,protestant ,authors having lessen'd the ,authority of ,traditions1 the pontifical ,doctors content themselves to insist only upon such as they thought were useful or necessary1 left by multiplying others that were but ,matter of ,curiosity1 they should bring the first into ,question1 and render the whole ,doctrine of ,traditions more dubious and exceptionable2 and upon this ,account1 there are some ,authors that writ an ,age or two before the ,reformation1 that have with more ,freedom told us the ,tenets and ,traditions of the ,ancients in these ,speculations1 that are but collateral to ,religion1 than any have done since4 ,,and ,i must confess ,i am apt to think1 that what remains concerning the ,doctrine of ,paradise1 and the primval ,earth1 is in a good ,measure traditional2 for one may observe1 that those that treat upon these ,subjects1 quote the true ,opinions1 and tell you some of the ,ancients held so and so2 as that ,paradise was in another ,earth1 or higher than this ,earth2 that there were no ,mountains before the ,flood1 nor any ,rain1 and such like2 yet they do not name those ancient ,authors that held these ,opinions2 which makes me apt to believe1 either that they were convey'd by traditional ,communication from one to another1 or that there were other ,books extant upon those ,subjects1 or other ,glosses1 than what are now known4 ,,finally1 ,to conclude this ,discourse concerning the ,seat of ,paradise1 we must mind you again upon what ,basis it stands4 ,we declar'd freely1 that we could not by our ,theory alone determine the particular ,place of it1 only by that we are assur'd1 that it was in the primval ,earth1 and not in the present2 but in what ,region1 or in whether ,hemisphere of that ,earth it was seated1 we cannot define from ,speculation only4 ',tis true1 if we hold fast to that ,scripture-conclusion1 ,that all ,mankind rose from one ,head1 and from one and the same ,stock and ,lineage1 7which doth not seem to be according to the ,sentiments of the ,heathens7 we must suppose they were born in one ,hemisphere1 and after some ,time translated into the other1 or a ,colony of them3 ,but this still doth not determine in whether of the two they begun1 and were first seated before their ,translation2 and ,i am apt to think that depended rather1 as we noted before1 upon the ,divine ,pleasure1 and the ,train of ,affairs that was to succeed1 than upon natural ,causes and ,differences4 ,some of the ,ancients1 ,i know1 made both the ,soil and the ,stars more noble in the southern ,hemisphere1 than in ours2 but ,i do not see any ,proof or ,warrant for it2 wherefore1 laying aside all natural ,topicks1 we are willing1 in this ,particular1 to refer our selves wholly to the ,report and ,majority of ,votes among the ,ancients2 who yet do not seem to me to lay much ,stress upon the ,notion of a particular and topical ,paradise1 and therefore use general and remote ,expressions concerning it4 ,and finding no ,place for it in this ,continent1 they are willing to quit their ,hands of it1 by placing it in a ,region somewhere far off1 and inaccessible4 ,this1 together with the old ,tradition1 that ,paradise was in another ,earth1 seems to me to give an ,account of most of their ,opinions concerning the ,seat of ,paradise1 and that they were generally very uncertain where to fix it4 ,,chap4 ,,viii4 ,the ,uses of this ,theory for the ,illustration of ,antiquity2 ,the ancient ,chaos explain'd2 ,the ,inhabitability of the ,torrid ,zone2 ,the ,change of the ,poles of the ,world2 ,the ,doctrine of the ,mundane ,egg2 ,how ,america was first peopled2 ,how ,paradise within the ,circle of the ,moon4 ,,we have now dispatch'd the ,theory of the primval ,earth1 and reviv'd a forgotten ,world4 ',tis pity the first and fairest ,works of ,nature should be lost out of the ,memory of ,man1 and that we should so much dote upon the ,ruins1 as never to think upon the ,original ,structure4 ,as the ,modern ,artists1 from some broken ,pieces of an ancient ,statue1 make out all the other ,parts and ,proportions2 so from the broken and scatter'd ,limbs of the first ,world1 we have shewn you how to raise the whole ,fabrick again2 and renew the ,prospect of those pleasant ,scenes that first saw the ,light1 and first entertain'd ,man1 when he came to act upon this new-erected ,stage4 ,,we have drawn this ,theory chiefly to give an ,account of the universal ,deluge1 and of ,paradise2 but as when one lights a ,candle to look for one or two ,things which they want1 the ,light will not confine it self to those two ,objects1 but shews all the other in the ,room2 so1 methinks1 we have unexpectedly cast a ,light upon all ,antiquity1 in seeking after these two ,things1 or in retrieving the ,notion and ,doctrine of the primval ,earth1 upon which they depended4 ,for in ancient ,learning1 there are many ,discourses1 and many ,conclusions deliver'd to us1 that are so obscure and confus'd1 and so remote from the present ,state of ,things1 that one cannot well distinguish whether they are ,fictions or ,realities3 ,and there is no way to distinguish with ,certainty1 but by a clear ,theory upon the same ,subject2 which shewing us the ,truth directly and independently upon them1 shews us also by ,reflection1 how far they are true or false1 and in what ,sense they are to be interpreted and understood4 ,and the present ,theory being of great extent1 we shall find it serviceable in many ,things1 for the ,illustration of such dubious and obscure ,doctrines in ,antiquity4 ,,to begin with their ancient ,,chaos1 what a dark ,story have they made of it1 both their ,philosophers and ,poets2 and how fabulous in ,appearance8 ',tis deliver'd as confusedly as the ,mass it self could be1 and hath not been reduc'd to ,order1 nor indeed made intelligible by any4 ,they tell us of moral ,principles in the ,chaos1 instead of natural1 of ,strife and ,discord1 and ,division on the one ,hand1 and ,love1 ,friendship1 and ,venus on the other2 and1 after a long ,contest1 ,love got the better of ,discord1 and united the disagreeing ,principles3 ,this is one ,part of their ,story4 ,then they make the ,forming of the ,world out of the ,chaos a kind of ,genealogy or ,pedigree2 ,chaos was the common ,parent of all1 and from ,chaos sprung first ,night1 and ,tartarus1 or ,oceanus2 ,night was a teeming ,mother1 and of her were born ther and the ,earth2 ,the ,earth conceiv'd by the ,influences of ther1 and brought forth ,man and all ,animals4 ,,this seems to be a poetical ,fiction rather than ,philosophy2 yet when 'tis set in a true ,light1 and compar'd with our ,theory of the ,chaos1 'twill appear a pretty regular ,account1 how the ,world was form'd at first1 or how the ,chaos divided it self successively into several ,regions1 rising one after another1 and propagated one from another1 as ,children and ,posterity from a common ,parent4 ,we shew'd in the first ,book1 ,chap4 #e4 how the ,chaos1 from an uniform ,mass1 wrought it self into several ,regions or ,elements2 the grossest ,part sinking to the ,center2 upon this lay the ,mass of ,water1 and over the ,water was a ,region of dark1 impure1 caliginous ,air2 this impure caliginous ,air is that which the ,ancients call ,night1 and the ,mass of ,water ,oceanus or ,tartarus2 for those two ,terms with them are often of the like ,force1 ,tartarus being ,oceanus inclos'd and lock'd up3 ,thus we have the first ,offspring of the ,chaos1 or its first born ,twins1 ,nox and ,oceanus4 ,now this turbid ,air purifying it self by degrees1 as the more subtle ,parts flew upwards1 and compos'd the ther2 so the earthy ,parts that were mix'd with it drop'd down upon the ,surface of the ,water1 or the liquid ,mass2 and that ,mass on the other ,hand sending up its lighter and more oily ,parts towards its ,surface1 these two incorporate there1 and by their ,mixture and ,union compose a ,body of ,earth quite round the ,mass of ,waters3 ,and this was the first habitable ,earth1 which1 as it was1 you see1 the ,daughter of ,nox and ,oceanus1 so it was the ,mother of all other ,things1 and all living ,creatures1 which at the ,beginning of the ,world sprung out of its fruitful ,womb4 ,,this ,doctrine of the ,chaos1 for the greater ,pomp of the ,business1 the ,ancients call'd their ,theogonia1 or the ,genealogy of the ,gods2 for they gave their ,gods1 at least their terrestrial ,gods1 an ,original and ,beginning2 and all the ,elements and greater ,portions of ,nature they made ,gods and ,goddesses1 or their ,deities presided over them in such a ,manner1 that the ,names were us'd promiscuously for one another4 ,we also mention'd before some moral ,principles which they plac'd in the ,chaos1 ,eris and ,eros2 ,strife1 ,discord1 and ,dissatisfaction1 which prevail'd at first2 and afterward ,love1 ,kindness and ,union got the upper ,hand1 and in spite of those factious and dividing ,principles1 gather'd together the separated ,elements1 and united them into an habitable ,world4 ,this is all easily understood1 if we do but look upon the ,schemes of the rising ,world1 as we have set them down in that fifth ,chapter2 for in the first ,commotion of the ,chaos1 after an intestine ,struggle of all the ,parts1 the ,elements separated from one another into so many distinct ,bodies or ,masses2 and in this ,state and ,posture ,things continu'd a good while1 which the ,ancients1 after their poetick or moral ,way1 call'd the ,reign of ,eris or ,contention1 of ,hatred1 ,slight1 and ,disaffection2 and if ,things had always continued in that ,system1 we should never have had an habitable ,world4 ,but ,love and good ,nature conquer'd at length2 ,venus rose out of the ,sea1 and receiv'd into her ,bosom1 and intangled into her ,embraces1 the falling ther1 viz4 the ,parts of lighter ,earth1 which were mix'd with the ,air in that first ,separation1 and gave it the ,name of ,night3 ,these1 ,i say1 fell down upon the oily ,parts of the ,sea-mass1 which lay floating upon the ,surface of it1 and by that ,union and ,conjunction a new ,body1 and a new ,world was produc'd1 which was the first habitable ,earth4 ,this is the ,interpretation of their mystical ,philosophy of the ,chaos1 and the ,resolution of it into plain natural ,history3 ,which you may see more fully discuss'd in the ,latin ,treatise1 ,lib4 #b4 c4 #g4 ,,in consequence of this1 we have already explain'd1 in several ,places1 the ,golden ,age of the ,ancients1 and laid down such ,grounds as will enable us to discern what is real1 and what poetical1 in the ,reports and ,characters that ,antiquity hath given of those first ,ages of the ,world4 ,and if there be any ,thing amongst the ,ancients that refers to another ,earth1 as ,plato's ,atlantis1 which1 he says1 was absorpt by an ,earthquake1 and an ,inundation1 as the primval ,earth was2 or his thereal ,earth1 mention'd in his ,phdo1 which he opposeth to this broken hollow ,earth2 makes it to have long-liv'd ,inhabitants1 and to be without ,rains and ,storms1 as that first ,earth was also2 or the pendulous ,gardens of ,alcinous1 or such like2 to which nothing answers in present ,nature1 by reflecting upon the ,state of the first ,earth1 we find an easy ,explication of them4 ,we have also explain'd what the ,antichthon and ,antichthones of the ,ancients were1 and what the true ,ground of that ,distinction was4 ,but nothing seems more remarkable1 than the ,inhabitability of the ,torrid ,zone1 if we consider what a general ,fame and ,belief it had amongst the ,ancients1 and yet in the present ,form of the ,earth1 we find no such ,thing1 nor any ,foundation for it4 ,i cannot believe that this was so universally receiv'd upon a slight ,presumption only1 because it lay under the ,course of the ,sun1 if the ,sun had then the same ,latitude from the quator1 in his ,course and ,motion1 that he hath now1 and made the same ,variety of ,seasons2 whereby even the hottest ,parts of the ,earth have a ,winter1 or something equivalent to it4 ,but if we apply this to the primval ,earth1 whose ,posture was direct to the ,sun1 standing always fixt in its ,equinoctial1 we shall easily believe1 that the ,torrid ,zone was then uninhabitable by ,extremity of ,heat1 there being no ,difference of ,seasons1 nor any ,change of ,weather1 the ,sun hanging always over ,head at the same ,distance1 and in the same ,direction4 ,besides this1 the ,descent of the ,rivers in that first ,earth was such1 that they could never reach the ,equinoctial ,parts1 as we have shewn before2 by which ,means1 and the want of ,rain1 that ,region must necessarily be turn'd into a dry ,desart4 ,now this being really the ,state of the first ,earth1 the ,fame and general ,belief that the ,torrid ,zone was uninhabitable had this true ,original1 and continued still with ,posterity after the ,deluge1 though the ,causes then were taken away2 for they being ignorant of the ,change that was made in ,nature at that ,time1 kept up still the same ,tradition and ,opinion current1 till ,observation and ,experience taught later ,ages to correct it4 ,as the true ,miracles that were in the ,christian ,church at first1 occasioned a ,fame and ,belief of their ,continuance long after they had really ceas'd4 ,,this gives an easy ,account1 and1 ,i think1 the true ,cause of that ,opinion1 amongst the ,ancients generally receiv'd1 ,that the ,torrid ,zone was uninhabitable4 ,i say1 generally receiv'd2 for not only the ,poets1 both ,greek and ,latin1 but their ,philosophers1 ,astronomers and ,geographers1 had the same ,notion1 and deliver'd the same ,doctrine2 as ,aristotle1 ,cleomedes1 ,achilles1 ,tatius1 ,ptolomy1 ,cicero1 ,strabo1 ,mela1 ,pliny1 ,macrobius1 c4 ,and to speak ,truth1 the whole ,doctrine of the ,zones is calculated more properly for the first ,earth1 than for the present2 for the ,divisions and ,bounds of them now are but arbitrary1 being habitable all over1 and having no visible ,distinction2 whereas they were then determin'd by ,nature1 and the ,globe of the ,earth was really divided into so many ,regions of a very different ,aspect and ,quality2 which would have appear'd at a ,distance1 if they had been look'd upon from the ,clouds1 or from the ,moon1 as ,jupiter's ,belts1 or as so many ,girdles or ,swathing-bands about the ,body of the ,earth3 ,and so the ,word imports1 and so the ,ancients use to call them ,cinguli and ,fasci4 ,but in the present ,form of the ,earth1 if it was seen at a ,distance1 no such ,distinction would appear in the ,parts of it1 nor scarce any other but that of ,land and ,water1 and of ,mountains and ,valleys1 which are nothing to the purpose of ,zones4 ,and to add this ,note further1 ,when the ,earth lay in this regular ,form1 divided into ,regions or ,walks1 if ,i may so call them1 as this gave ,occasion of its ,distinction by ,zones2 so if we might consider all that ,earth as a ,paradise1 and ,paradise as a ,garden2 7for it is always call'd so in ,scripture1 and in ,jewish ,authors47 ,and1 as this ,torrid ,zone1 bare of ,grass and ,trees1 made a kind of ,gravel-walk in the ,middle1 so there was a green ,walk on either ,hand of it1 made by the temperate ,zones2 and beyond those lay a ,canal1 which water'd the ,garden from either ,side4 7,see ,fig4 #c4 c4 #e47 ,,but to return to ,antiquity2 ,we may add under this ,head another ,observation or ,doctrine amongst the ,ancients1 strange enough in ,appearance1 which yet receives an easy ,explication from the preceding ,theory2 ,they say1 ,the ,poles of the ,world did once change their ,situation1 and were at first in another ,posture from what they are in now1 till that ,inclination happen'd3 ,this the ancient ,philosophers often make mention of1 as ,anaxagoras1 ,empedocles1 ,diogenes1 ,leucippus1 ,democritus2 7,see the ,lat4 ,treat4 #b4 lib4 #b4 c4 #aj47 as may be seen in ,laertius1 and in ,plutarch2 and the ,stars1 they say1 at first were carried about the ,earth in a more uniform ,manner4 ,this is no more than what we have observ'd and told you in other ,words1 namely1 ,that the ,earth chang'd its ,posture at the ,deluge1 and thereby made these seeming ,changes in the ,heavens2 its ,poles before pointed to the ,poles of the ,ecliptick1 which now point to the ,poles of the ,equator1 and its ,axis is become parallel with that ,axis2 and this is the ,mystery and ,interpretation of what they say in other ,terms2 this makes the different ,aspect of the ,heavens and of its ,poles3 ,and ,i am apt to think1 that those ,changes in the ,course of the ,stars1 which the ,ancients sometimes speak of1 and especially the ,egyptians1 if they did not proceed from ,defects in their ,calendar1 had no other physical ,account than this4 ,,and as they say the ,poles of the ,world were in another ,situation at first1 so at first they say1 there was no ,variety of ,seasons in the ,year1 as in their ,golden ,age4 ,which is very coherent with all the rest1 and still runs along with the ,theory4 ,and you may observe1 that all these ,things we have instanc'd in hitherto1 are but ,links of the same ,chain1 in ,connexion and ,dependance upon one another4 ,when the primval ,earth was made out of the ,chaos1 its ,form and ,posture was such1 as of ,course brought on all those ,scenes which ,antiquity hath kept the ,remembrance of2 tho' now in another ,state of ,nature they seem very strange2 especially being disguis'd1 as some of them are1 by their odd ,manner of representing them1 ,that the ,poles of the ,world stood once in another ,posture2 ,that the ,year had no ,diversity of ,seasons3 ,that the ,torrid ,zone was uninhabitable2 ,that the two ,hemispheres had no possibility of ,intercourse1 and such like3 ,these all hang upon the same ,string2 or lean one upon another as ,stones in the same ,building2 whereof we have1 by this ,theory1 laid the very ,foundation bare1 that you may see what they all stand upon1 and in what ,order4 ,,there is still one remarkable ,notion or ,doctrine among the ,ancients which we have not spoken to2 'tis partly symbolical1 and the ,propriety of the ,symbol1 or of the ,application of it1 hath been little understood2 'tis their ,doctrine of the ,mundane ,egg1 or their comparing the ,world to an ,egg1 and especially in the original ,composition of it4 ,this seems to be a mean ,comparison1 the ,world and an ,egg2 what ,proportion1 or what ,resemblance betwixt these two ,things8 ,and yet ,i do not know any symbolical ,doctrine1 or ,conclusion1 that hath been so universally entertain'd by the ,myst1 or wise and learned of all ,nations2 as hath been noted before in the fifth ,chapter of the first ,book1 and at large in the ,latin ,treatise4 7,lib4 #b4 c4 #aj47 ',tis certain1 that by the ,world in this ,similitude1 they do not mean the ,great ,universe1 for that hath neither ,figure1 nor any determinate ,form of ,composition1 and it would be a great ,vanity and ,rashness in any one to compare this to an ,egg3 ,the ,works of ,god are immense1 as his ,nature is infinite1 and we cannot make any ,image or ,resemblance of either of them2 but this ,comparison is to be understood of the ,sublunary ,world1 or of the ,earth3 ,and for a general ,key to ,antiquity upon this ,argument1 we may lay this down as a ,maxim or ,canon1 ,that what the ,ancients have said concerning the ,form and ,figure of the ,world1 or concerning the ,original of it from a ,chaos1 or about its ,periods and ,dissolution1 are never to be understood of the great ,universe1 but of our ,earth1 or of this sublunary and terrestrial ,world4 ,and this ,observation being made1 do but reflect upon our ,theory of the ,earth1 the ,manner of its ,composition at first1 and the ,figure of it1 being compleated1 and you will need no other ,interpreter to understand this ,mystery4 ,we have shew'd there1 7,book #a4 c4 #e47 that the ,figure of it1 when finish'd1 was ,oval1 and the inward ,form of it was a ,frame of four ,regions1 encompassing one another1 where that of ,fire lay in the ,middle like the ,yolk1 and a ,shell of ,earth inclos'd them all4 ,this gives a ,solution so easy and natural1 and shews such an ,aptness and ,elegancy in the ,representation1 that one cannot doubt upon a ,view and ,compare of ,circumstances1 but that we have truly found out the ,riddle of the ,mundane ,egg4 ,,amongst other ,difficulties arising from the ,form of this present ,earth1 that is one1 ,how ,america could be peopled1 or any other ,continent1 or ,island remote from all ,continents the ,sea interposing4 ,this ,difficulty does not hold in our ,theory of the first ,earth1 where there was no ,sea4 ,and after the ,flood1 when the ,earth was broken and the ,sea laid open1 the same ,race of ,men might continue there1 if settled there before4 ,for ,i do not see any ,necessity of deducing all ,mankind from ,noah after the ,flood4 ,if ,america was peopled before1 it might continue so2 not but that the ,flood was universal4 ,but when the great ,frame of the ,earth broke at the ,deluge1 ,providence foresaw into how many ,continents it would be divided after the ceasing of the ,flood2 and accordingly1 as we may reasonably suppose1 made ,provision to save a ,remnant in every ,continent1 that the ,race of ,mankind might not be quite extinct in any of them4 ,what ,provision he made in our ,continent we know from sacred ,history2 but as that takes ,notice of no other ,continent but ours1 so neither could it take ,notice of any ,method that was us'd there for saving of a ,remnant of ,men2 but 'twere great ,presumption1 methinks1 to imagine1 that ,providence had a ,care of none but us1 or could not find out ,ways of ,preservation in other ,places1 as well as in that where our ,habitations were to be4 ,asia1 ,africa and ,europe1 were repeopled by the ,sons of ,noah1 ,shem1 ,ham1 and ,japhet2 but we read nothing of their going over into ,america1 or sending any ,colonies thither2 and that ,world1 which is near as big as ours1 must have stood long without ,people1 or any thing of humane ,race in it1 after the ,flood1 if it stood so till this was full1 or till ,men navigated the ,ocean1 and by chance discover'd it3 ,it seems more reasonable to suppose1 that there was a ,stock providentially reserv'd there1 as well as here1 out of which they sprung again2 but we do not pretend in an ,argument of this ,nature to define or determine any ,thing positively4 ,to conclude1 ,as this is but a secondary ,difficulty1 and of no great ,force1 so neither is it any ,thing peculiar to us1 or to our ,hypothesis1 but alike common to both2 and if they can propose any reasonable ,way whereby the ,sons of ,noah might be transplanted into ,america1 with all my ,heart2 but all the ,ways that ,i have met with hitherto1 have seem'd to me mere ,fictions1 or mere ,presumptions4 ,besides1 finding ,birds and ,beasts there1 which are no where upon our ,continent1 nor would live in our ,countries if brought hither2 'tis a fair ,conjecture that they were not carried from us1 but originally bred and preserv'd there4 ,,thus much for the ,illustration of ,antiquity in some ,points of human ,literature1 by our ,theory of the primval ,earth2 there is also in ,christian ,antiquity a ,tradition or ,doctrine1 that appears as obscure and as much a ,paradox as any of these1 and better deserves an ,illustration1 because it relates more closely and expresly to our present ,subject3 ',tis that ,notion or ,opinion amongst the ,ancients concerning ,paradise1 that it was seated as high as the ,sphere of the ,moon1 or within the lunar ,circle4 ,this looks very strange1 and indeed extravagantly at first ,sight2 but the ,wonder will cease1 if we understand this not of ,paradise taken apart from the rest of the ,earth1 but of the whole primval ,earth1 wherein the ,seat of ,paradise was2 ,that was really seated much higher than the present ,earth1 and may be reasonably suppos'd to have been as much elevated as the ,tops of our ,mountains are now4 ,and that ,phrase of reaching to the ,sphere of the ,moon1 signifies no more than those other ,expressions of reaching to ,heaven1 or reaching above the ,clouds2 which are ,phrases commonly us'd to express the ,height of ,buildings1 or of ,mountains1 and such like ,things3 ,so the ,builders of ,babel said1 they would make a ,tower should reach to ,heaven2 ,olympus and ,parnassus are said by the ,poets to reach to ,heaven1 or to rise above the ,clouds2 and ,pliny and ,solinus use this very ,expression of the ,lunar ,circle1 when they describe the ,height of ,mount ,atlas1 ,eductus in viciniam ,lunaris ,circuli1 7,solin4 c4 #ag47 ,the ,ancients1 ,i believe1 aim'd particularly by this ,phrase1 to express an ,height above the middle ,region1 or above our ,atmosphere1 that ,paradise might be serene2 and where our ,atmosphere ended1 they reckon'd the ,sphere of the ,moon begun1 and therefore said it reach'd to the ,sphere of the ,moon4 ,many of the ,christian ,fathers exprest their ,opinion concerning the high ,situation of ,paradise in plain and formal ,terms1 as ,st4 ,basil1 ,damascen1 ,moses ,bar ,cepha1 c4 but this ,phrase of reaching to the ,lunar ,circle is repeated by several of them1 and said to be of great ,antiquity4 ,aquinas1 ,albertus1 and others1 ascribe it to ,bede1 but many to ,st4 ,austin2 and therefore ,ambrosius ,catharinus1 7,com4 in ,gen4 c4 #b47 is angry with their great ,schoolman1 that he should derive it from ,bede1 seeing ,st4 ,austin writing to ,orosius1 deliver'd this ,doctrine1 which surely1 says he1 ,st4 ,austin neither feign'd nor dream'd only1 but had receiv'd it from ,antiquity3 ,and from so great ,antiquity1 that it was no less than ,apostolical1 if we credit ,albertus ,magnus1 and the ancient ,books he appeals to2 7,sum4 ,theol4 par4 #b4 tract4 #ac4 q4 #gi47 for he says this ,tradition was deriv'd as high as from ,st4 ,thomas the ,apostle4 ,his ,words are these1 after he had deliver'd his own ,opinion1 ,hoc tamen dico1 c4 ,but this ,i say without ,prejudice to the better ,opinion1 for ,i have found it in some most ancient ,books1 that ,thomas the ,apostle was the ,author of that ,opinion1 which is usually attributed to ,bede and ,strabus1 namely1 ,that ,paradise was so high as to reach to the ,lunar ,circle4 ,but thus much concerning this ,opinion1 and concerning ,antiquity4 ,,to conclude all1 we see this ,theory1 which was drawn only by a ,thread of ,reason1 and the ,laws of ,nature1 abstractedly from all ,antiquity1 notwithstanding casts a ,light upon many ,passages there1 which were otherwise accounted ,fictions1 or unintelligible ,truths2 and tho' we do not alledge these as ,proofs of the ,theory1 for it carries its own ,light and ,proof with it2 yet1 whether we will or no1 they do mutually confirm1 as well as illustrate one another2 and 'tis a ,pleasure also1 when one hath wrought out ,truth by a meer ,dint of thinking1 and ,examination of ,causes1 and propos'd it plainly and openly1 to meet with it again among the ,ancients1 disguis'd1 and in an old fashion'd ,dress2 scarce to be known or discover'd1 but by those that beforehand knew it very well4 ,and it would be a further ,pleasure and ,satisfaction to have render'd those ,doctrines and ,notions for the future1 intelligible and useful to others1 as well as delightful to our selves4 ,,chap4 ,,ix4 ,a general ,objection against this ,theory1 viz4 ,that if there had been such a ,primitive ,earth1 as we pretend1 the ,fame of it would have sounded throughout all ,antiquity4 ,the ,eastern and ,western ,learning consider'd4 ,the most considerable ,records of both are lost4 ,what ,footsteps remain relating to this ,subject4 ,the ,jewish and ,christian ,learning consider'd2 how far lost as to this ,argument1 and what ,notes or ,traditions remain4 ,lastly1 how far the sacred ,writings bear witness to it4 ,the providential ,conduct of ,knowledge in the ,world4 ,a ,recapitulation and ,state of the ,theory4 ,,having gone through the two first ,parts1 and the two first ,books of this ,theory that concern the primitive ,world1 the universal ,deluge1 and the ,state of ,paradise1 we have leisure now to reflect a little1 and consider what may probably be objected against a ,theory of this ,nature4 ,i do not mean single ,objections against single ,parts1 for those may be many1 and such as ,i cannot foresee2 but what may be said against the ,body and ,substance of the ,theory1 and the ,credibility of it appearing new and surprizing1 and yet of great ,extent and ,importance4 ,this1 ,i fancy1 will induce many to say1 surely this cannot be a ,reality2 for if there had been such a primitive ,earth1 and such a primitive ,world as is here represented1 and so remarkably different from the present1 it could not have been so utterly forgotten1 or lain hid for so many ,ages2 all ,antiquity would have rung of it2 the ,memory of it would have been kept fresh by ,books or ,traditions4 ,can we imagine that it should lie buried for some thousands of ,years in deep ,silence and ,oblivion8 ,and now only when the second ,world is drawing to an ,end1 we begin to discover that there was a first1 and that of another ,make and ,order from this4 ,,to satisfy this ,objection1 or ,surmise rather1 it will be convenient to take a good large ,scope and ,compass in our ,discourse2 we must not suppose that this primitive ,world hath been wholly lost out of the ,memory of ,man1 or out of ,history1 for we have some ,history and ,chronology of it preserv'd by ,moses1 and likewise in the ,monuments of the ,ancients1 more or less2 for they all suppos'd a ,world before the ,deluge4 ,but 'tis the ,philosophy of this primitive ,world that hath been lost in a great ,measure2 what the ,state of ,nature was then1 and wherein it differ'd from the present or postdiluvian order of ,things4 ,this1 ,i confess1 hath been little taken notice of2 it hath been generally thought or presum'd1 that the ,world before the ,flood was of the same ,form and ,constitution with the present ,world3 ,this we do not deny1 but rather think it design'd and providential1 that there should not remain a clear and full ,knowledge of that first ,state of ,things2 and we may easily suppose how it might decay and perish1 if we consider how little of the remote ,antiquities of the ,world have ever been brought down to our ,knowledge4 ,,the ,greeks and ,romans divided the ,ages of the ,world into three ,periods or ,intervals1 whereof they call'd the first the ,obscure ,period1 the second the ,fabulous1 and the third ,historical4 ,the dark and obscure ,period was from the ,beginning of the ,world to the ,deluge2 what pass'd then1 either in ,nature1 or amongst ,men1 they have no ,records1 no ,account1 by their own ,confession2 all that ,space of ,time was cover'd with ,darkness and ,oblivion2 so that we ought rather to wonder at those ,remains they have1 and those broken ,notions of the ,golden ,age1 and the ,conditions of it1 how they were sav'd out of the common ,ship-wrack1 than to expect from them the ,philosophy of that ,world1 and all its ,differences from the present4 ,and as for the other ,nations that pretend to greater ,antiquities1 to more ancient ,history and ,chronology1 from what is left of their ,monuments1 many will allow only this ,difference1 that their fabulous ,age begun more high1 or that they had more ancient ,fables4 ,,but besides that our ,expectations cannot be great from the ,learning of the ,gentiles1 we have not the ,means or ,opportunity to inform our selves well what ,notions they did leave us concerning the primitive ,world2 for their ,books and ,monuments are generally lost1 or lie hid unknown to us4 ,the ,learning of the ,world may be divided into the ,eastern ,learning and the ,western2 and ,i look upon the ,eastern as far more considerable for philosophical ,antiquities1 and philosophical ,conclusions2 ,i say ,conclusions1 for ,i do not believe either of them had any considerable ,theory1 or ,contexture of ,principles and ,conclusions together3 ,but 'tis certain that in the ,east1 from what ,source soever it came1 humane or divine1 they had some extraordinary ,doctrines and ,notions disperst amongst them4 ,now as by the western ,learning we understand that of the ,greeks and ,romans2 so by the eastern that which was amongst the ,egyptians1 ,phnicians1 ,chaldans1 ,assyrians1 ,indians1 ,ethiopians1 and ,persians2 and of the ,learning of these ,nations1 how little have we now left8 ,except some ,fragments and ,citations in ,greek ,authors1 what do we know of them8 ,the modern ,brackmans1 and the ,persees1 or ,pagan ,persians1 have some broken ,remains of ,traditions relating to the ,origin and ,changes of the ,world3 ,but if we had not only those ,books entire1 whereof we have now the ,gleanings and ,reversions only2 but all that have perish'd besides1 especially in that famous ,library at ,alexandria2 if these1 ,i say1 were all restor'd to the ,world again1 we might promise our selves the ,satisfaction of seeing more of the ,antiquities1 and natural ,history of the first ,world1 than we have now left1 or can reasonably expect4 ,that ,library we speak of at ,alexandria1 was a ,collection1 beside ,greek ,books1 of ,egyptian1 ,chaldan1 and all the ,eastern ,learning2 and ,cedrenus makes it to consist of an hundred thousand ,volumes3 ,but ,josephus saith1 when the ,translation of the ,bible by the ,septuagint was to be added to it1 ,demetrius ,phalerius1 7who was ,keeper or ,governor of it7 told the ,king then1 that he had already two hundred thousand ,volumes1 and that he hop'd to make them five hundred thousand2 and he was better than his ,word1 or his ,successors for him2 for ,ammianus ,marcellinus1 and other ,authors1 report them to have increas'd to seven hundred thousand4 ,this ,library was unfortunately burnt in the sacking of ,alexandria by ,csar1 and considering that all these were ancient ,books1 and generally of the eastern ,wisdom1 'twas an inestimable and irreparable ,loss to the ,commonwealth of ,learning4 ,in like manner we are told of a vast ,library of ,books of all ,arts and ,sciences in ,china1 burnt by the ,command or ,caprice of one of their ,kings4 ,wherein the ,chineses1 according to their ,vanity1 were us'd to say1 greater ,riches were lost1 than will be in the last ,conflagration4 ,,we are told also of the ,abyssine1 or ,ethiopick ,library1 as something very extraordinary4 ',twas formerly in great ,reputation1 but is now1 ,i suppose1 embezzled and lost4 ,but ,i was extreamly surpriz'd by a ,treatise brought to me some few ,months since1 wherein are mention'd some ,ethiopick ,antiquities relating to the primval ,earth and the ,deluge3 ,to both which they give such ,characters and ,properties as are in ,effect the very same with those assign'd them in this ,theory4 ,they say the first ,earth was much greater than the present1 higher and more advanc'd into the ,air3 ,that it was smooth and regular in its ,surface1 without ,mountains or ,valleys1 but hollow within2 and was spontaneously fruitful1 without plowing or sowing4 ,this was its first ,state3 but when ,mankind became degenerate and outragious with ,pride and ,violence1 the angry ,gods1 as they say1 by ,earthquakes and ,concussions1 broke the habitable ,orb of the ,earth1 and thereupon the subterraneous ,waters gushing out1 drown'd it in a ,deluge1 and destroy'd ,mankind4 ,upon this ,fraction it came into another ,form1 with a ,sea1 ,lakes and ,rivers1 as we now have4 ,and those ,parts of the broken ,earth that stood above the ,waters became ,mountains1 ,rocks1 ,islands1 and so much of the ,land as we now inhabit4 ,this ,account is given us by ,barnardinus ,ramazzinus1 7in his ,treatise ,de ,fontium ,mutinensium ,scaturigine4#b7 ,taken from a ,book writ by ,fransisco ,patricio1 to whom this wonderful ,tradition was deliver'd by ,persons of ,credit1 from an thiopian ,philosoper then in ,spain4 ,i have not yet had the good ,fortune to see that ,book of ,francisco ,patricio2 'twas writ in ,italian with this ,title1 ,della ,rhetorica degli ,antichi3 ,printed at ,venice1 #aefb4 ,this ,story indeed deserves to be enquired after1 for we do not any where amongst the ,ancients1 meet with such a full and explicit ,narration of the ,state of the first and second ,earth4 ,that which comes nearest to it are those ,accounts we find in ,plato1 from the gyptian ,antiquities1 in his ,timus1 ,politicus1 and ,phdo1 of another ,earth1 and another ,state of ,nature and ,mankind4 ,but none of them are so full and distinct as this thiopian ,doctrine4 ,,as for the ,western ,learning1 we may remember what the gyptian ,priest says to ,solon1 in ,plato's ,timus1 ,you ,greeks are always ,children1 and know nothing of ,antiquity2 and if the ,greeks were so1 much more the ,romans1 who came after them in time2 and for so great a ,people1 and so much civiliz'd1 never any had less ,philosophy1 and less of the ,sciences amongst them than the ,romans had3 ,they studied only the ,art of ,speaking1 of ,governing1 and of ,fighting2 and left the rest to the ,greeks and eastern ,nations1 as unprofitable4 ,yet we have ,reason to believe1 that the best philosophical ,antiquities that the ,romans had1 perish'd with the ,books of ,varro1 of ,numa ,pompilius1 and of the ancient ,sibyls1 7,de ,civ4 ,dei1 lib4 #f4 ,dion4 ,halic4 ,ant4 ,rom4 lib4 #d47 ,varro writ1 as ,st4 ,austin tells us1 a ,multitude of ,volumes1 and of various ,sorts1 and ,i had rather retrieve his ,works1 than the ,works of any other ,roman ,author2 not his ,etymologies and ,criticisms1 where we see nothing admirable1 but his ,theologia ,physica1 and his ,antiquitates2 which in all ,probability would have given us more ,light into remote ,times1 and the natural ,history of the past ,world1 than all the ,latin ,authors besides have done4 ,he has left the foremention'd ,distinction of three ,periods of ,time2 ,he had the ,doctrine of the ,mundane ,egg1 as we see in ,probus ,grammaticus2 and he gave us that ,observation of the ,star ,venus1 concerning the great ,change she suffered about the ,time of our ,deluge4 ,numa ,pompilius was doubtless a contemplative ,man1 and 'tis thought that he understood the true ,system of the ,world1 and represented the ,sun by his ,vestal ,fire2 tho'1 methinks1 ,vesta does not so properly refer to the ,sun1 as to the ,earth1 which hath a sacred ,fire too1 that is not to be extinguish'd4 ,he order'd his ,books to be buried with him1 which were found in a ,stone ,chest by him1 four hundred ,years after his ,death3 ,they were in all twenty-four1 whereof twelve contain'd sacred ,rites and ,ceremonies1 and the other twelve the ,philosophy and ,wisdom of the ,greeks2 the ,romans gave them to the ,prtor ,petilius to peruse2 and to make his ,report to the ,senate1 whether they were fit to be publish'd or no3 ,the ,prtor made a wise politick ,report1 that the ,contents of them might be of dangerous ,consequence to the establish'd ,laws and ,religion2 and thereupon they were condemn'd to be burnt1 and ,posterity was depriv'd of that ancient ,treasure1 whatsoever it was4 ,what the nine ,books of the ,sibyl contain'd1 that were offer'd to ,king ,tarquin1 we little know2 she valued them high1 and the higher still1 the more they seem'd to slight or neglect them2 which is a ,piece of very natural ,indignation or ,contempt1 when one is satisfied of the ,worth of what they offer4 ',tis likely they respected1 besides the ,fate of ,rome1 the ,fate and several ,periods of the ,world1 both past and to come1 and the most mystical ,passages of them4 ,and in these ,authors and ,monuments are lost the greatest ,hopes of natural and philosophick ,antiquities1 that we could have had from the ,romans4 ,,and as to the ,greeks1 their best and sacred ,learning was not originally their own2 they enrich'd themselves with the ,spoils of the ,east1 and the ,remains we have of that eastern ,learning1 is what we pick out of the ,greeks2 whose ,works1 ,i believe1 if they were intirely extant1 we should not need to go any further for ,witnesses to confirm all the principal ,parts of this ,theory4 ,with what ,regret does one read in ,laertius1 ,suidas1 and others1 the promising ,titles of ,books writ by the ,greek ,philosophers1 ,hundreds or ,thousands1 whereof there is not one now extant2 and those that are extant are generally but ,fragments8 ,those ,authors also that have writ their ,lives1 or collected their ,opinions1 have done it confusedly and injudiciously4 ,i should hope for as much ,light and ,instruction1 as to the ,original of the ,world1 from ,orpheus alone1 if his ,works had been preserv'd1 as from all that is extant now of the other ,greek ,philosophers4 ,we may see from what remains of him1 that he understood in a good ,measure how the ,earth rose from a ,chaos1 what was its external ,figure1 and what the ,form of its inward ,structure3 ,the ,opinion of the ,oval ,figure of the ,earth is ascrib'd to ,orpheus and his ,disciples2 and the ,doctrine of the ,mundane ,egg is so peculiarly his1 that 'tis call'd by ,proclus1 the ,orphick ,egg2 not that he was the first ,author of that ,doctrine1 but the first that brought it into ,greece4 ,,thus much concerning the ,heathen ,learning1 ,eastern and ,western1 and the small ,remains of it in ,things ,philosophical2 'tis no ,wonder then if the ,account we have left us from them of the primitive ,earth1 and the ,antiquities of the natural ,world be very imperfect4 ,and yet we have trac'd1 7in the precedent ,chapter1 and more largely in our ,latin ,treatise7 the ,footsteps of several ,parts of this ,theory amongst the ,writings and ,traditions of the ,ancients1 and even of those ,parts that seem the most strange and singular1 and that are the ,basis upon which the rest stand4 ,we have shewn there1 that their ,account of the ,chaos1 tho' it seem'd to many but a poetical ,rhapsody1 contain'd the true ,mystery of the ,formation of the primitive ,earth1 7,tell4 ,theor4 lib4 #b4 c4 #g47 ,we have also shewn upon the same ,occasion1 that both the external ,figure and internal ,form of that ,earth were compriz'd and signified in their ancient ,doctrine of the ,mundane ,egg1 which hath been propagated through all the learned ,nations1 7,ibid4 cap4 #aj47 ,and lastly1 as to the ,situation of that ,earth1 and the ,change of its ,posture since1 that the ,memory of that has been kept up1 we have brought several ,testimonies and ,indications from the ,greek ,philosophers1 7,ibid47 ,and these were the three great and fundamental ,properties of the primitive ,earth1 upon which all the other depend1 and all its ,differences from the present ,order of ,nature4 ,you see then1 tho' ,providence hath suffer'd the ancient ,heathen ,learning and their ,monuments1 in a great ,part1 to perish1 yet we are not left wholly without ,witnesses amongst them1 in a ,speculation of this great ,importance4 ,,you will say1 it may be1 tho' this ,account1 as to the ,books and ,learning of the ,heathen1 may be look'd upon as reasonable1 yet we might expect however1 from the ,jewish and ,christian ,authors1 a more full and satisfactory ,account of that primitive ,earth1 and of the old ,world4 ,first1 as to the ,jews1 'tis well known that they have no ancient ,learning1 unless by ,way of ,tradition1 amongst them4 ,there is not a ,book extant in their ,language excepting the ,canon of the ,old ,testament1 that hath not been writ since our ,saviour's ,time4 ,they are very bad ,masters of ,antiquity1 and they may in some ,measure be excus'd1 because of their several ,captivities1 ,dispersions1 and ,desolations4 ,in the ,babylonish ,captivity their ,temple was ransack'd1 and they did not preserve1 as is thought1 so much as the ,autograph1 or original ,manuscript of the ,law1 nor the ,books of those of their ,prophets that were then extant1 and kept in the ,temple2 and at their ,return from the ,captivity after seventy ,years1 they seem to have forgot their native ,language so much1 that the ,law was to be interpreted to them in ,chaldee1 after it was read in ,hebrew2 for so ,i understand that ,interpretation in ,nehemiah1 7,chap4 viii4 #g1 #h47 ',twas a great ,providence1 methinks1 that they should any ,way preserve their ,law1 and other ,books of ,scripture1 in the ,captivity1 for so long a ,time2 for 'tis likely they had not the ,liberty of using them in any publick ,worship1 seeing they return'd so ignorant of their own ,language1 and1 as 'tis thought1 of their ,alphabet and ,character too4 ,and if their sacred ,books were hardly preserv'd1 we may easily believe all others perish'd in that publick ,desolation4 ,,yet there was another ,destruction of that ,nation1 and their ,temple1 greater than this1 by the ,romans2 and if there were any ,remains of ,learning preserv'd in the former ,ruin1 or any ,recruits made since that ,time1 this second ,desolation would sweep them all away4 ,and accordingly we see they have nothing left in their ,tongue1 beside the ,bible1 so ancient as the ,destruction of ,jerusalem4 ,these and other publick ,calamities of the ,jewish ,nation may reasonably be thought to have wasted their ,records of ancient ,learning1 if they had any2 for to speak ,truth1 the ,jews are a ,people of little ,curiosity1 as to ,sciences and philosophical ,enquiries3 ,they were very tenacious of their own ,customs1 and careful of those ,traditions that did respect them1 but were not remarkable1 that ,i know of1 or thought great ,proficients in any other sort of ,learning4 ,there has been a great ,fame1 'tis true1 of the ,jewish ,cabala1 and of great ,mysteries contain'd in it2 and1 ,i believe1 there was once a traditional ,doctrine amongst some of them1 that had extraordinary ,notions and ,conclusions3 ,but where is this now to be found8 ,the ,essenes were the likeliest ,sect1 one would think1 to retain such ,doctrines2 but 'tis probable they are now so mixt with ,things fabulous and fantastical1 that what one should alledge from thence would be of little or no ,authority4 ,one ,head in this ,cabala was the ,doctrine of the ,sephiroth1 7,vide ,men4 ben ,isr4 de ,creat4 prob4 #bh47 and tho' the ,explication of them be uncertain1 the inferior ,sephiroth in the corporeal ,world cannot so well be apply'd to any ,thing1 as to those several ,orbs and ,regions1 infolding one another1 whereof the primigenial ,earth was compos'd4 ,yet such ,conjectures and ,applications1 ,i know1 are of no ,validity1 but in ,consort with better ,arguments4 ,i have often thought also1 that their first and second ,temple represented the first and second ,earth or ,world2 and that of ,ezekiel's1 which is the third1 is still to be erected1 the most beautiful of all1 when this second ,temple of the ,world shall be burn'd down4 ,if the ,prophecies of ,enoch had been preserv'd1 and taken into the ,canon by ,ezra1 after their ,return from ,babylon1 when the ,collection of their sacred ,books is suppos'd to have been made1 we might probably have had a considerable ,account there1 both of ,times past and to come1 of ,antiquities and ,futuritions2 for those ,prophecies are generally suppos'd to have contain'd both the first and second ,fate of this ,earth1 and all the ,periods of it4 ,but as this ,book is lost to us1 so ,i look upon all others that pretend to be ,ante-mosaical or ,patriarchal1 as spurious and fabulous4 ,,thus much concerning the ,jews4 ,as for ,christian ,authors1 their ,knowledge must be from some of these foremention'd ,jews or ,heathens2 or else by ,apostolical ,tradition3 ,for the ,christian ,fathers were not very speculative1 so as to raise a ,theory from their own ,thoughts and ,contemplations1 concerning the ,origin of the ,earth4 ,we have instanc'd1 in the last ,chapter1 in a ,christian ,tradition concerning ,paradise1 and the high ,situation of it1 which is fully consonant to the ,scite of the ,primitive ,earth1 where ,paradise stood1 and doth seem plainly to refer to it1 being unintelligible upon any other ,supposition4 ,and 'twas1 ,i believe1 this ,elevation of ,paradise1 and the ,pencil ,structure of that ,paradisiacal ,earth1 that gave ,occasion to ,celsus1 as we see by ,origen's ,answer1 to say1 that the ,christian ,paradise was taken from the pensile ,gardens of ,alcinous3 ,but we may see now what was the ,ground of such ,expressions or ,traditions amongst the ,ancients1 which ,providence left to keep ,men's ,minds awake2 not fully to instruct them1 but to confirm them in the ,truth1 when it should come to be made known in other ,methods4 ,we have noted also above1 that the ancient ,books and ,authors amongst the ,christians1 that were most likely to inform us in this ,argument1 have perish'd1 and are lost out of the ,world1 such as ,ephrem ,syrus de ortu rerum1 and ,tertullian de ,paradiso2 and that ,piece1 which is extant of ,moses ,bar ,cepha's upon this ,subject1 receives more ,light from our ,hypothesis1 than from any other ,i know2 for1 correcting some ,mistakes about the ,figure of the ,earth1 which the ,ancients were often guilty of1 the ,obscurity or ,confusion of that ,discourse in other ,things may be easily rectified1 if compar'd with this ,theory4 ,,of this ,nature also is that ,tradition that is common both to ,jews and ,christians1 and which we have often mentioned before1 that there was a perpetual ,serenity1 and perpetual ,equinox in ,paradise2 which cannot be upon this ,earth1 not so much as under the ,equinoctial2 for they have a ,sort of ,winter and ,summer1 there1 a ,course of ,rains at certain times of the ,year1 and great ,inequalities of the ,air1 as to ,heat and ,cold1 ,moisture and ,drought4 ,they had also ,traditions amongst them1 ,that there was no ,rain from the ,beginning of the ,world till the ,deluge1 and that there were no ,mountains till the ,flood1 7,lat4 ,treat4 ,lib4 #b4 c4 #aj47 and such like4 ,these1 you see1 point directly at such an ,earth1 as we have describ'd4 ,and ,i call these ,traditions1 because we cannot find the ,original ,authors of them2 the ancient ordinary ,gloss 7upon ,genesis7 which some make eight hundred ,years old1 mentions both these ,opinions2 so does ,historia ,scholastica1 ,alcuinus1 ,rabanus ,maurus1 ,lyranus1 and such ,collectors of ,antiquity4 ,bede also relates that of the ,plainness or ,smoothness of the ,antediluvian ,earth4 ,yet these are reported ,traditionally1 as it were1 naming no ,authors or ,books from whence they were taken3 ,nor can it be imagin'd that they feign'd them themselves2 to what ,end or ,purpose8 ,it serv'd no ,interest2 or upon what ,ground8 ,seeing they had no ,theory that could lead them to such ,notions as these1 or that could be strengthen'd and confirm'd by them4 ,those ,opinions also of the ,fathers1 which we recited in the seventh ,chapter1 placing ,paradise beyond the ,torrid ,zone1 and making it therefore inaccessible1 suit very well to the ,form1 ,qualities1 and ,bipartition of the ,primval ,earth1 and seem to be grounded upon them4 ,,thus much may serve for a short ,survey of the ancient ,learning1 to give us a reasonable ,account1 why the ,memory and ,knowledge of the ,primitive ,earth should be so much lost out of the ,world2 and what we retain of it still2 which would be far more1 ,i do not doubt1 if all ,manuscripts were brought to light1 that are yet extant in publick or private ,libraries4 ,the ,truth is1 one cannot judge with ,certainty1 neither what things have been recorded and preserv'd in the ,monuments of ,learning1 nor what are still2 nor what have been1 because so many of those ,monuments are lost3 ,the ,alexandrian ,library1 which we spoke of before1 seems to have been the greatest ,collection that ever was made before ,christianity1 and the ,constantinopolitan 7begun by ,constantine1 and destroy'd in the fifth ,century1 when it was rais'd to the ,number1 as is said1 of one hundred twenty thousand ,volumes7 the most valuable that was ever since1 and both these have been permitted by ,providence to perish in the merciless ,flames4 ,beside those ,devastations of ,books and ,libraries that have been made in ,christendom1 by the ,northern barbarous ,nations overflowing ,europe1 and the ,saracens and ,turks1 great ,parts of ,asia and ,africk4 ,it is hard therefore to pronounce what ,knowledge hath been in the ,world1 or what ,accounts of ,antiquity2 neither can we well judge what remain1 or of what things the ,memory may be still latently conserv'd3 ,for beside those ,manuscripts that are yet unexamin'd in these ,parts of ,christendom1 there are many1 doubtless1 of good ,value in other ,parts2 beside those that be hid in the unchristianiz'd ,dominions4 ,the ,library of ,fez is said to contain thirty two thousand ,volumes in ,arabick2 and though the ,arabick ,learning was most what ,western1 and therefore of less ,account1 yet they did deal in ,eastern ,learning too2 for ,avicenna writ a ,book with that ,title1 ,philosophia ,orientalis4 ,there may be also in the ,east1 ,thousands of ,manuscripts unknown to us1 of greater ,value than most ,books we have3 ,and as to those ,subjects we are treating of1 ,i should promise my self more ,light and ,confirmation from the ,syriack ,authors than from any others4 ,these things being consider'd1 we can make but a very imperfect ,estimate1 what ,evidences are left us1 and what ,accounts of the primitive ,earth2 and if these ,deductions and ,defalcations be made1 both for what ,books are wholly lost1 and for what lie asleep or dead1 in ,libraries1 we have ,reason to be satisfied in a ,theory of this ,nature1 to find so good ,attestations as we have produc'd for the several ,parts of it2 which we purpose to enlarge upon considerably at another time and occasion4 ,,but to carry this ,objection as far as may be1 let us suppose it to be urg'd still in the last ,place1 that though these ,humane ,writings have perish'd or be imperfect1 yet in the ,divine ,writings at least1 we might expect that the ,memory of the old ,world1 and of the primitive ,earth should have been preserv'd4 ,to this ,i answer in short1 that we could not expect in the ,scriptures any natural ,theory of that ,earth1 nor any ,account of it1 but what was general2 and this we have1 both by the ,tehom ,rabba of ,moses1 and the ,description of the same ,abyss in other ,places of ,scripture1 as we have shewn at large in the first ,book4 ,chap4 vii4 ,and also by the ,description which ,st4 ,peter hath given of the antediluvian ,heavens and ,earth1 and their different ,constitution from the present2 which is also prov'd by the ,rainbow1 not seen in the first ,world4 ,you will say1 it may be1 that that ,place of ,st4 ,peter1 #b ,pet4 iii4 #e1 #f1 c4 is capable of another ,interpretation2 so are most ,places of ,scripture1 if you speak of a bare ,capacity1 they are capable of more than one ,interpretation3 ,but that which is most natural1 proper1 and congruous1 and suitable to the ,words1 suitable to the ,argument1 and suitable to the ,context1 wherein is nothing superfluous or impertinent1 that we prefer and accept of as the most reasonable ,interpretation4 ,besides1 in such ,texts as relate to the natural ,world1 if of two ,interpretations propos'd1 one agrees better with the ,theory of ,nature than the others1 cteris paribus1 that ought to be prefer'd4 ,and by these two ,rules we are willing to be try'd1 in the ,exposition of that remarkable ,discourse of ,st4 ,peter's1 and to stand to that ,sense which is found most agreeable to them4 ,,give me leave to conclude the whole ,discourse with this general ,consideration3 ',tis reasonable to suppose1 that there is a ,providence in the ,conduct of ,knowledge1 as well as of other ,affairs on the ,earth2 and that it was not design'd that all the ,mysteries of ,nature and ,providence should be plainly and clearly understood throughout all the ,ages of the ,world2 but that there is an ,order establish'd for this1 as for other ,things1 and certain ,periods and ,seasons2 and what was made known to the ,ancients only by broken ,conclusions and ,traditions will be known 7in the latter ,ages of the ,world7 in a more perfect way1 by ,principles and ,theories4 ,the ,increase of ,knowledge being that which changeth so much the ,face of the ,world1 and the ,state of humane ,affairs1 ,i do not doubt but there is a particular ,care and ,superintendency for the ,conduct of it2 by what ,steps and ,degrees it should come to light1 at what ,seasons and in what ,ages2 what ,evidence should be left1 either in ,scripture1 ,reason1 or ,tradition1 for the ,grounds of it2 how clear or obscure1 how dispers'd or united3 ,all these things were weigh'd and consider'd1 and such ,measures taken as best suit the ,designs of ,providence1 and the general ,project and ,method propos'd in the ,government of the ,world4 ,and ,i make no ,question but the ,state both of the ,old ,world1 and of that which is to come1 is exhibited to us in ,scripture in such a ,measure and ,proportion1 as is fit for this formentioned ,purpose2 not as the ,articles of our ,faith1 or the ,precepts of a good ,life1 which he that runs may read2 but to the attentive and reflective1 to those that are unprejudic'd1 and to those who are inquisitive1 and have their ,minds open and prepar'd for the ,discernment of ,mysteries of such a ,nature4 ,,thus much in ,answer to that general ,objection which might be made against this ,theory1 ,that it is not founded in ,antiquity4 ,i do not doubt but there may be many particular ,objections against ,parts and ,sections of it1 and the exposing it thus in our own ,tongue may excite some one or other1 it may be1 to make them2 but if any be so minded1 ,i desire 7if they be ,scholars7 that it may rather be in ,latin1 as being more proper for a ,subject of this ,nature2 and also that they would keep themselves close to the ,substance of the ,theory1 and wound that as much as they can3 ,but to make ,excursions upon ,things accidental or collateral1 that do not destroy the ,hypothesis1 is but to trouble the ,world with ,impertinencies4 ,now the ,substance of the ,theory is this1 ,,that there was a ,primitive ,earth of another ,form from the present1 and inhabited by ,mankind till the ,deluge3 ,that it had those ,properties and ,conditions that we have ascrib'd to it1 namely1 a perpetual ,equinox or ,spring1 by reason of its right ,situation to the ,sun2 was of an oval ,figure1 and the exterior ,face of it smooth and uniform1 without ,mountains or a ,sea4 ,that in this ,earth stood ,paradise2 the ,doctrine whereof cannot be understood but upon ,supposition of this primitive ,earth1 and its ,properties4 ,then that the ,disruption and ,fall of this ,earth into the ,abyss1 which lay under it1 was that which made the universal ,deluge1 and the ,destruction of the old ,world2 and that neither ,noah's ,flood1 nor the present ,form of the ,earth1 can be explain'd in any other ,method that is rational1 nor by any other ,causes that are intelligible1 at least1 that have been hitherto propos'd to the ,world4 ,these are the ,vitals of the ,theory1 and the primary ,assertions1 whereof ,i do freely profess my full ,belief2 and whosoever by solid ,reasons will shew me in an ,error1 and undeceive me1 ,i shall be very much oblig'd to him4 ,there are other lesser ,conclusions which flow from these1 and may be call'd ,secondary1 as that the ,longevity of the ,ante-diluvians depended upon their perpetual ,equinox1 and the perpetual ,equality and ,serenity of the ,air3 ,that the ,torrid ,zone in the primitive ,earth was uninhabitable1 and that all their ,rivers flow'd from the extream ,parts of the ,earth towards the ,equinoctial2 there being neither ,rain nor ,rainbow in the temperate and habitable ,regions of it3 ,and lastly1 ,that the ,place of ,paradise1 according to the ,opinion of ,antiquity1 7for ,i determine no ,place by the ,theory7 was in the southern ,hemisphere4 ,these1 ,i think1 are all truly deduc'd and prov'd in their several ,ways1 tho' they be not such essential ,parts of the ,theory1 as the former4 ,there are also besides1 many particular ,explications that are to be consider'd with more ,liberty and ,latitude1 and may be perhaps upon better ,thoughts1 or better ,observations1 corrected without any ,prejudice to the general ,theory4 ,those ,places of ,scripture1 which we have cited1 ,i think1 are all truly apply'd2 and ,i have not mention'd ,moses's ,cosmopia1 because ,i thought it deliver'd by him as a ,lawgiver1 not as a ,philosopher2 which ,i intend to shew at large in another ,treatise1 not thinking that ,discussion proper for the vulgar ,tongue4 ,upon the whole1 we are to remember1 that some ,allowances are to be made for every ,hypothesis that is new propos'd and untry'd2 and that we ought not1 out of ,levity of ,wit1 or any private ,design1 discountenance free and fair ,essays2 nor from any other ,motive but the only ,love and ,concern of ,truth4 ,footnote #b3 ,page #da4 ,franciscus ,patricius1 ,vir eruditione sat clarus1 in quodam libello suo de ,antiquorum ,rhetoric1 ,italico idiomate conscripto1 ac ,venetiis impresso per ,franciscum ,senensem1 ,dialogo primo satis lepidam narrationem habet1 quam referi ,julium ,strozzam ,comite ,balthasare ,castilioneo audivisse1 ,illum ver ,philosopho quodam ,abyssino in ,hispani accepisse4 ,narrabat ergo sapiens ille ,abyssinus in antiquissimus thiopi ,annalibus descriptam esse historiam perditionis humani generis disruptionis totius ,terr4 ,in ,mundi scilicet primordiis fuisse ,terram multo ampliorem quam nunc est1 ac ,clo proximiorem1 perfect rotundam1 sine ,montibus ac ,vallibus1 totam tamen intras cavernosam ad instar spongi1 hominesque in ill habitantes1 ac there purissimo gaudentes1 jucundum vum duxisse1 ,terr inarat optimas fruges1 fructus ferente4 ,cum autem post diuturnum sculorum fluxum homines superbi elati prisc ill bonitate descivissent1 ,deos irates ,terram adeo valid concussisse1 ut major illius pars intra proprias externas deciderit1 atque hoc pacto ,aquam in latebrsis recessibus ante conclusam1 expressam violenter fuisse1 atque ita ,fontes1 ,fiumina1 ,lacus ,mare ipsium ortum duxisse4 ,eam vero ,terra portionem que intra has non deculisset1 sed reliqu elatior fluisset4 ,montium formam4 ,insulas porr scopulos in medio mari ad aliud esse nisi segmenta ,terra cavernosa ab illo istius terren milos prcipere casu superstitis4 ,,chap4 ,x4 ,concerning the ,author of ,nature4 ,,seeing the ,theory which we have propos'd in this ,work is of that ,extent and ,comprehension1 that it begins with the first ,foundation of this ,world1 and is to reach to the last ,period of it1 in one continued ,series or ,chain of ,nature2 it will not be improper1 before we conclude1 to make some ,reflections and ,remarks what ,nature is1 and upon what superior ,causes she depends in all her ,motions and ,operations3 ,and this will lead us to the ,discovery of the ,author of ,nature1 and to the true ,notion and ,state of ,natural ,providence1 which seems to have been hitherto very much neglected1 or little understood in the ,world4 ,and 'tis the more reasonable and fitting that we should explain these ,notions before we shut up this ,treatise1 lest those natural ,explications which we have given of the ,deluge1 and other ,things1 should be mistaken or misapply'd2 seeing some are apt to run away with ,pieces of a ,discourse1 which they think applicable to their ,purpose1 or which they can maliciously represent1 without attending to the ,scope or just ,limitations of what is spoken4 ,,by ,nature in general is understood all the ,powers of finite ,beings1 with the ,laws establish'd for their ,action and ,conduct according to the ordinary ,course of ,things4 ,and this extends both to intellectual ,beings and corporeal2 but seeing 'tis only the material ,world that hath been the ,subject of our ,discourse1 ,nature1 as to that1 may be defin'd1 the ,powers of ,matter1 with the ,laws establish'd for their ,action and ,conduct4 ,seeing also ,matter hath no ,action1 whether from it self1 or imprest upon it1 but ,motion1 as to the corporeal ,world1 ,nature is no more than the ,powers and ,capacities of ,matter1 with the ,laws that govern the ,motions of it4 ,and this ,definition is so plain and easy1 that1 ,i believe1 all ,parties will agree in it2 there will also be no great ,controversy what these ,laws are4 ,as that one ,part of ,matter cannot penetrate another1 nor be in several ,places at once2 ,that the greater ,body overcomes the less1 and the swifter the slower2 ,that all ,motion is in a right ,line1 till something obstruct it or divert it2 which are ,points little disputed as to the ,matter of ,fact2 but the ,points concerning which the ,controversy ariseth1 and which are to lead us to the ,author of ,nature1 are these2 ,who or what is the ,author of these ,laws of this ,motion1 and even of ,matter it self2 and of all those ,modes and ,forms of it which we see in ,nature8 ,,the ,question useth chiefly to be put concerning ,motion1 how it came into the ,world2 what the first ,source of it is1 or how ,matter came at first to be mov'd8 ,for the simple ,notion of ,matter1 not divided into ,parts1 nor diversified1 doth not imply ,motion1 but ,extension only3 ',tis true1 from ,extension there necessarily follows ,mobility1 or a ,capacity of being mov'd by an external ,power1 but not actual or necessary ,motion1 springing from it self4 ,for ,dimensions1 or ,length1 ,breadth1 and ,depth1 which is the ,idea of ,matter1 or of a ,body1 do no ,way include local ,motion1 or ,translation of ,parts2 on the contrary1 we do more easily and naturally conceive simple ,extension as a ,thing steady and fix'd2 and if we conceive ,motion in it1 or in its ,parts1 we must superadd something to our first ,thought1 and something that does not flow from ,extension4 ,as when we conceive a ,figure1 a ,triangle1 ,square1 or any other1 we naturally conceive it fix'd or quiescent2 and if afterwards we imagine it in ,motion1 that is purely accidental to the ,figure2 in like ,manner it is accidental to ,matter1 that there should be ,motion in it1 it hath no inward ,principle from whence that can flow1 and its ,nature is compleat without it2 wherefore1 if we find ,motion and ,action in ,matter1 which is of it self a dead inactive ,mass2 this should lead us immediately to the ,author of ,nature1 or to some external ,power distinct from ,matter1 which is the ,cause of all ,motion in the ,world4 ,,in single ,bodies1 and single ,parts of ,matter1 we readily believe and conclude1 that they do not move1 unless something move them1 and why should we not conclude the same ,thing of the whole ,mass8 ,if a ,rock or ,mountain cannot move it self1 nor divide it self1 either into great ,gobbets1 or into small ,powder1 why should it not be as impossible for the whole ,mass of ,matter to do so8 ',tis true1 ,matter is capable both of ,motion and ,rest2 yet to conceive it undivided1 undiversified and unmoved1 is certainly a more simple ,notion1 than to conceive it divided and mov'd2 and this being first in ,order of ,nature1 and an adequate ,conception too1 we ought to enquire and give our selves an ,account how it came out of this ,state1 and by what ,causes1 or1 as we said before1 how ,motion came first into the ,world4 ,,in the second ,place1 ,that ,diversity which we see in ,nature1 both as to the ,qualities of ,matter1 and the ,compositions of it1 being one ,step further than bare ,motion1 ought also to be a further ,indication of the ,author of ,nature1 and to put us upon ,enquiry into the ,causes of this ,diversity4 ,there is nothing more uniform than simple ,extension1 nothing more the same throughout1 all of a ,piece1 and all of a ,sort1 similar1 and like to itself every where2 yet we find the ,matter of the ,universe diversified a thousand ,ways1 into ,heavens and ,earth1 ,air and ,water1 ,stars1 ,meteors1 ,light1 ,darkness1 ,stones1 ,wood1 ,animals1 and all terrestrial ,bodies2 ,these ,diversifications are still further ,removes from the natural ,unity and ,identity of ,matter1 and a further ,argument of some external and superior ,power that hath given these different ,forms to the several ,portions of ,matter1 by the ,intervention of ,motion4 ,for if you exclude the ,author of ,nature1 and suppose nothing but ,matter in the ,world1 take whether ,hypothesis you will1 either that ,matter is without ,motion of it self1 or that it is of it self in ,motion1 there could not arise this ,diversity1 and these ,compositions in it4 ,if it was without ,motion1 then the ,case is plain1 for it would be nothing but an hard inflexible ,lump of impenetrable ,extension1 without any ,diversity at all4 ,and if you suppose it mov'd of it self1 or to have an innate ,motion1 that would certainly hinder all ,sort of natural ,concretions and ,compositions1 and in ,effect destroy all ,continuity4 ,for ,motion1 if it be essential to ,matter1 it is essential to every ,atom of it1 and equally diffus'd throughout all its ,parts2 and all those ,parts or ,atoms would be equal to one another1 and as little as possible2 for if ,matter was divided into ,parts by its own innate ,motion1 that would melt it down into ,parts as little as possible1 and consequently all equal to one another1 there being no reason why you should stop those ,divisions1 or the ,effect of this innate ,impetus in any one ,part sooner than in another1 or in any ,part indeed1 till it was divided as much as was possible3 wherefore upon this ,principle1 or in this ,method1 all the ,matter of the ,universe would be one liquid or volatile ,mass1 smaller than ,pin-dust1 nay1 than ,air or ther2 and there would be no ,diversity of ,forms1 only another sort of ,identity from the former1 when we suppos'd it wholly without ,motion4 ,and so1 upon the whole1 you see1 that ,matter1 whether we allow it ,motion1 or no ,motion1 could not come into that ,variety of ,tempers and ,compositions in which we find it in the ,world1 without the ,influence and ,direction of a superior external ,cause1 which we call the ,author of ,nature4 ,,but there is still a further and stronger ,argument from this ,head1 if we consider not only the ,diversity of ,bodies that the ,mass of ,matter is cut into1 but also that that ,diversity is regular1 and in some ,parts of it admirably artful and ingenious4 ,this will not only lead us to an ,author of ,nature1 but to such an ,author as hath ,wisdom as well as ,power4 ,matter is a brute ,being1 stupid and senseless2 and tho' we should suppose it to have a ,force to move it self1 yet that it should be able to meditate and consult1 and take its ,measures how to frame a ,world1 a regular and beautiful ,structure1 consisting of such and such ,parts and ,regions1 and adapted to such and such ,purposes1 this would be too extravagant to imagine2 to allow it not only ,motion from it self1 but ,wit and ,judgment too2 and that before it came into any organical or animate ,composition4 ,,you'll say1 it may be1 the ,frame of the ,world was not the ,result of ,counsel and ,consultation1 but of ,necessity2 ,matter being once in ,motion under the ,conduct of those ,laws that are essential to it1 it wrought it self by ,degrees from one ,state into another1 till at length it came into the present ,form which we call the ,world4 ,these are ,words thrown out at ,random1 without any ,pretence of ,ground1 only to see if they can be confuted2 and so they may easily be2 for we have shewn already1 that if ,matter had innate ,motion1 it would be so far from running into the orderly and well dispos'd ,frame of the ,world1 that it would run into no ,frame at all1 into no ,forms or ,compositions1 or ,diversity of ,bodies2 but would either be all fluid1 or all solid2 either every single ,particle in a separate ,motion1 or all in one continued ,mass1 with an universal ,tremor1 or ,inclination to move without actual ,separation2 and either of these two ,states is far from the ,form of a ,world4 ,secondly1 ,as to the ,laws of ,motion1 as some of them are essential to ,matter1 so others are not demonstrable1 but upon ,supposition of an ,author of ,nature4 ,and thirdly1 ,tho' all the ,laws of ,motion be admitted1 they cannot bring ,matter into the ,form of a ,world1 unless some ,measures be taken at first by an intelligent ,being2 ,i say1 some ,measures be taken to determine the primary ,motions upon which the rest depend1 and to put them in a ,way that leads to the ,formation of a ,world4 ,the ,mass must be divided into ,regions1 and ,centers fixt1 and ,motions appropriated to them2 and it must be consider'd of what ,magnitude the first ,bodies1 or the first ,divisions of ,matter should be1 and how mov'd3 ,besides1 there must be a determinate ,proportion1 and certain ,degree of ,motion imprest upon the universal ,matter1 to qualify it for the ,production of a ,world2 if the ,dose was either too strong or too weak1 the ,work would miscarry2 and nothing but infinite ,wisdom could see thro' the ,effects of every ,proportion1 or every new degree of ,motion1 and discern which was best for the ,beginning1 ,progress1 and ,perfection of a ,world4 ,so you see the ,author of ,nature is no ,way excluded1 or made useless by the ,laws of ,motion2 nor if ,matter was promiscuously mov'd1 would these be sufficient ,causes of themselves to produce a ,world1 or that regular ,diversity of ,bodies that compose it4 ,,but 'tis hard to satisfy ,men against their ,inclinations1 or their ,interest3 ,and as their ,regularity of the ,universe was always a great ,stumbling-stone to the ,epicureans2 so they have endeavour'd to make ,shifts of all ,sorts to give an ,account and ,answer to it1 without ,recourse to an intelligent ,principle2 and for their last ,refuge1 they say1 that ,chance might bring that to pass1 which ,nature and ,necessity could not do2 the ,atoms might hit upon a lucky ,set of ,motions1 which1 tho' it were casual and fortuitous1 might happily lead them to the forming of a ,world4 ,a lucky hit indeed1 for ,chance to frame a ,world3 ,but this is a mere ,shuffle and ,collusion2 for if there was nothing in ,nature but ,matter1 there could be no such ,thing as ,chance1 all would be pure ,mechanical ,necessity2 and so this ,answer1 tho' it seem very different1 is the same in effect with the former1 and ,epicurus with his anatomists are oblig'd to give a just mechanical ,account1 how all the ,parts of ,nature1 the most compound and elaborate ,parts not excepted1 rise from their ,atoms by pure ,necessity3 ,there could be no accidental ,concourse or ,coalition of them1 every step1 every motion1 every composition was fatal and necessary1 and therefore 'tis ,nonsense for an ,epicurean to talk of ,chance1 as ,chance is oppos'd to ,necessity2 and if they oppose it to ,counsel and ,wisdom1 'tis little better than ,nonsense1 to say the ,world and all its ,furniture rose by ,chance1 in that ,notion of it4 ,but it will deserve our ,patience a little1 to give a more full and distinct ,answer to this1 seeing it reacheth all their ,pleas and ,evasions at once4 ,,what ,proof or ,demonstration of ,wisdom and ,counsel can be given1 or can be desir'd1 that is not found in some ,part of the ,world1 animate or inanimate8 ,we know but a little ,portion of the ,universe1 a mere ,point in ,comparison1 and a broken ,point too2 and yet in this broken ,point1 or some small ,parcels of it1 there is more of ,art1 ,counsel and ,wisdom shewn1 than in all the ,works of ,men taken together1 or than in all our ,artificial ,world4 ,in the ,construction of the ,body of an ,animal1 there is more of ,thought and ,contrivance1 more of exquisite ,invention1 and fit ,disposition of ,parts1 than is in all the ,temples1 ,palaces1 ,ships1 ,theatres1 or any other ,pieces of ,architecture the ,world ever yet saw3 ,and not ,architecture only1 but all other ,mechanism whatsoever1 ,engines1 ,clock-work1 or any other1 is not comparable to the ,body of a living ,creature4 ,seeing then we acknowledge these artificial ,works1 wheresoever we meet with them1 to be the ,effects of ,wit1 ,understanding and ,reason1 is it not manifest ,partiality1 or ,stupidity rather1 to deny the ,works of ,nature1 which excel these in all ,degrees1 to proceed from an intelligent ,principle8 ,let them take any ,piece of humane ,art1 or any ,machine fram'd by the ,wit of ,man1 and compare it with the ,body of an ,animal1 either for ,diversity and ,multiplicity of ,workmanship1 or ,curiosity in the minute ,parts1 or just ,connexion and ,dependance of one ,thing upon another1 or fit ,subserviency to the ,ends propos'd1 of ,life1 ,motion1 ,use and ,ornament to the ,creature2 and if in all these ,respects they find it superior to any ,work of humane ,production1 7as they certainly must do7 why should it be thought to proceed from inferior and senseless ,causes8 ,ought we not in this1 as well as in other ,things1 to proportion the ,causes to the ,effect1 and to speak ,truth1 and bring in an honest ,verdict for ,nature as well as ,art8 ,,in the ,composition of a perfect ,animal1 there are four several ,frames or ,compages join'd together1 the natural1 vital1 animal and genital3 ,let them examine anyone of these apart1 and try if they can find any ,thing defective or superfluous1 or any ,way inept for ,matter or ,form4 ,let them view the whole ,compages of the ,bones1 and especially the admirable ,constitution1 ,texture1 and ,disposition of the ,muscles1 which are join'd with them for moving the ,body1 or its ,parts4 ,let them take an ,account of the little ,pipes and ,conduits for the ,juices and the ,liquors1 of their ,form and ,distribution2 or let them take any single ,organ to examine1 as the ,eye1 or the ,ear1 the ,hand1 or the ,heart3 ,in each of these they may discover such ,arguments of ,wisdom1 and of ,art1 as will either convince them1 or confound them2 tho' still they must leave greater undiscover'd4 ,we know little the insensible ,form and ,contexture of the ,parts of the ,body1 nor the just ,method of their ,action3 ,we know not yet the ,manner1 ,order and ,causes of the ,motion of the ,heart1 which is the chief ,spring of the whole ,machine2 and with how little ,exactness do we understand the ,brain1 and the ,parts belonging to it8 ,why of that ,temper and of that ,form3 ,how ,motions are propagated there1 and how conserv'd3 ,how they answer the several ,operations of the ,mind3 ,why such little ,discomposures of it disturb our ,senses1 and upon what little ,differences in this the great ,differences of ,wits and ,genius's depend4 ,yet seeing in all these ,organs1 whose ,make and ,manner of ,action we cannot discover1 we see however by the ,effects1 that they are truly fitted for those ,offices to which ,nature hath design'd them1 we ought in ,reason to admire that ,art which we cannot penetrate4 ,at least we cannot but judge it a ,thing absurd1 that what we have not ,wit enough to find out or comprehend1 we should not allow to be an ,argument of ,wit and ,understanding in the ,author1 or ,inventor of it4 ,this would be against all ,logick1 common ,sense1 and common ,decorum4 ,neither do ,i think it possible to the ,mind of ,man1 while we attend to ,evidence1 to believe that these1 and such like ,works of ,nature came by ,chance1 as they call it1 or without ,providence1 ,forecast and ,wisdom1 either in the first ,causes1 or in the proximate2 in the ,design1 or in the ,execution2 in the ,preparation to them1 or in the finishing of them4 ,,wherefore1 in my ,judgment1 if any be of this ,persuasion1 it cannot be so much the ,effect of their ,understanding1 as of their ,disposion and ,inclination2 and in moral ,things1 ,mens ,opinions do as often spring from the one1 as from the other4 ,for my ,part1 ,i do generally distinguish of two ,sorts of ,opinions in all ,men1 ,inclination-opinions1 and ,reason'd-opinions2 ,opinions that grow upon ,mens ,complexions1 and ,opinions that are the ,results of their ,reason2 and ,i meet with very few that are of a ,temperament so equal1 or a ,constitution so even pois'd1 but that they incline to one ,set of ,opinions rather than another1 antecedently to all ,proofs of ,reason3 ,and when they have espous'd their ,opinions from that secret ,sympathy1 then they find out as good ,reasons as they can1 to maintain them1 and say1 nay think sometimes1 that 'twas for the sake of those ,reasons that they first embrac'd them4 ,we may commonly distinguish these ,inclination-opinions from the rational1 because we find them accompanied with more ,heat than ,light1 a great deal of ,eagerness and ,impatience in defending of them1 and but slender ,arguments4 ,one might give ,instances of this1 both in ,sects of ,religion and ,philosophy1 in ,platonists1 ,stoicks1 and ,epicureans1 that are so by their ,temper more than their ,reason2 but to our ,purpose it will be sufficient to instance in one hearty ,epicurean1 ,lucretius1 who is manifestly such1 more from his ,inclination1 and the ,bent of his ,spirit1 than from the ,force of ,argument4 ,for tho' his ,suppositions be very precarious1 and his ,reasonings all along very slight1 he will many times strut and triumph1 as if he had rested the ,thunder out of ,jove's right ,hand2 and a ,mathematician is not more confident of his ,demonstration1 than he seems to be of the ,truth of his shallow ,philosophy4 ,from such a ,principle of natural ,complexion as this1 ,i allow a ,man may be ,athestical1 but never from the calm ,dictate of his ,reason2 yet he may be as confident and as tenacious of his ,conclusion1 as if he had a clear and distinct ,evidence for it4 ,for ,i take it to be a true ,maxim in humane ,nature1 that a strong ,inclination1 with a little ,evidence1 is equivalent to a strong ,evidence4 ,and therefore we are not to be surpriz'd if we find ,men confident in their ,opinions many times far beyond the ,degree of their ,evidence1 seeing there are other ,things1 besides ,evidence1 that incline the ,will to one ,conclusion rather than another4 ,and as ,i have instanc'd in natural ,complexion1 so ,interest hath the same ,effect upon humane ,nature1 because it always begets an ,inclination to those ,opinions that favour our ,interest1 and a ,disinclination to the contrary3 ,and this ,principle may be another ,ingredient1 and secret ,persuasive to ,atheism2 for when ,men have run themselves so deep into ,vice and ,immorality1 that they expect no ,benefit from a ,god1 'tis in a ,manner necessary to their ,quiet1 and the ,ease of their ,mind1 that they should fancy there is none2 for they are afraid1 if there be a ,god1 that he will not stand neuter1 and let them alone in another ,world4 ,this1 ,i say1 is necessary to the ,quiet of their ,mind1 unless they can attain that great ,art1 which many labour after1 of ,non-reflection1 or an unthinking ,faculty1 as to ,god and a ,world to come4 ,but to return to our ,argument1 after this short ,digression---- ,,and as that regular ,diversity which we see in the ,forms of ,nature1 and especially in the ,bodies of ,animals1 could not be from any blind ,principle1 either of ,necessity or of ,chance2 so in the last ,place1 that ,subordination which we see in the ,parts of ,nature1 and ,subserviency to one another1 the less ,noble to the more ,noble1 the ,inanimate to the ,animate1 and all ,things upon ,earth unto ,man1 must needs have been the ,effect of some ,being higher than ,matter2 that did wisely dispose all ,things so at first1 and doth still conserve them in the same order4 ,if ,man had been born into the ,world1 and a numerous ,host of ,creatures1 without any ,provision or ,accommodation made for their ,subsistence and ,conveniences1 we might have suspected that they had come by ,chance1 and therefore were so ill provided for3 ,but which of them can complain8 ,thro' their various kinds and orders1 what is there awanting8 ,they are all fitted to their several ,elements1 and their ways of living1 ,birds1 ,beasts1 and ,fishes1 both by the ,form and ,shape of their ,bodies1 the manner of their ,covering1 and the ,quality of their ,food4 ,besides1 they are instructed in little ,arts and ,instincts for their ,conservation2 and not only for their proper ,conservation1 but also to find a way to make and bring up young ones1 and leave behind them a ,posterity3 ,and all this in so fit a ,method1 and by such a pretty ,train of ,actions1 as is really admirable4 ,,man is the ,master of all1 and of him a double ,care is taken2 that he should neither want what ,nature can afford1 nor what ,art can supply4 ,he could not be provided of all ,conveniences by ,nature only1 especially to secure him against the ,injuries of the ,air2 but in ,recompence1 ,nature hath provided ,materials for all those ,arts which she saw would be needful in humane ,life1 as ,building1 ,cloathing1 ,navigation1 ,agriculture1 c4 that so ,mankind might have both wherewithal to answer their ,occasions1 and also to employ their ,time1 and exercise their ,ingenuity4 ,this ,oeconomy of ,nature1 as ,i may call it1 or well ordering of the great ,family of living ,creatures1 is an ,argument both of ,goodness and of ,wisdom1 and is every way far above the ,powers of ,brute ,matter4 ,all regular ,administration we ascribe to ,conduct and ,judgment3 ,if an ,army of ,men be well provided for1 in things necessary both for ,food1 ,cloaths1 ,arms1 ,lodging1 ,security and ,defence1 so as nothing is awanting in so great a ,multitude1 we suppose it the ,effect of ,care and ,forecast in those ,persons that had the ,charge of it3 ,they took their ,measures at first1 computed and proportion'd one thing to another1 made good ,regulations1 and gave ,orders for convenient ,supplies4 ,and can we suppose the great ,army of ,creatures upon ,earth1 managed and provided for with less ,fore-thought and ,providence1 nay1 with none at all1 by mere ,chance8 ,this is to recede from all ,rules and ,analogy of ,reason1 only to serve a ,turn1 and gratify an unreasonable ,humour4 ,,to conclude this ,argument2 there are two general ,heads of things1 if ,i recollect aright1 which we make the ,marks and ,characters of ,wisdom and ,reason1 ,works of ,art1 and the ,conduct of ,affairs or ,direction of ,means to an ,end2 and wheresoever we meet1 either with regular material ,works1 or a regular ,ordination of ,affairs1 we think we have a good ,title and ,warrant to derive them from an intelligent ,author3 ,now these two being found in the natural ,world1 and that in an eminent ,degree1 the one in the ,frame of it1 and the other in the ,oeconomy of it1 we have all the ,evidence and ,ground that can be1 in arguing from ,things visible to ,things invisible1 that there is an ,author of ,nature1 superior both to humane ,power and humane ,wisdom4 ,,before we proceed to give any further ,proofs or ,discoveries of the ,author of ,nature1 let us reflect a little upon those we have already insisted upon2 which have been taken wholly from the material ,world1 and from the common ,course of ,nature4 ,the very ,existence of ,matter is a ,proof of a ,deity1 for the ,idea of it hath no ,connexion with ,existence1 as we shall shew hereafter2 however we will take leave now to set it down with the rest in ,order as they follow one another4 #a4 ,the ,existence of ,matter4 #b4 ,the ,motion of ,matter4 #c4 ,the just ,quantity and ,degree of that ,motion4 #d4 ,the first ,form of the ,universe upon ,motion imprest2 both as to the ,divisions of ,matter1 and the ,leading ,motions4 #e4 ,the ,laws for ,communication and ,regulation of that ,motion4 #f4 ,the regular ,effects of it1 especially in the ,animate ,world4 #g4 ,the ,oeconomy of ,nature1 and fit ,subordination of one part of the ,world to another4 ,the five first of these ,heads are ,prerequisites and ,preparatives to the ,formation of a ,world1 and the two last are as the ,image and ,character of its ,maker1 of his ,power1 ,goodness and ,wisdom1 imprest upon it4 ,every one of them might well deserve a ,chapter to it self1 if the ,subject was to be treated on at large2 but this is only an occasional ,dissertation1 to state the ,powers of ,matter1 lest they should be thought boundless1 and the ,author of ,nature unnecessary1 as the ,epicureans pretend2 but notwithstanding their vain ,confidence and ,credulity1 ,i defy them1 or any ,man else1 to make ,sense of the material ,world1 without placing a ,god at the ,center of it4 ,,to these ,considerations1 taken wholly from the corporeal ,world1 give me leave to add one of a mix'd ,nature1 concerning the ,union of our ,soul and ,body4 ,this strange ,effect1 if rightly understood1 doth as truly discover the ,author of ,nature1 as many ,effects that are accounted more supernatural4 ,the ,incarnation1 as ,i may so say1 of a spiritual ,substance is to me a kind of standing ,miracle2 that there should be such an ,union and ,connexion reciprocally betwixt the ,motions of the ,body1 and the ,actions and ,passions of the ,soul2 betwixt a ,substance intellectual1 and a ,parcel of organiz'd ,matter1 can be no ,effect of either of those ,substances2 being wholly distinct in themselves1 and remote in their ,natures from one another4 ,for ,instance1 when my finger is cut1 or when 'tis burnt1 that my ,soul thereupon should feel such a smart and violent ,pain1 is no ,consequence of ,nature1 or does not follow from any ,connexion there is betwixt the ,motion or ,division of that ,piece of ,matter1 ,i call my ,finger1 and the ,passion of that ,spirit ,i call my ,soul2 for these are two distinct ,essences1 and in themselves independent upon one another1 as much as the ,sun and my ,body are independent2 and there is no more ,reason in strict ,nature1 or in the essential ,chain of ,causes and ,effects1 that my ,soul should suffer1 or be affected with this ,motion in the ,finger1 than that the ,sun should be affected with it2 nay1 there is less ,reason1 if less can be1 for the ,sun being corporeal1 as the ,finger is1 there is some remote ,possibility that there might be ,communication of ,motion betwixt them2 but ,motion cannot beget a ,thought1 or a ,passion1 by its own ,force2 ,motion can beget nothing but ,motion1 and if it should produce a ,thought1 the ,effect would be more noble than the ,cause4 ,wherefore this ,union is not by any ,necessity of ,nature1 but only from a positive institution or ,decree1 establish'd by the ,author of ,nature1 that there should be such a ,communication betwixt these two ,substances for a time1 viz4 during the ,vitality of the ,body4 ',,tis true indeed1 if ,thought1 ,apprehension1 and ,reason1 was nothing but corporeal ,motion1 this ,argument would be of no ,force2 but to suppose this1 is to admit an ,absurdity to cure a ,difficulty2 to make a ,thought out of a local ,motion is like making a ,god out of a ,stock1 or a ,stone2 for these two are as remote in their ,nature1 and have as different ,idea's in the ,mind1 as any two desperate ,things we can propose or conceive2 ,number and ,colour1 a ,triangle and ,virtue1 ,free-will and a ,pyramid1 are not more unlike1 more distant1 or of more different ,forms1 than ,thought and local ,motion4 ,motion is nothing but a ,body's changing its ,place and ,situation amongst other ,bodies1 and what ,affinity or ,resemblance hath that to a ,thought8 ,how is that like to ,pain1 or to a ,doubt of the ,mind8 ,to ,hope or to ,desire8 ,to the ,idea of ,god8 ,to any ,act of the ,will or ,understanding1 as judging1 consenting1 reasoning1 remembring1 or any other8 ,these are ,things of several ,orders that have no ,similitude1 nor any ,mixture of one another4 ,and as this is the ,nature of ,motion1 so1 on the other ,hand1 in a ,thought there are two ,things1 ,consciousness and a ,representation2 ,consciousness is in all ,thoughts indifferently1 whether distinct or confus'd1 for no ,man thinks but he is conscious that he thinks1 nor perceives any ,thing but he is conscious that he perceives it2 there is also in a ,thought1 especially if it be distinct1 a ,representation2 'tis the ,image of that we think upon1 and makes its ,objects present to the ,mind4 ,now what hath local ,motion to do with either of these two1 ,consciousness or ,representativeness8 ,how doth it include either of them1 or hold them any way affix'd to its ,nature8 ,i think one may with as good ,sense and ,reason ask of what ,colour a ,thought is1 ,green or ,scarlet1 as what ,sort of ,motion it is2 for ,motion of what ,sort soever can never be conscious1 nor represent ,things as our ,thoughts do4 ,i have noted thus much in general1 only to shew the different ,nature of ,motion and ,cogitation1 that we may be the more sensible that they have no mutual ,connexion in us1 nor in any other ,creature1 from their ,essence or essential ,properties1 but by a supervenient ,power from the ,author of ,nature1 who hath thus united the ,soul and the ,body in their ,operations4 ,,we have hitherto only consider'd the ordinary ,course of ,nature1 and what ,indications and ,proofs of its ,author1 that affords us3 ,there is another remarkable ,head of ,arguments from ,effects1 extraordinary and supernatural1 such as ,miracles1 ,prophecies1 ,inspirations1 ,prodigies1 ,apparitions1 ,witchcraft1 ,sorceries1 c4 ,these1 at one ,step1 lead us to something above ,nature1 and this is the shortest way and the most ,popular2 several ,arguments are suited to several ,tempers1 and ,god hath not left himself without a proper ,witness to every ,temper that is not willfully blind4 ,of these ,witnesses we now speak of1 the most considerable are ,miracles1 and the most considerable ,records of them are the ,books of ,scripture2 which if we consider only as an ,history1 and as having nothing sacred in them more than other good ,histories1 that is1 ,truth in ,matter of ,fact1 we cannot doubt but there have been ,miracles in the ,world3 ,that ,moses and the ,prophets1 our ,saviour and his ,apostles1 wrought ,miracles1 ,i can no more question1 than that ,csar and ,alexander fought ,battles1 and took ,cities4 ,so also that there were true ,prophecies and ,inspirations1 we know from ,scripture1 only consider'd as a true ,history4 ,but as for other supernatural ,effects that are not recorded there1 we have ,reason to examine them more strictly before we receive them1 at least as to particular ,instances2 for ,i am apt to think they are like ,lotteries1 where there are ten or twenty ,blanks for one ,prize2 but yet if there were no ,prizes at all1 the ,lottery would not have ,credit to subsist1 and would be cry'd down as a perfect ,cheat3 ,so if amongst those many ,stories of ,prodigies1 ,apparitions1 and ,witchcrafts1 there were not some true1 the very ,fame and ,thought of them would die from amongst ,men1 and the first ,broachers of them would be hooted at as ,cheats4 ,as a false ,religion1 that hath nothing true and solid mix'd with it1 can scarce be fix'd upon ,mankind2 but where there is a ,mixture of true and false1 the ,strength of the one supports the ,weakness of the other4 ,as for ,sorcery1 the ,instances and ,examples of it are undeniable2 not so much those few scatter'd ,instances that happen now and then among us1 but such as are more constant1 and in a manner ,national1 in some ,countries1 and amongst barbarous ,people4 ,besides1 the ,oracles1 and the ,magick that was so frequent amongst the ,ancients1 shew us that there have been always some ,powers more than ,humane1 tampering with the ,affairs of ,mankind4 ,but this ,topick from ,effects1 extraordinary and supernatural1 being in a great measure ,historical1 and respecting evil ,spirits as well as the ,author of ,nature1 is not so proper for this ,place4 ,,there is a third ,set or ,head of ,arguments1 that to some ,tempers are more cogent and convictive than any of these1 namely1 ,arguments ,abstract and ,metaphysical2 ,and these do not only lead us to an ,author of ,nature in general1 but shew us more of his ,properties and ,perfections2 represent him to us as a supreme ,deity1 infinitely perfect1 the ,fountain of all ,being1 and the steady ,center of all ,things4 ,but ,reasons of this ,order being of a finer ,thread1 require more ,attention1 and some ,preparation of ,mind to make us discern them well and be duly sensible of them4 ,when a ,man hath withdrawn himself from the ,noise of this busy ,world1 lock'd up his ,senses and his ,passions1 and every thing that would unite him with it2 commanded a general ,silence in the ,soul1 and suffers not a ,thought to stir1 but what looks inwards2 let him then reflect seriously1 and ask himself1 ,what am ,i1 and ,how came ,i into ,being8 ,if ,i was ,author and ,original to my self1 surely ,i ought to feel that mighty ,power1 and enjoy the ,pleasure of it2 but1 alas1 ,i am conscious of no such ,force or ,virtue1 nor of any thing in my ,nature1 that should give me necessary ,existence2 it hath no ,connexion with any part of me1 nor any ,faculty in me1 that ,i can discern4 ,and now that ,i do exist1 from what ,causes soever1 ,can ,i secure my self in ,being8 ,now that ,i am in ,possession1 am ,i sure to keep it8 ,am ,i certain that three ,minutes hence ,i shall still exist8 ,i may or ,i may not1 for ought ,i see2 either seems possible in it self2 and either is contingent as to me2 ,i find nothing in my ,nature that can warrant my ,substance for one ,day1 for one ,hour1 for one ,moment longer4 ,i am nothing but ,thoughts1 fleeting ,thoughts1 that chase and extinguish one another2 and my ,being1 for ought ,i know1 is successive1 and as dying as they are1 and renew'd to me every ,moment4 ,this ,i am sure of1 that so far as ,i know my self1 and am conscious what ,i am1 there is no ,principle of ,immutability1 or of necessary and indefectible ,existence in my ,nature2 and therefore ,i ought in ,reason to believe1 that ,i stand or fall at the ,mercy of other ,causes1 and not by my own ,will1 or my own ,sufficiency4 ,,besides1 ,i am very sensible1 and in this ,i cannot be mistaken1 that my ,nature is in several ,respects weak and imperfect1 both as to ,will and ,understanding4 ,i ,will many ,things in vain and without effect1 and ,i ,wish often what ,i have no ,ability to execute or obtain4 ,and as to my ,understanding1 how defective is it8 ,how little or nothing do ,i know in ,comparison of what ,i am ignorant of8 ,almost all the intellectual ,world is shut up to me1 and the far greatest ,part of the corporeal2 and in those ,things that fall under my ,cognizance1 how often am ,i mistaken8 ,i am confin'd to a narrow ,sphere1 and yet within that ,sphere ,i often err2 my ,conceptions of ,things are obscure and confus'd1 my reason short-sighted2 ,i am forc'd often to correct my self1 or to acknowledge that ,i have judg'd false1 and consented to an ,error4 ,in sum1 all my ,powers ,i find are limited1 and ,i can easily conceive the same kind of ,perfections in higher ,degrees than ,i possess them1 and consequently there are ,beings1 or may be1 greater and more excellent than my self1 and more able to subsist by their own ,power1 7 ,arist47 ,why should ,i not therefore believe that my ,original is from those ,beings rather than from my self8 ,for every ,nature1 the more great and perfect it is1 the nearer it approaches to ,necessity of ,existence1 and to a ,power of producing other ,things4 ,yet1 the ,truth is1 it must be acknowledg'd1 that so long as the ,perfection of those other ,beings are limited and finite1 tho' they be far superior to us1 there is no ,necessity ariseth from their ,nature that they should exist2 and the same ,arguments that we have us'd against our selves1 they may1 in ,proportion1 use against themselves2 and therefore we must still advance higher to find a self-originated ,being1 whose ,existence must flow immediately from his ,essence1 or have a necessary ,connexion with it4 ,,and indeed all these different ,degrees of higher and higher ,perfections1 lead us directly to an highest1 or supreme ,degree1 which is infinite and unlimited ,perfection4 ,as subordinate ,causes lead to the first1 so ,natures more perfect one than another lead us to a ,nature infinitely perfect1 which is the ,fountain of them all4 ,thither we must go1 if we will follow the ,course of ,reason1 which cannot stop at one more than another1 till it arrive there2 and being arriv'd there at that sovereign and original ,perfection1 it finds a firm and immovable ,ground to stand upon2 the steady ,centre of all ,being1 wherein the ,mind rests and is satisfied4 ,all the ,scruples or ,objections that we mov'd against our selves1 or other ,creatures1 take no ,place here3 ,this ,being is conscious of an ,allsufficiency in it self1 and of ,immutability as to any ,thing else2 including in it all the ,causes of ,existence1 or1 to speak more properly1 all ,necessity of ,existence4 ,besides1 that we exist our selves1 notwithstanding the ,imperfection and ,insufficiency of our ,nature1 is a just1 collateral ,proof of the ,existence1 of this supreme ,being2 for such an ,effect as this cannot be without its ,cause1 and it can have no other competent ,cause but what we mention4 ,and as this ,being is its own ,origin1 so it must needs be capable of producing all ,creatures2 for whatsoever is possible1 must be possible to it2 and that ,creatures or finite ,beings are possible1 we both see by ,experience1 and may also discern by ,reason2 for those several ,degrees of ,perfection or ,limitations of it1 which we mention'd before1 are all consistent ,notions1 and consequently make consistent ,natures1 and such as may exist2 but contingently indeed1 and in ,dependance upon the first ,cause4 ,,thus we are come at length to a fair ,resolution of that great ,question1 ,whence we are1 and how we continue in ,being8 ,and this hath led us by an easy ,ascent to the supreme ,author of ,nature1 and the first ,cause of all things2 and presents us also with such a ,scheme and ,draught of the ,universe1 as is clear and rational2 every thing in its ,order1 and in its ,place1 according to the ,dignity of its ,nature1 and the ,strength of its ,principles4 ,when the ,mind hath rais'd it self into this ,view of a ,being infinitely perfect1 'tis in a ,region of ,light1 hath a free ,prospect every ,way1 and sees all ,things from ,top to ,bottom1 as pervious and transparent4 ,whereas without ,god and a first ,cause1 there is nothing but ,darkness and ,confusion in the ,mind1 and in ,nature2 broken ,views of ,things1 short interrupted ,glimpses of ,light1 nothing certain or demonstrative1 no ,basis of ,truth1 no ,extent of ,thought1 no ,science1 no ,contemplation4 ,,you will say1 it may be1 'tis true1 something must be eternal1 and of necessary ,existence1 but why may not ,matter be this eternal necessary ,being8 ,then our ,souls and all other ,intellectual ,things must be ,parts and ,parcels of ,matter2 and what ,pretensions can ,matter have to those ,properties and ,perfections that we find in our ,souls1 how limited soever8 ,much less to necessary ,existence1 and those ,perfections that are the ,foundation of it8 ,what exists eternally1 and from it self1 its ,existence must flow immediately from its ,essence1 as its ,cause1 ,reason1 or ,ground2 for as ,existence hath always something antecedent to it in ,order of ,nature1 so that which is antecedent to it1 must infer it by a necessary ,connexion1 and so may be call'd the ,cause1 ,ground1 or ,reason of it4 ,and nothing can be such a ,ground1 but what is a ,perfection2 nor every ,perfection neither1 it must be sovereign and infinite ,perfection2 for from what else can necessary ,existence flow1 or be infer'd8 ,besides1 if that ,being was not infinitely perfect1 there might be another ,being more powerful than it1 and consequently able to oppose and hinder its ,existence2 and what may be hinder'd is contingent and arbitrary4 ,now ,matter is so far from being a ,nature infinitely perfect1 that it hath no ,perfection at all1 but that of bare ,substance2 neither ,life1 ,sense1 ,will or ,understanding2 nor so much as ,motion from it self2 as we have shew'd before4 ,and therefore this brute inactive ,mass1 which is but1 as it were1 the ,drudge of ,nature1 can have no ,right or ,title to that sovereign ,prerogative of ,self-existence4 ,,we noted before1 as a ,thing agreed upon1 that something or other must needs be ,eternal4 ,for if ever there was a ,time or ,state when there was no being1 there never could be any4 ,seeing ,nothing could not produce ,something4 ,therefore 'tis undeniably true on all ,hands1 that there was some ,being from ,eternity4 ,now1 according to our ,understanding1 ,truth is ,eternal3 ,therefore1 say we1 some intellect or intelligent ,being4 ,so also the ,reasons of ,goodness and ,justice appear to us ,eternal2 and therefore some good and just ,being is ,eternal4 ,thus much is plain1 that these ,perfections which bear the ,signatures of ,eternity upon them1 are ,things that have no ,relation to ,matter1 but relate immediately to an intellectual ,being3 ,therefore some such ,being1 to whom they originally belong1 must be that ,eternal4 ,besides1 ,we cannot possibly but judge such a ,being more perfect than ,matter4 ,now every ,nature1 the more perfect it is1 the more remote it is from ,nothing2 and the more remote it is from ,nothing1 the more it approaches to ,necessity of ,existence1 and consequently to eternal ,existence4 ,,thus we have made a short ,survey1 so far as the ,bounds of a ,chapter would permit1 of those ,evidences and ,assurances which we have from abstract ,reason and the external ,world1 that there is an ,author of ,nature2 and that a ,being infinitely perfect1 which we call ,god4 ,we may add to these1 in the last ,place1 that universal ,consent of ,mankind1 or natural ,instinct of ,religion which we see1 more or less1 throughout all ,nations1 barbarous or civil4 ,for tho' this ,argument1 'tis true1 be more disputable than the rest1 yet having set down just ,grounds already from whence this natural ,judgment or ,persuasion might spring1 we have more ,reason to impute it to some of those1 and their insensible ,influence upon the ,mind1 than to the ,artifices of ,men1 or to make it a ,weakness1 ,prejudice1 or ,error of our ,nature4 ,that there is such a ,propension in humane ,nature1 seems to be very plain2 at least so far as to move us to implore1 and have recourse to invisible ,powers in our ,extremities4 ,prayer is natural in certain ,cases1 and we do at the mere ,motion of our natural ,spirit1 and indeliberately1 invoke ,god and ,heaven1 either in case of extream ,danger1 to help and assist us2 or in case of ,injustice and ,oppression1 to relieve or avenge us2 or in case of false ,accusations1 to vindicate our ,innocency2 and generally in all cases desperate and remediless as to humane ,power1 we seem to appeal and address our selves to something higher4 ,and this we do by a sudden ,impulse of ,nature1 without ,reflexion or ,deliberation4 ,besides1 as ,witnesses of our ,faith and ,veracity1 we use to invoke the ,gods1 or superior ,powers1 by ,way of ,imprecation upon our selves1 if we be false and perjur'd2 and this hath been us'd in most ,nations and ,ages1 if not in all4 ,these ,things also argue1 that there is a natural ,conscience in ,man1 and a ,distinction of moral ,good and ,evil2 and that we look upon those invisible ,powers as the ,guardians of ,virtue and ,honesty4 ,there are also few or no ,people upon the ,earth but have something of external ,religion1 true or false2 and either of them is an ,argument of this natural ,anticipation1 or that they have an ,opinion that there is something above them1 and above visible ,nature2 tho' what that something was1 they seldom were able to make a good ,judgment4 ,but to pursue this ,argument particularly1 would require an historical ,deduction of ,times and ,places1 which is not suitable to our present ,design4 ,,to conclude this ,chapter and this ,subject2 if we set ,religion apart1 and consider the ,deist and ,atheist only as two ,sects in ,philosophy1 or their ,doctrine as two different ,hypotheses propos'd for the ,explication of ,nature1 and in ,competition with one another1 whether should give the more rational ,account of the ,universe1 of its ,origin and ,phnomena8 ,i say if we consider them only thus1 and make an impartial ,estimate whether ,system is more reasonable1 more clear1 and more satisfactory2 to me there seems to be no more ,comparison than betwixt ,light and ,darkness4 ,the ,hypothesis of the ,deist reacheth from ,top to ,bottom1 both through the intellectual and material ,world1 with a clear and distinct ,light every where2 is genuine1 comprehensive1 and satisfactory2 hath nothing forc'd1 nothing confus'd1 nothing precarious2 whereas the ,hypothesis of the ,atheist is strain'd and broken1 dark and uneasy to the ,mind1 commonly precarious2 often incongruous and irrational1 and sometimes plainly ridiculous4 ,and this ,judgment ,i should make of them abstractly from the ,interest of ,religion1 considering them only as ,matter of ,reason and ,philosophy4 ,and ,i dare affirm with ,assurance1 if the ,faculties of our ,souls be true1 that no ,man can have a ,system of ,thoughts reaching thorough ,nature1 coherent and confident in every ,part1 without a ,deity for the ,basis of it4 ,,chap4 ,,xi4 ,several ,incroachments upon natural ,providence1 or ,misrepresentations of it1 and false ,methods of ,contemplation4 ,a true ,method propos'd1 and a true ,representation of the ,universe4 ,the ,mundane ,idea1 and the universal ,system of ,providence4 ,several subordinate ,systems4 ,that of our ,earth and sublunary ,world4 ,the ,course and ,periods of it4 ,how much of this is already treated of1 and what remains4 ,the ,conclusion4 ,,we have set ,bounds to ,nature in the foregoing ,chapter1 and plac'd her ,author and ,governor upon his ,throne1 to give ,laws to her ,motions1 and to direct and limit her ,power in such ,ways and ,methods as are most for his ,honour4 ,let us now consider ,nature under the ,conduct of ,providence1 or consider ,natural ,providence1 and the ,extent of it2 and as we were cautious before not to give too much ,power or ,greatness to ,nature1 consider'd apart from ,providence2 so we must be careful now1 under this second ,consideration1 not to contract her ,bounds too much2 lest we should1 by too mean and narrow ,thoughts of the ,creation1 eclipse the ,glory of its ,author1 whom we have so lately own'd as a ,being infinitely ,perfect4 ,,and to use no further ,introduction1 in the first ,place1 we must not by any ,means admit or imagine1 that all ,nature1 and this great ,universe1 was made only for the sake of ,man1 the meanest of all intelligent ,creatures that we know of2 nor that this little ,planet1 where we sojourn for a few ,days1 is the only habitable ,part of the ,universe3 ,these are ,thoughts so groundless and unreasonable in themselves1 and also so derogatory to the infinite ,power1 ,wisdom and ,goodness of the first ,cause1 that as they are absurd in ,reason1 so they deserve far better to be mark'd and censur'd for ,heresies in ,religion1 than many ,opinions that have been censur'd for such in former ,ages4 ,how is it possible that it should enter into the ,thoughts of vain ,man to believe himself the principal ,part of ,god's ,creation1 or that all the rest was ordain'd for him1 for his ,service or ,pleasure8 ,man1 whose ,follies we laugh at every ,day1 or else complain of them2 whose ,pleasures are ,vanity1 and his ,passions stronger than his ,reason8 who sees himself every ,way weak and impotent1 hath no power over external ,nature1 little over himself2 cannot execute so much as his own good ,resolutions1 mutable1 irregular1 prone to ,evil4 ,surely1 if we made the least ,reflection upon our selves with ,impartiality1 we should be asham'd of such an arrogant ,thought4 ,how few of these ,sons of ,men1 for whom1 they say1 all ,things were made1 are the ,sons of ,wisdom8 ,how few find the ,paths of ,life8 ,they spend a few ,days in ,folly and ,sin1 and then go down to the ,regions of ,death and ,misery4 ,and is it possible to believe that all ,nature1 and all ,providence1 are only or principally for their sake8 ,is it not a more reasonable ,character or ,conclusion which the ,prophet hath made1 ,surely every ,man is ,vanity8 ,man that comes into the ,world at the ,pleasure of another1 and goes out by an hundred ,accidents2 his ,birth and ,education generally determine his ,fate here1 and neither of those are in his own ,power2 his ,wit also is as uncertain as his ,fortune2 he hath not the moulding of his own ,brain1 however a ,knock on the ,head makes him a ,fool1 stupid as the ,beasts of the ,field2 and a little ,excess of ,passion or ,melancholy makes him worse1 ,mad and ,frantick4 ,in his best ,senses he is shallow1 and of little ,understanding2 and in nothing more blind and ignorant than in ,things sacred and divine2 he falls down before a ,stock or a ,stone1 and says1 ,thou art my ,god2 he can believe ,nonsense and ,contradictions1 and make it his ,religion to do so4 ,and is this the great ,creature which ,god hath made by the ,might of his ,power1 and for the ,honour of his ,majesty8 ,upon whom all ,things must wait1 to whom all ,things must be subservient8 ,methinks we have noted ,weaknesses and ,follies enough in the ,nature of ,man2 this need not be added as the ,top and ,accomplishment1 ,that with all these he is so vain as to think that all the rest of the ,world was made for his sake4 ,,and as due ,humility and the ,consideration of our own ,meanness ought to secure us from any such vain ,opinion of our selves1 so the ,perfection of other ,beings ought to give us more ,respect and ,honour for them4 ,with what ,face can we pretend that ,creatures far superior to us1 and more excellent both in ,nature and ,condition1 should be made for our ,sake and ,service8 ,how preposterous would it be to ascribe such a thing to our ,maker1 and how intolerable a ,vanity in us to affect it8 ,we that are next to the ,brutes that perish1 by a sacrilegious ,attempt would make our selves more considerable than the highest ,dignities4 ,it is thought to have been the ,crime of ,lucifer1 who was thrown down from ,heaven to ,hell1 that he affected an ,equality with the ,almighty2 and to affect to be next to the ,almighty is a ,crime next to that4 ,we have no ,reason to believe but that there are1 at least1 as many ,orders of ,beings above us1 as there are ,ranks of ,creatures below us2 there is a greater ,distance sure betwixt us and ,god ,almighty1 than there is betwixt us and the meanest ,worm2 and yet we should take it very ill1 if the ,worms of the ,earth should pretend that we were made for them4 ,but to pass from the invisible ,world to the visible and corporeal---- ,,was that made only for our sake8 ,king ,david was more wise1 and more just both to ,god and ,man1 in his viiith ,psalm1 where he says1 ,he wonders1 when he considers the ,heavens1 that the ,maker of them could think on ,man4 ,he truly supposes the celestial ,bodies1 and the ,inhabitants of them1 much more considerable than we are1 and reckons up only terrestrial ,things as put in subjection to ,man4 ,can we then be so fond as to imagine all the corporeal ,universe made for our ,use8 ',tis not the millioneth ,part of it that is known to us1 much less useful2 we can neither reach with our ,eye1 nor our ,imagination1 those ,armies of ,stars that lie far and deep in the boundless ,heavens4 ,if we take a good ,glass1 we discover innumerable more ,stars in the ,firmament than we can with our single ,eye2 and yet if you take a second ,glass1 better than the first1 that carries the ,sight to a greater ,distance1 you see more still lying beyond the other2 and a third ,glass that pierceth further1 still makes new ,discoveries of ,stars2 and so forwards1 indefinitely and inexhaustedly for any ,thing we know1 according to the ,immensity of the divine ,nature and ,power4 ,who can reckon up the ,stars of the ,galaxy1 or direct us in the ,use of them8 ,and can we believe that those and all the rest were made for us8 ,of those few ,stars that we enjoy1 or that are visible to the ,eye1 there is not a tenth ,part that is really useful to ,man2 and no doubt if the principal ,end of them had been our ,pleasure or ,conveniency1 they would have been put in some better ,order in respect of the ,earth4 ,they lie carelessly scatter'd1 as if they had been sown in the ,heaven1 like seed1 by handfuls2 and not by a skilful ,hand neither4 ,what a beautiful ,hemisphere they would have made1 if they had been plac'd in ,rank and ,order2 if they had been all dispos'd into regular ,figures1 and the little ones set with due ,regard to the greater1 then all finish'd and made up into one fair ,piece or great ,composition1 according to the ,rules of ,art and ,symmetry2 what a surprizing ,beauty this would have been to the ,inhabitants of the ,earth8 ,what a lovely ,roof to our little ,world8 ,this indeed might have given one some ,temptation to have thought that they had been all made for us2 but lest any such vain ,imagination should now enter into our ,thoughts1 ,providence 7besides more important ,reasons7 seems on ,purpose to have left them under that ,negligence or ,disorder1 which they appear in to us4 ,,the second ,part of this ,opinion supposeth this ,planet1 where we live1 to be the only habitable ,part of the ,universe2 and this is a natural ,consequence of the former3 ,if all ,things were made to serve us1 why should any more be made than what is useful to us8 ,but 'tis only our ,ignorance of the ,system of the ,world1 and of the ,grandeur of the ,works of ,god1 that betrays us to such narrow ,thoughts4 7,see the ,lat4 ,treat4 lib4 #a4 c4 #aj4 p4 #ajh1 #aji1 c47 ,if we do but consider what this ,earth is1 both for ,littleness and ,deformity1 and what its ,inhabitants are1 we shall not be apt to think that this miserable ,atom hath engross'd and exhausted all the divine ,favours1 and all the ,riches of his ,goodness1 and of his ,providence4 ,but we will not enlarge upon this ,part of the ,opinion1 lest it should carry us too far from the ,subject1 and it will fall of its own ,accord1 with the former4 ,upon the whole we may conclude1 that it was only the sublunary ,world that was made for the sake of ,man1 and not the great ,creation1 either material or intellectual2 and we cannot admit or affirm any more without manifest ,injury1 ,depression1 and ,misrepresentation of ,providence1 as we may be easily convinc'd from these four ,heads2 ,the ,meanness of ,man and of this ,earth2 ,the ,excellency of other ,beings2 ,the ,immensity of the ,universe1 and the infinite ,perfection of the first ,cause4 ,which ,i leave to your further ,meditation1 and pass on to the second ,rule concerning natural ,providence4 ,in the second ,place1 then1 ,if we would have a fair ,view and right ,apprehensions of natural ,providence1 we must not cut the ,chains of it too short1 by having recourse without ,necessity1 either to the first ,cause1 in explaining the ,origins of ,things2 or to ,miracles1 in explaining particular ,effects4 ,this1 ,i say1 breaks the ,chains of natural ,providence1 when it is done without ,necessity2 that is1 when ,things are otherwise intelligible from second ,causes4 ,neither is any ,thing gain'd by it to ,god ,almighty2 for 'tis but as the ,proverb says1 ,to rob ,peter to pay ,paul2 to take so much from his ordinary ,providence1 and place it to his extraordinary4 ,when a new ,religion is brought into the ,world1 'tis very reasonable and decorous that it should be usher'd in with ,miracles1 as both the ,jewish and ,christian were1 but afterwards ,things return into their ,channel and do not change or overflow again but upon extraordinary ,occasions or ,revolutions4 ,the ,power ,extraordinary of ,god is to be accounted very sacred1 not to be touch'd or expos'd for our ,pleasure or ,conveniency2 but ,i am afraid we often make use of it only to conceal our own ,ignorance1 or to save us the ,trouble of inquiring into natural ,causes4 ,men are generally unwilling to appear ignorant1 especially those that make ,profession of ,knowledge2 and when they have not ,skill enough to explain some particular ,effect in a ,way of ,reason1 they throw it upon the first ,cause1 as able to bear all2 and so placing it to that ,account1 they excuse themselves1 and save their ,credit2 for all ,men are equally wise1 if you take away second ,causes2 as we are all of the same ,colour1 if you take away the ,light4 ,,but to state this ,matter1 and see the ,ground of this ,rule more distinctly1 we must observe and consider1 ,that the ,course of ,nature is truly the ,will of ,god2 7,see ,book #a4 c4 #h4 at the ,end47 and1 as ,i may so say1 his first ,will2 from which we are not to recede1 but upon clear ,evidence and ,necessity4 ,and as in ,matter of ,religion1 we are to follow the known reveal'd ,will of ,god1 and not to trust to every ,impulse or ,motion of ,enthusiasm1 as coming from the ,divine ,spirit1 unless there be evident ,marks that it is supernatural1 and cannot come from our own2 so neither are we1 without ,necessity1 to quit the known and ordinary ,will and ,power of ,god1 establish'd in the ,course of ,nature1 and fly to supernatural ,causes1 or his extraordinary ,will2 for this is a kind of ,enthusiasm or ,fanaticism1 as well as the other3 ,and no doubt that great ,prodigality and ,waste of ,miracles which some make1 is no way to the ,honour of ,god or ,religion4 ',tis true1 the other ,extream is worse than this1 for to deny all ,miracles1 is in effect to deny all ,reveal'd ,religion2 therefore due ,measures are to be taken betwixt these two1 so as neither to make the ,divine ,power too mean and cheap1 nor the ,power of ,nature illimited and all-sufficient4 ,in the third ,place1 to make the ,scenes of natural ,providence considerable1 and the ,knowledge of them satisfactory to the ,mind1 we must take a true ,philosophy1 or the true ,principles that govern ,nature1 which are ,geometrical and ,mechanical4 ,by these you discover the ,footsteps of the ,divine ,art and ,wisdom1 and trace the ,progress of ,nature ,step by ,step1 as distinctly as in artificial things1 where we see how the ,motions depend upon one another1 in what ,order1 and by what ,necessity4 ,god made all ,things in ,number1 ,weight and ,measure1 which are ,geometrical and ,mechanical ,principles2 ,he is not said to have made ,things by ,forms and ,qualities1 or any ,combination of ,qualities1 but by these three ,principles1 which may be conceiv'd to express the ,subject of three ,mathematical ,sciences1 ,number1 of ,arithmetick2 ,weight1 of ,staticks2 and ,measure and ,proportion1 of ,geometry3 ,if then all things were made according to these ,principles1 to understand the ,manner of their ,construction and ,composition1 we must proceed in the ,search of them by the same ,principles1 and resolve them into these again4 ,besides1 the ,nature of the ,subject does direct us sufficiently2 for when we contemplate or treat of ,bodies1 and the material ,world1 we must proceed by the ,modes of ,bodies1 and their real ,properties1 such as can be represented either to ,sense or ,imagination1 for these ,faculties are made for corporeal ,things2 but ,logical ,notions1 when applied to particular ,bodies1 are meer ,shadows of them1 without ,light or ,substance4 ,no ,man can raise a ,theory upon such ,grounds1 nor calculate any ,revolutions of ,nature1 nor render any ,service1 or invent any thing useful in human ,life4 ,and accordingly we see1 that for these many ,ages1 that this dry ,philosophy hath govern'd ,christendom1 it hath brought forth no ,fruit1 produc'd nothing good to ,god or ,man1 to ,religion or human ,society4 ,,to these true ,principles of ,philosophy1 we must join also the true ,system of the ,world4 ,that gives ,scope to our ,thoughts1 and rational ,grounds to work upon2 but the vulgar ,system1 or that which ,aristotle and others have propos'd1 affords no ,matter of ,contemplation4 ,all above the ,moon1 according to him1 is firm as ,adamant1 and as immutable2 no ,change or ,variation in the ,universe1 but in those little ,removes that happen here below1 one ,quality or ,form shifting into another3 ,there would therefore be no great ,exercise of ,reason or ,meditation in such a ,world2 no long ,series of ,providence3 ,the ,regions above being made of a kind of immutable ,matter1 they would always remain in the same ,form1 ,structure1 and ,qualities3 ,so as we might lock up that part of the ,universe as to any further ,inquiries1 and we should find it ten thousand ,years hence in the same ,form and ,state wherein we left it4 ,then in this sublunary ,world there would be but small ,doings neither2 ,things would lie in a narrow ,compass1 no great ,revolution of ,nature1 no new ,form of the ,earth1 but a few ,anniversary ,corruptions and ,generations1 and that would be the short and the long of ,nature1 and of ,providence1 according to ,aristotle4 ,but if we consider the ,earth1 as one of those many ,planets that move about the ,sun1 and the ,sun as one of those innumerable fix'd ,stars that adorn the ,universe1 and are the ,centers of its greatest ,motions2 and all this subject to ,fate and ,change1 to ,corruptions and ,renovations3 ,this opens a large ,field for our ,thoughts1 and gives a large ,subject for the ,exercise and ,expansion of the ,divine ,wisdom and ,power1 and for the ,glory of his ,providence4 ,in the last ,place2 ,having thus prepar'd your ,mind1 and the ,subject1 for the ,contemplation of ,natural ,providence1 do not content your self to consider only the present ,face of ,nature1 but look back into the first ,sources of ,things1 into their more simple and original ,states2 and observe the ,progress of ,nature from one ,form to another1 through various ,modes and ,compositions4 ,for there is no single ,effect1 nor any single ,state of ,nature1 how perfect soever1 that can be such an ,argument and ,demonstration of ,providence1 as a ,period of ,nature1 or a ,revolution of several ,states consequential to one another2 and in such an ,order and ,dependance1 that as they flow and succeed1 they shall still be adjusted to the ,periods of the moral ,world2 so as to be ready always to be ,ministers of the ,divine ,justice or ,beneficence to ,mankind4 ,this shews the manifold ,riches of the ,wisdom and ,power of ,god in ,nature4 ,and this may give us just ,occasion to reflect again upon ,aristotle's ,system and ,method1 which destroys natural ,providence in this respect also2 for he takes the ,world as it is now1 both for ,matter and ,form1 and supposeth it to have been in this ,posture from all ,eternity1 and that it will continue to ,eternity in the same2 so as all the great ,turns of ,nature1 and the principal ,scenes of ,providence in the natural ,world are quite struck out2 and we have but this one ,scene for all1 and a pitiful one too1 if compar'd with the infinite ,wisdom of ,god1 and the ,depths of ,providence4 ,we must take ,things in their full ,extent1 and from their ,origins1 to comprehend them well1 and to discover the ,mysteries of ,providence1 both in the ,causes and in the ,conduct of them4 ,that ,method which ,david followed in the ,contemplation of the ,little ,world1 or in the ,body of ,man1 we should also follow in the ,great2 take it in its first ,mass1 in its tender ,principles and ,rudiments1 and observe the ,progress of it to a compleat ,form2 in these first ,stroaks of ,nature are the ,secrets of her ,art2 the ,eye must be plac'd in this ,point to have a right ,prospect1 and see her ,works in a true ,light4 ,david admires the ,wisdom of ,god in the ,origin and ,formation of his ,body2 ,my ,body1 says he1 was not hid from thee1 when ,i was made in secret1 curiously wrought in the lower ,parts of the ,earth2 thine ,eyes did see my ,substance being yet imperfect1 and in thy ,book all my ,members were written2 which in ,continuance were fashioned1 when as yet there was none of them1 or being at first in no ,form4 ,how precious are thy ,thoughts to me1 ,o ,god6 c4 ,psal4 cxxxix4 #ae1 #af1 #ag4 ,this was the ,subject of ,david's1 ,meditations1 how his ,body was wrought from a shapeless ,mass into that marvellous ,composition which it had when fully fram'd2 and this1 he says1 was under the ,eye of ,god all along1 and the ,model of it1 as it were1 was design'd and delineated in the ,book of ,providence1 according to which1 it was by ,degrees fashion'd and wrought to ,perfection4 ,thine ,eyes did see my ,substance yet being imperfect1 in thy ,book all my ,members were drawn1 c4 ,job also hath aptly express'd those first ,rudiments of the ,body1 or that little ,chaos out of which it riseth2 ,hast thou not poured me out as ,milk1 and cruddled me like ,cheese8 ,thou hast cloathed me with ,skin and ,flesh1 and fenced me with ,bones and ,sinews1 ,job x4 #aj1 #aa4 ,where he notes the first ,matter and the last ,form of his ,body1 its compleat and most incompleat ,state4 ,according to these ,examples we must likewise consider the greater ,bodies of ,nature1 the ,earth and the sublunary ,world2 we must go to the ,origin of them1 the ,seminal ,mass1 the ,chaos out of which they rise2 look upon the ,world first as an ,embryo ,world1 without ,form or ,shape1 and then consider how its ,members were fashion'd1 how by degrees it was brought into that ,diversity of ,parts and ,regions which it consists of1 with all their ,furniture1 and with all their ,ornaments4 ,the ,idea of all which was before-hand1 according to ,david's ,expression1 written in the ,divine ,mind2 and we partake of that ,wisdom1 according to our ,capacity1 in seeing and admiring the ,methods of it4 ,,these seem to be necessary ,preparatives or ,directions to those that would contemplate1 with ,profit1 natural ,providence1 and the great ,works of ,god in the visible ,creation4 ,we consider'd ,nature in the precedent ,chapter abstractly1 and in her self2 and now we consider her under the ,conduct of ,providence1 which we therefore call ,natural ,providence3 ,and as we have endeavour'd to remove those false ,notions and ,suppositions that lay as ,clouds upon her ,face1 so we must now endeavour to represent her in a better ,light1 and in a fuller ,beauty4 ,by ,natural ,providence therefore we understand1 the ,form or ,course of ,universal ,nature1 as actuated by the divine ,power2 with all the ,changes1 ,periods1 and ,vicissitudes that attend it1 according to the ,method and ,establishment made at first by the ,author of it4 ,i said of ,universal ,nature1 through all the ,orders of ,beings in the intellectual ,world1 and all the ,regions and ,systems of ,matter in the corporeal4 ,for1 having prov'd in the foregoing ,chapter1 that there is an ,author of ,nature1 a ,being infinitely perfect1 by whose ,power and ,influence alone all finite ,natures exist and act1 we have an assured ,ground to conclude1 that nothing can come to pass1 throughout the whole ,creation1 without the ,prescience and ,permission of its ,author2 and as it is necessary to suppose that there is an ,idea in the ,divine ,understanding of all the ,mass of ,beings produc'd or created1 according to the several ,ranks and ,orders wherein they stand2 so there is also an ,idea there1 according to which this great ,frame moves1 and all the ,parts of it in ,beauty and ,harmony4 ,,and these two ,things1 ,the ,essences of all ,beings1 and the ,series of their ,motions1 compose the ,,mundane ,,idea1 as ,i may so call it2 or that great all comprehensive ,thought in the divine ,understanding1 which contains the ,system of universal ,providence1 and the ,state of all ,things past1 present1 or to come4 ,this glorious ,idea is the express ,image of the whole ,creation1 of all the ,works of ,god1 and the ,disposition of them3 ,here lie the ,mysteries of ,providence1 as in their ,original2 the successive ,forms of all ,nature2 and herein1 as in a ,glass1 may be view'd all the ,scenes of ,time or ,eternity4 ,this is an ,abyss of sacred ,wisdom1 the exhausted ,treasure of all ,science1 the ,root of ,truth1 and ,fountain of intellectual ,light2 and in the clear and full ,contemplation of this is perfect ,happiness1 and a truly beatifick ,vision4 ,,but what concerns the intellectual ,world in this ,idea1 and the ,orders or ,natures that compose it1 is not our present ,business to pursue2 we are to speak of the corporeal ,universe1 whereof we will make now a short and general ,survey1 as it lies under ,providence4 ,the corporeal ,universe1 how immense soever it be1 and divided into innumerable ,regions1 may be consider'd all as one ,system1 made up of several subordinate ,systems4 ,and there is also one immense ,design of ,providence co-extended with it1 that contains all the ,fate1 and all the ,revolutions of this great ,mass4 ,this1 ,i say1 is made up of several subordinate ,systems1 involving one another1 and comprehending one another1 in greater and greater ,orbs and ,compositions2 and the ,aggregate of all these is that which we call the ,universe4 ,but what the ,form of these ,compositions is1 and what the ,design of ,providence that runs thro' them all1 and comprehends them all1 this is unsearchable1 not only to humane ,understanding1 but even to ,angels and ,archangels4 ,,wherefore leaving those greater ,systems and ,compositions of the ,universe1 as ,matter of our ,admiration1 rather than of our ,knowledge2 there are two or three kinds of lesser ,systems that are visible to us1 and bring us nearer to our ,subject1 and nearer home4 ,that of a fix'd ,star single2 ,that of a fix'd ,star with its ,planets1 and that of a single ,planet1 primary or secondary4 ,these three ,systems we see and enjoy more or less4 ,no doubt there are fix'd ,stars single1 or that have no ,planets about them1 as our ,sun hath2 nay 'tis probable1 that at first the whole ,universe consisted only of such ,globes of liquid ,fire1 with ,spheres about them1 of pure ,light and ther3 ,earths are but the ,dirt and ,skum of the ,creation1 and all ,things were pure as they came at first out of the ,hands of ,god4 ,but because we have nothing particular taught us1 either by the ,light of ,nature or ,revelation1 concerning the ,providence that governs these single ,stars1 of what ,use they are to intellectual ,beings1 how animated by them1 what ,diversity there is amongst those thereal ,worlds1 what ,periods they have1 what ,changes or ,vicissitudes they are capable to undergo1 because such ,inquiries would seem too remote1 and carry us too far from our ,subject1 we leave these heavenly ,systems to the ,enjoyment and ,contemplation of higher and more noble ,creatures4 ,,the ,sun1 with all the ,planets that move about him1 and depend upon him1 make a good ,sort of ,system2 not considerable indeed1 if compar'd with the whole ,universe1 or some of the greater ,compositions in it2 but in respect of us1 the ,system of the ,sun is of vast ,extent3 ,we cannot measure the ,greatness of his ,kingdom1 and his ,dominion is without ,end4 ,the ,distance from the highest ,planet to the nearest fixt ,star in the ,firmament is unmeasurable1 and all this belongs to the ,empire of the ,sun2 besides the several ,planets and their ,orbs1 which cast themselves closer about his ,body1 that they may receive a warmer and stronger ,influence from him2 for by him they may be said to live and move4 ,but those vast ,spaces that lie beyond these opaque ,bodies1 are ,regions of perpetual ,light2 one ,planet may ,eclipse the ,sun to another1 and one ,hemisphere of a ,planet to the other ,hemisphere makes ,night and ,darkness2 but nothing can eclipse the ,sun1 or intercept the ,course of his ,light to these remote thereal ,regions2 they are always luminous1 and always pure and serene4 ,and if the worst and planetary ,parts of his ,dominions be replenished with ,inhabitants1 we cannot suppose the better to lie as ,desarts unenjoy'd and uninhabited2 his ,subjects then must be numerous1 as well as his ,dominions large2 and in both respects this ,system of a fixt ,star1 with its ,planets1 7of which kind we may imagin innumerable in the ,universe1 besides this of the ,sun1 which is near and visible to us7 is of a noble ,character and ,order1 being the ,habitation of ,angels and glorified ,spirits1 as well as of mortal ,men4 ,a planetary ,system is the last and lowest2 and of these1 no doubt1 there is great ,variety1 and great ,differences2 not only of primary and secondary1 or of the principal ,planet1 and its ,moons or ,attendants1 but also amongst ,planets of the same ,rank2 for they may differ both in their original ,constitution1 and according to the ,form and ,state they are under at present2 of which sort of ,differences we have noted some amongst our ,planets1 7,book4 #a4 chap4 last1 p4 #aac1 c47 tho' they seem to be all of much-what the same original ,constitution4 ,besides1 according to external ,circumstances1 their ,distance1 ,manner of ,motion1 and ,posture to the ,sun1 which is the ,heart of the whole ,system1 they become different in many ,things4 ,and we may observe1 that those leading ,differences1 tho' they seem little1 draw after them innumerable others1 and so make a distinct ,face of ,nature1 and a distinct ,world2 which still shews the ,riches and ,fecundity of divine ,providence1 and gives new ,matter of ,contemplation to those that take ,pleasure in studying the ,works and ,ways of ,god4 ,but leaving all other ,planets1 or planetary ,systems to our ,meditations only1 we must particularly consider our own4 ,,having therefore made this general ,survey of the great ,universe1 run through the boundless ,regions of it1 and with much ado found our ,way home to that little ,planet where our ,concerns lie1 this ,earth or sublunary ,world1 we must rest here at the ,end of our ,course4 ,and having undertaken to give the general ,theory of this ,earth1 to conclude the present ,treatise1 we'll reflect upon the whole ,work1 and observe what ,progress we have hitherto made in this ,theory1 and what remains to be treated of hereafter4 ,this ,earth1 tho' it be a small ,part or ,particle of the ,universe1 hath a distinct ,system of ,providence belonging to it1 or an ,order establisht by the ,author of ,nature for all its ,phnomena 7natural or moral7 throughout the whole ,period of its ,duration1 and every ,interval of it2 for1 as there is nothing so great as to be above the divine ,care1 so neither is there any thing so little as to be below it4 ,all the ,changes of out ,world are fixt2 ,how1 or how often to be destroy'd1 and how renew'd2 ,what different ,faces of ,nature1 and what of ,mankind1 in every ,part of its ,course2 ,what new ,scenes to adorn the ,stage1 and what new ,parts to be acted2 ,what the ,entrance1 and what the ,consummation of all4 ,neither is there any sort of ,knowledge more proper1 or of more importance to us that are the ,inhabitants of this ,earth1 than to understand this its natural and sacred ,history1 as ,i may so call it1 both as to what is past1 and what is to come4 ,and as those greater ,volumes and ,compositions of the ,universe are proportion'd to the ,understanding of ,angels and superior ,beings1 so these little ,systems are ,compendiums of the divine ,wisdom more fitted to our ,capacity and ,comprehension4 ,,the ,providence of the ,earth1 as of all other ,systems1 consists of two ,parts1 natural1 and sacred or theological4 ,i call that sacred or theological that respects ,religion1 and the ,dispensations of it2 the ,government of the rational ,world1 or of ,mankind1 whether under the ,light of ,nature only1 or of a ,revelation8 the ,method and ,terms of their ,happiness and ,unhappiness in a future ,life3 ,the ,state1 ,oeconomy1 and ,conduct of this1 with all the ,mysteries contain'd in it1 we call theological ,providence2 in the ,head whereof stands the ,soul of the blessed ,messiah1 who is ,lord of both ,worlds1 intellectual and material4 ,when we call the other ,part of ,providence ,natural1 we use that ,word in a restrain'd ,sense1 as respecting only the material ,world2 and accordingly this ,part of ,providence orders and superintends the ,state of the ,earth1 the great ,vicissitudes and ,mutations of it2 for we must not imagin but that these are under the ,eye of ,providence1 as well as humane ,affairs1 or any ,revolutions of ,states and ,empires4 ,now seeing both in the intellectual and corporeal ,world there are certain ,periods1 ,fulness of ,time1 and fixt ,seasons1 either for some great ,catastrophe1 or some great ,instauration2 'tis ,providence that makes a due ,harmony or ,synchronism betwixt these two1 and measures out the concurrent ,fates of both ,worlds1 so as ,nature may be always a faithful ,minister of the divine ,pleasure1 whether for ,rewards or ,punishments1 according as the ,state of ,mankind may require4 ,but theological ,providence not being the ,subject of this ,work1 we shall only observe1 as we said before1 what ,account we have hitherto given of the natural ,state of the ,earth1 and what remains to be handled in another ,treatise1 and so conclude4 ,i did not think it necessary to carry the ,story and ,original of the ,earth1 higher than the ,chaos1 as ,zoroaster and ,orpheus seem to have done2 but taking that for our ,foundation1 which ,antiquity sacred and prophane doth suppose1 and natural ,reason approve and confirm1 we have form'd the ,earth from it4 ,but when we say the ,earth rose from a fluid ,mass1 it is not to be so crudely understood1 as if a ,rock of ,marble1 suppose1 was fluid immediately before it became ,marble2 no1 ,things had a gradual ,progression from one ,form to another1 and came at length to those more permanent ,forms they are now settled in3 ,stone was once ,earth1 and ,earth was once ,mud1 and ,mud was once fluid4 ,and so other ,things may have another kind of ,progression from ,fluidity2 but all was once ,fluid1 at least all the exterior ,regions of this ,earth4 ,and even those ,stones and ,rocks of ,marble which we speak of1 seem to confess they were once soft or liquid1 by those ,mixtures we find in them of heterogeneous ,bodies1 and those ,spots and ,veins disperst thorough their ,substance2 for these ,things could not happen to them after they were hard and impenetrable1 in the ,form of ,stone or ,marble4 ,and if we can soften ,rocks and ,stones1 and run them down into their first ,liquors1 as these ,observations seem to do1 we may easily believe that other ,bodies also that compose the ,earth were once in a fluid ,mass1 which is that we call a ,chaos4 ,,we therefore watch'd the ,motions of that ,chaos1 and the several ,transformations of it1 while it continued ,fluid2 and we found at length what its first ,concretion would be1 and how it settled into the ,form of an habitable ,earth4 ,but that ,form was very different from the present ,form of the ,earth1 which is not immediately deducible from a ,chaos by any known ,laws of ,nature1 or by any ,wit of ,man2 as every one1 that will have ,patience to examine it1 may easily be satisfied4 ,that first ,earth was of a smooth1 regular ,surface1 as the ,concretions of ,liquors are1 before they are disturb'd or broken2 under that ,surface lay the great ,abyss1 which was ready to swallow up the ,world that hung over it1 and about it1 whensoever ,god should give the ,command1 and the ,vault should break and this ,constitution of the primval ,earth gave ,occasion to the first ,catastrophe of this ,world1 when it perish'd in a ,deluge of ,water4 ,for that ,vault did break1 as we have shewn at large1 and by the ,dissolution and ,fall of it1 the great ,deep was thrown out of its ,bed1 forc'd upwards into the ,air1 and overflowed1 in that impetuous ,commotion1 the highest ,tops of the ,fragments of the ruin'd ,earth1 which now we call its ,mountains4 ,and as this was the first great and fatal ,period of ,nature2 so upon the ,issue of this1 and the ,return of the ,waters into their ,channels1 the second ,face of ,nature appear'd1 or the present broken ,form of the ,earth1 as it is ,terraqueous1 ,mountainous1 and ,cavernous4 ,these ,things we have explain'd fully in the first ,book1 and ,i have thereby settled two great ,points1 given a rational ,account of the ,universal ,deluge1 and shewn the ,causes of the irregular ,form of the present or ,postdiluvian ,earth4 ,this being done1 we have apply'd our selves in the second ,book1 to the ,description of the ,primval ,earth1 and the ,examination of its ,properties2 and this hath led us by an easy ,tract to the ,discovery of ,paradise1 and of the true ,notion and ,mystery of it2 which is not so much a ,spot of ,ground where a fine ,garden stood1 as a ,course of ,nature1 or a peculiar ,state of the ,earth2 ,paradisiacal in many ,parts1 but especially in one ,region of it2 which ,place or ,region we have also endeavour'd to determine1 though not so much from the ,theory1 as from the ,suffrages of ,antiquity1 if you will take their ,judgment4 ,,thus much is finish'd1 and this contains the natural ,theory of the ,earth till this present ,time2 for since the ,deluge all ,things have continued in the same ,state1 or without any remarkable ,change4 ,we are next to enter upon new ,matter and new ,thoughts1 and not only so1 but upon a ,series of ,things and ,times to come1 which is to make the second ,part of this ,theory4 ,dividing the ,duration of the ,world into two ,parts1 past and future1 we have dispatch'd the first and far greater ,part1 and come better half of our ,way2 ,and if we make a ,stand here1 and look both ,ways1 backwards to the ,chaos and the ,beginning of the ,world1 and forwards to the ,end and ,consummation of all ,things1 though the first be a longer ,prospect1 yet there are as many general ,changes and ,revolutions of ,nature in the remaining ,part1 as have already happen'd2 and in the ,evening of this long ,day the ,scenes will change faster1 and be more bright and illustrious4 ,from the ,creation to this ,age the ,earth hath undergone but one ,catastrophe1 and ,nature hath had two different ,faces4 ,the next ,catastrophe is the ,,conflagration1 to which a new ,face of ,nature will accordingly succeed1 ,new ,heavens and a ,new ,earth1 ,paradise renew'd1 and so it is call'd the ,restitution of ,things1 or ,regeneration of the ,world1 4 ,and that ,period of ,nature and ,providence being expir'd1 then follows the ,consummation of all ,things1 or the general ,apothesis2 when ,death and ,hell shall be swallowed up in ,victory4 ,when the great ,circle of ,time and ,fate is run2 or according to the ,language of ,scripture1 ,when the ,heavens and the ,earth shall pass away1 and ,time shall be no more4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,may we1 in the mean time1 by a true ,love of ,god above all ,things1 and a ,contempt of this vain ,world which passeth away2 by a careful ,use of the ,gifts of ,god and ,nature1 the ,light of ,reason and ,revelation1 prepare our selves1 and the ,state of ,things1 for the great ,coming of our ,saviour4 ,to whom be ,praise and ,honour for evermore4 ,,finis4 ,transcriber's ,notes3 ,text that was in italics is enclosed by underscores 7italics74 ,footnotes have been moved to follow the sections in which they are referenced4